anne of green gables

by lucy maud montgomery



chapter i mrs rachel lynde is surprised


mrs rachel lynde lived just where the avonlea main road dipped down
into a little hollow fringed with alders and ladies eardrops and
traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the
old cuthbert place it was reputed to be an intricate headlong brook
in its earlier course through those woods with dark secrets of pool
and cascade but by the time it reached lynde's hollow it was a quiet 
well-conducted little stream for not even a brook could run past mrs 
rachel lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum it
probably was conscious that mrs rachel was sitting at her window 
keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed from brooks and children
up and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never
rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof 

there are plenty of people in avonlea and out of it who can attend
closely to their neighbor's business by dint of neglecting their own 
but mrs rachel lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage
their own concerns and those of other folks into the bargain she was a
notable housewife her work was always done and well done she ran the
sewing circle helped run the sunday-school and was the strongest prop
of the church aid society and foreign missions auxiliary yet with all
this mrs rachel found abundant time to sit for hours at her kitchen
window knitting cotton warp quilts she had knitted sixteen of them 
as avonlea housekeepers were wont to tell in awed voices and keeping
a sharp eye on the main road that crossed the hollow and wound up
the steep red hill beyond since avonlea occupied a little triangular
peninsula jutting out into the gulf of st lawrence with water on two
sides of it anybody who went out of it or into it had to pass over that
hill road and so run the unseen gauntlet of mrs rachel's all-seeing
eye 

she was sitting there one afternoon in early june the sun was coming in
at the window warm and bright the orchard on the slope below the house
was in a bridal flush of pinky-white bloom hummed over by a myriad of
bees thomas lynde a meek little man whom avonlea people called rachel
lynde's husband was sowing his late turnip seed on the hill field
beyond the barn and matthew cuthbert ought to have been sowing his on
the big red brook field away over by green gables mrs rachel knew
that he ought because she had heard him tell peter morrison the evening
before in william j blair's store over at carmody that he meant to sow
his turnip seed the next afternoon peter had asked him of course for
matthew cuthbert had never been known to volunteer information about
anything in his whole life 

and yet here was matthew cuthbert at half-past three on the afternoon
of a busy day placidly driving over the hollow and up the hill 
moreover he wore a white collar and his best suit of clothes which was
plain proof that he was going out of avonlea and he had the buggy
and the sorrel mare which betokened that he was going a considerable
distance now where was matthew cuthbert going and why was he going
there 

had it been any other man in avonlea mrs rachel deftly putting this
and that together might have given a pretty good guess as to both
questions but matthew so rarely went from home that it must be
something pressing and unusual which was taking him he was the shyest
man alive and hated to have to go among strangers or to any place where
he might have to talk matthew dressed up with a white collar and
driving in a buggy was something that didn't happen often mrs rachel 
ponder as she might could make nothing of it and her afternoon's
enjoyment was spoiled 

 i'll just step over to green gables after tea and find out from marilla
where he's gone and why the worthy woman finally concluded he
doesn't generally go to town this time of year and he never visits if
he'd run out of turnip seed he wouldn't dress up and take the buggy to
go for more he wasn't driving fast enough to be going for a doctor 
yet something must have happened since last night to start him off i'm
clean puzzled that's what and i won't know a minute's peace of mind or
conscience until i know what has taken matthew cuthbert out of avonlea
today 

accordingly after tea mrs rachel set out she had not far to go the
big rambling orchard-embowered house where the cuthberts lived was a
scant quarter of a mile up the road from lynde's hollow to be sure the
long lane made it a good deal further matthew cuthbert's father as
shy and silent as his son after him had got as far away as he possibly
could from his fellow men without actually retreating into the woods
when he founded his homestead green gables was built at the furthest
edge of his cleared land and there it was to this day barely visible
from the main road along which all the other avonlea houses were so
sociably situated mrs rachel lynde did not call living in such a place
 living at all 

 it's just staying that's what she said as she stepped along the
deep-rutted grassy lane bordered with wild rose bushes it's no wonder
matthew and marilla are both a little odd living away back here by
themselves trees aren't much company though dear knows if they were
there'd be enough of them i'd ruther look at people to be sure they
seem contented enough but then i suppose they're used to it a body
can get used to anything even to being hanged as the irishman said 

with this mrs rachel stepped out of the lane into the backyard of green
gables very green and neat and precise was that yard set about on one
side with great patriarchal willows and the other with prim lombardies 
not a stray stick nor stone was to be seen for mrs rachel would have
seen it if there had been privately she was of the opinion that marilla
cuthbert swept that yard over as often as she swept her house one could
have eaten a meal off the ground without over-brimming the proverbial
peck of dirt 

mrs rachel rapped smartly at the kitchen door and stepped in
when bidden to do so the kitchen at green gables was a cheerful
apartment or would have been cheerful if it had not been so painfully
clean as to give it something of the appearance of an unused parlor its
windows looked east and west through the west one looking out on
the back yard came a flood of mellow june sunlight but the east one 
whence you got a glimpse of the bloom white cherry-trees in the left
orchard and nodding slender birches down in the hollow by the brook 
was greened over by a tangle of vines here sat marilla cuthbert when
she sat at all always slightly distrustful of sunshine which seemed to
her too dancing and irresponsible a thing for a world which was meant to
be taken seriously and here she sat now knitting and the table behind
her was laid for supper 

mrs rachel before she had fairly closed the door had taken a mental
note of everything that was on that table there were three plates laid 
so that marilla must be expecting some one home with matthew to tea but
the dishes were everyday dishes and there was only crab-apple preserves
and one kind of cake so that the expected company could not be any
particular company yet what of matthew's white collar and the sorrel
mare mrs rachel was getting fairly dizzy with this unusual mystery
about quiet unmysterious green gables 

 good evening rachel marilla said briskly this is a real fine
evening isn't it won't you sit down how are all your folks 

something that for lack of any other name might be called friendship
existed and always had existed between marilla cuthbert and mrs rachel 
in spite of or perhaps because of their dissimilarity 

marilla was a tall thin woman with angles and without curves her dark
hair showed some gray streaks and was always twisted up in a hard little
knot behind with two wire hairpins stuck aggressively through it she
looked like a woman of narrow experience and rigid conscience which she
was but there was a saving something about her mouth which if it had
been ever so slightly developed might have been considered indicative
of a sense of humor 

 we're all pretty well said mrs rachel i was kind of afraid you 
weren't though when i saw matthew starting off today i thought maybe
he was going to the doctor's 

marilla's lips twitched understandingly she had expected mrs 
rachel up she had known that the sight of matthew jaunting off so
unaccountably would be too much for her neighbor's curiosity 

 oh no i'm quite well although i had a bad headache yesterday she
said matthew went to bright river we're getting a little boy from an
orphan asylum in nova scotia and he's coming on the train tonight 

if marilla had said that matthew had gone to bright river to meet a
kangaroo from australia mrs rachel could not have been more astonished 
she was actually stricken dumb for five seconds it was unsupposable
that marilla was making fun of her but mrs rachel was almost forced to
suppose it 

 are you in earnest marilla she demanded when voice returned to her 

 yes of course said marilla as if getting boys from orphan asylums
in nova scotia were part of the usual spring work on any well-regulated
avonlea farm instead of being an unheard of innovation 

mrs rachel felt that she had received a severe mental jolt she thought
in exclamation points a boy marilla and matthew cuthbert of all people
adopting a boy from an orphan asylum well the world was certainly
turning upside down she would be surprised at nothing after this 
nothing 

 what on earth put such a notion into your head she demanded
disapprovingly 

this had been done without her advice being asked and must perforce be
disapproved 

 well we've been thinking about it for some time all winter in fact 
 returned marilla mrs alexander spencer was up here one day before
christmas and she said she was going to get a little girl from the
asylum over in hopeton in the spring her cousin lives there and mrs 
spencer has visited here and knows all about it so matthew and i have
talked it over off and on ever since we thought we'd get a boy matthew
is getting up in years you know he's sixty and he isn't so spry as he
once was his heart troubles him a good deal and you know how desperate
hard it's got to be to get hired help there's never anybody to be had
but those stupid half-grown little french boys and as soon as you do
get one broke into your ways and taught something he's up and off to the
lobster canneries or the states at first matthew suggested getting a
home boy but i said no flat to that they may be all right i'm not
saying they're not but no london street arabs for me i said give
me a native born at least there'll be a risk no matter who we get but
i'll feel easier in my mind and sleep sounder at nights if we get a born
canadian so in the end we decided to ask mrs spencer to pick us out
one when she went over to get her little girl we heard last week she
was going so we sent her word by richard spencer's folks at carmody
to bring us a smart likely boy of about ten or eleven we decided that
would be the best age old enough to be of some use in doing chores
right off and young enough to be trained up proper we mean to give him
a good home and schooling we had a telegram from mrs alexander spencer
today the mail-man brought it from the station saying they were coming
on the five-thirty train tonight so matthew went to bright river to
meet him mrs spencer will drop him off there of course she goes on to
white sands station herself 

mrs rachel prided herself on always speaking her mind she proceeded to
speak it now having adjusted her mental attitude to this amazing piece
of news 

 well marilla i'll just tell you plain that i think you're doing a
mighty foolish thing a risky thing that's what you don't know what
you're getting you're bringing a strange child into your house and home
and you don't know a single thing about him nor what his disposition is
like nor what sort of parents he had nor how he's likely to turn out 
why it was only last week i read in the paper how a man and his wife up
west of the island took a boy out of an orphan asylum and he set fire to
the house at night set it on purpose marilla and nearly burnt them to
a crisp in their beds and i know another case where an adopted boy used
to suck the eggs they couldn't break him of it if you had asked my
advice in the matter which you didn't do marilla i'd have said for
mercy's sake not to think of such a thing that's what 

this job's comforting seemed neither to offend nor to alarm marilla she
knitted steadily on 

 i don't deny there's something in what you say rachel i've had some
qualms myself but matthew was terrible set on it i could see that so
i gave in it's so seldom matthew sets his mind on anything that when he
does i always feel it's my duty to give in and as for the risk there's
risks in pretty near everything a body does in this world there's risks
in people's having children of their own if it comes to that they don't
always turn out well and then nova scotia is right close to the island 
it isn't as if we were getting him from england or the states he can't
be much different from ourselves 

 well i hope it will turn out all right said mrs rachel in a tone
that plainly indicated her painful doubts only don't say i didn't
warn you if he burns green gables down or puts strychnine in the well i
heard of a case over in new brunswick where an orphan asylum child did
that and the whole family died in fearful agonies only it was a girl
in that instance 

 well we're not getting a girl said marilla as if poisoning wells
were a purely feminine accomplishment and not to be dreaded in the case
of a boy i'd never dream of taking a girl to bring up i wonder at
mrs alexander spencer for doing it but there she wouldn't shrink
from adopting a whole orphan asylum if she took it into her head 

mrs rachel would have liked to stay until matthew came home with his
imported orphan but reflecting that it would be a good two hours at
least before his arrival she concluded to go up the road to robert
bell's and tell the news it would certainly make a sensation second
to none and mrs rachel dearly loved to make a sensation so she took
herself away somewhat to marilla's relief for the latter felt
her doubts and fears reviving under the influence of mrs rachel's
pessimism 

 well of all things that ever were or will be ejaculated mrs rachel
when she was safely out in the lane it does really seem as if i must
be dreaming well i'm sorry for that poor young one and no mistake 
matthew and marilla don't know anything about children and they'll
expect him to be wiser and steadier that his own grandfather if so be's
he ever had a grandfather which is doubtful it seems uncanny to think
of a child at green gables somehow there's never been one there for
matthew and marilla were grown up when the new house was built if they
ever were children which is hard to believe when one looks at them 
i wouldn't be in that orphan's shoes for anything my but i pity him 
that's what 

so said mrs rachel to the wild rose bushes out of the fulness of her
heart but if she could have seen the child who was waiting patiently
at the bright river station at that very moment her pity would have been
still deeper and more profound 




chapter ii matthew cuthbert is surprised


matthew cuthbert and the sorrel mare jogged comfortably over the eight
miles to bright river it was a pretty road running along between
snug farmsteads with now and again a bit of balsamy fir wood to drive
through or a hollow where wild plums hung out their filmy bloom the air
was sweet with the breath of many apple orchards and the meadows sloped
away in the distance to horizon mists of pearl and purple while

 the little birds sang as if it were
 the one day of summer in all the year 

matthew enjoyed the drive after his own fashion except during the
moments when he met women and had to nod to them for in prince edward
island you are supposed to nod to all and sundry you meet on the road
whether you know them or not 

matthew dreaded all women except marilla and mrs rachel he had an
uncomfortable feeling that the mysterious creatures were secretly
laughing at him he may have been quite right in thinking so for he
was an odd-looking personage with an ungainly figure and long iron-gray
hair that touched his stooping shoulders and a full soft brown beard
which he had worn ever since he was twenty in fact he had looked
at twenty very much as he looked at sixty lacking a little of the
grayness 

when he reached bright river there was no sign of any train he thought
he was too early so he tied his horse in the yard of the small bright
river hotel and went over to the station house the long platform was
almost deserted the only living creature in sight being a girl who was
sitting on a pile of shingles at the extreme end matthew barely noting
that it was a girl sidled past her as quickly as possible without
looking at her had he looked he could hardly have failed to notice the
tense rigidity and expectation of her attitude and expression she was
sitting there waiting for something or somebody and since sitting and
waiting was the only thing to do just then she sat and waited with all
her might and main 

matthew encountered the stationmaster locking up the ticket office
preparatory to going home for supper and asked him if the five-thirty
train would soon be along 

 the five-thirty train has been in and gone half an hour ago answered
that brisk official but there was a passenger dropped off for you a
little girl she's sitting out there on the shingles i asked her to
go into the ladies waiting room but she informed me gravely that she
preferred to stay outside there was more scope for imagination she
said she's a case i should say 

 i'm not expecting a girl said matthew blankly it's a boy i've come
for he should be here mrs alexander spencer was to bring him over
from nova scotia for me 

the stationmaster whistled 

 guess there's some mistake he said mrs spencer came off the train
with that girl and gave her into my charge said you and your sister
were adopting her from an orphan asylum and that you would be along for
her presently that's all i know about it and i haven't got any more
orphans concealed hereabouts 

 i don't understand said matthew helplessly wishing that marilla was
at hand to cope with the situation 

 well you'd better question the girl said the station-master
carelessly i dare say she'll be able to explain she's got a tongue
of her own that's certain maybe they were out of boys of the brand you
wanted 

he walked jauntily away being hungry and the unfortunate matthew was
left to do that which was harder for him than bearding a lion in its
den walk up to a girl a strange girl an orphan girl and demand of
her why she wasn't a boy matthew groaned in spirit as he turned about
and shuffled gently down the platform towards her 

she had been watching him ever since he had passed her and she had her
eyes on him now matthew was not looking at her and would not have seen
what she was really like if he had been but an ordinary observer would
have seen this a child of about eleven garbed in a very short very
tight very ugly dress of yellowish-gray wincey she wore a faded brown
sailor hat and beneath the hat extending down her back were two braids
of very thick decidedly red hair her face was small white and thin 
also much freckled her mouth was large and so were her eyes which
looked green in some lights and moods and gray in others 

so far the ordinary observer an extraordinary observer might have seen
that the chin was very pointed and pronounced that the big eyes
were full of spirit and vivacity that the mouth was sweet-lipped
and expressive that the forehead was broad and full in short 
our discerning extraordinary observer might have concluded that no
commonplace soul inhabited the body of this stray woman-child of whom
shy matthew cuthbert was so ludicrously afraid 

matthew however was spared the ordeal of speaking first for as soon
as she concluded that he was coming to her she stood up grasping with
one thin brown hand the handle of a shabby old-fashioned carpet-bag 
the other she held out to him 

 i suppose you are mr matthew cuthbert of green gables she said in
a peculiarly clear sweet voice i'm very glad to see you i was
beginning to be afraid you weren't coming for me and i was imagining
all the things that might have happened to prevent you i had made up
my mind that if you didn't come for me to-night i'd go down the track to
that big wild cherry-tree at the bend and climb up into it to stay all
night i wouldn't be a bit afraid and it would be lovely to sleep in a
wild cherry-tree all white with bloom in the moonshine don't you think 
you could imagine you were dwelling in marble halls couldn't you and
i was quite sure you would come for me in the morning if you didn't
to-night 

matthew had taken the scrawny little hand awkwardly in his then and
there he decided what to do he could not tell this child with the
glowing eyes that there had been a mistake he would take her home and
let marilla do that she couldn't be left at bright river anyhow no
matter what mistake had been made so all questions and explanations
might as well be deferred until he was safely back at green gables 

 i'm sorry i was late he said shyly come along the horse is over in
the yard give me your bag 

 oh i can carry it the child responded cheerfully it isn't heavy 
i've got all my worldly goods in it but it isn't heavy and if it isn't
carried in just a certain way the handle pulls out so i'd better
keep it because i know the exact knack of it it's an extremely old
carpet-bag oh i'm very glad you've come even if it would have been
nice to sleep in a wild cherry-tree we've got to drive a long piece 
haven't we mrs spencer said it was eight miles i'm glad because i
love driving oh it seems so wonderful that i'm going to live with you
and belong to you i've never belonged to anybody not really but the
asylum was the worst i've only been in it four months but that was
enough i don't suppose you ever were an orphan in an asylum so you
can't possibly understand what it is like it's worse than anything you
could imagine mrs spencer said it was wicked of me to talk like
that but i didn't mean to be wicked it's so easy to be wicked without
knowing it isn't it they were good you know the asylum people but
there is so little scope for the imagination in an asylum only just
in the other orphans it was pretty interesting to imagine things about
them to imagine that perhaps the girl who sat next to you was really
the daughter of a belted earl who had been stolen away from her parents
in her infancy by a cruel nurse who died before she could confess i
used to lie awake at nights and imagine things like that because
i didn't have time in the day i guess that's why i'm so thin i am 
dreadful thin ain't i there isn't a pick on my bones i do love to
imagine i'm nice and plump with dimples in my elbows 

with this matthew's companion stopped talking partly because she was
out of breath and partly because they had reached the buggy not another
word did she say until they had left the village and were driving down
a steep little hill the road part of which had been cut so deeply into
the soft soil that the banks fringed with blooming wild cherry-trees
and slim white birches were several feet above their heads 

the child put out her hand and broke off a branch of wild plum that
brushed against the side of the buggy 

 isn't that beautiful what did that tree leaning out from the bank 
all white and lacy make you think of she asked 

 well now i dunno said matthew 

 why a bride of course a bride all in white with a lovely misty veil 
i've never seen one but i can imagine what she would look like i don't
ever expect to be a bride myself i'm so homely nobody will ever want to
marry me unless it might be a foreign missionary i suppose a foreign
missionary mightn't be very particular but i do hope that some day i
shall have a white dress that is my highest ideal of earthly bliss i
just love pretty clothes and i've never had a pretty dress in my life
that i can remember but of course it's all the more to look forward
to isn't it and then i can imagine that i'm dressed gorgeously this
morning when i left the asylum i felt so ashamed because i had to wear
this horrid old wincey dress all the orphans had to wear them you
know a merchant in hopeton last winter donated three hundred yards of
wincey to the asylum some people said it was because he couldn't sell
it but i'd rather believe that it was out of the kindness of his heart 
wouldn't you when we got on the train i felt as if everybody must be
looking at me and pitying me but i just went to work and imagined that
i had on the most beautiful pale blue silk dress because when you are 
imagining you might as well imagine something worth while and a big
hat all flowers and nodding plumes and a gold watch and kid gloves and
boots i felt cheered up right away and i enjoyed my trip to the island
with all my might i wasn't a bit sick coming over in the boat neither
was mrs spencer although she generally is she said she hadn't time
to get sick watching to see that i didn't fall overboard she said she
never saw the beat of me for prowling about but if it kept her from
being seasick it's a mercy i did prowl isn't it and i wanted to see
everything that was to be seen on that boat because i didn't know
whether i'd ever have another opportunity oh there are a lot more
cherry-trees all in bloom this island is the bloomiest place i just
love it already and i'm so glad i'm going to live here i've always
heard that prince edward island was the prettiest place in the world 
and i used to imagine i was living here but i never really expected i
would it's delightful when your imaginations come true isn't it 
but those red roads are so funny when we got into the train at
charlottetown and the red roads began to flash past i asked mrs spencer
what made them red and she said she didn't know and for pity's sake not
to ask her any more questions she said i must have asked her a thousand
already i suppose i had too but how you going to find out about
things if you don't ask questions and what does make the roads red 

 well now i dunno said matthew 

 well that is one of the things to find out sometime isn't it splendid
to think of all the things there are to find out about it just makes
me feel glad to be alive it's such an interesting world it wouldn't be
half so interesting if we know all about everything would it there'd
be no scope for imagination then would there but am i talking too
much people are always telling me i do would you rather i didn't
talk if you say so i'll stop i can stop when i make up my mind to it 
although it's difficult 

matthew much to his own surprise was enjoying himself like most quiet
folks he liked talkative people when they were willing to do the talking
themselves and did not expect him to keep up his end of it but he had
never expected to enjoy the society of a little girl women were bad
enough in all conscience but little girls were worse he detested the
way they had of sidling past him timidly with sidewise glances as if
they expected him to gobble them up at a mouthful if they ventured to
say a word that was the avonlea type of well-bred little girl but
this freckled witch was very different and although he found it rather
difficult for his slower intelligence to keep up with her brisk mental
processes he thought that he kind of liked her chatter so he said as
shyly as usual 

 oh you can talk as much as you like i don't mind 

 oh i'm so glad i know you and i are going to get along together
fine it's such a relief to talk when one wants to and not be told
that children should be seen and not heard i've had that said to me a
million times if i have once and people laugh at me because i use big
words but if you have big ideas you have to use big words to express
them haven't you 

 well now that seems reasonable said matthew 

 mrs spencer said that my tongue must be hung in the middle but it
isn't it's firmly fastened at one end mrs spencer said your place was
named green gables i asked her all about it and she said there were
trees all around it i was gladder than ever i just love trees and
there weren't any at all about the asylum only a few poor weeny-teeny
things out in front with little whitewashed cagey things about them 
they just looked like orphans themselves those trees did it used to
make me want to cry to look at them i used to say to them oh you
 poor little things if you were out in a great big woods with other
trees all around you and little mosses and june bells growing over your
roots and a brook not far away and birds singing in you branches you
could grow couldn't you but you can't where you are i know just
exactly how you feel little trees i felt sorry to leave them behind
this morning you do get so attached to things like that don't you is
there a brook anywhere near green gables i forgot to ask mrs spencer
that 

 well now yes there's one right below the house 

 fancy it's always been one of my dreams to live near a brook i
never expected i would though dreams don't often come true do they 
wouldn't it be nice if they did but just now i feel pretty nearly
perfectly happy i can't feel exactly perfectly happy because well 
what color would you call this 

she twitched one of her long glossy braids over her thin shoulder and
held it up before matthew's eyes matthew was not used to deciding on
the tints of ladies tresses but in this case there couldn't be much
doubt 

 it's red ain't it he said 

the girl let the braid drop back with a sigh that seemed to come from
her very toes and to exhale forth all the sorrows of the ages 

 yes it's red she said resignedly now you see why i can't be
perfectly happy nobody could who has red hair i don't mind the other
things so much the freckles and the green eyes and my skinniness i
can imagine them away i can imagine that i have a beautiful rose-leaf
complexion and lovely starry violet eyes but i cannot imagine that
red hair away i do my best i think to myself now my hair is a
glorious black black as the raven's wing but all the time i know it
is just plain red and it breaks my heart it will be my lifelong sorrow 
i read of a girl once in a novel who had a lifelong sorrow but it wasn't
red hair her hair was pure gold rippling back from her alabaster brow 
what is an alabaster brow i never could find out can you tell me 

 well now i'm afraid i can't said matthew who was getting a little
dizzy he felt as he had once felt in his rash youth when another boy
had enticed him on the merry-go-round at a picnic 

 well whatever it was it must have been something nice because she was
divinely beautiful have you ever imagined what it must feel like to be
divinely beautiful 

 well now no i haven't confessed matthew ingenuously 

 i have often which would you rather be if you had the
choice divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good 

 well now i i don't know exactly 

 neither do i i can never decide but it doesn't make much real
difference for it isn't likely i'll ever be either it's certain i'll
never be angelically good mrs spencer says oh mr cuthbert oh mr 
cuthbert oh mr cuthbert 

that was not what mrs spencer had said neither had the child tumbled
out of the buggy nor had matthew done anything astonishing they had
simply rounded a curve in the road and found themselves in the avenue 

the avenue so called by the newbridge people was a stretch of road
four or five hundred yards long completely arched over with huge 
wide-spreading apple-trees planted years ago by an eccentric old
farmer overhead was one long canopy of snowy fragrant bloom below the
boughs the air was full of a purple twilight and far ahead a glimpse
of painted sunset sky shone like a great rose window at the end of a
cathedral aisle 

its beauty seemed to strike the child dumb she leaned back in the
buggy her thin hands clasped before her her face lifted rapturously to
the white splendor above even when they had passed out and were driving
down the long slope to newbridge she never moved or spoke still with
rapt face she gazed afar into the sunset west with eyes that saw
visions trooping splendidly across that glowing background through
newbridge a bustling little village where dogs barked at them and small
boys hooted and curious faces peered from the windows they drove still
in silence when three more miles had dropped away behind them the child
had not spoken she could keep silence it was evident as energetically
as she could talk 

 i guess you're feeling pretty tired and hungry matthew ventured to
say at last accounting for her long visitation of dumbness with the
only reason he could think of but we haven't very far to go now only
another mile 

she came out of her reverie with a deep sigh and looked at him with the
dreamy gaze of a soul that had been wondering afar star-led 

 oh mr cuthbert she whispered that place we came through that
white place what was it 

 well now you must mean the avenue said matthew after a few moments 
profound reflection it is a kind of pretty place 

 pretty oh pretty doesn't seem the right word to use nor beautiful 
either they don't go far enough oh it was wonderful wonderful 
it's the first thing i ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by
imagination it just satisfies me here she put one hand on her
breast it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache did
you ever have an ache like that mr cuthbert 

 well now i just can't recollect that i ever had 

 i have it lots of time whenever i see anything royally beautiful but
they shouldn't call that lovely place the avenue there is no meaning
in a name like that they should call it let me see the white way of
delight isn't that a nice imaginative name when i don't like the name
of a place or a person i always imagine a new one and always think of
them so there was a girl at the asylum whose name was hepzibah jenkins 
but i always imagined her as rosalia devere other people may call that
place the avenue but i shall always call it the white way of delight 
have we really only another mile to go before we get home i'm glad and
i'm sorry i'm sorry because this drive has been so pleasant and i'm
always sorry when pleasant things end something still pleasanter may
come after but you can never be sure and it's so often the case that
it isn't pleasanter that has been my experience anyhow but i'm glad to
think of getting home you see i've never had a real home since i can
remember it gives me that pleasant ache again just to think of coming
to a really truly home oh isn't that pretty 

they had driven over the crest of a hill below them was a pond looking
almost like a river so long and winding was it a bridge spanned it
midway and from there to its lower end where an amber-hued belt of
sand-hills shut it in from the dark blue gulf beyond the water was a
glory of many shifting hues the most spiritual shadings of crocus and
rose and ethereal green with other elusive tintings for which no name
has ever been found above the bridge the pond ran up into fringing
groves of fir and maple and lay all darkly translucent in their wavering
shadows here and there a wild plum leaned out from the bank like a
white-clad girl tip-toeing to her own reflection from the marsh at the
head of the pond came the clear mournfully-sweet chorus of the frogs 
there was a little gray house peering around a white apple orchard on
a slope beyond and although it was not yet quite dark a light was
shining from one of its windows 

 that's barry's pond said matthew 

 oh i don't like that name either i shall call it let me see the
lake of shining waters yes that is the right name for it i know
because of the thrill when i hit on a name that suits exactly it gives
me a thrill do things ever give you a thrill 

matthew ruminated 

 well now yes it always kind of gives me a thrill to see them ugly
white grubs that spade up in the cucumber beds i hate the look of
them 

 oh i don't think that can be exactly the same kind of a thrill do you
think it can there doesn't seem to be much connection between grubs
and lakes of shining waters does there but why do other people call it
barry's pond 

 i reckon because mr barry lives up there in that house orchard
slope's the name of his place if it wasn't for that big bush behind it
you could see green gables from here but we have to go over the bridge
and round by the road so it's near half a mile further 

 has mr barry any little girls well not so very little either about
my size 

 he's got one about eleven her name is diana 

 oh with a long indrawing of breath what a perfectly lovely name 

 well now i dunno there's something dreadful heathenish about it 
seems to me i'd ruther jane or mary or some sensible name like that 
but when diana was born there was a schoolmaster boarding there and they
gave him the naming of her and he called her diana 

 i wish there had been a schoolmaster like that around when i was born 
then oh here we are at the bridge i'm going to shut my eyes tight 
i'm always afraid going over bridges i can't help imagining that
perhaps just as we get to the middle they'll crumple up like a
jack-knife and nip us so i shut my eyes but i always have to open them
for all when i think we're getting near the middle because you see if
the bridge did crumple up i'd want to see it crumple what a jolly
rumble it makes i always like the rumble part of it isn't it splendid
there are so many things to like in this world there we're over now
i'll look back good night dear lake of shining waters i always say
good night to the things i love just as i would to people i think they
like it that water looks as if it was smiling at me 

when they had driven up the further hill and around a corner matthew
said 

 we're pretty near home now that's green gables over 

 oh don't tell me she interrupted breathlessly catching at his
partially raised arm and shutting her eyes that she might not see his
gesture let me guess i'm sure i'll guess right 

she opened her eyes and looked about her they were on the crest of a
hill the sun had set some time since but the landscape was still
clear in the mellow afterlight to the west a dark church spire rose
up against a marigold sky below was a little valley and beyond a long 
gently-rising slope with snug farmsteads scattered along it from one
to another the child's eyes darted eager and wistful at last they
lingered on one away to the left far back from the road dimly white
with blossoming trees in the twilight of the surrounding woods over it 
in the stainless southwest sky a great crystal-white star was shining
like a lamp of guidance and promise 

 that's it isn't it she said pointing 

matthew slapped the reins on the sorrel's back delightedly 

 well now you've guessed it but i reckon mrs spencer described it
so's you could tell 

 no she didn't really she didn't all she said might just as well have
been about most of those other places i hadn't any real idea what it
looked like but just as soon as i saw it i felt it was home oh it
seems as if i must be in a dream do you know my arm must be black and
blue from the elbow up for i've pinched myself so many times today 
every little while a horrible sickening feeling would come over me and
i'd be so afraid it was all a dream then i'd pinch myself to see if it
was real until suddenly i remembered that even supposing it was only
a dream i'd better go on dreaming as long as i could so i stopped
pinching but it is real and we're nearly home 

with a sigh of rapture she relapsed into silence matthew stirred
uneasily he felt glad that it would be marilla and not he who would
have to tell this waif of the world that the home she longed for was
not to be hers after all they drove over lynde's hollow where it was
already quite dark but not so dark that mrs rachel could not see them
from her window vantage and up the hill and into the long lane of green
gables by the time they arrived at the house matthew was shrinking from
the approaching revelation with an energy he did not understand it was
not of marilla or himself he was thinking of the trouble this mistake
was probably going to make for them but of the child's disappointment 
when he thought of that rapt light being quenched in her eyes he had
an uncomfortable feeling that he was going to assist at murdering
something much the same feeling that came over him when he had to kill
a lamb or calf or any other innocent little creature 

the yard was quite dark as they turned into it and the poplar leaves
were rustling silkily all round it 

 listen to the trees talking in their sleep she whispered as he
lifted her to the ground what nice dreams they must have 

then holding tightly to the carpet-bag which contained all her worldly
goods she followed him into the house 




chapter iii marilla cuthbert is surprised


marilla came briskly forward as matthew opened the door but when her
eyes fell on the odd little figure in the stiff ugly dress with the
long braids of red hair and the eager luminous eyes she stopped short
in amazement 

 matthew cuthbert who's that she ejaculated where is the boy 

 there wasn't any boy said matthew wretchedly there was only her 

he nodded at the child remembering that he had never even asked her
name 

 no boy but there must have been a boy insisted marilla we sent
word to mrs spencer to bring a boy 

 well she didn't she brought her i asked the station-master and i
had to bring her home she couldn't be left there no matter where the
mistake had come in 

 well this is a pretty piece of business ejaculated marilla 

during this dialogue the child had remained silent her eyes roving from
one to the other all the animation fading out of her face suddenly
she seemed to grasp the full meaning of what had been said dropping her
precious carpet-bag she sprang forward a step and clasped her hands 

 you don't want me she cried you don't want me because i'm not a
boy i might have expected it nobody ever did want me i might have
known it was all too beautiful to last i might have known nobody really
did want me oh what shall i do i'm going to burst into tears 

burst into tears she did sitting down on a chair by the table flinging
her arms out upon it and burying her face in them she proceeded to cry
stormily marilla and matthew looked at each other deprecatingly across
the stove neither of them knew what to say or do finally marilla
stepped lamely into the breach 

 well well there's no need to cry so about it 

 yes there is need the child raised her head quickly revealing a
tear-stained face and trembling lips you would cry too if you were
an orphan and had come to a place you thought was going to be home and
found that they didn't want you because you weren't a boy oh this is
the most tragical thing that ever happened to me 

something like a reluctant smile rather rusty from long disuse 
mellowed marilla's grim expression 

 well don't cry any more we're not going to turn you out-of-doors
to-night you'll have to stay here until we investigate this affair 
what's your name 

the child hesitated for a moment 

 will you please call me cordelia she said eagerly 

 call you cordelia is that your name 

 no-o-o it's not exactly my name but i would love to be called
cordelia it's such a perfectly elegant name 

 i don't know what on earth you mean if cordelia isn't your name what
is 

 anne shirley reluctantly faltered forth the owner of that name but 
oh please do call me cordelia it can't matter much to you what you
call me if i'm only going to be here a little while can it and anne is
such an unromantic name 

 unromantic fiddlesticks said the unsympathetic marilla anne is a
real good plain sensible name you've no need to be ashamed of it 

 oh i'm not ashamed of it explained anne only i like cordelia
better i've always imagined that my name was cordelia at least i
always have of late years when i was young i used to imagine it was
geraldine but i like cordelia better now but if you call me anne
please call me anne spelled with an e 

 what difference does it make how it's spelled asked marilla with
another rusty smile as she picked up the teapot 

 oh it makes such a difference it looks so much nicer when you hear
a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind just as if it
was printed out i can and a-n-n looks dreadful but a-n-n-e looks so
much more distinguished if you'll only call me anne spelled with an e i
shall try to reconcile myself to not being called cordelia 

 very well then anne spelled with an e can you tell us how this
mistake came to be made we sent word to mrs spencer to bring us a boy 
were there no boys at the asylum 

 oh yes there was an abundance of them but mrs spencer said
 distinctly that you wanted a girl about eleven years old and the
matron said she thought i would do you don't know how delighted i was 
i couldn't sleep all last night for joy oh she added reproachfully 
turning to matthew why didn't you tell me at the station that you
didn't want me and leave me there if i hadn't seen the white way of
delight and the lake of shining waters it wouldn't be so hard 

 what on earth does she mean demanded marilla staring at matthew 

 she she's just referring to some conversation we had on the road 
 said matthew hastily i'm going out to put the mare in marilla have
tea ready when i come back 

 did mrs spencer bring anybody over besides you continued marilla
when matthew had gone out 

 she brought lily jones for herself lily is only five years old and she
is very beautiful and had nut-brown hair if i was very beautiful and
had nut-brown hair would you keep me 

 no we want a boy to help matthew on the farm a girl would be of
no use to us take off your hat i'll lay it and your bag on the hall
table 

anne took off her hat meekly matthew came back presently and they sat
down to supper but anne could not eat in vain she nibbled at the
bread and butter and pecked at the crab-apple preserve out of the little
scalloped glass dish by her plate she did not really make any headway
at all 

 you're not eating anything said marilla sharply eying her as if it
were a serious shortcoming anne sighed 

 i can't i'm in the depths of despair can you eat when you are in the
depths of despair 

 i've never been in the depths of despair so i can't say responded
marilla 

 weren't you well did you ever try to imagine you were in the depths
of despair 

 no i didn't 

 then i don't think you can understand what it's like it's a very
uncomfortable feeling indeed when you try to eat a lump comes right
up in your throat and you can't swallow anything not even if it was a
chocolate caramel i had one chocolate caramel once two years ago and it
was simply delicious i've often dreamed since then that i had a lot
of chocolate caramels but i always wake up just when i'm going to eat
them i do hope you won't be offended because i can't eat everything is
extremely nice but still i cannot eat 

 i guess she's tired said matthew who hadn't spoken since his return
from the barn best put her to bed marilla 

marilla had been wondering where anne should be put to bed she had
prepared a couch in the kitchen chamber for the desired and expected
boy but although it was neat and clean it did not seem quite the
thing to put a girl there somehow but the spare room was out of the
question for such a stray waif so there remained only the east gable
room marilla lighted a candle and told anne to follow her which anne
spiritlessly did taking her hat and carpet-bag from the hall table as
she passed the hall was fearsomely clean the little gable chamber in
which she presently found herself seemed still cleaner 

marilla set the candle on a three-legged three-cornered table and
turned down the bedclothes 

 i suppose you have a nightgown she questioned 

anne nodded 

 yes i have two the matron of the asylum made them for me they're
fearfully skimpy there is never enough to go around in an asylum so
things are always skimpy at least in a poor asylum like ours i hate
skimpy night-dresses but one can dream just as well in them as
in lovely trailing ones with frills around the neck that's one
consolation 

 well undress as quick as you can and go to bed i'll come back in a
few minutes for the candle i daren't trust you to put it out yourself 
you'd likely set the place on fire 

when marilla had gone anne looked around her wistfully the whitewashed
walls were so painfully bare and staring that she thought they must ache
over their own bareness the floor was bare too except for a round
braided mat in the middle such as anne had never seen before in
one corner was the bed a high old-fashioned one with four dark 
low-turned posts in the other corner was the aforesaid three-corner
table adorned with a fat red velvet pin-cushion hard enough to turn the
point of the most adventurous pin above it hung a little six-by-eight
mirror midway between table and bed was the window with an icy white
muslin frill over it and opposite it was the wash-stand the whole
apartment was of a rigidity not to be described in words but which
sent a shiver to the very marrow of anne's bones with a sob she hastily
discarded her garments put on the skimpy nightgown and sprang into bed
where she burrowed face downward into the pillow and pulled the clothes
over her head when marilla came up for the light various skimpy
articles of raiment scattered most untidily over the floor and a certain
tempestuous appearance of the bed were the only indications of any
presence save her own 

she deliberately picked up anne's clothes placed them neatly on a prim
yellow chair and then taking up the candle went over to the bed 

 good night she said a little awkwardly but not unkindly 

anne's white face and big eyes appeared over the bedclothes with a
startling suddenness 

 how can you call it a good night when you know it must be the very
worst night i've ever had she said reproachfully 

then she dived down into invisibility again 

marilla went slowly down to the kitchen and proceeded to wash the supper
dishes matthew was smoking a sure sign of perturbation of mind he
seldom smoked for marilla set her face against it as a filthy habit 
but at certain times and seasons he felt driven to it and them marilla
winked at the practice realizing that a mere man must have some vent
for his emotions 

 well this is a pretty kettle of fish she said wrathfully this is
what comes of sending word instead of going ourselves richard spencer's
folks have twisted that message somehow one of us will have to drive
over and see mrs spencer tomorrow that's certain this girl will have
to be sent back to the asylum 

 yes i suppose so said matthew reluctantly 

 you suppose so don't you know it 

 well now she's a real nice little thing marilla it's kind of a pity
to send her back when she's so set on staying here 

 matthew cuthbert you don't mean to say you think we ought to keep
her 

marilla's astonishment could not have been greater if matthew had
expressed a predilection for standing on his head 

 well now no i suppose not not exactly stammered matthew 
uncomfortably driven into a corner for his precise meaning i
suppose we could hardly be expected to keep her 

 i should say not what good would she be to us 

 we might be some good to her said matthew suddenly and unexpectedly 

 matthew cuthbert i believe that child has bewitched you i can see as
plain as plain that you want to keep her 

 well now she's a real interesting little thing persisted matthew 
 you should have heard her talk coming from the station 

 oh she can talk fast enough i saw that at once it's nothing in her
favour either i don't like children who have so much to say i don't
want an orphan girl and if i did she isn't the style i'd pick out 
there's something i don't understand about her no she's got to be
despatched straight-way back to where she came from 

 i could hire a french boy to help me said matthew and she'd be
company for you 

 i'm not suffering for company said marilla shortly and i'm not
going to keep her 

 well now it's just as you say of course marilla said matthew
rising and putting his pipe away i'm going to bed 

to bed went matthew and to bed when she had put her dishes away went
marilla frowning most resolutely and up-stairs in the east gable a
lonely heart-hungry friendless child cried herself to sleep 




chapter iv morning at green gables


it was broad daylight when anne awoke and sat up in bed staring
confusedly at the window through which a flood of cheery sunshine was
pouring and outside of which something white and feathery waved across
glimpses of blue sky 

for a moment she could not remember where she was first came a
delightful thrill as something very pleasant then a horrible
remembrance this was green gables and they didn't want her because she
wasn't a boy 

but it was morning and yes it was a cherry-tree in full bloom outside
of her window with a bound she was out of bed and across the floor 
she pushed up the sash it went up stiffly and creakily as if it hadn't
been opened for a long time which was the case and it stuck so tight
that nothing was needed to hold it up 

anne dropped on her knees and gazed out into the june morning her eyes
glistening with delight oh wasn't it beautiful wasn't it a lovely
place suppose she wasn't really going to stay here she would imagine
she was there was scope for imagination here 

a huge cherry-tree grew outside so close that its boughs tapped against
the house and it was so thick-set with blossoms that hardly a leaf
was to be seen on both sides of the house was a big orchard one of
apple-trees and one of cherry-trees also showered over with blossoms 
and their grass was all sprinkled with dandelions in the garden below
were lilac-trees purple with flowers and their dizzily sweet fragrance
drifted up to the window on the morning wind 

below the garden a green field lush with clover sloped down to the
hollow where the brook ran and where scores of white birches grew 
upspringing airily out of an undergrowth suggestive of delightful
possibilities in ferns and mosses and woodsy things generally beyond it
was a hill green and feathery with spruce and fir there was a gap in
it where the gray gable end of the little house she had seen from the
other side of the lake of shining waters was visible 

off to the left were the big barns and beyond them away down over
green low-sloping fields was a sparkling blue glimpse of sea 

anne's beauty-loving eyes lingered on it all taking everything greedily
in she had looked on so many unlovely places in her life poor child 
but this was as lovely as anything she had ever dreamed 

she knelt there lost to everything but the loveliness around her until
she was startled by a hand on her shoulder marilla had come in unheard
by the small dreamer 

 it's time you were dressed she said curtly 

marilla really did not know how to talk to the child and her
uncomfortable ignorance made her crisp and curt when she did not mean to
be 

anne stood up and drew a long breath 

 oh isn't it wonderful she said waving her hand comprehensively at
the good world outside 

 it's a big tree said marilla and it blooms great but the fruit
don't amount to much never small and wormy 

 oh i don't mean just the tree of course it's lovely yes it's
 radiantly lovely it blooms as if it meant it but i meant everything 
the garden and the orchard and the brook and the woods the whole big
dear world don't you feel as if you just loved the world on a morning
like this and i can hear the brook laughing all the way up here 
have you ever noticed what cheerful things brooks are they're always
laughing even in winter-time i've heard them under the ice i'm so glad
there's a brook near green gables perhaps you think it doesn't make any
difference to me when you're not going to keep me but it does i shall
always like to remember that there is a brook at green gables even if
i never see it again if there wasn't a brook i'd be haunted by the
uncomfortable feeling that there ought to be one i'm not in the depths
of despair this morning i never can be in the morning isn't it a
splendid thing that there are mornings but i feel very sad i've just
been imagining that it was really me you wanted after all and that i was
to stay here for ever and ever it was a great comfort while it lasted 
but the worst of imagining things is that the time comes when you have
to stop and that hurts 

 you'd better get dressed and come down-stairs and never mind your
imaginings said marilla as soon as she could get a word in edgewise 
 breakfast is waiting wash your face and comb your hair leave the
window up and turn your bedclothes back over the foot of the bed be as
smart as you can 

anne could evidently be smart to some purpose for she was down-stairs
in ten minutes time with her clothes neatly on her hair brushed and
braided her face washed and a comfortable consciousness pervading her
soul that she had fulfilled all marilla's requirements as a matter of
fact however she had forgotten to turn back the bedclothes 

 i'm pretty hungry this morning she announced as she slipped into the
chair marilla placed for her the world doesn't seem such a howling
wilderness as it did last night i'm so glad it's a sunshiny morning 
but i like rainy mornings real well too all sorts of mornings are
interesting don't you think you don't know what's going to happen
through the day and there's so much scope for imagination but i'm
glad it's not rainy today because it's easier to be cheerful and bear
up under affliction on a sunshiny day i feel that i have a good deal
to bear up under it's all very well to read about sorrows and imagine
yourself living through them heroically but it's not so nice when you
really come to have them is it 

 for pity's sake hold your tongue said marilla you talk entirely too
much for a little girl 

thereupon anne held her tongue so obediently and thoroughly that her
continued silence made marilla rather nervous as if in the presence of
something not exactly natural matthew also held his tongue but this
was natural so that the meal was a very silent one 

as it progressed anne became more and more abstracted eating
mechanically with her big eyes fixed unswervingly and unseeingly on the
sky outside the window this made marilla more nervous than ever she
had an uncomfortable feeling that while this odd child's body might
be there at the table her spirit was far away in some remote airy
cloudland borne aloft on the wings of imagination who would want such
a child about the place 

yet matthew wished to keep her of all unaccountable things marilla
felt that he wanted it just as much this morning as he had the night
before and that he would go on wanting it that was matthew's way take
a whim into his head and cling to it with the most amazing silent
persistency a persistency ten times more potent and effectual in its
very silence than if he had talked it out 

when the meal was ended anne came out of her reverie and offered to wash
the dishes 

 can you wash dishes right asked marilla distrustfully 

 pretty well i'm better at looking after children though i've had so
much experience at that it's such a pity you haven't any here for me to
look after 

 i don't feel as if i wanted any more children to look after than i've
got at present you're problem enough in all conscience what's to be
done with you i don't know matthew is a most ridiculous man 

 i think he's lovely said anne reproachfully he is so very
sympathetic he didn't mind how much i talked he seemed to like it i
felt that he was a kindred spirit as soon as ever i saw him 

 you're both queer enough if that's what you mean by kindred spirits 
 said marilla with a sniff yes you may wash the dishes take plenty of
hot water and be sure you dry them well i've got enough to attend to
this morning for i'll have to drive over to white sands in the afternoon
and see mrs spencer you'll come with me and we'll settle what's to be
done with you after you've finished the dishes go up-stairs and make
your bed 

anne washed the dishes deftly enough as marilla who kept a sharp eye on
the process discerned later on she made her bed less successfully for
she had never learned the art of wrestling with a feather tick but is
was done somehow and smoothed down and then marilla to get rid of her 
told her she might go out-of-doors and amuse herself until dinner time 

anne flew to the door face alight eyes glowing on the very threshold
she stopped short wheeled about came back and sat down by the table 
light and glow as effectually blotted out as if some one had clapped an
extinguisher on her 

 what's the matter now demanded marilla 

 i don't dare go out said anne in the tone of a martyr relinquishing
all earthly joys if i can't stay here there is no use in my loving
green gables and if i go out there and get acquainted with all those
trees and flowers and the orchard and the brook i'll not be able to help
loving it it's hard enough now so i won't make it any harder i want
to go out so much everything seems to be calling to me anne anne 
come out to us anne anne we want a playmate but it's better not 
there is no use in loving things if you have to be torn from them is
there and it's so hard to keep from loving things isn't it that was
why i was so glad when i thought i was going to live here i thought
i'd have so many things to love and nothing to hinder me but that brief
dream is over i am resigned to my fate now so i don't think i'll
go out for fear i'll get unresigned again what is the name of that
geranium on the window-sill please 

 that's the apple-scented geranium 

 oh i don't mean that sort of a name i mean just a name you gave it
yourself didn't you give it a name may i give it one then may i call
it let me see bonny would do may i call it bonny while i'm here oh 
do let me 

 goodness i don't care but where on earth is the sense of naming a
geranium 

 oh i like things to have handles even if they are only geraniums it
makes them seem more like people how do you know but that it hurts a
geranium's feelings just to be called a geranium and nothing else you
wouldn't like to be called nothing but a woman all the time yes i
shall call it bonny i named that cherry-tree outside my bedroom window
this morning i called it snow queen because it was so white of course 
it won't always be in blossom but one can imagine that it is can't
one 

 i never in all my life saw or heard anything to equal her muttered
marilla beating a retreat down to the cellar after potatoes she
is kind of interesting as matthew says i can feel already that i'm
wondering what on earth she'll say next she'll be casting a spell over
me too she's cast it over matthew that look he gave me when he went
out said everything he said or hinted last night over again i wish he
was like other men and would talk things out a body could answer back
then and argue him into reason but what's to be done with a man who
just looks 

anne had relapsed into reverie with her chin in her hands and her eyes
on the sky when marilla returned from her cellar pilgrimage there
marilla left her until the early dinner was on the table 

 i suppose i can have the mare and buggy this afternoon matthew said
marilla 

matthew nodded and looked wistfully at anne marilla intercepted the
look and said grimly 

 i'm going to drive over to white sands and settle this thing i'll take
anne with me and mrs spencer will probably make arrangements to send
her back to nova scotia at once i'll set your tea out for you and i'll
be home in time to milk the cows 

still matthew said nothing and marilla had a sense of having wasted
words and breath there is nothing more aggravating than a man who won't
talk back unless it is a woman who won't 

matthew hitched the sorrel into the buggy in due time and marilla and
anne set off matthew opened the yard gate for them and as they drove
slowly through he said to nobody in particular as it seemed 

 little jerry buote from the creek was here this morning and i told him
i guessed i'd hire him for the summer 

marilla made no reply but she hit the unlucky sorrel such a vicious
clip with the whip that the fat mare unused to such treatment whizzed
indignantly down the lane at an alarming pace marilla looked back once
as the buggy bounced along and saw that aggravating matthew leaning over
the gate looking wistfully after them 




chapter v anne's history


do you know said anne confidentially i've made up my mind to enjoy
this drive it's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy
things if you make up your mind firmly that you will of course you
must make it up firmly i am not going to think about going back to
the asylum while we're having our drive i'm just going to think about
the drive oh look there's one little early wild rose out isn't it
lovely don't you think it must be glad to be a rose wouldn't it be
nice if roses could talk i'm sure they could tell us such lovely
things and isn't pink the most bewitching color in the world i love
it but i can't wear it redheaded people can't wear pink not even in
imagination did you ever know of anybody whose hair was red when she
was young but got to be another color when she grew up 

 no i don't know as i ever did said marilla mercilessly and i
shouldn't think it likely to happen in your case either 

anne sighed 

 well that is another hope gone my life is a perfect graveyard of
buried hopes that's a sentence i read in a book once and i say it
over to comfort myself whenever i'm disappointed in anything 

 i don't see where the comforting comes in myself said marilla 

 why because it sounds so nice and romantic just as if i were a
heroine in a book you know i am so fond of romantic things and a
graveyard full of buried hopes is about as romantic a thing as one can
imagine isn't it i'm rather glad i have one are we going across the
lake of shining waters today 

 we're not going over barry's pond if that's what you mean by your lake
of shining waters we're going by the shore road 

 shore road sounds nice said anne dreamily is it as nice as it
sounds just when you said shore road i saw it in a picture in my
mind as quick as that and white sands is a pretty name too but i
don't like it as well as avonlea avonlea is a lovely name it just
sounds like music how far is it to white sands 

 it's five miles and as you're evidently bent on talking you might as
well talk to some purpose by telling me what you know about yourself 

 oh what i know about myself isn't really worth telling said anne
eagerly if you'll only let me tell you what i imagine about myself
you'll think it ever so much more interesting 

 no i don't want any of your imaginings just you stick to bald facts 
begin at the beginning where were you born and how old are you 

 i was eleven last march said anne resigning herself to bald facts
with a little sigh and i was born in bolingbroke nova scotia 
my father's name was walter shirley and he was a teacher in the
bolingbroke high school my mother's name was bertha shirley aren't
walter and bertha lovely names i'm so glad my parents had nice names 
it would be a real disgrace to have a father named well say jedediah 
wouldn't it 

 i guess it doesn't matter what a person's name is as long as he behaves
himself said marilla feeling herself called upon to inculcate a good
and useful moral 

 well i don't know anne looked thoughtful i read in a book once
that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet but i've never been
able to believe it i don't believe a rose would be as nice if it was
called a thistle or a skunk cabbage i suppose my father could have been
a good man even if he had been called jedediah but i'm sure it would
have been a cross well my mother was a teacher in the high school 
too but when she married father she gave up teaching of course a
husband was enough responsibility mrs thomas said that they were
a pair of babies and as poor as church mice they went to live in a
weeny-teeny little yellow house in bolingbroke i've never seen that
house but i've imagined it thousands of times i think it must have
had honeysuckle over the parlor window and lilacs in the front yard and
lilies of the valley just inside the gate yes and muslin curtains in
all the windows muslin curtains give a house such an air i was born
in that house mrs thomas said i was the homeliest baby she ever saw i
was so scrawny and tiny and nothing but eyes but that mother thought i
was perfectly beautiful i should think a mother would be a better judge
than a poor woman who came in to scrub wouldn't you i'm glad she
was satisfied with me anyhow i would feel so sad if i thought i was a
disappointment to her because she didn't live very long after that you
see she died of fever when i was just three months old i do wish she'd
lived long enough for me to remember calling her mother i think it
would be so sweet to say mother don't you and father died four days
afterwards from fever too that left me an orphan and folks were at
their wits end so mrs thomas said what to do with me you see 
nobody wanted me even then it seems to be my fate father and mother
had both come from places far away and it was well known they hadn't any
relatives living finally mrs thomas said she'd take me though she was
poor and had a drunken husband she brought me up by hand do you know
if there is anything in being brought up by hand that ought to make
people who are brought up that way better than other people because
whenever i was naughty mrs thomas would ask me how i could be such a
bad girl when she had brought me up by hand reproachful-like 

 mr and mrs thomas moved away from bolingbroke to marysville and i
lived with them until i was eight years old i helped look after the
thomas children there were four of them younger than me and i can tell
you they took a lot of looking after then mr thomas was killed
falling under a train and his mother offered to take mrs thomas and the
children but she didn't want me mrs thomas was at her wits end so
she said what to do with me then mrs hammond from up the river came
down and said she'd take me seeing i was handy with children and
i went up the river to live with her in a little clearing among the
stumps it was a very lonesome place i'm sure i could never have
lived there if i hadn't had an imagination mr hammond worked a little
sawmill up there and mrs hammond had eight children she had twins
three times i like babies in moderation but twins three times in
succession is too much i told mrs hammond so firmly when the last
pair came i used to get so dreadfully tired carrying them about 

 i lived up river with mrs hammond over two years and then mr hammond
died and mrs hammond broke up housekeeping she divided her children
among her relatives and went to the states i had to go to the asylum
at hopeton because nobody would take me they didn't want me at the
asylum either they said they were over-crowded as it was but they had
to take me and i was there four months until mrs spencer came 

anne finished up with another sigh of relief this time evidently
she did not like talking about her experiences in a world that had not
wanted her 

 did you ever go to school demanded marilla turning the sorrel mare
down the shore road 

 not a great deal i went a little the last year i stayed with mrs 
thomas when i went up river we were so far from a school that i
couldn't walk it in winter and there was a vacation in summer so i
could only go in the spring and fall but of course i went while i was
at the asylum i can read pretty well and i know ever so many pieces of
poetry off by heart the battle of hohenlinden and edinburgh after
flodden and bingen of the rhine and most of the lady of the lake 
and most of the seasons by james thompson don't you just love poetry
that gives you a crinkly feeling up and down your back there is a piece
in the fifth reader the downfall of poland that is just full of
thrills of course i wasn't in the fifth reader i was only in the
fourth but the big girls used to lend me theirs to read 

 were those women mrs thomas and mrs hammond good to you asked
marilla looking at anne out of the corner of her eye 

 o-o-o-h faltered anne her sensitive little face suddenly flushed
scarlet and embarrassment sat on her brow oh they meant to be i know
they meant to be just as good and kind as possible and when people
mean to be good to you you don't mind very much when they're not
quite always they had a good deal to worry them you know it's a very
trying to have a drunken husband you see and it must be very trying to
have twins three times in succession don't you think but i feel sure
they meant to be good to me 

marilla asked no more questions anne gave herself up to a silent
rapture over the shore road and marilla guided the sorrel abstractedly
while she pondered deeply pity was suddenly stirring in her heart for
the child what a starved unloved life she had had a life of drudgery
and poverty and neglect for marilla was shrewd enough to read between
the lines of anne's history and divine the truth no wonder she had been
so delighted at the prospect of a real home it was a pity she had to be
sent back what if she marilla should indulge matthew's unaccountable
whim and let her stay he was set on it and the child seemed a nice 
teachable little thing 

 she's got too much to say thought marilla but she might be trained
out of that and there's nothing rude or slangy in what she does say 
she's ladylike it's likely her people were nice folks 

the shore road was woodsy and wild and lonesome on the right hand 
scrub firs their spirits quite unbroken by long years of tussle with
the gulf winds grew thickly on the left were the steep red sandstone
cliffs so near the track in places that a mare of less steadiness than
the sorrel might have tried the nerves of the people behind her down
at the base of the cliffs were heaps of surf-worn rocks or little sandy
coves inlaid with pebbles as with ocean jewels beyond lay the sea 
shimmering and blue and over it soared the gulls their pinions
flashing silvery in the sunlight 

 isn't the sea wonderful said anne rousing from a long wide-eyed
silence once when i lived in marysville mr thomas hired an express
wagon and took us all to spend the day at the shore ten miles away 
i enjoyed every moment of that day even if i had to look after the
children all the time i lived it over in happy dreams for years 
but this shore is nicer than the marysville shore aren't those gulls
splendid would you like to be a gull i think i would that is if i
couldn't be a human girl don't you think it would be nice to wake up at
sunrise and swoop down over the water and away out over that lovely blue
all day and then at night to fly back to one's nest oh i can just
imagine myself doing it what big house is that just ahead please 

 that's the white sands hotel mr kirke runs it but the season hasn't
begun yet there are heaps of americans come there for the summer they
think this shore is just about right 

 i was afraid it might be mrs spencer's place said anne mournfully 
 i don't want to get there somehow it will seem like the end of
everything 




chapter vi marilla makes up her mind


get there they did however in due season mrs spencer lived in a big
yellow house at white sands cove and she came to the door with surprise
and welcome mingled on her benevolent face 

 dear dear she exclaimed you're the last folks i was looking for
today but i'm real glad to see you you'll put your horse in and how
are you anne 

 i'm as well as can be expected thank you said anne smilelessly a
blight seemed to have descended on her 

 i suppose we'll stay a little while to rest the mare said marilla 
 but i promised matthew i'd be home early the fact is mrs spencer 
there's been a queer mistake somewhere and i've come over to see where
it is we send word matthew and i for you to bring us a boy from the
asylum we told your brother robert to tell you we wanted a boy ten or
eleven years old 

 marilla cuthbert you don't say so said mrs spencer in distress 
 why robert sent word down by his daughter nancy and she said you
wanted a girl didn't she flora jane appealing to her daughter who had
come out to the steps 

 she certainly did miss cuthbert corroborated flora jane earnestly 

 i'm dreadful sorry said mrs spencer it's too bad but it certainly
wasn't my fault you see miss cuthbert i did the best i could and i
thought i was following your instructions nancy is a terrible flighty
thing i've often had to scold her well for her heedlessness 

 it was our own fault said marilla resignedly we should have come
to you ourselves and not left an important message to be passed along by
word of mouth in that fashion anyhow the mistake has been made and the
only thing to do is to set it right can we send the child back to the
asylum i suppose they'll take her back won't they 

 i suppose so said mrs spencer thoughtfully but i don't think
it will be necessary to send her back mrs peter blewett was up here
yesterday and she was saying to me how much she wished she'd sent by me
for a little girl to help her mrs peter has a large family you know 
and she finds it hard to get help anne will be the very girl for you i
call it positively providential 

marilla did not look as if she thought providence had much to do with
the matter here was an unexpectedly good chance to get this unwelcome
orphan off her hands and she did not even feel grateful for it 

she knew mrs peter blewett only by sight as a small shrewish-faced
woman without an ounce of superfluous flesh on her bones but she had
heard of her a terrible worker and driver mrs peter was said to
be and discharged servant girls told fearsome tales of her temper and
stinginess and her family of pert quarrelsome children marilla felt
a qualm of conscience at the thought of handing anne over to her tender
mercies 

 well i'll go in and we'll talk the matter over she said 

 and if there isn't mrs peter coming up the lane this blessed minute 
 exclaimed mrs spencer bustling her guests through the hall into the
parlor where a deadly chill struck on them as if the air had been
strained so long through dark green closely drawn blinds that it had
lost every particle of warmth it had ever possessed that is real
lucky for we can settle the matter right away take the armchair miss
cuthbert anne you sit here on the ottoman and don't wiggle let
me take your hats flora jane go out and put the kettle on good
afternoon mrs blewett we were just saying how fortunate it was you
happened along let me introduce you two ladies mrs blewett miss
cuthbert please excuse me for just a moment i forgot to tell flora
jane to take the buns out of the oven 

mrs spencer whisked away after pulling up the blinds anne sitting
mutely on the ottoman with her hands clasped tightly in her lap stared
at mrs blewett as one fascinated was she to be given into the keeping
of this sharp-faced sharp-eyed woman she felt a lump coming up in her
throat and her eyes smarted painfully she was beginning to be afraid
she couldn't keep the tears back when mrs spencer returned flushed
and beaming quite capable of taking any and every difficulty physical 
mental or spiritual into consideration and settling it out of hand 

 it seems there's been a mistake about this little girl mrs blewett 
 she said i was under the impression that mr and miss cuthbert wanted
a little girl to adopt i was certainly told so but it seems it was a
boy they wanted so if you're still of the same mind you were yesterday 
i think she'll be just the thing for you 

mrs blewett darted her eyes over anne from head to foot 

 how old are you and what's your name she demanded 

 anne shirley faltered the shrinking child not daring to make any
stipulations regarding the spelling thereof and i'm eleven years old 

 humph you don't look as if there was much to you but you're wiry i
don't know but the wiry ones are the best after all well if i take you
you'll have to be a good girl you know good and smart and respectful 
i'll expect you to earn your keep and no mistake about that yes i
suppose i might as well take her off your hands miss cuthbert the
baby's awful fractious and i'm clean worn out attending to him if you
like i can take her right home now 

marilla looked at anne and softened at sight of the child's pale face
with its look of mute misery the misery of a helpless little creature
who finds itself once more caught in the trap from which it had escaped 
marilla felt an uncomfortable conviction that if she denied the appeal
of that look it would haunt her to her dying day more-over she did
not fancy mrs blewett to hand a sensitive highstrung child over to
such a woman no she could not take the responsibility of doing that 

 well i don't know she said slowly i didn't say that matthew and i
had absolutely decided that we wouldn't keep her in fact i may say that
matthew is disposed to keep her i just came over to find out how the
mistake had occurred i think i'd better take her home again and talk it
over with matthew i feel that i oughtn't to decide on anything without
consulting him if we make up our mind not to keep her we'll bring or
send her over to you tomorrow night if we don't you may know that she
is going to stay with us will that suit you mrs blewett 

 i suppose it'll have to said mrs blewett ungraciously 

during marilla's speech a sunrise had been dawning on anne's face first
the look of despair faded out then came a faint flush of hope 
her eyes grew deep and bright as morning stars the child was quite
transfigured and a moment later when mrs spencer and mrs blewett
went out in quest of a recipe the latter had come to borrow she sprang
up and flew across the room to marilla 

 oh miss cuthbert did you really say that perhaps you would let me
stay at green gables she said in a breathless whisper as if speaking
aloud might shatter the glorious possibility did you really say it or
did i only imagine that you did 

 i think you'd better learn to control that imagination of yours anne 
if you can't distinguish between what is real and what isn't said
marilla crossly yes you did hear me say just that and no more it
isn't decided yet and perhaps we will conclude to let mrs blewett take
you after all she certainly needs you much more than i do 

 i'd rather go back to the asylum than go to live with her said anne
passionately she looks exactly like a like a gimlet 

marilla smothered a smile under the conviction that anne must be
reproved for such a speech 

 a little girl like you should be ashamed of talking so about a lady and
a stranger she said severely go back and sit down quietly and hold
your tongue and behave as a good girl should 

 i'll try to do and be anything you want me if you'll only keep me 
 said anne returning meekly to her ottoman 

when they arrived back at green gables that evening matthew met them in
the lane marilla from afar had noted him prowling along it and guessed
his motive she was prepared for the relief she read in his face when he
saw that she had at least brought back anne back with her but she said
nothing to him relative to the affair until they were both out in the
yard behind the barn milking the cows then she briefly told him anne's
history and the result of the interview with mrs spencer 

 i wouldn't give a dog i liked to that blewett woman said matthew with
unusual vim 

 i don't fancy her style myself admitted marilla but it's that
or keeping her ourselves matthew and since you seem to want her i
suppose i'm willing or have to be i've been thinking over the idea
until i've got kind of used to it it seems a sort of duty i've never
brought up a child especially a girl and i dare say i'll make a
terrible mess of it but i'll do my best so far as i'm concerned 
matthew she may stay 

matthew's shy face was a glow of delight 

 well now i reckoned you'd come to see it in that light marilla he
said she's such an interesting little thing 

 it'd be more to the point if you could say she was a useful little
thing retorted marilla but i'll make it my business to see she's
trained to be that and mind matthew you're not to go interfering with
my methods perhaps an old maid doesn't know much about bringing up
a child but i guess she knows more than an old bachelor so you just
leave me to manage her when i fail it'll be time enough to put your oar
in 

 there there marilla you can have your own way said matthew
reassuringly only be as good and kind to her as you can without
spoiling her i kind of think she's one of the sort you can do anything
with if you only get her to love you 

marilla sniffed to express her contempt for matthew's opinions
concerning anything feminine and walked off to the dairy with the
pails 

 i won't tell her tonight that she can stay she reflected as she
strained the milk into the creamers she'd be so excited that she
wouldn't sleep a wink marilla cuthbert you're fairly in for it did
you ever suppose you'd see the day when you'd be adopting an orphan
girl it's surprising enough but not so surprising as that matthew
should be at the bottom of it him that always seemed to have such a
mortal dread of little girls anyhow we've decided on the experiment
and goodness only knows what will come of it 




chapter vii anne says her prayers


when marilla took anne up to bed that night she said stiffly 

 now anne i noticed last night that you threw your clothes all about
the floor when you took them off that is a very untidy habit and i
can't allow it at all as soon as you take off any article of clothing
fold it neatly and place it on the chair i haven't any use at all for
little girls who aren't neat 

 i was so harrowed up in my mind last night that i didn't think about my
clothes at all said anne i'll fold them nicely tonight they always
made us do that at the asylum half the time though i'd forget i'd be
in such a hurry to get into bed nice and quiet and imagine things 

 you'll have to remember a little better if you stay here admonished
marilla there that looks something like say your prayers now and get
into bed 

 i never say any prayers announced anne 

marilla looked horrified astonishment 

 why anne what do you mean were you never taught to say your prayers 
god always wants little girls to say their prayers don't you know who
god is anne 

 god is a spirit infinite eternal and unchangeable in his being 
wisdom power holiness justice goodness and truth responded anne
promptly and glibly 

marilla looked rather relieved 

 so you do know something then thank goodness you're not quite a
heathen where did you learn that 

 oh at the asylum sunday-school they made us learn the whole
catechism i liked it pretty well there's something splendid about some
of the words infinite eternal and unchangeable isn't that grand it
has such a roll to it just like a big organ playing you couldn't quite
call it poetry i suppose but it sounds a lot like it doesn't it 

 we're not talking about poetry anne we are talking about saying your
prayers don't you know it's a terrible wicked thing not to say your
prayers every night i'm afraid you are a very bad little girl 

 you'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair said
anne reproachfully people who haven't red hair don't know what trouble
is mrs thomas told me that god made my hair red on purpose and i've
never cared about him since and anyhow i'd always be too tired at night
to bother saying prayers people who have to look after twins can't be
expected to say their prayers now do you honestly think they can 

marilla decided that anne's religious training must be begun at once 
plainly there was no time to be lost 

 you must say your prayers while you are under my roof anne 

 why of course if you want me to assented anne cheerfully i'd do
anything to oblige you but you'll have to tell me what to say for this
once after i get into bed i'll imagine out a real nice prayer to say
always i believe that it will be quite interesting now that i come to
think of it 

 you must kneel down said marilla in embarrassment 

anne knelt at marilla's knee and looked up gravely 

 why must people kneel down to pray if i really wanted to pray i'll
tell you what i'd do i'd go out into a great big field all alone
or into the deep deep woods and i'd look up into the
sky up up up into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no
end to its blueness and then i'd just feel a prayer well i'm ready 
what am i to say 

marilla felt more embarrassed than ever she had intended to teach anne
the childish classic now i lay me down to sleep but she had as
i have told you the glimmerings of a sense of humor which is simply
another name for a sense of fitness of things and it suddenly occurred
to her that that simple little prayer sacred to white-robed childhood
lisping at motherly knees was entirely unsuited to this freckled witch
of a girl who knew and cared nothing about god's love since she had
never had it translated to her through the medium of human love 

 you're old enough to pray for yourself anne she said finally just
thank god for your blessings and ask him humbly for the things you
want 

 well i'll do my best promised anne burying her face in marilla's
lap gracious heavenly father that's the way the ministers say it in
church so i suppose it's all right in private prayer isn't it she
interjected lifting her head for a moment 

 gracious heavenly father i thank thee for the white
 way of delight and the lake of shining waters and bonny
 and the snow queen i'm really extremely grateful for
 them and that's all the blessings i can think of just
 now to thank thee for as for the things i want 
 they're so numerous that it would take a great deal of
 time to name them all so i will only mention the two
 most important please let me stay at green gables 
 and please let me be good-looking when i grow up 
 i remain 
 yours respectfully 
 anne shirley 

 there did i do all right she asked eagerly getting up i could
have made it much more flowery if i'd had a little more time to think it
over 

poor marilla was only preserved from complete collapse by remembering
that it was not irreverence but simply spiritual ignorance on the part
of anne that was responsible for this extraordinary petition she tucked
the child up in bed mentally vowing that she should be taught a prayer
the very next day and was leaving the room with the light when anne
called her back 

 i've just thought of it now i should have said amen in place
of yours respectfully shouldn't i the way the ministers do i'd
forgotten it but i felt a prayer should be finished off in some way so
i put in the other do you suppose it will make any difference 

 i i don't suppose it will said marilla go to sleep now like a good
child good night 

 i can only say good night tonight with a clear conscience said anne 
cuddling luxuriously down among her pillows 

marilla retreated to the kitchen set the candle firmly on the table 
and glared at matthew 

 matthew cuthbert it's about time somebody adopted that child and
taught her something she's next door to a perfect heathen will you
believe that she never said a prayer in her life till tonight i'll send
her to the manse tomorrow and borrow the peep of the day series that's
what i'll do and she shall go to sunday-school just as soon as i can
get some suitable clothes made for her i foresee that i shall have
my hands full well well we can't get through this world without our
share of trouble i've had a pretty easy life of it so far but my time
has come at last and i suppose i'll just have to make the best of it 




chapter viii anne's bringing-up is begun


for reasons best known to herself marilla did not tell anne that
she was to stay at green gables until the next afternoon during the
forenoon she kept the child busy with various tasks and watched over her
with a keen eye while she did them by noon she had concluded that anne
was smart and obedient willing to work and quick to learn her most
serious shortcoming seemed to be a tendency to fall into daydreams in
the middle of a task and forget all about it until such time as she was
sharply recalled to earth by a reprimand or a catastrophe 

when anne had finished washing the dinner dishes she suddenly confronted
marilla with the air and expression of one desperately determined to
learn the worst her thin little body trembled from head to foot her
face flushed and her eyes dilated until they were almost black she
clasped her hands tightly and said in an imploring voice 

 oh please miss cuthbert won't you tell me if you are going to send
me away or not i've tried to be patient all the morning but i really
feel that i cannot bear not knowing any longer it's a dreadful feeling 
please tell me 

 you haven't scalded the dishcloth in clean hot water as i told you to
do said marilla immovably just go and do it before you ask any more
questions anne 

anne went and attended to the dishcloth then she returned to marilla
and fastened imploring eyes of the latter's face well said marilla 
unable to find any excuse for deferring her explanation longer i
suppose i might as well tell you matthew and i have decided to keep
you that is if you will try to be a good little girl and show yourself
grateful why child whatever is the matter 

 i'm crying said anne in a tone of bewilderment i can't think why 
i'm glad as glad can be oh glad doesn't seem the right word at all i
was glad about the white way and the cherry blossoms but this oh it's
something more than glad i'm so happy i'll try to be so good it
will be uphill work i expect for mrs thomas often told me i was
desperately wicked however i'll do my very best but can you tell me
why i'm crying 

 i suppose it's because you're all excited and worked up said marilla
disapprovingly sit down on that chair and try to calm yourself i'm
afraid you both cry and laugh far too easily yes you can stay here and
we will try to do right by you you must go to school but it's only a
fortnight till vacation so it isn't worth while for you to start before
it opens again in september 

 what am i to call you asked anne shall i always say miss cuthbert 
can i call you aunt marilla 

 no you'll call me just plain marilla i'm not used to being called
miss cuthbert and it would make me nervous 

 it sounds awfully disrespectful to just say marilla protested anne 

 i guess there'll be nothing disrespectful in it if you're careful
to speak respectfully everybody young and old in avonlea calls me
marilla except the minister he says miss cuthbert when he thinks of
it 

 i'd love to call you aunt marilla said anne wistfully i've never
had an aunt or any relation at all not even a grandmother it would
make me feel as if i really belonged to you can't i call you aunt
marilla 

 no i'm not your aunt and i don't believe in calling people names that
don't belong to them 

 but we could imagine you were my aunt 

 i couldn't said marilla grimly 

 do you never imagine things different from what they really are asked
anne wide-eyed 

 no 

 oh anne drew a long breath oh miss marilla how much you miss 

 i don't believe in imagining things different from what they really
are retorted marilla when the lord puts us in certain circumstances
he doesn't mean for us to imagine them away and that reminds me go
into the sitting room anne be sure your feet are clean and don't
let any flies in and bring me out the illustrated card that's on the
mantelpiece the lord's prayer is on it and you'll devote your spare
time this afternoon to learning it off by heart there's to be no more
of such praying as i heard last night 

 i suppose i was very awkward said anne apologetically but then you
see i'd never had any practice you couldn't really expect a person
to pray very well the first time she tried could you i thought out a
splendid prayer after i went to bed just as i promised you i would 
it was nearly as long as a minister's and so poetical but would you
believe it i couldn't remember one word when i woke up this morning 
and i'm afraid i'll never be able to think out another one as good 
somehow things never are so good when they're thought out a second
time have you ever noticed that 

 here is something for you to notice anne when i tell you to do
a thing i want you to obey me at once and not stand stock-still and
discourse about it just you go and do as i bid you 

anne promptly departed for the sitting-room across the hall she failed
to return after waiting ten minutes marilla laid down her knitting
and marched after her with a grim expression she found anne standing
motionless before a picture hanging on the wall between the two windows 
with her eyes a-star with dreams the white and green light strained
through apple trees and clustering vines outside fell over the rapt
little figure with a half-unearthly radiance 

 anne whatever are you thinking of demanded marilla sharply 

anne came back to earth with a start 

 that she said pointing to the picture a rather vivid chromo
entitled christ blessing little children and i was just imagining i
was one of them that i was the little girl in the blue dress standing
off by herself in the corner as if she didn't belong to anybody like
me she looks lonely and sad don't you think i guess she hadn't any
father or mother of her own but she wanted to be blessed too so she
just crept shyly up on the outside of the crowd hoping nobody would
notice her except him i'm sure i know just how she felt her heart
must have beat and her hands must have got cold like mine did when i
asked you if i could stay she was afraid he mightn't notice her but
it's likely he did don't you think i've been trying to imagine it all
out her edging a little nearer all the time until she was quite close
to him and then he would look at her and put his hand on her hair and
oh such a thrill of joy as would run over her but i wish the artist
hadn't painted him so sorrowful looking all his pictures are like that 
if you've noticed but i don't believe he could really have looked so
sad or the children would have been afraid of him 

 anne said marilla wondering why she had not broken into this speech
long before you shouldn't talk that way it's irreverent positively
irreverent 

anne's eyes marveled 

 why i felt just as reverent as could be i'm sure i didn't mean to be
irreverent 

 well i don't suppose you did but it doesn't sound right to talk so
familiarly about such things and another thing anne when i send you
after something you're to bring it at once and not fall into mooning and
imagining before pictures remember that take that card and come right
to the kitchen now sit down in the corner and learn that prayer off by
heart 

anne set the card up against the jugful of apple blossoms she had
brought in to decorate the dinner-table marilla had eyed that
decoration askance but had said nothing propped her chin on her hands 
and fell to studying it intently for several silent minutes 

 i like this she announced at length it's beautiful i've heard it
before i heard the superintendent of the asylum sunday school say it
over once but i didn't like it then he had such a cracked voice and
he prayed it so mournfully i really felt sure he thought praying was a
disagreeable duty this isn't poetry but it makes me feel just the same
way poetry does our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name 
that is just like a line of music oh i'm so glad you thought of making
me learn this miss marilla 

 well learn it and hold your tongue said marilla shortly 

anne tipped the vase of apple blossoms near enough to bestow a soft
kiss on a pink-cupped bud and then studied diligently for some moments
longer 

 marilla she demanded presently do you think that i shall ever have
a bosom friend in avonlea 

 a a what kind of friend 

 a bosom friend an intimate friend you know a really kindred spirit
to whom i can confide my inmost soul i've dreamed of meeting her all
my life i never really supposed i would but so many of my loveliest
dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will too do
you think it's possible 

 diana barry lives over at orchard slope and she's about your age she's
a very nice little girl and perhaps she will be a playmate for you when
she comes home she's visiting her aunt over at carmody just now you'll
have to be careful how you behave yourself though mrs barry is a
very particular woman she won't let diana play with any little girl who
isn't nice and good 

anne looked at marilla through the apple blossoms her eyes aglow with
interest 

 what is diana like her hair isn't red is it oh i hope not it's bad
enough to have red hair myself but i positively couldn't endure it in a
bosom friend 

 diana is a very pretty little girl she has black eyes and hair and
rosy cheeks and she is good and smart which is better than being
pretty 

marilla was as fond of morals as the duchess in wonderland and was
firmly convinced that one should be tacked on to every remark made to a
child who was being brought up 

but anne waved the moral inconsequently aside and seized only on the
delightful possibilities before it 

 oh i'm so glad she's pretty next to being beautiful oneself and
that's impossible in my case it would be best to have a beautiful bosom
friend when i lived with mrs thomas she had a bookcase in her sitting
room with glass doors there weren't any books in it mrs thomas kept
her best china and her preserves there when she had any preserves to
keep one of the doors was broken mr thomas smashed it one night
when he was slightly intoxicated but the other was whole and i used to
pretend that my reflection in it was another little girl who lived in
it i called her katie maurice and we were very intimate i used to
talk to her by the hour especially on sunday and tell her everything 
katie was the comfort and consolation of my life we used to pretend
that the bookcase was enchanted and that if i only knew the spell i
could open the door and step right into the room where katie maurice
lived instead of into mrs thomas shelves of preserves and china and
then katie maurice would have taken me by the hand and led me out into a
wonderful place all flowers and sunshine and fairies and we would have
lived there happy for ever after when i went to live with mrs hammond
it just broke my heart to leave katie maurice she felt it dreadfully 
too i know she did for she was crying when she kissed me good-bye
through the bookcase door there was no bookcase at mrs hammond's but
just up the river a little way from the house there was a long green
little valley and the loveliest echo lived there it echoed back every
word you said even if you didn't talk a bit loud so i imagined that it
was a little girl called violetta and we were great friends and i loved
her almost as well as i loved katie maurice not quite but almost you
know the night before i went to the asylum i said good-bye to violetta 
and oh her good-bye came back to me in such sad sad tones i had
become so attached to her that i hadn't the heart to imagine a bosom
friend at the asylum even if there had been any scope for imagination
there 

 i think it's just as well there wasn't said marilla drily i
don't approve of such goings-on you seem to half believe your own
imaginations it will be well for you to have a real live friend to
put such nonsense out of your head but don't let mrs barry hear you
talking about your katie maurices and your violettas or she'll think you
tell stories 

 oh i won't i couldn't talk of them to everybody their memories are
too sacred for that but i thought i'd like to have you know about them 
oh look here's a big bee just tumbled out of an apple blossom just
think what a lovely place to live in an apple blossom fancy going to
sleep in it when the wind was rocking it if i wasn't a human girl i
think i'd like to be a bee and live among the flowers 

 yesterday you wanted to be a sea gull sniffed marilla i think you
are very fickle minded i told you to learn that prayer and not talk 
but it seems impossible for you to stop talking if you've got anybody
that will listen to you so go up to your room and learn it 

 oh i know it pretty nearly all now all but just the last line 

 well never mind do as i tell you go to your room and finish learning
it well and stay there until i call you down to help me get tea 

 can i take the apple blossoms with me for company pleaded anne 

 no you don't want your room cluttered up with flowers you should have
left them on the tree in the first place 

 i did feel a little that way too said anne i kind of felt i
shouldn't shorten their lovely lives by picking them i wouldn't want
to be picked if i were an apple blossom but the temptation was
 irresistible what do you do when you meet with an irresistible
temptation 

 anne did you hear me tell you to go to your room 

anne sighed retreated to the east gable and sat down in a chair by the
window 

 there i know this prayer i learned that last sentence coming
upstairs now i'm going to imagine things into this room so that they'll
always stay imagined the floor is covered with a white velvet carpet
with pink roses all over it and there are pink silk curtains at the
windows the walls are hung with gold and silver brocade tapestry the
furniture is mahogany i never saw any mahogany but it does sound so 
luxurious this is a couch all heaped with gorgeous silken cushions 
pink and blue and crimson and gold and i am reclining gracefully on it 
i can see my reflection in that splendid big mirror hanging on the wall 
i am tall and regal clad in a gown of trailing white lace with a
pearl cross on my breast and pearls in my hair my hair is of midnight
darkness and my skin is a clear ivory pallor my name is the lady
cordelia fitzgerald no it isn't i can't make that seem real 

she danced up to the little looking-glass and peered into it her
pointed freckled face and solemn gray eyes peered back at her 

 you're only anne of green gables she said earnestly and i see you 
just as you are looking now whenever i try to imagine i'm the lady
cordelia but it's a million times nicer to be anne of green gables than
anne of nowhere in particular isn't it 

she bent forward kissed her reflection affectionately and betook
herself to the open window 


 dear snow queen good afternoon and good afternoon dear birches down
in the hollow and good afternoon dear gray house up on the hill i
wonder if diana is to be my bosom friend i hope she will and i shall
love her very much but i must never quite forget katie maurice
and violetta they would feel so hurt if i did and i'd hate to hurt
anybody's feelings even a little bookcase girl's or a little echo
girl's i must be careful to remember them and send them a kiss every
day 

anne blew a couple of airy kisses from her fingertips past the cherry
blossoms and then with her chin in her hands drifted luxuriously out
on a sea of daydreams 




chapter ix mrs rachel lynde is properly horrified


anne had been a fortnight at green gables before mrs lynde arrived to
inspect her mrs rachel to do her justice was not to blame for this 
a severe and unseasonable attack of grippe had confined that good lady
to her house ever since the occasion of her last visit to green gables 
mrs rachel was not often sick and had a well-defined contempt for
people who were but grippe she asserted was like no other illness on
earth and could only be interpreted as one of the special visitations
of providence as soon as her doctor allowed her to put her foot
out-of-doors she hurried up to green gables bursting with curiosity to
see matthew and marilla's orphan concerning whom all sorts of stories
and suppositions had gone abroad in avonlea 

anne had made good use of every waking moment of that fortnight already
she was acquainted with every tree and shrub about the place she had
discovered that a lane opened out below the apple orchard and ran up
through a belt of woodland and she had explored it to its furthest end
in all its delicious vagaries of brook and bridge fir coppice and wild
cherry arch corners thick with fern and branching byways of maple and
mountain ash 

she had made friends with the spring down in the hollow that wonderful
deep clear icy-cold spring it was set about with smooth red sandstones
and rimmed in by great palm-like clumps of water fern and beyond it was
a log bridge over the brook 

that bridge led anne's dancing feet up over a wooded hill beyond where
perpetual twilight reigned under the straight thick-growing firs and
spruces the only flowers there were myriads of delicate june bells 
 those shyest and sweetest of woodland blooms and a few pale aerial
starflowers like the spirits of last year's blossoms gossamers
glimmered like threads of silver among the trees and the fir boughs and
tassels seemed to utter friendly speech 

all these raptured voyages of exploration were made in the odd half
hours which she was allowed for play and anne talked matthew and
marilla half-deaf over her discoveries not that matthew complained to
be sure he listened to it all with a wordless smile of enjoyment on his
face marilla permitted the chatter until she found herself becoming
too interested in it whereupon she always promptly quenched anne by a
curt command to hold her tongue 

anne was out in the orchard when mrs rachel came wandering at her
own sweet will through the lush tremulous grasses splashed with ruddy
evening sunshine so that good lady had an excellent chance to talk
her illness fully over describing every ache and pulse beat with
such evident enjoyment that marilla thought even grippe must bring its
compensations when details were exhausted mrs rachel introduced the
real reason of her call 

 i've been hearing some surprising things about you and matthew 

 i don't suppose you are any more surprised than i am myself said
marilla i'm getting over my surprise now 

 it was too bad there was such a mistake said mrs rachel
sympathetically couldn't you have sent her back 

 i suppose we could but we decided not to matthew took a fancy to her 
and i must say i like her myself although i admit she has her faults 
the house seems a different place already she's a real bright little
thing 

marilla said more than she had intended to say when she began for she
read disapproval in mrs rachel's expression 

 it's a great responsibility you've taken on yourself said that
lady gloomily especially when you've never had any experience with
children you don't know much about her or her real disposition i
suppose and there's no guessing how a child like that will turn out 
but i don't want to discourage you i'm sure marilla 

 i'm not feeling discouraged was marilla's dry response when i make
up my mind to do a thing it stays made up i suppose you'd like to see
anne i'll call her in 

anne came running in presently her face sparkling with the delight of
her orchard rovings but abashed at finding the delight herself in
the unexpected presence of a stranger she halted confusedly inside
the door she certainly was an odd-looking little creature in the short
tight wincey dress she had worn from the asylum below which her thin
legs seemed ungracefully long her freckles were more numerous and
obtrusive than ever the wind had ruffled her hatless hair into
over-brilliant disorder it had never looked redder than at that moment 

 well they didn't pick you for your looks that's sure and certain 
 was mrs rachel lynde's emphatic comment mrs rachel was one of those
delightful and popular people who pride themselves on speaking their
mind without fear or favor she's terrible skinny and homely marilla 
come here child and let me have a look at you lawful heart did
any one ever see such freckles and hair as red as carrots come here 
child i say 

anne came there but not exactly as mrs rachel expected with one
bound she crossed the kitchen floor and stood before mrs rachel her
face scarlet with anger her lips quivering and her whole slender form
trembling from head to foot 

 i hate you she cried in a choked voice stamping her foot on the
floor i hate you i hate you i hate you a louder stamp with each
assertion of hatred how dare you call me skinny and ugly how dare
you say i'm freckled and redheaded you are a rude impolite unfeeling
woman 

 anne exclaimed marilla in consternation 

but anne continued to face mrs rachel undauntedly head up eyes
blazing hands clenched passionate indignation exhaling from her like
an atmosphere 

 how dare you say such things about me she repeated vehemently how
would you like to have such things said about you how would you like
to be told that you are fat and clumsy and probably hadn't a spark of
imagination in you i don't care if i do hurt your feelings by saying
so i hope i hurt them you have hurt mine worse than they were ever
hurt before even by mrs thomas intoxicated husband and i'll never 
forgive you for it never never 

stamp stamp 

 did anybody ever see such a temper exclaimed the horrified mrs 
rachel 

 anne go to your room and stay there until i come up said marilla 
recovering her powers of speech with difficulty 

anne bursting into tears rushed to the hall door slammed it until the
tins on the porch wall outside rattled in sympathy and fled through the
hall and up the stairs like a whirlwind a subdued slam above told that
the door of the east gable had been shut with equal vehemence 

 well i don't envy you your job bringing that up marilla said mrs 
rachel with unspeakable solemnity 

marilla opened her lips to say she knew not what of apology or
deprecation what she did say was a surprise to herself then and ever
afterwards 

 you shouldn't have twitted her about her looks rachel 

 marilla cuthbert you don't mean to say that you are upholding her in
such a terrible display of temper as we've just seen demanded mrs 
rachel indignantly 

 no said marilla slowly i'm not trying to excuse her she's been
very naughty and i'll have to give her a talking to about it but we
must make allowances for her she's never been taught what is right and
you were too hard on her rachel 

marilla could not help tacking on that last sentence although she was
again surprised at herself for doing it mrs rachel got up with an air
of offended dignity 

 well i see that i'll have to be very careful what i say after this 
marilla since the fine feelings of orphans brought from goodness
knows where have to be considered before anything else oh no i'm not
vexed don't worry yourself i'm too sorry for you to leave any room for
anger in my mind you'll have your own troubles with that child but
if you'll take my advice which i suppose you won't do although i've
brought up ten children and buried two you'll do that talking to you
mention with a fair-sized birch switch i should think that would be the
most effective language for that kind of a child her temper matches her
hair i guess well good evening marilla i hope you'll come down to
see me often as usual but you can't expect me to visit here again in a
hurry if i'm liable to be flown at and insulted in such a fashion it's
something new in my experience 

whereat mrs rachel swept out and away if a fat woman who always
waddled could be said to sweep away and marilla with a very solemn face
betook herself to the east gable 

on the way upstairs she pondered uneasily as to what she ought to do 
she felt no little dismay over the scene that had just been enacted 
how unfortunate that anne should have displayed such temper before mrs 
rachel lynde of all people then marilla suddenly became aware of an
uncomfortable and rebuking consciousness that she felt more humiliation
over this than sorrow over the discovery of such a serious defect
in anne's disposition and how was she to punish her the amiable
suggestion of the birch switch to the efficiency of which all of mrs 
rachel's own children could have borne smarting testimony did not
appeal to marilla she did not believe she could whip a child no 
some other method of punishment must be found to bring anne to a proper
realization of the enormity of her offense 

marilla found anne face downward on her bed crying bitterly quite
oblivious of muddy boots on a clean counterpane 

 anne she said not ungently 

no answer 

 anne with greater severity get off that bed this minute and listen
to what i have to say to you 

anne squirmed off the bed and sat rigidly on a chair beside it her face
swollen and tear-stained and her eyes fixed stubbornly on the floor 

 this is a nice way for you to behave anne aren't you ashamed of
yourself 

 she hadn't any right to call me ugly and redheaded retorted anne 
evasive and defiant 

 you hadn't any right to fly into such a fury and talk the way you did
to her anne i was ashamed of you thoroughly ashamed of you i
wanted you to behave nicely to mrs lynde and instead of that you have
disgraced me i'm sure i don't know why you should lose your temper like
that just because mrs lynde said you were red-haired and homely you
say it yourself often enough 

 oh but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and
hearing other people say it wailed anne you may know a thing is
so but you can't help hoping other people don't quite think it is i
suppose you think i have an awful temper but i couldn't help it when
she said those things something just rose right up in me and choked me 
i had to fly out at her 

 well you made a fine exhibition of yourself i must say mrs lynde
will have a nice story to tell about you everywhere and she'll tell
it too it was a dreadful thing for you to lose your temper like that 
anne 

 just imagine how you would feel if somebody told you to your face that
you were skinny and ugly pleaded anne tearfully 

an old remembrance suddenly rose up before marilla she had been a very
small child when she had heard one aunt say of her to another what a
pity she is such a dark homely little thing marilla was every day of
fifty before the sting had gone out of that memory 

 i don't say that i think mrs lynde was exactly right in saying what
she did to you anne she admitted in a softer tone rachel is too
outspoken but that is no excuse for such behavior on your part she
was a stranger and an elderly person and my visitor all three very good
reasons why you should have been respectful to her you were rude and
saucy and marilla had a saving inspiration of punishment you must go
to her and tell her you are very sorry for your bad temper and ask her
to forgive you 

 i can never do that said anne determinedly and darkly you can
punish me in any way you like marilla you can shut me up in a dark 
damp dungeon inhabited by snakes and toads and feed me only on bread and
water and i shall not complain but i cannot ask mrs lynde to forgive
me 

 we're not in the habit of shutting people up in dark damp dungeons 
 said marilla drily especially as they're rather scarce in avonlea but
apologize to mrs lynde you must and shall and you'll stay here in your
room until you can tell me you're willing to do it 

 i shall have to stay here forever then said anne mournfully because
i can't tell mrs lynde i'm sorry i said those things to her how can
i i'm not sorry i'm sorry i've vexed you but i'm glad i told her just
what i did it was a great satisfaction i can't say i'm sorry when i'm
not can i i can't even imagine i'm sorry 

 perhaps your imagination will be in better working order by the
morning said marilla rising to depart you'll have the night to
think over your conduct in and come to a better frame of mind you said
you would try to be a very good girl if we kept you at green gables but
i must say it hasn't seemed very much like it this evening 

leaving this parthian shaft to rankle in anne's stormy bosom marilla
descended to the kitchen grievously troubled in mind and vexed in
soul she was as angry with herself as with anne because whenever she
recalled mrs rachel's dumbfounded countenance her lips twitched with
amusement and she felt a most reprehensible desire to laugh 




chapter x anne's apology


marilla said nothing to matthew about the affair that evening but when
anne proved still refractory the next morning an explanation had to be
made to account for her absence from the breakfast table marilla told
matthew the whole story taking pains to impress him with a due sense of
the enormity of anne's behavior 

 it's a good thing rachel lynde got a calling down she's a meddlesome
old gossip was matthew's consolatory rejoinder 

 matthew cuthbert i'm astonished at you you know that anne's behavior
was dreadful and yet you take her part i suppose you'll be saying next
thing that she oughtn't to be punished at all 

 well now no not exactly said matthew uneasily i reckon she
ought to be punished a little but don't be too hard on her marilla 
recollect she hasn't ever had anyone to teach her right you're you're
going to give her something to eat aren't you 

 when did you ever hear of me starving people into good behavior 
 demanded marilla indignantly she'll have her meals regular and
i'll carry them up to her myself but she'll stay up there until she's
willing to apologize to mrs lynde and that's final matthew 

breakfast dinner and supper were very silent meals for anne still
remained obdurate after each meal marilla carried a well-filled tray
to the east gable and brought it down later on not noticeably depleted 
matthew eyed its last descent with a troubled eye had anne eaten
anything at all 

when marilla went out that evening to bring the cows from the back
pasture matthew who had been hanging about the barns and watching 
slipped into the house with the air of a burglar and crept upstairs as
a general thing matthew gravitated between the kitchen and the little
bedroom off the hall where he slept once in a while he ventured
uncomfortably into the parlor or sitting room when the minister came to
tea but he had never been upstairs in his own house since the spring he
helped marilla paper the spare bedroom and that was four years ago 

he tiptoed along the hall and stood for several minutes outside the
door of the east gable before he summoned courage to tap on it with his
fingers and then open the door to peep in 

anne was sitting on the yellow chair by the window gazing mournfully out
into the garden very small and unhappy she looked and matthew's heart
smote him he softly closed the door and tiptoed over to her 

 anne he whispered as if afraid of being overheard how are you
making it anne 

anne smiled wanly 

 pretty well i imagine a good deal and that helps to pass the time of
course it's rather lonesome but then i may as well get used to that 

anne smiled again bravely facing the long years of solitary
imprisonment before her 

matthew recollected that he must say what he had come to say without
loss of time lest marilla return prematurely well now anne don't
you think you'd better do it and have it over with he whispered 
 it'll have to be done sooner or later you know for marilla's a
dreadful deter-mined woman dreadful determined anne do it right off 
i say and have it over 

 do you mean apologize to mrs lynde 

 yes apologize that's the very word said matthew eagerly just
smooth it over so to speak that's what i was trying to get at 

 i suppose i could do it to oblige you said anne thoughtfully it
would be true enough to say i am sorry because i am sorry now i wasn't
a bit sorry last night i was mad clear through and i stayed mad all
night i know i did because i woke up three times and i was just
furious every time but this morning it was over i wasn't in a temper
anymore and it left a dreadful sort of goneness too i felt so ashamed
of myself but i just couldn't think of going and telling mrs lynde
so it would be so humiliating i made up my mind i'd stay shut up here
forever rather than do that but still i'd do anything for you if you
really want me to 

 well now of course i do it's terrible lonesome downstairs without
you just go and smooth things over that's a good girl 

 very well said anne resignedly i'll tell marilla as soon as she
comes in i've repented 

 that's right that's right anne but don't tell marilla i said
anything about it she might think i was putting my oar in and i
promised not to do that 

 wild horses won't drag the secret from me promised anne solemnly 
 how would wild horses drag a secret from a person anyhow 

but matthew was gone scared at his own success he fled hastily to the
remotest corner of the horse pasture lest marilla should suspect what
he had been up to marilla herself upon her return to the house was
agreeably surprised to hear a plaintive voice calling marilla over
the banisters 

 well she said going into the hall 

 i'm sorry i lost my temper and said rude things and i'm willing to go
and tell mrs lynde so 

 very well marilla's crispness gave no sign of her relief she had
been wondering what under the canopy she should do if anne did not give
in i'll take you down after milking 

accordingly after milking behold marilla and anne walking down the
lane the former erect and triumphant the latter drooping and dejected 
but halfway down anne's dejection vanished as if by enchantment she
lifted her head and stepped lightly along her eyes fixed on the sunset
sky and an air of subdued exhilaration about her marilla beheld the
change disapprovingly this was no meek penitent such as it behooved her
to take into the presence of the offended mrs lynde 

 what are you thinking of anne she asked sharply 

 i'm imagining out what i must say to mrs lynde answered anne
dreamily 

this was satisfactory or should have been so but marilla could not
rid herself of the notion that something in her scheme of punishment was
going askew anne had no business to look so rapt and radiant 

rapt and radiant anne continued until they were in the very presence
of mrs lynde who was sitting knitting by her kitchen window then the
radiance vanished mournful penitence appeared on every feature before
a word was spoken anne suddenly went down on her knees before the
astonished mrs rachel and held out her hands beseechingly 

 oh mrs lynde i am so extremely sorry she said with a quiver in
her voice i could never express all my sorrow no not if i used up
a whole dictionary you must just imagine it i behaved terribly to
you and i've disgraced the dear friends matthew and marilla who have
let me stay at green gables although i'm not a boy i'm a dreadfully
wicked and ungrateful girl and i deserve to be punished and cast out
by respectable people forever it was very wicked of me to fly into a
temper because you told me the truth it was the truth every word you
said was true my hair is red and i'm freckled and skinny and ugly 
what i said to you was true too but i shouldn't have said it oh mrs 
lynde please please forgive me if you refuse it will be a lifelong
sorrow on a poor little orphan girl would you even if she had a
dreadful temper oh i am sure you wouldn't please say you forgive me 
mrs lynde 

anne clasped her hands together bowed her head and waited for the word
of judgment 

there was no mistaking her sincerity it breathed in every tone of her
voice both marilla and mrs lynde recognized its unmistakable ring 
but the former under-stood in dismay that anne was actually enjoying
her valley of humiliation was reveling in the thoroughness of her
abasement where was the wholesome punishment upon which she marilla 
had plumed herself anne had turned it into a species of positive
pleasure 

good mrs lynde not being overburdened with perception did not see
this she only perceived that anne had made a very thorough apology and
all resentment vanished from her kindly if somewhat officious heart 

 there there get up child she said heartily of course i forgive
you i guess i was a little too hard on you anyway but i'm such an
outspoken person you just mustn't mind me that's what it can't be
denied your hair is terrible red but i knew a girl once went to school
with her in fact whose hair was every mite as red as yours when she
was young but when she grew up it darkened to a real handsome auburn i
wouldn't be a mite surprised if yours did too not a mite 

 oh mrs lynde anne drew a long breath as she rose to her feet you
have given me a hope i shall always feel that you are a benefactor oh 
i could endure anything if i only thought my hair would be a handsome
auburn when i grew up it would be so much easier to be good if one's
hair was a handsome auburn don't you think and now may i go out into
your garden and sit on that bench under the apple-trees while you and
marilla are talking there is so much more scope for imagination out
there 

 laws yes run along child and you can pick a bouquet of them white
june lilies over in the corner if you like 

as the door closed behind anne mrs lynde got briskly up to light a
lamp 

 she's a real odd little thing take this chair marilla it's easier
than the one you've got i just keep that for the hired boy to sit
on yes she certainly is an odd child but there is something kind of
taking about her after all i don't feel so surprised at you and matthew
keeping her as i did nor so sorry for you either she may turn out all
right of course she has a queer way of expressing herself a little
too well too kind of forcible you know but she'll likely get over
that now that she's come to live among civilized folks and then her
temper's pretty quick i guess but there's one comfort a child that
has a quick temper just blaze up and cool down ain't never likely to
be sly or deceitful preserve me from a sly child that's what on the
whole marilla i kind of like her 

when marilla went home anne came out of the fragrant twilight of the
orchard with a sheaf of white narcissi in her hands 

 i apologized pretty well didn't i she said proudly as they went
down the lane i thought since i had to do it i might as well do it
thoroughly 

 you did it thoroughly all right enough was marilla's comment 
marilla was dismayed at finding herself inclined to laugh over the
recollection she had also an uneasy feeling that she ought to scold
anne for apologizing so well but then that was ridiculous she
compromised with her conscience by saying severely 

 i hope you won't have occasion to make many more such apologies i hope
you'll try to control your temper now anne 

 that wouldn't be so hard if people wouldn't twit me about my looks 
 said anne with a sigh i don't get cross about other things but i'm
 so tired of being twitted about my hair and it just makes me boil right
over do you suppose my hair will really be a handsome auburn when i
grow up 

 you shouldn't think so much about your looks anne i'm afraid you are
a very vain little girl 

 how can i be vain when i know i'm homely protested anne i love
pretty things and i hate to look in the glass and see something that
isn't pretty it makes me feel so sorrowful just as i feel when i look
at any ugly thing i pity it because it isn't beautiful 

 handsome is as handsome does quoted marilla i've had that said
to me before but i have my doubts about it remarked skeptical anne 
sniffing at her narcissi oh aren't these flowers sweet it was lovely
of mrs lynde to give them to me i have no hard feelings against mrs 
lynde now it gives you a lovely comfortable feeling to apologize and
be forgiven doesn't it aren't the stars bright tonight if you could
live in a star which one would you pick i'd like that lovely clear big
one away over there above that dark hill 

 anne do hold your tongue said marilla thoroughly worn out trying to
follow the gyrations of anne's thoughts 

anne said no more until they turned into their own lane a little gypsy
wind came down it to meet them laden with the spicy perfume of young
dew-wet ferns far up in the shadows a cheerful light gleamed out
through the trees from the kitchen at green gables anne suddenly came
close to marilla and slipped her hand into the older woman's hard palm 

 it's lovely to be going home and know it's home she said i love
green gables already and i never loved any place before no place ever
seemed like home oh marilla i'm so happy i could pray right now and
not find it a bit hard 

something warm and pleasant welled up in marilla's heart at touch of
that thin little hand in her own a throb of the maternity she had
missed perhaps its very unaccustomedness and sweetness disturbed
her she hastened to restore her sensations to their normal calm by
inculcating a moral 

 if you'll be a good girl you'll always be happy anne and you should
never find it hard to say your prayers 

 saying one's prayers isn't exactly the same thing as praying said
anne meditatively but i'm going to imagine that i'm the wind that is
blowing up there in those tree tops when i get tired of the trees i'll
imagine i'm gently waving down here in the ferns and then i'll fly over
to mrs lynde's garden and set the flowers dancing and then i'll go
with one great swoop over the clover field and then i'll blow over the
lake of shining waters and ripple it all up into little sparkling waves 
oh there's so much scope for imagination in a wind so i'll not talk
any more just now marilla 

 thanks be to goodness for that breathed marilla in devout relief 




chapter xi anne's impressions of sunday-school


well how do you like them said marilla 

anne was standing in the gable room looking solemnly at three new
dresses spread out on the bed one was of snuffy colored gingham which
marilla had been tempted to buy from a peddler the preceding summer
because it looked so serviceable one was of black-and-white checkered
sateen which she had picked up at a bargain counter in the winter and
one was a stiff print of an ugly blue shade which she had purchased that
week at a carmody store 

she had made them up herself and they were all made alike plain skirts
fulled tightly to plain waists with sleeves as plain as waist and skirt
and tight as sleeves could be 

 i'll imagine that i like them said anne soberly 

 i don't want you to imagine it said marilla offended oh i can see
you don't like the dresses what is the matter with them aren't they
neat and clean and new 

 yes 

 then why don't you like them 

 they're they're not pretty said anne reluctantly 

 pretty marilla sniffed i didn't trouble my head about getting
pretty dresses for you i don't believe in pampering vanity anne i'll
tell you that right off those dresses are good sensible serviceable
dresses without any frills or furbelows about them and they're all
you'll get this summer the brown gingham and the blue print will do
you for school when you begin to go the sateen is for church and sunday
school i'll expect you to keep them neat and clean and not to tear
them i should think you'd be grateful to get most anything after those
skimpy wincey things you've been wearing 

 oh i am grateful protested anne but i'd be ever so much
gratefuller if if you'd made just one of them with puffed sleeves 
puffed sleeves are so fashionable now it would give me such a thrill 
marilla just to wear a dress with puffed sleeves 

 well you'll have to do without your thrill i hadn't any material
to waste on puffed sleeves i think they are ridiculous-looking things
anyhow i prefer the plain sensible ones 

 but i'd rather look ridiculous when everybody else does than plain and
sensible all by myself persisted anne mournfully 

 trust you for that well hang those dresses carefully up in your
closet and then sit down and learn the sunday school lesson i got
a quarterly from mr bell for you and you'll go to sunday school
tomorrow said marilla disappearing downstairs in high dudgeon 

anne clasped her hands and looked at the dresses 

 i did hope there would be a white one with puffed sleeves she
whispered disconsolately i prayed for one but i didn't much expect it
on that account i didn't suppose god would have time to bother about
a little orphan girl's dress i knew i'd just have to depend on
marilla for it well fortunately i can imagine that one of them is of
snow-white muslin with lovely lace frills and three-puffed sleeves 

the next morning warnings of a sick headache prevented marilla from
going to sunday-school with anne 

 you'll have to go down and call for mrs lynde anne she said 
 she'll see that you get into the right class now mind you behave
yourself properly stay to preaching afterwards and ask mrs lynde to
show you our pew here's a cent for collection don't stare at people
and don't fidget i shall expect you to tell me the text when you come
home 

anne started off irreproachable arrayed in the stiff black-and-white
sateen which while decent as regards length and certainly not open to
the charge of skimpiness contrived to emphasize every corner and angle
of her thin figure her hat was a little flat glossy new sailor the
extreme plainness of which had likewise much disappointed anne who
had permitted herself secret visions of ribbon and flowers the latter 
however were supplied before anne reached the main road for being
confronted halfway down the lane with a golden frenzy of wind-stirred
buttercups and a glory of wild roses anne promptly and liberally
garlanded her hat with a heavy wreath of them whatever other people
might have thought of the result it satisfied anne and she tripped
gaily down the road holding her ruddy head with its decoration of pink
and yellow very proudly 

when she had reached mrs lynde's house she found that lady gone 
nothing daunted anne proceeded onward to the church alone in the porch
she found a crowd of little girls all more or less gaily attired in
whites and blues and pinks and all staring with curious eyes at this
stranger in their midst with her extraordinary head adornment avonlea
little girls had already heard queer stories about anne mrs lynde said
she had an awful temper jerry buote the hired boy at green gables 
said she talked all the time to herself or to the trees and flowers
like a crazy girl they looked at her and whispered to each other behind
their quarterlies nobody made any friendly advances then or later
on when the opening exercises were over and anne found herself in miss
rogerson's class 

miss rogerson was a middle-aged lady who had taught a sunday-school
class for twenty years her method of teaching was to ask the printed
questions from the quarterly and look sternly over its edge at the
particular little girl she thought ought to answer the question she
looked very often at anne and anne thanks to marilla's drilling 
answered promptly but it may be questioned if she understood very much
about either question or answer 

she did not think she liked miss rogerson and she felt very miserable 
every other little girl in the class had puffed sleeves anne felt that
life was really not worth living without puffed sleeves 

 well how did you like sunday school marilla wanted to know when anne
came home her wreath having faded anne had discarded it in the lane 
so marilla was spared the knowledge of that for a time 

 i didn't like it a bit it was horrid 

 anne shirley said marilla rebukingly 

anne sat down on the rocker with a long sigh kissed one of bonny's
leaves and waved her hand to a blossoming fuchsia 

 they might have been lonesome while i was away she explained and
now about the sunday school i behaved well just as you told me mrs 
lynde was gone but i went right on myself i went into the church with
a lot of other little girls and i sat in the corner of a pew by the
window while the opening exercises went on mr bell made an awfully
long prayer i would have been dreadfully tired before he got through
if i hadn't been sitting by that window but it looked right out on the
lake of shining waters so i just gazed at that and imagined all sorts
of splendid things 

 you shouldn't have done anything of the sort you should have listened
to mr bell 

 but he wasn't talking to me protested anne he was talking to god
and he didn't seem to be very much inter-ested in it either i think
he thought god was too far off though there was a long row of white
birches hanging over the lake and the sunshine fell down through
them way way down deep into the water oh marilla it was like a
beautiful dream it gave me a thrill and i just said thank you for it 
god two or three times 

 not out loud i hope said marilla anxiously 

 oh no just under my breath well mr bell did get through at last
and they told me to go into the classroom with miss rogerson's class 
there were nine other girls in it they all had puffed sleeves i tried
to imagine mine were puffed too but i couldn't why couldn't i it was
as easy as could be to imagine they were puffed when i was alone in
the east gable but it was awfully hard there among the others who had
really truly puffs 

 you shouldn't have been thinking about your sleeves in sunday school 
you should have been attending to the lesson i hope you knew it 

 oh yes and i answered a lot of questions miss rogerson asked ever so
many i don't think it was fair for her to do all the asking there were
lots i wanted to ask her but i didn't like to because i didn't think
she was a kindred spirit then all the other little girls recited a
paraphrase she asked me if i knew any i told her i didn't but i could
recite the dog at his master's grave if she liked that's in the
third royal reader it isn't a really truly religious piece of poetry 
but it's so sad and melancholy that it might as well be she said it
wouldn't do and she told me to learn the nineteenth paraphrase for next
sunday i read it over in church afterwards and it's splendid there are
two lines in particular that just thrill me 

 quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell
 in midian's evil day 

 i don't know what squadrons means nor midian either but it sounds
 so tragical i can hardly wait until next sunday to recite it 
i'll practice it all the week after sunday school i asked miss
rogerson because mrs lynde was too far away to show me your pew 
i sat just as still as i could and the text was revelations third
chapter second and third verses it was a very long text if i was a
minister i'd pick the short snappy ones the sermon was awfully long 
too i suppose the minister had to match it to the text i didn't think
he was a bit interesting the trouble with him seems to be that he
hasn't enough imagination i didn't listen to him very much i just let
my thoughts run and i thought of the most surprising things 

marilla felt helplessly that all this should be sternly reproved but
she was hampered by the undeniable fact that some of the things anne had
said especially about the minister's sermons and mr bell's prayers 
were what she herself had really thought deep down in her heart for
years but had never given expression to it almost seemed to her that
those secret unuttered critical thoughts had suddenly taken visible
and accusing shape and form in the person of this outspoken morsel of
neglected humanity 




chapter xii a solemn vow and promise


it was not until the next friday that marilla heard the story of the
flower-wreathed hat she came home from mrs lynde's and called anne to
account 

 anne mrs rachel says you went to church last sunday with your hat
rigged out ridiculous with roses and buttercups what on earth put you
up to such a caper a pretty-looking object you must have been 

 oh i know pink and yellow aren't becoming to me began anne 

 becoming fiddlesticks it was putting flowers on your hat at all 
no matter what color they were that was ridiculous you are the most
aggravating child 

 i don't see why it's any more ridiculous to wear flowers on your hat
than on your dress protested anne lots of little girls there had
bouquets pinned on their dresses what's the difference 

marilla was not to be drawn from the safe concrete into dubious paths of
the abstract 

 don't answer me back like that anne it was very silly of you to do
such a thing never let me catch you at such a trick again mrs rachel
says she thought she would sink through the floor when she saw you come
in all rigged out like that she couldn't get near enough to tell you
to take them off till it was too late she says people talked about it
something dreadful of course they would think i had no better sense
than to let you go decked out like that 

 oh i'm so sorry said anne tears welling into her eyes i never
thought you'd mind the roses and buttercups were so sweet and pretty
i thought they'd look lovely on my hat lots of the little girls had
artificial flowers on their hats i'm afraid i'm going to be a dreadful
trial to you maybe you'd better send me back to the asylum that would
be terrible i don't think i could endure it most likely i would go
into consumption i'm so thin as it is you see but that would be
better than being a trial to you 

 nonsense said marilla vexed at herself for having made the child
cry i don't want to send you back to the asylum i'm sure all i want
is that you should behave like other little girls and not make yourself
ridiculous don't cry any more i've got some news for you diana barry
came home this afternoon i'm going up to see if i can borrow a skirt
pattern from mrs barry and if you like you can come with me and get
acquainted with diana 

anne rose to her feet with clasped hands the tears still glistening on
her cheeks the dish towel she had been hemming slipped unheeded to the
floor 

 oh marilla i'm frightened now that it has come i'm actually
frightened what if she shouldn't like me it would be the most tragical
disappointment of my life 

 now don't get into a fluster and i do wish you wouldn't use such long
words it sounds so funny in a little girl i guess diana ll like you
well enough it's her mother you've got to reckon with if she doesn't
like you it won't matter how much diana does if she has heard about
your outburst to mrs lynde and going to church with buttercups round
your hat i don't know what she'll think of you you must be polite and
well behaved and don't make any of your startling speeches for pity's
sake if the child isn't actually trembling 

anne was trembling her face was pale and tense 

 oh marilla you'd be excited too if you were going to meet a little
girl you hoped to be your bosom friend and whose mother mightn't like
you she said as she hastened to get her hat 

they went over to orchard slope by the short cut across the brook and up
the firry hill grove mrs barry came to the kitchen door in answer to
marilla's knock she was a tall black-eyed black-haired woman with a
very resolute mouth she had the reputation of being very strict with
her children 

 how do you do marilla she said cordially come in and this is the
little girl you have adopted i suppose 

 yes this is anne shirley said marilla 

 spelled with an e gasped anne who tremulous and excited as she was 
was determined there should be no misunderstanding on that important
point 

mrs barry not hearing or not comprehending merely shook hands and
said kindly 

 how are you 

 i am well in body although considerable rumpled up in spirit thank you
ma'am said anne gravely then aside to marilla in an audible whisper 
 there wasn't anything startling in that was there marilla 

diana was sitting on the sofa reading a book which she dropped when the
callers entered she was a very pretty little girl with her mother's
black eyes and hair and rosy cheeks and the merry expression which was
her inheritance from her father 

 this is my little girl diana said mrs barry diana you might take
anne out into the garden and show her your flowers it will be better
for you than straining your eyes over that book she reads entirely
too much this to marilla as the little girls went out and i can't
prevent her for her father aids and abets her she's always poring over
a book i'm glad she has the prospect of a playmate perhaps it will
take her more out-of-doors 

outside in the garden which was full of mellow sunset light streaming
through the dark old firs to the west of it stood anne and diana 
gazing bashfully at each other over a clump of gorgeous tiger lilies 

the barry garden was a bowery wilderness of flowers which would have
delighted anne's heart at any time less fraught with destiny it was
encircled by huge old willows and tall firs beneath which flourished
flowers that loved the shade prim right-angled paths neatly bordered
with clamshells intersected it like moist red ribbons and in the beds
between old-fashioned flowers ran riot there were rosy bleeding-hearts
and great splendid crimson peonies white fragrant narcissi and thorny 
sweet scotch roses pink and blue and white columbines and lilac-tinted
bouncing bets clumps of southernwood and ribbon grass and mint purple
adam-and-eve daffodils and masses of sweet clover white with its
delicate fragrant feathery sprays scarlet lightning that shot
its fiery lances over prim white musk-flowers a garden it was where
sunshine lingered and bees hummed and winds beguiled into loitering 
purred and rustled 

 oh diana said anne at last clasping her hands and speaking almost
in a whisper oh do you think you can like me a little enough to be
my bosom friend 

diana laughed diana always laughed before she spoke 

 why i guess so she said frankly i'm awfully glad you've come to
live at green gables it will be jolly to have somebody to play with 
there isn't any other girl who lives near enough to play with and i've
no sisters big enough 

 will you swear to be my friend forever and ever demanded anne
eagerly 

diana looked shocked 

 why it's dreadfully wicked to swear she said rebukingly 

 oh no not my kind of swearing there are two kinds you know 

 i never heard of but one kind said diana doubtfully 

 there really is another oh it isn't wicked at all it just means
vowing and promising solemnly 

 well i don't mind doing that agreed diana relieved how do you do
it 

 we must join hands so said anne gravely it ought to be over
running water we'll just imagine this path is running water i'll
repeat the oath first i solemnly swear to be faithful to my bosom
friend diana barry as long as the sun and moon shall endure now you
say it and put my name in 

diana repeated the oath with a laugh fore and aft then she said 

 you're a queer girl anne i heard before that you were queer but i
believe i'm going to like you real well 

when marilla and anne went home diana went with them as far as the log
bridge the two little girls walked with their arms about each other 
at the brook they parted with many promises to spend the next afternoon
together 

 well did you find diana a kindred spirit asked marilla as they went
up through the garden of green gables 

 oh yes sighed anne blissfully unconscious of any sarcasm on
marilla's part oh marilla i'm the happiest girl on prince edward
island this very moment i assure you i'll say my prayers with a right
good-will tonight diana and i are going to build a playhouse in mr 
william bell's birch grove tomorrow can i have those broken pieces of
china that are out in the woodshed diana's birthday is in february and
mine is in march don't you think that is a very strange coincidence 
diana is going to lend me a book to read she says it's perfectly
splendid and tremendously exciting she's going to show me a place back
in the woods where rice lilies grow don't you think diana has got very
soulful eyes i wish i had soulful eyes diana is going to teach me to
sing a song called nelly in the hazel dell she's going to give me a
picture to put up in my room it's a perfectly beautiful picture she
says a lovely lady in a pale blue silk dress a sewing-machine agent
gave it to her i wish i had something to give diana i'm an inch taller
than diana but she is ever so much fatter she says she'd like to be
thin because it's so much more graceful but i'm afraid she only said
it to soothe my feelings we're going to the shore some day to gather
shells we have agreed to call the spring down by the log bridge the
dryad's bubble isn't that a perfectly elegant name i read a story
once about a spring called that a dryad is sort of a grown-up fairy i
think 

 well all i hope is you won't talk diana to death said marilla but
remember this in all your planning anne you're not going to play all
the time nor most of it you'll have your work to do and it'll have to
be done first 

anne's cup of happiness was full and matthew caused it to overflow he
had just got home from a trip to the store at carmody and he sheepishly
produced a small parcel from his pocket and handed it to anne with a
deprecatory look at marilla 

 i heard you say you liked chocolate sweeties so i got you some he
said 

 humph sniffed marilla it'll ruin her teeth and stomach there 
there child don't look so dismal you can eat those since matthew
has gone and got them he'd better have brought you peppermints they're
wholesomer don't sicken yourself eating all them at once now 

 oh no indeed i won't said anne eagerly i'll just eat one
tonight marilla and i can give diana half of them can't i the
other half will taste twice as sweet to me if i give some to her it's
delightful to think i have something to give her 

 i will say it for the child said marilla when anne had gone to
her gable she isn't stingy i'm glad for of all faults i detest
stinginess in a child dear me it's only three weeks since she came 
and it seems as if she'd been here always i can't imagine the place
without her now don't be looking i told-you-so matthew that's bad
enough in a woman but it isn't to be endured in a man i'm perfectly
willing to own up that i'm glad i consented to keep the child and that
i'm getting fond of her but don't you rub it in matthew cuthbert 



chapter xiii the delights of anticipation


it's time anne was in to do her sewing said marilla glancing at the
clock and then out into the yellow august afternoon where everything
drowsed in the heat she stayed playing with diana more than half an
hour more n i gave her leave to and now she's perched out there on
the woodpile talking to matthew nineteen to the dozen when she knows
perfectly well she ought to be at her work and of course he's listening
to her like a perfect ninny i never saw such an infatuated man 
the more she talks and the odder the things she says the more he's
delighted evidently anne shirley you come right in here this minute 
do you hear me 

a series of staccato taps on the west window brought anne flying in from
the yard eyes shining cheeks faintly flushed with pink unbraided hair
streaming behind her in a torrent of brightness 

 oh marilla she exclaimed breathlessly there's going to be a
sunday-school picnic next week in mr harmon andrews's field right
near the lake of shining waters and mrs superintendent bell and mrs 
rachel lynde are going to make ice cream think of it marilla ice
cream and oh marilla can i go to it 

 just look at the clock if you please anne what time did i tell you
to come in 

 two o'clock but isn't it splendid about the picnic marilla please
can i go oh i've never been to a picnic i've dreamed of picnics but
i've never 

 yes i told you to come at two o'clock and it's a quarter to three 
i'd like to know why you didn't obey me anne 

 why i meant to marilla as much as could be but you have no idea
how fascinating idlewild is and then of course i had to tell matthew
about the picnic matthew is such a sympathetic listener please can i
go 

 you'll have to learn to resist the fascination of
idle-whatever-you-call-it when i tell you to come in at a certain time
i mean that time and not half an hour later and you needn't stop to
discourse with sympathetic listeners on your way either as for the
picnic of course you can go you're a sunday-school scholar and it's
not likely i'd refuse to let you go when all the other little girls are
going 

 but but faltered anne diana says that everybody must take a basket
of things to eat i can't cook as you know marilla and and i don't
mind going to a picnic without puffed sleeves so much but i'd feel
terribly humiliated if i had to go without a basket it's been preying
on my mind ever since diana told me 

 well it needn't prey any longer i'll bake you a basket 

 oh you dear good marilla oh you are so kind to me oh i'm so much
obliged to you 

getting through with her ohs anne cast herself into marilla's arms and
rapturously kissed her sallow cheek it was the first time in her whole
life that childish lips had voluntarily touched marilla's face again
that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her she was
secretly vastly pleased at anne's impulsive caress which was probably
the reason why she said brusquely 

 there there never mind your kissing nonsense i'd sooner see you
doing strictly as you're told as for cooking i mean to begin giving
you lessons in that some of these days but you're so featherbrained 
anne i've been waiting to see if you'd sober down a little and learn
to be steady before i begin you've got to keep your wits about you in
cooking and not stop in the middle of things to let your thoughts rove
all over creation now get out your patchwork and have your square done
before teatime 

 i do not like patchwork said anne dolefully hunting out her
workbasket and sitting down before a little heap of red and white
diamonds with a sigh i think some kinds of sewing would be nice but
there's no scope for imagination in patchwork it's just one little seam
after another and you never seem to be getting anywhere but of course
i'd rather be anne of green gables sewing patchwork than anne of any
other place with nothing to do but play i wish time went as quick
sewing patches as it does when i'm playing with diana though oh we
do have such elegant times marilla i have to furnish most of the
imagination but i'm well able to do that diana is simply perfect in
every other way you know that little piece of land across the brook
that runs up between our farm and mr barry's it belongs to mr william
bell and right in the corner there is a little ring of white birch
trees the most romantic spot marilla diana and i have our playhouse
there we call it idlewild isn't that a poetical name i assure you it
took me some time to think it out i stayed awake nearly a whole night
before i invented it then just as i was dropping off to sleep it came
like an inspiration diana was enraptured when she heard it we have got
our house fixed up elegantly you must come and see it marilla won't
you we have great big stones all covered with moss for seats and
boards from tree to tree for shelves and we have all our dishes on
them of course they're all broken but it's the easiest thing in the
world to imagine that they are whole there's a piece of a plate with a
spray of red and yellow ivy on it that is especially beautiful we keep
it in the parlor and we have the fairy glass there too the fairy glass
is as lovely as a dream diana found it out in the woods behind their
chicken house it's all full of rainbows just little young rainbows
that haven't grown big yet and diana's mother told her it was broken
off a hanging lamp they once had but it's nice to imagine the fairies
lost it one night when they had a ball so we call it the fairy glass 
matthew is going to make us a table oh we have named that little round
pool over in mr barry's field willowmere i got that name out of the
book diana lent me that was a thrilling book marilla the heroine
had five lovers i'd be satisfied with one wouldn't you she was very
handsome and she went through great tribulations she could faint as
easy as anything i'd love to be able to faint wouldn't you marilla 
it's so romantic but i'm really very healthy for all i'm so thin i
believe i'm getting fatter though don't you think i am i look at my
elbows every morning when i get up to see if any dimples are coming 
diana is having a new dress made with elbow sleeves she is going to
wear it to the picnic oh i do hope it will be fine next wednesday i
don't feel that i could endure the disappointment if anything happened
to prevent me from getting to the picnic i suppose i'd live through it 
but i'm certain it would be a lifelong sorrow it wouldn't matter if
i got to a hundred picnics in after years they wouldn't make up for
missing this one they're going to have boats on the lake of shining
waters and ice cream as i told you i have never tasted ice cream 
diana tried to explain what it was like but i guess ice cream is one of
those things that are beyond imagination 

 anne you have talked even on for ten minutes by the clock said
marilla now just for curiosity's sake see if you can hold your
tongue for the same length of time 

anne held her tongue as desired but for the rest of the week she talked
picnic and thought picnic and dreamed picnic on saturday it rained and
she worked herself up into such a frantic state lest it should keep
on raining until and over wednesday that marilla made her sew an extra
patchwork square by way of steadying her nerves 

on sunday anne confided to marilla on the way home from church that she
grew actually cold all over with excitement when the minister announced
the picnic from the pulpit 

 such a thrill as went up and down my back marilla i don't think i'd
ever really believed until then that there was honestly going to be
a picnic i couldn't help fearing i'd only imagined it but when a
minister says a thing in the pulpit you just have to believe it 

 you set your heart too much on things anne said marilla with a
sigh i'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for
you through life 

 oh marilla looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them 
 exclaimed anne you mayn't get the things themselves but nothing can
prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them mrs 
lynde says blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be
disappointed but i think it would be worse to expect nothing than to
be disappointed 

marilla wore her amethyst brooch to church that day as usual marilla
always wore her amethyst brooch to church she would have thought it
rather sacrilegious to leave it off as bad as forgetting her bible or
her collection dime that amethyst brooch was marilla's most treasured
possession a seafaring uncle had given it to her mother who in turn
had bequeathed it to marilla it was an old-fashioned oval containing
a braid of her mother's hair surrounded by a border of very fine
amethysts marilla knew too little about precious stones to realize how
fine the amethysts actually were but she thought them very beautiful
and was always pleasantly conscious of their violet shimmer at her
throat above her good brown satin dress even although she could not
see it 

anne had been smitten with delighted admiration when she first saw that
brooch 

 oh marilla it's a perfectly elegant brooch i don't know how you
can pay attention to the sermon or the prayers when you have it on i
couldn't i know i think amethysts are just sweet they are what i used
to think diamonds were like long ago before i had ever seen a diamond 
i read about them and i tried to imagine what they would be like i
thought they would be lovely glimmering purple stones when i saw a
real diamond in a lady's ring one day i was so disappointed i cried of
course it was very lovely but it wasn't my idea of a diamond will you
let me hold the brooch for one minute marilla do you think amethysts
can be the souls of good violets 




chapter xiv anne's confession


on the monday evening before the picnic marilla came down from her room
with a troubled face 

 anne she said to that small personage who was shelling peas by the
spotless table and singing nelly of the hazel dell with a vigor and
expression that did credit to diana's teaching did you see anything
of my amethyst brooch i thought i stuck it in my pincushion when i came
home from church yesterday evening but i can't find it anywhere 

 i i saw it this afternoon when you were away at the aid society said
anne a little slowly i was passing your door when i saw it on the
cushion so i went in to look at it 

 did you touch it said marilla sternly 

 y-e-e-s admitted anne i took it up and i pinned it on my breast
just to see how it would look 

 you had no business to do anything of the sort it's very wrong in a
little girl to meddle you shouldn't have gone into my room in the first
place and you shouldn't have touched a brooch that didn't belong to you
in the second where did you put it 

 oh i put it back on the bureau i hadn't it on a minute truly i
didn't mean to meddle marilla i didn't think about its being wrong to
go in and try on the brooch but i see now that it was and i'll never
do it again that's one good thing about me i never do the same naughty
thing twice 

 you didn't put it back said marilla that brooch isn't anywhere on
the bureau you've taken it out or something anne 

 i did put it back said anne quickly pertly marilla thought i
don't just remember whether i stuck it on the pincushion or laid it in
the china tray but i'm perfectly certain i put it back 

 i'll go and have another look said marilla determining to be just 
 if you put that brooch back it's there still if it isn't i'll know you
didn't that's all 

marilla went to her room and made a thorough search not only over the
bureau but in every other place she thought the brooch might possibly
be it was not to be found and she returned to the kitchen 

 anne the brooch is gone by your own admission you were the last
person to handle it now what have you done with it tell me the truth
at once did you take it out and lose it 

 no i didn't said anne solemnly meeting marilla's angry gaze
squarely i never took the brooch out of your room and that is the
truth if i was to be led to the block for it although i'm not very
certain what a block is so there marilla 

anne's so there was only intended to emphasize her assertion but
marilla took it as a display of defiance 

 i believe you are telling me a falsehood anne she said sharply i
know you are there now don't say anything more unless you are prepared
to tell the whole truth go to your room and stay there until you are
ready to confess 

 will i take the peas with me said anne meekly 

 no i'll finish shelling them myself do as i bid you 

when anne had gone marilla went about her evening tasks in a very
disturbed state of mind she was worried about her valuable brooch what
if anne had lost it and how wicked of the child to deny having taken
it when anybody could see she must have with such an innocent face 
too 

 i don't know what i wouldn't sooner have had happen thought marilla 
as she nervously shelled the peas of course i don't suppose she meant
to steal it or anything like that she's just taken it to play with
or help along that imagination of hers she must have taken it that's
clear for there hasn't been a soul in that room since she was in it by
her own story until i went up tonight and the brooch is gone there's
nothing surer i suppose she has lost it and is afraid to own up for
fear she'll be punished it's a dreadful thing to think she tells
falsehoods it's a far worse thing than her fit of temper it's a
fearful responsibility to have a child in your house you can't trust 
slyness and untruthfulness that's what she has displayed i declare i
feel worse about that than about the brooch if she'd only have told the
truth about it i wouldn't mind so much 

marilla went to her room at intervals all through the evening and
searched for the brooch without finding it a bedtime visit to the
east gable produced no result anne persisted in denying that she knew
anything about the brooch but marilla was only the more firmly convinced
that she did 

she told matthew the story the next morning matthew was confounded and
puzzled he could not so quickly lose faith in anne but he had to admit
that circumstances were against her 

 you're sure it hasn't fell down behind the bureau was the only
suggestion he could offer 

 i've moved the bureau and i've taken out the drawers and i've looked
in every crack and cranny was marilla's positive answer the brooch
is gone and that child has taken it and lied about it that's the plain 
ugly truth matthew cuthbert and we might as well look it in the face 

 well now what are you going to do about it matthew asked forlornly 
feeling secretly thankful that marilla and not he had to deal with the
situation he felt no desire to put his oar in this time 

 she'll stay in her room until she confesses said marilla grimly 
remembering the success of this method in the former case then we'll
see perhaps we'll be able to find the brooch if she'll only tell
where she took it but in any case she'll have to be severely punished 
matthew 

 well now you'll have to punish her said matthew reaching for his
hat i've nothing to do with it remember you warned me off yourself 

marilla felt deserted by everyone she could not even go to mrs lynde
for advice she went up to the east gable with a very serious face and
left it with a face more serious still anne steadfastly refused to
confess she persisted in asserting that she had not taken the brooch 
the child had evidently been crying and marilla felt a pang of pity
which she sternly repressed by night she was as she expressed it 
 beat out 

 you'll stay in this room until you confess anne you can make up your
mind to that she said firmly 

 but the picnic is tomorrow marilla cried anne you won't keep me
from going to that will you you'll just let me out for the afternoon 
won't you then i'll stay here as long as you like afterwards 
cheerfully but i must go to the picnic 

 you'll not go to picnics nor anywhere else until you've confessed 
anne 

 oh marilla gasped anne 

but marilla had gone out and shut the door 

wednesday morning dawned as bright and fair as if expressly made to
order for the picnic birds sang around green gables the madonna lilies
in the garden sent out whiffs of perfume that entered in on viewless
winds at every door and window and wandered through halls and rooms
like spirits of benediction the birches in the hollow waved joyful
hands as if watching for anne's usual morning greeting from the east
gable but anne was not at her window when marilla took her breakfast
up to her she found the child sitting primly on her bed pale and
resolute with tight-shut lips and gleaming eyes 

 marilla i'm ready to confess 

 ah marilla laid down her tray once again her method had succeeded 
but her success was very bitter to her let me hear what you have to
say then anne 

 i took the amethyst brooch said anne as if repeating a lesson she
had learned i took it just as you said i didn't mean to take it when
i went in but it did look so beautiful marilla when i pinned it on my
breast that i was overcome by an irresistible temptation i imagined how
perfectly thrilling it would be to take it to idlewild and play i was
the lady cordelia fitzgerald it would be so much easier to imagine i
was the lady cordelia if i had a real amethyst brooch on diana and
i make necklaces of roseberries but what are roseberries compared to
amethysts so i took the brooch i thought i could put it back before
you came home i went all the way around by the road to lengthen out the
time when i was going over the bridge across the lake of shining waters
i took the brooch off to have another look at it oh how it did shine
in the sunlight and then when i was leaning over the bridge it
just slipped through my fingers so and went down down down all
purply-sparkling and sank forevermore beneath the lake of shining
waters and that's the best i can do at confessing marilla 

marilla felt hot anger surge up into her heart again this child had
taken and lost her treasured amethyst brooch and now sat there calmly
reciting the details thereof without the least apparent compunction or
repentance 

 anne this is terrible she said trying to speak calmly you are the
very wickedest girl i ever heard of 

 yes i suppose i am agreed anne tranquilly and i know i'll have to
be punished it'll be your duty to punish me marilla won't you please
get it over right off because i'd like to go to the picnic with nothing
on my mind 

 picnic indeed you'll go to no picnic today anne shirley that shall
be your punishment and it isn't half severe enough either for what
you've done 

 not go to the picnic anne sprang to her feet and clutched marilla's
hand but you promised me i might oh marilla i must go to the
picnic that was why i confessed punish me any way you like but that 
oh marilla please please let me go to the picnic think of the ice
cream for anything you know i may never have a chance to taste ice
cream again 

marilla disengaged anne's clinging hands stonily 

 you needn't plead anne you are not going to the picnic and that's
final no not a word 

anne realized that marilla was not to be moved she clasped her hands
together gave a piercing shriek and then flung herself face
downward on the bed crying and writhing in an utter abandonment of
disappointment and despair 

 for the land's sake gasped marilla hastening from the room i
believe the child is crazy no child in her senses would behave as she
does if she isn't she's utterly bad oh dear i'm afraid rachel was
right from the first but i've put my hand to the plow and i won't look
back 

that was a dismal morning marilla worked fiercely and scrubbed the
porch floor and the dairy shelves when she could find nothing else to
do neither the shelves nor the porch needed it but marilla did then
she went out and raked the yard 

when dinner was ready she went to the stairs and called anne a
tear-stained face appeared looking tragically over the banisters 

 come down to your dinner anne 

 i don't want any dinner marilla said anne sobbingly i couldn't
eat anything my heart is broken you'll feel remorse of conscience
someday i expect for breaking it marilla but i forgive you remember
when the time comes that i forgive you but please don't ask me to eat
anything especially boiled pork and greens boiled pork and greens are
so unromantic when one is in affliction 

exasperated marilla returned to the kitchen and poured out her tale
of woe to matthew who between his sense of justice and his unlawful
sympathy with anne was a miserable man 

 well now she shouldn't have taken the brooch marilla or told stories
about it he admitted mournfully surveying his plateful of unromantic
pork and greens as if he like anne thought it a food unsuited to
crises of feeling but she's such a little thing such an interesting
little thing don't you think it's pretty rough not to let her go to the
picnic when she's so set on it 

 matthew cuthbert i'm amazed at you i think i've let her off entirely
too easy and she doesn't appear to realize how wicked she's been at
all that's what worries me most if she'd really felt sorry it wouldn't
be so bad and you don't seem to realize it neither you're making
excuses for her all the time to yourself i can see that 

 well now she's such a little thing feebly reiterated matthew and
there should be allowances made marilla you know she's never had any
bringing up 

 well she's having it now retorted marilla 

the retort silenced matthew if it did not convince him that dinner was
a very dismal meal the only cheerful thing about it was jerry buote 
the hired boy and marilla resented his cheerfulness as a personal
insult 

when her dishes were washed and her bread sponge set and her hens fed
marilla remembered that she had noticed a small rent in her best black
lace shawl when she had taken it off on monday afternoon on returning
from the ladies aid 

she would go and mend it the shawl was in a box in her trunk as
marilla lifted it out the sunlight falling through the vines that
clustered thickly about the window struck upon something caught in the
shawl something that glittered and sparkled in facets of violet light 
marilla snatched at it with a gasp it was the amethyst brooch hanging
to a thread of the lace by its catch 

 dear life and heart said marilla blankly what does this mean 
here's my brooch safe and sound that i thought was at the bottom of
barry's pond whatever did that girl mean by saying she took it and lost
it i declare i believe green gables is bewitched i remember now that
when i took off my shawl monday afternoon i laid it on the bureau for a
minute i suppose the brooch got caught in it somehow well 

marilla betook herself to the east gable brooch in hand anne had cried
herself out and was sitting dejectedly by the window 

 anne shirley said marilla solemnly i've just found my brooch
hanging to my black lace shawl now i want to know what that rigmarole
you told me this morning meant 

 why you said you'd keep me here until i confessed returned anne
wearily and so i decided to confess because i was bound to get to the
picnic i thought out a confession last night after i went to bed and
made it as interesting as i could and i said it over and over so that i
wouldn't forget it but you wouldn't let me go to the picnic after all 
so all my trouble was wasted 

marilla had to laugh in spite of herself but her conscience pricked
her 

 anne you do beat all but i was wrong i see that now i shouldn't
have doubted your word when i'd never known you to tell a story 
of course it wasn't right for you to confess to a thing you hadn't
done it was very wrong to do so but i drove you to it so if you'll
forgive me anne i'll forgive you and we'll start square again and now
get yourself ready for the picnic 

anne flew up like a rocket 

 oh marilla isn't it too late 

 no it's only two o'clock they won't be more than well gathered yet
and it'll be an hour before they have tea wash your face and comb your
hair and put on your gingham i'll fill a basket for you there's plenty
of stuff baked in the house and i'll get jerry to hitch up the sorrel
and drive you down to the picnic ground 

 oh marilla exclaimed anne flying to the washstand five minutes
ago i was so miserable i was wishing i'd never been born and now i
wouldn't change places with an angel 

that night a thoroughly happy completely tired-out anne returned to
green gables in a state of beatification impossible to describe 

 oh marilla i've had a perfectly scrumptious time scrumptious is a
new word i learned today i heard mary alice bell use it isn't it very
expressive everything was lovely we had a splendid tea and then mr 
harmon andrews took us all for a row on the lake of shining waters six
of us at a time and jane andrews nearly fell overboard she was leaning
out to pick water lilies and if mr andrews hadn't caught her by her
sash just in the nick of time she'd fallen in and prob'ly been drowned 
i wish it had been me it would have been such a romantic experience to
have been nearly drowned it would be such a thrilling tale to tell and
we had the ice cream words fail me to describe that ice cream marilla 
i assure you it was sublime 

that evening marilla told the whole story to matthew over her stocking
basket 

 i'm willing to own up that i made a mistake she concluded candidly 
 but i've learned a lesson i have to laugh when i think of anne's
 confession although i suppose i shouldn't for it really was a
falsehood but it doesn't seem as bad as the other would have been 
somehow and anyhow i'm responsible for it that child is hard to
understand in some respects but i believe she'll turn out all right
yet and there's one thing certain no house will ever be dull that
she's in 




chapter xv a tempest in the school teapot


what a splendid day said anne drawing a long breath isn't it good
just to be alive on a day like this i pity the people who aren't born
yet for missing it they may have good days of course but they can
never have this one and it's splendider still to have such a lovely way
to go to school by isn't it 

 it's a lot nicer than going round by the road that is so dusty
and hot said diana practically peeping into her dinner basket and
mentally calculating if the three juicy toothsome raspberry tarts
reposing there were divided among ten girls how many bites each girl
would have 

the little girls of avonlea school always pooled their lunches and
to eat three raspberry tarts all alone or even to share them only with
one's best chum would have forever and ever branded as awful mean the
girl who did it and yet when the tarts were divided among ten girls
you just got enough to tantalize you 

the way anne and diana went to school was a pretty one anne thought
those walks to and from school with diana couldn't be improved upon
even by imagination going around by the main road would have been so
unromantic but to go by lover's lane and willowmere and violet vale and
the birch path was romantic if ever anything was 

lover's lane opened out below the orchard at green gables and stretched
far up into the woods to the end of the cuthbert farm it was the way by
which the cows were taken to the back pasture and the wood hauled home
in winter anne had named it lover's lane before she had been a month at
green gables 

 not that lovers ever really walk there she explained to marilla 
 but diana and i are reading a perfectly magnificent book and there's a
lover's lane in it so we want to have one too and it's a very pretty
name don't you think so romantic we can't imagine the lovers into it 
you know i like that lane because you can think out loud there without
people calling you crazy 

anne starting out alone in the morning went down lover's lane as far
as the brook here diana met her and the two little girls went on
up the lane under the leafy arch of maples maples are such sociable
trees said anne they're always rustling and whispering to
you until they came to a rustic bridge then they left the lane
and walked through mr barry's back field and past willowmere beyond
willowmere came violet vale a little green dimple in the shadow of mr 
andrew bell's big woods of course there are no violets there now 
 anne told marilla but diana says there are millions of them in spring 
oh marilla can't you just imagine you see them it actually takes away
my breath i named it violet vale diana says she never saw the beat
of me for hitting on fancy names for places it's nice to be clever at
something isn't it but diana named the birch path she wanted to so
i let her but i'm sure i could have found something more poetical than
plain birch path anybody can think of a name like that but the birch
path is one of the prettiest places in the world marilla 

it was other people besides anne thought so when they stumbled on it 
it was a little narrow twisting path winding down over a long hill
straight through mr bell's woods where the light came down sifted
through so many emerald screens that it was as flawless as the heart
of a diamond it was fringed in all its length with slim young birches 
white stemmed and lissom boughed ferns and starflowers and wild
lilies-of-the-valley and scarlet tufts of pigeonberries grew thickly
along it and always there was a delightful spiciness in the air and
music of bird calls and the murmur and laugh of wood winds in the trees
overhead now and then you might see a rabbit skipping across the road
if you were quiet which with anne and diana happened about once in
a blue moon down in the valley the path came out to the main road and
then it was just up the spruce hill to the school 

the avonlea school was a whitewashed building low in the eaves and
wide in the windows furnished inside with comfortable substantial
old-fashioned desks that opened and shut and were carved all over their
lids with the initials and hieroglyphics of three generations of school
children the schoolhouse was set back from the road and behind it was
a dusky fir wood and a brook where all the children put their bottles of
milk in the morning to keep cool and sweet until dinner hour 

marilla had seen anne start off to school on the first day of september
with many secret misgivings anne was such an odd girl how would she
get on with the other children and how on earth would she ever manage
to hold her tongue during school hours 

things went better than marilla feared however anne came home that
evening in high spirits 

 i think i'm going to like school here she announced i don't think
much of the master through he's all the time curling his mustache
and making eyes at prissy andrews prissy is grown up you know she's
sixteen and she's studying for the entrance examination into queen's
academy at charlottetown next year tillie boulter says the master is
 dead gone on her she's got a beautiful complexion and curly brown hair
and she does it up so elegantly she sits in the long seat at the back
and he sits there too most of the time to explain her lessons he
says but ruby gillis says she saw him writing something on her slate
and when prissy read it she blushed as red as a beet and giggled and
ruby gillis says she doesn't believe it had anything to do with the
lesson 

 anne shirley don't let me hear you talking about your teacher in that
way again said marilla sharply you don't go to school to criticize
the master i guess he can teach you something and it's your business
to learn and i want you to understand right off that you are not to
come home telling tales about him that is something i won't encourage 
i hope you were a good girl 

 indeed i was said anne comfortably it wasn't so hard as you might
imagine either i sit with diana our seat is right by the window and
we can look down to the lake of shining waters there are a lot of nice
girls in school and we had scrumptious fun playing at dinnertime it's
so nice to have a lot of little girls to play with but of course i like
diana best and always will i adore diana i'm dreadfully far behind the
others they're all in the fifth book and i'm only in the fourth i feel
that it's kind of a disgrace but there's not one of them has such an
imagination as i have and i soon found that out we had reading and
geography and canadian history and dictation today mr phillips said my
spelling was disgraceful and he held up my slate so that everybody could
see it all marked over i felt so mortified marilla he might have
been politer to a stranger i think ruby gillis gave me an apple and
sophia sloane lent me a lovely pink card with may i see you home on
it i'm to give it back to her tomorrow and tillie boulter let me wear
her bead ring all the afternoon can i have some of those pearl beads
off the old pincushion in the garret to make myself a ring and oh 
marilla jane andrews told me that minnie macpherson told her that she
heard prissy andrews tell sara gillis that i had a very pretty nose 
marilla that is the first compliment i have ever had in my life and you
can't imagine what a strange feeling it gave me marilla have i really
a pretty nose i know you'll tell me the truth 

 your nose is well enough said marilla shortly secretly she thought
anne's nose was a remarkable pretty one but she had no intention of
telling her so 

that was three weeks ago and all had gone smoothly so far and now this
crisp september morning anne and diana were tripping blithely down the
birch path two of the happiest little girls in avonlea 

 i guess gilbert blythe will be in school today said diana he's been
visiting his cousins over in new brunswick all summer and he only came
home saturday night he's aw'fly handsome anne and he teases the
girls something terrible he just torments our lives out 

diana's voice indicated that she rather liked having her life tormented
out than not 

 gilbert blythe said anne isn't his name that's written up on the
porch wall with julia bell's and a big take notice over them 

 yes said diana tossing her head but i'm sure he doesn't like julia
bell so very much i've heard him say he studied the multiplication
table by her freckles 

 oh don't speak about freckles to me implored anne it isn't
delicate when i've got so many but i do think that writing take-notices
up on the wall about the boys and girls is the silliest ever i should
just like to see anybody dare to write my name up with a boy's not of
course she hastened to add that anybody would 

anne sighed she didn't want her name written up but it was a little
humiliating to know that there was no danger of it 

 nonsense said diana whose black eyes and glossy tresses had played
such havoc with the hearts of avonlea schoolboys that her name figured
on the porch walls in half a dozen take-notices it's only meant as
a joke and don't you be too sure your name won't ever be written up 
charlie sloane is dead gone on you he told his mother his mother 
mind you that you were the smartest girl in school that's better than
being good looking 

 no it isn't said anne feminine to the core i'd rather be pretty
than clever and i hate charlie sloane i can't bear a boy with goggle
eyes if anyone wrote my name up with his i'd never get over it diana
barry but it is nice to keep head of your class 

 you'll have gilbert in your class after this said diana and he's
used to being head of his class i can tell you he's only in the fourth
book although he's nearly fourteen four years ago his father was sick
and had to go out to alberta for his health and gilbert went with him 
they were there three years and gil didn't go to school hardly any
until they came back you won't find it so easy to keep head after this 
anne 

 i'm glad said anne quickly i couldn't really feel proud of keeping
head of little boys and girls of just nine or ten i got up yesterday
spelling ebullition josie pye was head and mind you she peeped
in her book mr phillips didn't see her he was looking at prissy
andrews but i did i just swept her a look of freezing scorn and she
got as red as a beet and spelled it wrong after all 

 those pye girls are cheats all round said diana indignantly as they
climbed the fence of the main road gertie pye actually went and put
her milk bottle in my place in the brook yesterday did you ever i
don't speak to her now 

when mr phillips was in the back of the room hearing prissy andrews's
latin diana whispered to anne that's gilbert blythe sitting right
across the aisle from you anne just look at him and see if you don't
think he's handsome 

anne looked accordingly she had a good chance to do so for the said
gilbert blythe was absorbed in stealthily pinning the long yellow braid
of ruby gillis who sat in front of him to the back of her seat he
was a tall boy with curly brown hair roguish hazel eyes and a mouth
twisted into a teasing smile presently ruby gillis started up to take
a sum to the master she fell back into her seat with a little shriek 
believing that her hair was pulled out by the roots everybody looked at
her and mr phillips glared so sternly that ruby began to cry gilbert
had whisked the pin out of sight and was studying his history with the
soberest face in the world but when the commotion subsided he looked at
anne and winked with inexpressible drollery 

 i think your gilbert blythe is handsome confided anne to diana 
 but i think he's very bold it isn't good manners to wink at a strange
girl 

but it was not until the afternoon that things really began to happen 

mr phillips was back in the corner explaining a problem in algebra to
prissy andrews and the rest of the scholars were doing pretty much as
they pleased eating green apples whispering drawing pictures on their
slates and driving crickets harnessed to strings up and down aisle 
gilbert blythe was trying to make anne shirley look at him and failing
utterly because anne was at that moment totally oblivious not only
to the very existence of gilbert blythe but of every other scholar in
avonlea school itself with her chin propped on her hands and her eyes
fixed on the blue glimpse of the lake of shining waters that the west
window afforded she was far away in a gorgeous dreamland hearing and
seeing nothing save her own wonderful visions 

gilbert blythe wasn't used to putting himself out to make a girl look
at him and meeting with failure she should look at him that red-haired
shirley girl with the little pointed chin and the big eyes that weren't
like the eyes of any other girl in avonlea school 

gilbert reached across the aisle picked up the end of anne's long red
braid held it out at arm's length and said in a piercing whisper 

 carrots carrots 

then anne looked at him with a vengeance 

she did more than look she sprang to her feet her bright fancies
fallen into cureless ruin she flashed one indignant glance at gilbert
from eyes whose angry sparkle was swiftly quenched in equally angry
tears 

 you mean hateful boy she exclaimed passionately how dare you 

and then thwack anne had brought her slate down on gilbert's head and
cracked it slate not head clear across 

avonlea school always enjoyed a scene this was an especially enjoyable
one everybody said oh in horrified delight diana gasped ruby
gillis who was inclined to be hysterical began to cry tommy
sloane let his team of crickets escape him altogether while he stared
open-mouthed at the tableau 

mr phillips stalked down the aisle and laid his hand heavily on anne's
shoulder 

 anne shirley what does this mean he said angrily anne returned no
answer it was asking too much of flesh and blood to expect her to tell
before the whole school that she had been called carrots gilbert it
was who spoke up stoutly 

 it was my fault mr phillips i teased her 

mr phillips paid no heed to gilbert 

 i am sorry to see a pupil of mine displaying such a temper and such
a vindictive spirit he said in a solemn tone as if the mere fact of
being a pupil of his ought to root out all evil passions from the hearts
of small imperfect mortals anne go and stand on the platform in front
of the blackboard for the rest of the afternoon 

anne would have infinitely preferred a whipping to this punishment under
which her sensitive spirit quivered as from a whiplash with a white 
set face she obeyed mr phillips took a chalk crayon and wrote on the
blackboard above her head 

 ann shirley has a very bad temper ann shirley must learn to control
her temper and then read it out loud so that even the primer class 
who couldn't read writing should understand it 

anne stood there the rest of the afternoon with that legend above her 
she did not cry or hang her head anger was still too hot in her heart
for that and it sustained her amid all her agony of humiliation with
resentful eyes and passion-red cheeks she confronted alike diana's
sympathetic gaze and charlie sloane's indignant nods and josie pye's
malicious smiles as for gilbert blythe she would not even look at him 
she would never look at him again she would never speak to him 

when school was dismissed anne marched out with her red head held high 
gilbert blythe tried to intercept her at the porch door 

 i'm awfully sorry i made fun of your hair anne he whispered
contritely honest i am don't be mad for keeps now 

anne swept by disdainfully without look or sign of hearing oh
how could you anne breathed diana as they went down the road half
reproachfully half admiringly diana felt that she could never have
resisted gilbert's plea 

 i shall never forgive gilbert blythe said anne firmly and mr 
phillips spelled my name without an e too the iron has entered into my
soul diana 

diana hadn't the least idea what anne meant but she understood it was
something terrible 

 you mustn't mind gilbert making fun of your hair she said soothingly 
 why he makes fun of all the girls he laughs at mine because it's
so black he's called me a crow a dozen times and i never heard him
apologize for anything before either 

 there's a great deal of difference between being called a crow and
being called carrots said anne with dignity gilbert blythe has hurt
my feelings excruciatingly diana 

it is possible the matter might have blown over without more
excruciation if nothing else had happened but when things begin to
happen they are apt to keep on 

avonlea scholars often spent noon hour picking gum in mr bell's spruce
grove over the hill and across his big pasture field from there they
could keep an eye on eben wright's house where the master boarded when
they saw mr phillips emerging therefrom they ran for the schoolhouse 
but the distance being about three times longer than mr wright's lane
they were very apt to arrive there breathless and gasping some three
minutes too late 

on the following day mr phillips was seized with one of his spasmodic
fits of reform and announced before going home to dinner that he should
expect to find all the scholars in their seats when he returned anyone
who came in late would be punished 

all the boys and some of the girls went to mr bell's spruce grove as
usual fully intending to stay only long enough to pick a chew but
spruce groves are seductive and yellow nuts of gum beguiling they
picked and loitered and strayed and as usual the first thing that
recalled them to a sense of the flight of time was jimmy glover shouting
from the top of a patriarchal old spruce master's coming 

the girls who were on the ground started first and managed to reach the
schoolhouse in time but without a second to spare the boys who had to
wriggle hastily down from the trees were later and anne who had not
been picking gum at all but was wandering happily in the far end of the
grove waist deep among the bracken singing softly to herself with a
wreath of rice lilies on her hair as if she were some wild divinity
of the shadowy places was latest of all anne could run like a deer 
however run she did with the impish result that she overtook the boys
at the door and was swept into the schoolhouse among them just as mr 
phillips was in the act of hanging up his hat 

mr phillips's brief reforming energy was over he didn't want the
bother of punishing a dozen pupils but it was necessary to do something
to save his word so he looked about for a scapegoat and found it
in anne who had dropped into her seat gasping for breath with a
forgotten lily wreath hanging askew over one ear and giving her a
particularly rakish and disheveled appearance 

 anne shirley since you seem to be so fond of the boys company we
shall indulge your taste for it this afternoon he said sarcastically 
 take those flowers out of your hair and sit with gilbert blythe 

the other boys snickered diana turning pale with pity plucked the
wreath from anne's hair and squeezed her hand anne stared at the master
as if turned to stone 

 did you hear what i said anne queried mr phillips sternly 

 yes sir said anne slowly but i didn't suppose you really meant it 

 i assure you i did still with the sarcastic inflection which all the
children and anne especially hated it flicked on the raw obey me at
once 

for a moment anne looked as if she meant to disobey then realizing
that there was no help for it she rose haughtily stepped across the
aisle sat down beside gilbert blythe and buried her face in her arms
on the desk ruby gillis who got a glimpse of it as it went down 
told the others going home from school that she'd acksually never seen
anything like it it was so white with awful little red spots in it 

to anne this was as the end of all things it was bad enough to be
singled out for punishment from among a dozen equally guilty ones it
was worse still to be sent to sit with a boy but that that boy should
be gilbert blythe was heaping insult on injury to a degree utterly
unbearable anne felt that she could not bear it and it would be of
no use to try her whole being seethed with shame and anger and
humiliation 

at first the other scholars looked and whispered and giggled and nudged 
but as anne never lifted her head and as gilbert worked fractions as if
his whole soul was absorbed in them and them only they soon returned
to their own tasks and anne was forgotten when mr phillips called the
history class out anne should have gone but anne did not move and
mr phillips who had been writing some verses to priscilla before he
called the class was thinking about an obstinate rhyme still and never
missed her once when nobody was looking gilbert took from his desk
a little pink candy heart with a gold motto on it you are sweet and
slipped it under the curve of anne's arm whereupon anne arose took the
pink heart gingerly between the tips of her fingers dropped it on the
floor ground it to powder beneath her heel and resumed her position
without deigning to bestow a glance on gilbert 

when school went out anne marched to her desk ostentatiously took out
everything therein books and writing tablet pen and ink testament and
arithmetic and piled them neatly on her cracked slate 

 what are you taking all those things home for anne diana wanted to
know as soon as they were out on the road she had not dared to ask the
question before 

 i am not coming back to school any more said anne diana gasped and
stared at anne to see if she meant it 

 will marilla let you stay home she asked 

 she'll have to said anne i'll never go to school to that man
again 

 oh anne diana looked as if she were ready to cry i do think you're
mean what shall i do mr phillips will make me sit with that horrid
gertie pye i know he will because she is sitting alone do come back 
anne 

 i'd do almost anything in the world for you diana said anne sadly 
 i'd let myself be torn limb from limb if it would do you any good but
i can't do this so please don't ask it you harrow up my very soul 

 just think of all the fun you will miss mourned diana we are going
to build the loveliest new house down by the brook and we'll be playing
ball next week and you've never played ball anne it's tremendously
exciting and we're going to learn a new song jane andrews is
practicing it up now and alice andrews is going to bring a new pansy
book next week and we're all going to read it out loud chapter about 
down by the brook and you know you are so fond of reading out loud 
anne 

nothing moved anne in the least her mind was made up she would not go
to school to mr phillips again she told marilla so when she got home 

 nonsense said marilla 

 it isn't nonsense at all said anne gazing at marilla with solemn 
reproachful eyes don't you understand marilla i've been insulted 

 insulted fiddlesticks you'll go to school tomorrow as usual 

 oh no anne shook her head gently i'm not going back marilla i'll
learn my lessons at home and i'll be as good as i can be and hold my
tongue all the time if it's possible at all but i will not go back to
school i assure you 

marilla saw something remarkably like unyielding stubbornness looking
out of anne's small face she understood that she would have trouble in
overcoming it but she re-solved wisely to say nothing more just then 
 i'll run down and see rachel about it this evening she thought 
 there's no use reasoning with anne now she's too worked up and i've
an idea she can be awful stubborn if she takes the notion far as i can
make out from her story mr phillips has been carrying matters with a
rather high hand but it would never do to say so to her i'll just talk
it over with rachel she's sent ten children to school and she ought to
know something about it she'll have heard the whole story too by this
time 

marilla found mrs lynde knitting quilts as industriously and cheerfully
as usual 

 i suppose you know what i've come about she said a little
shamefacedly 

mrs rachel nodded 

 about anne's fuss in school i reckon she said tillie boulter was
in on her way home from school and told me about it 

 i don't know what to do with her said marilla she declares she
won't go back to school i never saw a child so worked up i've been
expecting trouble ever since she started to school i knew things were
going too smooth to last she's so high strung what would you advise 
rachel 

 well since you've asked my advice marilla said mrs lynde
amiably mrs lynde dearly loved to be asked for advice i'd just
humor her a little at first that's what i'd do it's my belief that
mr phillips was in the wrong of course it doesn't do to say so to the
children you know and of course he did right to punish her yesterday
for giving way to temper but today it was different the others who
were late should have been punished as well as anne that's what and i
don't believe in making the girls sit with the boys for punishment it
isn't modest tillie boulter was real indignant she took anne's part
right through and said all the scholars did too anne seems real popular
among them somehow i never thought she'd take with them so well 

 then you really think i'd better let her stay home said marilla in
amazement 

 yes that is i wouldn't say school to her again until she said it
herself depend upon it marilla she'll cool off in a week or so and
be ready enough to go back of her own accord that's what while if
you were to make her go back right off dear knows what freak or tantrum
she'd take next and make more trouble than ever the less fuss made the
better in my opinion she won't miss much by not going to school as
far as that goes mr phillips isn't any good at all as a teacher the
order he keeps is scandalous that's what and he neglects the young
fry and puts all his time on those big scholars he's getting ready for
queen's he'd never have got the school for another year if his uncle
hadn't been a trustee the trustee for he just leads the other two
around by the nose that's what i declare i don't know what education
in this island is coming to 

mrs rachel shook her head as much as to say if she were only at the
head of the educational system of the province things would be much
better managed 

marilla took mrs rachel's advice and not another word was said to anne
about going back to school she learned her lessons at home did her
chores and played with diana in the chilly purple autumn twilights 
but when she met gilbert blythe on the road or encountered him in sunday
school she passed him by with an icy contempt that was no whit thawed by
his evident desire to appease her even diana's efforts as a peacemaker
were of no avail anne had evidently made up her mind to hate gilbert
blythe to the end of life 

as much as she hated gilbert however did she love diana with all the
love of her passionate little heart equally intense in its likes and
dislikes one evening marilla coming in from the orchard with a basket
of apples found anne sitting along by the east window in the twilight 
crying bitterly 

 whatever's the matter now anne she asked 

 it's about diana sobbed anne luxuriously i love diana so marilla 
i cannot ever live without her but i know very well when we grow up
that diana will get married and go away and leave me and oh what shall
i do i hate her husband i just hate him furiously i've been imagining
it all out the wedding and everything diana dressed in snowy garments 
with a veil and looking as beautiful and regal as a queen and me the
bridesmaid with a lovely dress too and puffed sleeves but with a
breaking heart hid beneath my smiling face and then bidding diana
goodbye-e-e here anne broke down entirely and wept with increasing
bitterness 

marilla turned quickly away to hide her twitching face but it was no
use she collapsed on the nearest chair and burst into such a hearty and
unusual peal of laughter that matthew crossing the yard outside halted
in amazement when had he heard marilla laugh like that before 

 well anne shirley said marilla as soon as she could speak if you
must borrow trouble for pity's sake borrow it handier home i should
think you had an imagination sure enough 




chapter xvi diana is invited to tea with tragic results


october was a beautiful month at green gables when the birches in the
hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard
were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the
loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green while the fields sunned
themselves in aftermaths 

anne reveled in the world of color about her 

 oh marilla she exclaimed one saturday morning coming dancing in
with her arms full of gorgeous boughs i'm so glad i live in a world
where there are octobers it would be terrible if we just skipped from
september to november wouldn't it look at these maple branches don't
they give you a thrill several thrills i'm going to decorate my room
with them 

 messy things said marilla whose aesthetic sense was not noticeably
developed you clutter up your room entirely too much with out-of-doors
stuff anne bedrooms were made to sleep in 

 oh and dream in too marilla and you know one can dream so much
better in a room where there are pretty things i'm going to put these
boughs in the old blue jug and set them on my table 

 mind you don't drop leaves all over the stairs then i'm going on a
meeting of the aid society at carmody this afternoon anne and i won't
likely be home before dark you'll have to get matthew and jerry their
supper so mind you don't forget to put the tea to draw until you sit
down at the table as you did last time 

 it was dreadful of me to forget said anne apologetically but that
was the afternoon i was trying to think of a name for violet vale and it
crowded other things out matthew was so good he never scolded a bit 
he put the tea down himself and said we could wait awhile as well as
not and i told him a lovely fairy story while we were waiting so
he didn't find the time long at all it was a beautiful fairy story 
marilla i forgot the end of it so i made up an end for it myself and
matthew said he couldn't tell where the join came in 

 matthew would think it all right anne if you took a notion to get up
and have dinner in the middle of the night but you keep your wits about
you this time and i don't really know if i'm doing right it may make
you more addlepated than ever but you can ask diana to come over and
spend the afternoon with you and have tea here 

 oh marilla anne clasped her hands how perfectly lovely you are 
able to imagine things after all or else you'd never have understood how
i've longed for that very thing it will seem so nice and grown-uppish 
no fear of my forgetting to put the tea to draw when i have company oh 
marilla can i use the rosebud spray tea set 

 no indeed the rosebud tea set well what next you know i never use
that except for the minister or the aids you'll put down the old brown
tea set but you can open the little yellow crock of cherry preserves 
it's time it was being used anyhow i believe it's beginning to work 
and you can cut some fruit cake and have some of the cookies and snaps 

 i can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and
pouring out the tea said anne shutting her eyes ecstatically and
asking diana if she takes sugar i know she doesn't but of course i'll
ask her just as if i didn't know and then pressing her to take another
piece of fruit cake and another helping of preserves oh marilla it's
a wonderful sensation just to think of it can i take her into the spare
room to lay off her hat when she comes and then into the parlor to
sit 

 no the sitting room will do for you and your company but there's a
bottle half full of raspberry cordial that was left over from the church
social the other night it's on the second shelf of the sitting-room
closet and you and diana can have it if you like and a cooky to eat
with it along in the afternoon for i daresay matthew ll be late coming
in to tea since he's hauling potatoes to the vessel 

anne flew down to the hollow past the dryad's bubble and up the spruce
path to orchard slope to ask diana to tea as a result just after
marilla had driven off to carmody diana came over dressed in her 
second-best dress and looking exactly as it is proper to look when asked
out to tea at other times she was wont to run into the kitchen without
knocking but now she knocked primly at the front door and when anne 
dressed in her second best as primly opened it both little girls
shook hands as gravely as if they had never met before this unnatural
solemnity lasted until after diana had been taken to the east gable to
lay off her hat and then had sat for ten minutes in the sitting room 
toes in position 

 how is your mother inquired anne politely just as if she had not
seen mrs barry picking apples that morning in excellent health and
spirits 

 she is very well thank you i suppose mr cuthbert is hauling potatoes
to the lily sands this afternoon is he said diana who had ridden
down to mr harmon andrews's that morning in matthew's cart 

 yes our potato crop is very good this year i hope your father's crop
is good too 

 it is fairly good thank you have you picked many of your apples yet 

 oh ever so many said anne forgetting to be dignified and jumping up
quickly let's go out to the orchard and get some of the red sweetings 
diana marilla says we can have all that are left on the tree marilla
is a very generous woman she said we could have fruit cake and cherry
preserves for tea but it isn't good manners to tell your company what
you are going to give them to eat so i won't tell you what she said we
could have to drink only it begins with an r and a c and it's bright
red color i love bright red drinks don't you they taste twice as good
as any other color 

the orchard with its great sweeping boughs that bent to the ground
with fruit proved so delightful that the little girls spent most of the
afternoon in it sitting in a grassy corner where the frost had spared
the green and the mellow autumn sunshine lingered warmly eating apples
and talking as hard as they could diana had much to tell anne of what
went on in school she had to sit with gertie pye and she hated
it gertie squeaked her pencil all the time and it just made
her diana's blood run cold ruby gillis had charmed all her warts
away true's you live with a magic pebble that old mary joe from the
creek gave her you had to rub the warts with the pebble and then throw
it away over your left shoulder at the time of the new moon and the
warts would all go charlie sloane's name was written up with em white's
on the porch wall and em white was awful mad about it sam boulter had
 sassed mr phillips in class and mr phillips whipped him and sam's
father came down to the school and dared mr phillips to lay a hand on
one of his children again and mattie andrews had a new red hood and a
blue crossover with tassels on it and the airs she put on about it were
perfectly sickening and lizzie wright didn't speak to mamie wilson
because mamie wilson's grown-up sister had cut out lizzie wright's
grown-up sister with her beau and everybody missed anne so and wished
she's come to school again and gilbert blythe 

but anne didn't want to hear about gilbert blythe she jumped up
hurriedly and said suppose they go in and have some raspberry cordial 

anne looked on the second shelf of the room pantry but there was no
bottle of raspberry cordial there search revealed it away back on the
top shelf anne put it on a tray and set it on the table with a tumbler 

 now please help yourself diana she said politely i don't believe
i'll have any just now i don't feel as if i wanted any after all those
apples 

diana poured herself out a tumblerful looked at its bright-red hue
admiringly and then sipped it daintily 

 that's awfully nice raspberry cordial anne she said i didn't know
raspberry cordial was so nice 

 i'm real glad you like it take as much as you want i'm going to
run out and stir the fire up there are so many responsibilities on a
person's mind when they're keeping house isn't there 

when anne came back from the kitchen diana was drinking her second
glassful of cordial and being entreated thereto by anne she offered
no particular objection to the drinking of a third the tumblerfuls were
generous ones and the raspberry cordial was certainly very nice 

 the nicest i ever drank said diana it's ever so much nicer than
mrs lynde's although she brags of hers so much it doesn't taste a bit
like hers 

 i should think marilla's raspberry cordial would prob'ly be much nicer
than mrs lynde's said anne loyally marilla is a famous cook she is
trying to teach me to cook but i assure you diana it is uphill work 
there's so little scope for imagination in cookery you just have to go
by rules the last time i made a cake i forgot to put the flour in i
was thinking the loveliest story about you and me diana i thought you
were desperately ill with smallpox and everybody deserted you but i
went boldly to your bedside and nursed you back to life and then i took
the smallpox and died and i was buried under those poplar trees in the
graveyard and you planted a rosebush by my grave and watered it with
your tears and you never never forgot the friend of your youth who
sacrificed her life for you oh it was such a pathetic tale diana 
the tears just rained down over my cheeks while i mixed the cake but
i forgot the flour and the cake was a dismal failure flour is so
essential to cakes you know marilla was very cross and i don't wonder 
i'm a great trial to her she was terribly mortified about the pudding
sauce last week we had a plum pudding for dinner on tuesday and there
was half the pudding and a pitcherful of sauce left over marilla said
there was enough for another dinner and told me to set it on the pantry
shelf and cover it i meant to cover it just as much as could be diana 
but when i carried it in i was imagining i was a nun of course i'm a
protestant but i imagined i was a catholic taking the veil to bury a
broken heart in cloistered seclusion and i forgot all about covering
the pudding sauce i thought of it next morning and ran to the pantry 
diana fancy if you can my extreme horror at finding a mouse drowned in
that pudding sauce i lifted the mouse out with a spoon and threw it out
in the yard and then i washed the spoon in three waters marilla was out
milking and i fully intended to ask her when she came in if i'd give the
sauce to the pigs but when she did come in i was imagining that i was
a frost fairy going through the woods turning the trees red and yellow 
whichever they wanted to be so i never thought about the pudding sauce
again and marilla sent me out to pick apples well mr and mrs chester
ross from spencervale came here that morning you know they are very
stylish people especially mrs chester ross when marilla called me in
dinner was all ready and everybody was at the table i tried to be as
polite and dignified as i could be for i wanted mrs chester ross to
think i was a ladylike little girl even if i wasn't pretty everything
went right until i saw marilla coming with the plum pudding in one hand
and the pitcher of pudding sauce warmed up in the other diana that
was a terrible moment i remembered everything and i just stood up in
my place and shrieked out marilla you mustn't use that pudding sauce 
there was a mouse drowned in it i forgot to tell you before oh 
diana i shall never forget that awful moment if i live to be a hundred 
mrs chester ross just looked at me and i thought i would sink through
the floor with mortification she is such a perfect housekeeper and
fancy what she must have thought of us marilla turned red as fire but
she never said a word then she just carried that sauce and pudding out
and brought in some strawberry preserves she even offered me some but
i couldn't swallow a mouthful it was like heaping coals of fire on
my head after mrs chester ross went away marilla gave me a dreadful
scolding why diana what is the matter 

diana had stood up very unsteadily then she sat down again putting her
hands to her head 

 i'm i'm awful sick she said a little thickly i i must go right
home 

 oh you mustn't dream of going home without your tea cried anne in
distress i'll get it right off i'll go and put the tea down this very
minute 

 i must go home repeated diana stupidly but determinedly 

 let me get you a lunch anyhow implored anne let me give you a bit
of fruit cake and some of the cherry preserves lie down on the sofa for
a little while and you'll be better where do you feel bad 

 i must go home said diana and that was all she would say in vain
anne pleaded 

 i never heard of company going home without tea she mourned oh 
diana do you suppose that it's possible you're really taking the
smallpox if you are i'll go and nurse you you can depend on that i'll
never forsake you but i do wish you'd stay till after tea where do you
feel bad 

 i'm awful dizzy said diana 

and indeed she walked very dizzily anne with tears of disappointment
in her eyes got diana's hat and went with her as far as the barry
yard fence then she wept all the way back to green gables where she
sorrowfully put the remainder of the raspberry cordial back into the
pantry and got tea ready for matthew and jerry with all the zest gone
out of the performance 

the next day was sunday and as the rain poured down in torrents from
dawn till dusk anne did not stir abroad from green gables monday
afternoon marilla sent her down to mrs lynde's on an errand in a very
short space of time anne came flying back up the lane with tears rolling
down her cheeks into the kitchen she dashed and flung herself face
downward on the sofa in an agony 

 whatever has gone wrong now anne queried marilla in doubt and
dismay i do hope you haven't gone and been saucy to mrs lynde again 

no answer from anne save more tears and stormier sobs 

 anne shirley when i ask you a question i want to be answered sit
right up this very minute and tell me what you are crying about 

anne sat up tragedy personified 

 mrs lynde was up to see mrs barry today and mrs barry was in an
awful state she wailed she says that i set diana drunk saturday
and sent her home in a disgraceful condition and she says i must be a
thoroughly bad wicked little girl and she's never never going to let
diana play with me again oh marilla i'm just overcome with woe 

marilla stared in blank amazement 

 set diana drunk she said when she found her voice anne are you or
mrs barry crazy what on earth did you give her 

 not a thing but raspberry cordial sobbed anne i never thought
raspberry cordial would set people drunk marilla not even if they
drank three big tumblerfuls as diana did oh it sounds so so like
mrs thomas's husband but i didn't mean to set her drunk 

 drunk fiddlesticks said marilla marching to the sitting room pantry 
there on the shelf was a bottle which she at once recognized as one
containing some of her three-year-old homemade currant wine for which
she was celebrated in avonlea although certain of the stricter sort 
mrs barry among them disapproved strongly of it and at the same time
marilla recollected that she had put the bottle of raspberry cordial
down in the cellar instead of in the pantry as she had told anne 

she went back to the kitchen with the wine bottle in her hand her face
was twitching in spite of herself 

 anne you certainly have a genius for getting into trouble you went
and gave diana currant wine instead of raspberry cordial didn't you
know the difference yourself 

 i never tasted it said anne i thought it was the cordial i meant
to be so so hospitable diana got awfully sick and had to go home 
mrs barry told mrs lynde she was simply dead drunk she just laughed
silly-like when her mother asked her what was the matter and went to
sleep and slept for hours her mother smelled her breath and knew she
was drunk she had a fearful headache all day yesterday mrs barry is
so indignant she will never believe but what i did it on purpose 

 i should think she would better punish diana for being so greedy as to
drink three glassfuls of anything said marilla shortly why three
of those big glasses would have made her sick even if it had only been
cordial well this story will be a nice handle for those folks who are
so down on me for making currant wine although i haven't made any for
three years ever since i found out that the minister didn't approve i
just kept that bottle for sickness there there child don't cry i
can't see as you were to blame although i'm sorry it happened so 

 i must cry said anne my heart is broken the stars in their courses
fight against me marilla diana and i are parted forever oh marilla 
i little dreamed of this when first we swore our vows of friendship 

 don't be foolish anne mrs barry will think better of it when she
finds you're not to blame i suppose she thinks you've done it for a
silly joke or something of that sort you'd best go up this evening and
tell her how it was 

 my courage fails me at the thought of facing diana's injured mother 
 sighed anne i wish you'd go marilla you're so much more dignified
than i am likely she'd listen to you quicker than to me 

 well i will said marilla reflecting that it would probably be the
wiser course don't cry any more anne it will be all right 

marilla had changed her mind about it being all right by the time she
got back from orchard slope anne was watching for her coming and flew
to the porch door to meet her 

 oh marilla i know by your face that it's been no use she said
sorrowfully mrs barry won't forgive me 

 mrs barry indeed snapped marilla of all the unreasonable women
i ever saw she's the worst i told her it was all a mistake and you
weren't to blame but she just simply didn't believe me and she rubbed
it well in about my currant wine and how i'd always said it couldn't
have the least effect on anybody i just told her plainly that currant
wine wasn't meant to be drunk three tumblerfuls at a time and that if a
child i had to do with was so greedy i'd sober her up with a right good
spanking 

marilla whisked into the kitchen grievously disturbed leaving a very
much distracted little soul in the porch behind her presently anne
stepped out bareheaded into the chill autumn dusk very determinedly and
steadily she took her way down through the sere clover field over the
log bridge and up through the spruce grove lighted by a pale little
moon hanging low over the western woods mrs barry coming to the door
in answer to a timid knock found a white-lipped eager-eyed suppliant on
the doorstep 

her face hardened mrs barry was a woman of strong prejudices and
dislikes and her anger was of the cold sullen sort which is always
hardest to overcome to do her justice she really believed anne had
made diana drunk out of sheer malice prepense and she was honestly
anxious to preserve her little daughter from the contamination of
further intimacy with such a child 

 what do you want she said stiffly 

anne clasped her hands 

 oh mrs barry please forgive me i did not mean to to intoxicate
diana how could i just imagine if you were a poor little orphan girl
that kind people had adopted and you had just one bosom friend in all
the world do you think you would intoxicate her on purpose i thought
it was only raspberry cordial i was firmly convinced it was raspberry
cordial oh please don't say that you won't let diana play with me any
more if you do you will cover my life with a dark cloud of woe 

this speech which would have softened good mrs lynde's heart in a
twinkling had no effect on mrs barry except to irritate her still
more she was suspicious of anne's big words and dramatic gestures and
imagined that the child was making fun of her so she said coldly and
cruelly 

 i don't think you are a fit little girl for diana to associate with 
you'd better go home and behave yourself 

anne's lips quivered 

 won't you let me see diana just once to say farewell she implored 

 diana has gone over to carmody with her father said mrs barry going
in and shutting the door 

anne went back to green gables calm with despair 

 my last hope is gone she told marilla i went up and saw mrs barry
myself and she treated me very insultingly marilla i do not think she
is a well-bred woman there is nothing more to do except to pray and i
haven't much hope that that'll do much good because marilla i do not
believe that god himself can do very much with such an obstinate person
as mrs barry 

 anne you shouldn't say such things rebuked marilla striving to
overcome that unholy tendency to laughter which she was dismayed to find
growing upon her and indeed when she told the whole story to matthew
that night she did laugh heartily over anne's tribulations 

but when she slipped into the east gable before going to bed and found
that anne had cried herself to sleep an unaccustomed softness crept into
her face 

 poor little soul she murmured lifting a loose curl of hair from the
child's tear-stained face then she bent down and kissed the flushed
cheek on the pillow 



chapter xvii a new interest in life


the next afternoon anne bending over her patchwork at the kitchen
window happened to glance out and beheld diana down by the dryad's
bubble beckoning mysteriously in a trice anne was out of the house
and flying down to the hollow astonishment and hope struggling in
her expressive eyes but the hope faded when she saw diana's dejected
countenance 

 your mother hasn't relented she gasped 

diana shook her head mournfully 

 no and oh anne she says i'm never to play with you again i've cried
and cried and i told her it wasn't your fault but it wasn't any use i
had ever such a time coaxing her to let me come down and say good-bye to
you she said i was only to stay ten minutes and she's timing me by the
clock 

 ten minutes isn't very long to say an eternal farewell in said anne
tearfully oh diana will you promise faithfully never to forget
me the friend of your youth no matter what dearer friends may caress
thee 

 indeed i will sobbed diana and i'll never have another bosom
friend i don't want to have i couldn't love anybody as i love you 

 oh diana cried anne clasping her hands do you love me 

 why of course i do didn't you know that 

 no anne drew a long breath i thought you liked me of course but i
never hoped you loved me why diana i didn't think anybody could
love me nobody ever has loved me since i can remember oh this is
wonderful it's a ray of light which will forever shine on the darkness
of a path severed from thee diana oh just say it once again 

 i love you devotedly anne said diana stanchly and i always will 
you may be sure of that 

 and i will always love thee diana said anne solemnly extending her
hand in the years to come thy memory will shine like a star over my
lonely life as that last story we read together says diana wilt
thou give me a lock of thy jet-black tresses in parting to treasure
forevermore 

 have you got anything to cut it with queried diana wiping away the
tears which anne's affecting accents had caused to flow afresh and
returning to practicalities 

 yes i've got my patchwork scissors in my apron pocket fortunately 
 said anne she solemnly clipped one of diana's curls fare thee well 
my beloved friend henceforth we must be as strangers though living side
by side but my heart will ever be faithful to thee 

anne stood and watched diana out of sight mournfully waving her hand
to the latter whenever she turned to look back then she returned to
the house not a little consoled for the time being by this romantic
parting 

 it is all over she informed marilla i shall never have another
friend i'm really worse off than ever before for i haven't katie
maurice and violetta now and even if i had it wouldn't be the same 
somehow little dream girls are not satisfying after a real friend 
diana and i had such an affecting farewell down by the spring it will
be sacred in my memory forever i used the most pathetic language i
could think of and said thou and thee thou and thee seem so
much more romantic than you diana gave me a lock of her hair and i'm
going to sew it up in a little bag and wear it around my neck all my
life please see that it is buried with me for i don't believe i'll
live very long perhaps when she sees me lying cold and dead before her
mrs barry may feel remorse for what she has done and will let diana
come to my funeral 

 i don't think there is much fear of your dying of grief as long as you
can talk anne said marilla unsympathetically 

the following monday anne surprised marilla by coming down from her room
with her basket of books on her arm and hip and her lips primmed up into
a line of determination 

 i'm going back to school she announced that is all there is left
in life for me now that my friend has been ruthlessly torn from me in
school i can look at her and muse over days departed 

 you'd better muse over your lessons and sums said marilla concealing
her delight at this development of the situation if you're going back
to school i hope we'll hear no more of breaking slates over people's
heads and such carryings on behave yourself and do just what your
teacher tells you 

 i'll try to be a model pupil agreed anne dolefully there won't be
much fun in it i expect mr phillips said minnie andrews was a model
pupil and there isn't a spark of imagination or life in her she is
just dull and poky and never seems to have a good time but i feel so
depressed that perhaps it will come easy to me now i'm going round by
the road i couldn't bear to go by the birch path all alone i should
weep bitter tears if i did 

anne was welcomed back to school with open arms her imagination had
been sorely missed in games her voice in the singing and her dramatic
ability in the perusal aloud of books at dinner hour ruby gillis
smuggled three blue plums over to her during testament reading ella may
macpherson gave her an enormous yellow pansy cut from the covers of a
floral catalogue a species of desk decoration much prized in avonlea
school sophia sloane offered to teach her a perfectly elegant new
pattern of knit lace so nice for trimming aprons katie boulter gave
her a perfume bottle to keep slate water in and julia bell copied
carefully on a piece of pale pink paper scalloped on the edges the
following effusion 


 when twilight drops her curtain down
 and pins it with a star
 remember that you have a friend
 though she may wander far 


 it's so nice to be appreciated sighed anne rapturously to marilla
that night 

the girls were not the only scholars who appreciated her when anne
went to her seat after dinner hour she had been told by mr phillips to
sit with the model minnie andrews she found on her desk a big luscious
 strawberry apple anne caught it up all ready to take a bite when she
remembered that the only place in avonlea where strawberry apples grew
was in the old blythe orchard on the other side of the lake of shining
waters anne dropped the apple as if it were a red-hot coal and
ostentatiously wiped her fingers on her handkerchief the apple lay
untouched on her desk until the next morning when little timothy
andrews who swept the school and kindled the fire annexed it as one
of his perquisites charlie sloane's slate pencil gorgeously bedizened
with striped red and yellow paper costing two cents where ordinary
pencils cost only one which he sent up to her after dinner hour met
with a more favorable reception anne was graciously pleased to accept
it and rewarded the donor with a smile which exalted that infatuated
youth straightway into the seventh heaven of delight and caused him to
make such fearful errors in his dictation that mr phillips kept him in
after school to rewrite it 

but as 

 the caesar's pageant shorn of brutus bust
 did but of rome's best son remind her more 

so the marked absence of any tribute or recognition from diana barry who
was sitting with gertie pye embittered anne's little triumph 

 diana might just have smiled at me once i think she mourned to
marilla that night but the next morning a note most fearfully and
wonderfully twisted and folded and a small parcel were passed across to
anne 

dear anne ran the former 


mother says i'm not to play with you or talk to you even in school it
isn't my fault and don't be cross at me because i love you as much
as ever i miss you awfully to tell all my secrets to and i don't like
gertie pye one bit i made you one of the new bookmarkers out of red
tissue paper they are awfully fashionable now and only three girls in
school know how to make them when you look at it remember

your true friend

diana barry 


anne read the note kissed the bookmark and dispatched a prompt reply
back to the other side of the school 


my own darling diana 

of course i am not cross at you because you have to obey your mother 
our spirits can commune i shall keep your lovely present forever 
minnie andrews is a very nice little girl although she has no
imagination but after having been diana's busum friend i cannot be
minnie's please excuse mistakes because my spelling isn't very good
yet although much improoved 

yours until death us do part

anne or cordelia shirley 


p s i shall sleep with your letter under my pillow tonight a or c s 


marilla pessimistically expected more trouble since anne had again begun
to go to school but none developed perhaps anne caught something of
the model spirit from minnie andrews at least she got on very well
with mr phillips thenceforth she flung herself into her studies heart
and soul determined not to be outdone in any class by gilbert blythe 
the rivalry between them was soon apparent it was entirely good natured
on gilbert's side but it is much to be feared that the same thing
cannot be said of anne who had certainly an unpraiseworthy tenacity for
holding grudges she was as intense in her hatreds as in her loves she
would not stoop to admit that she meant to rival gilbert in schoolwork 
because that would have been to acknowledge his existence which anne
persistently ignored but the rivalry was there and honors fluctuated
between them now gilbert was head of the spelling class now anne with
a toss of her long red braids spelled him down one morning gilbert had
all his sums done correctly and had his name written on the blackboard
on the roll of honor the next morning anne having wrestled wildly with
decimals the entire evening before would be first one awful day they
were ties and their names were written up together it was almost as bad
as a take-notice and anne's mortification was as evident as gilbert's
satisfaction when the written examinations at the end of each month
were held the suspense was terrible the first month gilbert came out
three marks ahead the second anne beat him by five but her triumph was
marred by the fact that gilbert congratulated her heartily before the
whole school it would have been ever so much sweeter to her if he had
felt the sting of his defeat 

mr phillips might not be a very good teacher but a pupil so inflexibly
determined on learning as anne was could hardly escape making progress
under any kind of teacher by the end of the term anne and gilbert were
both promoted into the fifth class and allowed to begin studying the
elements of the branches by which latin geometry french and
algebra were meant in geometry anne met her waterloo 

 it's perfectly awful stuff marilla she groaned i'm sure i'll never
be able to make head or tail of it there is no scope for imagination in
it at all mr phillips says i'm the worst dunce he ever saw at it 
and gil i mean some of the others are so smart at it it is extremely
mortifying marilla 

 even diana gets along better than i do but i don't mind being beaten
by diana even although we meet as strangers now i still love her with
an inextinguishable love it makes me very sad at times to think about
her but really marilla one can't stay sad very long in such an
interesting world can one 



chapter xviii anne to the rescue


all things great are wound up with all things little at first glance
it might not seem that the decision of a certain canadian premier to
include prince edward island in a political tour could have much or
anything to do with the fortunes of little anne shirley at green gables 
but it had 

it was a january the premier came to address his loyal supporters and
such of his nonsupporters as chose to be present at the monster mass
meeting held in charlottetown most of the avonlea people were on
premier's side of politics hence on the night of the meeting nearly
all the men and a goodly proportion of the women had gone to town thirty
miles away mrs rachel lynde had gone too mrs rachel lynde was a
red-hot politician and couldn't have believed that the political rally
could be carried through without her although she was on the opposite
side of politics so she went to town and took her husband thomas would
be useful in looking after the horse and marilla cuthbert with her 
marilla had a sneaking interest in politics herself and as she thought
it might be her only chance to see a real live premier she promptly
took it leaving anne and matthew to keep house until her return the
following day 

hence while marilla and mrs rachel were enjoying themselves hugely
at the mass meeting anne and matthew had the cheerful kitchen at green
gables all to themselves a bright fire was glowing in the old-fashioned
waterloo stove and blue-white frost crystals were shining on the
windowpanes matthew nodded over a farmers advocate on the sofa and
anne at the table studied her lessons with grim determination despite
sundry wistful glances at the clock shelf where lay a new book that
jane andrews had lent her that day jane had assured her that it was
warranted to produce any number of thrills or words to that effect and
anne's fingers tingled to reach out for it but that would mean gilbert
blythe's triumph on the morrow anne turned her back on the clock shelf
and tried to imagine it wasn't there 

 matthew did you ever study geometry when you went to school 

 well now no i didn't said matthew coming out of his doze with a
start 

 i wish you had sighed anne because then you'd be able to sympathize
with me you can't sympathize properly if you've never studied it it is
casting a cloud over my whole life i'm such a dunce at it matthew 

 well now i dunno said matthew soothingly i guess you're all right
at anything mr phillips told me last week in blair's store at carmody
that you was the smartest scholar in school and was making rapid
progress rapid progress was his very words there's them as runs down
teddy phillips and says he ain't much of a teacher but i guess he's all
right 

matthew would have thought anyone who praised anne was all right 

 i'm sure i'd get on better with geometry if only he wouldn't change
the letters complained anne i learn the proposition off by heart and
then he draws it on the blackboard and puts different letters from what
are in the book and i get all mixed up i don't think a teacher should
take such a mean advantage do you we're studying agriculture now and
i've found out at last what makes the roads red it's a great comfort 
i wonder how marilla and mrs lynde are enjoying themselves mrs lynde
says canada is going to the dogs the way things are being run at ottawa
and that it's an awful warning to the electors she says if women were
allowed to vote we would soon see a blessed change what way do you
vote matthew 

 conservative said matthew promptly to vote conservative was part of
matthew's religion 

 then i'm conservative too said anne decidedly i'm glad because
gil because some of the boys in school are grits i guess mr phillips
is a grit too because prissy andrews's father is one and ruby gillis
says that when a man is courting he always has to agree with the girl's
mother in religion and her father in politics is that true matthew 

 well now i dunno said matthew 

 did you ever go courting matthew 

 well now no i dunno's i ever did said matthew who had certainly
never thought of such a thing in his whole existence 

anne reflected with her chin in her hands 

 it must be rather interesting don't you think matthew ruby gillis
says when she grows up she's going to have ever so many beaus on the
string and have them all crazy about her but i think that would be too
exciting i'd rather have just one in his right mind but ruby gillis
knows a great deal about such matters because she has so many big
sisters and mrs lynde says the gillis girls have gone off like hot
cakes mr phillips goes up to see prissy andrews nearly every evening 
he says it is to help her with her lessons but miranda sloane is
studying for queen's too and i should think she needed help a lot more
than prissy because she's ever so much stupider but he never goes to
help her in the evenings at all there are a great many things in this
world that i can't understand very well matthew 

 well now i dunno as i comprehend them all myself acknowledged
matthew 

 well i suppose i must finish up my lessons i won't allow myself to
open that new book jane lent me until i'm through but it's a terrible
temptation matthew even when i turn my back on it i can see it there
just as plain jane said she cried herself sick over it i love a book
that makes me cry but i think i'll carry that book into the sitting
room and lock it in the jam closet and give you the key and you must
 not give it to me matthew until my lessons are done not even if
i implore you on my bended knees it's all very well to say resist
temptation but it's ever so much easier to resist it if you can't get
the key and then shall i run down the cellar and get some russets 
matthew wouldn't you like some russets 

 well now i dunno but what i would said matthew who never ate
russets but knew anne's weakness for them 

just as anne emerged triumphantly from the cellar with her plateful of
russets came the sound of flying footsteps on the icy board walk outside
and the next moment the kitchen door was flung open and in rushed diana
barry white faced and breathless with a shawl wrapped hastily around
her head anne promptly let go of her candle and plate in her surprise 
and plate candle and apples crashed together down the cellar ladder
and were found at the bottom embedded in melted grease the next day 
by marilla who gathered them up and thanked mercy the house hadn't been
set on fire 

 whatever is the matter diana cried anne has your mother relented
at last 

 oh anne do come quick implored diana nervously minnie may is
awful sick she's got croup young mary joe says and father and mother
are away to town and there's nobody to go for the doctor minnie may is
awful bad and young mary joe doesn't know what to do and oh anne i'm
so scared 

matthew without a word reached out for cap and coat slipped past
diana and away into the darkness of the yard 

 he's gone to harness the sorrel mare to go to carmody for the doctor 
 said anne who was hurrying on hood and jacket i know it as well as
if he'd said so matthew and i are such kindred spirits i can read his
thoughts without words at all 

 i don't believe he'll find the doctor at carmody sobbed diana i
know that dr blair went to town and i guess dr spencer would go too 
young mary joe never saw anybody with croup and mrs lynde is away oh 
anne 

 don't cry di said anne cheerily i know exactly what to do for
croup you forget that mrs hammond had twins three times when you look
after three pairs of twins you naturally get a lot of experience they
all had croup regularly just wait till i get the ipecac bottle you
mayn't have any at your house come on now 

the two little girls hastened out hand in hand and hurried through
lover's lane and across the crusted field beyond for the snow was too
deep to go by the shorter wood way anne although sincerely sorry
for minnie may was far from being insensible to the romance of the
situation and to the sweetness of once more sharing that romance with a
kindred spirit 

the night was clear and frosty all ebony of shadow and silver of snowy
slope big stars were shining over the silent fields here and there the
dark pointed firs stood up with snow powdering their branches and the
wind whistling through them anne thought it was truly delightful to go
skimming through all this mystery and loveliness with your bosom friend
who had been so long estranged 

minnie may aged three was really very sick she lay on the kitchen
sofa feverish and restless while her hoarse breathing could be heard
all over the house young mary joe a buxom broad-faced french girl
from the creek whom mrs barry had engaged to stay with the children
during her absence was helpless and bewildered quite incapable of
thinking what to do or doing it if she thought of it 

anne went to work with skill and promptness 

 minnie may has croup all right she's pretty bad but i've seen them
worse first we must have lots of hot water i declare diana there
isn't more than a cupful in the kettle there i've filled it up and 
mary joe you may put some wood in the stove i don't want to hurt your
feelings but it seems to me you might have thought of this before if
you'd any imagination now i'll undress minnie may and put her to bed
and you try to find some soft flannel cloths diana i'm going to give
her a dose of ipecac first of all 

minnie may did not take kindly to the ipecac but anne had not brought up
three pairs of twins for nothing down that ipecac went not only once 
but many times during the long anxious night when the two little girls
worked patiently over the suffering minnie may and young mary joe 
honestly anxious to do all she could kept up a roaring fire and heated
more water than would have been needed for a hospital of croupy babies 

it was three o'clock when matthew came with a doctor for he had been
obliged to go all the way to spencervale for one but the pressing need
for assistance was past minnie may was much better and was sleeping
soundly 

 i was awfully near giving up in despair explained anne she got
worse and worse until she was sicker than ever the hammond twins were 
even the last pair i actually thought she was going to choke to death 
i gave her every drop of ipecac in that bottle and when the last dose
went down i said to myself not to diana or young mary joe because i
didn't want to worry them any more than they were worried but i had
to say it to myself just to relieve my feelings this is the last
lingering hope and i fear tis a vain one but in about three minutes
she coughed up the phlegm and began to get better right away you must
just imagine my relief doctor because i can't express it in words you
know there are some things that cannot be expressed in words 

 yes i know nodded the doctor he looked at anne as if he were
thinking some things about her that couldn't be expressed in words 
later on however he expressed them to mr and mrs barry 

 that little redheaded girl they have over at cuthbert's is as smart as
they make em i tell you she saved that baby's life for it would have
been too late by the time i got there she seems to have a skill and
presence of mind perfectly wonderful in a child of her age i never saw
anything like the eyes of her when she was explaining the case to me 

anne had gone home in the wonderful white-frosted winter morning heavy
eyed from loss of sleep but still talking unweariedly to matthew as
they crossed the long white field and walked under the glittering fairy
arch of the lover's lane maples 

 oh matthew isn't it a wonderful morning the world looks like
something god had just imagined for his own pleasure doesn't it those
trees look as if i could blow them away with a breath pouf i'm so glad
i live in a world where there are white frosts aren't you and i'm so
glad mrs hammond had three pairs of twins after all if she hadn't i
mightn't have known what to do for minnie may i'm real sorry i was
ever cross with mrs hammond for having twins but oh matthew i'm so
sleepy i can't go to school i just know i couldn't keep my eyes open
and i'd be so stupid but i hate to stay home for gil some of
the others will get head of the class and it's so hard to get up
again although of course the harder it is the more satisfaction you
have when you do get up haven't you 

 well now i guess you'll manage all right said matthew looking at
anne's white little face and the dark shadows under her eyes you just
go right to bed and have a good sleep i'll do all the chores 

anne accordingly went to bed and slept so long and soundly that it
was well on in the white and rosy winter afternoon when she awoke and
descended to the kitchen where marilla who had arrived home in the
meantime was sitting knitting 

 oh did you see the premier exclaimed anne at once what did he look
like marilla 

 well he never got to be premier on account of his looks said
marilla such a nose as that man had but he can speak i was proud of
being a conservative rachel lynde of course being a liberal had no
use for him your dinner is in the oven anne and you can get yourself
some blue plum preserve out of the pantry i guess you're hungry 
matthew has been telling me about last night i must say it was
fortunate you knew what to do i wouldn't have had any idea myself for
i never saw a case of croup there now never mind talking till you've
had your dinner i can tell by the look of you that you're just full up
with speeches but they'll keep 

marilla had something to tell anne but she did not tell it just then
for she knew if she did anne's consequent excitement would lift her
clear out of the region of such material matters as appetite or dinner 
not until anne had finished her saucer of blue plums did marilla say 

 mrs barry was here this afternoon anne she wanted to see you but i
wouldn't wake you up she says you saved minnie may's life and she is
very sorry she acted as she did in that affair of the currant wine she
says she knows now you didn't mean to set diana drunk and she hopes
you'll forgive her and be good friends with diana again you're to go
over this evening if you like for diana can't stir outside the door
on account of a bad cold she caught last night now anne shirley for
pity's sake don't fly up into the air 

the warning seemed not unnecessary so uplifted and aerial was anne's
expression and attitude as she sprang to her feet her face irradiated
with the flame of her spirit 

 oh marilla can i go right now without washing my dishes i'll wash
them when i come back but i cannot tie myself down to anything so
unromantic as dishwashing at this thrilling moment 

 yes yes run along said marilla indulgently anne shirley are you
crazy come back this instant and put something on you i might as well
call to the wind she's gone without a cap or wrap look at her tearing
through the orchard with her hair streaming it'll be a mercy if she
doesn't catch her death of cold 

anne came dancing home in the purple winter twilight across the snowy
places afar in the southwest was the great shimmering pearl-like
sparkle of an evening star in a sky that was pale golden and ethereal
rose over gleaming white spaces and dark glens of spruce the tinkles
of sleigh bells among the snowy hills came like elfin chimes through
the frosty air but their music was not sweeter than the song in anne's
heart and on her lips 

 you see before you a perfectly happy person marilla she announced 
 i'm perfectly happy yes in spite of my red hair just at present i
have a soul above red hair mrs barry kissed me and cried and said she
was so sorry and she could never repay me i felt fearfully embarrassed 
marilla but i just said as politely as i could i have no hard
feelings for you mrs barry i assure you once for all that i did not
mean to intoxicate diana and henceforth i shall cover the past with the
mantle of oblivion that was a pretty dignified way of speaking wasn't
it marilla 

 i felt that i was heaping coals of fire on mrs barry's head and diana
and i had a lovely afternoon diana showed me a new fancy crochet stitch
her aunt over at carmody taught her not a soul in avonlea knows it but
us and we pledged a solemn vow never to reveal it to anyone else diana
gave me a beautiful card with a wreath of roses on it and a verse of
poetry 

 if you love me as i love you
 nothing but death can part us two 

 and that is true marilla we're going to ask mr phillips to let us
sit together in school again and gertie pye can go with minnie andrews 
we had an elegant tea mrs barry had the very best china set out 
marilla just as if i was real company i can't tell you what a thrill
it gave me nobody ever used their very best china on my account before 
and we had fruit cake and pound cake and doughnuts and two kinds of
preserves marilla and mrs barry asked me if i took tea and said pa 
why don't you pass the biscuits to anne it must be lovely to be grown
up marilla when just being treated as if you were is so nice 

 i don't know about that said marilla with a brief sigh 

 well anyway when i am grown up said anne decidedly i'm always
going to talk to little girls as if they were too and i'll never laugh
when they use big words i know from sorrowful experience how that hurts
one's feelings after tea diana and i made taffy the taffy wasn't very
good i suppose because neither diana nor i had ever made any before 
diana left me to stir it while she buttered the plates and i forgot and
let it burn and then when we set it out on the platform to cool the cat
walked over one plate and that had to be thrown away but the making of
it was splendid fun then when i came home mrs barry asked me to come
over as often as i could and diana stood at the window and threw kisses
to me all the way down to lover's lane i assure you marilla that i
feel like praying tonight and i'm going to think out a special brand-new
prayer in honor of the occasion 



chapter xix a concert a catastrophe and a confession


marilla can i go over to see diana just for a minute asked anne 
running breathlessly down from the east gable one february evening 

 i don't see what you want to be traipsing about after dark for said
marilla shortly you and diana walked home from school together and
then stood down there in the snow for half an hour more your tongues
going the whole blessed time clickety-clack so i don't think you're
very badly off to see her again 

 but she wants to see me pleaded anne she has something very
important to tell me 

 how do you know she has 

 because she just signaled to me from her window we have arranged a
way to signal with our candles and cardboard we set the candle on the
window sill and make flashes by passing the cardboard back and forth so
many flashes mean a certain thing it was my idea marilla 

 i'll warrant you it was said marilla emphatically and the next
thing you'll be setting fire to the curtains with your signaling
nonsense 

 oh we're very careful marilla and it's so interesting two flashes
mean are you there three mean yes and four no five mean come
over as soon as possible because i have something important to reveal 
diana has just signaled five flashes and i'm really suffering to know
what it is 

 well you needn't suffer any longer said marilla sarcastically you
can go but you're to be back here in just ten minutes remember that 

anne did remember it and was back in the stipulated time although
probably no mortal will ever know just what it cost her to confine the
discussion of diana's important communication within the limits of ten
minutes but at least she had made good use of them 

 oh marilla what do you think you know tomorrow is diana's birthday 
well her mother told her she could ask me to go home with her from
school and stay all night with her and her cousins are coming over from
newbridge in a big pung sleigh to go to the debating club concert at
the hall tomorrow night and they are going to take diana and me to the
concert if you'll let me go that is you will won't you marilla oh 
i feel so excited 

 you can calm down then because you're not going you're better at home
in your own bed and as for that club concert it's all nonsense and
little girls should not be allowed to go out to such places at all 

 i'm sure the debating club is a most respectable affair pleaded anne 

 i'm not saying it isn't but you're not going to begin gadding about
to concerts and staying out all hours of the night pretty doings for
children i'm surprised at mrs barry's letting diana go 

 but it's such a very special occasion mourned anne on the verge of
tears diana has only one birthday in a year it isn't as if birthdays
were common things marilla prissy andrews is going to recite curfew
must not ring tonight that is such a good moral piece marilla i'm
sure it would do me lots of good to hear it and the choir are going to
sing four lovely pathetic songs that are pretty near as good as hymns 
and oh marilla the minister is going to take part yes indeed he is 
he's going to give an address that will be just about the same thing as
a sermon please mayn't i go marilla 

 you heard what i said anne didn't you take off your boots now and go
to bed it's past eight 

 there's just one more thing marilla said anne with the air of
producing the last shot in her locker mrs barry told diana that we
might sleep in the spare-room bed think of the honor of your little
anne being put in the spare-room bed 

 it's an honor you'll have to get along without go to bed anne and
don't let me hear another word out of you 

when anne with tears rolling over her cheeks had gone sorrowfully
upstairs matthew who had been apparently sound asleep on the lounge
during the whole dialogue opened his eyes and said decidedly 

 well now marilla i think you ought to let anne go 

 i don't then retorted marilla who's bringing this child up 
matthew you or me 

 well now you admitted matthew 

 don't interfere then 

 well now i ain't interfering it ain't interfering to have your own
opinion and my opinion is that you ought to let anne go 

 you'd think i ought to let anne go to the moon if she took the notion 
i've no doubt was marilla's amiable rejoinder i might have let her
spend the night with diana if that was all but i don't approve of this
concert plan she'd go there and catch cold like as not and have her
head filled up with nonsense and excitement it would unsettle her for
a week i understand that child's disposition and what's good for it
better than you matthew 

 i think you ought to let anne go repeated matthew firmly argument
was not his strong point but holding fast to his opinion certainly was 
marilla gave a gasp of helplessness and took refuge in silence the
next morning when anne was washing the breakfast dishes in the pantry 
matthew paused on his way out to the barn to say to marilla again 

 i think you ought to let anne go marilla 

for a moment marilla looked things not lawful to be uttered then she
yielded to the inevitable and said tartly 

 very well she can go since nothing else ll please you 

anne flew out of the pantry dripping dishcloth in hand 

 oh marilla marilla say those blessed words again 

 i guess once is enough to say them this is matthew's doings and i
wash my hands of it if you catch pneumonia sleeping in a strange bed or
coming out of that hot hall in the middle of the night don't blame me 
blame matthew anne shirley you're dripping greasy water all over the
floor i never saw such a careless child 

 oh i know i'm a great trial to you marilla said anne repentantly 
 i make so many mistakes but then just think of all the mistakes i
don't make although i might i'll get some sand and scrub up the spots
before i go to school oh marilla my heart was just set on going to
that concert i never was to a concert in my life and when the other
girls talk about them in school i feel so out of it you didn't know
just how i felt about it but you see matthew did matthew understands
me and it's so nice to be understood marilla 

anne was too excited to do herself justice as to lessons that morning in
school gilbert blythe spelled her down in class and left her clear out
of sight in mental arithmetic anne's consequent humiliation was
less than it might have been however in view of the concert and the
spare-room bed she and diana talked so constantly about it all day that
with a stricter teacher than mr phillips dire disgrace must inevitably
have been their portion 

anne felt that she could not have borne it if she had not been going
to the concert for nothing else was discussed that day in school the
avonlea debating club which met fortnightly all winter had had several
smaller free entertainments but this was to be a big affair admission
ten cents in aid of the library the avonlea young people had been
practicing for weeks and all the scholars were especially interested in
it by reason of older brothers and sisters who were going to take part 
everybody in school over nine years of age expected to go except carrie
sloane whose father shared marilla's opinions about small girls going
out to night concerts carrie sloane cried into her grammar all the
afternoon and felt that life was not worth living 

for anne the real excitement began with the dismissal of school and
increased therefrom in crescendo until it reached to a crash of positive
ecstasy in the concert itself they had a perfectly elegant tea and
then came the delicious occupation of dressing in diana's little room
upstairs diana did anne's front hair in the new pompadour style and
anne tied diana's bows with the especial knack she possessed and they
experimented with at least half a dozen different ways of arranging
their back hair at last they were ready cheeks scarlet and eyes
glowing with excitement 

true anne could not help a little pang when she contrasted her plain
black tam and shapeless tight-sleeved homemade gray-cloth coat with
diana's jaunty fur cap and smart little jacket but she remembered in
time that she had an imagination and could use it 

then diana's cousins the murrays from newbridge came they all crowded
into the big pung sleigh among straw and furry robes anne reveled in
the drive to the hall slipping along over the satin-smooth roads with
the snow crisping under the runners there was a magnificent sunset and
the snowy hills and deep-blue water of the st lawrence gulf seemed to
rim in the splendor like a huge bowl of pearl and sapphire brimmed with
wine and fire tinkles of sleigh bells and distant laughter that seemed
like the mirth of wood elves came from every quarter 

 oh diana breathed anne squeezing diana's mittened hand under the
fur robe isn't it all like a beautiful dream do i really look the
same as usual i feel so different that it seems to me it must show in
my looks 

 you look awfully nice said diana who having just received a
compliment from one of her cousins felt that she ought to pass it on 
 you've got the loveliest color 

the program that night was a series of thrills for at least one
listener in the audience and as anne assured diana every succeeding
thrill was thrillier than the last when prissy andrews attired in
a new pink-silk waist with a string of pearls about her smooth white
throat and real carnations in her hair rumor whispered that the master
had sent all the way to town for them for her climbed the slimy
ladder dark without one ray of light anne shivered in luxurious
sympathy when the choir sang far above the gentle daisies anne gazed
at the ceiling as if it were frescoed with angels when sam sloane
proceeded to explain and illustrate how sockery set a hen anne laughed
until people sitting near her laughed too more out of sympathy with her
than with amusement at a selection that was rather threadbare even in
avonlea and when mr phillips gave mark antony's oration over the
dead body of caesar in the most heart-stirring tones looking at prissy
andrews at the end of every sentence anne felt that she could rise and
mutiny on the spot if but one roman citizen led the way 

only one number on the program failed to interest her when gilbert
blythe recited bingen on the rhine anne picked up rhoda murray's
library book and read it until he had finished when she sat rigidly
stiff and motionless while diana clapped her hands until they tingled 

it was eleven when they got home sated with dissipation but with the
exceeding sweet pleasure of talking it all over still to come everybody
seemed asleep and the house was dark and silent anne and diana tiptoed
into the parlor a long narrow room out of which the spare room opened 
it was pleasantly warm and dimly lighted by the embers of a fire in the
grate 

 let's undress here said diana it's so nice and warm 

 hasn't it been a delightful time sighed anne rapturously it must
be splendid to get up and recite there do you suppose we will ever be
asked to do it diana 

 yes of course someday they're always wanting the big scholars to
recite gilbert blythe does often and he's only two years older than us 
oh anne how could you pretend not to listen to him when he came to
the line 

 there's another not a sister 

he looked right down at you 

 diana said anne with dignity you are my bosom friend but i cannot
allow even you to speak to me of that person are you ready for bed 
let's run a race and see who'll get to the bed first 

the suggestion appealed to diana the two little white-clad figures flew
down the long room through the spare-room door and bounded on the bed
at the same moment and then something moved beneath them there was a
gasp and a cry and somebody said in muffled accents 

 merciful goodness 

anne and diana were never able to tell just how they got off that bed
and out of the room they only knew that after one frantic rush they
found themselves tiptoeing shiveringly upstairs 

 oh who was it what was it whispered anne her teeth chattering with
cold and fright 

 it was aunt josephine said diana gasping with laughter oh anne 
it was aunt josephine however she came to be there oh and i know she
will be furious it's dreadful it's really dreadful but did you ever
know anything so funny anne 

 who is your aunt josephine 

 she's father's aunt and she lives in charlottetown she's awfully
old seventy anyhow and i don't believe she was ever a little girl we
were expecting her out for a visit but not so soon she's awfully prim
and proper and she'll scold dreadfully about this i know well we'll
have to sleep with minnie may and you can't think how she kicks 

miss josephine barry did not appear at the early breakfast the next
morning mrs barry smiled kindly at the two little girls 

 did you have a good time last night i tried to stay awake until you
came home for i wanted to tell you aunt josephine had come and that you
would have to go upstairs after all but i was so tired i fell asleep i
hope you didn't disturb your aunt diana 

diana preserved a discreet silence but she and anne exchanged furtive
smiles of guilty amusement across the table anne hurried home after
breakfast and so remained in blissful ignorance of the disturbance which
presently resulted in the barry household until the late afternoon when
she went down to mrs lynde's on an errand for marilla 

 so you and diana nearly frightened poor old miss barry to death last
night said mrs lynde severely but with a twinkle in her eye mrs 
barry was here a few minutes ago on her way to carmody she's feeling
real worried over it old miss barry was in a terrible temper when she
got up this morning and josephine barry's temper is no joke i can tell
you that she wouldn't speak to diana at all 

 it wasn't diana's fault said anne contritely it was mine i
suggested racing to see who would get into bed first 

 i knew it said mrs lynde with the exultation of a correct guesser 
 i knew that idea came out of your head well it's made a nice lot of
trouble that's what old miss barry came out to stay for a month but
she declares she won't stay another day and is going right back to town
tomorrow sunday and all as it is she'd have gone today if they could
have taken her she had promised to pay for a quarter's music lessons
for diana but now she is determined to do nothing at all for such a
tomboy oh i guess they had a lively time of it there this morning the
barrys must feel cut up old miss barry is rich and they'd like to keep
on the good side of her of course mrs barry didn't say just that to
me but i'm a pretty good judge of human nature that's what 

 i'm such an unlucky girl mourned anne i'm always getting into
scrapes myself and getting my best friends people i'd shed my heart's
blood for into them too can you tell me why it is so mrs lynde 

 it's because you're too heedless and impulsive child that's what you
never stop to think whatever comes into your head to say or do you say
or do it without a moment's reflection 

 oh but that's the best of it protested anne something just flashes
into your mind so exciting and you must out with it if you stop to
think it over you spoil it all haven't you never felt that yourself 
mrs lynde 

no mrs lynde had not she shook her head sagely 

 you must learn to think a little anne that's what the proverb you
need to go by is look before you leap especially into spare-room
beds 

mrs lynde laughed comfortably over her mild joke but anne remained
pensive she saw nothing to laugh at in the situation which to her
eyes appeared very serious when she left mrs lynde's she took her way
across the crusted fields to orchard slope diana met her at the kitchen
door 

 your aunt josephine was very cross about it wasn't she whispered
anne 

 yes answered diana stifling a giggle with an apprehensive glance
over her shoulder at the closed sitting-room door she was fairly
dancing with rage anne oh how she scolded she said i was the
worst-behaved girl she ever saw and that my parents ought to be ashamed
of the way they had brought me up she says she won't stay and i'm sure
i don't care but father and mother do 

 why didn't you tell them it was my fault demanded anne 

 it's likely i'd do such a thing isn't it said diana with just scorn 
 i'm no telltale anne shirley and anyhow i was just as much to blame
as you 

 well i'm going in to tell her myself said anne resolutely 

diana stared 

 anne shirley you'd never why she'll eat you alive 

 don't frighten me any more than i am frightened implored anne i'd
rather walk up to a cannon's mouth but i've got to do it diana it
was my fault and i've got to confess i've had practice in confessing 
fortunately 

 well she's in the room said diana you can go in if you want to i
wouldn't dare and i don't believe you'll do a bit of good 

with this encouragement anne bearded the lion in its den that is to
say walked resolutely up to the sitting-room door and knocked faintly 
a sharp come in followed 

miss josephine barry thin prim and rigid was knitting fiercely by
the fire her wrath quite unappeased and her eyes snapping through her
gold-rimmed glasses she wheeled around in her chair expecting to see
diana and beheld a white-faced girl whose great eyes were brimmed up
with a mixture of desperate courage and shrinking terror 

 who are you demanded miss josephine barry without ceremony 

 i'm anne of green gables said the small visitor tremulously clasping
her hands with her characteristic gesture and i've come to confess if
you please 

 confess what 

 that it was all my fault about jumping into bed on you last night i
suggested it diana would never have thought of such a thing i am sure 
diana is a very ladylike girl miss barry so you must see how unjust it
is to blame her 

 oh i must hey i rather think diana did her share of the jumping at
least such carryings on in a respectable house 

 but we were only in fun persisted anne i think you ought to forgive
us miss barry now that we've apologized and anyhow please forgive
diana and let her have her music lessons diana's heart is set on her
music lessons miss barry and i know too well what it is to set your
heart on a thing and not get it if you must be cross with anyone be
cross with me i've been so used in my early days to having people cross
at me that i can endure it much better than diana can 

much of the snap had gone out of the old lady's eyes by this time
and was replaced by a twinkle of amused interest but she still said
severely 

 i don't think it is any excuse for you that you were only in fun 
little girls never indulged in that kind of fun when i was young you
don't know what it is to be awakened out of a sound sleep after a long
and arduous journey by two great girls coming bounce down on you 

 i don't know but i can imagine said anne eagerly i'm sure it must
have been very disturbing but then there is our side of it too have
you any imagination miss barry if you have just put yourself in
our place we didn't know there was anybody in that bed and you nearly
scared us to death it was simply awful the way we felt and then we
couldn't sleep in the spare room after being promised i suppose you are
used to sleeping in spare rooms but just imagine what you would feel
like if you were a little orphan girl who had never had such an honor 

all the snap had gone by this time miss barry actually laughed a
sound which caused diana waiting in speechless anxiety in the kitchen
outside to give a great gasp of relief 

 i'm afraid my imagination is a little rusty it's so long since i used
it she said i dare say your claim to sympathy is just as strong as
mine it all depends on the way we look at it sit down here and tell me
about yourself 

 i am very sorry i can't said anne firmly i would like to because
you seem like an interesting lady and you might even be a kindred
spirit although you don't look very much like it but it is my duty to
go home to miss marilla cuthbert miss marilla cuthbert is a very kind
lady who has taken me to bring up properly she is doing her best but
it is very discouraging work you must not blame her because i jumped on
the bed but before i go i do wish you would tell me if you will forgive
diana and stay just as long as you meant to in avonlea 

 i think perhaps i will if you will come over and talk to me
occasionally said miss barry 

that evening miss barry gave diana a silver bangle bracelet and told the
senior members of the household that she had unpacked her valise 

 i've made up my mind to stay simply for the sake of getting better
acquainted with that anne-girl she said frankly she amuses me and
at my time of life an amusing person is a rarity 

marilla's only comment when she heard the story was i told you so 
 this was for matthew's benefit 

miss barry stayed her month out and over she was a more agreeable guest
than usual for anne kept her in good humor they became firm friends 

when miss barry went away she said 

 remember you anne-girl when you come to town you're to visit me and
i'll put you in my very sparest spare-room bed to sleep 

 miss barry was a kindred spirit after all anne confided to marilla 
 you wouldn't think so to look at her but she is you don't find it
right out at first as in matthew's case but after a while you come
to see it kindred spirits are not so scarce as i used to think it's
splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world 




chapter xx a good imagination gone wrong


spring had come once more to green gables the beautiful capricious 
reluctant canadian spring lingering along through april and may in a
succession of sweet fresh chilly days with pink sunsets and miracles
of resurrection and growth the maples in lover's lane were red budded
and little curly ferns pushed up around the dryad's bubble away up in
the barrens behind mr silas sloane's place the mayflowers blossomed
out pink and white stars of sweetness under their brown leaves all the
school girls and boys had one golden afternoon gathering them coming
home in the clear echoing twilight with arms and baskets full of
flowery spoil 

 i'm so sorry for people who live in lands where there are no
mayflowers said anne diana says perhaps they have something better 
but there couldn't be anything better than mayflowers could there 
marilla and diana says if they don't know what they are like they don't
miss them but i think that is the saddest thing of all i think it
would be tragic marilla not to know what mayflowers are like and not 
to miss them do you know what i think mayflowers are marilla i think
they must be the souls of the flowers that died last summer and this
is their heaven but we had a splendid time today marilla we had our
lunch down in a big mossy hollow by an old well such a romantic spot 
charlie sloane dared arty gillis to jump over it and arty did because
he wouldn't take a dare nobody would in school it is very fashionable 
to dare mr phillips gave all the mayflowers he found to prissy andrews
and i heard him to say sweets to the sweet he got that out of a
book i know but it shows he has some imagination i was offered some
mayflowers too but i rejected them with scorn i can't tell you the
person's name because i have vowed never to let it cross my lips we
made wreaths of the mayflowers and put them on our hats and when the
time came to go home we marched in procession down the road two by two 
with our bouquets and wreaths singing my home on the hill oh it was
so thrilling marilla all mr silas sloane's folks rushed out to see us
and everybody we met on the road stopped and stared after us we made a
real sensation 

 not much wonder such silly doings was marilla's response 

after the mayflowers came the violets and violet vale was empurpled
with them anne walked through it on her way to school with reverent
steps and worshiping eyes as if she trod on holy ground 

 somehow she told diana when i'm going through here i don't really
care whether gil whether anybody gets ahead of me in class or not but
when i'm up in school it's all different and i care as much as ever 
there's such a lot of different annes in me i sometimes think that is
why i'm such a troublesome person if i was just the one anne it would
be ever so much more comfortable but then it wouldn't be half so
interesting 

one june evening when the orchards were pink blossomed again when the
frogs were singing silverly sweet in the marshes about the head of the
lake of shining waters and the air was full of the savor of clover
fields and balsamic fir woods anne was sitting by her gable window 
she had been studying her lessons but it had grown too dark to see the
book so she had fallen into wide-eyed reverie looking out past the
boughs of the snow queen once more bestarred with its tufts of blossom 

in all essential respects the little gable chamber was unchanged the
walls were as white the pincushion as hard the chairs as stiffly
and yellowly upright as ever yet the whole character of the room was
altered it was full of a new vital pulsing personality that seemed to
pervade it and to be quite independent of schoolgirl books and dresses
and ribbons and even of the cracked blue jug full of apple blossoms
on the table it was as if all the dreams sleeping and waking of its
vivid occupant had taken a visible although unmaterial form and had
tapestried the bare room with splendid filmy tissues of rainbow and
moonshine presently marilla came briskly in with some of anne's freshly
ironed school aprons she hung them over a chair and sat down with
a short sigh she had had one of her headaches that afternoon and
although the pain had gone she felt weak and tuckered out as she
expressed it anne looked at her with eyes limpid with sympathy 

 i do truly wish i could have had the headache in your place marilla i
would have endured it joyfully for your sake 

 i guess you did your part in attending to the work and letting me
rest said marilla you seem to have got on fairly well and made fewer
mistakes than usual of course it wasn't exactly necessary to starch
matthew's handkerchiefs and most people when they put a pie in the oven
to warm up for dinner take it out and eat it when it gets hot instead of
leaving it to be burned to a crisp but that doesn't seem to be your way
evidently 

headaches always left marilla somewhat sarcastic 

 oh i'm so sorry said anne penitently i never thought about that
pie from the moment i put it in the oven till now although i felt
 instinctively that there was something missing on the dinner table i
was firmly resolved when you left me in charge this morning not to
imagine anything but keep my thoughts on facts i did pretty well until
i put the pie in and then an irresistible temptation came to me to
imagine i was an enchanted princess shut up in a lonely tower with a
handsome knight riding to my rescue on a coal-black steed so that
is how i came to forget the pie i didn't know i starched the
handkerchiefs all the time i was ironing i was trying to think of a
name for a new island diana and i have discovered up the brook it's the
most ravishing spot marilla there are two maple trees on it and the
brook flows right around it at last it struck me that it would be
splendid to call it victoria island because we found it on the queen's
birthday both diana and i are very loyal but i'm sorry about that pie
and the handkerchiefs i wanted to be extra good today because it's an
anniversary do you remember what happened this day last year marilla 

 no i can't think of anything special 

 oh marilla it was the day i came to green gables i shall never
forget it it was the turning point in my life of course it wouldn't
seem so important to you i've been here for a year and i've been so
happy of course i've had my troubles but one can live down troubles 
are you sorry you kept me marilla 

 no i can't say i'm sorry said marilla who sometimes wondered how
she could have lived before anne came to green gables no not exactly
sorry if you've finished your lessons anne i want you to run over and
ask mrs barry if she'll lend me diana's apron pattern 

 oh it's it's too dark cried anne 

 too dark why it's only twilight and goodness knows you've gone over
often enough after dark 

 i'll go over early in the morning said anne eagerly i'll get up at
sunrise and go over marilla 

 what has got into your head now anne shirley i want that pattern to
cut out your new apron this evening go at once and be smart too 

 i'll have to go around by the road then said anne taking up her hat
reluctantly 

 go by the road and waste half an hour i'd like to catch you 

 i can't go through the haunted wood marilla cried anne desperately 

marilla stared 

 the haunted wood are you crazy what under the canopy is the haunted
wood 

 the spruce wood over the brook said anne in a whisper 

 fiddlesticks there is no such thing as a haunted wood anywhere who
has been telling you such stuff 

 nobody confessed anne diana and i just imagined the wood was
haunted all the places around here are so so commonplace we just got
this up for our own amusement we began it in april a haunted wood is
so very romantic marilla we chose the spruce grove because it's so
gloomy oh we have imagined the most harrowing things there's a white
lady walks along the brook just about this time of the night and wrings
her hands and utters wailing cries she appears when there is to be a
death in the family and the ghost of a little murdered child haunts the
corner up by idlewild it creeps up behind you and lays its cold fingers
on your hand so oh marilla it gives me a shudder to think of it and
there's a headless man stalks up and down the path and skeletons glower
at you between the boughs oh marilla i wouldn't go through the
haunted wood after dark now for anything i'd be sure that white things
would reach out from behind the trees and grab me 

 did ever anyone hear the like ejaculated marilla who had
listened in dumb amazement anne shirley do you mean to tell me you
believe all that wicked nonsense of your own imagination 

 not believe exactly faltered anne at least i don't believe it in
daylight but after dark marilla it's different that is when ghosts
walk 

 there are no such things as ghosts anne 

 oh but there are marilla cried anne eagerly i know people who
have seen them and they are respectable people charlie sloane says
that his grandmother saw his grandfather driving home the cows one night
after he'd been buried for a year you know charlie sloane's grandmother
wouldn't tell a story for anything she's a very religious woman and
mrs thomas's father was pursued home one night by a lamb of fire with
its head cut off hanging by a strip of skin he said he knew it was the
spirit of his brother and that it was a warning he would die within nine
days he didn't but he died two years after so you see it was really
true and ruby gillis says 

 anne shirley interrupted marilla firmly i never want to hear you
talking in this fashion again i've had my doubts about that imagination
of yours right along and if this is going to be the outcome of it i
won't countenance any such doings you'll go right over to barry's and
you'll go through that spruce grove just for a lesson and a warning to
you and never let me hear a word out of your head about haunted woods
again 

anne might plead and cry as she liked and did for her terror was very
real her imagination had run away with her and she held the spruce
grove in mortal dread after nightfall but marilla was inexorable she
marched the shrinking ghost-seer down to the spring and ordered her
to proceed straightaway over the bridge and into the dusky retreats of
wailing ladies and headless specters beyond 

 oh marilla how can you be so cruel sobbed anne what would you
feel like if a white thing did snatch me up and carry me off 

 i'll risk it said marilla unfeelingly you know i always mean what i
say i'll cure you of imagining ghosts into places march now 

anne marched that is she stumbled over the bridge and went shuddering
up the horrible dim path beyond anne never forgot that walk bitterly
did she repent the license she had given to her imagination the goblins
of her fancy lurked in every shadow about her reaching out their cold 
fleshless hands to grasp the terrified small girl who had called them
into being a white strip of birch bark blowing up from the hollow over
the brown floor of the grove made her heart stand still the long-drawn
wail of two old boughs rubbing against each other brought out the
perspiration in beads on her forehead the swoop of bats in the darkness
over her was as the wings of unearthly creatures when she reached mr 
william bell's field she fled across it as if pursued by an army of
white things and arrived at the barry kitchen door so out of breath
that she could hardly gasp out her request for the apron pattern 
diana was away so that she had no excuse to linger the dreadful
return journey had to be faced anne went back over it with shut eyes 
preferring to take the risk of dashing her brains out among the boughs
to that of seeing a white thing when she finally stumbled over the log
bridge she drew one long shivering breath of relief 

 well so nothing caught you said marilla unsympathetically 

 oh mar marilla chattered anne i'll b-b-be contt-tented with
c-c-commonplace places after this 




chapter xxi a new departure in flavorings


dear me there is nothing but meetings and partings in this world as
mrs lynde says remarked anne plaintively putting her slate and books
down on the kitchen table on the last day of june and wiping her red
eyes with a very damp handkerchief wasn't it fortunate marilla that
i took an extra handkerchief to school today i had a presentiment that
it would be needed 

 i never thought you were so fond of mr phillips that you'd require two
handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away said
marilla 

 i don't think i was crying because i was really so very fond of him 
 reflected anne i just cried because all the others did it was
ruby gillis started it ruby gillis has always declared she hated mr 
phillips but just as soon as he got up to make his farewell speech she
burst into tears then all the girls began to cry one after the other 
i tried to hold out marilla i tried to remember the time mr phillips
made me sit with gil with a boy and the time he spelled my name
without an e on the blackboard and how he said i was the worst dunce
he ever saw at geometry and laughed at my spelling and all the times he
had been so horrid and sarcastic but somehow i couldn't marilla and i
just had to cry too jane andrews has been talking for a month about how
glad she'd be when mr phillips went away and she declared she'd never
shed a tear well she was worse than any of us and had to borrow a
handkerchief from her brother of course the boys didn't cry because
she hadn't brought one of her own not expecting to need it oh 
marilla it was heartrending mr phillips made such a beautiful
farewell speech beginning the time has come for us to part it was
very affecting and he had tears in his eyes too marilla oh i felt
dreadfully sorry and remorseful for all the times i'd talked in school
and drawn pictures of him on my slate and made fun of him and prissy 
i can tell you i wished i'd been a model pupil like minnie andrews she
hadn't anything on her conscience the girls cried all the way home from
school carrie sloane kept saying every few minutes the time has come
for us to part and that would start us off again whenever we were in
any danger of cheering up i do feel dreadfully sad marilla but one
can't feel quite in the depths of despair with two months vacation
before them can they marilla and besides we met the new minister and
his wife coming from the station for all i was feeling so bad about mr 
phillips going away i couldn't help taking a little interest in a new
minister could i his wife is very pretty not exactly regally lovely 
of course it wouldn't do i suppose for a minister to have a regally
lovely wife because it might set a bad example mrs lynde says the
minister's wife over at newbridge sets a very bad example because she
dresses so fashionably our new minister's wife was dressed in blue
muslin with lovely puffed sleeves and a hat trimmed with roses 
jane andrews said she thought puffed sleeves were too worldly for
a minister's wife but i didn't make any such uncharitable remark 
marilla because i know what it is to long for puffed sleeves besides 
she's only been a minister's wife for a little while so one should
make allowances shouldn't they they are going to board with mrs lynde
until the manse is ready 

if marilla in going down to mrs lynde's that evening was actuated by
any motive save her avowed one of returning the quilting frames she had
borrowed the preceding winter it was an amiable weakness shared by most
of the avonlea people many a thing mrs lynde had lent sometimes
never expecting to see it again came home that night in charge of the
borrowers thereof a new minister and moreover a minister with a wife 
was a lawful object of curiosity in a quiet little country settlement
where sensations were few and far between 

old mr bentley the minister whom anne had found lacking in
imagination had been pastor of avonlea for eighteen years he was a
widower when he came and a widower he remained despite the fact that
gossip regularly married him to this that or the other one every year
of his sojourn in the preceding february he had resigned his charge and
departed amid the regrets of his people most of whom had the affection
born of long intercourse for their good old minister in spite of his
shortcomings as an orator since then the avonlea church had enjoyed a
variety of religious dissipation in listening to the many and various
candidates and supplies who came sunday after sunday to preach on
trial these stood or fell by the judgment of the fathers and mothers
in israel but a certain small red-haired girl who sat meekly in the
corner of the old cuthbert pew also had her opinions about them and
discussed the same in full with matthew marilla always declining from
principle to criticize ministers in any shape or form 

 i don't think mr smith would have done matthew was anne's final
summing up mrs lynde says his delivery was so poor but i think his
worst fault was just like mr bentley's he had no imagination and mr 
terry had too much he let it run away with him just as i did mine in
the matter of the haunted wood besides mrs lynde says his theology
wasn't sound mr gresham was a very good man and a very religious man 
but he told too many funny stories and made the people laugh in church 
he was undignified and you must have some dignity about a minister 
mustn't you matthew i thought mr marshall was decidedly attractive 
but mrs lynde says he isn't married or even engaged because she made
special inquiries about him and she says it would never do to have
a young unmarried minister in avonlea because he might marry in the
congregation and that would make trouble mrs lynde is a very farseeing
woman isn't she matthew i'm very glad they've called mr allan i
liked him because his sermon was interesting and he prayed as if he
meant it and not just as if he did it because he was in the habit of it 
mrs lynde says he isn't perfect but she says she supposes we couldn't
expect a perfect minister for seven hundred and fifty dollars a year 
and anyhow his theology is sound because she questioned him thoroughly
on all the points of doctrine and she knows his wife's people and they
are most respectable and the women are all good housekeepers mrs lynde
says that sound doctrine in the man and good housekeeping in the woman
make an ideal combination for a minister's family 

the new minister and his wife were a young pleasant-faced couple still
on their honeymoon and full of all good and beautiful enthusiasms for
their chosen lifework avonlea opened its heart to them from the start 
old and young liked the frank cheerful young man with his high ideals 
and the bright gentle little lady who assumed the mistress-ship of the
manse with mrs allan anne fell promptly and wholeheartedly in love 
she had discovered another kindred spirit 

 mrs allan is perfectly lovely she announced one sunday afternoon 
 she's taken our class and she's a splendid teacher she said right away
she didn't think it was fair for the teacher to ask all the questions 
and you know marilla that is exactly what i've always thought she
said we could ask her any question we liked and i asked ever so many 
i'm good at asking questions marilla 

 i believe you was marilla's emphatic comment 

 nobody else asked any except ruby gillis and she asked if there was
to be a sunday-school picnic this summer i didn't think that was a
very proper question to ask because it hadn't any connection with the
lesson the lesson was about daniel in the lions den but mrs allan
just smiled and said she thought there would be mrs allan has a
lovely smile she has such exquisite dimples in her cheeks i wish i had
dimples in my cheeks marilla i'm not half so skinny as i was when i
came here but i have no dimples yet if i had perhaps i could influence
people for good mrs allan said we ought always to try to influence
other people for good she talked so nice about everything i never knew
before that religion was such a cheerful thing i always thought it
was kind of melancholy but mrs allan's isn't and i'd like to be a
christian if i could be one like her i wouldn't want to be one like mr 
superintendent bell 

 it's very naughty of you to speak so about mr bell said marilla
severely mr bell is a real good man 

 oh of course he's good agreed anne but he doesn't seem to get any
comfort out of it if i could be good i'd dance and sing all day because
i was glad of it i suppose mrs allan is too old to dance and sing and
of course it wouldn't be dignified in a minister's wife but i can just
feel she's glad she's a christian and that she'd be one even if she
could get to heaven without it 

 i suppose we must have mr and mrs allan up to tea someday soon said
marilla reflectively they've been most everywhere but here let me
see next wednesday would be a good time to have them but don't say a
word to matthew about it for if he knew they were coming he'd find some
excuse to be away that day he'd got so used to mr bentley he didn't
mind him but he's going to find it hard to get acquainted with a new
minister and a new minister's wife will frighten him to death 

 i'll be as secret as the dead assured anne but oh marilla will
you let me make a cake for the occasion i'd love to do something for
mrs allan and you know i can make a pretty good cake by this time 

 you can make a layer cake promised marilla 

monday and tuesday great preparations went on at green gables 
having the minister and his wife to tea was a serious and important
undertaking and marilla was determined not to be eclipsed by any of
the avonlea housekeepers anne was wild with excitement and delight she
talked it all over with diana tuesday night in the twilight as they
sat on the big red stones by the dryad's bubble and made rainbows in the
water with little twigs dipped in fir balsam 

 everything is ready diana except my cake which i'm to make in the
morning and the baking-powder biscuits which marilla will make just
before teatime i assure you diana that marilla and i have had a busy
two days of it it's such a responsibility having a minister's family to
tea i never went through such an experience before you should just see
our pantry it's a sight to behold we're going to have jellied chicken
and cold tongue we're to have two kinds of jelly red and yellow and
whipped cream and lemon pie and cherry pie and three kinds of cookies 
and fruit cake and marilla's famous yellow plum preserves that she
keeps especially for ministers and pound cake and layer cake and
biscuits as aforesaid and new bread and old both in case the minister
is dyspeptic and can't eat new mrs lynde says ministers are dyspeptic 
but i don't think mr allan has been a minister long enough for it to
have had a bad effect on him i just grow cold when i think of my layer
cake oh diana what if it shouldn't be good i dreamed last night that
i was chased all around by a fearful goblin with a big layer cake for a
head 

 it'll be good all right assured diana who was a very comfortable
sort of friend i'm sure that piece of the one you made that we had for
lunch in idlewild two weeks ago was perfectly elegant 

 yes but cakes have such a terrible habit of turning out bad just
when you especially want them to be good sighed anne setting a
particularly well-balsamed twig afloat however i suppose i shall
just have to trust to providence and be careful to put in the flour oh 
look diana what a lovely rainbow do you suppose the dryad will come
out after we go away and take it for a scarf 

 you know there is no such thing as a dryad said diana diana's mother
had found out about the haunted wood and had been decidedly angry over
it as a result diana had abstained from any further imitative flights
of imagination and did not think it prudent to cultivate a spirit of
belief even in harmless dryads 

 but it's so easy to imagine there is said anne every night before
i go to bed i look out of my window and wonder if the dryad is really
sitting here combing her locks with the spring for a mirror sometimes
i look for her footprints in the dew in the morning oh diana don't
give up your faith in the dryad 

wednesday morning came anne got up at sunrise because she was too
excited to sleep she had caught a severe cold in the head by reason of
her dabbling in the spring on the preceding evening but nothing short
of absolute pneumonia could have quenched her interest in culinary
matters that morning after breakfast she proceeded to make her cake 
when she finally shut the oven door upon it she drew a long breath 

 i'm sure i haven't forgotten anything this time marilla but do you
think it will rise just suppose perhaps the baking powder isn't good i
used it out of the new can and mrs lynde says you can never be sure of
getting good baking powder nowadays when everything is so adulterated 
mrs lynde says the government ought to take the matter up but she says
we'll never see the day when a tory government will do it marilla what
if that cake doesn't rise 

 we'll have plenty without it was marilla's unimpassioned way of
looking at the subject 

the cake did rise however and came out of the oven as light and
feathery as golden foam anne flushed with delight clapped it together
with layers of ruby jelly and in imagination saw mrs allan eating it
and possibly asking for another piece 

 you'll be using the best tea set of course marilla she said can i
fix the table with ferns and wild roses 

 i think that's all nonsense sniffed marilla in my opinion it's the
eatables that matter and not flummery decorations 

 mrs barry had her table decorated said anne who was not entirely
guiltless of the wisdom of the serpent and the minister paid her an
elegant compliment he said it was a feast for the eye as well as the
palate 

 well do as you like said marilla who was quite determined not to
be surpassed by mrs barry or anybody else only mind you leave enough
room for the dishes and the food 

anne laid herself out to decorate in a manner and after a fashion that
should leave mrs barry's nowhere having abundance of roses and ferns
and a very artistic taste of her own she made that tea table such a
thing of beauty that when the minister and his wife sat down to it they
exclaimed in chorus over it loveliness 

 it's anne's doings said marilla grimly just and anne felt that mrs 
allan's approving smile was almost too much happiness for this world 

matthew was there having been inveigled into the party only goodness
and anne knew how he had been in such a state of shyness and
nervousness that marilla had given him up in despair but anne took him
in hand so successfully that he now sat at the table in his best clothes
and white collar and talked to the minister not uninterestingly 
he never said a word to mrs allan but that perhaps was not to be
expected 

all went merry as a marriage bell until anne's layer cake was passed 
mrs allan having already been helped to a bewildering variety 
declined it but marilla seeing the disappointment on anne's face said
smilingly 

 oh you must take a piece of this mrs allan anne made it on purpose
for you 

 in that case i must sample it laughed mrs allan helping herself to
a plump triangle as did also the minister and marilla 

mrs allan took a mouthful of hers and a most peculiar expression
crossed her face not a word did she say however but steadily ate away
at it marilla saw the expression and hastened to taste the cake 

 anne shirley she exclaimed what on earth did you put into that
cake 

 nothing but what the recipe said marilla cried anne with a look of
anguish oh isn't it all right 

 all right it's simply horrible mr allan don't try to eat it anne 
taste it yourself what flavoring did you use 

 vanilla said anne her face scarlet with mortification after tasting
the cake only vanilla oh marilla it must have been the baking
powder i had my suspicions of that bak 

 baking powder fiddlesticks go and bring me the bottle of vanilla you
used 

anne fled to the pantry and returned with a small bottle partially
filled with a brown liquid and labeled yellowly best vanilla 

marilla took it uncorked it smelled it 

 mercy on us anne you've flavored that cake with anodyne liniment i
broke the liniment bottle last week and poured what was left into an
old empty vanilla bottle i suppose it's partly my fault i should have
warned you but for pity's sake why couldn't you have smelled it 

anne dissolved into tears under this double disgrace 

 i couldn't i had such a cold and with this she fairly fled to the
gable chamber where she cast herself on the bed and wept as one who
refuses to be comforted 

presently a light step sounded on the stairs and somebody entered the
room 

 oh marilla sobbed anne without looking up i'm disgraced forever 
i shall never be able to live this down it will get out things always
do get out in avonlea diana will ask me how my cake turned out and i
shall have to tell her the truth i shall always be pointed at as the
girl who flavored a cake with anodyne liniment gil the boys in school
will never get over laughing at it oh marilla if you have a spark
of christian pity don't tell me that i must go down and wash the dishes
after this i'll wash them when the minister and his wife are gone but
i cannot ever look mrs allan in the face again perhaps she'll think i
tried to poison her mrs lynde says she knows an orphan girl who tried
to poison her benefactor but the liniment isn't poisonous it's meant
to be taken internally although not in cakes won't you tell mrs allan
so marilla 

 suppose you jump up and tell her so yourself said a merry voice 

anne flew up to find mrs allan standing by her bed surveying her with
laughing eyes 

 my dear little girl you mustn't cry like this she said genuinely
disturbed by anne's tragic face why it's all just a funny mistake
that anybody might make 

 oh no it takes me to make such a mistake said anne forlornly and
i wanted to have that cake so nice for you mrs allan 

 yes i know dear and i assure you i appreciate your kindness and
thoughtfulness just as much as if it had turned out all right now 
you mustn't cry any more but come down with me and show me your flower
garden miss cuthbert tells me you have a little plot all your own i
want to see it for i'm very much interested in flowers 

anne permitted herself to be led down and comforted reflecting that it
was really providential that mrs allan was a kindred spirit nothing
more was said about the liniment cake and when the guests went away
anne found that she had enjoyed the evening more than could have been
expected considering that terrible incident nevertheless she sighed
deeply 

 marilla isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no
mistakes in it yet 

 i'll warrant you'll make plenty in it said marilla i never saw your
beat for making mistakes anne 

 yes and well i know it admitted anne mournfully but have you ever
noticed one encouraging thing about me marilla i never make the same
mistake twice 

 i don't know as that's much benefit when you're always making new
ones 

 oh don't you see marilla there must be a limit to the mistakes one
person can make and when i get to the end of them then i'll be through
with them that's a very comforting thought 

 well you'd better go and give that cake to the pigs said marilla 
 it isn't fit for any human to eat not even jerry boute 




chapter xxii anne is invited out to tea


and what are your eyes popping out of your head about now asked
marilla when anne had just come in from a run to the post office have
you discovered another kindred spirit excitement hung around anne like
a garment shone in her eyes kindled in every feature she had come
dancing up the lane like a wind-blown sprite through the mellow
sunshine and lazy shadows of the august evening 

 no marilla but oh what do you think i am invited to tea at the
manse tomorrow afternoon mrs allan left the letter for me at the post
office just look at it marilla miss anne shirley green gables 
that is the first time i was ever called miss such a thrill as it
gave me i shall cherish it forever among my choicest treasures 

 mrs allan told me she meant to have all the members of her
sunday-school class to tea in turn said marilla regarding the
wonderful event very coolly you needn't get in such a fever over it 
do learn to take things calmly child 

for anne to take things calmly would have been to change her nature all
 spirit and fire and dew as she was the pleasures and pains of life
came to her with trebled intensity marilla felt this and was vaguely
troubled over it realizing that the ups and downs of existence would
probably bear hardly on this impulsive soul and not sufficiently
understanding that the equally great capacity for delight might more
than compensate therefore marilla conceived it to be her duty to drill
anne into a tranquil uniformity of disposition as impossible and alien
to her as to a dancing sunbeam in one of the brook shallows she did not
make much headway as she sorrowfully admitted to herself the downfall
of some dear hope or plan plunged anne into deeps of affliction the
fulfillment thereof exalted her to dizzy realms of delight marilla had
almost begun to despair of ever fashioning this waif of the world into
her model little girl of demure manners and prim deportment neither
would she have believed that she really liked anne much better as she
was 

anne went to bed that night speechless with misery because matthew had
said the wind was round northeast and he feared it would be a rainy day
tomorrow the rustle of the poplar leaves about the house worried her 
it sounded so like pattering raindrops and the full faraway roar of
the gulf to which she listened delightedly at other times loving its
strange sonorous haunting rhythm now seemed like a prophecy of storm
and disaster to a small maiden who particularly wanted a fine day anne
thought that the morning would never come 

but all things have an end even nights before the day on which you are
invited to take tea at the manse the morning in spite of matthew's
predictions was fine and anne's spirits soared to their highest 
 oh marilla there is something in me today that makes me just love
everybody i see she exclaimed as she washed the breakfast dishes 
 you don't know how good i feel wouldn't it be nice if it could last i
believe i could be a model child if i were just invited out to tea every
day but oh marilla it's a solemn occasion too i feel so anxious 
what if i shouldn't behave properly you know i never had tea at a
manse before and i'm not sure that i know all the rules of etiquette 
although i've been studying the rules given in the etiquette department
of the family herald ever since i came here i'm so afraid i'll do
something silly or forget to do something i should do would it be
good manners to take a second helping of anything if you wanted to very 
much 

 the trouble with you anne is that you're thinking too much about
yourself you should just think of mrs allan and what would be nicest
and most agreeable to her said marilla hitting for once in her life
on a very sound and pithy piece of advice anne instantly realized this 

 you are right marilla i'll try not to think about myself at all 

anne evidently got through her visit without any serious breach of
 etiquette for she came home through the twilight under a great 
high-sprung sky gloried over with trails of saffron and rosy cloud in
a beatified state of mind and told marilla all about it happily sitting
on the big red-sandstone slab at the kitchen door with her tired curly
head in marilla's gingham lap 

a cool wind was blowing down over the long harvest fields from the rims
of firry western hills and whistling through the poplars one clear star
hung over the orchard and the fireflies were flitting over in lover's
lane in and out among the ferns and rustling boughs anne watched them
as she talked and somehow felt that wind and stars and fireflies were
all tangled up together into something unutterably sweet and enchanting 

 oh marilla i've had a most fascinating time i feel that i have not
lived in vain and i shall always feel like that even if i should never
be invited to tea at a manse again when i got there mrs allan met me
at the door she was dressed in the sweetest dress of pale-pink organdy 
with dozens of frills and elbow sleeves and she looked just like a
seraph i really think i'd like to be a minister's wife when i grow up 
marilla a minister mightn't mind my red hair because he wouldn't be
thinking of such worldly things but then of course one would have to
be naturally good and i'll never be that so i suppose there's no use in
thinking about it some people are naturally good you know and others
are not i'm one of the others mrs lynde says i'm full of original
sin no matter how hard i try to be good i can never make such a success
of it as those who are naturally good it's a good deal like geometry 
i expect but don't you think the trying so hard ought to count for
something mrs allan is one of the naturally good people i love her
passionately you know there are some people like matthew and mrs 
allan that you can love right off without any trouble and there are
others like mrs lynde that you have to try very hard to love you
know you ought to love them because they know so much and are such
active workers in the church but you have to keep reminding yourself of
it all the time or else you forget there was another little girl at the
manse to tea from the white sands sunday school her name was laurette
bradley and she was a very nice little girl not exactly a kindred
spirit you know but still very nice we had an elegant tea and i
think i kept all the rules of etiquette pretty well after tea mrs 
allan played and sang and she got lauretta and me to sing too 
mrs allan says i have a good voice and she says i must sing in the
sunday-school choir after this you can't think how i was thrilled at
the mere thought i've longed so to sing in the sunday-school choir 
as diana does but i feared it was an honor i could never aspire to 
lauretta had to go home early because there is a big concert in the
white sands hotel tonight and her sister is to recite at it lauretta
says that the americans at the hotel give a concert every fortnight in
aid of the charlottetown hospital and they ask lots of the white
sands people to recite lauretta said she expected to be asked herself
someday i just gazed at her in awe after she had gone mrs allan and i
had a heart-to-heart talk i told her everything about mrs thomas and
the twins and katie maurice and violetta and coming to green gables and
my troubles over geometry and would you believe it marilla mrs 
allan told me she was a dunce at geometry too you don't know how that
encouraged me mrs lynde came to the manse just before i left and what
do you think marilla the trustees have hired a new teacher and it's
a lady her name is miss muriel stacy isn't that a romantic name mrs 
lynde says they've never had a female teacher in avonlea before and she
thinks it is a dangerous innovation but i think it will be splendid
to have a lady teacher and i really don't see how i'm going to live
through the two weeks before school begins i'm so impatient to see
her 




chapter xxiii anne comes to grief in an affair of honor


anne had to live through more than two weeks as it happened almost a
month having elapsed since the liniment cake episode it was high time
for her to get into fresh trouble of some sort little mistakes such as
absentmindedly emptying a pan of skim milk into a basket of yarn balls
in the pantry instead of into the pigs bucket and walking clean over
the edge of the log bridge into the brook while wrapped in imaginative
reverie not really being worth counting 

a week after the tea at the manse diana barry gave a party 

 small and select anne assured marilla just the girls in our class 

they had a very good time and nothing untoward happened until after tea 
when they found themselves in the barry garden a little tired of all
their games and ripe for any enticing form of mischief which might
present itself this presently took the form of daring 

daring was the fashionable amusement among the avonlea small fry just
then it had begun among the boys but soon spread to the girls and all
the silly things that were done in avonlea that summer because the doers
thereof were dared to do them would fill a book by themselves 

first of all carrie sloane dared ruby gillis to climb to a certain point
in the huge old willow tree before the front door which ruby gillis 
albeit in mortal dread of the fat green caterpillars with which said
tree was infested and with the fear of her mother before her eyes if she
should tear her new muslin dress nimbly did to the discomfiture of the
aforesaid carrie sloane then josie pye dared jane andrews to hop on her
left leg around the garden without stopping once or putting her right
foot to the ground which jane andrews gamely tried to do but gave out
at the third corner and had to confess herself defeated 

josie's triumph being rather more pronounced than good taste permitted 
anne shirley dared her to walk along the top of the board fence which
bounded the garden to the east now to walk board fences requires
more skill and steadiness of head and heel than one might suppose who
has never tried it but josie pye if deficient in some qualities
that make for popularity had at least a natural and inborn gift duly
cultivated for walking board fences josie walked the barry fence with
an airy unconcern which seemed to imply that a little thing like that
wasn't worth a dare reluctant admiration greeted her exploit for
most of the other girls could appreciate it having suffered many things
themselves in their efforts to walk fences josie descended from her
perch flushed with victory and darted a defiant glance at anne 

anne tossed her red braids 

 i don't think it's such a very wonderful thing to walk a little low 
board fence she said i knew a girl in marysville who could walk the
ridgepole of a roof 

 i don't believe it said josie flatly i don't believe anybody could
walk a ridgepole you couldn't anyhow 

 couldn't i cried anne rashly 

 then i dare you to do it said josie defiantly i dare you to climb
up there and walk the ridgepole of mr barry's kitchen roof 

anne turned pale but there was clearly only one thing to be done she
walked toward the house where a ladder was leaning against the kitchen
roof all the fifth-class girls said oh partly in excitement partly
in dismay 

 don't you do it anne entreated diana you'll fall off and be
killed never mind josie pye it isn't fair to dare anybody to do
anything so dangerous 

 i must do it my honor is at stake said anne solemnly i shall walk
that ridgepole diana or perish in the attempt if i am killed you are
to have my pearl bead ring 

anne climbed the ladder amid breathless silence gained the ridgepole 
balanced herself uprightly on that precarious footing and started to
walk along it dizzily conscious that she was uncomfortably high up
in the world and that walking ridgepoles was not a thing in which your
imagination helped you out much nevertheless she managed to take
several steps before the catastrophe came then she swayed lost her
balance stumbled staggered and fell sliding down over the sun-baked
roof and crashing off it through the tangle of virginia creeper
beneath all before the dismayed circle below could give a simultaneous 
terrified shriek 

if anne had tumbled off the roof on the side up which she had ascended
diana would probably have fallen heir to the pearl bead ring then and
there fortunately she fell on the other side where the roof extended
down over the porch so nearly to the ground that a fall therefrom was
a much less serious thing nevertheless when diana and the other
girls had rushed frantically around the house except ruby gillis who
remained as if rooted to the ground and went into hysterics they found
anne lying all white and limp among the wreck and ruin of the virginia
creeper 

 anne are you killed shrieked diana throwing herself on her knees
beside her friend oh anne dear anne speak just one word to me and
tell me if you're killed 

to the immense relief of all the girls and especially of josie pye 
who in spite of lack of imagination had been seized with horrible
visions of a future branded as the girl who was the cause of anne
shirley's early and tragic death anne sat dizzily up and answered
uncertainly 

 no diana i am not killed but i think i am rendered unconscious 

 where sobbed carrie sloane oh where anne before anne could
answer mrs barry appeared on the scene at sight of her anne tried to
scramble to her feet but sank back again with a sharp little cry of
pain 

 what's the matter where have you hurt yourself demanded mrs barry 

 my ankle gasped anne oh diana please find your father and ask him
to take me home i know i can never walk there and i'm sure i couldn't
hop so far on one foot when jane couldn't even hop around the garden 

marilla was out in the orchard picking a panful of summer apples when
she saw mr barry coming over the log bridge and up the slope with mrs 
barry beside him and a whole procession of little girls trailing after
him in his arms he carried anne whose head lay limply against his
shoulder 

at that moment marilla had a revelation in the sudden stab of fear that
pierced her very heart she realized what anne had come to mean to her 
she would have admitted that she liked anne nay that she was very fond
of anne but now she knew as she hurried wildly down the slope that anne
was dearer to her than anything else on earth 

 mr barry what has happened to her she gasped more white and shaken
than the self-contained sensible marilla had been for many years 

anne herself answered lifting her head 

 don't be very frightened marilla i was walking the ridgepole and i
fell off i expect i have sprained my ankle but marilla i might have
broken my neck let us look on the bright side of things 

 i might have known you'd go and do something of the sort when i let you
go to that party said marilla sharp and shrewish in her very relief 
 bring her in here mr barry and lay her on the sofa mercy me the
child has gone and fainted 

it was quite true overcome by the pain of her injury anne had one more
of her wishes granted to her she had fainted dead away 

matthew hastily summoned from the harvest field was straightway
dispatched for the doctor who in due time came to discover that the
injury was more serious than they had supposed anne's ankle was broken 

that night when marilla went up to the east gable where a white-faced
girl was lying a plaintive voice greeted her from the bed 

 aren't you very sorry for me marilla 

 it was your own fault said marilla twitching down the blind and
lighting a lamp 

 and that is just why you should be sorry for me said anne because
the thought that it is all my own fault is what makes it so hard if i
could blame it on anybody i would feel so much better but what would
you have done marilla if you had been dared to walk a ridgepole 

 i'd have stayed on good firm ground and let them dare away such
absurdity said marilla 

anne sighed 

 but you have such strength of mind marilla i haven't i just felt
that i couldn't bear josie pye's scorn she would have crowed over me
all my life and i think i have been punished so much that you needn't
be very cross with me marilla it's not a bit nice to faint after all 
and the doctor hurt me dreadfully when he was setting my ankle i won't
be able to go around for six or seven weeks and i'll miss the new lady
teacher she won't be new any more by the time i'm able to go to school 
and gil everybody will get ahead of me in class oh i am an afflicted
mortal but i'll try to bear it all bravely if only you won't be cross
with me marilla 

 there there i'm not cross said marilla you're an unlucky child 
there's no doubt about that but as you say you'll have the suffering
of it here now try and eat some supper 

 isn't it fortunate i've got such an imagination said anne it will
help me through splendidly i expect what do people who haven't any
imagination do when they break their bones do you suppose marilla 

anne had good reason to bless her imagination many a time and oft during
the tedious seven weeks that followed but she was not solely dependent
on it she had many visitors and not a day passed without one or more of
the schoolgirls dropping in to bring her flowers and books and tell her
all the happenings in the juvenile world of avonlea 

 everybody has been so good and kind marilla sighed anne happily 
on the day when she could first limp across the floor it isn't very
pleasant to be laid up but there is a bright side to it marilla you
find out how many friends you have why even superintendent bell came
to see me and he's really a very fine man not a kindred spirit of
course but still i like him and i'm awfully sorry i ever criticized his
prayers i believe now he really does mean them only he has got into
the habit of saying them as if he didn't he could get over that if he'd
take a little trouble i gave him a good broad hint i told him how hard
i tried to make my own little private prayers interesting he told me
all about the time he broke his ankle when he was a boy it does seem
so strange to think of superintendent bell ever being a boy even my
imagination has its limits for i can't imagine that when i try to
imagine him as a boy i see him with gray whiskers and spectacles just
as he looks in sunday school only small now it's so easy to imagine
mrs allan as a little girl mrs allan has been to see me fourteen
times isn't that something to be proud of marilla when a minister's
wife has so many claims on her time she is such a cheerful person to
have visit you too she never tells you it's your own fault and she
hopes you'll be a better girl on account of it mrs lynde always told
me that when she came to see me and she said it in a kind of way that
made me feel she might hope i'd be a better girl but didn't really
believe i would even josie pye came to see me i received her as
politely as i could because i think she was sorry she dared me to walk
a ridgepole if i had been killed she would had to carry a dark burden
of remorse all her life diana has been a faithful friend she's been
over every day to cheer my lonely pillow but oh i shall be so glad
when i can go to school for i've heard such exciting things about the
new teacher the girls all think she is perfectly sweet diana says she
has the loveliest fair curly hair and such fascinating eyes she dresses
beautifully and her sleeve puffs are bigger than anybody else's in
avonlea every other friday afternoon she has recitations and everybody
has to say a piece or take part in a dialogue oh it's just glorious to
think of it josie pye says she hates it but that is just because josie
has so little imagination diana and ruby gillis and jane andrews are
preparing a dialogue called a morning visit for next friday and the
friday afternoons they don't have recitations miss stacy takes them
all to the woods for a field day and they study ferns and flowers
and birds and they have physical culture exercises every morning and
evening mrs lynde says she never heard of such goings on and it all
comes of having a lady teacher but i think it must be splendid and i
believe i shall find that miss stacy is a kindred spirit 

 there's one thing plain to be seen anne said marilla and that is
that your fall off the barry roof hasn't injured your tongue at all 




chapter xxiv miss stacy and her pupils get up a concert


it was october again when anne was ready to go back to school a
glorious october all red and gold with mellow mornings when the
valleys were filled with delicate mists as if the spirit of autumn had
poured them in for the sun to drain amethyst pearl silver rose and
smoke-blue the dews were so heavy that the fields glistened like cloth
of silver and there were such heaps of rustling leaves in the hollows of
many-stemmed woods to run crisply through the birch path was a canopy
of yellow and the ferns were sear and brown all along it there was a
tang in the very air that inspired the hearts of small maidens tripping 
unlike snails swiftly and willingly to school and it was jolly to
be back again at the little brown desk beside diana with ruby gillis
nodding across the aisle and carrie sloane sending up notes and julia
bell passing a chew of gum down from the back seat anne drew a long
breath of happiness as she sharpened her pencil and arranged her picture
cards in her desk life was certainly very interesting 

in the new teacher she found another true and helpful friend miss stacy
was a bright sympathetic young woman with the happy gift of winning and
holding the affections of her pupils and bringing out the best that was
in them mentally and morally anne expanded like a flower under this
wholesome influence and carried home to the admiring matthew and the
critical marilla glowing accounts of schoolwork and aims 

 i love miss stacy with my whole heart marilla she is so ladylike
and she has such a sweet voice when she pronounces my name i feel
 instinctively that she's spelling it with an e we had recitations
this afternoon i just wish you could have been there to hear me recite
 mary queen of scots i just put my whole soul into it ruby gillis
told me coming home that the way i said the line now for my father's
arm she said my woman's heart farewell just made her blood run
cold 

 well now you might recite it for me some of these days out in the
barn suggested matthew 

 of course i will said anne meditatively but i won't be able to do
it so well i know it won't be so exciting as it is when you have a
whole schoolful before you hanging breathlessly on your words i know i
won't be able to make your blood run cold 

 mrs lynde says it made her blood run cold to see the boys climbing to
the very tops of those big trees on bell's hill after crows nests last
friday said marilla i wonder at miss stacy for encouraging it 

 but we wanted a crow's nest for nature study explained anne that
was on our field afternoon field afternoons are splendid marilla 
and miss stacy explains everything so beautifully we have to write
compositions on our field afternoons and i write the best ones 

 it's very vain of you to say so then you'd better let your teacher say
it 

 but she did say it marilla and indeed i'm not vain about it how can
i be when i'm such a dunce at geometry although i'm really beginning
to see through it a little too miss stacy makes it so clear still 
i'll never be good at it and i assure you it is a humbling reflection 
but i love writing compositions mostly miss stacy lets us choose
our own subjects but next week we are to write a composition on some
remarkable person it's hard to choose among so many remarkable people
who have lived mustn't it be splendid to be remarkable and have
compositions written about you after you're dead oh i would dearly
love to be remarkable i think when i grow up i'll be a trained nurse
and go with the red crosses to the field of battle as a messenger of
mercy that is if i don't go out as a foreign missionary that would
be very romantic but one would have to be very good to be a missionary 
and that would be a stumbling block we have physical culture exercises
every day too they make you graceful and promote digestion 

 promote fiddlesticks said marilla who honestly thought it was all
nonsense 

but all the field afternoons and recitation fridays and physical culture
contortions paled before a project which miss stacy brought forward in
november this was that the scholars of avonlea school should get up
a concert and hold it in the hall on christmas night for the laudable
purpose of helping to pay for a schoolhouse flag the pupils one and
all taking graciously to this plan the preparations for a program
were begun at once and of all the excited performers-elect none was so
excited as anne shirley who threw herself into the undertaking heart
and soul hampered as she was by marilla's disapproval marilla thought
it all rank foolishness 

 it's just filling your heads up with nonsense and taking time that
ought to be put on your lessons she grumbled i don't approve of
children's getting up concerts and racing about to practices it makes
them vain and forward and fond of gadding 

 but think of the worthy object pleaded anne a flag will cultivate a
spirit of patriotism marilla 

 fudge there's precious little patriotism in the thoughts of any of
you all you want is a good time 

 well when you can combine patriotism and fun isn't it all right of
course it's real nice to be getting up a concert we're going to have
six choruses and diana is to sing a solo i'm in two dialogues the
society for the suppression of gossip and the fairy queen the boys
are going to have a dialogue too and i'm to have two recitations 
marilla i just tremble when i think of it but it's a nice thrilly kind
of tremble and we're to have a tableau at the last faith hope and
charity diana and ruby and i are to be in it all draped in white with
flowing hair i'm to be hope with my hands clasped so and my eyes
uplifted i'm going to practice my recitations in the garret don't be
alarmed if you hear me groaning i have to groan heartrendingly in one
of them and it's really hard to get up a good artistic groan marilla 
josie pye is sulky because she didn't get the part she wanted in
the dialogue she wanted to be the fairy queen that would have been
ridiculous for who ever heard of a fairy queen as fat as josie fairy
queens must be slender jane andrews is to be the queen and i am to be
one of her maids of honor josie says she thinks a red-haired fairy is
just as ridiculous as a fat one but i do not let myself mind what josie
says i'm to have a wreath of white roses on my hair and ruby gillis
is going to lend me her slippers because i haven't any of my own it's
necessary for fairies to have slippers you know you couldn't imagine
a fairy wearing boots could you especially with copper toes we are
going to decorate the hall with creeping spruce and fir mottoes with
pink tissue-paper roses in them and we are all to march in two by two
after the audience is seated while emma white plays a march on the
organ oh marilla i know you are not so enthusiastic about it as i am 
but don't you hope your little anne will distinguish herself 

 all i hope is that you'll behave yourself i'll be heartily glad when
all this fuss is over and you'll be able to settle down you are simply
good for nothing just now with your head stuffed full of dialogues and
groans and tableaus as for your tongue it's a marvel it's not clean
worn out 

anne sighed and betook herself to the back yard over which a young new
moon was shining through the leafless poplar boughs from an apple-green
western sky and where matthew was splitting wood anne perched herself
on a block and talked the concert over with him sure of an appreciative
and sympathetic listener in this instance at least 

 well now i reckon it's going to be a pretty good concert and i
expect you'll do your part fine he said smiling down into her eager 
vivacious little face anne smiled back at him those two were the best
of friends and matthew thanked his stars many a time and oft that he had
nothing to do with bringing her up that was marilla's exclusive duty 
if it had been his he would have been worried over frequent conflicts
between inclination and said duty as it was he was free to spoil
anne marilla's phrasing as much as he liked but it was not such a
bad arrangement after all a little appreciation sometimes does quite
as much good as all the conscientious bringing up in the world 




chapter xxv matthew insists on puffed sleeves


matthew was having a bad ten minutes of it he had come into the
kitchen in the twilight of a cold gray december evening and had sat
down in the woodbox corner to take off his heavy boots unconscious of
the fact that anne and a bevy of her schoolmates were having a practice
of the fairy queen in the sitting room presently they came trooping
through the hall and out into the kitchen laughing and chattering
gaily they did not see matthew who shrank bashfully back into the
shadows beyond the woodbox with a boot in one hand and a bootjack in the
other and he watched them shyly for the aforesaid ten minutes as they
put on caps and jackets and talked about the dialogue and the concert 
anne stood among them bright eyed and animated as they but matthew
suddenly became conscious that there was something about her different
from her mates and what worried matthew was that the difference
impressed him as being something that should not exist anne had a
brighter face and bigger starrier eyes and more delicate features
than the other even shy unobservant matthew had learned to take note
of these things but the difference that disturbed him did not consist
in any of these respects then in what did it consist 

matthew was haunted by this question long after the girls had gone arm
in arm down the long hard-frozen lane and anne had betaken herself
to her books he could not refer it to marilla who he felt would be
quite sure to sniff scornfully and remark that the only difference she
saw between anne and the other girls was that they sometimes kept their
tongues quiet while anne never did this matthew felt would be no
great help 

he had recourse to his pipe that evening to help him study it out much
to marilla's disgust after two hours of smoking and hard reflection
matthew arrived at a solution of his problem anne was not dressed like
the other girls 

the more matthew thought about the matter the more he was convinced that
anne never had been dressed like the other girls never since she had
come to green gables marilla kept her clothed in plain dark dresses 
all made after the same unvarying pattern if matthew knew there was
such a thing as fashion in dress it was as much as he did but he was
quite sure that anne's sleeves did not look at all like the sleeves the
other girls wore he recalled the cluster of little girls he had seen
around her that evening all gay in waists of red and blue and pink
and white and he wondered why marilla always kept her so plainly and
soberly gowned 

of course it must be all right marilla knew best and marilla was
bringing her up probably some wise inscrutable motive was to be served
thereby but surely it would do no harm to let the child have one pretty
dress something like diana barry always wore matthew decided that
he would give her one that surely could not be objected to as an
unwarranted putting in of his oar christmas was only a fortnight off 
a nice new dress would be the very thing for a present matthew with a
sigh of satisfaction put away his pipe and went to bed while marilla
opened all the doors and aired the house 

the very next evening matthew betook himself to carmody to buy the
dress determined to get the worst over and have done with it it would
be he felt assured no trifling ordeal there were some things matthew
could buy and prove himself no mean bargainer but he knew he would be
at the mercy of shopkeepers when it came to buying a girl's dress 

after much cogitation matthew resolved to go to samuel lawson's store
instead of william blair's to be sure the cuthberts always had gone to
william blair's it was almost as much a matter of conscience with them
as to attend the presbyterian church and vote conservative but william
blair's two daughters frequently waited on customers there and matthew
held them in absolute dread he could contrive to deal with them when he
knew exactly what he wanted and could point it out but in such a matter
as this requiring explanation and consultation matthew felt that he
must be sure of a man behind the counter so he would go to lawson's 
where samuel or his son would wait on him 

alas matthew did not know that samuel in the recent expansion of his
business had set up a lady clerk also she was a niece of his wife's
and a very dashing young person indeed with a huge drooping pompadour 
big rolling brown eyes and a most extensive and bewildering smile she
was dressed with exceeding smartness and wore several bangle bracelets
that glittered and rattled and tinkled with every movement of her hands 
matthew was covered with confusion at finding her there at all and
those bangles completely wrecked his wits at one fell swoop 

 what can i do for you this evening mr cuthbert miss lucilla harris
inquired briskly and ingratiatingly tapping the counter with both
hands 

 have you any any any well now say any garden rakes stammered
matthew 

miss harris looked somewhat surprised as well she might to hear a man
inquiring for garden rakes in the middle of december 

 i believe we have one or two left over she said but they're
upstairs in the lumber room i'll go and see during her absence
matthew collected his scattered senses for another effort 

when miss harris returned with the rake and cheerfully inquired 
 anything else tonight mr cuthbert matthew took his courage in
both hands and replied well now since you suggest it i might as
well take that is look at buy some some hayseed 

miss harris had heard matthew cuthbert called odd she now concluded
that he was entirely crazy 

 we only keep hayseed in the spring she explained loftily we've none
on hand just now 

 oh certainly certainly just as you say stammered unhappy
matthew seizing the rake and making for the door at the threshold he
recollected that he had not paid for it and he turned miserably back 
while miss harris was counting out his change he rallied his powers for
a final desperate attempt 

 well now if it isn't too much trouble i might as well that is i'd
like to look at at some sugar 

 white or brown queried miss harris patiently 

 oh well now brown said matthew feebly 

 there's a barrel of it over there said miss harris shaking her
bangles at it it's the only kind we have 

 i'll i'll take twenty pounds of it said matthew with beads of
perspiration standing on his forehead 

matthew had driven halfway home before he was his own man again it had
been a gruesome experience but it served him right he thought for
committing the heresy of going to a strange store when he reached
home he hid the rake in the tool house but the sugar he carried in to
marilla 

 brown sugar exclaimed marilla whatever possessed you to get so
much you know i never use it except for the hired man's porridge or
black fruit cake jerry's gone and i've made my cake long ago it's not
good sugar either it's coarse and dark william blair doesn't usually
keep sugar like that 

 i i thought it might come in handy sometime said matthew making
good his escape 

when matthew came to think the matter over he decided that a woman was
required to cope with the situation marilla was out of the question 
matthew felt sure she would throw cold water on his project at once 
remained only mrs lynde for of no other woman in avonlea would matthew
have dared to ask advice to mrs lynde he went accordingly and that
good lady promptly took the matter out of the harassed man's hands 

 pick out a dress for you to give anne to be sure i will i'm going to
carmody tomorrow and i'll attend to it have you something particular in
mind no well i'll just go by my own judgment then i believe a nice
rich brown would just suit anne and william blair has some new gloria
in that's real pretty perhaps you'd like me to make it up for her too 
seeing that if marilla was to make it anne would probably get wind of it
before the time and spoil the surprise well i'll do it no it isn't
a mite of trouble i like sewing i'll make it to fit my niece jenny
gillis for she and anne are as like as two peas as far as figure goes 

 well now i'm much obliged said matthew and and i dunno but i'd
like i think they make the sleeves different nowadays to what they used
to be if it wouldn't be asking too much i i'd like them made in the
new way 

 puffs of course you needn't worry a speck more about it matthew 
i'll make it up in the very latest fashion said mrs lynde to herself
she added when matthew had gone 

 it'll be a real satisfaction to see that poor child wearing something
decent for once the way marilla dresses her is positively ridiculous 
that's what and i've ached to tell her so plainly a dozen times i've
held my tongue though for i can see marilla doesn't want advice and she
thinks she knows more about bringing children up than i do for all
she's an old maid but that's always the way folks that has brought up
children know that there's no hard and fast method in the world that'll
suit every child but them as never have think it's all as plain and
easy as rule of three just set your three terms down so fashion and
the sum ll work out correct but flesh and blood don't come under the
head of arithmetic and that's where marilla cuthbert makes her mistake 
i suppose she's trying to cultivate a spirit of humility in anne by
dressing her as she does but it's more likely to cultivate envy and
discontent i'm sure the child must feel the difference between her
clothes and the other girls but to think of matthew taking notice of
it that man is waking up after being asleep for over sixty years 

marilla knew all the following fortnight that matthew had something on
his mind but what it was she could not guess until christmas eve when
mrs lynde brought up the new dress marilla behaved pretty well on the
whole although it is very likely she distrusted mrs lynde's diplomatic
explanation that she had made the dress because matthew was afraid anne
would find out about it too soon if marilla made it 

 so this is what matthew has been looking so mysterious over and
grinning about to himself for two weeks is it she said a little
stiffly but tolerantly i knew he was up to some foolishness well i
must say i don't think anne needed any more dresses i made her three
good warm serviceable ones this fall and anything more is sheer
extravagance there's enough material in those sleeves alone to make a
waist i declare there is you'll just pamper anne's vanity matthew 
and she's as vain as a peacock now well i hope she'll be satisfied
at last for i know she's been hankering after those silly sleeves ever
since they came in although she never said a word after the first the
puffs have been getting bigger and more ridiculous right along they're
as big as balloons now next year anybody who wears them will have to go
through a door sideways 

christmas morning broke on a beautiful white world it had been a very
mild december and people had looked forward to a green christmas but
just enough snow fell softly in the night to transfigure avonlea anne
peeped out from her frosted gable window with delighted eyes the firs
in the haunted wood were all feathery and wonderful the birches
and wild cherry trees were outlined in pearl the plowed fields were
stretches of snowy dimples and there was a crisp tang in the air that
was glorious anne ran downstairs singing until her voice reechoed
through green gables 

 merry christmas marilla merry christmas matthew isn't it a lovely
christmas i'm so glad it's white any other kind of christmas doesn't
seem real does it i don't like green christmases they're not
green they're just nasty faded browns and grays what makes people call
them green why why matthew is that for me oh matthew 

matthew had sheepishly unfolded the dress from its paper swathings and
held it out with a deprecatory glance at marilla who feigned to be
contemptuously filling the teapot but nevertheless watched the scene
out of the corner of her eye with a rather interested air 

anne took the dress and looked at it in reverent silence oh how pretty
it was a lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk a skirt
with dainty frills and shirrings a waist elaborately pintucked in the
most fashionable way with a little ruffle of filmy lace at the neck 
but the sleeves they were the crowning glory long elbow cuffs and
above them two beautiful puffs divided by rows of shirring and bows of
brown-silk ribbon 

 that's a christmas present for you anne said matthew shyly 
 why why anne don't you like it well now well now 

for anne's eyes had suddenly filled with tears 

 like it oh matthew anne laid the dress over a chair and clasped
her hands matthew it's perfectly exquisite oh i can never thank you
enough look at those sleeves oh it seems to me this must be a happy
dream 

 well well let us have breakfast interrupted marilla i must say 
anne i don't think you needed the dress but since matthew has got it
for you see that you take good care of it there's a hair ribbon mrs 
lynde left for you it's brown to match the dress come now sit in 

 i don't see how i'm going to eat breakfast said anne rapturously 
 breakfast seems so commonplace at such an exciting moment i'd rather
feast my eyes on that dress i'm so glad that puffed sleeves are still
fashionable it did seem to me that i'd never get over it if they went
out before i had a dress with them i'd never have felt quite satisfied 
you see it was lovely of mrs lynde to give me the ribbon too i feel
that i ought to be a very good girl indeed it's at times like this i'm
sorry i'm not a model little girl and i always resolve that i will
be in future but somehow it's hard to carry out your resolutions when
irresistible temptations come still i really will make an extra effort
after this 

when the commonplace breakfast was over diana appeared crossing the
white log bridge in the hollow a gay little figure in her crimson
ulster anne flew down the slope to meet her 

 merry christmas diana and oh it's a wonderful christmas i've
something splendid to show you matthew has given me the loveliest
dress with such sleeves i couldn't even imagine any nicer 

 i've got something more for you said diana breathlessly here this
box aunt josephine sent us out a big box with ever so many things in
it and this is for you i'd have brought it over last night but it
didn't come until after dark and i never feel very comfortable coming
through the haunted wood in the dark now 

anne opened the box and peeped in first a card with for the anne-girl
and merry christmas written on it and then a pair of the daintiest
little kid slippers with beaded toes and satin bows and glistening
buckles 

 oh said anne diana this is too much i must be dreaming 

 i call it providential said diana you won't have to borrow ruby's
slippers now and that's a blessing for they're two sizes too big for
you and it would be awful to hear a fairy shuffling josie pye would
be delighted mind you rob wright went home with gertie pye from the
practice night before last did you ever hear anything equal to that 

all the avonlea scholars were in a fever of excitement that day for the
hall had to be decorated and a last grand rehearsal held 

the concert came off in the evening and was a pronounced success the
little hall was crowded all the performers did excellently well but
anne was the bright particular star of the occasion as even envy in
the shape of josie pye dared not deny 

 oh hasn't it been a brilliant evening sighed anne when it was all
over and she and diana were walking home together under a dark starry
sky 

 everything went off very well said diana practically i guess we
must have made as much as ten dollars mind you mr allan is going to
send an account of it to the charlottetown papers 

 oh diana will we really see our names in print it makes me thrill to
think of it your solo was perfectly elegant diana i felt prouder than
you did when it was encored i just said to myself it is my dear bosom
friend who is so honored 

 well your recitations just brought down the house anne that sad one
was simply splendid 

 oh i was so nervous diana when mr allan called out my name i really
cannot tell how i ever got up on that platform i felt as if a million
eyes were looking at me and through me and for one dreadful moment i
was sure i couldn't begin at all then i thought of my lovely puffed
sleeves and took courage i knew that i must live up to those sleeves 
diana so i started in and my voice seemed to be coming from ever so
far away i just felt like a parrot it's providential that i practiced
those recitations so often up in the garret or i'd never have been able
to get through did i groan all right 

 yes indeed you groaned lovely assured diana 

 i saw old mrs sloane wiping away tears when i sat down it was
splendid to think i had touched somebody's heart it's so romantic
to take part in a concert isn't it oh it's been a very memorable
occasion indeed 

 wasn't the boys dialogue fine said diana gilbert blythe was just
splendid anne i do think it's awful mean the way you treat gil wait
till i tell you when you ran off the platform after the fairy dialogue
one of your roses fell out of your hair i saw gil pick it up and put
it in his breast pocket there now you're so romantic that i'm sure you
ought to be pleased at that 

 it's nothing to me what that person does said anne loftily i simply
never waste a thought on him diana 

that night marilla and matthew who had been out to a concert for the
first time in twenty years sat for a while by the kitchen fire after
anne had gone to bed 

 well now i guess our anne did as well as any of them said matthew
proudly 

 yes she did admitted marilla she's a bright child matthew and
she looked real nice too i've been kind of opposed to this concert
scheme but i suppose there's no real harm in it after all anyhow i
was proud of anne tonight although i'm not going to tell her so 

 well now i was proud of her and i did tell her so fore she went
upstairs said matthew we must see what we can do for her some of
these days marilla i guess she'll need something more than avonlea
school by and by 

 there's time enough to think of that said marilla she's only
thirteen in march though tonight it struck me she was growing quite a
big girl mrs lynde made that dress a mite too long and it makes anne
look so tall she's quick to learn and i guess the best thing we can do
for her will be to send her to queen's after a spell but nothing need
be said about that for a year or two yet 

 well now it'll do no harm to be thinking it over off and on said
matthew things like that are all the better for lots of thinking
over 




chapter xxvi the story club is formed


junior avonlea found it hard to settle down to humdrum existence
again to anne in particular things seemed fearfully flat stale and
unprofitable after the goblet of excitement she had been sipping for
weeks could she go back to the former quiet pleasures of those faraway
days before the concert at first as she told diana she did not really
think she could 

 i'm positively certain diana that life can never be quite the
same again as it was in those olden days she said mournfully as if
referring to a period of at least fifty years back perhaps after a
while i'll get used to it but i'm afraid concerts spoil people for
everyday life i suppose that is why marilla disapproves of them 
marilla is such a sensible woman it must be a great deal better to be
sensible but still i don't believe i'd really want to be a sensible
person because they are so unromantic mrs lynde says there is no
danger of my ever being one but you can never tell i feel just now
that i may grow up to be sensible yet but perhaps that is only because
i'm tired i simply couldn't sleep last night for ever so long i just
lay awake and imagined the concert over and over again that's one
splendid thing about such affairs it's so lovely to look back to them 

eventually however avonlea school slipped back into its old groove
and took up its old interests to be sure the concert left traces ruby
gillis and emma white who had quarreled over a point of precedence in
their platform seats no longer sat at the same desk and a promising
friendship of three years was broken up josie pye and julia bell did
not speak for three months because josie pye had told bessie wright
that julia bell's bow when she got up to recite made her think of a
chicken jerking its head and bessie told julia none of the sloanes
would have any dealings with the bells because the bells had declared
that the sloanes had too much to do in the program and the sloanes had
retorted that the bells were not capable of doing the little they had to
do properly finally charlie sloane fought moody spurgeon macpherson 
because moody spurgeon had said that anne shirley put on airs about
her recitations and moody spurgeon was licked consequently moody
spurgeon's sister ella may would not speak to anne shirley all the
rest of the winter with the exception of these trifling frictions work
in miss stacy's little kingdom went on with regularity and smoothness 

the winter weeks slipped by it was an unusually mild winter with so
little snow that anne and diana could go to school nearly every day by
way of the birch path on anne's birthday they were tripping lightly
down it keeping eyes and ears alert amid all their chatter for miss
stacy had told them that they must soon write a composition on a
winter's walk in the woods and it behooved them to be observant 

 just think diana i'm thirteen years old today remarked anne in an
awed voice i can scarcely realize that i'm in my teens when i woke
this morning it seemed to me that everything must be different you've
been thirteen for a month so i suppose it doesn't seem such a novelty
to you as it does to me it makes life seem so much more interesting 
in two more years i'll be really grown up it's a great comfort to think
that i'll be able to use big words then without being laughed at 

 ruby gillis says she means to have a beau as soon as she's fifteen 
 said diana 

 ruby gillis thinks of nothing but beaus said anne disdainfully 
 she's actually delighted when anyone writes her name up in a
take-notice for all she pretends to be so mad but i'm afraid that is an
uncharitable speech mrs allan says we should never make uncharitable
speeches but they do slip out so often before you think don't they i
simply can't talk about josie pye without making an uncharitable speech 
so i never mention her at all you may have noticed that i'm trying to
be as much like mrs allan as i possibly can for i think she's perfect 
mr allan thinks so too mrs lynde says he just worships the ground she
treads on and she doesn't really think it right for a minister to
set his affections so much on a mortal being but then diana even
ministers are human and have their besetting sins just like everybody
else i had such an interesting talk with mrs allan about besetting
sins last sunday afternoon there are just a few things it's proper
to talk about on sundays and that is one of them my besetting sin is
imagining too much and forgetting my duties i'm striving very hard
to overcome it and now that i'm really thirteen perhaps i'll get on
better 

 in four more years we'll be able to put our hair up said diana 
 alice bell is only sixteen and she is wearing hers up but i think
that's ridiculous i shall wait until i'm seventeen 

 if i had alice bell's crooked nose said anne decidedly i
wouldn't but there i won't say what i was going to because it was
extremely uncharitable besides i was comparing it with my own nose and
that's vanity i'm afraid i think too much about my nose ever since i
heard that compliment about it long ago it really is a great comfort to
me oh diana look there's a rabbit that's something to remember for
our woods composition i really think the woods are just as lovely in
winter as in summer they're so white and still as if they were asleep
and dreaming pretty dreams 

 i won't mind writing that composition when its time comes sighed
diana i can manage to write about the woods but the one we're to
hand in monday is terrible the idea of miss stacy telling us to write a
story out of our own heads 

 why it's as easy as wink said anne 

 it's easy for you because you have an imagination retorted diana 
 but what would you do if you had been born without one i suppose you
have your composition all done 

anne nodded trying hard not to look virtuously complacent and failing
miserably 

 i wrote it last monday evening it's called the jealous rival or in
death not divided i read it to marilla and she said it was stuff and
nonsense then i read it to matthew and he said it was fine that is
the kind of critic i like it's a sad sweet story i just cried like
a child while i was writing it it's about two beautiful maidens called
cordelia montmorency and geraldine seymour who lived in the same village
and were devotedly attached to each other cordelia was a regal brunette
with a coronet of midnight hair and duskly flashing eyes geraldine was
a queenly blonde with hair like spun gold and velvety purple eyes 

 i never saw anybody with purple eyes said diana dubiously 

 neither did i i just imagined them i wanted something out of the
common geraldine had an alabaster brow too i've found out what an
alabaster brow is that is one of the advantages of being thirteen you
know so much more than you did when you were only twelve 

 well what became of cordelia and geraldine asked diana who was
beginning to feel rather interested in their fate 

 they grew in beauty side by side until they were sixteen then bertram
devere came to their native village and fell in love with the fair
geraldine he saved her life when her horse ran away with her in a
carriage and she fainted in his arms and he carried her home three
miles because you understand the carriage was all smashed up i found
it rather hard to imagine the proposal because i had no experience to
go by i asked ruby gillis if she knew anything about how men proposed
because i thought she'd likely be an authority on the subject having so
many sisters married ruby told me she was hid in the hall pantry when
malcolm andres proposed to her sister susan she said malcolm told susan
that his dad had given him the farm in his own name and then said what
do you say darling pet if we get hitched this fall and susan said 
 yes no i don't know let me see and there they were engaged as
quick as that but i didn't think that sort of a proposal was a very
romantic one so in the end i had to imagine it out as well as i could 
i made it very flowery and poetical and bertram went on his knees 
although ruby gillis says it isn't done nowadays geraldine accepted
him in a speech a page long i can tell you i took a lot of trouble
with that speech i rewrote it five times and i look upon it as my
masterpiece bertram gave her a diamond ring and a ruby necklace
and told her they would go to europe for a wedding tour for he was
immensely wealthy but then alas shadows began to darken over their
path cordelia was secretly in love with bertram herself and when
geraldine told her about the engagement she was simply furious 
especially when she saw the necklace and the diamond ring all her
affection for geraldine turned to bitter hate and she vowed that she
should never marry bertram but she pretended to be geraldine's friend
the same as ever one evening they were standing on the bridge over a
rushing turbulent stream and cordelia thinking they were alone pushed
geraldine over the brink with a wild mocking ha ha ha but bertram
saw it all and he at once plunged into the current exclaiming i
will save thee my peerless geraldine but alas he had forgotten he
couldn't swim and they were both drowned clasped in each other's arms 
their bodies were washed ashore soon afterwards they were buried in the
one grave and their funeral was most imposing diana it's so much
more romantic to end a story up with a funeral than a wedding as for
cordelia she went insane with remorse and was shut up in a lunatic
asylum i thought that was a poetical retribution for her crime 

 how perfectly lovely sighed diana who belonged to matthew's school
of critics i don't see how you can make up such thrilling things out
of your own head anne i wish my imagination was as good as yours 

 it would be if you'd only cultivate it said anne cheeringly i've
just thought of a plan diana let you and me have a story club all our
own and write stories for practice i'll help you along until you can
do them by yourself you ought to cultivate your imagination you know 
miss stacy says so only we must take the right way i told her about
the haunted wood but she said we went the wrong way about it in that 

this was how the story club came into existence it was limited to diana
and anne at first but soon it was extended to include jane andrews
and ruby gillis and one or two others who felt that their imaginations
needed cultivating no boys were allowed in it although ruby gillis
opined that their admission would make it more exciting and each member
had to produce one story a week 

 it's extremely interesting anne told marilla each girl has to read
her story out loud and then we talk it over we are going to keep them
all sacredly and have them to read to our descendants we each write
under a nom-de-plume mine is rosamond montmorency all the girls
do pretty well ruby gillis is rather sentimental she puts too much
lovemaking into her stories and you know too much is worse than too
little jane never puts any because she says it makes her feel so silly
when she had to read it out loud jane's stories are extremely sensible 
then diana puts too many murders into hers she says most of the time
she doesn't know what to do with the people so she kills them off to get
rid of them i mostly always have to tell them what to write about but
that isn't hard for i've millions of ideas 

 i think this story-writing business is the foolishest yet scoffed
marilla you'll get a pack of nonsense into your heads and waste time
that should be put on your lessons reading stories is bad enough but
writing them is worse 

 but we're so careful to put a moral into them all marilla explained
anne i insist upon that all the good people are rewarded and all
the bad ones are suitably punished i'm sure that must have a wholesome
effect the moral is the great thing mr allan says so i read one of
my stories to him and mrs allan and they both agreed that the moral was
excellent only they laughed in the wrong places i like it better when
people cry jane and ruby almost always cry when i come to the pathetic
parts diana wrote her aunt josephine about our club and her aunt
josephine wrote back that we were to send her some of our stories so
we copied out four of our very best and sent them miss josephine barry
wrote back that she had never read anything so amusing in her life that
kind of puzzled us because the stories were all very pathetic and almost
everybody died but i'm glad miss barry liked them it shows our club
is doing some good in the world mrs allan says that ought to be our
object in everything i do really try to make it my object but i forget
so often when i'm having fun i hope i shall be a little like mrs allan
when i grow up do you think there is any prospect of it marilla 

 i shouldn't say there was a great deal was marilla's encouraging
answer i'm sure mrs allan was never such a silly forgetful little
girl as you are 

 no but she wasn't always so good as she is now either said anne
seriously she told me so herself that is she said she was a dreadful
mischief when she was a girl and was always getting into scrapes i felt
so encouraged when i heard that is it very wicked of me marilla 
to feel encouraged when i hear that other people have been bad and
mischievous mrs lynde says it is mrs lynde says she always feels
shocked when she hears of anyone ever having been naughty no matter how
small they were mrs lynde says she once heard a minister confess that
when he was a boy he stole a strawberry tart out of his aunt's pantry
and she never had any respect for that minister again now i wouldn't
have felt that way i'd have thought that it was real noble of him to
confess it and i'd have thought what an encouraging thing it would be
for small boys nowadays who do naughty things and are sorry for them
to know that perhaps they may grow up to be ministers in spite of it 
that's how i'd feel marilla 

 the way i feel at present anne said marilla is that it's high time
you had those dishes washed you've taken half an hour longer than
you should with all your chattering learn to work first and talk
afterwards 




chapter xxvii vanity and vexation of spirit


marilla walking home one late april evening from an aid meeting 
realized that the winter was over and gone with the thrill of delight
that spring never fails to bring to the oldest and saddest as well as to
the youngest and merriest marilla was not given to subjective analysis
of her thoughts and feelings she probably imagined that she was
thinking about the aids and their missionary box and the new carpet
for the vestry room but under these reflections was a harmonious
consciousness of red fields smoking into pale-purply mists in the
declining sun of long sharp-pointed fir shadows falling over the
meadow beyond the brook of still crimson-budded maples around a
mirrorlike wood pool of a wakening in the world and a stir of hidden
pulses under the gray sod the spring was abroad in the land and
marilla's sober middle-aged step was lighter and swifter because of its
deep primal gladness 

her eyes dwelt affectionately on green gables peering through its
network of trees and reflecting the sunlight back from its windows in
several little coruscations of glory marilla as she picked her steps
along the damp lane thought that it was really a satisfaction to know
that she was going home to a briskly snapping wood fire and a table
nicely spread for tea instead of to the cold comfort of old aid meeting
evenings before anne had come to green gables 

consequently when marilla entered her kitchen and found the fire black
out with no sign of anne anywhere she felt justly disappointed and
irritated she had told anne to be sure and have tea ready at five
o'clock but now she must hurry to take off her second-best dress and
prepare the meal herself against matthew's return from plowing 

 i'll settle miss anne when she comes home said marilla grimly as
she shaved up kindlings with a carving knife and with more vim than was
strictly necessary matthew had come in and was waiting patiently for
his tea in his corner she's gadding off somewhere with diana writing
stories or practicing dialogues or some such tomfoolery and never
thinking once about the time or her duties she's just got to be pulled
up short and sudden on this sort of thing i don't care if mrs allan
does say she's the brightest and sweetest child she ever knew she may
be bright and sweet enough but her head is full of nonsense and there's
never any knowing what shape it'll break out in next just as soon as
she grows out of one freak she takes up with another but there here i
am saying the very thing i was so riled with rachel lynde for saying at
the aid today i was real glad when mrs allan spoke up for anne for
if she hadn't i know i'd have said something too sharp to rachel before
everybody anne's got plenty of faults goodness knows and far be it
from me to deny it but i'm bringing her up and not rachel lynde who'd
pick faults in the angel gabriel himself if he lived in avonlea just
the same anne has no business to leave the house like this when i told
her she was to stay home this afternoon and look after things i must
say with all her faults i never found her disobedient or untrustworthy
before and i'm real sorry to find her so now 

 well now i dunno said matthew who being patient and wise and 
above all hungry had deemed it best to let marilla talk her wrath
out unhindered having learned by experience that she got through
with whatever work was on hand much quicker if not delayed by untimely
argument perhaps you're judging her too hasty marilla don't call her
untrustworthy until you're sure she has disobeyed you mebbe it can all
be explained anne's a great hand at explaining 

 she's not here when i told her to stay retorted marilla i reckon
she'll find it hard to explain that to my satisfaction of course i knew
you'd take her part matthew but i'm bringing her up not you 

it was dark when supper was ready and still no sign of anne coming
hurriedly over the log bridge or up lover's lane breathless and
repentant with a sense of neglected duties marilla washed and put away
the dishes grimly then wanting a candle to light her way down the
cellar she went up to the east gable for the one that generally stood
on anne's table lighting it she turned around to see anne herself
lying on the bed face downward among the pillows 

 mercy on us said astonished marilla have you been asleep anne 

 no was the muffled reply 

 are you sick then demanded marilla anxiously going over to the bed 

anne cowered deeper into her pillows as if desirous of hiding herself
forever from mortal eyes 

 no but please marilla go away and don't look at me i'm in the
depths of despair and i don't care who gets head in class or writes the
best composition or sings in the sunday-school choir any more little
things like that are of no importance now because i don't suppose i'll
ever be able to go anywhere again my career is closed please marilla 
go away and don't look at me 

 did anyone ever hear the like the mystified marilla wanted to know 
 anne shirley whatever is the matter with you what have you done get
right up this minute and tell me this minute i say there now what is
it 

anne had slid to the floor in despairing obedience 

 look at my hair marilla she whispered 

accordingly marilla lifted her candle and looked scrutinizingly at
anne's hair flowing in heavy masses down her back it certainly had a
very strange appearance 

 anne shirley what have you done to your hair why it's green 

green it might be called if it were any earthly color a queer 
dull bronzy green with streaks here and there of the original red
to heighten the ghastly effect never in all her life had marilla seen
anything so grotesque as anne's hair at that moment 

 yes it's green moaned anne i thought nothing could be as bad as
red hair but now i know it's ten times worse to have green hair oh 
marilla you little know how utterly wretched i am 

 i little know how you got into this fix but i mean to find out said
marilla come right down to the kitchen it's too cold up here and
tell me just what you've done i've been expecting something queer for
some time you haven't got into any scrape for over two months and i
was sure another one was due now then what did you do to your hair 

 i dyed it 

 dyed it dyed your hair anne shirley didn't you know it was a wicked
thing to do 

 yes i knew it was a little wicked admitted anne but i thought it
was worth while to be a little wicked to get rid of red hair i counted
the cost marilla besides i meant to be extra good in other ways to
make up for it 

 well said marilla sarcastically if i'd decided it was worth while
to dye my hair i'd have dyed it a decent color at least i wouldn't have
dyed it green 

 but i didn't mean to dye it green marilla protested anne dejectedly 
 if i was wicked i meant to be wicked to some purpose he said it would
turn my hair a beautiful raven black he positively assured me that it
would how could i doubt his word marilla i know what it feels like
to have your word doubted and mrs allan says we should never suspect
anyone of not telling us the truth unless we have proof that they're
not i have proof now green hair is proof enough for anybody but i
hadn't then and i believed every word he said implicitly 

 who said who are you talking about 

 the peddler that was here this afternoon i bought the dye from him 

 anne shirley how often have i told you never to let one of those
italians in the house i don't believe in encouraging them to come
around at all 

 oh i didn't let him in the house i remembered what you told me and i
went out carefully shut the door and looked at his things on the step 
besides he wasn't an italian he was a german jew he had a big box
full of very interesting things and he told me he was working hard to
make enough money to bring his wife and children out from germany he
spoke so feelingly about them that it touched my heart i wanted to buy
something from him to help him in such a worthy object then all at once
i saw the bottle of hair dye the peddler said it was warranted to dye
any hair a beautiful raven black and wouldn't wash off in a trice i
saw myself with beautiful raven-black hair and the temptation was
irresistible but the price of the bottle was seventy-five cents and i
had only fifty cents left out of my chicken money i think the peddler
had a very kind heart for he said that seeing it was me he'd sell it
for fifty cents and that was just giving it away so i bought it and as
soon as he had gone i came up here and applied it with an old hairbrush
as the directions said i used up the whole bottle and oh marilla 
when i saw the dreadful color it turned my hair i repented of being
wicked i can tell you and i've been repenting ever since 

 well i hope you'll repent to good purpose said marilla severely 
 and that you've got your eyes opened to where your vanity has led you 
anne goodness knows what's to be done i suppose the first thing is to
give your hair a good washing and see if that will do any good 

accordingly anne washed her hair scrubbing it vigorously with soap and
water but for all the difference it made she might as well have been
scouring its original red the peddler had certainly spoken the truth
when he declared that the dye wouldn't wash off however his veracity
might be impeached in other respects 

 oh marilla what shall i do questioned anne in tears i can never
live this down people have pretty well forgotten my other mistakes the
liniment cake and setting diana drunk and flying into a temper with
mrs lynde but they'll never forget this they will think i am not
respectable oh marilla what a tangled web we weave when first we
practice to deceive that is poetry but it is true and oh how josie
pye will laugh marilla i cannot face josie pye i am the unhappiest
girl in prince edward island 

anne's unhappiness continued for a week during that time she went
nowhere and shampooed her hair every day diana alone of outsiders knew
the fatal secret but she promised solemnly never to tell and it may
be stated here and now that she kept her word at the end of the week
marilla said decidedly 

 it's no use anne that is fast dye if ever there was any your hair
must be cut off there is no other way you can't go out with it looking
like that 

anne's lips quivered but she realized the bitter truth of marilla's
remarks with a dismal sigh she went for the scissors 

 please cut it off at once marilla and have it over oh i feel that
my heart is broken this is such an unromantic affliction the girls in
books lose their hair in fevers or sell it to get money for some good
deed and i'm sure i wouldn't mind losing my hair in some such fashion
half so much but there is nothing comforting in having your hair cut
off because you've dyed it a dreadful color is there i'm going to weep
all the time you're cutting it off if it won't interfere it seems such
a tragic thing 

anne wept then but later on when she went upstairs and looked in the
glass she was calm with despair marilla had done her work thoroughly
and it had been necessary to shingle the hair as closely as possible 
the result was not becoming to state the case as mildly as may be anne
promptly turned her glass to the wall 

 i'll never never look at myself again until my hair grows she
exclaimed passionately 

then she suddenly righted the glass 

 yes i will too i'd do penance for being wicked that way i'll look
at myself every time i come to my room and see how ugly i am and i
won't try to imagine it away either i never thought i was vain about
my hair of all things but now i know i was in spite of its being
red because it was so long and thick and curly i expect something will
happen to my nose next 

anne's clipped head made a sensation in school on the following monday 
but to her relief nobody guessed the real reason for it not even josie
pye who however did not fail to inform anne that she looked like a
perfect scarecrow 

 i didn't say anything when josie said that to me anne confided
that evening to marilla who was lying on the sofa after one of her
headaches because i thought it was part of my punishment and i ought
to bear it patiently it's hard to be told you look like a scarecrow
and i wanted to say something back but i didn't i just swept her one
scornful look and then i forgave her it makes you feel very virtuous
when you forgive people doesn't it i mean to devote all my energies
to being good after this and i shall never try to be beautiful again of
course it's better to be good i know it is but it's sometimes so hard
to believe a thing even when you know it i do really want to be good 
marilla like you and mrs allan and miss stacy and grow up to be a
credit to you diana says when my hair begins to grow to tie a black
velvet ribbon around my head with a bow at one side she says she
thinks it will be very becoming i will call it a snood that sounds so
romantic but am i talking too much marilla does it hurt your head 

 my head is better now it was terrible bad this afternoon though 
these headaches of mine are getting worse and worse i'll have to see
a doctor about them as for your chatter i don't know that i mind
it i've got so used to it 

which was marilla's way of saying that she liked to hear it 




chapter xxviii an unfortunate lily maid


of course you must be elaine anne said diana i could never have
the courage to float down there 

 nor i said ruby gillis with a shiver i don't mind floating down
when there's two or three of us in the flat and we can sit up it's fun
then but to lie down and pretend i was dead i just couldn't i'd die
really of fright 

 of course it would be romantic conceded jane andrews but i know i
couldn't keep still i'd be popping up every minute or so to see where i
was and if i wasn't drifting too far out and you know anne that would
spoil the effect 

 but it's so ridiculous to have a redheaded elaine mourned anne i'm
not afraid to float down and i'd love to be elaine but it's ridiculous
just the same ruby ought to be elaine because she is so fair and has
such lovely long golden hair elaine had all her bright hair streaming
down you know and elaine was the lily maid now a red-haired person
cannot be a lily maid 

 your complexion is just as fair as ruby's said diana earnestly and
your hair is ever so much darker than it used to be before you cut it 

 oh do you really think so exclaimed anne flushing sensitively with
delight i've sometimes thought it was myself but i never dared to ask
anyone for fear she would tell me it wasn't do you think it could be
called auburn now diana 

 yes and i think it is real pretty said diana looking admiringly at
the short silky curls that clustered over anne's head and were held in
place by a very jaunty black velvet ribbon and bow 

they were standing on the bank of the pond below orchard slope where
a little headland fringed with birches ran out from the bank at its tip
was a small wooden platform built out into the water for the convenience
of fishermen and duck hunters ruby and jane were spending the midsummer
afternoon with diana and anne had come over to play with them 

anne and diana had spent most of their playtime that summer on and about
the pond idlewild was a thing of the past mr bell having ruthlessly
cut down the little circle of trees in his back pasture in the spring 
anne had sat among the stumps and wept not without an eye to the
romance of it but she was speedily consoled for after all as she and
diana said big girls of thirteen going on fourteen were too old for
such childish amusements as playhouses and there were more fascinating
sports to be found about the pond it was splendid to fish for trout
over the bridge and the two girls learned to row themselves about in the
little flat-bottomed dory mr barry kept for duck shooting 

it was anne's idea that they dramatize elaine they had studied
tennyson's poem in school the preceding winter the superintendent of
education having prescribed it in the english course for the prince
edward island schools they had analyzed and parsed it and torn it to
pieces in general until it was a wonder there was any meaning at all
left in it for them but at least the fair lily maid and lancelot and
guinevere and king arthur had become very real people to them and anne
was devoured by secret regret that she had not been born in camelot 
those days she said were so much more romantic than the present 

anne's plan was hailed with enthusiasm the girls had discovered that if
the flat were pushed off from the landing place it would drift down
with the current under the bridge and finally strand itself on another
headland lower down which ran out at a curve in the pond they had often
gone down like this and nothing could be more convenient for playing
elaine 

 well i'll be elaine said anne yielding reluctantly for although
she would have been delighted to play the principal character yet
her artistic sense demanded fitness for it and this she felt her
limitations made impossible ruby you must be king arthur and jane
will be guinevere and diana must be lancelot but first you must be the
brothers and the father we can't have the old dumb servitor because
there isn't room for two in the flat when one is lying down we must
pall the barge all its length in blackest samite that old black shawl
of your mother's will be just the thing diana 

the black shawl having been procured anne spread it over the flat and
then lay down on the bottom with closed eyes and hands folded over her
breast 

 oh she does look really dead whispered ruby gillis nervously 
watching the still white little face under the flickering shadows of
the birches it makes me feel frightened girls do you suppose it's
really right to act like this mrs lynde says that all play-acting is
abominably wicked 

 ruby you shouldn't talk about mrs lynde said anne severely it
spoils the effect because this is hundreds of years before mrs lynde
was born jane you arrange this it's silly for elaine to be talking
when she's dead 

jane rose to the occasion cloth of gold for coverlet there was none 
but an old piano scarf of yellow japanese crepe was an excellent
substitute a white lily was not obtainable just then but the effect of
a tall blue iris placed in one of anne's folded hands was all that could
be desired 

 now she's all ready said jane we must kiss her quiet brows
and diana you say sister farewell forever and ruby you say 
 farewell sweet sister both of you as sorrowfully as you possibly
can anne for goodness sake smile a little you know elaine lay as
though she smiled that's better now push the flat off 

the flat was accordingly pushed off scraping roughly over an old
embedded stake in the process diana and jane and ruby only waited long
enough to see it caught in the current and headed for the bridge before
scampering up through the woods across the road and down to the lower
headland where as lancelot and guinevere and the king they were to be
in readiness to receive the lily maid 

for a few minutes anne drifting slowly down enjoyed the romance of her
situation to the full then something happened not at all romantic the
flat began to leak in a very few moments it was necessary for elaine
to scramble to her feet pick up her cloth of gold coverlet and pall
of blackest samite and gaze blankly at a big crack in the bottom of her
barge through which the water was literally pouring that sharp stake at
the landing had torn off the strip of batting nailed on the flat anne
did not know this but it did not take her long to realize that she was
in a dangerous plight at this rate the flat would fill and sink long
before it could drift to the lower headland where were the oars left
behind at the landing 

anne gave one gasping little scream which nobody ever heard she was
white to the lips but she did not lose her self-possession there was
one chance just one 

 i was horribly frightened she told mrs allan the next day and it
seemed like years while the flat was drifting down to the bridge and the
water rising in it every moment i prayed mrs allan most earnestly 
but i didn't shut my eyes to pray for i knew the only way god could
save me was to let the flat float close enough to one of the bridge
piles for me to climb up on it you know the piles are just old tree
trunks and there are lots of knots and old branch stubs on them it was
proper to pray but i had to do my part by watching out and right well
i knew it i just said dear god please take the flat close to a pile
and i'll do the rest over and over again under such circumstances you
don't think much about making a flowery prayer but mine was answered 
for the flat bumped right into a pile for a minute and i flung the scarf
and the shawl over my shoulder and scrambled up on a big providential
stub and there i was mrs allan clinging to that slippery old pile
with no way of getting up or down it was a very unromantic position 
but i didn't think about that at the time you don't think much about
romance when you have just escaped from a watery grave i said a
grateful prayer at once and then i gave all my attention to holding on
tight for i knew i should probably have to depend on human aid to get
back to dry land 

the flat drifted under the bridge and then promptly sank in midstream 
ruby jane and diana already awaiting it on the lower headland saw it
disappear before their very eyes and had not a doubt but that anne
had gone down with it for a moment they stood still white as sheets 
frozen with horror at the tragedy then shrieking at the tops of
their voices they started on a frantic run up through the woods never
pausing as they crossed the main road to glance the way of the bridge 
anne clinging desperately to her precarious foothold saw their flying
forms and heard their shrieks help would soon come but meanwhile her
position was a very uncomfortable one 

the minutes passed by each seeming an hour to the unfortunate lily
maid why didn't somebody come where had the girls gone suppose they
had fainted one and all suppose nobody ever came suppose she grew so
tired and cramped that she could hold on no longer anne looked at the
wicked green depths below her wavering with long oily shadows and
shivered her imagination began to suggest all manner of gruesome
possibilities to her 

then just as she thought she really could not endure the ache in her
arms and wrists another moment gilbert blythe came rowing under the
bridge in harmon andrews's dory 

gilbert glanced up and much to his amazement beheld a little white
scornful face looking down upon him with big frightened but also
scornful gray eyes 

 anne shirley how on earth did you get there he exclaimed 

without waiting for an answer he pulled close to the pile and extended
his hand there was no help for it anne clinging to gilbert blythe's
hand scrambled down into the dory where she sat drabbled and furious 
in the stern with her arms full of dripping shawl and wet crepe it was
certainly extremely difficult to be dignified under the circumstances 

 what has happened anne asked gilbert taking up his oars we were
playing elaine explained anne frigidly without even looking at her
rescuer and i had to drift down to camelot in the barge i mean the
flat the flat began to leak and i climbed out on the pile the girls
went for help will you be kind enough to row me to the landing 

gilbert obligingly rowed to the landing and anne disdaining assistance 
sprang nimbly on shore 

 i'm very much obliged to you she said haughtily as she turned away 
but gilbert had also sprung from the boat and now laid a detaining hand
on her arm 

 anne he said hurriedly look here can't we be good friends i'm
awfully sorry i made fun of your hair that time i didn't mean to vex
you and i only meant it for a joke besides it's so long ago i think
your hair is awfully pretty now honest i do let's be friends 

for a moment anne hesitated she had an odd newly awakened
consciousness under all her outraged dignity that the half-shy 
half-eager expression in gilbert's hazel eyes was something that was
very good to see her heart gave a quick queer little beat but the
bitterness of her old grievance promptly stiffened up her wavering
determination that scene of two years before flashed back into her
recollection as vividly as if it had taken place yesterday gilbert had
called her carrots and had brought about her disgrace before the whole
school her resentment which to other and older people might be as
laughable as its cause was in no whit allayed and softened by time
seemingly she hated gilbert blythe she would never forgive him 

 no she said coldly i shall never be friends with you gilbert
blythe and i don't want to be 

 all right gilbert sprang into his skiff with an angry color in his
cheeks i'll never ask you to be friends again anne shirley and i
don't care either 

he pulled away with swift defiant strokes and anne went up the steep 
ferny little path under the maples she held her head very high but
she was conscious of an odd feeling of regret she almost wished she had
answered gilbert differently of course he had insulted her terribly 
but still altogether anne rather thought it would be a relief to
sit down and have a good cry she was really quite unstrung for the
reaction from her fright and cramped clinging was making itself felt 

halfway up the path she met jane and diana rushing back to the pond in
a state narrowly removed from positive frenzy they had found nobody at
orchard slope both mr and mrs barry being away here ruby gillis had
succumbed to hysterics and was left to recover from them as best she
might while jane and diana flew through the haunted wood and across the
brook to green gables there they had found nobody either for marilla
had gone to carmody and matthew was making hay in the back field 

 oh anne gasped diana fairly falling on the former's neck
and weeping with relief and delight oh anne we thought you
were drowned and we felt like murderers because we had made you
be elaine and ruby is in hysterics oh anne how did you escape 

 i climbed up on one of the piles explained anne wearily and gilbert
blythe came along in mr andrews's dory and brought me to land 

 oh anne how splendid of him why it's so romantic said jane 
finding breath enough for utterance at last of course you'll speak to
him after this 

 of course i won't flashed anne with a momentary return of her old
spirit and i don't want ever to hear the word romantic again jane
andrews i'm awfully sorry you were so frightened girls it is all my
fault i feel sure i was born under an unlucky star everything i do
gets me or my dearest friends into a scrape we've gone and lost your
father's flat diana and i have a presentiment that we'll not be
allowed to row on the pond any more 

anne's presentiment proved more trustworthy than presentiments are apt
to do great was the consternation in the barry and cuthbert households
when the events of the afternoon became known 

 will you ever have any sense anne groaned marilla 

 oh yes i think i will marilla returned anne optimistically a good
cry indulged in the grateful solitude of the east gable had soothed
her nerves and restored her to her wonted cheerfulness i think my
prospects of becoming sensible are brighter now than ever 

 i don't see how said marilla 

 well explained anne i've learned a new and valuable lesson today 
ever since i came to green gables i've been making mistakes and each
mistake has helped to cure me of some great shortcoming the affair of
the amethyst brooch cured me of meddling with things that didn't belong
to me the haunted wood mistake cured me of letting my imagination run
away with me the liniment cake mistake cured me of carelessness in
cooking dyeing my hair cured me of vanity i never think about my hair
and nose now at least very seldom and today's mistake is going to
cure me of being too romantic i have come to the conclusion that it is
no use trying to be romantic in avonlea it was probably easy enough in
towered camelot hundreds of years ago but romance is not appreciated
now i feel quite sure that you will soon see a great improvement in me
in this respect marilla 

 i'm sure i hope so said marilla skeptically 

but matthew who had been sitting mutely in his corner laid a hand on
anne's shoulder when marilla had gone out 

 don't give up all your romance anne he whispered shyly a little
of it is a good thing not too much of course but keep a little of it 
anne keep a little of it 




chapter xxix an epoch in anne's life


anne was bringing the cows home from the back pasture by way of lover's
lane it was a september evening and all the gaps and clearings in the
woods were brimmed up with ruby sunset light here and there the lane
was splashed with it but for the most part it was already quite shadowy
beneath the maples and the spaces under the firs were filled with a
clear violet dusk like airy wine the winds were out in their tops and
there is no sweeter music on earth than that which the wind makes in the
fir trees at evening 

the cows swung placidly down the lane and anne followed them dreamily 
repeating aloud the battle canto from marmion which had also been part
of their english course the preceding winter and which miss stacy had
made them learn off by heart and exulting in its rushing lines and the
clash of spears in its imagery when she came to the lines

 the stubborn spearsmen still made good
 their dark impenetrable wood 

she stopped in ecstasy to shut her eyes that she might the better fancy
herself one of that heroic ring when she opened them again it was to
behold diana coming through the gate that led into the barry field and
looking so important that anne instantly divined there was news to be
told but betray too eager curiosity she would not 

 isn't this evening just like a purple dream diana it makes me so glad
to be alive in the mornings i always think the mornings are best but
when evening comes i think it's lovelier still 

 it's a very fine evening said diana but oh i have such news anne 
guess you can have three guesses 

 charlotte gillis is going to be married in the church after all and
mrs allan wants us to decorate it cried anne 

 no charlotte's beau won't agree to that because nobody ever has been
married in the church yet and he thinks it would seem too much like a
funeral it's too mean because it would be such fun guess again 

 jane's mother is going to let her have a birthday party 

diana shook her head her black eyes dancing with merriment 

 i can't think what it can be said anne in despair unless it's that
moody spurgeon macpherson saw you home from prayer meeting last night 
did he 

 i should think not exclaimed diana indignantly i wouldn't be likely
to boast of it if he did the horrid creature i knew you couldn't guess
it mother had a letter from aunt josephine today and aunt josephine
wants you and me to go to town next tuesday and stop with her for the
exhibition there 

 oh diana whispered anne finding it necessary to lean up against a
maple tree for support do you really mean it but i'm afraid marilla
won't let me go she will say that she can't encourage gadding about 
that was what she said last week when jane invited me to go with them
in their double-seated buggy to the american concert at the white sands
hotel i wanted to go but marilla said i'd be better at home learning
my lessons and so would jane i was bitterly disappointed diana i felt
so heartbroken that i wouldn't say my prayers when i went to bed but i
repented of that and got up in the middle of the night and said them 

 i'll tell you said diana we'll get mother to ask marilla she'll be
more likely to let you go then and if she does we'll have the time
of our lives anne i've never been to an exhibition and it's so
aggravating to hear the other girls talking about their trips jane and
ruby have been twice and they're going this year again 

 i'm not going to think about it at all until i know whether i can go
or not said anne resolutely if i did and then was disappointed it
would be more than i could bear but in case i do go i'm very glad my
new coat will be ready by that time marilla didn't think i needed a new
coat she said my old one would do very well for another winter and
that i ought to be satisfied with having a new dress the dress is very
pretty diana navy blue and made so fashionably marilla always makes
my dresses fashionably now because she says she doesn't intend to have
matthew going to mrs lynde to make them i'm so glad it is ever so
much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable at least it is
easier for me i suppose it doesn't make such a difference to naturally
good people but matthew said i must have a new coat so marilla
bought a lovely piece of blue broadcloth and it's being made by a real
dressmaker over at carmody it's to be done saturday night and i'm
trying not to imagine myself walking up the church aisle on sunday in
my new suit and cap because i'm afraid it isn't right to imagine such
things but it just slips into my mind in spite of me my cap is so
pretty matthew bought it for me the day we were over at carmody it is
one of those little blue velvet ones that are all the rage with gold
cord and tassels your new hat is elegant diana and so becoming when
i saw you come into church last sunday my heart swelled with pride to
think you were my dearest friend do you suppose it's wrong for us to
think so much about our clothes marilla says it is very sinful but it
is such an interesting subject isn't it 

marilla agreed to let anne go to town and it was arranged that
mr barry should take the girls in on the following tuesday as
charlottetown was thirty miles away and mr barry wished to go and
return the same day it was necessary to make a very early start but
anne counted it all joy and was up before sunrise on tuesday morning 
a glance from her window assured her that the day would be fine for
the eastern sky behind the firs of the haunted wood was all silvery
and cloudless through the gap in the trees a light was shining in the
western gable of orchard slope a token that diana was also up 

anne was dressed by the time matthew had the fire on and had the
breakfast ready when marilla came down but for her own part was much
too excited to eat after breakfast the jaunty new cap and jacket were
donned and anne hastened over the brook and up through the firs to
orchard slope mr barry and diana were waiting for her and they were
soon on the road 

it was a long drive but anne and diana enjoyed every minute of it it
was delightful to rattle along over the moist roads in the early red
sunlight that was creeping across the shorn harvest fields the air was
fresh and crisp and little smoke-blue mists curled through the valleys
and floated off from the hills sometimes the road went through woods
where maples were beginning to hang out scarlet banners sometimes it
crossed rivers on bridges that made anne's flesh cringe with the old 
half-delightful fear sometimes it wound along a harbor shore and passed
by a little cluster of weather-gray fishing huts again it mounted to
hills whence a far sweep of curving upland or misty-blue sky could be
seen but wherever it went there was much of interest to discuss it was
almost noon when they reached town and found their way to beechwood 
 it was quite a fine old mansion set back from the street in a seclusion
of green elms and branching beeches miss barry met them at the door
with a twinkle in her sharp black eyes 

 so you've come to see me at last you anne-girl she said mercy 
child how you have grown you're taller than i am i declare and
you're ever so much better looking than you used to be too but i dare
say you know that without being told 

 indeed i didn't said anne radiantly i know i'm not so freckled as
i used to be so i've much to be thankful for but i really hadn't dared
to hope there was any other improvement i'm so glad you think there is 
miss barry miss barry's house was furnished with great magnificence 
 as anne told marilla afterward the two little country girls were rather
abashed by the splendor of the parlor where miss barry left them when
she went to see about dinner 

 isn't it just like a palace whispered diana i never was in aunt
josephine's house before and i'd no idea it was so grand i just wish
julia bell could see this she puts on such airs about her mother's
parlor 

 velvet carpet sighed anne luxuriously and silk curtains i've
dreamed of such things diana but do you know i don't believe i feel
very comfortable with them after all there are so many things in this
room and all so splendid that there is no scope for imagination that is
one consolation when you are poor there are so many more things you can
imagine about 

their sojourn in town was something that anne and diana dated from for
years from first to last it was crowded with delights 

on wednesday miss barry took them to the exhibition grounds and kept
them there all day 

 it was splendid anne related to marilla later on i never imagined
anything so interesting i don't really know which department was the
most interesting i think i liked the horses and the flowers and the
fancywork best josie pye took first prize for knitted lace i was
real glad she did and i was glad that i felt glad for it shows i'm
improving don't you think marilla when i can rejoice in josie's
success mr harmon andrews took second prize for gravenstein apples
and mr bell took first prize for a pig diana said she thought it was
ridiculous for a sunday-school superintendent to take a prize in pigs 
but i don't see why do you she said she would always think of it after
this when he was praying so solemnly clara louise macpherson took a
prize for painting and mrs lynde got first prize for homemade butter
and cheese so avonlea was pretty well represented wasn't it mrs 
lynde was there that day and i never knew how much i really liked her
until i saw her familiar face among all those strangers there
were thousands of people there marilla it made me feel dreadfully
insignificant and miss barry took us up to the grandstand to see
the horse races mrs lynde wouldn't go she said horse racing was an
abomination and she being a church member thought it her bounden duty
to set a good example by staying away but there were so many there i
don't believe mrs lynde's absence would ever be noticed i don't think 
though that i ought to go very often to horse races because they are 
awfully fascinating diana got so excited that she offered to bet me
ten cents that the red horse would win i didn't believe he would but
i refused to bet because i wanted to tell mrs allan all about
everything and i felt sure it wouldn't do to tell her that it's always
wrong to do anything you can't tell the minister's wife it's as good as
an extra conscience to have a minister's wife for your friend and i was
very glad i didn't bet because the red horse did win and i would have
lost ten cents so you see that virtue was its own reward we saw a man
go up in a balloon i'd love to go up in a balloon marilla it would
be simply thrilling and we saw a man selling fortunes you paid him ten
cents and a little bird picked out your fortune for you miss barry gave
diana and me ten cents each to have our fortunes told mine was that i
would marry a dark-complected man who was very wealthy and i would go
across water to live i looked carefully at all the dark men i saw after
that but i didn't care much for any of them and anyhow i suppose
it's too early to be looking out for him yet oh it was a
never-to-be-forgotten day marilla i was so tired i couldn't sleep at
night miss barry put us in the spare room according to promise it
was an elegant room marilla but somehow sleeping in a spare room isn't
what i used to think it was that's the worst of growing up and i'm
beginning to realize it the things you wanted so much when you were a
child don't seem half so wonderful to you when you get them 

thursday the girls had a drive in the park and in the evening miss
barry took them to a concert in the academy of music where a noted
prima donna was to sing to anne the evening was a glittering vision of
delight 

 oh marilla it was beyond description i was so excited i couldn't
even talk so you may know what it was like i just sat in enraptured
silence madame selitsky was perfectly beautiful and wore white satin
and diamonds but when she began to sing i never thought about anything
else oh i can't tell you how i felt but it seemed to me that it could
never be hard to be good any more i felt like i do when i look up to
the stars tears came into my eyes but oh they were such happy tears 
i was so sorry when it was all over and i told miss barry i didn't see
how i was ever to return to common life again she said she thought if
we went over to the restaurant across the street and had an ice cream
it might help me that sounded so prosaic but to my surprise i found
it true the ice cream was delicious marilla and it was so lovely and
dissipated to be sitting there eating it at eleven o'clock at night 
diana said she believed she was born for city life miss barry asked
me what my opinion was but i said i would have to think it over very
seriously before i could tell her what i really thought so i thought it
over after i went to bed that is the best time to think things out and
i came to the conclusion marilla that i wasn't born for city life and
that i was glad of it it's nice to be eating ice cream at brilliant
restaurants at eleven o'clock at night once in a while but as a regular
thing i'd rather be in the east gable at eleven sound asleep but kind
of knowing even in my sleep that the stars were shining outside and that
the wind was blowing in the firs across the brook i told miss barry
so at breakfast the next morning and she laughed miss barry generally
laughed at anything i said even when i said the most solemn things i
don't think i liked it marilla because i wasn't trying to be funny 
but she is a most hospitable lady and treated us royally 

friday brought going-home time and mr barry drove in for the girls 

 well i hope you've enjoyed yourselves said miss barry as she bade
them good-bye 

 indeed we have said diana 

 and you anne-girl 

 i've enjoyed every minute of the time said anne throwing her arms
impulsively about the old woman's neck and kissing her wrinkled cheek 
diana would never have dared to do such a thing and felt rather aghast
at anne's freedom but miss barry was pleased and she stood on her
veranda and watched the buggy out of sight then she went back into her
big house with a sigh it seemed very lonely lacking those fresh young
lives miss barry was a rather selfish old lady if the truth must
be told and had never cared much for anybody but herself she valued
people only as they were of service to her or amused her anne had
amused her and consequently stood high in the old lady's good graces 
but miss barry found herself thinking less about anne's quaint speeches
than of her fresh enthusiasms her transparent emotions her little
winning ways and the sweetness of her eyes and lips 

 i thought marilla cuthbert was an old fool when i heard she'd adopted
a girl out of an orphan asylum she said to herself but i guess she
didn't make much of a mistake after all if i'd a child like anne in the
house all the time i'd be a better and happier woman 

anne and diana found the drive home as pleasant as the drive
in pleasanter indeed since there was the delightful consciousness of
home waiting at the end of it it was sunset when they passed through
white sands and turned into the shore road beyond the avonlea hills
came out darkly against the saffron sky behind them the moon was rising
out of the sea that grew all radiant and transfigured in her light 
every little cove along the curving road was a marvel of dancing
ripples the waves broke with a soft swish on the rocks below them and
the tang of the sea was in the strong fresh air 

 oh but it's good to be alive and to be going home breathed anne 

when she crossed the log bridge over the brook the kitchen light of
green gables winked her a friendly welcome back and through the open
door shone the hearth fire sending out its warm red glow athwart the
chilly autumn night anne ran blithely up the hill and into the kitchen 
where a hot supper was waiting on the table 

 so you've got back said marilla folding up her knitting 

 yes and oh it's so good to be back said anne joyously i could
kiss everything even to the clock marilla a broiled chicken you
don't mean to say you cooked that for me 

 yes i did said marilla i thought you'd be hungry after such
a drive and need something real appetizing hurry and take off your
things and we'll have supper as soon as matthew comes in i'm glad
you've got back i must say it's been fearful lonesome here without
you and i never put in four longer days 

after supper anne sat before the fire between matthew and marilla and
gave them a full account of her visit 

 i've had a splendid time she concluded happily and i feel that it
marks an epoch in my life but the best of it all was the coming home 



chapter xxx the queens class is organized


marilla laid her knitting on her lap and leaned back in her chair her
eyes were tired and she thought vaguely that she must see about having
her glasses changed the next time she went to town for her eyes had
grown tired very often of late 

it was nearly dark for the full november twilight had fallen around
green gables and the only light in the kitchen came from the dancing
red flames in the stove 

anne was curled up turk-fashion on the hearthrug gazing into that
joyous glow where the sunshine of a hundred summers was being distilled
from the maple cordwood she had been reading but her book had slipped
to the floor and now she was dreaming with a smile on her parted lips 
glittering castles in spain were shaping themselves out of the mists and
rainbows of her lively fancy adventures wonderful and enthralling
were happening to her in cloudland adventures that always turned out
triumphantly and never involved her in scrapes like those of actual
life 

marilla looked at her with a tenderness that would never have been
suffered to reveal itself in any clearer light than that soft mingling
of fireshine and shadow the lesson of a love that should display itself
easily in spoken word and open look was one marilla could never learn 
but she had learned to love this slim gray-eyed girl with an affection
all the deeper and stronger from its very undemonstrativeness her love
made her afraid of being unduly indulgent indeed she had an uneasy
feeling that it was rather sinful to set one's heart so intensely on any
human creature as she had set hers on anne and perhaps she performed a
sort of unconscious penance for this by being stricter and more critical
than if the girl had been less dear to her certainly anne herself had
no idea how marilla loved her she sometimes thought wistfully that
marilla was very hard to please and distinctly lacking in sympathy
and understanding but she always checked the thought reproachfully 
remembering what she owed to marilla 

 anne said marilla abruptly miss stacy was here this afternoon when
you were out with diana 

anne came back from her other world with a start and a sigh 

 was she oh i'm so sorry i wasn't in why didn't you call me marilla 
diana and i were only over in the haunted wood it's lovely in the woods
now all the little wood things the ferns and the satin leaves and the
crackerberries have gone to sleep just as if somebody had tucked them
away until spring under a blanket of leaves i think it was a little
gray fairy with a rainbow scarf that came tiptoeing along the last
moonlight night and did it diana wouldn't say much about that though 
diana has never forgotten the scolding her mother gave her about
imagining ghosts into the haunted wood it had a very bad effect on
diana's imagination it blighted it mrs lynde says myrtle bell is a
blighted being i asked ruby gillis why myrtle was blighted and ruby
said she guessed it was because her young man had gone back on her ruby
gillis thinks of nothing but young men and the older she gets the worse
she is young men are all very well in their place but it doesn't do to
drag them into everything does it diana and i are thinking seriously
of promising each other that we will never marry but be nice old maids
and live together forever diana hasn't quite made up her mind though 
because she thinks perhaps it would be nobler to marry some wild 
dashing wicked young man and reform him diana and i talk a great deal
about serious subjects now you know we feel that we are so much older
than we used to be that it isn't becoming to talk of childish matters 
it's such a solemn thing to be almost fourteen marilla miss stacy took
all us girls who are in our teens down to the brook last wednesday and
talked to us about it she said we couldn't be too careful what habits
we formed and what ideals we acquired in our teens because by the time
we were twenty our characters would be developed and the foundation laid
for our whole future life and she said if the foundation was shaky we
could never build anything really worth while on it diana and i talked
the matter over coming home from school we felt extremely solemn 
marilla and we decided that we would try to be very careful indeed and
form respectable habits and learn all we could and be as sensible as
possible so that by the time we were twenty our characters would be
properly developed it's perfectly appalling to think of being twenty 
marilla it sounds so fearfully old and grown up but why was miss stacy
here this afternoon 

 that is what i want to tell you anne if you'll ever give me a chance
to get a word in edgewise she was talking about you 

 about me anne looked rather scared then she flushed and exclaimed 

 oh i know what she was saying i meant to tell you marilla honestly
i did but i forgot miss stacy caught me reading ben hur in school
yesterday afternoon when i should have been studying my canadian
history jane andrews lent it to me i was reading it at dinner hour 
and i had just got to the chariot race when school went in i was simply
wild to know how it turned out although i felt sure ben hur must win 
because it wouldn't be poetical justice if he didn't so i spread the
history open on my desk lid and then tucked ben hur between the desk and
my knee i just looked as if i were studying canadian history you know 
while all the while i was reveling in ben hur i was so interested in it
that i never noticed miss stacy coming down the aisle until all at
once i just looked up and there she was looking down at me so
reproachful-like i can't tell you how ashamed i felt marilla 
especially when i heard josie pye giggling miss stacy took ben hur
away but she never said a word then she kept me in at recess and
talked to me she said i had done very wrong in two respects first i
was wasting the time i ought to have put on my studies and secondly 
i was deceiving my teacher in trying to make it appear i was reading a
history when it was a storybook instead i had never realized until that
moment marilla that what i was doing was deceitful i was shocked i
cried bitterly and asked miss stacy to forgive me and i'd never do such
a thing again and i offered to do penance by never so much as looking
at ben hur for a whole week not even to see how the chariot race turned
out but miss stacy said she wouldn't require that and she forgave me
freely so i think it wasn't very kind of her to come up here to you
about it after all 

 miss stacy never mentioned such a thing to me anne and its only your
guilty conscience that's the matter with you you have no business to be
taking storybooks to school you read too many novels anyhow when i was
a girl i wasn't so much as allowed to look at a novel 

 oh how can you call ben hur a novel when it's really such a religious
book protested anne of course it's a little too exciting to be
proper reading for sunday and i only read it on weekdays and i never
read any book now unless either miss stacy or mrs allan thinks it is a
proper book for a girl thirteen and three-quarters to read miss stacy
made me promise that she found me reading a book one day called the
lurid mystery of the haunted hall it was one ruby gillis had lent me 
and oh marilla it was so fascinating and creepy it just curdled the
blood in my veins but miss stacy said it was a very silly unwholesome
book and she asked me not to read any more of it or any like it i
didn't mind promising not to read any more like it but it was agonizing 
to give back that book without knowing how it turned out but my love
for miss stacy stood the test and i did it's really wonderful marilla 
what you can do when you're truly anxious to please a certain person 

 well i guess i'll light the lamp and get to work said marilla i
see plainly that you don't want to hear what miss stacy had to say 
you're more interested in the sound of your own tongue than in anything
else 

 oh indeed marilla i do want to hear it cried anne contritely i
won't say another word not one i know i talk too much but i am really
trying to overcome it and although i say far too much yet if you only
knew how many things i want to say and don't you'd give me some credit
for it please tell me marilla 

 well miss stacy wants to organize a class among her advanced students
who mean to study for the entrance examination into queen's she intends
to give them extra lessons for an hour after school and she came to ask
matthew and me if we would like to have you join it what do you think
about it yourself anne would you like to go to queen's and pass for a
teacher 

 oh marilla anne straightened to her knees and clasped her hands 
 it's been the dream of my life that is for the last six months ever
since ruby and jane began to talk of studying for the entrance but i
didn't say anything about it because i supposed it would be perfectly
useless i'd love to be a teacher but won't it be dreadfully expensive 
mr andrews says it cost him one hundred and fifty dollars to put prissy
through and prissy wasn't a dunce in geometry 

 i guess you needn't worry about that part of it when matthew and i
took you to bring up we resolved we would do the best we could for you
and give you a good education i believe in a girl being fitted to earn
her own living whether she ever has to or not you'll always have a home
at green gables as long as matthew and i are here but nobody knows what
is going to happen in this uncertain world and it's just as well to be
prepared so you can join the queen's class if you like anne 

 oh marilla thank you anne flung her arms about marilla's waist and
looked up earnestly into her face i'm extremely grateful to you and
matthew and i'll study as hard as i can and do my very best to be a
credit to you i warn you not to expect much in geometry but i think i
can hold my own in anything else if i work hard 

 i dare say you'll get along well enough miss stacy says you are bright
and diligent not for worlds would marilla have told anne just what
miss stacy had said about her that would have been to pamper vanity 
 you needn't rush to any extreme of killing yourself over your books 
there is no hurry you won't be ready to try the entrance for a year and
a half yet but it's well to begin in time and be thoroughly grounded 
miss stacy says 

 i shall take more interest than ever in my studies now said anne
blissfully because i have a purpose in life mr allan says everybody
should have a purpose in life and pursue it faithfully only he says
we must first make sure that it is a worthy purpose i would call it a
worthy purpose to want to be a teacher like miss stacy wouldn't you 
marilla i think it's a very noble profession 

the queen's class was organized in due time gilbert blythe anne
shirley ruby gillis jane andrews josie pye charlie sloane and moody
spurgeon macpherson joined it diana barry did not as her parents
did not intend to send her to queen's this seemed nothing short of a
calamity to anne never since the night on which minnie may had had the
croup had she and diana been separated in anything on the evening when
the queen's class first remained in school for the extra lessons and
anne saw diana go slowly out with the others to walk home alone through
the birch path and violet vale it was all the former could do to keep
her seat and refrain from rushing impulsively after her chum a lump
came into her throat and she hastily retired behind the pages of her
uplifted latin grammar to hide the tears in her eyes not for worlds
would anne have had gilbert blythe or josie pye see those tears 

 but oh marilla i really felt that i had tasted the bitterness of
death as mr allan said in his sermon last sunday when i saw diana go
out alone she said mournfully that night i thought how splendid it
would have been if diana had only been going to study for the entrance 
too but we can't have things perfect in this imperfect world as mrs 
lynde says mrs lynde isn't exactly a comforting person sometimes but
there's no doubt she says a great many very true things and i think the
queen's class is going to be extremely interesting jane and ruby
are just going to study to be teachers that is the height of their
ambition ruby says she will only teach for two years after she gets
through and then she intends to be married jane says she will devote
her whole life to teaching and never never marry because you are paid
a salary for teaching but a husband won't pay you anything and growls
if you ask for a share in the egg and butter money i expect jane speaks
from mournful experience for mrs lynde says that her father is a
perfect old crank and meaner than second skimmings josie pye says she
is just going to college for education's sake because she won't have to
earn her own living she says of course it is different with orphans who
are living on charity they have to hustle moody spurgeon is going to
be a minister mrs lynde says he couldn't be anything else with a name
like that to live up to i hope it isn't wicked of me marilla but
really the thought of moody spurgeon being a minister makes me laugh 
he's such a funny-looking boy with that big fat face and his little
blue eyes and his ears sticking out like flaps but perhaps he will
be more intellectual looking when he grows up charlie sloane says he's
going to go into politics and be a member of parliament but mrs lynde
says he'll never succeed at that because the sloanes are all honest
people and it's only rascals that get on in politics nowadays 

 what is gilbert blythe going to be queried marilla seeing that anne
was opening her caesar 

 i don't happen to know what gilbert blythe's ambition in life is if he
has any said anne scornfully 

there was open rivalry between gilbert and anne now previously the
rivalry had been rather one-sided but there was no longer any doubt
that gilbert was as determined to be first in class as anne was he was
a foeman worthy of her steel the other members of the class tacitly
acknowledged their superiority and never dreamed of trying to compete
with them 

since the day by the pond when she had refused to listen to his plea
for forgiveness gilbert save for the aforesaid determined rivalry 
had evinced no recognition whatever of the existence of anne shirley he
talked and jested with the other girls exchanged books and puzzles with
them discussed lessons and plans sometimes walked home with one or the
other of them from prayer meeting or debating club but anne shirley
he simply ignored and anne found out that it is not pleasant to be
ignored it was in vain that she told herself with a toss of her head
that she did not care deep down in her wayward feminine little heart
she knew that she did care and that if she had that chance of the lake
of shining waters again she would answer very differently all at
once as it seemed and to her secret dismay she found that the old
resentment she had cherished against him was gone gone just when she
most needed its sustaining power it was in vain that she recalled every
incident and emotion of that memorable occasion and tried to feel
the old satisfying anger that day by the pond had witnessed its last
spasmodic flicker anne realized that she had forgiven and forgotten
without knowing it but it was too late 

and at least neither gilbert nor anybody else not even diana should
ever suspect how sorry she was and how much she wished she hadn't been
so proud and horrid she determined to shroud her feelings in deepest
oblivion and it may be stated here and now that she did it so
successfully that gilbert who possibly was not quite so indifferent as
he seemed could not console himself with any belief that anne felt his
retaliatory scorn the only poor comfort he had was that she snubbed
charlie sloane unmercifully continually and undeservedly 

otherwise the winter passed away in a round of pleasant duties and
studies for anne the days slipped by like golden beads on the necklace
of the year she was happy eager interested there were lessons to be
learned and honor to be won delightful books to read new pieces to be
practiced for the sunday-school choir pleasant saturday afternoons at
the manse with mrs allan and then almost before anne realized it 
spring had come again to green gables and all the world was abloom once
more 

studies palled just a wee bit then the queen's class left behind in
school while the others scattered to green lanes and leafy wood cuts and
meadow byways looked wistfully out of the windows and discovered that
latin verbs and french exercises had somehow lost the tang and zest they
had possessed in the crisp winter months even anne and gilbert lagged
and grew indifferent teacher and taught were alike glad when the term
was ended and the glad vacation days stretched rosily before them 

 but you've done good work this past year miss stacy told them on the
last evening and you deserve a good jolly vacation have the best
time you can in the out-of-door world and lay in a good stock of health
and vitality and ambition to carry you through next year it will be the
tug of war you know the last year before the entrance 

 are you going to be back next year miss stacy asked josie pye 

josie pye never scrupled to ask questions in this instance the rest of
the class felt grateful to her none of them would have dared to ask
it of miss stacy but all wanted to for there had been alarming rumors
running at large through the school for some time that miss stacy was
not coming back the next year that she had been offered a position
in the grade school of her own home district and meant to accept the
queen's class listened in breathless suspense for her answer 

 yes i think i will said miss stacy i thought of taking another
school but i have decided to come back to avonlea to tell the truth 
i've grown so interested in my pupils here that i found i couldn't leave
them so i'll stay and see you through 

 hurrah said moody spurgeon moody spurgeon had never been so carried
away by his feelings before and he blushed uncomfortably every time he
thought about it for a week 

 oh i'm so glad said anne with shining eyes dear stacy it would
be perfectly dreadful if you didn't come back i don't believe i could
have the heart to go on with my studies at all if another teacher came
here 

when anne got home that night she stacked all her textbooks away in an
old trunk in the attic locked it and threw the key into the blanket
box 

 i'm not even going to look at a schoolbook in vacation she told
marilla i've studied as hard all the term as i possibly could and i've
pored over that geometry until i know every proposition in the first
book off by heart even when the letters are changed i just feel tired
of everything sensible and i'm going to let my imagination run riot for
the summer oh you needn't be alarmed marilla i'll only let it run
riot within reasonable limits but i want to have a real good jolly time
this summer for maybe it's the last summer i'll be a little girl mrs 
lynde says that if i keep stretching out next year as i've done this
i'll have to put on longer skirts she says i'm all running to legs and
eyes and when i put on longer skirts i shall feel that i have to live
up to them and be very dignified it won't even do to believe in fairies
then i'm afraid so i'm going to believe in them with all my whole
heart this summer i think we're going to have a very gay vacation ruby
gillis is going to have a birthday party soon and there's the sunday
school picnic and the missionary concert next month and mr barry says
that some evening he'll take diana and me over to the white sands hotel
and have dinner there they have dinner there in the evening you know 
jane andrews was over once last summer and she says it was a dazzling
sight to see the electric lights and the flowers and all the lady guests
in such beautiful dresses jane says it was her first glimpse into high
life and she'll never forget it to her dying day 

mrs lynde came up the next afternoon to find out why marilla had not
been at the aid meeting on thursday when marilla was not at aid meeting
people knew there was something wrong at green gables 

 matthew had a bad spell with his heart thursday marilla explained 
 and i didn't feel like leaving him oh yes he's all right again now 
but he takes them spells oftener than he used to and i'm anxious about
him the doctor says he must be careful to avoid excitement that's easy
enough for matthew doesn't go about looking for excitement by any means
and never did but he's not to do any very heavy work either and you
might as well tell matthew not to breathe as not to work come and lay
off your things rachel you'll stay to tea 

 well seeing you're so pressing perhaps i might as well stay said
mrs rachel who had not the slightest intention of doing anything else 

mrs rachel and marilla sat comfortably in the parlor while anne got the
tea and made hot biscuits that were light and white enough to defy even
mrs rachel's criticism 

 i must say anne has turned out a real smart girl admitted mrs 
rachel as marilla accompanied her to the end of the lane at sunset 
 she must be a great help to you 

 she is said marilla and she's real steady and reliable now i used
to be afraid she'd never get over her featherbrained ways but she has
and i wouldn't be afraid to trust her in anything now 

 i never would have thought she'd have turned out so well that first day
i was here three years ago said mrs rachel lawful heart shall i
ever forget that tantrum of hers when i went home that night i says to
thomas says i mark my words thomas marilla cuthbert ll live to
rue the step she's took but i was mistaken and i'm real glad of it i
ain't one of those kind of people marilla as can never be brought to
own up that they've made a mistake no that never was my way thank
goodness i did make a mistake in judging anne but it weren't no
wonder for an odder unexpecteder witch of a child there never was in
this world that's what there was no ciphering her out by the rules
that worked with other children it's nothing short of wonderful how
she's improved these three years but especially in looks she's a real
pretty girl got to be though i can't say i'm overly partial to that
pale big-eyed style myself i like more snap and color like diana
barry has or ruby gillis ruby gillis's looks are real showy but
somehow i don't know how it is but when anne and them are together 
though she ain't half as handsome she makes them look kind of common
and overdone something like them white june lilies she calls narcissus
alongside of the big red peonies that's what 




chapter xxxi where the brook and river meet


anne had her good summer and enjoyed it wholeheartedly she and diana
fairly lived outdoors reveling in all the delights that lover's lane
and the dryad's bubble and willowmere and victoria island afforded 
marilla offered no objections to anne's gypsyings the spencervale
doctor who had come the night minnie may had the croup met anne at the
house of a patient one afternoon early in vacation looked her over
sharply screwed up his mouth shook his head and sent a message to
marilla cuthbert by another person it was 

 keep that redheaded girl of yours in the open air all summer and don't
let her read books until she gets more spring into her step 

this message frightened marilla wholesomely she read anne's death
warrant by consumption in it unless it was scrupulously obeyed as a
result anne had the golden summer of her life as far as freedom and
frolic went she walked rowed berried and dreamed to her heart's
content and when september came she was bright-eyed and alert with a
step that would have satisfied the spencervale doctor and a heart full
of ambition and zest once more 

 i feel just like studying with might and main she declared as she
brought her books down from the attic oh you good old friends i'm
glad to see your honest faces once more yes even you geometry i've
had a perfectly beautiful summer marilla and now i'm rejoicing as a
strong man to run a race as mr allan said last sunday doesn't mr 
allan preach magnificent sermons mrs lynde says he is improving every
day and the first thing we know some city church will gobble him up
and then we'll be left and have to turn to and break in another green
preacher but i don't see the use of meeting trouble halfway do you 
marilla i think it would be better just to enjoy mr allan while we
have him if i were a man i think i'd be a minister they can have
such an influence for good if their theology is sound and it must be
thrilling to preach splendid sermons and stir your hearers hearts why
can't women be ministers marilla i asked mrs lynde that and she was
shocked and said it would be a scandalous thing she said there might
be female ministers in the states and she believed there was but thank
goodness we hadn't got to that stage in canada yet and she hoped we
never would but i don't see why i think women would make splendid
ministers when there is a social to be got up or a church tea or
anything else to raise money the women have to turn to and do the work 
i'm sure mrs lynde can pray every bit as well as superintendent bell
and i've no doubt she could preach too with a little practice 

 yes i believe she could said marilla dryly she does plenty of
unofficial preaching as it is nobody has much of a chance to go wrong
in avonlea with rachel to oversee them 

 marilla said anne in a burst of confidence i want to tell you
something and ask you what you think about it it has worried me
terribly on sunday afternoons that is when i think specially about
such matters i do really want to be good and when i'm with you or mrs 
allan or miss stacy i want it more than ever and i want to do just what
would please you and what you would approve of but mostly when i'm with
mrs lynde i feel desperately wicked and as if i wanted to go and do the
very thing she tells me i oughtn't to do i feel irresistibly tempted
to do it now what do you think is the reason i feel like that do you
think it's because i'm really bad and unregenerate 

marilla looked dubious for a moment then she laughed 

 if you are i guess i am too anne for rachel often has that very
effect on me i sometimes think she'd have more of an influence for
good as you say yourself if she didn't keep nagging people to do
right there should have been a special commandment against nagging 
but there i shouldn't talk so rachel is a good christian woman and she
means well there isn't a kinder soul in avonlea and she never shirks
her share of work 

 i'm very glad you feel the same said anne decidedly it's so
encouraging i shan't worry so much over that after this but i dare say
there'll be other things to worry me they keep coming up new all the
time things to perplex you you know you settle one question and
there's another right after there are so many things to be thought over
and decided when you're beginning to grow up it keeps me busy all the
time thinking them over and deciding what is right it's a serious thing
to grow up isn't it marilla but when i have such good friends as
you and matthew and mrs allan and miss stacy i ought to grow up
successfully and i'm sure it will be my own fault if i don't i feel
it's a great responsibility because i have only the one chance if i
don't grow up right i can't go back and begin over again i've grown two
inches this summer marilla mr gillis measured me at ruby's party i'm
so glad you made my new dresses longer that dark-green one is so pretty
and it was sweet of you to put on the flounce of course i know it
wasn't really necessary but flounces are so stylish this fall and josie
pye has flounces on all her dresses i know i'll be able to study better
because of mine i shall have such a comfortable feeling deep down in my
mind about that flounce 

 it's worth something to have that admitted marilla 

miss stacy came back to avonlea school and found all her pupils eager
for work once more especially did the queen's class gird up their loins
for the fray for at the end of the coming year dimly shadowing their
pathway already loomed up that fateful thing known as the entrance 
 at the thought of which one and all felt their hearts sink into their
very shoes suppose they did not pass that thought was doomed to
haunt anne through the waking hours of that winter sunday afternoons
inclusive to the almost entire exclusion of moral and theological
problems when anne had bad dreams she found herself staring miserably
at pass lists of the entrance exams where gilbert blythe's name was
blazoned at the top and in which hers did not appear at all 

but it was a jolly busy happy swift-flying winter schoolwork was
as interesting class rivalry as absorbing as of yore new worlds of
thought feeling and ambition fresh fascinating fields of unexplored
knowledge seemed to be opening out before anne's eager eyes 


 hills peeped o'er hill and alps on alps arose 


much of all this was due to miss stacy's tactful careful broadminded
guidance she led her class to think and explore and discover for
themselves and encouraged straying from the old beaten paths to a degree
that quite shocked mrs lynde and the school trustees who viewed all
innovations on established methods rather dubiously 

apart from her studies anne expanded socially for marilla mindful of
the spencervale doctor's dictum no longer vetoed occasional outings 
the debating club flourished and gave several concerts there were one
or two parties almost verging on grown-up affairs there were sleigh
drives and skating frolics galore 

between times anne grew shooting up so rapidly that marilla was
astonished one day when they were standing side by side to find the
girl was taller than herself 

 why anne how you've grown she said almost unbelievingly a sigh
followed on the words marilla felt a queer regret over anne's inches 
the child she had learned to love had vanished somehow and here was this
tall serious-eyed girl of fifteen with the thoughtful brows and the
proudly poised little head in her place marilla loved the girl as much
as she had loved the child but she was conscious of a queer sorrowful
sense of loss and that night when anne had gone to prayer meeting
with diana marilla sat alone in the wintry twilight and indulged in the
weakness of a cry matthew coming in with a lantern caught her at it
and gazed at her in such consternation that marilla had to laugh through
her tears 

 i was thinking about anne she explained she's got to be such a big
girl and she'll probably be away from us next winter i'll miss her
terrible 

 she'll be able to come home often comforted matthew to whom anne was
as yet and always would be the little eager girl he had brought home
from bright river on that june evening four years before the branch
railroad will be built to carmody by that time 

 it won't be the same thing as having her here all the time sighed
marilla gloomily determined to enjoy her luxury of grief uncomforted 
 but there men can't understand these things 

there were other changes in anne no less real than the physical change 
for one thing she became much quieter perhaps she thought all the
more and dreamed as much as ever but she certainly talked less marilla
noticed and commented on this also 

 you don't chatter half as much as you used to anne nor use half as
many big words what has come over you 

anne colored and laughed a little as she dropped her book and looked
dreamily out of the window where big fat red buds were bursting out on
the creeper in response to the lure of the spring sunshine 

 i don't know i don't want to talk as much she said denting her
chin thoughtfully with her forefinger it's nicer to think dear pretty
thoughts and keep them in one's heart like treasures i don't like to
have them laughed at or wondered over and somehow i don't want to use
big words any more it's almost a pity isn't it now that i'm really
growing big enough to say them if i did want to it's fun to be almost
grown up in some ways but it's not the kind of fun i expected marilla 
there's so much to learn and do and think that there isn't time for big
words besides miss stacy says the short ones are much stronger and
better she makes us write all our essays as simply as possible it was
hard at first i was so used to crowding in all the fine big words i
could think of and i thought of any number of them but i've got used
to it now and i see it's so much better 

 what has become of your story club i haven't heard you speak of it for
a long time 

 the story club isn't in existence any longer we hadn't time for
it and anyhow i think we had got tired of it it was silly to be
writing about love and murder and elopements and mysteries miss stacy
sometimes has us write a story for training in composition but she
won't let us write anything but what might happen in avonlea in our own
lives and she criticizes it very sharply and makes us criticize our own
too i never thought my compositions had so many faults until i began to
look for them myself i felt so ashamed i wanted to give up altogether 
but miss stacy said i could learn to write well if i only trained myself
to be my own severest critic and so i am trying to 

 you've only two more months before the entrance said marilla do you
think you'll be able to get through 

anne shivered 

 i don't know sometimes i think i'll be all right and then i get
horribly afraid we've studied hard and miss stacy has drilled us
thoroughly but we mayn't get through for all that we've each got a
stumbling block mine is geometry of course and jane's is latin and
ruby and charlie's is algebra and josie's is arithmetic moody spurgeon
says he feels it in his bones that he is going to fail in english
history miss stacy is going to give us examinations in june just as
hard as we'll have at the entrance and mark us just as strictly so
we'll have some idea i wish it was all over marilla it haunts me 
sometimes i wake up in the night and wonder what i'll do if i don't
pass 

 why go to school next year and try again said marilla unconcernedly 

 oh i don't believe i'd have the heart for it it would be such a
disgrace to fail especially if gil if the others passed and i get so
nervous in an examination that i'm likely to make a mess of it i wish i
had nerves like jane andrews nothing rattles her 

anne sighed and dragging her eyes from the witcheries of the spring
world the beckoning day of breeze and blue and the green things
upspringing in the garden buried herself resolutely in her book 
there would be other springs but if she did not succeed in passing the
entrance anne felt convinced that she would never recover sufficiently
to enjoy them 





chapter xxxii the pass list is out


with the end of june came the close of the term and the close of miss
stacy's rule in avonlea school anne and diana walked home that
evening feeling very sober indeed red eyes and damp handkerchiefs bore
convincing testimony to the fact that miss stacy's farewell words must
have been quite as touching as mr phillips's had been under similar
circumstances three years before diana looked back at the schoolhouse
from the foot of the spruce hill and sighed deeply 

 it does seem as if it was the end of everything doesn't it she said
dismally 

 you oughtn't to feel half as badly as i do said anne hunting vainly
for a dry spot on her handkerchief you'll be back again next winter 
but i suppose i've left the dear old school forever if i have good
luck that is 

 it won't be a bit the same miss stacy won't be there nor you nor jane
nor ruby probably i shall have to sit all alone for i couldn't bear
to have another deskmate after you oh we have had jolly times haven't
we anne it's dreadful to think they're all over 

two big tears rolled down by diana's nose 

 if you would stop crying i could said anne imploringly just as
soon as i put away my hanky i see you brimming up and that starts me off
again as mrs lynde says if you can't be cheerful be as cheerful as
you can after all i dare say i'll be back next year this is one
of the times i know i'm not going to pass they're getting alarmingly
frequent 

 why you came out splendidly in the exams miss stacy gave 

 yes but those exams didn't make me nervous when i think of the real
thing you can't imagine what a horrid cold fluttery feeling comes round
my heart and then my number is thirteen and josie pye says it's so
unlucky i am not superstitious and i know it can make no difference 
but still i wish it wasn't thirteen 

 i do wish i was going in with you said diana wouldn't we have
a perfectly elegant time but i suppose you'll have to cram in the
evenings 

 no miss stacy has made us promise not to open a book at all she says
it would only tire and confuse us and we are to go out walking and not
think about the exams at all and go to bed early it's good advice but
i expect it will be hard to follow good advice is apt to be i think 
prissy andrews told me that she sat up half the night every night of her
entrance week and crammed for dear life and i had determined to sit up
 at least as long as she did it was so kind of your aunt josephine to
ask me to stay at beechwood while i'm in town 

 you'll write to me while you're in won't you 

 i'll write tuesday night and tell you how the first day goes promised
anne 

 i'll be haunting the post office wednesday vowed diana 

anne went to town the following monday and on wednesday diana haunted
the post office as agreed and got her letter 


 dearest diana wrote anne

 here it is tuesday night and i'm writing this in the library at
beechwood last night i was horribly lonesome all alone in my room and
wished so much you were with me i couldn't cram because i'd promised
miss stacy not to but it was as hard to keep from opening my history
as it used to be to keep from reading a story before my lessons were
learned 

 this morning miss stacy came for me and we went to the academy calling
for jane and ruby and josie on our way ruby asked me to feel her hands
and they were as cold as ice josie said i looked as if i hadn't slept
a wink and she didn't believe i was strong enough to stand the grind
of the teacher's course even if i did get through there are times and
seasons even yet when i don't feel that i've made any great headway in
learning to like josie pye 

 when we reached the academy there were scores of students there from
all over the island the first person we saw was moody spurgeon sitting
on the steps and muttering away to himself jane asked him what on earth
he was doing and he said he was repeating the multiplication table over
and over to steady his nerves and for pity's sake not to interrupt
him because if he stopped for a moment he got frightened and forgot
everything he ever knew but the multiplication table kept all his facts
firmly in their proper place 

 when we were assigned to our rooms miss stacy had to leave us jane and
i sat together and jane was so composed that i envied her no need of
the multiplication table for good steady sensible jane i wondered if
i looked as i felt and if they could hear my heart thumping clear
across the room then a man came in and began distributing the english
examination sheets my hands grew cold then and my head fairly whirled
around as i picked it up just one awful moment diana i felt exactly
as i did four years ago when i asked marilla if i might stay at green
gables and then everything cleared up in my mind and my heart began
beating again i forgot to say that it had stopped altogether for i
knew i could do something with that paper anyhow 

 at noon we went home for dinner and then back again for history in
the afternoon the history was a pretty hard paper and i got dreadfully
mixed up in the dates still i think i did fairly well today but oh 
diana tomorrow the geometry exam comes off and when i think of it
it takes every bit of determination i possess to keep from opening my
euclid if i thought the multiplication table would help me any i would
recite it from now till tomorrow morning 

 i went down to see the other girls this evening on my way i met moody
spurgeon wandering distractedly around he said he knew he had failed in
history and he was born to be a disappointment to his parents and he
was going home on the morning train and it would be easier to be a
carpenter than a minister anyhow i cheered him up and persuaded him to
stay to the end because it would be unfair to miss stacy if he didn't 
sometimes i have wished i was born a boy but when i see moody spurgeon
i'm always glad i'm a girl and not his sister 

 ruby was in hysterics when i reached their boardinghouse she had just
discovered a fearful mistake she had made in her english paper when
she recovered we went uptown and had an ice cream how we wished you had
been with us 

 oh diana if only the geometry examination were over but there as
mrs lynde would say the sun will go on rising and setting whether i
fail in geometry or not that is true but not especially comforting i
think i'd rather it didn't go on if i failed 

 yours devotedly 

 anne 


the geometry examination and all the others were over in due time and
anne arrived home on friday evening rather tired but with an air of
chastened triumph about her diana was over at green gables when she
arrived and they met as if they had been parted for years 

 you old darling it's perfectly splendid to see you back again it
seems like an age since you went to town and oh anne how did you get
along 

 pretty well i think in everything but the geometry i don't know
whether i passed in it or not and i have a creepy crawly presentiment
that i didn't oh how good it is to be back green gables is the
dearest loveliest spot in the world 

 how did the others do 

 the girls say they know they didn't pass but i think they did pretty
well josie says the geometry was so easy a child of ten could do it 
moody spurgeon still thinks he failed in history and charlie says he
failed in algebra but we don't really know anything about it and won't
until the pass list is out that won't be for a fortnight fancy living
a fortnight in such suspense i wish i could go to sleep and never wake
up until it is over 

diana knew it would be useless to ask how gilbert blythe had fared so
she merely said 

 oh you'll pass all right don't worry 

 i'd rather not pass at all than not come out pretty well up on the
list flashed anne by which she meant and diana knew she meant that
success would be incomplete and bitter if she did not come out ahead of
gilbert blythe 

with this end in view anne had strained every nerve during the
examinations so had gilbert they had met and passed each other on the
street a dozen times without any sign of recognition and every time anne
had held her head a little higher and wished a little more earnestly
that she had made friends with gilbert when he asked her and vowed a
little more determinedly to surpass him in the examination she knew
that all avonlea junior was wondering which would come out first she
even knew that jimmy glover and ned wright had a bet on the question
and that josie pye had said there was no doubt in the world that gilbert
would be first and she felt that her humiliation would be unbearable if
she failed 

but she had another and nobler motive for wishing to do well she wanted
to pass high for the sake of matthew and marilla especially matthew 
matthew had declared to her his conviction that she would beat the
whole island that anne felt was something it would be foolish to
hope for even in the wildest dreams but she did hope fervently that she
would be among the first ten at least so that she might see matthew's
kindly brown eyes gleam with pride in her achievement that she
felt would be a sweet reward indeed for all her hard work and patient
grubbing among unimaginative equations and conjugations 

at the end of the fortnight anne took to haunting the post office
also in the distracted company of jane ruby and josie opening the
charlottetown dailies with shaking hands and cold sinkaway feelings
as bad as any experienced during the entrance week charlie and gilbert
were not above doing this too but moody spurgeon stayed resolutely
away 

 i haven't got the grit to go there and look at a paper in cold blood 
 he told anne i'm just going to wait until somebody comes and tells me
suddenly whether i've passed or not 

when three weeks had gone by without the pass list appearing anne began
to feel that she really couldn't stand the strain much longer her
appetite failed and her interest in avonlea doings languished 
mrs lynde wanted to know what else you could expect with a tory
superintendent of education at the head of affairs and matthew noting
anne's paleness and indifference and the lagging steps that bore her
home from the post office every afternoon began seriously to wonder if
he hadn't better vote grit at the next election 

but one evening the news came anne was sitting at her open window 
for the time forgetful of the woes of examinations and the cares of the
world as she drank in the beauty of the summer dusk sweet-scented with
flower breaths from the garden below and sibilant and rustling from the
stir of poplars the eastern sky above the firs was flushed faintly pink
from the reflection of the west and anne was wondering dreamily if the
spirit of color looked like that when she saw diana come flying
down through the firs over the log bridge and up the slope with a
fluttering newspaper in her hand 

anne sprang to her feet knowing at once what that paper contained the
pass list was out her head whirled and her heart beat until it hurt
her she could not move a step it seemed an hour to her before diana
came rushing along the hall and burst into the room without even
knocking so great was her excitement 

 anne you've passed she cried passed the very first you and
gilbert both you're ties but your name is first oh i'm so proud 

diana flung the paper on the table and herself on anne's bed utterly
breathless and incapable of further speech anne lighted the lamp 
oversetting the match safe and using up half a dozen matches before her
shaking hands could accomplish the task then she snatched up the paper 
yes she had passed there was her name at the very top of a list of two
hundred that moment was worth living for 

 you did just splendidly anne puffed diana recovering sufficiently
to sit up and speak for anne starry eyed and rapt had not uttered a
word father brought the paper home from bright river not ten minutes
ago it came out on the afternoon train you know and won't be here
till tomorrow by mail and when i saw the pass list i just rushed over
like a wild thing you've all passed every one of you moody spurgeon
and all although he's conditioned in history jane and ruby did pretty
well they're halfway up and so did charlie josie just scraped through
with three marks to spare but you'll see she'll put on as many airs as
if she'd led won't miss stacy be delighted oh anne what does it feel
like to see your name at the head of a pass list like that if it were
me i know i'd go crazy with joy i am pretty near crazy as it is but
you're as calm and cool as a spring evening 

 i'm just dazzled inside said anne i want to say a hundred things 
and i can't find words to say them in i never dreamed of this yes i
did too just once i let myself think once what if i should come out
first quakingly you know for it seemed so vain and presumptuous to
think i could lead the island excuse me a minute diana i must run
right out to the field to tell matthew then we'll go up the road and
tell the good news to the others 

they hurried to the hayfield below the barn where matthew was coiling
hay and as luck would have it mrs lynde was talking to marilla at
the lane fence 

 oh matthew exclaimed anne i've passed and i'm first or one of the
first i'm not vain but i'm thankful 

 well now i always said it said matthew gazing at the pass list
delightedly i knew you could beat them all easy 

 you've done pretty well i must say anne said marilla trying to
hide her extreme pride in anne from mrs rachel's critical eye but that
good soul said heartily 

 i just guess she has done well and far be it from me to be backward in
saying it you're a credit to your friends anne that's what and we're
all proud of you 

that night anne who had wound up the delightful evening with a serious
little talk with mrs allan at the manse knelt sweetly by her open
window in a great sheen of moonshine and murmured a prayer of gratitude
and aspiration that came straight from her heart there was in it
thankfulness for the past and reverent petition for the future and when
she slept on her white pillow her dreams were as fair and bright and
beautiful as maidenhood might desire 




chapter xxxiii the hotel concert


put on your white organdy by all means anne advised diana
decidedly 

they were together in the east gable chamber outside it was only
twilight a lovely yellowish-green twilight with a clear-blue cloudless
sky a big round moon slowly deepening from her pallid luster into
burnished silver hung over the haunted wood the air was full of sweet
summer sounds sleepy birds twittering freakish breezes faraway
voices and laughter but in anne's room the blind was drawn and the lamp
lighted for an important toilet was being made 

the east gable was a very different place from what it had been on that
night four years before when anne had felt its bareness penetrate to
the marrow of her spirit with its inhospitable chill changes had crept
in marilla conniving at them resignedly until it was as sweet and
dainty a nest as a young girl could desire 

the velvet carpet with the pink roses and the pink silk curtains of
anne's early visions had certainly never materialized but her dreams
had kept pace with her growth and it is not probable she lamented
them the floor was covered with a pretty matting and the curtains that
softened the high window and fluttered in the vagrant breezes were of
pale-green art muslin the walls hung not with gold and silver brocade
tapestry but with a dainty apple-blossom paper were adorned with a few
good pictures given anne by mrs allan miss stacy's photograph occupied
the place of honor and anne made a sentimental point of keeping fresh
flowers on the bracket under it tonight a spike of white lilies faintly
perfumed the room like the dream of a fragrance there was no mahogany
furniture but there was a white-painted bookcase filled with books a
cushioned wicker rocker a toilet table befrilled with white muslin 
a quaint gilt-framed mirror with chubby pink cupids and purple grapes
painted over its arched top that used to hang in the spare room and a
low white bed 

anne was dressing for a concert at the white sands hotel the guests had
got it up in aid of the charlottetown hospital and had hunted out all
the available amateur talent in the surrounding districts to help it
along bertha sampson and pearl clay of the white sands baptist choir
had been asked to sing a duet milton clark of newbridge was to give a
violin solo winnie adella blair of carmody was to sing a scotch ballad 
and laura spencer of spencervale and anne shirley of avonlea were to
recite 

as anne would have said at one time it was an epoch in her life and
she was deliciously athrill with the excitement of it matthew was in
the seventh heaven of gratified pride over the honor conferred on his
anne and marilla was not far behind although she would have died rather
than admit it and said she didn't think it was very proper for a lot
of young folks to be gadding over to the hotel without any responsible
person with them 

anne and diana were to drive over with jane andrews and her brother
billy in their double-seated buggy and several other avonlea girls and
boys were going too there was a party of visitors expected out from
town and after the concert a supper was to be given to the performers 

 do you really think the organdy will be best queried anne anxiously 
 i don't think it's as pretty as my blue-flowered muslin and it
certainly isn't so fashionable 

 but it suits you ever so much better said diana it's so soft
and frilly and clinging the muslin is stiff and makes you look too
dressed up but the organdy seems as if it grew on you 

anne sighed and yielded diana was beginning to have a reputation for
notable taste in dressing and her advice on such subjects was much
sought after she was looking very pretty herself on this particular
night in a dress of the lovely wild-rose pink from which anne was
forever debarred but she was not to take any part in the concert so
her appearance was of minor importance all her pains were bestowed upon
anne who she vowed must for the credit of avonlea be dressed and
combed and adorned to the queen's taste 

 pull out that frill a little more so here let me tie your sash now
for your slippers i'm going to braid your hair in two thick braids 
and tie them halfway up with big white bows no don't pull out a single
curl over your forehead just have the soft part there is no way you do
your hair suits you so well anne and mrs allan says you look like a
madonna when you part it so i shall fasten this little white house rose
just behind your ear there was just one on my bush and i saved it for
you 

 shall i put my pearl beads on asked anne matthew brought me a
string from town last week and i know he'd like to see them on me 

diana pursed up her lips put her black head on one side critically 
and finally pronounced in favor of the beads which were thereupon tied
around anne's slim milk-white throat 

 there's something so stylish about you anne said diana with
unenvious admiration you hold your head with such an air i suppose
it's your figure i am just a dumpling i've always been afraid of it 
and now i know it is so well i suppose i shall just have to resign
myself to it 

 but you have such dimples said anne smiling affectionately into the
pretty vivacious face so near her own lovely dimples like little
dents in cream i have given up all hope of dimples my dimple-dream
will never come true but so many of my dreams have that i mustn't
complain am i all ready now 

 all ready assured diana as marilla appeared in the doorway a gaunt
figure with grayer hair than of yore and no fewer angles but with a
much softer face come right in and look at our elocutionist marilla 
doesn't she look lovely 

marilla emitted a sound between a sniff and a grunt 

 she looks neat and proper i like that way of fixing her hair but i
expect she'll ruin that dress driving over there in the dust and dew
with it and it looks most too thin for these damp nights organdy's the
most unserviceable stuff in the world anyhow and i told matthew so when
he got it but there is no use in saying anything to matthew nowadays 
time was when he would take my advice but now he just buys things for
anne regardless and the clerks at carmody know they can palm anything
off on him just let them tell him a thing is pretty and fashionable 
and matthew plunks his money down for it mind you keep your skirt clear
of the wheel anne and put your warm jacket on 

then marilla stalked downstairs thinking proudly how sweet anne looked 
with that

 one moonbeam from the forehead to the crown 

and regretting that she could not go to the concert herself to hear her
girl recite 

 i wonder if it is too damp for my dress said anne anxiously 

 not a bit of it said diana pulling up the window blind it's a
perfect night and there won't be any dew look at the moonlight 

 i'm so glad my window looks east into the sun rising said anne going
over to diana it's so splendid to see the morning coming up over those
long hills and glowing through those sharp fir tops it's new every
morning and i feel as if i washed my very soul in that bath of earliest
sunshine oh diana i love this little room so dearly i don't know how
i'll get along without it when i go to town next month 

 don't speak of your going away tonight begged diana i don't want to
think of it it makes me so miserable and i do want to have a good time
this evening what are you going to recite anne and are you nervous 

 not a bit i've recited so often in public i don't mind at all now 
i've decided to give the maiden's vow it's so pathetic laura spencer
is going to give a comic recitation but i'd rather make people cry than
laugh 

 what will you recite if they encore you 

 they won't dream of encoring me scoffed anne who was not without her
own secret hopes that they would and already visioned herself telling
matthew all about it at the next morning's breakfast table there are
billy and jane now i hear the wheels come on 

billy andrews insisted that anne should ride on the front seat with him 
so she unwillingly climbed up she would have much preferred to sit
back with the girls where she could have laughed and chattered to her
heart's content there was not much of either laughter or chatter
in billy he was a big fat stolid youth of twenty with a round 
expressionless face and a painful lack of conversational gifts but he
admired anne immensely and was puffed up with pride over the prospect
of driving to white sands with that slim upright figure beside him 

anne by dint of talking over her shoulder to the girls and occasionally
passing a sop of civility to billy who grinned and chuckled and never
could think of any reply until it was too late contrived to enjoy the
drive in spite of all it was a night for enjoyment the road was full
of buggies all bound for the hotel and laughter silver clear echoed
and reechoed along it when they reached the hotel it was a blaze of
light from top to bottom they were met by the ladies of the concert
committee one of whom took anne off to the performers dressing room
which was filled with the members of a charlottetown symphony club 
among whom anne felt suddenly shy and frightened and countrified her
dress which in the east gable had seemed so dainty and pretty now
seemed simple and plain too simple and plain she thought among all
the silks and laces that glistened and rustled around her what were her
pearl beads compared to the diamonds of the big handsome lady near her 
and how poor her one wee white rose must look beside all the hothouse
flowers the others wore anne laid her hat and jacket away and shrank
miserably into a corner she wished herself back in the white room at
green gables 

it was still worse on the platform of the big concert hall of the hotel 
where she presently found herself the electric lights dazzled her eyes 
the perfume and hum bewildered her she wished she were sitting down
in the audience with diana and jane who seemed to be having a splendid
time away at the back she was wedged in between a stout lady in pink
silk and a tall scornful-looking girl in a white-lace dress the stout
lady occasionally turned her head squarely around and surveyed anne
through her eyeglasses until anne acutely sensitive of being so
scrutinized felt that she must scream aloud and the white-lace girl
kept talking audibly to her next neighbor about the country bumpkins 
 and rustic belles in the audience languidly anticipating such fun 
 from the displays of local talent on the program anne believed that she
would hate that white-lace girl to the end of life 

unfortunately for anne a professional elocutionist was staying at the
hotel and had consented to recite she was a lithe dark-eyed woman in a
wonderful gown of shimmering gray stuff like woven moonbeams with gems
on her neck and in her dark hair she had a marvelously flexible voice
and wonderful power of expression the audience went wild over her
selection anne forgetting all about herself and her troubles for the
time listened with rapt and shining eyes but when the recitation ended
she suddenly put her hands over her face she could never get up and
recite after that never had she ever thought she could recite oh if
she were only back at green gables 

at this unpropitious moment her name was called somehow anne who did
not notice the rather guilty little start of surprise the white-lace
girl gave and would not have understood the subtle compliment implied
therein if she had got on her feet and moved dizzily out to the front 
she was so pale that diana and jane down in the audience clasped each
other's hands in nervous sympathy 

anne was the victim of an overwhelming attack of stage fright often as
she had recited in public she had never before faced such an audience
as this and the sight of it paralyzed her energies completely 
everything was so strange so brilliant so bewildering the rows of
ladies in evening dress the critical faces the whole atmosphere of
wealth and culture about her very different this from the plain benches
at the debating club filled with the homely sympathetic faces of
friends and neighbors these people she thought would be merciless
critics perhaps like the white-lace girl they anticipated amusement
from her rustic efforts she felt hopelessly helplessly ashamed and
miserable her knees trembled her heart fluttered a horrible faintness
came over her not a word could she utter and the next moment she would
have fled from the platform despite the humiliation which she felt 
must ever after be her portion if she did so 

but suddenly as her dilated frightened eyes gazed out over the
audience she saw gilbert blythe away at the back of the room bending
forward with a smile on his face a smile which seemed to anne at once
triumphant and taunting in reality it was nothing of the kind gilbert
was merely smiling with appreciation of the whole affair in general and
of the effect produced by anne's slender white form and spiritual face
against a background of palms in particular josie pye whom he had
driven over sat beside him and her face certainly was both triumphant
and taunting but anne did not see josie and would not have cared if
she had she drew a long breath and flung her head up proudly courage
and determination tingling over her like an electric shock she would
not fail before gilbert blythe he should never be able to laugh at her 
never never her fright and nervousness vanished and she began her
recitation her clear sweet voice reaching to the farthest corner of
the room without a tremor or a break self-possession was fully restored
to her and in the reaction from that horrible moment of powerlessness
she recited as she had never done before when she finished there were
bursts of honest applause anne stepping back to her seat blushing
with shyness and delight found her hand vigorously clasped and shaken
by the stout lady in pink silk 

 my dear you did splendidly she puffed i've been crying like a
baby actually i have there they're encoring you they're bound to
have you back 

 oh i can't go said anne confusedly but yet i must or matthew
will be disappointed he said they would encore me 

 then don't disappoint matthew said the pink lady laughing 

smiling blushing limpid eyed anne tripped back and gave a quaint 
funny little selection that captivated her audience still further the
rest of the evening was quite a little triumph for her 

when the concert was over the stout pink lady who was the wife of
an american millionaire took her under her wing and introduced her
to everybody and everybody was very nice to her the professional
elocutionist mrs evans came and chatted with her telling her that
she had a charming voice and interpreted her selections beautifully 
even the white-lace girl paid her a languid little compliment they had
supper in the big beautifully decorated dining room diana and jane
were invited to partake of this also since they had come with anne 
but billy was nowhere to be found having decamped in mortal fear
of some such invitation he was in waiting for them with the team 
however when it was all over and the three girls came merrily out into
the calm white moonshine radiance anne breathed deeply and looked
into the clear sky beyond the dark boughs of the firs 

oh it was good to be out again in the purity and silence of the night 
how great and still and wonderful everything was with the murmur of the
sea sounding through it and the darkling cliffs beyond like grim giants
guarding enchanted coasts 

 hasn't it been a perfectly splendid time sighed jane as they drove
away i just wish i was a rich american and could spend my summer at
a hotel and wear jewels and low-necked dresses and have ice cream and
chicken salad every blessed day i'm sure it would be ever so much
more fun than teaching school anne your recitation was simply great 
although i thought at first you were never going to begin i think it
was better than mrs evans's 

 oh no don't say things like that jane said anne quickly because
it sounds silly it couldn't be better than mrs evans's you know for
she is a professional and i'm only a schoolgirl with a little knack
of reciting i'm quite satisfied if the people just liked mine pretty
well 

 i've a compliment for you anne said diana at least i think it
must be a compliment because of the tone he said it in part of it
was anyhow there was an american sitting behind jane and me such a
romantic-looking man with coal-black hair and eyes josie pye says he
is a distinguished artist and that her mother's cousin in boston is
married to a man that used to go to school with him well we heard
him say didn't we jane who is that girl on the platform with the
splendid titian hair she has a face i should like to paint there now 
anne but what does titian hair mean 

 being interpreted it means plain red i guess laughed anne titian
was a very famous artist who liked to paint red-haired women 

 did you see all the diamonds those ladies wore sighed jane they
were simply dazzling wouldn't you just love to be rich girls 

 we are rich said anne staunchly why we have sixteen years to our
credit and we're happy as queens and we've all got imaginations more
or less look at that sea girls all silver and shadow and vision of
things not seen we couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had
millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds you wouldn't change into any
of those women if you could would you want to be that white-lace girl
and wear a sour look all your life as if you'd been born turning up
your nose at the world or the pink lady kind and nice as she is so
stout and short that you'd really no figure at all or even mrs evans 
with that sad sad look in her eyes she must have been dreadfully
unhappy sometime to have such a look you know you wouldn't jane
andrews 

 i don't know exactly said jane unconvinced i think diamonds would
comfort a person for a good deal 

 well i don't want to be anyone but myself even if i go uncomforted by
diamonds all my life declared anne i'm quite content to be anne of
green gables with my string of pearl beads i know matthew gave me as
much love with them as ever went with madame the pink lady's jewels 




chapter xxxiv a queen's girl


the next three weeks were busy ones at green gables for anne was
getting ready to go to queen's and there was much sewing to be done 
and many things to be talked over and arranged anne's outfit was
ample and pretty for matthew saw to that and marilla for once made
no objections whatever to anything he purchased or suggested more one
evening she went up to the east gable with her arms full of a delicate
pale green material 

 anne here's something for a nice light dress for you i don't suppose
you really need it you've plenty of pretty waists but i thought maybe
you'd like something real dressy to wear if you were asked out anywhere
of an evening in town to a party or anything like that i hear that
jane and ruby and josie have got evening dresses as they call them 
and i don't mean you shall be behind them i got mrs allan to help me
pick it in town last week and we'll get emily gillis to make it for
you emily has got taste and her fits aren't to be equaled 

 oh marilla it's just lovely said anne thank you so much i don't
believe you ought to be so kind to me it's making it harder every day
for me to go away 

the green dress was made up with as many tucks and frills and shirrings
as emily's taste permitted anne put it on one evening for matthew's
and marilla's benefit and recited the maiden's vow for them in the
kitchen as marilla watched the bright animated face and graceful
motions her thoughts went back to the evening anne had arrived at green
gables and memory recalled a vivid picture of the odd frightened child
in her preposterous yellowish-brown wincey dress the heartbreak looking
out of her tearful eyes something in the memory brought tears to
marilla's own eyes 

 i declare my recitation has made you cry marilla said anne gaily
stooping over marilla's chair to drop a butterfly kiss on that lady's
cheek now i call that a positive triumph 

 no i wasn't crying over your piece said marilla who would have
scorned to be betrayed into such weakness by any poetry stuff i just
couldn't help thinking of the little girl you used to be anne and
i was wishing you could have stayed a little girl even with all your
queer ways you've grown up now and you're going away and you look so
tall and stylish and so so different altogether in that dress as if
you didn't belong in avonlea at all and i just got lonesome thinking it
all over 

 marilla anne sat down on marilla's gingham lap took marilla's lined
face between her hands and looked gravely and tenderly into marilla's
eyes i'm not a bit changed not really i'm only just pruned down and
branched out the real me back here is just the same it won't make a
bit of difference where i go or how much i change outwardly at heart i
shall always be your little anne who will love you and matthew and dear
green gables more and better every day of her life 

anne laid her fresh young cheek against marilla's faded one and reached
out a hand to pat matthew's shoulder marilla would have given much just
then to have possessed anne's power of putting her feelings into words 
but nature and habit had willed it otherwise and she could only put her
arms close about her girl and hold her tenderly to her heart wishing
that she need never let her go 

matthew with a suspicious moisture in his eyes got up and went
out-of-doors under the stars of the blue summer night he walked
agitatedly across the yard to the gate under the poplars 

 well now i guess she ain't been much spoiled he muttered proudly 
 i guess my putting in my oar occasional never did much harm after all 
she's smart and pretty and loving too which is better than all the
rest she's been a blessing to us and there never was a luckier mistake
than what mrs spencer made if it was luck i don't believe it was any
such thing it was providence because the almighty saw we needed her i
reckon 

the day finally came when anne must go to town she and matthew drove
in one fine september morning after a tearful parting with diana and an
untearful practical one on marilla's side at least with marilla but
when anne had gone diana dried her tears and went to a beach picnic at
white sands with some of her carmody cousins where she contrived
to enjoy herself tolerably well while marilla plunged fiercely into
unnecessary work and kept at it all day long with the bitterest kind of
heartache the ache that burns and gnaws and cannot wash itself away
in ready tears but that night when marilla went to bed acutely and
miserably conscious that the little gable room at the end of the
hall was untenanted by any vivid young life and unstirred by any soft
breathing she buried her face in her pillow and wept for her girl in
a passion of sobs that appalled her when she grew calm enough to reflect
how very wicked it must be to take on so about a sinful fellow creature 

anne and the rest of the avonlea scholars reached town just in time to
hurry off to the academy that first day passed pleasantly enough in a
whirl of excitement meeting all the new students learning to know the
professors by sight and being assorted and organized into classes anne
intended taking up the second year work being advised to do so by miss
stacy gilbert blythe elected to do the same this meant getting a
first class teacher's license in one year instead of two if they were
successful but it also meant much more and harder work jane ruby 
josie charlie and moody spurgeon not being troubled with the
stirrings of ambition were content to take up the second class work 
anne was conscious of a pang of loneliness when she found herself in
a room with fifty other students not one of whom she knew except the
tall brown-haired boy across the room and knowing him in the fashion
she did did not help her much as she reflected pessimistically 
yet she was undeniably glad that they were in the same class the old
rivalry could still be carried on and anne would hardly have known what
to do if it had been lacking 

 i wouldn't feel comfortable without it she thought gilbert looks
awfully determined i suppose he's making up his mind here and now to
win the medal what a splendid chin he has i never noticed it before 
i do wish jane and ruby had gone in for first class too i suppose i
won't feel so much like a cat in a strange garret when i get acquainted 
though i wonder which of the girls here are going to be my friends 
it's really an interesting speculation of course i promised diana that
no queen's girl no matter how much i liked her should ever be as dear
to me as she is but i've lots of second-best affections to bestow i
like the look of that girl with the brown eyes and the crimson waist 
she looks vivid and red-rosy there's that pale fair one gazing out of
the window she has lovely hair and looks as if she knew a thing or two
about dreams i'd like to know them both know them well well enough to
walk with my arm about their waists and call them nicknames but just
now i don't know them and they don't know me and probably don't want to
know me particularly oh it's lonesome 

it was lonesomer still when anne found herself alone in her hall bedroom
that night at twilight she was not to board with the other girls who
all had relatives in town to take pity on them miss josephine barry
would have liked to board her but beechwood was so far from the
academy that it was out of the question so miss barry hunted up a
boarding-house assuring matthew and marilla that it was the very place
for anne 

 the lady who keeps it is a reduced gentlewoman explained miss barry 
 her husband was a british officer and she is very careful what sort
of boarders she takes anne will not meet with any objectionable persons
under her roof the table is good and the house is near the academy in
a quiet neighborhood 

all this might be quite true and indeed proved to be so but it did
not materially help anne in the first agony of homesickness that seized
upon her she looked dismally about her narrow little room with its
dull-papered pictureless walls its small iron bedstead and empty
book-case and a horrible choke came into her throat as she thought of
her own white room at green gables where she would have the pleasant
consciousness of a great green still outdoors of sweet peas growing in
the garden and moonlight falling on the orchard of the brook below the
slope and the spruce boughs tossing in the night wind beyond it of a
vast starry sky and the light from diana's window shining out through
the gap in the trees here there was nothing of this anne knew that
outside of her window was a hard street with a network of telephone
wires shutting out the sky the tramp of alien feet and a thousand
lights gleaming on stranger faces she knew that she was going to cry 
and fought against it 

 i won't cry it's silly and weak there's the third tear splashing
down by my nose there are more coming i must think of something funny
to stop them but there's nothing funny except what is connected with
avonlea and that only makes things worse four five i'm going home
next friday but that seems a hundred years away oh matthew is nearly
home by now and marilla is at the gate looking down the lane for
him six seven eight oh there's no use in counting them they're
coming in a flood presently i can't cheer up i don't want to cheer up 
it's nicer to be miserable 

the flood of tears would have come no doubt had not josie pye appeared
at that moment in the joy of seeing a familiar face anne forgot that
there had never been much love lost between her and josie as a part of
avonlea life even a pye was welcome 

 i'm so glad you came up anne said sincerely 

 you've been crying remarked josie with aggravating pity i suppose
you're homesick some people have so little self-control in that
respect i've no intention of being homesick i can tell you town's too
jolly after that poky old avonlea i wonder how i ever existed there so
long you shouldn't cry anne it isn't becoming for your nose and eyes
get red and then you seem all red i'd a perfectly scrumptious time in
the academy today our french professor is simply a duck his moustache
would give you kerwollowps of the heart have you anything eatable
around anne i'm literally starving ah i guessed likely marilla d
load you up with cake that's why i called round otherwise i'd have
gone to the park to hear the band play with frank stockley he boards
same place as i do and he's a sport he noticed you in class today and
asked me who the red-headed girl was i told him you were an orphan that
the cuthberts had adopted and nobody knew very much about what you'd
been before that 

anne was wondering if after all solitude and tears were not more
satisfactory than josie pye's companionship when jane and ruby appeared 
each with an inch of queen's color ribbon purple and scarlet pinned
proudly to her coat as josie was not speaking to jane just then she
had to subside into comparative harmlessness 

 well said jane with a sigh i feel as if i'd lived many moons since
the morning i ought to be home studying my virgil that horrid old
professor gave us twenty lines to start in on tomorrow but i simply
couldn't settle down to study tonight anne methinks i see the
traces of tears if you've been crying do own up it will restore my
self-respect for i was shedding tears freely before ruby came along i
don't mind being a goose so much if somebody else is goosey too cake 
you'll give me a teeny piece won't you thank you it has the real
avonlea flavor 

ruby perceiving the queen's calendar lying on the table wanted to know
if anne meant to try for the gold medal 

anne blushed and admitted she was thinking of it 

 oh that reminds me said josie queen's is to get one of the avery
scholarships after all the word came today frank stockley told me his
uncle is one of the board of governors you know it will be announced
in the academy tomorrow 

an avery scholarship anne felt her heart beat more quickly and the
horizons of her ambition shifted and broadened as if by magic before
josie had told the news anne's highest pinnacle of aspiration had been
a teacher's provincial license first class at the end of the year and
perhaps the medal but now in one moment anne saw herself winning
the avery scholarship taking an arts course at redmond college and
graduating in a gown and mortar board before the echo of josie's words
had died away for the avery scholarship was in english and anne felt
that here her foot was on native heath 

a wealthy manufacturer of new brunswick had died and left part of his
fortune to endow a large number of scholarships to be distributed
among the various high schools and academies of the maritime provinces 
according to their respective standings there had been much doubt
whether one would be allotted to queen's but the matter was settled at
last and at the end of the year the graduate who made the highest mark
in english and english literature would win the scholarship two hundred
and fifty dollars a year for four years at redmond college no wonder
that anne went to bed that night with tingling cheeks 

 i'll win that scholarship if hard work can do it she resolved 
 wouldn't matthew be proud if i got to be a b a oh it's delightful to
have ambitions i'm so glad i have such a lot and there never seems to
be any end to them that's the best of it just as soon as you attain
to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still it does
make life so interesting 




chapter xxxv the winter at queen's


anne's homesickness wore off greatly helped in the wearing by her
weekend visits home as long as the open weather lasted the avonlea
students went out to carmody on the new branch railway every friday
night diana and several other avonlea young folks were generally on
hand to meet them and they all walked over to avonlea in a merry party 
anne thought those friday evening gypsyings over the autumnal hills in
the crisp golden air with the homelights of avonlea twinkling beyond 
were the best and dearest hours in the whole week 

gilbert blythe nearly always walked with ruby gillis and carried her
satchel for her ruby was a very handsome young lady now thinking
herself quite as grown up as she really was she wore her skirts as long
as her mother would let her and did her hair up in town though she had
to take it down when she went home she had large bright-blue eyes 
a brilliant complexion and a plump showy figure she laughed a great
deal was cheerful and good-tempered and enjoyed the pleasant things of
life frankly 

 but i shouldn't think she was the sort of girl gilbert would like 
 whispered jane to anne anne did not think so either but she would not
have said so for the avery scholarship she could not help thinking 
too that it would be very pleasant to have such a friend as gilbert
to jest and chatter with and exchange ideas about books and studies and
ambitions gilbert had ambitions she knew and ruby gillis did not seem
the sort of person with whom such could be profitably discussed 

there was no silly sentiment in anne's ideas concerning gilbert boys
were to her when she thought about them at all merely possible good
comrades if she and gilbert had been friends she would not have cared
how many other friends he had nor with whom he walked she had a genius
for friendship girl friends she had in plenty but she had a vague
consciousness that masculine friendship might also be a good thing
to round out one's conceptions of companionship and furnish broader
standpoints of judgment and comparison not that anne could have put her
feelings on the matter into just such clear definition but she thought
that if gilbert had ever walked home with her from the train over the
crisp fields and along the ferny byways they might have had many and
merry and interesting conversations about the new world that was opening
around them and their hopes and ambitions therein gilbert was a clever
young fellow with his own thoughts about things and a determination to
get the best out of life and put the best into it ruby gillis told jane
andrews that she didn't understand half the things gilbert blythe said 
he talked just like anne shirley did when she had a thoughtful fit on
and for her part she didn't think it any fun to be bothering about books
and that sort of thing when you didn't have to frank stockley had lots
more dash and go but then he wasn't half as good-looking as gilbert and
she really couldn't decide which she liked best 

in the academy anne gradually drew a little circle of friends about
her thoughtful imaginative ambitious students like herself with the
 rose-red girl stella maynard and the dream girl priscilla grant 
she soon became intimate finding the latter pale spiritual-looking
maiden to be full to the brim of mischief and pranks and fun while the
vivid black-eyed stella had a heartful of wistful dreams and fancies 
as aerial and rainbow-like as anne's own 

after the christmas holidays the avonlea students gave up going home
on fridays and settled down to hard work by this time all the queen's
scholars had gravitated into their own places in the ranks and
the various classes had assumed distinct and settled shadings of
individuality certain facts had become generally accepted it was
admitted that the medal contestants had practically narrowed down
to three gilbert blythe anne shirley and lewis wilson the avery
scholarship was more doubtful any one of a certain six being a possible
winner the bronze medal for mathematics was considered as good as
won by a fat funny little up-country boy with a bumpy forehead and a
patched coat 

ruby gillis was the handsomest girl of the year at the academy in the
second year classes stella maynard carried off the palm for beauty with
small but critical minority in favor of anne shirley ethel marr was
admitted by all competent judges to have the most stylish modes
of hair-dressing and jane andrews plain plodding conscientious
jane carried off the honors in the domestic science course even josie
pye attained a certain preeminence as the sharpest-tongued young lady in
attendance at queen's so it may be fairly stated that miss stacy's old
pupils held their own in the wider arena of the academical course 

anne worked hard and steadily her rivalry with gilbert was as intense
as it had ever been in avonlea school although it was not known in the
class at large but somehow the bitterness had gone out of it anne no
longer wished to win for the sake of defeating gilbert rather for the
proud consciousness of a well-won victory over a worthy foeman it
would be worth while to win but she no longer thought life would be
insupportable if she did not 

in spite of lessons the students found opportunities for pleasant times 
anne spent many of her spare hours at beechwood and generally ate her
sunday dinners there and went to church with miss barry the latter was 
as she admitted growing old but her black eyes were not dim nor the
vigor of her tongue in the least abated but she never sharpened the
latter on anne who continued to be a prime favorite with the critical
old lady 

 that anne-girl improves all the time she said i get tired of other
girls there is such a provoking and eternal sameness about them anne
has as many shades as a rainbow and every shade is the prettiest while
it lasts i don't know that she is as amusing as she was when she was
a child but she makes me love her and i like people who make me love
them it saves me so much trouble in making myself love them 

then almost before anybody realized it spring had come out in
avonlea the mayflowers were peeping pinkly out on the sere barrens where
snow-wreaths lingered and the mist of green was on the woods and in
the valleys but in charlottetown harassed queen's students thought and
talked only of examinations 

 it doesn't seem possible that the term is nearly over said anne 
 why last fall it seemed so long to look forward to a whole winter
of studies and classes and here we are with the exams looming up next
week girls sometimes i feel as if those exams meant everything but
when i look at the big buds swelling on those chestnut trees and
the misty blue air at the end of the streets they don't seem half so
important 

jane and ruby and josie who had dropped in did not take this view
of it to them the coming examinations were constantly very important
indeed far more important than chestnut buds or maytime hazes it was
all very well for anne who was sure of passing at least to have her
moments of belittling them but when your whole future depended on
them as the girls truly thought theirs did you could not regard them
philosophically 

 i've lost seven pounds in the last two weeks sighed jane it's no
use to say don't worry i will worry worrying helps you some it
seems as if you were doing something when you're worrying it would be
dreadful if i failed to get my license after going to queen's all winter
and spending so much money 

 i don't care said josie pye if i don't pass this year i'm coming
back next my father can afford to send me anne frank stockley says
that professor tremaine said gilbert blythe was sure to get the medal
and that emily clay would likely win the avery scholarship 

 that may make me feel badly tomorrow josie laughed anne but just
now i honestly feel that as long as i know the violets are coming out
all purple down in the hollow below green gables and that little ferns
are poking their heads up in lovers lane it's not a great deal of
difference whether i win the avery or not i've done my best and i begin
to understand what is meant by the joy of the strife next to trying
and winning the best thing is trying and failing girls don't talk
about exams look at that arch of pale green sky over those houses
and picture to yourself what it must look like over the purply-dark
beech-woods back of avonlea 

 what are you going to wear for commencement jane asked ruby
practically 

jane and josie both answered at once and the chatter drifted into a side
eddy of fashions but anne with her elbows on the window sill her soft
cheek laid against her clasped hands and her eyes filled with visions 
looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome
of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden
tissue of youth's own optimism all the beyond was hers with its
possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years each year a rose of
promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet 




chapter xxxvi the glory and the dream


on the morning when the final results of all the examinations were to be
posted on the bulletin board at queen's anne and jane walked down the
street together jane was smiling and happy examinations were over
and she was comfortably sure she had made a pass at least further
considerations troubled jane not at all she had no soaring ambitions
and consequently was not affected with the unrest attendant thereon for
we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world and although
ambitions are well worth having they are not to be cheaply won but
exact their dues of work and self-denial anxiety and discouragement 
anne was pale and quiet in ten more minutes she would know who had
won the medal and who the avery beyond those ten minutes there did not
seem just then to be anything worth being called time 

 of course you'll win one of them anyhow said jane who couldn't
understand how the faculty could be so unfair as to order it otherwise 

 i have not hope of the avery said anne everybody says emily clay
will win it and i'm not going to march up to that bulletin board and
look at it before everybody i haven't the moral courage i'm going
straight to the girls dressing room you must read the announcements
and then come and tell me jane and i implore you in the name of our
old friendship to do it as quickly as possible if i have failed just
say so without trying to break it gently and whatever you do don't 
sympathize with me promise me this jane 

jane promised solemnly but as it happened there was no necessity for
such a promise when they went up the entrance steps of queen's they
found the hall full of boys who were carrying gilbert blythe around on
their shoulders and yelling at the tops of their voices hurrah for
blythe medalist 

for a moment anne felt one sickening pang of defeat and disappointment 
so she had failed and gilbert had won well matthew would be sorry he
had been so sure she would win 

and then 

somebody called out 

 three cheers for miss shirley winner of the avery 

 oh anne gasped jane as they fled to the girls dressing room amid
hearty cheers oh anne i'm so proud isn't it splendid 

and then the girls were around them and anne was the center of a
laughing congratulating group her shoulders were thumped and her hands
shaken vigorously she was pushed and pulled and hugged and among it all
she managed to whisper to jane 

 oh won't matthew and marilla be pleased i must write the news home
right away 

commencement was the next important happening the exercises were held
in the big assembly hall of the academy addresses were given essays
read songs sung the public award of diplomas prizes and medals made 

matthew and marilla were there with eyes and ears for only one student
on the platform a tall girl in pale green with faintly flushed
cheeks and starry eyes who read the best essay and was pointed out and
whispered about as the avery winner 

 reckon you're glad we kept her marilla whispered matthew speaking
for the first time since he had entered the hall when anne had finished
her essay 

 it's not the first time i've been glad retorted marilla you do like
to rub things in matthew cuthbert 

miss barry who was sitting behind them leaned forward and poked
marilla in the back with her parasol 

 aren't you proud of that anne-girl i am she said 

anne went home to avonlea with matthew and marilla that evening she had
not been home since april and she felt that she could not wait another
day the apple blossoms were out and the world was fresh and young 
diana was at green gables to meet her in her own white room where
marilla had set a flowering house rose on the window sill anne looked
about her and drew a long breath of happiness 

 oh diana it's so good to be back again it's so good to see those
pointed firs coming out against the pink sky and that white orchard and
the old snow queen isn't the breath of the mint delicious and that tea
rose why it's a song and a hope and a prayer all in one and it's good 
to see you again diana 

 i thought you liked that stella maynard better than me said
diana reproachfully josie pye told me you did josie said you were
 infatuated with her 

anne laughed and pelted diana with the faded june lilies of her
bouquet 

 stella maynard is the dearest girl in the world except one and you are
that one diana she said i love you more than ever and i've so many
things to tell you but just now i feel as if it were joy enough to sit
here and look at you i'm tired i think tired of being studious and
ambitious i mean to spend at least two hours tomorrow lying out in the
orchard grass thinking of absolutely nothing 

 you've done splendidly anne i suppose you won't be teaching now that
you've won the avery 

 no i'm going to redmond in september doesn't it seem wonderful i'll
have a brand new stock of ambition laid in by that time after three
glorious golden months of vacation jane and ruby are going to teach 
isn't it splendid to think we all got through even to moody spurgeon and
josie pye 

 the newbridge trustees have offered jane their school already said
diana gilbert blythe is going to teach too he has to his father
can't afford to send him to college next year after all so he means
to earn his own way through i expect he'll get the school here if miss
ames decides to leave 

anne felt a queer little sensation of dismayed surprise she had not
known this she had expected that gilbert would be going to redmond
also what would she do without their inspiring rivalry would not
work even at a coeducational college with a real degree in prospect be
rather flat without her friend the enemy 

the next morning at breakfast it suddenly struck anne that matthew was
not looking well surely he was much grayer than he had been a year
before 

 marilla she said hesitatingly when he had gone out is matthew quite
well 

 no he isn't said marilla in a troubled tone he's had some real
bad spells with his heart this spring and he won't spare himself a mite 
i've been real worried about him but he's some better this while back
and we've got a good hired man so i'm hoping he'll kind of rest and
pick up maybe he will now you're home you always cheer him up 

anne leaned across the table and took marilla's face in her hands 

 you are not looking as well yourself as i'd like to see you marilla 
you look tired i'm afraid you've been working too hard you must take
a rest now that i'm home i'm just going to take this one day off to
visit all the dear old spots and hunt up my old dreams and then it will
be your turn to be lazy while i do the work 

marilla smiled affectionately at her girl 

 it's not the work it's my head i've got a pain so often now behind
my eyes doctor spencer's been fussing with glasses but they don't do
me any good there is a distinguished oculist coming to the island the
last of june and the doctor says i must see him i guess i'll have to 
i can't read or sew with any comfort now well anne you've done real
well at queen's i must say to take first class license in one year and
win the avery scholarship well well mrs lynde says pride goes before
a fall and she doesn't believe in the higher education of women at all 
she says it unfits them for woman's true sphere i don't believe a word
of it speaking of rachel reminds me did you hear anything about the
abbey bank lately anne 

 i heard it was shaky answered anne why 

 that is what rachel said she was up here one day last week and said
there was some talk about it matthew felt real worried all we have
saved is in that bank every penny i wanted matthew to put it in the
savings bank in the first place but old mr abbey was a great friend of
father's and he'd always banked with him matthew said any bank with him
at the head of it was good enough for anybody 

 i think he has only been its nominal head for many years said
anne he is a very old man his nephews are really at the head of the
institution 

 well when rachel told us that i wanted matthew to draw our money
right out and he said he'd think of it but mr russell told him
yesterday that the bank was all right 

anne had her good day in the companionship of the outdoor world she
never forgot that day it was so bright and golden and fair so free
from shadow and so lavish of blossom anne spent some of its rich hours
in the orchard she went to the dryad's bubble and willowmere and violet
vale she called at the manse and had a satisfying talk with mrs allan 
and finally in the evening she went with matthew for the cows through
lovers lane to the back pasture the woods were all gloried through
with sunset and the warm splendor of it streamed down through the hill
gaps in the west matthew walked slowly with bent head anne tall and
erect suited her springing step to his 

 you've been working too hard today matthew she said reproachfully 
 why won't you take things easier 

 well now i can't seem to said matthew as he opened the yard gate
to let the cows through it's only that i'm getting old anne and keep
forgetting it well well i've always worked pretty hard and i'd rather
drop in harness 

 if i had been the boy you sent for said anne wistfully i'd be able
to help you so much now and spare you in a hundred ways i could find it
in my heart to wish i had been just for that 

 well now i'd rather have you than a dozen boys anne said matthew
patting her hand just mind you that rather than a dozen boys well
now i guess it wasn't a boy that took the avery scholarship was it it
was a girl my girl my girl that i'm proud of 

he smiled his shy smile at her as he went into the yard anne took the
memory of it with her when she went to her room that night and sat for a
long while at her open window thinking of the past and dreaming of the
future outside the snow queen was mistily white in the moonshine 
the frogs were singing in the marsh beyond orchard slope anne always
remembered the silvery peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night 
it was the last night before sorrow touched her life and no life is
ever quite the same again when once that cold sanctifying touch has
been laid upon it 




chapter xxxvii the reaper whose name is death


matthew matthew what is the matter matthew are you sick 

it was marilla who spoke alarm in every jerky word anne came through
the hall her hands full of white narcissus it was long before anne
could love the sight or odor of white narcissus again in time to hear
her and to see matthew standing in the porch doorway a folded paper
in his hand and his face strangely drawn and gray anne dropped her
flowers and sprang across the kitchen to him at the same moment as
marilla they were both too late before they could reach him matthew
had fallen across the threshold 

 he's fainted gasped marilla anne run for martin quick quick 
he's at the barn 

martin the hired man who had just driven home from the post office 
started at once for the doctor calling at orchard slope on his way to
send mr and mrs barry over mrs lynde who was there on an errand 
came too they found anne and marilla distractedly trying to restore
matthew to consciousness 

mrs lynde pushed them gently aside tried his pulse and then laid her
ear over his heart she looked at their anxious faces sorrowfully and
the tears came into her eyes 

 oh marilla she said gravely i don't think we can do anything for
him 

 mrs lynde you don't think you can't think matthew is is anne
could not say the dreadful word she turned sick and pallid 

 child yes i'm afraid of it look at his face when you've seen that
look as often as i have you'll know what it means 

anne looked at the still face and there beheld the seal of the great
presence 

when the doctor came he said that death had been instantaneous and
probably painless caused in all likelihood by some sudden shock the
secret of the shock was discovered to be in the paper matthew had held
and which martin had brought from the office that morning it contained
an account of the failure of the abbey bank 

the news spread quickly through avonlea and all day friends and
neighbors thronged green gables and came and went on errands of kindness
for the dead and living for the first time shy quiet matthew cuthbert
was a person of central importance the white majesty of death had
fallen on him and set him apart as one crowned 

when the calm night came softly down over green gables the old house was
hushed and tranquil in the parlor lay matthew cuthbert in his coffin 
his long gray hair framing his placid face on which there was a little
kindly smile as if he but slept dreaming pleasant dreams there were
flowers about him sweet old-fashioned flowers which his mother had
planted in the homestead garden in her bridal days and for which matthew
had always had a secret wordless love anne had gathered them and
brought them to him her anguished tearless eyes burning in her white
face it was the last thing she could do for him 

the barrys and mrs lynde stayed with them that night diana going to
the east gable where anne was standing at her window said gently 

 anne dear would you like to have me sleep with you tonight 

 thank you diana anne looked earnestly into her friend's face i
think you won't misunderstand me when i say i want to be alone i'm not
afraid i haven't been alone one minute since it happened and i want to
be i want to be quite silent and quiet and try to realize it i can't
realize it half the time it seems to me that matthew can't be dead and
the other half it seems as if he must have been dead for a long time and
i've had this horrible dull ache ever since 

diana did not quite understand marilla's impassioned grief breaking
all the bounds of natural reserve and lifelong habit in its stormy rush 
she could comprehend better than anne's tearless agony but she went
away kindly leaving anne alone to keep her first vigil with sorrow 

anne hoped that the tears would come in solitude it seemed to her a
terrible thing that she could not shed a tear for matthew whom she had
loved so much and who had been so kind to her matthew who had walked
with her last evening at sunset and was now lying in the dim room below
with that awful peace on his brow but no tears came at first even when
she knelt by her window in the darkness and prayed looking up to the
stars beyond the hills no tears only the same horrible dull ache of
misery that kept on aching until she fell asleep worn out with the
day's pain and excitement 

in the night she awakened with the stillness and the darkness about
her and the recollection of the day came over her like a wave of
sorrow she could see matthew's face smiling at her as he had smiled
when they parted at the gate that last evening she could hear his voice
saying my girl my girl that i'm proud of then the tears came and
anne wept her heart out marilla heard her and crept in to comfort her 

 there there don't cry so dearie it can't bring him back 
it it isn't right to cry so i knew that today but i couldn't help
it then he'd always been such a good kind brother to me but god knows
best 

 oh just let me cry marilla sobbed anne the tears don't hurt me
like that ache did stay here for a little while with me and keep your
arm round me so i couldn't have diana stay she's good and kind and
sweet but it's not her sorrow she's outside of it and she couldn't
come close enough to my heart to help me it's our sorrow yours and
mine oh marilla what will we do without him 

 we've got each other anne i don't know what i'd do if you weren't
here if you'd never come oh anne i know i've been kind of strict and
harsh with you maybe but you mustn't think i didn't love you as well as
matthew did for all that i want to tell you now when i can it's never
been easy for me to say things out of my heart but at times like this
it's easier i love you as dear as if you were my own flesh and blood
and you've been my joy and comfort ever since you came to green gables 

two days afterwards they carried matthew cuthbert over his homestead
threshold and away from the fields he had tilled and the orchards he had
loved and the trees he had planted and then avonlea settled back to its
usual placidity and even at green gables affairs slipped into their old
groove and work was done and duties fulfilled with regularity as before 
although always with the aching sense of loss in all familiar things 
 anne new to grief thought it almost sad that it could be so that
they could go on in the old way without matthew she felt something like
shame and remorse when she discovered that the sunrises behind the firs
and the pale pink buds opening in the garden gave her the old inrush of
gladness when she saw them that diana's visits were pleasant to her
and that diana's merry words and ways moved her to laughter and
smiles that in brief the beautiful world of blossom and love and
friendship had lost none of its power to please her fancy and thrill her
heart that life still called to her with many insistent voices 

 it seems like disloyalty to matthew somehow to find pleasure in
these things now that he has gone she said wistfully to mrs allan
one evening when they were together in the manse garden i miss him so
much all the time and yet mrs allan the world and life seem very
beautiful and interesting to me for all today diana said something
funny and i found myself laughing i thought when it happened i could
never laugh again and it somehow seems as if i oughtn't to 

 when matthew was here he liked to hear you laugh and he liked to know
that you found pleasure in the pleasant things around you said mrs 
allan gently he is just away now and he likes to know it just the
same i am sure we should not shut our hearts against the healing
influences that nature offers us but i can understand your feeling 
i think we all experience the same thing we resent the thought that
anything can please us when someone we love is no longer here to share
the pleasure with us and we almost feel as if we were unfaithful to our
sorrow when we find our interest in life returning to us 

 i was down to the graveyard to plant a rosebush on matthew's grave
this afternoon said anne dreamily i took a slip of the little white
scotch rosebush his mother brought out from scotland long ago matthew
always liked those roses the best they were so small and sweet on
their thorny stems it made me feel glad that i could plant it by his
grave as if i were doing something that must please him in taking it
there to be near him i hope he has roses like them in heaven perhaps
the souls of all those little white roses that he has loved so many
summers were all there to meet him i must go home now marilla is all
alone and she gets lonely at twilight 

 she will be lonelier still i fear when you go away again to college 
 said mrs allan 

anne did not reply she said good night and went slowly back to green
gables marilla was sitting on the front door-steps and anne sat down
beside her the door was open behind them held back by a big pink conch
shell with hints of sea sunsets in its smooth inner convolutions 

anne gathered some sprays of pale-yellow honeysuckle and put them in
her hair she liked the delicious hint of fragrance as some aerial
benediction above her every time she moved 

 doctor spencer was here while you were away marilla said he says
that the specialist will be in town tomorrow and he insists that i must
go in and have my eyes examined i suppose i'd better go and have it
over i'll be more than thankful if the man can give me the right kind
of glasses to suit my eyes you won't mind staying here alone while i'm
away will you martin will have to drive me in and there's ironing and
baking to do 

 i shall be all right diana will come over for company for me i shall
attend to the ironing and baking beautifully you needn't fear that i'll
starch the handkerchiefs or flavor the cake with liniment 

marilla laughed 

 what a girl you were for making mistakes in them days anne you were
always getting into scrapes i did use to think you were possessed do
you mind the time you dyed your hair 

 yes indeed i shall never forget it smiled anne touching the heavy
braid of hair that was wound about her shapely head i laugh a little
now sometimes when i think what a worry my hair used to be to me but i
don't laugh much because it was a very real trouble then i did suffer
terribly over my hair and my freckles my freckles are really gone and
people are nice enough to tell me my hair is auburn now all but josie
pye she informed me yesterday that she really thought it was redder
than ever or at least my black dress made it look redder and she asked
me if people who had red hair ever got used to having it marilla i've
almost decided to give up trying to like josie pye i've made what i
would once have called a heroic effort to like her but josie pye won't
 be liked 

 josie is a pye said marilla sharply so she can't help being
disagreeable i suppose people of that kind serve some useful purpose in
society but i must say i don't know what it is any more than i know the
use of thistles is josie going to teach 

 no she is going back to queen's next year so are moody spurgeon and
charlie sloane jane and ruby are going to teach and they have both got
schools jane at newbridge and ruby at some place up west 

 gilbert blythe is going to teach too isn't he 

 yes briefly 

 what a nice-looking fellow he is said marilla absently i saw him in
church last sunday and he seemed so tall and manly he looks a lot like
his father did at the same age john blythe was a nice boy we used to
be real good friends he and i people called him my beau 

anne looked up with swift interest 

 oh marilla and what happened why didn't you 

 we had a quarrel i wouldn't forgive him when he asked me to i meant
to after awhile but i was sulky and angry and i wanted to punish him
first he never came back the blythes were all mighty independent but
i always felt rather sorry i've always kind of wished i'd forgiven him
when i had the chance 

 so you've had a bit of romance in your life too said anne softly 

 yes i suppose you might call it that you wouldn't think so to look at
me would you but you never can tell about people from their outsides 
everybody has forgot about me and john i'd forgotten myself but it all
came back to me when i saw gilbert last sunday 





chapter xxxviii the bend in the road


marilla went to town the next day and returned in the evening anne had
gone over to orchard slope with diana and came back to find marilla in
the kitchen sitting by the table with her head leaning on her hand 
something in her dejected attitude struck a chill to anne's heart she
had never seen marilla sit limply inert like that 

 are you very tired marilla 

 yes no i don't know said marilla wearily looking up i suppose i
am tired but i haven't thought about it it's not that 

 did you see the oculist what did he say asked anne anxiously 

 yes i saw him he examined my eyes he says that if i give up all
reading and sewing entirely and any kind of work that strains the eyes 
and if i'm careful not to cry and if i wear the glasses he's given me
he thinks my eyes may not get any worse and my headaches will be cured 
but if i don't he says i'll certainly be stone-blind in six months 
blind anne just think of it 

for a minute anne after her first quick exclamation of dismay was
silent it seemed to her that she could not speak then she said
bravely but with a catch in her voice 

 marilla don't think of it you know he has given you hope if you are
careful you won't lose your sight altogether and if his glasses cure
your headaches it will be a great thing 

 i don't call it much hope said marilla bitterly what am i to live
for if i can't read or sew or do anything like that i might as well
be blind or dead and as for crying i can't help that when i get
lonesome but there it's no good talking about it if you'll get me
a cup of tea i'll be thankful i'm about done out don't say anything
about this to any one for a spell yet anyway i can't bear that folks
should come here to question and sympathize and talk about it 

when marilla had eaten her lunch anne persuaded her to go to bed then
anne went herself to the east gable and sat down by her window in the
darkness alone with her tears and her heaviness of heart how sadly
things had changed since she had sat there the night after coming home 
then she had been full of hope and joy and the future had looked rosy
with promise anne felt as if she had lived years since then but before
she went to bed there was a smile on her lips and peace in her heart 
she had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a
friend as duty ever is when we meet it frankly 

one afternoon a few days later marilla came slowly in from the front
yard where she had been talking to a caller a man whom anne knew by
sight as sadler from carmody anne wondered what he could have been
saying to bring that look to marilla's face 

 what did mr sadler want marilla 

marilla sat down by the window and looked at anne there were tears in
her eyes in defiance of the oculist's prohibition and her voice broke as
she said 

 he heard that i was going to sell green gables and he wants to buy it 

 buy it buy green gables anne wondered if she had heard aright oh 
marilla you don't mean to sell green gables 

 anne i don't know what else is to be done i've thought it all over 
if my eyes were strong i could stay here and make out to look after
things and manage with a good hired man but as it is i can't i may
lose my sight altogether and anyway i'll not be fit to run things oh 
i never thought i'd live to see the day when i'd have to sell my home 
but things would only go behind worse and worse all the time till
nobody would want to buy it every cent of our money went in that bank 
and there's some notes matthew gave last fall to pay mrs lynde advises
me to sell the farm and board somewhere with her i suppose it won't
bring much it's small and the buildings are old but it'll be enough
for me to live on i reckon i'm thankful you're provided for with that
scholarship anne i'm sorry you won't have a home to come to in your
vacations that's all but i suppose you'll manage somehow 

marilla broke down and wept bitterly 

 you mustn't sell green gables said anne resolutely 

 oh anne i wish i didn't have to but you can see for yourself i
can't stay here alone i'd go crazy with trouble and loneliness and my
sight would go i know it would 

 you won't have to stay here alone marilla i'll be with you i'm not
going to redmond 

 not going to redmond marilla lifted her worn face from her hands and
looked at anne why what do you mean 

 just what i say i'm not going to take the scholarship i decided so
the night after you came home from town you surely don't think i could
leave you alone in your trouble marilla after all you've done for me 
i've been thinking and planning let me tell you my plans mr barry
wants to rent the farm for next year so you won't have any bother over
that and i'm going to teach i've applied for the school here but i
don't expect to get it for i understand the trustees have promised it to
gilbert blythe but i can have the carmody school mr blair told me
so last night at the store of course that won't be quite as nice or
convenient as if i had the avonlea school but i can board home and
drive myself over to carmody and back in the warm weather at least and
even in winter i can come home fridays we'll keep a horse for that oh 
i have it all planned out marilla and i'll read to you and keep you
cheered up you sha'n t be dull or lonesome and we'll be real cozy and
happy here together you and i 

marilla had listened like a woman in a dream 

 oh anne i could get on real well if you were here i know but i
can't let you sacrifice yourself so for me it would be terrible 

 nonsense anne laughed merrily there is no sacrifice nothing could
be worse than giving up green gables nothing could hurt me more we
must keep the dear old place my mind is quite made up marilla i'm not 
going to redmond and i am going to stay here and teach don't you worry
about me a bit 

 but your ambitions and 

 i'm just as ambitious as ever only i've changed the object of my
ambitions i'm going to be a good teacher and i'm going to save your
eyesight besides i mean to study at home here and take a little
college course all by myself oh i've dozens of plans marilla i've
been thinking them out for a week i shall give life here my best and
i believe it will give its best to me in return when i left queen's my
future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road i thought
i could see along it for many a milestone now there is a bend in it i
don't know what lies around the bend but i'm going to believe that the
best does it has a fascination of its own that bend marilla i wonder
how the road beyond it goes what there is of green glory and
soft checkered light and shadows what new landscapes what new
beauties what curves and hills and valleys further on 

 i don't feel as if i ought to let you give it up said marilla 
referring to the scholarship 

 but you can't prevent me i'm sixteen and a half obstinate as a
mule as mrs lynde once told me laughed anne oh marilla don't
you go pitying me i don't like to be pitied and there is no need
for it i'm heart glad over the very thought of staying at dear green
gables nobody could love it as you and i do so we must keep it 

 you blessed girl said marilla yielding i feel as if you'd given me
new life i guess i ought to stick out and make you go to college but
i know i can't so i ain't going to try i'll make it up to you though 
anne 

when it became noised abroad in avonlea that anne shirley had given up
the idea of going to college and intended to stay home and teach there
was a good deal of discussion over it most of the good folks not
knowing about marilla's eyes thought she was foolish mrs allan did
not she told anne so in approving words that brought tears of pleasure
to the girl's eyes neither did good mrs lynde she came up one evening
and found anne and marilla sitting at the front door in the warm 
scented summer dusk they liked to sit there when the twilight came down
and the white moths flew about in the garden and the odor of mint filled
the dewy air 

mrs rachel deposited her substantial person upon the stone bench by the
door behind which grew a row of tall pink and yellow hollyhocks with a
long breath of mingled weariness and relief 

 i declare i'm getting glad to sit down i've been on my feet all day 
and two hundred pounds is a good bit for two feet to carry round it's
a great blessing not to be fat marilla i hope you appreciate it well 
anne i hear you've given up your notion of going to college i was
real glad to hear it you've got as much education now as a woman can be
comfortable with i don't believe in girls going to college with the men
and cramming their heads full of latin and greek and all that nonsense 

 but i'm going to study latin and greek just the same mrs lynde said
anne laughing i'm going to take my arts course right here at green
gables and study everything that i would at college 

mrs lynde lifted her hands in holy horror 

 anne shirley you'll kill yourself 

 not a bit of it i shall thrive on it oh i'm not going to overdo
things as josiah allen's wife says i shall be mejum but i'll
have lots of spare time in the long winter evenings and i've no
vocation for fancy work i'm going to teach over at carmody you know 

 i don't know it i guess you're going to teach right here in avonlea 
the trustees have decided to give you the school 

 mrs lynde cried anne springing to her feet in her surprise why i
thought they had promised it to gilbert blythe 

 so they did but as soon as gilbert heard that you had applied for it
he went to them they had a business meeting at the school last night 
you know and told them that he withdrew his application and suggested
that they accept yours he said he was going to teach at white sands of
course he knew how much you wanted to stay with marilla and i must
say i think it was real kind and thoughtful in him that's what real
self-sacrificing too for he'll have his board to pay at white sands 
and everybody knows he's got to earn his own way through college so the
trustees decided to take you i was tickled to death when thomas came
home and told me 

 i don't feel that i ought to take it murmured anne i mean i don't
think i ought to let gilbert make such a sacrifice for for me 

 i guess you can't prevent him now he's signed papers with the white
sands trustees so it wouldn't do him any good now if you were to
refuse of course you'll take the school you'll get along all right 
now that there are no pyes going josie was the last of them and a
good thing she was that's what there's been some pye or other going to
avonlea school for the last twenty years and i guess their mission in
life was to keep school teachers reminded that earth isn't their home 
bless my heart what does all that winking and blinking at the barry
gable mean 

 diana is signaling for me to go over laughed anne you know we keep
up the old custom excuse me while i run over and see what she wants 

anne ran down the clover slope like a deer and disappeared in the firry
shadows of the haunted wood mrs lynde looked after her indulgently 

 there's a good deal of the child about her yet in some ways 

 there's a good deal more of the woman about her in others retorted
marilla with a momentary return of her old crispness 

but crispness was no longer marilla's distinguishing characteristic as
mrs lynde told her thomas that night 

 marilla cuthbert has got mellow that's what 

anne went to the little avonlea graveyard the next evening to put fresh
flowers on matthew's grave and water the scotch rosebush she lingered
there until dusk liking the peace and calm of the little place 
with its poplars whose rustle was like low friendly speech and its
whispering grasses growing at will among the graves when she finally
left it and walked down the long hill that sloped to the lake of shining
waters it was past sunset and all avonlea lay before her in a dreamlike
afterlight a haunt of ancient peace there was a freshness in the
air as of a wind that had blown over honey-sweet fields of clover home
lights twinkled out here and there among the homestead trees beyond lay
the sea misty and purple with its haunting unceasing murmur the west
was a glory of soft mingled hues and the pond reflected them all in
still softer shadings the beauty of it all thrilled anne's heart and
she gratefully opened the gates of her soul to it 

 dear old world she murmured you are very lovely and i am glad to
be alive in you 

halfway down the hill a tall lad came whistling out of a gate before the
blythe homestead it was gilbert and the whistle died on his lips as he
recognized anne he lifted his cap courteously but he would have passed
on in silence if anne had not stopped and held out her hand 

 gilbert she said with scarlet cheeks i want to thank you for
giving up the school for me it was very good of you and i want you to
know that i appreciate it 

gilbert took the offered hand eagerly 

 it wasn't particularly good of me at all anne i was pleased to be
able to do you some small service are we going to be friends after
this have you really forgiven me my old fault 

anne laughed and tried unsuccessfully to withdraw her hand 

 i forgave you that day by the pond landing although i didn't know
it what a stubborn little goose i was i've been i may as well make a
complete confession i've been sorry ever since 

 we are going to be the best of friends said gilbert jubilantly we
were born to be good friends anne you've thwarted destiny enough i
know we can help each other in many ways you are going to keep up your
studies aren't you so am i come i'm going to walk home with you 

marilla looked curiously at anne when the latter entered the kitchen 

 who was that came up the lane with you anne 

 gilbert blythe answered anne vexed to find herself blushing i met
him on barry's hill 

 i didn't think you and gilbert blythe were such good friends that you'd
stand for half an hour at the gate talking to him said marilla with a
dry smile 

 we haven't been we've been good enemies but we have decided that it
will be much more sensible to be good friends in the future were we
really there half an hour it seemed just a few minutes but you see 
we have five years lost conversations to catch up with marilla 

anne sat long at her window that night companioned by a glad content 
the wind purred softly in the cherry boughs and the mint breaths came
up to her the stars twinkled over the pointed firs in the hollow and
diana's light gleamed through the old gap 

anne's horizons had closed in since the night she had sat there after
coming home from queen's but if the path set before her feet was to be
narrow she knew that flowers of quiet happiness would bloom along it 
the joy of sincere work and worthy aspiration and congenial friendship
were to be hers nothing could rob her of her birthright of fancy or her
ideal world of dreams and there was always the bend in the road 

 god's in his heaven all's right with the world whispered anne
softly 









clarissa harlowe

or the

history of a young lady

nine volumes

volume i 


 comprehending
 the most important concerns of private life 
 and particularly shewing 
 the distresses that may attend the misconduct
 both of parents and children 
 in relation to marriage 




preface


the following history is given in a series of letters written
principally in a double yet separate correspondence 

between two young ladies of virtue and honor bearing an inviolable
friendship for each other and writing not merely for amusement but
upon the most interesting subjects in which every private family more
or less may find itself concerned and 

between two gentlemen of free lives one of them glorying in his
talents for stratagem and invention and communicating to the other in
confidence all the secret purposes of an intriguing head and resolute
heart 

but here it will be proper to observe for the sake of such as may
apprehend hurt to the morals of youth from the more freely-written
letters that the gentlemen though professed libertines as to the
female sex and making it one of their wicked maxims to keep no faith
with any of the individuals of it who are thrown into their power 
are not however either infidels or scoffers nor yet such as think
themselves freed from the observance of those other moral duties which
bind man to man 

on the contrary it will be found in the progress of the work that
they very often make such reflections upon each other and each upon
himself and his own actions as reasonable beings must make who
disbelieve not a future state of rewards and punishments and who one
day propose to reform one of them actually reforming and by that means
giving an opportunity to censure the freedoms which fall from the gayer
pen and lighter heart of the other 

and yet that other although in unbosoming himself to a select friend 
he discovers wickedness enough to entitle him to general detestation 
preserves a decency as well in his images as in his language which
is not always to be found in the works of some of the most celebrated
modern writers whose subjects and characters have less warranted the
liberties they have taken 

in the letters of the two young ladies it is presumed will be
found not only the highest exercise of a reasonable and practicable
friendship between minds endowed with the noblest principles of
virtue and religion but occasionally interspersed such delicacy of
sentiments particularly with regard to the other sex such instances
of impartiality each freely as a fundamental principle of their
friendship blaming praising and setting right the other as are
strongly to be recommended to the observation of the younger part more
specially of female readers 

the principle of these two young ladies is proposed as an exemplar to
her sex nor is it any objection to her being so that she is not in
all respects a perfect character it was not only natural but it was
necessary that she should have some faults were it only to show the
reader how laudably she could mistrust and blame herself and carry to
her own heart divested of self-partiality the censure which arose from
her own convictions and that even to the acquittal of those because
revered characters whom no one else would acquit and to whose much
greater faults her errors were owing and not to a weak or reproachable
heart as far as it is consistent with human frailty and as far as she
could be perfect considering the people she had to deal with and those
with whom she was inseparably connected she is perfect to have been
impeccable must have left nothing for the divine grace and a purified
state to do and carried our idea of her from woman to angel as such is
she often esteemed by the man whose heart was so corrupt that he could
hardly believe human nature capable of the purity which on every trial
or temptation shone out in her's  sic  

besides the four principal person several others are introduced whose
letters are characteristic and it is presumed that there will be found
in some of them but more especially in those of the chief character
among the men and the second character among the women such strokes of
gayety fancy and humour as will entertain and divert and at the same
time both warn and instruct 

all the letters are written while the hearts of the writers must be
supposed to be wholly engaged in their subjects the events at the time
generally dubious so that they abound not only in critical situations 
but with what may be called instantaneous descriptions and reflections
 proper to be brought home to the breast of the youthful reader as
also with affecting conversations many of them written in the dialogue
or dramatic way 

much more lively and affecting  says one of the principal character 
must be the style of those who write in the height of a present
distress the mind tortured by the pangs of uncertainty the events then
hidden in the womb of fate than the dry narrative unanimated style
of a person relating difficulties and danger surmounted can be the
relater perfectly at ease and if himself unmoved by his own story not
likely greatly to affect the reader 

what will be found to be more particularly aimed at in the following
work is to warn the inconsiderate and thoughtless of the one sex 
against the base arts and designs of specious contrivers of the
other to caution parents against the undue exercise of their natural
authority over their children in the great article of marriage to warn
children against preferring a man of pleasure to a man of probity upon
that dangerous but too-commonly-received notion that a reformed rake
makes the best husband but above all to investigate the highest and
most important doctrines not only of morality but of christianity by
showing them thrown into action in the conduct of the worthy characters 
while the unworthy who set those doctrines at defiance are condignly 
and as may be said consequentially punished 

from what has been said considerate readers will not enter upon the
perusal of the piece before them as if it were designed only to divert
and amuse it will probably be thought tedious to all such as dip into
it expecting a light novel or transitory romance and look upon story
in it interesting as that is generally allowed to be as its sole end 
rather than as a vehicle to the instruction 

different persons as might be expected have been of different
opinions in relation to the conduct of the heroine in particular
situations and several worthy persons have objected to the general
catastrophe and other parts of the history whatever is thought
material of these shall be taken notice of by way of postscript at the
conclusion of the history for this work being addressed to the public
as a history of life and manners those parts of it which are
proposed to carry with them the force of an example ought to be as
unobjectionable as is consistent with the design of the whole and with
human nature 




names of the principal persons


 miss clarissa harlowe a young lady of great beauty and merit 
 robert lovelace esq her admirer 
 james harlowe esq father of clarissa 
 mrs harlowe his lady 
 james harlowe their only son 
 arabella their elder daughter 
 john harlowe esq elder brother of james harlowe sen 
 antony harlowe third brother 
 roger solmes esq an admirer of clarissa favoured by her friends 
 mrs hervey half-sister of mrs harlowe 
 miss dolly hervey her daughter 
 mrs judith norton a woman of great piety and discretion who had a
 principal share in the education of clarissa 
 col wm morden a near relation of the harlowes 
 miss howe the most intimate friend companion and correspondent of
 clarissa 
 mrs howe her mother 
 charles hickman esq an admirer of miss howe 
 lord m uncle to mr lovelace 
 lady sarah sadleir lady betty lawrance half-sisters of lord m 
 miss charlotte montague miss patty montague nieces of the same
 nobleman 
 dr lewen a worthy divine 
 mr elias brand a pedantic young clergyman 
 dr h a humane physician 
 mr goddard an honest and skilful apothecary 
 john belford esq mr lovelace's principal intimate and confidant 
 richard mowbray thomas doleman james tourville thomas belton 
 esqrs libertine friends of mr lovelace 
 mrs moore a widow keeping a lodging-house at hampstead 
 miss rawlins a notable young gentlewoman there 
 mrs bevis a lively young widow of the same place 
 mrs sinclair the pretended name of a private brothel-keeper in
 london 
 captain tomlinson the assumed name of a vile pander to the
 debaucheries of mr lovelace 
 sally martin polly horton assistants of and partners with the
 infamous sinclair 
 dorcas wykes an artful servant at the vile house 





letters of volume i


letter i miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe desires from her the
particulars of the rencounter between mr lovelace and her brother and
of the usage she receives upon it also the whole of her story from the
time lovelace was introduced as a suitor to her sister arabella admires
her great qualities and glories in the friendship between them 

letter ii iii iv clarissa to miss howe gives the requested
particulars together with the grounds of her brother's and sister's
ill-will to her and of the animosity between her brother and
lovelace her mother connives at the private correspondence between
her and lovelace for the sake of preventing greater evils character
of lovelace from an enemy copy of the preamble to her grandfather's
will 

letter v from the same her father mother brother briefly
characterized her brother's consequence in the family wishes miss howe
had encouraged her brother's address endeavors to find excuses for her
father's ill temper and for her mother's passiveness 

letter vi from the same mr symmes mr mullins mr wyerley in
return proposed to her in malice to lovelace and on their being
rejected mr solmes leave given her to visit miss howe for a few days 
her brother's insolent behaviour upon it 

letter vii from the same the harsh reception she meets with on her
return from miss howe solmes's first visit 

letter viii from the same all her family determined in solmes's
favour her aversion to him she rejects him and is forbid going to
church visiting receiving visits or writing to any body out of the
house 

letter ix clarissa to miss howe her expedient to carry on a private
correspondence with miss howe regrets the necessity she is laid under
to take such a clandestine step 

letter x miss howe to clarissa inveighs against the harlowe family
for proposing such a man as solmes characterizes them is jealous
of antony harlowe's visits to her mother rallies her friend on her
supposed regard to lovelace 

letter xi clarissa to miss howe is nettled and alarmed at her
raillery her reasons for not giving way to a passion for lovelace 

letter xii miss howe in reply continues her raillery gives
lovelace's character from mrs fortescue 

letter xiii xiv clarissa to miss howe the views of her family in
favouring the address of solmes her brother's and sister's triumph upon
the difficulties into which they have plunged her 

letter xv miss howe to clarissa she accounts for arabella's malice 
blames her for having given up the power over the estate left her by her
grandfather 

letter xvi xvii clarissa to miss howe offends her father by her
behaviour to solmes in his presence tender conversation between her
mother and her offers to give up all thoughts of lovelace if she may
be freed from solmes's address substance of one of lovelace's letters 
of her answer and of his reply makes a proposal her mother goes down
with it 

letter xviii from the same the proposal rejected her mother affects
severity to her another interesting conversation between them 

letter xix from the same her dutiful motives for putting her estate
into her father's power why she thinks she ought not to have solmes 
afflicted on her mother's account 

letter xx xxi from the same another conference with her mother who
leaves her in anger she goes down to beg her favour solmes comes in 
she offers to withdraw but is forbid what follows upon it 

letter xxii clarissa to miss howe substance of a letter from
lovelace she desires leave to go to church is referred to her brother 
and insultingly refused by him her letter to him his answer 

letter xxiii xxiv xxv from the same her faithful hannah
disgracefully dismissed betty barnes her sister's maid set over her 
a letter from her brother forbidding her to appear in the presence of
any of her relations without leave her answer writes to her mother 
her mother's answer writes to her father his answer 

letter xxvi from the same is desirous to know the opinion lord m s
family have of her substance of a letter from lovelace resenting the
indignities he receives from her relations she freely acquaints him
that he has nothing to expect from her contrary to her duty insists
that his next letter shall be his last 

letter xxvii miss howe to clarissa advises her to resume her estate 
her satirical description of solmes rallies her on her curiosity to
know what opinion lord m and his family have of her ascribes to the
difference in each of their tempers their mutual love gives particulars
of a conversation between her mother and her on clarissa's case 
reflects on the harlowe family and particularly on mrs harlowe for
her passiveness 

letter xxviii clarissa in answer chides her for the liberties she
takes with her relations particularly defends her mother chides her
also for her lively airs to her own mother desires her to treat her
freely but wishes not that she should impute love to her and why 

letter xxix from the same her expostulatory letter to her brother and
sister their answers 

letter xxx from the same exceedingly angry with lovelace on his
coming to their church reflections on pride etc 

letter xxxi mr lovelace to john belford esq pride revenge love 
ambition or a desire of conquest his avowedly predominant passions 
his early vow to ruin as many of the fair sex as he can get into his
power his pretences for it breathes revenge against the harlowe
family glories in his contrivances is passionately in love with
clarissa his high notions of her beauty and merit yet is incensed
against her for preferring her own relations to him clears her 
however of intentional pride scorn haughtiness or want of
sensibility what a triumph over the sex and over her whole family if
he can carry off a lady so watchful and so prudent is resolved if he
cannot have the sister to carry off the brother libertine as he is 
can have no thoughts of any other woman but clarissa warns belford 
mowbray tourville and belton to hold themselves in readiness to
obey his summons on the likelihood there is of room for what he calls
glorious mischief 

letter xxxii xxxiii clarissa to miss howe copies of her letters to
her two uncles and of their characteristic answer her expostulatory
letter to solmes his answer an insolent letter from her brother on
her writing to solmes 

letter xxxiv lovelace to belford he directs him to come down to him 
for what end description of the poor inn he puts up at in disguise and
of the innocent daughter there whom he calls his rosebud he resolves
to spare her pride and policy his motives and not principle ingenuous
reflections on his own vicious disposition he had been a rogue he
says had he been a plough-boy resolves on an act of generosity for
his rosebud by way of atonement as he calls it for some of his bad
actions and for other reasons which appear in the sequel 

letter xxxv from the same his artful contrivances and dealings with
joseph leman his revenge and his love uppermost by turns if the latter
succeeds not he vows that the harlowes shall feel the former although
for it he become an exile from his country forever he will throw
himself into clarissa's presence in the woodhouse if he thought he had
no prospect of her favour he would attempt to carry her off that he
says would be a rape worthy of a jupiter the arts he is resolved to
practise when he sees her in order to engage her future reliance upon
his honour 

letter xxxvi clarissa to miss howe lovelace in disguise surprises
her in the woodhouse her terrors on first seeing him he greatly
engages her confidence as he had designed by his respectful behaviour 

letter xxxvii miss howe to clarissa after rallying her on her not
readily owning the passion which she supposes she has for lovelace she
desires to know how far she thinks him eligible for his best qualities 
how far rejectable for his worst 

letter xxxviii xxxix clarissa to miss howe she disclaims tyranny to
a man who respects her her unhappy situation to be considered in
which the imputed love is held by her parents to be an undutiful and
therefore a criminal passion and where the supposed object of it is a
man of faulty morals is interrupted by a visit from mrs norton who
is sent up to her to influence her in solmes's favour an affecting
conversation between them what passes upon it and after it 

letter xl from the same resumes the requested subject what sort of
man she could have preferred to mr lovelace arguments she has used to
herself in his favour and in his disfavour frankly owns that were he
now a moral man she would prefer him to all the men she ever saw yet
is persuaded that she could freely give up the one man to get rid of
the other as she had offered to her friends her delicacy affected
by miss howe's raillery and why gives her opinion of the force which
figure or person may be allowed to have upon her sex 

letter xli from the same a letter from her mother with patterns of
rich silks in which she entreats her to comply with all their wishes 
what ought to be the principal view of a good wife in adorning her
person her distress begs leave to wait upon her mother alone her
father's angry letter ordering her to prepare for her wedding-day 
solmes requests to see her she refuses all in tumults below upon
it her brother and her sister desire that she may be left to their
management 

letter xlii from the same a very warm dialogue between her sister
and her her sister's envy unnatural behaviour and violence clarissa
sends down proposals in writing to her friends and a letter to her
brother his insolent answer in which he tells her that her proposal
will be considered in full assembly next morning but that if they
shall be complied with he will retire to scotland and never more
return to harlowe-place 

letter xliii clarissa to miss howe hardly doubts but her proposals
will be accepted paints to herself as her relations arrive one by one 
what their deliberations and the result of them will be when they are
all assembled her proposals rejected her sister's cruel insults on the
occasion produce another warm dialogue between them her sister leaves
her in a fury she is greatly disturbed at the contents of a letter from
lovelace 

letter xliv from the same her aunt hervey accompanied by her sister 
makes her a visit farther insults from her sister her aunt's fruitless
pleas in solmes's favour 





the history of clarissa harlowe




letter i

miss anna howe to miss clarissa harlowe jan 10 


i am extremely concerned my dearest friend for the disturbances that
have happened in your family i know how it must hurt you to become
the subject of the public talk and yet upon an occasion so generally
known it is impossible but that whatever relates to a young lady whose
distinguished merits have made her the public care should engage every
body's attention i long to have the particulars from yourself and of
the usage i am told you receive upon an accident you could not help and
in which as far as i can learn the sufferer was the aggressor 

mr diggs the surgeon whom i sent for at the first hearing of the
rencounter to inquire for your sake how your brother was told me 
that there was no danger from the wound if there were none from the
fever which it seems has been increased by the perturbation of his
spirits 

mr wyerley drank tea with us yesterday and though he is far from being
partial to mr lovelace as it may well be supposed yet both he and mr 
symmes blame your family for the treatment they gave him when he went
in person to inquire after your brother's health and to express his
concern for what had happened 

they say that mr lovelace could not avoid drawing his sword and that
either your brother's unskilfulness or passion left him from the very
first pass entirely in his power 

this i am told was what mr lovelace said upon it retreating as he
spoke have a care mr harlowe your violence puts you out of your
defence you give me too much advantage for your sister's sake i will
pass by every thing if 

but this the more provoked his rashness to lay himself open to the
advantage of his adversary who after a slight wound given him in the
arm took away his sword 

there are people who love not your brother because of his natural
imperiousness and fierce and uncontroulable temper these say that
the young gentleman's passion was abated on seeing his blood gush
plentifully down his arm and that he received the generous offices of
his adversary who helped him off with his coat and waistcoat and bound
up his arm till the surgeon could come with such patience as was far
from making a visit afterwards from that adversary to inquire after his
health appear either insulting or improper 

be this as it may every body pities you so steady so uniform in your
conduct so desirous as you always said of sliding through life to the
end of it unnoted and as i may add not wishing to be observed
even for your silent benevolence sufficiently happy in the noble
consciousness which attends it rather useful than glaring your
deserved motto though now to your regret pushed into blaze as i may
say and yet blamed at home for the faults of others how must such a
virtue suffer on every hand yet it must be allowed that your present
trial is but proportioned to your prudence 

as all your friends without doors are apprehensive that some other
unhappy event may result from so violent a contention in which it seems
the families on both sides are now engaged i must desire you to enable
me on the authority of your own information to do you occasional
justice 

my mother and all of us like the rest of the world talk of nobody but
you on this occasion and of the consequences which may follow from the
resentments of a man of mr lovelace's spirit who as he gives out has
been treated with high indignity by your uncles my mother will have
it that you cannot now with any decency either see him or correspond
with him she is a good deal prepossessed by your uncle antony who
occasionally calls upon us as you know and on this rencounter has
represented to her the crime which it would be in a sister to encourage
a man who is to wade into her favour this was his expression through
the blood of her brother 

write to me therefore my dear the whole of your story from the
time that mr lovelace was first introduced into your family and
particularly an account of all that passed between him and your sister 
about which there are different reports some people scrupling not to
insinuate that the younger sister has stolen a lover from the elder and
pray write in so full a manner as may satisfy those who know not so much
of your affairs as i do if anything unhappy should fall out from the
violence of such spirits as you have to deal with your account of all
things previous to it will be your best justification 

you see what you draw upon yourself by excelling all your sex every
individual of it who knows you or has heard of you seems to think
you answerable to her for your conduct in points so very delicate and
concerning 

every eye in short is upon you with the expectation of an example i
wish to heaven you were at liberty to pursue your own methods all
would then i dare say be easy and honourably ended but i dread your
directors and directresses for your mother admirably well qualified
as she is to lead must submit to be led your sister and brother will
certainly put you out of your course 

but this is a point you will not permit me to expatiate upon pardon me
therefore and i have done yet why should i say pardon me when your
concerns are my concerns when your honour is my honour when i love
you as never woman loved another and when you have allowed of that
concern and of that love and have for years which in persons so young
may be called many ranked in the first class of your friends 

your ever grateful and affectionate anna howe 


will you oblige me with a copy of the preamble to the clauses in your
grandfather's will in your favour and allow me to send it to my aunt
harman she is very desirous to see it yet your character has so
charmed her that though a stranger to you personally she assents to
the preference given you in that will before she knows the testator's
reasons for giving you that preference 




letter ii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe harlowe-place jan 13 


how you oppress me my dearest friend with your politeness i cannot
doubt your sincerity but you should take care that you give me not
reason from your kind partiality to call in question your judgment you
do not distinguish that i take many admirable hints from you and have
the art to pass them upon you for my own for in all you do in all you
say nay in your very looks so animated you give lessons to one
who loves you and observes you as i love you and observe you without
knowing that you do so pray my dear be more sparing of your praise
for the future lest after this confession we should suspect that you
secretly intend to praise yourself while you would be thought only to
commend another 

our family has indeed been strangely discomposed discomposed it has
been in tumults ever since the unhappy transaction and i have borne
all the blame yet should have had too much concern from myself had i
been more justly spared by every one else 

for whether it be owing to a faulty impatience having been too
indulgently treated to be inured to blame or to the regret i have to
hear those censured on my account whom it is my duty to vindicate i
have sometimes wished that it had pleased god to have taken me in my
last fever when i had every body's love and good opinion but oftener
that i had never been distinguished by my grandfather as i was since
that distinction has estranged from me my brother's and sister's
affections at least has raised a jealousy with regard to the
apprehended favour of my two uncles that now-and-then overshadows their
love 

my brother being happily recovered of his fever and his wound in a
hopeful way although he has not yet ventured abroad i will be as
particular as you desire in the little history you demand of me but
heaven forbid that any thing should ever happen which may require it to
be produced for the purpose you mention 

i will begin as you command with mr lovelace's address to my sister 
and be as brief as possible i will recite facts only and leave you
to judge of the truth of the report raised that the younger sister has
robbed the elder 

it was in pursuance of a conference between lord m and my uncle antony 
that mr lovelace  my father and mother not forbidding  paid his respect
to my sister arabella my brother was then in scotland busying himself
in viewing the condition of the considerable estate which was left him
there by his generous godmother together with one as considerable in
yorkshire i was also absent at my dairy-house as it is called busied
in the accounts relating to the estate which my grandfather had
the goodness to devise to me and which once a year was left to my
inspection although i have given the whole into my father's power 


 her grandfather in order to invite her to him as often as
 her other friends would spare her indulged her in erecting
 and fitting up a diary-house in her own taste when
 finished it was so much admired for its elegant simplicity
 and convenience that the whole seat before of old time 
 from its situation called the grove was generally known by
 the name of the dairy-house her grandfather in particular
 was fond of having it so called 


my sister made me a visit there the day after mr lovelace had been
introduced and seemed highly pleased with the gentleman his birth his
fortune in possession a clear 2000l a year as lord m had assured
my uncle presumptive heir to that nobleman's large estate his great
expectations from lady sarah sadleir and lady betty lawrence who with
his uncle interested themselves very warmly he being the last of his
line to see him married 

so handsome a man o her beloved clary  for then she was ready
to love me dearly from the overflowings of her good humour on his
account he was but too handsome a man for her were she but as
amiable as somebody there would be a probability of holding his
affections for he was wild she heard very wild very gay loved
intrigue but he was young a man of sense would see his error could
she but have patience with his faults if his faults were not cured by
marriage 

thus she ran on and then wanted me to see the charming man  as she
called him again concerned that she was not handsome enough for
him  with a sad thing that the man should have the advantage of
the woman in that particular  but then stepping to the glass she
complimented herself that she was very well that there were many
women deemed passable who were inferior to herself that she was always
thought comely and comeliness let her tell me having not so much
to lose as beauty had would hold when that would evaporate or fly
off nay for that matter   and again she turned to the glass  her
features were not irregular her eyes not at all amiss  and i remember
they were more than usually brilliant at that time nothing in short 
to be found fault with though nothing very engaging she doubted was
there clary 

excuse me my dear i never was thus particular before no not to you 
nor would i now have written thus freely of a sister but that she makes
a merit to my brother of disowning that she ever liked him as i shall
mention hereafter and then you will always have me give you minute
descriptions nor suffer me to pass by the air and manner in which
things are spoken that are to be taken notice of rightly observing 
that air and manner often express more than the accompanying words 

i congratulated her upon her prospects she received my compliments with
a great deal of self-complacency 

she liked the gentleman still more at his next visit and yet he made no
particular address to her although an opportunity was given him for
it this was wondered at as my uncle has introduced him into our family
declaredly as a visitor to my sister but as we are ever ready to make
excuses when in good humour with ourselves for the perhaps not unwilful
slights of those whose approbation we wish to engage so my sister found
out a reason much to mr lovelace's advantage for his not improving
the opportunity that was given him it was bashfulness truly in him 
 bashfulness in mr lovelace my dear   indeed gay and lively as he
is he has not the look of an impudent man but i fancy it is many 
many years ago since he was bashful 

thus however could my sister make it out upon her word she believed
mr lovelace deserved not the bad character he had as to women he was
really to her thinking a modest man he would have spoken out she
believed but once or twice as he seemed to intend to do so he was
under so agreeable a confusion such a profound respect he seemed to
shew her a perfect reverence she thought she loved dearly that a man
in courtship should shew a reverence to his mistress' so indeed we all
do i believe and with reason since if i may judge from what i
have seen in many families there is little enough of it shewn
afterwards and she told my aunt hervey that she would be a little
less upon the reserve next time he came she was not one of those
flirts not she who would give pain to a person that deserved to be
well-treated and the more pain for the greatness of his value for
her  i wish she had not somebody whom i love in her eye 

in his third visit bella governed herself by this kind and considerate
principle so that according to her own account of the matter the man
might have spoken out but he was still bashful he was not able to
overcome this unseasonable reverence so this visit went off as the
former 

but now she began to be dissatisfied with him she compared his general
character with this his particular behaviour to her and having never
been courted before owned herself puzzled how to deal with so odd a
lover what did the man mean she wondered had not her uncle brought
him declaredly as a suitor to her it could not be bashfulness now she
thought of it since he might have opened his mind to her uncle if he
wanted courage to speak directly to her not that she cared much for
the man neither but it was right surely that a woman should be put
out of doubt early as to a man's intentions in such a case as this from
his own mouth but truly she had begun to think that he was more
solicitous to cultivate her mamma's good opinion than hers every
body she owned admired her mother's conversation but he was mistaken
if he thought respect to her mother only would do with her and
then for his own sake surely he should put it into her power to
be complaisant to him if he gave her reason to approve of him this
distant behaviour she must take upon herself to say was the more
extraordinary as he continued his visits and declared himself
extremely desirous to cultivate a friendship with the whole family and
as he could have no doubt about her sense if she might take upon her to
join her own with the general opinion he having taken great notice of 
and admired many of her good things as they fell from her lips reserves
were painful she must needs say to open and free spirits like hers 
and yet she must tell my aunt  to whom all this was directed that
she should never forget what she owed to her sex and to herself were
mr lovelace as unexceptionable in his morals as in his figure and were
he to urge his suit ever so warmly 

i was not of her council i was still absent and it was agreed upon
between my aunt hervey and her that she was to be quite solemn and shy
in his next visit if there were not a peculiarity in his address to
her 

but my sister it seems had not considered the matter well this was not
the way as it proved to be taken for matters of mere omission with a
man of mr lovelace's penetration nor with any man since if love has
not taken root deep enough to cause it to shoot out into declaration if
an opportunity be fairly given for it there is little room to expect 
that the blighting winds of anger or resentment will bring it forward 
then my poor sister is not naturally good-humoured this is too
well-known a truth for me to endeavor to conceal it especially from
you she must therefore i doubt have appeared to great disadvantages
when she aimed to be worse tempered than ordinary 

how they managed it in their next conversation i know not one would be
tempted to think by the issue that mr lovelace was ungenerous enough
to seek the occasion given and to improve it yet he thought fit to
put the question too but she says it was not till by some means
or other she knew not how he had wrought her up to such a pitch of
displeasure with him that it was impossible for her to recover herself
at the instant nevertheless he re-urged his question as expecting
a definitive answer without waiting for the return of her temper 
or endeavouring to mollify her so that she was under a necessity of
persisting in her denial yet gave him reason to think she did not
dislike his address only the manner of it his court being rather made
to her mother than to herself as if he was sure of her consent at any
time 


 see mr lovelace's letter no xxxi in which he briefly
 accounts for his conduct in this affair 


a good encouraging denial i must own as was the rest of her plea to
wit a disinclination to change her state exceedingly happy as she
was she never could be happier  and such-like consenting negatives 
as i may call them and yet not intend a reflection upon my sister for
what can any young creature in the like circumstances say when she is
not sure but a too-ready consent may subject her to the slights of a sex
that generally values a blessing either more or less as it is obtained
with difficulty or ease miss biddulph's answer to a copy of verse from
a gentleman reproaching our sex as acting in disguise is not a bad
one although you may perhaps think it too acknowledging for the female
character 

 ungen'rous sex to scorn us if we're kind 
 and yet upbraid us if we seem severe 
 do you t' encourage us to tell our mind 
 yourselves put off disguise and be sincere 
 you talk of coquetry your own false hearts
 compel our sex to act dissembling parts 

here i am obliged to lay down my pen i will soon resume it 




letter iii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe jan 13 14 


and thus as mr lovelace thought fit to take it had he his answer from
my sister it was with very great regret as he pretended  i doubt
the man is an hypocrite my dear  that he acquiesced in it so much
determinedness such a noble firmness in my sister that there was no
hope of prevailing upon her to alter sentiments she had adopted on full
consideration  he sighed as bella told us when he took his leave of
her profoundly sighed grasped her hand and kissed it with such an
ardour withdrew with such an air of solemn respect she could almost
find it in her heart although he had vexed her to pity him  a good
intentional preparative to love this pity since at the time she
little thought that he would not renew his offer 

he waited on my mother after he had taken leave of bella and reported
his ill success in so respectful a manner as well with regard to my
sister as to the whole family and with so much concern that he was
not accepted as a relation to it that it left upon them all my brother
being then as i have said in scotland impressions in his favour and
a belief that this matter would certainly be brought on again but mr 
lovelace going up directly to town where he staid a whole fortnight 
and meeting there with my uncle antony to whom he regretted his niece's
cruel resolution not to change her state it was seen that there was a
total end of the affair 

my sister was not wanting to herself on this occasion she made a
virtue of necessity and the man was quite another man with her a vain
creature too well knowing his advantages yet those not what she had
conceived them to be cool and warm by fits and starts an ague-like
lover a steady man a man of virtue a man of morals was worth a
thousand of such gay flutterers her sister clary might think it worth
her while perhaps to try to engage such a man she had patience she
was mistress of persuasion and indeed to do the girl justice had
something of a person but as for her she would not have a man of whose
heart she could not be sure for one moment no not for the world and
most sincerely glad was she that she had rejected him 

but when mr lovelace returned into the country he thought fit to visit
my father and mother hoping as he told them that however unhappy
he had been in the rejection of the wished-for alliance he might be
allowed to keep up an acquaintance and friendship with a family which he
should always respect and then unhappily as i may say was i at home
and present 

it was immediately observed that his attention was fixed on me my
sister as soon as he was gone in a spirit of bravery seemed desirous
to promote his address should it be tendered 

my aunt hervey was there and was pleased to say we should make the
finest couple in england if my sister had no objection no indeed 
with a haughty toss was my sister's reply it would be strange if she
had after the denial she had given him upon full deliberation 

my mother declared that her only dislike of his alliance with either
daughter was on account of his reputed faulty morals 

my uncle harlowe that his daughter clary as he delighted to call me
from childhood would reform him if any woman in the world could 

my uncle antony gave his approbation in high terms but referred as my
aunt had done to my sister 

she repeated her contempt of him and declared that were there not
another man in england she would not have him she was ready on the
contrary she could assure them to resign her pretensions under hand
and seal if miss clary were taken with his tinsel and if every one
else approved of his address to the girl 

my father indeed after a long silence being urged by my uncle antony
to speak his mind said that he had a letter from his son on his
hearing of mr lovelace's visits to his daughter arabella which he had
not shewn to any body but my mother that treaty being at an end when
he received it that in this letter he expressed great dislike to an
alliance with mr lovelace on the score of his immoralities that he
knew indeed there was an old grudge between them but that being
desirous to prevent all occasions of disunion and animosity in his
family he would suspend the declaration of his own mind till his son
arrived and till he had heard his further objections that he was the
more inclined to make his son this compliment as mr lovelace's general
character gave but too much ground for his son's dislike of him adding 
that he had hear so he supposed had every one that he was a very
extravagant man that he had contracted debts in his travels and
indeed he was pleased to say he had the air of a spendthrift 

these particulars i had partly from my aunt hervey and partly from my
sister for i was called out as soon as the subject was entered upon 
when i returned my uncle antony asked me how i should like mr 
lovelace every body saw he was pleased to say that i had made a
conquest 

i immediately answered that i did not like him at all he seemed to
have too good an opinion both on his person and parts to have any
regard to his wife let him marry whom he would 

my sister particularly was pleased with this answer and confirmed it to
be just with a compliment to my judgment for it was hers 

but the very next day lord m came to harlowe-place  i was then absent  
and in his nephew's name made a proposal in form declaring that it was
the ambition of all his family to be related to ours and he hoped his
kinsman would not have such an answer on the part of the younger sister 
as he had on that of the elder 

in short mr lovelace's visits were admitted as those of a man who had
not deserved disrespect from our family but as to his address to
me with a reservation as above on my father's part that he would
determine nothing without his son my discretion as to the rest was
confided in for still i had the same objections as to the man nor
would i when we were better acquainted hear any thing but general talk
from him giving him no opportunity of conversing with me in private 

he bore this with a resignation little expected from his natural temper 
which is generally reported to be quick and hasty unused it seems
from childhood to check or controul a case too common in considerable
families where there is an only son and his mother never had any
other child but as i have heretofore told you i could perceive 
notwithstanding this resignation that he had so good an opinion of
himself as not to doubt that his person and accomplishments would
insensibly engage me and could that be once done he told my aunt
hervey he should hope from so steady a temper that his hold in my
affections would be durable while my sister accounted for his patience
in another manner which would perhaps have had more force if it had
come from a person less prejudiced that the man was not fond of
marrying at all that he might perhaps have half a score mistresses and
that delay might be as convenient for his roving as for my well-acted
indifference  that was her kind expression 

whatever was his motive for a patience so generally believed to be out
of his usual character and where the object of his address was supposed
to be of fortune considerable enough to engage his warmest attention 
he certainly escaped many mortifications by it for while my father
suspended his approbation till my brother's arrival mr lovelace
received from every one those civilities which were due to his birth 
and although we heard from time to time reports to his disadvantage with
regard to morals yet could we not question him upon them without giving
him greater advantages in his own opinion than the situation he was in
with us would justify to prudence since it was much more likely that
his address would not be allowed of than that it would 

and thus was he admitted to converse with our family almost upon his own
terms for while my friends saw nothing in his behaviour but what was
extremely respectful and observed in him no violent importunity 
they seemed to have taken a great liking to his conversation while i
considered him only as a common guest when he came and thought myself
no more concerned in his visits not at his entrance and departure than
any other of the family 

but this indifference on my side was the means of procuring him one
very great advantage since upon it was grounded that correspondence by
letters which succeeded and which had it been to be begun when the
family animosity broke out would never have been entered into on my
part the occasion was this 

my uncle hervey has a young gentleman intrusted to his care whom he has
thoughts of sending abroad a year or two hence to make the grand tour 
as it is called and finding mr lovelace could give a good account
of every thing necessary for a young traveller to observe upon such an
occasion he desired him to write down a description of the courts and
countries he had visited and what was most worthy of curiosity in them 

he consented on condition that i would direct his subjects as he
called it and as every one had heard his manner of writing commended 
and thought his narratives might be agreeable amusements in winter
evenings and that he could have no opportunity particularly to address
me directly in them since they were to be read in full assembly before
they were given to the young gentleman i made the less scruple to
write and to make observations and put questions for our further
information still the less perhaps as i love writing and those who do 
are fond you know of occasions to use the pen and then having
ever one's consent and my uncle hervey's desire that i would write 
i thought that if i had been the only scrupulous person it would have
shewn a particularity that a vain man might construe to his advantage 
and which my sister would not fail to animadvert upon 

you have seen some of these letters and have been pleased with this
account of persons places and things and we have both agreed that he
was no common observer upon what he had seen 

my sister allowed that the man had a tolerable knack of writing and
describing and my father who had been abroad in his youth said that
his remarks were curious and shewed him to be a person of reading 
judgment and taste 

thus was a kind of correspondence begun between him and me with general
approbation while every one wondered at and was pleased with his
patient veneration of me for so they called it however it was not
doubted but he would soon be more importunate since his visits were
more frequent and he acknowledged to my aunt hervey a passion for me 
accompanied with an awe that he had never known before to which he
attributed what he called his but seeming acquiescence with my father's
pleasure and the distance i kept him at and yet my dear this may be
his usual manner of behaviour to our sex for had not my sister at first
all his reverence 

mean time my father expecting his importunity kept in readiness the
reports he had heard in his disfavour to charge them upon him then as
so many objections to address and it was highly agreeable to me that he
did so it would have been strange if it were not since the person who
could reject mr wyerley's address for the sake of his free opinions 
must have been inexcusable had she not rejected another's for his freer
practices 

but i should own that in the letters he sent me upon the general
subject he more than once inclosed a particular one declaring his
passionate regards for me and complaining with fervour enough of my
reserves but of these i took not the least notice for as i had not
written to him at all but upon a subject so general i thought it was
but right to let what he wrote upon one so particular pass off as if i
had never seen it and the rather as i was not then at liberty from
the approbation his letters met with to break off the correspondence 
unless i had assigned the true reason for doing so besides with all
his respectful assiduities it was easy to observe if it had not been
his general character that his temper is naturally haughty and violent 
and i had seen too much of that untractable spirit in my brother to like
it in one who hoped to be still more nearly related to me 

i had a little specimen of this temper of his upon the very occasion i
have mentioned for after he had sent me a third particular letter with
the general one he asked me the next time he came to harlowe-place 
if i had not received such a one from him i told him i should never
answer one so sent and that i had waited for such an occasion as he had
now given me to tell him so i desired him therefore not to write again
on the subject assuring him that if he did i would return both and
never write another line to him 

you can't imagine how saucily the man looked as if in short he was
disappointed that he had not made a more sensible impression upon me 
nor when he recollected himself as he did immediately what a visible
struggle it cost him to change his haughty airs for more placid ones 
but i took no notice of either for i thought it best to convince him 
by the coolness and indifference with which i repulsed his forward hopes
 at the same time intending to avoid the affectation of pride or
vanity that he was not considerable enough in my eyes to make me take
over-ready offence at what he said or at his haughty looks in other
words that i had not value enough for him to treat him with peculiarity
either by smiles or frowns indeed he had cunning enough to give me 
undesignedly a piece of instruction which taught me this caution for
he had said in conversation once that if a man could not make a woman
in courtship own herself pleased with him it was as much and oftentimes
more to his purpose to make her angry with him 

i must break off here but will continue the subject the very first
opportunity mean time i am

your most affectionate friend and servant cl harlowe 




letter iv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe jan 15 


such my dear was the situation mr lovelace and i were in when my
brother arrived from scotland 

the moment mr lovelace's visits were mentioned to him he without
either hesitation or apology expressed his disapprobation of them he
found great flaws in his character and took the liberty to say in so
many words that he wondered how it came into the heads of his uncles
to encourage such a man for either of his sisters at the same time
returning his thanks to my father for declining his consent till he
arrived in such a manner i thought as a superior would do when he
commended an inferior for having well performed his duty in his absence 

he justified his avowed inveteracy by common fame and by what he had
known of him at college declaring that he had ever hated him ever
should hate him and would never own him for a brother or me for a
sister if i married him 

that early antipathy i have heard accounted for in this manner 

mr lovelace was always noted for his vivacity and courage and no less 
it seems for the swift and surprising progress he made in all parts of
literature for diligence in his studies in the hours of study he
had hardly his equal this it seems was his general character at the
university and it gained him many friends among the more learned while
those who did not love him feared him by reason of the offence his
vivacity made him too ready to give and of the courage he shewed in
supporting the offence when given which procured him as many followers
as he pleased among the mischievous sort no very amiable character 
you'll say upon the whole 

but my brother's temper was not more happy his native haughtiness could
not bear a superiority so visible and whom we fear more than love we
are not far from hating and having less command of his passions than
the other he was evermore the subject of his perhaps indecent
ridicule so that every body either from love or fear siding with his
antagonist he had a most uneasy time of it while both continued in the
same college it was the less wonder therefore that a young man who is
not noted for the gentleness of his temper should resume an antipathy
early begun and so deeply rooted 

he found my sister who waited but for the occasion ready to join him
in his resentments against the man he hated she utterly disclaimed
all manner of regard for him never liked him at all his estate was
certainly much incumbered it was impossible it should be otherwise so
entirely devoted as he was to his pleasures he kept no house had no
equipage nobody pretended that he wanted pride the reason therefore
was easy to be guessed at  and then did she boast of and my brother
praised her for refusing him and both joined on all occasions to
depreciate him and not seldom made the occasions their displeasure
against him causing every subject to run into this if it began not with
it 

i was not solicitous to vindicate him when i was not joined in their
reflection i told them i did not value him enough to make a difference
in the family on his account and as he was supposed to have given
much cause for their ill opinion of him i thought he ought to take the
consequence of his own faults 

now and then indeed when i observed that their vehemence carried them
beyond all bounds of probability in their charges against him i thought
it but justice to put in a word for him but this only subjected me
to reproach as having a prepossession in his favour which i would not
own so that when i could not change the subject i used to retire
either to my music or to my closet 

their behaviour to him when they could not help seeing him was very
cold and disobliging but as yet not directly affrontive for they were
in hopes of prevailing upon my father to forbid his visits but as there
was nothing in his behaviour that might warrant such a treatment of
a man of his birth and fortune they succeeded not and then they were
very earnest with me to forbid them i asked what authority i had to
take such a step in my father's house and when my behaviour to him was
so distant that he seemed to be as much the guest of any other person
of the family themselves excepted as mine in revenge they told me 
that it was cunning management between us and that we both understood
one another better than we pretended to do and at last they gave such a
loose to their passions all of a sudden as i may say that instead of
withdrawing as they used to do when he came they threw themselves in
his way purposely to affront him 


 the reason of this their more openly shown animosity is
 given in letter xiii 


mr lovelace you may believe very ill brooked this but nevertheless
contented himself to complain of it to me in high terms however 
telling me that but for my sake my brother's treatment of him was not
to be borne 

i was sorry for the merit this gave him in his own opinion with me and
the more as some of the affronts he received were too flagrant to be
excused but i told him that i was determined not to fall out with
my brother if i could help it whatever faults he had and since they
could not see one another with temper should be glad that he would not
throw himself in my brother's way and i was sure my brother would not
seek him 

he was very much nettled at this answer but said he must bear his
affronts if i would have it so he had been accused himself of violence
in his temper but he hoped to shew on this occasion that he had a
command of his passions which few young men so highly provoked would
be able to shew and doubted not but it would be attributed to a proper
motive by a person of my generosity and penetration 

my brother had just before with the approbation of my uncles employed
a person related to a discharged bailiff or steward of lord m who had
had the management of some part of mr lovelace's affairs from which
he was also dismissed by him to inquire into his debts after his
companions into his amours and the like 

my aunt hervey in confidence gave me the following particulars of what
the man had said of him 

that he was a generous landlord that he spared nothing for solid and
lasting improvements upon his estate and that he looked into his own
affairs and understood them that he had been very expensive when
abroad and contracted a large debt for he made no secret of his
affairs yet chose to limit himself to an annual sum and to decline
equipage in order to avoid being obliged to his uncle and aunts from
whom he might have what money he pleased but that he was very jealous
of their controul had often quarrels with them and treated them so
freely that they were all afraid of him however that his estate was
never mortgaged as my brother had heard it was his credit was always
high and the man believed he was by this time near upon if not quite 
clear of the world 

he was a sad gentleman he said as to women if his tenants had
pretty daughters they chose to keep them out of his sight he believed
he kept no particular mistress for he had heard newelty that was the
man's word was every thing with him but for his uncle's and aunt's
teazings the man fancied he would not think of marriage he was never
known to be disguised with liquor but was a great plotter and a great
writer that he lived a wild life in town by what he had heard had six
or seven companions as bad as himself whom now and then he brought down
with him and the country was always glad when they went up again he
would have it that although passionate he was good-humoured loved
as well to take a jest as to give one and would rally himself upon
occasion the freest of any man he ever knew 

this was his character from an enemy for as my aunt observed every
thing the man said commendably of him came grudgingly with a must needs
say to do him justice etc while the contrary was delivered with a free
good-will and this character as a worse was expected though this was
bad enough not answering the end of inquiring after it my brother and
sister were more apprehensive than before that his address would be
encouraged since the worst part of it was known or supposed when he
was first introduced to my sister 

but with regard to myself i must observe in his disfavour that 
notwithstanding the merit he wanted to make with me for his patience
upon my brother's ill-treatment of him i owed him no compliments
for trying to conciliate with him not that i believe it would have
signified any thing if he had made ever such court either to him or to
my sister yet one might have expected from a man of his politeness and
from his pretensions you know that he would have been willing to try 
instead of which he shewed such a contempt both of my brother and my
sister especially my brother as was construed into a defiance of
them and for me to have hinted at an alteration in his behaviour to my
brother was an advantage i knew he would have been proud of and which
therefore i had no mind to give him but i doubted not that having so
very little encouragement from any body his pride would soon take fire 
and he would of himself discontinue his visits or go to town where 
till he came acquainted with our family he used chiefly to reside and
in this latter case he had no reason to expect that i would receive 
much less answer his letters the occasions which had led me to receive
any of his being by this time over 

but my brother's antipathy would not permit him to wait for such an
event and after several excesses which mr lovelace still returned
with contempt and a haughtiness too much like that of the aggressor my
brother took upon himself to fill up the door-way once when he came as
if to oppose his entrance and upon his asking for me demanded what
his business was with his sister 

the other with a challenging air as my brother says told him he
would answer a gentleman any question but he wished that mr james
harlowe who had of late given himself high airs would remember that he
was not now at college 

just then the good dr lewen who frequently honours me with a visit of
conversation as he is pleased to call it and had parted with me in my
own parlour came to the door and hearing the words interposed both
having their hands upon their swords and telling mr lovelace where
i was he burst by my brother to come to me leaving him chafing he
said like a hunted boar at bay 

this alarmed us all my father was pleased to hint to mr lovelace 
that he wished he would discontinue his visits for the peace-sake of the
family and i by his command spoke a great deal plainer 

but mr lovelace is a man not easily brought to give up his purpose 
especially in a point wherein he pretends his heart is so much engaged 
and no absolute prohibition having been given things went on for a
little while as before for i saw plainly that to have denied myself to
his visits which however i declined receiving as often as i could was
to bring forward some desperate issue between the two since the offence
so readily given on one side was brooked by the other only out of
consideration to me 

and thus did my brother's rashness lay me under an obligation where i
would least have owed it 

the intermediate proposals of mr symmes and mr mullins both in turn 
encouraged by my brother induced him to be more patient for a while 
as nobody thought me over-forward in mr lovelace's favour for he hoped
that he should engage my father and uncles to approve of the one or the
other in opposition to the man he hated but when he found that i
had interest enough to disengage myself from the addresses of those
gentlemen as i had before he went to scotland and before mr lovelace
visited here of mr wyerley's he then kept no measures and first set
himself to upbraid me for supposed prepossession which he treated as
if it were criminal and then to insult mr lovelace in person at mr 
edward symmes's the brother of the other symmes two miles off and
no good dr lewen being there to interpose the unhappy rencounter
followed my brother was disarmed as you have heard and on being
brought home and giving us ground to suppose he was much worse hurt
than he really was and a fever ensuing every one flamed out and all
was laid at my door 

mr lovelace for three days together sent twice each day to inquire
after my brother's health and although he received rude and even
shocking returns he thought fit on the fourth day to make in person
the same inquiries and received still greater incivilities from my two
uncles who happened to be both there my father also was held by force
from going to him with his sword in his hand although he had the gout
upon him 

i fainted away with terror seeing every one so violent and hearing mr 
lovelace swear that he would not depart till he had made my uncles ask
his pardon for the indignities he had received at their hands a door
being held fast locked between him and them my mother all the time
was praying and struggling to with-hold my father in the great parlour 
meanwhile my sister who had treated mr lovelace with virulence came
in to me and insulted me as fast as i recovered but when mr lovelace
was told how ill i was he departed nevertheless vowing revenge 

he was ever a favourite with our domestics his bounty to them and
having always something facetious to say to each had made them all of
his party and on this occasion they privately blamed every body else 
and reported his calm and gentlemanly behaviour till the provocations
given him ran very high in such favourable terms that those reports 
and my apprehensions of the consequence of this treatment induced me to
read a letter he sent me that night and it being written in the most
respectful terms offering to submit the whole to my decision and to
govern himself entirely by my will to answer it some days after 

to this unhappy necessity was owing our renewed correspondence as i
may call it yet i did not write till i had informed myself from mr 
symmes's brother that he was really insulted into the act of drawing
his sword by my brother's repeatedly threatening upon his excusing
himself out of regard to me to brand me ir he did not and by all the
inquiry i could make that he was again the sufferer from my uncles in a
more violent manner than i have related 

the same circumstances were related to my father and other relations by
mr symmes but they had gone too far in making themselves parties
to the quarrel either to retract or forgive and i was forbidden to
correspond with him or to be seen a moment in his company 

one thing however i can say but that in confidence because my mother
commanded me not to mention it that expressing her apprehension of
the consequences of the indignities offered to mr lovelace she told
me she would leave it to my prudence to do all i could to prevent the
impending mischief on one side 

i am obliged to break off but i believe i have written enough to answer
very fully all that you have required of me it is not for a child
to seek to clear her own character or to justify her actions at the
expense of the most revered ones yet as i know that the account of
all those further proceedings by which i may be affected will be
interesting to so dear a friend who will communicate to others no more
than what is fitting i will continue to write as i have opportunity 
as minutely as we are used to write to each other indeed i have
no delight as i have often told you equal to that which i take in
conversing with you by letter when i cannot in person 

mean time i cannot help saying that i am exceedingly concerned to
find that i am become so much the public talk as you tell me i am your
kind your precautionary regard for my fame and the opportunity you
have given me to tell my own story previous to any new accident which
heaven avert is so like the warm friend i have ever found in my dear
miss howe that with redoubled obligation you bind me to be

your ever grateful and affectionate clarissa harlowe 


copy of the requested preamble to the clauses in her grandfather's will 
inclosed in the preceding letter 


as the particular estate i have mentioned and described above is
principally of my own raising as my three sons have been uncommonly
prosperous and are very rich the eldest by means of the unexpected
benefits he reaps from his new found mines the second by what has as
unexpectedly fallen in to him on the deaths of several relations of
his present wife the worthy daughter by both sides of very honourable
families over and above the very large portion which he received with
her in marriage my son antony by his east-india traffic and successful
voyages as furthermore my grandson james will be sufficiently provided
for by his grandmother lovell's kindness to him who having no near
relations hath assured me that she hath as well by deed of gift as
by will left him both her scottish and english estates for never
was there a family more prosperous in all its branches blessed be god
therefore and as my said son james will very probably make it up to
my grand-daughter arabella to whom i intend no disrespect nor have
reason for she is a very hopeful and dutiful child and as my sons 
john and antony seem not inclined to a married life so that my son
james is the only one who has children or is likely to have any for
all these reasons and because my dearest and beloved grand-daughter
clarissa hath been from her infancy a matchless young creature in her
duty to me and admired by all who knew her as a very extraordinary
child i must therefore take the pleasure of considering her as my own
peculiar child and this without intending offence and i hope it
will not be taken as any since my son james can bestow his favours
accordingly and in greater proportion upon his son james and upon his
daughter arabella 

these i say are the reasons which move me to dispose of the
above-described estate in the precious child's favour who is the
delight of my old age and i verily think has contributed by her
amiable duty and kind and tender regards to prolong my life 

wherefore it is my express will and commandment and i enjoin my said
three sons john james and antony and my grandson james and my
grand-daughter arabella as they value my blessing and will regard my
memory and would wish their own last wills and desires to be fulfilled
by their survivors that they will not impugn or contest the following
bequests and devises in favour of my said grand-daughter clarissa 
although they should not be strictly conformable to law or to the forms
thereof nor suffer them to be controverted or disputed on any pretence
whatsoever 

and in this confidence etc etc etc 




letter v

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe jan 20


i have been hindered from prosecuting my intention neither nights nor
mornings have been my own my mother has been very ill and would have
no other nurse but me i have not stirred from her bedside for she kept
her bed and two nights i had the honour of sharing it with her 

her disorder was a very violet colic the contentions of these fierce 
these masculine spirits and the apprehension of mischiefs that may
arise from the increasing animosity which all here have against mr 
lovelace and his too well known resenting and intrepid character she
cannot bear then the foundations laid as she dreads for jealousy and
heart-burnings in her own family late so happy and so united afflict
exceedingly a gentle and sensible mind which has from the beginning on
all occasions sacrificed its own inward satisfaction to outward peace 
my brother and sister who used very often to jar are now so entirely
one and are so much together caballing was the word that dropt from
my mother's lips as if at unawares that she is very fearful of the
consequences that may follow to my prejudice perhaps is her kind
concern since she sees that they behave to me every hour with more and
more shyness and reserve yet would she but exert that authority which
the superiority of her fine talents gives her all these family feuds
might perhaps be extinguished in their but yet beginnings especially as
she may be assured that all fitting concessions shall be made by me 
not only as my brother and sister are my elders but for the sake of so
excellent and so indulgent a mother 

for if i may say to you my dear what i would not to any other person
living it is my opinion that had she been of a temper that would have
borne less she would have had ten times less to bear than she has had 
no commendation you'll say of the generosity of those spirits which
can turn to its own disquiet so much condescending goodness 

upon my word i am sometimes tempted to think that we may make the world
allow for and respect us as we please if we can but be sturdy in our
wills and set out accordingly it is but being the less beloved for it 
that's all and if we have power to oblige those we have to do with it
will not appear to us that we are our flatterers will tell us any thing
sooner than our faults or what they know we do not like to hear 

were there not truth in this observation is it possible that my brother
and sister could make their very failings their vehemences of such
importance to all the family how will my son how will my nephew take
this or that measure what will he say to it let us consult him about
it  are references always previous to every resolution taken by his
superiors whose will ought to be his well may he expect to be treated
with this deference by every other person when my father himself 
generally so absolute constantly pays it to him and the more since his
godmother's bounty has given independence to a spirit that was before
under too little restraint but whither may these reflections lead
me i know you do not love any of us but my mother and me and being
above all disguises make me sensible that you do not oftener than i
wish ought i then to add force to your dislikes of those whom i wish
you to like of my father especially for he alas has some excuse
for his impatience of contradiction he is not naturally an ill-tempered
man and in his person and air and in his conversation too when not
under the torture of a gouty paroxysm every body distinguishes the
gentleman born and educated 

our sex perhaps must expect to bear a little uncourtliness shall i call
it from the husband whom as the lover they let know the preference
their hearts gave him to all other men say what they will of
generosity being a manly virtue but upon my word my dear i have ever
yet observed that it is not to be met with in that sex one time in ten
that it is to be found in ours but my father was soured by the cruel
distemper i have named which seized him all at once in the very prime
of life in so violent a manner as to take from the most active of
minds as his was all power of activity and that in all appearance for
life it imprisoned as i may say his lively spirits in himself 
and turned the edge of them against his own peace his extraordinary
prosperity adding to his impatiency those i believe who want the
fewest earthly blessings most regret that they want any 

but my brother what excuse can be made for his haughty and morose
temper he is really my dear i am sorry to have occasion to say it an
ill-temper'd young man and treats my mother sometimes indeed he is not
dutiful but possessing every thing he has the vice of age mingled
with the ambition of youth and enjoys nothing but his own haughtiness
and ill-temper i was going to say yet again am i adding force to your
dislikes of some of us once my dear it was perhaps in your power to
have moulded him as you pleased could you have been my sister then
had i friend in a sister but no wonder that he does not love you now 
who could nip in the bud and that with a disdain let me say too
much of kin to his haughtiness a passion that would not have wanted
a fervour worthy of the object and which possibly would have made him
worthy 

but no more of this i will prosecute my former intention in my next 
which i will sit down to as soon as breakfast is over dispatching this
by the messenger whom you have so kindly sent to inquire after us on my
silence mean time i am 


your most affectionate and obliged friend and servant cl harlowe 




letter vi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe harlowe-place jan 20 


i will now resume my narrative of proceedings here my brother being
in a good way although you may be sure that his resentments are rather
heightened than abated by the galling disgrace he has received my
friends my father and uncles however if not my brother and sister 
begin to think that i have been treated unkindly my mother been so good
as to tell me this since i sent away my last 

nevertheless i believe they all think that i receive letters from mr 
lovelace but lord m being inclined rather to support than to blame his
nephew they seem to be so much afraid of mr lovelace that they do
not put it to me whether i do or not conniving on the contrary as it
should seem at the only method left to allay the vehemence of a spirit
which they have so much provoked for he still insists upon satisfaction
from my uncles and this possibly for he wants not art as the best way
to be introduced again with some advantage into our family and indeed
my aunt hervey has put it to my mother whether it were not best to
prevail upon my brother to take a turn to his yorkshire estate which he
was intending to do before and to stay there till all is blown over 

but this is very far from being his intention for he has already
began to hint again that he shall never be easy or satisfied till i
am married and finding neither mr symmes nor mr mullins will be
accepted has proposed mr wyerley once more on the score of his
great passion for me this i have again rejected and but yesterday he
mentioned one who has applied to him by letter making high offers this
is mr solmes rich solmes you know they call him but this application
has not met with the attention of one single soul 

if none of his schemes of getting me married take effect he has
thoughts i am told of proposing to me to go to scotland that as the
compliment is i may put his house there in such order as our own is in 
but this my mother intends to oppose for her own sake because having
relieved her as she is pleased to say of the household cares for
which my sister you know has no turn they must again devolve upon her
if i go and if she did not oppose it i should for believe me i have
no mind to be his housekeeper and i am sure were i to go with him i
should be treated rather as a servant than a sister perhaps not the
better because i am his sister and if mr lovelace should follow me 
things might be worse than they are now 

but i have besought my mother who is apprehensive of mr lovelace's
visits and for fear of whom my uncles never stir out without arms and
armed servants my brother also being near well enough to go abroad 
to procure me permission to be your guest for a fortnight or so will
your mother think you my dear give me leave 

i dare not ask to go to my dairy-house as my good grandfather would
call it for i am now afraid of being thought to have a wish to enjoy
that independence to which his will has entitled me and as matter are
situated such a wish would be imputed to my regard to the man to whom
they have now so great an antipathy and indeed could i be as easy and
happy here as i used to be i would defy that man and all his sex and
never repent that i have given the power of my fortune into my father's
hands 


 


just now my mother has rejoiced me with the news that my requested
permission is granted every one thinks it best that i should go to you 
except my brother but he was told that he must not expect to rule in
every thing i am to be sent for into the great parlour where are my
two uncles and my aunt hervey and to be acquainted with this concession
in form 

you know my dear that there is a good deal of solemnity among us 
but never was there a family more united in its different branches than
ours our uncles consider us as their own children and declare that it
is for our sakes that they live single so that they are advised
with upon every article relating to us or that may affect us it is
therefore the less wonder at a time when they understand that mr 
lovelace is determined to pay us an amicable visit as he calls it but
which i am sure cannot end amicably that they should both be consulted
upon the permission i had desired to attend you 


 


i will acquaint you with what passed at the general leave given me to be
your guest and yet i know that you will not love my brother the better
for my communication but i am angry with him myself and cannot help
it and besides it is proper to let you know the terms i go upon and
their motives for permitting me to go 

clary said my mother as soon as i entered the great parlour your
request to go to miss howe's for a few days has been taken into
consideration and granted 

much against my liking i assure you said my brother rudely
interrupting her 

son james said my father and knit his brows 

he was not daunted his arm was in a sling he often has the mean art
to look upon that when any thing is hinted that may be supposed to lead
toward the least favour to or reconciliation with mr lovelace let the
girl then  i am often the girl with him  be prohibited seeing that vile
libertine 

nobody spoke 

do you hear sister clary taking their silence for approbation of what
he had dictated you are not to receive visits from lord m s nephew 

every one still remained silent 

do you so understand the license you have miss interrogated he 

i would be glad sir said i to understand that you are my
brother and that you would understand that you are only my brother 

o the fond fond heart with a sneer of insult lifting up his hands 

sir said i to my father to your justice i appeal if i have deserved
reflection let me be not spared but if i am to be answerable for the
rashness 

no more no more of either side said my father you are not to receive
the visits of that lovelace though nor are you son james to reflect
upon your sister she is a worthy child 

sir i have done replied he and yet i have her honour at heart as
much as the honour of the rest of the family 

and hence sir retorted i your unbrotherly reflections upon me 

well but you observe miss said he that it is not i but your father 
that tells you that you are not to receive the visits of that lovelace 

cousin harlowe said my aunt hervey allow me to say that my cousin
clary's prudence may be confided in 

i am convinced it may joined my mother 

but aunt but madam put in my sister there is no hurt i presume in
letting my sister know the condition she goes to miss howe upon since 
if he gets a nack of visiting her there 

you may be sure interrupted my uncle harlowe he will endeavour to see
her there 

so would such an impudent man here said my uncle antony and tis
better done there than here 

better no where said my father i command you turning to me on pain
of displeasure that you see him not at all 

i will not sir in any way of encouragement i do assure you not at
all if i can properly avoid it 

you know with what indifference said my mother she has hitherto seen
him her prudence may be trusted to as my sister hervey says 

with what appa rent indifference drawled my brother 

son james said my father sternly 

i have done sir said he but again in a provoking manner he reminded
me of the prohibition 

thus ended the conference 

will you engage my dear that the hated man shall not come near your
house but what an inconsistence is this when they consent to my
going thinking his visits here no otherwise to be avoided but if he
does come i charge you never to leave us alone together 

as i have no reason to doubt a welcome from your good mother i will put
every thing in order here and be with you in two or three days 

mean time i am your most affectionate and obliged clarissa harlowe 




letter vii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  after her return from her  
harlowe-place feb 20 


i beg your excuse for not writing sooner alas my dear i have sad
prospects before me my brother and sister have succeeded in all their
views they have found out another lover for me an hideous one yet
he is encouraged by every body no wonder that i was ordered home so
suddenly at an hour's warning no other notice you know than what
was brought with the chariot that was to carry me back it was for
fear as i have been informed  an unworthy fear   that i should have
entered into any concert with mr lovelace had i known their motive for
commanding me home apprehending tis evident that i should dislike
the man they had to propose to me 

and well might they apprehend so for who do you think he is no
other than that solmes could you have believed it and they are all
determined too my mother with the rest dear dear excellence how
could she be thus brought over when i am assured that on his first
being proposed she was pleased to say that had mr solmes the indies
in possession and would endow me with them she should not think him
deserving of her clarissa 

the reception i met with at my return so different from what i used to
meet with on every little absence  and now i had been from them three
weeks  convinced me that i was to suffer for the happiness i had had
in your company and conversation for that most agreeable period i will
give you an account of it 

my brother met me at the door and gave me his hand when i stepped out
of the chariot he bowed very low pray miss favour me i thought it
in good humour but found it afterwards mock respect and so he led
me in great form i prattling all the way inquiring of every body's
health although i was so soon to see them and there was hardly time
for answers into the great parlour where were my father mother my
two uncles and sister 

i was struck all of a heap as soon as i entered to see a solemnity
which i had been so little used to on the like occasions in the
countenance of every dear relation they all kept their seats i ran
to my father and kneeled then to my mother and met from both a cold
salute from my father a blessing but half pronounced my mother indeed
called me child but embraced me not with her usual indulgent ardour 

after i had paid my duty to my uncles and my compliments to my sister 
which she received with solemn and stiff form i was bid to sit down 
but my heart was full and i said it became me to stand if i could
stand upon a reception so awful and unusual i was forced to turn my
face from them and pull out my handkerchief 

my unbrotherly accuser hereupon stood forth and charged me with having
received no less than five or six visits at miss howe's from the
man they had all so much reason to hate  that was the expression  
notwithstanding the commands i had had to the contrary and he bid me
deny it if i could 

i had never been used i said to deny the truth nor would i now i
owned i had in the three weeks passed seen the person i presumed he
meant oftener than five or six times  pray hear me brother said i for
he was going to flame out  but he always asked for mrs or miss howe 
when he came 

i proceeded that i had reason to believe that both mrs howe and miss 
as matters stood would much rather have excused his visits but they
had more than once apologized that having not the same reason my papa
had to forbid him their house his rank and fortune entitled him to
civility 

you see my dear i made not the pleas i might have made 

my brother seemed ready to give a loose to his passion my father put
on the countenance which always portends a gathering storm my uncles
mutteringly whispered and my sister aggravatingly held up her hands 
while i begged to be heard out and my mother said let the child that
was her kind word be heard 

i hoped i said there was no harm done that it became not me to
prescribe to mrs or miss howe who should be their visitors that mrs 
howe was always diverted with the raillery that passed between miss and
him that i had no reason to challenge her guest for my visitor as i
should seem to have done had i refused to go into their company when he
was with them that i had never seen him out of the presence of one or
both of those ladies and had signified to him once on his urging a
few moments' private conversation with me that unless a reconciliation
were effected between my family and his he must not expect that i would
countenance his visits much less give him an opportunity of that sort 

i told him further that miss howe so well understood my mind that she
never left me a moment while mr lovelace was there that when he came 
if i was not below in the parlour i would not suffer myself to be
called to him although i thought it would be an affectation which would
give him an advantage rather than the contrary if i had left company
when he came in or refused to enter into it when i found he would stay
any time 

my brother heard me out with such a kind of impatience as shewed he was
resolved to be dissatisfied with me say what i would the rest as the
event has proved behaved as if they would have been satisfied had
they not further points to carry by intimidating me all this made it
evident as i mentioned above that they themselves expected not my
voluntary compliance and was a tacit confession of the disagreeableness
of the person they had to propose 

i was no sooner silent than my brother swore although in my father's
presence swore unchecked either by eye or countenance that for his
part he would never be reconciled to that libertine and that he would
renounce me for a sister if i encouraged the addresses of a man so
obnoxious to them all 

a man who had like to have been my brother's murderer my sister said 
with a face even bursting with restraint of passion 

the poor bella has you know a plump high-fed face if i may be allowed
the expression you i know will forgive me for this liberty of speech
sooner than i can forgive myself yet how can one be such a reptile as
not to turn when trampled upon 

my father with vehemence both of action and voice  my father has you
know a terrible voice when he is angry  told me that i had met with too
much indulgence in being allowed to refuse this gentleman and the other
gentleman and it was now his turn to be obeyed 

very true my mother said and hoped his will would not now be disputed
by a child so favoured 

to shew they were all of a sentiment my uncle harlowe said he hoped
his beloved niece only wanted to know her father's will to obey it 

and my uncle antony in his rougher manner added that surely i would
not give them reason to apprehend that i thought my grandfather's
favour to me had made me independent of them all if i did he would
tell me the will could be set aside and should 

i was astonished you must needs think whose addresses now thought i 
is this treatment preparative to mr wyerley's again or whose and
then as high comparisons where self is concerned sooner than low 
come into young people's heads be it for whom it will this is wooing
as the english did for the heiress of scotland in the time of edward
the sixth but that it could be for solmes how should it enter into my
head 

i did not know i said that i had given occasion for this harshness 
i hoped i should always have a just sense of every one's favour to me 
superadded to the duty i owed as a daughter and a niece but that i was
so much surprised at a reception so unusual and unexpected that i hoped
my papa and mamma would give me leave to retire in order to recollect
myself 

no one gainsaying i made my silent compliments and withdrew leaving
my brother and sister as i thought pleased and as if they wanted to
congratulate each other on having occasioned so severe a beginning to be
made with me 

i went up to my chamber and there with my faithful hannah deplored the
determined face which the new proposal it was plain they had to make me
wore 

i had not recovered myself when i was sent for down to tea i begged
my maid to be excused attending but on the repeated command went down
with as much cheerfulness as i could assume and had a new fault to
clear myself of for my brother so pregnant a thing is determined
ill-will by intimations equally rude and intelligible charged my
desire of being excused coming down to sullens because a certain
person had been spoken against upon whom as he supposed my fancy ran 

i could easily answer you sir said i as such a reflection deserves 
but i forbear if i do not find a brother in you you shall have a
sister in me 

pretty meekness bella whisperingly said looking at my brother and
lifting up her lip in contempt 

he with an imperious air bid me deserve his love and i should be sure
to have it 

as we sat my mother in her admirable manner expatiated upon brotherly
and sisterly love indulgently blamed my brother and sister for having
taken up displeasure too lightly against me and politically if i may
say so answered for my obedience to my father's will the it would be
all well my father was pleased to say then they should dote upon me 
was my brother's expression love me as well as ever was my sister's 
and my uncles that i then should be the pride of their hearts but 
alas what a forfeiture of all these must i make 

this was the reception i had on my return from you 

mr solmes came in before we had done tea my uncle antony presented
him to me as a gentleman he had a particular friendship for my uncle
harlowe in terms equally favourable for him my father said mr solmes
is my friend clarissa harlowe my mother looked at him and looked at
me now-and-then as he sat near me i thought with concern i at her 
with eyes appealing for pity at him when i could glance at him with
disgust little short of affrightment while my brother and sister mr 
solmes'd him and sirr'd yet such a wretch but i will at present only
add my humble thanks and duty to your honoured mother to whom i will
particularly write to express the grateful sense i have of her goodness
to me and that i am

your ever obliged cl harlowe 




letter viii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe feb 24 


they drive on here at a furious rate the man lives here i think 
he courts them and is more and more a favourite such terms such
settlements that's the cry 

o my dear that i had not reason to deplore the family fault immensely
rich as they all are but this i may the more unreservedly say to you 
as we have often joined in the same concern i for a father and uncles 
you for a mother in every other respect faultless 

hitherto i seem to be delivered over to my brother who pretends as
great a love to me as ever 

you may believe i have been very sincere with him but he affects
to rally me and not to believe it possible that one so dutiful and
discreet as his sister clary can resolve to disoblige all her friends 

indeed i tremble at the prospect before me for it is evident that they
are strangely determined 

my father and mother industriously avoid giving me opportunity of
speaking to them alone they ask not for my approbation intended as it
should seem to suppose me into their will and with them i shall hope
to prevail or with nobody they have not the interest in compelling me 
as my brother and sister have i say less therefore to them reserving
my whole force for an audience of my father if he will permit me a
patient ear how difficult is it my dear to give a negative where both
duty and inclination join to make one wish to oblige 

i have already stood the shock of three of this man's particular visits 
besides my share in his more general ones and find it is impossible
i should ever endure him he has but a very ordinary share of
understanding is very illiterate knows nothing but the value of
estates and how to improve them and what belongs to land-jobbing and
husbandry yet i am as one stupid i think they have begun so cruelly
with me that i have not spirit enough to assert my own negative 

they had endeavoured it seems to influence my good mrs norton before i
came home so intent are they to carry their point and her opinion
not being to their liking she has been told that she would do well to
decline visiting here for the present yet she is the person of all the
world next to my mother the most likely to prevail upon me were the
measures they are engaged in reasonable measures or such as she could
think so 

my aunt likewise having said that she did not think her niece could ever
be brought to like mr solmes has been obliged to learn another lesson 

i am to have a visit from her to-morrow and since i have refused so
much as to hear from my brother and sister what the noble settlements
are to be she is to acquaint me with the particulars and to receive
from me my determination for my father i am told will not have
patience but to suppose that i shall stand in opposition to his will 

mean time it has been signified to me that it will be acceptable if i
do not think of going to church next sunday 

the same signification was made for me last sunday and i obeyed they
are apprehensive that mr lovelace will be there with design to come
home with me 

help me dear miss howe to a little of your charming spirit i never
more wanted it 

the man this solmes you may suppose has no reason to boast of his
progress with me he has not the sense to say any thing to the purpose 
his courtship indeed is to them and my brother pretends to court me
as his proxy truly i utterly to my brother reject his address but
thinking a person so well received and recommended by all my family 
entitled to good manners all i say against him is affectedly attributed
to coyness and he not being sensible of his own imperfections 
believes that my avoiding him when i can and the reserves i express 
are owing to nothing else for as i said all his courtship is to
them and i have no opportunity of saying no to one who asks me not the
question and so with an air of mannish superiority he seems rather to
pity the bashful girl than to apprehend that he shall not succeed 


february 25 


i have had the expected conference with my aunt 

i have been obliged to hear the man's proposals from her and have been
told also what their motives are for espousing his interest with so much
warmth i am even loth to mention how equally unjust it is for him to
make such offers or for those i am bound to reverence to accept of
them i hate him more than before one great estate is already obtained
at the expense of the relations to it though distant relations my
brother's i mean by his godmother and this has given the hope 
however chimerical that hope of procuring others and that my own at
least may revert to the family and yet in my opinion the world is
but one great family originally it was so what then is this narrow
selfishness that reigns in us but relationship remembered against
relationship forgot 

but here upon my absolute refusal of him upon any terms have i had
a signification made me that wounds me to the heart how can i tell it
you yet i must it is my dear that i must not for a month to come or
till license obtained correspond with any body out of the house 

my brother upon my aunt's report made however as i am informed 
in the gentlest manner and even giving remote hopes which she had no
commission from me to give brought me in authoritative terms the
prohibition 

not to miss howe said i 

no not to miss howe madam tauntingly for have you not acknowledged 
that lovelace is a favourite there 

see my dear miss howe 

and do you think brother this is the way 

do you look to that but your letters will be stopt i can tell
you and away he flung 

my sister came to me soon after sister clary you are going on in a
fine way i understand but as there are people who are supposed to
harden you against your duty i am to tell you that it will be taken
well if you avoid visits or visitings for a week or two till further
order 

can this be from those who have authority 

ask them ask them child with a twirl of her finger i have delivered
my message your father will be obeyed he is willing to hope you to be
all obedience and would prevent all incitements to refractoriness 

i know my duty said i and hope i shall not find impossible condition
annexed to it 

a pert young creature vain and conceited she called me i was the only
judge in my own wise opinion of what was right and fit she for her
part had long seen into my specious ways and now i should shew every
body what i was at bottom 

dear bella said i hands and eyes lifted up why all this dear dear
bella why 

none of your dear dear bella's to me i tell you i see through your
witchcrafts  that was her strange word  and away she flung adding as
she went and so will every body else very quickly i dare say 

bless me said i to myself what a sister have i how have i deserved
this 

then i again regretted my grandfather's too distinguishing goodness to
me 


feb 25 in the evening 


what my brother and sister have said against me i cannot tell but i am
in heavy disgrace with my father 

i was sent for down to tea i went with a very cheerful aspect but had
occasion soon to change it 

such a solemnity in every body's countenance my mother's eyes were
fixed upon the tea-cups and when she looked up it was heavily as if
her eye-lids had weights upon them and then not to me my father sat
half-aside in his elbow-chair that his head might be turned from me 
his hands clasped and waving as it were up and down his fingers 
poor dear gentleman in motion as if angry to the very ends of them my
sister was swelling my brother looked at me with scorn having measured
me as i may say with his eyes as i entered from head to foot my aunt
was there and looked upon me as if with kindness restrained bending
coldly to my compliment to her as she sat and then cast an eye first on
my brother then on my sister as if to give the reason  so i am willing
to construe it  of her unusual stiffness bless me my dear that they
should choose to intimidate rather than invite a mind till now not
thought either unpersuadable or ungenerous 

i took my seat shall i make tea madam to my mother i always used 
you know my dear to make tea 

no a very short sentence in one very short word was the expressive
answer and she was pleased to take the canister in her own hand 

my brother bid the footman who attended leave the room i he said 
will pour out the water 

my heart was up in my mouth i did not know what to do with myself what
is to follow thought i 

just after the second dish out stept my mother a word with you sister
hervey taking her in her hand presently my sister dropt away then my
brother so i was left alone with my father 

he looked so very sternly that my heart failed me as twice or thrice
i would have addressed myself to him nothing but solemn silence on all
hands having passed before 

at last i asked if it were his pleasure that i should pour him out
another dish 

he answered me with the same angry monosyllable which i had received
from my mother before and then arose and walked about the room i
arose too with intent to throw myself at his feet but was too much
overawed by his sternness even to make such an expression of my duty to
him as my heart overflowed with 

at last as he supported himself because of his gout on the back of a
chair i took a little more courage and approaching him besought him
to acquaint me in what i had offended him 

he turned from me and in a strong voice clarissa harlowe said he 
know that i will be obeyed 

god forbid sir that you should not i have never yet opposed your
will 

nor i your whimsies clarissa harlowe interrupted he don't let me
run the fate of all who shew indulgence to your sex to be the more
contradicted for mine to you 

my father you know my dear has not any more than my brother a kind
opinion of our sex although there is not a more condescending wife in
the world than my mother 

i was going to make protestations of duty no protestations girl no
words i will not be prated to i will be obeyed i have no child i
will have no child but an obedient one 

sir you never had reason i hope 

tell me not what i never had but what i have and what i shall have 

good sir be pleased to hear me my brother and sister i fear 

your brother and sister shall not be spoken against girl they have a
just concern for the honour of my family 

and i hope sir 

hope nothing tell me not of hopes but of facts i ask nothing of you
but what is in your power to comply with and what it is your duty to
comply with 

then sir i will comply with it but yet i hope from your goodness 

no expostulations no but's girl no qualifyings i will be obeyed i
tell you and cheerfully too or you are no child of mine 

i wept 

let me beseech you my dear and ever-honoured papa and i dropt down
on my knees that i may have only yours and my mamma's will and not my
brother's to obey 

i was going on but he was pleased to withdraw leaving me on the floor 
saying that he would not hear me thus by subtilty and cunning aiming to
distinguish away my duty repeating that he would be obeyed 

my heart is too full so full that it may endanger my duty were i
to try to unburden it to you on this occasion so i will lay down my
pen but can yet positively i will lay down my pen 




letter ix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe feb 26 in the morning 


my aunt who staid here last night made me a visit this morning as
soon as it was light she tells me that i was left alone with my
father yesterday on purpose that he might talk with me on my expected
obedience but that he owned he was put beside his purpose by reflecting
on something my brother had told him in my disfavour and by his
impatience but to suppose that such a gentle spirit as mine had
hitherto seemed to be should presume to dispute his will in a point
where the advantage of the whole family was to be so greatly promoted by
my compliance 

i find by a few words which dropt unawares from my aunt that they have
all an absolute dependence upon what they suppose to be meekness in my
temper but in this they may be mistaken for i verily think upon a
strict examination of myself that i have almost as much in me of my
father's as of my mother's family 

my uncle harlowe it seems is against driving me upon extremities but
my brother has engaged that the regard i have for my reputation and
my principles will bring me round to my duty that's the expression 
perhaps i shall have reason to wish i had not known this 

my aunt advises me to submit for the present to the interdicts they
have laid me under and indeed to encourage mr solmes's address i have
absolutely refused the latter let what will as i have told her be the
consequence the visiting prohibition i will conform to but as to that
of not corresponding with you nothing but the menace that our letters
shall be intercepted can engage my observation of it 

she believes that this order is from my father and that my mother
has not been consulted upon it she says that it is given as she has
reason think purely in consideration to me lest i should mortally
offend him and this from the incitements of other people meaning you
and miss lloyd i make no doubt rather than by my own will for still 
as she tells me he speaks kind and praiseful things of me 

here is clemency here is indulgence and so it is to prevent a
headstrong child as a good prince would wish to deter disaffected
subjects from running into rebellion and so forfeiting every thing 
but this is allowing to the young-man's wisdom of my brother a plotter
without a head and a brother without a heart 

how happy might i have been with any other brother in the world but
james harlowe and with any other sister but his sister wonder not my
dear that i who used to chide you for these sort of liberties with my
relations now am more undutiful than you ever was unkind i cannot bear
the thought of being deprived of the principal pleasure of my life for
such is your conversation by person and by letter and who besides can
bear to be made the dupe of such low cunning operating with such high
and arrogant passions 

but can you my dear miss howe condescend to carry on a private
correspondence with me if you can there is one way i have thought of 
by which it may be done 

you must remember the green lane as we call it that runs by the side
of the wood-house and poultry-yard where i keep my bantams pheasants 
and pea-hens which generally engage my notice twice a day the more
my favourites because they were my grandfather's and recommended to my
care by him and therefore brought hither from my dairy-house since his
death 

the lane is lower than the floor of the wood-house and in the side of
the wood-house the boards are rotted away down to the floor for half an
ell together in several places hannah can step into the lane and make
a mark with chalk where a letter or parcel may be pushed in under some
sticks which may be so managed as to be an unsuspected cover for the
written deposits from either 


 


i have been just now to look at the place and find it will answer so
your faithful robert may without coming near the house and as only
passing through the green lame which leads to two or three farm-houses
 out of livery if you please  very easily take from thence my letters
and deposit yours 

this place is the more convenient because it is seldom resorted to
but by myself or hannah on the above-mentioned account for it is the
general store-house for firing the wood for constant use being nearer
the house 

one corner of this being separated off for the roosting-place of my
little poultry either she or i shall never want a pretence to go
thither 

try my dear the success of a letter this way and give me your opinion
and advice what to do in this disgraceful situation as i cannot but
call it and what you think of my prospects and what you would do in my
case 

but before-hand i will tell you that your advice must not run in favour
of this solmes and yet it is very likely they will endeavour to engage
your mother in order to induce you who have such an influence over me 
to favour him 

yet on second thoughts if you incline to that side of the question 
i would have you write your whole mind determined as i think i am and
cannot help it i would at least give a patient hearing to what may be
said on the other side for my regards are not so much engaged  upon my
word they are not i know not myself if they be  to another person as
some of my friends suppose and as you giving way to your lively vein 
upon his last visits affected to suppose what preferable favour i
may have for him to any other person is owing more to the usage he has
received and for my sake borne than to any personal consideration 

i write a few lines of grateful acknowledgement to your good mother for
her favours to me in the late happy period i fear i shall never know
such another i hope she will forgive me that i did not write sooner 

the bearer if suspected and examined is to produce that as the only
one he carries 

how do needless watchfulness and undue restraint produce artifice and
contrivance i should abhor these clandestine correspondences were they
not forced upon me they have so mean so low an appearance to myself 
that i think i ought not to expect that you should take part in them 

but why as i have also expostulated with my aunt must i be pushed
into a state which i have no wish to enter into although i reverence
it why should not my brother so many years older and so earnest to
see me engaged be first engaged and why should not my sister be first
provided for 

but here i conclude these unavailing expostulations with the assurance 
that i am and ever will be 

your affectionate clarissa harlowe 




letter x

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe feb 27


what odd heads some people have miss clarissa harlowe to be sacrificed
in marriage to mr roger solmes astonishing 

i must not you say give my advice in favour of this man you now
convince me my dear that you are nearer of kin than i thought you 
to the family that could think of so preposterous a match or you would
never have had the least notion of my advising in his favour 

ask for his picture you know i have a good hand at drawing an ugly
likeness but i'll see a little further first for who knows what may
happen since matters are in such a train and since you have not the
courage to oppose so overwhelming a torrent 

you ask me to help you to a little of my spirit are you in earnest 
but it will not now i doubt do you service it will not sit naturally
upon you you are your mother's girl think what you will and have
violent spirits to contend with alas my dear you should have borrowed
some of mine a little sooner that is to say before you had given the
management of your estate into the hands of those who think they have a
prior claim to it what though a father's has not the father two elder
children and do they not both bear more of his stamp and image than
you do pray my dear call me not to account for this free question 
lest your application of my meaning on examination prove to be as
severe as that 

now i have launched out a little indulge me one word more in the same
strain i will be decent i promise you i think you might have know 
that avarice and envy are two passions that are not to be satisfied the
one by giving the other by the envied person's continuing to deserve
and excel fuel fuel both all the world over to flames insatiate and
devouring 

but since you ask for my opinion you must tell me all you know or
surmise of their inducements and if you will not forbid me to make
extracts from your letters for the entertainment of my aunt and cousin
in the little island who long to hear more of your affairs it will be
very obliging 

but you are so tender of some people who have no tenderness for any body
but themselves that i must conjure you to speak out remember that
a friendship like ours admits of no reserves you may trust my
impartiality it would be an affront to your own judgment if you did
not for do you not ask my advice and have you not taught me that
friendship should never give a bias against justice justify them 
therefore if you can let us see if there be any sense whether
sufficient reason or not in their choice at present i cannot and yet
i know a good deal of your family have any conception how all of them 
your mother and your aunt hervey in particular can join with the rest
against judgments given as to some of the others i cannot wonder at
any thing they do or attempt to do where self is concerned 

you ask why may not your brother be first engaged in wedlock i'll tell
you why his temper and his arrogance are too well known to induce women
he would aspire to to receive his addresses notwithstanding his great
independent acquisitions and still greater prospects let me tell you 
my dear those acquisitions have given him more pride than reputation 
to me he is the most intolerable creature that i ever conversed with 
the treatment you blame he merited from one whom he addressed with the
air of a person who presumes that he is about to confer a favour rather
than to receive one i ever loved to mortify proud and insolent spirits 
what think you makes me bear hickman near me but that the man is
humble and knows and keeps his distance 

as to your question why your elder sister may not be first provided
for i answer because she must have no man but one who has a great and
clear estate that's one thing another is because she has a younger
sister pray my dear be so good as to tell me what man of a great and
clear estate would think of that eldest sister while the younger were
single 

you are all too rich to be happy child for must not each of you by
the constitutions of your family marry to be still richer people who
know in what their main excellence consists are not to be blamed are
they for cultivating and improving what they think most valuable is
true happiness any part of your family view so far from it that none
of your family but yourself could be happy were they not rich so let
them fret on grumble and grudge and accumulate and wondering what
ails them that they have not happiness when they have riches think the
cause is want of more and so go on heaping up till death as greedy an
accumulator as themselves gathers them into his garner 

well then once more i say do you my dear tell me what you know of
their avowed and general motives and i will tell you more than you will
tell me of their failings your aunt hervey you say has told you why
must i ask you to let me know them when you condescend to ask my advice
on the occasion 


 see letter viii 


that they prohibit your corresponding with me is a wisdom i neither
wonder at nor blame them for since it is an evidence to me that they
know their own folly and if they do is it strange that they should be
afraid to trust one another's judgment upon it 

i am glad you have found out a way to correspond with me i approve
it much i shall more if this first trial of it prove successful but
should it not and should it fall into their hands it would not concern
me but for your sake 

we have heard before you wrote that all was not right between your
relations and you at your coming home that mr solmes visited you and
that with a prospect of success but i concluded the mistake lay in the
person and that his address was to miss arabella and indeed had she
been as good-natured as your plump ones generally are i should have
thought her too good for him by half this must certainly be the thing 
thought i and my beloved friend is sent for to advise and assist in her
nuptial preparations who knows said i to my mother but that when
the man has thrown aside his yellow full-buckled peruke and his
broad-brimmed beaver both of which i suppose were sir oliver's best
of long standing he may cut a tolerable figure dangling to church
with miss bell the woman as she observes should excel the man in
features and where can she match so well for a foil 

i indulged this surmise against rumour because i could not believe that
the absurdest people in england could be so very absurd as to think of
this man for you 

we heard moreover that you received no visiters i could assign no
reason for this except that the preparations for your sister were to be
private and the ceremony sudden for fear this man should as another
man did change his mind miss lloyd and miss biddulph were with me to
inquire what i knew of this and of your not being in church either
morning or afternoon the sunday after your return from us to the
disappointment of a little hundred of your admirers to use their words 
it was easy for me to guess the reason to be what you confirm their
apprehensions that lovelace would be there and attempt to wait on you
home 

my mother takes very kindly your compliments in your letter to her her
words upon reading it were miss clarissa harlowe is an admirable young
lady wherever she goes she confers a favour whomever she leaves she
fills with regret  and then a little comparative reflection o my
nancy that you had a little of her sweet obligingness 

no matter the praise was yours you are me and i enjoyed it the more
enjoyed it because shall i tell you the truth because i think myself
as well as i am were it but for this reason that had i twenty brother
james's and twenty sister bell's not one of them nor all of them
joined together would dare to treat me as yours presume to treat you 
the person who will bear much shall have much to bear all the world
through it is your own sentiment grounded upon the strongest instance
that can be given in your own family though you have so little improved
by it 


 letter v 


the result is this that i am fitter for this world than you you for
the next than me that is the difference but long long for my sake 
and for hundreds of sakes may it be before you quit us for company more
congenial to you and more worthy of you 

i communicated to my mother the account you give of your strange
reception also what a horrid wretch they have found out for you and
the compulsory treatment they give you it only set her on magnifying
her lenity to me on my tyrannical behaviour as she will call it
 mothers must have their way you know my dear  to the man whom she so
warmly recommends against whom it seems there can be no just exception 
and expatiating upon the complaisance i owe her for her indulgence so i
believe i must communicate to her nothing farther especially as i know
she would condemn the correspondence between us and that between you
and lovelace as clandestine and undutiful proceedings and divulge our
secret besides for duty implicit is her cry and moreover she lends
a pretty open ear to the preachments of that starch old bachelor your
uncle antony and for an example to her daughter would be more careful
how she takes your part be the cause ever so just 

yet is this not the right policy neither for people who allow nothing
will be granted nothing in other words those who aim at carrying too
many points will not be able to carry any 

but can you divine my dear what the old preachment-making 
plump-hearted soul your uncle antony means by his frequent amblings
hither there is such smirking and smiling between my mother and him 
such mutual praises of economy and that is my way  and this i
do  and i am glad it has your approbation sir  and you look into
every thing madam  nothing would be done if i did not  

such exclamations against servants such exaltings of self and
dear heart and good lack and las a-day and now-and-then their
conversation sinking into a whispering accent if i come across
them i'll tell you my dear i don't above half like it 

only that these old bachelors usually take as many years to resolve upon
matrimony as they can reasonably expect to live or i should be ready
to fire upon his visits and to recommend mr hickman to my mother's
acceptance as a much more eligible man for what he wants in years 
he makes up in gravity and if you will not chide me i will say that
there is a primness in both especially when the man has presumed too
much with me upon my mother's favour for him and is under discipline on
that account as make them seem near of kin and then in contemplation
of my sauciness and what they both fear from it they sigh away and
seem so mightily to compassionate each other that if pity be but one
remove from love i am in no danger while they are both in a great
deal and don't know it 

now my dear i know you will be upon me with your grave airs so in for
the lamb as the saying is in for the sheep and do you yourself look
about you for i'll have a pull with you by way of being aforehand 
hannibal we read always advised to attack the romans upon their own
territories 

you are pleased to say and upon your word too that your regards a
mighty quaint word for affections are not so much engaged as some
of your friends suppose to another person what need you give one to
imagine my dear that the last month or two has been a period extremely
favourable to that other person whom it has made an obliger of the
niece for his patience with the uncles 

but to pass that by so much engaged how much my dear shall i
infer some of your friends suppose a great deal you seem to own a
little 

don't be angry it is all fair because you have not acknowledged to
me that little people i have heard you say who affect secrets always
excite curiosity 

but you proceed with a kind of drawback upon your averment as if
recollection had given you a doubt you know not yourself if they be
 so much engaged  was it necessary to say this to me and to say
it upon your word too but you know best yet you don't neither 
i believe for a beginning love is acted by a subtle spirit and
oftentimes discovers itself to a by-stander when the person possessed
 why should i not call it possessed knows not it has such a demon 

but further you say what preferable favour you may have for him to any
other person is owing more to the usage he has received and for your
sake borne than to any personal consideration 

this is generously said it is in character but o my friend depend
upon it you are in danger depend upon it whether you know it or not 
you are a little in for't your native generosity and greatness of mind
endanger you all your friends by fighting against him with
impolitic violence fight for him and lovelace my life for yours 
notwithstanding all his veneration and assiduities has seen further
than that veneration and those assiduities so well calculated to your
meridian will let him own he has seen has seen in short that his
work is doing for him more effectually than he could do it for himself 
and have you not before now said that nothing is so penetrating as the
eye of a lover who has vanity and who says lovelace wants vanity 

in short my dear it is my opinion and that from the easiness of his
heart and behaviour that he has seen more than i have seen more than
you think could be seen more than i believe you yourself know or else
you would let me know it 

already in order to restrain him from resenting the indignities he has
received and which are daily offered him he has prevailed upon you to
correspond with him privately i know he has nothing to boast of from
what you have written but is not his inducing you to receive his
letters and to answer them a great point gained by your insisting
that he should keep the correspondence private it appears there is one
secret which you do not wish the world should know and he is master of
that secret he is indeed himself as i may say that secret what an
intimacy does this beget for the lover how is it distancing the parent 

yet who as things are situated can blame you your condescension has
no doubt hitherto prevented great mischiefs it must be continued 
for the same reasons while the cause remains you are drawn in by
a perverse fate against inclination but custom with such
laudable purposes will reconcile the inconveniency and make an
inclination and i would advise you as you would wish to manage on an
occasion so critical with that prudence which governs all your actions 
not to be afraid of entering upon a close examination into the true
springs and grounds of this your generosity to that happy man 

it is my humble opinion i tell you frankly that on inquiry it will
come out to be love don't start my dear has not your man himself had
natural philosophy enough to observe already to your aunt hervey that
love takes the deepest root in the steadiest minds the deuce take his
sly penetration i was going to say for this was six or seven weeks
ago 

i have been tinctured you know nor on the coolest reflection could
i account how and when the jaundice began but had been over head and
ears as the saying is but for some of that advice from you which i
now return you yet my man was not half so so what my dear to be sure
lovelace is a charming fellow and were he only but i will not make
you glow as you read upon my word i will not yet my dear don't you
find at your heart somewhat unusual make it go throb throb throb as
you read just here if you do don't be ashamed to own it it is your
generosity my love that's all but as the roman augur said caesar 
beware of the ides of march 

adieu my dearest friend forgive and very speedily by the new found
expedient tell me that you forgive 

your ever-affectionate anna howe 




letter xi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday march 1 


you both nettled and alarmed me my dearest miss howe by the concluding
part of your last at first reading it i did not think it necessary 
said i to myself to guard against a critic when i was writing to so
dear a friend but then recollecting myself is there not more in it 
said i than the result of a vein so naturally lively surely i must
have been guilty of an inadvertence let me enter into the close
examination of myself which my beloved friend advises 

i do so and cannot own any of the glow any of the throbs you
mention upon my word i will repeat i cannot and yet the passages in
my letter upon which you are so humourously severe lay me fairly open
to your agreeable raillery i own they do and i cannot tell what turn
my mind had taken to dictate so oddly to my pen 

but pray now is it saying so much when one who has no very
particular regard to any man says there are some who are preferable to
others and is it blamable to say they are the preferable who are not
well used by one's relations yet dispense with that usage out of regard
to one's self which they would otherwise resent mr lovelace for
instance i may be allowed to say is a man to be preferred to mr 
solmes and that i do prefer him to that man but surely this may be
said without its being a necessary consequence that i must be in love
with him 

indeed i would not be in love with him as it is called for the world 
first because i have no opinion of his morals and think it a fault in
which our whole family my brother excepted has had a share that he
was permitted to visit us with a hope which however being distant 
did not as i have observed heretofore entitle any of us to call
him to account for such of his immoralities as came to our ears next 
because i think him to be a vain man capable of triumphing secretly at
least over a person whose heart he thinks he has engaged and thirdly 
because the assiduities and veneration which you impute to him seem to
carry an haughtiness in them as if he thought his address had a merit
in it that would be more than an equivalent to a woman's love in
short his very politeness notwithstanding the advantages he must have
had from his birth and education appear to be constrained and with
the most remarkable easy and genteel person something at times 
seems to be behind in his manner that is too studiously kept in then 
good-humoured as he is thought to be in the main to other people's
servants and this even to familiarity although as you have observed 
a familiarity that has dignity in it not unbecoming to a man of quality 
he is apt sometimes to break out into a passion with his own an oath
or a curse follows and such looks from those servants as plainly shew
terror and that they should have fared worse had they not been in my
hearing with a confirmation in the master's looks of a surmise too well
justified 


 letter iii 


indeed my dear this man is not the man i have great objections to
him my heart throbs not after him i glow not but with indignation
against myself for having given room for such an imputation but you
must not my dearest friend construe common gratitude into love i
cannot bear that you should but if ever i should have the misfortune to
think it love i promise you upon my word which is the same as upon my
honour that i will acquaint you with it 

you bid me to tell you very speedily and by the new-found expedient 
that i am not displeased with you for your agreeable raillery i
dispatch this therefore immediately postponing to my next the account
of the inducements which my friends have to promote with so much
earnestness the address of mr solmes 

be satisfied my dear mean time that i am not displeased with you 
indeed i am not on the contrary i give you my hearty thanks for your
friendly premonitions and i charge you as i have often done that if
you observe any thing in me so very faulty as would require from you
to others in my behalf the palliation of friendly and partial love you
acquaint me with it for methinks i would so conduct myself as not to
give reason even for an adversary to censure me and how shall so weak
and so young a creature avoid the censure of such if my friend will not
hold a looking-glass before me to let me see my imperfections 

judge me then my dear as any indifferent person knowing what you
know of me would do i may be at first be a little pained may glow a
little perhaps to be found less worthy of your friendship than i wish
to be but assure yourself that your kind correction will give me
reflection that shall amend me if it do not you will have a fault to
accuse me of that will be utterly inexcusable a fault let me add 
that should you not accuse me of it if in your opinion i am guilty you
will not be so much so warmly my friend as i am yours since i have
never spared you on the like occasions 

here i break off to begin another letter to you with the assurance 
mean time that i am and ever will be 

your equally affectionate and grateful cl harlowe 




letter xii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morning march 2 


indeed you would not be in love with him for the world your servant 
my dear nor would i have you for i think with all the advantages of
person fortune and family he is not by any means worthy of you and
this opinion i give as well from the reasons you mention which i cannot
but confirm as from what i have heard of him but a few hours ago
from mrs fortescue a favourite of lady betty lawrance who knows him
well but let me congratulate you however on your being the first of
our sex that ever i heard of who has been able to turn that lion love 
at her own pleasure into a lap-dog 

well but if you have not the throbs and the glows you have not and
are not in love good reason why because you would not be in love and
there's no more to be said only my dear i shall keep a good look-out
upon you and so i hope you will be upon yourself for it is no manner
of argument that because you would not be in love you therefore are
not but before i part entirely with this subject a word in your ear 
my charming friend tis only by way of caution and in pursuance of the
general observation that a stander-by is often a better judge of the
game than those that play may it not be that you have had and
have such cross creatures and such odd heads to deal with as have not
allowed you to attend to the throbs or if you had them a little now
and then whether having had two accounts to place them to you have
not by mistake put them to the wrong one 

but whether you have a value for lovelace or not i know you will be
impatient to hear what mrs fortescue has said of him nor will i keep
you longer in suspense 

an hundred wild stories she tells of him from childhood to manhood 
for as she observed having never been subject to contradiction he
was always as mischievous as a monkey but i shall pass over these whole
hundred of his puerile rogueries although indicative ones as i may
say to take notice as well of some things you are not quite ignorant
of as of others you know not and to make a few observations upon him
and his ways 

mrs fortescue owns what every body knows that he is notoriously 
nay avowedly a man of pleasure yet says that in any thing he sets
his heart upon or undertakes he is the most industrious and persevering
mortal under the sun he rests it seems not above six hours in the
twenty-four any more than you he delights in writing whether at lord
m s or at lady betty's or lady sarah's he has always a pen in his
fingers when he retires one of his companions confirming his love of
writing has told her that his thoughts flow rapidly to his pen  and
you and i my dear have observed on more occasions than one that
though he writes even a fine hand he is one of the readiest and
quickest of writers he must indeed have had early a very docile genius 
since a person of his pleasurable turn and active spirit could
never have submitted to take long or great pains in attaining the
qualifications he is master of qualifications so seldom attained by
youth of quality and fortune by such especially of those of either 
who like him have never known what it was to be controuled 

he had once it seems the vanity upon being complimented on these
talents and on his surprising diligence for a man of pleasure to
compare himself to julius caesar who performed great actions by day 
and wrote them down at night and valued himself that he only wanted
caesar's out-setting to make a figure among his contemporaries 

he spoke of this indeed she says with an air of pleasantry for
she observed and so have we that he has the art of acknowledging his
vanity with so much humour that it sets him above the contempt which
is due to vanity and self-opinion and at the same time half persuades
those who hear him that he really deserves the exultation he gives
himself 

but supposing it to be true that all his vacant nightly hours are
employed in writing what can be his subjects if like caesar his own
actions he must undoubtedly be a very enterprising and very wicked man 
since nobody suspects him to have a serious turn and decent as he is
in his conversation with us his writings are not probably such as would
redound either to his own honour or to the benefit of others were they
to be read he must be conscious of this since mrs fortescue says 
that in the great correspondence by letters which he holds he is
as secret and as careful as if it were of a treasonable nature yet
troubles not his head with politics though nobody knows the interests
of princes and courts better than he is said to do 

that you and i my dear should love to write is no wonder we have
always from the time each could hold a pen delighted in epistolary
correspondencies our employments are domestic and sedentary and we can
scribble upon twenty innocent subjects and take delight in them because
they are innocent though were they to be seen they might not much
profit or please others but that such a gay lively young fellow as
this who rides hunts travels frequents the public entertainments 
and has means to pursue his pleasures should be able to set himself
down to write for hours together as you and i have heard him say he
frequently does that is the strange thing 

mrs fortescue says that he is a complete master of short-hand
writing  by the way what inducements could a swift writer as he have
to learn short-hand 

she says and we know it as well as she that he has a surprising
memory and a very lively imagination 

whatever his other vices are all the world as well as mrs fortescue 
says he is a sober man and among all his bad qualities gaming that
great waster of time as well as fortune is not his vice  so that he
must have his head as cool and his reason as clear as the prime of
youth and his natural gaiety will permit and by his early morning
hours a great portion of time upon his hands to employ in writing or
worse 

mrs fortescue says he has one gentleman who is more his intimate and
correspondent than any of the rest  you remember what his dismissed
bailiff said of him and of his associates i don't find but that mrs 
fortescue confirms this part of it that all his relations are afraid
of him and that his pride sets him above owing obligations to them 
she believes he is clear of the world and that he will continue so 
no doubt from the same motive that makes him avoid being obliged to his
relations 


 letter iv 


a person willing to think favourably of him would hope that a brave a
learned and a diligent man cannot be naturally a bad man but if he
be better than his enemies say he is and if worse he is bad indeed he
is guilty of an inexcusable fault in being so careless as he is of his
reputation i think a man can be so but from one of these two reasons 
either that he is conscious he deserves the ill spoken of him or that
he takes a pride in being thought worse than he is both very bad and
threatening indications since the first must shew him to be utterly
abandoned and it is but natural to conclude from the other that what
a man is not ashamed to have imputed to him he will not scruple to be
guilty of whenever he has an opportunity 

upon the whole and upon all i could gather from mrs fortescue mr 
lovelace is a very faulty man you and i have thought him too gay too
inconsiderate too rash too little an hypocrite to be deep you see
he never would disguise his natural temper haughty as it certainly
is with respect to your brother's behaviour to him where he thinks
a contempt due he pays it to the uttermost nor has he complaisance
enough to spare your uncles 

but were he deep and ever so deep you would soon penetrate him if
they would leave you to yourself his vanity would be your clue never
man had more yet as mrs fortescue observed never did man carry
it off so happily  there is a strange mixture in it of humourous
vivacity since but for one half of what he says of himself when he is
in the vein any other man would be insufferable 


 


talk of the devil is an old saying the lively wretch has made me a
visit and is but just gone away he is all impatience and resentment
at the treatment you meet with and full of apprehensions too that they
will carry their point with you 

i told him my opinion that you will never be brought to think of such a
man as solmes but that it will probably end in a composition never to
have either 

no man he said whose fortunes and alliances are so considerable ever
had so little favour from a woman for whose sake he had borne so much 

i told him my mind as freely as i used to do but whoever was in fault 
self being judge he complained of spies set upon his conduct and to
pry into his life and morals and this by your brother and uncles 

i told him that this was very hard upon him and the more so as
neither his life nor morals perhaps would stand a fair inquiry 

he smiled and called himself my servant the occasion was too fair 
he said for miss howe who never spared him to let it pass but lord
help the shallow souls of the harlowes would i believe it they were
for turning plotters upon him they had best take care he did not pay
them in their own coin their hearts were better turned for such works
than their heads 

i asked him if he valued himself upon having a head better turned than
theirs for such works as he called them 

he drew off and then ran into the highest professions of reverence and
affection for you 

the object so meritorious who can doubt the reality of his professions 

adieu my dearest my noble friend i love and admire you for the
generous conclusion of your last more than i can express though i began
this letter with impertinent raillery knowing that you always loved to
indulge my mad vein yet never was there a heart that more glowed with
friendly love than that of

your own anna howe 




letter xiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday march 1 


i now take up my pen to lay before you the inducements and motive which
my friends have to espouse so earnestly the address of this mr solmes 

in order to set this matter in a clear light it is necessary to go a
little back and even perhaps to mention some things which you already
know and so you may look upon what i am going to relate as a kind of
supplement to my letters of the 15th and 20th of january last 


 letters iv and v 


in those letters of which i have kept memorandums i gave you an
account of my brother's and sister's antipathy to mr lovelace and the
methods they took so far as they had then come to my knowledge to ruin
him in the opinion of my other friends and i told you that after a
very cold yet not a directly affrontive behaviour to him they all of
a sudden became more violent and proceeded to personal insults which
brought on at last the unhappy rencounter between my brother and him 


 see letter iv 


now you must know that from the last conversation that passed between
my aunt and me it comes out that this sudden vehemence on my
brother's and sister's parts was owing to stronger reasons than to the
college-begun antipathy on his side or to slighted love on hers 
to wit to an apprehension that my uncles intended to follow my
grandfather's example in my favour at least in a higher degree
than they wish they should an apprehension founded it seems on a
conversation between my two uncles and my brother and sister which my
aunt communicated to me in confidence as an argument to prevail upon
me to accept of mr solmes's noble settlements urging that such a
seasonable compliance would frustrate my brother's and sister's views 
and establish me for ever in the love of my father and uncles 

i will give you the substance of this communicated conversation after
i have made a brief introductory observation or two which however i
hardly need to make to you who are so well acquainted with us all did
not the series or thread of the story require it 

i have more than once mentioned to you the darling view some of us have
long had of raising a family as it is called a reflection as i have
often thought upon our own which is no considerable or upstart one on
either side on my mother's especially a view too frequently it
seems entertained by families which having great substance cannot be
satisfied without rank and title 

my uncles had once extended this view to each of us three children 
urging that as they themselves intended not to marry we each of
us might be so portioned and so advantageously matched as that
our posterity if not ourselves might make a first figure in our
country while my brother as the only son thought the two girls might
be very well provided for by ten or fifteen thousand pounds a-piece 
and that all the real estates in the family to wit my grandfather's 
father's and two uncles' and the remainder of their respective
personal estates together with what he had an expectation of from
his godmother would make such a noble fortune and give him such an
interest as might entitle him to hope for a peerage nothing less would
satisfy his ambition 

with this view he gave himself airs very early that his grandfather
and uncles were his stewards that no man ever had better that
daughters were but incumbrances and drawbacks upon a family  and this
low and familiar expression was often in his mouth and uttered always
with the self-complaisance which an imagined happy thought can be
supposed to give the speaker to wit that a man who has sons brings up
chickens for his own table   though once i made his comparison stagger
with him by asking him if the sons to make it hold were to have
their necks wrung off   whereas daughters are chickens brought up
for tables of other men  this accompanied with the equally polite
reflection that to induce people to take them off their hands the
family-stock must be impaired into the bargain  used to put my sister
out of all patience and although she now seems to think a younger
sister only can be an incumbrance she was then often proposing to me to
make a party in our own favour against my brother's rapacious views as
she used to call them while i was for considering the liberties he took
of this sort as the effect of a temporary pleasantry which in a young
man not naturally good-humoured i was glad to see or as a foible that
deserved raillery but no other notice 

but when my grandfather's will of the purport of which in my particular
favour until it was opened i was as ignorant as they had lopped off
one branch of my brother's expectation he was extremely dissatisfied
with me nobody indeed was pleased for although every one loved me yet
being the youngest child father uncles brother sister all thought
themselves postponed as to matter of right and power  who loves not
power   and my father himself could not bear that i should be made
sole as i may call it and independent for such the will as to that
estate and the powers it gave unaccountably as they all said made
me 

to obviate therefore every one's jealousy i gave up to my father's
management as you know not only the estate but the money bequeathed
me which was a moiety of what my grandfather had by him at his death 
the other moiety being bequeathed to my sister contenting myself
to take as from his bounty what he was pleased to allow me without
desiring the least addition to my annual stipend and then i hoped i had
laid all envy asleep but still my brother and sister jealous as now
is evident of my two uncles' favour of me and of the pleasure i had
given my father and them by this act of duty were every now-and-then
occasionally doing me covert ill offices of which however i took the
less notice when i was told of them as i thought i had removed the
cause of their envy and i imputed every thing of that sort to the
petulance they are both pretty much noted for 

my brother's acquisition then took place this made us all very happy 
and he went down to take possession of it and his absence on so good
an account too made us still happier then followed lord m s proposal
for my sister and this was an additional felicity for the time i have
told you how exceedingly good-humoured it made my sister 

you know how that went off you know what came on in its place 

my brother then returned and we were all wrong again and bella as
i observed in my letters abovementioned had an opportunity to give
herself the credit of having refused mr lovelace on the score of his
reputed faulty morals this united my brother and sister in one cause 
they set themselves on all occasions to depreciate mr lovelace and his
family too a family which deserves nothing but respect and this gave
rise to the conversation i am leading to between my uncles and them of
which i now come to give the particulars after i have observed that it
happened before the rencounter and soon after the inquiry made into mr 
lovelace's affairs had come out better than my brother and sister hoped
it would 


 see letter iv 


they were bitterly inveighing against him in their usual way 
strengthening their invectives with some new stories in his disfavour 
when my uncle antony having given them a patient hearing declared 
that he thought the gentleman behaved like a gentleman his niece clary
with prudence and that a more honourable alliance for the family as he
had often told them could not be wished for since mr lovelace had a
very good paternal estate and that by the evidence of an enemy 
all clear nor did it appear that he was so bad a man as he had been
represented to be wild indeed but it was a gay time of life he was a
man of sense and he was sure that his niece would not have him if
she had not good reason to think him reformed or that there was a
likelihood that she could reform him by her example 

my uncle then gave one instance my aunt told me as a proof of a
generosity in mr lovelace's spirit which convinced him that he was not
a bad man in nature and that he was of a temper he was pleased to say 
like my own which was that when he my uncle had represented to him 
that he might if he pleased make three or four hundred pounds a year
of his paternal estate more than he did he answered that his tenants
paid their rents well that it was a maxim with his family from which
he would by no means depart never to rack-rent old tenants or their
descendants and that it was a pleasure to him to see all his tenants
look fat sleek and contented 

i indeed had once occasionally heard him say something like this and
thought he never looked so well as at that time except once and that
was in an instance given by him on the following incident 

an unhappy tenant of my uncle antony came petitioning to my uncle
for forbearance in mr lovelace's presence when he had fruitlessly
withdrawn mr lovelace pleaded his cause so well that the man was
called in again and had his suit granted and mr lovelace privately
followed him out and gave him two guineas for present relief the
man having declared that at the time he had not five shilling in the
world 

on this occasion he told my uncle but without any airs of
ostentation that he had once observed an old tenant and his wife in a
very mean habit at church and questioning them about it the next day 
as he knew they had no hard bargain in their farm the man said he had
done some very foolish things with a good intention which had put him
behind-hand and he could not have paid his rent and appear better 
he asked him how long it would take him to retrieve the foolish step
he acknowledged he had made he said perhaps two or three years well
then said he i will abate you five pounds a year for seven years 
provided you will lay it upon your wife and self that you may make a
sunday-appearance like my tenants mean time take this putting his
hand in his pocket and giving him five guineas to put yourselves in
present plight and let me see you next sunday at church hand in hand 
like an honest and loving couple and i bespeak you to dine with me
afterwards 

although this pleased me when i heard it as giving an instance of
generosity and prudence at the same time not lessening as my uncle
took notice the yearly value of the farm yet my dear i had no
throbs no glows upon it upon my word i had not nevertheless i own
to you that i could not help saying to myself on the occasion were it
ever to be my lot to have this man he would not hinder me from pursuing
the methods i so much delight to take' with a pity that such a man
were not uniformly good 

forgive me this digression 

my uncle went on as my aunt told me that besides his paternal
estate he was the immediate heir to very splendid fortunes that when
he was in treaty for his niece arabella lord m told him my uncle 
what great things he and his two half-sisters intended to do for him 
in order to qualify him for the title which would be extinct at his
lordship's death and which they hoped to procure for him or a still
higher that of those ladies' father which had been for some time
extinct on failure of heirs male that it was with this view that his
relations were all so earnest for his marrying that as he saw not
where mr lovelace could better himself so truly he thought there was
wealth enough in their own family to build up three considerable ones 
that therefore he must needs say he was the more desirous of this
alliance as there was a great probability not only from mr lovelace's
descent but from his fortunes that his niece clarissa might one day
be a peeress of great britain and upon that prospect  here was the
mortifying stroke  he should for his own part think it not wrong to
make such dispositions as should contribute to the better support of the
dignity 

my uncle harlowe it seems far from disapproving of what his brother
had said declared that there was but one objection to an alliance
with mr lovelace to wit his faulty morals especially as so much
could be done for miss bella and for my brother too by my father and
as my brother was actually possessed of a considerable estate by virtue
of the deed of gift and will of his godmother lovell 

had i known this before i should the less have wondered at many things
i have been unable to account for in my brother's and sister's behaviour
to me and been more on my guard than i imagined there was a necessity
to be 

you may easily guess how much this conversation affected my brother at
the time he could not you know but be very uneasy to hear two of his
stewards talk at this rate to his face 

he had from early days by his violent temper made himself both feared
and courted by the whole family my father himself as i have lately
mentioned very often long before my brother's acquisition had made him
still more assuming gave way to him as to an only son who was to build
up the name and augment the honour of it little inducement therefore 
had my brother to correct a temper which gave him so much consideration
with every body 

see sister bella  said he in an indecent passion before my uncles 
on this occasion i have mentioned see how it is you and i ought to
look about us this little syren is in a fair way to out-uncle as she
has already out-grandfather'd us both 

from this time as i now find it plain upon recollection did my brother
and sister behave to me as to one who stood in their way and to each
other as having but one interest and were resolved therefore to bend
all their force to hinder an alliance from taking effect which they
believed was likely to oblige them to contract their views 

and how was this to be done after such a declaration from both my
uncles 

my brother found out the way my sister as i have said went hand in
hand with him between them the family union was broke and every one
was made uneasy mr lovelace was received more and more coldly by all 
but not being to be put out of his course by slights only personal
affronts succeeded defiances next then the rencounter that as you
have heard did the business and now if i do not oblige them my
grandfather's estate is to be litigated with me and i who never
designed to take advantage of the independency bequeathed me am to be
as dependent upon my father's will as a daughter ought to be who knows
not what is good for herself this is the language of the family now 

but if i will suffer myself to be prevailed upon how happy as they lay
it out shall we all be such presents am i to have such jewels and
i cannot tell what from every one in the family then mr solmes's
fortunes are so great and his proposals so very advantageous no
relation whom he values that there will be abundant room to raise
mine upon them were the high-intended favours of my own relations to
be quite out of the question moreover it is now with this view 
found out that i have qualifications which of themselves will be a full
equivalent to mr solmes for the settlements he is to make and still
leave him under an obligation to me for my compliance he himself thinks
so i am told so very poor a creature is he even in his own eyes as
well as in theirs 

these desirable views answered how rich how splendid shall we all
three be and i what obligations shall i lay upon them all and that
only by doing an act of duty so suitable to my character and manner of
thinking if indeed i am the generous as well as dutiful creature i
have hitherto made them believe i am 

this is the bright side that is turned to my father and uncles to
captivate them but i am afraid that my brother's and sister's design is
to ruin me with them at any rate were it otherwise would they not on
my return from you have rather sought to court than frighten me into
measures which their hearts are so much bent to carry a method they
have followed ever since 

mean time orders are given to all the servants to shew the highest
respect to mr solmes the generous mr solmes is now his character with
some of our family but are not these orders a tacit confession 
that they think his own merit will not procure him respect he is
accordingly in every visit he makes not only highly caressed by the
principals of our family but obsequiously attended and cringed to by
the menials and the noble settlements are echoed from every mouth 

noble is the word used to enforce the offers of a man who is mean enough
avowedly to hate and wicked enough to propose to rob of their just
expectations his own family every one of which at the same time
stands in too much need of his favour in order to settle all he is
worth upon me and if i die without children and he has none by any
other marriage upon a family which already abounds such are his
proposals 

but were there no other motive to induce me to despise the upstart man 
is not this unjust one to his family enough the upstart man i repeat 
for he was not born to the immense riches he is possessed of riches
left by one niggard to another in injury to the next heir because that
other is a niggard and should i not be as culpable do you think in my
acceptance of such unjust settlements as he is in the offer of them if
i could persuade myself to be a sharer in them or suffer a reversionary
expectation of possessing them to influence my choice 

indeed it concerns me not a little that my friends could be brought to
encourage such offers on such motives as i think a person of conscience
should not presume to begin the world with 

but this it seems is the only method that can be taken to disappoint mr 
lovelace and at the same time to answer all my relations have wish for
each of us and surely i will not stand against such an accession to the
family as may happen from marrying mr solmes since now a possibility
is discovered which such a grasping mind as my brother's can easily
turn into a probability that my grandfather's estate will revert to
it with a much more considerable one of the man's own instances of
estates falling in in cases far more unlikely than this are insisted
upon and my sister says in the words of an old saw it is good to be
related to an estate 

while solmes smiling no doubt to himself at a hope so remote by offers
only obtains all their interests and doubts not to join to his own
the estate i am envied for which for the conveniency of its situation
between two of his will it seems be of twice the value to him that
it would be of to any other person and is therefore i doubt not a
stronger motive with him than the wife 

these my dear seem to me the principal inducements of my relations to
espouse so vehemently as they do this man's suit and here once more 
must i deplore the family fault which gives those inducements such a
force as it will be difficult to resist 

and thus far let matters with regard to mr solmes and me come out as
they will my brother has succeeded in his views that is to say he
has in the first place got my father to make the cause his own and to
insist upon my compliance as an act of duty 

my mother has never thought fit to oppose my father's will when once he
has declared himself determined 

my uncles stiff unbroken highly-prosperous bachelors give me leave
to say though very worthy persons in the main have as high notions
of a child's duty as of a wife's obedience in the last of which my
mother's meekness has confirmed them and given them greater reason to
expect the first 

my aunt hervey not extremely happy in her own nuptials and perhaps
under some little obligation is got over and chuses  sic  not to
open her lips in my favour against the wills of a father and uncles so
determined 

this passiveness in my mother and in my aunt in a point so contrary
to their own first judgments is too strong a proof that my father is
absolutely resolved 

their treatment of my worthy mrs norton is a sad confirmation of it 
a woman deserving of all consideration for her wisdom and every body
thinking so but who not being wealthy enough to have due weight in a
point against which she has given her opinion and which they seem
bent upon carrying is restrained from visiting here and even from
corresponding with me as i am this very day informed 

hatred to lovelace family aggrandizement and this great motive
paternal authority what a force united must they be supposed to have 
when singly each consideration is sufficient to carry all before it 

this is the formidable appearance which the address of this disagreeable
man wears at present 

my brother and my sister triumph they have got me down as hannah
overheard them exult and so they have yet i never knew that i
was insolently up for now my brother will either lay me under an
obligation to comply to my own unhappiness and so make me an instrument
of his revenge upon lovelace or if i refuse will throw me into
disgrace with my whole family 

who will wonder at the intrigues and plots carried on by undermining
courtiers against one another when a private family but three of which
can possibly have clashing interests and one of them as she presumes
to think above such low motives cannot be free from them 

what at present most concerns me is the peace of my mother's mind 
how can the husband of such a wife a good man too but oh this
prerogative of manhood be so positive so unpersuadable to one who
has brought into the family means which they know so well the value of 
that methinks they should value her the more for their sake 

they do indeed value her but i am sorry to say she has purchased
that value by her compliances yet has merit for which she ought to be
venerated prudence which ought of itself to be conformed to in every
thing 

but whither roves my pen how dare a perverse girl take these liberties
with relations so very respectable and whom she highly respects what
an unhappy situation is that which obliges her in her own defence as it
were to expose their failings 

but you who know how much i love and reverence my mother will judge
what a difficulty i am under to be obliged to oppose a scheme which she
has engaged in yet i must oppose it to comply is impossible and must
without delay declare my opposition or my difficulties will increase 
since as i am just now informed a lawyer has been this very day
consulted  would you have believed it   in relation to settlements 

were ours a roman catholic family how much happier for me that they
thought a nunnery would answer all their views how happy had not
a certain person slighted somebody all then would have been probably
concluded between them before my brother had arrived to thwart
the match then had i a sister which now i have not and two
brothers both aspiring possibly both titled while i should only have
valued that in either which is above title that which is truly noble in
both 

but by what a long-reaching selfishness is my brother governed by what
remote exceedingly remote views views which it is in the power of the
slightest accident of a fever for instance the seeds of which are
always vegetating as i may say and ready to burst forth in his own
impetuous temper or of the provoked weapon of an adversary to blow up
and destroy 

i will break off here let me write ever so freely of my friends i am
sure of your kind construction and i confide in your discretion that
you will avoid reading to or transcribing for others such passages as
may have the appearance of treating too freely the parental or even the
fraternal character or induce others to censure for a supposed failure
in duty to the one or decency to the other 

your truly affectionate cl harlowe 




letter xiv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday evening march 2 


on hannah's depositing my long letter begun yesterday but by reason
of several interruptions not finished till within this hour she found
and brought me yours of this day i thank you my dear for this kind
expedition these few lines will perhaps be time enough deposited to be
taken away by your servant with the other letter yet they are only to
thank you and to tell you my increasing apprehensions 

i must take or seek the occasion to apply to my mother for her
mediation for i am in danger of having a day fixed and antipathy taken
for bashfulness should not sisters be sisters to each other should
not they make a common cause of it as i may say a cause of sex on
such occasions as the present yet mine in support of my brother's
selfishness and no doubt in concert with him has been urging in full
assembly it seems and that with an earnestness peculiar to herself
when she sets upon any thing that an absolute day be given me and if
i comply not to be told that it shall be to the forfeiture of all my
fortunes and of all their love 

she need not be so officious my brother's interest without hers is
strong enough for he has found means to confederate all the family
against me upon some fresh provocation or new intelligence concerning
mr lovelace i know not what it is they have bound themselves or
are to bind themselves by a signed paper to one another  the lord
bless me my dear what shall i do   to carry their point in favour of
mr solmes in support of my father's authority as it is called and
against mr lovelace as a libertine and an enemy to the family and if
so i am sure i may say against me how impolitic in them all to join
two people in one interest whom they wish for ever to keep asunder 

what the discharged steward reported of him is surely bad enough what
mrs fortescue said not only confirms that bad but gives room to think
him still worse and yet the something further which my friends have
come at is of so heinous a nature as betty barnes tells hannah that
it proves him almost to be the worst of men but hang the man i
had almost said what is he to me what would he be were not this mr 
sol o my dear how i hate the man in the light he is proposed to me 

all of them at the same time are afraid of mr lovelace yet not
afraid to provoke him how am i entangled to be obliged to go on
corresponding with him for their sakes heaven forbid that their
persisted-in violence should so drive me as to make it necessary for my
own 

but surely they will yield indeed i cannot 

i believe the gentlest spirits when provoked causelessly and cruelly
provoked are the most determined the reason may be that not taking
up resolutions lightly their very deliberation makes them the more
immovable and then when a point is clear and self-evident how can
one with patience think of entering into an argument or contention upon
it 

an interruption obliges me to conclude myself in some hurry as well as
fright what i must ever be 

yours more than my own clarissa harlowe 




letter xv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe friday march 3 


i have both your letters at once it is very unhappy my dear since
your friends will have you marry that a person of your merit should be
addressed by a succession of worthless creatures who have nothing but
their presumption for their excuse 

that these presumers appear not in this very unworthy light to some of
your friends is because their defects are not so striking to them
as to others and why shall i venture to tell you because they are
nearer their own standard modesty after all perhaps has a concern in
it for how should they think that a niece or sister of theirs  i will
not go higher for fear of incurring your displeasure  should be an
angel 

but where indeed is the man to be found who has the least share of due
diffidence that dares to look up to miss clarissa harlowe with hope or
with any thing but wishes thus the bold and forward not being sensible
of their defects aspire while the modesty of the really worthy fills
them with too much reverence to permit them to explain themselves hence
your symmes's your byron's your mullins's your wyerley's the best
of the herd and your solmes's in turn invade you wretches that 
looking upon the rest of your family need not despair of succeeding in
an alliance with it but to you what an inexcusable presumption 

yet i am afraid all opposition will be in vain you must you will i
doubt be sacrificed to this odious man i know your family there will
be no resisting such baits as he has thrown out o my dear my beloved
friend and are such charming qualities is such exalted merit to be
sunk in such a marriage you must not your uncle tells your mother 
dispute their authority authority what a full word is that in the
mouth of a narrow-minded person who happened to be born thirty years
before one of your uncles i speak for as to the paternal authority 
that ought to be sacred but should not parents have reason for what
they do 

wonder not however at your bell's unsisterly behaviour in this affair 
i have a particular to add to the inducements your insolent brother is
governed by which will account for all her driving you have already
owned that her outward eye was from the first struck with the figure
and address of the man whom she pretends to despise and who tis
certain thoroughly despises her but you have not told me that still
she loves him of all men bell has a meanness in her very pride that
meanness rises with her pride and goes hand in hand with it and no
one is so proud as bell she has owned her love her uneasy days 
and sleepless nights and her revenge grafted upon her love to her
favourite betty barnes to lay herself in the power of a servant's
tongue poor creature but like little souls will find one another
out and mingle as well as like great ones this however she told the
wench in strict confidence and thus by way of the female round-about 
as lovelace had the sauciness on such another occasion in ridicule of
our sex to call it betty pleased to be thought worthy of a secret 
and to have an opportunity of inveighing against lovelace's perfidy 
as she would have it to be told it to one of her confidants 
that confidant with like injunctions of secrecy to miss lloyd's
harriot harriot to miss lloyd miss lloyd to me i to you with leave
to make what you please of it 

and now you will not wonder to find miss bell an implacable rival 
rather than an affectionate sister and will be able to account for the
words witchcraft syren and such like thrown out against you and for
her driving on for a fixed day for sacrificing you to solmes in short 
for her rudeness and violence of every kind 

what a sweet revenge will she take as well upon lovelace as upon you 
if she can procure her rival sister to be married to the man that sister
hates and so prevent her having the man whom she herself loves whether
she have hope of him or not and whom she suspects her sister loves 

poisons and poniard have often been set to work by minds inflamed by
disappointed love and actuated by revenge will you wonder then that
the ties of relationship in such a case have no force and that a sister
forgets to be a sister 

now i know this to be her secret motive the more grating to her as
her pride is concerned to make her disavow it and can consider it
joined with her former envy and as strengthened by a brother who has
such an ascendant over the whole family and whose interest slave to it
as he always was engaged him to ruin you with every one both possessed
of the ears of all your family and having it as much in their power as
in their will to misrepresent all you say all you do such subject also
as to the rencounter and lovelace's want of morals to expatiate upon 
your whole family likewise avowedly attached to the odious man by means
of the captivating proposals he has made them when i consider all
these things i am full of apprehensions for you o my dear how will
you be able to maintain your ground i am sure alas i am too sure 
that they will subdue such a fine spirit as yours unused to opposition 
and tell it not in gath you must be mrs solmes 

mean time it is now easy as you will observe to guess from what
quarter the report i mentioned to you in one of my former came 
that the younger sister has robbed the elder of her lover for betty
whispered it at the time she whispered the rest that neither lovelace
nor you had done honourably by her young mistress how cruel my dear 
in you to rob the poor bella of the only lover she only had at the
instant too that she was priding herself that now at last she should
have it in her power not only to gratify her own susceptibilities but
to give an example to the flirts of her sex my worship's self in
her eye how to govern their man with a silken rein and without a
curb-bridle 


 letter i 

 letter ii 


upon the whole i have now no doubt of their persevering in favour of
the despicable solmes and of their dependence upon the gentleness of
your temper and the regard you have for their favour and for your own
reputation and now i am more than ever convinced of the propriety of
the advice i formerly gave you to keep in your own hands the estate
bequeathed to you by your grandfather had you done so it would have
procured you at least an outward respect from your brother and sister 
which would have made them conceal the envy and ill-will that now are
bursting upon you from hearts so narrow 

i must harp a little more upon this string do not you observe how much
your brother's influence has overtopped yours since he has got into
fortunes so considerable and since you have given some of them an
appetite to continue in themselves the possession of your estate unless
you comply with their terms 

i know your dutiful your laudable motives and one would have thought 
that you might have trusted to a father who so dearly loved you but had
you been actually in possession of that estate and living up to it and
upon it your youth protected from blighting tongues by the company
of your prudent norton as you had proposed do you think that your
brother grudging it to you at the time as he did and looking upon it
as his right as an only son would have been practising about it and
aiming at it i told you some time ago that i thought your trials but
proportioned to your prudence but you will be more than woman if
you can extricate yourself with honour having such violent spirits and
sordid minds in some and such tyrannical and despotic wills in others 
to deal with indeed all may be done and the world be taught further
to admire you for your blind duty and will-less resignation if you can
persuade yourself to be mrs solmes 


 letter i 


i am pleased with the instances you give me of mr lovelace's
benevolence to his own tenants and with his little gift to your
uncle's mrs fortescue allows him to be the best of landlords i might
have told you that had i thought it necessary to put you into some
little conceit of him he has qualities in short that may make him
a tolerable creature on the other side of fifty but god help the
poor woman to whose lot he shall fall till then women i should say 
perhaps since he may break half-a-dozen hearts before that time but
to the point i was upon shall we not have reason to commend the
tenant's grateful honesty if we are told that with joy the poor man
called out your uncle and on the spot paid him in part of his debt
those two guineas but what shall we say of that landlord who though
he knew the poor man to be quite destitute could take it and saying
nothing while mr lovelace staid as soon as he was gone tell of it in
praise of the poor fellow's honesty were this so and were not that
landlord related to my dearest friend how should i despise such a
wretch but perhaps the story is aggravated covetous people have
every one's ill word and so indeed they ought because they are
only solicitous to keep that which they prefer to every one's good
one covetous indeed would they be who deserved neither yet expected
both 

i long for your next letter continue to be as particular as possible 
i can think of no other subject but what relates to you and to your
affairs for i am and ever will be most affectionately 

your own anna howe 




letter xvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  her preceding not at that time
received   friday march 3 


o my dear friend i have had a sad conflict trial upon trial 
conference upon conference but what law what ceremony can give a
man a right to a heart which abhors him more than it does any living
creature 

i hope my mother will be able to prevail for me but i will recount it
all though i sit up the whole night to do it for i have a vast deal to
write and will be as minute as you wish me to be 

i concluded my last in a fright it was occasioned by a conversation
that passed between my mother and my aunt part of which hannah
overheard i need not give you the particulars since what i have to
relate to you from different conversations that have passed between my
mother and me in the space of a very few hours will include them all 
i will begin then 

i went down this morning when breakfast was ready with a very uneasy
heart from what hannah had informed me of yesterday afternoon wishing
for an opportunity however to appeal to my mother in hopes to engage
her interest in my behalf and purposing to try to find one when she
retired to her own apartment after breakfast but unluckily there was
the odious solmes sitting asquat between my mother and sister with so
much assurance in his looks but you know my dear that those we love
not cannot do any thing to please us 

had the wretch kept his seat it might have been well enough but the
bend and broad-shouldered creature must needs rise and stalk towards a
chair which was just by that which was set for me 

i removed it to a distance as if to make way to my own and down i sat 
abruptly i believe what i had heard all in my head 

but this was not enough to daunt him the man is a very confident he is
a very bold staring man indeed my dear the man is very confident 

he took the removed chair and drew it so near mine squatting in it
with his ugly weight that he pressed upon my hoop i was so offended
 all i had heard as i said in my head that i removed to another
chair i own i had too little command of myself it gave my brother
and sister too much advantage i day say they took it but i did it
involuntarily i think i could not help it i knew not what i did 

i saw that my father was excessively displeased when angry no man's
countenance ever shews it so much as my father's clarissa harlowe said
he with a big voice and there he stopped sir said i trembling and
courtesying for i had not then sat down again and put my chair nearer
the wretch and sat down my face as i could feel all in a glow 

make tea child said my kind mamma sit by me love and make tea 

i removed with pleasure to the seat the man had quitted and being
thus indulgently put into employment soon recovered myself and in the
course of the breakfasting officiously asked two or three questions
of mr solmes which i would not have done but to make up with my
father proud spirits may be brought to whisperingly spoke my sister
to me over her shoulder with an air of triumph and scorn but i did
not mind her 

my mother was all kindness and condescension i asked her once if she
were pleased with the tea she said softly and again called me dear 
she was pleased with all i did i was very proud of this encouraging
goodness and all blew over as i hoped between my father and me for
he also spoke kindly to me two or three times 

small accidents these my dear to trouble you with only as they lead
to greater as you shall hear 

before the usual breakfast-time was over my father withdrew with my
mother telling her he wanted to speak with her then my sister and next
my aunt who was with us dropt away 

my brother gave himself some airs of insult which i understood well
enough but which mr solmes could make nothing of and at last he arose
from his seat sister said he i have a curiosity to shew you i will
fetch it and away he went shutting the door close after him 

i saw what all this was for i arose the man hemming up for a speech 
rising and beginning to set his splay-feet  indeed my dear the man in
all his ways is hateful to me  in an approaching posture i will
save my brother the trouble of bringing to me his curiosity said i i
courtesied your servant sir the man cried madam madam twice and
looked like a fool but away i went to find my brother to save my
word but my brother indifferent as the weather was was gone to
walk in the garden with my sister a plain case that he had left his
curiosity with me and designed to shew me no other 

i had but just got into my own apartment and began to think of sending
hannah to beg an audience of my mother the more encouraged by her
condescending goodness at breakfast when shorey her woman brought me
her commands to attend me in her closet 

my father hannah told me was just gone out of it with a positive angry
countenance then i as much dreaded the audience as i had wished for it
before 

i went down however but apprehending the subject she intended to
talk to me upon approached her trembling and my heart in visible
palpitations 

she saw my concern holding out her kind arms as she sat come kiss
me my dear said she with a smile like a sun-beam breaking through
the cloud that overshadowed her naturally benign aspect why flutters my
jewel so 

this preparative sweetness with her goodness just before confirmed my
apprehensions my mother saw the bitter pill wanted gilding 

o my mamma was all i could say and i clasped my arms round her neck 
and my face sunk into her bosom 

my child my child restrain said she your powers of moving i dare
not else trust myself with you and my tears trickled down her bosom 
as hers bedewed my neck 

o the words of kindness all to be expressed in vain that flowed from
her lips 

lift up your sweet face my best child my own clarissa harlowe o my
daughter best beloved of my heart lift up a face so ever amiable to
me why these sobs is an apprehended duty so affecting a thing that
before i can speak but i am glad my love you can guess at what i have
to say to you i am spared the pains of breaking to you what was a task
upon me reluctantly enough undertaken to break to you then rising she
drew a chair near her own and made me sit down by her overwhelmed as i
was with tears of apprehension of what she had to say and of gratitude
for her truly maternal goodness to me sobs still my only language 

and drawing her chair still nearer to mine she put her arms round my
neck and my glowing cheek wet with my tears close to her own let me
talk to you my child since silence is your choice hearken to me and
be silent 

you know my dear what i every day forego and undergo for the sake of
peace your papa is a very good man and means well but he will not
be controuled nor yet persuaded you have sometimes seemed to pity me 
that i am obliged to give up every point poor man his reputation the
less for it mine the greater yet would i not have this credit if
i could help it at so dear a rate to him and to myself you are a
dutiful a prudent and a wise child she was pleased to say in hope 
no doubt to make me so you would not add i am sure to my trouble 
you would not wilfully break that peace which costs your mother so much
to preserve obedience is better than sacrifice o my clary harlowe 
rejoice my heart by telling me that i have apprehended too much i see
your concern i see your perplexity i see your conflict  loosing
her arm and rising not willing i should see how much she herself
was affected  i will leave you a moment answer me not  for i was
essaying to speak and had as soon as she took her dear cheek from
mine dropt down on my knees my hands clasped and lifted up in
a supplicating manner  i am not prepared for your irresistible
expostulation she was pleased to say i will leave you to recollection 
and i charge you on my blessing that all this my truly maternal
tenderness be not thrown away upon you 

and then she withdrew into the next apartment wiping her eyes as she
went from me as mine overflowed my heart taking in the whole compass
of her meaning 

she soon returned having recovered more steadiness 

still on my knees i had thrown my face across the chair she had sat in 

look up to me my clary harlowe no sullenness i hope 

no indeed my ever-to-be-revered mamma and i arose i bent my knee 

she raised me no kneeling to me but with knees of duty and compliance 
your heart not your knees must bend it is absolutely determined 
prepare yourself therefore to receive your father when he visits you
by-and-by as he would wish to receive you but on this one quarter of
an hour depends the peace of my future life the satisfaction of all the
family and your own security from a man of violence and i charge you
besides on my blessing that you think of being mrs solmes 

there went the dagger to my heart and down i sunk and when i
recovered found myself in the arms of my hannah my sister's betty
holding open my reluctantly-opened palm my laces cut my linen scented
with hartshorn and my mother gone had i been less kindly treated the
hated name still forborne to be mentioned or mentioned with a little
more preparation and reserve i had stood the horrid sound with less
visible emotion but to be bid on the blessing of a mother so dearly
beloved so truly reverenced to think of being mrs solmes what a
denunciation was that 

shorey came in with a message delivered in her solemn way your mamma 
miss is concerned for your disorder she expects you down again in an
hour and bid me say that she then hopes every thing from your duty 

i made no reply for what could i say and leaning upon my hannah's arm 
withdrew to my own apartment there you will guess how the greatest part
of the hour was employed 

within that time my mother came up to me 

i love she was pleased to say to come into this apartment no
emotions child no flutters am i not your mother do not discompose
me by discomposing yourself do not occasion me uneasiness when i
would give you nothing but pleasure come my dear we will go into your
closet 

she took my hand led the way and made me sit down by her and after
she had inquired how i did she began in a strain as if she supposed i
had made use of the intervening space to overcome all my objections 

she was pleased to tell me that my father and she in order to spare my
natural modesty had taken the whole affair upon themselves 

hear me out and then speak he is not indeed every thing i wish him to
be but he is a man of probity and has no vices 

no vices madam 

hear me out child you have not behaved much amiss to him we have
seen with pleasure that you have not 

o madam must i not now speak 

i shall have done presently a young creature of your virtuous and
pious turn she was pleased to say cannot surely love a profligate you
love your brother too well to wish to marry one who had like to have
killed him and who threatened your uncles and defies us all you have
had your own way six or seven times we want to secure you against a man
so vile tell me i have a right to know whether you prefer this man
to all others yet god forbid that i should know you do for such
a declaration would make us all miserable yet tell me are your
affections engaged to this man 

i knew not what the inference would be if i said they were not 

you hesitate you answer me not you cannot answer me rising never
more will i look upon you with an eye of favour 

o madam madam kill me not with your displeasure i would not i need
not hesitate one moment did i not dread the inference if i answer
you as you wish yet be that inference what it will your threatened
displeasure will make me speak and i declare to you that i know not my
own heart if it not be absolutely free and pray let me ask my dearest
mamma in what has my conduct been faulty that like a giddy creature 
i must be forced to marry to save me from from what let me beseech
you madam to be the guardian of my reputation let not your clarissa
be precipitated into a state she wishes not to enter into with any man 
and this upon a supposition that otherwise she shall marry herself and
disgrace her whole family 

well then clary  passing over the force of my plea  if your heart be
free 

o my beloved mamma let the usual generosity of your dear heart operate
in my favour urge not upon me the inference that made me hesitate 

i won't be interrupted clary you have seen in my behaviour to you 
on this occasion a truly maternal tenderness you have observed that
i have undertaken the task with some reluctance because the man is not
every thing and because i know you carry your notions of perfection in
a man too high 

dearest madam this one time excuse me is there then any danger that i
should be guilty of an imprudent thing for the man's sake you hint at 

again interrupted am i to be questioned and argued with you know
this won't do somewhere else you know it won't what reason then 
ungenerous girl can you have for arguing with me thus but because you
think from my indulgence to you you may 

what can i say what can i do what must that cause be that will not
bear being argued upon 

again clary harlowe 

dearest madam forgive me it was always my pride and my pleasure to
obey you but look upon that man see but the disagreeableness of his
person 

now clary do i see whose person you have in your eye now is mr 
solmes i see but comparatively disagreeable disagreeable only as
another man has a much more specious person

but madam are not his manners equally so is not his person the true
representative of his mind that other man is not shall not be any
thing to me release me but from this one man whom my heart unbidden 
resists 

condition thus with your father will he bear do you think to be thus
dialogued with have i not conjured you as you value my peace what
is it that i do not give up this very task because i apprehended you
would not be easily persuaded is a task indeed upon me and will you
give up nothing have you not refused as many as have been offered to
you if you would not have us guess for whom comply for comply you
must or be looked upon as in a state of defiance with your whole
family 

and saying this she arose and went from me but at the chamber-door
stopt and turned back i will not say below in what a disposition i
leave you consider of every thing the matter is resolved upon as you
value your father's blessing and mine and the satisfaction of all the
family resolve to comply i will leave you for a few moments i will
come up to you again see that i find you as i wish to find you and
since your heart is free let your duty govern it 

in about half an hour my mother returned she found me in tears 
she took my hand it is my part evermore said she to be of the
acknowledging side i believe i have needlessly exposed myself to your
opposition by the method i have taken with you i first began as if i
expected a denial and by my indulgence brought it upon myself 

do not my dearest mamma do not say so 

were the occasion for this debate proceeded she to have risen from
myself were it in my power to dispense with your compliance you too
well know what you can do with me 

would any body my dear miss howe wish to marry who sees a wife of
such a temper and blessed with such an understanding as my mother is
noted for not only deprived of all power but obliged to be even active
in bringing to bear a point of high importance which she thinks ought
not to be insisted upon 

when i came to you a second time proceeded she knowing that your
opposition would avail you nothing i refused to hear your reasons and
in this i was wrong too because a young creature who loves to reason 
and used to love to be convinced by reason ought to have all her
objections heard i now therefore this third time see you and am
come resolved to hear all you have to say and let me my dear by my
patience engage your gratitude your generosity i will call it because
it is to you i speak who used to have a mind wholly generous let me 
if your heart be really free let me see what it will induce you to do
to oblige me and so as you permit your usual discretion to govern you 
i will hear all you have to say but with this intimation that say what
you will it will be of no avail elsewhere 

what a dreadful saying is that but could i engage your pity madam it
would be somewhat 

you have as much of my pity as of my love but what is person clary 
with one of your prudence and your heart disengaged 

should the eye be disgusted when the heart is to be engaged o
madam who can think of marrying when the heart is shocked at the
first appearance and where the disgust must be confirmed by every
conversation afterwards 

this clary is owing to your prepossession let me not have cause
to regret that noble firmness of mind in so young a creature which i
thought your glory and which was my boast in your character in this
instance it would be obstinacy and want of duty have you not made
objections to several 

that was to their minds to their principles madam but this man 

is an honest man clary harlowe he has a good mind he is a virtuous
man 

he an honest man his a good mind madam he a virtuous man 

nobody denies these qualities 

can he be an honest man who offers terms that will rob all his own
relations of their just expectations can his mind be good 

you clary harlowe for whose sake he offers so much are the last
person who should make this observation 

give me leave to say madam that a person preferring happiness to
fortune as i do that want not even what i have and can give up the
use of that as an instance of duty 

no more no more of your merits you know you will be a gainer by that
cheerful instance of your duty not a loser you know you have but
cast your bread upon the waters so no more of that for it is not
understood as a merit by every body i assure you though i think it a
high one and so did your father and uncles at the time 

at the time madam how unworthily do my brother and sister who are
afraid that the favour i was so lately in 

i hear nothing against your brother and sister what family feuds have i
in prospect at a time when i hoped to have most comfort from you all 


god bless my brother and sister in all their worthy views you shall
have no family feuds if i can prevent them you yourself madam shall
tell me what i shall bear from them and i will bear it but let my
actions not their misrepresentations as i am sure by the disgraceful
prohibitions i have met with has been the case speak for me 

just then up came my father with a sternness in his looks that made me
tremble he took two or three turns about my chamber though pained by
his gout and then said to my mother who was silent as soon as she saw
him 

my dear you are long absent dinner is near ready what you had to
say lay in a very little compass surely you have nothing to do but
to declare your will and my will but perhaps you may be talking of the
preparations let us have you soon down your daughter in your hand if
worthy of the name 

and down he went casting his eye upon me with a look so stern that
i was unable to say one word to him or even for a few minutes to my
mother 

was not this very intimidating my dear 

my mother seeing my concern seemed to pity me she called me her good
child and kissed me and told me that my father should not know i had
made such opposition he has kindly furnished us with an excuse for
being so long together said she come my dear dinner will be upon
table presently shall we go down and took my hand 

this made me start what madam go down to let it be supposed we were
talking of preparations o my beloved mamma command me not down upon
such a supposition 

you see child that to stay longer together will be owning that you
are debating about an absolute duty and that will not be borne did not
your father himself some days ago tell you he would be obeyed i will a
third time leave you i must say something by way of excuse for you 
and that you desire not to go down to dinner that your modesty on the
occasion 

o madam say not my modesty on such an occasion for that will be to
give hope 

and design you not to give hope perverse girl rising and flinging
from me take more time for consideration since it is necessary take
more time and when i see you next let me know what blame i have to
cast upon myself or to bear from your father for my indulgence to you 

she made however a little stop at the chamber-door and seemed to
expect that i would have besought her to make the gentlest construction
for me for hesitating she was pleased to say i suppose you would not
have me make a report 

o madam interrupted i whose favour can i hope for if i lose my
mamma's 

to have desired a favourable report you know my dear would have been
qualifying upon a point that i was too much determined upon to give
room for any of my friends to think i have the least hesitation about
it and so my mother went down stairs 

i will deposit thus far and as i know you will not think me too minute
in the relation of particulars so very interesting to one you honour
with your love proceed in the same way as matters stand i don't care
to have papers so freely written about me 

pray let robert call every day if you can spare him whether i have any
thing ready or not 

i should be glad you would not send him empty handed what a generosity
will it be in you to write as frequently from friendship as i am
forced to do from misfortune the letters being taken away will be an
assurance that you have them as i shall write and deposit as i have
opportunity the formality of super and sub-scription will be excused 
for i need not say how much i am

your sincere and ever affectionate cl harlowe 




letter xvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


my mother on her return which was as soon as she had dined was
pleased to inform me that she told my father on his questioning her
about my cheerul compliance for it seems the cheerful was all that
was doubted that she was willing on so material a point to give
a child whom she had so much reason to love as she condescended to
acknowledge were her words liberty to say all that was in her heart to
say that her compliance might be the freer letting him know that
when he came up she was attending to my pleas for that she found i had
rather not marry at all 

she told me that to this my father angrily said let her take
care let her take care that she give me not ground to suspect her of
a preference somewhere else but if it be to ease her heart and not to
dispute my will you may hear her out 

so clary said my mother i am returned in a temper accordingly and i
hope you will not again by your peremptoriness shew me how i ought to
treat you 

indeed madam you did me justice to say i have no inclination to marry
at all i have not i hope made myself so very unuseful in my papa's
family as 

no more of your merits clary you have been a good child you have
eased me of all the family cares but do not now give more than ever
you relieved me from you have been amply repaid in the reputation
your skill and management have given you but now there is soon to be a
period to all those assistances from you if you marry there will be
a natural and if to please us a desirable period because your own
family will employ all your talents in that way if you do not there
will be a period likewise but not a natural one you understand me 
child 

i wept 

i have made inquiry already after a housekeeper i would have had your
good norton but i suppose you will yourself wish to have the worthy
woman with you if you desire it that shall be agreed upon for you 

but why dearest madam why am i the youngest to be precipitated into
a state that i am very far from wishing to enter into with any body 

you are going to question me i suppose why your sister is not thought
of for mr solmes 

i hope madam it will not displease you if i were 

i might refer you for an answer to your father mr solmes has reasons
for preferring you 

and i have reasons madam for disliking him and why i am 

this quickness upon me interrupted my mother is not to be borne i am
gone and your father comes if i can do no good with you 

o madam i would rather die than 

she put her hand to my mouth no peremptoriness clary harlowe once you
declare yourself inflexible i have done 

i wept for vexation this is all all my brother's doings his grasping
views 

no reflections upon your brother he has entirely the honour of the
family at heart 

i would no more dishonour my family madam than my brother would 

i believe it but i hope you will allow your father and me and your
uncles to judge what will do it honour what dishonour 

i then offered to live single never to marry at all or never but with
their full approbation 

if you mean to shew your duty and your obedience clary you must shew
it in our way not in your own 

i hope madam that i have not so behaved hitherto as to render such a
trial of my obedience necessary 

yes clary i cannot but say that you have hitherto behaved extremely
well but you have had no trials till now and i hope that now you are
called to one you will not fail in it parents proceeded she when
children are young are pleased with every thing they do you have been
a good child upon the whole but we have hitherto rather complied with
you than you with us now that you are grown up to marriageable years 
is the test especially as your grandfather has made you independent as
we may say in preference to those who had prior expectations upon that
estate 

madam my grandfather knew and expressly mentioned in his will his
desire that my father will more than make it up to my sister i did
nothing but what i thought my duty to procure his favour it was rather
a mark of his affection than any advantage to me for do i either
seek or wish to be independent were i to be queen of the universe that
dignity should not absolve me from my duty to you and to my father i
would kneel for your blessings were it in the presence of millions so
that 

i am loth to interrupt you clary though you could more than once break
in upon me you are young and unbroken but with all this ostentation
of your duty i desire you to shew a little more deference to me when i
am speaking 

i beg your pardon dear madam and your patience with me on such an
occasion as this if i did not speak with earnestness upon it i should
be supposed to have only maidenly objections against a man i never can
endure 

clary harlowe 

dearest dearest madam permit me to speak what i have to say this
once it is hard it is very hard to be forbidden to enter into
the cause of all these misunderstandings because i must not speak
disrespectfully of one who supposes me in the way of his ambition and
treats me like a slave 

whither whither clary 

my dearest mamma my duty will not permit me so far to suppose my
father arbitrary as to make a plea of that arbitrariness to you 

how now clary o girl 

your patience my dearest mamma you were pleased to say you would
hear me with patience person in a man is nothing because i am
supposed to be prudent so my eye is to be disgusted and my reason not
convinced 

girl girl 

thus are my imputed good qualities to be made my punishment and i am to
wedded to a monster 

 astonishing can this clarissa be from you 

the man madam person and mind is a monster in my eye   and that
i may be induced to bear this treatment i am to be complimented with
being indifferent to all men yet at other times and to serve other
purposes be thought prepossessed in favour of a man against whose moral
character lie just objections confined as if like the giddiest of
creatures i would run away with this man and disgrace my whole family 
o my dearest mamma who can be patient under such treatment 

now clary i suppose you will allow me to speak i think i have had
patience indeed with you could i have thought but i will put all upon
a short issue your mother clarissa shall shew you an example of that
patience you so boldly claim from her without having any yourself 

o my dear how my mother's condescension distressed me at the
time infinitely more distressed me than rigour could have done but
she knew she was to be sure aware that she was put upon a harsh upon
an unreasonable service let me say or she would not she could not 
have had so much patience with me 

let me tell you then proceeded she that all lies in a small compass 
as your father said you have been hitherto as you are pretty ready to
plead a dutiful child you have indeed had no cause to be otherwise no
child was ever more favoured whether you will discredit all your past
behaviour whether at a time and upon an occasion that the highest
instance of duty is expected from you an instance that is to crown
all and when you declare that your heart is free you will give that
instance or whether having a view to the independence you may claim 
 for so clary whatever be your motive it will be judged and which
any man you favour can assert for you against us all or rather for
himself in spite of us whether i say you will break with us all 
and stand in defiance of a jealous father needlessly jealous i will
venture to say of the prerogatives of his sex as to me and still ten
times more jealous of the authority of a father this is now the point
with us you know your father has made it a point and did he ever give
up one he thought he had a right to carry 

too true thought i to myself and now my brother has engaged my father 
his fine scheme will walk alone without needing his leading-strings 
and it is become my father's will that i oppose not my brother's
grasping views 

i was silent to say the truth i was just then sullenly silent my
heart was too big i thought it was hard to be thus given up by
my mother and that she should make a will so uncontroulable as my
brother's her will my mother my dear though i must not say so was
not obliged to marry against her liking my mother loved my father 

my silence availed me still less 

i see my dear said she that you are convinced now my good
child now my clary do i love you it shall not be known that you
have argued with me at all all shall be imputed to that modesty which
has ever so much distinguished you you shall have the full merit of
your resignation 

i wept 

she tenderly wiped the tears from my eyes and kissed my cheek your
father expects you down with a cheerful countenance but i will excuse
your going all your scruples you see have met with an indulgence
truly maternal from me i rejoice in the hope that you are convinced 
this indeed seems to be a proof of the truth of your agreeable
declaration that your heart is free 

did not this seem to border upon cruelty my dear in so indulgent a
mother it would be wicked  would it not  to suppose my mother capable
of art but she is put upon it and obliged to take methods to which
her heart is naturally above stooping and all intended for my good 
because she sees that no arguing will be admitted any where else 

i will go down proceeded she and excuse your attendance at afternoon
tea as i did to dinner for i know you will have some little
reluctances to subdue i will allow you those and also some little
natural shynesses and so you shall not come down if you chuse not to
come down only my dear do not disgrace my report when you come to
supper and be sure behave as you used to do to your brother and sister 
for your behaviour to them will be one test of your cheerful obedience
to us i advise as a friend you see rather than command as a
mother so adieu my love and again she kissed me and was going 

o my dear mamma said i forgive me but surely you cannot believe i
can ever think of having that man 

she was very angry and seemed to be greatly disappointed she
threatened to turn me over to my father and uncles she however bid
me generously bid me consider what a handle i gave to my brother
and sister if i thought they had views to serve by making my uncles
dissatisfied with me 

i said she in a milder accent have early said all that i thought
could be said against the present proposal on a supposition that
you who have refused several other whom i own to be preferable as to
person would not approve of it and could i have succeeded you 
clary had never heard of it but if i could not how can you expect
to prevail my great ends in the task i have undertaken are the
preservation of the family peace so likely to be overturned to
reinstate you in the affections of your father and uncles and to
preserve you from a man of violence your father you must needs think
will flame out upon your refusal to comply your uncles are so

thoroughly convinced of the consistency of the measure with their
favourite views of aggrandizing the family that they are as much
determined as your father your aunt hervey and your uncle hervey are of
the same party and it is hard if a father and mother and uncles and
aunt all conjoined cannot be allowed to direct your choice surely my
dear girl proceeded she  for i was silent all this time  it cannot be
that you are the more averse because the family views will be promoted
by the match this i assure you is what every body must think if
you comply not nor while the man so obnoxious to us all remains
unmarried and buzzes about you will the strongest wishes to live
single be in the least regarded and well you know that were mr 
lovelace an angel and your father had made it a point that you should
not have him it would be in vain to dispute his will as to the
prohibition laid upon you much as i will own against my liking that
is owing to the belief that you corresponded by miss howe's means with
that man nor do i doubt that you did so 

i answered to every article in such a manner as i am sure would have
satisfied her could she have been permitted to judge for herself and i
then inveighed with bitterness against the disgraceful prohibitions laid
upon me 

they would serve to shew me she was pleased to say how much in earnest
my father was they might be taken off whenever i thought fit and no
harm done nor disgrace received but if i were to be contumacious i
might thank myself for all that would follow 

i sighed i wept i was silent 

shall i clary said she shall i tell your father that these
prohibitions are as unnecessary as i hoped they would be that you know
your duty and will not offer to controvert his will what say you my
love 

o madam what can i say to questions so indulgently put i do indeed
know my duty no creature in the world is more willing to practise
it but pardon me dearest madam if i say that i must bear these
prohibitions if i am to pay so dear to have them taken off 

determined and perverse my dear mamma called me and after walking
twice or thrice in anger about the room she turned to me your
heart free clarissa how can you tell me your heart is free such
extraordinary prepossessions to a particular person must be owing to
extraordinary prepossessions in another's favour tell me clary and
tell me truly do you not continue to correspond with mr lovelace 

dearest madam replied i you know my motives to prevent mischief i
answered his letters the reasons for our apprehensions of this sort are
not over 

i own to you clary although now i would not have it known that
i once thought a little qualifying among such violent spirits was not
amiss i did not know but all things would come round again by the
mediation of lord m and his two sisters but as they all three think
proper to resent for their nephew and as their nephew thinks fit to
defy us all and as terms are offered on the other hand that could
not be asked which will very probably prevent your grandfather's estate
going out of the family and may be a means to bring still greater into
it i see not that the continuance of your correspondence with him
either can or ought to be permitted i therefore now forbid it to you 
as you value my favour 

be pleased madam only to advise me how to break it off with safety to
my brother and uncles and it is all i wish for would to heaven the
man so hated had not the pretence to make of having been too violently
treated when he meant peace and reconciliation it would always have
been in my own power to have broke with him his reputed immoralities
would have given me a just pretence at any time to do so but madam as
my uncles and my brother will keep no measures as he has heard what the
view is and his regard for me from resenting their violent treatment
of him and his family what can i do would you have me madam make him
desperate 

the law will protect us child offended magistracy will assert itself 

but madam may not some dreadful mischief first happen the law
asserts not itself till it is offended 

you have made offers clary if you might be obliged in the point in
question are you really in earnest were you to be complied with to
break off all correspondence with mr lovelace let me know this 

indeed i am and i will you madam shall see all the letters that
have passed between us you shall see i have given him no encouragement
independent of my duty and when you have seen them you will be
better able to direct me how on the condition i have offered to break
entirely with him 

i take you at your word clarissa give me his letters and the copies
of yours 

i am sure madam you will keep the knowledge that i write and what i
write 

no conditions with your mother surely my prudence may be trusted to 

i begged her pardon and besought her to take the key of the private
drawer in my escritoire where they lay that she herself might see that
i had no reserves to my mother 

she did and took all his letters and the copies of
mine unconditioned with she was pleased to say they shall be yours
again unseen by any body else 

i thanked her and she withdrew to read them saying she would return
them when she had 


 


you my dear have seen all the letters that passed between mr lovelace
and me till my last return from you you have acknowledged that he has
nothing to boast of from them three others i have received since by
the private conveyance i told you of the last i have not yet answered 

in these three as in those you have seen after having besought my
favour and in the most earnest manner professed the ardour of his
passion for me and set forth the indignities done him the defiances
my brother throws out against him in all companies the menaces and
hostile appearance of my uncles wherever they go and the methods they
take to defame him he declares that neither his own honour nor
the honour of his family involved as that is in the undistinguishing
reflection cast upon him for an unhappy affair which he would have
shunned but could not permit him to bear these confirmed indignities 
that as my inclinations if not favourable to him cannot be nor are 
to such a man as the newly-introduced solmes he is interested the more
to resent my brother's behaviour who to every body avows his rancour
and malice and glories in the probability he has through the address
of this solmes of mortifying me and avenging himself on him that
it is impossible he should not think himself concerned to frustrate a
measure so directly levelled at him had he not a still higher motive
for hoping to frustrate it that i must forgive him if he enter into
conference with solmes upon it he earnestly insists upon what he has
so often proposed that i will give him leave in company with lord
m to wait upon my uncles and even upon my father and he promises
patience if new provocations absolutely beneath a man to bear be not
given  which by the way i am far from being able to engage for 

in my answer i absolutely declare as i tell him i have often done 
that he is to expect no favour from me against the approbation of my
friends that i am sure their consents for his visiting any of them
will never be obtained that i will not be either so undutiful or so
indiscreet as to suffer my interests to be separated from the interests
of my family for any man upon earth that i do not think myself obliged
to him for the forbearance i desire one flaming spirit to have with
others that in this desire i require nothing of him but what prudence 
justice and the laws of his country require that if he has any
expectations of favour from me on that account he deceives himself 
that i have no inclination as i have often told him to change my
condition that i cannot allow myself to correspond with him any longer
in this clandestine manner it is mean low undutiful i tell him and
has a giddy appearance which cannot be excused that therefore he is
not to expect that i will continue it 

to this in his last among other things he replies that if i am
actually determined to break off all correspondence with him he must
conclude that it is with a view to become the wife of a man whom no
woman of honour and fortune can think tolerable and in that case i
must excuse him for saying that he shall neither be able to bear the
thoughts of losing for ever a person in whom all his present and all his
future hopes are centred nor support himself with patience under the
insolent triumphs of my brother upon it but that nevertheless he will
not threaten either his own life or that of any other man he must take
his resolutions as such a dreaded event shall impel him at the time if
he shall know that it will have my consent he must endeavour to resign
to his destiny but if it be brought about by compulsion he shall not
be able to answer for the consequence 

i will send you these letters for your perusal in a few days i would
enclose them but that it is possible something may happen which may
make my mother require to re-peruse them when you see them you will
observe how he endeavours to hold me to this correspondence 


 


in about an hour my mother returned take your letters clary i have
nothing she was pleased to say to tax your discretion with as to the
wording of yours to him you have even kept up a proper dignity as
well as observed all the rules of decorum and you have resented as you
ought to resent his menacing invectives in a word i see not that he
can form the least expectations from what you have written that you
will encourage the passion he avows for you but does he not avow his
passion have you the least doubt about what must be the issue of this
correspondence if continued and do you yourself think when you know
the avowed hatred of one side and he declared defiances of the other 
that this can be that it ought to be a match 

by no means it can madam you will be pleased to observed that i have
said as much to him but now madam that the whole correspondence
is before you i beg your commands what to do in a situation so very
disagreeable 

one thing i will tell you clary but i charge you as you would not
have me question the generosity of your spirit to take no advantage
of it either mentally or verbally that i am so much pleased with the
offer of your keys to me made in so cheerful and unreserved a manner 
and in the prudence you have shewn in your letters that were it
practicable to bring every one or your father only into my opinion i
should readily leave all the rest to your discretion reserving only to
myself the direction or approbation of your future letters and to see 
that you broke off the correspondence as soon as possible but as it is
not and as i know your father would have no patience with you should
it be acknowledged that you correspond with mr lovelace or that you
have corresponded with him since the time he prohibited you to do so 
i forbid you to continue such a liberty yet as the case is difficult 
let me ask you what you yourself can propose your heart you say is
free your own that you cannot think as matters circumstanced that
a match with a man so obnoxious as he now is to us all is proper to
be thought of what do you propose to do what clary are your own
thoughts of the matter 

without hesitation thus i answered what i humbly propose is
this that i will write to mr lovelace for i have not answered his
last that he has nothing to do between my father and me that i
neither ask his advice nor need it but that since he thinks he has some
pretence for interfering because of my brother's avowal of the interest
of mr solmes in displeasure to him i will assure him without giving
him any reason to impute the assurance to be in the least favourable to
himself that i will never be that man's  and if proceeded i i
may never be permitted to give him this assurance and mr solmes in
consequence of it be discouraged from prosecuting his address let mr 
lovelace be satisfied or dissatisfied i will go no farther nor write
another line to him nor ever see him more if i can avoid it and i
shall have a good excuse for it without bringing in any of my family 

ah my love but what shall we do about the terms mr solmes offers 
those are the inducements with every body he has even given hopes to
your brother that he will make exchanges of estates or at least that
he will purchase the northern one for you know it must be entirely
consistent with the family-views that we increase our interest in this
country your brother in short has given a plan that captivates us
all and a family so rich in all its branches and that has its views to
honour must be pleased to see a very great probability of taking rank
one day among the principal in the kingdom 

and for the sake of these views for the sake of this plan of my
brother's am i madam to be given in marriage to a man i can never
endure o my dear mamma save me save me if you can from this heavy
evil i had rather be buried alive indeed i had than have that man 

she chid me for my vehemence but was so good as to tell me that she
would sound my uncle harlowe who was then below and if he encouraged
her or would engage to second her she would venture to talk to my
father herself and i should hear further in the morning 

she went down to tea and kindly undertook to excuse my attendance at
supper 

but is it not a sad thing i repeat to be obliged to stand in
opposition to the will of such a mother why as i often say to myself 
was such a man as this solmes fixed upon the only man in the world 
surely that could offer so much and deserve so little 

little indeed does he deserve why my dear the man has the most
indifferent of characters every mouth is opened against him for his
sordid ways a foolish man to be so base-minded when the difference
between the obtaining of a fame for generosity and incurring the
censure of being a miser will not prudently managed cost fifty pounds
a year 

what a name have you got at a less expense and what an opportunity had
he of obtaining credit at a very small one succeeding such a wretched
creature as sir oliver in fortunes so vast yet has he so behaved 
that the common phrase is applied to him that sir oliver will never be
dead while mr solmes lives 

the world as i have often thought ill-natured as it is said to be is
generally more just in characters speaking by what it feels than is
usually apprehended and those who complain most of its censoriousness 
perhaps should look inwardly for the occasion oftener than they do 

my heart is a little at ease on the hopes that my mother will be able
to procure favour for me and a deliverance from this man and so i
have leisure to moralize but if i had not i should not forbear to
intermingle occasionally these sorts of remarks because you command
me never to omit them when they occur to my mind and not to be able
to make them even in a more affecting situation when one sits down
to write would shew one's self more engaged to self and to one's own
concerns than attentive to the wishes of a friend if it be said that
it is natural so to be what makes that nature on occasions where a
friend may be obliged or reminded of a piece of instruction which
 writing down one's self may be the better for but a fault which it
would set a person above nature to subdue 




letter xviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sat mar 4 


would you not have thought something might have been obtained in my
favour from an offer so reasonable from an expedient so proper as i
imagine to put a tolerable end as from myself to a correspondence i
hardly know how otherwise with safety to some of my family to get rid
of but my brother's plan which my mother spoke of and of which i
have in vain endeavoured to procure a copy with a design to take it to
pieces and expose it as i question not there is room to do joined
with my father's impatience of contradiction are irresistible 

i have not been in bed all night nor am i in the least drowsy 
expectation and hope and doubt an uneasy state kept me
sufficiently wakeful i stept down at my usual time that it might not
be known i had not been in bed and gave directions in the family way 

about eight o'clock shorey came to me from my mother with orders to
attend her in her chamber 

my mother had been weeping i saw by her eyes but her aspect seemed to
be less tender and less affectionate than the day before and this as
soon as i entered into her presence struck me with an awe which gave a
great damp to my spirits 

sit down clary harlowe i shall talk to you by-and-by and continued
looking into a drawer among laces and linens in a way neither busy nor
unbusy 

i believe it was a quarter of an hour before she spoke to me my heart
throbbing with the suspense all the time and then she asked me coldly 
what directions i had given for the day 

i shewed her the bill of fare for this day and to-morrow if i said 
it pleased her to approve of it 

she made a small alteration in it but with an air so cold and so
solemn as added to my emotions 

mr harlowe talks of dining out to-day i think at my brother
antony's 

mr harlowe not my father have i not then a father thought i 

sit down when i bid you 

i sat down 

you look very sullen clary 

i hope not madam 

if children would always be children parents and there she stopt 

she then went to her toilette and looked into the glass and gave half
a sigh the other half as if she would not have sighed if she could
have helped it she gently hem'd away 

i don't love to see the girl look so sullen 

indeed madam i am not sullen and i arose and turning from her 
drew out my handkerchief for the tears ran down my cheeks 

i thought by the glass before me i saw the mother in her softened eye
cast towards me but her words confirmed not the hoped-for tenderness 

one of the most provoking things in this world is to have people cry
for what they can help 

i wish to heaven i could madam and i sobbed again 

tears of penitence and sobs of perverseness are mighty well suited you
may go up to your chamber i shall talk with you by-and-by 

i courtesied with reverence 

mock me not with outward gestures of respect the heart clary is what
i want 

indeed madam you have it it is not so much mine as my mamma's 

fine talking as somebody says if words were to pass for duty 
clarissa harlowe would be the dutifulest child breathing 

god bless that somebody be it whom it will god bless that
somebody and i courtesied and pursuant to her last command was
going 

she seemed struck but was to be angry with me 

so turning from me she spoke with quickness whither now clary
harlowe 

you commanded me madam to go to my chamber 

i see you are very ready to go out of my presence is your compliance
the effect of sullenness or obedience you are very ready to leave me 

i could hold no longer but threw myself at her feet o my dearest
mamma let me know all i am to suffer let me know what i am to be i
will bear it if i can bear it but your displeasure i cannot bear 

leave me leave me clary harlowe no kneeling limbs so supple will
so stubborn rise i tell you 

i cannot rise i will disobey my mamma when she bids me leave her
without being reconciled to me no sullens my mamma no perverseness 
but worse than either this is direct disobedience yet tear not
yourself from me  wrapping my arms about her as i kneeled she
struggling to get from me my face lifted up to hers with eyes
running over that spoke not my heart if they were not all humility and
reverence  you must not must not tear yourself from me  for still
the dear lady struggled and looked this way and that all in a sweet
disorder as if she knew not what to do  i will neither rise nor
leave you nor let you go till you say you are not angry with me 

o thou ever-moving child of my heart  folding her dear arms about my
neck as mine embraced her knees  why was this task but leave me you
have discomposed me beyond expression leave me my dear i won't be
angry with you if i can help it if you'll be good 

i arose trembling and hardly knowing what i did or how i stood or
walked withdrew to my chamber my hannah followed me as soon as she
heard me quit my mother's presence and with salts and spring-water just
kept me from fainting and that was as much as she could do it was near
two hours before i could so far recover myself as to take up my pen to
write to you how unhappily my hopes have ended 

my mother went down to breakfast i was not fit to appear but if i
had been better i suppose i should not have been sent for since the
permission for my attending her down was given by my father when in
my chamber only on condition that she found me worthy of the name of
daughter that i doubt i shall never be in his opinion if he be not
brought to change his mind as to this mr solmes 




letter xix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  in answer to letter xv   sat march
4 12 o'clock 


hannah has just now brought me from the usual place your favour of
yesterday the contents of it have made me very thoughtful and you
will have an answer in my gravest style i to have that mr solmes no
indeed i will sooner but i will write first to those passages in your
letter which are less concerning that i may touch upon this part with
more patience 

as to what you mention of my sister's value for mr lovelace i am not
very much surprised at it she takes such officious pains and it is so
much her subject to have it thought that she never did and never could
like him that she gives but too much room to suspect that she does she
never tells the story of their parting and of her refusal of him but
her colour rises she looks with disdain upon me and mingles anger with
the airs she gives herself anger as well as airs demonstrating that
she refused a man whom she thought worth accepting where else is the
reason either for anger or boast poor bella she is to be pitied she
cannot either like or dislike with temper would to heaven she had been
mistress of all her wishes would to heaven she had 

as to what you say of my giving up to my father's controul the estate
devised me my motives at the time as you acknowledge were not
blamable your advice to me on the subject was grounded as i remember 
on your good opinion of me believing that i should not make a bad use
of the power willed me neither you nor i my dear although you now
assume the air of a diviner  pardon me  could have believed that would
have happened which has happened as to my father's part particularly 
you were indeed jealous of my brother's views against me or rather of
his predominant love of himself but i did not think so hardly of my
brother and sister as you always did you never loved them and ill-will
has eyes ever open to the faulty side as good-will or love is blind
even to real imperfections i will briefly recollect my motives 

i found jealousies and uneasiness rising in every breast where all
before was unity and love the honoured testator was reflected upon a
second childhood was attributed to him and i was censured as having
taken advantage of it all young creatures thought i more or less 
covet independency but those who wish most for it are seldom the
fittest to be trusted either with the government of themselves or with
power over others this is certainly a very high and unusual devise to
so young a creature we should not aim at all we have power to do to
take all that good-nature or indulgence or good opinion confers 
shews a want of moderation and a graspingness that is unworthy of that
indulgence and are bad indications of the use that may be made of the
power bequeathed it is true thought i that i have formed agreeable
schemes of making others as happy as myself by the proper discharge of
the stewardship intrusted to me  are not all estates stewardships 
my dear   but let me examine myself is not vanity or secret love
of praise a principal motive with me at the bottom ought i not to
suspect my own heart if i set up for myself puffed up with every one's
good opinion may i not be left to myself every one's eyes are upon
the conduct upon the visits upon the visiters of a young creature
of our sex made independent and are not such subjected more than any
others to the attempts of enterprisers and fortune-seekers and then 
left to myself should i take a wrong step though with ever so good an
intention how many should i have to triumph over me how few to pity
me the more of the one and the fewer of the other for having aimed
at excelling 

these were some of my reflections at the time and i have no doubt but
that in the same situation i should do the very same thing and that
upon the maturest deliberation who can command or foresee events to
act up to our best judgments at the time is all we can do if i have
erred tis to worldly wisdom only that i have erred if we suffer by an
act of duty or even by an act of generosity is it not pleasurable on
reflection that the fault is in others rather than in ourselves i
had much rather have reason to think others unkind than that they
should have any to think me undutiful 

and so my dear i am sure had you 

and now for the most concerning part of your letter 

you think i must of necessity as matters are circumstanced be solmes's
wife i will not be very rash my dear in protesting to the contrary 
but i think it never can and what is still more never ought to
be my temper i know is depended upon but i have heretofore said 
that i have something in me of my father's family as well as of my
mother's and have i any encouragement to follow too implicitly the
example which my mother sets of meekness and resignedness to the wills
of others is she not for ever obliged as she was pleased to hint to
me to be of the forbearing side in my mother's case your observation
i must own is verified that those who will bear much shall have much
to bear what is it as she says that she has not sacrificed to
peace yet has she by her sacrifices always found the peace she has
deserved to find indeed no i am afraid the very contrary and often
and often have i had reason on her account to reflect that we poor
mortals by our over-solicitude to preserve undisturbed the qualities we
are constitutionally fond of frequently lose the benefits we propose
to ourselves from them since the designing and encroaching finding out
what we most fear to forfeit direct their batteries against these our
weaker places and making an artillery if i may so phrase it of our
hopes and fears play upon us at their pleasure 


 see letter ix 

 see letter x 


steadiness of mind a quality which the ill-bred and censorious deny to
any of our sex when we are absolutely convinced of being in the right
 otherwise it is not steadiness but obstinacy  and when it is exerted
in material cases is a quality which as my good dr lewen was wont to
say brings great credit to the possessor of it at the same time that
it usually when tried and known raises such above the attempts of
the meanly machinating he used therefore to inculcate upon me this
steadiness upon laudable convictions and why may i not think that i am
now put upon a proper exercise of it 

i said above that i never can be that i never ought to be mrs 
solmes i repeat that i ought not for surely my dear i should not
give up to my brother's ambition the happiness of my future life surely
i ought not to be the instrument of depriving mr solmes's relations of
their natural rights and reversionary prospects for the sake of further
aggrandizing a family although that i am of which already lives
in great affluence and splendour and which might be as justly
dissatisfied were all that some of it aim at to be obtained that they
were not princes as now they are that they are not peers  for when ever
was an ambitious mind as you observe in the case of avarice satisfied
by acquisition   the less surely ought i to give into these grasping
views of my brother as i myself heartily despise the end aimed at as
i wish not either to change my state or better my fortunes and as i
am fully persuaded that happiness and riches are two things and very
seldom meet together 


 see letter x 


yet i dread i exceedingly dread the conflicts i know i must
encounter with it is possible that i may be more unhappy from the due
observation of the good doctor's general precept than were i to
yield the point since what i call steadiness is deemed stubbornness 
obstinacy prepossession by those who have a right to put what
interpretation they please upon my conduct 

so my dear were we perfect which no one can be we could not be
happy in this life unless those with whom we have to deal those more
especially who have any controul upon us were governed by the same
principles but then does not the good doctor's conclusion recur that
we have nothing to do but to chuse what is right to be steady in the
pursuit of it and to leave the issue to providence 

this if you approve of my motives and if you don't pray inform me 
must be my aim in the present case 

but what then can i plead for a palliation to myself of my mother's
sufferings on my account perhaps this consideration will carry some
force with it that her difficulties cannot last long only till
this great struggle shall be one way or other determined whereas my
unhappiness if i comply will from an aversion not to be overcome be
for life to which let me add that as i have reason to think that the
present measures are not entered upon with her own natural liking she
will have the less pain should they want the success which i think in
my heart they ought to want 

i have run a great length in a very little time the subject touched me
to the quick my reflections upon it will give you reason to expect from
me a perhaps too steady behaviour in a new conference which i find i
must have with my mother my father and brother as she was pleased
to tell me dine at my uncle antony's and that as i have reason to
believe on purpose to give an opportunity for it 

hannah informs me that she heard my father high and angry with my
mother at taking leave of her i suppose for being to favourable to me 
for hannah heard her say as in tears indeed mr harlowe you greatly
distress me the poor girl does not deserve  hannah heard no more 
but that he said he would break somebody's heart mine i suppose not
my mother's i hope 

as only my sister dines with my mother i thought i should have been
commanded down but she sent me up a plate from her table i continued
my writing i could not touch a morsel i ordered hannah however to eat
of it that i might not be thought sullen 

before i conclude this i will see whether any thing offers from either
of my private correspondencies that will make it proper to add to it 
and will take a turn in the wood-yard and garden for that purpose 


 


i am stopped hannah shall deposit this she was ordered by my mother
 who asked where i was to tell me that she would come up and talk with
me in my own closet she is coming adieu my dear 




letter xx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sat afternoon 


the expected conference is over but my difficulties are increased 
this as my mother was pleased to tell me being the last persuasory
effort that is to be attempted i will be particular in the account of
it as my head and my heart will allow it to be 

i have made said she as she entered my room a short as well as early
dinner on purpose to confer with you and i do assure you that it will
be the last conference i shall either be permitted or inclined to hold
with you on the subject if you should prove as refractory as it is
imagined you will prove by some who are of opinion that i have not
the weight with you which my indulgence deserves but i hope you will
convince as well them as me of the contrary 

your father both dines and sups at your uncle's on purpose to give
us this opportunity and according to the report i shall make on his
return which i have promised shall be a very faithful one he will
take his measures with you 

i was offering to speak hear clarissa what i have to tell you said
she before you speak unless what you have to say will signify to me
your compliance say will it if it will you may speak 

i was silent 

she looked with concern and anger upon me no compliance i find such
a dutiful young creature hitherto will you not can you not speak as
i would have you speak then  rejecting me as it were with her hand 
continue silent i no more than your father will bear your avowed
contradiction 

she paused with a look of expectation as if she waited for my
consenting answer 

i was still silent looking down the tears in my eyes 

o thou determined girl but say speak out are you resolved to stand
in opposition to us all in a point our hearts are set upon 

may i madam be permitted to expostulate 

to what purpose expostulate with me clarissa your father is
determined have i not told you there is no receding that the honour as
well as the interest of the family is concerned be ingenuous you used
to be so even occasionally against yourself who at the long run must
submit all of us to you or you to all of us if you intend to yield
at last if you find you cannot conquer yield now and with a grace for
yield you must or be none of our child 

i wept i knew not what to say or rather how to express what i had to
say 

take notice that there are flaws in your grandfather's will not
a shilling of that estate will be yours if you do not yield your
grandfather left it to you as a reward of your duty to him and to
us you will justly forfeit it if 

permit me good madam to say that if it were unjustly bequeathed me 
i ought not to wish to have it but i hope mr solmes will be apprised
of these flaws 

this is very pertly said clarissa but reflect that the forfeiture of
that estate through your opposition will be attended with the total
loss of your father's favour and then how destitute must you be how
unable to support yourself and how many benevolent designs and good
actions must you give up 

i must accommodate myself madam in the latter case to my
circumstance much only is required where much is given it becomes me
to be thankful for what i have had i have reason to bless you madam 
and my good mrs norton for bringing me up to be satisfied with little 
with much less i will venture to say than my father's indulgence
annually confers upon me and then i thought of the old roman and his
lentils 

what perverseness said my mother but if you depend upon the favour of
either or both of your uncles vain will be that dependence they
will give you up i do assure you if your father does and absolutely
renounce you 

i am sorry madam that i have had so little merit as to have made no
deeper impressions of favour for me in their hearts but i will love and
honour them as long as i live 

all this clarissa makes your prepossession in a certain man's favour
the more evident indeed your brother and sister cannot go any where 
but they hear of these prepossessions 

it is a great grief to me madam to be made the subject of the public
talk but i hope you will have the goodness to excuse me for observing 
that the authors of my disgrace within doors the talkers of my
prepossession without and the reporters of it from abroad are
originally the same persons 

she severely chid me for this 

i received her rebukes in silence 

you are sullen clarissa i see you are sullen and she walked about
the room in anger then turning to me you can bear the imputation of
sullenness i see you have no concern to clear yourself of it i was
afraid of telling you all i was enjoined to tell you in case you were
to be unpersuadable but i find that i had a greater opinion of
your delicacy of your gentleness than i needed to have it cannot
discompose so steady so inflexible a young creature to be told as i
now tell you that the settlements are actually drawn and that you will
be called down in a very few days to hear them read and to sign them 
for it is impossible if your heart be free that you can make the least
objection to them except it will be an objection with you that they
are so much in your favour and in the favour of all our family 

i was speechless absolutely speechless although my heart was ready to
burst yet could i neither weep nor speak 

i am sorry said she for your averseness to this match  match she was
pleased to call it   but there is no help the honour and interest
of the family as your aunt has told you and as i have told you are
concerned and you must comply 

i was still speechless 

she folded the warm statue as she was pleased to call me in her arms 
and entreated me for heaven's sake to comply 

speech and tears were lent me at the same time you have given me life 
madam said i clasping my uplifted hands together and falling on one
knee a happy one till now has your goodness and my papa's made it 
o do not do not make all the remainder of it miserable 

your father replied she is resolved not to see you till he sees you
as obedient a child as you used to be you have never been put to a test
till now that deserved to be called a test this is this must be 
my last effort with you give me hope my dear child my peace is
concerned i will compound with you but for hope and yet your
father will not be satisfied without an implicit and even a cheerful
obedience give me but hope child 

to give you hope my dearest my most indulgent mamma is to give you
every thing can i be honest if i give a hope that i cannot confirm 

she was very angry she again called me perverse she upbraided me with
regarding only my own prepossessions and respecting not either her
peace of mind or my own duty it is a grating thing said she for the
parents of a child who delighted in her in all the time of her helpless
infancy and throughout every stage of her childhood and in every
part of her education to womanhood because of the promises she gave of
proving the most grateful and dutiful of children to find just when
the time arrived which should crown their wishes that child stand in
the way of her own happiness and her parents' comfort and refusing an
excellent offer and noble settlements give suspicions to her anxious
friends that she would become the property of a vile rake and
libertine who be the occasion what it will defies her family and has
actually embrued his hands in her brother's blood 

i have had a very hard time of it said she between your father and
you for seeing your dislike i have more than once pleaded for you 
but all to no purpose i am only treated as a too fond mother who 
from motives of a blamable indulgence encourage a child to stand in
opposition to a father's will i am charged with dividing the family
into two parts i and my youngest daughter standing against my husband 
his two brothers my son my eldest daughter and my sister hervey 
i have been told that i must be convinced of the fitness as well
as advantage to the whole your brother and mr lovelace out of the
question of carrying the contract with mr solmes on which so many
contracts depend into execution 

your father's heart i tell you once more is in it he has declared 
that he had rather have no daughter in you than one he cannot dispose
of for your own good especially if you have owned that your heart is
free and as the general good of his whole family is to be promoted
by your obedience he has pleaded poor man that his frequent gouty
paroxysms every fit more threatening than the former give him no
extraordinary prospects either of worldly happiness or of long days 
and he hopes that you who have been supposed to have contributed
to the lengthening of your grandfather's life will not by your
disobedience shorten your father's 

this was a most affecting plea my dear i wept in silence upon it i
could not speak to it and my mother proceeded what therefore can be
his motives clary harlowe in the earnest desire he has to see this
treaty perfected but the welfare and aggrandizement of his family 
which already having fortunes to become the highest condition cannot
but aspire to greater distinctions however slight such views as these
may appear to you clary you know that they are not slight ones to any
other of the family and your father will be his own judge of what
is and what is not likely to promote the good of his children your
abstractedness child affectation of abstractedness some call it 
savours let me tell you of greater particularity than we aim to
carry modesty and humility therefore will oblige you rather to
mistrust yourself of peculiarity than censure views which all the world
pursues as opportunity offers 

i was still silent and she proceeded it is owing to the good opinion 
clary which your father has of you and of your prudence duty and
gratitude that he engaged for your compliance in your absence before
you returned from miss howe and that he built and finished contracts
upon it which cannot be made void or cancelled 

but why then thought i did they receive me on my return from miss
howe with so much intimidating solemnity to be sure my dear this
argument as well as the rest was obtruded upon my mother 

she went on your father has declared that your unexpected opposition 
 unexpected she was pleased to call it   and mr lovelace's continued
menaces and insults more and more convince him that a short day is
necessary in order to put an end to all that man's hopes and to his own
apprehensions resulting from the disobedience of a child so favoured he
has therefore actually ordered patterns of the richest silks to be sent
for from london 

i started i was out of breath i gasped at this frightful
precipitance i was going to open with warmth against it i knew whose
the happy expedient must be female minds i once heard my brother say 
that could but be brought to balance on the change of their state 
might easily be determined by the glare and splendour of the nuptial
preparations and the pride of becoming the mistress of a family but
she was pleased to hurry on that i might not have time to express
my disgusts at such a communication to this effect your father
therefore my clary cannot either for your sake or his own labour
under a suspense so affecting to his repose he has even thought fit to
acquaint me on my pleading for you that it becomes me as i value my
own peace  how harsh to such a wife   and as i wish that he does not
suspect that i secretly favour the address of a vile rake a character
which all the sex he is pleased to say virtuous and vicious are but
too fond of to exert my authority over you and that this i may the
less scrupulously do as you have owned  the old string   that your
heart is free 

unworthy reflection in my mother's case surely this of our sex's
valuing a libertine since she made choice of my father in preference
to several suitors of equal fortune because they were of inferior
reputation for morals 

your father added she at his going out told me what he expected
from me in case i found out that i had not the requisite influence upon
you it was this that i should directly separate myself from you and
leave you singly to take the consequence of your double disobedience i
therefore entreat you my dear clarissa concluded she and that in the
most earnest and condescending manner to signify to your father on his
return your ready obedience and this as well for my sake as your own 

affected by my mother's goodness to me and by that part of her argument
which related to her own peace and to the suspicions they had of her
secretly inclining to prefer the man so hated by them to the man so
much my aversion i could not but wish it were possible for me to obey 
i therefore paused hesitated considered and was silent for some time 
i could see that my mother hoped that the result of this hesitation
would be favourable to her arguments but then recollecting that all
was owing to the instigations of a brother and sister wholly actuated
by selfish and envious views that i had not deserved the treatment i
had of late met with that my disgrace was already become the public
talk that the man was mr solmes and that my aversion to him was too
generally known to make my compliance either creditable to myself or
to them that it would give my brother and sister a triumph over me 
and over mr lovelace which they would not fail to glory in and which 
although it concerned me but little to regard on his account yet might
be attended with fatal mischiefs and then mr solmes's
disagreeable person his still more disagreeable manners his low
understanding understanding the glory of a man so little to be
dispensed with in the head and director of a family in order to
preserve to him that respect which a good wife and that for the
justification of her own choice should pay him herself and wish every
body to pay him and as mr solmes's inferiority in this respectable
faculty of the human mind  i must be allowed to say this to you and no
great self assumption neither  would proclaim to all future as well as
to all present observers what must have been my mean inducement all
these reflections crowding upon my remembrance i would madam said
i folding my hands with an earnestness in which my whole heart was
engaged bear the cruelest tortures bear loss of limb and even of
life to give you peace but this man every moment i would at you
command think of him with favour is the more my aversion you cannot 
indeed you cannot think how my whole soul resists him and to talk
of contracts concluded upon of patterns of a short day save me 
save me o my dearest mamma save your child from this heavy from this
insupportable evil 

never was there a countenance that expressed so significantly as my
mother's did an anguish which she struggled to hide under an anger
she was compelled to assume till the latter overcoming the former she
turned from me with an uplifted eye and stamping strange perverseness 
were the only words i heard of a sentence that she angrily pronounced 
and was going i then half-frantically i believe laid hold of her
gown have patience with me dearest madam said i do not you renounce
me totally if you must separate yourself from your child let it
not be with absolute reprobation on your own part my uncles may be
hard-hearted my father may be immovable i may suffer from my brother's
ambition and from my sister's envy but let me not lose my mamma's
love at least her pity 

she turned to me with benigner rays you have my love you have my pity 
but o my dearest girl i have not yours 

indeed indeed madam you have and all my reverence all my gratitude 
you have but in this one point cannot i be this once obliged will
no expedient be accepted have i not made a very fair proposal as to mr 
lovelace 

i wish for both our sakes my dear unpersuadable girl that the
decision of this point lay with me but why when you know it does not 
why should you thus perplex and urge me to renounce mr lovelace is
now but half what is aimed at nor will any body else believe you in
earnest in the offer if i would while you remain single mr lovelace
will have hopes and you in the opinion of others inclinations 

permit me dearest madam to say that your goodness to me your
patience your peace weigh more with me than all the rest put
together for although i am to be treated by my brother and through
his instigations by my father as a slave in this point and not as a
daughter yet my mind is not that of a slave you have not brought me up
to be mean 

so clary you are already at defiance with your father i have had too
much cause before to apprehend as much what will this come to i and
then my dear mamma sighed i am forced to put up with many humours 

that you are my ever-honoured mamma is my grief and can it be
thought that this very consideration and the apprehension of what may
result from a much worse-tempered man a man who has not half the sense
of my father has not made an impression upon me to the disadvantage
of the married life yet tis something of an alleviation if one must
bear undue controul to bear it from a man of sense my father i
have heard you say madam was for years a very good-humoured
gentleman unobjectionable in person and manners but the man proposed
to me 

forbear reflecting upon your father  did i my dear in what i have
repeated and i think they are the very words reflect upon my father  
it is not possible i must say again and again were all men equally
indifferent to you that you should be thus sturdy in your will i am
tired out with your obstinacy the most unpersuadable girl you forget 
that i must separate myself from you if you will not comply you do not
remember that you father will take you up where i leave you once
more however i will put it to you are you determined to brave your
father's displeasure are you determined to defy your uncles do you
choose to break with us all rather than encourage mr solmes rather
than give me hope 

dreadful alternative but is not my sincerity is not the integrity of
my heart concerned in the answer may not my everlasting happiness
be the sacrifice will not the least shadow of the hope you just now
demanded from me be driven into absolute and sudden certainty is it
not sought to ensnare to entangle me in my own desire of obeying if
i could give answers that might be construed into hope forgive
me madam bear with your child's boldness in such a cause as
this settlements drawn patterns sent for an early day dear dear
madam how can i give hope and not intend to be this man's 

ah girl never say your heart is free you deceive yourself if you
think it is 

thus to be driven  and i wrung my hands through impatience  by the
instigations of a designing an ambitious brother and by a sister 
that 

how often clary must i forbid your unsisterly reflections does not
your father do not your uncles does not every body patronize
mr solmes and let me tell you ungrateful girl and unmovable as
ungrateful let me repeatedly tell you that it is evident to me that
nothing but a love unworthy of your prudence can make you a creature
late so dutiful now so sturdy you may guess what your father's first
question on his return will be he must know that i can do nothing with
you i have done my part seek me if your mind change before he comes
back you have yet a little more time as he stays supper i will no
more seek you nor to you and away she flung 

what could i do but weep 

i am extremely affected on my mother's account more i must needs say 
than on my own and indeed all things considered and especially that
the measure she is engaged in is as i dare say it is against her own
judgment she deserves more compassion than myself excellent woman 
what pity that meekness and condescension should not be attended with
the due rewards of those charming graces yet had she not let violent
spirits as i have elsewhere observed with no small regret find their
power over hers it could not have been thus 

but here run away with my pen i suffer my mother to be angry with me
on her own account she hinted to me indeed that i must seek her if
my mind changed which is a condition that amounts to a prohibition of
attending her but as she left me in displeasure will it not have a
very obstinate appearance and look like a kind of renunciation of her
mediation in my favour if i go not down before my father returns to
supplicate her pity and her kind report to him 

i will attend her i had rather all the world should be angry with me
than my mamma 

mean time to clear my hands from papers of such a nature hannah shall
deposit this if two or three letters reach you together they will but
express from one period to another the anxieties and difficulties which
the mind of your unhappy but ever affectionate friend labours under 

cl h 




letter xxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sat night 


i have been down i am to be unlucky in all i do i think be my
intentions ever so good i have made matters worse instead of better as
i shall now tell you 

i found my mother and sister together in my sister's parlour my mother 
i fear by the glow of her fine face and as the browner sullener glow
in her sister's confirmed had been expressing herself with warmth 
against her unhappier child perhaps giving such an account of what had
passed as should clear herself and convince bella and through her 
my brother and uncles of the sincere pains she had taken with me 

i entered like a dejected criminal and besought the favour of a private
audience my mother's return both looks and words gave but too much
reason for my above surmise 

you have said she  looking at me with a sternness that never sits well
on her sweet features  rather a requesting than a conceding countenance 
clarissa harlowe if i am mistaken tell me so and i will withdraw with
you wherever you will yet whether so or not you may say what you
have to say before your sister 

my mother i thought might have withdrawn with me as she knows that i
have not a friend in my sister 

i come down madam said i to beg of you to forgive me for any thing
you may have taken amiss in what passed above respecting your honoured
self and that you will be pleased to use your endeavours to soften my
papa's displeasure against me on his return 

such aggravating looks such lifting up of hands and eyes such a
furrowed forehead in my sister 

my mother was angry enough without all that and asked me to what
purpose i came down if i were still so intractable 

she had hardly spoken the words when shorey came in to tell her that
mr solmes was in the hall and desired admittance 

ugly creature what at the close of day quite dark brought him
hither but on second thoughts i believe it was contrived that he
should be here at supper to know the result of the conference between
my mother and me and that my father on his return might find us
together 

i was hurrying away but my mother commanded me since i had come down
only as she said to mock her not to stir and at the same time see
if i could behave so to mr solmes as might encourage her to make the
favourable report to my father which i had besought her to make 

my sister triumphed i was vexed to be so caught and to have such an
angry and cutting rebuke given me with an aspect much more like the
taunting sister than the indulgent mother if i may presume to say so 
for she herself seemed to enjoy the surprise upon me 

the man stalked in his usual walk is by pauses as if from the same
vacuity of thought which made dryden's clown whistle he was telling
his steps and first paid his clumsy respects to my mother then to my
sister next to me as if i was already his wife and therefore to be
last in his notice and sitting down by me told us in general what
weather it was very cold he made it but i was warm enough then
addressing himself to me and how do you find it miss was his
question and would have taken my hand 

i withdrew it i believe with disdain enough my mother frowned my
sister bit her lip 

i could not contain myself i was never so bold in my life for i went
on with my plea as if mr solmes had not been there 

my mother coloured and looked at him at my sister and at me my
sister's eyes were opener and bigger than ever i saw them before 

the man understood me he hemmed and removed from one chair to another 

i went on supplicating for my mother's favourable report nothing but
invincible dislike said i 

what would the girl be at interrupted my mother why clary is this a
subject is this is this is this a time and again she looked upon
mr solmes 

i am sorry on reflection that i put my mamma into so much
confusion to be sure it was very saucy in me 

i beg pardon madam said i but my papa will soon return and since
i am not permitted to withdraw it is not necessary i humbly presume 
that mr solmes's presence should deprive me of this opportunity to
implore your favourable report and at the same time if he still visit
on my account  looking at him  to convince him that it cannot possibly
be to any purpose 

is the girl mad said my mother interrupting me 

my sister with the affectation of a whisper to my mother this is this
is spite madam  very spitefully she spoke the word   because you
commanded her to stay 

i only looked at her and turning to my mother permit me madam said
i to repeat my request i have no brother no sister if i ever lose
my mamma's favour i am lost for ever 

mr solmes removed to his first seat and fell to gnawing the head of
his hazel a carved head almost as ugly as his own i did not think the
man was so sensible 

my sister rose with a face all over scarlet and stepping to the table 
where lay a fan she took it up and although mr solmes had observed
that the weather was cold fanned herself very violently 

my mother came to me and angrily taking my hand led me out of that
parlour into my own which you know is next to it is not this
behaviour very bold very provoking think you clary 

i beg your pardon madam if it has that appearance to you but indeed 
my dear mamma there seem to be snares laying in wait for me too well
i know my brother's drift with a good word he shall have my consent for
all he wishes to worm me out of neither he nor my sister shall need
to take half this pains 

my mother was about to leave me in high displeasure 

i besought her to stay one favour but one favour dearest madam said
i give me leave to beg of you 

what would the girl 

i see how every thing is working about i never never can think of mr 
solmes my papa will be in tumults when he is told that i cannot they
will judge of the tenderness of your heart to a poor child who seems
devoted by every one else from the willingness you have already shewn
to hearken to my prayers there will be endeavours used to confine me 
and keep me out of your presence and out of the presence of every one
who used to love me  this my dear miss howe is threatened  if this
be effected if it be put out of my power to plead my own cause and to
appeal to you and to my uncle harlowe of whom only i have hope then
will every ear be opened against me and every tale encouraged it
is therefore my humble request that added to the disgraceful
prohibitions i now suffer under you will not if you can help it give
way to my being denied your ear 

your listening hannah has given you this intelligence as she does many
others 

my hannah madam listens not my hannah 

no more in hannah's behalf hannah is known to make mischief hannah
is known but no more of that bold intermeddler tis true your father
threatened to confine you to your chamber if you complied not in order
the more assuredly to deprive you of the opportunity of corresponding
with those who harden your heart against his will he bid me tell you
so when he went out if i found you refractory but i was loth to
deliver so harsh a declaration being still in hope that you would come
down to us in a compliant temper hannah has overheard this i suppose 
and has told you of it as also that he declared he would break your
heart rather than you should break his and i now assure you that you
will be confined and prohibited making teasing appeals to any of us 
and we shall see who is to submit you to us or every body to you 

again i offered to clear hannah and to lay the latter part of the
intelligence to my sister's echo betty barnes who had boasted of it to
another servant but i was again bid to be silent on that head i
should soon find my mother was pleased to say that others could be as
determined as i was obstinate and once for all would add that since
she saw that i built upon her indulgence and was indifferent about
involving her in contentions with my father she would now assure me 
that she was as much determined against mr lovelace and for mr solmes
and the family schemes as any body and would not refuse her consent to
any measures that should be thought necessary to reduce a stubborn child
to her duty 

i was ready to sink she was so good as to lend me her arm to support
me 

and this said i is all i have to hope for from my mamma 

it is but clary this one further opportunity i give you go in again
to mr solmes and behave discreetly to him and let your father find
you together upon civil terms at least 

my feet moved  of themselves i think  farther from the parlour where he
was and towards the stairs and there i stopped and paused 

if proceeded she you are determined to stand in defiance of us
all then indeed you may go up to your chamber as you are ready to
do and god help you 

god help me indeed for i cannot give hope of what i cannot intend but
let me have your prayers my dear mamma those shall have mine who
have brought me into all this distress 

i was moving to go up 

and will you go up clary 

i turned my face to her my officious tears would needs plead for me i
could not just then speak and stood still 

good girl distress me not thus dear good girl do not thus distress
me holding out her hand but standing still likewise 

what can i do madam what can i do 

go in again my child go in again my dear child repeated she and
let your father find you together 

what madam to give him hope to give hope to mr solmes 

obstinate perverse undutiful clarissa with a rejecting hand and
angry aspect then take your own way and go up but stir not down
again i charge you without leave or till your father's pleasure be
known concerning you 

she flung away from me with high indignation and i went up with a very
heavy heart and feet as slow as my heart was heavy 


 


my father is come home and my brother with him late as it is they are
all shut up together not a door opens not a soul stirs hannah as she
moves up and down is shunned as a person infected 


 


the angry assembly is broken up my two uncles and my aunt hervey are
sent for it seems to be here in the morning to breakfast i shall
then i suppose know my doom tis past eleven and i am ordered not to
go to bed 


twelve o'clock 


this moment the keys of every thing are taken from me it was proposed
to send for me down but my father said he could not bear to look upon
me strange alteration in a few weeks shorey was the messenger the
tears stood in her eyes when she delivered her message 

you my dear are happy may you always be so and then i can never be
wholly miserable adieu my beloved friend 

cl harlowe 




letter xxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday morning march 5 


hannah has just brought me from the private place in the garden-wall a
letter from mr lovelace deposited last night signed also by lord m 

he tells me in it that mr solmes makes it his boast that he is to
be married in a few days to one of the shyest women in england that my
brother explains his meaning this shy creature he says is me and
he assures every one that his younger sister is very soon to be mr 
solmes's wife he tells me of the patterns bespoken which my mother
mentioned to me 

not one thing escapes him that is done or said in this house 

my sister he says reports the same things and that with such
particular aggravations of insult upon him that he cannot but be
extremely piqued as well at the manner as from the occasion and
expresses himself with great violence upon it 

he knows not he says what my relations' inducements can be to prefer
such a man as solmes to him if advantageous settlements be the motive 
solmes shall not offer what he will refuse to comply with 

as to his estate and family the first cannot be excepted against and
for the second he will not disgrace himself by a comparison so odious 
he appeals to lord m for the regularity of his life and manners ever
since he has made his addresses to me or had hope of my favour 

i suppose he would have his lordship's signing to this letter to be
taken as a voucher for him 

he desires my leave in company with my lord in a pacific manner 
to attend my father and uncles in order to make proposals that must be
accepted if they will see him and hear what they are and tells me 
that he will submit to any measures that i shall prescribe in order to
bring about a reconciliation 

he presumes to be very earnest with me to give him a private meeting
some night in my father's garden attended by whom i please 

really my dear were you to see his letter you would think i had given
him great encouragement and that i am in direct treaty with him or
that he is sure that my friends will drive me into a foreign protection 
for he has the boldness to offer in my lord's name an asylum to me 
should i be tyrannically treated in solmes's behalf 

i suppose it is the way of this sex to endeavour to entangle the
thoughtless of ours by bold supposals and offers in hopes that we shall
be too complaisant or bashful to quarrel with them and if not checked 
to reckon upon our silence as assents voluntarily given or concessions
made in their favour 

there are other particulars in this letter which i ought to mention to
you but i will take an opportunity to send you the letter itself or a
copy of it 

for my own part i am very uneasy to think how i have been drawn on one
hand and driven on the other into a clandestine in short into a mere
loverlike correspondence which my heart condemns 

it is easy to see if i do not break it off that mr lovelace's
advantages by reason of my unhappy situation will every day increase 
and i shall be more and more entangled yet if i do put an end to
it without making it a condition of being freed from mr solmes's
address may i my dear is it best to continue it a little longer in
order to extricate myself out of the other difficulty by giving up all
thoughts of mr lovelace whose advice can i now ask but yours 

all my relations are met they are at breakfast together mr solmes is
expected i am excessively uneasy i must lay down my pen 


 


they are all going to church together grievously disordered they appear
to be as hannah tells me she believes something is resolved upon 


sunday noon 


what a cruel thing is suspense i will ask leave to go to church this
afternoon i expect to be denied but if i do not ask they may allege 
that my not going is owing to myself 


 


i desired to speak with shorey shorey came i directed her to carry to
my mother my request for permission to go to church this afternoon what
think you was the return tell her that she must direct herself to
her brother for any favour she has to ask so my dear i am to be
delivered up to my brother 

i was resolved however to ask of him this favour accordingly when
they sent me up my solitary dinner i gave the messenger a billet 
in which i made it my humble request through him to my father to be
permitted to go to church this afternoon 

this was the contemptuous answer tell her that her request will be
taken into consideration to-morrow 

patience will be the fittest return i can make to such an insult but
this method will not do with me indeed it will not and yet it is but
the beginning i suppose of what i am to expect from my brother now i
am delivered up to him 



on recollection i thought it best to renew my request i did the
following is a copy of what i wrote and what follows that of the
answer sent me 


sir 

i know not what to make of the answer brought to my request of being
permitted to go to church this afternoon if you designed to shew your
pleasantry by it i hope that will continue and then my request will be
granted 

you know that i never absented myself when well and at home till the
two last sundays when i was advised not to go my present situation is
such that i never more wanted the benefit of the public prayers 

i will solemnly engage only to go thither and back again 

i hope it cannot be thought that i would do otherwise 

my dejection of spirits will give a too just excuse on the score
of indisposition for avoiding visits nor will i but by distant
civilities return the compliments of any of my acquaintances my
disgraces if they are to have an end need not be proclaimed to the
whole world i ask this favour therefore for my reputation's sake 
that i may be able to hold up my head in the neighbourhood if i live to
see an end of the unmerited severities which seem to be designed for

your unhappy sister cl harlowe 



to miss clarissa harlowe

for a girl to lay so much stress upon going to church and yet resolve
to defy her parents in an article of the greatest consequence to them 
and to the whole family is an absurdity you are recommended miss to
the practice of your private devotions may they be efficacious upon the
mind of one of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was heard
of the intention is i tell you plainly to mortify you into a sense
of your duty the neighbours you are so solicitous to appear well with 
already know that you defy that so miss if you have a real value for
your reputation shew it as you ought it is yet in your own power to
establish or impair it 

ja harlowe 



thus my dear miss howe has my brother got me into his snares and i 
like a poor silly bird the more i struggle am the more entangled 




letter xxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday morning march 6 


they are resolved to break my heart my poor hannah is
discharged disgracefully discharged thus it was 

within half an hour after i had sent the poor girl down for my
breakfast that bold creature betty barnes my sister's confidant and
servant if a favourite maid and confidant can be deemed a servant 
came up 

what miss will you please to have for breakfast 

i was surprised what will i have for breakfast 
betty how what how comes it then i named hannah i could not
tell what to say 

don't be surprised miss but you'll see hannah no more in this house 

god forbid is any harm come to hannah what what is the matter with
hannah 

why miss the short and the long is this your papa and mamma think
hannah has staid long enough in the house to do mischief and so she
is ordered to troop  that was the confident creature's word  and i am
directed to wait upon you in her stead 

i burst into tears i have no service for you betty barnes none at
all but where is hannah cannot i speak with the poor girl i owe her
half a year's wages may i not see the honest creature and pay her her
wages i may never see her again perhaps for they are resolved to break
my heart 

and they think you are resolved to break theirs so tit for tat miss 

impertinent i called her and asked her if it were upon such confident
terms that her service was to begin 

i was so very earnest to see the poor maid that to oblige me as she
said she went down with my request 

the worthy creature was as earnest to see me and the favour was granted
in presence of shorey and betty 

i thanked her when she came up for her past service to me 

her heart was ready to break and she began to vindicate her fidelity
and love and disclaimed any mischief she had ever made 

i told her that those who occasioned her being turned out of my
service made no question of her integrity that her dismission was
intended for an indignity to me that i was very sorry to be obliged to
part with her and hoped she would meet with as good a service 

never never wringing her hands should she meet with a mistress
she loved so well and the poor creature ran on in my praises and in
professions of love to me 

we are all apt you know my dear to praise our benefactors because
they are our benefactors as if every body did right or wrong as they
obliged or disobliged us but this good creature deserved to be kindly
treated so i could have no merit in favouring one whom it would have
been ungrateful not to distinguish 

i gave her a little linen some laces and other odd things and instead
of four pounds which were due to her ten guineas and said if ever i
were again allowed to be my own mistress i would think of her in the
first place 

betty enviously whispered shorey upon it 

hannah told me before their faces having no other opportunity that
she had been examined about letters to me and from me and that she
had given her pockets to miss harlowe who looked into them and put her
fingers in her stays to satisfy herself that she had not any 

she gave me an account of the number of my pheasants and bantams and i
said they should be my own care twice or thrice a day 

we wept over each other at parting the girl prayed for all the family 

to have so good a servant so disgracefully dismissed is very cruel and
i could not help saying that these methods might break my heart but not
any other way answer the end of the authors of my disgraces 

betty with a very saucy fleer said to shorey there would be a trial
of skill about that she fancied but i took no notice of it if this
wench thinks that i have robbed her young mistress of a lover as you
say she has given out she may believe that it is some degree of merit
in herself to be impertinent to me 

thus have i been forced to part with my faithful hannah if you can
command the good creature to a place worthy of her pray do for my sake 




letter xxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday near 12 o'clock 


the enclosed letter was just now delivered to me my brother has carried
all his points 

i send you also the copy of my answer no more at this time can i
write 



monday mar 6 

miss clary 


by command of your father and mother i write expressly to forbid you to
come into their presence or into the garden when they are there nor
when they are not there but with betty banes to attend you except by
particular license or command 

on their blessings you are forbidden likewise to correspond with the
vile lovelace as it is well known you did by means of your sly hannah 
whence her sudden discharge as was fit 

neither are you to correspond with miss howe who has given herself high
airs of late and might possibly help on your correspondence with that
detested libertine nor in short with any body without leave 

you are not to enter into the presence of either of your uncles without
their leave first obtained it is a mercy to you after such a behaviour
to your mother that your father refuses to see you 

you are not to be seen in any apartment of the house you so lately
governed as you pleased unless you are commanded down 

in short you are strictly to confine yourself to your chamber except
now and then in betty barnes's sight as aforesaid you take a morning
or evening turn in the garden and then you are to go directly and
without stopping at any apartment in the way up or down the back
stairs that the sight of so perverse a young creature may not add to
the pain you have given every body 

the hourly threatenings of your fine fellow as well as your own
unheard-of obstinacy will account to you for all this what a hand has
the best and most indulgent of mothers had with you who so long pleaded
for you and undertook for you even when others from the manner of
your setting out despaired of moving you what must your perverseness
have been that such a mother can give you up she thinks it right so to
do nor will take you to favour unless you make the first steps by a
compliance with your duty 

as for myself whom perhaps you think hardly of  in very good company 
if you do that is my sole consolation  i have advised that you may be
permitted to pursue your own inclinations some people need no greater
punishment than such a permission and not to have the house encumbered
by one who must give them the more pain for the necessity she has laid
them under of avoiding the sight of her although in it 

if any thing i have written appear severe or harsh it is still in your
power but perhaps will not always be so to remedy it and that by a
single word 

betty barnes has orders to obey you in all points consistent with her
duty to those whom you owe it as well as she 

ja harlowe 



to james harlowe junior esq 

sir 

i will only say that you may congratulate yourself on having so far
succeeded in all your views that you may report what you please of me 
and i can no more defend myself than if i were dead yet one favour 
nevertheless i will beg of you it is this that you will not occasion
more severities more disgraces that are necessary for carrying into
execution your further designs whatever they be against

your unhappy sister clarissa harlowe 




letter xxv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday march 7 


by my last deposit you will see how i am driven and what a poor
prisoner i am no regard had to my reputation the whole matter is now
before you can such measures be supposed to soften but surely they
can only mean to try and frighten me into my brother's views all my
hope is to be able to weather this point till my cousin morden comes
from florence and he is soon expected yet if they are determined upon
a short day i doubt he will not be here in time enough to save me 

it is plain by my brother's letter that my mother has not spared me in
the report she was pleased to make of the conference between herself and
me yet she was pleased to hint to me that my brother had views which
she would have had me try to disappoint but indeed she had engaged to
give a faithful account of what was to pass between herself and me and
it was doubtless much more eligible to give up a daughter than to
disoblige a husband and every other person of the family 

they think they have done every thing by turning away my poor hannah 
but as long as the liberty of the garden and my poultry-visits are
allowed me they will be mistaken 

i asked mrs betty if she had any orders to watch or attend me or
whether i was to ask her leave whenever i should be disposed to walk in
the garden or to go feed my bantams lord bless her what could i mean
by such a question yet she owned that she had heard that i was not to
go into the garden when my father mother or uncles were there 

however as it behoved me to be assured on this head i went down
directly and staid an hour without question or impediment and yet a
good part of the time i walked under and in sight as i may say of my
brother's study window where both he and my sister happened to be 
and i am sure they saw me by the loud mirth they affected by way of
insult as i suppose 

so this part of my restraint was doubtless a stretch of the authority
given him the enforcing of that may perhaps come next but i hope not 


tuesday night 


since i wrote the above i ventured to send a letter by shorey to my
mother i desired her to give it into her own hand when nobody was by 

i shall enclose a copy of it you will see that i would have it thought 
that now hannah is gone i have no way to correspond out of the house i
am far from thinking all i do right i am afraid this is a little piece
of art that is not so but this is an afterthought the letter went
first 


honoured madam 

having acknowledged to you that i had received letters from mr 
lovelace full of resentment and that i answered them purely to prevent
further mischief and having shewn you copies of my answers which you
did not disapprove of although you thought fit after you had read
them to forbid me any further correspondence with him i think it my
duty to acquaint you that another letter from him has since come to my
hand in which he is very earnest with me to permit him to wait on my
papa or you or my two uncles in a pacific way accompanied by lord
m on which i beg your commands 

i own to you madam that had not the prohibition been renewed and had
not hannah been so suddenly dismissed my service i should have made
the less scruple to have written an answer and to have commanded her
to convey it to him with all speed in order to dissuade him from these
visits lest any thing should happen on the occasion that my heart aches
but to think of 

and here i cannot but express my grief that i should have all the
punishment and all the blame who as i have reason to think have
prevented great mischief and have not been the occasion of any for 
madam could i be supposed to govern the passions of either of the
gentlemen over the one indeed i have had some little influence 
without giving him hitherto any reason to think he has fastened an
obligation upon me for it over the other who madam has any i am
grieved at heart to be obliged to lay so great a blame at my brother's
door although my reputation and my liberty are both to be sacrificed
to his resentment and ambition may not however so deep a sufferer be
permitted to speak out 

this communication being as voluntarily made as dutifully intended 
i humbly presume to hope that i shall not be required to produce the
letter itself i cannot either in honour or prudence do that because of
the vehemence of his style for having heard  not i assure you by my
means or through hannah's  of some part of the harsh treatment i have
met with he thinks himself entitled to place it to his own account by
reason of speeches thrown out by some of my relations equally vehement 

if i do not answer him he will be made desperate and think himself
justified thought i shall not think him so in resenting the treatment
he complains of if i do and if in compliment to me he forbears to
resent what he thinks himself entitled to resent be pleased madam to
consider the obligation he will suppose he lays me under 

if i were as strongly prepossessed in his favour as is supposed i
should not have wished this to be considered by you and permit me as
a still further proof that i am not prepossessed to beg of you to
consider whether upon the whole the proposal i made of declaring for
the single life which i will religiously adhere to is not the best way
to get rid of his pretensions with honour to renounce him and not be
allowed to aver that i will never be the other man's will make him
conclude driven as i am driven that i am determined in that other
man's favour 

if this has not its due weight my brother's strange schemes must be
tried and i will resign myself to my destiny with all the acquiescence
that shall be granted to my prayers and so leaving the whole to your
own wisdom and whether you choose to consult my papa and uncles upon
this humble application or not or whether i shall be allowed to write
an answer to mr lovelace or not  and if allowed to do so i beg your
direction by whom to send it  i remain 

honoured madam your unhappy but ever dutiful daughter cl harlowe 


wednesday morning 


i have just received an answer to the enclosed letter my mother you
will observe has ordered me to burn it but as you will have it in
your safekeeping and nobody else will see it her end will be equally
answered as if it were burnt it has neither date nor superscription 


clarissa 

say not all the blame and all the punishment is yours i am as much
blamed and as much punished as you are yet am more innocent when
your obstinacy is equal to any other person's passion blame not your
brother we judged right that hannah carried on your correspondencies 
now she is gone and you cannot write  we think you cannot  to miss
howe nor she to you without our knowledge one cause of uneasiness and
jealousy is over 

i had no dislike of hannah i did not tell her so because somebody was
within hearing when she desired to pay her duty to me at going i gave
her a caution in a raised voice to take care wherever she went to
live next if there were any young ladies how she made parties and
assisted in clandestine correspondencies but i slid two guineas into
her hand nor was i angry to hear that you were still more bountiful to
her so much for hannah 

i don't know what to write about your answering that man of violence 
what can you think of it that such a family as ours should have such
a rod held over it for my part i have not owned that i know you have
corresponded by your last boldness to me  an astonishing one it was 
to pursue before mr solmes the subject i was forced to break from
above-stairs   you may as far as i know plead that you had my
countenance for your correspondence with him and so add to the
uneasiness between your father and me you were once my comfort 
clarissa you made all my hardships tolerable but now however 
nothing it is plain can move you and i will say no more on that head 
for you are under your father's discipline now and he will neither be
prescribed to nor entreated 

i should have been glad to see the letter you tell me of as i saw the
rest you say both honour and prudence forbid you to shew it to me o
clarissa what think you of receiving letters that honour and prudence
forbid you to shew to a mother but it is not for me to see it if you
would choose to shew it me i will not be in your secret i will not
know that you did correspond and as to an answer take your own
methods but let him know it will be the last you will write and if
you do write i won't see it so seal it up if you do and give it to
shorey and she yet do not think i give you license to write 

we will be upon no conditions with him nor will you be allowed to be
upon any your father and uncles would have no patience were he to come 
what have you to do to oblige him with your refusal of mr solmes will
not that refusal be to give him hope and while he has any can we be
easy or free from his insults were even your brother in fault as that
fault cannot be conquered is a sister to carry on a correspondence that
shall endanger her brother but your father has given his sanction to
your brother's dislikes your uncles' and every body's no matter to
whom owing 

as to the rest you have by your obstinacy put it out of my power to do
any thing for you your father takes it upon himself to be answerable
for all consequences you must not therefore apply to me for favour 
i shall endeavour to be only an observer happy if i could be an
unconcerned one while i had power you would not let me use it as i
would have used it your aunt has been forced to engage not to interfere
but by your father's direction you'll have severe trials if you have
any favour to hope for it must be from the mediation of your uncles 
and yet i believe they are equally determined for they make it a
principle  alas they never had children   that that child who in
marriage is not governed by her parents is to be given up as a lost
creature 

i charge you let not this letter be found burn it there is too much
of the mother in it to a daughter so unaccountably obstinate 

write not another letter to me i can do nothing for you but you can do
every thing for yourself 


 


now my dear to proceed with my melancholy narrative 

after this letter you will believe that i could have very little
hopes that an application directly to my father would stand me in any
stead but i thought it became me to write were it but to acquit myself
to myself that i have left nothing unattempted that has the least
likelihood to restore me to his favour accordingly i wrote to the
following effect 


i presume not i say to argue with my papa i only beg his mercy and
indulgence in this one point on which depends my present and perhaps
my future happiness and beseech him not to reprobate his child for an
aversion which it is not in her power to conquer i beg that i may not
be sacrificed to projects and remote contingencies i complain of the
disgraces i suffer in this banishment from his presence and in being
confined to my chamber in every thing but this one point i promise
implicit duty and resignation to his will i repeat my offers of a
single life and appeal to him whether i have ever given him cause to
doubt my word i beg to be admitted to his and to my mamma's presence 
and that my conduct may be under their own eye and this with the more
earnestness as i have too much reason to believe that snares are laid
for me and tauntings and revilings used on purpose to make a handle of
my words against me when i am not permitted to speak in my own defence 
i conclude with hoping that my brother's instigations may not rob an
unhappy child of her father 


 


this is the answer sent without superscription and unsealed although
by betty barnes who delivered it with an air as if she knew the
contents 


wednesday 

i write perverse girl but with all the indignation that your
disobedience deserves to desire to be forgiven a fault you own and
yet resolve to persevere in is a boldness no more to be equaled 
than passed over it is my authority you defy your reflections upon a
brother that is an honour to us all deserve my utmost resentment i
see how light all relationship sits upon you the cause i guess at 
too i cannot bear the reflections that naturally arise from this
consideration your behaviour to your too-indulgent and too-fond
mother but i have no patience continue banished from my presence 
undutiful as you are till you know how to conform to my will 
ingrateful creature your letter but upbraid me for my past indulgence 
write no more to me till you can distinguish better and till you are
convinced of your duty to

a justly incensed father 


 


this angry letter was accompanied by one from my mother unsealed and
unsuperscribed also those who take so much pains to confederate every
one against me i make no doubt obliged her to bear her testimony
against the poor girl 

my mother's letter being a repetition of some of the severe things that
passed between herself and me of which i have already informed you i
shall not need to give you the contents only thus far that she also
praises my brother and blames me for my freedoms with him 




letter xxvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday morn march 9 


i have another letter from mr lovelace although i had not answered his
former 

this man somehow or other knows every thing that passes in our family 
my confinement hanna's dismission and more of the resentments and
resolutions of my father uncles and brother than i can possibly know 
and almost as soon as the things happen which he tells me of he cannot
come at these intelligencies fairly 

he is excessively uneasy upon what he hears and his expressions both
of love to me and resentment to them are very fervent he solicits me 
to engage my honour to him never to have mr solmes 

i think i may fairly promise him that i will not 

he begs that i will not think he is endeavouring to make to himself
a merit at any man's expense since he hopes to obtain my favour on the
foot of his own nor that he seeks to intimidate me into a consideration
for him but declares that the treatment he meets with from my family
is of such a nature that he is perpetually reproached for not resenting
it and that as well by lord m and lady sarah and lady betty as by
all his other friends and if he must have no hope from me he cannot
answer for what his despair will make him do 

indeed he says his relations the ladies particularly advise him to
have recourse to a legal remedy but how he asks can a man of honour
go to law for verbal abuses given by people entitled to wear swords 

you see my dear that my mother seems as apprehensive of mischief as
myself and has indirectly offered to let shorey carry my answer to the
letter he sent me before 

he is full of the favours of the ladies of his family to me to whom 
nevertheless i am personally a stranger except that i once saw miss
patty montague at mrs knolly's 

it is natural i believe for a person to be the more desirous of making
new friends in proportion as she loses the favour of old ones yet had
i rather appear amiable in the eyes of my own relations and in your
eyes than in those of all the world besides but these four ladies of
his family have such excellent characters that one cannot but wish to
be thought well of by them cannot there be a way to find out by mrs 
fortescue's means or by mr hickman who has some knowledge of lord m 
 covertly however   what their opinions are of the present situation of
things in our family and of the little likelihood there is that ever
the alliance once approved of by them can take effect 

i cannot for my own part think so well of myself as to imagine that
they can wish their kinsman to persevere in his views with regard to me 
through such contempts and discouragements not that it would concern
me should they advise him to the contrary by my lord's signing mr 
lovelace's former letter by mr lovelace's assurances of the continued
favour of all his relations and by the report of others i seem still
to stand high in their favour but methinks i should be glad to have
this confirmed to me as from themselves by the lips of an indifferent
person and the rather because of their fortunes and family and take
it amiss as they have reason to be included by ours in the contempt
thrown upon their kinsman 

curiosity at present is all my motive nor will there ever i hope be a
stronger notwithstanding your questionable throbs even were the merits
of mr lovelace much greater than they are 


 


i have answered his letters if he takes me at my word i shall need to
be less solicitous for the opinions of his relations in my favour and
yet one would be glad to be well thought of by the worthy 

this is the substance of my letter 

i express my surprise at his knowing and so early all that passes
here 

i assure him that were there not such a man in the world as himself i
would not have mr solmes 

i tell him that to return as i understand he does defiances for
defiances to my relations is far from being a proof with me either of
his politeness or of the consideration he pretends to have for me 

that the moment i hear he visits any of my friends without their
consent i will make a resolution never to see him more if i can help
it 

i apprize him that i am connived at in sending this letter although
no one has seen the contents provided it shall be the last i will ever
write to him that i had more than once told him that the single life
was my choice and this before mr solmes was introduced as a visitor
in our family that mr wyerley and other gentlemen knew it to be my
choice before himself was acquainted with any of us that i had never
been induced to receive a line from him on the subject but that i
thought he had not acted ungenerously by my brother and yet had not
been so handsomely treated by my friends as he might have expected 
but that had he even my friends on his side i should have very great
objections to him were i to get over my choice of a single life so
really preferable to me as it is and that i should have declared as
much to him had i not regarded him as more than a common visiter on
all these accounts i desire that the one more letter which i will
allow him to deposit in the usual place may be the very last and that
only to acquaint me with his acquiescence that it shall be so at least
till happier times 

this last i put in that he may not be quite desperate but if he take
me at my word i shall be rid of one of my tormentors 

i have promised to lay before you all his letters and my answers i
repeat that promise and am the less solicitous for that reason to
amplify upon the contents of either but i cannot too often express my
vexation to be driven to such streights and difficulties here at
home as oblige me to answer letters from a man i had not absolutely
intended to encourage and to whom i had really great objections 
filled as his are with such warm protestations and written to me with a
spirit of expectation 

for my dear you never knew so bold a supposer as commentators find
beauties in an author to which the author perhaps was a stranger so he
sometimes compliments me in high strains of gratitude for favours and
for a consideration which i never designed him insomuch that i am
frequently under a necessity of explaining away the attributed goodness
to him which if i shewed i should have the less opinion of myself 

in short my dear like a restiff horse as i have heard described by
sportsmen he pains one's hands and half disjoints one's arms to rein
him in and when you see his letters you must form no judgment upon
them till you have read my answers if you do you will indeed think
you have cause to attribute self-deceit and throbs and glows to your
friend and yet at other times the contradictory nature complains 
that i shew him as little favour and my friends as much inveteracy 
as if in the rencontre betwixt my brother and him he had been the
aggressor and as if the catastrophe had been as fatal as it might have
been 

if he has a design by this conduct sometimes complaining of my shyness 
at others exalting in my imaginary favours to induce me at one time to
acquiesce with his compliments at another to be more complaisant
for his complaints and if the contradiction be not the effect of his
inattention and giddiness i shall think him as deep and as artful too
probably as practised a creature as ever lived and were i to be sure
of it should hate him if possible worse than i do solmes 

but enough for the present of a creature so very various 




letter xxvii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday night march 9 


i have not patience with any of the people you are with i know not what
to advise you to do how do you know that you are not punishable
for being the cause though to your own loss that the will of your
grandfather is not complied with wills are sacred things child you
see that they even they think so who imagine they suffer by a will 
through the distinction paid you in it 

i allow of all your noble reasonings for what you did at the time but 
since such a charming such a generous instance of filial duty is to go
thus unrewarded why should you not resume 

your grandfather knew the family-failing he knew what a noble spirit
you had to do good he himself perhaps  excuse me my dear   had done
too little in his life-time and therefore he put it in your power to
make up for the defects of the whole family were it to me i would
resume it indeed i would 

you will say you cannot do it while you are with them i don't know
that do you think they can use you worse than they do and is it not
your right and do they not make use of your own generosity to oppress
you your uncle harlowe is one trustee your cousin morden is the other 
insist upon your right to your uncle and write to your cousin morden
about it this i dare say will make them alter their behaviour to you 

your insolent brother what has he to do to controul you were it me  i
wish it were for one month and no more  i'd shew him the difference i
would be in my own mansion pursuing my charming schemes and making all
around me happy i would set up my own chariot i would visit them when
they deserved it but when my brother and sister gave themselves airs 
i would let them know that i was their sister and not their servant 
and if that did not do i would shut my gates against them and bid
them go and be company for each other 

it must be confessed however that this brother and sister of yours 
judging as such narrow spirits will ever judge have some reason for
treating you as they do it must have long been a mortification to
them set disappointed love on her side and avarice on his out of the
question to be so much eclipsed by a younger sister such a sun in a
family where there are none but faint twinklers how could they bear
it why my dear they must look upon you as a prodigy among them and
prodigies you know though they obtain our admiration never attract
our love the distance between you and them is immense their eyes ache
to look up at you what shades does your full day of merit cast
upon them can you wonder then that they should embrace the first
opportunity that offered to endeavour to bring you down to their level 

depend upon it my dear you will have more of it and more still as
you bear it 

as to this odious solmes i wonder not at your aversion to him it is
needless to say any thing to you who have so sincere any antipathy to
him to strengthen your dislike yet who can resist her own talents 
one of mine as i have heretofore said is to give an ugly likeness 
shall i indulge it i will and the rather as in doing so you
will have my opinion in justification of your aversion to him and
in approbation of a steadiness that i ever admired and must for ever
approve of in your temper 

i was twice in this wretch's company at one of the times your lovelace
was there i need not mention to you who have such a pretty curiosity 
 though at present only a curiosity you know the unspeakable
difference 

lovelace entertained the company in his lively gay way and made
every body laugh at one of his stories it was before this creature was
thought of for you solmes laughed too it was however his laugh for
his first three years at least i imagine must have been one continual
fit of crying and his muscles have never yet been able to recover a
risible tone his very smile  you never saw him smile i believe never
at least gave him cause to smile  is so little natural to his features 
that it appears to him as hideous as the grin of a man in malice 

i took great notice of him as i do of all the noble lords of the
creation in their peculiarities and was disgusted nay shocked at
him even then i was glad i remember on that particular occasion 
to see his strange features recovering their natural gloominess though
they did this but slowly as if the muscles which contributed to his
distortions had turned upon rusty springs 

what a dreadful thing must even the love of such a husband be for my
part were i his wife but what have i done to myself to make such a
supposition i should never have comfort but in his absence or when
i was quarreling with him a splenetic woman who must have somebody to
find fault with might indeed be brought to endure such a wretch 
the sight of him would always furnish out the occasion and all her
servants for that reason and for that only would have cause to blame
their master but how grievous and apprehensive a thing it must be for
his wife had she the least degree of delicacy to catch herself in
having done something to oblige him 

so much for his person as to the other half of him he is said to be
an insinuating creeping mortal to any body he hopes to be a gainer by 
an insolent overbearing one where he has no such views and is not
this the genuine spirit of meanness he is reported to be spiteful and
malicious even to the whole family of any single person who has once
disobliged him and to his own relations most of all i am told that
they are none of them such wretches as himself this may be one reason
why he is for disinheriting them 

my kitty from one of his domestics tells me that his tenants hate
him and that he never had a servant who spoke well of him vilely
suspicious of their wronging him probably from the badness of his own
heart he is always changing 

his pockets they say are continually crammed with keys so that when
he would treat a guest a friend he has not out of your family he is
half as long puzzling which is which as his niggardly treat might be
concluded in and if it be wine he always fetches it himself nor has
he much trouble in doing so for he has very few visiters only those 
whom business or necessity brings for a gentleman who can help it 
would rather be benighted than put up at his house 

yet this is the man they have found out for considerations as sordid as
those he is governed by for a husband that is to say for a lord and
master for miss clarissa harlowe 

but perhaps he may not be quite so miserable as he is represented 
characters extremely good or extremely bad are seldom justly given 
favour for a person will exalt the one as disfavour will sink the
other but your uncle antony has told my mother who objected to his
covetousness that it was intended to tie him up as he called it to
your own terms which would be with a hempen rather than a matrimonial 
cord i dare say but is not this a plain indication that even his
own recommenders think him a mean creature and that he must be articled
with perhaps for necessaries but enough and too much of such a
wretch as this you must not have him my dear that i am clear
in though not so clear how you will be able to avoid it except you
assert the independence to which your estate gives you a title 


 


here my mother broke in upon me she wanted to see what i had written i
was silly enough to read solmes's character to her 

she owned that the man was not the most desirable of men and that he
had not the happiest appearance but what said she is person in a man 
and i was chidden for setting you against complying with your father's
will then followed a lecture on the preference to be given in favour of
a man who took care to discharge all his obligations to the world and
to keep all together in opposition to a spendthrift or profligate a
fruitful subject you know whether any particular person be meant by it 
or not 

why will these wise parents by saying too much against the persons they
dislike put one upon defending them lovelace is not a spendthrift 
owes not obligations to the world though i doubt not profligate
enough then putting one upon doing such but common justice we
must needs be prepossessed truly and so perhaps we are put upon
curiosities first that is to say how such a one or his friends may
think of one and then but too probably comes in a distinguishing
preference or something that looks exceedingly like it 

my mother charged me at last to write that side over again but
excuse me my good mamma i would not have the character lost upon any
consideration since my vein ran freely into it and i never wrote to
please myself but i pleased you a very good reason why we have but
one mind between us only that sometimes you are a little too grave 
methinks i no doubt a little too flippant in your opinion 

this difference in our tempers however is probably the reason that we
love one another so well that in the words of norris no third love can
come in betwixt since each in the other's eye having something amiss 
and each loving the other well enough to bear being told of it and the
rather perhaps as neither wishes to mend it this takes off a good deal
from that rivalry which might encourage a little if not a great deal 
of that latent spleen which in time might rise into envy and that into
ill-will so my dear if this be the case let each keep her fault and
much good may do her with it and what an hero or heroine must he or
she be who can conquer a constitutional fault let it be avarice as in
some i dare not name let it be gravity as in my best friend or let it
be flippancy as in i need not say whom 

it is proper to acquaint you that i was obliged to comply with my
mother's curiosity  my mother has her share her full share of
curiosity my dear   and to let her see here-and-there some passages in
your letters 

i am broken in upon but i will tell you by-and-by what passed between
my mother and me on this occasion and the rather as she had her girl 
her favourite hickman and your lovelace all at once in her eye in her
part of the conversation 

thus it was 

i cannot but think nancy said she after all that there is a little
hardship in miss harlowe's case and yet as her mother says it is
a grating thing to have a child who was always noted for her duty
in smaller points to stand in opposition to her parents' will in the
greater yea in the greatest of all and now to middle the matter
between both it is pity that the man they favour has not that sort of
merit which a person of a mind so delicate as that of miss harlowe might
reasonably expect in a husband but then this man is surely preferable
to a libertine to a libertine too who has had a duel with her own
brother fathers and mothers must think so were it not for that
circumstance and it is strange if they do not know best 

and so they must thought i from their experience if no little dirty
views give them also that prepossession in one man's favour which they
are so apt to censure their daughters for having in another's and
if as i may add in your case they have no creeping old musty uncle
antonys to strengthen their prepossessions as he does my mother's 
poor creeping positive soul what has such an old bachelor as he to
do to prate about the duties of children to parents unless he had a
notion that parents owe some to their children but your mother by her
indolent meekness let me call it has spoiled all the three brothers 

but you see child proceeded my mother what a different behaviour
mine is to you i recommend to you one of the soberest yet politest 
men in england 

i think little of my mother's politest my dear she judges of honest
hickman for her daughter as she would have done i suppose twenty
years ago for herself 

of a good family continued my mother a fine clear and improving
estate  a prime consideration with my mother as well as with some other
folks whom you know  and i beg and i pray you to encourage him at
least not to use him the worse for his being so obsequious to you 

yes indeed to use him kindly that he may treat me familiarly but
distance to the men-wretches is best i say 

yet all will hardly prevail upon you to do as i would have you what
would you say were i to treat you as miss harlowe's father and mother
treat her 

what would i say madam that's easily answered i would say nothing 
can you think such usage and to such a young lady is to be borne 

come come nancy be not so hasty you have heard but one side and
that there is more to be said is plain by your reading to me but parts
of her letters they are her parents they must know best miss harlowe 
as fine a child as she is must have done something must have said
something you know how they loved her to make them treat her thus 

but if she should be blameless madam how does your own supposition
condemn them 

then came up solmes's great estate his good management of it a little
too near indeed  was the word  o how money-lovers thought i will
palliate yet my mother is a princess in spirit to this solmes   what
strange effects added she have prepossession and love upon young
ladies 

i don't know how it is my dear but people take high delight in finding
out folks in love curiosity begets curiosity i believe that's the
thing 

she proceeded to praise mr lovelace's person and his qualifications
natural and acquired but then she would judge as mothers will judge 
and as daughters are very loth to judge but could say nothing in answer
to your offer of living single and breaking with him if if  three or
four if's she made of one good one if  that could be depended on 

but still obedience without reserve reason what i will is the burden
of my mother's song and this for my sake as well as for yours 

i must needs say that i think duty to parents is a very meritorious
excellence but i bless god i have not your trials we can all be good
when we have no temptation nor provocation to the contrary but few
young persons who can help themselves too as you can would bear what
you bear 

i will now mention all that is upon my mind in relation to the
behaviour of your father and uncles and the rest of them because
i would not offend you but i have now a higher opinion of my own
sagacity than ever i had in that i could never cordially love any one
of your family but yourself i am not born to like them but it is my
duty to be sincere to my friend and this will excuse her anna howe to
miss clarissa harlowe 

i ought indeed to have excepted your mother a lady to be reverenced 
and now to be pitied what must have been her treatment to be thus
subjugated as i may call it little did the good old viscount think 
when he married his darling his only daughter to so well-appearing a
gentleman and to her own liking too that she would have been so much
kept down another would call your father a tyrant if i must not all
the world that know him do call him so and if you love your mother 
you should not be very angry at the world for taking that liberty 

yet after all i cannot help thinking that she is the less to be
pitied as she may be said be the gout or what will the occasion
of his moroseness to have long behaved unworthy of her birth and fine
qualities in yielding so much as she yields to encroaching spirits
 you may confine the reflection to your brother if it will pain you
to extend it  and this for the sake of preserving a temporary peace to
herself which was the less worth endeavouring to preserve as it always
produced a strength in the will of others which subjected her to an
arbitrariness that of course grew and became established upon her
patience and now to give up the most deserving of her children
 against her judgment a sacrifice to the ambition and selfishness of
the least deserving but i fly from this subject having i fear said
too much to be forgiven and yet much less than is in my heart to say
upon the over-meek subject 

mr hickman is expected from london this evening i have desired him to
inquire after lovelace's life and conversation in town if he has not
inquired i shall be very angry with him don't expect a very good
account of either he is certainly an intriguing wretch and full of
inventions 

upon my word i most heartily despise that sex i wish they would let
our fathers and mothers alone teasing them to tease us with their
golden promises and protestations and settlements and the rest
of their ostentatious nonsense how charmingly might you and i live
together and despise them all but to be cajoled wire-drawn 
and ensnared like silly birds into a state of bondage or vile
subordination to be courted as princesses for a few weeks in order to
be treated as slaves for the rest of our lives indeed my dear as you
say of solmes i cannot endure them but for your relations  friends no
more will i call them unworthy as they are even of the other name  
to take such a wretch's price as that and to the cutting off of all
reversions from his own family how must a mind but commonly just
resist such a measure 

mr hickman shall sound lord m upon the subject you recommend but
beforehand i can tell you what he and what his sisters will say when
they are sounded who would not be proud of such a relation as miss
clarissa harlowe mrs fortescue told me that they are all your very
great admirers 

if i have not been clear enough in my advice about what you shall do 
let me say that i can give it in one word it is only by re-urging you
to resume if you do all the rest will follow 

we are told here that mrs norton as well as your aunt hervey has
given her opinion on the implicit side of the question if she can
think that the part she has had in your education and your own
admirable talents and acquirements are to be thrown away upon such a
worthless creature as solmes i could heartily quarrel with her you may
think i say this to lessen your regard for the good woman and perhaps
not wholly without cause if you do for to own the truth methinks 
i don't love her so well as i should do did you love her so apparently
less that i could be out of doubt that you love me better 

your mother tells you that you will have great trials that you are
under your father's discipline  the word is enough for me to despise
them who give occasion for its use that it is out of her power to
help you  and again that if you have any favour to hope for it must
be by the mediation of your uncles  i suppose you will write to the
oddities since you are forbid to see them but can it be that such a
lady such a sister such a wife such a mother has no influence in her
own family who indeed as you say if this be so would marry that
can live single my choler is again beginning to rise resume my dear 
and that is all i will give myself time to say further lest i offend
you when i cannot serve you only this that i am

your truly affectionate friend and servant anna howe 




letter xxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday march 10 


you will permit me my dear to touch upon a few passages in your last
letter that affect me sensibly 

in the first place you must allow me to say low as i am in spirits 
that i am very angry with you for your reflections on my relations 
particularly on my father and mother and on the memory of my
grandfather nor my dear does your own mother always escape the keen
edge of your vivacity one cannot one's self forbear to write or speak
freely of those we love and honour when grief from imagined hard
treatment wrings the heart but it goes against one to hear any body
else take the same liberties then you have so very strong a manner of
expression where you take a distaste that when passion has subdued 
and i come upon reflection to see by your severity what i have given
occasion for i cannot help condemning myself 

but least of all can i bear that you should reflect upon my mother 
what my dear if her meekness should not be rewarded is the want of
reward or the want even of a grateful acknowledgement a reason for us
to dispense with what we think our duty they were my father's lively
spirits that first made him an interest in her gentle bosom they were
the same spirits turned inward as i have heretofore observed that
made him so impatient when the cruel malady seized him he always loved
my mother and would not love and pity excusably nay laudably make a
good wife who was an hourly witness of his pangs when labouring under
a paroxysm and his paroxysms becoming more and more frequent as well
as more and more severe give up her own will her own likings 
to oblige a husband thus afflicted whose love for her was
unquestionable and if so was it not too natural  human nature is not
perfect my dear  that the husband thus humoured by the wife should be
unable to bear controul from any body else much less contradiction from
his children 


 see letter v 


if then you would avoid my highest displeasure you must spare my
mother and surely you will allow me with her to pity as well as to
love and honour my father 

i have no friend but you to whom i can appeal to whom i dare complain 
unhappily circumstanced as i am it is but too probable that i shall
complain because it is but too probably that i shall have more and more
cause given me for complaint but be it your part if i do to sooth my
angry passions and to soften my resentments and this the rather as
you know what an influence your advice has upon me and as you must
also know that the freedoms you take with my friends can have no other
tendency but to weaken the sense of my duty to them without answering
any good end to myself 

i cannot help owning however that i am pleased to have you join with
me in opinion of the contempt which mr solmes deserves from me but
yet permit me to say that he is not quite so horrible a creature as
you make him as to his person i mean for with regard to his mind 
by all i have heard you have done him but justice but you have such
a talent at an ugly likeness and such a vivacity that they sometimes
carry you out of verisimilitude in short my dear i have known you in
more instances than one sit down resolved to write all that wit rather
than strict justice could suggest upon the given occasion perhaps it
may be thought that i should say the less on this particular subject 
because your dislike of him arises from love to me but should it not be
our aim to judge of ourselves and of every thing that affects us as
we may reasonably imagine other people would judge of us and of our
actions 

as to the advice you give to resume my estate i am determined not to
litigate with my father let what will be the consequence to myself 
i may give you at another time a more particular answer to your
reasonings on this subject but at present will only observe that
it is in my opinion that lovelace himself would hardly think me worth
addressing were he to know this would be my resolution these men my
dear with all their flatteries look forward to the permanent indeed 
it is fit they should for love must be a very foolish thing to look
back upon when it has brought persons born to affluence into indigence 
and laid a generous mind under obligation and dependence 

you very ingeniously account for the love we bear to one another from
the difference in our tempers i own i should not have thought of that 
there may possibly be something in it but whether there be or not 
whenever i am cool and give myself time to reflect i will love you the
better for the correction you give be as severe as you will upon me 
spare me not therefore my dear friend whenever you think me in the
least faulty i love your agreeable raillery you know i always did 
nor however over-serious you think me did i ever think you flippant 
as you harshly call it one of the first conditions of our mutual
friendship was each should say or write to the other whatever was upon
her mind without any offence to be taken a condition that is indeed
indispensable in friendship 

i knew your mother would be for implicit obedience in a child i am
sorry my case is so circumstanced that i cannot comply it would be
my duty to do so if i could you are indeed very happy that you have
nothing but your own agreeable yet whimsical humours to contend with 
in the choice she invites you to make of mr hickman how happy i should
be to be treated with so much lenity i should blush to have my mother
say that she begged and prayed me and all in vain to encourage a man
so unexceptionable as mr hickman 

indeed my beloved miss howe i am ashamed to have your mother say with
me in her view what strange effects have prepossession and love upon
young creatures of our sex  this touches me the more sensibly because
you yourself my dear are so ready to persuade me into it 

i should be very blamable to endeavour to hide any the least bias
upon my mind from you and i cannot but say that this man this
lovelace is a man that might be liked well enough if he bore such
a character as mr hickman bears and even if there were hopes of
reclaiming him and further still i will acknowledge that i believe it
possible that one might be driven by violent measures step by step as
it were into something that might be called i don't know what to
call it a conditional kind of liking or so but as to the word
love justifiable and charming as it is in some cases that is to say 
in all the relative in all the social and what is still beyond both 
in all our superior duties in which it may be properly called divine 
it has methinks in the narrow circumscribed selfish peculiar sense 
in which you apply it to me the man too so little to be approved of
for his morals if all that report says of him be true no pretty sound
with it treat me as freely as you will in all other respects i will
love you as i have said the better for your friendly freedom but 
methinks i could be glad that you would not let this imputation pass so
glibly from your pen or your lips as attributable to one of your own
sex whether i be the person or not since the other must have a double
triumph when a person of your delicacy armed with such contempts of
them all as you would have one think can give up a friend with an
exultation over her weakness as a silly love-sick creature 

i could make some other observations upon the contents of your last two
letters but my mind is not free enough at present the occasion for the
above stuck with me and i could not help taking the earliest notice of
them 

having written to the end of my second sheet i will close this letter 
and in my next acquaint you with all that has happened here since my
last 




letter xxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe saturday march 11 


i have had such taunting messages and such repeated avowals of ill
offices brought me from my brother and sister if i do no comply with
their wills delivered too with provoking sauciness by betty barnes 
that i have thought it proper before i entered upon my intended address
to my uncles in pursuance of the hint given me in my mother's letter 
to expostulate a little with them but i have done it in such a manner 
as will give you if you please to take it as you have done some parts
of my former letters great advantage over me in short you will have
more cause than ever to declare me far gone in love if my reasons for
the change of my style in these letters with regard to mr lovelace do
not engage your more favourable opinion for i have thought proper to
give them their own way and since they will have it that i have a
preferable regard for mr lovelace i give them cause rather to confirm
their opinion than doubt it 

these are my reasons in brief for the alteration of my style 

in the first place they have grounded their principal argument for my
compliance with their will upon my acknowledgement that my heart is
free and so supposing i give up no preferable person my opposition
has the look of downright obstinacy in their eyes and they argue 
that at worst my aversion to solmes is an aversion that may be easily
surmounted and ought to be surmounted in duty to my father and for the
promotion of family views 

next although they build upon this argument in order to silence me 
they seem not to believe me but treat me as disgracefully as if i
were in love with one of my father's footmen so that my conditional
willingness to give up mr lovelace has procured me no favour 

in the next place i cannot but think that my brother's antipathy
to mr lovelace is far from being well grounded the man's inordinate
passion for the sex is the crime that is always rung in my ears and a
very great one it is but does my brother recriminate upon him thus
in love to me no his whole behaviour shews me that that is not
his principal motive and that he thinks me rather in his way than
otherwise 

it is then the call of justice as i may say to speak a little in
favour of a man who although provoked by my brother did not do
him all the mischief he could have done him and which my brother had
endeavoured to do him it might not be amiss therefore i thought to
alarm them a little with apprehension that the methods they are taking
with me are the very reverse of those they should take to answer the end
they design by them and after all what is the compliment i make mr 
lovelace if i allow it to be thought that i do really prefer him to
such a man as him they terrify me with then my miss howe  concluded i 
accuses me of a tameness which subject me to insults from my brother i
will keep that dear friend in my eye and for all these considerations 
try what a little of her spirit will do sit it ever so awkwardly upon
me 

in this way of thinking i wrote to my brother and sister this is my
letter to him 



treated as i am and in a great measure if not wholly by your
instigations brother you must permit me to expostulate with you upon
the occasion it is not my intention to displease you in what i am going
to write and yet i must deal freely with you the occasion calls for
it 

and permit me in the first place to remind you that i am your sister 
and not your servant and that therefore the bitter revilings and
passionate language brought me from you upon an occasion in which you
have no reason to prescribe to me are neither worthy of my character to
bear nor of yours to offer 

put the case that i were to marry the man you dislike and that he were
not to make a polite or tender husband is that a reason for you to be
an unpolite and disobliging brother why must you sir anticipate my
misfortunes were such a case to happen let me tell you plainly 
that the man who could treat me as a wife worse than you of late have
treated me as a sister must be a barbarous man indeed 

ask yourself i pray you sir if you would thus have treated your
sister bella had she thought fit to receive the addresses of the man so
much hated by you if not let me caution you my brother not to take
your measures by what you think will be borne but rather by what ought
to be offered 

how would you take it if you had a brother who in a like case were
to act by you as you do by me you cannot but remember what a laconic
answer you gave even to my father who recommended to you miss nelly
d'oily you did not like her were your words and that was thought
sufficient 

you must needs think that i cannot but know to whom to attribute my
disgraces when i recollect my father's indulgence to me permitting
me to decline several offers and to whom that a common cause is
endeavoured to be made in favour of a man whose person and manners
are more exceptional than those of any of the gentlemen i have been
permitted to refuse 

i offer not to compare the two men together nor is there indeed the
least comparison to be made between them all the difference to
the one's disadvantage if i did is but one point of the greatest
importance indeed but to whom of most importance to myself surely 
were i to encourage his application of the least to you nevertheless 
if you do not by your strange politics unite that man and me as joint
sufferers in one cause you shall find me as much resolved to renounce
him as i am to refuse the other i have made an overture to this
purpose i hope you will not give me reason to confirm my apprehensions 
that it will be owing to you if it be not accepted 

it is a sad thing to have it to say without being conscious of ever
having given you cause of offence that i have in you a brother but not
a friend 

perhaps you will not condescend to enter into the reasons of your
late and present conduct with a foolish sister but if politeness if
civility be not due to that character and to my sex justice is 

let me take the liberty further to observe that the principal end of
a young man's education at the university is to learn him to reason
justly and to subdue the violence of his passions i hope brother 
that you will not give room for any body who knows us both to conclude 
that the toilette has taught the one more of the latter doctrine than
the university has taught the other i am truly sorry to have cause
to say that i have heard it often remarked that your uncontrouled
passions are not a credit to your liberal education 

i hope sir that you will excuse the freedom i have taken with you you
have given me too much reason for it and you have taken much greater
with me without reason so if you are offended ought to look at the
cause and not at the effect then examining yourself that cause will
cease and there will not be any where a more accomplished gentleman
than my brother 

sisterly affection i do assure you sir unkindly as you have used
me and not the pertness which of late you have been so apt to impute
to me is my motive in this hint let me invoke your returning kindness 
my only brother and give me cause i beseech you to call you my
compassionating friend for i am and ever will be 

your affectionate sister clarissa harlowe 


 


this is my brother's answer 


to miss clarissa harlowe

i know there will be no end of your impertinent scribble if i don't
write to you i write therefore but without entering into argument
with such a conceited and pert preacher and questioner it is to forbid
you to plague me with your quaint nonsense i know not what wit in a
woman is good for but to make her overvalue herself and despise every
other person yours miss pert has set you above your duty and above
being taught or prescribed to either by parents or any body else but
go on miss your mortification will be the greater that's all child 
it shall i assure you if i can make it so so long as you prefer that
villainous lovelace who is justly hated by all your family to every
body we see by your letter now what we too justly suspected before 
most evidently we see the hold he has got of your forward heart but
the stronger the hold the greater must be the force and you shall have
enough of that to tear such a miscreant from it in me notwithstanding
your saucy lecturing and your saucy reflections before you are sure of
a friend as well as of a brother if it be not your own fault but if
you will still think of such a wretch as that lovelace never expect
either friend or brother in

ja harlowe 


 


i will now give you a copy of my letter to my sister with her answer 


in what my dear sister have i offended you that instead of
endeavouring to soften my father's anger against me as i am sure i
should have done for you had my unhappy case been yours you should 
in so hard-hearted a manner join to aggravate not only his displeasure 
but my mother's against me make but my case your own my dear bella 
and suppose you were commanded to marry mr lovelace to whom you
are believed to have such an antipathy would you not think it a very
grievous injunction yet cannot your dislike to mr lovelace be greater
than mine is to mr solmes nor are love and hatred voluntary passions 

my brother may perhaps think it a proof of a manly spirit to shew
himself an utter stranger to the gentle passions we have both heard him
boast that he never loved with distinction and having predominating
passions and checked in his first attempt perhaps he never will it
is the less wonder then raw from the college so lately himself the
tutored that he should set up for a tutor a prescriber to our
gentler sex whose tastes and manners are differently formed for what 
according to his account are colleges but classes of tyrants from
the upper students over the lower and from them to the tutor that he 
with such masculine passions should endeavour to controul and bear down
an unhappy sister in a case where his antipathy and give me leave
to say his ambition  once you would have allowed the latter to be his
fault  can be gratified by so doing may not be quite so much to be
wondered at but that a sister should give up the cause of a sister and
join with him to set her father and mother against her in a case that
might have been her own indeed my bella this is not pretty in you 

there was a time that mr lovelace was thought reclaimable and when it
was far from being deemed a censurable view to hope to bring back to the
paths of virtue and honour a man of his sense and understanding i am
far from wishing to make the experiment but nevertheless will say that
if i have not a regard for him the disgraceful methods taken to compel
me to receive the addresses of such a man as mr solmes are enough to
induce it 

do you my sister for one moment lay aside all prejudice and compare
the two men in their births their educations their persons their
understandings their manners their air and their whole deportments 
and in their fortunes too taking in reversions and then judge of both 
yet as i have frequently offered i will live single with all my heart 
if that will do 

i cannot thus live in displeasure and disgrace i would if i could 
oblige all my friends but will it be just will it be honest to marry
a man i cannot endure if i have not been used to oppose the will of
my father but have always delighted to oblige and obey judge of the
strength of my antipathy by the painful opposition i am obliged to
make and cannot help it 

pity then my dearest bella my sister my friend my companion my
adviser as you used to be when i was happy and plead for

your ever-affectionate cl harlowe 


 


to miss clary harlowe

let it be pretty or not pretty in your wise opinion i shall speak my
mind i will assure you both of you and your conduct in relation
to this detested lovelace you are a fond foolish girl with all your
wisdom your letter shews that enough in twenty places and as to your
cant of living single nobody will believe you this is one of your
fetches to avoid complying with your duty and the will of the most
indulgent parents in the world as yours have been to you i am
sure though now they see themselves finely requited for it 

we all indeed once thought your temper soft and amiable but why was
it you never were contradicted before you had always your own way but
no sooner do you meet with opposition in your wishes to throw yourself
away upon a vile rake but you shew what you are you cannot love mr 
solmes that's the pretence but sister sister let me tell you that
is because lovelace has got into your fond heart a wretch hated 
justly hated by us all and who has dipped his hands in the blood of
your brother yet him you would make our relation would you 

i have no patience with you but for putting the case of my liking such
a vile wretch as him as to the encouragement you pretend he received
formerly from all our family it was before we knew him to be so vile 
and the proofs that had such force upon us ought to have had some upon
you and would had you not been a foolish forward girl as on this
occasion every body sees you are 

o how you run out in favour of the wretch his birth his
education his person his understanding his manners his air his
fortune reversions too taken in to augment the surfeiting catalogue 
what a fond string of lovesick praises is here and yet you would live
single yes i warrant when so many imaginary perfections dance before
your dazzled eye but no more i only desire that you will not while
you seem to have such an opinion of your wit think every one else a
fool and that you can at pleasure by your whining flourishes make us
all dance after your lead 

write as often as you will this shall be the last answer or notice you
shall have upon this subject from

arabella harlowe 


 


i had in readiness a letter for each of my uncles and meeting in the
garden a servant of my uncle harlowe i gave him to deliver according to
their respective directions if i am to form a judgment by the answers i
have received from my brother and sister as above i must not i
doubt expect any good from those letters but when i have tried every
expedient i shall have the less to blame myself for if any thing
unhappy should fall out i will send you copies of both when i shall
see what notice they will be thought worthy of if of any 




letter xxx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday night march 12 


this man this lovelace gives me great uneasiness he is extremely bold
and rash he was this afternoon at our church in hopes to see me i
suppose and yet if he had such hopes his usual intelligence must have
failed him 

shorey was at church and a principal part of her observation was upon
his haughty and proud behaviour when he turned round in the pew where he
sat to our family-pew my father and both my uncles were there so were
my mother and sister my brother happily was not they all came home in
disorder nor did the congregation mind any body but him it being his
first appearance there since the unhappy rencounter 

what did the man come for if he intended to look challenge and
defiance as shorey says he did and as others it seems thought he
did as well as she did he come for my sake and by behaving in such
a manner to those present of my family imagine he was doing me either
service or pleasure he knows how they hate him nor will he take
pains would pains do to obviate their hatred 

you and i my dear have often taken notice of his pride and you have
rallied him upon it and instead of exculpating himself he has owned
it and by owning it he has thought he has done enough 

for my own part i thought pride in his case an improper subject for
raillery people of birth and fortune to be proud is so needless 
so mean a vice if they deserve respect they will have it without
requiring it in other words for persons to endeavour to gain respect
by a haughty behaviour is to give a proof that they mistrust their own
merit to make confession that they know that their actions will not
attract it distinction or quality may be prided in by those to whom
distinction or quality is a new thing and then the reflection and
contempt which such bring upon themselves by it is a counter-balance 

such added advantages too as this man has in his person and mien 
learned also as they say he is such a man to be haughty to be
imperious the lines of his own face at the same time condemning
him how wholly inexcusable proud of what not of doing well the only
justifiable pride proud of exterior advantages must not one be led
by such a stop-short pride as i may call it in him or her who has it 
to mistrust the interior some people may indeed be afraid that if
they did not assume they would be trampled upon a very narrow fear 
however since they trample upon themselves who can fear this but this
man must be secure that humility would be an ornament to him 

he has talents indeed but those talents and his personal advantages
have been snares to him it is plain they have and this shews that 
weighed in an equal balance he would be found greatly wanting 

had my friends confided as they did at first in that discretion which
they do not accuse me of being defective in i dare say i should have
found him out and then should have been as resolute to dismiss him as
i was to dismiss others and as i am never to have mr solmes o that
they did but know my heart it shall sooner burst than voluntarily 
uncompelled undriven dictate a measure that shall cast a slur either
upon them or upon my sex 

excuse me my dear friend for these grave soliloquies as i may call
them how have i run from reflection to reflection but the occasion is
recent they are all in commotion below upon it 

shorey says that mr lovelace watched my mother's eye and bowed to
her and she returned the compliment he always admired my mother she
would not i believe have hated him had she not been bid to hate him 
and had it not been for the rencounter between him and her only son 

dr lewen was at church and observing as every one else did the
disorder into which mr lovelace's appearance had put all our family 
was so good as to engage him in conversation when the service was over 
till they were all gone to their coaches 


 see letter xxxi for mr lovelace's account of his
 behaviour and intentions in his appearance at church 


my uncles had my letters in the morning they as well as my father 
are more and more incensed against me it seems their answers if
they vouchsafe to answer me will demonstrate i doubt not the
unseasonableness of this rash man's presence at our church 

they are angry also as i understand with my mother for returning
his compliment what an enemy is hatred even to the common forms of
civility which however more distinguish the payer of a compliment 
than the receiver but they all see they say that there is but one way
to put an end to his insults so i shall suffer and in what will the
rash man have benefited himself or mended his prospects 

i am extremely apprehensive that this worse than ghost-like appearance
of his bodes some still bolder step if he come hither and very
desirous he is of my leave to come i am afraid there will be murder to
avoid that if there were no other way i would most willingly be buried
alive 

they are all in consultation upon my letters i suppose so they were
in the morning which occasioned my uncles to be at our church i will
send you the copies of those letters as i promised in my last when
i see whether i can give you their answers with them this letter is
all i cannot tell what the effect of apprehension and displeasure
at the man who has occasioned my apprehensions six lines would have
contained all that is in it to the purpose of my story 

cl h 




letter xxxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq monday march 13 


in vain dost thou and thy compeers press me to go to town while i am
in such an uncertainty as i am in at present with this proud beauty 
all the ground i have hitherto gained with her is entirely owing to her
concern for the safety of people whom i have reason to hate 

 these gentlemen affected what they called the roman style
 to wit the thee and the thou in their letters and it was
 an agreed rule with them to take in good part whatever
 freedoms they treated each other with if the passages were
 written in that style 

write then thou biddest me if i will not come that indeed i can do 
and as well without a subject as with one and what follows shall be a
proof of it 

the lady's malevolent brother has now as i told thee at m hall 
introduced another man the most unpromising in his person and
qualities the most formidable in his offers that has yet appeared 

this man has by his proposals captivated every soul of the
harlowes soul did i say there is not a soul among them but my
charmer's and she withstanding them all is actually confined and
otherwise maltreated by a father the most gloomy and positive at the
instigation of a brother the most arrogant and selfish but thou knowest
their characters and i will not therefore sully my paper with them 

but is it not a confounded thing to be in love with one who is the
daughter the sister the niece of a family i must eternally despise 
and the devil of it that love increasing with her what shall i call
it tis not scorn tis not pride tis not the insolence of an
adored beauty but tis to virtue it seems that my difficulties are
owin and i pay for not being a sly sinner an hypocrite for being
regardless of my reputation for permittin slander to open its mouth
against me but is it necessary for such a one as i who have been used
to carry all before me upon my own terms i who never inspired a fear 
that had not a discernibly-predominant mixture of love in it to be a
hypocrite well says the poet 

 he who seems virtuous does but act a part 
 and shews not his own nature but his art 

well but it seems i must practise for this art if it would succeed
with this truly-admirable creature but why practise for it cannot
i indeed reform i have but one vice have i jack thou knowest my
heart if any man living does as far as i know it myself thou knowest
it but tis a cursed deceiver for it has many a time imposed upon its
master master did i say that i am not now nor have i been from the
moment i beheld this angel of a woman prepared indeed as i was by her
character before i saw her for what a mind must that be which 
though not virtuous itself admires not virtue in another my visit
to arabella owing to a mistake of the sister into which as thou hast
heard me say i was led by the blundering uncle who was to introduce
me but lately come from abroad to the divinity as i thought but 
instead of her carried me to a mere mortal and much difficulty had i 
so fond and forward my lady to get off without forfeiting all with a
family i intended should give me a goddess 

i have boasted that i was once in love before and indeed i thought
i was it was in my early manhood with that quality jilt whose
infidelity i have vowed to revenge upon as many of the sex as shall come
into my power i believe in different climes i have already
sacrificed an hecatomb to my nemesis in pursuance of this vow but upon
recollecting what i was then and comparing it with what i find myself
now i cannot say that i was ever in love before 

what was it then dost thou ask me since the disappointment had such
effects upon me when i found myself jilted that i was hardly kept in
my senses why i'll grant thee what as near as i can remember for
it was a great while ago it was egad jack i can hardly tell what
it was but a vehement aspiration after a novelty i think those
confounded poets with their terrenely-celestial descriptions did as
much with me as the lady they fired my imagination and set me upon
a desire to become a goddess-maker i must needs try my new-fledged
pinions in sonnet elogy and madrigal i must have a cynthia a stella 
a sacharissa as well as the best of them darts and flames and the
devil knows what must i give to my cupid i must create beauty and
place it where nobody else could find it and many a time have i been at
a loss for a subject when my new-created goddess has been kinder than
it was proper for my plaintive sonnet that she should be 

then i found i had a vanity of another sort in my passion i found
myself well received among the women in general and i thought it a
pretty lady-like tyranny  i was then very young and very vain   to
single out some one of the sex to make half a score jealous and i can
tell thee it had its effect for many an eye have i made to sparkle
with rival indignation many a cheek glow and even many a fan have i
caused to be snapped at a sister-beauty accompanied with a reflection
perhaps at being seen alone with a wild young fellow who could not be in
private with both at once 

in short jack it was more pride than love as i now find it that put
me upon making such a confounded rout about losing that noble varletess 
i thought she loved me at least as well as i believed i loved her 
nay i had the vanity to suppose she could not help it my friends were
pleased with my choice they wanted me to be shackled for early did
they doubt my morals as to the sex they saw that the dancing the
singing the musical ladies were all fond of my company for who  i am
in a humour to be vain i think   for who danced who sung who touched
the string whatever the instrument with a better grace than thy
friend 

i have no notion of playing the hypocrite so egregiously as to pretend
to be blind to qualifications which every one sees and acknowledges 
such praise-begetting hypocrisy such affectedly disclaimed attributes 
such contemptible praise-traps but yet shall my vanity extend only
to personals such as the gracefulness of dress my debonnaire and my
assurance self-taught self-acquired these for my parts i value
not myself upon them thou wilt say i have no cause perhaps not but
if i had any thing valuable as to intellectuals those are not my own 
and to be proud of what a man is answerable for the abuse of and has
no merit in the right use of is to strut like the jay in borrowed
plumage 

but to return to my fair jilt i could not bear that a woman who was
the first that had bound me in silken fetters  they were not iron ones 
like those i now wear  should prefer a coronet to me and when the bird
was flown i set more value upon it that when i had it safe in my cage 
and could visit in when i pleased 

but now am i indeed in love i can think of nothing of nobody but
the divine clarissa harlowe harlowe how that hated word sticks in my
throat but i shall give her for it the name of love 


 lovelace 


 clarissa o there's music in the name 
 that soft'ning me to infant tenderness 
 makes my heart spring like the first leaps of life 

but couldst thou have believed that i who think it possible for me
to favour as much as i can be favoured that i who for this charming
creature think of foregoing the life of honour for the life of shackles 
could adopt these over-tender lines of otway 

i checked myself and leaving the first three lines of the following of
dryden to the family of whiners find the workings of the passion in my
stormy soul better expressed by the three last 

 love various minds does variously inspire 
 he stirs in gentle natures gentle fires 
 like that of incense on the alter laid 

 but raging flames tempestuous souls invade 
 a fire which ev'ry windy passion blows 
 with pride it mounts and with revenge it glows 

and with revenge it shall glow for dost thou think that if it were
not from the hope that this stupid family are all combined to do my
work for me i would bear their insults is it possible to imagine 
that i would be braved as i am braved threatened as i am threatened by
those who are afraid to see me and by this brutal brother too to
whom i gave a life  a life indeed not worth my taking   had i not
a greater pride in knowing that by means of his very spy upon me i am
playing him off as i please cooling or inflaming his violent passions
as may best suit my purposes permitting so much to be revealed of my
life and actions and intentions as may give him such a confidence in
his double-faced agent as shall enable me to dance his employer upon my
own wires 

this it is that makes my pride mount above my resentment by this
engine whose springs i am continually oiling i play them all off 
the busy old tarpaulin uncle i make but my ambassador to queen anabella
howe to engage her for example-sake to her princessly daughter to
join in their cause and to assert an authority they are resolved right
or wrong or i could do nothing to maintain 

and what my motive dost thou ask no less than this that my beloved
shall find no protection out of my family for if i know hers fly she
must or have the man she hates this therefore if i take my measures
right and my familiar fail me not will secure her mine in spite of
them all in spite of her own inflexible heart mine without condition 
without reformation-promises without the necessity of a siege of years 
perhaps and to be even then after wearing the guise of merit-doubting
hypocrisy at an uncertainty upon a probation unapproved of then shall
i have all the rascals and rascalesses of the family come creeping to
me i prescribing to them and bringing that sordidly imperious brother
to kneel at the footstool of my throne 

all my fear arises from the little hold i have in the heart of this
charming frost-piece such a constant glow upon her lovely features 
eyes so sparkling limbs so divinely turned health so florid youth so
blooming air so animated to have an heart so impenetrable and i the
hitherto successful lovelace the addresser how can it be yet there
are people and i have talked with some of them who remember that
she was born her nurse norton boasts of her maternal offices in her
earliest infancy and in her education gradatim so there is full proof 
that she came not from above all at once an angel how then can she be
so impenetrable 

but here's her mistake nor will she be cured of it she takes the man
she calls her father  her mother had been faultless had she not been
her father's wife  she takes the men she calls her uncles the fellow
she calls her brother and the poor contemptible she calls her sister 
to be her father to be her uncles her brother her sister and that 
as such she owes to some of them reverence to others respect let them
treat her ever so cruelly sordid ties mere cradle prejudices for
had they not been imposed upon her by nature when she was in a perverse
humour or could she have chosen her relations would any of these have
been among them 

how my heart rises at her preference of them to me when she is
convinced of their injustice to me convinced that the alliance would
do honour to them all herself excepted to whom every one owes honour 
and from whom the most princely family might receive it but how much
more will my heart rise with indignation against her if i find she
hesitates but one moment however persecuted about preferring me to the
man she avowedly hates but she cannot surely be so mean as to purchase
her peace with them at so dear a rate she cannot give a sanction to
projects formed in malice and founded in a selfishness and that at her
own expense which she has spirit enough to despise in others and ought
to disavow that we may not think her a harlowe 

by this incoherent ramble thou wilt gather that i am not likely to come
up in haste since i must endeavour first to obtain some assurance from
the beloved of my soul that i shall not be sacrificed to such a wretch
as solmes woe be to the fair one if ever she be driven into my
power for i despair of a voluntary impulse in my favour and i find a
difficulty in obtaining this security 

that her indifference to me is not owing to the superior liking she has
for any other is what rivets my chains but take care fair one take
care o thou most exalted of female minds and loveliest of persons how
thou debasest thyself by encouraging such a competition as thy sordid
relations have set on foot in mere malice to me thou wilt say i rave 
and so i do 

 perdition catch my soul but i do love her 

else could i hear the perpetual revilings of her implacable
family else could i basely creep about not her proud father's
house but his paddock and garden walls yet a quarter of a mile
distance between us not hoping to behold the least glimpse of her
shadow else should i think myself repaid amply repaid if the
fourth fifth or sixth midnight stroll through unfrequented paths and
over briery enclosures affords me a few cold lines the even expected
purport only to let me know that she values the most worthless person
of her very worthless family more than she values me and that she
would not write at all but to induce me to bear insults which unman
me to bear my lodging in the intermediate way at a wretched alehouse 
disguised like an inmate of it accommodations equally vile as those
i met with in my westphalian journey tis well that the necessity for
all this arise not from scorn and tyranny but is first imposed upon
herself 

but was ever hero in romance fighting with giants and dragons excepted 
called upon to harder trials fortune and family and reversionary
grandeur on my side such a wretched fellow my competitor must i not
be deplorably in love that can go through these difficulties encounter
these contempts by my soul i am half ashamed of myself i who am
perjured too by priority of obligation if i am faithful to any woman
in the world 

and yet why say i i am half ashamed is it not a glory to love her
whom every one who sees her either loves or reveres or both dryden
says 

 the cause of love can never be assign'd 
 tis in no face but in the lover's mind 
 and cowley thus addresses beauty as a mere imaginary 

 beauty thou wild fantastic ape 
 who dost in ev'ry country change thy shape 
 here black there brown here tawny and there white 
 thou flatt'rer who comply'st with ev'ry sight 
 who hast no certain what nor where 

but both these had they been her contemporaries and known her would
have confessed themselves mistaken and taking together person mind 
and behaviour would have acknowledged the justice of the universal
voice in her favour 

 full many a lady
 i've ey'd with best regard and many a time
 th' harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
 brought my too-diligent ear for sev'ral virtues
 have i liked several women never any
 with so full a soul but some defect in her
 did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd 
 and put it to the foil but she o she 
 so perfect and so peerless is created 
 of ev'ry creature's best 

 shakesp 

thou art curious to know if i have not started a new game if it
be possible for so universal a lover to be confined so long to one
object thou knowest nothing of this charming creature that thou canst
put such questions to me or thinkest thou knowest me better than
thou dost all that's excellent in her sex is this lady until by
matrimonial or equal intimacies i have found her less than angel it is
impossible to think of any other then there are so many stimulatives
to such a spirit as mine in this affair besides love such a field of
stratagem and contrivance which thou knowest to be the delight of my
heart then the rewarding end of all to carry off such a girl as this 
in spite of all her watchful and implacable friends and in spite of a
prudence and reserve that i never met with in any of the sex what a
triumph what a triumph over the whole sex and then such a revenge to
gratify which is only at present politically reined in eventually to
break forth with greater fury is it possible thinkest thou that there
can be room for a thought that is not of her and devoted to her 


 


by the devices i have this moment received i have reason to think that
i shall have occasion for thee here hold thyself in readiness to come
down upon the first summons 

let belton and mowbray and tourville likewise prepare themselves i
have a great mind to contrive a method to send james harlowe to travel
for improvement never was there a booby squire that more wanted it 
contrive it did i say i have already contrived it could i but put
it in execution without being suspected to have a hand in it this i am
resolved upon if i have not his sister i will have him 

but be this as it may there is a present likelihood of room for
glorious mischief a confederacy had been for some time formed against
me but the uncles and the nephew are now to be double-servanted
 single-servanted they were before  and those servants are to be
double armed when they attend their masters abroad this indicates their
resolute enmity to me and as resolute favour to solmes 

the reinforced orders for this hostile apparatus are owing it seems to a
visit i made yesterday to their church a good place i thought to begin
a reconciliation in supposing the heads of the family to be christians 
and that they meant something by their prayers my hopes were to have
an invitation or at least to gain a pretence to accompany home the
gloomy sire and so get an opportunity to see my goddess for i believed
they durst not but be civil to me at least but they were filled with
terror it seems at my entrance a terror they could not get over i saw
it indeed in their countenances and that they all expected something
extraordinary to follow and so it should have done had i been more
sure than i am of their daughter's favour yet not a hair of any of
their stupid heads do i intend to hurt 

you shall all have your directions in writing if there be occasion but
after all i dare say there will be no need but to shew your faces in my
company 

such faces never could four men shew mowbray's so fierce and so
fighting belton's so pert and so pimply tourville's so fair and
so foppish thine so rough and so resolute and i your leader what
hearts although meditating hostility must those be which we shall not
appall each man occasionally attended by a servant or two long ago
chosen for qualities resembling those of his master 

thus jack as thou desirest have i written written upon something 
upon nothing upon revenge which i love upon love which i hate 
heartily hate because tis my master and upon the devil knows what
besides for looking back i am amazed at the length of it thou mayest
read it i would not for a king's ransom but so as i do but write thou
sayest thou wilt be pleased 

be pleased then i command thee to be pleased if not for the writer's
or written sake for thy word's sake and so in the royal style for am
i not likely to be thy king and thy emperor in the great affair before
us i bid thee very heartily

farewell 




letter xxxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday march 14 


i now send you copies of my letters to my uncles with their answers be
pleased to return the latter by the first deposit i leave them for you
to make remarks upon i shall make none 


to john harlowe esq sat march 11 

allow me my honoured second papa as in my happy days you taught me
to call you to implore your interest with my papa to engage him to
dispense with a command which if insisted upon will deprive me of my
free-will and make me miserable for my whole life 

for my whole life let me repeat is that a small point my dear uncle 
to give up am not i to live with the man is any body else shall i not
therefore be allowed to judge for myself whether i can or cannot live
happily with him 

should it be ever so unhappily will it be prudence to complain or
appeal if it were to whom could i appeal with effect against a
husband and would not the invincible and avowed dislike i have for him
at setting out seem to justify any ill usage from him in that state 
were i to be ever so observant of him and if i were to be at all
observant of him it must be from fear not love 

once more let me repeat that this is not a small point to give up 
and that it is for life why i pray you good sir should i be made
miserable for life why should i be deprived of all comfort but that
which the hope that it would be a very short one would afford me 

marriage is a very solemn engagement enough to make a young creature's
heart ache with the best prospects when she thinks seriously of
it to be given up to a strange man to be engrafted into a strange
family to give up her very name as a mark of her becoming his absolute
and dependent property to be obliged to prefer this strange man to
father mother to every body and his humours to all her own or to
contend perhaps in breach of avowed duty for every innocent
instance of free-will to go no where to make acquaintance to give up
acquaintance to renounce even the strictest friendships perhaps 
all at his pleasure whether she thinks it reasonable to do so or not 
surely sir a young creature ought not to be obliged to make all these
sacrifices but for such a man as she can love if she be how sad must
be the case how miserable the life if it can be called life 

i wish i could obey you all what a pleasure would it be to me if i
could marry first and love will come after was said by one of my
dearest friends but this is a shocking assertion a thousand thing may
happen to make that state but barely tolerable where it is entered into
with mutual affections what must it then be where the husband can have
no confidence in the love of his wife but has reason rather to question
it from the preference he himself believes she would have given to
somebody else had she had her own option what doubts what jealousies 
what want of tenderness what unfavourable prepossessions will there
be in a matrimony thus circumstanced how will every look every
action even the most innocent be liable to misconstruction while 
on the other hand an indifference a carelessness to oblige may take
place and fear only can constrain even an appearance of what ought to
be the effect of undisguised love 

think seriously of these things dear good sir and represent them to
my father in that strong light which the subject will bear but in which
my sex and my tender years and inexperience will not permit me to
paint it and use your powerful interest that your poor niece may not
be consigned to a misery so durable 

i offered to engage not to marry at all if that condition may be
accepted what a disgrace is it to me to be thus sequestered from
company thus banished my papa's and mamma's presence thus slighted and
deserted by you sir and my other kind uncle and to be hindered from
attending at that public worship which were i out of the way of my
duty would be most likely to reduce me into the right path again is
this the way sir can this be thought to be the way to be taken with
a free and open spirit may not this strange method rather harden than
convince i cannot bear to live in disgrace thus the very servants so
lately permitted to be under my own direction hardly daring to speak to
me my own servant discarded with high marks of undeserved suspicion and
displeasure and my sister's maid set over me 

the matter may be too far pushed indeed it may and then perhaps 
every one will be sorry for their parts in it 

may i be permitted to mention an expedient if i am to be
watched banished and confined suppose sir it were to be at your
house  then the neighbouring gentry will the less wonder that the
person of whom they used to think so favourably appear not at church
here and that she received not their visits 

i hope there can be no objection to this you used to love to have
me with you sir when all went happily with me and will you not now
permit me in my troubles the favour of your house till all this
displeasure is overblown upon my word sir i will not stir out of
doors if you require the contrary of me nor will i see any body but
whom you will allow me to see provided mr solmes be not brought to
persecute me there 

procure then this favour for me if you cannot procure the still
greater that of a happy reconciliation which nevertheless i presume to
hope for if you will be so good as to plead for me and you will then
add to those favours and to that indulgence which have bound me and
will for ever bind me to be

your dutiful and obliged niece clarissa harlowe 


the answer


sunday night 

my dear niece 

it grieves me to be forced to deny you any thing you ask yet it must be
so for unless you can bring your mind to oblige us in this one point 
in which our promises and honour were engaged before we believed there
could be so sturdy an opposition you must never expect to be what you
have been to us all 

in short niece we are in an embattled phalanx your reading makes you
a stranger to nothing but what you should be most acquainted with so
you will see by that expression that we are not to be pierced by your
persuasions and invincible persistence we have agreed all to be
moved or none and not to comply without one another so you know your
destiny and have nothing to do but to yield to it 

let me tell you the virtue of obedience lies not in obliging when you
can be obliged again but give up an inclination and there is some
merit in that 

as to your expedient you shall not come to my house miss clary though
this is a prayer i little thought i ever should have denied you for
were you to keep your word as to seeing nobody but whom we please yet
can you write to somebody else and receive letters from him this we
too well know you can and have done more is the shame and the pity 

you offer to live single miss we wished you married but because you
may not have the man your heart is set upon why truly you will have
nobody we shall recommend and as we know that somehow or other you
correspond with him or at least did as long as you could and as he
defies us all and would not dare to do so if he were not sure of you
in spite of us all which is not a little vexatious to us you must
think we are resolved to frustrate him and triumph over him rather
than that he should triumph over us that's one word for all so expect
not any advocateship from me i will not plead for you and that's
enough from

your displeased uncle john harlowe 

p s for the rest i refer to my brother antony 


 


to antony harlowe esq saturday march 11 

honoured sir 

as you have thought fit to favour mr solmes with your particular
recommendation and was very earnest in his behalf ranking him as
you told me upon introducing him to me among your select friends and
expecting my regards to him accordingly i beg your patience while
i offer a few things out of many that i could offer to your serious
consideration on occasion of his address to me if i am to use that
word 

i am charged with prepossession in another person's favour you will be
pleased sir to remember that till my brother returned from scotland 
that other person was not absolutely discouraged nor was i forbid to
receive his visits i believe it will not be pretended that in birth 
education or personal endowments a comparison can be made between the
two and only let me ask you sir if the one would have been thought of
for me had he not made such offers as upon my word i think i ought
not in justice to accept of nor he to propose offers which if he had
not made i dare say my papa would not have required them of him 

but the one it seems has many faults is the other faultless the
principal thing objected to mr lovelace and a very inexcusable one is
that he is immoral in his loves is not the other in his hatreds nay 
as i may say in his loves too the object only differing if the love
of money be the root of all evil 

but sir if i am prepossessed what has mr solmes to hope for why
should he persevere what must i think of the man who would wish me to
be his wife against my inclination and is it not a very harsh thing
for my friends to desire to see me married to one i cannot love when
they will not be persuaded but that there is one whom i do love 

treated as i am now is the time for me to speak out or never let
me review what it is mr solmes depends upon on this occasion does he
believe that the disgrace which i supper on his account will give
him a merit with me does he think to win my esteem through my uncles'
sternness to me by my brother's contemptuous usage by my sister's
unkindness by being denied to visit or be visited and to correspond
with my chosen friend although a person of unexceptionable honour and
prudence and of my own sex my servant to be torn from me and another
servant set over me to be confined like a prisoner to narrow and
disgraceful limits in order avowedly to mortify me and to break my
spirit to be turned out of that family-management which i loved and
had the greater pleasure in it because it was an ease as i thought to
my mamma and what my sister chose not and yet though time hangs heavy
upon my hands to be so put out of my course that i have as little
inclination as liberty to pursue any of my choice delights are these
steps necessary to reduce me to a level so low as to make me a fit wife
for this man yet these are all he can have to trust to and if
his reliance is on these measures i would have him to know that
he mistakes meekness and gentleness of disposition for servility and
baseness of heart 

i beseech you sir to let the natural turn and bent of his mind and my
mind be considered what are his qualities by which he would hope to
win my esteem dear dear sir if i am to be compelled let it be in
favour of a man that can read and write that can teach me something 
for what a husband must that man make who can do nothing but command 
and needs himself the instruction he should be qualified to give 

i may be conceited sir i may be vain of my little reading of my
writing as of late i have more than once been told i am but sir the
more unequal the proposed match if so the better opinion i have of
myself the worse i must have of him and the more unfit are we for each
other 

indeed sir i must say i thought my friends had put a higher value
upon me my brother pretended once that it was owing to such value 
that mr lovelace's address was prohibited can this be and such a man
as mr solmes be intended for me 

as to his proposed settlements i hope i shall not incur your great
displeasure if i say what all who know me have reason to think and
some have upbraided me for that i despise those motives dear dear
sir what are settlements to one who has as much of her own as she
wishes for who has more in her own power as a single person than
it is probable she would be permitted to have at her disposal as a
wife whose expenses and ambition are moderate and who if she had
superfluities would rather dispense them to the necessitous than lay
them by her useless if then such narrow motives have so little weight
with me for my own benefit shall the remote and uncertain view of
family-aggrandizements and that in the person of my brother and his
descendents be thought sufficient to influence me 

has the behaviour of that brother to me of late or his consideration
for the family which had so little weight with him that he could
choose to hazard a life so justly precious as an only son's rather than
not ratify passions which he is above attempting to subdue and give me
leave to say has been too much indulged in either with regard to his
own good or the peace of any body related to him has his behaviour i
say deserved of me in particular that i should make a sacrifice of my
temporal and who knows of my eternal happiness to promote a plan
formed upon chimerical at least upon unlikely contingencies as i will
undertake to demonstrate if i may be permitted to examine it 

i am afraid you will condemn my warmth but does not the occasion
require it to the want of a greater degree of earnestness in my
opposition it seems it is owing that such advances have been made 
as have been made then dear sir allow something i beseech you for a
spirit raised and embittered by disgraces which knowing my own heart 
i am confident to say are unmerited 

but why have i said so much in answer to the supposed charge of
prepossession when i have declared to my mamma as now sir i do
to you that if it be not insisted upon that i shall marry any other
person particularly this mr solmes i will enter into any engagements
never to have the other nor any man else without their consents that
is to say without the consents of my father and my mother and of you
my uncle and my elder uncle and my cousin morden as he is one of the
trustees for my grandfather's bounty to me as to my brother indeed i
cannot say that his treatment of me has been of late so brotherly 
as to entitle him to more than civility from me and for this give me
leave to add he would be very much my debtor 

if i have not been explicit enough in declaring my dislike to mr solmes
 that the prepossession which is charged upon me may not be supposed to
influence me against him i do absolutely declare that were there no
such man as mr lovelace in the world i would not have mr solmes 
it is necessary in some one of my letters to my dear friends that i
should write so clearly as to put this matter out of all doubt and to
whom can i better address myself with an explicitness that can admit
of no mistake than to that uncle who professes the highest regard for
plain-dealing and sincerity 

let me for these reasons be still more particular in some of my
exceptions to him 

mr solmes appears to me to all the world indeed to have a very
narrow mind and no great capacity he is coarse and indelicate as
rough in his manners as in his person he is not only narrow but
covetous being possessed of great wealth he enjoys it not nor has the
spirit to communicate to a distress of any kind does not his own sister
live unhappily for want of a little of his superfluities and suffers
not he his aged uncle the brother of his own mother to owe to
the generosity of strangers the poor subsistence he picks up from
half-a-dozen families you know sir my open free communicative
temper how unhappy must i be circumscribed in his narrow selfish
circle out of which being with-held by this diabolical parsimony he
dare no more stir than a conjurer out of his nor would let me 

such a man as this love yes perhaps he may my grandfather's
estate which he has told several persons and could not resist hinting
the same thing tome with that sort of pleasure which a low mind takes 
when it intimates its own interest as a sufficient motive for it to
expect another's favour lies so extremely convenient for him that it
would double the value of a considerable part of his own that estate 
and an alliance which would do credit to his obscurity and narrowness 
they make him think he can love and induce him to believe he does but
at most he is but a second-place love riches were are and always
will be his predominant passion his were left him by a miser on this
very account and i must be obliged to forego all the choice delights
of my life and be as mean as he or else be quite unhappy pardon sir 
this severity of expression one is apt to say more than one would of
a person one dislikes when more is said in his favour than he can
possibly deserve and when he is urged to my acceptance with so much
vehemence that there is no choice left me 

whether these things be perfectly so or not while i think they are 
it is impossible i should ever look upon mr solmes in the light he is
offered to me nay were he to be proved ten times better than i have
represented him and sincerely think him yet would he be still ten
times more disagreeable to me than any other man i know in the world 
let me therefore beseech you sir to become an advocate for your niece 
that she may not be made a victim to a man so highly disgustful to her 

you and my other uncle can do a great deal for me if you please with
my papa be persuaded sir that i am not governed by obstinacy in this
case but by aversion an aversion i cannot overcome for if i have but
endeavoured to reason with myself out of regard to the duty i owe
to my father's will my heart has recoiled and i have been averse to
myself for offering but to argue with myself in behalf of a man who 
in the light he appears to me has no one merit and who knowing this
aversion could not persevere as he does if he had the spirit of a man 

if sir you can think of the contents of this letter reasonable i
beseech you to support them with your interest if not i shall be most
unhappy nevertheless it is but just in me so to write as that mr 
solmes may know what he has to trust to 

forgive dear sir this tedious letter and suffer it to have weight
with you and you will for ever oblige

your dutiful and affectionate niece 

cl harlowe 


 


mr antony harlowe to miss cl harlowe

niece clary 

you had better not write to us or to any of us to me particularly 
you had better never to have set pen to paper on the subject whereon
you have written he that is first in his own cause saith the wise man 
seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him and so in
this respect i will be your neighbour for i will search your heart to
the bottom that is to say if your letter be written from your heart 
yet do i know what a task i have undertaken because of the knack you
are noted for at writing but in defence of a father's authority in
behalf of the good and honour and prosperity of the family one comes
of what a hard thing it would be if one could not beat down all the
arguments a rebel child how loth i am to write down that word of miss
clary harlowe can bring in behalf of her obstinacy 

in the first place don't you declare and that contrary to your
declarations to your mother remember that girl that you prefer the
man we all hate and who hates us as bad then what a character have
you given of a worthy man i wonder you dare write so freely of one we
all respect but possibly it may be for that very reason 

how you begin your letter because i value mr solmes as my friend you
treat him the worse that's the plain dunstable of the matter miss i
am not such a fool but i can see that and so a noted whoremonger is
to be chosen before a man who is a money-lover let me tell you niece 
this little becomes so nice a one as you have been always reckoned who 
think you does more injustice a prodigal man or a saving man the one
saves his own money the other spends other people's but your favourite
is a sinner in grain and upon record 

the devil's in your sex god forgive me for saying so the nicest of
them will prefer a vile rake and wh i suppose i must not repeat the
word the word will offend when the vicious denominated by that word
will be chosen i had not been a bachelor to this time if i had not
seen such a mass of contradictions in you all such gnat-strainers and
camel-swallowers as venerable holy writ has it 

what names will perverseness call things by a prudent man who intends
to be just to every body is a covetous man while a vile profligate
rake is christened with the appellation of a gallant man and a polite
man i'll warrant you 

it is my firm opinion lovelace would not have so much regard for you
as he professes but for two reasons and what are these why out of
spite to all of us one of them the other because of your independent
fortune i wish your good grandfather had not left what he did so much
in your own power as i may say but little did he imagine his beloved
grand-daughter would have turned upon all her friends as she has done 

what has mr solmes to hope for if you are prepossessed hey-day 
is this you cousin clary has he then nothing to hope for from your
father's and mother's and our recommendations no nothing at all it
seems o brave i should think that this with a dutiful child as we
took you to be was enough depending on this your duty we proceeded 
and now there is no help for it for we will not be balked neither
shall our friend mr solmes i can tell you that 

if your estate is convenient for him what then does that pert cousin 
make it out that he does not love you he had need to expect some good
with you that has so little good to hope for from you mind that but
pray is not this estate our estate as we may say have we not all an
interest in it and a prior right if right were to have taken place 
and was it not more than a good old man's dotage god rest his soul 
that gave it you before us all well then ought we not to have a
choice who shall have it in marriage with you and would you have the
conscience to wish us to let a vile fellow who hates us all run away
with it you bid me weigh what you write do you weigh this girl and
it will appear we have more to say for ourselves than you was aware of 

as to your hard treatment as you call it thank yourself for that it
may be over when you will so i reckon nothing upon that you was not
banished and confined till all entreaty and fair speeches were tried
with you mind that and mr solmes can't help your obstinacy let that
be observed too 

as to being visited and visiting you never was fond of either so
that's a grievance put into the scale to make weight as to disgrace 
that's as bad to us as to you so fine a young creature so much as we
used to brag of you too and besides this is all in your power as the
rest 

but your heart recoils when you would persuade yourself to obey your
parent finely described is it not too truly described i own as you
go on i know that you may love him if you will i had a good mind to
bid you hate him then perhaps you would like him the better for i
have always found a most horrid romantic perverseness in your sex to
do and to love what you should not is meat drink and vesture to you
all 

i am absolutely of your brother's mind that reading and writing though
not too much for the wits of you young girls are too much for your
judgments you say you may be conceited cousin you may be vain and
so you are to despise this gentleman as you do he can read and write
as well as most gentlemen i can tell you that who told you mr solmes
cannot read and write but you must have a husband who can learn
you something i wish you knew but your duty as well as you do your
talents that niece you have of late days to learn and mr solmes
will therefore find something to instruct you in i will not shew him
this letter of yours though you seem to desire it lest it should
provoke him to be too severe a schoolmaster when you are his'n 

but now i think of it suppose you are the reader at your pen than
he you will make the more useful wife to him won't you for who so
good an economist as you and you may keep all of his accounts 
and save yourselves a steward and let me tell you this is a fine
advantage in a family for those stewards are often sad dogs and creep
into a man's estate before he knows where he is and not seldom is he
forced to pay them interest for his own money 

i know not why a good wife should be above these things it is better
than lying a-bed half the day and junketing and card-playing all the
night and making yourselves wholly useless to every good purpose in
your own families as is now the fashion among ye the duce take you all
that do so say i only that thank my stars i am a bachelor 

then this is a province you are admirably versed in you grieve that
it is taken from you here you know so here miss with mr solmes you
will have something to keep account of for the sake of you and your
children with the other perhaps you will have an account to keep 
too but an account of what will go over the left shoulder only of what
he squanders what he borrows and what he owes and never will pay 
come come cousin you know nothing of the world a man's a man and
you may have many partners in a handsome man and costly ones too who
may lavish away all you save mr solmes therefore for my money and i
hope for yours 

but mr solmes is a coarse man he is not delicate enough for your
niceness because i suppose he dresses not like a fop and a coxcomb and
because he lays not himself out in complimental nonsense the poison of
female minds he is a man of sense that i can tell you no man
talks more to the purpose to us but you fly him so that he has no
opportunity given him to express it to you and a man who loves if he
have ever so much sense looks a fool especially when he is despised 
and treated as you treated him the last time he was in your company 

as to his sister she threw herself away as you want to do against his
full warning for he told her what she had to trust to if she married
where she did marry and he was as good as his word and so an honest
man ought offences against warning ought to be smarted for take care
this be not your case mind that 

his uncle deserves no favour from him for he would have circumvented
mr solmes and got sir oliver to leave to himself the estate he had
always designed for him his nephew and brought him up in the hope of
it too ready forgiveness does but encourage offences that's your good
father's maxim and there would not be so many headstrong daughters as
there are if this maxim were kept in mind punishments are of service
to offenders rewards should be only to the meriting and i think the
former are to be dealt out rigourously in willful cases 

as to his love he shews it but too much for your deservings as they
have been of late let me tell you that and this is his misfortune and
may in time perhaps be yours 

as to his parsimony which you wickedly call diabolical  a very free
word in your mouth let me tell ye  little reason have you of all
people for this on whom he proposes of his own accord to settle all
he has in the world a proof let him love riches as he will that he
loves you better but that you may be without excuse on this score 
we will tie him up to your own terms and oblige him by the
marriage-articles to allow you a very handsome quarterly sum to do what
you please with and this has been told you before and i have said it
to mrs howe that good and worthy lady before her proud daughter that
you might hear of it again 

to contradict the charge of prepossession to lovelace you offer never
to have him without our consents and what is this saying but that you
will hope on for our consents and to wheedle and tire us out then he
will always be in expectation while you are single and we are to live
on at this rate are we vexed by you and continually watchful about
you and as continually exposed to his insolence and threats remember
last sunday girl what might have happened had your brother and he
met moreover you cannot do with such a spirit as his as you can with
worthy mr solmes the one you make tremble the other will make
you quake mind that and you will not be able to help yourself and
remember that if there should be any misunderstanding between one of
them and you we should all interpose and with effect no doubt but
with the other it would be self-do self-have and who would either
care or dare to put in a word for you nor let the supposition of
matrimonial differences frighten you honey-moon lasts not now-a-days
above a fortnight and dunmow flitch as i have been informed was never
claimed though some say once it was marriage is a queer state child 
whether paired by the parties or by their friends out of three brothers
of us you know there was but one had courage to marry and why was it 
do you think we were wise by other people's experience 

don't despise money so much you may come to know the value of it that
is a piece of instruction that you are to learn and which according to
your own notions mr solmes will be able to teach you 

i do indeed condemn your warmth i will not allow for disgraces you
bring upon yourself if i thought them unmerited i would be your
advocate but it was always my notion that children should not dispute
their parents' authority when your grandfather left his estate to you 
though his three sons and a grandson and your elder sister were in
being we all acquiesced and why because it was our father's doing do
you imitate that example if you will not those who set it you have the
more reason to hold you inexcusable mind that cousin 

you mention your brother too scornfully and in your letter to him are
very disrespectful and so indeed you are to your sister in the letter
you wrote to her your brother madam is your brother and third older
than yourself and a man and pray be so good as not to forget what is
due to a brother who next to us three brothers is the head of the
family and on whom the name depends as upon your dutiful compliance
laid down for the honour of the family you are come of and pray now let
me ask you if the honour of that will not be an honour to you if you
don't think so the more unworthy you you shall see the plan if you
promise not to be prejudiced against it right or wrong if you are not
besotted to that man i am sure you will like it if you are were mr 
solmes an angel it would signify nothing for the devil is love and
love is the devil when it gets into any of your heads many examples
have i seen of that 

if there were no such man as lovelace in the world you would not have
mr solmes you would not miss very pretty truly we see how your
spirit is embittered indeed wonder not since it is come to your will
not's that those who have authority over you say you shall have the
other and i am one mind that and if it behoves you to speak out 
miss it behoves us not to speak in what's sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander take that in your thought too 

i humbly apprehend that mr solmes has the spirit of a man and a
gentleman i would admonish you therefore not to provoke it he pities
you as much as he loves you he says he will convince you of his love
by deeds since he is not permitted by you to express it by words and
all his dependence is upon your generosity hereafter we hope he may
depend upon that we encourage him to think he may and this heartens
him up so that you may lay his constancy at your parents' and your
uncles' doors and this will be another mark of your duty you know 

you must be sensible that you reflect upon your parents and all of
us when you tell me you cannot in justice accept of the settlements
proposed to you this reflection we should have wondered at from you
once but now we don't 

there are many other very censurable passages in this free letter of
yours but we must place them to the account of your embittered spirit 
i am glad you mentioned that word because we should have been at a
loss what to have called it i should much rather nevertheless have had
reason to give it a better name 

i love you dearly still miss i think you though my niece one of the
finest young gentlewomen i ever saw but upon my conscience i think
you ought to obey your parents and oblige me and my brother john 
for you know very well that we have nothing but your good at heart 
consistently indeed with the good and honour of all of us what must we
think of any one of it who would not promote the good of the whole 
and who would set one part of it against another which god forbid say
i you see i am for the good of all what shall i get by it let things
go as they will do i want any thing of any body for my own sake does
my brother john well then cousin clary what would you be at as i
may say 

o but you can't love mr solmes but i say you know not what you
can do you encourage yourself in your dislike you permit your heart
 little did i think it was such a froward one to recoil take it to
task niece drive it on as fast as it recoils  we do so in all our
sea-fights and land-fights too by our sailors and soldiers or we
should not conquer  and we are all sure you will overcome it and why 
because you ought so we think whatever you think and whose thoughts
are to be preferred you may be wittier than we but if you were wiser 
we have lived some of us let me tell you to very little purpose 
thirty or forty years longer than you 

i have written as long a letter as yours i may not write in so lively 
or so polite a style as my niece but i think i have all the argument
on my side and you will vastly oblige me if you will shew me by your
compliance with all our desires that you think so too if you do not 
you must not expect an advocate or even a friend in me dearly as i
love you for then i shall be sorry to be called

your uncle ant harlowe 

tuesday two in the morning postscript 

you must send me no more letters but a compliable one you may send 
but i need not have forbid you for i am sure this by fair argument 
is unanswerable i know it is i have written day and night i may say 
ever since sunday morning only church-time or the like of that but
this is the last i can tell you from

ant h 




letter xxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday march 16 


having met with such bad success in my application to my relations i
have taken a step that will surprise you it is no other than writing
a letter to mr solmes himself i sent it and have his answer he had
certainly help in it for i have seen a letter of his and indifferently
worded as poorly spelt yet the superscription is of his dictating 
i dare say for he is a formal wretch with these i shall enclose one
from my brother to me on occasion of mine to mr solmes i did think
that it was possible to discourage the man from proceeding and if i
could have done that it would have answered all my wishes it was worth
the trial but you'll see nothing will do my brother has taken his
measures too securely 


to roger solmes esq wednesday march 15 

sir 

you will wonder to receive a letter from me and more still at the
uncommon subject of it but the necessity of the case will justify me 
at least in my own apprehension and i shall therefore make no other
apology for it 

when you first came acquainted with our family you found the writer of
this one of the happiest creatures in the world beloved by the best
and most indulgent of parents and rejoicing in the kind favour of two
affectionate uncles and in the esteem of every one 

but how is this scene now changed you was pleased to cast a favourable
eye upon me you addressed yourself to my friends your proposals were
approved of by them approved of without consulting me as if my choice
and happiness were of the least signification those who had a right to
all reasonable obedience from me insisted upon it without reserve 
i had not the felicity to think as they did almost the first time my
sentiments differed from theirs i besought them to indulge me in a
point so important to my future happiness but alas in vain and then
 for i thought it was but honest i told you my mind and even that
my affections were engaged but to my mortification and surprise you
persisted and still persist 

the consequence of all is too grievous for me to repeat you who have
such free access to the rest of the family know it too well too well
you know it either for the credit of your own generosity or for my
reputation i am used on your account as i never before was used and
never before was thought to deserve to be used and this was the hard 
the impossible condition of their returning favour that i must prefer
a man to all others that of all others i cannot prefer 

thus distressed and made unhappy and all to your sake and through
your cruel perseverance i write sir to demand of you the peace of
mind you have robbed me of to demand of you the love of so many dear
friends of which you have deprived me and if you have the generosity
that should distinguish a man and a gentleman to adjure you not to
continue an address that has been attended with such cruel effects to
the creature you profess to esteem 

if you really value me as my friends would make me believe and as you
have declared you do must it not be a mean and selfish value a value
that can have no merit with the unhappy object of it because it is
attended with effects so grievous to her it must be for your own sake
only not for mine and even in this point you must be mistaken for 
would a prudent man wish to marry one who has not a heart to give who
cannot esteem him who therefore must prove a bad wife and how cruel
would it be to make a poor creature a bad wife whose pride it would be
to make a good one 

if i am capable of judging our tempers and inclinations are vastly
different any other of my sex will make you happier than i can the
treatment i meet with and the obstinacy as it is called with which i
support myself under it ought to convince you of this were i not able
to give so good a reason for this my supposed perverseness as that i
cannot consent to marry a man whom i cannot value 

but if sir you have not so much generosity in your value for me as
to desist for my own sake let me conjure you by the regard due to
yourself and to your own future happiness to discontinue your suit 
and place your affections on a worthier object for why should you make
me miserable and yourself not happy by this means you will do all that
is now in your power to restore to me the affection of my friends and 
if that can be it will leave me in as happy a state as you found me
in you need only to say that you see there are no hopes as you will
perhaps complaisantly call it of succeeding with me  and indeed sir 
there cannot be a greater truth  and that you will therefore no more
think of me but turn your thoughts another way 

your compliance with this request will lay me under the highest
obligation to your generosity and make me ever

your well-wisher and humble servant clarissa harlowe 



to miss clarissa harlowe these most humbly present 

dearest miss 

your letter has had a very contrary effect upon me to what you seem to
have expected from it it has doubly convinced me of the excellency of
your mind and of the honour of your disposition call it selfish or
what you please i must persist in my suit and happy shall i be if by
patience and perseverance and a steady and unalterable devoir i may at
last overcome the difficulty laid in my way 

as your good parents your uncles and other friends are absolutely
determined you shall never have mr lovelace if they can help it and
as i presume no other person is in the way i will contentedly wait the
issue of this matter and forgive me dearest miss but a person should
sooner persuade me to give up to him my estate as an instance of my
generosity because he could not be happy without it than i would a
much more valuable treasure to promote the felicity of another and
make his way easier to circumvent myself 

pardon me dear miss but i must persevere though i am sorry you suffer
on my account as you are pleased to think for i never before saw the
woman i could love and while there is any hope and that you remain
undisposed of to some happier man i must and will be

your faithful and obsequious admirer roger solmes 

march 16 


 


mr james harlowe to miss cl harlowe march 16 

what a fine whim you took into your head to write a letter to mr 
solmes to persuade him to give up his pretensions to you of all the
pretty romantic flights you have delighted in this was certainly one
of the most extraordinary but to say nothing of what fires us all with
indignation against you your owning your prepossession in a villain's
favour and your impertinence to me and your sister and your uncles 
one of which has given it you home child how can you lay at mr 
solmes's door the usage you so bitterly complain of you know little
fool as you are that it is your fondness for lovelace that has brought
upon you all these things and which would have happened whether mr 
solmes had honoured you with his addresses or not 

as you must needs know this to be true consider pretty witty miss if
your fond love-sick heart can let you consider what a fine figure all
your expostulations with us and charges upon mr solmes make with
what propriety do you demand of him to restore to you your former
happiness as you call it and merely call it for if you thought our
favour so you would restore it to yourself since it is yet in your
own power to do so therefore miss pert none of your pathetics except
in the right place depend upon it whether you have mr solmes or not 
you shall never have your heart's delight the vile rake lovelace if
our parents if our uncles if i can hinder it no you fallen angel 
you shall not give your father and mother such a son nor me such a
brother in giving yourself that profligate wretch for a husband and so
set your heart at rest and lay aside all thoughts of him if ever you
expect forgiveness reconciliation or a kind opinion from any of your
family but especially from him who at present styles himself

your brother james harlowe 

p s i know your knack at letter-writing if you send me an answer
for this i will return it unopened for i will not argue with your
perverseness in so plain a case only once for all i was willing to put
you right as to mr solmes whom i think to blame to trouble his head
about you 




letter xxxiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq friday march 17 


i receive with great pleasure the early and cheerful assurances of
your loyalty and love and let our principal and most trusty friends
named in my last know that i do 

i would have thee jack come down as soon as thou canst i believe i
shall not want the others so soon yet they may come down to lord m s 
i will be there if not to receive them to satisfy my lord that there
is no new mischief in hand which will require his second intervention 

for thyself thou must be constantly with me not for my security the
family dare do nothing but bully they bark only at a distance but
for my entertainment that thou mayest from the latin and the english
classics keep my lovesick soul from drooping 

thou hadst best come to me here in thy old corporal's coat thy servant
out of livery and to be upon a familiar footing with me as a distant
relation to be provided for by thy interest above i mean not in
heaven thou mayest be sure thou wilt find me at a little alehouse 
they call it an inn the white hart most terribly wounded but by
the weather only the sign in a sorry village within five miles from
harlowe-place every body knows harlowe-place for like versailles it
is sprung up from a dunghill within every elderly person's remembrance 
every poor body particularly knows it but that only for a few years
past since a certain angel has appeared there among the sons and
daughters of men 

the people here at the hart are poor but honest and have gotten it
into their heads that i am a man of quality in disguise and there is
no reining-in their officious respect here is a pretty little
smirking daughter seventeen six days ago i call her my rose-bud her
grandmother for there is no mother a good neat old woman as ever
filled a wicker chair in a chimney-corner has besought me to be
merciful to her 

this is the right way with me many and many a pretty rogue had i
spared whom i did not spare had my power been acknowledged and my
mercy in time implored but the debellare superbos should be my motto 
were i to have a new one 

this simple chit for there is a simplicity in her thou wouldst be
highly pleased with all humble all officious all innocent i love her
for her humility her officiousness and even for her innocence will be
pretty amusement to thee while i combat with the weather and dodge and
creep about the walls and purlieus of harlowe-place thou wilt see in
her mind all that her superiors have been taught to conceal in order
to render themselves less natural and of consequence less pleasing 

but i charge thee that thou do not what i would not permit myself to
do for the world i charge thee that thou do not crop my rose-bud she
is the only flower of fragrance that has blown in this vicinage for ten
years past or will for ten years to come for i have looked backward
to the have-been's and forward to the will-be's having but too much
leisure upon my hands in my present waiting 

i never was so honest for so long together since my matriculation it
behoves me so to be some way or other my recess at this little inn may
be found out and it will then be thought that my rose-bud has attracted
me a report in my favour from simplicities so amiable may establish
me for the grandmother's relation to my rose-bud may be sworn to and
the father is an honest poor man has no joy but in his rose-bud o
jack spare thou therefore for i shall leave thee often alone with
her spare thou my rose-bud let the rule i never departed from but
it cost me a long regret be observed to my rose-bud never to ruin a
poor girl whose simplicity and innocence were all she had to trust to 
and whose fortunes were too low to save her from the rude contempts of
worse minds than her own and from an indigence extreme such a one will
only pine in secret and at last perhaps in order to refuge herself
from slanderous tongues and virulence be induced to tempt some
guilty stream or seek her end in the knee-encircling garter that
peradventure was the first attempt of abandoned love no defiances
will my rose-bud breathe no self-dependent thee-doubting watchfulness
 indirectly challenging thy inventive machinations to do their worst 
will she assume unsuspicious of her danger the lamb's throat will
hardly shun thy knife o be not thou the butcher of my lambkin 

the less thou be so for the reason i am going to give thee the gentle
heart is touched by love her soft bosom heaves with a passion she
has not yet found a name for i once caught her eye following a young
carpenter a widow neighbour's son living  to speak in her dialect  at
the little white house over the way a gentle youth he also seems to be 
about three years older than herself playmates from infancy till
his eighteenth and her fifteenth year furnished a reason for a greater
distance in shew while their hearts gave a better for their being
nearer than ever for i soon perceived the love reciprocal a scrape and
a bow at first seeing his pretty mistress turning often to salute her
following eye and when a winding lane was to deprive him of her sight 
his whole body turned round his hat more reverently doffed than before 
this answered for unseen i was behind her by a low courtesy and
a sigh that johnny was too far off to hear happy whelp said i to
myself i withdrew and in tript my rose-bud as if satisfied with the
dumb shew and wishing nothing beyond it 

i have examined the little heart she has made me her confidant she
owns she could love johnny barton very well and johnny barton has told
her he could love her better than any maiden he ever saw but alas 
it must not be thought of why not be thought of she don't know and
then she sighed but johnny has an aunt who will give him an hundred
pounds when his time is out and her father cannot give her but a few
things or so to set her out with and though johnny's mother says she
knows not where johnny would have a prettier or notabler wife yet and
then she sighed again what signifies talking i would not have johnny
be unhappy and poor for me for what good would that do me you know 
sir 

what would i give  by my soul my angel will indeed reform me if her
friends' implacable folly ruin us not both what would i give  to have
so innocent and so good a heart as either my rose-bud's or johnny's 

i have a confounded mischievous one by nature too i think a good
motion now-and-then rises from it but it dies away presently a love
of intrigue an invention for mischief a triumph in subduing fortune
encouraging and supporting and a constitution what signifies
palliating but i believe i had been a rogue had i been a plough-boy 

but the devil's in this sex eternal misguiders who that has once
trespassed with them ever recovered his virtue and yet where there is
not virtue which nevertheless we freelivers are continually plotting
to destroy what is there even in the ultimate of our wishes with
them preparation and expectation are in a manner every thing 
reflection indeed may be something if the mind be hardened above
feeling the guilt of a past trespass but the fruition what is there in
that and yet that being the end nature will not be satisfied without
it 

see what grave reflections an innocent subject will produce it gives
me some pleasure to think that it is not out of my power to reform 
but then jack i am afraid i must keep better company than i do at
present for we certainly harden one another but be not cast down my
boy there will be time enough to give the whole fraternity warning to
choose another leader and i fancy thou wilt be the man 

mean time as i make it my rule whenever i have committed a very
capital enormity to do some good by way of atonement and as i believe
i am a pretty deal indebted on that score i intend before i leave
these parts successfully shall i leave them i hope or i shall be
tempted to double the mischief by way of revenge though not to my
rose-bud any to join an hundred pounds to johnny's aunt's hundred
pounds to make one innocent couple happy i repeat therefore and for
half a dozen more therefores spare thou my rose-bud 

an interruption another letter anon and both shall go together 




letter xxxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i have found out by my watchful spy almost as many of my charmer's
motions as those of the rest of her relations it delights me to think
how the rascal is caressed by the uncles and nephew and let into their
secrets yet it proceeds all the time by my line of direction i have
charged him however on forfeiture of his present weekly stipend and
my future favour to take care that neither my beloved nor any of
the family suspect him i have told him that he may indeed watch her
egresses and regresses but that only keep off other servants from her
paths yet not to be seen by her himself 

the dear creature has tempted him he told them with a bribe  which she
never offered  to convey a letter  which she never wrote  to miss howe 
he believes with one enclosed perhaps to me but he declined it and
he begged they would take notice of it to her this brought him a stingy
shilling great applause and an injunction followed it to all the
servants for the strictest look-out lest she should contrive some way
to send it and above an hour after an order was given him to throw
himself in her way and expressing his concern for denying her request 
to tender his service to her and to bring them her letter which it
will be proper for him to report that she has refused to give him 

now seest thou not how many good ends this contrivance answers 

in the first place the lady is secured by it against her own
knowledge in the liberty allowed her of taking her private walks in the
garden for this attempt has confirmed them in their belief that now
they have turned off her maid she has no way to send a letter out of
the house if she had she would not have run the risque of tempting
a fellow who had not been in her secret so that she can prosecute
unsuspectedly her correspondence with me and miss howe 

in the next place it will perhaps afford me an opportunity of a private
interview with her which i am meditating let her take it as she will 
having found out by my spy who can keep off every body else that
she goes every morning and evening to a wood-house remote from the
dwelling-house under pretence of visiting and feeding a set of
bantam-poultry which were produced from a breed that was her
grandfather's and of which for that reason she is very fond as also of
some other curious fowls brought from the same place i have an account
of all her motions here and as she has owned to me in one of her
letters that she corresponds privately with miss howe i presume it is
by this way 

the interview i am meditating will produce her consent i hope to
other favours of the like kind for should she not choose the place
in which i am expecting to see her i can attend her any where in the
rambling dutch-taste garden whenever she will permit me that honour 
for my implement high joseph leman has procured me the opportunity of
getting two keys made to the garden-door one of which i have given him
for reasons good which door opens to the haunted coppice as tradition
has made the servants think it a man having been found hanging in it
about twenty years ago and joseph upon proper notice will leave it
unbolted 

but i was obliged previously to give him my honour that no mischief
should happen to any of my adversaries from this liberty for the
fellow tells me that he loves all his masters and only that he knows
i am a man of honour and that my alliance will do credit to the family 
and after prejudices are overcome every body will think so or he would
not for the world act the part he does 

there never was a rogue who had not a salvo to himself for being
so what a praise to honesty that every man pretends to it even at
the instant that he knows he is pursuing the methods that will perhaps
prove him a knave to the whole world as well as to his own conscience 

but what this stupid family can mean to make all this necessary i
cannot imagine my revenge and my love are uppermost by turns if
the latter succeed not the gratifying of the former will be my only
consolation and by all that's good they shall feel it although for
it i become an exile from my native country for ever 

i will throw myself into my charmer's presence i have twice already
attempted it in vain i shall then see what i may depend upon from her
favour if i thought i had no prospect of that i should be tempted to
carry her off that would be a rape worthy of jupiter 

but all gentle shall be my movements all respectful even to reverence 
my address to her her hand shall be the only witness to the pressure
of my lip my trembling lip i know it will tremble if i do not bid
it tremble as soft my sighs as the sighs of my gentle rose-bud by my
humility will i invite her confidence the loneliness of the place shall
give me no advantage to dissipate her fears and engage her reliance
upon my honour for the future shall be my whole endeavour but
little will i complain of not at all will i threaten those who are
continually threatening me but yet with a view to act the part of
dryden's lion to secure my love or to let loose my vengeance upon my
hunters 

 what tho' his mighty soul his grief contains 
 he meditates revenge who least complains 
 and like a lion slumb'ring in his way 
 or sleep dissembling while he waits his prey 
 his fearless foes within his distance draws 
 constrains his roaring and contracts his paws 
 till at the last his time for fury found 
 he shoots with sudden vengeance from the ground 
 the prostrate vulgar passes o'er and spares 
 but with a lordly rage his hunter tears 




letter xxxvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe saturday march 18 


i have been frighted out of my wits still am in a manner out of
breath thus occasioned i went down under the usual pretence in
hopes to find something from you concerned at my disappointment i was
returning from the wood-house when i heard a rustling as of somebody
behind a stack of wood i was extremely surprised but still more to
behold a man coming from behind the furthermost stack oh thought i at
that moment the sin of a prohibited correspondence 

in the same point of time that i saw him he besought me not to be
frighted and still nearer approaching me threw open a horseman's
coat and who should it be but mr lovelace i could not scream out
 yet attempted to scream the moment i saw a man and again when i saw
who it was for i had no voice and had i not caught hold of a prop
which supported the old roof i should have sunk 

i had hitherto as you know kept him at a distance and now as i
recovered myself judge of my first emotions when i recollected his
character from every mouth of my family his enterprising temper and
found myself alone with him in a place so near a bye-lane and so
remote from the house 

but his respectful behaviour soon dissipated these fears and gave me
others lest we should be seen together and information of it given to
my brother the consequences of which i could readily think would be 
if not further mischief an imputed assignation a stricter confinement 
a forfeited correspondence with you my beloved friend and a pretence
for the most violent compulsion and neither the one set of reflections 
nor the other acquitted him to me for his bold intrusion 

as soon therefore as i could speak i expressed with the greatest warmth
my displeasure and told him that he cared not how much he exposed me
to the resentment of all my friends provided he could gratify his own
impetuous humour i then commanded him to leave the place that moment 
and was hurrying from him when he threw himself in the way at my feet 
beseeching my stay for one moment declaring that he suffered himself
to be guilty of this rashness as i thought it to avoid one much
greater for in short he could not bear the hourly insults he
received from my family with the thoughts of having so little interest
in my favour that he could not promise himself that his patience and
forbearance would be attended with any other issue than to lose me for
ever and be triumphed over and insulted upon it 

this man you know has very ready knees you have said that he ought 
in small points frequently to offend on purpose to shew what an
address he is master of 

he ran on expressing his apprehensions that a temper so gentle and
obliging as he said mine was to every body but him and a dutifulness
so exemplary inclined me to do my part to others whether they did
theirs or not by me would be wrought upon in favour of a man set up in
part to be revenged upon myself for my grandfather's envied distinction
of me and in part to be revenged upon him for having given life to
one who would have taken his and now sought to deprive him of hopes
dearer to him than life 

i told him he might be assured that the severity and ill-usage i
met with would be far from effecting the proposed end that although i
could with great sincerity declare for a single life which had always
been my choice and particularly that if ever i married if they would
not insist upon the man i had an aversion to it should not be with the
man they disliked 

he interrupted me here he hoped i would forgive him for it but
he could not help expressing his great concern that after so many
instances of his passionate and obsequious devotion 

and pray sir said i let me interrupt you in my turn why don't you
assert in still plainer words the obligation you have laid me under by
this your boasted devotion why don't you let me know in terms as high
as your implication that a perseverance i have not wished for which
has set all my relations at variance with me is a merit that throws
upon me the guilt of ingratitude for not having answered it as you seem
to expect 

i must forgive him he said if he who pretended only to a comparative
merit and otherwise thought no man living could deserve me had
presumed to hope for a greater share in my favour than he had hitherto
met with when such men as mr symmes mr wyerley and now lastly so
vile a reptile as this solmes however discouraged by myself were made
his competitors as to the perseverance i mentioned it was impossible
for him not to persevere but i must needs know that were he not in
being the terms solmes had proposed were such as would have involved
me in the same difficulties with my relations that i now laboured under 
he therefore took the liberty to say that my favour to him far from
increasing those difficulties would be the readiest way to extricate me
from them they had made it impossible  he told me with too much truth 
to oblige them any way but by sacrificing myself to solmes they were
well apprized besides of the difference between the two one whom they
hoped to manage as they pleased the other who could and would protect
me from every insult and who had natural prospects much superior to my
brother's foolish views of a title 

how comes this man to know so well all our foibles but i more wonder 
how he came to have a notion of meeting me in this place 

i was very uneasy to be gone and the more as the night came on apace 
but there was no getting from him till i had heard a great deal more of
what he had to say 

as he hoped that i would one day make him the happiest man in the
world he assured me that he had so much regard for my fame that he
would be as far from advising any step that was likely to cast a shade
upon my reputation although that step was to be ever so much in his
own favour as i would be to follow such advice but since i was not
to be permitted to live single he would submit it to my consideration 
whether i had any way but one to avoid the intended violence to my
inclinations my father so jealous of his authority both my uncles in
my father's way of thinking my cousin morden at a distance my uncle
and aunt hervey awed into insignificance was his word my brother and
sister inflaming every one solmes's offers captivating miss howe's
mother rather of a party with them for motives respecting example to
her own daughter 

and then he asked me if i would receive a letter from lady betty
lawrance on this occasion for lady sarah sadleir he said having
lately lost her only child hardly looked into the world or thought of
it farther than to wish him married and preferably to all the women in
the world with me 

to be sure my dear there is a great deal in what the man said i may
be allowed to say this without an imputed glow or throb but i told
him nevertheless that although i had great honour for the ladies he
was related to yet i should not choose to receive a letter on a subject
that had a tendency to promote an end i was far from intending to
promote that it became me ill as i was treated at present to hope
every thing to bear every thing and to try ever thing when my father
saw my steadfastness and that i would die rather than have mr solmes 
he would perhaps recede 

interrupting me he represented the unlikelihood there was of that 
from the courses they had entered upon which he thus enumerated their
engaging mrs howe against me in the first place as a person i might
have thought to fly to if pushed to desperation my brother continually
buzzing in my father's ears that my cousin morden would soon arrive 
and then would insist upon giving me possession of my grandfather's
estate in pursuance of the will which would render me independent
of my father their disgraceful confinement of me their dismissing so
suddenly my servant and setting my sister's over me their engaging my
mother contrary to her own judgment against me these he said were
all so many flagrant proofs that they would stick at nothing to carry
their point and were what made him inexpressibly uneasy 

he appealed to me whether ever i knew my father recede from any
resolution he had once fixed especially if he thought either
his prerogative or his authority concerned in the question his
acquaintance with our family he said enabled him to give several
instances but they would be too grating to me of an arbitrariness
that had few examples even in the families of princes an arbitrariness 
which the most excellent of women my mother too severely experienced 
he was proceeding as i thought with reflections of this sort and i
angrily told him i would not permit my father to be reflected upon 
adding that his severity to me however unmerited was not a warrant
for me to dispense with my duty to him 

he had no pleasure he said in urging any thing that could be so
construed for however well warranted he was to make such reflections
from the provocations they were continually giving him he knew how
offensive to me any liberties of this sort would be and yet he must
own that it was painful to him who had youth and passions to be
allowed for as well as others and who had always valued himself under
speaking his mind to curb himself under such treatment nevertheless 
his consideration for me would make him confine himself in his
observations to facts that were too flagrant and too openly avowed to
be disputed it could not therefore justly displease he would venture
to say if he made this natural inference from the premises that
if such were my father's behaviour to a wife who disputed not the
imaginary prerogatives he was so unprecedently fond of asserting what
room had a daughter to hope that he would depart from an
authority he was so earnest and so much more concerned to
maintain family-interests at the same time engaging an aversion 
however causelessly conceived stimulating my brother's and sister's
resentments and selfish views cooperating and my banishment from their
presence depriving me of all personal plea or entreaty in my own favour 

how unhappy my dear that there is but too much reason for these
observations and for this inference made likewise with more coolness
and respect to my family than one would have apprehended from a man
so much provoked and of passions so high and generally thought
uncontroulable 

will you not question me about throbs and glows if from such instances
of a command over his fiery temper for my sake i am ready to infer 
that were my friends capable of a reconciliation with him he might be
affected by arguments apparently calculated for his present and future
good nor is it a very bad indication that he has such moderate notions
of that very high prerogative in husbands of which we in our family
have been accustomed to hear so much 

he represented to me that my present disgraceful confinement was known
to all the world that neither my sister nor my brother scrupled to
represent me as an obliged and favoured child in a state of actual
rebellion that nevertheless every body who knew me was ready to
justify me for an aversion to a man whom every body thought utterly
unworthy of me and more fit for my sister that unhappy as he was 
in not having been able to make any greater impression upon me in his
favour all the world gave me to him nor was there but one objection
made to him by his very enemies his birth his prospects all very
unexceptionable and the latter splendid and that objection he
thanked god and my example was in a fair way of being removed for
ever since he had seen his error and was heartily sick of the courses
he had followed which however were far less enormous than malice and
envy had represented them to be but of this he should say the less as
it were much better to justify himself by his actions than by the most
solemn asseverations and promises and then complimenting my person 
he assured me for that he always loved virtue although he had not
followed its rules as he ought that he was still more captivated with
the graces of my mind and would frankly own that till he had the
honour to know me he had never met with an inducement sufficient to
enable him to overcome an unhappy kind of prejudice to matrimony which
had made him before impenetrable to the wishes and recommendations of
all his relations 

you see my dear he scruples not to speak of himself as his enemies
speak of him i can't say but his openness in these particulars gives
a credit to his other professions i should easily i think detect
an hypocrite and this man particularly who is said to have allowed
himself in great liberties were he to pretend to instantaneous lights
and convictions at this time of life too habits i am sensible are
not so easily changed you have always joined with me in remarking that
he will speak his mind with freedom even to a degree of unpoliteness
sometimes and that his very treatment of my family is a proof that he
cannot make a mean court to any body for interest sake what pity where
there are such laudable traces that they should have been so mired and
choaked up as i may say we have heard that the man's head is better
than his heart but do you really think mr lovelace can have a very bad
heart why should not there be something in blood in the human
creature as well as in the ignobler animals none of his family are
exceptionable but himself indeed the characters of the ladies are
admirable but i shall incur the imputation i wish to avoid yet what a
look of censoriousness does it carry in an unsparing friend to take one
to task for doing that justice and making those which one ought without
scruple to do and to make in the behalf of any other man living 

he then again pressed me to receive a letter of offered protection from
lady betty he said that people of birth stood a little too much upon
punctilio as people of value also did but indeed birth worthily lived
up to was virtue virtue birth the inducements to a decent punctilio
the same the origin of both one  how came this notion from him  
else lady betty would write to me but she would be willing to be first
apprized that her offer will be well received as it would have the
appearance of being made against the liking of one part of my family 
and which nothing would induce her to make but the degree of unworthy
persecution which i actually laboured under and had reason further to
apprehend 

i told him that however greatly i thought myself obliged to lady betty
lawrance if this offer came from herself yet it was easy to see to
what it led it might look like vanity in me perhaps to say that this
urgency in him on this occasion wore the face of art in order to
engage me into measures from which i might not easily extricate myself 
i said that i should not be affected by the splendour of even a royal
title goodness i thought was greatness that the excellent characters
of the ladies of his family weighed more with me than the consideration
that they were half-sisters to lord m and daughters of an earl that
he would not have found encouragement from me had my friends been
consenting to his address if he had only a mere relative merit to those
ladies since in that case the very reasons that made me admire them 
would have been so many objections to their kinsman 

i then assured him that it was with infinite concern that i had found
myself drawn into an epistolary correspondence with him especially
since that correspondence had been prohibited and the only agreeable
use i could think of making of this unexpected and undesired interview 
was to let him know that i should from henceforth think myself obliged
to discontinue it and i hoped that he would not have the thought of
engaging me to carry it on by menacing my relations 

there was light enough to distinguish that he looked very grave upon
this he so much valued my free choice he said and my unbiassed
favour scorning to set himself upon a footing with solmes in the
compulsory methods used in that man's behalf that he should hate
himself were he capable of a view of intimidating me by so very poor
a method but nevertheless there were two things to be considered 
first that the continual outrages he was treated with the spies set
over him one of which he had detected the indignities all his family
were likewise treated with as also myself avowedly in malice to him 
or he should not presume to take upon himself to resent for me without
my leave  the artful wretch saw he would have lain open here had he not
thus guarded  all these considerations called upon him to shew a proper
resentment and he would leave it to me to judge whether it would be
reasonable for him as a man of spirit to bear such insults if it
were not for my sake i would be pleased to consider in the next place 
whether the situation i was in a prisoner in my father's house and my
whole family determined to compel me to marry a man unworthy of me and
that speedily and whether i consented or not admitted of delay in the
preventive measures he was desirous to put me upon in the last resort
only nor was there a necessity he said if i were actually in lady
betty's protection that i should be his if afterwards i should see
any thing objectionable in his conduct 

but what would the world conclude would be the end i demanded were i 
in the last resort as he proposed to throw myself into the protection
of his friends but that it was with such a view 

and what less did the world think of me now he asked than that i was
confined that i might not you are to consider madam you have not now
an option and to whom is it owing that you have not and that you
are in the power of those parents why should i call them who are
determined that you shall not have an option all i propose is that
you will embrace such a protection but not till you have tried every
way to avoid the necessity for it 

and give me leave to say proceeded he that if a correspondence on
which i have founded all my hopes is at this critical conjuncture to
be broken off and if you are resolved not to be provided against the
worst it must be plain to me that you will at last yield to that
worst worst to me only it cannot be to you and then  and he put his
hand clenched to his forehead  how shall i bear this supposition then
will you be that solmes's but by all that's sacred neither he nor
your brother nor your uncles shall enjoy their triumph perdition
seize my soul if they shall 

the man's vehemence frightened me yet in resentment i would have
left him but throwing himself at my feet again leave me not thus i
beseech you dearest madam leave me not thus in despair i kneel not 
repenting of what i have vowed in such a case as that i have supposed 
i re-vow it at your feet and so he did but think not it is by way
of menace or to intimidate you to favour me if your heart inclines
you  and then he arose  to obey your father your brother rather and to
have solmes although i shall avenge myself on those who have insulted
me for their insults to myself and family yet will i tear out my heart
from this bosom if possible with my own hands were it to scruple to
give up its ardours to a woman capable of such a preference 

i told him that he talked to me in very high language but he might
assure himself that i never would have mr solmes yet that this i said
not in favour to him and i had declared as much to my relations were
there not such a man as himself in the world 

would i declare that i would still honour him with my
correspondence he could not bear that hoping to obtain greater
instances of my favour he should forfeit the only one he had to boast
of 

i bid him forbear rashness or resentment to any of my family and i
would for some time at least till i saw what issue my present trials
were likely to have proceed with a correspondence which nevertheless 
my heart condemned 

and his spirit him the impatient creature said interrupting me for
bearing what he did when he considered that the necessity of it was
imposed upon him not by my will for then he would bear it cheerfully 
and a thousand times more but by creatures and there he stopt 

i told him plainly that he might thank himself whose indifferent
character as to morals had given such a handle against him for all 
it was but just that a man should be spoken evil of who set no value
upon his reputation 

he offered to vindicate himself but i told him i would judge him by
his own rule by his actions not by his professions 

were not his enemies he said so powerful and so determined and had
they not already shewn their intentions in such high acts of even cruel
compulsion but would leave me to my choice or to my desire of living
single he would have been content to undergo a twelvemonth's probation 
or more but he was confident that one month would either complete all
their purposes or render them abortive and i best knew what hopes i
had of my father's receding he did not know him if i had any 

i said i would try every method that either my duty or my influence
upon any of them should suggest before i would put myself into any
other protection and if nothing else would do would resign the envied
estate and that i dared to say would 

he was contented he said to abide that issue he should be far from
wishing me to embrace any other protection but as he had frequently
said in the last necessity but dearest creature said he catching
my hand with ardour and pressing it to his lips if the yielding up
of that estate will do resign it and be mine and i will corroborate 
with all my soul your resignation 

this was not ungenerously said but what will not these men say to
obtain belief and a power over one 

i made many efforts to go and now it was so dark that i began to have
great apprehensions i cannot say from his behaviour indeed he has a
good deal raised himself in my opinion by the personal respect even to
reverence which he paid me during the whole conference for although
he flamed out once upon a supposition that solmes might succeed it was
upon a supposition that would excuse passion if any thing could you
know in a man pretending to love with fervour although it was so
levelled that i could not avoid resenting it 

he recommended himself to my favour at parting with great earnestness 
yet with as great submission not offering to condition any thing with
me although he hinted his wishes for another meeting which i forbad
him ever attempting again in the same place and i will own to you 
from whom i should be really blamable to conceal any thing that his
arguments drawn from the disgraceful treatment i meet with of what
i am to expect make me begin to apprehend that i shall be under an
obligation to be either the one man's or the other's and if so i
fancy i shall not incur your blame were i to say which of the two it
must be you have said which it must not be but o my dear the single
life is by far the most eligible to me indeed it is and i hope yet to
be permitted to make that option 

i got back without observation but the apprehension that i should
not gave me great uneasiness and made me begin a letter in a greater
flutter than he gave me cause to be in except at the first seeing him 
for then indeed my spirits failed me and it was a particular felicity 
that in such a place in such a fright and alone with him i fainted
not away 

i should add that having reproached him with his behaviour the last
sunday at church he solemnly assured me that it was not what had been
represented to me that he did not expect to see me there but hoped to
have an opportunity to address himself to my father and to be permitted
to attend him home but that the good dr lewen had persuaded him not
to attempt speaking to any of the family at that time observing to him
the emotions into which his presence had put every body he intended
no pride or haughtiness of behaviour he assured me and that the
attributing such to him was the effect of that ill-will which he had
the mortification to find insuperable adding that when he bowed to my
mother it was a compliment he intended generally to every one in the
pew as well as to her whom he sincerely venerated 

if he may be believed and i should think he would not have come
purposely to defy my family yet expect favour from me one may see 
my dear the force of hatred which misrepresents all things yet why
should shorey except officiously to please her principals make a
report in his disfavour he told me that he would appeal to dr lewen
for his justification on this head adding that the whole conversation
between the doctor and him turned upon his desire to attempt to
reconcile himself to us all in the face of the church and upon
the doctor's endeavouring to dissuade him from making such a public
overture till he knew how it would be accepted but to what purpose
his appeal when i am debarred from seeing that good man or any one who
would advise me what to do in my present difficult situation 

i fancy my dear however that there would hardly be a guilty person in
the world were each suspected or accused person to tell his or her own
story and be allowed any degree of credit 

i have written a very long letter 

to be so particular as you require in subjects of conversation it is
impossible to be short 

i will add to it only the assurance that i am and ever will be 

your affectionate and faithful friend and servant clarissa harlowe 

you'll be so good my dear as to remember that the date of your last
letter to me was the 9th 




letter xxxvii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe sunday march 19 


i beg your pardon my dearest friend for having given you occasion to
remind me of the date of my last i was willing to have before me as
much of the workings of your wise relations as possible being verily
persuaded that one side or the other would have yielded by this
time and then i should have had some degree of certainty to found my
observations upon and indeed what can i write that i have not already
written you know that i can do nothing but rave at your stupid
persecutors and that you don't like i have advised you to resume your
own estate that you won't do you cannot bear the thoughts of having
their solmes and lovelace is resolved you shall be his let who will
say to the contrary i think you must be either the one man's or the
other's let us see what their next step will be 

as to lovelace while he tells his own story having also behaved so
handsomely on his intrusion in the wood-house and intended so well at
church who can say that the man is in the least blameworthy wicked
people to combine against so innocent a man but as i said let us
see what their next step will be and what course you will take upon it 
and then we may be the more enlightened 

as to your change of style to your uncles and brother and sister since
they were so fond of attributing to you a regard for lovelace and would
not be persuaded to the contrary and since you only strengthened their
arguments against yourself by denying it you did but just as i would
have done in giving way to their suspicions and trying what that would
do but if but if pray my dear indulge me a little you yourself
think it was necessary to apologize to me for that change of style to
them and till you will speak out like a friend to her unquestionable
friend i must tease you a little let it run therefore for it will
run 

if then there be not a reason for this change of style which you have
not thought fit to give me be so good as to watch as i once before
advised you how the cause for it will come on why should it be
permitted to steal upon you and you know nothing of the matter 

when we get a great cold we are apt to puzzle ourselves to find out
when it began or how we got it and when that is accounted for down
we sit contented and let it have its course or if it be very
troublesome take a sweat or use other means to get rid of it so
my dear before the malady you wot of yet wot not of grows so
importunate as that you must be obliged to sweat it out let me advise
you to mind how it comes on for i am persuaded as surely as that i am
now writing to you that the indiscreet violence of your friends on the
one hand and the insinuating address of lovelace on the other if the
man be not a greater fool than any body thinks him will effectually
bring it to this and do all his work for him 

but let it if it must be lovelace or solmes the choice cannot admit of
debate yet if all be true that is reported i should prefer almost any
of your other lovers to either unworthy as they also are but who can
be worthy of a clarissa 

i wish you are not indeed angry with me for harping so much on one
string i must own that i should think myself inexcusable so to do 
 the rather as i am bold enough to imagine it a point out of all doubt
from fifty places in your letters were i to labour the proof if you
would ingenuously own 

own what you'll say why my anna howe i hope you don't think that i
am already in love 

no to be sure how can your anna howe have such a thought what then
shall we call it you might have helped me to a phrase a conditional
kind of liking that's it o my friend did i not know how much you
despise prudery and that you are too young and too lovely to be a
prude 

but avoiding such hard names let me tell you one thing my dear which
nevertheless i have told you before and that is this that i shall
think i have reason to be highly displeased with you if when you write
to me you endeavour to keep from me any secret of your heart 

let me add that if you would clearly and explicitly tell me how far
lovelace has or has not a hold in your affections i could better
advise you what to do than at present i can you who are so famed
for prescience as i may call it and than whom no young lady ever had
stronger pretensions to a share of it have had no doubt reasonings
in your heart about him supposing you were to be one day his  no doubt
but you have had the same in solmes's case whence the ground for the
hatred of the one and for the conditional liking of the other   will
you tell me my dear what you have thought of lovelace's best and of
his worst how far eligible for the first how far rejectable for the
last then weighing both parts in opposite scales we shall see which
is likely to preponderate or rather which does preponderate nothing
less than the knowledge of the inmost recesses of your heart can
satisfy my love and my friendship surely you are not afraid to trust
yourself with a secret of this nature if you are then you may the more
allowably doubt me but i dare say you will not own either nor is
there i hope cause for either 

be pleased to observe one thing my dear that whenever i have given
myself any of those airs of raillery which have seemed to make you look
about you when likewise your case may call for a more serious turn
from a sympathizing friend it has not been upon those passages which
are written though perhaps not intended with such explicitness  don't
be alarmed my dear   as leaves little cause of doubt but only when you
affect reserve when you give new words for common things when you
come with your curiosities with your conditional likings and with your
prude-encies  mind how i spell the word  in a case that with every other
person defies all prudence over-acts of treason all these against the
sovereign friendship we have avowed to each other 

remember that you found me out in a moment you challenged me i owned
directly that there was only my pride between the man and me for i
could not endure i told you to think of any fellow living to give me a
moment's uneasiness and then my man as i have elsewhere said was not
such a one as yours so i had reason to impute full as much as to my own
inconsideration as to his power over me nay more but still more
to yours for you reasoned me out of the curiosity first and when the
liking was brought to be conditional why then you know i throbbed no
more about him 

o pray now as you say now i have mentioned that my fellow was not
such a charming fellow as yours let miss biddulph miss lloyd miss
campion and me have your opinion how far figure ought to engage us 
with a view to your own case however mind that as mr tony says and
whether at all if the man be vain of it since as you observe in a
former that vanity is a stop-short pride in such a one that would make
one justly doubt the worthiness of his interior you our pattern so
lovely in feature so graceful in person have none of it and have
therefore with the best grace always held that it is not excusable even
in a woman 

you must know that this subject was warmly debated among us in our last
conversation and miss lloyd wished me to write to you upon it for your
opinion to which in every debated case we always paid the greatest
deference i hope you will not be so much engrossed by your weighty
cares as not to have freedom of spirits enough to enter upon the task 
you know how much we all admire your opinion on such topics which ever
produces something new and instructive as you handle the subjects and
pray tell us to what you think it owing that your man seems so careful
to adorn that self-adorned person of his yet so manages that one
cannot for one's heart think him a coxcomb let this question and the
above tasks divert and not displease you my dear one subject though
ever so important could never yet engross your capacious mind if
they should displease you you must recollect the many instances of my
impertinence which you have forgiven and then say this is a mad girl 
but yet i love her and she is my own'

anna howe 




letter xxxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday march 20 


your last so sensibly affects me that i must postpone every other
consideration however weighty to reply to it and this i will do
very distinctly and with all the openness of heart which our mutual
friendship demands 

but let me observe in the first place gratefully observe that if i
have in fifty passages of my letters given you such undoubted proofs of
my value for mr lovelace that you have spared me for the sake of my
explicitness it is acting by me with a generosity worthy of yourself 

but lives the man think you who is so very bad that he does not give
even a doubting mind reason at one time to be better pleased with him
than at another and when that reason offers is it not just to express
one's self accordingly i would do the man who addresses me as much
justice as if he did not address me it has such a look of tyranny it
appears so ungenerous methinks in our sex to use a man worse for his
respect to us no other cause for disrespect occurring that i would
not by any means be that person who should do so 

but although i may intend no more than justice it will perhaps be
difficult to hinder those who know the man's views from construing it
as a partial favour and especially if the eager-eyed observer has been
formerly touched herself and would triumph that her friend had been no
more able to escape than she noble minds emulative of perfection and
yet the passion properly directed i do not take to be an imperfection
neither may be allowed a little generous envy i think 

if i meant by this a reflection by way of revenge it is but a revenge 
my dear in the soft sense of the word i love as i have told you your
pleasantry although at the time your reproof may pain me a little yet 
on recollection when i find it more of the cautioning friend than
of the satirizing observer i shall be all gratitude upon it all the
business will be this i shall be sensible of the pain in the present
letter perhaps but i shall thank you in the next and ever after 

in this way i hope my dear you will account for a little of
that sensibility which you find above and perhaps still more as i
proceed you frequently remind me by an excellent example your own to
me that i must not spare you 

i am not conscious that i have written any thing of this man that has
not been more in his dispraise than in his favour such is the man that
i think i must have been faulty and ought to take myself to account 
if i had not but you think otherwise i will not put you upon labouring
the proof as you call it my conduct must then have a faulty appearance
at least and i will endeavour to rectify it but of this i assure you 
that whatever interpretation my words were capable of i intended not
any reserve to you i wrote my heart at the time if i had had thought
of disguising it or been conscious that there was reason for doing
so perhaps i had not given you the opportunity of remarking upon my
curiosity after his relations' esteem for me nor upon my conditional
liking and such-like all i intended by the first i believe i
honestly told you at the time to that letter i therefore refer whether
it make for me or against me and by the other that i might bear in
mind what it became a person of my sex and character to be and to
do in such an unhappy situation where the imputed love is thought an
undutiful and therefore a criminal passion and where the supported
object of it is a man of faulty morals too and i am sure you will
excuse my desire of appearing at those times the person i ought to be 
had i no other view in it but to merit the continuance of your good
opinion 

but that i may acquit myself of having reserves o my dear i must here
break off 




letter xxxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday march 12 


this letter will account to you my dear for my abrupt breaking off in
the answer i was writing to yours of yesterday and which possibly 
i shall not be able to finish and send you till to-morrow or next day 
having a great deal to say to the subjects you put to me in it what
i am now to give you are the particulars of another effort made by my
friends through the good mrs norton 

it seems they had sent to her yesterday to be here this day to take
their instructions and to try what she could do with me it would 
at least i suppose they thought have this effect to render me
inexcusable with her or to let her see that there was no room for the
expostulations she had often wanted to make in my favour to my mother 

the declaration that my heart was free afforded them an argument to
prove obstinacy and perverseness upon me since it could be nothing else
that governed me in my opposition to their wills if i had no particular
esteem for another man and now that i have given them reason in
order to obviate this argument to suppose that i have a preference to
another they are resolved to carry their schemes into execution as soon
as possible and in order to do this they sent for this good woman for
whom they know i have even a filial regard 

she found assembled my father and mother my brother and sister my two
uncles and my aunt hervey 

my brother acquainted her with all that had passed since she was last
permitted to see me with the contents of my letters avowing my regard
for mr lovelace as they all interpreted them with the substance of
their answers to them and with their resolutions 

my mother spoke next and delivered herself to this effect as the good
woman told me 

after reciting how many times i had been indulged in my refusals of
different men and the pains she had taken with me to induce me to
oblige my whole family in one instance out of five or six and my
obstinacy upon it o my good mrs norton said the dear lady could
you have thought that my clarissa and your clarissa was capable of so
determined an opposition to the will of parents so indulgent to her but
see what you can do with her the matter is gone too far to be receded
from on our parts her father had concluded every thing with mr solmes 
not doubting her compliance such noble settlements mrs norton and
such advantages to the whole family in short she has it in her power
to lay an obligation upon us all mr solmes knowing she has good
principles and hoping by his patience now and good treatment
hereafter to engage her gratitude and by degrees her love is willing
to overlook all 

 overlook all my dear mr solmes to overlook all there's a word  

so mrs norton if you are convinced that it is a child's duty to
submit to her parents' authority in the most important point as well as
in the least i beg you will try your influence over her i have none 
her father has none her uncles neither although it is her apparent
interest to oblige us all for on that condition her grandfather's
estate is not half of what living and dying is purposed to be done for
her if any body can prevail with her it is you and i hope you will
heartily enter upon this task 

the good woman asked whether she was permitted to expostulate with them
upon the occasion before she came up to me 

my arrogant brother told her she was sent for to expostulate with his
sister and not with them and this goody norton  she is always
goody with him   you may tell her that the treaty with mr solmes is
concluded that nothing but her compliance with her duty is wanting 
of consequence that there is no room for your expostulation or hers
either 

be assured of this mrs norton said my father in an angry tone that
we will not be baffled by her we will not appear like fools in this
matter and as if we have no authority over our own daughter we will
not in short be bullied out of our child by a cursed rake who had
like to have killed our only son and so she had better make a merit
of her obedience for comply she shall if i live independent as she
thinks my father's indiscreet bounty has made her of me her father 
indeed since that she has never been like she was before an unjust
bequest and it is likely to prosper accordingly but if she marry
that vile rake lovelace i will litigate every shilling with her tell
her so and that the will may be set aside and shall 

my uncles joined with equal heat 

my brother was violent in his declarations 

my sister put in with vehemence on the same side 

my aunt hervey was pleased to say there was no article so proper for
parents to govern in as this of marriage and it was very fit mine
should be obliged 

thus instructed the good woman came up to me she told me all that had
passed and was very earnest with me to comply and so much justice did
she to the task imposed upon her that i more than once thought that
her own opinion went with theirs but when she saw what an immovable
aversion i had to the man she lamented with me their determined
resolution and then examined into the sincerity of my declaration 
that i would gladly compound with them by living single of this being
satisfied she was so convinced that this offer which carried into
execution would exclude lovelace effectually ought to be accepted 
that she would go down although i told her it was what i had tendered
over-and-over to no purpose and undertake to be guaranty for me on that
score 

she went accordingly but soon returned in tears being used harshly for
urging this alternative they had a right to my obedience upon their
own terms they said my proposal was an artifice only to gain time 
nothing but marrying mr solmes should do they had told me so before 
they should not be at rest till it was done for they knew what an
interest lovelace had in my heart i had as good as owned it in my
letters to my uncles and brother and sister although i had most
disingenuously declared otherwise to my mother i depended they said 
upon their indulgence and my own power over them they would not
have banished me from their presence if they had not known that their
consideration for me was greater than mine for them and they would
be obeyed or i never should be restored to their favour let the
consequence be what it would 

my brother thought fit to tell the good woman that her whining nonsense
did but harden me there was a perverseness he said in female minds a
tragedy-pride that would make a romantic young creature such a one as
me risque any thing to obtain pity i was of an age and a turn  the
insolent said  to be fond of a lover-like distress and my grief which
she pleaded would never break my heart i should sooner break that of
the best and most indulgent of mothers he added that she might once
more go up to me but that if she prevailed not he should suspect 
that the man they all hated had found a way to attach her to his
interest 

every body blamed him for this unworthy reflection which greatly
affected the good woman but nevertheless he said and nobody
contradicted him that if she could not prevail upon her sweet child 
 as it seems she had fondly called me   she had best draw to her own
home and there tarry till she was sent for and so leave her sweet
child to her father's management 

sure nobody had ever so insolent so hard-hearted a brother as i have 
so much resignation to be expected from me so much arrogance and to so
good a woman and of so fine an understanding to be allowed in him 

she nevertheless told him that however she might be ridiculed for
speaking of the sweetness of my disposition she must take upon herself
to say that there never was a sweeter in the sex and that she had
ever found that my mild methods and gentleness i might at any time be
prevailed upon even in points against my own judgment and opinion 

my aunt hervey hereupon said it was worth while to consider what
mrs norton said and that she had sometimes allowed herself to doubt 
whether i had been begun with by such methods as generous tempers are
only to be influenced by in cases where their hearts are supposed to be
opposite to the will of their friends 

she had both my brother and sister upon her for this who referred to
my mother whether she had not treated me with an indulgence that had
hardly any example 

my mother said she must own that no indulgence had been wanting from
her but she must needs say and had often said it that the reception
i met with on my return from miss howe and the manner in which the
proposal of mr solmes was made to me which was such as left nothing
to my choice and before i had an opportunity to converse with him 
were not what she had by any means approved of 

she was silenced you will guess by whom with my dear my dear you
have ever something to say something to palliate for this rebel of a
girl remember her treatment of you of me remember that the wretch 
whom we so justly hate would not dare persist in his purposes but for
her encouragement of him and obstinacy to us mrs norton  angrily to
her   go up to her once more and if you think gentleness will do you
have a commission to be gentle if it will not never make use of that
plea again 

ay my good woman said my mother try your force with her my sister
hervey and i will go up to her and bring her down in our hands to
receive her father's blessing and assurances of every body's love if
she will be prevailed upon and in that case we will all love you the
better for your good offices 

she came up to me and repeated all these passages with tears but i
told her that after what had passed between us she could not hope to
prevail upon me to comply with measures so wholly my brother's and so
much to my aversion and then folding me to her maternal bosom i leave
you my dearest miss said she i leave you because i must but let me
beseech you to do nothing rashly nothing unbecoming your character if
all be true that is said mr lovelace cannot deserve you if you can
comply remember it is your duty to comply they take not i own the
right method with so generous a spirit but remember that there would
not be any merit in your compliance if it were not to be against
your own liking remember also what is expected from a character
so extraordinary as yours remember it is in your power to unite or
disunite your whole family for ever although it should at present be
disagreeable to you to be thus compelled your prudence i dare say 
when you consider the matter seriously will enable you to get over
all prejudices against the one and all prepossessions in favour of the
other and then the obligation you will lay all your family under 
will be not only meritorious in you with regard to them but in a few
months very probably highly satisfactory as well as reputable to
yourself 

consider my dear mrs norton said i only consider that it is not a
small thing that is insisted upon not for a short duration it is for
my life consider too that all this is owing to an overbearing brother 
who governs every body consider how desirous i am to oblige them if
a single life and breaking all correspondence with the man they hate 
because my brother hates him will do it 

i consider every thing my dearest miss and added to what i have said 
do you only consider that if by pursuing your own will and rejecting
theirs you should be unhappy you will be deprived of all that
consolation which those have who have been directed by their parents 
although the event prove not answerable to their wishes 

i must go repeated she your brother will say  and she wept  that i
harden you by my whining nonsense tis indeed hard that so much
regard should be paid to the humours of one child and so little to
the inclination of another but let me repeat that it is your duty to
acquiesce if you can acquiesce your father has given your brother's
schemes his sanction and they are now his mr lovelace i doubt 
is not a man that will justify your choice so much as he will their
dislike it is easy to see that your brother has a view in discrediting
you with all your friends with your uncles in particular but for that
very reason you should comply if possible in order to disconcert his
ungenerous measures i will pray for you and that is all i can do for
you i must now go down and make a report that you are resolved never
to have mr solmes must i consider my dear miss clary must i 

indeed you must but of this i do assure you that i will do nothing to
disgrace the part you have had in my education i will bear every thing
that shall be short of forcing my hand into his who never can have any
share in my heart i will try by patient duty by humility to overcome
them but death will i choose in any shape rather than that man 

i dread to go down said she with so determined an answer they will
have no patience with me but let me leave you with one observation 
which i beg of you always to bear in mind 

that persons of prudence and distinguished talents like yours seem
to be sprinkled through the world to give credit by their example to
religion and virtue when such persons wilfully err how great must
be the fault how ungrateful to that god who blessed them with such
talents what a loss likewise to the world what a wound to virtue but
this i hope will never be to be said of miss clarissa harlowe 

i could give her no answer but by my tears and i thought when she
went away the better half of my heart went with her 

i listened to hear what reception she would meet with below and found
it was just such a one as she had apprehended 

will she or will she not be mrs solmes none of your whining
circumlocutions mrs norton  you may guess who said this  will she 
or will she not comply with her parents' will 

this cut short all she was going to say 

if i must speak so briefly miss will sooner die than have 

any body but lovelace interrupted my brother this madam this sir 
is your meek daughter this is mrs norton's sweet child well goody 
you may return to your own habitation i am empowered to forbid you to
have any correspondence with this perverse girl for a month to come as
you value the favour of our whole family or of any individual of it 

and saying this uncontradicted by any body he himself shewed her
to the door no doubt with all that air of cruel insult which the
haughty rich can put on to the unhappy low who have not pleased them 

so here my dear miss howe am i deprived of the advice of one of the
most prudent and conscientious women in the world were i to have ever
so much occasion for it 

i might indeed write as i presume under your cover and receive her
answers to what i should write but should such a correspondence be
charged upon her i know she would not be guilty of a falsehood for the
world nor even of an equivocation and should she own it after this
prohibition she would forfeit my mother's favour for ever and in my
dangerous fever some time ago i engaged my mother to promise me that 
if i died before i could do any thing for the good woman she would set
her above want for the rest of her life should her eyes fail her or
sickness befall her and she could not provide for herself as she now
so prettily does by her fine needle-works 

what measures will they fall upon next will they not recede when they
find that it must be a rooted antipathy and nothing else that could
make a temper not naturally inflexible so sturdy 

adieu my dear be you happy to know that it is in your power to be
so is all that seems wanting to make you so 

cl harlowe 




letter xl

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  in continuation of the subject in
letter xxxviii  


i will now though midnight for i have no sleep in my eyes resume
the subject i was forced so abruptly to quit and will obey yours miss
lloyd's miss campion's and miss biddulph's call with as much temper
as my divided thought will admit the dead stillness of this solemn hour
will i hope contribute to calm my disturbed mind 

in order to acquit myself of so heavy a charge as that of having
reserves to so dear a friend i will acknowledge and i thought i had
over-and-over that it is owing to my particular situation if mr 
lovelace appears to me in a tolerable light and i take upon me to say 
that had they opposed to him a man of sense of virtue of generosity 
one who enjoyed his fortune with credit who had a tenderness in his
nature for the calamities of others which would have given a moral
assurance that he would have been still less wanting in grateful
returns to an obliging spirit had they opposed such a man as this to
mr lovelace and been as earnest to have me married as now they are 
i do not know myself if they would have had reason to tax me with that
invincible obstinacy which they lay to my charge and this whatever
had been the figure of the man since the heart is what we women should
judge by in the choice we make as the best security for the party's
good behaviour in every relation of life 

but situated as i am thus persecuted and driven i own to you that
i have now-and-then had a little more difficulty than i wished for in
passing by mr lovelace's tolerable qualities to keep up my dislike to
him for his others 

you say i must have argued with myself in his favour and in his
disfavour on a supposition that i might possibly be one day his i
own that i have and thus called upon by my dearest friend i will set
before you both parts of the argument 

and first what occurred to me in his favour 

at his introduction into our family his negative virtues were insisted
upon he was no gamester no horse-racer no fox-hunter no drinker 
my poor aunt hervey had in confidence given us to apprehend much
disagreeable evil especially to a wife of the least delicacy from a
wine-lover and common sense instructed us that sobriety in a man is
no small point to be secured when so many mischiefs happen daily from
excess i remember that my sister made the most of this favourable
circumstance in his character while she had any hopes of him 

he was never thought to be a niggard not even ungenerous nor when
his conduct came to be inquired into an extravagant a squanderer his
pride  so far was it a laudable pride  secured him from that then he
was ever ready to own his errors he was no jester upon sacred things 
poor mr wyerley's fault who seemed to think there was wit in saying
bold things which would shock a serious mind his conversation with us
was always unexceptionable even chastely so which be his actions what
they would shewed him capable of being influenced by decent company 
and that he might probably therefore be a led man rather than a leader 
in other company and one late instance so late as last saturday
evening has raised him not a little in my opinion with regard to this
point of good and at the same time of manly behaviour 

as to the advantage of birth that is of his side above any man who has
been found out for me if we may judge by that expression of his 
which you were pleased with at the time that upon true quality and
hereditary distinction if good sense were not wanting humour sat as
easy as his glove  that with as familiar an air was his familiar
expression while none but the prosperous upstart mushroomed into
rank another of his peculiars was arrogantly proud of it  if i
say we may judge of him by this we shall conclude in his favour that
he knows what sort of behaviour is to be expected from persons of birth 
whether he act up to it or not conviction is half way to amendment 

his fortunes in possession are handsome in expectation splendid so
nothing need be said on that subject 

but it is impossible say some that he should make a tender or kind
husband those who are for imposing upon me such a man as mr solmes 
and by methods so violent are not entitled to make this objection but
now on this subject let me tell you how i have argued with myself for
still you must remember that i am upon the extenuating part of his
character 

a great deal of the treatment a wife may expect from him will possibly
depend upon herself perhaps she must practise as well as promise
obedience to a man so little used to controul and must be careful to
oblige and what husband expects not this the more perhaps if he had
not reason to assure himself of the preferable love of his wife before
she became such and how much easier and pleasanter to obey the man of
her choice if he should be even more unreasonable sometimes than one
she would not have had could she have avoided it then i think as
the men were the framers of the matrimonial office and made obedience
a part of the woman's vow she ought not even in policy to shew him 
that she can break through her part of the contract however lightly
she may think of the instance lest he should take it into his head
 himself is judge to think as lightly of other points which she may
hold more important but indeed no point so solemnly vowed can be
slight 

thus principled and acting accordingly what a wretch must that husband
be who could treat such a wife brutally will lovelace's wife be the
only person to whom he will not pay the grateful debt of civility and
good manners he is allowed to be brave who ever knew a brave man if a
brave man of sense an universally base man and how much the gentleness
of our sex and the manner of our training up and education make us
need the protection of the brave and the countenance of the generous 
let the general approbation which we are all so naturally inclined to
give to men of that character testify 

at worst will he confine me prisoner to my chamber will he deny me the
visits of my dearest friend and forbid me to correspond with her will
he take from me the mistressly management which i had not faultily
discharged will he set a servant over me with license to insult me 
will he as he has not a sister permit his cousins montague or would
either of those ladies accept of a permission to insult and tyrannize
over me it cannot be why then think i often do you tempt me o my
cruel friends to try the difference 

and then has the secret pleasure intruded itself to be able to reclaim
such a man to the paths of virtue and honour to be a secondary means 
if i were to be his of saving him and preventing the mischiefs so
enterprising a creature might otherwise be guilty of if he be such a
one 

when i have thought of him in these lights and that as a man of sense
he will sooner see his errors than another i own to you that i have
had some difficulty to avoid taking the path they so violently endeavour
to make me shun and all that command of my passions which has been
attributed to me as my greatest praise and in so young a creature as
my distinction has hardly been sufficient for me 

and let me add that the favour of his relations all but himself
unexceptionable has made a good deal of additional weight thrown in
the same scale 

but now in his disfavour when i have reflected upon the prohibition
of my parents the giddy appearance disgraceful to our sex that such
a preference would have that there is no manner of likelihood enflamed
by the rencounter and upheld by art and ambition on my brother's side 
that ever the animosity will be got over that i must therefore be at
perpetual variance with all my own family that i must go to him and to
his as an obliged and half-fortuned person that his aversion to them
all is as strong as theirs to him that his whole family are hated
for his sake they hating ours in return that he has a very immoral
character as to women that knowing this it is a high degree of
impurity to think of joining in wedlock with such a man that he is
young unbroken his passions unsubdued that he is violent in his
temper yet artful i am afraid vindictive too that such a husband
might unsettle me in all my own principles and hazard my future hopes 
that his own relations two excellent aunts and an uncle from whom
he has such large expectations have no influence upon him that what
tolerable qualities he has are founded more in pride than in virtue 
that allowing as he does the excellency of moral precepts and
believing the doctrine of future rewards and punishments he can live as
if he despised the one and defied the other the probability that the
taint arising from such free principles may go down into the manners
of posterity that i knowing these things and the importance of them 
should be more inexcusable than one who knows them not since an error
against judgment is worse infinitely worse than an error in judgment 
reflecting upon these things i cannot help conjuring you my dear to
pray with me and to pray for me that i may not be pushed upon such
indiscreet measures as will render me inexcusable to myself for that
is the test after all the world's opinion ought to be but a secondary
consideration 

i have said in his praise that he is extremely ready to own his errors 
but i have sometimes made a great drawback upon this article in his
disfavour having been ready to apprehend that this ingenuousness may
possibly be attributable to two causes neither of them by any means 
creditable to him the one that his vices are so much his masters that
he attempts not to conquer them the other that he may think it policy 
to give up one half of his character to save the other when the
whole may be blamable by this means silencing by acknowledgment
the objections he cannot answer which may give him the praise of
ingenuousness when he can obtain no other and when the challenged
proof might bring out upon discussion other evils these you will
allow are severe constructions but every thing his enemies say of him
cannot be false 

i will proceed by-and-by 


 


sometimes we have both thought him one of the most undesigning merely
witty men we ever knew at other times one of the deepest creatures
we ever conversed with so that when in one visit we have imagined
we fathomed him in the next he has made us ready to give him up as
impenetrable this impenetrableness my dear is to be put among the
shades in his character yet upon the whole you have been so far
of his party that you have contested that his principal fault is
over-frankness and too much regardlessness of appearances and that he
is too giddy to be very artful you would have it that at the time he
says any thing good he means what he speaks that his variableness and
levity are constitutional owing to sound health and to a soul and body
 that was your observation  fitted for and pleased with each other and
hence you concluded that could this consentaneousness  as you call it 
of corporal and animal faculties be pointed by discretion that is
to say could his vivacity be confined within the pale of but moral
obligations he would be far from being rejectable as a companion for
life 

but i used then to say and i still am of opinion that he wants
a heart and if he does he wants every thing a wrong head may be
convinced may have a right turn given it but who is able to give a
heart if a heart be wanting divine grace working a miracle or next
to a miracle can only change a bad heart should not one fly the man
who is but suspected of such a one what o what do parents do when
they endeavour to force a child's inclination but make her think better
than otherwise she would think of a man obnoxious to themselves and
perhaps whose character will not stand examination 

i have said that i think mr lovelace a vindictive man upon my word i
have sometimes doubted whether his perseverance in his addresses to
me has not been the more obstinate since he has found himself so
disagreeable to my friends from that time i verily think he has
been the more fervent in them yet courts them not but sets them at
defiance for this indeed he pleads disinterestedness  i am sure he
cannot politeness  and the more plausibly as he is apprized of the
ability they have to make it worth his while to court them tis true
he has declared and with too much reason or there would be no bearing
him that the lowest submissions on his part would not be accepted and
to oblige me has offered to seek a reconciliation with them if i would
give him hope of success 

as to his behaviour at church the sunday before last i lay no stress
upon that because i doubt there was too much outward pride in his
intentional humility or shorey who is not his enemy could not have
mistaken it 

i do not think him so deeply learned in human nature or in ethics as
some have thought him don't you remember how he stared at the following
trite observations which every moralist could have furnished him with 
complaining as he did in a half-menacing strain of the obloquies
raised against him that if he were innocent he should despise the
obloquy if not revenge would not wipe off his guilt  that nobody
ever thought of turning a sword into a sponge  that it was in his own
power by reformation of an error laid to his charge by an enemy to make
that enemy one of his best friends and which was the noblest revenge
in the world against his will since an enemy would not wish him to be
without the faults he taxed him with 

but the intention he said was the wound 

how so i asked him when that cannot wound without the application 
that the adversary only held the sword he himself pointed it to his
breast and why should he mortally resent that malice which he might
be the better for as long as he lived  what could be the reading
he has been said to be master of to wonder as he did at these
observations 

but indeed he must take pleasure in revenge and yet holds others to
be inexcusable for the same fault he is not however the only one
who can see how truly blamable those errors are in another which they
hardly think such in themselves 

from these considerations from these over-balances it was that i
said in a former that i would not be in love with this man for the
world and it was going further than prudence would warrant when i was
for compounding with you by the words conditional liking which you so
humourously rally 

well but methinks you say what is all this to the purpose this is
still but reasoning but if you are in love you are and love 
like the vapours is the deeper rooted for having no sufficient cause
assignable for its hold and so you call upon me again to have no
reserves and so-forth 

why then my dear if you will have it i think that with all his
preponderating faults i like him better than i ever thought i should
like him and those faults considered better perhaps than i ought to
like him and i believe it is possible for the persecution i labour
under to induce me to like him still more especially while i can
recollect to his advantage our last interview and as every day produces
stronger instances of tyranny i will call it on the other side in
a word i will frankly own since you cannot think any thing i say too
explicit that were he now but a moral man i would prefer him to all
the men i ever saw 

so that this is but conditional liking still you'll say nor i hope 
is it more i never was in love as it is called and whether this be it 
or not i must submit to you but will venture to think it if it be 
no such mighty monarch no such unconquerable power as i have heard
it represented and it must have met with greater encouragement than
i think i have given it to be absolutely unconquerable since i am
persuaded that i could yet without a throb most willingly give up the
one man to get rid of the other 

but now to be a little more serious with you if my dear my
particularly-unhappy situation had driven or led me if you please 
into a liking of the man and if that liking had in your opinion 
inclined me to love him should you whose mind is susceptible of the
most friendly impressions who have such high notions of the delicacy
which ought to be observed by our sex in these matters and who actually
do enter so deeply into the distresses of one you love should you
have pushed so far that unhappy friend on so very nice a
subject especially when i aimed not as you could prove by fifty
instances it seems to guard against being found out had you rallied
me by word of mouth in the manner you do it might have been more in
character especially if your friend's distresses had been surmounted 
and if she had affected prudish airs in revolving the subject but to
sit down to write it as methinks i see you with a gladdened eye and
with all the archness of exultation indeed my dear and i take notice
of it rather for the sake of your own generosity than for my sake 
for as i have said i love your raillery it is not so very pretty 
the delicacy of the subject and the delicacy of your own mind 
considered 

i lay down my pen here that you may consider of it a little if you
please 


 


i resume to give you my opinion of the force which figure or person
ought to have upon our sex and this i shall do both generally as to the
other sex and particularly as to this man whence you will be able to
collect how far my friends are in the right or in the wrong when
they attribute a good deal of prejudice in favour of one man and in
disfavour of the other on the score of figure but first let me
observe that they see abundant reason on comparing mr lovelace and
mr solmes together to believe that this may be a consideration with
me and therefore they believe it is 

there is certainly something very plausible and attractive as well
as creditable to a woman's choice in figure it gives a favourable
impression at first sight in which we wish to be confirmed and if 
upon further acquaintance we find reason to be so we are pleased with
our judgment and like the person the better for having given us cause
to compliment our own sagacity in our first-sighted impressions but 
nevertheless it has been generally a rule with me to suspect a fine
figure both in man and woman and i have had a good deal of reason
to approve my rule with regard to men especially who ought to value
themselves rather upon their intellectual than personal qualities 
for as to our sex if a fine woman should be led by the opinion of the
world to be vain and conceited upon her form and features and that to
such a degree as to have neglected the more material and more durable
recommendations the world will be ready to excuse her since a pretty
fool in all she says and in all she does will please we know not
why 

but who would grudge this pretty fool her short day since with her
summer's sun when her butterfly flutters are over and the winter
of age and furrows arrives she will feel the just effects of having
neglected to cultivate her better faculties for then lie another
helen she will be unable to bear the reflection even of her own glass 
and being sunk into the insignificance of a mere old woman she will
be entitled to the contempts which follow that character while the
discreet matron who carries up  we will not in such a one's case 
say down  into advanced life the ever-amiable character of virtuous
prudence and useful experience finds solid veneration take place of
airy admiration and more than supply the want of it 

but for a man to be vain of his person how effeminate if such a
one happens to have genius it seldom strikes deep into intellectual
subjects his outside usually runs away with him to adorn and perhaps 
intending to adorn to render ridiculous that person takes up all his
attention all he does is personal that is to say for himself all he
admires is himself and in spite of the correction of the stage which
so often and so justly exposes a coxcomb he usually dwindles down and
sinks into that character and of consequence becomes the scorn of one
sex and the jest of the other 

this is generally the case of your fine figures of men and of those who
value themselves on dress and outward appearance whence it is that i
repeat that mere person in a man is a despicable consideration but
if a man besides figure has learning and such talents as would have
distinguished him whatever were his form then indeed person is an
addition and if he has not run too egregiously into self-admiration 
and if he has preserved his morals he is truly a valuable being 

mr lovelace has certainly taste and as far as i am able to determine 
he has judgment in most of the politer arts but although he has a
humourous way of carrying it off yet one may see that he values himself
not a little both on his person and his parts and even upon his dress 
and yet he has so happy an ease in the latter that it seems to be the
least part of his study and as to the former i should hold myself
inexcusable if i were to add to his vanity by shewing the least regard
for what is too evidently so much his 

and now my dear let me ask you have i come up to your expectation if
i have not when my mind is more at ease i will endeavour to please
you better for methinks my sentences drag my style creeps my
imagination is sunk my spirits serve me not only to tell you that
whether i have more or less i am wholly devoted to the commands of my
dear miss howe 



p s the insolent betty barnes has just now fired me anew by reporting
to me the following expressions of the hideous creature solmes that
he is sure of the coy girl and that with little labour to himself that
be i ever so averse to him beforehand he can depend upon my principles 
and it will be a pleasure to him to see by what pretty degrees i shall
come to   horrid wretch   that it was sir oliver's observation who
knew the world perfectly well that fear was a better security than
love for a woman's good behaviour to her husband although for his
part to such a fine creature  truly  he would try what love would do 
for a few weeks at least being unwilling to believe what the old knight
used to aver that fondness spoils more wives than it makes good 

what think you my dear of such a wretch as this tutored too by that
old surly misogynist as he was deemed sir oliver 




letter xli

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday march 21 


how willingly would my dear mother shew kindness to me were she
permitted none of this persecution should i labour under i am sure if
that regard were paid to her prudence and fine understanding which they
so well deserve whether owing to her or to my aunt or to both that
a new trial was to be made upon me i cannot tell but this morning her
shorey delivered into my hand the following condescending letter 


my dear girl 

for so i must still call you since dear you may be to me in every
sense of the word we have taken into particular consideration some
hints that fell yesterday from your good norton as if we had not at
mr solmes's first application treated you with that condescension 
wherewith we have in all other instances treated you if it even had
been so my dear you were not excusable to be wanting in your part 
and to set yourself to oppose your father's will in a point which he had
entered too far to recede with honour but all yet may be well on your
single will my child depends all our happiness 

your father permits me to tell you that if you now at last comply with
his expectations all past disobligations shall be buried in oblivion 
as if they had never been but withal that this is the last time that
that grace will be offered you 

i hinted to you you must remember that patterns of the richest silks
were sent for they are come and as they are come your father to shew
how much he is determined will have me send them up to you i could
have wished they might not have accompanied this letter but there is
not great matter in that i must tell you that your delicacy is not
quite so much regarded as i had once thought it deserved to be 


 see letter xx 


these are the newest as well as richest that we could procure 
answerable to our situation in the world answerable to the fortune 
additional to your grandfather's estate designed you and to the noble
settlements agreed upon 

your father intends you six suits three of them dressed suits at his
own expense you have an entire new suit and one besides which i think
you never wore but twice as the new suit is rich if you choose to
make that one of the six your father will present you with an hundred
guineas in lieu 

mr solmes intends to present you with a set of jewels as you have your
grandmother's and your own if you choose to have the former new set 
and to make them serve his present will be made in money a very round
sum which will be given in full property to yourself besides a fine
annual allowance for pin-money as it is called so that your objection
against the spirit of a man you think worse of than it deserves will
have no weight but you will be more independent than a wife of less
discretion than we attribute to you perhaps ought to be you know full
well that i who first and last brought a still larger fortune into the
family than you will carry to mr solmes had not a provision made me
of near this that we have made for you where people marry to their
liking terms are the least things stood upon yet should i be sorry if
you cannot to oblige us all overcome a dislike 

wonder not clary that i write to you thus plainly and freely upon
this subject your behaviour hitherto has been such that we have had no
opportunity of entering minutely into the subject with you yet after
all that has passed between you and me in conversation and between you
and your uncles by letter you have no room to doubt what is to be the
consequence either child we must give up our authority or you your
humour you cannot expect the one we have all the reason in the world
to expect the other you know i have told you more than once that
you must resolve to have mr solmes or never to be looked upon as our
child 

the draught of the settlement you may see whenever you will we think
there can be no room for objection to any of the articles there is
still more in them in our family's favour than was stipulated at first 
when your aunt talked of them to you more so indeed than we
could have asked if upon perusal of them you think any alteration
necessary it shall be made do my dear girl send to me within this
day or two or rather ask me for the perusal of them 

as a certain person's appearance at church so lately and what he gives
out every where makes us extremely uneasy and as that uneasiness will
continue while you are single you must not wonder that a short day
is intended this day fortnight we design it to be if you have no
objection to make that i shall approve of but if you determine as we
would have you and signify it to us we shall not stand with you for a
week or so 

your sightlines of person may perhaps make some think this alliance
disparaging but i hope you will not put such a personal value upon
yourself if you do it will indeed be the less wonder that person
should weigh with you however weak the consideration in another man 

thus we parents in justice ought to judge that our two daughters are
equally dear and valuable to us if so why should clarissa think that
a disparagement which arabella would not nor we for her have thought
any had the address been made to her you will know what i mean by
this without my explaining myself farther 

signify to us now therefore your compliance with our wishes and then
there is an end of your confinement an act of oblivion as i may call
it shall pass upon all your former refractoriness and you will once
more make us happy in you and in one another you may in this case 
directly come down to your father and me in his study where we will
give you our opinions of the patterns with our hearty forgiveness and
blessings 

come be a good child as you used to be my clarissa i have
 notwithstanding your past behaviour and the hopelessness which some
have expressed in your compliance undertaken this one time more for
you discredit not my hopes my dear girl i have promised never more
to interfere between your father and you if this my most earnest
application succeed not i expect you down love your father expects
you down but be sure don't let him see any thing uncheerful in your
compliance if you come i will clasp you to my fond heart with as much
pleasure as ever i pressed you to it in my whole life you don't know
what i have suffered within these few weeks past nor ever will be able
to guess till you come to be in my situation which is that of a fond
and indulgent mother praying night and day and struggling to preserve 
against the attempts of more ungovernable spirits the peace and union
of her family 

but you know the terms come not near us if you have resolve to be
undutiful but this after what i have written i hope you cannot be 

if you come directly and as i have said cheerfully as if your heart
were in your duty and you told me it was free you know i shall
then as i said give you the most tender proofs how much i am

your truly affectionate mother 


 


think for me my dearest friend how i must be affected by this letter 
the contents of it is so surprisingly terrifying yet so sweetly
urged o why cried i to myself am i obliged to undergo this
severe conflict between a command that i cannot obey and language so
condescendingly moving could i have been sure of being struck dead
at the alter before the ceremony had given the man i hate a title to my
vows i think i could have submitted to having been led to it but to
think of living with and living for a man one abhors what a sad thing
is that 

and then how could the glare of habit and ornament be supposed any
inducement to one who has always held that the principal view of a
good wife in the adorning of her person ought to be to preserve the
affection of her husband and to do credit to his choice and that she
should be even fearful of attracting the eyes of others in this view 
must not the very richness of the patterns add to my disgusts great
encouragement indeed to think of adorning one's self to be the wife of
mr solmes 

upon the whole it was not possible for me to go down upon the
prescribed condition do you think it was and to write if my letter
would have been read what could i write that would be admitted and
after what i had written and said to so little effect 

i walked backward and forward i threw down with disdain the patterns 
now to my closet retired i then quitting it threw myself upon the
settee then upon this chair then upon that then into one window then
into another i knew not what to do and while i was in this suspense 
having again taken up the letter to re-peruse it betty came in 
reminding me by order that my papa and mamma waited for me in my
father's study 

tell my mamma said i that i beg the favour of seeing her here for one
moment or to permit me to attend her any where by herself 

i listened at the stairs-head you see my dear how it is cried
my father very angrily all your condescension as your indulgence
heretofore is thrown away you blame your son's violence as you call
it  i had some pleasure in hearing this  but nothing else will do with
her you shall not see her alone is my presence an exception to the
bold creature 

tell her said my mother to betty she knows upon what terms she may
come down to us nor will i see her upon any other 

the maid brought me this answer i had recourse to my pen and ink but
i trembled so that i could not write nor knew what to say had i
steadier fingers at last betty brought me these lines from my father 


undutiful and perverse clarissa 

no condescension i see will move you your mother shall not see you 
nor will i prepare however to obey you know our pleasure your uncle
antony your brother and your sister and your favourite mrs norton 
shall see the ceremony performed privately at your uncle's chapel and
when mr solmes can introduce you to us in the temper we wish to behold
you in we may perhaps forgive his wife although we never can in
any other character our perverse daughter as it will be so privately
performed clothes and equipage may be provided for afterwards so
prepare to go to your uncle's for an early day in next week we will not
see you till all is over and we will have it over the sooner in order
to shorten the time of your deserved confinement and our own trouble in
contending with such a rebel as you have been of late i will hear no
pleas i will receive no letter nor expostulation nor shall you hear
from me any more till you have changed your name to my liking this from

your incensed father 


if this resolution be adhered to then will my father never see me
more for i will never be the wife of that solmes i will die first 


tuesday evening 


he this solmes came hither soon after i had received my father's
letter he sent up to beg leave to wait upon me i wonder at his
assurance 

i said to betty who brought me this message let him restore an unhappy
creature to her father and mother and then i may hear what he has to
say but if my friends will not see me on his account i will not see
him upon his own 

i hope miss said betty you will not send me down with this answer he
is with you papa and mamma 

i am driven to despair said i i cannot be used worse i will not see
him 

down she went with my answer she pretended it seems to be loth to
repeat it so was commanded out of her affected reserves and gave it in
its full force 

o how i heard my father storm 

they were altogether it seems in his study my brother was for
having me turned out of the house that moment to lovelace and my evil
destiny my mother was pleased to put in a gentle word for me i know
not what it was but thus she was answered my dear this is the most
provoking thing in the world in a woman of your good sense to love a
rebel as well as if she were dutiful what encouragement for duty
is this have i not loved her as well as ever you did and why am i
changed would to the lord your sex knew how to distinguish it is
plain that she relies upon her power over you the fond mother ever
made a hardened child 

she was pleased however to blame betty as the wench owned for giving
my answer its full force but my father praised her for it 

the wench says that he would have come up in his wrath at my refusing
to see mr solmes had not my brother and sister prevailed upon him to
the contrary 

i wish he had and were it not for his own sake that he had killed
me 

mr solmes condescended  i am mightily obliged to him truly   to plead
for me 

they are all in tumults how it will end i know not i am quite weary
of life so happy till within these few weeks so miserable now 

well indeed might my mother say that i should have severe trials 


 see letter xxv 


p s the idiot  such a one am i treated like   is begged as i may say 
by my brother and sister they have desired that i may be consigned
over entirely to their management if it be granted  it is granted 
on my father's part i understand but not yet on my mother's   what
cruelty may i not expect from their envy jealousy and ill-will i
shall soon see by its effects if i am to be so consigned this is a
written intimation privately dropt in my wood-house walk by my cousin
dolly hervey the dear girl longs to see me she tells me but is
forbidden till she see me as mrs solmes or as consenting to be his i
will take example by their perseverance indeed i will 




letter xlii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


an angry dialogue a scolding-bout rather has passed between my sister
and me did you think i could scold my dear 

she was sent up to me upon my refusal to see mr solmes let loose
upon me i think no intention on their parts to conciliate it seems
evident that i am given up to my brother and her by general consent 

i will do justice to every thing she said against me which carried any
force with it as i ask for your approbation or disapprobation of my
conduct upon the facts i lay before you i should think it the sign of
a very bad cause if i endeavoured to mislead my judge 

she began with representing to me the danger i had been in had my
father come up as he would have done had he not been hindered by
mr solmes among the rest she reflected upon my norton as if she
encouraged me in my perverseness she ridiculed me for my supposed
esteem for mr lovelace was surprised that the witty the prudent nay 
the dutiful and pi ous  so she sneeringly pronounced the word  clarissa
harlowe should be so strangely fond of a profligate man that her
parents were forced to lock her up in order to hinder her from running
into his arms let me ask you my dear said she how you now keep
your account of the disposition of your time how many hours in the
twenty-four do you devote to your needle how many to your prayers 
how many to letter-writing and how many to love i doubt i doubt my
little dear was her arch expression the latter article is like aaron's
rod and swallows up the rest tell me is it not so 

to these i answered that it was a double mortification to me to owe
my safety from the effects of my father's indignation to a man i could
never thank for any thing i vindicated the good mrs norton with a
warmth that was due to her merit with equal warmth i resented her
reflections upon me on mr lovelace's account as to the disposition of
my time in the twenty-four hours i told her it would better have become
her to pity a sister in distress than to exult over her especially 
when i could too justly attribute to the disposition of some of her
wakeful hours no small part of that distress 

she raved extremely at this last hint but reminded me of the gentle
treatment of all my friends my mother's in particular before it
came to this she said that i had discovered a spirit they never had
expected that if they had thought me such a championess they would
hardly have ventured to engage with me but that now the short and the
long of it was that the matter had gone too far to be given up that it
was become a contention between duty and willfulness whether a parent's
authority were to yield to a daughter's obstinacy or the contrary that
i must therefore bend or break that was all child 

i told her that i wished the subject were of such a nature that i
could return her pleasantry with equal lightness of heart but that if
mr solmes had such merit in every body's eyes in hers particularly 
why might he not be a brother to me rather than a husband 

o child says she methinks you are as pleasant to the full as i am 
i begin to have some hopes of you now but do you think i will rob my
sister of her humble servant had he first addressed himself to me 
proceeded she something might have been said but to take my younger
sister's refusal no no child it is not come to that neither 
besides that would be to leave the door open in your heart for you know
who child and we would fain bar him out if possible in short  and
then she changed both her tone and her looks  had i been as forward
as somebody to throw myself into the arms of one of the greatest
profligates in england who had endeavoured to support his claim to me
through the blood of my brother then might all my family join together
to save me from such a wretch and to marry me as fast as they could 
to some worthy man who might opportunely offer himself and now clary 
all's out and make the most of it 

did not this deserve a severe return do say it did to justify my
reply alas for my poor sister said i the man was not always so
great a profligate how true is the observation that unrequited love
turns to deepest hate 

i thought she would beat me but i proceeded i have heard often of my
brother's danger and my brother's murderer when so little ceremony is
made with me why should i not speak out did he not seek to kill the
other if he could have done it would my brother have given lovelace
his life had it been in his power the aggressor should not
complain and as to opportune offers would to heaven some one
had offered opportunely to somebody it is not my fault bella the
opportune gentleman don't come 

could you my dear have shewn more spirit i expected to feel the
weight of her hand she did come up to me with it held up then 
speechless with passion ran half way down the stairs and came up
again 

when she could speak god give me patience with you 

amen said i but you see bella how ill you bear the retort you
provoke will you forgive me and let me find a sister in you as i am
sorry if you had reason to think me unsisterly in what i have said 

then did she pour upon me with greater violence considering my
gentleness as a triumph of temper over her she was resolved she said 
to let every body know how i took the wicked lovelace's part against my
brother 

i wished i told her i could make the plea for myself which she
might for herself to wit that my anger was more inexcusable than my
judgment but i presumed she had some other view in coming to me than
she had hitherto acquainted me with let me said i but know after
all that has passed if you have any thing to propose that i can comply
with any thing that can make my only sister once more my friend 

i had before upon hearing her ridiculing me on my supposed character of
meekness said that although i wished to be thought meek i would not
be abject although humble not mean and here in a sneering way she
cautioned me on that head 

i replied that her pleasantry was much more agreeable than her anger 
but i wished she would let me know the end of a visit that had hitherto
 between us been so unsisterly 

she desired to be informed in the name of every body was her word 
what i was determined upon and whether to comply or not one word for
all my friends were not to have patience with so perverse a creature
for ever 

this then i told her i would do absolutely break with the man they were
all so determined against upon condition however that neither mr 
solmes nor any other were urged upon me with the force of a command 

and what was this more than i had offered before what but ringing
my changes upon the same bells and neither receding nor advancing one
tittle 

if i knew what other proposals i could make i told her that would
be acceptable to them all and free me from the address of a man so
disagreeable to me i would make them i had indeed before offered 
never to marry without my father's consent 

she interrupted me that was because i depended upon my whining tricks
to bring my father and mother to what i pleased 

a poor dependence i said she knew those who would make that
dependence vain 

and i should have brought them to my own beck very probably and my
uncle harlowe too as also my aunt hervey had i not been forbidden from
their sight and thereby hindered from playing my pug's tricks before
them 

at least bella said i you have hinted to me to whom i am obliged 
that my father and mother and every body else treat me thus harshly 
but surely you make them all very weak indifferent persons judging of
us two from what you say would either think me a very artful creature 
or you a very spiteful one 

you are indeed a very artful one for that matter interrupted she in
a passion one of the artfullest i ever knew and then followed an
accusation so low so unsisterly that i half-bewitched people by my
insinuating address that nobody could be valued or respected but must
stand like ciphers wherever i came how often said she have i and my
brother been talking upon a subject and had every body's attention 
till you came in with your bewitching meek pride and humble
significance and then have we either been stopped by references to miss
clary's opinion forsooth or been forced to stop ourselves or must
have talked on unattended to by every body 

she paused dear bella proceed 

she indeed seemed only gathering breath 

and so i will said she did you not bewitch my grandfather could any
thing be pleasing to him that you did not say or do how did he use
to hang till he slabbered again poor doting old man on your silver
tongue yet what did you say that we could not have said what did you
do that we did not endeavour to do and what was all this for why 
truly his last will shewed what effect your smooth obligingness had
upon him to leave the acquired part of his estate from the next heirs 
his own sons to a grandchild to his youngest grandchild a daughter
too to leave the family-pictures from his sons to you because you
could tiddle about them and though you now neglect their examples 
could wipe and clean them with your dainty hands the family-plate too 
in such quantities of two or three generations standing must not be
changed because his precious child humouring his old fal-lal taste 
admired it to make it all her own 


 alluding to his words in the preamble to the clauses in
 his will see letter iv 


this was too low to move me o my poor sister said i not to be able 
or at least willing to distinguish between art and nature if i did
oblige i was happy in it i looked for no further reward my mind is
above art from the dirty motives you mention i wish with all my heart
my grandfather had not thus distinguished me he saw my brother likely
to be amply provided for out of the family as well as in it he desired
that you might have the greater share of my father's favour for it 
and no doubt but you both have you know bella that the estate my
grandfather bequeathed me was not half the real estate he left 

what's all that to an estate in possession and left you with such
distinctions as gave you a reputation of greater value than the estate
itself 

hence my misfortune bella in your envy i doubt but have i not given
up that possession in the best manner i could 

yes interrupting me she hated me for that best manner specious little
witch she called me your best manner so full of art and design had
never been seen through if you with your blandishing ways have not
been put out of sight and reduced to positive declarations hindered
from playing your little declarations hindered from playing your
little whining tricks curling like a serpent about your mamma and
making her cry to deny you any thing your little obstinate heart was set
upon 

obstinate heart bella 

yes obstinate heart for did you ever give up any thing had you not
the art to make them think all was right you asked though my brother
and i were frequently refused favours of no greater import 

i know not bella that i ever asked any thing unfit to be granted i
seldom asked favours for myself but for others 

i was a reflecting creature for this 

all you speak of bella was a long time ago i cannot go so far back
into our childish follies little did i think of how long standing your
late-shewn antipathy is 

i was a reflector again such a saucy meekness such a best manner and
such venom in words o clary clary thou wert always a two-faced girl 

nobody thought i had two faces when i gave up all into my father's
management taking from his bounty as before all my little
pocket-money without a shilling addition to my stipend or desiring
it 

yes cunning creature and that was another of your fetches for did
it not engage my fond father as no doubt you thought it would to tell
you that since you had done so grateful and dutiful a thing he would
keep entire for your use all the produce of the estate left you and
be but your steward in it and that you should be entitled to the same
allowances as before another of your hook-in's clary so that all
your extravagancies have been supported gratis 

my extravagancies bella but did my father ever give me any thing he
did not give you 

yes indeed i got more by that means than i should have had the
conscience to ask but i have still the greater part to shew but you 
what have you to shew i dare say not fifty pieces in the world 

indeed i have not 

i believe you your mamma norton i suppose but mum for that 

unworthy bella the good woman although low in circumstance is great
in mind much greater than those who would impute meanness to a soul
incapable of it 

what then have you done with the sums given you from infancy to
squander let me ask you  affecting archness  has has has lovelace 
has your rake put it out at interest for you 

o that my sister would not make me blush for her it is however out at
interest and i hope it will bring me interest upon interest better
than to lie useless in my cabinet 

she understood me she said were i a man she should suppose i was
aiming to carry the county popularity a crowd to follow me with their
blessings as i went to and from church and nobody else to be regarded 
were agreeable things house-top-proclamations i hid not my light under
a bushel she would say that for me but was it not a little hard upon
me to be kept from blazing on a sunday and to be hindered from my
charitable ostentations 

this indeed bella is cruel in you who have so largely contributed to
my confinement but go on you'll be out of breath by-and-by i cannot
wish to be able to return this usage poor bella and i believe i
smiled a little too contemptuously for a sister to a sister 

none of your saucy contempts  rising in her voice  none of your poor
bella's with that air of superiority in a younger sister 

well then rich bella courtesying that will please you better and it
is due likewise to the hoards you boast of 

look ye clary holding up her hand if you are not a little more abject
in your meekness a little more mean in your humility and treat me with
the respect due to an elder sister you shall find 

not that you will treat me worse than you have done bella that cannot
be unless you were to let fall your uplifted hand upon me and that
would less become you to do than me to bear 

good meek creature but you were upon your overtures just now i
shall surprise every body by tarrying so long they will think some good
may be done with you and supper will be ready 

a tear would stray down my cheek how happy have i been said i 
sighing in the supper-time conversations with all my dear friends in
my eye round their hospitable board 

i met only with insult for this bella has not a feeling heart the
highest joy in this life she is not capable of but then she saves
herself many griefs by her impenetrableness yet for ten times the
pain that such a sensibility is attended with would i not part with the
pleasure it brings with it 

she asked me upon my turning from her if she should not say any thing
below of my compliances 

you may say that i will do every thing they would have me do if they
will free me from mr solmes's address 

this is all you desire at present creeper on insinuator  what words
she has   but will not t'other man flame out and roar most horribly 
upon the snatching from his paws a prey he thought himself sure of 

i must let you talk in your own way or we shall never come to a point 
i shall not matter in his roaring as you call it i will promise him 
that if i ever marry any other man it shall not be till he is married 
and if he be not satisfied with such a condescension i shall think he
ought and i will give any assurances that i will neither correspond
with him nor see him surely this will do 

but i suppose then you will have no objection to see and converse on a
civil footing with mr solmes as your father's friend or so 

no i must be permitted to retire to my apartment whenever he comes 
i would no more converse with the one than correspond with the other 
that would be to make mr lovelace guilty of some rashness on a belief 
that i broke with him to have mr solmes 

and so that wicked wretch is to be allowed such a controul over you 
that you are not to be civil to your father's friends at his own house 
for fear of incensing him when this comes to be represented be so
good as to tell me what is it you expect from it 

every thing i said or nothing as she was pleased to represent it be
so good as to give it your interest bella and say further that
i will by any means i can in the law or otherwise make over to my
father to my uncles or even to my brother all i am entitled to by my
grandfather's will as a security for the performance of my promises 
and as i shall have no reason to expect any favour from my father if i
break them i shall not be worth any body's having and further
still unkindly as my brother has used me i will go down to scotland
privately as his housekeeper  i now see i may be spared here  if he
will promise to treat me no worse than he would do an hired one or
i will go to florence to my cousin morden if his stay in italy will
admit of it in either case it may be given out that i am gone to the
other or to the world's end i care not whither it is said i am gone 
or do go 

let me ask you child if you will give your pretty proposal in writing 

yes with all my heart and i stepped to my closet and wrote to the
purpose i have mentioned and moreover the following lines to my
brother 


my dear brother 

i hope i have made such proposals to my sister as will be accepted i am
sure they will if you please to give them your sanction let me beg
of you for god's sake that you will i think myself very unhappy in
having incurred your displeasure no sister can love a brother better
than i love you pray do not put the worst but the best constructions
upon my proposals when you have them reported to you indeed i mean the
best i have no subterfuges no arts no intentions but to keep to the
letter of them you shall yourself draw up every thing into writing as
strong as you can and i will sign it and what the law will not do to
enforce it my resolution and my will shall so that i shall be worth
nobody's address that has not my papa's consent nor shall any person 
nor any consideration induce me to revoke it you can do more than any
body to reconcile my parents and uncles to me let me owe this desirable
favour to your brotherly interposition and you will for ever oblige

your afflicted sister cl harlowe 


 


and how do you think bella employed herself while i was writing why 
playing gently upon my harpsichord and humming to it to shew her
unconcernedness 

when i approached her with what i had written she arose with an air
of levity why love you have not written already you have i
protest o what a ready penwoman and may i read it 

if you please and let me beseech you my dear bella to back these
proposals with your good offices and  folding my uplifted hands tears 
i believe standing in my eyes  i will love you as never sister loved
another 

thou art a strange creature said she there is no withstanding thee 

she took the proposals and letter and having read them burst into an
affected laugh how wise ones may be taken in then you did not know 
that i was jesting with you all this time and so you would have me
carry down this pretty piece of nonsense 

don't let me be surprised at your seeming unsisterliness bella i hope
it is but seeming there can be no wit in such jesting as this 

the folly of the creature how natural is it for people when they set
their hearts upon any thing to think every body must see with their
eyes pray dear child what becomes of your father's authority
here who stoops here the parent or the child how does this square
with engagements actually agreed upon between your father and mr 
solmes what security that your rake will not follow you to the world's
end nevertheless that you may not think that i stand in the way of
a reconciliation on such fine terms as these i will be your messenger
this once and hear what my papa will say to it although beforehand i
can tell you these proposals will not answer the principal end 

so down she went but it seems my aunt hervey and my uncle harlowe
were not gone away and as they have all engaged to act in concert 
messengers were dispatched to my uncle and aunt to desire them to be
there to breakfast in the morning 


monday night eleven o'clock 


i am afraid i shall not be thought worthy 

just as i began to fear i should not be thought worthy of an answer 
betty rapped at my door and said if i were not in bed she had a
letter for me i had but just done writing the above dialogue and stept
to the door with the pen in my hand always writing miss said the
bold wench it is admirable how you can get away what you write but the
fairies they say are always at hand to help lovers she retired in
so much haste that had i been disposed i could not take the notice of
this insolence which it deserved 

i enclose my brother's letter he was resolved to let me see that i
should have nothing to expect from his kindness but surely he will
not be permitted to carry every point the assembling of my friends
to-morrow is a good sign and i will hope something from that and from
proposals so reasonable and now i will try if any repose will fall to
my lot for the remainder of this night 


to miss clary harlowe  enclosed in the preceding  

your proposals will be considered by your father and mother and
all your friends to-morrow morning what trouble does your shameful
forwardness give us all i wonder you have the courage to write to me 
upon whom you are so continually emptying your whole female quiver i
have no patience with you for reflecting upon me as the aggressor in a
quarrel which owed its beginning to my consideration for you 

you have made such confessions in a villain's favour as ought to cause
all your relations to renounce you for ever for my part i will
not believe any woman in the world who promises against her avowed
inclination to put it out of your power to ruin yourself is the only
way left to prevent your ruin i did not intend to write but your
too-kind sister has prevailed upon me as to your going to scotland 
that day of grace is over nor would i advise that you should go to
grandfather-up your cousin morden besides that worthy gentleman might
be involved in some fatal dispute upon your account and then be called
the aggressor 

a fine situation you have brought yourself to to propose to hide
yourself from your rake and to have falsehoods told to conceal
you your confinement at this rate is the happiest thing that could
befal you your bravo's behaviour at church looking out for you is a
sufficient indication of his power over you had you not so shamelessly
acknowledged it 

one word for all your parents and uncles may do as they will but if 
for the honour of the family i cannot carry this point i will retire
to scotland and never see the face of any one of it more 

james harlowe 


 


there's a brother there's flaming duty to a father and mother and
uncles but he sees himself valued and made of consequence and he
gives himself airs accordingly nevertheless as i said above i will
hope better things from those who have not the interest my brother has
to keep open these unhappy differences 




letter xliii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday march 21 


would you not have thought my dear miss howe as well as i that my
proposal must have been accepted and that my brother by the last
article of his unbrotherly letter where he threatens to go to scotland
if it should be hearkened to was of opinion that it would 

for my part after i had read the unkind letter over and over 
i concluded upon the whole that a reconciliation upon terms so
disadvantageous to myself as hardly any other person in my case i
dare say would have proposed must be the result of this morning's
conference and in that belief i had begun to give myself new trouble in
thinking this difficulty over how i should be able to pacify lovelace
on that part of my engagement by which i undertook to break off all
correspondence with him unless my friends should be brought by the
interposition of his powerful friends and any offers they might make 
 which it was rather his part to suggest than mine to intimate to
change their minds 

thus was i employed not very agreeably you may believe because of the
vehemence of the tempers i had to conflict with when breakfasting-time
approached and my judges began to arrive 

and oh how my heart fluttered on hearing the chariot of the one 
and then of the other rattle through the court-yard and the
hollow-sounding foot-step giving notice of each person's stepping out 
to take his place on the awful bench which my fancy had formed for them
and my other judges 

that thought i is my aunt hervey's that my uncle harlowe's now comes
my uncle antony and my imagination made a fourth chariot for the odious
solmes although it happened he was not there 

and now thought i are they all assembled and now my brother calls
upon my sister to make her report now the hard-hearted bella interlards
her speech with invective now has she concluded her report now they
debate upon it now does my brother flame now threaten to go to
scotland now is he chidden and now soothed 

and then i ran through the whole conference in my imagination forming
speeches for this person and that pro and con till all concluded as
i flattered myself in an acceptance of my conditions and in giving
directions to have an instrument drawn to tie me up to my good
behaviour while i supposed all agreed to give solmes a wife every way
more worthy of him and with her the promise of my grandfather's estate 
in case of my forfeiture or dying unmarried on the righteous condition
he proposes to entitle himself to it with me 

and now thought i am i to be ordered down to recognize my own
proposals and how shall i look upon my awful judges how shall i stand
the questions of some the set surliness of others the returning love
of one or two how greatly shall i be affected 

then i wept then i dried my eyes then i practised at my glass for a
look more cheerful than my heart 

and now  as any thing stirred  is my sister coming to declare the issue
of all tears gushing again my heart fluttering as a bird against its
wires drying my eyes again and again to no purpose 

and thus my nancy  excuse the fanciful prolixity   was i employed and
such were my thoughts and imaginations when i found a very different
result from the hopeful conference 

for about ten o'clock up came my sister with an air of cruel triumph 
waving her hand with a light flourish 

obedience without reserve is required of you clary my papa is justly
incensed that you should presume to dispute his will and to make
conditions with him he knows what is best for you and as you own
matters are gone a great way between this hated lovelace and you 
they will believe nothing you say except you will give the one only
instance that will put them out of doubt of the sincerity of your
promises 

what child are you surprised cannot you speak then it seems you
had expected a different issue had you strange that you could with
all your acknowledgements and confessions so creditable to your noted
prudence 

i was indeed speechless for some time my eyes were even fixed and
ceased to flow but upon the hard-hearted bella's proceeding with her
airs of insult indeed i was mistaken said i indeed i was for in
you bella i expected i hoped for a sister 

what interrupted she with all your mannerly flings and your despising
airs did you expect that i was capable of telling stories for you did
you think that when i was asked my own opinion of the sincerity of your
declarations i could not tell tem how far matters had gone between you
and your fellow when the intention is to bend that stubborn will of
yours to your duty do you think i would deceive them do you think i
would encourage them to call you down to contradict all that i should
have invented in your favour 

well well bella i am the less obliged to you that's all i was
willing to think that i had still a brother and sister but i find i am
mistaken 

pretty mopsy-eyed soul was her expression and was it willing to
think it had still a brother and sister and why don't you go on clary 
 mocking my half-weeping accent  i thought i had a father and mother 
two uncles and an aunt but i am mis taken that's all come clary 
say this and it will in part be true because you have thrown off all
their authority and because you respect one vile wretch more than them
all 

how have i deserved this at your hands sister but i will only say i
pity you 

and with that disdainful air too clary none of that bridled neck 
none of your scornful pity girl i beseech you 

this sort of behaviour is natural to you surely bella what new
talents does it discover in you but proceed if it be a pleasure to
you proceed bella and since i must not pity you i will pity myself 
for nobody else will 

because you don't said she 

hush bella interrupting her because i don't deserve it i know you
were going to say so i will say as you say in every thing and that's
the way to please you 

then say lovelace is a villain 

so i will when i think him so 

then you don't think him so 

indeed i don't you did not always bella 

and what clary mean you by that  bristling up to me  tell me what
you mean by that reflection 

tell me why you call it a reflection what did i say 

thou art a provoking creature but what say you to two or three duels of
that wretch's 

i can't tell what to say unless i knew the occasions 

do you justify duelling at all 

i do not neither can i help his duelling 

will you go down and humble that stubborn spirit of yours to your
mamma 

i said nothing 

shall i conduct your ladyship down  offering to take my declined hand  

what not vouchsafe to answer me 

i turned from her in silence 

what turn your back upon me too shall i bring up your mamma to you 
love  following me and taking my struggling hand  what not speak yet 
come my sullen silent dear speak one word to me you must say two
very soon to mr solmes i can tell you that 

then  gushing into tears which i could not hold in longer  they shall
be the last words i will ever speak 

well well  insultingly wiping my averted face with her handkerchief 
while her other hand held mine in a ridiculing tone   i am glad any
thing will make thee speak then you think you may be brought to speak
the two words only they are to be the last how like a gentle lovyer
from its tender bleeding heart was that 

ridiculous bella 

saucy clary  changing her sneering tone to an imperious one  but do you
think you can humble yourself to go down to your mamma 

i am tired of such stuff as this tell me bella if my mamma will
condescend to see me 

yes if you can be dutiful at last 

i can i will 

but what call you dutiful 

to give up my own inclinations that's something more for you to tell
of in obedience to my parents' commands and to beg that i may not be
made miserable with a man that is fitter for any body than for me 

for me do you mean clary 

why not since you have put the question you have a better opinion of
him than i have my friends i hope would not think him too good for
me and not good enough for you but cannot you tell me bella what
is to become of me without insulting over me thus if i must be thus
treated remember that if i am guilty of any rashness the usage i meet
with will justify it 

so clary you are contriving an excuse i find for somewhat that we
have not doubted has been in your head a great while 

if it were so you seem resolved for your part and so does my brother
for his that i shall not want one but indeed bella i can bear no
longer this repetition of the worst part of yesterday's conversation 
i desire i may throw myself at my father's and mother's feet and hear
from them what their sentence is i shall at least avoid by that means 
the unsisterly insults i meet with from you 

hey-day what is this you is it you my meek sister clary 

yes it is i bella and i will claim the protection due to a child of
the family or to know why i am to be thus treated when i offer only to
preserve to myself the liberty of refusal which belongs to my sex and 
to please my parents would give up my choice i have contented myself
till now to take second-hand messengers and first-hand insults you are
but my sister my brother is not my sovereign and while i have a father
and mother living i will not be thus treated by a brother and sister 
and their servants all setting upon me as it should seem to make me
desperate and do a rash thing i will know in short sister bella 
why i am to be constrained thus what is intended by it and whether i
am to be considered as a child or a slave 

she stood aghast all this time partly with real partly with affected 
surprise 

and is it you is it indeed you well clary you amaze me but since
you are so desirous to refer yourself to your father and mother i will
go down and tell them what you say your friends are not yet gone 
i believe they shall assemble again and then you may come down and
plead your own cause in person 

let me then but let my brother and you be absent you have made
yourselves too much parties against me to sit as my judges and i
desire to have none of yours or his interpositions i am sure you could
not have represented what i proposed fairly i am sure you could not 
nor is it possible you should be commissioned to treat me thus 

well well i'll call up my brother to you i will indeed he shall
justify himself as well as me 

i desire not to see my brother except he will come as a brother laying
aside the authority he has unjustly assumed over me 

and so clary it is nothing to him or to me is it that our sister
shall disgrace her whole family 

as how bella disgrace it the man whom you thus freely treat is a
man of birth and fortune he is a man of parts and nobly allied he
was once thought worthy of you and i wish to heaven you had had him 
i am sure it was not thus my fault you had not although you treat me
thus 

this set her into a flame i wish i had forborne it o how the poor
bella raved i thought she would have beat me once or twice and she
vowed her fingers itched to do so but i was not worth her anger yet
she flamed on 

we were heard to be high and betty came up from my mother to command
my sister to attend her she went down accordingly threatening me with
letting every one know what a violent creature i had shewn myself to be 


tuesday noon march 21 


i have as yet heard no more of my sister and have not courage enough
to insist upon throwing myself at the feet of my father and mother as i
thought in my heat of temper i should be able to do and i am now grown
as calm as ever and were bella to come up again as fit to be played
upon as before 

i am indeed sorry that i sent her from me in such disorder but my
papa's letter threatening me with my uncle antony's house and chapel 
terrifies me strangely and by their silence i'm afraid some new storm
is gathering 

but what shall i do with this lovelace i have just now but the
unsuspected hole in the wall that i told you of in my letter by hannah 
got a letter from him so uneasy is he for fear i should be prevailed
upon in solmes's favour so full of menaces if i am so resenting
the usage i receive  for how i cannot tell but he has undoubtedly
intelligence of all that is done in the family  such protestations of
inviolable faith and honour such vows of reformation such pressing
arguments to escape from this disgraceful confinement o my nancy what
shall i do with this lovelace 




letter xliv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wenesday morning nine o'clock 


my aunt hervey lay here last night and is but just gone from me she
came up to me with my sister they would not trust my aunt without this
ill-natured witness when she entered my chamber i told her that this
visit was a high favour to a poor prisoner in her hard confinement 
i kissed her hand she kindly saluting me said why this distance to
your aunt my dear who loves you so well 

she owned that she came to expostulate with me for the peace-sake of
the family for that she could not believe it possible if i did not
conceive myself unkindly treated that i who had ever shewn such a
sweetness of temper as well as manners should be thus resolute in a
point so very near to my father and all my friends my mother and she
were both willing to impute my resolution to the manner i had been begun
with and to my supposing that my brother had originally more of a hand
in the proposals made by mr solmes than my father or other friends in
short fain would my aunt have furnished me with an excuse to come off
my opposition bell all the while humming a tune and opening this book
and that without meaning but saying nothing 

after having shewed me that my opposition could not be of
signification my father's honour being engaged my aunt concluded with
enforcing upon me my duty in stronger terms than i believe she would
have done the circumstances of the case considered had not my sister
been present 

it would be repeating what i have so often mentioned to give you the
arguments that passed on both sides so i will only recite what she was
pleased to say that carried with it a new face 

when she found me inflexible as she was pleased to call it she said 
for her part she could not but say that if i were not to have either
mr solmes or mr lovelace and yet to make my friends easy must
marry she should not think amiss of mr wyerley what did i think of
mr wyerley 

ay clary put in my sister what say you to mr wyerley 

i saw through this immediately it was said on purpose i doubted
not to have an argument against me of absolute prepossession in mr 
lovelace's favour since mr wyerley every where avows his value even
to veneration for me and is far less exceptionable both in person and
mind than mr solmes and i was willing to turn the tables by trying
how far mr solmes's terms might be dispensed with since the same terms
could not be expected from mr wyerley 

i therefore desired to know whether my answer if it should be in
favour of mr wyerley would release me from mr solmes for i owned 
that i had not the aversion to him that i had to the other 

nay she had no commission to propose such a thing she only knew that
my father and mother would not be easy till mr lovelace's hopes were
entirely defeated 

cunning creature said my sister 

and this and her joining in the question before convinced me that it
was a designed snare for me 

don't you dear madam said i put questions that can answer no end but
to support my brother's schemes against me but are there any hopes
of an end to my sufferings and disgrace without having this hated man
imposed upon me will not what i have offered be accepted i am sure it
ought i will venture to say that 

why niece if there be not any such hopes i presume you don't think
yourself absolved from the duty due from a child to her parents 

yes said my sister i do not doubt but it is miss clary's aim if she
does not fly to her lovelace to get her estate into her own hands and
go to live at the grove in that independence upon which she builds all
her perverseness and dear heart my little love how will you then
blaze away your mamma norton your oracle with your poor at your
gates mingling so proudly and so meanly with the ragged herd 
reflecting by your ostentation upon all the ladies in the county 
who do not as you do this is known to be your scheme and the poor
without-doors and lovelace within with one hand building up a name 
pulling it down with the other o what a charming scheme is this but
let me tell you my pretty little flighty one that your father's living
will shall controul your grandfather's dead one and that estate will be
disposed of as your fond grandfather would have disposed of it had he
lived to see such a change in his favourite in a word miss it will be
kept out of your hands till my father sees you discreet enough to have
the management of it or till you can dutifully by law tear it from
him 

fie miss harlowe said my aunt this is not pretty to your sister 

o madam let her go on this is nothing to what i have borne from miss
harlowe she is either commissioned to treat me ill by her envy or by
an higher authority to which i must submit as to revoking the estate 
what hinders if i pleased i know my power but have not the least
thought of exerting it be pleased to let my father know that whatever
be the consequence to myself were he to turn me out of doors which
i should rather he would do than to be confined and insulted as i am 
and were i to be reduced to indigence and want i would seek no relief
that should be contrary to his will 

for that matter child said my aunt were you to marry you must do as
your husband will have you if that husband be mr lovelace he will be
glad of any opportunity of further embroiling the families and let
me tell you niece if he had the respect for you which he pretends to
have he would not throw out defiances as he does he is known to be a
very revengeful man and were i you miss clary i should be afraid he
would wreak upon me that vengeance though i had not offended him which
he is continually threatening to pour upon the family 

mr lovelace's threatened vengeance is in return for threatened
vengeance it is not every body will bear insult as of late i have
been forced to bear it 

o how my sister's face shone with passion 

but mr lovelace proceeded i as i have said twenty and twenty times 
would be quite out of question with me were i to be generously treated 

my sister said something with great vehemence but only raising my
voice to be heard without minding her pray madam provokingly
interrogated i was he not known to have been as wild a man when he
was at first introduced into our family as he now is said to be yet
then the common phrases of wild oats and black oxen and such-like 
were qualifiers and marriage and the wife's discretion were to
perform wonders but turning to my sister i find i have said too much 

o thou wicked reflecter and what made me abhor him think you but
the proof of those villainous freedoms that ought to have had the same
effect upon you were you but half so good a creature as you pretend to
be 

proof did you say bella i thought you had not proof but you know
best 

was not this very spiteful my dear 

now clary said she would i give a thousand pounds to know all that is
in thy little rancorous and reflecting heart at this moment 

i might let you know for a much less sum and not be afraid of being
worse treated than i have been 

well young ladies i am sorry to see passion run so high between
you you know niece to me you had not been confined thus to
your apartment could your mother by condescension or your father by
authority have been able to move you but how can you expect when
there must be a concession on one side that it should be on theirs 
if my dolly who has not the hundredth part of your understanding were
thus to set herself up in absolute contradiction to my will in a point
so material i should not take it well of her indeed i should not 

i believe not madam and if miss hervey had just such a brother and
just such a sister  you may look bella   and if both were to aggravate
her parents as my brother and sister do mine then perhaps you might
use her as i am used and if she hated the man you proposed to her and
with as much reason as i do mr solmes 

and loved a rake and libertine miss as you do lovelace said my
sister 

then might she  continued i not minding her   beg to be excused from
obeying yet if she did and would give you the most solemn assurances 
and security besides that she would never have the man you disliked 
against your consent i dare say miss hervey's father and mother would
sit down satisfied and not endeavour to force her inclinations 

so  said my sister with uplifted hands  father and mother now come in
for their share 

but if child replied my aunt i knew she loved a rake and suspected
that she sought only to gain time in order to wire-draw me into a
consent 

i beg pardon madam for interrupting you but if miss hervey could
obtain your consent what further would be said 

true child but she never should 

then madam it would never be 

that i doubt niece 

if you do madam can you think confinement and ill usage is the way to
prevent the apprehended rashness 

my dear this sort of intimation would make one but too apprehensive 
that there is no trusting to yourself when one knows your inclination 

that apprehension madam seems to have been conceived before this
intimation or the least cause for it was given why else the
disgraceful confinement i have been laid under let me venture to say 
that my sufferings seem to be rather owing to a concerted design to
intimidate me  bella held up her hands  knowing there were too good
grounds for my opposition than to a doubt of my conduct for when
they were inflicted first i had given no cause of doubt nor should
there now be room for any if my discretion might be trusted to 

my aunt after a little hesitation said but consider my dear what
confusion will be perpetuated in your family if you marry this hated
lovelace 

and let it be considered what misery to me madam if i marry that
hated solmes 

many a young creature has thought she could not love a man with whom
she has afterwards been very happy few women child marry their first
loves 

that may be the reason there are so few happy marriages 

but there are few first impressions fit to be encouraged 

i am afraid so too madam i have a very indifferent opinion of light
and first impressions but as i have often said all i wish for is to
have leave to live single 

indeed you must not miss your father and mother will be unhappy till
they see you married and out of lovelace's reach i am told that you
propose to condition with him so far are matters gone between you 
never to have any man if you have not him 

i know no better way to prevent mischief on all sides i freely own
it and there is not if he be out of the question another man in the
world i can think favourably of nevertheless i would give all i have
in the world that he were married to some other person indeed i would 
bella for all you put on that smile of incredulity 

may be so clary but i will smile for all that 

if he be out of the question repeated my aunt so miss clary i see
how it is i will go down  miss harlowe shall i follow you   and i
will endeavour to persuade your father to let my sister herself come up 
and a happier event may then result 

depend upon it madam said my sister this will be the case my mother
and she will both be in tears but with this different effect my
mother will come down softened and cut to the heart but will leave her
favourite hardened from the advantages she will think she has over my
mother's tenderness why madam it is for this very reason the girl is
not admitted into her presence 

thus she ran on as she went downstairs 


letters of volume ii


letter i clarissa to miss howe another visit from her aunt and
sister the latter spitefully insults her with the patterns a tender
scene between her aunt and her in arabella's absence she endeavours to
account for the inflexibility of her parents and uncles 

letter ii miss howe to clarissa humourous description of mr hickman 
imagines from what lovelace hickman and solmes are now what figures
they made when boys at school 

letter iii from the same useful observations on general life severe
censures of the harlowe family for their pride formality and other
bad qualities 

letter iv from the same mr hickman's conversation with two of
lovelace's libertine companions 

letter v from the same an unexpected visit from mr lovelace what
passes in it repeats her advice to her to resume her estate 

letter vi vii viii clarissa to miss howe farther particulars of the
persecutions she receives from her violent brother 

letter ix from the same impertinence of betty barnes overhears her
brother and sister encourage solmes to persevere in his address she
writes warmly to her brother upon it 

letter x from the same receives a provoking letter from her sister 
writes to her mother her mother's severe reply is impatient desires
miss howe's advice what course to pursue tries to compose her angry
passions at her harpsichord an ode to wisdom by a lady 

letter xi clarissa to miss howe chides her for misrepresenting mr 
hickman fully answers her arguments about resuming her estate her
impartiality with regard to what miss howe says of lovelace solmes and
her brother reflections on revenge and duelling 

letter xii miss howe to clarissa sir harry downeton's account of what
passed between himself and solmes she wishes her to avoid both men 
admires her for her manifold excellencies 

letter xiii clarissa to miss howe why she cannot overcome her
aversion to solmes sharp letter to lovelace on what occasion all his
difficulties she tells him owning to his faulty morals which level
all distinction insists upon his laying aside all thoughts of her her
impartial and dutiful reasonings on her difficult situation 

letter xiv miss howe to clarissa a notable debate between her and her
mother on her case those who marry for love seldom so happy as those
who marry for convenience picture of a modern marriage a lesson both
to parents and children in love-cases handsome men seldom make good
husbands miss howe reflects on the harlowe family as not famous for
strictness in religion or piety her mother's partiality for hickman 

letter xv clarissa to miss howe her increased apprehensions 
warmly defends her own mother extenuates her father's feelings and
expostulates with her on her undeserved treatment of mr hickman a
letter to her from solmes her spirited answer all in an uproar about
it her aunt hervey's angry letter to her she writes to her mother her
letter returned unopened to her father he tears her letter in pieces 
and sends it back to her she then writes a pathetic letter to her uncle
harlowe 

letter xvi from the same receives a gentler answer than she expected
from her uncle harlowe makes a new proposal in a letter to him which
she thinks must be accepted her relations assembled upon it her
opinion of the sacrifice which a child ought to make to her parents 

letter xvii from the same she tells her that the proposal she had
made to her relations on which she had built so much is rejected 
betty's saucy report upon it her brother's provoking letter to her 
her letter to her uncle harlowe on the occasion substance of a letter
excusatory from mr lovelace he presses for an interview with her in
the garden 

letter xviii clarissa to miss howe her uncle's angry answer 
substance of a humble letter from mr lovelace he has got a violent
cold and hoarseness by his fruitless attendance all night in the
coppice she is sorry he is not well makes a conditional appointment
with him for the next night in the garden hates tyranny in all shapes 

letter xix from the same a characteristic dialogue with the pert
betty barnes women have great advantage over men in all the powers that
relate to the imagination makes a request to her uncle harlowe which
is granted on condition that she will admit of a visit from solmes she
complies and appoints that day sevennight then writes to lovelace
to suspend the intended interview desires miss howe to inquire into
lovelace's behaviour at the little inn he puts up at in his way to
harlowe-place 

letter xx from the same receives a letter from lovelace written
in very high terms on her suspending the interview her angry answer 
resolves against any farther correspondence with him 

letter xxi miss howe to clarissa humourous account of her mother and
mr hickman in their little journey to visit her dying cousin rallies
her on her present displeasure with lovelace 

letter xxii mr hickman to mrs howe resenting miss howe's treatment
of him 

letter xxiii mrs howe in answer 

letter xxiv miss howe to clarissa observes upon the contents of her
seven last letters advises her to send all the letters and papers she
would not have her relations see also a parcel of clothes linen etc 
is in hopes of procuring an asylum for her with her mother if things
come to extremity 

letter xxv clarissa to miss howe requisites of true satire rejoices
in the hopes she gives of her mother's protection deposits a parcel
of linen and all lovelace's letters useful observations relating to
family management and to neatness of person and dress her contrivances
to amuse betty barnes 

letter xxvi miss howe to clarissa result of her inquiry after
lovelace's behaviour at the inn doubts not but he has ruined the
innkeeper's daughter passionately inveighs against him 

letter xxvii clarissa in answer is extremely alarmed at lovelace's
supposed baseness declares her abhorrence of him 

letter xxviii miss howe to clarissa lovelace on inquiry comes out
to be not only innocent with regard to his rosebud but generous miss
howe rallies her on the effects this intelligence must have upon her
generosity 

letter xxix clarissa in reply acknowledges her generosity engaged
in his favour frankly expresses tenderness and regard for him and owns
that the intelligence of his supposed baseness had affected her more
than she thinks it ought contents of a letter she has received from
him pities him writes to him that her rejection of solmes is not in
favour to himself for that she is determined to hold herself free
to obey her parents as she had offered to them of their giving up
solmes reproaches him for his libertine declarations in all companies
against matrimony her notions of filial duty notwithstanding the
persecutions she meets with 

letter xxx miss howe to clarissa her treatment of mr hickman on his
intrusion into her company applauds clarissa for the generosity of her
spirit and the greatness of her mind 

letter xxxi clarissa to miss howe dr lewen makes her a formal visit 
affected civility of her brother and sister to her is visited by her
uncle harlowe and by her sister she penetrates the low art designed in
this change of their outward behaviour substance of lovelace's reply
to her last he acknowledges his folly for having ever spoken lightly of
matrimony 

letter xxxii from the same another letter from mr lovelace in
which he expresses himself extremely apprehensive of the issue of
her interview with solmes presses her to escape proposes means for
effecting it and threatens to rescue her by violence if they attempt
to carry her to her uncle antony's against her will her terror on the
occasion she insists in her answer on his forbearing to take any rash
step and expresses herself highly dissatisfied that he should think
himself entitled to dispute her father's authority in removing her to
her uncle's she relies on mrs howe's protection till her cousin morden
arrives 

letter xxxiii clarissa to miss howe a visit from her aunt hervey 
preparative to the approaching interview with solmes her aunt tells her
what is expected on her having consented to that interview 

letter xxxiv xxxv from the same a particular account of what passed
in the interview with solmes and of the parts occasionally taken in
it by her boisterous uncle by her brutal brother by her implacable
sister and by her qualifying aunt her perseverance and distress her
cousin dolly's tenderness for her her closet searched for papers all
the pens and ink they find taken from her 

letter xxxvi from the same substance of a letter from lovelace his
proposals promises and declarations all her present wish is to be
able to escape solmes on one hand and to avoid incurring the disgrace
of refuging with the family of a man at enmity with her own on the
other her emotions behind the yew-hedge on seeing her father going into
the garden grieved at what she hears him say dutiful message to
her mother harshly answered she censures mr lovelace for his rash
threatenings to rescue her justifies her friends for resenting them 
and condemns herself for corresponding with him at first 

letter xxxvii miss howe to clarissa is vexed at the heart to be
obliged to tell her that her mother refuses to receive and protect her 
offers to go away privately with her 

letter xxxviii clarissa to miss howe her disinterested arguments in
mrs howe's favour on her refusal to receive her all her consolation
is that her unhappy situation is not owing to her own inadvertence of
folly is afraid she is singled out either for her own faults or for
those of her family or perhaps for the faults of both to be a very
unhappy creature justifies the ways of providence let what will befal
her and argues with exemplary greatness of mind on this subject warmly
discourages miss howe's motion to accompany her in her flight 

letter xxxix clarissa to miss howe further instances of her
impartiality in condemning lovelace and reasoning for her parents 
overhears her brother and sister exulting in the success of their
schemes and undertaking the one to keep his father up to his
resentment on occasion of lovelace's menaces the other her mother 
exasperated at this and at what her aunt hervey tells her she writes
to lovelace that she will meet him the following monday and throw
herself into the protection of the ladies of his family 

letter xl from the same her frightful dream now that lovelace has
got her letter she repents her appointment 

letter xli from the same receives a letter from mr lovelace full
of transport vows and promises he presumes upon her being his on her
getting away though she has not given him room for such hopes in her
answer she tells him that she looks not upon herself as absolutely
bound by her appointment that there are many points to be adjusted
between them were she to leave her father's house before she can give
him particular encouragement that he must expect she will do her utmost
to procure a reconciliation with her father and his approbation of
her future steps  all her friends are to be assembled on the following
wednesday she is to be brought before them how to be proceeded with 
lovelace in his reply asks pardon for writing to her with so much
assurance and declares his entire acquiescence with her will and
pleasure 

letter xlii from the same confirms her appointment but tells him
what he is not to expect promises that if she should change her mind
as to withdrawing she will take the first opportunity to see him and
acquaint him with her reasons reflections on what she has done her
deep regret to be thus driven 

letter xliii miss howe to clarissa reasons why she ought to allow her
to accompany her in her flight punctilio at an end the moment she is
out of her father's house requisites of friendship questions whether
she will not rather choose to go off with one of her own sex than
with lovelace and if not whether she should not marry him as soon as
possible 

letter xliv clarissa to miss howe miss howe's last not received 
lovelace promises compliance in every article with her pleasure 
her heart misgives her notwithstanding she knows not but she may yet
recede 

letter xlv from the same in answer to letter xliii reflections
worthy of herself on some of the passages in miss howe's last letter 
gives her home-put questions a full consideration and determines not to
withdraw with lovelace 

letter xlvi xlvii from the same substance of her letter to lovelace 
revoking her appointment thinks herself obliged her letter being not
taken away as well by promise as in order to prevent mischief to meet
him and to give him her reason for revoking the hour of meeting now
at hand she is apprehensive of the contest she shall have with him as
he will come with a different expectation 

letter xlviii from the same dated from st alban's writes in the
utmost anguish of mind for the little parcel of linen she had sent to
her with better hopes condemns her own rashness in meeting lovelace 
begs her pity and her prayers 




the history of clarissa harlowe




letter i

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


my heart fluttered with the hope and the fear of seeing my mother and
with the shame and grief of having given her so much uneasiness but it
needed not she was not permitted to come but my aunt was so good as to
return yet not without my sister and taking my hand made me sit down
by her 

she came she must own officiously she said this once more 
though against the opinion of my father but knowing and dreading the
consequence of my opposition she could not but come 

she then set forth to my friends' expectation from me mr solmes's
riches three times as rich he came out to be as any body had thought
him the settlements proposed mr lovelace's bad character their
aversions to him all in a very strong light not in a stronger than
my mother had before placed them in my mother surely could not have
given the particulars of what had passed between herself and me if she
had my aunt would not have repeated many of the same sentiments as
you will find she did that had been still more strongly urged without
effect by her venerable sister 

she said it would break the heart of my father to have it imagined that
he had not a power over his own child and that as he thought for
my own good a child too whom they had always doated upon dearest 
dearest miss concluded she clasping her fingers with the most
condescending earnestness let me beg of you for my sake for your own
sake for a hundred sakes to get over this averseness to give up your
prejudices and make every one happy and easy once more i would kneel
to you my dearest niece nay i will kneel to you 

and down she dropt and i with her kneeling to her and beseeching her
not to kneel clasping my arms about her and bathing her worthy bosom
with my tears 

o rise rise my beloved aunt said i you cut me to the heart with this
condescending goodness 

say then my dearest niece say then that you will oblige all your
friends if you love us i beseech you do 

how can i perform what i can sooner choose to die than to perform 

say then my dear that you will consider of it say you will but
reason with yourself give us but hopes don't let me entreat and thus
entreat in vain  for still she kneeled and i by her  

what a hard case is mine could i but doubt i know i could
conquer that which is an inducement to my friends is none at all to
me how often my dearest aunt must i repeat the same thing let me
but be single cannot i live single let me be sent as i have proposed 
to scotland to florence any where let me be sent a slave to the
indies any where any of these i will consent to but i cannot cannot
think of giving my vows to man i cannot endure 

well then rising bella silently with uplifted hands reproaching my
supposed perverseness i see nothing can prevail with you to oblige us 

what can i do my dearest aunt hervey what can i do were i capable of
giving a hope i meant not to enlarge then could i say i would consider
of your kind advice but i would rather be thought perverse than
insincere is there however no medium can nothing be thought of will
nothing do but to have a man who is the more disgustful to me because
he is unjust in the very articles he offers 

whom now clary said my sister do you reflect upon consider that 

make not invidious applications of what i say bella it may not be
looked upon in the same light by every one the giver and the accepter
are principally answerable in an unjust donation while i think of it in
this light i should be inexcusable to be the latter but why do i enter
upon a supposition of this nature my heart as i have often often
said recoils at the thought of the man in every light whose father 
but mine agrees upon articles where there is no prospect of a liking 
where the direct contrary is avowed all along avowed without the
least variation or shadow of a change of sentiment but it is not my
father's doing originally o my cruel cruel brother to cause a measure
to be forced upon me which he would not behave tolerably under were
the like to be offered to him 

the girl is got into her altitudes aunt hervey said my sister you
see madam she spares nobody be pleased to let her know what she has
to trust to nothing is to be done with her pray madam pronounce her
doom 

my aunt retired to the window weeping with my sister in her hand 
i cannot indeed i cannot miss harlowe said she softly but yet i
heard every word she said there is great hardship in her case she
is a noble child after all what pity things are gone so far but mr 
solmes ought to be told to desist 

o madam said my sister in a kind of loud whisper are you caught too
by the little siren my mother did well not to come up i question
whether my father himself after his first indignation would not be
turned round by her nobody but my brother can do any thing with her i
am sure 

don't think of your brother's coming up said my aunt still in a low
voice he is too furious i see no obstinacy no perverseness in
her manner if your brother comes i will not be answerable for the
consequences for i thought twice or thrice she would have gone into
fits 

o madam she has a strong heart and you see there is no prevailing
with her though you were upon your knees to her 

my sister left my aunt musing at the window with her back towards us 
and took that opportunity to insult me still more barbarously for 
stepping to my closet she took up the patterns which my mother had sent
me up and bringing them to me she spread them upon the chair by me 
and offering one and then another upon her sleeve and shoulder thus
she ran on with great seeming tranquility but whisperingly that my
aunt might not hear her this clary is a pretty pattern enough but
this is quite charming i would advise you to make your appearance in
it and this were i you should be my wedding night-gown and this
my second dressed suit won't you give orders love to have your
grandmother's jewels new set or will you thing to shew away in the new
ones mr solmes intends to present to you he talks of laying out two
or three thousand pounds in presents child dear heart how gorgeously
will you be array'd what silent still but clary won't you have a
velvet suit it would cut a great figure in a country church you know 
and the weather may bear it for a month yet to come crimson velvet 
suppose such a fine complexion as yours how it would be set off by it 
what an agreeable blush would it give you heigh-ho mocking me for i
sighed to be thus fooled with and do you sigh love well then as it
will be a solemn wedding what think you of black velvet child silent
still clary black velvet so fair as you are with those charming
eyes gleaming through a wintry cloud like an april sun does not
lovelace tell you they are charming eyes how lovely will you appear to
every one what silent still love but about your laces clary 

she would have gone on still further had not my aunt advance towards
me wiping her eyes what whispering ladies you seem so easy and so
pleased miss harlowe with your private conference that i hope i shall
carry down good news 

i am only giving her my opinion of her patterns here unasked indeed 
but she seems by her silence to approve of my judgment 

o bella said i that mr lovelace had not taken you at your word you
had before now been exercising your judgment on your own account and i
had been happy as well as you was it my fault i pray you that it was
not so 

o how she raved 

to be so ready to give bella and so loth to take is not very fair in
you 

the poor bella descended to call names 

why sister said i you are as angry as if there were more in the
hint than possibly might be designed my wish is sincere for both our
sakes for the whole family's sake and what good now is there in
it do not do not dear bella give me cause to suspect that i have
found a reason for your behaviour to me and which till now was wholly
unaccountable from sister to sister 

fie fie clary said my aunt 

my sister was more and more outrageous 

o how much fitter said i to be a jest than a jester but now bella 
turn the glass to you and see how poorly sits the robe upon your own
shoulders which you have been so unmercifully fixing upon mine 

fie fie miss clary repeated my aunt 

and fie fie likewise good madam to miss harlowe you would say were
you to have heard her barbarous insults 

let us go madam said my sister with great violence let us leave the
creature to swell till she bursts with her own poison the last time i
will ever come near her in the mind i am in 

it is so easy a thing returned i were i to be mean enough to follow
an example that is so censurable in the setter of it to vanquish such
a teasing spirit as your's with its own blunt weapons that i am amazed
you will provoke me yet bella since you will go for she had
hurried to the door forgive me i forgive you and you have a double
reason to do so both from eldership and from the offence so studiously
given to one in affliction but may you be happy though i never shall 
may you never have half the trials i have had be this your comfort 
that you cannot have a sister to treat you as you have treated me and
so god bless you 

o thou art a and down she flung without saying what 

permit me madam said i to my aunt sinking down and clasping her
knees with my arms to detain you one moment not to say any thing about
my poor sister she is her own punisher only to thank you for all
your condescending goodness to me i only beg of you not to impute to
obstinacy the immovableness i have shown to so tender a friend and to
forgive me every thing i have said or done amiss in your presence for
it has not proceeded from inward rancour to the poor bella but i will
be bold to say that neither she nor my brother nor even my father
himself knows what a heart they have set a bleeding 

i saw to my comfort what effect my sister's absence wrought for
me rise my noble-minded niece charming creature  those were her
kind words  kneel not to me keep to yourself what i now say to you i
admire you more than i can express and if you can forbear claiming your
estate and can resolve to avoid lovelace you will continue to be the
greatest miracle i ever knew at your years but i must hasten down after
your sister these are my last words to you conform to your father's
will if you possibly can how meritorious will it be in you if you do
so pray to god to enable you to conform you don't know what may be
done 

only my dear aunt one word one word more for she was going speak
all you can for my dear mrs norton she is but low in the world should
ill health overtake her she may not know how to live without my mamma's
favour i shall have no means to help her for i will want necessaries
before i will assert my right and i do assure you she has said so many
things to me in behalf of my submitting to my father's will that her
arguments have not a little contributed to make me resolve to avoid the
extremities which nevertheless i pray to god they do not at last force
me upon and yet they deprive me of her advice and think unjustly of
one of the most excellent of women 

i am glad to hear you say this and take this and this and this my
charming niece for so she called me almost at every word kissing me
earnestly and clasping her arms about my neck and god protect you 
and direct you but you must submit indeed you must some one day in a
month from this is all the choice that is left you 

and this i suppose was the doom my sister called for and yet no worse
than what had been pronounced upon me before 

she repeated these last sentences louder than the former and remember 
miss  added she it is your duty to comply  and down she went 
leaving me with my heart full and my eyes running over 

the very repetition of this fills me with almost equal concern to that
which i felt at the time 

i must lay down my pen mistiness which give to the deluged eye the
appearance of all the colours in the rainbow will not permit me to
write on 


wednesday five o'clock


i will now add a few lines my aunt as she went down from me was met
at the foot of the stairs by my sister who seemed to think she had
staid a good while after her and hearing her last words prescribing
to me implicit duty praised her for it and exclaimed against my
obstinacy did you ever hear of such perverseness madam said she 
could you have thought that your clarissa and every body's clarissa was
such a girl and who as you said is to submit her father or she 

my aunt said something in answer to her compassionating me as i
thought by her accent but i heard not the words 

such a strange perseverance in a measure so unreasonable but my
brother and sister are continually misrepresenting all i say and do and
i am deprived of the opportunity of defending myself my sister says 
that had they thought me such a championess they you not have engaged
with me and now not knowing how to reconcile my supposed obstinacy
with my general character and natural temper they seem to hope to tire
me out and resolve to vary their measures accordingly my brother you
see is determined to carry this point or to abandon harlowe-place 
and never to see it more so they are to lose a son or to conquer
a daughter the perversest and most ungrateful that ever parents
had this is the light he places things in and has undertaken it
seems to subdue me if his advice should be followed it will be
farther tried of that i am convinced and what will be their next
measure who can divine 


 see letter xlii of vol i 

 ibid 


i shall dispatch with this my answer to your's of sunday last begun
on monday but which is not yet quite finished it is too long to copy 
i have not time for it in it i have been very free with you my dear 
in more places than one i cannot say that i am pleased with all i have
written yet will not now alter it my mind is not at ease enough for
the subject don't be angry with me yet if you can excuse one or two
passages it will be because they were written by

your clarissa harlowe 


 see letter xl ibid 




letter ii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe wednesday night march 22 


angry what should i be angry for i am mightily pleased with your
freedom as you call it i only wonder at your patience with me that's
all i am sorry i gave you the trouble of so long a letter upon the
occasion notwithstanding the pleasure i received in reading it 


 see vol i letter xxxvii for the occasion and letters
 xxxviii and xl of the same volume for the freedom
 clarissa apologizes for 


i believe you did not intend reserves to me for two reasons i believe
you did not first because you say you did not next because you have
not as yet been able to convince yourself how it is to be with you and
persecuted as you are how so to separate the effects that spring from
the two causes  persecution and love  as to give to each its particular
due but this i believe i hinted to you once before and so will say no
more upon this subject at present 

robin says you had but just deposited your last parcel when he took it 
for he was there but half an hour before and found nothing he had seen
my impatience and loitered about being willing to bring me something
from you if possible 

my cousin jenny fynnett is here and desires to be my bedfellow
to-night so i shall not have an opportunity to sit down with that
seriousness and attention which the subjects of yours require for she
is all prate you know and loves to set me a prating yet comes upon
a very grave occasion to procure my mother to go with her to her
grandmother larking who has long been bed-ridden and at last has taken
it into her head that she is mortal and therefore will make her will a
work she was till now extremely averse to but it must be upon condition
that my mother who is her distant relation will go to her and advise
her as to the particulars of it for she has a high opinion as every
one else has of my mother's judgment in all matters relating to wills 
settlements and such-like notable affairs 

mrs larking lives about seventeen miles off and as my mother cannot
endure to lie out of her own house she proposes to set out early in
the morning that she might be able to get back again at night so 
to-morrow i shall be at your devotion from day-light to day-light nor
will i be at home to any body 

i have hinted before that i could almost wish my mother and mr hickman
would make a match of it and i here repeat my wishes what signifies
a difference of fifteen or twenty years especially when the lady has
spirits that will make her young a long time and the lover is a mighty
sober man i think verily i could like him better for a papa than
for a nearer relation and they are strange admirers of one another 

but allow me a perhaps still better and as to years more suitable and
happier disposal for the man at least what think you my dear of
compromising with your friends by rejecting both men and encouraging
my parader if your liking one of the two go no farther than
conditional i believe it will do a rich thought if it obtain your
approbation in this light i should have a prodigious respect for
mr hickman more by half than i can have in the other the vein is
opened shall i let it flow how difficult to withstand constitutional
foibles 

hickman is certainly a man more in your taste than any of those who have
hitherto been brought to address you he is mighty sober mighty grave 
and all that then you have told me that he is your favourite but that
is because he is my mother's perhaps the man would certainly rejoice at
the transfer or he must be a greater fool than i take him to be 

o but your fierce lover would knock him o' the head i forgot
that what makes me incapable of seriousness when i write about
hickman yet the man so good a sort of man in the main but who is
perfect this is one of my foibles and it is something for you to chide
me for 

you believe me to be very happy in my prospect in relation to him 
because you are so very unhappy in the foolish usage you meet with you
are apt as i suspect to think that tolerable which otherwise would be
far from being so i dare say you would not with all your grave airs 
like him for yourself except being addressed by solmes and him you
were obliged to have one of them i have given you a test let me see
what you will say to it 

for my own part i confess to you that i have great exceptions to
hickman he and wedlock never yet once entered into my head at one time 
shall i give you my free thoughts of him of his best and his worst 
and that as if i were writing to one who knows him not i think i will 
yet it is impossible i should do it gravely the subject won't bear to
be so treated in my opinion we are not come so far as that yet if ever
we shall and to do it in another strain ill becomes my present real
concern for you 


 


here i was interrupted on the honest man's account he has been here
these two hours courting the mother for the daughter i suppose yet
she wants no courting neither tis well one of us does else the man
would have nothing but halcyon and be remiss and saucy of course 

he was going his horses at the door my mother sent for me down 
pretending to want to say something to me 

something she said when i came that signified nothing evidently for no
reason called me but to give me an opportunity to see what a fine bow
her man could make and that she might wish me a good night she knows
i am not over ready to oblige him with my company if i happen to be
otherwise engaged i could not help an air a little upon the fretful 
when i found she had nothing of moment to say to me and when i saw her
intention 

she smiled off the visible fretfulness that the man might go away in
good humour with himself 

he bowed to the ground and would have taken my hand his whip in the
other i did not like to be so companioned i withdrew my hand but
touched his elbow with a motion as if from his low bow i had supposed
him falling and would have helped him up a sad slip it might have
been said i 

a mad girl smiled it off my mother 

he was quite put out took his horse-bridle stumped back back back 
bowing till he run against his servant i laughed he mounted his
horse i mounted up stairs after a little lecture and my head is so
filled with him that i must resume my intention in hopes to divert you
for a few moments 

take it then his best and his worst as i said before 

hickman is a sort of fiddling busy yet to borrow a word from you 
unbusy man has a great deal to do and seems to me to dispatch nothing 
irresolute and changeable in every thing but in teasing me with his
nonsense which yet it is evident he must continue upon my mother's
interest more than upon his own hopes for none have i given him 

then i have a quarrel against his face though in his person for
a well-thriven man tolerably genteel not to his features so much
neither for what as you have often observed are features in a
man but hickman with strong lines and big cheek and chin bones 
has not the manliness in his aspect which lovelace has with the most
regular and agreeable features 

then what a set and formal mortal he is in some things i have not been
able yet to laugh him out of his long bid and beads indeed that is 
because my mother thinks they become him and i would not be so free
with him as to own i should choose to have him leave it off if he did 
so particular is the man he would certainly if left to himself fall
into a king-william's cravat or some such antique chin-cushion as by
the pictures of that prince one sees was then the fashion 

as to his dress in general he cannot indeed be called a sloven but
sometimes he is too gaudy at other times too plain to be uniformly
elegant and for his manners he makes such a bustle with them and
about them as would induce one to suspect that they are more strangers
than familiars to him you i know lay this to his fearfulness of
disobliging or offending indeed your over-doers generally give the
offence they endeavour to avoid 

the man however is honest is of family has a clear and good estate 
and may one day be a baronet an't please you he is humane and
benevolent tolerably generous as people say and as i might say too 
if i would accept of his bribes which he offers in hopes of having them
all back again and the bribed into the bargain a method taken by all
corrupters from old satan to the lowest of his servants yet to speak
in the language of a person i am bound to honour he is deemed a prudent
man that is to say a good manager 

then i cannot but confess that now i like not anybody better whatever
i did once 

he is no fox-hunter he keeps a pack indeed but prefers not his hounds
to his fellow-creatures no bad sign for a wife i own he loves his
horse but dislikes racing in a gaming way as well as all sorts of
gaming then he is sober modest they say virtuous in short 
has qualities that mothers would be fond of in a husband for their
daughters and for which perhaps their daughters would be the happier
could they judge as well for themselves as experience possibly may
teach them to judge for their future daughters 

nevertheless to own the truth i cannot say i love the man nor i
believe ever shall 

strange that these sober fellows cannot have a decent sprightliness 
a modest assurance with them something debonnaire which need not be
separated from that awe and reverence when they address a woman which
should shew the ardour of their passion rather than the sheepishness
of their nature for who knows not that love delights in taming the
lion-hearted that those of the sex who are most conscious of their
own defect in point of courage naturally require and therefore as
naturally prefer the man who has most of it as the most able to give
them the requisite protection that the greater their own cowardice as
it would be called in a man the greater is their delight in subjects
of heroism as may be observed in their reading which turns upon
difficulties encountered battles fought and enemies overcome four or
five hundred by the prowess of one single hero the more improbable the
better in short that their man should be a hero to every one living
but themselves and to them know no bound to his humility a woman has
some glory in subduing a heart no man living can appall and hence too
often the bravo assuming the hero and making himself pass for one 
succeeds as only a hero should 

but as for honest hickman the good man is so generally meek as i
imagine that i know not whether i have any preference paid me in his
obsequiousness and then when i rate him he seems to be so naturally
fitted for rebuke and so much expects it that i know not how to
disappoint him whether he just then deserve it or not i am sure he
has puzzled me many a time when i have seen him look penitent for faults
he has not committed whether to pity or laugh at him 

you and i have often retrospected the faces and minds of grown people 
that is to say have formed images for their present appearances 
outside and in as far as the manners of the persons would justify us
in the latter what sort of figures they made when boys and girls and
i'll tell you the lights in which hickman solmes and lovelace our
three heroes have appeared to me supposing them boys at school 

solmes i have imagined to be a little sordid pilfering rogue who would
purloin from every body and beg every body's bread and butter from him 
while as i have heard a reptile brag he would in a winter-morning spit
upon his thumbs and spread his own with it that he might keep it all
to himself 

hickman a great overgrown lank-haired chubby boy who would be
hunched and punched by every body and go home with his finger in his
eye and tell his mother 

while lovelace i have supposed a curl-pated villain full of fire 
fancy and mischief an orchard-robber a wall-climber a horse-rider
without saddle or bridle neck or nothing a sturdy rogue in short 
who would kick and cuff and do no right and take no wrong of any
body would get his head broke then a plaster for it or let it heal
of itself while he went on to do more mischief and if not to get 
to deserve broken bones and the same dispositions have grown up with
them and distinguish them as me with no very material alteration 

only that all men are monkeys more or less or else that you and i
should have such baboons as these to choose out of is a mortifying
thing my dear 

i am sensible that i am a little out of season in treating thus
ludicrously the subject i am upon while you are so unhappy and if
my manner does not divert you as my flightiness used to do i am
inexcusable both to you and to my own heart which i do assure you 
notwithstanding my seeming levity is wholly in your case 

as this letter is extremely whimsical i will not send it until i can
accompany it with something more solid and better suited to your
unhappy circumstances that is to say to the present subject of our
correspondence to-morrow as i told you will be wholly my own and of
consequence yours adieu therefore till then 




letter iii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe tuesday morn 7 o'clock


my mother and cousin are already gone off in our chariot and four 
attended by their doughty squire on horseback and he by two of his
own servants and one of my mother's they both love parade when they
go abroad at least in compliment to one another which shews that
each thinks the other does robin is your servant and mine and nobody's
else and the day is all my own 

i must begin with blaming you my dear for your resolution not to
litigate for your right if occasion were to be given you justice is
due to ourselves as well as to every body else still more must i blame
you for declaring to your aunt and sister that you will not since as
they will tell it to your father and brother the declaration must needs
give advantage to spirits who have so little of that generosity for
which you are so much distinguished 

there never was a spirit in the world that would insult where it dared 
but it would creep and cringe where it dared not let me remind you of
a sentence of your own the occasion for which i have forgotten that
little spirits will always accommodate themselves to the temper of those
they would work upon will fawn upon a sturdy-tempered person will
insult the meek  and another given to miss biddulph upon an occasion
you cannot forget if we assume a dignity in what we say and do and
take care not to disgrace by arrogance our own assumption every body
will treat us with respect and deference 

i remember that you once made an observation which you said you was
obliged to mrs norton for and she to her father upon an excellent
preacher who was but an indifferent liver that to excel in theory 
and to excel in practice generally required different talents which
did not always meet in the same person  do you my dear to whom theory
and practice are the same thing in almost every laudable quality apply
the observation to yourself in this particular case where resolution
is required and where the performance of the will of the defunct is the
question no more to be dispensed with by you in whose favour it was
made than by any body else who have only themselves in view by breaking
through it 

i know how much you despise riches in the main but yet it behoves
you to remember that in one instance you yourself have judged them
valuable in that they put it into our power to lay obligations while
the want of that power puts a person under a necessity of receiving
favours receiving them perhaps from grudging and narrow spirits who
know not how to confer them with that grace which gives the principal
merit to a beneficent action  reflect upon this my dear and see how
it agrees with the declaration you have made to your aunt and sister 
that you would not resume your estate were you to be turned out of
doors and reduced to indigence and want their very fears that you will
resume point out to you the necessity of resuming upon the treatment
you meet with 

i own that at first reading i was much affected with your mother's
letter sent with the patterns a strange measure however from a mother 
for she did not intend to insult you and i cannot but lament that so
sensible and so fine a woman should stoop to so much art as that letter
is written with and which also appears in some of the conversations
you have given me an account of see you not in her passiveness what
boisterous spirits can obtain from gentler merely by teasing and
ill-nature 

i know the pride they have always taken in calling you a
harlowe clarissa harlowe so formal and so set at every word 
when they are grave or proudly solemn your mother has learnt it of
them and as in marriage so in will has been taught to bury her own
superior name and family in theirs i have often thought that the same
spirit governed them in this piece of affectation and others of
the like nature as harlowe-place and so-forth though not the elder
brother's or paternal seat as governed the tyrant tudor who marrying
elizabeth the heiress of the house of york made himself a title to
a throne which he would not otherwise have had being but a base
descendant of the lancaster line and proved a gloomy and vile
husband to her for no other cause than because she had laid him under
obligations which his pride would not permit him to own nor would the
unprincely wretch marry her till he was in possession of the crown that
he might not be supposed to owe it to her claim 


 henry vii 


you have chidden me and again will i doubt not for the liberties i
take with some of your relations but my dear need i tell you that
pride in ourselves must and for ever will provoke contempt and bring
down upon us abasement from others have we not in the case of a
celebrated bard observed that those who aim at more than their due 
will be refused the honours they may justly claim i am very much loth
to offend you yet i cannot help speaking of your relations as well as
of others as i think they deserve praise or dispraise is the reward
or punishment which the world confers or inflicts on merit or
demerit and for my part i neither can nor will confound them in the
application i despise them all but your mother indeed i do and as
for her but i will spare the good lady for your sake and one
argument indeed i think may be pleaded in her favour in the present
contention she who has for so many years and with such absolute
resignation borne what she has borne to the sacrifice of her own will 
may think it an easier task than another person can imagine it for her
daughter to give up hers but to think to whose instigation all this is
originally owing god forgive me but with such usage i should have been
with lovelace before now yet remember my dear that the step which
would not be wondered at from such a hasty-tempered creatures as me 
would be inexcusable in such a considerate person as you 

after your mother has been thus drawn in against her judgment i am the
less surprised that your aunt hervey should go along with her since
the two sisters never separate i have inquired into the nature of the
obligation which mr hervey's indifferent conduct in his affairs has
laid him under it is only it seems that your brother has paid off
for him a mortgage upon one part of his estate which the mortgagee was
about to foreclose and taken it upon himself a small favour as he has
ample security in his hands from kindred to kindred but such a one it
is plain as has laid the whole family of the herveys under obligation
to the ungenerous lender who has treated him and his aunt too as
miss dolly hervey has privately complained with the less ceremony ever
since 

must i my dear call such a creature your brother i believe i
must because he is your father's son there is no harm i hope in
saying that 

i am concerned that you ever wrote at all to him it was taking too
much notice of him it was adding to his self-significance and a call
upon him to treat you with insolence a call which you might have been
assured he would not fail to answer 

but such a pretty master as this to run riot against such a man as
lovelace who had taught him to put his sword into his scabbard when
he had pulled it out by accident these in-door insolents who turning
themselves into bugbears frighten women children and servants are
generally cravens among men were he to come fairly across me and say
to my face some of the free things which i am told he has said of me
behind my back or that as by your account he has said of our sex i
would take upon myself to ask him two or three questions although he
were to send me a challenge likewise 

i repeat you know that i will speak my mind and write it too he is
not my brother can you say he is yours so for your life if you
are just you can't be angry with me for would you side with a false
brother against a true friend a brother may not be a friend but a
friend will always be a brother mind that as your uncle tony says 

i cannot descend so low as to take very particular notice of the
epistles of these poor souls whom you call uncles yet i love to divert
myself with such grotesque characters too but i know them and love you 
and so cannot make the jest of them which their absurdities call for 

you chide me my dear for my freedoms with relations still nearer and
dearer to you than either uncles or brother or sister you had better
have permitted me uncorrected to have taken my own way do not use
those freedoms naturally arise from the subject before us and from whom
arises that subject i pray you can you for one quarter of an hour
put yourself in my place or in the place of those who are still more
indifferent to the case than i can be if you can but although i have
you not often at advantage i will not push you 


 see vol i letter xxviii 


permit me however to subjoin that well may your father love your
mother as you say he does a wife who has no will but his but were
there not think you some struggles between them at first gout out of
the question your mother when a maiden had as i have heard and it
is very likely a good share of those lively spirits which she liked
in your father she has none of them now how came they to be
dissipated ah my dear she has been too long resident in
trophonius's cave i doubt 


 spectator vol viii no 599 


let me add one reflection upon this subject and so entitle myself to
your correction for all at once it is upon the conduct of those wives
 for you and i know more than one such who can suffer themselves to
be out-blustered and out-gloomed of their own wills instead of being
fooled out of them by acts of tenderness and complaisance i wish 
that it does not demonstrate too evidently that with some of the
sex insolent controul is a more efficacious subduer than kindness or
concession upon my life my dear i have often thought that many of us
are mere babies in matrimony perverse fools when too much indulged and
humoured creeping slaves when treated harshly but shall it be said 
that fear makes us more gentle obligers than love forbid it honour 
forbid it gratitude forbid it justice that any woman of sense should
give occasion to have this said of her 

did i think you would have any manner of doubt from the style or
contents of this letter whose saucy pen it is that has run on at this
rate i would write my name at length since it comes too much from my
heart to disavow it but at present the initials shall serve and i will
go on again directly 

a h 




letter iv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morn 10 o'clock mar 23 


i will postpone or perhaps pass by several observations which i had to
make on other parts of your letters to acquaint you that mr hickman 
when in london found an opportunity to inquire after mr lovelace's
town life and conversation 

at the cocoa-tree in pall-mall he fell in with two of his intimates 
the one named belton the other mowbray both very free of speech 
and probably as free in their lives but the waiters paid them great
respect and on mr hickman's inquiry after their characters called
them men of fortune and honour 

they began to talk of mr lovelace of their own accord and upon some
gentlemen in the room asking when they expected him in town answered 
that very day mr hickman as they both went on praising lovelace 
said he had indeed heard that mr lovelace was a very fine
gentleman and was proceeding when one of them interrupting him 
said only sir the finest gentleman in the world that's all 

and so he led them on to expatiate more particularly on his qualities 
which they were very fond of doing but said not one single word in
behalf of his morals mind that also in your uncle's style 

mr hickman said that mr lovelace was very happy as he understood in
the esteem of the ladies and smiling to make them believe he did not
think amiss of it that he pushed his good fortune as far as it would
go 

well put mr hickman thought i equally grave and sage thou seemest
not to be a stranger to their dialect as i suppose this is but i said
nothing for i have often tried to find out this might sober man of my
mother's but hitherto have only to say that he is either very moral 
or very cunning 

no doubt of it replied one of them and out came an oath with a who
would not that he did as every young fellow would do 

very true said my mother's puritan but i hear he is in treaty with a
fine lady 

so he was mr belton said the devil fetch her  vile brute   for
she engrossed all his time but that the lady's family ought to
be something  mr hickman desired to be excused repeating what though
he had repeated what was worse  and might dearly repent their usage of a
man of his family and merit 

perhaps they may think him too wild cries hickman and theirs is i
hear a very sober family 

sober said one of them a good honest word dick where the devil has
it lain all this time d me if i have heard of it in this sense
ever since i was at college and then said he we bandied it about
among twenty of us as an obsolete 

these my dear are mr lovelace's companions you'll be pleased to take
notice of that 

mr hickman said this put him out of countenance 

i stared at him and with such a meaning in my eyes as he knew how to
take and so was out of countenance again 

don't you remember my dear who it was that told a young gentleman
designed for the gown who owned that he was apt to be too easily put
out of countenance when he came into free company that it was a bad
sign that it looked as if his morals were not proof but that his good
disposition seemed rather the effect of accident and education than
of such a choice as was founded upon principle  and don't you know
the lesson the very same young lady gave him to endeavour to stem and
discountenance vice and to glory in being an advocate in all companies
for virtue  particularly observing that it was natural for a man to
shun or to give up what he was ashamed of  which she should be sorry
to think his case on this occasion adding that vice was a coward and
would hide its head when opposed by such a virtue as had presence of
mind and a full persuasion of its own rectitude to support it  the
lady you may remember modestly put her doctrine into the mouth of a
worthy preacher dr lewen as she used to do when she has a mind not
to be thought what she is at so early an age and that it may give more
weight to any thing she hit upon that might appear tolerable was her
modest manner of speech 

mr hickman upon the whole professed to me upon his second recovery 
that he had no reason to think well of mr lovelace's morals from what
he heard of him in town yet his two intimates talked of his being more
regular than he used to be that he had made a very good resolution 
that of old tom wharton was the expression that he would never give
a challenge nor refuse one which they praised in him highly that in
short he was a very brave fellow and the most agreeable companion in
the world and would one day make a great figure in his country since
there was nothing he was not capable of 

i am afraid that his last assertion is too true and this my dear is
all that mr hickman could pick up about him and is it not enough to
determine such a mind as yours if not already determined 

yet it must be said too that if there be a woman in the world that can
reclaim him it is you and by your account of his behaviour in the
interview between you i own i have some hope of him at least this
i will say that all the arguments he then used with you seemed to
be just and right and if you are to be his but no more of that he
cannot after all deserve you 




letter v

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday afternoon march 23 


an unexpected visitor has turned the course of my thoughts and changed
the subject i had intended to pursue the only one for whom i would have
dispensed with my resolution not to see any body all the dedicated day 
a visiter whom according to mr hickman's report from the expectations
of his libertine friends i supposed to be in town now my dear have
i saved myself the trouble of telling you that it was you too-agreeable
rake our sex is said to love to trade in surprises yet have i by
my promptitude surprised myself out of mine i had intended you must
know to run twice the length before i had suffered you to know so much
as to guess who and whether man or woman my visiter was but since you
have the discovery at so cheap a rate you are welcome to it 

the end of his coming was to engage my interest with my charming
friend and he was sure that i knew all your mind to acquaint him what
he had to trust to 

he mentioned what had passed in the interview between you but could not
be satisfied with the result of it and with the little satisfaction he
had obtained from you the malice of your family to him increasing and
their cruelty to you not abating his heart he told me was in tumults 
for fear you should be prevailed upon in favour of a man despised by
every body 

he gave me fresh instance of indignities cast upon himself by your
uncles and brother and declared that if you suffered yourself to
be forced into the arms of the man for whose sake he was loaded with
undeserved abuses you should be one of the youngest as you would be
one of the loveliest widows in england and that he would moreover call
your brother to account for the liberties he takes with his character to
every one he meets with 

he proposed several schemes for you to choose some one of them in
order to enable you to avoid the persecutions you labour under one
i will mention that you will resume your estate and if you find
difficulties that can be no otherwise surmounted that you will either
avowedly or privately as he had proposed to you accept of lady betty
lawrance's or lord m s assistance to instate you in it he declared 
that if you did he would leave absolutely to your own pleasure
afterwards and to the advice which your cousin morden on his arrival
should give you whether to encourage his address or not as you should
be convinced of the sincerity of the reformation which his enemies make
him so much want 

i had now a good opportunity to sound him as you wished mr hickman
would lord m as to the continued or diminished favour of the ladies 
and of his lordship towards you upon their being acquainted with the
animosity of your relations to them as well as to their kinsman i laid
hold of the opportunity and he satisfied me by reading some passages
of a letter he had about him from lord m that an alliance with
you and that on the foot of your own single merit would be the most
desirable event to them that could happen and so far to the purpose of
your wished inquiry does his lordship go in this letter that he assures
him that whatever you suffer in fortune from the violence of your
relations on his account he and lady sarah and lady betty will join to
make it up to him and yet that the reputation of a family so splendid 
would no doubt in a case of such importance to the honour of both 
make them prefer a general consent 

i told him as you yourself i knew had done that you were extremely
averse to mr solmes and that might you be left to your own choice 
it would be the single life as to himself i plainly said that you had
great and just objections to him on the score of his careless morals 
that it was surprising that men who gave themselves the liberties he
was said to take should presume to think that whenever they took it
into their heads to marry the most virtuous and worthy of the sex
were to fall to their lot that as to the resumption it had been very
strongly urged by myself and would be still further urged though you
had been hitherto averse to that measure that your chief reliance and
hopes were upon your cousin morden and that to suspend or gain time
till he arrived was as i believed your principal aim 

i told him that with regard to the mischief he threatened neither the
act nor the menace could serve any end but theirs who persecuted you as
it would give them a pretence for carrying into effect their compulsory
projects and that with the approbation of all the world since he must
not think the public would give its voice in favour of a violent young
man of no extraordinary character as to morals who should seek to rob
a family of eminence of a child so valuable and who threatened if he
could not obtain her in preference to a man chosen by themselves that
he would avenge himself upon them all by acts of violence 

i added that he was very much mistaken if he thought to intimidate you
by such menaces for that though your disposition was all sweetness 
yet i knew not a steadier temper in the world than yours nor one more
inflexible as your friends had found and would still further find if
they continued to give occasion for its exertion whenever you thought
yourself in the right and that you were ungenerously dealt with in
matters of too much moment to be indifferent about miss clarissa
harlowe mr lovelace let me tell you said i timid as her foresight
and prudence may make her in some cases where she apprehends dangers to
those she loves is above fear in points where her honour and the true
dignity of her sex are concerned in short sir you must not think to
frighten miss clarissa harlowe into such a mean or unworthy conduct as
only a weak or unsteady mind can be guilty of 

he was so very far from intending to intimidate you he said that he
besought me not to mention one word to you of what had passed between
us that what he had hinted at which carried the air of menace was
owing to the fervour of his spirits raised by his apprehensions of
losing all hope of you for ever and on a supposition that you were to
be actually forced into the arms of a man you hated that were this to
be the case he must own that he should pay very little regard to the
world or its censures especially as the menaces of some of your family
now and their triumph over him afterwards would both provoke and
warrant all the vengeance he could take 

he added that all the countries in the world were alike to him but on
your account so that whatever he should think fit to do were you lost
to him he should have noting to apprehend from the laws of this 

i did not like the determined air he spoke this with he is certainly
capable of great rashness 

he palliated a little this fierceness which by the way i warmly
censured by saying that while you remain single he will bear all the
indignities that shall be cast upon him by your family but would
you throw yourself if you were still farther driven into any other
protection if not lord m s or that of the ladies of his family into
my mother's suppose or would you go to london to private lodgings 
where he would never visit you unless he had your leave and from
whence you might make your own terms with your relations he would be
entirely satisfied and would as he had said before wait the effect of
your cousin's arrival and your free determination as to his own fate 
adding that he knew the family so well and how much fixed they were
upon their measures as well as the absolute dependence they had upon
your temper and principles that he could not but apprehend the worst 
while you remained in their power and under the influence of their
persuasions and menaces 


 perhaps it will be unnecessary to remind the reader that
 although mr lovelace proposes as above to miss howe that
 her fair friend should have recourse to the protection of
 mrs howe if farther driven yet he had artfully taken
 care by means of his agent in the harlowe family not only
 to inflame the family against her but to deprive her of
 mrs howe's and of every other protection being from the
 first resolved to reduce her to an absolute dependence upon
 himself see vol i letter xxxi 


we had a great deal of other discourse but as the reciting of the rest
would be but a repetition of many of the things that passed between you
and him in the interview between you in the wood-house i refer myself
to your memory on that occasion 


 see vol i letter xxxvi 


and now my dear upon the whole i think it behoves you to make
yourself independent all then will fall right this man is a violent
man i should wish methinks that you should not have either him or
solmes you will find if you get out of your brother's and sister's
way what you can or cannot do with regard to either 

if your relations persist in their foolish scheme i think i will take
his hint and at a proper opportunity sound my mother mean time let
me have your clear opinion of the resumption which i join with lovelace
in advising you can but see how your demand will work to demand is
not to litigate but be your resolution what it will do not by any
means repeat to them that you will not assert your right if they go on
to give you provocation you may have sufficient reason to change your
mind and let them expect that you will change it they have not the
generosity to treat you the better for disclaiming the power they know
you have that i think need not now be told you i am my dearest
friend and ever will be 

your most affectionate and faithful anna howe 




letter vi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wedn night march 22 


on the report made by my aunt and sister of my obstinacy my assembled
relations have taken an unanimous resolution as betty tells me it
is against me this resolution you will find signified to me in the
inclosed letter from my brother just now brought me be pleased to
return it when perused i may have occasion for it in the altercations
between my relations and me 


 


miss clary 

i am commanded to let you know that my father and uncles having heard
your aunt hervey's account of all that has passed between her and you 
having heard from your sister what sort of treatment she has had from
you having recollected all that has passed between your mother and
you having weighed all your pleas and proposals having taken into
consideration their engagements with mr solmes that gentleman's
patience and great affection for you and the little opportunity you
have given yourself to be acquainted either with his merit or his
proposals having considered two points more to wit the wounded
authority of a father and mr solmes's continued entreaties little
as you have deserved regard from him that you may be freed from a
confinement to which he is desirous to attribute your perverseness to
him  averseness i should have said but let it go  he being unable to
account otherwise for so strong a one supposing you told truth to your
mother when you asserted that your heart was free and which mr solmes
is willing to believe though nobody else does for all these reasons 
it is resolved that you shall go to your uncle antony's and you must
accordingly prepare yourself to do so you will have but short notice of
the day for obvious reasons 

i will honestly tell you the motive for your going it is a double one 
first that they may be sure that you shall not correspond with any
body they do not like for they find from mrs howe that by some means
or other you do correspond with her daughter and through her perhaps
with somebody else and next that you may receive the visits of mr 
solmes which you have thought fit to refuse to do here by which means
you have deprived yourself of the opportunity of knowing whom and what
you have hitherto refused 

if after one fortnight's conversation with mr solmes and after
you have heard what your friends shall further urge in his behalf 
unhardened by clandestine correspondencies you shall convince them 
that virgil's amor omnibus idem for the application of which i refer
you to the georgic as translated by dryden is verified in you as well
as in the rest of the animal creation and that you cannot or will
not forego your prepossession in favour of the moral the virtuous 
the pious lovelace  i would please you if i could   it will then be
considered whether to humour you or to renounce you for ever 

it is hoped that as you must go you will go cheerfully your uncle
antony will make ever thing at his house agreeable to you but indeed he
won't promise that he will not at proper times draw up the bridge 

your visiters besides mr solmes will be myself if you permit me that
honour miss clary your sister and as you behave to mr solmes your
aunt hervey and your uncle harlowe and yet the two latter will
hardly come neither if they think it will be to hear your whining
vocatives betty barnes will be your attendant and i must needs tell
you miss that we none of us think the worse of the faithful maid for
your dislike of her although betty who would be glad to oblige you 
laments it as a misfortune 

your answer is required whether you cheerfully consent to go and your
indulgent mother bids me remind you from her that a fortnight's visit
from mr solmes are all that is meant at present 

i am as you shall be pleased to deserve yours etc james harlowe jun 


so here is the master-stroke of my brother's policy called upon to
consent to go to my uncle antony's avowedly to receive mr solmes's
visits a chapel a moated-house deprived of the opportunity of
corresponding with you or of any possibility of escape should
violence be used to compel me to be that odious man's 


 these violent measures and the obstinate perseverance of
 the whole family in them will be the less wondered at when
 it is considered that all the time they were but as so many
 puppets danced upon mr lovelace's wires as he boasts vol 
 i letter xxxi 


late as it was when i received this insolent letter i wrote an answer
to it directly that it might be ready for the writer's time of rising 
i inclose the rough draught of it you will see by it how much his vile
hint from the georgic and his rude one of my whining vocatives have
set me up besides as the command to get ready to go to my uncle's is
in the name of my father and uncles it is but to shew a piece of the
art they accuse me of to resent the vile hint i have so much reason to
resent in order to palliate my refusal of preparing to go to my uncle's 
which refusal would otherwise be interpreted an act of rebellion by my
brother and sister for it seems plain to me that they will work but
half their ends if they do not deprive me of my father's and uncles'
favour even although it were possible for me to comply with their own
terms 


you might have told me brother in three lines what the determination
of my friends was only that then you would not have had room to
display your pedantry by so detestable an allusion or reference to the
georgic give me leave to tell you sir that if humanity were a branch
of your studies at the university it has not found a genius in you for
mastering it nor is either my sex or myself though a sister i see
entitled to the least decency from a brother who has studied as it
seems rather to cultivate the malevolence of his natural temper 
than any tendency which one might have hoped his parentage if not his
education might have given him to a tolerable politeness 

i doubt not that you will take amiss my freedom but as you have
deserved it from me i shall be less and less concerned on that score 
as i see you are more and more intent to shew your wit at the expense of
justice and compassion 

the time is indeed come that i can no longer bear those contempts and
reflections which a brother least of all men is entitled to give and
let me beg of you one favour sir it is this that you will not give
yourself any concern about a husband for me till i shall have the
forwardness to propose a wife to you pardon me sir but i cannot
help thinking that could i have the art to get my father of my side i
should have as much right to prescribe for you as you have for me 

as to the communication you make me i must take upon me to say that
although i will receive as becomes me any of my father's commands 
yet as this signification is made by a brother who has shewn of late
so much of an unbrotherly animosity to me for no reason in the world
that i know if but that he believes he has in me one sister too much
for his interest i think myself entitled to conclude that such a
letter as you have sent me is all your own and of course to declare 
that while i so think it i will not willingly nor even without
violence go to any place avowedly to receive mr solmes's visits 

i think myself so much entitled to resent your infamous hint and this
as well for the sake of my sex as for my own that i ought to declare 
as i do that i will not receive any more of your letters unless
commanded to do so by an authority i never will dispute except in a
case where i think my future as well as present happiness concerned and
were such a case to happen i am sure my father's harshness will be less
owing to himself than to you and to the specious absurdities of your
ambitious and selfish schemes very true sir 

one word more provoked as i am i will add that had i been thought as
really obstinate and perverse as of late i am said to be i should not
have been so disgracefully treated as i have been lay your hand upon
your heart brother and say by whose instigations and examine what i
have done to deserve to be made thus unhappy and to be obliged to style
myself

your injured sister cl harlowe 


when my dear you have read my answer to my brother's letter tell me
what you think of me it shall go 




letter vii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday morning march 23 


my letter has set them all in tumults for it seems none of them went
home last night and they all were desired to be present to give
their advice if i should refuse compliance with a command thought so
reasonable as it seems this is 

betty tells me that at first my father in a rage was for coming up
to me himself and for turning me out of his doors directly nor was he
restrained till it was hinted to him that that was no doubt my wish 
and would answer all my perverse views but the result was that my
brother having really as my mother and aunt insisted taken wrong
measures with me should write again in a more moderate manner for
nobody else was permitted or cared to write to such a ready scribbler 
and i having declared that i would not receive any more of his
letters without command from a superior authority my mother was
to give it hers and accordingly has done so in the following lines 
written on the superscription of his letter to me which letter also
follows together with my reply 


clary harlowe 

receive and read this with the temper that becomes your sex your
character your education and your duty and return an answer to it 
directed to your brother 

charlotte harlowe 


to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morning 

once more i write although imperiously prohibited by a younger sister 
your mother will have me do so that you may be destitute of all
defence if you persist in your pervicacy shall i be a pedant miss 
for this word she is willing to indulge in you the least appearance of
that delicacy for which she once as well as every body else admired
you before you knew lovelace i cannot however help saying that and
she and your aunt hervey will have it  they would fain favour you 
if they could  that i may have provoked from you the answer they
nevertheless own to be so exceedingly unbecoming i am now learning you
see to take up the softer language where you have laid it down this
then is the case 

they entreat they pray they beg they supplicate will either of
these do miss clary that you will make no scruple to go to your uncle
antony's and fairly i am to tell you for the very purpose mentioned
in my last or tis presumable they need not entreat beg pray 
supplicate thus much is promised to mr solmes who is your advocate 
and very uneasy that you should be under constraint supposing that your
dislike to him arises from that and if he finds that you are not to be
moved in his favour when you are absolutely freed from what you call
a controul he will forbear thinking of you whatever it costs him 
he loves you too well and in this i really think his understanding 
which you have reflected upon is to be questioned 

only for one fornight  sic  therefore permit his visits your
education you tell me of mine you know ought to make you incapable
of rudeness to any body he will not i hope be the first man myself
excepted whom you ever treated rudely purely because he is esteemed
by us all i am what you have a mind to make me friend brother 
or servant i wish i could be still more polite to so polite to so
delicate a sister 

ja harlowe 

you must still write to me if you condescend to reply your mother
will not be permitted to be disturbed with your nothing-meaning
vocatives vocatives once more madam clary repeats the pedant your
brother 


 


to james harlowe junior esq 

permit me my ever-dear and honoured papa and mamma in this manner to
surprise you into an audience presuming this will be read to you 
since i am denied the honour of writing to you directly let me beg of
you to believe that nothing but the most unconquerable dislike
could make me stand against your pleasure what are riches what are
settlements to happiness let me not thus cruelly be given up to a man
my very soul is averse to permit me to repeat that i cannot honestly
be his had i a slighter notion of the matrimonial duty than i have 
perhaps i might but when i am to bear all the misery and that for
life when my heart is less concerned in this matter than my soul 
my temporary perhaps than my future good why should i be denied the
liberty of refusing that liberty is all i ask 

it were easy for me to give way to hear mr solmes talk for the
mentioned fortnight although it is impossible for me say what he
would to get over my dislike to him but the moated-house the chapel
there and the little mercy my brother and sister who are to be there 
have hitherto shewn me are what i am extremely apprehensive of and why
does my brother say my restraint is to be taken off and that too
at mr solmes's desire when i am to be a still closer prisoner than
before the bridge threatened to be drawn up and no dear papa and mamma
near me to appeal to in the last resort 

transfer not i beseech you to a brother and sister your own authority
over your child to a brother and sister who treat me with unkindness
and reproach and as i have too much reason to apprehend misrepresent
my words and behaviour or greatly favoured as i used to be it is
impossible i should be sunk so low in your opinions as i unhappily am 

let but this my hard my disgraceful confinement be put an end to 
permit me my dear mamma to pursue my needleworks in your presence 
as one of your maidens and you shall be witness that it is not either
wilfulness or prepossession that governs me let me not however be put
out of your own house let mr solmes come and go as my papa pleases 
let me but stay or retire when he comes as i can and leave the rest to
providence 

forgive me brother that thus with an appearance of art i address
myself to my father and mother to whom i am forbidden to approach 
or to write hard it is to be reduced to such a contrivance forgive
likewise the plain dealing i have used in the above with the nobleness
of a gentleman and the gentleness due from a brother to a sister 
although of late you have given me but little room to hope either for
your favour or compassion yet having not deserved to forfeit either i
presume to claim both for i am confident it is at present much in your
power although but my brother my honoured parents both i bless god 
in being to give peace to the greatly disturbed mind of

your unhappy sister cl harlowe 


betty tells me my brother has taken my letter all in pieces and has
undertaken to write such an answer to it as shall confirm the wavering 
so it is plain that i should have moved somebody by it but for this
hard-hearted brother god forgive him 




letter viii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday night march 23 


i send you the boasted confutation-letter just now put into my
hands my brother and sister my uncle antony and mr solmes are 
i understand exulting over the copy of it below as an unanswerable
performance 


to miss clarissa harlowe

once again my inflexible sister i write to you it is to let you know 
that the pretty piece of art you found out to make me the vehicle
of your whining pathetics to your father and mother has not had the
expected effect 

i do assure you that your behaviour has not been misrepresented nor
need it your mother who is solicitous to take all opportunities of
putting the most favourable constructions upon all you do has been
forced as you well know to give you up upon full trial no need then
of the expedient of pursuing your needleworks in her sight she cannot
bear your whining pranks and it is for her sake that you are not
permitted to come into her presence nor will be but upon her own
terms 

you had like to have made a simpleton of your aunt hervey yesterday 
she came down from you pleading in your favour but when she was asked 
what concession she had brought you to she looked about her and knew
not what to answer so your mother when surprised into the beginning
of your cunning address to her and to your father under my name for
i had begun to read it little suspecting such an ingenious
subterfuge and would then make me read it through wrung her hands oh 
her dear child her dear child must not be so compelled but when she
was asked whether she would be willing to have for her son-in-law the
man who bids defiance to her whole family and who had like to have
murdered her son and what concession she had gained from her dear child
to merit this tenderness and that for one who had apparently deceived
her in assuring her that her heart was free then could she look
about her as her sister had done before then was she again brought to
herself and to a resolution to assert her authority  not to transfer
it witty presumer   over the rebel who of late has so ungratefully
struggled to throw it off 

you seem child to have a high notion of the matrimonial duty and i'll
warrant like the rest of your sex one or two whom i have the honour
to know excepted that you will go to church to promise what you will
never think of afterwards but sweet child as your worthy mamma norton
calls you think a little less of the matrimonial at least till you
come into that state and a little more of the filial duty 

how can you say you are to bear all the misery when you give so large
a share of it to your parents to your uncles to your aunt to myself 
and to your sister who all for eighteen years of your life loved you
so well 

if of late i have not given you room to hope for my favour or
compassion it is because of late you have not deserved either i know
what you mean little reflecting fool by saying it is much in my
power although but your brother a very slight degree of relationship
with you to give you that peace which you can give yourself whenever
you please 

the liberty of refusing pretty miss is denied you because we are all
sensible that the liberty of choosing to every one's dislike must
follow the vile wretch you have set your heart upon speaks this plainly
to every body though you won't he says you are his and shall be his 
and he will be the death of any man who robs him of his property so 
miss we have a mind to try this point with him my father supposing he
has the right of a father in his child is absolutely determined not to
be bullied out of that right and what must that child be who prefers
the rake to a father 

this is the light in which this whole debate ought to be taken blush 
then delicacy that cannot bear the poet's amor omnibus idem blush 
then purity be ashamed virgin modesty and if capable of conviction 
surrender your whole will to the will of the honoured pair to whom you
owe your being and beg of all your friends to forgive and forget the
part you have of late acted 

i have written a longer letter than ever i designed to write to you 
after the insolent treatment and prohibition you have given me and 
now i am commissioned to tell you that your friends are as weary of
confining you as you are of being confined and therefore you must
prepare yourself to go in a very few days as you have been told before 
to your uncle antony's who notwithstanding you apprehensions will
draw up his bridge when he pleases will see what company he pleases
in his own house nor will he demolish his chapel to cure you of your
foolish late-commenced antipathy to a place of divine worship the more
foolish as if we intended to use force we could have the ceremony
pass in your chamber as well as any where else 

prejudice against mr solmes has evidently blinded you and there is a
charitable necessity to open your eyes since no one but you thinks
the gentleman so contemptible in his person nor for a plain country
gentleman who has too much solid sense to appear like a coxcomb justly
blamable in his manners and as to his temper it is necessary you
should speak upon fuller knowledge than at present it is plain you can
have of him 

upon the whole it will not be amiss that you prepare for your speedy
removal as well for the sake of your own conveniency as to shew your
readiness in one point at least to oblige your friends one of whom
you may if you please to deserve it reckon though but a brother 

james harlowe 

p s if you are disposed to see mr solmes and to make some excuses
to him for past conduct in order to be able to meet him somewhere else
with the less concern to yourself for your freedoms with him he shall
attend you where you please 

if you have a mind to read the settlements before they are read to you
for your signing they shall be sent you up who knows but they will
help you to some fresh objections your heart is free you know it
must for did you not tell your mother it was and will the pious
clarissa fib to her mamma 

i desire no reply the case requires none yet i will ask you have you 
miss no more proposals to make 


 


i was so vexed when i came to the end of this letter the postscript to
which perhaps might be written after the others had seen the letter 
that i took up my pen with an intent to write to my uncle harlowe about
resuming my own estate in pursuance of your advice but my heart failed
me when i recollected that i had not one friend to stand by or
support me in my claim and it would but the more incense them without
answering any good end oh that my cousin were but come 

is it not a sad thing beloved as i thought myself so lately by every
one that now i have not one person in the world to plead for me to
stand by me or who would afford me refuge were i to be under the
necessity of asking for it i who had the vanity to think i had as
many friends as i saw faces and flattered myself too that it was not
altogether unmerited because i saw not my maker's image either in man 
woman or child high or low rich or poor whom comparatively i
loved not as myself would to heaven my dear that you were married 
perhaps then you could have induced mr hickman to afford me
protection till these storms were over-blown but then this might have
involved him in difficulties and dangers and that i would not have done
for the world 

i don't know what to do not i god forgive me but i am very
impatient i wish but i don't know what to wish without a sin yet i
wish it would please god to take me to his mercy i can meet with none
here what a world is this what is there in it desirable the good we
hope for so strangely mixed that one knows not what to wish for and
one half of mankind tormenting the other and being tormented themselves
in tormenting for here is this my particular case my relations cannot
be happy though they make me unhappy except my brother and sister 
indeed and they seem to take delight in and enjoy the mischief they
make 

but it is time to lay down my pen since my ink runs nothing but gall 




letter ix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday morning six o'clock

mrs betty tells me there is now nothing talked of but of my going
to my uncle antony's she has been ordered she says to get ready to
attend me thither and upon my expressing my averseness to go had the
confidence to say that having heard me often praise the romanticness
of the place she was astonished her hands and eyes lifted up that i
should set myself against going to a house so much in my taste 

i asked if this was her own insolence or her young mistress's
observation 

she half-astonished me by her answer that it was hard she could not say
a good thing without being robbed of the merit of it 

as the wench looked as if she really thought she had said a good thing 
without knowing the boldness of it i let it pass but to say the
truth this creature has surprised me on many occasions with her
smartness for since she has been employed in this controuling office 
i have discovered a great deal of wit in her assurance which i never
suspected before this shews that insolence is her talent and that
fortune in placing her as a servant to my sister had not done so
kindly by her as nature for that she would make a better figure as her
companion and indeed i can't help thinking sometimes that i myself was
better fitted by nature to be the servant of both than the mistress of
the one or the servant of the other and within these few months past 
fortune has acted by me as if she were of the same mind 


friday ten o'clock

going down to my poultry-yard just now i heard my brother and sister
and that solmes laughing and triumphing together the high yew-hedge
between us which divides the yard from the garden hindered them from
seeing me 

my brother as i found has been reading part or the whole perhaps of
the copy of his last letter mighty prudent and consistent you'll say 
with their views to make me the wife of a man from whom they conceal
not what were i to be such it would be kind in them to endeavour to
conceal out of regard to my future peace but i have no doubt that
they hate me heartily 

indeed you was up with her there brother said my sister you need not
have bid her not to write to you i'll engage with all her wit she'll
never pretend to answer it 

why indeed said my brother with an air of college-sufficiency with
which he abounds for he thinks nobody writes like himself i believe
i have given her a choke-pear what say you mr solmes 

why sir said he i think it is unanswerable but will it not
exasperate he more against me 

never fear mr solmes said my brother but we'll carry our point if
she do not tire you out first we have gone too far in this method to
recede her cousin morden will soon be here so all must be over before
that time or she'll be made independent of us all 

there miss howe is the reason given for their jehu-driving 

mr solmes declared that he was determined to persevere while my
brother gave him any hopes and while my father stood firm 

my sister told my brother that he hit me charmingly on the reason why
i ought to converse with mr solmes but that he should not be so smart
upon the sex for the faults of this perverse girl 

some lively and i suppose witty answer my brother returned for he
and mr solmes laughed outrageously upon it and bella laughing too 
called him a naughty man but i heard no more of what they said they
walked on into the garden 

if you think my dear that what i have related did not again fire me 
you will find yourself mistaken when you read at this place the enclosed
copy of my letter to my brother struck off while the iron was red hot 

no more call me meek and gentle i beseech you 


to mr james harlowe

friday morning 

sir 

if notwithstanding your prohibition i should be silent on occasion of
your last you would perhaps conclude that i was consenting to go to
my uncle antony's upon the condition you mention my father must do as
he pleases with his child he may turn me out of his doors if he thinks
fit or give you leave to do it but loth as i am to say it i should
think it very hard to be carried by force to any body's house when i
have one of my own to go to 

far be it from me notwithstanding yours and my sister's provocations 
to think of my taking my estate into my own hands without my father's
leave but why if i must not stay any longer here may i not be
permitted to go thither i will engage to see nobody they would not have
me see if this favour be permitted favour i call it and am ready to
receive and acknowledge it as such although my grandfather's will has
made it a matter of right 

you ask me in a very unbrotherly manner in the postscript to your
letter if i have not some new proposals to make i have since you put
the question three or four new ones all i think though i will be
bold to say that submitting the case to any one person whom you have
not set against me my old ones ought not to have been rejected i think
this why then should i not write it nor have you any more reason to
storm at your sister for telling it you since you seem in your letter
to make it your boast how you turned my mother and my aunt hervey
against me than i have to be angry with my brother for treating me as
no brother ought to treat a sister 

these then are my new proposals 

that as above i may not be hindered from going to reside under such
conditions as shall be prescribed to me which i will most religiously
observe at my grandfather's late house i will not again in this place
call it mine i have reason to think it a great misfortune that ever it
was so indeed i have 

if this be not permitted i desire leave to go for a month or for what
time shall be thought fit to miss howe's i dare say my mother will
consent to it if i have my father's permission to go 

if this neither be allowed and i am to be turned out of my father's
house i beg i may be suffered to go to my aunt hervey's where i will
inviolably observe her commands and those of my father and mother 

but if this neither is to be granted it is my humble request that i
may be sent to my uncle harlowe's instead of my uncle antony's i mean
not by this any disrespect to my uncle antony but his moat with his
bridge threatened to be drawn up and perhaps the chapel there terrify
me beyond expression notwithstanding your witty ridicule upon me for
that apprehension 

if this likewise be refused and if i must be carried to the
moated-house which used to be a delightful one to me let it be
promised me that i shall not be compelled to receive mr solmes's
visits there and then i will as cheerfully go as ever i did 

so here sir are your new proposals and if none of them answer
your end as each of them tends to the exclusion of that ungenerous
persister's visits be pleased to know that there is no misfortune i
will not submit to rather than yield to give my hand to the man to whom
i can allow no share in my heart 

if i write in a style different from my usual and different from what
i wished to have occasion to write an impartial person who knew what i
have accidentally within this hour past heard from your mouth and my
sister's and a third person's particularly the reason you give
for driving on at this violent rate to wit my cousin morden's
soon-expected arrival would think i have but too much reason for it 
then be pleased to remember sir that when my whining vocatives have
subjected me to so much scorn and ridicule it is time were it but to
imitate examples so excellent as you and my sister set me that i should
endeavour to assert my character in order to be thought less an alien 
and nearer of kin to you both than either of you have of late seemed to
suppose me 

give me leave in order to empty my female quiver at once to add that
i know no other reason which you can have for forbidding me to reply to
you after you have written what you pleased to me than that you are
conscious you cannot answer to reason and to justice the treatment you
have given me 

if it be otherwise i an unlearned an unlogical girl younger by near
a third than yourself will venture so assured am i of the justice of
my cause to put my fate upon an issue with you with you sir who have
had the advantage of an academical education whose mind must have been
strengthened by observation and learned conversation and who pardon
my going so low have been accustomed to give choke-pears to those you
vouchsafe to write against 

any impartial person your late tutor for instance or the pious and
worthy dr lewen may be judge between us and if either give it against
me i will promise to resign to my destiny provided if it be given
against you that my father will be pleased only to allow of my negative
to the person so violently sought to be imposed upon me 

i flatter myself brother that you will the readier come into this
proposal as you seem to have a high opinion of your talents for
argumentation and not a low one of the cogency of the arguments
contained in your last letter and if i can possibly have no advantage
in a contention with you if the justice of my cause affords me not any
 as you have no opinion it will it behoves you methinks to shew to
an impartial moderator that i am wrong and you not so 

if this be accepted there is a necessity for its being carried on
by the pen the facts being stated and agreed upon by both and the
decision to be given according to the force of the arguments each shall
produce in support of their side of the question for give me leave
to say i know too well the manliness of your temper to offer at a
personal debate with you 

if it be not accepted i shall conclude that you cannot defend your
conduct towards me and shall only beg of you that for the future you
will treat me with the respect due to a sister from a brother who would
be thought as polite as learned 

and now sir if i have seemed to shew some spirit not foreign to the
relation i have the honour to be to you and to my sister and which may
be deemed not altogether of a piece with that part of my character which
once it seems gained me every one's love be pleased to consider to
whom and to what it is owing and that this part of that character was
not dispensed with till it subjected me to that scorn and to those
insults which a brother who has been so tenacious of an independence
voluntarily given up by me and who has appeared so exalted upon it 
ought not to have shewn to any body much less to a weak and defenceless
sister who is notwithstanding an affectionate and respectful one and
would be glad to shew herself to be so upon all future occasions as she
has in every action of her past life although of late she has met with
such unkind returns 

cl harlowe


 


see my dear the force and volubility as i may say of passion for
the letter i send you is my first draught struck off without a blot or
erasure 


 


friday three o'clock

as soon as i had transcribed it i sent it down to my brother by mrs 
betty 

the wench came up soon after all aghast with a laud miss what have
you done what have you written for you have set them all in a joyful
uproar 


 


my sister is but this moment gone from me she came up all in a flame 
which obliged me abruptly to lay down my pen she ran to me 

o spirit said she tapping my neck a little too hard and is it come to
this at last 

do you beat me bella 

do you call this beating you only tapping you shoulder thus said
she tapping again more gently this is what we expected it would come
to you want to be independent my father has lived too long for you 

i was going to speak with vehemence but she put her handkerchief
before my mouth very rudely you have done enough with your pen mean
listener as you are but know that neither your independent scheme 
nor any of your visiting ones will be granted you take your course 
perverse one call in your rake to help you to an independence upon
your parents and a dependence upon him do so prepare this
moment resolve what you will take with you to-morrow you go depend
upon it to-morrow you go no longer shall you stay here watching
and creeping about to hearken to what people say tis determined 
child you go to-morrow my brother would have come up to tell you so 
but i persuaded him to the contrary for i know not what had become
of you if he had such a letter such an insolent such a
conceited challenger o thou vain creature but prepare yourself i
say to-morrow you go my brother will accept of your bold challenge 
but it must be personal and at my uncle antony's or perhaps at mr 
solmes's 

thus she ran on almost foaming with passion till quite out of
patience i said no more of your violence bella had i known in what
way you designed to come up you should not have found my chamber-door
open talk to your servant in this manner unlike you as i bless god i
am i am nevertheless your sister and let me tell you that i won't go
to-morrow nor next day nor next day to that except i am dragged away
by violence 

what not if your father or mother command it girl said she intending
another word by her pause and manner before it came out 

let it come to that bella then i shall know what to say but it shall
be from their own mouths if i do not from yours nor you betty's and
say another word to me in this manner and be the consequence what it
may i will force myself into their presence and demand what i have
done to be used thus 

come along child come along meekness taking my hand and leading me
towards the door demand it of them now you'll find both your despised
parents together what does your heart fail you for i resisted 
being thus insolently offered to be led and pulled my hand from her 

i want not to be led said i and since i can plead your invitation i
will go and was posting to the stairs accordingly in my passion but
she got between me and the door and shut it 

let me first bold one said she apprize them of your visit for your
own sake let me for my brother is with them but yet opening it again 
seeing me shrink back go if you will why don't you go why don't
you go miss following me to my closet whither i retired with my
heart full and pulled the sash-door after me and could no longer hold
in my tears 

nor would i answer one word to her repeated aggravations nor to her
demands upon me to open my door for the key was on the inside nor so
much as turn my head towards her as she looked through the glass at me 
and at last which vexed her to the heart i drew the silk curtain that
she should not see me and down she went muttering all the way 

is not this usage enough to provoke a rashness never before thought of 

as it is but too probable that i may be hurried away to my uncle's
without being able to give you previous notice of it i beg that as soon
as you shall hear of such a violence you would send to the usual place 
to take back such of your letters as may not have reached my hands or
to fetch any of mine that may be there 

may you my dear be always happy prays you clarissa harlowe 

i have received your four letters but am in such a ferment that i
cannot at present write to them 




letter x

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday night march 24 


i have a most provoking letter from my sister i might have supposed she
would resent the contempt she brought upon herself in my chamber her
conduct surely can only be accounted for by the rage instigate by a
supposed rivalry 


to miss clarissa harlowe

i am to tell you that your mother has begged you off for the morrow 
but that you have effectually done your business with her as well as
with every body else 

in your proposals and letter to your brother you have shewn yourself so
silly and so wise so young and so old so gentle and so obstinate 
so meek and so violent that never was there so mixed a character 

we all know of whom you have borrowed this new spirit and yet the seeds
of it must be in your heart or it could not all at once shew itself so
rampant it would be doing mr solmes a spite to wish him such a shy 
un-shy girl another of your contradictory qualities i leave you to
make out what i mean by it 

here miss your mother will not let you remain she cannot have any
peace of mind while such a rebel of a child is so near her your aunt
hervey will not take a charge which all the family put together cannot
manage your uncle harlowe will not see you at his house till you are
married so thanks to your own stubbornness you have nobody that will
receive you but your uncle antony thither you must go in a very
few days and when there your brother will settle with you in my
presence all that relates to your modest challenge for it is accepted 
i assure you dr lewen will possibly be there since you make choice of
him another gentleman likewise were it but to convince you that he is
another sort of man than you have taken him to be your two uncles
will possibly be there too to see that the poor weak and defenceless
sister has fair play so you see miss what company your smart
challenge will draw together 

prepare for the day you'll soon be called upon adieu mamma norton's
sweet child 

arab harlowe 


 


i transcribed this letter and sent it to my mother with these lines 


a very few words my ever-honoured mamma 

if my sister wrote the enclosed by my father's direction or yours i
must submit to the usage she gave me in it with this only observation 
that it is short of the personal treatment i have received from her 
if it be of her own head why then madam but i knew that when i was
banished from your presence yet till i know if she has or has not
authority for this usage i will only write further that i am

your very unhappy child cl harlowe 


 


this answer i received in an open slip of paper but it was wet in one
place i kissed the place for i am sure it was blistered as i may
say by a mother's tear she must i hope she must have written it
reluctantly 


to apply for protection where authority is defied is bold your
sister who would not in your circumstances have been guilty of your
perverseness may allowably be angry at you for it however we have
told her to moderate her zeal for our insulted authority see if you
can deserve another behaviour than that you complain of which cannot 
however be so grievous to you as the cause of it is to

your more unhappy mother 

how often must i forbid you any address to me 


 


give me my dearest miss howe your opinion what i can what i ought
to do not what you would do pushed as i am pushed in resentment or
passion since so instigated you tell me that you should have been
with somebody before now and steps taken in passion hardly ever fail
of giving cause for repentance but acquaint me with what you think
cool judgment and after-reflection whatever were to be the event will
justify 

i doubt not your sympathizing love but yet you cannot possibly feel
indignity and persecution so very sensibly as the immediate sufferer
feels them are fitter therefore to advise me than i am myself 

i will here rest my cause have i or have i not suffered or borne
enough and if they will still persevere if that strange persister
against an antipathy so strongly avowed will still persist say what
can i do what course pursue shall i fly to london and endeavour to
hide myself from lovelace as well as from all my own relations till
my cousin morden arrives or shall i embark for leghorn in my way to my
cousin yet my sex my youth considered how full of danger is this
last measure and may not my cousin be set out for england while i
am getting thither what can i do tell me tell me my dearest miss
howe  for i dare not trust myself   tell me what i can do 

eleven o'clock at night 

i have been forced to try to compose my angry passions at my
harpsichord having first shut close my doors and windows that i might
not be heard below as i was closing the shutters of the windows the
distant whooting of the bird of minerva as from the often-visited
woodhouse gave the subject in that charming ode to wisdom which does
honour to our sex as it was written by one of it i made an essay a
week ago to set the three last stanzas of it as not unsuitable to my
unhappy situation and after i had re-perused the ode those were
my lesson and i am sure in the solemn address they contain to the
all-wise and all-powerful deity my heart went with my fingers 

i enclose the ode and my effort with it the subject is solemn my
circumstances are affecting and i flatter myself that i have not been
quite unhappy in the performance if it obtain your approbation i shall
be out of doubt and should be still more assured could i hear it tried
by your voice and finger 



ode to wisdom by a lady


 i 
 the solitary bird of night
 thro' thick shades now wings his flight 
 and quits his time-shook tow'r 
 where shelter'd from the blaze of day 
 in philosophic gloom he lay 
 beneath his ivy bow'r 

 ii 
 with joy i hear the solemn sound 
 which midnight echoes waft around 
 and sighing gales repeat 
 fav'rite of pallas i attend 
 and faithful to thy summons bend
 at wisdom's awful seat 

 iii 
 she loves the cool the silent eve 
 where no false shows of life deceive 
 beneath the lunar ray 
 here folly drops each vain disguise 
 nor sport her gaily colour'd dyes 
 as in the beam of day 

 iv 
 o pallas queen of ev'ry art 
 that glads the sense and mends the heart 
 blest source of purer joys 
 in ev'ry form of beauty bright 
 that captivates the mental sight
 with pleasure and surprise 

 v 
 to thy unspotted shrine i bow 
 attend thy modest suppliant's vow 
 that breathes no wild desires 
 but taught by thy unerring rules 
 to shun the fruitless wish of fools 
 to nobler views aspires 

 vi 
 not fortune's gem ambition's plume 
 nor cytherea's fading bloom 
 be objects of my prayer 
 let av'rice vanity and pride 
 those envy'd glitt'ring toys divide 
 the dull rewards of care 

 vii 
 to me thy better gifts impart 
 each moral beauty of the heart 
 by studious thought refin'd 
 for wealth the smile of glad content 
 for pow'r its amplest best extent 
 an empire o'er my mind 

 viii 
 when fortune drops her gay parade 
 when pleasure's transient roses fade 
 and wither in the tomb 
 unchang'd is thy immortal prize 
 thy ever-verdant laurels rise
 in undecaying bloom 

 ix 
 by thee protected i defy
 the coxcomb's sneer the stupid lie
 of ignorance and spite 
 alike contemn the leaden fool 
 and all the pointed ridicule
 of undiscerning wit 

 x 
 from envy hurry noise and strife 
 the dull impertinence of life 
 in thy retreat i rest 
 pursue thee to the peaceful groves 
 where plato's sacred spirit roves 
 in all thy beauties drest 

 xi 
 he bad ilyssus' tuneful stream
 convey thy philosophic theme
 of perfect fair and good 
 attentive athens caught the sound 
 and all her list'ning sons around
 in awful silence stood 

 xii 
 reclaim'd her wild licentious youth 
 confess'd the potent voice of truth 
 and felt its just controul 
 the passions ceas'd their loud alarms 
 and virtue's soft persuasive charms
 o'er all their senses stole 

 xiii 
 thy breath inspires the poet's song
 the patriot's free unbiass'd tongue 
 the hero's gen'rous strife 
 thine are retirement's silent joys 
 and all the sweet engaging ties
 of still domestic life 

 xiv 
 no more to fabled names confin'd 
 to thee supreme all perfect mind 
 my thought direct their flight 
 wisdom's thy gift and all her force
 from thee deriv'd eternal source
 of intellectual light 

 xv 
 o send her sure her steady ray 
 to regulate my doubtful way 
 thro' life's perplexing road 
 the mists of error to controul 
 and thro' its gloom direct my soul
 to happiness and good 

 xvi 
 beneath her clear discerning eye
 the visionary shadows fly
 of folly's painted show 
 she sees thro' ev'ry fair disguise 
 that all but virtue's solid joys 
 is vanity and woe 

 facsimile of the music to the ode to wisdom verse 14  




letter xi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday midnight 


i have now a calmer moment envy ambition high and selfish resentment 
and all the violent passions are now most probably asleep all around
me and shall now my own angry ones give way to the silent hour and
subside likewise they have given way to it and i have made use of
the gentler space to re-peruse your last letters i will touch upon
some passages in them and that i may the less endanger the but-just
recovered calm i will begin with what you write about mr hickman 

give me leave to say that i am sorry you cannot yet persuade yourself
to think better that is to say more justly of that gentleman than
your whimsical picture of him shews you so or at least than the
humourousness of your natural vein would make one think you do 

i do not imagine that you yourself will say he sat for the picture
you have drawn and yet upon the whole it is not greatly to his
disadvantage were i at ease in my mind i would venture to draw a much
more amiable and just likeness 

if mr hickman has not that assurance which some men have he has that
humility and gentleness which many want and which with the infinite
value he has for you will make him one of the fittest husbands in the
world for a person of your vivacity and spirit 

although you say i would not like him myself i do assure you if mr 
solmes were such a man as mr hickman in person mind and behaviour 
my friends and i had never disagreed about him if they would not have
permitted me to live single mr lovelace having such a character as
he has would have stood no chance with me this i can the more boldly
aver because i plainly perceive that of the two passions love
and fear this man will be able to inspire one with a much greater
proportion of the latter than i imagine is compatible with the former 
to make a happy marriage 

i am glad you own that you like no one better than mr hickman in a
little while i make no doubt you will be able if you challenge
your heart upon it to acknowledge that you like not any man so well 
especially when you come to consider that the very faults you find in
mr hickman admirably fit him to make you happy that is to say if it
be necessary to your happiness that you should have your own will in
every thing 

but let me add one thing and that is this you have such a sprightly
turn that with your admirable talents you would make any man in the
world who loved you look like a fool except he were such a one as
lovelace 

forgive me my dear for my frankness and forgive me also for so soon
returning to subject so immediately relative to myself as those i now
must touch upon 

you again insist strengthened by mr lovelace's opinion upon my
assuming my own estate  i cannot call it resuming having never been
in possession of it  and i have given you room to expect that i will
consider this subject more closely than i have done before i must
however own that the reasons which i had to offer against taking
your advice were so obvious that i thought you would have seen
them yourself and been determined by them against your own hastier
counsel but since this has not been so and that both you and mr 
lovelace call upon me to assume my own estate i will enter briefly into
the subject 

in the first place let me ask you my dear supposing i were inclined
to follow your advice whom have i to support me in my demand my uncle
harlowe is one of my trustees he is against me my cousin morden is the
other he is in italy and very probably may be set against me too 
my brother has declared that they are resolved to carry their points
before he arrives so that as they drive on all will probably be
decided before i can have an answer from him were i to write and 
confined as i am were the answer to come in time and they did not like
it they would keep it from me 

in the next place parents have great advantages in every eye over the
child if she dispute their pleasure in the disposing of her and so
they ought since out of twenty instances perhaps two could not be
produced when they were not in the right the child in the wrong 

you would not i am sure have me accept of mr lovelace's offered
assistance in such a claim if i would embrace any other person's who
else would care to appear for a child against parents ever till of
late so affectionate but were such a protector to be found what a
length of time would it take up in a course of litigation the will and
the deeds have flaws in them they say my brother sometimes talks
of going to reside at the grove i suppose with a design to make
ejectments necessary were i to offer at assuming or were i to marry
mr lovelace in order to give him all the opposition and difficulty the
law would help him to give 

these cases i have put to myself for argument-sake but they are
all out of the question although any body were to be found who would
espouse my cause for i do assure you i would sooner beg my bread than
litigate for my right with my father since i am convinced that whether
the parent do his duty by the child or not the child cannot be excused
from doing hers to him and to go to law with my father what a
sound has that you will see that i have mentioned my wish as an
alternative and as a favour to be permitted if i must be put out of
his house to go thither but not one step further can i go and you see
how this is resented 

upon the whole then what have i to hope for but a change in my
father's resolution and is there any probability of that such an
ascendancy as my brother and sister have obtained over every body 
and such an interest to pursue the enmity they have now openly avowed
against me 

as to mr lovelace's approbation of your assumption-scheme i wonder not
at he very probably penetrates the difficulties i should have to bring
it to effect without his assistance were i to find myself as free as i
would wish myself to be perhaps mr lovelace would stand a worse chance
with me than his vanity may permit him to imagine notwithstanding the
pleasure you take in rallying me on his account how know you but
all that appears to be specious and reasonable in his offers such as 
standing his chance for my favour after i became independent as i may
call it  by which i mean no more than to have the liberty of refusing
for my husband a man whom it hurts me but to think of in that light  
and such as his not visiting me but by my leave and till mr morden
come and till i am satisfied of his reformation how know you i say 
that he gives not himself these airs purely to stand better in your
graces as well as mine by offering of his own accord conditions which
he must needs think would be insisted on were the case to happen 

then am i utterly displeased with him to threaten as he threatens yet
to pretend that it is not to intimidate me and to beg of you not to
tell me when he must know you would and no doubt intended that you
should is so meanly artful the man must think he has a frightened
fool to deal with i to join hands with such a man of violence my
own brother the man whom he threatens and what has mr solmes done to
him is he to be blamed if he thinks a person would make a wife worth
having to endeavour to obtain her oh that my friends would but
leave me to my own way in this one point for have i given the man
encouragement sufficient to ground these threats upon were mr solmes a
man to whom i could but be indifferent it might be found that to have
spirit would very little answer the views of that spirit it is my
fortune to be treated as a fool by my brother but mr lovelace shall
find yet i will let him know my mind and then it will come with a
better grace to your knowledge 

mean time give me leave to tell you that it goes against me in my
cooler moments unnatural as my brother is to me to have you my dear 
who are my other self write such very severe reflections upon him in
relation to the advantage lovelace had over him he is not indeed your
brother but remember that you write to his sister upon my word my
dear miss howe you dip your pen in gall whenever you are offended and
i am almost ready to question whether i read some of your expressions
against others of my relations as well as him although in my favour 
whether you are so thoroughly warranted to call other people to account
for their warmth should we not be particularly careful to keep clear
of the faults we censure and yet i am so angry both at my brother and
sister that i should not have taken this liberty with my dear friend 
notwithstanding i know you never loved them had you not made so light
of so shocking a transaction where a brother's life was at stake when
his credit in the eye of the mischievous sex has received a still deeper
wound than he personally sustained and when a revival of the same
wicked resentments which may end more fatally is threatened 

his credit i say in the eye of the mischievous sex who is not
warranted to call it so when it is re as the two libertines his
companions gloried to resolve never to give a challenge and among whom
duelling is so fashionable a part of brutal bravery that the man of
temper who is mostly i believe the truly brave man is often at
a loss so to behave as to avoid incurring either a mortal guilt or a
general contempt 

to enlarge a little upon this subject may we not infer that those who
would be guilty of throwing these contempts upon a man of temper who
would rather pass by a verbal injury than to imbrue his hands in blood 
know not the measure of true magnanimity nor how much nobler it is to
forgive and even how much more manly to despise than to resent an
injury were i a man methinks i should have too much scorn for a
person who could wilfully do me a mean wrong to put a value upon his
life equal to what i put upon my own what an absurdity because a man
had done me a small injury that i should put it in his power at least 
to an equal risque to do me and those who love me an irreparable
one were it not a wilful injury nor avowed to be so there could not
be room for resentment 

how willingly would i run away from myself and what most concerns
myself if i could this digression brings me back again to the occasion
of it and that to the impatience i was in when i ended my last
letter for my situation is not altered i renew therefore my former
earnestness as the new day approaches and will bring with it perhaps
new trials that you will as undivestedly as possible of favour or
resentment tell me what you would have me do for if i am obliged to
go to my uncle antony's all i doubt will be over with me yet how to
avoid it that's the difficulty 

i shall deposit this the first thing when you have it lose no time i
pray you to advise lest it be too late 

your ever obliged cl harlowe 




letter xii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe saturday march 25 


what can i advise you to do my noble creature your merit is your
crime you can no more change your nature than your persecutors can
theirs your distress is owing to the vast disparity between you and
them what would you have of them do they not act in character and to
whom to an alien you are not one of them they have two dependencies
in their hope to move you to compliance upon their impenetrableness
one  i'd give it a more proper name if i dared  the other on the
regard you have always had for your character  have they not heretofore
owned as much   and upon your apprehensions from that of lovelace which
would discredit you should you take any step by his means to extricate
yourself then they know that resentment and unpersuadableness are not
natural to you and that the anger they have wrought you up to will
subside as all extraordinaries soon do and that once married you will
make the best of it 

but surely your father's son and eldest daughter have a view by
communicating to so narrow a soul all they know of your just aversion to
him to entail unhappiness for life upon you were you to have the man
who is already more nearly related to them than ever he can be to you 
although the shocking compulsion should take place 

as to that wretch's perseverance those only who know not the man 
will wonder at it he has not the least delicacy his principal view in
marriage is not to the mind how shall those beauties be valued which
cannot be comprehended were you to be his and shew a visible want of
tenderness to him it is my opinion he would not be much concerned at
it i have heard you well observe from your mrs norton that a person
who has any over-ruling passion will compound by giving up twenty
secondary or under-satisfactions though more laudable ones in order to
have that gratified 

i'll give you the substance of a conversation  no fear you can be made
to like him worse than you do already  that passed between sir harry
downeton and this solmes but three days ago as sir harry told it but
yesterday to my mother and me it will confirm to you that what your
sister's insolent betty reported he should say of governing by fear 
was not of her own head 

sir harry told her he wondered he should wish to obtain you so much
against you inclination as every body knew it would be if he did 

he matter'd not that he said coy maids made the fondest wives  a
sorry fellow   it would not at all grieve him to see a pretty woman make
wry faces if she gave him cause to vex her and your estate by the
convenience of its situation would richly pay him for all he could bear
with your shyness 

he should be sure he said after a while of your complaisance if not
of your love and in that should be happier than nine parts in ten of
his married acquaintance 

what a wretch is this 

for the rest your known virtue would be as great a security to him as
he could wish for 

she will look upon you said sir harry if she be forced to marry you 
as elizabeth of france did upon philip ii of spain when he received
her on his frontiers as her husband who was to have been but her
father-in-law that is with fear and terror rather than with
complaisance and love and you will perhaps be as surly to her as that
old monarch was to his young bride 

fear and terror the wretch the horrid wretch said looked pretty in
a bride as well as in a wife and laughing  yes my dear the hideous
fellow laughed immoderately as sir harry told us when he said it   it
should be his care to perpetuate the occasion for that fear if he could
not think he had the love and truly he was of opinion that if
love and fear must be separated in matrimony the man who made himself
feared fared best 

if my eyes would carry with them the execution which the eyes of the
basilisk are said to do i would make it my first business to see this
creature 

my mother however says it would be a prodigious merit in you if you
could get over your aversion to him where asks she  as you have been
asked before  is the praise-worthiness of obedience if it be only paid
in instance where we give up nothing 

what a fatality that you have no better an option either a scylla or a
charybdis 

were it not you i should know how barbarously as you are used to
advise you in a moment but such a noble character to suffer from a
 supposed rashness and indiscretion of such a nature would as i have
heretofore observed be a wound to the sex 

while i was in hope that the asserting of your own independence would
have helped you i was pleased that you had one resource as i thought 
but now that you have so well proved that such a step would not avail
you i am entirely at a loss what to say 

i will lay down my pen and think 


 


i have considered and considered again but i protest i know no more
what to say now than before only this that i am young like yourself 
and have a much weaker judgment and stronger passions than you have 

i have heretofore said that you have offered as much as you ought in
offering to live single if you were never to marry the estate they are
so loth should go out of their name would in time i suppose revert
to your brother and he or his would have it perhaps much more
certainly this way than by the precarious reversions which solmes makes
them hope for have you put this into their odd heads my dear the
tyrant word authority as they use it can be the only objection against
this offer 

one thing you must consider that if you leave your parents your duty
and love will not suffer you to justify yourself by an appeal against
them and so you'll have the world against you and should lovelace
continue his wild life and behave ungratefully to you will not his
baseness seem to justify their cruel treatment of you as well as their
dislike of him 

may heaven direct you for the best i can only say that for my own
part i would do any thing go any where rather than be compelled to
marry the man i hate and were he such a man as solmes must always
hate nor could i have borne what you have borne if from father and
uncles not from brother and sister 

my mother will have it that after they have tried their utmost efforts
to bring you into their measures and find them ineffectual they will
recede but i cannot say i am of her mind she does not own she has
any authority for this but her own conjecture i should otherwise have
hoped that your uncle antony and she had been in on one secret and
that favourable to you woe be to one of them at least  to you uncle to
be sure i mean  if they should be in any other 

you must if possible avoid being carried to that uncle's the man the
parson your brother and sister present they'll certainly there marry
you to the wretch nor will your newly-raised spirit support you in your
resistance on such an occasion your meekness will return and you
will have nothing for it but tears  tears despised by them all  and
ineffectual appeals and lamentations and these tears when the ceremony
is profaned you must suddenly dry up and endeavour to dispose of
yourself to such a humble frame of mind as may induce your new-made
lord to forgive all your past declarations of aversion 

in short my dear you must then blandish him over with a confession 
that all your past behaviour was maidenly reserve only and it will be
your part to convince him of the truth of his imprudent sarcasm that
the coyest maids make the fondest wives thus will you enter the state
with a high sense of obligation to his forgiving goodness and if you
will not be kept to it by that fear by which he proposes to govern i
am much mistaken 

yet after all i must leave the point undetermined and only to be
determined as you find they recede from their avowed purpose or
resolve to remove you to your uncle antony's but i must repeat my
wishes that something may fall out that neither of these men may call
you his and may you live single my dearest friend till some man
shall offer that may be as worthy of you as man can be 

but yet methinks i would not that you who are so admirably qualified
to adorn the married state should be always single you know i am
incapable of flattery and that i always speak and write the sincerest
dictates of my heart nor can you from what you must know of your
own merit taken only in a comparative light with others doubt my
sincerity for why should a person who delight to find out and admire
every thing that is praise-worthy in another be supposed ignorant of
like perfections in herself when she could not so much admire them in
another if she had them not herself and why may not i give her those
praises which she would give to any other who had but half of her
excellencies especially when she is incapable of pride and vain-glory 
and neither despises others for the want of her fine qualities nor
overvalues herself upon them over-values did i say how can that be 

forgive me my beloved friend my admiration of you increased as it
is by every letter you write will not always be held down in silence 
although in order to avoid offending you i generally endeavour to keep
it from flowing to my pen when i write to you or to my lips whenever
i have the happiness to be in your company 

i will add nothing though i could add a hundred things on account of
your latest communications but that i am

your ever affectionate and faithful anna howe 

i hope i have pleased you with my dispatch i wish i had been able to
please you with my requested advice 

you have given new beauties to the charming ode which you have
transmitted to me what pity that the wretches you have to deal with 
put you out of your admirable course in the pursuit of which like the
sun you was wont to cheer and illuminate all you shone upon 




letter xiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday morning march 26 


how soothing a thing is praise from those we love whether conscious
or not of deserving it it cannot but give us great delight to see
ourselves stand high in the opinion of those whose favour we are
ambitious to cultivate an ingenuous mind will make this farther use of
it that if he be sensible that it does not already deserve the charming
attributes it will hasten before its friend finds herself mistaken to
obtain the graces it is complimented for and this it will do as well
in honour to itself as to preserve its friend's opinion and justify
her judgment may this be always my aim and then you will not only
give the praise but the merit and i shall be more worthy of that
friendship which is the only pleasure i have to boast of 

most heartily i thank you for the kind dispatch of your last favour how
much am i indebted to you and even to your honest servant under what
obligations does my unhappy situation lay me 

but let me answer the kind contents of it as well as i may 

as to getting over my disgusts to mr solmes it is impossible to
be done while he wants generosity frankness of heart benevolence 
manners and every qualification that distinguishes the worthy man o my
dear what a degree of patience what a greatness of soul is required
in the wife not to despise a husband who is more ignorant more
illiterate more low-minded than herself the wretch vested with
prerogatives who will claim rule in virtue of them and not to permit
whose claim will be as disgraceful to the prescribing wife as to the
governed husband how shall such a husband as this be borne were he 
for reasons of convenience and interest even to be our choice but 
to be compelled to have such a one and that compulsion to arise from
motives as unworthy of the prescribers as of the prescribed who can
think of getting over an aversion so justly founded how much easier to
bear the temporary persecutions i labour under because temporary than
to resolve to be such a man's for life were i to comply must i not
leave my relations and go to him a month will decide the one perhaps 
but what a duration of woe will the other be every day it is likely 
rising to witness to some new breach of an altar-vowed duty 

then my dear the man seems already to be meditating vengeance against
me for an aversion i cannot help for yesterday my saucy gaoleress
assured me that all my oppositions would not signify that pinch of
snuff holding out her genteel finger and thumb that i must have mr 
solmes that therefore i had not best carry my jest too far for that
mr solmes was a man of spirit and had told her that as i should
surely be his i acted very unpolitely since if he had not more mercy
 that was her word i know not if it were his  than i had i might have
cause to repent the usage i gave him to the last day of my life but
enough of this man who by what you repeat from sir harry downeton 
has all the insolence of his sex without any one quality to make that
insolence tolerable 

i have receive two letters from mr lovelace since his visit to you 
which make three that i have not answered i doubt not his being very
uneasy but in his last he complains in high terms of my silence not
in the still small voice or rather style of an humble lover but in a
style like that which would probably be used by a slighted protector 
and his pride is again touched that like a thief or eves-dropper he
is forced to dodge about in hopes of a letter and returns five miles
 and then to an inconvenient lodging without any 

his letters and the copy of mine to him shall soon attend you till
when i will give you the substance of what i wrote him yesterday 

i take him severely to task for his freedom in threatening me through
you with a visit to mr solmes or to my brother i say that surely 
i must be thought to be a creature fit to bear any thing that violence
and menaces from some of my own family are not enough for me to bear in
order to make me avoid him but that i must have them from him too if
i oblige those to whom it is both my inclination and duty to oblige in
every thing that is reasonable and in my power 

very extraordinary i tell him that a violent spirit shall threaten to
do a rash and unjustifiable thing which concerns me but a little and
himself a great deal if i do not something as rash my character and
sex considered to divert him from it 

i even hint that however it would affect me were any mischief to
happen on my own account yet there are persons as far as i know who
in my case would not think there would be reason for much regret were
such a committed rashness as he threatens mr solmes with to rid her of
two persons whom had she never known she had never been unhappy 

this is plain-dealing my dear and i suppose he will put it into still
plainer english for me 

i take his pride to task on his disdaining to watch for my letters and
for his eves-dropping language and say that surely he has the less
reason to think so hardly of his situation since his faulty morals
are the cause of all and since faulty morals deservedly level all
distinction and bring down rank and birth to the canaille and to the
necessity which he so much regrets of appearing if i must descent to
his language as an eves-dropper and a thief and then i forbid him
ever to expect another letter from me that is to subject him to such
disgraceful hardships 

as to the solemn vows and protestations he is so ready upon all
occasions to make they have the less weight with me i tell him 
as they give a kind of demonstration that he himself from his own
character thinks there is reason to make them deeds are to me the
only evidence of intentions and i am more and more convinced of
the necessity of breaking off a correspondence with a person whose
addresses i see it is impossible either to expect my friends to
encourage or him to appear to wish that they should think him worthy of
encouragement 

what therefore i repeatedly desire is that since his birth alliances 
and expectations are such as will at any time if his immoral character
be not an objection procure him at least equal advantages in a woman
whose taste and inclinations moreover might be better adapted to
his own i insist upon it as well as advise it that he give up all
thoughts of me and the rather as he has all along by his threatening
and unpolite behaviour to my friends and whenever he speaks of them 
given me reason to conclude that there is more malice in them than
regard to me in his perseverance 

this is the substance of the letter i have written to him 

the man to be sure must have the penetration to observe that my
correspondence with him hitherto is owing more to the severity i meet
with than to a very high value for him and so i would have him think 
what a worse than moloch deity is that which expects an offering of
reason duty and discretion to be made to its shrine 

your mother is of opinion you say that at last my friends will relent 
heaven grant that they may but my brother and sister have such an
influence over every body and are so determined so pique themselves
upon subduing me and carrying their point that i despair that they
will and yet if they do not i frankly own i would not scruple to
throw myself upon any not disreputable protection by which i might
avoid my present persecutions on one hand and not give mr lovelace
advantage over me on the other that is to say were there manifestly
no other way left me for if there were i should think the leaving my
father's house without his consent one of the most inexcusable actions
i could be guilty of were the protection to be ever so unexceptionable 
and this notwithstanding the independent fortune willed me by my
grandfather and indeed i have often reflected with a degree of
indignation and disdain upon the thoughts of what a low selfish
creature that child must be who is to be reined in only by the hopes of
what a parent can or will do for her 

but notwithstanding all this i owe it to the sincerity of friendship to
confess that i know not what i should have done had your advice been
conclusive any way had you my dear been witness to my different
emotions as i read your letter when in one place you advise me of
my danger if i am carried to my uncle's in another when you own you
could not bear what i bear and would do any thing rather than marry
the man you hate yet in another to represent to me my reputation
suffering in the world's eye and the necessity i should be under to
justify my conduct at the expense of my friends were i to take a rash
step in another insinuate the dishonest figure i should be forced to
make in so compelled a matrimony endeavouring to cajole fawn upon 
and play the hypocrite with a man to whom i have an aversion who would
have reason to believe me an hypocrite as well from my former avowals 
as from the sense he must have if common sense he has of his own
demerits the necessity you think there would be for me the more averse
 were i capable of so much dissimulation that would be imputable to
disgraceful motives as it would be too visible that love either of
person or mind could be neither of them then his undoubted his even
constitutional narrowness his too probably jealousy and unforgiveness 
bearing in my mind my declared aversion and the unfeigned despights i
took all opportunities to do him in order to discourage his address 
a preference avowed against him from the same motive with the pride he
professes to take in curbing and sinking the spirits of a woman he had
acquired a right to tyrannize over had you i say been witness of
my different emotions as i read now leaning this way now that now
perplexed now apprehensive now angry at one then at another now
resolving now doubting you would have seen the power you have over me 
and would have had reason to believe that had you given your advice
in any determined or positive manner i had been ready to have
been concluded by it so my dear you will find from these
acknowledgements that you must justify me to those laws of friendship 
which require undisguised frankness of heart although you justification
of me in that particular will perhaps be at the expense of my prudence 

but upon the whole this i do repeat that nothing but the last
extremity shall make me abandon my father's house if they will permit
me to stay and if i can by any means by any honest pretences but
keep off my evil destiny in it till my cousin morden arrives as one
of my trustees his is a protection into which i may without discredit
throw myself if my other friends should remain determined and this
 although they seem too well aware of it is all my hope for as
to lovelace were i to be sure of his tenderness and even of his
reformation must not the thought of embracing the offered protection of
his family be the same thing in the world's eye as accepting of his
own could i avoid receiving his visits at his own relations' must i
not be his whatever on seeing him in a nearer light i should find
him out to be for you know it has always been my observation that
very few people in courtship see each other as they are oh my dear 
how wise have i endeavoured to be how anxious to choose and to avoid
every thing precautiously as i may say that might make me happy 
or unhappy yet all my wisdom now by a strange fatality is likely to
become foolishness 

then you tell me in your usual kindly-partial manner what is expected
of me more than would be of some others this should be a lesson to me 
what ever my motives were the world would not know them to complain
of a brother's unkindness that indeed i might do differences between
brothers and sisters where interests clash but too commonly arise 
but where the severe father cannot be separated from the faulty
brother who could bear to lighten herself by loading a father then 
in this particular case must not the hatred mr lovelace expresses
to every one of my family although in return for their hatred of
him shock one extremely must it not shew that there is something
implacable as well as highly unpolite in his temper and what creature
can think of marrying so as to be out of all hopes ever to be well with
her own nearest and tenderest relations 

but here having tired myself and i dare say you i will lay down my
pen 


 


mr solmes is almost continually here so is my aunt hervey so are my
two uncles something is working against me i doubt what an uneasy
state is suspense when a naked sword too seems hanging over one's
head 

i hear nothing but what this confident creature betty throws out in
the wantonness of office now it is why miss don't you look up your
things you'll be called upon depend upon it before you are aware 
another time she intimates darkly and in broken sentences as if on
purpose to tease me what one says what another with their inquiries
how i dispose of my time and my brother's insolent question comes
frequently in whether i am not writing a history of my sufferings 

but i am now used to her pertness and as it is only through that that
i can hear of any thing intended against me before it is to be put in
execution and as when she is most impertinent she pleads a commission
for it i bear with her yet now-and-then not without a little of the
heart-burn 

i will deposit thus far adieu my dear cl harlowe 


written on the cover after she went down with a pencil 

on coming down i found your second letter of yesterday's date i
have read it and am in hopes that the enclosed will in a great measure
answer your mother's expectations of me 


 see the next letter 


my most respectful acknowledgements to her for it and for her very kind
admonitions 

you'll read to her what you please of the enclosed 




letter xiv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe sat march 25 


i follow my last of this date by command i mentioned in my former my
mother's opinion of the merit you would have if you could oblige your
friends against your own inclination our conference upon this subject
was introduced by the conversation we had had with sir harry downeton 
and my mother thinks it of so much importance that she enjoins me to
give you the particulars of it i the rather comply as i was unable in
my last to tell what to advise you to and as you will in this recital
have my mother's opinion at least and perhaps in hers what the
world's would be were it only to know what she knows and not so much
as i know 

my mother argues upon this case in a most discouraging manner for all
such of our sex as look forward for happiness in marriage with the man
of their choice 

only that i know she has a side-view of her daughter who at the
same time that she now prefers no one to another values not the man her
mother most regards of one farthing or i should lay it more to heart 

what is there in it says she that all this bustle is about is it such
a mighty matter for a young woman to give up her inclinations to oblige
her friends 

very well my mamma thought i now may you ask this at forty you
may but what would you have said at eighteen is the question 

either said she the lady must be thought to have very violent
inclinations  and what nice young creature would have that supposed  
which she could not give up or a very stubborn will which she would
not or thirdly have parents she was indifferent about obliging 

you know my mother now-and-then argues very notably always very warmly
at least i happen often to differ from her and we both think so well
of our own arguments that we very seldom are so happy as to convince
one another a pretty common case i believe in all vehement debatings 
she says i am too witty angelice too pert i that she is too wise 
that is to say being likewise put into english not so young as she has
been in short is grown so much into mother that she has forgotten
she ever was a daughter so generally we call another cause by
consent yet fall into the old one half a dozen times over without
consent quitting and resuming with half-angry faces forced into a
smile that there might be some room to piece together again but go
a-bed if bedtime a little sullen nevertheless or if we speak her
silence is broken with an ah nancy you are so lively so quick i wish
you were less like your papa child 

i pay it off with thinking that my mother has no reason to disclaim her
share in her nancy and if the matter go off with greater severity on
her side than i wish for then her favourite hickman fares the worse for
it next day 

i know i am a saucy creature i know if i do not say so you will think
so so no more of this just now what i mention it for is to tell you 
that on this serious occasion i will omit if i can all that passed
between us that had an air of flippancy on my part or quickness on my
mother's to let you into the cool and cogent of the conversation 

look through the families said she which we both know where the man
and the woman have been said to marry for love which at the time it
is so called is perhaps no more than a passion begun in folly or
thoughtlessness and carried on from a spirit of perverseness and
opposition  here we had a parenthetical debate which i omit  and see 
if they appear to be happier than those whose principal inducement to
marry has been convenience or to oblige their friends or ever whether
they are generally so happy for convenience and duty where observed 
will afford a permanent and even an increasing satisfaction as well
at the time as upon the reflection which seldom fail to reward
themselves while love if love be the motive is an idle passion'  idle
in one sense my mother cannot say for love is as busy as a monkey and
as mischievous as a school-boy  it is a fervour that like all other
fervours lasts but a little while after marriage a bow overstrained 
that soon returns to its natural bent 

as it is founded generally upon mere notional excellencies which
were unknown to the persons themselves till attributed to either by the
other one two or three months usually sets all right on both sides 
and then with opened eyes they think of each other just as every body
else thought of them before 

the lovers imaginaries  her own notable word   are by that time gone
off nature and old habits painfully dispensed with or concealed 
return disguises thrown aside all the moles freckles and defects in
the minds of each discover themselves and tis well if each do not sink
in the opinion of the other as much below the common standard as the
blinded imagination of both had set them above it and now said she 
the fond pair who knew no felicity out of each other's company are
so far from finding the never-ending variety each had proposed in
an unrestrained conversation with the other when they seldom were
together and always parted with something to say or on recollection 
when parted wishing they had said that they are continually on the
wing in pursuit of amusements out of themselves and those concluded my
sage mamma  did you think her wisdom so very modern   will perhaps be
the livelier to each in which the other has no share 

i told my mother that if you were to take any rash step it would be
owing to the indiscreet violence of your friends i was afraid i said 
that these reflection upon the conduct of people in the married state 
who might set out with better hopes were but too well grounded but
that this must be allowed me that if children weighed not these matters
so thoroughly as they ought neither did parents make those allowances
for youth inclination and inexperience which had been found necessary
to be made for themselves at their children's time of life 

i remembered a letter i told her hereupon which you wrote a few
months ago personating an anonymous elderly lady in mr wyerley's
day of plaguing you to miss drayton's mother who by her severity and
restraints had like to have driven the young lady into the very fault
against which her mother was most solicitous to guard her and i dared
to say she would be pleased with it 

i fetched the first draught of it which at my request you obliged me
at the time and read the whole letter to my mother but the following
passage she made me read twice i think you once told me you had not a
copy of this letter 

permit me madam  says the personated grave writer   to observe that
if persons of your experience would have young people look forward in
order to be wiser and better by their advice it would be kind in them
to look backward and allow for their children's youth and natural
vivacity in other words for their lively hopes unabated by time 
unaccompanied by reflection and unchecked by disappointment things
appear to us all in a very different light at our entrance upon
a favourite party or tour when with golden prospects and high
expectations we rise vigorous and fresh like the sun beginning its
morning course from what they do when we sit down at the end of our
views tired and preparing for our journey homeward for then we take
into our reflection what we had left out in prospect the fatigues 
the checks the hazards we had met with and make a true estimate of
pleasures which from our raised expectations must necessarily have
fallen miserably short of what we had promised ourselves at setting out 
nothing but experience can give us a strong and efficacious conviction
of this difference and when we would inculcate the fruits of that upon
the minds of those we love who have not lived long enough to find those
fruits and would hope that our advice should have as much force upon
them as experience has upon us and which perhaps our parents' advice
had not upon ourselves at our daughter' time of life should we not
proceed by patient reasoning and gentleness that we may not harden 
where we would convince for madam the tenderest and most generous
minds when harshly treated become generally the most inflexible if
the young lady knows her heart to be right however defective her
head may be for want of age and experience she will be apt to be very
tenacious and if she believes her friends to be wrong although perhaps
they may be only so in their methods of treating her how much will
every unkind circumstance on the parent's part or heedless one on the
child's though ever so slight in itself widen the difference the
parent's prejudice in disfavour will confirm the daughter's in favour 
of the same person and the best reasonings in the world on either side 
will be attributed to that prejudice in short neither of them will be
convinced a perpetual opposition ensues the parent grows impatient 
the child desperate and as a too natural consequence that falls
out which the mother was most afraid of and which possibly had not
happened if the child's passions had been only led not driven 

my mother was pleased with the whole letter and said it deserved to
have the success it met with but asked me what excuse could be offered
for a young lady capable of making such reflections and who at her time
of life could so well assume the character of one of riper years if she
should rush into any fatal mistake herself 

she then touched upon the moral character of mr lovelace and how
reasonable the aversion of your reflections is to a man who gives
himself the liberties he is said to take and who indeed himself denies
not the accusation having been heard to declare that he will do all
the mischief he can to the sex in revenge for the ill usage and
broken vows of his first love at a time when he was too young  his own
expression it seems  to be insincere 

i replied that i had heard every one say that the lady meant really
used him ill that it affected him so much at the time that he was
forced to travel upon it and to drive her out of his heart ran into
courses which he had ingenuousness enough himself to condemn that 
however he had denied that he had thrown out such menaces against the
sex when charged with them by me in your presence and declared himself
incapable of so unjust and ungenerous a resentment against all for the
perfidy of one 

you remember this my dear as i do your innocent observation upon it 
that you could believe his solemn asseveration and denial for surely 
said you the man who would resent as the highest indignity that could
be offered to a gentleman the imputation of a wilful falsehood would
not be guilty of one 

i insisted upon the extraordinary circumstances in your case 
particularizing them i took notice that mr lovelace's morals were at
one time no objection with your relations for arabella that then much
was built upon his family and more upon his part and learning which
made it out of doubt that he might be reclaimed by a woman of virtue
and prudence and  pray forgive me for mentioning it  i ventured to
add that although your family might be good sort of folks as the world
went yet no body but you imputed to any of them a very punctilious
concern for religion or piety therefore were they the less entitled to
object to defect of that kind in others then what an odious man said
i have they picked out to supplant in a lady's affections one of the
finest figures of a man and one noted for his brilliant parts and
other accomplishments whatever his morals may be 

still my mother insisted that there was the greater merit in your
obedience on that account and urged that there hardly ever was a very
handsome and a very sprightly man who made a tender and affectionate
husband for that they were generally such narcissus's as to imagine
every woman ought to think as highly of them as they did of themselves 

there was no danger from that consideration here i said because the
lady still had greater advantages of person and mind than the man 
graceful and elegant as he must be allowed to be beyond most of his
sex 

she cannot endure to hear me praise any man but her favourite hickman 
upon whom nevertheless she generally brings a degree of contempt which
he would escape did she not lessen the little merit he has by giving
him on all occasions more than i think he can deserve and entering
him into comparisons in which it is impossible but he must be a
sufferer and now  preposterous partiality   she thought for her part 
that mr hickman bating that his face indeed was not so smooth nor his
complexion quite so good and saving that he was not so presuming and
so bold which ought to be no fault with a modest woman equaled mr 
lovelace at any hour of the day 

to avoid entering further into such an incomparable comparison i said 
i did not believe had they left you to your own way and treated you
generously that you would have had the thought of encouraging any man
whom they disliked 

then nancy catching me up the excuse is less for if so must there
not be more of contradiction than love in the case 

not so neither madam for i know miss clarissa harlowe would prefer
mr lovelace to all men if morals 

if nancy that if is every thing do you really think she loves mr 
lovelace 

what would you have had me say my dear i won't tell you what i did
say but had i not said what i did who would have believed me 

besides i know you love him excuse me my dear yet if you deny it 
what do you but reflect upon yourself as if you thought you ought not
to allow yourself in what you cannot help doing 

indeed madam said i the man is worthy of any woman's love  if again 
i could say  but her parents 

her parents nancy  you know my dear how my mother who accuses her
daughter of quickness is evermore interrupting one  

may take wrong measures said i 

cannot do wrong they have reason i'll warrant said she 

by which they may provoke a young woman said i to do rash things 
which otherwise she would not do 

but if it be a rash thing  returned she   should she do it a prudent
daughter will not wilfully err because her parents err if they were to
err if she do the world which blames the parents will not acquit the
child all that can be said in extenuation of a daughter's error in
this case arises from a kind consideration which miss clary's letter
to lady drayton pleads for to be paid to her daughter's youth and
inexperience and will such an admirable young person as miss clarissa
harlowe whose prudence as we see qualifies her to be an advisor of
persons much older than herself take shelter under so poor a covert 

let her know nancy out of hand what i say and i charge you to
represent farther to her that let he dislike one man and approve
of another ever so much it will be expected of a young lady of her
unbounded generosity and greatness of mind that she should deny herself
when she can oblige all her family by so doing no less than ten or a
dozen perhaps the nearest and dearest to her of all the persons in the
world an indulgent father and mother at the head of them it may be
fancy only on her side but parents look deeper and will not miss
clarissa harlowe give up her fancy to her parents' judgment 

i said a great deal upon this judgment subject all that you could wish
i should say and all that your extraordinary case allowed me to say 
and my mother was so sensible of the force of it that she charged me
not to write to you any part of my answer to what she said but only
what she herself had advanced lest in so critical a case it should
induce you to take measures which might give us both reason me for
giving it you for following it to repent it as long as we lived 

and thus my dear have i set my mother's arguments before you and the
rather as i cannot myself tell what to advise you to do you know best
your own heart and what that will let you do 

robin undertakes to deposit this very early that you may have an
opportunity to receive it by your first morning airing 

heaven guide and direct you for the best is the incessant prayer of

your ever affectionate anna howe 




letter xv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday afternoon


i am in great apprehension yet cannot help repeating my humble thanks
to your mother and you for your last favour i hope her kind end is
answered by the contents of my last yet i must not think it enough to
acknowledge her goodness to me with a pencil only on the cover of a
letter sealed up a few lines give me leave to write with regard to my
anonymous letter to lady drayton if i did not at that time tell you as
i believe i did that my excellent mrs norton gave me her assistance in
that letter i now acknowledge that she did 

pray let your mother know this for two reasons one that i may not be
thought to arrogate to myself a discretion which does not belong to me 
the other that i may not suffer by the severe but just inference she
was pleased to draw doubling my faults upon me if i myself should act
unworthy of the advice i was supposed to give 

before i come to what most nearly affects us all i must chide you once
more for the severe the very severe things you mention of our family 
to the disparagement of their morals indeed my dear i wonder at
you a slighter occasion might have passed me after i had written to
you so often to so little purpose on this topic but affecting as
my own circumstances are i cannot pass by without animadversion the
reflection i need not repeat in words 

there is not a worthier woman in england than my mother nor is my
father that man you sometimes make him excepting in one point i know
not any family which lives more up to their duty than the principals of
ours a little too uncommunicative for their great circumstances that
is all why then have they not reason to insist upon unexceptionable
morals in a man whose sought-for relationship to them by a marriage
in their family they have certainly a right either to allow of or to
disallow 

another line or two before i am engrossed by my own concerns upon your
treatment of mr hickman is it do you think generous to revenge upon
an innocent person the displeasure you receive from another quarter 
where i doubt you are a trespasser too but one thing i could tell
him and you have best not provoke me to it it is this that no woman
uses ill the man she does not absolutely reject but she has it in her
heart to make him amends when her tyranny has had its run and he
has completed the measure of his services and patience my mind is not
enough at ease to push this matter further 

i will now give you the occasion of my present apprehensions 

i had reason to fear as i mentioned in mine of this morning that a
storm was brewing mr solmes came home from church this afternoon with
my brother soon after betty brought me up a letter without saying
from whom it was in a cover and directed by a hand i never saw before 
as if it were supposed that i would not receive and open it had i known
from whom it came 

these are the contents 


 


to miss clarissa harlowe sunday march 26 

dearest madam 

i think myself a most unhappy man in that i have never yet been able
to pay my respects to you with youre consent for one halfe-hour i
have something to communicat to you that concernes you much if you be
pleased to admit me to youre speech youre honour is concerned in it 
and the honour of all youre familly it relates to the designes of one
whom you are sed to valew more than he desarves and to some of his
reprobat actions which i am reddie to give you convincing proofes of
the truth of i may appear to be interested in it but neverthelesse 
i am reddie to make oathe that every tittle is true and you will
see what a man you are sed to favour but i hope not so for your owne
honour 

pray madam vouchsafe me a hearing as you valew your honour and
familly which will oblidge dearest miss 

your most humble and most faithful servant roger solmes 

i wait below for the hope of admittance 


 


i have no manner of doubt that this is a poor device to get this man
into my company i would have sent down a verbal answer but betty
refused to carry any message which should prohibit his visiting me so
i was obliged either to see him or to write to him i wrote therefore
an answer of which i shall send you the rough draught and now my heart
aches for what may follow from it for i hear a great hurry below 


 


to roger solmes esq 

sir 

whatever you have to communicate to me which concerns my honour may as
well be done by writing as by word of mouth if mr lovelace is any
of my concern i know not that therefore he ought to be yours for the
usage i receive on your account  i must think it so   is so harsh that
were there not such a man in the world as mr lovelace i would not wish
to see mr solmes no not for one half-hour in the way he is pleased
to be desirous to see me i never can be in any danger from mr 
lovelace and of consequence cannot be affected by any of your
discoveries if the proposal i made be accepted you have been
acquainted with it no doubt if not be pleased to let my friends know 
that if they will rid me of my apprehensions of one gentleman i will
rid them of their of another and then of what consequence to them or
to me will it be whether mr lovelace be a good man or a bad and if
not to them nor to me i see not how it can be of any to you but if
you do i have nothing to say to that and it will be a christian part
if you will expostulate with him upon the errors you have discovered 
and endeavour to make him as good a man as no doubt you are yourself 
or you would not be so ready to detect and expose him 

excuse me sir but after my former letter to you and your ungenerous
perseverance and after this attempt to avail yourself at the expense of
another man's character rather than by your own proper merit i see
not that you can blame any asperity in her whom you have so largely
contributed to make unhappy 

cl harlowe 


 


sunday night 

my father was for coming up to me in great wrath it seems but was
persuaded to the contrary my aunt hervey was permitted to send me this
that follow quick work my dear 


to miss clarissa harlowe

niece 

every body is now convinced that nothing is to be done with you by way
of gentleness or persuasion your mother will not permit you to stay in
the house for your father is so incensed by your strange letter to his
friend that she knows not what will be the consequence if you do so 
you are commanded to get ready to go to your uncle antony's out of hand 

your uncle thinks he has not deserved of you such an unwillingness as
you shew to go to his house 

you don't know the wickedness of the man for whose sake you think it
worth while to quarrel with all your friends 

you must not answer me there will be no end of that 

you know not the affliction you give to every body but to none more
than to

your affectionate aunt dorothy hervey 


 


forbid to write to my aunt i took a bolder liberty i wrote a few lines
to my mother beseeching her to procure me leave to throw myself at my
father's feet and hers if i must go nobody else present to beg
pardon for the trouble i had given them both and their blessings and
to receive their commands as to my removal and the time for it from
their own lips 

what new boldness this take it back and bid her learn to obey  was
my mother's angry answer with my letter returned unopened 

but that i might omit nothing that had an appearance of duty i wrote
a few lines to my father himself to the same purpose begging that he
would not turn me out of his house without his blessing but this torn
in two pieces and unopened was brought me up again by betty with an
air one hand held up the other extended the torn letter in her open
palm and a see here what a sad thing is this nothing will do but
duty miss your papa said let her tell me of deeds i'll receive no
words from her and so he tore the letter and flung the pieces at my
head 

so desperate was my case i was resolved not to stop even at this
repulse i took my pen and addressed myself to my uncle harlowe 
enclosing that which my mother had returned unopened and the torn
unopened one sent to my father having first hurried off a transcript
for you 

my uncle was going home and it was delivered to him just as he stepped
into his chariot what may be the fate of it therefore i cannot know
till to-morrow 

the following is a copy of it 


to john harlowe esq 

my dear and ever-honoured uncle 

i have nobody now but you to whom i can apply with hope so much as
to have my humble addresses opened and read my aunt hervey has given me
commands which i want to have explained but she has forbid me writing
to her hereupon i took the liberty to write to my father and mother 
you will see sir by the torn one and by the other both unopened 
what has been the result this sir perhaps you already know but as
you know not the contents of the disgraced letters i beseech you to
read them both that you may be a witness for me that they are not
filled with either complaints or expostulations nor contain any thing
undutiful give me leave to say sir that if deaf-eared anger will
neither grant me a hearing nor what i write a perusal some time hence
the hard-heartedness may be regretted i beseech you dear good sir 
to let me know what is meant by sending me to my uncle antony's house 
rather than to yours or to my aunt hervey's or else-where if it be
for what i apprehend it to be life will not be supportable upon the
terms i beg also to know when i am to be turned out of doors my
heart strongly gives me that if once i am compelled to leave this
house i never shall see it more 

it becomes me however to declare that i write not this through
perverseness or in resentment god knows my heart i do not but the
treatment i apprehend i shall meet with if carried to my other uncle's 
will in all probability give the finishing stroke to the distresses 
the undeserved distresses i will be bold to call them of

your once highly-favoured but now unhappy cl harlowe 




letter xvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday morning march 27 


this morning early my uncle harlowe came hither he sent up the enclosed
very tender letter it has made me wish i could oblige him you will see
how mr solmes's ill qualities are glossed over in it what blemishes
dies affection hide but perhaps they may say to me what faults does
antipathy bring to light 

be pleased to send me back this letter of my uncle by the first return 


sunday night or rather minday morning 

i must answer you though against my own resolution every body loves
you and you know they do the very ground you walk upon is dear to most
of us but how can we resolve to see you there is no standing against
your looks and language it is our loves makes us decline to see you 
how can we when you are resolved not to do what we are resolved you
shall do i never for my part loved any creature as i loved you from
your infancy till now and indeed as i have often said never was there
a young creature so deserving of our love but what is come to you now 
alas alas my dear kinswoman how you fail in the trial 

i have read the letters you enclosed at a proper time i may shew them
to my brother and sister but they will receive nothing from you at
present 

for my part i could not read your letter to me without being unmanned 
how can you be so unmoved yourself yet so able to move every body
else how could you send such a letter to mr solmes fie upon you how
strangely are you altered 

then to treat your brother and sister as you did that they don't care
to write to you or to see you don't you know where it is written that
soft answers turn away wrath but if you will trust to you sharp-pointed
wit you may wound yet a club will beat down a sword and how can you
expect that they who are hurt by you will not hurt you again was this
the way you used to take to make us all adore you as we did no it
was your gentleness of heart and manners that made every body even
strangers at first sight treat you as a lady and call you a lady 
though not born one while your elder sister had no such distinctions
paid her if you were envied why should you sharpen envy and file up
its teeth to an edge you see i write like an impartial man and as one
that loves you still 

but since you have displayed your talents and spared nobody and moved
every body without being moved you have but made us stand the closer
and firmer together this is what i likened to an embattled phalanx 
once before your aunt hervey forbids your writing for the same reason
that i must not countenance it we are all afraid to see you because we
know we shall be made as so many fools nay your mother is so afraid
of you that once or twice when she thought you were coming to force
yourself into her presence she shut the door and locked herself in 
because she knew she must not see you upon your terms and you are
resolved you will not see her upon hers 

resolves but to oblige us all my dearest miss clary and you shall see
how we will clasp you every one by turns to our rejoicing hearts if the
one man has not the wit and the parts and the person of the other no
one breathing has a worse heart than that other and is not the love
of all your friends and a sober man if he be not so polished to be
preferred to a debauchee though ever so fine a man to look at you have
such talents that you will be adored by the one but the other has as
much advantage in those respects as you have yourself and will not set
by them one straw for husbands are sometimes jealous of their authority
with witty wives you will have in one a man of virtue had you not
been so rudely affronting to him he would have made your ears tingle
with what he could have told you of the other 

come my dear niece let me have the honour of doing with you what no
body else yet has been able to do your father mother and i will
divide the pleasure and the honour i will again call it between us 
and all past offences shall be forgiven and mr solmes we will engage 
shall take nothing amiss hereafter of what has passed 

he knows he says what a jewel that man will have who can obtain your
favour and he will think light of all he has suffered or shall suffer 
in obtaining you 

dear sweet creature oblige us and oblige us with a grace it must be
done whether with a grace or not i do assure you it must you must not
conquer father mother uncles every body depend upon that 

i have set up half the night to write this you do not know how i
am touched at reading yours and writing this yet will i be at
harlowe-place early in the morning so upon reading this if you will
oblige us all send me word to come up to your apartment and i will
lead you down and present you to the embraces of every one and you
will then see you have more of a brother and sister in them both than
of late your prejudices will let you think you have this from one who
used to love to style himself 

your paternal uncle john harlowe 


 


in about an hour after this kind letter was given me my uncle sent up
to know if he should be a welcome visiter upon the terms mentioned in
his letter he bid betty bring him down a verbal answer a written one 
he said would be a bad sign and he bid her therefore not to bring a
letter but i had just finished the enclosed transcription of one i had
been writing she made a difficulty to carry it but was prevailed upon
to oblige me by a token which these mrs betty's cannot withstand 


dear and honoured sir 

how you rejoice me by your condescending goodness so kind so paternal
a letter so soothing to a wounded heart and of late what i have been
so little used to how am i affected with it tell me not dear sir of
my way of writing your letter has more moved me than i have been able
to move any body it has made me wish with all my heart that i could
entitle myself to be visited upon your own terms and to be led down to
my father and mother by so good and so kind an uncle 

i will tell you dearest uncle what i will do to make my peace i have
no doubt that mr solmes upon consideration would greatly prefer my
sister to such a strange averse creature as me his chief or one of his
chief motives in his address to me is as i have reason to believe the
contiguity of my grandfather's estate to his own i will resign it for
ever i will resign it and the resignation must be good because i will
never marry at all i will make it over to my sister and her heirs for
ever i shall have no heirs but my brother and her and i will receive 
as of my father's bounty such an annuity not in lieu of the estate 
but as of his bounty as he shall be pleased to grant me if it be
ever so small and whenever i disoblige him he to withdraw it at his
pleasure 

will this not be accepted surely it must surely it will i beg of
you dearest sir to propose it and second it with your interest this
will answer every end my sister has a high opinion of mr solmes i
never can have any in the light he is proposed to me but as my sister's
husband he will be always entitled to my respect and shall have it 

if this be accepted grant me sir the honour of a visit and do me
then the inexpressible pleasure of leading me down to the feet of my
honoured parents and they shall find me the most dutiful of children 
and to the arms of my brother and sister and they shall find me the
most obliging and most affectionate of sisters 

i wait sir for your answer to this proposal made with the whole heart
of

your dutiful and most obliged niece cl harlowe 


monday noon 

i hope this will be accepted for betty tells me that my uncle antony
and my aunt hervey are sent for and not mr solmes which i look upon
as a favourable circumstance with what cheerfulness will i assign over
this envied estate what a much more valuable consideration shall i
part with it for the love and favour of all my relations that love
and favour which i used for eighteen years together to rejoice in and
be distinguished by and what a charming pretence will this afford me
of breaking with mr lovelace and how easily will it possibly make him
to part with me 

i found this morning in the usual place a letter from him in answer 
i suppose to mine of friday which i deposited not till saturday but
i have not opened it nor will i till i see what effect this new offer
will have 

let me but be permitted to avoid the man i hate and i will give up with
cheerfulness the man i could prefer to renounce the one were i really
to value him as much as you seem to imagine can give but a temporary
concern which time and discretion will alleviate this is a sacrifice
which a child owes to parents and friends if they insist upon its being
made but the other to marry a man one cannot endure is not only a
dishonest thing as to the man but it is enough to make a creature who
wishes to be a good wife a bad or indifferent one as i once wrote to
the man himself and then she can hardly be either a good mistress or
a good friend or any thing but a discredit to her family and a bad
example to all around her 

methinks i am loth in the suspense i am in at present to deposit
this because it will be leaving you in one as great but having been
prevented by betty's officiousness twice i will now go down to my
little poultry and if i have an opportunity will leave it in the
usual place where i hope to find something from you 




letter xvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe monday afternoon march 27 


i have deposited my narrative down to this day noon but i hope soon to
follow it with another letter that i may keep you as little a while as
possible in that suspense which i am so much affected by at this moment 
for my heart is disturbed at ever foot i hear stir and at every door
below that i hear open or shut 

they have been all assembled some time and are in close debate i
believe but can there be room for long debate upon a proposal which 
if accepted will so effectually answer all their views can they
insist a moment longer upon my having mr solmes when they see what
sacrifices i am ready to make to be freed from his addresses oh but
i suppose the struggle is first with bella's nicety to persuade her
to accept of the estate and of the husband and next with her pride 
to take her sister's refusals as she once phrased it or it may
be my brother is insisting upon equivalents for his reversion in the
estate and these sort of things take up but too much the attention of
some of our family to these no doubt one or both it must be owing 
that my proposal admits of so much consideration 

i want methinks to see what mr lovelace in his letter says but i
will deny myself this piece of curiosity till that which is raised by my
present suspense is answered excuse me my dear that i thus trouble
you with my uncertainties but i have no employment nor heart if i
had to pursue any other but what my pen affords me 


monday evening 

would you believe it betty by anticipation tells me that i am to be
refused i am a vile artful creature every body is too good to me 
my uncle harlowe has been taken in that's the phrase they know how
it would be if he either wrote to me or saw me he has however been
made ashamed to be so wrought upon a pretty thing truly in the eye of
the world it would be were they to take me at my word it would look
as if they had treated me thus hardly as i think it for this very
purpose my peculiars particularly miss howe would give it that
turn and i myself could mean nothing by it but to see if it would be
accepted in order to strengthen my own arguments against mr solmes it
was amazing that it could admit of a moment's deliberation that any
thing could be supposed to be done in it it was equally against law and
equity and a fine security miss bella would have or mr solmes when i
could resume it when i would my brother and she my heirs o the artful
creature i to resolve to live single when lovelace is so sure of
me and every where declares as much and can whenever he pleases 
if my husband claim under the will then the insolence the
confidence  as betty mincingly told me that one said you may easily
guess who  that she who was so justly in disgrace for downright
rebellion should pretend to prescribe to the whole family should name
a husband for her elder sister what a triumph would her obstinacy go
away with to delegate her commands not as from a prison as she called
it but as from her throne to her elders and betters and to her father
and mother too amazing perfectly amazing that any body could argue
upon such a proposal as this it was a master-stroke of finesse it was
me in perfection surely my uncle harlowe will never again be so taken
in 

all this was the readier told me because it was against me and would
tease and vex me but as some of this fine recapitulation implied that
somebody spoke up for me i was curious to know who it was but betty
would not tell me for fear i should have the consolation to find that
all were not against me 

but do you not see my dear what a sad creature she is whom you honour
with your friendship you could not doubt your influence over me why
did you not take the friendly liberty i have always taken with you 
and tell me my faults and what a specious hypocrite i am for if my
brother and sister could make such discoveries how is it possible that
faults to enormous  you could see others you thought of a more secret
nature   could escape you penetrating eye 

well but now it seems they are debating how and by whom to answer me 
for they know not nor are they to know that mrs betty has told me all
these fine things one desires to be excused it seems another chooses
not to have any thing to say to me another has enough of me and of
writing to so ready a scribbler there will be no end 

thus are those imputed qualifications which used so lately to gain me
applause now become my crimes so much do disgust and anger alter the
property of things 

the result of their debate i suppose will somehow or other be
communicated to me by-and-by but let me tell you my dear that i am
made so desperate that i am afraid to open mr lovelace's letter 
lest in the humour i am in i should do something if i find it not
exceptionable that may give me repentance as long as i live 


monday night 

this moment the following letter is brought me by betty 


monday 5 o'clock

miss cunning-one 

your fine new proposal is thought unworthy of a particular answer your
uncle harlowe is ashamed to be so taken in have you no new fetch for
your uncle antony go round with us child now your hand's in but i
was bid to write only one line that you might not complain as you
did of your worthy sister for the freedoms you provoked it is
this prepare yourself to-morrow you go to my uncle antony's that's
all child 

james harlowe 


i was vexed to the heart at this and immediately in the warmth of
resentment wrote the enclosed to my uncle harlowe who it seems stays
here this night 


to john harlowe esq monday night 

honoured sir 

i find i am a very sad creature and did not know it i wrote not to my
brother to you sir i wrote from you i hope the honour of an answer 
no one reveres her uncle more than i do nevertheless between uncle and
niece excludes not such a hope and i think i have not made a proposal
that deserves to be treated with scorn 

forgive me sir my heart is full perhaps one day you may think you
have been prevailed upon for that is plainly the case to join to
treat me as i do not deserve to be treated if you are ashamed as my
brother hints of having expressed any returning tenderness to me god
help me i see i have no mercy to expect from any body but sir from
your pen let me have an answer i humbly implore it of you till my
brother can recollect what belongs to a sister i will not take from him
no answer to the letter i wrote to you nor any commands whatever 

i move every body this sir is what you are pleased to mention but
whom have i moved one person in the family has more moving ways than i
have or he could never so undeservedly have made every body ashamed to
show tenderness to a poor distressed child of the same family 

return me not this with contempt or torn or unanswered i beseech you 
my father has a title to do that or any thing by his child but from no
other person in the world of your sex sir ought a young creature of
mine while she preserves a supplicating spirit to be so treated 

when what i have before written in the humblest strain has met with such
strange constructions i am afraid that this unguarded scrawl will be
very ill received but i beg sir you will oblige me with one line be
it ever so harsh in answer to my proposal i still think it ought to
be attended to i will enter into the most solemn engagements to make it
valid by a perpetual single life in a word any thing i can do i will
do to be restored to all your favours more i cannot say but that i
am very undeservedly 

a most unhappy creature 


betty scrupled again to carry this letter and said she should have
anger and i should have it returned in scraps and bits 

i must take that chance said i i only desire that you will deliver it
as directed 

sad doings very sad she said that young ladies should so violently
set themselves against their duty 

i told her she should have the liberty to say what she pleased so she
would but be my messenger that one time and down she went with it 

i bid her if she could slide it into my uncle's hand unseen at least
unseen by my brother or sister for fear it should meet through their
good office with the fate she had bespoken for it 

she would not undertake for that she said 

i am now in expectation of the result but having so little ground to
hope for their favour or mercy i opened mr lovelace's letter 

i would send it to you my dear as well as those i shall enclose by
this conveyance but not being able at present to determine in what
manner i shall answer it i will give myself the trouble of abstracting
it here while i am waiting for what may offer from the letter just
carried down 

he laments as usual my ill opinion of him and readiness to believe
every thing to his disadvantage he puts into plain english as i
supposed he would my hint that i might be happier if by any rashness
he might be guilty of to solmes he should come to an untimely end
himself 

he is concerned he says that the violence he had expressed on his
extreme apprehensiveness of losing me should have made him guilty of
any thing i had so much reason to resent 

he owns that he is passionate all good-natured men he says are so 
and a sincere man cannot hide it  but appeals to me whether if any
occasion in the world could excuse the rashness of his expressions it
would not be his present dreadful situation through my indifference 
and the malice of his enemies 

he says he has more reason than ever from the contents of my last 
to apprehend that i shall be prevailed upon by force if not by fair
means to fall in with my brother's measures and sees but too plainly 
that i am preparing him to expect it 

upon this presumption he supplicates with the utmost earnestness 
that i will not give way to the malice of his enemies 

solemn vows of reformation and everlasting truth and obligingness 
he makes all in the style of desponding humility yet calls it a cruel
turn upon him to impute his protestations to a consciousness of the
necessity there is for making them from his bad character 

he despises himself he solemnly protests for his past follies he
thanks god he has seen his error and nothing but my more particular
instructions is wanting to perfect his reformation 

he promises that he will do every thing that i shall think he can do
with honour to bring about a reconciliation with my father and even
will if i insist upon it make the first overtures to my brother and
treat him as his own brother because he is mine if he will not by new
affronts revive the remembrance of the past 

he begs in the most earnest and humble manner for one half-hour's
interview undertaking by a key which he owns he has to the
garden-door leading into the coppice as we call it if i will but
unbolt the door to come into the garden at night and wait till i have
an opportunity to come to him that he may re-assure me of the truth of
all he writes and of the affection and if needful protection of all
his family 

he presumes not he says to write by way of menace to me but if i
refuse him this favour he knows not so desperate have some strokes in
my letter made him what his despair may make him do 

he asks me determined as my friends are and far as they have already
gone and declare they will go what can i propose to do to avoid
having mr solmes if i am carried to my uncle antony's unless i
resolve to accept of the protection he has offered to procure me or
except i will escape to london or elsewhere while i can escape 

he advises me to sue to your mother for her private reception of
me only till i can obtain possession of my own estate and procure my
friends to be reconciled to me which he is sure they will be desirous
to be the moment i am out of their power 

he apprizes me  it is still my wonder how he comes by this
intelligence   that my friends have written to my cousin morden to
represent matters to him in their own partial way nor doubt they to
influence him on their side of the question 

that all this shews i have but one way if none of my friends or
intimates will receive me 

if i will transport him with the honour of my choice of this one way 
settlements shall be drawn with proper blanks which i shall fill up as
i pleased let him but have my commands from my own mouth all my doubts
and scruples from my own lips and only a repetition that i will not 
on any consideration be solmes's wife and he shall be easy but after
such a letter as i have written nothing but an interview can make him
so  he beseeches me therefore to unbolt the door as that very night 
or if i receive not this time enough this night and he will in a
disguise that shall not give suspicion who he is if he should be seen 
come to the garden door in hopes to open it with his key nor will he
have any other lodging than in the coppice both nights watching every
wakeful hour for the propitious unbolting unless he has a letter with
my orders to the contrary or to make some other appointment 

this letter was dated yesterday so he was there last night i suppose 
and will be there this night and i have not written a line to him and
now it is too late were i determined what to write 

i hope he will not go to mr solmes i hope he will not come
hither if he do either i will break with him for ever 

what have i to do with these headstrong spirits i wish i had never but
what signifies wishing i am strangely perplexed but i need not have
told you this after such a representation of my situation 




letter xvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday morning 7 o'clock

my uncle has vouchsafed to answer me these that follow are the
contents of his letter but just now brought me although written last
night late i suppose 


monday night 

miss clary 

since you are grown such a bold challenger and teach us all our duty 
though you will not practise your own i must answer you nobody
wants you estate from you are you who refuse ever body's advice 
to prescribe a husband to your sister your letter to mr solmes is
inexcusable i blamed you for it before your parents will be obeyed it
is fit they should your mother has nevertheless prevailed to have your
going to your uncle antony's put off till thursday yet owns you deserve
not that or any other favour from her i will receive no more of
your letters you are too artful for me you are an ungrateful and
unreasonable child must you have your way paramount to every body's 
how are you altered 

your displeased uncle john harlowe 


 


to be carried away on thursday to the moated house to the chapel to
solmes how can i think of this they will make me desperate 


tuesday morning 8 o'clock 

i have another letter from mr lovelace i opened it with the
expectation of its being filled with bold and free complaints on my
not writing to prevent his two nights watching in weather not extremely
agreeable but instead of complaints he is full of tender concern
lest i may have been prevented by indisposition or by the closer
confinement which he has frequently cautioned me that i may expect 

he says he had been in different disguises loitering about our garden
and park wall all the day on sunday last and all sunday night was
wandering about the coppice and near the back door it rained and he
has got a great cold attended with feverishness and so hoarse that he
has almost lost his voice 

why did he not flame out in his letter treated as i am treated by my
friends it is dangerous to be laid under the sense of an obligation to
an addresser's patience especially when such a one suffers in health
for my sake 

he had no shelter he says but under the great overgrown ivy which
spreads wildly round the heads of two or three oaklings and that was
soon wet through 

you remember the spot you and i my dear once thought ourselves
obliged to the natural shade which those ivy-covered oaklings afforded
us in a sultry day 

i can't help saying i am sorry he has suffered for my sake but tis
his own seeking 

his letter is dated last night at eight and indisposed as he is 
he tells me that he will watch till ten in hopes of my giving him the
meeting he so earnestly request and after that he has a mile to walk
to his horse and servant and four miles then to ride to his inn 

he owns that he has an intelligencer in our family who has failed
him for a day or two past and not knowing how i do or how i may be
treated his anxiety is increased 

this circumstance gives me to guess who this intelligencer is joseph
leman the very creature employed and confided in more than any other 
by my brother 

this is not an honourable way of proceeding in mr lovelace did
he learn this infamous practice of corrupting the servants of other
families at the french court where he resided a good while 

i have been often jealous of this leman in my little airings and
poultry-visits doubly obsequious as he was always to me i have
thought him my brother's spy upon me and although he obliged me by
his hastening out of the garden and poultry-yard whenever i came into
either have wondered that from his reports my liberties of those kinds
have not been abridged so possibly this man may be bribed by both 
yet betray both worthy views want not such obliquities as these on
either side an honest mind must rise into indignation both at the
traitor-maker and the traitor 


 mr lovelace accounts for this vol i letter xxxv 


he presses with the utmost earnestness for an interview he would not
presume he says to disobey my last personal commands that he should
not endeavour to attend me again in the wood-house but says he can
give me such reasons for my permitting him to wait upon my father
or uncles as he hopes will be approved by me for he cannot help
observing that it is no more suitable to my own spirit than to his 
that he a man of fortune and family should be obliged to pursue such a
clandestine address as would only become a vile fortune-hunter but if
i will give my consent for his visiting me like a man and a gentleman 
no ill treatment shall provoke him to forfeit his temper 

lord m will accompany him if i please or lady betty lawrance will
first make the visit to my mother or to my aunt hervey or even to my
uncles if i choose it and such terms shall be offered as shall have
weight upon them 

he begs that i will not deny him making a visit to mr solmes by
all that's good he vows that it shall not be with the least intention
either to hurt or affront him but only to set before him calmly and
rationally the consequences that may possibly flow from so fruitless a
perseverance as well as the ungenerous folly of it to a mind as noble
as mine he repeats his own resolution to attend my pleasure and mr 
morden's arrival and advice for the reward of his own patience 

it is impossible he says but one of these methods must do 
presence he observes even of a disliked person takes off the edge of
resentments which absence whets and makes keen 

he therefore most earnestly repeats his importunities for the
supplicated interview  he says he has business of consequence in
london but cannot stir from the inconvenient spot where he has for
some time resided in disguises unworthy of himself until he can be
absolutely certain that i shall not be prevailed upon either by force
or otherwise and until he finds me delivered from the insults of my
brother nor ought this to be an indifferent point to one for whose
sake all the world reports me to be used unworthily but one remark he
says he cannot help making that did my friends know the little favour
i shew him and the very great distance i keep him at they would
have no reason to confine me on his account and another that they
themselves seem to think him entitled to a different usage and expect
that he receives it when in truth what he meets with from me is
exactly what they wish him to meet with excepting in the favour of
my correspondence i honour him with upon which he says he puts the
highest value and for the sake of which he has submitted to a thousand
indignities 

he renews his professions of reformation he is convinced he says 
that he has already run a long and dangerous course and that it is high
time to think of returning it must be from proper conviction he says 
that a person who has lived too gay a life resolves to reclaim before
age or sufferings come upon him 

all generous spirits he observes hate compulsion upon this
observation he dwells but regrets that he is likely to owe all his
hopes to this compulsion this injudicious compulsion he justly calls
it and none to my esteem for him although he presumes upon some
merit in this implicit regard to my will in the bearing the daily
indignities offered not only to him but to his relations by my
brother in the nightly watchings his present indisposition makes him
mention or he had not debased the nobleness of his passion for me by
such a selfish instance 

i cannot but say i am sorry the man is not well 

i am afraid to ask you my dear what you would have done thus
situated but what i have done i have done in a word i wrote that
i would if possible give him a meeting to-morrow night between the
hours of nine and twelve by the ivy summer-house or in it or near the
great cascade at the bottom of the garden and would unbolt the door 
that he might come in by his own key but that if i found the meeting
impracticable or should change my mind i would signify as much by
another line which he must wait for until it were dark 


tuesday eleven o'clock 

i am just returned from depositing my billet how diligent is this man 
it is plain he was in waiting for i had walked but a few paces after i
had deposited it when my heart misgiving me i returned to have taken
it back in order to reconsider it as i walked and whether i should or
should not let it go but i found it gone 

in all probability there was but a brick wall of a few inches thick 
between mr lovelace and me at the very time i put the letter under the
brick 

i am come back dissatisfied with myself but i think my dear there
can be no harm in meeting him if i do not he may take some violent
measures what he knows of the treatment i meet with in malice to him 
and with the view to frustrate all his hopes may make him desperate 
his behaviour last time i saw him under the disadvantages of time and
place and surprised as i was gives me no apprehension of any thing but
discovery what he requires is not unreasonable and cannot affect my
future choice and determination it is only to assure him from my own
lips that i never will be the wife of a man i hate if i have not an
opportunity to meet without hazard or detection he must once more
bear the disappointment all his trouble and mine too is owing to his
faulty character this although i hate tyranny and arrogance in all
shapes makes me think less of the risques he runs and the fatigues he
undergoes than otherwise i should do and still less as my sufferings
 derived from the same source are greater than his 

betty confirms this intimation that i must go to my uncle's on
thursday she was sent on purpose to direct me to prepare myself for
going and to help me to get every thing up in order for my removal 




letter xix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday three o'clock march 28 


i have mentioned several times the pertness of mrs betty to me 
and now having a little time upon my hands i will give you a short
dialogue that passed just now between us it may perhaps be a little
relief to you from the dull subjects with which i am perpetually teasing
you 

as she attended me at dinner she took notice that nature is satisfied
with a very little nourishment and thus she complimentally proved
it for miss said she you eat nothing yet never looked more
charmingly in your life 

as to the former part of your speech betty said i you observe well 
and i have often thought when i have seen how healthy the children of
the labouring poor look and are with empty stomachs and hardly a good
meal in a week that god almighty is very kind to his creatures in this
respect as well as in all others in making much not necessary to the
support of life when three parts in four of his creatures if it were 
would not know how to obtain it it puts me in mind of two proverbial
sentences which are full of admirable meaning 

what pray miss are they i love to hear you talk when you are so
sedate as you seem now to be 

the one is to the purpose we are speaking of poverty is the mother of
health and let me tell you betty if i had a better appetite and
were to encourage it with so little rest and so much distress and
persecution i don't think i should be able to preserve my reason 

there's no inconvenience but has its convenience said betty giving me
proverb for proverb but what is the other madam 

that the pleasures of the mighty are not obtained by the tears of the
poor it is but reasonable therefore methinks that the plenty of
the one should be followed by distempers and that the indigence of the
other should be attended with that health which makes all its other
discomforts light on the comparison and hence a third proverb betty 
since you are an admirer of proverbs better a hare-foot than none at
all that is to say than not to be able to walk 

she was mightily taken with what i said see returned she what a fine
thing scholarship is i said she had always from a girl a taste for
reading though it were but in mother goose and concerning the fairies
 and then she took genteelly a pinch of snuff  could but my parents
have let go as fast as i pulled i should have been a very happy
creature 

very likely you would have made great improvements betty but as it
is i cannot say but since i had the favour of your attendance in this
intimate manner i have heard smarter things from you than i have heard
at table from some of my brother's fellow-collegians 

your servant dear miss dropping me one of her best courtesies so
fine a judge as you are it is enough to make one very proud then with
another pinch i cannot indeed but say bridling upon it that i have
heard famous scholars often and often say very silly things things
i should be ashamed myself to say but i thought they did it out of
humility and in condescension to those who had not their learning 

that she might not be too proud i told her i would observe that the
liveliness or quickness she so happily discovered in herself was not
so much an honour to her as what she owed to her sex which as i had
observed in many instances had great advantages over the other in all
the powers that related to imagination and hence mrs betty you'll
take notice as i have of late had opportunity to do that your own
talent at repartee and smartness when it has something to work upon 
displays itself to more advantage than could well be expected from one
whose friends to speak in your own phrase could not let go so fast as
you pulled 

the wench gave me a proof of the truth of my observation in a manner
still more alert than i had expected if said she our sex had so much
advantage in smartness it is the less to be wondered at that you 
miss who have had such an education should outdo all the men and women
too that come near you 

bless me betty said i what a proof do you give me of your wit and
your courage at the same time this is outdoing yourself it would make
young ladies less proud and more apprehensive were they generally
attended by such smart servants and their mouths permitted to be
unlocked upon them as yours has been lately upon me but take away 
mrs betty 

why miss you have eat nothing at all i hope you are not displeased
with your dinner for any thing i have said 

no mrs betty i am pretty well used to your freedoms now you know i
am not displeased in the main to observe that were the succession of
modern fine ladies to be extinct it might be supplied from those whom
they place in the next rank to themselves their chamber-maids and
confidants your young mistress has contributed a great deal to this
quickness of yours she always preferred your company to mine as
you pulled she let go and so mrs betty you have gained by her
conversation what i have lost 

why miss if you come to that nobody says better things than miss
harlowe i could tell you one if i pleased upon my observing to her 
that you lived of late upon the air and had no stomach to any thing 
yet looked as charmingly as ever 

i dare say it was a very good-natured one mrs betty do you then
please that i shall hear it 

only this miss that your stomachfulness had swallowed up your stomach 
and that obstinacy was meat drink and clothes to you 

ay mrs betty and did she say this i hope she laughed when she said
it as she does at all her good things as she calls them it was very
smart and very witty i wish my mind were so much at ease as to aim at
being witty too but if you admire such sententious sayings i'll help
you to another and that is encouragement and approbation make people
show talents they were never suspected to have and this will do both
for mistress and maid and another i'll furnish you with the
contrary of the former that will do only for me that persecution and
discouragement depress ingenuous minds and blunt the edge of lively
imaginations and hence may my sister's brilliancy and my stupidity be
both accounted for ingenuous you must know mrs betty and ingenious 
are two things and i would not arrogate the latter to myself 

lord miss said the foolish girl you know a great deal for your
years you are a very learned young lady what pity 

none of your pitties mrs betty i know what you'd say but tell me if
you can is it resolved that i shall be carried to my uncle antony's on
thursday 

i was willing to reward myself for the patience she had made me
exercise by getting at what intelligence i could from her 

why miss seating herself at a little distance excuse my sitting down 
with the snuff-box tapped very smartly the lid opened and a
pinch taken with a dainty finger and thumb the other three fingers
distendedly bent and with a fine flourish i cannot but say that it is
my opinion you will certainly go on thursday and this noless foless 
as i have heard my young lady say in french 

whether i am willing or not willing you mean i suppose mrs betty 

you have it miss 

well but betty i have no mind to be turned out of doors so suddenly 
do you think i could not be permitted to tarry one week longer 

how can i tell miss 

o mrs betty you can tell a great deal if you please but here i am
forbid writing to any one of my family none of it now will come near
me nor will any of it permit me to see them how shall i do to make
known my request to stay here a week or fortnight longer 

why miss i fancy if you were to shew a compliable temper your
friends would shew a compliable one too but would you expect favours 
and grant none 

smartly put betty but who knows what may be the result of my being
carried to my uncle antony's 

who knows miss why any body will guess what may be the result 

as how betty 

as how repeated the pert wench why miss you will stand in your own
light as you have hitherto done and your parents as such good parents
ought will be obeyed 

if mrs betty i had not been used to your oughts and to have my duty
laid down to me by your oraculous wisdom i should be apt to stare at the
liberty of you speech 

you seem angry miss i hope i take no unbecoming liberty 

if thou really thinkest thou dost not thy ignorance is more to be
pitied than thy pertness resented i wish thou wouldst leave me to
myself 

when young ladies fall out with their own duty it is not much to be
wondered at that they are angry at any body who do theirs 

that's a very pretty saying mrs betty i see plainly what thy duty is
in thy notion and am obliged to those who taught it thee 

every body takes notice miss that you can say very cutting words in a
cool manner and yet not call names as i have known some gentlefolks
as well as others do when in a passion but i wish you had permitted
squire solmes to see you he would have told you such stories of
squire lovelace as you would have turned your heart against him for
ever 

and know you any of the particulars of those sad stories 

indeed i don't but you'll hear all at your uncle antony's i suppose 
and a great deal more perhaps than you will like to hear 

let me hear what i will i am determined against mr solmes were it to
cost me my life 

if you are miss the lord have mercy on you for what with this letter
of yours to squire solmes whom they so much value and what with
their antipathy to squire lovelace whom they hate they will have no
patience with you 

what will they do betty they won't kill me what will they do 

kill you no but you will not be suffered to stir from thence till
you have complied with your duty and no pen and ink will be allowed you
as here where they are of opinion you make no good use of it nor would
it be allowed here only as they intend so soon to send you away to your
uncle's no-body will be permitted to see you or to correspond with
you what farther will be done i can't say and if i could it may not
be proper but you may prevent all by one word and i wish you would 
miss all then would be easy and happy and if i may speak my mind i
see not why one man is not as good as another why especially a sober
man is not as good as a rake 

well betty said i sighing all thy impertinence goes for nothing but
i see i am destined to be a very unhappy creature yet i will venture
upon one request more to them 

and so quite sick of the pert creature and of myself i retired to my
closet and wrote a few lines to my uncle harlowe notwithstanding his
prohibition in order to get a reprieve from being carried away so soon
as thursday next if i must go and this that i might if complied
with suspend the appointment i have made with mr lovelace for my
heart misgives me as to meeting him and that more and more i know not
why under the superscription of the letter i wrote these words pray 
dear sir be pleased to give this a reading 

this is a copy of what i wrote 


tuesday afternoon 

honoured sir 

let me this once be heard with patience and have my petition granted 
it is only that i may not be hurried away so soon as next thursday 

why should the poor girl be turned out of doors so suddenly so
disgracefully procure for me sir one fortnight's respite in that
space of time i hope you will all relent my mamma shall not need to
shut her door in apprehension of seeing her disgraceful child i will
not presume to think of entering her presence or my papa's without
leave one fortnight's respite is but a small favour for them to grant 
except i am to be refused every thing i ask but it is of the highest
import to my peace of mind procure it for me therefore dearest sir 
and you will exceedingly oblige

your dutiful though greatly afflicted niece cl harlowe 


i sent this down my uncle was not gone and he now stays to know the
result of the question put to me in the enclosed answer which he has
given to mind 


your going to your uncle's was absolutely concluded upon for next
thursday nevertheless your mother seconded by mr solmes pleaded
so strongly to have you indulged that your request for a delay will
be complied with upon one condition and whether for a fortnight or
a shorter time that will depend upon yourself if you refuse the
condition your mother declares she will give over all further
intercession for you nor do you deserve this favour as you put it
upon our yielding to you not you to us 

this condition is that you admit of a visit from mr solmes for one
hour in company of your brother your sister or your uncle antony 
choose who you will 

if you comply not go next thursday to a house which is become strangely
odious to you of late whether you get ready to go or not answer
therefore directly to the point no evasion name your day and hour mr 
solmes will neither eat you nor drink you let us see whether we are
to be complied with in any thing or not 

john harlowe 


 


after a very little deliberation i resolved to comply with this
condition all i fear is that mr lovelace's intelligencer may inform
him of it and that his apprehensions upon it may make him take some
desperate resolution especially as now having more time given me here 
i think to write to him to suspend the interview he is possibly so sure
of i sent down the following to my uncle 


honoured sir 

although i see not what end the proposed condition can answer i comply
with it i wish i could with every thing expected of me if i must name
one in whose company i am to see the gentleman and that one not my
mamma whose presence i could wish to be honoured by on the occasion 
let my uncle if he pleases be the person if i must name the day a
long day i doubt will not be permitted me let it be next tuesday 

the hour four in the afternoon the place either the ivy summer-house 
or in the little parlour i used to be permitted to call mine 

be pleased sir nevertheless to prevail upon my mamma to vouchsafe me
her presence on the occasion 

i am sir your ever-dutiful cl harlowe 


a reply is just sent me i thought it became my averseness to this
meeting to name a distant day but i did not expect they would have
complied with it so here is one week gained 

this is the reply 


you have done well to comply we are willing to think the best of every
slight instance of duty from you yet have you seemed to consider the
day as an evil day and so put if far off this nevertheless is granted
you as no time need to be lost if you are as generous after the day 
as we are condescending before it let me advise you not to harden your
mind nor take up your resolution beforehand mr solmes has more awe 
and even terror at the thought of seeing you than you can have at the
thoughts of seeing him his motive is love let not yours be hatred my
brother antony will be present in hopes you will deserve well of him 
by behaving well to the friend of the family see you use him as such 
your mother had permission to be there if she thought fit but says 
she would not for a thousand pound unless you would encourage her
beforehand as she wishes to be encouraged one hint i am to give you
mean time it is this to make a discreet use of your pen and ink 
methinks a young creature of niceness should be less ready to write to
one man when she is designed to be another's 

this compliance i hope will produce greater and then the peace of the
family will be restored which is what is heartily wished by

your loving uncle john harlowe 

unless it be to the purpose our hearts are set upon you need not write
again 


 


this man have more terror at seeing me than i can have at seeing
him how can that be if he had half as much he would not wish to see
me his motive love yes indeed love of himself he knows no other 
for love that deserves the name seeks the satisfaction of the beloved
object more than its own weighed in this scale what a profanation is
this man guilty of 

not to take up my resolution beforehand that advice comes too late 

but i must make a discreet use of my pen that i doubt as they have
managed it in the sense they mean it is as much out of my power as
the other 

but write to one man when i am designed for another what a shocking
expression is that 

repenting of my appointment with mr lovelace before i had this favour
granted me you may believe i hesitated not a moment to revoke it now
that i had gained such a respite accordingly i wrote that i found
it inconvenient to meet him as i had intended that the risque i should
run of a discovery and the mischiefs that might flow from it could not
be justified by any end that such a meeting could answer that i found
one certain servant more in my way when i took my morning and evening
airings than any other that the person who might reveal the secrets
of a family to him might if opportunity were given him betray me or
him to those whom it was his duty to serve that i had not been used to
a conduct so faulty as to lay myself at the mercy of servants and was
sorry he had measures to pursue that made steps necessary in his own
opinion which in mine were very culpable and which no end could
justify that things drawing towards a crisis between my friends and me 
an interview could avail nothing especially as the method by which this
correspondence was carried on was not suspected and he could write all
that was in his mind to write that i expected to be at liberty to judge
of what was proper and fit upon this occasion especially as he might be
assured that i would sooner choose death than mr solmes 


tuesday night 

i have deposited my letter to mr lovelace threatening as things look
against me i am much better pleased with myself for declining the
interview than i was before i suppose he will be a little out of humour
upon it however but as i reserved to myself the liberty of changing my
mind and as it is easy for him to imagine there may be reasons for it
within-doors which he cannot judge of without besides those i have
suggested which of themselves are of sufficient weight to engage his
acquiescence i should think it strange if he acquiesces not on this
occasion and that with a cheerfulness which may shew me that his last
letter is written from his heart for if he be really so much concerned
at his past faults as he pretends and has for some time pretended 
must he not of course have corrected in some degree the impetuosity
of his temper the first step to reformation as i conceive is to
subdue sudden gusts of passion from which frequently the greatest evils
arise and to learn to bear disappointments if the irascible passions
cannot be overcome what opinion can we have of the person's power over
those to which bad habit joined to greater temptation gives stronger
force 

pray my dear be so kind as to make inquiry by some safe hand after
the disguises mr lovelace assumes at the inn he puts up at in the poor
village of neale he calls it if it be the same i take it to be i
never knew it was considerable enough to have a name nor that it has an
inn in it 

as he must to be so constantly near us be much there i would be glad
to have some account of his behaviour and what the people think of him 
in such a length of time he must by his conduct either give scandal 
or hope of reformation pray my dear humour me in this inquiry i have
reason for it which you shall be acquainted with another time if the
result of the inquiry discover them not 




letter xx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday morning nine o'clock 


i am just returned from my morning walk and already have received a
letter from mr lovelace in answer to mine deposited last night he
must have had pen ink and paper with him for it was written in the
coppice with this circumstance on one knee kneeling with the other 
not from reverence to the written to however as you'll find 

well we are instructed early to keep these men at distance an
undesigning open heart where it is loth to disoblige is easily drawn
in i see to oblige more than ever it designed it is too apt to govern
itself by what a bold spirit is encouraged to expect of it it is very
difficult for a good-natured young person to give a negative where it
disesteems not 

our hearts may harden and contract as we gain experience and when we
have smarted perhaps for our easy folly and so they ought or we should
be upon very unequal terms with the world 

excuse these grave reflections this man has vexed me heartily i see
his gentleness was art fierceness and a temper like what i have been
too much used to at home are nature in him nothing i think shall
ever make me forgive him for surely there can be no good reason for
his impatience on an expectation given with reserve and revocable i
so much to suffer through him yet to be treated as if i were obliged
to bear insults from him 

but here you will be pleased to read his letter which i shall enclose 


to miss clarissa harlowe

good god 

what is now to become of me how shall i support this
disappointment no new cause on one knee kneeling with the other i
write my feet benumbed with midnight wanderings through the heaviest
dews that ever fell my wig and my linen dripping with the hoar frost
dissolving on them day but just breaking sun not risen to exhale may
it never rise again unless it bring healing and comfort to a benighted
soul in proportion to the joy you had inspired ever lovely promiser 
in such proportion is my anguish 

o my beloved creature but are not your very excuses confessions of
excuses inexcusable i know not what i write that servant in your
way by the great god of heaven that servant was not dared not could
not be in your way curse upon the cool caution that is pleased to
deprive me of an expectation so transporting 


 see letter xix 


and are things drawing towards a crisis between your friends and
you is not this a reason for me to expect the rather to expect the
promised interview 

can i write all that is in my mind say you impossible not the
hundredth part of what is in my mind and in my apprehension can i
write 

oh the wavering the changeable sex but can miss clarissa harlowe 

forgive me madam i know not what i write 

yet i must i do insist upon your promise or that you will condescend
to find better excuses for the failure or convince me that stronger
reasons are imposed upon you than those you offer a promise once
given upon deliberation given the promised only can dispense with 
except in cases of a very apparent necessity imposed upon the promiser 
which leaves no power to perform it 

the first promise you ever made me life and death perhaps depending
upon it my heart desponding from the barbarous methods resolved to be
taken with you in malice to me 

you would sooner choose death than solmes how my soul spurns the
competition o my beloved creature what are these but words whose
words sweet and ever adorable what promise breaker must i call
you how shall i believe the asseveration your supposed duty in the
question persecution so flaming hatred to me so strongly avowed 
after this instance of you so lightly dispensing with your promise 

if my dearest life you would prevent my distraction or at least 
distracted consequences renew the promised hope my fate is indeed
upon its crisis 

forgive me dearest creature forgive me i know i have written in too
much anguish of mind writing this in the same moment that the just
dawning light has imparted to me the heavy disappointment 

i dare not re-peruse what i have written i must deposit it it may
serve to shew you my distracted apprehension that this disappointment is
but a prelude to the greatest of all nor having here any other paper 
am i able to write again if i would on this gloomy spot gloomy is
my soul and all nature around me partakes of my gloom i trust it
therefore to your goodness if its fervour excite your displeasure
rather than your pity you wrong my passion and i shall be ready to
apprehend that i am intended to be the sacrifice of more miscreants
than one  have patience with me dearest creature i mean solmes and
your brother only   but if exerting your usual generosity you will
excuse and re appoint may that god whom you profess to serve and who
is the god of truth and of promises protect and bless you for both 
and for restoring to himself and to hope 

your ever-adoring yet almost desponding lovelace 

ivy cavern in the coppice day but just breaking 


 


this is the answer i shall return 


wednesday morning 

i am amazed sir at the freedom of your reproaches pressed and teased 
against convenience and inclination to give you a private meeting am i
to be thus challenged and upbraided and my sex reflected upon because
i thought it prudent to change my mind a liberty i had reserved
to myself when i made the appointment as you call it i wanted not
instances of your impatient spirit to other people yet may it be happy
for me that i can have this new one which shows that you can as
little spare me when i pursue the dictates of my own reason as you do
others for acting up to theirs two motives you must be governed by in
this excess the one my easiness the other your own presumption since
you think you have found out the first and have shown so much of the
last upon it i am too much alarmed not to wish and desire that your
letter of this day may conclude all the trouble you had from or for 

your humble servant cl harlowe 


 


i believe my dear i may promise myself your approbation whenever i
write or speak with spirit be it to whom it will indeed i find but
too much reason to exert it since i have to deal with people who
govern themselves in their conduct to me not by what is fit or decent 
right or wrong but by what they think my temper will bear i have till
very lately been praised for mine but it has always been by those who
never gave me opportunity to return the compliment to them some people
have acted as if they thought forbearance on one side absolutely
necessary for them and me to be upon good terms together and in this
case have ever taken care rather to owe that obligation than to lay it 
you have hinted to me that resentment is not natural to my temper and
that therefore it must soon subside it may be so with respect to my
relations but not to mr lovelace i assure you 


wednesday noon march 29 

we cannot always answer for what we can do but to convince you that i
can keep my above resolution with regard to mr lovelace angry as my
letter is and three hours since it was written i assure you that i
repent it not nor will soften it although i find it is not taken away 
and yet i hardly ever before did any thing in anger that i did not
repent in half an hour and question myself in less that that time 
whether i was right or wrong 

in this respite till tuesday i have a little time to look about me 
as i may say and to consider of what i have to do and can do and mr 
lovelace's insolence will make me go very home with myself not that i
think i can conquer my aversion to mr solmes i am sure i cannot but 
if i absolutely break with mr lovelace and give my friends convincing
proofs of it who knows but they will restore me to their favour and
let their views in relation to the other man go off by degrees or 
at least that i may be safe till my cousin morden arrives to whom 
i think i will write and the rather as mr lovelace has assured
me that my friends have written to him to make good their side of the
question 

but with all my courage i am exceedingly apprehensive about the
tuesday next and about what may result from my steadfastness for
steadfast i am sure i shall be they are resolved i am told to try
every means to induce me to comply with what they are determined upon 
and i am resolved to do all i can to avoid what they would force me to
do a dreadful contention between parents and child each hoping to
leave the other without excuse whatever the consequence may be 

what can i do advise me my dear something is strangely wrong
somewhere to make parents the most indulgent till now seem cruel in
a child's eye and a daughter till within these few weeks thought
unexceptionably dutiful appear in their judgment a rebel oh my
ambitious and violent brother what may he have to answer for to both 

be pleased to remember my dear that your last favour was dated on
saturday this is wednesday and none of mine have been taken away
since don't let me want you advice my situation is extremely
difficult but i am sure you love me still and not the less on that
account adieu my beloved friend 

cl harlowe 




letter xxi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morning day-break march
30 

an accident and not remissness has occasioned my silence 

my mother was sent for on sunday night by her cousin larkin whom i
mentioned in one of my former and who was extremely earnest to see her 

this poor woman was always afraid of death and was one of those weak
persons who imagine that the making of their will must be an undoubted
forerunner of it 

she had always said when urged to the necessary work that whenever she
made it she should not live long after and one would think imagined
she was under an obligation to prove her words for though she had been
long bed-rid and was in a manner worn out before yet she thought
herself better till she was persuaded to make it and from that moment 
remembering what she used to prognosticate her fears helping on what
she feared as is often the case particularly in the small-pox grew
worse and had it in her head once to burn her will in hopes to grow
better upon it 

she sent my mother word that the doctors had given her over but that
she could not die till she saw her i told my mother that if she wished
her a chance for recovery she should not for that reason go but go
she would and what was worse would make me go with her and that at
an hour's warning for she said nothing of it to me till she was rising
in the morning early resolving to return again at night had there been
more time for argumentation to be sure i had not gone but as it was 
there was a kind of necessity that my preparation to obey her should 
in a manner accompany her command a command so much out of the way 
on such a solemn occasion and this i represented but to no purpose 
there never was such a contradicting girl in the world my wisdom
always made her a fool but she would be obliged this time proper or
improper 

i have but one way of accounting for this sudden whim of my mother and
that is this she had a mind to accept of mr hickman's offer to escort
her and i verily believe  i wish i were quite sure of it  had a mind
to oblige him with my company as far as i know to keep me out of
worse 

for would you believe it as sure as you are alive she is afraid for
her favourite hickman because of the long visit your lovelace though
so much by accident made me in her absence last time she was at the
same place i hope my dear you are not jealous too but indeed i
now-and-then when she teases me with praises which hickman cannot
deserve in return fall to praising those qualities and personalities in
lovelace which the other never will have indeed i do love to tease a
little bit that i do my mamma's girl i had like to have said 

as you know she is as passionate as i am pert you will not wonder to
be told that we generally fall out on these occasions she flies from
me at the long run it would be undutiful in me to leave her first and
then i get an opportunity to pursue our correspondence 

for now i am rambling let me tell you that she does not much favour
that for two reasons i believe one that i don't shew her all that
passes between us the other that she thinks i harden your mind against
your duty as it is called and with her for a reason at home as i
have hinted more than once parents cannot do wrong children cannot
oppose and be right this obliges me now-and-then to steal an hour as
i may say and not let her know how i am employed 

you may guess from what i have written how averse i was to comply with
such an unreasonable stretch of motherly authority but it came to be a
test of duty so i was obliged to yield though with a full persuasion
of being in the right 

i have always your reproofs upon these occasions in your late letters
stronger than ever a good reason why you'll say because more deserved
than ever i thank you kindly for your correction i hope to make
correction of it but let me tell you that your stripes whether
deserved or not have made me sensible deeper than the skin but of
this another time 

it was monday afternoon before we reached the old lady's house that
fiddling parading fellow  you know who i mean  made us wait for him two
hours and i to go to a journey i disliked only for the sake of having
a little more tawdry upon his housings which he had hurried his sadler
to put on to make him look fine being to escort his dear madam howe 
and her fair daughter i told him that i supposed he was afraid that
the double solemnity in the case that of the visit to a dying woman 
and that of his own countenance would give him the appearance of an
undertaker to avoid which he ran into as bad an extreme and i doubted
would be taken for a mountebank 

the man was confounded he took it as strongly as if his conscience
gave assent to the justice of the remark otherwise he would have borne
it better for he is used enough to this sort of treatment i thought he
would have cried i have heretofore observed that on this side of the
contract he seems to be a mighty meek sort of creature and though i
should like it in him hereafter perhaps yet i can't help despising him
a little in my heart for it now i believe my dear we all love your
blustering fellows best could we but direct the bluster and bid it
roar when and at whom we pleased 

the poor man looked at my mother she was so angry my airs upon it 
and my opposition to the journey have all helped that for half the
way she would not speak to me and when she did it was i wish i had
not brought you you know not what it is to condescend it is my fault 
not mr hickman's that you are here so much against your will have you
no eyes for this side of the chariot 

and then he fared the better from her as he always does for faring
worse from me for there was how do you now sir and how do you now 
mr hickman as he ambled now on this side of the chariot now on that 
stealing a prim look at me her head half out of the chariot kindly
smiling as if married to the man but a fortnight herself while i
always saw something to divert myself on the side of the chariot where
the honest man was not were it but old robin at a distance on his roan
keffel 

our courtship-days they say are our best days favour destroys
courtship distance increases it its essence is distance and to see
how familiar these men-wretches grow upon a smile what an awe they are
struck into when we frown who would not make them stand off who would
not enjoy a power that is to be short-lived 

don't chide me one bit for this my dear it is in nature i can't help
it nay for that matter i love it and wish not to help it so spare
your gravity i beseech you on this subject i set up not for a perfect
character the man will bear it and what need you care my mother
overbalances all he suffers and if he thinks himself unhappy he ought
never to be otherwise 

then did he not deserve a fit of the sullens think you to make us lose
our dinner for his parade since in so short a journey my mother would
not bait and lose the opportunity of coming back that night had the
old lady's condition permitted it to say nothing of being the cause 
that my mamma was in the glout with her poor daughter all the way 

at our alighting i gave him another dab but it was but a little one 
yet the manner and the air made up as i intended they should for
that defect my mother's hand was kindly put into his with a simpering
altogether bridal and with another how do you now sir all his plump
muscles were in motion and a double charge of care and obsequiousness
fidgeted up his whole form when he offered to me his officious palm 
my mother when i was a girl always bid me hold up my head i just then
remembered her commands and was dutiful i never held up my head so
high with an averted supercilious eye and a rejecting hand half
flourishing i have no need of help sir you are in my way 

he ran back as if on wheels with a face excessively mortified i had
thoughts else to have followed the too-gentle touch with a declaration 
that i had as many hands and feet as himself but this would have been
telling him a piece of news as to the latter that i hope he had not
the presumption to guess at 


 


we found the poor woman as we thought at the last gasp had we come
sooner we could not have got away as we intended that night you see i
am for excusing the man all i can and yet i assure you i have not so
much as a conditional liking to him my mother sat up most part of the
night expecting every hour would have been her poor cousin's last i
bore her company till two 

i never saw the approaches of death in a grown person before and was
extremely shocked death to one in health is a very terrible thing we
pity the person for what she suffers and we pity ourselves for what we
must some time hence in like sort suffer and so are doubly affected 

she held out till tuesday morning eleven as she had told my mother
that she had left her an executrix and her and me rings and mourning 
we were employed all that day in matters of the will  by which by the
way my own cousin jenny fynnett is handsomely provided for  so that it
was wednesday morning early before we could set out on our return 

it is true we got home having no housings to stay for by noon but
though i sent robin away before he dismounted who brought me back
a whole packet down to the same wednesday noon yet was i really so
fatigued and shocked as i must own at the hard death of the old
lady my mother likewise who has no reason to dislike this world being
indisposed from the same occasion that i could not set about writing
time enough for robin's return that night 

but having recruited my spirits my mother having also had a good night 
i arose with the dawn to write this and get it dispatched time enough
for your breakfast airing that your suspense might be as short as
possible 


 


i will soon follow this with another i will employ a person directly
to find out how lovelace behaves himself at his inn such a busy spirit
must be traceable 

but perhaps my dear you are indifferent now about him or his
employments for this request was made before he mortally offended you 
nevertheless i will have inquiry made the result it is very probable 
will be of use to confirm you in your present unforgiving temper and
yet if the poor man  shall i pity him for you my dear   should be
deprived of the greatest blessing any man on earth can receive and to
which he has the presumption with so little merit to aspire he will
have run great risks caught great colds hazarded fevers sustained
the highest indignities braved the inclemencies of skies and all
for nothing will not this move your generosity if nothing else in
his favour poor mr lovelace 

i would occasion no throb nor half-throb no flash of sensibility like
lightning darting in and as soon suppressed by a discretion that no
one of the sex ever before could give such an example of i would not 
i say and yet for such a trial of you to yourself rather than as an
impertinent overflow of raillery in your friend as money-takers try a
suspected guinea by the sound let me on such a supposition sound you 
by repeating poor mr lovelace 

and now my dear how is it with you how do you now as my mother says
to mr hickman when her pert daughter has made him look sorrowful 




letter xxii

mr hickman to mrs howe wednesday march 29 


madam 

it is with infinite regret that i think myself obliged by pen and ink 
to repeat my apprehension that it is impossible for me ever to obtain a
share in the affections of your beloved daughter o that it were not too
evident to every one as well as to myself even to our very servants 
that my love for her and my assiduities expose me rather to her scorn
 forgive me madam the hard word   than to the treatment due to a man
whose proposals have met with your approbation and who loves her above
all the women in the world 

well might the merit of my passion be doubted if like mr solmes to
the truly-admirably miss clarissa harlowe i could continue my addresses
to miss howe's distaste yet what will not the discontinuance cost me 

give me leave nevertheless dearest worthiest lady to repeat what i
told you on monday night at mrs larkin's with a heart even bursting
with grief that i wanted not the treatment of that day to convince
me that i am not nor ever can be the object of miss howe's voluntary
favour what hopes can there be that a lady will ever esteem as a
husband the man whom as a lover she despises will not every act
of obligingness from such a one be construed as an unmanly tameness
of spirit and entitle him the more to her disdain my heart is full 
forgive me if i say that miss howe's treatment of me does no credit
either to her education or fine sense 

since then it is too evident that she cannot esteem me and since as
i have heard it justly observed by the excellent miss clarissa harlowe 
that love is not a voluntary passion would it not be ungenerous to
subject the dear daughter to the displeasure of a mother so justly fond
of her and you madam while you are so good as to interest yourself in
my favour to uneasiness and why were i even to be sure at last of
succeeding by means of your kind partiality to me should i wish to make
the best-beloved of my soul unhappy since mutual must be our happiness 
or misery for life the consequence to both 

my best wishes will for ever attend the dear the ever-dear lady may
her nuptials be happy they must be so if she marry the man she can
honour with her love yet i will say that whoever be the happy the
thrice-happy man he can never love her with a passion more ardent and
more sincere than mine 

accept dear madam of my most grateful thanks for a distinction that
has been the only support of my presumption in an address i am obliged 
as utterly hopeless to discontinue a distinction on which and not
on my own merits i had entirely relied but which i find can avail me
nothing to the last hour of my life it will give me pleasure to think 
that had your favour your recommendation been of sufficient weight to
conquer what seems to be an invincible aversion i had been the happiest
of men 

i am dear madam with inviolable respect your ever obliged and
faithful humble servant charles hickman 




letter xxiii

mrs howe to charles hickman esq thursday march 30 


i cannot but say mr hickman but you have cause to be dissatisfied to
be out of humour to be displeased with nancy but upon my word but
indeed what shall i say yet this i will say that you good young
gentlemen know nothing at all of our sex shall i tell you but why
should i and yet i will that if nancy did not think well of you upon
the main she is too generous to treat you so freely as she does don't
you think she has courage enough to tell me she would not see you and
to refuse at any time seeing you as she knows on what account you come 
if she had not something in her head favourable to you fie that i am
forced to say thus much in writing when i have hinted it to you twenty
and twenty times by word of mouth 

but if you are so indifferent mr hickman if you think you can part
with her for her skittish tricks if my interest in your favour why 
mr hickman i must tell you that my nancy is worth bearing with if she
be foolish what is that owing to is it not to her wit let me tell
you sir you cannot have the convenience without the inconvenience 
what workman loves not a sharp tool to work with but is there not more
danger from a sharp tool than from a blunt one and what workman will
throw away a sharp tool because it may cut his fingers wit may be
likened to a sharp tool and there is something very pretty in wit let
me tell you often and often have i been forced to smile at her arch
turns upon me when i could have beat her for them and pray don't i
bear a great deal from her and why because i love her and would you
not wish me to judge of your love for her by my own and would not you
bear with her don't you love her what though with another sort of
love as well as i do i do assure you sir that if i thought you did
not well but it is plain that you don't and is it plain that you
don't well then you must do as you think best 

well might the merit of your passion be doubted you say if like mr 
solmes fiddle-faddle why you are a captious man i think has nancy
been so plain in her repulses of you as miss clary harlowe has been to
mr solmes does nancy love any man better than you although she may
not shew so much love to you as you wish for if she did let me tell
you she would have let us all hear of it what idle comparisons then 

but it mat be you are tired out it may be you have seen somebody
else it may be you would wish to change mistresses with that gay wretch
mr lovelace it may be too that in that case nancy would not be
sorry to change lovers the truly-admirable miss clarissa harlowe good
lack -but take care mr hickman that you do not praise any woman
living let her be as admirable and as excellent as she will above your
own mistress no polite man will do that surely and take care
too that you do not make her or me think you are in earnest in your
anger just though it may be as anger only i would not for a thousand
pounds that nancy should know that you can so easily part with her if
you have the love for her which you declare you have be sure if you
are not absolutely determined that you do not so much as whisper the
contents of this your letter to your own heart as i may say 

her treatment of you you say does no credit either to her education
or fine sense very home put truly nevertheless so say i but is not
hers the disgrace more than yours i can assure you that every body
blames her for it and why do they blame her why because they think
you merit better treatment at her hands and is not this to your credit 
who but pities you and blames he do the servants who as you observe 
see her skittish airs disrespect you for them do they not at such
times look concerned for you are they not then doubly officious in
their respects and services to you i have observed with pleasure 
that they are 

but you are afraid you shall be thought tame perhaps when married 
that you shall not be though manly enough i warrant and this was poor
mr howe's fear and many a tug did this lordly fear cost us both god
knows many more than needed i am sure and more than ought to have
been had he known how to bear and forbear as is the duty of those who
pretend to have most sense and pray which would you have to have most
sense the woman or the man 

well sir and now what remains if you really love nancy so well as you
say you do why i leave that to you you may if you please come to
breakfast with me in the morning but with no full heart nor resenting
looks i advise you except you can brave it out that have i when
provoked done many a time with my husband but never did i get any
thing by it with my daughter much less will you of which for your
observation i thought fit to advise you as from

your friend anabella howe 




letter xxiv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morning 


i will now take some notice of your last favour but being so far
behind-hand with you must be brief 

in the first place as to your reproofs thus shall i discharge myself
of that part of my subject is it likely think you that i should avoid
deserving them now-and-then occasionally when i admire the manner in
which you give me your rebukes and love you the better for them and
when you are so well entitled to give them for what faults can you
possibly have unless your relations are so kind as to find you a few to
keep their many in countenance but they are as king to me in this as
to you for i may venture to affirm that any one who should read
your letters and would say you were right would not on reading mine 
condemn me for them quite wrong 

your resolution not to leave your father's house is right if you can
stay in it and avoid being solmes's wife 

i think you have answered solmes's letter as i should have answered
it will you not compliment me and yourself at once by saying that
was right 

you have in your letters to your uncle and the rest done all that you
ought to do you are wholly guiltless of the consequence be it what it
will to offer to give up your estate that would not i have done you
see this offer staggered them they took time to consider of it they
made my heart ache in the time they took i was afraid they would have
taken you at your word and so but for shame and for fear of lovelace 
i dare say they would you are too noble for them this i repeat is an
offer i would not have made let me beg of you my dear never to repeat
the temptation to them 

i freely own to you that their usage of you upon it and lovelace's
different treatment of you in his letter received at the same time 
would have made me his past redemption the duce take the man i was
going to say for not having so much regard to his character and morals 
as would have entirely justified such a step in a clarissa persecuted
as she is 


 see letter xviii 


i wonder not at your appointment with him i may further touch upon some
part of this subject by-and-by 

pray pray i pray you now my dearest friend contrive to send your
betty banes to me does the coventry act extend to women know ye the
least i will do shall be to send her home well soused in and dragged
through our deepest horsepond i'll engage if i get her hither that
she will keep the anniversary of her deliverance as long as she lives 

i wonder not at lovelace's saucy answer saucy as it really is if he
loves you as he ought he must be vexed at so great a disappointment 
the man must have been a detestable hypocrite i think had he not shown
his vexation your expectations of such a christian command of temper
in him in a disappointment of this nature especially are too early by
almost half a century in a man of his constitution but nevertheless i
am very far from blaming you for your resentment 


 see letter xx 


i shall be all impatience to know how this matter ends between you and
him but a few inches of brick wall between you so lately and now such
mountains and you think to hold it may be so 

you see you say that the temper he shewed in his letter was not
natural to him wretched creepers and insinuators yet when opportunity
serves as insolent encroachers this very hickman i make no doubt 
would be as saucy as your lovelace if he dared he has not half the
arrogant bravery of the other and can better hide his horns that's
all but whenever he has the power depend upon it he will butt at one
as valiantly as the other 

if ever i should be persuaded to have him i shall watch how the
obsequious lover goes off and how the imperative husband comes upon
him in short how he ascends and how i descend in the matrimonial
wheel never to take my turn again but by fits and starts like the
feeble struggles of a sinking state for its dying liberty 

all good-natured men are passionate says mr lovelace a pretty plea
to a beloved object in the plenitude of her power as much as to say 
greatly i value you madam i will not take pains to curb my passions
to oblige you' methinks i should be glad to hear from mr hickman such
a plea for good nature as this 

indeed we are too apt to make allowances for such tempers as early
indulgence has made uncontroulable and therefore habitually evil but
if a boisterous temper when under obligation is to be thus allowed
for what when the tables are turned will it expect you know a
husband who i fancy had some of these early allowances made for him 
and you see that neither himself nor any body else is the happier for
it 

the suiting of the tempers of two persons who are to come together is
a great matter and there should be boundaries fixed between them by
consent as it were beyond which neither should go and each should hold
the other to it or there would probably be encroachment in both to
illustrate my assertion by a very high and by a more manly as some
would think it than womanly instance if the boundaries of the
three estates that constitute our political union were not known 
and occasionally asserted what would become of the prerogatives and
privileges of each the two branches of the legislature would encroach
upon each other and the executive power would swallow up both 

but if two persons of discretion you'll say come together 

ay my dear that's true but if none but persons of discretion were
to marry and would it not surprise you if i were to advance that the
persons of discretion are generally single such persons are apt
to consider too much to resolve are not you and i complimented as
such and would either of us marry if the fellows and our friends
would let us alone 

but to the former point had lovelace made his addresses to me unless
indeed i had been taken with a liking for him more than conditional 
i would have forbid him upon the first passionate instance of his
good-nature as he calls it ever to see me more thou must bear with
me honest friend might i have said  had i condescended to say any
thing to him  an hundred times more than this begone therefore i
bear with no passions that are predominant to that thou has pretended
for me 

but to one of your mild and gentle temper it would be all one were
you married whether the man were a lovelace or a hickman in his
spirit you are so obediently principled that perhaps you would have
told a mild man that he must not entreat but command and that it
was beneath him not to exact from you the obedience you had so solemnly
vowed to him at the altar i know of old my dear your meek regard
to that little piddling part of the marriage-vow which some
prerogative-monger foisted into the office to make that a duty which
he knew was not a right 

our way of training-up you say makes us need the protection of the
brave very true and how extremely brave and gallant is it that this
brave man will free us from all insults but those which will go nearest
to our hearts that is to say his own 

how artfully has lovelace in the abstract you give me of one of
his letters calculated to your meridian generous spirits hate
compulsion he is certainly a deeper creature by much than once we
thought him he knows as you intimate that his own wild pranks cannot
be concealed and so owns just enough to palliate because it teaches
you not to be surprised at any new one that may come to your ears and
then truly he is however faulty a mighty ingenuous man and by no
means an hypocrite a character the most odious of all others to our
sex in a lover and the least to be forgiven were it only because 
when detected it makes us doubt the justice of those praises which we
are willing to believe he thought to be our due 

by means of this supposed ingenuity lovelace obtains a praise instead
of a merited dispraise and like an absolved confessionaire wipes off
as he goes along one score to begin another for an eye favourable
to him will not see his faults through a magnifying glass nor will a
woman willing to hope the best forbear to impute it to ill-will and
prejudice all that charity can make so imputable and if she even give
credit to such of the unfavourable imputations as may be too flagrant
to be doubted she will be very apt to take in the future hope which
he inculcates and which to question would be to question her own power 
and perhaps merit and thus may a woman be inclined to make a slight 
even a fancied merit atone for the most glaring vice 

i have a reason a new one for this preachment upon a text you have
given me but till i am better informed i will not explain myself 
if it come out as i shrewdly suspect it will the man my dear is a
devil and you must rather think of i protest i had like to have said
solmes than him 

but let this be as it will shall i tell you how after all his
offences he may creep in with you again 

i will thus then it is but to claim for himself the good-natured
character and this granted will blot out the fault of passionate
insolence and so he will have nothing to do but this hour to
accustom you to insult the next to bring you to forgive him upon
his submission the consequence must be that he will by this teazing 
break your resentment all to pieces and then a little more of the
insult and a little less of the submission on his part will go down 
till nothing else but the first will be seen and not a bit of the
second you will then be afraid to provoke so offensive a spirit and
at last will be brought so prettily and so audibly to pronounce the
little reptile word obey that it will do one's heart good to hear you 
the muscovite wife then takes place of the managed mistress and if
you doubt the progression be pleased my dear to take your mother's
judgment upon it 

but no more of this just now your situation is become too critical to
permit me to dwell upon these sort of topics and yet this is but an
affected levity with me my heart as i have heretofore said is a
sincere sharer in all your distresses my sun-shine darts but through
a drizly cloud my eye were you to see it when it seems to you so
gladdened as you mentioned in a former is more than ready to overflow 
even at the very passages perhaps upon which you impute to me the
archness of exultation 

but now the unheard-of cruelty and perverseness of some of your friends
 relations i should say i am always blundering thus   the as strange
determinedness of others your present quarrel with lovelace and your
approaching interview with solmes from which you are right to apprehend
a great deal are such considerable circumstances in your story that it
is fit they should engross all my attention 

you ask me to advise you how to behave upon solmes's visit i cannot for
my life i know they expect a great deal from it you had not else had
your long day complied with all i will say is that if solmes cannot
be prevailed for now that lovelace has so much offended you he never
will when the interview is over i doubt not but that i shall have
reason to say that all you did that all you said was right and could
not be better yet if i don't think so i won't say so that i promise
you 

only let me advise you to pull up a spirit even to your uncle if there
be occasion resent the vile and foolish treatment you meet with in
which he has taken so large a share and make him ashamed of it if you
can 

i know not upon recollection but this interview may be a good thing
for you however designed for when solmes sees if that be to be so 
that it is impossible he should succeed with you and your relations see
it too the one must i think recede and the other come to terms with
you upon offers that it is my opinion will go hard enough with you to
comply with when the still harder are dispensed with 

there are several passages in your last letters as well as in your
former which authorize me to say this but it would be unseasonable to
touch this subject farther just now 

but upon the whole i have no patience to see you thus made sport of
your brother's and sister's cruelty for what after so much steadiness
on your part in so many trials can be their hope except indeed it be
to drive you to extremity and to ruin you in the opinion of your uncles
as well as father 

i urge you by all means to send out of their reach all the letters
and papers you would not have them see methinks i would wish you to
deposit likewise a parcel of clothes linen and the like before your
interview with solmes lest you should not have an opportunity for it
afterwards robin shall fetch it away on the first orders by day or by
night 

i am in hopes to procure from my mother if things come to extremity 
leave for you to be privately with us 

i will condition to be good-humoured and even kind to her favourite 
if she will shew me an indulgence that shall make me serviceable to
mine 

this alternative has been a good while in my head but as your foolish
uncle has so strangely attached my mother to their views i cannot
promise that i shall succeed as i wish 

do not absolutely despair however what though the contention will be
between woman and woman i fancy i shall be able to manage it by the
help of a little female perseverance your quarrel with lovelace if
it continue will strengthen my hands and the offers you made in your
answer to your uncle harlowe's letter of sunday night last duly dwelt
upon must add force to my pleas 

i depend upon your forgiveness of all the perhaps unseasonable
flippancies of your naturally too lively yet most sincerely
sympathizing anna howe 




letter xxv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday march 31 


you have very kindly accounted for your silence people in misfortune
are always in doubt they are too apt to turn even unavoidable accidents
into slights and neglects especially in those whose favourable opinion
they wish to preserve 

i am sure i ought evermore to exempt my anna howe from the supposed
possibility of her becoming one of those who bask only in the sun-shine
of a friend but nevertheless her friendship is too precious to me not
to doubt my own merits on the one hand and not to be anxious for the
preservation of it on the other 

you so generously gave me liberty to chide you that i am afraid of
taking it because i could sooner mistrust my own judgment than that of
a beloved friend whose ingenuousness in acknowledging an imputed error
seems to set her above the commission of a wilful one this makes
me half-afraid to ask you if you think you are not too cruel too
ungenerous shall i say in your behaviour to a man who loves you so
dearly and is so worthy and so sincere a man 

only it is by you or i should be ashamed to be outdone in that true
magnanimity which makes one thankful for the wounds given by a true
friend i believe i was guilty of a petulance which nothing but my
uneasy situation can excuse if that can i am but almost afraid to beg
of you and yet i repeatedly do to give way to that charming spirit 
whenever it rises to your pen which smiles yet goes to the quick of my
fault what patient shall be afraid of a probe in so delicate a hand i
say i am almost afraid to pray you to give way to it for fear you
should for that very reason restrain it for the edge may be taken
off if it does not make the subject of its raillery wince a little 
permitted or desired satire may be apt in a generous satirist mending
as it rallies to turn too soon into panegyric yours is intended to
instruct and though it bites it pleases at the same time no fear of a
wound's wrankling or festering by so delicate a point as you carry 
not envenomed by personality not intending to expose or ridicule or
exasperate the most admired of our moderns know nothing of this art 
why because it must be founded in good nature and directed by a right
heart the man not the fault is generally the subject of their satire 
and were it to be just how should it be useful how should it answer
any good purpose when every gash for their weapon is a broad sword 
not a lancet lets in the air of public ridicule and exasperates where
it should heal spare me not therefore because i am your friend for
that very reason spare me not i may feel your edge fine as it is i
may be pained you would lose you end if i were not but after the first
sensibility as i have said more than once before i will love you the
better and my amended heart shall be all yours and it will then be
more worthy to be yours 

you have taught me what to say to and what to think of mr lovelace 
you have by agreeable anticipation let me know how it is probable he
will apply to me to be excused i will lay every thing before you that
shall pass on the occasion if he do apply that i may take your advice 
when it can come in time and when it cannot that i may receive your
correction or approbation as i may happen to merit either only one
thing must be allowed for me that whatever course i shall be permitted
or be forced to steer i must be considered as a person out of her own
direction tost to and fro by the high winds of passionate controul 
 and as i think unseasonable severity i behold the desired port 
the single state into which i would fain steer but am kept off by
the foaming billows of a brother's and sister's envy and by the raging
winds of a supposed invaded authority while i see in lovelace the
rocks on one hand and in solmes the sands on the other and tremble 
lest i should split upon the former or strike upon the latter 

but you my better pilot to what a charming hope do you bid me aspire 
if things come to extremity i will not as you caution me too much
depend upon your success with your mother in my favour for well i know
her high notions of implicit duty in a child but yet i will hope too 
because her seasonable protection may save me perhaps from a greater
rashness and in this case she shall direct me in all my ways i will
do nothing but by her orders and by her advice and yours not see
any body not write to any body nor shall any living soul but by her
direction and yours know where i am in any cottage place me i will
never stir out unless disguised as your servant i am now-and-then
permitted an evening-walk with you and this private protection to be
granted for no longer time than till my cousin morden comes which as i
hope cannot be long 

i am afraid i must not venture to take the hint you give me to deposit
some of my clothes although i will some of my linen as well as papers 

i will tell you why betty had for some time been very curious about my
wardrobe whenever i took out any of my things before her 

observing this i once on taking one of my garden-airings left my keys
in the locks and on my return surprised the creature with her hand upon
the keys as if shutting the door 

she was confounded at my sudden coming back i took no notice but on
her retiring i found my cloaths were not in the usual order 

i doubted not upon this that her curiosity was owing to the orders she
had received and being afraid they would abridge me of my airings if
their suspicions were not obviated it has ever since been my custom
 among other contrivances not only to leave my keys in the locks but
to employ the wench now-and-then in taking out my cloaths suit by suit 
on pretence of preventing their being rumpled or creased and to see
that the flowered silver suit did not tarnish sometimes declaredly to
give myself employment having little else to do with which employment
 superadded to the delight taken by the low as well as by the high of
our sex in seeing fine cloaths she seemed always i thought as well
pleased as if it answered one of the offices she had in charge 

to this and to the confidence they have in a spy so diligent and
to their knowing that i have not one confidant in a family in which
nevertheless i believe every servant loves me nor have attempted
to make one i suppose i owe the freedom i enjoy of my airings and
perhaps finding i make no movements towards going away they are the
more secure that i shall at last be prevailed upon to comply with
their measures since they must think that otherwise they give me
provocation enough to take some rash step in order to free myself
from a treatment so disgraceful and which  god forgive me if i judge
amiss   i am afraid my brother and sister would not be sorry to drive me
to take 

if therefore such a step should become necessary which i yet hope
will not i must be contented to go away with the clothes i shall
have on at the time my custom to be dressed for the day as soon as
breakfast is over when i have had no household employments to prevent
me will make such a step if i am forced to take it less suspected 
and the linen i shall deposit in pursuance of your kind hint cannot be
missed 

this custom although a prisoner as i may too truly say and neither
visited nor visiting i continue we owe to ourselves and to our sex 
you know to be always neat and never to be surprised in a way we
should be pained to be seen in 

besides people in adversity which is the state of trial of every good
quality should endeavour to preserve laudable customs that if sun
shine return they may not be losers by their trial 

does it not moreover manifest a firmness of mind in an unhappy
person to keep hope alive to hope for better days is half to deserve
them for could we have just ground for such a hope if we did not
resolve to deserve what that hope bids us aspire to then who shall
befriend a person who forsakes herself 

these are reflections by which i sometimes endeavour to support myself 

i know you don't despise my grave airs although with a view no doubt
to irradiate my mind in my misfortunes you rally me upon them every
body has not your talent of introducing serious and important lessons 
in such a happy manner as at once to delight and instruct 

what a multitude of contrivances may not young people fall upon if the
mind be not engaged by acts of kindness and condescension i am not used
by my friends of late as i always used their servants 

when i was intrusted with the family-management i always found it
right as well in policy as generosity to repose a trust in them not
to seem to expect or depend upon justice from them is in a manner to
bid them to take opportunities whenever they offer to be unjust 

mr solmes to expatiate on this low but not unuseful subject in his
more trifling solicitudes would have had a sorry key-keeper in me were
i mistress of a family i would not either take to myself or give to
servants the pain of keeping those i had reason to suspect people low
in station have often minds not sordid nay i have sometimes thought 
that even take number for number there are more honest low people 
than honest high in the one honest is their chief pride in the other 
the love of power of grandeur of pleasure mislead and that and their
ambition induce a paramount pride which too often swallows up the more
laudable one 

many of the former would scorn to deceive a confidence but i have seen 
among the most ignorant of their class a susceptibility of resentment 
if their honesty has been suspected and have more than once been forced
to put a servant right whom i have heard say that although she valued
herself upon her honesty no master or mistress should suspect her for
nothing 

how far has the comparison i had in my head between my friends
treatment of me and my treatment of the servants carried me but we
always allowed ourselves to expatiate on such subjects whether low
or high as might tend to enlarge our minds or mend our management 
whether notional or practical and whether such expatiating respected
our present or might respect our probable future situations 

what i was principally leading to was to tell you how ingenious i am in
my contrivances and pretences to blind my gaoleress and to take off the
jealousy of her principals on my going down so often into the garden and
poultry-yard people suspiciously treated are never i believe at a loss
for invention sometimes i want air and am better the moment i am out
of my chamber sometimes spirits and then my bantams and pheasants or
the cascade divert me the former by their inspiring liveliness the
latter by its echoing dashes and hollow murmurs sometimes solitude
is of all things my wish and the awful silence of the night the
spangled element and the rising and setting sun how promotive of
contemplation sometimes when i intend nothing and expect no letters 
i am officious to take betty with me and at others bespeak her
attendance when i know she is otherwise employed and cannot give it
me 

these more capital artifices i branch out into lesser ones without
number yet all have not only the face of truth but are real truths 
although not my principal motive how prompt a thing is will what
impediments does dislike furnish how swiftly through every
difficulty do we move with the one how tardily with the other every
trifling obstruction weighing us down as if lead were fastened to our
feet 


friday morning eleven o'clock 

i have already made up my parcel of linen my heart ached all the time
i was employed about it and still aches at the thoughts of its being a
necessary precaution 

when the parcel comes to your hands as i hope it safely will you will
be pleased to open it you will find in it two parcels sealed up one
of which contains the letters you have not yet seen being those written
since i left you in the other are all the letters and copies of letters
that have passed between you and me since i was last with you with some
other papers on subjects so much above me that i cannot wish them to be
seen by any body whose indulgence i am not so sure of as i am of yours 
if my judgment ripen with my years perhaps i may review them 

mrs norton used to say from her reverend father that youth was the
time of life for imagination and fancy to work in then were a writer
to lay by his works till riper years and experience should direct the
fire rather to glow than to flame out something between both might
perhaps be produced that would not displease a judicious eye 

in a third division folded up separately are all mr lovelace's
letters written to me since he was forbidden this house and copies
of my answers to them i expect that you will break the seals of this
parcel and when you have perused them all give me your free opinion of
my conduct 

by the way not a line from that man not one line wednesday i
deposited mine it remained there on wednesday night what time it was
taken away yesterday i cannot tell for i did not concern myself about
it till towards night and then it was not there no return at ten this
day i suppose he is as much out of humour as i with all my heart 

he may be mean enough perhaps if ever i should put it into his power 
to avenge himself for the trouble he has had with me but that now i
dare say i never shall 

i see what sort of a man the encroacher is and i hope we are equally
sick of one another my heart is vexedly easy if i may so describe
it vexedly because of the apprehended interview with solmes and the
consequences it may be attended with or else i should be quite easy 
for why i have not deserved the usage i receive and could i be rid of
solmes as i presume i am of lovelace their influence over my father 
mother and uncles against me could not hold 

the five guineas tied up in one corner of a handkerchief under the
linen i beg you will let pass as an acknowledgement for the trouble
i give your trusty servant you must not chide me for this you know i
cannot be easy unless i have my way in these little matters 

i was going to put up what little money i have and some of my
ornaments but they are portable and i cannot forget them besides 
should they suspecting me desire to see any of the jewels and were
i not able to produce them it would amount to a demonstration of an
intention which would have a guilty appearance to them 


friday one o'clock in the wood-house 

no letter yet from this man i have luckily deposited my parcel and
have your letter of last night if robert take this without the parcel 
pray let him return immediately for it but he cannot miss it i think 
and must conclude that it is put there for him to take away you may
believe from the contents of yours that i shall immediately write
again 

clarissa harlowe 




letter xxvi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday night march 30 


the fruits of my inquiry after your abominable wretch's behaviour and
baseness at the paltry alehouse which he calls an inn prepare to hear 

wrens and sparrows are not too ignoble a quarry for this villainous
gos-hawk his assiduities his watchings his nightly risques the
inclement weather he journeys in must not be all placed to your
account he has opportunities of making every thing light to him of
that sort a sweet pretty girl i am told innocent till he went
thither now ah poor girl who knows what 

but just turned of seventeen his friend and brother-rake a man of
humour and intrigue as i am told to share the social bottle with 
and sometimes another disguised rake or two no sorrow comes near their
hearts be not disturbed my dear at his hoarsenesses his pretty 
betsey his rosebud as the vile wretch calls her can hear all he says 

he is very fond of her they say she is innocent even yet her father 
her grandmother believe her to be so he is to fortune her out to a
young lover ah the poor young lover ah the poor simple girl 

mr hickman tells me that he heard in town that he used to be often
at plays and at the opera with women and every time with a different
one ah my sweet friend but i hope he is nothing to you if all this
were truth but this intelligence in relation to this poor girl will
do his business if you had been ever so good friends before 

a vile wretch cannot such purity in pursuit in view restrain him but
i leave him to you there can be no hope of him more of a fool 
than of such a man yet i wish i may be able to snatch the poor young
creature out of his villainous paws i have laid a scheme to do so if
indeed she be hitherto innocent and heart-free 

he appears to the people as a military man in disguise secreting
himself on account of a duel fought in town the adversary's life in
suspense they believe he is a great man his friend passes for an
inferior officer upon a footing of freedom with him he accompanied by
a third man who is a sort of subordinate companion to the second the
wretch himself with but one servant 

o my dear how pleasantly can these devils as i must call them pass
their time while our gentle bosoms heave with pity for their supposed
sufferings for us 


 


i have sent for this girl and her father and am just now informed that
i shall see them i will sift them thoroughly i shall soon find out
such a simple thing as this if he has not corrupted her already and if
he has i shall soon find out that too if more art than nature appears
either in her or her father i shall give them both up but depend upon
it the girl's undone 

he is said to be fond of her he places her at the upper end of his
table he sets her a-prattling he keeps his friends at a distance from
her she prates away he admires for nature all she says once was heard
to call her charming little creature an hundred has he called so no
doubt he puts her upon singing he praises her wild note o my dear 
the girl's undone must be undone the man you know is lovelace 

let em bring wyerley to you if they will have you married any body
but solmes and lovelace be yours so advises

your anna howe 

my dearest friend consider this alehouse as his garrison him as an
enemy his brother-rakes as his assistants and abettors would not your
brother would not your uncles tremble if they knew how near them he
is as they pass to and fro i am told he is resolved you shall not be
carried to your uncle antony's what can you do with or without such
an enterprising 

fill up the blank i leave i cannot find a word bad enough




letter xxvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday three o'clock 


you incense alarm and terrify me at the same time hasten my
dearest friend hasten to me what further intelligence you can gather
about this vilest of men 

but never talk of innocence of simplicity and this unhappy girl 
together must she not know that such a man as that dignified in his
very aspect and no disguise able to conceal his being of condition 
must mean too much when he places her at the upper end of his table 
and calls her by such tender names would a girl modest as simple 
above seventeen be set a-singing at the pleasure of such a man as
that a stranger and professedly in disguise would her father and
grandmother if honest people and careful of their simple girl permit
such freedoms 

keep his friend at a distance from her to be sure his designs are
villainous if they have not been already effected 

warn my dear if not too late the unthinking father of his child's
danger there cannot be a father in the world who would sell his
child's virtue nor mother the poor thing 

i long to hear the result of your intelligence you shall see the simple
creature you tell me let me know what sort of a girl she is a sweet
pretty girl you say a sweet pretty girl my dear they are sweet
pretty words from your pen but are they yours or his of her if she be
so simple if she have ease and nature in her manner in her speech and
warbles prettily her wild notes why such a girl as that must
engage such a profligate wretch as now indeed i doubt this man is 
accustomed perhaps to town women and their confident ways must
deeply and for a long season engage him since perhaps when her
innocence is departed she will endeavour by art to supply the loss of
the natural charms which now engage him 

fine hopes of such a wretch's reformation i would not my dear for the
world have any thing to say but i need not make resolutions i have
not opened nor will i open his letter a sycophant creature with
his hoarsenesses got perhaps by a midnight revel singing to his wild
note singer and only increased in the coppice 

to be already on a footing in his esteem i mean for myself i
despise him i hate myself almost for writing so much about him and of
such a simpleton as this sweet pretty girl as you call her but no one
can be either sweet or pretty that is not modest that is not virtuous 

and now my dear i will tell you how i came to put you upon this
inquiry 

this vile joseph leman had given a hint to betty and she to me as if
lovelace would be found out to be a very bad man at a place where he
had been lately seen in disguise but he would see further he said 
before he told her more and she promised secrecy in hope to get at
further intelligence i thought it could be no harm to get you to
inform yourself and me of what could be gathered and now i see his
enemies are but too well warranted in their reports of him and if the
ruin of this poor young creature be his aim and if he had not known her
but for his visits to harlowe-place i shall have reason to be doubly
concerned for her and doubly incensed against so vile a man 


 it will be seen in vol i letter xxxiv that mr lovelace's
 motive for sparing his rosebud was twofold first because
 his pride was gratified by the grandmother's desiring him to
 spare her grand-daughter many a pretty rogue say he had i
 spared whom i did not spare had my power been
 acknowledged and my mercy in time implored but the
 debellare superbos should be my motto were i to have a new
 one 

 his other motive will be explained in the following passage 
 in the same i never was so honest for so long together 
 says he since my matriculation it behoves me so to be 
 some way or other my recess  at the little inn  may be found
 out and it then will be thought that my rosebud has
 attracted me a report in my favour from simplicities so
 amiable may establish me etc 

 accordingly as the reader will hereafter see mr lovelace
 finds by the effects his expectations from the contrivance
 he set on foot by means of his agent joseph leman who
 plays as above upon betty barnes fully answered though
 he could not know what passed on the occasion between the
 two ladies 

 this explanation is the more necessary to be given as
 several of our readers through want of due attention have
 attributed to mr lovelace on his behaviour to his rosebud 
 a greater merit than was due to him and moreover imagined 
 that it was improbable that a man who was capable of
 acting so generously as they supposed in this instance 
 should be guilty of any atrocious vileness not considering 
 that love pride and revenge as he owns in vol i letter
 xxxi were ingredients of equal force in his composition 
 and that resistance was a stimulus to him 


i think i hate him worse than i do solmes himself 

but i will not add one more word about hi and after i have told you 
that i wish to know as soon as possible what further occurs from your
inquiry i have a letter from him but shall not open it till i do 
and then if it come out as i dare say it will i will directly put the
letter unopened into the place i took it from and never trouble myself
more about him adieu my dearest friend 

cl harlowe 




letter xxviii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe friday noon march 31 


justice obliges me to forward this after my last on the wings of the
wind as i may say i really believe the man is innocent of this
one accusation i think he must be acquitted and i am sorry i was so
forward in dispatching away my intelligence by halves 

i have seen the girl she is really a very pretty a very neat and 
what is still a greater beauty a very innocent young creature he who
could have ruined such an undersigned home-bred must have been
indeed infernally wicked her father is an honest simple man entirely
satisfied with his child and with her new acquaintance 

i am almost afraid for your heart when i tell you that i find now i
have got to the bottom of this inquiry something noble come out in this
lovelace's favour 

the girl is to be married next week and this promoted and brought about
by him he is resolved her father says to make one couple happy 
and wishes he could make more so  there's for you my dear   and she
professes to love he has given her an hundred pounds the grandmother
actually has it in her hands to answer to the like sum given to the
youth by one of his own relation while mr lovelace's companion 
attracted by the example has given twenty-five guineas to the father 
who is poor towards clothes to equip the pretty rustic 

mr lovelace and his friend the poor man says when they first came to
his house affected to appear as persons of low degree but now he knows
the one but mentioned it in confidence to be colonel barrow the other
captain sloane the colonel he owns was at first very sweet upon his
girl but her grandmother's begging of him to spare her innocence he
vowed that he never would offer any thing but good counsel to her he
kept his word and the pretty fool acknowledged that she never
could have been better instructed by the minister himself from the
bible-book the girl pleased me so well that i made her visit to me
worth her while 

but what my dear will become of us now lovelace not only reformed 
but turned preacher what will become of us now why my sweet friend 
your generosity is now engaged in his favour fie upon this generosity 
i think in my heart that it does as much mischief to the noble-minded 
as love to the ignobler what before was only a conditional liking i
am now afraid will turn to liking unconditional 

i could not endure to change my invective into panegyric all at once 
and so soon we or such as i at least love to keep ourselves in
countenance for a rash judgment even when we know it to be rash 
everybody has not your generosity in confessing a mistake it requires
a greatness of soul frankly to do it so i made still further inquiry
after his life and manner and behaviour there in hopes to find
something bad but all uniform 

upon the whole mr lovelace comes out with so much advantage from this
inquiry that were there the least room for it i should suspect the
whole to be a plot set on foot to wash a blackamoor white adieu my
dear 

anna howe 




letter xxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe saturday april 1 


hasty censures do indeed subject themselves to the charge of
variableness and inconsistency in judgment and so they ought for 
if you even you my dear were so loth to own a mistake as in the
instance before us you pretend you were i believe i should not have
loved you so well as i really do love you nor could you in that case 
have so frankly thrown the reflection i hint at upon yourself have not
your mind been one of the most ingenuous that ever woman boasted 

mr lovelace has faults enow to deserve very severe censure although
he be not guilty of this if i were upon such terms with him as he could
wish me to be i should give him such a hint that this treacherous
joseph leman cannot be so much attached to him as perhaps he thinks
him to be if it were he would not have been so ready to report to his
disadvantage and to betty barnes too this slight affair of the pretty
rustic joseph has engaged betty to secrecy promising to let her and
her young master to know more when he knows the whole of the matter 
and this hinders her from mentioning it as she is nevertheless agog to
do to my sister or brother and then she does not choose to disoblige
joseph for although she pretends to look above him she listens i
believe to some love-stories he tells her 

women having it not in their power to begin a courtship some of them
very frequently i believe lend an ear where their hearts incline not 

but to say no more of these low people neither of whom i think
tolerably of i must needs own that as i should for ever have despised
this man had he been capable of such a vile intrigue in his way to
harlowe-place and as i believe he was capable of it it has indeed  i
own it has  proportionably engaged my generosity as you call it in his
favour perhaps more than i may have reason to wish it had and rally
me as you will pray tell me fairly my dear would it not have had such
an effect upon you 

then the real generosity of the act i protest my beloved friend 
if he would be good for the rest of his life from this time i would
forgive him a great many of his past errors were it only for the
demonstration he has given in this that he is capable of so good and
bountiful a manner of thinking 

you may believe i made no scruple to open his letter after the receipt
of your second on this subject nor shall i of answering it as i have
no reason to find fault with it an article in his favour procured
him however so much the easier i must own by way of amends for the
undue displeasure i took against him though he knows it not 

is it lucky enough that this matter was cleared up to me by your
friendly diligence so soon for had i written before it was it would
have been to reinforce my dismission of him and perhaps i should have
mentioned the very motive for it affected me more than i think it
ought and then what an advantage would that have given him when he
could have cleared up the matter so happily for himself 

when i send you this letter of his you will see how very humble he is 
what acknowledgements of natural impatience what confession of faults 
as you prognosticated 

a very different appearance i must own all these make now the story
of the pretty rustic is cleared up to what they would have made had it
not 

you will see how he accounts to me that he could not by reason of
indisposition come for my letter in person and the forward creature
labours the point as if he thought i should be uneasy that he did not 
i am indeed sorry he should be ill on my account and i will allow that
the suspense he has been in for some time past must have been vexatious
enough to so impatient a spirit but all is owing originally to himself 

you will find him in the presumption of being forgiven full of
contrivances and expedients for my escaping my threatened compulsion 

i have always said that next to being without fault is the
acknowledgement of a fault since no amendment can be expected where an
error is defended but you will see in this very letter an haughtiness
even in his submissions tis true i know not where to find fault as
to the expression yet cannot i be satisfied that his humility is
humility or even an humility upon such conviction as one should be
pleased with 

to be sure he is far from being a polite man yet is not directly and
characteristically as i may say unpolite but his is such a sort of
politeness as has by a carelessness founded on very early indulgence 
and perhaps on too much success in riper years and an arrogance built
upon both grown into assuredness and of course i may say into
indelicacy 

the distance you recommend at which to keep these men is certainly
right in the main familiarity destroys reverence but with whom not
with those surely who are prudent grateful and generous 

but it is very difficult for persons who would avoid running into one
extreme to keep clear of another hence mr lovelace perhaps thinks
it the mark of a great spirit to humour his pride though at the expense
of his politeness but can the man be a deep man who knows not how to
make such distinctions as a person of but moderate parts cannot miss 

he complains heavily of my readiness to take mortal offence at him and
to dismiss him for ever it is a high conduct he says he must be frank
enough to tell me a conduct that must be very far from contributing to
allay his apprehensions of the possibility that i may be prosecuted into
my relations' measures in behalf of mr solmes 

you will see how he puts his present and his future happiness with
regard to both worlds entirely upon me  the ardour with which he vows
and promises i think the heart only can dictate how else can one guess
at a man's heart 

you will also see that he has already heard of the interview i am to
have with mr solmes  and with what vehemence and anguish he expresses
himself on the occasion i intend to take proper notice of the ignoble
means he stoops to to come at his early intelligence of our family 
if persons pretending to principle bear not their testimony against
unprincipled actions what check can they have 

you will see how passionately he presses me to oblige him with a few
lines before the interview between mr solmes and me takes place if 
as he says it must take place to confirm his hope that i have no
view in my present displeasure against him to give encouragement to
solmes an apprehension he says that he must be excused for repeating 
especially as the interview is a favour granted to that man which
i have refused to him since as he infers were it not with such an
expectation why should my friends press it 


 


i have written and to this effect that i had never intended to write
another line to a man who could take upon himself to reflect upon my
sex and myself for having thought fit to make use of my own judgment 

i tell him that i have submitted to the interview with mr solmes 
purely as an act of duty to shew my friends that i will comply with
their commands as far as i can and that i hope when mr solmes himself
shall see how determined i am he will cease to prosecute a suit in
which it is impossible he should succeed with my consent 

i assure him that my aversion to mr solmes is too sincere to permit
me to doubt myself on this occasion but nevertheless he must not
imagine that my rejecting of mr solmes is in favour to him that i
value my freedom and independency too much if my friends will but leave
me to my own judgment to give them up to a man so uncontroulable and
who shews me beforehand what i have to expect from him were i in his
power 

i express my high disapprobation of the methods he takes to come
at what passes in a private family the pretence of corrupting other
people's servants by way of reprisal for the spies they have set upon
him i tell him is a very poor excuse and no more than an attempt to
justify one meanness by another 

there is i observe to him a right and a wrong in every thing let
people put what glosses they please upon their action to condemn a
deviation and to follow it by as great a one what i ask him is this 
but propagating a general corruption a stand must be made somebody 
turn round the evil as many as may or virtue will be lost and shall it
not be i a worthy mind would ask that shall make this stand 

i leave him to judge whether his be a worthy one tried by this rule 
and whether knowing the impetuosity of his own disposition and the
improbability there is that my father and family will ever be reconciled
to him i ought to encourage his hopes 

these spots and blemishes i further tell him give me not earnestness
enough for any sake but his own to wish him in a juster and nobler
train of thinking and acting for that i truly despised many of the ways
he allows himself in our minds are therefore infinitely different 
and as to his professions of reformation i must tell him that
profuse acknowledgements without amendment are but to me as so many
anticipating concessions which he may find much easier to make thane
either to defend himself or amend his errors 

i inform him that i have been lately made acquainted'  and so i have
by betty and she by my brother  with the weak and wanton airs he gives
himself of declaiming against matrimony i severely reprehend him on
this occasion and ask him with what view he can take so witless so
despicable a liberty in which only the most abandoned of men allow
themselves and yet presume to address me 


i tell him that if i am obliged to go to my uncle antony's it is not
to be inferred that i must therefore necessarily be mr solmes's wife 
since i must therefore so sure perhaps that the same exceptions lie
so strongly against my quitting a house to which i shall be forcibly
carried as if i left my father's house and at the worst i may be
able to keep them in suspense till my cousin morden comes who will have
a right to put me in possession of my grandfather's estate if i insist
upon it 

this i doubt is somewhat of an artifice which can only be excusable 
as it is principally designed to keep him out of mischief for i have
but little hope if carried thither whether sensible or senseless 
absolutely if i am left to the mercy of my brother and sister but they
will endeavour to force the solemn obligation upon me otherwise were
there but any prospect of avoiding this by delaying or even by taking
things to make me ill if nothing else would do till my cousin comes 
i hope i should not think of leaving even my uncle's house for i should
not know how to square it to my own principles to dispense with the
duty i owe to my father wherever it shall be his will to place me 

but while you give me the charming hope that in order to avoid one
man i shall not be under the necessity of throwing myself upon the
friends of the other i think my case not desperate 


 


i see not any of my family nor hear from them in any way of kindness 
this looks as if they themselves expected no great matters from the
tuesday's conference which makes my heart flutter every time i think of
it 

my uncle antony's presence on the occasion i do not much like but i
had rather meet him than my brother or sister yet my uncle is very
impetuous i can't think mr lovelace can be much more so at least he
cannot look angry as my uncle with his harder features can these
sea-prospered gentlemen as my uncle has often made me think not used
to any but elemental controul and even ready to buffet that bluster
often as violently as the winds they are accustomed to be angry at 

i believe mr solmes will look as much like a fool as i shall do if it
be true as my uncle harlowe writes and as betty often tells me that
he is as much afraid of seeing me as i am of seeing him 

adieu my happy thrice-happy miss howe who have no hard terms fixed
to your duty who have nothing to do but to fall in with a choice your
mother has made for you to which you have not nor can have a just
objection except the frowardness of our sex as our free censurers
would perhaps take the liberty to say makes it one that the choice was
your mother's at first hand perverse nature we know loves not to
be prescribed to although youth is not so well qualified either by
sedateness or experience to choose for itself 

to know your own happiness and that it is now nor to leave it to after
reflection to look back upon the preferable past with a heavy and self
accusing heart that you did not choose it when you might have chosen
it is all that is necessary to complete your felicity and this power
is wished you by

your clarissa harlowe 




letter xxx

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe saturday april 2 


i ought yesterday to have acknowledged the receipt of your parcel robin
tells me that the joseph leman whom you mention as the traitor saw
him he was in the poultry-yard and spoke to robin over the bank
which divides that from the green-lane what brings you hither mr 
robert but i can tell hie away as fast as you can 

no doubt but their dependence upon this fellow's vigilance and upon
betty's leaves you more at liberty in your airings than you would
otherwise be but you are the only person i ever heard of who in such
circumstances had not some faithful servant to trust little offices to 
a poet my dear would not have gone to work for an angelica without
giving her her violetta her cleante her clelia or some such
pretty-named confidant an old nurse at the least 

i read to my mother several passages of your letters but your last
paragraph in your yesterday's quite charmed her you have won her heart
by it she told me and while her fit of gratitude for it lasted i was
thinking to make my proposal and to press it with all the earnestness
i could give it when hickman came in making his legs and stroking his
cravat and ruffles 

i could most freely have ruffled him for it as it was sir said i saw
you not some of the servants could not one of them have come in before
you 

he begged pardon looked as if he knew not whether he had best keep his
ground or withdraw till my mother his fast friend interposed why 
nancy we are not upon particulars pray mr hickman sit down 

by your le ave good madam to me you know his drawl when his muscles
give him the respectful hesitation 

ay ay pray sit down honest man if you are weary but by mamma 
if you please i desire my hoop may have its full circumference all
they're good for that i know is to clean dirty shoes and to keep
fellows at a distance 

strange girl cried my mother displeased but with a milder turn ay 
ay mr hickman sit down by me i have no such forbidding folly in my
dress 

i looked serious and in my heart was glad this speech of hers was not
made to your uncle antony 

my mother with the true widow's freedom would mighty prudently have
led into the subject we had been upon and would have had read to him i
question not that very paragraph in your letter which is so much in
his favour he was highly obliged to dear miss harlowe she would assure
him that she did say 

but i asked him if he had any news by his last letters from london a
question which he always understands to be a subject changer for
otherwise i never put it and so if he be but silent i am not angry
with him that he answers it not 

i choose not to mention my proposal before him till i know how it will
be relished by my mother if it be not well received perhaps i may
employ him on the occasion yet i don't like to owe him an obligation 
if i could help it for men who have his views in their heads do so
parade it so strut about if a woman condescend to employ them in her
affairs that one has no patience with them 

however if i find not an opportunity this day i will make one
to-morrow 

i shall not open either of your sealed-up parcels but in your presence 
there is no need your conduct is out of all question with me and by
the extracts you have given me from his letters and your own i know all
that relates to the present situation of things between you 

i was going to give you a little flippant hint or two but since you
wish to be thought superior to all our sex in the command of yourself 
and since indeed you deserve to be thought so i will spare you you
are however at times more than half inclined to speak out that
you do not is only owing to a little bashful struggle between you and
yourself as i may say when that is quite got over i know you will
favour me undisguisedly with the result 

i cannot forgive your taking upon me at so extravagant a rate too to
pay my mother's servants indeed i am and i will be angry with you for
it a year's wages at once well nigh only as unknown to my mother i
make it better for the servants according to their merits how it made
the man stare and it may be his ruin too as far as i know if he
should buy a ring and marry a sorry body in the neighbourhood with the
money one would be loth a twelvemonth hence that the poor old fellow
should think he had reason to wish the bounty never conferred 

i must give you your way in these things you say and i know there is
no contradicting you for you were ever putting too great a value upon
little offices done for you and too little upon the great ones you do
for others the satisfaction you have in doing so i grant it repays
you but why should you by the nobleness of your mind throw reproaches
upon the rest of the world particularly upon your own family and upon
ours too 

if as i have heard you say it is a good rule to give words the
hearing but to form our judgment of men and things by deeds only 
what shall we think of one who seeks to find palliatives in words for
narrowness of heart in the very persons her deeds so silently yet so
forcibly reflect upon why blush you not my dear friend to be thus
singular when you meet with another person whose mind is like your
own then display your excellencies as you please but till then 
for pity's sake let your heart and your spirit suffer a little
contradiction 

i intended to write but a few lines chiefly to let you know your
parcels are come safe and accordingly i began in a large hand and i
am already come to the end of my second sheet but i could write a quire
without hesitation upon a subject so copious and so beloved as is your
praise not for this single instance of your generosity since i am
really angry with you for it but for the benevolence exemplified in
the whole tenor of your life and action of which this is but a common
instance heaven direct you in your own arduous trials is all i have
room to add and make you as happy as you think to be

your own anna howe 




letter xxxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday night april 2 


i have many new particulars to acquaint you with that shew a great
change in the behaviour of my friends as i find we have i will give
these particulars to you as they offered 

all the family was at church in the morning they brought good dr lewen
with them in pursuance of a previous invitation and the doctor sent up
to desire my permission to attend me in my own apartment 

you may believe it was easily granted 

so the doctor came up 

we had a conversation of near an hour before dinner but to my
surprise he waved every thing that would have led me to the subject i
supposed he wanted to talk about at last i asked him if it were not
thought strange i should be so long absent from church he made me some
handsome compliments upon it but said for his part he had ever made
it a rule to avoid interfering in the private concerns of families 
unless desired to do so 

i was prodigiously disappointed but supposing that he was thought too
just a man to be made a judge of in this cause i led no more to it 
nor when he was called down to dinner did he take the least notice of
leaving me behind him there 

but this was not the first time since my confinement that i thought it a
hardship not to dine below and when i parted with him on the stairs a
tear would burst its way and he hurried down his own good-natured eyes
glistening for he saw it nor trusted he his voice lest the accent i
suppose should have discovered his concern departing in silence though
with his usual graceful obligingness 

i hear that he praised me and my part in the conversation that
passed between us to shew them i suppose that it was not upon the
interesting subjects which i make no doubt he was desired not to enter
upon 

he left me so dissatisfied yet so perplexed with this new way of
treatment that i never found myself so much disconcerted and out of my
train 

but i was to be more so this was to be a day of puzzle to me pregnant
puzzle if i may say so for there must great meaning lie behind it 

in the afternoon all but my brother and sister went to church with
the good doctor who left his compliments for me i took a walk in the
garden my brother and sister walked in it too and kept me in their
eye a good while on purpose as i thought that i might see how gay and
good-humoured they were together at last they came down the walk that i
was coming up hand-in-hand lover-like 

your servant miss your servant sir passed between my brother and me 

is it not coldish clary in a kinder voice than usual said my sister 
and stopped i stopped and courtesied low to her half-courtesy i
think not sister said i 

she went on i courtesied without return and proceeded turning to my
poultry-yard 

by a shorter turn arm-in-arm they were there before me 

i think clary said my brother you must present me with some of this
breed for scotland 

if you please brother 

i'll choose for you said my sister 

and while i fed them they pointed to half a dozen yet intending
nothing by it i believe but to shew a deal of love and good-humour to
each other before me 

my uncles next at their return from church were to do me the honour
of their notice they bid betty tell me they would drink tea with me
in my own apartment now thought i shall i have the subject of next
tuesday enforced upon me 

but they contradicted the order for tea and only my uncle harlowe came
up to me 

half-distant half-affectionate at his entering my chamber was the
air he put on to his daughter-niece as he used to call me and i threw
myself at his feet and besought his favour 

none of these discomposures child none of these apprehensions you
will now have every body's favour all is coming about my dear i was
impatient to see you i could no longer deny myself this satisfaction 
he then raised me and kissed me and called me charming creature 

but he waved entering into any interesting subject all will be well
now all will be right no more complainings every body loves you i
only came to make my earliest court to you  were his condescending
words  and to sit and talk of twenty and twenty fond things as i used
to do and let every past disagreeable thing be forgotten as if nothing
had happened 

he understood me as beginning to hint at the disgrace of my
confinement no disgrace my dear can fall to your lot your reputation
is too well established i longed to see you repeated me i have seen
nobody half so amiable since i saw you last 

and again he kissed my cheek my glowing cheek for i was impatient 
i was vexed to be thus as i thought played upon and how could i be
thankful for a visit that it was now evident was only a too humble
artifice to draw me in against the next tuesday or to leave me
inexcusable to them all 

o my cunning brother this is his contrivance and then my anger made
me recollect the triumph in his and my sister's fondness for each other 
as practised before me and the mingled indignation flashing from their
eyes as arm-in-arm they spoke to me and the forced condescension
playing upon their lips when they called me clary and sister 

do you think i could with these reflections look upon my uncle
harlowe's visit as the favour he seemed desirous i should think it
to be indeed i could not and seeing him so studiously avoid all
recrimination as i may call it i gave into the affectation and
followed him in his talk of indifferent things while he seemed to
admire this thing and that as if he had never seen them before and
now-and then condescendingly kissed the hand that wrought some of the
things he fixed his eyes upon not so much to admire them as to find
subjects to divert what was most in his head and in my heart 

at his going away how can i leave you here by yourself my dear you 
whose company used to enliven us all you are not expected down indeed 
but i protest i had a good mind to surprise your father and mother if
i thought nothing would arise that would be disagreeable my dear 
my love  o the dear artful gentleman how could my uncle harlowe so
dissemble   what say you will you give me your hands will you see your
father can you stand his displeasure on first seeing the dear creature
who has given him and all of us so much disturbance can you promise
future 

he saw me rising in my temper nay my dear interrupting himself if
you cannot be all resignation i would not have you think of it 

my heart struggling between duty and warmth of temper was full you
know my dear i never could bear to be dealt meanly with how how can
you sir you my papa-uncle how can you sir the poor girl for i
could not speak with connexion 

nay my dear if you cannot be all duty all resignation better stay
where you are but after the instance you have given 

instance i have given what instance sir 

well well child better stay where you are if your past confinement
hangs so heavy upon you but now there will be a sudden end to
it adieu my dear three words only let your compliance be
sincere and love me as you used to love me your grandfather did not
do so much for you as i will do for you 

without suffering me to reply he hurried away as i thought like one
who has been employed to act a part against his will and was glad it
was over 


don't you see my dear miss howe how they are all determined have i
not reason to dread next tuesday 


up presently after came my sister to observe i suppose the way i was
in 

she found me in tears 

have you not a thomas a kempis sister with a stiff air 

i have madam 

madam how long are we to be at this distance clary 

no longer my dear bella if you allow me to call you sister and i took
her hand 

no fawning neither girl 

i withdrew my hand as hastily as you may believe i should have done 
had i in feeling for one of your parcels under the wood been bitten by
a viper 

i beg pardon said i too-too ready to make advances i am always
subjecting myself to contempts 

people who know not how to keep a middle behaviour said she must ever
do so 

i will fetch you the kempis sister i did here it is you will find
excellent things bella in that little book 

i wish retorted she you had profited by them 

i wish you may said i example from a sister older than one's self is a
fine thing 

older saucy little fool and away she flung 

what a captious old woman will my sister make if she lives to be
one demanding the reverence perhaps yet not aiming at the merit and
ashamed of the years that can only entitle her to the reverence 

it is plain from what i have related that they think they have got me
at some advantage by obtaining my consent to the interview but if it
were not betty's impertinence just now would make it evident she has
been complimenting me upon it and upon the visit of my uncle harlowe 
she says the difficulty now is more than half over with me she is
sure i would not see mr solmes but to have him now shall she be soon
better employed than of late she has been all hands will be at work 
she loves dearly to have weddings go forward who knows whose turn
will be next 

i found in the afternoon a reply to my answer to mr lovelace's letter 
it is full of promises full of vows of gratitude of eternal gratitude 
is his word among others still more hyperbolic yet mr lovelace the
least of any man whose letters i have seen runs into those elevated
absurdities i should be apt to despise him for it if he did such
language looks always to me as if the flatterer thought to find a woman
a fool or hoped to make her one 

he regrets my indifference to him which puts all the hope he has in my
favour upon the shocking usage i receive from my friends 

as to my charge upon him of unpoliteness and uncontroulableness what
 he asks  can he say since being unable absolutely to vindicate
himself he has too much ingenuousness to attempt to do so yet is
struck dumb by my harsh construction that his acknowledging temper
is owing more to his carelessness to defend himself than to his
inclination to amend he had never before met with the objections
against his morals which i had raised justly raised and he was
resolved to obviate them what is it he asks that he has promised but
reformation by my example and what occasion for the promise if he
had not faults and those very great ones to reform he hopes
acknowledgement of an error is no bad sign although my severe virtue
has interpreted it into one 

he believes i may be right severely right he calls it in my judgment
against making reprisals in the case of the intelligence he receives
from my family he cannot charge himself to be of a temper that leads
him to be inquisitive into any body's private affairs but hopes that
the circumstances of the case and the strange conduct of my friends 
will excuse him especially when so much depends upon his knowing the
movements of a family so violently bent by measures right or wrong to
carry their point against me in malice to him people he says who act
like angels ought to have angels to deal with for his part he has not
yet learned the difficult lesson of returning good for evil and shall
think himself the less encouraged to learn it by the treatment i have
met with from the very persons who would trample upon him as they do
upon me were he to lay himself under their feet 

he excuses himself for the liberties he owns he has heretofore taken in
ridiculing the marriage-state it is a subject he says that he has not
of late treated so lightly he owns it to be so trite so beaten a
topic with all libertines and witlings so frothy so empty so nothing
meaning so worn-out a theme that he is heartily ashamed of himself 
ever to have made it his he condemns it as a stupid reflection upon the
laws and good order of society and upon a man's own ancestors and
in himself who has some reason to value himself upon his descent
and alliances more censurable than in those who have not the same
advantages to boast of he promises to be more circumspect than ever 
both in his words and actions that he may be more and more worthy of
my approbation and that he may give an assurance before hand that a
foundation is laid in his mind for my example to work upon with equal
reputation and effect to us both if he may be so happy to call me his 

he gives me up as absolutely lost if i go to my uncle antony's the
close confinement the moated house the chapel the implacableness of
my brother and sister and their power over the rest of the family 
he sets forth in strong lights and plainly says that he must have a
struggle to prevent my being carried thither 

your kind your generous endeavours to interest your mother in my
behalf will i hope prevent those harsher extremities to which i might
be otherwise driven and to you i will fly if permitted and keep all
my promises of not corresponding with any body not seeing any body 
but by your mother's direction and yours 

i will close and deposit at this place it is not necessary to say how
much i am

your ever affectionate and obliged cl harlowe 




letter xxxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


i am glad my papers are safe in your hands i will make it my endeavour
to deserve your good opinion that i may not at once disgrace your
judgment and my own heart 

i have another letter from mr lovelace he is extremely apprehensive of
the meeting i am to have with mr solmes to-morrow he says that the
airs that wretch gives himself on the occasion add to his concern and
it is with infinite difficulty that he prevails upon himself not to make
him a visit to let him know what he may expect if compulsion be used
towards me in his favour he assures me that solmes has actually talked
with tradesmen of new equipages and names the people in town with whom
he has treated that he has even'  was there ever such a horrid wretch  
allotted this and that apartment in his house for a nursery and other
offices 

how shall i bear to hear such a creature talk of love to me i shall be
out of all patience with him besides i thought that he did not dare
to make or talk of these impudent preparations so inconsistent as such
are with my brother's views but i fly the subject 

upon this confidence of solmes you will less wonder at that of
lovelace in pressing me in the name of all his family to escape
from so determined a violence as is intended to be offered to me at my
uncle's that the forward contriver should propose lord m s chariot and
six to be at the stile that leads up to the lonely coppice adjoining to
our paddock you will see how audaciously he mentions settlements ready
drawn horsemen ready to mount and one of his cousins montague to be
in the chariot or at the george in the neighbouring village waiting
to accompany me to lord m s or to lady betty's or lady sarah's or to
town as i please and upon such orders or conditions and under such
restrictions as to himself as i shall prescribe 

you will see how he threatens to watch and waylay them and to rescue
me as he calls it by an armed force of friends and servants if they
attempt to carry me against my will to my uncle's and this whether i
give my consent to the enterprise or not since he shall have no hopes
if i am once there 

o my dear friend who can think of these things and not be extremely
miserable in her apprehensions 

this mischievous sex what had i to do with any of them or they
with me i had deserved this were it by my own seeking by my own
giddiness that i had brought myself into this situation i wish with
all my heart but how foolish we are apt to wish when we find ourselves
unhappy and know not how to help ourselves 

on your mother's goodness however is my reliance if i can but avoid
being precipitated on either hand till my cousin morden arrives a
reconciliation must follow and all will be happy 

i have deposited a letter for mr lovelace in which i charge him as
he would not disoblige me for ever to avoid any rash step any visit to
mr solmes which may be followed by acts of violence 

i re-assure him that i will sooner die than be that man's wife 

whatever be my usage whatever shall be the result of the apprehended
interview i insist upon it that he presume not to offer violence to
any of my friends and express myself highly displeased that he should
presume upon such an interest in my esteem as to think himself entitled
to dispute my father's authority in my removal to my uncle's although i
tell him that i will omit neither prayers nor contrivance even to the
making myself ill to avoid going 

to-morrow is tuesday how soon comes upon us the day we dread oh that
a deep sleep of twenty four hours would seize my faculties but then
the next day would be tuesday as to all the effects and purposes for
which i so much dread it if this reach you before the event of the so
much apprehended interview can be known pray for

your clarissa harlowe 




letter xxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday morning six o'clock 


the day is come i wish it were happily over i have had a wretched
night hardly a wink have i slept ruminating upon the approaching
interview the very distance of time to which they consented has added
solemnity to the meeting which otherwise it would not have had 

a thoughtful mind is not a blessing to be coveted unless it had such a
happy vivacity with it as yours a vivacity which enables a person to
enjoy the present without being over-anxious about the future 


tuesday eleven o'clock 

i have had a visit from my aunt hervey betty in her alarming way told
me i should have a lady to breakfast with me whom i little expected 
giving me to believe it was my mother this fluttered me so much on
hearing a lady coming up-stairs supposing it was she and not knowing
how to account for her motives in such a visit after i had been so long
banished from her presence that my aunt at her entrance took notice
of my disorder and after her first salutation 

why miss said she you seem surprised upon my word you thoughtful
young ladies have strange apprehensions about nothing at all what 
taking my hand can be the matter with you why my dear tremble 
tremble tremble at this rate you'll not be fit to be seen by any
body come my love kissing my cheek pluck up a courage by this
needless flutter on the approaching interview when it is over you will
judge of your other antipathies and laugh at yourself for giving way to
so apprehensive an imagination 

i said that whatever we strongly imagined was in its effect at the
time more than imaginary although to others it might not appear so 
that i had not rested one hour all night that the impertinent set over
me by giving me room to think my mother was coming up had so much
disconcerted me that i should be very little qualified to see any body
i disliked to see 

there was no accounting for these things she said mr solmes last
night supposed he should be under as much agitation as i could be 

who is it then madam that so reluctant an interview on both sides is
to please 

both of you my dear i hope after the first flurries are over the
most apprehensive beginnings i have often known make the happiest
conclusions 

there can be but one happy conclusion to the intended visit and that
is that both sides may be satisfied it will be the last 

she then represented how unhappy it would be for me if i did not suffer
myself to be prevailed upon she pressed me to receive mr solmes
as became my education and declared that his apprehensions on the
expectation he had of seeing me were owing to his love and his awe 
intimating that true love is ever accompanied by fear and reverence 
and that no blustering braving lover could deserve encouragement 

to this i answered that constitution was to be considered that a
man of spirit would act like one and could do nothing meanly that
a creeping mind would creep into every thing where it had a view to
obtain a benefit by it and insult where it had power and nothing to
expect that this was not a point now to be determined with me that
i had said as much as i could possibly say on the subject that this
interview was imposed upon me by those indeed who had a right to
impose it but that it was sorely against my will complied with and for
this reason that there was aversion not wilfulness in the case and
so nothing could come of it but a pretence as i much apprehended to
use me still more severely than i had been used 

she was then pleased to charge me with prepossession and prejudice she
expatiated upon the duty of a child she imputed to me abundance of fine
qualities but told me that in this case that of persuadableness was
wanting to crown all she insisted upon the merit of obedience although
my will were not in it from a little hint i gave of my still greater
dislike to see mr solmes on account of the freedom i had treated him
with she talked to me of his forgiving disposition of his infinite
respect for me and i cannot tell what of this sort 

i never found myself so fretful in my life and so i told my aunt and
begged her pardon for it but she said it was well disguised then for
she saw nothing but little tremors which were usual with young ladies
when they were to see their admirers for the first time and this might
be called so with respect to me since it was the first time i had
consented to see mr solmes in that light but that the next 

how madam interrupted i is it then imagined that i give this meeting
on that footing 

to be sure it is child 

to be sure it is madam then i do yet desire to decline it i will
not i cannot see him if he expects me to see him upon those terms 

niceness punctilio mere punctilio niece can you think that your
appointment day place hour and knowing what the intent of it was 
is to be interpreted away as a mere ceremony and to mean nothing let
me tell you my dear your father mother uncles every body respect
this appointment as the first act of your compliance with their wills 
and therefore recede not i desire you but make a merit of what cannot
be avoided 

o the hideous wretch pardon me madam i to be supposed to meet
such a man as that with such a view and he to be armed with such an
expectation but it cannot be that he expects it whatever others may
do it is plain he cannot by the fears he tell you all he shall have
to see me if his hope were so audacious he could not fear so much 

indeed he has this hope and justly founded too but his fear arises
from his reverence as i told you before 

his reverence his unworthiness tis so apparent that even he
himself sees it as well as every body else hence his offers
to purchase me hence it is that settlements are to make up for
acknowledged want of merit 

his unworthiness say you not so fast my dear does not this look
like setting a high value upon yourself we all have exalted notions of
your merit niece but nevertheless it would not be wrong if you were
to arrogate less to yourself though more were to be your due than your
friends attribute to you 

i am sorry madam it should be thought arrogance in me to suppose i am
not worthy of a better man than mr solmes both as to person and mind 
and as to fortune i thank god i despise all that can be insisted upon
in his favour from so poor a plea 

she told me it signified nothing to talk i knew the expectation of
every one 

indeed i did not it was impossible i could think of such a strange
expectation upon a compliance made only to shew i would comply in all
that was in my power to comply with 

i might easily she said have supposed that every one thought i was
beginning to oblige them all by the kind behaviour of my brother and
sister to me in the garden last sunday by my sister's visit to me
afterwards in my chamber although both more stiffly received by me 
than were either wished or expected by my uncle harlowe's affectionate
visit to me the same afternoon not indeed so very gratefully received
as i used to receive his favours but this he kindly imputed to the
displeasure i had conceived at my confinement and to my intention to
come off by degrees that i might keep myself in countenance for my past
opposition 

see my dear the low cunning of that sunday-management which then
so much surprised me and see the reason why dr lewen was admitted to
visit me yet forbore to enter upon a subject about which i thought he
came to talk to me for it seems there was no occasion to dispute with
me on the point i was to be supposed to have conceded to see also 
how unfairly my brother and sister must have represented their pretended
kindness when though the had an end to answer by appearing kind their
antipathy to me seems to have been so strong that they could not help
insulting me by their arm-in-arm lover-like behaviour to each other as
my sister afterwards likewise did when she came to borrow my kempis 

i lifted up my hands and eyes i cannot said i give this treatment a
name the end so unlikely to be answered by means so low i know whose
the whole is he that could get my uncle harlowe to contribute his part 
and to procure the acquiescence of the rest of my friends to it must
have the power to do any thing with them against me 

again my aunt told me that talking and invective now i had given the
expectation would signify nothing she hoped i would not shew every
one that they had been too forward in their constructions of my desire
to oblige them she could assure me that it would be worse for me if
now i receded than if i had never advanced 

advanced madam how can you say advanced why this is a trick upon
me a poor low trick pardon me madam i don't say you have a hand in
it but my dearest aunt tell me will not my mother be present at
this dreaded interview will she not so far favour me were it but to
qualify 

qualify my dear interrupted she your mother and your uncle harlowe
would not be present on this occasion for the world 

o then madam how can they look upon my consent to this interview as an
advance 

my aunt was displeased at this home-push miss clary said she there is
no dealing with you it would be happy for you and for every body else 
were your obedience as ready as your wit i will leave you 

not in anger i hope madam interrupted i all i meant was to observe 
that let the meeting issue as it may and as it must issue it cannot be
a disappointment to any body 

o miss you seem to be a very determined young creature mr solmes
will be here at your time and remember once more that upon the coming
afternoon depend upon the peace of your whole family and your own
happiness 

and so saying down she hurried 

here i will stop in what way i shall resume or when is not left to
me to conjecture much less determine i am excessively uneasy no good
news from your mother i doubt i will deposit thus far for fear of
the worst 

adieu my best rather my only friend cl harlowe 




letter xxxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday evening and continued
through the night 

well my dear i am alive and here but how long i shall be either
here or alive i cannot say i have a vast deal to write and perhaps
shall have little time for it nevertheless i must tell you how the
saucy betty again discomposed me when she came up with this solmes's
message although as you will remember from my last i was in a way
before that wanted no additional surprises 

miss miss miss cried she as fast as she could speak with her arms
spread abroad and all her fingers distended and held up will you be
pleased to walk down into your own parlour there is every body i will
assure you in full congregation and there is mr solmes as fine as a
lord with a charming white peruke fine laced shirt and ruffles coat
trimmed with silver and a waistcoat standing on end with lace quite
handsome believe me you never saw such an alteration ah miss 
shaking her head tis pity you have said so much against him but you
will know how to come off for all that i hope it will not be too late 

impertinence said i wert thou bid to come up in this fluttering
way and i took up my fan and fanned myself 

bless me said she how soon these fine young ladies will be put into
flusterations i mean not either to offend or frighten you i am
sure 

every body there do you say who do you call every body 

why miss holding out her left palm opened and with a flourish and
a saucy leer patting it with the fore finger of the other at every
mentioned person there is your papa there is your mamma there is
your uncle harlowe there is your uncle antony your aunt hervey my
young lady and my young master and mr solmes with the air of a
great courtier standing up because he named you mrs betty said he 
 then the ape of a wench bowed and scraped as awkwardly as i suppose
the person did whom she endeavoured to imitate   pray give my humble
service to miss and tell her i wait her commands 

was not this a wicked wench i trembled so i could hardly stand i was
spiteful enough to say that her young mistress i supposed bid her put
on these airs to frighten me out of a capacity of behaving so calmly as
should procure me my uncles' compassion 

what a way do you put yourself in miss said the insolent come dear
madam taking up my fan which i had laid down and approaching me with
it fanning shall i 

none of thy impertinence but say you all my friends are below with
him and am i to appear before them all 

i can't tell if they'll stay when you come i think they seemed to be
moving when mr solmes gave me his orders but what answer shall i
carry to the squire 

say i can't go but yet when tis over tis over say i'll wait
upon i'll attend i'll come presently say anything i care not
what but give me my fan and fetch me a glass of water 

she went and i fanned myself all the time for i was in a flame and
hemmed and struggled with myself all i could and when she returned 
drank my water and finding no hope presently of a quieter heart i sent
her down and followed her with precipitation trembling so that had
i not hurried i question if i could have got down at all oh my dear 
what a poor passive machine is the body when the mind is disordered 

there are two doors to my parlour as i used to call it as i entered
one my friends hurried out the other i just saw the gown of my sister 
the last who slid away my uncle antony went out with them but he staid
not long as you shall hear and they all remained in the next parlour 
a wainscot partition only parting the two i remember them both in one 
but they were separated in favour of us girls for each to receive her
visitors in at her pleasure 

mr solmes approached me as soon as i entered cringing to the ground 
a visible confusion in every feature of his face after half a dozen
choaked-up madams he was very sorry he was very much concerned it
was his misfortune and there he stopped being unable presently to
complete a sentence 

this gave me a little more presence of mind cowardice in a foe begets
courage in one's self i see that plainly now yet perhaps at bottom 
the new-made bravo is a greater coward than the other 

i turned from him and seated myself in one of the fireside chairs 
fanning myself i have since recollected that i must have looked
very saucily could i have had any thoughts of the man i should have
despised myself for it but what can be said in the case of an aversion
so perfectly sincere 

he hemmed five or six times as i had done above and these produced a
sentence that i could not but see his confusion this sentence produced
two or three more i believe my aunt had been his tutoress for it was
his awe his reverence for so superlative a lady  i assure you   and he
hoped he hoped three times he hoped before he told me what at
last it came out that i was too generous generosity he said was my
character to despise him for such for such for such true tokens of
his love 

i do indeed see you under some confusion sir and this gives me hope 
that although i have been compelled as i may call it to give way
to this interview it may be attended with happier effects than i had
apprehended from it 

he had hemmed himself into more courage 

you could not madam imagine any creature so blind to your merits 
and so little attracted by them as easily to forego the interest and
approbation he was honoured with by your worthy family while he had
any hope given him that one day he might by his perseverance and zeal 
expect your favour 

i am but too much aware sir that it is upon the interest and
approbation you mention that you build such hope it is impossible
otherwise that a man who has any regard for his own happiness would
persevere against such declarations as i have made and think myself
obliged to make in justice to you as well as to myself 

he had seen many instances he told me and had heard of more where
ladies had seemed as averse and yet had been induced some by motives
of compassion others by persuasion of friends to change their minds 
and had been very happy afterwards and he hoped this might be the case
here 

i have no notion sir of compliment in an article of such importance
as this yet i am sorry to be obliged to speak my mind so plainly as i
am going to do know then that i have invincible objections sir to
your address i have avowed them with an earnestness that i believe is
without example and why because i believe it is without example that
any young creature circumstanced as i am was ever treated as i have
been treated on your account 

it is hoped madam that your consent may in time be obtained that is
the hope and i shall be a miserable man if it cannot 

better sir give me leave to say you were miserable by yourself than
that you should make two so 

you may have heard madam things to my disadvantage no man is without
enemies be pleased to let me know what you have heard and i will
either own my faults and amend or i will convince you that i am basely
bespattered and once i understand you overheard something that i should
say that gave you offence unguardedly perhaps but nothing but what
shewed my value and that i would persist so long as i have hope 

i have indeed heard many things to your disadvantage and i was far
from being pleased with what i overheard fall from your lips but as you
were not any thing to me and never could be it was not for me to be
concerned about the one or the other 

i am sorry madam to hear this i am sure you should not tell me of my
fault that i would be unwilling to correct in myself 

then sir correct this fault do not wish to have a young creature
compelled in the most material article of her life for the sake of
motives she despises and in behalf of a person she cannot value one
that has in her own right sufficient to set her above all your offers 
and a spirit that craves no more than what it has to make itself easy
and happy 

i don't see madam how you would be happy if i were to discontinue my
address for 

that is nothing to you sir interrupted i do you but withdraw your
pretensions and if it will be thought fit to start up another man for
my punishment the blame will not lie at your door you will be entitled
to my thanks and most heartily will i thank you 

he paused and seemed a little at a loss and i was going to give him
still stronger and more personal instances of my plain-dealing when in
came my uncle antony 

so niece so sitting in state like a queen giving audience haughty
audience mr solmes why stand you thus humbly why this distance 
man i hope to see you upon a more intimate footing before we part 

i arose as soon as he entered and approached him with a bend knee let
me sir reverence my uncle whom i have not for so long time seen let
me sir bespeak your favour and compassion 

you will have the favour of every body niece when you know how to
deserve it 

if ever i deserved it i deserve it now i have been hardly used i
have made proposals that ought to be accepted and such as would not
have been asked of me what have i done that i must be banished and
confined thus disgracefully that i must not be allowed to have any
free-will in an article that concerns my present and future happiness 

miss clary replied my uncle you have had your will in every thing till
now and this makes your parents' will sit so heavy upon you 

my will sir be pleased to allow me to ask what was my will till now 
but my father's will and yours and my uncle harlowe's will has it not
been my pride to obey and oblige i never asked a favour that i did
not first sit down and consider if it were fit to be granted and now 
to shew my obedience have i not offered to live single have i not
offered to divest myself of my grandfather's bounty and to cast myself
upon my father's and that to be withdrawn whenever i disoblige him 
why dear good sir am i to be made unhappy in a point so concerning my
happiness 

your grandfather's estate is not wished from you you are not desired
to live a single life you know our motives and we guess at yours and 
let me tell you well as we love you we should much sooner choose to
follow you to the grave than that yours should take place 

i will engage never to marry any man without my father's consent and
yours sir and every body's did i ever give you cause to doubt my
word and here i will take the solemnest oath that can be offered me 

that is the matrimonial one interrupted he with a big voice and to
this gentleman it shall it shall cousin clary and the more you
oppose it the worse it shall be for you 

this and before the man who seemed to assume courage upon it highly
provoked me 

then sir you shall sooner follow me to the grave indeed i will
undergo the cruelest death i will even consent to enter into that awful
vault of my ancestors and have that bricked up upon me rather than
consent to be miserable for life and mr solmes turning to him take
notice of what i say this or any death i will sooner undergo  that
will quickly be over  than be yours and for ever unhappy 

my uncle was in a terrible rage upon this he took mr solmes by the
hand shocked as the man seemed to be and drew him to the window don't
be surprised mr solmes don't be concerned at this we know and rapt
out a sad oath what women will say in their wrath the wind is not more
boisterous nor more changeable and again he swore to that if you
think it worthwhile to wait for such an ungrateful girl as this i'll
engage she'll veer about i'll engage she shall and a third time
violently swore to it 

then coming up to me who had thrown myself very much disordered by my
vehemence into the most distant window as if he would have beat me 
his face violently working his hands clinched and his teeth set yes 
yes yes you shall cousin clary be mr solmes's wife we will see
that you shall and this in one week at farthest and then a fourth
time he confirmed it poor gentleman how he swore 

i am sorry sir said i to see you in such a passion all this i am
but too sensible is owing to my brother's instigation who would not
himself give the instance of duty that is sought to be exacted from me 
it is best for me to withdraw i shall but provoke you farther i fear 
for although i would gladly obey you if i could yet this is a point
determined with me and i cannot so much as wish to get over it 

how could i avoid making these strong declarations the man in presence 

i was going out at the door i came in at the gentlemen looking upon one
another as if referring to each other what to do or whether to engage
my stay or suffer me to go and whom should i meet at the door but my
brother who had heard all that had passed 

he bolted upon me so unexpectedly that i was surprised he took my
hand and grasped it with violence return pretty miss said he 
return if you please you shall not yet be bricked up your instigating
brother shall save you from that o thou fallen angel said he peering
up to my downcast face such a sweetness here and such an obstinacy
there tapping my neck o thou true woman though so young but you
shall not have your rake remember that in a loud whisper as if he
would be decently indecent before the man you shall be redeemed and
this worthy gentleman raising his voice will be so good as to redeem
you from ruin and hereafter you will bless him or have reason to bless
him for his condescension that was the brutal brother's word 

he had led me up to meet mr solmes whose hand he took as he held
mine here sir said he take the rebel daughter's hand i give it you
now she shall confirm the gift in a week's time or will have neither
father mother nor uncles to boast of 

i snatched my hand away 

how now miss 

and how now sir what right have you to dispose of my hand if you
govern every body else you shall not govern me especially in a point
so immediately relative to myself and in which you neither have nor
ever shall have any thing to do 

i would have broken from him but he held my hand too fast 

let me go sir why am i thus treated you design i doubt not with
your unmanly gripings to hurt me as you do but again i ask wherefore
is it that i am to be thus treated by you 

he tossed my hand from him with a whirl that pained my very shoulder i
wept and held my other hand to the part 

mr solmes blamed him so did my uncle 

he had no patience he said with such a perverse one and to think of
the reflections upon himself before he entered he had only given me
back the hand i had not deserved he should touch it was one of my arts
to pretend to be so pained 

mr solmes said he would sooner give up all his hopes of me than that
i should be used unkindly and he offered to plead in my behalf to them
both and applied himself with a bow as if for my approbation of his
interposition 

interpose not mr solmes said i to save me from my brother's
violence i cannot wish to owe an obligation to a man whose ungenerous
perseverance is the occasion of that violence and of all my disgraceful
sufferings 

how generous in you mr solmes said my brother to interpose so kindly
in behalf of such an immovable spirit i beg of you to persist in your
address the unnatural brother called it address for all our family's
sake and for her sake too if you love her persist let us save her 
if possible from ruining herself look at her person  and he gazed at
me from head to foot pointing at me as he referred to mr solmes  
think of her fine qualities all the world confesses them and we all
gloried in her till now she is worth saving and after two or three
more struggles she will be yours and take my word for it will reward
your patience talk not therefore of giving up your hopes for a
little whining folly she has entered upon a parade which she knows
not how to quit with a female grace you have only her pride and her
obstinacy to encounter and depend upon it you will be as happy a man
in a fortnight as a married man can be 

you have heard me say my dear that my brother has always taken a
liberty to reflect upon our sex and upon matrimony he would not if
he did not think it wit to do so just as poor mr wyerley and others 
whom we both know profane and ridicule scripture and all to evince
their pretensions to the same pernicious talent and to have it thought
they are too wise to be religious 

mr solmes with a self-satisfied air presumptuously said he would
suffer every thing to oblige my family and to save me and doubted not
to be amply rewarded could he be so happy as to succeed at last 

mr solmes said i if you have any regard for your own happiness mine
is out of the question with you you have not generosity enough to make
that any part of your scheme prosecute no father your address as my
brother calls it it is but too just to tell you that i could not bring
my heart so much as to think of you without the utmost disapprobation 
before i was used as i have been and can you think i am such a slave 
such a poor slave as to be brought to change my mind by the violent
usage i have met with 

and you sir turning to my brother if you think that meekness always
indicates tameness and that there is no magnanimity without bluster 
own yourself mistaken for once for you shall have reason to judge from
henceforth that a generous mind is not to be forced and that 

no more said the imperious wretch i charge you lifting up his hands
and eyes then turning to my uncle do you hear sir this is your once
faultless niece this is your favourite 

mr solmes looked as if he know not what to think of the matter and had
i been left alone with him i saw plainly i could have got rid of him
easily enough 

my uncle came to me looking up also to my face and down to my feet 
and is it possible this can be you all this violence from you miss
clary 

yes it is possible sir and i will presume to say this vehemence on
my side is but the natural consequence of the usage i have met with and
the rudeness i am treated with even in your presence by a brother who
has no more right to controul me than i have to controul him 

this usage cousin clary was not till all other means were tried with
you 

tried to what end sir do i contend for any thing more than a mere
negative you may sir  turning to mr solmes   possibly you may be
induced the rather to persevere thus ungenerously as the usage i have
met with for your sake and what you have now seen offered to me by my
brother will shew you what i can bear were my evil destiny ever to
make me yours 

lord madam cried solmes  all this time distorted into twenty
different attitudes as my brother and my uncle were blessing
themselves and speaking only to each other by their eyes and by their
working features lord madam   what a construction is this 

a fair construction sir interrupted i for he that can see a person 
whom he pretends to value thus treated and approve of it must be
capable of treating her thus himself and that you do approve of it 
is evident by your declared perseverance when you know i am confined 
banished and insulted in order to make me consent to be what i never
can be and this let me tell you as i have often told others not from
motives of obstinacy but aversion 

excuse me sir turning to my uncle to you as to my father's brother 
i owe duty i beg your pardon but my brother he shall not constrain
me and  turning to the unnatural wretch i will call him wretch  knit
your brows sir and frown all you will i will ask you would you in
my case make the sacrifices i am willing to make to obtain every one's
favour if not what right have you to treat me thus and to procure me
to be treated as i have been for so long a time past 

i had put myself by this time into great disorder they were silent and
seemed by their looks to want to talk to one another walking about in
violent disorders too between whiles i sat down fanning myself as
it happened against the glass and i could perceive my colour go and
come and being sick to the very heart and apprehensive of fainting i
rung 

betty came in i called for a glass of water and drank it but nobody
minded me i heard my brother pronounce the words art female art 
to solmes which together with the apprehension that he would not be
welcome i suppose kept him back else i could see the man was affected 
and still fearing i should faint i arose and taking hold of betty's
arm let me hold by you betty said i let me withdraw and moved
with trembling feet towards the door and then turned about and made a
courtesy to my uncle permit me sir said i to withdraw 

whither go you niece said my uncle we have not done with you yet 
i charge you depart not mr solmes has something to open to you that
will astonish you and you shall hear it 

only sir by your leave for a few minutes into the air i will return 
if you command it i will hear all that i am to hear that it may be
over now and for ever you will go with me betty 

and so without any farther prohibition i retired into the garden and
there casting myself upon the first seat and throwing betty's apron
over my face leaning against her side my hands between hers i gave
way to a violent burst of grief or passion or both which as it
seemed saved my heart from breaking for i was sensible of an immediate
relief 

i have already given you specimens of mrs betty's impertinence i shall
not therefore trouble you with more for the wench notwithstanding
this my distress took great liberties with me after she saw me a
little recovered and as i walked farther into the garden insomuch
that i was obliged to silence her by an absolute prohibition of saying
another word to me and then she dropped behind me sullen and gloomy 

it was near an hour before i was sent for in again the messenger was
my cousin dolly hervey who with an eye of compassion and respect for
miss hervey always loved me and calls herself my scholar as you know 
told my company was desired 

betty left us 

who commands my attendance miss said i have you not been in tears my
dear 

who can forbid tears said she 

why what is the matter cousin dolly sure nobody is entitled to weep
in this family but me 

yes i am madam said she because i love you 

i kissed her and is it for me my sweet cousin that you shed
tears there never was love lost between us but tell me what is
designed to be done with me that i have this kind instance of your
compassion for me 

you must take no notice of what i tell you said the dear girl but my
mamma has been weeping for you too with me but durst not let any body
see it o my dolly said my mamma there never was so set a malice
in man as in your cousin james harlowe they will ruin the flower and
ornament of their family 

as how miss dolly did she not explain herself as how my dear 

yes she said mr solmes would have given up his claim to you for he
said you hated him and there were no hopes and your mamma was willing
he should and to have you taken at your word to renounce mr lovelace
and to live single my mamma was for it too for they heard all that
passed between you and uncle antony and cousin james saying it was
impossible to think of prevailing upon you to have mr solmes uncle
harlowe seemed in the same way of thinking at least my mamma says he
did not say any thing to the contrary but your papa was immovable and
was angry at your mamma and mine upon it and hereupon your brother 
your sister and my uncle antony joined in and changed the scene
entirely in short she says that mr solmes had great matters engaged
to him he owned that you were the finest young lady in england and
he would be content to be but little beloved if he could not after
marriage engage your heart for the sake of having the honour to call
you his but for one twelvemonth i suppose he would break your heart the
next for he is a cruel-hearted man i am sure 

my friends may break my heart cousin dolly but mr solmes will never
have it in his power to break it 

i do not know that miss you will have good luck to avoid having him 
by what i can find for my mamma says they are all now of one mind 
herself excepted and she is forced to be silent your papa and brother
are both so outrageous 

i am got above minding my brother cousin dolly he is but my brother 
but to my father i owe duty and obedience if i could comply 

we are apt to be fond of any body that will side with us when oppressed
or provoked i always loved my cousin dolly but now she endeared
herself to me ten times more by her soothing concern for me i asked
what she would do were she in my case 

without hesitation she replied have mr lovelace out of hand and take
up her own estate if she were me and there would be an end to it and
mr lovelace she said was a fine gentleman mr solmes was not worthy
to buckle his shoes 

miss hervey told me further that her mother was desired to come to me 
to fetch me in but she excused herself i should have all my friends 
she said she believed sit in judgment upon me 

i wish it had been so but as i have been told since neither my father
for my mother would trust themselves with seeing me the one it seems
for passion sake my mother for tender considerations 

by this time we entered the house miss accompanied me into the parlour 
and left me as a person devoted i then thought 

nobody was there i sat down and had leisure to weep reflecting upon
what my cousin dolly had told me 

they were all in my sister's parlour adjoining for i heard a confused
mixture of voices some louder than others which drowned the more
compassionating accents 

female accents i could distinguish the drowned ones to be o my dear 
what a hard-hearted sex is the other children of the same parents how
came they by their cruelty do they get it by travel do they get
it by conversation with one another or how do they get it yet my
sister too is as hard-hearted as any of them but this may be no
exception neither for she has been thought to be masculine in her air
and her spirit she has then perhaps a soul of the other sex in a body
of ours and so for the honour of our own will i judge of every
woman for the future who imitating the rougher manners of men acts
unbeseeming the gentleness of her own sex 

forgive me my dear friend for breaking into my story by these
reflections were i rapidly to pursue my narration without thinking 
without reflecting i believe i should hardly be able to keep in my
right mind since vehemence and passion would then be always uppermost 
but while i think as i write i cool and my hurry of spirits is
allayed 

i believe i was about a quarter of an hour enjoying my own comfortless
contemplations before any body came in to me for they seemed to be
in full debate my aunt looked in first o my dear said she are you
there and withdrew hastily to apprize them of it 

and then as agreed upon i suppose in came my uncle antony crediting
mr solmes with the words let me lead you in my dear friend having
hold of his hand while the new-made beau awkwardly followed but more
edgingly as i may say setting his feet mincingly to avoid treading
upon his leader's heels excuse me my dear this seeming levity but
those we do not love appear in every thing ungraceful to us 

i stood up my uncle looked very surly sit down sit down girl 
said he and drawing a chair near me he placed his dear friend in it 
whether he would or not i having taken my seat and my uncle sat on the
other side of me 

well niece taking my hand we shall have very little more to say to
you than we have already said as to the subject that is so distasteful
to you unless indeed you have better considered of the matter and
first let me know if you have 

the matter wants no consideration sir 

very well very well madam said my uncle withdrawing his hands from
mine could i ever have thought of this from you 

for god's sake dearest madam said mr solmes folding his hands and
there he stopped 

for god's sake what sir how came god's sake and your sake i pray
you to be the same 

this silenced him my uncle could only be angry and that he was before 

well well well mr solmes said my uncle no more of supplication 
you have not confidence enough to expect a woman's favour 

he then was pleased to hint what great things he had designed to do for
me and that it was more for my sake after he returned from the indies 
than for the sake of any other of the family that he had resolved
to live a single life but now concluded he that the perverse girl
despises all the great things it was once as much in my will as it is
in my power to do for her i will change my measures 

i told him that i most sincerely thanked him for all his kind
intentions to me but that i was willing to resign all claim to any
other of his favours than kind looks and kind words 

he looked about him this way and that 

mr solmes looked pitifully down 

but both being silent i was sorry i added that i had too much reason
to say a very harsh thing as i might be thought which was that if
he would but be pleased to convince my brother and sister that he was
absolutely determined to alter his generous purposes towards me 
it might possibly procure me better treatment from both than i was
otherwise likely to have 

my uncle was very much displeased but he had not the opportunity to
express his displeasure as he seemed preparing to do for in came my
brother in exceeding great wrath and called me several vile names his
success hitherto in his device against me had set him above keeping
even decent measures 

was this my spiteful construction he asked was this the interpretation
i put upon his brotherly care of me and concern for me in order to
prevent my ruining myself 

it is indeed it is said i i know no other way to account for your
late behaviour to me and before your face i repeat my request to my
uncle and i will make it to my other uncle whenever i am permitted to
see him that they will confer all their favours upon you and upon my
sister and only make me happy it is all i wish for in their kind
looks and kind words 

how they all gazed upon one another but could i be less peremptory
before the man 

and as to your care and concern for me sir turning to my brother 
once more i desire it not you are but my brother my father and mother 
i bless god are both living and were they not you have given me
abundant reason to say that you are the very last person i would wish
to have any concern for me 

how niece and is a brother an only brother of so little
consideration with you as this comes to and ought he to have no
concern for his sister's honour and the family's honour 

my honour sir i desire none of his concern for that it never was
endangered till it had his undesired concern forgive me sir but when
my brother knows how to act like a brother or behave like a gentleman 
he may deserve more consideration from me than it is possible for me now
to think he does 

i thought my brother would have beat me upon this but my uncle stood
between us 

violent girl however he called me who said he who would have
thought it of her 

then was mr solmes told that i was unworthy of his pursuit 

but mr solmes warmly took my part he could not bear he said that i
should be treated so roughly 

and so very much did he exert himself on this occasion and so patiently
was his warmth received by my brother that i began to suspect that it
was a contrivance to make me think myself obliged to him and that this
might perhaps be one end of the pressed-for interview 

the very suspicion of this low artifice violent as i was thought to be
before put me still more out of patience and my uncle and my brother
again praising his wonderful generosity and his noble return of good
for evil you are a happy man mr solmes said i that you can
so easily confer obligations upon a whole family except upon one
ungrateful person of it whom you seem to intend most to oblige but
who being made unhappy by your favour desires not to owe to you any
protection from the violence of a brother 

then was i a rude an ungrateful and unworthy creature 

i own it all all all you can call me or think me brother do i own 
i own my unworthiness with regard to this gentleman i take your word
for his abundant merit which i have neither leisure nor inclination to
examine into it may perhaps be as great as your own but yet i cannot
thank him for his great mediation for who sees not looking at my
uncle that this is giving himself a merit with every body at my
expense 

then turning to my brother who seemed surprised into silence by my
warmth i must also acknowledge sir the favour of your superabundant
care for me but i discharge you of it at least while i have the
happiness of nearer and dearer relations you have given me no reason to
think better of your prudence than of my own i am independent of you 
sir though i never desire to be so of my father and although i wish
for the good opinion of my uncles it is all i wish for from them and
this sir i repeat to make you and my sister easy 

instantly almost came in betty in a great hurry looking at me as
spitefully as if she were my sister sir said she to my brother my
master desires to speak with you this moment at the door 

he went to that which led into my sister's parlour and this sentence
i heard thundered from the mouth of one who had a right to all my
reverence son james let the rebel be this moment carried away to my
brother's this very moment she shall not stay one hour more under my
roof 

i trembled i was ready to sink yet not knowing what i did or said i
flew to the door and would have opened it but my brother pulled it to 
and held it close by the key o my papa my dear papa said i falling
upon my knees at the door admit your child to your presence let me
but plead my cause at your feet oh reprobate not thus your distressed
daughter 

my uncle put his handkerchief to his eyes mr solmes made a still more
grievous face than he had before but my brother's marble heart was
untouched 

i will not stir from my knees continued i without admission at this
door i beg it oh let it be the door of mercy and open it to me 
honoured sir i beseech you but this once this once although you
were afterwards to shut it against me for ever 

the door was endeavoured to be opened on the inside which made my
brother let go the key on a sudden and i pressing against it all
the time remaining on my knees fell flat on my face into the other
parlour however without hurting myself but every body was gone except
betty who i suppose was the person that endeavoured to open the door 
she helped to raise me up and when i was on my feet i looked round
that apartment and seeing nobody there re-entered the other leaning
upon her and then threw myself into the chair which i had sat in
before and my eyes overflowed to my great relief while my uncle
antony my brother and mr solmes left me and went to my other
relations 

what passed among them i know not but my brother came in by the time
i had tolerably recovered myself with a settled and haughty gloom upon
his brow your father and mother command you instantly to prepare for
your uncle antony's you need not be solicitous about what you shall
take with you you may give betty your keys take them betty if the
perverse one has them about her and carry them to her mother she will
take care to send every thing after you that you shall want but another
night you will not be permitted to stay in this house 

i don't choose to give my keys to any body except to my mother and
into her own hands you see how much i am disordered it may cost me
my life to be hurried away so suddenly i beg to be indulged till next
monday at least 

that will not be granted you so prepare for this very very night 
and give up your keys give them to me miss i'll carry them to your
mother 

excuse me brother indeed i won't 

indeed you must have you any thing you are afraid should be seen by
your mother 

not if i be permitted to attend her 

i'll make a report accordingly 

he went out 

in came miss dolly hervey i am sorry madam to be the messenger but
your mamma insists upon your sending up all the keys of your cabinet 
library and drawers 

tell my mother that i yield them up to her commands tell her i
make no conditions with my mother but if she finds nothing she shall
disapprove of i beg that she will permit me to tarry here a few days
longer try my dolly  the dear girl sobbing with grief   try if your
gentleness cannot prevail for me 

she wept still more and said it is sad very sad to see matters thus
carried 

she took the keys and wrapped her arms about me and begged me to
excuse her for her message and would have said more but betty's
presence awed her as i saw 

don't pity me my dear said i it will be imputed to you as a fault 
you see who is by 

the insolent wench scornfully smiled one young lady pitying another
in things of this nature looks promising in the youngest i must needs
say 

i bid her begone from my presence 

she would most gladly go she said were she not to stay about me by my
mother's order 

it soon appeared for what she staid for i offering to go up stairs to
my apartment when my cousin went from me with the keys she told me she
was commanded to her very great regret she must own to desire me not
to go up at present 

such a bold face as she i told her should not hinder me 

she instantly rang the bell and in came my brother meeting me at the
door 

return return miss no going up yet 

i went in again and throwing myself upon the window-seat wept
bitterly 

shall i give you the particulars of a ridiculously-spiteful conversation
that passed between my brother and me in the time that he with
betty was in office to keep me in the parlour while my closet was
searching but i think i will not it can answer no good end 

i desired several times while he staid to have leave to retire to my
apartment but was denied the search i suppose was not over 

bella was one of those employed in it they could not have a more
diligent searcher how happy it was they were disappointed 

but when my sister could not find the cunning creature's papers i was
to stand another visit from mr solmes preceded now by my aunt hervey 
solely against her will i could see that accompanied by my uncle
antony in order to keep her steady i suppose 

but being a little heavy for it is now past two in the morning i
will lie down in my clothes to indulge the kind summons if it will be
indulged 


three o'clock wednesday morning 

i could not sleep only dozed away one half-hour 

my aunt hervey accosted me thus o my dear child what troubles do you
give to your parents and to every body i wonder at you 

i am sorry for it madam 

sorry for it child why then so very obstinate come sit down my
dear i will sit next to you taking my hand 

my uncle placed mr solmes on the other side of me himself over-against
me almost close to me was i not finely beset my dear 

your brother child said my aunt is too passionate his zeal for your
welfare pushes him on a little too vehemently 

very true said my uncle but no more of this we would now be glad to
see if milder means will do with you though indeed they were tried
before 

i asked my aunt if it were necessary that the gentleman should be
present 

there is a reason that he should said my aunt as you will hear by-and
by but i must tell you first that thinking you was a little too
angrily treated by your brother your mother desired me to try what
gentler means would do upon a spirit so generous as we used to think
yours 

nothing can be done madam i must presume to say if this gentleman's
address be the end 

she looked upon my uncle who bit his lip and looked upon mr solmes 
who rubbed his cheek and shaking her head good dear creature said
she be calm let me ask you if something would have been done had you
been more gently used than you seem to think you have been 

no madam i cannot say it would in this gentleman's favour you
know madam you know sir to my uncle i ever valued myself upon my
sincerity and once indeed had the happiness to be valued for it 

my uncle took mr solmes aside i heard him say whispering she must 
she shall still be yours we'll see who'll conquer parents or child 
uncles or niece i doubt not to be witness to all this being got over 
and many a good-humoured jest made of this high phrensy 

i was heartily vexed 

though we cannot find out continued he yet we guess who puts her upon
this obstinate behaviour it is not natural to her man nor would i
concern myself so much about her but that i know what i say to be true 
and intend to do great things for her 

i will hourly pray for that happy time whispered as audibly mr solmes 
i never will revive the remembrance of what is now so painful to me 

well but niece i am to tell you said my aunt that the sending up
of the keys without making any conditions has wrought for you what
nothing else could have done that and the not finding any thing that
could give them umbrage together with mr solmes's interposition 

o madam let me not owe an obligation to mr solmes i cannot repay it 
except by my thanks and those only on condition that he will decline
his suit to my thanks sir  turning to him   if you have a heart
capable of humanity if you have any esteem for me for my own sake i
beseech you to entitle yourself i beseech you do 

o madam cried he believe believe believe me it is impossible while
you are single i will hope while that hope is encouraged by so many
worthy friends i must persevere i must not slight them madam because
you slight me 

i answered him only with a look but it was of high disdain and turning
from him but what favour dear madam  to my aunt   has the instance
of duty you mention procured me 

your mother and mr solmes replied my aunt have prevailed that your
request to stay here till monday next shall be granted if you will
promise to go cheerfully then 

let me but choose my own visiters and i will go to my uncle's house
with pleasure 

well niece said my aunt we must wave this subject i find we will
now proceed to another which will require your utmost attention it
will give you the reason why mr solmes's presence is requisite 

ay said my uncle and shew you what sort of a man somebody is mr 
solmes pray favour us in the first place with the letter you received
from your anonymous friend 

i will sir and out he pulled a letter-case and taking out a letter 
it is written in answer to one sent to the person it is superscribed 
to roger solmes esq it begins thus honoured sir 

i beg your pardon sir said i but what pray is the intent of reading
this letter to me 

to let you know what a vile man you are thought to have set your heart
upon said my uncle in an audible whisper 

if sir it be suspected that i have set my heart upon any other why
is mr solmes to give himself any further trouble about me 

only hear niece said my aunt only hear what mr solmes has to read
and to say to you on this head 

if madam mr solmes will be pleased to declare that he has no view
to serve no end to promote for himself i will hear any thing he shall
read but if the contrary you must allow me to say that it will abate
with me a great deal of the weight of whatever he shall produce 

hear it but read niece said my aunt 

hear it read said my uncle you are so ready to take part with 

with any body sir that is accused anonymously and from interested
motives 

he began to read and there seemed to be a heavy load of charges in this
letter against the poor criminal but i stopped the reading of it 
and said it will not be my fault if this vilified man be not as
indifferent to me as one whom i never saw if he be otherwise at
present which i neither own nor deny it proceed from the strange
methods taken to prevent it do not let one cause unite him and me and
we shall not be united if my offer to live single be accepted he shall
be no more to me than this gentleman 

still proceed mr solmes hear it out niece was my uncle's cry 

but to what purpose sir said i had not mr solmes a view in this 
and besides can any thing worse be said of mr lovelace than i have
heard said for several months past 

but this said my uncle and what mr solmes can tell you besides 
amounts to the fullest proof 

was the unhappy man then so freely treated in his character before 
without full proof i beseech you sir give me not too good an opinion
of mr lovelace as i may have if such pains be taken to make him
guilty by one who means not his reformation by it nor to do good if i
may presume to say so in this case to any body but himself 

i see very plainly girl said my uncle your prepossession your fond
prepossession for the person of a man without morals 

indeed my dear said my aunt you too much justify all your
apprehension surprising that a young creature of virtue and honour
should thus esteem a man of a quite opposite character 

dear madam do not conclude against me too hastily i believe mr 
lovelace is far from being so good as he ought to be but if every man's
private life was searched into by prejudiced people set on for that
purpose i know not whose reputation would be safe i love a virtuous
character as much in man as in woman i think it is requisite and as
meritorious in the one as in the other and if left to myself i would
prefer a person of such a character to royalty without it 

why then said my uncle 

give me leave sir but i may venture to say that many of those who
have escaped censure have not merited applause 

permit me to observe further that mr solmes himself may not be
absolutely faultless i never head of his virtues some vices i have
heard of excuse me mr solmes i speak to your face the text about
casting the first stone affords an excellent lesson 

he looked down but was silent 

mr lovelace may have vices you have not you may have others which
he has not i speak not this to defend him or to accuse you no man is
bad no one is good in every thing mr lovelace for example is said
to be implacable and to hate my friends that does not make me value
him the more but give me leave to say that they hate him as much mr 
solmes has his antipathies likewise very strong ones and those to his
own relations which i don't find to be the other's fault for he lives
well with his yet he may have as bad worse pardon me he cannot
have in my poor opinion for what must be the man who hates his own
flesh 

you know not madam you know not niece all in one breath you know
not clary 

i may not nor do i desire to know mr solmes's reasons it concerns not
me to know them but the world even the impartial part of it accuses
him if the world is unjust or rash in one man's case why may it not
be so in another's that's all i mean by it nor can there by a greater
sign of want of merit than where a man seeks to pull down another's
character in order to build up his own 

the poor man's face was all this time overspread with confusion 
twisted as it were and all awry neither mouth nor nose standing in
the middle of it he looked as if he were ready to cry and had he been
capable of pitying me i had certainly tried to pity him 

they all three gazed upon one another in silence 

my aunt i saw at least i thought so looked as if she would have been
glad she might have appeared to approve of what i said she but feebly
blamed me when she spoke for not hearing what mr solmes had to say 
he himself seemed not now very earnest to be heard my uncle said 
there was no talking to me and i should have absolutely silenced both
gentlemen had not my brother come in again to their assistance 

this was the strange speech he made at his entrance his eyes flaming
with anger this prating girl has struck you all dumb i perceive 
persevere however mr solmes i have heard every word she has said 
and i know of no other method of being even with her than after she is
yours to make her as sensible of your power as she now makes you of
her insolence 

fie cousin harlowe said my aunt could i have thought a brother would
have said this to a gentleman of a sister 

i must tell you madam said he that you give the rebel courage 
you yourself seem to favour too much the arrogance of her sex in
her otherwise she durst not have thus stopped her uncle's mouth by
reflections upon him as well as denied to hear a gentleman tell her
the danger she is in from a libertine whose protection as she plainly
hinted she intends to claim against her family 

stopped my uncle's mouth by reflections upon him sir said i how can
that be how dare you to make such an application as this 

my aunt wept at his reflection upon her cousin said she to him if
this be the thanks i have for my trouble i have done your father
would not treat me thus and i will say that the hint you gave was an
unbrotherly one 

not more unbrotherly than all the rest of his conduct to me of late 
madam said i i see by this specimen of his violence how every body
has been brought into his measures had i any the least apprehension of
ever being in mr solmes's power this might have affected me but you
see sir to mr solmes what a conduct is thought necessary to enable
you to arrive at your ungenerous end you see how my brother courts for
you 

i disclaim mr harlowe's violence madam with all my soul i will never
remind you 

silence worthy sir said i i will take care you never shall have the
opportunity 

less violence clary said my uncle cousin james you are as much to
blame as your sister 

in then came my sister brother said she you kept not your promise 
you are thought to be to blame within as well as here were not mr 
solmes's generosity and affection to the girl well known what you said
would have been inexcusable my father desires to speak with you and
with you mr solmes if you please 

they all four withdrew into the next apartment 

i stood silent as not knowing presently how to take this intervention
of my sister's but she left me not long at a loss o thou perverse
thing said she  poking out her angry face at me when they were all
gone but speaking spitefully low  what trouble do you give to us all 

you and my brother bella said i give trouble to yourselves yet
neither you nor he have any business to concern yourselves about me 

she threw out some spiteful expressions still in a low voice as if she
chose not to be heard without and i thought it best to oblige her to
raise her tone a little if i could if i could did i say it is easy
to make a passionate spirit answer all one's views upon it 

she accordingly flamed out in a raised tone and this brought my cousin
dolly in to us miss harlowe your company is desired 

i will come presently cousin dolly 

but again provoking a severity from me which she could not bear and
calling me names in once more come dolly with another message that
her company was desired 

not mine i doubt miss dolly said i 

the sweet-tempered girl burst out into tears and shook her head 

go in before me child said bella  vexed to see her concern for me  
with thy sharp face like a new moon what dost thou cry for is it to
make thy keen face look still keener 

i believe bella was blamed too when she went in for i heard her say 
the creature was so provoking there was no keeping a resolution 

mr solmes after a little while came in again by himself to take
leave of me full of scrapes and compliments but too well tutored and
encouraged to give me hope of his declining his suit he begged me
not to impute to him any of the severe things to which he had been a
sorrowful witness he besought my compassion as he called it 

he said the result was that he still had hopes given him and 
although discouraged by me he was resolved to persevere while i
remained single and such long and such painful services he talked of 
as never before were heard of 

i told him in the strongest manner what he had to trust to 

yet still he determined to persist while i was no man's else he must
hope 

what said i will you still persist when i declare as i do now that
my affections are engaged and let my brother make the most of it 

he knew my principles and adored me for them he doubted not that it
was in his power to make me happy and he was sure i would not want the
will to be so 

i assured him that were i to be carried to my uncle's it should answer
no end for i would never see him nor receive a line from him nor hear
a word in his favour whoever were the person who should mention him to
me 

he was sorry for it he must be miserable were i to hold in that mind 
but he doubted not that i might be induced by my father and uncles to
change it 

never never he might depend upon it 

it was richly worth his patience and the trial 

at my expense at the price of all my happiness sir 

he hoped i should be induced to think otherwise 

and then would he have run into his fortune his settlements his
affection vowing that never man loved a woman with so sincere a
passion as he loved me 

i stopped him as to the first part of his speech and to the second 
of the sincerity of his passion what then sir said i is your love to
one who must assure you that never young creature looked upon man with
a more sincere disapprobation than i look upon you and tell me 
what argument can you urge that this true declaration answers not
before-hand 

dearest madam what can i say on my knees i beg 

and down the ungraceful wretch dropped on his knees 

let me not kneel in vain madam let me not be thus despised and he
looked most odiously sorrowful 

i have kneeled too mr solmes often have i kneeled and i will kneel
again even to you sir will i kneel if there be so much merit in
kneeling provided you will not be the implement of my cruel brother's
undeserved persecution 

if all the services even to worship you during my whole life you 
madam invoke and expect mercy yet shew none 

am i to be cruel to myself to shew mercy to you take my estate sir 
with all my heart since you are such a favourite in this house only
leave me myself the mercy you ask for do you shew to others 

if you mean to my relations madam unworthy as they are all shall be
done that you shall prescribe 

who i sir to find you bowels you naturally have not i to purchase
their happiness by the forfeiture of my own what i ask you for 
is mercy to myself that since you seem to have some power over my
relations you will use it in my behalf tell them that you see i
cannot conquer my aversion to you tell them if you are a wise man 
that you too much value your own happiness to risk it against such a
determined antipathy tell them that i am unworthy of your offers and
that in mercy to yourself as well as to me you will not prosecute a
suit so impossible to be granted 

i will risque all consequences said the fell wretch rising with a
countenance whitened over as if with malice his hollow eyes flashing
fire and biting his under lip to shew he could be manly your hatred 
madam shall be no objection with me and i doubt not in a few days to
have it in my power to shew you 

you have it in your power sir 

he came well off to shew you more generosity than noble as you are
said to be to others you shew to me 

the man's face became his anger it seems formed to express the passion 

at that instant again in came my brother sister sister sister said
he with his teeth set act on the termagant part you have so newly
assumed most wonderfully well does it become you it is but a
short one however tyraness in your turn accuse others of your own
guilt but leave her leaver her mr solmes her time is short you'll
find her humble and mortified enough very quickly then how like a
little tame fool will she look with her conscience upbraiding her and
begging of you  with a whining voice the barbarous brother spoke  to
forgive and forget 

more he said as he flew out with a glowing face upon shorey's coming
in to recall him on his violence 

i removed from chair to chair excessively frighted and disturbed at
this brutal treatment 

the man attempted to excuse himself as being sorry for my brother's
passion 

leave me leave me sir fanning or i shall faint and indeed i thought
i should 

he recommended himself to my favour with an air of assurance augmented 
as i thought by a distress so visible in me for he even snatched my
trembling my struggling hand and ravished it to his odious mouth 

i flung from him with high disdain and he withdrew bowing and
cringing self-gratified and enjoying as i thought the confusion he
saw me in 

the wretch is now methinks before me and now i see him awkwardly
striding backward as he retired till the edge of the opened door 
which he ran against remembered him to turn his welcome back upon me 

upon his withdrawing betty brought me word that i was permitted to
go up to my own chamber and was bid to consider of every thing for my
time was short nevertheless she believed i might be permitted to stay
till saturday 

she tells me that although my brother and sister were blamed for being
so hasty with me yet when they made their report and my uncle antony
his of my provocations they were all more determined than ever in mr 
solmes's favour 

the wretch himself she tells me pretends to be more in love with
me than before and to be rather delighted than discouraged with the
conversation that passed between us he ran on she says in raptures 
about the grace wherewith i should dignify his board and the like sort
of stuff either of his saying or of her making 

she closed all with a now is your time miss to submit with a grace 
and to make your own terms with him else i can tell you were i mr 
solmes it should be worse for you and who miss of our sex proceeded
the saucy creature would admire a rakish gentleman when she might be
admired by a sober one to the end of the chapter 

she made this further speech to me on quitting my chamber you have
had amazing good luck miss i must tell you to keep your writings
concealed so cunningly you must needs think i know that you are always
at your pen and as you endeavour to hide that knowledge from me i
do not think myself obliged to keep your secret but i love not to
aggravate i had rather reconcile by much peace-making is my talent 
and ever was and had i been as much your foe as you imagine you had
not perhaps been here now but this however i do not say to make a
merit with you miss for truly it will be the better for you the
sooner every thing is over with you and better for me and for every
one else that's certain yet one hint i must conclude with that your
pen and ink soon as you are to go away will not be long in your power 
i do assure you miss and then having lost that amusement it will be
seen how a mind so active as yours will be able to employ itself 

this hint alarms me so much that i shall instantly begin to conceal in
different places pens inks and paper and to deposit some in the ivy
summer-house if i can find a safe place there and at the worst i
have got a pencil of black and another of red lead which i use in my
drawings and my patterns shall serve for paper if i have no other 

how lucky it was that i had got away my papers they made a strict
search for them that i can see by the disorderly manner they have left
all things in for you know that i am such an observer of method that
i can go to a bit of ribband or lace or edging blindfold the same in
my books which they have strangely disordered and mismatched to look
behind them and in some of them i suppose my clothes too are rumpled
not a little no place has escaped them to your hint i thank you are
they indebted for their disappointment 

the pen through heaviness and fatigue dropt out of my fingers at the
word indebted i resumed it to finish the sentence and to tell you 
that i am 

your for ever obliged and affectionate cl harlowe 




letter xxxv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday eleven o'clock april 5 


i must write as i have opportunity making use of my concealed stores 
for my pens and ink all of each that they could find are taken from
me as i shall tell you about more particularly by and by 

about an hour ago i deposited my long letter to you as also in the
usual place a billet to mr lovelace lest his impatience should put
him upon some rashness signifying in four lines that the interview
was over and that i hoped my steady refusal of mr solmes would
discourage any further applications to me in his favour 

although i was unable through the fatigue i had undergone and by
reason of sitting up all night to write to you which made me lie
longer than ordinary this morning to deposit my letter to you sooner 
yet i hope you will have it in such good time as that you will be able
to send me an answer to it this night or in the morning early which 
if ever so short will inform me whether i may depend upon your
mother's indulgence or not this it behoves me to know as soon as
possible for they are resolved to hurry me away on saturday next at
farthest perhaps to-morrow 

i will now inform you of all that has happened previous to their taking
away my pen and ink as well as of the manner in which that act of
violence was committed and this as briefly as i can 

my aunt who as well as mr solmes and my two uncles lives here i
think came up to me and said she would fain have me hear what mr 
solmes had to say of mr lovelace only that i may be apprized of
some things that would convince me what a vile man he is and what a
wretched husband he must make i might give them what degree of credit
i pleased and take them with abatement for mr solmes's interestedness 
if i thought fit but it might be of use to me were it but to question
mr lovelace indirectly upon some of them that related to myself 

i was indifferent i said about what he could say of me and i was sure
it could not be to my disadvantage and as he had no reason to impute to
me the forwardness which my unkind friends had so causelessly taxed me
with 

she said that he gave himself high airs on account of his family and
spoke as despicably of ours as if an alliance with us were beneath him 

i replied that he was a very unworthy man if it were true to speak
slightingly of a family which was as good as his own bating that
it was not allied to the peerage that the dignity itself i thought 
conveyed more shame than honour to descendants who had not merit to
adorn as well as to be adorned by it that my brother's absurd pride 
indeed which made him every where declare he would never marry but to
quality gave a disgraceful preference against ours but that were i
to be assured that mr lovelace was capable of so mean a pride as to
insult us or value himself on such an accidental advantage i should
think as despicably of his sense as every body else did of his morals 

she insisted upon it that he had taken such liberties it would be but
common justice so much hated as he was by all our family and so
much inveighed against in all companies by them to inquire into the
provocation he had to say what was imputed to him and whether the value
some of my friends put upon the riches they possess throwing perhaps
contempt upon every other advantage and even discrediting their own
pretensions to family in order to depreciate his might not provoke him
to like contempts upon the whole madam said i can you say that the
inveteracy lies not as much on our side as on his can he say any thing
of us more disrespectful than we say of him and as to the suggestion 
so often repeated that he will make a bad husband is it possible for
him to use a wife worse than i am used particularly by my brother and
sister 

ah niece ah my dear how firmly has this wicked man attached you 

perhaps not madam but really great care should be taken by fathers and
mothers when they would have their daughters of their minds in these
particulars not to say things that shall necessitate the child in
honour and generosity to take part with the man her friends are averse
to but waving all this as i have offered to renounce him for ever i
see now why he should be mentioned to me nor why i should be wished to
hear any thing about him 

well but still my dear there can be no harm to let mr solmes tell
you what mr lovelace has said of you severely as you have treated mr 
solmes he is fond of attending you once more he begs to be heard on
this head 

if it be proper for me to hear it madam 

it is eagerly interrupted she very proper 

has what he has said of me madam convinced you of mr lovelace's
baseness 

it has my dear and that you ought to abhor him for it 

then dear madam be pleased to let me hear it from your mouth there
is no need that i should see mr solmes when it will have double the
weight from you what madam has the man dared to say of me 

my aunt was quite at a loss 

at last well said she i see how you are attached i am sorry for it 
miss for i do assure you it will signify nothing you must be mrs 
solmes and that in a very few days 

if consent of heart and assent of voice be necessary to a marriage i
am sure i never can nor ever will be married to mr solmes and what
will any of my relations be answerable for if they force my hand into
his and hold it there till the service be read i perhaps insensible 
and in fits all the time 

what a romantic picture of a forced marriage have you drawn niece 
some people would say you have given a fine description of your own
obstinacy child 

my brother and sister would but you madam distinguish i am sure 
between obstinacy and aversion 

supposed aversion may owe its rise to real obstinacy my dear 

i know my own heart madam i wish you did 

well but see mr solmes once more niece it will oblige and make for
you more than you imagine 

what should i see him for madam is the man fond of hearing me declare
my aversion to him is he desirous of having me more and more incense
my friends against myself o my cunning my ambitious brother 

ah my dear with a look of pity as if she understood the meaning of my
exclamation but must that necessarily be the case 

it must madam if they will take offence at me for declaring my
steadfast detestation of mr solmes as a husband 

mr solmes is to be pitied said she he adores you he longs to see
you once more he loves you the better for your cruel usage of him
yesterday he is in raptures about you 

ugly creature thought i he in raptures 

what a cruel wretch must he be said i who can enjoy the distress to
which he so largely contributes but i see i see madam that i am
considered as an animal to be baited to make sport for my brother
and sister and mr solmes they are all all of them wanton in their
cruelty i madam see the man the man so incapable of pity indeed i
will not see him if i can help it indeed i will not 

what a construction does your lively wit put upon the admiration
mr solmes expresses of you passionate as you were yesterday and
contemptuously as you treated him he dotes upon you for the very
severity by which he suffers he is not so ungenerous a man as you think
him nor has he an unfeeling heart let me prevail upon you my dear 
 as your father and mother expect it of you to see him once more and
hear what he has to say to you 

how can i consent to see him again when yesterday's interview
was interpreted by you madam as well as by every other as an
encouragement to him when i myself declared that if i saw him a second
time by my own consent it might be so taken and when i am determined
never to encourage him 

you might spare your reflections upon me miss i have no thanks either
from one side or the other 

and away she flung 

dearest madam said i following her to the door 

but she would not hear me further and her sudden breaking from me
occasioned a hurry to some mean listener as the slipping of a foot from
the landing-place on the stairs discovered to me 

i had scarcely recovered myself from this attack when up came
betty miss said she your company is desired below-stairs in your own
parlour 

by whom betty 

how can i tell miss perhaps by your sister perhaps by your
brother i know they wont' come up stairs to your apartment again 

is mr solmes gone betty 

i believe he is miss would you have him sent for back said the bold
creature 

down i went and to whom should i be sent for but to my brother and mr 
solmes the latter standing sneaking behind the door so that i saw him
not till i was mockingly led by the hand into the room by my brother 
and then i started as if i had beheld a ghost 

you are to sit down clary 

and what then brother 

why then you are to put off that scornful look and hear what mr 
solmes has to say to you 

sent down for to be baited again thought i 

madam said mr solmes as if in haste to speak lest he should not have
an opportunity given him  and indeed he judged right   mr lovelace is
a declared marriage hater and has a design upon your honour if ever 

base accuser said i in a passion snatching my hand from my brother 
who was insolently motioning to give it to mr solmes he has not he
dares not but you have if endeavouring to force a free mind be to
dishonour it 

o thou violent creature said my brother but not gone yet for i was
rushing away 

what mean you sir  struggling vehemently to get away   to detain me
thus against my will 

you shall not go violence clasping his unbrotherly arms about me 

then let not mr solmes stay why hold you me thus he shall not for
your own sake if i can help it see how barbarously a brother can treat
a sister who deserves not evil treatment 

and i struggled so vehemently to get from him that he was forced to
quit my hand which he did with these words begone then fury how
strong is will there is no holding her 

and up i flew to my chamber and locked myself in trembling and out of
breath 

in less than a quarter of an hour up came betty i let her in upon her
tapping and asking half out of breath too for admittance 

the lord have mercy upon us said she what a confusion of a house is
this  hurrying up and down fanning herself with her handkerchief  
such angry masters and mistresses such an obstinate young lady such
a humble lover such enraged uncles such o dear dear what a
topsy-turvy house is this and all for what trow only because a
young lady may be happy and will not only because a young lady will
have a husband and will not have a husband what hurlyburlies are here 
where all used to be peace and quietness 

thus she ran on to herself while i sat as patiently as i could being
assured that her errand was not designed to be a welcome one to me to
observe when her soliloquy would end 

at last turning to me i must do as i am bid i can't help it don't
be angry with me miss but i must carry down your pen and ink and that
this moment 

by whose order 

by your papa's and mamma's 

how shall i know that 

she offered to go to my closet i stept in before her touch it if you
dare 

up came my cousin dolly madam madam said the poor weeping 
good natured creature in broken sentences you must indeed you
must deliver to betty or to me your pen and ink 

must i my sweet cousin then i will to you but not to this bold body 
and so i gave my standish to her 

i am sorry very sorry said she miss to be the messenger but your
papa will not have you in the same house with him he is resolved you
shall be carried away to-morrow or saturday at farthest and therefore
your pen and ink are taken away that you may give nobody notice of it 

and away went the dear girl very sorrowful carrying down with her my
standish and all its furniture and a little parcel of pens beside 
which having been seen when the great search was made she was bid to
ask for 

as it happened i had not diminished it having hid half a dozen crow
quills in as many different places it was lucky for i doubt not they
had numbered how many were in the parcel 

betty ran on telling me that my mother was now as much incensed
against me as any body that my doom was fixed that my violent
behaviour had not left one to plead for me that mr solmes bit his lip 
and muttered and seemed to have more in his head than could come out
at his mouth that was her phrase 

and yet she also hinted to me that the cruel wretch took pleasure
in seeing me although so much to my disgust and so wanted to see me
again must he not be a savage my dear 

the wench went on that my uncle harlowe said that now he gave me
up that he pitied mr solmes yet hoped he would not think of this
to my detriment hereafter that my uncle antony was of opinion that
i ought to smart for it and for her part and then as one of the
family she gave her opinion of the same side 

as i have no other way of hearing any thing that is said or intended
below i bear sometimes more patiently than i otherwise should do with
her impertinence and indeed she seems to be in all my brother's and
sister's counsels 

miss hervey came up again and demanded an half-pint ink-bottle which
they had seen in my closet 

i gave it her without hesitation 

if they have no suspicion of my being able to write they will perhaps
let me stay longer than otherwise they would 

this my dear is now my situation 

all my dependence all my hopes are in your mother's favour but for
that i know not what i might do for who can tell what will come next 




letter xxxvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday four o'clock in the
afternoon


i am just returned from depositing the letter i so lately finished and
such of mr lovelace's letters as i had not sent you my long letter i
found remaining there so you will have both together 

i am convinced methinks it is not with you but your servant cannot
always be at leisure however i will deposit as fast as i write i must
keep nothing by me now and when i write lock myself in that i may not
be surprised now they think i have no pen and ink 

i found in the usual place another letter from this diligent man and 
by its contents a confirmation that nothing passes in this house but
he knows it and that almost as soon as it passes for this letter
must have been written before he could have received my billet and
deposited i suppose when that was taken away yet he compliments me in
it upon asserting myself as he calls it on that occasion to my uncle
and to mr solmes 

he assures me however that they are more and more determined to
subdue me 

he sends me the compliments of his family and acquaints me with their
earnest desire to see me amongst them most vehemently does he press for
my quitting this house while it is in my power to get away and again
craves leave to order his uncle's chariot-and-six to attend my commands
at the stile leading to the coppice adjoining to the paddock 

settlements to my own will he again offers lord m and lady sarah and
lady betty to be guarantees of his honour and justice but if i choose
not to go to either of those ladies nor yet to make him the happiest of
men so soon as it is nevertheless his hope that i will he urges me to
withdraw to my own house and to accept of lord m for my guardian and
protector till my cousin morden arrives he can contrive he says 
to give me easy possession of it and will fill it with his female
relations on the first invitation from me and mrs norton or miss
howe may be undoubtedly prevailed upon to be with me for a time there
can be no pretence for litigation he says when i am once in it nor 
if i choose to have it so will he appear to visit me nor presume to
mention marriage to me till all is quiet and easy till every method i
shall prescribe for a reconciliation with my friends is tried till my
cousin comes till such settlements are drawn as he shall approve of for
me and that i have unexceptionable proofs of his own good behaviour 

as to the disgrace a person of my character may be apprehensive of upon
quitting my father's house he observes too truly i doubt that the
treatment i meet with is in every one's mouth yet he says that the
public voice is in my favour my friends themselves he says expect
that i will do myself what he calls this justice why else do they
confine me he urges that thus treated the independence i have a
right to will be my sufficient excuse going but from their house to my
own if i choose that measure or in order to take possession of my
own if i do not that all the disgrace i can receive they have already
given me that his concern and his family's concern in my honour will
be equal to my own if he may be so happy ever to call me his and he
presumes he says to aver that no family can better supply the loss
of my own friends to me than his in whatever way i shall do them the
honour to accept of his and their protection 

but he repeats that in all events he will oppose my being carried to
my uncle's being well assured that i shall be lost to him for ever if
once i enter into that house  he tells me that my brother and sister 
and mr solmes design to be there to receive me that my father and
mother will not come near me till the ceremony is actually over and
that then they will appear in order to try to reconcile me to my odious
husband by urging upon me the obligations i shall be supposed to be
under from a double duty 

how my dear am i driven on one side and invited on the other this
last intimation is but a too probable one all the steps they take seem
to tend to this and indeed they have declared almost as much 

he owns that he has already taken his measures upon this
intelligence but that he is so desirous for my sake i must suppose 
he says that he owes them no forbearance for their own to avoid coming
to extremities that he has suffered a person whom they do not suspect 
to acquaint them with his resolutions as if come at by accident if
they persist in their design to carry me by violence to my uncle's 
in hopes that they may be induced from the fear of mischief which
may ensue to change their measures and yet he is aware that he has
exposed himself to the greatest risques by having caused this intimation
to be given them since if he cannot benefit himself by their fears 
there is no doubt but they will doubly guard themselves against him upon
it 

what a dangerous enterpriser however is this man 

he begs a few lines from me by way of answer to this letter either
this evening or to-morrow morning if he be not so favoured he shall
conclude from what he knows of the fixed determination of my relations 
that i shall be under a closer restraint than before and he shall be
obliged to take his measures according to that presumption 

you will see by this abstract as well by his letter preceding this 
 for both run in the same strain how strangely forward the difficulty
of my situation has brought him in his declarations and proposals and
in his threatenings too which but for that i would not take from him 

something however i must speedily resolve upon or it will be out of
my power to help myself 

now i think of it i will enclose his letter so might have spared the
abstract of it that you may the better judge of all his proposals and
intelligence and les it should fall into other hands i cannot forgive
the contents although i am at a loss what answer to return 


 she accordingly encloses mr lovelace's letter but as the
 most material contents of it are given in her abstract it
 is omitted 


i cannot bear the thoughts of throwing myself upon the protection of his
friends but i will not examine his proposals closely till i hear from
you indeed i have no eligible hope but in your mother's goodness hers
is a protection i could more reputably fly to than to that of any other
person and from hers should be ready to return to my father's for the
breach then would not be irreparable as it would be if i fled to
his family to return i repeat on such terms as shall secure but my
negative not my independence i do not aim at that so shall lay your
mother under the less difficulty though i have a right to be put
into possession of my grandfather's estate if i were to insist upon
it such a right i mean as my brother exerts in the bid that i
should ever think myself freed from my father's reasonable controul 
whatever right my grandfather's will has given me he good gentleman 
left me that estate as a reward of my duty and not to set me above
it as has been justly hinted to me and this reflection makes me more
fearful of not answering the intention of so valuable a bequest oh 
that my friends knew but my heart would but think of it as they used
to do for once more i say if it deceive me not it is not altered 
although theirs are 

would but your mother permit you to send her chariot or chaise to the
bye-place where mr lovelace proposes lord m s shall come provoked 
intimidated and apprehensive as i am i would not hesitate a moment
what to do place me any where as i have said before in a cot in a
garret any where disguised as a servant or let me pass as a servant's
sister so that i may but escape mr solmes on one hand and the
disgrace of refuging with the family of a man at enmity with my own 
on the other and i shall be in some measure happy should your
good mother refuse me what refuge or whose can i fly to dearest
creature advise your distressed friend 


 


i broke off here i was so excessively uneasy that i durst not trust
myself with my own reflections i therefore went down to the garden to
try to calm my mind by shifting the scene i took but one turn upon the
filbert-walk when betty came to me here miss is your papa here
is your uncle antony here is my young master and my young mistress 
coming to take a walk in the garden and your papa sends me to see where
you are for fear he should meet you 

i struck into an oblique path and got behind the yew-hedge seeing my
sister appear and there concealed myself till they were gone past me 

my mother it seems is not well my poor mother keeps her
chamber should she be worse i should have an additional unhappiness 
in apprehension that my reputed undutifulness had touched her heart 

you cannot imagine what my emotions were behind the yew-hedge on seeing
my father so near me i was glad to look at him through the hedge as he
passed by but i trembled in every joint when i heard him utter these
words son james to you and to you bella and to you brother do i
wholly commit this matter that i was meant i cannot doubt and yet 
why was i so affected since i may be said to have been given up to the
cruelty of my brother and sister for many days past 


 


while my father remained in the garden i sent my dutiful compliments
to my mother with inquiry after her health by shorey whom i met
accidentally upon the stairs for none of the servants except my
gaoleress dare to throw themselves in my way i had the mortification
of such a return as made me repent my message though not my concern
for her health let her not inquire after the disorders she occasions 
was her harsh answer i will not receive any compliments from her 

very very hard my dear indeed it is very hard 


 



i have the pleasure to hear that my mother is already better a colicky
disorder to which she is too subject it is hoped it is gone off god
send it may every evil that happens in this house is owing to me 

this good news was told me with a circumstance very unacceptable for
betty said she had orders to let me know that my garden-walks and
poultry-visits were suspected and that both will be prohibited if i
stay here till saturday or monday 

possibly this is said by order to make me go with less reluctance to my
uncle's 

my mother bid her say if i expostulated about these orders and about
my pen and ink that reading was more to the purpose at present than
writing that by the one i might be taught my duty that the other 
considering whom i was believed to write to only stiffened my will 
that my needle-works had better be pursued than my airings which were
observed to be taken in all weathers 

so my dear if i do not resolve upon something soon i shall neither be
able to avoid the intended evil nor have it in my power to correspond
with you 


 

wednesday night 

all is in a hurry below-stairs betty is in and out like a spy 
something is working i know not what i am really a good deal
disordered in body as well as in mind indeed i am quite heart-sick 

i will go down though tis almost dark on pretence of getting a little
air and composure robert has my two former i hope before now and
i will deposit this with lovelace's enclosed if i can for fear of
another search 

i know not what i shall do all is so strangely busy doors clapt
to going out of one apartment hurryingly as i may say into another 
betty in her alarming way staring as if of frighted importance twice
with me in half an hour called down in haste by shorey the last time 
leaving me with still more meaning in her looks and gestures yet
possibly nothing in all this worthy of my apprehensions 

here again comes the creature with her deep-drawn affected sighs and
her o dear's o dear's 


 


more dark hints thrown out by the saucy creature but she will not
explain herself suppose this pretty business ends in murder she says 
i may rue my opposition as long as i live for aught she knows parents
will not be baffled out of their children by imprudent gentlemen nor is
it fit they should it may come home to me when i least expect it 

these are the gloomy and perplexing hints this impertinent throws
out probably they arose from the information mr lovelace says he has
secretly permitted them to have from this vile double-faced agent i
suppose of his resolution to prevent my being carried to my uncle's 

how justly if so may this exasperate them how am i driven to and
fro like a feather in the wind at the pleasure of the rash the
selfish the headstrong and when i am as averse to the proceedings of
the one as i am to those of the other for although i was induced to
carry on this unhappy correspondence as i think i ought to call it in
hopes to prevent mischief yet indiscreet measures are fallen upon by
the rash man before i who am so much concerned in the event of the
present contentions can be consulted and between his violence on one
hand and that of my relations on the other i find myself in danger
from both 

o my dear what is worldly wisdom but the height of folly i the
meanest at least youngest of my father's family to thrust myself
in the gap between such uncontroulable spirits to the intercepting
perhaps of the designs of providence which may intend to make those
hostile spirits their own punishers if so what presumption indeed 
my dear friend i am afraid i have thought myself of too much
consequence but however this be it is good when calamities befal us 
that we should look into ourselves and fear 

if i am prevented depositing this and the enclosed as i intend to try
to do late as it is i will add to it as occasion shall offer mean
time believe me to be

your ever-affectionate and grateful cl harlowe 

under the superscription written with a pencil after she went down 

my two former are not yet taken away i am surprised i hope you are
well i hope all is right betwixt your mother and you 




letter xxxvii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday morning april 9 

i have your three letters never was there a creature more impatient on
the most interesting uncertainty than i was to know the event of the
interview between you and solmes 

it behoves me to account to my dear friend in her present unhappy
situation for every thing that may have the least appearance of
negligence or remissness on my part i sent robin in the morning early 
in hopes of a deposit he loitered about the place till near ten to
no purpose and then came away my mother having given him a letter to
carry to mr hunt's which he was to deliver before three when only in
the day-time that gentleman is at home and to bring back an answer to
it mr hunt's house you know lies wide from harlowe-place robin but
just saved his time and returned not till it was too late to send him
again i only could direct him to set out before day this morning and
if he got any letter to ride as for his life to bring it to me 

i lay by myself a most uneasy night i had through impatience and being
discomposed with it lay longer than usual just as i was risen in came
kitty from robin with your three letters i was not a quarter dressed 
and only slipt on my morning sack proceeding no further till i had
read them all through long as they are and yet i often stopped to rave
aloud though by myself at the devilish people you have to deal with 

how my heart rises at them all how poorly did they design to trick
you into an encouragement of solmes from the extorted interview i
am very very angry at your aunt hervey to give up her own judgment so
tamely and not content to do so to become such an active instrument
in their hands but it is so like the world so like my mother
too next to her own child there is not any body living she values so
much as you yet it is why should we embroil ourselves nancy with
the affairs of other people 

other people how i hate the poor words where friendship is concerned 
and where the protection to be given may be of so much consequence to a
friend and of so little detriment to one's self 

i am delighted with your spirit however i expected it not from you
nor did they i am sure nor would you perhaps have exerted it if
lovelace's intelligence of solmes's nursery-offices had not set you up 
i wonder not that the wretch is said to love you the better for it what
an honour would it be to him to have such a wife and he can be even
with you when you are so he must indeed be a savage as you say yet
he is less to blame for his perseverance than those of your own family 
whom most you reverence for theirs 

it is well as i have often said that i have not such provocations
and trials i should perhaps long ago have taken your cousin dolly's
advice yet dare i not to touch that key i shall always love the good
girl for her tenderness to you 

i know not what to say of lovelace nor what to think of his promises 
nor of his proposals to you tis certain that you are highly esteemed
by all his family the ladies are persons of unblemished honour my lord
m is also as men and peers go a man of honour i could tell what to
advise any other person in the world to do but you so much expected
from you such a shining light your quitting your father's house and
throwing yourself into the protection of a family however honourable 
that has a man in it whose person parts declarations and
pretensions will be thought to have engaged your warmest
esteem methinks i am rather for advising that you should get privately
to london and not to let either him or any body else but me know
where you are till your cousin morden comes 

as to going to your uncle's that you must not do if you can help
it nor must you have solmes that's certain not only because of his
unworthiness in every respect but because of the aversion you have so
openly avowed to him which every body knows and talks of as they do
of your approbation of the other for your reputation sake therefore 
as well as to prevent mischief you must either live single or have
lovelace 

if you think of going to london let me know and i hope you will have
time to allow me a further concert as to the manner of your getting
away and thither and how to procure proper lodgings for you 

to obtain this time you must palliate a little and come into some
seeming compromise if you cannot do otherwise driven as you are
driven it will be strange if you are not obliged to part with a few of
your admirable punctilio's 

you will observe from what i have written that i have not succeeded
with my mother 

i am extremely mortified and disappointed we have had very strong
debates upon it but besides the narrow argument of embroiling
ourselves with other people's affairs as above-mentioned she will have
it that it is your duty to comply she says she was always of opinion
that daughters should implicitly submit to the will of their parents in
the great article of marriage and that she governed herself accordingly
in marrying my father who at first was more the choice of her parents
than her own 

this is what she argues in behalf of her favourite hickman as well as
for solmes in your case 

i must not doubt but my mother always governed herself by this
principle because she says she did i have likewise another reason to
believe it which you shall have though it may not become me to give
it that they did not live so happily together as one would hope people
might do who married preferring each other at the time to the rest of
the world 

somebody shall fare never the better for this double-meant policy of my
mother i do assure you such a retrospection in her arguments to
him and to his address it is but fit that he should suffer for my
mortification in failing to carry a point upon which i had set my whole
heart 

think my dear if in any way i can serve you if you allow of it 
i protest i will go off privately with you and we will live and die
together think of it improve upon my hint and command me 

a little interruption what is breakfast to the subject i am upon 


 


london i am told is the best hiding-place in the world i have written
nothing but what i will stand in to at the word of command women love
to engage in knight-errantry now-and-then as well as to encourage
it in the men but in your case what i propose will not seem to have
anything of that nature in it it will enable me to perform what is no
more than a duty in serving and comforting a dear and worthy friend who
labours under undeserved oppression and you will ennoble as i may say 
your anna howe if you allow her to be your companion in affliction 

i will engage my dear we shall not be in town together one month 
before we surmount all difficulties and this without being beholden to
any men-fellows for their protection 

i must repeat what i have often said that the authors of your
persecutions would not have presumed to set on foot their selfish
schemes against you had they not depended upon the gentleness of your
spirit though now having gone so far and having engaged old authority
in it  chide me if you will   neither he nor they know how to recede 

when they find you out of their reach and know that i am with you 
you'll see how they'll pull in their odious horns 

i think however that you should have written to your cousin morden 
the moment they had begun to treat you disgracefully 

i shall be impatient to hear whether they will attempt to carry you to
your uncle's i remember that lord m s dismissed bailiff reported of
lovelace that he had six or seven companions as bad as himself and
that the country was always glad when they left it he actually has as
i hear such a knot of them about him now and depend upon it he will
not suffer them quietly to carry you to your uncle's and whose must you
be if he succeeds in taking you from them 


 see vol i letter iv 


i tremble for you but upon supposing what may be the consequence of a
conflict upon this occasion lovelace owes some of them vengeance this
gives me a double concern that my mother should refuse her consent to
the protection i had set my heart upon procuring for you 

my mother will not breakfast without me a quarrel has its conveniencies
sometimes yet too much love i think is as bad as too little 


 


we have just now had another pull upon my word she is
excessively what shall i say unpersuadable i must let her off with
that soft word 

who was the old greek that said he governed athens his wife him and
his son her 

it was not my mother's fault  i am writing to you you know  that she
did not govern my father but i am but a daughter yet i thought i was
not quite so powerless when i was set upon carrying a point as i find
myself to be 

adieu my dear happier times must come and that quickly too the
strings cannot long continue to be thus overstrained they must break
or be relaxed in either way the certainty must be preferable to the
suspense 

one word more 

i think in my conscience you must take one of these two alternatives 
either to consent to let us go to london together privately  in which
case i will procure a vehicle and meet you at your appointment at the
stile to which lovelace proposes to bring his uncle's chariot   or 
to put yourself into the protection of lord m and the ladies of his
family 

you have another indeed and that is if you are absolutely resolved
against solmes to meet and marry lovelace directly 

whichsoever of these you make choice of you will have this plea 
both to yourself and to the world that you are concluded by the same
uniform principle that has governed your whole conduct ever since the
contention between lovelace and your brother has been on foot that
is to say that you have chosen a lesser evil in hopes to prevent a
greater 

adieu and heaven direct for the best my beloved creature prays

her anna howe 




letter xxxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday april 6 


i thank you my dearest friend for the pains you have taken in
accounting so affectionately for my papers not being taken away
yesterday and for the kind protection you would have procured for me 
if you could 

this kind protection was what i wished for but my wishes raised at
first by your love were rather governed by my despair of other refuge
 having before cast about and not being able to determine what i
ought to do and what i could do in a situation so unhappy  than by a
reasonable hope for why indeed should any body embroil themselves for
others when they can avoid it 

all my consolation is as i have frequently said that i have not by my
own inadvertence or folly brought myself into this sad situation if i
had i should not have dared to look up to any body with the expectation
of protection or assistance nor to you for excuse of the trouble i give
you but nevertheless we should not be angry at a person's not doing
that for ourselves or for our friend which she thinks she ought not to
do and which she has it in her option either to do or to let it alone 
much less have you a right to be displeased with so prudent a mother 
for not engaging herself so warmly in my favour as you wished she
would if my own aunt can give me up and that against her judgment as
i may presume to say and if my father and mother and uncles who once
loved me so well can join so strenuously against me can i expect or
ought you the protection of your mother in opposition to them 

indeed my dear love  permit me to be very serious   i am afraid i am
singled out either for my own faults or for the faults of my
family or perhaps for the faults of both to be a very unhappy
creature signally unhappy for see you not how irresistible the waves
of affliction come tumbling down upon me 

we have been till within these few weeks every one of us too happy no
crosses no vexations but what we gave ourselves from the pamperedness 
as i may call it of our own wills surrounded by our heaps and stores 
hoarded up as fast as acquired we have seemed to think ourselves out
of the reach of the bolts of adverse fate i was the pride of all my
friends proud myself of their pride and glorying in my standing who
knows what the justice of heaven may inflict in order to convince us 
that we are not out of the reach of misfortune and to reduce us to a
better reliance than what we have hitherto presumptuously made 

i should have been very little the better for the conversation-visits
with the good dr lewen used to honour me with and for the principles
wrought as i may say into my earliest mind by my pious mrs norton 
founded on her reverend father's experience as well as on her own if
i could not thus retrospect and argue in such a strange situation as we
are in strange i may well call it for don't you see my dear that we
seem all to be impelled as it were by a perverse fate which none of
us are able to resist and yet all arising with a strong appearance
of self-punishment from ourselves do not my parents see the hopeful
children from whom they expected a perpetuity of worldly happiness
to their branching family now grown up to answer the till now distant
hope setting their angry faces against each other pulling up by the
roots as i may say that hope which was ready to be carried into a
probable certainty 

your partial love will be ready to acquit me of capital and intentional
faults but oh my dear my calamities have humbled me enough to make
me turn my gaudy eye inward to make me look into myself and what have
i discovered there why my dear friend more secret pride and vanity
than i could have thought had lain in my unexamined heart 

if i am to be singled out to be the punisher of myself and family who
so lately was the pride of it pray for me my dear that i may not
be left wholly to myself and that i may be enabled to support my
character so as to be justly acquitted of wilful and premeditated
faults the will of providence be resigned to in the rest as that
leads let me patiently and unrepiningly follow i shall not live
always may but my closing scene be happy 

but i will not oppress you my dearest friend with further reflections
of this sort i will take them all into myself surely i have a mind
that has room for them my afflictions are too sharp to last long the
crisis is at hand happier times you bid me hope for i will hope 


 


but yet i cannot be but impatient at times to find myself thus driven 
and my character so depreciated and sunk that were all the future to be
happy i should be ashamed to shew my face in public or to look up and
all by the instigation of a selfish brother and envious sister 

but let me stop let me reflect are not these suggestions the
suggestions of the secret pride i have been censuring then already
so impatient but this moment so resigned so much better disposed
for reflection yet tis hard tis very hard to subdue an embittered
spirit in the instant of its trial too o my cruel brother but
now it rises again i will lay down a pen i am so little able
to govern and i will try to subdue an impatience which if my
afflictions are sent me for corrective ends may otherwise lead me into
still more punishable errors 


 


i will return to a subject which i cannot fly from for ten minutes
together called upon especially as i am by your three alternatives
stated in the conclusion of your last 

as to the first to wit your advice for me to escape to london let me
tell you that the other hint or proposal which accompanies it perfectly
frightens me surely my dear happy as you are and indulgently
treated as your mother treats you you cannot mean what you propose 
what a wretch must i be if for one moment only i could lend an ear
to such a proposal as this i to be the occasion of making such
a mother's perhaps shortened life unhappy to the last hour of
it ennoble you my dear creature how must such an enterprise the
rashness public the motives were they excusable private debase
you but i will not dwell upon the subject for your own sake i will
not 

as to your second alternative to put myself into the protection of lord
m and of the ladies of that family i own to you as i believe i have
owned before that although to do this would be the same thing in the
eye of the world as putting myself into mr lovelace's protection yet
i think i would do it rather than be mr solmes's wife if there were
evidently no other way to avoid being so 

mr lovelace you have seen proposes to contrive a way to put me into
possession of my own house and he tells me that he will soon fill
it with the ladies of his family as my visiters upon my invitation 
however to them a very inconsiderate proposal i think it to be 
and upon which i cannot explain myself to him what an exertion of
independency does it chalk out for me how were i to attend to him 
 and not to the natural consequences to which the following of his
advice would lead me might i be drawn by gentle words into the
penetration of the most violent acts for how could i gain possession 
but either by legal litigation which were i inclined to have recourse
to it as i never can be must take up time or by forcibly turning
out the persons whom my father has placed there to look after the
gardens the house and the furniture persons entirely attached to
himself and who as i know have been lately instructed by my brother 

your third alternative to meet and marry mr lovelace directly a man
with whose morals i am far from being satisfied a step that could
not be taken with the least hope of ever obtaining pardon from or
reconciliation with any of my friends and against which a thousand
objections rise in my mind that is not to be thought of 

what appears to me upon the fullest deliberation the most eligible 
if i must be thus driven is the escaping to london but i would forfeit
all my hopes of happiness in this life rather than you should go away
with me as you rashly though with the kindest intentions propose 
if i could get safely thither and be private methinks i might remain
absolutely independent of mr lovelace and at liberty either to make
proposals to my friends or should they renounce me and i had no
other or better way to make terms with him supposing my cousin
morden on his arrival were to join with my other relations but they
would then perhaps indulge me in my choice of a single life on giving
him up the renewing to them this offer when at my own liberty will
at least convince them that i was in earnest when i made it first and 
upon my word i would stand to it dear as you seem to think when you
are disposed to rally me it would cost me to stand to it 

if my dear you can procure a vehicle for us both you can perhaps
procure one for me singly but can it be done without embroiling
yourself with your mother or her with our family be it coach 
chariot chaise wagon or horse i matter not provided you appear not
to have a hand in my withdrawing only in case it be one of the two
latter i believe i must desire you to get me an ordinary gown and coat 
or habit of some servant having no concert with any of our own the
more ordinary the better they must be thrust on in the wood-house 
where i can put them on and then slide down from the bank that
separates the wood-yard from the green lane 

but alas my dear this even this alternative is not without
difficulties which to a spirit so little enterprising as mine seem in
a manner insuperable these are my reflections upon it 

i am afraid in the first place that i shall not have time for the
requisite preparations for an escape 

should i be either detected in those preparations or pursued and
overtaken in my flight and so brought back then would they think
themselves doubly warranted to compel me to have their solmes and 
conscious of an intended fault perhaps i should be the less able to
contend with them 

but were i even to get safely to london i know nobody there but by
name and those the tradesmen to our family who no doubt would be
the first written to and engaged to find me out and should mr lovelace
discover where i was and he and my brother meet what mischiefs
might ensue between them whether i were willing or not to return to
harlowe-place 

but supposing i could remain there concealed to what might my youth my
sex and unacquaintedness of the ways of that great wicked town expose
me i should hardly dare to go to church for fear of being discovered 
people would wonder how i lived who knows but i might pass for a kept
mistress and that although nobody came to me yet that every time i
went out it might be imagined to be in pursuance of some assignation 

you my dear who alone would know where to direct to me would be
watched in all your steps and in all your messages and your mother 
at present not highly pleased with our correspondence would then have
reason to be more displeased and might not differences follow between
her and you that would make me very unhappy were i to know them and
this the more likely as you take it so unaccountably and give me
leave to say so ungenerously into your head to revenge yourself upon
the innocent mr hickman for all the displeasure your mother gives you 

were lovelace to find out my place of abode that would be the same
thing in the eye of the world as if i had actually gone off with him 
for would he do you think be prevailed upon to forbear visiting me 
and then his unhappy character a foolish man would be no credit to
any young creature desirous of concealment indeed the world let me
escape whither and to whomsoever i could would conclude him to be the
contriver of it 

these are the difficulties which arise to me on revolving this scheme 
which nevertheless might appear surmountable to a more enterprising
spirit in my circumstances if you my dear think them surmountable in
any one of the cases put  and to be sure i can take no course but what
must have some difficulty in it   be pleased to let me know your free
and full thoughts upon it 

had you my dear friend been married then should i have had no doubt
but that you and mr hickman would have afforded an asylum to a poor
creature more than half lost in her own apprehension for want of one
kind protecting friend 

you say i should have written to my cousin morden the moment i was
treated disgracefully but could i have believed that my friends would
not have softened by degrees when they saw my antipathy to their solmes 

i had thoughts indeed several times of writing to my cousin but by the
time an answer could have come i imagined all would have been over as
if it had never been so from day to day from week to week i hoped on 
and after all i might as reasonably fear as i have heretofore said 
that my cousin would be brought to side against me as that some of
those i have named would 

and then to appeal a cousin  i must have written with warmth to engage
him  against a father this was not a desirable thing to set about then
i had not you know one soul on my side my mother herself against me 
to be sure my cousin would have suspended his judgment till he could
have arrived he might not have been in haste to come hoping the malady
would cure itself but had he written his letters probably would have
run in the qualifying style to persuade me to submit or them only to
relax had his letters been more on my side than on theirs they would
not have regarded them nor perhaps himself had he come and been an
advocate for me for you see how strangely determined they are how they
have over-awed or got in every body so that no one dare open their lips
in my behalf and you have heard that my brother pushes his measures
with the more violence that all may be over with me before my cousin's
expected arrival 

but you tell me that in order to gain time i must palliate that i
must seem to compromise with my friends but how palliate how seem to
compromise you would not have me endeavour to make them believe that i
will consent to what i never intended to consent to you would not have
me to gain time with a view to deceive 

to do evil that good may come of it is forbidden and shall i do evil 
yet know not whether good may come of it or not 

forbid it heaven that clarissa harlowe should have it in her thought
to serve or even to save herself at the expense of her sincerity and
by a studied deceit 

and is there after all no way to escape one great evil but by
plunging myself into another what an ill-fated creature am i pray
for me my dearest nancy my mind is at present so much disturbed that
i can hardly pray for myself 




letter xxxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday night 


this alarming hurry i mentioned under my date of last night and betty's
saucy dark hints come out to be owing to what i guessed they were that
is to say to the private intimation mr lovelace contrived our family
should have of his insolent resolution  insolent i must call it  to
prevent my being carried to my uncle's 

i saw at the time that it was as wrong with respect to answering his own
view as it was insolent for could he think as betty i suppose from
her betters justly observed that parents would be insulted out of
their right to dispose of their own child by a violent man whom they
hate and who could have no pretension to dispute that right with them 
unless what he had from her who had none over herself and how must
this insolence of his aggravated as my brother is able to aggravate it 
exasperate them against me 

the rash man has indeed so far gained his point as to intimidate them
from attempting to carry me away but he has put them upon a surer and
a more desperate measure and this has driven me also into one as
desperate the consequence of which although he could not foresee it 
may perhaps too well answer his great end little as he deserves to have
it answered 


 she was mistaken in this mr lovelace did foresee this
 consequence all his contrivances led to it and the whole
 family as he boasts unknown to themselves were but so
 many puppets danced by his wires see vol i letter xxxi 


in short i have done as far as i know the most rash thing that ever i
did in my life 

but let me give you the motive and then the action will follow of
course 

about six o'clock this evening my aunt who stays here all night on my
account no doubt came up and tapped at my door for i was writing 
and had locked myself in i opened it and she entering thus delivered
herself 

i come once more to visit you my dear but sorely against my will 
because it is to impart to you matters of the utmost concern to you and
to the whole family 

what madam is now to be done with me said i wholly attentive 

you will not be hurried away to your uncle's child let that comfort
you they see your aversion to go you will not be obliged to go to
your uncle antony's 

how you revive me madam this is a cordial to my heart 

i little thought my dear what was to follow this supposed
condescension 

and then i ran over with blessings for this good news and she
permitted me so to do by her silence congratulating myself that
i thought my father could not resolve to carry things to the last
extremity 

hold niece said she at last you must not give yourself too much joy
upon the occasion neither don't be surprised my dear why look you
upon me child with so affecting an earnestness but you must be mrs 
solmes for all that 

i was dumb 

she then told me that they had undoubted information that a certain
desperate ruffian i must excuse her that word she said had prepared
armed men to way-lay my brother and uncles and seize me and carry me
off surely she said i was not consenting to a violence that might be
followed by murder on one side or the other perhaps on both 

i was still silent 

that therefore my father still more exasperated than before had
changed his resolution as to my going to my uncle's and was determined
next tuesday to set out thither himself with my mother and that for
it was to no purpose to conceal a resolution so soon to be put into
execution i must not dispute it any longer on wednesday i must give
my hand as they would have me 

she proceeded that orders were already given for a license that the
ceremony was to be performed in my own chamber in presence of all my
friends except of my father and mother who would not return nor see
me till all was over and till they had a good account of my behaviour 

the very intelligence my dear the very intelligence this which
lovelace gave me 

i was still dumb only sighing as if my heart would break 

she went on comforting me as she thought she laid before me the
merit of obedience and told me that if it were my desire that my
norton should be present at the ceremony it would be complied with 
that the pleasure i should receive from reconciling al my friends to me 
and in their congratulations upon it must needs overbalance with such
a one as me the difference of persons however preferable i might think
the one man to the other that love was a fleeting thing little better
than a name where mortality and virtue did not distinguish the object
of it that a choice made by its dictates was seldom happy at least not
durably so nor was it to be wondered at when it naturally exalted the
object above its merits and made the lover blind to faults that were
visible to every body else so that when a nearer intimacy stript it of
its imaginary perfections it left frequently both parties surprised 
that they could be so grossly cheated and that then the indifference
became stronger than the love ever was that a woman gave a man great
advantages and inspired him with great vanity when she avowed her
love for him and preference of him and was generally requited with
insolence and contempt whereas the confessedly-obliged man it was
probable would be all reverence and gratitude' and i cannot tell what 

you my dear said she believe you shall be unhappy if you have
mr solmes your parents think the contrary and that you will be
undoubtedly so were you to have mr lovelace whose morals are
unquestionably bad suppose it were your sad lot to consider what
great consolation you will have on one hand if you pursue your parents'
advice that you did so what mortification on the other that by
following your own you have nobody to blame but yourself 

this you remember my dear was an argument enforced upon me by mrs 
norton 

these and other observations which she made were worthy of my aunt
hervey's good sense and experience and applied to almost any young
creature who stood in opposition to her parents' will but one who had
offered to make the sacrifices i have offered to make ought to have had
their due weight but although it was easy to answer some of them in my
own particular case yet having over and over to my mother before my
confinement and to my brother and sister and even to my aunt hervey 
since said what i must now have repeated i was so much mortified and
afflicted at the cruel tidings she brought me that however attentive i
was to what she said i had neither power nor will to answer one word 
and had she not stopped of herself she might have gone on an hour
longer without interruption from me 

observing this and that i only sat weeping my handkerchief covering
my face and my bosom heaving ready to burst what no answer my
dear why so much silent grief you know i have always loved you you
know that i have no interest in the affair you would not permit mr 
solmes to acquaint you with some things which would have set your heart
against mr lovelace shall i tell you some of the matters charged
against him shall i my dear 

still i answered only by my tears and sighs 

well child you shall be told these things afterwards when you will be
in a better state of mind to hear them and then you will rejoice in the
escape you will have had it will be some excuse then for you to plead
for your behaviour to mr solmes that you could not have believed mr 
lovelace had been so very vile a man 

my heart fluttered with impatience and anger at being so plainly talked
to as the wife of this man but yet i then chose to be silent if i had
spoken it would have been with vehemence 

strange my dear such silence your concern is infinitely more on this
side the day than it will be on the other but let me ask you and do
not be displeased will you choose to see what generous stipulations
for you there are in the settlements you have knowledge beyond your
years give the writings a perusal do my dear they are engrossed and
ready for signing and have been for some time excuse me my love i
mean not to disorder you your father would oblige me to bring them up 
and to leave them with you he commands you to read them but to read
them niece since they are engrossed and were before you made them
absolutely hopeless 

and then to my great terror she drew some parchments form her
handkerchief which she had kept unobserved by me under her apron 
and rising put them in the opposite window had she produced a serpent 
i could not have been more frightened 

oh my dearest aunt turning away my face and holding out my hands 
hide from my eyes those horrid parchments let me conjure you to tell
me by all the tenderness of near relationship and upon your honour 
and by your love for me say are they absolutely resolved that come
what will i must be that man's 

my dear you must have mr solmes indeed you must 

indeed i never will this as i have said over and over is not
originally my father's will indeed i never will and that is all i
will say 

it is your father's will now replied my aunt and considering how
all the family is threatened by mr lovelace and the resolution he has
certainly taken to force you out of their hands i cannot but say they
are in the right not to be bullied out of their child 

well madam then nothing remains for me to say i am made desperate i
care not what becomes of me 

your piety and your prudence my dear and mr lovelace's immoral
character together with his daring insults and threatenings which
ought to incense you as much as any body are every one's dependence 
we are sure the time will come when you'll think very differently of
the steps your friends take to disappoint a man who has made himself so
justly obnoxious to them all 

she withdrew leaving me full of grief and indignation and as much
out of humour with mr lovelace as with any body who by his conceited
contrivances has made things worse for me than before depriving me
of the hopes i had of gaining time to receive your advice and private
assistance to get to town and leaving me not other advice in all
appearance than either to throw myself upon his family or to be made
miserable for ever with mr solmes but i was still resolved to avoid
both these evils if possible 

i sounded betty in the first place whom my aunt sent up not thinking
it proper as betty told me that i should be left by myself and who i
found knew their designs whether it were not probable that they
would forbear at my earnest entreaty to push matters to the threatened
extremity 

but she confirmed all my aunt said rejoicing as she said they all did 
that mr lovelace had given them so good a pretence to save me from him
now and for ever 

she ran on about equipages bespoken talked of my brother's and sister's
exultations that now the whole family would soon be reconciled to each
other of the servants' joy upon it of the expected license of a visit
to be paid me by dr lewen or another clergyman whom they named not
to her which was to crown the work and of other preparations so
particular as made me dread that they designed to surprise me into a
still nearer day than wednesday 

these things made me excessively uneasy i knew not what to resolve
upon 

at one time what have i to do thought i but to throw myself at once
into the protection of lady betty lawrance but then in resentment of
his fine contrivances which had so abominably disconcerted me i soon
resolved to the contrary and at last concluded to ask the favour of
another half-hour's conversation with my aunt 

i sent betty to her with my request 

she came 

i put it to her in the most earnest manner to tell me whether i might
not obtain the favour of a fortnight's respite 

she assured me it would not be granted 

would a week surely a week would 

she believed a week might if i would promise two things the first 
upon my honour not to write a line out of the house in that week 
for it was still suspected she said that i found means to write to
somebody and secondly to marry mr solmes at the expiration of it 

impossible impossible i said with a passion what might not i be
obliged with one week without such a horrid condition as the last 

she would go down she said that she might not seem of her own head to
put upon me what i thought a hardship so great 

she went down and came up again 

did i want was the answer to give the vilest of men an opportunity to
put his murderous schemes into execution it was time for them to put
an end to my obstinacy they were tired out with me and to his hopes
at once and an end should be put on tuesday or wednesday next at
furthest unless i would give my honour to comply with the condition
upon which my aunt had been so good as to allow me a longer time 

i even stamped with impatience i called upon her to witness that
i was guiltless of the consequence of this compulsion this barbarous
compulsion i called it let that consequence be what it would 

my aunt chid me in a higher strain than ever she did before 

while i in a half phrensy insisted upon seeing my father such usage 
i said set me above fear i would rejoice to owe my death to him as i
did my life 

i did go down half way of the stairs resolved to throw myself at his
feet wherever he was my aunt was frighted she owned that she feared
for my head indeed i was in a perfect phrensy for a few minutes but
hearing my brother's voice as talking to somebody in my sister's
apartment just by i stopt and heard the barbarous designer say 
speaking to my sister this works charmingly my dear arabella 

it does it does said she in an exulting accent 

let us keep it up said my brother the villain is caught in his own
trap now must she be what we would have her be 

do you keep my father to it i'll take care of my mother said bella 

never fear said he and a laugh of congratulation to each other and
derision of me as i made it out quite turned my frantic humour into a
vindictive one 

my aunt then just coming down to me and taking my hand led me up and
tried to sooth me 

my raving was turned into sullenness 

she preached patience and obedience to me 

i was silent 

at last she desired me to assure her that i would offer no violence to
myself 

god i said had given me more grace i hoped than to permit me to be
guilty of so horrid a rashness i was his creature and not my own 

she then took leave of me and i insisted upon her taking down with her
the odious parchments 

seeing me in so ill an humour and very earnest that she should take
them with her she took them but said that my father should not know
that she did and hoped i would better consider of the matter and be
calmer next time they were offered to my perusal 

i revolved after she was gone all that my brother and sister had said 
i dwelt upon their triumphings over me and found rise in my mind
a rancour that was new to me and which i could not withstand and
putting every thing together dreading the near day what could i
do am i in any manner excusable for what i did do if i shall be
condemned by the world who know not my provocations may i be acquitted
by you if not i am unhappy indeed for this i did 

having shaken off the impertinent betty i wrote to mr lovelace to
let him know that all that was threatened at my uncle antony's was
intended to be executed here that i had come to a resolution to throw
myself upon the protection of either of his two aunts who would afford
it me in short that by endeavouring to obtain leave on monday to dine
in the ivy summer-house i would if possible meet him without the
garden-door at two three four or five o'clock on monday afternoon 
as i should be able that in the mean time he should acquaint me 
whether i might hope for either of those ladies' protection and if i
might i absolutely insisted that he should leave me with either and go
to london himself or remain at lord m s nor offer to visit me till i
were satisfied that nothing could be done with my friends in an amicable
way and that i could not obtain possession of my own estate and leave
to live upon it and particularly that he should not hint marriage to
me till i consented to hear him upon that subject i added that if
he could prevail upon one of the misses montague to favour me with
her company on the road it would make me abundantly more easy in the
thoughts of carrying into effect a resolution which i had not come to 
although so driven but with the utmost reluctance and concern and
which would throw such a slur upon my reputation in the eye of the
world as perhaps i should never be able to wipe off 

this was the purport of what i wrote and down into the garden i slid
with it in the dark which at another time i should not have had the
courage to do and deposited it and came up again unknown to any body 

my mind so dreadfully misgave me when i returned that to divert in
some measure my increasing uneasiness i had recourse to my private pen 
and in a very short time ran this length 

and now that i am come to this part my uneasy reflections begin again
to pour in upon me yet what can i do i believe i shall take it back
again the first thing in the morning yet what can i do 

and who knows but they may have a still earlier day in their intention 
than that which will too soon come 

i hope to deposit this early in the morning for you as i shall return
from resuming my letter if i do resume it as my inwardest mind bids me 

although it is now near two o'clock i have a good mind to slide down
once more in order to take back my letter our doors are always locked
and barred up at eleven but the seats of the lesser hall-windows being
almost even with the ground without and the shutters not difficult to
open i could easily get out 

yet why should i be thus uneasy since should the letter go i can
but hear what mr lovelace says to it his aunts live at too great a
distance for him to have an immediate answer from them so i can scruple
going to them till i have invitation i can insist upon one of his
cousins meeting me in the chariot and may he not be able to obtain
that favour from either of them twenty things may happen to afford me
a suspension at least why should i be so very uneasy when likewise
i can take back my letter early before it is probable he will have the
thought of finding it there yet he owns he spends three parts of his
days and has done for this fortnight past in loitering about sometimes
in one disguise sometimes in another besides the attendance given by
his trusty servant when he himself is not in waiting as he calls it 

but these strange forebodings yet i can if you advise cause the
chariot he shall bring with him to carry me directly to town whither
in my london scheme if you were to approve it i had proposed to go 
and this will save you the trouble of procuring for me a vehicle as
well as prevent any suspicion from your mother of your contributing to
my escape 

but solicitous of your advice and approbation too if i can have it i
will put an end to this letter 

adieu my dearest friend adieu 




letter xl

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday morning seven o'clock april
7 


my aunt hervey who is a very early riser was walking in the garden
 betty attending her as i saw from my window this morning when i
arose for after such a train of fatigue and restless nights i had
unhappily overslept myself so all i durst venture upon was to step
down to my poultry-yard and deposit mine of yesterday and last night 
and i am just come up for she is still in the garden this prevents me
from going to resume my letter as i think still to do and hope it will
not be too late 

i said i had unhappily overslept myself i went to bed about half
an hour after two i told the quarters till five after which i dropt
asleep and awaked not till past six and then in great terror from a
dream which has made such an impression upon me that slightly as i
think of dreams i cannot help taking this opportunity to relate it to
you 

methought my brother my uncle antony and mr solmes had formed a
plot to destroy mr lovelace who discovering it and believing i had a
hand in it turned all his rage against me i thought he made them all
fly to foreign parts upon it and afterwards seizing upon me carried
me into a church-yard and there notwithstanding all my prayers and
tears and protestations of innocence stabbed me to the heart and
then tumbled me into a deep grave ready dug among two or three
half-dissolved carcases throwing in the dirt and earth upon me with his
hands and trampling it down with his feet 

i awoke in a cold sweat trembling and in agonies and still the
frightful images raised by it remain upon my memory 

but why should i who have such real evils to contend with regard
imaginary ones this no doubt was owing to my disturbed imagination 
huddling together wildly all the frightful idea which my aunt's
communications and discourse my letter to mr lovelace my own
uneasiness upon it and the apprehensions of the dreaded wednesday 
furnished me with 


 

eight o'clock 

the man my dear has got the letter what a strange diligence i wish
he mean me well that he takes so much pains yet to be ingenuous i
must own that i should be displeased if he took less i wish however 
he had been an hundred miles off what an advantage have i given him
over me 

now the letter is out of my power i have more uneasiness and regret
than i had before for till now i had a doubt whether it should or
should not go and now i think it ought not to have gone and yet is
there any other way than to do as i have done if i would avoid solmes 
but what a giddy creature shall i be thought if i pursue the course to
which this letter must lead me 

my dearest friend tell me have i done wrong yet do not say i have 
if you think it for should all the world besides condemn me i shall
have some comfort if you do not the first time i ever besought you to
flatter me that of itself is an indication that i have done wrong 
and am afraid of hearing the truth o tell me but yet do not tell me 
if i have done wrong 


 


friday eleven o'clock 

my aunt has made me another visit she began what she had to say
with letting me know that my friends are all persuaded that i still
correspond with mr lovelace as is plain she said by hints and
menaces he throws out which shew that he is apprized of several things
that have passed between my relations and me sometimes within a very
little while after they have happened 

although i approve not of the method he stoops to take to come at his
intelligence yet it is not prudent in me to clear myself by the ruin of
the corrupted servant although his vileness has neither my connivance
nor approbation since my doing so might occasion the detection of my
own correspondence and so frustrate all the hopes i have to avoid
this solmes yet it is not at all likely that this very agent of mr 
lovelace acts a double part between my brother and him how else can our
family know so soon too his menaces upon the passages they hint at 

i assured my aunt that i was too much ashamed of the treatment i met
with and that from every one's sake as well as for my own to acquaint
mr lovelace with the particulars of that treatment even were the means
of corresponding with him afforded me that i had reason to think that
if he were to know of it from me we must be upon such terms that
he would not scruple making some visits which would give me great
apprehensions they all knew i said that i had no communication
with any of my father's servants except my sister's betty barnes for
although i had a good opinion of them all and believed if left to
their own inclinations that they would be glad to serve me yet 
finding by their shy behaviour that they were under particular
direction i had forborn ever since my hannah had been so disgracefully
dismissed so much as to speak to any of them for fear i should be the
occasion of their losing their places too they must therefore account
among themselves for the intelligence mr lovelace met with since
neither my brother nor sister as betty had frequently in praise of
their open hearts informed me nor perhaps their favourite mr solmes 
were all careful before whom they spoke when they had any thing to
throw out against him or even against me whom they took great pride to
join with him on this occasion 

it was but too natural my aunt said for my friends to suppose that
he had his intelligence part of it at least from me who thinking
yourself hardly treated might complain of it if not to him to miss
howe which perhaps might be the same thing for they knew miss howe
spoke as freely of them as they could do of mr lovelace and must have
the particulars she spoke of from somebody who knew what was done here 
that this determined my father to bring the whole matter to a speedy
issue lest fatal consequences should ensue 

i perceive you are going to speak with warmth proceeded she  and so i
was  for my own part i am sure you would not write any thing if you
do write to inflame so violent a spirit but this is not the end of my
present visit 

you cannot my dear but be convinced that your father will be obeyed 
the more you contend against his will the more he thinks himself
obliged to assert his authority your mother desires me to tell you 
that if you will give her the least hopes of a dutiful compliance she
will be willing to see you in her closet just now while your father is
gone to take a walk in the garden 

astonishing perseverance said i i am tired with making declarations
and with pleadings on this subject and had hoped that my resolution
being so well known i should not have been further urged upon it 

you mistake the purport of my present visit miss  looking
gravely  heretofore you have been desired and prayed to obey and oblige
your friends entreaty is at an end they give it up now it is resolved
upon that your father's will is to be obeyed as it is fit it should 
some things are laid at your door as if you concurred with lovelace's
threatened violence to carry you off which your mother will not
believe she will tell you her own good opinion of you she will tell
you how much she still loves you and what she expects of you on
the approaching occasion but yet that she may not be exposed to an
opposition which would the more provoke her she desires that you will
first assure her that you go down with a resolution to do that with a
grace which must be done with or without a grace and besides she wants
to give you some advice how to proceed in order to reconcile yourself
to your father and to every body else will you go down miss clary or
will you not 

i said i should think myself happy could i be admitted to my mother's
presence after so long a banishment from it but that i could not wish
it upon those terms 

and this is your answer niece 

it must be my answer madam come what may i never will have mr 
solmes it is cruel to press this matter so often upon me i never will
have that man 

down she went with displeasure i could not help it i was quite tired
with so many attempts all to the same purpose i am amazed that they
are not so little variation and no concession on either side 


i will go down and deposit this for betty has seen i have been writing 
the saucy creature took a napkin and dipt it in water and with a
fleering air here miss holding the wet corner to me 

what's that for said i 

only miss one of the fingers of your right-hand if you please to look
at it 

it was inky 

i gave her a look but said nothing 

but lest i should have another search i will close here 

cl harlowe 




letter xli

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday one o'clock 


i have a letter from mr lovelace full of transports vows and
promises i will send it to you enclosed you'll see how he engages
in it for lady betty's protection and for miss charlotte montague's
accompanying me i have nothing to do but to persevere he says and
prepare to receive the personal congratulations of his whole family 

but you'll see how he presumes upon my being his as the consequence of
throwing myself into that lady's protection 

the chariot and six is to be ready at the place he mentions you'll see
as to the slur upon my reputation about which i am so apprehensive how
boldly he argues  generously enough indeed were i to be his and had
given him to believe that i would but that i have not done 

how one step brings on another with this encroaching sex how soon a
young creature who gives a man the least encouragement be carried
beyond her intentions and out of her own power you would imagine by
what he writes that i have given him reason to think that my aversion
to mr solmes is all owing to my favour for him 

the dreadful thing is that comparing what he writes from his
intelligencer of what is designed against me though he seems not to
know the threatened day with what my aunt and betty assure me of there
can be no hope for me but that i must be solmes's wife if i stay here 

i had better have gone to my uncle antony's at this rate i should
have gained time at least by it this is the fruit of his fine
contrivances 

what we are to do and how good he is to be how i am to direct all his
future steps  all this shews as i said before that he is sure of me 

however i have replied to the following effect that although i had
given him room to expect that i would put myself into the protection
of one of the ladies of his family yet as i have three days to come 
between this and monday and as i still hope that my friends will
relent or that mr solmes will give up a point they will find
impossible to carry i shall not look upon myself as absolutely bound
by the appointment and expect therefore if i recede that i shall not
again be called to account for it by him that i think it necessary
to acquaint him that if my throwing myself upon lady betty lawrance's
protection as he proposed he understands that i mean directly to put
myself into his power he is very much mistaken for that there are many
point in which i must be satisfied several matters to be adjusted even
after i have left this house if i do leave it before i can think of
giving him any particular encouragement that in the first place he must
expect that i will do my utmost to procure my father's reconciliation
and approbation of my future steps and that i will govern myself
entirely by his commands in every reasonable point as much as if i had
not left his house that if he imagines i shall not reserve to myself
this liberty but that my withdrawing is to give him any advantages
which he would not otherwise have had i am determined to stay where i
am and abide the event in hopes that my friends will still accept
of my reiterated promise never to marry him or any body else without
their consent 

this i will deposit as soon as i can and as he thinks things are near
their crisis i dare say it will not be long before i have an answer to
it 


friday four o'clock 

i am really ill i was used to make the best of any little accidents
that befel me for fear of making my then affectionate friends uneasy 
but now i shall make the worst of my indisposition in hopes to obtain a
suspension of the threatened evil of wednesday next and if i do obtain
it will postpone my appointment with mr lovelace 

betty has told them that i am very much indisposed but i have no pity
from any body 

i believe i am become the object of every one's aversion and that they
would all be glad if i were dead indeed i believe it what ails the
perverse creature  cries one is she love-sick  another 

i was in the ivy summer-house and came out shivering with cold as
if aguishly affected betty observed this and reported it o no
matter let her shiver on cold cannot hurt her obstinacy will defend
her from harm perverseness is a bracer to a love-sick girl and more
effectual than the cold bath to make hardy although the constitution be
ever so tender 

this was said by a cruel brother and heard said by the dearer friends
of one for whom but a few months ago every body was apprehensive at
the least blast of wind to which she exposed herself 

betty it must be owned has an admirable memory on these occasions 
nothing of this nature is lost by her repetition even the very air with
which she repeats what she hears said renders it unnecessary to ask 
who spoke this or that severe thing 


friday six o'clock 

my aunt who again stays all night just left me she came to tell me
the result of my friends' deliberations about me it is this 

next wednesday morning they are all to be assembled to wit my father 
mother my uncles herself and my uncle hervey my brother and sister
of course my good mrs norton is likewise to be admitted and dr lewen
is to be at hand to exhort me it seems if there be occasion but my
aunt is not certain whether he is to be among them or to tarry till
called in 

when this awful court is assembled the poor prisoner is to be brought
in supported by mrs norton who is to be first tutored to instruct me
in the duty of a child which it seems i have forgotten 

nor is the success at all doubted my aunt says since it is not
believed that i can be hardened enough to withstand the expostulations
of so venerable a judicature although i have withstood those of several
of them separately and still the less as she hints at extraordinary
condescensions from my father but what condescensions even from my
father can induce me to make such a sacrifice as is expected from me 

yet my spirits will never bear up i doubt at such a tribunal my
father presiding in it 

indeed i expected that my trials would not be at an end till he had
admitted me into his awful presence 

what is hoped from me she says is that i will cheerfully on tuesday
night if not before sign the articles and so turn the succeeding
day's solemn convention into a day of festivity i am to have the
license sent me up however and once more the settlements that i may
see how much in earnest they are 

she further hinted that my father himself would bring up the
settlements for me to sign 

o my dear what a trial will this be how shall i be able to refuse my
father the writing of my name to my father from whose presence i
have been so long banished he commanding and entreating perhaps in a
breath how shall i be able to refuse this to my father 

they are sure she says something is working on mr lovelace's part 
and perhaps on mine and my father would sooner follow to the grave 
than see me his wife 

i said i was not well that the very apprehensions of these trials were
already insupportable to me and would increase upon me as the time
approached and i was afraid i should be extremely ill 

they had prepared themselves for such an artifice as that was my aunt's
unkind word and she could assure me it would stand me in no stead 

artifice repeated i and this from my aunt hervey 

why my dear said she do you think people are fools can they not see
how dismally you endeavour to sigh yourself down within-doors how you
hang down your sweet face  those were the words she was pleased to use 
upon your bosom how you totter as it were and hold by this chair 
and by that door post when you know that any body sees you  this my
dear miss howe is an aspersion to fasten hypocrisy and contempt upon
me my brother's or sister's aspersion i am not capable of arts so
low   but the moment you are down with your poultry or advancing upon
your garden-walk and as you imagine out of every body's sight it is
seem how nimbly you trip along and what an alertness governs all your
motions 

i should hate myself said i were i capable of such poor artifices as
these i must be a fool to use them as well as a mean creature for
have i not had experience enough that my friends are incapable of being
moved in much more affecting instances but you'll see how i shall be
by tuesday 


my dear you will not offer any violence to your health i hope god
has given you more grace than to do that 

i hope he has madam but there is violence enough offered and
threatened to affect my health and so it will be found without my
needing to have recourse to any other or to artifice either 

i'll only tell you one thing my dear and that is ill or well the
ceremony will probably be performed before wednesday night but this 
also i will tell you although beyond my present commission that mr 
solmes will be under an engagement if you should require it of him as
a favour after the ceremony is passed and lovelace's hopes thereby
utterly extinguished to leave you at your father's and return to his
own house every evening until you are brought to a full sense of your
duty and consent to acknowledge your change of name 

there was no opening of my lips to such a speech as this i was dumb 

and these my dear miss howe are they who some of them at least have
called me a romantic girl this is my chimerical brother and wise
sister both joining their heads together i dare say and yet my aunt
told me that the last part was what took in my mother who had till
that last expedient was found out insisted that her child should not
be married if through grief or opposition she should be ill or fall
into fits 

this intended violence my aunt often excused by the certain information
they pretended to have of some plots or machinations that were
ready to break out from mr lovelace the effects of which were thus
cunningly to be frustrated 


 it may not be amiss to observe in this place that mr 
 lovelace artfully contrived to drive the family on by
 permitting his and their agent leman to report machinations 
 which he had neither intention nor power to execute 


friday nine o'clock 

and now my dear what shall i conclude upon you see how
determined but how can i expect your advice will come time enough
to stand me in any stead for here i have been down and already have
another letter from mr lovelace  the man lives upon the spot i think  
and i must write to him either that i will or will not stand to my
first resolution of escaping hence on monday next if i let him know
that i will not appearances so strong against him and for solmes even
stronger than when i made the appointment will it not be justly deemed
my own fault if i am compelled to marry their odious man and if any
mischief ensue from mr lovelace's rage and disappointment will it not
lie at my door yet he offers so fair yet on the other hand to
incur the censure of the world as a giddy creature but that as he
hints i have already incurred what can i do oh that my cousin
morden but what signifies wishing 

i will here give you the substance of mr lovelace's letter the letter
itself i will send when i have answered it but that i will defer doing
as long as i can in hopes of finding reason to retract an appointment
on which so much depends and yet it is necessary you should have all
before you as i go along that you may be the better able to advise me
in this dreadful crisis 

he begs my pardon for writing with so much assurance attributing it to
his unbounded transport and entirely acquiesces to me in my will he is
full of alternatives and proposals he offers to attend me directly to
lady betty's or if i had rather to my own estate and that my lord
m shall protect me there   he knows not my dear my reasons for
rejecting this inconsiderate advice   in either case as soon as he
sees me safe he will go up to london or whither i please and not
come near me but by my own permission and till i am satisfied in every
thing i am doubtful of as well with regard to his reformation as to
settlements etc 

to conduct me to you my dear is another of his proposals not
doubting he says but your mother will receive me or if that be not
agreeable to you or to your mother or to me he will put me into mr 
hickman's protection whom no doubt he says you can influence and
that it may be given out that i have gone to bath or bristol or
abroad wherever i please 


 see note in letter v of this volume 


again if it be more agreeable he proposes to attend me privately to
london where he will procure handsome lodgings for me and both his
cousins montague to receive me in them and to accompany me till
all shall be adjusted to my mind and till a reconciliation shall
be effected which he assures me nothing shall be wanting in him to
facilitate greatly as he has been insulted by all my family 

these several measures he proposes to my choice as it was unlikely 
he says that he could procure in the time a letter from lady betty 
under her own hand to invite me in form to her house unless he
had been himself to go to that lady for it which at this critical
juncture while he is attending my commands is impossible 

he conjures me in the most solemn manner if i would not throw him
into utter despair to keep to my appointment 

however instead of threatening my relations or solmes if i recede 
he respectfully says that he doubts not but that if i do it will be
upon the reason as he ought to be satisfied with upon no slighter 
he hopes than their leaving me at full liberty to pursue my own
inclinations in which whatever they shall be he will entirely
acquiesce only endeavouring to make his future good behaviour the sole
ground for his expectation of my favour 

in short he solemnly vows that his whole view at present is to free
me from my imprisonment and to restore me to my future happiness he
declares that neither the hopes he has of my future favour nor the
consideration of his own and his family's honour will permit him to
propose any thing that shall be inconsistent with my own most scrupulous
notions and for my mind's sake should choose to have the proposed end
obtained by my friends declining to compel me but that nevertheless as
to the world's opinion it is impossible to imagine that the behaviour
of my relations to me has not already brought upon my family those
free censures which they deserve and caused the step which i am so
scrupulous about taking to be no other than the natural and expected
consequence of their treatment of me 

indeed i am afraid all this is true and it is owing to some little
degree of politeness that mr lovelace does not say all he might on
this subject for i have no doubt that i am the talk and perhaps the
bye-word of half the county if so i am afraid i can now do nothing
that will give me more disgrace than i have already so causelessly
received by their indiscreet persecutions and let me be whose i
will and do what i will i shall never wipe off the stain which my
confinement and the rigorous usage i have received have fixed upon me 
at least in my own opinion 

i wish if ever i am to be considered as one of the eminent family this
man is allied to some of them do not think the worse of me for the
disgrace i have received in that case perhaps i shall be obliged to
him if he do not you see how much this harsh this cruel treatment
from my own family has humbled me but perhaps i was too much exalted
before 

mr lovelace concludes with repeatedly begging an interview with me 
and that this night if possible an hour he says he is the more
encouraged to solicit for as i had twice before made him hope for it 
but whether he obtain it or not he beseeches me to choose one of the
alternatives he offers to my acceptance and not to depart from my
resolution of escaping on monday unless the reason ceases on which i
had taken it up and that i have a prospect of being restored to
the favour of my friends at least to my own liberty and freedom of
choice 

he renews all his vows and promises on this head in so earnest and so
solemn a manner that his own interest and his family's honour and
their favour for me co-operating i can have no room to doubt of his
sincerity 




letter xlii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sat morn eight o'clock april 8 

whether you will blame me or not i cannot tell but i have deposited
a letter confirming my resolution to leave this house on monday next 
within the hour mentioned in my former if possible i have not kept a
copy of it but this is the substance 

i tell him that i have no way to avoid the determined resolution of
my friends in behalf of mr solmes but by abandoning this house by his
assistance 

i have not pretended to make a merit with him on this score for i
plainly tell him that could i without an unpardonable sin die when i
would i would sooner make death my choice than take a step which all
the world if not my own heart would condemn me for taking 

i tell him that i shall not try to bring any other clothes with me
than those i shall have on and those but my common wearing-apparel 
lest i should be suspected that i must expect to be denied the
possession of my estate but that i am determined never to consent to a
litigation with my father were i to be reduced to ever so low a state 
so that the protection i am to be obliged for to any one must be alone
for the distress sake that therefore he will have nothing to hope for
from this step that he had not before and that in ever light i
reserve to myself to accept or refuse his address as his behaviour and
circumspection shall appear to me to deserve 

i tell him that i think it best to go into a private lodging in the
neighbourhood of lady betty lawrance and not to her ladyship's house 
that it may not appear to the world that i have refuged myself in his
family and that a reconciliation with my friends may not on that
account be made impracticable that i will send for thither my faithful
hannah and apprize only miss howe where i am that he shall instantly
leave me and go to london or to one of lord m s seats and as he had
promised not to come near me but by my leave contenting himself with a
correspondence by letter only 

that if i find myself in danger of being discovered and carried back
by violence i will then throw myself directly into the protection
either of lady betty or lady sarah but this only in case of absolute
necessity for that it will be more to my reputation for me by the
best means i can taking advantage of my privacy to enter by a second
or third hand into a treaty of reconciliation with my friends 

that i must however plainly tell him that if in this treaty my
friends insist upon my resolving against marrying him i will engage
to comply with them provided they will allow me to promise him that i
will never be the wife of any other man while he remains single or is
living that this is a compliment i am willing to pay him in return for
the trouble and pains he has taken and the usage he has met with on
my account although i intimate that he may in a great measure thank
himself by reason of the little regard he has paid to his reputation 
for the slights he has met with 

i tell him that i may in this privacy write to my cousin morden 
and if possible interest him in my cause 

i take some brief notice then of his alternatives 

you must think my dear that this unhappy force upon me and this
projected flight make it necessary for me to account to him much sooner
than i should otherwise choose to do for every part of my conduct 

it is not to be expected i tell him that your mother will embroil
herself or suffer you or mr hickman to be embroiled on my account 
and as to his proposal of my going to london i am such an absolute
stranger to every body there and have such a bad opinion of the place 
that i cannot by any means think of going thither except i should be
induced some time hence by the ladies of his family to attend them 

as to the meeting he is desirous of i think it by no means proper 
especially as it is so likely that i may soon see him but that if any
thing occurs to induce me to change my mind as to withdrawing i will
then take the first opportunity to see him and give him my reasons for
that change 

this my dear i the less scrupled to write as it might qualify him to
bear such a disappointment should i give it him he having besides 
behaved so very unexceptionably when he surprised me some time ago in
the lonely wood-house 

finally i commend myself as a person in distress and merely as such 
to his honour and to the protection of the ladies of his family i
repeat  most cordially i am sure   my deep concern for being forced to
take a step so disagreeable and so derogatory to my honour and having
told him that i will endeavour to obtain leave to dine in the ivy
summer-house and to send betty of some errand when there i leave the
rest to him but imagine that about four o'clock will be a proper time
for him to contrive some signal to let me know he is at hand and for me
to unbolt the garden-door 


 the ivy summer-house or ivy bower as it was sometimes
 called in the family was a place that from a girl this
 young lady delighted in she used in the summer months 
 frequently to sit and work and read and write and draw 
 and when permitted to breakfast and dine and sometimes
 to sup in it especially when miss howe who had an equal
 liking to it was her visiter and guest 

she describes it in another letter which appears not as pointing to
a pretty variegated landscape of wood water and hilly country which
had pleased her so much that she had drawn it the piece hanging up in
her parlous among some of her other drawings 


i added by way of postscript that their suspicions seeming to
increase i advise him to contrive to send or some to the usual place 
as frequently as possible in the interval of time till monday morning
ten or eleven o'clock as something may possibly happen to make me alter
my mind 

o my dear miss howe what a sad sad thing is the necessity forced
upon me for all this preparation and contrivance but it is now too
late but how too late did i say what a word is that what a
dreadful thing were i to repent to find it to be too late to remedy
the apprehended evil 


saturday ten o'clock 

mr solmes is here he is to dine with his new relations as betty tells
me he already calls them 

he would have thrown himself in my way once more but i hurried up to my
prison in my return from my garden-walk to avoid him 

i had when in the garden the curiosity to see if my letter were gone 
i cannot say with an intention to take it back again if it were not 
because i see not how i could do otherwise than i have done yet what a
caprice when i found it gone i began as yesterday morning to wish it
had not for no other reason i believe than because it was out of my
power 

a strange diligence in this man he says he almost lives upon the
place and i think so too 

he mentions as you will see in his letter four several disguises 
which he puts on in one day it is a wonder nevertheless that he has
not been seen by some of our tenants for it is impossible that any
disguise can hide the gracefulness of his figure but this is to be
said that the adjoining grounds being all in our own hands and no
common foot-paths near that part of the garden and through the park and
coppice nothing can be more bye and unfrequented 

then they are less watchful i believe over my garden-walks and my
poultry-visits depending as my aunt hinted upon the bad character
they have taken so much pains to fasten upon mr lovelace this they
think and justly think must fill me with doubts and then the regard
i have hitherto had for my reputation is another of their securities 
were it not for these two they would not surely have used me as they
have done and at the same time left me the opportunities which i have
several times had to get away had i been disposed to do so and 
indeed their dependence on both these motives would have been well
founded had they kept but tolerable measures with me 


 they might no doubt make a dependence upon the reasons
 she gives but their chief reliance was upon the vigilance
 of their joseph leman little imagining what an implement he
 was of mr lovelace 


then perhaps they have no notion of the back-door as it is seldom
opened and leads to a place so pathless and lonesome if not there
can be no other way to escape if one would unless by the plashy lane 
so full of springs by which your servant reaches the solitary wood
house to which lane one must descend from a high bank that bounds the
poultry yard for as to the front-way you know one must pass through
the house to that and in sight of the parlours and the servants' hall 
and then have the open courtyard to go through and by means of the
iron-gate be full in view as one passes over the lawn for a quarter
of a mile together the young plantations of elms and limes affording
yet but little shade or covert 


 this in another of her letters which neither is
 inserted is thus described a piece of ruins upon it 
 the remains of an old chapel now standing in the midst of
 the coppice here and there an over-grown oak surrounded
 with ivy and mistletoe starting up to sanctify as it
 were the awful solemnness of the place a spot too where
 a man having been found hanging some years ago it was used
 to be thought of by us when children and by the maid-
 servants with a degree of terror it being actually the
 habitation of owls ravens and other ominous birds as
 haunted by ghosts goblins specters the genuine result of
 the country loneliness and ignorance notions which early
 propagated are apt to leave impressions even upon minds
 grown strong enough at the same time to despise the like
 credulous follies in others 


the ivy summer-house is the most convenient for this heart-affecting
purpose of any spot in the garden as it is not far from the back-door 
and yet in another alley as you may remember then it is seldom
resorted to by any body else except in the summer-months because it is
cool when they loved me they would often for this reason object to
my long continuance in it but now it is no matter what becomes of me 
besides cold is a bracer as my brother said yesterday 

here i will deposit what i have written let me have your prayers my
dear and your approbation or your censure of the steps i have taken 
for yet it may not be quite too late to revoke the appointment i am

your most affectionate and faithful cl harlowe 

why will you send your servant empty-handed 




letter xliii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe sat afternoon 


by your last date of ten o'clock in your letter of this day you could
not long have deposited it before robin took it he rode hard and
brought it to be just as i had risen from table 

you may justly blame me for sending my messenger empty-handed your
situation considered and yet that very situation so critical is
partly the reason for it for indeed i knew not what to write fit to
send you 

i have been inquiring privately how to procure you a conveyance from
harlowe-place and yet not appear in it knowing that to oblige in
the fact and to disoblige in the manner is but obliging by halves my
mother being moreover very suspicious and very uneasy made more so by
daily visits from your uncle antony who tells her that every thing
is now upon the point of being determined and hopes that her daughter
will not so interfere as to discourage your compliance with their
wills this i came at by a way that i cannot take notice of or both
should hear of it in a manner neither would like and without that my
mother and i have had almost hourly bickerings 

i found more difficulty than i expected as the time was confined and
secrecy required and as you so earnestly forbid me to accompany you in
your enterprise in procuring you a vehicle had you not obliged me to
keep measures with my mother i could have managed it with ease i could
even have taken our own chariot on one pretence or other and put two
horses extraordinary to it if i had thought fit and i could when we
had got to london have sent it back and nobody the wiser as to the
lodgings we might have taken 

i wish to the lord you had permitted this indeed i think you are too
punctilious a great deal for you situation would you expect to enjoy
yourself with your usual placidness and not to be ruffled in an
hurricane which every moment threatens to blow your house down 

had your distress sprung from yourself that would have been another
thing but when all the world knows where to lay the fault this alters
the case 

how can you say i am happy when my mother to her power is as much an
abettor of their wickedness to my dearest friend as your aunt or any
body else and this through the instigation of that odd-headed and
foolish uncle of yours who  sorry creature that he is   keeps her up
to resolutions which are unworthy of her for an example to me if it
please you is not this cause enough for me to ground a resentment upon 
sufficient to justify me for accompanying you the friendship between us
so well known 

indeed my dear the importance of the case considered i must repeat 
that you are too nice don't they already think that your non-compliance
with their odious measures is owing a good deal to my advice have they
not prohibited our correspondence upon that very surmise and have i 
but on your account reason to value what they think 

besides what discredit have i to fear by such a step what detriment 
would hickman do you believe refuse me upon it if he did should
i be sorry for that who is it that has a soul who would not be
affected by such an instance of female friendship 

but i should vex and disorder my mother well that is something but
not more than she vexes and disorders me on her being made an implement
by such a sorry creature who ambles hither every day in spite to my
dearest friend woe be to both if it be for a double end chide me if
you will i don't care 

i say and i insist upon it such a step would ennoble your friend and
if still you will permit it i will take the office out of lovelace's
hands and to-morrow evening or on monday before his time of
appointment takes place will come in a chariot or chaise and then 
my dear if we get off as i wish will we make terms and what terms we
please with them all my mother will be glad to receive her daughter
again i warrant and hickman will cry for joy on my return or he shall
for sorrow 

but you are so very earnestly angry with me for proposing such a step 
and have always so much to say for your side of any question that i am
afraid to urge it farther only be so good let me add as to encourage
me to resume it if upon farther consideration and upon weighing
matters well and in this light whether best to go off with me 
or with lovelace you can get over your punctilious regard for my
reputation a woman going away with a woman is not so discreditable a
thing surely and with no view but to avoid the fellows i say only
to be so good as to consider this point and if you can get over your
scruples on my account do and so i will have done with this argument
for the present and apply myself to some of the passages in yours 

a time i hope will come that i shall be able to read your affecting
narratives without the impatient bitterness which now boils over in my
heart and would flow to my pen were i to enter into the particulars of
what you write and indeed i am afraid of giving you my advice at all 
or telling you what i should do in your case supposing you will still
refuse my offer finding too what you have been brought or rather driven
to without it lest any evil should follow it in which case i
should never forgive myself and this consideration has added to my
difficulties in writing to you now you are upon such a crisis and yet
refuse the only method but i said i would not for the present touch
any more that string yet one word more chide me if you please if any
harm betide you i shall for ever blame my mother indeed i shall and
perhaps yourself if you do not accept my offer 

but one thing in your present situation and prospects let me advise 
it is this that if you do go off with mr lovelace you take the first
opportunity to marry why should you not when every body will know by
whose assistance and in whose company you leave your father's house 
go whithersoever you will you may indeed keep him at a distance until
settlements are drawn and such like matters are adjusted to your mind 
but even these are matters of less consideration in your particular
case than they would be in that of most others and first because be
his other faults what they will nobody thinks him an ungenerous man 
next because the possession of your estate must be given up to you
as soon as your cousin morden comes who as your trustee will see
it done and done upon proper terms 3dly because there is no want of
fortune on his side 4thly because all his family value you and are
extremely desirous that you should be their relation 5thly because he
makes no scruple of accepting you without conditions you see how he has
always defied your relations  i for my own part can forgive him for
the fault nor know i if it be not a noble one   and i dare say he
had rather call you his without a shilling than be under obligation
to those whom he has full as little reason to love as they have to love
him you have heard that his own relations cannot make his proud spirit
submit to owe any favour to them 

for all these reasons i think you may the less stand upon previous
settlements it is therefore my absolute opinion that if you do
withdraw with him and in that case you must let him be judge when he
can leave you with safety you'll observe that you should not postpone
the ceremony 

give this matter your most serious consideration punctilio is out of
doors the moment you are out of your father's house i know how justly
severe you have been upon those inexcusable creatures whose giddiness
and even want of decency have made them in the same hour as i may
say leap from a parent's window to a husband's bed but considering
lovelace's character i repeat my opinion that your reputation in the
eye of the world requires no delay be made in this point when once you
are in his power 

i need not i am sure make a stronger plea to you 

you say in excuse for my mother what my fervent love for my friend
very ill brooks that we ought not to blame any one for not doing what
she has an opinion to do or to let alone this in cases of friendship 
would admit of very strict discussion if the thing requested be of
greater consequence or even of equal to the person sought to and it
were as the old phrase has it to take a thorn out of one's friend's
foot to put in into one's own something might be said nay it would
be i will venture to say a selfish thing in us to ask a favour of
a friend which would subject that friend to the same or equal
inconvenience as that from which we wanted to be relieved the requested
would in this case teach his friend by his own selfish example with
much better reason to deny him and despise a friendship so merely
nominal but if by a less inconvenience to ourselves we could relieve
our friend from a greater the refusal of such a favour makes the
refuser unworthy of the name of friend nor would i admit such a one 
not even into the outermost fold of my heart 

i am well aware that this is your opinion of friendship as well as
mine for i owe the distinction to you upon a certain occasion and it
saved me from a very great inconvenience as you must needs remember 
but you were always for making excuses for other people in cases
wherein you would not have allowed of one for yourself 

i must own that were these excuses for a friend's indifference or
denial made by any body but you in a case of such vast importance to
herself and of so comparative a small one to those for whose protection
she would be thought to wish i who am for ever as you have often
remarked endeavouring to trace effects to their causes should be
ready to suspect that there was a latent unowned inclination which
balancing or preponderating rather made the issue of the alternative
 however important sit more lightly upon the excuser's mind than she
cared to own 

you will understand me my dear but if you do not it may be well for
me for i am afraid i shall have it from you for but starting such a
notion or giving a hint which perhaps as you did once in another
case you will reprimandingly call not being able to forego the
ostentation of sagacity though at the expense of that tenderness which
is due to friendship and charity 

what signifies owning a fault without mending it you'll say very
true my dear but you know i ever was a saucy creature ever stood in
need of great allowances and i remember likewise that i ever had
them from my dear clarissa nor do i doubt them now for you know how
much i love you if it be possible more than myself i love you believe
me my dear and in consequence of that belief you will be able to
judge how much i am affected by your present distressful and critical
situation which will not suffer me to pass by without a censure even
that philosophy of temper in your own cause which you have not in
another's and which all that know you ever admired you for 

from this critical and distressful situation it shall be my hourly
prayers that you may be delivered without blemish to that fair fame
which has hitherto like your heart been unspotted 

with this prayer twenty times repeated concludes your ever
affectionate anna howe 

i hurried myself in writing this and i hurry robin away with it that 
in a situation so very critical you may have all the time possible to
consider what i have written upon two points so very important i will
repeat them in a very few words 

whether you choose not rather to go off with one of your own sex with
your anna howe than with one of the other with mr lovelace 

and if not 

whether you should not marry him as soon as possible 




letter xliv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  the preceding letter not received  
saturday afternoon 


already have i an ecstatic answer as i may call it to my letter 

he promises compliance with my will in every article approves of all
i propose particularly of the private lodging and thinks it a happy
expedient to obviate the censures of the busy and the unreflecting and
yet he hopes that the putting myself into the protection of either of
his aunts treated as i am treated would be far from being looked
upon by any body in a disreputable light but every thing i enjoin
or resolve upon must he says be right not only with respect to my
present but future reputation with regard to which he hopes so to
behave himself as to be allowed to be next to myself more properly
solicitous than any body he will only assure me that his whole family
are extremely desirous to take advantage of the persecutions i labour
under to make their court and endear themselves to me by their best
and most cheerful services happy if they can in any measure contribute
to my present freedom and future happiness 

he will this afternoon he says write to lord m and to lady betty and
lady sarah that he is now within view of being the happiest man in the
world if it be not his own fault since the only woman upon earth that
can make him so will be soon out of danger of being another man's and
cannot possibly prescribe any terms to him that he shall not think it
his duty to comply with 

he flatters himself now my last letter confirming my resolution that
he can be in no apprehension of my changing my mind unless my friends
change their manner of acting by me which he is too sure they will
not and now will all his relations who take such a kind and generous
share in his interests glory and pride themselves in the prospects he
has before him 


 well might he be so sure when he had the art to play them
 off by his corrupted agent and to make them all join to
 promote his views unknown to themselves as is shewn in some
 of his preceding letters 


thus does he hold me to it 

as to fortune he begs me not to be solicitous on that score that his
own estate is sufficient for us both not a nominal but a real two
thousand pounds per annum equivalent to some estates reputed a third
more that it never was encumbered that he is clear of the world both
as to book and bond debts thanks perhaps to his pride more than to
his virtue that lord m moreover resolves to settle upon him a thousand
pounds per annum on his nuptials and to this he will have it his
lordship is instigated more by motives of justice than of generosity as
he must consider it was but an equivalent for an estate which he had
got possession of to which his mr lovelace's mother had better
pretensions that his lordship also proposed to give him up either
his seat in hertfordshire or that in lancashire at his own or at his
wife's option especially if i am the person all which it will be in my
power to see done and proper settlements drawn before i enter into any
farther engagements with him if i will have it so 

he says that i need not be under any solicitude as to apparel all
immediate occasions of that sort will be most cheerfully supplied by the
ladies of his family as my others shall with the greatest pride and
pleasure if i allow him that honour by himself 

he assures me that i shall govern him as i please with regard to any
thing in his power towards effecting a reconciliation with my friends 
a point he knows my heart is set upon 

he is afraid that the time will hardly allow of his procuring miss
charlotte montague's attendance upon me at st alban's as he had
proposed she should because he understands she keeps her chamber with
a violent cold and sore throat but both she and her sister the first
moment she is able to go abroad shall visit me at my private lodgings 
and introduce me to lady sarah and lady betty or those ladies to me as
i shall choose and accompany me to town if i please and stay as long
in it with me as i shall think fit to stay there 

lord m will also at my own time and in my own manner that is to
say either publicly or privately make me a visit and for his own
part when he has seen me in safety either in their protection or in
the privacy i prefer he will leave me and not attempt to visit me but
by my own permission 

he had thought once he says on hearing of his cousin charlotte's
indisposition to have engaged his cousin patty's attendance upon me 
either in or about the neighbouring village or at st alban's but he
says she is a low-spirited timorous girl and would but the more have
perplexed us 

so my dear the enterprise requires courage and high spirits you
see and indeed it does what am i about to do 

he himself it is plain thinks it necessary that i should be
accompanied with one of my own sex he might at least have proposed
the woman of one of the ladies of his family lord bless me what am i
about to do 


 


after all as far as i have gone i know not but i may still recede 
and if i do a mortal quarrel i suppose will ensue and what if it
does could there be any way to escape this solmes a breach with
lovelace might make way for the single life to take place which i
so much prefer and then i would defy the sex for i see nothing but
trouble and vexation that they bring upon ours and when once entered 
one is obliged to go on with them treading with tender feet upon
thorns and sharper thorns to the end of a painful journey 

what to do i know not the more i think the more i am embarrassed and
the stronger will be my doubts as the appointed time draws near 

but i will go down and take a little turn in the garden and deposit
this and his letters all but the two last which i will enclose in my
next if i have opportunity to write another 

mean time my dear friend but what can i desire you to pray
for adieu then let me only say adieu 




letter xlv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  in answer to letter xliii   sunday
morning april 9 


do not think my beloved friend although you have given me in yours
of yesterday a severer instance of what nevertheless i must call your
impartial love than ever yet i received from you that i would be
displeased with you for it that would be to put myself into the
inconvenient situation of royalty that is to say out of the way of
ever being told of my faults of ever mending them and in the way of
making the sincerest and warmest friendship useless to me 

and then how brightly how nobly glows in your bosom the sacred flame
of friendship since it can make you ready to impute to the unhappy
sufferer a less degree of warmth in her own cause than you have for
her because of the endeavours to divest herself of self so far as to
leave others to the option which they have a right to make ought i my
dear to blame ought i not rather to admire you for this ardor 

but nevertheless lest you should think that there is any foundation for
a surmise which although it owe its rise to your friendship would if
there were leave me utterly inexcusable i must in justice to myself 
declare that i know not my own heart if i have any of that latent or
unowned inclination which you would impute to any other but me nor
does the important alternative sit lightly on my mind and yet i must
excuse your mother were it but on this single consideration that
i could not presume to reckon upon her favour as i could upon her
daughter's so as to make the claim of friendship upon her to whom as
the mother of my dearest friend a veneration is owing which can
hardly be compatible with that sweet familiarity which is one of the
indispensable requisites of the sacred tie by which your heart and mine
are bound in one 

what therefore i might expect from my anna howe i ought not from
her mother for would it not be very strange that a person of her
experience should be reflected upon because she gave not up her own
judgment where the consequence of her doing so would be to embroil
herself as she apprehends with a family she has lived well with 
and in behalf of a child against her parents as she has moreover a
daughter of her own a daughter too give me leave to say of whose
vivacity and charming spirits she is more apprehensive than she need to
be because her truly maternal cares make her fear more from her youth 
than she hopes for her prudence which nevertheless she and all the
world know to be beyond her years 

and here let me add that whatever you may generously and as the result
of an ardent affection for your unhappy friend urge on this head in my
behalf or harshly against any one who may refuse me protection in the
extraordinary circumstances i find myself in i have some pleasure
in being able to curb undue expectations upon my indulgent friends 
whatever were to befal myself from those circumstances for i should be
extremely mortified were i by my selfish forwardness to give occasion
for such a check as to be told that i had encouraged an unreasonable
hope or according to the phrase you mention wished to take a thorn
out of my own foot and to put in to that of my friend nor should i
be better pleased with myself if having been taught by my good mrs 
norton that the best of schools is that of affliction i should rather
learn impatience than the contrary by the lessons i am obliged to get
by heart in it and if i should judge of the merits of others as they
were kind to me and that at the expense of their own convenience or
peace of mind for is not this to suppose myself ever in the right and
all who do not act as i would have them act perpetually in the wrong 
in short to make my sake god's sake in the sense of mr solmes's
pitiful plea to me 

how often my dear have you and i endeavoured to detect and censure
this partial spirit in others 

but i know you do not always content yourself with saying what you think
may justly be said but in order the shew the extent of a penetration
which can go to the bottom of any subject delight to say or to write
all that can be said or written or even thought on the particular
occasion and this partly perhaps from being desirous  pardon me my
dear   to be thought mistress of a sagacity that is aforehand with
events but who would wish to drain off or dry up a refreshing current 
because it now-and-then puts us to some little inconvenience by its
over-flowings in other words who would not allow for the liveliness of
a spirit which for one painful sensibility gives an hundred pleasurable
ones and the one in consequence of the other 

but now i come to the two points in your letter which most sensibly
concern me thus you put them 

whether i choose not rather to go off  shocking words   with one of
my own sex with my anna howe than with one of the other with mr 
lovelace 

and if not 

whether i should not marry him as soon as possible 

you know my dear my reasons for rejecting your proposal and even
for being earnest that you should not be known to be assisting me in an
enterprise in which a cruel necessity induced me to think of engaging 
and for which you have not the same plea at this rate well might
your mother be uneasy at our correspondence not knowing to what
inconveniencies it might subject her and you if i am hardly excusable
to think of withdrawing from my unkind friends what could you have to
say for yourself were you to abandon a mother so indulgent does
she suspect that your fervent friendship may lead you to a small
indiscretion and does this suspicion offend you and would you in
resentment shew her and the world that you can voluntarily rush into
the highest error that any of our sex can be guilty of 

and is it worthy of your generosity  i ask you my dear is it   to
think of taking so undutiful a step because you believe your mother
would be glad to receive you again 

i do assure you that were i to take this step myself i would run all
risks rather than you should accompany me in it have i do you think a
desire to double and treble my own fault in the eye of the world in the
eye of that world which cruelly as i am used not knowing all would
not acquit me 

but my dearest kindest friend let me tell you that we will neither
of us take such a step the manner of putting your questions abundantly
convinces me that i ought not in your opinion to attempt it you no
doubt intend that i shall so take it and i thank you for the equally
polite and forcible conviction 

it is some satisfaction to me taking the matter in this light that i
had begun to waver before i received your last and now i tell you that
it has absolutely determined me not to go off at least not to-morrow 

if you my dear think the issue of the alternative to use your own
words sits so lightly upon my mind in short that my inclination is
faulty the world would treat me much less scrupulously when therefore
you represent that all punctilio must be at an end the moment i am out
of my father's house and hint that i must submit it to mr lovelace
to judge when he can leave me with safety that is to say give him the
option whether he will leave me or not who can bear these reflections 
who can resolve to incur these inconveniencies that has the question
still in her own power to decide upon 

while i thought only of an escape from this house as an escape from mr 
solmes that already my reputation suffered by my confinement and that
it would be in my own option either to marry mr lovelace or wholly to
renounce him bold as the step was i thought treated as i am treated 
something was to be said in excuse of it if not to the world to
myself and to be self-acquitted is a blessing to be preferred to the
option of all the world but after i have censured most severely as i
have ever done those giddy girls who have in the same hour as i may
say that they have fled from their chamber presented themselves at
the altar that is witness to their undutiful rashness after i have
stipulated with mr lovelace for time and for an ultimate option
whether to accept or refuse him and for his leaving me as soon as i am
in a place of safety which as you observe he must be the judge of 
and after he has signified to me his compliance with these terms so
that i cannot if i would recall them and suddenly marry you see 
my dear that i have nothing left me but to resolve not to go away with
him 

but how on this revocation of my appointment shall i be able to
pacify him 

how why assert the privilege of my sex surely on this side of the
solemnity he has no right to be displeased besides did i not reserve a
power of receding as i saw fit to what purpose as i asked in the case
between your mother and you has any body an option if the making use
of it shall give the refused a right to be disgusted 

far very far would those who according to the old law have a right
of absolving or confirming a child's promise be from ratifying mine 
had it been ever so solemn a one but this was rather an appointment
than a promise and suppose it had been the latter and that i had not
reserved to myself a liberty of revoking it was it to preclude better
or maturer consideration if so how unfit to be given how ungenerous
to be insisted upon and how unfitter still to be kept is there a man
living who ought to be angry that a woman whom he hopes one day to
call his shall refuse to keep a rash promise when on the maturest
deliberation she is convinced that it was a rash one 


 see numb xxx where it is declared whose vows shall be
 binding and whose not the vows of a man or of a widow 
 are there pronounced to be indispensable because they are
 sole and subject to no other domestic authority but the
 vows of a single woman or of a wife if the father of the
 one or the husband of the other disallow of them as soon
 as they know them are to be of no force 

 a matter highly necessary to be known by all young ladies
 especially whose designing addressers too often endeavour
 to engage them by vows and then plead conscience and honour
 to them to hold them down to the performance 

 it cannot be amiss to recite the very words 

 ver 3 if a woman vow a vow unto the lord and bind herself
 by a bond being in her father's house in her youth 

 4 and her father hear her vow and her bond wherewith she
 hath bound her soul and her father shall hold his peace at
 her then all her vows shall stand and every bond wherewith
 she hath bound her soul shall stand 

 5 but if her father disallow her in the day that he
 heareth not any of her vows or of her bonds wherewith she
 hath bound her soul shall stand and the lord shall forgive
 her because her father disallowed her 

 the same in the case of a wife as said above see ver 6 
 7 8 etc all is thus solemnly closed 

 ver 16 these are the statutes which the lord commanded
 moses between a man and his wife between the father and his
 daughter being yet in her youth in her father's house 


i resolve then upon the whole to stand this one trial of wednesday
next or perhaps i should rather say of tuesday evening if my father
hold his purpose of endeavouring in person to make me read or hear
read and then sign the settlements that that must be the greatest
trial of all 

if i am compelled to sign them over-night then the lord bless me 
must all i dread follow as of course on wednesday if i can prevail
upon them by my prayers  perhaps i shall fall into fits for the very
first appearance of my father after having been so long banished his
presence will greatly affect me if i say i can prevail upon them by
my prayers  to lay aside their views or to suspend the day if but for
one week but if not but for two or three days still wednesday will
be a lighter day of trial they will surely give me time to consider to
argue with myself this will not be promising as i have made no
effort to get away they have no reason to suspect me so i may have an
opportunity in the last resort to withdraw mrs norton is to be with
me she although she should be chidden for it will in my extremity 
plead for me my aunt hervey may in such an extremity join with her 
perhaps my mother may be brought over i will kneel to each one by one 
to make a friend some of them have been afraid to see me lest they
should be moved in my favour does not this give a reasonable hope that
i may move them my brother's counsel heretofore given to turn me out
of doors to my evil destiny may again be repeated and may prevail 
then shall i be in no worse case than now as to the displeasure of my
friends and thus far better that it will not be my fault that i seek
another protection which even then ought to be my cousin morden's 
rather than mr lovelace's or any other person's 

my heart in short misgives me less when i resolve this way than when
i think of the other and in so strong and involuntary a bias the heart
is as i may say conscience and well cautions the wise man let the
counsel of thine own heart stand for there is no man more faithful to
thee than it for a man's mind is sometimes wont to tell him more than
seven watchmen that sit above in a high tower  


 ecclus xxxvii 13 14 


forgive these indigested self-reasonings i will close here and
instantly set about a letter of revocation to mr lovelace take it
as he will it will only be another trial of temper to him to me of
infinite importance and has he not promised temper and acquiescence on
the supposition of a change in my mind 




letter xlvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday morning april 9 


nobody it seems will go to church this day no blessing to be expected
perhaps upon views so worldly and in some so cruel 

they have a mistrust that i have some device in my head betty has been
looking among my clothes i found her on coming up from depositing my
letter to lovelace for i have written peering among them for i had
left the key in the lock she coloured and was confounded to be caught 
but i only said i should be accustomed to any sort of treatment in
time if she had her orders those were enough for her 

she owned in her confusion that a motion had been made to abridge
me of my airings and the report she should make would be of no
disadvantage to me one of my friends she told me urged in my behalf 
that there was no need of laying me under greater restraint since mr 
lovelace's threatening to rescue me by violence were i to have been
carried to my uncle's was a conviction that i had no design to go to
him voluntarily and that if i had i should have made preparations
of that kind before now and most probably had been detected in
them hence it was also inferred that there was no room to doubt 
but i would at last comply and added the bold creature if you don't
intend to do so your conduct miss seems strange to me only thus
she reconciled it that i had gone so far i knew not how to come off
genteelly and she fancied i should in full congregation on wednesday 
give mr solmes my hand and then said the confident wench as the
learned dr brand took his text last sunday there will be joy in
heaven 

this is the substance of my letter to mr lovelace 

that i have reasons of the greatest consequence to myself and which 
when known must satisfy him to suspend for the present my intention
of leaving my father's house that i have hopes that matters may be
brought to an happy conclusion without taking a step which nothing
but the last necessity could justify and that he may depend upon my
promise that i will die rather than consent to marry mr solmes 

and so i am preparing myself to stand the shock of his exclamatory
reply but be that what it will it cannot affect me so much as the
apprehensions of what may happen to me next tuesday or wednesday for
now those apprehensions engage my whole attention and make me sick at
the very heart 


sunday four in the afternoon 

my letter is not yet taken away if he should not send for it or take
it or come hither on my not meeting him to-morrow in doubt of what
may have befallen me what shall i do why had i any concerns with this
sex i that was so happy till i knew this man 

i dined in the ivy summer-house my request to do so was complied with
at the first word to shew i meant nothing i went again into the house
with betty as soon as i had dined i thought it was not amiss to ask
this liberty the weather seemed to be set in fine who knows what
tuesday or wednesday may produce 


sunday evening seven o'clock 

there remains my letter still he is busied i suppose in his
preparations for to-morrow but then he has servants does the man think
he is so secure of me that having appointed he need not give himself
any further concern about me till the very moment he knows how i am
beset he knows not what may happen i may be ill or still more closely
watched or confined than before the correspondence might be discovered 
it might be necessary to vary the scheme i might be forced into
measures which might entirely frustrate my purpose i might have new
doubts i might suggest something more convenient for any thing he
knew what can the man mean i wonder yet it shall lie for if he has
it any time before the appointed hour it will save me declaring to him
personally my changed purpose and the trouble of contending with him on
that score if he send for it at all he will see by the date that he
might have had it in time and if he be put to any inconvenience from
shortness of notice let him take it for his pains 


sunday night nine o'clock 

it is determined it seems to send for mrs norton to be here on
tuesday to dinner and she is to stay with me for a whole week 

so she is first to endeavour to persuade me to comply and when the
violence is done she is to comfort me and try to reconcile me to
my fate they expect fits and fetches betty insolently tells me and
expostulations and exclamations without number but every body will
be prepared for them and when it's over it's over and i shall be easy
and pacified when i find i can't help it 


monday morn april 10 seven o'clock 

o my dear there yet lies the letter just as i left it 

does he think he is so sure of me perhaps he imagines that i dare not
alter my purpose i wish i had never known him i begin now to see this
rashness in the light every one else would have seen it in had i been
guilty of it but what can i do if he come to-day at the appointed
time if he receive not the letter i must see him or he will think
something has befallen me and certainly will come to the house as
certainly he will be insulted and what in that case may be the
consequence then i as good as promised that i would take the first
opportunity to see him if i change my mind and to give him my reasons
for it i have no doubt but he will be out of humour upon it but
better if we meet that he should go away dissatisfied with me than
that i should go away dissatisfied with myself 

yet short as the time is he may still perhaps send and get the
letter something may have happened to prevent him which when known
will excuse him 

after i have disappointed him more than once before on a requested
interview only it is impossible he should not have a curiosity at
least to know if something has not happened and whether my mind hold
or not in this more important case and yet as i rashly confirmed my
resolution by a second letter i begin now to doubt it 


nine o'clock 

my cousin dolly hervey slid the enclosed letter into my hand as i
passed by her coming out of the garden 


dearest madam 

i have got intelligence from one who pretends to know every thing 
that you must be married on wednesday morning to mr solmes perhaps 
however she says this only to vex me for it is that saucy creature
betty barnes a license is got as she says and so far she went as to
tell me bidding me say nothing but she knew i would that mr brand is
to marry you for dr lewen i hear refuses unless your consent can
be obtained and they have heard that he does not approve of their
proceedings against you mr brand i am told is to have his fortune
made by uncle harlowe and among them 

you will know better than i what to make of all these matters for
sometimes i think betty tells me things as if i should not tell you 
and yet expects that i will for there is great whispering between miss
harlowe and her and i have observed that when their whispering is over 
betty comes and tells me something by way of secret she and all the
world know how much i love you and so i would have them it is an
honour to me to love a young lady who is and ever was an honour to all
her family let them say what they will 


 it is easy for such of the readers as have been attentive
 to mr lovelace's manner of working to suppose from this
 hint of miss hervey's that he had instructed his double-
 faced agent to put his sweet-heart betty upon alarming miss
 hervey in hopes she would alarm her beloved cousin as we
 see she does in order to keep her steady to her
 appointment with him 


but from a more certain authority than betty's i can assure you but i
must beg of you to burn this letter that you are to be searched
once more for letters and for pen and ink for they know you write 
something they pretend to have come at from one of mr lovelace's
servants which they hope to make something of i know not for certain
what it is he must be a very vile and wicked man who would boast of a
lady's favour to him and reveal secrets but mr lovelace i dare say 
is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such ingratitude 

then they have a notion from that false betty i believe that you
intend to take something to make yourself sick and so they will search
for phials and powders and such like 

if nothing shall be found that will increase their suspicions you are
to be used more kindly by your papa when you appear before them all 
than he of late has used you 

yet sick or well alas my dear cousin you must be married but your
husband is to go home every night without you till you are reconciled
to him and so illness can be no pretence to save you 

they are sure you will make a good wife so would not i unless i liked
my husband and mr solmes is always telling them how he will purchase
your love by rich presents a syncophant man i wish he and betty
barnes were to come together and he would beat her every day 

after what i told you i need not advise you to secure every thing you
would not have seen 

once more let me beg that you will burn this letter and pray dearest
madam do not take any thing that may prejudice your health for that
will not do i am

your truly loving cousin d h 


 


when i first read my cousin's letter i was half inclined to resume my
former intention especially as my countermanding letter was not taken
away and as my heart ached at the thoughts of the conflict i must
expect to have with him on my refusal for see him for a few moments i
doubt i must lest he should take some rash resolutions especially as
he has reason to expect i will see him but here your words that all
punctilio is at an end the moment i am out of my father's house 
added to the still more cogent considerations of duty and reputation 
determined me once more against the rash step and it will be very hard
 although no seasonable fainting or wished-for fit should stand my
friend if i cannot gain one month or fortnight or week and i have
still more hopes that i shall prevail for some delay from my cousin's
intimation that the good dr lewen refuses to give his assistance to
their projects if they have not my consent and thinks me cruelly used 
since without taking notice that i am apprized of this i can plead
a scruple of conscience and insist upon having that worthy divine's
opinion upon it in which enforced as i shall enforce it my mother
will surely second me my aunt hervey and mrs norton will support
her the suspension must follow and i can but get away afterwards 

but if they will compel me if they will give me no time if nobody
will be moved if it be resolved that the ceremony should be read over
my constrained hand why then alas what then i can but but what o
my dear this solmes shall never have my vows i am resolved and i will
say nothing but no as long as i shall be able to speak and who will
presume to look upon such an act of violence as a marriage it is
impossible surely that a father and mother can see such a dreadful
compulsion offered to their child but if mine should withdraw and
leave the task to my brother and sister they will have no mercy 

i am grieved to be driven to have recourse to the following artifices 

i have given them a clue by the feather of a pen sticking out where
they will find such of my hidden stories as i intend they shall find 

two or three little essays i have left easy to be seen of my own
writing 

about a dozen lines also of a letter begun to you in which i express
my hopes although i say that appearances are against me and that
my friends will relent they know from your mother by my uncle antony 
that some how or other i now and then get a letter to you in this
piece of a letter i declare renewedly my firm resolution to give up the
man so obnoxious to my family on their releasing me from the address of
the other 

near the essays i have left the copy of my letter to lady drayton 
which affording arguments suitable to my case may chance thus
accidentally to be fallen upon to incline them to favour me 


 see letters xiii and xiv 


i have reserves of pens and ink you may believe and one or two in the
ivy summer-house with which i shall amuse myself in order to lighten 
if possible those apprehensions which more and more affect me as
wednesday the day of trial approaches 




letter xlvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe ivy summer-house eleven o'clock 

he has not yet got my letter and while i was contriving here how to
send my officious gaoleress from me that i might have time for the
intended interview and had hit upon an expedient which i believe would
have done came my aunt and furnished me with a much better she saw my
little table covered preparative to my solitary dinner and hoped 
she told me that this would be the last day that my friends would be
deprived of my company at table 

you may believe my dear that the thoughts of meeting mr lovelace 
for fear of being discovered together with the contents of my cousin
dolly's letter gave me great and visible emotions she took notice of
them why these sighs why these heavings here said she patting my
neck o my dear niece who would have thought so much natural sweetness
could be so very unpersuadable 

i could not answer her and she proceeded i am come i doubt upon a
very unwelcome errand some things have been told us yesterday which
came from the mouth of one of the most desperate and insolent men in the
world convince your father and all of us that you still find means
to write out of the house mr lovelace knows every thing that is done
here and that as soon as done and great mischief is apprehended from
him which you are as much concerned as any body to prevent your mother
has also some apprehensions concerning yourself which yet she hopes are
groundless but however cannot be easy if she would unless while
you remain here in the garden or in this summer-house you give her
the opportunity once more of looking into your closet your cabinet and
drawers it will be the better taken if you give me cheerfully your
keys i hope my dear you won't dispute it your desire of dining in
this place was the more readily complied with for the sake of such an
opportunity 

i thought myself very lucky to be so well prepared by my cousin dolly's
means for this search but yet i artfully made some scruples and not a
few complaints of this treatment after which i not only gave her the
keys of all but even officiously emptied my pockets before her and
invited her to put her fingers in my stays that she might be sure i had
no papers there 

this highly obliged her and she said she would represent my cheerful
compliance as it deserved let my brother and sister say what they
would my mother in particular she was sure would rejoice at the
opportunity given her to obviate as she doubted not would be the case 
some suspicions that were raised against me 

she then hinted that there were methods taken to come at all mr 
lovelace's secrets and even from his careless communicativeness at
some secret of mine it being she said his custom boastingly to prate
to his very servants of his intentions in particular cases she added 
that deep as he was thought to be my brother was as deep as he and
fairly too hard for him at his own weapons as one day it would be
found 

i knew not i said the meaning of these dark hints i thought the
cunning she hinted at on both sides called rather for contempt than
applause i myself might have been put upon artifices which my heart
disdained to practise had i given way to the resentment which i was
bold to say was much more justifiable than the actions that occasioned
it that it was evident to me from what she had said that their
present suspicions of me were partly owing to this supposed superior
cunning of my brother and partly to the consciousness that the usage i
met with might naturally produce a reason for such suspicions that it
was very unhappy for me to be made the butt of my brother's wit that it
would have been more to his praise to have aimed at shewing a kind heart
than a cunning head that nevertheless i wished he knew himself as
well as i imagined i knew him and he would then have less conceit of
his abilities which abilities would in my opinion be less thought of 
if his power to do ill offices were not much greater than they 

i was vexed i could not help making this reflection the dupe the
other too probably makes of him through his own spy deserved it but
i so little approve of this low art in either that were i but tolerably
used the vileness of that man that joseph leman should be inquired
into 

she was sorry she said to find that i thought so disparagingly of my
brother he was a young man both of learning and parts 

learning enough i said to make him vain of it among us women but not
of parts sufficient to make his learning valuable either to himself or
to any body else 

she wished indeed that he had more good nature but she feared that
i had too great an opinion of somebody else to think so well of my
brother as a sister ought since between the two there was a sort of
rivalry as to abilities that made them hate one another 

rivalry madam said i if that be the case or whether it be or not 
i wish they both understood better than either of them seem to do 
what it becomes gentlemen and men of liberal education to be and to
do neither of them then would glory in what they ought to be ashamed
of 

but waving this subject it was not impossible i said that they might
find a little of my writing and a pen or two and a little ink  hated
art or rather hateful the necessity for it   as i was not permitted
to go up to put them out of the way but if they did i must be
contented and i assured her that take what time they pleased i would
not go in to disturb them but would be either in or near the garden 
in this summer-house or in the cedar one or about my poultry-yard or
near the great cascade till i was ordered to return to my prison with
like cunning i said i supposed the unkind search would not be made
till the servants had dined because i doubted not that the pert betty
barnes who knew all the corners of my apartment and closet would be
employed in it 

she hoped she said that nothing could be found that would give a
handle against me for she would assure me the motives to the search 
on my mother's part especially were that she hoped to find reason
rather to acquit than to blame me and that my father might be induced
to see my to-morrow night or wednesday morning with temper with
tenderness i should rather say said she for he is resolved to do so 
if no new offence be given 

ah madam said i 

why that ah madam and shaking your head so significantly 

i wish madam that i may not have more reason to dread my father's
continued displeasure than to hope for his returning tenderness 

you don't know my dear things may take a turn things may not be so
bad as you fear 

dearest madam have you any consolation to give me 

why my dear it is possible that you may be more compliable than you
have been 

why raised you my hopes madam don't let me think my dear aunt hervey
cruel to a niece who truly honours her 

i may tell you more perhaps said she but in confidence absolute
confidence if the inquiry within came out in your favour do you know
of any thin above that can be found to your disadvantage 

some papers they will find i doubt but i must take consequences 
my brother and sister will be at hand with their good-natured
constructions i am made desperate and care not what is found 

i hope i earnestly hope that nothing can be found that will impeach
your discretion and then but i may say too much 

and away she went having added to my perplexity 

but i now can think of nothing but this interview would to heaven it
were over to meet to quarrel but let him take what measures he will 
i will not stay a moment with him if he be not quite calm and resigned 

don't you see how crooked some of my lines are don't you see how some
of the letters stagger more than others that is when this interview is
more in my head than in my subject 

but after all should i ought i to meet him how have i taken it for
granted that i should i wish there were time to take your advice yet
you are so loth to speak quite out but that i owe as you own to the
difficulty of my situation 

i should have mentioned that in the course of this conversation i
besought my aunt to stand my friend and to put in a word for me on
my approaching trial and to endeavour to procure me time for
consideration if i could obtain nothing else 

she told me that after the ceremony was performed  odious confirmation
of a hint in my cousin dolly's letter   i should have what time i
pleased to reconcile myself to my lot before cohabitation 

this put me out of all patience 

she requested of me in her turn she said that i would resolve to meet
them all with cheerful duty and with a spirit of absolute acquiescence 
it was in my power to make them all happy and how joyful would it be
to her she said to see my father my mother my uncles my brother my
sister all embracing me with raptures and folding me in turns to their
fond hearts and congratulating each other on their restored happiness 
her own joy she said would probably make her motionless and speechless
for a time and for her dolly the poor girl who had suffered in the
esteem of some for her grateful attachment to me would have every body
love her again 

will you doubt my dear that my next trial will be the most affecting
that i have yet had 

my aunt set forth all this in so strong a light and i was so
particularly touched on my cousin dolly's account that impatient as i
was just before i was greatly moved yet could only shew by my sighs
and my tears how desirable such an event would be to me could it
be brought about upon conditions with which it was possible for me to
comply 

here comes betty barnes with my dinner 


 


the wench is gone the time of meeting is at hand o that he may not
come but should i or should i not meet him how i question without
possibility of a timely answer 

betty according to my leading hint to my aunt boasted to me that she
was to be employed as she called it after she had eat her own dinner 

she should be sorry she told me to have me found out yet twould be
all for my good i should have it in my power to be forgiven for all at
once before wednesday night the confident creature then to stifle a
laugh put a corner of her apron in her mouth and went to the door 
and on her return to take away as i angrily bid her she begged my
excuse but but and then the saucy creature laughed again she could
not help it to think how i had drawn myself in by my summer-house
dinnering since it had given so fine an opportunity by way of
surprise to look into all my private hoards she thought something was
in the wind when my brother came into my dining here so readily her
young master was too hard for every body squire lovelace himself was
nothing at all at a quick thought to her young master 

my aunt mentioned mr lovelace's boasting behaviour to his servants 
perhaps he may be so mean but as to my brother he always took a pride
in making himself appear to be a man of parts and learning to our
own servants pride and meanness i have often thought are as nearly
allied and as close borderers upon each other as the poet tells us wit
and madness are 

but why do i trouble you and myself at such a crisis with these
impertinences yet i would forget if i could the nearest evil the
interview because my apprehensions increasing as the hour is at hand 
i should were my intentions to be engrossed by them be unfit to see
him if he does come and then he will have too much advantage over me 
as he will have seeming reason to reproach me with change of resolution 

the upbraider you know my dear is in some sense a superior while the
upbraided if with reason upbraided must make a figure as spiritless as
conscious 

i know that this wretch will if he can be his own judge and mine too 
but the latter he shall not be 

i dare say we shall be all to pieces but i don't care for that it
would be hard if i who have held it out so sturdily to my father and
uncles should not but he is at the garden-door 


 


i was mistaken how many noises unlike be made like to what one
fears why flutters the fool so 


 


i will hasten to deposit this then i will for the last time go to the
usual place in hopes to find that he has got my letter if he has i
will not meet him if he has not i will take it back and shew him what
i have written that will break the ice as i may say and save me much
circumlocution and reasoning and a steady adherence to that my written
mind is all that will be necessary the interview must be as short as
possible for should it be discovered it would furnish a new and strong
pretence for the intended evil of wednesday next 

perhaps i shall not be able to write again one while perhaps not till
i am the miserable property of that solmes but that shall never never
be while i have my senses 

if your servant find nothing from me by wednesday morning you may then
conclude that i can neither write to you nor receive your favours 

in that case pity and pray for me my beloved friend and continue to
me that place in your affection which is the pride of my life and the
only comfort left to

your cl harlowe 




letter xlviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe st alban's tuesday morn past one 


o my dearest friend 

after what i had resolved upon as by my former what shall i write 
what can i with what consciousness even by letter do i approach
you you will soon hear if already you have not heard from the mouth
of common fame that your clarissa harlowe is gone off with a man 

i am busying myself to give you the particulars at large the whole
twenty-four hours of each day to begin at the moment i can fix shall
be employed in it till it is finished every one of the hours i mean 
that will be spared me by this interrupting man to whom i have made
myself so foolishly accountable for too many of them rest is departed
from me i have no call for that and that has no balm for the wounds
of my mind so you'll have all those hours without interruption till the
account is ended 

but will you receive shall you be permitted to receive my letters 
after what i have done 

o my dearest friend but i must make the best of it 

i hope that will not be very bad yet am i convinced that i did a rash
and inexcusable thing in meeting him and all his tenderness all his
vows cannot pacify my inward reproaches on that account 

the bearer comes to you my dear for the little parcel of linen which i
sent you with far better and more agreeable hopes 

send not my letters send the linen only except you will favour me with
one line to tell me you love me still and that you will suspend your
censures till you have the whole before you i am the readier to send
thus early because if you have deposited any thing for me you may
cause it to be taken back or withhold any thing you had but intended to
send 

adieu my dearest friend i beseech you to love me still but
alas what will your mother say what will mine what my other
relations and what my dear mrs norton and how will my brother and
sister triumph 

i cannot at present tell you how or where you can direct to me for
very early shall i leave this place harassed and fatigued to death 
but when i can do nothing else constant use has made me able to write 
long very long has been all my amusement and pleasure yet could not
that have been such to me had i not had you my best beloved friend to
write to once more adieu pity and pray for

your cl harlowe 


letters of volume iii


letter i miss howe to clarissa is astonished confounded aghast 
repeats her advice to marry lovelace 

letter ii clarissa to miss howe gives a particular account of her
meeting lovelace of her vehement contention with him and at last 
of her being terrified out of her predetermined resolution and tricked
away her grief and compunction of heart upon it lays all to the fault
of corresponding with him at first against paternal prohibition is
incensed against him for his artful dealings with her and for his
selfish love 

letter iii mr lovelace to joseph leman a letter which lays open the
whole of his contrivance to get off clarissa 

letter iv joseph leman in answer 

letter v lovelace to belford in ecstasy on the success of his
contrivances well as he loves clarissa he would show her no mercy if
he thought she preferred any man living to him will religiously observe
the injunctions she laid upon him previous to their meeting 

letter vi clarissa to miss howe a recriminating conversation between
her and lovelace he reminds her of her injunctions and instead of
beseeching her to dispense with them promises a sacred regard to them 
it is not therefore in her power she tells miss howe to take her
advice as to speedy marriage  a note on the place justifying her
conduct   is attended by mrs greme lord m s housekeeper at the lawn 
who waits on her to her sister sorlings with whom she consents to
lodge his looks offend her has written to her sister for her clothes 

letter vii lovelace to belford gives briefly the particulars of
his success describes her person and dress on her first meeting him 
extravagant exultation makes belford question him on the honour of his
designs by her and answers doubtfully 

letter viii miss howe to clarissa her sentiments on her narrative 
her mother at the instigation of antony harlowe forbids their
correspondence mr hickman's zeal to serve them in it what her family
now pretend if she had not left them how they took her supposed
projected flight offers her money and clothes would have her seem to
place some little confidence in lovelace her brother and sister will
not permit her father and uncles to cool 

letter ix x clarissa to miss howe advises her to obey her mother who
prohibits their correspondence declines to accept her offers of money 
and why mr lovelace not a polite man she will be as ready to place a
confidence in him as he will be to deserve it yet tricked away by him
as she was cannot immediately treat him with great complaisance blames
her for her liveliness to her mother encloses the copy of her letter to
her sister 

letter xi lovelace to belford prides himself in his arts in the
conversations between them is alarmed at the superiority of her
talents considers opposition and resistance as a challenge to do his
worst his artful proceedings with joseph leman 

letter xii from the same men need only be known to be rakes he says 
to recommend themselves to the favour of the sex wishes miss howe were
not so well acquainted with clarissa and why 

letter xiii from the same intends to set old antony at mrs howe to
prevent the correspondence between the two young ladies girl not gold 
his predominant passion rallies belford on his person and appearance 
takes humourous notice of the two daughters of the widow sorlings 

letter xiv from the same farther triumphs over the harlowes 
similitude of the spider and fly is for having separate churches as
well as separate boarding-schools for the sexes the women ought to love
him he says and why prides himself that they do 

letter xv clarissa to miss howe particulars of an angry conference
with lovelace seeing her sincerely displeased he begs the ceremony may
immediately pass he construes her bashful silence into anger and vows
a sacred regard to her injunctions 

letter xvi xvii xviii lovelace to belford the pleasure of a
difficult chace triumphs in the distress and perplexity he gave her by
his artful and parading offer of marriage his reasons for and against
doing her justice resolves to try her to the utmost the honour of the
whole sex concerned in the issue of her trial matrimony he sees is in
his power now she is 

letter xix miss howe to clarissa will not obey her mother in her
prohibition of their correspondence and why is charmed with her
spirit 

letter xx clarissa to miss howe knows not what she can do with
lovelace he may thank himself for the trouble he has had on her
account did she ever she asks make him any promises did she ever
receive him as a lover 

letter xxi xxii from the same she calls upon lovelace to give her a
faithful account of the noise and voices she heard at the garden-door 
which frightened her away with him his confession and daring hints in
relation to solmes and her brother and betty barnes she is terrified 

letter xxiii lovelace to belford rejoices in the stupidity of the
harlowes exults in his capacity for mischief the condescensions
to which he intends to bring the lady libertine observations to the
disadvantage of women which may serve as cautions to the sex 

letter xxiv clarissa to miss howe a conversation with mr lovelace
wholly agreeable his promises of reformation she remembers to his
advantage his generosity to his rosebud and his tenants writes to her
aunt hervey 

letter xxv xxvi lovelace to belford his acknowledged vanity 
accounts for his plausible behaviour and specious promises and
proposals apprehensive of the correspondence between miss howe and
clarissa loves to plague him with out-of-the-way words and phrases 

letter xxvii miss howe to clarissa how to judge of lovelace's
suspicious proposals and promises hickman devoted to their service yet
she treats him with ridicule 

letter xxviii clarissa to miss howe lovelace complains she hears to
mrs greme of her adhering to her injunctions what means he by it she
asks yet forego such opportunities as he had she is punished for her
vanity in hoping to be an example blames miss howe for her behaviour to
hickman 

letter xxix from the same warm dialogues with lovelace she is
displeased with him for his affectedly-bashful hints of matrimony 
mutual recriminations he looks upon her as his she says by a strange
sort of obligation for having run away with her against her will yet
but touches on the edges of matrimony neither she is sick of herself 

letter xxx from the same mr lovelace a perfect proteus he now
applauds her for that treatment of him which before he had resented and
communicates to her two letters one from lady betty lawrance the other
from miss montague she wonders he did not produce those letters before 
as he must know they would be highly acceptable to her 

letter xxxi xxxii xxxiii xxxiv from the same the contents of the
letters from lady betty and miss montague put clarissa in good humour
with mr lovelace he hints at marriage but pretends to be afraid of
pursuing the hint she is earnest with him to leave her and why 
he applauds her reasonings her serious questions and his ludicrous
answer he makes different proposals he offers to bring mrs norton
to her she is ready to blame herself for her doubts of him but
gives reasons for her caution he writes by her consent to his friend
doleman to procure lodgings for her in town 

letter xxxv lovelace to belford glories in his contrivances gives
an advantageous description of clarissa's behaviour exults on her
mentioning london none but impudent girls he says should run away
with a man his farther views plots and designs 

letter xxxvi miss howe to clarissa humourously touches on her
reproofs in relation to hickman observations on smooth love lord
m s family greatly admire her approves of her spirited treatment of
lovelace and of her going to london hints at the narrowness of her own
mother advises her to keep fair with lovelace 

letter xxxvii xxxviii clarissa to miss howe wonders not that her
brother has weight to make her father irreconcilable copy of mr 
doleman's answer about london lodgings her caution in her choice of
them lovelace has given her five guineas for hannah other instances of
his considerateness not displeased with her present prospects 

letter xxxix lovelace to belford explains what is meant by doleman's
answer about the lodgings makes belford object to his scheme that
he may answer the objections exults swells despises every body 
importance of the minutiae more of his arts views and contrivances 

letter xl miss howe to clarissa acquaints her with a scheme formed
by her brother and captain singleton to carry her off hickman's silent
charities she despises all his sex as well as him ill terms on which
her own father and mother lived extols clarissa for her domestic good
qualities particulars of a great contest with her mother on their
correspondence has been slapt by her observations on managing wives 

letter xli xlii xliii clarissa to miss howe a strong remonstrance
on her behaviour to her mother in which she lays down the duty of
children accuses her of want of generosity to hickman farther excuses
herself on declining to accept of her money offers proposes a condition
on which mrs howe may see all they write 

letter xliv miss howe to clarissa her mother rejects the proposed
condition miss howe takes thankfully her reprehensions but will
continue the correspondence some excuses for herself humourous story
of game-chickens 

letter xlv clarissa to miss howe lovelace communicates her brother's
and singleton's project but treats it with seeming contempt she asks
his advice what to do upon it this brings on an offer of marriage from
him how it went off 

letter xlvi lovelace to belford he confesses his artful intentions in
the offer of marriage yet had like he says to have been caught in his
own snares 

letter xlvii joseph leman to mr lovelace with intelligence of a
design formed against him by the harlowes joseph's vile hypocrisy and
selfishness 

letter xlviii lovelace in answer story of miss betterton boast of
his treatment of his mistresses the artful use he makes of joseph's
intelligence 

letter xlix clarissa to her aunt hervey complains of her silence 
hints at her not having designed to go away with lovelace she will open
her whole heart to her if she encourage her to do so by the hopes of a
reconciliation 

letter l miss howe to clarissa observations on lovelace's meanness 
pride and revenge politeness not to be expected from him she raves
at him for the artful manner in which he urges clarissa to marry him 
advises her how to act in her present situation 

letter li belford to lovelace becomes a warm advocate for the lady 
gives many instructive reasons to enforce his arguments in her favour 

letter lii mrs hervey to clarissa a severe and cruel letter in
answer to her's letter xlix it was not designed she says absolutely
to force her to marry to her dislike 

letter liii clarissa to miss howe her deep regret on this
intelligence for having met lovelace the finer sensibilities make
not happy her fate too visibly in her power he is unpolite cruel 
insolent unwise a trifler in his own happiness her reasons why she
less likes him than ever her soul his soul's superior her fortitude 
her prayer 

letter liv lv from the same now indeed is her heart broken she
says a solemn curse laid upon her by her father her sister's barbarous
letters on the occasion 

letter lvi miss howe to clarissa a letter full of generous
consolation and advice her friendly vow sends her fifty guineas in the
leaves of a norris's miscellanies 

letter lvii clarissa to miss howe a faithful friend the medicine of
life she is just setting out for london lovelace has offered marriage
to her in so unreserved a manner that she wishes she had never written
with diffidence of him is sorry it was not in her power to comply with
his earnest solicitations returns her norris and why 

letter lviii lix miss howe to clarissa sorry she has returned
her norris wishes she had accepted of lovelace's unreserved offer of
marriage believes herself to have a sneaking kindness for hickman and
why she blames mrs harlowe and why 

in answer to letter viii clarissa states the difference in the
characters of mr lovelace and mr hickman and tells her that her
motives for suspending marriage were not merely ceremonious ones 
regrets mrs howe's forbidding the correspondence between them her
dutiful apology for her own mother lesson to children 

letter lx lovelace to belford thinks he shall be inevitably manacled
at last the lady's extreme illness her filial piety gives her dreadful
faith in a father's curses she lets not miss howe know how very ill she
was his vows of marriage bring her back to life absolutely in earnest
in those vows  the only time he was so   he can now talk of love and
marriage without check descants upon belford's letter no li 

letter lxi from the same is setting out for london a struggle with
his heart owns it to be a villain of a heart a fit of strong but
transitory remorse if he do marry he doubts he shall have a vapourish
wife thinks it would be better for both not to marry his libertine
reasons lessons to the sex 

letter lxii from the same they arrive at mrs sinclair's sally
martin and polly horton set upon him he wavers in his good purposes 
dorcas wykes proposed and reluctantly accepted for a servant till
hannah can come dorcas's character he has two great points to carry 
what they are 





the history of clarissa harlowe




letter i

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe tuesday nine o'clock 


i write because you enjoin me to do so love you still how can i
help it if i would you may believe how i stand aghast your letter
communicating the first news good god of heaven and earth but what
shall i say i am all impatient for particulars 

lord have mercy upon me but can it be 

my mother will indeed be astonished how can i tell it her it was
but last night upon some jealousies put into her head by your foolish
uncle that i assured her and this upon the strength of your own
assurances that neither man nor devil would be able to induce you to
take a step that was in the least derogatory to the most punctilious
honour 

but once more can it be what woman at this rate but god preserve
you 

let nothing escape you in your letters direct them for me however to
mrs knolly's till further notice 


 


observe my dear that i don't blame you by all this your relations
only are in fault yet how you came to change your mind is the
surprising thing 

how to break it to my mother i know not yet if she hear it first
from any other and find i knew it before she will believe it to be my
connivance yet as i hope to live i know not how to break it to her 

but this is teasing you i am sure without intention 

let me now repeat my former advice if you are not married by this time 
be sure delay not the ceremony since things are as they are i wish it
were thought that you were privately married before you went away if
these men plead authority to our pain when we are theirs why should we
not in such a case as this make some good out of the hated word for
our reputation when we are induced to violate a more natural one 

your brother and sister  that vexes me almost as much as any thing  
have now their ends now i suppose will go forward alterations of
wills and such-like spiteful doings 


 


miss lloyd and miss biddulph this moment send up their names they
are out of breath kitty says to speak to me easy to guess their
errand i must see my mother before i see them i have no way but to
shew her your letter to clear myself i shall not be able to say a
word till she has run herself out of her first breath forgive me my
dear surprise makes me write thus if your messenger did not wait and
were not those young ladies below i could write it over again for fear
of afflicting you 

i send what you write for if there be any thing else you want that is
in my power command without reserve

your ever affectionate anna howe 




letter ii 

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday night 


i think myself obliged to thank you my dear miss howe for your
condescension in taking notice of a creature who has occasioned you so
much scandal 

i am grieved on this account as much i verily think as for the evil
itself 

tell me but yet i am afraid to know what your mother said 

i long and yet i dread to be told what the young ladies my
companions now never more perhaps to be so say of me 

they cannot however say worse of me than i will of myself self
accusation shall flow in every line of my narrative where i think i am
justly censurable if any thing can arise from the account i am going to
give you for extenuation of my fault for that is all a person can
hope for who cannot excuse herself i know i may expect it from your
friendship though not from the charity of any other since by this time
i doubt not every mouth is opened against me and all that know clarissa
harlowe condemn the fugitive daughter 

after i had deposited my letter to you written down to the last hour 
as i may say i returned to the ivy summer-house first taking back my
letter from the loose bricks and there i endeavoured as coolly as my
situation would permit to recollect and lay together several incidents
that had passed between my aunt and me and comparing them with some of
the contents of my cousin dolly's letter i began to hope that i needed
not to be so very apprehensive as i have been of next wednesday and
thus i argued with myself 

wednesday cannot possibly be the day they intend although to
intimidate me they may wish me to think it is for the settlements are
unsigned nor have they been offered me to sign i can choose whether i
will or will not put my hand to them hard as it will be to refuse if my
father and mother propose if i made compulsion necessary to go to my
uncle's themselves in order to be out of the way of my appeals whereas
they intend to be present on wednesday and however affecting to me the
thought of meeting them and all my friends in full assembly is perhaps
it is the very thing i ought to wish for since my brother and sister
had such an opinion of my interest in them that they got me excluded
from their presence as a measure which they thought previously
necessary to carry on their designs 

nor have i reason to doubt but that as i had before argued with
myself i shall be able to bring over some of my relations to my party 
and being brought face to face with my brother that i shall expose his
malevolence and of consequence weaken his power 

then supposing the very worst challenging the minister as i shall
challenge him he will not presume to proceed nor surely will mr 
solmes dare to accept my refusing and struggling hand and finally 
if nothing else will do nor procure me delay i can plead scruples of
conscience and even pretend prior obligation for my dear i have give
mr lovelace room to hope as you will see in one of my letters in your
hands that i will be no other man's while he is single and gives me
not wilful and premeditated cause of offence against him and this in
order to rein-in his resentment on the declared animosity of my brother
and uncles to him and as i shall appeal or refer my scruples on this
head to the good dr lewen it is impossible but that my mother and
aunt if nobody else must be affected with this plea 

revolving cursorily these things i congratulated myself that i had
resolved against going away with mr lovelace 

i told you my dear that i would not spare myself and i enumerate
these particulars as so many arguments to condemn the actions i have
been so unhappily betrayed into an argument that concludes against me
with the greater force as i must acknowledge that i was apprehensive 
that what my cousin dolly mentions as from betty and from my sister who
told her that she should tell me in order to make me desperate and
perhaps to push me upon some such step as i have been driven to take as
the most effectual means to ruin me with my father and uncles 

god forgive me if i judge too harshly of their views but if i do not 
it follows that they laid a wicked snare for me and that i have been
caught in it and now they triumph if they can triumph in the ruin of
a sister who never wished or intended to hurt them 

as the above kind of reasoning had lessened my apprehensions as to the
wednesday it added to those i had of meeting mr lovelace now as it
seemed not only the nearest but the heaviest evil principally indeed
because nearest for little did i dream foolish creature that i
was and every way beset of the event proving what it has proved i
expected a contention with him tis true as he had not my letter but
i thought it would be very strange as i mentioned in one of my former 
if i who had so steadily held out against characters so venerable 
against authorities so sacred as i may say when i thought them
unreasonably exerted should not find myself more equal to such a trial
as this especially as i had so much reason to be displeased with him
for not having taken away my letter 

on what a point of time may one's worldly happiness depend had i but
two hours more to consider of the matter and to attend to and improve
upon these new lights as i may call them but even then perhaps i
might have given him a meeting fool that i was what had i to do to
give him hope that i would personally acquaint him with the reason for
my change of mind if i did change it 

o my dear an obliging temper is a very dangerous temper by
endeavouring to gratify others it is evermore disobliging itself 

when the bell rang to call the servants to dinner betty came to me
and asked if i had any commands before she went to hers repeating
her hint that she should be employed adding that she believed it was
expected that i should not come up till she came down or till i saw my
aunt or miss hervey 

i asked her some questions about the cascade which had been out of
order and lately mended and expressed a curiosity to see how it
played in order to induce her  how cunning to cheat myself as it
proved   to go thither if she found me not where she left me it being
a part of the garden most distant from the ivy summer-house 

she could hardly have got into the house when i heard the first
signal o how my heart fluttered but no time was to be lost i
stept to the garden-door and seeing a clear coast unbolted the
already-unlocked door and there was he all impatience waiting for me 

a panic next to fainting seized me when i saw him my heart seemed
convulsed and i trembled so that i should hardly have kept my feet 
had he not supported me 

fear nothing dearest creature said he let us hasten away the chariot
is at hand and by this sweet condescension you have obliged me beyond
expression or return 

recovering my spirits a little as he kept drawing me after him o mr 
lovelace said i i cannot go with you indeed i cannot i wrote you
word so let go my hand and you shall see my letter it is lain there
from yesterday morning till within this half-hour i bid you watch to
the last for a letter from me lest i should be obliged to revoke the
appointment and had you followed the direction you would have found
it 

i have been watched my dearest life said he half out of breath i
have been watched in every step i took and my trusty servant has been
watched too ever since saturday and dared not to come near your
wall and here we shall be discovered in a moment speed away my
charmer this is the moment of your deliverance if you neglect this
opportunity you can never have such another 

what is it you mean sir let go my hand for i tell you  struggling
vehemently  that i will sooner die than go with you 

good god said he with a look of wildness and surprise what is it i
hear but  still drawing me after him as he retreated farther from the
door  it is no time to argue by all that's good you must go surely you
cannot doubt my honour nor give me cause to question your own 

as you value me mr lovelace urge me no farther i come fixed and
resolved let me give you the letter i have written my further reasons
shall follow and they will convince you that i ought not to go 

nothing madam can convince me by all that's sacred i will not leave
you to leave you now would be to lose you for ever 

am i to be thus compelled interrupted i with equal indignation and
vehemence let go my hands i am resolved not to go with you and i
will convince you that i ought not 

all my friends expect you madam all your own are determined against
you wednesday next is the day the important perhaps the fatal day 
would you stay to be solmes's wife can this be your determination at
last 

no never never will i be that man's but i will not go with you  draw
me not thus how dare you sir i would not have seen you but to tell
you so  i had not met you but for fear you would have been guilty of
some rashness and once more i will not go what mean you striving
with all my force to get from him 

what can have possessed my angel said he  quitting my hands and with a
gentler voice  that after so much ill-usage from your relations vows so
solemn on my part an affection so ardent you stab me with a refusal to
stand by your own appointment 

we have no time to talk mr lovelace i will give you my reasons at a
better opportunity i cannot go with you now and once more urge me no
farther surely i am not to be compelled by every body 

i see how it is said he with a dejected but passionate air what a
severe fate is mine at length your spirit is subdued your brother
and sister have prevailed and i must give up all my hopes to a wretch
so truly despicable 

once more i tell you interrupted i i never will be his all may end on
wednesday differently from what you expect 

and it may not and then good heavens 

it is to be their last effort as i have reason to believe 

and i have reason to believe so too since if you stay you will
inevitably be solmes's wife 

not so interrupted i i have obliged them in one point they will be
in good-humour with me i shall gain time at least i am sure i shall i
have several ways to gain time 

and what madam will gaining time do it is plain you have not a
hope beyond that it is plain you have not by putting all upon that
precarious issue o my dearest dearest life let me beseech you not
to run a risque of this consequence i can convince you that it will be
more than a risque if you go back that you will on wednesday next be
solmes's wife prevent therefore now that it is in your power to
prevent the fatal mischief that will follow such a dreadful certainty 

while i have any room for hope it concerns your honour mr lovelace 
as well as mine if you have the value for me you pretend and wish me
to believe you that my conduct in this great point should justify my
prudence 

your prudence madam when has that been questionable yet what stead
has either your prudence or your duty stood you in with people so
strangely determined 

and then he pathetically enumerated the different instances of the harsh
treatment i had met with imputing all to the malice and caprice of a
brother who set every body against him and insisting that i had no
other way to bring about a reconciliation with my father and uncles 
than by putting myself out of the power of my brother's inveterate
malice 

your brother's whole reliance proceeded he has been upon your easiness
to bear his insults your whole family will seek to you when you have
freed yourself from this disgraceful oppression when they know you are
with those who can and will right you they will give up to you your own
estate why then putting his arms around me and again drawing me
with a gentle force after him do you hesitate a moment now is the
time fly with me then i beseech you my dearest creature trust
your persecuted adorer have we not suffered in the same cause if any
imputations are cast upon you give me the honour as i shall be found
to deserve it to call you mine and when you are so shall i not be
able to protect both your person and character 

urge me no more mr lovelace i conjure you you yourself have given
me a hint which i will speak plainer to than prudence perhaps on any
other occasion would allow i am convinced that wednesday next if i
had time i would give you my reasons is not intended to be the day we
had both so much dreaded and if after that day shall be over i find my
friends determined in mr solmes's favour i will then contrive some
way to meet you with miss howe who is not your enemy and when the
solemnity has passed i shall think that step a duty which till then
will be criminal to take since now my father's authority is unimpeached
by any greater 

dearest madam 

nay mr lovelace if you now dispute if after this more favourable
declaration than i had the thought of making you are not satisfied i
shall know what to think both of your gratitude and generosity 

the case madam admits not of this alternative i am all gratitude upon
it i cannot express how much i should be delighted with the charming
hope you have given me were you not next wednesday if you stay to
be another man's think dearest creature what an heightening of my
anguish the distant hope you bid me look up to is taken in this light 

depend depend upon it i will die sooner than be mr solmes's if you
would have me rely upon your honour why should you doubt of mine 

i doubt not your honour madam your power is all i doubt you never 
never can have such another opportunity dearest creature permit
me and he was again drawing me after him 

whither sir do you draw me leave me this moment do you seek to keep
me till my return shall grow dangerous or impracticable this moment let
me go if you would have me think tolerably of you 

my happiness madam both here and hereafter and the safety of all your
implacable family depend upon this moment 

to providence mr lovelace and to the law will i leave the safety
of my friends you shall not threaten me into a rashness that my heart
condemns shall i to promote your happiness as you call it depend
upon future peace of mind 

you trifle with me my dear life just as our better prospects begin to
open the way is clear just now it is clear but you may be prevented
in a moment what is it you doubt may i perish eternally if your
will shall not be a law to me in every thing all my relations expect
you next wednesday dearest creature think of next wednesday and
to what is it i urge you but to take a step that sooner than any other
will reconcile you to all whom you have most reason to value in your
family 

let my judge for myself sir do not you who blame my friends for
endeavouring to compel me yourself seek to compel i won't bear it 
your earnestness gives me greater apprehensions and greater reluctance 
let me go back then let me before it is too late go back that it
may not be worse for both what mean you by this forcible treatment is
it thus that i am to judge of the entire submission to my will which you
have so often vowed unhand me this moment or i will cry out for help 

i will obey you my dearest creature and quitted my hand with a look
full of tender despondency that knowing the violence of his temper 
half-concerned me for him yet i was hastening from him when with a
solemn air looking upon his sword but catching as it were his hand
from it he folded both his arms as if a sudden thought had recovered
him from an intended rashness 

stay one moment but one moment stay o best beloved of my soul your
retreat is secure if you will go the key lies at the door but 
o madam next wednesday and you are mr solmes's fly me not so
eagerly hear me but a few words 

when near the garden-door i stopped and was the more satisfied as
i saw the key there by which i could let myself in again at pleasure 
but being uneasy lest i should be missed i told him i could stay
no longer i had already staid too long i would write to him all my
reasons and depend upon it mr lovelace said i  just upon the point
of stooping for the key in order to return  i will die rather than
have that man you know what i have promised if i find myself in
danger 

one word madam however one word more  approaching me his arms still
folded as if i thought he would not be tempted to mischief  remember
only that i come at your appointment to redeem you at the hazard of
my life from your gaolers and persecutors with a resolution god is
my witness or may he for ever blast me  that was his shocking
imprecation  to be a father uncle brother and as i humbly hoped in
your own good time a husband to you all in one but since i find you
are so ready to cry out for help against me which must bring down upon
me the vengeance of all your family i am contented to run all risques 
i will not ask you to retreat with me i will attend you into the
garden and into the house if i am not intercepted 

nay be not surprised madam the help you would have called for i will
attend you to for i will face them all but not as a revenger if they
provoke me not too much you shall see what i can further bear for your
sake and let us both see if expostulation and the behaviour of a
gentleman to them will not procure me the treatment due to a gentleman
from them 

had he offered to draw his sword upon himself i was prepared to have
despised him for supposing me such a poor novice as to be intimidated
by an artifice so common but this resolution uttered with so serious
an air of accompanying me in to my friends made me gasp with terror 

what mean you mr lovelace said i i beseech you leave me leave me 
sir i beseech you 

excuse me madam i beg you to excuse me i have long enough skulked
like a thief about these lonely walls long too long have i borne
the insults of your brother and other of your relations absence but
heightens malice i am desperate i have but this one chance for it for
is not the day after to-morrow wednesday i have encouraged virulence
by my tameness yet tame i will still be you shall see madam what i
will bear for your sake my sword shall be put sheathed into your hands
 and he offered it to me in the scabbard  my heart if you please 
clapping one hand upon his breast shall afford a sheath for your
brother's sword life is nothing if i lose you be pleased madam to
shew me the way into the garden  moving toward the door  i will attend
you though to my fate but too happy be it what it will if i receive
it in your presence lead on dear creature  putting his sword into his
belt  you shall see what i can bear for you and he stooped and took
up the key and offered it to the lock but dropped it again without
opening the door upon my earnest expostulations 

what can you mean mr lovelace said i would you thus expose
yourself would you thus expose me is this your generosity is every
body to take advantage thus of the weakness of my temper 

and i wept i could not help it 

he threw himself upon his knees at my feet who can bear said he  with
an ardour that could not be feigned his own eyes glistening   who
can bear to behold such sweet emotion o charmer of my heart  and 
respectfully still kneeling he took my hand with both his pressing it
to his lips   command me with you command me from you in every way
i am implicit to obedience but i appeal to all you know of your
relations' cruelty to you their determined malice against me and as
determined favour to the man you tell me you hate and o madam if you
did not hate him i should hardly think there would be a merit in your
approbation place it where you would i appeal to every thing you
know to all you have suffered whether you have not reason to be
apprehensive of that wednesday which is my terror whether you can
possibly have another opportunity the chariot ready my friends with
impatience expecting the result of your own appointment a man whose
will shall be entirely your will imploring you thus on his knees 
imploring you to be your own mistress that is all nor will i ask
for your favour but as upon full proof i shall appear to deserve it 
fortune alliance unobjectionable o my beloved creature pressing my
hand once more to his lips let not such an opportunity slip you never 
never will have such another 

i bid him rise he arose and i told him that were i not thus
unaccountably hurried by his impatience i doubted not to convince
him that both he and i had looked upon next wednesday with greater
apprehension than was necessary i was proceeding to give him my
reasons but he broke in upon me 

had i madam but the shadow of a probability to hope what you hope i
would be all obedience and resignation but the license is actually
got the parson is provided the pedant brand is the man o my dearest
creature do these preparations mean only a trial 

you know not sir were the worst to be intended and weak as you think
me what a spirit i have you know not what i can do and how i can
resist when i think myself meanly or unreasonably dealt with nor do you
know what i have already suffered what i have already borne knowing to
whose unbrotherly instigations all is to be ascribed 

i may expect all things madam interrupted he from the nobleness of
your mind but your spirits may fail you what may not be apprehended
from the invincible temper of a father so positive to a daughter so
dutiful fainting will not save you they will not perhaps be sorry
for such an effect of their barbarity what will signify expostulations
against a ceremony performed must not all the dreadful all follow 
that is torture to my heart but to think of nobody to appeal to of
what avail will your resistance be against the consequences of a rite
witnessed to by the imposers of it and those your nearest relations 

i was sure i said of procuring a delay at least many ways i had to
procure a delay nothing could be so fatal to us both as for me now to
be found with him my apprehensions on this score i told him grew too
strong for my heart i should think very hardly of him if he sought to
detain me longer but his acquiescence should engage my gratitude 

and then stooping to take up the key to let myself into the garden he
started and looked as if he had heard somebody near the door on the
inside clapping his hand on his sword 

this frighted me so that i thought i should have sunk down at his feet 
but he instantly re-assured me he thought he said he had heard a
rustling against the door but had it been so the noise would have been
stronger it was only the effect of his apprehension for me 

and then taking up the key he presented it to me if you will go 
madam yet i cannot cannot leave you i must enter the garden with
you forgive me but i must enter the garden with you 

and will you will you thus ungenerously mr lovelace take advantage
of my fears of my wishes to prevent mischief i vain fool to be
concerned for every one nobody for me 

dearest creature interrupted he holding my hand as i tremblingly
offered to put the key to the lock let me if you will go open the
door but once more consider could you possibly obtain that delay
which seems to be your only dependence whether you may not be closer
confined i know they have already had that in consideration will you
not in this case be prevented from corresponding either with miss
howe or with me who then shall assist you in your escape if escape
you would from your chamber-window only permitted to view the garden
you must not enter into how will you wish for the opportunity you
now have if your hatred to solmes continue but alas that cannot
continue if you go back it must be from the impulses of a yielding
 which you'll call a dutiful heart tired and teased out of your own
will 

i have no patience sir to be thus constrained must i never be at
liberty to follow my own judgment be the consequence what it may i
will not be thus constrained 

and then freeing my hand i again offered the key to the door 

down the ready kneeler dropt between me and that and can you can you 
madam once more on my knees let me ask you look with an indifferent
eye upon the evils that may follow provoked as i have been and
triumphed over as i shall be if your brother succeeds my own heart
shudders at times at the thoughts of what must happen and can yours
be unconcerned let me beseech you dearest creature to consider all
these things and lose not this only opportunity my intelligence 

never mr lovelace interrupted i give so much credit to the words of
a traitor your base intelligencer is but a servant he may pretend
to know more than he has grounds for in order to earn the wages of
corruption you know not what contrivances i can find out 

i was once more offering the key to the lock when starting from his
knees with a voice of affrightment loudly whispering and as if out
of breath they are at the door my beloved creature and taking the
key from me he fluttered with it as if he would double lock it and
instantly a voice from within cried out bursting against the door as
if to break it open the person repeating his violent pushes are you
there come up this moment this moment here they are here they are
both together your pistol this moment your gun then another push 
and another he at the same moment drew his sword and clapping it
naked under his arm took both my trembling hands in his and drawing me
swiftly after him fly fly my charmer this moment is all you have for
it said he your brother your uncles or this solmes they will
instantly burst the door fly my dearest life if you would not be
more cruelly used than ever if you would not see two or three murders
committed at your feet fly fly i beseech you 

o lord help help cried the fool all in amaze and confusion 
frighted beyond the power of controuling 

now behind me now before me now on this side now on that turned i my
affrighted face in the same moment expecting a furious brother here 
armed servants there an enraged sister screaming and a father armed
with terror in his countenance more dreadful than even the drawn sword
which i saw or those i apprehended i ran as fast as he yet knew not
that i ran my fears adding wings to my feet at the same time that they
took all power of thinking from me my fears which probably would not
have suffered me to know what course to take had i not had him to urge
and draw me after him especially as i beheld a man who must have come
out of the door keeping us in his eye running now towards us then
back to the garden beckoning and calling to others whom i supposed he
saw although the turning of the wall hindered me from seeing them and
whom i imagined to be my brother my father and their servants 

thus terrified i was got out of sight of the door in a very few
minutes and then although quite breathless between running and
apprehension he put my arm under his his drawn sword in the other
hand and hurried me on still faster my voice however contradicting
my action crying no no no all the while straining my neck to look
back as long as the walls of the garden and park were within sight 
and till he brought me to the chariot where attending were two armed
servants of his own and two of lord m s on horseback 

here i must suspend my relation for a while for now i am come to this
sad period of it my indiscretion stares me in the face and my shame
and my grief give me a compunction that is more poignant methinks than
if i had a dagger in my heart to have it to reflect that i should
so inconsiderately give in to an interview which had i known either
myself or him or in the least considered the circumstances of the case 
i might have supposed would put me into the power of his resolution and
out of that of my own reason 

for might i not have believed that he who thought he had cause to
apprehend that he was on the point of losing a person who had cost
him so much pains and trouble would not hinder her if possible from
returning that he who knew i had promised to give him up for ever if
insisted as a condition of reconciliation would not endeavour to put it
out of my power to do so in short that he who had artfully forborne
to send for my letter for he could not be watched my dear lest he
should find in it a countermand to my appointment as i myself could
apprehend although i profited by the apprehension would want a device
to keep me with him till the danger of having our meeting discovered
might throw me absolutely into his power to avoid my own worse usage 
and the mischiefs which might have ensued perhaps in my very sight had
my friends and he met 

but if it shall come out that the person within the garden was his
corrupted implement employed to frighten me away with him do you
think my dear that i shall not have reason to hate him and myself
still more i hope his heart cannot be so deep and so vile a one i hope
it cannot but how came it to pass that one man could get out at the
garden-door and no more how that that man kept aloof as it were 
and pursued us not nor ran back to alarm the house my fright and my
distance would not let me be certain but really this man as i now
recollect had the air of that vile joseph leman 

o why why my dear friends but wherefore blame i them when i had
argued myself into a hope not improbable that even the dreadful
trial i was to undergo so soon might turn out better than if i had been
directly carried away from the presence of my once indulgent parents 
who might possibly intend that trial to be the last i should have had 

would to heaven that i had stood it however then if i had afterwards
done what now i have been prevailed upon or perhaps foolishly
frightened to do i should not have been stung so much by inward
reproach as now i am and this would have been a great evil avoided 

you know my dear that your clarissa's mind was ever above justifying
her own failings by those of others god forgive those of my friends
who have acted cruelly by me but their faults are their own and
not excuses for mine and mine began early for i ought not to have
corresponded with him 

o the vile encroacher how my indignation at times rises at him thus
to lead a young creature too much indeed relying upon her own strength 
from evil to evil this last evil although the remote yet sure
consequence of my first my prohibited correspondence by a father early
prohibited 

how much more properly had i acted with regard to that correspondence 
had i once for all when he was forbidden to visit me and i to receive
his visits pleaded the authority by which i ought to have been bound 
and denied to write to him but i thought i could proceed or stop as
i pleased i supposed it concerned me more than any other to be
the arbitress of the quarrels of unruly spirits and now i find my
presumption punished punished as other sins frequently are by itself 

as to this last rashness now that it is too late i plainly see how
i ought to have conducted myself as he knew i had but one way of
transmitting to him the knowledge of what befel me as he knew that my
fate was upon a crisis with my friends and that i had in my letter
to him reserved the liberty of revocation i should not have been
solicitous whether he had got my letter or not when he had come and
found i did not answer to his signal he would presently have resorted
to the loose bricks and there been satisfied by the date of my letter 
that it was his own fault that he had it not before but governed by
the same pragmatical motives which induced me to correspond with him at
first i was again afraid truly with my foolish and busy prescience 
and the disappointment would have thrown him into the way of receiving
fresh insults from the same persons which might have made him guilty
of some violence to them and so to save him an apprehended rashness 
i rushed into a real one myself and what vexes me more is that it is
plain to me now by all his behaviour that he had as great a confidence
in my weakness as i had in my own strength and so in a point entirely
relative to my honour he has triumphed for he has not been mistaken in
me while i have in myself 

tell me my dear miss howe tell me truly if your unbiassed heart does
not despise me it must for your mind and mine were ever one and
i despise myself and well i may for could the giddiest and most
inconsiderate girl in england have done worse than i shall appear to
have done in the eye of the world since my crime will be known without
the provocations and without the artifices of the betrayer too while
it will be a high aggravation that better things were expected from me
than from many others 

you charge me to marry the first opportunity ah my dear another of
the blessed effects of my folly that's as much in my power now as as
i am myself and can i besides give a sanction immediately to his
deluding arts can i avoid being angry with him for tricking me thus 
as i may say and as i have called it to him out of myself for
compelling me to take a step so contrary to all my resolutions and
assurances given to you a step so dreadfully inconvenient to myself so
disgraceful and so grievous as it must be to my dear mother were i to
be less regardful of any other of my family or friends you don't know 
nor can you imagine my dear how i am mortified how much i am sunk
in my own opinion i that was proposed for an example truly to
others o that i were again in my father's house stealing down with
a letter to you my heart beating with expectation of finding one from
you 


 


this is the wednesday morning i dreaded so much that i once thought
of it as the day of my doom but of the monday it is plain i ought to
have been most apprehensive had i staid and had the worst i
dreaded happened my friends would then have been answerable for the
consequences if any bad ones had followed but now i have only this
consolation left me a very poor one you'll say that i have cleared
them of blame and taken it all upon myself 

you will not wonder to see this narrative so dismally scrawled it is
owing to different pens and ink all bad and written in snatches of
time my hand trembling too with fatigue and grief 

i will not add to the length of it by the particulars of his behaviour
to me and of our conversation at st alban's and since because those
will come in course in the continuation of my story which no doubt 
you will expect from me 

only thus much will i say that he is extremely respectful even
obsequiously so at present though i am so much dissatisfied with
him and myself that he has hitherto had no great cause to praise my
complaisance to him indeed i can hardly at times bear the seducer in
my sight 

the lodgings i am in are inconvenient i shall not stay in them so it
signifies nothing to tell you how to direct to me hither and where my
next may be as yet i know not 

he knows that i am writing to you and has offered to send my letter 
when finished by a servant of his but i thought i could not be too
cautious as i am now situated in having a letter of this importance
conveyed to you who knows what such a man may do so very wicked
a contriver the contrivance if a contrivance to get me away so
insolently mean but i hope it is not a contrivance neither yet be
that as it will i must say that the best of him and of my prospects
with him are bad and yet having enrolled myself among the too-late
repenters who shall pity me 

nevertheless i will dare to hope for a continued interest in your
affections  i shall be miserable indeed if i may not   and to be
remembered in your daily prayers for neither time nor accident shall
ever make me cease to be

your faithful and affectionate clarissa harlowe 




letter iii

mr lovelace to joseph leman sat april 8 


honest joseph 

at length your beloved young lady has consented to free herself from
the cruel treatment she has so long borne she is to meet me without the
garden-door at about four o'clock on monday afternoon i told you she
had promised to do so she has confirmed her promise thank heaven she
has confirmed her promise 

i shall have a chariot-and-six ready in the by-road fronting the private
path to harlowe-paddock and several of my friends and servants not far
off armed to protect her if there be occasion but every one charged
to avoid mischief that you know has always been my principal care 

all my fear is that when she comes to the point the over-niceness of
her principles will make her waver and want to go back although her
honour is my honour you know and mine is her's if she should and
should i be unable to prevail upon her all your past services will
avail nothing and she will be lost to me for ever the prey then of
that cursed solmes whose vile stinginess will never permit him to do
good to any of the servants of the family 

i have no doubt of your fidelity honest joseph nor of your zeal to
serve an injured gentleman and an oppressed young lady you see by the
confidence i repose in you that i have not more particularly on this
very important occasion in which your assistance may crown the work 
for if she waver a little innocent contrivance will be necessary 

be very mindful therefore of the following directions take them into
your heart this will probably be your last trouble until my beloved
and i are joined in holy wedlock and then we will be sure to take care
of you you know what i have promised no man ever reproached me for
breach of word 

these then honest joseph are they 

contrive to be in the garden in disguise if possible and unseen by
your young lady if you find the garden-door unbolted you will know
that she and i are together although you should not see her go out at
it it will be locked but my key shall be on the ground just without
the door that you may open it with your's as it may be needful 

if you hear our voices parleying keep at the door till i cry hem hem 
twice but be watchful for this signal for i must not hem very loud 
lest she should take it for a signal perhaps in struggling to prevail
upon the dear creature i may have an opportunity to strike the door
hard with my elbow or heel to confirm you then you are to make a
violent burst against the door as if you would break it open drawing
backward and forward the bolt in a hurry then with another push but
with more noise than strength lest the lock give way cry out as if
you saw some of the family come up come up instantly here they
are here they are hasten this instant hasten and mention swords 
pistols guns with as terrible a voice as you can cry out with then
shall i prevail upon her no doubt if loth before to fly if i cannot 
i will enter the garden with her and the house too be the consequence
what it will but so affrighted these is no question but she will fly 

when you think us at a sufficient distance  and i shall raise my voice
urging her swifter flight that you may guess at that  then open the
door with your key but you must be sure to open it very cautiously 
lest we should not be far enough off i would not have her know you have
a hand in this matter out of my great regard to you 

when you have opened the door take your key out of the lock and put
it in your pocket then stooping for mine put it in the lock on the
inside that it may appear as if the door was opened by herself with
a key which they will suppose to be of my procuring it being new and
left open by us 

they should conclude she is gone off by her own consent that they may
not pursue us that they may see no hopes of tempting her back again in
either case mischief might happen you know 

but you must take notice that you are only to open the door with your
key in case none of the family come up to interrupt us and before we
are quite gone for if they do you'll find by what follows that you
must not open the door at all let them on breaking it open or by
getting over the wall find my key on the ground if they will 

if they do not come to interrupt us and if you by help of your key 
come out follow us at a distance and with uplifted hands and wild
impatient gestures running backward and forward for fear you
should come up too near us and as if you saw somebody coming to your
assistance cry out for help help and to hasten then shall we be
soon at the chariot 

tell the family that you saw me enter a chariot with her a dozen 
or more men on horseback attending us all armed some with
blunderbusses as you believe and that we took quite the contrary way
to that we should take 

you see honest joseph how careful i am as well as you to avoid
mischief 

observe to keep at such a distance that she may not discover who you
are take long strides to alter your gait and hold up your head 
honest joseph and she'll not know it to be you men's airs and gaits
are as various and peculiar as their faces pluck a stake out of one of
the hedges and tug at it though it may come easy this if she turn
back will look terrible and account for your not following us faster 
then returning with it shouldered to brag to the family what you
would have done could you have overtaken us rather than your young
lady should be carried off by such a and you may call me names 
and curse me and these airs will make you look valiant and in earnest 
you see honest joseph i am always contriving to give you reputation 
no man suffers by serving me 

but if our parley should last longer than i wish and if any of her
friends miss her before i cry hem hem twice then in order to save
yourself which is a very great point with me i assure you make the
same noise as above but as i directed before open not the door with
your key on the contrary wish for a key with all your heart but
for fear any of them should by accident have a key about them keep in
readiness half a dozen little gravel-stones no bigger than peas and
thrust two or three slily into the key-hole which will hinder their
key from turning round it is good you know joseph to provide against
every accident in such an important case as this and let this be your
cry instead of the other if any of my enemies come in your sight as
you seem to be trying to burst the door open sir sir or madam madam 
o lord hasten o lord hasten mr lovelace mr lovelace and very
loud and that shall quicken me more than it shall those you call
to if it be betty and only betty i shall think worse of your art
of making love than of your fidelity if you can't find a way to amuse
her and put her upon a false scent 


 see vol ii letter xxix 


you must tell them that your young lady seemed to run as fast off with
me as i with her this will also confirm to them that all pursuit is
in vain an end will hereby be put to solmes's hopes and her friends 
after a while will be more studious to be reconciled to her than to get
her back so you will be a happy instrument of great good to all round 
and this will one day be acknowledged by both families you will then be
every one's favourite and every good servant for the future will be
proud to be likened to honest joseph leman 

if she should guess at you or find you out i have it already in my
head to write a letter for you to copy which occasionally produced 
will set you right with her 


 see vol iii letter xxi 


this one time be diligent be careful this will be the crown of all 
and once more depend for a recompense upon the honour of

your assured friend r lovelace 

you need not be so much afraid of going too far with betty if you
should make a match with her she is a very likely creature though
a vixen as you say i have an admirable receipt to cure a termagant
wife never fear joseph but thou shalt be master of thine house if
she be very troublesome i can teach thee how to break her heart in a
twelvemonth and honestly too or the precept would not be mine 

i enclose a new earnest of my future favour 




letter iv

to robert lovelace esquier his honner sunday morning april 9 


honnered sir 

i must confesse i am infinitely obliged to your honner's bounty but
this last command it seems so intricket lord be merciful to me how
have i been led from littel stepps to grate stepps and if i should
be found out but your honner says you will take me into your honner's
sarvise and protect me if as i should at any time be found out 
and raise my wages besides or set me upp in a good inne which is my
ambishion and you will be honnerable and kind to my dearest young lady 
god love her but who can be unkind to she 

i wil do my best i am able since your honner will be apt to lose her 
as your honner says if i do not and a man so stingie will be apt
to gain her but mayhap my deareste young lady will not make all this
trubble needful if she has promissed she will stand to it i dare to
say 

i love your honner for contriveing to save mischiff so well i thought
till i know'd your honner that you was verry mischevous and plese
your honner but find it to be clene contrary your honner it is plane 
means mighty well by every body as far as i see as i am sure i do
myself for i am althoff a very plane man and all that a very honnest
one i thank my god and have good principels and have kept my young
lady's pressepts always in mind for she goes no where but saves a soul
or two more or less 

so commending myself to your honner's further favour not forgetting
the inne when your honner shall so please and good one offers for
plases are no inherritanses now-a-days and i hope your honner will
not think me a dishonest man for sarving your honner agenst my duty as
it may look but only as my conshence clears me 

be pleased howsomever if it like your honner not to call me honest
joseph so often for althoff i think myself verry honnest and all
that yet i am touched a littel for fear i should not do the quite
right thing and too besides your honner has such a fesseshious way
with you as that i hardly know whether you are in jest or earnest when
your honner calls me honnest so often 

i am a very plane man and seldom have writ to such honourable
gentlemen so you will be good enuff to pass by every thing as i have
often said and need not now say over again 

as to mrs betty i tho'te indeed she looked above me but she comes
on vere well natheless i could like her better iff she was better to
my young lady but she has too much wit for so plane a man natheless 
if she was to angre me althoff it is a shame to bete a woman yet i
colde make shift to throe my hat at her or so your honner 

but that same reseit iff your honner so please to cure a shrewish
wife it would more encurrege to wed iff so be one know'd it
before-hand as one may say so likewise if one knoed one could
honnestly as your honner says and as of the handy-work of god in one
twelvemonth 

but i shall grow impertinent to such a grate man and hereafter may
do for that as she turnes out for one mought be loth to part with her 
mayhap so verry soon too espessially if she was to make the notable
landlady your honner put into my head 

butt wonce moer begging your honner's parden and promissing all
dilligence and exsackness i reste 

your honner's dewtiful sarvant to command joseph leman 




letter v

mr lovelace to john belford esq st alban's monday night 


i snatch a few moments while my beloved is retired  as i hope to
rest   to perform my promise no pursuit nor have i apprehensions of
any though i must make my charmer dread that there will be one 

and now let me tell thee that never was joy so complete as mine but
let me inquire is not the angel flown away 


 


o no she is in the next apartment securely mine mine for ever 

 o ecstasy my heart will burst my breast 
 to leap into her bosom 

i knew that the whole stupid family were in a combination to do my
business for me i told thee that they were all working for me like so
many ground moles and still more blind than the moles are said to be 
unknowing that they did so i myself the director of their principal
motions which falling in with the malice of their little hearts they
took to be all their own 

but did i say my joy was perfect o no it receives some abatement
from my disgusted bride for how can i endure to think that i owe more
to her relations' precautions than to her favour for me or even as
far as i know to her preference of me to another man 

but let me not indulge this thought were i to do so it might cost my
charmer dear let me rejoice that she has passed the rubicon that she
cannot return that as i have ordered it the flight will appear to the
implacables to be altogether with her own consent and that if i doubt
her love i can put her to trials as mortifying to her niceness as
glorious to my pride for let me tell thee dearly as i love her if
i thought there was but the shadow of a doubt in her mind whether she
preferred me to any man living i would shew her no mercy 


tuesday day-dawn 

but on the wings of love i fly to my charmer who perhaps by this time
is rising to encourage the tardy dawn i have not slept a wink of the
hour and half i lay down to invite sleep it seems to me that i am not
so much body as to require such a vulgar renovation 

but why as in the chariot as in the inn at alighting all
heart-bursting grief my dearest creature so persecuted as thou wert
persecuted so much in danger of the most abhorred compulsion yet
grief so unsuspectedly sincere for an escape so critical take care 
take care o beloved of my soul for jealous is the heart in which love
has erected a temple to thee 

yet it must be allowed that such a sudden transition must affect her 
must ice her over when a little more used to her new situation when
her hurries are at an end when she sees how religiously i shall
observe all her injunctions she will undoubtedly have the gratitude
to distinguish between the confinement she has escaped from and the
liberty she has reason to rejoice in 

she comes she comes and the sun is just rising to attend her adieu 
be half as happy as i am for all diffidencies like night-fogs before
the sun disperse at her approach and next myself thou wilt be the
happiest man in the world 




letter vi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday april 12 


i will pursue my melancholy story 

being thus hurried to the chariot it would have been to no purpose to
have refused entering into it had he not in my fright lifted me in as
he did and it instantly drove away a full gallop and stopped not till
it brought us to st alban's which was just as the day shut in 

i thought i should have fainted several times by the way with uplifted
hands and eyes god protect me said i often to myself can it be i 
that am here my eyes running over and my heart ready to burst with
sighs as involuntarily as my flight 

how different how inexpressibly different the gay wretch visibly
triumphing as i could not but construe his almost rapturous joy in the
success of his arts but overflowing with complimental flourishes yet
respectfully distant his address all the way we flew for that rather
than galloping was the motion of the horses which took as i believe 
a round-about way to prevent being traced 

i have reason to think there were other horsemen at his devotion three
or four different persons above the rank of the servants galloping by
us now-and-then on each side of the chariot but he took no notice
of them and i had too much grief mingled with indignation 
notwithstanding all his blandishments to ask any questions about them 
or any thing else 

think my dear what were my thoughts on alighting from the chariot 
having no attendant of my own sex no clothes but what i had on and
those little suited to such a journey as i had already taken and was
still to take neither hood nor hat nor any thing but a handkerchief
round my head and shoulders fatigued to death my mind still more
fatigued than my body and in such a foam the horses that every one in
the inn we put up at guessed  they could not do otherwise  that i was
a young giddy creature who had run away from her friends this it was
easy to see by their whispering and gaping more of the people of the
house also coming in by turns than were necessary for the attendance 

the mistress of the house whom he sent in to me showed me another
apartment and seeing me ready to faint brought me hartshorn and water 
and then upon my desiring to be left alone for half an hour retired 
for i found my heart ready to burst on revolving every thing in my
thoughts and the moment she was gone fastening the door i threw
myself into an old great chair and gave way to a violent flood of
tears which a little relieved me 

mr lovelace sooner than i wished sent up the gentlewoman who pressed
me in his name to admit my brother or to come down to him for he had
told her i was his sister and that he had brought me against my will 
and without warning from a friend's house where i had been all the
winter in order to prevent my marrying against the consent of my
friends to whom he was now conducting me and that having given me no
time for a travelling-dress i was greatly offended at him 

so my dear your frank your open-hearted friend was forced to
countenance this tale which indeed suited me the better because i was
unable for some time to talk speak or look up and so my dejection 
and grief and silence might very well pass before the gentlewoman and
her niece who attended me as a fit of sullenness 

the room i was in being a bed-chamber i chose to go down at his
repeated message attended by the mistress of the house to that in
which he was he approached me with great respect yet not exceeding
a brotherly politeness where a brother is polite and calling me his
dearest sister asked after the state of my mind and hoped i would
forgive him for never brother half so well loved a sister as he me 

a wretch how naturally did he fall into the character although i was
so much out of mine 

unthinking creatures have some comfort in the shortness of their views 
in their unapprehensiveness and that they penetrate not beyond the
present moment in short that they are unthinking but for a person of
my thoughtful disposition who has been accustomed to look forward as
well to the possible as to the probable what comfort can i have in my
reflections 

but let me give you the particulars of our conversation a little before
and after our supper-time joining both in one 

when we were alone he besought me i cannot say but with all the tokens
of a passionate and respectful tenderness to be better reconciled to
myself and to him he repeated all the vows of honour and inviolable
affection that he ever made me he promised to be wholly governed by me
in every future step he asked me to give him leave to propose whether
i chose to set out next day to either of his aunts 

i was silent i knew not what to say nor what to do 

whether i chose to have private lodgings procured for me in either of
those ladies' neighbourhood as were once my thoughts 

i was still silent 

whether i chose to go to either of lord m s seats that of berks or
that in the county we were in 

in lodgings i said any where where he was not to be 

he had promised this he owned and he would religiously keep to his
word as soon as he found all danger of pursuit over and that i was
settled to my mind but if the place were indifferent to me london was
the safest and the most private and his relations should all visit
me there the moment i thought fit to admit them his cousin charlotte 
particularly should attend me as my companion if i would accept of
her as soon as she was able to go abroad mean time would i go to lady
betty lawrance's lady sarah was a melancholy woman i should be the
most welcome guest she ever received 

i told him i wished not to go immediately however and in the frame
i was in and not likely to be out of to any of his relations that my
reputation was concerned to have him absent from me that if i were in
some private lodging the meaner the less to be suspected as it would
be known that i went away by his means and he would be supposed to
have provided me handsome accommodations it would be most suitable
both to my mind and to my situation that this might be best i should
think in the country for me in town for him and no matter how soon he
was known to be there 

if he might deliver his opinion he said it was that since i declined
going to any of his relations london was the only place in the world
to be private in every new comer in a country town or village excited a
curiosity a person of my figure  and many compliments he made me  would
excite more even messages and letters where none used to be brought 
would occasion inquiry he had not provided a lodging any where 
supposing i would choose to go either to london where accommodations of
that sort might be fixed upon in an hour's time or to lady betty's or
to lord m s herfordshire seat where was the housekeeper an excellent
woman mrs greme such another as my norton 

to be sure i said if i were pursued it would be in their first
passion and some one of his relations' houses would be the place they
would expect to find me at i knew not what to do 

my pleasure should determine him he said be it what it would only
that i were safe was all he was solicitous about he had lodgings in
town but he did not offer to propose them he knew i would have more
objections to go to them than i could to go to lord m s or to lady
betty's 

no doubt of it i replied with such an indignation in my manner as
made him run over with professions that he was far from proposing them 
or wishing for my acceptance of them and again he repeated that my
honour and safety were all he was solicitous about assuring me that my
will should be a law to him in every particular 

i was too peevish and too much afflicted and indeed too much incensed
against him to take well any thing he said 

i thought myself i said extremely unhappy i knew not what to
determine upon my reputation now no doubt utterly ruined destitute
of clothes unfit to be seen by any body my very indigence as i might
call it proclaiming my folly to every one who saw me who would suppose
that i had been taken at advantage or had given an undue one and had
no power over either my will or my actions that i could not but think i
had been dealt artfully with that he had seemed to have taken what he
might suppose the just measure of my weakness founded on my youth and
inexperience that i could not forgive myself for meeting him that my
heart bled for the distresses of my father and mother on this occasion 
that i would give the world and all my hopes in it to have been still
in my father's house whatever had been my usage that let him protest
and vow what he would i saw something low and selfish in his love that
he could study to put a young creature upon making such a sacrifice of
her duty and conscience when a person actuated by a generous love 
must seek to oblige the object of it in every thing essential to her
honour and to her peace of mind 

he was very attentive to all i said never offering to interrupt me
once his answer to every article almost methodically shewed his
memory 

what i had said he told me made him very grave and he would answer
accordingly 

he was grieved at his heart to find that he had so little share in my
favour or confidence 

as to my reputation he must be very sincere with me that could not
suffer half so much by the step i so regretted to have taken as by the
confinement and equally foolish and unjust treatment i had met with
from my relations that every mouth was full of blame of them of my
brother and sister particularly and of wonder at my patience that he
must repeat what he had written to me he believed more than once that
my friends themselves expected that i should take a proper opportunity
to free myself from their persecutions why else did they confine me 
that my exalted character as he called it would still bear me out 
with those who knew me who knew my brother's and sister's motives and
who knew the wretch they were for compelling me to have 

with regard to clothes who as matters were circumstanced could
expect that i should be able to bring away any others than those i had
on at the time for present use or wear all the ladies of his family
would take a pride to supply me for future the product of the best
looms not only in england but throughout the world were at my
command 

if i wanted money as no doubt i must he should be proud to supply me 
would to heaven he might presume to hope there were but one interest
between us 

and then he would fain have had me to accept of a bank note of a hundred
pounds which unawares to me he put into my hand but which you may
be sure i refused with warmth 

he was inexpressibly grieved and surprised he said to hear me say
he had acted artfully by me he came provided according to my confirmed
appointment   a wretch to upbraid me thus   to redeem me from my
persecutors and little expected a change of sentiment and that he
should have so much difficulty to prevail upon me as he had met with 
that perhaps i might think his offer to go into the garden with me and
to face my assembled relations was a piece of art only but that if i
did i wronged him since to this hour seeing my excessive uneasiness 
he wished with all his soul he had been permitted to accompany me in 
it was always his maxim to brave a threatened danger threateners where
they have an opportunity to put in force their threats were seldom
to be feared but had he been assured of a private stab or of as many
death's wounds as there were persons in my family made desperate as
he should have been by my return he would have attended me into the
house 

so my dear what i have to do is to hold myself inexcusable for
meeting such a determined and audacious spirit that's all i have
hardly any question now but that he would have contrived some wicked
stratagem or other to have got me away had i met him at a midnight
hour as once or twice i had thoughts to do and that would have been
more terrible still 

he concluded this part of his talk with saying that he doubted not
but that had he attended me in he should have come off in every
one's opinion well that he should have had general leave to renew his
visits 

he went on he must be so bold as to tell me that he should have paid
a visit of this kind but indeed accompanied by several of his trusty
friends had i not met him and that very afternoon too for he could
not tamely let the dreadful wednesday come without making some effort
to change their determinations 

what my dear was to be done with such a man 

that therefore for my sake as well as for his own he had reason to
wish that a disease so desperate had been attempted to be overcome by as
desperate a remedy we all know said he that great ends are sometimes
brought about by the very means by which they are endeavoured to be
frustrated 

my present situation i am sure thought i affords a sad evidence of
this truth 

i was silent all this time my blame was indeed turned inward 
sometimes too i was half-frighted at his audaciousness at others had
the less inclination to interrupt him being excessively fatigued and
my spirits sunk to nothing with a view even of the best prospects with
such a man 

this gave his opportunity to proceed and that he did assuming a still
more serious air 

as to what further remained for him to say in answer to what i had
said he hoped i would pardon him but upon his soul he was concerned 
infinitely concerned he repeated his colour and his voice rising 
that it was necessary for him to observe how much i chose rather to
have run the risque of being solmes's wife than to have it in my power
to reward a man who i must forgive him had been as much insulted on my
account as i had been on his who had watched my commands and pardon
me madam ever changeable motion of your pen all hours in all
weathers and with a cheerfulness and ardour that nothing but the most
faithful and obsequious passion could inspire 

i now my dear began to revive into a little more warmth of
attention 

and all madam for what  how i stared for he stopt then a moment
or two only  went he on to prevail upon you to free yourself from
ungenerous and base oppressions' 

sir sir indignantly said i 

hear me but out dearest madam my heart is full i must speak what
i have to say to be told for your words are yet in my ears and at my
heart that you would give the world and all your hopes in it to have
been still in your cruel and gloomy father's house' 

not a word sir against my father i will not bear that 

whatever had been your usage and you have a credulity madam against
all probability if you believe you should have avoided being
solmes's wife that i have put you upon sacrificing your duty and
conscience yet dearest creature see you not the contradiction that
your warmth of temper has surprised you into when the reluctance
you shewed to the last to leave your persecutors has cleared your
conscience from the least reproach of this sort  

o sir sir are you so critical then are you so light in your anger as
to dwell upon words 

indeed my dear i have since thought that his anger was not owing to
that sudden impetus which cannot be easily bridled but rather was a
sort of manageable anger let loose to intimidate me 

forgive me madam i have just done have i not in your opinion 
hazarded my life to redeem you from oppression yet is not my reward 
after all precarious for madam have you not conditioned with me
 and hard as the condition is most sacredly will i observe it that
all my hope must be remote that you are determined to have it in your
power to favour or reject me totally as you please 

see my dear in every respect my condition changed for the worse is it
in my power to take your advice if i should think it ever so right to
take it 


 clarissa had been censured as behaving to mr lovelace in their first
conversation at st alban's and afterwards with too much reserve and
even with haughtiness surely those who have thought her to blame on
this account have not paid a due attention to the story how early as
above and in what immediately follows does he remind her of the terms
of distance which she had prescribed to him before she was in his
power in hopes to leave the door open for a reconciliation with
her friends which her heart was set upon and how artfully does he
 unrequired promise to observe the conditions in which she in her
present circumstances and situation in pursuance of miss howe's advice 
would gladly have dispensed with to say nothing of the resentment she
was under a necessity to shew at the manner of his getting her away in
order to justify to him the sincerity of her refusal to go off with him 
see in her subsequent letter to miss howe no ix her own sense upon
the subject 


and have you not furthermore declared  proceeded he that you will
engage to renounce me for ever if your friends insist upon that cruel
renunciation as the terms of being reconciled to you 

but nevertheless madam all the merit of having saved you from an
odious compulsion shall be mine i glory in it though i were to lose
you for ever as i see i am but too likely to do from your present
displeasure and especially if your friends insist upon the terms you
are ready to comply with 

that you are your own mistress through my means is i repeat my
boast as such i humbly implore your favour and that only upon the
conditions i have yielded to hope for it as i do now thus humbly 
 the proud wretch falling on one knee   your forgiveness for so long
detaining your ear and for all the plain dealing that my undesigning
heart would not be denied to utter by my lips 

o sir pray rise let the obliged kneel if one of us must kneel but 
nevertheless proceed not in this strain i beseech you you have had
a great deal of trouble about me but had you let me know in time that
you expected to be rewarded for it at the price of my duty i should
have spared you much of it 

far be it from me sir to depreciate merit so extraordinary but let me
say that had it not been for the forbidden correspondence i was teased
by you into and which i had not continued every letter for many
letters intended to be the last but because i thought you a sufferer
from my friends i had not been either confined or ill treated nor
would my brother's low-meant violence have had a foundation to work
upon 

i am far from thinking my case would have been so very desperate as you
imagine had i staid my father loved me in his heart he would not see
me before and i wanted only to see him and to be heard and a delay
of his sentence was the least thing i expected from the trial i was to
stand 

you are boasting of your merits sir let merit be your boast nothing
else can attract me if personal considerations had principal weight
with me either in solmes's disfavour or in your favour i shall
despise myself if you value yourself upon them in preference to the
person of the poor solmes i shall despise you 

you may glory in your fancied merits in getting me away but the cause
of your glory i tell you plainly is my shame 

make to yourself a title to my regard which i can better approve of or
else you will not have so much merit with me as you have with yourself 

but here sir like the first pair i at least driven out of my
paradise are we recriminating no more shall you need to tell me of
your sufferings and your merits your all hours and all weathers for
i will bear them in memory as long as i live and if it be impossible
for me to reward them be ever ready to own the obligation all that
i desire of you now is to leave it to myself to seek for some private
abode to take the chariot with you to london or elsewhere and if
i have any further occasion for your assistance and protection i will
signify it to you and be still further obliged to you 

you are warm my dearest life but indeed there is no occasion for it 
had i any views unworthy of my faithful love for you i should not have
been so honest in my declarations 

then he began again to vow the sincerity of his intentions 

but i took him up short i am willing to believe you sir it would
be insupportable but to suppose there were a necessity for such solemn
declarations  at this he seemed to collect himself as i may say into
a little more circumspection   if i thought there were i would not sit
with you here in a public inn i assure you although cheated hither 
as far as i know by methods you must excuse me sir which but
to suspect will hardly let me have patience either with you or with
myself but no more of this just now let me i beseech you good sir 
bowing  i was very angry   let me only know whether you intend to leave
me or whether i have only escaped from one confinement to another 

cheated hither as far as i know madam let you know and with that
air too charming though grievous to my heart if you have only
escaped from one confinement to another amazing perfectly amazing and
can there be a necessity for me to answer this you are absolutely your
own mistress it was very strange if you were not the moment you are
in a place of safety i will leave you to one condition only give me
leave to beg your consent it is this that you will be pleased now you
are so entirely in your own power to renew a promise voluntarily made
before voluntarily or i would not now presume to request it for
although i would not be thought capable of growing upon concession yet
i cannot bear to think of losing the ground your goodness had given
me room to hope i had gained that make up how you please with your
relations you will never marry any other man while i am living and
single unless i should be so wicked as to give new cause for high
displeasure 

i hesitate not to confirm this promise sir upon your own condition in
what manner do you expect to confirm it 

only madam by your word 

then i never will 

he had the assurance i was now in his power to salute me as a sealing
of my promise as he called it his motion was so sudden that i was not
aware of it it would have looked affected to be very angry yet i could
not be pleased considering this as a leading freedom from a spirit so
audacious and encroaching and he might see that i was not 

he passed all that by with an air peculiar to himself enough enough 
dearest madam and now let me beg of you but to conquer this dreadful
uneasiness which gives me to apprehend too much for my jealous love to
bear and it shall be my whole endeavour to deserve your favour and to
make you the happiest woman in the world as i shall be the happiest of
men 

i broke from him to write to you my preceding letter but refused to
send it by his servant as i told you the mistress of the house helped
me to a messenger who was to carry what you should give him to lord
m s seat in hertfordshire directed for mrs greme the housekeeper
there and early in the morning for fear of pursuit we were to set
out that way and there he proposed to change the chariot and six for a
chaise and pair of his own which he had at that seat as it would be a
less-noticed conveyance 

i looked over my little stock of money and found it to be no more
than seven guineas and some silver the rest of my stock was but fifty
guineas and that five more than i thought it was when my sister
challenged me as to the sum i had by me and those i left in my
escritoire little intending to go away with him 


 see vol i letter xliii 


indeed my case abounds with a shocking number of indelicate
circumstances among the rest i was forced to account to him who knew
i could have no clothes but what i had on how i came to have linen with
me for he could not but know i sent for it lest he should imagine
i had an early design to go away with him and made that part of the
preparation 

he most heartily wished he said for my mind's sake that your mother
would have afforded me her protection and delivered himself upon this
subject with equal freedom and concern 

there are my dear miss howe a multitude of punctilios and decorums 
which a young creature must dispense with who in a situation like
mine makes a man the intimate attendant of her person i could now 
i think give twenty reasons stronger than any i have heretofore
mentioned why women of the least delicacy should never think of
incurring the danger and the disgrace of taking the step i have been
drawn in to take but with horror and aversion and why they should look
upon the man who should tempt them to it as the vilest and most selfish
of seducers 


 


before five o'clock tuesday morning the maidservant came up to tell me
that my brother was ready and that breakfast also waited for me in
the parlour i went down with a heart as heavy as my eyes and received
great acknowledgements and compliments from him on being so soon
dressed and ready as he interpreted it to continue on our journey 

he had the thought which i had not for what had i to do with thinking who
had it not when i stood most in need of it to purchase for me a velvet
hood and a short cloke trimmed with silver without saying any thing
to me he must reward himself the artful encroacher said before the
landlady and her maids and niece for his forethought and would salute
his pretty sullen sister he took his reward and as he said before 
a tear with it while he assured me still before them  a vile wretch  
that i had nothing to fear from meeting with parents who so dearly loved
me 

how could i be complaisant my dear to such a man as this 

when we had got in the chariot and it began to move he asked me 
whether i had any objection to go to lord m s hertfordshire seat his
lordship he said was at his berkshire one 

i told him i chose not to go as yet to any of his relations for that
would indicate a plain defiance to my own my choice was to go to a
private lodging and for him to be at a distance from me at least till
i heard how things were taken by my friends for that although i had
but little hopes of a reconciliation as it was yet if they knew i was
in his protection or in that of any of his friends which would be
looked upon as the same thing there would not be room for any hopes at
all 

i should govern him as i pleased he solemnly assured me in every
thing but he still thought london was the best place for me and if i
were once safe there and in a lodging to my liking he would go to m 
hall but as i approved not of london he would urge it no further 

he proposed and i consented to put up at an inn in the neighbourhood
of the lawn as he called lord m s seat in this county since i chose
not to go thither and here i got two hours to myself which i told him
i should pass in writing another letter to you meaning my narrative 
which though greatly fatigued i had begun at st alban's and in one
to my sister to apprise the family whether they were solicitous about
it or not that i was well and to beg that my clothes some particular
books and the fifty guineas i had left in my escritoire might be sent
me 

he asked if i had considered whither to have them directed 

indeed not i i told him i was a stranger to 

so was he he interrupted me but it struck him by chance 

wicked story-teller 

but added he i will tell you madam how it shall be managed if
you don't choose to go to london it is nevertheless best that your
relations should think you there for then they will absolutely despair
of finding you if you write be pleased to direct to be left for you 
at mr osgood's near soho-square mr osgood is a man of reputation 
and this will effectually amuse them 

amuse them my dear amuse whom my father my uncles but it must
be so all his expedients ready you see 

i had no objection to this and i have written accordingly but what
answer i shall have or whether any that is what gives me no small
anxiety 

this however is one consolation that if i have an answer and
although my brother should be the writer it cannot be more severe than
the treatment i have of late received from him and my sister 

mr lovelace staid out about an hour and half and then came in 
impatiently sending up to me no less than four times to desire
admittance but i sent him word as often that i was busy and at last 
that i should be so till dinner was ready he then hastened that as i
heard him now-and-then with a hearty curse upon the cook and waiters 

this is another of his perfections i ventured afterwards to check him
for his free words as we sat at dinner 

having heard him swear at his servant when below whom nevertheless 
he owns to be a good one it is a sad life said i these innkeepers
live mr lovelace 

no pretty well i believe but why madam think you that fellows who
eat and drink at other men's cost or they are sorry innkeepers should
be entitled to pity 

because of the soldiers they are obliged to quarter who are generally 
i believe wretched profligates bless me said i how i heard one of
them swear and curse just now at a modest meek man as i judge by his
low voice and gentle answers well do they make it a proverb like a
trooper 

he bit his lip arose turned upon his heel stept to the glass and
looking confidently abashed if i may say so ay madam said he 
these troopers are sad swearing fellows i think their officers should
chastise them for it 

i am sure they deserve chastisement replied i for swearing is a most
unmanly vice and cursing as poor and low a one since they proclaim the
profligate's want of power and his wickedness at the same time for 
could such a one punish as he speaks he would be a fiend 

charmingly observed by my soul madam the next trooper i hear swear
and curse i'll tell him what an unmanly and what a poor wretch he is 

mrs greme came to pay her duty to me as mr lovelace called it and
was very urgent with me to go to her lord's house letting me know what
handsome things she had heard of her lord and his two nieces and all
the family say of me and what wishes for several months past they had
put up for the honour she now hoped would soon be done them all 

this gave me some satisfaction as it confirmed from the mouth of a very
good sort of woman all that mr lovelace had told me 

upon inquiry about a private lodging she recommended me to a
sister-in-law of hers eight miles from thence where i now am and what
pleased me the better was that mr lovelace of whom i could see she
was infinitely observant obliged her of his own motion to accompany
me in the chaise himself riding on horseback with his two servants 
and one of lord m s and here we arrived about four o'clock 

but as i told you in my former the lodgings are inconvenient mr 
lovelace indeed found great fault with them and told mrs greme who
had said that they were not worthy of us that they came not up even to
her own account of them as the house was a mile from a town it was not
proper for him he said to be so far distant from me lest any thing
should happen and yet the apartments were not separate and distinct
enough for me to like them he was sure 

this must be agreeable enough for him you will believe 

mrs greme and i had a good deal of talk in the chaise about him she
was very easy and free in her answers to all i asked and has i find a
very serious turn 

i led her on to say to the following effect some part of it not unlike
what lord m s dismissed bailiff had said before by which i find that
all the servants have a like opinion of him 

that mr lovelace was a generous man that it was hard to say whether
the servants of her lord's family loved or feared him most that her
lord had a very great affection for him that his two noble aunts were
not less fond of him that his cousins montague were as good natured
young ladies as ever lived that lord m and lady sarah and lady betty
had proposed several ladies to him before he made his addresses to me 
and even since despairing to move me and my friends in his favour but
that he had no thoughts of marrying at all she had heard him say if it
were not to me that as well her lord as the two ladies his sisters were
a good deal concerned at the ill-usage he received from my family but
admired my character and wished to have him married to me although i
were not to have a shilling in preference to any other person from the
opinion they had of the influence i should have over him that to be
sure mr lovelace was a wild gentleman but wildness was a distemper
which would cure itself that her lord delighted in his company 
whenever he could get it but that they often fell out and his lordship
was always forced to submit indeed was half afraid of him she
believed for mr lovelace would do as he pleased she mingled a
thousand pities often that he acted not up to the talents lent him yet
would have it that he had fine qualities to found a reformation upon 
and when the happy day came would make amends for all and of this all
his friends were so assured that they wished for nothing so earnestly 
as for his marriage 

this indifferent as it is is better than my brother says of him 

the people of the house here are very honest-looking industrious folks 
mrs sorlings is the gentlewoman's name the farm seems well stocked 
and thriving she is a widow has two sons men grown who vie with each
other which shall take most pains in promoting the common good and they
are both of them i already see more respectful to two modest young
women their sisters than my brother was to his sister 

i believe i must stay here longer than at first i thought i should 

i ought to have mentioned that before i set out for this place i
received your kind letter every thing is kind from so dear a friend 


 see vol ii letter xlvii 


i own that after i had told you of my absolute determination not to go
away with him you might well be surprised at your first hearing that
i was actually gone the lord bless me my dear i myself at times can
hardly believe it is i that have been led to take so strange a step 

i have not the better opinion of mr lovelace for his extravagant
volubility he is too full of professions he says too many fine things
of me and to me true respect true value i think lies not in words 
words cannot express it the silent awe the humble the doubting eye 
and even the hesitating voice better shew it by much than as our
beloved shakespeare says 

 the rattling tongue
 of saucy and audacious eloquence 

the man indeed at times is all upon the ecstatic one of his phrases 
but to my shame and confusion i must say that i know too well to what
to attribute his transports in one word it is to his triumph my
dear and to impute it to that perhaps equally exposes my vanity and
condemns my folly 

we have been alarmed with notions of a pursuit founded upon a letter
from his intelligencer 

how do different circumstances either sanctify or condemn the same
action what care ought we to take not to confound the distinctions of
right and wrong when self comes in the question i condemned in mr 
lovelace the corrupting of a servant of my father's and now i am glad
to give a kind of indirect approbation of that fault by inquiring of
him what he hears by that or any other way of the manner in which my
relations took my flight a preconcerted forward and artful flight it
must undoubtedly appear to them how grievous is that to think of yet
how as long as i am situated can i put them right 

most heavily he says they take it but shew not so much grief as rage 
and he can hardly have patience to hear of the virulence and menaces
of my brother against himself then a merit is made to me of his
forbearance 

what a satisfaction am i robbed of my dearest friend when i reflect
upon my inconsiderateness o that i had it still in my power to say i
suffered wrong rather than did wrong that others were more wanting in
their kindness to me than i duty where duty is owing to them 

fie upon me for meeting the seducer let all end as happily as it now
may i have laid up for myself remorse for my whole life 

what still more concerns me is that every time i see this man i am
still at a greater loss than before what to make of him i watch every
turn of his countenance and i think i see very deep lines in it he
looks with more meaning i verily think than he used to look yet not
more serious not less gay i don't know how he looks but with more
confidence a great deal than formerly and yet he never wanted that 

but here is the thing i behold him with fear now as conscious of the
power my indiscretion has given him over me and well may he look more
elate when he sees me deprived of all the self-supposed significance 
which adorns and exalts a person who has been accustomed to respect and
who now by a conscious inferiority allows herself to be overcome 
and in a state of obligation as i may say to a man who from a humble
suitor to her for her favour assumes the consequence and airs of a
protector 

i shall send this as my former by a poor man who travels every day
with pedlary matters he will leave it at mrs knolly's as you direct 

if you hear any thing of my father and mother and of their health and
how my friends were affected by my unhappy step pray be so good as to
write me a few lines by the messenger if his waiting for them can be
known to you 

i am afraid to ask you whether upon reading that part of my narrative
already in your hands you think any sort of extenuation lies for

your unhappy clarissa harlowe 




letter vii

mr lovelace to john belford esq tuesday wedn april 11 12 


you claim my promise that i will be as particular as possible in
all that passes between me and my goddess indeed i never had a more
illustrious subject to exercise my pen and moreover i have leisure 
for by her good will my access would be as difficult to her as that of
the humblest slave to an eastern monarch nothing then but inclination
to write can be wanting and since our friendship and your obliging
attendance upon me at the white hart will not excuse that i will
endeavour to keep my word 

i parted with thee and thy brethren with a full resolution thou
knowest to rejoin ye if she once again disappointed me in order to go
together attended by our servants for shew sake to the gloomy father 
and demand audience of the tyrant upon the freedoms taken with my
character in short to have tried by fair resolutions and treat his
charming daughter with less inhumanity and me with more civility 

i told thee my reasons for not going in search of a letter of
countermand i was right for if i had i should have found such a one 
and had i received it she would not have met me did she think that
after i had been more than once disappointed i would not keep her to
her promise that i would not hold her to it when i had got her in so
deeply 

the moment i heard the door unbolt i was sure of her that motion
made my heart bound to my throat but when that was followed with the
presence of my charmer flashing upon me all at once in a flood of
brightness sweetly dressed though all unprepared for a journey i trod
air and hardly thought myself a mortal 

thou shalt judge of her dress as at the moment i first beheld her she
appeared to me and as upon a nearer observation she really was i am
a critic thou knowest in women's dresses many a one have i taught
to dress and helped to undress but there is such a native elegance in
this lady that she surpasses all that i could imagine surpassing but
then her person adorns what she wears more than dress can adorn her 
and that's her excellence 

expect therefore a faint sketch of her admirable person with her dress 

her wax-like flesh for after all flesh and blood i think she is by
its delicacy and firmness answers for the soundness of her health thou
hast often heard me launch out in praise of her complexion i never in
my life beheld a skins so illustriously fair the lily and the driven
snow it is nonsense to talk of her lawn and her laces one might indeed
compare to those but what a whited wall would a woman appear to be 
who had a complexion which would justify such unnatural comparisons but
this lady is all glowing all charming flesh and blood yet so clear 
that every meandring vein is to be seen in all the lovely parts of her
which custom permits to be visible 

thou has heard me also describe the wavy ringlets of her shining hair 
needing neither art nor powder of itself an ornament defying all
other ornaments wantoning in and about a neck that is beautiful beyond
description 

her head-dress was a brussels-lace mob peculiarly adapted to the
charming air and turn of her features a sky-blue ribband illustrated
that but although the weather was somewhat sharp she had not on either
hat or hood for besides that she loves to use herself hardily by
which means and by a temperance truly exemplary she is allowed to have
given high health and vigour to an originally tender constitution she
seems to have intended to shew me that she was determined not to stand
to her appointment o jack that such a sweet girl should be a rogue 

her morning gown was a pale primrose-coloured paduasoy the cuffs
and robins curiously embroidered by the fingers of this ever-charming
arachne in a running pattern of violets and their leaves the light in
the flowers silver gold in the leaves a pair of diamond snaps in
her ears a white handkerchief wrought by the same inimitable fingers
concealed o belford what still more inimitable beauties did it not
conceal and i saw all the way we rode the bounding heart by its
throbbing motions i saw it dancing beneath her charming umbrage 

her ruffles were the same as her mob her apron a flowered lawn her
coat white sattin quilted blue sattin her shoes braided with the same
colour without lace for what need has the prettiest foot in the world
of ornament neat buckles in them and on her charming arms a pair of
black velvet glove-like muffs of her own invention for she makes and
gives fashions as she pleases her hands velvet of themselves thus
uncovered the freer to be grasped by those of her adorer 

i have told thee what were my transports when the undrawn bolt
presented to me my long-expected goddess her emotions were more sweetly
feminine after the first moments for then the fire of her starry eyes
began to sink into a less dazzling languor she trembled nor knew
she how to support the agitations of a heart she had never found so
ungovernable she was even fainting when i clasped her in my supporting
arms what a precious moment that how near how sweetly near the
throbbing partners 

by her dress i saw as i observed before how unprepared she was for
a journey and not doubting her intention once more to disappoint me i
would have drawn her after me then began a contention the most vehement
that ever i had with woman it would pain thy friendly heart to be told
the infinite trouble i had with her i begged i prayed on my knees 
yet in vain i begged and prayed her to answer her own appointment and
had i not happily provided for such a struggle knowing whom i had to
deal with i had certainly failed in my design and as certainly would
have accompanied her in without thee and thy brethren and who knows
what might have been the consequence 

but my honest agent answering my signal though not quite so soon as i
expected in the manner thou knowest i had prescribed they are coming 
they are coming fly fly my beloved creature cried i drawing my
sword with a flourish as if i would have slain half an hundred of the
supposed intruders and seizing her trembling hands i drew her after
me so swiftly that my feet winged by love could hardly keep pace with
her feet agitated by fear and so i became her emperor 

i'll tell thee all when i see thee and thou shalt then judge of my
difficulties and of her perverseness and thou wilt rejoice with me at
my conquest over such a watchful and open-eyed charmer 

but seest thou not now as i think i do the wind outstripping fair one
flying from her love to her love is there not such a game nay flying
from her friends she was resolved not to abandon to the man she was
determined not to go off with the sex the sex all over charming
contradiction hah hah hah hah i must here i must here lay down
my pen to hold my sides for i must have my laugh out now the fit is
upon me 


 


i believe i believe hah hah hah i believe jack my dogs conclude
me mad for here has one of them popt in as if to see what ailed me or
whom i had with me hah hah hah an impudent dog o jack knewest thou
my conceit and were but thy laugh joined to mine i believe it would
hold me for an hour longer 

but o my best beloved fair one repine not thou at the arts by which
thou suspectest thy fruitless vigilence has been over watched take
care that thou provokest not new ones that may be still more worthy
of thee if once thy emperor decrees thy fall thou shalt greatly fall 
thou shalt have cause if that come to pass which may come to pass for
why wouldst thou put off marriage to so long a day as till thou hadst
reason to be convinced of my reformation dearest thou shalt have
cause never fear to sit down more dissatisfied with the stars than
with thyself and come the worst to the worst glorious terms will i
give thee thy garrison with general prudence at the head and governor
watchfulness bringing up the rear shall be allowed to march out with
all the honours due to so brave a resistance and all thy sex and all
mine that hear of my stratagems and of thy conduct shall acknowledge
the fortress as nobly won as defended 

thou wilt not dare methinks i hear thee say to attempt to reduce such
a goddess as this to a standard unworthy of her excellencies it is
impossible lovelace that thou shouldst intent to break through oaths
and protestations so solemn 

that i did not intend it is certain that i do intend it i cannot my
heart my reverence for her will not let me say but knowest thou not
my aversion to the state of shackles and is she not in my power 

and wilt thou lovelace abuse that power which 

which what belford which i obtained not by her own consent but
against it 

but which thou never hadst obtained had she not esteemed thee above
all men 

and which i had never taken so much pains to obtain had i not loved her
above all women so far upon a par jack and if thou pleadest honour 
ought not honour to be mutual if mutual does it not imply mutual
trust mutual confidence and what have i had of that from her to boast
of thou knowest the whole progress of our warfare for a warfare it
has truly been and far very far from an amorous warfare too doubts 
mistrusts upbraidings on her part humiliations the most abject on
mine obliged to assume such airs of reformation that every varlet of
ye has been afraid i should reclaim in good earnest and hast thou not
thyself frequently observed to me how awkwardly i returned to my usual
gayety after i had been within a mile of her father's garden-wall 
although i had not seen her 

does she not deserve to pay for all this to make an honest fellow look
like an hypocrite what a vile thing is that 

then thou knowest what a false little rogue she has been how little
conscience she has made of disappointing me hast thou not been a
witness of my ravings on this score have i not in the height of them 
vowed revenge upon the faithless charmer and if i must be forsworn 
whether i answer her expectations or follow my own inclinations and if
the option be in my own power can i hesitate a moment which to choose 

then i fancy by her circumspection and her continual grief that she
expects some mischief from me i don't care to disappoint any body i
have a value for 

but o the noble the exalted creature who can avoid hesitating when he
thinks of an offence against her who can but pity 

yet on the other hand so loth at last to venture though threatened
to be forced into the nuptial fetters with a man whom to look upon as
a rival is to disgrace myself so sullen now she has ventured what
title has she to pity and to a pity which her pride would make her
disclaim 

but i resolve not any way i will see how her will works and how my
will leads me on i will give the combatants fair play and yet every
time i attend her i find that she is less in my power i more in hers 

yet a foolish little rogue to forbid me to think of marriage till i am
a reformed man till the implacables of her family change their natures 
and become placable 

it is true when she was for making those conditions she did not think 
that without any she should be cheated out of herself for so the dear
soul as i may tell thee in its place phrases it 

how it swells my pride to have been able to outwit such a vigilant
charmer i am taller by half a yard in my imagination than i was i look
down upon every body now last night i was still more extravagant i
took off my hat as i walked to see if the lace were not scorched 
supposing it had brushed down a star and before i put it on again in
mere wantonness and heart's ease i was for buffeting the moon 

in short my whole soul is joy when i go to bed i laugh myself asleep 
and i awake either laughing or singing yet nothing nearly in view 
neither for why i am not yet reformed enough 

i told thee at the time if thou rememberest how capable this
restriction was of being turned upon the over-scrupulous dear creature 
could i once get her out of her father's house and were i disposed to
punish her for her family's faults and for the infinite trouble she
herself had given me little thinks she that i have kept an account of
both and that when my heart is soft and all her own i can but turn
to my memoranda and harden myself at once 

o my charmer look to it abate of thy haughty airs value not thyself
upon thy sincerity if thou art indifferent to me i will not bear it
now art thou not in my power nor if thou lovest me think that
the female affectation of denying thy love will avail thee now with a
heart so proud and so jealous as mine remember moreover that all thy
family sins are upon thy head 

but ah jack when i see my angel when i am admitted to the presence of
this radiant beauty what will become of all this vapouring 

but be my end what it may i am obliged by thy penetration fair one 
to proceed by the sap fair and softly a wife at any time marriage
will be always in my power 

when put to the university the same course of initial studies will
qualify the yonker for the one line or the other the genius ought to
point out the future lawyer divine or physician so the same cautious
conduct with such a vigilance will do either for the wife or for the
no-wife when i reform i'll marry tis time enough for the one the
lady must say for the other say i 

but how i ramble this is to be in such a situation that i know not
what to resolve upon 

i'll tell thee my inclinings as i proceed the pro's and the con's i'll
tell thee but being got too far from the track i set out in i will
close here i may however write every day something and send it as
opportunity offers 

regardless nevertheless i shall be in all i write of connection 
accuracy or of any thing but of my own imperial will and pleasure 




letter viii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe wednesday night april 12 


i have your narrative my dear you are the same noble creature you
ever were above disguise above art above attempting to extenuate a
failing 

the only family in the world yours surely that could have driven such
a daughter upon such extremities 

but you must not be so very much too good for them and for the case 

you lay the blame so properly and so unsparingly upon your meeting him 
that nothing can be added to that subject by your worst enemies were
they to see what you have written 

i am not surprised now i have read your narrative that so bold and so
contriving a man i am forced to break off 


 


you stood it out much better and longer here again comes my bustling 
jealous mother 


 


don't be angry at yourself did you not do for the best at the time as
to your first fault the answering his letters it was always incumbent
upon you to assume the guardianship of such a family when the bravo of
it had run riot as he did and brought himself into danger 

except your mother who has no will of her own have any of them common
sense 

forgive me my dear here is that stupid uncle antony of yours a
pragmatical conceited positive he came yesterday in a fearful
pucker and puffed and blowed and stumped about our hall and parlour 
while his message was carried up 

my mother was dressing these widows are as starched as the old
bachelors she would not see him in a dishabille for the world what can
she mean by it 

his errand was to set her against you and to shew her their determined
rage on your going away the issue proved too evidently that this was
the principal end of his visit 

the odd creature desired to speak with her alone i am not used to such
exceptions whenever any visits are made to my mother 

when she was primed out down she came to him they locked themselves
in the two positive heads were put together close together i suppose 
for i listened but could hear nothing distinctly though they both
seemed full of their subject 

i had a good mind once or twice to have made them open the door 
could i have been sure of keeping but tolerably my temper i would have
demanded admittance but i was afraid if i had obtained it that i
should have forgot it was my mother's house and been for turning
him out of it to come to rave against and abuse my dearest dearest 
faultless friend and the ravings to be encouraged and perhaps joined
in in order to justify themselves the one for contributing to drive
that dear friend out of her father's house the other for refusing her
a temporary asylum till the reconciliation could have been effected 
which her dutiful heart was set upon and which it would have become
the love which my mother had ever pretended for you to have mediated
for could i have had patience 

the issue as i said shewed what the errand was its fusty appearance 
after the old fusty fellow was marched off  you must excuse me my
dear   was in a kind of gloomy harlowe-like reservedness in my mother 
which upon a few resenting flirts of mine was followed by a rigorous
prohibition of correspondence 

this put us you may suppose upon terms not the most agreeable i
desired to know if i were prohibited dreaming of you for my dear 
you have all my sleeping as well as waking hours 

i can easily allow for your correspondence with your wretch at first
 and yet your notions were excellent by the effect this prohibition has
upon me since if possible it has made me love you better than before 
and i am more desirous than ever of corresponding with you 

but i have nevertheless a much more laudable motive i should think
myself the unworthiest of creatures could i be brought to slight a
dear friend and such a meritorious one in her distress i would die
first and so i told my mother and i have desired her not to watch me
in my retired hours nor to insist upon my lying with her constantly 
which she now does more earnestly than ever twere better i told her 
that the harlowe-betty were borrowed to be set over me 

mr hickman who so greatly honours you has unknown to me interposed
so warmly in your favour with my mother that it makes for him no small
merit with me 

i cannot at present write to every particular unless i would be in
set defiance tease tease tease for ever the same thing though
answered fifty times over in every hour to be repeated lord bless
me what a life must my poor father but let me remember to whom i am
writing 

if this ever-active ever-mischievous monkey of a man this lovelace 
contrived as you suspect but here comes my mother again ay stay a
little longer my mamma if you please i can but be suspected i can
but be chidden for making you wait and chidden i am sure to be whether
i do or not in the way you my good mamma are antony'd into 

bless me how impatient she is how she thunders at the door this
moment madam how came i to double-lock myself if what have i done
with the key duce take the key dear madam you flutter one so 


 


you may believe my dear that i took care of my papers before i opened
the door we have had a charming dialogue she flung from me in a
passion 

so what's now to be done sent for down in a very peremptory manner 
i assure you what an incoherent letter will you have when i get it
to you but now i know where to send it mr hickman shall find me a
messenger yet if he be detected poor soul he will be harlowed-off 
as well as his meek mistress 


thursday april 13 

i have this moment your continuation-letter and am favoured at
present with the absence of my argus-eyes mother 

dear creature i can account for all your difficulties a young lady of
your delicacy and with such a man i must be brief 

the man's a fool my dear with all his pride and with all his
complaisance and affected regards to your injunctions yet his ready
inventions 

sometimes i think you should go to lady betty's i know not what to
advise you to do i should if you were not so intent upon reconciling
yourself to your relations yet they are implacable you can have no
hopes of them your uncle's errand to my mother may convince you of
that and if you have an answer to your letter to your sister that will
confirm you i dare say 

you need not to have been afraid of asking me whether upon reading your
narrative i thought any extenuation could lie for what you have done i
have as above before i had your question told you my mind as to that 
and i repeat i think your provocations and inducements considered 
that ever young creature was who took such a step 

but you took it not you were driven on one side and possibly tricked
on the other if any woman on earth shall be circumstanced as you were 
and shall hold out so long as you did against her persecutors on one
hand and her seducer on the other i will forgive her for all the rest
of her conduct be it what it will 

all your acquaintance you may suppose talk of nobody but you some
indeed bring your admirable character for a plea against you but nobody
does or can acquit your father and uncles 

every body seems apprized of your brother's and sister's motives your
flight is no doubt the very thing they aimed to drive you to by the
various attacks they made upon you unhoping as they must do all the
time the success of their schemes in solmes's behalf they knew that
if once you were restored to favour the suspended love of your father
and uncles like a river breaking down a temporary obstruction would
return with double force and that then you would expose and triumph
over all their arts and now i hear they enjoy their successful
malice 

your father is all rage and violence he ought i am sure to turn his
rage inward all your family accuse you of acting with deep art and are
put upon supposing that you are actually every hour exulting over them 
with your man in the success of it 

they all pretend now that your trial of wednesday was to be the last 

advantage would indeed my mother owns have been taken of your
yielding if you had yielded but had you not been prevailed upon they
would have given up their scheme and taken your promise for renouncing
lovelace believe them who will 

they own however that a minister was to be present mr solmes was
to be at hand and your father was previously to try his authority over
you in order to make you sign the settlements all of it a romantic
contrivance of your wild-headed foolish brother i make no doubt is
it likely that he and bell would have given way to your restoration to
favour supposing it in their power to hinder it on any other terms
than those their hearts had been so long set upon 

how they took your flight when they found it out may be better
supposed than described 

your aunt hervey it seems was the first that went down to the ivy
summer-house in order to acquaint you that their search was over 
betty followed her and they not finding you there went on towards the
cascade according to a hint of yours 

returning by the garden-door they met a servant  they don't say it was
joseph leman but it is very likely that it was he  running as he said 
from pursuing mr lovelace a great hedge-stake in his hand and out of
breath to alarm the family 

if it were this fellow and if he were employed in the double agency of
cheating them and cheating you what shall we think of the wretch you
are with run away from him my dear if so no matter to whom or marry
him if you cannot 

your aunt and all your family were accordingly alarmed by this
fellow evidently when too late for pursuit they got together and when
a posse ran to the place of interview and some of them as far as to
the tracks of the chariot wheels without stopping and having heard the
man's tale upon the spot a general lamentation a mutual upbraiding 
and rage and grief were echoed from the different persons according
to their different tempers and conceptions and they returned like fools
as they went 

your brother at first ordered horses and armed men to be got ready for
a pursuit solmes and your uncle tony were to be of the party but your
mother and your aunt hervey dissuaded them from it for fear of adding
evil to evil not doubting but lovelace had taken measures to support
himself in what he had done and especially when the servant declared 
that he saw you run with him as fast as you could set foot to the
ground and that there were several armed men on horseback at a small
distance off 


 


my mother's absence was owing to her suspicion that the knolly's were
to assist in our correspondence she made them a visit upon it she does
every thing at once and they have promised that no more letters shall
be left there without her knowledge 

but mr hickman has engaged one filmer a husbandman in the lane we call
finch-lane near us to receive them thither you will be pleased to
direct yours under cover to mr john soberton and mr hickman himself
will call for them there and there shall leave mine it goes against me
too to make him so useful to me he looks already so proud upon it 
i shall have him  who knows   give himself airs he had best consider 
that the favour he has been long aiming at may put him into a
very dangerous a very ticklish situation he that can oblige may
disoblige happy for some people not to have it in their power to
offend 

i will have patience if i can for a while to see if these bustlings
in my mother will subside but upon my word i will not long bear this
usage 

sometimes i am ready to think that my mother carries it thus on purpose
to tire me out and to make me the sooner marry if i find it to be so 
and that hickman in order to make a merit with me is in the low plot 
i will never bear him in my sight 

plotting wretch as i doubt your man is i wish to heaven that you
were married that you might brave them all and not be forced to hide
yourself and be hurried from one inconvenient place to another i
charge you omit not to lay hold on any handsome opportunity that may
offer for that purpose 

here again comes my mother 


 


we look mighty glum upon each other i can tell you she had not best
harlowe me at this rate i won't bear it 

i have a vast deal to write i know not what to write first yet my mind
is full and ready to run over 

i am got into a private corner of the garden to be out of her
way lord help these mothers do they think they can prevent a
daughter's writing or doing any thing she has a mind to do by
suspicion watchfulness and scolding they had better place a
confidence in one by half a generous mind scorns to abuse a generous
confidence 

you have a nice a very nice part to act with this wretch who yet has 
i think but one plain path before him i pity you but you must
make the best of the lot you have been forced to draw yet i see your
difficulties but if he do not offer to abuse your confidence i would
have you seem at least to place some in him 

if you think not of marrying soon i approve of your resolution to fix
somewhere out of his reach and if he know not where to find you so
much the better yet i verily believe they would force you back could
they but come at you if they were not afraid of him 

i think by all means you should demand of both your trustees to be put
in possession of your own estate mean time i have sixty guineas at your
service i beg you will command them before they are gone i'll take
care you shall be further supplied i don't think you'll have a shilling
or a shilling's worth of your own from your relations unless you extort
it from them 

as they believe you went away by your own consent they are it seems 
equally surprised and glad that you have left your jewels and money
behind you and have contrived for clothes so ill very little
likelihood this shews of their answering your requests 

indeed every one who knows not what i now know must be at a loss to
account for your flight as they will call it and how my dear can
one report it with any tolerable advantage to you to say you did not
intend it when you met him who will believe it to say that a person
of your known steadiness and punctilio was over-persuaded when you gave
him the meeting how will that sound to say you were tricked out of
yourself and people were given credit to it how disreputable and
while unmarried and yet with him the man a man of such a character 
what would it not lead a censuring world to think 

i want to see how you put it in your letter for your clothes 

as you may depend upon all the little spiteful things they can offer 
instead of sending what you write for pray accept the sum that i
tender what will seven guineas do and i will find a way to send you
also any of my clothes and linen for present supply i beg my dear
clarissa that you will not put your anna howe upon a footing with
lovelace in refusing to accept of my offer if you do not oblige me i
shall be apt to think you rather incline to be obliged to him than to
favour me and if i find this i shall not know how to reconcile it with
your delicacy in other respects 

pray inform me of every thing that passes between you and him my cares
for you however needless from your own prudence make me wish you to
continue to be every minute if any thing occur that you would tell me
of if i were present fail not to put it down in writing although
from your natural diffidence it should not appear to you altogether so
worthy of your pen or my knowing a stander-by may see more of the game
than one that plays great consequences like great folks generally owe
their greatness to small causes and little incidents 

upon the whole i do not now think it is in your power to dismiss him
when you please i apprized you beforehand that it would not i
repeat therefore that were i you i would at least seem to place
some confidence in him so long as he is decent you may very visibly
observable to such delicacy as yours must be that behaviour in him 
which will make him unworthy of some confidence 

your relations according to what old antony says to my mother and she
to me by way of threatening that you will not gain your supposed ends
upon them by your flight seem to expect that you will throw yourself
into lady betty's protection and that she will offer to mediate
for you and they vow that they will never hearken to any terms of
accommodation that shall come from that quarter for i dare aver that
your brother and sister will not let them cool at least till their
uncles have made such dispositions and perhaps your father too as they
would have them make 

as this letter will apprize you of an alteration in the place to which
you must direct your next i send it by a friend of mr hickman who may
be depended upon he has business in the neighbourhood of mrs sorlings 
and he knows her he will return to mr hickman this night and bring
back any letter you shall have ready to send or can get ready it is
moon-light he'll not mind waiting for you i choose not to send by any
of mr hickman's servants at present however every hour is now 
or may be important and may make an alteration in your resolutions
necessary 

i hear at this instant my mother calling about her and putting every
body into motion she will soon i suppose make me and my employment
the subjects of her inquiry 

adieu my dear may heaven preserve you and restore you with honour as
unsullied as your mind to

your ever affectionate anna howe 




letter ix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday afternoon april 13 


i am infinitely concerned my ever dear and ever kind friend that i am
the sad occasion of the displeasure between your mother and you how
many persons have i made unhappy 

had i not to console myself that my error is not owing to wicked
precipitation i should be the most miserable of all creatures as it
is i am enough punished in the loss of my character more valuable
to me than my life and in the cruel doubts and perplexities which 
conflicting with my hopes and each getting the victory by turns harrow
up my soul between them 

i think however that you should obey your mother and decline a
correspondence with me at least for the present take care how you
fall into my error for that begun with carrying on a prohibited
correspondence a correspondence which i thought it in my power to
discontinue at pleasure my talent is scribbling and i the readier fell
into this freedom as i found delight in writing having motives too 
which i thought laudable and at one time the permission of all my
friends to write to him 


 see vol i letter iii 


yet as to this correspondence what hurt could arise from it if your
mother could be prevailed upon to permit it to be continued so much
prudence and discretion as you have and you in writing to me lying
under no temptation of following so bad an example as i have set my
letters too occasionally filled with self-accusation 

i thank you my dear most cordially i thank you for your kind offers 
you may be assured that i will sooner be beholden to you than to any
body living to mr lovelace the last do not therefore think that
by declining your favours i have an intention to lay myself under
obligations to him 

i am willing to hope notwithstanding what you write that my friends
will send me my little money together with my clothes they are too
considerate some of them at least to permit that i should be put to
such low difficulties perhaps they will not be in haste to oblige me 
but if not i cannot yet want i believe you think i must not dispute
with mr lovelace the expenses of the road and lodgings till i can get
a fixed abode but i hope soon to put an end even to those small sort of
obligations 

small hopes indeed of a reconciliation from your account of my uncle's
visit to your mother in order to set her against an almost friendless
creature whom once he loved but is it not my duty to try for it 
ought i to widen my error by obstinacy and resentment because of their
resentment which must appear reasonable to them as they suppose my
flight premeditated and as they are made to believe that i am capable
of triumphing in it and over them with the man they hate when i have
done all in my power to restore myself to their favour i shall have the
less to reproach myself with 

these considerations make me waver about following your advice in
relation to marriage and the rather as he is so full of complaisance
with regard to my former conditions which he calls my injunctions 
nor can i now that my friends as you inform me have so strenuously
declared against accepting of the mediation of the ladies of mr 
lovelace's family put myself into their protection unless i am
resolved to give up all hopes of a reconciliation with my own 

yet if any happy introduction could be thought of to effect this
desirable purpose how shall terms be proposed to my father while
this man is with me or near me on the other hand should they in his
absence get me back by force and this you are of opinion they would
attempt to do but in fear of him how will their severest acts of
compulsion be justified by my flight from them mean while to what
censures as you remind me do i expose myself while he and i are
together and unmarried yet  can i with patience ask the question   is
it in my power o my dear miss howe and am i so reduced as that to
save the poor remains of my reputation in the world's eye i must watch
the gracious motion from this man's lips 

were my cousin morden in england all might still perhaps be determined
happily 

if no other mediation than this can be procured to set on foot the
wished-for reconciliation and if my situation with mr lovelace alter
not in the interim i must endeavour to keep myself in a state of
independence till he arrive that i may be at liberty to govern myself
by his advice and direction 

i will acquaint you as you desire with all that passes between
mr lovelace and me hitherto i have not discovered any thing in his
behaviour that is very exceptionable yet i cannot say that i think
the respect he shews me an easy unrestrained and natural respect 
although i can hardly tell where the fault is 

but he has doubtless an arrogant and encroaching spirit nor is he
so polite as his education and other advantages might have made one
expect him to be he seems in short to be one who has always had too
much of his own will to study to accommodate himself to that of others 

as to the placing of some confidence in him i shall be as ready to take
your advice in this particular as in all others and as he will be
to deserve it but tricked away as i was by him not only against my
judgment but my inclination can he or any body expect that i should
immediately treat him with complaisance as if i acknowledged obligation
to him for carrying me away if i did must he not either think me a
vile dissembler before he gained that point or afterwards 

indeed indeed my dear i could tear my hair on reconsidering what you
write as to the probability that the dreaded wednesday was more dreaded
than it needed to be to think that i should be thus tricked by this
man and that in all likelihood through his vile agent joseph leman 
so premeditated and elaborate a wickedness as it must be must i
not with such a man be wanting to myself if i were not jealous and
vigilant yet what a life to live for a spirit so open and naturally
so unsuspicious as mine 

i am obliged to mr hickman for the assistance he is so kindly ready to
give to our correspondence he is so little likely to make to himself an
additional merit with the daughter upon it that i shall be very sorry 
if he risk any thing with the mother by it 

i am now in a state of obligation so must rest satisfied with whatever
i cannot help whom have i the power once so precious to me of
obliging what i mean my dear is that i ought perhaps to
expect that my influences over you are weakened by my indiscretion 
nevertheless i will not if i can help it desert myself nor give up
the privilege you used to allow me of telling you what i think of such
parts of your conduct as i may not approve 

you must permit me therefore severe as your mother is against an
undesigning offender to say that i think your liveliness to her
inexcusable to pass over for this time what nevertheless concerns me
not a little the free treatment you almost indiscriminately give to my
relations 

if you will not for your duty's sake forbear your tauntings and
impatience let me beseech you that you will for mine since
otherwise your mother may apprehend that my example like a leaven is
working itself into the mind of her beloved daughter and may not such
an apprehension give her an irreconcilable displeasure against me 

i enclose the copy of my letter to my sister which you are desirous to
see you will observe that although i have not demanded my estate in
form and of my trustees yet that i have hinted at leave to retire to
it how joyfully would i keep my word if they would accept of the offer
i renew it was not proper i believe you will think on many accounts 
to own that i was carried off against my inclination i am my dearest
friend 

your ever obliged and affectionate cl harlowe 




letter x

to miss arabella harlowe  enclosed to miss howe in the preceding   st 
alban's apr 11 


my dear sister 

i have i confess been guilty of an action which carries with it a rash
and undutiful appearance and i should have thought it an inexcusable
one had i been used with less severity than i have been of late and
had i not had too great reason to apprehend that i was to be made a
sacrifice to a man i could not bear to think of but what is done is
done perhaps i could wish it had not and that i had trusted to the
relenting of my dear and honourable parents yet this from no other
motives but those of duty to them to whom i am ready to return if
i may not be permitted to retire to the grove on conditions which i
before offered to comply with 

nor shall i be in any sort of dependence upon the person by whose means
i have taken this truly-reluctant step inconsistent with any reasonable
engagement i shall enter into if i am not further precipitated let me
not have it to say now at this important crisis that i have a sister 
but not a friend in that sister my reputation dearer to me than life 
 whatever you may imagine from the step i have taken is suffering a
little lenity will even yet in a great measure restore it and make
that pass for a temporary misunderstanding only which otherwise will be
a stain as durable as life upon a creature who has already been treated
with great unkindness to use no harsher a word 

for your own sake therefore for my brother's sake by whom i must say 
i have been thus precipitated and for all the family's sake aggravate
not my fault if on recollecting every thing you think it one nor by
widening the unhappy difference expose a sister for ever prays

your affectionate cl harlowe 

i shall take it for a very great favour to have my clothes directly sent
me together with fifty guineas which you will find in my escritoire
 of which i enclose the key as also of the divinity and miscellany
classes of my little library and if it be thought fit my
jewels directed for me to be left till called for at mr osgood's 
near soho-square 




letter xi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


 mr lovelace in continuation of his last letter no vii 
 gives an account to his friend pretty much to the same
 effect with the lady's of all that passed between them at
 the inns in the journey and till their fixing at mrs 
 sorling's to avoid repetition those passages in his
 narrative are extracted which will serve to embellish
 her's to open his views or to display the humourous talent
 he was noted for 

 at their alighting at the inn at st alban's on monday
 night thus he writes 


the people who came about us as we alighted seemed by their jaw-fallen
faces and goggling eyes to wonder at beholding a charming young lady 
majesty in her air and aspect so composedly dressed yet with features
so discomposed come off a journey which made the cattle smoke and the
servants sweat i read their curiosity in their faces and my beloved's
uneasiness in her's she cast a conscious glance as she alighted upon
her habit which was no habit and repulsively as i may say quitting
my assisting hand hurried into the house 

ovid was not a greater master of metamorphoses than thy friend to the
mistress of the house i instantly changed her into a sister brought off
by surprise from a near relation's where she had wintered to prevent
her marrying a confounded rake  i love always to go as near the truth
as i can   whom her father and mother her elder sister and all her
loving uncles aunts and cousins abhorred this accounted for my
charmer's expected sullens for her displeasure when she was to join me
again were it to hold for her unsuitable dress upon the road and 
at the same time gave her a proper and seasonable assurance of my
honourable views 


upon the debate between the lady and him and particularly upon that
part where she upbraids him with putting a young creature upon making a
 sacrifice of her duty and conscience he write 


all these and still more mortifying things she said 

i heard her in silence but when it came to my turn i pleaded i
argued i answered her as well as i could and when humility would
not do i raised my voice and suffered my eyes to sparkle with anger 
hoping to take advantage of that sweet cowardice which is so amiable in
the sex and to which my victory over this proud beauty is principally
owing 

she was not intimidated however and was going to rise upon me in her
temper and would have broken in upon my defence but when a man talks
to a woman upon such subjects let her be ever so much in alt tis
strange if he cannot throw out a tub to the whale that is to say if
he cannot divert her from resenting one bold thing by uttering two or
three full as bold but for which more favourable interpretations will
lie 


 to that part where she tells him of the difficulty she made
 to correspond with him at first thus he writes 


very true my precious and innumerable have been the difficulties
thou hast made me struggle with but one day thou mayest wish that thou
hadst spared this boast as well as those other pretty haughtinesses 
that thou didst not reject solmes for my sake that my glory if i
valued myself upon carrying thee off was thy shame that i have more
merit with myself than with thee or any body else  what a coxcomb she
makes me jack   that thou wishest thyself in thy father's house again 
whatever were to be the consequence  if i forgive thee charmer 
for these hints for these reflections for these wishes for these
contempts i am not the lovelace i have been reputed to be and that thy
treatment of me shews that thou thinkest i am 

in short her whole air throughout this debate expressed a majestic kind
of indignation which implied a believed superiority of talents over the
person to whom she spoke 

thou hast heard me often expatiate upon the pitiful figure a man must
make whose wife has or believes she has more sense than himself a
thousand reasons could i give why i ought not to think of marrying miss
clarissa harlowe at least till i can be sure that she loves me with
the preference i must expect from a wife 

i begin to stagger in my resolutions ever averse as i was to the
hymeneal shackles how easily will prejudices recur heaven give me the
heart to be honest to my clarissa there's a prayer jack if i should
not be heard what a sad thing would that be for the most admirable of
women yet as i do no often trouble heaven with my prayers who knows
but this may be granted 

but there lie before me such charming difficulties such scenery for
intrigue for stratagem for enterprize what a horrible thing that my
talents point all that way when i know what is honourable and just 
and would almost wish to be honest almost i say for such a varlet am
i that i cannot altogether wish it for the soul of me such a triumph
over the whole sex if i can subdue this lady my maiden vow as i may
call it for did not the sex begin with me and does this lady spare
me thinkest thou jack that i should have spared my rosebud had i
been set at defiance thus her grandmother besought me at first to
spare her rosebud and when a girl is put or puts herself into a
man's power what can he wish for further while i always considered
opposition and resistance as a challenge to do my worst 


 see vol i letter xxxiv 


why why will the dear creature take such pains to appear all ice to
me why will she by her pride awaken mine hast thou not seen in
the above how contemptibly she treats me what have i not suffered
for her and even from her ought i to bear being told that she will
despise me if i value myself above that odious solmes 

then she cuts me short in all my ardours to vow fidelity is by a
cursed turn upon me to shew that there is reason in my own opinion 
for doubt of it the very same reflection upon me once before 


 see vol ii letter xiii 


in my power or out of my power all one to this lady so belford my
poor vows are crammed down my throat before they can well rise to my
lips and what can a lover say to his mistress if she will neither let
him lie nor swear 

one little piece of artifice i had recourse to when she pushed so hard
for me to leave her i made a request to her upon a condition she could
not refuse and pretended as much gratitude upon her granting it as if
it were a favour of the last consequence 

and what was this but to promise what she had before promised never
to marry any other man while i am living and single unless i should
give her cause for high disgust against me  this you know was
promising nothing because she could be offended at any time and was to
be the sole judge of the offence but it shewed her how reasonable and
just my expectations were and that i was no encroacher 

she consented and asked what security i expected her word only 

she gave me her word but i besought her excuse for sealing it and in
the same moment since to have waited for consent would have been asking
for a denial saluted her and believe me or not but as i hope to
live it was the first time i had the courage to touch her charming lips
with mine and this i tell thee belford that that single pressure as
modestly put too as if i were as much a virgin as herself that she
might not be afraid of me another time delighted me more than ever i
was delighted by the ultimatum with any other woman so precious do
awe reverence and apprehended prohibition make a favour 

and now belford i am only afraid that i shall be too cunning for she
does not at present talk enough for me i hardly know what to make of
the dear creature yet 

i topt the brother's part on monday night before the landlady at st 
alban's asking my sister's pardon for carrying her off so unprepared
for a journey prated of the joy my father and mother and all
our friends would have in receiving her and this with so many
circumstances that i perceived by a look she gave me that went
through my very veins that i had gone too far i apologized for it
indeed when alone but could not penetrate for the soul of me whether i
made the matter better or worse by it 

but i am of too frank a nature my success and the joy i have because
of the jewel i am half in possession of has not only unlocked my bosom 
but left the door quite open 

this is a confounded sly sex would she but speak out as i do but i
must learn reserves of her 

she must needs be unprovided of money but has too much pride to accept
of any from me i would have had her go to town  to town if possible 
must i get her to consent to go  in order to provide herself with
the richest of silks which that can afford but neither is this to be
assented to and yet as my intelligencer acquaints me her implacable
relations are resolved to distress her all they can 

these wretches have been most gloriously raving ever since her flight 
and still thank heaven continue to rave and will i hope for a
twelvemonth to come now at last it is my day 

bitterly do they regret that they permitted her poultry-visits and
garden-walks which gave her the opportunity to effect an escape which
they suppose preconcerted for as to her dining in the ivy-bower they
had a cunning design to answer upon her in that permission as betty
told joseph her lover 


 vol ii letter xlvii paragr 37 38 


they lost they say and excellent pretence for confining her more
closely on my threatening to rescue her if they offered to carry her
against her will to old antony's moated house for this as i told thee
at the hart and as i once hinted to the dear creature herself they
had it in deliberation to do apprehending that i might attempt to
carry her off either with or without her consent on some one of those
connived-at excursions 


 ibid let xxxvi and let xxxix par i 
 ibid let xxxvi par 4 see also let xv par 3 


but here my honest joseph who gave me the information was of admirable
service to me i had taught him to make the harlowes believe that i was
as communicative to my servants as their stupid james was to joseph 
joseph as they supposed by tampering with will got all my secrets 
and was acquainted with all my motions and having also undertaken to
watch all those of his young lady the wise family were secure and
so was my beloved and so was i 


 ibid letter xlvii par 6 and 39 
 this will be farther explained in letter xxi of this volume 
see vol i letters xxxi and xxxiv 


i once had it in my head and i hinted it to thee in a former in case
such a step should be necessary to attempt to carry her off by surprise
from the wood-house as it is remote from the dwelling-house this 
had i attempted i should have certainly effected by the help of the
confraternity and it would have been an action worthy of us all but
joseph's conscience as he called it stood in my way for he thought it
must have been known to be done by his connivance i could i dare say 
have overcome this scruple as easily as i did many of the others had
i not depended at one time upon her meeting me at midnight or late hour
 and if she had she never would have gone back  at other times 
upon the cunning family's doing my work for me equally against their
knowledge or their wills 


 see vol i letter xxxv 


for well i knew that james and arabella were determined never to leave
off their foolish trials and provocations till by tiring her out they
had either made her solmes's wife or guilty of some such rashness as
should throw her for ever out of the favour of both her uncles though
they had too much malice in their heads to intend service to me by their
persecutions of her 




letter xii

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


i obliged the dear creature highly i could perceive by bringing mrs 
greme to attend her and to suffer that good woman's recommendation of
lodgings to take place on her refusal to go to the lawn 

she must believe all my views to be honourable when i had provided for
her no particular lodgings leaving it to her choice whether she would
go to m hall to the lawn to london or to either of the dowagers of
my family 

she was visibly pleased with my motion of putting mrs greme into the
chaise with her and riding on horseback myself 

some people would have been apprehensive of what might pass between
her and mrs greme but as all my relations either know or believe the
justice of my intentions by her i was in no pain on that account 
and the less as i have always been above hypocrisy or wishing to be
thought better than i am and indeed what occasion has a man to be an
hypocrite who has hitherto found his views upon the sex better answered
for his being known to be a rake why even my beloved here denied not
to correspond with me though her friends had taught her to think me a
libertine who then would be trying a new and worse character 

and then mrs greme is a pious matron and would not have been biased
against truth on any consideration she used formerly while there were
any hopes of my reformation to pray for me she hardly continues the
good custom i doubt for her worthy lord makes no scruple occasionally
to rave against me to man woman and child as they come in his way 
he is very undutiful as thou knowest surely i may say so since all
duties are reciprocal but for mrs greme poor woman when my lord
has the gout and is at the lawn and the chaplain not to be found she
prays by him or reads a chapter to him in the bible or some other good
book 

was it not therefore right to introduce such a good sort of woman to
the dear creature and to leave them without reserve to their own
talk and very busy in talk i saw they were as they rode and felt it
too for most charmingly glowed my cheeks 

i hope i shall be honest i once more say but as we frail mortals are
not our own masters at all times i must endeavour to keep the dear
creature unapprehensive until i can get her to our acquaintance's in
london or to some other safe place there should i in the interim 
give her the least room for suspicion or offer to restrain her she
can make her appeals to strangers and call the country in upon me and 
perhaps throw herself upon her relations on their own terms and were i
now to lose her how unworthy should i be to be the prince and leader
of such a confraternity as ours how unable to look up among men or to
shew my face among women 

as things at present stand she dare not own that she went off against
her own consent and i have taken care to make all the implacables
believe that she escaped with it 

she has received an answer from miss howe to the letter written to her
from st alban's 


 see vol ii letter xlviii 


whatever are the contents i know not but she was drowned in tears on
the perusal of it and i am the sufferer 

miss howe is a charming creature too but confoundedly smart and
spiritful i am a good deal afraid of her her mother can hardly keep
her in i must continue to play off old antony by my honest joseph 
upon that mother in order to manage that daughter and oblige my
beloved to an absolute dependence upon myself 


 see vol i letter xxxi 


mrs howe is impatient of contradiction so is miss a young lady who is
sensible that she has all the materials requisites herself to be under
maternal controul fine ground for a man of intrigue to build upon a
mother over-notable a daughter over-sensible and their hickman who
is over-neither but merely a passive 

only that i have an object still more desirable 

yet how unhappy that these two young ladies lived so near each other 
and are so well acquainted else how charmingly might i have managed
them both 

but one man cannot have every woman worth having pity though when the
man is such a very clever fellow 




letter xiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


never was there such a pair of scribbling lovers as we yet perhaps
whom it so much concerns to keep from each other what each writes she
won't have any thing else to do i would if she'd let me i am not
reformed enough for a husband patience is a virtue lord m says slow
and sure is another of his sentences if i had not a great deal of that
virtue i should not have waited the harlowes own time of ripening into
execution my plots upon themselves and upon their goddess daughter 

my beloved has been writing to her saucy friend i believe all that has
befallen her and what has passed between us hitherto she will possibly
have fine subjects for her pen if she be as minute as i am 

i would not be so barbarous as to permit old antony to set mrs howe
against her did i not dread the consequences of the correspondence
between the two young ladies so lively the one so vigilant so prudent
both who would not wish to outwit such girls and to be able to twirl
them round his finger 

my charmer has written to her sister for her clothes for some gold and
for some of her books what books can tell her more than she knows but
i can so she had better study me 

she may write she must be obliged to me at last with all her pride 
miss howe indeed will be ready enough to supply her but i question 
whether she can do it without her mother who is as covetous as the
grave and my agent's agent old antony has already given the mother a
hint which will make her jealous of pecuniaries 

besides if miss howe has money by her i can put her mother upon
borrowing it of her nor blame me jack for contrivances that have
their foundation in generosity thou knowest my spirit and that i
should be proud to lay an obligation upon my charmer to the amount of
half nay to the whole of my estate lord m has more for me than i
can ever wish for my predominant passion is girl not gold nor value i
this but as it helps me to that and gives me independence 

i was forced to put it into the sweet novice's head as well for my sake
as for hers lest we should be traceable by her direction whither to
direct the sending of her clothes if they incline to do her that small
piece of justice 

if they do i shall begin to dread a reconciliation and must be forced
to muse for a contrivance or two to prevent it and to avoid mischief 
for that as i have told honest joseph leman is a great point with me 

thou wilt think me a sad fellow i doubt but are not all rakes sad
fellows and art not thou to thy little power as bad as any if thou
dost all that's in thy head and in thy heart to do thou art worse than
i for i do not i assure you 

i proposed and she consented that her clothes or whatever else her
relations should think fit to send her should be directed to thy cousin
osgood's let a special messenger at my charge bring me any letter or
portable parcel that shall come if not portable give me notice of it 
but thou'lt have no trouble of this sort from her relations i dare be
sworn and in this assurance i will leave them i think to act upon
their own heads a man would have no more to answer for than needs must 

but one thing while i think of it which is of great importance to be
attended to you must hereafter write to me in character as i shall do
to you it would be a confounded thing to be blown up by a train of
my own laying and who knows what opportunities a man in love may have
against himself in changing a coat or waistcoat something might be
forgotten i once suffered that way then for the sex's curiosity it
is but remembering in order to guard against it that the name of their
common mother was eve 

another thing remember i have changed my name changed it without an
act of parliament robert huntingford' it is now continue esquire 
it is a respectable addition although every sorry fellow assumes it 
almost to the banishment of the usual traveling one of captain to be
left till called for at the post-house at hertford 

upon naming thee she asked thy character i gave thee a better than
thou deservest in order to do credit to myself yet i told her that
thou wert an awkward fellow and this to do credit to thee that she may
not if ever she be to see thee expect a cleverer man than she'll find 
yet thy apparent awkwardness befriends thee not a little for wert thou
a sightly mortal people would discover nothing extraordinary in
thee when they conversed with thee whereas seeing a bear they are
surprised to find in thee any thing that is like a man felicitate
thyself then upon thy defects which are evidently thy principal
perfections and which occasion thee a distinction which otherwise thou
wouldst never have 

the lodgings we are in at present are not convenient i was so delicate
as to find fault with them as communicating with each other because
i knew she would and told her that were i sure she was safe from
pursuit i would leave her in them since such was her earnest desire
and expectation and go to london 

she must be an infidel against all reason and appearances if i do not
banish even the shadow of mistrust from her heart 

here are two young likely girls daughters of the widow sorlings that's
the name of our landlady 

i have only at present admired them in their dairy-works how greedily
do the sex swallow praise did i not once in the streets of london 
see a well-dressed handsome girl laugh bridle and visibly enjoy the
praises of a sooty dog a chimney-sweeper who with his empty sack
across his shoulder after giving her the way stopt and held up his
brush and shovel in admiration of her egad girl thought i i
despise thee as lovelace but were i the chimney-sweeper and could only
contrive to get into thy presence my life to thy virtue i would have
thee 

so pleased was i with the young sorlings for the elegance of her works 
that i kissed her and she made me a courtesy for my condescension and
blushed and seemed sensible all over encouraging yet innocently she
adjusted her handkerchief and looked towards the door as much as to
say she would not tell were i to kiss her again 

her eldest sister popt upon her the conscious girl blushed again and
looked so confounded that i made an excuse for her which gratified
both mrs betty said i i have been so much pleased with the neatness
of your dairy-works that i could not help saluting your sister you
have your share of merit in them i am sure give me leave 

good souls i like them both she courtesied too how i love a
grateful temper o that my clarissa were but half so acknowledging 

i think i must get one of them to attend my charmer when she
removes the mother seems to be a notable woman she had not best 
however be too notable since were she by suspicion to give me a face
of difficulty to the matter it would prepare me for a trial with one or
both the daughters 

allow me a little rhodamantade jack but really and truly my heart is
fixed i can think of no creature breathing of the sex but my gloriana 




letter xiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


this is wednesday the day that i was to have lost my charmer for ever
to the hideous solmes with what high satisfaction and heart's-ease can
i now sit down and triumph over my men in straw at harlowe-place yet
tis perhaps best for them that she got off as she did who knows what
consequences might have followed upon my attending her in or if she
had not met me upon my projected visit followed by my myrmidons 

but had i even gone in with her unaccompanied i think i had but little
reason for apprehension for well thou knowest that the tame spirits
which value themselves upon reputation and are held within the skirts
of the law by political considerations only may be compared to an
infectious spider which will run into his hole the moment one of his
threads is touched by a finger that can crush him leaving all his toils
defenceless and to be brushed down at the will of the potent invader 
while a silly fly that has neither courage nor strength to resist 
no sooner gives notice by its buz and its struggles of its being
entangled but out steps the self-circumscribed tyrant winds round and
round the poor insect till he covers it with his bowel-spun toils and
when so fully secured that it can neither move leg nor wing suspends
it as if for a spectacle to be exulted over then stalking to the door
of his cell turns about glotes over it at a distance and sometimes
advancing sometimes retiring preys at leisure upon its vitals 

but now i think of it will not this comparison do as well for
the entangled girls as for the tame spirits better o' my
conscience tis but comparing the spider to us brave fellows and it
quadrates 

whatever our hearts are in our heads will follow begin with spiders 
with flies with what we will girl is the centre of gravity and we all
naturally tend to it 

nevertheless to recur i cannot but observe that these tame spirits
stand a poor chance in a fairly offensive war with such of us mad
fellows as are above all law and scorn to sculk behind the hypocritical
screen of reputation 

thou knowest that i never scruple to throw myself amongst numbers of
adversaries the more the safer one or two no fear will take the part
of a single adventurer if not intentionally in fact holding him in 
while others hold in the principal antagonist to the augmentation of
their mutual prowess till both are prevailed upon to compromise or
one to be absent so that upon the whole the law-breakers have the
advantage of the law-keepers all the world over at least for a time 
and till they have run to the end of their race add to this in the
question between me and the harlowes that the whole family of them must
know that they have injured me must therefore be afraid of me did they
not at their own church cluster together like bees when they saw me
enter it nor knew they which should venture out first when the service
was over 

james indeed was not there if he had he would perhaps have
endeavoured to look valiant but there is a sort of valour in the face 
which shews fear in the heart just such a face would james harlowe's
have been had i made them a visit 

when i have had such a face and such a heart as i have described to deal
with i have been all calm and serene and left it to the friends of the
blusterer as i have done to the harlowes to do my work for me 

i am about mustering up in my memory all that i have ever done that
has been thought praise-worthy or but barely tolerable i am afraid
thou canst not help me to many remembrances of this sort because i
never was so bad as since i have known thee 

have i not had it in my heart to do some good that thou canst not remind
me of study for me jack i have recollected some instances which i
think will tell in but see if thou canst not help me to some which i
may have forgot 

this i may venture to say that the principal blot in my escutcheon is
owing to these girls these confounded girls but for them i could go
to church with a good conscience but when i do there they are every
where does satan spread his snares for me but how i think of it what
if our governor should appoint churches for the women only and others
for the men full as proper i think for the promoting of true
piety in both  much better than the synagogue-lattices   as separate
boarding-schools for their education 

there are already male and female dedications of churches 

st swithin's st stephen's st thomas's st george's and so forth 
might be appropriated to the men and santa catharina's santa anna's 
santa maria's santa margaretta's for the women 

yet were it so and life to be the forfeiture of being found at the
female churches i believe that i like a second clodius should change
my dress to come at my portia or pompeia though one the daughter of a
cato the other the wife of a caesar 

but how i excurse yet thou usedst to say thou likedst my excursions 
if thou dost thou'lt have enow of them for i never had a subject i
so much adored and with which i shall probably be compelled to have so
much patience before i strike the blow if the blow i do strike 

but let me call myself back to my recordation-subject thou needest
not remind me of my rosebud i have her in my head and moreover have
contrived to give my fair-one an hint of that affair by the agency of
honest joseph leman although i have not reaped the hoped-for credit of
her acknowledgement 


 see vol ii letter xxvii 


that's the devil and it was always my hard fate every thing i do that
is good is but as i ought every thing of a contrary nature is brought
into the most glaring light against me is this fair ought not a
balance to be struck and the credit carried to my account yet i must
own too that i half grudge johnny this blooming maiden for in truth 
i think a fine woman too rich a jewel to hang about a poor man's neck 

surely jack if i am guilty of a fault in my universal adorations of
the sex the women in general ought to love me the better for it 

and so they do i thank them heartily except here and there a covetous
little rogue comes cross me who under the pretence of loving virtue
for its own sake wants to have me all to herself 

i have rambled enough 

adieu for the present 




letter xv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday night april 13 


i always loved writing and my unhappy situation gives me now enough of
it and you i fear too much i have had another very warm debate with
mr lovelace it brought on the subject which you advised me not to
decline when it was handsomely offered and i want to have either your
acquittal or blame for having suffered it to go off without effect 

the impatient wretch sent up to me several times while i was writing my
last to you to desire my company yet his business nothing particular 
only to hear him talk the man seems pleased with his own volubility 
and whenever he has collected together abundance of smooth things he
wants me to find an ear for them yet he need not for i don't often
gratify him either with giving him the praise for his verboseness or
shewing the pleasure in it that he would be fond of 

when i had finished the letter and given it to mr hickman's friend i
was going up again and had got up half a dozen stairs when he besought
be to stop and hear what he had to say 

nothing as i said to any new purpose had he to offer but
complainings and those in a manner and with an air as i thought that
bordered upon insolence he could not live he told me unless he had
more of my company and of my indulgence too that i had yet given him 

hereupon i stept down and into the parlour not a little out of humour
with him and the more as he has very quietly taken up his quarters
here without talking of removing as he had promised 

we began instantly our angry conference he provoked me and i repeated
several of the plainest things i had said in our former conversations 
and particularly told him that i was every hour more and more
dissatisfied with myself and with him that he was not a man who in
my opinion improved upon acquaintance and that i should not be easy
till he had left me to myself 

he might be surprised at my warmth perhaps but really the man looked
so like a simpleton hesitating and having nothing to say for himself 
or that should excuse the peremptoriness of his demand upon me when he
knew i had been writing a letter which a gentleman waited for that i
flung from him declaring that i would be mistress of my own time and
of my own actions and not to be called to account for either 

he was very uneasy till he could again be admitted into my company and
when i was obliged to see him which was sooner than i liked never did
the man put on a more humble and respectful demeanor 

he told me that he had upon this occasion been entering into
himself and had found a great deal of reason to blame himself for an
impertinency and inconsideration which although he meant nothing by
it must be very disagreeable to one of my delicacy that having always
aimed at a manly sincerity and openness of heart he had not till now
discovered that both were very consistent with that true politeness 
which he feared he had too much disregarded while he sought to avoid
the contrary extreme knowing that in me he had to deal with a lady 
who despised an hypocrite and who was above all flattery but from this
time forth i should find such an alteration in his whole behaviour as
might be expected from a man who knew himself to be honoured with the
presence and conversation of a person who had the most delicate mind in
the world that was his flourish 

i said that he might perhaps expect congratulation upon the discovery
he had just now made to wit that true politeness and sincerity were
reconcilable but that i who had by a perverse fate been thrown into
his company had abundant reason to regret that he had not sooner found
this out since i believed very few men of birth and education were
strangers to it 

he knew not neither he said that he had so badly behaved himself as
to deserve so very severe a rebuke 

perhaps not i replied but he might if so make another discovery from
what i had said which might be to my own disadvantage since if he
had so much reason to be satisfied with himself he would see what an
ungenerous person he spoke to who when he seemed to give himself airs
of humility which perhaps he thought beneath him to assume had not
the civility to make him a compliment upon them but was ready to take
him at his word 

he had long with infinite pleasure the pretended flattery-hater said 
admired my superior talents and a wisdom in so young a lady perfectly
suprising 

let me madam said he stand ever so low in your opinion i shall
believe all you say to be just and that i have nothing to do but to
govern myself for the future by your example and by the standard you
shall be pleased to give me 

i know better sir replied i than to value myself upon your volubility
of speech as you pretend to pay so preferable a regard to sincerity 
you shall confine yourself to the strict rules of truth when you speak
of me to myself and then although you shall be so kind as to imagine
that you have reason to make me a compliment you will have much more
to pride yourself in those arts which have made so extraordinary a young
creature so great a fool 

really my dear the man deserves not politer treatment and then has
he not made a fool an egregious fool of me i am afraid he himself
thinks he has 

i am surprised i am amazed madam returned he at so strange a turn
upon me i am very unhappy that nothing i can do or say will give
you a good opinion of me would to heaven that i knew what i can do to
obtain the honour of your confidence 

i told him that i desired his absence of all things i saw not 
i said that my friends thought it worth their while to give me
disturbance therefore if he would set out for london or berkshire or
whither he pleased it would be most agreeable to me and most reputable
too 

he would do so he said he intended to do so the moment i was in a
place to my liking in a place convenient for me 

this sir will be so said i when you are not here to break in upon
me and make the apartments inconvenient 

he did not think this place safe he replied and as i intended not to
stay here he had not been so solicitous as otherwise he should have
been to enjoin privacy to his servants nor to mrs greme at her
leaving me that there were two or three gentlemen at the neighbourhood 
he said with whose servants his gossiping fellows had scraped
acquaintance so that he could not think of leaving me here unguarded
and unattended but fix upon any place in england where i could be
out of danger and he would go to the furthermost part of the king's
dominions if by doing so he could make me easy 

i told him plainly that i should never be in humour with myself for
meeting him nor with him for seducing me away that my regrets
increased instead of diminished that my reputation was wounded that
nothing i could do would now retrieve it and that he must not wonder 
if i every hour grew more and more uneasy both with myself and him that
upon the whole i was willing to take care of myself and when he had
left me i should best know what to resolve upon and whither to go 

he wished he said he were at liberty without giving me offence or
being thought to intend to infringe the articles i had stipulated and
insisted upon to make one humble proposal to me but the sacred regard
he was determined to pay to all my injunctions reluctantly as i had on
monday last put it into his power to serve me would not permit him to
make it unless i would promise to excuse him if i did not approve of
it 

i asked in some confusion what he would say 

he prefaced and paraded on and then out came with great diffidence 
and many apologies and a bashfulness which sat very awkwardly upon him 
a proposal of speedy solemnization which he said would put all right 
and make my first three or four months which otherwise must be passed
in obscurity and apprehension a round of visits and visitings to and
from all his relations to miss howe to whom i pleased and would pave
the way to the reconciliation i had so much at heart 

your advice had great weight with me just then as well as his reasons 
and the consideration of my unhappy situation but what could i say i
wanted somebody to speak for me 

the man saw i was not angry at his motion i only blushed and that i am
sure i did up to the ears and looked silly and like a fool 

he wants not courage would he have had me catch at his first at his
very first word i was silent too and do not the bold sex take silence
for a mark of a favour then so lately in my father's house having
also declared to him in my letters before i had your advice that
i would not think of marriage till he had passed through a state of
probation as i may call it how was it possible i could encourage with
very ready signs of approbation such an early proposal especially so
soon after the free treatment he had provoked from me if i were to die 
i could not 

he looked at me with great confidence as if notwithstanding his
contradictory bashfulness he would look me through while my eye
but now-and-then could glance at him he begged my pardon with great
humility he was afraid i would think he deserved no other answer but
that of a contemptuous silence true love was fearful of offending 
 take care mr lovelace thought i how your's is tried by that
rule  indeed so sacred a regard  foolish man   would he have to all my
declarations made before i honoured him 

i would hear him no further but withdrew in a confusion too visible 
and left him to make his nonsensical flourishes to himself 

i will only add that if he really wishes for a speedy solemnization 
he never could have had a luckier time to press for my consent to it 
but he let it go off and indignation has taken place of it and now it
shall be a point with me to get him at a distance from me 

i am my dearest friend your ever faithful and obliged cl h 




letter xvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq tuesday apr 13 


why jack thou needest not make such a wonderment as the girls say if
i should have taken large strides already towards reformation for dost
thou not see that while i have been so assiduously night and day 
pursuing this single charmer i have infinitely less to answer for 
than otherwise i should have had let me see how many days and
nights forty i believe after open trenches spent in the sap only 
and never a mine sprung yet 

by a moderate computation a dozen kites might have fallen while i have
been only trying to ensnare this single lark nor yet do i see when
i shall be able to bring her to my lure more innocent days yet 
therefore but reformation for my stalking-horse i hope will be a
sure though a slow method to effect all my purposes 

then jack thou wilt have a merit too in engaging my pen since thy
time would be otherwise worse employed and after all who knows but by
creating new habits at the expense of the old a real reformation may
be brought about i have promised it and i believe there is a pleasure
to be found in being good reversing that of nat lee's madman 

 which none but good men know 

by all this seest thou not how greatly preferable it is on twenty
accounts to pursue a difficult rather than an easy chace i have a
desire to inculcate this pleasure upon thee and to teach thee to fly at
nobler game than daws crows and widgeons i have a mind to shew thee
from time to time in the course of the correspondence thou hast so
earnestly wished me to begin on this illustrious occasion that these
exalted ladies may be abased and to obviate one of the objections that
thou madest to me when we were last together that the pleasure which
attends these nobler aims remunerates not the pains they bring with
them since like a paltry fellow as thou wert thou assertedst that all
women are alike 

thou knowest nothing jack of the delicacies of intrigue nothing of
the glory of outwitting the witty and the watchful of the joys that
fill the mind of the inventive or contriving genius ruminating which
to use of the different webs that offer to him for the entanglement of a
haughty charmer who in her day has given him unnumbered torments thou 
jack who like a dog at his ease contentest thyself to growl over
a bone thrown out to thee dost not know the joys of a chace and in
pursuing a winding game these i will endeavour to rouse thee to 
and then thou wilt have reason doubly and trebly to thank me as well
because of thy present delight as with regard to thy prospect beyond
the moon 

to this place i had written purely to amuse myself before i was
admitted to my charmer but now i have to tell thee that i was quite
right in my conjecture that she would set up for herself and dismiss
me for she has declared in so many words that such was her resolution 
and why because to be plain with me the more she saw of me and of my
ways the less she liked of either 

this cut me to the heart i did not cry indeed had i been a woman 
i should though and that most plentifully but i pulled out a white
cambrick handkerchief that i could command but not my tears 

she finds fault with my protestations with my professions with my
vows i cannot curse a servant the only privilege a master is known by 
but i am supposed to be a trooper i must not say by my soul nor 
as i hope to be saved why jack how particular this is would she not
have me think i have a precious soul as well as she if she thinks my
salvation hopeless what a devil  another exceptionable word   does she
propose to reform me for so i have not an ardent expression left me 


 see letter vi of this volume 


 



what can be done with a woman who is above flattery and despises all
praise but that which flows from the approbation of her own heart 

well jack thou seest it is high time to change my measures i must run
into the pious a little faster than i had designed 

what a sad thing it would be were i after all to lose her person 
as well as her opinion the only time that further acquaintance and no
blow struck nor suspicion given ever lessened me in a lady's favour 
a cursed mortification tis certain i can have no pretence for holding
her if she will go no such thing as force to be used or so much as
hinted at lord send us safe at london that's all i have for it now 
and yet it must be the least part of my speech 

but why will this admirable creature urge her destiny why will she defy
the power she is absolutely dependent upon why will she still wish to
my face that she had never left her father's house why will she deny me
her company till she makes me lose my patience and lay myself open
to her resentment and why when she is offended does she carry her
indignation to the utmost length that a scornful beauty in the very
height of her power and pride can go 

is it prudent thinkest thou in her circumstances to tell me 
repeatedly to tell me that she is every hour more and more
dissatisfied with herself and me that i am not one who improve upon her
in my conversation and address   couldst thou jack bear this from
a captive   that she shall not be easy while she is with me that she
knows better than to value herself upon my volubility that if i think
she deserves the compliments i make her i may pride myself in those
arts by which i have made a fool of so extraordinary a person that
she shall never forgive herself for meeting me nor me for seducing her
away   her very words   that her regrets increase instead of diminish 
that she will take care of herself and since her friends thing it
not worth while to pursue her she will be left to her own care that i
shall make mrs sorlings's house more agreeable by my absence and go
to berks to town or wherever i will   to the devil i suppose   with
all her heart 

the impolitic charmer to a temper so vindictive as she thins mine to
a free-liver as she believes me to be who has her in his power i
was before as thou knowest balancing now this scale now that the
heaviest i only waited to see how her will would work how mine would
lead me on thou seest what bias here takes and wilt thou doubt
that mine will be determined by it were not her faults before this 
numerous enough why will she put me upon looking back 

i will sit down to argue with myself by-and-by and thou shalt be
acquainted with the result 

if thou didst but know if thou hadst but beheld what an abject slave
she made me look like i had given myself high airs as she called
them but they were airs that shewed my love for her that shewed
i could not live out of her company but she took me down with a
vengeance she made me look about me so much advantage had she over me 
such severe turns upon me by my soul jack i had hardly a word to say
for myself i am ashamed to tell thee what a poor creature she made me
look like but i could have told her something that would have humbled
her pretty pride at the instant had she been in a proper place and
proper company about her 

to such a place then and where she cannot fly me and then to see
how my will works and what can be done with the amorous see-saw now
humble now proud now expecting or demanding now submitting or
acquiescing till i have tried resistance 

but these hints are at present enough i may further explain myself as
i go along and as i confirm or recede in my future motions if she
will revive past disobligations if she will but no more no more as i
said at present of threatenings 




letter xvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


and do i not see that i shall need nothing but patience in order to
have all power with me for what shall we say if all these complaints
of a character wounded these declarations of increasing regrets for
meeting me of resentments never to be got over for my seducing her
away these angry commands to leaver her what shall we say if all
were to mean nothing but matrimony and what if my forbearing to enter
upon that subject come out to be the true cause of their petulance and
uneasiness 

i had once before played about the skirts of the irrevocable obligation 
but thought myself obliged to speak in clouds and to run away from the
subject as soon as she took my meaning lest she should imagine it to
be ungenerously urged now she was in some sort in my power as she
had forbid me beforehand to touch upon it till i were in a state of
visible reformation and till a reconciliation with her friends were
probable but now out-argued out-talented and pushed so vehemently to
leave one of whom i had no good pretence to hold if she would go and
who could so easily if i had given her cause to doubt have thrown
herself into other protection or have returned to harlowe-place and
solmes i spoke out upon the subject and offered reasons although
with infinite doubt and hesitation  lest she should be offended at
me belford   why she should assent to the legal tie and make me the
happiest of men and o how the mantle cheek the downcast eye the
silent yet trembling lip and the heaving bosom a sweet collection
of heightened beauties gave evidence that the tender was not mortally
offensive 

charming creature thought i  but i charge thee that thou let not
any of the sex know my exultation   is it so soon come to this am
i already lord of the destiny of a clarissa harlowe am i already
the reformed man thou resolvest i should be before i had the least
encouragement given me is it thus that the more thou knowest me the
less thou seest reason to approve of me and can art and design
enter into a breast so celestial to banish me from thee to insist so
rigorously upon my absence in order to bring me closer to thee and
make the blessing dear well do thy arts justify mine and encourage me
to let loose my plotting genius upon thee 


 mr lovelace might have spared this caution on this occasion since
many of the sex  we mention it with regret  who on the first publication
had read thus far and even to the lady's first escape have been
readier to censure her for over-niceness as we have observed in a
former note page 42 than him for artifices and exultations not less
cruel and ungrateful than ungenerous and unmanly 


but let me tell thee charming maid if thy wishes are at all to be
answered that thou hast yet to account to me for thy reluctance to go
off with me at a crisis when thy going off was necessary to avoid being
forced into the nuptial fetters with a wretch that were he not thy
aversion thou wert no more honest to thy own merit than to me 

i am accustomed to be preferred let me tell thee by thy equals in rank
too though thy inferiors in merit but who is not so and shall i marry
a woman who has given me reason to doubt the preference she has for me 

no my dearest love i have too sacred a regard for thy injunctions to
let them be broken through even by thyself nor will i take in thy full
meaning by blushing silence only nor shalt thou give me room to doubt 
whether it be necessity or love that inspires this condescending
impulse 

upon these principles what had i to do but to construe her silence into
contemptuous displeasure and i begged her pardon for making a motion
which i had so much reason to fear would offend her for the future i
would pay a sacred regard to her previous injunctions and prove to
her by all my conduct the truth of that observation that true love is
always fearful of offending 

and what could the lady say to this methinks thou askest 

say why she looked vexed disconcerted teased was at a loss as i
thought whether to be more angry with herself or with me she turned
about however as if to hide a starting tear and drew a sigh into
two or three but just audible quavers trying to suppress it and
withdrew leaving me master of the field 

tell me not of politeness tell me not of generosity tell me not of
compassion is she not a match for me more than a match does she not
outdo me at every fair weapon has she not made me doubt her love has
she not taken officious pains to declare that she was not averse to
solmes for any respect she had to me and her sorrow for putting herself
out of his reach that is to say for meeting me 

then what a triumph would it be to the harlowe pride were i now to
marry this lady a family beneath my own no one in it worthy of an
alliance with but her my own estate not contemptible living within the
bounds of it to avoid dependence upon their betters and obliged to no
man living my expectations still so much more considerable my person 
my talents not to be despised surely yet rejected by them with scorn 
obliged to carry on an underhand address to their daughter when two of
the most considerable families in the kingdom have made overtures which
i have declined partly for her sake and partly because i never will
marry if she be not the person to be forced to steal her away not
only from them but from herself and must i be brought to implore
forgiveness and reconciliation from the harlowes beg to be
acknowledged as the son of a gloomy tyrant whose only boast is his
riches as a brother to a wretch who has conceived immortal hatred to
me and to a sister who was beneath my attempts or i would have had her
in my own way and that with a tenth part of the trouble and pains that
her sister has cost me and finally as a nephew to uncles who value
themselves upon their acquired fortunes would insult me as creeping
to them on that account forbid it in the blood of the lovelaces that
your last and let me say not the meanest of your stock should thus
creep thus fawn thus lick the dust for a wife 

proceed anon 




letter xviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


but is it not the divine clarissa  harlowe let me not say my soul
spurns them all but her  whom i am thus by application threatening if
virtue be the true nobility how is she ennobled and how shall an
alliance with her ennoble were not contempt due to the family from whom
she sprang and prefers to me 

but again let me stop is there not something wrong has there
not been something wrong in this divine creature and will not the
reflections upon that wrong what though it may be construed in my
favour make me unhappy when novelty has lost its charms and when 
mind and person she is all my own libertines are nicer if at all
nice than other men they seldom meet with the stand of virtue in
the women whom they attempt and by the frailty of those they have
triumphed over they judge of all the rest importunity and opportunity
no woman is proof against especially from the persevering lover who
knows how to suit temptations to inclinations  this thou knowest is a
prime article of the rake's creed 


 the particular attention of such of the fair sex as are more apt to
read for the same of amusement than instruction is requested to this
letter of mr lovelace 


and what methinks thou askest with surprise dost thou question this
most admirable of women the virtue of a clarissa dost thou question 

i do not i dare not question it my reverence for her will not let me
directly question it but let me in my turn ask thee is not may not
her virtue be founded rather in pride than in principle whose daughter
is she and is she not a daughter if impeccable how came she by her
impeccability the pride of setting an example to her sex has run away
with her hitherto and may have made her till now invincible but is not
that pride abated what may not both men and women be brought to do in a
mortified state what mind is superior to calamity pride is perhaps the
principal bulwark of female virtue humble a woman and may she not be
effectually humbled 

then who says miss clarissa harlowe is the paragon of virtue is virtue
itself 

all who know her and have heard of her it will be answered 

common bruit is virtue to be established by common bruit only has
her virtue ever been proved who has dared to try her virtue 

i told thee i would sit down to argue with myself and i have drawn
myself into argumentation before i was aware 

let me enter into a strict discussion of this subject 

i know how ungenerous an appearance what i have said and what i have
further to say on this topic will have from me but am i not bringing
virtue to the touchstone with a view to exalt it if it come out to be
proof avaunt then for one moment all consideration that may arise
from a weakness which some would miscall gratitude and is oftentimes
the corrupter of a heart most ignoble 

to the test then and i will bring this charming creature to the
strictest test that all the sex who may be shewn any passages in my
letters   and i know thou cheerest the hearts of all thy acquaintance
with such detached parts of mine as tend not to dishonour characters
or reveal names and this gives me an appetite to oblige thee by
interlardment   that all the sex i say may see what they ought to be 
what is expected from them and if they have to deal with a person of
reflection and punctilio  of pride if thou wilt   how careful they
ought to be by a regular and uniform conduct not to give him cause to
think lightly of them for favours granted which may be interpreted into
natural weakness for is not a wife the keeper of a man's honour and
do not her faults bring more disgrace upon a husband than even upon
herself 

it is not for nothing jack that i have disliked the life of shackles 

to the test then as i said since now i have the question brought home
to me whether i am to have a wife and whether she be to be a wife at
the first or at the second hand 

i will proceed fairly i do the dear creature not only strict but
generous justice for i will try her by her own judgment as well as by
our principles 

she blames herself for having corresponded with me a man of free
character and one indeed whose first view it was to draw her into this
correspondence and who succeeded in it by means unknown to herself 

now what were her inducements to this correspondence  if not what her
niceness makes her think blameworthy why does she blame herself 

has she been capable of error of persisting in that error 

whoever was the tempter that is not the thing nor what the temptation 
the fact the error is now before us 

did she persist in it against parental prohibition 

she owns she did 

was a daughter ever known who had higher notions of the filial duty of
the parental authority 

never 

what must be the inducements how strong that were too strong for
duty in a daughter so dutiful what must my thoughts have been of
these inducements what my hopes built upon them at the time taken in
this light 

well but it will be said that her principal view was to prevent
mischief between her brother and her other friends and the man vilely
insulted by them all 

but why should she be more concerned for the safety of others than they
were for their own and had not the rencounter then happened was a
person of virtue to be prevailed upon to break through her apparent her
acknowledged duty upon any consideration  and if not was she to be
so prevailed upon to prevent an apprehended evil only 

thou lovelace the tempter thou wilt again break out and say to be
the accuser 

but i am not the accuser i am the arguer only and in my heart 
all the time acquit and worship the divine creature but let me 
nevertheless examine whether the acquital be owing to her merit or to
my weakness weakness the true name of love 

but shall we suppose another motive and that is love a motive which
all the world will excuse her for but let me tell all the world that
do not because they ought but because all the world is apt to be
misled by it 

let love then be the motive love of whom 

a lovelace is the answer 

is there but one lovelace in the world may not more lovelaces be
attracted by so fine a figure by such exalted qualities it was her
character that drew me to her and it was her beauty and good sense that
rivetted my chains and now all together make me think her a subject
worthy of my attempts worthy of my ambition 

but has she had the candour the openness to acknowledge that love 

she has not 

well then if love be at the bottom is there not another fault lurking
beneath the shadow of that love has she not affectation or is it
pride of heart 

and what results is then the divine clarissa capable of loving a man
whom she ought not to love and is she capable of affectation and is
her virtue founded in pride and if the answer to these questions be
affirmative must she not then be a woman 

and can she keep this love at bay can she make him who has been
accustomed to triumph over other women tremble can she conduct
herself as to make him at times question whether she loves him or
any man yet not have the requisite command over the passion itself in
steps of the highest consequence to her honour as she thinks   i
am trying her jack by her own thoughts   but suffer herself to be
provoked to promise to abandon her father's house and go off with
him knowing his character and even conditioning not to marry till
improbably and remote contingencies were to come to pass what though
the provocations were such as would justify any other woman yet was
a clarissa to be susceptible to provocations which she thinks herself
highly censurable for being so much moved by 

but let us see the dear creature resolved to revoke her promise yet
meeting her lover a bold and intrepid man who was more than once
before disappointed by her and who comes as she knows prepared to
expect the fruits of her appointment and resolved to carry her off 
and let us see him actually carrying her off and having her at
his mercy may there not be i repeat other lovelaces other like
intrepid persevering enterprizers although they may not go to work in
the same way 

and has then a clarissa herself her judge failed in such great
points failed and may she not further fail fail in the greatest
point to which all the other points in which she has failed have but
a natural tendency 

nor say thou that virtue in the eye of heaven is as much a manly as
a womanly grace by virtue in this place i mean chastity and to be
superior to temptation my clarissa out of the question nor ask thou 
shall the man be guilty yet expect the woman to be guiltless and even
unsuspectible urge thou not these arguments i say since the wife by
a failure may do much more injury to the husband than the husband can
do to the wife and not only to her husband but to all his family by
obtruding another man's children into his possessions perhaps to the
exclusion of at least to a participation with his own he believing
them all the time to be his in the eye of heaven therefore the sin
cannot be equal besides i have read in some places that the woman was
made for the man not the man for the woman virtue then is less to be
dispensed with in the woman than in the man 

thou lovelace methinks some better man than thyself will say to
expect such perfection in a woman 

yes i may i answer was not the great caesar a great rake as to
women was he not called by his very soldiers on one of his triumphant
entries into rome the bald-pated lecher and warning given of him to
the wives as well as to the daughter of his fellow-citizens yet did
not caesar repudiate his wife for being only in company with clodius or
rather because clodius though by surprise upon her was found in hers 
and what was the reason he gave for it it was this though a rake
himself as i have said and only this the wife of caesar must not be
suspected 

caesar was not a prouder man than lovelace 

go to then jack nor say nor let any body say in thy hearing that
lovelace a man valuing himself upon his ancestry is singular in his
expectations of a wife's purity though not pure himself 

as to my clarissa i own that i hardly think there ever was such an
angel of a woman but has she not as above already taken steps which
she herself condemns steps which the world and her own family did
not think her capable of taking and for which her own family will not
forgive her 

nor think it strange that i refuse to hear any thing pleaded in behalf
of a standard virtue from high provocations are not provocations and
temptations the tests of virtue a standard virtue must not be allowed
to be provoked to destroy or annihilate itself 

may not then the success of him who could carry her thus far be
allowed to be an encouragement for him to try to carry her farther 
tis but to try who will be afraid of a trail for this divine creature 
thou knowest that i have more than once twice or thrice put to the
fiery trial young women of name and character and never yet met
with one who held out a month nor indeed so long as could puzzle my
invention i have concluded against the whole sex upon it  and now if
i have not found a virtue that cannot be corrupted i will swear that
there is not one such in the whole sex is not then the whole sex
concerned that this trial should be made and who is it that knows this
lady that would not stake upon her head the honour of the whole let
her who would refuse it come forth and desire to stand in her place 

i must assure thee that i have a prodigious high opinion of virtue as
i have of all those graces and excellencies which i have not been
able to attain myself every free-liver would not say this nor think
thus every argument he uses condemnatory of his own actions as some
would think but ingenuousness was ever a signal part of my character 

satan whom thou mayest if thou wilt in this case call my instigator 
put the good man of old upon the severest trial to his behaviour under
these trials that good man owed his honour and his future rewards 
an innocent person if doubted must wish to be brought to a fair and
candid trial 

rinaldo indeed in ariosto put the mantua knight's cup of trial from
him which was to be the proof of his wife's chastity this was his
argument for forbearing the experiment why should i seek a think i
should be loth to find my wife is a woman the sex is frail i cannot
believe better of her than i do it will be to my own loss if i find
reason to think worse  but rinaldo would not have refused the trial of
the lady before she became his wife and when he might have found his
account in detecting her 


 the story tells us that whoever drank of this cup if his wife were
chaste could drink without spilling if otherwise the contrary 


for my part i would not have put the cup from me though married had
it been but in hope of finding reason to confirm my good opinion of my
wife's honour and that i might know whether i had a snake or a dove in
my bosom 

to my point what must that virtue be which will not stand a
trial what that woman who would wish to shun it 

well then a trial seems necessary for the furthest establishment of
the honour of so excellent a creature 

and who shall put her to this trial who but the man who has as she
thinks already induced her in lesser points to swerve and this for
her own sake in a double sense not only as he has been able to make
some impression but as she regrets the impression made and so may be
presumed to be guarded against his further attempts 

the situation she is at present in it must be confessed is a
disadvantageous one to her but if she overcome that will redound to
her honour 

shun not therefore my dear soul further trials nor hate me for
making them for what woman can be said to be virtuous till she has
been tried 

nor is one effort one trial to be sufficient why because a woman's
heart may at one time be adamant at another wax' as i have often
experienced and so no doubt hast thou 

a fine time of it methinks thou sayest would the woman have if they
were all to be tried 

but jack i am not for that neither though i am a rake i am not a
rake's friend except thine and company's 

and be this one of the morals of my tedious discussion let the little
rogues who would not be put to the question as i may call it choose
accordingly let them prefer to their favour good honest sober fellows 
who have not been used to play dog's tricks who will be willing to
take them as they offer and who being tolerable themselves are not
suspicious of others 

but what methinks thou askest is to become of the lady if she fail 

what why will she not if once subdued be always subdued 
another of our libertine maxims and what an immense pleasure to a
marriage-hater what rapture to thought to be able to prevail upon such
a woman as miss clarissa harlowe to live with him without real change
of name 

but if she resist if nobly she stand her trial 

why then i will marry her and bless my starts for such an angel of a
wife 

but will she not hate thee will she not refuse 

no no jack circumstanced and situated as we are i am not afraid of
that and hate me why should she hate the man who loves her upon proof 

and then for a little hint at reprisal am i not justified in my
resolutions of trying her virtue who is resolved as i may say to try
mine who has declared that she will not marry me till she has hopes of
my reformation 

and now to put an end to this sober argumentation wilt thou not
thyself whom i have supposed an advocate for the lady because i know
that lord m has put thee upon using the interest he thinks thou hast in
me to persuade me to enter the pale wilt thou not thyself allow me to
try if i cannot awaken the woman in her to try if she with all that
glowing symmetry of parts and that full bloom of vernal graces by
which she attracts every eye be really inflexible as to the grand
article 

let me begin then as opportunity presents i will and watch her
every step to find one sliding one her every moment to find the
moment critical and the rather as she spares me not but takes every
advantage that offers to puzzle and plague me nor expect nor thinks me
to be a good man 

if she be a woman and love me i shall surely catch her once tripping 
for love was ever a traitor to its harbourer and love within and i
without she will be more than woman as the poet says or i less than
man if i succeed not 

now belford all is out the lady is mine shall be more mine 
marriage i see is in my power now she is so else perhaps it had not 
if i can have her without marriage who can blame me for trying if not 
great will be her glory and my future confidence and well will she
merit the sacrifice i shall make her of my liberty and from all her sex
honours next to divine for giving a proof that there was once a woman
whose virtue no trials no stratagems no temptations even from the man
she hated not could overpower 

now wilt thou see all my circulation as in a glass wilt thou see
it cabala however is the word nor let the secret escape thee even
in thy dreams 


 this word whenever used by any of these gentlemen was agreed to imply
an inviolable secret 


nobody doubts that she is to be my wife let her pass for such when i
give the word mean time reformation shall be my stalking-horse some
one of the women in london if i can get her hither my bird  and so
much for this time 




letter xix

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe  in answer to letters ix xv  


do not be so much concerned my dearest friend at the bickerings
between my mother and me we love one another dearly notwithstanding 
if my mother had not me to find fault with she must find fault with
somebody else and as to me i am a very saucy girl and were not this
occasion there would be some other to shew it 

you have heard me say that this was always the case between us 
you could not otherwise have known it for when you was with us you
harmonized us both and indeed i was always more afraid of you than of
my mother but then that awe is accompanied with love your reproofs 
as i have always found are so charmingly mild and instructive so
evidently calculated to improve and not to provoke that a generous
temper must be amended by them but hear now mind my good mamma when
you are not with us you shall i tell you nancy i will have it so 
don't i know best i won't be disobeyed how can a daughter of spirits
bear such language such looks too with the language and not have a
longing mind to disobey 

don't advise me my dear to subscribe to my mother's prohibition of
correspondence with you she has no reason for it nor would she of her
own judgment have prohibited it that odd old ambling soul your uncle 
 whose visits are frequenter than ever instigated by your malicious
and selfish brother and sister in the occasion and they have only
borrowed my mother's lips at the distance they are from you for a sort
of speaking trumpet for them the prohibition once more i say cannot
come from her heart but if it did is so much danger to be apprehended
from my continuing to write to one of my own sex as if i wrote to one
of the other don't let dejection and disappointment and the course
of oppression which you have run through weaken your mind my dearest
creature and make you see inconveniencies where there possibly cannot
be any if your talent is scribbling as you call it so is mine and
i will scribble on at all opportunities and to you let them say what
they will nor let your letters be filled with the self-accusations you
mention there is no cause for them i wish that your anna howe who
continues in her mother's house were but half so good as miss clarissa
harlowe who has been driven out of her father's 

i will say nothing upon your letter to your sister till i see the effect
it will have you hope you tell me that you shall have your money and
clothes sent you notwithstanding my opinion to the contrary i am sorry
to have it to acquaint you that i have just now heard that they have
sat in council upon your letter and that your mother was the only
person who was for sending you your things and was overruled i
charge you therefore to accept of my offer as by my last and give
me particular directions for what you want that i can supply you with
besides 

don't set your thought so much upon a reconciliation as to prevent your
laying hold of any handsome opportunity to give yourself a protector 
such a one as the man will be who i imagine husband-like will let
nobody insult you but himself 

what could he mean by letting slip such a one as that you mention i
don't know how to blame you for how you go beyond silence and blushes 
when the foolish fellow came with his observances of the restrictions
which you laid him under when in another situation but as i told you
above you really strike people into awe and upon my word you did not
spare him 

i repeat what i said in my last that you have a very nice part to act 
and i will add that you have a mind that is much too delicate for your
part but when the lover is exalted the lady must be humbled he is
naturally proud and saucy i doubt you must engage his pride which he
calls his honour and that you must throw off a little more of the veil 
and i would have you restrain your wishes before him that you had not
met him and the like what signifies wishing my dear he will not bear
it you can hardly expect that he will 

nevertheless it vexed me to the very bottom of my pride that any
wretch of that sex should be able to triumph over clarissa 

i cannot however but say that i am charmed with your spirit so much
sweetness where sweetness is requisite so much spirit where spirit is
called for what a true magnanimity 

but i doubt in your present circumstances you must endeavour after a
little more of the reserve in cases where you are displeased with him 
and palliate a little that humility which he puts on when you rise upon
him is not natural to him 

methinks i see the man hesitating and looking like the fool you paint
him under your corrective superiority but he is not a fool don't put
him upon mingling resentment with his love 

you are very serious my dear in the first of the two letters before
me in relation to mr hickman and me and in relation to my mother and
me but as to the latter you must not be too grave if we are not well
together at one time we are not ill together at another and while i am
able to make her smile in the midst of the most angry fit she ever fell
into on the present occasion though sometimes she would not if she
could help it it is a very good sign a sign that displeasure can
never go deep or be lasting and then a kind word or kind look to
her favourite hickman sets the one into raptures and the other in
tolerable humour at any time 

but your case pains me at heart and with all my levity both the good
folks most sometimes partake of that pain nor will it be over as long
as you are in a state of uncertainty and especially as i was not able
to prevail for that protection for you which would have prevented the
unhappy step the necessity for which we both with so much reason 
deplore 

i have only to add and yet it is needless to tell you that i am and
will ever be 

your affectionate friend and servant anna howe 




letter xx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


you tell me my dear that my clothes and the little sum of money i left
behind me will not be sent me but i will still hope it is yet early
days when their passions subside they will better consider of the
matter and especially as i have my ever dear and excellent mother for
my friend in this request o the sweet indulgence how has my heart
bled and how does it still bleed for her 

you advise me not to depend upon a reconciliation i do not i cannot
depend upon it but nevertheless it is the wish next my heart and as
to this man what can i do you see that marriage is not absolutely in
my own power if i were inclined to prefer it to the trial which i think
i ought to have principally in view to make for a reconciliation 

you say he is proud and insolent indeed he is but can it be your
opinion that he intends to humble me down to the level of his mean
pride 

and what mean you my dear friend when you say that i must throw off
a little more of the veil indeed i never knew that i wore one let
me assure you that if i never see any thing in mr lovelace that looks
like a design to humble me his insolence shall never make me discover a
weakness unworthy of a person distinguished by your friendship that is
to say unworthy either of my sex or of my former self 

but i hope as i am out of all other protection that he is not capable
of mean or low resentments if he has had any extraordinary trouble on
my account may he not thank himself for it he may and lay it if he
pleases to his character which as i have told him gave at least a
pretence to my brother against him and then did i ever make him any
promises did i ever profess a love for him did i ever wish for the
continuance of his address had not my brother's violence precipitated
matters would not my indifference to him in all likelihood as i
designed it should have tired out his proud spirit and make him set
out for london where he used chiefly to reside and if he had would
not there have been an end of all his pretensions and hopes for no
encouragement had i given him nor did i then correspond with him 
nor believe me should i have begun to do so the fatal rencounter
not having then happened which drew me in afterwards for others' sakes
 fool that i was and not for my own and can you think or can he 
that even this but temporarily-intended correspondence which by the
way my mother connived at would have ended thus had i not been
driven on one hand and teased on the other to continue it the
occasion which had at first induced it continuing what pretence then
has he were i to be absolutely in his power to avenge himself on me
for the faults of others and through which i have suffered more than
he it cannot cannot be that i should have cause to apprehend him to
be so ungenerous so bad a man 


 see vol i letter iv 


you bid me not to be concerned at the bickerings between your mother and
you can i avoid concern when those bickerings are on my account that
they are raised instigated shall i say by my uncle and my other
relations surely must add to my concern 

but i must observe perhaps too critically for the state my mind is in
at present that the very sentences you give from your mother as in so
many imperatives which you take amiss are very severe reflections upon
yourself for instance you shall i tell you nancy implies that you
had disputed her will and so of the rest 

and further let me observe with respect to what you say that there
cannot be the same reason for a prohibition of correspondence with me 
as there was of mine with mr lovelace that i thought as little of bad
consequences from my correspondence with him at the time as you can do
from yours with me now but if obedience be a duty the breach of it is
a fault however circumstances may differ surely there is no merit in
setting up our own judgment against the judgments of our parents and
if it is punishable so to do i have been severely punished and that is
what i warned you of from my own dear experience 

yet god forgive me i advise thus against myself with very great
reluctance and to say truth have not strength of mind at present to
decline it myself but if my occasion go not off i will take it into
further consideration 

you give me very good advice in relation to this man and i thank you
for it when you bid me be more upon the reserve with him in expressing
my displeasure perhaps i may try for it but to palliate as you call
it that my dearest miss howe cannot be done by

your own clarissa harlowe 




letter xxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


you may believe my dear miss howe that the circumstances of the noise
and outcry within the garden-door on monday last gave me no small
uneasiness to think that i was in the hands of a man who could by
such vile premeditation lay a snare to trick me out of myself as i
have so frequently called it 

whenever he came in my sight the thought of this gave me an indignation
that made his presence disgustful to me and the more as i fancied
i beheld in his face a triumph which reproached my weakness on that
account although perhaps it was only the same vivacity and placidness
that generally sit upon his features 

i was resolved to task him upon this subject the first time i could
have patience to enter upon it with him for besides that it piqued me
excessively from the nature of the artifice i expected shuffling and
evasion if he were guilty that would have incensed me and if not
confessedly guilty such unsatisfactory declarations as still would have
kept my mind doubtful and uneasy and would upon every new offence that
he might give me sharpen my disgust to me 

i have had the opportunity i waited for and will lay before you the
result 

he was making his court to my good opinion in very polite terms and
with great seriousness lamenting that he had lost it declaring that he
knew not how he had deserved to do so attributing to me an indifference
to him that seemed to his infinite concern hourly to increase and
he besought me to let him know my whole mind that he might have an
opportunity either to confess his faults and amend them or clear his
conduct to my satisfaction and thereby entitle himself to a greater
share of my confidence 

i answered him with quickness then mr lovelace i will tell you one
thing with a frankness that is perhaps more suitable to my character
than to yours  he hoped not he said   which gives me a very bad
opinion of you as a designing artful man 

i am all attention madam 

i never can think tolerably of you while the noise and voice i heard at
the garden-door which put me into the terror you took so much advantage
of remains unaccounted for tell me fairly tell me candidly the
whole of that circumstance and of your dealings with that wicked joseph
leman and according to your explicitness in this particular i shall
form a judgment of your future professions 

i will without reserve my dearest life said he tell you the whole 
and hope that my sincerity in the relation will atone for any thing you
may think wrong in the fact 

i knew nothing said he of this man this leman and should have
scorned a resort to so low a method as bribing the servant of any family
to let me into the secrets of that family if i had not detected him
in attempting to corrupt a servant of mine to inform him of all my
motions of all my supposed intrigues and in short of every action
of my private life as well as of my circumstances and engagements and
this for motives too obvious to be dwelt upon 

my servant told me of his offers and i ordered him unknown to the
fellow to let me hear a conversation that was to pass between them 

in the midst of it and just as he had made an offer of money for a
particular piece of intelligence promising more when procured i broke
in upon them and by bluster calling for a knife to cut off his ears
 one of which i took hold of in order to make a present of it as i
said to his employers i obliged him to tell me who they were 

your brother madam and your uncle antony he named 

it was not difficult when i had given him my pardon on naming them 
 after i had set before him the enormity of the task he had undertaken 
and the honourableness of my intentions to your dear self to prevail
upon him by a larger reward to serve me since at the same time he
might preserve the favour of your uncle and brother as i desired to
know nothing but what related to myself and to you in order to guard us
both against the effects of an ill-will which all his fellow-servants 
as well as himself as he acknowledged thought undeserved 

by this means i own to you madam i frequently turned his principals
about upon a pivot of my own unknown to themselves and the fellow who
is always calling himself a plain man and boasting of his conscience 
was the easier as i condescended frequently to assure him of
my honourable views and as he knew that the use i made of his
intelligence in all likelihood prevented fatal mischiefs 

i was the more pleased with his services as let me acknowledge
to you madam they procured to you unknown to yourself a safe and
uninterrupted egress which perhaps would not otherwise have been
continued to you so long as it was to the garden and wood-house for he
undertook to them to watch all your motions and the more cheerfully 
 for the fellow loves you as it kept off the curiosity of others  


 see vol ii letter xxxvi 


so my dear it comes out that i myself was obliged to this deep
contriver 

i sat in silent astonishment and thus he went on 

as to the circumstance for which you think so hardly of me i do
freely confess that having a suspicion that you would revoke your
intention of getting away and in that case apprehending that we should
not have the time together that was necessary for that purpose i had
ordered him to keep off every body he could keep off and to be himself
within a view of the garden-door for i was determined if possible to
induce you to adhere to your resolution  

but pray sir interrupting him how came you to apprehend that i should
revoke my intention i had indeed deposited a letter to that purpose 
but you had it not and how as i had reserved to myself the privilege
of a revocation did you know but i might have prevailed upon my
friends and so have revoked upon good grounds 

i will be very ingenuous madam you had made me hope that if you
changed your mind you would give me a meeting to apprize me of the
reasons for it i went to the loose bricks and i saw the letter there 
and as i knew your friends were immovably fixed in their schemes i
doubted not but the letter was to revoke or suspend your resolution and
probably to serve instead of a meeting too i therefore let it lie that
if you did revoke you might be under the necessity of meeting me for
the sake of the expectation you had given me and as i came prepared i
was resolved pardon me madam whatever were your intentions that you
should not go back had i taken your letter i must have been determined
by the contents of it for the present at least but not having
received it and you having reason to think i wanted not resolution in
a situation so desperate to make your friends a personal visit i
depended upon the interview you had bid me hope for 

wicked wretch said i it is my grief that i gave you opportunity to
take so exact a measure of my weakness but would you have presumed to
visit the family had i not met you 

indeed i would i had some friends in readiness who were to have
accompanied me to them and had your father refused to give me audience 
i would have taken my friends with me to solmes 

and what did you intend to do to mr solmes 

not the least hurt had the man been passive 

but had he not been passive as you call it what would you have done to
mr solmes 

he was loth he said to tell me yet not the least hurt to his person 

i repeated my question 

if he must tell me he only proposed to carry off the poor fellow and
to hide him for a month or two and this he would have done let what
would have been the consequence 

was ever such a wretch heard of i sighed from the bottom of my heart 
but bid him proceed from the part i had interrupted him at 

i ordered the fellow as i told you madam said he to keep within
view of the garden-door and if he found any parley between us and any
body coming before you could retreat undiscovered whose coming might
be attended with violent effects he should cry out and this not only
in order to save himself from their suspicions of him but to give me
warning to make off and if possible to induce you i own it madam 
to go off with me according to your own appointment and i hope all
circumstances considered and the danger i was in of losing you for
ever that the acknowledgement of that contrivance or if you had not
met me that upon solmes will not procure me your hatred for had they
come as i expected as well as you what a despicable wretch had i been 
could i have left you to the insults of a brother and other of your
family whose mercy was cruelty when they had not the pretence with
which this detected interview would have furnished them 

what a wretch said i but if sir taking your own account of this
strange matter to be fact any body were coming how happened it that i
saw only that man leman i thought it was he out at the door and at a
distance look after us 

very lucky said he putting his hand first in one pocket then in
another i hope i have not thrown it away it is perhaps in the coat
i had on yesterday little did i think it would be necessary to be
produced but i love to come to a demonstration whenever i can i may
be giddy i may be heedless i am indeed but no man as to you madam 
ever had a sincerer heart 

he then stepping to the parlour-door called his servant to bring him
the coat he had on yesterday 

the servant did and in the pocket rumpled up as a paper he regarded
not he pulled out a letter written by that joseph dated monday night 
in which he begs pardon for crying out so soon says that his fears of
being discovered to act on both sides had made him take the rushing of
a little dog that always follows him through the phyllirea-hedge for
betty's being at hand or some of his masters and that when he found
his mistake he opened the door by his own key which the contriving
wretch confessed he had furnished him with and inconsiderately ran out
in a hurry to have apprized him that his crying out was owing to his
fright only  and he added that they were upon the hunt for me by the
time he returned 


 see his letter to joseph leman vol iii no iii towards the end where
he tells him he would contrive for him a letter of this nature to copy 


i shook my head deep deep deep said i at the best o mr lovelace 
god forgive and reform you but you are i see plainly upon the whole
of your own account a very artful a very designing man 

love my dearest life is ingenious night and day have i racked my
stupid brain  o sir thought i not stupid twere well perhaps if it
were  to contrive methods to prevent the sacrifice designed to be made
of you and the mischief that must have ensued upon it so little hold
in your affections such undeserved antipathy from your friends so much
danger of losing you for ever from both causes i have not had for the
whole fortnight before last monday half an hour's rest at a time and
i own to you madam that i should never have forgiven myself had i
omitted any contrivance or forethought that would have prevented your
return without me 

again i blamed myself for meeting him and justly for there were
many chances to one that i had not met him and if i had not all his
fortnight's contrivances as to me would have come to nothing and 
perhaps i might nevertheless have escaped solmes 

yet had he resolved to come to harlowe-place with his friends and been
insulted as he certainly would have been what mischiefs might have
followed 

but his resolutions to run away with and to hide the poor solmes for
a month or so o my dear what a wretch have i let run away with me 
instead of solmes 

i asked him if he thought such enormities as these such defiances of
the laws of society would have passed unpunished 

he had the assurance to say with one of his usual gay airs that he
should by this means have disappointed his enemies and saved me from a
forced marriage he had no pleasure in such desperate pushes solmes
he would not have personally hurt he must have fled his country for a
time at least and truly if he had been obliged to do so as all
his hopes of my favour must have been at an end he would have had a
fellow-traveller of his own sex out of our family whom i little thought
of 

was ever such a wretch to be sure he meant my brother 

and such sir said i in high resentment are the uses you make of your
corrupt intelligencer 

my corrupt intelligencer madam interrupted he he is to this hour your
brother's as well as mine by what i have ingenuously told you you may
see who began this corruption let me assure you madam that there are
many free things which i have been guilty of as reprisals in which i
would not have been the aggressor 

all that i shall further say on this head mr lovelace is this that
as this vile double-faced wretch has probably been the cause of great
mischief on both sides and still continues as you own his wicked
practices i think it would be but just to have my friends apprized
what a creature he is whom some of them encourage 

what you please madam as to that my service as well as your
brother's is now almost over for him the fellow has made a good hand of
it he does not intend to stay long in his place he is now actually in
treaty for an inn which will do his business for life i can tell
you further that he makes love to your sister's betty and that by my
advice they will be married when he is established an innkeeper's
wife is every man's mistress and i have a scheme in my head to set some
engines at work to make her repent her saucy behaviour to you to the
last day of her life 

what a wicked schemer you are sir who shall avenge upon you the still
greater evils which you have been guilty of i forgive betty with all
my heart she was not my servant and but too probably in what she did 
obeyed the commands of her to whom she owed duty better than i obeyed
those to whom i owed more 

no matter for that the wretch said  to be sure my dear he must
design to make me afraid of him  the decree was gone out betty must
smart smart too by an act of her own choice he loved he said to
make bad people their own punishers nay madam excuse me but if the
fellow if this joseph in your opinion deserves punishment mine is
a complicated scheme a man and his wife cannot well suffer separately 
and it may come home to him too 

i had no patience with him i told him so i see sir said i i see 
what a man i am with your rattle warns me of the snake and away i
flung leaving him seemingly vexed and in confusion 




letter xxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


my plain-dealing with mr lovelace on seeing him again and the free
dislike i expressed to his ways his manners and his contrivances as
well as to his speeches have obliged him to recollect himself a little 
he will have it that the menaces which he threw out just now against my
brother and mr solmes are only the effect of an unmeaning pleasantry 
he has too great a stake in his country he says to be guilty of such
enterprises as should lay him under a necessity of quitting it for ever 
twenty things particularly he says he has suffered joseph leman to
tell him of that were not and could not be true in order to make
himself formidable in some people's eyes and this purely with a view
to prevent mischief he is unhappy as far as he knows in a quick
invention in hitting readily upon expedients and many things are
reported of him which he never said and many which he never did and
others which he has only talked of as just now and which he has
forgot as soon as the words have passed his lips 

this may be so in part my dear no one man so young could be so
wicked as he has been reported to be but such a man at the head of
such wretches as he is said to have at his beck all men of fortune and
fearlessness and capable of such enterprises as i have unhappily found
him capable of what is not to be apprehended from him 

his carelessness about his character is one of his excuses a very
bad one what hope can a woman have of a man who values not his own
reputation these gay wretches may in mixed conversation divert for
an hour or so but the man of probity the man of virtue is the man
that is to be the partner for life what woman who could help it would
submit it to the courtesy of a wretch who avows a disregard to all
moral sanctions whether he will perform his part of the matrimonial
obligation and treat her with tolerable politeness 

with these notions and with these reflections to be thrown upon such a
man myself would to heaven but what avail wishes now to whom can i
fly if i would fly from him 




letter xxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq friday april 14 


never did i hear of such a parcel of foolish toads as these
harlowes why belford the lady must fall if every hair of her head
were a guardian angel unless they were to make a visible appearance for
her or snatching her from me at unawares would draw her after them
into the starry regions 

all i had to apprehend was that a daughter so reluctantly carried
off would offer terms to her father and would be accepted upon a
mutual concedence they to give up solmes she to give up me and so i
was contriving to do all i could to guard against the latter but they
seem resolved to perfect the work they have begun 

what stupid creatures are there in the world this foolish brother not
to know that he who would be bribed to undertake a base thing by one 
would be over-bribed to retort the baseness especially when he could be
put into the way to serve himself by both thou jack wilt never know
one half of my contrivances 


 he here relates the conversation between him and the lady upon the
 subject of the noise and exclamations his agent made at the garden-
 door to the same effect as in the lady's letter no xxi and
 proceeds exulting 

what a capacity for glorious mischief has thy friend yet how near the
truth all of it the only derivation my asserting that the fellow
made the noises by mistake and through fright and not by previous
direction had she known the precise truth her anger to be so taken
in would never have let her forgive me 

had i been a military hero i should have made gunpowder useless for
i should have blown up all my adversaries by dint of stratagem turning
their own devices upon them 

but these fathers and mothers lord help em were not the powers of
nature stronger than those of discretion and were not that busy dea
bona to afford her genial aids till tardy prudence qualified parents to
manage their future offspring how few people would have children 

james and arabella may have their motives but what can be said for a
father acting as this father has acted what for a mother what for
an aunt what for uncles who can have patience with such fellows and
fellowesses 

soon will the fair one hear how high their foolish resentments run
against her and then will she it is to be hoped have a little more
confidence in me then will i be jealous that she loves me not with the
preference my heart builds upon then will i bring her to confessions
of grateful love and then will i kiss her when i please and not stand
trembling as now like a hungry hound who sees a delicious morsel
within his reach the froth hanging upon his vermilion jaws yet dares
not leap at it for his life 

but i was originally a bashful mortal indeed i am bashful still with
regard to this lady bashful yet know the sex so well but that indeed
is the reason that i know it so well for jack i have had abundant
cause when i have looked into myself by way of comparison with the
other sex to conclude that a bashful man has a good deal of the soul of
a woman and so like tiresias can tell what they think and what they
drive at as well as themselves 

the modest ones and i particularly are pretty much upon a par the
difference between us is only what they think i act but the immodest
ones out-do the worst of us by a bar's length both in thinking and
acting 

one argument let me plead in proof of my assertion that even we rakes
love modesty in a woman while the modest woman as they are accounted 
 that is to say the slyest love and generally prefer an impudent
man whence can this be but from a likeness in nature and this made
the poet say that ever woman is a rake in her heart it concerns them 
by their actions to prove the contrary if they can 

thus have i read in some of the philosophers that no wickedness is
comparable to the wickedness of a woman canst thou tell me jack who
says this was it socrates for he had the devil of a wife or who or
is it solomon king solomon thou remembrest to have read of such a
king dost thou not sol-o-mon i learned in my infant state  my mother
was a good woman  to answer when asked who was the wisest man but my
indulgent questioner never asked me how he came by the uninspired part
of his wisdom 


 mr lovelace is as much out in his conjecture of solomon as of
socrates the passage is in ecclesiasticus chap xxv 


come come jack you and i are not so very bad could we but stop where
we are 


 he then gives the particulars of what passed between him and the lady on
 his menaces relating to her brother and mr solmes and of his design
 to punish betty barnes and joseph leman 




letter xxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday apr 14 


i will now give you the particulars of a conversation that has just
passed between mr lovelace and me which i must call agreeable 

it began with his telling me that he had just received intelligence
that my friends were on a sudden come to a resolution to lay aside all
thoughts of pursuing me or of getting me back and that therefore he
attended me to know of my pleasure and what i would do or have him do 

i told him that i would have him leave me directly and that when it
was known to every body that i was absolutely independent of him it
would pass that i had left my father's house because of my brother's
ill usage of me which was a plea that i might make with justice and to
the excuse of my father as well as of myself 

he mildly replied that if we could be certain that my relations would
adhere to this their new resolution he could have no objection since
such was my pleasure but as he was well assured that they had taken it
only from apprehensions that a more active one might involve my brother
 who had breathed nothing but revenge in some fatal misfortune there
was too much reason to believe that they would resume their former
purpose the moment they should think they safely might 

this madam said he is a risque i cannot run you would think it
strange if i could and yet as soon as i knew they had so given out i
thought it proper to apprize you of it and take your commands upon it 

let me hear said i willing to try if he had any particular view 
what you think most advisable 

tis very easy to say that if i durst if i might not offend you if it
were not to break conditions that shall be inviolable with me 

say then sir what you would say i can approve or disapprove as i
think fit 

had not the man a fine opportunity here to speak out he had and thus
he used it 

to wave madam what i would say till i have more courage to speak
out  more courage mr lovelace more courage my dear   i will only
propose what i think will be most agreeable to you suppose if you
choose not to go to lady betty's that you take a turn cross the country
to windsor 

why to windsor 

because it is a pleasant place because it lies in the way either to
berkshire to oxford or to london berkshire where lord m is at
present oxford in the neighbourhood of which lives lady betty london 
whither you may retire at your pleasure or if you will have it so 
whither i may go you staying at windsor and yet be within an easy
distance of you if any thing should happen or if your friends should
change their new-taken resolution 

this proposal however displeased me not but i said my only objection
was the distance of windsor from miss howe of whom i should be glad to
be always within two or three hours reach of by messenger if possible 

if i had thoughts of any other place than windsor or nearer to
miss howe he wanted but my commands and would seek for proper
accommodations but fix as i pleased farther or nearer he had
servants and they had nothing else to do but to obey me 

a grateful thing then he named to me to send for my hannah as soon as
i shall be fixed unless i would choose one of the young gentlewomen
here to attend me both of whom as i had acknowledged were very
obliging and he knew i had generosity enough to make it worth their
while 


 see his reasons for proposing windsor letter xxv and her hannah 
letter xxvi 


this of hannah he might see i took very well i said i had thoughts
of sending for her as soon as i got to more convenient lodgings as to
these young gentlewomen it were pity to break in upon that usefulness
which the whole family were of to each other each having her proper
part and performing it with an agreeable alacrity insomuch that i
liked them all so well that i could even pass my days among them were
he to leave me by which means the lodgings would be more convenient to
me than now they were 

he need not repeat his objections to this place he said but as to
going to windsor or wherever else i thought fit or as to his personal
attendance or leaving me he would assure me he very agreeably said 
that i could propose nothing in which i thought my reputation and even
my punctilio concerned that he would not cheerfully come into and
since i was so much taken up with my pen he would instantly order his
horse to be got ready and would set out 

not to be off my caution have you any acquaintance at windsor said
i know you of any convenient lodgings there 

except the forest replied he where i have often hunted i know the
least of windsor of any place so noted and so pleasant indeed i have
not a single acquaintance there 

upon the whole i told him that i thought his proposal of windsor not
amiss and that i would remove thither if i could get a lodging only
for myself and an upper chamber for hannah for that my stock of money
was but small as was easy to be conceived and i should be very loth to
be obliged to any body i added that the sooner i removed the better 
for that then he could have no objection to go to london or berkshire 
as he pleased and i should let every body know my independence 

he again proposed himself in very polite terms for my banker but i 
as civilly declined his offer 

this conversation was to be all of it in the main agreeable he asked
whether i would choose to lodge in the town of windsor or out of it 

as near the castle i said as possible for the convenience of going
constantly to the public worship an opportunity i had been very long
deprived of 

he should be very glad he told me if he could procure me
accommodations in any one of the canon's houses which he imagined would
be more agreeable to me than any other on many accounts and as he
could depend upon my promise never to have any other man but himself 
on the condition to which he had so cheerfully subscribed he should be
easy since it was now his part in earnest to set about recommending
himself to my favour by the only way he knew it would be done adding 
with a very serious air i am but a young man madam but i have run a
long course let not your purity of mind incline you to despise me for
the acknowledgement it is high time to be weary of it and to reform 
since like solomon i can say there is nothing new under the sun but
that it is my belief that a life of virtue can afford such pleasures 
on reflection as will be for ever blooming for ever new 

i was agreeably surprised i looked at him i believe as if i doubted
my ears and my eyes his aspect however became his words 

i expressed my satisfaction in terms so agreeable to him that he said 
he found a delight in this early dawning of a better day to him and in
my approbation which he had never received from the success of the most
favoured of his pursuits 

surely my dear the man must be in earnest he could not have said
this he could not have thought it had he not what followed made me
still readier to believe him 

in the midst of my wild vagaries said he i have ever preserved a
reverence for religion and for religious men i always called another
cause when any of my libertine companions in pursuance of lord
shaftesbury's test which is a part of the rake's creed and what i
may call the whetstone of infidelity endeavoured to turn the sacred
subject into ridicule on this very account i have been called by good
men of the clergy who nevertheless would have it that i was a practical
rake the decent rake and indeed i had too much pride in my shame to
disown the name of rake 

this madam i am the readier to confess as it may give you hope that
the generous task of my reformation which i flatter myself you will
have the goodness to undertake will not be so difficult a one as you
may have imagined for it has afforded me some pleasure in my retired
hours when a temporary remorse has struck me for any thing i have done
amiss that i should one day delight in another course of life for 
unless we can i dare say no durable good is to be expected from the
endeavour your example madam must do all must confirm all 


 that he proposes one day to reform and that he has sometimes good
motions see vol i letter xxxiv 


the divine grace or favour mr lovelace must do all and confirm
all you know not how much you please me that i can talk to you in this
dialect 

and i then thought of his generosity to his pretty rustic and of his
kindness to his tenants 

yet madam be pleased to remember one thing reformation cannot be a
sudden work i have infinite vivacity it is that which runs away with
me judge dearest madam by what i am going to confess that i have
a prodigious way to journey on before a good person will think me
tolerable since though i have read in some of our perfectionists enough
to make a better man than myself either run into madness or despair
about the grace you mention yet i cannot enter into the meaning of the
word nor into the modus of its operation let me not then be checked 
when i mention your example for my visible reliance and instead of
using such words till i can better understand them suppose all the
rest included in the profession of that reliance 

i told him that although i was somewhat concerned at his expression 
and surprised at so much darkness as for want of another word i would
call it in a man of his talents and learning yet i was pleased with
his ingenuousness i wished him to encourage this way of thinking i
told him that his observation that no durable good was to be expected
from any new course where there was not a delight taken in it was just 
but that the delight would follow by use 

and twenty things of this sort i even preached to him taking care 
however not to be tedious nor to let my expanded heart give him a
contracted or impatient blow and indeed he took visible pleasure in
what i said and even hung upon the subject when i to try him once
or twice seemed ready to drop it and proceeded to give me a most
agreeable instance that he could at times think both deeply and
seriously thus it was 

he was once he said dangerously wounded in a duel in the left arm 
baring it to shew me the scar that this notwithstanding a great
effusion of blood it being upon an artery was followed by a violent
fever which at last fixed upon his spirits and that so obstinately 
that neither did he desire life nor his friends expect it that for a
month together his heart as he thought was so totally changed that
he despised his former courses and particularly that rashness which had
brought him to the state he was in and his antagonist who however 
was the aggressor into a much worse that in this space he had thought
which at times still gave him pleasure to reflect upon and although
these promising prospects changed as he recovered health and spirits 
yet he parted with them with so much reluctance that he could not help
shewing it in a copy of verses truly blank ones he said some of which
he repeated and advantaged by the grace which he gives to every thing
he repeats i thought them very tolerable ones the sentiments however 
much graver than i expected from him 

he has promised me a copy of the lines and then i shall judge better
of their merit and so shall you the tendency of them was that since
sickness only gave him a proper train of thinking and that his restored
health brought with it a return to his evil habits he was ready to
renounce those gifts of nature for those of contemplation 

he farther declared that although these good motions went off as
he had owned on his recovery yet he had better hopes now from
the influence of my example and from the reward before him if he
persevered and that he was the more hopeful that he should as his
present resolution was made in a full tide of health and spirits and
when he had nothing to wish for but perseverance to entitle himself to
my favour 

i will not throw cold water mr lovelace said i on a rising flame 
but look to it for i shall endeavour to keep you up to this spirit i
shall measure your value of me by this test and i would have you bear
those charming lines of mr rowe for ever in your mind you who have 
by your own confession so much to repent of and as the scar indeed 
you shewed me will in one instance remind you to your dying day 

the lines my dear are from the poet's ulysses you have heard me often
admire them and i repeated them to him 

 habitual evils change not on a sudden 
 but many days must pass and many sorrows 
 conscious remorse and anguish must be felt 
 to curb desire to break the stubborn will 
 and work a second nature in the soul 
 ere virtue can resume the place she lost 
 tis else dissimulation 

he had often read these lines he said but never tasted them
before by his soul the unmortified creature swore and as he hoped
to be saved he was now in earnest in his good resolutions he had said 
before i repeated those lines from rowe that habitual evils could
not be changed on a sudden but he hoped he should not be thought a
dissembler if he were not enabled to hold his good purposes since
ingratitude and dissimulation were vices that of all others he abhorred 

may you ever abhor them said i they are the most odious of all vices 

i hope my dear miss howe i shall not have occasion in my future
letters to contradict these promising appearances should i have
nothing on his side to combat with i shall be very far from being
happy from the sense of my fault and the indignation of all my
relations so shall not fail of condign punishment for it from my
inward remorse on account of my forfeited character but the least ray
of hope could not dart in upon me without my being willing to lay hold
of the very first opportunity to communicate it to you who take so
generous a share in all my concerns 

nevertheless you may depend upon it my dear that these agreeable
assurances and hopes of his begun reformation shall not make me forget
my caution not that i think at worst any more than you that he dare
to harbour a thought injurious to my honour but he is very various 
and there is an apparent and even an acknowledged unfixedness in his
temper which at times gives me uneasiness i am resolved therefore to
keep him at a distance from my person and my thoughts as much as i can 
for whether all men are or are not encroachers i am sure mr lovelace
is one 

hence it is that i have always cast about and will continue to cast
about what ends he may have in view from this proposal or from that
report in a word though hopeful of the best i will always be fearful
of the worst in every thing that admits of doubt for it is better in
such a situation as mine to apprehend without cause than to subject
myself to surprise for want of forethought 

mr lovelace is gone to windsor having left two servants to attend me 
he purposes to be back to-morrow 

i have written to my aunt hervey to supplicate her interest in my
behalf for my clothes books and money signifying to her that if i
may be restored to the favour of my family and allowed a negative only 
as to any man who may be proposed to me and be used like a daughter 
a niece and a sister i will stand by my offer to live single 
and submit as i ought to a negative from my father  intimating 
nevertheless that it were perhaps better after the usage i have
received from my brother and sister that i may be allowed to be distant
from them as well for their sakes as for my own  meaning as i
suppose it will be taken at my dairy-house offering to take my
father's directions as to the manner i shall live in the servants i
shall have and in every thing that shall shew the dutiful subordination
to which i am willing to conform 

my aunt will know by my letter to my sister how to direct to me if she
be permitted to favour me with a line 

i am equally earnest with her in this letter as i was with my sister
in that i wrote to her to obtain for me a speedy reconciliation that i
not be further precipitated intimating that by a timely lenity all
may pass for a misunderstanding only which otherwise will be thought
equally disgraceful to them and to me appealing to her for the
necessity i was under to do what i did  

had i owned that i was overreached and forced away against my
intention might they not as a proof of the truth of my assertion have
insisted upon my immediate return to them and if i did not return 
would they not have reason to suppose that i had now altered my mind
 if such were my mind or had not the power to return then were i
to have gone back must it not have been upon their own terms no
conditioning with a father is a maxim with my father and with my
uncles if i would have gone mr lovelace would have opposed it so i
must have been under his controul or have run away from him as it is
supposed i did to him from harlowe-place in what a giddy light would
this have made me appear had he constrained me could i have
appealed to my friends for their protection without risking the very
consequences to prevent which setting up myself presumptuously as a
middle person between flaming spirits i have run into such terrible
inconveniencies 

but after all must it not give me great anguish of mind to be forced
to sanctify as i may say by my seeming after-approbation a measure
i was so artfully tricked into and which i was so much resolved not to
take 

how one evil brings on another is sorrowfully witnessed to by

your ever-obliged and affectionate cl harlowe 




letter xxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq friday apr 14 


thou hast often reproached me jack with my vanity without
distinguishing the humourous turn that accompanies it and for which at
the same time that thou robbest me of the merit of it thou admirest
me highly envy gives thee the indistinction nature inspires the
admiration unknown to thyself it inspires it but thou art too clumsy
and too short-sighted a mortal to know how to account even for the
impulses by which thou thyself art moved 

well but this acquits thee not of my charge of vanity lovelace 
methinks thou sayest 

and true thou sayest for i have indeed a confounded parcel of it but 
if men of parts may not be allowed to be in vain who should and yet 
upon second thoughts men of parts have the least occasion of any to be
vain since the world so few of them are there in it are ready to find
them out and extol them if a fool can be made sensible that there is
a man who has more understanding than himself he is ready enough to
conclude that such a man must be a very extraordinary creature 

and what at this rate is the general conclusion to be drawn from the
premises is it not that no man ought to be vain but what if a man
can't help it this perhaps may be my case but there is nothing upon
which i value myself so much as upon my inventions and for the soul of
me i cannot help letting it be seen that i do yet this vanity may be
a mean perhaps to overthrow me with this sagacious lady 

she is very apprehensive of me i see i have studied before her and miss
howe as often as i have been with them to pass for a giddy thoughtless
creature what a folly then to be so expatiatingly sincere in my answer
to her home put upon the noises within the garden but such success
having attended that contrivance  success jack has blown many a man
up   my cursed vanity got uppermost and kept down my caution the
menace to have secreted solmes and that other that i had thoughts to
run away with her foolish brother and of my project to revenge her upon
the two servants so much terrified the dear creature that i was forced
to sit down to muse after means to put myself right in her opinion 

some favourable incidents at the time tumbled in from my agent in
her family at least such as i was determined to make favourable and
therefore i desired admittance and this before she could resolve any
thing against me that is to say while her admiration of my intrepidity
kept resolution in suspense 

accordingly i prepared myself to be all gentleness all obligingness 
all serenity and as i have now and then and always had more or less 
good motions pop up in my mind i encouraged and collected every thing
of this sort that i had ever had from novicehood to maturity  not long
in recollecting jack   in order to bring the dear creature into
good humour with me and who knows thought i if i can hold it and
proceed but i may be able to lay a foundation fit to build my grand
scheme upon love thought i is not naturally a doubter fear is 
i will try to banish the latter nothing then but love will remain 
credulity is the god of love's prime minister and they never are
asunder 


 he had said letter xviii that he would make reformation
 his stalking-horse etc 


 he then acquaints his friend with what passed between him
 and the lady in relation to his advices from harlowe-
 place and to his proposal about lodgings pretty much to
 the same purpose as in her preceding letter 

 when he cones to mention his proposal of the windsor
 lodgings thus heexpresses himself 

now belford can it enter into thy leaden head what i meant by this
proposal i know it cannot and so i'll tell thee 

to leave her for a day or two with a view to serve her by my absence 
would as i thought look like a confiding in her favour i could not
think of leaving her thou knowest while i had reason to believe her
friends would pursue us and i began to apprehend that she would suspect
that i made a pretence of that intentional pursuit to keep about her and
with her but now that they had declared against it and that they would
not receive her if she went back a declaration she had better hear
first from me than from miss howe or any other what should hinder me
from giving her this mark of my obedience especially as i could leave
will who is a clever fellow and can do any thing but write and spell 
and lord m s jonas not as guards to be sure but as attendants only 
the latter to be dispatched to me occasionally by the former whom i
could acquaint with my motions 

then i wanted to inform myself why i had not congratulatory letters
from lady sarah and lady betty and from my cousins montague to whom i
had written glorying in my beloved's escape which letters if properly
worded might be made necessary to shew her as matters proceed 

as to windsor i had no design to carry her particularly thither but
somewhere it was proper to name as she condescended to ask my advice
about it london i durst not but very cautiously and so as to make it
her own option for i must tell thee that there is such a perverseness
in the sex that when they ask your advice they do it only to know your
opinion that they may oppose it though had not the thing in question
been your choice perhaps it had been theirs 

i could easily give reasons against windsor after i had pretended to
be there and this would have looked the better as it was a place of
my own nomination and shewn her that i had no fixed scheme never was
there in woman such a sagacious such an all-alive apprehension as in
this yet it is a grievous thing to an honest man to be suspected 

then in my going or return i can call upon mrs greme she and my
beloved had a great deal of talk together if i knew what it was about 
and that either upon their first acquaintance was for benefiting
herself by the other i might contrive to serve them both without
hurting myself for these are the most prudent ways of doing
friendships and what are not followed by regrets though the served
should prove ingrateful then mrs greme corresponds by pen-and-ink with
her farmer-sister where we are something may possibly arise that way 
either of a convenient nature which i may pursue or of an inconvenient
nature which i may avoid 

always be careful of back doors is a maxim with me in all my exploits 
whoever knows me knows that i am no proud man i can talk as familiarly
to servants as to principals when i have a mind to make it worth their
while to oblige me in any thing then servants are but as the common
soldiers in an army they do all the mischief frequently without malice 
and merely good souls for mischief-sake 

i am most apprehensive about miss howe she has a confounded deal of
wit and wants only a subject to shew as much roguery and should i
be outwitted with all my sententious boasting of conceit of my own
nostrum-mongership  i love to plague thee who art a pretender to
accuracy and a surface-skimmer in learning with out-of-the-way words
and phrases  i should certainly hang drown or shoot myself 

poor hickman i pity him for the prospect he has with such a virago but
the fellow's a fool god wot and now i think of it it is absolutely
necessary for complete happiness in the married state that one should
be a fool  an argument i once held with this very miss howe   but then
the fool should know the other's superiority otherwise the obstinate
one will disappoint the wise one 

but my agent joseph has helped me to secure this quarter as i have
hinted to thee more than once 




letter xxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq  in continuation  


but is it not a confounded thing that i cannot fasten an obligation upon
this proud beauty i have two motives in endeavouring to prevail upon
her to accept of money and raiment from me one the real pleasure i
should have in the accommodating of the haughty maid and to think there
was something near her and upon her that i could call mine the other 
in order to abate her severity and humble her a little 

nothing more effectually brings down a proud spirit than a sense of
lying under pecuniary obligations this has always made me solicitous
to avoid laying myself under any such yet sometimes formerly have
i been put to it and cursed the tardy resolution of the quarterly
periods and yet i ever made shift to avoid anticipation i never would
eat the calf in the cow's belly as lord m s phrase is for what is
that but to hold our lands upon tenant-courtesy the vilest of all
tenures to be denied a fox-chace for breaking down a fence upon my own
grounds to be clamoured at for repairs studied for rather than really
wanted to be prated to by a bumpkin with his hat on and his arms
folded as if he defied your expectations of that sort his foot firmly
fixed as if upon his own ground and you forced to take his arch leers 
and stupid gybes he intimating by the whole of his conduct that he
had had it in his power to oblige you and if you behave civilly may
oblige you again i who think i have a right to break every man's head
i pass by if i like not his looks to bear this no more could i do
it then i could borrow of an insolent uncle or inquisitive aunt who
would thence think themselves entitled to have an account of all my life
and actions laid before them for their review and censure 

my charmer i see has a pride like my own but she has no distinction
in her pride nor knows the pretty fool that there is nothing nobler 
nothing more delightful than for loves to be conferring and receiving
obligations from each other in this very farm-yard to give thee a
familiar instance i have more than once seen this remark illustrated a
strutting rascal of a cock have i beheld chuck chuck chuck chuck-ing
his mistress to him when he has found a single barley-corn taking it
up with his bill and letting it drop five or six times still repeating
his chucking invitation and when two or three of his feathered ladies
strive who shall be the first for it  o jack a cock is a grand signor
of a bird   he directs the bill of the foremost to it and when she has
got the dirty pearl he struts over her with an erected crest cling
round her with dropt wings sweeping the dust in humble courtship while
the obliged she half-shy half-willing by her cowering tail prepared
wings yet seemingly affrighted eyes and contracted neck lets one see
that she knows the barley-corn was not all he called her for 


 when he comes to that part of his narrative where he
 mentions of the proposing of the lady's maid hannah or one
 of the young sorlings to attend her thus he writes 

now belford canst thou imagine what i meant by proposing hannah or
one of the girls here for her attendant i'll give thee a month to
guess 

thou wilt not pretend to guess thou say'st 

well then i'll tell thee 

believing she would certainly propose to have that favourite wench about
her as soon as she was a little settled i had caused the girl to be
inquired after with an intent to make interest some how or other that
a month's warning should be insisted on by her master or mistress or by
some other means which i had not determined upon to prevent her coming
to her but fortune fights for me the wench is luckily ill a violent
rheumatic disorder which has obliged her to leave her place confines
her to her chamber poor hannah how i pity the girl these things are
very hard upon industrious servants i intend to make the poor wench a
small present on the occasion i know it will oblige my charmer 

and so jack pretending not to know any thing of the matter i pressed
her to send for hannah she knew i had always a regard for this servant 
because of her honest love to her lady but now i have greater regard
for her than ever calamity though a poor servant's calamity will
rather increase than diminish good will with a truly generous master or
mistress 

as to one of the young sorling's attendance there was nothing at all
in proposing that for if either of them had been chosen by her and
permitted by the mother  two chances in that   it would have been only
till i had fixed upon another and if afterwards they had been loth to
part i could easily have given my beloved to a jealousy which would
have done the business or to the girl who would have quitted her
country dairy such a relish for a london one and as would have made
it very convenient for her to fall in love with will or perhaps i could
have done still better for her with lord m s chaplain who is very
desirous of standing well with his lord's presumptive heir 

a blessing on thy honest heart lovelace thou'lt say for thou art for
providing for every body 


 he gives an account of the serious part of their
 conversation with no great variation from the lady's
 account of it and when he comes to that part of it where
 he bids her remember that reformation cannot be a sudden
 thing he asks his friend 

is not this fair play is it not dealing ingenuously then the
observation i will be bold to say is founded in truth and nature but
there was a little touch of policy in it besides that the lady if i
should fly out again should not think me too gross an hypocrite for 
as i plainly told her i was afraid that my fits of reformation were
but fits and sallies but i hoped her example would fix them into
habits but it is so discouraging a thing to have my monitress so
very good i protest i know not how to look up at her now as i am
thinking if i could pull her down a little nearer to my own level 
that is to say could prevail upon her to do something that would
argue imperfection something to repent of we should jog on much
more equally and be better able to comprehend one another and so the
comfort would be mutual and the remorse not all on one side 


 he acknowledges that he was greatly affected and pleased
 with the lady's serious arguments at the time but even then
 was apprehensive that his temper would not hold thus he
 writes 

this lady says serious things in so agreeable a manner and then her
voice is all harmony when she touches a subject she is pleased with 
that i could have listened to her for half a day together but yet i am
afraid if she falls as they call it she will lose a good deal of that
pathos of that noble self-confidence which gives a good person as i
now see a visible superiority over one not so good 

but after all belford i would fain know why people call such
free-livers as you and me hypocrites that's a word i hate and should
take it very ill to be called by it for myself i have as good motions 
and perhaps have them as frequently as any body all the business is 
they don't hold or to speak more in character i don't take the care
some do to conceal my lapses 




letter xxvii

miss howe to mis clarissa harlowe saturday april 15 


though pretty much pressed in time and oppressed by my mother's
watchfulness i will write a few lines upon the new light that has
broken in upon your gentleman and send it by a particular hand 

i know not what to think of him upon it he talks well but judge him
by rowe's lines he is certainly a dissembler odious as the sin of
hypocrisy and as he says that other of ingratitude are to him 

and pray my dear let me ask could he have triumphed as it is said
he has done over so many of our sex had he not been egregiously guilty
of both sins 

his ingenuousness is the thing that staggers me yet is he cunning
enough to know that whoever accuses him first blunts the edge of an
adversary's accusation 

he is certainly a man of sense there is more hope of such a one than a
fool and there must be a beginning to a reformation these i will allow
in his favour 

but this that follows i think is the only way to judge of his
specious confessions and self-accusations does he confess any thing
that you knew not before or that you are not likely to find out from
others if nothing else what does he confess to his own disadvantage 
you have heard of his duels you have heard of his seductions all
the world has he owns therefore what it would be to no purpose to
conceal and his ingenuousness is a salvo why this madam is no more
than mr lovelace himself acknowledges 

well but what is now to be done you must make the best of your
situation and as you say so he has proposed to you of windsor and his
canon's house his readiness to leave you and go himself in quest of
a lodging likewise looks well and i think there is nothing can be so
properly done as whether you get to a canon's house or not that the
canon should join you together in wedlock as soon as possible 

i much approve however of all your cautions of all your vigilance 
and of every thing you have done but of your meeting him yet in my
disapprobation of that i judge by that event only for who would have
divined it would have been concluded as it did but he is the devil by
his own account and had he run away with the wretched solmes and your
more wretched brother and himself been transported for life he should
have had my free consent for all three 

what use does he make of that joseph leman his ingenuousness i must
more than once say confounds me but if my dear you can forgive
your brother for the part he put that fellow upon acting i don't know
whether you ought to be angry at lovelace yet i have wished fifty
times since lovelace got you away that you were rid of him whether it
were by a burning fever by hanging by drowning or by a broken
neck provided it were before he laid you under a necessity to go into
mourning for him 

i repeat my hitherto rejected offer may i send it safely by your old
man i have reasons for not sending it by hickman's servant unless i
had a bank note inquiring for such may cause distrust my mother is so
busy so inquisitive i don't love suspicious tempers 

and here she is continually in and out i must break off 


 


mr hickman begs his most respectful compliments to you with offer of
his services i told him i would oblige him because minds in trouble
take kindly any body's civilities but that he was not to imagine that
he particularly obliged me by this since i should think the man or
woman either blind or stupid who admired not a person of your exalted
merit for your own sake and wished not to serve you without view to
other reward than the honour of serving you 

to be sure that was his principal motive with great daintiness he said
it but with a kiss of his hand and a bow to my feet he hoped that a
fine lady's being my friend did not lessen the merit of the reverence he
really had for her 

believe me ever what you my dear shall ever find me 

your faithful and affectionate anna howe 




letter xxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sat afternoon 


i detain your messenger while i write an answer to yours the poor old
man not being very well 

you dishearten me a good deal about mr lovelace i may be too willing
from my sad circumstances to think the best of him if his pretences
to reformation are but pretences what must be his intent but can the
heart of man be so very vile can he dare he mock the almighty but
i may not from one very sad reflection think better of him that i am
thrown too much into his power to make it necessary for him except
he were to intend the very utmost villany by me to be such a shocking
hypocrite he must at least be in earnest at the time he gives the
better hopes surely he must you yourself must join with me in this
hope or you could not wish me to be so dreadfully yoked 

but after all i had rather much rather be independent of him and of
his family although i have an high opinion of them at least till i see
what my own may be brought to otherwise i think it were best for me 
at once to cast myself into lady betty's protection all would then be
conducted with decency and perhaps many mortifications would be spared
me but then i must be his at all adventures and be thought to defy my
own family and shall i not first see the issue of one application and
yet i cannot make this till i am settled somewhere and at a distance
from him 

mrs sorlings shewed me a letter this morning which she had received
from her sister greme last night in which mrs greme hoping i would
forgive her forward zeal if her sister thinks fit to shew her letter to
me wishes and that for all the noble family's sake and she hopes she
may say for my own that i will be pleased to yield to make his honour 
as she calls him happy  she grounds her officiousness as she calls
it upon what he was so condescending  her word also  to say to her
yesterday in his way to windsor on her presuming to ask if she might
soon give him joy that no man ever loved a woman as he loves me that
no woman ever so well deserved to be beloved that he loves me with such
a purity as he had never believed himself capable of or that a mortal
creature could have inspired him with looking upon me as all soul as
an angel sent down to save his  and a great deal more of this sort 
but that he apprehends my consent to make him happy is at a greater
distance than he wishes and complained of too severe restrictions i
had laid upon him before i honoured him with my confidence which
restrictions must be as sacred to him as if they were parts of the
marriage contract  etc 

what my dear shall i say to this how shall i take it mrs greme is
a good woman mrs sorlings is a good woman and this letter agrees with
the conversation between mr lovelace and me which i thought and
still think so agreeable yet what means the man by foregoing the
opportunities he has had to declare himself what mean his complaints
of my restrictions to mrs greme he is not a bashful man but you say 
i inspire people with an awe of me an awe my dear as how 


 this letter mrs greme with no bad design on her part was put upon
writing by mr lovelace himself as will be seen in letter xxxv 


i am quite petulant fretful and peevish with myself at times to
find that i am bound to see the workings of the subtle or this giddy
spirit which shall i call it 

how am i punished as i frequently think for my vanity in hoping to
be an example to young persons of my sex let me be but a warning and i
will now be contented for be my destiny what it may i shall never
be able to hold up my head again among my best friends and worthiest
companions 

it is one of the cruelest circumstances that attends the faults of the
inconsiderate that she makes all who love her unhappy and gives joy
only to her own enemies and to the enemies of her family 

what an useful lesson would this afford were it properly inculcated at
the time that the tempted mind was balancing upon a doubtful adventure 

you know not my dear the worth of a virtuous man and noble-minded as
you are in most particulars you partake of the common weakness of human
nature in being apt to slight what is in your own power 

you would not think of using mr lovelace were he your suitor as you
do the much worthier mr hickman would you you know who says in
my mother's case much will bear much shall bear all the world
through  mr hickman i fancy would be glad to know the lady's name 
who made such an observation he would think it hardly possible but
such a one should benefit by her own remark and would be apt to wish
his miss howe acquainted with her 


 see vol i letter x 


gentleness of heart surely is not despicable in a man why if it be 
is the highest distinction a man can arrive at that of a gentleman a
distinction which a prince may not deserve for manners more than
birth fortune or title are requisite in this character manners are
indeed the essence of it and shall it be generally said and miss howe
not be an exception to it as you once wrote that our sex are best
dealt with by boisterous and unruly spirits 


 see vol ii letter iii 


forgive me my dear and love me as you used to do for although my
fortunes are changed my heart is not nor ever will while it bids my
pen tell you that it must cease to bear when it is not as much yours
as

your cl harlowe 




letter xxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe saturday evening 

mr lovelace has seen divers apartments at windsor but not one he
says that he thought fit for me and which at the same time answered
my description 

he has been very solicitous to keep to the letter of my instructions 
which looked well and the better i like him as although he proposed
that town he came back dissuading me from it for he said that in
his journey from thence he had thought windsor although of his own
proposal a wrong choice because i coveted privacy and that was a
place generally visited and admired 


 this inference of the lady in his favour is exactly what he had hoped
for see letter xxv of this volume 


i told him that if mrs sorlings thought me not an incumbrance i would
be willing to stay here a little longer provided he would leave me and
go to lord m s or to london which ever he thought best 

he hoped he said that he might suppose me absolutely safe from the
insults or attempts of my brother and therefore if it should make me
easier he would obey for a few days at least 

he again proposed to send for hannah i told him i designed to do
so through you and shall i beg of you my dear to cause the honest
creature to be sent to your faithful robert i think knows where
she is perhaps she will be permitted to quit her place directly by
allowing a month's wages which i will repay her he took notice of the
serious humour he found me in and of the redness of my eyes i had just
been answering your letter and had he not approached me on his
coming off his journey in a very respectful manner had he not made an
unexceptionable report of his inquiries and been so ready to go from
me at the very first word i was prepared notwithstanding the good
terms we parted upon when he set out for windsor to have given him a
very unwelcome reception for the contents of your last letter had so
affected me that the moment i saw him i beheld with indignation the
seducer who had been the cause of all the evils i suffer and have
suffered 

he hinted to me that he had received a letter from lady betty and
another as i understood him from one of the miss montagues if they
take notice of me in them i wonder that he did not acquaint me with the
contents i am afraid my dear that his relations are among those who
think i have taken a rash and inexcusable step it is not to my credit
to let even them know how i have been frighted out of myself and yet
perhaps they would hold me unworthy of their alliance if they were to
think my flight a voluntary one o my dear how uneasy to us are our
reflections upon every doubtful occurrence when we know we have been
prevailed upon to do a wrong thing 


sunday morning 

ah this man my dear we have had warmer dialogues than ever yet we
have had at fair argument i find i need not fear him but he is such
a wild such an ungovernable creature  he reformed   that i am half
afraid of him 


 see this confirmed by mr lovelace letter xi of this volume 


he again on my declaring myself uneasy at his stay with me here 
proposed that i would put myself into lady betty's protection assuring
me that he thought he could not leave me at mrs sorlings's with safety
to myself and upon my declining to do that for the reasons i gave you
in my last he urged me to make a demand of my estate 


 see letter xxviii of this volume 


he knew it i told him to be my resolution not to litigate with my
father 

nor would he put me upon it he replied but as the last thing but
if my spirit would not permit me to be obliged as i called it to any
body and yet if my relations would refuse me my own he knew not how
i could keep up that spirit without being put to inconveniences 
which would give him infinite concern unless unless unless he said 
hesitating as if afraid to speak out unless i would take the only
method i could take to obtain the possession of my own 

what is that sir 

sure the man saw by my looks when he came with his creeping unless's 
that i guessed what he meant 

ah madam can you be at a loss to know what that method is they will
not dispute with a man that right which they contest with you 

why said he with a man instead of with him yet he looked as if he
wanted to be encouraged to say more 

so sir you would have me employ a lawyer would you notwithstanding
what i have ever declared as to litigating with my father 

no i would not my dearest creature snatching my hand and pressing it
with his lips except you would make me the lawyer 

had he said me at first i should have been above the affectation of
mentioning a lawyer 

i blushed the man pursued not the subject so ardently but that it was
more easy as well as more natural to avoid it than to fall into it 

would to heaven he might without offending but i so over-awed
him  over-awed him your notion my dear   and so the over-awed 
bashful man went off from the subject repeating his proposal that i
would demand my own estate or empower some man of the law to demand it 
if i would not  he put in  empower a happier man to demand it but it
could not be amiss he thought to acquaint my two trustees that i
intended to assume it 


 see letter xix of this volume 

i should know better what to do i told him when he was at a distance
from me and known to be so i suppose sir that if my father propose
my return and engage never to mention solmes to me nor any other man 
but by my consent and i agree upon that condition to think no more of
you you will acquiesce 

i was willing to try whether he had the regard to all of my previous
declarations which he pretended to have to some of them 

he was struck all of a heap 

what say you mr lovelace you know all you mean is for my good 
surely i am my own mistress surely i need not ask your leave to make
what terms i please for myself so long as i break none with you 

he hemm'd twice or thrice why madam why madam i cannot say then
pausing and rising from his seat with petulance i see plainly enough 
said he the reason why none of my proposals can be accepted at last i
am to be a sacrifice to your reconciliation with your implacable family 

it has always been your respectful way mr lovelace to treat my family
in this free manner but pray sir when you call others implacable see
that you deserve not the same censure yourself 

he must needs say there was no love lost between some of my family and
him but he had not deserved of them what they had of him 

yourself being judge i suppose sir 

all the world you yourself madam being judge 

then sir let me tell you had you been less upon your defiances 
they would not have been irritated so much against you but nobody ever
heard that avowed despite to the relations of a person was a proper
courtship either to that person or to her friends 

well madam all that i know is that their malice against me is such 
that if you determine to sacrifice me you may be reconciled when you
please 

and all i know sir is that if i do give my father the power of a
negative and he will be contented with that it will be but my duty to
give it him and if i preserve one to myself i shall break through no
obligation to you 

your duty to your capricious brother not to your father you mean 
madam 

if the dispute lay between my brother and me at first surely sir a
father may choose which party he will take 

he may madam but that exempts him not from blame for all that if he
take the wrong 

different people will judge differently mr lovelace of the right and
the wrong you judge as you please shall not others as they please and
who has a right to controul a father's judgment in his own family and
in relation to his own child 

i know madam there is no arguing with you but nevertheless i had
hoped to have made myself some little merit with you so as that i might
not have been the preliminary sacrifice to a reconciliation 

your hope sir had been better grounded if you had had my consent to my
abandoning of my father's house 

always madam and for ever to be reminded of the choice you would have
made of that damn'd solmes rather than 

not so hasty not so rash mr lovelace i am convinced that there was
no intention to marry me to that solmes on wednesday 

so i am told they now give out in order to justify themselves at your
expense every body living madam is obliged to you for your kind
thoughts but i 

excuse me good mr lovelace  waving my hand and bowing  that i am
willing to think the best of my father 

charming creature said he with what a bewitching air is that
said and with a vehemence in his manner would have snatched my hand 
but i withdrew it being much offended with him 

i think madam my sufferings for your sake might have entitled me to
some favour 

my sufferings sir for your impetuous temper set against your
sufferings for my sake i humbly conceive leave me very little your
debtor 

lord madam  assuming a drawling air  what have you suffered nothing
but what you can easily forgive you have been only made a prisoner in
your father's house by way of doing credit to your judgment you have
only had an innocent and faithful servant turned out of your service 
because you loved her you have only had your sister's confident
servant set over you with leave to tease and affront you 

very well sir 

you have only had an insolent brother take upon him to treat you like a
slave and as insolent a sister to undermine you in every body's favour 
on pretence to keep you out of hands which if as vile as they vilely
report are not however half so vile and cruel as their own 

go on sir if you please 

you have only been persecuted in order to oblige you to have a sordid
fellow whom you have professed to hate and whom every body despises 
the license has been only got the parson has only been had in
readiness the day a near a very near day had been only fixed and
you were only to be searched for your correspondencies and still closer
confined till the day came in order to deprive you of all means of
escaping the snare laid for you but all this you can forgive you
can wish you had stood all this inevitable as the compulsion must have
been and the man who at the hazard of his life had delivered you
from all these mortifications is the only person you cannot forgive 

can't you go on sir you see i have patience to hear you can't you go
on sir 

i can madam with my sufferings which i confess ought not to be
mentioned were i at last to be rewarded in the manner i hoped 

your sufferings then if you please sir 

affrontingly forbidden your father's house after encouragement given 
without any reasons they knew not before to justify the prohibition 
forced upon a rencounter i wished to avoid the first i ever so
provoked wished to avoid and that because the wretch was your
brother 

wretch sir and my brother this could be from no man breathing but
from him before me 

pardon me madam but oh how unworthy to be your brother the quarrel
grafted upon an old one when at college he universally known to be the
aggressor and revived for views equally sordid and injurious both to
yourself and me giving life to him who would have taken away mine 

your generosity this sir not your sufferings a little more of your
sufferings if you please i hope you do not repent that you did not
murder my brother 

my private life hunted into my morals decried some of the accusers not
unfaulty 

that's an aspersion sir 

spies set upon my conduct one hired to bribe my own servant's fidelity 
perhaps to have poisoned me at last if the honest fellow had not 

facts mr lovelace do you want facts in the display of your
sufferings none of your perhaps's i beseech you 

menaces every day and defiances put into every one's mouth against me 
forced to creep about in disguises and to watch all hours 

and in all weathers i suppose sir that i remember was once your
grievance in all weathers sir and all these hardships arising from
yourself not imposed by me 


 see letter vi of this volume 


like a thief or an eaves-dropper proceeded he and yet neither by
birth nor alliances unworthy of their relation whatever i may be and
am of their admirable daughter of whom they every one of them are at
least as unworthy these madam i call sufferings justly call so if
at last i am to be sacrificed to an imperfect reconciliation imperfect 
i say for can you expect to live so much as tolerably under the same
roof after all that has passed with that brother and sister 

o sir sir what sufferings have yours been and all for my sake i
warrant i can never reward you for them never think of me more i
beseech you how can you have patience with me nothing has been
owing to your own behaviour i presume nothing to your defiances for
defiances nothing to your resolution declared more than once that you
would be related to a family which nevertheless you would not stoop
to ask a relation of nothing in short to courses which every body
blamed you for you not thinking it worth your while to justify
yourself had i not thought you used in an ungentlemanly manner as i
have heretofore told you you had not had my notice by pen and ink 
that notice gave you a supposed security and you generously defied
my friends the more for it and this brought upon me perhaps not
undeservedly my father's displeasure without which my brother's
private pique and selfish views would have wanted a foundation to
build upon so that for all that followed of my treatment and your
redundant only's i might thank you principally as you may yourself for
all your sufferings your mighty sufferings and if voluble sir you
have founded any merit upon them be so good as to revoke it and
look upon me with my forfeited reputation as the only sufferer for
what pray hear me out sir  for he was going to speak  have you
suffered in but your pride your reputation could not suffer that
it was beneath you to be solicitous about and had you not been an
unmanageable man i should not have been driven to the extremity i now
every hour as the hour passes deplore with this additional reflection
upon myself that i ought not to have begun or having begun not
continued a correspondence with one who thought it not worth his while
to clear his own character for my sake or to submit to my father for
his own in a point wherein every father ought to have an option 


 see letter vi of this volume 


darkness light light darkness by my soul just as you please to
have it o charmer of my heart snatching my hand and pressing it
between both of his to his lips in a strange wild way take me take
me to yourself mould me as you please i am wax in your hands give me
your own impression and seal me for ever yours we were born for each
other you to make me happy and save a soul i am all error all
crime i see what i ought to have done but do you think madam i can
willingly consent to be sacrificed to a partial reconciliation in
which i shall be so great so irreparable a sufferer any thing but
that include me in your terms prescribe to me promise for me as you
please put a halter about my neck and lead me by it upon condition
of forgiveness on that disgraceful penance and of a prostration as
servile to your father's presence your brother absent and i will
beg his consent at his feet and bear any thing but spurning from him 
because he is your father but to give you up upon cold conditions 
d n me  said the shocking wretch  if i either will or can 

these were his words as near as i can remember them for his behaviour
was so strangely wild and fervent that i was perfectly frighted i
thought he would have devoured my hand i wished myself a thousand miles
distant from him 

i told him i by no means approved of his violent temper he was too
boisterous a man for my liking i saw now by the conversation that had
passed what was his boasted regard to my injunctions and should
take my measures accordingly as he should soon find and with a half
frighted earnestness i desired him to withdraw and leave me to myself 

he obeyed and that with extreme complaisance in his manner but
with his complexion greatly heightened and a countenance as greatly
dissatisfied 

but on recollecting all that passed i plainly see that he means not 
if he can help it to leave me to the liberty of refusing him which i
had nevertheless preserved a right to do but looks upon me as his by a
strange sort of obligation for having run away with me against my will 

yet you see he but touches upon the edges of matrimony neither and
that at a time generally when he has either excited one's passions
or apprehensions so that one cannot at once descend but surely this
cannot be his design and yet such seemed to be his behaviour to my
sister when he provoked her to refuse him and so tamely submitted as
he did to her refusal but he dare not what can one say of so various
a man i am now again out of conceit with him i wish i were fairly out
of his power 


 see vol i letters ii and iii 


he has sent up three times to beg admittance in the two last with
unusual earnestness but i have sent him word i will finish what i am
about 

what to do about going from this place i cannot tell i could stay
here with all my heart as i have said to him the gentlewoman and her
daughters are desirous that i will although not very convenient for
them i believe neither but i see he will not leave me while i do so
i must remove somewhere 

i have long been sick of myself and now i am more and more so but
let me not lose your good opinion if i do that loss will complete the
misfortunes of

your cl harlowe 




letter xxx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe sunday night april 16 


i may send to you although you are forbid to write to me may i
not for that is not a correspondence is it where letters are not
answered 

i am strangely at a loss what to think of this man he is a perfect
proteus i can but write according to the shape he assumes at the time 
don't think me the changeable person i beseech you if in one letter i
contradict what i wrote in another nay if i seem to contradict what
i said in the same letter for he is a perfect camelion or rather more
variable than the camelion for that it is said cannot assume the
red and the white but this man can and though black seems to be
his natural colour yet has he taken great pains to make me think him
nothing but white 

but you shall judge of him as i proceed only if i any where appear
to you to be credulous i beg you to set me right for you are a
stander-by as you say in a former would to heaven i were not to play 
for i think after all i am held to a desperate game 


 see letter viii of this volume 


before i could finish my last to you he sent up twice more to beg
admittance i returned for answer that i would see him at my own time 
i would neither be invaded nor prescribed to 

considering how we parted and my delaying his audience as he sometimes
calls it i expected him to be in no very good humour when i admitted
of his visit and by what i wrote you will conclude that i was not yet
mine soon changed when i saw his extreme humility at his entrance and
heard what he had to say 

i have a letter madam said he from lady betty lawrance and another
from my cousin charlotte but of these more by-and-by i came now to
make my humble acknowledgement to you upon the arguments that passed
between us so lately 

i was silent wondering what he was driving at 

i am a most unhappy creature proceeded he unhappy from a strange
impatiency of spirit which i cannot conquer it always brings upon me
deserved humiliation but it is more laudable to acknowledge than to
persevere when under the power of conviction 

i was still silent 

i have been considering what you proposed to me madam that i should
acquiesce with such terms as you should think proper to comply with in
order to a reconciliation with your friends 

well sir 

and i find all just all right on your side and all impatience all
inconsideration on mine 

i stared you may suppose whence this change sir and so soon 

i am so much convinced that you must be in the right in all you think
fit to insist upon that i shall for the future mistrust myself and 
if it be possible whenever i differ with you take an hour's time for
recollection before i give way to that vehemence which an opposition 
to which i have not been accustomed too often gives me 

all this is mighty good sir but to what does it tend 

why madam when i came to consider what you had proposed as to the
terms of reconciliation with your friends and when i recollected that
you had always referred to yourself to approve or reject me according
to my merits or demerits i plainly saw that it was rather a
condescension in you that you were pleased to ask my consent to those
terms than that you were imposing a new law and i now madam beg your
pardon for my impatience whatever terms you think proper to come into
with your relations which will enable you to honour me with the
conditional effect of your promise to me to these be pleased to
consent and if i lose you insupportable as that thought is to me yet 
as it must be by my own fault i ought to thank myself for
it 

what think you miss howe do you believe he can have any view in
this i cannot see any he could have and i thought it best as he put
it in so right a manner to appear not to doubt the sincerity of his
confession and to accept of it as sincere 

he then read to me part of lady betty's letter turning down the
beginning which was a little too severe upon him he said for my eye 
and i believe by the style the remainder of it was in a corrective
strain 

it was too plain i told him that he must have great faults that none
of his relations could write to him but with a mingled censure for some
bad action 

and it is as plain my dearest creature said he that you who know
not of any such faults but by surmise are equally ready to condemn
me will not charity allow you to infer that their charges are no
better grounded and that my principal fault has been carelessness of
my character and too little solicitude to clear myself when aspersed 
which i do assure you is the case 

lady betty in her letter expresses herself in the most obliging manner
in relation to me she wishes him so to behave as to encourage me to
make him soon happy she desires her compliments to me and expresses
her impatience to see as her niece so celebrated a lady  those are her
high words  she shall take it for an honour she says to be put into
a way to oblige me she hopes i will not too long delay the ceremony 
because that performed will be to her and to lord m and lady sarah a
sure pledge of her nephew's merits and good behaviour 

she says she was always sorry to hear of the hardships i had met with
on his account that he will be the most ungrateful of men if he make it
not all up to me and that she thinks it incumbent upon all their family
to supply to me the lost favour of my own and for her part nothing of
that kind she bids him assure me shall be wanting 

her ladyship observes that the treatment he had received from my
family would have been much more unaccountable than it was with such
natural and accidental advantages as he had had it not been owing
to his own careless manners but she hopes that he will convince the
harlowe family that they had thought worse of him than he had deserved 
since now it was in his power to establish his character for ever this
she prays to god to enable him to do as well for his own honour as for
the honour of their house  was the magnificent word 

she concludes with desiring to be informed of our nuptials the moment
they are celebrated that she may be with the earliest in felicitating
me on the happy occasion 

but her ladyship gives me no direct invitation to attend her before the
marriage which i might have expected from what he had told me 

he then shewed me part of miss montague's more sprightly letter 
congratulating him upon the honour he had obtained of the confidence
of so admirable a lady  these are her words confidence my dear 
nobody indeed as you say will believe otherwise were they to be
told the truth and you see that miss montague and all his family i
suppose think that the step i have taken an extraordinary one she
also wishes for his speedy nuptials and to see her new cousin at m 
hall as do lord m she tells him and her sister and in general all
the well-wishers of their family 

whenever this happy day shall be passed she proposes she says to
attend me and to make one in my train to m hall if his lordship shall
continue as ill of the gout as he is at present but that should he get
better he will himself attend me she is sure and conduct me thither 
and afterwards quit either of his three seats to us till we shall be
settled to our mind 

this young lady says nothing in excuse for not meeting me on the road 
or st alban's as he had made me expect she would yet mentions her
having been indisposed mr lovelace had also told me that lord m was
ill of the gout which miss montague's letter confirms 

but why did not the man show me these letters last night was he afraid
of giving me too much pleasure 




letter xxxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


you may believe my dear that these letters put me in good humour with
him he saw it in my countenance and congratulated himself upon it 
yet i cannot but repeat my wonder that i could not have the contents of
them communicated to me last night 


 the reader will see how miss howe accounts for this in letter xxxv 


he then urged me to go directly to lady betty's on the strength of her
letter 

but how said i can i do that were i even out of all hope of a
reconciliation with my friends which yet however unlikely to be
effected is my duty to attempt as her ladyship has given me no
particular invitation 

that he was sure was owing to her doubt that it would be
accepted else she had done it with the greatest pleasure in the world 

that doubt itself i said was enough to deter me since her ladyship 
who knew so well the boundaries to the fit and the unfit by her not
expecting i would accept of the invitation had she given it would have
reason to think me very forward if i had accepted it and much more
forward to go without it then said i i thank you sir i have no
clothes fit to go any where or to be seen by any body 

o i was fit to appear in the drawing-room were full dress and
jewels to be excused and should make the most amiable  he must mean
extraordinary  figure there he was astonished at the elegance of my
dress by what art he knew not but i appeared to such advantage as if
i had a different suit every day 

besides his cousins montague would supply me with all i wanted for the
present and he would write to miss charlotte accordingly if i would
give him leave 

do you think me the jay in the fable said i would you have me visit
the owners of the borrowed dresses in their own clothes surely mr 
lovelace you think i have either a very low or a very confident mind 

would i choose to go to london for a very few days only in order to
furnish myself with clothes 

not at your expense sir said i in an angry tone 

i could not have appeared in earnest to him in my displeasure at his
artful contrivances to get me away if i were not occasionally to shew
my real fretfulness upon the destitute condition to which he has reduced
me when people set out wrong together it is very difficult to avoid
recriminations 

he wished he knew but my mind that should direct him in his proposals 
and it would be his delight to observe it whatever it were 

my mind is that you sir should leave me out of hand how often must i
tell you so 

if i were any where but here he would obey me he said if i insisted
upon it but if i would assert my right that would be infinitely
preferable in his opinion to any other measure but one which he durst
only hint at for then admitting his visits or refusing them as i
pleased granting a correspondence by letter only it would appear
to all the world that what i had done was but in order to do myself
justice 

how often mr lovelace must i repeat that i will not litigate with my
father do you think that my unhappy circumstances will alter my notions
of my own duty so far as i shall be enabled to perform it how can i
obtain possession without litigation and but by my trustees one of
them will be against me the other is abroad then the remedy proposed
by this measure were i disposed to fall in with it will require time
to bring it into effect and what i want is present independence and
your immediate absence 

upon his soul the wretch swore he did not think it safe for the
reasons he had before given to leave me here he wished i would think
of some place to which i should like to go but he must take
the liberty to say that he hoped his behaviour had not been so
exceptionable as to make me so very earnest for his absence in the
interim and the less surely as i was almost eternally shutting up
myself from him although he presumed to assure me that he never went
from me but with a corrected heart and with strengthened resolutions
of improving by my example 

externally shutting myself up from you repeated i i hope sir that
you will not pretend to take it amiss that i expect to be uninvaded in
my retirements i hope you do not think me so weak a creature novice as
you have found me in a very capital instance as to be fond of occasions
to hear your fond speeches especially as no differing circumstances
require your over-frequent visits nor that i am to be addressed to as
if i thought hourly professions needful to assure me of your honour 

he seemed a little disconcerted 

you know mr lovelace proceeded i why i am so earnest for your
absence it is that i may appear to the world independent of you and
in hopes by that means to find it less difficult to set on foot a
reconciliation with my friends and now let me add in order to make
you easier as to the terms of that hoped-for reconciliation that since
i find i have the good fortune to stand so well with your relations i
will from time to time acquaint you by letter when you are absent 
with every step i shall take and with every overture that shall be made
to me but not with an intention to render myself accountable to you 
neither as to my acceptance or non-acceptance of those overtures they
know that i have a power given me by my grandfather's will to bequeath
the estate he left me with other of his bounties in a way that may
affect them though not absolutely from them this consideration i
hope will procure me some from them when their passion subsides and
when they know i am independent of you 

charming reasoning and let him tell me that the assurance i had
given him was all he wished for it was more than he could ask what a
happiness to have a woman of honour and generosity to depend upon had
he on his first entrance into the world met with such a one he had
never been other than a man of strict virtue but all he hoped 
was for the best since in that case he had never perhaps had the
happiness he now had in view because his relations had always been
urging him to marry and that before he had the honour to know me and
now as he had not been so bad as some people's malice reported him to
be he hoped he should have near as much merit in his repentance as
if he had never erred a fine rakish notion and hope and too much
encouraged i doubt my dear by the generality of our sex 

this brought on a more serious question or two you'll see by it what a
creature an unmortified libertine is 

i asked him if he knew what he had said alluded to a sentence in the
best of books that there was more joy in heaven 

he took the words out of my mouth 

over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety-and-nine just persons 
which need no repentance were his words 


 luke xv 7 the parable is concerning the ninety-nine sheep not the
prodigal son as mr lovelace erroneously imagines 


yes madam i thought of it as soon as i said it but not before i
have read the story of the prodigal son i'll assure you and one day 
when i am settled as i hope to be will write a dramatic piece on the
subject i have at times had it in my head and you will be too ready 
perhaps to allow me to be qualified fro it 

you so lately sir stumbled at a word with which you must be better
acquainted ere you can be thoroughly master of such a subject that i
am amazed you should know any thing of the scripture and be so ignorant
of that 


 see letter xxiv of this volume 


o madam i have read the bible as a fine piece of ancient history but
as i hope to be saved it has for some years past made me so uneasy 
when i have popped upon some passages in it that i have been forced to
run to music or company to divert myself 

poor wretch lifting up my hands and eyes 

the denunciations come so slap-dash upon one so unceremoniously as i
may say without even the by-your-leave of a rude london chairman that
they overturn one horse and man as st paul was overturned there's
another scripture allusion madam the light in short as his was is
too glaring to be borne 

o sir do you want to be complimented into repentance and salvation 
but pray mr lovelace do you mean any thing at all when you swear so
often as you do by your soul or bind an asseveration with the words 
as you hope to be saved 

o my beloved creature shifting his seat let us call another cause 

why sir don't i neither use ceremony enough with you 

dearest madam forbear for the present i am but in my noviciate your
foundation must be laid brick by brick you'll hinder the progress of
the good work you would promote if you tumble in a whole wagon-load at
once upon me 

lord bless me thought i what a character is that of a libertine 
what a creature am i who have risked what i have risked with such a
one what a task before me if my hopes continue of reforming such a
wild indian as this nay worse than a wild indian for a man who errs
with his eyes open and against conviction is a thousand times worse
for what he knows and much harder to be reclaimed than if he had never
known any thing at all 

i was equally shocked at him and concerned for him and having laid so
few bricks to speak to his allusion and those so ill-cemented i was
as willing as the gay and inconsiderate to call another cause as he
termed it another cause too more immediately pressing upon me from
my uncertain situation 

i said i took it for granted that he assented to the reasoning he
seemed to approve and would leave me and then i asked him what he
really and in his most deliberate mind would advise me to in my
present situation he must needs see i said that i was at a great loss
what to resolve upon entirely a stranger to london having no adviser 
no protector at present himself he must give me leave to tell
him greatly deficient in practice if not in the knowledge of those
decorums which i had supposed were always to be found in a man of
birth fortune and education 

he imagines himself i find to be a very polite man and cannot bear to
be thought otherwise he put up his lip i am sorry for it madam a man
of breeding a man of politeness give me leave to say  colouring   is
much more of a black swan with you than with any lady i ever met with 

then that is your misfortune mr lovelace as well as mine at present 
every woman of discernment i am confident knowing what i know of you
now would as i say  i had a mind to mortify a pride that i am sure
deserves to be mortified   that your politeness is not regular nor
constant it is not habit it is too much seen by fits and starts and
sallies and those not spontaneous you must be reminded into them 

o lord o lord poor i was the light yet the half-angry wretch's
self-pitying expression 

i proceeded upon my word sir you are not the accomplished man which
your talents and opportunities would have led one to expect you to be 
you are indeed in your noviciate as to every laudable attainment 




letter xxxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  in continuation  


as this subject was introduced by himself and treated so lightly by
him i was going on to tell him more of my mind but he interrupted
me dear dear madam spare me i am sorry that i have lived to this
hour for nothing at all but surely you could not have quitted a subject
so much more agreeable and so much more suitable i will say to your
present situation if you had not too cruel a pleasure in mortifying a
man who the less needed to be mortified as he before looked up to you
with a diffidence in his own merits too great to permit him to speak
half of his mind to you be pleased but to return to the subject we were
upon and at another time i will gladly embrace correction from the only
lips in the world so qualified to give it 

you talk of reformation sometimes mr lovelace and in so talking 
acknowledge errors but i see you can very ill bear the reproof for
which perhaps you are not solicitous to avoid giving occasion far be it
from me to take delight in finding fault i should be glad for both our
sakes since my situation is what it is that i could do nothing but
praise you but failures which affect a mind that need not be very
delicate to be affected by them are too grating to be passed over in
silence by a person who wishes to be thought in earnest in her own duties 

i admire your delicacy madam again interrupted he although i suffer
by it yet would i not have it otherwise indeed i would not when i
consider of it it is an angelic delicacy which sets you above all our
sex and even above your own it is natural to you madam so you may
think it extraordinary but there is nothing like it on earth said the
flatterer what company has he kept 

but let us return to the former subject you were so good as to ask me
what i would advise you to do i want but to make you easy i want but
to see you fixed to your liking your faithful hannah with you your
reconciliation with those to whom you wish to be reconciled set
on foot and in a train and now let me mention to you different
expedients in hopes that some one of them may be acceptable to you 

i will go to mrs howe or to miss howe or to whomsoever you would
have me to go and endeavour to prevail upon them to receive you 


 the reader perhaps need not be reminded that he had taken care from
the first see vol i letter xxxi to deprive her of any protection
from mrs howe see in his next letter a repeated account of the same
artifices and his exultations upon his inventions to impose upon the
two such watchful ladies as clarissa and miss howe 


do you incline to go to florence to your cousin morden i will furnish
you with an opportunity of going thither either by sea to leghorn 
or by land through france perhaps i may be able to procure one of
the ladies of my family to attend you either charlotte or patty would
rejoice in such an opportunity of seeing france and italy as for
myself i will only be your escort in disguise if you will have it so 
even in your livery that your punctilio may not receive offence by my
attendance 

i told him i would consider of all he had said but that i hoped for a
line or two from my aunt hervey if not from my sister to both of
whom i had written which if i were to be so favoured might help to
determine me mean time if he would withdraw i would particularly
consider of this proposal of his in relation to my cousin morden and
if it held its weight with me so far as to write for your opinion upon
it he should know my mind in an hour's time 

he withdrew with great respect and in an hour's time returned and i
then told him it was unnecessary to trouble you for your opinion about
it my cousin morden was soon expected if he were not i could not
admit him to accompany me to him upon any condition it was highly
improbable that i should obtain the favour of either of his cousins'
company and if that could be brought about it would be the same thing
in the world's eye as if he went himself 

this led us into another conversation which shall be the subject of my
next 




letter xxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe  in continuation  


mr lovelace told me that on the supposition that his proposal in
relation to my cousin morden might not be accepted he had been studying
to find out if possible some other expedient that might be agreeable 
in order to convince me that he preferred my satisfaction to his own 

he then offered to go himself and procure my hannah to come and
attend me as i had declined the service of either of the young misses
sorlings he was extremely solicitous he said that i should have a
servant in whose integrity i might confide 

i told him that you would be so kind as to send to engage hannah if
possible 

if any thing he said should prevent hannah from coming suppose he
himself waited upon miss howe to desire her to lend me her servant till
i was provided to my mind 

i said your mother's high displeasure at the step i had taken as she
supposed voluntarily had deprived me of an open assistance of that
sort from you 

he was amazed so much as mrs howe herself used to admire me and so
great an influence as miss howe was supposed and deserved to have
over her mother that mrs howe should take upon herself to be so much
offended with me he wished that the man who took such pains to keep up
and enflame the passions of my father and uncles were not at the bottom
of this mischief too 

i was afraid i said that my brother was or else my uncle antony i
dared to say would not have taken such pains to set mrs howe against
me as i understood he had done 

since i had declined visiting lady sarah and lady betty he asked me 
if i should admit of a visit from his cousin montague and accept of a
servant of hers for the present 

that was not i said an acceptable proposal but i would first see if
my friends would send me my clothes that i might not make such a giddy
and runaway appearance to any of his relations 

if i pleased he would take another journey to windsor to make a more
particular inquiry amongst the canons or in any worthy family 

were not his objections as to the publicness of the place i asked him 
as strong now as before 

i remember my dear in one of your former letters you mentioned london
as the most private place to be in and i said that since he made such
pretences against leaving me here as shewed he had no intention to do
so and since he engaged to go from me and leave me to pursue my
own measures if i were elsewhere and since his presence made these
lodgings inconvenient to me i should not be disinclined to go to
london did i know any body there 


 see vol ii letter xxxvii 


as he had several times proposed london to me i expected that he would
eagerly have embraced that motion from me but he took not ready hold of
it yet i thought his eye approved of it 

we are both great watchers of each other's eyes and indeed seem to be
more than half afraid of each other 

he then made a grateful proposal to me that i would send for my norton
to attend me  


 the reader is referred to mr lovelace's next letter for his motives
in making the several proposals of which the lady is willing to think so
well 


he saw by my eyes he said that he had at last been happy in an
expedient which would answer the wishes of us both why says he did
i not think of it before and snatching my hand shall i write madam 
shall i send shall i go and fetch the worthy woman myself 

after a little consideration i told him that this was indeed a grateful
motion but that i apprehended it would put her to a difficulty which
she would not be able to get over as it would make a woman of her known
prudence appear to countenance a fugitive daughter in opposition to
her parents and as her coming to me would deprive her of my mother's
favour without its being in my power to make it up to her 

o my beloved creature said he generously enough let not this be
an obstacle i will do every thing for mrs norton you wish to have
done let me go for her 

more coolly than perhaps his generosity deserved i told him it was
impossible but i must soon hear from my friends i should not mean
time embroil any body with them not mrs norton especially from whose
interest in and mediation with my mother i might expect some good 
were she to keep herself in a neutral state that besides the good
woman had a mind above her fortune and would sooner want than be
beholden to any body improperly 

improperly said he have not persons of merit a right to all the
benefits conferred upon them mrs norton is so good a woman that i
shall think she lays me under an obligation if she will put it in my
power to serve her although she were not to augment it by giving me
the opportunity at the same time of contributing to your pleasure and
satisfaction 

how could this man with such powers of right thinking be so far
depraved by evil habits as to disgrace his talents by wrong acting 

is there not room after all thought i at the time to hope as he so
lately led me to hope that the example it will behove me for both
our sakes to endeavour to set him may influence him to a change of
manners in which both may find our account 

give me leave sir said i to tell you there is a strange mixture in
your mind you must have taken pains to suppress many good motions
and reflections as they arose or levity must have been surprisingly
predominant in it but as to the subject we were upon there is no
taking any resolutions till i hear from my friends 

well madam i can only say i would find out some expedient if i
could that should be agreeable to you but since i cannot will you be
so good as to tell me what you would wish to have done nothing in the
world but i will comply with excepting leaving you here at such a
distance from the place i shall be in if any thing should happen and
in a place where my gossiping rascals have made me in a manner public 
for want of proper cautions at first 

these vermin added he have a pride they can hardly rein-in when
they serve a man of family they boast of their master's pedigree and
descent as if they were related to him nor is any thing they know of
him or of his affairs a secret to one another were it a matter that
would hang him 

if so thought i men of family should take care to give them subjects
worth boasting of 

i am quite at a loss said i what to do or where to go would you mr 
lovelace in earnest advise me to think of going to london 

and i looked at him with stedfastness but nothing could i gather from
his looks 

at first madam said he i was for proposing london as i was then more
apprehensive of pursuit but as your relations seem cooler on that head 
i am the more indifferent about the place you go to so as you are
pleased so as you are easy i shall be happy 

this indifference of his to london i cannot but say made me incline
the more to go thither i asked him to hear what he would say if he
could recommend me to any particular place in london 

no he said none that was fit for me or that i should like his friend
belford indeed had very handsome lodgings near soho-square at a
relation's whose wife was a woman of virtue and honour these as mr 
belford was generally in the country he could borrow till i was better
accommodated 

i was resolved to refuse these at the first mention as i should any
other he had named nevertheless i will see thought i if he has
really thought of these for me if i break off the talk here and he
resume this proposal with earnestness in the morning i shall apprehend
that he is less indifferent than he seems to be about my going to
london and that he has already a lodging in his eye for me and then i
will not go at all 

but after such generous motions from him i really think it a little
barbarous to act and behave as if i thought him capable of the blackest
and most ungrateful baseness but his character his principles are so
faulty he is so light so vain so various that there is no certainty
that he will be next hour what he is this then my dear i have no
guardian now no father no mother only god and my vigilance to depend
upon and i have no reason to expect a miracle in my favour 

well sir said i  rising to leave him   something must be resolved
upon but i will postpone this subject till to-morrow morning 

he would fain have engaged me longer but i said i would see him as
early as he pleased in the morning he might think of any convenient
place in london or near it in mean time 

and so i retired from him as i do from my pen hoping for better rest
for the few hours that remain of this night than i have had of a long
time 

clarissa harlowe 




letter xxxiv

miss clarissa harlowe  in continuation   monday morning april 17 


late as i went to bed i have had very little rest sleep and i have
quarreled and although i court it it will not be friends i hope its
fellow-irreconcilables at harlowe-place enjoy its balmy comforts else
that will be an aggravation of my fault my brother and sister i dare
say want it not 

mr lovelace who is an early riser as well as i joined me in the
garden about six and after the usual salutations asked me to resume
our last night's subject it was upon lodgings at london he said 

i think you mentioned one to me sir did you not 

yes madam  but watching the turn of my countenance   rather as what
you would be welcome to than perhaps approve of 

i believe so too to go to town upon an uncertainty i own is not
agreeable but to be obliged to any persons of your acquaintance when
i want to be thought independent of you and to a person especially to
whom my friends are to direct to me if they vouchsafe to take notice of
me at all is an absurd thing to mention 

he did not mention it as what he imagined i would accept but only to
confirm to me what he had said that he himself knew of none fit for me 

has not your family madam some one tradesman they deal with who has
conveniences of this kind i would make it worth such a person's while
to keep his secret of your being at his house traders are dealers in
pins said he and will be more obliged by a penny customer than by a
pound present because it is in their way yet will refuse neither any
more than a lawyer or a man of office his fee 

my father's tradesmen i said would no doubt be the first employed to
find me out so that that proposal was as wrong as the other and who
is it that a creature so lately in favour with all her friends can apply
to in such a situation as mine but must be at least equally the
friends of her relations 

we had a good deal of discourse upon the same topic but at last the
result was this he wrote a letter to one mr doleman a married man 
of fortune and character i excepting to mr belford desiring him
to provide decent apartments ready furnished  i had told him what they
should be  for a single woman consisting of a bed-chamber another for
a maidservant with the use of a dining-room or parlour this letter he
gave me to peruse and then sealed it up and dispatched it away in my
presence by one of his own servants who having business in town is
to bring back an answer 

i attend the issue of it holding myself in readiness to set out for
london unless you my dear advise the contrary 




letter xxxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq sat sunday monday 


 he gives in several letters the substance of what is
 contained in the last seven of the lady's 

 he tells his friend that calling at the lawn in his way to
 m hall for he owns that he went not to windsor he
 found the letters from lady betty lawrance and his cousin
 montague which mrs greme was about sending to him by a
 special messenger 

 he gives the particulars from mrs greme's report of what
 passed between the lady and her as in letter vi and
 makes such declarations to mrs greme of his honour and
 affection to the lady as put her upon writing the letter to
 her sister sorlings the contents of which are in letter
 xxviii 

 he then accounts as follows for the serious humour he
 found her in on his return 

upon such good terms when we parted i was surprised to find so solemn a
brow upon my return and her charming eyes red with weeping but when i
had understood she had received letters from miss howe it was natural
to imagine that that little devil had put her out of humour with me 

it is easy for me to perceive that my charmer is more sullen when
she receives and has perused a letter from that vixen than at other
times but as the sweet maid shews even then more of passive grief 
than of active spirit i hope she is rather lamenting than plotting 
and indeed for what now should she plot when i am become a reformed
man and am hourly improving in my morals nevertheless i must
contrive some way or other to get at their correspondence only to see
the turn of it that's all 

but no attempt of this kind must be made yet a detected invasion in an
article so sacred would ruin me beyond retrieve nevertheless it vexes
me to the heart to think that she is hourly writing her whole mind on
all that passes between her and me i under the same roof with her 
yet kept at such awful distance that i dare not break into a
correspondence that may perhaps be a mean to defeat all my devices 

would it be very wicked jack to knock her messenger on the head as
he is carrying my beloved's letters or returning from miss howe's to
attempt to bribe him and not succeed would utterly ruin me and the
man seems to be one used to poverty one who can sit down satisfied with
it and enjoy it contented with hand-to-mouth conveniencies and not
aiming to live better to-morrow than he does to-day and than he did
yesterday such a one is above temptation unless it could come clothed
in the guise of truth and trust what likelihood of corrupting a man who
has no hope no ambition 

yet the rascal has but half life and groans under that should i be
answerable in his case for a whole life but hang the fellow let him
live were i king or a minister of state an antonio perez it were
another thing and yet on second thoughts am i not a rake as it is
called and who ever knew a rake stick at any thing but thou knowest 
jack that the greatest half of my wickedness is vapour to shew my
invention and to prove that i could be mischievous if i would 


 antonio perez was first minister of philip ii king of spain by whose
command he caused don juan de escovedo to be assassinated which brought
on his own ruin through the perfidy of his viler master gedde's
tracts 


 when he comes to that part where the lady says letter
 xxix in a sarcastic way waving her hand and bowing 
 excuse me good mr lovelace that i am willing to think
 the best of my father  he gives a description of her air
 and manner greatly to her advantage and says 

i could hardly forbear taking her into my arms upon it in spite of an
expected tempest so much wit so much beauty such a lively manner 
and such exceeding quickness and penetration o belford she must be
nobody's but mine i can now account for and justify herod's command to
destroy his mariamne if he returned not alive from his interview with
caesar for were i to know that it were but probable that any other
man were to have this charming creature even after my death the very
thought would be enough to provoke me to cut that man's throat were he
a prince 

i may be deemed by this lady a rapid a boisterous lover and she may
like me the less for it but all the ladies i have met with till now 
loved to raise a tempest and to enjoy it nor did they ever raise it 
but i enjoyed it too lord send us once happily to london 


 mr lovelace gives the following account of his rude
 rapture when he seized her hand and put her by his wild
 manner as she expresses it letter xxxix into such terror 

darkness and light i swore were convertible at her pleasure she could
make any subject plausible i was all error she all perfection and i
snatched her hand and more than kissed it i was ready to devour it 
there was i believe a kind of phrensy in my manner which threw her
into a panic like that of semele perhaps when the thunderer in all
his majesty surrounded with ten thousand celestial burning-glasses was
about to scorch her into a cinder 


 


had not my heart misgiven me and had i not just in time recollected
that she was not so much in my power but that she might abandon me at
her pleasure having more friends in that house than i had i should at
that moment have made offers that would have decided all one way
or other but apprehending that i had shewn too much meaning in my
passion i gave it another turn but little did the charmer think that
an escape either she or i had as the event might have proved from
that sudden gust of passion which had like to have blown me into
her arms she was born i told her to make me happy and to save a
soul 


 he gives the rest of his vehement speech pretty nearly in
 the same words as the lady gives them and then proceeds 

i saw she was frighted and she would have had reason had the scene been
london and that place in london which i have in view to carry her to 
she confirmed me in my apprehension that i had alarmed her too much 
she told me that she saw what my boasted regard to her injunctions was 
and she would take proper measures upon it as i should find that she
was shocked at my violent airs and if i hoped any favour from her i
must that instant withdraw and leave her to her recollection 

she pronounced this in such a manner as shewed she was set upon it and 
having stepped out of the gentle and polite part i had so newly engaged
to act i thought ready obedience was the best atonement and indeed i
was sensible from her anger and repulses that i wanted time myself
for recollection and so i withdrew with the same veneration as a
petitioning subject would withdraw from the presence of his sovereign 
but o belford had she had but the least patience with me had she but
made me think she would forgive this initiatory ardour surely she will
not be always thus guarded 

i had not been a moment by myself but i was sensible that i had half
forfeited my newly-assumed character it is exceedingly difficult thou
seest for an honest man to act in disguises as the poet says thrust
nature back with a pitchfork it will return i recollected that what
she had insisted upon was really a part of that declared will before she
left her father's house to which in another case to humble her i had
pretended to have an inviolable regard and when i had remembered her
words of taking her measures accordingly i was resolved to sacrifice
a leg or an arm to make all up again before she had time to determine
upon any new measures 

how seasonably to this purpose have come in my aunt's and cousin's
letters 


 


i have sent in again and again to implore her to admit me to her
presence but she will conclude a letter she is writing to miss howe 
before she will see me i suppose to give her an account of what has
just passed 


 


curse upon her perverse tyranny how she makes me wait for an humble
audience though she has done writing for some time a prince begging
for her upon his knees should not prevail upon me to spare her if i can
but get her to london oons jack i believe i have bit my lip through
for vexation but one day her's shall smart for it 


 mr lovelace beginning a new date gives an account of his
 admittance and of the conversation that followed which
 differing only in style from that of the lady gives in the
 next letter is omitted 

 he collects the lady's expressions which his pride cannot
 bear such as that he is a stranger to the decorums which
 she thought inseparable from a man of birth and education 
 and that he is not the accomplished man he imagines himself
 to be and threatens to remember them against her 

 he values himself upon his proposals and speeches which he
 gives to his friend pretty much to the same purpose that
 the lady does in her four last letters 

 after mentioning his proposal to her that she would borrow a
 servant from miss howe till hannah could come he writes
 as follows 

thou seest belford that my charmer has no notion that miss howe
herself is but a puppet danced upon my wires at second or third hand to
outwit and impel as i please two such girls as these who think they
know every thing and by taking advantage of the pride and ill-nature
of the old ones of both families to play them off likewise at the very
time they think they are doing me spiteful displeasure what charming
revenge then the sweet creature when i wished that her brother was
not at the bottom of mrs howe's resentment to tell me that she was
afraid he was or her uncle would not have appeared against her to that
lady pretty dear how innocent 

but don't think me the cause neither of her family's malice and
resentment it is all in their hearts i work but with their materials 
they if left to their own wicked direction would perhaps express their
revenge by fire and faggot that is to say by the private dagger or
by lord chief justices' warrants by law and so forth i only point
the lightning and teach it where to dart without the thunder in other
words i only guide the effects the cause is in their malignant hearts 
and while i am doing a little mischief i prevent a great deal 


thus he exalts on her mentioning london 

i wanted her to propose london herself this made me again mention
windsor if you would have a woman do one thing you must always propose
another and that the very contrary the sex the very sex as i hope
to be saved why jack they lay a man under a necessity to deal doubly
with them and when they find themselves outwitted they cry out upon
an honest fellow who has been too hard for them at their own weapons 

i could hardly contain myself my heart was at my throat down down 
said i to myself exuberant exultation a sudden cough befriended me 
i again turned to her all as indifferenced over as a girl at the first
long-expected question who waits for two more i heard out the rest of
her speech and when she had done instead of saying any thing to her
for london i advised her to send for mrs norton 

as i knew she would be afraid of lying under obligation i could have
proposed to do so much for the good woman and her son as would have
made her resolve that i should do nothing this however not merely to
avoid expense but there was no such thing as allowing of the presence
of mrs norton i might as well have had her mother or her aunt hervey
with her hannah had she been able to come and had she actually come 
i could have done well enough with what do i keep fellows idling in the
country for but to fall in love and even to marry those whom i would
have them marry nor upon second thoughts would the presence of her
norton or of her aunt or even of her mother have saved the dear
creature had i decreed her fall 

how unequal is a modest woman to the adventure when she throws herself
into the power of a rake punctilio will at any time stand for reason
with such an one she cannot break through a well-tested modesty none
but the impudent little rogues who can name the parson and the church
before you think of either and undress and go to bed before you the
next hour should think of running away with a man 


 


i am in the right train now every hour i doubt not will give me an
increasing interest in the affections of this proud beauty i have just
carried unpoliteness far enough to make her afraid of me and to shew
her that i am no whiner every instance of politeness now will give
me double credit with her my next point will be to make her acknowledge
a lambent flame a preference of me to all other men at least and
then my happy hour is not far off an acknowledged reciprocality in love
sanctifies every little freedom and little freedoms beget greater 
and if she call me ungenerous i can call her cruel the sex love to be
called cruel many a time have i complained of cruelty even in the act
of yielding because i knew it gratified the fair one's pride 


mentioning that he had only hinted at mr belford's lodgings as an instance to confirm what he had told her that he knew of none in
 london fit for her he says 

i had a mind to alarm her with something furthest from my purpose for
 as much as she disliked my motion i intend nothing by it mrs osgood
is too pious a woman and would have been more her friend than mine 

i had a view moreover to give her an high opinion of her own sagacity 
i love when i dig a put to have my prey tumble in with secure feet 
and open eyes then a man can look down upon her with an o-ho charmer 
how came you there 


monday april 17 

i have just now received a fresh piece of intelligence from my agent 
honest joseph leman thou knowest the history of poor miss betterton of
nottingham james harlowe is plotting to revive the resentments of her
family against me the harlowes took great pains some time ago to
endeavour to get to the bottom of that story but now the foolish devils
are resolved to do something in it if they can my head is working to
make this booby squire a plotter and a clever fellow in order to turn
his plots to my advantage supposing his sister shall aim to keep me
at arm's length when in town and to send me from her but i will in
proper time let thee see joseph's letter and what i shall answer to
it to know in time a designed mischief is with me to disappoint it 
and to turn it upon the contriver's head 


 see letters xlvii xlviii of this volume 


joseph is plaguy squeamish again but i know he only intends by his
qualms to swell his merits with me o belford belford what a vile
corruptible rogue whether in poor or rich is human nature 




letter xxxvi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe  in answer to letters
xxviii xxxiv inclusive   tuesday april 18 


you have a most implacable family another visit from your uncle antony
has not only confirmed my mother an enemy to our correspondence but has
almost put her upon treading in their steps 

but to other subjects 

you plead generously for mr hickman perhaps with regard to him i
may have done as i have often done in singing begun a note or key
too high and yet rather than begin again proceed though i strain
my voice or spoil my tune but this is evident the man is the more
observant for it and you have taught me that the spirit which is the
humbler for ill usage will be insolent upon better so good and grave
mr hickman keep your distance a little longer i beseech you you have
erected an altar to me and i hope you will not refuse to bow to it 

but you ask me if i would treat mr lovelace were he to be in mr 
hickman's place as i do mr hickman why really my dear i believe i
should not i have been very sagely considering this point of behaviour
 in general on both sides in courtship and i will very candidly tell
you the result i have concluded that politeness even to excess 
is necessary on the men's part to bring us to listen to their first
addresses in order to induce us to bow our necks to a yoke so unequal 
but upon my conscience i very much doubt whether a little intermingled
insolence is not requisite from them to keep up that interest when
once it has got footing men must not let us see that we can make
fools of them and i think that smooth love that is to say a passion
without rubs in other words a passion without passion is like a
sleepy stream that is hardly seen to give motion to a straw so that 
sometimes to make us fear and even for a short space to hate the
wretch is productive of the contrary extreme 

if this be so lovelace than whom no man was ever more polite and
obsequious at the beginning has hit the very point for his turbulence
since his readiness to offend and his equal readiness to humble
himself as must keep a woman's passion alive and at last tire her
into a non-resistance that shall make her as passive as a tyrant-husband
would wish her to be 

i verily think that the different behaviour of our two heroes to
their heroines make out this doctrine to demonstration i am so much
accustomed for my own part to hickman's whining creeping submissive
courtship that i now expect nothing but whine and cringe from him and
am so little moved with his nonsense that i am frequently forced to go
to my harpsichord to keep me awake and to silence his humdrum whereas
lovelace keeps up the ball with a witness and all his address and
conversation is one continual game at raquet 

your frequent quarrels and reconciliations verify this observation and
i really believe that could hickman have kept my attention alive after
the lovelace manner only that he had preserved his morals i should
have married the man by this time but then he must have set out
accordingly for now he can never never recover himself that's
certain but must be a dangler to the end of the courtship-chapter and 
what is still worse for him a passive to the end of his life 

poor hickman perhaps you'll say 

i have been called your echo poor hickman say i 

you wonder my dear that mr lovelace took not notice to you over-night
of the letters of lady betty and his cousin i don't like his keeping
such a material and relative circumstance as i may call it one moment
from you by his communicating the contents of them to you next day 
when you was angry with him it looks as if he withheld them for
occasional pacifiers and if so must he not have had a forethought that
he might give you cause for anger of all the circumstances that have
happened since you have been with him i think i like this the least 
this alone my dear small as it might look to an indifferent eye in
mine warrants all your caution yet i think that mrs greme's letter to
her sister sorlings his repeated motions for hannah's attendance and
for that of one of the widow sorlings's daughters and above all for
that of mrs norton are agreeable counterbalances were it not for
these circumstances i should have said a great deal more of the other 
yet what a foolish fellow to let you know over-night that he had such
letters i can't tell what to make of him 

i am pleased with the contents of these ladies' letters and the more 
as i have caused the family to be again sounded and find that they are
all as desirous as ever of your alliance 

they really are every one of them your very great admirers and as for
lord m he is so much pleased with you and with the confidence as
he calls it which you have reposed in his nephew that he vows he will
disinherit him if he reward it not as he ought you must take care 
that you lose not both families 

i hear mrs norton is enjoined as she values the favour of the
other family not to correspond either with you or with me poor
creatures but they are your yet they are not your relations neither 
i believe had you had any other nurse i should have concluded you had
been changed i suffer by their low malice excuse me therefore 

you really hold this man to his good behaviour with more spirit than
i thought you mistress of especially when i judged of you by that
meekness which you always contended for as the proper distinction of
the female character and by the love which think as you please you
certainly have for him you may rather be proud of than angry at the
imputation since you are the only woman i ever knew read or heard
of whose love was so much governed by her prudence but when once the
indifference of the husband takes place of the ardour of the lover it
will be your turn and if i am not mistaken this man who is the only
self-admirer i ever knew who was not a coxcomb will rather in his day
expect homage than pay it 

your handsome husbands my dear make a wife's heart ache very often 
and though you are as fine a person of a woman at the least as he is
of a man he will take too much delight in himself to think himself more
indebted to your favour than you are to his distinction and preference
of you but no man take your finer mind with your very fine person can
deserve you so you must be contented should your merit be underrated 
since that must be so marry whom you will perhaps you will think i
indulge these sort of reflections against your narcissus's of men to
keep my mother's choice for me of hickman in countenance with myself i
don't know but there is something in it at least enough to have given
birth to the reflection 

i think there can be no objection to your going to london there as
in the centre you will be in the way of hearing from every body and
sending to any body and then you will put all his sincerity to the
test as to his promised absence and such like 

but indeed my dear i think you have nothing for it but marriage you
may try that you may say you have tried what your relations can be
brought to but the moment they refuse your proposals submit to the
yoke and make the best of it he will be a savage indeed if he makes
you speak out yet it is my opinion that you must bend a little for
he cannot bear to be thought slightly of 

this was one of his speeches once i believe designed for me a woman
who means one day to favour her lover with her hand should show the
world for her own sake that she distinguishes him from the common
herd 

shall i give you another very fine sentence of his and in the
true libertine style as he spoke it throwing out his challenging
hand d n him if he would marry the first princess on earth if
he but thought she balanced a minute in her choice of him or of an
emperor 

all the world in short expect you to have this man they think that
you left your father's house for this very purpose the longer the
ceremony is delayed the worse appearance it will have in the world's
eye and it will not be the fault of some of your relations if a slur
be not thrown upon your reputation while you continue unmarried your
uncle antony in particular speaks rough and vile things grounded upon
the morals of his brother orson but hitherto your admirable character
has antidoted the poison the detractor is despised and every one's
indignation raised against him 

i have written through many interruptions and you will see the first
sheet creased and rumpled occasioned by putting it into my bosom on my
mother's sudden coming upon me we have had one very pretty debate 
i will assure you but it is not worth while to trouble you with the
particulars but upon my world no matter though 

your hannah cannot attend you the poor girl left her place about a
fortnight ago on account of the rheumatic disorder which has confined
her to her room ever since she burst into tears when kitty carried
to her your desire of having her with you and called herself doubly
unhappy that she could not wait upon a mistress whom she so dearly
loved 

had my mother answered my wishes i should have been sorry mr lovelace
had been the first proposer of my kitty for your attendant till hannah
should come to be altogether among strangers and a stranger to attend
you every time you remove is a very disagreeable thing but your
considerateness and bounty will make you faithful ones wherever you go 

you must take your own way but if you suffer any inconvenience either
as to clothes or money that it is in my power to remedy i will never
forgive you my mother if that is your objection need not know any
thing of the matter 

we have all our defects we have often regretted the particular fault 
which though in venerable characters we must have been blind not to
see 

i remember what you once said to me and the caution was good let us 
my nancy were your words let us who have not the same failings
as those we censure guard against other and greater in ourselves 
nevertheless i must needs tell you that my mother has vexed me a
little very lately by some instances of her jealous narrowness i will
mention one of them though i did not intend it she wanted to borrow
thirty guineas of me only while she got a note changed i said i could
lend her but eight or ten eight or ten would not do she thought i was
much richer i could have told her i was much cunninger than to let her
know my stock which on a review i find ninety-five guineas and all
of them most heartily at your service 

i believe your uncle tony put her upon this wise project for she was
out of cash in an hour after he left her 

if he did you will judge that they intend to distress you if it will
provoke you to demand your own in a legal way i wish they would since
their putting you upon that course will justify the necessity of your
leaving them and as it is not for your credit to own that you were
tricked away contrary to your intention this would afford a reason for
your going off that i should make very good use of you'll see that
i approve of lovelace's advice upon this subject i am not willing to
allow the weight of your answer to him on that head which perhaps ought
to be allowed it 


 see letter xxxi of this volume 


you must be the less surprised at the inventions of this man because of
his uncommon talents whatever he had turned his head to he would have
excelled in or been or done things extraordinary he is said to be
revengeful a very bad quality i believe indeed he is a devil
in every thing but his foot this therefore is my repeated
advice provoke him not too much against yourself but unchain him and
let him loose upon your sister' betty and your brother's joseph leman 
this is resenting low but i know to whom i write or else i would go a
good deal higher  i'll assure you  

your next i suppose will be from london pray direct it and your
future letters till further notice to mr hickman at his own house 
he is entirely devoted to you don't take so heavily my mother's
partiality and prejudices i hope i am past a baby 

heaven preserve you and make you as happy as i think you deserve to be 
prays

your ever affectionate anna howe 




letter xxxvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wedn morning april 19 


i am glad my dear friend that you approve of my removal to london 

the disagreement between your mother and you gives me inexpressible
affliction i hope i think you both more unhappy than you are but i
beseech you let me know the particulars of the debate you call a very
pretty one i am well acquainted with your dialect when i am informed
of the whole let your mother have been ever so severe upon me i
shall be easier a great deal faulty people should rather deplore the
occasion they have given for anger than resent it 

if i am to be obliged to any body in england for money it shall be to
you your mother need not know of your kindness to me you say but she
must know it if it be done and if she challenge my beloved friend upon
it for would you either falsify or prevaricate i wish your mother
could be made easy on this head forgive me my dear but i
know yet once she had a better opinion of me o my inconsiderate
rashness excuse me once more i pray you pride when it is native 
will shew itself sometimes in the midst of mortifications but my
stomach is down already 


 


i am unhappy that i cannot have my worthy hannah i am sorry for the
poor creature's illness as for my own disappointment by it come my
dear miss howe since you press me to be beholden to you and would
think me proud if i absolutely refused your favour pray be so good as
to send her two guineas in my name 

if i have nothing for it as you say but matrimony it yields little
comfort that his relations do not despise the fugitive as persons of
their rank and quality-pride might be supposed to do for having been a
fugitive 

but o my cruel thrice cruel uncle to suppose but my heart checks my
pen and will not let it proceed on an intimation so extremely shocking
as that which he supposes yet if thus they have been persuaded no
wonder if they are irreconcilable 

this is all my hard-hearted brother's doings his surmisings god
forgive him prays his injured sister 




letter xxxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe thursday april 20 


mr lovelace's servant is already returned with an answer from his
friend mr doleman who has taken pains in his inquiries and is very
particular mr lovelace brought me the letter as soon as he had read
it and as he now knows that i acquaint you with every thing that he
offers i desired him to let me send it to you for your perusal be
pleased to return it by the first opportunity you will see by it that
his friends in town have a notion that we are actually married 


to robert lovelace esq tuesday night april 18 

dear sir 

i am extremely rejoiced to hear that we shall so soon have you in town
after so long an absence you will be the more welcome still if what
report says be true which is that you are actually married to the
fair lady upon whom we have heard you make such encomiums mrs doleman 
and my sister both wish you joy if you are and joy upon your near
prospect if you are not 

i have been in town for this week past to get help if i could from my
paralytic complaints and am in a course for them which nevertheless 
did not prevent me from making the desired inquiries this is the
result 

you may have a first floor well furnished at a mercer's in
belford-street covent-garden with conveniencies for servants and
these either by the quarter or month the terms according to the
conveniences required 

mrs doleman has seen lodgings in norfolk-street and others in
cecil-street but though the prospects to the thames and surrey-hills
look inviting from both these streets yet i suppose they are too near
the city 

the owner of those in norfolk-street would have half the house go
together it would be too much for your description therefore and
i suppose that when you think fit to declare your marriage you will
hardly be in lodgings 

those in cecil-street are neat and convenient the owner is a widow of
a good character and she insists that you take them for a twelvemonth
certain 

you may have good accommodations in dover-street at a widow's 
the relict of an officer in the guards who dying soon after he had
purchased his commission to which he had a good title by service 
and which cost him most part of what he had she was obliged to let
lodgings 

this may possibly be an objection but she is very careful she says 
that she takes no lodgers but of figure and reputation she rents two
good houses distant from each other only joined by a large handsome
passage the inner-house is the genteelest and very elegantly
furnished but you may have the use of a very handsome parlour in the
outer-house if you choose to look into the street 

a little garden belongs to the inner-house in which the old gentlewoman
has displayed a true female fancy having crammed it with vases 
flower-pots and figures without number 

as these lodgings seemed to me the most likely to please you i was more
particular in my inquiries about them the apartments she has to let
are in the inner-house they are a dining-room two neat parlours a
withdrawing-room two or three handsome bedchambers one with a pretty
light closet in it which looks into the little garden all furnished in
taste 

a dignified clergyman his wife and maiden daughter were the last who
lived in them they have but lately quitted them on his being presented
to a considerable church preferment in ireland the gentlewoman says
that he took the lodgings but for three months certain but liked them
and her usage so well that he continued in them two years and left
them with regret though on so good an account she bragged that this
was the way of all the lodgers she ever had who staid with her four
times as long as they at first intended 

i had some knowledge of the colonel who was always looked upon as a man
of honour his relict i never saw before i think she has a masculine
air and is a little forbidding at first but when i saw her behaviour
to two agreeable gentlewomen her husband's nieces whom for that
reason she calls doubly hers and heard their praises of her i could
impute her very bulk to good humour since we seldom see your sour
peevish people plump she lives reputably and is as i find aforehand
in the world 

if these or any other of the lodgings i have mentioned be not
altogether to your lady's mind she may continue in them the less while 
and choose others for herself 

the widow consents that you shall take them for a month only and what
of them you please the terms she says she will not fall out upon 
when she knows what your lady expects and what her servants are to do 
or yours will undertake for she observed that servants are generally
worse to deal with than their masters or mistresses 

the lady may board or not as she pleases 

as we suppose you were married but that you have reason from
family-differences to keep it private for the present i thought it not
amiss to hint as much to the widow but as uncertainty however 
and asked her if she could in that case accommodate you and your
servants as well as the lady and hers she said she could and wished 
by all means it were to be so since the circumstance of a person's
being single it not as well recommended as this lady was one of the
usual exceptions 

if none of these lodgings please you need not doubt very handsome ones
in or near hanover-square soho-square golden-square or in some of the
new streets about grosvenor-square and mrs doleman her sister 
and myself most cordially join to offer to your good lady the best
accommodations we can make for her at uxbridge and also for you if you
are the happy man we wish you to be till she fits herself more to her
mind 

let me add that the lodgings at the mercer's those in cecil-street 
those at the widow's in dover-street any of them may be entered upon
at a day's warning 

i am my dear sir your sincere and affectionate friend and servant 
tho doleman 


you will easily guess my dear when you have read the letter which
lodgings i made choice of but first to try him as in so material
a point i thought i could not be too circumspect i seemed to prefer
those in norfolk-street for the very reason the writer gives why he
thought i would not that is to say for its neighbourhood to a city
so well governed as london is said to be nor should i have disliked a
lodging in the heart of it having heard but indifferent accounts of the
liberties sometimes taken at the other end of the town then seeming
to incline to the lodgings in cecil-street then to the mercer's but
he made no visible preference and when i asked his opinion of the
widow gentlewoman's he said he thought those the most to my taste and
convenience but as he hoped that i would think lodgings necessary but
for a very little while he knew not which to give his vote for 

i then fixed upon the widow's and he has written accordingly to mr 
doleman making my compliments to his lady and sister for their kind
offer 

i am to have the dining-room the bed-chamber with the light-closet of
which if i stay any time at the widow's i shall make great use and a
servant's room and we propose to set out on saturday morning as for
a maid servant poor hannah's illness is a great disappointment to me 
but as he observes i can make the widow satisfaction for one of
hers till i can get a servant to my mind and you know i want not much
attendance 


 


mr lovelace has just now of his own accord given me five guineas for
poor hannah i send them inclosed be so good as to cause them to be
conveyed to her and to let her know from whom they came 

he has obliged me much by this little mark of his considerateness 
indeed i have the better opinion of him ever since he proposed her
return to me 


 


i have just now another instance of his considerateness he came to me 
and said that on second thoughts he could not bear that i should go up
to town without some attendant were it but for the look of the thing to
the london widow and her nieces who according to his friend's account 
lived so genteelly and especially as i required him to leave me so soon
after i arrived there and so would be left alone among strangers he
therefore sought that i might engage mrs sorlings to lend me one of her
two maids or let one of her daughters go up with me and stay till i
were provided and if the latter the young gentlewoman no doubt would
be glad of so good an opportunity to see the curiosities of the town 
and would be a proper attendant on the same occasions 

i told him as i had done before that the two young gentlewomen were so
equally useful in their way and servants in a busy farm were so little
to be spared that i should be loth to take them off their laudable
employments nor should i think much of diversions for one while and so
the less want an attendant out of doors 

and now my dear lest any thing should happen in so variable a
situation as mine which at present are more promising than ever yet
they have been since i quitted harlowe-place i will snatch the
opportunity to subscribe myself

your not unhoping and ever-obliged friend and servant cl harlowe 




letter xxxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq thursday april 20 


 he begins with communicating to him the letter he wrote to
 mr doleman to procure suitable lodgings in town and which
 he sent away by the lady's approbation and then gives him a
 copy of the answer to it see p 218 upon which he thus
 expresses himself 

thou knowest the widow thou knowest her nieces thou knowest the
lodgings and didst thou ever read a letter more artfully couched
than this of tom doleman every possible objection anticipated every
accident provided against every tittle of it plot-proof 

who could forbear smiling to see my charmer like a farcical dean and
chapter choose what was before chosen for her and sagaciously as they
go in form to prayers that heaven would direct their choice pondering
upon the different proposals as if she would make me believe she had
a mind for some other the dear sly rogue looking upon me too with a
view to discover some emotion in me emotions i had but i can tell
her that they lay deeper than her eye could reach though it had been a
sun-beam 

no confidence in me fair one none at all tis plain thou wilt
not if i were inclined to change my views encourage me by a generous
reliance on my honour and shall it be said that i a master of arts in
love shall be overmatched by so unpractised a novice 

but to see the charmer so far satisfied with my contrivance as to borrow
my friend's letter in order to satisfy miss howe likewise 

silly little rogues to walk out into bye-paths on the strength of their
own judgment when nothing but experience can enable them to disappoint
us and teach them grandmother-wisdom when they have it indeed then
may they sit down like so many cassandras and preach caution to
others who will as little mind them as they did their instructresses 
whenever a fine handsome confidant young fellow such a one as thou
knowest who comes across them 

but belford didst thou not mind that sly rogue doleman's naming
dover-street for the widow's place of abode what dost thou think
could be meant by that tis impossible thou shouldst guess so not
to puzzle thee about it suppose the widow sinclair's in dover-street
should be inquired after by some officious person in order to come at
characters  miss howe is as sly as the devil and as busy to the full  
and neither such a name nor such a house can be found in that street 
nor a house to answer the description then will not the keenest hunter
in england be at a fault 

but how wilt thou do methinks thou askest to hinder the lady from
resenting the fallacy and mistrusting thee the more on that account 
when she finds it out to be in another street 

pho never mind that either i shall have a way for it or we shall
thoroughly understand one another by that time or if we don't she'll
know enough of me not to wonder at such a peccadilla 

but how wilt thou hinder the lady from apprizing her friend of the real
name 

she must first know it herself monkey must she not 

well but how wilt thou do to hinder her from knowing the street and
her friend from directing letters thither which will be the same thing
as if the name were known 

let me alone for that too 

if thou further objectest that tom doleman is too great a dunce to
write such a letter in answer to mine canst thou not imagine that in
order to save honest tom all this trouble i who know the town so well 
could send him a copy of what he should write and leave him nothing to
do but transcribe 

what now sayest thou to me belford 

and suppose i had designed this task of inquiry for thee and suppose
the lady excepted against thee for no other reason in the world but
because of my value for thee what sayest thou to the lady jack 

this it is to have leisure upon my hands what a matchless plotter
thy friend stand by and let me swell i am already as big as an
elephant and ten times wiser mightier too by far have i not reason
to snuff the moon with my proboscis lord help thee for a poor for a
very poor creature wonder not that i despise thee heartily since the
man who is disposed immoderately to exalt himself cannot do it but by
despising every body else in proportion 

i shall make good use of the dolemanic hint of being married but i will
not tell thee all at once nor indeed have i thoroughly digested that
part of my plot when a general must regulate himself by the motions of
a watchful adversary how can he say beforehand what he will or what he
will not do 

widow sinclair didst thou not say lovelace 

ay sinclair jack remember the name sinclair i repeat she has no
other and her features being broad and full-blown i will suppose her
to be of highland extraction as her husband the colonel  mind that too 
was a scot as brave as honest 

i never forget the minutiae in my contrivances in all matters that
admit of doubt the minutiae closely attended to and provided for are
of more service than a thousand oaths vows and protestations made to
supply the neglect of them especially when jealousy has made its way in
the working mind 

thou wouldst wonder if thou knewest one half of my providences to give
thee but one i have already been so good as to send up a list of books
to be procured for the lady's closet mostly at second hand and
thou knowest that the women there are all well read but i will not
anticipate besides it looks as if i were afraid of leaving any thing
to my old friend chance which has many a time been an excellent second
to me and ought not be affronted or despised especially by one who has
the art of making unpromising incidents turn out in his favour 




letter xl

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe wednesday april 19 


i have a piece of intelligence to give you which concerns you much to
know 

your brother having been assured that you are not married has taken a
resolution to find you out waylay you and carry you off a friend of
his a captain of a ship undertakes to get you on ship-board and to
sail away with you either to hull or leith in the way to one of your
brother's houses 

they are very wicked for in spite of your virtue they conclude you to
be ruined but if they can be assured when they have you that you are
not they will secure you till they can bring you out mrs solmes mean
time in order to give mr lovelace full employment they talk of a
prosecution which will be set up against him for some crime they have
got a notion of which they think if it do not cost him his life will
make him fly his country 

this is very early news miss bell told it in confidence and with
mighty triumph over lovelace to miss lloyd who is at present her
favourite though as much you admirer as ever miss lloyd being very
apprehensive of the mischief which might follow such an attempt told
it to me with leave to apprize you privately of it and yet neither
she nor i would be sorry perhaps if lovelace were to be fairly
hanged that is to say if you my dear had no objection to it but
we cannot bear that such an admirable creature should be made the
tennis-ball of two violent spirits much less that you should be seized 
and exposed to the brutal treatment of wretches who have no bowels 

if you can engage mr lovelace to keep his temper upon it i think you
should acquaint him with it but not to mention miss lloyd perhaps his
wicked agent may come at the intelligence and reveal it to him but
leave it to your own discretions to do as you think fit in it all my
concern is that this daring and foolish project if carried on will
be a mean of throwing you more into his power than ever but as it will
convince you that there can be no hope of a reconciliation i wish you
were actually married let the cause for prosecution hinted at be what
it will short of murder or a rape 

your hannah was very thankful for your kind present she heaped a
thousand blessings upon you for it she has mr lovelace's too by this
time 

i am pleased with mr hickman i can tell you for he has sent her
two guineas by the person who carries mr lovelace's five as from an
unknown hand nor am i or you to know it but he does a great many
things of this sort and is as silent as the night in his charities for
nobody knows of them till the gratitude of the benefited will not let
them be concealed he is now and then my almoner and i believe always
adds to my little benefactions 

but his time is not come to be praised to his face for these things nor
does he seem to want that encouragement 

the man certainly has a good mind nor can we expect in one man every
good quality but he is really a silly fellow my dear to trouble his
head about me when he sees how much i despise his whole sex and
must of course make a common man look like a fool were he not to
make himself look like one by wishing to pitch his tent so oddly our
likings and dislikings as i have often thought are seldom governed by
prudence or with a view to happiness the eye my dear the wicked eye 
has such a strict alliance with the heart and both have such enmity to
the judgment what an unequal union the mind and body all the senses 
like the family at harlowe-place in a confederacy against that which
would animate and give honour to the whole were it allowed its proper
precedence 

permit me i beseech you before you go to london to send you
forty-eight guineas i mention that sum to oblige you because by
accepting back the two to hannah i will hold you indebted to me
fifty surely this will induce you you know that i cannot want the
money i told you that i had near double that sum and that the half of
it is more than my mother knows i am mistress of you are afraid that my
mother will question me on this subject and then you think i must own
the truth but little as i love equivocation and little as you would
allow of it in your anna howe it is hard if i cannot were i to be put
to it ever so closely find something to say that would bring me off 
as you have what can you do at such a place as london you don't know
what occasion you may have for messengers intelligence and suchlike 
if you don't oblige me i shall not think your stomach so much down as
you say it is and as in this one particular i think it ought to be 

as to the state of things between my mother and me you know enough of
her temper not to need to be told that she never espouses or resents
with indifference yet will she not remember that i am her daughter no 
truly i am all my papa's girl 

she was very sensible surely of the violence of my poor father's
temper that she can so long remember that when acts of tenderness and
affection seem quite forgotten some daughters would be tempted to think
that controul sat very heavy upon a mother who can endeavour to exert
the power she has over a child and regret for years after death that
she had not the same over a husband 

if this manner of expression becomes not me of my mother the fault will
be somewhat extenuated by the love i always bore to my father and by
the reverence i shall ever pay to his memory for he was a fond father 
and perhaps would have been as tender a husband had not my mother and
he been too much of a temper to agree 

the misfortune was in short that when one was out of humour the
other would be so too yet neither of their tempers comparatively
bad notwithstanding all which i did not imagine girl as i was in my
father's life-time that my mother's part of the yoke sat so heavy upon
her neck as she gives me room to think it did whenever she is pleased
to disclaim her part of me 

both parents as i have often thought should be very careful if they
would secure to themselves the undivided love of their children that 
of all things they should avoid such durable contentions with each
other as should distress their children in choosing their party when
they would be glad to reverence both as they ought 

but here is the thing there is not a better manager of affairs in the
sex than my mother and i believe a notable wife is more impatient of
controul than an indolent one an indolent one perhaps thinks she
has some thing to compound for while women of the other character i
suppose know too well their own significance to think highly of that of
any body else all must be their own way in one word because they are
useful they will be more than useful 

i do assure you my dear were i man and a man who loved my quiet i
would not have one of these managing wives on any consideration i would
make it a matter of serious inquiry beforehand whether my mistress's
qualifications if i heard she was notable were masculine or feminine
ones if indeed i were an indolent supine mortal who might be in danger
of perhaps choosing to marry for the qualifications of a steward 

but setting my mother out of the question because she is my mother 
have i not seen how lady hartley pranks up herself above all her sex 
because she knows how to manage affairs that do not belong to her sex
to manage affairs that do no credit to her as a woman to understand 
practically i mean for the theory of them may not be amiss to be
known 

indeed my dear i do not think a man-woman a pretty character at all 
and as i said were i a man i would sooner choose a dove though it
were fit for nothing but as the play says to go tame about house 
and breed than a wife that is setting at work my insignificant self
present perhaps every busy our my never-resting servants those of
the stud not excepted and who with a besom in her hand as i may say 
would be continually filling my with apprehensions that she wanted to
sweep me out of my own house as useless lumber 

were indeed the mistress of a family like the wonderful young lady i so
much and so justly admire to know how to confine herself within her own
respectable rounds of the needle the pen the housekeeper's bills the
dairy for her amusement to see the poor fed from superfluities that
would otherwise be wasted and exert herself in all the really-useful
branches of domestic management then would she move in her proper
sphere then would she render herself amiably useful and respectably
necessary then would she become the mistress-wheel of the family 
 whatever you think of your anna howe i would not have her be the
master-wheel   and every body would love her as every body did you 
before your insolent brother came back flushed with his unmerited
acquirements and turned all things topsy-turvy 

if you will be informed of the particulars of our contention after
you have known in general that your unhappy affair was the subject why
then i think i must tell you 

yet how shall i i feel my cheek glow with mingled shame and
indignation know then my dear that i have been as i may say that
i have been beaten indeed tis true my mother thought fit to slap my
hands to get from me a sheet of a letter she caught me writing to you 
which i tore because she should not read it and burnt it before her
face 

i know this will trouble you so spare yourself the pains to tell me it
does 

mr hickman came in presently after i would not see him i am either
too much a woman to be beat or too much a child to have an humble
servant so i told my mother what can one oppose but sullens when it
would be unpardonable so much as to think of lifting up a finger 

in the harlowe style she will be obeyed she says and even mr hickman
shall be forbid the house if he contributes to the carrying on of a
correspondence which she will not suffer to be continued 

poor man he stands a whimsical chance between us but he knows he is
sure of my mother but not of me tis easy then for him to choose his
party were it not his inclination to serve you as it surely is and
this makes him a merit with me which otherwise he would not have had 
notwithstanding the good qualities which i have just now acknowledged in
his favour for my dear let my faults in other respects be what they
may i will pretend to say that i have in my own mind those qualities
which i praised him for and if we are to come together i could for
that reason better dispense with them in him so if a husband who has
a bountiful-tempered wife is not a niggard nor seeks to restrain her 
but has an opinion of all she does that is enough for him as on the
contrary if a bountiful-tempered husband has a frugal wife it is
best for both for one to give and the other to give except they have
prudence and are at so good an understanding with each other as to
compare notes they may perhaps put it out of their power to be just 
good frugal doctrine my dear but this way of putting it is middling
the matter between what i have learnt of my mother's over-prudent and
your enlarged notions but from doctrine to fact 

i shut myself up all that day and what little i did eat eat alone but
at night she sent up kitty with a command upon my obedience to attend
her at supper 

i went down but most gloriously in the sullens yes and no were great
words with me to every thing she asked for a good while 

that behaviour she told me should not do for her 

beating should not do for me i said 

my bold resistance she told me had provoked her to slap my hand and
she was sorry to have been so provoked but again insisted that i would
either give up my correspondence absolutely or let her see all that
passed in it 

i must not do either i told her it was unsuitable both to my
inclination and to my honour at the instigation of base minds to give
up a friend in distress 

she rung all the maternal changes upon the words duty obedience filial
obligation and so forth 

i told her that a duty too rigorously and unreasonably exacted had been
your ruin if you were ruined 

if i were of age to be married i hope she would think me capable
of making or at least of keeping my own friendships such a one
especially as this with a woman too and one whose friendship she
herself till this distressful point of time had thought the most
useful and edifying that i had ever contracted 

the greater the merit the worse the action the finer the talents the
more dangerous the example 

there were other duties i said besides the filial one and i hoped i
need not give up a suffering friend especially at the instigation of
those by whom she suffered i told her that it was very hard to annex
such a condition as that to my duty when i was persuaded that both
duties might be performed without derogating from either that an
unreasonable command she must excuse me i must say it though i were
slapped again was a degree of tyranny and i could not have expected 
that at these years i should be allowed now will no choice of my
own where a woman only was concerned and the devilish sex not in the
question 

what turned most in favour of her argument was that i desired to be
excused from letting her read all that passes between us she insisted
much upon this and since she said you were in the hands of the
most intriguing man in the world and a man who had made a jest of
her favourite hickman as she had been told she knows not what
consequences unthought of by your or me may flow from such a
correspondence 

so you see my dear that i fare the worse on mr hickman's account 
my mother might see all that passes between us did i not know that
it would cramp your spirit and restrain the freedom of your pen as
it would also the freedom of mine and were she not moreover so firmly
attached to the contrary side that inferences consequences strained
deductions censures and constructions the most partial would for
ever to be haled in to tease me and would perpetually subject us to the
necessity of debating and canvassing 

besides i don't choose that she should know how much this artful wretch
has outwitted as i may call it a person so much his superior in all
the nobler qualities of the human mind 

the generosity of your heart and the greatness of your soul full well
i know but do offer to dissuade me from this correspondence 

mr hickman immediately on the contention above offered his service 
and i accepted of it as you will see by my last he thinks though
he has all honour for my mother that she is unkind to us both he was
pleased to tell me with an air as i thought that he not only approved
of our correspondence but admired the steadiness of my friendship and
having no opinion of your man but a great one of me thinks that my
advice or intelligence from time to time may be of use to you and
on this presumption said that it would be a thousand pities that you
should suffer for want of either 

mr hickman pleased me in the main of his speech and it is well the
general tenor of it was agreeable otherwise i can tell him i should
have reckoned with him for his word approve for it is a style i have
not yet permitted him to talk to me in and you see my dear what these
men are no sooner do they find that you have favoured them with the
power of doing you an agreeable service but they take upon them to
approve forsooth of your actions by which is implied a right to
disapprove if they think fit 

i have told my mother how much you wish to be reconciled to your
relations and how independent you are upon lovelace 

mark the end of the latter assertion she says and as to
reconciliation she knows that nothing will do and will have it that
nothing ought to do but your returning back without presuming to
condition with them and this if you do she says will best show your
independence on lovelace 

you see my dear what your duty is in my mother's opinion 

i suppose your next directed to mr hickman at his own house will be
from london 

heaven preserve you in honour and safety is my prayer 

what you do for change of clothes i cannot imagine 

it is amazing to me what your relations can mean by distressing you 
as they seem resolved to do i see they will throw you into his arms 
whether you will or not 

i send this by robert for dispatch-sake and can only repeat the
hitherto-rejected offer of my best services adieu my dearest friend 
believe me ever

your affectionate and faithful anna howe 




letter xli

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe tuesday april 20 


i should think myself utterly unworthy of your friendship did not my
own concerns heavy as they are so engross me that i could not find
leisure for a few lines to declare to my beloved friend my sincere
disapprobation of her conduct in an instance where she is so generously
faulty that the consciousness of that very generosity may hide from
her the fault which i more than any other have reason to deplore as
being the unhappy occasion of it 

you know you say that your account of the contentions between your
mother and you will trouble me and so you bid me spare myself the pains
to tell you that they do 

you did not use my dear to forbid me thus beforehand you were wont
to say you loved me the better for my expostulations with you on that
acknowledged warmth and quickness of your temper which your own good
sense taught you to be apprehensive of what though i have so miserably
fallen and am unhappy if ever i had any judgment worth regarding it
is now as much worth as ever because i can give it as freely against
myself as against any body else and shall i not when there seems to be
an infection in my fault and that it leads you likewise to resolve to
carry on a correspondence against prohibition expostulate with you upon
it when whatever consequences flow from your disobedience they but
widen my error which is as the evil root from which such sad branches
spring 

the mind that can glory in being capable of so noble so firm so
unshaken friendship as that of my dear miss howe a friendship which
no casualty or distress can lessen but which increases with the
misfortunes of its friend such a mind must be above taking amiss
the well-meant admonitions of that distinguished friend i will not
therefore apologize for my freedom on this subject and the less need i 
when that freedom is the result of an affection in the very instance 
so absolutely disinterested that it tends to deprive myself of the only
comfort left me 

your acknowledged sullens your tearing from your mother's hands the
letter she thought she had a right to see and burning it as you own 
before her face your refusal to see the man who is so willing to obey
you for the sake of your unhappy friend and this purely to vex your
mother can you think my dear upon this brief recapitulation of hardly
one half of the faulty particulars you give that these faults are
excusable in one who so well knows her duty 

your mother had a good opinion of me once is not that a reason why she
should be more regarded now when i have as she believes so deservedly
forfeited it a prejudice in favour is as hard to be totally overcome as
a prejudice in disfavour in what a strong light then must that error
appear to her that should so totally turn her heart against me herself
not a principal in the case 

there are other duties you say besides the filial duty but that my
dear must be a duty prior to all other duties a duty anterior as i
may say to your very birth and what duty ought not to give way to that 
when they come in competition 

you are persuaded that the duty to your friend and the filial duty 
may be performed without derogating from either your mother thinks
otherwise what is the conclusion to be drawn from these premises 

when your mother sees how much i suffer in my reputation from the step
i have taken from whom she and all the world expected better things 
how much reason has she to be watchful over you one evil draws on
another after it and how knows she or any body where it may stop 

does not the person who will vindicate or seek to extenuate a faulty
step in another  in this light must your mother look upon the matter in
question between her and you  give an indication either of a culpable
will or a weak judgment and may not she apprehend that the censorious
will think that such a one might probably have equally failed under the
same inducements and provocations to use your own words as applied to
me in a former letter 

can there be a stronger instance in human lie than mine has so early
furnished within a few months past not to mention the uncommon
provocations to it which i have met with of the necessity of the
continuance of a watchful parent's care over a daughter let that
daughter have obtained ever so great a reputation for her prudence 

is not the space from sixteen to twenty-one that which requires this
care more than at any time of a young woman's life for in that period
do we not generally attract the eyes of the other sex and become the
subject of their addresses and not seldom of their attempts and is not
that the period in which our conduct or misconduct gives us a reputation
or disreputation that almost inseparably accompanies us throughout our
whole future lives 

are we not likewise then most in danger from ourselves because of the
distinction with which we are apt to behold particulars of that sex 

and when our dangers multiply both from within and without do not our
parents know that their vigilance ought to be doubled and shall that
necessary increase of care sit uneasy upon us because we are grown up
to stature and womanhood 

will you tell me if so what is the precise stature and age at which a
good child shall conclude herself absolved from the duty she owes to
a parent and at which a parent after the example of the dams of
the brute creation is to lay aside all care and tenderness for her
offspring 

is it so hard for you my dear to be treated like a child and can
you not think it is hard for a good parent to imagine herself under the
unhappy necessity of so treating her woman-grown daughter 

do you think if your mother had been you and you your mother and your
daughter had struggled with you as you did with her that you would
not have been as apt as your mother was to have slapped your daughter's
hands to have made her quit her hold and give up the prohibited
letter 

your mother told you with great truth that you provoked her to this
harshness and it was a great condescension in her and not taken notice
of by you as it deserved to say that she was sorry for it 

at every age on this side matrimony for then we come under another sort
of protection though that is far from abrogating the filial duty it
will be found that the wings of our parents are our most necessary and
most effectual safeguard from the vultures the hawks the kites and
other villainous birds of prey that hover over us with a view to seize
and destroy us the first time we are caught wandering out of the eye or
care of our watchful and natural guardians and protectors 

hard as you may suppose it to be denied to continuance of a
correspondence once so much approved even by the venerable denier 
yet if your mother think my fault to be of such a nature as that a
correspondence with me will cast a shade upon your reputation all my
own friends having given me up that hardship is to be submitted to and
must it not make her the more strenuous to support her own opinion when
she sees the first fruits of this tenaciousness on your side is to
be gloriously in the sullens as you call it and in a disobedient
opposition 

i know that you have a humourous meaning in that expression and that
this turn in most cases gives a delightful poignancy both to your
conversation and correspondence but indeed my dear this case will not
bear humour 

will you give me leave to add to this tedious expostulation that i by
no means approve of some of the things you write in relation to the
manner in which your father and mother lived at times lived only at
times i dare say though perhaps too often 

your mother is answerable to any body rather than to her child for
whatever was wrong in her conduct if any thing was wrong towards mr 
howe a gentleman of whose memory i will only say that it ought to be
revered by you but yet should you not examine yourself whether your
displeasure at your mother had no part in your revived reverence for
your father at the time you wrote 

no one is perfect and although your mother may not be right to remember
disagreeableness against the departed yet should you not want to be
reminded on whose account and on what occasion she remembered them 
you cannot judge nor ought you to attempt to judge of what might
have passed between both to embitter and keep awake disagreeable
remembrances in the survivor 




letter xlii

miss clarissa harlowe  in continuation  


but this subject must not be pursued another might with more pleasure 
 though not with more approbation upon one of your lively excursions 
it is upon the high airs you give yourself upon the word approve 

how comes it about i wonder that a young lady so noted for
predominating generosity should not be uniformly generous that your
generosity should fail in an instance where policy prudence gratitude 
would not permit it to fail mr hickman as you confess had indeed a
worthy mind if i had not long ago known that he would never have found
an advocate in me for my anna howe's favour to him often and often
have i been concerned when i was your happy guest to see him after a
conversation in which he had well supported his part in your absence 
sink at once into silence the moment you came into company 

i have told you of this before and i believe i hinted to you once 
that the superciliousness you put on only to him was capable of a
construction which at the time would have very little gratified your
pride to have had made since it would have been as much in his favour 
as in your disfavour 

mr hickman my dear is a modest man i never see a modest man but i
am sure if he has not wanted opportunities that he has a treasure in
his mind which requires nothing but the key of encouragement to unlock
it to make him shine while a confident man who to be confident 
must think as meanly of his company as highly of himself enters with
magisterial airs upon any subject and depending upon his assurance to
bring himself off when found out talks of more than he is master of 

but a modest man o my dear shall not a modest woman distinguish and
wish to consort with a modest man a man before whom and to whom she
may open her lips secure of his good opinion of all she says and of his
just and polite regard for her judgment and who must therefore inspire
her with an agreeable self-confidence 

what a lot have i drawn we are all indeed apt to turn teachers but 
surely i am better enabled to talk to write upon these subjects 
than ever i was but i will banish myself if possible from an address
which when i began to write i was determined to confine wholly to your
own particular 

my dearest dearest friend how ready are you to tell us what others
should do and even what a mother should have done but indeed you once 
i remember advanced that as different attainments required different
talents to master them so in the writing way a person might not be a
bad critic upon the works of others although he might himself be unable
to write with excellence but will you permit me to account for all this
readiness of finding fault by placing it to human nature which being
sensible of the defects of human nature that is to say of its own
defects loves to be correcting but in exercising that talent chooses
rather to turn its eye outward than inward in other words to employ
itself rather in the out-door search than in the in-door examination 

and here give me leave to add and yet it is with tender reluctance 
that although you say very pretty things of notable wives and
although i join with you in opinion that husbands may have as many
inconveniencies to encounter with as conveniencies to boast of from
women of that character yet lady hartley perhaps would have had milder
treatment from your pen had it not been dipped in gall with a mother in
your eye 

as to the money you so generously and repeatedly offer don't be angry
with me if i again say that i am very desirous that you should be able
to aver without the least qualifying or reserve that nothing of that
sort has passed between us i know your mother's strong way of putting
the question she is intent upon having answered but yet i promise that
i will be obliged to nobody but you when i have occasion 




letter xliii

miss clarissa harlowe  in continuation  


and now my dear a few words as to the prohibition laid upon you a
subject that i have frequently touched upon but cursorily because i
was afraid to trust myself with it knowing that my judgment if i did 
would condemn my practice 

you command me not to attempt to dissuade you from this correspondence 
and you tell me how kindly mr hickman approves of it and how obliging
he is to me to permit it to be carried on under cover to him but this
does not quite satisfy me 

i am a very bad casuist and the pleasure i take in writing to you who
are the only one to whom i can disburden my mind may make me as i have
hinted very partial to my own wishes else if it were not an artful
evasion beneath an open and frank heart to wish to be complied with i
would be glad methinks to be permitted still to write to you and only
to have such occasional returns by mr hickman's pen as well as cover 
as might set me right when i am wrong confirm me when right and guide
me where i doubt this would enable me to proceed in the difficult path
before me with more assuredness for whatever i suffer from the
censure of others if i can preserve your good opinion i shall not be
altogether unhappy let what will befall me 

and indeed my dear i know not how to forbear writing i have now no
other employment or diversion and i must write on although i were not
to send it to any body you have often heard me own the advantages i
have found from writing down every thing of moment that befalls me and
of all i think and of all i do that may be of future use to me for 
besides that this helps to form one to a style and opens and expands
the ductile mind every one will find that many a good thought
evaporates in thinking many a good resolution goes off driven out of
memory perhaps by some other not so good but when i set down what i
will do or what i have done on this or that occasion the resolution
or action is before me either to be adhered to withdrawn or amended 
and i have entered into compact with myself as i may say having given
it under my own hand to improve rather than to go backward as i live
longer 

i would willingly therefore write to you if i might the rather as it
would be the more inspiriting to have some end in view in what i write 
some friend to please besides merely seeking to gratify my passion for
scribbling 

but why if your mother will permit our correspondence on communicating
to her all that passes in it and if she would condescend to one only
condition may it not be complied with 

would she not do you think my dear be prevailed upon to have the
communication made to her in confidence 

if there were any prospect of a reconciliation with my friends i should
not have so much regard for my pride as to be afraid of any body's
knowing how much i have been outwitted as you call it i would in that
case when i had left mr lovelace acquaint your mother and all my own
friends with the whole of my story it would behove me so to do for my
own reputation and for their satisfaction 

but if i have no such prospect what will the communication of my
reluctance to go away with mr lovelace and of his arts to frighten
me away avail me your mother has hinted that my friends would insist
upon my returning home to them as a proof of the truth of my plea 
to be disposed of without condition at their pleasure if i scrupled
this my brother would rather triumph over me than keep my secret mr 
lovelace whose pride already so ill brooks my regrets for meeting him 
 when he thinks if i had not i must have been mr solmes's wife 
would perhaps treat me with indignity and thus deprived of all refuge
and protection i should become the scoff of men of intrigue a disgrace
to my sex while that avowed love however indiscreetly shown which is
followed by marriage will find more excuses made for it than generally
it ought to find 

but if your mother will receive the communication in confidence pray
shew her all that i have written or shall write if my past conduct
in that case shall not be found to deserve heavy blame i shall then
perhaps have the benefit of her advice as well as yours and if after
a re-establishment in her favour i shall wilfully deserve blame for the
time to come i will be content to be denied yours as well as hers for
ever 

as to cramping my spirit as you call it were i to sit down to write
what i know your mother must see that my dear is already cramped 
and do not think so unhandsomely of your mother as to fear that she
would make partial constructions against me neither you nor i can
doubt but that had she been left unprepossessedly to herself she
would have shown favour to me and so i dare say would my uncle
antony nay my dear i can extend my charity still farther for i am
sometimes of opinion that were my brother and sister absolutely certain
that they had so far ruined me in the opinion of both my uncles as that
they need not be apprehensive of my clashing with their interests 
they would not oppose a pardon although they might not wish a
reconciliation especially if i would make a few sacrifices to them 
which i assure you i should be inclined to make were i wholly free 
and independent on this man you know i never valued myself upon worldly
acquisitions but as they enlarged my power to do things i loved to
do and if i were denied the power i must as i now do curb my
inclination 

do not however think me guilty of an affectation in what i have said
of my brother and sister severe enough i am sure it is in the most
favourable sense and an indifferent person will be of opinion that
they are much better warranted than ever for the sake of the family
honour to seek to ruin me in the favour of all my friends 

but to the former topic try my dear if your mother will upon the
condition above given permit our correspondence on seeing all we
write but if she will not what a selfishness would there be in my love
to you were i to wish you to forego your duty for my sake 

and now one word as to the freedom i have treated you with in this
tedious expostulatory address i presume upon your forgiveness of it 
because few friendships are founded on such a basis as ours which
is freely to give reproof and thankfully to receive it as occasions
arise that so either may have opportunity to clear up mistakes to
acknowledge and amend errors as well in behaviour as in words and
deeds and to rectify and confirm each other in the judgment each shall
form upon persons things and circumstances  and all this upon the
following consideration that it is much more eligible as well as
honourable to be corrected with the gentleness that may be expected
from an undoubted friend than by continuing either blind or wilful 
to expose ourselves to the censures of an envious and perhaps malignant
world 

but it is as needless i dare say to remind you of this as it is to
repeat my request so often repeated that you will not in your turn 
spare the follies and the faults of

your ever affectionate cl harlowe 


subjoined to the above 

i said that i would avoid writing any thing of my own particular
affairs in the above address if i could 

i will write one letter more to inform you how i stand with this man 
but my dear you must permit that one and your answer to it for i
want your advice upon the contents of mine and the copy of one i have
written to my aunt to be the last that shall pass between us while the
prohibition continues 

i fear i very much fear that my unhappy situation will draw me in to
being guilty of evasion of little affectations and of curvings from
the plain simple truth which i was wont to delight in and prefer to
every other consideration but allow me to say and this for your sake 
and in order to lessen your mother's fears of any ill consequences that
she might apprehend from our correspondence that if i am at any time
guilty of a failure in these respects i will not go on in it but
endeavour to recover my lost ground that i may not bring error into
habit 

i have deferred going to town at mrs sorlings's earnest request but
have fixed my removal to monday as i shall acquaint you in my next 

i have already made a progress in that next but having an unexpected
opportunity will send this by itself 




letter xliv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe friday morning april 21 


my mother will not comply with your condition my dear i hinted it to
her as from myself but the harlowes excuse me have got her entirely
in with them it is a scheme of mine she told me formed to draw her
into your party against your parents which for your own sake she is
very careful about 

don't be so much concerned about my mother and me once more i beg of
you we shall do well enough together now a falling out now a falling
in 

it used to be so when you were not in the question 

yet do i give you my sincere thanks for every line of your reprehensive
letters which i intend to read as often as i find my temper rises 

i will freely own however that i winced a little at first reading
them but i see that on every re-perusal i shall love and honour you
still more if possible than before 

yet i think i have one advantage over you and which i will hold
through this letter and through all my future letters that is that
i will treat you as freely as you treat me and yet will never think an
apology necessary to you for my freedom 

but that you so think with respect to me is the effect of your
gentleness of temper with a little sketch of implied reflection on the
warmth of mine gentleness in a woman you hold to be no fault nor do i
a little due or provoked warmth but what is this but praising on both
sides what what neither of us can help nor perhaps wish to help you
can no more go out of your road than i can go out of mine it would be
a pain to either to do so what then is it in either's approving of her
own natural bias but making a virtue of necessity 

but one observation i will add that were your character and my
character to be truly drawn mine would be allowed to be the most
natural shades and lights are equally necessary in a fine picture 
yours would be surrounded with such a flood of brightness with such a
glory that it would indeed dazzle but leave one heartless to imitate
it 

o may you not suffer from a base world for your gentleness while my
temper by its warmth keeping all imposition at a distance though
less amiable in general affords me not reason as i have mentioned
heretofore to wish to make an exchange with you 

i should indeed be inexcusable to open my lips by way of contradiction
to my mother had i such a fine spirit as yours to deal with truth is
truth my dear why should narrowness run away with the praises due to a
noble expansion of heart if every body would speak out as i do that
is to say give praise where only praise is due dispraise where due
likewise shame if not principle would mend the world nay shame
would introduce principle in a generation or two very true my dear do
you apply i dare not for i fear you almost as much as i love you 

i will give you an instance nevertheless which will a-new demonstrate 
that none but very generous and noble-minded people ought to be
implicitly obeyed you know what i said above that truth is truth 

inconveniencies will sometimes arise from having to do with persons of
modest and scrupulousness mr hickman you say is a modest man he
put your corrective packet into my hand with a very fine bow and a
self-satisfied air  we'll consider what you say of this honest man
by-and-by my dear  his strut was no gone off when in came my mother 
as i was reading it 

when some folks find their anger has made them considerable they will
be always angry or seeking occasions for anger 

why now mr hickman why now nancy  as i was huddling in the
packet between my gown and my stays at her entrance   you have a
letter brought you this instant while the modest man with his pausing
brayings mad-da mad-dam looked as if he knew not whether to fight it
out or to stand his ground and see fair play 

it would have been poor to tell a lie for it she flung away i went
out at the opposite door to read the contents leaving mr hickman to
exercise his white teeth upon his thumb-nails 

when i had read your letters i went to find out my mother i told her
the generous contents and that you desired that the prohibition
might be adhered to i proposed your condition as for myself and was
rejected as above 

she supposed she was finely painted between two young creatures who
had more wit than prudence  and instead of being prevailed upon by the
generosity of your sentiments made use of your opinion only to confirm
her own and renewed her prohibitions charging me to return no other
answer but that she did renew them adding that they should stand 
till your relations were reconciled to you hinting as if she had
engaged for as much and expected my compliance 

i thought of your reprehensions and was meek though not pleased and
let me tell you my dear that as long as i can satisfy my own mind 
that good is intended and that it is hardly possible that evil should
ensue from our correspondence as long as i know that this prohibition
proceeds originally from the same spiteful minds which have been the
occasion of all these mischiefs as long as i know that it is not
your fault if your relations are not reconciled to you and that upon
conditions which no reasonable people would refuse you must give
me leave with all deference to your judgment and to your excellent
lessons which would reach almost every case of this kind but the
present to insist upon your writing to me and that minutely as if
this prohibition had not been laid 

it is not from humour from perverseness that i insist upon this i
cannot express how much my heart is in your concerns and you must in
short allow me to think that if i can do you service by writing i
shall be better justified in continuing to write than my mother is in
her prohibition 

but yet to satisfy you all i can i will as seldom return answers 
while the interdict lasts as may be consistent with my notions of
friendship and with the service i owe you and can do you 

as to your expedient of writing by hickman  and now my dear your
modest man comes in and as you love modesty in that sex i will do
my endeavour by holding him at a proper distance to keep him in your
favour  i know what you mean by it my sweet friend it is to make that
man significant with me as to the correspondence that shall go on 
i do assure you be as scrupulous as you please so that that will not
suffer if i do not close with your proposal as to him 

i must tell you that i think it will be honour enough for him to have
his name made use of so frequently betwixt us this of itself is
placing a confidence in him that will make him walk bolt upright and
display his white hand and his fine diamond ring and most mightily lay
down his services and his pride to oblige and his diligence and his
fidelity and his contrivances to keep our secret and his excuses 
and his evasions to my mother when challenged by her with fifty ana's
beside and will it not moreover give him pretence and excuse oftener
than ever to pad-nag it hither to good mrs howe's fair daughter 

but to admit him into my company tete-a-tete and into my closet as
often as i would wish to write to you i only dictate to his pen my
mother all the time supposing that i was going to be heartily in love
with him to make him master of my sentiments and of my heart as i may
say when i write to you indeed my dear i won't nor were i married
to the best he in england would i honour him with the communication of
my correspondences 

no my dear it is sufficient surely for him to parade in the
character of our letter-conveyor and to be honoured in a cover and
never fear but modest as you think him he will make enough of that 

you are always blaming me for want of generosity to this man and for
abuse of power but i profess my dear i cannot tell how to help it 
do dear now let me spread my plumes a little and now-and-then make
myself feared this is my time you know since it would be no more to
my credit than to his to give myself those airs when i am married he
has a joy when i am pleased with him that he would not know but for the
pain my displeasure gives him 

men no more than women know how to make a moderate use of power is
not that seen every day from the prince to the peasant if i do not
make hickman quake now-and-then he will endeavour to make me fear all
the animals in the creation are more or less in a state of hostility
with each other the wolf that runs away from a lion will devour a
lamb the next moment i remember that i was once so enraged at a game
chicken that was continually pecking at another a poor humble one as i
thought him that i had the offender caught and without more ado in a
pet of humanity wrung his neck off what followed this execution why
that other grew insolent as soon as his insulter was gone and was
continually pecking at one or two under him peck and be hanged said
i i might as well have preserved the first for i see it is the nature
of the beast 

excuse my flippancies i wish i were with you i would make you smile in
the midst of your gravest airs as i used to do o that you had
accepted of my offer to attend you but nothing that i offer will you
accept take care you will make me very angry with you and when i
am you know i value nobody for dearly as i love you i must be and
cannot always help it 

your saucy anna howe 




letter xlv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe friday april 22 


mr lovelace communicated to me this morning early from his
intelligencer the news of my brother's scheme i like him the better
for making very light of it and for his treating it with contempt and
indeed had i not had the hint of it from you i should have suspected
it to be some contrivance of his in order to hasten me to town where
he has long wished to be himself 

he read me the passage in that leman's letter which is pretty much to
the effect of what you wrote to me from miss lloyd with this addition 
that one singleton a master of a scots vessel is the man who is to be
the principal in this act of violence 

i have seen him he had been twice entertained at harlowe-place as my
brother's friend he has the air of a very bold and fearless man and i
fancy it must be his project as my brother i suppose talks to every
body of the rash step i have taken for he did not spare me before he
had this seeming reason to censure me 

this singleton lives at leith so perhaps i am to be carried to my
brother's house not far from that port 

putting these passages together i am not a little apprehensive that the
design lightly as mr lovelace from his fearless temper treats it 
may be attempted to be carried into execution and of the consequences
that may attend it if it be 

i asked mr lovelace seeing him so frank and cool what he would advise
me to do 

shall i ask you madam what are your own thoughts why i return the
question said he is because you have been so very earnest that i
should leave you as soon as you are in london that i know not what to
propose without offending you 

my opinion is said i that i should studiously conceal myself from the
knowledge of every body but miss howe and that you should leave me
out of hand since they will certainly conclude that where one is the
other is not far off and it is easier to trace you than me 

you would not surely wish said he to fall into your brother's hands
by such a violent measure as this i propose not to throw myself
officiously in their way but should they have reason to think i avoided
them would not that whet their diligence to find you and their courage
to attempt to carry you off and subject me to insults that no man of
spirit can bear 

lord bless me said i to what had this one fatal step that i have been
betrayed into 

dearest madam let me beseech you to forbear this harsh language when
you see by this new scheme how determined they were upon carrying
their old ones had you not been betrayed as you call it have i
offered to defy the laws of society as this brother of yours must do 
if any thing be intended by this project i hope you will be pleased to
observe that there are as violent and as wicked enterprisers as myself 
but this is so very wild a project that i think there can be no room
for apprehensions from it i know your brother well when at college 
he had always a romantic turn but never had a head for any thing but to
puzzle and confound himself a half-invention and a whole conceit but
not master of talents to do himself good or others harm but as those
others gave him the power by their own folly 

this is very volubly run off sir but violent spirits are but too much
alike at least in their methods of resenting you will not presume to
make yourself a less innocent man surely who had determined to brave
my whole family in person if my folly had not saved you the rashness 
and them the insult 

dear madam still must it be folly rashness it is as impossible for
you to think tolerably of any body out of your own family as it is
for any one in your family to deserve your love forgive me dearest
creature if i did not love you as never man loved a woman i might
appear more indifferent to preferences so undeservedly made but let me
ask you madam what have you borne from me what cause have i given
you to treat me with so much severity and so little confidence and what
have you not borne from them malice and ill-will sitting in judgment
upon my character may not give sentence in my favour but what of your
own knowledge have you against me 

spirited questions were they not my dear and they were asked with
as spirited an air i was startled but i was resolved not to desert
myself 

is this a time mr lovelace is this a proper occasion taken to
give yourself these high airs to me a young creature destitute of
protection it is a surprising question you ask me had i aught against
you of my own knowledge i can tell you sir and away i would have
flung 

he snatched my hand and besought me not to leave him in displeasure he
pleaded his passion for me and my severity to him and partiality for
those from whom i had suffered so much and whose intended violence he
said was now the subject of our deliberation 

i was forced to hear him 

you condescended dearest creature said he to ask my advice it was
very easy give me leave to say to advise you what to do i hope i may 
on this new occasion speak without offence notwithstanding your former
injunctions you see that there can be no hope of reconciliation with
your relations can you madam consent to honour with your hand a
wretch whom you have never yet obliged with one voluntary favour 

what a recriminating what a reproachful way my dear was this of
putting a question of this nature 

i expected not from him at the time and just as i was very angry with
him either the question or the manner i am ashamed to recollect the
confusion i was thrown into all your advice in my head at the moment 
yet his words so prohibitory he confidently seemed to enjoy my
confusion  indeed my dear he knows not what respectful love is   and
gazed upon me as if he would have looked me through 

he was still more declarative afterwards as i shall mention by-and-by 
but it was half extorted from him 

my heart struggled violently between resentment and shame to be thus
teased by one who seemed to have all his passions at command at a time
when i had very little over mine till at last i burst into tears and
was going from him in high disgust when throwing his arms about me 
with an air however the most tenderly respectful he gave a stupid
turn to the subject 

it was far from his heart he said to take so much advantage of the
streight which the discovery of my brother's foolish project had
brought me into as to renew without my permission a proposal which i
had hitherto discountenanced and which for that reason 

and then he came with his half-sentences apologizing for what he had
not so much as half-proposed 

surely he had not the insolence to intend to tease me to see if i could
be brought to speak what became me not to speak but whether he had or
not it did tease me insomuch that my very heart was fretted and i
broke out at last into fresh tears and a declaration that i was very
unhappy and just then recollecting how like a tame fool i stood with
his arms about me i flung from him with indignation but he seized my
hand as i was going out of the room and upon his knees besought my
stay for one moment and then in words the most clear and explicit 
tendered himself to my acceptance as the most effectual means to
disappoint my brother's scheme and set all right 

but what could i say to this extorted from him as it seemed to me 
rather as the effect of his compassion than his love what could i say 
i paused i looked silly i am sure i looked very silly he suffered me
to pause and look silly waiting for me to say something and at last
 ashamed of my confusion and aiming to make an excuse for it i told
him that i desired he would avoid such measures as might add to the
uneasiness which it must be visible to him i had when he reflected upon
the irreconcilableness of my friends and upon what might follow from
this unaccountable project of my brother 

he promised to be governed by me in every thing and again the wretch 
instead of pressing his former question asked me if i forgave him for
the humble suit he had made to me what had i to do but to try for a
palliation of my confusion since it served me not 

i told him i had hopes it would not be long before mr morden arrived 
and doubted not that that gentleman would be the readier to engage in my
favour when he found that i made no other use of his mr lovelace's 
assistance than to free myself from the addresses of a man so
disagreeable to me as mr solmes i must therefore wish that every thing
might remain as it was till i could hear from my cousin 

this although teased by him as i was was not you see my dear 
a denial but he must throw himself into a heat rather than try to
persuade which any other man in his situation i should think would
have done and this warmth obliged me to adhere to my seeming negative 

this was what he said with a vehemence that must harden any woman's
mind who had a spirit above being frighted into passiveness 

good god and will you madam still resolve to show me that i am
to hope for no share in your favour while any the remotest prospect
remains that you will be received by my bitterest enemies at the price
of my utter rejection 

this was what i returned with warmth and with a salving art too you
should have seen mr lovelace how much my brother's violence can
affect me but you will be mistaken if you let loose yours upon me with
a thought of terrifying me into measures the contrary of which you have
acquiesced with 

he only besought me to suffer his future actions to speak for him and
if i saw him worthy of any favour that i would not let him be the only
person within my knowledge who was not entitled to my consideration 

you refer to a future time mr lovelace so do i for the future proof
of a merit you seem to think for the past time wanting and justly you
think so and i was again going from him 

one word more he begged me to hear he was determined studiously to
avoid all mischief and every step that might lead to mischief let my
brother's proceedings short of a violence upon my person be what they
would but if any attempt that should extend to that were to be made 
would i have had him to be a quiet spectator of my being seized or
carried back or on board by this singleton or in case of extremity 
was he not permitted to stand up in my defence 

stand up in my defence mr lovelace i should be very miserable were
there to be a call for that but do you think i might not be safe and
private in london by your friend's description of the widow's house i
should think i might be safe there 

the widow's house he replied as described by his friend being a back
house within a front one and looking to a garden rather than to a
street had the appearance of privacy but if when there it was not
approved it would be easy to find another more to my liking though as
to his part the method he would advise should be to write to my uncle
harlowe as one of my trustees and wait the issue of it here at mrs 
sorlings's fearlessly directing it to be answered hither to be afraid
of little spirits was but to encourage insults he said the substance
of the letter should be to demand as a right what they would refuse
if requested as a courtesy to acknowledge that i had put myself  too
well he said did their treatment justify me  into the protection of
the ladies of his family  by whose orders and lord m s he himself
would appear to act  but that upon my own terms which were such that
i was under no obligation to those ladies for the favour it being
no more than they would have granted to any one of my sex equally
distressed  if i approved not of his method happy should he think
himself he said if i would honour him with the opportunity of making
such a claim in his own name but this was a point  with his but's
again in the same breath   that he durst but just touch upon he hoped 
however that i would think their violence a sufficient inducement for
me to take such a wished-for resolution 

inwardly vexed i told him that he himself had proposed to leave me when
i was in town that i expected he would and that when i was known to
be absolutely independent i should consider what to write and what to
do but that while he was with me i neither would nor could 

he would be very sincere with me he said this project of my brother's
had changed the face of things he must before he left me see whether
i should or should not approve of the london widow and her family if i
chose to go thither they might be people whom my brother might buy but
if he saw they were persons of integrity he then might go for a day
or two or so but he must needs say he could not leave me longer at a
time 

do you propose sir said i to take up your lodgings in the house where
i shall lodge 

he did not he said as he knew the use i intended to make of his
absence and my punctilio and yet the house where he had lodgings was
new-fronting and not in condition to receive him but he could go to
his friend belford's in soho or perhaps he might reach to the same
gentleman's house at edgware over night and return on the mornings 
till he had reason to think this wild project of my brother's laid
aside but to no greater distance till then should he care to venture 

the result of all was to set out on monday next for town i hope it
will be in a happy hour 

cl harlowe 




letter xlvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq friday april 21 


 as it was not probable that the lady could give so particular an
account of her own confusion in the affecting scene she mentions on mr 
lovelace's offering himself to her acceptance the following extracts
are made from his letter of the above date  

and now belford what wilt thou say if like the fly buzzing about the
bright taper i had like to have singed the silken wings of my liberty 
never was man in greater danger of being caught in his own snares all
my views anticipated all my schemes untried the admirable creature no
brought to town nor one effort made to know if she be really angel or
woman 

i offered myself to her acceptance with a suddenness tis true that
gave her no time to wrap herself in reserves and in terms less tender
than fervent tending to upbraid her for her past indifference and to
remind her of her injunctions for it was the fear of her brother 
not her love of me that had inclined her to dispense with those
injunctions 

i never beheld so sweet a confusion what a glory to the pencil 
could it do justice to it and to the mingled impatience which visibly
informed every feature of the most meaning and most beautiful face
in the world she hemmed twice or thrice her look now so charmingly
silly then so sweetly significant till at last the lovely teaser 
teased by my hesitating expectation of her answer out of all power
of articulate speech burst into tears and was turning from me with
precipitation when presuming to fold her in my happy arms o think
not best beloved of my heart said i think not that this motion 
which you may believe to be so contrary to your former injunctions 
proceeds from a design to avail myself of the cruelty of your relations 
if i have disobliged you by it and you know with what respectful
tenderness i have presumed to hint it it shall be my utmost care for
the future there i stopped 

then she spoke but with vexation i am i am very unhappy tears
trickling down her crimson cheeks and her sweet face as my arms still
encircled the finest waist in the world sinking upon my shoulder the
dear creature so absent that she knew not the honour she permitted me 

but why but why unhappy my dearest life said i all the gratitude
that ever overflowed the heart of the most obliged of men 

justice to myself there stopped my mouth for what gratitude did i owe
her for obligations so involuntary 

then recovering herself and her usual reserves and struggling to free
herself from my clasping arms how now sir said she with a cheek more
indignantly glowing and eyes of fiercer lustre 

i gave way to her angry struggle but absolutely overcome by so
charming a display of innocent confusion i caught hold of her hand as
she was flying from me and kneeling at her fee o my angel said i 
 quite destitute of reserve and hardly knowing the tenor of my own
speech and had a parson been there i had certainly been a gone man 
receive the vows of your faithful lovelace make him yours and only
yours for ever this will answer every end who will dare to form plots
and stratagems against my wife that you are not so is the ground of
all their foolish attempts and of their insolent hopes in solmes's
favour o be mine i beseech you thus on my knee i beseech you to
be mine we shall then have all the world with us and every body will
applaud an event that every body expects 

was the devil in me i no more intended all this ecstatic nonsense than
i thought the same moment of flying in the air all power is with this
charming creature it is i not she at this rate that must fail in the
arduous trial 

didst thou ever before hear of a man uttering solemn things by an
involuntary impulse in defiance of premeditation and of all his proud
schemes but this sweet creature is able to make a man forego every
purpose of his heart that is not favourable to her and i verily think
i should be inclined to spare her all further trial and yet what trial
has she had were it not for the contention that her vigilance has set
on foot which shall overcome the other thou knowest my generosity
to my uncontending rosebud and sometimes do i qualify my
ardent aspirations after even this very fine creature by this
reflection that the most charming woman on earth were she an empress 
can excel the meanest in the customary visibles only such is the
equality of the dispensation to the prince and the peasant in this
prime gift woman 

well but what was the result of this involuntary impulse on my
part wouldst thou not think i was taken at my offer an offer so
solemnly made and on one knee too 

no such thing the pretty trifler let me off as easily as i could have
wished 

her brother's project and to find that there were no hopes of a
reconciliation for her and the apprehension she had of the mischiefs
that might ensue these not my offer nor love of me were the causes
to which she ascribed all her sweet confusion an ascription that is
high treason against my sovereign pride to make marriage with me but
a second-place refuge and as good as to tell me that her confusion
was owing to her concern that there were no hopes that my enemies would
accept of her intended offer to renounce a man who had ventured his life
for her and was still ready to run the same risque in her behalf 

i re-urged her to make me happy but i was to be postponed to her cousin
morden's arrival on him are now placed all her hopes 

i raved but to no purpose 

another letter was to be sent or had been sent to her aunt hervey to
which she hoped an answer 

yet sometimes i think that fainter and fainter would have been her
procrastinations had i been a man of courage but so fearful was i of
offending 

a confounded thing the man to be so bashful the woman to want so much
courting how shall two such come together no kind mediatress in the
way 

but i must be contented tis seldom however that a love so ardent as
mine meets with a spirit so resigned in the same person but true love 
i am now convinced only wishes nor has it any active will but that of
the adored object 

but o the charming creature again of herself to mention london had
singleton's plot been of my own contriving a more happy expedient could
not have been thought of to induce her to resume her purpose of going
thither nor can i divine what could be her reason for postponing it 

i enclose the letter from joseph leman which i mentioned to thee in
mine of monday last with my answer to it i cannot resist the vanity
that urges me to the communication otherwise it were better perhaps 
that i suffer thee to imagine that this lady's stars fight against
her and dispense the opportunities in my favour which are only the
consequences of my own invention 




letter xlvii

to robert lovelace esq his honner sat april 15 


may it please your honner 

this is to let you honner kno' as how i have been emploied in a bisness
i would have been excused from if so be i could for it is to gitt
evidense from a young man who has of late com'd out to be my cuzzen
by my grandmother's side and but lately come to live in these partes 
about a very vile thing as younge master calls it relating to your
honner god forbid i should call it so without your leafe it is not for
so plane a man as i be to tacks my betters it is consarning one miss
batirton of notingam a very pretty crature belike 

your honner got her away it seems by a false letter to her macking
believe as how her she-cuzzen that she derely loved was coming to see
her and was tacken ill upon the rode and so miss batirton set out in
a shase and one sarvant to fet her cuzzen from the inne where she laid
sick as she thote and the sarvant was tricked and braute back the
shase but miss batirton was not harde of for a month or so and
when it came to passe that her frends founde her out and would have
prossekutid your honner your honner was gone abroad and so she was
broute to bed as one may say before your honner's return and she got
colde in her lyin-inn and lanquitched and soon died and the child is
living but your honner never troubles your honner's hedd about it
in the least and this and some other matters of verry bad reporte 
squier solmes was to tell my young lady of if so be she would have
harde him speke before we lost her sweet company as i may say from
heere 


 see vol ii letters xv and xvi 


your honner helped me to many ugly stories to tell against you honner to
my younge master and younge mistriss but did not tell me about this 

i most humbelly beseche your honner to be good and kinde and fethful to
my deerest younge lady now you have her or i shall brake my harte for
having done some dedes that have helped to bringe things to this passe 
pray youre dere good honner be just prayey do as god shall love ye 
prayey do i cannot write no more for this pressent for verry fear and
grief 

but now i am cumm'd to my writing agen will your honner be pleased to
tell me if as how there be any danger to your honner's life from this
bisness for my cuzzen is actile hier'd to go down to miss batirton's
frendes to see if they will stir in it for you must kno' your honner 
as how he lived in the batirton family at the time and could be a good
evidense and all that 

i hope it was not so verry bad as titus says it was for he ses as
how there was a rape in the case betwixt you at furste and plese your
honner and my cuzzen titus is a very honist younge man as ever brocke
bred this is his carackter and this made me willinger to owne him for
my relation when we came to talck 

if there should be danger of your honner's life i hope your honner will
not be hanged like as one of us common men only have your hedd cut off 
or so and yet it is pit such a hedd should be lossed but if as how
it should be prossekutid to that furr which god forbid be plesed
natheless to thinck of youre fethful joseph leman before your hedd be
condemned for after condemnation as i have been told all will be the
king's or the shreeve's 

i thote as how it was best to acquent you honner of this and for you
to let me kno' if i could do any think to sarve your honner and prevent
mischief with my cuzzen titus on his coming back from nottingam before
he mackes his reporte 

i have gin him a hint already for what as i sed to him cuzzen titus 
signifies stirring up the coles and macking of strife to make rich
gentilfolkes live at varience and to be cutting of throtes and
such-like 

very trewe sed little titus and this and plese your honner gis
me hopes of him if so be your honner gis me direction sen' as god
kno'es i have a poor a verry poor invenshon only a willing mind to
prevent mischief that is the chief of my aim and always was i bless
my god els i could have made much mischief in my time as indeed
any sarvant may your honner nathaless praises my invenshon every
now-and-then alas and plese your honner what invenshon should such a
plane man as i have but when your honner sets me agoing by your fine
invenshon i can do well enuff and i am sure i have a hearty good will
to deserve your honner's faver if i mought 

two days as i may say off and on have i been writing this long
letter and yet i have not sed all i would say for be it knone unto
your honner as how i do not like that captain singleton which i told
you of in my last two letters he is always laying his hedd and my young
master's hedd together and i suspect much if so be some mischief is not
going on between them and still the more as because my eldest younge
lady seemes to be joined to them sometimes 

last week my younge master sed before my fase my harte's blood boils
over capten singleton for revenge upon this and he called your honner
by a name it is not for such a won as me to say what capten singleton
whispred my younge master being i was by so young master sed you may
say any thing before joseph for althoff he looks so seelie he has as
good a harte and as good a hedd as any sarvante in the world need to
have my conscience touched me just then but why shoulde it when all i
do is to prevent mischeff and seeing your honner has so much patience 
which younge master has not so am not affeard of telling your honner
any thing whatsomever 

and furthermore i have such a desire to desarve your honner's bounty
to me as mackes me let nothing pass i can tell you of to prevent harm 
and too besides your honner's goodness about the blew bore which i
have so good an accounte of i am sure i shall be bounden to bless your
honner the longest day i have to live 

and then the blew bore is not all neither sen' and please your honner 
the pretty sowe god forgive me for gesting in so serus a matter runs
in my hedd likewise i believe i shall love her mayhap more than your
honner would have me for she begins to be kind and good-humered and
listens and plese your honour licke as if she was among beans when i
talke about the blew bore and all that 

prayey your honner forgive the gesting of a poor plane man we common
fokes have our joys and plese your honner lick as our betters have 
and if we be sometimes snubbed we can find our underlings to snub them
agen and if not we can get a wife mayhap and snub her so are masters
some how or other oursells 

but how i try your honner's patience sarvants will shew their joyful
hartes tho' off but in partinens when encourag'd 

be plesed from the prems's to let me kno' if as how i can be put upon
any sarvice to sarve your honner and to sarve my deerest younge lady 
which god grant for i begin to be affearde for her hearing what peple
talck to be sure your honner will not do her no harme as a man may
say but i kno' your honner must be good to so wonderous a younge lady 
how can you help it but here my conscience smites me that but for
some of my stories which your honner taute me my old master and my
old lady and the two old squires would not have been able to be half
so hardhearted as they be for all my younge master and younge mistress
sayes 

and here is the sad thing they cannot come to clere up matters with my
deerest young lady because as your honner has ordered it they have
these stories as if bribed by me out of your honner's sarvant which
must not be known for fere you should kill'n and me too and blacken the
briber ah your honner i doubte as tha i am a very vild fellow lord
bless my soil i pray god and did not intend it 

but if my deerest younge lady should come to harm and plese your
honner the horsepond at the blew bore but lord preserve us all from
all bad mischeff and all bad endes i pray the lord for tho'ff you
honner is kinde to me in worldly pelf yet what shall a man get to loos
his soul as holy skrittuer says and plese your honner 

but natheless i am in hope of reppentence hereafter being but a younge
man if i do wrong thro' ignorens your honner being a grate man and a
grave wit and i a poor crature not worthy notice and your honner able
to answer for all but howsomever i am

your honner's fetheful sarvant in all dewtie joseph leman 

april 15 and 16 




letter xlviii

mr lovelace to joseph leman monday april 17 


honest joseph 

you have a worse opinion of your invention than you ought to have 
i must praise it again of a plain man's head i have not known many
better than yours how often have your forecast and discretion answered
my wishes in cases which i could not foresee not knowing how my general
directions would succeed or what might happen in the execution of them 
you are too doubtful of your own abilities honest joseph that's your
fault but it being a fault that is owing to natural modesty you ought
rather to be pitied for it than blamed 

the affair of miss betterton was a youthful frolic i love dearly to
exercise my invention i do assure you joseph that i have ever had
more pleasure in my contrivances than in the end of them i am no
sensual man but a man of spirit one woman is like another you
understand me joseph in coursing all the sport is made by the
winding hare a barn-door chick is better eating now you take me 
joseph 

miss betterton was but a tradesman's daughter the family indeed was
grown rich and aimed at a new line of gentry and were unreasonable
enough to expect a man of my family would marry her i was honest 
i gave the young lady no hope of that for she put it to me she
resented kept up and was kept up a little innocent contrivance was
necessary to get her out but no rape in the case i assure you joseph 
she loved me i loved her indeed when i got her to the inn i asked
her no question it is cruel to ask a modest woman for her consent it
is creating difficulties to both had not her friends been officious i
had been constant and faithful to her to this day as far as i know for
then i had not known my angel 

i went not abroad upon her account she loved me too well to have
appeared against me she refused to sign a paper they had drawn up for
her to found a prosecution upon and the brutal creatures would not
permit the mid-wife's assistance till her life was in danger and i
believe to this her death was owing 

i went into mourning for her though abroad at the time a distinction i
have ever paid to those worthy creatures who dies in childbed by me 

i was ever nice in my loves these were the rules i laid down to myself
on my entrance into active life to set the mother above want if her
friends were cruel and if i could not get her a husband worthy of her 
to shun common women a piece of justice i owed to innocent ladies as
well as to myself to marry off a former mistress if possible before
i took to a new one to maintain a lady handsomely in her lying-in to
provide for the little-one if it lived according to the degree of its
mother to go into mourning for the mother if she died and the promise
of this was a great comfort to the pretty dears as they grew near their
times 

all my errors all my expenses have been with and upon women so i
could acquit my conscience acting thus honourably by them as well as
my discretion as to point of fortune 

all men love women and find me a man of more honour in these points 
if you can joseph 

no wonder the sex love me as they do 

but now i am strictly virtuous i am reformed so i have been for a
long time resolving to marry as soon as i can prevail upon the most
admirable of women to have me i think of nobody else it is impossible
i should i have spared very pretty girls for her sake very true 
joseph so set your honest heart at rest you see the pains i take to
satisfy your qualms 

but as to miss betterton no rape in the case i repeat rapes are
unnatural things and more are than are imagined joseph i should be
loth to be put to such a streight i never was miss betterton was taken
from me against her own will in that case her friends not i committed
the rape 

i have contrived to see the boy twice unknown to the aunt who
takes care of him loves him and would not now part with him on any
consideration the boy is a fine boy i thank god no father need be
ashamed of him he will be well provided for if not i would take
care of him he will have his mother's fortune they curse the father 
ungrateful wretches but bless the boy upon the whole there is nothing
vile in this matter on my side a great deal on the bettertons 

wherefore joseph be not thou in pain either for my head or for thy
own neck nor for the blue boar nor for the pretty sow 

i love your jesting jesting better becomes a poor man than qualms 
i love to have you jest all we say all we do all we wish for is
a jest he that makes life itself not so is a sad fellow and has the
worst of it 

i doubt not joseph but you have had your joys as you say as well
as your betters may you have more and more honest joseph he
that grudges a poor man joy ought to have none himself jest on 
therefore jesting i repeat better becomes thee than qualms 

i had no need to tell you of miss betterton did i not furnish you with
stories enough without hers against myself to augment your credit
with your cunning masters besides i was loth to mention miss
betterton her friends being all living and in credit i loved her
too for she was taken from me by her cruel friends while our joys were
young 

but enough of dear miss betterton dear i say for death
endears rest to her worthy soul there joseph off went a deep sigh
to the memory of miss betterton 

as to the journey of little titus i now recollect the fellow by his
name let that take its course a lady dying in childbed eighteen
months ago no process begun in her life-time refusing herself to give
evidence against me while she lived pretty circumstances to found an
indictment for a rape upon 

as to your young lady the ever-admirable miss clarissa harlowe i
always courted her for a wife others rather expected marriage from
the vanity of their own hearts than from my promises for i was always
careful of what i promised you know joseph that i have gone beyond my
promises to you i do to every body and why because it is the best
way of showing that i have no grudging or narrow spirit a promise is
an obligation a just man will keep his promise a generous man will go
beyond it this is my rule 

if you doubt my honour to your young lady it is more than she does she
would not stay with me an hour if she did mine is the steadiest
heart in the world hast thou not reason to think it so why this
squeamishness then honest joseph 

but it is because thou art honest so i forgive thee whoever loves my
divine clarissa loves me 

let james harlowe call me what names he will for his sister's sake i
will bear them do not be concerned for me her favour will make me rich
amends his own vilely malicious heart will make his blood boil over
at any time and when it does thinkest thou that i will let it touch
thine ah joseph joseph what a foolish teaser is thy conscience such
a conscience as gives a plain man trouble when he intends to do for the
best is weakness not conscience 

but say what thou wilt write all thou knowest or hearest of to me i'll
have patience with every body why should i not when it is as much the
desire of my heart as it is of thine to prevent mischief 

so now joseph having taken all this pains to satisfy thy conscience 
and answer all thy doubts and to banish all thy fears let me come to a
new point 

your endeavours and mine which were designed by round-about ways to
reconcile all even against the wills of the most obstinate have
not we see answered the end we hoped they would answer but on the
contrary have widened the differences between our families but this
has not been either your fault or mine it is owing to the black 
pitch-like blood of your venomous-hearted young master boiling over as
he owns that our honest wishes have hitherto been frustrated 

yet we must proceed in the same course we shall tire them out in time 
and they will propose terms and when they do they shall find out how
reasonable mine shall be little as they deserve from me 

persevere therefore joseph honest joseph persevere and unlikely as
you may imagine the means our desires will at last be obtained 

we have nothing for it now but to go through with our work in the way
we have begun for since as i told you in my last my beloved mistrusts
you she will blow you up if she be not mine if she be i can and
will protect you and as if there will be any fault in her opinion 
it will be rather mine than yours she must forgive you and keep her
husband's secrets for the sake of his reputation else she will be
guilty of a great failure in her duty so now you have set your hand to
the plough joseph there is no looking back 

and what is the consequence of all this one labour more and that will
be all that will fall to your lot at least of consequence 

my beloved is resolved not to think of marriage till she has tried
to move her friends to a reconciliation with her you know they are
determined not to be reconciled she has it in her head i doubt not 
to make me submit to the people i hate and if i did they would rather
insult me than receive my condescension as they ought she even owns 
that she will renounce me if they insist upon it provided they will
give up solmes so to all appearance i am still as far as ever from
the happiness of calling her mine indeed i am more likely than ever to
lose her if i cannot contrive some way to avail myself of the present
critical situation and then joseph all i have been studying and all
you have been doing will signify nothing 

at the place where we are we cannot long be private the lodgings
are inconvenient for us while both together and while she refuses
to marry she wants to get me at a distance from her there are
extraordinary convenient lodgings in my eye in london where we
could be private and all mischief avoided when there if i get
her thither she will insist that i leave her miss howe is for ever
putting her upon contrivances that you know is the reason i have been
obliged by your means to play the family off at harlowe-place upon
mrs howe and mrs howe upon her daughter ah joseph little need for
your fears for my angel i only am in danger but were i the free-liver
i am reported to be all this could i get over with a wet finger as the
saying is 

but by the help of one of your hints i have thought of an expedient
which will do ever thing and raise your reputation though already
so high higher still this singleton i hear is a fellow who loves
enterprising the view he has to get james harlowe to be his principal
owner in a large vessel which he wants to be put into the command of 
may be the subject of their present close conversation but since he
is taught to have so good an opinion of you joseph cannot you still
pretending an abhorrence of me and of my contrivances propose to
singleton to propose to james harlowe who so much thirsts for revenge
upon me to assist him with his whole ship's crew upon occasion to
carry off his sister to leith where both have houses or elsewhere 

you may tell them that if this can be effected it will make me raving
mad and bring your young lady into all their measures 

you can inform them as from my servant of the distance she keeps me
at in hopes of procuring her father's forgiveness by cruelly giving me
up if insisted upon 

you can tell them that as the only secret my servant has kept from you
is the place we are in you make no doubt that a two-guinea bribe will
bring that out and also an information when i shall be at a distance
from her that the enterprise may be conducted with safety 

you may tell them still as from my servant that we are about to
remove from inconvenient lodgings to others more convenient which is
true and that i must be often absent from her 

if they listen to your proposal you will promote your interest with
betty by telling it to her as a secret betty will tell arabella of
it arabella will be overjoyed at any thing that will help forward her
revenge upon me and will reveal it if her brother do not to her uncle
antony he probably will whisper it to mrs howe she can keep nothing
from her daughter though they are always jangling her daughter will
acquaint my beloved with it and if it will not or if it will come to
my ears from some of those you can write it to me as in confidence by
way of preventing msicheif which is the study of us both 

i can then show it to my beloved then will she be for placing a greater
confidence in me that will convince me of her love which i am now
sometimes ready to doubt she will be for hastening to the safer
lodgings i shall have a pretence to stay about her person as a guard 
she will be convinced that there is no expectation to be had of a
reconciliation you can give james harlowe and singleton continual false
scents as i shall direct you so that no mischief can possibly happen 

and what will be the happy happy thrice happy consequence the lady
will be mine in an honourable way we shall all be friends in good time 
the two guineas will be an agreeable addition to the many gratuities i
have helped you to by the like contrivances from this stingy family 
your reputation both for head and heart as i hinted before will be
heightened the blue boar also will be yours nor shall you have the
least difficulty about raising money to buy the stock if it be worth
your while to have it 

betty will likewise then be yours you have both saved money it seems 
the whole harlowe family whom you have so faithfully served  'tis
serving them surely to prevent the mischief which their violent
son would have brought upon them   will throw you in somewhat towards
housekeeping i will still add to your store so nothing but happiness
before you 

crow joseph crow a dunghill of thy own in view servants to snub at
thy pleasure a wife to quarrel with or to love as thy humour leads
thee landlord and landlady at every word to be paid instead of
paying for thy eating and drinking but not thus happy only in thyself 
happy in promoting peace and reconciliation between two good families 
in the long run without hurting any christian soul o joseph honest
joseph what envy wilt thou raise and who would be squeamish with such
prospects before him 

this one labour i repeat crowns the work if you can get but such a
design entertained by them whether they prosecute it or not it will be
equally to the purpose of

your loving friend r lovelace 




letter xlix

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs hervey  enclosed in her last to miss
howe   thursday april 20 


honoured madam 

having not had the favour of an answer to a letter i took the liberty
to write to you on the 14th i am in some hopes that it may have
miscarried for i had much rather it should than to have the
mortification to think that my aunt hervey deemed me unworthy of the
honour of her notice 

in this hope having kept a copy of it and not become able to express
myself in terms better suited to the unhappy circumstances of things i
transcribe and enclose what i then wrote and i humbly beseech you to
favour the contents of it with your interest 


 the contents of the letter referred to are given in letter xxiv of
this volume 


hitherto it is in my power to perform what i undertake for in this
letter and it would be very grievous to me to be precipitated upon
measures which may render the desirable reconciliation more difficult 

if madam i were permitted to write to you with the hopes of being
answered i could clear my intention with regard to the step i have
taken although i could not perhaps acquit myself to some of my severest
judges of an imprudence previous to it you i am sure would pity me 
if you knew all i could say and how miserable i am in the forfeiture of
the good opinion of all my friends 

i flatter myself that their favour is yet retrievable but whatever be
the determination at harlowe-place do not you my dearest aunt deny
me the favour of a few lines to inform me if there can be any hope of
a reconciliation upon terms less shocking than those heretofore
endeavoured to be imposed upon me or if which god forbid i am to be
for ever reprobated 

at least my dear aunt procure for me the justice of my wearing
apparel and the little money and other things which i wrote to my
sister for and mention in the enclosed to you that i may not be
destitute of common conveniencies or be under a necessity to owe an
obligation for such where at present however i would least of all
owe it 

allow me to say that had i designed what happened i might as to the
money and jewels at least have saved myself some of the mortification
which i have suffered and which i still further apprehend if my
request be not complied with 

if you are permitted to encourage an eclaircissment of what i hint i
will open my whole heart to you and inform you of every thing 

if it be any pleasure to have me mortified be pleased to let it be
known that i am extremely mortified and yet it is entirely from my
own reflections that i am so having nothing to find fault with in the
behaviour of the person from whom every evil was to be apprehended 

the bearer having business your way will bring me your answer on
saturday morning if you favour me according to my hopes i knew not
that i should have this opportunity till i had written the above 

i am my dearest aunt your ever dutiful cl harlowe 

be pleased to direct for me if i am to be favoured with a few lines to
be left at mr osgood's near soho-square and nobody shall ever know of
your goodness to me if you desire it to be kept a secret 




letter l

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe saturday april 22 


i cannot for my life account for your wretch's teasing ways but he
certainly doubts your love of him in this he is a modest man as well
as somebody else and tacitly confesses that he does not deserve it 

your israelitish hankerings after the egyptian onion testified still
more in your letter to your aunt your often repeated regrets for
meeting him for being betrayed by him these he cannot bear 

i have been looking back on the whole of his conduct and comparing it
with his general character and find that he is more consistently more
uniformly mean revengeful and proud than either of us once imagined 

from his cradle as i may say as an only child and a boy humoursome 
spoiled mischievous the governor of his governors 

a libertine in his riper years hardly regardful of appearances and
despising the sex in general for the faults of particulars of it who
made themselves too cheap to him 

what has been his behaviour in your family a clarissa in view from
the time your foolish brother was obliged to take a life from him 
but defiance for defiances getting you into his power by terror by
artifice what politeness can be expected from such a man 

well but what in such a situation is to be done why you must
despise him you must hate him if you can and run away from him but
whither whither indeed now that your brother is laying foolish plots
to put you in a still worse condition as it may happen 

but if you cannot despise and hate him if you care not to break with
him you must part with some punctilio's and if the so doing bring
not on the solemnity you must put yourself into the protection of the
ladies of his family 

their respect for you is of itself a security for his honour to you if
there could be any room for doubt and at least you should remind him
of his offer to bring one of the miss montagues to attend you at your
new lodgings in town and accompany you till all is happily over 

this you'll say will be as good as declaring yourself to be his and
so let it you ought not now to think of any thing else but to be his 
does not your brother's project convince you more and more of this 

give over then my dearest friend any thoughts of this hopeless
reconciliation which has kept you balancing thus long you own in the
letter before me that he made very explicit offers though you give me
not the very words and he gave his reasons i perceive with his wishes
that you should accept them which very few of the sorry fellows do 
whose plea is generally but a compliment to our self-love that we must
love them however presumptuous and unworthy because they love us 

were i in your place and had your charming delicacies i should 
perhaps do as you do no doubt but i should expect that the man
should urge me with respectful warmth that he should supplicate with
constancy and that all his words and actions should tend to the one
principal point nevertheless if i suspected art or delay founded upon
his doubts of my love i would either condescend to clear up is doubts
or renounce him for ever 

and in my last case i your anna howe would exert myself and either
find you a private refuge or resolve to share fortunes with you 

what a wretch to be so easily answered by your reference to the arrival
of your cousin morden but i am afraid that you was too scrupulous for
did he not resent that reference 

could we have his account of the matter i fancy my dear i should
think you over nice over delicate had you laid hold of his
acknowledged explicitness he would have been as much in your power as
now you seem to be in his you wanted not to be told that the person
who had been tricked into such a step as you had taken must of
necessity submit to many mortifications 


 the reader who has seen his account which miss howe could not have
seen when she wrote thus will observe that it was not possible for a
person of her true delicacy of mind to act otherwise than she did to a
man so cruelly and so insolently artful 


but were it to me a girl of spirit as i am thought to be i do assure
you i would in a quarter of an hour all the time i would allow to
punctilio in such a case as yours know what he drives at since either
he must mean well or ill if ill the sooner you know it the better if
well whose modesty is it he distresses but that of his own wife 

and methinks you should endeavour to avoid all exasperating
recriminations as to what you have heard of his failure in morals 
especially while you are so happy as not to have occasion to speak of
them by experience 

i grant that it gives a worthy mind some satisfaction in having borne
its testimony against the immoralities of a bad one but that correction
which is unseasonably given is more likely either to harden or make an
hypocrite than to reclaim 

i am pleased however as well as you with his making light of your
brother's wise project poor creature and must master jemmy harlowe 
with his half-wit pretend to plot and contrive mischief yet rail at
lovelace for the same things a witty villain deserves hanging at once
 and without ceremony if you please but a half-witted one deserves
broken bones first and hanging afterwards i think lovelace has given
his character in a few words 


 see letter xlv of this volume 


be angry at me if you please but as sure as you are alive now that
this poor creature whom some call your brother finds he has succeeded
in making you fly your father's house and that he has nothing to fear
but your getting into your own and into an independence of him 
he thinks himself equal to any thing and so he has a mind to fight
lovelace with his own weapons 

don't you remember his pragmatical triumph as told you by your aunt 
and prided in by that saucy betty barnes from his own foolish mouth 


 see vol ii letter xlvii 


i expect nothing from your letter to your aunt i hope lovelace will
never know the contents of it in every one of yours i see that he
as warmly resents as he dares the little confidence you have in him i
should resent it too were i he and knew that i deserved better 

don't be scrupulous about clothes if you think of putting yourself into
the protection of the ladies of his family they know how matters stand
between you and your relations and love you never the worse for the
silly people's cruelty 

i know you won't demand possession of your estate but give him a right
to demand it for you and that will be still better 

adieu my dear may heaven guide and direct you in all your steps is
the daily prayer of

your ever affectionate and faithful anna howe 




letter li

mr belford to robert lovelace esq friday april 21 


thou lovelace hast been long the entertainer i the entertained nor
have i been solicitous to animadvert as thou wentest along upon thy
inventions and their tendency for i believed that with all thy airs 
the unequalled perfections and fine qualities of this lady would always
be her protection and security but now that i find thou hast so far
succeeded as to induce her to come to town and to choose her lodgings
in a house the people of which will too probably damp and suppress any
honourable motions which may arise in thy mind in her favour i cannot
help writing and that professedly in her behalf 

my inducements to this are not owing to virtue but if they were what
hope could i have of affecting thee by pleas arising from it 

nor would such a man as thou art be deterred were i to remind thee
of the vengeance which thou mayest one day expect if thou insultest a
woman of her character family and fortune 

neither are gratitude and honour motives to be mentioned in a woman's
favour to men such as we are who consider all those of the sex as
fair prize over honour in the general acceptation of the word are two
things 

what then is my motive what but the true friendship that i bear thee 
lovelace which makes me plead thy own sake and thy family's sake in
the justice thou owest to this incomparable creature who however 
so well deserves to have her sake to be mentioned as the principal
consideration 

last time i was at m hall thy noble uncle so earnestly pressed me to
use my interest to persuade thee to enter the pale and gave me so many
family reasons for it that i could not help engaging myself heartily
on his side of the question and the rather as i knew that thy own
intentions with regard to this fine woman were then worthy of her and
of this i assured his lordship who was half afraid of thee because of
the ill usage thou receivedst from her family but now that the case is
altered let me press the matter home to thee from other considerations 

by what i have heard of this lady's perfections from every mouth as
well as from thine and from every letter thou hast written where
wilt thou find such another woman and why shouldst thou tempt her
virtue why shouldst thou wish to try where there is no reason to
doubt 

were i in thy case and designed to marry and if i preferred a woman
as i know thou dost this to all the women in the world i should read
to make further trial knowing what we know of the sex for fear of
succeeding and especially if i doubted not that if there were a woman
in the world virtuous at heart it is she 

and let me tell thee lovelace that in this lady's situation the
trial is not a fair trial considering the depth of thy plots and
contrivances considering the opportunities which i see thou must have
with her in spite of her own heart all her relations' follies acting
in concert though unknown to themselves with thy wicked scheming
head considering how destitute of protection she is considering the
house she is to be in where she will be surrounded with thy implements 
specious well-bred and genteel creatures not easily to be detected
when they are disposed to preserve appearances especially by the young
inexperienced lady wholly unacquainted with the town considering all
these things i say what glory what cause of triumph wilt thou have 
if she should be overcome thou too a man born for intrigue full
of invention intrepid remorseless able patiently to watch for thy
opportunity not hurried as most men by gusts of violent passion 
which often nip a project in the bud and make the snail that was just
putting out his horns to meet the inviter withdraw into its shell a
man who has no regard to his word or oath to the sex the lady
scrupulously strict to her word incapable of art or design apt
therefore to believe well of others it would be a miracle if she stood
such an attempter such attempts and such snares as i see will be
laid for her and after all i see not when men are so frail without
importunity that so much should be expected from women daughters of
the same fathers and mothers and made up of the same brittle compounds 
 education all the difference nor where the triumph is in subduing
them 

may there not be other lovelaces thou askest who attracted by her
beauty may endeavour to prevail with her 


 see letter xviii of this volume 


no there cannot i answer be such another man person mind fortune 
and thy character as above given taken in if thou imaginest there
could such is thy pride that thou wouldst think the worse of thyself 

but let me touch upon thy predominant passion revenge for love is but
second to that as i have often told thee though it has set thee into
raving at me what poor pretences for revenge are the difficulties thou
hadst in getting her off allowing that she had run a risque of being
solmes's wife had she staid if these are other than pretences why
thankest thou not those who by their persecutions of her answered thy
hopes and threw her into thy power besides are not the pretences
thou makest for further trial most ungratefully as well as
contradictorily founded upon the supposition of error in her occasioned
by her favour to thee 

and let me for the utter confusion of thy poor pleas of this nature 
ask thee would she in thy opinion had she willingly gone off with
thee have been entitled to better quarter for a mistress indeed she
might but how wouldst thou for a wife have had cause to like her half
so well as now 

has she not demonstrated that even the highest provocations were not
sufficient to warp her from her duty to her parents though a native 
and as i may say an originally involuntary duty because native and
is not this a charming earnest that she will sacredly observe a still
higher duty into which she proposes to enter when she does enter by
plighted vows and entirely as a volunteer 

that she loves thee wicked as thou art and cruel as a panther there
is no reason to doubt yet what a command has she over herself that
such a penetrating self-flatterer as thyself is sometimes ready to doubt
it though persecuted on the one hand as she was by her own family 
and attracted on the other by the splendour of thine every one of
whom courts her to rank herself among them 

thou wilt perhaps think that i have departed from my proposition and
pleaded the lady's sake more than thine in the above but no such
thing all that i have written is more in thy behalf than in her's 
since she may make thee happy but it is next to impossible i should
think if she preserve her delicacy that thou canst make her so what
is the love of a rakish heart there cannot be peculiarity in it but i
need not give my further reasons thou wilt have ingenuousness enough i
dare say were there occasion for it to subscribe to my opinion 

i plead not for the state from any great liking to it myself nor have
i at present thoughts of entering into it but as thou art the last
of thy name as thy family is of note and figure in thy country and as
thou thyself thinkest that thou shalt one day marry is it possible let
me ask thee that thou canst have such another opportunity as thou now
hast if thou lettest this slip a woman in her family and fortune not
unworthy of thine own though thou art so apt from pride of ancestry 
and pride of heart to speak slightly of the families thou dislikest 
so celebrated for beauty and so noted at the same time for prudence 
for soul i will say instead of sense and for virtue 

if thou art not so narrow-minded an elf as to prefer thine own single
satisfaction to posterity thou who shouldst wish to beget children for
duration wilt not postpone till the rake's usual time that is to say 
till diseases or years or both lay hold of thee since in that case
thou wouldst entitle thyself to the curses of thy legitimate progeny
for giving them a being altogether miserable a being which they will
be obliged to hold upon a worse tenure than that tenant-courtesy 
which thou callest the worst to wit upon the doctor's courtesy 
thy descendants also propagating if they shall live and be able to
propagate a wretched race that shall entail the curse or the reason
for it upon remote generations 

wicked as the sober world accounts you and me we have not yet it is
to be hoped got over all compunction although we find religion against
us we have not yet presumed those who do and we know better than to
be even doubters in short we believe a future state of rewards and
punishments but as we have so much youth and health in hand we hope to
have time for repentance that is to say in plain english  nor think
thou me too grave lovelace thou art grave sometimes though not
often   we hope to live to sense as long as sense can relish and
purpose to reform when we can sin no longer 

and shall this admirable woman suffer for her generous endeavours to set
on foot thy reformation and for insisting upon proofs of the sincerity
of thy professions before she will be thine 

upon the whole matter let me wish thee to consider well what thou art
about before thou goest a step farther in the path which thou hast
chalked out for thyself to tread and art just going to enter upon 
hitherto all is so far right that if the lady mistrusts thy honour she
has no proofs be honest to her then in her sense of the word none of
thy companions thou knowest will offer to laugh at what thou dost 
and if they should of thy entering into a state which has been so much
ridiculed by thee and by all of us thou hast one advantage it is
this that thou canst not be ashamed 

deferring to the post-day to close my letter i find one left at my
cousin osgood's with directions to be forwarded to the lady it
was brought within these two hours by a particular hand and has a
harlowe-seal upon it as it may therefore be of importance i dispatch
it with my own by my servant post-haste 


 this letter was from miss arabella harlowe see let lv 


i suppose you will soon be in town without the lady i hope farewell 

be honest and be happy j belford 

sat april 22 




letter lii

mrs hervey to miss clarissa harlowe  in answer to letter xviii  


dear niece 

it would be hard not to write a few lines so much pressed to write to
one i ever loved your former letter i received yet was not at liberty
to answer it i break my word to answer you now 

strange informations are every day received about you the wretch you
are with we are told is every hour triumphing and defying must not
these informations aggravate you know the uncontroulableness of the
man he loves his own humour better than he loves you though so fine a
creature as you are i warned you over and over no young lady was ever
more warned miss clarissa harlowe to do such a thing 

you might have given your friends the meeting if you had held your
aversion it would have been complied with as soon as i was intrusted
myself with their intention to give up the point i gave you a hint a
dark one perhaps but who would have thought o miss such an artful
flight such cunning preparations 

but you want to clear up things what can you clear up are you not gone
off with a lovelace too what my dear would you clear up 

you did not design to go you say why did you meet him then chariot
and six horsemen all prepared by him o my dear how art produces
art will it be believed if it would what power will he be
thought to have had over you he who lovelace the vilest of
libertines over whom a clarissa was your love for such a man above
your reason above your resolution what credit would a belief of this 
if believed bring you how mend the matter oh that you had stood
the next morning 

i'll tell you all that was intended if you had 

it was indeed imagined that you would not have been able to resist
your father's entreaties and commands he was resolved to be all
condescension if anew you had not provoked him i love my clary
harlowe said he but an hour before the killing tidings were brought
him i love her as my life i will kneel to her if nothing else will
do to prevail upon her to oblige me 

your father and mother the reverse of what should have been would
have humbled themselves to you and if you could have denied them and
refused to sign the settlements previous to the meeting they would have
yielded although with regret 

but it was presumed so naturally sweet your temper so self-denying
as they thought you that you could not have withstood them 
notwithstanding all your dislike of the one man without a greater
degree of headstrong passion for the other than you had given any of us
reason to expect from you 

if you had the meeting on wednesday would have been a lighter trial to
you you would have been presented to all your assembled friends with
a short speech only that this was the young creature till very lately
faultless condescending and obliging now having cause to glory in a
triumph over the wills of father mother uncles the most indulgent 
over family-interests family-views and preferring her own will to
every body's and this for a transitory preference to person only there
being no comparison between the men in their morals 

thus complied with and perhaps blessed by your father and mother and
the consequences of your disobedience deprecated in the solemnest manner
by your inimitable mother your generosity would have been appealed to 
since your duty would have been fount too weak an inducement and you
would have been bid to withdraw for one half hour's consideration then
would the settlements have been again tendered for your signing by
the person least disobliging to you by your good norton perhaps she
perhaps seconded by your father again and if again refused you
would have again have been led in to declare such your refusal some
restrictions which you yourself had proposed would have been insisted
upon you would have been permitted to go home with me or with your
uncle antony with which of us was not agreed upon because they hoped
you might be persuaded there to stay till the arrival of your cousin
morden or till your father could have borne to see you or till assured
that the views of lovelace were at an end 

this the intention your father so set upon your compliance so much in
hopes that you would have yielded that you would have been prevailed
upon by methods so condescending and so gentle no wonder that he in
particular was like a distracted man when he heard of your flight of
your flight so premeditated with your ivy summer-house dinings your
arts to blind me and all of us naughty naughty young creature 

i for my part would not believe it when told of it your uncle hervey
would not believe it we rather expected we rather feared a still more
desperate adventure there could be but one more desperate and i
was readier to have the cascade resorted to than the garden
back-door your mother fainted away while her heart was torn between
the two apprehensions your father poor man your father was
beside himself for near an hour what imprecations what dreadful
imprecations to this day he can hardly bear your name yet can
think of nobody else your merits my dear but aggravate your
fault something of fresh aggravation every hour how can any favour
be expected 

i am sorry for it but am afraid nothing you ask will be complied with 

why mention you my dear the saving you from mortifications who have
gone off with a man what a poor pride is it to stand upon any thing
else 

i dare not open my lips in your favour nobody dare your letter must
stand by itself this has caused me to send it to harlowe-place expect
therefore great severity may you be enabled to support the lot you have
drawn o my dear how unhappy have you made every body can you expect
to be happy your father wishes you had never been born your poor
mother but why should i afflict you there is now no help you must be
changed indeed if you are not very unhappy yourself in the reflections
your thoughtful mind must suggest to you 

you must now make the best of your lot yet not married it seems 

it is in your power you say to perform whatever you shall undertake
to do you may deceive yourself you hope that your reputation and the
favour of your friends may be retrieved never never both i doubt 
if either every offended person and that is all who loved you and are
related to you must join to restore you when can these be of one mind
in a case so notoriously wrong 

it would be very grievous you say to be precipitated upon measures
that may make the desirable reconciliation more difficult is it now my
dear a time for you to be afraid of being precipitated at present 
if ever there can be no thought of reconciliation the upshot of your
precipitation must first be seen there may be murder yet as far as we
know will the man you are with part willingly with you if not what
may be the consequence if he will lord bless me what shall we
think of his reasons for it i will fly this thought i know your
purity but my dear are you not out of all protection are you not
unmarried have you not making your daily prayers useless thrown
yourself into temptation and is not the man the most wicked of
plotters 

you have hitherto you say and i think my dear with an air
unbecoming to your declared penitence no fault to find with the
behaviour of a man from whom every evil was apprehended like caesar to
the roman augur which i heard you tell of who had bid him beware the
ides of march the ides of march said caesar seeing the augur among
the crowd as he marched in state to the senate-house from which he
was never to return alive the ides of march are come but they are not
past the augur replied make the application my dear may you be able
to make this reflection upon his good behaviour to the last of your
knowledge of him may he behave himself better to you than he ever did
to any body else over whom he had power amen 

no answer i beseech you i hope your messenger will not tell any body
that i have written to you and i dare say you will not show what i
have written to mr lovelace for i have written with the less reserve 
depending upon your prudence 

you have my prayers 

my dolly knows not that i write nobody does not even mr hervey 


 notwithstanding what mrs hervey here says it will be hereafter seen
that this severe letter was written in private concert with the
implacable arabella 


dolly would have several times written but having defended your fault
with heat and with a partiality that alarmed us such a fall as
your's my dear must be alarming to all parents she has been
forbidden on pain of losing our favour for ever and this at your
family's request as well as by her father's commands 

you have the poor girl's hourly prayers i will however tell you 
though she knows not what i do as well as those of

your truly afflicted aunt d hervey 

friday april 21 




letter liii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe  with the preceding   sat morn 
april 22 


i have just now received the enclosed from my aunt hervey be pleased 
my dear to keep her secret of having written to the unhappy wretch her
niece 

i may go to london i see or where i will no matter what becomes of
me 

i was the willinger to suspend my journey thither till i heard from
harlowe-place i thought if i could be encouraged to hope for a
reconciliation i would let this man see that he should not have me in
his power but upon my own terms if at all 

but i find i must be his whether i will or not and perhaps through
still greater mortifications than those great ones which i have already
met with and must i be so absolutely thrown upon a man with whom i am
not at all satisfied 

my letter is sent you see to harlowe-place my heart aches for the
reception it may meet with there 

one comfort only arises to me from its being sent that my aunt will
clear herself by the communication from the supposition of having
corresponded with the poor creature whom they have all determine to
reprobate it is no small part of my misfortune that i have weakened the
confidence one dear friend has in another and made one look cool upon
another my poor cousin dolly you see has reason to regret on this
account as well as my aunt miss howe my dear miss howe is but too
sensible of the effects of my fault having had more words with her
mother on my account than ever she had on any other yet the man who
has drawn me into all this evil i must be thrown upon much did i
consider much did i apprehend before my fault supposing i were to be
guilty of it but i saw it not in all its shocking lights 

and now to know that my father an hour before he received the tidings
of my supposed flight owned that he loved me as his life that he would
have been all condescension that he would oh my dear how tender how
mortifyingly tender now in him my aunt need not have been afraid that
it should be known that she has sent me such a letter as this a father
to kneel to his child there would not indeed have been any bearing of
that what i should have done in such a case i know not death
would have been much more welcome to me than such a sight on such an
occasion in behalf of a man so very very disgustful to me but i had
deserve annihilation had i suffered my father to kneel in vain 

yet had but the sacrifice of inclination and personal preference been
all less than kneeling should have been done my duty should have been
the conqueror of my inclination but an aversion an aversion so
very sincere the triumph of a cruel and ambitious brother ever so
uncontroulable joined with the insults of an envious sister bringing
wills to theirs which otherwise would have been favourable to me the
marriage-duties so absolutely indispensable so solemnly to be engaged
for the marriage-intimacies permit me to say to you my friend what
the purest although with apprehension must think of so very
intimate myself one who has never looked upon any duty much less a
voluntary-vowed one with indifference could it have been honest in me
to have given my hand to an odious hand and to have consented to such a
more than reluctant such an immiscible union if i may so call it for
life too did not i think more and deeper than most young creatures
think did i not weigh did i not reflect i might perhaps have been
less obstinate delicacy may i presume to call it thinking 
weighing reflection are not blessings i he not found them such in
the degree i have them i wish i had been able in some very nice
cases to have known what indifference was yet not to have my ignorance
imputable to me as a fault oh my dear the finer sensibilities if i
may suppose mine to be such make not happy 

what a method had my friends intended to take with me this i dare
say was a method chalked out by my brother he i suppose was to have
presented me to all my assembled friends as the daughter capable of
preferring her own will to the wills of them all it would have been a
sore trial no doubt would to heaven however i had stood it let the
issue have been what it would would to heaven i had stood it 

there may be murder my aunt says this looks as if she knew of
singleton's rash plot such an upshot as she calls it of this unhappy
affair heaven avert 

she flies a thought that i can less dwell upon a cruel thought but
she has a poor opinion of the purity she compliments me with if she
thinks that i am not by god's grace above temptation from this sex 
although i never saw a man whose person i could like before this
man yet his faulty character allowed me but little merit from the
indifference i pretended to on his account but now i see him in nearer
lights i like him less than ever unpolite cruel insolent unwise 
a trifler with his own happiness the destroyer of mine his last
treatment my fate too visibly in his power master of his own wishes 
 shame to say it   if he knew what to wish for indeed i never liked
him so little as now upon my word i think i could hate him if i do
not already hate him sooner than any man i ever thought tolerably
of a good reason why because i have been more disappointed in my
expectations of him although they never were so high as to have made
him my choice in preference to the single life had that been
permitted me still if the giving him up for ever will make my path to
reconciliation easy and if they will signify as much to me they shall
see that i never will be his for i have the vanity to think my soul his
soul's superior 

you will say i rave forbidden to write to my aunt and taught to
despair of reconciliation you my dear must be troubled with my
passionate resentments what a wretch was i to give him a meeting since
by that i put it out of my power to meet my assembled friends all
would now if i had met them been over and who can tell when my
present distresses will rid of both men i had been now perhaps at my
aunt hervey's or at my uncle antony's wishing for my cousin morden's
arrival who might have accommodated all 

i intended indeed to have stood it and if i had how know i by whose
name i might now have been called for how should i have resisted a
condescending a kneeling father had he been able to have kept his
temper with me 

yet my aunt say he would have relented if i had not perhaps he would
have been moved by my humility before he could have shown such undue
condescension such temper as he would have received me with might have
been improved upon in my favour and that he had designed ultimately to
relent how it clears my friends at least to themselves and condemns
me o why were my aunt's hints i remember them now so very dark yet
i intended to have returned after the interview and then perhaps
she would have explained herself o this artful this designing
lovelace yet i must repeat that most ought i to blame myself for
meeting him 

but far far be banished from me fruitless recrimination far banished 
because fruitless let me wrap myself about in the mantle of my own
integrity and take comfort in my unfaulty intention since it is now
too late to look back let me collect all my fortitude and endeavour to
stand those shafts of angry providence which it will not permit me to
shun that whatever the trials may be which i am destined to undergo i
may not behave unworthily in them and may come out amended by them 

join with me in this prayer my beloved friend for your own honour's
sake as well as for love's sake join with me in it lest a deviation
on my side should with the censorious cast a shade upon a friendship
which has no levity in it and the basis of which is improvement as
well in the greater as lesser duties 

cl harlowe 




letter liv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe saturday afternoon april 22 


o my best my only friend now indeed is my heart broken it has
received a blow it never will recover think not of corresponding with
a wretch who now seems absolutely devoted how can it be otherwise if
a parent's curses have the weight i always attributed to them and have
heard so many instances in confirmation of that weight yes my dear
miss howe superadded to all my afflictions i have the consequences
of a father's curse to struggle with how shall i support this
reflection my past and my present situation so much authorizing my
apprehensions 

i have at last a letter from my unrelenting sister would to heaven i
had not provoked it by my second letter to my aunt hervey it lay ready
for me it seems the thunder slept till i awakened it i enclose the
letter itself transcribe it i cannot there is no bearing the thoughts
of it for  shocking reflection   the curse extends to the life beyond
this 

i am in the depth of vapourish despondency i can only repeat shun 
fly correspond not with a wretch so devoted as

cl harlowe 




letter lv

to miss clarissa harlowe to be left at mr osgood's near soho-square
friday april 21 


it was expected you would send again to me or to my aunt hervey the
enclosed has lain ready for you therefore by direction you will have
no answer from any body write to whom you will and as often as you
will and what you will 

it was designed to bring you back by proper authority or to send you
whither the disgraces you have brought upon us all should be in the
likeliest way after a while to be forgotten but i believe that design
is over so you may range securely nobody will think it worth while to
give themselves any trouble about you yet my mother has obtained leave
to send you your clothes of all sorts but your clothes only this is
a favour you'll see by the within letter not designed you and now not
granted for your sake but because my poor mother cannot bear in her
sight any thing you used to wear read the enclosed and tremble 

arabella harlowe 


to the most ungrateful and undutiful of daughters harlowe-place april
15 

sister that was 

for i know not what name you are permitted or choose to go by 

you have filled us all with distraction my father in the first
agitations of his mind on discovering your wicked your shameful
elopement imprecated on his knees a fearful curse upon you tremble
at the recital of it no less than that you may meet your punishment
both here and hereafter by means of the very wretch in whom you have
chosen to place your wicked confidence 

your clothes will not be sent you you seen by leaving them behind you 
to have been secure of them whenever you demanded them but perhaps you
could think of nothing but meeting your fellow nothing but how to get
off your forward self for every thing seems to have been forgotten
but what was to contribute to your wicked flight yet you judged right 
perhaps that you would have been detected had you endeavoured to get
away with your clothes cunning creature not to make one step that we
would guess at you by cunning to effect your own ruin and the disgrace
of all the family 

but does the wretch put you upon writing for your things for fear you
should be too expensive to him that's it i suppose 

was there ever a giddier creature yet this is the celebrated the
blazing clarissa clarissa what harlowe no doubt and harlowe it will
be to the disgrace of us all 

your drawings and your pieces are all taken down as is also your
whole-length picture in the vandyke taste from your late parlour they
are taken down and thrown into your closet which will be nailed up 
as if it were not a part of the house there to perish together for who
can bear to see them yet how did they use to be shown to every body 
the former for the magnifying of your dainty finger-works the latter 
for the imputed dignity dignity now in the dust of your boasted
figure and this by those fond parents from whom you have run away with
so much yet with so little contrivance 

my brother vows revenge upon your libertine for the family's sake he
vows it not for yours for he will treat you he declares like a
common creature if ever he sees you and doubts not that this will be
your fate 

my uncle harlowe renounces you for ever 

so does my uncle antony 

so does my aunt hervey 

so do i base unworthy creature the disgrace of a good family and
the property of an infamous rake as questionless you will soon find
yourself if you are not already 

your books since they have not taught you what belongs to your family 
to your sex and to your education will not be sent to you your money
neither nor yet the jewels so undeservedly made yours for it is wished
you may be seen a beggar along london-streets 

if all this is heavy lay your hand to your heart and ask yourself why
you have deserved it 

every man whom your pride taught you to reject with scorn mr solmes
excepted who however has reason to rejoice that he missed you 
triumphs in your shameful elopement and now knows how to account for
his being refused 

your worthy norton is ashamed of you and mingles her tears with your
mother's both reproaching themselves for their shares in you and in so
fruitless an education 

every body in short is ashamed of you but none more than

arabella harlowe 




letter lvi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe tuesday april 25 


be comforted be not dejected do not despond my dearest and
best-beloved friend god almighty is just and gracious and gives not
his assent to rash and inhuman curses can you think that heaven will
seal to the black passions of its depraved creatures if it did malice 
envy and revenge would triumph and the best of the human race blasted
by the malignity of the worst would be miserable in both worlds 

this outrageousness shows only what manner of spirit they are of and
how much their sordid views exceed their parental love tis all owing
to rage and disappointment disappointment in designs proper to be
frustrated 

if you consider this malediction as it ought to be considered a person
of your piety must and will rather pity and pray for your rash father 
than terrify yourself on the occasion none bug god can curse parents
or others whoever they be can only pray to him to curse and such
prayers can have no weight with a just and all-perfect being the
motives to which are unreasonable and the end proposed by them cruel 

has not god commanded us to bless and curse not pray for your father 
then i repeat that he incur not the malediction he has announced on
you since he has broken as you see a command truly divine while you 
by obeying that other precept which enjoins us to pray for them that
persecute and curse us will turn the curse into a blessing 

my mother blames them for this wicked letter of your sister and she
pities you and of her own accord wished me to write to comfort you 
for this once for she says it is pity your heart which was so noble 
 and when the sense of your fault and the weight of a parent's curse
are so strong upon you should be quite broken 

lord bless me how your aunt writes can there be two rights and two
wrongs in palpable cases but my dear she must be wrong so they all
have been justify themselves now as they will they can only justify
themselves to themselves from selfish principles resolving to acquit 
not fairly to try themselves did your unkind aunt in all the tedious
progress of your contentions with them give you the least hope of their
relenting her dark hints now i recollect as well as you but why was
any thing good or hopeful to be darkly hinted how easy was it for her 
who pretended always to love you for her who can give such flowing
license to her pen for your hurt to have given you one word one line
 in confidence of their pretended change of measures 

but do not mind their after-pretences my dear all of them serve but
for tacit confessions of their vile usage of you i will keep your
aunt's secret never fear i would not on any consideration that my
mother should see her letter 

you will now see that you have nothing left but to overcome all
scrupulousness and marry as son as you have an opportunity determine
to do so my dear 

i will give you a motive for it regarding myself for this i have
resolved and this i have vowed  o friend the best beloved of my
heart be not angry with me for it   that so long as your happiness is
in suspence i will never think of marrying  in justice to the man i
shall have i have vowed this for my dear must i not be miserable 
if you are so and what an unworthy wife must i be to any man who cannot
have interest enough in my heart to make his obligingness a balance for
an affliction he has not caused 

i would show lovelace your sister's abominable letter were it to me i
enclose it it shall not have a place in this house this will enter him
of course into the subject which you now ought to have most in view 
let him see what you suffer for him he cannot prove base to such an
excellence i should never enjoy my head or my senses should this
man prove a villain to you with a merit so exalted you may have
punishment more than enough for your involuntary fault in that husband 

i would not have you be too sure that their project to seize you is
over the words intimating that it is over in the letter of that
abominable arabella seem calculated to give you security she only
says she believes that design is over and i do not yet find from miss
lloyd that it is disavowed so it will be best when you are in london 
to be private and for fear of the worst to let every direction to be
a third place for i would not for the world have you fall into the
hands of such flaming and malevolent spirits by surprize 

i will myself be content to direct you at some third place and i shall
then be able to aver to my mother or to any other if occasion be that
i know not where you are 

besides this measure will make you less apprehensive of the
consequences of their violence should they resolve to attempt to carry
you of in spite of lovelace 

i would have you direct to mr hickman even your answer to this i have
a reason for it besides my mother notwithstanding this particular
indulgence is very positive they have prevailed upon her i know to
give her word to this purpose spiteful poor wretches how i hate in
particular your foolish uncle antony 

i would not have your thought dwell on the contents of your sister's
shocking letter but pursue other subjects the subjects before you 
and let me know your progress with lovelace and what he says to this
diabolical curse so far you may enter into this hateful subject i
expect that this will aptly introduce the grant topic between you 
without needing a mediator 

come my dear when things are at worst they will mend good often comes
when evil is expected but if you despond there can be no hopes of
cure don't let them break your heart for that is plain to me is now
what some people have in view for you to do 

how poor to withhold from you your books your jewels and your money 
as money is all you can at present want since they will vouchsafe
to send your clothes i send fifty guineas by the bearer enclosed in
single papers in my norris's miscellanies i charge you as you love me 
return them not 

i have more at your service so if you like not your lodgings or his
behaviour when you get to town leave both them and him out of hand 

i would advise you to write to mr morden without delay if he intends
for england it may hasten him and you will do very well till he can
come but surely lovelace will be infatuated if he secure not his
happiness by your consent before that of mr morden's is made needful
on his arrival 

once more my dear let me beg of you to be comforted manage with
your usual prudence the stake before you and all will still be happy 
suppose yourself to be me and me to be you  you may for your distress
is mine   and then you will add full day to these but glimmering lights
which are held out to you by

your ever affectionate and faithful anna howe 

i hurry this away by robert i will inquire into the truth of your
aunt's pretences about the change of measures which she says they
intended in case you had not gone away 




letter lvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe wednesday morning april 26 


your letter my beloved miss howe gives me great comfort how sweetly
do i experience the truth of the wise man's observation that a faithful
friend is the medicine of life 

your messenger finds me just setting out for london the chaise at the
door already i have taken leave of the good widow who has obliged
me with the company of her eldest daughter at mr lovelace's request 
while he rides by us the young gentlewoman is to return in two or three
days with the chaise in its way to my lord m s hertfordshire seat 

i received my sister's dreadful letter on sunday when mr lovelace was
out he saw on his return my extreme anguish and dejection and he was
told how much worse i had been for i had fainted away more than once 

i think the contents of it have touched my head as well as my heart 

he would fain have seen it but i would not permit that because of the
threatenings he would have found in it against himself as it was the
effect it had upon me made him break out into execrations and menaces i
was so ill that he himself advised me to delay going to town on monday 
as i proposed to do 

he is extremely regardful and tender of me all that you supposed would
follow the violent letter from him has followed it he has offered
himself to my acceptance in so unreserved a manner that i am concerned
i have written so freely and diffidently of him pray my dearest
friend keep to yourself every thing that may appear disreputable of him
from me 

i must acquaint you that his kind behaviour and my low-spiritedness 
co-operating with your former advice and my unhappy situation made me
that very sunday evening receive unreservedly his declarations and now
indeed i am more in his power than ever 

he presses me every hour indeed as needlessly as unkindly for fresh
tokens of my esteem for him and confidence in him and as i have been
brought to some verbal concessions if he should prove unworthy i am
sure i shall have great reason to blame this violent letter for i have
no resolution at all abandoned thus of all my natural friends of whose
returning favour i have now no hopes and only you to pity me and you
restrained as i may say i have been forced to turn my desolate heart
to such protection as i could find 

all my comfort is that your advice repeatedly given me to the same
purpose in your kind letter before me warrants me i now set out the
more cheerfully to london on that account for before a heavy weight
hung upon my heart and although i thought it best and safest to go 
yet my spirits sunk i know not why at every motion i made towards a
preparation for it 

i hope no mischief will happen on the road i hope these violent
spirits will not meet 

every one is waiting for me pardon me my best my kindest friend 
that i return your norris in these more promising prospects i cannot
have occasion for your favour besides i have some hope that with my
clothes they will send me the money i wrote for although it is denied
me in the letter if they do not and if i should have occasion i can
but signify my wants to so ready a friend and i have promised to be
obliged only to you but i had rather methinks you should have it still
to say if challenged that nothing of this nature has been either
requested or done i say this with a view entirely to my future hopes
of recovering your mother's favour which next to that of my own father
and mother i am most solicitous to recover 

i must acquaint you wit one thing more notwithstanding my hurry and
that is that mr lovelace offered either to attend me to lord m s or
to send for his chaplain yesterday he pressed me to consent to this
proposal most earnestly and even seemed desirous rather to have the
ceremony pass here than at london for when there i had told him it
was time enough to consider of so weighty and important a matter now 
upon the receipt of your kind your consolatory letter methinks i
could almost wish it had been in my power to comply with his earnest
solicitations but this dreadful letter has unhinged my whole frame 
then some little punctilio surely is necessary no preparation made 
no articles drawn no license ready grief so extreme no pleasure in
prospect nor so much as in wish o my dear who could think of entering
into so solemn an engagement who so unprepared could seem to be so
ready 

if i could flatter myself that my indifference to all the joys of this
life proceeded from proper motives not rather from the disappointments
and mortifications my pride has met with how much rather i think 
should i choose to be wedded to my shroud than to any man on earth 

indeed i have at present no pleasure but in your friendship continue
that to me i beseech you if my heart rises hereafter to a capacity of
more it must be built on that foundation 

my spirits sink again on setting out excuse this depth of vapourish
dejection which forbids me even hope the cordial that keeps life
from stagnating and which never was denied me till within these
eight-and-forty hours 

but tis time to relieve you 

adieu my best beloved and kindest friend pray for your clarissa 




letter lviii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe thursday april 27 


i am sorry you sent back my norris but you must be allowed to do as you
please so must i in my turn we must neither of us perhaps expect
absolutely of the other what is the rightest thing to be done and
yet few folks so young as we are better know what the rightest is i
cannot separate myself from you although i give a double instance of my
vanity in joining myself with you in this particular assertion 

i am most heartily rejoiced that your prospects are so much mended and
that as i hoped good has been produced out of evil what must the man
have been what must have been his views had he not taken such a
turn upon a letter so vile and upon a treatment so unnatural himself
principally the occasion of it 

you know best your motives for suspending but i wish you could have
taken him at offers so earnest why should you not have permitted him
to send for lord m s chaplain if punctilio only was in the way and
want of a license and of proper preparations and such like my service
to you my dear and there is ceremony tantamount to your ceremony 


 mr lovelace in his next letter tells his friend how extremely ill
the lady was recovering from fits to fall into stronger fits and
nobody expecting her life she had not he says acquainted miss howe
how very ill she was in the next letter she tells miss howe that her
motives for suspending were not merely ceremonious ones 


do not do not my dear friend again be so very melancholy a decliner
as to prefer a shroud when the matter you wish for is in your power 
and when as you have justly said heretofore persons cannot die when
they will 

but it is a strange perverseness in human nature that we slight that
when near us which at a distance we wish for 

you have now but one point to pursue that is marriage let that be
solemnized leave the rest to providence and to use your own words in
a former letter follow as that leads you will have a handsome man 
a genteel man he would be a wise man if he were not vain of his
endowments and wild and intriguing but while the eyes of many of our
sex taken by so specious a form and so brilliant a spirit encourage
that vanity you must be contented to stay till grey hairs and prudence
enter upon the stage together you would not have every thing in the
same man 

i believe mr hickman treads no crooked paths but he hobbles most
ungracefully in a straight one yet mr hickman though he pleases not
my eye nor diverts my ear will not as i believe disgust the one nor
shock the other your man as i have lately said will always keep up
attention you will always be alive with him though perhaps more from
fears than hopes while mr hickman will neither say any thing to keep
one awake nor yet by shocking adventures make one's slumbers uneasy 

i believe i now know which of the two men so prudent a person as you
would at first have chosen nor doubt i that you can guess which i
would have made choice of if i might but proud as we are the proudest
of us all can only refuse and many of us accept the but half-worthy 
for fear a still worse should offer 

if men had chosen their mistresses for spirits like their own although
mr lovelace at the long run may have been too many for me i don't
doubt but i should have given heart-ach for heart-ach for one half-year
at least while you with my dull-swift would have glided on as
serenely as calmly as unaccountably as the succeeding seasons 
and varying no otherwise than they to bring on new beauties and
conveniencies to all about you 


 


i was going on in this style but my mother broke in upon me with a
prohibitory aspect she gave me leave for one letter only  she
had just parted with your odious uncle and they have been in close
conference again 

she has vexed me i must lay this by till i hear from you again not
knowing whither to send it 

direct me to a third place as i desired in my former 

i told my mother on her challenging me that i was writing indeed and
to you but it was only to amuse myself for i protested that i knew not
where to send to you 

i hope that your next may inform me of your nuptials although the next
to that were to acquaint me that he was the most ungratefullest monster
on earth as he must be if not the kindest husband in it 

my mother has vexed me but so on revising i wrote before but she
has unhinged me as you call it pretended to catechise hickman i
assure you for contributing to our supposed correspondence catechised
him severely too upon my word i believe i have a sneaking kindness
for the sneaking fellow for i cannot endure that any body should treat
him like a fool but myself 

i believe between you and me the good lady forgot herself i heard her
loud she possibly imagined that my father was come to life again yet
the meekness of the man might have soon convinced her i should have
thought for my father it seems would talk as loud as she i suppose 
 though within a few yards of each other as if both were out of their
way and were hallooing at half a mile's distance to get in again 

i know you'll blame me for this sauciness but i told you i was vexed 
and if i had not a spirit my parentage on both sides might be doubted 

you must not chide me too severely however because i have learned of
you not to defend myself in an error and i own i am wrong and that's
enough you won't be so generous in this case as you are in every other 
if you don't think it is 

adieu my dear i must i will love you and love you for ever so
subscribes your

anna howe 




letter lix

from miss howe  enclosed in the above   thursday april 27 


i have been making inquiry as i told you i would whether your
relations had really before you left them resolved upon that change of
measures which your aunt mentions in her letter and by laying together
several pieces of intelligence some drawn from my mother through your
uncle antony's communications some from miss lloyd by your sister's 
and some by a third way that i shall not tell you of i have reason to
think the following a true state of the case 

that there was no intention of a change of measures till within two or
three days of your going away on the contrary your brother and sister 
though they had no hope of prevailing with you in solmes's favour were
resolved never to give over their persecutions till they had pushed you
upon taking some step which by help of their good offices should be
deemed inexcusable by the half-witted souls they had to play upon 

but that at last your mother tired with and perhaps ashamed of
the passive part she had acted thought fit to declare to miss bell 
that she was determined to try to put an end to the family feuds and to
get your uncle harlowe to second her endeavours 

this alarmed your brother and sister and then a change of measures
was resolved upon solmes's offers were however too advantageous to
be given up and your father's condescension was now to be their sole
dependence and as they give it out the trying of what that would do
with you their last effort 

and indeed my dear this must have succeeded i verily think with such
a daughter as they had to deal with could that father who never i
dare say kneeled in his life but to his god have so far condescended
as your aunt writes he would 

but then my dear what would this have done perhaps you would
have given lovelace this meeting in hopes to pacify him and prevent
mischief supposing that they had given you time and not hurried you
directly into the state but if you had not met him you see that he was
resolved to visit them and well attended too and what must have been
the consequence 

so that upon the whole we know not but matters may be best as they
are however disagreeable that best is 

i hope your considerate and thoughtful mind will make a good use of
this hint who would not with patience sustain even a great evil if she
could persuade herself that it was kindly dispensed in order to prevent
a still greater especially if she could sit down as you can and
acquit her own heart 

permit me one further observation do we not see from the above state
of the matter what might have been done before by the worthy person
of your family had she exerted the mother in behalf of a child so
meritorious yet so much oppressed 

adieu my dear i will be ever yours anna howe 


 


 clarissa in her answer to the first of the two last letters chides
her friend for giving so little weight to her advice in relation to her
 behaviour to her mother it may be proper to insert here the
 following extracts from that answer though a little before the time  

you assume my dear says she your usual and ever-agreeable style in
what you write of the two gentlemen and how unaptly you think they
have chosen mr hickman in addressing you mr lovelace me but i am
inclinable to believe that with a view to happiness however two mild
tempers might agree two high ones would make sad work of it both at
one time violent and unyielding you two might indeed have raqueted
the ball betwixt you as you say but mr hickman by his gentle
manners seems formed for you if you go not too far with him if you
do it would be a tameness in him to bear it which would make a man
more contemptible than mr hickman can ever deserve to be made nor is
it a disgrace for even a brave man who knows what a woman is to vow to
him afterwards to be very obsequious beforehand 


 see letter xxxv and letter xxxvi of this volume 
 see letter xxxvi of this volume 


do you think it is to the credit of mr lovelace's character that he
can be offensive and violent does he not as all such spirits must 
subject himself to the necessity of making submissions for his excesses
far more mortifying to a proud heart than those condescensions which the
high-spirited are so apt to impute as a weakness of mind in such a man
as mr hickman 

let me tell you my dear that mr hickman is such a one as would rather
bear an affront from a lady than offer one to her he had rather i
dare say that she should have occasion to ask his pardon than he her's 
but my dear you have outlived your first passion and had the second
man been an angel he would not have been more than indifferent to you 

my motives for suspending proceeds she were not merely ceremonious
ones i was really very ill i could not hold up my head the contents
of my sister's letters had pierced my heart indeed my dear i was very
ill and was i moreover to be as ready to accept his offer as if i
were afraid he never would repeat it 

i see with great regret that your mamma is still immovably bent against
our correspondence what shall i do about it it goes against me to
continue it or to wish you to favour me with returns yet i have so
managed my matters that i have no friend but you to advise with it is
enough to make one indeed wish to be married to this man though a man
of errors as he has worthy relations of my own sex and i should have
some friends i hope and having some i might have more for as
money is said to increase money so does the countenance of persons of
character increase friends while the destitute must be destitute it
goes against my heart to beg of you to discontinue corresponding with
me and yet it is against my conscience to carry it on against parental
prohibition but i dare not use all the arguments against it that i
could use and why for fear i should convince you and you should
reject me as the rest of my friends have done i leave therefore the
determination of this point upon you i am not i find to be trusted
with it but be mine all the fault and all the punishment if it be
punishable and certainly it must when it can be the cause of the
letter i have before me and which i must no farther animadvert upon 
because you forbid me to do so 


 to the second letter among other things she says  

so my dear you seem to think that there was a fate in my error the
cordial the considerate friendship is seen in the observation you make
on this occasion yet since things have happened as they have would
to heaven i could hear that all the world acquitted my father or at
least my mother whose character before these family feuds broke out 
was the subject of everyone's admiration don't let any body say from
you so that it may come to her ear that she might from a timely
exertion of her fine talents have saved her unhappy child you will
observe my dear that in her own good time when she saw there was not
likely to be an end to my brother's persecutions she resolved to
exert herself but the pragmatical daughter by the fatal meeting 
precipitated all and frustrated her indulgent designs o my love i am
now convinced by dear experience that while children are so happy
as to have parents or guardians whom they may consult they should not
presume no not with the best and purest intentions to follow their
own conceits in material cases 

a ray of hope of future reconciliation darts in upon my mind from the
intention you tell me my mother had to exert herself in my favour had i
not gone away and my hope is the stronger as this communication points
out to me that my uncle harlowe's interest is likely in my mother's
opinion to be of weight if it could be engaged it will behove me 
perhaps to apply to that dear uncle if a proper occasion offer 




letter lx

mr lovelace to john belford esq monday april 24 


fate is weaving a whimsical web for thy friend and i see not but i
shall be inevitably manacled 

here have i been at work dig dig dig like a cunning miner at one
time and spreading my snares like an artful fowler at another and
exulting in my contrivances to get this inimitable creature absolutely
into my power every thing made for me her brother and uncles were but
my pioneers her father stormed as i directed him to storm mrs howe
was acted by the springs i set at work her daughter was moving for me 
yet imagined herself plumb against me and the dear creature herself
had already run her stubborn neck into my gin and knew not that she was
caught for i had not drawn my springs close about her and just as
all this was completed wouldst thou believe that i should be my own
enemy and her friend that i should be so totally diverted from all my
favourite purposes as to propose to marry her before i went to town in
order to put it out of my own power to resume them 

when thou knowest this wilt thou not think that my black angel plays me
booty and has taken it into his head to urge me on to the indissoluble
tie that he might be more sure of me from the complex transgressions
to which he will certainly stimulate me when wedded than perhaps
he thought he could be from the simple sins in which i have so long
allowed myself that they seem to have the plea of habit 

thou wilt be still the more surprised when i tell thee that there
seems to be a coalition going forward between the black angels and the
white ones for here has her's induced her in one hour and by one
retrograde accident to acknowledge what the charming creature never
before acknowledged a preferable favour for me she even avows an
intention to be mine mine without reformation-conditions she
permits me to talk of love to her of the irrevocable ceremony yet 
another extraordinary postpones that ceremony chooses to set out for
london and even to go to the widow's in town 

well but how comes all this about methinks thou askest thou 
lovelace dealest in wonders yet aimest not at the marvellous how did
all this come about 

i will tell thee i was in danger of losing my charmer for ever she was
soaring upward to her native skies she was got above earth by means
too of the earth-born and something extraordinary was to be done to
keep her with us sublunaries and what so effectually as the soothing
voice of love and the attracting offer of matrimony from a man
not hated can fix the attention of the maiden heart aching with
uncertainty and before impatient of the questionable question 

this in short was the case while she was refusing all manner of
obligation to me keeping me at haughty distance in hopes that her
cousin morden's arrival would soon fix her in a full and absolute
independence of me disgusted likewise at her adorer for holding
himself the reins of his own passions instead of giving them up to her
controul she writes a letter urging an answer to a letter before sent 
for her apparel her jewels and some gold which she had left behind
her all which was to save her pride from obligation and to promote the
independence her heart was set upon and what followed but a shocking
answer made still more shocking by the communication of a father's
curse upon a daughter deserving only blessings a curse upon the
curser's heart and a double one upon the transmitter's the spiteful
the envious arabella 

absent when it came on my return i found her recovering from fits 
again to fall into stronger fits and nobody expecting her life half a
dozen messengers dispatched to find me out nor wonder at her being so
affected she whose filial piety gave her dreadful faith in a father's
curses and the curse of this gloomy tyrant extending to use her own
words when she could speak to both worlds o that it had turned in
the moment of its utterance to a mortal quinsy and sticking in his
gullet had choked the old execrator as a warning to all such unnatural
fathers 

what a miscreant had i been not to have endeavoured to bring her back 
by all the endearments by all the vows by all the offers that i could
make her 

i did bring her back more than a father to her for i have given her a
life her unnatural father had well-nigh taken away shall i not cherish
the fruits of my own benefaction i was earnest in my vows to marry 
and my ardour to urge the present time was a real ardour but extreme
dejection with a mingled delicacy that in her dying moments i doubt
not she will preserve have caused her to refuse me the time though not
the solemnity for she has told me that now she must be wholly in my
protection  being destitute of every other   more indebted still thy
friend as thou seest to her cruel relations than to herself for her
favour 

she has written to miss howe an account of their barbarity but has not
acquainted her how very ill she was 

low very low she remains yet dreading her stupid brother's
enterprise she wants to be in london where but for this accident and
 wouldst thou have believed it for my persuasions seeing her so very
ill she would have been this night and we shall actually set out on
wednesday morning if she be not worse 

and now for a few words with thee on the heavy preachment of saturday
last 

thou art apprehensive that the lady is now truly in danger and it is a
miracle thou tellest me if she withstand such an attempter knowing
what we know of the sex thou sayest thou shouldst dread wert thou
me to make further trial lest thou shouldst succeed  and in another
place tellest me that thou pleadest not for the state for any favour
thou hast for it 

what an advocate art thou for matrimony 

thou wert ever an unhappy fellow at argument does the trite stuff with
which the rest of thy letter abounds in favour of wedlock strike with
the force that this which i have transcribed does against it 

thou takest great pains to convince me and that from the distresses
the lady is reduced to chiefly by her friend's persecutions and
implacableness i hope thou wilt own and not from me as yet that the
proposed trial will not be a fair trial but let me ask thee is not
calamity the test of virtue and wouldst thou not have me value this
charming creature upon proof of her merits do i not intend to reward
her by marriage if she stand that proof 

but why repeat i what i have said before turn back thou egregious
arguer turn back to my long letter of the 13th and thou wilt there
find every syllable of what thou hast written either answered or
invalidated 


 see letter xviii of this volume 


but i am not angry with thee jack i love opposition as gold is tried
by fire and virtue by temptation so is sterling wit by opposition 
have i not before thou settest out as an advocate for my fair-one 
often brought thee in as making objections to my proceedings for no
other reason than to exalt myself by proving thee a man of straw as
homer raises up many of his champions and gives them terrible names 
only to have them knocked on the head by his heroes 

however take to thee this one piece of advice evermore be sure of
being in the right when thou presumest to sit down to correct thy
master 

and another if thou wilt never offer to invalidate the force which
a virtuous education ought to have in the sex by endeavouring to find
excuses for their frailty from the frailty of ours for are we not
devils to each other they tempt us we tempt them because we men
cannot resist temptation is that a reason that women ought not 
when the whole of their education is caution and warning against our
attempts do not their grandmothers give them one easy rule men are to
ask women are to deny 

well but to return to my principal subject let me observe that be my
future resolutions what they will as to this lady the contents of the
violent letter she has received have set me at least a month forward
with her i can now as i hinted talk of love and marriage without
controul or restriction her injunctions no more my terror 

in this sweetly familiar way shall we set out together for london 
mrs sorlings's eldest daughter at my motion is to attend her in the
chaise while i ride by way of escort for she is extremely apprehensive
of the singleton plot and has engaged me to be all patience if any
thing should happen on the road but nothing i am sure will happen 
for by a letter received just now from joseph i understand that
james harlowe has already laid aside his stupid project and this by the
earnest desire of all those of his friends to whom he had communicated
it who were afraid of the consequences that might attend it but it is
not over with me however although i am not determined at present as to
the uses i may make of it 

my beloved tells me she shall have her clothes sent her she hopes also
her jewels and some gold which she left behind her but joseph says 
clothes only will be sent i will not however tell her that on the
contrary i say there is no doubt but they will send all she wrote
for the greater her disappointment from them the greater must be her
dependence on me 

but after all i hope i shall be enabled to be honest to a merit so
transcendent the devil take thee though for thy opinion given so
mal-a-propos that she may be overcome 

if thou designest to be honest methinkst thou sayest why should not
singleton's plot be over with thee as it is with her brother 

because if i must answer thee where people are so modestly doubtful of
what they are able to do it is good to leave a loop-hole and let me
add that when a man's heart is set upon a point and any thing occurs
to beat him off he will find it very difficult when the suspending
reason ceases to forbear resuming it 




letter lxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq tuesday april 25 


all hands at work in preparation for london what makes my heart beat
so strong why rises it to my throat in such half-choking flutters when
i think of what this removal may do for me i am hitherto resolved to
be honest and that increases my wonder at these involuntary commotions 
tis a plotting villain of a heart it ever was and ever will be i
doubt such a joy when any roguery is going forward i so little its
master a head likewise so well turned to answer the triangular
varlet's impulses no matter i will have one struggle with thee old
friend and if i cannot overcome thee now i never will again attempt to
conquer thee 

the dear creature continues extremely low and dejected tender blossom 
how unfit to contend with the rude and ruffling winds of passion and
haughty and insolent control never till now from under the wing it is
not enough to say of indulging but of admiring parents the mother's
bosom only fit to receive this charming flower 

this was the reflection that with mingled compassion and augmented
love arose to my mind when i beheld the charmer reposing her lovely
face upon the bosom of the widow sorlings from a recovered fit as i
entered soon after she had received her execrable sister's letter how
lovely in her tears and as i entered her uplifted face significantly
bespeaking my protection as i thought and can i be a villain to such
an angel i hope not but why belford why once more puttest thou
me in mind that she may be overcome and why is her own reliance on my
honour so late and so reluctantly shown 

but after all so low so dejected continues she to be that i am
terribly afraid i shall have a vapourish wife if i do marry i should
then be doubly undone not that i shall be much at home with her 
perhaps after the first fortnight or so but when a man has been
ranging like the painful bee from flower to flower perhaps for a
month together and the thoughts of home and a wife begin to have their
charms with him to be received by a niobe who like a wounded vine 
weeps her vitals away while she but involuntary curls about him how
shall i be able to bear that 

may heaven restore my charmer to health and spirits i hourly pray that
a man may see whether she can love any body but her father and mother 
in their power i am confident it will be at any time to make her
husband joyless and that as i hate them so heartily is a shocking
thing to reflect upon something more than woman an angel in some
things but a baby in others so father-sick so family-fond what a
poor chance stands a husband with such a wife unless forsooth they
vouchsafe to be reconciled to her and continue reconciled 

it is infinitely better for her and for me that we should not marry 
what a delightful manner of life  o that i could persuade her to
it   would the life of honour be with such a woman the fears the
inquietudes the uneasy days the restless nights all arising from
doubts of having disobliged me every absence dreaded to be an
absence for ever and then how amply rewarded and rewarding by the
rapture-causing return such a passion as this keeps love in a continual
fervour makes it all alive the happy pair instead of sitting dozing
and nodding at each other in opposite chimney-corners in a winter
evening and over a wintry love always new to each other and having
always something to say 

thou knowest in my verses to my stella my mind on this occasion 
i will lay those verses in her way as if undesignedly when we are
together at the widow's that is to say if we do not soon go to church
by consent she will thence see what my notions are of wedlock if she
receives them with any sort of temper that will be a foundation and
let me alone to build upon it 

many a girl has been carried who never would have been attempted had
she showed a proper resentment when her ears or her eyes were first
invaded i have tried a young creature by a bad book a light quotation 
or an indecent picture and if she has borne that or only blushed and
not been angry and more especially if she has leered and smiled that
girl have i and old satan put down for our own o how i could warn
these little rogues if i would perhaps envy more than virtue will
put me upon setting up beacons for them when i grow old and joyless 


tuesday afternoon 

if you are in london when i get thither you will see me soon my
charmer is a little better than she was her eyes show it and her
harmonious voice hardly audible last time i saw her now begins to
cheer my heart once more but yet she has no love no sensibility 
there is no addressing her with those meaning yet innocent freedoms
 innocent at first setting out they may be called which soften others
of her sex the more strange this as she now acknowledges preferable
favour for me and is highly susceptible of grief grief mollifies 
and enervates the grieved mind looks round it silently implores
consolation and loves the soother grief is ever an inmate with joy 
though they won't show themselves at the same window at one time yet
they have the whole house in common between them 




letter lxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq wedn april 26 


at last my lucky star has directed us into the desired port and we are
safely landed well says rowe 

 the wise and active conquer difficulties 
 by daring to attempt them sloth and folly
 shiver and shrink at sight of toil and hazard 
 and make th' impossibility they fear 

but in the midst of my exultation something i know not what to call
it checks my joys and glooms over my brighter prospects if it be not
conscience it is wondrously like what i thought so many many years
ago 

surely lovelace methinks thou sayest thy good motions are not gone
off already surely thou wilt not now at last be a villain to this lady 

i can't tell what to say to it why would not the dear creature accept
of me when i so sincerely offered myself to her acceptance things
already appear with a very different face now i have got her here 
already have our mother and her daughters been about me charming
lady what a complexion what eyes what majesty in her person o
mr lovelace you are a happy man you owe us such a lady  then they
remind me of my revenge and of my hatred to her whole family 

sally was so struck with her at first sight that she broke out to me
in these lines of dryden 

 fairer to be seen
 than the fair lily on the flow'ry green 
 more fresh than may herself in blossoms new 

i sent to thy lodgings within half an hour after our arrival to receive
thy congratulation upon it but thou wert at edgeware it seems 

my beloved who is charmingly amended is retired to her constant
employment writing i must content myself with the same amusement till
she shall be pleased to admit me to her presence for already have i
given to every one her cue 

and among the rest who dost thou think is to be her maid
servant deb butler 

ah lovelace 

and ah belford it can't be otherwise but what dost think deb's name
is to be why dorcas dorcas wykes and won't it be admirable if 
either through fear fright or good liking we can get my beloved to
accept of dorcas wykes for a bed-fellow 

in so many ways will it be now in my power to have the dear creature 
that i shall not know which of them to choose 

but here comes the widow with dorcas wykes in her hand and i am to
introduce them both to my fair-one 


 


so the honest girl is accepted of good parentage but through a
neglected education plaguy illiterate she can neither write nor
read writing a kinswoman of mrs sinclair could not therefore well be
refused the widow in person recommending her and the wench only taken
till her hannah can come what an advantage has an imposing or forward
nature over a courteous one so here may something arise to lead into
correspondencies and so forth to be sure a person need not be so wary 
so cautious of what she writes or what she leaves upon her table or
toilette when her attendant cannot read 

it would be a miracle as thou sayest if this lady can save
herself and having gone so far how can i recede then my revenge upon
the harlowes to have run away with a daughter of theirs to make her
a lovelace to make her one of a family so superior to her own what a
triumph as i have heretofore observed to them but to run away
with her and to bring her to my lure in the other light what a
mortification of their pride what a gratification of my own 

then these women are continually at me these women who before my
whole soul and faculties were absorbed in the love of this single
charmer used always to oblige me with the flower and first fruits of
their garden indeed indeed my goddess should not have chosen this
london widow's but i dare say if i had she would not people who will
be dealing in contradiction ought to pay for it and to be punished by
the consequences of our own choice what a moral lies there what a
deal of good may i not be the occasion of from a little evil 

dorcas is a neat creature both in person and dress her continuance not
vulgar and i am in hopes as i hinted above that her lady will accept
of her for her bedfellow in a strange house for a week or so but i
saw she had a dislike to her at her very first appearance yet i thought
the girl behaved very modestly over-did it a little perhaps her
ladyship shrunk back and looked shy upon her the doctrine of
sympathies and antipathies is a surprising doctrine but dorcas will be
excessively obliging and win her lady's favour soon i doubt not i
am secure in one of the wench's qualities however she is not to be
corrupted a great point that since a lady and her maid when heartily
of one party will be too hard for half a score devils 

the dear creature was no less shy when the widow first accosted her at
her alighting yet i thought that honest doleman's letter had prepared
her for her masculine appearance 

and now i mention that letter why dost thou not wish me joy jack 

joy of what 

why joy of my nuptials know then that said is done with me when i
have a mind to have it so and that we are actually man and wife only
that consummation has not passed bound down to the contrary of that 
by a solemn vow till a reconciliation with her family take place the
women here are told so they know it before my beloved knows it and
that thou wilt say is odd 

but how shall i do to make my fair-one keep her temper on the
intimation why is she not here at mrs sinclair's but if she will
hear reason i doubt not to convince her that she ought to acquiesce 

she will insist i suppose upon my leaving her and that i shall not
take up my lodgings under the same roof but circumstances are changed
since i first made her that promise i have taken all the vacant
apartments and must carry this point also 

i hope in a while to get her with me to the public entertainments she
knows nothing of the town and has seen less of its diversions than
ever woman of her taste her fortune her endowments did see she has 
indeed a natural politeness which transcends all acquirement the most
capable of any one i ever knew of judging what an hundred things are by
seeing one of a like nature indeed she took so much pleasure in her
own chosen amusements till persecuted out of them that she had neither
leisure nor inclination for the town diversions 

these diversions will amuse and the deuce is in it if a little
susceptibility will not put forth now she receives my address 
especially if i can manage it so as to be allowed to live under one roof
with her what though the sensibility be at first faint and reluctant 
like the appearance of an early spring-flower in frosty winter which
seems afraid of being nipt by an easterly blast that will be enough for
me 

i hinted to thee in a former that i had provided books for the lady's
in-door amusement sally and polly are readers my beloved's light
closet was their library and several pieces of devotion have been put
in bought on purpose at second-hand 


 see letter xxxix of this volume 


i was always for forming a judgment of the reading part of the sex by
their books the observations i have made on this occasion have been of
great use to me as well in england as out of it the sagacious lady may
possibly be as curious in this point as her lovelace 

so much for the present thou seest that i have a great deal of business
before me yet i will write again soon 


 mr lovelace sends another letter with this in which he takes notice
of young miss sorlings's setting out with them and leaving them at
 barnet but as its contents are nearly the same with those in the
 lady's next letter it is omitted  


contents of volume iv


letter i clarissa to miss howe 
likes her lodgings but not greatly the widow chides miss howe for her
rash though friendly vow catalogue of good books she finds in her
closet utterly dissatisfied with him for giving out to the women below
that they were privately married has a strong debate with him on this
subject he offers matrimony to her but in such a manner that she could
not close with his offer her caution as to doors windows and seals of
letters 

letter ii miss howe to clarissa 
her expedient to correspond with each other every day is glad she had
thoughts of marrying him had he repeated his offer wonders he did not 

letter iii clarissa to miss howe 
breakfasts with him and the widow and her two nieces observations upon
their behaviour and looks he makes a merit of leaving her and hopes 
on his return that she will name his happy day she is willing to make
the best constructions in his favour 

in his next letter extracts from which are only given he triumphs on
the points he has carried stimulated by the women he resumes his
resolution to try her to the utmost 

letter iv clarissa to miss howe 
lovelace returns the next day she thinks herself meanly treated and is
angry he again urges marriage but before she can return his answer
makes another proposal yet she suspects not that he means a studied
delay he is in treaty for mrs fretchville's house description of it 
an inviting opportunity offers for him to propose matrimony to her she
wonders he let it slip he is very urgent for her company at a collation
he is to give to four of his select friends and miss partington he
gives an account who miss partington is 

in mr lovelace's next letter he invites belford mowbray belton and
tourville to his collation his humourous instructions for their
behaviour before the lady has two views in getting her into their
company 

letter v lovelace to belford 
has been at church with clarissa the sabbath a charming institution 
the text startles him nathan the prophet he calls a good ingenious
fellow she likes the women better than she did at first she
reluctantly consents to honour his collation with her presence longs
to have their opinions of his fair prize describes her to great
advantage 

letter vi clarissa to miss howe 
she praises his good behaviour at st paul's is prevailed on to dine
with mrs sinclair and her nieces is better pleased with them than she
thought she should be blames herself for her readiness to censure 
where reputation is concerned her charitable allowances on this head 
this day an agreeable day interprets ever thing she can fairly
interpret in mr lovelace's favour she could prefer him to all the men
she ever knew if he would always be what he had been that day is
determined as much as possible by true merit and by deeds dates
again and is offended at miss partington's being introduced to her and
at his making her yield to be present at his intended collation 

letter vii from the same 
disgusted wit her evening characterizes his four companions likes not
miss partington's behaviour 

letter viii from the same 
an attempt to induce her to admit miss partington to a share in her bed
for that night she refuses her reasons is highly dissatisfied 

letter ix from the same 
has received an angry letter from mrs howe forbidding her to correspond
with her daughter she advises compliance though against herself and 
to induce her to it makes the best of her present prospects 

letter x miss howe in answer 
flames out upon this step of her mother insists upon continuing the
correspondence her menaces if clarissa write not raves against
lovelace but blames her for not obliging miss partington and why 
advises her to think of settlements likes lovelace's proposal of mrs 
fretchville's house 

letter xi clarissa in reply 
terrified at her menaces she promises to continue writing beseeches
her to learn to subdue her passions has just received her clothes 

letter xii mr hickman to clarissa 
miss howe he tells her is uneasy for the vexation she has given her 
if she will write on as before miss howe will not think of doing what
she is so apprehensive of he offers her his most faithful services 

letter xiii xiv lovelace to belford 
tells him how much the lady dislikes the confraternity belford as well
as the rest has a warm debate with her in her behalf looks upon her
refusing a share in her bed to miss partington as suspecting and defying
him threatens her savagely glories in her grief on receiving miss
howe's prohibitory letter which appears to be instigated by himself 

letter xv belford to lovelace 
his and his compeer's high admiration of clarissa they all join to
entreat him to do her justice 

letter xvi xvii lovelace in answer 
he endeavours to palliate his purposes by familiar instances of cruelty
to birds etc farther characteristic reasonings in support of his wicked
designs the passive condition to which he wants to bring the lady 

letter xviii belford in reply 
still warmly argues in behalf of the lady is obliged to attend a dying
uncle and entreats him to write from time to time an account of all his
proceedings 

letter xix clarissa to miss howe 
lovelace she says complains of the reserves he gives occasion for his
pride a dirty low pride which has eaten up his prudence he is sunk in
her opinion an afflicting letter sent her from her cousin morden 

encloses the letter in which her cousin swayed by the representations
of her brother pleads in behalf of solmes and the family-views and
sets before her in strong and just lights the character of a libertine 

her heavy reflections upon the contents her generous prayer 

letter xx clarissa to miss howe 
he presses her to go abroad with him yet mentions not the ceremony that
should give propriety to his urgency cannot bear the life she lives 
wishes her uncle harlowe to be sounded by mr hickman as to a
reconciliation mennell introduced to her will not take another step
with lovelace till she know the success of the proposed application to
her uncle 

substance of two letters from lovelace to belford in which he tells him
who mennell is and gives an account of many new contrivances and
precautions women's pockets ballast-bags mrs sinclair's wardrobe 
good order observed in her house the lady's caution he says warrants
his contrivances 

letter xxi lovelace to belford 
will write a play the title of it the quarrelsome lovers 
perseverance his glory patience his hand-maid attempts to get a letter
the lady had dropt as she sat her high indignation upon it farther
plots paul wheatly who and for what employed sally martin's
reproaches has overplotted himself human nature a well-known rogue 

letter xxii clarissa to miss howe 
acquaints her with their present quarrel finds it imprudent to stay
with him re-urges the application to her uncle cautions her sex with
regard to the danger of being misled by the eye 

letter xxiii miss howe in answer 
approves of her leaving lovelace new stories of his wickedness will
have her uncle sounded comforts her how much her case differs from
that of any other female fugitive she will be an example as well as a
warning a picture of clarissa's happiness before she knew lovelace 
brief sketches of her exalted character adversity her shining time 

letter xxiv clarissa in reply 
has a contest with lovelace about going to church he obliges her again
to accept of his company to st paul's 

letter xxv miss howe to mrs norton 
desiring her to try to dispose mrs harlowe to forward a reconciliation 

letter xxvi mrs norton in answer 

letter xxvii miss howe in reply 

letter xxviii mrs harlowe's pathetic letter to mrs norton 

letter xxix miss howe to clarissa 
fruitless issue of mr hickman's application to her uncle advises her
how to proceed with and what to say to lovelace endeavours to account
for his teasing ways who knows she says but her dear friend was
permitted to swerve in order to bring about his reformation informs
her of her uncle antony's intended address to her mother 

letter xxx clarissa to miss howe 
hard fate to be thrown upon an ungenerous and cruel man reasons why she
cannot proceed with mr lovelace as she advises affecting apostrophe to
lovelace 

letter xxxi from the same 
interesting conversation with lovelace he frightens her he mentions
settlements her modest encouragements of him he evades true
generosity what she requires his proposals of settlements in writing 
examines herself on her whole conduct to lovelace maidenly niceness not
her motive for the distance she has kept him at what is invites her
correction if she deceive herself 

letter xxxii from the same 
with mr lovelace's written proposals her observations on the cold
conclusion of them he knows not what every wise man knows of the
prudence and delicacy required in a wife 

letter xxxiii from the same 
mr lovelace presses for the day yet makes a proposal which must
necessarily occasion a delay her unreserved and pathetic answer to it 
he is affected by it she rejoices that he is penetrable he presses
for her instant resolution but at the same time insinuates delay 
seeing her displeased he urges for the morrow but before she can
answer gives her the alternative of other days yet wanting to reward
himself as if he had obliged her she repulses him on a liberty he would
have taken he is enraged her melancholy reflections on her future
prospects with such a man the moral she deduces from her story  a
note defending her conduct from the censure which passed upon her as
over nice  

extracts from four of his letters in which he glories in his cruelty 
hardheartedness he owns to be an essential of the libertine character 
enjoys the confusion of a fine woman his apostrophe to virtue ashamed
of being visibly affected enraged against her for repulsing him will
steel his own heart that he may cut through a rock of ice to her's the
women afresh instigate him to attempt her virtue 

letter xxxiv miss howe to clarissa 
is enraged at his delays will think of some scheme to get her out of
his hands has no notion that he can or dare to mean her dishonour 
women do not naturally hate such men as lovelace 

letter xxxv belford to lovelace 
warmly espouses the lady's cause nothing but vanity and nonsense in the
wild pursuits of libertines for his own sake for his family's sake 
and for the sake of their common humanity he beseeches him to do this
lady justice 

letter xxxvi lord m to mr belford 
a proverbial letter in the lady's favour 

letter xxxvii lovelace to belford 
he ludicrously turns belford's arguments against him resistance
inflames him why the gallant is preferred to the husband gives a piece
of advice to married women substance of his letter to lord m desiring
him to give the lady to him in person his view in this letter 
ridicules lord m for his proverbs ludicrous advice to belford in
relation to his dying uncle what physicians should do when a patient is
given over 

letter xxxviii belford to lovelace 
sets forth the folly the inconvenience the impolicy of keeping and the
preference of marriage upon the foot of their own principles as
libertines 

letter xxxix lovelace to belford 
affects to mistake the intention of belford's letter and thanks him for
approving his present scheme the seduction progress is more delightful
to him he says than the crowning act 

letter xl from the same 
all extremely happy at present contrives a conversation for the lady to
overhear platonic love how it generally ends will get her to a play 
likes not tragedies has too much feeling why men of his cast prefer
comedy to tragedy the nymphs and mrs sinclair and all their
acquaintances of the same mind other artifices of his could he have
been admitted in her hours of dishabille and heedlessness he had been
long ago master of his wishes his view in getting her to a play a
play and a collation afterwards greatly befriend a lover's designs and
why she consents to go with him to see the tragedy of venice preserved 

letter xli clarissa to miss howe 
gives the particulars of the overheard conversation thinks her
prospects a little mended is willing to compound for tolerable
appearances and to hope when reason for hope offers 

letter xlii miss howe to clarissa 
her scheme of mrs townsend is not for encouraging dealers in
prohibited goods and why her humourous treatment of hickman on
consulting him upon lovelace's proposals of settlements 

letter xliii from the same 
her account of antony harlowe's address to her mother and of what passed
on her mother's communicating it to her copy of mrs howe's answer to
his letter 

letter xliv xlv lovelace to belford 
comes at several letters of miss howe he is now more assured of
clarissa than ever and why sparkling eyes what they indicate she
keeps him at distance repeated instigations from the women account of
the letters he has come at all rage and revenge upon the contents of
them menaces hickman wishes miss howe had come up to town as she
threatened 

letter xlvi clarissa to miss howe is terrified by him disclaims
prudery begs of miss howe to perfect her scheme that she may leave
him she thinks her temper changed for the worse trembles to look back
upon his encroachments is afraid on the close self-examination which
her calamities have caused her to make that even in the best actions of
her past life she has not been quite free from secret pride etc tears
almost in two the answer she had written to his proposals intends to go
out next day and not to return her farther intentions 

letter xlvii lovelace to belford 
meets the lady at breakfast flings the tea-cup and saucer over his
head the occasion alarms and terrifies her by his free address 
romping the use of it by a lover will try if she will not yield to
nightly surprises a lion-hearted lady where her honour is concerned 
must have recourse to his master-strokes fable of the sun and north
wind mrs fretchville's house an embarrass he gives that pretended
lady the small-pox other contrivances in his head to bring clarissa
back if she should get away miss howe's scheme of mrs townsend is he
says a sword hanging over his head he must change his measures to
render it abortive he is of the true lady-make what that is another
conversation between them her apostrophe to her father he is
temporarily moved dorcas gives him notice of a paper she has come at 
and is transcribing in order to detain the lady he presses for the
day miss howe he fancies in love with him and why he sees clarissa
does not hate him 

letter xlviii from the same 
copy of the transcribed paper it proves to be her torn answer to his
proposals meekness the glory of a woman ludicrous image of a
termagant wife he had better never to have seen this paper has very
strong remorses paints them in lively colours sets forth the lady's
transcendent virtue and greatness of mind surprised into these
arguments in her favour by his conscience puts it to flight 

letter xlix from the same 
mennell scruples to aid him farther in his designs vapourish people
the physical tribe's milch-cows advice to the faculty has done with
the project about mrs fretchville's house the lady suspects him a
seasonable letter for him from his cousin charlotte sends up the letter
to the lady she writes to miss howe upon perusing it to suspend for
the present her application to mrs townsend 

letter l from the same 
an interview all placid and agreeable now is he in a train all he now
waits for is a letter from lord m inquires after their marriage by a
stranger of good appearance the lady alarmed at them 

letter li lovelace to belford 
curses his uncle for another proverbial letter he has sent him permits
the lady to see it nine women in ten that fall fall he says through
their own fault 

letter lii lord m s characteristic letter 

letter liii lovelace to belford 
the lady now comes to him at the first word triumphs in her sweetness
of temper and on her patience with him puts his writings into
counsellor williams's hands to prepare settlements shall now be doubly
armed boasts of his contrivances in petto brings patterns to her 
proposes jewels admires her for her prudence with regard to what he
puts her upon doing for her norton what his wife must do and be she
declines a public wedding her dutiful reasons she is willing to
dispense with lord m s presence he writes to lord m accordingly 

extract from a letter from clarissa 
after giving miss howe an account of the present favourable appearances 
she desires her to keep herself all such of the particulars which she has
communicated to her as may discredit mr lovelace 

letter liv lovelace to belford 
his projected plot to revenge himself upon miss howe 

letter lv from the same 
fresh contrivances crowd in upon him he shall be very sick on the
morrow and why women below impertinently reproachful he will be no
man's successor will not take up with harlots history of the french
marquis 




the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
wednesday afternoon april 26 


at length my dearest miss howe i am in london and in my new lodgings 
they are neatly furnished and the situation for the town is pleasant 

but i think you must not ask me how i like the old gentlewoman yet she
seems courteous and obliging her kinswomen just appeared to welcome me
at my alighting they seemed to be genteel young women but more of
their aunt and them as i shall see more 

miss sorlings has an uncle at barnet whom she found so very ill that
her uneasiness on that account having large expectations from him 
made me comply with her desire to stay with him yet i wished as her
uncle did not expect her that she would see me settled in london and
mr lovelace was still more earnest that she would offering to send her
back again in a day or two and urging that her uncle's malady threatened
not a sudden change but leaving the matter to her choice after she
knew what would have been mine she made me not the expected compliment 
mr lovelace however made her a handsome present at parting 

his genteel spirit on all occasions makes me often wish him more
consistent 

as soon as he arrived i took possession of my apartment i shall make
good use of the light closet in it if i stay here any time 

one of his attendants returns in the morning to the lawn and i made
writing to you by him an excuse for my retiring 

and now give me leave to chide you my dearest friend for your rash 
and i hope revocable resolution not to make mr hickman the happiest man
in the world while my happiness is in suspense suppose i were to be
unhappy what my dear would this resolution of yours avail me 
marriage is the highest state of friendship if happy it lessens our
cares by dividing them at the same time that it doubles our pleasures
by a mutual participation why my dear if you love me will you not
rather give another friend to one who has not two she is sure of had
you married on your mother's last birth-day as she would have had you 
i should not i dare say have wanted a refuge that would have saved me
many mortifications and much disgrace 


 


here i was broke in upon by mr lovelace introducing the widow leading
in a kinswoman of her's to attend me if i approved of her till my
hannah should come or till i had provided myself with some other
servant the widow gave her many good qualities but said that she had
one great defect which was that she could not write nor read writing 
that part of her education having been neglected when she was young but
for discretion fidelity obligingness she was not to be out-done by any
body so commented her likewise for her skill at the needle 

as for her defect i can easily forgive that she is very likely and
genteel too genteel indeed i think for a servant but what i like
least of all in her she has a strange sly eye i never saw such an eye 
half-confident i think but indeed mrs sinclair herself for that is
the widow's name has an odd winking eye and her respectfulness seems
too much studied methinks for the london ease and freedom but people
can't help their looks you know and after all she is extremely civil
and obliging and as for the young woman dorcas is her name she will
not be long with me 

i accepted her how could i do otherwise if i had had a mind to make
objections which in my present situation i had not her aunt present 
and the young woman also present and mr lovelace officious in his
introducing them to oblige me but upon their leaving me i told him 
 who seemed inclinable to begin a conversation with me that i desired
that this apartment might be considered as my retirement that when i saw
him it might be in the dining-room which is up a few stairs for this
back-house being once two the rooms do not all of them very
conveniently communicate with each other and that i might be as little
broken in upon as possible when i am here he withdrew very
respectfully to the door but there stopt and asked for my company then
in the dining-room if he were about setting out for other lodgings i
would go with him now i told him but if he did not just then go i
would first finish my letter to miss howe 

i see he has no mind to leave me if he can help it my brother's scheme
may give him a pretence to try to engage me to dispense with his promise 
but if i now do i must acquit him of it entirely 

my approbation of his tender behaviour in the midst of my grief has
given him a right as he seems to think of addressing me with all the
freedom of an approved lover i see by this man that when once a woman
embarks with this sex there is no receding one concession is but the
prelude to another with them he has been ever since sunday last
continually complaining of the distance i keep him at and thinks himself
entitled now to call in question my value for him strengthening his
doubts by my former declared readiness to give him up to a reconciliation
with my friends and yet has himself fallen off from that obsequious
tenderness if i may couple the words which drew from me the concessions
he builds upon 

while we were talking at the door my new servant came up with an
invitation to us both to tea i said he might accept of it if he
pleased but i must pursue my writing and not choosing either tea or
supper i desired him to make my excuses below as to both and inform
them of my choice to be retired as much as possible yet to promise for
me my attendance on the widow and her nieces at breakfast in the morning 

he objected particularly in the eye of strangers as to avoiding supper 

you know said i and you can tell them that i seldom eat suppers my
spirits are low you must never urge me against a declared choice 
pray mr lovelace inform them of all my particularities if they are
obliging they will allow for them i come not hither to make new
acquaintance 

i have turned over the books i found in my closet and am not a little
pleased with them and think the better of the people of the house for
their sakes 

stanhope's gospels sharp's tillotson's and south's sermons nelson's
feasts and fasts a sacramental piece of the bishop of man and another
of dr gauden bishop of exeter and inett's devotions are among the
devout books and among those of a lighter turn the following not ill-
chosen ones a telemachus in french another in english steel's 
rowe's and shakespeare's plays that genteel comedy of mr cibber the
careless husband and others of the same author dryden's miscellanies 
the tatlers spectators and guardians pope's and swift's and
addison's works 

in the blank leaves of the nelson and bishop gauden is mrs sinclair's
name and in those of most of the others either sarah martin or mary
horton the names of the two nieces 


 


i am exceedingly out of humour with mr lovelace and have great reason
to be so as you will allow when you have read the conversation i am
going to give you an account of for he would not let me rest till i gave
him my company in the dining-room 

he began with letting me know that he had been out to inquire after the
character of the widow which was the more necessary he said as he
supposed that i would expect his frequent absence 

i did i said and that he would not think of taking up his lodging in
the same house with me but what said i is the result of your inquiry 

why indeed the widow's character was in the main what he liked well
enough but as it was miss howe's opinion as i had told him that my
brother had not given over his scheme as the widow lived by letting
lodgings and had others to let in the same part of the house which
might be taken by an enemy he knew no better way than for him to take
them all as it could not be for a long time unless i would think of
removing to others 

so far was well enough but as it was easy for me to see that he spoke
the slighter of the widow in order to have a pretence to lodge here
himself i asked him his intention in that respect and he frankly
owned that if i chose to stay here he could not as matters stood 
think of leaving me for six hours together and he had prepared the widow
to expect that we should be here but for a few days only till we could
fix ourselves in a house suitable to our condition and this that i
might be under the less embarrassment if i pleased to remove 

fix our-selves in a house and we and our mr lovelace pray in what
light 

he interrupted me why my dearest life if you will hear me with
patience yet i am half afraid that i have been too forward as i have
not consulted you upon it but as my friends in town according to what
mr doleman has written in the letter you have seen conclude us to be
married 

surely sir you have not presumed 

hear me out my dearest creature you have received with favour my
addresses you have made me hope for the honour of your consenting hand 
yet by declining my most fervent tender of myself to you at mrs 
sorlings's have given me apprehensions of delay i would not for the
world be thought so ungenerous a wretch now you have honoured me with
your confidence as to wish to precipitate you yet your brother's
schemes are not given up singleton i am afraid is actually in town 
his vessel lies at rotherhithe your brother is absent from harlowe-
place indeed not with singleton yet as i can hear if you are known
to be mine or if you are but thought to be so there will probably be an
end of your brother's contrivances the widow's character may be as
worthy as it is said to be but the worthier she is the more danger 
if your brother's agent should find us out since she may be persuaded 
that she ought in conscience to take a parent's part against a child who
stands in opposition to them but if she believes us married her good
character will stand us instead and give her a reason why two apartments
are requisite for us at the hour of retirement 

i perfectly raved at him i would have flung from him in resentment but
he would not let me and what could i do whither go the evening
advanced 

i am astonished at you said i if you are a man of honour what need of
all this strange obliquity you delight in crooked ways let me know 
since i must stay in your company for he held my hand let me know all
you have said to the people below indeed indeed mr lovelace you are
a very unaccountable man 

my dearest creature need i to have mentioned any thing of this and
could i not have taken up my lodgings in this house unknown to you if i
had not intended to make you the judge of all my proceedings but this
is what i have told the widow before her kinswomen and before your new
servant that indeed we were privately married at hertford but that you
had preliminarily bound me under a solemn vow which i am most
religiously resolved to keep to be contented with separate apartments 
and even not to lodge under the same roof till a certain reconciliation
shall take place which is of high consequence to both  and further
that i might convince you of the purity of my intentions and that my
whole view in this was to prevent mischief i have acquainted them that
i have solemnly promised to behave to you before every body as if we
were only betrothed and not married not even offering to take any of
those innocent freedoms which are not refused in the most punctilious
loves 

and then he solemnly vowed to me the strictest observance of the same
respectful behaviour to me 

i said that i was not by any means satisfied with the tale he had told 
nor with the necessity he wanted to lay me under of appearing what i was
not that every step he took was a wry one a needless wry one and since
he thought it necessary to tell the people below any thing about me i
insisted that he should unsay all he had said and tell them the truth 

what he had told them he said was with so many circumstances that he
could sooner die than contradict it and still he insisted upon the
propriety of appearing to be married for the reasons he had given
before and dearest creature said he why this high displeasure with
me upon so well-intended an expedient you know that i cannot wish to
shun your brother or his singleton but upon your account the first
step i would take if left to myself would be to find them out i have
always acted in this manner when any body has presumed to give out
threatenings against it 

tis true i would have consulted you first and had your leave but
since you dislike what i have said let me implore you dearest madam 
to give the only proper sanction to it by naming an early day would to
heaven that were to be to-morrow for god's sake let it be to-morrow 
but if not  was it his business my dear before i spoke yet he seemed
to be afraid of me to say if not   let me beseech you madam if my
behaviour shall not be to your dislike that you will not to-morrow at
breakfast-time discredit what i have told them the moment i give you
cause to think that i take any advantage of your concession that moment
revoke it and expose me as i shall deserve and once more let me
remind you that i have no view either to serve or save myself by this
expedient it is only to prevent a probable mischief for your own
mind's sake and for the sake of those who deserve not the least
consideration from me 

what could i say what could i do i verily think that had he urged me
again in a proper manner i should have consented little satisfied as i
am with him to give him a meeting to-morrow morning at a more solemn
place than in the parlour below 

but this i resolve that he shall not have my consent to stay a night
under this roof he has now given me a stronger reason for this
determination than i had before 


 


alas my dear how vain a thing to say what we will or what we will not
do when we have put ourselves into the power of this sex he went down
to the people below on my desiring to be left to myself and staid till
their supper was just ready and then desiring a moment's audience as
he called it he besought my leave to stay that one night promising to
set out either for lord m s or for edgeware to his friend belford's 
in the morning after breakfast but if i were against it he said he
would not stay supper and would attend me about eight next day yet he
added that my denial would have a very particular appearance to the
people below from what he had told them and the more as he had
actually agreed for all the vacant apartments indeed only for a month 
for the reasons he before hinted at but i need not stay here two days 
if upon conversing with the widow and her nieces in the morning i
should have any dislike to them 

i thought notwithstanding my resolution above-mentioned that it would
seem too punctilious to deny him under the circumstances he had
mentioned having besides no reason to think he would obey me for he
looked as if he were determined to debate the matter with me and now 
as i see no likelihood of a reconciliation with my friends and as i have
actually received his addresses i thought i would not quarrel with him 
if i could help it especially as he asked to stay but for one night and
could have done so without my knowing it and you being of opinion that
the proud wretch distrusting his own merits with me or at least my
regard for him will probably bring me to some concessions in his favour
 for all these reasons i thought proper to yield this point yet i was
so vexed with him on the other that it was impossible for me to comply
with that grace which a concession should be made with or not made at
all 

this was what i said what you will do you must do i think you are
very ready to promise very ready to depart from your promise you say 
however that you will set out to-morrow for the country you know how
ill i have been i am not well enough now to debate with you upon your
encroaching ways i am utterly dissatisfied with the tale you have told
below nor will i promise to appear to the people of the house to-morrow
what i am not 

he withdrew in the most respectful manner beseeching me only to favour
him with such a meeting in the morning as might not make the widow and
her nieces think he had given me reason to be offended with him 

i retired to my own apartment and dorcas came to me soon after to take
my commands i told her that i required very little attendance and
always dressed and undressed myself 

she seemed concerned as if she thought i had repulsed her and said it
should be her whole study to oblige me 

i told her that i was not difficult to be pleased and should let her
know from time to time what assistance i should expect from her but for
that night i had no occasion for her further attendance 

she is not only genteel but is well bred and well spoken she must have
had what is generally thought to be the polite part of education but it
is strange that fathers and mothers should make so light as they
generally do of that preferable part in girls which would improve
their minds and give a grace to all the rest 

as soon as she was gone i inspected the doors the windows the
wainscot the dark closet as well as the light one and finding very good
fastenings to the door and to all the windows i again had recourse to
my pen 


 


mrs sinclair is just now gone from me dorcas she told me had
acquainted her that i had dismissed her for the night she came to ask
me how i liked my apartment and to wish me good rest she expressed her
concern that they could not have my company at supper mr lovelace 
she said had informed them of my love of retirement she assured me 
that i should not be broken in upon she highly extolled him and gave
me a share in the praise as to person but was sorry she said that she
was likely to lose us so soon as mr lovelace talked of 

i answered her with suitable civility and she withdrew with great tokens
of respect with greater i think than should be from distance of
years as she was the wife of a gentleman and as the appearance of every
thing about her as well house as dress carries the marks of such good
circumstances as require not abasement 

if my dear you will write against prohibition be pleased to direct 
to miss laetitia beaumont to be left till called for at mr wilson's 
in pall mall 

mr lovelace proposed this direction to me not knowing of your desire
that your letters should pass by a third hand as his motive for it was 
that my brother might not trace out where we are i am glad as well from
this instance as from others that he seems to think he has done mischief
enough already 

do you know how my poor hannah does 

mr lovelace is so full of his contrivances and expedients that i think
it may not be amiss to desire you to look carefully to the seals of my
letters as i shall to those of yours if i find him base in this
particular i shall think him capable of any evil and will fly him as my
worst enemy 



letter ii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
 with her two last letters no lviii lix of vol iii enclosed  
thursday night april 27 


i have your's just brought me mr hickman has helped me to a lucky
expedient which with the assistance of the post will enable me to
correspond with you every day an honest higler  simon collins his
name   by whom i shall send this and the two enclosed now i have your
direction whither goes to town constantly on mondays wednesdays and
fridays and can bring back to me from mr wilson's what you shall have
caused to be left for me 

i congratulate you on your arrival in town so much amended in spirits 
i must be brief i hope you'll have no cause to repent returning my
norris it is forthcoming on demand 

i am sorry your hannah can't be with you she is very ill still but not
dangerously 

i long for your account of the women you are with if they are not right
people you will find them out in one breakfasting 

i know not what to write upon his reporting to them that you are actually
married his reasons for it are plausible but he delights in odd
expedients and inventions 

whether you like the people or not do not by your noble sincerity and
plain dealing make yourself enemies you are in the real world now you
know 

i am glad you had thoughts of taking him at his offer if he had re-urged
it i wonder he did not but if he do not soon and in such a way as
you can accept of it don't think of staying with him 

depend upon it my dear he will not leave you either night or day if
he can help it now he has got footing 

i should have abhorred him for his report of your marriage had he not
made it with such circumstances as leave it still in your power to keep
him at distance if once he offer at the least familiarity but this is
needless to say to you he can have i think no other design but what
he professes because he must needs think that his report of being
married to you must increase your vigilance 

you may depend upon my looking narrowly into the sealings of your
letters if as you say he be base in that point he will be so in
every thing but to a person of your merit of your fortune of your
virtue he cannot be base the man is no fool it is his interest as
well with regard to his expectations from his own friends as from you 
to be honest would to heaven however you were really married this
is now the predominant wish of

your
anna howe 



letter iii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday morning eight o'clock 


i am more and more displeased with mr lovelace on reflection for his
boldness in hoping to make me though but passively as i may say 
testify to his great untruth and i shall like him still less for it if
his view in it does not come out to be the hope of accelerating my
resolution in his favour by the difficulty it will lay me under as to my
behaviour to him he has sent me his compliments by dorcas with a
request that i will permit him to attend me in the dining-room meet him
in good humour or not but i have answered that as i shall see him at
breakfast-time i desired to be excused 


ten o'clock 

i tried to adjust my countenance before i went down to an easier air
than i had a heart and was received with the highest tokens of respect
by the widow and her two nieces agreeable young women enough in their
persons but they seemed to put on an air of reserve while mr lovelace
was easy and free to all as if he were of long acquaintance with them 
gracefully enough i cannot but say an advantage which travelled
gentlemen have over other people 

the widow in the conversation we had after breakfast gave us an account
of the military merit of the colonel her husband and upon this
occasion put her handkerchief to her eyes twice or thrice i hope for
the sake of her sincerity she wetted it because she would be thought to
have done so but i saw not that she did she wished that i might never
know the loss of a husband so dear to me as her beloved colonel was to
her and she again put the handkerchief to her eyes 

it must no doubt be a most affecting thing to be separated from a good
husband and to be left in difficult circumstances besides and that not
by his fault and exposed to the insults of the base and ungrateful as
she represented her case to be at his death this moved me a good deal
in her favour 

you know my dear that i have an open and free heart and naturally have
as open and free a countenance at least my complimenters have told me
so at once where i like i mingle minds without reserve encouraging
reciprocal freedoms and am forward to dissipate diffidences but with
these two nieces of the widow i never can be intimate i don't know why 

only that circumstances and what passed in conversation encouraged not
the notion or i should have been apt to think that the young ladies and
mr lovelace were of longer acquaintance than of yesterday for he by
stealth as it were cast glances sometimes at them when they returned 
and on my ocular notice their eyes fell as i may say under my eye as
if they could not stand its examination 

the widow directed all her talk to me as to mrs lovelace and i with a
very ill grace bore it and once she expressed more forwardly than i
thanked her for her wonder that any vow any consideration however
weighty could have force enough with so charming a couple as she called
him and me to make us keep separate beds 

their eyes upon this hint had the advantage of mine yet was i not
conscious of guilt how know i then upon recollection that my censures
upon theirs are not too rash there are no doubt many truly modest
persons putting myself out of the question who by blushes at an
injurious charge have been suspected by those who cannot distinguish
between the confusion which guilt will be attended with and the noble
consciousness that overspreads the face of a fine spirit to be thought
but capable of an imputed evil 

the great roman as we read who took his surname from one part in three
 the fourth not then discovered of the world he had triumphed over 
being charged with a great crime to his soldiery chose rather to suffer
exile the punishment due to it had he been found guilty than to have
it said that scipio was questioned in public on so scandalous a charge 
and think you my dear that scipio did not blush with indignation when
the charge was first communicated to him 

mr lovelace when the widow expressed her forward wonder looked sly and
leering as if to observe how i took it and said they might take notice
that his regard for my will and pleasure calling me his dear creature 
had greater force upon him than the oath by which he had bound himself 

rebuking both him and the widow i said it was strange to me to hear an
oath or vow so lightly treated as to have it thought but of second
consideration whatever were the first 

the observation was just miss martin said for that nothing could excuse
the breaking of a solemn vow be the occasion of making it what it would 

i asked her after the nearest church for i have been too long a stranger
to the sacred worship they named st james's st anne's and another
in bloomsbury and the two nieces said they oftenest went to st james's
church because of the good company as well as for the excellent
preaching 

mr lovelace said the royal chapel was the place he oftenest went to 
when he was in town poor man little did i expect to hear he went to
any place of devotion i asked if the presence of the visible king of 
comparatively but a small territory did not take off too generally 
the requisite attention to the service of the invisible king and maker
of a thousand worlds 

he believed this might be so with such as came for curiosity when the
royal family were present but otherwise he had seen as many contrite
faces at the royal chapel as any where else and why not since the
people about court have as deep scores to wipe off as any people
whatsoever 

he spoke this with so much levity that i could not help saying that
nobody questioned but he knew how to choose his company 

your servant my dear bowing were his words and turning to them you
will observe upon numberless occasions ladies as we are further
acquainted that my beloved never spares me upon these topics but i
admire her as much in her reproofs as i am fond of her approbation 

miss horton said there was a time for every thing she could not but
say that she thought innocent mirth was mighty becoming in young people 

very true joined in miss martin and shakespeare says well that youth
is the spring of life the bloom of gaudy years  with a theatrical air 
she spoke it   and for her part she could not but admire in my spouse
that charming vivacity which so well suited his time of life 

mr lovelace bowed the man is fond of praise more fond of it i
doubt than of deserving it yet this sort of praise he does deserve 
he has you know an easy free manner and no bad voice and this praise
so expanded his gay heart that he sung the following lines from
congreve as he told us they were 

 youth does a thousand pleasures bring 
 which from decrepid age will fly 
 sweets that wanton in the bosom of the spring 
 in winter's cold embraces die 

and this for a compliment as he said to the two nieces nor was it
thrown away upon them they encored it and his compliance fixed them
in my memory 

we had some talk about meals and the widow very civilly offered to
conform to any rules i would set her i told her how easily i was
pleased and how much i chose to dine by myself and that from a plate
sent me from any single dish but i will not trouble you my dear with
such particulars 

they thought me very singular and with reason but as i liked them not
so very well as to forego my own choice in compliment to them i was the
less concerned for what they thought and still the less as mr lovelace
had put me very much out of humour with him 

they however cautioned me against melancholy i said i should be a
very unhappy creature if i could not bear my own company 

mr lovelace said that he must let the ladies into my story and then
they would know how to allow for my ways but my dear as you love me 
said the confident wretch give as little way to melancholy as possible 
nothing but the sweetness of your temper and your high notions of a duty
that never can be deserved where you place it can make you so uneasy as
you are be not angry my dear love for saying so  seeing me frown i
suppose   and snatched my hand and kissed it i left him with them and
retired to my closet and my pen 

just as i have written thus far i am interrupted by a message from him 
that he is setting out on a journey and desires to take my commands so
here i will leave off to give him a meeting in the dining-room 



i was not displeased to see him in his riding-dress 

he seemed desirous to know how i liked the gentlewomen below i told
him that although i did not think them very exceptionable yet as i
wanted not in my present situation new acquaintance i should not be
fond of cultivating theirs 

he urged me still farther on this head 

i could not say i told him that i greatly liked either of the young
gentlewomen any more than their aunt and that were my situation ever
so happy they had much too gay a turn for me 

he did not wonder he said to hear me say so he knew not any of the
sex who had been accustomed to show themselves at the town diversions
and amusements that would appear tolerable to me silences and blushes 
madam are now no graces with our fine ladies in town hardened by
frequent public appearances they would be as much ashamed to be found
guilty of these weaknesses as men 

do you defend these two gentlewomen sir by reflections upon half the
sex but you must second me mr lovelace and yet i am not fond of
being thought particular in my desire of breakfasting and supping when
i do sup by myself 

if i would have it so to be sure it should be so the people of the
house were not of consequence enough to be apologized to in any point
where my pleasure was concerned and if i should dislike them still more
on further knowledge of them he hoped i would think of some other
lodgings 

he expressed a good deal of regret at leaving me declaring that it was
absolutely in obedience to my commands but that he could not have
consented to go while my brother's schemes were on foot if i had not
done him the credit of my countenance in the report he had made that we
were married which he said had bound all the family to his interest 
so that he could leave me with the greater security and satisfaction 

he hoped he said that on his return i would name his happy day and the
rather as i might be convinced by my brother's projects that no
reconciliation was to be expected 

i told him that perhaps i might write one letter to my uncle harlowe 
he once loved me i should be easier when i had made one direct
application i might possibly propose such terms in relation to my
grandfather's estate as might procure me their attention and i hoped he
would be long enough absent to give me time to write to him and receive
an answer from him 

that he must beg my pardon he could not promise he would inform
himself of singleton's and my brother's motions and if on his return he
found no reason for apprehension he would go directly for berks and
endeavour to bring up with him his cousin charlotte who he hoped would
induce me to give him an earlier day than at present i seemed to think
of i seemed to think of my dear very acquiescent as i should
imagine 

i told him that i should take that young lady's company for a great
favour 

i was the more pleased with this motion as it came from himself and
with no ill grace 

he earnestly pressed me to accept of a bank note but i declined it and
then he offered me his servant william for my attendant in his absence 
who he said might be dispatched to him if any thing extraordinary fell
out i consented to that 

he took his leave of me in the most respectful manner only kissing my
hand he left the bank note unobserved by me upon the table you may
be sure i shall give it him back at his return 

i am in a much better humour with him than i was 

where doubts of any person are removed a mind not ungenerous is willing 
by way of amends for having conceived those doubts to construe every
thing that happens capable of a good instruction in that person's
favour particularly i cannot but be pleased to observe that although
he speaks of the ladies of his family with the freedom of relationship 
yet it is always of tenderness and from a man's kindness to his
relations of the sex a woman has some reason to expect his good
behaviour to herself when married if she be willing to deserve it from
him 

and thus my dear am i brought to sit down satisfied with this man 
where i find room to infer that he is not by nature a savage but how
could a creature who treating herself unpolitely gave a man an
opportunity to run away with her expect to be treated by that man with a
very high degree of politeness 

but why now when fairer prospects seem to open why these melancholy
reflections will my beloved friend ask of her clarissa 

why can you ask why my dearest miss howe of a creature who in the
world's eye had enrolled her name among the giddy and inconsiderate who
labours under a parent's curse and the cruel uncertainties which must
arise from reflecting that equally against duty and principle she has
thrown herself into the power of a man and that man an immoral one 
must not the sense she has of her inconsideration darken her most hopeful
prospects must it not even rise strongest upon a thoughtful mind when
her hopes are the fairest even her pleasures were the man to prove
better than she expects coming to her with an abatement like that which
persons who are in possession of ill-gotten wealth must then most
poignantly experience if they have reflecting and unseared minds when 
all their wishes answered if answered they sit down in hopes to enjoy
what they have unjustly obtained and find their own reflections their
greatest torment 

may you my dear friend be always happy in your reflections prays

your ever affectionate
cl harlowe 


 


 mr lovelace in his next letter triumphs on his having carried his two
 great points of making the lady yield to pass for his wife to the
 people of the house and to his taking up his lodging in it though
 but for one night he is now he says in a fair way and doubts not
 but that he shall soon prevail if not by persuasion by surprise 
 yet he pretends to have some little remorse and censures himself as
 to acting the part of the grand tempter but having succeeded thus
 far he cannot he says forbear trying according to the resolution
 he had before made whether he cannot go farther 

he gives the particulars of their debates on the above-mentioned
 subjects to the same effect as in the lady's last letters 

it will by this time be seen that his whole merit with regard to the
 lady lies in doing justice to her excellencies both of mind and
 person though to his own condemnation thus he begins his succeeding
 letter  

and now belford will i give thee an account of our first breakfast-
conversation 

all sweetly serene and easy was the lovely brow and charming aspect of my
goddess on her descending among us commanding reverence from every eye 
a courtesy from every knee and silence awful silence from every
quivering lip while she armed with conscious worthiness and
superiority looked and behaved as an empress would look and behave among
her vassals yet with a freedom from pride and haughtiness as if born to
dignity and to a behaviour habitually gracious 


 he takes notice of the jealousy pride and vanity of sally martin and
 polly horton on his respectful behaviour to the lady creatures who 
 brought up too high for their fortunes and to a taste of pleasure 
 and the public diversions had fallen an easy prey to his seducing
 arts as will be seen in the conclusion of this work and who as he
 observed had not yet got over that distinction in their love which
 makes a woman prefer one man to another  

how difficult is it says he to make a woman subscribe to a preference
against herself though ever so visible especially where love is
concerned this violent this partial little devil sally has the
insolence to compare herself with my angel yet owns her to be an angel 
i charge you mr lovelace say she show none of your extravagant acts
of kindness before me to this sullen this gloomy beauty i cannot bear
it then was i reminded of her first sacrifice 

what a rout do these women make about nothing at all were it not for
what the learned bishop in his letter from italy calls the
entanglements of amour and i the delicacies of intrigue what is there 
belford in all they can do for us 

how do these creatures endeavour to stimulate me a fallen woman is a
worse devil than ever a profligate man the former is incapable of
remorse that am not i nor ever shall they prevail upon me though aided
by all the powers of darkness to treat this admirable creature with
indignity so far i mean as indignity can be separated from the trials
which will prove her to be either woman or angel 

yet with them i am a craven i might have had her before now if i
would if i would treat her as flesh and blood i should find her such 
they thought i knew if any man living did that if a man made a goddess
of a woman she would assume the goddess that if power were given to
her she would exert that power to the giver if to nobody else and
d r's wife is thrown into my dish who thou knowest kept her
ceremonious husband at haughty distance and whined in private to her
insulting footman o how i cursed the blasphemous wretches they will
make me as i tell them hate their house and remove from it and by my
soul jack i am ready at times to think that i should not have brought
her hither were it but on sally's account and yet without knowing
either sally's heart or polly's the dear creature resolves against
having any conversation with them but such as she can avoid i am not
sorry for this thou mayest think since jealousy in a woman is not to be
concealed from woman and sally has no command of herself 

what dost think here this little devil sally not being able as she
told me to support life under my displeasure was going into a fit but
when i saw her preparing for it i went out of the room and so she
thought it would not be worth her while to show away 


 in this manner he mentions what his meaning was in making the lady the
 compliment of his absence  

as to leaving her if i go but for one night i have fulfilled my
promise and if she think not i can mutter and grumble and yield again 
and make a merit of it and then unable to live out of her presence 
soon return nor are women ever angry at bottom for being disobeyed
through excess of love they like an uncontroulable passion they like
to have every favour ravished from them and to be eaten and drunk quite
up by a voracious lover don't i know the sex not so indeed as yet 
my clarissa but however with her my frequent egresses will make me
look new to her and create little busy scenes between us at the least 
i may surely without exception salute her at parting and at return 
and will not those occasional freedoms which civility will warrant by
degrees familiarize my charmer to them 

but here jack what shall i do with my uncle and aunts and all my
loving cousins for i understand that they are more in haste to have me
married than i am myself 



letter iv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
friday april 28 


mr lovelace is returned already my brother's projects were his
pretence i could not but look upon this short absence as an evasion of
his promise especially as he had taken such precautions with the people
below and as he knew that i proposed to keep close within-doors i
cannot bear to be dealt meanly with and angrily insisted that he should
directly set out for berkshire in order to engage his cousin as he had
promised 

o my dearest life said he why will you banish me from your presence i
cannot leave you for so long a time as you seem to expect i should i
have been hovering about town ever since i left you edgware was the
farthest place i went to and there i was not able to stay two hours for
fear at this crisis any thing should happen who can account for the
workings of an apprehensive mind when all that is dear and valuable to
it is at stake you may spare yourself the trouble of writing to any of
your friends till the solemnity has passed that shall entitle me to give
weight to your application when they know we are married your
brother's plots will be at an end and your father and mother and
uncles must be reconciled to you why then should you hesitate a moment
to confirm my happiness why once more would you banish me from you 
why will you not give the man who has brought you into difficulties and
who so honourably wishes to extricate you from them the happiness of
doing so 

he was silent my voice failed to second the inclination i had to say
something not wholly discouraging to a point so warmly pressed 

i'll tell you my angel resumed he what i propose to do if you approve
of it i will instantly go out to view some of the handsome new squares
or fine streets round them and make a report to you of any suitable
house i find to be let i will take such a one as you shall choose and
set up an equipage befitting our condition you shall direct the whole 
and on some early day either before or after we fix  it must be at
your own choice  be pleased to make me the happiest of men and then
will every thing be in a desirable train you shall receive in your own
house if it can be so soon furnished as i wish the compliments of all
my relations charlotte shall visit you in the interim and if it take
up time you shall choose whom you will honour with your company first 
second or third in the summer months and on your return you shall find
all that was wanting in your new habitation supplied and pleasures in a
constant round shall attend us o my angel take me to you instead of
banishing me from you and make me your's for ever 

you see my dear that here was no day pressed for i was not uneasy
about that and the sooner recovered myself as there was not but 
however i gave him no reason to upbraid me for refusing his offer of
going in search of a house 

he is accordingly gone out for this purpose but i find that he intends
to take up his lodging here tonight and if to-night no doubt on other
nights while he is in town as the doors and windows of my apartment
have good fastenings as he has not in all this time given me cause for
apprehension as he has the pretence of my brother's schemes to plead as
the people below are very courteous and obliging miss horton especially 
who seems to have taken a great liking to me and to be of a gentler
temper and manners than miss martin and as we are now in a tolerable
way i imagine it would look particular to them all and bring me into a
debate with a man who let him be set upon what he will has always a
great deal to say for himself if i were to insist upon his promise on
all these accounts i think i will take no notice of his lodging here 
if he don't let me know my dear your thoughts of every thing 

you may believe i gave him back his bank note the moment i saw him 


friday evening 

mr lovelace has seen two or three houses but none to his mind but he
has heard of one which looks promising he says and which he is to
inquire about in the morning 


saturday morning 

he has made his inquiries and actually seen the house he was told of
last night the owner of it is a young widow lady who is inconsolable
for the death of her husband fretchville her name it is furnished
quite in taste every thing being new within these six months he
believes if i like not the furniture the use of it may be agreed for 
with the house for a time certain but if i like it he will endeavour
to take the one and purchase the other directly 

the lady sees nobody nor are the best apartments above-stairs to be
viewed till she is either absent or gone into the country which she
talks of doing in a fortnight or three weeks at farthest and to live
there retired 

what mr lovelace saw of the house which were the saloon and two
parlours was perfectly elegant and he was assured all is of a piece 
the offices are also very convenient coach-house and stables at hand 

he shall be very impatient he says till i see the whole nor will he 
if he finds he can have it look farther till i have seen it except any
thing else offer to my liking the price he values not 

he now does nothing but talk of the ceremony but not indeed of the day 
i don't want him to urge that but i wonder he does not 

he has just now received a letter from lady betty lawrance by a
particular hand the contents principally relating to an affair she has
in chancery but in the postscript she is pleased to say very respectful
things of me 

they are all impatient she says for the happy day being over which
they flatter themselves will ensure his reformation 

he hoped he told me that i would soon enable him to answer their wishes
and his own 

but my dear although the opportunity was so inviting he urged not for
the day which is the more extraordinary as he was so pressing for
marriage before we came to town 

he was very earnest with me to give him and four of his friends my
company on monday evening at a little collation miss martin and miss
horton cannot he says be there being engaged in a party of their own 
with two daughters of colonel solcombe and two nieces of sir anthony
holmes upon an annual occasion but mrs sinclair will be present and
she gave him hope of the company of a young lady of very great fortune
and merit miss partington an heiress to whom colonel sinclair it
seems in his lifetime was guardian and who therefore calls mrs 
sinclair mamma 

i desired to be excused he had laid me i said under a most
disagreeable necessity of appearing as a married person and i would see
as few people as possible who were to think me so 

he would not urge it he said if i were much averse but they were his
select friends men of birth and fortune who longed to see me it was
true he added that they as well as his friend doleman believed we
were married but they thought him under the restrictions that he had
mentioned to the people below i might be assured he told me that his
politeness before them should be carried into the highest degree of
reverence 

when he is set upon any thing there is no knowing as i have said
heretofore what one can do but i will not if i can help it be made
a show of especially to men of whose character and principles i have no
good opinion i am my dearest friend 

your ever affectionate
cl harlowe 


 see letter i of this volume see also vol ii letter xx 


 


 mr lovelace in his next letter gives an account of his quick return 
 of his reasons to the lady for it of her displeasure upon it and of
 her urging his absence from the safety she was in from the situation
 of the house except she were to be traced out by his visits  

i was confoundedly puzzled says he on this occasion and on her
insisting upon the execution of a too-ready offer which i made her to go
down to berks to bring up my cousin charlotte to visit and attend her 
i made miserable excuses and fearing that they would be mortally
resented as her passion began to rise upon my saying charlotte was
delicate which she took strangely wrong i was obliged to screen myself
behind the most solemn and explicit declarations 


 he then repeats those declarations to the same effect with the account
 she gives of them  

i began says he with an intention to keep my life of honour in view in
the declaration i made her but as it has been said of a certain orator
in the house of commons who more than once in a long speech convinced
himself as he went along and concluded against the side he set out
intending to favour so i in earnest pressed without reserve for
matrimony in the progress of my harangue which state i little thought of
urging upon her with so much strength and explicitness 


 he then values himself upon the delay that his proposal of taking and
 furnishing a house must occasion 

he wavers in his resolutions whether to act honourable or not by a merit
 so exalted 

he values himself upon his own delicacy in expressing his indignation
 against her friends for supposing what he pretends his heart rises
 against them for presuming to suppose  

but have i not reason says he to be angry with her for not praising me
for this my delicacy when she is so ready to call me to account for the
least failure in punctilio however i believe i can excuse her too 
upon this generous consideration  for generous i am sure it is because
it is against myself   that her mind being the essence of delicacy the
least want of it shocks her while the meeting with what is so very
extraordinary to me is too familiar to her to obtain her notice as an
extraordinary 


 he glories in the story of the house and of the young widow possessor
 of it mrs fretchville he calls her and leaves it doubtful to mr 
 belford whether it be a real or a fictitious story 

he mentions his different proposals in relation to the ceremony which he
 so earnestly pressed for and owns his artful intention in avoiding to
 name the day  

and now says he i hope soon to have an opportunity to begin my
operations since all is halcyon and security 

it is impossible to describe the dear creature's sweet and silent
confusion when i touched upon the matrimonial topics 

she may doubt she may fear the wise in all important cases will
doubt and will fear till they are sure but her apparent willingness
to think well of a spirit so inventive and so machinating is a happy
prognostic for me o these reasoning ladies how i love these reasoning
ladies tis all over with them when once love has crept into their
hearts for then will they employ all their reasoning powers to excuse
rather than to blame the conduct of the doubted lover let appearances
against him be ever so strong 

mowbray belton and tourville long to see my angel and will be there 
she has refused me but must be present notwithstanding so generous a
spirit as mine is cannot enjoy its happiness without communication if i
raise not your envy and admiration both at once but half-joy will be the
joy of having such a charming fly entangled in my web she therefore
must comply and thou must come and then i will show thee the pride and
glory of the harlowe family my implacable enemies and thou shalt join
with me in my triumph over them all 

i know not what may still be the perverse beauty's fate i want thee 
therefore to see and admire her while she is serene and full of hope 
before her apprehensions are realized if realized they are to be and if
evil apprehensions of me she really has before her beamy eyes have lost
their lustre while yet her charming face is surrounded with all its
virgin glories and before the plough of disappointment has thrown up
furrows of distress upon every lovely feature 

if i can procure you this honour you will be ready to laugh out as i
have often much ado to forbear at the puritanical behaviour of the
mother before this lady not an oath not a curse nor the least free
word escapes her lips she minces in her gait she prims up her
horse-mouth her voice which when she pleases is the voice of
thunder is sunk into an humble whine her stiff hams that have not
been bent to a civility for ten years past are now limbered into
courtesies three deep at ever word her fat arms are crossed before
her and she can hardly be prevailed upon to sit in the presence of my
goddess 

i am drawing up instructions for ye all to observe on monday night 


saturday night 

most confoundedly alarmed lord sir what do you think cried dorcas
 my lady is resolved to go to church to-morrow i was at quadrille with
the women below to church said i and down i laid my cards to
church repeated they each looking upon the other we had done playing
for that night 

who could have dreamt of such a whim as this without notice without
questions her clothes not come no leave asked impossible she should
think of being my wife besides she don't consider if she go to
church i must go too yet not to ask for my company her brother and
singleton ready to snap her up as far as she knows known by her
clothes her person her features so distinguished not such another
woman in england to church of all places is the devil in the girl 
said i as soon as i could speak 

well but to leave this subject till to-morrow morning i will now give
you the instructions i have drawn up for your's and your companions'
behaviour on monday night 


 


instructions to be observed by john belford richard mowbray thomas
 belton and james tourville esquires of the body to general robert
 lovelace on their admission to the presence of his goddess 

ye must be sure to let it sink deep into your heavy heads that there is
no such lady in the world as miss clarissa harlowe and that she is
neither more nor less than mrs lovelace though at present to my shame
be it spoken a virgin 

be mindful also that your old mother's name after that of her mother
when a maid is sinclair that her husband was a lieutenant-colonel and
all that you belford know from honest doleman's letter of her that
let your brethren know 


 see letter xxxviii vol iii 


mowbray and tourville the two greatest blunderers of the four i allow
to be acquainted with the widow and nieces from the knowledge they had
of the colonel they will not forbear familiarities of speech to the
mother as of longer acquaintance than a day so i have suited their
parts to their capacities 

they may praise the widow and the colonel for people of great honour but
not too grossly nor to labour the point so as to render themselves
suspected 

the mother will lead ye into her own and the colonel's praises and
tourville and mowbray may be both her vouchers i and you and belton 
must be only hearsay confirmers 

as poverty is generally suspectible the widow must be got handsomely
aforehand and no doubt but she is the elegance of her house and
furniture and her readiness to discharge all demands upon her which
she does with ostentation enough and which makes her neighbours i
suppose like her the better demonstrate this she will propose to do
handsome things by her two nieces sally is near marriage with an
eminent woollen-draper in the strand if ye have a mind to it for there
are five or six of them there 

the nieces may be inquired after since they will be absent as persons
respected by mowbray and tourville for their late worthy uncle's sake 

watch ye diligently every turn of my countenance every motion of my eye 
for in my eye and in my countenance will ye find a sovereign regulator 
i need not bid you respect me mightily your allegiance obliges you to
that and who that sees me respects me not 

priscilla partington for her looks so innocent and discretion so deep 
yet seeming so softly may be greatly relied upon she will accompany
the mother gorgeously dressed with all her jew's extravagance flaming
out upon her and first induce then countenance the lady she has her
cue and i hope will make her acquaintance coveted by my charmer 

miss partington's history is this the daughter of colonel sinclair's
brother-in-law that brother-in-law may have been a turkey-merchant or
any merchant who died confoundedly rich the colonel one of her
guardians  collateral credit in that to the old one   whence she always
calls mrs sinclair mamma though not succeeding to the trust 

she is just come to pass a day or two and then to return to her
surviving guardian's at barnet 

miss partington has suitors a little hundred her grandmother an
alderman's dowager having left her a great additional fortune and is
not trusted out of her guardian's house without an old governante noted
for discretion except to her mamma sinclair with whom now-and-then she
is permitted to be for a week together 

pris will mamma-up mrs sinclair and will undertake to court her
guardian to let her pass a delightful week with her sir edward holden he
may as well be if your shallow pates will not be clogged with too many
circumstantials lady holden perhaps will come with her for she
always delighted in her mamma sinclair's company and talks of her and
her good management twenty times a day 

be it principally thy part jack who art a parading fellow and aimest
at wisdom to keep thy brother-varlets from blundering for as thou must
have observed from what i have written we have the most watchful and
most penetrating lady in the world to deal with a lady worth deceiving 
but whose eyes will piece to the bottom of your shallow souls the moment
she hears you open do you therefore place thyself between mowbray and
tourville their toes to be played upon and commanded by thine if they
go wrong thy elbows to be the ministers of approbation 

as to your general behaviour no hypocrisy i hate it so does my
charmer if i had studied for it i believe i could have been an
hypocrite but my general character is so well known that i should have
been suspected at once had i aimed at making myself too white but what
necessity can there be for hypocrisy unless the generality of the sex
were to refuse us for our immoralities the best of them love to have
the credit for reforming us let the sweet souls try for it if they
fail their intent was good that will be a consolation to them and as
to us our work will be the easier our sins the fewer since they will
draw themselves in with a very little of our help and we shall save a
parcel of cursed falsehoods and appear to be what we are both to angels
and men mean time their very grandmothers will acquit us and reproach
them with their self-do self-have and as having erred against
knowledge and ventured against manifest appearances what folly 
therefore for men of our character to be hypocrites 

be sure to instruct the rest and do thou thyself remember not to talk
obscenely you know i never permitted any of you to talk obscenely 
time enough for that when ye grow old and can only talk besides ye
must consider prisc s affected character my goddess's real one far
from obscenity therefore do not so much as touch upon the double
entendre what as i have often said cannot you touch a lady's heart
without wounding her ear 

it is necessary that ye should appear worse men than myself you cannot
help appearing so you'll say well then there will be the less
restraint upon you the less restraint the less affectation and if
belton begins his favourite subject in behalf of keeping it may make me
take upon myself to oppose him but fear not i shall not give the
argument all my force 

she must have some curiosity i think to see what sort of men my
companions are she will not expect any of you to be saints are you
not men born to considerable fortunes although ye are not all of you
men of parts who is it in this mortal life that wealth does not
mislead and as it gives people the power of being mischievous does it
not require great virtue to forbear the use of that power is not the
devil said to be the god of this world are we not children of this
world well then let me tell thee my opinion it is this that were it
not for the poor and the middling the world would probably long ago 
have been destroyed by fire from heaven ungrateful wretches the rest 
thou wilt be apt to say to make such sorry returns as they generally do
make to the poor and the middling 

this dear lady is prodigiously learned in theories but as to practices 
as to experimentals must be as you know from her tender years a mere
novice till she knew me i dare say she did not believe whatever she
had read that there were such fellows in the world as she will see in
you four i shall have much pleasure in observing how she'll stare at
her company when she finds me the politest man of the five 

and so much for instructions general and particular for your behaviour on
monday night 

and let me add that you must attend to every minute circumstance whether
you think there be reason for it or not deep like golden ore 
frequently lies my meaning and richly worth digging for the hint of
least moment as you may imagine it is often pregnant with events of the
greatest be implicit am i not your general did i ever lead you on
that i brought you not off with safety and success sometimes to your own
stupid astonishment 

and now methinks thou art curious to know what can be my view in
risquing the displeasure of my fair-one and alarming her fears after
four or five halcyon days have gone over our heads i'll satisfy thee 

the visiters of the two nieces will crowd the house beds will be
scarce miss partington a sweet modest genteel girl will be
prodigiously taken with my charmer will want to begin a friendship with
her a share in her bed for one night only will be requested who
knows but on that very monday night i may be so unhappy as to give
mortal offence to my beloved the shyest birds may be caught napping 
should she attempt to fly me upon it cannot i detain her should she
actually fly cannot i bring her back by authority civil or uncivil if
i have evidence upon evidence that she acknowledged though but tacitly 
her marriage and should i or should i not succeed and she forgive me 
or if she but descend to expostulate or if she bear me in her sight 
then will she be all my own all delicacy is my charmer i long to see
how such a delicacy on any of these occasions will behave and in my
situation it behoves me to provide against every accident 

i must take care knowing what an eel i have to do with that the little
riggling rogue does not slip through my fingers how silly should i
look staring after her when she had shot from me into the muddy river 
her family from which with so much difficulty i have taken her 

well then here are let me see how many persons are there who after
monday night will be able to swear that she has gone by my name 
answered to my name had no other view in leaving her friends but to go
by my name her own relations neither able nor willing to deny it 
first here are my servants her servant dorcas mrs sinclair mrs 
sinclair's two nieces and miss partington 

but for fear these evidences should be suspected here comes the jet of
the business no less than four worthy gentlemen of fortune and family 
who were all in company such a night particularly at a collation to
which they were invited by robert lovelace of sandoun-hall in the
county of lancaster esquire in company with magdalen sinclair widow 
and priscilla partington spinster and the lady complainant when the
said robert lovelace addressed himself to the said lady on a multitude
of occasions as his wife as they and others did as mrs lovelace 
every one complimenting and congratulating her upon her nuptials and
that she received such their compliments and congratulations with no
other visible displeasure or repugnance than such as a young bride full
of blushes and pretty confusion might be supposed to express upon such
contemplative revolvings as those compliments would naturally inspire 
nor do thou rave at me jack nor rebel dost think i brought the dear
creature hither for nothing 

and here's a faint sketch of my plot stand by varlets tanta-ra-ra-ra 
 veil your bonnets and confess your master 



letter v

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday 


have been at church jack behaved admirably well too my charmer is
pleased with me now for i was exceedingly attentive to the discourse 
and very ready in the auditor's part of the service eyes did not much
wander how could they when the loveliest object infinitely the
loveliest in the whole church was in my view 

dear creature how fervent how amiable in her devotions i have got
her to own that she prayed for me i hope a prayer from so excellent a
mind will not be made in vain 

there is after all something beautifully solemn in devotion the
sabbath is a charming institution to keep the heart right when it is
right one day in seven how reasonable i think i'll go to church once
a day often i fancy it will go a great way towards making me a reformed
man to see multitudes of well-appearing people all joining in one
reverend act an exercise how worthy of a rational being yet it adds a
sting or two to my former stings when i think of my projects with regard
to this charming creature in my conscience i believe if i were to go
constantly to church i could not pursue them 

i had a scheme come into my head while there but i will renounce it 
because it obtruded itself upon me in so good a place excellent
creature how many ruins has she prevented by attaching me to herself
 by engrossing my whole attention 

but let me tell thee what passed between us in my first visit of this
morning and then i will acquaint thee more largely with my good
behaviour at church 

i could not be admitted till after eight i found her ready prepared to
go out i pretended to be ignorant of her intention having charged
dorcas not to own that she had told me of it 

going abroad madam with an air of indifference 

yes sir i intend to go to church 

i hope madam i shall have the honour to attend you 

no she designed to take a chair and go to the next church 

this startled me a chair to carry her to the next church from mrs 
sinclair's her right name not sinclair and to bring her back hither
in the face of people who might not think well of the house there was
no permitting that yet i was to appear indifferent but said i should
take it for a favour if she would permit me to attend her in a coach as
there was time for it to st paul's 

she made objections to the gaiety of my dress and told me that if she
went to st paul's she could go in a coach without me 

i objected singleton and her brother and offered to dress in the
plainest suit i had 

i beg the favour of attending you dear madam said i i have not been
at church a great while we shall sit in different stalls and the next
time i go i hope it will be to give myself a title to the greatest
blessing i can receive 

she made some further objections but at last permitted me the honour of
attending her 

i got myself placed in her eye that the time might not seem tedious to
me for we were there early and i gained her good opinion as i
mentioned above by my behaviour 

the subject of the discourse was particular enough it was about a
prophet's story or parable of an ewe-lamb taken by a rich man from a poor
one who dearly loved it and whose only comfort it was designed to
strike remorse into david on his adultery with uriah's wife bathsheba 
and his murder of the husband these women jack have been the occasion
of all manner of mischief from the beginning now when david full of
indignation swore  king david would swear jack but how shouldst thou
know who king david was the story is in the bible   that the rich man
should surely die nathan which was the prophet's name and a good
ingenious fellow cried out which were the words of the text thou art
the man by my soul i thought the parson looked directly at me and at
that moment i cast my eye full on my ewe-lamb but i must tell thee too 
that that i thought a good deal of my rosebud a better man than king
david in that point however thought i 

when we came home we talked upon the subject and i showed my charmer my
attention to the discourse by letting her know where the doctor made the
most of his subject and where it might have been touched to greater
advantage for it is really a very affecting story and has as pretty a
contrivance in it as ever i read and this i did in such a grave way 
that she seemed more and more pleased with me and i have no doubt that
i shall get her to favour me to-morrow night with her company at my
collation 


sunday evening 

we all dined together in mrs sinclair's parlour all excessively right 
the two nieces have topped their parts mrs sinclair her's never was
so easy as now she really thought a little oddly of these people at
first she said mrs sinclair seemed very forbidding her nieces were
persons with whom she could not wish to be acquainted but really we
should not be too hasty in our censures some people improve upon us 
the widow seems tolerable  she went no farther than tolerable miss
martin and miss horton are young people of good sense and have read a
great deal what miss martin particularly said of marriage and of her
humble servant was very solid she believes with such notions she
cannot make a bad wife  i have said sally's humble servant is a woolen-
draper of great reputation and she is soon to be married 

i have been letting her into thy character and into the characters of my
other three esquires in hopes to excite her curiosity to see you
to-morrow night i have told her some of the worst as well as best
parts of your characters in order to exalt myself and to obviate any
sudden surprizes as well as to teach her what sort of men she may expect
to see if she will oblige me with her company 

by her after-observation upon each of you i shall judge what i may or
may not do to obtain or keep her good opinion what she will like or
what not and so pursue the one or avoid the other as i see proper so 
while she is penetrating into your shallow heads i shall enter her
heart and know what to bid my own to hope for 

the house is to be taken in three weeks all will be over in three
weeks or bad will be my luck who knows but in three days have i not
carried that great point of making her pass for my wife to the people
below and that other great one of fixing myself here night and day 
 what woman ever escaped me who lodged under one roof with me the
house too the house the people people after my own heart her
servants will and dorcas both my servants three days did i say 
pho pho pho three hours 


 


i have carried my third point but so extremely to the dislike of my
charmer that i have been threatened for suffering miss partington to be
introduced to her without her leave which laid her under a necessity to
deny or comply with the urgent request of so fine a young lady who had
engaged to honour me at my collation on condition that my beloved would
be present at it 

to be obliged to appear before my friends as what she was not she was
for insisting that i should acquaint the women here with the truth of
the matter and not go on propagating stories for her to countenance 
making her a sharer in my guilt 

but what points will not perseverance carry especially when it is
covered over with the face of yielding now and parthian-like returning
to the charge anon do not the sex carry all their points with their men
by the same methods have i conversed with them so freely as i have
done and learnt nothing of them didst thou ever know that a woman's
denial of any favour whether the least or the greatest that my heart
was set upon stood her in any stead the more perverse she the more
steady i that is my rule 

but the point thus so much against her will carried i doubt thou will
see in her more of a sullen than of an obliging charmer for when miss
partington was withdrawn what was miss partington to her in her
situation she wanted no new acquaintances and what were my four friends
to her in her present circumstances she would assure me if ever again'
 and there she stopped with a twirl of her hand 

when we meet i will in her presence tipping thee a wink show thee the
motion for it was a very pretty one quite new yet have i seen an
hundred pretty passionate twirls too in my time from other fair-ones 
how universally engaging is it to put a woman of sense to whom a man is
not married in a passion let the reception given to every ranting
scene in our plays testify take care my charmer now thou art come to
delight me with thy angry twirls that thou temptest me not to provoke a
variety of them from one whose every motion whose every air carries in
it so much sense and soul 

but angry or pleased this charming creature must be all loveliness 
her features are all harmony and made for one another no other feature
could be substituted in the place of any one of her's but most abate of
her perfection and think you that i do not long to have your opinion of
my fair prize 

if you love to see features that glow though the heart is frozen and
never yet was thawed if you love fine sense and adages flowing through
teeth of ivory and lips of coral an eye that penetrates all things a
voice that is harmony itself an air of grandeur mingled with a
sweetness that cannot be described a politeness that if ever equaled 
was never excelled you'll see all these excellencies and ten times
more in this my gloriana 

 mark her majestic fabric she's a temple 
 sacred by birth and built by hands divine 
 her soul the deity that lodges there 
 nor is the pile unworthy of the god 

or to describe her in a softer style with rowe 

 the bloom of op'ning flow'rs unsully'd beauty 
 softness and sweetest innocence she wears 
 and looks like nature in the world's first spring 

adieu varlets four at six on monday evening i expect ye all 



letter vi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday april 30 


 mr lovelace in his last letters having taken notice of the most
 material passages contained in this letter the following extracts
 from it are only inserted 

she gives pretty near the same account that he does of what passed
 between them on her resolution to go to church and of his proposal
 of st paul's and desire of attending her she praises his good
 behaviour there as also the discourse and the preacher is pleased
 with its seasonableness gives particulars of the conversation
 between them afterwards and commends the good observations he makes
 upon the sermon  

i am willing says she to have hopes of him but am so unable to know
how to depend upon his seriousness for an hour together that all my
favourable accounts of him in this respect must be taken with allowance 

being very much pressed i could not tell how to refuse dining with the
widow and her nieces this day i am better pleased with them than i ever
thought i should be i cannot help blaming myself for my readiness to
give severe censures where reputation is concerned people's ways 
humours constitutions education and opportunities allowed for my
dear many persons as far as i know may appear blameless whom others 
of different humours and educations are too apt to blame and who from
the same fault may be as ready to blame them i will therefore make it
a rule to myself for the future never to judge peremptorily on first
appearances but yet i must observe that these are not people i should
choose to be intimate with or whose ways i can like although for the
stations they are in they may go through the world with tolerable
credit 

mr lovelace's behaviour has been such as makes me call this so far as
it is passed an agreeable day yet when easiest as to him my
situation with my friends takes place in my thoughts and causes me many
a tear 

i am the more pleased with the people of the house because of the
persons of rank they are acquainted with and who visits them 


sunday evening 

i am still well pleased with mr lovelace's behaviour we have had a
good deal of serious discourse together the man has really just and
good notions he confesses how much he is pleased with this day and
hopes for many such nevertheless he ingenuously warned me that his
unlucky vivacity might return but he doubted not that he should be
fixed at last by my example and conversation 

he has given me an entertaining account of the four gentlemen he is to
meet to-morrow night entertaining i mean for his humourous description
of their persons manners etc but such a description as is far from
being to their praise yet he seemed rather to design to divert my
melancholy by it than to degrade them i think at bottom my dear that
he must be a good-natured man but that he was spoiled young for want
of check or controul 

i cannot but call this my circumstances considered an happy day to the
end of it indeed my dear i think i could prefer him to all the men i
ever knew were he but to be always what he has been this day you see
how ready i am to own all you have charged me with when i find myself
out it is a difficult thing i believe sometimes for a young creature
that is able to deliberate with herself to know when she loves or when
she hates but i am resolved as much as possible to be determined both
in my hatred and love by actions as they make the man worthy or unworthy 


 she dates again monday and declares herself highly displeased at miss
 partington's being introduced to her and still more for being obliged
 to promise to be present at mr lovelace's collation she foresees 
 she says a murder'd evening  



letter vii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
monday night may 1 


i have just escaped from a very disagreeable company i was obliged so
much against my will to be in as a very particular relation of this
evening's conversation would be painful to me you must content yourself
with what you shall be able to collect from the outlines as i may call
them of the characters of the persons assisted by the little histories
mr lovelace gave me of each yesterday 

the names of the gentlemen are belton mowbray tourville and belford 
these four with mrs sinclair miss partington the great heiress
mentioned in my last mr lovelace and myself made up the company 

i gave you before the favourable side of miss partington's character 
such as it was given to me by mrs sinclair and her nieces i will now
add a few words from my own observation upon her behaviour in this
company 

in better company perhaps she would have appeared to less disadvantage 
but notwithstanding her innocent looks which mr lovelace also highly
praised he is the last person whose judgment i would take upon real
modesty for i observed that upon some talk from the gentlemen not
free enough to be easily censured yet too indecent in its implication to
come from well-bred persons in the company of virtuous prople  sic  
this young lady was very ready to apprehend and yet by smiles and
simperings to encourage rather than discourage the culpable freedoms
of persons who in what they went out of their way to say must either
be guilty of absurdity meaning nothing or meaning something of
rudeness 


 mr belford in letter xiii of vol v reminds mr lovelace of some
particular topics which passed in their conversation extremely to the
lady's honour 


but indeed i have seen no women of whom i had a better opinion than i
can say of mrs sinclair who have allowed gentlemen and themselves too 
in greater liberties of this sort than i had thought consistent with that
purity of manners which ought to be the distinguishing characteristic of
our sex for what are words but the body and dress of thought and is
not the mind of a person strongly indicated by outward dress 

but to the gentlemen as they must be called in right of their ancestors 
it seems for no other do they appear to have 

mr belton has had university education and was designed for the gown 
but that not suiting with the gaiety of his temper and an uncle dying 
who devised to him a good estate he quitted the college came up to
town and commenced fine gentleman he is said to be a man of sense 
mr belton dresses gaily but not quite foppishly drinks hard keeps all
hours and glories in doing so games and has been hurt by that
pernicious diversion he is about thirty years of age his face is a
fiery red somewhat bloated and pimply and his irregularities threaten a
brief duration to the sensual dream he is in for he has a short
consumption cough which seems to denote bad lungs yet makes himself and
his friends merry by his stupid and inconsiderate jests upon very
threatening symptoms which ought to make him more serious 

mr mowbray has been a great traveller speaks as many languages as mr 
lovelace himself but not so fluently is of a good family seems to be
about thirty-three or thirty-four tall and comely in his person bold
and daring in his look is a large-boned strong man has a great scar in
his forehead with a dent as if his skull had been beaten in there and
a seamed scar in his right cheek he likewise dresses very gaily has his
servants always about him whom he is continually calling upon and
sending on the most trifling messages half a dozen instances of which we
had in the little time i was among them while they seem to watch the
turn of his fierce eye to be ready to run before they have half his
message and serve him with fear and trembling yet to his equals the
man seems tolerable he talks not amiss upon public entertainments and
diversions especially upon those abroad yet has a romancing air and
avers things strongly which seem quite improbable indeed he doubts
nothing but what he ought to believe for he jests upon sacred things 
and professes to hate the clergy of all religions he has high notions
of honour a world hardly ever out of his mouth but seems to have no
great regard to morals 

mr tourville occasionally told his age just turned of thirty-one he
is also of an ancient family but in his person and manners more of what
i call the coxcomb than any of his companions he dresses richly 
would be thought elegant in the choice and fashion of what he wears yet 
after all appears rather tawdry than fine one sees by the care he
takes of his outside and the notice he bespeaks from every one by his
own notice of himself that the inside takes up the least of his
attention he dances finely mr lovelace says is a master of music 
and singing is one of his principal excellencies they prevailed upon
him to sing and he obliged them both in italian and french and to do
him justice his songs in both were decent they were all highly
delighted with his performance but his greatest admirers were mrs 
sinclair miss partington and himself to me he appeared to have a
great deal of affectation 

mr tourville's conversation and address are insufferably full of those
really gross affronts upon the understanding of our sex which the
moderns call compliments and are intended to pass for so many instances
of good breeding though the most hyperbolical unnatural stuff that can
be conceived and which can only serve to show the insincerity of the
complimenter and the ridiculous light in which the complimented appears
in his eyes if he supposes a woman capable of relishing the romantic
absurdities of his speeches 

he affects to introduce into his common talk italian and french words 
and often answers an english question in french which language he greatly
prefers to the barbarously hissing english but then he never fails to
translate into this his odious native tongue the words and the sentences
he speaks in the other two lest perhaps it should be questioned
whether he understands what he says 

he loves to tell stories always calls them merry facetious good or
excellent before he begins in order to bespeak the attention of the
hearers but never gives himself concern in the progress or conclusion of
them to make good what he promises in his preface indeed he seldom
brings any of them to a conclusion for if his company have patience to
hear him out he breaks in upon himself by so many parenthetical
intrusions as one may call them and has so many incidents springing in
upon him that he frequently drops his own thread and sometimes sits
down satisfied half way or if at other times he would resume it he
applies to his company to help him in again with a devil fetch him if he
remembers what he was driving at but enough and too much of mr 
tourville 

mr belford is the fourth gentleman and one of whom mr lovelace seems
more fond than any of the rest for he is a man of tried bravery it
seems and this pair of friends came acquainted upon occasion of a
quarrel possibly about a woman which brought on a challenge and a
meeting at kensington gravel-pits which ended without unhappy
consequences by the mediation of three gentlemen strangers just as each
had made a pass at the other 

mr belford it seems is about seven or eight and twenty he is the
youngest of the five except mr lovelace and they are perhaps the
wickedest for they seem to lead the other three as they please mr 
belford as the others dresses gaily but has not those advantages of
person nor from his dress which mr lovelace is too proud of he has 
however the appearance and air of a gentleman he is well read in
classical authors and in the best english poets and writers and by his
means the conversation took now and then a more agreeable turn and i 
who endeavoured to put the best face i could upon my situation as i
passed for mrs lovelace with them made shift to join in it at such
times and received abundance of compliments from all the company on the
observations i made 


 see letter xiii of vol v above referred to 


mr belford seems good-natured and obliging and although very
complaisant not so fulsomely so as mr tourville and has a polite and
easy manner of expressing his sentiments on all occasions he seems to
delight in a logical way of argumentation as also does mr belton 
these two attacked each other in this way and both looked at us women 
as if to observe whether we did not admire this learning or when they
had said a smart thing their wit but mr belford had visibly the
advantage of the other having quicker parts and by taking the worst
side of the argument seemed to think he had upon the whole of his
behaviour and conversation he put me in mind of that character of
milton 

 his tongue
 dropt manna and could make the worse appear
 the better reason to perplex and dash
 maturest counsels for his thoughts were low 
 to vice industrious but to nobler deeds
 tim'rous and slothful yet he pleased the ear 

how little soever matters in general may be to our liking we are apt 
when hope is strong enough to permit it to endeavour to make the best we
can of the lot we have drawn and i could not but observe often how much
mr lovelace excelled all his four friends in every thing they seemed
desirous to excel in but as to wit and vivacity he had no equal there 
all the others gave up to him when his lips began to open the haughty
mowbray would call upon the prating tourville for silence when lovelace
was going to speak and when he had spoken the words charming fellow 
with a free word of admiration or envy fell from every mouth 

he has indeed so many advantages in his person and manner that what
would be inexcusable in another would if one watched not over one's
self and did not endeavour to distinguish what is the essence of right
and wrong look becoming in him 

mr belford to my no small vexation and confusion with the forwardness
of a favoured and intrusted friend singled me out on mr lovelace's
being sent for down to make me congratulatory compliments on my supposed
nuptials which he did with a caution not to insist too long on the
rigorous vow i had imposed upon a man so universally admired 

see him among twenty men  said he all of distinction and nobody is
regarded but mr lovelace 

it must indeed be confessed that there is in his whole deportment a
natural dignity which renders all insolent or imperative demeanour as
unnecessary as inexcusable then that deceiving sweetness which appears
in his smiles in his accent in his whole aspect and address when he
thinks it worth his while to oblige or endeavour to attract how does
this show that he was born innocent as i may say that he was not
naturally the cruel the boisterous the impetuous creature which the
wicked company he may have fallen into have made him for he has 
besides as open and i think an honest countenance don't you think
so my dear on all these specious appearances have i founded my hopes
of seeing him a reformed man 

but it is amazing to me i own that with so much of the gentleman such
a general knowledge of books and men such a skill in the learned as well
as modern languages he can take so much delight as he does in the
company of such persons as i have described and in subjects of frothy
impertinence unworthy of his talents and his natural and acquired
advantages i can think but of one reason for it and that must argue a
very low mind his vanity which makes him desirous of being considered
as the head of the people he consorts with a man to love praise yet to
be content to draw it from such contaminated springs 

one compliment passed from mr belford to mr lovelace which hastened my
quitting the shocking company you are a happy man mr lovelace  said
he upon some fine speeches made him by mrs sinclair and assented to by
miss partington you have so much courage and so much wit that
neither man nor woman can stand before you 

mr belford looked at me when he spoke yes my dear he smilingly looked
at me and he looked upon his complimented friend and all their
assenting and therefore affronting eyes both men's and women's were
turned upon your clarissa at least my self-reproaching heart made me
think so for that would hardly permit my eye to look up 

oh my dear were but a woman who gives reason to the world to think her
to be in love with a man  and this must be believed to be my case or to
what can my supposed voluntary going off with mr lovelace be imputed  
to reflect one moment on the exaltation she gives him and the disgrace
she brings upon herself the low pity the silent contempt the insolent
sneers and whispers to which she makes herself obnoxious from a
censuring world of both sexes how would she despise herself and how
much more eligible would she think death itself than such a discovered
debasement 

what i have thus in general touched upon will account to you why i could
not more particularly relate what passed in this evening's conversation 
which as may be gathered from what i have written abounded with
approbatory accusations and supposed witty retorts 



letter viii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
monday midnight 


i am very much vexed and disturbed at an odd incident mrs sinclair has
just now left me i believe in displeasure on my declining to comply
with a request she made me which was to admit miss partington to a
share in my bed her house being crowded by her nieces's guests and by
their attendants as well as by those of miss partington 

there might be nothing in it and my denial carried a stiff and ill-
natured appearance but instantly upon her making the request it came
into my thought that i was in a manner a stranger to every body in the
house not so much as a servant i could call my own or of whom i had any
great opinion that there were four men of free manners in the house 
avowed supporters of mr lovelace in matters of offence himself a man of
enterprise all as far as i knew and as i had reason to think by their
noisy mirth after i left them drinking deeply that miss partington
herself is not so bashful a person as she was represented to me to be 
that officious pains were taken to give me a good opinion of her and
that mrs sinclair made a greater parade in prefacing the request than
such a request needed to deny thought i can carry only an appearance
of singularity to people who already think me singular to consent may
possibly if not probably be attended with inconveniencies the
consequences of the alternative so very disproportionate i thought it
more prudent to incur the censure than to risque the inconvenience 

i told her that i was writing a long letter that i should choose to
write till i were sleepy and that a companion would be a restraint upon
me and i upon her 

she was loth she said that so delicate a young creature and so great
a fortune as miss partington should be put to lie with dorcas in a
press-bed she should be very sorry if she had asked an improper thing 
she had never been so put to it before and miss would stay up with her
till i had done writing 

alarmed at this urgency and it being easier to persist in a denial
given than to give it at first i said miss partington should be
welcome to my whole bed and i would retire into the dining-room and
there locking myself in write all the night 

the poor thing she said was afraid to lie alone to be sure miss
partington would not put me to such an inconvenience 

she then withdrew but returned begged my pardon for returning but the
poor child she said was in tears miss partington had never seen a
young lady she so much admired and so much wished to imitate as me the
dear girl hoped that nothing had passed in her behaviour to give me
dislike to her should she bring her to me 

i was very busy i said the letter i was writing was upon a very
important subject i hoped to see the young lady in the morning when i
would apologize to her for my particularity and then mrs sinclair
hesitating and moving towards the door though she turned round to me
again i desired her lighting her to take care how she went down 

pray madam said she on the stairs-head don't give yourself all this
trouble god knows my heart i meant no affront but since you seem to
take my freedom amiss i beg you will not acquaint mr lovelace with it 
for he perhaps will think me bold and impertinent 

now my dear is not this a particular incident either as i have made
it or as it was designed i don't love to do an uncivil thing and if
nothing were meant by the request my refusal deserves to be called
uncivil then i have shown a suspicion of foul usage by it which surely
dare not be meant if just i ought to apprehend every thing and fly
the house and the man as i would an infection if not just and if i
cannot contrive to clear myself of having entertained suspicions by
assigning some other plausible reason for my denial the very staying
here will have an appearance not at all reputable to myself 

i am now out of humour with him with myself with all the world but
you his companions are shocking creatures why again i repeat should
he have been desirous to bring me into such company once more i like
him not indeed i do not like him 



letter ix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
tuesday may 2 


with infinite regret i am obliged to tell you that i can no longer write
to you or receive letters from you your mother has sent me a letter
enclosed in a cover to mr lovelace directed for him at lord m s and
which was brought him just now reproaching me on this subject in very
angry terms and forbidding me as i would not be thought to intend to
make her and you unhappy to write to you without her leave 

this therefore is the last you must receive from me till happier days 
and as my prospects are not very bad i presume we shall soon have leave
to write again and even to see each other since an alliance with a
family so honourable as mr lovelace's is will not be a disgrace 

she is pleased to write that if i would wish to inflame you i should
let you know her written prohibition but if otherwise find some way of
my own accord without bringing her into the question to decline a
correspondence which i must know she has for some time past forbidden 
but all i can say is to beg of you not to be inflamed to beg of you not
to let her know or even by your behaviour to her on this occasion 
guess that i have acquainted you with my reason for declining to write
to you for how else after the scruples i have heretofore made on this
very subject yet proceeding to correspond can i honestly satisfy you
about my motives for this sudden stop so my dear i choose you see 
rather to rely upon your discretion than to feign reasons with which you
would not be satisfied but with your usual active penetration sift to
the bottom and at last find me to be a mean and low qualifier and that
with an implication injurious to you that i supposed you had not
prudence enough to be trusted with the naked truth 

i repeat that my prospects are not bad the house i presume will
soon be taken the people here are very respectful notwithstanding my
nicety about miss partington miss martin who is near marriage with an
eminent tradesman in the strand just now in a very respectful manner 
asked my opinion of some patterns of rich silks for the occasion the
widow has a less forbidding appearance than at first mr lovelace on
my declared dislike of his four friends has assured me that neither they
nor any body else shall be introduced to me without my leave 

these circumstances i mention as you will suppose that your kind heart
may be at ease about me that you may be induced by them to acquiesce
with your mother's commands cheerfully acquiesce and that for my
sake lest i should be thought an inflamer who am with very contrary
intentions my dearest and best beloved friend 

your ever obliged and affectionate 
clarissa harlowe 



letter x

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
wedn may 3 


i am astonished that my mother should take such a step purely to
exercise an unreasonable act of authority and to oblige the most
remorseless hearts in the world if i find that i can be of use to you 
either by advice or information do you think i will not give it were
it to any other person much less dear to me than you are do you think 
in such a case i would forbear giving it 

mr hickman who pretends to a little casuistry in such nice matters is
of opinion that i ought not to decline such a correspondence thus
circumstanced and it is well he is for my mother having set me up i
must have somebody to quarrel with 

this i will come into if it will make you easy i will forbear to write
to you for a few days if nothing extraordinary happen and till the
rigour of her prohibition is abated but be assured that i will not
dispense with your writing to me my heart my conscience my honour 
will not permit it 

but how will i help myself how easily enough for i do assure you
that i want but very little farther provocation to fly privately to
london and if i do i will not leave you till i see you either
honourably married or absolutely quit of the wretch and in this last
case i will take you down with me in defiance of the whole world or 
if you refuse to go with me stay with you and accompany you as your
shadow whithersoever you go 

don't be frightened at this declaration there is but one consideration 
and but one hope that withhold me watched as i am in all my
retirements obliged to read to her without a voice to work in her
presence without fingers and to lie with her every night against my
will the consideration is lest you should apprehend that a step of
this nature would look like a doubling of your fault in the eyes of such
as think your going away a fault the hope is that things will still
end happily and that some people will have reason to take shame to
themselves for the sorry part they have acted nevertheless i am often
balancing but your resolving to give up the correspondence at this
crisis will turn the scale write therefore or take the consequence 

a few words upon the subject of your last letters i know not whether
your brother's wise project be given up or not a dead silence reigns in
your family your brother was absent three days then at home one and
is now absent but whether with singleton or not i cannot find out 

by your account of your wretch's companions i see not but they are a set
of infernals and he the beelzebub what could he mean as you say by
his earnestness to bring you into such company and to give you such an
opportunity to make him and them reflecting-glasses to one another the
man's a fool to be sure my dear a silly fellow at least the wretches
must put on their best before you no doubt lords of the creation 
noble fellows these yet who knows how many poor despicable souls of our
sex the worst of them has had to whine after him 

you have brought an inconvenience upon yourself as you observe by your
refusal of miss partington for your bedfellow pity you had not admitted
her watchful as you are what could have happened if violence were
intended he would not stay for the night you might have sat up after
her or not gone to bed mrs sinclair pressed it too far you was
over-scrupulous 

if any thing happen to delay your nuptials i would advise you to remove 
but if you marry perhaps you may think it no great matter to stay where
you are till you take possession of your own estate the knot once tied 
and with so resolute a man it is my opinion your relations will soon
resign what they cannot legally hold and were even a litigation to
follow you will not be able nor ought you to be willing to help it 
for your estate will then be his right and it will be unjust to wish it
to be withheld from him 

one thing i would advise you to think of and that is of proper
settlements it will be to the credit of your prudence and of his justice
 and the more as matters stand that something of this should be done
before you marry bad as he is nobody accounts him a sordid man and i
wonder he has been hitherto silent on that subject 

i am not displeased with his proposal about the widow lady's house i
think it will do very well but if it must be three weeks before you can
be certain about it surely you need not put off his day for that space 
and he may bespeak his equipages surprising to me as well as to you 
that he could be so acquiescent 

i repeat continue to write to me i insist upon it and that as
minutely as possible or take the consequence i send this by a
particular hand i am and ever will be 

your most affectionate 
anna howe 



letter xi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday may 4 


i forego every other engagement i suspend ever wish i banish every
other fear to take up my pen to beg of you that you will not think of
being guilty of such an act of love as i can never thank you for but
must for ever regret if i must continue to write to you i must i
know full well your impatience of control when you have the least
imagination that your generosity or friendship is likely to be wondered
at 

my dearest dearest creature would you incur a maternal as i have a
paternal malediction would not the world think there was an infection
in my fault if it were to be followed by miss howe there are some
points so flagrantly wrong that they will not bear to be argued upon 
this is one of them i need not give reasons against such a rashness 
heaven forbid that it should be known that you had it but once in your
thought be your motives ever so noble and generous to follow so bad an
example the rather as that you would in such a case want the
extenuations that might be pleaded in my favour and particularly that
one of being surprised into the unhappy step 

the restraint your mother lays you under would not have appeared heavy to
you but on my account would you had once thought it a hardship to be
admitted to a part of her bed how did i use to be delighted with such
a favour from my mother how did i love to work in her presence so did
you in the presence of your's once and to read to her in winter
evenings i know was one of your joys do not give me cause to reproach
myself on the reason that may be assigned for the change in you 

learn my dear i beseech you learn to subdue your own passions be the
motives what they will excess is excess those passions in our sex 
which we take pains to subdue may have one and the same source with
those infinitely-blacker passions which we used so often to condemn in
the violent and headstrong of the other sex and which may only be
heightened in them by custom and their freer education let us both 
my dear ponder well this thought look into ourselves and fear 

if i write as i find i must i insist upon your forbearing to write 
your silence to this shall be the sign to me that you will not think of
the rashness you threaten me with and that you will obey your mother as
to your own part of the correspondence however especially as you can
inform or advise me in every weighty case by mr hickman's pen 

my trembling writing will show you my dear impetuous creature what a
trembling heart you have given to

your ever obliged 
or if you take so rash a step 
your for ever disobliged 
clarissa harlowe 


my clothes were brought to me just now but you have so much discomposed
me that i have no heart to look into the trunks why why my dear will
you fright me with your flaming love discomposure gives distress to a
weak heart whether it arise from friendship or enmity 

a servant of mr lovelace carries this to mr hickman for dispatch-sake 
let that worthy man's pen relieve my heart from this new uneasiness 



letter xii

mr hickman to miss clarissa harlowe
 sent to wilson's by a particular hand  
friday may 5 


madam 

i have the honour of dear miss howe's commands to acquaint you without
knowing the occasion that she is excessively concerned for the concern
she has given you in her last letter and that if you will but write to
her under cover as before she will have no thoughts of what you are so
very apprehensive about  yet she bid me write that if she had but the
least imagination that she can serve you and save you  those are her
words all the censures of the world will be but of second consideration
with her  i have great temptations on this occasion to express my own
resentments upon your present state but not being fully apprized of what
that is only conjecturing from the disturbance upon the mind of the
dearest lady in the world to me and the most sincere of friends to you 
that that is not altogether so happy as were to be wished and being 
moreover forbid to enter into the cruel subject i can only offer as i
do my best and faithfullest services and wish you a happy deliverance
from all your troubles for i am 

most excellent young lady 
your faithful and most obedient servant 
ch hickman 



letter xiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday may 2 


mercury as the fabulist tells us having the curiosity to know the
estimation he stood in among mortals descended in disguise and in a
statuary's shop cheapened a jupiter then a juno then one then another 
of the dii majores and at last asked what price that same statue of
mercury bore o sir says the artist buy one of the others and i'll
throw you in that for nothing 

how sheepish must the god of thieves look upon this rebuff to his vanity 

so thou a thousand pounds wouldst thou give for the good opinion of this
single lady to be only thought tolerably of and not quite unworthy of
her conversation would make thee happy and at parting last night or
rather this morning thou madest me promise a few lines to edgware to
let thee know what she thinks of thee and of thy brethren 

thy thousand pounds jack is all thy own for most heartily does she
dislike ye all thee as much as any of the rest 

i am sorry for it too as to thy part for two reasons one that i think
thy motive for thy curiosity was fear of consciousness whereas that of
the arch-thief was vanity intolerable vanity and he was therefore
justly sent away with a blush upon his cheeks to heaven and could not
brag the other that i am afraid if she dislikes thee she dislikes me 
for are we not birds of a feather 

i must never talk of reformation she told me having such companions 
and taking such delight as i seemed to take in their frothy
conversation 

i no more than you jack imagined she could possibly like ye but then 
as my friends i thought a person of her education would have been more
sparing of her censures 

i don't know how it is belford but women think themselves entitled to
take any freedoms with us while we are unpolite forsooth and i can't
tell what if we don't tell a pack of cursed lies and make black white 
in their favour teaching us to be hypocrites yet stigmatizing us at
other times for deceivers 

i defended ye all as well as i could but you know there was no
attempting aught but a palliative defence to one of her principles 

i will summarily give thee a few of my pleas 

to the pure every little deviation seemed offensive yet i saw not 
that there was any thing amiss the whole evening either in the words or
behaviour of any of my friends some people could talk but upon one or
two subjects she upon every one no wonder therefore they talked to
what they understood best and to mere objects of sense had she
honoured us with more of her conversation she would have been less
disgusted with ours for she saw how every one was prepared to admire
her whenever she opened her lips you in particular had said when
she retired that virtue itself spoke when she spoke but that you had
such an awe upon you after she had favoured us with an observation or
two on a subject started that you should ever be afraid in her company
to be found most exceptionable when you intended to be least so 

plainly she said she neither liked my companions nor the house she was
in 

i liked not the house any more than she though the people were very
obliging and she had owned they were less exceptionable to herself than
at first and were we not about another of our own 

she did not like miss partington let her fortune be what it would and
she had heard a great deal said of her fortune she should not choose an
intimacy with her she thought it was a hardship to be put upon such a
difficulty as she was put upon the preceding night when there were
lodgers in the front-house whom they had reason to be freer with than 
upon so short an acquaintance with her 

i pretended to be an utter stranger as to this particular and when she
explained herself upon it condemned mrs sinclair's request and called
it a confident one 

she artfully made lighter of her denial of the girl for a bedfellow 
than she thought of it i could see that for it was plain she supposed
there was room for me to think she had been either over-nice or over-
cautious 

i offered to resent mrs sinclair's freedom 

no there was no great matter in it it was best to let it pass it
might be thought more particular in her to deny such a request than in
mrs sinclair to make it or in miss partington to expect it to be
complied with but as the people below had a large acquaintance she did
not know how often she might indeed have her retirements invaded if she
gave way and indeed there were levities in the behaviour of that young
lady which she could not so far pass over as to wish an intimacy with
her 

i said i liked miss partington as little as she could miss partington
was a silly young creature who seemed to justify the watchfulness of her
guardians over her but nevertheless as to her own that i thought the
girl for girl she was as to discretion not exceptionable only
carrying herself like a free good-natured creature who believed herself
secure in the honour of her company 

it was very well said of me she replied but if that young lady were so
well satisfied with her company she must needs say that i was very kind
to suppose her such an innocent for her own part she had seen nothing
of the london world but thought she must tell me plainly that she
never was in such company in her life nor ever again wished to be in
such 

there belford worse off than mercury art thou not 

i was nettled hard would be the lot of more discreet women as far as i
knew that miss partington were they to be judged by so rigid a virtue
as hers 

not so she said but if i really saw nothing exceptionable to a virtuous
mind in that young person's behaviour my ignorance of better behaviour
was she must needs tell me as pitiable as hers and it were to be
wished that minds so paired for their own sakes should never be
separated 

see jack what i get by my charity 

i thanked her heartily but said that i must take the liberty to
observe that good folks were generally so uncharitable that devil take
me if i would choose to be good were the consequence to be that i must
think hardly of the whole world besides 

she congratulated me upon my charity but told me that to enlarge her
own she hoped it would not be expected of her to approve of the low
company i had brought her into last night 

no exception for thee belford safe is thy thousand pounds 

i saw not i said begging her pardon that she liked any body  plain
dealing for plain dealing jack why then did she abuse my friends  
however let me but know whom and what she did or did not like and if
possible i would like and dislike the very same persons and things 

she bid me then in a pet dislike myself 

cursed severe does she think she must not pay for it one day or one
night and if one many that's my comfort 

i was in such a train of being happy i said before my earnestness to
procure her to favour my friends with her company that i wished the
devil had had as well my friends as miss partington and yet i must say 
that i saw not how good people could answer half their end which is to
reform the wicked by precept as well as example were they to accompany
only with the good 

i had the like to have been blasted by two or three flashes of lightning
from her indignant eyes and she turned scornfully from me and retired
to her own apartment 

once more jack safe as thou seest is thy thousand pounds 

she says i am not a polite man but is she in the instance before us 
more polite for a woman 

and now dost thou not think that i owe my charmer some revenge for her
cruelty in obliging such a fine young creature and so vast a fortune as
miss partington to crowd into a press-bed with dorcas the maid-servant
of the proud refuser miss partington too with tears declared by mrs 
sinclair that would mrs lovelace do her the honour of a visit at
barnet the best bed and best room in her guardian's house should be at
her service thinkest thou that i could not guess at her dishonourable
fears of me that she apprehended that the supposed husband would
endeavour to take possession of his own and that miss partington would
be willing to contribute to such a piece of justice 

thus then thou both remindest and defiest me charmer and since thou
reliest more on thy own precaution than upon my honour be it unto thee 
fair one as thou apprehendest 

and now jack let me know what thy opinion and the opinions of thy
brother varlets are of my gloriana 

i have just now heard that hannah hopes to be soon well enough to attend
her young lady when in london it seems the girl has had no physician 
i must send her one out of pure love and respect to her mistress who
knows but medicine may weaken nature and strengthen the disease as her
malady is not a fever very likely it may do so but perhaps the wench's
hopes are too forward blustering weather in this month yet and that
is bad for rheumatic complaints 



letter xiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday may 2 


just as i had sealed up the enclosed comes a letter to my beloved in a
cover to me directed to lord m s from whom thinkest thou from mrs 
howe 

and what the contents 

how should i know unless the dear creature had communicated them to me 
but a very cruel letter i believe it is by the effect it had upon her 
the tears ran down her cheeks as she read it and her colour changed
several times no end of her persecutions i think 

what a cruelty in my fate  said the sweet lamenter now the only
comfort of my life must be given up 

miss howe's correspondence no doubt 

but should she be so much grieved at this this correspondence was
prohibited before and that to the daughter in the strongest terms 
but yet carried on by both although a brace of impeccables an't please
ye could they expect that a mother would not vindicate her authority 
 and finding her prohibition ineffectual with her perverse daughter was
it not reasonable to suppose she would try what effect it would have upon
her daughter's friend and now i believe the end will be effectually
answered for my beloved i dare say will make a point of conscience of
it 

i hate cruelty especially in women and should have been more concerned
for this instance of it in mrs howe had i not had a stronger instance of
the same in my beloved to miss partington for how did she know since
she was so much afraid for herself whom dorcas might let in to that
innocent and less watchful young lady but nevertheless i must needs
own that i am not very sorry for this prohibition let it originally
come from the harlowes or from whom it will because i make no doubt 
that it is owing to miss howe in a great measure that my beloved is so
much upon her guard and thinks so hardly of me and who can tell as
characters here are so tender and some disguises so flimsy what
consequences might follow this undutiful correspondence i say 
therefore i am not sorry for it now will she not have any body to
compare notes with any body to alarm her and i may be saved the guilt
and disobligation of inspecting into a correspondence that has long made
me uneasy 

how every thing works for me why will this charming creature make such
contrivances necessary as will increase my trouble and my guilt too as
some will account it but why rather i should ask will she fight
against her stars 



letter xv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
edgware tuesday night may 2 


without staying for the promised letter from you to inform us what the
lady says of us i write to tell you that we are all of one opinion with
regard to her which is that there is not of her age a finer woman in
the world as to her understanding as for her person she is at the age
of bloom and an admirable creature a perfect beauty but this poorer
praise a man who has been honoured with her conversation can hardly
descend to give and yet she was brought amongst us contrary to her will 

permit me dear lovelace to be a mean of saving this excellent creature
from the dangers she hourly runs from the most plotting heart in the
world in a former i pleaded your own family lord m s wishes
particularly and then i had not seen her but now i join her sake 
honour's sake motives of justice generosity gratitude and humanity 
which are all concerned in the preservation of so fine a woman thou
knowest not the anguish i should have had whence arising i cannot
devise had i not known before i set out this morning that the
incomparable creature had disappointed thee in thy cursed view of getting
her to admit the specious partington for a bed-fellow 

i have done nothing but talk of this lady ever since i saw her there is
something so awful and yet so sweet in her aspect that were i to have
the virtues and the graces all drawn in one piece they should be taken 
every one of them from different airs and attributes in her she was
born to adorn the age she was given to and would be an ornament to the
first dignity what a piercing yet gentle eye every glance i thought
mingled with love and fear of you what a sweet smile darting through
the cloud that overspread her fair face demonstrating that she had more
apprehensions and grief at her heart than she cared to express 

you may think what i am going to write too flighty but by my faith i
have conceived such a profound reverence for her sense and judgment 
that far from thinking the man excusable who should treat her basely 
i am ready to regret that such an angel of a woman should even marry 
she is in my eye all mind and were she to meet with a man all mind
likewise why should the charming qualities she is mistress of be
endangered why should such an angel be plunged so low as into the
vulgar offices of a domestic life were she mine i should hardly wish
to see her a mother unless there were a kind of moral certainty that
minds like hers could be propagated for why in short should not the
work of bodies be left to mere bodies i know that you yourself have
an opinion of her little less exalted belton mowbray tourville are
all of my mind are full of her praises and swear it would be a million
of pities to ruin a woman in whose fall none but devils can rejoice 

what must that merit and excellence be which can extort this from us 
freelivers like yourself and all of your just resentments against the
rest of her family and offered our assistance to execute your vengeance
on them but we cannot think it reasonable that you should punish an
innocent creature who loves you so well and who is in your protection and
has suffered so much for you for the faults of her relations 

and here let me put a serious question or two thinkest thou truly
admirable as this lady is that the end thou proposest to thyself if
obtained is answerable to the means to the trouble thou givest thyself 
and to the perfidies tricks stratagems and contrivances thou has
already been guilty of and still meditatest in every real excellence
she surpasses all her sex but in the article thou seekest to subdue her
for a mere sensualist a partington a horton a martin would make a
sensualist a thousand times happier than she either will or can 

 sweet are the joys that come with willingness 

and wouldst thou make her unhappy for her whole life and thyself not
happy for a single moment 

hitherto it is not too late and that perhaps is as much as can be said 
if thou meanest to preserve her esteem and good opinion as well as
person for i think it is impossible she can get out of thy hands now she
is in this accursed house o that damned hypocritical sinclair as thou
callest her how was it possible she should behave so speciously as she
did all the time the lady staid with us be honest and marry and be
thankful that she will condescend to have thee if thou dost not thou
wilt be the worst of men and wilt be condemned in this world and the
next as i am sure thou oughtest and shouldest too wert thou to be
judged by one who never before was so much touched in a woman's favour 
and whom thou knowest to be

thy partial friend 
j belford 


our companions consented that i should withdraw to write to the above
effect they can make nothing of the characters we write in and so i
read this to them they approve of it and of their own motion each man
would set his name to it i would not delay sending it for fear of some
detestable scheme taking place 
 thomas belton 
 richard mowbray 
 james tourville 

just now are brought me both yours i vary not my opinion nor forbear
my earnest prayers to you in her behalf notwithstanding her dislike of
me 



letter xvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday may 3 


when i have already taken pains to acquaint thee in full with regard to
my views designs and resolutions with regard to this admirable woman 
it is very extraordinary that thou shouldst vapour as thou dost in her
behalf when i have made no trial no attempt and yet givest it as thy
opinion in a former letter that advantage may be taken of the situation
she is in and that she may be overcome 

most of thy reflections particularly that which respects the difference
as to the joys to be given by the virtuous and libertine of her sex are
fitter to come in as after-reflections than as antecedencies 

i own with thee and with the poet that sweet are the joys that come
with willingness but is it to be expected that a woman of education 
and a lover of forms will yield before she is attacked and have i so
much as summoned this to surrender i doubt not but i shall meet with
difficulty i must therefore make my first effort by surprise there
may possibly be some cruelty necessary but there may be consent in
struggle there may be yielding in resistance but the first conflict
over whether the following may not be weaker and weaker till
willingness ensue is the point to be tried i will illustrate what i
have said by the simile of a bird new caught we begin when boys with
birds and when grown up go on to women and both perhaps in turn 
experience our sportive cruelty 

hast thou not observed the charming gradations by which the ensnared
volatile has been brought to bear with its new condition how at first 
refusing all sustenance it beats and bruises itself against its wires 
till it makes its gay plumage fly about and over-spread its well-secured
cage now it gets out its head sticking only at its beautiful
shoulders then with difficulty drawing back its head it gasps for
breath and erectly perched with meditating eyes first surveys and
then attempts its wired canopy as it gets its pretty head and sides 
bites the wires and pecks at the fingers of its delighted tamer till
at last finding its efforts ineffectual quite tired and breathless it
lays itself down and pants at the bottom of the cage seeming to bemoan
its cruel fate and forfeited liberty and after a few days its
struggles to escape still diminishing as it finds it to no purpose to
attempt it its new habitation becomes familiar and it hops about from
perch to perch resumes its wonted cheerfulness and every day sings a
song to amuse itself and reward its keeper 

now let me tell thee that i have known a bird actually starve itself and
die with grief at its being caught and caged but never did i meet with
a woman who was so silly yet have i heard the dear souls most
vehemently threaten their own lives on such an occasion but it is
saying nothing in a woman's favour if we do not allow her to have more
sense than a bird and yet we must all own that it is more difficult to
catch a bird than a lady 

to pursue the comparison if the disappointment of the captivated lady be
very great she will threaten indeed as i said she will even refuse
her sustenance for some time especially if you entreat her much and she
thinks she gives you concern by her refusal but then the stomach of the
dear sullen one will soon return tis pretty to see how she comes to by
degrees pressed by appetite she will first steal perhaps a weeping
morsel by herself then be brought to piddle and sigh and sigh and
piddle before you now-and-then if her viands be unsavoury swallowing
with them a relishing tear or two then she comes to eat and drink to
oblige you then resolves to live for your sake her exclamations will 
in the next place be turned into blandishments her vehement upbraidings
into gentle murmuring how dare you traitor into how could you 
dearest she will draw you to her instead of pushing you from her no
longer with unsheathed claws will she resist you but like a pretty 
playful wanton kitten with gentle paws and concealed talons tap your
cheek and with intermingled smiles and tears and caresses implore
your consideration for her and your constancy all the favour she then
has to ask of you and this is the time were it given to man to confine
himself to one object to be happier every day than another 

now belford were i to go no farther than i have gone with my beloved
miss harlowe how shall i know the difference between her and another
bird to let her fly now what a pretty jest would that be how do i
know except i try whether she may not be brought to sing me a fine
song and to be as well contented as i have brought other birds to be 
and very shy ones too 

but now let us reflect a little upon the confounded partiality of us
human creatures i can give two or three familiar and if they were not
familiar they would be shocking instances of the cruelty both of men
and women with respect to other creatures perhaps as worthy as at
least more innocent than themselves by my soul jack there is more of
the savage on human nature than we are commonly aware of nor is it 
after all so much amiss that we sometimes avenge the more innocent
animals upon our own species 

to particulars 

how usual a thing is it for women as well as men without the least
remorse to ensnare to cage and torment and even with burning
knitting-needles to put out the eyes of the poor feather'd songster  thou
seest i have not yet done with birds  which however in proportion to
its bulk has more life than themselves for a bird is all soul and of
consequence has as much feeling as the human creature when at the same
time if an honest fellow by the gentlest persuasion and the softest
arts has the good luck to prevail upon a mew'd-up lady to countenance
her own escape and she consents to break cage and be set a flying into
the all-cheering air of liberty mercy on us what an outcry is generally
raised against him 

just like what you and i once saw raised in a paltry village near
chelmsford after a poor hungry fox who watching his opportunity had
seized by the neck and shouldered a sleek-feathered goose at what time
we beheld the whole vicinage of boys and girls old men and old women 
all the furrows and wrinkles of the latter filled up with malice for the
time the old men armed with prongs pitch-forks clubs and catsticks 
the old women with mops brooms fire-shovels tongs and pokers and the
younger fry with dirt stones and brickbats gathering as they ran like
a snowball in pursuit of the wind-outstripping prowler all the mongrel
curs of the circumjacencies yelp yelp yelp at their heels completing
the horrid chorus 

rememebrest thou not this scene surely thou must my imagination 
inflamed by a tender sympathy for the danger of the adventurous marauder 
represents it to my eye as if it were but yesterday and dost thou not
recollect how generously glad we were as if our own case that honest
reynard by the help of a lucky stile over which both old and young
tumbled upon one another and a winding course escaped their brutal
fury and flying catsticks and how in fancy we followed him to his
undiscovered retreat and imagined we beheld the intrepid thief enjoying
his dear-earned purchase with a delight proportioned to his past danger 

i once made a charming little savage severely repent the delight she took
in seeing her tabby favourite make cruel sport with a pretty sleek bead-
eyed mouse before she devoured it egad my love said i to myself as
i sat meditating the scene i am determined to lie in wait for a fit
opportunity to try how thou wilt like to be tost over my head and be
caught again how thou wilt like to be parted from me and pulled to me 
yet will i rather give life than take it away as this barbarous
quadruped has at last done by her prey and after all was over between
my girl and me i reminded her of the incident to which my resolution was
owing 

nor had i at another time any mercy upon the daughter of an old epicure 
who had taught the girl without the least remorse to roast lobsters
alive to cause a poor pig to be whipt to death to scrape carp the
contrary way of the scales making them leap in the stew-pan and
dressing them in their own blood for sauce and this for luxury-sake 
and to provoke an appetite which i had without stimulation in my way 
and that i can tell thee a very ravenous one 

many more instances of the like nature could i give were i to leave
nothing to thyself to shew that the best take the same liberties and
perhaps worse with some sort of creatures that we take with others all
creatures still and creatures too as i have observed above replete
with strong life and sensible feeling if therefore people pretend to
mercy let mercy go through all their actions i have heard somewhere 
that a merciful man is merciful to his beast 

so much at present for those parts of thy letter in which thou urgest to
me motives of compassion for the lady 

but i guess at thy principal motive in this thy earnestness in behalf of
this charming creature i know that thou correspondest with lord m who
is impatient and has long been desirous to see me shackled and thou
wantest to make a merit with the uncle with a view to one of his nieces 
but knowest thou not that my consent will be wanting to complete thy
wishes and what a commendation will it be of thee to such a girl as
charlotte when i shall acquaint her with the affront thou puttest upon
the whole sex by asking whether i think my reward when i have subdued
the most charming woman in the world will be equal to my trouble 
which thinkest thou will a woman of spirit soonest forgive the
undervaluing varlet who can put such a question or him who prefers the
pursuit and conquest of a fine woman to all the joys of life have i not
known even a virtuous woman as she would be thought vow everlasting
antipathy to a man who gave out that she was too old for him to attempt 
and did not essex's personal reflection on queen elizabeth that she was
old and crooked contribute more to his ruin than his treason 

but another word or two as to thy objection relating to my trouble and
reward 

does not the keen fox-hunter endanger his neck and his bones in pursuit
of a vermin which when killed is neither fit food for men nor dogs 

do not the hunters of the noble game value the venison less than the
sport 

why then should i be reflected upon and the sex affronted for my
patience and perseverance in the most noble of all chases and for not
being a poacher in love as thy question be made to imply 

learn of thy master for the future to treat more respectfully a sex
that yields us our principal diversions and delights 

proceed anon 



letter xvii

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


well sayest thou that mine is the most plotting heart in the world 
thou dost me honour and i thank thee heartily thou art no bad judge 
how like boileau's parson i strut behind my double chin am i not
obliged to deserve thy compliment and wouldst thou have me repent of a
murder before i have committed it 

the virtues and graces are this lady's handmaids she was certainly
born to adorn the age she was given to  well said jack and would be
an ornament to the first dignity  but what praise is that unless the
first dignity were adorned with the first merit dignity gew-gaw 
first dignity thou idiot art thou who knowest me so taken with
ermine and tinsel i who have won the gold am only fit to wear it 
for the future therefore correct thy style and proclaim her the ornament
of the happiest man and respecting herself and sex the greatest
conqueror in the world 

then that she loves me as thou imaginest by no means appears clear to
me her conditional offers to renounce me the little confidence she
places in me entitle me to ask what merit can she have with a man who
won her in spite of herself and who fairly in set and obstinate battle 
took her prisoner 

as to what thou inferrest from her eye when with us thou knowest nothing
of her heart from that if thou imaginest there was one glance of love
shot from it well did i note her eye and plainly did i see that it
was all but just civil disgust to me and to the company i had brought her
into her early retiring that night against all entreaty might have
convinced thee that there was very little of the gentle in her heart for
me and her eye never knew what it was to contradict her heart 

she is thou sayest all mind so say i but why shouldst thou imagine
that such a mind as hers meeting with such a one as mine and to dwell
upon the word meeting with an inclination in hers should not propagate
minds like her own 

were i to take thy stupid advice and marry what a figure should i make
in rakish annals the lady in my power yet not have intended to put
herself in my power declaring against love and a rebel to it so much
open-eyed caution no confidence in my honour her family expecting the
worst hath passed herself seeming to expect that the worst will be
attempted  priscilla partington for that   what wouldst thou not have
me act in character 

but why callest thou the lady innocent and why sayest thou she loves
me 

by innocent with regard to me and not taken as a general character i
must insist upon it she is not innocent can she be innocent who by
wishing to shackle me in the prime and glory of my youth with such a
capacity as i have for noble mischief would make my perdition more
certain were i to break as i doubt i should the most solemn vow i
could make i say no man ought to take even a common oath who thinks he
cannot keep it this is conscience this is honour and when i think i
can keep the marriage-vow then will it be time to marry 


 see vol iii letter xxiii paragr 4 


no doubt of it as thou sayest the devils would rejoice in the fall of
such a woman but this is my confidence that i shall have it in my
power to marry when i will and if i do her this justice shall i not
have a claim of her gratitude and will she not think herself the
obliged rather than the obliger then let me tell thee belford it is
impossible so far to hurt the morals of this lady as thou and thy
brother varlets have hurt others of the sex who now are casting about
the town firebrands and double death take ye that thistle to mumble
upon 


 


a short interruption i now resume 

that the morals of this lady cannot fail is a consideration that will
lessen the guilt on both sides and if when subdued she knows but how
to middle the matter between virtue and love then will she be a wife for
me for already i am convinced that there is not a woman in the world
that is love-proof and plot-proof if she be not the person 

and now imagine the charmer overcome thou seest me sitting supinely
cross-kneed reclining on my sofa the god of love dancing in my eyes 
and rejoicing in every mantling feature the sweet rogue late such a
proud rogue wholly in my power moving up slowly to me at my beck with
heaving sighs half-pronounced upbraidings from murmuring lips her
finger in her eye and quickening her pace at my come hither dearest 

one hand stuck in my side the other extended to encourage her bashful
approach kiss me love sweet as jack belford says are the joys that
come with willingness 

she tenders her purple mouth  her coral lips will be purple then jack   
sigh not so deeply my beloved happier hours await thy humble love 
than did thy proud resistance 

once more bent to my ardent lips the swanny glossiness of a neck late so
stately 

there's my precious 

again 

obliging loveliness 

o my ever-blooming glory i have tried thee enough to-morrow's sun 

then i rise and fold to my almost-talking heart the throbbing-bosom'd
charmer 

and now shall thy humble pride confess its obligation to me 

to-morrow's sun and then i disengage myself from the bashful passive 
and stalk about the room to-morrow's sun shall gild the altar at which
my vows shall be paid thee 

then jack the rapture then the darted sun-beams from her gladdened
eye drinking up at one sip the precious distillation from the pearl-
dropt cheek then hands ardently folded eyes seeming to pronounce god
bless my lovelace to supply the joy-locked tongue her transports too
strong and expression too weak to give utterance to her grateful
meanings all all the studies all the studies of her future life vowed
and devoted when she can speak to acknowledge and return the perpetual
obligation 

if i could bring my charmer to this would it not be the eligible of
eligibles is it not worth trying for as i said i can marry her when
i will she can be nobody's but mine neither for shame nor by choice 
nor yet by address for who that knows my character believes that the
worst she dreads is now to be dreaded 

i have the highest opinion that man can have thou knowest i have of the
merit and perfections of this admirable woman of her virtue and honour
too although thou in a former art of opinion that she may be
overcome am i not therefore obliged to go further in order to
contradict thee and as i have often urged to be sure that she is what
i really think her to be and if i am ever to marry her hope to find
her 


 see vol iii letter li paragr 9 


then this lady is a mistress of our passions no one ever had to so much
perfection the art of moving this all her family know and have equally
feared and revered her for it this i know too and doubt not more and
more to experience how charmingly must this divine creature warble
forth if a proper occasion be given her melodious elegiacs infinite
beauties are there in a weeping eye i first taught the two nymphs below
to distinguish the several accents of the lamentable in a new subject 
and how admirably some more than others become their distresses 

but to return to thy objections thou wilt perhaps tell me in the names
of thy brethren as well as in thy own name that among all the objects
of your respective attempts there was not one of the rank and merit of
my charming miss harlowe 

but let me ask has it not been a constant maxim with us that the
greater the merit on the woman's side the nobler the victory on the
man's and as to rank sense of honour sense of shame pride of family 
may make rifled rank get up and shake itself to rights and if any thing
come of it such a one may suffer only in her pride by being obliged to
take up with a second-rate match instead of a first and as it may fall
out be the happier as well as the more useful for the misadventure 
since taken off of her public gaddings and domesticated by her
disgrace she will have reason to think herself obliged to the man who
has saved her from further reproach while her fortune and alliance will
lay an obligation upon him and her past fall if she have prudence and
consciousness will be his present and future security 

but a poor girl  such a one as my rosebud for instance  having no recalls
from education being driven out of every family that pretends to
reputation persecuted most perhaps by such as have only kept their
secret better and having no refuge to fly to the common the stews the
street is the fate of such a poor wretch penury want and disease her
sure attendants and an untimely end perhaps closes the miserable scene 

and will you not now all join to say that it is more manly to attach a
lion than a sheep thou knowest that i always illustrated my eagleship 
by aiming at the noblest quarries and by disdaining to make a stoop at
wrens phyl-tits and wag-tails 


 phyl-tits q d phyllis-tits in opposition to tom-tits it needs not
now be observed that mr lovelace in this wanton gaiety of his heart 
often takes liberties of coining words and phrases in his letters to this
his familiar friend see his ludicrous reason for it in vol iii letter
xxv paragr antepenult 

the worst respecting myself in the case before me is that my triumph 
when completed will be so glorious a one that i shall never be able to
keep up to it all my future attempts must be poor to this i shall be
as unhappy after a while from my reflections upon this conquest as don
juan of austria was in his on the renowned victory of lepanto when he
found that none of future achievements could keep pace with his early
glory 

i am sensible that my pleas and my reasoning may be easily answered and
perhaps justly censured but by whom censured not by any of the
confraternity whose constant course of life even long before i became
your general to this hour has justified what ye now in a fit of
squeamishness and through envy condemn having therefore vindicated
myself and my intentions to you that is all i am at present concerned
for 

be convinced then that i according to our principles am right thou
wrong or at least be silent but i command thee to be convinced and
in thy next be sure to tell me that thou art 



letter xviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
edgeware thursday may 4 


i know that thou art so abandoned a man that to give thee the best
reasons in the world against what thou hast once resolved upon will be
but acting the madman whom once we saw trying to buffet down a hurricane
with his hat i hope however that the lady's merit will still avail her
with thee but if thou persistest if thou wilt avenge thyself on this
sweet lamb which thou hast singled out from a flock thou hatest for the
faults of the dogs who kept it if thou art not to be moved by beauty by
learning by prudence by innocence all shining out in one charming
object but she must fall fall by the man whom she has chosen for her
protector i would not for a thousand worlds have thy crime to answer
for 

upon my faith lovelace the subject sticks with me notwithstanding i
find i have not the honour of the lady's good opinion and the more when
i reflect upon her father's brutal curse and the villainous hard-
heartedness of all her family but nevertheless i should be desirous
to know if thou wilt proceed by what gradations arts and contrivances
thou effectest thy ingrateful purpose and o lovelace i conjure thee 
if thou art a man let not the specious devils thou has brought her among
be suffered to triumph over her yield to fair seductions if i may so
express myself if thou canst raise a weakness in her by love or by arts
not inhuman i shall the less pity her and shall then conclude that
there is not a woman in the world who can resist a bold and resolute
lover 

a messenger is just now arrived from my uncle the mortification it
seems is got to his knee and the surgeons declare that he cannot live
many days he therefore sends for me directly with these shocking
words that i will come and close his eyes my servant or his must of
necessity be in town every day on his case or other affairs and one of
them shall regularly attend you for any letter or commands it will be
charity to write to me as often as you can for although i am likely to
be a considerable gainer by the poor man's death yet i cannot say that i
at all love these scenes of death and the doctor so near me the doctor
and death i should have said for that is the natural order and
generally speaking the one is but the harbinger to the other 

if therefore you decline to oblige me i shall think you are displeased
with my freedom but let me tell you at the same that no man has a
right to be displeased at freedoms taken with him for faults he is not
ashamed to be guilty of 

j belford 



letter xix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


i thank you and mr hickman for his letter sent me with such kind
expedition and proceed to obey my dear menacing tyranness 


 she then gives the particulars of what passed between herself and mr 
 lovelace on tuesday morning in relation to his four friends and to
 miss partington pretty much to the same effect as in mr lovelace's
 letter no xiii and then proceeds  

he is constantly accusing me of over-scrupulousness he says i am
always out of humour with him that i could not have behaved more
reservedly to mr solmes and that it is contrary to all his hopes and
notions that he should not in so long a time find himself able to
inspire the person whom he hoped so soon to have the honour to call his 
with the least distinguishing tenderness for him before-hand 

silly and partial encroacher not to know to what to attribute the
reserve i am forced to treat him with but his pride has eaten up his
prudence it is indeed a dirty low pride that has swallowed up the true
pride which should have set him above the vanity that has overrun him 

yet he pretends that he has no pride but in obliging me and is always
talking of his reverence and humility and such sort of stuff but of
this i am sure that he has as i observed the first time i saw him too
much regard to his own person greatly to value that of his wife marry
he whom he will and i must be blind if i did not see that he is
exceedingly vain of his external advantages and of that address which 
if it has any merit in it to an outward eye is perhaps owing more to his
confidence that  sic  to any thing else 


 see vol i letter iii 


have you not beheld the man when i was your happy guest as he walked to
his chariot looking about him as if to observe what eyes his specious
person and air had attracted 

but indeed we had some homely coxcombs as proud as if they had persons to
be proud of at the same time that it was apparent that the pains they
took about themselves but the more exposed their defects 

the man who is fond of being thought more or better than he is as i have
often observed but provokes a scrutiny into his pretensions and that
generally produces contempt for pride as i believe i have heretofore
said is an infallible sign of weakness of something wrong in the head
or in both he that exalts himself insults his neighbour who is
provoked to question in him even that merit which were he modest would
perhaps be allowed to be his due 

you will say that i am very grave and so i am mr lovelace is
extremely sunk in my opinion since monday night nor see i before me any
thing that can afford me a pleasing hope for what with a mind so
unequal as his can be my best hope 

i think i mentioned to you in my former that my clothes were brought
me you fluttered me so that i am not sure i did but i know i
designed to mention that they were they were brought me on thursday 
but neither my few guineas with them nor any of my books except a
drexelius on eternity the good old practice of piety and a francis
spira my brother's wit i suppose he thinks he does well to point out
death and despair to me i wish for the one and every now-and-then am
on the brink of the other 

you will the less wonder at my being so very solemn when added to the
above and to my uncertain situation i tell you that they have sent me
with these books a letter form my cousin morden it has set my heart
against mr lovelace against myself too i send it enclosed if you
please my dear you may read it here 


col morden to miss clarissa harlowe

florence april 13 

i am extremely concerned to hear of a difference betwixt the rest of a
family so near and dear to me and you still dearer to than any of the
rest 

my cousin james has acquainted me with the offers you have had and with
your refusals i wonder not at either such charming promises at so
early an age as when i left england and those promises as i have often
heard so greatly exceeded as well in your person as mind how much must
you be admired how few must there be worthy of you 

your parents the most indulgent in the world to a child the most
deserving have given way it seems to your refusal of several gentlemen 
they have contented themselves at last to name one with earnestness to
you because of the address of another whom they cannot approve 

they had not reason it seems from your behaviour to think you greatly
averse so they proceeded perhaps too hastily for a delicacy like
your's but when all was fixed on their parts and most extraordinary
terms concluded in your favour terms which abundantly show the
gentleman's just value for you you flew off with a warmth and vehemence
little suited to that sweetness which gave grace to all your actions 

i know very little of either of the gentlemen but of mr lovelace i know
more than of mr solmes i wish i could say more to his advantage than i
can as to every qualification but one your brother owns there is no
comparison but that one outweighs all the rest together it cannot be
thought that miss clarissa harlowe will dispense with morals in a
husband 

what my dearest cousin shall i plead first to you on this occasion 
your duty your interest your temporal and your eternal welfare do and
may all depend upon this single point the morality of a husband a
woman who hath a wicked husband may find it difficult to be good and out
of her power to do good and is therefore in a worse situation than the
man can be in who hath a bad wife you preserve all your religious
regards i understand i wonder not that you do i should have wondered
had you not but what can you promise youself as to perseverance in
them with an immoral husband 

if your parents and you differ in sentiment on this important occasion 
let me ask you my dear cousin who ought to give way i own to you 
that i should have thought there could not any where have been a more
suitable match for you than mr lovelace had he been a moral man i
should have very little to say against a man of whose actions i am not
to set up myself as a judge did he not address my cousin but on this
occasion let me tell you my dear clarissa that mr lovelace cannot
possibly deserve you he may reform you'll say but he may not habit
is not soon or easily shaken off libertines who are libertines in
defiance of talents of superior lights of conviction hardly ever
reform but by miracle or by incapacity well do i know mine own sex 
well am i able to judge of the probability of the reformation of a
licentious young man who has not been fastened upon by sickness by
affliction by calamity who has a prosperous run of fortune before him 
his spirits high his will uncontroulable the company he keeps perhaps
such as himself confirming him in all his courses assisting him in
all his enterprises 

as to the other gentleman suppose my dear cousin you do not like him
at present it is far from being unlikely that you will hereafter 
perhaps the more for not liking him now he can hardly sink lower in
your opinion he may rise very seldom is it that high expectations are
so much as tolerably answered how indeed can they when a fine and
extensive imagination carries its expectation infinitely beyond reality 
in the highest of our sublunary enjoyments a woman adorned with such an
imagination sees no defect in a favoured object the less if she be not
conscious of any wilful fault in herself till it is too late to rectify
the mistakes occasioned by her generous credulity 

but suppose a person of your talents were to marry a man of inferior
talents who in this case can be so happy in herself as miss clarissa
harlowe what delight do you take in doing good how happily do you
devote the several portions of the day to your own improvement and to
the advantage of all that move within your sphere and then such is
your taste such are your acquirements in the politer studies and in the
politer amusements such your excellence in all the different parts of
economy fit for a young lady's inspection and practice that your friends
would wish you to be taken off as little as possible by regards that may
be called merely personal 

but as to what may be the consequence respecting yourself respecting a
young lady of your talents from the preference you are suspected to give
to a libertine i would have you my dear cousin consider what that may
be a mind so pure to mingle with a mind impure and will not such a
man as this engross all your solitudes will he not perpetually fill you
with anxieties for him and for yourself the divine and civil powers
defied and their sanctions broken through by him on every not merely
accidental but meditated occasion to be agreeable to him and to hope
to preserve an interest in his affections you must probably be obliged
to abandon all your own laudable pursuits you must enter into his
pleasures and distastes you must give up your virtuous companions for
his profligate ones perhaps be forsaken by your's because of the
scandal he daily gives can you hope cousin with such a man as this to
be long so good as you now are if not consider which of your present
laudable delights you would choose to give up which of his culpable ones
to follow him in how could you brook to go backward instead of
forward in those duties which you now so exemplarily perform and how do
you know if you once give way where you shall be suffered where you
shall be able to stop 

your brother acknowledges that mr solmes is not near so agreeable in
person as mr lovelace but what is person with such a lady as i have
the honour to be now writing to he owns likewise that he has not the
address of mr lovelace but what a mere personal advantage is a
plausible address without morals a woman had better take a husband
whose manners she were to fashion than to find them ready-fashioned to
her hand at the price of her morality a price that is often paid for
travelling accomplishments o my dear cousin were you but with us here
at florence or at rome or at paris where also i resided for many
months to see the gentlemen whose supposed rough english manners at
setting out are to be polished and what their improvement are in their
return through the same places you would infinitely prefer the man in
his first stage to the same man in his last you find the difference on
their return a fondness for foreign fashions an attachment to foreign
vices a supercilious contempt of his own country and countrymen 
 himself more despicable than the most despicable of those he despises 
these with an unblushing effrontery are too generally the attainments
that concur to finish the travelled gentleman 

mr lovelace i know deserves to have an exception made in his favour 
for he really is a man of parts and learning he was esteemed so both
here and at rome and a fine person and a generous turn of mind gave
him great advantages but you need not be told that a libertine man of
sense does infinitely more mischief than a libertine of weak parts is
able to do and this i will tell you further that it was mr lovelace's
own fault that he was not still more respected than he was among the
literati here there were in short some liberties in which he
indulged himself that endangered his person and his liberty and made
the best and most worthy of those who honoured him with their notice
give him up and his stay both at florence and at rome shorter than he
designed 

this is all i choose to say of mr lovelace i had much rather have had
reason to give him a quite contrary character but as to rakes or
libertines in general i who know them well must be allowed because of
the mischiefs they have always in their hearts and too often in their
power to do your sex to add still a few more words upon this topic 

a libertine my dear cousin a plotting an intriguing libertine must be
generally remorseless unjust he must always be the noble rule of doing
to others what he would have done to himself is the first rule he breaks 
and every day he breaks it the oftener the greater his triumph he has
great contempt for your sex he believes no woman chaste because he is
a profligate every woman who favours him confirms him in his wicked
incredulity he is always plotting to extend the mischiefs he delights
in if a woman loves such a man how can she bear the thought of
dividing her interest in his affections with half the town and that
perhaps the dregs of it then so sensual how will a young lady of your
delicacy bear with so sensual a man a man who makes a jest of his vows 
and who perhaps will break your spirit by the most unmanly insults to
be a libertine is to continue to be every thing vile and inhuman 
prayers tears and the most abject submission are but fuel to his
pride wagering perhaps with lewd companions and not improbably with
lewder women upon instances which he boasts of to them of your patient
sufferings and broken spirit and bringing them home to witness to both 

i write what i know has been 

i mention not fortunes squandered estates mortgaged or sold and
posterity robbed nor yet a multitude of other evils too gross too
shocking to be mentioned to a person of your delicacy 

all these my dear cousin to be shunned all the evils i have named to
be avoided the power of doing all the good you have been accustomed to 
preserved nay increased by the separate provision that will be made
for you your charming diversions and exemplary employments all
maintained and every good habit perpetuated and all by one sacrifice 
the fading pleasure of the eye who would not since every thing is not
to be met with in one man who would not to preserve so many
essentials give up to light so unpermanent a pleasure 

weigh all these things which i might insist upon to more advantage did
i think it needful to one of your prudence weigh them well my beloved
cousin and if it be not the will of your parents that you should
continue single resolve to oblige them and let it not be said that the
powers of fancy shall as in many others of your sex be too hard for
your duty and your prudence the less agreeable the man the more
obliging the compliance remember that he is a sober man a man who has
reputation to lose and whose reputation therefore is a security for his
good behaviour to you 

you have an opportunity offered you to give the highest instance that can
be given of filial duty embrace it it is worthy of you it is
expected from you however for your inclination-sake we may be sorry
that you are called upon to give it let it be said that you have been
able to lay an obligation upon your parents a proud word my cousin 
which you could not do were it not laid against your inclination upon
parents who have laid a thousand upon you who are set upon this point 
who will not give it up who have given up many points to you even of
this very nature and in their turn for the sake of their own authority 
as well as judgment expect to be obliged 

i hope i shall soon in person congratulate you upon this your
meritorious compliance to settle and give up my trusteeship is one of
the principal motives of my leaving these parts i shall be glad to
settle it to every one's satisfaction to yours particularly 

if on my arrival i find a happy union as formerly reign in a family so
dear to me it will be an unspeakable pleasure to me and i shall perhaps
so dispose my affairs as to be near you for ever 

i have written a very long letter and will add no more than that i am 
with the greatest respect my dearest cousin 

your most affectionate and faithful servant 
wm morden 


 


i will suppose my dear miss howe that you have read my cousin's letter 
it is now in vain to wish it had come sooner but if it had i might
perhaps have been so rash as to give mr lovelace the fatal meeting as i
little thought of going away with him 

but i should hardly have given him the expectation of so doing previous
to the meeting which made him come prepared and the revocation of which
he so artfully made ineffectual 

persecuted as i was and little expecting so much condescension as my
aunt to my great mortification has told me and you confirm i should
have met with it is however hard to say what i should or should not
have done as to meeting him had it come in time but this effect i
verily believe it would have had to have made me insist with all my
might on going over out of all their ways to the kind writer of the
instructive letter and on making a father a protector as well as a
friend of a kinsman who is one of my trustees this circumstanced as
i was would have been a natural at least an unexceptionable protection 
 but i was to be unhappy and how it cuts me to the heart to think that
i can already subscribe to my cousin's character of a libertine so well
drawn in the letter which i suppose you now to have read 

that a man of a character which ever was my abhorrence should fall to my
lot but depending on my own strength having no reason to apprehend
danger from headstrong and disgraceful impulses i too little perhaps
cast up my eyes to the supreme director in whom mistrusting myself i
ought to have placed my whole confidence and the more when i saw myself
so perserveringly addressed by a man of this character 

inexperience and presumption with the help of a brother and sister who
have low ends to answer in my disgrace have been my ruin a hard word 
my dear but i repeat it upon deliberation since let the best happen
which now can happen my reputation is destroyed a rake is my portion 
and what that portion is my cousin morden's letter has acquainted you 

pray keep it by you till called for i saw it not myself having not the
heart to inspect my trunks till this morning i would not for the world
this man should see it because it might occasion mischief between the
most violent spirit and the most settled brave one in the world as my
cousin's is said to be 

this letter was enclosed opened in a blank cover scorn and detest me
as they will i wonder that one line was not sent with it were it but to
have more particularly pointed the design of it in the same generous
spirit that sent me the spira 

the sealing of the cover was with black wax i hope there is no new
occasion in the family to give reason for black wax but if there were 
it would to be sure have been mentioned and laid at my door perhaps
too justly 

i had begun a letter to my cousin but laid it by because of the
uncertainty of my situation and expecting every day for several days
past to be at a greater certainty you bid me write to him some time
ago you know then it was i began it for i have great pleasure in
obeying you in all i may so i ought to have for you are the only
friend left me and moreover you generally honour me with your own
observance of the advice i take the liberty to offer you for i pretend
to say i give better advice than i have taken and so i had need for 
i know not how it comes about but i am in my own opinion a poor lost
creature and yet cannot charge myself with one criminal or faulty
inclination do you know my dear how this can be 

yet i can tell you how i believe one devious step at setting out 
that must be it which pursued has led me so far out of my path that i
am in a wilderness of doubt and error and never never shall find my
way out of it for although but one pace awry at first it has led me
hundreds and hundreds of miles out of my path and the poor estray has
not one kind friend nor has met with one direct passenger to help her
to recover it 

but i presumptuous creature must rely so much upon my own knowledge of
the right path little apprehending that an ignus fatuus with its false
fires and ye i had heard enough of such would arise to mislead me and
now in the midst of fens and quagmires it plays around me and around
me throwing me back again whenever i think myself in the right track 
but there is one common point in which all shall meet err widely as
they may in that i shall be laid quietly down at last and then will
all my calamities be at an end 

but how i stray again stray from my intention i would only have said 
that i had begun a letter to my cousin morden some time ago but that now
i can never end it you will believe i cannot for how shall i tell him
that all his compliments are misbestowed that all his advice is thrown
away all his warnings vain and that even my highest expectation is to
be the wife of that free-liver whom he so pathetically warns me to shun 

let me own however have your prayers joined with my own my fate
depending as it seems upon the lips of such a man that whatever
shall be my destiny that dreadful part of my father's malediction that
i may be punished by the man in whom he supposes i put my confidence may
not take place that this for mr lovelace's own sake and for the sake
of human nature may not be or if it be necessary in support of the
parental authority that i should be punished by him that it may not be
by his premeditated or wilful baseness but that i may be able to acquit
his intention if not his action  otherwise my fault will appear to be
doubled in the eye of the event-judging world and yet methinks i
would be glad that the unkindness of my father and uncles whose hearts
have already been too much wounded by my error may be justified in every
article excepting in this heavy curse and that my father will be
pleased to withdraw that before it be generally known at least the most
dreadful part of it which regards futurity 

i must lay down my pen i must brood over these reflections once more 
before i close my cousin's letter i will peruse it and then i shall
have it by heart 



letter xx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday night may 7 


when you reflect upon my unhappy situation which is attended with so
many indelicate and even shocking circumstances some of which my pride
will not let me think of with patience all aggravated by the contents of
my cousin's affecting letter you will not wonder that the vapourishness
which has laid hold of my heart should rise to my pen and yet it would
be more kind more friendly in me to conceal from you who take such a
generous interest in my concerns that worst part of my griefs which
communication and complaint cannot relieve 

but to whom can i unbosom myself but to you when the man who ought to be
my protector as he has brought upon me all my distresses adds to my
apprehensions when i have not even a servant on whose fidelity i can
rely or to whom i can break my griefs as they arise and when his
bountiful temper and gay heart attach every one to him and i am but a
cipher to give him significance and myself pain these griefs 
therefore do what i can will sometimes burst into tears and these
mingling with my ink will blot my paper and i know you will not grudge
me the temporary relief 

but i shall go on in the strain i left off with in my last when i
intended rather to apologize for my melancholy but let what i have
above written once for all be my apology my misfortunes have given
you a call to discharge the noblest offices of the friendship we have
vowed to each other in advice and consolation and it would be an injury
to it and to you to suppose it needed even that call 


 she then tells miss howe that now her clothes are come mr lovelace is
 continually teasing her to go abroad with him in a coach attended by
 whom she pleases of her own sex either for the air or to the public
 diversions 

she gives the particulars of a conversation that has passed between them
 on that subject and his several proposals but takes notice that he
 says not the least word of the solemnity which he so much pressed for
 before they came to town and which as she observes was necessary to
 give propriety to his proposals  

now my dear she says i cannot bear the life i live i would be glad
at my heart to be out of his reach if i were he should soon find the
difference if i must be humbled it had better be by those to whom i
owe duty than by him my aunt writes in her letter that she dare not
propose any thing in my favour you tell me that upon inquiry you
find that had i not been unhappily seduced away a change of measures
was actually resolved upon and that my mother particularly was
determined to exert herself for the restoration of the family peace and 
in order to succeed the better had thoughts of trying to engage my uncle
harlowe in her party 


 see vol iii letter lii 
 ibid letter viii 


let me build on these foundations i can but try my dear it is my
duty to try all probable methods to restore the poor outcast to favour 
and who knows but that once indulgent uncle who has very great weight in
the family may be induced to interpose in my behalf i will give up all
right and title to my grandfather's devises and bequests with all my
heart and soul to whom they please in order to make my proposal
palatable to my brother and that my surrender may be effectual i will
engage never to marry 

what think you my dear of this expedient surely they cannot resolve
to renounce me for ever if they look with impartial eyes upon what has
happened they will have something to blame themselves for as well as
me 

i presume that you will be of opinion that this expedient is worth
trying but here is my difficulty if i should write my hard-hearted
brother has so strongly confederated them all against me that my letter
would be handed about from one to another till he had hardened every one
to refuse my request whereas could my uncle be engaged to espouse my
cause as from himself i should have some hope as i presume to think he
would soon have my mother and my aunt of his party 

what therefore i am thinking of is this suppose mr hickman whose
good character has gained him every body's respect should put himself in
my uncle harlowe's way and as if from your knowledge of the state of
things between mr lovelace and me assure him not only of the above
particulars but that i am under no obligations that shall hinder me from
taking his directions 

i submit the whole to your consideration whether to pursue it at all or
in what manner but if it be pursued and if my uncle refuses to
interest himself in my favour upon mr hickman's application as from you 
 for so for obvious reasons it must be put i can then have no hope 
and my next step in the mind i am in shall be to throw myself into the
protection of the ladies of his family 

it were an impiety to adopt the following lines because it would be
throwing upon the decrees of providence a fault too much my own but
often do i revolve them for the sake of the general similitude which
they bear to my unhappy yet undersigned error 

 to you great gods i make my last appeal 
 or clear my virtue or my crimes reveal 
 if wand'ring in the maze of life i run 
 and backward tread the steps i sought to shun 
 impute my error to your own decree 
 my feet are guilty but my heart is free 


 the lady dates again on monday to let miss howe know that mr 
 lovelace on observing her uneasiness had introduced to her mr 
 mennell mrs fretchville's kinsman who managed all her affairs she
 calls him a young officer of sense and politeness who gave her an
 account of the house and furniture to the same effect that mr 
 lovelace had done before as also of the melancholy way mrs 
 fretchville is in 


 see letter iv of this volume 


she tells miss howe how extremely urgent mr lovelace was with the
 gentleman to get his spouse as he now always calls her before
 company a sight of the house and that mr mennell undertook that
 very afternoon to show her all of it except the apartment mrs 
 fretchville should be in when she went but that she chose not to
 take another step till she knew how she approved of her scheme to have
 her uncle sounded and with what success if tried it would be
 attended 

mr lovelace in his humourous way gives his friend an account of the
 lady's peevishness and dejection on receiving a letter with her
 clothes he regrets that he has lost her confidence which he
 attributes to his bringing her into the company of his four
 companions yet he thinks he must excuse them and censure her for
 over-niceness for that he never saw men behave better at least not
 them 

mentioning his introducing mr mennell to her  

now jack says he was it not very kind of mr mennell  captain mennell
i sometimes called him for among the military there is no such officer 
thou knowest as a lieutenant or an ensign was it not very kind in him 
to come along with me so readily as he did to satisfy my beloved about
the vapourish lady and the house 

but who is capt mennell methinks thou askest i never heard of such a
man as captain mennell 

very likely but knowest thou not young newcomb honest doleman's
newphew 

o-ho is it he 

it is and i have changed his name by virtue of my own single authority 
knowest thou not that i am a great name-father preferment i bestow 
both military and civil i give estates and take them away at my
pleasure quality too i create and by a still more valuable
prerogative i degrade by virtue of my own imperial will without any
other act of forfeiture than my own convenience what a poor thing is a
monarch to me 

but mennell now he has seen this angel of a woman has qualms that's
the devil i shall have enough to do to keep him right but it is the
less wonder that he should stagger when a few hours' conversation with
the same lady could make four much more hardened varlets find hearts 
only that i am confident that i shall at least reward her virtue if
her virtue overcome me or i should find it impossible to persevere for
at times i have confounded qualms myself but say not a word of them to
the confraternity nor laugh at me for them thyself 


in another letter dated monday night he writes as follows 

this perverse lady keeps me at such a distance that i am sure something
is going on between her and miss howe notwithstanding the prohibition
from mrs howe to both and as i have thought it some degree of merit in
myself to punish others for their transgressions i am of opinion that
both these girls are punishable for their breach of parental injunctions 
and as to their letter-carrier i have been inquiring into his way of
living and finding him to be a common poacher a deer-stealer and
warren-robber who under pretence of haggling deals with a set of
customers who constantly take all he brings whether fish fowl or
venison i hold myself justified since wilson's conveyance must at
present be sacred to have him stripped and robbed and what money he has
about him given to the poor since if i take not money as well as
letters i shall be suspected 

to serve one's self and punish a villain at the same time is serving
public and private the law was not made for such a man as me and i
must come at correspondences so disobediently carried on 

but on second thoughts if i could find out that the dear creature
carried any of her letters in her pockets i can get her to a play or to
a concert and she may have the misfortune to lose her pockets 

but how shall i find this out since her dorcas knows no more of her
dressing and undressing than her lovelace for she is dressed for the
day before she appears even to her servant vilely suspicious upon my
soul jack a suspicious temper is a punishable temper if a woman
suspects a rogue in an honest man is it not enough to make the honest
man who knows it a rogue 

but as to her pockets i think my mind hankers after them as the less
mischievous attempt but they cannot hold all the letters i should wish
to see and yet a woman's pockets are half as deep as she is high tied
round the sweet levities i presume as ballast-bags lest the wind as
they move with full sail from whale-ribbed canvass should blow away the
gypsies 


 he then in apprehension that something is meditating between the two
 ladies or that something may be set on foot to get miss harlowe out
 of his hands relates several of his contrivances and boasts of his
 instructions given in writing to dorcas and to his servant will 
 summers and says that he has provided against every possible
 accident even to bring her back if she should escape or in case she
 should go abroad and then refuse to return and hopes so to manage 
 as that should he make an attempt whether he succeeded in it or not 
 he may have a pretence to detain her  

he then proceeds as follows 

i have ordered dorcas to cultivate by all means her lady's favour to
lament her incapacity as to writing and reading to shew letters to her
lady as from pretended country relations to beg her advice how to
answer them and to get them answered and to be always aiming at
scrawling with a pen lest inky fingers should give suspicion i have
moreover given the wench an ivory-leafed pocket-book with a silver
pencil that she may make memoranda on occasion 

and let me tell thee that the lady has already at mrs sinclair's
motion removed her clothes out of the trunks they came in into an ample
mahogany repository where they will lie at full length and which has
drawers in it for linen a repository that used to hold the richest
suits which some of the nymphs put on when they are to be dressed out 
to captivate or to ape quality for many a countess thou knowest has
our mother equipped nay two or three duchesses who live upon quality-
terms with their lords but this to such as will come up to her price 
and can make an appearance like quality themselves on the occasion for
the reputation of persons of birth must not lie at the mercy of every
under-degreed sinner 

a master-key which will open every lock in this chest is put into
dorcas's hands and she is to take care when she searches for papers 
before she removes any thing to observe how it lies that she may
replace all to a hair sally and polly can occasionally help to
transcribe slow and sure with such an argus-eyed charmer must be all
my movements 

it is impossible that one so young and so inexperienced as she is can
have all her caution from herself the behaviour of the women so
unexceptionable no revellings no company ever admitted into this inner-
house all genteel quiet and easy in it the nymphs well-bred and
well-read her first disgusts to the old one got over it must be miss
howe therefore  who once was in danger of being taken in by one of our
class by honest sir george colmar as thou hast heard   that makes my
progress difficult 

thou seest belford by the above precautionaries that i forget nothing 
as the song says it is not to be imagined

 on what slight strings
 depend these things
 on which men build their glory 

so far so good i shall never rest till i have discovered in the first
place where the dear creature puts her letters and in the next till i
have got her to a play to a concert or to take an airing with me out of
town for a day or two 


 


i gave thee just now some of my contrivances dorcas who is ever
attentive to all her lady's motions has given me some instances of her
mistress's precautions she wafers her letters it seems in two places 
pricks the wafers and then seals upon them no doubt but the same care
is taken with regard to those brought to her for she always examines the
seals of the latter before she opens them 

i must i must come at them this difficulty augments my curiosity 
strange so much as she writes and at all hours that not one sleepy or
forgetful moment has offered in our favour 

a fair contention thou seest nor plead thou in her favour her youth 
her beauty her family her fortune credulity she has none and with
regard to her tender years am i not a young fellow myself as to
beauty pr'ythee jack do thou to spare my modesty make a comparison
between my clarissa for a woman and thy lovelace for a man for her
family that was not known to its country a century ago and i hate them
all but her have i not cause for her fortune fortune thou knowest 
was ever a stimulus with me and this for reasons not ignoble do not
girls of fortune adorn themselves on purpose to engage our attention 
seek they not to draw us into their snares depend they not generally 
upon their fortunes in the views they have upon us more than on their
merits shall we deprive them of the benefit of their principal
dependence can i in particular marry every girl who wishes to obtain
my notice if therefore in support of the libertine principles for
which none of the sweet rogues hate us a woman of fortune is brought to
yield homage to her emperor and any consequences attend the subjugation 
is not such a one shielded by her fortune as well from insult and
contempt as from indigence all then that admits of debate between my
beloved and me is only this which of the two has more wit more
circumspection and that remains to be tried 

a sad life however this life of doubt and suspense for the poor lady
to live as well as for me that is to say if she be not naturally
jealous if she be her uneasiness is constitutional and she cannot help
it nor will it in that case hurt her for a suspicious temper will
make occasion for doubt if none were to offer to its hand my fair one
therefore if naturally suspicious is obliged to me for saving her the
trouble of studying for these occasions but after all the plainest
paths in our journeys through life are the safest and best i believe 
although it is not given me to choose them i am not however singular
in the pursuit of the more intricate paths since there are thousands 
and ten thousands who had rather fish in troubled waters than in smooth 



letter xxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday may 9 


i am a very unhappy man this lady is said to be one of the sweetest-
tempered creatures in the world and so i thought her but to me she is
one of the most perverse i never was supposed to be an ill-natured
mortal neither how can it be i imagined for a long while that we
were born to make each other happy but quite the contrary we really
seem to be sent to plague each other 

i will write a comedy i think i have a title already and that's half
the work the quarrelsome lovers twill do there's something new and
striking in it yet more or less all lovers quarrel old terence has
taken notice of that and observes upon it that lovers falling out
occasions lovers falling in and a better understanding of course tis
natural that it should be so but with us we fall out so often without
falling in once and a second quarrel so generally happens before a first
is made up that it is hard to guess what event our loves will be
attended with but perseverance is my glory and patience my handmaid 
when i have in view an object worthy of my attempts what is there in an
easy conquest hudibras questions well 

 what mad lover ever dy'd
 to gain a soft and easy bride 
 or for a lady tender-hearted 
 in purling streams or hemp departed 

but i will lead to the occasion of this preamble 

i had been out on my return meeting dorcas on the stairs your lady in
her chamber dorcas in the dining-room sir and if ever you hope for
an opportunity to come at a letter it must be now for at her feet i
saw one lie which as may be seen by its open fold she had been
reading with a little parcel of others she is now busied with all
pulled out of her pocket as i believe so sir you'll know where to
find them another time 

i was ready to leap for joy and instantly resolved to bring forward an
expedient which i had held in petto and entering the dining-room with an
air of transport i boldly clasped my arms about her as she sat she
huddling up her papers in her handkerchief all the time the dropped
paper unseen o my dearest life a lucky expedient have mr mennell and
i hit upon just now in order to hasten mrs fretchville to quit the
house i have agreed if you approve of it to entertain her cook her
housemaid and two men-servants about whom she was very solicitous 
till you are provided to your mind and that no accommodations may be
wanted i have consented to take the household linen at an appraisement 

i am to pay down five hundred pounds and the remainder as soon as the
bills can be looked up and the amount of them adjusted thus will you
have a charming house entirely ready to receive you some of the ladies
of my family will soon be with you they will not permit you long to
suspend my happy day and that nothing may be wanting to gratify your
utmost punctilio i will till then consent to stay here at mrs 
sinclair's while you reside at your new house and leave the rest to your
own generosity o my beloved creature will not this be agreeable to
you i am sure it will it must and clasping her closer to me i gave
her a more fervent kiss than ever i had dared to give her before i
permitted not my ardour to overcome my discretion however for i took
care to set my foot upon the letter and scraped it farther from her as
it were behind her chair 

she was in a passion at the liberty i took bowing low i begged her
pardon and stooping still lower in the same motion took up the letter 
and whipt it into my bosom 

pox on me for a puppy a fool a blockhead a clumsy varlet a mere jack
belford i thought myself a much cleverer fellow than i am why could i
not have been followed in by dorcas who might have taken it up while i
addressed her lady 

for here the letter being unfolded i could not put it in my bosom
without alarming her ears as my sudden motion did her eyes up she flew
in a moment traitor judas her eyes flashing lightning and a
perturbation in her eager countenance so charming what have you taken
up and then what for both my ears i durst not have done to her she
made no scruple to seize the stolen letter though in my bosom 

what was to be done on so palpable a detection i clasped her hand 
which had hold of the ravished paper between mine o my beloved
creature said i can you think i have not some curiosity is it
possible you can be thus for ever employed and i loving narrative
letter-writing above every other species of writing and admiring your
talent that way should not thus upon the dawn of my happiness as i
presume to hope burn with a desire to be admitted into so sweet a
correspondence 

let go my hand stamping with her pretty foot how dare you sir at
this rate i see too plainly i see and more she could not say but 
gasping was ready to faint with passion and affright the devil a bit
of her accustomed gentleness to be seen in her charming face or to be
heard in her musical voice 

having gone thus far loth very loth was i to lose my prize once more
i got hold of the rumpled-up letter impudent man were her words 
stamping again for god's sake then it was i let go my prize lest
she should faint away but had the pleasure first to find my hand within
both hers she trying to open my reluctant fingers how near was my
heart at that moment to my hand throbbing to my fingers' ends to be
thus familiarly although angrily treated by the charmer of my soul 

when she had got it in her possession she flew to the door i threw
myself in her way shut it and in the humblest manner besought her to
forgive me and yet do you think the harlowe-hearted charmer
 notwithstanding the agreeable annunciation i came in with would forgive
me no truly but pushing me rudely from the door as if i had been
nothing  yet do i love to try so innocently to try her strength too  
she gained that force through passion which i had lost through fear out
she shot to her own apartment  thank my stars she could fly no farther  
and as soon as she entered it in a passion still she double-locked and
double-bolted herself in this my comfort on reflection that upon a
greater offence it cannot be worse 

i retreated to my own apartment with my heart full and my man will not
being near me gave myself a plaguy knock on the forehead with my double
fist 

and now is my charmer shut up from me refusing to see me refusing her
meals she resolves not to see me that's more never again if she can
help it and in the mind she is in i hope she has said 

the dear creatures whenever they quarrel with their humble servants 
should always remember this saving clause that they may not be forsworn 

but thinkest thou that i will not make it the subject of one of my first
plots to inform myself of the reason why all this commotion was necessary
on so slight an occasion as this would have been were not the letters that
pass between these ladies of a treasonable nature 


wednesday morning 

no admission to breakfast any more than to supper i wish this lady is
not a simpleton after all 

i have sent up in captain mennell's name 

a message from captain mennell madam 

it won't do she is of baby age she cannot be a solomon i was going
to say in every thing solomon jack was the wisest man but didst
ever hear who was the wisest woman i want a comparison for this lady 
cunning women and witches we read of without number but i fancy wisdom
never entered into the character of a woman it is not a requisite of
the sex women indeed make better sovereigns than men but why is
that because the women-sovereigns are governed by men the men-
sovereigns by women charming by my soul for hence we guess at the
rudder by which both are steered 

but to putting wisdom out of the question and to take cunning in that
is to say to consider woman as a woman what shall we do if this lady
has something extraordinary in her head repeated charges has she given
to wilson by a particular messenger to send any letter directed for her
the moment it comes 

i must keep a good look-out she is not now afraid of her brother's
plot i shan't be at all surprised if singleton calls upon miss howe 
as the only person who knows or is likely to know where miss harlowe
is pretending to have affairs of importance and of particular service
to her if he can but be admitted to her speech of compromise who
knows from her brother 

then will miss howe warn her to keep close then will my protection be
again necessary this will do i believe any thing from miss howe
must 

joseph leman is a vile fellow with her and my implement joseph honest
joseph as i call him may hang himself i have played him off enough 
and have very little further use for him no need to wear one plot to
the stumps when i can find new ones every hour 

nor blame me for the use i make of my talents who that hath such will
let em be idle 

well then i will find a singleton that's all i have to do 

instantly find one will 

sir 

this moment call me hither thy cousin paul wheatly just come from sea 
whom thou wert recommending to my service if i were to marry and keep
a pleasure-boat 

presto will's gone paul will be here presently presently to mrs 
howe's if paul be singleton's mate coming from his captain it will do
as well as if it were singleton himself 

sally a little devil often reproaches me with the slowness of my
proceedings but in a play does not the principal entertainment lie in
the first four acts is not all in a manner over when you come to the
fifth and what a vulture of a man must he be who souses upon his prey 
and in the same moment trusses and devours 

but to own the truth i have overplotted myself to my make my work
secure as i thought i have frighted the dear creature with the sight of
my four hottentots and i shall be a long time i doubt before i can
recover my lost ground and then this cursed family at harlowe-place
have made her out of humour with me with herself and with all the
world but miss howe who no doubt is continually adding difficulties
to my other difficulties 

i am very unwilling to have recourse to measures which these demons below
are continually urging me to take because i am sure that at last i
shall be brought to make her legally mine 

one complete trial over and i think i will do her noble justice 


 


well paul's gone gone already has all his lessons a notable fellow 
 lord w s necessary-man was paul before he went to sea a more
sensible rogue paul than joseph not such a pretender to piety neither
as the other at what a price have i bought that joseph i believe i
must punish the rascal at last but must let him marry first then
 though that may be punishment enough i shall punish two at once in the
man and his wife and how richly does betty deserve punishment for her
behaviour to my goddess 

but now i hear the rusty hinges of my beloved's door give me creaking
invitation my heart creaks and throbs with respondent trepidations 
whimsical enough though for what relation has a lover's heart to a rusty
pair of hinges but they are the hinges that open and shut the door of
my beloved's bed-chamber relation enough in that 

i hear not the door shut again i shall receive her commands i hope
anon what signifies her keeping me thus at a distance she must be
mine let me do or offer what i will courage whenever i assume all is
over for should she think of escaping from hence whither can she fly
to avoid me her parents will not receive her her uncles will not
entertain her her beloved norton is in their direction and cannot 
miss howe dare not she has not one friend in town but me is entirely a
stranger to the town and what then is the matter with me that i should
be thus unaccountably over-awed and tyrannized over by a dear creature
who wants only to know how impossible it is that she should escape me in
order to be as humble to me as she is to her persecuting relations 

should i ever make the grand attempt and fail and should she hate me
for it her hatred can be but temporary she has already incurred the
censure of the world she must therefore choose to be mine for the sake
of soldering up her reputation in the eye of that impudent world for 
who that knows me and knows that she has been in my power though but
for twenty-four hours will think her spotless as to fact let her
inclination be what it will and then human nature is such a well-known
rogue that every man and woman judges by what each knows of him or
herself that inclination is no more to be trusted where an opportunity
is given than i am especially where a woman young and blooming loves
a man well enough to go off with him for such will be the world's
construction in the present case 

she calls her maid dorcas no doubt that i may hear her harmonious
voice and to give me an opportunity to pour out my soul at her feet to
renew all my vows and to receive her pardon for the past offence and
then with what pleasure shall i begin upon a new score and afterwards
wipe out that and begin another and another till the last offence
passes and there can be no other and once after that to be forgiven 
will be to be forgiven for ever 


 


the door is again shut dorcas tells me that her lady denies to admit me
to dine with her a favour i had ordered the wench to beseech her to
grant me the next time she saw her not uncivilly however denies 
coming-to by degrees nothing but the last offence the honest wench
tells me in the language of her principals below will do with her the
last offence is meditating yet this vile recreant heart of mine plays
me booty 

but here i conclude though the tyranness leaves me nothing to do but to
read write and fret 

subscription is formal between us besides i am so much her's that i
cannot say how much i am thine or any other person's 



letter xxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
tuesday may 9 


if my dear you approve of the application to my uncle harlowe i wish
it to be made as soon as possible we are quite out again i have shut
myself up from him the offence indeed not so very great and yet it is
too he had like to have got a letter one of your's but never will
i write again or re-peruse my papers in an apartment where he thinks
himself entitled to come he did not read a line of it indeed he did
not so don't be uneasy and depend upon future caution 

thus it was the sun being upon my closet and mr lovelace abroad 


she then gives miss howe an account of his coming by surprise upon her 
 of his fluttering speech of his bold address of her struggle with
 him for the letter etc 

and now my dear proceeds she i am more and more convinced that i am
too much in his power to make it prudent to stay with him and if my
friends will but give me hope i will resolve to abandon him for ever 

o my dear he is a fierce a foolish an insolent creature and in
truth i hardly expect that we can accommodate how much unhappier am i
already with him than my mother ever was with my father after marriage 
since and that without any reason any pretence in the world for it he
is for breaking my spirit before i am his and while i am or ought to be
 o my folly that i am not   in my own power 

till i can know whether my friends will give me hope or not i must do
what i never studied to do before in any case that is try to keep this
difference open and yet it will make me look little in my own eyes 
because i shall mean by it more than i can own but this is one of the
consequences of all engagements where the minds are unpaired dispaired 
in my case i must say 

let this evermore be my caution to individuals of my sex guard your eye 
twill ever be in a combination against your judgment if there are two
parts to be taken it will be for ever traitor as it is taking the wrong
one 

if you ask me my dear how this caution befits me let me tell you a
secret which i have but very lately found out upon self-examination 
although you seem to have made the discovery long ago that had not my
foolish eye been too much attached i had not taken the pains to attempt 
so officiously as i did the prevention of mischief between him and some
of my family which first induced the correspondence between us and was
the occasion of bringing the apprehended mischief with double weight upon
himself my vanity and conceit as far as i know might have part in the
inconsiderate measure for does it not look as if i thought myself more
capable of obviating difficulties than anybody else of my family 

but you must not my dear suppose my heart to be still a confederate
with my eye that deluded eye now clearly sees its fault and the misled
heart despises it for it hence the application i am making to my uncle 
hence it is that i can say i think truly that i would atone for my
fault at any rate even by the sacrifice of a limb or two if that would
do 

adieu my dearest friend may your heart never know the hundredth part
of the pain mine at present feels prays

your
clarissa harlowe 



letter xxiii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
wednesday may 10 


i will write no man shall write for me no woman shall hinder me from
writing surely i am of age to distinguish between reason and caprice 
i am not writing to a man am i if i were carrying on a correspondence
with a fellow of whom my mother disapproved and whom it might be
improper for me to encourage my own honour and my duty would engage my
obedience but as the case is so widely different not a word more on
this subject i beseech you 


 clarissa proposes mr hickman to write for miss howe see letter xi 
of this volume paragr 5 and ult 


i much approve of your resolution to leave this wretch if you can make
it up with your uncle 

i hate the man most heartily do i hate him for his teasing ways the
very reading of your account of them teases me almost as much as they can
you may you have encouragement to fly the foolish wretch 

i have other reasons to wish you may for i have just made an
acquaintance with one who knows a vast deal of his private history the
man is really a villain my dear an execrable one if all be true that i
have heard and yet i am promised other particulars i do assure you 
my dear friend that had he a dozen lives he might have forfeited them
all and been dead twenty crimes ago 

if ever you condescend to talk familiarly with him again ask him after
miss betterton and what became of her and if he shuffle and
prevaricate as to her question him about miss lockyer o my dear the
man's a villain 

i will have your uncle sounded as you desire and that out of hand but
yet i am afraid of the success and this for several reasons tis hard
to say what the sacrifice of your estate would do with some people and
yet i must not when it comes to the test permit you to make it 

as your hannah continues ill i would advise you to try to attach dorcas
to your interest have you not been impoliticly shy of her 

i wish you could come at some of his letters surely a man of his
negligent character cannot be always guarded if he be and if you
cannot engage your servant i shall suspect them both let him be called
upon at a short warning when he is writing or when he has papers lying
about and so surprise him into negligence 

such inquiries i know are of the same nature with those we make at an
inn in traveling when we look into every corner and closet for fear of
a villain yet should be frighted out of our wits were we to find one 
but tis better to detect such a one when awake and up than to be
attacked by him when in bed and asleep 

i am glad you have your clothes but no money no books but a spira a
drexelius and a practice of piety those who sent the latter ought to
have kept it for themselves but i must hurry myself from this subject 

you have exceedingly alarmed me by what you hint of his attempt to get
one of my letters i am assured by my new informant that he is the head
of a gang of wretched those he brought you among no doubt were some of
them who join together to betray innocent creatures and to support one
another afterwards by violence and were he to come at the knowledge of
the freedoms i take with him i should be afraid to stir out without a
guard 

i am sorry to tell you that i have reason to think that your brother
has not laid aside his foolish plot a sunburnt sailor-looking fellow
was with me just now pretending great service to you from captain
singleton could he be admitted to your speech i pleaded ignorance as
to the place of your abode the fellow was too well instructed for me to
get any thing out of him 

i wept for two hours incessantly on reading your's which enclosed that
from your cousin morden my dearest creature do not desert yourself 
let your anna howe obey the call of that friendship which has united us
as one soul and endeavour to give you consolation 


 see letter xix of this volume 


i wonder not at the melancholy reflections you so often cast upon
yourself in your letters for the step you have been forced upon on one
hand and tricked into on the other a strange fatality as if it were
designed to show the vanity of all human prudence i wish my dear as
you hint that both you and i have not too much prided ourselves in a
perhaps too conscious superiority over others but i will stop how apt
are weak minds to look out for judgments in any extraordinary event 
tis so far right that it is better and safer and juster to arraign
ourselves or our dearest friends than providence which must always
have wise ends to answer its dispensations 

but do not talk as if one of your former of being a warning only you
will be as excellent an example as ever you hoped to be as well as a
warning and that will make your story to all that shall come to know
it of double efficacy for were it that such a merit as yours could not
ensure to herself noble and generous usage from a libertine heart who
will expect any tolerable behaviour from men of his character 


 see vol iii letter xxviii 


if you think yourself inexcusable for taking a step that put you into the
way of delusion without any intention to go off with him what must
those giddy creatures think of themselves who without half your
provocations and inducements and without any regard to decorum leap
walls drop from windows and steal away from their parents' house to
the seducer's bed in the same day 

again if you are so ready to accuse yourself for dispensing with the
prohibitions of the most unreasonable parents which yet were but half-
prohibitions at first what ought those to do who wilfully shut their
ears to the advice of the most reasonable and that perhaps where
apparent ruin or undoubted inconvenience is the consequence of the
predetermined rashness 

and lastly to all who will know your story you will be an excellent
example of watchfulness and of that caution and reserve by which a
prudent person who has been supposed to be a little misled endeavours
to mend her error and never once losing sight of her duty does all in
her power to recover the path she has been rather driven out of than
chosen to swerve from 

come come my dearest friend consider but these things and steadily 
without desponding pursue your earnest purposes to amend what you think
has been amiss and it may not be a misfortune in the end that you have
erred especially as so little of your will was in your error 

and indeed i must say that i use the words misled and error and such-
like only in compliment to your own too-ready self-accusations and to
the opinion of one to whom i owe duty for i think in my conscience that
every part of your conduct is defensible and that those only are
blamable who have no other way to clear themselves but by condemning you 

i expect however that such melancholy reflections as drop from your pen
but too often will mingle with all your future pleasures were you to
marry lovelace and were he to make the best of husbands 

you was immensely happy above the happiness of a mortal creature before
you knew him every body almost worshipped you envy itself which has of
late reared up its venomous head against you was awed by your superior
worthiness into silence and admiration you was the soul of every
company where you visited your elders have i seen declining to offer
their opinions upon a subject till you had delivered yours often to
save themselves the mortification of retracting theirs when they heard
yours yet in all this your sweetness of manners your humility and
affability caused the subscription every one made to your sentiments 
and to your superiority to be equally unfeigned and unhesitating for
they saw that their applause and the preference they gave you to
themselves subjected not themselves to insults nor exalted you into any
visible triumph over them for you had always something to say on every
point you carried that raised the yielding heart and left every one
pleased and satisfied with themselves though they carried not off the
palm 

your works were showed or referred to wherever fine works were talked of 
nobody had any but an inferior and second-hand praise for diligence for
economy for reading for writing for memory for facility in learning
every thing laudable and even for the more envied graces of person and
dress and an all-surpassing elegance in both where you were known and
those subjects talked of 

the poor blessed you every step you trod the rich thought you their
honour and took a pride that they were not obliged to descend from their
own class for an example that did credit to it 

though all men wished for you and sought you young as you were yet 
had not those who were brought to address you been encouraged out of
sordid and spiteful views not one of them would have dared to lift up
his eyes to you 

thus happy in all about you thus making happy all within your circle 
could you think that nothing would happen to you to convince you that
you were not to be exempted from the common lot to convinced you that
you were not absolutely perfect and that you must not expect to pass
through life without trial temptation and misfortune 

indeed it must be owned that no trial no temptation worthy of your
virtue and of your prudence could well have attacked you sooner 
because of your tender years and more effectually than those heavy ones
under which you struggle since it must be allowed that you equanimity
and foresight made you superior to common accidents for are not most of
the troubles that fall to the lot of common mortals brought upon
themselves either by their too large desires or too little deserts 
cases both from which you stood exempt it was therefore to be some
man or some worse spirit in the shape of one that formed on purpose 
was to be sent to invade you while as many other such spirits as there
are persons in your family were permitted to take possession severally 
in one dark hour of the heart of every one of it there to sit perching 
perhaps and directing every motion to the motions of the seducer
without in order to irritate to provoke to push you forward to meet
him 

upon the whole there seems as i have often said to have been a kind of
fate in your error if it were an error and this perhaps admitted for
the sake of a better example to be collected from your sufferings than
could have been given had you never erred for my dear the time of
adversity is your shining-time i see it evidently that adversity must
call forth graces and beauties which could not have been brought to light
in a run of that prosperous fortune which attended you from your cradle
till now admirably as you became and as we all thought greatly as you
deserved that prosperity 

all the matter is the trial must be grievous to you it is to me it is
to all who love you and looked upon you as one set aloft to be admired
and imitated and not as a mark as you have lately found for envy to
shoot its shafts at 

let what i have written above have its due weight with you my dear and
then as warm imaginations are not without a mixture of enthusiasm your
anna howe who on reperusal of it imagines it to be in a style superior
to her usual style will be ready to flatter herself that she has been in
a manner inspired with the hints that have comforted and raised the
dejected heart of her suffering friend who from such hard trials in a
bloom so tender may find at times her spirits sunk too low to enable her
to pervade the surrounding darkness which conceals from her the hopeful
dawning of the better day which awaits her 

i will add no more at present than that i am
your ever faithful and affectionate
anna howe 



letter xxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
friday may 12 


i must be silent my exalted friend under praises that oppress my heart
with a consciousness of not deserving them at the same time that the
generous design of those praises raises and comforts it for it is a
charming thing to stand high in the opinion of those we love and to find
that there are souls that can carry their friendships beyond accidents 
beyond body and ties of blood whatever my dearest creature is my
shining-time the time of a friend's adversity is yours and it would be
almost a fault in me to regret those afflictions which give you an
opportunity so gloriously to exert those qualities which not only
ennoble our sex but dignify human nature 

but let me proceed to subjects less agreeable 

i am sorry you have reason to think singleton's projects are not at an
end but who knows what the sailor had to propose yet had any good
been intended me this method would hardly have been fallen upon 

depend upon it my dear your letters shall be safe 

i have made a handle of mr lovelace's bold attempt and freedom as i
told you i would to keep him ever since at a distance that i may have
an opportunity to see the success of the application to my uncle and to
be at liberty to embrace any favourable overtures that may arise from it 
yet he has been very importunate and twice brought mr mennell from mrs 
fretchvill to talk about the house if i should be obliged to make up
with him again i shall think i am always doing myself a spite 

as to what you mention of his newly-detected crimes and your advice to
attach dorcas to my interest and to come at some of his letters these
things will require more or less of my attention as i may hope favour or
not from my uncle harlowe 

i am sorry that my poor hannah continues ill pray my dear inform
yourself and let me know whether she wants any thing that befits her
case 

i will not close this letter till to-morrow is over for i am resolved to
go to church and this as well for the sake of my duty as to see if i am
at liberty to go out when i please without being attended or accompanied 


sunday may 14 

i have not been able to avoid a short debate with mr lovelace i had
ordered a coach to the door when i had noticed that it was come i went
out of my chamber to go to it but met him dressed on the stairs head 
with a book in his hand but without his hat and sword he asked with
an air very solemn yet respectful if i were going abroad i told him i
was he desired leave to attend me if i were going to church i
refused him and then he complained heavily of my treatment of him and
declared that he would not live such another week as the past for the
world 

i owned to him very frankly that i had made an application to my
friends and that i was resolved to keep myself to myself till i knew the
issue of it 

he coloured and seemed surprised but checking himself in something he
was going to say he pleaded my danger from singleton and again desired
to attend me 

and then he told me that mrs fretchville had desired to continue a
fortnight longer in the house she found said he that i was unable to
determine about entering upon it and now who knows when such a vapourish
creature will come to a resolution this madam has been an unhappy
week for had i not stood upon such bad terms with you you might have
been new mistress of that house and probably had my cousin montague if
not lady betty actually with you 

and so sir taking all you say for granted your cousin montague cannot
come to mrs sinclair's what pray is her objection to mrs 
sinclair's is this house fit for me to live in a month or two and not
fit for any of your relations for a few days and mrs fretchville has
taken more time too then pushing by him i hurried down stairs 

he called to dorcas to bring him his sword and hat and following me down
into the passage placed himself between me and the door and again
desired leave to attend me 

mrs sinclair came out at that instant and asked me if i did not choose
a dish of chocolate 

i wish mrs sinclair said i you would take this man in with you to
your chocolate i don't know whether i am at liberty to stir out without
his leave or not 

then turning to him i asked if he kept me there his prisoner 

dorcas just then bringing him his sword and hat he opened the street-
door and taking my reluctant hand led me in a very obsequious manner 
to the coach people passing by stopped stared and whispered but he
is so graceful in his person and dress that he generally takes every
eye 

i was uneasy to be so gazed at and he stepped in after me and the
coachman drove to st paul's 

he was very full of assiduities all the way while i was as reserved as
possible and when i returned dined as i had done the greatest part of
the week by myself 

he told me upon my resolving to do so that although he would continue
his passive observance till i knew the issue of my application yet i
must expect that then i should not rest one moment till i had fixed his
happy day for that his very soul was fretted with my slights 
resentments and delays 

a wretch when can i say to my infinite regret on a double account 
that all he complains of is owing to himself 

o that i may have good tidings from my uncle 

adieu my dearest friend this shall lie ready for an exchange as i hope
for one to-morrow from you that will decide as i may say the destiny
of

your
clarissa harlowe 



letter xxv

miss howe to mrs judith norton
thursday may 11 


good mrs norton 

cannot you without naming me as an adviser who am hated by the family 
contrive a way to let mrs harlowe know that in an accidental
conversation with me you had been assured that my beloved friend pines
after a reconciliation with her relations that she has hitherto in
hopes of it refused to enter into any obligation that shall be in the
least a hinderance  sic  to it that she would fain avoid giving mr 
lovelace a right to make her family uneasy in relation to her
grandfather's estate that all she wishes for still is to be indulged in
her choice of a single life and on that condition would make her
father's pleasure her's with regard to that estate that mr lovelace is
continually pressing her to marry him and all his friends likewise but
that i am sure she has so little liking to the man because of his faulty
morals and of the antipathy of her relations to him that if she had any
hope given her of a reconciliation she would forego all thoughts of him 
and put herself into her father's protection but that their resolution
must be speedy for otherwise she would find herself obliged to give way
to his pressing entreaties and it might then be out of her power to
prevent disagreeable litigations 

i do assure you mrs norton upon my honour that our dearest friend
knows nothing of this procedure of mine and therefore it is proper to
acquaint you in confidence with my grounds for it these are they 

she had desired me to let mr hickman drop hints to the above effect to
her uncle harlowe but indirectly as from himself lest if the
application should not be attended with success and mr lovelace who
already takes it ill that he has so little of her favour come to know
it she may be deprived of every protection and be perhaps subjected to
great inconveniencies from so haughty a spirit 

having this authority from her and being very solicitous about the
success of the application i thought that if the weight of so good a
wife mother and sister as mrs harlowe is known to be were thrown
into the same scale with that of mr john harlowe supposing he could be
engaged it could hardly fail of making a due impression 

mr hickman will see mr john harlowe to-morrow by that time you may see
mrs harlowe if mr hickman finds the old gentleman favourable he will
tell him that you will have seen mrs harlowe upon the same account and
will advise him to join in consultation with her how best to proceed to
melt the most obdurate heart in the world 

this is the fair state of the matter and my true motive for writing to
you i leave all therefore to your discretion and most heartily wish
success to it being of opinion that mr lovelace cannot possibly deserve
our admirable friend nor indeed know i the man who does 

pray acquaint me by a line of the result of your interposition if it
prove not such as may be reasonably hoped for our dear friend shall know
nothing of this step from me and pray let her not from you for in
that case it would only give deeper grief to a heart already too much
afflicted i am dear and worthy mrs norton 

your true friend 
anna howe 



letter xxvi

mrs norton to miss howe
saturday may 13 


dear madam 

my heart is almost broken to be obliged to let you know that such is
the situation of things in the family of my ever-dear miss harlowe that
there can be at present no success expected from any application in her
favour her poor mother is to be pitied i have a most affecting letter
from her but must not communicate it to you and she forbids me to let
it be known that she writes upon the subject although she is compelled 
as it were to do it for the ease of her own heart i mention it
therefore in confidence 

i hope in god that my beloved young lady has preserved her honour
inviolate i hope there is not a man breathing who could attempt a
sacrilege so detestable i have no apprehension of a failure in a virtue
so established god for ever keep so pure a heart out of the reach of
surprises and violence ease dear madam i beseech you my over-anxious
heart by one line by the bearer although but one line to acquaint me
 as surely you can that her honour is unsullied if it be not adieu to
all the comforts this life can give since none will it be able to afford

to the poor
judith norton 



letter xxvii

miss howe to mrs judith norton
saturday evening may 13 


dear good woman 

your beloved's honour is inviolate must be inviolate and will be so 
in spite of men and devils could i have had hope of a reconciliation 
all my view was that she should not have had this man all that can be
said now is she must run the risk of a bad husband she of whom no man
living is worthy 

you pity her mother so do not i i pity no mother that puts it out of
her power to show maternal love and humanity in order to patch up for
herself a precarious and sorry quiet which every blast of wind shall
disturb 

i hate tyrants in ever form and shape but paternal and maternal tyrants
are the worst of all for they can have no bowels 

i repeat that i pity none of them our beloved friend only deserves
pity she had never been in the hands of this man but for them she is
quite blameless you don't know all her story were i to tell you that
she had no intention to go off with this man it would avail her nothing 
it would only deserve to condemn with those who drove her to
extremities him who now must be her refuge i am

your sincere friend and servant 
anna howe 


letter xxviii

mrs harlowe to mrs norton
 not communicated till the letters came to be collected  
saturday may 13 


i return an answer in writing as i promised to your communication but
take no notice either to my bella's betty who i understand sometimes
visits you or to the poor wretch herself nor to any body that i do
write i charge you don't my heart is full writing may give some vent
to my griefs and perhaps i may write what lies most upon my heart 
without confining myself strictly to the present subject 

you know how dear this ungrateful creature ever was to us all you know
how sincerely we joined with every one of those who ever had seen her or
conversed with her to praise and admire her and exceeded in our praise
even the bounds of that modesty which because she was our own should
have restrained us being of opinion that to have been silent in the
praise of so apparent a merit must rather have argued blindness or
affectation in us than that we should incur the censure of vain
partiality to our own 

when therefore any body congratulated us on such a daughter we received
their congratulations without any diminution if it was said you are
happy in this child we owned that no parents ever were happier in a
child if more particularly they praised her dutiful behaviour to us 
we said she knew not how to offend if it were said miss clarissa
harlowe has a wit and penetration beyond her years we instead of
disallowing it would add and a judgment no less extraordinary than her
wit if her prudence was praised and a forethought which every one saw
supplied what only years and experience gave to others nobody need to
scruple taking lessons from clarissa harlowe was our proud answer 

forgive me o forgive me my dear norton but i know you will for yours 
when good was this child and your glory as well as mine 

but have you not heard strangers as she passed to and from church stop
to praise the angel of a creature as they called her when it was enough
for those who knew who she was to cry why it is miss clarissa harlowe 
 as if every body were obliged to know or to have heard of clarissa
harlowe and of her excellencies while accustomed to praise it was
too familiar to her to cause her to alter either her look or her pace 

for my own part i could not stifle a pleasure that had perhaps a faulty
vanity for its foundation whenever i was spoken of or addressed to as
the mother of so sweet a child mr harlowe and i all the time loving
each other the better for the share each had in such a daughter 

still still indulge the fond the overflowing heart of a mother i
could dwell for ever upon the remembrance of what she was would but that
remembrance banish from my mind what she is 

in her bosom young as she was could i repose all my griefs sure of
receiving from her prudence and advice as well as comfort and both
insinuated in so dutiful a manner that it was impossible to take those
exceptions which the distance of years and character between a mother and
a daughter would have made one apprehensive of from any other daughter 
she was our glory when abroad our delight when at home every body was
even covetous of her company and we grudged her to our brothers harlowe 
and to our sister and brother hervey no other contention among us 
then but who should be next favoured by her no chiding ever knew she
from us but the chiding of lovers when she was for shutting herself up
too long together from us in pursuit of those charming amusements and
useful employments for which however the whole family was the better 

our other children had reason good children as they always were to
think themselves neglected but they likewise were so sensible of their
sister's superiority and of the honour she reflected upon the whole
family that they confessed themselves eclipsed without envying the
eclipser indeed there was not any body so equal with her in their own
opinions as to envy what all aspired but to emulate the dear creature 
you know my norton gave an eminence to us all 

then her acquirements her skill in music her fine needle-works her
elegance in dress for which she was so much admired that the
neighbouring ladies used to say that they need not fetch fashions from
london since whatever miss clarissa harlowe wore was the best fashion 
because her choice of natural beauties set those of art far behind them 
her genteel ease and fine turn of person her deep reading and these 
joined to her open manners and her cheerful modesty o my good norton 
what a sweet child was once my clary harlowe 

this and more you knew her to be for many of her excellencies were
owing to yourself and with the milk you gave her you gave her what no
other nurse in the world could give her 

and do you think my worthy woman do you think that the wilful lapse of
such a child is to be forgiven can she herself think that she deserves
not the severest punishment for the abuse of such talents as were
intrusted to her 

her fault was a fault of premeditation of cunning of contrivance she
had deceived every body's expectations her whole sex as well as the
family she sprung from is disgraced by it 

would any body ever have believed that such a young creature as this who
had by her advice saved even her over-lively friend from marrying a fop 
and a libertine would herself have gone off with one of the vilest and
most notorious of libertines a man whose character she knew and knew
it to be worse than the character of him from whom she saved her friend 
a man against whom she was warned one who had her brother's life in her
hands and who constantly set our whole family at defiance 

think for me my good norton think what my unhappiness must be both as a
wife and a mother what restless days what sleepless nights yet my own
rankling anguish endeavoured to be smoothed over to soften the anguish
of fiercer spirits and to keep them from blazing out to further
mischief o this naughty naughty girl who knew so well what she did 
and who could look so far into consequences that we thought she would
have died rather than have done as she had done 

her known character for prudence leaves her absolutely without excuse 
how then can i offer to plead for her if through motherly indulgence 
i would forgive her myself and have we not moreover suffered all the
disgrace that can befall us has not she 

if now she has so little liking to his morals has she not reason before
to have as little or has she suffered by them in her own person o my
good woman i doubt i doubt will not the character of the man make one
doubt an angel if once in his power the world will think the worst i
am told it does so likewise her father fears her brother hears and
what can i do 

our antipathy to him she knew before as well as his character these
therefore cannot be new motives without a new reason o my dear mrs 
norton how shall i how can you support ourselves under the
apprehensions to which these thoughts lead 

he continually pressing her you say to marry him his friends likewise 
she has reason no doubt she has reason for this application to us and
her crime is glossed over to bring her to us with new disgrace 
whither whither does one guilty step lead the misguided heart and
now truly to save a stubborn spirit we are only to be sounded that
the application may be occasionally retracted or denied 

upon the whole were i inclined to plead for her it is now the most
improper of all times now that my brother harlowe has discouraged as
he last night came hither on purpose to tell us mr hickman's insinuated
application and been applauded for it now that my brother antony is
intending to carry his great fortune through her fault into another
family she expecting no doubt herself to be put into her
grandfather's estate in consequence of a reconciliation and as a reward
for her fault and insisting still upon the same terms which she offered
before and which were rejected not through my fault i am sure 
rejected 

from all these things you will return such an answer as the case
requires it might cost me the peace of my whole life at this time to
move for her god forgive her if i do nobody else will and let it 
for your own sake as well as mine be a secret that you and i have
entered upon this subject and i desire you not to touch upon it again
but by particular permission for o my dear good woman it sets my
heart a bleeding in as many streams as there are veins in it 

yet think me not impenetrable by a proper contrition and remorse but
what a torment is it to have a will without a power 

adieu adieu god give us both comfort and to the once dear the ever-
dear creature for can a mother forget her child repentance deep
repentance and as little suffering as may befit his blessed will and
her grievous fault prays

your real friend 
charlotte harlowe 



letter xxix

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
sunday may 14 


how it is now my dear between you and mr lovelace i cannot tell 
but wicked as the man is i am afraid he must be your lord and master 

i called him by several very hard names in my last i had but just heard
of some of his vilenesses when i sat down to write so my indignation
was raised but on inquiry and recollection i find that the facts laid
to his charge were all of them committed some time ago not since he has
had strong hopes of your favour 

this is saying something for him his generous behaviour to the
innkeeper's daughter is a more recent instance to his credit to say
nothing of the universal good character he has as a kind landlord and
then i approve much of the motion he made to put you in possession of
mrs fretchville's house while he continues at the other widow's till
you agree that one house shall hold you i wish this were done be sure
you embrace this offer if you do not soon meet at the altar and get
one of his cousins with you 

were you once married i should think you cannot be very unhappy though
you may not be so happy with him as you deserve to be the stake he has
in his country and his reversions the care he takes of his affairs his
freedom from obligation nay his pride with your merit must be a
tolerable security for you i should think though particulars of his
wickedness as they come to my knowledge hurt and incense me yet after
all when i give myself time to reflect all that i have heard of him to
his disadvantage was comprehended in the general character given of him
long ago by lord m s and his own dismissed bailiff and which was
confirmed to me by mrs fortescue as i heretofore told you and to you
by mrs greme 


 see vol i letter iv 
 ibid letter xii 
 see vol iii letter vi 


you can have nothing therefore i think to be deeply concerned about 
but his future good and the bad example he may hereafter set to his own
family these indeed are very just concerns but were you to leave him
now either with or without his consent his fortunes and alliances so
considerable his person and address so engaging every one excusing you
now on those accounts and because of your relations' follies it would
have a very ill appearance for your reputation i cannot therefore on
the most deliberate consideration advise you to think of that while you
have no reason to doubt his honour may eternal vengeance pursue the
villain if he give room for an apprehension of this nature 

yet his teasing ways are intolerable his acquiescence with your slight
delays and his resignedness to the distance you now keep him at for a
fault so much slighter as he must think than the punishment are
unaccountable he doubts your love of him that is very probable but you
have reason to be surprised at his want of ardour a blessing so great
within his reach as i may say 

by the time you have read to this place you will have no doubt of what
has been the issue of the conference between the two gentlemen i am
equally shocked and enraged against them all against them all i say 
for i have tried your good norton's weight with your mother though at
first i did not intend to tell you so to the same purpose as the
gentleman sounded your uncle never were there such determined brutes in
the world why should i mince the matter yet would i fain methinks 
make an exception for your mother 

your uncle will have it that you are ruined he can believe every thing
bad of a creature he says who could run away with a man with such a
one especially as lovelace they expected applications from you when
some heavy distress had fallen upon you but they are all resolved not
to stir an inch in your favour no not to save your life 

my dearest soul resolve to assert your right claim your own and go
and live upon it as you ought then if you marry not how will the
wretches creep to you for your reversionary dispositions 

you were accused as in your aunt's letter of premeditation and
contrivance in your escape  instead of pitying you the mediating
person was called upon to pity them who once your uncle said doated
upon you who took no joy but in your presence who devoured your words
as you spoke them who trod over again your footsteps as you walked
before them  and i know not what of this sort 

upon the whole it is now evident to me and so it must be to you when
you read this letter that you must be his and the sooner you are so
the better shall we suppose that marriage is not in your power i
cannot have patience to suppose that 

i am concerned methinks to know how you will do to condescend now you
see you must be his after you have kept him at such a distance and for
the revenge his pride may put him upon taking for it but let me tell
you that if my going up and sharing fortunes with you will prevent
such a noble creature from stooping too low much more were it likely to
prevent your ruin i would not hesitate a moment about it what is the
whole world to me weighed against such a friend as you are think you 
that any of the enjoyments of this life could be enjoyments to me were
you involved in calamities from which i could either alleviate or
relieve you by giving up those enjoyments and what in saying this and
acting up to it do i offer you but the frits of a friendship your worth
has created 

excuse my warmth of expression the warmth of my heart wants none i am
enraged at your relations for bad as what i have mentioned is i have
not told you all nor now perhaps ever will i am angry at my own
mother's narrowness of mind and at her indiscriminate adherence to old
notions and i am exasperated against your foolish your low-vanity'd
lovelace but let us stoop to take the wretch as he is and make the
best of him since you are destined to stoop to keep grovellers and
worldlings in countenance he had not been guilty of a direct indecency
to you nor dare he not so much of a devil as that comes to neither 
had he such villainous intentions so much in his power as you are they
would have shewn themselves before now to such a penetrating and vigilant
eye and to such a pure heart as yours let us save the wretch then if
we can though we soil our fingers in lifting him up his dirt 

there is yet to a person of your fortune and independence a good deal
to do if you enter upon those terms which ought to be entered upon i
don't find that he has once talked of settlements nor yet of the
license a foolish wretch but as your evil destiny has thrown you out
of all other protection and mediation you must be father mother uncle 
to yourself and enter upon the requisite points for yourself it is
hard upon you but indeed you must your situation requires it what
room for delicacy now or would you have me write to him yet that would
be the same thing as if you were to write yourself yet write you
should i think if you cannot speak but speaking is certainly best 
for words leave no traces they pass as breath and mingle with air and
may be explained with latitude but the pen is a witness on record 

i know the gentleness of your spirit i know the laudable pride of your
heart and the just notion you have of the dignity of our sex in these
delicate points but once more all this in nothing now your honour is
concerned that the dignity i speak of should not be stood upon 

mr lovelace  would i say yet hate the foolish fellow for his low his
stupid pride in wishing to triumph over the dignity of his own wife 
i am by your means deprived of every friend i have in the world in
what light am i to look upon you i have well considered every thing 
you have made some people much against my liking think me a wife 
others know i am not married nor do i desire any body should believe i
am do you think your being here in the same house with me can be to my
reputation you talked to me of mrs fretchville's house  this will
bring him to renew his last discourse on the subject if he does not
revive it of himlsef if mrs fretchville knows not her own mind what
is her house to me you talked of bringing up your cousin montague to
bear me company if my brother's schemes be your pretence for not going
yourself to fetch her you can write to her i insist upon bringing
these two points to an issue off or on ought to be indifferent to me if
so to them 

such a declaration must bring all forward there are twenty ways my dear 
that you would find out for another in your circumstances he will
disdain from his native insolence to have it thought he has any body to
consult well then will he not be obliged to declare himself and if
he does no delays on your side i beseech you give him the day let
it be a short one it would be derogating from your own merit not to be
so explicit as he ought to be to seem but to doubt his meaning and to
wait for that explanation for which i should ever despise him if he
makes it necessary twice already have you my dear if not oftener
modesty'd away such opportunities as you ought not to have slipped as
to settlements if they come not in naturally e'en leave them to his own
justice and to the justice of his family and there's an end of the
matter 

this is my advice mend it as circumstances offer and follow your own 
but indeed my dear this or something like it would i do and let him
tell me afterwards if he dared or would that he humbled down to his
shoe-buckles the person it would have been his glory to exalt 

support yourself mean time with reflections worthy of yourself though
tricked into this man's power you are not meanly subjugated to it all
his reverence you command or rather as i may say inspire since it was
never known that he had any reverence for aught that was good till you
was with him and he professes now and then to be so awed and charmed by
your example as that the force of it shall reclaim him 

i believe you will have a difficult task to keep him to it but the more
will be your honour if you effect his reformation and it is my belief 
that if you can reclaim this great this specious deceiver who has 
morally speaking such a number of years before him you will save from
ruin a multitude of innocents for those seem to me to have been the prey
for which he has spread his wicked snares and who knows but for this
very purpose principally a person may have been permitted to swerve 
whose heart or will never was in her error and who has so much remorse
upon her for having as she thinks erred at all adieu my dearest
friend 

anna howe 


enclosed in the above 

i must trouble you with my concerns though your own are so heavy upon
you a piece of news i have to tell you your uncle antony is disposed
to marry with whom think you with my mother true indeed your
family knows it all is laid with redoubled malice at your door and
there the old soul himself lays it 

take no notice of this intelligence not so much as in your letters to
me for fear of accidents 

i think it can't do but were i to provoke my mother that might afford
a pretence else i should have been with you before now i fancy 

the first likelihood that appears to me of encouragement i dismiss
hickman that's certain if my mother disoblige me in so important an
article i shan't think of obliging her in such another it is
impossible surely that the desire of popping me off to that honest man
can be with such a view 

i repeat that it cannot come to any thing but these widows then such
a love in us all both old and young of being courted and admired and
so irresistible to their elderships to be flattered that all power is
not over with them but that they may still class and prank it with their
daughters it vexed me heartily to have her tell me of this proposal
with self-complaisant simperings and yet she affected to speak of it as
if she had no intention to encourage it 

these antiquated bachelors old before they believe themselves to be so 
imagine that when they have once persuaded themselves to think of the
state they have nothing more to do than to make their minds known to the
woman 

your uncle's overgrown fortune is indeed a bait a tempting one a saucy
daughter to be got rid of the memory of the father of that daughter not
precious enough to weigh much but let him advance if he dare let her
encourage but i hope she won't 

excuse me my dear i am nettled they have fearfully rumpled my
gorget you'll think me faulty so i won't put my name to this
separate paper other hands may resemble mine you did not see me write
it 



letter xxx

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
monday afternoon may 15 


now indeed it is evident my best my only friend that i have but one
choice to make and now i do find that i have carried my resentment
against this man too far since now i am to appear as if under an
obligation to his patience with me for a conduct which perhaps he will
think if not humoursome and childish plainly demonstrative of my little
esteem of him of but a secondary esteem at least where before his
pride rather than his merit had made him expect a first o my dear to
be cast upon a man that is not a generous man that is indeed a cruel
man a man that is capable of creating a distress to a young creature 
who by her evil destiny is thrown into his power and then of enjoying
it as i may say  i verily think i may say so of this savage   what
a fate is mine 

you give me my dear good advice as to the peremptory manner in which i
ought to treat him but do you consider to whom it is that you give it 
and then should i take it and should he be capable of delay i
unprotected desolate nobody to fly to in what a wretched light must i
stand in his eyes and what is still as bad in my own o my dear see
you not as i do that the occasion for this my indelicate my shocking
situation should never have been given by me of all creatures since i
am unequal utterly unequal to the circumstances to which my
inconsideration has reduced me what i to challenge a man for a
husband i to exert myself to quicken the delayer in his resolutions 
and having as you think lost an opportunity to begin to try to recall
it as from myself and for myself to threaten him as i may say into
the marriage state o my dear if this be right to be done how
difficult is it where modesty and self or where pride if you please 
is concerned to do that right or to express myself in your words to
be father mother uncle to myself especially where one thinks a
triumph over one is intended 

you say you have tried mrs norton's weight with my mother bad as the
returns are which my application by mr hickman has met with you tell
me that you have not acquainted me with all the bad nor now perhaps 
ever will  but why so my dear what is the bad what can be the bad 
which now you will never tell me of what worse than renounce me and
for ever my uncle you say believes me ruined he declares that he
can believe every thing bad of a creature who could run away with a man 
and they have all made a resolution not to stir an inch in my favour no 
not to save my life  have you worse than this my dear behind surely
my father has not renewed his dreadful malediction surely if so my
mother has not joined in it have my uncles given their sanction and
made it a family act and themselves thereby more really faulty than
ever they suppose me to be though i the cause of that greater fault in
them what my dear is the worst that you will leave for ever
unrevealed 

o lovelace why comest thou not just now while these black prospects are
before me for now couldst thou look into my heart wouldst thou see a
distress worthy of thy barbarous triumph 


 


i was forced to quit my pen and you say you have tried mrs norton's
weight with my mother 

what is done cannot be remedied but i wish you had not taken a step of
this importance to me without first consulting me forgive me my dear 
but i must tell you that that high-soul'd and noble friendship which you
have ever avowed with so obliging and so uncommon a warmth although it
has been always the subject of my grateful admiration has been often the
ground of my apprehension because of its unbridled fervour 

well but now to look forward you are of opinion that i must be his and
that i cannot leave him with reputation to myself whether with or
without his consent i must if so make the best of the bad matter 

he went out in the morning intending not to return to dinner unless as
he sent me word i would admit him to dine with me 

i excused myself the man whose anger is now to be of such high
importance to me was it seems displeased 

as he as well as i expected that i should receive a letter from you
this day by collins i suppose he will not be long before he returns and
then possibly he is to be mighty stately mighty mannish mighty coy 
if you please and then must i be very humble very submissive and try
to insinuate myself into his good graces with downcast eye if not by
speech beg his forgiveness for the distance i have so perversely kept
him at yes i warrant but i shall see how this behaviour will sit
upon me you have always rallied me upon my meekness i think well
then i will try if i can be still meeker shall i o my dear 

but let me sit with my hands before me all patience all resignation 
for i think i hear him coming up or shall i roundly accost him in the
words in the form which you my dear prescribed 

he is come in he has sent to me all impatience as dorcas says by his
aspect but i cannot cannot see him 


monday night 

the contents of your letter and my own heavy reflections rendered me
incapable of seeing this expecting man the first word he asked dorcas 
was if i had received a letter since he had been out she told me this 
and her answer that i had and was fasting and had been in tears ever
since 

he sent to desire an interview with me 

i answered by her that i was not very well in the morning if better 
i would see him as soon as he pleased 

very humble was it not my dear yet he was too royal to take it for
humility for dorcas told me he rubbed one side of his face impatiently 
and said a rash word and was out of humour stalking about the room 

half an hour later he sent again desiring very earnestly that i should
admit him to supper with me he would enter upon no subjects of
conversation but what i should lead to 

so i should have been at liberty you see to court him 

i again desired to be excused 

indeed my dear my eyes were swelled i was very low spirited and could
not think of entering all at once after the distance i had kept him at
for several days into the freedom of conversation which the utter
rejection i have met with from my relations as well as your advice has
made necessary 

he sent up to tell me that as he heard i was fasting if i would promise
to eat some chicken which mrs sinclair had ordered for supper he would
acquiesce very kind in his anger is he not 

i promised that i would can i be more preparatively condescending how
happy i'll warrant if i may meet him in a kind and forgiving humour 

i hate myself but i won't be insulted indeed i won't for all this 



letter xxxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
tuesday may 16 


i think once more we seem to be in a kind of train but through a storm 
i will give you the particulars 

i heard him in the dining-room at five in the morning i had rested very
ill and was up too but opened not my door till six when dorcas
brought me his request for my company 

he approached me and taking my hand as i entered the dining-room i
went not to bed madam till two said he yet slept not a wink for
god's sake torment me not as you have done for a week past 

he paused i was silent 

at first proceeded he i thought your resentment of a curiosity in
which i had been disappointed could not be deep and that it would go
off of itself but when i found it was to be kept up till you knew the
success of some new overtures which you had made and which complied
with might have deprived me of you for ever how madam could i support
myself under the thoughts of having with such an union of interests 
made so little impression upon your mind in my favour 

he paused again i was still silent he went on 

i acknowledge that i have a proud heart madam i cannot but hope for
some instances of previous and preferable favour from the lady i am
ambitious to call mine and that her choice of me should not appear not
flagrantly appear directed by the perverseness of her selfish
persecutors who are my irreconcilable enemies 

more to the same purpose he said you know my dear the room he had
given me to recriminate upon him in twenty instances i did not spare
him 

every one of these instances said i after i had enumerated them 
convinces me of your pride indeed sir but not of your merit i
confess that i have as much pride as you can have although i hope it is
of another kind than that you so readily avow but if sir you have the
least mixture in yours of that pride which may be expected and thought
laudable in a man of your birth alliances and fortune you should
rather wish i will presume to say to promote what you call my pride 
than either to suppress it or to regret that i have it it is this my
acknowledged pride proceeded i that induces me to tell you sir that i
think it beneath me to disown what have been my motives for declining 
for some days past any conversation with you or visit from mr mennell 
that might lead to points out of my power to determine upon until i
heard from my uncle harlowe whom i confess i have caused to be
sounded whether i might be favoured with his interest to obtain for me
a reconciliation with my friends upon terms which i had caused to be
proposed 

i know not said he and suppose must not presume to ask what those
terms were but i can but too well guess at them and that i was to have
been the preliminary sacrifice but you must allow me madam to say 
that as much as i admire the nobleness of your sentiments in general and
in particular that laudable pride which you have spoken of i wish that i
could compliment you with such an uniformity in it as had set you as
much above all submission to minds implacable and unreasonable i hope i
may without offence say that your brother's and sister's are such as
it has above all favour and condescension to me 

duty and nature sir call upon me to make the submissions you speak of 
there is a father there is a mother there are uncles in the one case 
to justify and demand those submissions what pray sir can be pleaded
for the condescension as you call it will you say your merits either
with regard to them or to myself may 

this madam to be said after the persecutions of those relations 
after what you have suffered after what you have made me hope let me 
my dearest creature ask you we have been talking of pride what sort
of pride must his be which can dispense with inclination and preference
in the lady whom he adores what must that love 

love sir who talks of love was not merit the thing we were talking
of have i ever professed have i ever required of you professions of a
passion of that nature but there is no end of these debatings each so
faultless each so full of self 

i do not think myself faultless madam but 

but what sir would you ever more argue with me as if you were a
child seeking palliations and making promises promises of what sir 
of being in future the man it is a shame a gentleman is not of being
the man 

good god interrupted he with eyes lifted up if thou wert to be thus
severe 

well well sir  impatiently  i need only to observe that all this
vast difference in sentiment shows how unpaired our minds are so let
us 

let us what madam my soul is rising into tumults and he looked so
wildly that i was a good deal terrified let us what madam 

i was however resolved not to desert myself why sir let us resolve
to quit every regard for each other nay flame not out i am a poor
weak-minded creature in some things but where what i should be or not
deserve to live if i am not is in the question i have a great and
invincible spirit or my own conceit betrays me let us resolve to quit
every regard for each other that is more than civil this you may depend
upon i will never marry any other man i have seen enough of your sex 
at least of you a single life shall ever be my choice while i will
leave you at liberty to pursue your own 

indifference worse than indifference said he in a passion 

interrupting him indifference let it be you have not in my opinion at
least deserved that it should be other if you have in your own you
have cause at least your pride has to hate me for misjudging you 

dearest dearest creature snatching my hand with fierceness let me
beseech you to be uniformly noble civil regards madam civil regards 
 can you so expect to narrow and confine such a passion as mine 

such a passion as yours mr lovelace deserves to be narrowed and
confined it is either the passion you do not think it or i do not i
question whether your mind is capable of being so narrowed and so
widened as is necessary to make it be what i wish it to be lift up
your hands and your eyes sir in silent wonder if you please but what
does that wonder express what does it convince me of but that we are
not born for one another 

by my soul said he and grasped my hand with an eagerness that hurt it 
we were born for one another you must be mine you shall be mine  and
put his other hand round me  although my damnation were to be the
purchase 

i was still more terrified let me leave you mr lovelace said i or do
you be gone from me is the passion you boast of to be thus shockingly
demonstrated 

you must not go madam you must not leave me in anger 

i will return i will return when you can be less violent less
shocking 

and he let me go 

the man quite frighted me insomuch that when i got into my chamber i
found a sudden flow of tears a great relief to me 

in half an hour he sent a little billet expressing his concern for the
vehemence of his behaviour and prayed to see me 

i went because i could not help myself i went 

he was full of excuses o my dear what would you even you do with such
a man as this and in my situation 

it was very possible for him now he said to account for the workings of
a beginning phrensy for his part he was near distraction all last
week to suffer as he had suffered and now to talk of civil regards only 
when he had hoped from the nobleness of my mind 

hope what you will interrupted i i must insist upon it that our minds
are by no means suited to each other you have brought me into
difficulties i am deserted by every friend but miss howe my true
sentiments i will not conceal it is against my will that i must submit
to owe protection from a brother's projects which miss howe thinks are
not given over to you who have brought me into these straights not
with my own concurrence brought me into them remember that 

i do remember that madam so often reminded how can i forget it 

yet i will owe to you this protection if it be necessary in the earnest
hope that you will shun rather than seek mischief if any further
inquiry after me be made but what hinders you from leaving me cannot
i send to you the widow fretchville it is plain knows not her own
mind the people here are more civil to me every day than other but i
had rather have lodgings more agreeable to my circumstances i best know
what will suit them and am resolved not to be obliged to any body if
you leave me i will privately retire to some one of the neighbouring
villages and there wait my cousin morden's arrival with patience 

i presume madam replied he from what you have said that your
application to harlowe-place has proved unsuccessful i therefore hope
that you will now give me leave to mention the terms in the nature of
settlements which i have long intended to propose to you and which
having till now delayed to do through accidents not proceeding from
myself i had thoughts of urging to you the moment you entered upon your
new house and upon your finding yourself as independent in appearance
as you are in fact permit me madam to propose these matters to you 
not with an expectation of your immediate answer but for your
consideration 

were not hesitation a self-felt glow a downcast eye encouragement more
than enough and yet you will observe as i now do on recollection that
he was in no great hurry to solicit for a day since he had no thoughts
of proposing settlements till i had got into my new house and now in
his great complaisance to me he desired leave to propose his terms not
with an expectation of my immediate answer but for my consideration only
 yet my dear your advice was too much in my head at this time i
hesitated 

he urged on upon my silence he would call god to witness to the justice 
nay to the generosity of his intentions to me if i would be so good as
to hear what he had to propose to me as to settlements 

could not the man have fallen into the subject without this parade many
a point you know is refused and ought to be refused if leave be asked
to introduce it and when once refused the refusal must in honour be
adhered to whereas had it been slid in upon one as i may say it might
have merited further consideration if such a man as mr lovelace knows
not this who should 

but he seemed to think it enough that he had asked my leave to propose
his settlements he took no advantage of my silence as i presume men as
modest as mr lovelace would have done in a like case yet gazing in my
face very confidently and seeming to expect my answer i thought myself
obliged to give the subject a more diffuse turn in order to save myself
the mortification of appearing too ready in my compliance after such a
distance as had been between us and yet in pursuance of your advice i
was willing to avoid the necessity of giving him such a repulse as might
again throw us out of the course a cruel alternative to be reduced to 

you talk of generosity mr lovelace said i and you talk of justice 
perhaps without having considered the force of the words in the sense
you use them on this occasion let me tell you what generosity is in my
sense of the word true generosity is not confined to pecuniary
instances it is more than politeness it is more than good faith it is
more than honour it is more than justice since all of these are but
duties and what a worthy mind cannot dispense with but true generosity
is greatness of soul it incites us to do more by a fellow-creature than
can be strictly required of us it obliges us to hasten to the relief of
an object that wants relief anticipating even such a one's hope or
expectation generosity sir will not surely permit a worthy mind to
doubt of its honourable and beneficent intentions much less will it
allow itself to shock to offend any one and least of all a person
thrown by adversity mishap or accident into its protection 

what an opportunity had he to clear his intentions had he been so
disposed from the latter part of this home observation but he ran away
with the first and kept to that 

admirably defined he said but who at this rate madam can be said to
be generous to you your generosity i implore while justice as it must
be my sole merit shall be my aim never was there a woman of such nice
and delicate sentiments 

it is a reflection upon yourself sir and upon the company you have
kept if you think these notions either nice or delicate thousands of
my sex are more nice than i for they would have avoided the devious path
i have been surprised into the consequences of which surprise have laid
me under the sad necessity of telling a man who has not delicacy enough
to enter into those parts of the female character which are its glory and
distinction what true generosity is 

his divine monitress he called me he would endeavour to form his
manners as he had often promised by my example but he hoped i would
now permit him to mention briefly the justice he proposed to do me in
the terms of the settlements a subject so proper before now to have
entered upon and which would have been entered upon long ago had not
my frequent displeasure  i am ever in fault my dear   taken from him the
opportunity he had often wished for but now having ventured to lay hold
of this nothing should divert him from improving it 

i have no spirits just now sir to attend such weighty points what
you have a mind to propose write to me and i shall know what answer to
return only one thing let me remind you of that if you touch upon a
subject in which my father has a concern i shall judge by your
treatment of the father what value you have for the daughter 

he looked as if he would choose rather to speak than write but had he
said so i had a severe return to have made upon him as possibly he
might see by my looks 


 


in this way are we now a sort of calm as i said succeeding a storm 
what may happen next whether a storm or a calm with such a spirit as i
have to deal with who can tell 

but be that as it will i think my dear i am not meanly off and that
is a great point with me and which i know you will be glad to hear if
it were only that i can see this man without losing any of that dignity
 what other word can i use speaking of myself that betokens decency 
and not arrogance   which is so necessary to enable me to look up or
rather with the mind's eye i may say to look down upon a man of this
man's cast 

although circumstance have so offered that i could not take your advice
as to the manner of dealing with him yet you gave me so much courage by
it as has enabled me to conduct things to this issue as well as
determined me against leaving him which before i was thinking to do 
at all adventures whether when it came to the point i should have
done so or not i cannot say because it would have depended upon his
behaviour at the time 

but let his behaviour be what it will i am afraid with you that
should any thing offer at last to oblige me to leave him i shall not
mend my situation in the world's eye but the contrary and yet i will
not be treated by him with indignity while i have any power to help
myself 

you my dear have accused me of having modesty'd away as you phrase it 
several opportunities of being being what my dear why the wife of a
libertine and what a libertine and his wife are my cousin morden's
letter tells us let me here once for all endeavour to account for the
motives of behavior to this man and for the principles i have proceeded
upon as they appear to me upon a close self-examination 

be pleased to allow me to think that my motives on this occasion rise not
altogether from maidenly niceness nor yet from the apprehension of what
my present tormenter and future husband may think of a precipitate
compliance on such a disagreeable behaviour as his but they arise
principally from what offers to my own heart respecting as i may say 
its own rectitude its own judgment of the fit and the unfit as i would 
without study answer for myself to myself in the first place to him 
and to the world in the second only principles that are in my mind 
that i found there implanted no doubt by the first gracious planter 
which therefore impel me as i may say to act up to them that thereby
i may to the best of my judgment be enabled to comport myself worthily
in both states the single and the married let others act as they will
by me 

i hope my dear i do not deceive myself and instead of setting about
rectifying what is amiss in my heart endeavour to find excuses for habits
and peculiarities which i am unwilling to cast off or overcome 
the heart is very deceitful do you my dear friend lay mine open  but
surely it is always open before you   and spare me not if you think it
culpable 

this observation once for all as i said i thought proper to make to
convince you that to the best of my judgment my errors in matters as
well of lesser moment as of greater shall rather be the fault of my
judgment than of my will 

i am my dearest friend 
your ever obliged 
clarissa harlowe 



letter xxxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
tuesday night may 16 


mr lovelace has sent me by dorcas his proposals as follow 

to spare a delicacy so extreme and to obey you i write and the rather
that you may communicate this paper to miss howe who may consult any of
her friends you shall think proper to have intrusted on this occasion i
say intrusted because as you know i have given it out to several
persons that we are actually married 

in the first place madam i offer to settle upon you by way of
jointure your whole estate and moreover to vest in trustees such a part
of mine in lancashire as shall produce a clear four hundred pounds a
year to be paid to your sole and separate use quarterly 

my own estate is a clear not nominnal 2000l per annum lord m 
proposes to give me possession either of that which he has in lancashire 
 to which by the way i think i have a better title than he has
himself   or that we call the lawn in hertfordshire upon my nuptials
with a lady whom he so greatly admires and to make that i shall choose a
clear 1000l per annum 

my too great contempt of censure has subjected me to much slander it
may not therefore be improper to assure you on the word of a gentleman 
that no part of my estate was ever mortgaged and that although i lived
very expensively abroad and made large draughts yet that midsummer-day
next will discharge all that i owe in the world my notions are not all
bad ones i have been thought in pecuniary cases generous it would
have deserved another name had i not first been just 

if as your own estate is at present in your father's hands you rather
choose that i should make a jointure out of mine tantamount to yours be
it what it will it shall be done i will engage lord m to write to
you what he proposes to do on the happy occasion not as your desire or
expectation but to demonstrate that no advantage is intended to be
taken of the situation you are in with your own family 

to shew the beloved daughter the consideration i have for her i will
consent that she shall prescribe the terms of agreement in relation to
the large sums which must be in her father's hands arising from her
grandfather's estate i have no doubt but he will be put upon making
large demands upon you all those it shall be in your power to comply
with for the sake of your own peace and the remainder shall be paid
into your hands and be entirely at your disposal as a fund to support
those charitable donations which i have heard you so famed for out of
your family and for which you have been so greatly reflected upon in it 

as to clothes jewels and the like against the time you shall choose
to make your appearance it will be my pride that you shall not be
beholden for such of these as shall be answerable to the rank of both 
to those who have had the stupid folly to renounce a daughter they
deserved not you must excuse me madam you would mistrust my sincerity
in the rest could i speak of these people without asperity though so
nearly related to you 

these madam are my proposals they are such as i always designed to
make whenever you would permit me to enter into the delightful subject 
but you have been so determined to try every method for reconciling
yourself to your relations even by giving me absolutely up for ever 
that you seemed to think it but justice to keep me at a distance till
the event of that your predominant hope could be seen it is now seen 
 and although i have been and perhaps still am ready to regret the
want of that preference i wished for from you as miss clarissa harlowe 
yet i am sure as the husband of mrs lovelace i shall be more ready
to adore than to blame you for the pangs you have given to a heart the
generosity or rather the justice of which my implacable enemies have
taught you to doubt and this still the readier as i am persuaded that
those pangs never would have been given by a mind so noble had not the
doubt been entertained perhaps with too great an appearance of reason 
and as i hope i shall have it to reflect that the moment the doubt shall
be overcome the indifference will cease 

i will only add that if i have omitted any thing that would have given
you farther satisfaction or if the above terms be short of what you
would wish you will be pleased to supply them as you think fit and
when i know your pleasure i will instantly order articles to be drawn up
comformably that nothing in my power may be wanting to make you happy 

you will now dearest madam judge how far all the rest depends upon
yourself 

you see my dear what he offers you see it is all my fault that he
has not made these offers before i am a strange creature to be to
blame in every thing and to every body yet neither intend the ill at
the time nor know it to be the ill too late or so nearly too late that
i must give up all the delicacy he talks of to compound for my fault 

i shall now judge how far the rest depends upon myself so coldly
concludes he such warm and in the main unobjectionably proposals 
would you not as you read have supposed that the paper would conclude
with the most earnest demand of a day i own i had that expectation so
strong resulting naturally as i may say from the premises that
without studying for dissatisfaction i could not help being dissatisfied
when i came to the conclusion 

but you say there is no help i must perhaps make further sacrifices 
all delicacy it seems is to be at an end with me but if so this man
knows not what every wise man knows that prudence and virtue and
delicacy of mind in a wife do the husband more real honour in the eye of
the world than the same qualities were she destitute of them in
himself do him as the want of them in her does him more dishonour for
are not the wife's errors the husband's reproach how justly his
reproach is another thing 

i will consider this paper and write to it if i am able for it seems
now all the rest depends upon myself 



letter xxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
wednesday morning may 17 


mr lovelace would fain have engaged me last night but as i was not
prepared to enter upon the subject of his proposals intending to
consider them maturely and was not highly pleased with his conclusion 
i desired to be excused seeing him till morning and the rather as there
is hardly any getting from him in tolerable time overnight 

accordingly about seven o'clock we met in the dining-room 

i find he was full of expectation that i should meet him with a very
favourable who knows but with a thankful aspect and i immediately
found by his sullen countenance that he was under no small
disappointment that i did not 

my dearest love are you well why look you so solemn upon me will
your indifference never be over if i have proposed terms in any respect
short of your expectation 

i told him that he had very considerately mentioned my shewing his
proposals to miss howe and as i should have a speedy opportunity to send
them to her by collins i desired to suspend any talk upon that subject
till i had her opinion upon them 

good god if there was but the least loop-hole the least room for
delay but he was writing a letter to lord m to give him an account of
his situation with me and could not finish it so satisfactorily either
to my lord or to himself as if i would condescend to say whether the
terms he had proposed were acceptable or not 

thus far i told him i could say that my principal point was peace and
reconciliation with my relations as to other matters the gentleness of
his own spirit would put him upon doing more for me than i should ask or
expect wherefore if all he had to write about was to know what lord m 
would do on my account he might spare himself the trouble for that my
utmost wishes as to myself were much more easily gratified than he
perhaps imagined 

he asked me then if i would so far permit him to touch upon the happy
day as to request the presence of lord m on the occasion and to be my
father 

father had a sweet and venerable sound with it i said i should be glad
to have a father who would own me 

was not this plain speaking think you my dear yet it rather i must
own appears so to me on reflection than was designed freely at the
time for i then with a sigh from the bottom of my heart thought of my
own father bitterly regretting that i am an outcast from him and from
my mother 

mr lovelace i thought seemed a little affected at the manner of my
speaking and perhaps at the sad reflection 

i am but a very young creature mr lovelace said i  and wiped my eyes
as i turned away my face   although you have kindly and in love to me 
introduced so much sorry to me already so you must not wonder that the
word father strikes so sensibly upon the heart of a child ever dutiful
till she knew you and whose tender years still require the paternal
wing 

he turned towards the window  rejoice with me my dear since i seem to
be devoted to him that the man is not absolutely impenetrable   his
emotion was visible yet he endeavoured to suppress it approaching me
again again he was obliged to turn from me angelic something he said 
but then obtaining a heart more suitable to his wish he once more
approached me for his own part he said as lord m was so subject to
gout he was afraid that the compliment he had just proposed to make
him might if made occasion a larger suspension than he could bear to
think of and if it did it would vex him to the heart that he had made
it 

i could not say a single word to this you know my dear but you will
guess at my thoughts of what he said so much passionate love lip-deep 
so prudent and so dutifully patient at heart to a relation he had till
now so undutifully despised why why am i thrown upon such a man 
thought i 

he hesitated as if contending with himself and after taking a turn or
two about the room he was at a great loss what to determine upon he
said because he had not the honour of knowing when he was to be made the
happiest of men would to god it might that very instant be resolved
upon 

he stopped a moment or two staring in his usual confident way in my
downcast face  did i not o my beloved friend think you want a father
or a mother just then   but if he could not so soon as he wished 
procure my consent to a day in that case he thought the compliment
might as well be made to lord m as not  see my dear   since the
settlements might be drawn and engrossed in the intervenient time which
would pacify his impatience as no time would be lost 

you will suppose how i was affected by this speech by repeating the
substance of what he said upon it as follows 

but by his soul he knew not so much was i upon the reserve and so
much latent meaning did my eye import whether when he most hoped to
please me he was not farthest from doing so would i vouchsafe to say 
whether i approved of his compliment to lord m or not 

to leave it to me to choose whether the speedy day he ought to have
urged for with earnestness should be accelerated or suspended miss
howe thought i at that moment says i must not run away from this man 

to be sure mr lovelace if this matter be ever to be it must be
agreeable to me to have the full approbation of one side since i cannot
have that of the other 

if this matter be ever to be good god what words are these at this
time of day and full approbation of one side why that word
approbation when the greatest pride of all my family is that of having
the honour of so dear a creature for their relation would to heaven my
dearest life added he that without complimenting any body to-morrow
might be the happiest day of my life what say you my angel with a
trembling impatience that seemed not affected what say you for
to-morrow 

it was likely my dear i could say much to it or name another day had
i been disposed to the latter with such an hinted delay from him 

i was silent 

next day madam if not to-morrow 

had he given me time to answer it could not have been in the
affirmative you must think but in the same breath he went on or the
day after that and taking both my hands in his he stared me into a
half-confusion would you have had patience with him my dear 

no no said i as calmly as possible you cannot think that i should
imagine there can be reason for such a hurry it will be most agreeable 
to be sure for my lord to be present 

i am all obedience and resignation returned the wretch with a self-
pluming air as if he had acquiesced to a proposal made by me and had
complimented me with a great piece of self denial 

is it not plain my dear that he designs to vex and tease me proud 
yet mean and foolish man if so but you say all punctilio is at an end
with me why why will he take pains to make a heart wrap itself up in
reserve that wishes only and that for his sake as well as my own to
observe due decorum 

modesty i think required of me that it should pass as he had put it 
did it not i think it did would to heaven but what signifies
wishing 

but when he would have rewarded himself as he had heretofore called it 
for this self-supposed concession with a kiss i repulsed him with a
just and very sincere disdain 

he seemed both vexed and surprised as one who had made the most
agreeable proposals and concessions and thought them ungratefully
returned he plainly said that he thought our situation would entitle
him to such an innocent freedom and he was both amazed and grieved to be
thus scornfully repulsed 

no reply could be made be me on such a subject 

i abruptly broke from him i recollect as i passed by one of the pier-
glasses that i saw in it his clenched hand offered in wrath to his
forehead the words indifference by his soul next to hatred i heard
him speak and something of ice he mentioned i heard not what 

whether he intends to write to my lord or miss montague i cannot tell 
but as all delicacy ought to be over with me now perhaps i am to blame
to expect it from a man who may not know what it is if he does not and
yet thinks himself very polite and intends not to be otherwise i am
rather to be pitied than he to be censured 

and after all since i must take him as i find him i must that is to
say as a man so vain and so accustomed to be admired that not being
conscious of internal defect he has taken no pains to polish more than
his outside and as his proposals are higher than my expectations and
as in his own opinion he has a great deal to bear from me i will no
new offence preventing sit down to answer them and if possible in
terms as unobjectionable to him as his are to me 

but after all see you not my dear more and more the mismatch that
there is in our minds 

however i am willing to compound for my fault by giving up if that
may be all my punishment the expectation of what is deemed happiness in
this life with such a husband as i fear he will make in short i will
content myself to be a suffering person through the state to the end of
my life a long one it cannot be 

this may qualify him as it may prove from stings of conscience from
misbehaviour to a first wife to be a more tolerable one to a second 
though not perhaps a better deserving one while my story to all who
shall know it will afford these instructions that the eye is a traitor 
and ought ever to be mistrusted that form is deceitful in other words 
that a fine person is seldom paired by a fine mind and that sound
principle and a good heart are the only bases on which the hopes of a
happy future either with respect to this world or the other can be
built 

and so much at present for mr lovelace's proposals of which i desire
your opinion 


 we cannot forbear observing in this place that the lady has been
particularly censured even by some of her own sex as over-nice in her
part of the above conversations but surely this must be owing to want
of attention to the circumstances she was in and to her character as
well as to the character of the man she had to deal with for although
she could not be supposed to know so much of his designs as the reader
does by means of his letters to belford yet she was but too well
convinced of his faulty morals and of the necessity there was from the
whole of his behaviour to her to keep such an encroacher as she
frequently calls him at a distance in letter xxxiii of vol iii the
reader will see that upon some favourable appearances she blames herself
for her readiness to suspect him but his character his principles 
said she are so faulty he is so light so vain so various then 
my dear i have no guardian to depend upon in letter ix of vol iii 
must i not with such a man says she be wanting to myself were i not
jealous and vigilant 

by this time the reader will see that she had still greater reason for
her jealousy and vigilance and lovelace will tell the sex as he does
in letter xi of vol v that the woman who resents not initiatory
freedoms must be lost love is an encroacher says he loves never goes
backward nothing but the highest act of love can satisfy an indulged
love 

but the reader perhaps is too apt to form a judgment of clarissa's
conduct in critical cases by lovelace's complaints of her coldness not
considering his views upon her and that she is proposed as an example 
and therefore in her trials and distresses must not be allowed to
dispense with those rules which perhaps some others of the sex in her
delicate situation would not have thought themselves so strictly bound
to observe although if she had not observed them a lovelace would have
carried all his points 



 four letters are written by mr lovelace from the date of his last 
 giving the state of affairs between him and the lady pretty much the
 same as in hers in the same period allowing for the humour in his 
 and for his resentments expressed with vehemence on her resolution to
 leave him if her friends could be brought to be reconciled to her 
 a few extracts from them will be only given  

what says he might have become of me and of my projects had not her
father and the rest of the implacables stood my friends 


 after violent threatenings of revenge he says  

tis plain she would have given me up for ever nor should i have been
able to prevent her abandoning of me unless i had torn up the tree by
the roots to come at the fruit which i hope still to bring down by a
gentle shake or two if i can but have patience to stay the ripening
seasoning 


 thus triumphing in his unpolite cruelty he says  

after her haughty treatment of me i am resolved she shall speak out 
there are a thousand beauties to be discovered in the face in the
accent in the bush-beating hesitations of a woman who is earnest about a
subject she wants to introduce yet knows not how silly fellows 
calling themselves generous ones would value themselves for sparing a
lady's confusion but they are silly fellows indeed and rob themselves
of prodigious pleasure by their forwardness and at the same time deprive
her of displaying a world of charms which can only be manifested on
these occasions 

i'll tell thee beforehand how it will be with my charmer in this case 
she will be about it and about it several times but i will not
understand her at least after half a dozen hem ings she will be
obliged to speak out i think mr lovelace i think sir i think you
were saying some days ago still i will be all silence her eyes fixed
upon my shoe-buckles as i sit over-against her ladies when put to it
thus always admire a man's shoe-buckles or perhaps some particular
beauties in the carpet i think you said that mrs fretchville then a
crystal tear trickles down each crimson cheek vexed to have her virgin
pride so little assisted but come my meaning dear cry i to myself 
remember what i have suffered for thee and what i have suffered by thee 
thy tearful pausings shall not be helped out by me speak out love o
the sweet confusion can i rob myself of so many conflicting beauties by
the precipitate charmer-pitying folly by which a politer man  thou
knowest lovely that i am no polite man   betrayed by his own
tenderness and unused to female tears would have been overcome i will
feign an irresolution of mind on the occasion that she may not quite
abhor me that her reflections on the scene in my absence may bring to
her remembrance some beauties in my part of it an irresolution that
will be owing to awe to reverence to profound veneration and that will
have more eloquence in it than words can have speak out then love and
spare not 

hard-heartedness as it is called is an essential of the libertine's
character familiarized to the distresses he occasions he is seldom
betrayed by tenderness into a complaisant weakness unworthy of himself 


 mentioning the settlements he says  

i am in earnest as to the terms if i marry her  and i have no doubt
that i shall after my pride my ambition my revenge if thou wilt is
gratified   i will do her noble justice the more i do for such a
prudent such an excellent economist the more shall i do for myself 
but by my soul belford her haughtiness shall be brought down to own
both love and obligation to me nor will this sketch of settlements
bring us forwarder than i would have it modesty of sex will stand my
friend at any time at the very altar our hands joined i will engage
to make this proud beauty leave the parson and me and all my friends who
should be present though twenty in number to look like fools upon one
another while she took wing and flew out of the church door or window 
 if that were open and the door shut and this only by a single word 


 he mentions his rash expression that she should be his although his
 damnation was to be the purchase  

at that instant says he i was upon the point of making a violent
attempt but was checked in the very moment and but just in time to save
myself by the awe i was struck with on again casting my eye upon her
terrified but lovely face and seeing as i thought her spotless heart
in every line of it 

o virtue virtue proceeds he what is there in thee that can thus
against his will affect the heart of a lovelace whence these
involuntary tremors and fear of giving mortal offence what art thou 
that acting in the breast of a feeble woman which never before no not
in my first attempt young as i then was and frightened at my own
boldness till i found myself forgiven had such an effect upon me 


 he paints in lively colours that part of the scene between him and the
 lady where she says the word father has a sweet and venerable sound
 with it  

i was exceedingly affected says he upon the occasion but was ashamed
to be surprised into such a fit of unmanly weakness so ashamed that i
was resolved to subdue it at the instant and to guard against the like
for the future yet at that moment i more than half regretted that i
could not permit her to enjoy a triumph which she so well deserved to
glory in her youth her beauty her artless innocence and her manner 
equally beyond comparison or description but her indifference belford 
 that she could resolve to sacrifice me to the malice of my enemies and
carry on the design in so clandestine a manner and yet love her as i
do to phrensy revere her as i do to adoration these were the
recollections with which i fortified my recreant heart against her yet 
after all if she persevere she must conquer coward as she has made
me that never was a coward before 


 he concludes his fourth letter in a vehement rage upon her repulsing
 him when he offered to salute her having supposed as he owns that
 she would have been all condescension on his proposals to her  

this says he i will for ever remember against her in order to steel my
heart that i may cut through a rock of ice to hers and repay her for
the disdain the scorn which glowed in her countenance and was apparent
in her air at her abrupt departure for me after such obliging behaviour
on my side and after i had so earnestly pressed her for an early day 
the women below say she hates me she despises me and tis true she
does she must and why cannot i take their advice i will not long 
my fair-one be despised by thee and laughed at by them 

let me acquaint thee jack adds he by way of postscript that this
effort of hers to leave me if she could have been received her sending
for a coach on sunday no doubt resolving not to return if she had gone
out without me for did she not declare that she had thoughts to retire
to some of the villages about town where she could be safe and private 
have all together so much alarmed me that i have been adding to the
written instructions for my fellow and the people below how to act in
case she should elope in my absence particularly letting will know what
he shall report to strangers in case she shall throw herself upon any
such with a resolution to abandon me to these instructions i shall
further add as circumstances offer 



letter xxxiv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
thursday may 18 


i have neither time nor patience my dear friend to answer every
material article in your last letters just now received mr lovelace's
proposals are all i like of him and yet as you do i think that he
concludes them not with the warmth and earnestness which we might
naturally have expected from him never in my life did i hear or read of
so patient a man with such a blessing in his reach but wretches of his
cast between you and me my dear have not i fancy the ardors that
honest men have who knows as your bell once spitefully said but he
may have half a dozen creatures to quit his hands of before he engages
for life yet i believe you must not expect him to be honest on this
side of his grand climacteric 

he to suggest delay from a compliment to be made to lord m and to give
time for settlements he a part of whose character it is not to know
what complaisance to his relations is i have no patience with him you
did indeed want an interposing friend on the affecting occasion which you
mention in yours of yesterday morning but upon my word were i to have
been that moment in your situation and been so treated i would have
torn his eyes out and left it to his own heart when i had done to
furnish the reason for it 

would to heaven to-morrow without complimenting any body might be his
happy day villain after he had himself suggested the compliment and
i think he accuses you of delaying fellow that he is how my heart is
wrung 

but as matters now stand betwixt you i am very unseasonable in
expressing my resentments against him yet i don't know whether i am or
not neither since it is the most cruel of fates for a woman to be
forced to have a man whom her heart despises you must at least 
despise him at times however his clenched fist offered to his
forehead on your leaving him in just displeasure i wish it had been a
pole-axe and in the hand of his worst enemy 

i will endeavour to think of some method of some scheme to get you from
him and to fix you safely somewhere till your cousin morden arrives a
scheme to lie by you and to be pursued as occasion may be given you
are sure that you can go abroad when you please and that our
correspondence is safe i cannot however for the reasons heretofore
mentioned respecting your own reputation wish you to leave him while he
gives you not cause to suspect his honour but your heart i know would be
the easier if you were sure of some asylum in case of necessity 

yet once more i say i can have no notion that he can or dare mean your
dishonour but then the man is a fool my dear that's all 

however since you are thrown upon a fool marry the fool at the first
opportunity and though i doubt that this man will be the most
ungovernable of fools as all witty and vain fools are take him as a
punishment since you cannot as a reward in short as one given to
convince you that there is nothing but imperfection in this life 

and what is the result of all i have written but this either marry 
my dear or get from them all and from him too 

you intend the latter you'll say as soon as you have opportunity 
that as above hinted i hope quickly to furnish you with and then comes
on a trial between you and yourself 

these are the very fellows that we women do not naturally hate we don't
always know what is and what is not in our power to do when some
principal point we have long had in view becomes so critical that we
must of necessity choose or refuse then perhaps we look about us are
affrighted at the wild and uncertain prospect before us and after a few
struggles and heart-aches reject the untried new draw in your horns 
and resolve to snail-on as we did before in a track we are acquainted
with 

i shall be impatient till i have your next i am my dearest friend 

your ever affectionate and faithful
anna howe 



letter xxxv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday may 17 


i cannot conceal from you any thing that relates to yourself so much as
the enclosed does you will see what the noble writer apprehends from
you and wishes of you with regard to miss harlowe and how much at
heart all your relations have it that you do honourably by her they
compliment me with an influence over you which i wish with all my soul
you would let me have in this article 

let me once more entreat thee lovelace to reflect before it be too
late before the mortal offence be given upon the graces and merits of
this lady let thy frequent remorses at last end in one effectual
remorse let not pride and wantonness of heart ruin the fairer
prospects by my faith lovelace there is nothing but vanity conceit 
and nonsense in our wild schemes as we grow older we shall be wiser 
and looking back upon our foolish notions of the present hour our youth
dissipated shall certainly despise ourselves when we think of the
honourable engagements we might have made thou more especially if thou
lettest such a matchless creature slide through thy fingers a creature
pure from her cradle in all her actions and sentiments uniformly noble 
strict in the performance of all her even unrewarded duties to the most
unreasonable of fathers what a wife will she make the man who shall have
the honour to call her his 

what apprehensions wouldst thou have had reason for had she been
prevailed upon by giddy or frail motives for which one man by
importunity might prevail as well as another 

we all know what an inventive genius thou art master of we are all
sensible that thou hast a head to contrive and a heart to execute 
have i not called thine the plotting'st heart in the universe i called
it so upon knowledge what woulds't thou more why should it be the
most villainous as well as the most able marry the lady and when
married let her know what a number of contrivances thou hadst in
readiness to play off beg of her not to hate thee for the
communication and assure her that thou gavest them up for remorse and
in justice to her extraordinary merit and let her have the opportunity
of congratulating herself for subduing a heart so capable of what thou
callest glorious mischief this will give her room for triumph and even
thee no less she for hers over thee thou for thine over thyself 

reflect likewise upon her sufferings for thee actually at the time thou
art forming schemes to ruin her at least in her sense of the word is
she not labouring under a father's curse laid upon her by thy means and
for thy sake and wouldst thou give operation and completion to that
curse which otherwise cannot have effect 

and what lovelace all the time is thy pride thou that vainly
imaginest that the whole family of the harlowes and that of the howes
too are but thy machines unknown to themselves to bring about thy
purposes and thy revenge what art thou more or better than the
instrument even of her implacable brother and envious sister to
perpetuate the disgrace of the most excellent of sisters to which they
are moved by vilely low and sordid motives canst thou bear lovelace 
to be thought the machine of thy inveterate enemy james harlowe nay 
art thou not the cully of that still viler joseph leman who serves
himself as much by thy money as he does thee by the double part he acts
by thy direction and further still art thou not the devil's agent who
only can and who certainly will suitably reward thee if thou
proceedest and if thou effectest thy wicked purpose 

could any man but thee put together upon paper the following questions
with so much unconcern as thou seemest to have written them give them
a reperusal o heart of adamant whither can she fly to avoid me her
parents will not receive her her uncles will not entertain her her
beloved norton is in their direction and cannot miss howe dare not 
she has not one friend in town but me is entirely a stranger to the
town  what must that heart be that can triumph in a distress so deep 
into which she has been plunged by thy elaborate arts and contrivances 
and what a sweet yet sad reflection was that which had like to have had
its due effect upon thee arising from thy naming lord m for her nuptial
father her tender years inclining her to wish for a father and to hope
a friend o my dear lovelace canst thou resolve to be instead of the
father thou hast robbed her of a devil 


 see letter xxi of this volume 


thou knowest that i have no interest that i can have no view in
wishing thee to do justice to this admirable creature for thy own sake 
once more i conjure thee for thy family's sake and for the sake of our
common humanity let me beseech thee to be just to miss clarissa harlowe 

no matter whether these expostulations are in character from me or not 
i have been and am bad enough if thou takest my advice which is as
the enclosed will shew thee the advice of all thy family thou wilt
perhaps have it to reproach me and but perhaps neither that thou art
not a worse man than myself but if thou dost not and if thou ruinest
such a virtue all the complicated wickedness of ten devils let loose
among the innocent with full power over them will not do so much vile
and base mischief as thou wilt be guilty of 

it is said that the prince on his throne is not safe if a mind so
desperate can be found as values not its own life so may it be said 
that the most immaculate virtue is not safe if a man can be met with who
has no regard to his own honour and makes a jest of the most solemn vows
and protestations 

thou mayest by trick chicane and false colours thou who art worse than
a pickeroon in love overcome a poor lady so entangled as thou hast
entangled her so unprotected as thou hast made her but consider how
much more generous and just to her and noble to thyself it is to
overcome thyself 

once more it is no matter whether my past or future actions countenance
my preachment as perhaps thou'lt call what i have written but this i
promise thee that whenever i meet with a woman of but one half of miss
harlowe's perfections who will favour me with her acceptance i will
take the advice i give and marry nor will i offer to try her honour
at the hazard of my own 

in other words i will not degrade an excellent creature in her own eyes 
by trials when i have no cause for suspicion and let me add with
respect to thy eagleship's manifestation of which thou boastest in thy
attempts upon the innocent and uncorrupted rather than upon those whom
thou humourously comparest to wrens wagtails and phyl-tits as thou
callest them that i hope i have it not once to reproach myself that i
ruined the morals of any one creature who otherwise would have been
uncorrupted guilt enough in contributing to the continued guilt of other
poor wretches if i am one of those who take care she shall never rise
again when she has once fallen 


 see letter xvii of this volume 


whatever the capital devil under whose banner thou hast listed will let
thee do with regard to this incomparable woman i hope thou wilt act
with honour in relation to the enclosed between lord m and me since
his lordship as thou wilt see desires that thou mayest not know he
wrote on the subject for reasons i think very far from being
creditable to thyself and that thou wilt take as meant the honest zeal
for thy service of

thy real friend 
j belford 



letter xxxvi

lord m to john belford esq 
 enclosed in the preceding  
m hall monday may 15 


sir 

if any man in the world has power over my nephew it is you i therefore
write this to beg you to interfere in the affair depending between him
and the most accomplished of women as every one says and what every one
says must be true 

i don't know that he has any bad designs upon her but i know his temper
too well not to be apprehensive upon such long delays and the ladies
here have been for some time in fear for her lady sarah in particular 
who as you must know is a wise woman says that these delays in the
present case must be from him rather than from the lady 

he had always indeed a strong antipathy to marriage and may think of
playing his dog's tricks by her as he has by so many others if there's
any danger of this tis best to prevent it in time for when a thing is
done advice comes too late 

he has always had the folly and impertinence to make a jest of me for
using proverbs but as they are the wisdom of whole nations and ages
collected into a small compass i am not to be shamed out of sentences
that often contain more wisdom in them than the tedious harangues of most
of our parsons and moralists let him laugh at them if he pleases you
and i know better things mr belford though you have kept company with
a wolf you have not learnt to howl of him 

but nevertheless you must let him know that i have written to you on
this subject i am ashamed to say it but he has ever treated me as if i
were a man of very common understanding and would perhaps think never
the better of the best advice in the world for coming from me those 
mr belford who most love are least set by but who would expect
velvet to be made out of a sow's ear 

i am sure he has no reason however to slight me as he does he may and
will be the better for me if he outlives me though he once told me to
my face that i might do as i would with my estate for that he for his
part loved his liberty as much as he despised money and at another
time twitting me with my phrases that the man was above controul who
wanted not either to borrow or flatter he thought i suppose that i
could not cover him with my wings without pecking at him with my bill 
though i never used to be pecking at him without very great occasion 
and god knows he might have my very heart if he would but endeavour
to oblige me by studying his own good for that is all i desire of him 
indeed it was his poor mother that first spoiled him and i have been
but too indulgent to him since a fine grateful disposition you'll say 
to return evil for good but that was always his way it is a good
saying and which was verified by him with a witness children when
little make their parents fools when great mad had his parents lived
to see what i have seen of him they would have been mad indeed 

this match however as the lady has such an extraordinary share of
wisdom and goodness might set all to rights and if you can forward it 
i would enable him to make whatever settlements he could wish and should
not be unwilling to put him in possession of another pretty estate
besides i am no covetous man he knows and indeed what is a
covetous man to be likened to so fitly as to a dog in a wheel which
roasts meat for others and what do i live for as i have often said 
but to see him and my two nieces well married and settled may heaven
settle him down to a better mind and turn his heart to more of goodness
and consideration 

if the delays are on his side i tremble for the lady and if on hers 
 as he tells my niece charlotte i could wish she were apprized that
delays are dangerous excellent as she is she ought not to depend on
her merits with such a changeable fellow and such a profest marriage-
hater as he has been desert and reward i can assure her seldom keep
company together 

but let him remember that vengeance though it comes with leaden feet 
strikes with iron hands if he behaves ill in this case he may find it
so what a pity it is that a man of his talents and learning should be
so vile a rake alas alas une poignee de bonne vie vaut mieux que
plein muy de clergee a handful of good life is better than a whole
bushel of learning 

you may throw in too as a friend that should he provoke me it may
not be too late for me to marry my old friend wycherly did so when he
was older than i am on purpose to plague his nephew and in spite of
this gout i might have a child or two still i have not been without
some thoughts that way when he has angered me more than ordinary but
these thoughts have gone off again hitherto upon my considering that
the children of very young and very old men though i am not so very old
neither last not long and that old men when they marry young women 
are said to make much of death yet who knows but that matrimony might be
good against the gouty humours i am troubled with 

no man is every thing you mr belford are a learned man i am a peer 
and do you as you best know how inculcate upon him the force of these
wise sayings which follow as well as those which went before but yet so
indiscreetly as that he may not know that you borrow your darts from my
quiver these be they happy is the man who knows his follies in his
youth he that lives well lives long again he that lives ill one
year will sorrow for it seven and again as the spaniards have it who
lives well sees afar off far off indeed for he sees into eternity as
a man may say then that other fine saying he who perishes in needless
dangers is the devil's martyr another proverb i picked up at madrid 
when i accompanied lord lexington in his embassy to spain which might
teach my nephew more mercy and compassion than is in his nature i doubt
to shew which is this that he who pities another remembers himself 
and this that is going to follow i am sure he has proved the truth of a
hundred times that he who does what he will seldom does what he ought 
nor is that unworthy of his notice young men's frolics old men feel my
devilish gout god help me but i will not say what i was going to say 

i remember that you yourself complimenting me for my taste in pithy and
wise sentences said a thing that gave me a high opinion of you and it
was this men of talents  said you are sooner to be convinced by
short sentences than by long preachments because the short sentences
drive themselves into the heart and stay there while long discourses 
though ever so good tire the attention and one good thing drives out
another and so on till all is forgotten 

may your good counsel mr belford founded upon these hints which i have
given pierce his heart and incite him to do what will be so happy for
himself and so necessary for the honour of that admirable lady whom i
long to see his wife and if i may i will not think of one for myself 

should he abuse the confidence she has placed in him i myself shall
pray that vengeance may fall upon his head raro i quite forget all my
latin but i think it is raro antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede paean
claudo where vice goes before vengeance sooner or later will follow 
but why do i translate these things for you 

i shall make no apologies for this trouble i know how well you love him
and me and there is nothing in which you could serve us both more
importantly than in forwarding this match to the utmost of your power 
when it is done how shall i rejoice to see you at m hall mean time i
shall long to hear that you are likely to be successful with him and am 

dear sir 
your most faithful friend and servant 
m 


 mr lovelace having not returned an answer to mr belford's expostulary
 letter so soon as mr belford expected he wrote to him expressing
 his apprehension that he had disobliged him by his honest freedom 
 among other things he says  

i pass my time here at watford attending my dying uncle very heavily 
i cannot therefore by any means dispense with thy correspondence and
why shouldst thou punish me for having more conscience and more remorse
than thyself thou who never thoughtest either conscience or remorse an
honour to thee and i have besides a melancholy story to tell thee in
relation to belton and his thomasine and which may afford a lesson to
all the keeping-class 

i have a letter from each of our three companions in the time they have
all the wickedness that thou hast but not the wit some new rogueries
do two of them boast of which i think if completed deserve the
gallows 

i am far from hating intrigue upon principle but to have awkward
fellows plot and commit their plots to paper destitute of the
seasonings of the acumen which is thy talent how extremely shocking
must their letters be but do thou lovelace whether thou art or art
not determined upon thy measures with regard to the fine lady in thy
power enliven my heavy heart by thy communications and thou wilt oblige

thy melancholy friend 
j belford 



letter xxxvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday night may 19 


when i have opened my view to thee so amply as i have done in my former
letters and have told thee that my principal design is but to bring
virtue to a trial that if virtue it need not be afraid of and that
the reward of it will be marriage that is to say if after i have
carried my point i cannot prevail upon her to live with me the life of
honour for that thou knowest is the wish of my heart i am amazed at
the repetition of thy wambling nonsense 


 see vol iii letter xviii 


i am of opinion with thee that some time hence when i am grown wiser i
shall conclude that there is nothing but vanity conceit and nonsense 
in my present wild schemes but what is this saying but that i must
be first wiser 

i do not intend to let this matchless creature slide through my fingers 

art thou able to say half the things in her praise that i have said and
am continually saying or writing 

her gloomy father cursed the sweet creature because she put it out of
his wicked power to compel her to have the man she hated thou knowest
how little merit she has with me on this score and shall i not try the
virtue i intended upon full proof to reward because her father is a
tyrant why art thou thus eternally reflecting upon so excellent a
woman as if thou wert assured she would fail in the trial nay thou
declarest every time thou writest on the subject that she will that
she must yield entangled as she is and yet makest her virtue the
pretence of thy solicitude for her 

an instrument of the vile james harlowe dost thou call me o jack how
could i curse thee i am instrument of that brother of that sister 
but mark the end and thou shalt see what will become of that brother 
and of that sister 

play not against me my own acknowledged sensibilities i desire thee 
sensibilities which at the same time that they contradict thy charge of
an adamantine heart in thy friend thou hadst known nothing of had i not
communicated them to thee 

if i ruin such a virtue sayest thou eternal monotonist again the
most immaculate virtue may be ruined by men who have no regard to their
honour and who make a jest of the most solemn oaths etc what must be
the virtue that will be ruined without oaths is not the world full of
these deceptions and are not lovers' oaths a jest of hundreds of years'
standing and are not cautions against the perfidy of our sex a
necessary part of the female education 

i do intend to endeavour to overcome myself but i must first try if i
cannot overcome this lady have i not said that the honour of her sex
is concerned that i should try 

whenever thou meetest with a woman of but half her perfections thou wilt
marry do jack 

can a girl be degraded by trials who is not overcome 

i am glad that thou takest crime to thyself for not endeavouring to
convert the poor wretches whom others have ruined i will not
recriminate upon thee belford as i might when thou flatterest thyself
that thou never ruinedst the morals of any young creature who otherwise
would not have been corrupted the palliating consolation of an hottentot
heart determined rather to gluttonize on the garbage of other foul
feeders than to reform but tell me jack wouldst thou have spared such
a girl as my rosebud had i not by my example engaged thy generosity 
nor was my rosebud the only girl i spared when my power was
acknowledged who more merciful than thy friend 

 it is resistance that inflames desire 
 sharpens the darts of love and blows its fire 
 love is disarm'd that meets with too much ease 
 he languishes and does not care to please 

the women know this as well as the men they love to be addressed with
spirit 

 and therefore tis their golden fruit they guard
 with so much care to make profession hard 

whence for a by-reflection the ardent the complaisant gallant is so
often preferred to the cold the unadoring husband and yet the sex do
not consider that variety and novelty give the ardour and the
obsequiousness and that were the rake as much used to them as the
husband is he would be  and is to his own wife if married  as
indifferent to their favours as their husbands are and the husband in
his turn would to another woman be the rake let the women upon the
whole take this lesson from a lovelace always to endeavour to make
themselves as new to a husband and to appear as elegant and as obliging
to him as they are desirous to appear to a lover and actually were to
him as such and then the rake which all women love will last longer in
the husband than it generally does 

but to return if i have not sufficiently cleared my conduct to thee in
the above i refer thee once more to mine of the 13th of last month 
and pr'ythee jack lay me not under a necessity to repeat the same
things so often i hope thou readest what i write more than once 


 see vol ii letter xiv 


i am not displeased that thou art so apprehensive of my resentment that
i cannot miss a day without making thee uneasy thy conscience tis
plain tells thee that thou has deserved my displeasure and if it has
convinced thee of that it will make thee afraid of repeating thy fault 
see that this be the consequence else now that thou hast told me how i
can punish thee it is very likely that i do punish thee by my silence 
although i have as much pleasure in writing on this charming subject as
thou canst have in reading what i write 

when a boy if a dog ran away from me through fear i generally looked
about for a stone or a stick and if neither offered to my hand i
skinned my hat after him to make him afraid for something what
signifies power if we do not exert it 

let my lord know that thou hast scribbled to me but give him not the
contents of thy epistle though a parcel of crude stuff he would think
there was something in it poor arguments will do when brought in
favour of what we like but the stupid peer little thinks that this lady
is a rebel to love on the contrary not only he but all the world
believe her to be a volunteer in his service so i shall incur blame 
and she will be pitied if any thing happen amiss 

since my lord's heart is set upon this match i have written already to
let him know that my unhappy character had given my beloved an
ungenerous diffidence of me that she is so mother-sick and father-fond 
that she had rather return to harlowe-place than marry that she is even
apprehensive that the step she has taken of going off with me will make
the ladies of a family of such rank and honour as ours think slightly of
her that therefore i desire his lordship though this hint i tell him 
must be very delicately touched to write me such a letter as i can shew
her let him treat me in it ever so freely i shall not take it amiss i
tell him because i know his lordship takes pleasure in writing to me in
a corrective style that he may make what offers he pleases on the
marriage that i desire his presence at the ceremony that i may take
from his hand the greatest blessing that mortal man can give me 

i have not absolutely told the lady that i would write to his lordship to
this effect yet have given her reason to think i will so that without
the last necessity i shall not produce the answer i expect from him for
i am very loth i own to make use of any of my family's names for the
furthering of my designs and yet i must make all secure before i pull
off the mask was not this my motive for bringing her hither 

thus thou seest that the old peer's letter came very seasonably i thank
thee for that but as to his sentences they cannot possibly do me good 
i was early suffocated with his wisdom of nations when a boy i never
asked anything of him but out flew a proverb and if the tendency of
that was to deny me i never could obtain the least favour this gave me
so great an aversion to the very word that when a child i made it a
condition with my tutor who was an honest parson that i would not read
my bible at all if he would not excuse me one of the wisest books in it 
to which however i had no other objection than that it was called the
proverbs and as for solomon he was then a hated character with me not
because of his polygamy but because i had conceived him to be such
another musty old fellow as my uncle 

well but let us leave old saws to old me what signifies thy tedious
whining over thy departing relation is it not generally agreed that he
cannot recover will it not be kind in thee to put him out of his
misery i hear that he is pestered still with visits from doctors and
apothecaries and surgeons that they cannot cut so deep as the
mortification has gone and that in every visit in every scarification 
inevitable death is pronounced upon him why then do they keep
tormenting him is it not to take away more of his living fleece than of
his dead flesh when a man is given over the fee should surely be
refused are they not now robbing his heirs what has thou to do if
the will be as thou'dst have it he sent for thee  did he not   to close
his eyes he is but an uncle is he 

let me see if i mistake not it is in the bible or some other good
book can it be in herodotus o i believe it is in josephus a half-
sacred and half-profane author he tells us of a king of syria put out
of his pain by his prime minister or one who deserved to be so for his
contrivance the story says if i am right that he spread a wet cloth
over his face which killing him he reigned in his place a notable
fellow perhaps this wet cloth in the original is what we now call
laudanum a potion that overspreads the faculties as the wet cloth did
the face of the royal patient and the translator knew not how to render
it 

but how like forlorn varlet thou subscribest thy melancholy friend j 
belford  melancholy for what to stand by and see fair play between
an old man and death i thought thou hadst been more of a man that thou
art not afraid of an acute death a sword's point to be so plaugily
hip'd at the consequences of a chronical one what though the
scarificators work upon him day by day it's only upon a caput mortuum 
and pr'ythee go to to use the stylum veterum and learn of the royal
butchers who for sport an hundred times worse men than thy lovelace 
widow ten thousand at a brush and make twice as many fatherless learn
of them i say how to support a single death 

but art thou sure jack it is a mortification my uncle once gave
promises of such a root-and-branch distemper but alas it turned to a
smart gout-fit and i had the mortification instead of him i have heard
that bark in proper doses will arrest a mortification in its progress 
and at last cure it let thy uncle's surgeon know that it is worth more
than his ears if he prescribe one grain of the bark 

i wish my uncle had given me the opportunity of setting thee a better
example thou shouldst have seen what a brave fellow i had been and had
i had occasion to write my conclusion would have been this i hope the
old trojan's happy in that hope i am so and

thy rejoicing friend 
r lovelace 


dwell not always jack upon one subject let me have poor belton's
 story the sooner the better if i can be of service to him tell
 him he may command me either in purse or person yet the former with
 a freer will than the latter for how can i leave my goddess but
 i'll issue my commands to my other vassals to attend thy summons 

if ye want head let me know if not my quota on this occasion is
 money 



letter xxxviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
saturday may 20 


not one word will i reply to such an abandoned wretch as thou hast shewn
thyself to be in thine of last night i will leave the lady to the
protection of that power who only can work miracles and to her own
merits still i have hopes that these will save her 

i will proceed as thou desirest to poor belton's case and the rather 
as it has thrown me into such a train of thinking upon our past lives 
our present courses and our future views as may be of service to us
both if i can give due weight to the reflections that arise from it 

the poor man made me a visit on thursday in this my melancholy
attendance he began with complaints of his ill health and spirits his
hectic cough and his increased malady of spitting blood and then led to
his story 

a confounded one it is and which highly aggravates his other maladies 
for it has come out that his thomasine who truly would be new
christened you know that her name might be nearer in sound to the
christian name of the man whom she pretended to doat upon has for many
years carried on an intrigue with a fellow who had been hostler to her
father an innkeeper at darking of whom at the expense of poor belton 
she has made a gentleman and managed it so that having the art to make
herself his cashier she has been unable to account for large sums which
he thought forthcoming at demand and had trusted to her custody in
order to pay off a mortgage upon his parental estate in kent which his
heart has run upon leaving clear but which now cannot be done and will
soon be foreclosed and yet she has so long passed for his wife that he
knows not what to resolve upon about her nor about the two boys he was
so fond of supposing them to be his whereas now he begins to doubt his
share in them 

so keeping don't do lovelace tis not the eligible wife a man must
keep a woman said the poor fellow to me but not his estate two
interests then my tottering fabric  pointing to his emaciated
carcass 

we do well to value ourselves upon our liberty or to speak more
properly upon the liberties we take we had need to run down matrimony
as we do and to make that state the subject of our frothy jests when we
frequently render ourselves for this of tom's is not a singular case 
the dupes and tools of women who generally govern us by arts our wise
heads penetrate not more absolutely than a wife would attempt to do 

let us consider this point a little and that upon our own principles as
libertines setting aside what is exacted from us by the laws of our
country and its customs which nevertheless we cannot get over till
we have got over almost all moral obligations as members of society 

in the first place let us consider we who are in possession of estates
by legal descent how we should have liked to have been such naked
destitute varlets as we must have been had our fathers been as wise as
ourselves and despised matrimony as we do and then let us ask
ourselves if we ought not to have the same regard for our posterity as
we are glad our fathers had for theirs 

but this perhaps is too moral a consideration to proceed therefore to
those considerations which will be more striking to us how can we
reasonably expect economy or frugality or anything indeed but riot and
waste from creatures who have an interest and must therefore have
views different from our own 

they know the uncertain tenure our fickle humours by which they hold 
and is it to be wondered at supposing them to be provident harlots that
they should endeavour if they have the power to lay up against a rainy
day or if they have not the power that they should squander all they
can come at when they are sure of nothing but the present hour and when
the life they live and the sacrifices they have made put conscience and
honour out of the question 

whereas a wife having the same family-interest with her husband lies
not under either the same apprehensions or temptations and has not
broken through of necessity at least has not those restraints which
education has fastened upon her and if she makes a private purse which
we are told by anti-matrimonialists all wives love to do and has
children it goes all into the same family at the long-run 

then as to the great article of fidelity to your bed are not women of
family who are well-educated under greater restraints than creatures 
who if they ever had reputation sacrifice it to sordid interest or to
more sordid appetite the moment they give it up to you does not the
example you furnish of having succeeded with her give encouragement
for others to attempt her likewise for with all her blandishments can
any man be so credulous or so vain as to believe that the woman he
could persuade another may not prevail upon 

adultery is so capital a guilt that even rakes and libertines if not
wholly abandoned and as i may say invited by a woman's levity disavow
and condemn it but here in a state of keeping a woman is in no danger
of incurring legally at least that guilt and you yourself have broken
through and overthrown in her all the fences and boundaries of moral
honesty and the modesty and reserves of her sex and what tie shall hold
her against inclination or interest and what shall deter an attempter 

while a husband has this security from legal sanctions that if his wife
be detected in a criminal conversation with a man of fortune the most
likely by bribes to seduce her he may recover very great damages and
procure a divorce besides which to say nothing of the ignominy is a
consideration that must have some force upon both parties and a wife
must be vicious indeed and a reflection upon a man's own choice who 
for the sake of change and where there are no qualities to seduce nor
affluence to corrupt will run so many hazards to injure her husband in
the tenderest of all points 

but there are difficulties in procuring a divorce  and so there ought  
and none says the rake in parting with a mistress whenever you suspect
her or whenever you are weary of her and have a mind to change her for
another 

but must not the man be a brute indeed who can cast off a woman whom he
has seduced  if he take her from the town that's another thing  
without some flagrant reason something that will better justify him to
himself as well as to her and to the world than mere power and
novelty 

but i don't see if we judge by fact and by the practice of all we have
been acquainted with of the keeping-class that we know how to part with
them when we have them 

that we know we can if we will is all we have for it and this leads us
to bear many things from a mistress which we would not from a wife 
but if we are good-natured and humane if the woman has art  and what
woman wants it who has fallen by art and to whose precarious situation
art is so necessary   if you have given her the credit of being called by
your name if you have a settled place of abode and have received and
paid visits in her company as your wife if she has brought you children
 you will allow that these are strong obligations upon you in the
world's eye as well as to your own heart against tearing yourself from
such close connections she will stick to you as your skin and it will
be next to flaying yourself to cast her off 

even if there be cause for it by infidelity she will have managed ill 
if she have not her defenders nor did i ever know a cause or a person
so bad as to want advocates either from ill-will to the one or pity to
the other and you will then be thought a hard-hearted miscreant and
even were she to go off without credit to herself she will leave you as
little especially with all those whose good opinion a man would wish to
cultivate 

well then shall this poor privilege that we may part with a woman if
we will be deemed a balance for the other inconveniencies shall it be
thought by us who are men of family and fortune an equivalent for
giving up equality of degree and taking for the partner of our bed and
very probably more than the partner in our estates to the breach of all
family-rule and order a low-born a low-educated creature who has not
brought any thing into the common stock and can possibly make no returns
for the solid benefits she receives but those libidinous ones which a
man cannot boast of but to his disgrace nor think of but to the shame
of both 

moreover as the man advances in years the fury of his libertinism will
go off he will have different aims and pursuits which will diminish
his appetite to ranging and make such a regular life as the matrimonial
and family life palatable to him and every day more palatable 

if he has children and has reason to think them his and if his lewd
courses have left him any estate he will have cause to regret the
restraint his boasted liberty has laid him under and the valuable
privilege it has deprived him of when he finds that it must descend to
some relation for whom whether near or distant he cares not one
farthing and who perhaps if a man of virtue has held him in the
utmost contempt for his dissolute life 

and were we to suppose his estate in his power to bequeath as he pleases 
why should a man resolve for the gratifying of his foolish humour only 
to bastardize his race why should he wish to expose his children to the
scorn and insults of the rest of the world why should he whether they
are sons or daughters lay them under the necessity of complying with
proposals of marriage either inferior as to fortune or unequal as to
age why should he deprive the children he loves who themselves may be
guilty of no fault of the respect they would wish to have and to
deserve and of the opportunity of associating themselves with proper 
that is to say with reputable company and why should he make them think
themselves under obligation to every person of character who will
vouchsafe to visit them what little reason in a word would such
children have to bless their father's obstinate defiance of the laws and
customs of his country and for giving them a mother of whom they could
not think with honour to whose crime it was that they owed their very
beings and whose example it was their duty to shun 

if the education and morals of these children are left to chance as too
generally they are for the man who has humanity and a feeling heart 
and who is capable of fondness for his offspring i take it for granted
will marry the case is still worse his crime is perpetuated as i may
say by his children and the sea the army perhaps the highway for the
boys the common for the girls too often point out the way to a worse
catastrophe 

what therefore upon the whole do we get by treading in these crooked
paths but danger disgrace and a too-late repentance 

and after all do we not frequently become the cullies of our own
libertinism sliding into the very state with those half-worn-out doxies 
which perhaps we might have entered into with their ladies at least with
their superiors both in degree and fortune and all the time lived
handsomely like ourselves not sneaking into holes and corners and when
we crept abroad with our women looking about us and at ever one that
passed us as if we were confessedly accountable to the censures of all
honest people 

my cousin tony jenyns thou knewest he had not the actively mischievous
spirit that thou belton mowbray tourville and myself have but he
imbibed the same notions we do and carried them into practice 

how did he prate against wedlock how did he strut about as a wit and a
smart and what a wit and a smart did all the boys and girls of our
family myself among the rest then an urchin think him for the airs he
gave himself marry no not for the world what man of sense would
bear the insolences the petulances the expensiveness of a wife he
could not for the heart of him think it tolerable that a woman of equal
rank and fortune and as it might happen superior talents to his own 
should look upon herself to have a right to share the benefit of that
fortune which she brought him 

so after he had fluttered about the town for two or three years in all
which time he had a better opinion of himself than any body else had 
what does he do but enter upon an affair with his fencing-master's
daughter 

he succeeds takes private lodgings for her at hackney visits her by
stealth both of them tender of reputations that were extremely tender 
but which neither had quite given up for rakes of either sex are always
the last to condemn or cry down themselves visited by nobody nor
visiting the life of a thief or of a man bested by creditors afraid to
look out of his own house or to be seen abroad with her and thus went
on for twelve years and though he had a good estate hardly making both
ends meet for though no glare there was no economy and beside he had
ever year a child and very fond of his children was he but none of
them lived above three years and being now on the death of the
dozenth grown as dully sober as if he had been a real husband his good
mrs thomas for he had not permitted her to take his own name prevailed
upon him to think the loss of their children a judgment upon the parents
for their wicked way of life  a time will come lovelace if we live to
advanced years in which reflection will take hold of the enfeebled
mind   and then it was not difficult for his woman to induce him by way
of compounding with heaven to marry her when this was done he had
leisure to sit down and contemplate an to recollect the many offers of
persons of family and fortune to which he had declined in the prime of
life his expenses equal at least his reputation not only less but
lost his enjoyments stolen his partnership unequal and such as he had
always been ashamed of but the woman said that after twelve or
thirteen years' cohabitation tony did an honest thing by her and that
was all my poor cousin got by making his old mistress his new wife not a
drum not a trumpet not a fife not a tabret nor the expectation of a
new joy to animate him on 

what belton will do with his thomasine i know not nor care i to advise
him for i see the poor fellow does not like that any body should curse
her but himself this he does very heartily and so low is he reduced 
that he blubbers over the reflection upon his past fondness for her cubs 
and upon his present doubts of their being his what a damn'd thing is
it belford if tom and hal should be the hostler dog's puppies and not
mine 

very true and i think the strong health of the chubby-faced muscular
whelps confirms the too great probability 

but i say not so to him 

you he says are such a gay lively mortal that this sad tale would
make no impression upon you especially now that your whole heart is
engaged as it is mowbray would be too violent upon it he has not he
says a feeling heart tourville has no discretion and a pretty jest 
although he and his thomasine lived without reputation in the world 
 people guessing that they were not married notwithstanding she went by
his name yet he would not too much discredit the cursed ingrate
neither 

could a man act a weaker part had he been really married and were he
sure he was going to separate from the mother of his own children 

i leave this as a lesson upon thy heart without making any application 
only with this remark that after we libertines have indulged our
licentious appetites reflecting in the conceit of our vain hearts 
both with our lips and by our lives upon our ancestors and the good old
ways we find out when we come to years of discretion if we live till
then what all who knew us found out before that is to say we found
out our own despicable folly that those good old ways would have been
best for us as well as for the rest of the world and that in every step
we have deviated from them we have only exposed our vanity and our
ignorance at the same time 

j belford 



letter xxxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
saturday may 20 


i am pleased with the sober reflection with which thou concludest thy
last and i thank thee for it poor belton i did not think his
thomasine would have proved so very a devil but this must everlastingly
be the risk of a keeper who takes up with a low-bred girl this i never
did nor had i occasion to do it such a one as i jack needed only 
till now to shake the stateliest tree and the mellowed fruit dropt into
my mouth always of montaigne's taste thou knowest thought it a glory
to subdue a girl of family more truly delightful to me the seduction-
progress than the crowned act for that's a vapour a bubble and most
cordially do i thank thee for thy indirect hint that i am right in my
pursuit 

from such a woman as miss harlowe a man is secured from all the
inconveniencies thou expatiatest upon 

once more therefore do i thank thee belford for thy approbation a
man need not as thou sayest sneak into holes and corners and shun the
day in the company of such a woman as this how friendly in thee thus
to abet the favourite purpose of my heart nor can it be a disgrace to
me to permit such a lady to be called by my name nor shall i be at all
concerned about the world's censure if i live to the years of
discretion which thou mentionest should i be taken in and prevailed
upon to tread with her the good old path of my ancestors 

a blessing on thy heart thou honest fellow i thought thou wert in
jest and but acquitting thyself of an engagement to lord m when thou
wert pleading for matrimony in behalf of this lady it could not be
principle i knew in thee it could not be compassion a little envy
indeed i suspected but now i see thee once more thyself and once more 
say i a blessing on thy heart thou true friend and very honest fellow 

now will i proceed with courage in all my schemes and oblige thee with
the continued narrative of my progressions towards bringing them to
effect but i could not forbear to interrupt my story to show my
gratitude 



letter xl

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


and now will i favour thee with a brief account of our present situation 

from the highest to the lowest we are all extremely happy dorcas stands
well in her lady's graces polly has asked her advice in relation to a
courtship-affair of her own no oracle ever gave better sally has had
a quarrel with her woollen-draper and made my charmer lady-chancellor in
it she blamed sally for behaving tyrannically to a man who loves her 
dear creature to stand against a glass and to shut her eyes because she
will not see her face in it mrs sinclair has paid her court to so
unerring a judge by requesting her advice with regard to both nieces 

this the way we have been in for several days with the people below yet
sola generally at her meals and seldom at other times in their company 
they now used to her ways  perseverance must conquer   never press her 
so when they meet all is civility on both sides even married people i
believe jack prevent abundance of quarrels by seeing one another but
seldom 

but how stands it between thyself and the lady methinks thou askest 
since her abrupt departure from thee and undutiful repulse of wednesday
morning 

why pretty well in the main nay very well for why the dear saucy-
face knows not how to help herself can fly to no other protection and
has besides overheard a conversation  who would have thought she had
been so near   which passed between mrs sinclair miss martin and
myself that very wednesday afternoon which has set her heart at ease
with respect to several doubtful points 

such as particularly mrs fretchville's unhappy state of mind most
humanely pitied by miss martin who knows her very well the husband she
has lost and herself as sally says lovers from their cradles pity
from one begets pity from another be the occasion for it either strong
or weak and so many circumstances were given to poor mrs fretchville's
distress that it was impossible but my beloved must extremely pity her
whom the less tender-hearted miss martin greatly pitied 

my lord m s gout his only hindrance from visiting my spouse lady
betty and miss montague soon expected in town 

my earnest desire signified to have my spouse receive those ladies in
her own house if mrs fretchville would but know her own mind and i
pathetically lamented the delay occasioned by her not knowing it 

my intention to stay at mrs sinclair's as i said i had told them
before while my spouse resides in her own house when mrs fretchville
could be brought to quit it in order to gratify her utmost punctilio 

my passion for my beloved which as i told them in a high and fervent
accent was the truest that man could have for woman i boasted of it
was in short i said of the true platonic kind or i had no notion of
what platonic love was 

so it is jack and must end as platonic love generally does end 

sally and mrs sinclair next praised but not grossly my beloved 
sally particularly admired her purity called it exemplary yet to avoid
suspicion expressed her thoughts that she was rather over-nice if she
might presume to say so before me but nevertheless she applauded me for
the strict observation i made of my vow 

i more freely blamed her reserves to me called her cruel inveighed
against her relations doubted her love every favour i asked of her
denied me yet my behaviour to her as pure and delicate when alone as
when before them hinted at something that had passed between us that
very day that shewed her indifference to me in so strong a light that i
could not bear it but that i would ask her for her company to the play
of venice preserved given out for sunday night as a benefit-play the
prime actors to be in it and this to see if i were to be denied every
favour yet for my own part i loved not tragedies though she did for
the sake of the instruction the warning and the example generally given
in them 

i had too much feeling i said there was enough in the world to make
our hearts sad without carrying grief in our diversions and making the
distresses of others our own 

true enough belford and i believe generally speaking that all the men
of our cast are of my mind they love not any tragedies but those in
which they themselves act the parts of tyrants and executioners and 
afraid to trust themselves with serious and solemn reflections run to
comedies in order to laugh away compunction on the distresses they have
occasioned and to find examples of men as immoral as themselves for
very few of our comic performances as thou knowest give us good ones 
i answer however for myself yet thou i think on recollection lovest
to deal in the lamentable 

sally answered for polly who was absent mrs sinclair for herself and
for all her acquaintance even for miss partington in preferring the
comic to the tragic scenes and i believe they are right for the
devil's in it if a confided-in rake does not give a girl enough of
tragedy in his comedy 

i asked sally to oblige my fair-one with her company she was engaged 
 that was right thou'lt suppose  i asked mrs sinclair's leave for
polly to be sure she answered polly would think it an honour to
attend mrs lovelace but the poor thing was tender-hearted and as the
tragedy was deep would weep herself blind 

sally meantime objected singleton that i might answer the objection 
and save my beloved the trouble of making it or debating the point with
me and on this occasion i regretted that her brother's projects were not
laid aside since if they had been given up i would have gone in person
to bring up the ladies of my family to attend my spouse 

i then from a letter just before received from one in her father's
family warned them of a person who had undertaken to find us out and
whom i thus in writing  having called for pen and ink  described that
they might arm all the family against him  a sun-burnt pock-fretten
sailor ill-looking big-boned his stature about six foot an heavy eye 
an overhanging brow a deck-treading stride in his walk a couteau
generally by his side lips parched from his gums as if by staring at
the sun in hot climates a brown coat a coloured handkerchief about his
neck an oaken plant in his hand near as long as himself and
proportionately thick  

no questions asked by this fellow must be answered they should call me
to him but not let my beloved know a tittle of this so long as it
could be helped and i added that if her brother or singleton came and
if they behaved civilly i would for her sake be civil to them and in
this case she had nothing to do but to own her marriage and there could
be no pretence for violence on either side but most fervently i swore 
that if she was conveyed away either by persuasion or force i would
directly on missing her but one day go to demand her at harlowe-place 
whether she were there or not and if i recovered not a sister i would
have a brother and should find out a captain of a ship as well as he 

and now jack dost thou think she'll attempt to get from me do what i
will 

mrs sinclair began to be afraid of mischief in her house i was
apprehensive that she would over-do the matter and be out of character 
i therefore winked at her she primed nodded to show she took me 
twanged out a high-ho through her nose lapped one horse-lip over the
other and was silent 

here's preparation belford dost think i will throw it all away for any
thing thou canst say or lord m write no indeed as my charmer says 
when she bridles 


 


and what must necessarily be the consequence of all this with regard to
my beloved's behaviour to me canst thou doubt that it was all
complaisance next time she admitted me into her presence 

thursday we were very happy all the morning extremely happy i kissed
her charming hand i need not describe to thee her hand and arm when
thou sawest her i took notice that thy eyes dwelt upon them whenever
thou couldst spare them from that beauty spot of wonders her face fifty
times kissed her hand i believe once her cheek intending her lip but
so rapturously that she could not help seeming angry 

had she not thus kept me at arms-length had she not denied me those
innocent liberties which our sex from step to step aspire to could i
but have gained access to her in her hours of heedlessness and
dishabille  for full dress creates dignity augments consciousness and
compels distance   we had familiarized to each other long ago but keep
her up ever so late meet her ever so early by breakfast-time she is
dressed for the day and at her earliest hour as nice as others dressed 
all her forms thus kept up wonder not that i have made so little
progress in the proposed trial but how must all this distance
stimulate 

thursday morning as i said we were extremely happy about noon she
numbered the hours she had been with me all of them to be but as one
minute and desired to be left to herself i was loth to comply but
observing the sun-shine began to shut in i yielded 

i dined out returning i talked of the house and of mrs fretchville 
had seen mennell had pressed him to get the widow to quit she pitied
mrs fretchville  another good effect of the overheard conversation  had
written to lord m expected an answer soon from him i was admitted to
sup with her i urged for her approbation or correction of my written
terms she again promised an answer as soon as she had heard from miss
howe 

then i pressed for her company to the play on saturday night she made
objections as i had foreseen her brother's projects warmth of the
weather etc but in such a manner as if half afraid to disoblige me
 another happy effect of the overheard conversation  i soon got over
these therefore and she consented to favour me 

friday passed as the day before 

here were two happy days to both why cannot i make every day equally
happy it looks as if it were in my power to do so strange i should
thus delight in teasing a woman i so dearly love i must i doubt have
something in my temper like miss howe who loves to plague the man who
puts himself in her power but i could not do thus by such an angel as
this did i not believe that after her probation time shall be expired 
and if she be not to be brought to cohabitation my darling view i
shall reward her as she wishes 

saturday is half over we are equally happy preparing for the play 
polly has offered her company and is accepted i have directed her
where to weep and this not only to show her humanity  a weeping eye
indicates a gentle heart   but to have a pretence to hide her face with a
fan or handkerchief yet polly is far from being every man's girl and
we shall sit in the gallery green-box 

the woes of others so well represented as those of belvidera
particularly will be must i hope unlock and open my charmer's heart 
whenever i have been able to prevail upon a girl to permit me to attend
her to a play i have thought myself sure of her the female heart all
gentleness and harmony by nature expands and forgets its forms when
its attention is carried out of itself at an agreeable or affecting
entertainment music and perhaps a collation afterwards co-operating 

indeed i have no hope of such an effect here but i have more than one
end to answer by getting her to a play to name but one dorcas has a
master-key as i have told thee but it were worth while to carry her to
the play of venice preserved were it but to show her that there have
been and may be much deeper distresses than she can possibly know 

thus exceedingly happy are we at present i hope we shall not find any
of nat lee's left-handed gods at work to dash our bowl of joy with
wormwood 

r lovelace 



letter xli

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
friday may 19 


i would not if i could help it be so continually brooding over the dark
and gloomy face of my condition  all nature you know my dear and every
thing in it has a bright and a gloomy side  as to be thought unable to
enjoy a more hopeful prospect and this not only for my own sake but
for yours who take such generous concern in all that befalls me 

let me tell you then my dear that i have known four-and-twenty hours
together not unhappy ones my situation considered 


 she then gives the particulars of the conversation which she had
 overheard between mr lovelace mrs sinclair and miss martin but
 accounts more minutely than he had done for the opportunity she had of
 overhearing it unknown to them 

she gives the reasons she has to be pleased with what she heard from
 each but is shocked at the measure he is resolved to take if he
 misses her but for one day yet is pleased that he proposes to avoid
 aggressive violence if her brother and he meet in town  

even dorcas says she appears less exceptionable to me than before and
i cannot but pity her for her neglected education as it is matter of so
much regret to herself else there would not be much in it as the low
and illiterate are the most useful people in the common-wealth since
such constitute the labouring part of the public and as a lettered
education but too generally sets people above those servile offices by
which the businesses of the world is carried on nor have i any doubt
but there are take the world through twenty happy people among the
unlettered to one among those who have had a school-education 

this however concludes not against learning or letters since one would
wish to lift to some little distinction and more genteel usefulness 
those who have capacity and whose parentage one respects or whose
services one would wish to reward 

were my mind quite at ease i could enlarge perhaps not unusefully upon
this subject for i have considered it with as much attention as my
years and little experience and observation will permit 

but the extreme illiterateness and indocility of this maid are
surprising considering that she wants not inquisitiveness appears
willing to learn and in other respects has quick parts this confirms
to me what i have heard remarked that there is a docible season a
learning-time as i may say for every person in which the mind may be
led step by step from the lower to the higher year by year to
improvement how industriously ought these seasons as they offer to be
taken hold of by tutors parents and other friends to whom the
cultivation of the genius of children and youth is committed since once
elapsed and no foundation laid they hardly ever return and yet it
must be confessed that there are some geniuses which like some fruits 
ripen not till late and industry and perseverance will do prodigious
things but for a learner to have those first rudiments to master at
twenty years of age suppose which others are taught and they
themselves might have attained at ten what an uphill labour 

these kind of observations you have always wished me to intersperse as
they arise to my thoughts but it is a sign that my prospects are a
little mended or i should not among so many more interesting ones that
my mind has been of late filled with have had heart's ease enough to
make them 

let me give you my reflections on my more hopeful prospects 

i am now in the first place better able to account for the delays about
the house than i was before poor mrs fretchville though i know her
not i pity her next it looks well that he had apprized the women
 before this conversation with them of his intention to stay in this
house after i was removed to the other by the tone of his voice he
seemed concerned for the appearance of this new delay would have with me 

so handsomely did miss martin express herself of me that i am sorry 
methinks that i judged so hardly of her when i first came hither free
people may go a great way but not all the way and as such are generally
unguarded precipitate and thoughtless the same quickness 
changeableness and suddenness of spirit as i may call it may intervene
 if the heart be not corrupted to recover them to thought and duty 

his reason for declining to go in person to bring up the ladies of his
family while my brother and singleton continue their machinations 
carries no bad face with it and one may the rather allow for their
expectations that so proud a spirit as his should attend them for this
purpose as he speaks of them sometimes as persons of punctilio 

other reasons i will mention for my being easier in my mind than i was
before i overheard this conversation 

such as the advice he had received in relation to singleton's mate 
which agrees but too well with what you my dear wrote to me in your's
of may the 10th 


 see letter xxiii of this volume 


his not intending to acquaint me with it 

his cautions to the servants about the sailor if he should come and make
inquiries about us 

his resolution to avoid violence were he to fall in either with my
brother or this singleton and the easy method he has chalked out in
this case to prevent mischief since i need only not to deny my being
his but yet i should be driven into such a tacit acknowledgement to any
new persons till i am so although i have been led so much against my
liking to give countenance to the belief of the persons below that we
are married 

i think myself obliged from what passed between mr lovelace and me on
wednesday and from what i overheard him say to consent to go with him
to the play and the rather as he had the discretion to propose one of
the nieces to accompany me 

i cannot but acknowledge that i am pleased to find that he has actually
written to lord m 

i have promised to give mr lovelace an answer to his proposals as soon
as i have heard from you my dear on the subject 

i hope that in my next letter i shall have reason to confirm these
favourable appearances favourable i must think them in the wreck i have
suffered 

i hope that in the trial which you hint may happen between me and
myself as you express it if he should so behave as to oblige me to
leave him i shall be able to act in such a manner as to bring no
discredit upon myself in your eye and that is all now that i have to
wish for but if i value him so much as you are pleased to suppose i
do the trial which you imagine will be so difficult to me will not i
conceive be upon getting from him when the means to affect my escape
are lent me but how i shall behave when got from him and if like the
israelites of old i shall be so weak as to wish to return to my egyptian
bondage 


 see letter xxxiv of this volume 


i think it will not be amiss notwithstanding the present favourable
appearances that you should perfect the scheme whatever it be which
you tell me you have thought of in order to procure for me an asylum 
in case of necessity mr lovelace is certainly a deep and dangerous
man and it is therefore but prudence to be watchful and to be provided
against the worst lord bless me my dear how i am reduced could i
ever have thought to be in such a situation as to be obliged to stay
with a man of whose honour by me i could have but the shadow of a doubt 
 but i will look forward and hope the best 


 ibid 


i am certain that your letters are safe be perfectly easy therefore 
on that head 

mr lovelace will never be out of my company by his good will otherwise
i have no doubt that i am mistress of my goings-out and comings-in and
did i think it needful and were i not afraid of my brother and captain
singleton i would oftener put it to trial 



letter xlii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
saturday may 20 


i did not know my dear that you deferred giving an answer to mr 
lovelace's proposals till you had my opinion of them a particular hand 
occasionally going to town will leave this at wilson's that no delay
may be made on that account 

i never had any doubt of the man's justice and generosity in matters of
settlement and all his relations are as noble in their spirits as in
their descent but now it may not be amiss for you to wait to see what
returns my lord makes to his letter of invitation 

the scheme i think of is this 

there is a person whom i believe you have seen with me her name
townsend who is a great dealer in indian silks brussels and french
laces cambricks linen and other valuable goods which she has a way
of coming at duty-free and has a great vend for them and for other
curiosities which she imports in the private families of the gentry
round us 

she has her days of being in town and then is at a chamber she rents at
an inn in southwark where she keeps patterns of all her silks and much
of her portable goods for the conveniency of her london customers but
her place of residence and where she has her principal warehouse is at
depford for the opportunity of getting her goods on shore 

she was first brought to me by my mother to whom she was recommended on
the supposal of my speedy marriage that i might have an opportunity to
be as fine as a princess  was my mother's expression at a moderate
expense 

now my dear i must own that i do not love to encourage these
contraband traders what is it but bidding defiance to the laws of our
country when we do and hurting fair traders and at the same time
robbing our prince of his legal due to the diminution of those duties
which possibly must be made good by new levities upon the public 

but however mrs townsend and i though i have not yet had dealings
with her are upon a very good foot of understanding she is a sensible
woman she has been abroad and often goes abroad in the way of her
business and gives very entertaining accounts of all she has seen 

and having applied to me to recommend her to you as it is her view to
be known to young ladies who are likely to change their condition i am
sure i can engage her to give you protection at her house at deptford 
which she says is a populous village and one of the last i should
think in which you would be sought for she is not much there you will
believe by the course of her dealings but no doubt must have somebody
on the spot in whom she can confide and there perhaps you might be
safe till your cousin comes and i should not think it amiss that you
write to him out of hand i cannot suggest to you what you should write 
that must be left to your own discretion for you will be afraid no
doubt of the consequence of a variance between the two men 

but notwithstanding all this and were i sure of getting you safely out
of his hands i will nevertheless forgive you were you to make all up
with him and marry to-morrow yet i will proceed with my projected
scheme in relation to mrs townsend though i hope there will be no
occasion to prosecute it since your prospects seem to be changed and
since you have had twenty-four not unhappy hours together how my
indignation rises for this poor consolation in the courtship  courtship
must i call it   of such a woman let me tell you my dear that were you
once your own absolute and independent mistress i should be tempted 
notwithstanding all i have written to wish you to be the wife of any man
in the world rather than the wife either of lovelace or of solmes 

mrs townsend as i have recollected has two brothers each a master of
a vessel and who knows as she and they have concerns together but
that in case of need you may have a whole ship's crew at your devotion 
if lovelace give you cause to leave him take no thought for the people
at harlowe-place let them take care of one another it is a care they
are used to the law will help to secure them the wretch is no
assassin no night-murderer he is an open because a fearless enemy 
and should he attempt any thing that would make him obnoxious to the laws
of society you might have a fair riddance of him either by flight or
the gallows no matter which 

had you not been so minute in your account of the circumstances that
attended the opportunity you had of overhearing the dialogue between mr 
lovelace and two of the women i should have thought the conference
contrived on purpose for your ear 

i showed mr lovelace's proposals to mr hickman who had chambers once
in lincoln's-inn being designed for the law had his elder brother
lived he looked so wise so proud and so important upon the occasion 
and wanted to take so much consideration about them would take them home
if i pleased and weigh them well and so forth and the like and all
that that i had no patience with him and snatched them back with anger 

o dear to be so angry an't please me for his zeal 

yes zeal without knowledge i said like most other zeals if there were
no objections that struck him at once there were none 

so hasty dearest madam 

and so slow un-dearest sir i could have said but surely said i with
a look that implied would you rebel sir 

he begged my pardon saw no objection indeed but might he be allowed
once more 

no matter no matter i would have shown them to my mother i said who 
though of no inn of court knew more of these things than half the
lounging lubbers of them and that at first sight only that she would
have been angry at the confession of our continued correspondence 

but my dear let the articles be drawn up and engrossed and solemnize
upon them and there's no more to be said 

let me add that the sailor-fellow has been tampering with my kitty and
offered a bribe to find where to direct to you next time he comes i
will have him laid hold of and if i can get nothing out of him will
have him drawn through one of our deepest fishponds his attempt to
corrupt a servant of mine will justify my orders 

i send this letter away directly but will follow it by another which
shall have for its subject only my mother myself and your uncle antony 
and as your prospects are more promising than they have been i will
endeavour to make you smile upon the occasion for you will be pleased
to know that my mother has had a formal tender from that grey goose 
which may make her skill in settlements useful to herself were she to
encourage it 

may your prospects be still more and more happy prays

your own 
anna howe 



letter xliii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
sat sunday may 20 21 


now my dear for the promised subject you must not ask me how i came
by the originals  such they really are  that i am going to present you
with for my mother would not read to me those parts of your uncle's
letter which bore hard upon myself and which leave him without any title
to mercy from me nor would she let me hear but what she pleased of her's
in answer for she has condescended to answer him with a denial 
however but such a denial as no one but an old bachelor would take from
a widow 

any body except myself who could have been acquainted with such a
fal-lal courtship as this must have been had it proceeded would have
been glad it had gone on and i dare say but for the saucy daughter it
had my good mamma in that case would have been ten years the younger
for it perhaps and could i but have approved of it i should have been
considered by her as if ten years older than i am since very likely it
would have been we widows my dear know not how to keep men at a
distance so as to give them pain in order to try their love you must
advise me child you must teach me to be cruel yet not too cruel
neither so as to make a man heartless who has no time god wot to
throw away  then would my behaviour to mr hickman have been better
liked and my mother would have bridled like her daughter 

o my dear how might we have been diverted by the practisings for the
recovery of the long forgottens could i have been sure that it would
have been in my power to have put them asunder in the irish style 
before they had come together but there's no trusting to the widow
whose goods and chattels are in her own hands addressed by an old
bachelor who has fine things and offers to leave her ten thousand pounds
better than he found her and sole mistress besides of all her
notables for these as you will see by-and-by are his proposals 

the old triton's address carries the writer's marks upon the very
subscription to the equally amiable and worthy admired  there's for
you   mrs anabella howe widow the last word added i suppose as
esquire to a man as a word of honour or for fear the bella to anna 
should not enough distinguish the person meant from the spinster  vain
hussy you'll call me i know   and then follows these humbly present 
 put down as a memorandum i presume to make a leg and behave
handsomely at presenting it he intending very probably to deliver it
himself 

and now stand by to see


enter old neptune 

his head adorned with sea-weed and a crown of cockle-shells as we see
 him decked out in mrs robinson's grotto 


monday may 15 

madam 

i did make a sort of resolution ten years ago never to marry i saw in
other families where they lived best you will be pleased to mark that 
queernesses i could not away with then liked well enough to live single
for the sake of my brother's family and for one child in it more than
the rest but that girl has turned us all off the hinges and why should
i deny myself any comforts for them as will not thank me for so doing i
don't know 

so much for my motives as from self and family but the dear mrs howe
makes me go farther 

i have a very great fortune i bless god for it all of my own getting 
or most of it you will be pleased to mark that for i was the youngest
brother of three you have also god be thanked a great estate which
you have improved by your own frugality and wise management frugality 
let me stop to say is one of the greatest virtues in this mortal life 
because it enables us to do justice to all and puts it in our power to
benefit some by it as we see they deserve 

you have but one child and i am a bachelor and have never a one all
bachelors cannot say so wherefore your daughter may be the better for
me if she will keep up with my humour which was never thought bad 
especially to my equals servants indeed i don't matter being angry
with when i please they are paid for bearing it and too-too often
deserve it as we have frequently taken notice of to one another and 
moreover if we keep not servants at distance they will be familiar 
i always made it a rule to find fault whether reasonable or not that so
i might have no reason to find fault young women and servants in
general as worthy mr solmes observes are better governed by fear than
love but this my humour as to servants will not effect either you or
miss you know 

i will make very advantageous settlements such as any common friend
shall judge to be so but must have all in my own power while i live 
because you know madam it is as creditable to the wife as to the
husband that it should be so 

i am not at fine words we are not children though it is hoped we may
have some for i am a very healthy sound man i bless god for it and
never brought home from my voyages and travels a worser constitution than
i took out with me i was none of those i will assure you but this i
will undertake that if you are the survivor you shall be at the least
ten thousand pounds the better for me what in the contrary case i
shall be the better for you i leave to you as you shall think my
kindness to you shall deserve 

but one thing madam i shall be glad of that miss howe might not live
with us then  she need not know i write thus  but go home to mr 
hickman as she is upon the point of marriage i hear and if she behaves
dutifully as she should do to us both she shall be the better for i
said so before 

you shall manage all things both mine and your own for i know but
little of land-matters all my opposition to you shall be out of love 
when i think you take too much upon you for your health 

it will be very pretty for you i should think to have a man of
experience in a long winter's evening to sit down by you and tell you
stories of foreign parts and the customs of the nations he has consorted
with and i have fine curiosities of the indian growth such as ladies
love and some that even my niece clary when she was good never saw 
these one by one as you are kind to me which i make no question of 
because i shall be kind to you shall be all yours prettier
entertainment by much than sitting with a too smartish daughter 
sometimes out of humour and thwarting and vexing as daughters will 
 when women-grown especially as i have heard you often observe and
thinking their parents old without paying them the reverence due to
years when as in your case i make no sort of doubt they are young
enough to wipe their noses you understand me madam 

as for me myself it will be very happy and i am delighted with the
thinking of it to have after a pleasant ride or so a lady of like
experience with myself to come home to and but one interest betwixt us 
to reckon up our comings-in together and what this day and this week has
produced o how this will increase love most mightily will it increase
it and i believe i shall never love you enough or be able to show you
all my love 

i hope madam there need not be such maiden niceties and hangings-off 
as i may call them between us for hanging-off sake as that you will
deny me a line or two to this proposal written down although you would
not answer me so readily when i spoke to you your daughter being i
suppose hard by for you looked round you as if not willing to be
overheard so i resolved to write that my writing may stand as upon
record for my upright meaning being none of your lovelaces you will
mark that madam but a downright true honest faithful englishman so
hope you will not disdain to write a line or two to this my proposal and
i shall look upon it as a great honour i will assure you and be proud
thereof what can i say more for you are your own mistress as i am my
own master and you shall always be your own mistress be pleased to mark
that for so a lady of your prudence and experience ought to be 

this is a long letter but the subject requires it because i would not
write twice where once would do so would explain my sense and meaning
at one time 

i have had writing in my head two whole months very near but hardly knew
how being unpracticed in these matters to begin to write and now 
good lady be favourable to

your most humble lover 
and obedient servant 
ant harlowe 


 


here's a letter of courtship my dear and let me subjoin to it that if
now or hereafter i should treat this hideous lover who is so free with
me to my mother with asperity and you should be disgusted at it i
shall think you don't give me that preference in your love which you have
in mine 

and now which shall i first give you the answer of my good mamma or
the dialogue that passed between the widow mother and the pert daughter 
upon her letting the latter know that she had a love-letter 

i think you shall have the dialogue but let me promise one thing that
if you think me too free you must not let it run in your head that i am
writing of your uncle or of my mother but of a couple of old lovers no
matter whom reverence is too apt to be forgotten by children where the
reverends forget first what belongs to their own characters a grave
remark and therefore at your service my dear 

well then suppose my mamma after twice coming into my closet to me 
and as often going out with very meaning features and lips ready to
burst open but still closed as if by compulsion a speech going off in
a slight cough that never went near the lungs grown more resolute the
third time of entrance and sitting down by me thus begin 

mother i have a very serious matter to talk with you upon nancy when
you are disposed to attend to matters within ourselves and not let
matters without ourselves wholly engross you 

a good selve-ish speech but i thought that friendship gratitude and
humanity were matters that ought to be deemed of the most intimate
concern to us but not to dwell upon words 

daughter i am now disposed to attend to every thing my mamma is
disposed to say to me 

m why then child why then my dear  and the good lady's face looked
so plump so smooth and so shining   i see you are all attention 
nancy but don't be surprised don't be uneasy but i have i have 
where is it  and yet it lay next her heart never another near it so
no difficulty to have found it  i have a letter my dear  and out from
her bosom it came but she still held it in her hand  i have a letter 
child it is it is it is from from a gentleman i assure you 
 lifting up her head and smiling  

there is no delight to a daughter thought i in such surprises as seem
to be collecting i will deprive my mother of the satisfaction of making
a gradual discovery 

d from mr antony harlowe i suppose madam 

m  lips drawn closer eye raised  why my dear i cannot but own 
but how i wonder could you think of mr anthony harlowe 

d how madam could i think of any body else 

m how could you think of any body else  angry and drawing back her
face  but do you know the subject nancy 

d you have told it madam by your manner of breaking it to me but 
indeed i question not that he had two motives in his visits both
equally agreeable to me for all that family love me dearly 

m no love lost if so between you and them but this  rising  is
what i get so like your papa i never could open my heart to him 

d dear madam excuse me be so good as to open your heart to me 
i don't love the harlowes but pray excuse me 

m you have put me quite out with your forward temper  angrily sitting
down again  

d i will be all patience and attention may i be allowed to read his
letter 

m i wanted to advise with you upon it but you are such a strange
creature you are always for answering one before one speaks 

d you'll be so good as to forgive me madam but i thought every body
 he among the rest knew that you had always declared against a second
marriage 

m and so i have but then it was in the mind i was in things may
offer 

i stared 

m nay don't be surprised i don't intend i don't intend 

d not perhaps in the mind you are in madam 

m pert creature  rising again  we shall quarrel i see there's
no 

d once more dear madam i beg your excuse i will attend in silence 
 pray madam sit down again pray do  she sat down   may i see the
letter 

no there are some things in it you won't like your temper is known i
find to be unhappy but nothing bad against you intimations on the
contrary that you shall be the better for him if you oblige him 

not a living soul but the harlowes i said thought me ill-tempered and
i was contented that they should who could do as they had done by the
most universally acknowledged sweetness in the world 

here we broke out a little but at last she read me some of the passages
in the letter but not the most mightily ridiculous yet i could hardly
keep my countenance neither especially when she came to that passage
which mentions his sound health and at which she stopped she best knew
why but soon resuming 

m well now nancy tell me what you think of it 

d nay pray madam tell me what you think of it 

m i expect to be answered by an answer not by a question you don't
use to be so shy to speak your mind 

d not when my mamma commands me to do so 

m then speak it now 

d without hearing the whole of the letter 

m speak to what you have heard 

d why then madam you won't be my mamma howe if you give way to
it 

m i am surprised at your assurance nancy 

d i mean madam you will then be my mamma harlowe 

m o dear heart but i am not a fool 

and her colour went and came 

d dear madam  but indeed i don't love a harlowe that's what i
mean   i am your child and must be your child do what you will 

m a very pert one i am sure as ever mother bore and you must be
my child do what i will as much as to say you would not if you could
help it if i 

d how could i have such a thought it would be forward indeed if i
had when i don't know what your mind is as to the proposal when the
proposal is so very advantageous a one too 

m  looking a little less discomposed  why indeed ten thousand
pounds 

d and to be sure of outliving him madam 

m sure nobody can be sure but it is very likely that 

d not at all madam you was going to read something but stopped 
about his constitution his sobriety is well known why madam these
gentlemen who have used the sea and been in different climates and come
home to relax from cares in a temperate one and are sober are the
likeliest to live long of any men in the world don't you see that his
very skin is a fortification of buff 

m strange creature 

d god forbid that any body i love and honour should marry a man in
hopes to bury him but suppose madam at your time of life 

m my time of life dear heart what is my time of life pray 

d not old madam and that you are not may be your danger 

as i hope to live my dear my mother smiled and looked not displeased
with me 

m why indeed child why indeed i must needs say and then i should
choose to do nothing forward as you are sometimes to hurt you 

d why as to that madam i can't expect that you should deprive
yourself of any satisfaction 

m satisfaction my dear i don't say it would be a satisfaction but
could i do any thing that would benefit you it would perhaps be an
inducement to hold one conference upon the subject 

d my fortune already will be more considerable than my match if i am
to have mr hickman 

m why so mr hickman has fortune enough to entitle him to your's 

d if you think so that's enough 

m not but i should think the worse of myself if i desired any body's
death but i think as you say mr antony harlowe is a healthy man and
bids fair for a long life 

bless me thought i how shall i do to know whether this be an objection
or a recommendation 

d will you forgive me madam 

m what would the girl say  looking as if she was half afraid to hear
what  

d only that if you marry a man of his time of life you stand two
chances instead of one to be a nurse at your time of life 

m saucebox 

d dear madam what i mean is only that these healthy old men
sometimes fall into lingering disorders all at once and i humbly
conceive that the infirmities of age are uneasily borne with where the
remembrance of the pleasanter season comes not in to relieve the
healthier of the two 

m a strange girl yet his healthy constitution an objection just now 
 but i have always told you that you know either too much to be argued
with or too little for me to have patience with you 

d i can't but say i should be glad of your commands madam how to
behave myself to mr antony harlowe next time he comes 

m how to behave yourself why if you retire with contempt of him 
when he comes next it will be but as you have been used to do of late 

d then he is to come again madam 

m and suppose he be 

d i can't help it if it be your pleasure madam he desires a line
in answer to his fine letter if he come it will be in pursuance of
that line i presume 

m none of your arch and pert leers girl you know i won't bear them 
i had a mind to hear what you would say to this matter i have not
written but i shall presently 

d it is mighty good of you madam i hope the man will think so to
answer his first application by letter pity he should write twice if
once will do 

m that fetch won't let you into my intention as to what i shall write 
it is too saucily put 

d perhaps i can guess at your intention madam were it to become me
so to do 

m perhaps i would not make mr hickman of any man using him the worse
for respecting me 

d nor perhaps would i madam if i liked his respects 

m i understand you but perhaps it is in your power to make me
hearken or not to mr harlowe 

d young men who have probably a good deal of time before them need
not be in haste for a wife mr hickman poor man must stay his time 
or take his remedy 

m he bears more from you than a man ought 

d then i doubt he gives a reason for the treatment he meets with 

m provoking creature 

d i have but one request to make to you madam 

m a dutiful one i suppose what is it pray 

d that if you marry i may be permitted to live single 

m perverse creature i'm sure 

d how can i expect madam that you should refuse such terms ten
thousand pounds at the least ten thousand pounds a very handsome
proposal so many fine things too to give you one by one dearest
madam forgive me i hope it is not yet so far gone that rallying this
man will be thought want of duty to you 

m your rallying of him and your reverence to me it is plain have
one source 

d i hope not madam but ten thousand pounds 

m is no unhandsome proposal 

d indeed i think so i hope madam you will not be behind-hand with
him in generosity 

m he won't be ten thousand pounds the better for me if he survive me 

d no madam he can't expect that as you have a daughter and as he
is a bachelor and has not a child poor old soul 

m old soul nancy and thus to call him for being a bachelor not
having a child does this become you 

d not old soul for that madam but half the sum five thousand
pounds you can't engage for less madam 

m that sum has your approbation then  looking as if she'd be even
with me  

d as he leaves it to your generosity madam to reward his kindness to
you it can't be less do dear madam permit me without incurring your
displeasure to call him poor old soul again 

m never was such a whimsical creature  turning away to hide her
involuntary smile for i believe i looked very archly at least i
intended to do so  i hate that wicked sly look you give yourself very
free airs don't you 

d i snatched her hand and kissed it my dear mamma be not angry with
your girl you have told me that you was very lively formerly 

m formerly good lack but were i to encourage his proposals you
may be sure that for mr hickman's sake as well as your's i should
make a wise agreement 

d you have both lived to years of prudence madam 

m yes i suppose i am an old soul too 

d he also is for making a wise agreement or hinting at one at least 

m well the short and the long i suppose is this i have not your
consent to marry 

d indeed madam you have not my wishes to marry 

m let me tell you that if prudence consists in wishing well to one's
self i see not but the young flirts are as prudent as the old souls 

d dear madam would you blame me if to wish you not to marry mr 
antony harlowe is to wish well to myself 

m you are mighty witty i wish you were as dutiful 

d i am more dutiful i hope than witty or i should be a fool as well
as a saucebox 

m let me be judge of both parents are only to live for their
children let them deserve it or not that's their dutiful notion 

d heaven forbid that i should wish if there be two interests between
my mother and me that my mother postpone her own for mine or give up
any thing that would add to the real comforts of her life to oblige me 
tell me my dear mamma if you think the closing with this proposal will 

m i say that ten thousand pounds is such an acquisition to one's
family that the offer of it deserves a civil return 

d not the offer madam the chance only if indeed you have a view to
an increase of family the money may provide 

m you can't keep within tolerable bounds that saucy fleer i cannot
away with 

d dearest dearest madam forgive me but old soul ran in my head
again nay indeed and upon my word i will not be robbed of that
charming smile and again i kissed her hand 

m away bold creature nothing can be so provoking as to be made to
smile when one would choose and ought to be angry 

d but dear madam if it be to be i presume you won't think of it
before next winter 

m what now would the pert one be at 

d because he only proposes to entertain you with pretty stories of
foreign nations in a winter's evening dearest dearest madam let me
have all the reading of his letter through i will forgive him all he
says about me 

m it may be a very difficult thing perhaps for a man of the best
sense to write a love-letter that may not be cavilled at 

d that's because lovers in their letters hit not the medium they
either write too much nonsense or too little but do you call this odd
soul's letter  no more will i call him old soul if i can help it  a
love-letter 

m well well i see you are averse to this matter i am not to be
your mother you will live single if i marry i had a mind to see if
generosity govern you in your views i shall pursue my own inclinations 
and if they should happen to be suitable to yours pray let me for the
future be better rewarded by you than hitherto i have been 

and away she flung without staying for a reply vexed i dare say that
i did not better approve of the proposal were it only that the merit of
denying might have been all her own and to lay the stronger obligation
upon her saucy daughter 

she wrote such a widow-like refusal when she went from me as might not
exclude hope in any other wooer whatever it may do in mr tony harlowe 

it will be my part to take care to beat her off the visit she half-
promises to make him as you will see in her answer upon condition that
he will withdraw his suit for who knows what effect the old bachelor's
exotics  far-fetched and dear-bought you know is a proverb  might
otherwise have upon a woman's mind wanting nothing but unnecessaries 
gewgaws and fineries and offered such as are not easily to be met with 
or purchased 

well but now i give you leave to read here in this place the copy of
my mother's answer to your uncle's letter not one comment will i make
upon it i know my duty better and here therefore taking the liberty
to hope that i may in your present less disagreeable though not wholly
agreeable situation provoke a smile from you i conclude myself 

your ever affectionate and faithful 
anna howe 


mrs annabella howe to antony harly esq 

mr antony harlowe 
friday may 19 

sir 

it is not usual i believe for our sex to answer by pen and ink the first
letter on these occasions the first letter how odd is that as if i
expected another which i do not but then i think as i do not judge
proper to encourage your proposal there is no reason why i should not
answer in civility where so great a civility is intended indeed i was
always of opinion that a person was entitled to that and not to ill
usage because he had a respect for me and so i have often and often
told my daughter 

a woman i think makes but a poor figure in a man's eye afterwards and
does no reputation to her sex neither when she behaves like a tyrant to
him beforehand 

to be sure sir if i were to change my condition i know not a gentleman
whose proposal could be more agreeable your nephew and your nieces have
enough without you my daughter has a fine fortune without me and i
should take care to double it living or dying were i to do such a
thing so nobody need to be the worse for it but nancy would not think
so 

all the comfort i know of in children is that when young they do with
us what they will and all is pretty in them to their very faults and
when they are grown up they think their parents must live for them only 
and deny themselves every thing for their sakes i know nancy could not
bear a father-in-law she would fly at the very thought of my being in
earnest to give her one not that i stand in fear of my daughter
neither it is not fit i should but she has her poor papa's spirit 
a very violent one that was and one would not choose you know sir to
enter into any affair that one knows one must renounce a daughter for 
or she a mother except indeed one's heart were much in it which i
bless god mine is not 

i have now been a widow these ten years nobody to controul me and i am
said not to bear controul so sir you and i are best as we are i
believe nay i am sure of it for we want not what either has having
both more than we know what to do with and i know i could not be in the
least accountable for any of my ways 

my daughter indeed though she is a fine girl as girls go she has too
much sense indeed for one of her sex and knows she has it is more a
check to me than one would wish a daughter to be for who would choose to
be always snapping at each other but she will soon be married and
then not living together we shall only come together when we are
pleased and stay away when we are not and so like other lovers never
see any thing but the best sides of each other 

i own for all this that i love her dearly and she me i dare say so
would not wish to provoke her to do otherwise besides the girl is so
much regarded every where that having lived so much of my prime a widow 
i would not lay myself open to her censures or even to her indifference 
you know 

your generous proposal requires all this explicitness i thank you for
your good opinion of me when i know you acquiesce with this my civil
refusal  and indeed sir i am as much in earnest in it as if i had
spoken broader  i don't know but nancy and i may with your permission 
come to see your fine things for i am a great admirer of rarities that
come from abroad 

so sir let us only converse occasionally as we meet as we used to do 
without any other view to each other than good wishes which i hope may
not be lessened for this declining and then i shall always think myself

your obliged servant 
annabella howe 

p s i sent word by mrs lorimer that i would write an answer but
 would take time for consideration so hope sir you won't think it a
 slight i did not write sooner 



letter xliv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday may 21 


i am too much disturbed in my mind to think of any thing but revenge or
i did intend to give thee an account of miss harlowe's observations on
the play miss harlowe's i say thou knowest that i hate the name of
harlowe and i am exceedingly out of humour with her and with her saucy
friend 

what's the matter now thou'lt ask 

matter enough for while we were at the play dorcas who had her orders 
and a key to her lady's chamber as well as a master-key to her drawers
and mahogany chest closet-key and all found means to come at some of
miss howe's last-written letters the vigilant wench was directed to
them by seeing her lady take a letter out of her stays and put it to the
others before she went out with me afraid as the women upbraidingly
tell me that i should find it there 

dorcas no sooner found them than she assembled three ready writers of
the non-apparents and sally and she and they employed themselves with
the utmost diligence in making extracts according to former directions 
from these cursed letters for my use cursed may i well call them 
such abuses such virulence o this little fury miss howe well might
her saucy friend who has been equally free with me or the occasion
could not have been given be so violent as she lately was at my
endeavouring to come at one of these letters 

i was sure that this fair-one at so early an age with a constitution
so firm health so blooming eyes so sparkling expectations therefore so
lively and hope so predominating could not be absolutely and from her
own vigilance so guarded and so apprehensive as i have found her to
be 

sparkling eyes jack when the poetical tribe have said all they can for
them are an infallible sign of a rogue or room for a rogue in the
heart 

thou mayest go on with thy preachments and lord m with his wisdom of
nations i am now more assured of her than ever and now my revenge is
up and joined with my love all resistance must fall before it and
most solemnly do i swear that miss howe shall come in for her snack 

and here just now is another letter brought from the same little
virulent devil i hope to procure scripts from that too very speedily 
if it be put to the test for the saucy fair-one is resolved to go to
church this morning no so much from a spirit of devotion i have reason
to think as to try whether she can go out without check controul or
my attention 


 


i have been denied breakfasting with her indeed she was a little
displeased with me last night because on our return from the play i
obliged her to pass the rest of the night with the women and me in their
parlour and to stay till near one she told me at parting that she
expected to have the whole next day to herself i had not read the
extracts then so i had resolved to begin a new course and if possible 
to banish all jealousy and suspicion from her heart and yet i had no
reason to be much troubled at her past suspicions since if a woman will
continue with a man whom she suspects when she can get from him or
thinks she can i am sure it is a very hopeful sign 


 


she is gone slipt down before i was aware she had ordered a chair on
purpose to exclude my personal attendance but i had taken proper
precautions will attended her by consent peter the house-servant 
was within will s call 

i had by dorcas represented her danger from singleton in order to
dissuade her from going at all unless she allowed me to attend her but
i was answered with her usual saucy smartness that if there were no
cause of fear of being met with at the playhouse when there were but two
playhouses surely there was less at church when there were so many
churches the chairmen were ordered to carry her to st james's church 

but she would not be so careless of obliging me if she knew what i have
already come at and how the women urge me on for they are continually
complaining of the restraint they lie under in their behaviour in their
attendance neglecting all their concerns in the front house and keeping
this elegant back one entirely free from company that she may have no
suspicion of them they doubt not my generosity they say but why for
my own sake in lord m s style should i make so long a harvest of so
little corn 

women ye reason well i think i will begin my operations the moment she
comes in 


 


i have come at the letter brought her from miss howe to-day plot 
conjuration sorcery witchcraft all going forward i shall not be able
to see this miss harlowe with patience as the nymphs below ask so do
i why is night necessary and sally and polly upbraidingly remind me of
my first attempts upon themselves yet force answers not my end and yet
it may if there be truth in that part of the libertine's creed that
once subdued is always subdued and what woman answers affirmatively to
the question 


 


she is returned but refuses to admit me and insists upon having the day
to herself dorcas tells me that she believes her denial is from
motives of piety oons jack is there impiety in seeing me would it
not be the highest act of piety to reclaim me and is this to be done by
her refusing to see me when she is in a devouter frame than usual but i
hate her hate her heartily she is old ugly and deformed but o the
blasphemy yet she is a harlowe and i do and can hate her for that 

but since i must not see her  she will be mistress of her own will and
of her time truly   let me fill up my time by telling thee what i have
come at 


the first letter the women met with is dated april 27 where can she
have put the preceding ones it mentions mr hickman as a busy fellow
between them hickman had best take care of himself she says in it i
hope you have no cause to repent returning my norris it is forthcoming
on demand  now what the devil can this mean her norris forthcoming
on demand the devil take me if i am out-norris'd if such innocents
can allow themselves to plot to norris well may i 


 see vol iv letter ii 


she is sorry that her hannah can't be with her  and what if she
could what could hannah do for her in such a house as this 

the women in the house are to be found out in one breakfasting  the
women are enraged at both the correspondents for this and more than ever
make a point of my subduing her i had a good mind to give miss howe to
them in full property say but the word jack and it shall be done 

she is glad that miss harlowe had thoughts of taking me at my word she
wondered i did not offer again  advises her if i don't soon not to
stay with me  cautions her to keep me at a distance not to permit
the least familiarity  see jack see belford exactly as i thought 
her vigilance all owing to a cool friend who can sit down quietly and
give that advice which in her own case she could not take what an
encouragement to me to proceed in my devices when i have reason to think
that my beloved's reserves are owing more to miss howe's cautions than to
her own inclinations but it is my interest to be honest  miss howe
tells her interest fools i thought these girls knew that my
interest was ever subservient to my pleasure 

what would i give to come at the copies of the letters to which those of
miss howe are answers 

the next letter is dated may 3 in this the little termagant expresses
her astonishment that her mother should write to miss harlowe to forbid
her to correspond with her daughter mr hickman she says is of
opinion that she ought not to obey her mother  how the creeping
fellow trims between both i am afraid that i must punish him as well
as this virago and i have a scheme rumbling in my head that wants but
half an hour's musing to bring into form that will do my business upon
both i cannot bear that the parental authority should be thus
despised thus trampled under foot but observe the vixen 'tis well he
is of her opinion for her mother having set her up she must have
somebody to quarrel with  could a lovelace have allowed himself a
greater license this girl's a devilish rake in her heart had she been
a man and one of us she'd have outdone us all in enterprise and spirit 


 see vol iv letter x 


she wants but very little farther provocation  she says to fly
privately to london and if she does she will not leave her till she
sees her either honourably married or quit of the wretch  here jack 
the transcriber sally has added a prayer for the lord's sake dear mr 
lovealce get this fury to london  her fate i can tell thee jack if
we had her among us should not be so long deciding as her friend's 
what a gantelope would she run when i had done with her among a dozen
of her own pitiless sex whom my charmer shall never see but more of
this anon 

i find by this letter that my saucy captive has been drawing the
characters of every varlet of ye nor am i spared in it more than you 
the man's a fool to be sure my dear  let me perish if they either
of them find me one a silly fellow at least  cursed contemptible 
i see not but they are a set of infernals  there's one for thee 
lovelace and yet she would have her friend marry a beelzebub and what
have any of us done within the knowledge of miss harlowe that she
should give such an account of us as should excuse so much abuse from
miss howe but the occasion that shall warrant this abuse is to come 

she blames her for not admitting miss partington to her bed watchful 
as you are what could have happened if violence were intended he
would not stay for the night  i am ashamed to have this hinted to me by
this virago sally writes upon this hint see sir what is expected
from you an hundred and an hundred times have we told you of this  
and so they have but to be sure the advice from them was not half the
efficacy as it will be from miss howe you might have sat up after her 
or not gone to bed  proceeds she 

but can there be such apprehensions between them yet the one advise her
to stay and the other resolve to wait my imperial motion for marriage 
i am glad i know that 

she approves of my proposal of mrs fretchville's house she puts her
upon expecting settlements upon naming a day and concludes with
insisting upon her writing notwithstanding her mother's prohibitions 
or bids her take the consequence  undutiful wretches how i long to
vindicate against them both the insulted parental character 

thou wilt say to thyself by this time and can this proud and insolent
girl be the same miss howe who sighed for an honest sir george colmar 
and who but for this her beloved friend would have followed him in all
his broken fortunes when he was obliged to quit the kingdom 

yes she is the very same and i always found in others as well as in
myself that a first passion thoroughly subdued made the conqueror of it
a rover the conqueress a tyrant 

well but now comes mincing in a letter from one who has the honour of
dear miss howe's commands' to acquaint miss harlowe that miss howe is
excessively concerned for the concern she has given her 


 see vol iv letter xii 


i have great temptations on this occasion  says the prim gothamite 
to express my own resentments upon your present state 

my own resentments  and why did he not fall into this temptation 
 why truly because he knew not what that state was which gave him so
tempting a subject only by a conjecture and so forth 

he then dances in his style as he does in his gait to be sure to be
sure he must have made the grand tour and come home by way of
tipperary 

and being moreover forbid  says the prancer to enter into the cruel
subject  this prohibition was a mercy to thee friend hickman but why
cruel subject if thou knowest not what it is but conjecturest only from
the disturbance it gives to a girl that is her mother's disturbance 
will be thy disturbance and the disturbance in turn of every body with
whom she is intimately acquainted unless i have the humbling of her 

in another letter the little fury professes that she will write and
that no man shall write for her  as if some medium of that kind had been
proposed she approves of her fair friend's intention to leave me if
she can be received by her relations i am a wretch a foolish wretch 
she hates me for my teasing ways she has just made an acquaintance with
one who knows a vast deal of my private history  a curse upon her and
upon her historiographer the man is really a villain an execrable
one  devil take her had i a dozen lives i might have forfeited them
all twenty crimes ago  an odd way of reckoning jack 


 see letter xxiii of this volume 


miss betterton miss lockyer are named the man she irreverently
repeats she again calls a villain let me perish i repeat if i am
called a villain for nothing she will have her uncle  as miss harlowe
requests sounded about receiving her dorcas is to be attached to her
interest my letters are to be come at by surprise or trick' 

what thinkest thou of this jack 

miss howe is alarmed at my attempt to come at a letter of hers 

were i to come at the knowledge of her freedoms with my character  she
says she should be afraid to stir out without a guard  i would advise
the vixen to get her guard ready 

i am at the head of a gang of wretches   thee jack and thy brother
varlets she owns she means   who join together to betray innocent
creatures and to support one another in their villanies  what sayest
thou to this belford 

she wonders not at her melancholy reflections for meeting me for being
forced upon me and tricked by me  i hope jack thou'lt have done
preaching after this 

but she comforts her that she will be both a warning and an example to
all her sex  i hope the sex will thank me for this 

the nymphs had not time they say to transcribe all that was worthy of
my resentment in this letter so i must find an opportunity to come at it
myself noble rant they say it contains but i am a seducer and a
hundred vile fellows in it and the devil it seems took possession
of my heart and of the hearts of all her friends in the same dark hour 
in order to provoke her to meet me  again there is a fate in her
error  she says why then should she grieve adversity is her shining
time  and i can't tell what yet never to thank the man to whom she owes
the shine 

in the next letter wicked as i am she fears i must be her lord and
master 


 see letter xxix of this volume 


i hope so 

she retracts what she said against me in her last my behaviour to my
rosebud miss harlowe to take possession of mrs fretchville's house i
to stay at mrs sinclair's the stake i have in my country my
reversions my economy my person my address  something like in all
this   are brought in my favour to induce her now not to leave me how
do i love to puzzle these long-sighted girls 

yet my teasing ways  it seems are intolerable  are women only to
tease i trow the sex may thank themselves for teaching me to out-tease
them so the headstrong charles xii of sweden taught the czar peter to
beat him by continuing a war with the muscovites against the ancient
maxims of his kingdom 

may eternal vengeance pursue the villain  thank heaven she does not
say overtake   if he give room to doubt his honour  women can't swear 
jack sweet souls they can only curse 

i am said to doubt her love have i not reason and she to doubt my
ardour ardour jack why tis very right women as miss howe says 
and as every rake knows love ardours 

she apprizes her of the ill success of the application made to her
uncle  by hickman no doubt i must have this fellow's ears in my
pocket very quickly i believe 

she says she is equally shocked and enraged against all her family 
mrs norton's weight has been tried upon mrs harlowe as well as mr 
hickman's upon the uncle but never were there  says the vixen such
determined brutes in the world her uncle concludes her ruined already 
is not that a call upon me as well as a reproach they all expected
applications from her when in distress but were resolved not to stir an
inch to save her life  miss howe is concerned  she tells her for
the revenge my pride may put me upon taking for the distance she has kept
me at' and well she may it is now evident to her that she must be
mine for her cousin morden it seems is set against her too an act of
necessity of convenience thy friend jack to be already made a
woman's convenience is this to be borne by a lovelace 

i shall make great use of this letter from miss howe's hints of what
passed between her uncle harlowe and hickman  it must be hickman   i can
give room for my invention to play for she tells her that she will not
reveal all  i must endeavour to come at this letter myself i must
have the very words extracts will not do this letter when i have it 
must be my compass to steer by 

the fire of friendship then blazes and crackles i never before imagined
that so fervent a friendship could subsist between two sister-beauties 
both toasts but even here it may be inflamed by opposition and by that
contradiction which gives vigour to female spirits of a warm and romantic
turn 

she raves about coming up if by doing so she could prevent so noble a
creature from stooping too low or save her from ruin  one reed to
support another i think i will contrive to bring her up 

how comes it to pass that i cannot help being pleased with this virago's
spirit though i suffer by it had i her but here i'd engage in a
week's time to teach her submission without reserve what pleasure
should i have in breaking such a spirit i should wish for her but for
one month i think she would be too tame and spiritless for me after
that how sweetly pretty to see the two lovely friends when humbled and
tame both sitting in the darkest corner of a room arm in arm weeping
and sobbing for each other and i their emperor their then acknowledged
emperor reclined at my ease in the same room uncertain to which i
should first grand signor like throw out my handkerchief 

again mind the girl she is enraged at the harlowes  she is angry at
her own mother  she is exasperated against her foolish and low-vanity'd
lovelace  foolish a little toad  god forgive me for calling such a
virtuous girl a toad   let us stoop to lift the wretch out of his dirt 
though we soil our fingers in doing it he has not been guilty of direct
indecency to you  it seems extraordinary to miss howe that i have not 
 nor dare he  she should be sure of that if women have such things
in their heads why should not i in my heart not so much of a devil as
that comes to neither such villainous intentions would have shown
themselves before now if i had them lord help them 

she then puts her friend upon urging for settlements license and so
forth no room for delicacy now  she says and tells her what she
shall say to bring all forward from me  is it not as clear to thee 
jack as it is to me that i should have carried my point long ago but
for this vixen she reproaches her for having modesty'd away as she
calls it more than one opportunity that she ought not to have slipt 
thus thou seest that the noblest of the sex mean nothing in the world
by their shyness and distance but to pound the poor fellow they dislike
not when he comes into their purlieus 

though tricked into this man's power  she tells her she is not meanly
subjugated to it  there are hopes of my reformation it seems from my
reverence for her since before her i never had any reverence for what
was good  i am a great a specious deceiver  i thank her for this 
however a good moral use she says may be made of my having prevailed
upon her to swerve  i am glad that any good may flow from my actions 

annexed to this letter is a paper the most saucy that ever was written of
a mother by a daughter there are in it such free reflections upon
widows and bachelors that i cannot but wonder how miss howe came by her
learning sir george colmar i can tell thee was a greater fool than
thy friend if she had it all for nothing 

the contents of this paper acquaint miss harlowe that her uncle antony
has been making proposals of marriage to her mother 

the old fellow's heart ought to be a tough one if he succeed or she who
broke that of a much worthier man the late mr howe will soon get rid
of him 

but be this as it may the stupid family is made more irreconcilable than
ever to their goddess-daughter for old antony's thoughts of marrying so
i am more secure of her than ever and yet i believe at last that my
tender heart will be moved in her favour for i did not wish that she
should have nothing but persecution and distress but why loves she the
brutes as miss howe justly calls them so much me so little 

i have still more unpardonable transcripts from other letters 



letter xlv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


the next letter is of such a nature that i dare say these proud rouges
would not have had it fall into my hands for the world 


 see letter xxxiv of this volume 


i see by it to what her displeasure with me in relation to my proposals 
was owing they were not summed up it seems with the warmth with the
ardour which she had expected 

this whole letter was transcribed by dorcas to whose lot it fell thou
shalt have copies of them all at full length shortly 

men of our cast  this little devil says she fancies cannot have the
ardours that honest men have  miss howe has very pretty fancies jack 
charming girl would to heaven i knew whether my fair-one answers her as
freely as she writes twould vex a man's heart that this virago should
have come honestly by her fancies 

who knows but i may have half a dozen creatures to get off my hands 
before i engage for life yet lest this should mean me a compliment as
if i would reform she adds her belief that she must not expect me to
be honest on this side my grand climacteric  she has an high opinion of
her sex to think they can charm so long a man so well acquainted with
their identicalness 

he to suggest delays  she says from a compliment to be made to lord
m  yes i my dear because a man has not been accustomed to be
dutiful must he never be dutiful in so important a case as this too 
the hearts of his whole family are engaged in it you did indeed 
says she want an interposing friend but were i to have been in your
situation i would have torn his eyes out and left it to his heart to
furnish the reason for it  see see what sayest thou to this jack 

villain fellow that he is  follow and for what only for wishing
that the next day were to be my happy one and for being dutiful to my
nearest relation 

it is the cruelest of fates  she says for a woman to be forced to
have a man whom her heart despises  that is what i wanted to be sure
of i was afraid that my beloved was too conscious of her talents of
her superiority i was afraid that she indeed despises me and i cannot
bear to think that she does but belford i do not intend that this
lady shall be bound down to so cruel a fate let me perish if i marry a
woman who has given her most intimate friend reason to say she despises
me a lovelace to be despised jack 

his clenched fist to his forehead on your leaving him in just
displeasure' that is when she was not satisfied with my ardours if it
please ye i remember the motion but her back was towards me at the
time are these watchful ladies all eye but observe what follows i
wish it had been a poll-axe and in the hands of his worst enemy  


 she tells miss howe that she saw this motion in the pier-glass see
letter xxxiii of this volume 


i will have patience jack i will have patience my day is at hand 
then will i steel my heart with these remembrances 

but here is a scheme to be thought of in order to get my fair prize out
of my hands in case i give her reason to suspect me 

this indeed alarms me now the contention becomes arduous now wilt
thou not wonder if i let loose my plotting genius upon them both i
will not be out-norris'd belford 

but once more she has no notion  she says that i can or dare to mean
her dishonour but then the man is a fool that's all  i should indeed
be a fool to proceed as i do and mean matrimony however since you
are thrown upon a fool  says she marry the fool at the first
opportunity and though i doubt that this man will be the most
unmanageable of fools as all witty and vain fools are take him as a
punishment since you cannot as a reward  is there any bearing this 
belford 

but such men as myself are the men that women do not naturally hate 
 true as the gospel jack the truth is out at last have i not always
told thee so sweet creatures and true christians these young girls 
they love their enemies but rakes in their hearts all of them like
turns to like that's the thing were i not well assured of the truth of
this observation of the vixen i should have thought it worth while if
not to be a good man to be more of an hypocrite than i found it needful
to be 

but in the letter i came at to-day while she was at church her scheme
is further opened and a cursed one it is 


 mr lovelace then transcribes from his short-hand notes that part of
 miss howe's letter which relates to the design of engaging mrs 
 townsend in case of necessity to give her protection till colonel
 morden come and repeats his vows of revenge especially for these
 words that should he attempt any thing that would make him obnoxious
 to the laws of society she might have a fair riddance of him either
 by flight or the gallows no matter which  he then adds  


 see letter xlii of this volume 


tis my pride to subdue girls who know too much to doubt their knowledge 
and to convince them that they know too little to defend themselves
from the inconveniencies of knowing too much 

how passion drives a man on proceeds he i have written a prodigious
quantity in a very few hours now my resentments are warm i will see 
and perhaps will punish this proud this double-armed beauty i have
sent to tell her that i must be admitted to sup with her we have
neither of us dined she refused to drink tea in the afternoon and i
believe neither of us will have much stomach to our supper 



letter xlvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday morning seven o'clock 


i was at the play last night with mr lovelace and miss horton it is 
you know a deep and most affecting tragedy in the reading you have my
remarks upon it in the little book you made me write upon the principal
acting-plays you will not wonder that miss horton as well as i was
greatly moved at the representation when i tell you and have some
pleasure in telling you that mr lovelace himself was very sensibly
touched with some of the most affecting scenes i mention this in praise
of the author's performance for i take mr lovelace to be one of the
most hard-hearted men in the world upon my word my dear i do 

his behaviour however on this occasion and on our return was
unexceptionable only that he would oblige me to stay to supper with the
women below when we came back and to sit up with him and them till near
one o'clock this morning i was resolved to be even with him and indeed
i am not very sorry to have the pretence for i love to pass the sundays
by myself 

to have the better excuse to avoid his teasing i am ready dressed to go
to church this morning i will go only to st james's church and in a
chair that i may be sure i can go out and come in when i please without
being intruded upon by him as i was twice before 


 

near nine o'clock 

i have your kind letter of yesterday he knows i have and i shall
expect that he will be inquisitive next time i see him after your
opinions of his proposals i doubted not your approbation of them and
had written an answer on that presumption which is ready for him he
must study for occasions of procrastination and to disoblige me if now
any thing happens to set us at variance again 

he is very importunate to see me he has desired to attend me to church 
he is angry that i have declined to breakfast with him i am sure that i
should not have been at my own liberty if i had i bid dorcas tell him 
that i desired to have this day to myself i would see him in the
morning as early as he pleased she says she knows not what ails him 
but that he is out of humour with every body 

he has sent again in a peremptory manner he warns me of singleton i
sent him word that if he was not afraid of singleton at the playhouse
last night i need not at church to-day so many churches to one
playhouse i have accepted of his servant's proposed attendance but he
is quite displeased it seems i don't care i will not be perpetually
at his insolent beck adieu my dear till i return the chair waits 
he won't stop me sure as i go down to it 


 


i did not see him as i went down he is it seems excessively out of
humour dorcas says not with me neither she believes but something
has vexed him this is perhaps to make me dine with him but i will
not if i can help it i shan't get rid of him for the rest of the day 
if i do 


 


he was very earnest to dine with me but i was resolved to carry this
one small point and so denied to dine myself and indeed i was
endeavouring to write to my cousin morden and had begun three different
times without being able to please myself 

he was very busy in writing dorcas says and pursued it without dining 
because i denied him my company 

he afterwards demanded as i may say to be admitted to afternoon-tea with
me and appealed by dorcas to his behaviour to me last night as if i
sent him word by her he thought he had a merit in being unexceptionable 
however i repeated my promise to meet him as early as he pleased in the
morning or to breakfast with him 

dorcas says he raved i heard him loud and i heard his servant fly from
him as i thought you my dearest friend say in one of yours that
you must have somebody to be angry at when your mother sets you up i
should be very loth to draw comparisons but the workings of passion 
when indulged are but too much alike whether in man or woman 


 see letter x of this volume parag 2 


 


he has just sent me word that he insists upon supping with me as we
had been in a good train for several days past i thought it not prudent
to break with him for little matters yet to be in a manner 
threatened into his will i know not how to bear that 

while i was considering he came up and tapping at my door told me in
a very angry tone he must see me this night he could not rest till he
had been told what he had done to deserve the treatment i gave him 

treatment i gave him a wretch yet perhaps he has nothing new to say to
me i shall be very angry with him 


 


 as the lady could not know what mr lovelace's designs were nor the
 cause of his ill humour it will not be improper to pursue the subject
 from his letter 

having described his angry manner of demanding in person her company at
 supper he proceeds as follows  

'tis hard answered the fair perverse that i am to be so little my own
mistress i will meet you in the dining-room half an hour hence 

i went down to wait the half hour all the women set me hard to give
her cause for this tyranny they demonstrated as well from the nature
of the sex as of the case that i had nothing to hope for from my
tameness and could meet with no worse treatment were i to be guilty of
the last offence they urge me vehemently to try at least what effect
some greater familiarities than i had ever taken with her would have and
their arguments being strengthened by my just resentments on the
discoveries i had made i was resolved to take some liberties as they
were received to take still greater and lay all the fault upon her
tyranny in this humour i went up and never had paralytic so little
command of his joints as i had while i walked about the dining-room 
attending her motions 

with an erect mien she entered her face averted her lovely bosom
swelling and the more charmingly protuberant for the erectness of her
mien o jack that sullenness and reserve should add to the charms of
this haughty maid but in every attitude in every humour in every
gesture is beauty beautiful by her averted face and indignant aspect 
i saw the dear insolent was disposed to be angry but by the fierceness
of mine as my trembling hand seized hers i soon made fear her
predominant passion and yet the moment i beheld her my heart was
dastardized and my reverence for the virgin purity so visible in her
whole deportment again took place surely belford this is an angel 
and yet had she not been known to be a female they would not from
babyhood have dressed her as such nor would she but upon that
conviction have continued the dress 

let me ask you madam i beseech you tell me what i have done to
deserve this distant treatment 

and let me ask you mr lovelace why are my retirements to be thus
invaded what can you have to say to me since last night that i went
with you so much against my will to the play and after sitting up with
you equally against my will till a very late hour 

this i have to say madam that i cannot bear to be kept at this
distance from you under the same roof 

under the same roof sir how came you 

hear me out madam  letting go her trembling hands and snatching them
back again with an eagerness that made her start  i have a thousand
things to say to talk of relating to our present and future prospects 
but when i want to open my whole soul to you you are always contriving
to keep me at a distance you make me inconsistent with myself your
heart is set upon delays you must have views that you will not own 
tell me madam i conjure you to tell me this moment without subterfuge
or reserve in what light am i to appear to you in future i cannot bear
this distance the suspense you hold me in i cannot bear 

in what light mr lovelace  visibly terrified   in no bad light i
hope pray mr lovelace do not grasp my hands so hard  endeavouring to
withdraw them   pray let me go 

you hate me madam 

i hate nobody sir 

you hate me madam repeated i 

instigated and resolved as i came up i wanted some new provocation 
the devil indeed as soon as my angel made her appearance crept out of
my heart but he had left the door open and was no farther off than my
elbow 

you come up in no good temper i see mr lovelace but pray be not
violent i have done you no hurt pray be not violent 


sweet creature and i clasped one arm about her holding one hand in my
other you have done me no hurt i could have devoured her but
restraining myself you have done me the greatest hurt in what have i
deserved the distance you keep me at i knew not what to say 

she struggled to disengage herself pray mr lovelace let me
withdraw i know not why this is i know not what i have done to offend
you i see you are come with a design to quarrel with me if you would
not terrify me by the ill humour you are in permit me to withdraw i
will hear all you have to say another time to-morrow morning as i sent
you word but indeed you frighten me i beseech you if you have any
value for me permit me to withdraw 

night mid-night is necessary belford surprise terror must be
necessary to the ultimate trial of this charming creature say the women
below what they will i could not hold my purposes this was not the
first time that i had intended to try if she could forgive 

i kissed her hand with a fervour as if i would have left my lips upon
it withdraw then dearest and ever-dear creature indeed i entered
in a very ill humour i cannot bear the distance at which you so
causelessly keep me withdraw madam since it is your will to withdraw 
and judge me generously judge me but as i deserve to be judged and let
me hope to meet you to-morrow morning early in such a temper as becomes
our present situation and my future hopes 

and so saying i conducted her to the door and left her there but 
instead of going down to the women i went into my own chamber and
locked myself in ashamed of being awed by her majestic loveliness and
apprehensive virtue into so great a change of purpose notwithstanding i
had such just provocations from the letters of her saucy friend formed
on her own representations of facts and situations between herself and
me 


 


 the lady dated sunday night thus describes her terrors and mr 
 lovelace's behaviour on the occasion  

on my entering the dining-room he took my hand in his in such a humour 
i saw plainly he was resolved to quarrel with me and for what what had
i done to him i never in my life beheld in any body such wild such
angry such impatient airs i was terrified and instead of being as
angry as i intended to be i was forced to be all mildness i can hardly
remember what were his first words i was so frighted but you hate me 
madam you hate me madam were some of them with such a fierceness i
wished myself a thousand miles distant from him i hate nobody said i 
i thank god i hate nobody you terrify me mr lovelace let me leave
you the man my dear looked quite ugly i never saw a man look so ugly
as passion made him look and for what and so he grasped my hands 
fierce creature he so grasped my hands in short he seemed by his
looks and by his words once putting his arms about me to wish me to
provoke him so that i had nothing to do but to beg of him which i did
repeatedly to permit me to withdraw and to promise to meet him at his
own time in the morning 

it was with a very ill grace that he complied on that condition and at
parting he kissed my hand with such a savageness that a redness remains
upon it still 

do you not think my dear that i have reason to be incensed at him my
situation considered am i not under a necessity as it were of
quarrelling with him at least every other time i see him no prudery 
no coquetry no tyranny in my heart or in my behaviour to him that i
know of no affected procrastination aiming at nothing but decorum 
he as much concerned and so he ought to think as i to have that
observed too much in his power cast upon him by the cruelty of my
relations no other protection to fly to but his one plain path before
us yet such embarrasses such difficulties such subjects for doubt for
cavil for uneasiness as fast as one is obviated another to be
introduced and not by myself know not how introduced what pleasure can
i propose to myself in meeting such a wretch 

perfect for me my dearest miss howe perfect for me i beseech you your
kind scheme with mrs townsend and i will then leave this man 

my temper i believe is changed no wonder if it be i question
whether ever it will be what it was but i cannot make him half so
uneasy by the change as i am myself see you not how from step to
step he grows upon me i tremble to look back upon his encroachments 
and now to give me cause to apprehend more evil from him than
indignation will permit me to express o my dear perfect your scheme 
and let me fly from so strange a wretch 

yet to be first an eloper from my friends to him as the world supposes 
and now to be so from him  to whom i know not   how hard to one who ever
endeavoured to shun intricate paths but he must certainly have views in
quarrelling with me thus which he dare not own yet what can they be 
i am terrified but to think of what they may be 

let me but get from him as to my reputation if i leave him that is
already too much wounded for me now to be careful about any thing but
how to act so as that my own heart shall not reproach me as to the
world's censure i must be content to suffer that an unhappy
composition however what a wreck have my fortunes suffered to be
obliged to throw overboard so many valuables to preserve indeed the
only valuable a composition that once it would have half broken my
heart to think there would have been the least danger that i should be
obliged to submit to 

you my dear could not be a stranger to my most secret failings 
although you would not tell me of them what a pride did i take in the
applause of every one what a pride even in supposing i had not that
pride which concealed itself from my unexamining heart under the
specious veil of humility doubling the merit to myself by the supposed 
and indeed imputed gracefulness in the manner of conferring benefits 
when i had not a single merit in what i did vastly overpaid by the
pleasure of doing some little good and impelled as i may say by
talents given me for what not to be proud of 

so desirous in short to be considered as an example a vanity which
my partial admirers put into my head and so secure in my own virtue 

i am punished enough enough mortified for this my vanity i hope 
enough if it so please the all-gracious inflictor since now i verily
think i more despise myself for my presumptuous self-security as well
as vanity than ever i secretly vaunted myself on my good inclinations 
secretly i say however for indeed i had not given myself leisure to
reflect till i was thus mortified how very imperfect i was nor how
much truth there is in what divines tell us that we sin in our best
performances 

but i was very young but here let me watch over myself again for in
those four words i was very young is there not a palliation couched 
that were enough to take all efficacy from the discovery and confession 

what strange imperfect beings but self here which is at the bottom of
all we do and of all we wish is the grand misleader 

i will not apologize to you my dear for these grave reflections is it
not enough to make the unhappy creature look into herself and endeavour
to detect herself who from such a high reputation left to proud and
presumptuous self should by one thoughtless step be brought to the
dreadful situation i am in 

let me however look forward to despond would be to add sin to sin 
and whom have i to raise me up whom to comfort me if i desert myself 
thou o father who i hope hast not yet deserted hast not yet cursed
me for i am thine it is fit that mediation should supply the rest 


 


i was so disgusted with him as well as frighted by him that on my
return to my chamber in a fit of passionate despair i tore almost in
two the answer i had written to his proposals 

i will see him in the morning because i promised i would but i will go
out and that without him or any attendant if he account not tolerably
for his sudden change of behaviour and a proper opportunity offer of a
private lodging in some creditable house i will not any more return to
this at present i think so and there will i either attend the
perfecting of your scheme or by your epistolary mediation make my own
terms with the wretch since it is your opinion that i must be his and
cannot help myself or perhaps take a resolution to throw myself at
once into lady betty's protection and this will hinder him from making
his insolently-threatened visit to harlowe-place 


 the lady writes again on monday evening and gives her friend an account
 of all that passed between herself and mr lovelace that day and of
 her being terrified out of her purpose of going out but mr 
 lovelace's next letters giving a more ample account of all hers are
 omitted 

it is proper however to mention that she re-urges miss howe from the
 dissatisfaction she has reason for from what passed between mr 
 lovelace and herself to perfect her scheme in relation to mrs 
 townsend she concludes this letter in these words  

i should say something of your last favour but a few hours ago received 
and of your dialogue with your mother are you not very whimsical my
dear i have but two things to wish for on this occasion the one that
your charming pleasantry had a better subject than that you find for it
in this dialogue the other that my situation were not such as must too
often damp that pleasantry in you and will not permit me to enjoy it as
i used to do be however happy in yourself though you cannot in

your
clarissa harlowe 



letter xlvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday morning may 22 


no generosity in this lady none at all wouldst thou not have thought 
that after i had permitted her to withdraw primed for mischief as i was 
she would meet me next morning early and that with a smile making me
one of her best courtesies 

i was in the dining-room before six expecting her she opened not her
door i went up stairs and down and hemm'd and called will called
dorcas threw the doors hard to but still she opened not her door thus
till half an hour after eight fooled i away my time and then breakfast
ready i sent dorcas to request her company 

but i was astonished when following the wench as she did at the first
invitation i saw her enter dressed all but her gloves and those and
her fan in her hand in the same moment bidding dorcas direct will to
get her a chair to the door 

cruel creature thought i to expose me thus to the derision of the women
below 

going abroad madam 

i am sir 

i looked cursed silly i am sure you will breakfast first i hope 
madam and a very humble strain yet with an hundred tender looks in my
heart 

had she given me more notice of her intention i had perhaps wrought
myself up to the frame i was in the day before and begun my vengeance 
and immediately came into my head all the virulence that had been
transcribed for me from miss howe's letters and in that letter which i
had transcribed myself 

yes she would drink one dish and then laid her gloves and fan in the
window just by 

i was perfectly disconcerted i hemm'd and was going to speak several
times but i knew not in what key who's modest now thought i who's
insolent now how a tyrant of a woman confounds a bashful man she was
acting miss howe i thought and i the spiritless hickman 

at last i will begin thought i 

she a dish i a dish 

sip her eyes her own she like a haughty and imperious sovereign 
conscious of dignity every look a favour 

sip like her vassal i lips and hands trembling and not knowing that i
sipp'd or tasted 

i was i was i sipp'd drawing in my breath and the liquor together 
though i scalded my mouth with it i was in hopes madam 

dorcas came in just then dorcas said she is a chair gone for 

damn'd impertinence thought i thus to put me out in my speech and i
was forced to wait for the servant's answer to the insolent mistress's
question 

william is gone for one madam 

this cost me a minute's silence before i could begin again and then it
was with my hopes and my hopes and my hopes that i should have been
early admitted to 

what weather is it dorcas said she as regardless of me as if i had not
been present 

a little lowering madam the sun is gone in it was very fine half an
hour ago 

i had no patience up i rose down went the tea-cup saucer and all 
confound the weather the sunshine and the wench begone for a devil 
when i am speaking to your lady and have so little opportunity given me 

up rose the saucy-face half-frighted and snatched from the window her
gloves and fan 

you must not go madam seizing her hand by my soul you must not 

must not sir but i must you can curse your maid in my absence as
well as if i were present except except you intend for me what you
direct to her 

dearest creature you must not go you must not leave me such determined
scorn such contempts questions asked your servant of no meaning but to
break in upon me i cannot bear it 

detain me not  struggling   i will not be withheld i like you not nor
your ways you sought to quarrel with me yesterday for no reason in the
world that i can think of but because i was too obliging you are an
ungrateful man and i hate you with my whole heart mr lovelace 

do not make me desperate madam permit me to say that you shall not
leave me in this humour wherever you go i will attend you had miss
howe been my friend i had not been thus treated it is but too plain to
whom my difficulties are owing i have long observed that every letter
you received from her makes an alteration in your behaviour to me she
would have you treat me as she treats mr hickman i suppose but
neither does that treatment become your admirable temper to offer nor me
to receive 

this startled her she did not care to have me think hardly of miss
howe 

but recollecting herself miss howe said she is a friend to virtue and
to good men if she like not you it is because you are not one of
those 

yes madam and therefore to speak of mr hickman and myself as you
both i suppose think of each she treats him as she would not treat a
lovelace i challenge you madam to shew me but one of the many letters
you have received from her where i am mentioned 

miss howe is just miss howe is good replied she she writes she
speaks of every body as they deserve if you point me out but any one
occasion upon which you have reason to build a merit to yourself as
either just or good or even generous i will look out for her letter on
that occasion  if such an occasion there be i have certainly acquainted
her with it  and will engage it shall be in your favour 

devilish severe and as indelicate as severe to put a modish man upon
hunting backward after his own merits 

she would have flung from me i will not be detained mr lovelace i
will go out 

indeed you must not madam in this humour and i placed myself between
her and the door and then fanning she threw herself into a chair 
her sweet face all crimsoned over with passion 

i cast myself at her feet begone mr lovelace said she with a
rejecting motion her fan in her hand for your own sake leave me my
soul is above thee man with both her hands pushing me from her urge
me not to tell thee how sincerely i think my soul above thee thou
hast in mine a proud a too proud heart to contend with leave me and
leave me for ever thou has a proud heart to contend with 

her air her manner her voice were bewitchingly noble though her words
were so severe 

let me worship an angel said i no woman forgive me dearest creature 
 creature if you be forgive me forgive my inadvertencies forgive my
inequalities pity my infirmities who is equal to my clarissa 

i trembled between admiration and love and wrapt my arms about her
knees as she sat she tried to rise at the moment but my clasping
round her thus ardently drew her down again and never was woman more
affrighted but free as my clasping emotion might appear to her
apprehensive heart i had not at the instant any thought but what
reverence inspired and till she had actually withdrawn  which i
permitted under promise of a speedy return and on her consent to dismiss
the chair  all the motions of my heart were as pure as her own 

she kept not her word an hour i waited before i sent to claim her
promise she could not possibly see me yet was her answer as soon as
she could she would 

dorcas says she still excessively trembled and ordered her to give her
hartshorn and water 

a strange apprehensive creature her terror is too great for the
occasion evils are often greater in apprehension than in reality hast
thou never observed that the terrors of a bird caught and actually in
the hand bear no comparison to what we might have supposed those terrors
would be were we to have formed a judgment of the same bird by its
shyness before it was taken 

dear creature did she never romp did she never from girlhood to now 
hoyden the innocent kinds of freedom taken and allowed on these
occasions would have familiarized her to greater sacrilege but to
touch the hem of her garment excess of delicacy o the consecrated
beauty how can she think to be a wife 

but how do i know till i try whether she may not by a less alarming
treatment be prevailed upon or whether  day i have done with thee   she
may not yield to nightly surprises this is still the burden of my song 
i can marry her when i will and if i do after prevailing whether by
surprise or by reluctant consent whom but myself shall i have injured 


 


it is now eleven o'clock she will see me as soon as she can she tells
polly horton who made her a tender visit and to whom she is less
reserved than to any body else her emotion she assures her was not
owing to perverseness to nicety to ill humour but to weakness of
heart she has not strength of mind sufficient she says to enable her
to support her condition 

yet what a contradiction weakness of heart says she with such a
strength of will o belford she is a lion-hearted lady in every case
where her honour her punctilio rather calls for spirit but i have had
reason more than once in her case to conclude that the passions of the
gentle slower to be moved than those of the quick are the most flaming 
the most irresistible when raised yet her charming body is not equally
organized the unequal partners pull two ways and the divinity within
her tears her silken frame but had the same soul informed a masculine
body never would there have been a truer hero 


monday two o'clock 

not yet visible my beloved is not well what expectations had she from
my ardent admiration of her more rudeness than revenge apprehended 
yet how my soul thirsts for revenge upon both these ladies i must have
recourse to my master-strokes this cursed project of miss howe and her
mrs townsend if i cannot contrive to render it abortive will be always
a sword hanging over my head upon every little disobligations my
beloved will be for taking wing and the pains i have taken to deprive
her of every other refuge or protection in order to make her absolutely
dependent upon me will be all thrown away but perhaps i shall find out
a smuggler to counterplot miss howe 

thou remembrest the contention between the sun and the north-wind in the
fable which should first make an honest traveller throw off his cloak 

boreas began first he puffed away most vehemently and often made the
poor fellow curve and stagger but with no other effect than to cause
him to wrap his surtout the closer about him 

but when it came to phoebus's turn he so played upon the traveller with
his beams that he made him first unbutton and then throw it quite off 
 nor left he till he obliged him to take to the friendly shade of a
spreading beech where prostrating himself on the thrown-off cloak he
took a comfortable nap 

the victor-god then laughed outright both at boreas and the traveller 
and pursued his radiant course shining upon and warming and cherishing
a thousand new objects as he danced along and at night when he put up
his fiery coursers he diverted his thetis with the relation of his
pranks in the passed day 

i in like manner will discard all my boisterous inventions and if i
can oblige my sweet traveller to throw aside but for one moment the
cloak of her rigid virtue i shall have nothing to do but like the sun 
to bless new objects with my rays but my chosen hours of conversation
and repose after all my peregrinations will be devoted to my goddess 


 


and now belford according to my new system i think this house of mrs 
fretchville an embarrass upon me i will get rid of it for some time at
least mennell when i am out shall come to her inquiring for me 
what for thou'lt ask what for hast thou not heard what has befallen
poor mrs fretchville then i'll tell thee 

one of her maids about a week ago was taken with the small-pox the
rest kept their mistress ignorant of it till friday and then she came to
know of it by accident the greater half of the plagues poor mortals of
condition are tormented with proceed from the servants they take partly
for show partly for use and with a view to lessen their cares 

this has so terrified the widow that she is taken with all the symptoms
that threaten an attack from that dreadful enemy of fair faces so must
not think of removing yet cannot expect that we should be further
delayed on her account 

she now wishes with all her heart that she had known her own mind and
gone into the country at first when i treated about the house this evil
then had not happened a cursed cross accident for us too heigh-ho 
nothing else i think in this mortal life people need not study to
bring crosses upon themselves by their petulancies 

so this affair of the house will be over at least for one while but
then i can fall upon an expedient which will make amends for this
disappointment i must move slow in order to be sure i have a
charming contrivance or two in my head even supposing my beloved should
get away to bring her back again 

but what is become of lord m i trow that he writes not to me in
answer to my invitation if he would send me such a letter as i could
show it might go a great way towards a perfect reconciliation i have
written to charlotte about it he shall soon hear from me and that in a
way he won't like if he writes not quickly he has sometimes threatened
to disinherit me but if i should renounce him it would be but justice 
and would vex him ten times more than any thing he can do will vex me 
then the settlements unavoidably delayed by his neglect how shall i
bear such a life of procrastination i who as to my will and
impatience and so forth am of the true lady-make and can as little
bear controul and disappointment as the best of them 


 


another letter from miss howe i suppose it is that which she promises
in her last to send her relating to the courtship between old tony the
uncle and annabella the mother i should be extremely rejoiced to see
it no more of the smuggler-plot in it surely this letter it seems 
she has put in her pocket but i hope i shall soon find it deposited
with the rest 


monday evening 

at my repeated request she condescended to meet me in the dining-room to
afternoon-tea and not before 

she entered with bashfulness as i thought in a pretty confusion for
having carried her apprehensions too far sullen and slow moved she
towards the tea-table dorcas present busy in tea-cup preparations i
took her reluctant hand and pressed it to my lips dearest loveliest
of creatures why this distance why this displeasure how can you thus
torture the faithfullest heart in the world 

she disengaged her hand again i would have snatched it 

be quiet  peevishly withdrawing it   and down she sat a gentle
palpitation in the beauty of beauties indicating a mingled sullenness and
resentment her snowy handkerchief rising and falling and a sweet flush
overspreading her charming cheeks 

for god's sake madam  and a third time i would have taken her
repulsing hand  

and for the same sake sir no more teasing 

dorcas retired i drew my chair nearer her's and with the most
respectful tenderness took her hand and told her that i could not
forbear to express my apprehensions from the distance she was so
desirous to keep me at that if any man in the world was more indifferent
to her to use no harsher word than another it was the unhappy wretch
before her 

she looked steadily upon me for a moment and with her other hand not
withdrawing that i held pulled her handkerchief out of her pocket and
by a twinkling motion urged forward a tear or two which having arisen in
each sweet eye it was plain by that motion she would rather have
dissipated but answered me only with a sigh and an averted face 

i urged her to speak to look up at me to bless me with an eye more
favourable 

i had reason she told me for my complaint of her indifference she saw
nothing in my mind that was generous i was not a man to be obliged or
favoured my strange behaviour to her since saturday night for no cause
at all that she knew of convinced her of this whatever hopes she had
conceived of me were utterly dissipated all my ways were disgustful to
her 

this cut me to the heart the guilty i believe in every case less
patiently bear the detecting truth than the innocent do the degrading
falsehood 

i bespoke her patience while i took the liberty to account for this
change on my part i re-acknowledged the pride of my heart which could
not bear the thought of that want of preference in the heart of a lady
whom i hoped to call mine which she had always manifested marriage i
said was a state that was not to be entered upon with indifference on
either side 

it is insolence interrupted she it is a presumption sir to expect
tokens of value without resolving to deserve them you have no whining
creature before you mr lovelace overcome by weak motives to love
where there is no merit miss howe can tell you sir that i never loved
the faults of my friend nor ever wished her to love me for mine it was
a rule with us not to spare each other and would a man who has nothing
but faults for pray sir what are your virtues expect that i should
show a value for him indeed if i did i should not deserve even his
value but ought to be despised by him 

well have you madam kept up to this noble manner of thinking you are
in no danger of being despised for any marks of tenderness or favour
shown to the man before you you have been perhaps you'll think 
laudably studious of making and taking occasions to declare that it was
far from being owing to your choice that you had any thoughts of me my
whole soul madam in all its errors in all its wishes in all its
views had been laid open and naked before you had i been encouraged by
such a share in your confidence and esteem as would have secured me
against your apprehended worst constructions of what i should from time
to time have revealed to you and consulted you upon for never was
there a franker heart nor a man so ready to accuse himself  this 
belford is true   but you know madam how much otherwise it has been
between us doubt distance reserve on your part begat doubt fear 
awe on mine how little confidence as if we apprehended each other to
be a plotter rather than a lover how have i dreaded every letter that
has been brought you from wilson's and with reason since the last 
from which i expected so much on account of the proposals i had made you
in writing has if i may judge by the effects and by your denial of
seeing me yesterday though you could go abroad and in a chair too to
avoid my attendance on you set you against me more than ever 

i was guilty it seems of going to church said the indignant charmer 
and without the company of a man whose choice it would not have been to
go had i not gone i was guilty of desiring to have the whole sunday to
myself after i had obliged you against my will at a play and after
you had detained me equally to my dislike to a very late hour over-
night these were my faults for these i was to be punished i was to be
compelled to see you and to be terrified when i did see you by the most
shocking ill humour that was ever shown to a creature in my
circumstances and not bound to bear it you have pretended to find free
fault with my father's temper mr lovelace but the worst that he ever
showed after marriage was not in the least to be compared to what you
have shown twenty times beforehand and what are my prospects with you 
at the very best my indignation rises against you mr lovelace while
i speak to you when i recollect the many instances equally ungenerous
and unpolite of your behaviour to one whom you have brought into
distress and i can hardly bear you in my sight 

she turned from me standing up and lifting up her folded hands and
charming eyes swimming in tears o my father said the inimitable
creature you might have spared your heavy curse had you known how i
have been punished ever since my swerving feet led me out of your
garden-doors to meet this man then sinking into her chair a burst
of passionate tears forced their way down her glowing cheeks 

my dearest life  taking her still folded hands in mine   who can bear
an invocation so affecting though so passionate 

and as i hope to live my nose tingled as i once when a boy remember
it did and indeed once more very lately just before some tears came
into my eyes and i durst hardly trust my face in view of her's 

what have i done to deserve this impatient exclamation have i at any
time by word by deeds by looks given you cause to doubt my honour my
reverence my adoration i may call it of your virtues all is owing to
misapprehension i hope on both sides condescend to clear up but your
part as i will mine and all must speedily be happy would to heaven i
loved that heaven as i love you and yet if i doubted a return in love 
let me perish if i should know how to wish you mine give me hope 
dearest creature give me but hope that i am your preferable choice 
give me but hope that you hate me not that you do not despise me 

o mr lovelace we have been long enough together to be tired of each
other's humours and ways ways and humours so different that perhaps
you ought to dislike me as much as i do you i think i think that i
cannot make an answerable return to the value you profess for me my
temper is utterly ruined you have given me an ill opinion of all
mankind of yourself in particular and withal so bad a one of myself 
that i shall never be able to look up having utterly and for ever lost
all that self-complacency and conscious pride which are so necessary to
carry a woman through this life with tolerable satisfaction to herself 

she paused i was silent by my soul thought i this sweet creature
will at last undo me 

she proceeded what now remains but that you pronounce me free of all
obligation to you and that you hinder me not from pursuing the destiny
that shall be allotted me 

again she paused i was still silent meditating whether to renounce all
further designs upon her whether i had not received sufficient evidence
of a virtue and of a greatness of soul that could not be questioned or
impeached 

she went on propitious to me be your silence mr lovelace tell me 
that i am free of all obligation to you you know i never made you
promises you know that you are not under any to me my broken
fortunes i matter not 

she was proceeding my dearest life said i i have been all this time 
though you fill me with doubts of your favour busy in the nuptial
preparations i am actually in treaty for equipage 

equipage sir trappings tinsel what is equipage what is life what
is any thing to a creature sunk so low as i am in my own opinion 
labouring under a father's curse unable to look backward without self-
reproach or forward without terror these reflections strengthened by
every cross accident and what but cross accidents befall me all my
darling schemes dashed in pieces all my hopes at an end deny me not the
liberty to refuge myself in some obscure corner where neither the
enemies you have made me nor the few friends you have left me may ever
hear of the supposed rash-one till those happy moments are at hand 
which shall expiate for all 

i had not a word to say for myself such a war in my mind had i never
known gratitude and admiration of the excellent creature before me 
combating with villanous habit with resolutions so premeditatedly made 
and with view so much gloried in an hundred new contrivances in my
head and in my heart that to be honest as it is called must all be
given up by a heart delighting in intrigue and difficulty miss howe's
virulences endeavoured to be recollected yet recollection refusing to
bring them forward with the requisite efficacy i had certainly been a
lost man had not dorcas come seasonably in with a letter on the
superscription written be pleased sir to open it now 

i retired to the window opened it it was from dorcas herself these
the contents be pleased to detain my lady a paper of importance to
transcribe i will cough when i have done 

i put the paper in my pocket and turned to my charmer less
disconcerted as she by that time had also a little recovered herself 
 one favour dearest creature let me but know whether miss howe
approves or disapproves of my proposals i know her to be my enemy i
was intending to account to you for the change of behaviour you accused
me of at the beginning of the conversation but was diverted from it by
your vehemence indeed my beloved creature you were very vehement do
you think it must not be matter of high regret to me to find my wishes
so often delayed and postponed in favour of your predominant view to a
reconciliation with relations who will not be reconciled to you to this
was owing your declining to celebrate our nuptials before we came to
town though you were so atrociously treated by your sister and your
whole family and though so ardently pressed to celebrate by me to this
was owing the ready offence you took at my four friends and at the
unavailing attempt i made to see a dropt letter little imagining from
what two such ladies could write to each other that there could be room
for mortal displeasure to this was owing the week's distance you held me
at till you knew the issue of another application but when they had
rejected that when you had sent my cold-received proposals to miss howe
for her approbation or advice as indeed i advised and had honoured me
with your company at the play on saturday night my whole behaviour
unobjectionable to the last hour must not madam the sudden change in
your conduct the very next morning astonish and distress me and this
persisted in with still stronger declarations after you had received the
impatiently-expected letter from miss howe must i not conclude that all
was owing to her influence and that some other application or project
was meditating that made it necessary to keep me again at a distance
till the result were known and which was to deprive me of you for ever 
for was not that your constantly-proposed preliminary well madam 
might i be wrought up to a half-phrensy by this apprehension and well
might i charge you with hating me and now dearest creature let me
know i once more ask you what is miss howe's opinion of my proposals 

were i disposed to debate with you mr lovelace i could very easily
answer your fine harangue but at present i shall only say that your
ways have been very unaccountable you seem to me if your meanings were
always just to have taken great pains to embarrass them whether owing
in you to the want of a clear head or a sound heart i cannot determine 
but it is to the want of one of them i verily think that i am to
ascribe the greatest part of your strange conduct 

curse upon the heart of the little devil said i who instigates you to
think so hardly of the faithfullest heart in the world 

how dare you sir and there she stopt having almost overshot herself 
as i designed she should 

how dare i what madam and i looked with meaning how dare i what 

vile man and do you and there again she stopt 

do i what madam and why vile man 

how dare you curse any body in my presence 

o the sweet receder but that was not to go off so with a lovelace 

why then dearest creature is there any body that instigates you if
there be again i curse them be they whom they will 

she was in a charming pretty passion and this was the first time that i
had the odds in my favour 

well madam it is just as i thought and now i know how to account for
a temper that i hope is not natural to you 

artful wretch and is it thus you would entrap me but know sir that i
received letters from nobody but miss howe miss howe likes some of your
ways as little as i do for i have set every thing before her yet she
is thus far your enemy as she is mine she thinks i could not refuse
your offers but endeavour to make the best of my lot and now you have
the truth would to heaven you were capable of dealing with equal
sincerity 

i am madam and here on my knee i renew my vows and my supplication 
that you will make me your's your's for ever and let me have cause to
bless you and miss howe in the same breath 

to say the truth belford i had before begun to think that the vixen of
a girl who certainly likes not hickman was in love with me 

rise sir from your too-ready knees and mock me not 

too-ready knees thought i though this humble posture so little affects
this proud beauty she knows not how much i have obtained of others of
her sex nor how often i have been forgiven for the last attempts by
kneeling 

mock you madam and i arose and re-urged her for the day i blamed
myself at the same time for the invitation i had given to lord m as
it might subject me to delay from his infirmities but told her that i
would write to him to excuse me if she had no objection or to give him
the day she would give me and not wait for him if he could not come in
time 

my day sir said she is never be not surprised a person of
politeness judging between us would not be surprised that i say so but
indeed mr lovelace  and wept through impatience   you either know not
how to treat with a mind of the least degree of delicacy notwithstanding
your birth and education or you are an ungrateful man and  after a
pause  a worse than ungrateful one but i will retire i will see you
again to-morrow i cannot before i think i hate you and if upon a
re-examination of my own heart i find i do i would not for the world
that matters should go on farther between us 

but i see i see she does not hate me how it would mortify my vanity 
if i thought there was a woman in the world much more this that could
hate me tis evident villain as she thinks me that i should not be an
odious villain if i could but at last in one instance cease to be a
villain she could not hold it determined as she had thought herself i
saw by her eyes the moment i endeavoured to dissipate her apprehensions 
on my too-ready knees as she calls them the moment the rough covering
my teasing behaviour has thrown over her affections is quite removed i
doubt not to find all silk and silver at the bottom all soft bright 
and charming 

i was however too much vexed disconcerted mortified to hinder her from
retiring and yet she had not gone if dorcas had not coughed 

the wench came in as soon as her lady had retired and gave me the copy
she had taken and what should it be but of the answer the truly
admirable creature had intended to give to my written proposals in
relation to settlements 

i have but just dipt my pen into this affecting paper were i to read it
attentively not a wink should i sleep this night to-morrow it shall
obtain my serious consideration 



letter xlviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday morning may 23 


the dear creature desires to be excused seeing me till evening she is
not very well as dorcas tells me 

read here if thou wilt the paper transcribed by dorcas it is
impossible that i should proceed with my projects against this admirable
woman were it not that i am resolved after a few trials more if as
nobly sustained as those she has passed through to make her if she
really hate me not legally mine 


to mr lovelace

when a woman is married that supreme earthly obligation requires that
in all instances where her husband's real honour is concerned she
should yield her own will to his but beforehand i could be glad 
conformably to what i have always signified to have the most explicit
assurances that every possible way should be tried to avoid litigation
with my father time and patience will subdue all things my prospects
of happiness are extremely contracted a husband's right will be always
the same in my lifetime i could wish nothing to be done of this sort 
your circumstances sir will not oblige you to extort violently from him
what is in his hands all that depends upon me either with regard to my
person to my diversions or to the economy that no married woman of
whatever rank or quality should be above inspecting shall be done to
prevent a necessity for such measures being taken and if there will be
no necessity for them it is to be hoped that motives less excusable will
not have force motives which must be founded in a littleness of mind 
which a woman who has not that littleness of mind will be under such
temptations as her duty will hardly be able at all times to check to
despise her husband for having especially in cases where her own family 
so much a part of herself and which will have obligations upon her
 though then but secondary ones from which she can never be freed is
intimately concerned 

this article then i urge to your most serious consideration as what
lies next my heart i enter not here minutely into the fatal
misunderstanding between them and you the fault may be in both but 
sir your's was the foundation-fault at least you gave a too-plausible
pretence for my brother's antipathy to work upon condescension was no
part of your study you chose to bear the imputations laid to your
charge rather than to make it your endeavour to obviate them 

but this may lead into hateful recrimination let it be remembered i
will only say in this place that in their eye you have robbed them of
a daughter they doated upon and that their resentments on this occasion
rise but in proportion to their love and their disappointment if they
were faulty in some of the measures they took while they themselves did
not think so who shall judge for them you sir who will judge every
body as you please and will let nobody judge you in your own particular 
must not be their judge it may therefore be expected that they will
stand out 

as for myself sir i must leave it so seems it to be destined to your
justice to treat me as you shall think i deserve but if your future
behaviour to them is not governed by that harsh-sounding implacableness 
which you charge upon some of their tempers the splendour of your
family and the excellent character of some of them of all indeed 
unless your own conscience furnishes you with one only exception will 
on better consideration do every thing with them for they may be
overcome perhaps however with the more difficulty as the greatly
prosperous less bear controul and disappointment than others for i will
own to you that i have often in secret lamented that their great
acquirements have been a snare to them perhaps as great a snare as some
other accidentals have been to you which being less immediately your own
gifts you have still less reason than they to value yourself upon them 

let me only on this subject further observe that condescension is not
meanness there is a glory in yielding that hardly any violent spirit
can judge of my brother perhaps is no more sensible of this than you 
but as you have talents which he has not who however has as i hope 
that regard for morals the want of which makes one of his objections to
you i could wish it may not be owing to you that your mutual dislikes
to each other do not subside for it is my earnest hope that in time you
may see each other without exciting the fears of a wife and a sister for
the consequence not that i should wish you to yield in points that
truly concerned your honour no sir i would be as delicate in such as
you yourself more delicate i will venture to say because more
uniformly so how vain how contemptible is that pride which shows
itself in standing upon diminutive observances and gives up and makes a
jest of the most important duties 

this article being considered as i wish all the rest will be easy 
were i to accept of the handsome separate provision you seem to intend
me added to the considerate sums arisen from my grandfather's estate
since his death more considerable than perhaps you may suppose from your
offer i should think it my duty to lay up for the family good and for
unforseen events out of it for as to my donations i would generally
confine myself in them to the tenth of my income be it what it would i
aim at no glare in what i do of that sort all i wish for is the power
of relieving the lame the blind the sick and the industrious poor and
those whom accident has made so or sudden distress reduced the common
or bred beggars i leave to others and to the public provision they
cannot be lower perhaps they wish not to be higher and not able to do
for every one i aim not at works of supererogation two hundred pounds
a year would do all i wish to do of the separate sort for all above i
would content myself to ask you except mistrusting your own economy 
you would give up to my management and keeping in order to provide for
future contingencies a larger portion for which as your steward i
would regularly account 

as to clothes i have particularly two suits which having been only in
a manner tried on would answer for any present occasion jewels i have
of my grandmother's which want only new-setting another set i have 
which on particular days i used to wear although these are not sent me 
i have no doubt being merely personals but they will when i should
send for them in another name till when i should not choose to wear any 

as to your complaints of my diffidences and the like i appeal to your
own heart if it be possible for you to make my case your own for one
moment and to retrospect some parts of your behaviour words and
actions whether i am not rather to be justified than censured and
whether of all the men in the world avowing what you avow you ought
not to think so if you do not let me admonish you sir from the very
great mismatch that then must appear to be in our minds never to seek 
nor so much as to wish to bring about the most intimate union of
interests between yourself and

clarissa harlowe 
may 20 


 


the original of this charming paper as dorcas tells me was torn almost
in two in one of her pets i suppose what business have the sex 
whose principal glory is meekness and patience and resignation to be
in a passion i trow will not she who allows herself such liberties as
a maiden take greater when married 

and a wife to be in a passion let me tell the ladies it is an
impudent thing begging their pardon and as imprudent as impudent for a
wife to be in a passion if she mean not eternal separation or wicked
defiance by it for is it not rejecting at once all that expostulatory
meekness and gentle reasoning mingled with sighs as gentle and graced
with bent knees supplicating hands and eyes lifted up to your imperial
countenance just running over that you should make a reconciliation
speedy and as lasting as speedy even suppose the husband is in the
wrong will not this being so give the greater force to her
expostulation 

now i think of it a man should be in the wrong now-and-then to make his
wife shine miss howe tells my charmer that adversity is her shining-
time tis a generous thing in a man to make his wife shine at his own
expense to give her leave to triumph over him by patient reasoning for
were he to be too imperial to acknowledge his fault on the spot she will
find the benefit of her duty and submission in future and in the high
opinion he will conceive of her prudence and obligingness and so by
degrees she will become her master's master 

but for a wife to come up with kemboed arm the other hand thrown out 
perhaps with a pointing finger look ye here sir take notice if you
are wrong i'll be wrong if you are in a passion i'll be in a passion 
 rebuff for rebuff sir if you fly i'll tear if you swear i'll
curse and the same room and the same bed shall not hold us sir -
for remember i am married sir i am a wife sir you can't help
yourself sir your honour as well as your peace is in my keeping 
and if you like not this treatment you may have worse sir 

ah jack jack what man who has observed these things either implied
or expressed in other families would wish to be a husband 

dorcas found this paper in one of the drawers of her lady's dressing-
table she was reperusing it as she supposes when the honest wench
carried my message to desire her to favour me at the tea-table for she
saw her pop a paper into the drawer as she came in and there on her
mistress's going to meet me in the dining-room she found it and to be
this 

but i had better not to have had a copy of it as far as i know for 
determined as i was before upon my operations it instantly turned all my
resolutions in her favour yet i would give something to be convinced
that she did not pop it into her drawer before the wench in order for me
to see it and perhaps if i were to take notice of it to discover
whether dorcas according to miss howe's advice were most my friend or
her's 

the very suspicion of this will do her no good for i cannot bear to be
artfully dealt with people love to enjoy their own peculiar talents in
monopoly as arguments against me in her behalf but i know every tittle
thou canst say upon it spare therefore thy wambling nonsense i desire
thee and leave this sweet excellence and me to our fate that will
determine for us as it shall please itself for as cowley says 

 an unseen hand makes all our moves 
 and some are great and some are small 
 some climb to good some from great fortunes fall 
 some wise men and some fools we call 
 figures alas of speech for destiny plays us all 

but after all i am sorry almost sorry for how shall i do to be quite
sorry when it is not given to me to be so that i cannot until i have
made further trials resolve upon wedlock 

i have just read over again this intended answer to my proposals and how
i adore her for it 

but yet another yet she has not given it or sent it to me it is not
therefore her answer it is not written for me though to me 

nay she has not intended to send it to me she has even torn it perhaps
with indignation as thinking it too good for me by this action she
absolutely retracts it why then does my foolish fondness seek to
establish for her the same merit in my heart as if she avowed it 
pr'ythee dear belford once more leave us to our fate and do not thou
interpose with thy nonsense to weaken a spirit already too squeamish 
and strengthen a conscience that has declared itself of her party 

then again remember thy recent discoveries lovelace remember her
indifference attended with all the appearance of contempt and hatred 
view her even now wrapt up in reserve and mystery meditating plots as
far as thou knowest against the sovereignty thou hast by right of
conquest obtained over her remember in short all thou hast
threatened to remember against this insolent beauty who is a rebel to
the power she has listed under 

but yet how dost thou propose to subdue thy sweet enemy abhorred be
force be the necessity of force if that can be avoided there is no
triumph in force no conquest over the will no prevailing by gentle
degrees over the gentle passions force is the devil 

my cursed character as i have often said was against me at setting out
 yet is she not a woman cannot i find one yielding or but half-
yielding moment if she do not absolutely hate me 

but with what can i tempt her riches she was born to and despises 
knowing what they are jewels and ornaments to a mind so much a jewel 
and so richly set her worthy consciousness will not let her value love
 if she be susceptible of love it seems to be so much under the
direction of prudence that one unguarded moment i fear cannot be
reasonably hoped for and so much vigilance so much apprehensiveness 
that her fears are ever aforehand with her dangers then her love or
virtue seems to be principle native principle or if not native so
deeply rooted that its fibres have struck into her heart and as she
grew up so blended and twisted themselves with the strings of life that
i doubt there is no separating of the one without cutting the others
asunder 

what then can be done to make such a matchless creature get over the
first tests in order to put her to the grand proof whether once
overcome she will not be always overcome 

our mother and her nymphs say i am a perfect craven and no lovelace 
and so i think but this is no simpering smiling charmer as i have
found others to be when i have touched upon affecting subjects at a
distance as once or twice i have tried to her the mother introducing
them to make sex palliate the freedom to sex when only we three
together she is above the affectation of not seeming to understand you 
she shows by her displeasure and a fierceness not natural to her eye 
that she judges of an impure heart by an impure mouth and darts dead at
once even the embryo hopes of an encroaching lover however distantly
insinuated before the meaning hint can dawn into double entendre 

by my faith jack as i sit gazing upon her my whole soul in my eyes 
contemplating her perfections and thinking when i have seen her easy
and serene what would be her thoughts did she know my heart as well as
i know it when i behold her disturbed and jealous and think of the
justness of her apprehensions and that she cannot fear so much as there
is room for her to fear my heart often misgives me 

and must think i o creature so divinely excellent and so beloved of my
soul those arms those encircling arms that would make a monarch happy 
be used to repel brutal force all their strength unavailingly perhaps 
exerted to repel it and to defend a person so delicately framed can
violence enter into the heart of a wretch who might entitle himself to
all her willing yet virtuous love and make the blessings he aspireth
after her duty to confer begone villain-purposes sink ye all to the
hell that could only inspire ye and i am then ready to throw myself at
her feet to confess my villainous designs to avow my repentance and
put it out of my power to act unworthily by such an excellence 

how then comes it that all these compassionate and as some would call
them honest sensibilities go off why miss howe will tell thee she
says i am the devil by my conscience i think he has at present a
great share in me 

there's ingenuousness how i lay myself open to thee but seest thou not 
that the more i say against myself the less room there is for thee
to take me to task o belford belford i cannot cannot at least at
present i cannot marry 

then her family my bitter enemies to supple to them or if i do not to
make her as unhappy as she can be from my attempts 

then does she not love them too much me too little 

she now seems to despise me miss howe declares that she really does
despise me to be despised by a wife what a thought is that to be
excelled by a wife too in every part of praise-worthy knowledge to
take lessons to take instructions from a wife more than despise me 
she herself has taken time to consider whether she does not hate me 
i hate you lovelace with my whole heart said she to me but yesterday 
my soul is above thee man urge me not to tell thee how sincerely i
think my soul above thee how poor indeed was i then even in my own
heart so visible a superiority to so proud a spirit as mine and here
from below from below indeed from these women i am so goaded on 

yet tis poor too to think myself a machine in the hands of such
wretches i am no machine lovelace thou art base to thyself but to
suppose thyself a machine 

but having gone thus far i should be unhappy if after marriage in the
petulance of ill humour i had it to reproach myself that i did not try
her to the utmost and yet i don't know how it is but this lady the
moment i come into her presence half-assimilates me to her own virtue 
once or twice to say nothing of her triumph over me on sunday night i
was prevailed upon to fluster myself with an intention to make some
advances which if obliged to recede i might lay upon raised spirits 
but the instant i beheld her i was soberized into awe and reverence and
the majesty of her even visible purity first damped and then extinguished 
my double flame 

what a surprisingly powerful effect so much and so long in my power she 
so instigated by some of her own sex and so stimulated by passion i 
how can this be accounted for in a lovelace 

but what a heap of stuff have i written how have i been run away with 
 by what canst thou say by what o thou lurking varletess conscience 
 is it thou that hast thus made me of party against myself how camest
thou in in what disguise thou egregious haunter of my more agreeable
hours stand thou with fate but neuter in this controversy and if i
cannot do credit to human nature and to the female sex by bringing down
such an angel as this to class with and adorn it for adorn it she does
in her very foibles then i am all your's and never will resist you
more 

here i arose i shook myself the window was open always the
troublesome bosom-visiter the intruder is flown i see it yet and
now it lessens to my aching eye and now the cleft air is closed after it 
and it is out of sight and once more i am

robert lovelace 



letter xlix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday may 23 


well did i and but just in time to conclude to have done with mrs 
fretchville and the house for here mennell has declared that he cannot
in conscience and honour go any farther he would not for the world be
accessory to the deceiving of such a lady i was a fool to let either
you or him see her for ever since ye have both had scruples which
neither would have had were a woman to have been in the question 

well i can't help it 

mennell has however though with some reluctance consented to write me
a letter provided i will allow it to be the last step he shall take in
this affair 

i presumed i told him that if i could cause mrs fretchville's woman to
supply his place he would have no objection to that 

none he says but is it not pity 

a pitiful fellow such a ridiculous kind of pity his as those silly
souls have who would not kill an innocent chicken for the world but
when killed to their hands are always the most greedy devourers of it 

now this letter gives the servant the small-pox and she has given it to
her unhappy vapourish lady vapourish people are perpetual subjects for
diseases to work upon name but the malady and it is theirs in a
moment ever fitted for inoculation the physical tribe's milch-cows 
 a vapourish or splenetic patient is a fiddle for the doctors and they
are eternally playing upon it sweet music does it make them all their
difficulty except a case extraordinary happens as poor mrs 
fretchville's who has realized her apprehensions is but to hold their
countenance while their patient is drawing up a bill of indictment
against himself and when they have heard it proceed to punish the
right word for prescribe why should they not when the criminal has
confessed his guilt and punish they generally do with a vengeance 

yet silly toads too now i think of it for why when they know they
cannot do good may they not as well endeavour to gratify as to
nauseate the patient's palate 

were i a physician i'd get all the trade to myself for malmsey and
cyprus and the generous product of the cape a little disguised should
be my principal doses as these would create new spirits how would the
revived patient covet the physic and adore the doctor 

give all the paraders of the faculty whom thou knowest this hint there
could but one inconvenience arise from it the apothecaries would find
their medicines cost them something but the demand for quantities would
answer that since the honest nurse would be the patient's taster 
perpetually requiring repetitions of the last cordial julap 

well but to the letter yet what need of further explanation after the
hints in my former the widow can't be removed and that's enough and
mennell's work is over and his conscience left to plague him for his own
sins and not another man's and very possibly plague enough will give
him for those 

this letter is directed to robert lovelace esq or in his absence to
his lady she has refused dining with me or seeing me and i was out
when it came she opened it so is my lady by her own consent proud and
saucy as she is 

i am glad at my heart that it came before we entirely make up she would
else perhaps have concluded it to be contrived for a delay and now 
moreover we can accommodate our old and new quarrels together and
that's contrivance you know but how is her dear haughty heart humbled
to what it was when i knew her first that she can apprehend any delays
from me and have nothing to do but to vex at them 

i came in to dinner she sent me down the letter desiring my excuse for
opening it did it before she was aware lady-pride belford 
recollection then retrogradation 

i requested to see her upon it that moment but she desires to suspend
our interview till morning i will bring her to own before i have done
with her that she can't see me too often 

my impatience was so great on an occasion so unexpected that i could
not help writing to tell her how much vexed i was at the accident but
that it need not delay my happy day as that did not depend upon the
house  she knew that before she'll think and so did i   and as mrs 
fretchville by mr mennell so handsomely expressed her concern upon it 
and her wishes that it could suit us to bear with the unavoidable delay 
i hoped that going down to the lawn for two or three of the summer-
months when i was made the happiest of men would be favourable to all
round 

the dear creature takes this incident to heart i believe she has sent
word to my repeated request to see her notwithstanding her denial that
she cannot till the morning it shall be then at six o'clock if i
please 

to be sure i do please 

can see her but once a day now jack 

did i tell thee that i wrote a letter to my cousin montague wondering
that i heard not from lord m as the subject was so very interesting in
it i acquainted her with the house i was about taking and with mrs 
fretchville's vapourish delays 

i was very loth to engage my own family either man or woman in this
affair but i must take my measures securely and already they all think
as bad of me as they well can you observe by my lord m s letter to
yourself that the well-manner'd peer is afraid i should play this
admirable creature one of my usual dog's tricks 

i have received just now an answer from charlotte 

charlot i'n't well a stomach disorder 

no wonder a girl's stomach should plague her a single woman that's it 
when she has a man to plague it will have something besides itself to
prey upon knowest thou not moreover that man is the woman's sun woman
is the man's earth how dreary how desolate the earth that the suns
shines not upon 

poor charlotte but i heard she was not well that encouraged me to
write to her and to express myself a little concerned that she had not 
of her own accord thought of a visit in town to my charmer 

here follows a copy of her letter thou wilt see by it that every little
monkey is to catechise me they all depend upon my good-nature 


m hall may 22 

dear cousin 

we have been in daily hope for a long time i must call it of hearing
that the happy knot was tied my lord has been very much out of order 
and yet nothing would serve him but he would himself write an answer to
your letter it was the only opportunity he should ever have perhaps 
to throw in a little good advice to you with the hope of its being of
any signification and he has been several hours in a day as his gout
would let him busied in it it wants now only his last revisal he
hopes it will have the greater weight with you as it appear all in his
own hand-writing 

indeed mr lovelace his worthy heart is wrapt up in you i wish you
loved yourself but half as well but i believe too that if all the
family loved you less you would love yourself more 

his lordship has been very busy at the times he could not write in
consulting pritchard about those estates which he proposes to transfer to
you on the happy occasion that he may answer your letter in the most
acceptable manner and show by effects how kindly he takes your
invitation i assure you he is mighty proud of it 

as for myself i am not at all well and have not been for some weeks
past with my old stomach-disorder i had certainly else before now have
done myself the honour you wonder i have not done myself lady betty 
who would have accompanied me for we have laid it all out has been
exceedingly busy in her law-affair her antagonist who is actually on
the spot having been making proposals for an accommodation but you may
assure yourself that when our dear relation-elect shall be entered upon
the new habitation you tell me of we will do ourselves the honour of
visiting her and if any delay arises from the dear lady's want of
courage which considering her man let me tell you may very well be 
we will endeavour to inspire her with it and be sponsors for you for 
cousin i believe you have need to be christened over again before you
are entitled to so great a blessing what think you 

just now my lord tells me he will dispatch a man on purpose with his
letter to-morrow so i needed not to have written but now i have let
it go and by empson who sets out directly on his return to town 

my best compliments and sister's to the most deserving lady in the
world  you will need no other direction to the person meant  conclude me

your affectionate cousin and servant 
charl montague 


 


thou seest how seasonably this letter comes i hope my lord will write
nothing but what i may show to my beloved i have actually sent her up
this letter of charlotte's and hope for happy effects from it 

r l 


 


 the lady in her next letter gives miss howe an account of what passed
 between mr lovelace and herself she resents his behaviour with her
 usual dignity but when she comes to mention mr mennell's letter 
 she re-urges miss howe to perfect her scheme for her deliverance 
 being resolved to leave him but dating again on his sending up to
 her miss montague's letter she alters her mind and desires her to
 suspend for the present her application to mrs townsend  

i had begun says she to suspect all he had said of mrs fretchville and
her house and even mr mennell himself though so well-appearing a man 
but now that i find mr lovelace has apprized his relations of his intent
to take it and had engaged some of the ladies to visit me there i could
hardly forbear blaming myself for censuring him as capable of so vile an
imposture but may he not thank himself for acting so very
unaccountably and taking such needlessly-awry steps as he had done 
embarrassing as i told him his own meanings if they were good 



letter l

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday may 24 


 he gives his friend an account of their interview that morning and of
 the happy effects of his cousin montague's letter in his favour her
 reserves however he tells him are not absolutely banished but
 this he imputes to form  

it is not in the power of woman says he to be altogether sincere on
these occasions but why do they think it so great a disgrace to be
found out to be really what they are 

i regretted the illness of mrs fretchville as the intention i had to
fix her dear self in the house before the happy knot was tied would have
set her in that independence in appearance as well as fact which was
necessary to show to all the world that her choice was free and as the
ladies of my family would have been proud to make their court to her
there while the settlements and our equipages were preparing but on
any other account there was no great matter in it since when my happy
day was over we could with so much convenience go down to the lawn to
my lord m s and to lady sarah's or lady betty's in turn which would
give full time to provide ourselves with servants and other
accommodations 

how sweetly the charmer listened 

i asked her if she had had the small-pox 

ten thousand pounds the worse in my estimation thought i if she has
not for no one of her charming graces can i dispense with 

twas always a doubtful point with her mother and mrs norton she owned 
but although she was not afraid of it she chose not unnecessarily to
rush into places where it was 

right thought i else i said it would not have been amiss for her to
see the house before she went into the country for if she liked it not 
i was not obliged to have it 

she asked if she might take a copy of miss montague's letter 

i said she might keep the letter itself and send it to miss howe if
she pleased for that i suppose was her intention 

she bowed her head to me 

there jack i shall have her courtesy to me by-and-by i question not 
what a-devil had i to do to terrify the sweet creature by my termagant
projects yet it was not amiss i believe to make her afraid of me 
she says i am an unpolite man and every polite instance from such a
one is deemed a favour 

talking of the settlements i told her i had rather that pritchard
 mentioned by my cousin charlotte had not been consulted on this
occasion pritchard indeed was a very honest man and had been for a
generation in the family and knew of the estates and the condition of
them better than either my lord or myself but pritchard like other old
men was diffident and slow and valued himself upon his skill as a
draughts-man and for the sake of the paltry reputation must have all
his forms preserved were an imperial crown to depend upon his dispatch 

i kissed her unrepulsing hand no less than five times during this
conversation lord jack how my generous heart ran over she was quite
obliging at parting she in a manner asked me leave to retire to
reperuse charlotte's letter i think she bent her knees to me but i
won't be sure how happy might we both have been long ago had the dear
creature been always as complaisant to me for i do love respect and 
whether i deserve it or not always had it till i knew this proud
beauty 

and now belford are we in a train or the deuce is in it every
fortified town has its strong and its weak place i have carried on my
attacks against the impregnable parts i have not doubt but i shall
either shine or smuggle her out of her cloke since she and miss howe
have intended to employ a smuggler against me all we wait for now is
my lord's letter 

but i had like to have forgot to tell thee that we have been not a
little alarmed by some inquiries that have been made after me and my
beloved by a man of good appearance who yesterday procured a tradesman
in the neighbourhood to send for dorcas of whom he asked several
questions relating to us particularly as we boarded and lodged in one
house whether we were married 

this has given my beloved great uneasiness and i could not help
observing upon it to her how right a thing it was that we had given out
below that we were married the inquiry most probably i said was from
her brother's quarter and now perhaps that our marriage was owned we
should hear no more of his machinations the person it seems was
curious to know the day that the ceremony was performed but dorcas
refused to give him any other particulars than that we were married and
she was the more reserved as he declined to tell her the motives of his
inquiry 



letter li

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
may 24 


the devil take this uncle of mine he has at last sent me a letter which
i cannot show without exposing the head of our family for a fool a
confounded parcel of pop-guns has he let off upon me i was in hopes he
had exhausted his whole stock of this sort in his letter to you to keep
it back to delay sending it till he had recollected all this farrago of
nonsense confound his wisdom of nations if so much of it is to be
scraped together in disgrace of itself to make one egregious simpleton 
 but i am glad i am fortified with this piece of flagrant folly 
however since in all human affairs the convenient are so mingled that
there is no having the one without the other 

i have already offered the bill enclosed in it to my beloved and read to
her part of the letter but she refused the bill and as i am in cash
myself i shall return it she seemed very desirous to peruse the whole
letter and when i told her that were it not for exposing the writer 
i would oblige her she said it would not be exposing his lordship to
show it to her and that she always preferred the heart to the head i
knew her meaning but did not thank her for it 

all that makes for me in it i will transcribe for her yet hang it she
shall have the letter and my soul with it for one consenting kiss 


 


she has got the letter from me without the reward deuce take me if i
had the courage to propose the condition a new character this of
bashfulness in thy friend i see that a truly modest woman may make
even a confident man keep his distance by my soul belford i believe 
that nine women in ten who fall fall either from their own vanity or
levity or for want of circumspection and proper reserves 


 


i did intend to take my reward on her returning a letter so favourable
to us both but she sent it to me sealed up by dorcas i might have
thought that there were two or three hints in it that she would be too
nice immediately to appear to i send it to thee and here will stop 
to give thee time to read it return it as soon as thou hast perused it 



letter lii

lord m to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday may 23 


it is a long lane that has no turning do not despise me for my proverbs
 you know i was always fond of them and if you had been so too it
would have been the better for you let me tell you i dare swear the
fine lady you are so likely to be soon happy with will be far from
despising them for i am told that she writes well and that all her
letters are full of sentences god convert you for nobody but he and
this lady can 

i have no manner of doubt but that you will marry as your father and
all your ancestors did before you else you would have had no title to
be my heir nor can your descendants have any title to be your's unless
they are legitimate that's worth your remembrance sir no man is
always a fool every man is sometimes but your follies i hope are now
at an end 

i know you have vowed revenge against this fine lady's family but no
more of that now you must look upon them all as your relations and
forgive and forget and when they see you make a good husband and a good
father  which god send for all our sakes   they will wonder at their
nonsensical antipathy and beg your pardon but while they think you a
vile fellow and a rake how can they either love you or excuse their
daughter 

and methinks i could wish to give a word of comfort to the lady who 
doubtless must be under great fears how she shall be able to hold in
such a wild creature as you have hitherto been i would hint to her 
that by strong arguments and gentle words she may do any thing with
you for though you are apt to be hot gentle words will cool you and
bring you into the temper that is necessary for your cure 

would to god my poor lady your aunt who is dead and gone had been a
proper patient for the same remedy god rest her soul no reflections
upon her memory worth is best known by want i know her's now and if
i had went first she would by this time have known mine 

there is great wisdom in that saying god send me a friend that may tell
me of my faults if not an enemy and he will not that i am your
enemy and that you well know the more noble any one is the more
humble so bear with me if you would be thought noble am i not your
uncle and do i not design to be better to you than your father could be 
nay i will be your father too when the happy day comes since you
desire it and pray make my compliments to my dear niece and tell her i
wonder much that she has so long deferred your happiness 

pray let her know as that i will present her not you either my
lancashire seat or the lawn in hertfordshire and settle upon her a
thousand pounds a year penny-rents to show her that we are not a family
to take base advantages and you may have writings drawn and settle as
you will honest pritchard has the rent-roll of both these estates and
as he has been a good old servant i recommend him to your lady's favour 
i have already consulted him he will tell you what is best for you and
most pleasing to me 

i am still very bad with my gout but will come in a litter as soon as
the day is fixed it would be the joy of my heart to join your hands 
and let me tell you if you do not make the best of husbands to so good
a young lady and one who has had so much courage for your sake i will
renounce you and settle all i can upon her and her's by you and leave
you out of the question 

if any thing be wanting for your further security i am ready to give it 
though you know that my word has always been looked upon as my bond 
and when the harlowes know all this let us see whether they are able to
blush and take shame to themselves 

lady sarah and lady betty want only to know the day to make all the
country round them blaze and all their tenants mad and if any one of
mine be sober upon the occasion pritchard shall eject him and on the
birth of the first child if a son i will do something more for you and
repeat all our rejoicings 

i ought indeed to have written sooner but i knew that if you thought
me long and were in haste as to your nuptials you would write and tell
me so but my gout was very troublesome and i am but a slow writer you
know at best for composing is a thing that though formerly i was very
ready at it as my lord lexington used to say yet having left it off a
great while i am not so now and i chose on this occasion to write
all out of my own hand and memory and to give you my best advice for i
may never have such an opportunity again you have had  god mend you   a
strange way of turning your back upon all i have said this once i hope 
you will be more attentive to the advice i give you for your own good 

i have still another end nay two other ends 

the one was that now you are upon the borders of wedlock as i may say 
and all your wild oats will be sown i would give you some instructions
as to your public as well as private behaviour in life which intending
you so much good as i do you ought to hear and perhaps would never have
listened to on any less extraordinary occasion 

the second is that your dear lady-elect who is it seems herself so fine
and so sententious a writer will see by this that it is not our faults 
nor for want of the best advice that you was not a better man than you
have hitherto been 

and now in a few words for the conduct i would wish you to follow in
public as well as in private if you would think me worthy of advising 
 it shall be short so be not uneasy 

as to the private life love your lady as she deserves let your actions
praise you be a good husband and so give the lie to all your enemies 
and make them ashamed of their scandals and let us have pride in
saying that miss harlowe has not done either herself or family any
discredit by coming among us do this and i and lady sarah and lady
betty will love you for ever 

as to your public conduct this as follows is what i could wish but i
reckon your lady's wisdom will put us both right no disparagement sir 
since with all your wit you have not hitherto shown much wisdom you
know 

get into parliament as soon as you can for you have talons to make a
great figure there who so proper to assist in making new holding laws 
as those whom no law in being could hold 

then for so long as you will give attendance in st stephen's chapel 
its being called a chapel i hope will not disgust you i am sure i have
known many a riot there a speaker has a hard time of it but we peers
have more decorum but what was i going to say i must go back 

for so long as you will give your attendance in parliament for so long
will you be out of mischief out of private mischief at least and may
st stephen's fate be your's if you wilfully do public mischief 

when a new election comes you will have two or three boroughs you know 
to choose out of but if you stay till then i had rather you were for
the shire 

you will have interest enough i am sure and being so handsome a man 
the women will make their husbands vote for you 

i shall long to read your speeches i expect you will speak if occasion
offer the very first day you want no courage and think highly enough
of yourself and lowly enough of every body else to speak on all
occasions 

as to the methods of the house you have spirit enough i fear to be too
much above them take care of that i don't so much fear your want of
good-manners to men you want no decency if they don't provoke you as
to that i wish you would only learn to be as patient of contradiction
from others as you would have other people be to you 

although i would not have you to be a courtier neither would i have you
to be a malcontent i remember for i have it down what my old friend
archibald hutcheson said and it was a very good saying to mr 
secretary craggs i think it was i look upon an administration as
entitled to every vote i can with good conscience give it for a house of
commons should not needlessly put drags upon the wheels of government 
and when i have not given it my vote it was with regret and for my
country's sake i wished with all my heart the measure had been such as i
could have approved 

and another saying he had which was this neither can an opposition 
neither can a ministry be always wrong to be a plumb man therefore
with either is an infallible mark that that man must mean more and
worse than he will own he does mean 

are these sayings bad sir are they to be despised well then why
should i be despised for remembering them and quoting them as i love to
do let me tell you if you loved my company more than you do you would
not be the worse for it i may say so without any vanity since it is
other men's wisdom and not my own that i am so fond of 

but to add a word or two more on this occasion and i may never have such
another for you must read this through love honest men and herd with
them in the house and out of the house by whatever names they be
dignified or distinguished keep good men company and you shall be out
of their number but did i or did i not write this before writing 
at so many different times and such a quantity one may forget 

you may come in for the title when i am dead and gone god help me so i
would have you keep an equilibrium if once you get the name of being a
fine speaker you may have any thing and to be sure you have naturally
a great deal of elocution a tongue that would delude an angel as the
women say to their sorrow some of them poor creatures a leading man
in the house of commons is a very important character because that house
has the giving of money and money makes the mare to go ay and queens
and kings too sometimes to go in a manner very different from what they
might otherwise choose to go let me tell you 

however methinks i would not have you take a place neither it will
double your value and your interest if it be believed that you will
not for as you will then stand in no man's way you will have no envy 
but pure sterling respect and both sides will court you 

for your part you will not want a place as some others do to piece up
their broken fortunes if you can now live reputably upon two thousand
pounds a year it will be hard if you cannot hereafter live upon seven or
eight less you will not have if you oblige me as now by marrying so
fine a lady very much you will and all this and above lady betty's and
lady sarah's favours what in the name of wonder could possibly
possess the proud harlowes that son that son of theirs but for his
dear sister's sake i will say no more of him 

i never was offered a place myself and the only one i would have taken 
had i been offered it was master of the buckhounds for i loved hunting
when i was young and it carries a good sound with it for us who live in
the country often have i thought of that excellent old adage he that
eats the king's goose shall be choked with his feathers i wish to the
lord this was thoroughly considered by place-hunters it would be better
for them and for their poor families 

i could say a great deal more and all equally to the purpose but
really i am tired and so i doubt are you and besides i would reserve
something for conversation 

my nieces montague and lady sarah and lady betty join in compliments to
my niece that is to be if she would choose to have the knot tied among
us pray tell her that we shall all see it securely done and we will
make all the country ring and blaze for a week together but so i
believe i said before 

if any thing further may be needful toward promoting your reciprocal
felicity let me know it and how you order about the day and all that 
the enclosed bill is very much at your service tis payable at sight 
as whatever else you may have occasion for shall be 

so god bless you both and make things as convenient to my gout as you
can though be it whenever it will i will hobble to you for i long to
see you and still more to see my niece and am in expectation of that
happy opportunity 

your most affectionate uncle
m 



letter liii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday may 25 


thou seest belford how we now drive before the wind the dear creature
now comes almost at the first word whenever i desire the honour of her
company i told her last night that apprehending delay from pritchard's
slowness i was determined to leave it to my lord to make his compliments
in his own way and had actually that afternoon put my writings into the
hands of a very eminent lawyer counsellor willians with directions for
him to draw up settlements from my own estate and conformably to those
of my mother which i put into his hands at the same time it had been 
i assured her no small part of my concern that her frequent
displeasure and our mutual misapprehensions had hindered me from
advising with her before on this subject indeed indeed my dearest
life said i you have hitherto afforded me but a very thorny courtship 

she was silent kindly silent for well know i that she could have
recriminated upon me with a vengeance but i was willing to see if she
were not loth to disoblige me now i comforted myself i said with the
hopes that all my difficulties were now over and that every past
disobligation would be buried in oblivion 

now belford i have actually deposited these writings with counsellor
williams and i expect the draughts in a week at farthest so shall be
doubly armed for if i attempt and fail these shall be ready to throw
in to make her have patience with me till i can try again 

i have more contrivances still in embryo i could tell thee of an
hundred and yet hold another hundred in petto to pop in as i go along 
to excite thy surprize and to keep up thy attention nor rave thou at
me but if thou art my friend think of miss howe's letters and of her
smuggling scheme all owing to my fair captive's informations
incitements am i not a villain a fool a beelzebub with them already 
 yet no harm done by me nor so much as attempted 

every thing of this nature the dear creature answered with a downcast
eye and a blushing cheek she left to me 

i proposed my lord's chapel for the celebration where we might have the
presence of lady betty lady sarah and my two cousins montague 

she seemed not to favour a public celebration and waved this subject for
the present i doubted not but she would be as willing as i to decline a
public wedding so i pressed not this matter farther just then 

but patterns i actually produced and a jeweller was to bring as this day
several sets of jewels for her choice but the patterns she would not
open she sighed at the mention of them the second patterns she said 
that had been offered to her and very peremptorily forbid the
jeweller's coming as well as declined my offer of causing my mother's to
be new-set at least for the present 


 see vol i letter xli 


i do assure thee belford i was in earnest in all this my whole estate
is nothing to me put in competition with her hoped-for favour 

she then told me that she had put into writing her opinion of my general
proposals and there had expressed her mind as to clothes and jewels but
on my strange behaviour to her for no cause that she knew of on sunday
night she had torn the paper in two 

i earnestly pressed her to let me be favoured with a sight of this paper 
torn as it was and after some hesitation she withdrew and sent it to
me by dorcas 

i perused it again it was in a manner new to me though i had read it
so lately and by my soul i could hardly stand it an hundred
admirable creatures i called her to myself but i charge thee write not
a word to me in her favour if thou meanest her well for if i spare
her it must be all ex mero motu 

you may easily suppose when i was re-admitted to her presence that i
ran over in her praises and in vows of gratitude and everlasting love 
but here's the devil she still receives all i say with reserve or if
it be not with reserve she receives it so much as her due that she is
not at all raised by it some women are undone by praise by flattery 
i myself a man am proud of praise perhaps thou wilt say that those
are most proud of it who least deserve it as those are of riches and
grandeur who are not born to either i own that to be superior to these
foibles it requires a soul have i not then a soul surely i have 
let me then be considered as an exception to the rule 

now have i foundation to go upon in my terms my lord in the exuberance
of his generosity mentions a thousand pounds a year penny-rents this i
know that were i to marry this lady he would rather settle upon her all
he has a mind to settle than upon me he has even threatened that if
i prove not a good husband to her he will leave all he can at his death
from me to her yet considers not that a woman so perfect can never be
displeased with her husband but to his disgrace for who will blame her 
 another reason why a lovelace should not wish to marry a clarissa 

but what a pretty fellow of an uncle is this foolish peer to think of
making a wife independent of her emperor and a rebel of course yet
smarted himself for an error of this kind 

my beloved in her torn paper mentions but two hundred pounds a year 
for her separate use i insisted upon her naming a larger sum she said
it might be three and i for fear she should suspect very large offers 
named only five but added the entire disposal of all arrears in her
father's hands for the benefit of mrs norton or whom she pleased 

she said that the good woman would be uneasy if any thing more than a
competency were done for her she was more for suiting all her
dispositions of this kind she said to the usual way of life of the
person to go beyond it was but to put the benefited upon projects 
or to make them awkward in a new state when they might shine in that to
which they were accustomed and to put it into so good a mother's power
to give her son a beginning in his business at a proper time yet to
leave her something for herself to set her above want or above the
necessity of taking back from her child what she had been enabled to
bestow upon him would be the height of such a worthy parent's ambition 

here's prudence here's judgment in so young a creature how do i hate
the harlowes for producing such an angel o why why did she refuse my
sincere address to tie the knot before we came to this house 

but yet what mortifies my pride is that this exalted creature if i
were to marry her would not be governed in her behaviour to me by love 
but by generosity merely or by blind duty and had rather live single 
than be mine 

i cannot bear this i would have the woman whom i honour with my name 
if ever i confer this honour upon any forego even her superior duties
for me i would have her look after me when i go out as far as she can
see me as my rosebud after her johnny and meet me at my return with
rapture i would be the subject of her dreams as well as of her waking
thoughts i would have her think every moment lost that is not passed
with me sing to me read to me play to me when i pleased no joy so
great as in obeying me when i should be inclined to love overwhelm me
with it when to be serious or solitary if apprehensive of intrusion 
retiring at a nod approaching me only if i smiled encouragement steal
into my presence with silence out of it if not noticed on tiptoe be
a lady easy to all my pleasures and valuing those most who most
contributed to them only sighing in private that it was not herself at
the time thus of old did the contending wives of the honest patriarchs 
each recommending her handmaid to her lord as she thought it would
oblige him and looking upon the genial product as her own 

the gentle waller says women are born to be controuled gentle as he
was he knew that a tyrant husband makes a dutiful wife and why do
the sex love rakes but because they know how to direct their uncertain
wills and manage them 


 


another agreeable conversation the day of days the subject as to
fixing a particular one that need not be done my charmer says till the
settlements are completed as to marrying at my lord's chapel the
ladies of my family present that would be making a public affair of it 
and the dear creature observed with regret that it seemed to be my
lord's intention to make it so 

it could not be imagined i said but that his lordship's setting out in
a litter and coming to town as well as his taste for glare and the joy
he would take to see me married at last and to her dear self would give
it as much the air of a public marriage as if the ceremony were performed
at his own chapel all the ladies present 

i cannot said she endure the thoughts of a public day it will carry
with it an air of insult upon my whole family and for my part if my
lord will not take it amiss  and perhaps he will not as the motion came
not from himself but from you mr lovelace   i will very willingly
dispense with his lordship's presence the rather as dress and
appearance will then be unnecessary for i cannot bear to think of
decking my person while my parents are in tears 

how excellent this yet do not her parents richly deserve to be in
tears 

see belford with so charming a niceness we might have been a long time
ago upon the verge of the state and yet found a great deal to do before
we entered into it 

all obedience all resignation no will but her's i withdrew and wrote
directly to my lord and she not disapproving of it i sent it away the
purport as follows for i took no copy 

that i was much obliged to his lordship for his intended goodness to me
on an occasion the most solemn of my life that the admirable lady whom
he so justly praised thought his lordship's proposals in her favour too
high that she chose not to make a public appearance if without
disobliging my friends she could avoid it till a reconciliation with
her own could be effected that although she expressed a grateful sense
of his lordship's consent to give her to me with his own hand yet 
presuming that the motive to this kind intention was rather to do her
honour than it otherwise would have been his own choice especially as
travelling would be at this time so inconvenient to him she thought it
advisable to save his lordship trouble on this occasion and hoped he
would take as meant her declining the favour 

that the lawn will be most acceptable to us both to retire to and the
rather as it is so to his lordship 

but if he pleases the jointure may be made from my own estate leaving
to his lordship's goodness the alternative 

i conclude with telling him that i had offered to present the lady his
lordship's bill but on her declining to accept of it having myself no
present occasion for it i return it enclosed with my thanks etc 

and is not this going a plaguy length what a figure should i make in
rakish annals if at last i should be caught in my own gin 

the sex may say what they will but a poor innocent fellow had need to
take great care of himself when he dances upon the edge of the
matrimonial precipice many a faint-hearted man when he began to jest 
or only designed to ape gallantry has been forced into earnest by being
over-prompt and taken at his word not knowing how to own that he meant
less than the lady supposed he meant i am the better enabled to judge
that this must have been the case of many a sneaking varlet because i 
who know the female world as well as any man in it of my standing am so
frequently in doubt of myself and know not what to make of the matter 

then these little sly rogues how they lie couchant ready to spring upon
us harmless fellows the moment we are in their reach when the ice is
once broken for them how swiftly can they make to port mean time the
subject they can least speak to they most think of nor can you talk of
the ceremony before they have laid out in their minds how it is all to
be little saucy-faced designers how first they draw themselves in 
then us 

but be all these things as they will lord m never in his life received
so handsome a letter as this from his nephew

lovelace 


 


 the lady after having given to miss howe on the particulars contained
 in mr lovelace's last letter thus expresses herself  

a principal consolation arising from these favourable appearances is 
that i who have now but one only friend shall most probably and if it
be not my own fault have as many new ones as there are persons in mr 
lovelace's family and this whether mr lovelace treat me kindly or not 
and who knows but that by degrees those new friends by their rank and
merit may have weight enough to get me restored to the favour of my
relations till which can be effected i shall not be tolerably easy 
happy i never expect to be mr lovelace's mind and mine are vastly
different different in essentials 

but as matters are at present circumstanced i pray you my dear friend 
to keep to yourself every thing that might bring discredit to him if
revealed better any body expose a man than a wife if i am to be his 
and what is said by you will be thought to come from me 

it shall be my constant prayer that all the felicities which this world
can afford may be your's and that the almighty will never suffer you nor
your's to the remotest posterity to want such a friend as my anna howe
has been to

her
clarissa harlowe 



letter liv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


and now that my beloved seems secure in my net for my project upon the
vixen miss howe and upon her mother in which the officious prancer
hickman is to come in for a dash 

but why upon her mother methinks thou askest who unknown to herself 
has only acted by the impulse through thy agent joseph leman upon the
folly of old tony the uncle 

no matter for that she believes she acts upon her own judgment and
deserves to be punished for pretending to judgment when she has none 
every living soul but myself i can tell thee shall be punished that
treats either cruelly or disrespectfully so adored a lady what a
plague is it not enough that she is teased and tormented in person by
me 

i have already broken the matter to our three confederates as a
supposed not a resolved-on case indeed and yet they know that with
me in a piece of mischief execution with its swiftest feel is seldom
three paces behind projection which hardly ever limps neither 

mowbray is not against it it is a scheme he says worthy of us and we
have not done any thing for a good while that has made a noise 

belton indeed hesitates a little because matters go wrong between him
and his thomasine and the poor fellow has not the courage to have his
sore place probed to the bottom 

tourville has started a fresh game and shrugs his shoulders and should
not choose to go abroad at present if i please for i apprehend that
 from the nature of the project there will be a kind of necessity to
travel till all is blown over 

to me one country is as good as another and i shall soon i suppose 
choose to quit this paltry island except the mistress of my fate will
consent to cohabit at home and so lay me under no necessity of
surprising her into foreign parts travelling thou knowest gives the
sexes charming opportunities of being familiar with one another a very
few days and nights must now decide all matters betwixt me and my fair
inimitable 

doleman who can act in these causes only as chamber-counsel will inform
us by pen and ink  his right hand and right side having not yet been
struck and the other side beginning to be sensible  of all that shall
occur in our absence 

as for thee we had rather have thy company than not for although thou
art a wretched fellow at contrivance yet art thou intrepid at execution 
but as thy present engagements make thy attendance uncertain i am not
for making thy part necessary to our scheme but for leaving thee to come
after us when abroad i know thou canst not long live without us 

the project in short is this mrs howe has an elder sister in the
isle of wight who is lately a widow and i am well informed that the
mother and daughter have engaged before the latter is married to pay a
visit to this lady who is rich and intends miss for her heiress and in
the interim will make her some valuable presents on her approaching
nuptials which as mrs howe who loves money more than any thing but
herself told one of my acquaintance would be worth fetching 

now jack nothing more need be done than to hire a little trim vessel 
which shall sail a pleasuring backward and forward to portsmouth spithead 
and the isle of wight for a week or fortnight before we enter
upon our parts of the plot and as mrs howe will be for making the best
bargain she can for her passage the master of the vessel may have orders
 as a perquisite allowed him by his owners to take what she will give 
and the master's name be it what it will shall be ganmore on the
occasion for i know a rogue of that name who is not obliged to be of
any country any more than we 

well then we will imagine them on board i will be there in disguise 
they know not any of ye four supposing the scheme so inviting that
thou canst be one 

tis plaguy hard if we cannot find or make a storm 

perhaps they will be sea-sick but whether they be or not no doubt they
will keep their cabin 

here will be mrs howe miss howe mr hickman a maid and a footman i
suppose and thus we will order it 

i know it will be hard weather i know it will and before there can be
the least suspicion of the matter we shall be in sight of guernsey 
jersey dieppe cherbourg or any where on the french coast that it shall
please us to agree with the winds to blow us and then securing the
footman and the women being separated one of us according to lots that
may be cast shall overcome either by persuasion or force the maid
servant that will be no hard task and she is a likely wench  i have
seen her often   one mrs howe nor can there be much difficulty there 
for she is full of health and life and has been long a widow another 
 that says the princely lion must be i   the saucy daughter who will
be much too frightened to make great resistance  violent spirits in
that sex are seldom true spirits tis but where they can   and after
beating about the coast for three or four days for recreation's sake and
to make sure work till we see our sullen birds begin to eat and sip we
will set them all ashore where it will be most convenient sell the
vessel  to mrs townsend's agents with all my heart or to some other
smugglers   or give it to ganmore and pursue our travels and tarry
abroad till all is hushed up 

now i know thou wilt make difficulties as it is thy way while it is
mine to conquer them my other vassals made theirs and i condescended
to obviate them as thus i will thine first stating them for thee
according to what i know of thy phlegm 

what in the first place wilt thou ask shall be done with hickman who
will be in full parade of dress and primness in order to show the old
aunt what a devilish clever fellow of a nephew she is to have 

what i'll tell thee hickman in good manners will leave the women in
their cabin and to show his courage with his breeding be upon deck 

well and suppose he is why then i hope it is easy for ganmore or any
body else myself suppose in my pea-jacket and great watch coat if any
other make scruple to do it while he stands in the way gaping and
staring like a novice to stumble against him and push him overboard 
 a rich thought is it not belford he is certainly plaguy officious
in the ladies' correspondence and i am informed plays double between
mother and daughter in fear of both dost not see him jack i do 
popping up and down his wig and hat floating by him and paddling 
pawing and dashing like a frighted mongrel i am afraid he never
ventured to learn to swim 

but thou wilt not drown the poor fellow wilt thou 

no no that is not necessary to the project i hate to do mischiefs
supererogatory the skiff shall be ready to save him while the vessel
keeps its course he shall be set on shore with the loss of wig and hat
only and of half his little wits at the place where he embarked or any
where else 

well but shall we not be in danger of being hanged for three such
enormous rapes although hickman should escape with only a bellyful of
sea-water 

yes to be sure when caught but is there any likelihood of that 
besides have we not been in danger before now for worse facts and what
is there in being only in danger if we actually were to appear in open
day in england before matters are made up there will be greater
likelihood that these women will not prosecute that they will for my
own part i should wish they may would not a brave fellow choose to
appear in court to such an arraignment confronting women who would do
credit to his attempt the country is more merciful in these cases than
in any others i should therefore like to put myself upon my country 

let me indulge in a few reflections upon what thou mayest think the worst
that can happen i will suppose that thou art one of us and that all
five are actually brought to trial on this occasion how bravely shall we
enter a court i at the head of you dressed out each man as if to his
wedding appearance you are sure of all the women old and young of
your side what brave fellows what fine gentlemen there goes a
charming handsome man meaning me to be sure who could find in their
hearts to hang such a gentleman as that whispers one lady sitting
perhaps on the right hand of the recorder  i suppose the scene to be in
london   while another disbelieves that any woman could fairly swear
against me all will crowd after me it will be each man's happiness if
ye shall chance to be bashful to be neglected i shall be found to be
the greatest criminal and my safety for which the general voice will be
engaged will be yours 

but then comes the triumph of triumphs that will make the accused look
up while the accusers are covered with confusion 

make room there stand by give back one receiving a rap another an
elbow half a score a push a piece 

enter the slow-moving hooded-faced down-looking plaintiffs 

and first the widow with a sorrowful countenance though half-veiled 
pitying her daughter more than herself the people the women
especially who on this occasion will be five-sixths of the spectators 
reproaching her you'd have the conscience would you to have five such
brave gentlemen as these hanged for you know not what 

next comes the poor maid who perhaps has been ravished twenty times
before and had not appeared now but for company-sake mincing 
simpering weeping by turns not knowing whether she should be sorry
or glad 

but every eye dwells upon miss see see the handsome gentleman bows to
her 

to the very ground to be sure i shall bow and kiss my hand 

see her confusion see she turns from him ay that's because it is in
open court cries an arch one while others admire her ay that's a
girl worth venturing one's neck for 

then we shall be praised even the judges and the whole crowded bench 
will acquit us in their hearts and every single man wish he had been me 
 the women all the time disclaiming prosecution were the case to be
their own to be sure belford the sufferers cannot put half so good a
face upon the matter as we 

then what a noise will this matter make is it not enough suppose us
moving from the prison to the sessions-house to make a noble heart
thump it away most gloriously when such an one finds himself attended to
his trial by a parade of guards and officers of miens and aspects
warlike and unwarlike himself of their whole care and their business 
weapons in their hands some bright some rusty equally venerable for
their antiquity and inoffensiveness others of more authoritative
demeanour strutting before with fine painted staves shoals of people
following with a which is he whom the young lady appears against 
then let us look down look up look round which way we will we shall
see all the doors the shops the windows the sign-irons and balconies 
 garrets gutters and chimney-tops included all white-capt black-
hooded and periwigg'd or crop-ear'd up by the immobile vulgus while
the floating street-swarmers who have seen us pass by at one place run
with stretched-out necks and strained eye-balls a roundabout way and
elbow and shoulder themselves into places by which we have not passed in
order to obtain another sight of us every street continuing to pour out
its swarms of late-comers to add to the gathering snowball who are
content to take descriptions of our persons behaviour and countenances 
from those who had the good fortune to have been in time to see us 


 within these few years past a passage has been made from the prison to
the sessions-house whereby malefactors are carried into court without
going through the street lovelace's triumph on their supposed march
shows the wisdom of this alteration 


let me tell thee jack i see not why to judge according to our
principles and practices we should not be as much elated in our march 
were this to happen to us as others may be upon any other the most mob-
attracting occasion suppose a lord-mayor on his gawdy suppose a
victorious general or ambassador on his public entry suppose as i
began with the lowest the grandest parade that can be supposed a
coronation for in all these do not the royal guard the heroic
trained-bands the pendent clinging throngs of spectators with their
waving heads rolling to-and-fro from house-tops to house-bottoms and
street-ways as i have above described make the principal part of the
raree-show 

and let me ask thee if thou dost not think that either the mayor the
ambassador or the general would not make very pitiful figures on their
galas did not the trumpets and tabrets call together the canaille to
gaze at them nor perhaps should we be the most guilty heroes neither 
for who knows how the magistrate may have obtained his gold chain while
the general probably returns from cutting of throats and from murders 
sanctified by custom only caesar we are told had won at the age of
fifty-six when he was assassinated fifty pitched battles had taken by
assault above a thousand towns and slain near 1 200 000 men i suppose
exclusive of those who fell on his own side in slaying them are not you
and i jack innocent men and babes in swaddling-clothes compared to
caesar and to his predecessor in heroism alexander dubbed for murders
and depredation magnus 


 pliny gives this account putting the number of men slain at 1 100 092 
see also lipsius de constandia 


the principal difference that strikes me in the comparison between us and
the mayor the ambassador the general on their gawdies is that the
mob make a greater noise a louder huzzaing in the one case than the
other which is called acclamation and ends frequently in higher taste 
by throwing dead animals at one another before they disperse in which
they have as much joy as in the former part of the triumph while they
will attend us with all the marks of an awful or silent at most only a
whispering respect their mouths distended as if set open with gags 
and their voices generally lost in goggle-ey'd admiration 

well but suppose after all we are convicted what have we to do but
in time make over our estates that the sheriffs may not revel in our
spoils there is no fear of being hanged for such a crime as this while
we have money or friends and suppose even the worst that two or three
were to die have we not a chance each man of us to escape the
devil's in them if they'll hang five for ravishing three 

i know i shall get off for one were it but for family sake and being a
handsome fellow i shall have a dozen or two young maidens all dressed
in white go to court to beg my life and what a pretty show they will
make with their white hoods white gowns white petticoats white
scarves white gloves kneeling for me with their white handkerchiefs
at their eyes in two pretty rows as his majesty walks through them and
nods my pardon for their sakes and if once pardoned all is over for 
jack in a crime of this nature there lies no appeal as in a murder 

so thou seest the worst that can happen should we not make the grand
tour upon this occasion but stay and take our trials but it is most
likely that they will not prosecute at all if not no risque on our
side will be run only taking our pleasure abroad at the worst leaving
friends tired of us in order after a time to return to the same
friends endeared to us as we to them by absence 

this jack is my scheme at the first running i know it is capable of
improvement for example i can land these ladies in france whip over
before they can get a passage back or before hickman can have recovered
his fright and so find means to entrap my beloved on board and then all
will be right and i need not care if i were never to return to england 

memorandum to be considered of whether in order to complete my
 vengeance i cannot contrive to kidnap away either james harlowe or
 solmes or both a man jack would not go into exile for nothing 



letter lv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


if belford thou likest not my plot upon miss howe i have three or four
more as good in my own opinion better perhaps they will be in thine 
and so tis but getting loose from thy present engagement and thou shalt
pick and choose but as for thy three brethren they must do as i would
have them and so indeed must thou else why am i your general but i
will refer this subject to its proper season thou knowest that i never
absolutely conclude upon a project till tis time for execution and
then lightning strikes not quicker than i 

and now to the subject next my heart 

wilt thou believe me when i tell thee that i have so many contrivances
rising up and crowding upon me for preference with regard to my
gloriana that i hardly know which to choose i could tell thee of no
less than six princely ones any of which must do but as the dear
creature has not grudged giving me trouble i think i ought not in
gratitude to spare combustibles for her but on the contrary to make
her stare and stand aghast by springing three or four mines at once 

thou remembrest what shakespeare in his troilus and cressida makes
hector who however is not used to boast say to achilles in an
interview between them and which applied to this watchful lady and to
the vexation she has given me and to the certainty i now think i have of
subduing her will run thus supposing the charmer before me and i
meditating her sweet person from head to foot 

 henceforth o watchful fair-one guard thee well 
 for i'll not kill thee there nor there nor there 
 but by the zone that circles venus' waist 
 i'll kill thee ev'ry where yea o'er and o'er 
 thou wisest belford pardon me this brag 
 her watchfulness draws folly from my lips 
 but i'll endeavour deeds to match the words 
 or i may never 

then i imagine thee interposing to qualify my impatience as ajax did to
achilles 

 do not chafe thee cousin 
 and let these threats alone 
 till accident or purpose bring thee to it 

all that vexes me in the midst of my gloried-in devices is that there
is a sorry fellow in the world who has presumed to question whether the
prize when obtained is worthy of the pains it costs me yet knows with
what patience and trouble a bird-man will spread an acre of ground with
gins and snares set up his stalking horse his glasses plant his decoy-
birds and invite the feathered throng by his whistle and all his prize
at last the reward of early hours and of a whole morning's pains only
a simple linnet 

to be serious belford i must acknowledge that all our pursuits from
childhood to manhood are only trifles of different sort and sizes 
proportioned to our years and views but then is not a fine woman the
noblest trifle that ever was or could be obtained by man and to what
purpose do we say obtained if it be not in the way we wish for if a man
is rather to be her prize than she his 


 


and now belford what dost think 

that thou art a cursed fellow if 

if no if's but i shall be very sick to-morrow i shall faith 

sick why sick what a-devil shouldst thou be sick for 

for more good reasons than one jack 

i should be glad to hear but one sick quotha of all thy roguish
inventions i should not have thought of this 

perhaps thou thinkest my view to be to draw the lady to my bedside 
that's a trick of three or four thousand years old and i should find it
much more to my purpose if i could get to her's however i'll
condescend to make thee as wise as myself 

i am excessively disturbed about this smuggling scheme of miss howe i
have no doubt that my fair-one were i to make an attempt and miscarry 
will fly from me if she can i once believed she loved me but now i
doubt whether she does or not at least that it is with such an ardour 
as miss howe calls it as will make her overlook a premeditated fault 
should i be guilty of one 

and what will being sick do for thee 

have patience i don't intend to be so very bad as dorcas shall
represent me to be but yet i know i shall reach confoundedly and bring
up some clotted blood to be sure i shall break a vessel there's no
doubt of that and a bottle of eaton's styptic shall be sent for but no
doctor if she has humanity she will be concerned but if she has
love let it have been pushed ever so far back it will on this
occasion come forward and show itself not only in her eye but in
every line of her sweet face 

i will be very intrepid i will not fear death or any thing else i
will be sure of being well in an hour or two having formerly found great
benefit by this astringent medicine on occasion of an inward bruise by a
fall from my horse in hunting of which perhaps this malady may be the
remains and this will show her that though those about me may make the
most of it i do not and so can have no design in it 

well methinks thou sayest i begin to think tolerably of this device 

i knew thou wouldst when i explained myself another time prepare to
wonder and banish doubt 

now belford i shall expect that she will show some concern at the
broken vessel as it may be attended with fatal effects especially to
one so fiery in his temper as i have the reputation to be thought to be 
and the rather as i shall calmly attribute the accident to the harasses
and doubts under which i have laboured for some time past and this will
be a further proof of my love and will demand a grateful return 

and what then thou egregious contriver 

why then i shall have the less remorse if i am to use a little violence 
for can she deserve compassion who shows none 

and what if she shows a great deal of concern 

then shall i be in hopes of building on a good foundation love hides a
multitude of faults and diminishes those it cannot hide love when
acknowledged authorizes freedom and freedom begets freedom and i shall
then see how far i can go 

well but lovelace how the deuce wilt thou with that full health and
vigour of constitution and with that bloom in thy face make any body
believe thou art sick 

how why take a few grains of ipecacuanha enough to make me reach like
a fury 

good but how wilt thou manage to bring up blood and not hurt thyself 

foolish fellow are there no pigeons and chickens in every poulterer's
shop 

cry thy mercy 

but then i will be persuaded by mrs sinclair that i have of late
confined myself too much and so will have a chair called and be carried
to the park where i will try to walk half the length of the mall or so 
and in my return amuse myself at white's or the cocoa 

and what will this do 

questioning again i am afraid thou'rt an infidel belford why then
shall i not know if my beloved offers to go out in my absence and shall
i not see whether she receives me with tenderness at my return but this
is not all i have a foreboding that something affecting will happen
while i am out but of this more in its place 

and now belford wilt thou or wilt thou not allow that it is a right
thing to be sick lord jack so much delight do i take in my
contrivances that i shall be half sorry when the occasion for them is
over for never never shall i again have such charming exercise for my
invention 

mean time these plaguy women are so impertinent so full of reproaches 
that i know not how to do any thing but curse them and then truly 
they are for helping me out with some of their trite and vulgar
artifices sally particularly who pretends to be a mighty contriver 
has just now in an insolent manner told me on my rejecting her
proffered aids that i had no mind to conquer and that i was so wicked
as to intend to marry though i would not own it to her 

because this little devil made her first sacrifice at my altar she
thinks she may take any liberty with me and what makes her outrageous at
times is that i have for a long time studiously as she says slighted
her too-readily-offered favours but is it not very impudent in her to
think that i will be any man's successor it is not come to that
neither this thou knowest was always my rule once any other man's 
and i know it and never more mine it is for such as thou and thy
brethren to take up with harlots i have been always aiming at the
merit of a first discoverer 

the more devil i perhaps thou wilt say to endeavour to corrupt the
uncorrupted 

but i say not since hence i have but very few adulteries to answer
for 

one affair indeed at paris with a married lady  i believe i never told
thee of it  touched my conscience a little yet brought on by the spirit
of intrigue more than by sheer wickedness i'll give it thee in brief 

a french marquis somewhat in years employed by his court in a public
function at that of madrid had put his charming young new-married wife
under the controul and wardship as i may say of his insolent sister an
old prude 

i saw the lady at the opera i liked her at first sight and better at
second when i knew the situation she was in so pretending to make my
addresses to the prude got admittance to both 

the first thing i had to do was to compliment the prude into shyness by
complaints of shyness next to take advantage of the marquise's
situation between her husband's jealousy and his sister's arrogance and
to inspire her with resentment and as i hoped with a regard to my
person the french ladies have no dislike to intrigue 

the sister began to suspect me the lady had no mind to part with the
company of the only man who had been permitted to visit her and told me
of her sister's suspicions i put her upon concealing the prude as if
unknown to me in a closet in one of her own apartments locking her in 
and putting the key in her own pocket and she was to question me on the
sincerity of my professions to her sister in her sister's hearing 

she complied my mistress was locked up the lady and i took our
seats i owned fervent love and made high professions for the marquise
put it home to me the prude was delighted with what she heard 

and how dost thou think it ended i took my advantage of the lady
herself who durst not for her life cry out and drew her after me to the
next apartment on pretence of going to seek her sister who all the time
was locked up in the closet 

no woman ever gave me a private meeting for nothing my dearest miss
harlowe excepted 

my ingenuity obtained my pardon the lady being unable to forbear
laughing throughout the whole affair to find both so uncommonly tricked 
her gaoleress her prisoner safe locked up and as much pleased as either
of us 

the english jack do not often out-wit the french 

we had contrivances afterwards equally ingenious in which the lady the
ice once broken  once subdued always subdued  co-operated but a more
tender tell-tale revealed the secret revealed it before the marquise
could cover the disgrace the sister was inveterate the husband
irreconcilable in every respect unfit for a husband even for a french
one made perhaps more delicate to these particulars by the customs of
a people among whom he was then resident so contrary to those of his own
countrymen she was obliged to throw herself into my protection nor
thought herself unhappy in it till childbed pangs seized her then
penitence and death overtook her the same hour 

excuse a tear belford she deserved a better fate what hath such a
vile inexorable husband to answer for the sister was punished
effectually that pleases me on reflection the sister effectually
punished but perhaps i have told thee this story before 


contents of volume v


letter i lovelace to belford 
an agreeable airing with the lady delightfully easy she obsequiously
respectful he miss howe's plot now no longer his terror gives the
particulars of their agreeable conversation while abroad 

letter ii from the same 
an account of his ipecacuanha plot instructs dorcas how to act surprise
and terror monosyllables and trisyllables to what likened politeness
lives not in a storm proclamation criers the lady now sees she loves
him her generous tenderness for him he has now credit for a new
score defies mrs townsend 

letter iii clarissa to miss howe 
acknowledged tenderness for lovelace love for a man of errors
punishable 

letter iv lovelace to belford 
suspicious inquiry after him and the lady by a servant in livery from one
captain tomlinson her terrors on the occasion his alarming
management she resolves not to stir abroad he exults upon her not
being willing to leave him 

letter v vi from the same 
arrival of captain tomlinson with a pretended commission from mr john
harlowe to set on foot a general reconciliation provided he can be
convinced that they are actually married different conversations on this
occasion the lady insists that the truth be told to tomlinson she
carries her point through to the disappointment of one of his private
views he forms great hopes of success from the effects of his
ipecacuanha contrivance 

letter vii lovelace to belford 
he makes such a fair representation to tomlinson of the situation between
him and the lady behaves so plausibly and makes an overture so
generous that she is all kindness and unreserved to him her affecting
exultation on her amended prospects his unusual sensibility upon it 
reflection on the good effects of education pride an excellent
substitute to virtue 

letter viii from the same 
who tomlinson is again makes belford object in order to explain his
designs by answering the objections john harlowe a sly sinner hard-
hearted reasons for giving the lady a gleam of joy illustrated by a
story of two sovereigns at war 

extracts from clarissa's letter to miss howe she rejoices in her
present agreeable prospects attributes much to mr hickman describes
captain tomlinson gives a character of lovelace  which is necessary to
be attended to especially by those who have thought favourably of him
for some of his liberal actions and hardly of her for the distance she
at first kept him at  

letter ix lovelace to belford 
letter from lord m his further arts and precautions his happy day
promised to be soon his opinion of the clergy and of going to church 
she pities every body who wants pity loves every body he owns he
should be the happiest of men could he get over his prejudices against
matrimony draughts of settlements ludicrously accounts for the reason
why she refuses to hear them read to her law and gospel two different
things sally flings her handkerchief in his face 

letter x from the same 
has made the lady more than once look about her she owns that he is
more than indifferent to her checks him with sweetness of temper for
his encroaching freedoms her proof of true love he ridicules marriage
purity severely reflects upon public freedoms between men and their
wives advantage he once made upon such an occasion has been after a
license difficulty in procuring one great faults and great virtues
often in the same person he is willing to believe that women have no
souls his whimsical reasons 

letter xi lovelace to belford 
almost despairs of succeeding as he had hoped by love and gentleness 
praises her modesty his encroaching freedoms resented by her the
woman he observes who resents not initiatory freedoms must be lost 
he reasons in his free way upon her delicacy art of the eastern
monarchs 

letter xii from the same 
a letter from captain tomlinson makes all up her uncle harlowe's
pretended proposal big with art and plausible delusion she acquiesces
in it he writes to the pretended tomlinson on an affecting hint of
her's requesting that her uncle harlowe would in person give his niece
to him or permit tomlinson to be his proxy on the occasion and now for
a little of mine he says which he has ready to spring 

letter xiii belford to lovelace 
again earnestly expostulates with him in the lady's favour remembers
and applauds the part she bore in the conversation at his collation the
frothy wit of libertines how despicable censures the folly the
weakness the grossness the unpermanency of sensual love calls some of
his contrivances trite stale and poor beseeches him to remove her
from the vile house how many dreadful stories could the horrid sinclair
tell the sex serious reflections on the dying state of his uncle 

letter xiv lovelace to belford 
cannot yet procure a license has secured a retreat if not victory 
defends in anger the simplicity of his inventive contrivances enters
upon his general defence compared with the principles and practices of
other libertines heroes and warlike kings worse men than he epitome
of his and the lady's story after ten years' cohabitation caution to
those who would censure him had the sex made virtue a recommendation to
their favour he says he should have had a greater regard to his morals
than he has had 

letter xv from the same 
preparative to his little mine as he calls it loves to write to the
moment alarm begins affectedly terrified 

letter xvi from the same 
the lady frighted out of her bed by dreadful cries of fire she awes him
into decency on an extorted promise of forgiveness he leaves her 
repenting he returns but finds her door fastened what a triumph has
her sex obtained by her virtue but how will she see him next morning 
as he has given her 

letter xvii lovelace to belford 
dialogue with clarissa the door between them her letter to him she
will not see him for a week 

letter xviii from the same 
copies of letters that pass between them goes to the commons to try to
get the license she shall see him he declares on his return love
and compassion hard to be separated her fluctuating reasons on their
present situation is jealous of her superior qualities does justice
to her immovable virtue 

letter xix from the same 
the lady escaped his rage makes a solemn vow of revenge if once more
he gets her into his power his man will is gone in search of her his
hopes on what grounded he will advertise her describes her dress 
letter left behind her accuses her that is to say lovelace accuses
her of niceness prudery affectation 

letter xx from the same 
a letter from miss howe to clarissa falls into his hands which had it
come to her's would have laid open and detected all his designs in it
she acquits clarissa of prudery coquetry and undue reserve admires 
applauds blesses her for the example she has set for her sex and for
the credit she has done it by her conduct in the most difficult
situations 

 this letter may be considered as a kind of summary of clarissa's trials 
her persecutions and exemplary conduct hitherto and of mr lovelace's
intrigues plots and views so far as miss howe could be supposed to
know them or to guess at them  

a letter from lovelace which farther shows the fertility of his
contriving genius 

letter xxi clarissa to miss howe 
informs her of lovelace's villany and of her escape her only concern 
what the course she intends to pursue 

letter xxii lovelace to belford 
exults on hearing from his man will that the lady has refuged herself
at hampstead observations in a style of levity on some passages in the
letter she left behind her intimates that tomlinson is arrived to aid
his purposes the chariot is come and now dressed like a bridegroom 
attended by a footman she never saw he is already he says at
hampstead 

letter xxiii xxiv lovelace to belford 
exults on his contrivances by what means he gets into the lady's
presence at mrs moore's her terrors fits exclamations his
plausible tales to mrs moore and miss rawlins his intrepid behaviour
to the lady copies of letters from tomlinson and of pretended ones
from his own relations calculated to pacify and delude her 

letter xxv xxvi from the same 
his farther arts inventions and intrepidity she puts home questions
to him ungenerous and ungrateful she calls him he knows not the
value of the heart he had insulted he had a plain path before him 
after he had tricked her out of her father's house but that now her
mind was raised above fortune and above him  his precautionary
contrivances 

letter xxvii xxviii xxx xxxi xxxii from the same 
character of widow bevis prepossesses the women against miss howe 
leads them to think she is in love with him apt himself to think so 
and why women like not novices and why their vulgar aphorism
animadverted on tomlinson arrives artful conversation between them 
miss rawlins's prudery his forged letter in imitation of miss howe's 
no iv other contrivances to delude the lady and attach the women to
his party 


letter xxxiii xxxiv xxxv xxxvi from the same 
particulars of several interesting conversations between himself 
tomlinson and the lady artful management of the two former her noble
spirit he tells tomlinson before her that he never had any proof of
affection from her she frankly owns the regard she once had for him 
he had brought her  she tells tomlinson and him more than once to own
it to him nor did his own vanity she was sure permit him to doubt of
it he had kept her soul in suspense an hundred times  both men
affected in turn by her noble behaviour and great sentiments their
pleas prayers prostrations to move her to relent her distress 




the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday evening 


just returned from an airing with my charmer complied with after great
importunity she was attended by the two nymphs they both topt their
parts kept their eyes within bounds made moral reflections now-and-
then o jack what devils are women when all tests are got over and we
have completely ruined them 

the coach carried us to hampstead to highgate to muswell-hill back to
hampstead to the upper-flask there in compliment to the nymphs my
beloved consented to alight and take a little repast then home early
by kentish-town 

delightfully easy she and so respectful and obliging i all the way and
as we walked out upon the heath to view the variegated prospects which
that agreeable elevation affords that she promised to take now-and-then
a little excursion with me i think miss howe i think said i to
myself every now-and-then as we walked that thy wicked devices are
superceded 

but let me give thee a few particulars of our conversation in the
circumrotation we took while in the coach she had received a letter
from miss howe yesterday i presumed 

she made no answer how happy should i think myself to be admitted into
their correspondence i would joyfully make an exchange of
communications 

so though i hoped not to succeed by her consent  and little did she
think i had so happily in part succeeded without it   i thought it not
amiss to urge for it for several reasons among others that i might
account to her for my constant employment at my pen in order to take off
her jealousy that she was the subject of thy correspondence and mine 
and that i might justify my secrecy and uncommunicativeness by her own 

i proceeded therefore that i loved familiar-letter-writing as i had
more than once told her above all the species of writing it was writing
from the heart without the fetters prescribed by method or study as
the very word cor-respondence implied not the heart only the soul was
in it nothing of body when friend writes to friend the mind impelling
sovereignly the vassal-fingers it was in short friendship recorded 
friendship given under hand and seal demonstrating that the parties were
under no apprehension of changing from time or accident when they so
liberally gave testimonies which would always be ready on failure or
infidelity to be turned against them for my own part it was the
principal diversion i had in her absence but for this innocent
amusement the distance she so frequently kept me at would have been
intolerable 

sally knew my drift and said she had had the honour to see two or three
of my letters and of mr belford's and she thought them the most
entertaining that she had ever read 

my friend belford i said had a happy talent in the letter-writing way 
and upon all subjects 

i expected my beloved would have been inquisitive after our subject but
 lying perdue as i saw not a word said she so i touched upon this
article myself 

our topics were various and diffuse sometimes upon literary articles
 she was very attentive upon this  sometimes upon the public
entertainments sometimes amusing each other with the fruits of the
different correspondencies we held with persons abroad with whom we
had contracted friendships sometimes upon the foibles and perfections
of our particular friends sometimes upon our own present and future
hopes sometimes aiming at humour and raillery upon each other it might
indeed appear to savour of vanity to suppose my letters would entertain
a lady of her delicacy and judgment but yet i could not but say that
perhaps she would be far from thinking so hardly of me as sometimes she
had seemed to do if she were to see the letters which generally passed
between mr belford and me  i hope jack thou hast more manners than to
give me the lie though but in thy heart  

she then spoke after declining my compliment in such a manner as only a
person can do who deserved it she said for her part she had always
thought me a man of sense  a man of sense jack what a niggardly
praise   and should therefore hope that when i wrote it exceeded
even my speech for that it was impossible be the letters written in as
easy and familiar a style as they would but that they must have that
advantage from sitting down to write them which prompt speech could not
always have she should think it very strange therefore if my letters
were barren of sentiment and as strange if i gave myself liberties upon
premeditation which could have no excuse at all but from a
thoughtlessness which itself wanted excuse but if mr belford's
letters and mine were upon subjects so general and some of them equally
 she presumed instructive and entertaining she could not but say that
she should be glad to see any of them and particularly those which miss
martin had seen and praised 

this was put close 

i looked at her to see if i could discover any tincture of jealousy in
this hint that miss martin had seen what i had not shown to her but
she did not look it so i only said i should be very proud to show her
not only those but all that passed between mr belford and me but i
must remind her that she knew the condition 

no indeed with a sweet lip pouted out as saucy as pretty implying a
lovely scorn that yet can only be lovely in youth so blooming and
beauty so divinely distinguished 

how i long to see such a motion again her mouth only can give it 

but i am mad with love yet eternal will be the distance at the rate i
go on now fire now ice my soul is continually upon the hiss as i may
say in vain however is the trial to quench what after all is
unquenchable 

pr'ythee belford forgive my nonsense and my vulcan-like metaphors did
i not tell thee not that i am sick of love but that i am mad with it 
why brought i such an angel into such a house into such company and
why do i not stop my ears to the sirens who knowing my aversion to
wedlock are perpetually touching that string 

i was not willing to be answered so easily i was sure that what passed
between two such young ladies friends so dear might be seen by every
body i had more reason than any body to wish to see the letters that
passed between her and miss howe because i was sure they must be full of
admirable instruction and one of the dear correspondents had deigned to
wish my entire reformation 

she looked at me as if she would look me through i thought i felt eye-
beam after eye-beam penetrate my shivering reins but she was silent 
nor needed her eyes the assistance of speech 

nevertheless a little recovering myself i hoped that nothing unhappy
had befallen either miss howe or her mother the letter of yesterday
sent by a particular hand she opening it with great emotion seeming to
have expected it sooner were the reasons for my apprehensions 

we were then at muswell-hill a pretty country within the eye to polly 
was the remark instead of replying to me 

but i was not so to be answered i should expect some charming subjects
and characters from two such pens i hoped every thing went on well
between mr hickman and miss howe her mother's heart i said was set
upon that match mr hickman was not without his merits he was what the
ladies called a sober man but i must needs say that i thought miss howe
deserved a husband of a very different cast 

this i supposed would have engaged her into a subject from which i
could have wiredrawn something for hickman is one of her favourites 
why i can't divine except for the sake of opposition of character to
that of thy honest friend 

but she cut me short by a look of disapprobation and another cool remark
upon a distant view and how far off miss horton do you think that
clump of trees may be pointing out of the coach so i had done 

here endeth all i have to write concerning our conversation on this our
agreeable airing 

we have both been writing ever since we came home i am to be favoured
with her company for an hour before she retires to rest 

all that obsequious love can suggest in order to engage her tenderest
sentiments for me against tomorrow's sickness will i aim at when we
meet but at parting will complain of a disorder in my stomach 


 


we have met all was love and unexceptionable respect on my part ease
and complaisance on her's she was concerned for my disorder so
sudden just as we parted but it was nothing i should be quite well
by the morning 

faith jack i think i am sick already is it possible for such a giddy
fellow as me to persuade myself to be ill i am a better mimic at this
rate than i wish to be but every nerve and fibre of me is always ready
to contribute its aid whether by health or by ailment to carry a
resolved-on roguery into execution 

dorcas has transcribed for me the whole letter of miss howe dated
sunday may 14 of which before i had only extracts she found no other
letter added to that parcel but this and that which i copied myself in
character last sunday whilst she was at church relating to the smuggling
scheme are enough for me 


 see vol iv letter xxix 
 ibid letter xlii 


 


dorcas tells me that her lady has been removing her papers from the
mahogany chest into a wainscot box which held her linen and which she
put into her dark closet we have no key of that at present no doubt
but all her letters previous to those i have come at are in that box 
dorcas is uneasy upon it yet hopes that her lady does not suspect her 
for she is sure that she laid in every thing as she found it 



letter ii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
cocoa-tree saturday may 27 

this ipecacuanha is a most disagreeable medicine that these cursed
physical folks can find out nothing to do us good but what would poison
the devil in the other world were they only to take physic it would
be punishable enough of itself for a mis-spent life a doctor at one
elbow and an apothecary at the other and the poor soul labouring under
their prescribed operations he need no worse tormentors 

but now this was to take down my countenance it has done it for with
violent reachings having taken enough to make me sick and not enough
water to carry it off i presently looked as if i had kept my bed a
fortnight ill jesting as i thought in the midst of the exercise with
edge tools and worse with physical ones 

two hours it held me i had forbid dorcas to let her lady know any thing
of the matter out of tenderness to her being willing when she knew my
prohibition to let her see that i expected her to be concerned for me 

well but dorcas was nevertheless a woman and she can whisper to her
lady the secret she is enjoined to keep 

come hither toad  sick as the devil at the instant  let me see what a
mixture of grief and surprize may be beat up together in thy puden-face 

that won't do that dropt jaw and mouth distended into the long oval 
is more upon the horrible than the grievous 

nor that pinking and winking with thy odious eyes as my charmer once
called them 

a little better that yet not quite right but keep your mouth closer 
you have a muscle or two which you have no command of between your
cheek-bone and your lips that should carry one corner of your mouth
up towards your crow's-foot and that down to meet it 

there begone be in a plaguy hurry running up stair and down to fetch
from the dining-room what you carry up on purpose to fetch till motion
extraordinary put you out of breath and give you the sigh natural 

what's the matter dorcas 

nothing madam 

my beloved wonders she has not seen me this morning no doubt but is too
shy to say she wonders repeated what's the matter however as dorcas
runs up and down stairs by her door bring on o madam my master my
poor master 

what how when and all the monosyllables of surprize 

 within parentheses let me tell thee that i have often thought that the
little words in the republic of letters like the little folks in a nation 
are the most significant the trisyllables and the rumblers of syllables
more than three are but the good-for-little magnates  

i must not tell you madam my master ordered me not to tell you but he
is in a worse way than he thinks for but he would not have you
frighted 

high concern took possession of every sweet feature she pitied me by
my soul she pitied me 

where is he 

too much in a hurry for good manners  another parenthesis jack good
manners are so little natural that we ought to be composed to observe
them politeness will not live in a storm  i cannot stay to answer
questions cries the wench though desirous to answer  a third
parenthesis like the people crying proclamations running away from the
customers they want to sell to  this hurry puts the lady in a hurry to
ask  a fourth by way of establishing the third   as the other does the
people in a hurry to buy and i have in my eye now a whole street
raised and running after a proclamation or express-crier as if the
first was a thief the other his pursuers 

at last o lord let mrs lovelace know there is danger to be sure 
whispered from one nymph to another but at the door and so loud that
my listening fair-one might hear 

out she darts as how as how dorcas 

o madam a vomiting of blood a vessel broke to be sure 

down she hastens finds every one as busy over my blood in the entry 
as if it were that of the neapolitan saint 

in steps my charmer with a face of sweet concern 

how do you mr lovelace 

o my best love very well very well nothing at all nothing of
consequence i shall be well in an instant straining again for i was
indeed plaguy sick though no more blood came 

in short belford i have gained my end i see the dear soul loves me 
i see she forgives me all that's past i see i have credit for a new
score 

miss howe i defy thee my dear mrs townsend who the devil are you 
troop away with your contrabands no smuggling nor smuggler but
myself nor will the choicest of my fair-one's favours be long
prohibited goods to me 


 


every one is now sure that she loves me tears were in her eyes more
than once for me she suffered me to take her hand and kiss it as often
as i pleased on mrs sinclair's mentioning that i too much confined
myself she pressed me to take an airing but obligingly desired me to be
careful of myself wished i would advise with a physician god made
physicians she said 

i did not think that jack god indeed made us all but i fancy she
meant physic instead of physicians and then the phrase might mean what
the vulgar phrase means god sends meat the devil cooks 

i was well already on taking the styptic from her dear hands 

on her requiring me to take the air i asked if i might have the honour
of her company in a coach and this that i might observe if she had an
intention of going out in my absence 

if she thought a chair were not a more proper vehicle for my case she
would with all her heart 

there's a precious 

i kissed her hand again she was all goodness would to heaven i better
deserved it i said but all were golden days before us her presence
and generous concern had done every thing i was well nothing ailed
me but since my beloved will have it so i'll take a little airing 
let a chair be called o my charmer were i to have owned this
indisposition to my late harasses and to the uneasiness i have had for
disobliging you all is infinitely compensated by your goodness all the
art of healing is in your smiles your late displeasure was the only
malady 

while mrs sinclair and dorcas and polly and even poor silly mabell
 for sally went out as my angel came in  with uplifted hands and eyes 
stood thanking heaven that i was better in audible whispers see the
power of love cried one what a charming husband another happy
couple all 

o how the dear creature's cheek mantled how her eyes sparkled how
sweetly acceptable is praise to conscious merit while it but reproaches
when applied to the undeserving what a new what a gay creation it
makes all at once in a diffident or dispirited heart 

and now belford was it not worth while to be sick and yet i must tell
thee that too many pleasanter expedients offer themselves to make trial
any more of this confounded ipecacuanha 



letter iii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
saturday may 27 


mr lovelace my dear has been very ill suddenly taken with a
vomiting of blood in great quantities some vessel broken he
complained of a disorder in his stomach over night i was the
affected with it as i am afraid it was occasioned by the violent
contentions between us but was i in fault 

how lately did i think i hated him but hatred and anger i see are but
temporary passions with me one cannot my dear hate people in danger
of death or who are in distress or affliction my heart i find is not
proof against kindness and acknowledgements of errors committed 

he took great care to have his illness concealed from me as long as he
could so tender in the violence of his disorder so desirous to make
the best of it i wish he had not been ill in my sight i was too much
affected every body alarming me with his danger the poor man from
such high health so suddenly taken and so unprepared 

he is gone out in a chair i advised him to do so i fear that my
advice was wrong since quiet in such a disorder must needs be best we
are apt to be so ready in cases of emergency to give our advice 
without judgment or waiting for it i proposed a physician indeed but
he would not hear of one i have great honour for the faculty and the
greater as i have always observed that those who treat the professors of
the art of healing contemptuously too generally treat higher
institutions in the same manner 

i am really very uneasy for i have i doubt exposed myself to him and
to the women below they indeed will excuse me as they think us
married but if he be not generous i shall have cause to regret this
surprise which as i had reason to think myself unaccountably treated by
him has taught me more than i knew of myself 

tis true i have owned more than once that i could have liked mr 
lovelace above all men i remember the debates you and i used to have on
this subject when i was your happy guest you used to say and once you
wrote that men of his cast are the men that our sex do not naturally
dislike while i held that such were not however that might be the men
we ought to like but what with my relations precipitating of me on one
hand and what with his unhappy character and embarrassing ways on the
other i had no more leisure than inclination to examine my own heart in
this particular and this reminds me of a transcribe though it was
written in raillery may it not be  say you that you have had such
persons to deal with as have not allowed you to attend to the throbs or
if you had them a little now-and-then whether having had two accounts
to place them to you have not by mistake put them to the wrong one  a
passage which although it came into my mind when mr lovelace was least
exceptionable yet that i have denied any efficacy to when he has teased
and vexed me and given me cause of suspicion for after all my dear 
mr lovelace is not wise in all his ways and should we not endeavour 
as much as is possible where we are not attached by natural ties to
like and dislike as reason bids us and according to the merit or demerit
of the object if love as it is called is allowed to be an excuse for
our most unreasonable follies and to lay level all the fences that a
careful education has surrounded us by what is meant by the doctrine of
subduing our passions but o my dearest friend am i not guilty of a
punishable fault were i to love this man of errors and has not my own
heart deceived me when i thought it did not and what must be that love 
that has not some degree of purity for its object i am afraid of
recollecting some passages in my cousin morden's letter and yet why
fly i from subjects that duly considered might tend to correct and
purify my heart i have carried i doubt my notions on this head too
high not for practice but for my practice yet think me not guilty of
prudery neither for had i found out as much of myself before or 
rather had he given me heart's ease enough before to find it out you
should have had my confession sooner 


 see vol iv letter xxxiv 
 see vol i letter xii 
 see vol iv letter xix and seq 


nevertheless let me tell you what i hope i may justly tell you that
if again he give me cause to resume distance and reserve i hope my
reason will gather strength enough from his imperfections to enable me to
keep my passions under what can we do more than govern ourselves by the
temporary lights lent us 

you will not wonder that i am grave on this detection detection must i
call it what can i call it 

dissatisfied with myself i am afraid to look back upon what i have
written yet know not how to have done writing i never was in such an
odd frame of mind i know not how to describe it was you ever so 
afraid of the censure of her you love yet not conscious that you deserve
it 

of this however i am convinced that i should indeed deserve censure 
if i kept any secret of my heart from you 

but i will not add another word after i have assured you that i will
look still more narrowly into myself and that i am

your equally sincere and affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter iv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sat evening 


i had a charming airing no return of my malady my heart was perfectly
easy how could my stomach be otherwise 

but when i came home i found that my sweet soul had been alarmed by a
new incident the inquiry after us both in a very suspicious manner and
that by description of our persons and not by names by a servant in a
blue livery turn'd up and trimm'd with yellow 

dorcas was called to him as the upper servant and she refusing to
answer any of the fellow's questions unless he told his business and
from whom he came the fellow as short as she said that if she would
not answer him perhaps she might answer somebody else and went away out
of humour 

dorcas hurried up to her lady and alarmed her not only with the fact 
but with her own conjectures adding that he was an ill-looking fellow 
and she was sure could come for no good 

the livery and the features of the servant were particularly inquired
after and as particularly described lord bless her no end of her
alarms she thought and then did her apprehensions anticipate every
evil that could happen 

she wished mr lovelace would come in 

mr lovelace came in soon after all lively grateful full of hopes of
duty of love to thank his charmer and to congratulate with her upon
the cure she had performed and then she told the story with all its
circumstances and dorcas to point her lady's fears told us that the
servant was a sun-burnt fellow and looked as if he had been at sea 

he was then no doubt captain singleton's servant and the next news she
should hear was that the house was surrounded by a whole ship's crew 
the vessel lying no farther off as she understood than rotherhithe 

impossible i said such an attempt would not be ushered in by such a
manner of inquiry and why may it not rather be a servant of your cousin
morden with notice of his arrival and of his design to attend you 

this surmise delighted her her apprehensions went off and she was at
leisure to congratulate me upon my sudden recovery which she did in the
most obliging manner 

but we had not sat long together when dorcas again came fluttering up to
tell us that the footman the very footman was again at the door and
inquired whether mr lovelace and his lady by name had not lodgings in
this house he asked he told dorcas for no harm but his disavowing
of harm was a demonstration with my apprehensive fair-one that harm was
intended and as the fellow had not been answered by dorcas i proposed
to go down to the street-parlour and hear what he had to say 

i see your causeless terror my dearest life said i and your impatience
 will you be pleased to walk down and without being observed for he
shall come no farther than the parlour-door you may hear all that
passes 

she consented we went down dorcas bid the man come forward well 
friend what is your business with mr and mrs lovelace 

bowing scraping i am sure you are the gentleman sir why sir my
business is only to know if your honour be here and to be spoken with 
or if you shall be here for any time 

whom came you from 

from a gentleman who ordered me to say if i was made to tell but not
else it was from a friend of mr john harlowe mrs lovelace's eldest
uncle 

the dear creature was ready to sink upon this it was but of late that
she had provided herself with salts she pulled them out 

do you know anything of colonel morden friend said i 

no i never heard of his name 

of captain singleton 

no sir but the gentleman my master is a captain too 

what is his name 

i don't know if i should tell 

there can be no harm in telling the gentleman's name if you come upon
a good account 

that i do for my master told me so and there is not an honester
gentleman on the face of god's yearth his name is captain tomlinson 
sir 

i don't know such a one 

i believe not sir he was pleased to say he don't know your honor 
sir but i heard him say as how he should not be an unwelcome visiter to
you for all that 

do you know such a man as captain tomlinson my dearest life  aside  
your uncle's friend 

no but my uncle may have acquaintance no doubt that i don't know 
but i hope  trembling  this is not a trick 

well friend if your master has anything to say to mr lovelace you may
tell him that mr lovelace is here and will see him whenever he
pleases 

the dear creature looked as if afraid that my engagement was too prompt
for my own safety and away went the fellow i wondering that she might
not wonder that this captain tomlinson whoever he were came not
himself or sent not a letter the second time when he had reason to
suppose that i might be here 

mean time for fear that this should be a contrivance of james harlowe 
who i said love plotting though he had not a head turned for it i
gave some precautionary directions to the servants and the women whom 
for the greater parade i assembled before us and my beloved was
resolved not to stir abroad till she saw the issue of this odd affair 

and here must i close though in so great a puzzle 

only let me add that poor belton wants thee for i dare not stir for my
life 

mowbray and tourville skulk about like vagabonds without heads without
hands without souls having neither you nor me to conduct them they
tell me they shall rust beyond the power of oil or action to brighten
them up or give them motion 

how goes it with thy uncle 



letter v

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday may 28 


this story of captain tomlinson employed us not only for the time we were
together last night but all the while we sat at breakfast this morning 
she would still have it that it was the prelude to some mischief from
singleton i insisted according to my former hint that it might much
more probably be a method taken by colonel morden to alarm her previous
to a personal visit travelled gentlemen affected to surprise in this
manner and why dearest creature said i must every thing that
happens which we cannot immediately account for be what we least wish 

she had had so many disagreeable things befall her of late that her
fears were too often stronger than her hopes 

and this madam makes me apprehensive that you will get into so low-
spirited a way that you will not be able to enjoy the happiness that
seems to await us 

her duty and her gratitude she gravely said to the dispenser of all
good would secure her she hoped against unthankfulness and a
thankful spirit was the same as a joyful one 

so belford for all her future joys she depends entirely upon the
invisible good she is certainly right since those who fix least upon
second causes are the least likely to be disappointed and is not this
gravity for her gravity 

she had hardly done speaking when dorcas came running up in a hurry 
she set even my heart into a palpitation thump thump thump like a
precipitated pendulum in a clock-case flutter flutter flutter my
charmer's as by her sweet bosom rising to her chin i saw 

this lower class of people my beloved herself observed were for ever
aiming at the stupid wonderful and for making even common incidents
matter of surprise 

why the devil said i to the wench this alarming hurry and with your
spread fingers and your o madams and o sirs and be cursed to you 
would there have been a second of time difference had you come up
slowly 

captain tomlinson sir 

captain devilson what care i do you see how you have disordered your
lady 

good mr lovelace said my charmer trembling  see jack when she has an
end to serve i am good mr lovelace   if if my brother if captain
singleton should appear pray now i beseech you let me beg of you to
govern your temper my brother is my brother captain singleton is but an
agent 

my dearest life folding my arms about her  when she asks favours 
thought i the devil's in it if she will not allow such an innocent
freedom as this from good mr lovelace too   you shall be witness of all
passes between us dorcas desire the gentleman to walk up 

let me retire to my chamber first let me not be known to be in the
house 

charming dear thou seest belford she is afraid of leaving me o the
little witchcrafts were it not for surprises now-and-then how would an
honest man know where to have them 

she withdrew to listen and though this incident has not turned out to
answer all i wished from it yet is it not necessary if i would acquaint
thee with my whole circulation to be very particular in what passed
between captain tomlinson and me 


enter captain tomlinson in a riding-dress whip in hand 

your servant sir mr lovelace i presume 

my name is lovelace sir 

excuse the day sir be pleased to excuse my garb i am obliged to go
out of town directly that i may return at night 

the day is a good day your garb needs no apology 

when i sent my servant i did not know that i should find time to do
myself this honour all that i thought i could do to oblige my friend
this journey was only to assure myself of your abode and whether there
was a probability of being admitted to the speech of either you or your
lady 

sir you best know your own motives what your time will permit you to do 
you also best know and here i am attending your pleasure 


my charmer owned afterwards her concern on my being so short whatever
i shall mingle of her emotions thou wilt easily guess i had afterwards 

sir i hope no offence i intend none 

none none at all sir 

sir i have no interest in the affair i come about i may appear
officious and if i thought i should i would decline any concern in it 
after i have just hinted what it is 

and pray sir what is it 

may i ask you sir without offence whether you wish to be reconciled 
and to co-operate upon honourable terms with one gentleman of the name
of harlowe preparative as it may be hoped to a general reconciliation 

o how my heart fluttered cried my charmer 

i can't tell sir  and then it fluttered still more no doubt   the
whole family have used me extremely ill they have taken greater
liberties with my character than are justifiable and with my family too 
which i can less forgive 

sir sir i have done i beg pardon for this intrusion 

my beloved was then ready to sink and thought very hardly of me 

but pray sir to the immediate purpose of your present commission 
since a commission it seems to be 

it is a commission sir and such a one as i thought would be agreeable
to all parties or i should not have given myself concern about it 

perhaps it may sir when known but let me ask you one previous
question do you know colonel morden sir 

no sir if you mean personally i do not but i have heard my good
friend mr john harlowe talk of him with great respect and such a
co-trustee with him in a certain trust 

lovel i thought it probable sir that the colonel might be arrived 
that you might be a gentleman of his acquaintance and that something of
an agreeable surprise might be intended 

capt had colonel morden been in england mr john harlowe would have
known it and then i should not have been a stranger to it 

lovel well but sir have you then any commission to me from mr john
harlowe 

capt sir i will tell you as briefly as i can the whole of what i
have to say but you'll excuse me also in a previous question for what
curiosity is not my motive but it is necessary to be answered before i
can proceed as you will judge when you hear it 

lovel what pray sir is your question 

capt briefly whether you are actually and bona fide married to miss
clarissa harlowe 

i started and in a haughty tone is this sir a question that must be
answered before you can proceed in the business you have undertaken 

i mean no offence mr lovelace mr harlowe sought to me to undertake
this office i have daughters and nieces of my own i thought it a good
office or i who have many considerable affairs upon my hands had not
accepted of it i know the world and will take the liberty to say that
if the young lady 

captain tomlinson i think you are called 

my name is tomlinson 

why then tomlinson no liberty as you call it will be taken well that
is not extremely delicate when that lady is mentioned 

when you had heard me out mr lovelace and had found i had so behaved 
as to make the caution necessary it would have been just to have given
it allow me to say i know what is due to the character of a woman of
virtue as well as any man alive 

why sir why captain tomlinson you seem warm if you intend any
thing by this  o how i trembled said the lady when she took notice of
this part of our conversation afterwards   i will only say that this is
a privileged place it is at present my home and an asylum for any
gentleman who thinks it worth his while to inquire after me be the
manner or end of his inquiry what it will 

i know not sir that i have given occasion for this i make no scruple
to attend you elsewhere if i am troublesome here i was told i had a
warm young gentleman to deal with but as i knew my intention and that
my commission was an amicable one i was the less concerned about that 
i am twice your age mr lovelace i dare say but i do assure you that
if either my message or my manner gives you offence i can suspend the
one or the other for a day or for ever as you like and so sir any
time before eight tomorrow morning you will let me know your further
commands and was going to tell me where he might be found 

captain tomlinson said i you answer well i love a man of spirit 
have you not been in the army 

i have sir but have turned my sword into a ploughshare as the
scripture has it  there was a clever fellow jack he was a good man
with somebody i warrant o what a fine coat and cloke for an hypocrite
will a text of scripture properly applied make at any time in the eyes
of the pious how easily are the good folks taken in   and all my
delight added he for some years past has been in cultivating my
paternal estate i love a brave man mr lovelace as well as ever i did
in my life but let me tell you sir that when you come to my time of
life you will be of opinion that there is not so much true bravery in
youthful choler as you may now think there is 

a clever fellow again belford ear and heart both at once he took in
my charmer tis well she says there are some men who have wisdom in
their anger 

well captain that is reproof for reproof so we are upon a footing 
and now give me the pleasure of hearing the import of your commission 

sir you must first allow me to repeat my question are you really and
bona fide married to miss clarissa harlowe or are you not yet married 

bluntly put captain but if i answer that i am what then 

why then sir i shall say that you are a man of honour 

that i hope i am whether you say it or not captain tomlinson 

sir i will be very frank in all i have to say on this subject mr john
harlowe has lately found out that you and his niece are both in the same
lodgings that you have been long so and that the lady was at the play
with you yesterday was se'nnight and he hopes that you are actually
married he has indeed heard that you are but as he knows your
enterprising temper and that you have declared that you disdain a
relation to their family he is willing by me to have your marriage
confirmed from your own mouth before he take the steps he is inclined to
take in his niece's favour you will allow me to say mr lovelace that
he will not be satisfied with an answer that admits of the least doubt 

let me tell you captain tomlinson that it is a high degree of vileness
for any man to suppose 

sir mr lovelace don't put yourself into a passion the lady's
relations are jealous of the honour of their family they have
prejudices to overcome as well as you advantage may have been taken and
the lady at the time not to blame 

this lady sir could give no such advantages and if she had what must
the man be captain tomlinson who could have taken them do you know
the lady sir 

i never had the honour to see her but once and that was at a church and
should not know her again 

not know her again sir i thought there was not a man living who had
once seen her and would not know her among a thousand 

i remember sir that i thought i never saw a finer woman in my life 
but mr lovelace i believe you will allow that it is better that her
relations should have wronged you than you the lady i hope sir you
will permit me to repeat my question 


enter dorcas in a hurry 

a gentleman this minute sir desires to speak with your honour  my
lady sir aside  

could the dear creature put dorcas upon telling this fib yet want to
save me one 

desire the gentleman to walk into one of the parlours i will wait upon
him presently 

 exit dorcas 


the dear creature i doubted not wanted to instruct me how to answer
the captain's home put i knew how i intended to answer it plumb thou
may'st be sure but dorcas's message staggered me and yet i was upon
one of my master-strokes which was to take advantage of the captain's
inquiries and to make her own her marriage before him as she had done
to the people below and if she had been brought to that to induce her 
for her uncle's satisfaction to write him a letter of gratitude which
of course must have been signed clarissa lovelace i was loth 
therefore thou may'st believe to attend her sudden commands and yet 
afraid of pushing matters beyond recovery with her i thought proper to
lead him from the question to account for himself and for mr harlowe's
coming to the knowledge of where we are and for other particulars which
i knew would engage her attention and which might possibly convince her
of the necessity there was for her to acquiesce in the affirmative i was
disposed to give and this for her own sake for what as i asked her
afterwards is it to me whether i am ever reconciled to her family a
family jack which i must for ever despise 

you think captain that i have answered doubtfully to the question you
put you may think so and you must know that i have a good deal of
pride and only that you are a gentleman and seem in this affair to be
governed by generous motives or i should ill brook being interrogated as
to my honour to a lady so dear to me but before i answer more directly
to the point pray satisfy me in a question or two that i shall put to
you 

with all my heart sir ask me what questions you please i will answer
them with sincerity and candour 

you say mr harlowe has found out that we were at a play together and
that we were both in the same lodgings how pray came he at his
knowledge for let me tell you that i have for certain
considerations not respecting myself i will assure you condescended
that our abode should be kept secret and this has been so strictly
observed that even miss howe though she and my beloved correspond knows
not directly where to send to us 

why sir the person who saw you at the play was a tenant of mr john
harlowe he watched all your motions when the play was done he
followed your coach to your lodgings and early the next day sunday 
he took horse and acquainted his landlord with what he had observed 

lovel how oddly things come about but does any other of the harlowes
know where we are 

capt it is an absolute secret to every other person of the family and
so it is intended to be kept as also that mr john harlowe is willing to
enter into treaty with you by me if his niece be actually married for
perhaps he is aware that he shall have difficulty enough with some
people to bring about the desirable reconciliation although he could
give them this assurance 

i doubt it not captain to james harlowe is all the family folly owing 
fine fools  heroically stalking about  to be governed by one to whom
malice and not genius gives the busy liveliness that distinguishes him
from a natural but how long pray sir has mr john harlowe been in
this pacific disposition 

i will tell you mr lovelace and the occasion and be very explicit
upon it and upon all that concerns you to know of me and of the
commission i have undertaken to execute and this the rather as when
you have heard me out you will be satisfied that i am not an officious
man in this my present address to you 

i am all attention captain tomlinson 

and so i doubt not was my beloved 

capt you must know sir that i have not been many months in mr john
harlowe's neighbourhood i removed from northamptonshire partly for the
sake of better managing one of two executorship which i could not avoid
engaging in the affairs of which frequently call me to town and are
part of my present business and partly for the sake of occupying a
neglected farm which has lately fallen into my hands but though an
acquaintance of no longer standing and that commencing on the bowling-
green  uncle john is a great bowler belford   upon my decision of a
point to every one's satisfaction which was appealed to me by all the
gentlemen and which might have been attended with bad consequences no
two brothers have a more cordial esteem for each other you know mr 
lovelace that there is a consent as i may call it in some minds which
will unite them stronger together in a few hours than years can do with
others whom yet we see not with disgust 

lovel very true captain 

capt it was on the foot of this avowed friendship on both sides that
on monday the 15th as i very well remember mr harlowe invited himself
home with me and when there he acquainted me with the whole of the
unhappy affair that had made them all so uneasy till then i knew it
only by report for intimate as we were i forbore to speak of what was
so near his heart till he began first and then he told me that he had
had an application made to him two or three days before by a gentleman
whom he named to induce him not only to be reconciled himself to his
niece but to forward for her a general reconciliation 


 see vol iv letters xxiii and xxix 


a like application he told me had been made to his sister harlowe by
a good woman whom every body respected who had intimated that his
niece if encouraged would again put herself into the protection of her
friends and leave you but if not that she must unavoidably be your's 

i hope mr lovelace i make no mischief you look concerned you sigh 
sir 

proceed captain tomlinson pray proceed and i sighed still more
profoundly 

capt they all thought it extremely particular that a lady should
decline marriage with a man she had so lately gone away with 

pray captain pray mr tomlinson no more of this subject my beloved
is an angel in every thing unblamable whatever faults there have
been have been theirs and mine what you would further say is that
the unforgiving family rejected her application they did she and i
had a misunderstanding the falling out of lovers you know captain 
 we have been happier ever since 

capt well sir but mr john harlowe could not but better consider
the matter afterwards and he desired my advice how to act in it he
told me that no father ever loved a daughter as he loved this niece of
his whom indeed he used to call his daughter-niece he said she had
really been unkindly treated by her brother and sister and as your
alliance sir was far from being a discredit to their family he would
do his endeavour to reconcile all parties if he could be sure that ye
were actually man and wife 

lovel and what pray captain was your advice 

capt i gave it as my opinion that if his niece were unworthily
treated and in distress as he apprehended from the application to
him he would soon hear of her again but that it was likely that this
application was made without expecting it would succeed and as a salvo
only to herself for marrying without their consent and the rather
thought i so as he had told me that it came from a young lady her
friend and not in a direct way from herself which young lady was no
favourite of the family and therefore would hardly have been employed 
had success been expected 

lovel very well captain tomlinson pray proceed 

capt here the matter rested till last sunday evening when mr john
harlowe came to me with the man who had seen you and your lady as i
presume she is at the play and who had assured him that you both
lodged in the same house and then the application having been so lately
made which implied that you were not then married he was so uneasy for
his niece's honour that i advised him to dispatch to town some one in
whom he could confide to make proper inquiries 

lovel very well captain and was such a person employed on such an
errand by her uncle 

capt a trusty and discreet person was accordingly sent and last
tuesday i think it was for he returned to us on the wednesday he
made the inquiries among the neighbours first   the very inquiry jack 
that gave us all so much uneasiness   but finding that none of them
could give any satisfactory account the lady's woman was come at who
declared that you were actually married but the inquirist keeping
himself on the reserve as to his employers the girl refused to tell the
day or to give him other particulars 


 see vol iv letter l 


lovel you give a very clear account of every thing captain tomlinson 
pray proceed 

capt the gentleman returned and on his report mr harlowe having
still doubts and being willing to proceed on some grounds in so
important a point besought me as my affairs called me frequently to
town to undertake this matter  you mr tomlinson he was pleased to
say have children of your own you know the world you know what i drive
at you will proceed i am sure with understanding and spirit and
whatever you are satisfied with shall satisfy me  


enter dorcas again in a hurry 

sir the gentleman is impatient 

i will attend him presently 

the captain then accounted for his not calling in person when he had
reason to think us here 

he said he had business of consequence a few miles out of town whither
he thought he must have gone yesterday and having been obliged to put
off his little journey till this day and understanding that we were
within not knowing whether he should have such another opportunity he
was willing to try his good fortune before he set out and this made him
come booted and spurred as i saw him 

he dropped a hint in commendation of the people of the house but it was
in such a way as to give no room to suspect that he thought it necessary
to inquire after the character of persons who make so genteel an
appearance as he observed they do 

and here let me remark that my beloved might collect another
circumstance in favour of the people below had she doubted their
characters from the silence of her uncle's inquirist on tuesday among
the neighbours 

capt and now sir that i believe i have satisfied you in every thing
relating to my commission i hope you will permit me to repeat my
question which is 


enter dorcas again out of breath 

sir the gentleman will step up to you  my lady is impatient she
wonders at your honour's delay aside  

excuse me captain for one moment 

i have staid my full time mr lovelace what may result from my
question and your answer whatever it shall be may take us up time 
and you are engaged will you permit me to attend you in the morning 
before i set out on my return 

you will then breakfast with me captain 

it must be early if i do i must reach my own house to-morrow night or
i shall make the best of wives unhappy and i have two or three places
to call at in my way 

it shall be by seven o'clock if you please captain we are early
folks and this i will tell you that if ever i am reconciled to a
family so implacable as i have always found the harlowes to be it must
be by the mediation of so cool and so moderate a gentleman as yourself 

and so with the highest civilities on both sides we parted but for
the private satisfaction of so good a man i left him out of doubt that
we were man and wife though i did not directly aver it 



letter vi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday night 


this captain tomlinson is one of the happiest as well as one of the best
men in the world what would i give to stand as high in my beloved's
opinion as he does but yet i am as good a man as he were i to tell my
own story and have equal credit given to it but the devil should have
had him before i had seen him on the account he came upon had i thought
i should not have answered my principal end in it i hinted to thee in
my last what that was 

but to the particulars of the conference between my fair-one and me on
her hasty messages which i was loth to come to because she has had an
half triumph over me in it 

after i had attended the captain down to the very passage i returned to
the dining-room and put on a joyful air on my beloved's entrance into
it o my dearest creature said i let me congratulate you on a prospect
so agreeable to your wishes and i snatched her hand and smothered it
with kisses 

i was going on when interrupting me you see mr lovelace said she 
how you have embarrassed yourself by your obliquities you see that you
have not been able to return a direct answer to a plain and honest
question though upon it depends all the happiness on the prospect of
which you congratulate me 

you know my best love what my prudent and i will say my kind motives
were for giving out that we were married you see that i have taken no
advantage of it and that no inconvenience has followed it you see that
your uncle wants only to be assured from ourselves that it is so 

not another word on this subject mr lovelace i will not only risk 
but i will forfeit the reconciliation so near my heart rather than i
will go on to countenance a story so untrue 

my dearest soul would you have me appear 

i would have you appear sir as you are i am resolved that i will
appear to my uncle's friend and to my uncle as i am 

for one week my dearest life cannot you for one week only till the
settlements 

not for one hour with my own consent you don't know sir how much i
have been afflicted that i have appeared to the people below what i am
not but my uncle sir shall never have it to upbraid me nor will i to
upbraid myself that i have wilfully passed upon him in false lights 

what my dear would you have me say to the captain to-morrow morning i
have given him room to think 

then put him right mr lovelace tell the truth tell him what you
please of the favour of your relations to me tell him what you will
about the settlements and if when drawn you will submit them to his
perusal and approbation it will show him how much you are in earnest 

my dearest life do you think that he would disapprove of the terms i
have offered 

no 

then may i be accursed if i willingly submit to be trampled under foot
by my enemies 

and may i mr lovelace never be happy in this life if i submit to
the passing upon my uncle harlowe a wilful and premeditated falshood for
truth i have too long laboured under the affliction which the rejection
of all my friends has given me to purchase my reconciliation with them
now at so dear a price as this of my veracity 

the women below my dear 

what are the women below to me i want not to establish myself with
them need they know all that passes between my relations and you and
me 

neither are they any thing to me madam only that when for the sake
of preventing the fatal mischiefs which might have attended your
brother's projects i have made them think us married i would not appear
to them in a light which you yourself think so shocking by my soul 
madam i had rather die than contradict myself so flagrantly after i
have related to them so many circumstances of our marriage 

well sir the women may believe what they please that i have given
countenance to what you told them is my error the many circumstances
which you own one untruth has drawn you in to relate is a justification
of my refusal in the present case 

don't you see madam that your uncle wishes to find that we are married 
may not the ceremony be privately over before his mediation can take
place 

urge this point no further mr lovelace if you will not tell the
truth i will to-morrow morning if i see captain tomlinson tell it
myself indeed i will 

will you madam consent that things pass as before with the people
below this mediation of tomlinson may come to nothing your brother's
schemes may be pursued the rather that now he will know perhaps from
your uncle that you are not under a legal protection you will at
least consent that things pass here as before 

to permit this is to go on in an error mr lovelace but as the
occasion for so doing if there can be in your opinion an occasion that
will warrant an untruth will as i presume soon be over i shall the
less dispute that point with you but a new error i will not be guilty
of if i can avoid it 

can i do you think madam have any dishonourable view in the step i
supposed you would not scruple to take towards a reconciliation with your
own family not for my own sake you know did i wish you to take it 
for what is it to me if i am never reconciled to your family i want no
favours from them 

i hope mr lovelace there is no occasion in our present not
disagreeable situation to answer such a question and let me say that
i shall think my prospects still more agreeable if to-morrow morning
you will not only own the very truth but give my uncle's friend such an
account of the steps you have taken and are taking as may keep up my
uncle's favourable intentions towards me this you may do under what
restrictions of secrecy you please captain tomlinson is a prudent man 
a promoter of family-peace you find and i dare say may be made a
friend 

i saw there was no help i saw that the inflexible harlowe spirit was
all up in her a little witch a little forgive me love for calling
her names and so i said with an air we have had too many
misunderstandings madam for me to wish for new ones i will obey you
without reserve had i not thought i should have obliged you by the
other method especially as the ceremony might have been over before any
thing could have operated from your uncle's intentions and of
consequence no untruth persisted in i would not have proposed it but
think not my beloved creature that you shall enjoy without condition 
this triumph over my judgment 

and then clasping my arms about her i gave her averted cheek her
charming lip designed a fervent kiss and your forgiveness of this
sweet freedom  bowing  is that condition 

she was not mortally offended and now must i make out the rest as well
as i can but this i will tell thee that although her triumph has not
diminished my love for her yet it has stimulated me more than ever to
revenge as thou wilt be apt to call it but victory or conquest is
the more proper word 

there is a pleasure tis true in subduing one of these watchful
beauties but by my soul belford men of our cast take twenty times the
pains to be rogues than it would cost them to be honest and dearly with
the sweat of our brows and to the puzzlement of our brains to say
nothing of the hazards we run do we earn our purchase and ought not
therefore to be grudged our success when we meet with it especially as 
when we have obtained our end satiety soon follows and leaves us little
or nothing to show for it but this indeed may be said of all worldly
delights and is not that a grave reflection from me 

i was willing to write up to the time although i have not carried my
principal point i shall make something turn out in my favour from
captain tomlinson's errand but let me give thee this caution that thou
do not pretend to judge of my devices by parts but have patience till
thou seest the whole but once more i swear that i will not be
out-norris'd by a pair of novices and yet i am very apprehensive at
times of the consequences of miss howe's smuggling scheme 

my conscience i should think ought not to reproach me for a
contrivance which is justified by the contrivances of two such girls as
these one of whom the more excellent of the two i have always with
her own approbation as i imagine proposed for my imitation 

but here jack is the thing that concludes me and cases my heart with
adamant i find by miss howe's letters that it is owing to her that i
have made no greater progress with my blooming fair-one she loves me 
the ipecacuanha contrivance convinces me that she loves me where there
is love there must be confidence or a desire of having reason to
confide generosity founded on my supposed generosity has taken hold
of her heart shall i not now see since i must forever be unhappy if i
marry her and leave any trial unessayed what i can make of her love 
and her newly-raised confidence will it not be to my glory to succeed 
and to her's and to the honour of her sex if i cannot where then will
be the hurt to either to make the trial and cannot i as i have often
said 
reward her when i will by marriage 

tis late or rather early for the day begins to dawn upon me i am
plaguy heavy perhaps i need not to have told thee that but will only
indulge a doze in my chair for an hour then shake myself wash and
refresh at my time of life with such a constitution as i am blessed
with that's all that's wanted 

good night to me it cannot be broad day till i am
awake aw-w-w-whaugh pox of this yawning 

is not thy uncle dead yet 

what's come to mine that he writes not to my last hunting after more
wisdom of nations i suppose yaw-yaw-yawning again pen begone 



letter vii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday may 29 


now have i established myself for ever in my charmer's heart 

the captain came at seven as promised and ready equipped for his
journey my beloved chose not to give us her company till our first
conversation was over ashamed i suppose to be present at that part of
it which was to restore her to her virgin state by my confession after
her wifehood had been reported to her uncle but she took her cue 
nevertheless and listened to all that passed 

the modestest women jack must think and think deeply sometimes i
wonder whether they ever blush at those things by themselves at which
they have so charming a knack of blushing in company if not and if
blushing be a sign of grace or modesty have not the sex as great a
command over their blushes as they are said to have over their tears 
this reflection would lead me a great way into female minds were i
disposed to pursue it 

i told the captain that i would prevent his question and accordingly
 after i had enjoined the strictest secrecy that no advantage might be
given to james harlowe and which he had answered for as well on mr 
harlowe's part as his own i acknowledged nakedly and fairly the whole
truth to wit that we were not yet married i gave him hints of the
causes of procrastination some of them owing to unhappy
misunderstandings but chiefly to the lady's desire of previous
reconciliation with her friends and to a delicacy that had no example 

less nice ladies than this jack love to have delays wilful and studied
delays imputed to them in these cases yet are indelicate in their
affected delicacy for do they not thereby tacitly confess that they
expect to be the greatest estgainers in wedlock and that there is
self-denial in the pride they take in delaying 

i told him the reason of our passing to the people below as married yet
as under a vow of restriction as to consummation which had kept us both
to the height one of forbearing the other of vigilant punctilio even
to the denial of those innocent freedoms which betrothed lovers never
scruple to allow and to take 

i then communicated to him a copy of my proposal of settlement the
substance of her written answer the contents of my letter of invitation
to lord m to be her nuptial-father and of my lord's generous reply 
but said that having apprehensions of delay from his infirmities and my
beloved choosing by all means and that from principles of unrequited
duty a private solemnization i had written to excuse his lordship's
presence and expected an answer every hour 

the settlements i told him were actually drawing by counsellor
williams of whose eminence he must have heard 

he had 

and of the truth of this he might satisfy himself before he went out of
town 

when these were drawn approved and engrossed nothing i said but
signing and the nomination of my happy day would be wanting i had a
pride i declared in doing the highest justice to so beloved a creature 
of my own voluntary motion and without the intervention of a family from
whom i had received the greatest insults and this being our present
situation i was contented that mr john harlowe should suspend his
reconciliatory purposes till our marriage were actually solemnized 

the captain was highly delighted with all i said yet owned that as his
dear friend mr harlowe had expressed himself greatly pleased to hear
that we were actually married he could have wished it had been so but 
nevertheless he doubted not that all would be well 

he saw my reasons he said and approved of them for making the
gentlewomen below  whom again he understood to be good sort of people 
believe that the ceremony had passed which so well accounted for what
the lady's maid had told mr harlowe's friend mr james harlowe he
said had certainly ends to answer in keeping open the breach and as
certainly had formed a design to get his sister out of my hands 
wherefore it as much imported his worthy friend to keep this treaty as
secret as it did me at least till he had formed his party and taken
his measures ill will and passion were dreadful misrepresenters it
was amazing to him that animosity could be carried so high against a man
capable of views so pacific and so honourable and who had shown such a
command of his temper in this whole transaction as i had done 
generosity indeed in every case where love of stratagem and intrigue
 i would excuse him were not concerned was a part of my character 

he was proceeding when breakfast being ready in came the empress of my
heart irradiating all around her as with a glory a benignity and
graciousness in her aspect that though natural to it had been long
banished from it 

next to prostration lowly bowed the captain o how the sweet creature
smiled her approbation of him reverence from one begets reverence from
another men are more of monkeys in imitation than they think
themselves involuntarily in a manner i bent my knee my dearest
life and made a very fine speech on presenting the captain to her no
title myself to her lip or cheek tis well he attempted not either he
was indeed ready to worship her could only touch her charming hand 

i have told the captain my dear creature and then i briefly repeated
 as if i had supposed she had not heard it all i had told him 

he was astonished that any body could be displeased one moment with such
an angel he undertook her cause as the highest degree of merit to
himself 

never i must need say did an angel so much look the angel all placid 
serene smiling self-assured a more lovely flush than usual heightening
her natural graces and adding charms even to radiance to her charming
complexion 

after we had seated ourselves the agreeable subject was renewed as we
took our chocolate how happy should she be in her uncle's restored
favour 

the captain engaged for it no more delays he hoped on her part let
the happy day be but once over all would then be right but was it
improper to ask for copies of my proposals and of her answer in order
to show them to his dear friend her uncle 

as mr lovelace pleased o that the dear creature would always say so 

it must be in strict confidence then i said but would it not be better
to show her uncle the draught of the settlements when drawn 

and will you be so good as to allow of this mr lovelace 

there belford we were once the quarrelsome but now we are the polite 
lovers 

indeed my dear creature i will if you desire it and if captain
tomlinson will engage that mr harlowe shall keep them absolutely a
secret that i may not be subjected to the cavil and controul of any
others of a family that have used me so very ill 

now indeed sir you are very obliging 

dost think jack that my face did not now also shine 

i held out my hand first consecrating it with a kiss for her's she
condescended to give it me i pressed it to my lips you know not
captain tomlinson with an air all storms overblown what a happy
man 

charming couple  his hands lifted up   how will my good friend rejoice 
o that he were present you know not madam how dear you still are to
your uncle harlowe 

i am still unhappy ever to have disobliged him 

not too much of that however fairest thought i 

the captain repeated his resolution of service and that in so acceptable
a manner that the dear creature wished that neither he nor any of his 
might ever want a friend of equal benevolence 

nor any of this she said for the captain brought it in that he had
five children living by one of the best wives and mothers whose
excellent management made him as happy as if his eight hundred pounds a
year which was all he had to boast of were two thousand 

without economy the oracular lady said no estate was large enough 
with it the least was not too small 

lie still teasing villain lie still i was only speaking to my
conscience jack 

and let me ask you mr lovelace said the captain yet not so much from
doubt as that i may proceed upon sure grounds you are willing to
co-operate with my dear friend in a general reconciliation 

let me tell you mr tomlinson that if it can be distinguished that my
readiness to make up with a family of whose generosity i have not had
reason to think highly is entirely owing to the value i have for this
angel of a woman i will not only co-operate with mr john harlowe as
you ask but i will meet with mr james harlowe senior and his lady all
the way and furthermore to make the son james and his sister arabella
quite easy i will absolutely disclaim any further interest whether
living or dying in any of the three brothers' estates contenting myself
with what my beloved's grandfather had bequeathed to her for i have
reason to be abundantly satisfied with my own circumstances and
prospects enough rewarded were she not to bring a shilling in dowry in
a woman who has a merit superior to all the goods of fortune true as
the gospel belford why had not this scene a real foundation 

the dear creature by her eyes expressed her gratitude before her lips
could utter it o mr lovelace said she you have infinitely and there
she stopt 

the captain run over in my praise he was really affected 

o that i had not such a mixture of revenge and pride in my love thought
i but my old plea cannot i make her amends at any time and is not
her virtue now in the height of its probation would she lay aside like
the friends of my uncontending rosebud all thoughts of defiance would
she throw herself upon my mercy and try me but one fortnight in the life
of honour what then i cannot say what then 

do not despise me jack for my inconsistency in no two letters perhaps
agreeing with myself who expects consistency in men of our
character but i am mad with love fired by revenge puzzled with my own
devices my invention is my curse my pride my punishment drawn five or
six ways at once can she possibly be so unhappy as i o why why was
this woman so divinely excellent yet how know i that she is what have
been her trials have i had the courage to make a single one upon her
person though a thousand upon her temper enow i hope to make her
afraid of ever more disobliging me more 


 


i must banish reflection or i am a lost man for these two hours past
have i hated myself for my own contrivances and this not only from what
i have related to thee but for what i have further to relate but i
have now once more steeled my heart my vengeance is uppermost for i
have been reperusing some of miss howe's virulence the contempt they
have both held me in i cannot bear 

the happiest breakfast-time my beloved owned that she had ever known
since she had left her father's house  she might have let this alone  
the captain renewed all his protestations of service he would write me
word how his dear friend received the account he should give him of the
happy situation of our affairs and what he thought of the settlements 
as soon as i should send him the draughts so kindly promised and we
parted with great professions of mutual esteem my beloved putting up
vows for the success of his generous mediation 

when i returned from attending the captain down stairs which i did to
the outward door my beloved met me as i entered the dining-room 
complacency reigning in every lovely feature 

you see me already  said she another creature you know not mr 
lovelace how near my heart this hoped-for reconciliation is i am now
willing to banish every disagreeable remembrance you know not sir how
much you have obliged me and o mr lovelace how happy i shall be when
my heart is lightened from the all-sinking weight of a father's curse 
when my dear mamma you don't know sir half the excellencies of my dear
mamma and what a kind heart she has when it is left to follow its own
impulses when this blessed mamma shall once more fold me to her
indulgent bosom when i shall again have uncles and aunts and a brother
and sister all striving who shall show most kindness and favour to the
poor outcast then no more an outcast and you mr lovelace to behold
all this with welcome what though a little cold at first when they
come to know you better and to see you oftener no fresh causes of
disgust occurring and you as i hope having entered upon a new course 
all will be warmer and warmer love on both sides till every one will
perhaps wonder how they came to set themselves against you 

then drying her tears with her handkerchief after a few moments pausing 
on a sudden as if recollecting that she had been led by her joy to an
expression of it which she had not intended i should see she retired to
her chamber with precipitation leaving me almost as unable to stand it
as herself 

in short i was i want words to say how i was my nose had been made to
tingle before my eyes have before been made to glisten by this
soul-moving beauty but so very much affected i never was for trying
to check my sensibility it was too strong for me and i even sobbed 
yes by my soul i audibly sobbed and was forced to turn from her before
she had well finished her affecting speech 

i want methinks now i have owned the odd sensation to describe it to
thee the thing was so strange to me something choking as it were in
my throat i know not how yet i must needs say though i am out of
countenance upon the recollection that there was something very pretty
in it and i wish i could know it again that i might have a more perfect
idea of it and be better able to describe it to thee 

but this effect of her joy on such an occasion gives me a high notion of
what that virtue must be  what other name can i call it   which in a mind
so capable of delicate transport should be able to make so charming a
creature in her very bloom all frost and snow to every advance of love
from the man she hates not this must be all from education too must it
not belford can education have stronger force in a woman's heart than
nature sure it cannot but if it can how entirely right are parents
to cultivate their daughters' minds and to inspire them with notions of
reserve and distance to our sex and indeed to make them think highly of
their own for pride is an excellent substitute let me tell thee where
virtue shines not out as the sun in its own unborrowed lustre 



letter viii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


and now it is time to confess and yet i know that thy conjectures are
aforehand with my exposition that this captain tomlinson who is so
great a favourite with my charmer and who takes so much delight in
healing breaches and reconciling differences is neither a greater man
nor a less than honest patrick m'donald attended by a discarded footman
of his own finding out 

thou knowest what a various-lifed rascal he is and to what better hopes
born and educated but that ingenious knack of forgery for which he was
expelled the dublin-university and a detection since in evidenceship 
have been his ruin for these have thrown him from one country to
another and at last into the way of life which would make him a fit
husband for miss howe's townsend with her contrabands he is thou
knowest admirably qualified for any enterprize that requires adroitness
and solemnity and can there after all be a higher piece of justice 
than to keep one smuggler in readiness to play against another 

well but lovelace methinks thou questionest how camest thou to
venture upon such a contrivance as this when as thou hast told me the
lady used to be a month at a time at this uncle's and must therefore in
all probability know that there was not a captain tomlinson in all the
neighbourhood at least no one of the name so intimate with him as this
man pretends to be 

this objection jack is so natural a one that i could not help
observing to my charmer that she must surely have heard her uncle speak
of this gentleman no she said she never had besides she had not
been at her uncle harlowe's for near ten months  this i had heard from
her before  and there were several gentlemen who used the same green 
whom she knew not 

we are all very ready thou knowest to believe what she likes 

and what was the reason thinkest thou that she had not been of so long
a time at this uncle's why this old sinner who imagines himself
entitled to call me to account for my freedoms with the sex has lately
fallen into familiarities as it is suspected with his housekeeper who
assumes airs upon it a cursed deluding sex in youth middle age or
dotage they take us all in 

dost thou not see however that this housekeeper knows nothing nor is
to know any thing of the treaty of reconciliation designed to be set on
foot and therefore the uncle always comes to the captain the captain
goes not to the uncle and this i surmised to the lady and then it was
a natural suggestion that the captain was the rather applied to as he
is a stranger to the rest of the family need i tell thee the meaning of
all this 

but this intrigue of the antient is a piece of private history the truth
of which my beloved cares not to own and indeed affects to disbelieve 
as she does also some puisny gallantries of her foolish brother which 
by way of recrimination i have hinted at without naming my informant in
their family 

well but methinks thou questionest again is it not probable that miss
howe will make inquiry after such a man as tomlinson and when she
cannot 

i know what thou wouldst say but i have no doubt that wilson will be so
good if i desire it as to give into my own hands any letter that may be
brought by collins to his house for a week to come and now i hope thou
art satisfied 

i will conclude with a short story 

two neighbouring sovereigns were at war together about some pitiful
chuck-farthing thing or other no matter what for the least trifles will
set princes and children at loggerheads their armies had been drawn up
in battalia some days and the news of a decisive action was expected
every hour to arrive at each court at last issue was joined a bloody
battle was fought and a fellow who had been a spectator of it arriving 
with the news of a complete victory at the capital of one of the princes
some time before the appointed couriers the bells were set a ringing 
bonfires and illuminations were made and the people went to bed
intoxicated with joy and good liquor but the next day all was reversed 
the victorious enemy pursuing his advantage was expected every hour at
the gates of the almost defenceless capital the first reporter was
hereupon sought for and found and being questioned pleaded a great
deal of merit in that he had in so dismal a situation taken such a
space of time from the distress of his fellow-citizens and given it to
festivity as were the hours between the false good news and the real
bad 

do thou belford make the application this i know that i have given
greater joy to my beloved than she had thought would so soon fall to her
share and as the human life is properly said to be chequerwork no
doubt but a person of her prudence will make the best of it and set off
so much good against so much bad in order to strike as just a balance as
possible 


 the lady in three several letters acquaints her friend with the most
material passages and conversations contained in those of mr lovelace's
preceding these are her words on relating what the commission of the
pretended tomlinson was after the apprehensions that his distant inquiry
had given her  

at last my dear all these doubts and fears were cleared up and
banished and in their place a delightful prospect was opened to me 
for it comes happily out but at present it must be an absolute secret 
for reasons which i shall mention in the sequel that the gentleman was
sent by my uncle harlowe  i thought he could not be angry with me for
ever  all owing to the conversation that passed between your good mr 
hickman and him for although mr hickman's application was too harshly
rejected at the time my uncle could not but think better of it
afterwards and of the arguments that worthy gentleman used in my favour 

who upon a passionate repulse would despair of having a reasonable
request granted who would not by gentleness and condescension 
endeavour to leave favourable impressions upon an angry mind which when
it comes cooly to reflect may induce it to work itself into a
condescending temper to request a favour as i have often said is one
thing to challenge it as our due is another and what right has a
petitioner to be angry at a repulse if he has not a right to demand what
he sues for as a debt 


 she describes captain tomlinson on his breakfast-visit to be a grave 
good sort of man and in another place a genteel man of great gravity 
and a good aspect she believes upwards of fifty years of age i liked
him says she as soon as i saw him 

as her projects are now she says more favourable than heretofore she
wishes that her hopes of mr lovelace's so-often-promised reformation
were better grounded than she is afraid they can be  

we have both been extremely puzzled my dear says she to reconcile some
parts of mr lovelace's character with other parts of it his good with
his bad such of the former in particular as his generosity to his
tenants his bounty to the innkeeper's daughter his readiness to put me
upon doing kind things by my good norton and others 

a strange mixture in his mind as i have told him for he is certainly
 as i have reason to say looking back upon his past behaviour to me in
twenty instances a hard-hearted man indeed my dear i have thought
more than once that he had rather see me in tears than give me reason to
be pleased with him 

my cousin morden says that free livers are remorseless and so they
must be in the very nature of things 


 see vol iv letter xix see also mr lovelace's own confession of the
delight he takes in a woman's tears in different parts of his letters 


mr lovelace is a proud man we have both long ago observed that he is 
and i am truly afraid that his very generosity is more owing to his
pride and his vanity that that philanthropy shall i call it which
distinguishes a beneficent mind 

money he values not but as a mean to support his pride and his
independence and it is easy as i have often thought for a person to
part with a secondary appetite when by so doing he can promote or
gratify a first 

i am afraid my dear that there must have been some fault in his
education his natural bias was not perhaps as his power was likely to
be large to do good and beneficent actions but not i doubt from
proper motives 

if he had his generosity would not have stopt at pride but would have
struck into humanity and then would he not have contented himself with
doing praiseworthy things by fits and starts or as if relying on the
doctrine of merits he hoped by a good action to atone for a bad one 
but he would have been uniformly noble and done the good for its own
sake 


 that the lady judges rightly of him in this place see vol i letter
xxxiv where giving the motive for his generosity to his rosebud he
says as i make it my rule whenever i have committed a very capital
enormity to do some good by way of atonement and as i believe i am a
pretty deal indebted on that score i intend to join an hundred pounds to
johnny's aunt's hundred pounds to make one innocent couple happy  
besides which motive he had a further view in answer in that instance of
his generosity as may be seen in vol ii letters xxvi xxvii xxviii 
see also the note vol ii pp 170 171 

to show the consistence of his actions as they now appear with his
views and principles as he lays them down in his first letters it may
be not amiss to refer the reader to his letters vol i no xxxiv xxxv 

see also vol i letter xxx and letter xl for clarissa's early opinion
of mr lovelace whence the coldness and indifference to him which he
so repeatedly accuses her of will be accounted for more to her glory 
than to his honour 


o my dear what a lot have i drawn pride this poor man's virtue and
revenge his other predominating quality this one consolation however 
remains he is not an infidel and unbeliever had he been an infidel 
there would have been no room at all for hope of him but priding
himself as he does in his fertile invention he would have been utterly
abandoned irreclaimable and a savage 


 when she comes to relate those occasions which mr lovelace in his
narrative acknowledges himself to be affected by she thus expresses
herself  

he endeavoured as once before to conceal his emotion but why my
dear should these men for mr lovelace is not singular in this think
themselves above giving these beautiful proofs of a feeling heart were
it in my power again to choose or to refuse i would reject the man with
contempt who sought to suppress or offered to deny the power of being
visibly affected upon proper occasions as either a savage-hearted
creature or as one who was so ignorant of the principal glory of the
human nature as to place his pride in a barbarous insensibility 

these lines translated from juvenal by mr tate i have been often
pleased with 

 compassion proper to mankind appears 
 which nature witness'd when she lent us tears 
 of tender sentiments we only give
 these proofs to weep is our prerogative 
 to show by pitying looks and melting eyes 
 how with a suff'ring friend we sympathise 
 who can all sense of other ills escape 
 is but a brute at best in human shape 

it cannot but yield me some pleasure hardly as i have sometimes thought
of the people of the house that such a good man as captain tomlinson had
spoken well of them upon inquiry 

and here i stop a minute my dear to receive in fancy your kind
congratulation 

my next i hope will confirm my present and open still more agreeable
prospects mean time be assured that there cannot possibly any good
fortune befal me which i shall look upon with equal delight to that i
have in your friendship 

my thankful compliments to your good mr hickman to whose kind invention
i am so much obliged on this occasion conclude me my dearest miss howe 

your ever affectionate and grateful
cl harlowe 



letter ix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday may 30 


i have a letter from lord m such a one as i would wish for if i
intended matrimony but as matters are circumstanced i cannot think of
showing it to my beloved 

my lord regrets that he is not to be the lady's nuptial father he
seems apprehensive that i have still specious as my reasons are some
mischief in my head 

he graciously consents that i may marry when i please and offers one
or both of my cousins to assist my bride and to support her spirits on
the occasion since as he understands she is so much afraid to venture
with me 

pritchard he tells me has his final orders to draw up deeds for
assigning over to me in perpetuity 1000 per annum which he will
execute the same hour that the lady in person owns her marriage 

he consents that the jointure be made from my own estate 

he wishes that the lady would have accepted of his draught and
commends me for tendering it to her but reproaches me for my pride in
not keeping it myself what the right side gives up the left he says 
may be the better for 

the girls the left-sided girls he means 

with all my heart if i can have my clarissa the devil take every thing
else 

a good deal of other stuff writes the stupid peer scribbling in several
places half a dozen lines apparently for no other reason but to bring in
as many musty words in an old saw 

if thou sawest how i can manage since my beloved will wonder that i
have not an answer from my lord to such a letter as i wrote to him and
if i own i have one will expect that i should shew it to her as i did
my letter this i answer that i can be informed by pritchard that my
lord has the gout in his right-hand and has ordered him to attend me in
form for my particular orders about the transfer  and i can see
pritchard thou knowest at the king's arms or wherever i please at an
hour's warning though he be at m hall i in town and he by word of
mouth can acquaint me with every thing in my lord's letter that is
necessary for my charmer to know 

whenever it suits me i can resolve the old peer to his right hand and
then can make him write a much more sensible letter than this that he has
now sent me 

thou knowest that an adroitness in the art of manual imitation was one
of my earliest attainments it has been said on this occasion that had
i been a bad man in meum and tuum matters i should not have been fit to
live as to the girls we hold it no sin to cheat them and are we not
told that in being well deceived consists the whole of human happiness 


wednesday may 31 

all still happier and happier a very high honour done me a chariot 
instead of a coach permitted purposely to indulge me in the subject of
subjects 

our discourse in this sweet airing turned upon our future manner of life 
the day is bashfully promised me soon was the answer to my repeated
urgency our equipage our servants our liveries were parts of the
delightful subject a desire that the wretch who had given me
intelligence out of the family honest joseph leman might not be one of
our menials and her resolution to have her faithful hannah whether
recovered or not were signified and both as readily assented to 

her wishes from my attentive behaviour when with her at st paul's 
that i would often accompany her to the divine service were greatly
intimated and as readily engaged for i assured her that i ever had
respected the clergy in a body and some individuals of them her dr 
lewen for one highly and that were not going to church an act of
religion i thought it  as i told thee once  a most agreeable sight to
see rich and poor all of a company as i might say assembled once a
week in one place and each in his or her best attire to worship the god
that made them nor could it be a hardship upon a man liberally
educated to make one on so solemn an occasion and to hear the harangue
of a man of letters though far from being the principal part of the
service as it is too generally looked upon to be whose studies having
taken a different turn from his own he must always have something new to
say 


 see vol iv letter v 
 ibid 


she shook her head and repeated the word new but looked as if willing
to be satisfied for the present with this answer to be sure jack she
means to do great despight to his satanic majesty in her hopes of
reforming me no wonder therefore if he exerts himself to prevent her 
and to be revenged but how came this in i am ever of party against
myself one day i fancy i shall hate myself on recollecting what i am
about at this instant but i must stay till then we must all of us do
something to repent of 

the reconciliation-prospect was enlarged upon if her uncle harlowe will
but pave the way to it and if it can be brought about she shall be
happy happy with a sigh as it is now possible she can be 

she won't forbear jack 

i told her that i had heard from pritchard just before we set out on
our airing and expected him in town to-morrow from lord m to take my
directions i spoke with gratitude of my lord's kindness to me and with
pleasure of lady sarah's lady betty's and my two cousins montague's
veneration for her as also of his lordship's concern that his gout
hindered him from writing a reply with his own hand to my last 

she pitied my lord she pitied poor mrs fretchville too for she had
the goodness to inquire after her the dear creature pitied every body
that seemed to want pity happy in her own prospects she had leisure to
look abroad and wishes every body equally happy 

it is likely to go very hard with mrs fretchville her face which she
had valued herself upon will be utterly ruined this good however as
i could not but observe she may reap from so great an evil as the
greater malady generally swallows up the less she may have a grief on
this occasion that may diminish the other grief and make it tolerable 

i had a gentle reprimand for this light turn on so heavy an evil for
what was the loss of beauty to the loss of a good husband  excellent
creature 

her hopes and her pleasure upon those hopes that miss howe's mother
would be reconciled to her were also mentioned good mrs howe was her
word for a woman so covetous and so remorseless in her covetousness 
that no one else will call her good but this dear creature has such an
extension in her love as to be capable of valuing the most insignificant
animal related to those whom she respects love me and love my dog i
have heard lord m say who knows but that i may in time in compliment
to myself bring her to think well of thee jack 

but what am i about am i not all this time arraigning my own heart i
know i am by the remorse i feel in it while my pen bears testimony to
her excellence but yet i must add for no selfish consideration shall
hinder me from doing justice to this admirable creature that in this
conversation she demonstrated so much prudent knowledge in every thing
that relates to that part of the domestic management which falls under
the care of a mistress of a family that i believe she has no equal of
her years in the world 

but indeed i know not the subject on which she does not talk with
admirable distinction insomuch that could i but get over my prejudices
against matrimony and resolve to walk in the dull beaten path of my
ancestors i should be the happiest of men and if i cannot i may be ten
times more to be pitied than she 

my heart my heart belford is not to be trusted i break off to
re-peruse some of miss howe's virulence 


 


cursed letters these of miss howe jack do thou turn back to those of
mine where i take notice of them i proceed 

upon the whole my charmer was all gentleness all ease all serenity 
throughout this sweet excursion nor had she reason to be otherwise for
it being the first time that i had the honour of her company alone i was
resolved to encourage her by my respectfulness to repeat the favour 

on our return i found the counsellor's clerk waiting for me with a
draught of the marriage-settlements 

they are drawn with only the necessary variations from those made for
my mother the original of which now returned by the counsellor as
well as the new draughts i have put into my beloved's hands 

these settlements of my mother made the lawyer's work easy nor can she
have a better precedent the great lord s having settled them at the
request of my mother's relations all the difference my charmer's are
100l per annum more than my mother's 

i offered to read to her the old deed while she looked over the draught 
for she had refused her presence at the examination with the clerk but
this she also declined 

i suppose she did not care to hear of so many children first second 
third fourth fifth sixth and seventh sons and as many daughters to
be begotten upon the body of the said clarissa harlowe 

charming matrimonial recitativoes though it is always said lawfully
begotten too as if a man could beget children unlawfully upon the body
of his own wife but thinkest thou not that these arch rogues the
lawyers hereby intimate that a man may have children by his wife before
marriage this must be what they mean why will these sly fellows put
an honest man in minds of such rogueries but hence as in numberless
other instances we see that law and gospel are two very different
things 

dorcas in our absence tried to get at the wainscot-box in the dark
closet but it cannot be done without violence and to run a risk of
consequence now for mere curiosity-sake would be inexcusable 

mrs sinclair and the nymphs are all of opinion that i am now so much a
favourite and have such a visible share in her confidence and even in
her affections that i may do what i will and plead for excuse violence
of passion which they will have it makes violence of action pardonable
with their sex as well as allowed extenuation with the unconcerned of
both sexes and they all offer their helping hands why not they say 
has she not passed for my wife before them all and is she not in a fine
way of being reconciled to her friends and was not the want of that
reconciliation the pretence for postponing the consummation 

they again urge me since it is so difficult to make night my friend to
an attempt in the day they remind me that the situation of their house
is such that no noises can be heard out of it and ridicule me for
making it necessary for a lady to be undressed it was not always so
with me poor old man sally told me saucily flinging her handkerchief
in my face 



letter x

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday june 2 


notwithstanding my studied-for politeness and complaisance for some days
past and though i have wanted courage to throw the mask quite aside yet
i have made the dear creature more than once look about her by the warm 
though decent expression of my passion i have brought her to own that
i am more than indifferent with her but as to love which i pressed her
to acknowledge what need of acknowledgments of that sort when a woman
consents to marrying and once repulsing me with displeasure the proof
of true love i was vowing for her was respect not freedom and
offering to defend myself she told me that all the conception she had
been able to form of a faulty passion was that it must demonstrate
itself as mine sought to do 

i endeavoured to justify my passion by laying over-delicacy at her door 
over-delicacy she said was not my fault if it were her's she must
plainly tell me that i appeared to her incapable of distinguishing what
were the requisites of a pure mind perhaps had the libertine
presumption to imagine that there was no difference in heart nor any
but what proceeded from difference of education and custom between the
pure and impure and yet custom alone as she observed if i did so
think would make a second nature as well in good as in bad habits 


 


i have just now been called to account for some innocent liberties which
i thought myself entitled to take before the women as they suppose us to
be married and now within view of consummation 

i took the lecture very hardly and with impatience wished for the happy
day and hour when i might call her all my own and meet with no check
from a niceness that had no example 

she looked at me with a bashful kind of contempt i thought it contempt 
and required the reason for it not being conscious of offence as i told
her 

this is not the first time mr lovelace said she that i have had cause
to be displeased with you when you perhaps have not thought yourself
exceptionable but sir let me tell you that the married state in my
eye is a state of purity and  i think she told me  not of
licentiousness so at least i understood her 

marriage-purity jack very comical faith yet sweet dears half the
female world ready to run away with a rake because he is a rake and for
no other reason nay every other reason against their choice of such a
one 

but have not you and i belford seen young wives who would be thought
modest and when maids were fantastically shy permit freedoms in
public from their uxorious husbands which have shown that both of them
have forgotten what belongs either to prudence or decency while every
modest eye has sunk under the shameless effrontery and every modest face
been covered with blushes for those who could not blush 

i once upon such an occasion proposed to a circle of a dozen thus
scandalized to withdraw since they must needs see that as well the
lady as the gentleman wanted to be in private this motion had its
effect upon the amorous pair and i was applauded for the check given to
their licentiousness 

but upon another occasion of this sort i acted a little more in
character for i ventured to make an attempt upon a bride which i
should not have had the courage to make had not the unblushing
passiveness with which she received her fond husband's public toyings
 looking round her with triumph rather than with shame upon every lady
present incited my curiosity to know if the same complacency might not
be shown to a private friend tis true i was in honour obliged to keep
the secret but i never saw the turtles bill afterwards but i thought
of number two to the same female and in my heart thanked the fond
husband for the lesson he had taught his wife 

from what i have said thou wilt see that i approve of my beloved's
exception to public loves that i hope is all the charming icicle
means by marriage-purity but to return 

from the whole of what i have mentioned to have passed between my beloved
and me thou wilt gather that i have not been a mere dangler a hickman 
in the passed days though not absolutely active and a lovelace 

the dear creature now considers herself as my wife-elect the unsaddened
heart no longer prudish will not now i hope give the sable turn to
every address of the man she dislikes not and yet she must keep up so
much reserve as will justify past inflexibilities many and many a
pretty soul would yield were she not afraid that the man she favoured
would think the worse of her for it  that is also a part of the rake's
creed but should she resent ever so strongly she cannot now break with
me since if she does there will be an end of the family
reconciliation and that in a way highly discreditable to herself 


saturday june 3 

just returned from doctors commons i have been endeavouring to get a
license very true jack i have the mortification to find a
difficulty as the lady is of rank and fortune and as there is no
consent of father or next friend in obtaining this all-fettering
instrument 

i made report of this difficulty it is very right  she says that
such difficulties should be made  but not to a man of my known fortune 
surely jack though the woman were the daughter of a duke 

i asked if she approved of the settlements she said she had compared
them with my mother's and had no objection to them she had written to
miss howe upon the subject she owned and to inform her of our present
situation 


 as this letter of the lady to miss howe contains no new matter but
what may be collected from one of those of mr lovelace it is omitted 


 


just now in high good humour my beloved returned me the draughts of the
settlements a copy of which i have sent to captain tomlinson she
complimented me that she never had any doubt of my honour in cases of
this nature 

in matters between man and man nobody ever had thou knowest 

i had need thou wilt say to have some good qualities 

great faults and great virtues are often found in the same person in
nothing very bad but as to women and did not one of them begin with
me 


 see vol i letter xxxi 


we have held that women have no souls i am a very turk in this point 
and willing to believe they have not and if so to whom shall i be
accountable for what i do to them nay if souls they have as there is
no sex in ethereals nor need of any what plea can a lady hold of
injuries done her in her lady-state when there is an end of her
lady-ship 



letter xi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday june 5 


i am now almost in despair of succeeding with this charming frost-piece
by love or gentleness a copy of the draughts as i told thee has been
sent to captain tomlinson and that by a special messenger engrossments
are proceeding with i have been again at the commons should in all
probability have procured a license by mallory's means had not mallory's
friend the proctor been suddenly sent for to chestnut to make an old
lady's will pritchard has told me by word of mouth though my charmer
saw him not all that was necessary for her to know in the letter my lord
wrote which i could not show her and taken my directions about the
estates to be made over to me on my nuptials yet with all these
favourable appearances no conceding moment to be found no improvable
tenderness to be raised 

but never i believe was there so true so delicate a modesty in the
human mind as in that of this lady and this has been my security all
along and in spite of miss howe's advice to her will be so still 
since if her delicacy be a fault she can no more overcome it than i can
my aversion to matrimony habit habit jack seest thou not may
subject us both to weaknesses and should she not have charity for me 
as i have for her 

twice indeed with rapture which once she called rude did i salute her 
and each time resenting the freedom did she retire though to do her
justice she favoured me again with her presence at my first entreaty 
and took no notice of the cause of her withdrawing 

is it policy to show so open a resentment for innocent liberties which 
in her situation she must so soon forgive 

yet the woman who resents not initiatory freedoms must be lost for love
is an encroacher love never goes backward love is always aspiring 
always must aspire nothing but the highest act of love can satisfy an
indulged love and what advantages has a lover who values not breaking
the peace over his mistress who is solicitous to keep it 

i have now at this instant wrought myself up for the dozenth time to a
half-resolution a thousand agreeable things i have to say to her she
is in the dining-room just gone up she always expects me when there 


 


high displeasure followed by an abrupt departure 

i sat down by her i took both her hands in mine i would have it so 
all gentle my voice her father mentioned with respect her mother with
reverence even her brother amicably spoken of i never thought i could
have wished so ardently as i told her i did wish for a reconciliation
with her family 

a sweet and grateful flush then overspread her fair face a gentle sigh
now-and-then heaved her handkerchief 

i perfectly longed to hear from captain tomlinson it was impossible for
the uncle to find fault with the draught of the settlements i would
not however be understood by sending them down that i intended to put
it in her uncle's power to delay my happy day when when was it to be 

i would hasten again to the commons and would not return without the
license 

the lawn i proposed to retire to as soon as the happy ceremony was over 
this day and that day i proposed 

it was time enough to name the day when the settlements were completed 
and the license obtained happy should she be could the kind captain
tomlinson obtain her uncle's presence privately 

a good hint it may perhaps be improved upon either for a delay or a
pacifier 

no new delays for heaven's sake i besought her and reproached her
gently for the past name but the day an early day i hoped it would
be in the following week that i might hail its approach and number
the tardy hours 

my cheek reclined on her shoulder kissing her hands by turns rather
bashfully than angrily reluctant her hands sought to be withdrawn her
shoulder avoiding my reclined cheek apparently loth and more loth to
quarrel with me her downcast eye confessing more than her lips can
utter now surely thought i is my time to try if she can forgive a
still bolder freedom than i had ever yet taken 

i then gave her struggling hands liberty i put one arm round her waist 
i imprinted a kiss on her sweet lip with a be quiet only and an averted
face as if she feared another 

encouraged by so gentle a repulse the tenderest things i said and then 
with my other hand drew aside the handkerchief that concealed the beauty
of beauties and pressed with my burning lips the most charming breast
that ever my ravished eyes beheld 

a very contrary passion to that which gave her bosom so delightful a
swell immediately took place she struggled out of my encircling arms
with indignation i detained her reluctant hand let me go said she 
i see there is no keeping terms with you base encroacher is this the
design of your flattering speeches far as matters have gone i will for
ever renounce you you have an odious heart let me go i tell you 

i was forced to obey and she flung from me repeating base and adding
flattering encroacher 


 


in vain have i urged by dorcas for the promised favour of dining with her 
she would not dine at all she could not 

but why makes she every inch of her person thus sacred so near the time
too that she must suppose that all will be my own by deed of purchase
and settlement 

she has read no doubt of the art of the eastern monarchs who sequester
themselves from the eyes of their subjects in order to excite their
adoration when upon some solemn occasions they think fit to appear in
public 

but let me ask thee belford whether on these solemn occasions the
preceding cavalcade here a greater officer and there a great minister 
with their satellites and glaring equipages do not prepare the eyes of
the wondering beholders by degrees to bear the blaze of canopy'd
majesty what though but an ugly old man perhaps himself yet glittering
in the collected riches of his vast empire 

and should not my beloved for her own sake descend by degrees from
goddess-hood into humanity if it be pride that restrains her ought not
that pride to be punished if as in the eastern emperors it be art as
well as pride art is what she of all women need not use if shame what
a shame to be ashamed to communicate to her adorer's sight the most
admirable of her personal graces 

let me perish belford if i would not forego the brightest diadem in the
world for the pleasure of seeing a twin lovelace at each charming
breast drawing from it his first sustenance the pious task for
physical reasons continued for one month and no more 


 in pamela vol iii letter xxxii these reasons are given and are
worthy of every parent's consideration as is the whole letter which
contains the debate between mr b and his pamela on the important
subject of mothers being nurses to their own children 


i now methinks behold this most charming of women in this sweet office 
her conscious eye now dropt on one now on the other with a sigh of
maternal tenderness and then raised up to my delighted eye full of
wishes for the sake of the pretty varlets and for her own sake that i
would deign to legitimate that i would condescend to put on the nuptial
fetters 



letter xii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday afternoon 


a letter received from the worthy captain tomlinson has introduced me
into the presence of my charmer sooner than perhaps i should otherwise
have been admitted 

sullen her brow at her first entrance into the dining-room but i took
no notice of what had passed and her anger of itself subsided 

the captain after letting me know that he chose not to write till he
had promised the draught of the settlements acquaint me that his friend
mr john harlowe in their first conference which was held as soon as he
got down was extremely surprised and even grieved as he feared he
would be to hear that we were not married the world he said who knew
my character would be very censorious were it owned that we had lived
so long together unmarried in the same lodgings although our marriage
were now to be ever so publicly celebrated 

his nephew james he was sure would make a great handle of it against
any motion that might be made towards a reconciliation and with the
greater success as there was not a family in the kingdom more jealous of
their honour than theirs 

this is true of the harlowes jack they have been called the proud
harlowes and i have ever found that all young honour is supercilious
and touchy 

but seest thou not how right i was in my endeavour to persuade my fair-
one to allow her uncle's friend to think us married especially as he
came prepared to believe it and as her uncle hoped it was so but
nothing on earth is so perverse as a woman when she is set upon carrying
a point and has a meek man or one who loves his peace to deal with 

my beloved was vexed she pulled out her handkerchief but was more
inclined to blame me than herself 

had you kept your word mr lovelace and left me when we came to
town and there she stopt for she knew that it was her own fault that
we were not married before we left the country and how could i leave her
afterwards while her brother was plotting to carry her off by violence 

nor has this brother yet given over his machinations 

for as the captain proceeds mr john harlowe owned to him but in
confidence that his nephew is at this time busied in endeavouring to
find out where we are being assured as i am not to be heard of at any
of my relations or at my usual lodgings that we are together and that
we are not married is plain as he will have it from mr hickman's
application so lately made to her uncle and which was seconded by mrs 
norton to her mother and her brother cannot bear that i should enjoy
such a triumph unmolested 

a profound sigh and the handkerchief again lifted to the eye but did
not the sweet soul deserve this turn upon her for feloniously resolving
to rob me of herself had the application made by hickman succeeded 

i read on to the following effect 

why asked mr harlowe was it said to his other inquiring friend that
we were married and that by his niece's woman who ought to know who
could give convincing reasons no doubt' 

here again she wept took a turn across the room then returned read on 
says she 

will you my dearest life read it yourself 

i will take the letter with me by-and-by i cannot see to read it just
now wiping her eyes read on let me hear it all that i may know your
sentiments upon this letter as well as give my own 

the captain then told uncle john the reasons that induced me to give out
that we were married and the conditions on which my beloved was brought
to countenance it which had kept us at the most punctilious distance 

but still mr harlowe objected my character and went away
dissatisfied and the captain was also so much concerned that he cared
not to write what the result of his first conference was 

but in the next which was held on receipt of the draughts at the
captain's house as the former was for the greater secrecy when the
old gentleman had read them and had the captain's opinion he was much
better pleased and yet he declared that it would not be easy to
persuade any other person of his family to believe so favourably of the
matter as he was now willing to believe were they to know that we had
lived so long together unmarried 

and then the captain says his dear friend made a proposal it was
this that we should marry out of hand but as privately as possible as
indeed he found we intended for he could have no objection to the
draughts but yet he expected to have present one trusty friend of his
own for his better satisfaction' 

here i stopt with a design to be angry but she desiring me to read on 
i obeyed 

 but that it should pass to every one living except to that trusty
person to himself and to the captain that we were married from the
time that we had lived together in one house and that this time should
be made to agree with that of mr hickman's application to him from miss
howe 

this my dearest life said i is a very considerate proposal we have
nothing to do but to caution the people below properly on this head i
did not think your uncle harlowe capable of hitting upon such a charming
expedient as this but you see how much his heart is in the
reconciliation 

this was the return i met with you have always as a mark of your
politeness let me know how meanly you think of every one in my family 

yet thou wilt think belford that i could forgive her for the reproach 

the captain does not know says he how this proposal will be relished
by us but for his part he thinks it an expedient that will obviate
many difficulties and may possibly put an end to mr james harlowe's
further designs and on this account he has by the uncle's advice 
already declared to two several persons by whose means it may come to
that young gentleman's that he  captain tomlinson  has very great reason
to believe that we were married soon after mr hickman's application was
rejected 

and this mr lovelace says the captain will enable you to pay a
compliment to the family that will not be unsuitable to the generosity
of some of the declarations you were pleased to make to the lady before
me and which mr john harlowe may make some advantage of in favour of a
reconciliation in that you were entitled to make the demand  an
excellent contriver surely she must think this worthy mr tomlinson to
be 

but the captain adds that if either the lady or i disapprove of his
report of our marriage he will retract it nevertheless he must tell
me that mr john harlowe is very much set upon this way of proceeding 
as the only one in his opinion capable of being improved into a general
reconciliation but if we do acquiesce in it he beseeches my fair-one
not to suspend my day that he may be authorized in what he says as to
the truth of the main fact  how conscientious this good man   nor must
it be expected he says that her uncle will take one step towards the
wished-for reconciliation till the solemnity is actually over 

he adds that he shall be very soon in town on other affairs and then
proposes to attend us and give us a more particular account of all that
has passed or shall further pass between mr harlowe and him 

well my dearest life what say you to your uncle's expedient shall i
write to the captain and acquaint him that we have no objection to it 

she was silent for a few minutes at last with a sigh see mr 
lovelace said she what you have brought me to by treading after you in
such crooked paths see what disgrace i have incurred indeed you have
not acted like a wise man 

my beloved creature do you not remember how earnestly i besought the
honour of your hand before we came to town had i been then favoured 

well well sir there has been much amiss somewhere that's all i will
say at present and since what's past cannot be recalled my uncle must
be obeyed i think 

charmingly dutiful i had nothing then to do that i might not be
behind-hand with the worthy captain and her uncle but to press for the
day this i fervently did but as i might have expected she repeated
her former answer to wit that when the settlements were completed when
the license was actually obtained it would be time enough to name the
day and o mr lovelace said she turning from me with a grace
inimitably tender her handkerchief at her eyes what a happiness if my
dear uncle could be prevailed upon to be personally a father on this
occasion to the poor fatherless girl 

what's the matter with me whence this dew-drop a tear as i hope to
be saved it is a tear jack very ready methinks only on
reciting but her lovely image was before me in the very attitude she
spoke the words and indeed at the time she spoke them these lines of
shakespeare came into my head 

 thy heart is big get thee apart and weep 
 passion i see is catching for my eye 
 seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine 
 begin to water 

i withdrew and wrote to the captain to the following effect i desired
that he would be so good as to acquaint his dear friend that we entirely
acquiesced with what he had proposed and had already properly cautioned
the gentlewomen of the house and their servants as well as our own and
to tell him that if he would in person give me the blessing of his dear
niece's hand it would crown the wishes of both in this case i
consented that his own day as i presumed it would be a short one 
should be ours that by this means the secret would be with fewer
persons that i myself as well as he thought the ceremony could not be
too privately performed and this not only for the sake of the wise end
he had proposed to answer by it but because i would not have lord m 
think himself slighted since that nobleman as i had told him  the
captain  had once intended to be our nuptial-father and actually made
the offer but that we had declined to accept of it and that for no
other reason than to avoid a public wedding which his beloved niece
would not come into while she was in disgrace with her friends but
that if he chose not to do us this honour i wished that captain
tomlinson might be the trusty person whom he would have be present on the
happy occasion 

i showed this letter to my fair-one she was not displeased with it 
so jack we cannot now move too fast as to settlements and license the
day is her uncle's day or captain tomlinson's perhaps as shall best
suit the occasion miss howe's smuggling scheme is now surely provided
against in all events 

but i will not by anticipation make thee a judge of all the benefits that
may flow from this my elaborate contrivance why will these girls put me
upon my master-strokes 

and now for a little mine which i am getting ready to spring the first
that i have sprung and at the rate i go on now a resolution and now a
remorse perhaps the last that i shall attempt to spring 

a little mine i call it but it may be attended with great effects i
shall not however absolutely depend upon the success of it having much
more effectual ones in reserve and yet great engines are often moved by
small springs a little spark falling by accident into a powder-magazine 
hath done more execution in a siege than an hundred cannon 

come the worst the hymeneal torch and a white sheet must be my amende
honorable as the french have it 



letter xiii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday june 6 

unsuccessful as hitherto my application to you has been i cannot for the
heart of me forbear writing once more in behalf of this admirable woman 
and yet am unable to account for the zeal which impels me to take her
part with an earnestness so sincere 

but all her merit thou acknowledgest all thy own vileness thou
confessest and even gloriest in it what hope then of moving so hardened
a man yet as it is not too late and thou art nevertheless upon the
crisis i am resolved to try what another letter will do it is but my
writing in vain if it do no good and if thou wilt let me prevail i
knowthou wilt hereafter think me richly entitled to thy thanks 

to argue with thee would be folly the case cannot require it i will
only entreat thee therefore that thou wilt not let such an excellence
lose the reward of her vigilant virtue 

i believe there never were libertines so vile but purposed at some
future period of their lives to set about reforming and let me beg of
thee that thou wilt in this great article make thy future repentance
as easy as some time hence thou wilt wish thou hadst made it 

if thou proceedest i have no doubt that this affair will end tragically 
one way or another it must such a woman must interest both gods and
men in her cause but what i most apprehend is that with her own hand 
in resentment of the perpetrated outrage she like another lucretia 
will assert the purity of her heart or if her piety preserve her from
this violence that wasting grief will soon put a period to her days 
and in either case will not the remembrance of thy ever-during guilt 
and transitory triumph be a torment of torments to thee 

tis a seriously sad thing after all that so fine a creature should
have fallen into such vile and remorseless hands for from thy cradle 
as i have heard thee own thou ever delightedst to sport with and torment
the animal whether bird or beast that thou lovedst and hadst a power
over 

how different is the case of this fine woman from that of any other whom
thou hast seduced i need not mention to thee nor insist upon the
striking difference justice gratitude thy interest thy vows all
engaging thee and thou certainly loving her as far as thou art capable
of love above all her sex she not to be drawn aside by art or to be
made to suffer from credulity nor for want of wit and discernment that
will be another cutting reflection to so fine a mind as her's the
contention between you only unequal as it is between naked innocence and
armed guilt in every thing else as thou ownest her talents greatly
superior to thine what a fate will her's be if thou art not at last
overcome by thy reiterated remorses 

at first indeed when i was admitted into her presence and till i
observed her meaning air and heard her speak i supposed that she had
no very uncommon judgment to boast of for i made as i thought but just
allowances for her blossoming youth and for that loveliness of person 
and for that ease and elegance in her dress which i imagined must have
taken up half her time and study to cultivate and yet i had been
prepared by thee to entertain a very high opinion of her sense and her
reading her choice of this gay fellow upon such hazardous terms 
 thought i is a confirmation that her wit wants that maturity which
only years and experience can give it her knowledge argued i to
myself must be all theory and the complaisance ever consorting with an
age so green and so gay will make so inexperienced a lady at least
forbear to show herself disgusted at freedoms of discourse in which those
present of her own sex and some of ours so learned so well read and
so travelled allow themselves 


 see vol iv letter vii 


in this presumption i ran on and having the advantage as i conceited 
of all the company but you and being desirous to appear in her eyes a
mighty clever fellow i thought i showed away when i said any foolish
things that had more sound than sense in them and when i made silly
jests which attracted the smiles of thy sinclair and the specious
partington and that miss harlowe did not smile too i thought was owing
to her youth or affectation or to a mixture of both perhaps to a
greater command of her features little dreamt i that i was incurring
her contempt all the time 

but when as i said i heard her speak which she did not till she had
fathomed us all when i heard her sentiments on two or three subjects 
and took notice of the searching eye darting into the very inmost cells
of our frothy brains by my faith it made me look about me and i began
to recollect and be ashamed of all i had said before in short was
resolved to sit silent till every one had talked round to keep my folly
in countenance and then i raised the subjects that she could join in 
and which she did join in so much to the confusion and surprise of every
one of us for even thou lovelace so noted for smart wit repartee 
and a vein of raillery that delighteth all who come near thee sattest
in palpable darkness and lookedst about thee as well as we 

one instance only of this shall i remind thee of 

we talked of wit and of it and aimed at it bandying it like a ball
from one to another and resting it chiefly with thee who wert always
proud enough and vain enough of the attribute and then more especially
as thou hadst assembled us as far as i know principally to show the
lady thy superiority over us and us thy triumph over her and then
tourville who is always satisfied with wit at second-hand wit upon
memory other men's wit repeated some verses as applicable to the
subject which two of us applauded though full of double entendre 
thou seeing the lady's serious air on one of those repetitions 
appliedst thyself to her desiring her notions of wit a quality thou
saidst which every one prized whether flowing from himself or found in
another 

then it was that she took all our attention it was a quality much
talked of she said but she believed very little understood at
least if she might be so free as to give her judgment of it from what
had passed in the present conversation she must say that wit with men
was one thing with women another 

this startled us all how the women looked how they pursed their
mouths a broad smile the moment before upon each from the verses they
had heard repeated so well understood as we saw by their looks while
i besought her to let us know for our instruction what wit with women 
for such i was sure it ought to be with men 

cowley she said had defined it prettily by negatives thou desiredst
her to repeat his definition 

she did and with so much graceful ease and beauty and propriety of
accent as would have made bad poetry delightful 

 a thousand diff'rent shapes it bears 
 comely in thousand shapes appears 
 tis not a tale tis not a jest 
 admir'd with laughter at a feast 
 nor florid talk which must this title gain 
 the proofs of wit for ever must remain 
 much less can that have any place
 at which a virgin hides her face 
 such dross the fire must purge away tis just
 the author blush there where the reader must 

here she stopt looking round upon her upon us all with conscious
superiority as i thought lord how we stared thou attemptedst to
give us thy definition of wit that thou mightest have something to say 
and not seem to be surprised into silent modesty 

but as if she cared not to trust thee with the subject referring to the
same author as for his more positive decision she thus with the same
harmony of voice and accent emphatically decided upon it 

 wit like a luxurious vine 
 unless to virtue's prop it join 
 firm and erect tow'rd heaven bound 
tho' it with beauteous leaves and pleasant fruit be crown'd 
it lies deform'd and rotting on the ground 

if thou recollectest this part of the conversation and how like fools we
looked at one another how much it put us out of conceit with ourselves 
and made us fear her when we found our conversation thus excluded from
the very character which our vanity had made us think unquestionably
ours and if thou profitest properly by the recollection thou wilt be of
my mind that there is not so much wit in wickedness as we had flattered
ourselves there was 

and after all i have been of opinion ever since that conversation that
the wit of all the rakes and libertines down to little johnny hartop the
punster consists mostly in saying bold and shocking things with such
courage as shall make the modest blush the impudent laugh and the
ignorant stare 

and why dost thou think i mention these things so mal-a-propos as it
may seem only let me tell thee as an instance among many that might
be given from the same evening's conversation of this fine woman's
superiority in those talents which ennoble nature and dignify her
sex evidenced not only to each of us as we offended but to the
flippant partington and the grosser but egregiously hypocritical
sinclair in the correcting eye the discouraging blush in which was
mixed as much displeasure as modesty and sometimes as the occasion
called for it for we were some of us hardened above the sense of
feeling delicate reproof by the sovereign contempt mingled with a
disdainful kind of pity that showed at once her own conscious worth and
our despicable worthlessness 

o lovelace what then was the triumph even in my eye and what is it
still upon reflection of true jest laughing impertinence and an
obscenity so shameful even to the guilty that they cannot hint at it
but under a double meaning 

then as thou hast somewhere observed all her correctives avowed by her
eye not poorly like the generality of her sex affecting ignorance of
meanings too obvious to be concealed but so resenting as to show each
impudent laugher the offence given to and taken by a purity that had
mistaken its way when it fell into such company 


 see vol iv letter xlviii 


such is the woman such is the angel whom thou hast betrayed into thy
power and wouldst deceive and ruin sweet creature did she but know
how she is surrounded as i then thought as well as now think and
what is intended how much sooner would death be her choice than so
dreadful a situation and how effectually would her story were it
generally known warn all the sex against throwing themselves into the
power of ours let our vows oaths and protestations be what they
will 

but let me beg of thee once more my dear lovelace if thou hast any
regard for thine own honour for the honour of thy family for thy future
peace or for my opinion of thee who yet pretend not to be so much
moved by principle as by that dazzling merit which ought still more to
attract thee to be prevailed upon to be to be humane that's all 
only that thou wouldst not disgrace our common humanity 

hardened as thou art i know that they are the abandoned people in the
house who keep thee up to a resolution against her o that the sagacious
fair-one with so much innocent charity in her own heart had not so
resolutely held those women at distance that as she boarded there she
had oftener tabled with them specious as they are in a week's time 
she would have seen through them they could not have been always so
guarded as they were when they saw her but seldom and when they
prepared themselves to see her and she would have fled their house as a
place infected and yet perhaps with so determined an enterprizer 
this discovery might have accelerated her ruin 

i know that thou art nice in thy loves but are there not hundreds of
women who though not utterly abandoned would be taken with thee for
mere personal regards make a toy if thou wilt of principle with
respect to such of the sex as regard it as a toy but rob not an angel of
those purities which in her own opinion constitute the difference
between angelic and brutal qualities 

with regard to the passion itself the less of soul in either man or
woman the more sensual are they thou lovelace hast a soul though a
corrupted one and art more intent as thou even gloriest upon the
preparative stratagem that upon the end of conquering 

see we not the natural bent of idiots and the crazed the very appetite
is body and when we ourselves are most fools and crazed then are we
most eager in these pursuits see what fools this passion makes the
wisest men what snivellers what dotards when they suffer themselves
to be run away with by it an unpermanent passion since if ashamed
of its more proper name we must call it love love gratified is love
satisfied and where consent on one side adds to the obligation on the
other what then but remorse can follow a forcible attempt 

do not even chaste lovers choose to be alone in their courtship
preparations ashamed to have even a child to witness to their foolish
actions and more foolish expressions is this deified passion in its
greatest altitudes fitted to stand the day do not the lovers when
mutual consent awaits their wills retire to coverts and to darkness to
complete their wishes and shall such a sneaking passion as this which
can be so easily gratified by viler objects be permitted to debase the
noblest 

were not the delays of thy vile purposes owing more to the awe which her
majestic virtue has inspired thee with than to thy want of adroitness in
villany  i must write my free sentiments in this case for have i not
seen the angel   i should be ready to censure some of thy contrivances
and pretences to suspend the expected day as trite stale and to me 
who know thy intention poor and too often resorted to as nothing comes
of them to be gloried in particularly that of mennell the vapourish
lady and the ready-furnished house 

she must have thought so too at times and in her heart despised thee
for them or love thee ungrateful as thou art to her misfortune as
well as entertain hope against probability but this would afford
another warning to the sex were they to know her story as it would
show them what poor pretences they must seem to be satisfied with if
once they put themselves into the power of a designing man 

if trial only was thy end as once was thy pretence enough surely hast
thou tried this paragon of virtue and vigilance but i knew thee too
well to expect at the time that thou wouldest stop there men of our
cast put no other bound to their views upon any of the sex than what want
of power compels them to put  i knew that from one advantage gained 
thou wouldest proceed to attempt another thy habitual aversion to
wedlock too well i knew and indeed thou avowest thy hope to bring her to
cohabitation in that very letter in which thou pretendest trial to be
thy principal view 


 see vol iii letter xviii 
 ibid see also letters xvi and xvii of that volume 


but do not even thy own frequent and involuntary remorses when thou hast
time place company and every other circumstance to favour thee in thy
wicked design convince thee that there can be no room for a hope so
presumptuous why then since thou wouldest choose to marry her rather
than lose her wilt thou make her hate thee for ever 

but if thou darest to meditate personal trial and art sincere in thy
resolution to reward her as she behaves in it let me beseech thee to
remove her from this vile house that will be to give her and thy
conscience fair play so entirely now does the sweet deluded excellence
depend upon her supposed happier prospects that thou needest not to fear
that she will fly from thee or that she will wish to have recourse to
that scheme of miss howe which has put thee upon what thou callest thy
master-strokes 

but whatever be thy determination on this head and if i write not in
time but that thou hast actually pulled off the mask let it not be one
of the devices if thou wouldest avoid the curses of every heart and
hereafter of thy own to give her no not for one hour be her
resentment ever so great into the power of that villanous woman who
has if possible less remorse than thyself and whose trade it is to
break the resisting spirit and utterly to ruin the heart unpractised in
evil o lovelace lovelace how many dreadful stories could this horrid
woman tell the sex and shall that of a clarissa swell the guilty list 

but this i might have spared of this devil as thou art thou canst not
be capable thou couldst not enjoy a triumph so disgraceful to thy
wicked pride as well as to humanity 

shouldest thou think that the melancholy spectacle hourly before me has
made me more serious than usual perhaps thou wilt not be mistaken but
nothing more is to be inferred from hence were i even to return to my
former courses but that whenever the time of cool reflection comes 
whether brought on by our own disasters or by those of others we shall
undoubtedly if capable of thought and if we have time for it think in
the same manner 

we neither of us are such fools as to disbelieve a futurity or to think 
whatever be our practice that we came hither by chance and for no end
but to do all the mischief we have it in our power to do nor am i
ashamed to own that in the prayers which my poor uncle makes me read to
him in the absence of a very good clergyman who regularly attends him i
do not forget to put in a word or two for myself 

if lovelace thou laughest at me thy ridicule will be more conformable
to thy actions than to thy belief devils believe and tremble canst
thou be more abandoned than they 

and here let me add with regard to my poor old man that i often wish
thee present but for one half hour in a day to see the dregs of a gay
life running off in the most excruciating tortures that the cholic the
stone and the surgeon's knife can unitedly inflict and to hear him
bewail the dissoluteness of his past life in the bitterest anguish of a
spirit every hour expecting to be called to its last account yet by
all his confessions he has not to accuse himself in sixty-seven years
of life of half the very vile enormities which you and i have committed
in the last seven only 

i conclude with recommending to your serious consideration all i have
written as proceeding from the heart and soul of

your assured friend 
john belford



letter xiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday afternoon june 6 


difficulties still to be got over in procuring this plaguy license i
ever hated and ever shall hate these spiritual lawyers and their
court 

and now jack if i have not secured victory i have a retreat 

but hold thy servant with a letter 


 


a confounded long one though not a narrative one once more in behalf of
this lady lie thee down oddity what canst thou write that can have
force upon me at this crisis and have i not as i went along made thee
to say all that was necessary for thee to say 


 


yet once more i will take thee up 

trite stale poor sayest thou are some of my contrivances that of
the widow particularly i have no patience with thee had not that
contrivance its effect at that time for a procrastination and had i not
then reason to fear that the lady would find enough to make her dislike
this house and was it not right intending what i intended to lead her
on from time to time with a notion that a house of her own would be ready
for her soon in order to induce her to continue here till it was 

trite stale and poor thou art a silly fellow and no judge when thou
sayest this had i not like a blockhead revealed to thee as i went
along the secret purposes of my heart but had kept all in till the event
had explained my mysteries i would have defied thee to have been able 
any more than the lady to have guessed at what was to befall her till
it had actually come to pass nor doubt i in this case that instead
of presuming to reflect upon her for credulity as loving me to her
misfortune and for hoping against probability thou wouldest have been
readier by far to censure her for nicety and over-scrupulousness and 
let me tell thee that had she loved me as i wished her to love me she
could not possibly have been so very apprehensive of my designs nor so
ready to be influenced by miss howe's precautions as she has always
been although my general character made not for me with her 

but in thy opinion i suffer for that simplicity in my contrivances 
which is their principal excellence no machinery make i necessary no
unnatural flights aim i at all pure nature taking advantage of nature 
as nature tends and so simple my devices that when they are known 
thou even thou imaginest thou couldest have thought of the same and
indeed thou seemest to own that the slight thou puttest upon them is
owing to my letting thee into them before-hand undistingushing as well
as ungrateful as thou art 

yet after all i would not have thee think that i do not know my weak
places i have formerly told thee that it is difficult for the ablest
general to say what he will do or what he can do when he is obliged to
regulate his motions by those of a watchful enemy if thou givest due
weight to this consideration thou wilt not wonder that i should make
many marches and countermarches some of which may appear to a slight
observer unnecessary 


 see vol iii letter xxxix 


but let me cursorily enter into debate with thee on this subject now i
am within sight of my journey's end 

abundance of impertinent things thou tellest me in this letter some of
which thou hadst from myself others that i knew before 

all that thou sayest in this charming creature's praise is short of what
i have said and written on the inexhaustible subject 

her virtue her resistance which are her merits are my stimulatives 
have i not told thee so twenty times over 

devil as these girls between them call me what of devil am i but in my
contrivances i am not more a devil than others in the end i aim at for
when i have carried my point it is still but one seduction and i have
perhaps been spared the guilt of many seductions in the time 

what of uncommon would there be in this case but for her
watchfulness as well as i love intrigue and stratagem dost think that
i had not rather have gained my end with less trouble and less guilt 

the man let me tell thee who is as wicked as he can be is a worse man
than i am let me ask any rake in england if resolving to carry his
point he would have been so long about it or have had so much
compunction as i have had 

were every rake nay were every man to sit down as i do and write all
that enters into his head or into his heart and to accuse himself with
equal freedom and truth what an army of miscreants should i have to keep
me in countenance 

it is a maxim with some that if they are left alone with a woman and
make not an attempt upon her she will think herself affronted are not
such men as these worse than i am what an opinion must they have of the
whole sex 

let me defend the sex i so dearly love if these elder brethren of ours
think they have general reason for their assertion they must have kept
very bad company or must judge of women's hearts by their own she must
be an abandoned woman who will not shrink as a snail into its shell at a
gross and sudden attempt a modest woman must be naturally cold 
reserved and shy she cannot be so much and so soon affected as
libertines are apt to imagine she must at least have some confidence
in the honour and silence of a man before desire can possibly put forth
in her to encourage and meet his flame for my own part i have been
always decent in the company of women till i was sure of them nor have
i ever offered a great offence till i have found little ones passed
over and that they shunned me not when they knew my character 

my divine clarissa has puzzled me and beat me out of my play at one
time i hope to overcome by intimidating her at another by love by the
amorous see-saw as i have called it and i have only now to join
surprise to the other two and see what can be done by all three 


 see vol iii letter xvi 


and whose property i pray thee shall i invade if i pursue my schemes
of love and vengeance have not those who have a right to her renounced
that right have they not wilfully exposed her to dangers yet must
know that such a woman would be considered as lawful prize by as many as
could have the opportunity to attempt her and had they not thus cruelly
exposed her is she not a single woman and need i tell thee jack that
men of our cast the best of them  the worst stick at nothing  think it a
great grace and favour done to the married men if they leave them their
wives to themselves and compound for their sisters daughters wards
and nieces shocking as these principles must be to a reflecting mind 
yet such thou knowest are the principles of thousands who would not act
so generously as i have acted by almost all of the sex over whom i have
obtained a power and as often carried into practice as their
opportunities or courage will permit such therefore have no right to
blame me 

thou repeatedly pleadest her sufferings from her family but i have too
often answered this plea to need to say any more now than that she has
not suffered for my sake for has she not been made the victim of the
malice of her rapacious brother and envious sister who only waited for
an occasion to ruin her with her other relations and took this as the
first to drive her out of the house and as it happened into my arms 
thou knowest how much against her inclination 

as for her own sins how many has the dear creature to answer for to love
and to me twenty times and twenty times twenty has she not told me 
that she refused not the odious solmes in favour to me and as often has
she not offered to renounce me for the single life if the implacables
would have received her on that condition of what repetitions does thy
weak pity make me guilty 

to look a litter farther back canst thou forget what my sufferings were
from this haughty beauty in the whole time of my attendance upon her
proud motions in the purlieus of harlowe-place and at the little white
hart at neale as we called it did i not threaten vengeance upon her
then and had i not reason for disappointing me of a promised
interview 

o jack what a night had i in the bleak coppice adjoining to her father's
paddock my linen and wig frozen my limbs absolutely numbed my fingers
only sensible of so much warmth as enabled me to hold a pen and that
obtained by rubbing the skin off and by beating with my hands my
shivering sides kneeling on the hoar moss on one knee writing on the
other if the stiff scrawl could be called writing my feet by the time
i had done seeming to have taken root and actually unable to support me
for some minutes love and rage then kept my heart in motion  and only
love and rage could do it   or how much more than i did suffer must i
have suffered 

i told thee at my melancholy return what were the contents of the
letter i wrote and i showed thee afterwards her tyrannical answer to
it thou then jack lovedst thy friend and pitiedst thy poor
suffering lovelace even the affronted god of love approved then of my
threatened vengeance against the fair promiser though of the night of my
sufferings he is become an advocate for her 


 see vol ii letter xx 
 ibid 


nay was it not he himself that brought to me my adorable nemesis and
both together put me upon this very vow that i would never rest till i
had drawn in this goddess-daughter of the harlowes to cohabit with me 
and that in the face of all their proud family 

nor canst thou forget this vow at this instant i have thee before me 
as then thou sorrowfully lookedst thy strong features glowing with
compassion for me thy lips twisted thy forehead furrowed thy whole
face drawn out from the stupid round into the ghastly oval every muscle
contributing its power to complete the aspect grievous and not one word
couldst thou utter but amen to my vow 

and what of distinguishing love or favour or confidence have i had
from her since to make me forego this vow 

i renewed it not indeed afterwards and actually for a long season 
was willing to forget it till repetitions of the same faults revived the
remembrance of the former and now adding to those the contents of some
of miss howe's virulent letters so lately come at what canst thou say
for the rebel consistent with thy loyalty to thy friend 

every man to his genius and constitution hannibal was called the father
of warlike stratagems had hannibal been a private man and turned his
plotting head against the other sex or had i been a general and turned
mine against such of my fellow-creatures of my own as i thought myself
entitled to consider as my enemies because they were born and lived in a
different climate hannibal would have done less mischief lovelace
more that would have been the difference 

not a sovereign on earth if he be not a good man and if he be of a
warlike temper but must do a thousand times more mischief than i and
why because he has it in his power to do more 

an honest man perhaps thou'lt say will not wish to have it in his power
to do hurt he ought not let me tell him for if he have it a
thousand to one but it makes him both wanton and wicked 

in what then am i so singularly vile 

in my contrivances thou wilt say for thou art my echo if not in my
proposed end of them 

how difficult does every man find it as well as i to forego a
predominant passion i have three passions that sway me by turns all
imperial ones love revenge ambition or a desire of conquest 

as to this particular contrivance of tomlinson and the uncle which
perhaps thou wilt think a black one that had been spared had not these
innocent ladies put me upon finding a husband for their mrs townsend 
that device therefore is but a preventive one thinkest thou that i
could bear to be outwitted and may not this very contrivance save a
world of mischief for dost thou think i would have tamely given up the
lady to townsend's tars 

what meanest thou except to overthrow thy own plea when thou sayest 
that men of our cast know no other bound to their wickedness but want of
power yet knowest this lady to be in mine 

enough sayest thou have i tried this paragon of virtue not so for i
have not tried her at all all i have been doing is but preparation to a
trial 

but thou art concerned for the means that i may have recourse to in the
trial and for my veracity 

silly fellow did ever any man thinkest thou deceive a woman but at
the expense of his veracity how otherwise can he be said to deceive 

as to the means thou dost not imagine that i expect a direct consent 
my main hope is but in a yielding reluctance without which i will be
sworn whatever rapes have been attempted none ever were committed one
person to one person and good queen bess of england had she been
living and appealed to would have declared herself of my mind 

it would not be amiss for the sex to know what our opinions are upon this
subject i love to warn them i wish no man to succeed with them but
myself i told thee once that though a rake i am not a rake's friend 


 see vol iii letter xviii 


thou sayest that i ever hated wedlock and true thou sayest and yet
as true when thou tellest me that i would rather marry than lose this
lady and will she detest me for ever thinkest thou if i try her and
succeed not take care take care jack seest thou not that thou
warnest me that i do not try without resolving to conquer 

i must add that i have for some time been convinced that i have done
wrong to scribble to thee so freely as i have done and the more so if i
make the lady legally mine for has not every letter i have written to
thee been a bill of indictment against myself i may partly curse my
vanity for it and i think i will refrain for the future for thou art
really very impertinent 

a good man i own might urge many of the things thou urgest but by my
soul they come very awkwardly from thee and thou must be sensible 
that i can answer every tittle of what you writest upon the foot of the
maxims we have long held and pursued by the specimen above thou wilt
see that i can 

and pr'ythee tell me jack what but this that follows would have been
the epitome of mine and my beloved's story after ten years'
cohabitation had i never written to thee upon the subject and had i not
been my own accuser 

robert lovelace a notorious woman-eater makes his addresses in an
honourable way to miss clarissa harlowe a young lady of the highest
merit fortunes on both sides out of the question 

after encouragement given he is insulted by her violent brother who
thinks it his interest to discountenance the match and who at last
challenging him is obliged to take his worthless life at his hands 

the family as much enraged as if he had taken the life he gave insult
him personally and find out an odious lover for the young lady 

to avoid a forced marriage she is prevailed upon to take a step which
throws her into mr lovelace's protection 

yet disclaiming any passion for him she repeatedly offers to renounce
him for ever if on that condition her relations will receive her and
free her from the address of the man she hates 

mr lovelace a man of strong passions and as some say of great
pride thinks himself under very little obligation to her on this
account and not being naturally fond of marriage and having so much
reason to hate her relations endeavours to prevail upon her to live with
him what he calls the life of honour and at last by stratagem art and
contrivance prevails 

he resolves never to marry any other woman takes a pride to have her
called by his name a church-rite all the difference between them treats
her with deserved tenderness nobody questions their marriage but those
proud relations of her's whom he wishes to question it every year a
charming boy fortunes to support the increasing family with splendor 
a tender father always a warm friend a generous landlord and a
punctual paymaster now-and-then however perhaps indulging with a new
object in order to bring him back with greater delight to his charming
clarissa his only fault love of the sex which nevertheless the women
say will cure itself defensible thus far that he breaks no contracts
by his rovings  

and what is there so very greatly amiss as the world goes in all this 

let me aver that there are thousands and ten thousands who have worse
stories to tell than this would appear to be had i not interested thee
in the progress to my great end and besides thou knowest that the
character i gave myself to joseph leman as to my treatment of my
mistress is pretty near the truth 


 see vol iii letter xlviii 


were i to be as much in earnest in my defence as thou art warm in my
arraignment i could convince thee by other arguments observations and
comparisons  is not all human good and evil comparative   that though
from my ingenuous temper writing only to thee who art master of every
secret of my heart i am so ready to accuse myself in my narrations yet
i have something to say for myself to myself as i go along though no
one else perhaps that was not a rake would allow any weight to it 
and this caution might i give to thousands who would stoop for a stone
to throw at me see that your own predominant passions whatever they
be hurry you not into as much wickedness as mine do me see if ye
happen to be better than i in some things that ye are not worse in
others and in points too that may be of more extensive bad consequence 
than that of seducing a girl and taking care of her afterwards who 
from her cradle is armed with cautions against the delusions of men 
and yet i am not so partial to my own follies as to think lightly of this
fault when i allow myself to think 

another grave thing i will add now my hand is in so dearly do i love
the sex that had i found that a character for virtue had been generally
necessary to recommend me to them i should have had a much greater
regard to my morals as to the sex than i have had 

to sum all up i am sufficiently apprized that men of worthy and honest
hearts who never allowed themselves in premeditated evil and who take
into the account the excellencies of this fine creature will and must
not only condemn but abhor me were they to know as much of me as thou
dost but methinks i would be glad to escape the censure of those men 
and of those women too who have never known what capital trials and
temptations are of those who have no genius for enterprise of those who
want rather courage than will and most particularly of those who have
only kept their secret better than i have kept or wish to keep mine 
were those exceptions to take place perhaps jack i should have ten to
acquit to one that should condemn me have i not often said that human
nature is a rogue 


 


i threatened above to refrain writing to thee but take it not to heart 
jack i must write on and cannot help it 



letter xv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday night eleven o'clock 


faith jack thou hadst half undone me with thy nonsense though i would
not own it on my yesterday's letter my conscience of thy party before 
but i think i am my own man again 

so near to execution my plot so near springing my mine all agreed upon
between the women and me or i believe thou hadst overthrown me 

i have time for a few lines preparative to what is to happen in an hour
or two and i love to write to the moment 

we have been extremely happy how many agreeable days have we known
together what may the next two hours produce 

when i parted with my charmer which i did with infinite reluctance 
half an hour ago it was upon her promise that she would not sit up to
write or read for so engaging was the conversation to me and indeed
my behaviour throughout the whole of it was confessedly agreeable to
her that i insisted if she did not directly retire to rest that she
should add another happy hour to the former 

to have sat up writing or reading half the night as she sometimes does 
would have frustrated my view as thou wilt observe when my little plot
unravels 


 


what what what now bounding villain wouldst thou choke me 

i was speaking to my heart jack it was then at my throat and what is
all this for these shy women how when a man thinks himself near the
mark do they tempest him 


 


is all ready dorcas has my beloved kept her word with me whether are
these billowy heavings owing more to love or to fear i cannot tell for
the soul of me of which i have most if i can but take her before her
apprehension before her eloquence is awake 

limbs why thus convulsed knees till now so firmly knit why thus
relaxed why beat you thus together will not these trembling fingers 
which twice have refused to direct the pen fail me in the arduous
moment 

once again why and for what all these convulsions this project is not
to end in matrimony surely 

but the consequences must be greater than i had thought of till this
moment my beloved's destiny or my own may depend upon the issue of the
two next hours 

i will recede i think 


 


soft o virgin saint and safe as soft be thy slumbers 

i will now once more turn to my friend belford's letter thou shalt have
fair play my charmer i will reperuse what thy advocate has to say for
thee weak arguments will do in the frame i am in 

but what what's the matter what a double but the uproar abates what
a double coward am i or is it that i am taken in a cowardly minute for
heroes have their fits of fear cowards their brave moments and virtuous
women all but my clarissa their moment critical 

but thus coolly enjoying the reflection in a hurricane again the
confusion is renewed 

what where how came it 

is my beloved safe 

o wake not too roughly my beloved 



letter xvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday morning five o'clock june 8 


now is my reformation secure for i never shall love any other woman oh 
she is all variety she must ever be new to me imagination cannot
form much less can the pencil paint nor can the soul of painting 
poetry describe an angel so exquisitely so elegantly lovely but i
will not by anticipation pacify thy impatience although the subject is
too hallowed for profane contemplation yet shalt thou have the whole
before thee as it passed and this not from a spirit wantoning in
description upon so rich a subject but with a design to put a bound to
thy roving thoughts it will be iniquity greater than a lovelace was
ever guilty of to carry them farther than i shall acknowledge 

thus then connecting my last with the present i lead to it 

didst thou not by the conclusion of my former perceive the
consternation i was in just as i was about to reperuse thy letter in
order to prevail upon myself to recede from my purpose of awaking in
terrors my slumbering charmer and what dost think was the matter 

i'll tell thee 

at a little after two when the whole house was still or seemed to be
so and as it proved my clarissa in bed and fast asleep i also in a
manner undressed as indeed i was for an hour before and in my gown and
slippers though to oblige thee writing on i was alarmed by a
trampling noise over head and a confused buz of mixed voices some
louder than others like scolding and little short of screaming while
i was wondering what could be the matter down stairs ran dorcas and at
my door in an accent rather frightedly and hoarsely inward than shrilly
clamorous she cried out fire fire and this the more alarmed me as
she seemed to endeavour to cry out louder but could not 

my pen its last scrawl a benediction on my beloved dropped from my
fingers and up started i and making but three steps to the door 
opening it cried out where where almost as much terrified as the
wench while she more than half undrest her petticoats in her hand 
unable to speak distinctly pointed up stairs 

i was there in a moment and found all owing to the carelessness of mrs 
sinclair's cook-maid who having sat up to read the simple history of
dorastus and faunia when she should have been in bed had set fire to an
old pair of calico window-curtains 

she had had the presence of mind in her fright to tear down the half-
burnt vallens as well as curtains and had got them though blazing 
into the chimney by the time i came up so that i had the satisfaction
to find the danger happily over 

mean time dorcas after she had directed me up stairs not knowing the
worst was over and expecting every minute the house would be in a blaze 
out of tender regard for her lady  i shall for ever love the wench for
it   ran to her door and rapping loudly at it in a recovered voice 
cried out with a shrillness equal to her love fire fire the house is
on fire rise madam this instant rise if you would not be burnt in
your bed 

no sooner had she made this dreadful out-cry but i heard her lady's
door with hasty violence unbar unbolt unlock and open and my
charmer's voice sounding like that of one going into a fit 

thou mayest believe that i was greatly affected i trembled with concern
for her and hastened down faster than the alarm of fire had made me run
up in order to satisfy her that all the danger was over 

when i had flown down to her chamber-door there i beheld the most
charming creature in the world supporting herself on the arm of the
gasping dorcas sighing trembling and ready to faint with nothing on
but an under petticoat her lovely bosom half open and her feet just
slipped into her shoes as soon as she saw me she panted and
struggled to speak but could only say o mr lovelace and down was
ready to sink 

i clasped her in my arms with an ardour she never felt before my dearest
life fear nothing i have been up the danger is over the fire is got
under and how foolish devil  to dorcas   could you thus by your
hideous yell alarm and frighten my angel 

o jack how her sweet bosom as i clasped her to mine heaved and panted 
i could even distinguish her dear heart flutter flutter against mine 
and for a few minutes i feared she would go into fits 

lest the half-lifeless charmer should catch cold in this undress i
lifted her to her bed and sat down by her upon the side of it 
endeavouring with the utmost tenderness as well of action as expression 
to dissipate her terrors 

but what did i get by this my generous care of her and my successful
endeavour to bring her to herself nothing ungrateful as she was but
the most passionate exclamations for we had both already forgotten the
occasion dreadful as it was which had thrown her into my arms i from
the joy of encircling the almost disrobed body of the loveliest of her
sex she from the greater terrors that arose from finding herself in my
arms and both seated on the bed from which she had been so lately
frighted 

and now belford reflect upon the distance at which the watchful charmer
had hitherto kept me reflect upon my love and upon my sufferings for
her reflect upon her vigilance and how long i had laid in wait to elude
it the awe i had stood in because of her frozen virtue and
over-niceness and that i never before was so happy with her and then
think how ungovernable must be my transports in those happy moments and
yet in my own account i was both decent and generous 

but far from being affected as i wished by an address so fervent 
 although from a man from whom she had so lately owned a regard and with
whom but an hour or two before she had parted with so much
satisfaction i never saw a bitterer or more moving grief when she
came fully to herself 

she appealed to heaven against my treachery as she called it while i 
by the most solemn vows pleaded my own equal fright and the reality of
the danger that had alarmed us both 

she conjured me in the most solemn and affecting manner by turns
threatening and soothing to quit her apartment and permit her to hide
herself from the light and from every human eye 

i besought her pardon yet could not avoid offending and repeatedly
vowed that the next morning's sun should witness our espousals but
taking i suppose all my protestations of this kind as an indication
that i intended to proceed to the last extremity she would hear nothing
that i said but redoubling her struggles to get from me in broken
accents and exclamations the most vehement she protested that she
would not survive what she called a treatment so disgraceful and
villanous and looking all wildly round her as if for some instrument
of mischief she espied a pair of sharp-pointed scissors on a chair by
the bed-side and endeavoured to catch them up with design to make her
words good on the spot 

seeing her desperation i begged her to be pacified that she would hear
me speak but one word declaring that i intended no dishonour to her and
having seized the scissors i threw them into the chimney and she still
insisting vehemently upon my distance i permitted her to take the chair 

but o the sweet discomposure her bared shoulders and arms so
inimitably fair and lovely her spread hands crossed over her charming
neck yet not half concealing its glossy beauties the scanty coat as
she rose from me giving the whole of her admirable shape and fine-
turn'd limbs her eyes running over yet seeming to threaten future
vengeance 
and at last her lips uttering what every indignant look and glowing
feature portended exclaiming as if i had done the worst i could do and
vowing never to forgive me wilt thou wonder if i resumed the incensed 
the already too-much-provoked fair-one 

i did and clasped her once more to my bosom but considering the
delicacy of her frame her force was amazing and showed how much in
earnest she was in her resentment for it was with the utmost difficulty
that i was able to hold her nor could i prevent her sliding through my
arms to fall upon her knees which she did at my feet and there in the
anguish of her soul her streaming eyes lifted up to my face with
supplicating softness hands folded dishevelled hair for her night
head-dress having fallen off in her struggling her charming tresses fell
down in naturally shining ringlets as if officious to conceal the
dazzling beauties of her neck and shoulders her lovely bosom too heaving
with sighs and broken sobs as if to aid her quivering lips in pleading
for her in this manner but when her grief gave way to her speech in
words pronounced with that emphatical propriety which distinguishes this
admirable creature in her elocution from all the women i ever heard
speak did she implore my compassion and my honour 

consider me dear lovelace   dear was her charming word   on my knees
i beg you to consider me as a poor creature who has no protector but you 
who has no defence but your honour by that honour by your humanity by
all you have vowed i conjure you not to make me abhor myself not to
make me vile in my own eyes 

i mentioned to-morrow as the happiest day of my life 

tell me not of to-morrow if indeed you mean me honourably now this
very instant now you must show it and be gone you can never in a whole
long life repair the evils you now make me suffer 

wicked wretch insolent villain yes she called me insolent villain 
although so much in my power and for what only for kissing with
passion indeed her inimitable neck her lips her cheeks her forehead 
and her streaming eyes as this assemblage of beauties offered itself at
once to my ravished sight she continuing kneeling at my feet as i sat 

if i am a villain madam and then my grasping but trembling hand i
hope i did not hurt the tenderest and loveliest of all her beauties if i
am a villain madam 

she tore my ruffle shrunk from my happy hand with amazing force and
agility as with my other arm i would have encircled her waist 

indeed you are the worst of villains help dear blessed people and
screamed out no help for a poor creature 

am i then a villain madam am i then a villain say you and clasped
both my arms about her offering to raise her to my bounding heart 

oh no and yet you are and again i was her dear lovelace her hands
again clasped over her charming bosom kill me kill me if i am odious
enough in your eyes to deserve this treatment and i will thank you too
long much too long has my life been a burden to me or wildly looking
all round her give me but the means and i will instantly convince you
that my honour is dearer to me than my life 

then with still folded hands and fresh streaming eyes i was her
blessed lovelace and she would thank me with her latest breath if i
would permit her to make that preference or free her from farther
indignities 

i sat suspended for a moment by my soul thought i thou art upon full
proof an angel and no woman still however close clasping her to my
bosom as i raised her from her knees she again slid through my arms 
and dropped upon them see mr lovelace good god that i should live
to see this hour and to bear this treatment see at your feet a poor
creature imploring your pity who for your sake is abandoned of all
the world let not my father's curse thus dreadfully operate be not you
the inflicter who have been the cause of it but spare me i beseech
you spare me for how have i deserved this treatment from you for your
own sake if not for my sake and as you would that god almighty in your
last hour should have mercy upon you spare me 

what heart but must have been penetrated 

i would again have raised the dear suppliant from her knees but she
would not be raised till my softened mind she said had yielded to her
prayer and bid her rise to be innocent 

rise then my angel rise and be what you are and all you wish to be 
only pronounce me pardoned for what has passed and tell me you will
continue to look upon me with that eye of favour and serenity which i
have been blessed with for some days past and i will submit to my
beloved conqueress whose power never was at so great an height with me 
as now and retire to my apartment 

god almighty said she hear your prayers in your most arduous moments 
as you have heard mine and now leave me this moment leave me to my own
recollection in that you will leave me to misery enough and more than
you ought to wish to your bitterest enemy 

impute not every thing my best beloved to design for design it was
not 

o mr lovelace 

upon my soul madam the fire was real  and so it was jack   the
house my dearest life might have been consumed by it as you will be
convinced in the morning by ocular demonstration 

o mr lovelace 

let my passion for you madam and the unexpected meeting of you at your
chamber-door in an attitude so charming 

leave me leave me this moment i beseech you leave me looking wildly
and in confusion about her and upon herself 

excuse me my dearest creature for those liberties which innocent as
they were your too great delicacy may make you take amiss 

no more no more leave me i beseech you again looking upon herself 
and round her in a sweet confusion begone begone 

then weeping she struggled vehemently to withdraw her hands which all
the while i held between mine her struggles o what additional charms 
as i now reflect did her struggles give to every feature every limb of
a person so sweetly elegant and lovely 

impossible my dearest life till you pronounce my pardon say but you
forgive me say but you forgive me 

i beseech you to be gone leave me to myself that i may think what i can
do and what i ought to do 

that my dearest creature is not enough you must tell me that i am
forgiven that you will see me to-morrow as if nothing had happened 

and then i clasped her again in my arms hoping she would not forgive
me 

i will i do forgive you wretch that you are 

nay my clarissa and is it such a reluctant pardon mingled with a word
so upbraiding that i am to be put off with when you are thus clasping
her close to me in my power 

i do i do forgive you 

heartily 

yes heartily 

and freely 

freely 

and will you look upon me to-morrow as if nothing had passed 

yes yes 

i cannot take these peevish affirmatives so much like intentional
negatives say you will upon your honour 

upon my honour then oh now begone begone and never never 

what never my angel is this forgiveness 

never said she let what has passed be remembered more 

i insisted upon one kiss to seal my pardon and retired like a fool a
woman's fool as i was i sneakingly retired couldst thou have
believed it 

but i had no sooner entered my own apartment than reflecting upon the
opportunity i had lost and that all i had gained was but an increase of
my own difficulties and upon the ridicule i should meet with below upon
a weakness so much out of my usual character i repented and hastened
back in hope that through the distress of mind which i left her in she
had not so soon fastened the door and i was fully resolved to execute
all my purposes be the consequence what it would for thought i i have
already sinned beyond cordial forgiveness i doubt and if fits and
desperation ensue i can but marry at last and then i shall make her
amends 

but i was justly punished for her door was fast and hearing her sigh
and sob as if her heart would burst my beloved creature said i 
rapping gently  the sobbings then ceasing   i want but to say three
words to you which must be the most acceptable you ever heard from me 
let me see you out for one moment 

i thought i heard her coming to open the door and my heart leapt in that
hope but it was only to draw another bolt to make it still the faster 
and she either could not or would not answer me but retired to the
farther end of her apartment to her closet probably and more like a
fool than before again i sneaked away 

this was mine my plot and this was all i made of it i love her more
than ever and well i may never saw i polished ivory so beautiful as
her arms and shoulders never touched i velvet so soft as her skin her
virgin bosom o belford she is all perfection then such an elegance 
in her struggling losing her shoe but just slipt on as i told thee 
her pretty foot equally white and delicate as the hand of any other
woman or even her own hand 

but seest thou not that i have a claim of merit for a grace that every
body hitherto had denied me and that is for a capacity of being moved by
prayers and tears where where on this occasion was the callous where
the flint by which my heart was said to be surrounded 

this indeed is the first instance in the like case that ever i was
wrought upon but why because i never before encountered a resistance
so much in earnest a resistance in short so irresistible 

what a triumph has her sex obtained in my thoughts by this trial and
this resistance 

but if she can now forgive me can she must has she not upon her
honour already done it but how will the dear creature keep that part of
her promise which engages her to see me in the morning as if nothing had
happened 

she would give the world i fancy to have the first interview over she
had not best reproach me yet not to reproach me what a charming
puzzle let her break her word with me at her peril fly me she
cannot no appeals lie from my tribunal what friend has she in the
world if my compassion exert not itself in her favour and then the
worthy captain tomlinson and her uncle harlowe will be able to make all
up for me be my next offence what it may 

as to thy apprehensions of her committing any rashness upon herself 
whatever she might have done in her passion if she could have seized
upon her scissors or found any other weapon i dare say there is no fear
of that from her deliberate mind a man has trouble enough with these
truly pious and truly virtuous girls  now i believe there are such   he
had need to have some benefit from some security in the rectitude of
their minds 

in short i fear nothing in this lady but grief yet that's a slow
worker you know and gives time to pop in a little joy between its
sullen fits 



letter xvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday morning eight o'clock 


her chamber-door has not yet been opened i must not expect she will
breakfast with me nor dine with me i doubt a little silly soul what
troubles does she make to herself by her over-niceness all i have done
to her would have been looked upon as a frolic only a romping bout and
laughed off by nine parts in ten of the sex accordingly the more she
makes of it the more painful to herself as well as to me 

why now jack were it not better upon her own notions that she seemed
not so sensible as she will make herself to be if she is very angry 

but perhaps i am more afraid than i need i believe i am from her
over-niceness arises my fear more than from any extraordinary reason for
resentment next time she may count herself very happy if she come off
no worse 

the dear creature was so frightened and so fatigued last night no
wonder she lies it out this morning 

i hope she has had more rest than i have had soft and balmy i hope 
have been her slumbers that she may meet me in tolerable temper all
sweetly blushing and confounded i know how she will look but why
should she the sufferer be ashamed when i the trespasser am not 

but custom is a prodigious thing the women are told how much their
blushes heighten their graces they practise for them therefore blushes
come as hastily when they call for them as their tears aye that's it 
while we men taking blushes for a sign of guilt or sheepishness are
equally studious to suppress them 


 


by my troth jack i am half as much ashamed to see the women below as
my fair-one can be to see me i have not yet opened my door that i may
not be obtruded upon my them 

after all what devils may one make of the sex to what a height of 
what shall i call it must those of it be arrived who once loved a man
with so much distinction as both polly and sally loved me and yet can
have got so much above the pangs of jealousy so much above the
mortifying reflections that arise from dividing and sharing with new
objects the affections of them they prefer to all others as to wish for 
and promote a competitorship in his love and make their supreme delight
consist in reducing others to their level for thou canst not imagine 
how even sally martin rejoiced last night in the thought that the lady's
hour was approaching 


past ten o'clock 

i never longed in my life for any thing with so much impatience as to see
my charmer she has been stirring it seems these two hours 

dorcas just now tapped at her door to take her morning commands 

she had none for her was the answer 

she desired to know if she would not breakfast 

a sullen and low-voiced negative received dorcas 

i will go myself 


 


three different times tapped i at the door but had no answer 

permit me dearest creature to inquire after your health as you have
not been seen to-day i am impatient to know how you do 

not a word of answer but a deep sigh even to sobbing 

let me beg of you madam to accompany me up another pair of stairs 
you'll rejoice to see what a happy escape we have all had 

a happy escape indeed jack for the fire had scorched the window-board 
singed the hangings and burnt through the slit-deal linings of the
window-jambs 

no answer madam am i not worthy of one word is it thus you keep your
promise with me shall i not have the favour of your company for two
minutes  only for two minutes  in the dining-room 

hem and a deep sigh were all the answer 

answer me but how you do answer me but that you are well is this the
forgiveness that was the condition of my obedience 

then with a faintish but angry voice begone from my door wretch 
inhuman barbarous and all that is base and treacherous begone from my
door nor tease thus a poor creature entitled to protection not
outrage 

i see madam how you keep your word with me if a sudden impulse the
effects of an unthought-of accident cannot be forgiven 

o the dreadful weight of a father's curse thus in the very letter of
it 

and then her voice dying away in murmurs inarticulate i looked through
the key-hole and saw her on her knees her face though not towards me 
lifted up as well as hands and these folded depreciating i suppose 
that gloomy tyrant's curse 

i could not help being moved 

my dearest life admit me to your presence but for two minutes and
confirm your promised pardon and may lightning blast me on the spot if
i offer any thing but my penitence at a shrine so sacred i will
afterwards leave you for a whole day till to-morrow morning and then
attend you with writings all ready to sign a license obtained or if it
cannot a minister without one this once believe me when you see the
reality of the danger that gave occasion for this your unhappy
resentment you will think less hardly of me and let me beseech you to
perform a promise on which i made a reliance not altogether ungenerous 

i cannot see you would to heaven i never had if i write that's all i
can do 

let your writing then my dearest life confirm your promise and i will
withdraw in expectation of it 


past eleven o'clock 

she rung her bell for dorcas and with her door in her hand only half
opened gave her a billet for me 

how did the dear creature look dorcas 

she was dressed she turned her face quite from me and sighed as if
her heart would break 

sweet creature i kissed the wet wafer and drew it from the paper with
my breath 

these are the contents no inscriptive sir no mr lovelace 


i cannot see you nor will i if i can help it words cannot express the
anguish of my soul on your baseness and ingratitude 

if the circumstances of things are such that i can have no way for
reconciliation with those who would have been my natural protectors from
such outrages but through you  the only inducement i have to stay a
moment longer in your knowledge   pen and ink must be at present the
only means of communication between us 

vilest of men and most detestable of plotters how have i deserved from
you the shocking indignities but no more only for your own sake wish
not at least for a week to come to see

the undeservedly injured and insulted
clarissa harlowe


 


so thou seest nothing could have stood me in stead but this plot of
tomlinson and her uncle to what a pretty pass nevertheless have i
brought myself had caesar been such a fool he had never passed the
rubicon but after he had passed it had he retreated re infecta 
intimidated by a senatorial edict what a pretty figure would he have
made in history i might have known that to attempt a robbery and put
a person in bodily fear is as punishable as if the robbery had been
actually committed 

but not to see her for a week dear pretty soul how she anticipates me
in every thing the counsellor will have finished the writings to-day or
to-morrow at furthest the license with the parson or the parson
without the license must also be procured within the next four-and-
twenty hours pritchard is as good as ready with his indentures
tripartite tomlinson is at hand with a favourable answer from her uncle
 yet not to see her for a week dear sweet soul her good angel is
gone a journey is truanting at least but nevertheless in thy week's
time or in much less my charmer i doubt not to complete my triumph 

but what vexes me of all things is that such an excellent creature
should break her word fie fie upon her but nobody is absolutely
perfect tis human to err but not to persevere i hope my charmer
cannot be inhuman 



letter xviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
king's arms pall-mall thursday two o'clock 


several billets passed between us before i went out by the
internuncioship of dorcas for which reason mine are superscribed by her
married name she would not open her door to receive them lest i should
be near it i suppose so dorcas was forced to put them under the door
 after copying them for thee and thence to take the answers read
them if thou wilt at this place 


 


to mrs lovelace

indeed my dearest life you carry this matter too far what will the
people below who suppose us one as to the ceremony think of so great a
niceness liberties so innocent the occasion so accidental you will
expose yourself as well as me hitherto they know nothing of what has
passed and what indeed has passed to occasion all this resentment i
am sure you will not by a breach of your word of honour give me reason
to conclude that had i not obeyed you i could have fared no worse 

most sincerely do i repent the offence given to your delicacy but must
i for so accidental an occurrence be branded by such shocking names 
vilest of men and most detestable of plotters are hard words from the
pen of such a lady too 

if you step up another pair of stairs you will be convinced that 
however detestable i may be to you i am no plotter in this affair 

i must insist upon seeing you in order to take your directions upon some
of the subjects we talked of yesterday in the evening 

all that is more than necessary is too much i claim your promised
pardon and wish to plead it on my knees 

i beg your presence in the dining-room for one quarter of an hour and i
will then leave you for the day i am 

my dearest life 
your ever adoring and truly penitent
lovelace 


 


to mr lovelace

i will not see you i cannot see you i have no directions to give you 
let providence decide for me as it pleases 

the more i reflect upon your vileness your ungrateful your barbarous
vileness the more i am exasperated against you 

you are the last person whose judgment i will take upon what is or is not
carried too far in matters of decency 

tis grievous to me to write or even to think of you at present urge
me no more then once more i will not see you nor care i now you
have made me vile to myself what other people think of me 


 


to mrs lovelace

again madam i remind you of your promise and beg leave to say i
insist upon the performance of it 

remember dearest creature that the fault of a blameable person cannot
warrant a fault in one more perfect overniceness may be underniceness 

i cannot reproach myself with any thing that deserves this high
resentment 

i own that the violence of my passion for you might have carried me
beyond fit bounds but that your commands and adjurations had power over
me at such a moment i humbly presume to say deserves some
consideration 

you enjoin me not to see you for a week if i have not your pardon
before captain tomlinson comes to town what shall i say to him 

i beg once more your presence in the dining-room by my soul madam i
must see you 

i want to consult you about the license and other particulars of great
importance the people below think us married and i cannot talk to you
upon such subjects with the door between us 

for heaven's sake favour me with your presence for a few minutes and i
will leave you for the day 

if i am to be forgiven according to your promise the earlier
forgiveness will be most obliging and will save great pain to yourself 
as well as to

your truly contrite and afflicted
lovelace 


 


to mr lovelace

the more you tease me the worse it will be for you 

time is wanted to consider whether i ever should think of you at all 

at present it is my sincere wish that i may never more see your face 

all that can afford you the least shadow of favour from me arises from
the hoped-for reconciliation with my real friends not my judas
protector 

i am careless at present of consequences i hate myself and who is it i
have reason to value not the man who could form a plot to disgrace his
own hopes as well as a poor friendless creature made friendless by
himself by insults not to be thought of with patience 


 


to mrs lovelace

madam 
i will go to the commons and proceed in every particular as if i had not
the misfortune to be under your displeasure 

i must insist upon it that however faulty my passion on so unexpected
an incident made me appear to a lady of your delicacy yet my compliance
with your entreaties at such a moment  as it gave you an instance of your
power over me which few men could have shown  ought duly considered to
entitle me to the effects of that solemn promise which was the condition
of my obedience 

i hope to find you in a kinder and i will say juster disposition on my
return whether i get the license or not let me beg of you to make the
soon you have been pleased to bid me hope for to-morrow morning this
will reconcile every thing and make me the happiest of men 

the settlements are ready to sign or will be by night 

for heaven's sake madam do not carry your resentment into a displeasure
so disproportionate to the offence for that would be to expose us both
to the people below and what is of infinite more consequence to us to
captain tomlinson let us be able i beseech you madam to assure him 
on his next visit that we are one 

as i have no hope to be permitted to dine with you i shall not return
till evening and then i presume to say i expect  your promise
authorizes me to use the word  to find you disposed to bless by your
consent for to-morrow 

your adoring
lovelace 


 


what pleasure did i propose to take how to enjoy the sweet confusion in
which i expected to find her while all was so recent but she must she
shall see me on my return it were better to herself as well as for
me that she had not made so much ado about nothing i must keep my anger
alive lest it sink into compassion love and compassion be the
provocation ever so great are hard to be separated while anger converts
what would be pity without it into resentment nothing can be lovely
in a man's eye with which he is thoroughly displeased 

i ordered dorcas on putting the last billet under the door and finding
it taken up to tell her that i hoped an answer to it before i went out 

her reply was verbal tell him that i care not whither he goes nor what
he does and this re-urged by dorcas was all she had to say to me 

i looked through the key-hole at my going by her door and saw her on her
knees at her bed's feet her head and bosom on the bed her arms
extended  sweet creature how i adore her   and in an agony she seemed to
be sobbing as i heard at that distance as if her heart would break 
by my soul jack i am a pityful fellow recollection is my enemy 
divine excellence happy with her for so many days together now so
unhappy and for what but she is purity herself and why after all 
should i thus torment but i must not trust myself with myself in the
humour i am in 


 


waiting here for mowbray and mallory by whose aid i am to get the
license i took papers out of my pocket to divert myself and thy last
popt officiously the first into my hand i gave it the honour of a
re-perusal and this revived the subject with me with which i had
resolved not to trust myself 

i remember that the dear creature in her torn answer to my proposals 
says condescension is not meanness she better knows how to make this
out than any mortal breathing condescension indeed implies dignity 
and dignity ever was there in her condescension yet such a dignity as
gave grace to the condescension for there was no pride no insult no
apparent superiority indicated by it this miss howe confirms to be a
part of her general character 


 see vol iv letter xxiii 


i can tell her how she might behave to make me her own for ever she
knows she cannot fly me she knows she must see me sooner or later the
sooner the more gracious i would allow her to resent  not because the
liberties i took with her require resentment were she not a clarissa 
but as it becomes her particular niceness to resent  but would she show
more love than abhorrence of me in her resentment would she seem if it
were but to seem to believe the fire no device and all that followed
merely accidental and descend upon it to tender expostulation and
upbraiding for the advantage i would have taken of her surprise and
would she at last be satisfied as well she may that it was attended
with no further consequence and place some generous confidence in my
honour  power loves to be trusted jack   i think i would put an end to
all her trials and pay her my vows at the altar 

yet to have taken such bold steps as with tomlinson and her uncle to
have made such a progress o belford belford how i have puzzled myself 
as well as her this cursed aversion to wedlock how it has entangled
me what contradictions has it made me guilty of 

how pleasing to myself to look back upon the happy days i gave her 
though mine would doubtless have been unmixedly so could i have
determined to lay aside my contrivances and to be as sincere all the
time as she deserved that i should be 

if i find this humour hold but till to-morrow morning  and it has now
lasted two full hours and i seem methinks to have pleasure in
encouraging it   i will make thee a visit i think or get thee to come
to me and then will i consult thee upon it 

but she will not trust me she will not confide in my honour doubt in
this case is defiance she loves me not well enough to forgive me
generously she is so greatly above me how can i forgive her for a
merit so mortifying to my pride she thinks she knows she has told me 
that she is above me these words are still in my ears be gone 
lovelace my soul is above thee man thou hast a proud heart to
contend with my soul is above thee man  miss howe thinks her above
me too thou even thou my friend my intimate friend and companion 
art of the same opinion then i fear her as much as i love her how
shall my pride bear these reflections my wife as i have often said 
because it so often recurs to my thoughts to be so much my superior 
myself to be considered but as the second person in my own family canst
thou teach me to bear such a reflection as this to tell me of my
acquisition in her and that she with all her excellencies will be mine
in full property is a mistake it cannot be so for shall i not be
her's and not my own will not every act of her duty as i cannot
deserve it be a condescension and a triumph over me and must i owe
it merely to her goodness that she does not despise me to have her
condescend to bear with my follies to wound me with an eye of pity a
daughter of the harlowes thus to excel the last and as i have heretofore
said not the meanest of the lovelaces forbid it 


 see vol iv letter xlvii 
 see vol iii letter xviii 


yet forbid it not for do i not now do i not every moment see her
before me all over charms and elegance and purity as in the struggles
of the past midnight and in these struggles heart voice eyes hand 
and sentiments so greatly so gloriously consistent with the character
she has sustained from her cradle to the present hour 

but what advantages do i give thee 

yet have i not always done her justice why then thy teasing
impertinence 

however i forgive thee jack since so much generous love am i capable
of i had rather all the world should condemn me than that her
character should suffer the least impeachment 

the dear creature herself once told me that there was a strange mixture
in my mind i have been called devil and beelzebub between the two
proud beauties i must indeed be a beelzebub if i had not some tolerable
qualities 


 see vol iii letter xxxiii 


but as miss howe says the suffering time of this excellent creature is
her shining time hitherto she has done nothing but shine 


 see vol iv letter xxiii 


she called me villain belford within these few hours and what is the
sum of the present argument but that had i not been a villain in her
sense of the word she had not been such an angel 

o jack jack this midnight attempt has made me mad has utterly undone
me how can the dear creature say i have made her vile in her own eyes 
when her behaviour under such a surprise and her resentment under such
circumstances have so greatly exalted her in mine 

whence however this strange rhapsody is it owing to my being here 
that i am not at sinclair's but if there be infection in that house 
how has my beloved escaped it 

but no more in this strain i will see what her behaviour will be on my
return yet already do i begin to apprehend some little sinkings some
little retrogradations for i have just now a doubt arisen whether for
her own sake i should wish her to forgive me lightly or with
difficulty 


 


i am in a way to come at the wished-for license 

i have now given every thing between my beloved and me a full
consideration and my puzzle is over what has brought me to a speedier
determination is that i think i have found out what she means by the
week's distance at which she intends to hold me it is that she may
have time to write to miss howe to put in motion that cursed scheme of
her's and to take measures upon it which shall enable her to abandon and
renounce me for ever now jack if i obtain not admission to her
presence on my return but am refused with haughtiness if her week be
insisted upon such prospects before her i shall be confirmed in my
conjecture and it will be plain to me that weak at best was that love 
which could give place to punctilio at a time when that all-reconciling
ceremony as she must think waits her command then will i recollect
all her perversenesses then will i re-peruse miss howe's letters and
the transcripts from others of them give way to my aversion to the life
of shackles and then shall she be mine in my own way 

but after all i am in hopes that she will have better considered of
every thing by the evening that her threat of a week's distance was
thrown out in the heat of passion and that she will allow that i have
as much cause to quarrel with her for breach of her word as she has with
me for breach of the peace 

these lines of rowe have got into my head and i shall repeat them very
devoutly all the way the chairman shall poppet me towards her by-and-by 

 teach me some power the happy art of speech 
 to dress my purpose up in gracious words 
 such as may softly steal upon her soul 
 and never waken the tempestuous passions 



letter xix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday evening june 8 


o for a curse to kill with ruined undone outwitted 
tricked zounds man the lady has gone off absolutely gone off 
escaped 

thou knowest not nor canst conceive the pangs that wring my heart 
what can i do o lord o lord o lord 

and thou too who hast endeavoured to weaken my hands wilt but clap thy
dragon's wings at the tidings 

yet i must write or i shall go distracted little less have i been
these two hours dispatching messengers to every stage to every inn to
every waggon or coach whether flying or creeping and to every house
with a bill up for five miles around 

the little hypocrite who knows not a soul in this town  i thought i was
sure of her at any time   such an unexperienced traitress giving me hope
too in her first billet that her expectation of the family-
reconciliation would withhold her from taking such a step as this curse
upon her contrivances i thought that it was owing to her bashfulness 
to her modesty that after a few innocent freedoms she could not look
me in the face when all the while she was impudently  yes i say 
impudently though she be clarissa harlowe  contriving to rob me of the
dearest property i had ever purchased purchased by a painful servitude
of many months fighting through the wild-beasts of her family for her 
and combating with a wind-mill virtue which hath cost me millions of
perjuries only to attempt and which now with its damn'd air-fans has
tost me a mile and a half beyond hope and this just as i had arrived
within view of the consummation of all my wishes 

o devil of love god of love no more how have i deserved this of
thee never before the friend of frozen virtue powerless demon for
powerless thou must be if thou meanedest not to frustrate my hopes who
shall henceforth kneel at thy altars may every enterprising heart
abhor despise execrate renounce thee as i do but o belford 
belford what signifies cursing now 


 


how she could effect this her wicked escape is my astonishment the whole
sisterhood having charge of her for as yet i have not had patience
enough to inquire into the particulars nor to let a soul of them
approach me 

of this i am sure or i had not brought her hither there is not a
creature belonging to this house that could be corrupted either by
virtue or remorse the highest joy every infernal nymph of this worse
than infernal habitation could have known would have been to reduce
this proud beauty to her own level and as to my villain who also had
charge of her he is such a seasoned varlet that he delights in mischief
for the sake of it no bribe could seduce him to betray his trust were
there but wickedness in it tis well however he was out of my way
when the cursed news was imparted to me gone the villain in quest of
her not to return nor to see my face  so it seems he declared  till he
has heard some tidings of her and all the out-of-place varlets of his
numerous acquaintance are summoned and employed in the same business 

to what purpose brought i this angel angel i must yet call her to this
hellish house and was i not meditating to do her deserved honour by
my soul belford i was resolved but thou knowest what i had
conditionally resolved and now who can tell into what hands she may
have fallen 

i am mad stark mad by jupiter at the thoughts of this unprovided 
destitute unacquainted some villain worse than myself who adores her
not as i adore her may have seized her and taken advantage of her
distress let me perish belford if a whole hecatomb of innocents as
the little plagues are called shall atone for the broken promises and
wicked artifices of this cruel creature 


 


going home as i did with resolutions favourable to her judge thou of
my distraction when her escape was first hinted to me although but in
broken sentences i knew not what i said nor what i did i wanted to
kill somebody i flew out of one room into another who broke the matter
to me i charged bribery and corruption in my first fury upon all and
threatened destruction to old and young as they should come in my way 

dorcas continues locked up from me sally and polly have not yet dared to
appear the vile sinclair 

but here comes the odious devil she taps at the door thought that's
only a-jar whining and snuffling to try i suppose to coax me into
temper 


 


what a helpless state where a man can only execrate himself and others 
the occasion of his rage remaining the evil increasing upon reflection 
time itself conspiring to deepen it o how i curs'd her 

i have her now methinks before me blubbering how odious does sorrow
make an ugly face thine jack and this old beldam's in penitentials 
instead of moving compassion must evermore confirm hatred while beauty
in tears is beauty heightened and what my heart has ever delighted to
see 

what excuse confound you and your cursed daughters what excuse can
you make is she not gone has she not escaped but before i am quite
distracted before i commit half a hundred murders let me hear how it
was  


 


i have heard her story art damn'd confounded wicked unpardonable
art is a woman of her character but show me a woman and i'll show thee
a plotter this plaguy sex is art itself every individual of it is a
plotter by nature 

this is the substance of the old wretch's account 

she told me that i had no sooner left the vile house than dorcas
acquainted the syren'  do jack let me call her names i beseech thee 
jack to permit me to call her names   that dorcas acquainted her lady
with it and that i had left word that i was gone to doctors-commons 
and should be heard of for some hours at the horn there if inquired
after by the counsellor or anybody else that afterwards i should be
either at the cocoa-tree or king's-arms and should not return till
late she then urged her to take some refreshment 

she was in tears when dorcas approached her her saucy eyes swelled with
weeping she refused either to eat or drink sighed as if her heart would
break  false devilish grief not the humble silent grief that only
deserves pity contriving to ruin me to despoil me of all that i held
valuable in the very midst of it 

nevertheless being resolved not to see me for a week at least she
ordered her to bring up three or four french rolls with a little butter 
and a decanter of water telling her she would dispense with her
attendance and that should be all she should live upon in the interim 
so artful creature pretending to lay up for a week's siege  for as to
substantial food she no more than other angels angels said i the
devil take me if she be any more an angel for she is odious in my eyes 
and i hate her mortally 

but o lovelace thou liest she is all that is lovely all that is
excellent 

but is she can she be gone oh how miss howe will triumph but if
that little fury receive her fate shall make me rich amends for then
will i contrive to have them both 

i was looking back for connection but the devil take connection i have
no business with it the contrary best befits distraction and that will
soon be my lot 

dorcas consulted the old wretch about obeying her o yes by all means 
for mr lovelace knew how to come at her at any time and directed a
bottle of sherry to be added 

this cheerful compliance so obliged her that she was prevailed upon to
go up and look at the damage done by the fire and seemed not only
shocked by it but as they thought satisfied it was no trick as she
owned she had at first apprehended it to be all this made them secure 
and they laughed in their sleeves to think what a childish way of
showing her resentment she had found out sally throwing out her
witticisms that mrs lovelace was right however not to quarrel with
her bread and butter 

now this very childishness as they imagined it in such a genius would
have made me suspect either her head after what had happened the night
before or her purpose when the marriage was so far as she knew to be
completed within the week in which she was resolved to secrete herself
from me in the same house 

she sent will with a letter to wilson's directed to miss howe 
ordering him to inquire if there were not one for her there 

he only pretended to go and brought word there was none and put her
letter in his pocket for me 

she then ordered him to carry another which she gave him to the horn
tavern to me all this done without any seeming hurry yet she appeared
to be very solemn and put her handkerchief frequently to her eyes 

will pretended to come to me with this letter but thou the dog had
the sagacity to mistrust something on her sending him out a second time 
 and to me whom she had refused to see which he thought extraordinary 
and mentioned his mistrusts to sally polly and dorcas yet they made
light of his suspicions dorcas assuring them all that her lady seemed
more stupid with her grief than active and that she really believed she
was a little turned in her head and knew not what she did but all of
them depended upon her inexperience her open temper and upon her not
making the least motion towards going out or to have a coach or chair
called as sometimes she had done and still more upon the preparations
she had made for a week's siege as i may call it 

will went out pretending to bring the letter to me but quickly
returned his heart still misgiving him on recollecting my frequent
cautions that he was not to judge for himself when he had positive
orders but if any doubt occurred from circumstances i could not
foresee literally to follow them as the only way to avoid blame 

but it must have been in this little interval that she escaped for
soon after his return they made fast the street-door and hatch the
mother and the two nymphs taking a little turn into the garden dorcas
going up stairs and will to avoid being seen by his lady or his voice
heard down into the kitchen 

about half an hour after dorcas who had planted herself where she
could see her lady's door open had the curiosity to go look through the
keyhole having a misgiving as she said that the lady might offer some
violence to herself in the mood she had been in all day and finding the
key in the door which was not very usual she tapped at it three or four
times and having no answer opened it with madam madam did you call 
 supposing her in her closet 

having no answer she stept forward and was astonished to find she was
not there she hastily ran into the dining-room then into my
apartments searched every closet dreading all the time to behold some
sad catastrophe 

not finding her any where she ran down to the old creature and her
nymphs with a have you seen my lady then she's gone she's no where
above 

they were sure she could not be gone out 

the whole house was in an uproar in an instant some running up-stairs 
some down from the upper rooms to the lower and all screaming how
should they look me in the face 

will cried out he was a dead man he blamed them they him and every
one was an accuser and an excuser at the same time 

when they had searched the whole house and every closet in it ten
times over to no purpose they took it into their heads to send to all
the porters chairmen and hackney-coachmen that had been near the house
for two hours past to inquire if any of them saw such a young lady 
describing her 

this brought them some light the only dawning for hope that i can
have and which keeps me from absolute despair one of the chairmen gave
them this account that he saw such a one come out of the house a little
before four in a great hurry and as if frighted with a little parcel
tied up in a handkerchief in her hand that he took notice to his
fellow who plied her without her answering that she was a fine young
lady that he'd warrant she had either a husband or very cross parents 
for that her eyes seemed swelled with crying upon which a third fellow
replied that it might be a doe escaped from mother damnable's park 
this mrs sinclair told me with a curse and a wish that she had a better
reputation so handsomely as she lived and so justly as she paid every
body for what she bought her house visited by the best and civilest of
gentlemen and no noise or brawls ever heard or known in it 

from these appearances the fellow who gave this information had the
curiosity to follow her unperceived she often looked back every body
who passed her turned to look after her passing their verdict upon her
tears her hurry and her charming person till coming to a stand of
coaches a coachman plied her was accepted alighted opened the
coach-door in a hurry seeing her hurry and in it she stumbled for
haste and as the fellow believed hurt her shin with the stumble 

the devil take me belford if my generous heart is not moved for her 
notwithstanding her wicked deceit to think what must be her reflections
and apprehensions at the time a mind so delicate heeding no censures 
yet probably afraid of being laid hold of by a lovelace in every one she
saw at the same time not knowing to what dangers she was about to
expose herself nor of whom she could obtain shelter a stranger to the
town and to all its ways the afternoon far gone but little money and
no clothes but those she had on 

it is impossible in this little interval since last night that miss
howe's townsend could be co-operating 

but how she must abhor me to run all these risques how heartily she must
detest me for my freedoms of last night oh that i had given her
greater reason for a resentment so violent as to her virtue i am too
much enraged to give her the merit due to that to virtue it cannot be
owing that she should fly from the charming prospects that were before
her but to malice hatred contempt harlowe pride the worst of
pride and to all the deadly passions that ever reigned in a female
breast and if i can but recover her but be still be calm be hushed 
my stormy passions for is it not clarissa  harlowe must i say   that
thus far i rave against 

the fellow heard her say drive fast very fast where madam to
holborn-bars answered she repeating drive very fast and up she
pulled both the windows and he lost sight of the coach in a minute 

will as soon as he had this intelligence speeded away in hopes to
trace her out declaring that he would never think of seeing me till he
had heard some tidings of his lady 

and now belford all my hope is that this fellow who attended us in
our airing to hampstead to highgate to muswell-hill to kentish-town 
will hear of her at some one or other of those places and on this i the
rather build as i remember she was once after our return very
inquisitive about the stages and their prices praising the conveniency
to passengers in their going off every hour and this in will s hearing 
who was then in attendance woe be to the villain if he recollect not
this 


 


i have been traversing her room meditating or taking up every thing she
but touched or used the glass she dressed at i was ready to break for
not giving me the personal image it was wont to reflect of her whose
idea is for ever present with me i call for her now in the tenderest 
now in the most reproachful terms as if within hearing wanting her i
want my own soul at least every thing dear to it what a void in my
heart what a chilness in my blood as if its circulation was arrested 
from her room to my own in the dining-room and in and out of every
place where i have seen the beloved of my heart do i hurry in none can
i tarry her lovely image in every one in some lively attitude rushing
cruelly upon me in differently remembered conversations 

but when in my first fury at my return i went up two pairs of stairs 
resolved to find the locked-up dorcas and beheld the vainly-burnt
window-board and recollected my baffled contrivances baffled by my own
weak folly i thought my distraction completed and down i ran as one
frighted at a spectre ready to howl for vexation my head and my temples
shooting with a violence i had never felt before and my back aching as
if the vertebrae were disjointed and falling in pieces 

but now that i have heard the mother's story and contemplated the
dawning hopes given by the chairman's information i am a good deal
easier and can make cooler reflections most heartily pray i for
will s success every four or five minutes if i lose her all my rage
will return with redoubled fury the disgrace to be thus outwitted by a
novice an infant in stratagem and contrivance added to the violence of
my passion for her will either break my heart or what saves many a
heart in evils insupportable turn my brain what had i to do to go out
a license-hunting at least till i had seen her and made up matters with
her and indeed were it not the privilege of a principal to lay all his
own faults upon his underlings and never be to blame himself i should
be apt to reflect that i am more in fault than any body and as the
sting of this reflection will sharpen upon me if i recover her not how
shall i ever be able to bear it 

if ever 


 here mr lovelace lays himself under a curse too shocking to be
repeated if he revenge not himself upon the lady should he once more
get her into his hands  


 


i have just now dismissed the sniveling toad dorcas who was introduced
to me for my pardon by the whining mother i gave her a kind of negative
and ungracious forgiveness yet i shall as violently curse the two
nymphs by-and-by for the consequences of my own folly and if this will
be a good way too to prevent their ridicule upon me for losing so
glorious an opportunity as i had last night or rather this morning 

i have corrected from the result of the inquiries made of the chairman 
and from dorcas's observations before the cruel creature escaped a
description of her dress and am resolved if i cannot otherwise hear of
her to advertise her in the gazette as an eloped wife both by her
maiden and acknowledged name for her elopement will soon be known by
every enemy why then should not my friends be made acquainted with it 
from whose inquiries and informations i may expect some tidings of her 

she had on a brown lustring night-gown fresh and looking like new as
every thing she wears does whether new or not from an elegance natural
to her a beaver hat a black ribbon about her neck and blue knots on
her breast a quilted petticoat of carnation-coloured satin a rose
diamond ring supposed on her finger and in her whole person and
appearance as i shall express it a dignity as well as beauty that
commands the repeated attention of every one who sees her 

the description of her person i shall take a little more pains about my
mind must be more at ease before i undertake that and i shall
threaten that if after a certain period given for her voluntary
return she be not heard of i will prosecute any person who presumes to
entertain harbour abet or encourage her with all the vengeance that
an injured gentleman and husband may be warranted to take by law or
otherwise 


 


fresh cause of aggravation but for this scribbling vein or i should
still run mad 

again going into her chamber because it was her's and sighing over the
bed and every piece of furniture in it i cast my eye towards the
drawers of the dressing-glass and saw peep out as it were in one of
the half-drawn drawers the corner of a letter i snatched it out and
found it superscribed by her to mr lovelace the sight of it made my
heart leap and i trembled so that i could hardly open the seal 

how does this damn'd love unman me but nobody ever loved as i love it
is even increased by her unworthy flight and my disappointment 
ungrateful creature to fly from a passion thus ardently flaming which 
like the palm rises the more for being depressed and slighted 

i will not give thee a copy of this letter i owe her not so much
service 

but wouldst thou think that this haughty promise-breaker could resolve
as she does absolutely and for ever to renounce me for what passed last
night that she could resolve to forego all her opening prospects of
reconciliation the reconciliation with a worthless family on which she
has set her whole heart yet she does she acquits me of all obligation
to her and herself of all expectations from me and for what o that
indeed i had given her real cause damn'd confounded niceness prudery 
affectation or pretty ignorance if not affectation by my soul 
belford i told thee all i was more indebted to her struggles than to
my own forwardness i cannot support my own reflections upon a decency
so ill-requited she could not she would not have been so much a
harlowe in her resentment all she feared had then been over and her
own good sense and even modesty would have taught her to make the best
of it 

but if ever again i get her into my hands art and more art and
compulsion too if she make it necessary  and tis plain that nothing
else will do   shall she experience from the man whose fear of her has
been above even his passion for her and whose gentleness and forbearance
she has thus perfidiously triumphed over well says the poet 

 tis nobler like a lion to invade
 when appetite directs and seize my prey 
 than to wait tamely like a begging dog 
 till dull consent throws out the scraps of love 

thou knowest what i have so lately vowed and yet at times  cruel
creature and ungrateful as cruel   i can subscribe with too much truth
to those lines of another poet 

 she reigns more fully in my soul than ever 
 she garrisons my breast and mans against me
 ev'n my own rebel thoughts with thousand graces 
 ten thousand charms and new-discovered beauties 



letter xx

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


a letter is put into my hands by wilson himself such a letter 

a letter from miss howe to her cruel friend 

i made no scruple to open it 

it is a miracle that i fell not into fits at the reading of it and at
the thought of what might have been the consequence had it come into the
hands of this clarissa harlowe let my justly-excited rage excuse my
irreverence 

collins though not his day brought it this afternoon to wilson's with
a particular desire that it might be sent with all speed to miss
beaumont's lodgings and given if possible into her own hands he had
before been here at mrs sinclair's with intent to deliver it to the
lady with his own hand but was told  too truly told   that she was
abroad but that they would give her any thing he should leave for her
the moment she returned but he cared not to trust them with his
business and went away to wilson's as i find by the description of him
at both places and there left the letter but not till he had a second
time called here and found her not come in 

the letter  which i shall enclose for it is too long to transcribe  will
account to thee for collins's coming hither 

o this devilish miss howe something must be resolved upon and done with
that little fury 


 


thou wilt see the margin of this cursed letter crowded with indices
  i put them to mark the places which call for vengeance upon the
vixen writer or which require animadversion return thou it to me the
moment thou hast perused it 

read it here and avoid trembling for me if thou canst 


to miss laetitia beaumont
wednesday june 7 

my dearest friend 

 you will perhaps think that i have been too
 long silent but i had begun two letters at differ-
 ent times since my last and written a great deal
  each time and with spirit enough i assure you 
 incensed as i was against the abominable wretch you
 are with particularly on reading your's of the 21st
 of the past month 


 see vol iv letter xlvi 


  the first i intended to keep open till i could
 give you some account of my proceedings with mrs 
 townsend it was some days before i saw her 
 and this intervenient space giving me time to re-
 peruse what i had written i thought it proper to lay
  that aside and to write in a style a little less fervent 
  for you would have blamed me i know for the free-
 dom of some of my expressions  execrations if
 you please   and when i had gone a good way
 in the second the change in your prospects on his
 communicating to you miss montague's letter and
 his better behaviour occasioning a change in your
 mind i laid that aside also and in this uncer-
 tainty thought i would wait to see the issue of
 affairs between you before i wrote again believing
 that all would soon be decided one way or other 

 i had still perhaps held this resolution  as every
 appearance according to your letters was more and
 more promising   had not the two passed days fur-
 nished me with intelligence which it highly imports
 you to know 

 but i must stop here and take a little walk to
 try to keep down that just indignation which rises
 to my pen when i am about to relate to you what
 i must communicate 


 

 i am not my own mistress enough then my
 mother always up and down and watching as if
 i were writing to a fellow but i will try if i can
 contain myself in tolerable bounds 

 the women of the house where you are o my
 dear the women of the house but you never
 thought highly of them so it cannot be very sur-
  prising nor would you have staid so long with
 them had not the notion of removing to one of your
 own made you less uneasy and less curious about
 their characters and behaviour yet i could now
 wish that you had been less reserved among them
  but i tease you in short my dear you are
 certainly in a devilish house be assured that the
 woman is one of the vilest women nor does
 she go to you by her right name  very true   
 her name is not sinclair nor is the street she lives
 in dover-street did you never go out by your-
 self and discharge the coach or chair and return
  by another coach or chair if you did  yet i
 don't remember that you ever wrote to me that
 you did   you would never have found your way to
 the vile house either by the woman's name sin-
 clair or by the street's name mentioned by that
 doleman in his letter about the lodgings 


 vol iii letters xxxviii and xxxix 


 the wretch might indeed have held out these
 false lights a little more excusably had the house
 been an honest house and had his end only been
 to prevent mischief from your brother but this
 contrivance was antecedent as i think to your
 brother's project so that no excuse can be made
  for his intentions at the time the man whatever he
 may now intend was certainly then even then a
 villain in his heart 


 


  i am excessively concerned that i should be pre-
 vailed upon between your over-niceness on one
 hand and my mother's positiveness on the other to
 be satisfied without knowing how to direct to you
 at your lodgings i think too that the proposal
 that i should be put off to a third-hand knowledge 
 or rather veiled in a first-hand ignorance came from
 him and that it was only acquiesced in by you as
 it was by me upon needless and weak considera-
 tions because truly i might have it to say if
 challenged that i knew not where to send to you 
 i am ashamed of myself had this been at first
 excusable it could not be a good reason for going
 on in the folly when you had no liking to the
  house and when he began to play tricks and delay
 with you what i was to mistrust myself was
 i i was to allow it to be thought that i could
  not keep my own secret but the house to be
  taken at this time and at that time led us both on
  like fools like tame fools in a string upon my
 life my dear this man is a vile a contemptible
 villain i must speak out how has he laughed
 in his sleeve at us both i warrant for i can't tell
 how long 


 see vol iii letter lvi par 12 and letter lviii par 12 where
the reader will observe that the proposal came from herself which as
it was also mentioned by mr lovelace towards the end of letter i in
vol iv she may be presumed to have forgotten so that clarissa had a
double inducement for acquiescing with the proposed method of carrying on
the correspondence between miss howe and herself by wilson's conveyance 
and by the name of laetitia beaumont 


 and yet who could have thought that a man of
  fortune and some reputation  this doleman i
 mean not your wretch to be sure   formerly a
 rake indeed  i inquired after him long ago and
 so was the easier satisfied   but married to a
 woman of family having had a palsy-blow and 
  one would think a penitent should recommend
 such a house  why my dear he could not inquire
 of it but must find it to be bad  to such a man as
 lovelace to bring his future nay his then supposed 
 bride to 


 


  i write perhaps with too much violence to be
 clear but i cannot help it yet i lay down my
 pen and take it up every ten minutes in order to
 write with some temper my mother too in and
 out what need i she asks me lock myself in 
 if i am only reading past correspondencies for
  that is my pretence when she comes poking in with
 her face sharpened to an edge as i may say by a
 curiosity that gives her more pain than pleasure 
  the lord forgive me but i believe i shall huff
 her next time she comes in 


 


 do you forgive me too my dear my mother
 ought because she says i am my father's girl and
 because i am sure i am her's i don't kow what
 to do i don't know what to write next i have
 so much to write yet have so little patience and so
 little opportunity 

 but i will tell you how i came by my intelli-
  gence that being a fact and requiring the less
 attention i will try to account to you for that 

 thus then it came about miss lardner
 whom you have seen at her cousin biddulph's 
 saw you at st james's church on sunday was fort-
 night she kept you in her eye during the whole
 time but could not once obtain the notice of your's 
 though she courtesied to you twice she thought to
 pay her compliments to you when the service was
 over for she doubted not but you were married 
  and for an odd reason because you came to church
 by yourself every eye as usual wherever you
 are she said was upon you and this seeming to
 give you hurry and you being nearer the door than
 she you slid out before she could get to you but
 she ordered her servant to follow you till you were
 housed this servant saw you step into a chair 
 which waited for you and you ordered the men to
 carry you to the place where they took you up 

 the next day miss lardner sent the same
 servant out of mere curiosity to make private in-
 quiry whether mr lovelace were or were not 
 with you there and this inquiry brought out 
  from different people that the house was suspected
 to be one of those genteel wicked houses which
 receive and accommodate fashionable people of both
 sexes 

 miss lardner confounded at this strange intel-
 ligence made further inquiry enjoining secrecy
 to the servant she had sent as well as to the gentle-
  man whom she employed who had it confirmed
 from a rakish friend who knew the house and
 told him that there were two houses the one in
 which all decent appearances were preserved and guests
 rarely admitted the other the receptacle of those
 who were absolutely engaged and broken to the
 vile yoke 

  say my dear creature say shall i not exe-
 crate the wretch but words are weak what
 can i say that will suitably express my abhorrence
 of such a villain as he must have been when he
 meditated to carry a clarissa to such a place 

 miss lardner kept this to herself some days 
 not knowing what to do for she loves you and
 admires you of all women at last she revealed it 
 but in confidence to miss biddulph by letter 
 miss biddulph in like confidence being afraid it
 would distract me were i to know it communi-
 cated it to miss lloyd and so like a whispered
 scandal it passed through several canals and then
 it came to me which was not till last monday 

 i thought i should have fainted upon the surpris-
 ing communication but rage taking place it blew
 away the sudden illness i besought miss lloyd
 to re-enjoin secrecy to every one i told her that
  i would not for the world that my mother or any
 of your family should know it and i instantly
 caused a trusty friend to make what inquiries he
 could about tomlinson 

  i had thoughts to have done it before i had this
 intelligence but not imagining it to be needful and
 little thinking that you could be in such a house and
 as you were pleased with your changed prospects i
  forbore and the rather forbore as the matter is
 so laid that mrs hodges is supposed to know
 nothing of the projected treaty of accommodation 
 but on the contrary that it was designed to be a
 secret to her and to every body but immediate
 parties and it was mrs hodges that i had pro-
 posed to sound by a second hand 

  now my dear it is certain without applying to
 that too-much-favoured housekeeper that there is
 not such a man within ten miles of your uncle 
 very true one tomkins there is about four miles
 off but he is a day-labourer and one thompson 
 about five miles distant the other way but he is a
 parish schoolmaster poor and about seventy 

  a man thought but of  800 a year cannot come
 from one country to settle in another but every
 body in both must know it and talk of it 

  mrs hodges may yet be sounded at a distance 
 if you will your uncle is an old man old men
 imagine themselves under obligation to their para-
  mours if younger than themselves and seldom
 keep any thing from their knowledge but if we
 suppose him to make secret of this designed treaty 
 it is impossible before that treaty was thought of 
 but she must have seen him at least have heard
 your uncle speak praisefully of a man he is said to
 be so intimate with let him have been ever so little
 a while in those parts 

  yet methinks the story is so plausible tom-
 linson as you describe him is so good a man and
 so much of a gentleman the end to be answered
  by his being an impostor so much more than neces-
 sary if lovelace has villany in his head and as
  you are in such a house your wretch's behaviour
 to him was so petulant and lordly and tomlin-
 son's answer so full of spirit and circumstance 
  and then what he communicated to you of mr 
 hickman's application to your uncle and of mrs 
 norton's to your mother  some of which particu-
  lars i am satisfied his vile agent joseph leman 
 could not reveal to his vile employer   his press-
 ing on the marriage-day in the name of your
 uncle which it could not answer any wicked pur-
  pose for him to do and what he writes of your
 uncle's proposal to have it thought that you were
 married from the time that you have lived in one
 house together and that to be made to agree with
 the time of mr hickman's visit to your uncle 
  the insisting on a trusty person's being present at
 the ceremony at that uncle's nomination these
 things make me willing to try for a tolerable construc-
 tion to be made of all though i am so much
 puzzled by what occurs on both sides of the ques-
  tion that i cannot but abhor the devilish wretch 
 whose inventions and contrivances are for ever em-
 ploying an inquisitive head as mine is without
 affording the means of absolute detection 

 but this is what i am ready to conjecture that
 tomlinson specious as he is is a machine of love-
  lace and that he is employed for some end which
 has not yet been answered this is certain that
 not only tomlinson but mennell who i think 
 attended you more than once at this vile house 
 must know it to be a vile house 

 what can you then think of tomlinson's declar-
 ing himself in favour of it upon inquiry 

 lovelace too must know it to be so if not
 before he brought you to it soon after 

  perhaps the company he found there may be the
 most probable way of accounting for his bearing
 with the house and for his strange suspensions of
 marriage when it was in his power to call such an
 angel of a woman his 

  o my dear the man is a villain the greatest
 of villains in every light i am convinced that he
 is and this doleman must be another of his
 implements 

  there are so many wretches who think that to
 be no sin which is one of the greatest and most
 ungrateful of all sins to ruin young creatures of
 our sex who place their confidence in them that
 the wonder is less than the shame that people of
 appearance at least are found to promote the horrid
 purposes of profligates of fortune and interest 

  but can i think  you will ask with indignant
 astonishment  that lovelace can have designs upon
 your honour 

  that such designs he has had if he still hold
 them or not i can have no doubt now that i know
 the house he has brought you to to be a vile one 
 this is a clue that has led me to account for all his
 behaviour to you ever since you have been in his
 hands 

 allow me a brief retrospection of it all 

 we both know that pride revenge and a delight
 to tread in unbeaten paths are principal ingredients
 in the character of this finished libertine 

  he hates all your family yourself excepted 
 and i have several times thought that i have seen
  him stung and mortified that love has obliged him
 to kneel at your footstool because you are a har-
 lowe yet is this wretch a savage in love love
  that humanizes the fiercest spirits has not been able
 to subdue his his pride and the credit which a
  few plausible qualities sprinkled among his odious
 ones have given him have secured him too good
 a reception from our eye-judging our undistinguish-
 ing our self-flattering our too-confiding sex to
 make assiduity and obsequiousness and a conquest
 of his unruly passions any part of his study 

  he has some reason for his animosity to all the
 men and to one woman of your family he has
 always shown you and his own family too that he
  prefers his pride to his interest he is a declared
 marriage-hater a notorious intriguer full of his
 inventions and glorying in them he never could
 draw you into declarations of love nor till your
  wise relations persecuted you as they did to receive
 his addresses as a lover he knew that you pro-
 fessedly disliked him for his immoralities he could
 not therefore justly blame you for the coldness
 and indifference of your behaviour to him 

  the prevention of mischief was your first main
 view in the correspondence he drew you into he
 ought not then to have wondered that you declared
 your preference of the single life to any matrimonial
 engagement he knew that this was always your
  preference and that before he tricked you away
 so artfully what was his conduct to you
 afterwards that you should of a sudden change
 it 

 thus was your whole behaviour regular con-
 sistent and dutiful to those to whom by birth you
 owed duty and neither prudish coquettish nor
 tyrannical to him 

  he had agreed to go on with you upon those
 your own terms and to rely only on his own merits
 and future reformation for your favour 

  it was plain to me indeed to whom you com-
 municated all that you knew of your own heart 
 though not all of it that i found out that love had
 pretty early gained footing in it and this you
 yourself would have discovered sooner than you
  did had not his alarming his unpolite his rough
 conduct kept it under 

  i knew by experience that love is a fire that is
 not to be played with without burning one's fingers 
 i knew it to be a dangerous thing for two single
 persons of different sexes to enter into familiarity
 and correspondence with each other since as to
 the latter must not a person be capable of premedi-
 tated art who can sit down to write and not write
 from the heart and a woman to write her heart
 to a man practised in deceit or even to a man of
 some character what advantage does it give him
 over her 

  as this man's vanity had made him imagine that
 no woman could be proof against love when his
 address was honourable no wonder that he
 struggled like a lion held in toils against a passion
 that he thought not returned and how could
 you at first show a return in love to so fierce
 a spirit and who had seduced you away by vile
 artifices but to the approval of those artifices 

  hence perhaps it is not difficult to believe that
 it became possible for such a wretch as this to give
 way to his old prejudices against marriage and to
 that revenge which had always been a first passion
 with him 

 this is the only way i think to account for his
 horrid views in bringing you to a vile house 

 and now may not all the rest be naturally
 accounted for his delays his teasing ways 
 his bringing you to bear with his lodging in the
 same house his making you pass to the people of
  it as his wife though restrictively so yet with hope 
 no doubt vilest of villains as he is to take you
  at an advantage his bringing you into the com-
 pany of his libertine companions the attempt of
 imposing upon you that miss partington for a
 bedfellow very probably his own invention for
 the worst of purposes his terrifying you at many
 different times his obtruding himself upon you
 when you went out to church no doubt to prevent
 your finding out what the people of the house were
 the advantages he made of your brother's foolish
 project with singleton 

 see my dear how naturally all this follows from
  the discovery made by miss lardner see how
 the monster whom i thought and so often called 
  a fool comes out to have been all the time one of
 the greatest villains in the world 

 but if this is so what  it would be asked by
 an indifferent person   has hitherto saved you 
 glorious creature what morally speaking but
 your watchfulness what but that and the
 majesty of your virtue the native dignity which 
 in a situation so very difficult friendless destitute 
 passing for a wife cast into the company of crea-
 tures accustomed to betray and ruin innocent hearts 
 has hitherto enabled you to baffle over-awe and
 confound such a dangerous libertine as this so
 habitually remorseless as you have observed him
 to be so very various in his temper so inventive 
 so seconded so supported so instigated too pro-
 bably as he has been that native dignity that
 heroism i will call it which has on all proper
 occasions exerted itself in its full lustre unmingled
  with that charming obligingness and condescending
 sweetness which is evermore the softener of that
 dignity when your mind is free and unapprehen-
 sive 

  let me stop to admire and to bless my beloved
 friend who unhappily for herself at an age so
 tender unacquainted as she was with the world and
 with the vile arts of libertines having been called
 upon to sustain the hardest and most shocking trials 
 from persecuting relations on one hand and from
 a villanous lover on the other has been enabled to
 give such an illustrious example of fortitude and
 prudence as never woman gave before her and
 who as i have heretofore observed has made a
 far greater figure in adversity than she possibly
 could have made had all her shining qualities been
 exerted in their full force and power by the con-
  tinuance of that prosperous run of fortune which
 attended her for eighteen years of life out of
 nineteen 


 see vol iv letters xxiv 


 


  but now my dear do i apprehend that you
 are in greater danger than ever yet you have been
 in if you are not married in a week and yet stay
 in this abominable house for were you out of it 
 i own i should not be much afraid for you 

 these are my thoughts on the most deliberate
  consideration that he is now convinced that
 he has not been able to draw you off your guard 
 that therefore if he can obtain no new advantage
 over you as he goes along he is resolved to do you
 all the poor justice that it is in the power of such a
 wretch as he to do you he is the rather induced to
 this as he sees that all his own family have warmly
 engaged themselves in your cause and that it is
  his highest interest to be just to you then the
 horrid wretch loves you as well he may above all
 women i have no doubt of this with such a love
  as such a wretch is capable of with such a love as
 herod loved his marianne he is now therefore 
 very probably at last in earnest 

 i took time for inquiries of different natures as
 i knew by the train you are in that whatever his
 designs are they cannot ripen either for good or
  evil till something shall result from this device
 of his about tomlinson and your uncle 

 device i have no doubt that it is whatever this
 dark this impenetrable spirit intends by it 

  and yet i find it to be true that counsellor
 williams whom mr hickman knows to be a man
 of eminence in his profession has actually as good
  as finished the settlements that two draughts of
 them have been made one avowedly to be sent to
 one captain tomlinson as the clerk says and i
 find that a license has actually been more than once
 endeavoured to be obtained and that difficulties
 have hitherto been made equally to lovelace's
  vexation and disappointment my mother's proctor 
 who is very intimate with the proctor applied to
 by the wretch has come at this information in
 confidence and hints that as mr lovelace is a
 man of high fortunes these difficulties will probably
 be got over 

 but here follow the causes of my apprehension of
 your danger which i should not have had a thought
  of since nothing very vile has yet been attempted 
 but on finding what a house you are in and on that
 discovery laying together and ruminating on past
 occurrences 

 you are obliged from the present favourable
  appearances to give him your company whenever
 he requests it you are under a necessity of for-
 getting or seeming to forget past disobligations 
 and to receive his addresses as those of a betrothed
 lover you will incur the censure of prudery and
 affectation even perhaps in your own apprehension 
 if you keep him at that distance which has hitherto
  been your security his sudden and as suddenly
 recovered illness has given him an opportunity to
 find out that you love him  alas my dear i
 knew you loved him   he is as you relate every
  hour more and more an encroacher upon it he
 has seemed to change his nature and is all love and
  gentleness the wolf has put on the sheep's cloth-
 ing yet more than once has shown his teeth and
 his hardly-sheathed claws the instance you have
 given of his freedom with your person which you
 could not but resent and yet as matters are
 circumstanced between you could not but pass
 over when tomlinson's letter called you into his
  company show the advantage he has now over
 you and also that if he can obtain greater he
 will and for this very reason as i apprehend it
  is that tomlinson is introduced that is to say to
 give you the greater security and to be a mediator 
 if mortal offence be given you by any villanous
 attempt the day seems not now to be so much
 in your power as it ought to be since that now
 partly depends on your uncle whose presence at
 your own motion he has wished on the occasion 
 a wish were all real very unlikely i think to be
 granted 


 she means the freedom mr lovelace took with her before the fire-plot 
see vol v letter xi when miss howe wrote this letter she could not
know of that 
 see vol v letter xii 


  and thus situated should he offer greater free-
 doms must you not forgive him 

 i fear nothing as i know who has said that
 devil carnate or incarnate can fairly do against a
  virtue so established but surprizes my dear in
 such a house as you are in and in such circum-
 stances as i have mentioned i greatly fear the
  man one who has already triumphed over persons
 worthy of his alliance 

  what then have you to do but to fly this house 
 this infernal house o that your heart would let
 you fly the man 

  if you should be disposed so to do mrs towns-
 end shall be ready at your command but if you
 meet with no impediments no new causes of doubt 
 i think your reputation in the eye of the world 
  though not your happiness is concerned that you
 should be his and yet i cannot bear that these
 libertines should be rewarded for their villany with
 the best of the sex when the worst of it are too
 good for them 

 but if you meet with the least ground for
 suspicion if he would detain you at the odious
 house or wish you to stay now you know what
  the people are fly him whatever your prospects
 are as well as them 

 in one of your next airings if you have no other
  way refuse to return with him name me for your
 intelligencer that you are in a bad house and if you
 think you cannot now break with him seem rather
  to believe that he may not know it to be so and
 that i do not believe he does and yet this belief
 in us both must appear to be very gross 

 but suppose you desire to go out of town for the
 air this sultry weather and insist upon it you
 may plead your health for so doing he dare not
  resist such a plea your brother's foolish scheme 
 i am told is certainly given up so you need not
 be afraid on that account 

 if you do not fly the house upon reading of this 
 or some way or other get out of it i shall judge of
 his power over you by the little you will have over
 either him or yourself 

  one of my informers has made such slight inquiries
 concerning mrs fretchville did he ever name
 to you the street or square she lived in i don't
  remember that you in any of your's mentioned the
 place of her abode to me strange very strange 
 this i think no such person or house can be
 found near any of the new streets or squares where
 the lights i had from your letters led me to imagine
  her house might be ask him what street the
 house is in if he has not told you and let me
  know if he make a difficulty of that circumstance 
 it will amount to a detection and yet i think 
 you will have enough without this 

 i shall send this long letter by collins who
 changes his day to oblige me and that he may try
 now i know where you are to get it into your
 own hands if he cannot he will leave it at
 wilson's as none of our letters by that convey-
 ance have miscarried when you have been in more
 apparently disagreeable situations than you are in at
 present i hope that this will go safe if collins
 should be obliged to leave it there 

  i wrote a short letter to you in my first agitations 
 it contained not above twenty lines all full of fright 
 alarm and execration but being afraid that my
 vehemence would too much affect you i thought it
 better to wait a little as well for the reasons already
 hinted at as to be able to give you as many par-
 ticulars as i could and my thoughts upon all and
 as they have offered or may offer you will be
 sufficiently armed to resist all his machinations be
 what they will 

  one word more command me up if i can be
 of the least service or pleasure to you i value
 not fame i value not censure nor even life itself 
 i verily think as i do your honour and your friend-
 ship for is not your honour my honour and
 is not your friendship the pride of my life 

 may heaven preserve you my dearest creature 
 in honour and safety is the prayer the hourly
 prayer of

your ever-faithful and affectionate
anna howe 

thursday morn 5 i have
 written all night


 


to miss howe

my dearest creature 

how you have shocked confounded surprised astonished me by your
dreadful communication my heart is too weak to bear up against such a
stroke as this when all hope was with me when my prospects were so
much mended but can there be such villany in men as in this vile
principal and equally vile agent 

i am really ill very ill grief and surprise and now i will say 
despair have overcome me all all you have laid down as conjecture 
appears to me now to be more than conjecture 

o that your mother would have the goodness to permit me the presence of
the only comforter that my afflicted my half-broken heart could be
raised by but i charge you think not of coming up without her
indulgent permission i am too ill at present my dear to think of
combating with this dreadful man and of flying from this horrid house 
my bad writing will show you this but my illness will be my present
security should he indeed have meditated villany forgive o forgive
me my dearest friend the trouble i have given you all must soon but
why add i grief to grief and trouble to trouble but i charge you my
beloved creature not to think of coming up without your mother's love 
to the truly desolate and broken-spirited

clarissa harlowe 


 


well jack and what thinkest thou of this last letter miss howe
values not either fame or censure and thinkest thou that this letter
will not bring the little fury up though she could procure no other
conveyance than her higgler's panniers one for herself the other for
her maid she knows whither to come now many a little villain have i
punished for knowing more than i would have her know and that by adding
to her knowledge and experience what thinkest thou belford if by
getting hither this virago and giving cause for a lamentable letter from
her to the fair fugitive i should be able to recover her would she not
visit that friend in her distress thinkest thou whose intended visit to
her in her's brought her into the condition from which she herself had so
perfidiously escaped 

let me enjoy the thought 

shall i send this letter thou seest i have left room if i fail in the
exact imitation of so charming a hand to avoid too strict a scrutiny 
do they not both deserve it of me seest thou now how the raving girl
threatens her mother ought she not to be punished and can i be a
worse devil or villain or monster that she calls me in the long letter
i enclose and has called me in her former letters were i to punish them
both as my vengeance urges me to punish them and when i have executed
that my vengeance how charmingly satisfied may they both go down into
the country and keep house together and have a much better reason than
their pride could give them for living the single life they have both
seemed so fond of 

i will set about transcribing it this moment i think i can resolve
afterwards yet what has poor hickman done to deserve this of me but
gloriously would it punish the mother as well as daughter for all her
sordid avarice and for her undutifulness to honest mr howe whose heart
she actually broke i am on tiptoe jack to enter upon this project 
is not one country as good to me as another if i should be obliged to
take another tour upon it 


 


but i will not venture hickman is a good man they tell me i love a
good man i hope one of these days to be a good man myself besides i
have heard within this week something of this honest fellow that shows he
has a soul when i thought if he had one that it lay a little of the
deepest to emerge to notice except on very extraordinary occasions and
that then it presently sunk again into its cellula adiposa the man is a
plump man didst ever see him jack 

but the principal reason that withholds me  for tis a tempting project  
is for fear of being utterly blown up if i should not be quick enough
with my letter or if miss howe should deliberate on setting out to try
her mother's consent first in which time a letter from my frighted
beauty might reach her for i have no doubt wherever she has refuged 
but her first work was to write to her vixen friend i will therefore go
on patiently and take my revenge upon the little fury at my leisure 

but in spite of my compassion for hickman whose better character is
sometimes my envy and who is one of those mortals that bring clumsiness
into credit with the mothers to the disgrace of us clever fellows and
often to our disappointment with the daughters and who has been very
busy in assisting these double-armed beauties against me i swear by all
the dii majores as well as minores that i will have miss howe if i
cannot have her more exalted friend and then if there be as much
flaming love between these girls as they pretend will my charmer profit
by her escape 

and now that i shall permit miss howe to reign a little longer let me
ask thee if thou hast not in the enclosed letter a fresh instance 
that a great many of my difficulties with her sister-toast are owing to
this flighty girl tis true that here was naturally a confounded sharp
winter air and if a little cold water was thrown into the path no
wonder that it was instantly frozen and that the poor honest traveller
found it next to impossible to keep his way one foot sliding back as
fast as the other advanced to the endangering of his limbs or neck but
yet i think it impossible that she should have baffled me as she has done
 novice as she is and never before from under her parents' wings had
she not been armed by a virago who was formerly very near showing that
she could better advise than practise but this i believe i have said
more than once before 

i am loth to reproach myself now the cruel creature has escaped me for
what would that do but add to my torment since evils self-caused and
avoidable admit not of palliation or comfort and yet if thou tellest
me that all her strength was owing to my weakness and that i have been
a cursed coward in this whole affair why then jack i may blush and
be vexed but by my soul i cannot contradict thee 

but this belford i hope that if i can turn the poison of the enclosed
letter into wholesome ailment that is to say if i can make use of it to
my advantage i shall have thy free consent to do it 

i am always careful to open covers cautiously and to preserve seals
entire i will draw out from this cursed letter an alphabet nor was
nick rowe ever half so diligent to learn spanish at the quixote
recommendation of a certain peer as i will be to gain the mastery of
this vixen's hand 



letter xxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday evening june 8 


after my last so full of other hopes the contents of this will surprise
you o my dearest friend the man has at last proved himself to be a
villain 

it was with the utmost difficulty last night that i preserved myself from
the vilest dishonour he extorted from me a promise of forgiveness 
and that i would see him next day as if nothing had happened but if it
were possible to escape from a wretch who as i have too much reason to
believe formed a plot to fire the house to frighten me almost naked 
into his arms how could i see him next day 

i have escaped heaven be praised that i have and now have no other
concern than that i fly from the only hope that could have made such a
husband tolerable to me the reconciliation with my friends so agreeably
undertaken by my uncle 

all my present hope is to find some reputable family or person of my
own sex who is obliged to go beyond sea or who lives abroad i care not
whether but if i might choose in some one of our american colonies 
never to be heard of more by my relations whom i have so grievously
offended 

nor let your generous heart be moved at what i write if i can escape
the dreadfullest part of my father's malediction for the temporary part
is already in a manner fulfilled which makes me tremble in
apprehension of the other i shall think the wreck of my worldly
fortunes a happy composition 

neither is there need of the renewal of your so-often-tendered goodness
to me for i have with me rings and other valuables that were sent me
with my clothes which will turn into money to answer all i can want 
till providence shall be pleased to put me into some want to help myself 
if for my further punishment my life is to be lengthened beyond my
wishes 

impute not this scheme my beloved friend either to dejection on one
hand or to that romantic turn on the other which we have supposed
generally to obtain with our sex from fifteen to twenty-two for be
pleased to consider my unhappy situation in the light in which it really
must appear to every considerate person who knows it in the first
place the man who has endeavoured to make me his property will hunt
me as a stray and he knows he may do so with impunity for whom have i
to protect me from him 

then as to my estate the envied estate which has been the original
cause of all my misfortunes it shall never be mine upon litigated terms 
what is there in being enabled to boast that i am worth more than i can
use or wish to use and if my power is circumscribed i shall not have
that to answer for which i should have if i did not use it as i ought 
which very few do i shall have no husband of whose interest i ought to
be so regardful as to prevent me doing more than justice to others that
i may not do less for him if therefore my father will be pleased as i
shall presume in proper time to propose to him to pay two annuities
out of it one to my dear mrs norton which may make her easy for the
remainder of her life as she is now growing into years the other of
50 per annum to the same good woman for the use of my poor as i had
the vanity to call a certain set of people concerning whom she knows all
my mind that so as few as possible may suffer by the consequences of my
error god bless them and give them heart's ease and content with the
rest 

other reasons for my taking the step i have hinted at are these 

this wicked man knows i have no friend in the world but you your
neighbourhood therefore would be the first he would seek for me in were
you to think it possible for me to be concealed in it and in this case
you might be subjected to inconveniencies greater even than those which
you have already sustained on my account 

from my cousin morden were he to come i could not hope protection 
since by his letter to me it is evident that my brother has engaged him
in his party nor would i by any means subject so worthy a man to
danger as might be the case from the violence of this ungovernable
spirit 

these things considered what better method can i take than to go abroad
to some one of the english colonies where nobody but yourself shall know
any thing of me nor you let me tell you presently nor till i am
fixed and if it please god in a course of living tolerably to my mind 
for it is no small part of my concern that my indiscretions have laid so
heavy a tax upon you my dear friend to whom once i hoped to give more
pleasure than pain 

i am at present at one mrs moore's at hampstead my heart misgave me at
coming to this village because i had been here with him more than once 
but the coach hither was so ready a conveniency that i knew not what to
do better then i shall stay here no longer than till i can receive your
answer to this in which you will be pleased to let me know if i cannot
be hid according to your former contrivance  happy had i given into it
at the time   by mrs townsend's assistance till the heat of his search
be over the deptford road i imagine will be the right direction to
hear of a passage and to get safely aboard 

o why was the great fiend of all unchained and permitted to assume so
specious a form and yet allowed to conceal his feet and his talons till
with the one he was ready to trample upon my honour and to strike the
other into my heart and what had i done that he should be let loose
particularly upon me 

forgive me this murmuring question the effect of my impatience my
guilty impatience i doubt for as i have escaped with my honour and
nothing but my worldly prospects and my pride my ambition and my
vanity have suffered in this wretch of my hopefuller fortunes may i not
still be more happy than i deserve to be and is it not in my own power
still by the divine favour to secure the greatest stake of all and
who knows but that this very path into which my inconsideration has
thrown me strewed as it is with briers and thorns which tear in pieces
my gaudier trappings may not be the right path to lead me into the great
road to my future happiness which might have been endangered by evil
communication 

and after all are there not still more deserving persons than i who
never failed in any capital point of duty than have been more humbled
than myself and some too by the errors of parents and relations by the
tricks and baseness of guardians and trustees and in which their own
rashness or folly had no part 

i will then endeavour to make the best of my present lot and join with
me my best my only friend in praying that my punishment may end here 
and that my present afflictions may be sanctified to me 

this letter will enable you to account for a line or two which i sent to
wilson's to be carried to you only for a feint to get his servant out
of the way he seemed to be left as i thought for a spy upon me but
he returning too soon i was forced to write a few lines for him to carry
to his master to a tavern near doctors commons with the same view and
this happily answered my end 

i wrote early in the morning a bitter letter to the wretch which i left
for him obvious enough and i suppose he has it by this time i kept no
copy of it i shall recollect the contents and give you the particulars
of all at more leisure 

i am sure you will approve of my escape the rather as the people of the
house must be very vile for they and that dorcas too did hear me i
know they did cry out for help if the fire had been other than a
villanous plot although in the morning to blind them i pretended to
think it otherwise they would have been alarmed as much as i and have
run in hearing me scream to comfort me supposing my terror was the
fire to relieve me supposing it was any thing else but the vile
dorcas went away as soon as she saw the wretch throw his arms about me 
bless me my dear i had only my slippers and an under-petticoat on i
was frighted out of my bed by her cries of fire and that i should be
burnt to ashes in a moment and she to go away and never to return nor
any body else and yet i heard women's voices in the next room indeed
i did an evident contrivance of them all god be praised i am out of
their house 

my terror is not yet over i can hardly think myself safe every well-
dressed man i see from my windows whether on horseback or on foot i
think to be him 

i know you will expedite an answer a man and horse will be procured me
to-morrow early to carry this to be sure you cannot return an answer
by the same man because you must see mrs townsend first nevertheless 
i shall wait with impatience till you can having no friend but you to
apply to and being such a stranger to this part of the world that i
know not which way to turn myself whither to go nor what to do what a
dreadful hand have i made of it 

mrs moore at whose house i am is a widow and of good character and
of this one of her neighbours of whom i bought a handkerchief purposely
to make inquiry before i would venture informed me 

i will not set my foot out of doors till i have your direction and i am
the more secure having dropt words to the people of the house where the
coach set me down as if i expected a chariot to meet me in my way to
hendon a village a little distance from this and when i left their
house i walked backward and forward upon the hill at first not knowing
what to do and afterwards to be certain that i was not watched before i
ventured to inquire after a lodging 

you will direct for me my dear by the name of mrs harriot lucas 

had i not made my escape when i did i was resolved to attempt it again
and again he was gone to the commons for a license as he wrote me
word for i refused to see him notwithstanding the promise he extorted
from me 

how hard how next to impossible my dear to avoid many lesser
deviations when we are betrayed into a capital one 

for fear i should not get away at my first effort i had apprized him 
that i would not set eye upon him under a week in order to gain myself
time for it in different ways and were i so to have been watched as to
have made it necessary i would after such an instance of the connivance
of the women of the house have run out into the street and thrown
myself into the next house i could have entered or claim protection from
the first person i had met women to desert the cause of a poor creature
of their own sex in such a situation what must they be then such
poor guilty sort of figures did they make in the morning after he was
gone out so earnest to get me up stairs and to convince me by the
scorched window-boards and burnt curtains and vallens that the fire was
real that although i seemed to believe all they would have me believe 
i was more and more resolved to get out of their house at all adventures 

when i began i thought to write but a few lines but be my subject
what it will i know not how to conclude when i write to you it was
always so it is not therefore owing peculiarly to that most interesting
and unhappy situation which you will allow however to engross at
present the whole mind of

your unhappy but ever-affectionate
clarissa harlowe 


letter xxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday morning past two o'clock 


io triumphe io clarissa sing once more what a happy man thy
friend a silly dear novice to be heard to tell the coachman where to
carry her and to go to hampstead of all the villages about london 
the place where we had been together more than once 

methinks i am sorry she managed no better i shall find the recovery of
her too easy a task i fear had she but known how much difficulty
enhances the value of any thing with me and had she the least notion of
obliging me by it she would never have stopt short at hampstead surely 

well but after al this exultation thou wilt ask if i have already got
back my charmer i have not but knowing where she is is almost the
same thing as having her in my power and it delights me to think how
she will start and tremble when i first pop upon her how she will look
with conscious guilt that will more than wipe off my guilt of wednesday
night when she sees her injured lover and acknowledged husband from
whom the greatest of felonies she would have stolen herself 

but thou wilt be impatient to know how i came by my lights read the
enclosed letter as i have told thee i have given my fellow in
apprehension of such an elopement and that will tell thee all and what
i may reasonably expect from the rascal's diligence and management if he
wishes ever to see my face again 

i received it about half an hour ago just as i was going to lie down in
my clothes and it has made me so much alive that midnight as it is i
have sent for a blunt's chariot to attend me here by day peep with my
usual coachman if possible and knowing not what else to do with myself 
i sat down and in the joy of my heart have not only written thus far 
but have concluded upon the measures i shall take when admitted to her
presence for well am i aware of the difficulties i shall have to contend
with from her perverseness 


honnered sir 

this is to sertifie your honner as how i am heer at hamestet where i
have found out my lady to be in logins at one mrs moore's near upon
hamestet-hethe and i have so ordered matters that her ladyship cannot
stur but i must have notice of her goins and comins as i knowed i durst
not look into your honner's fase if i had not found out my lady thoff
she was gone off the prems's in a quarter of an hour as a man may say 
so i knowed you would be glad at hart to know i have found her out and
so i send thiss petur patrick who is to have 5 shillings it being now
near 12 of the clock at nite for he would not stur without a hearty
drink too besides and i was willing all shulde be snug likeways at the
logins before i sent 

i have munny of youre honner's but i thought as how if the man was
payed by me beforend he mought play trix so left that to your honner 

my lady knows nothing of my being hereaway but i thoute it best not to
leve the plase because she has taken the logins but for a fue nites 

if your honner come to the upper flax i will be in site all the day
about the tapp-house or the hethe i have borrowed another cote instead
of your honner's liferie and a blacke wigg so cannot be knoen by my
lady iff as howe she shuld see me and have made as if i had the tooth-
ake so with my hancriffe at my mothe the teth which your honner was
pleased to bett out with your honner's fyste and my dam'd wide mothe as
your honner notifys it to be cannot be knoen to be mine 

the two inner letters i had from my lady before she went off the prems's 
one was to be left at mr wilson's for miss howe the next was
to be for your honner but i knowed you was not at the plase directed 
and being afear'd of what fell out so i kept them for your honner and
so could not give um to you until i seed you miss how's i only made
belief to her ladyship as i carried it and sed as how there was nothing
left for hur as she wished to knoe so here they be bothe 

i am may it please your honner 
your honner's must dutiful 
and wonce more happy servant 
wm summers 


 


the two inner letters as will calls them tis plain were written for
no other purpose but to send him out of the way with them and one of
them to amuse me that directed to miss howe is only this 


thursday june 8 

i write this my dear miss howe only for a feint and to see if it will
go current i shall write at large very soon if not miserably
prevented 

cl h 


 


now jack will not her feints justify mine does she not invade my
province thinkest thou and is it not now fairly come to who shall
most deceive and cheat the other so i thank my stars we are upon a
par at last as to this point which is a great ease to my conscience 
thou must believe and if what hudibras tells us is true the dear
fugitive has also abundance of pleasure to come 

 doubtless the pleasure is as great
 in being cheated as to cheat 
 as lookers-on find most delight 
 who least perceive the juggler's sleight 
 and still the less they understand 
 the more admire the slight of hand 


 


this my dear juggler's letter to me the other inner letter sent by will 


thursday june 8 

mr lovelace 

do not give me cause to dread your return if you would not that i
should hate you for ever send me half a line by the bearer to assure me
that you will not attempt to see me for a week to come i cannot look
you in the face without equal confusion and indignation the obliging me
in this is but a poor atonement for your last night's vile behaviour 

you may pass this time in a journey to lord m s and i cannot doubt if
the ladies of your family are as favourable to me as you have assured me
they are but that you will have interest enough to prevail with one of
them to oblige me with their company after your baseness of last night 
you will not wonder that i insist upon this proof of your future honour 

if captain tomlinson comes mean time i can hear what he has to say and
send you an account of it 

but in less than a week if you see me it must be owing to a fresh act of
violence of which you know not the consequence 

send me the requested line if ever you expect to have the forgiveness
confirmed the promise of which you extorted from

the unhappy
cl h 


 


now belford what canst thou say in behalf of this sweet rogue of a
lady what canst thou say for her tis apparent that she was fully
determined upon an elopement when she wrote it and thus would she make
me of party against myself by drawing me in to give her a week's time to
complete it and more wicked still send me upon a fool's errand to
bring up one of my cousins when we came to have the satisfaction of
finding her gone off and me exposed for ever what punishment can be
bad enough for such a little villain of a lady 

but mind moreover how plausibly she accounts by this billet supposing
she should not find an opportunity of eloping before i returned for the
resolution of not seeing me for a week and for the bread and butter
expedient so childish as we thought it 

the chariot is not come and if it were it is yet too soon for every
thing but my impatience and as i have already taken all my measures 
and can think of nothing but my triumph i will resume her violent
letter in order to strengthen my resolutions against her i was before
in too gloomy a way to proceed with it but now the subject is all alive
to me and my gayer fancy like the sunbeams will irradiate it and turn
the solemn deep-green into a brighter verdure 

when i have called upon my charmer to explain some parts of her letter 
and to atone for others i will send it or a copy of it to thee 

suffice it at present to tell thee in the first place that she is
determined never to be my wife to be sure there ought to be no
compulsion in so material a case compulsion was her parents' fault 
which i have censured so severely that i shall hardly be guilty of the
same i am therefore glad i know her mind as to this essential point 

i have ruined her she says now that's a fib take it her own way if i
had she would not perhaps have run away from me 

she is thrown upon the wide world now i own that hampstead-heath
affords very pretty and very extensive prospects but tis not the wide
world neither and suppose that to be her grievance i hope soon to
restore her to a narrower 

i am the enemy of her soul as well as of her honour confoundedly
severe nevertheless another fib for i love her soul very well but
think no more of it in this case than of my own 

she is to be thrown upon strangers and is not that her own fault much
against my will i am sure 

she is cast from a state of independency into one of obligation she
never was in a state of independency nor is it fit a woman should of
any age or in any state of life and as to the state of obligation 
there is no such thing as living without being beholden to somebody 
mutual obligation is the very essence and soul of the social and
commercial life why should she be exempt from it i am sure the person
she raves at desires not such an exemption has been long dependent upon
her and would rejoice to owe further obligations to her than he can
boast of hitherto 

she talks of her father's curse but have i not repaid him for it an
hundred fold in the same coin but why must the faults of other people
be laid at my door have i not enow of my own 

but the grey-eyed dawn begins to peep let me sum up all 

in short then the dear creature's letter is a collection of invectives
not very new to me though the occasion for them no doubt is new to her 
a little sprinkling of the romantic and contradictory runs through it 
she loves and she hates she encourages me to pursue her by telling me
i safely may and yet she begs i will not she apprehends poverty and
want yet resolves to give away her estate to gratify whom why in
short those who have been the cause of her misfortunes and finally 
though she resolves never to be mine yet she has some regrets at leaving
me because of the opening prospects of a reconciliation with her
friends 

but never did morning dawn so tardily as this neither is the chariot
yet come 


 


a gentleman to speak with me dorcas who can want me thus early 

captain tomlinson sayest thou surely he must have traveled all night 
early riser as i am how could he think to find me up thus early 

let but the chariot come and he shall accompany me in it to the bottom
of the hill though he return to town on foot for the captain is all
obliging goodness that i may hear all he has to say and tell him all
my mind and lose no time 

well now i am satisfied that this rebellious flight will turn to my
advantage as all crushed rebellions do to the advantage of a sovereign
in possession 


 


dear captain i rejoice to see you just in the nick of time see see 

 the rosy-finger'd morn appears 
 and from her mantle shakes her tears 
 the sun arising mortals cheers 
 and drives the rising mists away 
 in promise of a glorious day 

excuse me sir that i salute you from my favourite bard he that rises
with the lark will sing with the lark strange news since i saw you 
captain poor mistaken lady but you have too much goodness i know to
reveal to her uncle harlowe the error of this capricious beauty it will
all turn out for the best you must accompany me part of the way i
know the delight you take in composing differences but tis the task of
the prudent to heal the breaches made by the rashness and folly of the
imprudent 


 


and now all around me so still and so silent the rattling of the
chariot-wheels at a street's distance do i hear and to this angel of a
woman i fly 

reward o god of love  the cause is thy own   reward thou as it
deserves my suffering perseverance succeed my endeavours to bring back
to thy obedience this charming fugitive make her acknowledge her
rashness repent her insults implore my forgiveness beg to be
reinstated in my favour and that i will bury in oblivion the remembrance
of her heinous offence against thee and against me thy faithful votary 


 


the chariot at the door i come i come 

i attend you good captain 

indeed sir 

pray sir civility is not ceremony 


and now dressed as a bridegroom my heart elated beyond that of the most
desiring one attended by a footman whom my beloved never saw i am
already at hampstead 



letter xxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
upper-flask hampstead 
fri morn 7 o'clock june 9 


i am now here and here have been this hour and half what an
industrious spirit have i nobody can say that i eat the bread of
idleness i take true pains for all the pleasure i enjoy i cannot
but admire myself strangely for certainly with this active soul i
should have made a very great figure in whatever station i had filled 
but had i been a prince to be sure i should have made a most noble
prince i should have led up a military dance equal to that of the great
macedonian i should have added kingdom to kingdom and despoiled all
my neighbour sovereigns in order to have obtained the name of robert the
great and i would have gone to war with the great turk and the
persian and mogul for the seraglios for not one of those eastern
monarchs should have had a pretty woman to bless himself with till i had
done with her 

and now i have so much leisure upon my hands that after having informed
myself of all necessary particulars i am set to my short-hand writing in
order to keep up with time as well as i can for the subject is now
become worthy of me and it is yet too soon i doubt to pay my
compliments to my charmer after all her fatigues for two or three days
past and moreover i have abundance of matters preparative to my
future proceedings to recount in order to connect and render all
intelligible 

i parted with the captain at the foot of the hill trebly instructed 
that is to say as to the fact to the probable and to the possible if
my beloved and i can meet and make up without the mediating of this
worthy gentleman it will be so much the better as little foreign aid
as possible in my amorous conflicts has always been a rule with me 
though here i have been obliged to call in so much and who knows but it
may be the better for the lady the less she makes necessary i cannot
bear that she should sit so indifferent to me as to be in earnest to part
with me for ever upon so slight or even upon any occasion if i find
she is but no more threatenings till she is in my power thou knowest
what i have vowed 

all will s account from the lady's flight to his finding her again all
the accounts of the people of the house the coachman's information to
will and so forth collected together stand thus 

the hampstead coach when the dear fugitive came to it had but two
passengers in it but she made the fellow to go off directly paying for
the vacant places 

the two passengers directing the coachman to set them down at the upper
flask she bid him set her down there also 

they took leave of her  very respectfully no doubt   and she went into
the house and asked if she could not have a dish of tea and a room to
herself for half an hour 

they showed her up to the very room where i now am she sat at the very
table i now write upon and i believe the chair i sit in was her's  o
belford if thou knowest what love is thou wilt be able to account for
these minutiae 

she seemed spiritless and fatigued the gentlewoman herself chose to
attend so genteel and lovely a guest she asked her if she would have
bread and butter with her tea 

no she could not eat 

they had very good biscuits 

as she pleased 

the gentlewoman stept out for some and returning on a sudden she
observed the sweet little fugitive endeavouring to restrain a violent
burst of grief to which she had given way in the little interval 

however when the tea came she made the landlady sit down with her 
and asked her abundance of questions about the villages and roads in
the neighbourhood 

the gentlewoman took notice to her that she seemed to be troubled in
mind 

tender spirits she replied could not part with dear friends without
concern 

she meant me no doubt 

she made no inquiry about a lodging though by the sequel thou'lt
observe that she seemed to intend to go no farther that night than
hampstead but after she had drank two dishes and put a biscuit in
her pocket  sweet soul to serve for her supper perhaps   she laid
down half-a-crown and refusing change sighing took leave saying she
would proceed towards hendon the distance to which had been one of her
questions 

they offered to send to know if a hampstead coach were not to go to
hendon that evening 

no matter she said perhaps she might meet the chariot 

another of her feints i suppose for how or with whom could any thing
of this sort have been concerted since yesterday morning 

she had as the people took notice to one another something so
uncommonly noble in her air and in her person and behaviour that they
were sure she was of quality and having no servant with her of either
sex her eyes  her fine eyes the gentlewoman called them stranger as
she was and a woman   being swelled and red they were sure there was an
elopement in the case either from parents or guardians for they
supposed her too young and too maidenly to be a married lady and were
she married no husband would let such a fine young creature to be
unattended and alone nor give her cause for so much grief as seemed to
be settled in her countenance then at times she seemed to be so
bewildered they said that they were afraid she had it in her head to
make away with herself 

all these things put together excited their curiosity and they engaged
a peery servant as they called a footman who was drinking with kit the
hostler at the tap-house to watch all her motions this fellow
reported the following particulars as they re-reported to me 

she indeed went towards hendon passing by the sign of the castle on the
heath then stopping looked about her and down into the valley before
her then turning her face towards london she seemed by the motion of
her handkerchief to her eyes to weep repenting  who knows   the rash
step she had taken and wishing herself back again 

better for her if she do jack once more i say woe be to the girl who
could think of marrying me yet to be able to run away from me and
renounce me for ever 

then continuing on a few paces she stopt again and as if disliking
her road again seeming to weep directed her course back towards
hampstead 

i am glad she wept so much because no heart bursts be the occasion for
the sorrow what it will which has that kindly relief hence i hardly
ever am moved at the sight of these pellucid fugitives in a fine woman 
how often in the past twelve hours have i wished that i could cry most
confoundedly 

she then saw a coach-and-four driving towards her empty she crossed
the path she was in as if to meet it and seemed to intend to speak to
the coachman had he stopt or spoken first he as earnestly looked at
her every one did so who passed her so the man who dogged her was the
less suspected  happy rogue of a coachman hadst thou known whose
notice thou didst engage and whom thou mightest have obliged it was
the divine clarissa harlowe at whom thou gazest mine own clarissa
harlowe but it was well for me that thou wert as undistinguishing as
the beasts thou drovest otherwise what a wild-goose chace had i been
led 

the lady as well as the coachman in short seemed to want resolution 
 the horses kept on  the fellow's head and eyes no doubt turned
behind him   and the distance soon lengthened beyond recall with a
wistful eye she looked after him sighed and wept again as the servant
who then slyly passed her observed 

by this time she had reached the houses she looked up at every one as
she passed now and then breathing upon her bared hand and applying it
to her swelled eyes to abate the redness and dry the tears at last 
seeing a bill up for letting lodgings she walked backwards and forwards
half a dozen times as if unable to determine what to do and then went
farther into the town and there the fellow being spoken to by one of
his familiars lost her for a few minutes but he soon saw her come out
of a linen-drapery shop attended with a servant-maid having as it
proved got that maid-servant to go with her to the house she is now at 


 see letter xxi of this volume 


the fellow after waiting about an hour and not seeing her come out 
returned concluding that she had taken lodgings there 

and here supposing my narrative of the dramatic kind ends act the
first and now begins


act ii
scene hampstead heath continued 
enter my rascal 

will having got at all these particulars by exchanging others as
frankly against them with which i had formerly prepared him both
verbally and in writing i found the people already of my party and
full of good wishes for my success repeating to me all they told him 

but he had first acquainted me with the accounts he had given them of his
lady and me it is necessary that i give thee the particulars of his
tale and i have a little time upon my hands for the maid of the house 
who had been out of an errand tells us that she saw mrs moore  with
whom must be my first business   go into the house of a young gentleman 
within a few doors of her who has a maiden sister miss rawlins by name 
so notified for prudence that none of her acquaintance undertake any
thing of consequence without consulting her 

meanwhile my honest coachman is walking about miss rawlin's door in
order to bring me notice of mrs moore's return to her own house i hope
her gossip's-tale will be as soon told as mine which take as follows 

will told them before i came that his lady was but lately married to
one of the finest gentlemen in the world but that he being very gay
and lively she was mortal jealous of him and in a fit of that sort 
had eloped from him for although she loved him dearly and he doated
upon her as well he might since as they had seen she was the finest
creature that ever the sun shone upon yet she was apt to be very wilful
and sullen if he might take liberty to say so but truth was truth and
if she could not have her own way in every thing would be for leaving
him that she had three or four times played his master such tricks but
with all the virtue and innocence in the world running away to an
intimate friend of her's who though a young lady of honour was but too
indulgent to her in this only failing for which reason his master has
brought her to london lodgings their usual residence being in the
country and that on his refusing to satisfy her about a lady he had
been seen with in st james's park she had for the first time since she
came to town served his master thus whom he had left half-distracted on
this account 

and truly well he might poor gentleman cried the honest folks pitying
me before they saw me 

he told them how he came by his intelligence of her and made himself
such an interest with them that they helped him to a change of clothes
for himself and the landlord at his request privately inquired if the
lady actually remained at mrs moore's and for how long she had taken
the lodgings which he found only to be for a week certain but she had
said that she believed she should hardly stay so long and then it was
that he wrote his letter and sent it by honest peter patrick as thou
hast heard 

when i came my person and dress having answered will s description the
people were ready to worship me i now-and-then sighed now-and-then put
on a lighter air which however i designed should show more of vexation
ill-disguised than of real cheerfulness and they told will it was such
a thousand pities so fine a lady should have such skittish tricks 
adding that she might expose herself to great dangers by them for that
there were rakes every where  lovelaces in every corner jack   and many
about that town who would leave nothing unattempted to get into her
company and although they might not prevail upon her yet might they
nevertheless hurt her reputation and in time estrange the affections
of so fine a gentleman from her 

good sensible people these hey jack 

here landlord one word with you my servant i find has acquainted
you with the reason of my coming this way an unhappy affair landlord 
 a very unhappy affair but never was there a more virtuous woman 

so sir she seems to be a thousand pities her ladyship has such ways 
and to so good-humoured a gentleman as you seem to be sir 

mother-spoilt landlord mother-spoilt that's the thing but
 sighing  i must make the best of it what i want you to do for me is to
lend me a great-coat i care not what it is if my spouse should see me
at a distance she would make it very difficult for me to get at her
speech a great-coat with a cape if you have one i must come upon her
before she is aware 

i am afraid sir i have none fit for such a gentleman as you 

o any thing will do the worse the better 


exit landlord re-enter with two great-coats 

ay landlord this will be best for i can button the cape over the lower
part of my face don't i look devilishly down and concerned landlord 

i never saw a gentleman with a better-natured look tis pity you should
have such trials sir 

i must be very unhappy no doubt of it landlord and yet i am a little
pleased you must needs think that i have found her out before any great
inconvenience has arisen to her however if i cannot break her of these
freaks she'll break my heart for i do love her with all her failings 

the good woman who was within hearing of all this pitied me much 

pray your honour said she if i may be so bold was madam ever a mamma 

no  and i sighed   we have been but a little while married and as i
may say to you it is her own fault that she is not in that way  not a
word of a lie in this jack   but to tell you truth madam she may be
compared to the dog in the manger 

i understand you sir  simpering   she is but young sir i have heard
of one or two such skittish young ladies in my time sir but when
madam is in that way i dare say as she loves you and it would be
strange if she did not all this will be over and she may make the best
of wives 

that's all my hope 

she is a fine lady as i ever beheld i hope sir you won't be too
severe she'll get over all these freaks if once she be a mamma i
warrant 

i can't be severe to her she knows that the moment i see her all
resentment is over with me if she gives me but one kind look 

all this time i was adjusting the horseman's coat and will was putting
in the ties of my wig and buttoning the cape over my chin 


 the fashionable wigs at that time 


i asked the gentlewoman for a little powder she brought me a powder-
box and i slightly shook the puff over my hat and flapt one side of it 
though the lace looked a little too gay for my covering and slouching
it over my eyes shall i be known think you madam 

your honour is so expert sir i wish if i may be so bold your lady
has not some cause to be jealous but it will be impossible if you keep
your laced clothes covered that any body should know you in that dress
to be the same gentleman except they find you out by your clocked
stockings 

well observed can't you landlord lend or sell me a pair of stockings 
that will draw over these i can cut off the feet if they won't go into
my shoes 

he could let me have a pair of coarse but clean stirrup stockings if i
pleased 

the best in the world for the purpose 

he fetch'd them will drew them on and my legs then made a good gouty
appearance 

the good woman smiling wished me success and so did the landlord and
as thou knowest that i am not a bad mimic i took a cane which i
borrowed of the landlord and stooped in the shoulders to a quarter of a
foot less height and stumped away cross to the bowling-green to
practise a little the hobbling gait of a gouty man the landlady
whispered her husband as will tells me he's a good one i warrant him
 i dare say the fault lies not at all of one side while mine host
replied that i was so lively and so good-natured a gentleman that he
did not know who could be angry with me do what i would a sensible
fellow i wish my charmer were of the same opinion 

and now i am going to try if i can't agree with goody moore for lodgings
and other conveniencies for my sick wife 

wife lovelace  methinks thou interrogatest 

yes wife for who knows what cautions the dear fugitive may have given
in apprehension of me 

but has goody moore any other lodgings to let 

yes yes i have taken care of that and find that she has just such
conveniencies as i want and i know that my wife will like them for 
although married i can do every thing i please and that's a bold word 
you know but had she only a garret to let i would have liked it and
been a poor author afraid of arrests and made that my place of refuge 
yet would have made shift to pay beforehand for what i had i can suit
myself to any condition that's my comfort 


 


the widow moore returned say you down down flutterer this
impertinent heart is more troublesome to me than my conscience i think 
 i shall be obliged to hoarsen my voice and roughen my character to
keep up with its puppily dancings 

but let me see shall i be angry or pleased when i am admitted to my
beloved's presence 

angry to be sure has she not broken her word with me at a time too
when i was meditating to do her grateful justice and is not breach of
word a dreadful crime in good folks i have ever been for forming my
judgment of the nature of things and actions not so much from what they
are in themselves as from the character of the actors thus it would be
as odd a thing in such as we to keep our words with a woman as it would
be wicked in her to break her's to us 

seest thou not that this unseasonable gravity is admitted to quell the
palpitations of this unmanageable heart but still it will go on with
its boundings i'll try as i ride in my chariot to tranquilize 

ride bob so little a way 

yes ride jack for am i not lame and will it not look well to have a
lodger who keeps his chariot what widow what servant asks questions
of a man with an equipage 

my coachman as well as my other servant is under will s tuition 

never was there such a hideous rascal as he has made himself the devil
only and his other master can know him they both have set their marks
upon him as to my honour's mark it will never be out of his dam'd wide
mothe as he calls it for the dog will be hanged before he can lose the
rest of his teeth by age 

i am gone 



letter xxiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
hampstead friday night june 9 


now belford for the narrative of narratives i will continue it as i
have opportunity and that so dexterously that if i break off twenty
times thou shalt not discern where i piece my thread 

although grievously afflicted with the gout i alighted out of my chariot
 leaning very hard on my cane with one hand and on my new servant's
shoulder with the other the same instant almost that he had knocked at
the door that i might be sure of admission into the house 

i took care to button my great coat about me and to cover with it even
the pummel of my sword it being a little too gay for my years i knew
not what occasion i might have for my sword i stooped forward blinked
with my eyes to conceal their lustre no vanity in saying that jack my
chin wrapt up for the tooth-ache my slouched laced hat and so much of
my wig as was visible giving me all together the appearance of an
antiquated beau 

my wife i resolved beforehand should have a complication of disorders 

the maid came to the door i asked for her mistress she showed me into
one of the parlours and i sat down with a gouty oh 


enter goody moore 

your servant madam but you must excuse me i cannot well stand i find
by the bill at the door that you have lodgings to let  mumbling my words
as if like my man will i had lost some of my fore-teeth  be pleased
to inform me what they are for i like your situation and i will tell
you my family i have a wife a good old woman older than myself by the
way a pretty deal she is in a bad state of health and is advised into
the hampstead air she will have two maid servants and a footman the
coach or chariot i shall not have them put up both together we can put
up any where and the coachman will be with his horses 

when sir shall you want to come in 

i will take them from this very day and if convenient will bring my
wife in the afternoon 

perhaps sir you would board as well as lodge 

that as you please it will save me the trouble of bringing my cook if
we do and i suppose you have servants who know how to dress a couple of
dishes my wife must eat plain food and i don't love kickshaws 

we have a single lady who will be gone in two or three days she has
one of the best apartments that will then be at liberty 

you have one or two good ones mean time i presume madam just to
receive my wife for we have lost time these damn'd physicians excuse
me madam i am not used to curse but it is owing to the love i have for
my wife they have kept her in hand till they are ashamed to take more
fees and now advise her to the air i wish we had sent her hither at
first but we must now make the best of it 

excuse me madam  for she looked hard at me   that i am muffled up in
this warm weather i am but too sensible that i have left my chamber
sooner that i ought and perhaps shall have a return of my gout for it 
i came out thus muffled up with a dreadful pain in my jaws an ague in
them i believe but my poor dear will not be satisfied with any body's
care but mine and as i told thee we have lost time 

you shall see what accommodations i have if you please sir but i
doubt you are too lame to walk up stairs 

i can make shift to hobble up now i have rested a little i'll just look
upon the apartment my wife is to have any thing may do for the
servants and as you seem to be a good sort of gentlewoman i shan't
stand for a price and will pay well besides for the trouble i shall
give 

she led the way and i helping myself by the banisters made shift to
get up with less fatigue than i expected from ancles so weak but oh 
jack what was sixtus the vth s artful depression of his natural powers
to mine when as this half-dead montalto he gaped for the pretendedly
unsought pontificate and the moment he was chosen leapt upon the
prancing beast which it was thought by the amazed conclave he was not
able to mount without help of chairs and men never was there a more
joyful heart and lighter heels than mine joined together yet both denied
their functions the one fluttering in secret ready to burst its bars
for relief-ful expression the others obliged to an hobbling motion 
when unrestrained they would in their master's imagination have
mounted him to the lunar world without the help of a ladder 

there were three rooms on a floor two of them handsome and the third 
she said still handsomer but the lady was in it 

i saw i saw she was for as i hobbled up crying out upon my weak
ancles in the hoarse mumbling voice i had assumed i beheld a little
piece of her as she just cast an eye with the door a-jar as they call
it to observe who was coming up and seeing such an old clumsy fellow 
great coated in weather so warm slouched and muffled up she withdrew 
shutting the door without any emotion but it was not so with me for
thou canst not imagine how my heart danced to my mouth at the very
glimpse of her so that i was afraid the thump thump thumping villain 
which had so lately thumped as much to no purpose would have choked me 

i liked the lodging well and the more as she said the third room was
still handsomer i must sit down madam  and chose the darkest part of
the room  won't you take a seat yourself no price shall part us but i
will leave the terms to you and my wife if you please and also whether
for board or not only please to take this for earnest putting a guinea
into her hand and one thing i will say my poor wife loves money but is
not an ill-natured woman she was a great fortune to me but as the real
estate goes away at her death i would fain preserve her for that reason 
as well as for the love i bear her as an honest man but if she makes
too close a bargain with you tell me and unknown to her i will make
it up this is my constant way she loves to have her pen'orths and i
would not have her vexed or made uneasy on any account 

she said i was a very considerate gentleman and upon the condition i
had mentioned she was content to leave the terms to my lady 

but madam cannot a body just peep into the other apartment that i may
be more particular to my wife in the furniture of it 

the lady desires to be private sir but and was going to ask her leave 

i caught hold of her arm however stay stay madam it mayn't be
proper if the lady loves to be private don't let me intrude upon the
lady 

no intrusion sir i dare say the lady is good-humoured she will be so
kind as to step down into the parlour i dare say as she stays so
little a while i am sure she will not wish to stand in my way 

no madam that's true if she be good-humoured as you say has she been
with you long madam 

she came but yesterday sir 

i believe i just now saw the glimpse of her she seems to be an elderly
lady 

no sir you're mistaken she's a young lady and one of the handsomest
i ever saw 

cot so i beg her pardon not but that i should have liked her the
better were she to stay longer if she had been elderly i have a
strange taste madam you'll say but i really for my wife's sake love
every elderly woman indeed i ever thought age was to be reverenced 
which made me taking the fortune into the scale too that i own make my
addresses to my present dear 

very good of you sir to respect age we all hope to live to be old 

right madam but you say the lady is beautiful now you must know 
that though i choose to converse with the elderly yet i love to see a
beautiful young woman just as i love to see fine flowers in a garden 
there's no casting an eye upon her is there without her notice for in
this dress and thus muffled up about my jaws i should not care to be
seen any more than she let her love privacy as much as she will 

i will go and ask if i may show a gentleman the apartment sir and as
you are a married gentleman and not over young she'll perhaps make the
less scruple 

then like me she loves elderly folks best perhaps but it may be she
has suffered by young ones 

i fancy she has sir or is afraid she shall she desired to be very
private and if by description inquired after to be denied 

thou art a true woman goody moore thought i 

good lack good lack what may be her story then i pray 

she is pretty reserved in her story but to tell you my thoughts i
believe love is in the case she is always in tears and does not much
care for company 

nay madam it becomes not me to dive into ladies' secrets i want not to
pry into other people's affairs but pray how does she employ
herself yet she came but yesterday so you can't tell 

writing continually sir 

these women jack when you ask them questions by way of information 
don't care to be ignorant of any thing 

nay excuse me madam i am very far from being an inquisitive man but
if her case be difficult and not merely love as she is a friend of
your's i would give her my advice 

then you are a lawyer sir 

why indeed madam i was some time at the bar but i have long left
practice yet am much consulted by my friends in difficult points in a
pauper case i frequently give money but never take any from the richest 

you are a very good gentleman then sir 

ay madam we cannot live always here and we ought to do what good we
can but i hate to appear officious if the lady stay any time and
think fit upon better acquaintance to let me into her case it may be a
happy day for her if i find it a just one for you must know that when
i was at the bar i never was such a sad fellow as to undertake for the
sake of a paltry fee to make white black and black white for what
would that have been but to endeavour to establish iniquity by quirks 
while i robbed the innocent 

you are an excellent gentleman sir i wish  and then she sighed  i had
had the happiness to know there was such a lawyer in the world and to
have been acquainted with him 

come come mrs moore i think your name is it may not be too late 
when you and i are better acquainted i may help you perhaps but
mention nothing of this to the lady for as i said i hate to appear
officious 

this prohibition i knew if goody moore answered the specimen she had
given of her womanhood would make her take the first opportunity to
tell were it to be necessary to my purpose that she should 

i appeared upon the whole so indifferent about seeing the room or the
lady that the good woman was the more eager i should see both and the
rather as i to stimulate her declared that there was more required in
my eye to merit the character of a handsome woman than most people
thought necessary and that i had never seen six truly lovely women in my
life 

to be brief she went in and after a little while came out again the
lady sir is retired to her closet so you may go in and look at the
room 

then how my heart began again to play its pug's tricks 

i hobbled in and stumped about and liked it very much and was sure my
wife would i begged excuse for sitting down and asked who was the
minister of the place if he were a good preacher who preached at the
chapel and if he were a good preacher and a good liver too madam i
must inquire after that for i love but i must needs say that the
clergy should practise what they preach 

very right sir but that is not so often the case as were to be wished 

more's the pity madam but i have a great veneration for the clergy in
general it is more a satire upon human nature than upon the cloth if
we suppose those who have the best opportunities to do good less perfect
than other people for my part i don't love professional any more than
national reflections but i keep the lady in her closet my gout makes
me rude 

then up from my seat stumped i what do you call these window-curtains 
madam 

stuff-damask sir 

it looks mighty well truly i like it better than silk it is warmer
to be sure and much fitter for lodgings in the country especially for
people in years the bed is in a pretty state 

it is neat and clean sir that's all we pretend to 

ay mighty well very well a silk camblet i think very well truly i
am sure my wife will like it but we would not turn the lady out of her
lodgings for the world the other two apartments will do for us at
present 

then stumping towards the closet over the door of which hung a
picture what picture is that oh i see a st cecilia 

a common print sir 

pretty well pretty well it is after an italian master i would not
for the world turn the lady out of her apartment we can make shift with
the other two repeated i louder still but yet mumblingly hoarse for i
had as great regard to uniformity in accent as to my words 

o belford to be so near my angel think what a painful constraint i was
under 

i was resolved to fetch her out if possible and pretending to be
going you can't agree as to any time mrs moore when we can have this
third room can you not that  whispered i loud enough to be heard in
the next room not that  i would incommode the lady but i would tell my
wife when abouts and women you know mrs moore love to have every
thing before them of this nature 

mrs moore said my charmer  and never did her voice sound so harmonious
to me oh how my heart bounded again it even talked to me in a
manner for i thought i heard as well as felt its unruly flutters and
every vein about me seemed a pulse mrs moore  you may acquaint the
gentleman that i shall stay here only for two or three days at most 
till i receive an answer to a letter i have written into the country and
rather than be your hindrance i will take up with any apartment a pair
of stairs higher 

not for the world not for the world young lady cried i my wife as
i love her should lie in a garret rather than put such a considerate
young lady as you seem to be to the least inconveniency 

she opened not the door yet and i said but since you have so much
goodness madam if i could but just look into the closet as i stand i
could tell my wife whether it is large enough to hold a cabinet she much
values and ill have with her wherever she goes 

then my charmer opened the door and blazed upon me as it were in a
flood of light like what one might imagine would strike a man who born
blind had by some propitious power been blessed with his sight all at
once in a meridian sun 

upon my soul i never was so strangely affected before i had much ado
to forbear discovering myself that instant but hesitatingly and in
great disorder i said looking into the closet and around it there is
room i see for my wife's cabinet and it has many jewels in it of high
price but upon my soul  for i could not forbear swearing like a
puppy habit is a cursed thing jack   nothing so valuable as a lady i
see can be brought into it 

she started and looked at me with terror the truth of the compliment 
as far as i know had taken dissimulation from my accent 

i saw it was impossible to conceal myself longer from her any more than
 from the violent impulses of my passion to forbear manifesting myself 
i unbuttoned therefore my cape i pulled off my flapt slouched hat i
threw open my great coat and like the devil in milton  an odd
comparison though   

 i started up in my own form divine 
 touch'd by the beam of her celestial eye 
 more potent than ithuriel's spear 

now belford for a similitude now for a likeness to illustrate the
surprising scene and the effect it had upon my charmer and the
gentlewoman but nothing was like it or equal to it the plain fact
can only describe it and set it off thus then take it 

she no sooner saw who it was than she gave three violent screams and 
before i could catch her in my arms as i was about to do the moment i
discovered myself down she sunk at my feet in a fit which made me
curse my indiscretion for so suddenly and with so much emotion 
revealing myself 

the gentlewoman seeing so strange an alteration in my person and
features and voice and dress cried out murder help murder help by
turns for half a dozen times running this alarmed the house and up
ran two servant maids and my servant after them i cried out for water
and hartshorn and every one flew a different way one of the maids as
fast down as she came up while the gentlewoman ran out of one room into
another and by turns up and down the apartment we were in without
meaning or end wringing her foolish hands and not knowing what she did 

up then came running a gentleman and his sister fetched and brought in
by the maid who had run down and having let in a cursed crabbed old
wretch hobbling with his gout and mumbling with his hoarse
broken-toothed voice who was metamorphosed all at once into a lively 
gay young fellow with a clear accent and all his teeth she would have
it that i was neither more nor less than the devil and could not keep
her eye from my foot expecting no doubt every minute to see it
discover itself to be cloven 

for my part i was so intent upon restoring my angel that i regarded
nobody else and at last she slowly recovering motion with bitter
sighs and sobs only the whites of her eyes however appearing for some
moments i called upon her in the tenderest accent as i kneeled by her 
my arm supporting her head my angel my charmer my clarissa look upon
me my dearest life i am not angry with you i will forgive you my
best beloved 

the gentleman and his sister knew not what to make of all this and the
less when my fair-one recovering her sight snatched another look at
me and then again groaned and fainted away 

i threw up the closet-sash for air and then left her to the care of the
young gentlewoman the same notable miss rawlins who i had heard of at
the flask and to that of mrs moore who by this time had recovered
herself and then retiring to one corner of the room i made my servant
pull off my gouty stockings brush my hat and loop it up into the usual
smart cock 

i then stept to the closet to mr rawlins whom in the general
confusion i had not much minded before sir said i you have an
uncommon scene before you the lady is my wife and no gentleman's
presence is necessary here but my own 

i beg pardon sir if the lady be your wife i have no business here 
but sir by her concern at seeing you 

pray sir none of your if's and but's i beseech you nor your concern
about the lady's concern you are a very unqualified judge in this
cause and i beg of you sir to oblige me with your absence the women
only are proper to be present on this occasion added i and i think
myself obliged to them for their care and kind assistance 

tis well he made not another word for i found my choler begin to rise 
i could not bear that the finest neck and arms and foot in the world 
should be exposed to the eyes of any man living but mine 

i withdrew once more from the closet finding her beginning to recover 
lest the sight of me too soon should throw her back again 

the first words she said looking round her with great emotion were oh 
hide me hide me is he gone oh hide me is he gone 

sir said miss rawlins coming to me with an air both peremptory and
assured this is some surprising case the lady cannot bear the sight of
you what you have done is best known to yourself but another such fit
will probably be her last it would be but kind therefore for you to
retire 

it behoved me to have so notable a person of my party and the rather as
i had disobliged her impertinent brother 

the dear creature said i may well be concerned to see me if you 
madam had a husband who loved you as i love her you would not i am
confident fly from him and expose yourself to hazards as she does
whenever she has not all her way and yet with a mind not capable of
intentional evil but mother-spoilt this is her fault and all her
fault and the more inexcusable it is as i am the man of her choice and
have reason to think she loves me above all the men in the world 

here jack was a story to support to the lady face to face too 


 and here belford lest thou through inattention should be surprised
at my assurance let me remind thee and that thus by way of marginal
observation that i may not break in upon my narrative that this my
intrepidity concerted as i have from time to time acquainted thee in
apprehension of such an event as has fallen out for had not the dear
creature already passed for my wife before no less than four worthy
gentlemen of family and fortune and before mrs sinclair and her
household and miss partington and had she not agreed to her uncle's
expedient that she should pass for such from the time of mr hickman's
application to that uncle and that the worthy capt tomlinson should
be allowed to propagate that belief as he had actually reported to two
families they possibly to more purposely that it might come to the
ears of james harlowe and serve for a foundation for uncle john to build
his reconciliation-scheme upon  and canst thou think that nothing was
meant by all this contrivance and that i am not still further prepared
to support my story 

 see vol iv letter iv towards the conclusion 
 ibid letter xvi 
 ibid 

indeed i little thought at the time that i formed these precautionary
schemes that she would ever have been able if willing to get out of my
hands all that i hoped i should have occasion to have recourse to them
for was only in case i should have the courage to make the grand
attempt and should succeed in it to bring the dear creature  and this
out of tenderness to her for what attention did i ever yet pay to the
grief the execrations the tears of a woman i had triumphed over   to
bear me in her sight to expostulate with me to be pacified by my pleas 
and by my own future hopes founded upon the reconciliatory-project upon
my reiterated vows and upon the captain's assurances since in that
case to forgive me to have gone on with me for a week would have been
to forgive me to have gone on with me for ever and that had my
eligible life of honour taken place her trials would all have been then
over and she would have known nothing but gratitude love and joy to
the end of one of our lives for never would i never could i have
abandoned such an admirable creature as this thou knowest i never was a
sordid villain to any of her inferiors her inferiors i may say for who
is not her inferior 


you speak like a gentleman you look like a gentleman said miss
rawlins but sir this is a strange case the lady sees to dread the
sight of you 

no wonder madam taking her a little on one side nearer to mrs moore 
i have three times already forgiven the dear creature but this is
jealousy there is a spice of that in it and of phrensy too  whispered
i that it might have the face of a secret and of consequence the more
engage their attention  but our story is too long 

i then made a motion to go to my beloved but they desired that i would
walk into the next room and they would endeavour to prevail upon her to
lie down 

i begged that they would not suffer her to talk for that she was
accustomed to fits and when in this way would talk of any thing that
came uppermost and the more she was suffered to run on the worse she
was and if not kept quiet would fall into ravings which might possibly
hold her a week 

they promised to keep her quiet and i withdrew into the next room 
ordering every one down but mrs moore and miss rawlins 

she was full of exclamations unhappy creature miserable ruined and
undone she called herself wrung her hands and begged they would assist
her to escape from the terrible evils she should otherwise be made to
suffer 

they preached patience and quietness to her and would have had her to
lie down but she refused sinking however into an easy chair for she
trembled so she could not stand 

by this time i hoped that she was enough recovered to bear a presence
that it behoved me to make her bear and fearing she would throw out
something in her exclamations that would still more disconcert me i
went into the room again 

o there he is said she and threw her apron over her face i cannot see
him i cannot look upon him begone begone touch me not 

for i took her struggling hand beseeching her to be pacified and
assuring her that i would make all up with her upon her own terms and
wishes 

base man said the violent lady i have no wishes but never to behold
you more why must i be thus pursued and haunted have you not made me
miserable enough already despoiled of all succour and help and of
every friend i am contented to be poor low and miserable so i may
live free from your persecutions 

miss rawlins stared at me  a confident slut this miss rawlins thought
i  so did mrs moore i told you so whispering said i turning to the
women shaking my head with a face of great concern and pity and then to
my charmer my dear creature how you rave you will not easily recover
from the effects of this violence have patience my love be pacified 
and we will coolly talk this matter over for you expose yourself as
well as me these ladies will certainly think you have fallen among
robbers and that i am the chief of them 

so you are so you are stamping her face still covered  she thought of
wednesday night no doubt  and sighing as if her heart were breaking 
she put her hand to her forehead i shall be quite distracted 

i will not my dearest love uncover your face you shall not look upon
me since i am so odious to you but this is a violence i never thought
you capable of 

and i would have pressed her hand as i held it with my lips but she
drew it from me with indignation 

unhand me sir said she i will not be touched by you leave me to my
fate what right what title have you to persecute me thus 

what right what title my dear but this is not a time i have a letter
from captain tomlinson here it is offering it to her 

i will receive nothing from your hands tell me not of captain
tomlinson tell me not of any body you have no right to invade me thus 
once more leave me to my fate have you not made me miserable enough 

i touched a delicate string on purpose to set her in such a passion
before the women as might confirm the intimation i had given of a
phrensical disorder 

what a turn is here lately so happy nothing wanting but a
reconciliation between you and your friends that reconciliation in such
a happy train shall so slight so accidental an occasion be suffered to
overturn all our happiness 

she started up with a trembling impatience her apron falling from her
indignant face now said she that thou darest to call the occasion
slight and accidental and that i am happily out of thy vile hands and
out of a house i have reason to believe as vile traitor and wretch as
thou art i will venture to cast an eye upon thee and oh that it were
in my power in mercy to my sex to look thee first into shame and
remorse and then into death 

this violent tragedy-speech and the high manner in which she uttered it 
had its desired effect i looked upon the women and upon her by turns 
with a pitying eye and they shook their wise heads and besought me to
retire and her to lie down to compose herself 

this hurricane like other hurricanes was presently allayed by a shower 
she threw herself once more into her armed chair and begged pardon of
the women for her passionate excess but not of me yet i was in hopes 
that when compliments were stirring i should have come in for a share 

indeed ladies said i  with assurance enough thou'lt say   this
violence is not natural to my beloved's temper misapprehension 

misapprehension wretch and want i excuses from thee 

by what a scorn was every lovely feature agitated 

then turning her face from me i have not patience o thou guileful
betrayer to look upon thee begone begone with a face so
unblushing how darest thou appear in my presence 

i thought then that the character of a husband obliged me to be angry 

you may one day madam repent this treatment by my soul you may you
know i have not deserved it of you you know i have not 

do i know you have not wretch do i know 

you do madam and never did man of my figure and consideration  i
thought it was proper to throw that in  meet with such treatment 

she lifted up her hands indignation kept her silent 

but all is of a piece with the charge you bring against me of despoiling
you of all succour and help of making you poor and low and with other
unprecedented language i will only say before these two gentlewomen 
that since it must be so and since your former esteem for me is turned
into so riveted an aversion i will soon very soon make you entirely
easy i will be gone i will leave you to your own fate as you call
it and may that be happy only that i may not appear to be a spoiler 
a robber indeed let me know whither i shall send your apparel and every
thing that belongs to you and i will send it 

send it to this place and assure me that you will never molest me more 
never more come near me and that is all i ask of you 

i will do so madam said i with a dejected air but did i ever think i
should be so indifferent to you however you must permit me to insist
on your reading this letter and on your seeing captain tomlinson and
hearing what he has to say from your uncle he will be here by-and-by 

don't trifle with me said she in an imperious tone do as you offer i
will not receive any letter from your hands if i see captain tomlinson 
it shall be on his own account not on your's you tell me you will send
me my apparel if you would have me believe any thing you say let this
be the test of your sincerity leave me now and send my things 

the women started they did nothing but stare and appeared to be more
and more at a loss what to make of the matter between us 

i pretended to be going from her in a pet but when i had got to the
door i turned back and as if i had recollected myself one word more 
my dearest creature charming even in your anger o my fond soul said
i turning half round and pulling out my handkerchief 

i believe jack my eyes did glisten a little i have no doubt but they
did the women pitied me honest souls they showed they had each of
them a handkerchief as well as i so has thou not observed to give a
familiar illustration every man in a company of a dozen or more 
obligingly pull out his watch when some one has asked what's o'clock 
as each man of a like number if one talks of his beard will fall to
stroking his chin with his four fingers and thumb 

one word only madam repeated i as soon as my voice had recovered its
tone i have represented to captain tomlinson in the most favourable
light the cause of our present misunderstanding you know what your
uncle insists upon and with which you have acquiesced the letter in my
hand  and again i offered it to her   will acquaint you with what you
have to apprehend from your brother's active malice 

she was going to speak in a high accent putting the letter from her 
with an open palm nay hear me out madam the captain you know has
reported our marriage to two different persons it is come to your
brother's ears my own relations have also heard of it letters were
brought me from town this morning from lady betty lawrance and miss
montague here they are  i pulled them out of my pocket and offered
them to her with that of the captain but she held back her still open
palm that she might not receive them   reflect madam i beseech you 
reflect upon the fatal consequences with which this your high
resentment may be attended 

ever since i knew you said she i have been in a wilderness of doubt
and error i bless god that i am out of your hands i will transact for
myself what relates to myself i dismiss all your solicitude for me 
am i not my own mistress have you any title 

the women stared  the devil stare ye thought i can ye do nothing but
stare   it was high time to stop her here 

i raised my voice to drown her's you used my dearest creature to have
a tender and apprehensive heart you never had so much reason for such a
one as now 

let me judge for myself upon what i shall see not upon what i shall
hear do you think i shall ever 

i dreaded her going on i must be heard madam raising my voice still
higher you must let me read one paragraph or two out of this letter to
you if you will not read it yourself 

begone from me man begone from me with thy letters what pretence
hast thou for tormenting me thus what right what title 

dearest creature what questions you ask questions that you can as well
answer yourself 

i can i will and thus i answer them 

still louder i raised my voice she was overborne sweet soul it
would be hard thought i  and yet i was very angry with her   if such a
spirit as thine cannot be brought to yield to such a one as mine 

i lowered my voice on her silence all gentle all intreative my
accent my head bowed one hand held out the other on my honest heart 
 for heaven's sake my dearest creature resolve to see captain
tomlinson with temper he would have come along with me but i was
willing to try to soften your mind first on this fatal misapprehension 
and this for the same of your own wishes for what is it otherwise to
me whether your friends are or are not reconciled to us do i want
any favour from them for your own mind's sake therefore frustrate not
captain tomlinson's negociation that worthy gentleman will be here in
the afternoon lady betty will be in town with my cousin montague in a
day or two they will be your visiters i beseech you do not carry this
misunderstanding so far as that lord m and lady betty and lady sarah 
may know it  how considerable this made me look to the women   lady
betty will not let you rest till you consent to accompany her to her own
seat and to that lady may you safely intrust your cause 

again upon my pausing a moment she was going to break out i liked not
the turn of her countenance nor the tone of her voice and thinkest
thou base wretch  were the words she did utter i again raised my
voice and drowned her's base wretch madam you know that i have not
deserved the violent names you have called me words so opprobrious from
a mind so gentle but this treatment is from you madam from you whom
i love more than my own soul by that soul i swear that i do  the
women looked upon each other they seemed pleased with my ardour women 
whether wives maids or widows love ardours even miss howe thou
knowest speaks up for ardours   nevertheless i must say that you
have carried matters too far for the occasion i see you hate me 


 see vol iv letters xxix and xxxiv 


she was just going to speak if we are to separate for ever in a strong
and solemn voice proceeded i this island shall not long be troubled
with me mean time only be pleased to give these letters a perusal and
consider what is to be said to your uncle's friend and what he is to say
to your uncle any thing will i come into renounce me if you will 
that shall make for your peace and for the reconciliation your heart was
so lately set upon but i humbly conceive that it is necessary that you
should come into better temper with me were it but to give a favourable
appearance to what has passed and weight to any future application to
your friends in whatever way you shall think proper to make it 

i then put the letters into her lap and retired into the next apartment
with a low bow and a very solemn air 

i was soon followed by the two women mrs moore withdrew to give the
fair perverse time to read them miss rawlins for the same reason and
because she was sent for home 

the widow besought her speedy return i joined in the same request and
she was ready enough to promise to oblige us 

i excused myself to mrs moore for the disguise i had appeared in at
first and for the story i had invented i told her that i held myself
obliged to satisfy her for the whole floor we were upon and for an upper
room for my servant and that for a month certain 

she made many scruples and begged she might not be urged on this head 
till she had consulted miss rawlins 

i consented but told her that she had taken my earnest and i hoped
there was no room for dispute 

just then miss rawlins returned with an air of eager curiosity and
having been told what had passed between mrs moore and me she gave
herself airs of office immediately which i humoured plainly perceiving
that if i had her with me i had the other 

she wished if there were time for it and if it were not quite
impertinent in her to desire it that i would give mrs moore and her a
brief history of an affair which as she said bore the face of novelty 
mystery and surprise for sometimes it looked to her as if we were
married at other times that point appeared doubtful and yet the lady
did not absolutely deny it but upon the whole thought herself highly
injured 

i said that our's was a very particular case that were i to acquaint
them with it some part of it would hardly appear credible but 
however as they seemed hardly to be persons of discretion i would give
them a brief account of the whole and this in so plain and sincere a
manner that it should clear up to their satisfaction every thing that
had passed or might hereafter pass between us 

they sat down by me and threw every feature of their faces into
attention i was resolved to go as near the truth as possible lest any
thing should drop from my spouse to impeach my veracity and yet keep in
view what passed at the flask 

it is necessary although thou knowest my whole story and a good deal of
my views that thou shouldst be apprized of the substance of what i told
them 

i gave them in as concise a manner as i was able this history of our
families fortunes alliances antipathies her brother's and mine
particularly i averred the truth of our private marriage  the
captain's letter which i will enclose will give thee my reasons for
that and besides the women might have proposed a parson to me by way
of compromise i told them the condition my spouse had made me swear
to and to which she held me in order i said to induce me the sooner
to be reconciled to her relations 

i owned that this restraint made me sometimes ready to fly out  and
mrs moore was so good as to declare that she did not much wonder at it 

thou art a very good sort of woman mrs moore thought i 

as miss howe has actually detected our mother and might possibly find
some way still to acquaint her friend with her discoveries i thought it
proper to prepossess them in favour of mrs sinclair and her two nieces 

i said they were gentlewomen born that they had not bad hearts that
indeed my spouse did not love them they having once taken the liberty to
blame her for her over-niceness with regard to me people i said even
good people who knew themselves to be guilty of a fault they had no
inclination to mend were too often least patient when told of it as
they could less bear than others to be thought indifferently of 

too often the case they owned 

mrs sinclair's house was a very handsome house and fit to receive the
first quality  true enough jack   mrs sinclair was a woman very easy
in her circumstances a widow gentlewoman as you mrs moore are 
lets lodgings as you mrs moore do once had better prospects as you 
mrs moore may have had the relict of colonel sinclair you mrs 
moore might know colonel sinclair he had lodgings at hampstead 

she had heard of the name 

oh he was related to the best families in scotland and his widow is
not to be reflected upon because she lets lodgings you know mrs moore 
you know miss rawlins 

very true and very true and they must needs say it did not look quite
so pretty in such a lady as my spouse to be so censorious 

a foundation here thought i to procure these women's help to get back
the fugitive or their connivance at least at my doing so as well as
for anticipating any future information from miss howe 

i gave them a character of that virago and intimated that for a head
to contrive mischief and a heart to execute it she had hardly her equal
in her sex 

to this miss howe it was mrs moore said she supposed that my spouse
was so desirous to dispatch a man and horse by day-dawn with a letter
she wrote before she went to bed last night proposing to stay no longer
than till she had received an answer to it 

the very same said i i knew she would have immediate recourse to her 
i should have been but too happy could i have prevented such a letter
from passing or so to have it managed as to have it given into mrs 
howe's hands instead of her daughter's women who had lived some time
in the world knew better than to encourage such skittish pranks in young
wives 

let me just stop to tell thee while it is in my head that i have since
given will his cue to find out where the man lives who is gone with the
fair fugitive's letter and if possible to see him on his return 
before he sees her 

i told the women i despaired that it would ever be better with us while
miss howe had so strange an ascendancy over my spouse and remained
herself unmarried and until the reconciliation with her friends could
be effected or a still happier event as i should think it who am the
last male of my family and which my foolish vow and her rigour had
hitherto' 

here i stopt and looked modest turning my diamond ring round my finger 
while goody moore looked mighty significant calling it a very particular
case and the maiden fanned away and primm'd and purs'd to show that
what i had said needed no farther explanantion 

i told them the occasion of our present difference i avowed the
reality of the fire but owned that i would have made no scruple of
breaking the unnatural oath she had bound me in having a husband's
right on my side when she was so accidentally frighted into my arms 
and i blamed myself excessively that i did not since she thought fit to
carry her resentment so high and had the injustice to suppose the fire
to be a contrivance of mine 

nay for that matter mrs moore said as we were married and madam was
so odd every gentleman would not and stopt there mrs moore 

to suppose i should have recourse to such a poor contrivance said i 
when i saw the dear creature every hour  was not this a bold put jack 

a most extraordinary case truly cried the maiden fanning yet coming
in with her well-but's and her sifting pray sir's and her
restraining enough sir's flying from the question to the question her
seat now-and-then uneasy for fear my want of delicacy should hurt her
abundant modesty and yet it was difficult to satisfy her super-abundant
curiosity 

my beloved's jealousy  and jealousy of itself to female minds 
accounts for a thousand unaccountablenesses   and the imputation of her
half-phrensy brought upon her by her father's wicked curse and by the
previous persecutions she had undergone from all her family were what i
dwelt upon in order to provide against what might happen 

in short i owned against myself most of the offences which i did not
doubt but she would charge me with in their hearing and as every cause
has a black and white side i gave the worst parts of our story the
gentlest turn and when i had done acquainted them with some of the
contents of that letter of captain tomlinson which i left with the lady 
i concluded with james harlowe and of captain singleton or of any
sailor-looking men 

this thou wilt see from the letter itself was necessary to be done 
here therefore thou mayest read it and a charming letter to my
purpose wilt thou find it to be if thou givest the least attention to
its contents 


to robert lovelace esq 
wedn june 7 

dear sir 

although i am obliged to be in town to-morrow or next day at farthest 
yet i would not dispense with writing to you by one of my servants 
 whom i send up before upon a particular occasion in order to advertise
you that it is probable you will hear from some of your own relations on
your  supposed   nuptials one of the persons mr lilburne by name 
to whom i hinted my belief of your marriage happens to be acquainted
with mr spurrier lady betty lawrance's steward and not being under
any restriction mentioned it to mr spurrier and he to lady betty as a
thing certain and this though i have not the honour to be personally
known to her ladyship brought on an inquiry from her ladyship to me by
her gentleman who coming to me in company with mr lilburne i had no
way but to confirm the report and i understand that lady betty takes
it amiss that she was not acquainted with so desirable a piece of news
from yourself 


 what is between hooks     thou mayest suppose jack i sunk upon the
women in the account i gave them of the contents of this letter 


her ladyship it seems has business that calls her to town  and you will
possibly choose to put her right if you do it will i presume be in
confidence that nothing may transpire from your own family to contradict
what i have given out  

 i have ever been of opinion that truth ought to be strictly adhered to
on all occasions and am concerned that i have though with so good a
view departed from my old maxim but my dear friend mr john harlowe
would have it so yet i never knew a departure of this kind a single
departure but to make the best of it now allow me sir once more to
beg the lady as soon as possible to authenticate the report given out  
when both you and the lady join in the acknowledgement of your marriage 
it will be impertinent in any one to be inquisitive as to the day or
week  and if as privately celebrated as you intend while the
gentlewomen with whom you lodge are properly instructed as you say they
are and who shall actually believe you were married long ago who shall
be able to give a contradiction to my report  

and yet it is very probable that minute inquiries will be made and this
is what renders precaution necessary for mr james harlowe will not
believe that you are married and is sure he says that you both lived
together when mr hickman's application was made to mr john harlowe and
if you lived together any time unmarried he infers from your character 
mr lovelace that it is not probable that you would ever marry and he
leaves it to his two uncles to decide if you even should be married 
whether there be not room to believe that his sister was first
dishonoured and if so to judge of the title she will have to their
favour or to the forgiveness of any of her family i believe sir this
part of my letter had best be kept from the lady 

young mr harlowe is resolved to find this out and to come at his
sister's speech likewise and for that purpose sets out to-morrow as i
am well informed with a large attendance armed and mr solmes is to be
of the party and what makes him the more earnest to find it out is
this mr john harlowe has told the whole family that he will alter and
new-settle his will mr antony harlowe is resolved to do the same by
his for it seems he has now given over all thoughts of changing his
condition having lately been disappointed in a view he had of that sort
with mrs howe these two brothers generally act in concert and mr 
james harlowe dreads and let me tell you that he has reason for it on
my mr harlowe's account that his younger sister will be at last more
benefited than he wishes for by the alteration intended he has already
been endeavouring to sound his uncle harlowe on this subject and wanted
to know whether any new application had been made to him on his sister's
part mr harlowe avoided a direct answer and expressed his wishes for
a general reconciliation and his hopes that his niece were married 
this offended the furious young man and he reminded his uncle of
engagements they had all entered into at his sister's going away not to
be reconciled but by general consent 

mr john harlowe complains to me often of the uncontroulableness of his
nephew and says that now that the young man has not any body of whose
superior sense he stands in awe he observes not decency in his behaviour
to any of them and this makes my mr harlowe still more desirous than
ever of bringing his younger niece into favour again i will not say all
i might of this young man's extraordinary rapaciousness but one would
think that these grasping men expect to live for ever 

i took the liberty but within these two hours to propose to set on foot
 and offered my cover to a correspondence between my friend and his
daughter-niece as she still sometimes fondly calls her she was
mistress of so much prudence i said that i was sure she could better
direct every thing to its desirable end than any body else could but
he said he did not think himself entirely at liberty to take such a step
at present and that it was best that he should have it in his power to
say occasionally that he had not any correspondence with her or letter
from her 

you will see sir from all this the necessity of keeping our treaty an
absolute secret and if the lady has mentioned it to her worthy friend
miss howe i hope it is in confidence 

 and now sir a few lines in answer to your's of monday last  

 mr harlowe was very well pleased with your readiness to come into his
proposal but as to what you both desire that he will be present at the
ceremony he said that his nephew watched all his steps so narrowly 
that he thought it was not practicable if he were inclinable to oblige
you but that he consented with all his heart that i should be the
person whom he had stipulated should be privately present at the ceremony
on his part  

 however i think i have an expedient for this if your lady continues
to be very desirous of her uncle's presence except he should be more
determined than his answer to me seemed to import of which i shall
acquaint you and perhaps of what he says to it when i have the pleasure
to see you in town but indeed i think you have no time to lose mr 
harlowe is impatient to hear that you are actually one and i hope i may
carry him down word when i leave you next that i saw the ceremony
performed  

 if any obstacle arises from the lady from you it cannot i shall be
tempted to think a little hardly of her punctilio  

mr harlowe hopes sir that you will rather take pains to avoid than to
meet this violent young man he has the better opinion of you let me
tell you sir from the account i gave him of your moderation and
politeness neither of which are qualities with his nephew but we have
all of us something to amend 

you cannot imagine how dearly my friend still loves this excellent niece
of his i will give you an instance of it which affected me a good
deal if once more said he the last time but one we were together 
i can but see this sweet child gracing the upper end of my table as
mistress of my house in my allotted month all the rest of my family
present but as her guests for so i formerly would have it and had her
mother's consent for it  there he stopt for he was forced to turn his
reverend face from me tears ran down his cheeks fain would he have
hid them but he could not yet yet said he how how   poor
gentleman he perfectly sobbed   how shall i be able to bear the first
meeting 

i bless god i am no hard-hearted man mr lovelace my eyes showed to my
worthy friend that he had no reason to be ashamed of his humanity before
me 

i will put an end to this long epistle be pleased to make my
compliments acceptable to the most excellent of women as well as believe
me to be 

dear sir 
your faithful friend and humble servant 
antony tomlinson 


 


during the conversation between me and the women i had planted myself at
the farthest end of the apartment we were in over against the door 
which was open and opposite to the lady's chamber-door which was shut 
i spoke so low that it was impossible for her at that distance to hear
what we said and in this situation i could see if her door was opened 

i told the women that what i had mentioned to my spouse of lady betty's
coming to town with her niece montague and of their intention to visit
my beloved whom they had never seen nor she them was real and that i
expected news of their arrival every hour i then showed them copies of
the other two letters which i had left with her the one from lady
betty the other from my cousin montague and here thou mayest read them
if thou wilt 

eternally reproaching eternally upbraiding me are my impertinent
relations but they are fond of occasions to find fault with me their
love their love jack and their dependence on my known good humour are
their inducements 


to robert lovelace esq 
wed morn june 7 

dear nephew 

i understand that at length all our wishes are answered in your happy
marriage but i think we might as well have heard of it directly from
you as from the round-about way by which we have been made acquainted
with it methinks sir the power and the will we have to oblige you 
should not expose us the more to your slights and negligence my brother
had set his heart upon giving to you the wife we have all so long wished
you to have but if you were actually married at the time you made him
that request supposing perhaps that his gout would not let him attend
you it is but like you if your lady had her reasons to wish it to be
private while the differences between her family and self continue you
might nevertheless have communicated it to us with that restriction and
we should have forborne the public manifestations of our joy upon an
event we have so long desired 


 i gave mrs moore and miss rawlins room to think this reproach just 
jack 


the distant way we have come to know it is by my steward who is
acquainted with a friend of captain tomlinson to whom that gentleman
revealed it and he it seems had it from yourself and lady with such
circumstances as leave it not to be doubted 

i am indeed very much disobliged with you so is lady sarah but i
have a very speedy opportunity to tell you so in person being obliged to
go to town to my old chancery affair my cousin leeson who is it
seems removed to albemarle-street has notice of it i shall be at her
house where i bespeak your attendance of sunday night i have written
to my cousin charlotte for either her or her sister to meet me at
reading and accompany me to town i shall stay but a few days my
business being matter of form only on my return i shall pop upon lord
m at m hall to see in what way his last fit has left him 

mean time having told you my mind on your negligence i cannot help
congratulating you both on the occasion your fair lady particularly 
upon her entrance into a family which is prepared to admire and love her 

my principal intention of writing to you dispensing with the necessary
punctilio is that you may acquaint my dear new niece that i will not
be denied the honour of her company down with me into oxfordshire i
understand that your proposed house and equipages cannot be soon ready 
she shall be with me till they are i insist upon it this shall make
all up my house shall be her own my servants and equipages her's 

lady sarah who has not been out of her own house for months will oblige
me with her company for a week in honour of a niece so dearly beloved 
as i am sure she will be of us all 

being but in lodgings in town neither you nor your lady can require much
preparation 

some time on monday i hope to attend the dear young lady to make her my
compliments and to receive her apology for your negligence which and
her going down with me as i said before shall be full satisfaction 
mean time god bless her for her courage tell her i say so and bless
you both in each other and that will be happiness to us all 
particularly to

your truly affectionate aunt 
eliz lawrance 


to robert lovelace esq 

dear cousin 

at last as we understand there is some hope of you now does my good
lord run over his bead-roll of proverbs of black oxen wild oats long
lanes and so forth 

now cousin say i is your time come and you will be no longer i hope 
an infidel either to the power or excellence of the sex you have
pretended hitherto so much as undervalue nor a ridiculer or scoffer at
an institution which all sober people reverence and all rakes sooner or
later are brought to reverence or to wish they had 

i want to see how you become your silken fetters whether the charming
yoke sits light upon your shoulders if with such a sweet yoke-fellow it
does not my lord and my sister as well as i think that you will
deserve a closer tie about your neck 

his lordship is very much displeased that you have not written him word
of the day the hour the manner and every thing but i ask him how he
can already expect any mark of deference or politeness from you he must
stay i tell him till that sign of reformation among others appear
from the influence and example of your lady but that if ever you will
be good for any thing it will be quickly seen and o cousin what a
vast vast journey have you to take from the dreary land of libertinism 
through the bright province of reformation into the serene kingdom of
happiness you had need to lose no time you have many a weary step to
tread before you can overtake those travellers who set out for it from a
less remote quarter but you have a charming pole-star to guide you 
that's your advantage i wish you joy of it and as i have never yet
expected any highly complaisant thing from you i make no scruple to
begin first but it is purely i must tell you in respect to my new
cousin whose accession into our family we most heartily congratulate and
rejoice in 

i have a letter from lady betty she commands either my attendance or my
sister's to my cousin leeson's she puts lord m in hopes that she
shall certainly bring down with her our lovely new relation for she
says she will not be denied his lordship is the willinger to let me be
the person as i am in a manner wild to see her my sister having two
years ago had that honour at sir robert biddulph's so get ready to
accompany us in our return except your lady had objections strong enough
to satisfy us all lady sarah longs to see her and says this accession
to the family will supply to it the loss of her beloved daughter 

i shall soon i hope pay my compliments to the dear lady in person so
have nothing to add but that i am

your old mad playfellow and cousin 
charlotte montague 


 


the women having read the copies of these two letters i thought that i
might then threaten and swagger but very little heart have i said i 
to encourage such a visit from lady betty and miss montague to my spouse 
for after all i am tired out with her strange ways she is not what she
was and as i told her in your hearing ladies i will leave this plaguy
island though the place of my birth and though the stake i have in it
is very considerable and go and reside in france or italy and never
think of myself as a married man nor live like one 

o dear said one 

that would be a sad thing said the other 

nay madam  turning to mrs moore   indeed madam  to miss rawlins   
i am quite desperate i can no longer bear such usage i have had the
good fortune to be favoured by the smiles of very fine ladies though i
say it  and i looked very modest  both abroad and at home  thou knowest
this to be true jack  with regard to my spouse here i have but one
hope left for as to the reconciliation with her friends i left i
scorn them all too much to value that but for her sake and that was 
that if it pleased god to bless us with children she might entirely
recover her usual serenity and we might then be happy but the
reconciliation her heart was so much set upon is now as i hinted
before entirely hopeless made so by this rash step of her's and by
the rash temper she is in since as you will believe her brother and
sister when they come to know it will make a fine handle of it against
us both affecting as they do at present to disbelieve our marriage 
and the dear creature herself too ready to countenance such a disbelief
 as nothing more than the ceremony as nothing more hem as nothing
more than the ceremony 

here as thou wilt perceive i was bashful for miss rawlins by her
preparatory primness put me in mind that it was proper to be so 

i turned half round then facing the fan-player and the matron you
yourselves ladies knew not what to believe till now that i have told
you our story and i do assure you that i shall not give myself the same
trouble to convince people i hate people from whom i neither expect nor
desire any favour and who are determined not to be convinced and what 
pray must be the issue when her uncle's friend comes although he seems
to be a truly worthy man it is not natural for him to say to what
purpose mr lovelace should i endeavour to bring about a reconciliation
between mrs lovelace and her friends by means of her elder uncle when
a good understanding is wanting between yourselves  a fair inference 
mrs moore a fair inference miss rawlins and here is the
unhappiness till she is reconciled to them this cursed oath in her
notion is binding 

the women seemed moved for i spoke with great earnestness though
low and besides they love to have their sex and its favours appear of
importance to us they shook their deep heads at each other and looked
sorrowful and this moved my tender heart too 

tis an unheard-of case ladies had she not preferred me to all
mankind there i stopped and that resumed i feeling for my
handkerchief is what staggered captain tomlinson when he heard of her
flight who the last time he saw us together saw the most affectionate
couple on earth the most affectionate couple on earth in the
accent-grievous repeated i 

out then i pulled my handkerchief and putting it to my eyes arose and
walked to the window it makes me weaker than a woman did i not love
her as never man loved his wife  i have no doubt but i do jack  

there again i stopt and resuming charming creature as you see she is 
i wish i had never beheld her face excuse me ladies traversing the
room and having rubbed my eyes till i supposed them red i turned to the
women and pulling out my letter-case i will show you one letter here
it is read it miss rawlins if you please it will confirm to you how
much all my family are prepared to admire her i am freely treated in
it so i am in the two others but after what i have told you nothing
need be a secret to you two 

she took it with an air of eager curiosity and looked at the seal 
ostentatiously coroneted and at the superscription reading out to
robert lovelace esq ay madam ay miss that's my name  giving
myself an air though i had told it to them before   i am not ashamed of
it my wife's maiden name unmarried name i should rather say fool
that i am and i rubbed my cheek for vexation  fool enough in
conscience jack   was harlowe clarissa harlowe you heard me call her
my clarissa 

i did but thought it to be a feigned or love-name said miss rawlins 

i wonder what is miss rawlins's love-name jack most of the fair
romancers have in their early womanhood chosen love-names no parson
ever gave more real names than i have given fictitious ones and to
very good purpose many a sweet dear has answered me a letter for the
sake of owning a name which her godmother never gave her 

no it was her real name i said 

i bid her read out the whole letter if the spelling be not exact miss
rawlins said i you will excuse it the writer is a lord but perhaps 
i may not show it to my spouse for if those i have left with her have no
effect upon her neither will this and i shall not care to expose my
lord m to her scorn indeed i begin to be quite careless of
consequences 

miss rawlins who could not but be pleased with this mark of my
confidence looked as if she pitied me 

and here thou mayest read the letter no iii 


 


to robert lovelace esq 
m hall wedn june 7 

cousin lovelace 

i think you might have found time to let us know of your nuptials being
actually solemnized i might have expected this piece of civility from
you but perhaps the ceremony was performed at the very time that you
asked me to be your lady's father but i should be angry if i proceed in
my guesses and little said is soon amended 

but i can tell you that lady betty lawrance whatever lady sarah does 
will not so soon forgive you as i have done women resent slights
longer than men you that know so much of the sex i speak it not 
however to your praise might have known that but never was you before
acquainted with a lady of such an amiable character i hope there will
be but one soul between you i have before now said that i will
disinherit you and settle all i can upon her if you prove not a good
husband to her 

may this marriage be crowned with a great many fine boys i desire no
girls to build up again a family so antient the first boy shall take
my surname by act of parliament that is my will 

lady betty and niece charlotte will be in town about business before you
know where you are they long to pay their compliments to your fair
bride i suppose you will hardly be at the lawn when they get to town 
because greme informs me you have sent no orders there for your lady's
accommodation 

pritchard has all things in readiness for signing i will take no
advantage of your slights indeed i am too much used to them more
praise to my patience than to your complaisance however 

one reason for lady betty's going up as i may tell you under the rose 
is to buy some suitable presents for lady sarah and all of us to make
on this agreeable occasion 

we would have blazed it away could we have had timely notice and
thought it would have been agreeable to all round the like occasions
don't happen every day 

my most affectionate compliments and congratulations to my new niece 
conclude me for the present in violent pain that with all your
heroicalness would make you mad 

your truly affectionate uncle 
m 


 


this letter clench'd the nail not but that miss rawlins said she saw
i had been a wild gentleman and truly she thought so the moment she
beheld me 

they began to intercede for my spouse so nicely had i turned the
tables and that i would not go abroad and disappoint a reconciliation
so much wished for on one side and such desirable prospects on the other
in my own family 

who knows thought i to myself but more may come of this plot than i
had even promised myself what a happy man shall i be if these women
can be brought to join to carry my marriage into consummation 

ladies you are exceedingly good to us both i should have some hopes 
if my unhappily nice spouse could be brought to dispense with the
unnatural oath she has laid me under you see what my case is do you
think i may not insist upon her absolving me from this abominable oath 
will you be so good as to give your advice that one apartment may serve
for a man and his wife at the hour of retirement  modestly put 
belford and let me here observe that few rakes would find a language
so decent as to engage modest women to talk with him in upon such
subjects  

they both simpered and looked upon one another 

these subjects always make women simper at least no need but of the
most delicate hints to them a man who is gross in a woman's company 
ought to be knocked down with a club for like so many musical
instruments touch but a single wire and the dear souls are sensible
all over 

to be sure miss rawlins learnedly said playing with her fan a casuist
would give it that the matrimonial vow ought to supercede any other
obligation 

mrs moore for her part was of opinion that if the lady owned herself
to be a wife she ought to behave like one 

whatever be my luck thought i with this all-eyed fair-one any other
woman in the world from fifteen to five-and-twenty would be mine upon
my own terms before the morning 

and now that i may be at hand to take all advantages i will endeavour 
said i to myself to make sure of good quarters 

i am your lodger mrs moore in virtue of the earnest i have given you
for these apartments and for any one you can spare above for my
servants indeed for all you have to spare for who knows what my
spouse's brother may attempt i will pay you to your own demand and
that for a month or two certain board included as i shall or shall
not be your hindrance take that as a pledge or in part of payment 
offering her a thirty pound bank note 

she declined taking it desiring she might consult the lady first 
adding that she doubted not my honour and that she would not let her
apartments to any other person whom she knew not something of while i
and the lady were here 

the lady the lady from both women's mouth's continually which still
implied a doubt in their hearts and not your spouse and your lady 
sir 

i never met with such women thought i so thoroughly convinced but this
moment yet already doubting i am afraid i have a couple of skeptics to
deal with 

i knew no reason i said for my wife to object to my lodging in the same
house with her here any more than in town at mrs sinclair's but were
she to make such objection i would not quit possession since it was not
unlikely that the same freakish disorder which brought her to hampstead 
might carry her absolutely out of my knowledge 

they both seemed embarrassed and looked upon one another yet with such
an air as if they thought there was reason in what i said and i
declared myself her boarder as well as lodger and dinner-time
approaching was not denied to be the former 



letter xxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i thought it was now high time to turn my whole mind to my beloved who
had had full leisure to weigh the contents of the letters i had left with
her 

i therefore requested mrs moore to step in and desire to know whether
she would be pleased to admit me to attend her in her apartment on
occasion of the letters i had left with her or whether she would favour
me with her company in the dining-room 

mrs moore desired miss rawlins to accompany her in to the lady they
tapped at the door and were both admitted 

i cannot but stop here for one minute to remark though against myself 
upon that security which innocence gives that nevertheless had better
have in it a greater mixture of the serpent with the dove for here 
heedless of all i could say behind her back because she was satisfied
with her own worthiness she permitted me to go on with my own story 
without interruption to persons as great strangers to her as me and
who as strangers to both might be supposed to lean to the side most
injured and that as i managed it was to mine a dear silly soul 
thought i at the time to depend upon the goodness of her own heart 
when the heart cannot be seen into but by its actions and she to
appearance a runaway an eloper from a tender a most indulgent
husband to neglect to cultivate the opinion of individuals when the
whole world is governed by appearance 

yet what can be expected of an angel under twenty she has a world of
knowledge knowledge speculative as i may say but no experience how
should she knowledge by theory only is a vague uncertain light a will
o' the wisp which as often misleads the doubting mind as puts it right 

there are many things in the world could a moralizer say that would
afford inexpressible pleasure to a reflecting mind were it not for the
mixture they come to us with to be graver still i have seen parents 
 perhaps my own did so   who delighted in those very qualities in their
children while young the natural consequences of which too much
indulged and encouraged made them as they grew up the plague of their
hearts to bring this home to my present purpose i must tell thee that
i adore this charming creature for her vigilant prudence but yet i would
not methinks wish her by virtue of that prudence which is however 
necessary to carry her above the devices of all the rest of the world to
be too wise for mine 

my revenge my sworn revenge is nevertheless adore her as i will 
uppermost in my heart miss howe says that my love is a herodian love 
by my soul that girl's a witch i am half sorry to say that i find a
pleasure in playing the tyrant over what i love call it an ungenerous
pleasure if thou wilt softer hearts than mine know it the women to a
woman know it and show it too whenever they are trusted with power 
and why should it be thought strange that i who love them so dearly 
and study them so much should catch the infection of them 


 see letter xx of this volume 



letter xxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i will now give thee the substance of the dialogue that passed between
the two women and the lady wonder not that a perverse wife makes a
listening husband the event however as thou wilt find justified the
old observation that listners seldom hear good of themselves conscious
of their own demerits if i may guess by myself  there's ingenuousness 
jack   and fearful of censure they seldom find themselves disappointed 
there is something of sense after all in these proverbs in these
phrases in this wisdom of nations 

mrs moore was to be the messenger but miss rawlins began the dialogue 

your spouse madam  devil only to fish for a negative or affirmative
declaration  

cl my spouse madam 

miss r mr lovelace madam avers that you are married to him and
begs admittance or your company in the dining-room to talk upon the
subject of the letters he left with you 

cl he is a poor wicked wretch let me beg of you madam to favour me
with your company as often as possible while he is hereabouts and i
remain here 

miss r i shall with pleasure attend you madam but methinks i could
wish you would see the gentleman and hear what he has to say on the
subject of the letters 

cl my case is a hard a very hard one i am quite bewildered -i know
not what to do i have not a friend in the world that can or will help
me yet had none but friends till i knew that man 

miss r the gentleman neither looks nor talks like a bad man not a
very bad man as men go 

as men go poor miss rawlins thought i and dost thou know how men go 

cl o madam you know him not he can put on the appearance of an
angel of light but has a black a very black heart 

poor i 

miss r i could not have thought it truly but men are very
deceitful now-a-days 

now-a-days a fool have not her history-books told her that they were
always so 

mrs moore sighing i have found it so i am sure to my cost 

who knows but in her time poor goody moore may have met with a lovelace 
or a belford or some such vile fellow my little harum-scarum beauty
knows not what strange histories every woman living who has had the
least independence of will could tell her were such to be as
communicative as she is but here's the thing i have given her cause
enough of offence but not enough to make her hold her tongue 

cl as to the letters he has left with me i know not what to say to
them but am resolved never to have any thing to say to him 

miss r if madam i may be allowed to say so i think you carry
matters very far 

cl has he been making a bad cause a good one with you madam that he
can do with those who know him not indeed i heard him talking thought
not what he said and am indifferent about it but what account does he
give of himself 

i was pleased to hear this to arrest to stop her passion thought i 
in the height of its career is a charming presage 

then the busy miss rawlins fished on to find out from her either a
confirmation or disavowal of my story was lord m my uncle did i court
her at first with the allowance of her friends her brother excepted 
had i a rencounter with that brother was she so persecuted in favour of
a very disagreeable man one solmes as to induce her to throw herself
into my protection 

none of these were denied all the objections she could have made were
stifled or kept in by the considerations as she mentioned that she
should stay there but a little while and that her story was too long 
but miss rawlins would not be thus easily answered 

miss r he says madam that he could not prevail for marriage till he
had consented under a solemn oath to separate beds while your family
remained unreconciled 

cl o the wretch what can be still in his head to endeavour to pass
these stories upon strangers 

so no direct denial thought i admirable all will do by-and-by 

miss r he has owned that an accidental fire had frightened you very
much on wednesday night and that and that an accidental fire had
frightened you very much frightened you last wednesday night 

then after a short pause in short he owned that he had taken some
innocent liberties which might have led to a breach of the oath you had
imposed upon him and that this was the cause of your displeasure 

i would have been glad to see how my charmer then looked to be sure she
was at a loss in her own mind to justify herself for resenting so highly
an offence so trifling she hesitated did not presently speak when
she did she wished that she miss rawlins might never meet with any
man who would take such innocent liberties with her 

miss rawlins pushed further 

your case to be sure madam is very particular but if the hope of a
reconciliation with your own friends is made more distant by your leaving
him give me leave to say that tis pity tis pity  i suppose the
maiden then primm'd fann'd and blush'd tis pity  the oath cannot be
dispensed with especially as he owns he has not been so strict a liver 

i could have gone in and kissed the girl 

cl you have heard his story mine as i told you before is too long 
and too melancholy my disorder on seeing the wretch is too great and my
time here is too short for me to enter upon it and if he has any end
to serve by his own vindication in which i shall not be a personal
sufferer let him make himself appear as white as an angel with all my
heart 

my love for her and the excellent character i gave her were then
pleaded 

cl specious seducer only tell me if i cannot get away from him by
some back way 

how my heart then went pit-a-pat to speak in the female dialect 

cl let me look out  i heard the sash lifted up   whither does that
path lead is there no possibility of getting to a coach surely he
must deal with some fiend or how could he have found me out cannot i
steal to some neighbouring house where i may be concealed till i can get
quite away you are good people i have not been always among such 
o help me help me ladies  with a voice of impatience   or i am ruined 

then pausing is that the way to hendon  pointing i suppose   is
hendon a private place the hampstead coach i am told will carry
passengers thither 

mrs moore i have an honest friend at mill-hill  devil fetch her 
thought i   where if such be your determination madam and if you think
yourself in danger you may be safe i believe 

cl any where if i can but escape from this man whither does that
path lead out yonder what is that town on the right hand called 

mrs moore highgate madam 

miss r on the side of the heath is a little village called north-end 
a kinswoman of mine lives there but her house is small i am not sure
she could accommodate such a lady 

devil take her too thought i i imagined that i had made myself a
better interest in these women but the whole sex love plotting and
plotters too jack 

cl a barn an outhouse a garret will be a palace to me if it will
but afford me a refuge from this man 

her senses thought i are much livelier than mine what a devil have
i done that she should be so very implacable i told thee belford all
i did was there any thing in it so very much amiss such prospects of a
family reconciliation before her too to be sure she is a very sensible
lady 

she then espied my new servant walking under the window and asked if he
were not one of mine 

will was on the look-out for old grimes  so is the fellow called whom
my beloved has dispatched to miss howe   and being told that the man she
saw was my servant i see said she that there is no escaping unless
you madam  to miss rawlins i suppose   can befriend me till i can get
farther i have no doubt that the fellow is planted about the house to
watch my steps but the wicked wretch his master has no right to
controul me he shall not hinder me from going where i please i will
raise the town upon him if he molests me dear ladies is there no
back-door for me to get out at while you hold him in talk 

miss r give me leave to ask you madam is there no room to hope for
accommodation had you not better see him he certainly loves you
dearly he is a fine gentleman you may exasperate him and make matters
more unhappy for yourself 

cl o mrs moore o miss rawlins you know not the man i wish not to
see his face nor to exchange another word with him as long as i live 

mrs moore i don't find miss rawlins that the gentleman has
misrepresented any thing you see madam  to my clarissa   how
respectful he is not to come in till permitted he certainly loves you
dearly pray madam let him talk to you as he wishes to do on the
subject of his letters 

very kind of mrs moore mrs moore thought i is a very good woman i
did not curse her then 

miss rawlins said something but so low that i could not hear what it
was thus it was answered 

cl i am greatly distressed i know not what to do but mrs moore 
be so good as to give his letters to him here they are be pleased to
tell him that i wish him and lady betty and miss montague a happy
meeting he never can want excuses to them for what has happened any
more than pretences to those he would delude tell him that he has
ruined me in the opinion of my own friends i am for that reason the
less solicitous how i appear to his 

mrs moore then came to me and i being afraid that something would pass
mean time between the other two which i should not like took the
letters and entered the room and found them retired into the closet my
beloved whispering with an air of earnestness to miss rawlins who was
all attention 

her back was towards me and miss rawlins by pulling her sleeve giving
intimation of my being there can i have no retirement uninvaded sir 
said she with indignation as if she were interrupted in some talk her
heart was in what business have you here or with me you have your
letters have you not 

lovel i have my dear and let me beg of you to consider what you are
about i every moment expect captain tomlinson here upon my soul i
do he has promised to keep from your uncle what has happened but what
will he think if he find you hold in this strange humour 

cl i will endeavour sir to have patience with you for a moment or
two while i ask you a few questions before this lady and before mrs 
moore  who just then came in   both of whom you have prejudiced in your
favour by your specious stories will you say sir that we are married
together lay your hand upon your heart and answer me am i your wedded
wife 

i am gone too far thought i to give up for such a push as this home
one as it is 

my dearest soul how can you put such a question it is either for your
honour or my own that it should be doubted surely surely madam you
cannot have attended to the contents of captain tomlinson's letter 

she complained often of want of spirits throughout our whole contention 
and of weakness of person and mind from the fits she had been thrown
into but little reason had she for this complaint as i thought who was
able to hold me to it as she did i own that i was excessively
concerned for her several times 

you and i vilest of men 

my name is lovelace madam 

therefore it is that i call you the vilest of men  was this pardonable 
jack   you and i know the truth the whole truth i want not to clear
up my reputation with these gentlewomen that is already lost with every
one i had most reason to value but let me have this new specimen of what
you are capable of say wretch say lovelace if thou hadst rather 
art thou really and truly my wedded husband say answer without
hesitation 

she trembled with impatient indignation but had a wildness in her
manner which i took some advantage of in order to parry this cursed
thrust and a cursed thrust it was since had i positively averred it 
she would never have believed any thing i said and had i owned that i
was not married i had destroyed my own plot as well with the women as
with her and could have no pretence for pursuing her or hindering her
from going wheresoever she pleased not that i was ashamed to aver it 
had it been consistent with policy i would not have thee think me such
a milk-sop neither 

lovel my dearest love how wildly you talk what would you have me
answer it is necessary that i should answer may i not re-appeal this
to your own breast as well as to captain tomlinson's treaty and letter 
you know yourself how matters stand between us and captain tomlinson 

cl o wretch is this an answer to my question say are we married 
or are we not 

lovel what makes a marriage we all know if it be the union of two
hearts  there was a turn jack   to my utmost grief i must say that we
are not since now i see you hate me if it be the completion of
marriage to my confusion and regret i must own we are not but my
dear will you be pleased to consider what answer half a dozen people
whence you came could give to your question and do not now in the
disorder of your mind and the height of passion bring into question
before these gentlewomen a point you have acknowledged before those who
know us better 

i would have whispered her about the treaty with her uncle and about the
contents of the captain's letter but retreating and with a rejecting
hand keep thy distance man cried the dear insolent to thine own heart
i appeal since thou evadest me thus pitifully i own no marriage with
thee bear witness ladies i do not and cease to torment me cease to
follow me surely surely faulty as i have been i have not deserved to
be thus persecuted i resume therefore my former language you have no
right to pursue me you know you have not begone then and leave me to
make the best of my hard lot o my dear cruel father said she in a
violent fit of grief  falling upon her knees and clasping her uplifted
hands together  thy heavy curse is completed upon thy devoted daughter 
i am punished dreadfully punished by the very wretch in whom i had
placed my wicked confidence 

by my soul belford the little witch with her words but more by her
manner moved me wonder not then that her action her grief her tears 
set the women into the like compassionate manifestations 

had i not a cursed task of it 

the two women withdrew to the further end of the room and whispered a
strange case there is no phrensy here i just heard said 

the charming creature threw her handkerchief over her head and neck 
continuing kneeling her back towards me and her face hid upon a chair 
and repeatedly sobbed with grief and passion 

i took this opportunity to step to the women to keep them steady 

you see ladies  whispering   what an unhappy man i am you see what a
spirit this dear creature has all all owing to her implacable
relations and to her father's curse a curse upon them all they have
turned the head of the most charming woman in the world 

ah sir sir replied miss rawlins whatever be the fault of her
relations all is not as it should be between you and her tis plain
she does not think herself married tis plain she does not and if you
have any value for the poor lady and would not totally deprive her of
her senses you had better withdraw and leave to time and cooler
consideration the event in your favour 

she will compel me to this at last i fear miss rawlins i fear she
will and then we are both undone for i cannot live without her she
knows it too well and she has not a friend who will look upon her this
also she knows our marriage when her uncle's friend comes will be
proved incontestably but i am ashamed to think i have given her room
to believe it no marriage that's what she harps upon 

well tis a strange case a very strange one said miss rawlins and was
going to say further when the angry beauty coming towards the door 
said mrs moore i beg a word with you and they both stepped into the
dining-room 

i saw her just before put a parcel into her pocket and followed them
out for fear she should slip away and stepping to the stairs that she
might not go by me will cried i aloud  though i knew he was not near 
 pray child to a maid who answered call either of my servants to me 

she then came up to me with a wrathful countenance do you call your
servant sir to hinder me between you from going where i please 

don't my dearest life misinterpret every thing i do can you think me
so mean and unworthy as to employ a servant to constrain you i call him
to send to the public-houses or inns in this town to inquire after
captain tomlinson who may have alighted at some one of them and be now 
perhaps needlessly adjusting his dress and i would have him come were
he to be without clothes god forgive me for i am stabbed to the heart
by your cruelty 

answer was returned that neither of my servants was in the way 

not in the way said i whither can the dogs be gone 

o sir with a scornful air not far i'll warrant one of them was under
the window just now according to order i suppose to watch my steps 
but i will do what i please and go where i please and that to your
face 

god forbid that i should hinder you in any thing that you may do with
safety to yourself 

now i verily believe that her design was to slip out in pursuance of the
closet-whispering between her and miss rawlins perhaps to miss rawlins's
house 

she then stept back to mrs moore and gave her something which proved
to be a diamond ring and desired her  not whisperingly but with an air
of defiance to me  that that might be a pledge for her till she defrayed
her demands which she should soon find means to do having no more money
about her than she might have occasion for before she came to an
acquaintance's 

mrs moore would have declined taking it but she would not be denied 
and then wiping her eyes she put on her gloves nobody has a right to
stop me said she i will go whom should i be afraid of her very
question charming creature testifying her fear 

i beg pardon madam  turning to mrs moore and courtesying   for the
trouble i have given you i beg pardon madam to miss rawlins 
 courtesying likewise to her   you may both hear of me in a happier
hour if such a one fall to my lot and god bless you both struggling
with her tears till she sobbed and away was tripping 

i stepped to the door i put it to and setting my back against it took
her struggling hand my dearest life my angel said i why will you thus
distress me is this the forgiveness which you so solemnly promised 

unhand me sir you have no business with me you have no right over
me you know you have not 

but whither whither my dearest love would you go think you not that
i will follow you were it to the world's end whither would you go 

well do you ask me whither i would go who have been the occasion that i
have not a friend left but god who knows my innocence and my upright
intentions will not wholly abandon me when i am out of your power but
while i am in it i cannot expect a gleam of the divine grace or favour
to reach me 

how severe is this how shockingly severe out of your presence my
angry fair-one i can neither hope for the one nor the other as my
cousin montague in the letter you have read observes you are my polar
star and my guide and if ever i am to be happy either here or
hereafter it must be in and by you 

she would then have opened the door but i respectfully opposing her 
begone man begone mr lovelace said she stop not in my way if you
would not that i should attempt the window give me passage by the door 
for once more you have no right to detain me 

your resentments my dearest life i will own to be well grounded i
will acknowledge that i have been all in fault on my knee  and down i
dropt   i ask your pardon and can you refuse to ratify your own
promise look forward to the happy prospect before us see you not my
lord m and lady sarah longing to bless you for blessing me and their
whole family can you take no pleasure in the promised visit of lady
betty and my cousin montague and in the protection they offer you if
you are dissatisfied with mine have you no wish to see your uncle's
friend stay only till captain tomlinson comes receive from him the
news of your uncle's compliance with the wishes of both 

she seemed altogether distressed was ready to sink and forced to lean
against the wainscot as i kneeled at her feet a stream of tears at
last burst from her less indignant eyes good heaven said she lifting
up her lovely face and clasped hands what is at last to be my destiny 
deliver me from this dangerous man and direct me i know not what to do 
what i can do nor what i ought to do 

the women as i had owned our marriage to be but half completed heard
nothing in this whole scene to contradict not flagrantly to contradict 
what i had asserted they believed they saw in her returning temper and
staggered resolution a love for me which her indignation had before
suppressed and they joined to persuade her to tarry till the captain
came and to hear his proposals representing the dangers to which she
would be exposed the fatigues she might endure a lady of her
appearance unguarded unprotected on the other hand they dwelt upon my
declared contrition and on my promises for the performance of which
they offered to be bound so much had my kneeling humility affected
them 

women jack tacitly acknowledge the inferiority of their sex in the
pride they take to behold a kneeling lover at their feet 

she turned from me and threw herself into a chair 

i arose and approached her with reverence my dearest creature said i 
and was proceeding but with a face glowing with conscious dignity she
interrupted me ungenerous ungrateful lovelace you know not the value
of the heart you have insulted nor can you conceive how much my soul
despises your meanness but meanness must ever be the portion of the
man who can act vilely 

the women believing we were likely to be on better terms retired the
dear perverse opposed their going but they saw i was desirous of their
absence and when they had withdrawn i once more threw myself at her
feet and acknowledged my offences implored her forgiveness for this one
time and promised the most exact circumspection for the future 

it was impossible for her she said to keep her memory and forgive me 
what hadst thou seen in the conduct of clarissa harlowe that should
encourage such an insult upon her as thou didst dare to make how meanly
must thou think of her that thou couldst presume to be so guilty and
expect her to be so weak as to forgive thee 

i besought her to let me read over to her captain tomlinson's letter i
was sure it was impossible she could have given it the requisite
attention 

i have given it the requisite attention said she and the other letters
too so that what i say is upon deliberation and what have i to fear
from my brother and sister they can but complete the ruin of my
fortunes with my father and uncles let them and welcome you sir i
thank you have lowered my fortunes but i bless god that my mind is
not sunk with my fortunes it is on the contrary raised above fortune 
and above you and for half a word they shall have the estate they envied
me for and an acquittal from me of all the expectations from my family
that may make them uneasy 

i lifted up my hands and eyes in silent admiration of her 

my brother sir may think me ruined to the praise of your character he
may think it impossible to be with you and be innocent you have but too
well justified their harshest censures by every part of your conduct 
but now that i have escaped from you and that i am out of the reach of
your mysterious devices i will wrap myself up in mine own innocence 
 and then the passionate beauty folded her arms about herself   and leave
to time and to my future circumspection the re-establishment of my
character leave me then sir pursue me not 

good heaven  interrupting her  and all this for what had i not
yielded to your entreaties forgive me madam you could not have
carried farther your resentments 

wretch was it not crime enough to give occasion for those entreaties 
wouldst thou make a merit to me that thou didst not utterly ruin her
whom thou oughtest to have protected begone man turning from me her
face crimsoned over with passion see me no more i cannot bear thee
in my sight 

dearest dearest creature 

if i forgive thee lovelace and there she stopped to endeavour 
proceeded she to endeavour by premeditation by low contrivances by
cries of fire to terrify a poor creature who had consented to take a
wretched chance with thee for life 

for heaven's sake offering to take her repulsing hand as she was
flying from me towards the closet 

what hast thou to do to plead for the sake of heaven in thy favour o
darkest of human minds 

then turning from me wiping her eyes and again turning towards me but
her sweet face half aside what difficulties hast thou involved me in 
that thou hadst a plain path before thee after thou hadst betrayed me
into thy power at once my mind takes in the whole of thy crooked
behaviour and if thou thinkest of clarissa harlowe as her proud heart
tells her thou oughtest to think of her thou wilt seek thy fortunes
elsewhere how often hast thou provoked me to tell thee that my soul
is above thee 

for heaven's sake madam for a soul's sake which it is in your power
to save from perdition forgive me the past offence i am the greatest
villain on earth if it was a premeditated one yet i presume not to
excuse myself on your mercy i throw myself i will not offer at any
plea but that of penitence see but captain tomlinson see but lady
betty and my cousin let them plead for me let them be guarantees for
my honour 

if captain tomlinson come while i stay here i may see him but as for
you sir 

dearest creature let me beg of you not to aggravate my offence to the
captain when he comes let me beg of you 

what askest thou it is not that i shall be of party against myself 
that i shall palliate 

do not charge me madam interrupted i with villainous premeditation 
 do not give such a construction to my offence as may weaken your
uncle's opinion as may strengthen your brother's 

she flung from me to the further end of the room  she could go no
further   and just then mrs moore came up and told her that dinner was
ready and that she had prevailed upon miss rawlins to give her her
company 

you must excuse me mrs moore said she miss rawlins i hope also will
 but i cannot eat i cannot go down as for you sir i suppose you
will think it right to depart hence at least till the gentleman comes
whom you expect 

i respectfully withdrew into the next room that mrs moore might
acquaint her i durst not myself that i was her lodger and boarder 
as whisperingly i desired that she would and meeting miss rawlins in
the passage dearest miss rawlins said i stand my friend join with mrs 
moore to pacify my spouse if she has any new flights upon my having
taken lodgings and intending to board here i hope she will have more
generosity than to think of hindering a gentlewoman from letting her
lodgings 

i suppose mrs moore whom i left with my fair-one had apprized her of
this before miss rawlins went in for i heard her say while i withheld
miss rawlins no indeed he is much mistaken surely he does not think
i will 

they both expostulated with her as i could gather from bits and scraps
of what they said for they spoke so low that i could not hear any
distinct sentence but from the fair perverse whose anger made her
louder and to this purpose i heard her deliver herself in answer to
different parts of their talk to her good mrs moore dear miss
rawlins press me no further i cannot sit down at table with him 

they said something as i suppose in my behalf o the insinuating
wretch what defence have i against a man who go where i will can
turn every one even of the virtuous of my sex in his favour 

after something else said which i heard not distinctly this is
execrable cunning were you to know his wicked heart he is not without
hope of engaging you two good persons to second him in the vilest of his
machinations 

how came she thought i at the instant by all this penetration my
devil surely does not play me booty if i thought he did i would marry 
and live honest to be even with him 

i suppose then they urged the plea which i hinted to miss rawlins at
going in that she would not be mrs moore's hindrance for thus she
expressed herself he will no doubt pay you your own price you need
not question his liberality but one house cannot hold us why if it
would did i fly from him to seek refuge among strangers 

then in answer to somewhat else they pleaded 'tis a mistake madam 
i am not reconciled to him i will believe nothing he says has he not
given you a flagrant specimen of what a man he is and of what his is
capable by the disguises you saw him in my story is too long and my
stay here will be but short or i could convince you that my resentments
against him are but too well founded 

i suppose that they pleaded for her leave for my dining with them for
she said i have nothing to say to that it is your own house mrs 
moore it is your own table you may admit whom you please to it only
leave me at my liberty to choose my company 

then in answer as i suppose to their offer of sending her up a plate 
a bit of bread if you please and a glass of water that's all i can
swallow at present i am really very much discomposed saw you not how
bad i was indignation only could have supported my spirits 

i have no objections to his dining with you madam  added she in
reply i suppose to a farther question of the same nature but i will
not stay a night in the same house where he lodges 

i presume miss rawlins had told her that she would not stay dinner for
she said let me not deprive mrs moore of your company miss rawlins 
you will not be displeased with his talk he can have no design upon
you 

then i suppose they pleaded what i might say behind her back to make my
own story good i care not what he says or what he thinks of me 
repentance and amendment are all the harm i wish him whatever becomes of
me 

by her accent she wept when she spoke these last words 

they came out both of them wiping their eyes and would have persuaded me
to relinquish the lodgings and to depart till her uncle's friend came 
but i knew better i did not care to trust the devil well as she and
miss howe suppose me to be acquainted with him for finding her out
again if once more she escaped me 

what i am most afraid of is that she will throw herself among her own
relations and if she does i am confident they will not be able to
withstand her affecting eloquence but yet as thou'lt see the
captain's letter to me is admirably calculated to obviate my
apprehensions on this score particularly in that passage where it is
said that her uncle thinks not himself at liberty to correspond directly
with her or to receive applications from her but through captain
tomlinson as is strongly implied 


 see letter xxiv of this volume 


i must own notwithstanding the revenge i have so solemnly vowed that
i would very fain have made for her a merit with myself in her returning
favour and have owed as little as possible to the mediation of captain
tomlinson my pride was concerned in this and this was one of my
reasons for not bringing him with me another was that if i were
obliged to have recourse to his assistance i should be better able by
visiting without him to direct him what to say or do as i should find
out the turn of her humour 

i was however glad at my heart that mrs moore came up so seasonably
with notice that dinner was ready the fair fugitive was all in all 
she had the excuse for withdrawing i had time to strengthen myself the
captain had time to come and the lady to cool shakspeare advises
well 

 oppose not rage whilst rage is in its force 
 but give it way awhile and let it waste 
 the rising deluge is not stopt with dams 
 those it o'erbears and drowns the hope of harvest 
 but wisely manag'd its divided strength
 is sluic'd in channels and securely drain'd 
 and when its force is spent and unsupply'd 
 the residue with mounds may be restrain'd 
 and dry-shod we may pass the naked ford 

i went down with the women to dinner mrs moore sent her fair boarder
up a plate but she only ate a little bit of bread and drank a glass of
water i doubted not but she would keep her word when it was once gone
out is she not an harlowe she seems to be enuring herself to
hardships which at the worst she can never know since though she
should ultimately refuse to be obliged to me or to express myself more
suitable to my own heart to oblige me every one who sees her must
befriend her 

but let me ask thee belford art thou not solicitous for me in relation
to the contents of the letter which the angry beauty had written and
dispatched away by man and horse and for what may be miss howe's answer
to it art thou not ready to inquire whether it be not likely that miss
howe when she knows of her saucy friend's flight will be concerned
about her letter which she must know could not be at wilson's till after
that flight and so probably would fall into my hands 

all these things as thou'lt see in the sequel are provided for with as
much contrivance as human foresight can admit 

i have already told thee that will is upon the lookout for old grimes 
old grimes is it seems a gossiping sottish rascal and if will can
but light of him i'll answer for the consequence for has not will been
my servant upwards of seven years 



letter xxvii

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


we had at dinner besides miss rawlins a young widow-niece of mrs 
moore who is come to stay a month with her aunt bevis her name very
forward very lively and a great admirer of me i assure you hanging
smirkingly upon all i said and prepared to approve of every word before
i spoke and who by the time we had half-dined by the help of what she
had collected before was as much acquainted with our story as either of
the other two 

as it behoved me to prepare them in my favour against whatever might come
from miss howe i improved upon the hint i had thrown out above-stairs
against that mischief-making lady i represented her to be an arrogant
creature revengeful artful enterprising and one who had she been a
man would have sworn and cursed and committed rapes and played the
devil as far as i knew  i have no doubt of it jack   but who by
advantage of a female education and pride and insolence i believed was
personally virtuous 

mrs bevis allowed that there was a vast deal in education and in
pride too she said while miss rawlins came with a prudish god forbid
that virtue should be owing to education only however i declared that
miss howe was a subtle contriver of mischief one who had always been my
enemy her motives i knew not but despised the man whom her mother was
desirous she should have one hickman although i did not directly aver
that she would rather have had me yet they all immediately imagined that
that was the ground of her animosity to me and of her envy to my
beloved and it was pity they said that so fine a young lady did not
see through such a pretended friend 

and yet nobody  added i  has more reason than she to know by experience
the force of a hatred founded in envy as i hinted to you above mrs 
moore and to you miss rawlins in the case of her sister arabella 

i had compliments made to my person and talents on this occasion which
gave me a singular opportunity of displaying my modesty by disclaiming
the merit of them with a no indeed i should be very vain ladies if
i thought so while thus abusing myself and exalting miss howe i got
their opinion both for modesty and generosity and had all the graces
which i disclaimed thrown in upon me besides 

in short they even oppressed that modesty which to speak modestly of
myself their praises created by disbelieving all i said against myself 

and truly i must needs say they have almost persuaded even me myself 
that miss howe is actually in love with me i have often been willing to
hope this and who knows but she may the captain and i have agreed 
that it shall be so insinuated occasionally and what's thy opinion 
jack she certainly hates hickman and girls who are disengaged seldom
hate though they may not love and if she had rather have another why
not that other me for am i not a smart fellow and a rake and do not
your sprightly ladies love your smart fellow and your rakes and where
is the wonder that the man who could engage the affections of miss
harlowe should engage those of a lady with her alas's who would be
honoured in being deemed her second 


 see letter xx of this volume where miss howe says alas my dear i
know you loved him 


nor accuse thou me of singular vanity in this presumption belford wert
thou to know the secret vanity that lurks in the hearts of those who
disguise or cloke it best thou wouldst find great reason to acquit at
least to allow for me since it is generally the conscious over-fulness
of conceit that makes the hypocrite most upon his guard to conceal it 
yet with these fellows proudly humble as they are it will break out
sometimes in spite of their clokes though but in self-denying 
compliment-begging self-degradation 

but now i have undervalued myself in apologizing to thee on this
occasion let me use another argument in favour of my observation that
the ladies generally prefer a rake to a sober man and of my presumption
upon it that miss howe is in love with me it is this common fame says 
that hickman is a very virtuous a very innocent fellow a male-virgin i
warrant an odd dog i always thought him now women jack like not
novices two maidenheads meeting together in wedlock the first child
must be a fool is their common aphorism they are pleased with a love
of the sex that is founded in the knowledge of it reason good novices
expect more than they can possibly find in the commerce with them the
man who knows them yet has ardours for them to borrow a word from miss
howe though those ardours are generally owing more to the devil within
him than to the witch without him is the man who makes them the highest
and most grateful compliment he knows what to expect and with what to
be satisfied 


 see vol iv letters xxix and xxxiv 


then the merit of a woman in some cases must be ignorance whether real
or pretended the man in these cases must be an adept will it then
be wondered at that a woman prefers a libertine to a novice while she
expects in the one the confidence she wants she considers the other and
herself as two parallel lines which though they run side by side can
never meet 

yet in this the sex is generally mistaken too for these sheepish fellows
are sly i myself was modest once and this as i have elsewhere hinted
to thee has better enabled me to judge of both sexes 


 see vol iii letter xxiii 


but to proceed with my narrative 

having thus prepared every one against any letter should come from miss
howe and against my beloved's messenger returns i thought it proper to
conclude that subject with a hint that my spouse could not bear to have
any thing said that reflected upon miss howe and with a deep sigh 
added that i had been made very unhappy more than once by the ill-will
of ladies whom i had never offended 

the widow bevis believed that might very easily be will both without
and within  for i intend he shall fall in love with widow moore's maid 
and have saved one hundred pounds in my service at least   will be great
helps as things may happen 



letter xxviii

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


we had hardly dined when my coachman who kept a look-out for captain
tomlinson as will did for old grimes conducted hither that worthy
gentleman attended by one servant both on horseback he alighted i
went out to meet him at the door 

thou knowest his solemn appearance and unblushing freedom and yet canst
not imagine what a dignity the rascal assumed nor how respectful to him
i was 

i led him into the parlour and presented him to the women and them to
him i thought it highly imported me as they might still have some
diffidences about our marriage from my fair-one's home-pushed questions
on that head to convince them entirely of the truth of all i had
asserted and how could i do this better than by dialoguing a little
with him before them 

dear captain i thought you long for i have had a terrible conflict with
my spouse 

capt i am sorry that i am later than my intention my account with my
banker  there's a dog jack   took me up longer time to adjust than i
had foreseen  all the time pulling down and stroking his ruffles  for
there was a small difference between us only twenty pounds indeed 
which i had taken no account of 

the rascal has not seen twenty pounds of his own these ten years 

then had we between us the character of the harlowe family i railed
against them all the captain taking his dear friend mr john harlowe's
part with a not so fast not so fast young gentleman and the like
free assumptions 

he accounted for their animosity by my defiances no good family having
such a charming daughter would care to be defied instead of courted he
must speak his mind never was a double-tongued man he appealed to the
ladies if he were not right 

he got them on his side 

the correction i had given the brother he told me must have aggravated
matters 

how valiant this made me look to the women the sex love us mettled
fellows at their hearts 

be that as it would i should never love any of the family but my spouse 
and wanting nothing from them i would not but for her sake have gone
so far as i had gone towards a reconciliation 

this was very good of me mrs moore said 

very good indeed miss rawlins 

good it is more than good it is very generous said the widow 

capt why so it is i must needs say for i am sensible that mr 
lovelace has been rudely treated by them all more rudely than it could
have been imagined a man of his quality and spirit would have put up
with but then sir  turning to me   i think you are amply rewarded in
such a lady and that you ought to forgive the father for the daughter's
sake 

mrs moore indeed so i think 

miss r so must every one think who has seen the lady 

widow b a fine lady to be sure but she has a violent spirit and
some very odd humours too by what i have heard the value of good
husbands is not known till they are lost 

her conscience then drew a sigh from her 

lovel nobody must reflect upon my angel an angel she is some little
blemishes indeed as to her over-hasty spirit and as to her unforgiving
temper but this she has from the harlowes instigated too by that miss
howe but her innumerable excellencies are all her own 

capt ay talk of spirit there's a spirit now you have named miss
howe  and so i led him to confirm all i had said of that vixen   yet
she was to be pitied too looking with meaning at me 

as i have already hinted i had before agreed with him to impute secret
love occasionally to miss howe as the best means to invalidate all that
might come from her in my disfavour 

capt mr lovelace but that i know your modesty or you could give a
reason 

lovel looking down and very modest i can't think so captain but
let us call another cause 

every woman present could look me in the face so bashful was i 

capt well but as to our present situation only it mayn't be proper 
looking upon me and round upon the women 

lovel o captain you may say any thing before this company only 
andrew  to my new servant who attended us at table   do you withdraw 
this good girl  looking at the maid-servant  will help us to all we want 

away went andrew he wanted not his cue and the maid seemed pleased at
my honour's preference of her 

capt as to our present situation i say mr lovelace why sir we
shall be all untwisted let me tell you if my friend mr john harlowe
were to know what that is he would as much question the truth of your
being married as the rest of the family do 

here the women perked up their ears and were all silent attention 

capt i asked you before for particulars mr lovelace but you
declined giving them indeed it may not be proper for me to be
acquainted with them but i must own that it is past my comprehension 
that a wife can resent any thing a husband can do that is not a breach
of the peace so far as to think herself justified for eloping from him 

lovel captain tomlinson sir i do assure you that i shall be
offended i shall be extremely concerned if i hear that word eloping
mentioned again 

capt your nicety and your love sir may make you take offence but it
is my way to call every thing by its proper name let who will be
offended 

thou canst not imagine belford how brave and how independent the rascal
looked 

capt when young gentleman you shall think proper to give us
particulars we will find a word for this rash act in so admirable a
lady that shall please you better you see sir that being the
representative of my dear friend mr john harlowe i speak as freely as i
suppose he would do if present but you blush sir i beg your pardon 
mr lovelace it becomes not a modest man to pry into those secrets 
which a modest man cannot reveal 

i did not blush jack but denied not the compliment and looked down 
the women seemed delighted with my modesty but the widow bevis was more
inclined to laugh at me than praise me for it 

capt whatever be the cause of this step i will not again sir call
it elopement since that harsh word wounds your tenderness i cannot but
express my surprise upon it when i recollect the affectionate behaviour 
to which i was witness between you when i attended you last over-love 
sir i think you once mention but over-love  smiling  give me leave to
say sir it is an odd cause of quarrel few ladies 

lovel dear captain and i tried to blush 

the women also tried and being more used to it succeeded better mrs 
bevis indeed has a red-hot countenance and always blushes 

miss r it signifies nothing to mince the matter but the lady above as
good as denies her marriage you know sir that she does turning to
me 

capt denies her marriage heavens how then have i imposed upon my
dear friend mr john harlowe 

lovel poor dear but let not her veracity be called into question 
she would not be guilty of a wilful untruth for the world 

then i had all their praises again 

lovel dear creature she thinks she has reason for her denial you
know mrs moore you know miss rawlins what i owned to you above as my
vow 

i looked down and as once before turned round my diamond ring 

mrs moore looked awry and with a leer at miss rawlins as to her
partner in the hinted-at reference 

miss rawlins looked down as well as i her eyelids half closed as if
mumbling a pater-noster meditating her snuff-box the distance between
her nose and chin lengthened by a close-shut mouth 

she put me in mind of the pious mrs fetherstone at oxford whom i
pointed out to thee once among other grotesque figures at st mary's
church whither we went to take a view of her two sisters her eyes shut 
not daring to trust her heart with them open and but just half-rearing
her lids to see who the next comer was and falling them again when her
curiosity was satisfied 

the widow bevis gazed as if on the hunt for a secret 

the captain looked archly as if half in the possession of one 

mrs moore at last broke the bashful silence mrs lovelace's behaviour 
she said could be no otherwise so well accounted for as by the ill
offices of that miss howe and by the severity of her relations which
might but too probably have affected her head a little at times adding 
that it was very generous in me to give way to the storm when it was up 
rather than to exasperate at such a time 

but let me tell you sirs said the widow bevis that is not what one
husband in a thousand would have done 

i desired that no part of this conversation might be hinted to my
spouse and looked still more bashfully her great fault i must own 
was over-delicacy 

the captain leered round him and said he believed he could guess from
the hints i had given him in town of my over-love and from what had now
passed that we had not consummated our marriage 

o jack how sheepishly then looked or endeavoured to look thy friend 
how primly goody moore how affectedly miss rawlins while the honest
widow bevis gazed around her fearless and though only simpering with her
mouth her eyes laughed outright and seemed to challenge a laugh from
every eye in the company 

he observed that i was a phoenix of a man if so and he could not but
hope that all matters would be happily accommodated in a day or two and
that then he should have the pleasure to aver to her uncle that he was
present as he might say on our wedding-day 

the women seemed all to join in the same hope 

ah captain ah ladies how happy should i be if i could bring my dear
spouse to be of the same mind 

it would be a very happy conclusion of a very knotty affair said the
widow bevis and i see not why we may not make this very night a merry
one 

the captain superciliously smiled at me he saw plainly enough he said 
that we had been at children's play hitherto a man of my character who
could give way to such a caprice as this must have a prodigious value
for his lady but one thing he would venture to tell me and that was
this that however desirous young skittish ladies might be to have their
way in this particular it was a very bad setting-out for the man as it
gave his bride a very high proof of the power she had over him and he
would engage that no woman thus humoured ever valued the man the more
for it but very much the contrary and there were reasons to be given
why she should not 

well well captain no more of this subject before the ladies one
feels  shrugging my shoulders in a bashful try-to-blush manner  that one
is so ridiculous i have been punished enough for my tender folly 

miss rawlins had taken her fan and would needs hide her face behind it 
i suppose because her blush was not quite ready 

mrs moore hemmed and looked down and by that gave her's over 

while the jolly widow laughing out praised the captain as one of
hudibras's metaphysicians repeating 

 he knew what's what and that's as high
 as metaphysic wit can fly 

this made miss rawlins blush indeed fie fie mrs bevis cried she 
unwilling i suppose to be thought absolutely ignorant 

upon the whole i began to think that i had not made a bad exchange of
our professing mother for the unprofessing mrs moore and indeed the
women and i and my beloved too all mean the same thing we only differ
about the manner of coming at the proposed end 



letter xxix

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


it was now high time to acquaint my spouse that captain tomlinson was
come and the rather as the maid told us that the lady had asked her
if such a gentleman  describing him  was not in the parlour 

mrs moore went up and requested in my name that she would give us
audience 

but she returned reporting my beloved's desire that captain tomlinson
would excuse her for the present she was very ill her spirits were
too weak to enter into conversation with him and she must lie down 

i was vexed and at first extremely disconcerted the captain was vexed
too and my concern thou mayest believe was the greater on his
account 

she had been very much fatigued i own her fits in the morning must
have disordered her and she had carried her resentment so high that it
was the less wonder she should find herself low when her raised spirits
had subsided very low i may say if sinkings are proportioned to
risings for she had been lifted up above the standard of a common
mortal 

the captain however sent up his own name that if he could be admitted
to drink one dish of tea with her he should take it for a favour and
would go to town and dispatch some necessary business in order if
possible to leave his morning free to attend her 

but she pleaded a violent head-ache and mrs moore confirmed the plea to
be just 

i would have had the captain lodge there that night as well in
compliment to him as introductory to my intention of entering myself
upon my new-taken apartment but his hours were of too much importance to
him to stay the evening 

it was indeed very inconvenient for him he said to return in the
morning but he is willing to do all in his power to heal this breach 
and that as well for the sakes of me and my lady as for that of his dear
friend mr john harlowe who must not know how far this misunderstanding
had gone he would therefore only drink one dish of tea with the ladies
and me 

and accordingly after he had done so and i had had a little private
conversation with him he hurried away 

his fellow had given him in the interim a high character to mrs 
moore's servants and this reported by the widow bevis who being no
proud woman is hail fellow well met as the saying is with all her
aunt's servants he was a fine gentleman a discreet gentleman a man of
sense and breeding with them all and it was pity that with such great
business upon his hands he should be obliged to come again 

my life for your's audibly whispered the widow bevis there is humour as
well as head-ache in somebody's declining to see this worthy gentleman 
ah lord how happy might some people be if they would 

no perfect happiness in this world said i very gravely and with a
sigh for the widow must know that i heard her if we have not real
unhappiness we can make it even from the overflowings of our good
fortune 

very true and very true the two widows a charming observation mrs 
bevis miss rawlins smiled her assent to it and i thought she called me
in her heart charming man for she professes to be a great admirer of
moral observations 

i had hardly taken leave of the captain and sat down again with the
women when will came and calling me out sir sir  said he grinning
with a familiarity in his looks as if what he had to say entitled him to
take liberties i have got the fellow down i have got old grimes hah 
hah hah hah he is at the lower flask almost in the condition of
david's sow and please your honour  the dog himself not much better 
here is his letter from from miss howe ha ha ha ha  laughed the
varlet holding it fast as if to make conditions with me and to excite
my praises as well as my impatience 

i could have knocked him down but he would have his say out old grimes
knows not that i have the letter i must get back to him before he misses
it i only make a pretence to go out for a few minutes but but' and
then the dog laughed again he must stay old grimes must stay till i
go back to pay the reckoning 

d n the prater grinning rascal the letter the letter 

he gathered in his wide mothe as he calls it and gave me the letter 
but with a strut rather than a bow and then sidled off like one of
widow sorlings's dunghill cocks exulting after a great feat performed 
and all the time that i was holding up the billet to the light to try to
get at its contents without breaking the seal  for dispatched in a
hurry it had no cover   there stood he laughing shrugging playing off
his legs now stroking his shining chin now turning his hat upon his
thumb then leering in my face flourishing with his head o christ 
now-and-then cried the rascal 

what joy has this dog in mischief more than i can have in the
completion of my most favourite purposes these fellows are ever happier
than their masters 

i was once thinking to rumple up this billet till i had broken the seal 
young families  miss howe's is not an ancient one  love ostentatious
sealings and it might have been supposed to have been squeezed in pieces
in old grimes's breeches-pocket but i was glad to be saved the guilt as
well as suspicion of having a hand in so dirty a trick for thus much of
the contents enough for my purpose i was enabled to scratch out in
character without it the folds depriving me only of a few connecting
words which i have supplied between hooks 

my miss harlowe thou knowest had before changed her name to miss
laetitia beaumont another alias now jack to it for this billet was
directed to her by the name of mrs harriot lucas i have learned her to
be half a rogue thou seest 


i congratulate you my dear with all my heart and soul upon  your
escape  from the villain  i long  for the particulars of all  my
mother  is out but expecting her return every minute i dispatched
 your  messenger instantly  i will endeavour to come at  mrs townsend
without loss of time and will write at large in a day or two if in that
time i can see her  mean time i  am excessively uneasy for a letter i
sent you yesterday by collins  who must have left it at  wilson's after
you got away  it is of very  great importance  i hope the  villain
has it not i would not for the world  that he should   immediately
send for it if by doing so the place you are at  will not be 
discovered if he has it let me know it by some way  out of  hand if
not you need not send 

ever ever your's 
a h 
june 9 


 


o jack what heart's-ease does this interception give me i sent the
rascal back with the letter to old grimes and charged him to drink no
deeper he owned that he was half-seas over as he phrased it 

dog said i are you not to court one of mrs moore's maids to-night 

cry your mercy sir i will be sober i had forgot that but old grimes
is plaguy tough i thought i should never have got him down 

away villain let old grimes come and on horseback too to the door 

he shall and please your honour if i can get him on the saddle and if
he can sit 

and charge him not to have alighted nor to have seen any body 

enough sir familiarly nodding his head to show he took me and away
went the villain into the parlour to the women i 

in a quarter of an hour came old grimes on horseback waving to his
saddle-bow now on this side now on that his head at others joining
to that of his more sober beast 

it looked very well to the women that i made no effort to speak to old
grimes though i wished before them that i knew the contents of what
he brought but on the contrary desired that they would instantly let
my spouse know that her messenger was returned 

down she flew violently as she had the head-ache 

o how i prayed for an opportunity to be revenged of her for the
ungrateful trouble she had given to her uncle's friend 

she took the letter from old grimes with her own hands and retired to an
inner parlour to read it 

she presently came out again to the fellow who had much ado to sit his
horse here is your money friend i thought you long but what shall i
do to get somebody to go to town immediately for me i see you cannot 

old grimes took his money let fall his hat in doffing it had it given
him and rode away his eyes isinglass and set in his head as i saw
through the window and in a manner speechless all his language hiccup 
my dog needed not to have gone so deep with this tough old grimes but
the rascal was in his kingdom with him 

the lady applied to mrs moore she mattered not the price could a man
and horse be engaged for her only to go for a letter left for her at
one mr wilson's in pall-mall 

a poor neighbour was hired a horse procured for him he had his
directions 

in vain did i endeavour to engaged my beloved when she was below her
head-ache i suppose returned she like the rest of her sex can be
ill or well when she pleases 

i see her drift thought i it is to have all her lights from miss howe
before she resolves and to take her measures accordingly 

up she went expressing great impatience about the letter she had sent
for and desired mrs moore to let her know if i offered to send any one
of my servants to town to get at the letter i suppose was her fear 
but she might have been quite easy on that head and yet perhaps would
not had she known that the worthy captain tomlinson who will be in
town before her messenger will leave there the important letter which
i hope will help to pacify her and reconcile her to me 

o jack jack thinkest thou that i will take all this roguish pains and
be so often called villain for nothing 

but yet is it not taking pains to come at the finest creature in the
world not for a transitory moment only but for one of our lives the
struggle only whether i am to have her in my own way or in her's 

but now i know thou wilt be frightened out of thy wits for me what 
lovelace wouldest thou let her have a letter that will inevitably blow
thee up and blow up the mother and all her nymphs yet not intend to
reform nor intend to marry 

patience puppy canst thou not trust thy master 



letter xxx

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


i went up to my new-taken apartment and fell to writing in character as
usual i thought i had made good my quarters but the cruel creature 
understanding that i intended to take up my lodgings there declared with
so much violence against it that i was obliged to submit and to accept
of another lodging about twelve doors off which mrs moore recommended 
and all the advantage i could obtain was that will unknown to my
spouse and for fear of a freak should lie in the house 

mrs moore indeed was unwilling to disoblige either of us but miss
rawlins was of opinion that nothing more ought to be allowed me and yet
mrs moore owned that the refusal was a strange piece of tyranny to a
husband if i were a husband 

i had a good mind to make miss rawlins smart for it come and see miss
rawlins jack if thou likest her i'll get her for thee with a
wet-finger as the saying is 

the widow bevis indeed stickled hard for me  an innocent or injured
man will have friends every where   she said that to bear much with
some wives was to be obliged to bear more and i reflected with a sigh 
that tame spirits must always be imposed upon and then in my heart i
renewed my vows of revenge upon this haughty and perverse beauty 

the second fellow came back from town about nine o'clock with miss
howe's letter of wednesday last collins it seems when he left it 
had desired that it might be safely and speedily delivered into miss
laetitia beaumont's own hands but wilson understanding that neither
she nor i were in town  he could not know of our difference thou must
think   resolved to take care of it till our return in order to give it
into one of our own hands and now delivered it to her messenger 

this was told her wilson i doubt not is in her favour upon it 

she took the letter with great eagerness opened it in a hurry  am glad
she did yet i believe all was right   before mrs moore and mrs 
bevis  miss rawlins was gone home   and said she would not for the
world that i should have had that letter for the sake of her dear friend
the writer who had written to her very uneasily about it 

her dear friend repeated mrs bevis when she told me this such
mischief-makers are always deemed dear friends till they are found out 

the widow says that i am the finest gentleman she ever beheld 

i have found a warm kiss now-and-then very kindly taken 

i might be a very wicked fellow jack if i were to do all the mischief
in my power but i am evermore for quitting a too-easy prey to reptile
rakes what but difficulty though the lady is an angel engages me to
so much perseverance here and here conquer or die is now the
determination 


 

i have just now parted with this honest widow she called upon me at my
new lodgings i told her that i saw i must be further obliged to her in
the course of this difficult affair she must allow me to make her a
handsome present when all was happily over but i desired that she would
take no notice of what should pass between us not even to her aunt for
that she as i saw was in the power of miss rawlins and miss rawlins 
being a maiden gentlewoman knew not the right and the fit in matrimonial
matters as she my dear widow did 

very true how should she said mrs bevis proud of knowing nothing 
but for her part she desired no present it was enough if she could
contribute to reconcile man and wife and disappoint mischief-makers 
she doubted not that such an envious creature as miss howe was glad that
mrs lovelace had eloped jealousy and love was old nick 

see belford how charmingly things work between me and my new
acquaintance the widow who knows but that she may after a little
farther intimacy though i am banished the house on nights contrive a
midnight visit for me to my spouse when all is still and fast asleep 

where can a woman be safe who has once entered the lists with a
contriving and intrepid lover 

but as to this letter methinkest thou sayest of miss howe 

i knew thou wouldest be uneasy for me but did not i tell thee that i
had provided for every thing that i always took care to keep seals
entire and to preserve covers was it not easy then thinkest thou to
contrive a shorter letter out of a longer and to copy the very words 


 see letter xx of this volume 


i can tell thee it was so well ordered that not being suspected to
have been in my hands it was not easy to find me out had it been my
beloved's hand there would have been no imitating it for such a length 
her delicate and even mind is seen in the very cut of her letters miss
howe's hand is no bad one but it is not so equal and regular that
little devil's natural impatience hurrying on her fingers gave i
suppose from the beginning her handwriting as well as the rest of her 
its fits and starts and those peculiarities which like strong muscular
lines in a face neither the pen nor the pencil can miss 

hast thou a mind tot see what it was i permitted miss howe to write to
her lovely friend why then read it here so extracted from her's of
wednesday last with a few additions of my own the additions
underscored 


 editor's note in place of italics as in the original i have
substituted hooks     


my dearest friend 

you will perhaps think that i have been too long silent but i had begun
two letters at different times since my last and written a great deal
each time and with spirit enough i assure you incensed as i was against
the abominable wretch you are with particularly on reading your's of the
21st of the past month 

the first i intended to keep open till i could give you some account of
my proceedings with mrs townsend it was some days before i saw her 
and this intervenient space giving me time to reperuse what i had
written i thought it proper to lay that aside and to write in a style a
little less fervent for you would have blamed me i knew for the
freedom of some of my expressions execrations if you please and
when i had gone a good way in the second and change your prospects on
his communicating to you miss montague's letter and his better
behaviour occasioning a change in your mind i laid that aside also 
and in this uncertainty thought i would wait to see the issue of affairs
between you before i wrote again believing that all would soon be
decided one way or other 


 


 here i was forced to break off i am too little my own mistress my
mother is always up and down and watching as if i were writing to a
fellow what need i she asks me lock myself in if i am only
reading past correspondencies for that is my pretence when she comes
poking in with her face sharpened to an edge as i may say by a
curiosity that gives her more pain than pleasure the lord forgive me 
but i believe i shall huff her next time she comes in  


 see letter xx of this volume 
 ibid 


 


do you forgive me too my dear my mother ought because she says i am my
father's girl and because i am sure i am her's 


 upon my life my dear i am sometimes of opinion that this vile man was
capable of meaning you dishonour when i look back upon his past conduct 
i cannot help and verily believe that he has laid aside such thoughts 
my reasons for both opinions i will give you  

 for the first to-wit that he had it once in his head to take you at
advantage if he could i consider that  pride revenge and a delight to
tread in unbeaten paths are principal ingredients in the character of
this finished libertine he hates all your family yourself excepted 
yet is a savage in love his pride and the credit which a few plausible
qualities sprinkled among his odious ones have given him have secured
him too good a reception from our eye-judging our undistinguishing our
self flattering our too-confiding sex to make assiduity and
obsequiousness and a conquest of his unruly passions any part of his
study 

he has some reason for his animosity to all the men and to one woman of
your family he has always shown you and his own family too that he
prefers his pride to his interest he is a declared marriage-hater a
notorious intriguer full of his inventions and glorying in them as
his vanity had made him imagine that no woman could be proof against his
love no wonder that he struggled like a lion held in toils against a
passion that he thought not returned hence perhaps it is not
difficult to believe that it became possible for such a wretch as this
to give way to his old prejudices against marriage and to that revenge
which had always been a first passion with him 


 see letter xx of this volume 
 ibid 
 ibid 


 and hence we may account for  his delays his teasing ways his bringing
you to bear with his lodging in the same house his making you pass to
the other people of it as his wife his bringing you into the company of
his libertine companions the attempt of imposing upon you that miss
partington for a bedfellow etc 

 my reasons for a contrary opinion to wit that he is now resolved to do
you all the justice in his power to do you   are these that he sees
that all his own family have warmly engaged themselves in your cause 
that the horrid wretch loves you with such a love however as herod
loved his mariamne that on inquiry i find it to be true that
counsellor williams whom mr hickman knows to be a man of eminence in
his profession has actually as good as finished the settlements that
two draughts of them have been made one avowedly to be sent to this very
captain tomlinson and i find that a license has actually been more
than once endeavoured to be obtained and that difficulties have hitherto
been made equally to lovelace's vexation and disappointment my
mother's proctor who is very intimate with the proctor applied to by the
wretch has come at this information in confidence and hints that as
mr lovelace is a man of high fortunes these difficulties will probably
be got over 


 see letter xx of this volume 


 i had once resolved to make strict inquiry about tomlinson and still 
if you will your uncle's favourite housekeeper may be sounded at a
distance  

 i know that the matter is so laid   that mrs hodges is supposed to
know nothing of the treaty set on foot by means of captain tomlinson 
but your uncle is an 


 see letter xx of this volume 


but your uncle is an old man and old men imagine themselves to be under
obligation to their paramours if younger than themselves and seldom
keep any thing from their knowledge yet methinks there can be no
need since tomlinson as you describe him is so good a man and so much
of a gentleman the end to be answered by his being an impostor so much
more than necessary if lovelace has villany in his head and thus what
he communicated to you of mr hickman's application to your uncle and of
mrs norton's to your mother some of which particulars i am satisfied
his vile agent joseph leman could not reveal to his viler employer his
pushing on the marriage-day in the name of your uncle which it could not
answer any wicked purpose for him to do and what he writes of your
uncle's proposal to have it thought that you were married from the time
that you had lived in one house together and that to be made to agree
with the time of mr hickman's visit to your uncle the insisting on a
trusty person's being present at the ceremony at that uncle's nomination
 these things make me  assured that he now at last means honourably  


 see letter xx of this volume 


 but if any unexpected delays should happen on his side acquaint me my
dear with the very street where mrs sinclair lives and where mrs 
fretchville's house is situated which i cannot find that you have ever
mentioned in your former letters which is a little odd and i will make
strict inquiries of them and of tomlinson too and i will if your heart
will let you take my advice soon procure you a refuge from him with mrs 
townsend  

 but why do i now when you seem to be in so good a train puzzle and
perplex you with my retrospections and yet they may be of use to you 
if any delay happen on his part  

 but that i think cannot well be what you have therefore now to do is
so to behave to this proud-spirited wretch as may banish from his mind
all remembrance of  past disobligations and to receive his addresses 
as those of a betrothed lover you will incur the censure of prudery and
affectation if you keep him at that distance which you have hitherto
 kept him at   his sudden and as suddenly recovered illness has given
him an opportunity to find out that you love him alas my dear i knew
you loved him he has seemed to change his nature and is all love and
gentleness  and no more quarrels now i beseech you  


 see letter xx of this volume 


 i am very angry with him nevertheless for the freedoms which he took
with your person and i think some guard is necessary as he is
certainly an encroacher but indeed all men are so and you are such a
charming creature and have kept him at such a distance but no more of
this subject only my dear be not over-nice now you are so near the
state you see what difficulties you laid yourself under   when
tomlinson's letter called you again into  the wretch's  company 


 see letter xi of this volume 


if you meet with no impediments no new causes of doubt your reputation
in the eye of the world is concerned that you should be his  and as
your uncle rightly judges be thought to have been his before now   and
yet  let me tell you   i  can hardly  bear  to think   that these
libertines should be rewarded for their villany with the best of the sex 
when the worst of it are too good for them 


 see letter xx of this volume 


i shall send this long letter by collins who changes his day to oblige
me as none of our letters by wilson's conveyance have miscarried when
you have been in more apparently-disagreeable situations than you are in
at present  i have no doubt  that this will go safe 


 see letter xx of this volume 


miss lardner whom you have seen hat her cousin biddulph's saw you at
st james's church on sunday was fortnight she kept you in her eye
during the whole time but could not once obtain the notice of your's 
though she courtesied to you twice she thought to pay her compliments
to you when the service was over for she doubted not but you were
married and for an odd reason because you came to church by yourself 
every eye as usual wherever you are she said was upon you and this
seeming to give you hurry and you being nearer the door than she you
slid out before she could get to you but she ordered her servant to
follow you till you were housed this servant saw you step into a chair
which waited for you and you ordered the men to carry you to the place
where they took you up she  describes the house  as a very genteel
house and fit to receive people of fashion  and what makes me mention
this is that perhaps you will have a visit from her or message at
least  


 see letter xx of this volume 


 so that you have mr doleman's testimony to the credit of the house
and people you are with and he is  a man of fortune and some
reputation formerly a rake indeed but married to a woman of family 
and having had a palsy blow one would think a penitent you have  also
mr mennell's at least passive testimony mr   tomlinson's  and now 
lastly miss lardner's so that there will be the less need for inquiry 
but you know my busy and inquisitive temper as well as my affection for
you and my concern for your honour but all doubt will soon be lost in
certainty  

 nevertheless i must add that i would have you  command me up if i can
be of the least service or pleasure to you i value not fame i value
not censure nor even life itself i verily think as i do your honour 
and your friendship for is not your honour my honour and is not your
friendship the pride of my life 


 see letter xx of this volume 


may heaven preserve you my dearest creature in honour and safety is
the prayer the hourly prayer of

your ever-faithful and affectionate 
anna howe 

thursday morn 5 

i have written all night  excuse indifferent writing my crow-quills
are worn to the stumps and i must get a new supply  


 


these ladies always write with crow-quills jack 

if thou art capable of taking in all my providences in this letter thou
wilt admire my sagacity and contrivance almost as much as i do myself 
thou seest that miss lardner mrs sinclair tomlinson mrs 
fretchville mennell are all mentioned in it my first liberties with
her person also  modesty modesty belford i doubt is more confined
to time place and occasion even by the most delicate minds than these
minds would have it believed to be   and why all these taken notice of
by me from the genuine letter but for fear some future letter from the
vixen should escape my hands in which she might refer to these names 
and if none of them were to have been found in this that is to pass for
her's i might be routed horse and foot as lord m would phrase it in a
like case 

devilish hard and yet i may thank myself to be put to all this plague
and trouble and for what dost thou ask o jack for a triumph of more
value to me beforehand than an imperial crown don't ask me the value of
it a month hence but what indeed is an imperial crown itself when a man
is used to it 

miss howe might well be anxious about the letter she wrote her sweet
friend from what i have let pass of her's has reason to rejoice in the
thought that it fell not into my hands 

and now must all my contrivances be set at work to intercept the
expected letter from miss howe which is as i suppose to direct her to
a place of safety and out of my knowledge mrs townsend is no doubt 
in this case to smuggle her off i hope the villain as i am so
frequently called between these two girls will be able to manage this
point 

but what perhaps thou askest if the lady should take it into her head 
by the connivance of miss rawlins to quit this house privately in the
night 

i have thought of this jack does not will lie in the house and is
not the widow bevis my fast friend 



letter xxxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
saturday six o'clock june 10 


the lady gave will s sweetheart a letter last night to be carried to the
post-house as this morning directed for miss howe under cover to
hickman i dare say neither cover nor letter will be seen to have been
opened the contents but eight lines to own the receipt of her
double-dated letter in safety and referring to a longer letter which
she intends to write when she shall have a quieter heart and less
trembling fingers but mentions something to have happened  my detecting
her she means  which has given her very great flutters confusions and
apprehensions but which she will wait the issue of  some hopes for me
hence jack   before she gives her fresh perturbation or concern on her
account she tells her how impatient she shall be for her next  etc 

now belford i thought it would be but kind in me to save miss howe's
concern on these alarming hints since the curiosity of such a spirit
must have been prodigiously excited by them having therefore so good a
copy to imitate i wrote and taking out that of my beloved put under
the same cover the following short billet inscriptive and conclusive
parts of it in her own words 


hampstead tues even 

my ever-dear miss howe 

a few lines only till calmer spirits and quieter fingers be granted me 
and till i can get over the shock which your intelligence has given me 
to acquaint you that your kind long letter of wednesday and as i may
say of thursday morning is come safe to my hands on receipt of your's
by my messenger to you i sent for it from wilson's there thank
heaven it lay may that heaven reward you for all your past and for
all your intended goodness to

your for-ever obliged 
cl harlowe 


 


i took great pains in writing this it cannot i hope be suspected 
her hand is so very delicate yet her's is written less beautifully than
she usually writes and i hope miss howe will allow somewhat for hurry of
spirits and unsteady fingers 

my consideration for miss howe's ease of mind extended still farther than
to the instance i have mentioned 

that this billet might be with her as soon as possible and before it
could have reached hickman by the post i dispatched it away by a
servant of mowbray's miss howe had there been any failure or delay 
might as thou wilt think have communicated her anxieties to her
fugitive friend and she to me perhaps in a way i should not have been
pleased with 

once more wilt thou wonderingly question all this pains for a single
girl 

yes jack but is not this girl a clarissa and who knows but kind
fortune as a reward for my perseverance may toss me in her charming
friend less likely things have come to pass belford and to be sure i
shall have her if i resolve upon it 



letter xxxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
eight o'clock sat morn june 10 


i am come back from mrs moore's whither i went in order to attend my
charmer's commands but no admittance a very bad night 

doubtless she must be as much concerned that she has carried her
resentments so very far as i have reason to be that i made such poor use
of the opportunity i had on wednesday night 

but now jack for a brief review of my present situation and a slight
hint or two of my precautions 

i have seen the women this morning and find them half-right half-
doubting 

miss rawlins's brother tells her that she lives at mrs moore's 

mrs moore can do nothing without miss rawlins 

people who keep lodgings at public places expect to get by every one who
comes into their purlieus though not permitted to lodge there myself i
have engaged all the rooms she has to spare to the very garrets and
that as i have told thee before for a month certain and at her own
price board included my spouse's and all but she must not at present
know it so i hope i have mrs moore fast by the interest 

this devil-like is suiting temptations to inclinations 

i have always observed and i believe i have hinted as much formerly 
that all dealers though but for pins may be taken in by customers for
pins sooner than by a direct bribe of ten times the value especially if
pretenders to conscience for the offer of a bribe would not only give
room for suspicion but would startle and alarm their scrupulousness 
while a high price paid for what you buy is but submitting to be cheated
in the method of the person makes a profession to get by have i not
said that human nature is a rogue and do not i know that it is 


 see vol iii letter xxxiv 
 see vol iii letter xxxv and vol iv letter xxi 


to give a higher instance how many proud senators in the year 1720 
were induced by presents or subscription of south-sea stock to
contribute to a scheme big with national ruin who yet would have spurned
the man who should have presumed to offer them even twice the sum certain
that they had a chance to gain by the stock but to return to my review
and to my precautions 

miss rawlins fluctuates as she hears the lady's story or as she hears
mine somewhat of an infidel i doubt is this miss rawlins i have not
yet considered her foible the next time i see her i will take
particular notice of all the moles and freckles in her mind and then
infer and apply 

the widow bevis as i have told thee is all my own 

my man will lies in the house my other new fellow attends upon me and
cannot therefore be quite stupid 

already is will over head and ears in love with one of mrs moore's
maids he was struck with her the moment he set his eyes upon her a
raw country wench too but all women from the countess to the cook-
maid are put into high good humour with themselves when a man is taken
with them at first sight be they ever so plain  no woman can be ugly 
jack   they'll find twenty good reasons besides the great one for
sake's sake by the help of the glass without and perhaps in spite of
it and conceit within to justify the honest fellow's caption 

the rogue has saved 150  in my service  more by 50 than i bid him
save no doubt he thinks he might have done so though i believe not
worth a groat the best of masters i passionate indeed but soon
appeased 

the wench is extremely kind to him already the other maid is also very
civil to him he has a husband for her in his eye she cannot but say 
that mr andrew my other servant  the girl is for fixing the person  is
a very well spoken civil young man 

we common folks have our joys and please your honour says honest
joseph leman like as our betters have  and true says honest joseph 
did i prefer ease to difficulty i should envy these low-born sinners
some of their joys 


 see vol iii letter xlvii 


but if will had not made amorous pretensions to the wenches we all
know that servants united in one common compare-note cause are
intimate the moment they see one another great genealogists too they
know immediately the whole kin and kin's kin of each other though
dispersed over the three kingdoms as well as the genealogies and kin's
kin of those whom they serve 

but my precautions end not here 

o jack with such an invention what occasion had i to carry my beloved
to mrs sinclair's 

my spouse may have farther occasion for the messengers whom she
dispatched one to miss howe the other to wilson's with one of these
will is already well-acquainted as thou hast heard to mingle liquor
is to mingle souls with these fellows with the other messenger he will
soon be acquainted if he be not already 

the captain's servant has his uses and instructions assigned him i have
hinted at some of them already he also serves a most humane and
considerate master i love to make every body respected to my power 


 see letter xxix of this volume 


the post general and penny will be strictly watched likewise 

miss howe's collins is remembered to be described miss howe's and
hickman's liveries also 

james harlowe and singleton are warned against i am to be acquainted
with any inquiry that shall happen to be made after my spouse whether by
her married or maiden name before she shall be told of it and this that
i may have it in my power to prevent mischief 

i have ordered mowbray and tourville and belton if his health permit 
to take their quarters at hampstead for a week with their fellows to
attend them i spare thee for the present because of thy private
concerns but hold thyself in cheerful readiness however as a mark of
thy allegiance 

as to my spouse herself has she not reason to be pleased with me for
having permitted her to receive miss howe's letter from wilson's a
plain case either that i am no deep plotter or that i have no farther
views than to make my peace with her for an offence so slight and so
accidental 

miss howe says though prefaced with an alas that her charming friend
loves me she must therefore yearn after this reconciliation prospects
so fair if she showed me any compassion seemed inclinable to spare
me and to make the most favourable construction i cannot but say that
it would be impossible not to show her some but to be insulted and
defied by a rebel in one's power what prince can bear that 

but i must return to the scene of action i must keep the women steady 
i had no opportunity to talk to my worthy mrs bevis in private 

tomlinson a dog not come yet 



letter xxxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
from my apartments at mrs moore's 


miss rawlins at her brothers mrs moore engaged in household matters 
widow bevis dressing i have nothing to do but write this cursed
tomlinson not yet arrived nothing to be done without him 

i think he shall complain in pretty high language of the treatment he met
with yesterday what are our affairs to him he can have no view but
to serve us cruel to send back to town un-audienced unseen a man of
his business and importance he never stirs a-foot but something of
consequence depends upon his movements a confounded thing to trifle
thus humoursomely with such a gentleman's moments these women think 
that all the business of the world must stand still for their figaries
 a good female word jack   the greatest triflers in the creation to
fancy themselves the most important beings in it marry come up as i
have heard goody sorlings say to her servants when she has rated at them
with mingled anger and disdain 

after all methinks i want those tostications  thou seest how women and
women's words fill my mind  to be over happily over that i may sit
down quietly and reflect upon the dangers i have passed through and the
troubles i have undergone i have a reflecting mind as thou knowest 
but the very word reflecting implies all got over 

what briars and thorns does the wretch rush into a scratched face and
tattered garments the unavoidable consequence who will needs be for
striking out a new path through overgrown underwood quitting that beaten
out for him by those who have travelled the same road before him 


 


a visit from the widow bevis in my own apartment she tells me that my
spouse had thoughts last night after i was gone to my lodgings of
removing from mrs moore's 

i almost wish she had attempted to do so 

miss rawlins it seems who was applied to upon it dissuaded her from
it 

mrs moore also though she did not own that will lay in the house or
rather set up in it courting set before her the difficulties which 
in her opinion she would have to get clear off without my knowledge 
assuring her that she could be no where more safe than with her till
she had fixed whither to go and the lady herself recollected that if
she went she might miss the expected letter from her dear friend miss
howe which as she owned was to direct her future steps 

she must also surely have some curiosity to know what her uncle's friend
had to say to her from her uncle contemptuously as she yesterday treated
a man of his importance nor could she i should think be absolutely
determined to put herself out of the way of receiving the visits of two
of the principal ladies of my family and to break entirely with me in
the face of them all besides whither could she have gone moreover 
miss howe's letter coming after her elopement so safely to her hands 
must surely put her into a more confiding temper with me and with every
one else though she would not immediately own it 

but these good folks have so little charity are such severe censurers 
 yet who is absolutely perfect it were to be wished however that
they would be so modest as to doubt themselves sometimes then would they
allow for others as others excellent as they imagine themselves to be 
must for them 


saturday one o'clock 

tomlinson at last is come forced to ride five miles about though i
shall impute his delay to great and important business to avoid the
sight of two or three impertinent rascals who little thinking whose
affairs he was employed in wanted to obtrude themselves upon him i
think i will make this fellow easy if he behave to my liking in this
affair 

i sent up the moment he came 

she desired to be excused receiving his visit till four this afternoon 

intolerable no consideration none at all in this sex when their
cursed humours are in the way pay-day pay-hour rather will come 
oh that it were to be the next 

the captain is in a pet who can blame him even the women think a man
of his consequence and generously coming to serve us hardly used 
would to heaven she had attempted to get off last night the women not
my enemies who knows but the husband's exerted authority might have met
with such connivance as might have concluded either in carrying her back
to her former lodgings or in consummation at mrs moore's in spite of
exclamations fits and the rest of the female obsecrations 

my beloved has not appeared to any body this day except to mrs moore 
is it seems extremely low unfit for the interesting conversation that
is to be held in the afternoon longs to hear from her dear friend miss
howe yet cannot expect a letter for a day or two has a bad opinion of
all mankind no wonder excellent creature as she is with such a
father such uncles such a brother as she has 

how does she look 

better than could be expected from yesterday's fatigue and last night's
ill rest 

these tender doves know not till put to it what they can bear 
especially when engaged in love affairs and their attention wholly
engrossed but the sex love busy scenes still life is their aversion 
a woman will create a storm rather than be without one so that they
can preside in the whirlwind and direct it they are happy but my
beloved's misfortune is that she must live in tumult yet neither raise
them herself nor be able to controul them 



letter xxxiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sat night june 10 


what will be the issue of all my plots and contrivances devil take me if
i am able to divine but i will not as lord m would say forestall my
own market 

at four the appointed hour i sent up to desire admittance in the
captain's name and my own 

she would wait upon the captain presently  not upon me   and in the
parlour if it were not engaged 

the dining-room being mine perhaps that was the reason of her naming the
parlour mighty nice again if so no good sign for me thought i this
stiff punctilio 

in the parlour with me and the captain were mrs moore miss rawlins 
and mrs bevis 

the women said they would withdraw when the lady came down 

lovel not except she chooses you should ladies people who are so
much above-board as i am need not make secrets of any of their affairs 
besides you three ladies are now acquainted with all our concerns 

capt i have some things to say to your lady that perhaps she would
not herself choose that any body should hear not even you mr lovelace 
as you and her family are not upon such a good foot of understanding as
were to be wished 

lovel well well captain i must submit give us a sign to withdraw 
and we will withdraw 

it was better that the exclusion of the women should come from him than
from me 

capt i will bow and wave my hand thus when i wish to be alone with
the lady her uncle dotes upon her i hope mr lovelace you will not
make a reconciliation more difficult for the earnestness which my dear
friend shows to bring it to bear but indeed i must tell you as i told
you more than once before that i am afraid you have made lighter of the
occasion of this misunderstanding to me than it ought to have been made 

lovel i hope captain tomlinson you do not question my veracity 

capt i beg your pardon mr lovelace but those things which we men
may think lightly of may not be light to a woman of delicacy and then 
if you have bound yourself by a vow you ought 

miss rawlins bridling her lips closed but her mouth stretched to a
smile of approbation the longer for not buttoning tacitly showed
herself pleased with the captain for his delicacy 

mrs moore could speak very true however was all she said with a
motion of her head that expressed the bow-approbatory 

for my part said the jolly widow staring with eyes as big as eggs i
know what i know but man and wife are man and wife or they are not
man and wife i have no notion of standing upon such niceties 

but here she comes cried one hearing her chamber-door open here she
comes another hearing it shut after her and down dropt the angel among
us 

we all stood up bowing and courtesying and could not help it for she
entered with such an air as commanded all our reverence yet the captain
looked plaguy grave 

cl pray keep your seats ladies pray do not go  for they made offers
to withdraw yet miss rawlins would have burst had she been suffered to
retire   before this time you have all heard my story i make no doubt 
pray keep your seats at least all mr lovelace's 

a very saucy and whimsical beginning thought i 

captain tomlinson your servant addressing herself to him with
inimitable dignity i hope you did not take amiss my declining your
visit yesterday i was really incapable of talking upon any subject that
required attention 

capt i am glad to see you better now madam i hope i do 

cl indeed i am not well i would not have excused myself from
attending you some hours ago but in hopes i should have been better i
beg your pardon sir for the trouble i have given you and shall the
rather expect it as this day will i hope conclude it all 

thus set thus determined thought i yet to have slept upon it but 
as what she said was capable of a good as well as a bad construction i
would not put an unfavourable one upon it 

lovel the captain was sorry my dear he did not offer his attendance
the moment he arrived yesterday he was afraid that you took it amiss
that he did not 

cl perhaps i thought that my uncle's friend might have wished to see
me as soon as he came  how we stared   but sir  to me   it might be
convenient to you to detain him 

the devil thought i so there really was resentment as well as head-
ache as my good friend mrs bevis observed in her refusing to see the
honest gentleman 

capt you would detain me mr lovelace i was for paying my respects
to the lady the moment i came 

cl well sir  interrupting him   to wave this for i would not be
thought captious if you have not suffered inconvenience in being
obliged to come again i shall be easy 

capt  half disconcerted   a little inconvenience i can't say but i
have suffered i have indeed too many affairs upon my hands but the
desire i have to serve you and mr lovelace as well as to oblige my dear
friend your uncle harlowe make great inconveniencies but small ones 

cl you are very obliging sir here is a great alteration since you
parted with us last 

capt a great one indeed madam i was very much surprised at it on
thursday evening when mr lovelace conducted me to your lodgings where
we hoped to find you 

cl have you any thing to say to me sir from my uncle himself that
requires my private ear don't go ladies  for the women stood up and
offered to withdraw   if mr lovelace stays i am sure you may 

i frowned i bit my lip i looked at the women and shook my head 

capt i have nothing to offer but what mr lovelace is a party to and
may hear except one private word or two which may be postponed to the
last 

cl pray ladies keep your seats things are altered sir since i
saw you you can mention nothing that relates to me now to which that
gentleman can be a party 

capt you surprise me madam i am sorry to hear this sorry for your
uncle's sake sorry for your sake sorry for mr lovelace's sake and
yet i am sure he must have given greater occasion than he has mentioned
to me or 

lovel indeed captain indeed ladies i have told you great part of
my story and what i told you of my offence was the truth what i
concealed of my story was only what i apprehended would if known cause
this dear creature to be thought more censorious than charitable 

cl well well sir say what you please make me as black as you
please make yourself as white as you can i am not now in your power 
that consideration will comfort me for all 

capt god forbid that i should offer to plead in behalf of a crime 
that a woman of virtue and honour cannot forgive but surely surely 
madam this is going too far 

cl do not blame me captain tomlinson i have a good opinion of you 
as my uncle's friend but if you are mr lovelace's friend that is
another thing for my interest and mr lovelace's must now be for ever
separated 

capt one word with you madam if you please offering to retire 

cl you may say all that you please to say before these gentlewomen 
mr lovelace may have secrets i have none you seem to think me faulty 
i should be glad that all the world knew my heart let my enemies sit in
judgment upon my actions fairly scanned i fear not the result let them
even ask me my most secret thoughts and whether they make for me or
against me i will reveal them 

capt noble lady who can say as you say 

the women held up their hands and eyes each as if she had said not i 

no disorder here said miss rawlins but judging by her own heart a
confounded deal of improbability i believe she thought 

finely said to be sure said the widow bevis shrugging her shoulders 

mrs moore sighed 

jack belford thought i knows all mine and in this i am more ingenuous
than any of the three and a fit match for this paragon 

cl how mr lovelace has found me out here i cannot tell but such mean
devices such artful such worse than waltham disguises put on to
obtrude himself into my company such bold such shocking untruths 

capt the favour of but one word madam in private 

cl in order to support a right which he has not over me o sir o
captain tomlinson i think i have reason to say that the man there he
stands is capable of any vileness 

the women looked upon one another and upon me by turns to see how i
bore it i had such dartings in my head at the instant that i thought i
should have gone distracted my brain seemed on fire what would i have
given to have had her alone with me i traversed the room my clenched
fist to my forehead o that i had any body here thought i that 
hercules-like when flaming in the tortures of dejanira's poisoned shirt 
i could tear in pieces 

capt dear lady see you not how the poor gentleman lord how have i
imposed upon your uncle at this rate how happy did i tell him i saw
you how happy i was sure you would be in each other 

cl o sir you don't know how many premeditated offences i had forgiven
when i saw you last before i could appear to you what i hoped then i
might for the future be but now you may tell my uncle if you please 
that i cannot hope for his mediation tell him that my guilt in giving
this man an opportunity to spirit me away from my tried my experienced 
my natural friends harshly as they treated me stares me every day
more and more in the face and still the more as my fate seems to be
drawing to a crisis according to the malediction of my offended father 

and then she burst into tears which even affected that dog who brought
to abet me was himself all belforded over 

the women so used to cry without grief as they are to laugh without
reason by mere force of example  confound their promptitudes   must
needs pull out their handkerchiefs the less wonder however as i
myself between confusion surprise and concern could hardly stand it 

what's a tender heart good for who can be happy that has a feeling
heart and yet thou'lt say that he who has it not must be a tiger 
and no man 

capt let me beg the favour of one word with you madam in private 
and that on my own account 

the women hereupon offered to retire she insisted that if they went 
i should not stay 

capt sir bowing to me shall i beg 

i hope thought i that i may trust this solemn dog instructed as he is 
she does not doubt him i'll stay out no longer than to give her time to
spend her first fire 

i then passively withdrew with the women but with such a bow to my
goddess that it won for me every heart but that i wanted most to win 
for the haughty maid bent not her knee in return 

the conversation between the captain and the lady when we were retired 
was to the following effect they both talked loud enough for me to hear
them the lady from anger the captain with design and thou mayest be
sure there was no listener but myself what i was imperfect in was
supplied afterwards for i had my vellum-leaved book to note all down 
if she had known this perhaps she would have been more sparing of her
invectives and but perhaps neither 

he told her that as her brother was absolutely resolved to see her and
as he himself in compliance with her uncle's expedient had reported her
marriage and as that report had reached the ears of lord m lady betty 
and the rest of my relations and as he had been obliged in consequence
of his first report to vouch it and as her brother might find out where
she was and apply to the women here for a confirmation or refutation of
the marriage he had thought himself obliged to countenance the report
before the women that this had embarrassed him not a little as he
would not for the world that she should have cause to think him capable
of prevarication contrivance or double dealing and that this made him
desirous of a private conversation with her 

it was true she said she had given her consent to such an expedient 
believing it was her uncle's and little thinking that it would lead to
so many errors yet she might have known that one error is frequently
the parent of many mr lovelace had made her sensible of the truth of
that observation on more occasions than one and it was an observation
that he the captain had made in one of the letters that was shown her
yesterday 


 see letter xxiv 


he hoped that she had no mistrust of him that she had no doubt of his
honour if madam you suspect me if you think me capable what a man 
the lord be merciful to me what a man must you think me 

i hope sir there cannot be a man in the world who could deserve to be
suspected in such a case as this i do not suspect you if it were
possible there could be one such a man i am sure captain tomlinson a
father of children a man in years of sense and experience cannot be
that man 

he told me that just then he thought he felt a sudden flash from her
eye an eye-beam as he called it dart through his shivering reins and
he could not help trembling 

the dog's conscience jack nothing else i have felt half a dozen such
flashes such eye-beams in as many different conversations with this
soul-piercing beauty 

her uncle she must own was not accustomed to think of such expedients 
but she had reconciled this to herself as the case was unhappily
uncommon and by the regard he had for her honour 

this set the puppy's heart at ease and gave him more courage 

she asked him if he thought lady betty and miss montague intended her a
visit 

he had no doubt but they did 

and does he imagine said she that i could be brought to countenance to
them the report you have given out 

 i had hoped to bring her to this jack or she had seen their letters 
but i had told the captain that i believed i must give up this
expectation  

no he believed that i had not such a thought he was pretty sure that
i intended when i saw them to tell them as in confidence the naked
truth 

he then told her that her uncle had already made some steps towards a
general reconciliation the moment madam that he knows you are really
married he will enter into confidence with your father upon it having
actually expressed to your mother his desire to be reconciled to you 

and what sir said my mother what said my dear mother 

with great emotion she asked this question holding out her sweet face 
as the captain described her with the most earnest attention as if she
would shorten the way which his words were to have to her heart 

your mother madam burst into tears upon it and your uncle was so
penetrated by her tenderness that he could not proceed with the subject 
but he intends to enter upon it with her in form as soon as he hears
that the ceremony is over 

by the tone of her voice she wept the dear creature thought i begins
to relent and i grudged the dog his eloquence i could hardly bear the
thought that any man breathing should have the power which i had lost of
persuading this high-souled woman though in my own favour and wouldest
thou think it this reflection gave me more uneasiness at the moment than
i felt from her reproaches violent as they were or than i had pleasure
in her supposed relenting for there is beauty in every thing she says
and does beauty in her passion beauty in her tears had the captain
been a young fellow and of rank and fortune his throat would have been
in danger and i should have thought very hardly of her 

o captain tomlinson said she you know not what i have suffered by this
man's strange ways he had as i was not ashamed to tell him yesterday 
a plain path before him he at first betrayed me into his power but
when i was in it there she stopt then resuming o sir you know not
what a strange man he has been an unpolite a rough-manner'd man in
disgrace of his birth and education and knowledge an unpolite man 
and so acting as if his worldly and personal advantages set him above
those graces which distinguish a gentleman 

the first woman that ever said or that ever thought so of me that's my
comfort thought i but this spoken of to her uncle's friend behind
my back helps to heap up thy already-too-full measure dearest it is
down in my vellum-book 

cl when i look back on his whole behaviour to a poor young creature 
 for i am but a very young creature i cannot acquit him either of great
folly or of deep design and last wednesday there she stopt and i
suppose turned away her face 

i wonder she was not ashamed to hint at what she thought so shameful and
that to a man and alone with him 

capt far be it from me madam to offer to enter too closely into so
tender a subject mr lovelace owns that you have reason to be
displeased with him but he so solemnly clears himself of premeditated
offence 

cl he cannot clear himself captain tomlinson the people of the
house must be very vile as well as he i am convinced that there was a
wicked confederacy but no more upon such a subject 

capt only one word more madam he tells me that you promised to
pardon him he tells me 

he knew interrupted she that he deserved not pardon or he had not
extorted the promise from me nor had i given it to him but to shield
myself from the vilest outrage 

capt i could wish madam inexcusable as his behaviour has been since
he has something to plead in the reliance he made upon your promise 
that for the sake of appearances to the world and to avoid the
mischiefs that may follow if you absolutely break with him you could
prevail upon your naturally-generous mind to lay an obligation upon him
by your forgiveness 

she was silent 

capt your father and mother madam deplore a daughter lost to them 
whom your generosity to mr lovelace may restore do not put it to the
possible chance that they may have cause to deplore a double loss the
losing of a son as well as a daughter who by his own violence which
you may perhaps prevent may be for ever lost to them and to the whole
family 

she paused she wept she owned that she felt the force of this argument 

i will be the making of this fellow thought i 

capt permit me madam to tell you that i do not think it would be
difficult to prevail upon your uncle if you insist upon it to come up
privately to town and to give you with his own hand to mr lovelace 
except indeed your present misunderstanding were to come to his ears 
besides madam your brother it is likely may at this very time be in
town and he is resolved to find you out 

cl why sir should i be so much afraid of my brother my brother has
injured me not i him will my brother offer to me what mr lovelace has
offered wicked ungrateful man to insult a friendless unprotected
creature made friendless by himself i cannot cannot think of him in
the light i once thought of him what sir to put myself into the power
of a wretch who has acted by me with so much vile premeditation who
shall pity who shall excuse me if i do were i to suffer ever so much
from him no sir let mr lovelace leave me let my brother find me 
i am not such a poor creature as to be afraid to face the brother who has
injured me 

capt were you and your brother to meet only to confer together to
expostulate to clear up difficulties it were another thing but what 
madam can you think will be the issue of an interview mr solmes with
him when he finds you unmarried and resolved never to have mr 
lovelace supposing mr lovelace were not to interfere which cannot be
imagined 

cl well sir i can only say i am a very unhappy creature i must
resign to the will of providence and be patient under evils which that
will not permit me to shun but i have taken my measures mr lovelace
can never make me happy nor i him i wait here only for a letter from
miss howe that must determine me 

determine you as to mr lovelace madam interrupted the captain 

cl i am already determined as to him 

capt if it be not in his favour i have done i cannot use stronger
arguments than i have used and it would be impertinent to repeat them 
if you cannot forgive his offence i am sure it must have been much
greater than he has owned to me if you are absolutely determined be
pleased to let me know what i shall say to your uncle you were pleased
to tell me that this day would put an end to what you called my trouble 
i should not have thought it any could i have been an humble mean of
reconciling persons of worth and honour to each other 

here i entered with a solemn air 

lovel captain tomlinson i have heard a part of what has passed
between you and this unforgiving however otherwise excellent lady i
am cut to the heart to find the dear creature so determined i could
not have believed it possible with such prospects that i had so little
share in her esteem nevertheless i must do myself justice with regard
to the offence i was so unhappy as to give since i find you are ready
to think it much greater than it really was 

cl i hear not sir your recapitulations i am and ought to be the
sole judge of insults offered to my person i enter not into discussion
with you nor hear you on the shocking subject and was going 

i put myself between her and the door you may hear all i have to say 
madam my fault is not of such a nature but that you may i will be a
just accuser of myself and will not wound your ears 

i then protested that the fire was a real fire  so it was   i
disclaimed  less truly  premeditation i owned that i was hurried on by
the violence of a youthful passion and by a sudden impulse which few
other persons in the like situation would have been able to check that
i withdrew at her command and entreaty on the promise of pardon 
without having offered the least indecency or any freedom that would
not have been forgiven by persons of delicacy surprised in an attitude
so charming her terror on the alarm of fire calling for a soothing
behaviour and personal tenderness she being ready to fall into fits my
hoped-for happy day so near that i might be presumed to be looked upon
as a betrothed lover and that this excuse might be pleaded even for the
women of the house that they thinking us actually married might
suppose themselves to be the less concerned to interfere on so tender an
occasion  there jack was a bold insinuation on behalf of the women  

high indignation filled her disdainful eye eye-beam after eye-beam
flashing at me every feature of her sweet face had soul in it yet she
spoke not perhaps jack she had a thought that this plea for the
women accounted for my contrivance to have her pass to them as married 
when i first carried her thither 

capt indeed sir i must say that you did not well to add to the
apprehensions of a lady so much terrified before 

the dear creature offered to go by me i set my back against the door 
and besought her to stay a few moments i had not said thus much my
dearest creature but for your sake as well as for my own that captain
tomlinson should not think i had been viler than i was nor will i say
one word more on the subject after i have appealed to your own heart 
whether it was not necessary that i should say so much and to the
captain whether otherwise he would not have gone away with a much worse
opinion of me if he had judged of my offence by the violence of your
resentment 

capt indeed i should i own i should and i am very glad mr 
lovelace that you are able to defend yourself thus far 

cl that cause must be well tried where the offender takes his seat
upon the same bench with the judge i submit not mine to men nor give
me leave to say to you captain tomlinson though i am willing to have a
good opinion of you had not the man been assured that he had influenced
you in his favour he would not have brought you up to hampstead 

capt that i am influenced as you call it madam is for the sake of
your uncle and for your own sake more i will say to mr lovelace's
face than for his what can i have in view but peace and
reconciliation i have from the first blamed and i now again blame
mr lovelace for adding distress to distress and terror to terror the
lady as you acknowledge sir  looking valiantly   ready before to fall
into fits 

lovel let me own to you captain tomlinson that i have been a very
faulty a very foolish man and if this dear creature ever honoured me
with her love an ungrateful one but i have had too much reason to
doubt it and this is now a flagrant proof that she never had the value
for me which my proud heart wished for that with such prospects before
us a day so near settlements approved and drawn her uncle meditating a
general reconciliation which for her sake not my own i was desirous to
give into she can for an offence so really slight on an occasion so
truly accidental renounce me for ever and with me all hopes of that
reconciliation in the way her uncle had put it in and she had acquiesced
with and risque all consequences fatal ones as they may too possibly
be by my soul captain tomlinson the dear creature must have hated me
all the time she was intending to honour me with her hand and now she
must resolve to abandon me as far as i know with a preference in her
heart of the most odious of men in favour of that solmes who as you
tell me accompanies her brother and with what hopes with what view 
accompanies him how can i bear to think of this 

cl it is fit sir that you should judge of my regard for you by your
own conscienceness of demerit yet you know or you would not have dared
to behave to me as sometimes you did that you had more of it than you
deserved 

she walked from us and then returning captain tomlinson said she i
will own to you that i was not capable of resolving to give my hand and
 nothing but my hand had i not given a flagrant proof of this to the
once most indulgent of parents which has brought me into a distress 
which this man has heightened when he ought in gratitude and honour to
have endeavoured to render it supportable i had even a bias sir in
his favour i scruple not to own it long much too long bore i with
his unaccountable ways attributing his errors to unmeaning gaiety and
to a want of knowing what true delicacy and true generosity required
from a heart susceptible of grateful impressions to one involved by his
means in unhappy circumstances 

it is now wickedness in him a wickedness which discredits all his
professions to say that this last cruel and ungrateful insult was not
a premeditated one but what need i say more of this insult when it was
of such a nature and that it has changed that bias in his favour and
make me choose to forego all the inviting prospects he talks of and to
run all hazards to free myself from his power 

o my dearest creature how happy for us both had i been able to discover
that bias as you condescend to call it through such reserves as man
never encountered with 

he did discover it capt tomlinson he brought me more than once to
own it the more needlessly brought me to own it as i dare say his own
vanity gave him no cause to doubt it and as i had apparently no other
motive in not being forward to own it than my too-justly-founded
apprehensions of his want of generosity in a word captain tomlinson 
 and now that i am determined upon my measures i the less scruple to
say i should have despised myself had i found myself capable of
affectation or tyranny to the man i intended to marry i have always
blamed the dearest friend i have in the world for a fault of this nature 
in a word 

lovel and had my angel really and indeed the favour for me she is
pleased to own dearest creature forgive me restore me to your good
opinion surely i have not sinned beyond forgiveness you say that i
extorted from you the promise you made me but i could not have presumed
to make that promise the condition of my obedience had i not thought
there was room to expect forgiveness permit i beseech you the
prospects to take place that were opening so agreeably before us i
will go to town and bring the license all difficulties to the
obtaining of it are surmounted captain tomlinson shall be witness to
the deeds he will be present at the ceremony on the part of your uncle 
indeed he gave me hope that your uncle himself 

capt i did mr lovelace and i will tell you my grounds for the hope
i gave i promised to my dear friend your uncle madam that he
should give out that he would take a turn with me to my little farm-house 
as i call it near northampton for a week or so poor gentleman 
he has of late been very little abroad too visibly declining change
of air it might be given out was good for him but i see madam that
this is too tender a subject 

the dear creature wept she knew how to apply as meant the captain's
hint to the occasion of her uncle's declining state of health 

capt we might indeed i told him set out in that road but turn short
to town in my chariot and he might see the ceremony performed with his
own eyes and be the desired father as well as the beloved uncle 

she turned from us and wiped her eyes 

capt and really there seem now to be but two objections to this as
mr harlowe discouraged not the proposal the one the unhappy
misunderstanding between you which i would not by any means he should
know since then he might be apt to give weight to mr james harlowe's
unjust surmises the other that it would necessarily occasion some
delay to the ceremony which certainly may be performed in a day or two
 if 

and then he reverently bowed to my goddess charming fellow but often
did i curse my stars for making me so much obliged to his adroitness 

she was going to speak but not liking the turn of her countenance
 although as i thought its severity and indignation seemed a little
abated i said and had like to have blown myself up by it one expedient
i have just thought of 

cl none of your expedients mr lovelace i abhor your expedients 
your inventions i have had too many of them 

lovel see capt tomlinson see sir o how we expose ourselves to
you little did you think i dare say that we have lived in such a
continued misunderstanding together but you will make the best of it
all we may yet be happy oh that i could have been assured that this
dear creature loved me with the hundredth part of the love i have for
her our diffidences have been mutual i presume to say that she has
too much punctilio i am afraid that i have too little hence our
difficulties but i have a heart captain tomlinson a heart that bids
me hope for her love because it is resolved to deserve it as much as man
can deserve it 

capt i am indeed surprised at what i have seen and heard i defend
not mr lovelace madam in the offence he has given you as a father of
daughters myself i cannot defend him though his fault seems to be
lighter than i had apprehended but in my conscience madam i think you
carry your resentment too high 

cl too high sir too high to the man that might have been happy if
he would too high to the man that has held my soul in suspense an
hundred times since by artifice and deceit he obtained a power over
me say lovelace thyself say art thou not the very lovelace who by
insulting me hast wronged thine own hopes the wretch that appeared in
vile disguises personating an old lame creature seeking for lodgings
for thy sick wife telling the gentlewomen here stories all of thine own
invention and asserting to them an husband's right over me which thou
hast not and is it  turning to the captain  to be expected that i
should give credit to the protestations of such a man 

lovel treat me my dearest creature as you please i will bear it 
and yet your scorn and your violence have fixed daggers in my heart but
was it possible without those disguises to come at your speech and
could i lose you if study if invention would put it in my power to
arrest your anger and give me hope to engage you to confirm to me the
promised pardon the address i made to you before the women as if the
marriage-ceremony had passed was in consequence of what your uncle had
advised and what you had acquiesced with and the rather made as your
brother and singleton and solmes were resolved to find out whether
what was reported of your marriage were true or not that they might take
their measures accordingly and in hopes to prevent that mischief which
i have been but too studious to prevent since this tameness has but
invited insolence from your brother and his confederates 

cl o thou strange wretch how thou talkest but captain tomlinson 
give me leave to say that were i inclined to enter farther upon this
subject i would appeal to miss rawlins's judgment whom else have i to
appeal to she seems to be a person of prudence and honour but not to
any man's judgment whether i carry my resentment beyond fit bounds when
i resolve 

capt forgive madam the interruption but i think there can be no
reason for this you ought as you said to be the sole judge of
indignities offered you the gentlewomen here are strangers to you you
will perhaps stay but a little while among them if you lay the state of
your case before any of them and your brother come to inquire of them 
your uncle's intended mediation will be discovered and rendered abortive
 i shall appear in a light that i never appeared in in my life for these
women may not think themselves obliged to keep the secret 

charming fellow 

cl o what difficulties has one fatal step involved me in but there is
no necessity for such an appeal to any body i am resolved on my
measures 

capt absolutely resolved madam 

cl i am 

capt what shall i say to your uncle harlowe madam poor gentleman 
how will he be surprised you see mr lovelace you see sir turning
to me with a flourishing hand but you may thank yourself and admirably
stalked he from us 

true by my soul thought i i traversed the room and bit my
unpersuasive lips now upper now under for vexation 

he made a profound reverence to her and went to the window where lay
his hat and whip and taking them up opened the door child said he 
to some body he saw pray order my servant to bring my horse to the
door 

lovel you won't go sir i hope you won't i am the unhappiest man in
the world you won't go yet alas but you won't go sir there may
be yet hopes that lady betty may have some weight 

capt dear mr lovelace and may not my worthy friend and affectionate
uncle hope for some influence upon his daughter-niece but i beg pardon
 a letter will always find me disposed to serve the lady and that as
well for her sake as for the sake of my dear friend 

she had thrown herself into her chair her eyes cast down she was
motionless as in a profound study 

the captain bowed to her again but met with no return to his bow mr 
lovelace said he with an air of equality and independence i am
your's 

still the dear unaccountable sat as immovable as a statue stirring
neither hand foot head nor eye i never before saw any one in so
profound a reverie in so waking a dream 

he passed by her to go out at the door she sat near though the passage
by the other door was his direct way and bowed again she moved not 
i will not disturb the lady in her meditations sir adieu mr lovelace
 no farther i beseech you 

she started sighing are you going sir 

capt i am madam i could have been glad to do you service but i see
it is not in my power 

she stood up holding out one hand with inimitable dignity and sweetness
 i am sorry you are going sir can't help it i have no friend to
advise with mr lovelace has the art or good fortune perhaps i should
call it to make himself many well sir if you will go i can't help
it 

capt i will not go madam his eyes twinkling  again seized with a
fit of humanity   i will not go if my longer stay can do you either
service or pleasure what sir  turning to me   what mr lovelace was
your expedient perhaps something may be offered madam 

she sighed and was silent 

revenge invoked i to myself keep thy throne in my heart if the
usurper love once more drive thee from it thou wilt never again regain
possession 

lovel what i had thought of what i had intended to propose  and i
sighed   was this that the dear creature if she will not forgive me as
she promised will suspend the displeasure she has conceived against me 
till lady betty arrives that lady may be the mediatrix between us 
this dear creature may put herself into her protection and accompany her
down to her seat in oxfordshire it is one of her ladyship's purposes to
prevail on her supposed new niece to go down with her it may pass to
every one but to lady betty and to you captain tomlinson and to your
friend mr harlowe as he desires that we have been some time married 
and her being with my relations will amount to a proof to james harlowe
that we are and our nuptials may be privately and at this beloved
creature's pleasure solemnized and your report captain authenticated 

capt upon my honour madam clapping his hand upon his breast a
charming expedient this will answer every end 

she mused she was greatly perplexed at last god direct me said she i
know not what to do a young unfriended creature whom can i have to
advise with let me retire if i can retire 

she withdrew with slow and trembling feet and went up to her chamber 

for heaven's sake said the penetrated varlet  his hands lifted up  for
heaven's sake take compassion upon this admirable woman i cannot
proceed she deserves all things 

softly d n the fellow the women are coming in 

he sobbed up his grief turned about hemm'd up a more manly accent wipe
thy cursed eyes he did the sunshine took place on one cheek and
spread slowly to the other and the fellow had his whole face again 

the women all three came in led by that ever-curious miss rawlins i
told them that the lady was gone up to consider of every thing that we
had hopes of her and such a representation we made of all that had
passed as brought either tacit or declared blame upon the fair perverse
for hardness of heart and over-delicacy 

the widow bevis in particular put out one lip tossed up her head 
wrinkled her forehead and made such motions with her now lifted-up now
cast-down eyes as showed that she thought there was a great deal of
perverseness and affectation in the lady now-and-then she changed her
censuring looks to looks of pity of me but as she said she loved not
to aggravate a poor business god help's shrugging up her shoulders 
to make such a rout about and then her eyes laughed heartily 
indulgence was a good thing love was a good thing but too much was
too much 

miss rawlins however declared after she had called the widow bevis 
with a prudish simper a comical gentlewoman that there must be
something in our story which she could not fathom and went from us into
a corner and sat down seemingly vexed that she could not 



letter xxxv

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


the lady staid longer above than we wished and i hoping that lady-like 
she only waited for an invitation to return to us desired the widow
bevis in the captain's name who wanted to go to town to request the
favour of her company 

i cared not to send up either miss rawlins or mrs moore on the errand 
lest my beloved should be in a communicative disposition especially as
she had hinted at an appeal to miss rawlins who besides has such an
unbounded curiosity 

mrs bevis presently returned with an answer winking and pinking at me 
that the lady would follow her down 

miss rawlins could not but offer to retire as the others did her eyes 
however intimated that she had rather stay but they not being answered
as she seemed to wish she went with the rest but with slower feet and
had hardly left the parlour when the lady entered it by the other door 
a melancholy dignity in her person and air 

she sat down pray mr tomlinson be seated 

he took his chair over against her i stood behind her's that i might
give him agreed-upon signals should there be occasion for them 

as thus a wink of the left eye was to signify push that point captain 

a wink of the right and a nod was to indicate approbation of what he
had said 

my fore-finger held up and biting my lip get off of that as fast as
possible 

a right-forward nod and a frown swear to it captain 

my whole spread hand to take care not to say too much on that particular
subject 

a scowling brow and a positive nod was to bid him rise in temper 

and these motions i could make even those with my hand without holding
up my arm or moving my wrist had the women been there as when the
motions were agreed upon i knew not but they would 

she hemmed i was going to speak to spare her supposed confusion but
this lady never wants presence of mind when presence of mind is
necessary either to her honour or to that conscious dignity which
distinguishes her from all the women i ever knew 

i have been considering said she as well as i was able of every thing
that has passed and of all that has been said and of my unhappy
situation i mean no ill i wish no ill to any creature living mr 
tomlinson i have always delighted to draw favourable rather than
unfavourable conclusions sometimes as it has proved for very bad
hearts censoriousness whatever faults i have is not naturally my
fault but circumstanced as i am treated as i have been unworthily
treated by a man who is full of contrivances and glories in them 

lovel my dearest life but i will not interrupt you 

cl thus treated it becomes me to doubt it concerns my honour to
doubt to fear to apprehend your intervention sir is so seasonable 
so kind for this man my uncle's expedient the first of the kind he
ever i believe thought of a plain honest good-minded man as he is 
not affecting such expedients your report in conformity to it the
consequences of that report the alarm taken by my brother his rash
resolution upon it the alarm taken by lady betty and the rest of mr 
lovelace's relations the sudden letters written to him upon it which 
with your's he showed me all ceremony among persons born observers of
ceremony and entitled to value themselves upon their distinction 
dispensed with all these things have happened so quick and some of them
so seasonable 

lovel lady betty you see madam in her letter dispenses with
punctilo avowedly in compliment to you charlotte in her's professes
to do the same for the same reason good heaven that the respect
intended you by my relations who in every other case are really
punctilious should be thus construed they were glad madam to have an
opportunity to compliment you at my expense every one of my family
takes delight in rallying me but their joy on the supposed occasion 

cl do i doubt sir that you have not something to say for any thing
you think fit to do i am speaking to captain tomlinson sir i will
you would be pleased to withdraw at least to come from behind my chair 

and she looked at the captain observing no doubt that his eyes seemed
to take lessons from mine 

a fair match by jupiter 

the captain was disconcerted the dog had not had such a blush upon his
face for ten years before i bit my lip for vexation walked about the
room but nevertheless took my post again and blinked with my eyes to
the captain as a caution for him to take more care of his and then
scouling with my brows and giving the nod positive i as good as said 
resent that captain 

capt i hope madam you have no suspicion that i am capable 

cl be not displeased with me captain tomlinson i have told you that
i am not of a suspicious temper excuse me for the sake of my sincerity 
there is not i will be bold to say a sincerer heart in the world than
her's before you 

she took out her handkerchief and put it to her eyes 

i was going at that instant after her example to vouch for the honesty
of my heart but my conscience mennelled upon me and would not suffer
the meditated vow to pass my lips a devilish thing thought i for a
man to be so little himself when he has most occasion for himself 

the villain tomlinson looked at me with a rueful face as if he begged
leave to cry for company it might have been as well if he had cried 
a feeling heart or the tokens of it given by a sensible eye are very
reputable things when kept in countenance by the occasion 

and here let me fairly own to thee that twenty times in this trying
conversation i said to myself that could i have thought that i should
have had all this trouble and incurred all this guilt i would have been
honest at first but why jack is this dear creature so lovely yet so
invincible ever heardst thou before that the sweets of may blossomed in
december 

capt be pleased be pleased madam if you have any doubts of my
honour 

a whining varlet he should have been quite angry for what gave i him
the nod positive he should have stalked again to the window as for his
whip and hat 

cl i am only making such observations as my youth my inexperience 
and my present unhappy circumstances suggest to me a worthy heart
 such i hope as captain tomlinson's need not fear an examination 
need not fear being looked into whatever doubts that man who has been
the cause of my errors and as my severe father imprecated the punisher
of the errors he has caused might have had of me or of my honour i
would have forgiven him for them if he had fairly proposed them to me 
for some doubts perhaps such a man might have of the future conduct of a
creature whom he could induce to correspond with him against parental
prohibition and against the lights which her own judgment threw in upon
her and if he had propounded them to me like a man and a gentleman i
would have been glad of the opportunity given me to clear my intentions 
and to have shown myself entitled to his good opinion and i hope you 
sir 

capt i am ready to hear all your doubts madam and to clear them up 

cl i will only put it sir to your conscience and honour 

the dog sat uneasy he shuffled with his feet her eye was upon him he
was therefore after the rebuff he had met with afraid to look at me
for my motions and now turned his eyes towards me then from me as if
he would unlook his own looks 

cl that all is true that you have written and that you have told me 

i gave him a right forward nod and a frown as much as to say swear to
it captain but the varlet did not round it off as i would have had
him however he averred that it was 

he had hoped he said that the circumstances with which his commission
was attended and what he had communicated to her which he could not
know but from his dear friend her uncle might have shielded him even
from the shadow of suspicion but i am contented said he stammering 
to be thought to be thought what what you please to think of me till 
till you are satisfied 

a whore's-bird 

cl the circumstances you refer to i must own ought to shield you 
sir from suspicion but the man before you is a man that would make an
angel suspected should that angel plead for him 

i came forward traversed the room was indeed in a bl dy passion i
have no patience madam and again i bit my unpersuasive lips 

cl no man ought to be impatient at imputations he is not ashamed to
deserve an innocent man will not be outrageous upon such imputations 
a guilty man ought not  most excellently would this charming creature
cap sentences with lord m   but i am not now trying you sir  to me  
on the foot of your merits i am only sorry that i am constrained to put
questions to this worthier gentleman  worthier gentleman jack   which 
perhaps i ought not to put so far as they regard himself and i hope 
captain tomlinson that you who know not mr lovelace so well as to my
unhappiness i do and who have children of your own will excuse a poor
young creature who is deprived of all worldly protection and who has
been insulted and endangered by the most designing man in the world and 
perhaps by a confederacy of his creatures 

there she stopt and stood up and looked at me fear nevertheless 
apparently mingled with her anger and so it ought i was glad 
however of this poor sign of love no one fears whom they value not 

women's tongues were licensed i was going to say but my conscience
would not let me call her a woman nor use to her so vulgar a phrase i
could only rave by my motions lift up my eyes spread my hands rub my
face pull my wig and look like a fool indeed i had a great mind to
run mad had i been alone with her i would and she should have taken
consequences 

the captain interposed in my behalf gently however and as a man not
quite sure that he was himself acquitted some of the pleas we had both
insisted on he again enforced and speaking low poor gentleman said
he who can but pity him indeed madam it is easy to see with all his
failings the power you have over him 

cl i have no pleasure sir in distressing any one not even him who
has so much distressed me but sir when i think and when i see him
before me i cannot command my temper indeed indeed captain
tomlinson mr lovelace has not acted by me either as a grateful or a
generous man nor even as a prudent one he knows not as i told him
yesterday the value of the heart he has insulted 

there the angel stopt her handkerchief at her eyes 

o belford belford that she should so greatly excel as to make me at
times appear as a villain in my own eyes 

i besought her pardon i promised that it should be the study of my
whole life to deserve it my faults i said whatever they had been 
were rather faults in her apprehension than in fact i besought her to
give way to the expedient i had hit upon i repeated it the captain
enforced it for her uncle's sake i once more for the sake of the
general reconciliation for the sake of all my family for the sake of
preventing further mischief 

she wept she seemed staggered in her resolution she turned from me 
i mentioned the letter of lord m i besought her to resign to lady
betty's mediation all our differences if she would not forgive me before
she saw her 

she turned towards me she was going to speak but her heart was full 
and again she turned away her eyes and do you really and indeed expect
lady betty and miss montague and do you again she stopt 

i answered in a solemn manner 

she turned from me her whole face and paused and seemed to consider 
but in a passionate accent again turning towards me  o how difficult 
jack for a harlowe spirit to forgive   let her ladyship come if she
pleases said she i cannot cannot wish to see her and if i did see
her and she were to plead for you i cannot wish to hear her the more
i think the less i can forgive an attempt that i am convinced was
intended to destroy me  a plaguy strong word for the occasion 
supposing she was right   what has my conduct been that an insult of
such a nature should be offered to me and it would be a weakness in me
to forgive i am sunk in my own eyes and how can i receive a visit
that must depress me more 

the captain urged her in my favour with greater earnestness than before 
we both even clamoured as i may say for mercy and forgiveness  didst
thou never hear the good folks talk of taking heaven by storm   
contrition repeatedly avowed a total reformation promised the happy
expedient again urged 

cl i have taken my measures i have gone too far to recede or to
wish to recede my mind is prepared for adversity that i have not
deserved the evils i have met with is my consolation i have written to
miss howe what my intentions are my heart is not with you it is
against you mr lovelace i had not written to you as i did in the
letter i left behind me had i not resolved whatever became of me to
renounce you for ever 

i was full of hope now severe as her expressions were i saw she was
afraid that i should think of what she had written and indeed her
letter is violence itself angry people jack should never write while
their passion holds 

lovel the severity you have shown me madam whether by pen or by
speech shall never have place in my remembrance but for your honor in
the light you have taken things all is deserved and but the natural
result of virtuous resentment and i adore you even for the pangs you
have given me 

she was silent she had employment enough with her handkerchief at her
eyes 

lovel you lament sometimes that you have no friends of your own sex
to consult with miss rawlins i must confess is too inquisitive to be
confided in  i liked not thou mayest think her appeal to miss
rawlins   she may mean well but i never in my life knew a person who
was fond of prying into the secrets of others that was fit to be
trusted the curiosity of such is governed by pride which is not
gratified but by whispering about a secret till it becomes public in
order to show either their consequence or their sagacity it is so in
every case what man or woman who is covetous of power or of making
a right use of it but in the ladies of my family you may confide it
is their ambition to think of you as one of themselves renew but your
consent to pass to the world for the sake of your uncle's expedient and
for the prevention of mischief as a lady some time married lady betty
may be acquainted with the naked truth and you may as she hopes you
will accompany her to her seat and if it must be so consider me as
in a state of penitence or probation to be accepted or rejected as i
may appear to deserve 

the captain again clapt his hands on his breast and declared upon his
honour that this was a proposal that were the case that of his own
daughter and she were not resolved upon immediate marriage which yet
he thought by far the more eligible choice he should be very much
concerned were she to refuse it 

cl were i with mr lovelace's relations and to pass as his wife to
the world i could not have any choice and how could he be then in a
state of probation o mr tomlinson you are too much his friend to see
into his drift 

capt his friend madam as i said before as i am your's and your
uncle's for the sake of a general reconciliation which must begin with
a better understanding between yourselves 

lovel only my dearest life resolve to attend the arrival and visit
of lady betty and permit her to arbitrate between us 

capt there can be no harm in that madam you can suffer no
inconvenience from that if mr lovelace's offence be such that a woman
of lady betty's character judges it to be unpardonable why then 

cl  interrupting and to me   if i am not invaded by you sir if i
am as i ought to be my own mistress i think to stay here in this
honest house  and then had i an eye-beam as the captain calls it 
flashed at me   till i receive a letter from miss howe that i hope 
will be in a day or two if in that time the ladies come whom you
expect and if they are desirous to see the creature whom you have made
unhappy i shall know whether i can or cannot receive their visit 

she turned short to the door and retiring went up stairs to her
chamber 

o sir said the captain as soon as she was gone what an angel of a
woman is this i have been and i am a very wicked man but if any
thing should happen amiss to this admirable lady through my means i
shall have more cause for self-reproach than for all the bad actions
of my life put together 

and his eyes glistened 

nothing can happen amiss thou sorrowful dog what can happen amiss 
are we to form our opinion of things by the romantic notions of a girl 
who supposes that to be the greatest which is the slightest of evils 
have i not told thee our whole story has she not broken her promise 
did i not generously spare her when in my power i was decent though
i had her at such advantage greater liberties have i taken with girls
of character at a common romping bout and all has been laughed off 
and handkerchief and head-clothes adjusted and petticoats shaken to
rights in my presence never man in the like circumstances and
resolved as i was resolved goaded on as i was goaded on as well by her
own sex as by the impulses of a violent passion was ever so decent 
yet what mercy does she show me 

now jack this pitiful dog was such another unfortunate one as thyself
 his arguments serving to confirm me in the very purpose he brought them
to prevail upon me to give up had he left me to myself to the
tenderness of my own nature moved as i was when the lady withdrew and
had he set down and made odious faces and said nothing it is very
possible that i should have taken the chair over against him which she
had quitted and have cried and blubbered with him for half an hour
together but the varlet to argue with me to pretend to convince a
man who knows in is heart that he is doing a wrong thing he must needs
think that this would put me upon trying what i could say for myself and
when the extended compunction can be carried from the heart to the lips
it must evaporate in words 

thou perhaps in this place wouldst have urged the same pleas that he
urged what i answered to him therefore may do for thee and spare thee
the trouble of writing and me of reading a good deal of nonsense 

capt you were pleased to tell me sir that you only proposed to try
her virtue and that you believed you should actually marry her 

lovel so i shall and cannot help it i have no doubt but i shall 
and as to trying her is she not now in the height of her trial have i
not reason to think that she is coming about is she not now yielding up
her resentment for an attempt which she thinks she ought not to forgive 
and if she do may she not forgive the last attempt can she in a word 
resent that more than she does this women often for their own sakes 
will keep the last secret but will ostentatiously din the ears of gods
and men with their clamours upon a successless offer it was my folly 
my weakness that i gave her not more cause for this her unsparing
violence 

capt o sir you will never be able to subdue this lady without force 

lovel well then puppy must i not endeavour to find a proper time
and place 

capt forgive me sir but can you think of force to such a fine
creature 

lovel force indeed i abhor the thought of and for what thinkest
thou have i taken all the pains i have taken and engaged so many
persons in my cause but to avoid the necessity of violent compulsion 
but yet imaginest thou that i expect direct consent from such a lover of
forms as this lady is known to be let me tell thee m'donald that thy
master belford has urged on thy side of the question all that thou
canst urge must i have every sorry fellow's conscience to pacify as
well as my own by my soul patrick she has a friend here  clapping my
hand on my breast   that pleads for her with greater and more
irresistible eloquence than all the men in the world can plead for her 
and had she not escaped me and yet how have i answered my first design
of trying her and in her the virtue of the most virtuous of the sex 
perseverance man perseverance what wouldst thou have me decline a
trial that they make for the honour of a sex we all so dearly love 


 see vol iii letter xviii 


then sir you have no thoughts no thoughts  looking still more
sorrowfully   of marrying this wonderful lady 

yes yes patrick but i have but let me first to gratify my pride 
bring down her's let me see that she loves me well enough to forgive
me for my own sake has she not heretofore lamented that she staid not
in her father's house though the consequence must have been if she had 
that she would have been the wife of the odious solmes if now she be
brought to consent to be mine seest thou not that the reconciliation
with her detested relations is the inducement as it always was and not
love of me neither her virtue nor her love can be established but upon
full trial the last trial but if her resistance and resentment be such
as hitherto i have reason to expect they will be and if i find in that
resentment less of hatred of me than of the fact then shall she be mine
in her own way then hateful as is the life of shackles to me will i
marry her 

well sir i can only say that i am dough in your hands to be moulded
into what shape you please but if as i said before 

none of thy said-before's patrick i remember all thou saidst and i
know all thou canst farther say thou art only pontius pilate like 
washing thine own hands don't i know thee that thou mayest have
something to silence thy conscience with by loading me but we have gone
too far to recede are not all our engines in readiness dry up thy
sorrowful eyes let unconcern and heart's ease once more take possession
of thy solemn features thou hast hitherto performed extremely well 
shame not thy past by thy future behaviour and a rich reward awaits
thee if thou art dough be dough and i slapt him on the shoulder 
resume but thy former shape and i'll be answerable for the event 

he bowed assent and compliance went to the glass and began to untwist
and unsadden his features pulled his wig right as if that as well as
his head and heart had been discomposed by his compunction and once more
became old lucifer's and mine 

but didst thou think jack that there was so much what-shall-i-call-it 
 in this tomlinson didst thou imagine that such a fellow as that had
bowels that nature so long dead and buried in him as to all humane
effects should thus revive and exert itself yet why do i ask this
question of thee who to my equal surprise hast shown on the same
occasion the like compassionate sensibilities 

as to tomlinson it looks as if poverty had made him the wicked fellow he
is as plenty and wantonness have made us what we are necessity after
all is the test of principle but what is there in this dull word or
thing called honesty that even i who cannot in my present views be
served by it cannot help thinking even the accidental emanations of it
amiable in tomlinson though demonstrated in a female case and judging
better of him for being capable of such 



letter xxxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


this debate between the captain and me was hardly over when the three
women led by miss rawlins entered hoping no intrusion but very
desirous the maiden said to know if we were likely to accommodate 

o yes i hope so you know ladies that your sex must in these cases 
preserve their forms they must be courted to comply with their own
happiness a lucky expedient we have hit upon the uncle has his doubts
of our marriage he cannot believe nor will any body that it is
possible that a man so much in love the lady so desirable 

they all took the hint it was a very extraordinary case the two widows
allowed women jack  as i believe i have observed elsewhere   have a
high opinion of what they can do for us miss rawlins desired if i
pleased to let them know the expedient and looked as if there was no
need to proceed in the rest of my speech 


 see letter xxiv of this volume 


i begged that they would not let the lady know i had told them what this
expedient was and they should hear it 

they promised 

it was this that to oblige and satisfy mr harlowe the ceremony was to
be again performed he was to be privately present and to give his
niece to me with his own hands and she was retired to consider of it 

thou seest jack that i have provided an excuse to save my veracity to
the women here in case i should incline to marriage and she should
choose to have miss rawlins's assistance at the ceremony nor doubted i
to bring my fair-one to save my credit on this occasion if i could get
her to consent to be mine 

a charming expedient cried the widow they were all three ready to clap
their hands for joy upon it women love to be married twice at least 
jack though not indeed to the same man and all blessed the
reconciliatory scheme and the proposer of it and supposing it came from
the captain they looked at him with pleasure while his face shined with
the applause implied he should think himself very happy if he could
bring about a general reconciliation and he flourished with his head
like my man will on his victory over old grimes bridling by turns like
miss rawlins in the height of a prudish fit 

but now it was time for the captain to think of returning to town having
a great deal of business to dispatch before morning nor was he certain
that he should be able again to attend us at hampstead before he went
home 

and yet as every thing was drawing towards a crisis i did not intend
that he should leave hampstead that night 

a message to the above effect was carried up at my desire by mrs 
moore with the captain's compliments and to know if she had any
commands for him to her uncle 

but i hinted to the women that it would be proper for them to withdraw 
if the lady did come down lest she should not care to be so free before
them on a proposal so particular as she would be to us who had offered
it to her consideration 

mrs moore brought down word that the lady was following her they all
three withdrew and she entered at one door as they went out at the
other 

the captain accosted her repeating the contents of the message sent up 
and desired that she would give him her commands in relation to the
report he was to make to her uncle harlowe 

i know not what to say sir nor what i would have you to say to my
uncle perhaps you may have business in town perhaps you need not see my
uncle till i have heard from miss howe till after lady betty i don't
know what to say 

i implored the return of that value which she had so generously
acknowledged once to have had for me i presumed i said to flatter
myself that lady betty in her own person and in the name of all my
family would be able on my promised reformation and contrition to
prevail in my favour especially as our prospects in other respects with
regard to the general reconciliation wished for were so happy but let
me owe to your own generosity my dearest creature said i rather than
to the mediation of any person on earth the forgiveness i am an humble
suitor for how much more agreeable to yourself o best beloved of my
soul must it be as well as obliging to me that your first personal
knowledge of my relations and theirs of you for they will not be
denied attending you should not be begun in recriminations in appeals 
as lady betty will be here soon it will not perhaps be possible for you
to receive her visit with a brow absolutely serene but dearest 
dearest creature i beseech you let the misunderstanding pass as a
slight one as a misunderstanding cleared up appeals give pride and
superiority to the persons appealed to and are apt to lessen the
appellant not only in their eye but in her own exalt not into judges
those who are prepared to take lessons and instructions from you the
individuals of my family are as proud as i am said to be but they will
cheerfully resign to your superiority you will be the first woman of the
family in every one's eyes 

this might have done with any other woman in the world but this and yet
she is the only woman in the world of whom it may with truth be said 
but thus angrily did she disclaim the compliment 

yes indeed  and there she stopt a moment her sweet bosom heaving with
a noble disdain  cheated out of myself from the very first a fugitive
from my own family renounced by my relations insulted by you laying
humble claim to the protection of your's is not this the light in which
i must appear not only to the ladies of your family but to all the
world think you sir that in these circumstances or even had i been
in the happiest that i could be affected by this plea of undeserved
superiority you are a stranger to the mind of clarissa harlowe if you
think her capable of so poor and so undue a pride 

she went from us to the farther end of the room 

the captain was again affected excellent creature i called her and 
reverently approaching her urged farther the plea i had last made 

it is but lately said i that the opinions of my relations have been
more than indifferent to me whether good or bad and it is for your
sake more than for my own that i now wish to stand well with my whole
family the principal motive of lady betty's coming up is to purchase
presents for the whole family to make on the happy occasion 

this consideration turning to the captain with so noble-minded a dear
creature i know can have no weight only as it will show their value
and respect but what a damp would their worthy hearts receive were
they to find their admired new niece as they now think her not only not
their niece but capable of renouncing me for ever they love me they
all love me i have been guilty of carelessness and levity to them 
indeed but of carelessness and levity only and that owing to a pride
that has set me above meanness though it has not done every thing for
me 

my whole family will be guaranties for my good behaviour to this dear
creature their niece their daughter their cousin their friend their
chosen companion and directress all in one upon my soul captain we
may we must be happy 

but dearest dearest creature let me on my knees  and down i dropt her
face all the time turned half from me as she stood at the window her
handkerchief often at her eyes  on my knees let me plead your promised
forgiveness and let us not appear to them on their visit thus unhappy
with each other lady betty the next hour that she sees you will write
her opinion of you and of the likelihood of our future happiness to
lady sarah her sister a weak-spirited woman who now hopes to supply to
herself in my bride the lost daughter she still mourns for 

the captain then joined in and re-urged her uncle's hopes and
expectations and his resolution effectually to set about the general
reconciliation the mischief that might be prevented and the certainty
that there was that her uncle might be prevailed on to give her to me
with his own hand if she made it her choice to wait for his coming up 
but for his own part he humbly advised and fervently pressed her to
make the very next day or monday at farthest my happy day 

permit me dearest lady said he and i could kneel to you myself 
 bending his knee   though i have no interest in my earnestness but the
pleasure i should have to be able to serve you all to beseech you to
give me an opportunity to assure your uncle that i myself saw with my own
eyes the happy knot tied all misunderstandings all doubts all
diffidences will then be at an end 

and what madam rejoined i still kneeling can there be in your new
measures be they what they will that can so happily so reputably i
will presume to say for all around obviate the present difficulties 

miss howe herself if she love you and if she love your fame madam 
urged the captain his knee still bent must congratulate you on such
happy conclusion 

then turning her face she saw the captain half-kneeling o sir o capt 
tomlinson why this undue condescension extending her hand to his
elbow to raise him i cannot bear this then casting her eye on me 
rise mr lovelace kneel not to the poor creature whom you have
insulted how cruel the occasion for it and how mean the submission 

not mean to such an angel nor can i rise but to be forgiven 

the captain then re-urged once more the day he was amazed he said if
she ever valued me 

o captain tomlinson interrupted she how much are you the friend of this
man if i had never valued him he never would have had it in his power
to insult me nor could i if i had never regarded him have taken to
heart as i do the insult execrable as it was so undeservedly so
ungratefully given but let him retire for a moment let him retire 

i was more than half afraid to trust the captain by himself with her he
gave me a sign that i might depend upon him and then i took out of my
pocket his letter to me and lady betty's and miss montague's and lord
m s letters which last she had not then seen and giving them to him 
procure for me in the first place mr tomlinson a re-perusal of these
three letters and of this from lord m and i beseech you my dearest
life give them due consideration and let me on my return find the happy
effects of that consideration 

i then withdrew with slow feet however and a misgiving heart 

the captain insisted upon this re-perusal previously to what she had to
say to him as he tells me she complied but with some difficulty as
if she were afraid of being softened in my favour 

she lamented her unhappy situation destitute of friends and not knowing
whither to go or what to do she asked questions sifting-questions 
about her uncle about her family and after what he knew of mr 
hickman's fruitless application in her favour 

he was well prepared in this particular for i had shown him the letters
and extracts of letter of miss howe which i had so happily come at 
might she be assured she asked him that her brother with singleton and
solmes were actually in quest of her 


 vol iv letter xliv 


he averred that they were 

she asked if he thought i had hopes of prevailing on her to go back to
town 

he was sure i had not 

was he really of opinion that lady betty would pay her a visit 

he had no doubt of it 

but sir but captain tomlinson  impatiently turning from him and
again to him  i know not what to do but were i your daughter sir were
you my own father alas sir i have neither father nor mother 

he turned from her and wiped his eyes 

o sir you have humanity  she wept too   there are some men in the
world thank heaven that can be moved o sir i have met with hard-
hearted men in my own family too or i could not have been so unhappy
as i am but i make every body unhappy 

his eyes no doubt ran over 

dearest madam heavenly lady who can who can hesitated and blubbered
the dog as he owned and indeed i heard some part of what passed 
though they both talked lower than i wished for from the nature of
their conversation there was no room for altitudes 

them and both and they how it goes against me to include this angel
of a creature and any man on earth but myself in one world 

capt who can forbear being affected but madam you can be no other
man's 

cl nor would i be but he is so sunk with me to fire the house an
artifice so vile contrived for the worst of purposes would you have a
daughter of your's but what would i say yet you see that i have nobody
in whom i can confide mr lovelace is a vindictive man he could not
love the creature whom he could insult as he has insulted me 

she paused and then resuming in short i never never can forgive him 
nor he me do you think sir i never would have gone so far as i have
gone if i had intended ever to draw with him in one yoke i left behind
me such a letter 

you know madam he has acknowledged the justice of your resentment 

o sir he can acknowledge and he can retract fifty times a day but do
not think i am trifling with myself and you and want to be persuaded to
forgive him and to be his there is not a creature of my sex who would
have been more explicit and more frank than i would have been from the
moment i intended to be his had i a heart like my own to deal with i
was always above reserve sir i will presume to say where i had no
cause of doubt mr lovelace's conduct has made me appear perhaps 
over-nice when my heart wanted to be encouraged and assured and when 
if it had been so my whole behaviour would have been governed by it 

she stopt her handkerchief at her eyes 

i inquired after the minutest part of her behaviour as well as after her
words i love thou knowest to trace human nature and more
particularly female nature through its most secret recesses 

the pitiful fellow was lost in silent admiration of her and thus the
noble creature proceeded 

it is the fate in unequal unions that tolerable creatures through them 
frequently incur censure when more happily yoked they might be entitled
to praise and shall i not shun a union with a man that might lead into
errors a creature who flatters herself that she is blest with an
inclination to be good and who wishes to make every one happy with whom
she has any connection even to her very servants 

she paused taking a turn about the room the fellow devil fetch him a
mummy all the time then proceeded 

formerly indeed i hoped to be an humble mean of reforming him but 
when i have no such hope is it right  you are a serious man sir  to
make a venture that shall endanger my own morals 

still silent was the varlet if my advocate had nothing to say for me 
what hope of carrying my cause 

and now sir what is the result of all it is this that you will
endeavour if you have that influence over him which a man of your sense
and experience ought to have to prevail upon him and that for his own
sake as well as for mine to leave me free to pursue my own destiny 
and of this you may assure him that i will never be any other man's 

impossible madam i know that mr lovelace would not hear me with
patience on such a topic and i do assure you that i have some spirit 
and should not care to take an indignity from him or from any man living 

she paused then resuming and think you sir that my uncle will refuse
to receive a letter from me  how averse jack to concede a tittle in
my favour  

i know madam as matters are circumstanced that he would not answer it 
if you please i will carry one down from you 

and will he not pursue his intentions in my favour nor be himself
reconciled to me except i am married 

from what your brother gives out and effects to believe on mr 
lovelace's living with you in the same 

no more sir i am an unhappy creature 

he then re-urged that it would be in her power instantly or on the
morrow to put an end to all her difficulties 

how can that be said she the license still to be obtained the
settlements still to be signed miss howe's answer to my last
unreceived and shall i sir be in such a hurry as if i thought my
honour in danger if i delayed yet marry the man from whom only it can
be endangered unhappy thrice unhappy clarissa harlowe in how many
difficulties has one rash step involved thee and she turned from him
and wept 

the varlet by way of comfort wept too yet her tears as he might have
observed were tears that indicated rather a yielding than a perverse
temper 

there is a sort of stone thou knowest so soft in the quarry that it
may in manner be cut with a knife but if the opportunity not be taken 
and it is exposed to the air for any time it will become as hard as
marble and then with difficulty it yields to the chisel so this lady 
not taken at the moment after a turn or two across the room gained more
resolution and then she declared as she had done once before that she
would wait the issue of miss howe's answer to the letter she had sent her
from hence and take her measures accordingly leaving it to him mean
time to make what report he thought fit to her uncle the kindest that
truth could bear she doubted not from captain tomlinson and she should
be glad of a few lines from him to hear what that was 


 the nature of the bath stone in particular 


she wished him a good journey she complained of her head and was about
to withdraw but i stept round to the door next the stairs as if i had
but just come in from the garden which as i entered i called a very
pretty one and took her reluctant hand as she was going out my dearest
life you are not going what hopes captain have you not some hopes
to give me of pardon and reconciliation 

she said she would not be detained but i would not let her go till she
had promised to return when the captain had reported to me what her
resolution was 

and when he had i sent up and claimed her promise and she came down
again and repeated as what she was determined upon that she would wait
for miss howe's answers to the letter she had written to her and take
her measures according to its contents 

i expostulated with her upon it in the most submissive and earnest
manner she made it necessary for me to repeat many of the pleas i had
before urged the captain seconded me with equal earnestness at last 
each fell down on our knees before her 

she was distressed i was afraid at one time she would have fainted 
yet neither of us would rise without some concessions i pleaded my own
sake the captain his dear friend her uncle's and both re-pleaded the
prevention of future mischief and the peace and happiness of the two
families 

she owned herself unequal to the conflict she sighed she sobbed she
wept she wrung her hands 

i was perfectly eloquent in my vows and protestations her tearful eyes
were cast down upon me a glow upon each charming cheek a visible
anguish in every lovely feature at last her trembling knees seemed to
fail her she dropt into the next chair her charming face as if seeking
for a hiding place which a mother's bosom would have best supplied 
sinking upon her own shoulder 

i forgot at the instant all my vows of revenge i threw myself at her
feet as she sat and snatching her hand pressed it with my lips i
besought heaven to forgive my past offences and prosper my future hopes 
as i designed honourably and justly by the charmer of my heart if once
more she should restore me to her favour and i thought i felt drops of
scalding water  could they be tears   trickle down upon my cheeks while
my cheeks glowing like fire seemed to scorch up the unwelcome
strangers 

i then arose not doubting of an implied pardon in this silent distress 
i raised the captain i whispered him by my soul man i am in earnest 
 now talk of reconciliation of her uncle of the license of settlement
 and raising my voice if now at last captain tomlinson my angel will
give me leave to call so great a blessing mine it will be impossible
that you should say too much to her uncle in praise of my gratitude my
affection and fidelity to his charming niece and he may begin as soon
as he pleases his kind schemes for effecting the desirable
reconciliation nor shall he prescribe any terms to me that i will not
comply with 

the captain blessed me with his eyes and hands thank god whispered he 
we approached the lady together 

capt what hinders dearest madam what now hinders but that lady
betty lawrance when she comes may be acquainted with the truth of every
thing and that then she may assist privately at your nuptials i will
stay till they are celebrated and then shall go down with the happy
tidings to my dear mr harlowe and all will all must soon be happy 

i must have an answer from miss howe replied the still trembling fair-
one i cannot change my new measures but with her advice i will
forfeit all my hopes of happiness in this world rather than forfeit her
good opinion and that she should think me giddy unsteady or
precipitate all i shall further say on the present subject is this 
that when i have her answer to what i have written i will write to her
the whole state of the matter as i shall then be enabled to do 

lovel then must i despair for ever o captain tomlinson miss howe
hates me miss howe 

capt not so perhaps when miss howe knows your concern for having
offended she will never advise that with such prospects of general
reconciliation the hopes of so many considerable persons in both
families should be frustrated some little time as this excellent
lady had foreseen and hinted will necessarily be taken up in actually
procuring the license and in perusing and signing the settlements in
that time miss howe's answer may be received and lady betty may arrive 
and she no doubt will have weight to dissipate the lady's doubts and
to accelerate the day it shall be my part mean time to make mr 
harlowe easy all i fear is from mr james harlowe's quarter and
therefore all must be conducted with prudence and privacy as your uncle 
madam has proposed 

she was silent i rejoiced in her silence the dear creature thought i 
has actually forgiven me in her heart but why will she not lay me under
obligation to her by the generosity of an explicit declaration and
yet as that would not accelerate any thing while the license is not in
my hands she is the less to be blamed if i do her justice for taking
more time to descend 

i proposed as on the morrow night to go to town and doubted not to
bring the license up with me on monday morning would she be pleased to
assure me that she would not depart form mrs moore's 

she should stay at mrs moore's till she had an answer from miss howe 

i told her that i hoped i might have her tacit consent at least to the
obtaining of the license 

i saw by the turn of her countenance that i should not have asked this
question she was so far from tacitly consenting that she declared to
the contrary 

as i never intended i said to ask her to enter again into a house with
the people of which she was so much offended would she be pleased to
give orders for her clothes to be brought up hither or should dorcas
attend her for any of her commands on that head 

she desired not ever more to see any body belonging to that house she
might perhaps get mrs moore or mrs bevis to go thither for her and
take her keys with them 

i doubted not i said that lady betty would arrive by that time i
hoped she had no objection to my bringing that lady and my cousin
montague up with me 

she was silent 

to be sure mr lovelace said the captain the lady can have no
objection to this 

she was still silent so silence in this case was assent 

would she be pleased to write to miss howe 

sir sir peevishly interrupting no more questions no prescribing to me
 you will do as you think fit so will i as i please i own no
obligation to you captain tomlinson your servant recommend me to my
uncle harlowe's favour and was going 

i took her reluctant hand and besought her only to promise to meet me
early in the morning 

to what purpose meet you have you more to say than has been said i
have had enough of vows and protestations mr lovelace to what purpose
should i meet you to-morrow morning 

i repeated my request and that in the most fervent manner naming six in
the morning 

you know that i am always stirring before that hour at this season of
the year  was the half-expressed consent 

she then again recommended herself to her uncle's favour and withdrew 

and thus belford has she mended her markets as lord m would say and
i worsted mine miss howe's next letter is now the hinge on which the
fate of both must turn i shall be absolutely ruined and undone if i
cannot intercept it 


contents of volume vi


letter i ii lovelace to belford 
his conditional promise to tomlinson in the lady's favour his pleas
and arguments on their present situation and on his darling and
hitherto-baffled views his whimsical contest with his conscience his
latest adieu to it his strange levity which he calls gravity on the
death of belford's uncle 

letter iii iv from the same 
she favours him with a meeting in the garden her composure her
conversation great and noble but will not determine any thing in his
favour it is however evident he says that she has still some
tenderness for him his reasons an affecting scene between them her
ingenuousness and openness of heart she resolves to go to church but
will not suffer him to accompany her thither his whimsical debate with
the god of love whom he introduced as pleading for the lady 

letter v vi vii from the same 
he has got the wished-for letter from miss howe informs him of the
manner of obtaining it his remarks upon it observations on female
friendships comparison between clarissa and miss howe 

letter viii from the same 
another conversation with the lady his plausible arguments to re-obtain
her favour ineffectual his pride piqued his revenge incited new
arguments in favour of his wicked prospects his notice that a license
is actually obtained 

letter ix x from the same 
copy of the license with his observations upon it his scheme for
annual marriages he is preparing with lady betty and miss montague to
wait upon clarissa who these pretended ladies are how dressed they
give themselves airs of quality humourously instructs them how to act
up their assumed characters 

letter xi xii lovelace to belford 
once more is the charmer of his soul in her old lodgings brief account
of the horrid imposture steels his heart by revengeful recollections 
her agonizing apprehensions temporary distraction is ready to fall
into fits but all her distress all her prayers her innocence her
virtue cannot save her from the most villanous outrage 

letter xiii belford to lovelace 
vehemently inveighs against him grieves for the lady is now convinced
that there must be a world after this to do justice to injured merit 
beseeches him if he be a man and not a devil to do all the poor
justice now in his power 

letter xiv lovelace to belford 
regrets that he ever attempted her aims at extenuation does he not
see that he has journeyed on to this stage with one determined point in
view from the first she is at present stupified he says 

letter xv from the same 
the lady's affecting behaviour in her delirium he owns that art has
been used to her begins to feel remorse 

letter xvi from the same 
the lady writes upon scraps of paper which she tears and throws under
the table copies of ten of these rambling papers and of a letter to
him most affectingly incoherent he attempts farther to extenuate his
villany tries to resume his usual levity and forms a scheme to decoy
the people at hampstead to the infamous woman's in town the lady seems
to be recovering 

letter xvii from the same 
she attempts to get away in his absence is prevented by the odious
sinclair he exults in the hope of looking her into confusion when he
sees her is told by dorcas that she is coming into the dining-room to
find him out 

letter xviii from the same 
a high scene of her exalted and of his depressed behaviour offers to
make her amends by matrimony she treats his offer with contempt 
afraid belford plays him false 

letter xix from the same 
wishes he had never seen her with all the women he had known till now 
it was once subdued and always subdued his miserable dejection his
remorse she attempts to escape a mob raised his quick invention to
pacify it out of conceit with himself and his contrivances 

letter xx xxi lovelace to belford 
lord m very ill his presence necessary at m hall puts dorcas upon
ingratiating herself with her lady he re-urges marriage to her she
absolutely from the most noble motives rejects him 

letter xxii from the same 
reflects upon himself it costs he says more pain to be wicked than to
be good the lady's solemn expostulation with him extols her greatness
of soul dorcas coming into favour with her he is alarmed by another
attempt of the lady to get off she is in agonies at being prevented 
he tried to intimidate her dorcas pleads for her on the point of
drawing his sword against himself the occasion 

letter xxiii from the same 
cannot yet persuade himself but the lady will be his reasons for his
opinion opens his heart to belford as to his intentions by her 
mortified that she refuses his honest vows her violation but notional 
her triumph greater than her sufferings her will unviolated he is a
better man he says than most rakes and why 

letter xxiv xxv from the same 
the lady gives a promissory note to dorcas to induce her to further her
escape a fair trial of skill now he says a conversation between the
vile dorcas and her lady in which she engages her lady's pity the
bonds of wickedness stronger than the ties of virtue observations on
that subject 

letter xxvi xxvii xxviii from the same 
a new contrivance to advantage of the lady's intended escape a letter
from tomlinson intent of it he goes out to give opportunity for the
lady to attempt an escape his designs frustrated 

letter xxix from the same 
an interesting conversation between the lady and him no concession in
his favour by his soul he swears this dear girl gives the lie to all
their rakish maxims he has laid all the sex under obligation to him 
and why 

letter xxx lovelace to belford 
lord m in extreme danger the family desire his presence he
intercepts a severe letter from miss howe to her friend copy of it 

letter xxxi from the same 
the lady suspecting dorcas tries to prevail upon him to give her her
liberty she disclaims vengeance and affectingly tells him all her
future views denied she once more attempts an escape prevented and
terrified with apprehensions of instant dishonour she is obliged to make
some concession 

letter xxxii from the same 
accuses her of explaining away her concession made desperate he seeks
occasion to quarrel with her she exerts a spirit which overawes him 
he is ridiculed by the infamous copartnership calls to belford to help
a gay heart to a little of his dismal on the expected death of lord m 

letter xxxiii from the same 
another message from m hall to engage him to go down the next morning 

letter xxxiv xxxv from the same 
the women's instigations his farther schemes against the lady what 
he asks is the injury which a church-rite will not at any time repair 

letter xxxvi from the same 
himself the mother her nymphs all assembled with intent to execute his
detestable purposes her glorious behaviour on the occasion he
execrates detests despises himself and admires her more than ever 
obliged to set out early that morning for m hall he will press her with
letters to meet him next thursday her uncle's birthday at the altar 

letter xxxvii xxxviii xxxix lovelace to clarissa from m hall 
urging her accordingly the license in her hands by the most engaging
pleas and arguments 

letter xl lovelace to belford 
begs he will wait on the lady and induce her to write but four words to
him signifying the church and the day is now resolved on wedlock 
curses his plots and contrivances which all end he says in one grand
plot upon himself 

letter xli belford to lovelace in answer 
refuses to undertake for him unless he can be sure of his honour why
he doubts it 

letter xlii lovelace in reply 
curses him for scrupulousness is in earnest to marry after one more
letter of entreaty to her if she keep sullen silence she must take the
consequence 

letter xliii lovelace to clarissa 
once more earnestly entreats her to meet him at the altar not to be
forbidden coming he will take for leave to come 

letter xliv lovelace to patrick m'donald 
ordering him to visit the lady and instructing him what to say and how
to behave to her 

letter xlv to the same as captain tomlinson 
calculated to be shown to the lady as in confidence 

letter xlvi m'donald to lovelace 
goes to attend the lady according to direction finds the house in an
uproar and the lady escaped 

letter xlvii mowbray to lovelace 
with the same news 

letter xlviii belford to lovelace 
ample particulars of the lady's escape makes serious reflections on the
distress she must be in and on his lovelace's ungrateful usage of her 
what he takes the sum of religion 

letter xlix lovelace to belford 
runs into affected levity and ridicule yet at last owns all his gayety
but counterfeit regrets his baseness to the lady inveighs against the
women for their instigations will still marry her if she can be found
out one misfortune seldom comes alone lord m is recovering he had
bespoken mourning for him 

letter l clarissa to miss howe 
writes with incoherence to inquire after her health lets her know
whither to direct to her but forgets in her rambling her private
address by which means her letter falls into the hands of miss howe's
mother 

letter li mrs howe to clarissa 
reproaches her for making all her friends unhappy forbids her to write
any more to her daughter 

letter lii clarissa's meek reply 

letter liii clarissa to hannah burton 

letter liv hannah burton in answer 

letter lv clarissa to miss norton 
excuses her long silence asks her a question with a view to detect
lovelace hints at his ungrateful villany self-recrimination 

letter lvi mrs norton to clarissa 
answers her question inveighs against lovelace hopes she has escaped
with her honour consoles her by a brief relation of her own case and
from motives truly pious 

letter lvii clarissa to lady betty lawrance 
requests an answer to three questions with a view farther to detect
lovelace 

letter lviii lady betty to clarissa 
answers her questions in the kindest manner offers to mediate between
her nephew and her 

letter lix lx clarissa to mrs hodges 
her uncle harlowe's housekeeper with a view of still farther detecting
lovelace mrs hodges's answer 

letter lxi clarissa to lady betty lawrance 
acquaints her with her nephew's baseness charitably wishes his
reformation but utterly and from principle rejects him 

letter lxii clarissa to mrs norton 
is comforted by her kind soothings wishes she had been her child will
not allow her to come up to her why some account of the people she is
with and of a worthy woman mrs lovick who lodges in the house 
briefly hints to her the vile usage she has received from lovelace 

letter lxiii mrs norton to clarissa 
inveighs against lovelace wishes miss howe might be induced to refrain
from freedoms that do hurt and can do no good farther piously consoles
her 

letter lxiv clarissa to mrs norton 
a new trouble an angry letter from miss howe the occasion her heart
is broken shall be uneasy till she can get her father's curse revoked 
casts about to whom she can apply for this purpose at last resolves to
write to her sister to beg her mediation 

letter lxv miss howe to clarissa 
her angry and reproachful letter above-mentioned demands from her the
clearing up of her conduct 

letter lxvi clarissa to miss howe 
gently remonstrates upon her severity to this hour knows not all the
methods taken to deceive and ruin her but will briefly yet
circumstantially enter into the darker part of her sad story though her
heart sinks under the thoughts of a recollection so painful 

letter lxvii lxviii lxix lxx from the same 
she gives the promised particulars of her story begs that the blackest
parts of it may be kept secret and why desires one friendly tear and
no more may be dropt from her gentle eye on the happy day that shall
shut up all her sorrows 

letter lxxi lxxii miss howe to clarissa 
execrates the abandoned profligate she must she tells her look to the
world beyond this for her reward unravels some of lovelace's plots and
detects his forgeries is apprehensive for her own as well as clarissa's
safety advises her to pursue a legal vengeance laudable custom in the
isle of man offers personally to attend her in a court of justice 

letter lxxiii clarissa to miss howe 
cannot consent to a prosecution discovers who it was that personated
her at hampstead she is quite sick of life and of an earth in which
innocent and benevolent spirits are sure to be considered as aliens 




the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sat midnight 


no rest says a text that i once heard preached upon to the wicked and
i cannot close my eyes yet only wanted to compound for half an hour in
an elbow-chair so must scribble on 

i parted with the captain after another strong debate with him in
relation to what is to be the fate of this lady as the fellow has an
excellent head and would have made an eminent figure in any station of
life had not his early days been tainted with a deep crime and he
detected in it and as he had the right side of the argument i had a
good deal of difficulty with him and at last brought myself to promise 
that if i could prevail upon her generously to forgive me and to
reinstate me in her favour i would make it my whole endeavour to get off
of my contrivances as happily as i could only that lady betty and
charlotte must come and then substituting him for her uncle's proxy 
take shame to myself and marry 

but if i should jack with the strongest antipathy to the state that
ever man had what a figure shall i make in rakish annals and can i
have taken all this pains for nothing or for a wife only that however
excellent  and any woman do i think i could make good because i could
make any woman fear as well as love me   might have been obtained without
the plague i have been at and much more reputably than with it and
hast thou not seen that this haughty woman  forgive me that i call her
haughty and a woman yet is she not haughty   knows not how to forgive
with graciousness indeed has not at all forgiven me but holds my soul
in a suspense which has been so grievous to her own 

at this silent moment i think that if i were to pursue my former
scheme and resolve to try whether i cannot make a greater fault serve as
a sponge to wipe out the less and then be forgiven for that i can
justify myself to myself and that as the fair invincible would say is
all in all 

as it is my intention in all my reflections to avoid repeating at
least dwelling upon what i have before written to thee though the state
of the case may not have varied so i would have thee to re-consider the
old reasonings particularly those contained in my answer to thy last 
expostulatory nonsense and add the new as they fall from my pen and
then i shall think myself invincible at least as arguing rake to rake 


 see vol v letter xiv 


i take the gaining of this lady to be essential to my happiness and is
it not natural for all men to aim at obtaining whatever they think will
make them happy be the object more or less considerable in the eyes of
others 

as to the manner of endeavouring to obtain her by falsification of
oaths vows and the like do not the poets of two thousand years and
upwards tell us that jupiter laughs at the perjuries of lovers and let
me add to what i have heretofore mentioned on that head a question or
two 

do not the mothers the aunts the grandmothers the governesses of the
pretty innocents always from their very cradles to riper years preach
to them the deceitfulness of men that they are not to regard their
oaths vows promises what a parcel of fibbers would all these reverend
matrons be if there were not now and then a pretty credulous rogue taken
in for a justification of their preachments and to serve as a beacon
lighted up for the benefit of the rest 

do we not then see that an honest prowling fellow is a necessary evil on
many accounts do we not see that it is highly requisite that a sweet
girl should be now-and-then drawn aside by him and the more eminent the
girl in the graces of person mind and fortune is not the example
likely to be the more efficacious 

if these postulata be granted me who i pray can equal my charmer in
all these who therefore so fit for an example to the rest of her sex 
 at worst i am entirely within my worthy friend mandeville's assertion 
that private vices are public benefits 

well then if this sweet creature must fall as it is called for the
benefit of all the pretty fools of the sex she must and there's an end
of the matter and what would there have been in it of uncommon or rare 
had i not been so long about it and so i dismiss all further
argumentation and debate upon the question and i impose upon thee when
thou writest to me an eternal silence on this head 


wafer'd on as an after-written introduction to the paragraphs which
follow marked with turned commas  thus   

lord jack what shall i do now how one evil brings on another 
dreadful news to tell thee while i was meditating a simple robbery 
here have i in my own defence indeed been guilty of murder a bl y
murder so i believe it will prove at her last gasp poor impertinent
opposer eternally resisting eternally contradicting there she lies
weltering in her blood her death's wound have i given her but she was
a thief an impostor as well as a tormentor she had stolen my pen 
while i was sullenly meditating doubting as to my future measures she
stole it and thus she wrote with it in a hand exactly like my own and
would have faced me down that it was really my own hand-writing 

but let me reflect before it is too late on the manifold perfections
of this ever-amiable creature let me reflect the hand yet is only held
up the blow is not struck miss howe's next letter may blow thee up 
in policy thou shouldest be now at least honest thou canst not live
without her thou wouldest rather marry her than lose her absolutely 
thou mayest undoubtedly prevail upon her inflexible as she seems to be 
for marriage but if now she finds thee a villain thou mayest never
more engage her attention and she perhaps will refuse and abhor thee 

yet already have i not gone too far like a repentant thief afraid of
his gang and obliged to go on in fear of hanging till he comes to be
hanged i am afraid of the gang of my cursed contrivances 

as i hope to live i am sorry at the present writing that i have
been such a foolish plotter as to put it as i fear i have done out of
my own power to be honest i hate compulsion in all forms and cannot
bear even to be compelled to be the wretch my choice has made me so
now belford as thou hast said i am a machine at last and no free
agent 

upon my soul jack it is a very foolish thing for a man of spirit to
have brought himself to such a height of iniquity that he must proceed 
and cannot help himself and yet to be next to certain that this very
victory will undo him 

why was such a woman as this thrown into my way whose very fall will
be her glory and perhaps not only my shame but my destruction 

what a happiness must that man know who moves regularly to some
laudable end and has nothing to reproach himself with in his progress
to do it when by honest means he attains his end how great and
unmixed must be his enjoyments what a happy man in this particular
case had i been had it been given me to be only what i wished to appear
to be 

thus far had my conscience written with my pen and see what a recreant
she had made of me i seized her by the throat there there said i 
thou vile impertinent take that and that how often have i gave thee
warning and now i hope thou intruding varletess have i done thy
business 

puling and low-voiced rearing up thy detested head in vain implorest
thou my mercy who in thy day hast showed me so little take that for
a rising blow and now will thy pain and my pain for thee soon be
over lie there welter on had i not given thee thy death's wound 
thou wouldest have robbed me of all my joys thou couldest not have
mended me tis plain thou couldest only have thrown me into despair 
didst thou not see that i had gone too far to recede welter on once
more i bid thee gasp on that thy last gasp surely how hard diest
thou 

adieu unhappy man adieu 

tis kind in thee however to bid me adieu 

adieu adieu adieu to thee o thou inflexible and till now 
unconquerable bosom intruder adieu to thee for ever 



letter ii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday morn june 11 four o'clock 


a few words to the verbal information thou sentest me last night
concerning thy poor old man and then i rise from my seat shake myself 
refresh new-dress and so to my charmer whom notwithstanding her
reserves i hope to prevail upon to walk out with me on the heath this
warm and fine morning 

the birds must have awakened her before now they are in full song she
always gloried in accustoming herself to behold the sun rise one of
god's natural wonders as once she called it 

her window salutes the east the valleys must be gilded by his rays by
the time i am with her for already have they made the up-lands smile and
the face of nature cheerful 

how unsuitable will thou find this gay preface to a subject so gloomy as
that i am now turning to 

i am glad to hear thy tedious expectations are at last answered 

thy servant tells me that thou are plaguily grieved at the old fellow's
departure 

i can't say but thou mayest look as if thou wert harassed as thou hast
been for a number of days and nights with a close attendance upon a dying
man beholding his drawing-on hour pretending for decency's sake to
whine over his excruciating pangs to be in the way to answer a thousand
impertinent inquiries after the health of a man thou wishedest to die to
pray by him for so once thou wrotest to me to read by him to be
forced to join in consultation with a crew of solemn and parading
doctors and their officious zanies the apothecaries joined with the
butcherly tribe of scarficators all combined to carry on the physical
farce and to cut out thongs both from his flesh and his estate to have
the superadded apprehension of dividing thy interest in what he shall
leave with a crew of eager-hoping never-to-be-satisfied relations 
legatees and the devil knows who of private gratifiers of passions
laudable and illaudable in these circumstances i wonder not that thou
lookest before servants as little grieved as thou after heirship as
if thou indeed wert grieved and as if the most wry-fac'd woe had
befallen thee 

then as i have often thought the reflection that must naturally arise
from such mortifying objects as the death of one with whom we have been
familiar must afford when we are obliged to attend it in its slow
approaches and in its face-twisting pangs that it will one day be our
own case goes a great way to credit the appearance of grief 

and that it is this seriously reflected upon may temporally give a fine
air of sincerity to the wailings of lively widows heart-exulting heirs 
and residuary legatees of all denominations since by keeping down the
inward joy those interesting reflections must sadden the aspect and add
an appearance of real concern to the assumed sables 

well but now thou art come to the reward of all thy watchings 
anxieties and close attendances tell me what it is tell me if it
compensate thy trouble and answer thy hope 

as to myself thou seest by the gravity of my style how the subject has
helped to mortify me but the necessity i am under of committing either
speedy matrimony or a rape has saddened over my gayer prospects and 
more than the case itself contributed to make me sympathize with the
present joyful-sorrow 

adieu jack i must be soon out of my pain and my clarissa shall be soon
out of her's for so does the arduousness of the case require 



letter iii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday morning 


i have had the honour of my charmer's company for two complete hours we
met before six in mrs moore's garden a walk on the heath refused me 

the sedateness of her aspect and her kind compliance in this meeting gave
me hopes and all that either the captain and i had urged yesterday to
obtain a full and free pardon that re-urged i and i told her besides 
that captain tomlinson was gone down with hopes to prevail upon her uncle
harlowe to come up in person in order to present to me the greatest
blessing that man ever received 

but the utmost i could obtain was that she would take no resolution in
my favour till she received miss howe's next letter 

i will not repeat the arguments i used but i will give thee the
substance of what she said in answer to them 

she had considered of every thing she told me my whole conduct was
before her the house i carried her to must be a vile house the people
early showed what they were capable of in the earnest attempt made to
fasten miss partington upon her as she doubted not with my approbation 
 surely thought i she has not received a duplicate of miss howe's
letter of detection   they heard her cries my insult was undoubtedly
premeditated by my whole recollected behaviour to her previous to it 
it must be so i had the vilest of views no question and my treatment
of her put it out of all doubt 

soul over all belford she seems sensible of liberties that my passion
made me insensible of having taken or she could not so deeply resent 

she besought me to give over all thoughts of her sometimes she said 
she thought herself cruelly treated by her nearest and dearest relations 
at such times a spirit of repining and even of resentment took place 
and the reconciliation at other times so desirable was not then so much
the favourite wish of her heart as was the scheme she had formerly
planned of taking her good norton for her directress and guide and
living upon her own estate in the manner her grandfather had intended she
should live 

this scheme she doubted not that her cousin morden who was one of her
trustees for that estate would enable her and that as she hoped 
without litigation to pursue and if he can and does what sir let
me ask you said she have i seen in your conduct that should make me
prefer to it an union of interest where there is such a disunion in
minds 

so thou seest jack there is reason as well as resentment in the
preference she makes against me thou seest that she presumes to think
that she can be happy without me and that she must be unhappy with me 

i had besought her in the conclusion of my re-urged arguments to write
to miss howe before miss howe's answer could come in order to lay before
her the present state of things and if she would pay a deference to her
judgment to let her have an opportunity to give it on the full knowledge
of the case 

so i would mr lovelace was the answer if i were in doubt myself 
which i would prefer marriage or the scheme i have mentioned you
cannot think sir but the latter must be my choice i wish to part with
you with temper don't put me upon repeating 

part with me madam interrupted i i cannot bear those words but let
me beseech you however to write to miss howe i hope if miss howe is
not my enemy 

she is not the enemy of your person sir as you would be convinced if
you saw her last letter to me but were she not an enemy to your
actions she would not be my friend nor the friend of virtue why will
you provoke from me mr lovelace the harshness of expression which 
however which however deserved by you i am unwilling just now to use 
having suffered enough in the two past days from my own vehemence 


 the lady innocently means mr lovelace's forged one see vol v 
letter xxx 


i bit my lip for vexation and was silent 

miss howe proceeded she knows the full state of matters already sir 
the answer i expect from her respects myself not you her heart is too
warm in the cause of friendship to leave me in suspense one moment
longer than is necessary as to what i want to know nor does her answer
absolutely depend upon herself she must see a person first and that
person perhaps see others 

the cursed smuggler-woman jack miss howe's townsend i doubt not 
plot contrivance intrigue stratagem underground-moles these women 
but let the earth cover me let me be a mole too thought i if they
carry their point and if this lady escape me now 

she frankly owned that she had once thought of embarking out of all our
ways for some one of our american colonies but now that she had been
compelled to see me which had been her greatest dread and which she
might be happiest in the resumption of her former favourite scheme if
miss howe could find her a reputable and private asylum till her cousin
morden could come but if he came not soon and if she had a difficulty
to get to a place of refuge whether from her brother or from any body
else  meaning me i suppose   she might yet perhaps go abroad for to
say the truth she could not think of returning to her father's house 
since her brother's rage her sister's upbraidings her father's anger 
her mother's still-more-affecting sorrowings and her own consciousness
under them all would be unsupportable to her 

o jack i am sick to death i pine i die for miss howe's next letter 
i would bind gag strip rob and do any thing but murder to intercept
it 

but determined as she seems to be it was evident to me nevertheless 
that she had still some tenderness for me 

she often wept as she talked and much oftener sighed she looked at me
twice with an eye of undoubted gentleness and three times with an eye
tending to compassion and softness but its benign rays were as often
snatched back as i may say and her face averted as if her sweet eyes
were not to be trusted and could not stand against my eager eyes 
seeking as they did for a lost heart in her's and endeavouring to
penetrate to her very soul 

more than once i took her hand she struggled not much against the
freedom i pressed it once with my lips she was not very angry a
frown indeed but a frown that had more distress in it than indignation 

how came the dear soul clothed as it is with such a silken vesture by
all its steadiness was it necessary that the active gloom of such a
tyrant of a father should commix with such a passive sweetness of a
will-less mother to produce a constancy an equanimity a steadiness in
the daughter which never woman before could boast of if so she is
more obliged to that despotic father than i could have imagined a
creature to be who gave distinction to every one related to her beyond
what the crown itself can confer 


 see vol i letters ix xiv and xix for what she herself says on that
steadiness which mr lovelace though a deserved sufferer by it cannot
help admiring 


i hoped i said that she would admit of the intended visit which i had
so often mentioned of the two ladies 

she was here she had seen me she could not help herself at present 
she even had the highest regard for the ladies of my family because of
their worthy characters there she turned away her sweet face and
vanquished an half-risen sigh 

i kneeled to her then it was upon a verdant cushion for we were upon
the grass walk i caught her hand i besought her with an earnestness
that called up as i could feel my heart to my eyes to make me by her
forgiveness and example more worthy of them and of her own kind and
generous wishes by my soul madam said i you stab me with your
goodness your undeserved goodness and i cannot bear it 

why why thought i as i did several times in this conversation will
she not generously forgive me why will she make it necessary for me to
bring lady betty and my cousin to my assistance can the fortress expect
the same advantageous capitulation which yields not to the summons of a
resistless conqueror as if it gave not the trouble of bringing up and
raising its heavy artillery against it 

what sensibilities said the divine creature withdrawing her hand must
thou have suppressed what a dreadful what a judicial hardness of heart
must thine be who canst be capable of such emotions as sometimes thou
hast shown and of such sentiments as sometimes have flowed from thy
lips yet canst have so far overcome them all as to be able to act as
thou hast acted and that from settled purpose and premeditation and
this as it is said throughout the whole of thy life from infancy to
this time 

i told her that i had hoped from the generous concern she had expressed
for me when i was so suddenly and dangerously taken ill  the
ipecacuanha experiment jack  

she interrupted me well have you rewarded me for the concern you speak
of however i will frankly own now that i am determined to think no
more of you that you might unsatisfied as i nevertheless was with
you have made an interest 

she paused i besought her to proceed 

do you suppose sir and turned away her sweet face as we walked do you
suppose that i had not thought of laying down a plan to govern myself by 
when i found myself so unhappily over-reached and cheated as i may say 
out of myself when i found that i could not be and do what i wished
to be and to do do you imagine that i had not cast about what was the
next proper course to take and do you believe that this next course has
not caused me some pain to be obliged to 

there again she stopt 

but let us break off discourse resumed she the subject grows too she
sighed let us break off discourse i will go in i will prepare for
church  the devil thought i   well as i can appear in those
every-day-worn clothes looking upon herself i will go to church 

she then turned from me to go into the house 

bless me my beloved creature bless me with the continuance of this
affecting conversation remorse has seized my heart i have been
excessively wrong give me farther cause to curse my heedless folly by
the continuance of this calm but soul-penetrating conversation 

no no mr lovelace i have said too much impatience begins to break
in upon me if you can excuse me to the ladies it will be better for
my mind's sake and for your credit's sake that i do not see them call
me to them over-nice petulant prudish what you please call me to them 
nobody but miss howe to whom next to the almighty and my own mother i
wish to stand acquitted of wilful error shall know the whole of what has
passed be happy as you may deserve to be happy and happy you will
be in your own reflection at least were you to be ever so unhappy in
other respects for myself if i ever shall be enabled on due
reflection to look back upon my own conduct without the great reproach
of having wilfully and against the light of my own judgment erred i
shall be more happy than if i had all that the world accounts desirable 

the noble creature proceeded for i could not speak 

this self-acquittal when spirits are lent me to dispel the darkness
which at present too often over-clouds my mind will i hope make me
superior to all the calamities that can befal me 

her whole person was informed by her sentiments she seemed to be taller
than before how the god within her exalted her not only above me but
above herself 

divine creature as i thought her i called her i acknowledged the
superiority of her mind and was proceeding but she interrupted me all
human excellence said she is comparative only my mind i believe is
indeed superior to your's debased as your's is by evil habits but i had
not known it to be so if you had not taken pains to convince me of the
inferiority of your's 

how great how sublimely great this creature by my soul i cannot
forgive her for her virtues there is no bearing the consciousness of
the infinite inferiority she charged me with but why will she break
from me when good resolutions are taking place the red-hot iron she
refuses to strike o why will she suffer the yielding wax to harden 

we had gone but a few paces towards the house when we were met by the
impertinent women with notice that breakfast was ready i could only 
with uplifted hands beseech her to give me hope of a renewed
conversation after breakfast 

no she would go to church 

and into the house she went and up stairs directly nor would she
oblige me with her company at the tea-table 

i offered by mrs moore to quit both the table and the parlour rather
than she should exclude herself or deprive the two widows of the favour
of her company 

that was not all the matter she told mrs moore she had been
struggling to keep down her temper it had cost her some pains to do it 
she was desirous to compose herself in hopes to receive benefit by the
divine worship she was going to join in 

mrs moore hoped for her presence at dinner 

she had rather be excused yet if she could obtain the frame of mind
she hoped for she might not be averse to show that she had got above
those sensibilities which gave consideration to a man who deserved not
to be to her what he had been 

this said no doubt to let mrs moore know that the garden-conversation
had not been a reconciling one 

mrs moore seemed to wonder that we were not upon a better foot of
understanding after so long a conference and the more as she believed
that the lady had given in to the proposal for the repetition of the
ceremony which i had told them was insisted upon by her uncle harlowe 
but i accounted for this by telling both widows that she was resolved to
keep on the reserve till she heard from captain tomlinson whether her
uncle would be present in person at the solemnity or would name that
worthy gentleman for his proxy 

again i enjoined strict secresy as to this particular which was
promised by the widows as well as for themselves as for miss rawlins 
of whose taciturnity they gave me such an account as showed me that she
was secret-keeper-general to all the women of fashion at hampstead 

the lord jack what a world of mischief at this rate must miss
rawlins know what a pandora's box must her bosom be yet had i
nothing that was more worthy of my attention to regard i would engage to
open it and make my uses of the discovery 

and now belford thou perceivest that all my reliance is upon the
mediation of lady betty and miss montague and upon the hope of
intercepting miss howe's next letter 



letter iv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


this fair inexorable is actually gone to church with mrs moore and mrs 
bevis but will closely attends her motions and i am in the way to
receive any occasional intelligence from him 

she did not choose  a mighty word with the sex as if they were always
to have their own wills   that i should wait upon her i did not much
press it that she might not apprehend that i thought i had reason to
doubt her voluntary return 

i once had it in my head to have found the widow bevis other employment 
and i believe she would have been as well pleased with my company as to
go to church for she seemed irresolute when i told her that two out of
a family were enough to go to church for one day but having her things
on as the women call every thing and her aunt moore expecting her
company she thought it best to go lest it should look oddly you know 
whispered she to one who was above regarding how it looked 

so here am i in my dining-room and have nothing to do but to write till
they return 

and what will be my subject thinkest thou why the old beaten one to be
sure self-debate through temporary remorse for the blow being not
struck her guardian angel is redoubling his efforts to save her 

if it be not that  and yet what power should her guardian angel have
over me   i don't know what it is that gives a check to my revenge 
whenever i meditate treason against so sovereign a virtue conscience is
dead and gone as i told thee so it cannot be that a young conscience
growing up like the phoenix from the ashes of the old one it cannot
be surely but if it were it would be hard if i could not overlay a
young conscience 

well then it must be love i fancy love itself inspiring love of an
object so adorable some little attention possibly paid likewise to thy
whining arguments in her favour 

let love then be allowed to be the moving principle and the rather as
love naturally makes the lover loth to disoblige the object of its flame 
and knowing that to an offence of the meditated kind will be a mortal
offence to her cannot bear that i should think of giving it 

let love and me talk together a little on this subject be it a young
conscience or love or thyself jack thou seest that i am for giving
every whiffler audience but this must be the last debate on this
subject for is not her fate in a manner at its crisis and must not my
next step be an irretrievable one tend it which way it will 


 


and now the debate is over 

a thousand charming things for love is gentler than conscience has
this little urchin suggested in her favour he pretended to know both
our hearts and he would have it that though my love was a prodigious
strong and potent love and though it has the merit of many months 
faithful service to plead and has had infinite difficulties to struggle
with yet that it is not the right sort of love 

right sort of love a puppy but with due regard to your deityship 
said i what merits has she with you that you should be of her party 
is her's i pray you a right sort of love is it love at all she
don't pretend that it is she owns not your sovereignty what a d l
i moves you to plead thus earnestly for a rebel who despises your
power 

and then he came with his if's and and's and it would have been and
still as he believed would be love and a love of the exalted kind if
i would encourage it by the right sort of love he talked of and in
justification of his opinion pleaded her own confessions as well those
of yesterday as of this morning and even went so far back as to my
ipecacuanha illness 

i never talked so familiarly with his godship before thou mayest think 
therefore that his dialect sounded oddly in my ears and then he told
me how often i had thrown cold water upon the most charming flame that
ever warmed a lady's bosom while but young and rising 

i required a definition of this right sort of love he tried at it but
made a sorry hand of it nor could i for the soul of me be convinced 
that what he meant to extol was love 

upon the whole we had a noble controversy upon this subject in which
he insisted upon the unprecedented merit of the lady nevertheless i got
the better of him for he was struck absolutely dumb when waving her
present perverseness which yet was a sufficient answer to all his pleas 
i asserted and offered to prove it by a thousand instances impromptu 
that love was not governed by merit nor could be under the dominion of
prudence or any other reasoning power and if the lady were capable of
love it was of such a sort as he had nothing to do with and which never
before reigned in a female heart 

i asked him what he thought of her flight from me at a time when i was
more than half overcome by the right sort of love he talked of and then
i showed him the letter she wrote and left behind her for me with an
intention no doubt absolutely to break my heart or to provoke me to
hang drown or shoot myself to say nothing of a multitude of
declarations from her defying his power and imputing all that looked
like love in her behaviour to me to the persecution and rejection of her
friends which made her think of me but as a last resort 

love then gave her up the letter he said deserved neither pardon nor
excuse he did not think he had been pleading for such a declared rebel 
and as to the rest he should be a betrayer of the rights of his own
sovereignty if what i had alleged were true and he were still to plead
for her 

i swore to the truth of all and truly i swore which perhaps i do not
always do 

and now what thinkest thou must become of the lady whom love itself
gives up and conscience cannot plead for 



letter v

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday afternoon 


o belford what a hair's-breadth escape have i had such a one that i
tremble between terror and joy at the thought of what might have
happened and did not 

what a perverse girl is this to contend with her fate yet has reason
to think that her very stars fight against her i am the luckiest of
me but my breath almost fails me when i reflect upon what a slender
thread my destiny hung 

but not to keep thee in suspense i have within this half-hour obtained
possession of the expected letter from miss howe and by such an
accident but here with the former i dispatch this thy messenger
waiting 



letter vi

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


thus it was my charmer accompanied mrs moore again to church this
afternoon i had been in very earnest in the first place to obtain her
company at dinner but in vain according to what she had said to mrs 
moore i was too considerable to her to be allowed that favour in the
next place i besought her to favour me after dinner with another
garden-walk but she would again go to church and what reason have i
to rejoice that she did 


 see letter iii of this volume 


my worthy friend mrs bevis thought one sermon a day well observed 
enough so staid at home to bear me company 

the lady and mrs moore had not been gone a quarter of an hour when a
young country-fellow on horseback came to the door and inquired for mrs 
harriot lucas the widow and i undetermined how we were to entertain
each other were in the parlour next the door and hearing the fellow's
inquiry o my dear mrs bevis said i i am undone undone for ever if
you don't help me out since here in all probability is a messenger
from that implacable miss howe with a letter which if delivered to mrs 
lovelace may undo all we have been doing 

what said she would you have me do 

call the maid in this moment that i may give her her lesson and if it
be as i imagined i'll tell you what you shall do 

wid margaret margaret come in this minute 

lovel what answer mrs margaret did you give the man upon his
asking for mrs harriot lucas 

peggy i only asked what was his business and who he came from for 
sir your honour's servant had told me how things stood and i came at
your call madam before he answered me 

lovel well child if ever you wish to be happy in wedlock yourself 
and would have people disappointed who want to make mischief between you
and your husband get out of him his message or letter if he has one 
and bring it to me and say nothing to mrs lovelace when she comes in 
and here is a guinea for you 

peggy i will do all i can to serve your honour's worship for nothing 
 nevertheless with a ready hand taking the guinea   for mr william
tells me what a good gentleman you be 

away went peggy to the fellow at the door 

peggy what is your business friend with mrs harry lucas 

fellow i must speak to her her own self 

lovel my dearest widow do you personate mrs lovelace for heaven's
sake do you personate mrs lovelace 

wid i personate mrs lovelace sir how can i do that she is fair 
i am brown she is slender i am plump 

lovel no matter no matter the fellow may be a new-come servant he
is not in livery i see he may not know her person you can but be
bloated and in a dropsy 

wid dropsical people look not so fresh and ruddy as i do 

lovel true but the clown may not know that tis but for a present
deception peggy peggy call'd i in a female tone softly at the door 
madam answer'd peggy and came up to me to the parlour-door 

lovel tell him the lady is ill and has lain down upon the couch and
get his business from him whatever you do 

away went peggy 

lovel now my dear widow lie along the settee and put your
handkerchief over your face that if he will speak to you himself he
may not see your eyes and your hair so that's right i'll step into
the closet by you 

i did so 

peggy  returning   he won't deliver his business to me he will
speak to mrs harriot lucas her own self 

lovel  holding the door in my hand   tell him that this is mrs 
harriot lucas and let him come in whisper him if he doubts that she
is bloated dropsical and not the woman she was 

away went margery 

lovel and now my dear widow let me see what a charming mrs lovelace
you'll make ask if he comes from miss howe ask if he lives with her 
ask how she does call her at every word your dear miss howe offer
him money take this half-guinea for him complain of your head to have
a pretence to hold it down and cover your forehead and eyes with your
hand where your handkerchief hides not your face that's right and
dismiss the rascal  here he comes  as soon as you can 

in came the fellow bowing and scraping his hat poked out before him
with both his hands 

fellow i am sorry madam an't please you to find you ben't well 

widow what is your business with me friend 

fellow you are mrs harriot lucas i suppose madam 

widow yes do you come from miss howe 

fellow i do madam 

widow dost thou know my right name friend 

fellow i can give a shrewd guess but that is none of my business 

widow what is thy business i hope miss howe is well 

fellow yes madam pure well i thank god i wish you were so too 

widow i am too full of grief to be well 

fellow so belike i have hard to say 

widow my head aches so dreadfully i cannot hold it up i must beg
of you to let me know your business 

fellow nay and that be all my business is soon known it is but to
give this letter into your own partiklar hands here it is 

widow  taking it   from my dear friend miss howe ah my head 

fellow yes madam but i am sorry you are so bad 

widow do you live with miss howe 

fellow no madam i am one of her tenants' sons her lady-mother must
not know as how i came of this errand but the letter i suppose will
tell you all 

widow how shall i satisfy you for this kind trouble 

fellow no how at all what i do is for love of miss howe she will
satisfy me more than enough but may-hap you can send no answer you
are so ill 

widow was you ordered to wait for an answer 

fellow no i cannot say as that i was but i was bidden to observe
how you looked and how you was and if you did write a line or two to
take care of it and give it only to our young landlady in secret 

widow you see i look strangely not so well as i used to do 

fellow nay i don't know that i ever saw you but once before and that
was at a stile where i met you and my young landlady but knew better
than to stare a gentlewoman in the face especially at a stile 

widow will you eat or drink friend 

fellow a cup of small ale i don't care if i do 

widow margaret take the young man down and treat him with what the
house affords 

fellow your servant madam but i staid to eat as i come along just
upon the heath yonder or else to say the truth i had been here sooner 
 thank my stars thought i thou didst   a piece of powdered beef was
upon the table at the sign of the castle where i stopt to inquire for
this house and so thoff i only intended to wet my whistle i could not
help eating so shall only taste of your ale for the beef was woundily
corned 

prating dog pox on thee thought i 

he withdrew bowing and scraping 

margaret whispered i in a female voice  whispering out of the closet 
and holding the parlour-door in my hand  get him out of the house as fast
as you can lest they come from church and catch him here 

peggy never fear sir 

the fellow went down and it seems drank a large draught of ale and
margaret finding him very talkative told him she begged his pardon but
she had a sweetheart just come from sea whom she was forced to hide in
the pantry so was sure he would excuse her from staying with him 

ay ay to be sure the clown said for if he could not make sport he
would spoil none but he whispered her that one squire lovelace was a
damnation rogue if the truth might be told 

for what said margaret and could have given him she told the widow
 who related to me all this a good dowse of the chaps 

for kissing all the women he came near 

at the same time the dog wrapped himself round margery and gave her a
smack that she told mrs bevis afterwards she might have heard into
the parlour 

such jack is human nature thus does it operate in all degrees and so
does the clown as well as his practises yet this sly dog knew not but
the wench had a sweetheart locked up in the pantry if the truth were
known some of the ruddy-faced dairy wenches might perhaps call him a
damnation rogue as justly as their betters of the same sex might squire
lovelace 

the fellow told the maid that by what he discovered of the young lady's
face it looked very rosy to what he took it to be and he thought her a
good deal fatter as she lay and not so tall 

all women are born to intrigue jack and practise it more or less as
fathers guardians governesses from dear experience can tell and in
love affairs are naturally expert and quicker in their wits by half than
men this ready though raw wench gave an instance of this and
improved on the dropsical hint i had given her the lady's seeming
plumpness was owing to a dropsical disorder and to the round posture she
lay in very likely truly her appearing to him to be shorter he might
have observed was owing to her drawing her feet up from pain and
because the couch was too short she supposed adso he did not think of
that her rosy colour was owing to her grief and head-ache ay that
might very well be but he was highly pleased that he had given the
letter into mrs harriot's own hand as he should tell miss howe 

he desired once more to see the lady at his going away and would not be
denied the widow therefore sat up with her handkerchief over her face 
leaning her head against the wainscot 

he asked if she had any partiklar message 

no she was so ill she could not write which was a great grief to her 

should he call the next day for he was going to london now he was so
near and should stay at a cousin's that night who lived in a street
called fetter-lane 

no she would write as soon as able and send by the post 

well then if she had nothing to send by him mayhap he might stay in
town a day or two for he had never seen the lions in the tower nor
bedlam nor the tombs and he would make a holiday or two as he had
leave to do if she had no business or message that required his posting
down next day 

she had not 

she offered him the half-guinea i had given her for him but he refused
it with great professions of disinterestedness and love as he called
it to miss howe to serve whom he would ride to the world's-end or
even to jericho 

and so the shocking rascal went away and glad at my heart was i when he
was gone for i feared nothing so much as that he would have staid till
they came from church 

thus jack got i my heart's ease the letter of miss howe ad through
such a train of accidents as makes me say that the lady's stars fight
against her but yet i must attribute a good deal to my own precaution 
in having taken right measures for had i not secured the widow by my
stories and the maid by my servant all would have signified nothing 
and so heartily were they secured the one by a single guinea the other
by half a dozen warm kisses and the aversion they both had to such
wicked creatures as delighted in making mischief between man and wife 
that they promised that neither mrs moore miss rawlins mrs lovelace 
nor any body living should know any thing of the matter 

the widow rejoiced that i had got the mischief-maker's letter i excused
myself to her and instantly withdrew with it and after i had read it 
fell to my short-hand to acquaint thee with my good luck and they not
returning so soon as church was done stepping as it proved into miss
rawlins's and tarrying there awhile to bring that busy girl with them
to drink tea i wrote thus far to thee that thou mightest when thou
camest to this place rejoice with me upon the occasion 

they are all three just come in 

i hasten to them 



letter vii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i have begun another letter to thee in continuation of my narrative but
i believe i shall send thee this before i shall finish that by the
enclosed thou wilt see that neither of the correspondents deserve mercy
from me and i am resolved to make the ending with one the beginning with
the other 

if thou sayest that the provocations i have given to one of them will
justify her freedoms i answer so they will to any other person but
myself but he that is capable of giving those provocations and has the
power to punish those who abuse him for giving them will show his
resentment and the more remorselessly perhaps as he has deserved the
freedoms 

if thou sayest it is however wrong to do so i reply that it is
nevertheless human nature and wouldst thou not have me to be a man 
jack 

here read the letter if thou wilt but thou art not my friend if thou
offerest to plead for either of the saucy creatures after thou hast read
it 


to mrs harriot lucas 

at mrs moore's at hampstead 
june 10 

after the discoveries i had made of the villanous machinations of the
most abandoned of men particularized in my long letter of wednesday 
last you will believe my dearest friend that my surprise upon perusing
your's of thursday evening from hampstead was not so great as my
indignation had the villain attempted to fire a city instead of a
house i should not have wondered at it all that i am amazed at is 
that he whose boast as i am told it is that no woman shall keep him
out of her bed-chamber when he has made a resolution to be in it did
not discover his foot before and it is as strange to me that having
got you at such a shocking advantage and in such a horrid house you
could at the time escape dishonour and afterwards get from such a set
of infernals 


 see vol v letter xx 
 ibid see letter xxi 


i gave you in my long letter of wednesday and thursday last reasons why
you ought to mistrust that specious tomlinson that man my dear must
be a solemn villain may lightning from heaven blast the wretch who has
set him and the rest of his remorseless gang at work to endeavour to
destroy the most consummate virtue heaven be praised you have escaped
from all their snares and now are out of danger so i will not trouble
you at present with the particulars i have further collected relating to
this abominable imposture 

for the same reason i forbear to communicate to you some new stories of
the abhorred wretch himself which have come to my ears one in
particular of so shocking a nature indeed my dear the man's a devil 

the whole story of mrs fretchville and her house i have no doubt to
pronounce likewise an absolute fiction fellow how my soul spurns
the villain 

your thought of going abroad and your reasons for so doing most
sensibly affect me but be comforted my dear i hope you will not be
under a necessity of quitting your native country were i sure that that
must be the cruel case i would abandon all my better prospects and soon
be with you and i would accompany you whithersoever you went and share
fortunes with you for it is impossible that i should be happy if i knew
that you were exposed not only to the perils of the sea but to the
attempts of other vile men your personal graces attracting every eye 
and exposing you to those hourly dangers which others less
distinguished by the gifts of nature might avoid all that i know that
beauty so greatly coveted and so greatly admired is good for 

o my dear were i ever to marry and to be the mother of a clarissa 
 clarissa must be the name if promisingly lovely   how often would my
heart ache for the dear creature as she grew up when i reflected that a
prudence and discretion unexampled in woman had not in you been a
sufficient protection to that beauty which had drawn after it as many
admirers as beholders how little should i regret the attacks of that
cruel distemper as it is called which frequently makes the greatest
ravages in the finest faces 


sat afternoon 

i have just parted with mrs townsend i thought you had once seen her
with me but she says she never had the honour to be personally known to
you she has a manlike spirit she knows the world and her two
brothers being in town she is sure she can engage them in so good a
cause and if there should be occasion both their ships' crews in your
service 


 for the account of mrs townsend etc see vol iv letter xlii 


give your consent my dear and the horrid villain shall be repaid with
broken bones at least for all his vileness 

the misfortune is mrs townsend cannot be with you till thursday next 
or wednesday at soonest are you sure you can be safe where you are till
then i think you are too near london and perhaps you had better be in
it if you remove let me the very moment know whither 

how my heart is torn to think of the necessity so dear a creature is
driven to of hiding herself devilish fellow he must have been
sportive and wanton in his inventions yet that cruel that savage
sportiveness has saved you from the sudden violence to which he has had
recourse in the violation of others of names and families not
contemptible for such the villain always gloried to spread his snares 

the vileness of this specious monster has done more than any other
consideration could do to bring mr hickman into credit with me mr 
hickman alone knows from me of your flight and the reason of it had
i not given him the reason he might have thought still worse of the vile
attempt i communicated it to him by showing him your letter from
hampstead when he had read it  and he trembled and reddened as he
read   he threw himself at my feet and besought me to permit him to
attend you and to give you the protection of his house the
good-natured man had tears in his eyes and was repeatedly earnest on this
subject proposing to take his chariot-and-four or a set and in person 
in the face of all the world give himself the glory of protecting such
an oppressed innocent 

i could not but be pleased with him and i let him know that i was i
hardly expected so much spirit from him but a man's passiveness to a
beloved object of our sex may not perhaps argue want of courage on
proper occasions 

i thought i ought in return to have some consideration for his safety 
as such an open step would draw upon him the vengeance of the most
villanous enterpriser in the world who has always a gang of fellows 
such as himself at his call ready to support one another in the vilest
outrages but yet as mr hickman might have strengthened his hands by
legal recourses i should not have stood upon it had i not known your
delicacy  since such a step must have made a great noise and given
occasion for scandal as if some advantage had been gained over you   and
were there not the greatest probability that all might be more silently 
and more effectually managed by mrs townsend's means 

mrs townsend will in person attend you she hopes on wednesday her
brothers and some of their people will scatteringly and as if they
knew nothing of you  so we have contrived   see you safe not only to
london but to her house at deptford 

she has a kinswoman who will take your commands there if she herself
be obliged to leave you and there you may stay till the wretch's fury 
on losing you and his search are over 

he will very soon tis likely enter upon some new villany which may
engross him and it may be given out that you are gone to lay claim to
the protection of your cousin morden at florence 

possibly if he can be made to believe it he will go over in hopes to
find you there 

after a while i can procure you a lodging in one of our neighbouring
villages where i may have the happiness to be your daily visiter and
if this hickman be not silly and apish and if my mother do not do
unaccountable things i may the sooner think of marrying that i may 
without controul receive and entertain the darling of my heart 

many very many happy days do i hope we shall yet see together and as
this is my hope i expect that it will be your consolation 

as to your estate since you are resolved not to litigate for it we will
be patient either till colonel morden arrives or till shame compels
some people to be just 

upon the whole i cannot but think your prospects now much happier than
they could have been had you been actually married to such a man as
this i must therefore congratulate you upon your escape not only from
a horrid libertine but from so vile a husband as he must have made to
any woman but more especially to a person of your virtue and delicacy 

you hate him heartily hate him i hope my dear i am sure you do it
would be strange if so much purity of life and manners were not to abhor
what is so repugnant to itself 

in your letter before me you mention one written to me for a feint i
have not received any such depend upon it therefore that he must have
it and if he has it is a wonder that he did not likewise get my long
one of the 7th heaven be praised that he did not and that it came safe
to your hands 


 see vol v letters xxi and xxii 


i send this by a young fellow whose father is one of our tenants with
command to deliver it to no other hands but your's he is to return
directly if you give him any letter if not he will proceed to london
upon his own pleasures he is a simple fellow but very honest so you
may say anything to him if you write not by him i desire a line or
two as soon as possible 

my mother knows nothing of his going to you nor yet of your abandoning
the fellow forgive me but he is not entitled to good manners 

i shall long to hear how you and mrs townsend order matters i wish
she could have been with you sooner but i have lost no time in engaging
her as you will suppose i refer to her what i have further to say and
advise so shall conclude with my prayers that heaven will direct and
protect my dearest creature and make your future days happy 

anna howe 


and now jack i will suppose that thou hast read this cursed letter 
allow me to make a few observations upon some of its contents 


it is strange to miss howe that having got her friend at such a shocking
advantage etc and it is strange to me too if ever i have such
another opportunity given to me the cause of both our wonder i believe 
will cease 

so thou seest tomlinson is further detected no such person as mrs 
fretchville may lightning from heaven o lord o lord o lord what a
horrid vixen is this my gang my remorseless gang too is brought in 
and thou wilt plead for these girls again wilt thou heaven be praised 
she says that her friend is out of danger miss howe should be sure of
that and that she herself is safe but for this termagant as i often
said i must surely have made a better hand of it 

new stories of me jack what can they be i have not found that my
generosity to my rose-bud ever did me due credit with this pair of
friends very hard belford that credits cannot be set against debits 
and a balance struck in a rake's favour as well as in that of every
common man but he from whom no good is expected is not allowed the
merit of the good he does 

i ought to have been a little more attentive to character than i have
been for notwithstanding that the measures of right and wrong are said
to be so manifest let me tell thee that character biases and runs away
with all mankind let a man or woman once establish themselves in the
world's opinion and all that either of them do will be sanctified nay 
in the very courts of justice does not character acquit or condemn as
often as facts and sometimes even in spite of facts yet  impolitic
that i have been and am   to be so careless of mine and now i doubt 
it is irretrievable but to leave moralizing 

thou jack knowest almost all my enterprises worth remembering can
this particular story which this girl hints at be that of lucy villars 
 or can she have heard of my intrigue with the pretty gipsey who met me
in norwood and of the trap i caught her cruel husband in  a fellow as
gloomy and tyrannical as old harlowe   when he pursued a wife who would
not have deserved ill of him if he had deserved well of her but he was
not quite drowned the man is alive at this day and miss howe mentions
the story as a very shocking one besides both these are a twelve-month
old or more 

but evil fame and scandal are always new when the offender has forgot a
vile fact it is often told to one and to another who having never
heard of it before trumpet it about as a novelty to others but well
said the honest corregidor at madrid  a saying with which i encroached
lord m s collection   good actions are remembered but for a day bad
ones for many years after the life of the guilty such is the relish
that the world has for scandal in other words such is the desire which
every one has to exculpate himself by blackening his neighbour you and
i belford have been very kind to the world in furnishing it with
opportunities to gratify its devil 

 miss howe will abandon her own better prospects and share fortunes with
her were she to go abroad   charming romancer i must set about this
girl jack i have always had hopes of a woman whose passions carry her
to such altitudes had i attacked miss howe first her passions 
 inflamed and guided as i could have managed them would have brought
her into my lure in a fortnight 

but thinkest thou  and yet i think thou dost   that there is any thing
in these high flights among the sex verily jack these vehement
friendships are nothing but chaff and stubble liable to be blown away by
the very wind that raises them apes mere apes of us they think the
word friendship has a pretty sound with it and it is much talked of a
fashionable word and so truly a single woman who thinks she has a
soul and knows that she wants something would be thought to have found
a fellow-soul for it in her own sex but i repeat that the word is a
mere word the thing a mere name with them a cork-bottomed shuttle-cock 
which they are fond of striking to and fro to make one another glow in
the frosty weather of a single-state but which when a man comes in
between the pretended inseparables is given up like their music and
other maidenly amusements which nevertheless may be necessary to keep
the pretty rogues out of active mischief they then in short having
caught the fish lay aside the net 


 he alludes here to the story of a pope who once a poor fisherman 
through every preferment he rose to even to that of the cardinalate 
hung up in view of all his guests his net as a token of humility but 
when he arrived at the pontificate he took it down saying that there
was no need of the net when he had caught the fish 


thou hast a mind perhaps to make an exception for these two ladies 
with all my heart my clarissa has if woman has a soul capable of
friendship her flame is bright and steady but miss howe's were it
not kept up by her mother's opposition is too vehement to endure how
often have i known opposition not only cement friendship but create
love i doubt not but poor hickman would fare the better with this
vixen if her mother were as heartily against him as she is for him 

thus much indeed as to these two ladies i will grant thee that the
active spirit of the one and the meek disposition of the other may make
their friendship more durable than it would otherwise be for this is
certain that in every friendship whether male or female there must be
a man and a woman spirit that is to say one of them must be a
forbearing one to make it permanent 

but this i pronounce as a truth which all experience confirms that
friendship between women never holds to the sacrifice of capital
gratifications or to the endangering of life limb or estate as it
often does in our nobler sex 

well but next comes an indictment against poor beauty what has beauty
done that miss howe should be offended at it miss howe jack is a
charming girl she has no reason to quarrel with beauty didst ever see
her too much fire and spirit in her eye indeed for a girl but
that's no fault with a man that can lower that fire and spirit at
pleasure and i know i am the man that can 

for my own part when i was first introduced to this lady which was by
my goddess when she herself was a visiter at mrs howe's i had not been
half an hour with her but i even hungered and thirsted after a romping
bout with the lively rogue and in the second or third visit was more
deterred by the delicacy of her friend than by what i apprehended from
her own this charming creature's presence thought i awes us both 
and i wished her absence though any other woman were present that i
might try the differences in miss howe's behaviour before her friend's
face or behind her back 

delicate women make delicate women as well as decent men with all miss
howe's fire and spirit it was easy to see by her very eye that she
watched for lessons and feared reproof from the penetrating eye of her
milder dispositioned friend and yet it was as easy to observe in the
candour and sweet manners of the other that the fear which miss howe
stood in of her was more owing to her own generous apprehension that she
fell short of her excellencies than to miss harlowe's consciousness of
excellence over her i have often since i came at miss howe's letters 
revolved this just and fine praise contained in one of them every one
saw that the preference they gave you to themselves exalted you not into
any visible triumph over them for you had always something to say on
every point you carried that raised the yielding heart and left every
one pleased and satisfied with themselves though they carried not off
the palm 


 miss howe in vol iii letter xix says that she was always more
afraid of clarissa than of her mother and in vol iii letter xliv 
that she fears her almost as much as she loves her and in many other
places in her letters verifies this observation of lovelace 
 see vol iv letter xxxi 


as i propose in a more advanced life to endeavour to atone for my
useful freedoms with individuals of the sex by giving cautions and
instructions to the whole i have made a memorandum to enlarge upon this
doctrine to wit that it is full as necessary to direct daughters in
the choice of their female companions as it is to guard them against the
designs of men 

i say not this however to the disparagement of miss howe she has from
pride what her friend has from principle  the lord help the sex if
they had not pride   but yet i am confident that miss howe is indebted
to the conversation and correspondence of miss harlowe for her highest
improvements but both these ladies out of the question i make no
scruple to aver  and i jack should know something of the matter   that
there have been more girls ruined at least prepared for ruin by their
own sex taking in servants as well as companions than directly by
the attempts and delusions of men 

but it is time enough when i am old and joyless to enlarge upon this
topic 

as to the comparison between the two ladies i will expatiate more on
that subject for i like it when i have had them both which this
letter of the vixen girl's i hope thou wilt allow warrants me to try
for 

i return to the consideration of a few more of its contents to justify
my vengeances so nearly now in view 

as to mrs townsend her manlike spirit her two brothers and the
ships' crews i say nothing but this to the insolent threatening let em
come but as to her sordid menace to repay the horrid villain as she
calls me for all my vileness by broken bones broken bones belford 
who can bear this porterly threatening broken bones jack d n the
little vulgar give me a name for her but i banish all furious
resentment if i get these two girls into my power heaven forbid that i
should be a second phalaris who turned his bull upon the artist no
bones of their's will i break they shall come off with me upon much
lighter terms 

but these fellows are smugglers it seems and am not i a smuggler too 
 i am and have not the least doubt but i shall have secured my goods
before thursday or wednesday either 

but did i want a plot what a charming new one does this letter of miss
howe strike me out i am almost sorry that i have fixed upon one for
here how easy would it be for me to assemble a crew of swabbers and to
create a mrs townsend whose person thou seest my beloved knows not 
to come on tuesday at miss howe's repeated solicitations in order to
carry my beloved to a warehouse of my own providing 

this however is my triumphant hope that at the very time that these
ragamuffins will be at hampstead looking for us my dear miss harlowe
and i  so the fates i imagine have ordained  shall be fast asleep in
each other's arms in town lie still villain till the time comes 
my heart jack my heart it is always thumping away on the remotest
prospects of this nature 

but it seems that the vileness of this specious monster  meaning me 
jack   has brought hickman into credit with her so i have done some
good but to whom i cannot tell for this poor fellow should i permit
him to have this termagant will be punished as many times we all are 
by the enjoyment of his own wishes nor can she be happy as i take it 
with him were he to govern himself by her will and have none of his
own since never was there a directing wife who knew where to stop power
makes such a one wanton she despises the man she can govern like
alexander who wept that he had no more worlds to conquer she will be
looking out for new exercises for her power till she grow uneasy to
herself a discredit to her husband and a plague to all about her 

but this honest fellow it seems with tears in his eyes and with humble
prostration besought the vixen to permit him to set out in his
chariot-and-four in order to give himself the glory of protecting such an
oppressed innocent in the face of the whole world nay he reddened it
seems and trembled too as he read the fair complainant's letter how
valiant is all this women love brave men and no wonder that his tears 
his trembling and his prostration gave him high reputation with the meek
miss howe 

but dost think jack that i in the like case and equally affected with
the distress should have acted thus dost think that i should not
first have rescued the lady and then if needful have asked excuse for
it the lady in my hand wouldst not thou have done thus as well as i 

but tis best as it is honest hickman may now sleep in a whole skin 
and yet that is more perhaps than he would have done the lady's
deliverance unattempted had i come at this requested permission of his
any other way than by a letter that it must not be known that i have
intercepted 

miss howe thinks i may be diverted from pursuing my charmer by some
new-started villany villany is a word that she is extremely fond of 
but i can tell her that it is impossible i should till the end of this
villany be obtained difficulty is a stimulus with such a spirit as mine 
i thought miss howe knew me better were she to offer herself person for
person in the romancing zeal of her friendship to save her friend it
should not do while the dear creature is on this side the moon 

she thanks heaven that her friend has received her letter of the 7th 
we are all glad of it she ought to thank me too but i will not at
present claim her thanks 

but when she rejoices that the letter went safe does she not in effect 
call out for vengeance and expect it all in good time miss howe 
when settest thou out for the isle of wight love 

i will close at this time with desiring thee to make a list of the
virulent terms with which the enclosed letter abounds and then if thou
supposest that i have made such another and have added to it all the
flowers of the same blow in the former letters of the same saucy
creature and those in that of miss harlowe which she left for me on her
elopement thou wilt certainly think that i have provocations sufficient
to justify me in all that i shall do to either 

return the enclosed the moment thou hast perused it 



letter viii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday night monday morning 


i went down with revenge in my heart the contents of miss howe's letter
almost engrossing me the moment that miss harlowe and mrs moore
 accompanied by miss rawlins came in but in my countenance all the
gentle the placid the serene that the glass could teach and in my
behaviour all the polite that such an unpolite creature as she has
often told me i am could put on 

miss rawlins was sent for home almost as soon as she came in to
entertain an unexpected visiter to her great regret as well as to the
disappointment of my fair-one as i could perceive from the looks of
both for they had agreed it seems if i went to town as i said i
intended to do to take a walk upon the heath at least in mrs moore's
garden and who knows what might have been the issue had the spirit of
curiosity in the one met with the spirit of communication in the other 

miss rawlins promised to return if possible but sent to excuse herself 
her visiter intending to stay with her all night 

i rejoiced in my heart at her message and after much supplication 
obtained the favour of my beloved's company for another walk in the
garden having as i told her abundance of things to say to propose 
and to be informed of in order ultimately to govern myself in my future
steps 

she had vouchsafed i should have told thee with eyes turned from me 
and in a half-aside attitude to sip two dishes of tea in my company 
dear soul how anger unpolishes the most polite for i never saw miss
harlowe behave so awkwardly i imagined she knew not how to be awkward 

when we were in the garden i poured my whole soul into her attentive
ear and besought her returning favour 

she told me that she had formed her scheme for her future life that 
vile as the treatment was which she had received from me that was not
all the reason she had for rejecting my suit but that on the maturest
deliberation she was convinced that she could neither be happy with me 
nor make me happy and she injoined me for both our sakes to think no
more of her 

the captain i told her was rid down post in a manner to forward my
wishes with her uncle lady betty and miss montague were undoubtedly
arrived in town by this time i would set out early in the morning to
attend them they adored her they longed to see her they would see
her they would not be denied her company in oxfordshire whither could
she better go to be free from her brother's insults whither to be
absolutely made unapprehensive of any body else might i have any hopes
of her returning favour if miss howe could be prevailed upon to
intercede for me 

miss howe prevailed upon to intercede for you repeated she with a
scornful bridle but a very pretty one and there she stopt 

i repeated the concern it would be to me to be under a necessity of
mentioning the misunderstanding to lady betty and my cousin as a
misunderstanding still to be made up and as if i were of very little
consequence to a dear creature who was of so much to me urging that
these circumstances would extremely lower me not only in my own opinion 
but in that of my relations 

but still she referred to miss howe's next letter and all the concession
i could bring her to in this whole conference was that she would wait
the arrival and visit of the two ladies if they came in a day or two or
before she received the expected letter from miss howe 

thank heaven for this thought i and now may i go to town with hopes at
my return to find thee dearest where i shall leave thee 

but yet as she may find reasons to change her mind in my absence i
shall not entirely trust to this my fellow therefore who is in the
house and who by mrs bevis's kind intelligence will know every step
she can take shall have andrew and a horse ready to give me immediate
notice of her motions and moreover go whither she will he shall be one
of her retinue though unknown to herself if possible 

this was all i could make of the fair inexorable should i be glad of
it or sorry for it 

glad i believe and yet my pride is confoundedly abated to think that i
had so little hold in the affections of this daughter of the harlowes 

don't tell me that virtue and principle are her guides on this occasion 
 tis pride a greater pride than my own that governs her love she
has none thou seest nor ever had at least not in a superior degree 
love that deserves the name never was under the dominion of prudence 
or of any reasoning power she cannot bear to be thought a woman i
warrant and if in the last attempt i find her not one what will she
be the worse for the trial no one is to blame for suffering an evil he
cannot shun or avoid 

were a general to be overpowered and robbed by a highwayman would he be
less fit for the command of an army on that account if indeed the
general pretending great valour and having boasted that he never would
be robbed were to make but faint resistance when he was brought to the
test and to yield his purse when he was master of his own sword then
indeed will the highwayman who robs him be thought the braver man 

but from these last conferences am i furnished with one argument in
defence of my favourite purpose which i never yet pleaded 

o jack what a difficulty must a man be allowed to have to conquer a
predominant passion be it what it will when the gratifying of it is in
his power however wrong he knows it to be to resolve to gratify it 
reflect upon this and then wilt thou be able to account for if not to
excuse a projected crime which has habit to plead for it in a breast
as stormy as uncontroulable 

this that follows is my new argument 

should she fail in the trial should i succeed and should she refuse to
go on with me and even resolve not to marry me of which i can have no
notion and should she disdain to be obliged to me for the handsome
provision i should be proud to make for her even to the half of my
estate yet cannot she be altogether unhappy is she not entitled to an
independent fortune will not col morden as her trustee put her in
possession of it and did she not in our former conference point out the
way of life that she always preferred to the married life to wit to
take her good norton for her directress and guide and to live upon her
own estate in the manner her grandfather desired she should live  


 see letter iii of this volume 


it is moreover to be considered that she cannot according to her own
notions recover above one half of her fame were we not to intermarry 
so much does she think she has suffered by her going off with me and
will she not be always repining and mourning for the loss of the other
half and if she must live a life of such uneasiness and regret for
half may she not as well repine and mourn for the whole 

nor let me tell thee will her own scheme or penitence in this case be
half so perfect if she do not fall as if she does for what a foolish
penitent will she make who has nothing to repent of she piques
herself thou knowest and makes it matter of reproach to me that she
went not off with me by her own consent but was tricked out of herself 

nor upbraid thou me upon the meditated breach of vows so repeatedly made 
she will not thou seest permit me to fulfil them and if she would 
this i have to say that at the time i made the most solemn of them i
was fully determined to keep them but what prince thinks himself
obliged any longer to observe the articles of treaties the most sacredly
sworn to than suits with his interest or inclination although the
consequence of the infraction must be as he knows the destruction of
thousands 

is not this then the result of all that miss clarissa harlowe if it be
not her own fault may be as virtuous after she has lost her honour as
it is called as she was before she may be a more eminent example to
her sex and if she yield a little yield in the trial may be a
completer penitent nor can she but by her own wilfulness be reduced
to low fortunes 

and thus may her old nurse and she an old coachman and a pair of old
coach-horses and two or three old maid-servants and perhaps a very old
footman or two for every thing will be old and penitential about her 
live very comfortably together reading old sermons and old
prayer-books and relieving old men and old women and giving old lessons 
and old warnings upon new subjects as well as old ones to the young
ladies of her neighbourhood and so pass on to a good old age doing a
great deal of good both by precept and example in her generation 

and is a woman who can live thus prettily without controul who ever did
prefer and who still prefers the single to the married life and who
will be enabled to do every thing that the plan she had formed will
direct her to do to be said to be ruined undone and such sort of
stuff i have no patience with the pretty fools who use those strong
words to describe a transitory evil an evil which a mere church-form
makes none 

at this rate of romancing how many flourishing ruins dost thou as well
as i know let us but look about us and we shall see some of the
haughtiest and most censorious spirits among out acquaintance of that sex
now passing for chaste wives of whom strange stories might be told and
others whose husbands' hearts have been made to ache for their gaieties 
both before and after marriage and yet know not half so much of them as
some of us honest fellows could tell them 

but having thus satisfied myself in relation to the worst that can
happen to this charming creature and that it will be her own fault if
she be unhappy i have not at all reflected upon what is likely to be my
own lot 

this has always been my notion though miss howe grudges us rakes the
best of the sex and says that the worst is too good for us that the
wife of a libertine ought to be pure spotless uncontaminated to what
purpose has such a one lived a free life but to know the world and to
make his advantages of it and to be very serious it would be a
misfortune to the public for two persons heads of a family to be both
bad since between two such a race of varlets might be propagated
 lovelaces and belfords if thou wilt who might do great mischief in the
world 

thou seest at bottom that i am not an abandoned fellow and that there is
a mixture of gravity in me this as i grow older may increase and
when my active capacity begins to abate i may sit down with the
preacher and resolve all my past life into vanity and vexation of
spirit 

this is certain that i shall never find a woman so well suited to my
taste as miss clarissa harlowe i only wish that i may have such a lady
as her to comfort and adorn my setting sun i have often thought it very
unhappy for us both that so excellent a creature sprang up a little too
late for my setting out and a little too early in my progress before i
can think of returning and yet as i have picked up the sweet traveller
in my way i cannot help wishing that she would bear me company in the
rest of my journey although she were stepping out of her own path to
oblige me and then perhaps we could put up in the evening at the same
inn and be very happy in each other's conversation recounting the
difficulties and dangers we had passed in our way to it 

i imagine that thou wilt be apt to suspect that some passages in this
letter were written in town why jack i cannot but say that the
westminster air is a little grosser than that at hampstead and the
conversation of mrs sinclair and the nymphs less innocent than mrs 
moore's and miss rawlins's and i think in my heart i can say and write
those things at one place which i cannot at the other nor indeed any
where else 

i came to town about seven this morning all necessary directions and
precautions remembered to be given 

i besought the favour of an audience before i set out i was desirous
to see which of her lovely faces she was pleased to put on after another
night had passed but she was resolved i found to leave our quarrel
open she would not give me an opportunity so much as to entreat her
again to close it before the arrival of lady betty and my cousin 

i had notice from my proctor by a few lines brought by a man and horse 
just before i set out that all difficulties had been for two days past
surmounted and that i might have the license for fetching 

i sent up the letter to my beloved by mrs bevis with a repeated
request for admittance to her presence upon it but neither did this
stand me in stead i suppose she thought it would be allowing of the
consequences that were naturally to be expected to follow the obtaining
of this instrument if she had consented to see me on the contents of
this letter having refused me that honour before i sent it up to her 
no surprising her no advantage to be taken of her inattention to the
nicest circumstances 

and now belford i set out upon business 



letter ix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday june 12 


durst ever see a license jack 

edmund by divine permission lord bishop of london to our well-beloved
in christ robert lovelace  your servant my good lord what have i
done to merit so much goodness who never saw your lordship in my life  
of the parish of st martin's in the fields bachelor and clarissa
harlowe of the same parish spinster sendeth greeting whereas ye are 
as is alleged determined to enter into the holy state of matrimony  this
is only alleged thou observest  by and with the consent of etc etc etc 
and are very desirous of obtaining your marriage to be solemnized in the
face of the church we are willing that your honest desires  honest
desires jack   may more speedily have their due effect and therefore 
that ye may be able to procure such marriage to be freely and lawfully
solemnized in the parish church of st martin's in the fields or st 
giles's in the fields in the county of middlesex by the rector vicar 
or curate thereof at any time of the year  at any time of the year 
jack   without publication of bans provided that by reason of any
pre-contract  i verily think that i have had three or four pre-contracts
in my time but the good girls have not claimed upon them of a long
while   consanguinity affinity or any other lawful cause whatsoever 
there be no lawful impediment on this behalf and that there be not at
this time any action suit plaint quarrel or demand moved or depending
before any judge ecclesiastical or temporal for or concerning any
marriage contracted by or with either of you and that the said marriage
be openly solemnized in the church above-mentioned between the hours of
eight and twelve in the forenoon and without prejudice to the minister of
the place where the said woman is a parishioner we do hereby for good
causes  it cost me let me see jack what did it cost me   give and
grant our license as well to you as to the parties contracting as to the
rector vicar or curate of the said church where the said marriage is
intended to be solemnized to solemnize the same in manner and form above
specified according to the rites and ceremonies prescribed in the book of
common prayer in that behalf published by authority of parliament 
provided always that if hereafter any fraud shall appear to have been
committed at the time of granting this license either by false
suggestions or concealment of the truth  now this belford is a little
hard upon us for i cannot say that every one of our suggestions is
literally true so in good conscience i ought not to marry under this
license   the license shall be void to all intents and purposes as if the
same had not been granted and in that case we do inhibit all ministers
whatsoever if any thing of the premises shall come to their knowledge 
from proceeding to the celebration of the said marriage without first
consulting us or our vicar-general given  etc 

then follow the register's name and a large pendent seal with these
words round it seal of the vicar-general and official principal of the
diocese of london 

a good whimsical instrument take it altogether but what thinkest
thou are the arms to this matrimonial harbinger why in the first
place two crossed swords to show that marriage is a state of offence
as well as defence three lions to denote that those who enter into the
state ought to have a triple proportion of courage and  couldst thou
have imagined that these priestly fellows in so solemn a case would cut
their jokes upon poor souls who came to have their honest desires put in
a way to be gratified   there are three crooked horns smartly
top-knotted with ribands which being the ladies' wear seem to indicate
that they may very probably adorn as well as bestow the bull's feather 

to describe it according to heraldry art if i am not mistaken gules 
two swords saltire-wise or second coat a chevron sable between three
bugle-horns or  so it ought to be  on a chief of the second three
lions rampant of the first but the devil take them for their
hieroglyphics should i say if i were determined in good earnest to
marry 

and determined to marry i would be were it not for this consideration 
that once married and i am married for life 

that's the plague of it could a man do as the birds do change every
valentine's day  a natural appointment for birds have not the sense 
forsooth to fetter themselves as we wiseacre men take great and solemn
pains to do   there would be nothing at all in it and what a glorious
time would the lawyers have on the one hand with their noverini
universi's and suits commenceable on restitution of goods and chattels 
and the parsons on the other with their indulgencies  renewable
annually as other licenses  to the honest desires of their clients 

then were a stated mullet according to rank or fortune to be paid on
every change towards the exigencies of the state  but none on renewals
with the old lives for the sake of encouraging constancy especially
among the minores  the change would be made sufficiently difficult and
the whole public would be the better for it while those children which
the parents could not agree about maintaining might be considered as the
children of the public and provided for like the children of the antient
spartans who were as ours would in this case be a nation of heroes 
how jack could i have improved upon lycurgus's institutions had i been
a lawgiver 

did i never show thee a scheme which i drew up on such a notion as this 
 in which i demonstrated the conveniencies and obviated the
inconveniencies of changing the present mode to this i believe i never
did 

i remember i proved to a demonstration that such a change would be a
mean of annihilating absolutely annihilating four or five very
atrocious and capital sins rapes vulgarly so called adultery and
fornication nor would polygamy be panted after frequently would it
prevent murders and duelling hardly any such thing as jealousy the
cause of shocking violences would be heard of and hypocrisy between man
and wife be banished the bosoms of each nor probably would the
reproach of barrenness rest as it now too often does where it is least
deserved nor would there possibly be such a person as a barren woman 

moreover what a multitude of domestic quarrels would be avoided where
such a scheme carried into execution since both sexes would bear with
each other in the view that they could help themselves in a few months 

and then what a charming subject for conversation would be the gallant
and generous last partings between man and wife each perhaps a new
mate in eye and rejoicing secretly in the manumission could afford to
be complaisantly sorrowful in appearance he presented her with this
jewel it will be said by the reporter for example sake she him with
that how he wept how she sobb'd how they looked after one another 
yet that's the jest of it neither of them wishing to stand another
twelvemonth's trial 

and if giddy fellows or giddy girls misbehave in a first marriage 
whether from noviceship having expected to find more in the matter than
can be found or from perverseness on her part or positiveness on his 
each being mistaken in the other  a mighty difference jack in the same
person an inmate or a visiter  what a fine opportunity will each have 
by this scheme of recovering a lost character and of setting all right
in the next adventure 

and o jack with what joy with what rapture would the changelings or
changeables if thou like that word better number the weeks the days 
the hours as the annual obligation approached to its desirable period 

as for the spleen or vapours no such malady would be known or heard of 
the physical tribe would indeed be the sufferers and the only
sufferers since fresh health and fresh spirits the consequences of
sweet blood and sweet humours the mind and body continually pleased with
each other would perpetually flow in and the joys of expectation the
highest of all our joys would invigorate and keep all alive 

but that no body of men might suffer the physicians i thought might
turn parsons as there would be a great demand for parsons besides as
they would be partakers in the general benefit they must be sorry
fellows indeed if they preferred themselves to the public 

every one would be married a dozen times at least both men and women
would be careful of their characters and polite in their behaviour as
well as delicate in their persons and elegant in their dress  a great
matte each of these let me tell thee to keep passion alive   either to
induce a renewal with the old love or to recommend themselves to a new 
while the newspapers would be crowded with paragraphs all the world
their readers as all the world would be concerned to see who and who's
together 

yesterday for instance entered into the holy state of matrimony   we
should all speak reverently of matrimony then   the right honourable
robert earl lovelace'  i shall be an earl by that time   with her grace
the duchess dowager of fifty-manors his lordship's one-and-thirtieth
wife  i shall then be contented perhaps to take up as it is called 
with a widow but she must not have had more than one husband neither 
thou knowest that i am nice in these particulars 

i know jack that thou for thy part wilt approve of my scheme 

as lord m and i between us have three or four boroughs at command i
think i will get into parliament in order to bring in a bill for this
good purpose 

neither will the house of parliament nor the houses of convocation have
reason to object it and all the courts whether spiritual or sensual 
civil or uncivil will find their account in it when passed into a law 

by my soul jack i should be apprehensive of a general insurrection and
that incited by the women were such a bill to be thrown out for here
is the excellency of the scheme the women will have equal reason with
the men to be pleased with it 

dost think that old prerogative harlowe for example must not if such
a law were in being have pulled in his horns so excellent a wife as he
has would never else have renewed with such a gloomy tyrant who as
well as all other married tyrants must have been upon good behaviour
from year to year 

a termagant wife if such a law were to pass would be a phoenix 

the churches would be the only market-place for the fair sex and
domestic excellence the capital recommendation 

nor would there be an old maid in great britain and all its territories 
for what an odd soul must she be who could not have her twelvemonth's
trial 

in short a total alteration for the better in the morals and way of
life in both sexes must in a very few years be the consequence of such
a salutary law 

who would have expected such a one from me i wish the devil owe me not
a spite for it 

the would not the distinction be very pretty jack as in flowers such
a gentleman or such a lady is an annual such a one is a perennial 

one difficulty however as i remember occurred to me upon the
probability that a wife might be enceinte as the lawyers call it but
thus i obviated it 

that no man should be allowed to marry another woman without his then
wife's consent till she were brought-to-bed and he had defrayed all
incident charges and till it was agreed upon between them whether the
child should be his her's or the public's the women in this case to
have what i call the coercive option for i would not have it in the
man's power to be a dog neither 

and indeed i gave the turn of the scale in every part of my scheme in
the women's favour for dearly do i love the sweet rogues 

how infinitely more preferable this my scheme to the polygamy one of the
old patriarchs who had wives and concubines without number i believe
david and solomon had their hundreds at a time had they not jack 

let me add that annual parliaments and annual marriages are the
projects next my heart how could i expatiate upon the benefits that
would arise from both 



letter x

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


well but now my plots thicken and my employment of writing to thee on
this subject will soon come to a conclusion for now having got the
license and mrs townsend with her tars being to come to hampstead next
wednesday or thursday and another letter possibly or message from miss
howe to inquire how miss harlowe does upon the rustic's report of her
ill health and to express her wonder that she has not heard form her in
answer to her's on her escape i must soon blow up the lady or be blown
up myself and so i am preparing with lady betty and my cousin
montague to wait upon my beloved with a coach-and-four or a sett for
lady betty will not stir out with a pair for the world though but for
two or three miles and this is a well-known part of her character 

but as to the arms and crest upon the coach and trappings 

dost thou not know that a blunt's must supply her while her own is new
lining and repairing an opportunity she is willing to take now she is
in town nothing of this kind can be done to her mind in the country 
liveries nearly lady betty's 

thou hast seen lady betty lawrance several times hast thou not belford 

no never in my life 

but thou hast and lain with her too or fame does thee more credit than
thou deservest why jack knowest thou not lady betty's other name 

other name has she two 

she has and what thinkest thou of lady bab wallis 

o the devil 

now thou hast it lady barbara thou knowest lifted up in circumstances 
and by pride never appears or produces herself but on occasions special
 to pass to men of quality or price for a duchess or countess at
least she has always been admired for a grandeur in her air that few
women of quality can come up to and never was supposed to be other than
what she passed for though often and often a paramour for lords 

and who thinkest thou is my cousin montague 

nay how should i know 

how indeed why my little johanetta golding a lively yet
modest-looking girl is my cousin montague 

there belford is an aunt there's a cousin both have wit at will 
both are accustomed to ape quality both are genteelly descended 
mistresses of themselves and well educated yet past pity true spartan
dames ashamed of nothing but detection always therefore upon their
guard against that and in their own conceit when assuming top parts 
the very quality they ape 

and how dost think i dress them out i'll tell thee 

lady betty in a rich gold tissue adorned with jewels of high price 

my cousin montague in a pale pink standing on end with silver flowers of
her own working charlotte as well as my beloved is admirable at her
needle not quite so richly jewell'd out as lady betty but ear-rings
and solitaire very valuable and infinitely becoming 

johanetta thou knowest has a good complexion a fine neck and ears
remarkably fine so has charlotte she is nearly of charlotte's stature
too 

laces both the richest that could be procured 

thou canst not imagine what a sum the loan of the jewels cost me though
but for three days 

this sweet girl will half ruin me but seest thou not by this time 
that her reign is short it must be so and mrs sinclair has already
prepared every thing for her reception once more 


 


here come the ladies attended by susan morrison a tenant-farmer's
daughter as lady betty's woman with her hands before her and
thoroughly instructed 

how dress advantages women especially those who have naturally a
genteel air and turn and have had education 

hadst thou seen how they paraded it cousin and cousin and nephew at
every word lady betty bridling and looking haughtily-condescending 
charlotte galanting her fan and swimming over the floor without touching
it 

how i long to see my niece-elect cries one for they are told that we
are not married and are pleased that i have not put the slight upon them
that they had apprehended from me 

how i long to see my dear cousin that is to be the other 

your la'ship and your la'ship and an awkward courtesy at every address
 prim susan morrison 

top your parts ye villains you know how nicely i distinguish there
will be no passion in this case to blind the judgment and to help on
meditated delusion as when you engage with titled sinners my charmer
is as cool and as distinguishing though not quite so learned in her own
sex as i am your commonly-assumed dignity won't do for me now airs
of superiority as if born to rank but no over-do doubting nothing 
let not your faces arraign your hearts 

easy and unaffected your very dresses will give you pride enough 

a little graver lady betty more significance less bridling in your
dignity 

that's the air charmingly hit again you have it 

devil take you less arrogance you are got into airs of young quality 
be less sensible of your new condition people born to dignity command
respect without needing to require it 

now for your part cousin charlotte 

pretty well but a little too frolicky that air yet have i prepared my
beloved to expect in you both great vivacity and quality-freedom 

curse those eyes those glancings will never do a down-cast bashful
turn if you can command it look upon me suppose me now to be my
beloved 

devil take that leer too significantly arch once i knew you the girl
i would now have you to be 

sprightly but not confident cousin charlotte be sure forget not to
look down or aside when looked at when eyes meet eyes be your's the
retreating ones your face will bear examination 

o lord lord that so young a creature can so soon forget the innocent
appearance she first charmed by and which i thought born with you all 
five years to ruin what twenty had been building up how natural the
latter lesson how difficult to regain the former 

a stranger as i hope to be saved to the principal arts of your sex 
once more what a devil has your heart to do in your eyes 

have i not told you that my beloved is a great observer of the eyes 
she once quoted upon me a text which showed me how she came by her
knowledge dorcas's were found guilty of treason the first moment she
saw her 


 eccles xxvi the whoredom of a woman may be known in her haughty
looks and eye-lids watch over an impudent eye and marvel not if it
trespass against thee 


once more suppose me to be my charmer now you are to encounter my
examining eye and my doubting heart 

that's my dear 

study that air in the pier-glass 

charmingly perfectly right 

your honours now devils 

pretty well cousin charlotte for a young country lady till form
yields to familiarity you may courtesy low you must not be supposed
to have forgot your boarding-school airs 

but too low too low lady betty for your years and your quality the
common fault of your sex will be your danger aiming to be young too
long the devil's in you all when you judge of yourselves by your
wishes and by your vanity fifty in that case is never more than
fifteen 

graceful ease conscious dignity like that of my charmer oh how hard
to hit 

both together now 

charming that's the air lady betty that's the cue cousin charlotte 
suited to the character of each but once more be sure to have a guard
upon your eyes 

never fear nephew 

never fear cousin 

a dram of barbadoes each 

and now we are gone 



letter xi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
at mrs sinclair's monday afternoon 


all's right as heart can wish in spite of all objection in spite of a
reluctance next to faintings in spite of all foresight vigilance 
suspicion once more is the charmer of my soul in her old lodgings 

now throbs away every pulse now thump thump thumps my bounding heart
for something 

but i have not time for the particulars of our management 

my beloved is now directing some of her clothes to be packed up never
more to enter this house nor ever more will she i dare say when once
again out of it 

yet not so much as a condition of forgiveness the harlowe-spirited
fair-one will not deserve my mercy she will wait for miss howe's next
letter and then if she find a difficulty in her new schemes  thank her
for nothing   will will what why even then will take time to
consider whether i am to be forgiven or for ever rejected an
indifference that revives in my heart the remembrance of a thousand of
the like nature and yet lady betty and miss montague  a man would be
tempted to think jack that they wish her to provoke my vengeance  
declare that i ought to be satisfied with such a proud suspension 

they are entirely attached to her whatever she says is must be 
gospel they are guarantees for her return to hampstead this night 
they are to go back with her a supper bespoken by lady betty at mrs 
moore's all the vacant apartments there by my permission for i had
engaged them for a month certain to be filled with them and their
attendants for a week at least or till they can prevail upon the dear
perverse as they hope they shall to restore me to her favour and to
accompany lady betty to oxfordshire 

the dear creature has thus far condescended that she will write to miss
howe and acquaint her with the present situation of things 

if she write i shall see what she writes but i believe she will have
other employment soon 

lady betty is sure she tells her that she shall prevail upon her to
forgive me though she dares say that i deserve not forgiveness lady
betty is too delicate to inquire strictly into the nature of my offence 
but it must be an offence against herself against miss montague against
the virtuous of the whole sex or it could not be so highly resented 
yet she will not leave her till she forgive me and till she see our
nuptials privately celebrated mean time as she approves of her uncle's
expedient she will address her as already my wife before strangers 

stedman her solicitor may attend her for orders in relation to her
chancery affair at hampstead not one hour they can be favoured with 
will they lose from the company and conversation of so dear so charming
a new relation 

hard then if she had not obliged them with her company in their
coach-and-four to and from their cousin leeson's who longed as they
themselves had done to see a lady so justly celebrated 

how will lord m be raptured when he sees her and can salute her as his
niece 

how will lady sarah bless herself she will now think her loss of the
dear daughter she mourns for happily supplied 

miss montague dwells upon every word that falls from her lips she
perfectly adores her new cousin for her cousin she must be and her
cousin will she call her she answers for equal admiration in her sister
patty 

ay cry i whispering loud enough for her to hear how will my cousin
patty's dove's eyes glisten and run over on the very first interview 
so gracious so noble so unaffected a dear creature 

what a happy family  chorus we all will our's be 

these and such like congratulatory admirations every hour repeated her
modesty hurt by the ecstatic praises her graces are too natural to
herself for her to be proud of them but she must be content to be
punished for excellencies that cast a shade upon the most excellent 

in short we are here as at hampstead all joy and rapture all of us
except my beloved in whose sweet face  her almost fainting reluctance
to re-enter these doors not overcome   reigns a kind of anxious serenity 
 but how will even that be changed in a few hours 

methinks i begin to pity the half-apprehensive beauty but avaunt thou
unseasonably-intruding pity thou hast more than once already well nigh
undone me and adieu reflection begone consideration and
commiseration i dismiss ye all for at least a week to come but
remembered her broken word her flight when my fond soul was meditating
mercy to her be remembered her treatment of me in her letter on her
escape to hampstead her hampstead virulence what is it she ought not
to expect from an unchained beelzebub and a plotting villain 

be her preference of the single life to me also remembered that she
despises me that she even refuses to be my wife a proud lovelace to
be denied a wife to be more proudly rejected by a daughter of the
harlowes the ladies of my own family  she thinks them the ladies of
my family   supplicating in vain for her returning favour to their
despised kinsman and taking laws from her still prouder punctilio 

be the execrations of her vixen friend likewise remembered poured out
upon me from her representations and thereby made her own execrations 

be remembered still more particularly the townsend plot set on foot
between them and now in a day or two ready to break out and the
sordid threatening thrown out against me by that little fury 

is not this the crisis for which i have been long waiting shall
tomlinson shall these women be engaged shall so many engines be set
at work at an immense expense with infinite contrivance and all to
no purpose 

is not this the hour of her trial and in her of the trial of the virtue
of her whole sex so long premeditated so long threatened whether her
frost be frost indeed whether her virtue be principle whether if
once subdued she will not be always subdued and will she not want the
crown of her glory the proof of her till now all-surpassing excellence 
if i stop short of the ultimate trial 

now is the end of purposes long over-awed often suspended at hand and
need i go throw the sins of her cursed family into the too-weighty scale 

 abhorred be force be the thoughts of force there's no triumph over
the will in force   this i know i have said but would i not have
avoided it if i could have i not tried every other method and have i
any other resource left me can she resent the last outrage more than
she has resented a fainter effort and if her resentments run ever so
high cannot i repair by matrimony she will not refuse me i know 
jack the haughty beauty will not refuse me when her pride of being
corporally inviolate is brought down when she can tell no tales but
when be her resistance what it will even her own sex will suspect a
yielding in resistance and when that modesty which may fill her bosom
with resentment will lock up her speech 


 vol iv letter xlviii 


but how know i that i have not made my own difficulties is she not a
woman what redress lies for a perpetuated evil must she not live 
her piety will secure her life and will not time be my friend what 
in a word will be her behaviour afterwards she cannot fly me she
must forgive me and as i have often said once forgiven will be for
ever forgiven 

why then should this enervating pity unsteel my foolish heart 

it shall not all these things will i remember and think of nothing
else in order to keep up a resolution which the women about me will
have it i shall be still unable to hold 

i'll teach the dear charming creature to emulate me in contrivance i'll
teach her to weave webs and plots against her conqueror i'll show her 
that in her smuggling schemes she is but a spider compared to me and
that she has all this time been spinning only a cobweb 


 


what shall we do now we are immersed in the depth of grief and
apprehension how ill do women bear disappointment set upon going to
hampstead and upon quitting for ever a house she re-entered with
infinite reluctance what things she intended to take with her ready
packed up herself on tiptoe to be gone and i prepared to attend her
thither she begins to be afraid that she shall not go this night and in
grief and despair has flung herself into her old apartment locked
herself in and through the key-hole dorcas sees her on her knees 
praying i suppose for a safe deliverance 

and from what and wherefore these agonizing apprehensions 

why here this unkind lady betty with the dear creature's knowledge 
though to her concern and this mad-headed cousin montague without it 
while she was employed in directing her package have hurried away in the
coach to their own lodgings  only indeed to put up some night-clothes 
and so forth in order to attend their sweet cousin to hampstead   and 
no less to my surprise than her's are not yet returned 

i have sent to know the meaning of it 

in a great hurry of spirits she would have had me to go myself hardly
any pacifying her the girl god bless her is wild with her own idle
apprehensions what is she afraid of 

i curse them both for their delay my tardy villain how he stays 
devil fetch them let them send their coach and we'll go without them 
in her hearing i bid the fellow tell them so perhaps he stays to bring
the coach if any thing happens to hinder the ladies from attending my
beloved this night 


 


devil take them again say i they promised too they would not stay 
because it was but two nights ago that a chariot was robbed at the foot
of hampstead-hill which alarmed my fair-one when told of it 

oh here's lady betty's servant with a billet 


to robert lovelace esq 
monday night 

excuse us my dear nephew i beseech you to my dearest kinswoman one
night cannot break squares for here miss montague has been taken
violently ill with three fainting fits one after another the hurry of
her joy i believe to find your dear lady so much surpass all
expectations  never did family love you know reign so strong as among
us   and the too eager desire she had to attend her have occasioned it 
for she has but weak spirits poor girl well as she looks 

if she be better we will certainly go with you tomorrow morning after
we have breakfasted with her at your lodgings but whether she be or
not i will do myself the pleasure to attend your lady to hampstead and
will be with you for that purpose about nine in the morning with due
compliments to your most worthily beloved i am

your's affectionately 
elizab lawrance 


 


faith and troth jack i know not what to do with myself for here just
now having sent in the above note by dorcas out came my beloved with it
in her hand in a fit of phrensy true by my soul 

she had indeed complained of her head all the evening 

dorcas ran to me out of breath to tell me that her lady was coming in
some strange way but she followed her so quick that the frighted wench
had not time to say in what way 

it seems when she read the billet now indeed said she am i a lost
creature o the poor clarissa harlowe 

she tore off her head-clothes inquired where i was and in she came her
shining tresses flowing about her neck her ruffles torn and hanging in
tatters about her snowy hands with her arms spread out her eyes wildly
turned as if starting from their orbits down sunk she at my feet as
soon as she approached me her charming bosom heaving to her uplifted
face and clasping her arms about my knees dear lovelace said she if
ever if ever if ever and unable to speak another word quitting her
clasping hold down prostrate on the floor sunk she neither in a fit
nor out of one 

i was quite astonished all my purposes suspended for a few moments i
knew neither what to say nor what to do but recollecting myself am i
again thought i in a way to be overcome and made a fool of if i now
recede i am gone for ever 

i raised her but down she sunk as if quite disjointed her limbs
failing her yet not in a fit neither i never heard of or saw such a
dear unaccountable almost lifeless and speechless too for a few
moments what must her apprehensions be at that moment and for what 
an high-notioned dear soul pretty ignorance thought i 

never having met with so sincere so unquestionable a repugnance i was
staggered i was confounded yet how should i know that it would be so
till i tried and how having proceeded thus far could i stop were i
not to have had the women to goad me on and to make light of
circumstances which they pretended to be better judges of than i 

i lifted her however into a chair and in words of disordered passion 
told her all her fears were needless wondered at them begged of her to
be pacified besought her reliance on my faith and honour and revowed
all my old vows and poured forth new ones 

at last with a heart-breaking sob i see i see mr lovelace in broken
sentences she spoke i see i see that at last i am ruined ruined if
your pity let me implore your pity and down on her bosom like a
half-broken-stalked lily top-heavy with the overcharging dews of the
morning sunk her head with a sigh that went to my heart 

all i could think of to re-assure her when a little recovered i said 

why did i not send for their coach as i had intimated it might return
in the morning for the ladies 

i had actually done so i told her on seeing her strange uneasiness 
but it was then gone to fetch a doctor for miss montague lest his
chariot should not be so ready 

ah lovelace said she with a doubting face anguish in her imploring
eye 

lady betty would think it very strange i told her if she were to know
it was so disagreeable to her to stay one night for her company in the
house where she had passed so many 

she called me names upon this she had called me names before i was
patient 

let her go to lady betty's lodgings then directly go if the person i
called lady betty was really lady betty 

if my dear good heaven what a villain does that if show you believe
me to be 

i cannot help it i beseech you once more let me go to mrs leeson's if
that if ought not to be said 

then assuming a more resolute spirit i will go i will inquire my way 
 i will go by myself and would have rushed by me 

i folded my arms about her to detain her pleading the bad way i heard
poor charlotte was in and what a farther concern her impatience if she
went would give to poor charlotte 

she would believe nothing i said unless i would instantly order a coach 
 since she was not to have lady betty's nor was permitted to go to mrs 
leeson's and let her go in it to hampstead late as it was and all
alone so much the better for in the house of people of whom lady betty 
upon inquiry had heard a bad character  dropt foolishly this by my
prating new relation in order to do credit to herself by depreciating
others   every thing and every face looking with so much meaning
vileness as well as my own  thou art still too sensible thought i my
charmer   she was resolved not to stay another night 

dreading what might happen as to her intellects and being very
apprehensive that she might possibly go through a great deal before
morning though more violent she could not well be with the worst she
dreaded i humoured her and ordered will to endeavour to get a coach
directly to carry us to hampstead i cared not at what price 

robbers with whom i would have terrified her she feared not i was all
her fear i found and this house her terror for i saw plainly that she
now believed that lady betty and miss montague were both impostors 

but her mistrust is a little of the latest to do her service 

and o jack the rage of love the rage of revenge is upon me by turns
they tear me the progress already made the women's instigations the
power i shall have to try her to the utmost and still to marry her if
she be not to be brought to cohabitation let me perish belford if she
escape me now 


 


will is not yet come back near eleven 


 


will is this moment returned no coach to be got either for love or
money 

once more she urges to mrs leeson's let me go lovelace good
lovelace let me go to mrs leeson's what is miss montague's illness
to my terror for the almighty's sake mr lovelace her hands
clasped 

o my angel what a wildness is this do you know do you see my
dearest life what appearances your causeless apprehensions have given
you do you know it is past eleven o'clock 

twelve one two three four any hour i care not if you mean me
honourably let me go out of this hated house 

thou'lt observe belford that though this was written afterwards yet 
 as in other places i write it as it was spoken and happened as if i
had retired to put down every sentence spoken i know thou likest this
lively present-tense manner as it is one of my peculiars 

just as she had repeated the last words if you mean me honourably let
me go out of this hated house in came mrs sinclair in a great ferment
 and what pray madam has this house done to you mr lovelace you
have known me some time and if i have not the niceness of this lady i
hope i do not deserve to be treated thus 

she set her huge arms akimbo hoh madam let me tell you that i am
amazed at your freedoms with my character and mr lovelace  holding
up and violently shaking her head   if you are a gentleman and a man of
honour 

having never before seen any thing but obsequiousness in this woman 
little as she liked her she was frighted at her masculine air and
fierce look god help me cried she what will become of me now then 
turning her head hither and thither in a wild kind of amaze whom have
i for a protector what will become of me now 

i will be your protector my dearest love but indeed you are
uncharitably severe upon poor mrs sinclair indeed you are she is a
gentlewoman born and the relict of a man of honour and though left in
such circumstance as to oblige her to let lodgings yet would she scorn
to be guilty of a wilful baseness 

i hope so it may be so i may be mistaken but but there is no crime i
presume no treason to say i don't like her house 

the old dragon straddled up to her with her arms kemboed again her
eye-brows erect like the bristles upon a hog's back and scouling over
her shortened nose more than half-hid her ferret eyes her mouth was
distorted she pouted out her blubber-lips as if to bellows up wind and
sputter into her horse-nostrils and her chin was curdled and more than
usually prominent with passion 

with two hoh-madams she accosted the frighted fair-one who terrified 
caught hold of my sleeve 

i feared she would fall into fits and with a look of indignation told
mrs sinclair that these apartments were mine and i could not imagine
what she meant either by listening to what passed between me and my
spouse or to come in uninvited and still more i wondered at her giving
herself these strange liberties 

i may be to blame jack for suffering this wretch to give herself these
airs but her coming in was without my orders 

the old beldam throwing herself into a chair fell a blubbering and
exclaiming and the pacifying of her and endeavouring to reconcile the
lady to her took up till near one o'clock 

and thus between terror and the late hour and what followed she was
diverted from the thoughts of getting out of the house to mrs leeson's 
or any where else 



letter xii


mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday morning june 13 


and now belford i can go no farther the affair is over clarissa
lives and i am

your humble servant 
r lovelace 


 the whole of this black transaction is given by the injured lady to miss
howe in her subsequent letters dated thursday july 6 see letters
lxvii lxviii lxix  



letter xiii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
watford wedn jan 14 


o thou savage-hearted monster what work hast thou made in one guilty
hour for a whole age of repentance 

i am inexpressibly concerned at the fate of this matchless lady she
could not have fallen into the hands of any other man breathing and
suffered as she has done with thee 

i had written a great part of another long letter to try to soften thy
flinty heart in her favour for i thought it but too likely that thou
shouldst succeed in getting her back again to the accursed woman's but
i find it would have been too late had i finished it and sent it away 
yet cannot i forbear writing to urge thee to make the only amends thou
now canst make her by a proper use of the license thou hast obtained 

poor poor lady it is a pain to me that i ever saw her such an adorer
of virtue to be sacrificed to the vilest of her sex and thou their
implement in the devil's hand for a purpose so base so ungenerous so
inhumane pride thyself o cruellest of men in this reflection and
that thy triumph over a woman who for thy sake was abandoned of every
friend she had in the world was effected not by advantages taken of her
weakness and credulity but by the blackest artifice after a long course
of studied deceits had been tried to no purpose 

i can tell thee it is well either for thee or for me that i am not the
brother of the lady had i been her brother her violation must have
been followed by the blood of one of us 

excuse me lovelace and let not the lady fare the worse for my concern
for her and yet i have but one other motive to ask thy excuse and that
is because i owe to thy own communicative pen the knowledge i have of
thy barbarous villany since thou mightest if thou wouldst have passed
it upon me for a common seduction 

clarissa lives thou sayest that she does is my wonder and these words
show that thou thyself though thou couldst nevertheless proceed 
hardly expectedst she would have survived the outrage what must have
been the poor lady's distress watchful as she had been over her honour 
when dreadful certainty took place of cruel apprehension and yet a man
may guess what must have been by that which thou paintest when she
suspected herself tricked deserted and betrayed by the pretended
ladies 

that thou couldst behold her phrensy on this occasion and her
half-speechless half-fainting prostration at thy feet and yet retain thy
evil purposes will hardly be thought credible even by those who know
thee if they have seen her 

poor poor lady with such noble qualities as would have adorned the
most exalted married life to fall into the hands of the only man in the
world who could have treated her as thou hast treated her and to let
loose the old dragon as thou properly callest her upon the
before-affrighted innocent what a barbarity was that what a poor piece
of barbarity in order to obtain by terror what thou dispairedst to gain
by love though supported by stratagems the most insidious 

o lovelace lovelace had i doubted it before i should now be
convinced that there must be a world after this to do justice to
injured merit and to punish barbarous perfidy could the divine
socrates and the divine clarissa otherwise have suffered 

but let me if possible for one moment try to forget this villanous
outrage on the most excellent of women 

i have business here which will hold me yet a few days and then perhaps
i shall quit this house for ever 

i have had a solemn and tedious time of it i should never have known
that i had half the respect i really find i had for the old gentleman 
had i not so closely at his earnest desire attended him and been a
witness of the tortures he underwent 

this melancholy occasion may possibly have contributed to humanize me 
but surely i never could have been so remorseless a caitiff as thou hast
been to a woman of half this lady's excellence 

but pr'ythee dear lovelace if thou'rt a man and not a devil resolve 
out of hand to repair thy sin of ingratitude by conferring upon thyself
the highest honour thou canst receive in making her lawfully thine 

but if thou canst not prevail upon thyself to do her this justice i
think i should not scruple a tilt with thee  an everlasting rupture at
least must follow  if thou sacrificest her to the accursed women 

thou art desirous to know what advantage i reap by my uncle's demise i
do not certainly know for i have not been so greedily solicitous on this
subject as some of the kindred have been who ought to have shown more
decency as i have told them and suffered the corpse to have been cold
before they had begun their hungry inquiries but by what i gathered
from the poor man's talk to me who oftener than i wished touched upon
the subject i deem it will be upwards of 5000  in cash and in the
funds after all legacies paid besides the real estate which is a clear
1000  a-year 

i wish from my heart thou wert a money-lover were the estate to be of
double the value thou shouldst have it every shilling only upon one
condition  for my circumstances before were as easy as i wish them to be
while i am single  that thou wouldst permit me the honour of being this
fatherless lady's father as it is called at the altar 

think of this my dear lovelace be honest and let me present thee with
the brightest jewel that man ever possessed and then body and soul 
wilt thou bind to thee for ever thy

belford 



letter xiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday june 15 


let me alone you great dog you let me alone have i heard a lesser
boy his coward arms held over his head and face say to a bigger who
was pommeling him for having run away with his apple his orange or his
ginger-bread 

so say i to thee on occasion of thy severity to thy poor friend who as
thou ownest has furnished thee ungenerous as thou art with the
weapons thou brandishest so fearfully against him and to what purpose 
when the mischief is done when of consequence the affair is
irretrievable and when a clarissa could not move me 

well but after all i must own that there is something very singular
in this lady's case and at times i cannot help regretting that ever i
attempted her since not one power either of body or soul could be moved
in my favour and since to use the expression of the philosopher on a
much graver occasion there is no difference to be found between the
skull of king philip and that of another man 

but people's extravagant notions of things alter not facts belford and 
when all's done miss clarissa harlowe has but run the fate of a thousand
others of her sex only that they did not set such a romantic value upon
what they call their honour that's all 

and yet i will allow thee this that if a person sets a high value upon
any thing be it ever such a trifle in itself or in the eye of others 
the robbing of that person of it is not a trifle to him take the matter
in this light i own i have done wrong great wrong to this admirable
creature 

but have i not known twenty and twenty of the sex who have seemed to
carry their notions of virtue high yet when brought to the test have
abated of their severity and how should we be convinced that any of
them are proof till they are tried 

a thousand times have i said that i never yet met with such a woman as
this if i had i hardly ever should have attempted miss clarissa
harlowe hitherto she is all angel and was not that the point which at
setting out i proposed to try and was not cohabitation ever my darling
view and am i not now at last in the high road to it it is true 
that i have nothing to boast of as to her will the very contrary but
now are we come to the test whether she cannot be brought to make the
best of an irreparable evil if she exclaim  she has reason to exclaim 
and i will sit down with patience by the hour together to hear her
exclamations till she is tired of them   she will then descend to
expostulation perhaps expostulation will give me hope expostulation
will show that she hates me not and if she hate me not she will
forgive and if she now forgive then will all be over and she will be
mine upon my own terms and it shall then be the whole study of my future
life to make her happy 


 see vol iii letter xviii 


so belford thou seest that i have journeyed on to this stage  indeed 
through infinite mazes and as infinite remorses  with one determined
point in view from the first to thy urgent supplication then that i
will do her grateful justice by marriage let me answer in matt prior's
two lines on his hoped-for auditorship as put into the mouths of his st 
john and harley 

 let that be done which matt doth say 
 yea quoth the earl but not to-day 

thou seest jack that i make no resolutions however against doing her 
one time or other the wished-for justice even were i to succeed in my
principal view cohabitation and of this i do assure thee that if i
ever marry it must it shall be miss clarissa harlowe nor is her
honour at all impaired with me by what she has so far suffered but the
contrary she must only take care that if she be at last brought to
forgive me she show me that her lovelace is the only man on earth whom
she could have forgiven on the like occasion 

but ah jack what in the mean time shall i do with this admirable
creature at present  i am loth to say it but at present  she is
quite stupified 

i had rather methinks she should have retained all her active powers 
though i had suffered by her nails and her teeth than that she should be
sunk into such a state of absolute insensibility shall i call it as
she has been in every since tuesday morning yet as she begins a little
to revive and now-and-then to call names and to exclaim i dread almost
to engage with the anguish of a spirit that owes its extraordinary
agitations to a niceness that has no example either in ancient or modern
story for after all what is there in her case that should stupify
such a glowing such a blooming charmer excess of grief excess of
terror have made a person's hair stand on end and even as we have
read changed the colour of it but that it should so stupify as to
make a person at times insensible to those imaginary wrongs which
would raise others from stupifaction is very surprising 

but i will leave this subject least it should make me too grave 

i was yesterday at hampstead and discharged all obligations there with
no small applause i told them that the lady was now as happy as myself 
and that is no great untruth for i am not altogether so when i allow
myself to think 

mrs townsend with her tars had not been then there i told them what
i would have them say to her if she came 

well but after all  how many after-all's have i   i could be very
grave were i to give way to it the devil take me for a fool what's
the matte with me i wonder i must breathe a fresher air for a few
days 

but what shall i do with this admirable creature the while hang me if
i know for if i stir the venomous spider of this habitation will want
to set upon the charming fly whose silken wings are already so entangled
in my enormous web that she cannot move hand or foot for so much has
grief stupified her that she is at present destitute of will as she
always seemed to be of desire i must not therefore think of leaving her
yet for two days together 



letter xv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i have just now had a specimen of what the resentment of this dear
creature will be when quite recovered an affecting one for entering
her apartment after dorcas and endeavouring to soothe and pacify her
disordered mind in the midst of my blandishments she held up to heaven 
in a speechless agony the innocent license which she has in her own
power as the poor distressed catalans held up their english treaty 
on an occasion that keeps the worst of my actions in countenance 

she seemed about to call down vengeance upon me when happily the leaden
god in pity to her trembling lovelace waved over her half-drowned eyes
his somniferous want and laid asleep the fair exclaimer before she
could go half through with her intended imprecation 

thou wilt guess by what i have written that some little art has been
made use of but it was with a generous design if thou'lt allow me the
word on such an occasion in order to lessen the too-quick sense she was
likely to have of what she was to suffer a contrivance i never had
occasion for before and had not thought of now if mrs sinclair had not
proposed it to me to whom i left the management of it and i have done
nothing but curse her ever since lest the quantity should have for ever
dampened her charming intellects 

hence my concern for i think the poor lady ought not to have been so
treated poor lady did i say what have i to do with thy creeping
style but have not i the worst of it since her insensibility has made
me but a thief to my own joys 

i did not intend to tell thee of this little innocent trick for such i
designed it to be but that i hate disingenuousness to thee especially 
and as i cannot help writing in a more serious vein than usual thou
wouldst perhaps had i not hinted the true cause have imagined that i
was sorry for the fact itself and this would have given thee a good deal
of trouble in scribbling dull persuasives to repair by matrimony and me
in reading thy cruel nonsense besides one day or other thou mightest 
had i not confessed it have heard of it in an aggravated manner and i
know thou hast such an high opinion of this lady's virtue that thou
wouldst be disappointed if thou hadst reason to think that she was
subdued by her own consent or any the least yielding in her will and
so is she beholden to me in some measure that at the expense of my
honour she may so justly form a plea which will entirely salve her's 

and now is the whole secret out 

thou wilt say i am a horrid fellow as the lady does that i am the
unchained beelzebub and a plotting villain and as this is what you both
said beforehand and nothing worse can be said i desire if thou wouldst
not have me quite serious with thee and that i should think thou meanest
more by thy tilting hint than i am willing to believe thou dost that
thou wilt forbear thy invectives for is not the thing done can it be
helped and must i not now try to make the best of it and the rather
do i enjoin to make thee this and inviolable secrecy because i begin
to think that my punishment will be greater than the fault were it to be
only from my own reflection 



letter xvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday june 16 


i am sorry to hear of thy misfortune but hope thou wilt not long lie by
it thy servant tells me what narrow escape thou hadst with thy neck i
wish it may not be ominous but i think thou seemest not to be in so
enterprising a way as formerly and yet merry or sad thou seest a
rake's neck is always in danger if not from the hangman from his own
horse but tis a vicious toad it seems and i think thou shouldst
never venture upon his back again for tis a plaguy thing for rider and
horse both to be vicious 

the fellow tells me thou desirest me to continue to write to thee in
order to divert thy chagrin on thy forced confinement but how can i
think it in my power to divert when my subject is not pleasing to
myself 

caesar never knew what it was to be hipped i will call it till he
came to be what pompey was that is to say till he arrived at the
height of his ambition nor did thy lovelace know what it was to be
gloomy till he had completed his wishes upon the most charming
creature in the world 

and yet why say i completed when the will the consent is
wanting and i have still views before me of obtaining that 

yet i could almost join with thee in the wish which thou sendest me up
by thy servant unfriendly as it is that i had had thy misfortune
before monday night last for here the poor lady has run into a
contrary extreme to that i told thee of in my last for now is she as
much too lively as before she was too stupid and bating that she has
pretty frequent lucid intervals would be deemed raving mad and i
should be obliged to confine her 

i am most confoundedly disturbed about it for i begin to fear that her
intellects are irreparably hurt 

who the devil could have expected such strange effects from a cause so
common and so slight 

but these high-souled and high-sensed girls who had set up for shining
lights and examples to the rest of the sex are with such difficulty
brought down to the common standard that a wise man who prefers his
peace of mind to his glory in subduing one of that exalted class 
would have nothing to say to them 

i do all in my power to quiet her spirits when i force myself into her
presence 

i go on begging pardon one minute and vowing truth and honour another 

i would at first have persuaded her and offered to call witnesses to
the truth of it that we were actually married though the license was
in her hands i thought the assertion might go down in her disorder 
and charming consequences i hoped would follow but this would not
do 

i therefore gave up that hope and now i declare to her that it is my
resolution to marry her the moment her uncle harlowe informs me that
he will grace the ceremony with his presence 

but she believes nothing i say nor whether in her senses or not 
bears me with patience in her sight 

i pity her with all my soul and i curse myself when she is in her
wailing fits and when i apprehend that intellects so charming are
for ever damped 

but more i curse these women who put me upon such an expedient lord 
lord what a hand have i made of it and all for what 

last night for the first time since monday night she got to her pen
and ink but she pursues her writing with such eagerness and hurry as
show too evidently her discomposure 

i hope however that this employment will help to calm her spirits 


 


just now dorcas tells me that what she writes she tears and throws
the paper in fragments under the table either as not knowing what she
does or disliking it then gets up wrings her hands weeps and
shifts her seat all round the room then returns to her table sits
down and writes again 


 


one odd letter as i may call it dorcas has this moment given me from
her carry this said she to the vilest of men dorcas a toad 
brought it without any further direction to me i sat down intending
 though tis pretty long to give thee a copy of it but for my life 
i cannot tis so extravagant and the original is too much an
original to let it go out of my hands 

but some of the scraps and fragments as either torn through or flung
aside i will copy for the novelty of the thing and to show thee how
her mind works now she is in the whimsical way yet i know i am still
furnishing thee with new weapons against myself but spare thy comments 
my own reflections render them needless dorcas thinks her lady will
ask for them so wishes to have them to lay again under the table 

by the first thou'lt guess that i have told her that miss howe is very
ill and can't write that she may account the better for not having
received the letter designed for her 


paper i
 torn in two pieces 


my dearest miss howe 

o what dreadful dreadful things have i to tell you but yet i cannot
tell you neither but say are you really ill as a vile vile
creature informs me you are 

but he never yet told me truth and i hope has not in this and yet if
it were not true surely i should have heard from you before now but
what have i to do to upbraid you may well be tired of me and if you
are i can forgive you for i am tired of myself and all my own
relations were tired of me long before you were 

how good you have always been to me mine own dear anna howe but how
i ramble 

i sat down to say a great deal my heart was full i did not know what
to say first and thought and grief and confusion and o my poor
head i cannot tell what and thought and grief and confusion came
crowding so thick upon me one would be first another would be first 
all would be first so i can write nothing at all only that whatever
they have done to me i cannot tell but i am no longer what i was-in
any one thing did i say yes but i am for i am still and i ever
will be 

your true 


plague on it i can write no more of this eloquent nonsense myself 
which rather shows a raised than a quenched imagination but dorcas
shall transcribe the others in separate papers as written by the
whimsical charmer and some time hence when all is over and i can
better bear to read them i may ask thee for a sight of them preserve
them therefore for we often look back with pleasure even upon the
heaviest griefs when the cause of them is removed 


paper ii
 scratch'd through and thrown under the table 


 and can you my dear honoured papa resolve for ever to reprobate
your poor child but i am sure you would not if you knew what she has
suffered since her unhappy and will nobody plead for your poor suffering
girl no one good body why then dearest sir let it be an act of your
own innate goodness which i have so much experienced and so much
abused i don't presume to think you should receive me no indeed my
name is i don't know what my name is i never dare to wish to come into
your family again but your heavy curse my papa yes i will call you
papa and help yourself as you can for you are my own dear papa whether
you will or not and though i am an unworthy child yet i am your child 


paper iii


a lady took a great fancy to a young lion or a bear i forget
which but a bear or a tiger i believe it was it was made her a
present of when a whelp she fed it with her own hand she nursed up
the wicked cub with great tenderness and would play with it without
fear or apprehension of danger and it was obedient to all her commands 
and its tameness as she used to boast increased with its growth so
that like a lap-dog it would follow her all over the house but mind
what followed at last some how neglecting to satisfy its hungry maw 
or having otherwise disobliged it on some occasion it resumed its
nature and on a sudden fell upon her and tore her in pieces and who
was most to blame i pray the brute or the lady the lady surely 
for what she did was out of nature out of character at least what it
did was in its own nature 


paper iv


how art thou now humbled in the dust thou proud clarissa harlowe 
thou that never steppedst out of thy father's house but to be admired 
who wert wont to turn thine eye sparkling with healthful life and
self-assurance to different objects at once as thou passedst as if
 for so thy penetrating sister used to say to plume thyself upon the
expected applauses of all that beheld thee thou that usedst to go to
rest satisfied with the adulations paid thee in the past day and couldst
put off every thing but thy vanity 


paper v


rejoice not now my bella my sister my friend but pity the humbled
creature whose foolish heart you used to say you beheld through the thin
veil of humility which covered it 

it must have been so my fall had not else been permitted 

you penetrated my proud heart with the jealousy of an elder sister's
searching eye 

you knew me better than i knew myself 

hence your upbraidings and your chidings when i began to totter 

but forgive now those vain triumphs of my heart 

i thought poor proud wretch that i was that what you said was owing to
your envy 

i thought i could acquit my intention of any such vanity 

i was too secure in the knowledge i thought i had of my own heart 

my supposed advantages became a snare to me 

and what now is the end of all 


paper vi


what now is become of the prospects of a happy life which once i thought
opening before me who now shall assist in the solemn preparations who
now shall provide the nuptial ornaments which soften and divert the
apprehensions of the fearful virgin no court now to be paid to my
smiles no encouraging compliments to inspire thee with hope of laying a
mind not unworthy of thee under obligation no elevation now for
conscious merit and applauded purity to look down from on a prostrate
adorer and an admiring world and up to pleased and rejoicing parents
and relations 


paper vii


thou pernicious caterpillar that preyest upon the fair leaf of virgin
fame and poisonest those leaves which thou canst not devour 

thou fell blight thou eastern blast thou overspreading mildew that
destroyest the early promises of the shining year that mockest the
laborious toil and blastest the joyful hopes of the painful husbandman 

thou fretting moth that corruptest the fairest garment 

thou eating canker-worm that preyest upon the opening bud and turnest
the damask-rose into livid yellowness 

if as religion teaches us god will judge us in a great measure by our
benevolent or evil actions to one another o wretch bethink thee in
time bethink thee how great must be thy condemnation 


paper viiii


at first i saw something in your air and person that displeased me
not your birth and fortunes were no small advantages to you you
acted not ignobly by my passionate brother every body said you were
brave every body said you were generous a brave man i thought could
not be a base man a generous man could not i believed be ungenerous 
where he acknowledged obligation thus prepossessed all the rest that
my soul loved and wished for in your reformation i hoped i knew not 
but by report any flagrant instances of your vileness you seemed
frank as well as generous frankness and generosity ever attracted me 
whoever kept up those appearances i judged of their hearts by my own 
and whatever qualities i wished to find in them i was ready to find 
and when found i believed them to be natives of the soil 

my fortunes my rank my character i thought a further security i
was in none of those respects unworthy of being the niece of lord m 
and of his two noble sisters your vows your imprecations but oh 
you have barbarously and basely conspired against that honour which
you ought to have protected and now you have made me what is it of
vile that you have not made me 

yet god knows my heart i had no culpable inclinations i honoured
virtue i hated vice but i knew not that you were vice itself 


paper ix


had the happiness of any of the poorest outcast in the world whom i
had neveer seen never known never before heard of lain as much in my
power as my happiness did in your's my benevolent heart would have
made me fly to the succour of such a poor distressed with what pleasure
would i have raised the dejected head and comforted the desponding
heart but who now shall pity the poor wretch who has increased 
instead of diminished the number of the miserable 


paper x


lead me where my own thoughts themselves may lose me 
where i may dose out what i've left of life 
forget myself and that day's guile 
cruel remembrance how shall i appease thee 

 death only can be dreadful to the bad 
to innocence tis like a bugbear dress'd
to frighten children pull but off the mask 
and he'll appear a friend  


 transcriber's note portions set off in square brackets     are written
at angles to the majority of the text as if squeezed into margins 


 oh you have done an act
that blots the face and blush of modesty 
 takes off the rose
 from the fair forehead of an innocent love 
and makes a blister there 

 then down i laid my head 
down on cold earth and for a while was dead 
and my freed soul to a strange somewhere fled 
 ah sottish soul said i 
when back to its cage again i saw it fly 
 fool to resume her broken chain 
and row the galley here again 
 fool to that body to return 
where it condemn'd and destin'd is to mourn 

 i could a tale unfold 
 would harrow up thy soul  

o my miss howe if thou hast friendship help me 
and speak the words of peace to my divided soul 
 that wars within me 
and raises ev'ry sense to my confusion 
 i'm tott'ring on the brink
of peace an thou art all the hold i've left 
assist me in the pangs of my affliction 

when honour's lost tis a relief to die 
death's but a sure retreat from infamy 

 by swift misfortunes
 how i am pursu'd 
which on each other
 are like waves renew'd  

the farewell youth 
 and all the joys that dwell
with youth and life 
 and life itself farewell 

for life can never be sincerely blest 
heav'n punishes the bad and proves the best 


 


after all belford i have just skimmed over these transcriptions of
dorcas and i see there are method and good sense in some of them wild
as others of them are and that her memory which serves her so well
for these poetical flights is far from being impaired and this gives
me hope that she will soon recover her charming intellects though i
shall be the sufferer by their restoration i make no doubt 

but in the letter she wrote to me there are yet greater extravagancies 
and though i said it was too affecting to give thee a copy of it yet 
after i have let thee see the loose papers enclosed i think i may throw
in a transcript of that dorcas therefore shall here transcribe it i
cannot the reading of it affected me ten times more than the severest
reproaches of a regular mind could do 


to mr lovelace

i never intended to write another line to you i would not see you if i
could help it o that i never had 

but tell me of a truth is miss howe really and truly ill very ill -
and is not her illness poison and don't you know who gave it to her 

what you or mrs sinclair or somebody i cannot tell who have done to
my poor head you best know but i shall never be what i was my head is
gone i have wept away all my brain i believe for i can weep no more 
indeed i have had my full share so it is no matter 

but good now lovelace don't set mrs sinclair upon me again i never
did her any harm she so affrights me when i see her ever since when
was it i cannot tell you can i suppose she may be a good woman as
far as i know she was the wife of a man of honour very likely though
forced to let lodgings for a livelihood poor gentlewoman let her know
i pity her but don't let her come near me again pray don't 

yet she may be a very good woman 

what would i say i forget what i was going to say 

o lovelace you are satan himself or he helps you out in every thing 
and that's as bad 

but have you really and truly sold yourself to him and for how long 
what duration is your reign to have 

poor man the contract will be out and then what will be your fate 

o lovelace if you could be sorry for yourself i would be sorry too but
when all my doors are fast and nothing but the key-hole open and the
key of late put into that to be where you are in a manner without
opening any of them o wretched wretched clarissa harlowe 

for i never will be lovelace let my uncle take it as he pleases 

well but now i remember what i was going to say it is for your good 
not mine for nothing can do me good now o thou villanous man thou
hated lovelace 

but mrs sinclair may be a good woman if you love me but that you don't
 but don't let her bluster up with her worse than mannish airs to me
again o she is a frightful woman if she be a woman she needed not
to put on that fearful mask to scare me out of my poor wits but don't
tell her what i say i have no hatred to her it is only fright and
foolish fear that's all she may not be a bad woman but neither are
all men any more than all women alike god forbid they should be like
you 

alas you have killed my head among you i don't say who did it god
forgive you all but had it not been better to have put me out of all
your ways at once you might safely have done it for nobody would
require me at your hands no not a soul except indeed miss howe would
have said when she should see you what lovelace have you done with
clarissa harlowe and then you could have given any slight gay answer 
sent her beyond sea or she has run away from me as she did from her
parents and this would have been easily credited for you know 
lovelace she that could run away from them might very well run away
from you 

but this is nothing to what i wanted to say now i have it 

i have lost it again this foolish wench comes teasing me for what
purpose should i eat for what end should i wish to live i tell thee 
dorcas i will neither eat nor drink i cannot be worse than i am 

i will do as you'd have me good dorcas look not upon me so fiercely 
but thou canst not look so bad as i have seen somebody look 

mr lovelace now that i remember what i took pen in hand to say let me
hurry off my thoughts lest i lose them again here i am sensible and
yet i am hardly sensible neither but i know my head is not as it should
be for all that therefore let me propose one thing to you it is for
your good not mine and this is it 

i must needs be both a trouble and an expense to you and here my uncle
harlowe when he knows how i am will never wish any man to have me no 
not even you who have been the occasion of it barbarous and ungrateful 
 a less complicated villany cost a tarquin but i forget what i would
say again 

then this is it i never shall be myself again i have been a very wicked
creature a vain proud poor creature full of secret pride which i
carried off under an humble guise and deceived every body my sister
says so and now i am punished so let me be carried out of this house 
and out of your sight and let me be put into that bedlam privately 
which once i saw but it was a sad sight to me then little as i thought
what i should come to myself that is all i would say this is all i
have to wish for then i shall be out of all your ways and i shall be
taken care of and bread and water without your tormentings will be
dainties and my straw-bed the easiest i have lain in for i cannot tell
how long 

my clothes will sell for what will keep me there perhaps as long as i
shall live but lovelace dear lovelace i will call you for you have
cost me enough i'm sure don't let me be made a show of for my
family's sake nay for your own sake don't do that for when i know all
i have suffered which yet i do not and no matter if i never do i may
be apt to rave against you by name and tell of all your baseness to a
poor humbled creature that once was as proud as any body but of what i
can't tell except of my own folly and vanity but let that pass since
i am punished enough for it 

so suppose instead of bedlam it were a private mad-house where nobody
comes that will be better a great deal 

but another thing lovelace don't let them use me cruelly when i am
there you have used me cruelly enough you know don't let them use me
cruelly for i will be very tractable and do as any body would have me
to do except what you would have me do for that i never will another
thing lovelace don't let this good woman i was going to say vile
woman but don't tell her that because she won't let you send me to this
happy refuge perhaps if she were to know it 

another thing lovelace and let me have pen and ink and paper allowed
me it will be all my amusement but they need not send to any body i
shall write to what i write because it will but trouble them and
somebody may do you a mischief may be i wish not that any body do any
body a mischief upon my account 

you tell me that lady betty lawrance and your cousin montague were
here to take leave of me but that i was asleep and could not be waked 
so you told me at first i was married you know and that you were my
husband ah lovelace look to what you say but let not them for they
will sport with my misery let not that lady betty let not that miss
montague whatever the real ones may do nor mrs sinclair neither nor
any of her lodgers nor her nieces come to see me in my place real
ones i say for lovelace i shall find out all your villanies in time 
indeed i shall so put me there as soon as you can it is for your good 
then all will pass for ravings that i can say as i doubt no many poor
creatures' exclamations do pass though there may be too much truth in
them for all that and you know i began to be mad at hampstead so you
said ah villanous man what have you not to answer for 


 


a little interval seems to be lent me i had begun to look over what i
have written it is not fit for any one to see so far as i have been
able to re-peruse it but my head will not hold i doubt to go through
it all if therefore i have not already mentioned my earnest desire let
me tell you it is this that i be sent out of this abominable house
without delay and locked up in some private mad-house about this town 
for such it seems there are never more to be seen or to be produced
to any body except in your own vindication if you should be charged
with the murder of my person a much lighter crime than that of
honour which the greatest villain on earth has robbed me of and deny
me not this my last request i beseech you and one other and that is 
never to let me see you more this surely may be granted to

the miserably abused
clarissa harlowe 


 


i will not bear thy heavy preachments belford upon this affecting
letter so not a word of that sort the paper thou'lt see is
blistered with the tears even of the hardened transcriber which has
made her ink run here and there 

mrs sinclair is a true heroine and i think shames us all and she is
a woman too thou'lt say the beset things corrupted become the worst 
but this is certain that whatever the sex set their hearts upon they
make thorough work of it and hence it is that a mischief which would
end in simple robbery among men rogues becomes murder if a woman be in
it 

i know thou wilt blame me for having had recourse to art but do not
physicians prescribe opiates in acute cases where the violence of the
disorder would be apt to throw the patient into a fever or delirium i
aver that my motive for this expedient was mercy nor could it be any
thing else for a rape thou knowest to us rakes is far from being an
undesirable thing nothing but the law stands in our way upon that
account and the opinion of what a modest woman will suffer rather than
become a viva voce accuser lessens much an honest fellow's apprehensions
on that score then if these somnivolencies  i hate the word opiates on
this occasion   have turned her head that is an effect they frequently
have upon some constitutions and in this case was rather the fault of
the dose than the design of the giver 

but is not wine itself an opiate in degree how many women have been
taken advantage of by wine and other still more intoxicating viands 
let me tell thee jack that the experience of many of the passive sex 
and the consciences of many more of the active appealed to will testify
that thy lovelace is not the worst of villains nor would i have thee
put me upon clearing myself by comparisons 

if she escape a settled delirium when my plots unravel i think it is all
i ought to be concerned about what therefore i desire of thee is 
that if two constructions may be made of my actions thou wilt afford me
the most favourable for this not only friendship but my own
ingenuousness which has furnished thee with the knowledge of the facts
against which thou art so ready to inveigh require of thee 


 


will is just returned from an errand to hampstead and acquaints me 
that mrs townsend was yesterday at mrs moore's accompanied by three or
four rough fellows a greater number as supposed at a distance she
was strangely surprised at the news that my spouse and i are entirely
reconciled and that two fine ladies my relations came to visit her 
and went to town with her where she is very happy with me she was sure
we were not married she said unless it was while we were at hampstead 
and they were sure the ceremony was not performed there but that the
lady is happy and easy is unquestionable and a fling was thrown out by
mrs moore and mrs bevis at mischief-makers as they knew mrs townsend
to be acquainted with miss howe 

now since my fair-one can neither receive nor send away letters i am
pretty easy as to this mrs townsend and her employer and i fancy miss
howe will be puzzled to know what to think of the matter and afraid of
sending by wilson's conveyance and perhaps suppose that her friend
slights her or has changed her mind in my favour and is ashamed to own
it as she has not had an answer to what she wrote and will believe that
the rustic delivered her last letter into her own hand 

mean time i have a little project come into my head of a new kind just
for amusement-sake that's all variety has irresistible charms i
cannot live without intrigue my charmer has no passions that is to
say none of the passions that i want her to have she engages all my
reverence i am at present more inclined to regret what i have done 
than to proceed to new offences and shall regret it till i see how she
takes it when recovered 

shall i tell thee my project tis not a high one tis this to get
hither to mrs moore miss rawlins and my widow bevis for they are
desirous to make a visit to my spouse now we are so happy together 
and if i can order it right belton mowbray tourville and i will
show them a little more of the ways of this wicked town than they at
present know why should they be acquainted with a man of my character 
and not be the better and wiser for it i would have every body rail
against rakes with judgment and knowledge if they will rail two of
these women gave me a great deal of trouble and the third i am
confident will forgive a merry evening 

thou wilt be curious to know what the persons of these women are to whom
i intend so much distinction i think i have not heretofore mentioned
any thing characteristic of their persons 

mrs moore is a widow of about thirty-eight a little mortified by
misfortunes but those are often the merriest folks when warmed she
has good features still and is what they call much of a gentlewoman and
very neat in her person and dress she has given over i believe all
thoughts of our sex but when the dying embers are raked up about the
half-consumed stump there will be fuel enough left i dare say to blaze
out and give a comfortable warmth to a half-starved by-stander 

mrs bevis is comely that is to say plump a lover of mirth and one
whom no grief ever dwelt with i dare say for a week together about
twenty-five years of age mowbray will have very little difficulty with
her i believe for one cannot do every thing one's self and yet
sometimes women of this free cast when it comes to the point answer not
the promises their cheerful forwardness gives a man who has a view upon
them 

miss rawlins is an agreeable young lady enough but not beautiful she
has sense and would be thought to know the world as it is called but 
for her knowledge is more indebted to theory than experience a mere
whipt-syllabub knowledge this jack that always fails the person who
trusts to it when it should hold to do her service for such young
ladies have so much dependence upon their own understanding and wariness 
are so much above the cautions that the less opinionative may be
benefited by that their presumption is generally their overthrow when
attempted by a man of experience who knows how to flatter their vanity 
and to magnify their wisdom in order to take advantage of their folly 
but for miss rawlins if i can add experience to her theory what an
accomplished person will she be and how much will she be obliged to me 
and not only she but all those who may be the better for the precepts
she thinks herself already so well qualified to give dearly jack do
i love to engage with these precept-givers and example-setters 

now belford although there is nothing striking in any of these
characters yet may we at a pinch make a good frolicky half-day with
them if after we have softened their wax at table by encouraging
viands we can set our women and them into dancing dancing which all
women love and all men should therefore promote for both their sakes 

and thus when tourville sings belton fiddles mowbray makes rough love 
and i smooth and thou jack wilt be by that time well enough to join in
the chorus the devil's in't if we don't mould them into what shape we
please our own women by their laughing freedoms encouraging them to
break through all their customary reserves for women to women thou
knowest are great darers and incentives not one of them loving to be
outdone or outdared when their hearts are thoroughly warmed 

i know at first the difficulty will be the accidental absence of my
dear mrs lovelace to whom principally they will design their visit but
if we can exhilarate them they won't then wish to see her and i can
form twenty accidents and excuses from one hour to another for her
absence till each shall have a subject to take up all her thoughts 

i am really sick at heart for a frolic and have no doubt but this will
be an agreeable one these women already think me a wild fellow nor do
they like me the less for it as i can perceive and i shall take care 
that they shall be treated with so much freedom before one another's
faces that in policy they shall keep each other's counsel and won't
this be doing a kind thing by them since it will knit an indissoluble
band of union and friendship between three women who are neighbours and
at present have only common obligations to one another for thou wantest
not to be told that secrets of love and secrets of this nature are
generally the strongest cement of female friendships 

but after all if my beloved should be happily restored to her
intellects we may have scenes arise between us that will be sufficiently
busy to employ all the faculties of thy friend without looking out for
new occasions already as i have often observed has she been the means
of saving scores of her sex yet without her own knowledge 


saturday night 

by dorcas's account of her lady's behaviour the dear creature seems to
be recovering i shall give the earliest notice of this to the worthy
capt tomlinson that he may apprize uncle john of it i must be
properly enabled from that quarter to pacify her or at least to
rebate her first violence 



letter xvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday afternoon six o'clock june 18 


i went out early this morning and returned not till just now when i was
informed that my beloved in my absence had taken it into her head to
attempt to get away 

she tripped down with a parcel tied up in a handkerchief her hood on 
and was actually in the entry when mrs sinclair saw her 

pray madam whipping between her and the street-door be pleased to let
me know where you are going 

who has a right to controul me was the word 

i have madam by order of your spouse and kemboing her arms as she
owned i desire you will be pleased to walk up again 

she would have spoken but could not and bursting into tears turned
back and went up to her chamber and dorcas was taken to task for
suffering her to be in the passage before she was seen 

this shows as we hoped last night that she is recovering her charming
intellects 

dorcas says she was visible to her but once before the whole day and
then she seemed very solemn and sedate 

i will endeavour to see her it must be in her own chamber i suppose 
for she will hardly meet me in the dining-room what advantage will the
confidence of our sex give me over the modesty of her's if she be
recovered i the most confident of men she the most delicate of
women sweet soul methinks i have her before me her face averted 
speech lost in sighs abashed conscious what a triumphant aspect will
this give me when i gaze on her downcast countenance 


 


this moment dorcas tells me she believes she is coming to find me out 
she asked her after me and dorcas left her drying her red-swoln eyes at
her glass  no design of moving me by tears   sighing too sensibly for my
courage but to what purpose have i gone thus far if i pursue not my
principal end niceness must be a little abated she knows the worst 
that she cannot fly me that she must see me and that i can look her
into a sweet confusion are circumstances greatly in my favour what can
she do but rave and exclaim i am used to raving and exclaiming but if
recovered i shall see how she behaves upon this our first sensible
interview after what she has suffered 

here she comes 



letter xviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday night 


never blame me for giving way to have art used with this admirable
creature all the princes of the air or beneath it joining with me 
could never have subdued her while she had her senses 

i will not anticipate only to tell thee that i am too much awakened by
her to think of sleep were i to go to bed and so shall have nothing to
do but to write an account of our odd conversation while it is so strong
upon my mind that i can think of nothing else 

she was dressed in a white damask night-gown with less negligence than
for some days past i was sitting with my pen in my fingers and stood
up when i first saw her with great complaisance as if the day were
still her own and so indeed it is 

she entered with such dignity in her manner as struck me with great awe 
and prepared me for the poor figure i made in the subsequent
conversation a poor figure indeed but i will do her justice 

she came up with quick steps pretty close to me a white handkerchief
in her hand her eyes neither fierce nor mild but very earnest and a
fixed sedateness in her whole aspect which seemed to be the effect of
deep contemplation and thus she accosted me with an air and action that
i never saw equalled 

you see before you sir the wretch whose preference of you to all your
sex you have rewarded as it indeed deserved to be rewarded my father's
dreadful curse has already operated upon me in the very letter of it as
to this life and it seems to me too evident that it will not be your
fault that it is not entirely completed in the loss of my soul as well
as of my honour which you villanous man have robbed me of with a
baseness so unnatural so inhuman that it seems you even you had not
the heart to attempt it till my senses were made the previous sacrifice 

here i made an hesitating effort to speak laying down my pen but she
proceeded hear me out guilty wretch abandoned man man did i say 
 yet what name else can i since the mortal worryings of the fiercest
beast would have been more natural and infinitely more welcome that
what you have acted by me and that with a premeditation and contrivance
worthy only of that single heart which now base as well as ungrateful as
thou art seems to quake within thee and well may'st thou quake well
may'st thou tremble and falter and hesitate as thou dost when thou
reflectest upon what i have suffered for thy sake and upon the returns
thou hast made me 

by my soul belford my whole frame was shaken for not only her looks
and her action but her voice so solemn was inexpressibly affecting 
and then my cursed guilt and her innocence and merit and rank and
superiority of talents all stared me at that instant in the face so
formidably that my present account to which she unexpectedly called me 
seemed as i then thought to resemble that general one to which we are
told we shall be summoned when our conscience shall be our accuser 

but she had had time to collect all the powers of her eloquence the
whole day probably in her intellects and then i was the more
disappointed as i had thought i could have gazed the dear creature into
confusion but it is plain that the sense she has of her wrongs sets
this matchless woman above all lesser all weaker considerations 

my dear my love i i i never no never lips trembling limbs quaking 
voice inward hesitating broken never surely did miscreant look so like
a miscreant while thus she proceeded waving her snowy hand with all
the graces of moving oratory 

i have no pride in the confusion visible in thy whole person i have
been all the day praying for a composure if i could not escape from this
vile house that should once more enable me to look up to my destroyer
with the consciousness of an innocent sufferer thou seest me since my
wrongs are beyond the power of words to express thou seest me calm
enough to wish that thou may'st continue harassed by the workings of thy
own conscience till effectual repentance take hold of thee that so thou
may'st not forfeit all title to that mercy which thou hast not shown to
the poor creature now before thee who had so well deserved to meet with
a faithful friend where she met with the worst of enemies 

but tell me for no doubt thou hast some scheme to pursue tell me 
since i am a prisoner as i find in the vilest of houses and have not a
friend to protect or save me what thou intendest shall become of the
remnant of a life not worth the keeping tell me if yet there are more
evils reserved for me and whether thou hast entered into a compact with
the grand deceiver in the person of his horrid agent in this house and
if the ruin of my soul that my father's curse may be fulfilled is to
complete the triumphs of so vile a confederacy answer me say if thou
hast courage to speak out to her whom thou hast ruined tell me what
farther i am to suffer from thy barbarity 

she stopped here and sighing turned her sweet face from me drying up
with her handkerchief those tears which she endeavoured to restrain and 
when she could not to conceal from my sight 

as i told thee i had prepared myself for high passions raving flying 
tearing execration these transient violences the workings of sudden
grief and shame and vengeance would have set us upon a par with each
other and quitted scores these have i been accustomed to and as
nothing violent is lasting with these i could have wished to encounter 
but such a majestic composure seeking me whom yet it is plain by her
attempt to get away she would have avoided seeking no lucretia-like
vengeance upon herself in her thought yet swallowed up her whole mind
swallowed up as i may say by a grief so heavy as in her own words to
be beyond the power of speech to express and to be able discomposed as
she was to the very morning to put such a home-question to me as if
she had penetrated my future view how could i avoid looking like a fool 
and answering as before in broken sentences and confusion 

what what-a what has been done i i i cannot but say must own must
confess hem hem is not right is not what should have been but-a 
but but i am truly truly sorry for it upon my soul i am and and 
will do all do every thing do what whatever is incumbent upon me all
that you that you that you shall require to make you amends 

o belford belford whose the triumph now her's or mine 

amends o thou truly despicable wretch then lifting up her eyes good
heaven who shall pity the creature who could fall by so base a mind 
yet  and then she looked indignantly upon me   yet i hate thee not
 base and low-souled as thou art half so much as i hate myself that i
saw thee not sooner in thy proper colours that i hoped either morality 
gratitude or humanity from a libertine who to be a libertine must
have got over and defied all moral sanctions 


 her cousin morden's words to her in his letter from florence see vol 
iv letter xix 


she then called upon her cousin morden's name as if he had warned her
against a man of free principles and walked towards the window her
handkerchief at her eyes but turning short towards me with an air of
mingled scorn and majesty  what at the moment would i have given never
to have injured her   what amends hast thou to propose what amends can
such a one as thou make to a person of spirit or common sense for the
evils thou hast so inhumanely made me suffer 

as soon madam as soon as as soon as your uncle or not waiting 

thou wouldest tell me i suppose i know what thou wouldest tell me but
thinkest thou that marriage will satisfy for a guilt like thine 
destitute as thou hast made me both of friends and fortune i too much
despise the wretch who could rob himself of his wife's virtue to endure
the thoughts of thee in the light thou seemest to hope i will accept thee
in 

i hesitated an interruption but my meaning died away upon my trembling
lips i could only pronounce the word marriage and thus she proceeded 

let me therefore know whether i am to be controuled in the future
disposal of myself whether in a country of liberty as this where the
sovereign of it must not be guilty of your wickedness and where you
neither durst have attempted it had i one friend or relation to look
upon me i am to be kept here a prisoner to sustain fresh injuries 
whether in a word you intend to hinder me from going where my destiny
shall lead me 

after a pause for i was still silent 

can you not answer me this plain question i quit all claim all
expectation upon you what right have you to detain me here 

i could not speak what could i say to such a question 

o wretch wringing her uplifted hands had i not been robbed of my
senses and that in the basest manner you best know how had i been able
to account for myself and your proceedings or to have known but how the
days passed a whole week should not have gone over my head as i find it
has done before i had told you what i now tell you that the man who
has been the villain to me you have been shall never make me his wife 
i will write to my uncle to lay aside his kind intentions in my favour 
all my prospects are shut in i give myself up for a lost creature as to
this world hinder me not from entering upon a life of severe penitence 
for corresponding after prohibition with a wretch who has too well
justified all their warnings and inveteracy and for throwing myself into
the power of your vile artifices let me try to secure the only hope i
have left this is all the amends i ask of you i repeat therefore am
i now at liberty to dispose of myself as i please 

now comes the fool the miscreant again hesitating his broken answer my
dearest love i am confounded quite confounded at the thought of what 
of what has been done and at the thought of to whom i see i see 
there is no withstanding your eloquence such irresistible proofs of the
love of virtue for its own sake did i never hear of nor meet with in
all my reading and if you can forgive a repentant villain who thus on
his knees implores your forgiveness  then down i dropt absolutely in
earnest in all i said   i vow by all that's sacred and just and may a
thunderbolt strike me dead at your feet if i am not sincere that i
will by marriage before to-morrow noon without waiting for your uncle 
or any body do you all the justice i now can do you and you shall ever
after controul and direct me as you please till you have made me more
worthy of your angelic purity than now i am nor will i presume so much
as to touch your garment till i have the honour to call so great a
blessing lawfully mine 

o thou guileful betrayer there is a just god whom thou invokest yet
the thunderbolt descends not and thou livest to imprecate and deceive 

my dearest life rising for i hoped she was relenting 

hadst thou not sinned beyond the possibility of forgiveness interrupted
she and this had been the first time that thus thou solemnly promisest
and invokest the vengeance thou hast as often defied the desperateness
of my condition might have induced me to think of taking a wretched
chance with a man so profligate but after what i have suffered by
thee it would be criminal in me to wish to bind my soul in covenant to
a man so nearly allied to perdition 

good god how uncharitable i offer not to defend would to heaven that
i could recall so nearly allied to perdition madam so profligate a
man madam 

o how short is expression of thy crimes and of my sufferings such
premeditation is thy baseness to prostitute the characters of persons
of honour of thy own family and all to delude a poor creature whom thou
oughtest but why talk i to thee be thy crimes upon thy head once
more i ask thee am i or am i not at my own liberty now 

i offered to speak in defence of the women declaring that they really
were the very persons 

presume not interrupted she base as thou art to say one word in thine
own vindication i have been contemplating their behaviour their
conversation their over-ready acquiescences to my declarations in thy
disfavour their free yet affectedly-reserved light manners and now
that the sad event has opened my eyes and i have compared facts and
passages together in the little interval that has been lent me i wonder
i could not distinguish the behaviour of the unmatron-like jilt whom
thou broughtest to betray me from the worthy lady whom thou hast the
honour to call thy aunt and that i could not detect the superficial
creature whom thou passedst upon me for the virtuous miss montague 

amazing uncharitableness in a lady so good herself that the high
spirits those ladies were in to see you should subject them to such
censures i do must solemnly vow madam 

that they were interrupting me verily and indeed lady betty lawrance
and thy cousin montague o wretch i see by thy solemn averment  i had
not yet averred it   what credit ought to be given to all the rest had
i no other proof 

interrupting her i besought her patient ear i had found myself i
told her almost avowedly despised and hated i had no hope of gaining
her love or her confidence the letter she had left behind her on her
removal to hampstead sufficiently convinced me that she was entirely
under miss howe's influence and waited but the return of a letter from
her to enter upon measures that would deprive me of her for ever miss
howe had ever been my enemy more so then no doubt from the contents of
the letter she had written to her on her first coming to hampstead that
i dared not to stand the event of such a letter and was glad of an
opportunity by lady betty's and my cousin's means though they knew not
my motive to get her back to town far at the time from intending the
outrage which my despair and her want of confidence in me put me so
vilely upon' 

i would have proceeded and particularly would have said something of
captain tomlinson and her uncle but she would not hear me further and
indeed it was with visible indignation and not without several angry
interruptions that she heard me say so much 

would i dare she asked me to offer at a palliation of my baseness the
two women she was convinced were impostors she knew not but captain
tomlinson and mr mennell were so too but whether they were so or not 
i was and she insisted upon being at her own disposal for the remainder
of her short life for indeed she abhorred me in every light and more
particularly in that in which i offered myself to her acceptance 

and saying this she flung from me leaving me absolutely shocked and
confounded at her part of a conversation which she began with such
uncommon however severe composure and concluded with so much sincere
and unaffected indignation 

and now jack i must address one serious paragraph particularly to thee 

i have not yet touched upon cohabitation her uncle's mediation she does
not absolutely discredit as i had the pleasure to find by one hint in
this conversation yet she suspects my future views and has doubt about
mennell and tomlinson 

i do say if she come fairly at her lights at her clues or what shall i
call them her penetration is wonderful 

but if she do not come at them fairly then is her incredulity then is
her antipathy to me evidently accounted for 

i will speak out thou couldst not surely play me booty jack surely
thou couldst not let thy weak pity for her lead thee to an unpardonable
breach of trust to thy friend who has been so unreserved in his
communications to thee 

i cannot believe thee capable of such a baseness satisfy me however 
upon this head i must make a cursed figure in her eye vowing and
protesting as i shall not scruple occasionally to vow and protest if
all the time she has had unquestionable informations of my perfidy i
know thou as little fearest me as i do thee if any point of manhood 
and wilt scorn to deny it if thou hast done it when thus home-pressed 

and here i have a good mind to stop and write no farther till i have
thy answer 

and so i will 

monday morn past three 



letter xix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday morn five o'clock june 19 


i must write on nothing else can divert me and i think thou canst not
have been a dog to me 

i would fain have closed my eyes but sleep flies me well says horace 
as translated by cowley 

 the halcyon sleep will never build his nest
 in any stormy breast 
 tis not enough that he does find
 clouds and darkness in the mind 
 darkness but half his work will do 
 tis not enough he must find quiet too 

now indeed do i from my heart wish that i had never known this lady but
who would have thought there had been such a woman in the world of all
the sex i have hitherto known or heard or read of it was once subdued 
and always subdued the first struggle was generally the last or at
least the subsequent struggles were so much fainter and fainter that a
man would rather have them than be without them but how know i yet 


 


it is now near six the sun for two hours past has been illuminating
every thing about me for that impartial orb shines upon mother
sinclair's house as well as upon any other but nothing within me can it
illuminate 

at day-dawn i looked through the key-hole of my beloved's door she had
declared she would not put off her clothes any more in this house there
i beheld her in a sweet slumber which i hope will prove refreshing to
her disturbed senses sitting in her elbow-chair her apron over her
head her head supported by one sweet hand the other hand hanging down
upon her side in a sleepy lifelessness half of one pretty foot only
visible 

see the difference in our cases thought i she the charming injured 
can sweetly sleep while the varlet injurer cannot close his eyes and
has been trying to no purpose the whole night to divert his melancholy 
and to fly from himself 

as every vice generally brings on its own punishment even in this life 
if any thing were to tempt me to doubt of future punishment it would be 
that there can hardly be a greater than that in which i at this instant
experience in my own remorse 

i hope it will go off if not well will the dear creature be avenged 
for i shall be the most miserable of men 


 


six o'clock 

just now dorcas tells me that her lady is preparing openly and without
disguise to be gone very probable the humour she flew away from me
in last night has given me expectation of such an enterprize 

now jack to be thus hated and despised and if i have sinned beyond
forgiveness 

but she has sent me a message by dorcas that she will meet me in the
dining-room and desires  odd enough  that the wretch may be present at
the conversation that shall pass between us this message gives me hope 


nine o'clock 

confounded art cunning villany by my soul she had like to have
slipped through my fingers she meant nothing by her message but to get
dorcas out of the way and a clear coast is a fancied distress 
sufficient to justify this lady for dispensing with her principles does
she not show me that she can wilfully deceive as well as i 

had she been in the fore-house and no passage to go through to get at
the street-door she had certainly been gone but her haste betrayed
her for sally martin happening to be in the fore-parlour and hearing a
swifter motion than usual and a rustling of silks as if from somebody
in a hurry looked out and seeing who it was stept between her and the
door and set her back against it 

you must not go madam indeed you must not 

by what right and how dare you and such-like imperious airs the dear
creature gave herself while sally called out for her aunt and half a
dozen voiced joined instantly in the cry for me to hasten down to
hasten down in a moment 

i was gravely instructing dorcas above stairs and wondering what would
be the subject of the conversation to which the wench was to be a
witness when these outcries reached my ears and down i flew and
there was the charming creature the sweet deceiver panting for breath 
her back against the partition a parcel in her hand  women make no
excursions without their parcels   sally polly but polly obligingly
pleaded for her the mother mabell and peter the footman of the
house about her all however keeping their distance the mother and
sally between her and the door in her soft rage the dear soul repeating 
i will go nobody has a right i will go if you kill me women i won't
go up again 

as soon as she saw me she stept a pace or two towards me mr lovelace 
i will go said she do you authorize these women what right have they 
or you either to stop me 

is this my dear preparative to the conversation you led me to expect in
the dining-room and do you thing  sic  i can part with you thus do
you think i will 

and am i sir to be thus beset surrounded thus what have these women
to do with me 

i desired them to leave us all but dorcas who was down as soon as i i
then thought it right to assume an air of resolution having found my
tameness so greatly triumphed over and now my dear said i urging
her reluctant feet be pleased to walk into the fore-parlour here 
since you will not go up stairs here we may hold our parley and dorcas
will be witness to it and now madam seating her and sticking my
hands in my sides your pleasure 

insolent villain said the furious lady and rising ran to the window 
and threw up the sash  she knew not i suppose that there were iron
rails before the windows   and when she found she could not get out
into the street clasping her uplifted hands together having dropt her
parcel for the love of god good honest man for the love of god 
mistress  to two passers by   a poor a poor creature said she ruined 
 

i clasped her in my arms people beginning to gather about the window 
and then she cried out murder help help and carried her up to the
dining-room in spite of her little plotting heart as i may now call
it although she violently struggled catching hold of the banisters
here and there as she could i would have seated her there but she
sunk down half-motionless pale as ashes and a violent burst of tears
happily relieved her 

dorcas wept over her the wench was actually moved for her 

violent hysterics succeeded i left her to mabell dorcas and polly 
the latter the most supportable to her of the sisterhood 

this attempt so resolutely made alarmed me not a little 

mrs sinclair and her nymphs are much more concerned because of the
reputation of their house as they call it having received some insults
 broken windows threatened to make them produce the young creature who
cried out 

while the mobbish inquisitors were in the height of their office the
women came running up to me to know what they should do a constable
being actually fetched 

get the constable into the parlour said i with three or four of the
forwardest of the mob and produce one of the nymphs onion-eyed in a
moment with disordered head-dress and handkerchief and let her own
herself the person the occasion a female skirmish but satisfied with
the justice done her then give a dram or two to each fellow and all
will be well 


eleven o'clock 

all done as i advised and all is well 

mrs sinclair wishes she had never seen the face of so skittish a lady 
and she and sally are extremely pressing with me to leave the perverse
beauty to their breaking as they call it for four or five days but i
cursed them into silence only ordering double precaution for the future 

polly though she consoled the dear perverse one all she could when with
her insists upon it to me that nothing but terror will procure me
tolerable usage 

dorcas was challenged by the women upon her tears she owned them real 
said she was ashamed of herself but could not help it so sincere so
unyielding a grief in so sweet a lady 

the women laughed at her but i bid her make no apologies for her tears 
nor mind their laughing i was glad to see them so ready good use
might be made of such strangers in short i would not have her indulge
them often and try if it were not possible to gain her lady's confidence
by her concern for her 

she said that her lady did take kind notice of them to her and was glad
to see such tokens of humanity in her 

well then said i your part whether any thing come of it or not is to
be tender-hearted it can do no harm if no good but take care you are
not too suddenly or too officiously compassionate 

so dorcas will be a humane good sort of creature i believe very
quickly with her lady and as it becomes women to be so and as my
beloved is willing to think highly of her own sex it will the more
readily pass with her 

i thought to have had one trial having gone so far for cohabitation 
but what hope can there be of succeeding she is invincible against
all my motions against all my conceptions thinking of her as a woman 
and in the very bloom of her charms she is absolutely invincible my
whole view at the present is to do her legal justice if i can but once
more get her out of her altitudes 

the consent of such a woman must make her ever new ever charming but
astonishing can the want of a church-ceremony make such a difference 

she owes me her consent for hitherto i have had nothing to boast of 
all of my side has been deep remorse anguish of mind and love
increased rather than abated 

how her proud rejection stings me and yet i hope still to get her to
listen to my stories of the family-reconciliation and of her uncle and
capt tomlinson and as she has given me a pretence to detain her against
her will she must see me whether in temper or not she cannot help it 
and if love will not do terror as the women advise must be tried 

a nice part after all has my beloved to act if she forgive me easily 
i resume perhaps my projects if she carry her rejection into violence 
that violence may make me desperate and occasion fresh violence she
ought since she thinks she has found the women out to consider where
she is 

i am confoundedly out of conceit with myself if i give up my
contrivances my joy in stratagem and plot and invention i shall be
but a common man such another dull heavy creature as thyself yet what
does even my success in my machinations bring me but regret disgrace 
repentance but i am overmatched egregiously overmatched by this
woman what to do with her or without her i know not 



letter xx

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i have this moment intelligence from simon parsons one of lord m s
stewards that his lordship is very ill simon who is my obsequious
servant in virtue of my presumptive heirship gives me a hint in his
letter that my presence at m hall will not be amiss so i must
accelerate whatever be the course i shall be allowed or compelled to
take 

no bad prospects for this charming creature if the old peer would be so
kind as to surrender and many a summons has this gout given him a good
8000  a-year and perhaps the title reversionary or a still higher 
would help me up with her 

proudly as this lady pretends to be above all pride grandeur will have
its charms with her for grandeur always makes a man's face shine in a
woman's eye i have a pretty good because a clear estate as it is 
but what a noble variety of mischief will 8000  a-year enable a man to
do 

perhaps thou'lt say i do already all that comes into my head but that's
a mistake not one half i will assure thee and even good folks as i
have heard love to have the power of doing mischief whether they make
use of it or not the late queen anne who was a very good woman was
always fond of prerogative and her ministers in her name in more
instances than one made a ministerial use of this her foible 


 


but now at last am i to be admitted to the presence of my angry
fair-one after three denials nevertheless and a peremptory from me by
dorcas that i must see her in her chamber if i cannot see her in the
dining-room 

dorcas however tells me that she says if she were at her own liberty 
she would never see me more and that she had been asking after the
characters and conditions of the neighbours i suppose now she has
found her voice to call out for help from them if there were any to
hear her 

she will have it now it seems that i had the wickedness from the very
beginning to contrive for her ruin a house so convenient for dreadful
mischief 

dorcas begs of her to be pacified entreats her to see me with patience 
tells her that i am one of the most determined of men as she has heard
say that gentleness may do with me but that nothing else will she
believes and what as her ladyship as she always styles her is
married if i had broken my oath or intended to break it 

she hinted plain enough to the honest wench that she was not married 
but dorcas would not understand her 

this shows she is resolved to keep no measures and now is to be a trial
of skill whether she shall or not 

dorcas has hinted to her my lord's illness as a piece of intelligence
that dropt in conversation from me 

but here i stop my beloved pursuant to my peremptory message is just
gone up into the dining-room 



letter xxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday afternoon 


pity me jack for pity's sake since if thou dost not nobody else
will and yet never was there a man of my genius and lively temper that
wanted it more we are apt to attribute to the devil every thing happens
to us which we would not have happen but here being as perhaps
thou'lt say the devil myself my plagues arise from an angel i
suppose all mankind is to be plagued by its contrary 

she began with me like a true woman  she in the fault i to be blamed  
the moment i entered the dining-room not the least apology not the
least excuse for the uproar she had made and the trouble she had given
me 

i come said she into thy detested presence because i cannot help it 
but why am i to be imprisoned here although to no purpose i cannot
help 

dearest madam interrupted i give not way to so much violence you must
know that your detention is entirely owing to the desire i have to make
you all the amends that is in my power to make you and this as well for
your sake as my own surely there is still one way left to repair
the wrongs you have suffered 

canst thou blot out the past week several weeks past i should say 
ever since i have been with thee canst thou call back time if thou
canst 

surely madam again interrupting her if i may be permitted to call you
legally mine i might have but anticip 

wretch that thou art say not another word upon this subject when
thou vowedst when thou promisedst at hampstead i had begun to think
that i must be thine if i had consented at the request of those i
thought thy relations this would have been a principal inducement that
i could then have brought thee what was most wanted an unsullied honour
in dowry to a wretch destitute of all honour and could have met the
gratulations of a family to which thy life has been one continued
disgrace with a consciousness of deserving their gratulations but
thinkest thou that i will give a harlot niece to thy honourable uncle 
and to thy real aunts and a cousin to thy cousins from a brothel for
such in my opinion is this detested house then lifting up her
clasped hands great and good god of heaven  said she give me
patience to support myself under the weight of those afflictions which
thou for wise and good ends though at present impenetrable by me hast
permitted 

then turning towards me who knew neither what to say to her nor for
myself i renounce thee for ever lovelace abhorred of my soul for
ever i renounce thee seek thy fortunes wheresoever thou wilt only
now that thou hast already ruined me 

ruined you madam the world need not i knew not what to say 

ruined me in my own eyes and that is the same to me as if all the world
knew it hinder me not from going whither my mysterious destiny shall
lead me 

why hesitate you sir what right have you to stop me as you lately
did and to bring me up by force my hands and arms bruised by your
violence what right have you to detain me here 

i am cut to the heart madam with invectives so violent i am but too
sensible of the wrong i have done you or i could not bear your
reproaches the man who perpetrates a villany and resolves to go on
with it shows not the compunction i show yet if you think yourself
in my power i would caution you madam not to make me desperate for
you shall be mine or my life shall be the forfeit nor is life worth
having without you 

be thine i be thine said the passionate beauty o how lovely in her
violence 

yes madam be mine i repeat you shall be mine my very crime is your
glory my love my admiration of you is increased by what has passed 
and so it ought i am willing madam to court your returning favour 
but let me tell you were the house beset by a thousand armed men 
resolved to take you from me they should not effect their purpose while
i had life 

i never never will be your's said she clasping her hands together and
lifting up her eyes i never will be your's 

we may yet see many happy years madam all your friends may be
reconciled to you the treaty for that purpose is in greater forwardness
than you imagine you know better than to think the worse of yourself
for suffering what you could not help enjoin but the terms i can make
my peace with you upon and i will instantly comply 

never never repeated she will i be your's 

only forgive me my dearest life this one time a virtue so invincible 
what further view can i have against you have i attempted any further
outrage if you will be mine your injuries will be injuries done to
myself you have too well guessed at the unnatural arts that have been
used but can a greater testimony be given of your virtue and now i
have only to hope that although i cannot make you complete amends yet
you will permit me to make you all the amends that can possibly be made 

here  sic  me out i beseech you madam for she was going to speak with
an aspect unpacifiedly angry the god whom you serve requires but
repentance and amendment imitate him my dearest love and bless me
with the means of reforming a course of life that begins to be hateful to
me that was once your favourite point resume it dearest creature in
charity to a soul as well as body which once as i flattered myself 
was more than indifferent to you resume it and let to-morrow's sun
witness to our espousals 

i cannot judge thee said she but the god to whom thou so boldly
referrest can and assure thyself he will but if compunction has
really taken hold of thee if indeed thou art touched for thy
ungrateful baseness and meanest any thing by this pleading the holy
example thou recommendest to my imitation in this thy pretended
repentant moment let me sift thee thoroughly and by thy answer i shall
judge of the sincerity of thy pretended declarations 

tell me then is there any reality in the treaty thou has pretended to
be on foot between my uncle and capt tomlinson and thyself say and
hesitate not is there any truth in that story but remember if there
be not and thou avowest that there is what further condemnation attends
to thy averment if it be as solemn as i require it to be 

this was a cursed thrust what could i say surely this merciless lady
is resolved to d n me thought i and yet accuses me of a design against
her soul but was i not obliged to proceed as i had begun 

in short i solemnly averred that there was how one crime as the good
folks say brings on another 

i added that the captain had been in town and would have waited on her 
had she not been indisposed that he went down much afflicted as well on
her account as on that of her uncle though i had not acquainted him
either with the nature of her disorder or the ever-to-be-regretted
occasion of it having told him that it was a violent fever that he had
twice since by her uncle's desire sent up to inquire after her health 
and that i had already dispatched a man and horse with a letter to
acquaint him and her uncle through him with her recovery making it
my earnest request that he would renew his application to her uncle for
the favour of his presence at the private celebrations of our nuptials 
and that i expected an answer if not this night as to-morrow 

let me ask thee next said she thou knowest the opinion i have of the
women thou broughtest to me at hampstead and who have seduced me hither
to my ruin let me ask thee if really and truly they were lady betty
lawrance and thy cousin montague what sayest thou hesitate not what
sayest thou to this question 

astonishing my dear that you should suspect them but knowing your
strange opinion of them what can i say to be believed 

and is this the answer thou returnest me dost thou thus evade my
question but let me know for i am trying thy sincerity now and all
shall judge of thy new professions by thy answer to this question let me
know i repeat whether those women be really lady betty lawrance and thy
cousin montague 

let me my dearest love be enabled to-morrow to call you lawfully mine 
and we will set out the next day if you please to berkshire to my lord
m s where they both are at this time and you shall convince yourself
by your own eyes and by your own ears which you will believe sooner
than all i can say or swear 

now belford i had really some apprehension of treachery from thee 
which made me so miserably evade for else i could as safely have sworn
to the truth of this as to that of the former but she pressing me still
for a categorical answer i ventured plumb and swore to it  lover's
oaths jack   that they were really and truly lady betty lawrance and my
cousin montague 

she lifted up her hands and eyes what can i think what can i think 

you think me a devil madam a very devil or you could not after you
have put these questions to me seem to doubt the truth of answers so
solemnly sworn to 

and if i do think thee so have i not cause is there another man in the
world i hope for the sake of human nature there is not who could act
by any poor friendless creature as thou hast acted by me whom thou hast
made friendless and who before i knew thee had for a friend every one
who knew me 

i told you madam before that lady betty and my cousin were actually
here in order to take leave of you before they set out for berkshire 
but the effects of my ungrateful crime such with shame and remorse i
own it to be were the reason you could not see them nor could i be
fond that they should see you since they never would have forgiven me 
had they known what had passed and what reason had i to expect your
silence on the subject had you been recovered 

it signifies nothing now that the cause of their appearance has been
answered in my ruin who or what they are but if thou hast averred thus
solemnly to two falsehoods what a wretch do i see before me 

i thought she had now reason to be satisfied and i begged her to allow
me to talk to her of to-morrow as of the happiest day of my life we
have the license madam and you must excuse me that i cannot let you go
hence till i have tried every way i can to obtain your forgiveness 

and am i then  with a kind of frantic wildness   to be detained a
prisoner in this horrid house am i sir take care take care holding
up her hand menacing how you make me desperate if i fall though by
my own hand inquisition will be made for my blood and be not out in thy
plot lovelace if it should be so make sure work i charge thee dig a
hole deep enough to cram in and conceal this unhappy body for depend
upon it that some of those who will not stir to protect me living will
move heaven and earth to avenge me dead 

a horrid dear creature by my soul she made me shudder she had need
indeed to talk of her unhappiness in falling into the hands of the only
man in the world who could have used her as i have used her she is the
only woman in the world who could have shocked and disturbed me as she
has done so we are upon a foot in that respect and i think i have the
worst of it by much since very little has been my joy very much my
trouble and her punishment as she calls it is over but when mine
will or what it may be who can tell 

here only recapitulating think then how i must be affected at the
time i was forced to leave off and sing a song to myself i aimed at
a lively air but i croaked rather than sung and fell into the old
dismal thirtieth of january strain i hemmed up for a sprightlier note 
but it would not do and at last i ended like a malefactor in a dead
psalm melody 

heigh-ho i gape like an unfledged kite in its nest wanting to swallow
a chicken bobbed at its mouth by its marauding dam 

what a-devil ails me i can neither think nor write 

lie down pen for a moment 



letter xxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


there is certainly a good deal in the observation that it costs a man
ten times more pains to be wicked than it would cost him to be good what
a confounded number of contrivances have i had recourse to in order
to carry my point with this charming creature and yet after all how
have i puzzled myself by it and yet am near tumbling into the pit which
it was the end of all my plots to shun what a happy man had i been with
such an excellence could i have brought my mind to marry when i first
prevailed upon her to quit her father's house but then as i have often
reflected how had i known that a but blossoming beauty who could carry
on a private correspondence and run such risques with a notorious wild
fellow was not prompted by inclination which one day might give such a
free-liver as myself as much pain to reflect upon as at the time it
gave me pleasure thou rememberest the host's tale in ariosto and thy
experience as well as mine can furnish out twenty fiametta's in proof
of the imbecility of the sex 

but to proceed with my narrative 

the dear creature resumed the topic her heart was so firmly fixed upon 
and insisted upon quitting the odious house and that in very high terms 

i urged her to meet me the next day at the altar in either of the two
churches mentioned in the license and i besought her whatever was her
resolution to let me debate this matter calmly with her 

if she said i would have her give what i desired the least moment's
consideration i must not hinder her from being her own mistress to
what purpose did i ask her consent if she had not a power over either
her own person or actions 

will you give me your honour madam if i consent to your quitting a
house so disagreeable to you 

my honour sir said the dear creature alas and turned weeping from
me with inimitable grace as if she had said alas you have robbed me
of my honour 

i hoped then that her angry passions were subsiding but i was mistaken 
for urging her warmly for the day and that for the sake of our mutual
honour and the honour of both our families in this high-flown and
high-souled strain she answered me 

and canst thou lovelace be so mean as to wish to make a wife of the
creature thou hast insulted dishonoured and abused as thou hast me 
was it necessary to humble me down to the low level of thy baseness 
before i could be a wife meet for thee thou hadst a father who was a
man of honour a mother who deserved a better son thou hast an uncle 
who is no dishonour to the peerage of a kingdom whose peers are more
respectable than the nobility of any other country thou hast other
relations also who may be thy boast though thou canst not be theirs 
and canst thou not imagine that thou hearest them calling upon thee the
dead from their monuments the living from their laudable pride not to
dishonour thy ancient and splendid house by entering into wedlock with a
creature whom thou hast levelled with the dirt of the street and classed
with the vilest of her sex 

i extolled her greatness of soul and her virtue i execrated myself for
my guilt and told her how grateful to the manes of my ancestors as
well as to the wishes of the living the honour i supplicated for would
be 

but still she insisted upon being a free agent of seeing herself in
other lodgings before she would give what i urged the least
consideration nor would she promise me favour even then or to permit
my visits how then as i asked her could i comply without resolving
to lose her for ever 

she put her hand to her forehead often as she talked and at last 
pleading disorder in her head retired neither of us satisfied with the
other but she ten times more dissatisfied with me than i with her 

dorcas seems to be coming into favour with her 

what now what now 


monday night 

how determined is this lady again had she like to have escaped us 
what a fixed resentment she only i find assumed a little calm in
order to quiet suspicion she was got down and actually had unbolted
the street-door before i could get to her alarmed as i was by mrs 
sinclair's cookmaid who was the only one that saw her fly through the
passage yet lightning was not quicker than i 

again i brought her back to the dining-room with infinite reluctance on
her part and before her face ordered a servant to be placed
constantly at the bottom of the stairs for the future 

she seemed even choked with grief and disappointment 

dorcas was exceedingly assiduous about her and confidently gave it as
her own opinion that her dear lady should be permitted to go to another
lodging since this was so disagreeable to her were she to be killed for
saying so she would say it and was good dorcas for this afterwards 

but for some time the dear creature was all passion and violence 

i see i see said she when i had brought her up what i am to expect
from your new professions o vilest of men 

have i offered t you my beloved creature any thing that can justify
this impatience after a more hopeful calm 

she wrung her hands she disordered her head-dress she tore her
ruffles she was in a perfect phrensy 

i dreaded her returning malady but entreaty rather exasperating i
affected an angry air i bid her expect the worst she had to fear and
was menacing on in hopes to intimidate her when dropping to my feet 

twill be a mercy said she the highest act of mercy you can do to kill
me outright upon this spot this happy spot as i will in my last
moments call it then baring with a still more frantic violence part
of her enchanting neck here here said the soul-harrowing beauty let
thy pointed mercy enter and i will thank thee and forgive thee for all
the dreadful past with my latest gasp will i forgive and thank thee 
or help me to the means and i will myself put out of the way so
miserable a wretch and bless thee for those means 

why all this extravagant passion why all these exclamations have i
offered any new injury to you my dearest life what a phrensy is this 
am i not ready to make you all the reparation that i can make you had i
not reason to hope 

no no no no as before shaking her head with wild impatience as
resolved not to attend to what i said 

my resolutions are so honourable if you will permit them to take effect 
that i need not be solicitous where you go if you will but permit my
visits and receive my vows and god is my witness that i bring you not
back from the door with any view to your dishonour but the contrary and
this moment i will send for a minister to put an end to all your doubts
and fears 

say this and say a thousand times more and bind every word with a
solemn appeal to that god whom thou art accustomed to invoke to the truth
of the vilest falsehoods and all will still be short of what thou has
vowed and promised to me and were not my heart to abhor thee and to
rise against thee for thy perjuries as it does i would not i tell
thee once more i would not bind my soul in covenant with such a man 
for a thousand worlds 

compose yourself however madam for your own sake compose yourself 
permit me to raise you up abhorred as i am of your soul 

nay if i must not touch you for she wildly slapt my hands but with
such a sweet passionate air her bosom heaving and throbbing as she
looked up to me that although i was most sincerely enraged i could with
transport have pressed her to mine 

if i must not touch you i will not but depend upon it  and i assumed
the sternest air i could assume to try what it would do   depend upon
it madam that this is not the way to avoid the evils you dread let me
do what i will i cannot be used worse dorcas begone 

she arose dorcas being about to withdraw and wildly caught hold of her
arm o dorcas if thou art of mine own sex leave me not i charge thee 
 then quitting dorcas down she threw herself upon her knees in the
furthermost corner of the room clasping a chair with her face laid upon
the bottom of it o where can i be safe where where can i be safe 
from this man of violence 

this gave dorcas an opportunity to confirm herself in her lady's
confidence the wench threw herself at my feet while i seemed in violent
wrath and embracing my knees kill me sir kill me sir if you please 
 i must throw myself in your way to save my lady i beg your pardon 
sir but you must be set on god forgive the mischief-makers but your
own heart if left to itself would not permit these things spare 
however sir spare my lady i beseech you bustling on her knees about
me as if i were intending to approach her lady had i not been
restrained by her 

this humoured by me begone devil officious devil begone startled
the dear creature who snatching up hastily her head from the chair and
as hastily popping it down again in terror hit her nose i suppose 
against the edge of the chair and it gushed out with blood running in a
stream down her bosom she herself was too much frighted to heed it 

never was mortal man in such terror and agitation as i for i instantly
concluded that she had stabbed herself with some concealed instrument 

i ran to her in a wild agony for dorcas was frighted out of all her mock
interposition 

what have you done o what have you done look up to me my dearest
life sweet injured innocence look up to me what have you done long
will i not survive you and i was upon the point of drawing my sword to
dispatch myself when i discovered  what an unmanly blockhead does this
charming creature make me at her pleasure   that all i apprehended was
but a bloody nose which as far as i know for it could not be stopped
in a quarter of an hour may have saved her head and her intellects 

but i see by this scene that the sweet creature is but a pretty coward
at bottom and that i can terrify her out of her virulence against me 
whenever i put on sternness and anger but then as a qualifier to the
advantage this gives me over her i find myself to be a coward too which
i had not before suspected since i was capable of being so easily
terrified by the apprehensions of her offering violence to herself 



letter xxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


but with all this dear creature's resentment against me i cannot for my
heart think but she will get all over and consent to enter the pale
with me were she even to die to-morrow and to know she should would
not a woman of her sense of her punctilio and in her situation and of
so proud a family rather die married than otherwise no doubt but she
would although she were to hate the man ever so heartily if so there
is now but one man in the world whom she can have and that is me 

now i talk  familiar writing is but talking jack  thus glibly of
entering the pale thou wilt be ready to question me i know as to my
intentions on this head 

as much of my heart as i know of it myself will i tell thee when i am
from her i cannot still help hesitating about marriage and i even
frequently resolve against it and determine to press my favourite scheme
for cohabitation but when i am with her i am ready to say to swear 
and to do whatever i think will be the most acceptable to her and were
a parson at hand i should plunge at once no doubt of it into the
state 

i have frequently thought in common cases that it is happy for many
giddy fellows  there are giddy fellows as well as giddy girls jack and
perhaps those are as often drawn in as these  that ceremony and parade
are necessary to the irrevocable solemnity and that there is generally
time for a man to recollect himself in the space between the heated
over-night and the cooler next morning or i know not who could escape
the sweet gypsies whose fascinating powers are so much aided by our own
raised imaginations 

a wife at any time i used to say i had ever confidence and vanity
enough to think that no woman breathing could deny her hand when i held
out mine i am confoundedly mortified to find that this lady is able to
hold me at bay and to refuse all my honest vows 

what force  allow me a serious reflection jack it will be put down 
what force  have evil habits upon the human mind when we enter upon a
devious course we think we shall have it in our power when we will
return to the right path but it is not so i plainly see for who can
acknowledge with more justice this dear creature's merits and his own
errors than i whose regret at times can be deeper than mine for the
injuries i have done her whose resolutions to repair those injuries
stronger yet how transitory is my penitence how am i hurried away 
canst thou tell by what o devil of youth and devil of intrigue how do
you mislead me how often do we end in occasions for the deepest
remorse what we begin in wantonness 

at the present writing however the turn of the scale is in behalf of
matrimony for i despair of carrying with her my favourite point 

the lady tells dorcas that her heart is broken and that she shall live
but a little while i think nothing of that if we marry in the first
place she knows not what a mind unapprehensive will do for her in a
state to which all the sex look forwards with high satisfaction how
often have the whole of the sacred conclave been thus deceived in their
choice of a pope not considering that the new dignity is of itself
sufficient to give new life a few months' heart's ease will give my
charmer a quite different notion of things and i dare say as i have
heretofore said once married and i am married for life 


 see letter ix of this volume 


i will allow that her pride in one sense has suffered abasement but
her triumph is the greater in every other and while i can think that
all her trials are but additions to her honour and that i have laid the
foundations of her glory in my own shame can i be called cruel if i am
not affected with her grief as some men would be 

and for what should her heart be broken her will is unviolated at
present however her will is unviolated the destroying of good habits 
and the introducing of bad to the corrupting of the whole heart is the
violation that her will is not to be corrupted that her mind is not to
be debased she has hitherto unquestionably proved and if she give
cause for farther trials and hold fast her integrity what ideas will
she have to dwell upon that will be able to corrupt her morals what
vestigia what remembrances but such as will inspire abhorrence of the
attempter 

what nonsense then to suppose that such a mere notional violation as she
has suffered should be able to cut asunder the strings of life 

her religion married or not married will set her above making such a
trifling accident such an involuntary suffering fatal to her 

such considerations as these they are that support me against all
apprehensions of bugbear consequences and i would have them have weight
with thee who are such a doughty advocate for her and yet i allow thee
this that she really makes too much of it takes it too much to heart 
to be sure she ought to have forgot it by this time except the charming 
charming consequence happen that still i am in hopes will happen were i
to proceed no farther and if she apprehended this herself then has
the dear over-nice soul some reason for taking it so much to heart and
yet would not i think refuse to legitimate 

o jack had i am imperial diadem i swear to thee that i would give it
up even to my enemy to have one charming boy by this lady and should
she escape me and no such effect follow my revenge on her family and 
in such a case on herself would be incomplete and i should reproach
myself as long as i lived 

were i to be sure that this foundation is laid  and why may i not hope it
is   i should not doubt to have her still should she withstand her day
of grace on my own conditions nor should i if it were so question
that revived affection in her which a woman seldom fails to have for the
father of her first child whether born in wedlock or out of it 

and pr'ythee jack see in this my ardent hope a distinction in my
favour from other rakes who almost to a man follow their inclinations
without troubling themselves about consequences in imitation as one
would think of the strutting villain of a bird which from feathered
lady to feathered lady pursues his imperial pleasures leaving it to his
sleek paramours to hatch the genial product in holes and corners of their
own finding out 



letter xxiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday morn june 20 


well jack now are we upon another footing together this dear creature
will not let me be good she is now authorizing all my plots by her own
example 

thou must be partial in the highest degree if now thou blamest me for
resuming my former schemes since in that case i shall but follow her
cue no forced construction of her actions do i make on this occasion 
in order to justify a bad cause or a worse intention a slight pretence 
indeed served the wolf when he had a mind to quarrel with the lamb but
this is not now my case 

for here wouldst thou have thought it taking advantage of dorcas's
compassionate temper and of some warm expressions which the
tender-hearted wench let fall against the cruelty of men and wishing to
have it in her power to serve her has she given her the following note 
signed by her maiden name for she has thought fit in positive and plain
words to own to the pitying dorcas that she is not married 


monday june 19 

i then underwritten do hereby promise that on my coming into possession
of my own estate i will provide for dorcas martindale in a gentlewoman-
like manner in my own house or if i do not soon obtain that
possession or should first die i do hereby bind myself my executors 
and administrators to pay to her or her order during the term of her
natural life the sum of five pounds on each of the four usual quarterly
days in the year on condition that she faithfully assist me in my escape
from an illegal confinement under which i now labour the first
quarterly payment to commence and be payable at the end of three months
immediately following the day of my deliverance and i do also promise
to give her as a testimony of my honour in the rest a diamond ring 
which i have showed her witness my hand this nineteenth day of june in
the year above written 

clarissa harlowe 


now jack what terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet
corruptress seest thou not how she hates me seest thou not that she
is resolved never to forgive me seest thou not however that she must
disgrace herself in the eye of the world if she actually should escape 
that she must be subjected to infinite distress and hazard for whom has
she to receive and protect her yet to determine to risque all these
evils and furthermore to stoop to artifice to be guilty of the reigning
vice of the times of bribery and corruption o jack jack say not 
write not another word in her favour 

thou hast blamed me for bringing her to this house but had i carried her
to any other in england where there would have been one servant or
inmate capable either of compassion or corruption what must have been
the consequence 

but seest thou not however that in this flimsy contrivance the dear
implacable like a drowning man catches at a straw to save herself a
straw shall she find to be the refuge she has resorted to 



letter xxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tues morn ten o'clock


very ill exceedingly ill as dorcas tells me in order to avoid seeing
me and yet the dear soul may be so in her mind but is not that
equivocation some one passion predominating in every human breast 
breaks through principle and controuls us all mine is love and revenge
taking turns her's is hatred but this is my consolation that hatred
appeased is love begun or love renewed i may rather say if love ever
had footing here 

but reflectioning apart thou seest jack that her plot is beginning to
work to-morrow is to break out 

i have been abroad to set on foot a plot of circumvention all fair
now belford 

i insisted upon visiting my indisposed fair-one dorcas made officious
excuses for her i cursed the wench in her hearing for her impertinence 
and stamped and made a clutter which was improved into an apprehension
to the lady that i would have flung her faithful confidante from the top
of the stairs to the bottom 

he is a violent wretch but dorcas  dear dorcas now it is   thou
shalt have a friend in me to the last day of my life 

and what now jack dost think the name of her good angel is why dorcas
martindale christian and super no more wykes as in the promissory note
in my former and the dear creature has bound her to her by the most
solemn obligations besides the tie of interest 

whither madam do you design to go when you get out of this house 

i will throw myself into the first open house i can find and beg
protection till i can get a coach or a lodging in some honest family 

what will you do for clothes madam i doubt you'll be able to take any
away with you but what you'll have on 

o no matter for clothes if i can but get out of this house 

what will you do for money madam i have heard his honour express his
concern that he could not prevail upon you to be obliged to him though
he apprehended that you must be short of money 

o i have rings and other valuables indeed i have but four guineas and
two of them i found lately wrapt up in a bit of lace designed for a
charitable use but now alas charity begins at home but i have one
dear friend left if she be living as i hope in god she is to whom i
can be obliged if i want o dorcas i must ere now have heard from her 
if i had had fair play 

well madam your's is a hard lot i pity you at my heart 

thank you dorcas i am unhappy that i did not think before that i might
have confided in thy pity and in thy sex 

i pitied you madam often and often but you were always as i thought 
diffident of me and then i doubted not but you were married and i
thought his honour was unkindly used by you so that i thought it my
duty to wish well to his honour rather than to what i thought to be your
humours madam would to heaven that i had known before that you were
not married such a lady such a fortune to be so sadly betrayed 

ah dorcas i was basely drawn in my youth my ignorance of the world
 and i have some things to reproach myself with when i look back 

lord madam what deceitful creatures are these men neither oaths nor
vows i am sure i am sure  and then with her apron she gave her eyes
half a dozen hearty rubs  i may curse the time that i came into this
house 

here was accounting for her bold eyes and was it not better for dorcas
to give up a house which her lady could not think worse of than she did 
in order to gain the reputation of sincerity than by offering to
vindicate it to make her proffered services suspected 

poor dorcas bless me how little do we who have lived all our time in
the country know of this wicked town 

had i been able to write cried the veteran wench i should certainly
have given some other near relations i have in wales a little inkling of
matters and they would have saved me from from from 

her sobs were enough the apprehensions of women on such subjects are
ever aforehand with speech 

and then sobbing on she lifted her apron to her face again she showed
me how 

poor dorcas again wiping her own charming eyes 

all love all compassion is this dear creature to every one in
affliction but me 

and would not an aunt protect her kinswoman abominable wretch 

i can't i can't i can't say my aunt was privy to it she gave me
good advice she knew not for a great while that i was that i was that
i was ugh ugh ugh 

no more no more good dorcas what a world do we live in what a house
am i in but come don't weep though she herself could not forbear 
my being betrayed into it though to my own ruin may be a happy event
for thee and if i live it shall 

i thank you my good lady blubbering i am sorry very sorry you have
had so hard a lot but it may be the saving of my soul if i can get to
your ladyship's house had i but known that your ladyship was not
married i would have eat my own flesh before before before 

dorcas sobbed and wept the lady sighed and wept also 

but now jack for a serious reflection upon the premises 

how will the good folks account for it that satan has such faithful
instruments and that the bond of wickedness is a stronger bond than the
ties of virtue as if it were the nature of the human mind to be villanous 
for here had dorcas been good and been tempted as she was tempted to any
thing evil i make no doubt but she would have yielded to the temptation 

and cannot our fraternity in an hundred instances give proof of the like
predominance of vice over virtue and that we have risked more to serve
and promote the interests of the former than ever a good man did to
serve a good man or a good cause for have we not been prodigal of life
and fortune have we not defied the civil magistrate upon occasion and
have we not attempted rescues and dared all things only to extricate a
pounded profligate 

whence jack can this be 

o i have it i believe the vicious are as bad as they can be and do
the devil's work without looking after while he is continually spreading
snares for the others and like a skilful angler suiting his baits to
the fish he angles for 

nor let even honest people so called blame poor dorcas for her fidelity
in a bad cause for does not the general who implicitly serves an
ambitious prince in his unjust designs upon his neighbours or upon his
own oppressed subjects and even the lawyer who for the sake of a
paltry fee undertakes to whiten a black cause and to defend it against
one he knows to be good do the very same thing as dorcas and are they
not both every whit as culpable yet the one shall be dubbed a hero the
other called an admirable fellow and be contended for by every client 
and his double-tongued abilities shall carry him through all the high
preferments of the law with reputation and applause 

well but what shall be done since the lady is so much determined on
removing is there no way to oblige her and yet to make the very act
subservient to my other views i fancy such a way may be found out 

i will study for it 

suppose i suffer her to make an escape her heart is in it if she
effect it the triumph she will have over me upon it will be a
counterbalance for all she has suffered 

i will oblige her if i can 



letter xxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


tired with a succession of fatiguing days and sleepless nights and with
contemplating the precarious situation i stand in with my beloved i fell
into a profound reverie which brought on sleep and that produced a
dream a fortunate dream which as i imagine will afford my working
mind the means to effect the obliging double purpose my heart is now once
more set upon 

what as i have often contemplated is the enjoyment of the finest woman
in the world to the contrivance the bustle the surprises and at last
the happy conclusion of a well-laid plot the charming round-abouts to
come to the nearest way home the doubts the apprehensions the
heart-achings the meditated triumphs these are the joys that make the
blessing dear for all the rest what is it what but to find an angel
in imagination dwindled down to a woman in fact but to my dream 

methought it was about nine on wednesday morning that a chariot with a
dowager's arms upon the doors and in it a grave matronly lady  not
unlike mother h in the face but in her heart oh how unlike   stopped
at a grocer's shop about ten doors on the other side of the way in
order to buy some groceries and methought dorcas having been out to see
if the coast were clear for her lady's flight and if a coach were to be
got near the place espied the chariot with the dowager's arms and this
matronly lady and what methought did dorcas that subtle traitress 
do but whip up to the old matronly lady and lifting up her voice say 
good my lady permit me one word with your ladyship 

what thou hast to say to me say on quoth the old lady the grocer
retiring and standing aloof to give dorcas leave to speak who 
methought in words like these accosted the lady 

you seem madam to be a very good lady and here in this
neighbourhood at a house of no high repute is an innocent lady of rank
and fortune beautiful as a may morning and youthful as a rose-bud and
full as sweet and lovely who has been tricked thither by a wicked
gentleman practised in the ways of the town and this very night will
she be ruined if she get not out of his hands now o lady if you will
extend your compassionate goodness to this fair young lady in whom the
moment you behold her you will see cause to believe all i say and let
her but have a place in your chariot and remain in your protection for
one day only till she can send a man and horse to her rich and powerful
friends you may save from ruin a lady who has no equal for virtue as
well as beauty 

methought the old lady moved with dorcas's story answered and said 
hasten o damsel who in a happy moment art come to put it in my power
to serve the innocent and virtuous which it has always been my delight
to do hasten to this young lady and bid her hie hither to me with all
speed and tell her that my chariot shall be her asylum and if i find
all that thou sayest true my house shall be her sanctuary and i will
protect her from all her oppressors 

hereupon methought this traitress dorcas hied back to the lady and
made report of what she had done and methought the lady highly
approved of dorcas's proceeding and blessed her for her good thought 

and i lifted up mine eyes and behold the lady issued out of the house 
and without looking back ran to the chariot with the dowager's coat upon
it and was received by the matronly lady with open arms and welcome 
welcome welcome fair young lady who so well answer the description of
the faithful damsel and i will carry you instantly to my house where
you shall meet with all the good usage your heart can wish for till you
can apprize your rich and powerful friends of your past dangers and
present escape 

thank you thank you thank you thank you worthy thrice worthy lady 
who afford so kindly your protection to a most unhappy young creature 
who has been basely seduced and betrayed and brought to the very brink
of destruction 

methought then the matronly lady who had by the time the young lady
came to her bought and paid for the goods she wanted ordered her
coachman to drive home with all speed who stopped not till he had
arrived in a certain street not far from lincoln's-inn-fields where the
matronly lady lived in a sumptuous dwelling replete with damsels who
wrought curiously in muslins cambrics and fine linen and in every good
work that industrious damsels love to be employed about except the loom
and the spinning-wheel 

and methought all the way the young lady and the old lady rode and
after they came in till dinner was ready the young lady filled up the
time with the dismal account of her wrongs and her sufferings the like
of which was never heard by mortal ear and this in so moving a manner 
that the good old lady did nothing but weep and sigh and sob and
inveigh against the arts of wicked men and against that abominable
squire lovelace who was a plotting villain methought she said and
more than that an unchained beelzebub 

methought i was in a dreadful agony when i found the lady had escaped 
and in my wrath had like to have slain dorcas and our mother and every
one i met but by some quick transition and strange metamorphosis 
which dreams do not usually account for methought all of a sudden this
matronly lady turned into the famous mother h herself and being an old
acquaintance of mother sinclair was prevailed upon to assist in my plot
upon the young lady 

then methought followed a strange scene for mother h longing to hear
more of the young lady's story and night being come besought her to
accept of a place in her own bed in order to have all the talk to
themselves for methought two young nieces of her's had broken in upon
them in the middle of the dismal tale 

accordingly going early to bed and the sad story being resumed with as
great earnestness on one side as attention on the other before the young
lady had gone far in it mother h methought was taken with a fit of the
colic and her tortures increasing was obliged to rise to get a cordial
she used to find specific in this disorder to which she was unhappily
subject 

having thus risen and stept to her closet methought she let fall the
wax taper in her return and then  o metamorphosis still stranger than
the former what unaccountable things are dreams   coming to bed again in
the dark the young lady to her infinite astonishment grief and
surprise found mother h turned into a young person of the other sex 
and although lovelace was the abhorred of her soul yet fearing it was
some other person it was matter of consolation to her when she found it
was no other than himself and that she had been still the bed-fellow of
but one and the same man 

a strange promiscuous huddle of adventures followed scenes perpetually
shifting now nothing heard from the lady but sighs groans 
exclamations faintings dyings from the gentleman but vows promises 
protestations disclaimers of purposes pursued and all the gentle and
ungentle pressures of the lover's warfare 

then as quick as thought for dreams thou knowest confine not
themselves to the rules of the drama ensued recoveries lyings-in 
christenings the smiling boy amply even in her own opinion rewarding
the suffering mother 

then the grandfather's estate yielded up possession taken of it living
very happily upon it her beloved norton her companion miss howe her
visiter and admirable thrice admirable enabled to compare notes with
her a charming girl by the same father to her friend's charming boy 
who as they grow up in order to consolidate their mamma's friendships 
 for neither have dreams regard to consanguinity intermarry change
names by act of parliament to enjoy my estate and i know not what of
the like incongruous stuff 

i awoke as thou mayest believe in great disorder and rejoiced to find
my charmer in the next room and dorcas honest 

now thou wilt say this was a very odd dream and yet for i am a
strange dreamer it is not altogether improbable that something like it
may happen as the pretty simpleton has the weakness to confide in
dorcas whom till now she disliked 

but i forgot to tell thee one part of my dream and that was that the
next morning the lady gave way to such transports of grief and
resentment that she was with difficulty diverted from making an attempt
upon her own life but however at last was prevailed upon to resolve
to live and make the best of the matter a letter methought from
captain tomlinson helping to pacify her written to apprize me that her
uncle harlowe would certainly be at kentish-town on wednesday night june
28 the following day the 29th being his birth-day and be doubly
desirous on that account that our nuptials should be then privately
solemnized in his presence 

but is thursday the 29th her uncle's anniversary methinks thou askest 
 it is or else the day of celebration should have been earlier still 
three weeks ago i heard her say it was and i have down the birthday of
every one in the family and the wedding-day of her father and mother 
the minutest circumstances are often of great service in matters of the
last importance 

and what sayest thou now to my dream 

who says that sleeping and waking i have not fine helps from somebody 
some spirit rather as thou'lt be apt to say but no wonder that a
beelzebub has his devilkins to attend his call 

i can have no manner of doubt of succeeding in mother h s part of the
scheme for will the lady who resolves to throw herself into the first
house she can enter or to bespeak the protection of the first person she
meets and who thinks there can be no danger out of this house equal to
what she apprehends from me in it scruple to accept of the chariot of a
dowager accidentally offered and the lady's protection engaged by her
faithful dorcas so highly bribed to promote her escape and then mrs 
h has the air and appearance of a venerable matron and is not such a
forbidding devil as mrs sinclair 

the pretty simpleton knows nothing in the world nor that people who have
money never want assistants in their views be they what they will how
else could the princes of the earth be so implicitly served as they are 
change they hands every so often and be their purposes ever so wicked 

if i can but get her to go on with me till wednesday next week we shall
be settled together pretty quietly by that time and indeed if she has
any gratitude and has in her the least of her sex's foibles she must
think i deserve her favour by the pains she has cost me for dearly do
they all love that men should take pains about them and for them 

and here for the present i will lay down my pen and congratulate
myself upon my happy invention since her obstinacy puts me once more
upon exercising it but with this resolution i think that if the
present contrivance fail me i will exert all the faculties of my mind 
all my talents to procure for myself a regal right to her favour and
that in defiance of all my antipathies to the married state and of the
suggestions of the great devil out of the house and of his secret agents
in it since if now she is not to be prevailed upon or drawn in it
will be in vain to attempt her further 



letter xxvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday night june 20 


no admittance yet to my charmer she is very ill in a violent fever 
dorcas thinks yet will have no advice 

dorcas tells her how much i am concerned at it 

but again let me ask does this lady do right to make herself ill when
she is not ill for my own part libertine as people think me when i
had occasion to be sick i took a dose of ipecacuanha that i might not
be guilty of a falsehood and most heartily sick was i as she who
then pitied me full well knew but here to pretend to be very ill 
only to get an opportunity to run away in order to avoid forgiving a
man who has offended her how unchristian if good folks allow
themselves in these breaches of a known duty and in these presumptuous
contrivances to deceive who belford shall blame us 

i have a strange notion that the matronly lady will be certainly at the
grocer's shop at the hour of nine tomorrow morning for dorcas heard me
tell mrs sinclair that i should go out at eight precisely and then
she is to try for a coach and if the dowager's chariot should happen
to be there how lucky will it be for my charmer how strangely will my
dream be made out 


 


i have just received a letter from captain tomlinson is it not
wonderful for that was part of my dream 

i shall always have a prodigious regard to dreams henceforward i know
not but i may write a book upon that subject for my own experience
will furnish out a great part of it glanville of witches  baxter's
history of spirits and apparitions  and the royal pedant's demonology 
will be nothing at all to lovelace's reveries 

the letter is just what i dreamed it to be i am only concerned that
uncle john's anniversary did not happen three or four days sooner for
should any new misfortune befal my charmer she may not be able to
support her spirits so long as till thursday in the next week yet it
will give me the more time for new expedients should my present
contrivance fail which i cannot however suppose 


to robert lovelace esq 
monday june 19 

dear sir 

i can now return your joy for the joy you have given me as well as my
dear friend mr harlowe in the news of his beloved niece's happy
recovery for he is determined to comply with her wishes and your's 
and to give her to you with his own hand 

as the ceremony has been necessarily delayed by reason of her illness 
and as mr harlowe's birth-day is on thursday the 29th of this instant
june when he enters into the seventy-fourth year of his age and as
time may be wanted to complete the dear lady's recovery he is very
desirous that the marriage shall be solemnized upon it that he may
afterwards have double joy on that day to the end of his life 

for this purpose he intends to set out privately so as to be at
kentish-town on wednesday se'nnight in the evening 

all the family used he says to meet to celebrate it with him but as
they are at present in too unhappy a situation for that he will give
out that not being able to bear the day at home he has resolved to
be absent for two or three days 

he will set out on horseback attended only with one trusty servant 
for the greater privacy he will be at the most creditable-looking
public house there expecting you both next morning if he hear nothing
from me to prevent him and he will go to town with you after the
ceremony is performed in the coach he supposes you will come in 

he is very desirous that i should be present on the occasion but this
i have promised him at his request that i will be up before the day 
in order to see the settlements executed and every thing properly
prepared 

he is very glad you have the license ready 

he speaks very kindly of you mr lovelace and says that if any of
the family stand out after he has seen the ceremony performed he will
separate from them and unite himself to his dear niece and her
interests 

i owned to you when in town last that i took slight notice to my dear
friend of the misunderstanding between you and his niece and that i
did this for fear the lady should have shown any little discontent in
his presence had i been able to prevail upon him to go up in person 
as then was doubtful but i hope nothing of that discontent remains
now 

my absence when your messenger came must excuse me for not writing by
him 

be pleased to make my most respectful compliments acceptable to the
admirable lady and believe me to be

your most faithful and obedient servant 
antony tomlinson 


 


this letter i sealed and broke open it was brought thou mayest
suppose by a particular messenger the seal such a one as the writer
need be ashamed of i took care to inquire after the captain's health 
in my beloved's hearing and it is now ready to be produced as a
pacifier according as she shall take on or resent if the two
metamorphoses happen pursuant to my wonderful dream as having great
faith in dreams i dare say they will i think it will not be amiss 
in changing my clothes to have this letter of the worthy captain lie
in my beloved's way 



letter xxviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wedn noon june 21 


what shall i say now i who but a few hours ago had such faith in
dreams and had proposed out of hand to begin my treatise of dreams
sleeping and dreams waking and was pleasing myself with the dialogues
between the old matronal lady and the young lady and with the
metamorphoses absolutely assured that every thing would happen as my
dream chalked it out shall never more depend upon those flying follies 
those illusions of a fancy depraved and run mad 

thus confoundedly have matters happened 

i went out at eight o'clock in high good humour with myself in order
to give the sought-for opportunity to the plotting mistress and corrupted
maid only ordering will to keep a good look-out for fear his lady
should mistrust my plot or mistake a hackney-coach for the
dowager-lady's chariot but first i sent to know how she did and
receiving for answer very ill had a very bad night which latter was but
too probable since this i know that people who have plots in their heads
as seldom have as deserve good ones 

i desired a physician might be called in but was refused 

i took a walk in st james's park congratulating myself all the way on
my rare inventions then impatient i took coach with one of the
windows quite up the other almost up playing at bo-peep in every
chariot i saw pass in my way to lincoln's-inn-fields and when arrived
there i sent the coachman to desire any one of mother h s family to
come to me to the coach-side not doubting but i should have
intelligence of my fair fugitive there it being then half an hour
after ten 

a servant came who gave me to understand that the matronly lady was
just returned by herself in the chariot 

frighted out of my wits i alighted and heard from the mother's own
mouth that dorcas had engaged her to protect the lady but came to
tell her afterwards that she had changed her mind and would not quit
the house 

quite astonished not knowing what might have happened i ordered the
coachman to lash away to our mother's 

arriving here in an instant the first word i asked was if the lady
was safe 

 mr lovelace here gives a very circumstantial relation of all that
 passed between the lady and dorcas but as he could only guess at her
 motives for refusing to go off when dorcas told her that she had
 engaged for her the protection of the dowager-lady it is thought
 proper to omit this relation and to supply it by some memoranda of
 the lady's but it is first necessary to account for the occasion on
 which those memoranda were made 

the reader may remember that in the letter written to miss howe on
 her escape to hampstead she promises to give her the particulars of
 her flight at leisure she had indeed thoughts of continuing her
 account of every thing that had passed between her and mr lovelace
 since her last narrative letter but the uncertainty she was in from
 that time with the execrable treatment she met with on her being
 deluded back again followed by a week's delirium had hitherto
 hindered her from prosecuting her intention but nevertheless 
 having it still in her view to perform her promise as soon as she had
 opportunity she made minutes of every thing as it passed in order to
 help her memory which  as she observes in one place she could
 less trust to since her late disorders than before  in these
 minutes or book of memoranda she observes that having
 apprehensions that dorcas might be a traitress she would have got
 away while she was gone out to see for a coach and actually slid down
 stairs with that intent but that seeing mrs sinclair in the entry 
 whom dorcas had planted there while she went out she speeded up
 again unseen 


 see vol v letter xxi 


she then went up to the dining-room and saw the letter of captain
 tomlinson on which she observes in her memorandum-book as follows  

how am i puzzled now he might leave this letter on purpose none of
the other papers left with it being of any consequence what is the
alternative to stay and be the wife of the vilest of men how my
heart resists that to attempt to get off and fail ruin inevitable 
dorcas may betray me i doubt she is still his implement at his going
out he whispered her as i saw unobserved in a very familiar manner
too never fear sir with a courtesy 

in her agreeing to connive at my escape she provided not for her own
safety if i got away yet had reason in that case to expect his
vengeance and wants not forethought to have taken her with me was
to be in the power of her intelligence if a faithless creature let
me however though i part not with my caution keep my charity can
there be any woman so vile to a woman o yes mrs sinclair her
aunt the lord deliver me but alas i have put myself out of the
course of his protection by the natural means and am already ruined 
a father's curse likewise against me having made vain all my friends'
cautions and solicitudes i must not hope for miracles in my favour 

if i do escape what may become of me a poor helpless deserted
creature helpless from sex from circumstances exposed to every
danger lord protect me 

his vile man not gone with him lurking hereabouts no doubt to
watch my steps i will not go away by the chariot however 

that the chariot should come so opportunely so like his many
opportunities that dorcas should have the sudden thought should
have the courage with the thought to address a lady in behalf of an
absolute stranger to that lady that the lady should so readily
consent yet the transaction between them to take up so much time 
their distance in degree considered for arduous as the case was and
precious as the time dorcas was gone above half an hour yet the
chariot was said to be ready at a grocer's not many doors off 

indeed some elderly ladies are talkative and there are no doubt 
some good people in the world 

but that it should chance to be a widow lady who could do what she
pleased that dorcas should know her to be so by the lozenge persons
in her station are not usually so knowing i believe in heraldry 

yet some may for servants are fond of deriving collateral honours and
distinctions as i may call them from the quality or people of rank 
whom they serve but this sly servant not gone with him then this
letter of tomlinson 

although i am resolved never to have this wretch yet may i not throw
myself into my uncle's protection at kentish-town or highgate if i
cannot escape before and so get clear of him may not the evil i know
be less than what i may fall into if i can avoid farther villany 
farther villany he has not yet threatened freely and justly as i have
treated him i will not go i think at least unless i can send this
fellow away 


 she tried to do this but was prevented by the fellow's pretending to
put his ankle out by a slip down stairs a trick says his contriving
master in his omitted relation i had taught him on a like occasion 
at amiens 


the fellow a villain the wench i doubt a vile wench at last
concerned for her own safety plays off and on about a coach 

all my hopes of getting off at present over unhappy creature to what
farther evils art thou reserved oh how my heart rises at the necessity
i must still be under to see and converse with so very vile a man 



letter xxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday afternoon 


disappointed in her meditated escape obliged against her will to
meet me in the dining-room and perhaps apprehensive of being upbraided
for her art in feigning herself ill i expected that the dear perverse
would begin with me with spirit and indignation but i was in hopes 
from the gentleness of her natural disposition from the consideration
which i expected from her on her situation from the contents of the
letter of captain tomlinson which dorcas told me she had seen and
from the time she had had to cool and reflect since she last admitted
me to her presence that she would not have carried it so strongly
through as she did 

as i entered the dining-room i congratulated her and myself upon her
sudden recovery and would have taken her hand with an air of
respectful tenderness but she was resolved to begin where she left
off 

she turned from me drawing in her hand with a repulsing and indignant
aspect i meet you once more said she because i cannot help it what
have you to say to me why am i to be thus detained against my will 

with the utmost solemnity of speech and behaviour i urged the ceremony 
i saw i had nothing else for it i had a letter in my pocket i said 
 feeling for it although i had not taken it from the table where i left
it in the same room   the contents of which if attended to would make
us both happy i had been loth to show it to her before because i hoped
to prevail upon her to be mine sooner than the day mentioned in it 

i felt for it in all my pockets watching her eye mean time which i saw
glance towards the table where it lay 

i was uneasy that i could not find it at last directed again by her sly
eye i spied it on the table at the farther end of the room 

with joy i fetched it be pleased to read that letter madam with an
air of satisfied assurance 

she took it and cast her eye over it in such a careless way as made it
evident that she had read it before and then unthankfully tossed it
into the window-seat before her 

i urged her to bless me to-morrow or friday morning at least that she
would not render vain her uncle's journey and kind endeavours to bring
about a reconciliation among us all 

among us all repeated she with an air equally disdainful and
incredulous o lovelace thou art surely nearly allied to the grand
deceiver in thy endeavour to suit temptations to inclinations but what
honour what faith what veracity were it possible that i could enter
into parley with thee on this subject which it is not may i expect
from such a man as thou hast shown thyself to be 

i was touched to the quick a lady of your perfect character madam who
has feigned herself sick on purpose to avoid seeing the man who adored
her should not 

i know what thou wouldst say interrupted she twenty and twenty low
things that my soul would have been above being guilty of and which i
have despised myself for have i been brought into by the infection of
thy company and by the necessity thou hadst laid me under of appearing
mean but i thank god destitute as i am that i am not however sunk
so low as to wish to be thine 

i madam as the injurer ought to have patience it is for the injured
to reproach but your uncle is not in a plot against you it is to be
hoped there are circumstances in the letter you cast your eyes over 

again she interrupted me why once more i ask you am i detained in this
house do i not see myself surrounded by wretches who though they wear
the habit of my sex may yet as far as i know lie in wait for my
perdition 

she would be very loth i said that mrs sinclair and her nieces should
be called up to vindicate themselves and their house 

would but they kill me let them come and welcome i will bless the hand
that will strike the blow indeed i will 

tis idle very idle to talk of dying mere young-lady talk when
controuled by those they hate but let me beseech you dearest creature
 

beseech me nothing let me not be detained thus against my will 
unhappy creature that i am said she in a kind of phrensy wringing her
hands at the same time and turning from me her eyes lifted up thy
curse o my cruel father seems to be now in the height of its operation 
 my weakened mind is full of forebodings that i am in the way of being
a lost creature as to both worlds blessed blessed god said she 
falling on her knees save me o save me from myself and from this man 

i sunk down on my knees by her excessively affecting o that i could
recall yesterday forgive me my dearest creature forgive what is past 
as it cannot now but by one way be retrieved forgive me only on this
condition that my future faith and honour 

she interrupted me rising if you mean to beg of me never to seek to
avenge myself by law or by an appeal to my relations to my cousin
morden in particular when he comes to england 

d n the law rising also  she started   and all those to whom you talk
of appealing i defy both the one and the other all i beg is your
forgiveness and that you will on my unfeigned contrition re-establish
me in your favour 

o no no no lifting up her clasped hands i never never will never 
never can forgive you and it is a punishment worse than death to me 
that i am obliged to meet you or to see you 

this is the last time my dearest life that you will ever see me in this
posture on this occasion and again i kneeled to her let me hope that
you will be mine next thursday your uncle's birth-day if not before 
would to heaven i had never been a villain your indignation is not 
cannot be greater than my remorse and i took hold of her gown for she
was going from me 

be remorse thy portion for thine own sake be remorse thy portion i
never never will forgive thee i never never will be thine let me
retire why kneelest thou to the wretch whom thou hast so vilely humbled 

say but dearest creature you will consider say but you will take time
to reflect upon what the honour of both our families requires of you i
will not rise i will not permit you to withdraw  still holding her
gown  till you tell me you will consider take this letter weigh well
your situation and mine say you will withdraw to consider and then i
will not presume to withold  sic  you 

compulsion shall do nothing with me though a slave a prisoner in
circumstance i am no slave in my will nothing will i promise thee 
withheld compelled nothing will i promise thee 

noble creature but not implacable i hope promise me but to return in
an hour 

nothing will i promise thee 

say but that you will see me again this evening 

o that i could say that it were in my power to say i never will see
thee more would to heaven i never were to see thee more 

passionate beauty still holding her 

i speak though with vehemence the deliberate wish of my heart o that
i could avoid looking down upon thee mean groveler and abject as
insulting let me withdraw my soul is in tumults let we  sic 
withdraw 

i quitted my hold to clasp my hands together withdraw o sovereign of my
fate withdraw if you will withdraw my destiny is in your power it
depends upon your breath your scorn but augments my love your
resentment is but too well founded but dearest creature return 
return return with a resolution to bless with pardon and peace your
faithful adorer 

she flew from me the angel as soon as she found her wings flew from
me i the reptile kneeler the despicable slave no more the proud
victor arose and retiring tried to comfort myself that 
circumstanced as she is destitute of friends and fortune her uncle
moreover who is to reconcile all so soon as i thank my stars she still
believes expected 

o that she would forgive me would she but generously forgive me and
receive my vows at the altar at the instant of her forgiving me that i
might not have time to relapse into my old prejudices by my soul 
belford this dear girl gives the lie to all our rakish maxims there
must be something more than a name in virtue i now see that there is 
once subdued always subdued tis an egregious falsehood but o jack 
she never was subdued what have i obtained but an increase of shame and
confusion while her glory has been established by her sufferings 

this one merit is however left me that i have laid all her sex under
obligation to me by putting this noble creature to trials which so
gloriously supported have done honour to them all 

however but no more will i add what a force have evil habits i will
take an airing and try to fly from myself do not thou upbraid me on my
weak fits on my contradictory purposes on my irresolution and all will
be well 



letter xxx

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday night 


a man is just now arrived from m hall who tells me that my lord is in
a very dangerous way the gout in his stomach to an extreme degree 
occasioned by drinking a great quantity of lemonade 

a man of 8000  a year to prefer his appetite to his health he deserves
to die but we have all of us our inordinate passions to gratify and
they generally bring their punishment along with them so
witnesses the nephew as well as the uncle 

the fellow was sent upon other business but stretched his orders a
little to make his court to a successor 

i am glad i was not at m hall at the time my lord took the grateful
dose  it was certainly grateful to him at the time   there are people
in the world who would have had the wickedness to say that i had
persuaded him to drink 

the man says that his lordship was so bad when he came away that the
family began to talk of sending for me in post haste as i know the
old peer has a good deal of cash by him of which he seldom keeps
account it behoves me to go down as soon as i can but what shall i
do with this dear creature the while to-morrow over i shall perhaps 
be able to answer my own question i am afraid she will make
me desperate 

for here have i sent to implore her company and am denied with scorn 


 


i have been so happy as to receive this moment a third letter from
the dear correspondent miss howe a little severe devil it would
have broken the heart of my beloved had it fallen into her hands i
will enclose a copy of it read it here 


tuesday june 20 

my dearest miss harlowe 

again i venture to you almost against inclination and that by your
former conveyance little as i like it 

i know not how it is with you it may be bad and then it would be hard
to upbraid you for a silence you may not be able to help but if not 
what shall i say severe enough that you have not answered either of my
last letters the first of which  and i think it imported you too much
to be silent upon it  you owned the receipt of the other which was
delivered into your own hands was so pressing for the favour of a line
from you that i am amazed i could not be obliged and still more that i
have not heard from you since 


 see vol v letter xx 
 see vol vi letter vii 


the fellow made so strange a story of the condition he saw you in and
of your speech to him that i know not what to conclude from it only 
that he is a simple blundering and yet conceited fellow who aiming
at description and the rustic wonderful gives an air of bumkinly
romance to all he tells that this is his character you will believe 
when you are informed that he described you in grief excessive yet so
improved in your person and features and so rosy that was his word 
in your face and so flush-coloured and so plump in your arms that
one would conclude you were labouring under the operation of some
malignant poison and so much the rather as he was introduced to you 
when you were upon a couch from which you offered not to rise or sit
up 


 see vol vi letter vi 


upon my word miss harlowe i am greatly distressed upon your account 
for i must be so free as to say that in your ready return with your
deceiver you have not at all answered my expectations nor acted up to
your own character for mrs townsend tells me from the women at
hampstead how cheerfully you put yourself into his hands again yet at
the time it was impossible you should be married 

lord my dear what pity it is that you took much pains to get from
the man but you know best sometimes i think it could not be you to
whom the rustic delivered my letter but it must too yet it is strange
i could not have one line by him not one and you so soon well enough
to go with the wretch back again 

i am not sure that the letter i am now writing will come to your hands 
so shall not say half that i have upon my mind to say but if you
think it worth your while to write to me pray let me know what fine
ladies his relations those were who visited you at hampstead and carried
you back again so joyfully to a place that i had so fully warned you 
but i will say no more at least till i know more for i can do nothing
but wonder and stand amazed 

notwithstanding all the man's baseness tis plain there was more than
a lurking love good heaven but i have done yet i know not how to
have done neither yet i must i will 

only account to me my dear for what i cannot at all account for and
inform me whether you are really married or not and then i shall
know whether there must or must not be a period shorter than that of
one of our lives to a friendship which has hitherto been the pride and
boast of

your
anna howe 


 


dorcas tells me that she has just now had a searching conversation as
she calls it with her lady she is willing she tells the wench still
to place her confidence in her dorcas hopes she has re-assured her but
wishes me not to depend upon it yet captain tomlinson's letter must
assuredly weigh with her 

i sent it in just now by dorcas desiring her to re-peruse it and it
was not returned me as i feared it would be and that's a good sign 
i think 

i say i think and i think for this charming creature entangled as i
am in my own inventions puzzles me ten thousand times more than i her 



letter xxxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday noon june 22 


let me perish if i know what to make either of myself or of this
surprising creature now calm now tempestuous but i know thou lovest
not anticipation any more than i 

at my repeated requests she met me at six this morning 

she was ready dressed for she had not her clothes off every since she
declared that they never more should be off in this house and
charmingly she looked with all the disadvantages of a three-hours
violent stomach-ache for dorcas told me that she had been really ill 
no rest and eyes red and swelled with weeping strange to me that those
charming fountains have not been so long ago exhausted but she is a
woman and i believe anatomists allow that women have more watry heads
than men 

well my dearest creature i hope you have now thoroughly considered of
the contents of captain tomlinson's letter but as we are thus early
met let me beseech you to make this my happy day 

she looked not favourably upon me a cloud hung upon her brow at her
entrance but as she was going to answer me a still greater solemnity
took possession of her charming features 

your air and your countenance my beloved creature are not propitious
to me let me beg of you before you speak to forbear all further
recriminations for already i have such a sense of my vileness to you 
that i know not how to bear the reproaches of my own mind 

i have been endeavouring said she since i am not permitted to avoid
you to obtain a composure which i never more expected to see you in 
how long i may enjoy it i cannot tell but i hope i shall be enabled
to speak to you without that vehemence which i expressed yesterday and
could not help it 


 the lady in her minutes says i fear dorcas is a false one may i
not be able to prevail upon him to leave me at my liberty better to
try than to trust to her if i cannot prevail but must meet him and
my uncle i hope i shall have fortitude enough to renounce him then 
but i would fain avoid qualifying with the wretch or to give him an
expectation which i intend not to answer if i am mistress of my own
resolutions my uncle himself shall not prevail with me to bind my soul
in covenant with so vile a man 


after a pause for i was all attention thus she proceeded 

it is easy for me mr lovelace to see that further violences are
intended me if i comply not with your purposes whatever they are i
will suppose them to be what you solemnly profess they are but i have
told you as solemnly my mind that i never will that i never can be
your's nor if so any man's upon earth all vengeance nevertheless 
for the wrongs you have done me i disclaim i want but to slide into
some obscure corner to hide myself from you and from every one who
once loved me the desire lately so near my heart of a reconciliation
with my friends is much abated they shall not receive me now if they
would sunk in mine own eyes i now think myself unworthy of their
favour in the anguish of my soul therefore i conjure you lovelace 
 tears in her eyes   to leave me to my fate in doing so you will give
me a pleasure the highest i now can know 

where my dearest life 

no matter where i will leave to providence when i am out of this
house the direction of my future steps i am sensible enough of my
destitute condition i know that i have not now a friend in the world 
even miss howe has given me up or you are but i would fain keep my
temper by your means i have lost them all and you have been a
barbarous enemy to me you know you have 

she paused 

i could not speak 

the evils i have suffered proceeded she  turning from me   however
irreparable are but temporarily evils leave me to my hopes of being
enabled to obtain the divine forgiveness for the offence i have been
drawn in to give to my parents and to virtue that so i may avoid the
evils that are more than temporary this is now all i have to wish
for and what is it that i demand that i have not a right to and
from which it is an illegal violence to withhold me 

it was impossible for me i told her plainly to comply 

i besought her to give me her hand as this very day i could not live
without her i communicated to her my lord's illness as a reason why
i wished not to stay for her uncle's anniversary i besought her to
bless me with her consent and after the ceremony was passed to
accompany me down to berks and thus my dearest life said i will
you be freed from a house to which you have conceived so great an
antipathy 

this thou wilt own was a princely offer and i was resolved to be as
good as my word i thought i had killed my conscience as i told thee 
belford some time ago but conscience i find though it may be
temporarily stifled cannot die and when it dare not speak aloud will
whisper and at this instant i thought i felt the revived varletess on
but a slight retrograde motion writhing round my pericardium like a
serpent and in the action of a dying one collecting all its force into
its head fix its plaguy fangs into my heart 

she hesitated and looked down as if irresolute and this set my
heart up at my mouth and believe me i had instantly popt in upon
me in imagination an old spectacled parson with a white surplice
thrown over a black habit  a fit emblem of the halcyon office which 
under a benign appearance often introduced a life of storms and
tempests   whining and snuffling through his nose the irrevocable
ceremony 

i hope now my dearest life said i snatching her hand and pressing
it to my lips that your silence bodes me good let me my beloved
creature have but your tacit consent and this moment i will step out
and engage a minister and then i promised how much my whole future
life should be devoted to her commands and that i would make her the
best and tenderest of husbands 

at last turning to me i have told you my mind mr lovelace said she 
think you that i could thus solemnly there she stopt i am too much in
your power proceeded she your prisoner rather than a person free to
choose for myself or to say what i will do or be but as a testimony
that you mean me well let me instantly quit this house and i will then
give you such an answer in writing as best befits my unhappy
circumstances 

and imaginest thou fairest thought i that this will go down with a
lovelace thou oughtest to have known that free-livers like ministers
of state never part with a power put into their hands without an
equivalent of twice the value 

i pleaded that if we joined hands this morning if not to-morrow if
not on thursday her uncle's birth-day and in his presence and
afterwards as i had proposed set out for berks we should of course 
quit this house and on our return to town should have in readiness
the house i was in treaty for 

she answered me not but with tears and sighs fond of believing what i
hoped i imputed her silence to the modesty of her sex the dear
creature thought i solemnly as she began with me is ruminating in
a sweet suspence how to put into fit words the gentle purposes of her
condescending heart but looking in her averted face with a soothing
gentleness i plainly perceived that it was resentment and not
bashfulness that was struggling in her bosom 


 the lady in her minutes owns the difficulty she lay under to keep
her temper in this conference but when i found  says she that all
my entreaties were ineffectual and that he was resolved to detain me 
i could no longer withhold my impatience 


at last she broke silence i have no patience said she to find myself
a slave a prisoner in a vile house tell me sir in so many words
tell me whether it be or be not your intention to permit me to quit
it to permit me the freedom which is my birthright as an english
subject 

will not the consequence of your departure hence be that i shall lose
you for ever madam and can i bear the thoughts of that 

she flung from me my soul disdains to hold parley with thee were her
violent words but i threw myself at her feet and took hold of her
reluctant hand and began to imprecate avow to promise but thus the
passionate beauty interrupting me went on 

i am sick of thee man one continued string of vows oaths and
protestations varied only by time and place fills thy mouth why
detainest thou me my heart rises against thee o thou cruel implement
of my brother's causeless vengeance all i beg of thee is that thou
wilt remit me the future part of my father's dreadful curse the
temporary part base and ungrateful as thou art thou hast completed 

i was speechless well i might her brother's implement james
harlowe's implement zounds jack what words were these 

i let go her struggling hand she took two or three turns cross the
room her whole haughty soul in her air then approaching me but in
silence turning from me and again to me in a milder voice i see thy
confusion lovelace or is it thy remorse i have but one request to
make thee the request so often repeated that thou wilt this moment
permit me to quit this house adieu then let me say for ever adieu 
and mayest thou enjoy that happiness in this world which thou hast
robbed me of as thou hast of every friend i have in it 

and saying this away she flung leaving me in a confusion so great that
i knew not what to think say or do 

but dorcas soon roused me do you know sir running in hastily that my
lady is gone down stairs 

no sure and down i flew and found her once more at the street-door 
contending with polly horton to get out 

she rushed by me into the fore parlour and flew to the window and
attempted once more to throw up the sash good people good people cried
she 

i caught her in my arms and lifted her from the window but being
afraid of hurting the charming creature charming in her very rage 
she slid through my arms on the floor let me die here let me die here 
were her words remaining jointless and immovable till sally and mrs 
sinclair hurried in 

she was visibly terrified at the sight of the old wretch while i
 sincerely affected appealed bear witness mrs sinclair bear
witness miss martin miss horton every one bear witness that i
offer not violence to this beloved creature 

she then found her feet o house  look towards the windows and all round
her o house   contrived on purpose for my ruin said she but let not
that woman come into my presence not that miss horton neither who would
not have dared to controul me had she not been a base one 

hoh sir hoh madam vociferated the old dragon her armed kemboed and
flourishing with one foot to the extent of her petticoats what's ado
here about nothing i never knew such work in my life between a chicken
of a gentleman and a tiger of a lady 

she was visibly affrighted and up stairs she hastened a bad woman is
certainly jack more terrible to her own sex than even a bad man 

i followed her up she rushed by her own apartment into the dining-room 
no terror can make her forget her punctilio 

to recite what passed there of invective exclamations threatenings 
even of her own life on one side of expostulations supplications and
sometimes menaces on the other would be too affecting and after my
particularity in like scenes these things may as well be imagined as
expressed 

i will therefore only mention that at length i extorted a concession
from her she had reason to think it would have been worse for her on
the spot if she had not made it it was that she would endeavour to
make herself easy till she saw what next thursday her uncle's birth-day 
would produce but oh that it were not a sin she passionately
exclaimed on making this poor concession to put and end to her own life 
rather than yield to give me but that assurance 


 the lady mentions in her memorandum-book that she had no other way 
as is apprehended to save herself from instant dishonour but by making
this concession her only hope now she says if she cannot escape by
dorcas's connivance whom nevertheless she suspects is to find a way
to engage the protection of her uncle and even of the civil magistrate 
on thursday next if necessary he shall see  says she tame and
timid as he thought me what i dare to do to avoid so hated a
compulsion and a man capable of a baseness so premeditatedly vile and
inhuman 


this however shows me that she is aware that the reluctantly-given
assurance may be fairly construed into a matrimonial expectation on my
side and if she will now even now look forward i think from my
heart that i will put on her livery and wear it for life 

what a situation am i in with all my cursed inventions i am puzzled 
confounded and ashamed of myself upon the whole to take such pains to
be a villain but for the fiftieth time let me ask thee who would
have thought that there had been such a woman in the world 
nevertheless she had best take care that she carries not her obstinacy
much farther she knows not what revenge for slighted love will make me
do 

the busy scenes i have just passed through have given emotions to my
heart which will not be quieted one while my heart i see 
 on re-perusing what i have written has communicated its tremors to my
fingers and in some places the characters are so indistinct and
unformed that thou'lt hardly be able to make them out but if one half
of them is only intelligible that will be enough to expose me to thy
contempt for the wretched hand i have made of my plots and contrivances 
 but surely jack i have gained some ground by this promise 

and now one word to the assurances thou sendest me that thou hast not
betrayed my secrets in relation to this charming creature thou mightest
have spared them belford my suspicions held no longer than while i
wrote about them for well i knew when i allowed myself time to think 
that thou hadst no principles no virtue to be misled by a great deal
of strong envy and a little of weak pity i knew to be thy motives 
thou couldst not provoke my anger and my compassion thou ever hadst and
art now more especially entitled to it because thou art a pityful
fellow 

all thy new expostulations in my beloved's behalf i will answer when i
see thee 



letter xxxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
thursday night 


confoundedly out of humour with this perverse woman nor wilt thou blame
me if thou art my friend she regards the concession she made as a
concession extorted from her and we are but just where we were before
she made it 

with great difficulty i prevailed upon her to favour me with her company
for one half hour this evening the necessity i was under to go down to
m hall was the subject i wanted to talk upon 

i told her that as she had been so good as to promise that she would
endeavour to make herself easy till she saw the thursday in next week
over i hoped that she would not scruple to oblige me with her word that
i should find her here at my return from m hall 

indeed she would make no such promise nothing of this house was
mentioned to me said she you know it was not and do you think that i
would have given my consent to my imprisonment in it 

i was plaguily nettled and disappointed too if i go not down to mr 
hall madam you'll have no scruple to stay here i suppose till
thursday is over 

if i cannot help myself i must but i insist upon being permitted to go
out of this house whether you leave it or not 

well madam then i will comply with your commands and i will go out
this very evening in quest of lodgings that you shall have no objections
to 

i will have no lodgings of your providing sir i will go to mrs 
moore's at hampstead 

mrs moore's madam i have no objection to mrs moore's but will you
give me your promise to admit me there to your presence 

as i do here when i cannot help it 

very well madam will you be so good as to let me know what you intend
by your promise to make yourself easy 

to endeavour sir to make myself easy were the words 

till you saw what next thursday would produce 

ask me no questions that may ensnare me i am too sincere for the
company i am in 

let me ask you madam what meant you when you said that were it
not a sin you would die before you gave me that assurance 

she was indignantly silent 

you thought madam you had given me room to hope your pardon by it 

when i think i ought to answer you with patience i will speak 

do you think yourself in my power madam 

if i were not and there she stopt 

dearest creature speak out i beseech you dearest creature speak out
 

she was silent her charming face all in a glow 

have you madam any reliance upon my honour 

still silent 

you hate me madam you despise me more than you do the most odious of
god's creatures 

you ought to despise me if i did not 

you say madam you are in a bad house you have no reliance upon my
honour you believe you cannot avoid me 

she arose i beseech you let me withdraw 

i snatched her hand rising and pressed it first to my lips and then to
my heart in wild disorder she might have felt the bounding mischief
ready to burst its bars you shall go to your own apartment if you
please but by the great god of heaven i will accompany you thither 

she trembled pray pray mr lovelace don't terrify me so 

be seated madam i beseech you be seated 

i will sit down 

do then all my soul is in my eyes and my heart's blood throbbing at my
fingers' ends 

i will i will you hurt me pray mr lovelace don't don't frighten me
so and down she sat trembling my hand still grasping her's 

i hung over her throbbing bosom and putting my other arm round her waist
 and you say you hate me madam and you say you despise me and you
say you promise me nothing 

yes yes i did promise you let me not be held down thus you see i sat
down when you bid me why  struggling  need you hold me down thus i did
promise to endeavour to be easy till thursday was over but you won't
let me how can i be easy pray let me not be thus terrified 

and what madam meant you by your promise did you mean any thing in my
favour you designed that i should at that time think you did did
you mean any thing in my favour madam did you intend that i should
think you did 

let go my hand sir take away your arm from about me  struggling yet
trembling   why do you gaze upon me so 

answer me madam did you mean any thing in my favour by your promise 

let me be not thus constrained to answer 

then pausing and gaining more spirit let me go said she i am but a
woman but a weak woman 

but my life is in my own power though my person is not i will not be
thus constrained 

you shall not madam quitting her hand bowing but my heart is at my
mouth and hoping farther provocation 

she arose and was hurrying away 

i pursue you not madam i will try your generosity stop return this
moment stop return if madam you would not make me desperate 

she stopt at the door burst into tears o lovelace how how have i
deserved 

be pleased dearest angel to return 

she came back but with declared reluctance and imputing her compliance
to terror 

terror jack as i have heretofore found out though i have so little
benefited by the discovery must be my resort if she make it necessary 
nothing else will do with the inflexible charmer 

she seated herself over-against me extremely discomposed but
indignation had a visible predominance in her features 

i was going towards her with a countenance intendedly changed to love
and softness sweetest dearest angel were my words in the tenderest
accent but rising up she insisted upon my being seated at a distance
from her 

i obeyed and begged her hand over the table to my extended hand 
to see if in any thing she would oblige me but nothing gentle soft 
or affectionate would do she refused me her hand was she wise jack 
to confirm to me that nothing but terror would do 

let me only know madam if your promise to endeavour to wait with
patience the event of next thursday meant me favour 

do you expect any voluntary favour from one to whom you give not a free
choice 

do you intend madam to honour me with your hand in your uncle's
presence or do you not 

my heart and my hand shall never be separated why think you did i
stand in opposition to the will of my best my natural friends 

i know what you mean madam am i then as hateful to you as the vile
solmes 

ask me not such a question mr lovelace 

i must be answered am i as hateful to you as the vile solmes 

why do you call mr solmes vile 

don't you think him so madam 

why should i did mr solmes ever do vilely by me 

dearest creature don't distract me by hateful comparisons and perhaps
by a more hateful preference 

don't you sir put questions to me that you know i will answer truly 
though my answer were ever so much to enrage you 

my heart madam my soul is all your's at present but you must give me
hope that your promise in your own construction binds you no new
cause to the contrary to be mine on thursday how else can i leave you 

let me go to hampstead and trust to my favour 

may i trust to it say only may i trust to it 

how will you trust to it if you extort an answer to this question 

say only dearest creature say only may i trust to your favour if you
go to hampstead 

how dare you sir if i must speak out expect a promise of favour from
me what a mean creature must you think me after the ungrateful
baseness to me were i to give you such a promise 

then standing up thou hast made me o vilest of men  her hands clasped 
and a face crimsoned with indignation   an inmate of the vilest of houses
 nevertheless while i am in it i shall have a heart incapable of any
thing but abhorrence of that and of thee 

and round her looked the angel and upon me with fear in her sweet
aspect of the consequence of her free declaration but what a devil must
i have been i who love bravery in a man had i not been more struck with
admiration of her fortitude at the instant than stimulated by revenge 

noblest of creatures and do you think i can leave you and my interest
in such an excellence precarious no promise no hope if you make me
not desperate may lightning blast me if i do you not all the justice
tis in my power to do you 

if you have any intention to oblige me leave me at my own liberty and
let me not be detained in this abominable house to be constrained as i
have been constrained to be stopt by your vile agents to be brought up
by force and be bruised in my own defence against such illegal violence 
 i dare to die lovelace and she who fears not death is not to be
intimidated into a meanness unworthy of her heart and principles 

wonderful creature but why madam did you lead me to hope for
something favourable for next thursday once more make me not desperate
 with all your magnanimity glorious creature  i was more than half
frantic belford   you may you may but do not do not make me brutally
threaten you do not do not make me desperate 

my aspect i believe threatened still more than my words i was rising
 she rose mr lovelace be pacified you are even more dreadful than
the lovelace i have long dreaded let me retire i ask your leave to
retire you really frighten me yet i give you no hope from my heart i
ab 

say not madam you abhor me you must for your own sake conceal your
hatred at least not avow it i seized her hand 

let me retire let me retire said she in a manner out of breath 

i will only say madam that i refer myself to your generosity my heart
is not to be trusted at this instant as a mark of my submission to your
will you shall if you please withdraw but i will not go to m hall 
live or die my lord m i will not go to m hall but will attend the
effect of your promise remember madam you have promised to endeavour
to make yourself easy till you see the event of next thursday next
thursday remember your uncle comes up to see us married that's the
event you think ill of your lovelace do not madam suffer your own
morals to be degraded by the infection as you called it of his example 

away flew the charmer with this half permission and no doubt thought that
she had an escape nor without reason 

i knew not for half an hour what to do with myself vexed at the heart 
nevertheless now she was from me and when i reflected upon her hatred
of me and her defiances that i suffered myself to be so overawed 
checked restrained 

and now i have written thus far have of course recollected the whole of
our conversation i am more and more incensed against myself 

but i will go down to these women and perhaps suffer myself to be
laughed at by them 

devil fetch them they pretend to know their own sex sally was a woman
well educated polly also both have read both have sense of parentage
not mean once modest both still they say had been modest but for me
 not entirely indelicate now though too little nice for my personal
intimacy loth as they both are to have me think so the old one too a
woman of family though thus from bad inclination as well as at first
from low circumstances miserably sunk and hence they all pretend to
remember what once they were and vouch for the inclinations and
hypocrisy of the whole sex and wish for nothing so ardently as that i
will leave the perverse lady to their management while i am gone to
berkshire undertaking absolutely for her humility and passiveness on my
return and continually boasting of the many perverse creatures whom they
have obliged to draw in their traces 


 


i am just come from the sorceresses 

i was forced to take the mother down for she began with her hoh sir 
with me and to catechize and upbraid me with as much insolence as if i
owed her money 

i made her fly the pit at last strange wishes wished we against each
other at her quitting it what were they i'll tell thee she wished
me married and to be jealous of my wife and my heir-apparent the child
of another man i was even with her with a vengeance and yet thou wilt
think that could not well be as how as how jack why i wished for
her conscience come to life and i know by the gripes mine gives me
every half-hour that she would then have a cursed time of it 

sally and polly gave themselves high airs too their first favours were
thrown at me  women to boast of those favours which they were as willing
to impart first forms all the difficulty with them as i to receive   i
was upbraided with ingratitude dastardice and all my difficulties with
my angel charged upon myself for want of following my blows and for
leaving the proud lady mistress of her own will and nothing to reproach
herself with and all agreed that the arts used against her on a
certain occasion had too high an operation for them or me to judge what
her will would have been in the arduous trial and then they blamed one
another as i cursed them all 

they concluded that i should certainly marry and be a lost man and
sally on this occasion with an affected and malicious laugh snapt her
fingers at me and pointing two of each hand forkedly at me bid me
remember the lines i once showed her of my favourite jack dryden as she
always familiarly calls that celebrated poet 

 we women to new joys unseen may move 
 there are no prints left in the paths of love 
 all goods besides by public marks are known 
 but those men most desire to keep have none 

this infernal implement had the confidence further to hint that when a
wife some other man would not find half the difficulty with my angel
that i had found confidence indeed but yet i must say if a man
gives himself up to the company of these devils they never let him rest
till he either suspects or hate his wife 

but a word or two of other matters if possible 

methinks i long to know how causes go at m hall i have another private
intimation that the old peer is in the greatest danger 

i must go down yet what to do with this lady the mean while these
cursed women are full of cruelty and enterprise she will never be easy
with them in my absence they will have provocation and pretence
therefore but woe be to them if 

yet what will vengeance do after an insult committed the two nymphs
will have jealous rage to goad them on and what will withhold a jealous
and already-ruined woman 

to let her go elsewhere that cannot be done i am still too resolved to
be honest if she'll give me hope if yet she'll let me be honest but
i'll see how she'll be after the contention she will certainly have
between her resentment and the terror she has reason for from our last
conversation so let this subject rest till the morning and to the old
peer once more 

i shall have a good deal of trouble i reckon though no sordid man to
be decent on the expected occasion then how to act i who am no
hypocrite in the days of condolement what farces have i to go through 
and to be the principal actor in them i'll try to think of my own
latter end a gray beard and a graceless heir in order to make me
serious 

thou belford knowest a good deal of this sort of grimace and canst
help a gay heart to a little of the dismal but then every feature of
thy face is cut out for it my heart may be touched perhaps sooner
than thine for believe me or not i have a very tender one but then 
no man looking into my face be the occasion for grief ever so great 
will believe that heart to be deeply distressed 

all is placid easy serene in my countenance sorrow cannot sit half
an hour together upon it nay i believe that lord m s recovery 
should it happen would not affect me above a quarter of an hour only
the new scenery and the pleasure of aping an heraclitus to the family 
while i am a democritus among my private friends or i want nothing that
the old peer can leave me wherefore then should grief sadden and
distort such blythe such jocund features as mine 

but as for thine were there murder committed in the street and thou
wert but passing by the murderer even in sight the pursuers would
quit him and lay hold of thee and thy very looks would hang as well
as apprehend thee 

but one word to business jack whom dealest thou with for thy blacks 
wert thou well used i shall want a plaguy parcel of them for i intend
to make every soul of the family mourn outside if not in 



letter xxxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
june 23 friday morning 


i went out early this morning on a design that i know not yet whether
i shall or shall not pursue and on my return found simon parsons my
lord's berkshire bailiff just before arrived waiting for me with a
message in form sent by all the family to press me to go down and
that at my lord's particular desire who wants to see me before he
dies 

simon has brought my lord's chariot-and-six  perhaps my own by this
time   to carry me down i have ordered it to be in readiness by four
to-morrow morning the cattle shall smoke for the delay and by the
rest they'll have in the interim will be better able to bear it 

i am still resolved upon matrimony if my fair perverse will accept of
me but if she will not why then i must give an uninterrupted
hearing not to my conscience but to these women below 

dorcas had acquainted her lady with simon's arrival and errand my
beloved had desired to see him but my coming in prevented his
attendance on her just as dorcas was instructing him what questions he
should not answer to that might be asked of him 

i am to be admitted to her presence immediately at my repeated
request surely the acquisition in view will help me to make up all
with her she is just gone up to the dining-room 


 


nothing will do jack i can procure no favour from her though she
has obtained from me the point which she had set her heart upon 

i will give thee a brief account of what passed between us 

i first proposed instant marriage and this in the most fervent manner 
but was denied as fervently 

would she be pleased to assure me that she would stay here only till
tuesday morning i would but just go down to see how my lord was to
know whether he had any thing particular to say or enjoin me while yet
he was sensible as he was very earnest to see me perhaps i might be up
on sunday concede in something i beseech you madam show me some
little consideration 

why mr lovelace must i be determined by your motions think you that
i will voluntarily give a sanction to the imprisonment of my person of
what importance to me ought to be your stay or your return 

give a sanction to the imprisonment of your person do you think madam 
that i fear the law 

i might have spared this foolish question of defiance but my pride would
not let me i thought she threatened me jack 

i don't think you fear the law sir you are too brave to have any
regard either to moral or divine sanctions 

tis well madam but ask me any thing i can do to oblige you and i
will oblige you though in nothing will you oblige me 

then i ask you then i request of you to let me go to hampstead 

i paused and at last by my soul you shall this very moment i will
wait upon you and see you fixed there if you'll promise me your hand
on thursday in presence of your uncle 

i want not you to see me fixed i will promise nothing 

take care madam that you don't let me see that i can have no reliance
upon your future favour 

i have been used to be threatened by you sir but i will accept of your
company to hampstead i will be ready to go in a quarter of an hour my
clothes may be sent after me 

you know the condition madam next thursday 

you dare not trust 

my infinite demerits tell me that i ought not nevertheless i will
confide in your generosity to-morrow morning no new cause arising to
give reason to the contrary as early as you please you may go to
hampstead 

this seemed to oblige her but yet she looked with a face of doubt 

i will go down to the women belford and having no better judges at
hand will hear what they say upon my critical situation with this
proud beauty who has so insolently rejected a lovelace kneeling at her
feet though making an earnest tender of himself for a husband in spite
of all his prejudices to the state of shackles 



letter xxxiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


just come from the women 

have i gone so far and am i afraid to go farther have i not already 
as it is evident by her behaviour sinned beyond forgiveness a woman's
tears used to be to me but as water sprinkled on a glowing fire which
gives it a fiercer and brighter blaze what defence has this lady but her
tears and her eloquence she was before taken at no weak advantage she
was insensible in her moments of trial had she been sensible she must
have been sensible so they say the methods taken with her have
augmented her glory and her pride she has now a tale to tell that she
may tell with honour to herself no accomplice-inclination she can
look me into confusion without being conscious of so much as a thought
which she need to be ashamed of 

this jack is the substance of the women's reasonings with me 

to which let me add that the dear creature now sees the necessity i am
in to leave her detecting me is in her head my contrivances are of
such a nature that i must appear to be the most odious of men if i am
detected on this side matrimony and yet i have promised as thou seest 
that she shall set out to hampstead as soon as she pleases in the
morning and that without condition on her side 

dost thou ask what i meant by this promise 

no new cause arising was the proviso on my side thou'lt remember 
but there will be a new cause 

suppose dorcas should drop the promissory note given her by her lady 
servants especially those who cannot read or write are the most
careless people in the world of written papers suppose i take it up 
at a time too that i was determined that the dear creature should be
her own mistress will not this detection be a new cause a cause that
will carry with it against her the appearance of ingratitude 

that she designed it a secret to me argues a fear of detection and
indirectly a sense of guilt i wanted a pretence can i have a better 
 if i am in a violent passion upon the detection is not passion an
universally-allowed extenuator of violence is not every man and woman
obliged to excuse that fault in another which at times they find
attended with such ungovernable effects in themselves 

the mother and sisterhood suppose brought to sit in judgment upon the
vile corrupted the least benefit that must accrue from the accidental
discovery if not a pretence for perpetration  which however may be
the case   an excuse for renewing my orders for her detention till my
return from m hall  the fault her own   and for keeping a stricter
watch over her than before with direction to send me any letters that
may be written by her or to her and when i return the devil's in it
if i find not a way to make her choose lodgings for herself since
these are so hateful to her that shall answer all my purposes and
yet i no more appear to direct her choice than i did before in these 

thou wilt curse me when thou comest to this place i know thou wilt 
but thinkest thou that after such a series of contrivance i will lose
this inimitable woman for want of a little more a rake's a rake jack 
 and what rake is withheld by principle from the perpetration of any
evil his heart is set upon and in which he thinks he can succeed 
besides am i not in earnest as to marriage will not the generality of
the world acquit me if i do marry and what is that injury which a
church-rite will not at any time repair is not the catastrophe of every
story that ends in wedlock accounted happy be the difficulties in the
progress of it ever so great 

but here how am i engrossed by this lady while poor lord m as simon
tells me lies groaning in the most dreadful agonies what must he
suffer heaven relieve him i have a too compassionate heart and so
would the dear creature have found could i have thought that the worst
of her sufferings is equal to the lightest of his i mean as to fact 
for as to that part of her's which arises from extreme sensibility i
know nothing of that and cannot therefore be answerable for it 



letter xxxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


just come from my charmer she will not suffer me to say half the
obliging the tender things which my honest heart is ready to overflow
with a confounded situation that when a man finds himself in humour
to be eloquent and pathetic at the same time yet cannot engage the
mistress of his fate to lend an ear to his fine speeches 

i can account now how it comes about that lovers when their mistresses
are cruel run into solitude and disburthen their minds to stocks and
stones for am i not forced to make my complaints to thee 

she claimed the performance of my promise the moment she saw me of
permitting her  haughtily she spoke the word  to go to hampstead as soon
as i was gone to berks 

most cheerfully i renewed it 

she desired me to give orders in her hearing 

i sent for dorcas and will they came do you both take notice but 
perhaps sir i may take you with me that your lady is to be obeyed in
all her commands she purposes to return to hampstead as soon as i am
gone my dear will you not have a servant to attend you 

i shall want no servant there 

will you take dorcas 

if i should want dorcas i can send for her 

dorcas could not but say she should be very proud 

well well that may be at my return if your lady permit shall i my
dear call up mrs sinclair and give her orders to the same effect in
your hearing 

i desire not to see mrs sinclair nor any that belong to her 

as you please madam 

and then the servants being withdrawn i urged her again for the
assurance that she would meet me at the altar on thursday next but to
no purpose may she not thank herself for all that may follow 

one favour however i would not be denied to be admitted to pass the
evening with her 

all sweetness and obsequiousness will i be on this occasion my whole
soul shall be poured out to move her to forgive me if she will not and
if the promissory note should fall in my way my revenge will doubtless
take total possession of me 

all the house in my interest and every one in it not only engaging to
intimidate and assist as occasion shall offer but staking all their
experience upon my success if it be not my own fault what must be the
consequence 

this jack however shall be her last trial and if she behave as nobly
in and after this second attempt all her senses about her as she has
done after the first she will come out an angel upon full proof in
spite of man woman and devil then shall there be an end of all her
sufferings i will then renounce that vanquished devil and reform and
if any vile machination start up presuming to mislead me i will sooner
stab it in my heart as it rises than give way to it 

a few hours will now decide all but whatever be the event i shall be
too busy to write again till i get to m hall 

mean time i am in strange agitations i must suppress them if
possible before i venture into her presence my heart bounces my bosom
from the table i will lay down my pen and wholly resign to its
impulses 



letter xxxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday night or rather sat morn one o'clock 


i thought i should not have had either time or inclination to write
another line before i got to m hall but having the first must find
the last since i can neither sleep nor do any thing but write if i can
do that i am most confoundedly out of humour the reason let it
follow if it will follow nor preparation for it from me 

i tried by gentleness and love to soften what marble a heart
incapable either of love or gentleness her past injuries for ever in
her head ready to receive a favour the permission to go to
hampstead but neither to deserve it nor return any so my scheme of
the gentle kind was soon given over 

i then wanted to provoke her like a coward boy who waits for the first
blow before he can persuade himself to fight i half challenged her to
challenge or defy me she seemed aware of her danger and would not
directly brave my resentment but kept such a middle course that i
neither could find a pretence to offend nor reason to hope yet she
believed my tale that her uncle would come to kentish-town and seemed
not to apprehend that tomlinson was an impostor 

she was very uneasy upon the whole in my company wanted often to
break from me yet so held me to my purpose of permitting her to go to
hampstead that i knew not how to get off it although it was impossible 
in my precarious situation with her to think of performing
it 

in this situation the women ready to assist and if i proceeded not 
as ready to ridicule me what had i left me but to pursue the concerted
scheme and to seek a pretence to quarrel with her in order to revoke my
promised permission and to convince her that i would not be upbraided as
the most brutal of ravishers for nothing 

i had agreed with the women that if i could not find a pretence in her
presence to begin my operations the note should lie in my way and i was
to pick it up soon after her retiring from me but i began to doubt at
near ten o'clock so earnest was she to leave me suspecting my
over-warm behaviour to her and eager grasping of her hand two or three
times with eye-strings as i felt on the strain while her eyes showed
uneasiness and apprehension that if she actually retired for the night 
it might be a chance whether it would be easy to come at her again loth 
therefore to run such a risk i stept out a little after ten with intent
to alter the preconcerted disposition a little saying i would attend her
again instantly but as i returned i met her at the door intending to
withdraw for the night i could not persuade her to go back nor had i
presence of mind so full of complaisance as i was to her just before to
stay her by force so she slid through my hands into her own apartment i
had nothing to do therefore but to let my former concert take place 

i should have promised but care not for order of time connection or
any thing else that between eight and nine in the evening another
servant of lord m on horseback came to desire me to carry down with me
dr s the old peer having been once in extremis as they judge he is
now relieved and reprieved by him i sent and engaged the doctor to
accompany me down and am to call upon him by four this morning or the
devil should have both my lord and the doctor if i'd stir till i got all
made up 

poke thy damn'd nose forward into the event if thou wilt curse me if
thou shalt have it till its proper time and place and too soon then 

she had hardly got into her chamber but i found a little paper as i was
going into mine which i took up and opening it for it was carefully
pinned in another paper what should it be but a promissory note given
as a bribe with a further promise of a diamond ring to induce dorcas to
favour her mistress's escape 

how my temper changed in a moment ring ring ring ring i my bell 
with a violence enough to break the string and as if the house were on
fire 

every devil frighted into active life the whole house in an uproar up
runs will sir sir sir eyes goggling mouth distended bid the
damn'd toad dorcas come hither as i stood at the stair-head in a
horrible rage and out of breath cried i 

in sight came the trembling devil but standing aloof from the report
made her by will of the passion i was in as well as from what she had
heard 

flash came out my sword immediately for i had it ready on cursed 
confounded villanous bribery and corruption 

up runs she to her lady's door screaming out for safety and protection 

good your honour interposed will for god's sake o lord o lord 
receiving a good cuff 

take that varlet for saving the ungrateful wretch from my vengeance 

wretch i intended to say but if it were some other word of like
ending passion must be my excuse 

up ran two or three of the sisterhood what's the matter what's the
matter 

the matter for still my beloved opened not the door on the contrary 
drew another bolt this abominable dorcas call her aunt up let her
see what a traitress she has placed about me and let her bring the toad
to answer for herself has taken a bribe a provision for life to
betray her trust by that means to perpetuate a quarrel between a man and
his wife and frustrate for ever all hopes of reconciliation between us 

let me perish belford if i have patience to proceed with the farce 


 


if i must resume i must 

up came the aunt puffing and blowing as she hoped for mercy she was
not privy to it she never knew such a plotting perverse lady in her
life well might servants be at the pass they were when such ladies as
mrs lovelace made no conscience of corrupting them for her part she
desired no mercy for the wretch no niece of her's if she were not
faithful to her trust but what was the proof 

she was shown the paper 

but too evident cursed cursed toad devil jade passed from each
mouth and the vileness of the corrupted and the unworthiness of the
corruptress were inveighed against 

up we all went passing the lady's door into the dining-room to proceed
to trial 

stamp stamp stamp up each on her heels rave rave rave every tongue
 

bring up the creature before us all this instant 

and would she have got out of the house say you 

these the noises and the speeches as we clattered by the door of the fair
bribress 

up was brought dorcas whimpering between two both bawling out you
must go you shall go tis fit you should answer for yourself you are a
discredit to all worthy servants as they pulled and pushed her up
stairs she whining i cannot see his honour i cannot look so good and
so generous a gentleman in the face o how shall i bear my aunt's
ravings 

come up and be d n'd bring her forward her imperial judge what a
plague it is the detection not the crime that confounds you you
could be quiet enough for days together as i see by the date under the
villany tell me ungrateful devil tell me who made the first advances 

ay disgrace to my family and blood cried the old one tell his honour 
tell the truth who made the first advances 

ay cursed creature cried sally who made the first advances 

i have betrayed one trust already o let me not betray another my lady
is a good lady o let not her suffer 

tell all you know tell the whole truth dorcas cried polly horton 
his honour loves his lady too well to make her suffer much little as she
requites his love 

every body sees that cried sally too well indeed for his honour i
was going to say 

till now i thought she deserved my love but to bribe a servant thus 
who she supposed had orders to watch her steps for fear of another
elopement and to impute that precaution to me as a crime yet i must
love her ladies forgive my weakness 

curse upon my grimaces if i have patience to repeat them but thou
shalt have it all thou canst not despise me more than i despise myself 


 


but suppose sir said sally you have my lady and the wench face to
face you see she cares not to confess 

o my carelessness cried dorcas don't let my poor lady suffer indeed 
if you all knew what i know you would say her ladyship has been cruelly
treated 

see see see see repeatedly every one at once only sorry for the
detection as your honour said not for the fault 

cursed creature and devilish creature from every mouth 

your lady won't she dare not come out to save you cried sally though
it is more his honour's mercy than your desert if he does not cut your
vile throat this instant 

say repeated polly was it your lady that made the first advances or
was it you you creature 

if the lady had so much honour bawled the mother excuse me so excuse
me sir  confound the old wretch she had like to have said son   if
the lady has so much honour as we have supposed she will appear to
vindicate a poor servant misled as she has been by such large
promises but i hope sir you will do them both justice i hope you
will good lack good lack clapping her hands together to grant her
every thing she could ask to indulge her in her unworthy hatred to my
poor innocent house to let her go to hampstead though your honour told
us you could get no condescension from her no not the least o sir o
sir i hope i hope if your lady will not come out i hope you will find
a way to hear this cause in her presence i value not my doors on such
an occasion as this justice i ever loved i desire you will come to
the bottom of it in clearance to me i'll be sworn i had no privity in
this black corruption 

just then we heard the lady's door unbar unlock unbolt 

now sir 

now mr lovelace 

now sir from every encouraging mouth 

but o jack jack jack i can write no more 


 


if you must have it all you must 

now belford see us all sitting in judgment resolved to punish the fair
bribress i and the mother the hitherto dreaded mother the nieces
sally polly the traitress dorcas and mabell a guard as it were over
dorcas that she might not run away and hide herself all
pre-determined and of necessity pre-determined from the journey i was
going to take and my precarious situation with her and hear her unbolt 
unlock unbar the door then as it proved afterwards put the key into
the lock on the outside lock the door and put it in her pocket will i
knew below who would give me notice if while we were all above she
should mistake her way and go down stairs instead of coming into the
dining-room the street-door also doubly secured and every shutter to the
windows round the house fastened that no noise or screaming should be
heard  such was the brutal preparation  and then hear her step towards
us and instantly see her enter among us confiding in her own innocence 
and with a majesty in her person and manner that is natural to her but
which then shone out in all its glory every tongue silent every eye
awed every heart quaking mine in a particular manner sunk throbless 
and twice below its usual region to once at my throat a shameful
recreant she silent too looking round her first on me then on the
mother no longer fearing her then on sally polly and the culprit
dorcas such the glorious power of innocence exerted at that awful
moment 

she would have spoken but could not looking down my guilt into
confusion a mouse might have been heard passing over the floor her own
light feet and rustling silks could not have prevented it for she seemed
to tread air and to be all soul she passed backwards and forwards now
towards me now towards the door several times before speech could get
the better of indignation and at last after twice or thrice hemming to
recover her articulate voice o thou contemptible and abandoned
lovelace thinkest thou that i see not through this poor villanous plot
of thine and of these thy wicked accomplices 

thou woman  looking at the mother  once my terror always my dislike 
but now my detestation shouldst once more for thine perhaps was the
preparation have provided for me intoxicating potions to rob me of my
senses 

and then thus wretch  turning to me   mightest thou more securely
have depended upon such a low contrivance as this 

and ye vile women who perhaps have been the ruin body and soul of
hundreds of innocents you show me how in full assembly know that i
am not married ruined as i am by your help i bless god i am not
married to this miscreant and i have friends that will demand my honour
at your hands and to whose authority i will apply for none has this
man over me look to it then what farther insults you offer me or
incite him to offer me i am a person though thus vilely betrayed of
rank and fortune i never will be his and to your utter ruin will
find friends to pursue you and now i have this full proof of your
detestable wickedness and have heard your base incitements will have
no mercy upon you 

they could not laugh at the poor figure i made lord how every devil 
conscience-shaken trembled 

what a dejection must ever fall to the lot of guilt were it given to
innocence always thus to exert itself 

and as for thee thou vile dorcas thou double deceiver whining out
thy pretended love for me begone wretch nobody will hurt thee 
begone i say thou has too well acted thy part to be blamed by any here
but myself thou art safe thy guilt is thy security in such a house as
this thy shameful thy poor part thou hast as well acted as the low
farce could give thee to act as well as they each of them thy
superiors though not thy betters thou seest can act theirs steal
away into darkness no inquiry after this will be made whose the first
advances thine or mine 

and as i hope to live the wench confoundedly frightened slunk away 
so did her sentinel mabell though i endeavouring to rally cried out
for dorcas to stay but i believe the devil could not have stopt her 
when an angel bid her begone 

madam said i let me tell you and was advancing towards her with a
fierce aspect most cursedly vexed and ashamed too 

but she turned to me stop where thou art o vilest and most abandoned
of men stop where thou art nor with that determined face offer to
touch me if thou wouldst not that i should be a corps at thy feet 

to my astonishment she held forth a penknife in her hand the point to
her own bosom grasping resolutely the whole handle so that there was no
offering to take it from her 

i offer not mischief to any body but myself you sir and ye women 
are safe from every violence of mine the law shall be all my resource 
the law  and she spoke the word with emphasis the law that to such
people carries natural terror with it and now struck a panic into them 

no wonder since those who will damn themselves to procure ease and
plenty in this world will tremble at every thing that seems to threaten
their methods of obtaining that ease and plenty 

the law only shall be my refuge  

the infamous mother whispered me that it were better to make terms with
this strange lady and let her go 

sally notwithstanding all her impudent bravery at other times said if
mr lovelace had told them what was not true of her being his wife 

and polly horton that she must needs say the lady if she were not my
wife had been very much injured that was all 

that is not now a matter to be disputed cried i you and i know madam
 

we do said she and i thank god i am not thine once more i thank god
for it i have no doubt of the farther baseness that thou hast intended
me by this vile and low trick but i have my senses lovelace and from
my heart i despise thee thou very poor lovelace how canst thou stand
in my presence thou that' 

madam madam madam these are insults not to be borne and was
approaching her 

she withdrew to the door and set her back against it holding the
pointed knife to her heaving bosom while the women held me beseeching
me not to provoke the violent lady for their house sake and be curs'd
to them they besought me and all three hung upon me while the truly
heroic lady braved me at that distance 

approach me lovelace with resentment if thou wilt i dare die it
is in defence of my honour god will be merciful to my poor soul i
expect no more mercy from thee i have gained this distance and two
steps nearer me and thou shalt see what i dare do  

leave me women to myself and to my angel  they retired at a
distance   o my beloved creature how you terrify me holding out my
arms and kneeling on one knee not a step not a step farther except to
receive my death at that injured hand which is thus held up against a
life far dearer to me than my own i am a villain the blackest of
villains say you will sheath your knife in the injurer's not the
injured's heart and then will i indeed approach you but not else 

the mother twanged her d n'd nose and sally and polly pulled out their
handkerchiefs and turned from us they never in their lives they told
me afterwards beheld such a scene 

innocence so triumphant villany so debased they must mean 

unawares to myself i had moved onward to my angel and dost thou dost
thou still disclaiming still advancing dost thou dost thou still
insidiously move towards me   and her hand was extended  i dare i
dare not rashly neither my heart from principle abhors the act which
thou makest necessary god in thy mercy  lifting up her eyes and
hands  god in thy mercy 

i threw myself to the farther end of the room an ejaculation a silent
ejaculation employing her thoughts that moment polly says the whites of
her lovely eyes were only visible and in the instant that she extended
her hand assuredly to strike the fatal blow  how the very recital
terrifies me   she cast her eye towards me and saw me at the utmost
distance the room would allow and heard my broken voice my voice was
utterly broken nor knew i what i said or whether to the purpose or not
 and her charming cheeks that were all in a glow before turned pale 
as if terrified at her own purpose and lifting up her eyes thank god 
 thank god said the angel delivered for the present for the present
delivered from myself keep sir that distance   looking down towards
me who was prostrate on the floor my heart pierced as with an hundred
daggers   that distance has saved a life to what reserved the almighty
only knows  

to be happy madam and to make happy and o let me hope for your
favour for to-morrow i will put off my journey till then and may god 

swear not sir with an awful and piercing aspect you have too often
sworn god's eye is upon us his more immediate eye and looked wildly 
 but the women looked up to the ceiling as if afraid of god's eye and
trembled and well they might and i too who so very lately had each of
us the devil in our hearts 

if not to-morrow madam say but next thursday your uncle's birth-day 
say but next thursday 

this i say of this you may assure yourself i never never will be
your's and let me hope that i may be entitled to the performance of
your promise to be permitted to leave this innocent house as one called
it but long have my ears been accustomed to such inversions of words 
as soon as the day breaks 

did my perdition depend upon it that you cannot madam but upon terms 
and i hope you will not terrify me still dreading the accursed knife 

nothing less than an attempt upon my honour shall make me desperate i
have no view but to defend my honour with such a view only i entered
into treaty with your infamous agent below the resolution you have
seen i trust god will give me again upon the same occasion but for a
less i wish not for it only take notice women that i am no wife of
this man basely as he has used me i am not his wife he has no
authority over me if he go away by-and-by and you act by his authority
to detain me look to it 

then taking one of the lights she turned from us and away she went 
unmolested not a soul was able to molest her 

mabell saw her tremblingly and in a hurry take the key of her
chamber-door out of her pocket and unlock it and as soon as she
entered heard her double-lock bar and bolt it 

by her taking out her key when she came out of her chamber to us she no
doubt suspected my design which was to have carried her in my arms
thither if she made such force necessary after i had intimidated her and
to have been her companion for that night 

she was to have had several bedchamber-women to assist to undress her
upon occasion but from the moment she entered the dining-room with so
much intrepidity it was absolutely impossible to think of prosecuting my
villanous designs against her 


 


this this belford was the hand i made of a contrivance from which i
expected so much and now i am ten times worse off than before 

thou never sawest people in thy life look so like fools upon one another 
as the mother her partners and i did for a few minutes and at last 
the two devilish nymphs broke out into insulting ridicule upon me while
the old wretch was concerned for her house the reputation of her house 
i cursed them all together and retiring to my chamber locked myself
in 

and now it is time to set out all i have gained detection disgrace 
fresh guilt by repeated perjuries and to be despised by her i doat upon 
and what is still worse to a proud heart by myself 

success success in projects is every thing what an admirable
contriver did i think myself till now even for this scheme among the
rest but how pitifully foolish does it now appear to me scratch out 
erase never to be read every part of my preceding letters where i have
boastingly mentioned it and never presume to rally me upon the cursed
subject for i cannot bear it 

but for the lady by my soul i love her i admire her more than ever 
i must have her i will have her still with honour or without as i
have often vowed my cursed fright at her accidental bloody nose so
lately put her upon improving upon me thus had she threatened me i
should have soon been master of one arm and in both but for so sincere
a virtue to threaten herself and not to offer to intimidate any other 
and with so much presence of mind as to distinguish in the very
passionate intention the necessity of the act defence of her honour 
and so fairly to disavow lesser occasions showed such a deliberation 
such a choice such a principle and then keeping me so watchfully at a
distance that i could not seize her hand so soon as she could have given
the fatal blow how impossible not to be subdued by so true and so
discreet a magnanimity 

but she is not gone she shall not go i will press her with letters
for the thursday she shall yet be mine legally mine for as to
cohabitation there is no such thing to be thought of 

the captain shall give her away as proxy for her uncle my lord will
die my fortune will help my will and set me above every thing and
every body 

but here is the curse she despises me jack what man as i have
heretofore said can bear to be despised especially by his wife o
lord o lord what a hand what a cursed hand have i made of this
plot and here ends

the history of the lady and the penknife the devil take the penknife 
 it goes against me to say 

god bless the lady 

near 5 sat morn 



letter xxxvii

mr lovelace to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed to mrs lovelace  
m hall sat night june 24 


my dearest life 

if you do not impute to live and to terror raised by love the poor
figure i made before you last night you will not do me justice i
thought i would try to the very last moment if by complying with you in
every thing i could prevail upon you to promise to be mine on thursday
next since you refused me an earlier day could i have been so happy 
you had not been hindered going to hampstead or wherever else you
pleased but when i could not prevail upon you to give me this
assurance what room had i my demerit so great to suppose that your
going thither would not be to lose you for ever 

i will own to you madam that yesterday afternoon i picked up the paper
dropt by dorcas who has confessed that she would have assisted you in
getting away if she had had opportunity so to do and undoubtedly
dropped it by accident and could i have prevailed upon you as to
thursday next i would have made no use of it secure as i should have
been in your word given to be mine but when i found you inflexible 
i was resolved to try if by resenting dorcas's treachery i could not
make your pardon of me the condition of mine to her and if not to make
a handle of it to revoke my consent to your going away from mrs 
sinclair's since the consequence of that must have been so fatal to me 

so far indeed was my proceeding low and artful and when i was
challenged with it as such in so high and noble a manner i could not
avoid taking shame to myself upon it 

but you must permit me madam to hope that you will not punish me too
heavily for so poor a contrivance since no dishonour was meant you and
since in the moment of its execution you had as great an instance of my
incapacity to defend a wrong a low measure and at the same time in
your power over me as mortal man could give in a word since you must
have seen that i was absolutely under the controul both of conscience
and of love 

i will not offer to defend myself for wishing you to remain where you
are till either you give me your word to meet me at the altar on
thursday or till i have the honour of attending you preparative to the
solemnity which will make that day the happiest of my life 

i am but too sensible that this kind of treatment may appear to you with
the face of an arbitrary and illegal imposition but as the consequences 
not only to ourselves but to both our families may be fatal if you
cannot be moved in my favour let me beseech you to forgive this act of
compulsion on the score of the necessity you your dear self have laid me
under to be guilty of it and to permit the solemnity of next thursday to
include an act of oblivion for all past offences 

the orders i have given to the people of the house are that you shall
be obeyed in every particular that is consistent with my expectations of
finding you there on my return on wednesday next that mrs sinclair and
her nieces having incurred your just displeasure shall not without
your orders come into your presence that neither shall dorcas till she
has fully cleared her conduct to your satisfaction be permitted to
attend you but mabell in her place of whom you seemed some time ago to
express some liking will i have left behind me to attend your
commands if he be either negligent or impertinent your dismission
shall be a dismission of him from my service for ever but as to
letters which may be sent you or any which you may have to send i must
humbly entreat that none such pass from or to you for the few days that
i shall be absent  but i do assure you madam that the seals of both
sorts shall be sacred and the letters if such be sent shall be given
into your own hands the moment the ceremony is performed or before if
you require it 

mean time i will inquire and send you word how miss howe does and to
what if i can be informed her long silence is owing 

dr perkins i found here attending my lord when i arrived with dr s 
he acquaints me that your father mother uncles and the still less
worthy persons of your family are well and intend to be all at your
uncle harlowe's next week i presume with intent to keep his
anniversary this can make no alteration but a happy one as to
persons on thursday because mr tomlinson assured me that if any thing
fell out to hinder your uncle's coming up in person which however he
did not then expect he would be satisfied if his friend the captain
were proxy for him i shall send a man and horse to-morrow to the
captain to be at greater certainty 

i send this by a special messenger who will wait your pleasure in
relation to the impatiently-wished-for thursday which i humbly hope will
be signified by a line 

my lord though hardly sensible and unmindful of every thing but of your
felicity desires his most affectionate compliments to you he has in
readiness to present to you a very valuable set of jewels which he hopes
will be acceptable whether he lives to see you adorn them or not 

lady sarah and lady betty have also their tokens of respect ready to
court your acceptance but may heaven incline you to give the opportunity
of receiving their personal compliments and those of my cousins
montague before the next week be out 

his lordship is exceeding ill dr s has no hopes of him the only
consolation i can have for the death of a relation who loves me so well 
if he do die must arise from the additional power it will put into my
hands of showing how much i am 

my dearest life 
your ever-affectionate faithful 
lovelace 



letter xxxviii

mr lovelace to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed to mrs lovelace  
m hall sunday night june 25 


my dearest love 

i cannot find words to express how much i am mortified at the return of
my messenger without a line from you 

thursday is so near that i will send messenger after messenger every
four hours till i have a favourable answer the one to meet the other 
till its eve arrives to know if i may venture to appear in your presence
with the hope of having my wishes answered on that day 

your love madam i neither expect nor ask for nor will till my future
behaviour gives you cause to think i deserve it all i at present
presume to wish is to have it in my power to do you all the justice i
can now do you and to your generosity will i leave it to reward me as
i shall merit with your affection 

at present revolving my poor behaviour of friday night before you i
think i should sooner choose to go to my last audit unprepared for it as
i am than to appear in your presence unless you give me some hope that
i shall be received as your elected husband rather than however
deserved as a detested criminal 

let me therefore propose an expedient in order to spare my own
confusion and to spare you the necessity for that soul-harrowing
recrimination which i cannot stand and which must be disagreeable to
yourself to name the church and i will have every thing in readiness 
so that our next interview will be in a manner at the very altar and
then you will have the kind husband to forgive for the faults of the
ungrateful lover if your resentment be still too high to write more 
let it only be in your own dear hand these words st martin's church 
thursday or these st giles's church thursday nor will i insist upon
any inscription or subscription or so much as the initials of your name 
this shall be all the favour i will expect till the dear hand itself is
given to mine in presence of that being whom i invoke as a witness of
the inviolable faith and honour of

your adoring
lovelace 



letter xxxix

mr lovelace to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed to mrs lovelace  
m hall monday june 26 


once more my dearest love do i conjure you to send me the four
requested words there is no time to be lost and i would not have next
thursday go over without being entitled to call you mine for the world 
and that as well for your sake as for my own hitherto all that has
passed is between you and me only but after thursday if my wishes are
unanswered the whole will be before the world 

my lord is extremely ill and endures not to have me out of his sight for
one half hour but this shall not have the least weight with me if you
be pleased to hold out the olive-branch to me in the four requested
words 

i have the following intelligence from captain tomlinson 

all your family are at your uncle harlowe's your uncle finds he cannot
go up and names captain tomlinson for his proxy he proposes to keep
all your family with him till the captain assures him that the ceremony
is over 

already he has begun with hope of success to try to reconcile your
mother to you 

my lord m but just now has told me how happy he should think himself to
have an opportunity before he dies to salute you as his niece i have
put him in hopes that he shall see you and have told him that i will go
to town on wednesday in order to prevail upon you to accompany me down
on thursday or friday i have ordered a set to be in readiness to carry
me up and were not my lord so very ill my cousin montague tells me
that she would offer her attendance on you if you please therefore we
can set out for this place the moment the solemnity is performed 

do not dearest creature dissipate all those promising appearances and
by refusing to save your own and your family's reputation in the eye of
the world use yourself worse than the ungratefullest wretch on earth has
used you for if we were married all the disgrace you imagine you have
suffered while a single lady will be my own and only known to
ourselves 

once more then consider well the situation we are both in and
remember my dearest life that thursday will be soon here and that you
have no time to lose 

in a letter sent by the messenger whom i dispatch with this i have
desired that my friend mr belford who is your very great admirer and
who knows all the secrets of my heart will wait upon you to know what i
am to depend upon as to the chosen day 

surely my dear you never could at any time suffer half so much from
cruel suspense as i do 

if i have not an answer to this either from your own goodness or
through mr belford's intercession it will be too late for me to set
out and captain tomlinson will be disappointed who goes to town on
purpose to attend your pleasure 

one motive for the gentle resistance i have presumed to lay you under is 
to prevent the mischiefs that might ensue as probably to the more
innocent as to the less were you to write to any body while your
passions were so much raised and inflamed against me having apprized
you of my direction to the women in town on this head i wonder you
should have endeavoured to send a letter to miss howe although in a
cover directed to that young lady's servant as you must think it would
be likely to fall into my hands 


 the lady had made an attempt to send away a letter 


the just sense of what i have deserved the contents should be leaves me
no room to doubt what they are nevertheless i return it you enclosed 
with the seal as you will see unbroken 

relieve i beseech you dearest madam by the four requested words or by
mr belford the anxiety of

your ever-affectionate and obliged
lovelace 

remember there will not there cannot be time for further writing and
for coming up by thursday your uncle's birth-day 



letter xl

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday june 26 


thou wilt see the situation i am in with miss harlowe by the enclosed
copies of three letters to two of which i am so much scorned as not to
have one word given me in answer and of the third now sent by the
messenger who brings thee this i am afraid as little notice will be
taken and if so her day of grace is absolutely over 

one would imagine so long used to constraint too as she has been that
she might have been satisfied with the triumph she had over us all on
friday night a triumph that to this hour has sunk my pride and my vanity
so much that i almost hate the words plot contrivance scheme and
shall mistrust myself in future for every one that rises to my inventive
head 

but seest thou not that i am under a necessity to continue her at
sinclair's and to prohibit all her correspondencies 

now belford as i really in my present mood think of nothing less
than marrying her if she let not thursday slip i would have thee attend
her in pursuance of the intimation i have given her in my letter of this
date and vow for me swear for me bind thy soul to her for my honour 
and use what arguments thy friendly heart can suggest in order to
procure me an answer from her which as thou wilt see she may give in
four words only and then i purpose to leave lord m dangerously ill as
he is and meet her at her appointed church in order to solemnize if
she will but sign cl h to thy writing the four words that shall do 
for i would not come up to be made a fool of in the face of all my family
and friends 

if she should let the day go off i shall be desperate i am entangled
in my own devices and cannot bear that she should detect me 

o that i had been honest what a devil are all my plots come to what
do they end in but one grand plot upon myself and a title to eternal
infamy and disgrace but depending on thy friendly offices i will say
no more of this let her send me but one line but one line to treat
me as unworthy of her notice yet be altogether in my power i cannot i
will not bear that 

my lord as i said is extremely ill the doctors give him over he
gives himself over those who would not have him die are afraid he will
die but as to myself i am doubtful for these long and violent
struggles between the constitution and the disease though the latter has
three physicians and an apothecary to help it forward and all three as
to their prescriptions of different opinions too indicate a plaguy
habit and savour more of recovery than death and the more so as he has
no sharp or acute mental organs to whet out his bodily ones and to raise
his fever above the sympathetic helpful one 

thou wilt see in the enclosed what pains i am at to dispatch messengers 
who are constantly on the road to meet each other and one of them to
link in the chain with the fourth whose station is in london and five
miles onwards or till met but in truth i have some other matters for
them to perform at the same time with my lord's banker and his lawyer 
which will enable me if his lordship is so good as to die this bout to
be an over match for some of my other relations i don't mean charlotte
and patty for they are noble girls but others who have been scratching
and clawing under-ground like so many moles in my absence and whose
workings i have discovered since i have been down by the little heaps of
dirt they have thrown up 

a speedy account of thy commission dear jack the letter travels all
night 



letter xli

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
london june 27 tuesday 


you must excuse me lovelace from engaging in the office you would have
me undertake till i can be better assured you really intend honourably
at last by this much-injured lady 

i believe you know your friend belford too well to think he would be easy
with you or with any man alive who should seek to make him promise for
him what he never intended to perform and let me tell thee that i have
not much confidence in the honour of a man why by imitation of hands i
will only call it has shown so little regard to the honour of his own
relations 

only that thou hast such jesuitical qualifyings or i should think thee
at last touched with remorse and brought within view of being ashamed
of thy cursed inventions by the ill success of thy last which i heartily
congratulate thee upon 

o the divine lady but i will not aggravate 

nevertheless when thou writest that in thy present mood thou thinkest
of marrying and yet canst so easily change thy mood when i know thy
heart is against the state that the four words thou courtest from the
lady are as much to thy purpose as if she wrote forty since it will
show she can forgive the highest injury that can be offered to woman and
when i recollect how easily thou canst find excuses to postpone thou
must be more explicit a good deal as to thy real intentions and future
honour than thou art for i cannot trust to temporary remorse which
brought on by disappointment too and not by principle and the like of
which thou hast so often got over 

if thou canst convince me time enough for the day that thou meanest to
do honourably by her in her own sense of the word or if not time
enough wilt fix some other day which thou oughtest to leave to her
option and not bind her down for the thursday and the rather as thy
pretence for so doing is founded on an absolute fiction i will then
most cheerfully undertake thy cause by person if she will admit me to
her presence if she will not by pen but in this case thou must
allow me to be guarantee for thy family and if so so much as i value
thee and respect thy skill in all the qualifications of a gentleman 
thou mayest depend upon it that i will act up to the character of a
guarantee with more honour than the princes of our day usually do to
their shame be it spoken 

mean time let me tell thee that my heart bleeds for the wrong this
angelic lady has received and if thou dost not marry her if she will
have thee and when married make her the best and tenderest of
husbands i would rather be a dog a monkey a bear a viper or a toad 
than thee 

command me with honour and thou shalt find none readier to oblige thee
than

thy sincere friend 
john belford 



letter xlii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
m hall june 27 tuesday night near 12 


your's reached me this moment by an extraordinary push in the
messengers 

what a man of honour thou of a sudden 

and so in the imaginary shape of a guarantee thou threatenest me 

had i not been in earnest as to the lady i should not have offered to
employ thee in the affair but let me say that hadst thou undertaken
the task and i hadst afterwards thought fit to change my mind i should
have contented myself to tell thee that that was my mind when thou
engagedst for me and to have given thee the reasons for the change and
then left thee to thy own discretion for never knew i what fear of man
was nor fear of woman neither till i became acquainted with miss
clarissa harlowe nay what is most surprising till i came to have her
in my power 

and so thou wilt not wait upon the charmer of my heart but upon terms
and conditions let it alone and be curs'd i care not but so much
credit did i give to the value thou expressedst for her that i thought
the office would have been acceptable to thee as serviceable to me 
for what was it but to endeavour to persuade her to consent to the
reparation of her own honour for what have i done but disgraced myself 
and been a thief to my own joys and if there be a union of hearts and
an intention to solemnize what is there wanting but the foolish
ceremony and that i still offer but if she will keep back her hand 
if she will make me hold out mine in vain how can i help it 

i write her one more letter and if after she has received that she
keeps sullen silence she must thank herself for what is to follow 

but after all my heart is not wholly her's i love her beyond
expression and cannot help it i hope therefore she will receive this
last tender as i wish i hope she intends not like a true woman to
plague and vex and tease me now she has found her power if she will
take me to mercy now these remorses are upon me though i scorn to
condition with thee for my sincerity all her trials as i have
heretofore declared shall be over and she shall be as happy as i can
make her for ruminating upon all that has passed between us from the
first hour of our acquaintance till the present i must pronounce that
she is virtue itself and once more i say has no equal 

as to what you hint of leaving to her choice another day do you
consider that it will be impossible that my contrivances and stratagems
should be much longer concealed this makes me press that day though so
near and the more as i have made so much ado about her uncle's
anniversary if she send me the four words i will spare no fatigue to
be in time if not for the canonical hour at church for some other hour
of the day in her own apartment or any other for money will do every
thing and that i have never spared in this affair 

to show thee that i am not at enmity with thee i enclose the copies of
two letters one to her it is the fourth and must be the last on the
subject the other to captain tomlinson calculated as thou wilt see 
for him to show her 

and now jack interfere in this case or not thou knowest the mind of

r lovelace 



letter xliii

mr lovelace to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed to mrs lovelace  
m hall wed morning one o'clock june 28 


not one line my dearest life not one word in answer to three letters
i have written the time is now so short that this must be the last
letter that can reach you on this side the important hour that might make
us legally one 

my friend mr belford is apprehensive that he cannot wait upon you in
time by reason of some urgent affairs of his own 

i the less regret the disappointment because i have procured a more
acceptable person as i hope to attend you captain tomlinson i mean 
to whom i had applied for this purpose before i had mr belford's
answer 

i was the more solicitous to obtain his favour form him because of the
office he is to take upon him as i humbly presume to hope to-morrow 
that office obliged him to be in town as this day and i acquainted him
with my unhappy situation with you and desired that he would show me 
on this occasion that i had as much of his favour and friendship as your
uncle had since the whole treaty must be broken off if he could not
prevail upon you in my behalf 

he will dispatch the messenger directly whom i propose to meet in person
at slough either to proceed onward to london with a joyful heart or to
return back to m hall with a broken one 

i ought not but cannot help it to anticipate the pleasure mr tomlinson
proposes to himself in acquainting you with the likelihood there is of
your mother's seconding your uncle's views for it seems he has
privately communicated to her his laudable intentions and her resolution
depends as well as his upon what to-morrow will produce 

disappoint not then i beseech you for an hundred persons' sakes as
well as for mine that uncle and that mother whose displeasure i have
heard you so often deplore 

you may think it impossible for me to reach london by the canonical hour 
if it should the ceremony may be performed in your own apartments at
any time in the day or at night so that captain tomlinson may have it
to aver to your uncle that it was performed on his anniversary 

tell but the captain that you forbid me not to attend you and that
shall be sufficient for bringing to you on the wings of love 

your ever-grateful and affectionate
lovelace 



letter xliv

to mr patrick m'donald 
at his lodgings at mr brown's peruke-maker in st martin's lane 
 westminster
m hall wedn morning two o'clock 

dear m'donald 

the bearer of this has a letter to carry to the lady i have been at
the trouble of writing a copy of it which i enclose that you may not
mistake your cue 


 see the preceding letter 


you will judge of my reasons for ante-dating the enclosed sealed one 
directed to you by the name of tomlinson which you are to show to the
lady as in confidence you will open it of course 


 see the next letter 


i doubt not your dexterity and management dear m'donald nor your zeal 
especially as the hope of cohabitation must now be given up impossible
to be carried is that scheme i might break her heart but not incline
her will am in earnest therefore to marry her if she let not the day
slip 

improve upon the hint of her mother that may touch her but john
harlowe remember has privately engaged that lady privately i say 
else not to mention the reason for her uncle harlowe's former
expedient you know she might find means to get a letter away to the
one or to the other to know the truth or to miss howe to engage her
to inquire into it and if she should the word privately will account
for the uncle's and mother's denying it 

however fail not as from me to charge our mother and her nymphs to
redouble their vigilance both as to her person and letters all's upon a
crisis now but she must not be treated ill neither 

thursday over i shall know what to resolve upon 

if necessary you must assume authority the devil's in't if such a
girl as this shall awe a man of your years and experience you are not
in love with her as i am fly out if she doubt your honour spirits
naturally soft may be beat out of their play and borne down though ever
so much raised by higher anger all women are cowards at bottom only
violent where they may i have often stormed a girl out of her mistrust 
and made her yield before she knew where she was to the point
indignantly mistrusted and that to make up with me though i was the
aggressor 

if this matter succeed as i'd have it or if not and do not fail by
your fault i will take you off the necessity of pursuing your cursed
smuggling which otherwise may one day end fatally for you 

we are none of us perfect m'donald this sweet lady makes me serious
sometimes in spite of my heart but as private vices are less blamable
than public an as i think smuggling as it is called a national evil 
i have no doubt to pronounce you a much worse man than myself and as
such shall take pleasure in reforming you 

i send you enclosed ten guineas as a small earnest of further favours 
hitherto you have been a very clever fellow 

as to clothes for thursday monmouth-street will afford a ready supply 
clothes quite new would make your condition suspected but you may
defer that care till you see if she can be prevailed upon your
riding-dress will do for the first visit nor let your boots be over
clean i have always told you the consequence of attending to the
minutiae where art or imposture as the ill-mannered would call it is
designed your linen rumpled and soily when you wait upon her easy terms
these just come to town remember as formerly to loll to throw out
your legs to stroke and grasp down your ruffles as if of significance
enough to be careless what though the presence of a fine lady would
require a different behaviour are you not of years to dispense with
politeness you can have no design upon her you know you are a father
yourself of daughters as old as she evermore is parade and
obsequiousness suspectable it must show either a foolish head or a
knavish heart assume airs of consequence therefore and you will be
treated as a man of consequence i have often more than half ruined
myself by my complaisance and being afraid of controul have brought
controul upon myself 

i think i have no more to say at present i intend to be at slough or
on the way to it as by mine to the lady adieu honest m'donald 

r l 



letter xlv

to captain tomlinson
 enclosed in the preceding to be shown to the lady as in confidence  
m hall tuesday morn june 27 


dear captain tomlinson 

an unhappy misunderstanding has arisen between the dearest lady in the
world and me the particulars of which she perhaps may give you but i
will not because i might be thought partial to myself and she refusing
to answer my most pressing and respectful letters i am at a most
perplexing uncertainty whether she will meet us or not next thursday to
solemnize 

my lord is so extremely ill that if i thought she would not oblige me 
i would defer going up to town for two or three days he cares not to
have me out of his sight yet is impatient to salute my beloved as his
neice  sic  before he dies this i have promised to give him an
opportunity to do intending if the dear creature will make me happy 
to set out with her for this place directly from church 

with regret i speak it of the charmer of my soul that irreconcilableness
is her family-fault the less excusable indeed for her as she herself
suffers by it in so high a degree from her own relations 

now sir as you intended to be in town some time before thursday if
it be not too great an inconvenience to you i could be glad you would
go up as soon as possible for my sake and this i the more boldly
request as i presume that a man who has so many great affairs of his
own in hand as you have would be glad to be at a certainty as to the
day 

you sir can so pathetically and justly set before her the unhappy
consequences that will follow if the day be postponed as well with
regard to her uncle's disappointment as to the part you have assured
me her mother is willing to take in the wished-for reconciliation that
i have great hopes she will suffer herself to be prevailed upon and a
man and horse shall be in waiting to take your dispatches and bring them
to me 

but if you cannot prevail in my favour you will be pleased to satisfy
your friend mr john harlowe that it is not my fault that he is not
obliged i am dear sir 

your extremely obliged
and faithful servant 
r lovelace 



letter xlvi

to robert lovelace esq 
wedn june 28 near twelve o'clock 


honoured sir 

i received your's as your servant desired me to acquaint you by ten
this morning horse and man were in a foam 

i instantly equipped myself as if come off from a journey and posted
away to the lady intending to plead great affairs that i came not
before in order to favour your antedate and likewise to be in a hurry 
to have a pretence to hurry her ladyship and to take no denial for her
giving a satisfactory return to your messenger but upon my entering
mrs sinclair's house i found all in the greatest consternation 

you must not sir be surprised it is a trouble to me to be the
relater of the bad news but so it is the lady is gone off she was
missed but half an hour before i came 

her waiting-maid is run away or hitherto is not to be found so that
they conclude it was by her connivance 

they had sent before i came to my honoured masters mr belton mr 
mowbray and mr belford mr tourville is out of town 

high words are passing between madam sinclair and madam horton and
madam martin as also with dorcas and your servant william threatens
to hang or drown himself 

they have sent to know if they can hear of mabell the waiting-maid at
her mother's who it seems lives in chick-lane west-smithfield and to
an uncle of her's also who keeps an alehouse at cow-cross had by and
with whom she lived last 

your messenger having just changed his horse is come back so i will
not detain him longer than to add that i am with great concern for this
misfortune and thanks for your seasonable favour and kind intentions
towards me i am sure this was not my fault 

honoured sir 
your most obliged humble servant 
patrick m'donald 



letter xlvii

mr mowbray to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday twelve o'clock 


dear lovelace 

i have plaguy news to acquaint thee with miss harlowe is gone off 
quite gone by soul i have no time for particulars your servant being
gone off but if i had we are not yet come to the bottom of the matter 
the ladies here are all blubbering like devills accusing one another
most confoundedly whilst belton and i damn them all together in thy
name 

if thou shouldst hear that thy fellow will is taken dead out of some
horse-pond and dorcas cut down from her bed's teaster from dangling
in her own garters be not surprised here's the devil to pay nobody
serene but jack belford who is taking minutes of examinations 
accusations and confessions with the significant air of a middlesex
justice and intends to write at large all particulars i suppose 

i heartily condole with thee so does belton but it may turn out for
the best for she is gone away with thy marks i understand a foolish
little devill where will she mend herself for nobody will look upon
her and they tell me that thou wouldst certainly have married her had
she staid but i know thee better 

dear bobby adieu if lord m will die now to comfort thee for this
loss what a seasonable exit would he make let's have a letter from
thee pr'ythee do thou can'st write devill-like to belford who shews
us nothing at all thine heartily 

rd mowbray 



letter xlviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday june 29 


thou hast heard from m'donald and mowbray the news bad or good i know
not which thou'lt deem it i only wish i could have given thee joy upon
the same account before the unhappy lady was seduced from hampstead for
then of what an ungrateful villany hadst thou been spared the
perpetration which now thou hast to answer for 

i came to town purely to serve thee with her expecting that thy next
would satisfy me that i might endeavour it without dishonour and at
first when i found her gone i half pitied thee for now wilt thou be
inevitably blown up and in what an execrable light wilt thou appear to
all the world poor lovelace caught in thy own snares thy punishment
is but beginning 

but to my narrative for i suppose thou expectest all particulars from
me since mowbray has informed thee that i have been collecting them 

the noble exertion of spirit she has made on friday night had it
seems greatly disordered her insomuch that she was not visible till
saturday evening when mabell saw her and she seemed to be very ill 
but on sunday morning having dressed herself as if designing to go to
church she ordered mabell to get her a coach to the door 

the wench told her she was to obey her in every thing but the calling
of a coach or chair or in relation to letters 

she sent for will and gave him the same command 

he pleaded his master's orders to the contrary and desired to be
excused 

upon this down she went herself and would have gone out without
observation but finding the street-door double-locked and the key not
in the lock she stept into the street-parlour and would have thrown up
the sash to call out to the people passing by as they doubted not but
that since her last attempt of the same nature had been fastened down 

hereupon she resolutely stept into mrs sinclair's parlour in the
back-house where were the old devil and her two partners and demanded
the key of the street-door or to have it opened for her 

they were all surprised but desired to be excused and pleaded your
orders 

she asserted that you had no authority over her and never should have
any that their present refusal was their own act and deed she saw the
intent of their back house and the reason of putting her there she
pleaded her condition and fortune and said they had no way to avoid
utter ruin but by opening their doors to her or by murdering her and
burying her in their garden or cellar too deep for detection that
already what had been done to her was punishable by death and bid them
at their peril detain her 

what a noble what a right spirit has this charming creature in cases
that will justify an exertion of spirit 

they answered that mr lovelace could prove his marriage and would
indemnify them and they all would have vindicated their behaviour on
friday night and the reputation of their house but refusing to hear
them on that topic she flung from them threatening 

she then went up half a dozen stairs in her way to her own apartment 
but as if she had bethought herself down she stept again and proceeded
towards the street-parlour saying as she passed by the infamous dorcas 
i'll make myself protectors though the windows suffer but that wench 
of her own head on the lady's going out of that parlour to mrs 
sinclair's had locked the door and taken out the key so that finding
herself disappointed she burst into tears and went sobbing and menacing
up stairs again 

she made no other attempt till the effectual one your letters and
messages they suppose coming so fast upon one another though she would
not answer one of them gave her some amusement and an assurance to
them that she would at last forgive you and that then all would end as
you wished 

the women in pursuance of your orders offered not to obtrude
themselves upon her and dorcas also kept out of her sight all the rest
of sunday also on monday and tuesday but by the lady's condescension 
 even to familiarity to mabell they imagined that she must be working
in her mind all that time to get away they therefore redoubled their
cautions to the wench who told them so faithfully all that passed
between her lady and her that they had no doubt of her fidelity to her
wicked trust 

'tis probable she might have been contriving something all this time 
but saw no room for perfecting any scheme the contrivance by which she
effected her escape seems to me not to have been fallen upon till the
very day since it depended partly upon the weather as it proved but
it is evident she hoped something from mabell's simplicity or gratitude 
or compassion by cultivating all the time her civility to her 

polly waited on her early on wednesday morning and met with a better
reception than she had reason to expect she complained however with
warmth of her confinement polly said there would be an happy end to it
 if it were a confinement next day she presumed she absolutely
declared to the contrary in the way polly meant it and said that mr 
lovelace on his return  which looked as if she intended to wait for it 
should have reason to repent the orders he had given as they all should
their observance of them let him send twenty letters she would not
answer one be the consequence what it would nor give him hope of the
least favour while she was in that house she had given mrs sinclair
and themselves fair warning she said no orders of another ought to make
them detain a free person but having made an open attempt to go and
been detained by them she was the calmer she told polly let them look
to the consequence 

but yet she spoke this with temper and polly gave it as her opinion 
 with apprehension for their own safety that having so good a handle to
punish them all she would not go away if she might and what inferred
polly is the indemnity of a man who has committed the vilest of rapes on
a person of condition and must himself if prosecuted for it either
fly or be hanged 

sinclair  so i will still call her   upon this representation of polly 
foresaw she said the ruin of her poor house in the issue of this
strange business and the infamous sally and dorcas bore their parts in
the apprehension and this put them upon thinking it advisable for the
future that the street-door should generally in the day-time be only
left upon a bolt-latch as they called it which any body might open on
the inside and that the key should be kept in the door that their
numerous comers and goers as they called their guests should be able to
give evidence that she might have gone out if she would not forgetting 
however to renew their orders to will to dorcas to mabell and the
rest to redouble their vigilance on this occasion to prevent her
escape none of them doubting at the same time that her love of a man
so considerable in their eyes and the prospect of what was to happen as
she had reason to believe on thursday her uncle's birth-day would
 though perhaps not till the last hour for her pride sake was their
word engage her to change her temper 

they believe that she discovered the key to be left in the door for
she was down more than once to walk in the little garden and seemed to
cast her eye each time to the street-door 

about eight yesterday morning an hour after polly had left her she
told mabell she was sure she should not live long and having a good
many suits of apparel which after her death would be of no use to any
body she valued she would give her a brown lustring gown which with
some alterations to make it more suitable to her degree would a great
while serve her for a sunday wear for that she mabell was the only
person in that house of whom she could think without terror or antipathy 

mabell expressing her gratitude upon the occasion the lady said she
had nothing to employ herself about and if she could get a workwoman
directly she would look over her things then and give her what she
intended for her 

her mistress's mantua-maker the maid replied lived but a little way
off and she doubted not that she could procure her or one of the
journey-women to alter the gown out of hand 

i will give you also said she a quilted coat which will require but
little alteration if any for you are much about my stature but the
gown i will give directions about because the sleeves and the robings
and facings must be altered for your wear being i believe above your
station and try said she if you can get the workwoman and we'll
advise about it if she cannot come now let her come in the afternoon 
but i had rather now because it will amuse me to give you a lift 

then stepping to the window it rains said she  and so it had done all
the morning   slip on the hood and short cloak i have seen you wear and
come to me when you are ready to go out because you shall bring me in
something that i want 

mabell equipped herself accordingly and received her commands to buy
her some trifles and then left her but in her way out stept into the
back parlour where dorcas was with mrs sinclair telling her where she
was going and on what account bidding dorcas look out till she came
back so faithful as the wench to the trust reposed in her and so
little had the lady's generosity wrought upon her 

mrs sinclair commended her dorcas envied her and took her cue and
mabell soon returned with the mantua-maker's journey-woman she
resolved she said but she would not come without her and then dorcas
went off guard 

the lady looked out the gown and petticoat and before the workwoman
caused mabell to try it on and that it might fit the better made the
willing wench pull off her upper-petticoat and put on that she gave her 
then she bid them go into mr lovelace's apartment and contrive about it
before the pier-glass there and stay till she came to them to give them
her opinion 

mabell would have taken her own clothes and hood and short cloak with
her but her lady said no matter you may put them on again here when
we have considered about the alterations there's no occasion to litter
the other room 

they went and instantly as it is supposed she slipt on mabell's gown
and petticoat over her own which was white damask and put on the
wench's hood short cloak and ordinary apron and down she went 

hearing somebody tripping along the passage both will and dorcas whipt
to the inner-hall door and saw her but taking her for mabell are you
going far mabell cried will 

without turning her face or answering she held out her hand pointing
to the stairs which they construed as a caution for them to look out in
her absence and supposing she would not be long gone as she had not in
form repeated her caution to them up went will tarrying at the
stairs-head in expectation of the supposed mabell's return 

mabell and the workwoman waited a good while amusing themselves not
disagreeably the one with contriving in the way of her business the
other delighting herself with her fine gown and coat but at last 
wondering the lady did not come in to them mabell tiptoed it to her
door and tapping and not being answered stept into the chamber 

will at that instant from his station at the stairs-head seeing
mabell in her lady's clothes for he had been told of the present  gifts
to servants fly from servant to servant in a minute   was very much
surprised having as he thought just seen her go out in her own and
stepping up met her at the door how the devil can this be said he 
just now you went out in your own dress how came you here in this and
how could you pass me unseen but nevertheless kissing her said he
would now brag he had kissed his lady or one in her clothes 

i am glad mr william cried mabell to see you here so diligently 
but know you where my lady is 

in my master's apartment answered will is she not was she not
talking with you this moment 

no that's mrs dolins's journey-woman 

they both stood aghast as they said will again recollecting he had
seen mabell as he thought go out in her own clothes and while they
were debating and wondering up comes dorcas with your fourth letter 
just then brought for the lady and seeing mabell dressed out whom she
had likewise beheld a little before as she supposed in her common
clothes she joined in the wonder till mabell re-entering the lady's
apartment missed her own clothes and then suspecting what had happened 
and letting the others into the ground of the suspicion they all agreed
that she had certainly escaped and then followed such an uproar of
mutual accusation and you should have done this and you have done that 
as alarmed the whole house every apartment in both houses giving up its
devil to the number of fourteen or fifteen including the mother and her
partners 

will told them his story and then ran out as on the like occasion
formerly to make inquiry whether the lady was seen by any of the
coachmen chairmen or porters plying in that neighbourhood while
dorcas cleared herself immediately and that at the poor mabell's
expense who made a figure as guilty as awkward having on the suspected
price of her treachery which dorcas out of envy was ready to tear from
her back 

hereupon all the pack opened at the poor wench while the mother foamed
at the mouth bellowed out her orders for seizing the suspected offender 
who could neither be heard in her own defence nor had she been heard 
would have been believed 

that such a perfidious wretch should ever disgrace her house was the
mother's cry good people might be corrupted but it was a fine thing if
such a house as her's could not be faithfully served by cursed creatures
who were hired knowing the business they were to be employed in and who
had no pretence to principle d n her the wretch proceeded she had
no patience with her call the cook and call the scullion 

they were at hand 

see that guilty pyeball devil was her word her lady's gown upon her
back but i'll punish her for a warning to all betrayers of their trust 
put on the great gridiron this moment  an oath or a curse at every
word   make up a roaring fire the cleaver bring me this instant i'll
cut her into quarters with my own hands and carbonade and broil the
traitress for a feast to all the dogs and cats in the neighbourhood and
eat the first slice of the toad myself without salt or pepper 

the poor mabell frighted out of her wits expected every moment to be
torn in pieces having half a score open-clawed paws upon her all at
once she promised to confess all but that all when she had obtained
a hearing was nothing for nothing had she to confess 

sally hereupon with a curse of mercy ordered her to retire 
undertaking that she and polly would examine her themselves that they
might be able to write all particulars to his honour and then if she
could not clear herself or if guilty give some account of the lady 
 who had been so wicked as to give them all this trouble so as they
might get her again then the cleaver and gridiron might go to work with
all their heart 

the wench glad of this reprieve went up stairs and while sally was
laying out the law and prating away in her usual dictorial manner whipt
on another gown and sliding down the stairs escaped to her relations 
and this flight which was certainly more owing to terror than guilt 
was in the true old bailey construction made a confirmation of the
latter 


 


these are the particulars of miss harlowe's flight thou'lt hardly think
me too minute how i long to triumph over thy impatience and fury on the
occasion 

let me beseech thee my dear lovelace in thy next letter to rave most
gloriously i shall be grievously disappointed if thou dost not 


 


where lovelace can the poor lady be gone and who can describe the
distress she must be in 

by thy former letters it may be supposed that she can have very little
money nor by the suddenness of her flight more clothes than those she
has on and thou knowest who once said her parents will not receive
her her uncles will not entertain her her norton is in their
direction and cannot miss howe dare not she has not one friend or
intimate in town entirely a stranger to it  and let me add has been
despoiled of her honour by the man for whom she had made all these
sacrifices and who stood bound to her by a thousand oaths and vows to
be her husband her protector and friend 


 see vol iv letter xxi 


how strong must be her resentment of the barbarous treatment she has
received how worthy of herself that it has made her hate the man she
once loved and rather than marry him choose to expose her disgrace to
the whole world to forego the reconciliation with her friends which her
heart was so set upon and to hazard a thousand evils to which her youth
and her sex may too probably expose an indigent and friendly beauty 

rememberest thou not that home push upon thee in one of the papers
written in her delirium of which however it savours not 

i will assure thee that i have very often since most seriously reflected
upon it and as thy intended second outrage convinces me that it made no
impression upon thee then and perhaps thou hast never thought of it
since i will transcribe the sentence 

if as religion teaches us god will judge us in a great measure by
our benevolent or evil actions to one another o wretch bethink thee in
time bethink thee how great must be thy condemnation  


 see vol vi letter xvi 


and is this amiable doctrine the sum of religion upon my faith 
believe it is for to indulge a serious thought since we are not
atheists except in practice does god the being of beings want any
thing of us for himself and does he not enjoin us works of mercy to one
another as the means to obtain his mercy a sublime principle and
worthy of the supreme superintendent and father of all things but if we
are to be judged by this noble principle what indeed must be thy
condemnation on the score of this lady only and what mine and what all
our confraternity's on the score of other women though we are none of
us half so bad as thou art as well for want of inclination i hope as
of opportunity 

i must add that as well for thy own sake as for the lady's i wish ye
were yet to be married to each other it is the only medium that can be
hit upon to salve the honour of both all that's past may yet be
concealed from the world and from all her sufferings if thou resolvest
to be a tender and kind husband to her 

and if this really be thy intention i will accept with pleasure of a
commission from thee that shall tend to promote so good an end whenever
she can be found that is to say if she will admit to her presence a man
who professes friendship to thee nor can i give a greater
demonstration that i am

thy sincere friend 
j belford 

p s mabell's clothes were thrown into the passage this morning nobody
knows by whom 



letter xlix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday june 30 


i am ruined undone blown up destroyed and worse than annihilated 
that's certain but was not the news shocking enough dost thou think 
without thy throwing into the too-weighty scale reproaches which thou
couldst have had no opportunity to make but for my own voluntary
communications at a time too when as it falls out i have another very
sensible disappointment to struggle with 

i imagine if there be such a thing as future punishment it must be none
of the smallest mortifications that a new devil shall be punished by a
worse old one and take that and take that to have the old satyr
cry to the screaming sufferer laying on with a cat-o'-nine-tails with a
star of burning brass at the end of each and for what for what why 
if the truth may be fairly told for not being so bad a devil as myself 

thou art surely casuist good enough to know what i have insisted
upon heretofore that the sin of seducing a credulous and easy girl is
as great as that of bringing to your lure an incredulous and watchful
one 


 see vol iv letter xvii 


however ungenerous an appearance what i am going to say may have from my
pen let me tell thee that if such a woman as miss harlowe chose to
enter into the matrimonial state  i am resolved to disappoint thee in
thy meditated triumph over my rage and despair   and according to the
old patriarchal system to go on contributing to get sons and daughters 
with no other view than to bring them up piously and to be good and
useful members of the commonwealth what a devil had she to do to let
her fancy run a gadding after a rake one whom she knew to be a rake 

oh but truly she hoped to have the merit of reclaiming him she had
formed pretty notions how charming it would look to have a penitent of
her own making dangling at her side at church through an applauding
neighbourhood and as their family increased marching with her thither 
at the head of their boys and girls processionally as it were boasting
of the fruits of their honest desires as my good lord bishop has it in
his license and then what a comely sight all kneeling down together
in one pew according to eldership as we have seen in effigy a whole
family upon some old monument where the honest chevalier in armour is
presented kneeling with up-lifted hands and half a dozen jolter-headed
crop-eared boys behind him ranged gradatim or step-fashion according to
age and size all in the same posture facing his pious dame with a ruff
about her neck and as many whey-faced girls all kneeling behind her an
altar between them and an open book upon it over their heads
semiluminary rays darting from gilded clouds surrounding an achievement-
motto in coelo salus or quies perhaps if they have happened to live
the usual married life of brawl and contradiction 

it is certainly as much my misfortune to have fallen in with miss
clarissa harlowe were i to have valued my reputation or ease as it is
that of miss harlowe to have been acquainted with me and after all 
what have i done more than prosecute the maxim by which thou and i and
every rake are governed and which before i knew this lady we have
pursued from pretty girl to pretty girl as fast as we have set one down 
taking another up just as the fellows do with their flying coaches and
flying horses at a country fair with a who rides next who rides
next 

but here in the present case to carry on the volant metaphor for i
must either be merry or mad is a pretty little miss just come out of
her hanging-sleeve-coat brought to buy a pretty little fairing for the
world jack is but a great fair thou knowest and to give thee serious
reflection for serious all its joys but tinselled hobby-horses gilt
gingerbread squeaking trumpets painted drums and so forth 

now behold this pretty little miss skimming from booth to booth in a
very pretty manner one pretty little fellow called wyerley perhaps 
another jiggeting rascal called biron a third simpering varlet of the
name of symmes and a more hideous villain than any of the reset with a
long bag under his arm and parchment settlements tagged to his heels 
yelped solmes pursue her from raree-show to raree-show shouldering upon
one another at every turn stopping when she stops and set a spinning
again when she moves and thus dangled after but still in the eye of
her watchful guardians traverses the pretty little miss through the
whole fair equally delighted and delighting till at last taken with
the invitation of the laced-hat orator and seeing several pretty little
bib-wearers stuck together in the flying-coaches cutting safely the
yielding air in the one-go-up the other go-down picture-of-the-world
vehicle and all with as little fear as wit is tempted to ride next 

in then suppose she slily pops when none of her friends are near her 
and if after two or three ups and downs her pretty head turns giddy 
and she throws herself out of the coach when at its elevation and so
dashes out her pretty little brains who can help it and would you hang
the poor fellow whose professed trade it was to set the pretty little
creature a flying 

tis true this pretty little miss being a very pretty little miss 
being a very much-admired little miss being a very good little miss who
always minded her book and had passed through her sampler-doctrine with
high applause had even stitched out in gaudy propriety of colors an
abraham offering up isaac a sampson and the philistines and flowers 
and knots and trees and the sun and the moon and the seven stars all
hung up in frames with glasses before them for the admiration of her
future grand children who likewise was entitled to a very pretty little
estate who was descended from a pretty little family upwards of one
hundred years gentility which lived in a very pretty little manner 
respected a very little on their own accounts a great deal on her's 

for such a pretty little miss as this to come to so great a misfortune 
must be a very sad thing but tell me would not the losing of any
ordinary child of any other less considerable family or less shining or
amiable qualities have been as great and heavy a loss to that family as
the losing this pretty little miss could be to her's 

to descend to a very low instance and that only as to personality hast
thou any doubt that thy strong-muscled bony-faced was as much admired by
thy mother as if it had been the face of a lovelace or any other
handsome fellow and had thy picture been drawn would she have forgiven
the painter had he not expressed so exactly thy lineaments as that
every one should have discerned the likeness the handsome likeness is
all that is wished for ugliness made familiar to us with the
partiality natural to fond parents will be beauty all the world over 
do thou apply 

but alas jack all this is but a copy of my countenance drawn to evade
thy malice though it answer thy unfriendly purpose to own it i cannot
forbear to own it that i am stung to the very soul with this unhappy 
accident must i call it have i nobody whose throat either for
carelessness or treachery i ought to cut in order to pacify my
vengeance 

when i reflect upon my last iniquitous intention the first outrage so
nobly resented as well as so far as she was able so nobly resisted i
cannot but conclude that i was under the power of fascination from these
accursed circes who pretending to know their own sex would have it 
that there is in every woman a yielding or a weak-resisting moment to be
met with and that yet and yet and yet i had not tried enough but
that if neither love nor terror should enable me to hit that lucky
moment when by help of their cursed arts she was once overcome she
would be for ever overcome appealing to all my experience to all my
knowledge of the sex for justification of their assertion 

my appeal to experience i own was but too favourable to their argument 
for dost thou think i could have held my purpose against such an angel as
this had i ever before met with a woman so much in earnest to defend her
honour against the unwearied artifices and perseverance of the man she
loved why then were there not more examples of a virtue so immovable 
or why was this singular one to fall to my lot except indeed to double
my guilt and at the same time to convince all that should hear her
story that there are angels as well as devils in the flesh 

so much for confession and for the sake of humouring my conscience with
a view likewise to disarm thy malice by acknowledgement since no one shall
say worse of me than i will of myself on this occasion 

one thing i will nevertheless add to show the sincerity of my contrition
 tis this that if thou canst by any means find her out within these
three days or any time before she has discovered the stories relating to
captain tomlinson and her uncle to be what they are and if thou canst
prevail upon her to consent i will actually in thy presence and his 
 he to represent her uncle marry her 

i am still in hopes it may be so she cannot be long concealed i have
already set all engines at work to find her out and if i do what
indifferent persons  and no one of her friends as thou observest will
look upon her   will care to embroil themselves with a man of my figure 
fortune and resolution show her this part then or any other part of
this letter as thy own discretion if thou canst find her for after
all methinks i would be glad that this affair which is bad enough in
itself should go off without worse personal consequences to any body
else and yet it runs in my mind i know not why that sooner or later
it will draw a few drops of blood after it except she and i can make it
up between ourselves and this may be another reason why she should not
carry her resentment too far not that such an affair would give me much
concern neither were i to choose any man of men for i heartily hate all
her family but herself and ever shall 


 


let me add that the lady's plot to escape appears to me no extraordinary
one there was much more luck than probability that it should do since 
to make it succeed it was necessary that dorcas and will and sinclair
and her nymphs should be all deceived or off their guard it belongs
to me when i see them to give them my hearty thanks that they were and
that their selfish care to provide for their own future security should
induce them to leave their outward door upon their bolt-latch and be
curs'd to them 

mabell deserves a pitch suit and a bonfire rather than the lustring and
as her clothes are returned le the lady's be put to her others to be
sent to her when it can be told whither but not till i give the word
neither for we must get the dear fugitive back again if possible 

i suppose that my stupid villain who knew not such a goddess-shaped lady
with a mien so noble from the awkward and bent-shouldered mabell has
been at hampstead to see after her and yet i hardly think she would go
thither he ought to go through every street where bills for lodgings
are up to inquire after a new-comer the houses of such as deal in
women's matters and tea coffee and such-like are those to be inquired
at for her if some tidings be not quickly heard of her i would not
have either dorcas will or mabell appear in my sight whatever their
superiors think fit to do 

this though written in character is a very long letter considering it
is not a narrative one or a journal of proceedings like most of my
former for such will unavoidably and naturally as i may say run into
length but i have so used myself to write a great deal of late that i
know not how to help it yet i must add to its length in order to
explain myself on a hint i gave at the beginning of it which was that i
have another disappointment besides this of miss harlowe's escape to
bemoan 

and what dost thou think it is why the old peer pox of his tough
constitution for that malady would have helped him on has made shift
by fire and brimstone and the devil knows what to force the gout to
quit the counterscarp of his stomach just as it had collected all its
strength in order to storm the citadel of his heart in short they
have by the mere force of stink-pots hand-granades and pop-guns 
driven the slow-working pioneer quite out of the trunk into the
extremities and there it lies nibbling and gnawing upon his great toe 
when i had a fair end of the distemper and the distempered 

but i who could write to thee of laudanum and the wet cloth formerly 
yet let 8000  a year slip through my fingers when i had entered upon it
more than in imagination  for i had begun to ask the stewards questions 
and to hear them talk of fines and renewals and such sort of stuff  
deserve to be mortified 

thou canst not imagine how differently the servants and even my cousins 
look upon me since yesterday to what they did before neither the one
nor the other bow or courtesy half so low nor am i a quarter so often
his honour and your honour as i was within these few hours with the
former and as to the latter it is cousin bobby again with the usual
familiarity instead of sir and sir and if you please mr lovelace 
and now they have the insolence to congratulate me on the recovery of the
best of uncles while i am forced to seem as much delighted as they 
when would it do me good i could sit down and cry my eyes out 

i had bespoke my mourning in imagination after the example of a certain
foreign minister who before the death or even last illness of charles
ii as honest white kennet tells us had half exhausted blackwell-hall
of its sables an indication as the historian would insinuate that the
monarch was to be poisoned and the ambassador in the secret and yet 
fool that i was i could not take the hint what the devil does a man
read history for if he cannot profit by the examples he find in it 

but thus jack is an observation of the old peer's verified that one
misfortune seldom comes alone and so concludes

thy doubly mortified
lovelace 



letter l

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
wednesday night june 28 


o my dearest miss howe 

once more have i escaped but alas i my best self have not escaped 
 oh your poor clarissa harlowe you also will hate me i fear 

yet you won't when you know all 

but no more of my self my lost self you that can rise in a morning to
be blest and to bless and go to rest delighted with your own
reflections and in your unbroken unstarting slumbers conversing with
saints and angels the former only more pure than yourself as they have
shaken off the incumbrance of body you shall be my subject as you have
long long been my only pleasure and let me at awful distance revere
my beloved anna howe and in her reflect upon what her clarissa harlowe
once was 


 


forgive o forgive my rambling my peace is destroyed my intellects
are touched and what flighty nonsense must you read if you now will
vouchsafe to correspond with me as formerly 

o my best my dearest my only friend what a tale have i to unfold 
but still upon self this vile this hated self i will shake it off if
possible and why should i not since i think except one wretch i hate
nothing so much self then be banished from self one moment for i
doubt it will be for no longer to inquire after a dearer object my
beloved anna howe whose mind all robed in spotless white charms and
irradiates but what would i say 


 


and how my dearest friend after this rhapsody which on re-perusal i
would not let go but to show you what a distracted mind dictates to my
trembling pen how do you you have been very ill it seems that you
are recovered my dear let me hear that your mother is well pray let
me hear and hear quickly this comfort surely is owing to me for if
life is no worse than chequer-work i must now have a little white to
come having seen nothing but black all unchequered dismal black for a
great great while 


 


and what is all this wild incoherence for it is only to beg to know how
you have been and how you do now by a line directed for mrs rachel
clark at mr smith's a glove-shop in king-street covent-garden which
 although my abode is secret to every body else will reach the hands of
 your unhappy but that's not enough 

your miserable
clarissa harlowe 



letter li

mrs howe to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed as directed in the preceding  
friday june 30 


miss clarissa harlowe 

you will wonder to receive a letter from me i am sorry for the great
distress you seem to be in such a hopeful young lady as you were but
see what comes of disobedience to parents 

for my part although i pity you yet i much more pity your poor father
and mother such education as they gave you such improvement as you
made and such delight as they took in you and all come to this 

but pray miss don't make my nancy guilt of your fault which is that of
disobedience i have charged her over and over not to correspond with
one who had made such a giddy step it is not to her reputation i am
sure you know that i so charged her yet you go on corresponding
together to my very great vexation for she has been very perverse upon
it more than once evil communication miss you know the rest 

here people cannot be unhappy by themselves but they must invoke their
friends and acquaintance whose discretion has kept them clear of their
errors into near as much unhappiness as if they had run into the like
of their own heads thus my poor daughter is always in tears and grief 
and she has postponed her own felicity truly because you are unhappy 

if people who seek their own ruin could be the only sufferers by their
headstrong doings it were something but o miss miss what have you to
answer for who have made as many grieved hearts as have known you the
whole sex is indeed wounded by you for who but miss clarissa harlowe
was proposed by every father and mother for a pattern for their
daughters 

i write a long letter where i proposed to say but a few words and those
to forbid your writing to my nancy and this as well because of the false
step you have made as because it will grieve her poor heart and do you
no good if you love her therefore write not to her your sad letter
came into my hands nancy being abroad and i shall not show it her for
there would be no comfort for her if she saw it nor for me whose
delight she is as you once was to your parents 

but you seem to be sensible enough of your errors now so are all giddy
girls when it is too late and what a crest-fallen figure then do the
consequences of their self-willed obstinacy and headstrongness compel
them to make 

i may say too much only as i think it proper to bear that testimony
against your rashness which it behoves every careful parent to bear and
none more than

your compassionating well-wishing
annabella howe 

i send this by a special messenger who has business only so far as
 barnet because you shall have no need to write again knowing how
 you love writing and knowing likewise that misfortune makes people
 plaintive 



letter lii

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs howe 
saturday july 1 


permit me madam to trouble you with a few lines were it only to thank
you for your reproofs which have nevertheless drawn fresh streams of
blood from a bleeding heart 

my story is a dismal story it has circumstances in it that would engage
pity and possibly a judgment not altogether unfavourable were those
circumstances known but it is my business and shall be all my
business to repent of my failings and not endeavour to extenuate them 

nor will i seek to distress your worthy mind if i cannot suffer alone 
i will make as few parties as i can in my sufferings and indeed i
took up my pen with this resolution when i wrote the letter which has
fallen into your hands it was only to know and that for a very
particular reason as well as for affection unbounded if my dear miss
howe from whom i had not heard of a long time were ill as i had been
told she was and if so how she now does but my injuries being recent 
and my distresses having been exceeding great self would crowd into my
letter when distressed the human mind is apt to turn itself to every
one in whom it imagined or wished an interest for pity and consolation 
 or to express myself better and more concisely in your own words 
misfortune makes people plaintive and to whom if not to a friend can
the afflicted complain 

miss howe being abroad when my letter came i flatter myself that she is
recovered but it would be some satisfaction to me to be informed if she
has been ill another line from your hand would be too great a favour 
but if you will be pleased to direct any servant to answer yes or no to
that question i will not be farther troublesome 

nevertheless i must declare that my miss howe's friendship was all the
comfort i had or expected to have in this world and a line from her
would have been a cordial to my fainting heart judge then dearest
madam how reluctantly i must obey your prohibition but yet i will
endeavour to obey it although i should have hoped as well from the
tenor of all that has passed between miss howe and me as from her
established virtue that she could not be tainted by evil communication 
had one or two letters been permitted this however i ask not for 
since i think i have nothing to do but to beg of god who i hope has
not yet withdrawn his grace from me although he has pleaded to let loose
his justice upon my faults to give me a truly broken spirit if it be
not already broken enough and then to take to his mercy

the unhappy
clarissa harlowe 

two favours good madam i have to beg of you the first that you will
 not let any of my relations know that you have heard from me the
 other that no living creature be apprized where i am to be heard of 
 or directed to this is a point that concerns me more than i can
 express in short my preservation from further evils may depend upon
 it 



letter liii

miss clarissa harlowe to hannah burton
thursday june 29 


my good hannah 

strange things have happened to me since you were dismissed my service
 so sorely against my will and your pert fellow servant set over me 
but that must all be forgotten now 

how do you my hannah are you recovered of your illness if you are 
do you choose to come and be with me or can you conveniently 

i am a very unhappy creature and being among all strangers should be
very glad to have you with me of whose fidelity and love i have had so
many acceptable instances 

living or dying i will endeavour to make it worth your while my hannah 

if you are recovered as i hope and if you have a good place it may be
they would bear with your absence and suffer somebody in your room for a
month or so and by that time i hope to be provided for and you may
then return to your place 

don't let any of my friends know of this my desire whether you can come
or not 

i am at mr smith's a hosier's and glove shop in king-street 
covent-garden 

you must direct to me by the name of rachel clark 

do my good hannah come if you can to your poor young mistress who
always valued you and always will whether you come or not 

i send this to your mother at st alban's not knowing where to direct
to you return me a line that i may know what to depend upon and i
shall see you have not forgotten the pretty hand you were taught in
happy days by

your true friend 
clarissa harlowe 



letter liv

hannah burton
 in answer  
monday july 3 


honored maddam 

i have not forgot to write and never will forget any thing you my dear
young lady was so good as to larn me i am very sorrowful for your
misfortens my dearest young lady so sorrowfull i do not know what to
do gladd at harte would i be to be able to come to you but indeed i
have not been able to stir out of my rome here at my mother's ever since
i was forsed to leave my plase with a roomatise which has made me quite
and clene helpless i will pray for you night and day my dearest my
kindest my goodest young lady who have been so badly used and i am
very sorry i cannot come to do you love and sarvice which will ever be
in the harte of mee to do if it was in my power who am

your most dutiful servant to command 
hannah burton 



letter lv

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs judith norton
thursday june 29 


my dear mrs norton 

i address myself to you after a very long silence which however was
not owing either to want of love or duty principally to desire you to
satisfy me in two or three points which it behoves me to know 

my father and all the family i am informed are to be at my uncle
harlowe's this day as usual pray acquaint me if they have been there 
and if they were cheerful on the anniversary occasion and also if you
have heard of any journey or intended journey of my brother in company
with captain singleton and mr solmes 

strange things have happened to me my dear worthy and maternal friend 
very strange things mr lovelace has proved a very barbarous and
ungrateful man to me but god be praised i have escaped from him 
being among absolute strangers though i think worthy folks i have
written to hannah burton to come and be with me if the good creature
fall in your way pray encourage her to come to me i always intended
to have her she knows but hoped to be in happier circumstances 

say nothing to any of my friends that you have heard from me 

pray do you think my father would be prevailed upon if i were to
supplicate him by letter to take off the heavy curse he laid upon me at
my going from harlowe-place i can expect no other favour from him but
that being literally fulfilled as to my prospects in this life i hope it
will be thought to have operated far enough and my heart is so weak it
is very weak but for my father's own sake what should i say indeed i
hardly know how i ought to express myself on this sad subject but it
will give ease to my mind to be released from it 

i am afraid my poor as i used to call the good creatures to whose
necessities i was wont to administer by your faithful hands have missed
me of late but now alas i am poor myself it is not the least
aggravation of my fault nor of my regrets that with such inclinations
as god has given me i have put it our of my power to do the good i once
pleased myself to think i was born to do it is a sad thing my dearest
mrs nortin to render useless to ourselves and the world by our own
rashness the talents which providence has intrusted to us for the
service of both 

but these reflections are now too late and perhaps i ought to have kept
them to myself let me however hope that you love me still pray let
me hope that you do and then notwithstanding my misfortunes which
have made me seem ungrateful to the kind and truly maternal pains you
have taken with me from my cradle i shall have the happiness to think
that there is one worthy person who hates not

the unfortunate
clarissa harlowe 

pray remember me to my foster-brother i hope he continues dutiful and
 good to you 
be pleased to direct for rachel clark at mr smith's in king-street 
 covent-garden but keep the direction an absolute secret 



letter lvi

mrs norton
 in answer  
saturday july 1 


your letter my dearest young lady cuts me to the heart why will you
not let me know all your distresses yet you have said enough 

my son is very good to me a few hours ago he was taken with a feverish
disorder but i hope it will go off happily if his ardour for business
will give him the recess from it which his good master is willing to
allow him he presents his duty to you and shed tears at hearing your
sad letter read 

you have been misinformed as to your family's being at your uncle
harlowe's they did not intend to be there nor was the day kept at
all indeed they have not stirred out but to church and that but
three times ever since the day you went away unhappy day for them and
for all who know you to me i am sure most particularly so my heart
now bleeds more and more for you 

i have not heard a syllable of such a journey as you mentioned of your
brother captain singleton and mr solmes there has been some talk
indeed of your brother's setting out for his northern estates but i have
not heard of it lately 

i am afraid no letter will be received from you it grieves me to tell
you so my dearest young lady no evil can have happened to you which
they do not expect to hear of so great is their antipathy to the wicked
man and so bad is his character 

i cannot but think hardly of their unforgiveness but there is no judging
for others by one's self nevertheless i will add that if you had had
as gentle spirits as mine these evils had never happened either to them
or to you i knew your virtue and your love of virtue from your very
cradle and i doubted not but that with god's grace would always be
your guard but you could never be driven nor was there occasion to
drive you so generous so noble so discreet but how does my love of
your amiable qualities increase my affliction as these recollections
must do your's 

you are escaped my dearest miss happily i hope that is to say with
your honour else how great must be your distress yet from your
letter i dread the worst 

i am very seldom at harlowe-place the house is not the house it used to
be since you went from it then they are so relentless and as i
cannot say harsh things of the beloved child of my heart as well as
bosom they do not take it amiss that i stay away 

your hannah left her place ill some time ago and as she is still at her
mother's at st alban's i am afraid she continues ill if so as you
are among strangers and i cannot encourage you at present to come into
these parts i shall think it my duty to attend you let it be taken as
it will as soon as my tommy's indisposition will permit which i hope
will be soon 

i have a little money by me you say you are poor yourself how
grievous are those words from one entitled and accustomed to affluence 
will you be so good to command it my beloved young lady it is most of
it your own bounty to me and i should take a pride to restore it to its
original owner 

your poor bless you and pray for you continually i have so managed
your last benevolence and they have been so healthy and have had such
constant employ that it has held out and will hold out till the happier
times return which i continually pray for 

let me beg of you my dearest young lady to take to yourself all those
aids which good persons like you draw from religion in support of
their calamities let your sufferings be what they will i am sure you
have been innocent in your intention so do not despond none are made
to suffer above what they can and therefore ought to bear 

we know not the methods of providence nor what wise ends it may have to
serve in its seemingly-severe dispensations to its poor creatures 

few persons have greater reason to say this than myself and since we
are apt in calamities to draw more comfort from example than precept you
will permit me to remind you of my own lot for who has had a greater
share of afflictions than myself 

to say nothing of the loss of an excellent mother at a time of life when
motherly care is most wanted the death of a dear father who was an
ornament to his cloth and who had qualified me to be his scribe and
amanuensis just as he came within view of a preferment which would have
made his family easy threw me friendless into the wide world threw me
upon a very careless and which was much worse a very unkind husband 
poor man but he was spared long enough thank god in a tedious
illness to repent of his neglected opportunities and his light
principles which i have always thought of with pleasure although i was
left the more destitute for his chargeable illness and ready to be
brought to bed when he died of my tommy 

but this very circumstance which i thought the unhappiest that i could
have been left in so short-sighted is human prudence became the happy
means of recommending me to your mother who in regard to my character 
and in compassion to my very destitute circumstances permitted me as i
made a conscience of not parting with my poor boy to nurse both you and
him born within a few days of each other and i have never since wanted
any of the humble blessings which god has made me contented with 


nor have i known what a very great grief was from the day of my poor
husband's death till the day that your parents told me how much they were
determined that you should have mr solmes when i was apprized not only
of your aversion to him but how unworthy he was of you for then i began
to dread the consequences of forcing so generous a spirit and till
then i never feared mr lovelace attracting as was his person and
specious his manners and address for i was sure you would never have
him if he gave you not good reason to be convinced of his reformation 
nor till your friends were as well satisfied in it as yourself but that
unhappy misunderstanding between your brother and mr lovelace and their
joining so violently to force you upon mr solmes did all that mischief 
which has cost you and them so dear and poor me all my peace oh what
has not this ungrateful this double-guilty man to answer for 

nevertheless you know not what god has in store for you yet but if you
are to be punished all your days here for example sake in a case of
such importance for your one false step be pleased to consider that
this life is but a state of probation and if you have your purification
in it you will be the more happy nor doubt i that you will have the
higher reward hereafter for submitting to the will of providence here
with patience and resignation 

you see my dearest miss clary that i make no scruple to call the step
you took a false one in you it was less excusable than it would have
been in any other young lady not only because of your superior talents 
but because of the opposition between your character and his so that if
you had been provoked to quit your father's house it need not to have
been with him nor needed i indeed but as an instance of my impartial
love to have written this to you 


 mrs norton having only the family representation and invectives to
form her judgment upon knew not that clarissa had determined against
going off with mr lovelace nor how solicitous she had been to procure
for herself any other protection than his when she apprehended that if
she staid she had no way to avoid being married to mr solmes 


after this it will have an unkind and perhaps at this time an
unseasonable appearance to express my concern that you have not before
favoured me with a line yet if you can account to yourself for your
silence i dare say i ought to be satisfied for i am sure you love me 
as i both love and honour you and ever will and the more for your
misfortunes 

one consolation methinks i have even when i am sorrowing for your
calamities and that is that i know not any young person so qualified to
shine the brighter for the trials she may be exercised with and yet it
is a consolation that ends in adding to my regrets for your afflictions 
because you are blessed with a mind so well able to bear prosperity and
to make every body round you the better for it but i will forbear till
i know more 

ruminating on every thing your melancholy letter suggests and
apprehending from the gentleness of your mind the amiableness of your
person and your youth the farther misfortunes and inconveniencies to
which you may possibly be subjected i cannot conclude without asking for
your leave to attend you and that in a very earnest manner and i beg of
you not to deny me on any consideration relating to myself or even to
the indisposition of my other beloved child if i can be either of use or
of comfort to you were it my dearest young lady but for two or three
days permit me to attend you although my son's illness should increase 
and compel me to come down again at the end of those two or three days 
i repeat my request likewise that you will command from me the little
sum remaining in the hands of your bounty to your poor as well as that
dispensed to

your ever-affectionate and faithful servant 
judith norton 



letter lvii

miss cl harlowe to lady betty lawrance
thursday june 29 


madam 

i hope you'll excuse the freedom of this address from one who has not
the honour to be personally known to you although you must have heard
much of clarissa harlowe it is only to beg the favour of a line from
your ladyship's hand by the next post if convenient in answer to the
following questions 

1 whether you wrote a letter dated as i have a memorandum wedn june
 7 congratulating your nephew lovelace on his supposed nuptials as
 reported to you by mr spurrier your ladyship's steward as from one
 captain tomlinson and in it reproaching mr lovelace as guilty of
 slight etc in not having acquainted your ladyship and the family
 with his marriage 

2 whether your ladyship wrote to miss montague to meet you at reading 
 in order to attend you to your cousin leeson's in albemarle-street 
 on your being obliged to be in town on your old chancery affair i
 remember are the words and whether you bespoke your nephew's
 attendance there on sunday night the 11th 

3 whether your ladyship and miss montague did come to town at that
 time and whether you went to hampstead on monday in a hired coach
 and four your own being repairing and took from thence to town with
 the young creature whom you visited there 

your ladyship will probably guess that the questions are not asked for
reasons favourable to your nephew lovelace but be the answer what it
will it can do him no hurt nor me any good only that i think i owe it
to my former hopes however deceived in them and even to charity that
a person of whom i was once willing to think better should not prove so
egregiously abandoned as to be wanting in every instance to that
veracity which is indispensable in the character of a gentleman 

be pleased madam to direct to me keeping the direction a secret for
the present to be left at the belle-savage on ludgate hill till
called for i am

your ladyship's most humble servant 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lviii

lady betty lawrance to miss cl harlowe
saturday july 1 


dear madam 

i find that all is not as it should be between you and my nephew
lovelace it will very much afflict me and all his friends if he has
been guilty of any designed baseness to a lady of your character and
merit 

we have been long in expectation of an opportunity to congratulate you
and ourselves upon an event most earnestly wished for by us all since
our hopes of him are built upon the power you have over him for if ever
man adored a woman he is that man and you madam are that woman 

miss montague in her last letter to me in answer to one of mine 
inquiring if she knew from him whether he could call you his or was
likely soon to have that honour has these words i know not what to
make of my cousin lovelace as to the point your ladyship is so earnest
about he sometimes says he is actually married to miss cl harlowe at
other times that it is her own fault if he be not he speaks of her not
only with love but with reverence yet owns that there is a
misunderstanding between them but confesses that she is wholly
faultless an angel and not a woman he says she is and that no man
living can be worthy of her  

this is what my niece montague writes 

god grant my dearest young lady that he may not have so heinously
offended you that you cannot forgive him if you are not already
married and refuse to be his i shall lose all hopes that he ever will
marry or be the man i wish him to be so will lord m so will lady
sarah sadleir 

i will now answer your questions but indeed i hardly know what to write 
for fear of widening still more the unhappy difference between you but
yet such a young lady must command every thing from me this then is my
answer 

i wrote not any letter to him on or about the 7th of june 

neither i nor my steward know any such man as captain tomlinson 

i wrote not to my niece to meet me at reading nor to accompany me to my
 cousin leeson's in town 

my chancery affair though like most chancery affairs it be of long
 standing is nevertheless now in so good a way that it cannot
 give me occasion to go to town 

nor have i been in town these six months nor at hampstead for
 years 

neither shall i have any temptation to go to town except to pay my
 congratulatory compliments to mrs lovelace on which occasion i
 should go with the greatest pleasure and should hope for the
 favour of your accompanying me to glenham-hall for a month at
 least 

be what will the reason of your inquiry let me entreat you my dear
young lady for lord m s sake for my sake for this giddy man's sake 
soul as well as body and for all our family's sakes not to suffer this
answer to widen differences so far as to make you refuse him if he
already has not the honour of calling you his as i am apprehensive he
has not by your signing by your family-name 

and here let me offer to you my mediation to compose the difference
between you be it what it will your cause my dear young lady cannot
be put into the hands of any body living more devoted to your service 
than into those of

your sincere admirer and humble servant 
eliz lawrance 



letter lix

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs hodges
enfield june 22 


mrs hodges 

i am under a kind of necessity to write to you having no one among my
relations to whom i dare write or hope a line from if i did it is but
to answer a question it is this 

whether you know any such man as captain tomlinson and if you do 
whether he be very intimate with my uncle harlowe 

i will describe his person lest possibly he should go by another name
among you although i know not why he should 

he is a thin tallish man a little pock-fretten of a sallowish
complexion fifty years of age or more of good aspect when he looks
up he seems to be a serious man and one who knows the world he
stoops a little in the shoulders is of berkshire his wife of
oxfordshire and has several children he removed lately into your parts
form northamptonshire 

i must desire you mrs hodges that you will not let my uncle nor any
of my relations know that i write to you 

you used to say that you would be glad to have it in your power to serve
me that indeed was in my prosperity but i dare say you will not
refuse me in a particular that will oblige me without hurting yourself 

i understand that my father mother and sister and i presume my
brother and my uncle antony are to be at my uncle harlowe's this day 
god preserve them all and may they rejoice in many happy birth-days 
you will write six words to me concerning their healths 

direct for a particular reason to mrs dorothy salcombe to be left
till called for at the four swans inn bishopsgate-street 

you know my hand-writing well enough were not the contents of the letter
sufficient to excuse my name or any other subscription than that of

your friend 



letter lx

mrs hodges
 in answer  
sat july 2 


maddam 

i return you an anser as you wish me to doe master is acquented with
no sitch man i am shure no sitch ever came to our house and master
sturs very little out he has no harte to stur out for why your
obstinacy makes um not care to see one another master's birth-day never
was kept soe before for not a sole heere and nothing but sikeing and
sorrowin from master to think how it yused to bee 

i axed master if soe bee he knowed sitch a man as one captain tomlinson 
but said not whirfor i axed he sed no not he 

shure this is no trix nor forgery bruing against master by one tomlinson
 won knows not what company you may have been forsed to keep sen you
went away you knoe maddam but lundon is a pestilent plase and that
squire luvless is a devil for all he is sitch a like gentleman to look
to as i hev herd every boddy say and think as how you have found by
thiss 

i truste maddam you wulde not let master cum to harme if you knoed it 
by any body who may pretend to be acquented with him but for fere i
querid with myself if i shulde not tell him but i was willin to show
you that i wulde plessure you in advarsity if advarsity be your lott 
as well as prosperity for i am none of those that woulde doe otherwiss 
soe no more from

your humble sarvent to wish you well 
sarah hodges 



letter lxi

miss cl harlowe to lady betty lawrance 
monday july 3 


madam 

i cannot excuse myself from giving your ladyship this one trouble more 
to thank you as i most heartily do for your kind letter 

i must own to you madam that the honour of being related to ladies as
eminent for their virtue as for their descent was at first no small
inducement with me to lend an ear to mr lovelace's address and the
rather as i was determined had it come to effect to do every thing in
my power to deserve your favourable opinion 

i had another motive which i knew would of itself give me merit with
your whole family a presumptuous one a punishably presumptuous one as
it has proved in the hope that i might be an humble mean in the hand of
providence to reclaim a man who had as i thought good sense enough to
acknowledge the intended obligation whether the generous hope were to
succeed or not 

but i have been most egregiously mistaken in mr lovelace the only man 
i persuade myself pretending to be a gentleman in whom i could have
been so much mistaken for while i was endeavouring to save a drowning
wretch i have been not accidentally but premeditatedly and of set
purpose drawn in after him and he has had the glory to add to the list
of those he has ruined a name that i will be bold to say would not
have disparaged his own and this madam by means that would shock
humanity to be made acquainted with 

my whole end is served by your ladyship's answer to the questions i took
the liberty to put to you in writing nor have i a wish to make the
unhappy man more odious to you than is necessary to excuse myself for
absolutely declining your offered mediation 

when your ladyship shall be informed of the following particulars 

that after he had compulsorily as i may say tricked me into the act of
going off with him he could carry me to one of the vilest houses as it
proved in london 

that he could be guilty of a wicked attempt in resentment of which i
found means to escape from him to hampstead 

that after he had found me out there i know not how he could procure
two women dressed out richly to personate your ladyship and miss
montague who under pretence of engaging me to make a visit in town to
your cousin leeson promising to return with me that evening to
hampstead betrayed me back again to the vile house where again made a
prisoner i was first robbed of my senses and then of my honour why
should i seek to conceal that disgrace from others which i cannot hide
from myself 

when your ladyship shall know that in the shocking progress to this
ruin wilful falsehoods repeated forgeries particularly of one letter
from your ladyship another from miss montague and a third from lord m 
and numberless perjuries were not the least of his crimes you will
judge that i can have no principles that will make me worthy of an
alliance with ladies of your's and your noble sister's character if i
could not from my soul declare that such an alliance can never now take
place 

i will not offer to clear myself entirely of blame but as to him i
have no fault to accuse myself of my crime was the corresponding with
him at first when prohibited so to do by those who had a right to my
obedience made still more inexcusable by giving him a clandestine
meeting which put me into the power of his arts and for this i am
content to be punished thankful that at last i have escaped from him 
and have it in my power to reject so wicked a man for my husband and
glad if i may be a warning since i cannot be an example which once
 very vain and very conceited as i was i proposed to myself to be 

all the ill i wish him is that he may reform and that i may be the last
victim to his baseness perhaps this desirable wish may be obtained 
when he shall see how his wickedness his unmerited wickedness to a poor
creature made friendless by his cruel arts will end 

i conclude with my humble thanks to your ladyship for your favourable
opinion of me and with the assurance that i will be while life is lent
me 

your ladyship's grateful and obliged servant 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxii

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs norton
sunday evening july 2 


how kindly my beloved mrs norton do you soothe the anguish of a
bleeding heart surely you are mine own mother and by some
unaccountable mistake i must have been laid to a family that having
newly found out or at least suspected the imposture cast me from their
hearts with the indignation that such a discovery will warrant 

oh that i had been indeed your own child born to partake of your humble
fortunes an heiress only to that content in which you are so happy then
should i have had a truly gentle spirit to have guided my ductile heart 
which force and ungenerous usage sit so ill upon and nothing of what has
happened would have been 

but let me take heed that i enlarge not by impatience the breach
already made in my duty by my rashness since had i not erred my
mother at least could never have been thought hard-hearted and
unforgiving am i not then answerable not only for my own faults but
for the consequences of them which tend to depreciate and bring disgrace
upon a maternal character never before called in question 

it is kind however in you to endeavour to extenuate the faults of one
so greatly sensible of it and could it be wiped off entirely it would
render me more worthy of the pains you have taken in my education for it
must add to your grief as it does to my confusion that after such
promising beginnings i should have so behaved as to be a disgrace
instead of a credit to you and my other friends 

but that i may not make you think me more guilty than i am give me leave
briefly to assure you that when my story is known i shall be
to more compassion than blame even on the score of going away with mr 
lovelace 

as to all that happened afterwards let me only say that although i must
call myself a lost creature as to this world yet have i this consolation
left me that i have not suffered either for want of circumspection or
through careful credulity or weakness not one moment was i off my
guard or unmindful of your early precepts but having been enabled to
baffle many base contrivances i was at last ruined by arts the most
inhuman but had i not been rejected by every friend this low-hearted
man had not dared nor would have had opportunity to treat me as he has
treated me 

more i cannot at this time nor need i say and this i desire you to
keep to yourself lest resentments should be taken up when i am gone 
that may spread the evil which i hope will end with me 

i have been misinformed you say as to my principal relations being at
my uncle harlowe's the day you say was not kept nor have my brother
and mr solmes astonishing what complicated wickedness has this
wretched man to answer for were i to tell you you would hardly believe
that there could have been such a heart in man 

but one day you may know the whole story at present i have neither
inclination nor words o my bursting heart yet a happy a wished
relief were you present my tears would supply the rest 


 


i resume my pen 

and so you fear no letter will be received from me but don't grieve to
tell me so i expect every thing bad and such is my distress that had
you not bid me hope for mercy from the throne of mercy i should have
been afraid that my father's dreadful curse would be completed with
regard to both worlds 

for here an additional misfortune in a fit of phrensical heedlessness 
i sent a letter to my beloved miss howe without recollecting her private
address and it has fallen into her angry mother's hands and so that
dear friend perhaps has anew incurred displeasure on my account and
here too your worthy son is ill and my poor hannah you think cannot
come to me o my dear mrs norton will you can you censure those whose
resentments against me heaven seems to approve of and will you acquit
her whom that condemns 

yet you bid me not despond i will not if i can help it and indeed 
most seasonable consolation has your kind letter afforded me yet to god
almighty do i appeal to avenge my wrongs and vindicate my inno 

but hushed be my stormy passions have i not but this moment said that
your letter gave me consolation may those be forgiven who hinder my
father from forgiving me and this as to them shall be the harshest
thing that shall drop from my pen 

but although your son should recover i charge you my dear mrs norton 
that you do not think of coming to me i don't know still but your
mediation with my mother although at present your interposition would be
so little attended to may be of use to procure me the revocation of that
most dreadful part of my father's curse which only remains to be
fulfilled the voice of nature must at last be heard in my favour 
surely it will only plead at first to my friends in the still conscious
plaintiveness of a young and unhardened beggar but it will grow more
clamorous when i have the courage to be so and shall demand perhaps 
the paternal protection from farther ruin and that forgiveness which
those will be little entitled to expect for their own faults who shall
interpose to have it refused to me for an accidental not a premeditated
error and which but for them i had never fallen into 

but again impatiency founded perhaps on self-partiality that strange
misleader prevails 

let me briefly say that it is necessary to my present and future hopes
that you keep well with my family and moreover should you come i may
be traced out by that means by the most abandoned of men say not then
that you think you ought to come up to me let it be taken as it will 
for my sake let me repeat were my foster-brother recovered as i hope
he is you must not come nor can i want your advice while i can
write and you can answer me and write i will as often as i stand in
need of your counsel 

then the people i am now with seem to be both honest and humane and
there is in the same house a widow-lodger of low fortunes but of great
merit almost such another serious and good woman as the dear one to
whom i am now writing who has as she says given over all other
thoughts of the world but such as should assist her to leave it happily 
 how suitable to my own views there seems to be a comfortable
providence in this at least so that at present there is nothing of
exigence nothing that can require or even excuse your coming when so
many better ends may be answered by your staying where you are a time
may come when i shall want your last and best assistance and then my
dear mrs norton and then i will speak it and embrace it with all my
whole heart and then will it not be denied me by any body 

you are very obliging in your offer of money but although i was forced
to leave my clothes behind me yet i took several things of value with
me which will keep me from present want you'll say i have made a
miserable hand of it so indeed i have and to look backwards in a very
little while too 

but what shall i do if my father cannot be prevailed upon to recall his
malediction o my dear mrs norton what a weight must a father's curse
have upon a heart so appreciative as mine did i think i should ever
have a father's curse to deprecate and yet only that the temporary
part of it is so terribly fulfilled or i should be as earnest for its
recall for my father's sake as for my own 

you must not be angry with me that i wrote not to you before you are
very right and very kind to say you are sure i love you indeed i do 
and what a generosity  so like yourself   is there in your praise to
attribute to me more than i merit in order to raise an emulation to me
to deserve your praises you tell me what you expect from me in the
calamities i am called upon to bear may i behave answerably 

i can a little account to myself for my silence to you my kind my dear
maternal friend how equally sweetly and politely do you express
yourself on this occasion i was very desirous for your sake as well
as for my own that you should have it to say that we did not correspond 
had they thought we did every word you could have dropt in my favour
would have been rejected and my mother would have been forbid to see
you or pay any regard to what you should say 

then i had sometimes better and sometimes worse prospects before me my
worst would only have troubled you to know my better made me frequently
hope that by the next post or the next and so on for weeks i should
have the best news to impart to you that then could happen cold as the
wretch had made my heart to that best for how could i think to write to
you with a confession that i was not married yet lived in the house
 for i could not help it with such a man who likewise had given it out
to several that we were actually married although with restrictions
that depended on the reconciliation with my friends and to disguise the
truth or be guilty of a falsehood either direct or equivocal that was
what you had never taught me 

but i might have written to you for advice in my precarious situation 
perhaps you will think but indeed my dear mrs norton i was not lost
for want of advice and this will appear clear to you from what i have
already hinted were i to explain myself no further for what need had
the cruel spoiler to have recourse to unprecedented arts i will speak
out plainer still but you must not at present report it to stupifying
potions and to the most brutal and outrageous force had i been wanting
in my duty 

a few words more upon this grievous subject 

when i reflect upon all that has happened to me it is apparent that
this generally-supposed thoughtless seducer has acted by me upon a
regular and preconcerted plan of villany 

in order to set all his vile plots in motion nothing was wanting from
the first but to prevail upon me either by force or fraud to throw
myself into his power and when this was effected nothing less than the
intervention of the paternal authority which i had not deserved to be
exerted in my behalf could have saved me from the effect of his deep
machinations opposition from any other quarter would but too probably
have precipitated his barbarous and ungrateful violence and had you
yourself been with me i have reason now to think that somehow or other
you would have suffered in endeavouring to save me for never was there 
as now i see a plan of wickedness more steadily and uniformly pursued
than his has been against an unhappy creature who merited better of him 
but the almighty has thought fit according to the general course of his
providence to make the fault bring on its own punishment but surely not
in consequence of my father's dreadful imprecation that i might be
punished here   o my mamma norton pray with me if so that here it
stop   by the very wretch in whom i had placed my wicked confidence 

i am sorry for your sake to leave off so heavily yet the rest must be
brief 

let me desire you to be secret in what i have communicated to you at
least till you have my consent to divulge it 

god preserve to you your more faultless child 

i will hope for his mercy although i should not obtain that of any
earthly person 

and i repeat my prohibition you must not think of coming up to

your ever dutiful
cl harlowe 

the obliging person who left your's for me this day promised to call
 to-morrow to see if i should have any thing to return i would
 not lose so good an opportunity 



letter lxiii

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
monday night july 3 


o the barbarous villany of this detestable man and is there a man in
the world who could offer violence to so sweet a creature 

and are you sure you are now out of his reach 

you command me to keep secret the particulars of the vile treatment you
have met with or else upon an unexpected visit which miss harlowe
favoured me with soon after i had received your melancholy letter i
should have been tempted to own i had heard from you and to have
communicated to her such parts of your two letters as would have
demonstrated your penitence and your earnestness to obtain the
revocation of your father's malediction as well as his protection from
outrages that may still be offered to you but then your sister would
probably have expected a sight of the letters and even to have been
permitted to take them with her to the family 

yet they must one day be acquainted with the sad story and it is
impossible but they must pity you and forgive you when they know your
early penitence and your unprecedented sufferings and that you have
fallen by the brutal force of a barbarous ravisher and not by the vile
arts of a seducing lover 

the wicked man gives it out at lord m s as miss harlowe tells me that
he is actually married to you yet she believes it not nor had i the
heart to let her know the truth 

she put it close to me whether i had not corresponded with you from the
time of your going away i could safely tell her as i did that i had
not but i said that i was well informed that you took extremely to
heart your father's imprecation and that if she would excuse me i
would say it would be a kind and sisterly part if she would use her
interest to get you discharged from it 

among other severe things she told me that my partial fondness for you
made me very little consider the honour of the rest of the family but 
if i had not heard this from you she supposed i was set on by miss howe 

she expressed herself with a good deal of bitterness against that young
lady who it seems every where and to every body for you must think
that your story is the subject of all conversations rails against your
family treating them as your sister says with contempt and even with
ridicule 

i am sorry such angry freedoms are taken for two reasons first because
such liberties never do any good i have heard you own that miss howe
has a satirical vein but i should hope that a young lady of her sense 
and right cast of mind must know that the end of satire is not to
exasperate but amend and should never be personal if it be as my
good father used to say it may make an impartial person suspect that the
satirist has a natural spleen to gratify which may be as great a fault
in him as any of those which he pretends to censure and expose in
others 

perhaps a hint of this from you will not be thrown away 

my second reason is that these freedoms from so warm a friend to you as
miss howe is known to be are most likely to be charged to your account 

my resentments are so strong against this vilest of men that i dare not
touch upon the shocking particulars which you mention of his baseness 
what defence indeed could there be against so determined a wretch 
after you was in his power i will only repeat my earnest supplication
to you that black as appearances are you will not despair your
calamities are exceeding great but then you have talents proportioned to
your trials this every body allows 

suppose the worst and that your family will not be moved in your favour 
your cousin morden will soon arrive as miss harlowe told me if he
should even be got over to their side he will however see justice done
you and then may you live an exemplary life making hundreds happy and
teaching young ladies to shun the snares in which you have been so
dreadfully entangled 

as to the man you have lost is an union with such a perjured heart as
his with such an admirable one as your's to be wished for a base 
low-hearted wretch as you justly call him with all his pride of
ancestry and more an enemy to himself with regard to his present and
future happiness than to you in the barbarous and ungrateful wrongs he
has done you i need not i am sure exhort you to despise such a man as
this since not to be able to do so would be a reflection upon a sex to
which you have always been an honour 

your moral character is untainted the very nature of your sufferings as
you will observe demonstrates that cheer up therefore your dear
heart and do not despair for is it not god who governs the world and
permits some things and directs others as he pleases and will he not
reward temporary sufferings innocently incurred and piously supported 
with eternal felicity and what my dear is this poor needle's point of
now to a boundless eternity 

my heart however labours under a double affliction for my poor boy is
very very bad a violent fever nor can it be brought to intermit pray
for him my dearest miss for his recovery if god see fit i hope god
will see fit if not how can i bear to suppose that pray for me that
he will give me that patience and resignation which i have been wishing
to you i am my dearest young lady 

your ever affectionate
judith norton 



letter lxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs judith norton
thursday july 6 


i ought not especially at this time to add to your afflictions but yet
i cannot help communicating to you who now are my only soothing friend 
a new trouble that has befallen me 

i had but one friend in the world beside you and she is utterly
displeased with me it is grievous but for one moment to lie under a
beloved person's censure and this through imputations that affect one's
honour and prudence there are points so delicate you know my dear
mrs norton that it is a degree of dishonour to have a vindication of
one's self from them appear to be necessary in the present case my
misfortune is that i know not how to account but by guess so subtle
have been the workings of the dark spirit i have been unhappily entangled
by for some of the facts that i am called upon to explain 

miss howe in short supposes she has found a flaw in my character i
have just now received her severe letter but i shall answer it perhaps 
in better temper if i first consider your's for indeed my patience is
almost at an end and yet i ought to consider that faithful are the
wounds of a friend but so many things at once o my dear mrs norton 
how shall so young a scholar in the school of affliction be able to bear
such heavy and such various evils 

but to leave this subject for a while and turn to your letter 

i am very sorry miss howe is so lively in her resentments on my account 
i have always blamed her very freely for her liberties of this sort with
my friends i once had a good deal of influence over her kind heart and
she made all i said a law to her but people in calamity have little
weight in any thing or with any body prosperity and independence are
charming things on this account that they give force to the counsels of
a friendly heart while it is thought insolence in the miserable to
advise or so much as to remonstrate 

yet is miss howe an invaluable person and is it to be expected that she
should preserve the same regard for my judgment that she had before i
forfeited all title to discretion with what face can i take upon me to
reproach a want of prudence in her but if i can be so happy as to
re-establish myself in her ever-valued opinion i shall endeavour to
enforce upon her your just observation on this head 

you need not you say exhort me to despise such a man as him by whom i
have suffered indeed you need not for i would choose the cruellest
death rather than to be his and yet my dear mrs norton i will own to
you that once i could have loved him ungrateful man had he permitted
me to love him i once could have loved him yet he never deserved
love and was not this a fault but now if i can but keep out of his
hands and obtain a last forgiveness and that as well for the sake of my
dear friends' future reflections as for my own present comfort it is
all i wish for 

reconciliation with my friends i do not expect nor pardon from them at
least till in extremity and as a viaticum 

o my beloved mrs norton you cannot imagine what i have suffered but
indeed my heart is broken i am sure i shall not live to take possession
of that independence which you think would enable me to atone in some
measure for my past conduct 

while this is my opinion you may believe i shall not be easy till i can
obtain a last forgiveness 

i wish to be left to take my own course in endeavouring to procure this
grace yet know i not at present what that course shall be 

i will write but to whom is my doubt calamity has not yet given me
the assurance to address myself to my father my uncles well as they
once loved me are hard hearted they never had their masculine passions
humanized by the tender name of father of my brother i have no hope i
have then but my mother and my sister to whom i can apply and may i
not my dearest mamma be permitted to lift up my trembling eye to your
all-cheering and your once more than indulgent your fond eye in hopes
of seasonable mercy to the poor sick heart that yet beats with life drawn
from your own dearer heart especially when pardon only and not
restoration is implored 

yet were i able to engage my mother's pity would it not be a mean to
make her still more unhappy than i have already made her by the
opposition she would meet with were she to try to give force to that
pity 

to my sister then i think i will apply yet how hard-hearted has my
sister been but i will not ask for protection and yet i am in hourly
dread that i shall want protection all i will ask for at present
 preparative to the last forgiveness i will implore shall be only to be
freed from the heavy curse that seems to have operated as far is it can
operate as to this life and surely it was passion and not intention 
that carried it so far as to the other 

but why do i thus add to your distresses it is not my dear mrs 
norton that i have so much feeling for my own calamity that i have none
for your's since your's is indeed an addition to my own but you have
one consolation a very great one which i have not that your
afflictions whether respecting your more or your less deserving child 
rise not from any fault of your own 

but what can i do for you more than pray assure yourself that in every
supplication i put up for myself i will with equal fervour remember both
you and your son for i am and ever will be

your truly sympathising and dutiful
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
 superscribed for mrs rachel clark etc  
wednesday july 5 


my dear clarissa 

i have at last heard from you from a quarter i little expected 

from my mother 

she had for some time seen me uneasy and grieving and justly supposed it
was about you and this morning dropt a hint which made me conjecture
that she must have heard something of you more than i knew and when she
found that this added to my uneasiness she owned she had a letter in her
hands of your's dated the 29th of june directed for me 

you may guess that this occasioned a little warmth that could not be
wished for by either 

 it is surprising my dear mighty surprising that knowing the
prohibition i lay under of corresponding with you you could send a
letter for me to our own house since it must be fifty to one that it
would fall into my mother's hands as you find it did  

in short she resented that i should disobey her i was as much concerned
that she should open and withhold from me my letters and at last she was
pleased to compromise the matter with me by giving up the letter and
permitting me to write to you once or twice she to see the contents of
what i wrote for besides the value she has for you she could not but
have greater curiosity to know the occasion of so sad a situation as your
melancholy letter shows you to be in 

 but i shall get her to be satisfied with hearing me read what i write 
putting in between hooks thus    what i intend not to read to her  

need i to remind you miss clarissa harlowe of three letters i wrote to
you to none of which i had any answer except to the first and that of
a few lines only promising a letter at large though you were well
enough the day after you received my second to go joyfully back again
with him to the vile house but more of these by-and-by i must hasten
to take notice of your letter of wednesday last week which you could
contrive should fall into my mother's hands 

let me tell you that that letter has almost broken my heart good god 
 what have you brought yourself to miss clarissa harlowe could i have
believed that after you had escaped from the miscreant with such
mighty pains and earnestness escaped and after such an attempt as he
had made you would have been prevailed upon not only to forgive him but
 without being married too to return with him to that horrid house a
house i had given you such an account of surprising what an
intoxicating thing is this love i always feared that you even you 
were not proof against its inconsistent effects 

you your best self have not escaped indeed i see not how you could
expect to escape 

what a tale have you to unfold you need not unfold it my dear i would
have engaged to prognosticate all that has happened had you but told me
that you would once more have put yourself in his power after you had
taken such pains to get out of it 

your peace is destroyed i wonder not at it since now you must reproach
yourself for a credulity so ill-placed 

your intellect is touched i am sure my heart bleeds for you but 
excuse me my dear i doubt your intellect was touched before you left
hampstead or you would never have let him find you out there or when
he did suffer him to prevail upon you to return to the horrid brothel 

i tell you i sent you three letters the first of which dated the 7th
and 8th of june for it was written at twice came safely to your hands 
as you sent me word by a few lines dated the 9th had it not i should
have doubted my own safety since in it i give you such an account of the
abominable house and threw such cautions in your way in relation to
that tomlinson as the more surprised me that you could think of going
back to it again after you had escaped from it and from lovelace o
my dear but nothing now will i ever wonder at 


 see vol v letter xx 


the second dated june 10 was given into your own hand at hampstead on
sunday the 11th as you was lying upon a couch in a strange way 
according to my messenger's account of you bloated and flush-coloured 
i don't know how 


 see letter vii of this volume 


the third was dated the 20th of june having not heard one word from
you since the promising billet of the 9th i own i did not spare you in
it i ventured it by the usual conveyance by that wilson's having no
other so cannot be sure you received it indeed i rather think you
might not because in your's which fell into my mother's hands you make
no mention of it and if you had had it i believe it would have touched
you too much to have been passed by unnoticed 


 see letter xxx of this volume 


you have heard that i have been ill you say i had a cold indeed but
it was so slight a one that it confined me not an hour but i doubt not
that strange things you have heard and been told to induce you to take
the step you took and till you did take that step the going back with
this villain i mean i knew not a more pitiable case than your's since
every body must have excused you before who knew how you were used at
home and was acquainted with your prudence and vigilance but alas my
dear we see that the wisest people are not to be depended upon when
love like an ignis fatuus holds up its misleading lights before their
eyes 

my mother tells me she sent you an answer desiring you not to write to
me because it would grieve me to be sure i am grieved exceedingly
grieved and disappointed too you must permit me to say for i had
always thought that there never was such a woman at your years in the
world 

but i remember once an argument you held on occasion of a censure passed
in company upon an excellent preacher who was not a very excellent
liver preaching and practising you said required very different
talents which when united in the same person made the man a saint as
wit and judgment going together constituted a genius 


 see vol ii letter iv 


you made it out i remember very prettily but you never made it out 
excuse me my dear more convincingly than by that part of your late
conduct which i complain of 

my love for you and my concern for your honour may possibly have made
me a little of the severest if you think so place it to its proper
account to that love and to that concern which will but do justice
to

your afflicted and faithful
a h 

p s my mother would not be satisfied without reading my letter herself 
 and that before i had fixed all the proposed hooks she knows by
 this means and has excused our former correspondence 

she indeed suspected it before and so she very well might knowing my
 love of you 

she has so much real concern for your misfortunes that thinking it will
 be a consolation to you and that it will oblige me she consents
 that you shall write to me the particulars at large of your say
 story but it is on condition that i show her all that has passed
 between us relating to yourself and the vilest of men i have the
 more cheerfully complied as the communication cannot be to your
 disadvantage 

you may therefore write freely and direct to our own house 

my mother promises to show me the copy of her letter to you and your
 reply to it which latter she has but just told me of she already
 apologizes for the severity of her's and thinks the sight of your
 reply will affect me too much but having her promise i will not
 dispense with it 

i doubt her's is severe enough so i fear you will think mine but you
 have taught me never to spare the fault for the friend's sake and
 that a great error ought rather to be the more inexcusable in the
 person we value than in one we are indifferent to because it is a
 reflection upon our choice of that person and tends to a breach of
 the love of mind and to expose us to the world for our partiality 
 to the love of mind i repeat since it is impossible but the
 errors of the dearest friend must weaken our inward opinion of that
 friend and thereby lay a foundation for future distance and
 perhaps disgust 

god grant that you may be able to clear your conduct after you had
 escaped from hampstead as all before that time was noble 
 generous and prudent the man a devil and you a saint yet i
 hope you can and therefore expect it from you 

i send by a particular hand he will call for your answer at your own
 appointment 

i am afraid this horrid wretch will trace out by the post-offices where
 you are if not careful 

to have money and will and head to be a villain is too much for the
 rest of the world when they meet in one man 



letter lxvi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday july 6 


few young persons have been able to give more convincing proofs than
myself how little true happiness lies in the enjoyment of our own wishes 

to produce one instance only of the truth of this observation what would
i have given for weeks past for the favour of a letter from my dear miss
howe in whose friendship i placed all my remaining comfort little did
i think that the next letter she would honour me with should be in such
a style as should make me look more than once at the subscription that
i might be sure the name not being written at length that it was not
signed by another a h for surely thought i this is my sister
arabella's style surely miss howe blame me as she pleases in other
points could never repeat so sharply upon her friend words written in
the bitterness of spirit and in the disorder of head nor remind her 
with asperity and with mingled strokes of wit of an argument held in
the gaiety of a heart elated with prosperous fortunes as mine then
was and very little apprehensive of the severe turn that argument would
one day take against herself 

but what have i sink in my fortunes my character forfeited my honour
lost  while i know it i care not who knows it   destitute of friends 
and even of hope what have i to do to show a spirit of repining and
expostulation to a dear friend because she is not more kind than a
sister 

you have till now my dear treated me with great indulgence if it was
with greater than i had deserved i may be to blame to have built upon
it on the consciousness that i deserve it now as much as ever but i
find by the rising bitterness which will mingle with the gall in my ink 
that i am not yet subdued enough to my condition i lay down my pen for
one moment 


 


pardon me my miss howe i have recollected myself and will endeavour
to give a particular answer to your letter although it will take me up
too much time to think of sending it by your messenger to-morrow he can
put off his journey he says till saturday i will endeavour to have
the whole narrative ready for you by saturday 

but how to defend myself in every thing that has happened i cannot tell 
since in some part of the time in which my conduct appears to have been
censurable i was not myself and to this hour know not all the methods
taken to deceive and ruin me 

you tell me that in your first letter you gave me such an account of the
vile house i was in and such cautions about that tomlinson as made you
wonder how i could think of going back 

alas my dear i was tricked most vilely tricked back as you shall
hear in its place 

without knowing the house was so very vile a house from your intended
information i disliked the people too much ever voluntarily to have
returned to it but had you really written such cautions about
tomlinson and the house as you seem to have purposed to do they must 
had they come in time have been of infinite service to me but not one
word of either whatever was your intention did you mention to me in
that first of the three letters you so warmly tell me you did send me i
will enclose it to convince you 


 the letter she encloses was mr lovelace's forged one see vol v 
letter xxx 


but your account of your messenger's delivering to me your second
letter and the description he gives of me as lying upon a couch in a
strange way bloated and flush-coloured you don't know how absolutely
puzzles and confounds me 

lord have mercy upon the poor clarissa harlowe what can this mean who
was the messenger you sent was he one of lovelace's creatures too 
could nobody come near me but that man's confederates either setting out
so or made so i know not what to make of any one syllable of this 
indeed i don't 

let me see you say this was before i went from hampstead my
intellects had not then been touched nor had i ever been surprised by
wine  strange if i had   how then could i be found in such a strange
way bloated and flush-coloured you don't know how yet what a vile 
what a hateful figure has your messenger represented me to have made 

but indeed i know nothing of any messenger from you 

believing myself secure at hampstead i staid longer there than i would
have done in hopes of the letter promised me in your short one of the
9th brought me by my own messenger in which you undertake to send for
and engage mrs townsend in my favour 


 see vol v letter xxix 


i wondered i had not heard from you and was told you were sick and at
another time that your mother and you had had words on my account and
that you had refused to admit mr hickman's visits upon it so that i
supposed at one time that you were not able to write at another that
your mother's prohibition had its due force with you but now i have no
doubt that the wicked man must have intercepted your letter and i wish
he found not means to corrupt your messenger to tell you so strange a
story 

it was on sunday june 11 you say that the man gave it me i was at
church twice that day with mrs moore mr lovelace was at her house the
while where he boarded and wanted to have lodged but i would not
permit that though i could not help the other in one of these spaces
it must be that he had time to work upon the man you'll easily my
dear find that out by inquiring the time of his arrival at mrs moore's
and other circumstances of the strange way he pretended to see me in on
a couch and the rest 

had any body seen me afterwards when i was betrayed back to the vile
house struggling under the operation of wicked potions and robbed
indeed of my intellects for this as you shall hear was my dreadful
case i might then perhaps have appeared bloated and flush-coloured 
and i know not how myself but were you to see your poor clarissa now
 or even to have seen her at hampstead before she suffered the vilest of
all outrages you would not think her bloated or flush-coloured indeed
you would not 

in a word it could not be me your messenger saw nor if any body who
it was can i divine 

i will now as briefly as the subject will permit enter into the darker
part of my sad story and yet i must be somewhat circumstantial that you
may not think me capable of reserve or palliation the latter i am not
conscious that i need i should be utterly inexcusable were i guilty of
the former to you and yet if you know how my heart sinks under the
thoughts of a recollection so painful you would pity me 

as i shall not be able perhaps to conclude what i have to write in even
two or three letters i will begin a new one with my story and send the
whole of it together although written at different periods as i am
able 

allow me a little pause my dear at this place and to subscribe myself

your ever affectionate and obliged 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxvii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
 referred to in letter xii  
thursday night 


he had found me out at hampstead strangely found me out for i am still
at a loss to know by what means 

i was loth in my billet of the 6th to tell you so for fear of giving
you apprehensions for me and besides i hoped then to have a shorter and
happier issue to account to you for through your assistance than i met
with 


 see vol v letter xxxi 


 she then gives a narrative of all that passed at hampstead between
 herself mr lovelace capt tomlinson and the women there to the
 same effect with that so amply given by mr lovelace  

mr lovelace finding all he could say and all captain tomlinson could
urge ineffectual to prevail upon me to forgive an outrage so flagrantly
premeditated rested all his hopes on a visit which was to be paid me by
lady betty lawrance and miss montague 

in my uncertain situation my prospects all so dark i knew not to whom i
might be obliged to have recourse in the last resort and as those ladies
had the best of characters insomuch that i had reason to regret that i
had not from the first thrown myself upon their protection when i had
forfeited that of my own friends i thought i would not shun an
interview with them though i was too indifferent to their kinsman to
seek it as i doubted not that one end of their visit would be to
reconcile me to him 

on monday the 12th of june these pretended ladies came to hampstead 
and i was presented to them and they to me by their kinsman 

they were richly dressed and stuck out with jewels the pretended lady
betty's were particularly very fine 

they came in a coach-and-four hired as was confessed while their own
was repairing in town a pretence made i now perceive that i should not
guess at the imposture by the want of the real lady's arms upon it lady
betty was attended by her woman who she called morrison a modest
country-looking person 

i had heard that lady betty was a fine woman and that miss montague was
a beautiful young lady genteel and graceful and full of vivacity 
such were these impostors and having never seen either of them i had
not the least suspicion that they were not the ladies they personated 
and being put a little out of countenance by the richness of their
dresses i could not help fool that i was to apologize for my own 

the pretended lady betty then told me that her nephew had acquainted
them with the situation of affairs between us and although she could
not but say that she was very glad that she had not put such a slight
upon his lordship and them as report had given them cause to apprehend 
 the reasons for which report however she must have approved of yet
it had been matter of great concern to her and to her niece montague 
and would to the whole family to find so great a misunderstanding
subsisting between us as if not made up might distance all their
hopes 

she could easily tell who was in fault she said and gave him a look
both of anger and disdain asking him how it was possible for him to
give an offence of such a nature to so charming a lady  so she called
me   as should occasion a resentment so strong 

he pretended to be awed into shame and silence 

my dearest niece said she and took my hand i must call you niece as
well from love as to humour your uncle's laudable expedient permit me
to be not an advocate but a mediatrix for him and not for his sake so
much as for my own my charlotte's and all our family's the indignity
he has offered to you may be of too tender a nature to be inquired into 
but as he declares that it was not a premeditated offence whether my
dear  for i was going to rise upon it in my temper   it were or not and
as he declares his sorrows for it and never did creature express a
deeper sorrow for any offence than he and as it is a repairable one let
us for this one time forgive him and thereby lay an obligation upon
this man of errors let us i say my dear for sir  turning to him  
an offence against such a peerless lady as this must be an offence
against me against your cousin here and against all the virtuous of our
sex 

see my dear what a creature he had picked out could you have thought
there was a woman in the world who could thus express herself and yet be
vile but she had her principal instructions from him and those written
down too as i have reason to think for i have recollected since that i
once saw this lady betty who often rose from her seat and took a turn
to the other end of the room with such an emotion as if the joy of her
heart would not let her sit still take out a paper from her stays and
look into it and put it there again she might oftener and i not
observe it for i little thought that there could be such impostors in
the world 

i could not forbear paying great attention to what she said i found my
tears ready to start i drew out my handkerchief and was silent i had
not been so indulgently treated a great while by a person of character
and distinction  such i thought her   and durst not trust to the accent
of my voice 

the pretended miss montague joined in on this occasion and drawing her
chair close to me took my other hand and besought me to forgive her
cousin and consent to rank myself as one of the principals of a family
that had long very long coveted the honour of my alliance 

i am ashamed to repeat to you my dear now i know what wretches they
are the tender the obliging and the respectful things i said to them 

the wretch himself then came forward he threw himself at my feet how
was i beset the women grasping one my right hand the other my left 
the pretended miss montague pressing to her lips more than once the hand
she held the wicked man on his knees imploring my forgiveness and
setting before me my happy and my unhappy prospects as i should forgive
and not forgive him all that he thought would affect me in former
pleas and those of capt tomlinson he repeated he vowed he promised 
he bespoke the pretended ladies to answer for him and they engaged their
honours in his behalf 

indeed my dear i was distressed perfectly distressed i was sorry
that i had given way to this visit for i knew not how in tenderness to
relations as i thought them so worthy to treat so freely as he
deserved a man nearly allied to them so that my arguments and my
resolutions were deprived of their greatest force 

i pleaded however my application to you i expected every hour i told
them an answer from you to a letter i had written which would decide my
future destiny 

they offered to apply to you themselves in person in their own behalf 
as they politely termed it they besought me to write to you to hasten
your answer 

i said i was sure that you would write the moment that the event of an
application to be made to a third person enabled you to write but as to
the success of their request in behalf of their kinsman that depended
not upon the expected answer for that i begged their pardon was out of
the question i wished him well i wished him happy but i was
convinced that i neither could make him so nor he me 

then how the wretch promised how he vowed how he entreated and how
the women pleaded and they engaged themselves and the honour of their
whole family for his just his kind his tender behaviour to me 

in short my dear i was so hard set that i was obliged to come to a
more favourable compromise with them than i had intended i would wait
for your answer to my letter i said and if that made doubtful or
difficult the change of measures i had resolved upon and the scheme of
life i had formed i would then consider of the matter and if they
would permit me lay all before them and take their advice upon it in
conjunction with your's as if the one were my own aunt and the other
were my own cousin 

they shed tears upon this of joy they called them but since i
believe to their credit bad as they are that they were tears of
temporary remorse for the pretended miss montague turned about and as
i remember said there was no standing it 

but mr lovelace was not so easily satisfied he was fixed upon his
villanous measures perhaps and so might not be sorry to have a pretence
against me he bit his lip he had been but too much used he said to
such indifference such coldness in the very midst of his happiest
prospects i had on twenty occasions shown him to his infinite regret 
that any favour i was to confer upon him was to be the result of there
he stopt and not of my choice 

this had like to have set all back again i was exceedingly offended 
but the pretended ladies interposed the elder severely took him to
task he ought she told him to be satisfied with what i had said she
desired no other condition and what sir said she with an air of
authority would you commit errors and expect to be rewarded for them 

they then engaged me in a more agreeable conversation the pretended lady
declared that she lord m and lady sarah would directly and personally
interest themselves to bring about a general reconciliation between the
two families and this either in open or private concert with my uncle
harlowe as should be thought fit animosities on one side had been
carried a great way she said and too little care had been shown on the
other to mollify or heal my father should see that they could treat him
as a brother and a friend and my brother and sister should be convinced
that there was no room either for the jealously  sic  or envy they had
conceived from motives too unworthy to be avowed 

could i help my dear being pleased with them 

permit me here to break off the task grows too heavy at present for
the heart of

your
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxviii

miss clarissa harlowe
 in continuation  


i was very ill and obliged to lay down my pen i thought i should have
fainted but am better now so will proceed 

the pretended ladies the more we talked the fonder they seemed to be of
me and the lady betty had mrs moore called up and asked her if she
had accommodations for her niece and self her woman and two men
servants for three or four days 

mr lovelace answered for her that she had 

she would not ask her dear niece lovelace  permit me my dear whispered
she this charming style before strangers i will keep your uncle's
secret   whether she should be welcome or not to be so near her but for
the time she should stay in these parts she would come up every night 
what say you niece charlotte 

the pretended charlotte answered she should like to do so of all
things 

the lady betty called her an obliging girl she liked the place she
said her cousin leeson would excuse her the air and my company 
would do her good she never chose to lie in the smoky town if she
could help it in short my dear said she to me i will stay with you
till you hear from miss howe and till i have your consent to go with me
to glenham-hall not one moment will i be out of your company when i
can have it stedman my solicitor as the distance from town is so
small may attend me here for instructions niece charlotte one word
with you child 

they retired to the further end of the room and talked about their
night-dresses 

the miss charlotte said morrison might be dispatched for them 

true said the other but i have some letters in my private box which
i must have up and you know charlotte that i trust nobody with the
keys of that 

could not morrison bring up the box 

no she thought it safest where it was she had heard of a robbery
committed but two days ago at the food of hampstead-hill and she should
be ruined in she lost her box 

well then it was but going to town to undress and she would leave her
jewels behind her and return and should be easier a great deal on all
accounts 

for my part i wondered they came up with them but that was to be taken
as a respect paid to me and then they hinted at another visit of
ceremony which they had thought to make had they not found me so
inexpressibly engaging 

they talked loud enough for me to hear them on purpose no doubt though
in affected whispers and concluded with high praises of me 

i was not fool enough to believe or to be puffed up with their
encomiums yet not suspecting them i was not displeased at so favourable
a beginning of acquaintance with ladies whether i were to be related to
them or not of whom i had always heard honourable mention and yet at
the time i thought highly as they exalted me that in some respects
 though i hardly know in what they fell short of what i expected them to
be 

the grand deluder was at the farther end of the room another way 
probably to give me an opportunity to hear these preconcerted praises 
looking into a book which had there not been a preconcert would not
have taken his attention for one moment it was taylor's holy living and
dying 

when the pretended ladies joined me he approached me with it in his hand
 a smart book this my dear this old divine affects i see a mighty
flowery style of an ordinary country funeral where the young women in
honour of a defunct companion especially if she were a virgin or passed
for such make a flower-bed of her coffin 

and then laying down the book turning upon his heel with one of his
usual airs of gaiety and are you determined ladies to take up your
lodgings with my charming creature 

indeed they were 

never were there more cunning more artful impostors than these women 
practised creatures to be sure yet genteel and they must have been
well-educated once perhaps as much the delight of their parents as i
was of mine and who knows by what arts ruined body and mind o my dear 
how pregnant is this reflection 

but the man never was there a man so deep never so consummate a
deceiver except that detested tomlinson whose years and seriousness 
joined with a solidity of sense and judgment that seemed uncommon gave
him one would have thought advantages in villany the other had not
time for hard very hard that i should fall into the knowledge of two
such wretches when two more such i hope are not to be met with in the
world both so determined to carry on the most barbarous and perfidious
projects against a poor young creature who never did or wished harm to
either 

take the following slight account of these women's and of this man's
behaviour to each other before me 

mr lovelace carried himself to his pretended aunt with high respect 
and paid a great deference to all she said he permitted her to have all
the advantage over him in the repartees and retorts that passed between
them i could indeed easily see that it was permitted and that he
forbore that vivacity that quickness which he never spared showing to
his pretended miss montague and which a man of wit seldom knows how to
spare showing when an opportunity offers to display his wit 

the pretended miss montague was still more respectful in her behaviour to
her pretended aunt while the aunt kept up the dignity of the character
she had assumed rallying both of them with the air of a person who
depends upon the superiority which years and fortune give over younger
persons who might have a view to be obliged to her either in her life 
or at her death 

the severity of her raillery however was turned upon mr lovelace on
occasion of the character of the people who kept the lodgings which she
said i had thought myself so well warranted to leave privately 

this startled me for having then no suspicion of the vile tomlinson i
concluded and your letter of the 7th favoured my conclusion that if
the house were notorious either he or mr mennell would have given me
or him some hints of it nor although i liked not the people did i
observe any thing in them very culpable till the wednesday night before 
that they offered not to come to my assistance although within hearing
of my distress as i am sure they were and having as much reason as i
to be frighted at the fire had it been real 


 his forged letter see vol v letter xxx 


i looked with indignation upon mr lovelace at this hint 

he seemed abashed i have not patience but to recollect the specious
looks of this vile deceiver but how was it possible that even that
florid countenance of his should enable him to command a blush at his
pleasure for blush he did more than once and the blush on this
occasion was a deep-dyed crimson unstrained for and natural as i
thought but he is so much of the actor that he seems able to enter into
any character and his muscles and features appear entirely under
obedience to his wicked will 


 it is proper to observe that there was a more natural reason than this
that the lady gives for mr lovelace's blushing it was a blush of
indignation as he owned afterwards to his friend belford in
conversation for the pretended lady betty had mistaken her cue in
condemning the house and he had much ado to recover the blunder being
obliged to follow her lead and vary from his first design which was to
have the people of the house spoken well of in order to induce her to
return to it were it but on pretence to direct her clothes to be carried
to hampstead 


the pretended lady went on saying she had taken upon herself to inquire
after the people on hearing that i had left the house in disgust and
though she heard not any thing much amiss yet she heard enough to make
her wonder that he could carry his spouse a person of so much delicacy 
to a house that if it had not a bad fame had not a good one 

you must think my dear that i liked the pretended lady betty the better
for this i suppose it was designed that i should 

he was surprised he said that her ladyship should hear a bad character
of the people it was what he had never before heard that they deserved 
it was easy indeed to see that they had not very great delicacy 
though they were not indelicate the nature of their livelihood letting
lodgings and taking people to board and yet he had understood that
they were nice in these particulars led them to aim at being free and
obliging and it was difficult he said for persons of cheerful
dispositions so to behave as to avoid censure openness of heart and
countenance in the sex more was the pity too often subjected good
people whose fortunes did not set them above the world to uncharitable
censure 

he wished however that her ladyship would tell what she had heard 
although now it signified but little because he would never ask me to
set foot within their doors again and he begged she would not mince the
matter 

nay no great matter she said but she had been informed that there
were more women-lodgers in the house than men yet that their visiters
were more men than women and this had been hinted to her perhaps by
ill-wishers she could not answer for that in such a way as if somewhat
further were meant by it than was spoken 

this he said was the true innuendo-way of characterizing used by
detractors every body and every thing had a black and a white side of
which well wishers and ill wishers may make their advantage he had
observed that the front house was well let and he believed more to the
one sex than to the other for he had seen occasionally passing to or
fro several genteel modest looking women and who it was very probable 
were not so ill-beloved but they might have visiters and relations of
both sexes but they were none of them any thing to us or we to them we
were not once in any of their companies but in the genteelest and most
retired house of the two which we had in a manner to ourselves with the
use of a parlour to the street to serve us for a servants' hall or to
receive common visiters or our traders only whom we admitted not up
stairs 

he always loved to speak as he found no man in the world had suffered
more from calumny than he himself had done 

women he owned ought to be more scrupulous than men needed to be where
they lodged nevertheless he wished that fact rather than surmise were
to be the foundation of their judgments especially when they spoke of
one another 

he meant no reflection upon her ladyship's informants or rather
surmisants as he might call them be they who they would nor did he
think himself obliged to defend characters impeached or not thought well
of by women of virtue and honour neither were these people of
importance enough to have so much said about them 

the pretended lady betty said all who knew her would clear her of
censoriousness that it gave her some opinion she must needs say of the
people that he had continued there so long with me that i had rather
negative than positive reasons of dislike to them and that so shrewd a
man as she heard captain tomlinson was had not objected to them 

i think niece charlotte proceeded she as my nephew had not parted with
these lodgings you and i for as my dear miss harlowe dislikes the
people i would not ask her for her company will take a dish of tea with
my nephew there before we go out of town and then we shall see what
sort of people they are i have heard that mrs sinclair is a mighty
forbidding creature 

with all my heart madam in your ladyship's company i shall make no
scruple of going any where 

it was ladyship at every word and as she seemed proud of her title and
of her dress too i might have guessed that she was not used to either 

what say you cousin lovelace lady sarah though a melancholy woman is
very inquisitive about all your affairs i must acquaint her with every
particular circumstance when i go down 

with all his heart he would attend her whenever she pleased she would
see very handsome apartments and very civil people 

the deuce is in them said the miss montague if they appear other to us 

she then fell into family talk family happiness on my hoped-for
accession into it they mentioned lord m s and lady sarah's great
desire to see me how many friends and admirers with uplift hands i
should have  oh my dear what a triumph must these creatures and he 
have over the poor devoted all the time   what a happy man he would be 
 they would not the lady betty said give themselves the mortification
but to suppose that i should not be one of them 

presents were hinted at she resolved that i should go with her to
glenham-hall she would not be refused although she were to stay a week
beyond her time for me 

she longed for the expected letter from you i must write to hasten it 
and to let miss howe know how every thing stood since i wrote last that
might dispose me absolutely in her favour and in her nephew's and then
she hoped there would be no occasion for me to think of entering upon any
new measures 

indeed my dear i did at the time intend if i heard not from you by
morning to dispatch a man and horse to you with the particulars of all 
that you might if you thought proper at least put off mrs townsend's
coming up to another day but i was miserably prevented 

she made me promise that i would write to you upon this subject whether
i heard from you or not one of her servants should ride post with my
letter and wait for miss howe's answer 

she then launched out in deserved praises of you my dear how fond she
should be of the honour of your acquaintance 

the pretended miss montague joined in with her as well for herself as
for her sister 

abominably well instructed were they both 

o my dear what risks may poor giddy girls run when they throw
themselves out of the protection of their natural friends and into the
wide world 

the then talked again of reconciliation and intimacy with every one of my
friends with my mother particularly and gave the dear good lady the
praises that every one gives her who has the happiness to know her 

ah my dear miss howe i had almost forgot my resentments against the
pretended nephew so many agreeable things said made me think that if
you should advise it and if i could bring my mind to forgive the wretch
for an outrage so premeditatedly vile and could forbear despising him
for that and his other ungrateful and wicked ways i might not be unhappy
in an alliance with such a family yet thought i at the time with what
intermixture does every thing come to me that had the appearance of good 
 however as my lucid hopes made me see fewer faults in the behaviour
of these pretended ladies than recollection and abhorrence have helped
me since to see i began to reproach myself that i had not at first
thrown myself into their protection 

but amidst all these delightful prospects i must not said the lady
betty forget that i am to go to town 

she then ordered her coach to be got to the door we will all go to town
together said she and return together morrison shall stay here and
see every thing as i am used to have it in relation to my apartment and
my bed for i am very particular in some respects my cousin leeson's
servants can do all i want to be done with regard to my night-dresses 
and the like and it will be a little airing for you my dear and a
want of your apparel to be sent from your former lodgings to mrs 
leeson's and we can bring it up with us from thence 

i had no intention to comply but as i did not imagine that she would
insist upon my going to town with them i made no answer to that part of
her speech 

i must here lay down my tired pen 

recollection heart-affecting recollection how it pains me 



letter lxix

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


in the midst of this agreeableness the coach came to the door the
pretended lady betty besought me to give them my company to their cousin
leeson's i desired to be excused yet suspected nothing she would not
be denied how happy would a visit so condescending make her cousin
leeson her cousin leeson was not unworthy of my acquaintance and
would take it for the greatest favour in the world 

i objected my dress but the objection was not admitted she bespoke a
supper of mrs moore to be ready at nine 

mr lovelace vile hypocrite and wicked deceiver seeing as he said my
dislike to go desired his ladyship not to insist upon it 

fondness for my company was pleaded she begged me to oblige her made a
motion to help me to my fan herself and in short was so very urgent 
that my feet complied against my speech and my mind and being in a
manner led to the coach by her and made to step in first she followed
me and her pretended niece and the wretch followed her and away it
drove 

nothing but the height of affectionate complaisance passed all the way 
over and over what a joy would this unexpected visit give her cousin
leeson what a pleasure must it be to such a mind as mine to be able
to give so much joy to every body i came near 

the cruel the savage seducer as i have since recollected was in a
rapture all the way but yet such a sort of rapture as he took visible
pains to check 

hateful villain how i abhor him what mischief must be then in his
plotting heart what a devoted victim must i be in all their eyes 

though not pleased i was nevertheless just then thoughtless of danger 
they endeavouring thus to lift me up above all apprehensions of that and
above myself too 

but think my dear what a dreadful turn all had upon me when through
several streets and ways i knew nothing of the coach slackening its
pace came within sight of the dreadful house of the dreadfullest woman
in the world as she proved to me 

lord be good unto me cried the poor fool looking out of the coach mr 
lovelace madam turning to the pretended lady betty madam turning to
the niece my hands and eyes lifted up lord be good unto me 

what what what my dear 

he pulled the string what need to have come this way said he but since
we are i will but ask a question my dearest life why this
apprehension 

the coachman stopped his servant who with one of her's was behind 
alighted ask said he if i have any letters who knows my dearest
creature turning to me but we may already have one from the captain 
we will not go out of the coach fear nothing why so apprehensive oh 
these fine spirits cried the execrable insulter 

dreadfully did my heart then misgive me i was ready to faint why this
terror my life you shall not stir out of the coach but one question 
now the fellow has drove us this way 

your lady will faint cried the execrable lady betty turning to him my
dearest niece niece i will call you taking my hand we must alight 
if you are so ill let us alight only for a glass of water and
hartshorn indeed we must alight 

no no no i am well quite well won't the man drive on i am well 
quite well indeed i am man drive on putting my head out of the coach
 man drive on though my voice was too low to be heard 

the coach stopt at the door how i trembled 

dorcas came to the door on its stopping 

my dearest creature said the vile man gasping as it were for breath 
you shall not alight any letters for me dorcas 

there are two sir and here is a gentleman mr belton sir waits for
your honour and has done so above an hour 

i'll just speak to him open the door you sha'n't step out my dear a
letter perhaps from captain already you sha'n't step out my dear 

i sighed as if my heart would burst 

but we must step out nephew your lady will faint maid a glass of
hartshorn and water my dear you must step out you will faint child 
we must cut your laces  i believe my complexion was all manner of
colours by turns  indeed you must step out my dear 

he knew said i i should be well the moment the coach drove from the
door i should not alight by his soul i should not 

lord lord nephew lord lord cousin both women in a breath what ado
you make about nothing you persuade your lady to be afraid of
alighting see you not that she is just fainting 

indeed madam said the vile seducer my dearest love must not be moved
in this point against her will i beg it may not be insisted upon 

fiddle-faddle foolish man what a pother is here i guess how it is 
you are ashamed to let us see what sort of people you carried your lady
among but do you go out and speak to your friend and take your
letters 

he stept out but shut the coach-door after him to oblige me 

the coach may go on madam said i 

the coach shall go on my dear life said he but he gave not nor
intended to give orders that it should 

let the coach go on said i mr lovelace may come after us 

indeed my dear you are ill indeed you must alight alight but for one
quarter of an hour alight but to give orders yourself about your
things whom can you be afraid of in my company and my niece's these
people must have behaved shockingly to you please the lord i'll
inquire into it i'll see what sort of people they are 

immediately came the old creature to the door a thousand pardons dear
madam stepping to the coach-side if we have any way offended you be
pleased ladies  to the other two  to alight 

well my dear whispered the lady betty i now find that an hideous
description of a person we never saw is an advantage to them i thought
the woman was a monster but really she seems tolerable 

i was afraid i should have fallen into fits but still refused to go out
 man man man cried i gaspingly my head out of the coach and in 
by turns half a dozen times running drive on let us go 

my heart misgave me beyond the power of my own accounting for it for
still i did not suspect these women but the antipathy i had taken to
the vile house and to find myself so near it when i expected no such
matter with the sight of the old creature all together made me behave
like a distracted person 

the hartshorn and water was brought the pretended lady betty made me
drink it heaven knows if there was any thing else in it 

besides said she whisperingly i must see what sort of creatures the
nieces are want of delicacy cannot be hid from me you could not
surely my dear have this aversion to re-enter a house for a few
minutes in our company in which you lodged and boarded several weeks 
unless these women could be so presumptuously vile as my nephew ought
not to know 

out stept the pretended lady the servant at her command having opened
the door 

dearest madam said the other to me let me follow you  for i was next
the door   fear nothing i will not stir from your presence 

come my dear said the pretended lady give me your hand holding out
her's oblige me this once 

i will bless your footsteps said the old creature if once more you
honour my house with your presence 

a crowd by this time was gathered about us but i was too much affected
to mind that 

again the pretended miss montague urged me standing up as ready to go
out if i would give her room lord my dear said she who can bear this
crowd what will people think 

the pretended lady again pressed me with both her hands held out only 
my dear to give orders about your things 

and thus pressed and gazed at for then i looked about me the women
so richly dressed people whispering in an evil moment out stepped i 
trembling forced to lean with both my hands frighted too much for
ceremony on the pretended lady betty's arm oh that i had dropped down
dead upon the guilty threshold 

we shall stay but a few minutes my dear but a few minutes said the
same specious jilt out of breath with her joy as i have since thought 
that they had thus triumphed over the unhappy victim 

come mrs sinclair i think your name is show us the way following
her and leading me i am very thirsty you have frighted me my dear 
with your strange fears i must have tea made if it can be done in a
moment we have farther to go mrs sinclair and must return to
hampstead this night 

it shall be ready in a moment cried the wretch we have water boiling 

hasten then come my dear to me as she led me through the passage to
the fatal inner house lean upon me how you tremble how you falter in
your steps dearest niece lovelace  the old wretch being in hearing  
why these hurries upon your spirits we'll be gone in a minute 

and thus she led the poor sacrifice into the old wretch's too-well-known
parlour 

never was any body so gentle so meek so low voiced as the odious
woman drawling out in a puling accent all the obliging things she
could say awed i then thought by the conscious dignity of a woman of
quality glittering with jewels 

the called-for tea was ready presently 

there was no mr belton i believe for the wretch went not to any body 
unless it were while we were parlying in the coach no such person
however appeared at the tea-table 

i was made to drink two dishes with milk complaisantly urged by the
pretended ladies helping me each to one i was stupid to their hands 
and when i took the tea almost choked with vapours and could hardly
swallow 

i thought transiently thought that the tea the last dish particularly 
had an odd taste they on my palating it observed that the milk was
london-milk far short in goodness of what they were accustomed to from
their own dairies 

i have no doubt that my two dishes and perhaps my hartshorn were
prepared for me in which case it was more proper for their purpose that
they should help me than that i should help myself ill before i found
myself still more and more disordered in my head a heavy torpid pain
increasing fast upon me but i imputed it to my terror 

nevertheless at the pretended lady's motion i went up stairs attended
by dorcas who affected to weep for joy that she once more saw my
blessed face that was the vile creature's word and immediately i set
about taking out some of my clothes ordering what should be put up and
what sent after me 

while i was thus employed up came the pretended lady betty in a
hurrying way my dear you won't be long before you are ready my
nephew is very busy in writing answers to his letters so i'll just whip
away and change my dress and call upon you in an instant 

o madam i am ready i am now ready you must not leave me here and
down i sunk affrighted into a chair 

this instant this instant i will return before you can be ready 
before you can have packed up your things we would not be late the
robbers we have heard of may be out don't let us be late 

and away she hurried before i could say another word her pretended
niece went with her without taking notice to me of her going 

i had no suspicion yet that these women were not indeed the ladies
they personated and i blamed myself for my weak fears it cannot be 
thought i that such ladies will abet treachery against a poor creature
they are so fond of they must undoubtedly be the persons they appear to
be what folly to doubt it the air the dress the dignity of women of
quality how unworthy of them and of my charity concluded i is this
ungenerous shadow of suspicion 

so recovering my stupefied spirits as well as they could be recovered 
 for i was heavier and heavier and wondered to dorcas what ailed me 
rubbing my eyes and taking some of her snuff pinch after pinch to very
little purpose i pursued my employment but when that was over all
packed up that i designed to be packed up and i had nothing to do but to
think and found them tarry so long i thought i should have gone
distracted i shut myself into the chamber that had been mine i
kneeled i prayed yet knew not what i prayed for then ran out again it
was almost dark night i said where where where was mr lovelace 

he came to me taking no notice at first of my consternation and
wildness  what they had given me made me incoherent and wild   all goes
well said he my dear a line from capt tomlinson 

all indeed did go well for the villanous project of the most cruel and
most villanous of men 

i demanded his aunt i demanded his cousin the evening i said was
closing my head was very very bad i remember i said and it grew
worse and worse 

terror however as yet kept up my spirits and i insisted upon his going
himself to hasten them 

he called his servant he raved at the sex for their delay twas well
that business of consequence seldom depended upon such parading 
unpunctual triflers 

his servant came 

he ordered him to fly to his cousin leeson's and to let lady betty and
his cousin know how uneasy we both were at their delay adding of his
own accord desire them if they don't come instantly to send their
coach and we will go without them tell them i wonder they'll serve me
so 

i thought this was considerately and fairly put but now indifferent as
my head was i had a little time to consider the man and his behaviour 
he terrified me with his looks and with his violent emotions as he
gazed upon me evident joy-suppressed emotions as i have since
recollected his sentences short and pronounced as if his breath were
touched never saw i his abominable eyes look as then they looked 
triumph in them fierce and wild and more disagreeable than the women's
at the vile house appeared to me when i first saw them and at times 
such a leering mischief-boding cast i would have given the world to
have been an hundred miles from him yet his behaviour was decent a
decency however that i might have seen to be struggled for for he
snatched my hand two or three times with a vehemence in his grasp that
hurt me speaking words of tenderness through his shut teeth as it
seemed and let it go with a beggar-voiced humbled accent like the vile
woman's just before half-inward yet his words and manner carrying the
appearance of strong and almost convulsed passion o my dear what
mischief was he not then meditating 

i complained once or twice of thirst my mouth seemed parched at the
time i supposed that it was my terror gasping often as i did for
breath that parched up the roof of my mouth i called for water some
table-beer was brought me beer i suppose was a better vehicle for
their potions i told the maid that she knew i seldom tasted malt
liquor yet suspecting nothing of this nature being extremely thirsty 
i drank it as what came next and instantly as it were found myself
much worse than before as if inebriated i should fancy i know not how 

his servant was gone twice as long as he needed and just before his
return came one of the pretended lady betty's with a letter for mr 
lovelace 

he sent it up to me i read it and then it was that i thought myself a
lost creature it being to put off her going to hampstead that night on
account of violent fits which miss montague was pretended to be seized
with for then immediately came into my head his vile attempt upon me in
this house the revenge that my flight might too probably inspire him
with on that occasion and because of the difficulty i made to forgive
him and to be reconciled to him his very looks wild and dreadful to me 
and the women of the house such as i had more reason than ever even from
the pretended lady betty's hint to be afraid of all these crowding
together in my apprehensive mind i fell into a kind of phrensy 

i have no remembrance how i was for this time it lasted but i know that 
in my first agitations i pulled off my head-dress and tore my ruffles
in twenty tatters and ran to find him out 

when a little recovered i insisted upon the hint he had given me of
their coach but the messenger he said had told him that it was sent
to fetch a physician lest his chariot should be put up or not ready 

i then insisted upon going directly to lady betty's lodgings 

mrs leeson's was now a crowded house he said and as my earnestness
could be owing to nothing but groundless apprehensions  and oh what
vows what protestations of his honour did he then make   he hoped i
would not add to their present concern charlotte indeed was used to
fits he said upon any great surprises whether of joy or grief and
they would hold her for one week together if not got off in a few hours 

you are an observer of eyes my dear said the villain perhaps in secret
insult saw you not in miss montague's now-and-then at hampstead 
something wildish i was afraid for her then silence and quiet only do
her good your concern for her and her love for you will but augment
the poor girl's disorder if you should go 

all impatient with grief and apprehension i still declared myself
resolved not to stay in that house till morning all i had in the world 
my rings my watch my little money for a coach or if one were not to
be got i would go on foot to hampstead that night though i walked it by
myself 

a coach was hereupon sent for or pretended to be sent for any price 
he said he would give to oblige me late as it was and he would attend
me with all his soul but no coach was to be got 

let me cut short the rest i grew worse and worse in my head now
stupid now raving now senseless the vilest of vile women was brought
to frighten me never was there so horrible a creature as she
appreared to me at this time 

i remember i pleaded for mercy i remember that i said i would be his 
indeed i would be his to obtain his mercy but no mercy found i my
strength my intellects failed me and then such scenes followed o my
dear such dreadful scenes fits upon fits faintly indeed and
imperfectly remembered procuring me no compassion but death was
withheld from me that would have been too great a mercy 


 


thus was i tricked and deluded back by blacker hearts of my own sex than
i thought there were in the world who appeared to me to be persons of
honour and when in his power thus barbarously was i treated by this
villanous man 

i was so senseless that i dare not aver that the horrid creatures of
the house were personally aiding and abetting but some visionary
remembrances i have of female figures flitting as i may say before my
sight the wretched woman's particularly but as these confused ideas
might be owing to the terror i had conceived of the worse than masculine
violence she had been permitted to assume to me for expressing my
abhorrence of her house and as what i suffered from his barbarity wants
not that aggravation i will say no more on a subject so shocking as this
must ever be to my remembrance 

i never saw the personating wretches afterwards he persisted to the
last dreadfully invoking heaven as a witness to the truth of his
assertion that they were really and truly the ladies they pretended to
be declaring that they could not take leave of me when they left town 
because of the state of senselessness and phrensy i was in for their
intoxicating or rather stupefying potions had almost deleterious
effects upon my intellects as i have hinted insomuch that for several
days together i was under a strange delirium now moping now dozing 
now weeping now raving now scribbling tearing what i scribbled as fast
as i wrote it most miserable when now-and-then a ray of reason brought
confusedly to my remembrance what i had suffered 



letter lxx

miss clarissa harlowe
 in continuation  


 the lady next gives an account 

of her recovery from her delirium and sleepy disorder 

of her attempt to get away in his absence 

of the conversations that followed at his return between them 

of the guilty figure he made 

of her resolution not to have him 

of her several efforts to escape 

of her treaty with dorcas to assist her in it 

of dorcas's dropping the promissory note undoubtedly as she says on
 purpose to betray her 

of her triumph over all the creatures of the house assembled to terrify
 her and perhaps to commit fresh outrages upon her 

of his setting out for m hall 

of his repeated letters to induce her to meet him at the altar on her
 uncle's anniversary 

of her determined silence to them all 

of her second escape effected as she says contrary to her own
 expectation the attempt being at first but the intended prelude to
 a more promising one which she had formed in her mind 

and of other particulars which being to be found in mr lovelace's
 letters preceding and the letter of his friend belford are
 omitted she then proceeds  


the very hour that i found myself in a place of safety i took pen to
write to you when i began i designed only to write six or eight lines 
to inquire after your health for having heard nothing from you i
feared indeed that you had been and still were too ill to write but
no sooner did my pen begin to blot the paper but my sad heart hurried it
into length the apprehensions i had lain under that i should not be
able to get away the fatigue i had in effecting my escape the
difficulty of procuring a lodging for myself having disliked the people
of two houses and those of a third disliking me for you must think i
made a frighted appearance these together with the recollection of what
i had suffered from him and my farther apprehensions of my insecurity 
and my desolate circumstances had so disordered me that i remember i
rambled strangely in that letter 

in short i thought it on re-perusal a half-distracted one but i then
despaired were i to begin again of writing better so i let it go 
and can have no excuse for directing it as i did if the cause of the
incoherence in it will not furnish me with a very pitiable one 

the letter i received from your mother was a dreadful blow to me but
nevertheless it had the good effect upon me labouring as i did just
then under a violent fit of vapourish despondency and almost yielding
to it which profuse bleeding and blisterings have in paralytic or
apoplectical strokes reviving my attention and restoring me to spirits
to combat the evils i was surrounded by sluicing off and diverting into
a new channel if i may be allowed another metaphor the overcharging
woes which threatened once more to overwhelm my intellects 

but yet i most sincerely lamented and still lament in your mother's
words that i cannot be unhappy by myself and was grieved not only for
the trouble i had given you before but for the new one i had brought
upon you by my inattention 


 she then gives the substance of the letters she wrote to mrs norton to
 lady betty lawrance and to mrs hodges as also of their answers 
 whereby she detected all mr lovelace's impostures she proceeds
 as follows  


i cannot however forbear to wonder how the vile tomlinson could come at
the knowledge of several of the things he told me of and which
contributed to give me confidence in him 


 the attentive reader need not be referred back for what the lady
nevertheless could not account for as she knew not that mr lovelace had
come at miss howe's letters particularly that in vol iv letter xxix 
which he comments upon in letter xliv of the same volume 


i doubt not that the stories of mrs fretchville and her house would be
found as vile as any of the rest were i to inquire and had i not
enough and too much already against the perjured man 

how have i been led on what will be the end of such a false and
perjured creature heaven not less profaned and defied by him than
myself deceived and abused this however against myself i must say 
that if what i have suffered be the natural consequence of my first
error i never can forgive myself although you are so partial in my
favour as to say that i was not censurable for what passed before my
first escape 

and now honoured madam and my dearest miss howe who are to sit in
judgment upon my case permit me to lay down my pen with one request 
which with the greatest earnestness i make to you both and that is 
that you will neither of you open your lips in relation to the potions
and the violences i have hinted at not that i am solicitous that my
disgrace should be hidden from the world or that it should not be
generally known that the man has proved a villain to me for this it
seems every body but myself expected from his character but suppose 
as his actions by me are really of a capital nature it were insisted
upon that i should appear to prosecute him and his accomplices in a court
of justice how do you think i could bear that 

but since my character before the capital enormity was lost in the eye
of the world and that from the very hour i left my father's house and
since all my own hopes of worldly happiness are entirely over let me
slide quietly into my grave and let it be not remembered except by one
friendly tear and no more dropt from your gentle eye mine own dear
anna howe on the happy day that shall shut up all my sorrows that there
was such a creature as

clarissa harlowe

saturday july 8 



letter lxxi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
sunday july 9 


may heaven signalize its vengeance in the face of all the world upon
the most abandoned and profligate of men and in its own time i doubt
not but it will and we must look to a world beyond this for the reward
of your sufferings 

another shocking detection my dear how have you been deluded very
watchful i have thought you very sagacious but alas not watchful 
not sagacious enough for the horrid villain you have had to deal with 
 

the letter you sent me enclosed as mine of the 7th of june is a
villanous forgery 


 see vol v letter xxx 


the hand indeed is astonishingly like mine and the cover i see is
actually my cover but yet the letter is not so exactly imitated but
that had you had any suspicions about his vileness at the time you 
who so well know my hand might have detected it 

in short this vile forged letter though a long one contains but a
few extracts from mine mine was a very long one he has omitted every
thing i see in it that could have shown you what a detestable house the
house is and given you suspicions of the vile tomlinson you will see
this and how he has turned miss lardner's information and my advices to
you  execrable villain   to his own horrid ends by the rough draught of
the genuine letter which i shall enclose 


 see vol v letter xx 


apprehensive for both our safeties from the villany of such a daring and
profligate contriver i must call upon you my dear to resolve upon
taking legal vengeance of the infernal wretch and this not only for our
own sakes but for the sakes of innocents who otherwise may yet be
deluded and outraged by him 


 she then gives the particulars of the report made by the young fellow
 whom she sent to hampstead with her letter and who supposed he had
 delivered it into her own hand and then proceeds  


 see vol vi letter vi 


i am astonished that the vile wretch who could know nothing of the time
my messenger whose honesty i can vouch for would come could have a
creature ready to personate you strange that the man should happen to
arrive just as you were gone to church as i find was the fact on
comparing what he says with your hint that you were at church twice that
day when he might have got to mrs moore's two hours before but had
you told me my dear that the villain had found you out and was about
you you should have done that yet i blame you upon a judgment founded
on the event only 

i never had any faith in the stories that go current among country girls 
of specters familiars and demons yet i see not any other way to
account for this wretch's successful villany and for his means of
working up his specious delusions but by supposing if he be not the
devil himself that he has a familiar constantly at his elbow 
sometimes it seems to me that this familiar assumes the shape of that
solemn villain tomlinson sometimes that of the execrable sinclair as he
calls her sometimes it is permitted to take that of lady betty lawrance
 but when it would assume the angelic shape and mien of my beloved
friend see what a bloated figure it made 

tis my opinion my dear that you will be no longer safe where you are 
than while the v is in the country words are poor or how could i
execrate him i have hardly any doubt that he has sold himself for a
time oh may the time be short or may his infernal prompter no more
keep covenant with him than he does with others 

i enclose not only the rough draught of my long letter mentioned above 
but the heads of that which the young fellow thought he delivered into
your own hands at hampstead and when you have perused them i will
leave to you to judge how much reason i had to be surprised that you
wrote me not an answer to either of those letters one of which you owned
you had received though it proved to be his forged one the other
delivered into your own hands as i was assured and both of them of so
much concern to your honour and still now much more surprised i must be 
when i received a letter from mrs townsend dated june 15 from
hampstead importing that mr lovelace who had been with you several
days had on the monday before brought lady betty and his cousin 
richly dressed and in a coach-and-four to visit you who with your own
consent had carried you to town with them to your former lodgings 
where you still were that the hampstead women believed you to be
married and reflected upon me as a fomenter of differences between man
and wife that he himself was at hampstead the day before viz wednesday
the 14th and boasted of his happiness with you inviting mrs moore 
mrs bevis and miss rawlins to go to town to visit his spouse which
they promised to do that he declared that you were entirely reconciled
to your former lodgings and that finally the women at hampstead told
mrs townsend that he had very handsomely discharged theirs 

i own to you my dear that i was so much surprised and disgusted at
these appearances against a conduct till then unexceptionable that i was
resolved to make myself as easy as i could and wait till you should
think fit to write to me but i could rein-in my impatience but for a
few days and on the 20th of june i wrote a sharp letter to you which i
find you did not receive 

what a fatality my dear has appeared in your case from the very
beginning till this hour had my mother permitted 

but can i blame her when you have a father and mother living who have
so much to answer for so much as no father and mother considering
the child they have driven persecuted exposed renounced ever had to
answer for 

but again i must execrate the abandoned villain yet as i said before 
all words are poor and beneath the occasion 

but see we not in the horrid perjuries and treachery of this man what
rakes and libertines will do when they get a young creature into their
power it is probable that he might have the intolerable presumption to
hope an easier conquest but when your unexampled vigilance and exalted
virtue made potions and rapes and the utmost violences necessary to
the attainment of his detestable end we see that he never boggled at
them i have no doubt that the same or equal wickedness would be oftener
committed by men of his villanous cast if the folly and credulity of the
poor inconsiderates who throw themselves into their hands did not give
them an easier triumph 

with what comfort must those parents reflect upon these things who have
happily disposed of their daughters in marriage to a virtuous man and
how happy the young women who find themselves safe in a worthy
protection if such a person as miss clarissa harlowe could not escape 
who can be secure since though every rake is not a lovelace neither
is every woman a clarissa and his attempts were but proportioned to your
resistance and vigilance 

my mother has commanded me to let you know her thoughts upon the whole of
your sad story i will do it in another letter and send it to you with
this by a special messenger 

but for the future if you approve of it i will send my letters by the
usual hand collins's to be left at the saracen's head on snow-hill 
whither you may send your's as we both used to do to wilson's except
such as we shall think fit to transmit by the post which i am afraid 
after my next must be directed to mr hickman as before since my
mother is fixing a condition to our correspondence which i doubt you
will not comply with though i wish you would this condition i shall
acquaint you with by-and-by 

mean time begging excuse for all the harsh things in my last of which
your sweet meekness and superior greatness of soul have now made me most
heartily ashamed i beseech you my dearest creature to believe me to be

your truly sympathising 
and unalterable friend 
anna howe 



letter lxxii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
monday july 10 


i now my dearest friend resume my pen to obey my mother in giving you
her opinion upon your unhappy story 

she still harps upon the old string and will have it that all your
calamities are owing to your first fatal step for she believes what i
cannot that your relations had intended after one general trial more 
to comply with your aversion if they had found it to be as riveted a
one as let me say it was a folly to suppose it would not be found to
be after so many ridiculously-repeated experiments 

as to your latter sufferings from that vilest of miscreants she is
unalterably of opinion that if all be as you have related which she
doubts not with regard to the potions and to the violences you have
sustained you ought by all means to set on foot a prosecution against
him and against his devilish accomplices 

she asks what murderers what ravishers would be brought to justice if
modesty were to be a general plea and allowable against appearing in a
court to prosecute 

she says that the good of society requires that such a beast of prey
should be hunted out of it and if you do not prosecute him she thinks
you will be answerable for all the mischiefs he may do in the course of
his future villanous life 

will it be thought nancy said she that miss clarissa harlowe can be in
earnest when she says she is not solicitous to have her disgraces
concealed from the world if she be afraid or ashamed to appear in court 
to do justice to herself and her sex against him will it not be rather
surmised that she may be apprehensive that some weakness or lurking
love will appear upon the trial of the strange cause if inferred she 
such complicated villany as this where perjury potions forgery 
subornation are all combined to effect the ruin of an innocent creature 
and to dishonour a family of eminence and where the very crimes as may
be supposed are proofs of her innocence is to go off with impunity 
what case will deserve to be brought into judgment or what malefactor
ought to be hanged 

then she thinks and so do i that the vile creatures his accomplices 
ought by all means to be brought to condign punishment as they must
and will be upon bringing him to trial and this may be a mean to blow up
and root out a whole nest of vipers and save many innocent creatures 

she added that if miss clarissa harlowe could be so indifferent about
having this public justice done upon such a wretch for her own sake she
ought to overcome her scruples out of regard to her family her
acquaintance and her sex which are all highly injured and scandalized
by his villany to her 

for her own part she declares that were she your mother she would
forgive you upon no other terms and upon your compliance with these 
she herself will undertake to reconcile all your family to you 

these my dear are my mother's sentiments upon your sad story 

i cannot say but there are reason and justice in them and it is my
opinion that it would be very right for the law to oblige an injured
woman to prosecute and to make seduction on the man's part capital 
where his studied baseness and no fault in her will appeared 

to this purpose the custom in the isle of man is a very good one 

if a single woman there prosecutes a single man for a rape the
ecclesiastical judges impannel a jury and if this jury find him guilty 
he is returned guilty to the temporal courts where if he be convicted 
the deemster or judge delivers to the woman a rope a sword and a
ring and she has it in her choice to have him hanged beheaded or to
marry him 

one of the two former i think should always be her option 

i long for the particulars of your story you must have too much time
upon your hands for a mind so active as your's if tolerable health and
spirits be afforded you 

the villany of the worst of men and the virtue of the most excellent of
women i expect will be exemplified in it were it to be written in the
same connected and particular manner in which you used to write to me 

try for it my dearest friend and since you cannot give the example
without the warning give both for the sakes of all those who shall hear
of your unhappy fate beginning from your's of june 5 your prospects
then not disagreeable i pity you for the task though i cannot
willingly exempt you from it 


 


my mother will have me add that she must insist upon your prosecuting
the villain she repeats that she makes that a condition on which she
permits our future correspondence let me therefore know your thoughts
upon it i asked her if she would be willing that i should appear to
support you in court if you complied by all means she said if that
would induce you to begin with him and with the horrid women i think i
could probably attend you i am sure i could were there but a
probability of bringing the monster to his deserved end 

once more your thoughts of it supposing it were to meet with the
approbation of your relations 

but whatever be your determination on this head it shall be my constant
prayer that god will give you patience to bear your heavy afflictions 
as a person ought to do who has not brought them upon herself by a faulty
will that he will speak peace and comfort to your wounded mind and give
you many happy years i am and ever will be 

your affectionate and faithful
anna howe 


 


 the two preceding letters were sent by a special messenger in the cover
 were written the following lines  

monday july 10 

i cannot my dearest friend suffer the enclosed to go unaccompanied by a
few lines to signify to you that they are both less tender in some
places than i would have written had they not been to pass my mother's
inspection the principal reason however of my writing thus separately
is to beg of you to permit me to send you money and necessaries which
you must needs want and that you will let me know if either i or any
body i can influence can be of service to you i am excessively
apprehensive that you are not enough out of the villain's reach where you
are yet london i am persuaded is the place of all others to be
private in 

i could tear my hair for vexation that i have it not in my power to
afford you personal protection i am

your ever devoted
anna howe 


once more forgive me my dearest creature for my barbarous taunting in
mine of the 5th yet i can hardly forgive myself i to be so cruel yet
to know you so well whence whence had i this vile impatiency of
spirit 



letter lxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
tuesday july 11 


forgive you my dear most cordially do i forgive you will you forgive
me for some sharp things i wrote in return to your's of the 5th you
could not have loved me as you do nor had the concern you have always
shown for my honour if you had not been utterly displeased with me on
the appearance which my conduct wore to you when you wrote that letter 
i most heartily thank you my best and only love for the opportunity you
gave me of clearing it up and for being generously ready to acquit me of
intentional blame the moment you had read my melancholy narrative 

as you are so earnest to have all the particulars of my sad story before
you i will if life and spirits be lent me give you an ample account of
all that has befallen me from the time you mention but this it is
very probable you will not see till after the close of my last scene 
and as i shall write with a view to that i hope no other voucher will be
wanted for the veracity of the writer be who will the reader 

i am far from thinking myself out of the reach of this man's further
violence but what can i do whither can i fly perhaps my bad state
of health which must grow worse as recollection of the past evils and
reflections upon them grow heavier and heavier upon me may be my
protection once indeed i thought of going abroad and had i the
prospect of many years before me i would go but my dear the blow is
given nor have you reason now circumstanced as i am to be concerned
that it is what a heart must i have if it be not broken and indeed 
my dear friend i do so earnestly wish for the last closing scene and
with so much comfort find myself in a declining way that i even
sometimes ungratefully regret that naturally-healthy constitution which
used to double upon me all my enjoyments 

as to the earnestly-recommended prosecution i may possibly touch upon it
more largely hereafter if ever i shall have better spirits for they are
at present extremely sunk and low but just now i will only say that i
would sooner suffer every evil the repetition of the capital one
excepted than appear publicly in a court to do myself justice and i
am heartily grieved that your mother prescribes such a measure as the
condition of our future correspondence for the continuance of your
friendship my dear and the desire i had to correspond with you to my
life's end were all my remaining hopes and consolation nevertheless 
as that friendship is in the power of the heart not of the hand only i
hope i shall not forfeit that 


 dr lewen in letter xxiv of vol viii presses her to this public
prosecution by arguments worthy of his character which she answers in a
manner worthy of her's see letter xxv of that volume 


o my dear what would i give to obtain a revocation of my father's
malediction a reconciliation is not to be hoped for you who never
loved my father may think my solicitude on this head a weakness but the
motive for it sunk as my spirits at times are is not always weak 


 


i approve of the method you prescribe for the conveyance of our letters 
and have already caused the porter of the inn to be engaged to bring to
me your's the moment that collins arrives with them and the servant of
the house where i am will be permitted to carry mine to collins for you 

i have written a letter to miss rawlins of hampstead the answer to
which just now received has helped me to the knowledge of the vile
contrivance by which the wicked man got your letter of june the 10th i
will give you the contents of both 

in mine to her i briefly acquainted her with what had befallen me 
through the vileness of the women who had passed upon me as the aunt and
cousin of the wickedest of men and own that i never was married to him 
i desire her to make particular inquiry and to let me know who it was
at mrs moore's that on sunday afternoon june 11 while i was at
church received a letter from miss howe pretending to be me and lying
on a couch which letter had it come to my hands would have saved me
from ruin i excuse myself on the score of the delirium which the
horrid usage i had received threw me into and from a confinement as
barbarous as illegal that i had not before applied to mrs moore for an
account of what i was indebted to her which account i now desired and 
for fear of being traced by mr lovelace i directed her to superscribe
her answer to mrs mary atkins to be left till called for at the belle
savage inn on ludgate-hill 

in her answer she tells me that the vile wretch prevailed upon mrs 
bevis to personate me  a sudden motion of his it seems on the
appearance of your messenger   and persuaded her to lie along a couch 
a handkerchief over her neck and face pretending to be ill the
credulous woman drawn in by false notions of your ill offices to keep up
a variance between a man and his wife and so taking the letter from your
messenger as me 

miss rawlins takes pains to excuse mrs bevis's intention she
expresses their astonishment and concern at what i communicate but is
glad however and so they are all that they know in time the vileness
of the base man the two widows and herself having at his earnest
invitation designed me a visit at mrs sinclair's supposing all to be
happy between him and me as he assured them was the case mr lovelace 
she informs me had handsomely satisfied mrs moore and miss rawlins
concludes with wishing to be favoured with the particulars of so
extraordinary a story as these particulars may be of use to let her see
what wicked creatures women as well as men there are in the world 

i thank you my dear for the draughts of your two letters which were
intercepted by this horrid man i see the great advantage they were of
to him in the prosecution of his villanous designs against the poor
wretch whom he had so long made the sport of his abhorred inventions 

let me repeat that i am quite sick of life and of an earth in which
innocent and benevolent spirits are sure to be considered as aliens and
to be made sufferers by the genuine sons and daughters of that earth 

how unhappy that those letters only which could have acquainted me with
his horrid views and armed me against them and against the vileness of
the base women should fall into his hands unhappier still in that my
very escape to hampstead gave him the opportunity of receiving them 

nevertheless i cannot but still wonder how it was possible for that
tomlinson to know what passed between mr hickman and my uncle harlowe 
a circumstance which gave the vile impostor most of his credit with me 


 see the note in letter lxx of this volume 


how the wicked wretch himself could find me out at hampstead must also
remain wholly a mystery to me he may glory in his contrivances he who
has more wickedness than wit may glory in his contrivances but after
all i shall i humbly presume to hope be happy when he poor wretch 
will be alas who can say what 

adieu my dearest friend may you be happy and then your clarissa
cannot be wholly miserable 


contents of volume vii


letter i miss howe to clarissa 
beseeches her to take comfort and not despair is dreadfully
apprehensive of her own safety from mr lovelace an instruction to
mothers 

letter ii clarissa to miss howe 
averse as she is to appear in a court of justice against lovelace she
will consent to prosecute him rather than miss howe shall live in
terror hopes she shall not despair but doubts not from so many
concurrent circumstances that the blow is given 

letter iii iv lovelace to belford 
has no subject worth writing upon now he has lost his clarissa half in
jest half in earnest  as usual with him when vexed or disappointed   he
deplores the loss of her humourous account of lord m of himself and
of his two cousins montague his clarissa has made him eyeless and
senseless to every other beauty 

letter v vi vii viii from the same 
lady sarah sadleir and lady betty lawrance arrive and engage lord m and
his two cousins montague against him on account of his treatment of the
lady his trial as he calls it after many altercations they obtain
his consent that his two cousins should endeavour to engage miss howe to
prevail upon clarissa to accept of him on his unfeigned repentance it
is some pleasure to him he however rakishly reflects to observe how
placable the ladies of his family would have been had they met with a
lovelace marriage says he with these women is an atonement for the
worst we can do to them a true dramatic recompense he makes several
other whimsical but characteristic observations some of which may serve
as cautions and warnings to the sex 

letter ix miss howe to clarissa 
has had a visit from the two miss montague's their errand advises her
to marry lovelace reasons for her advice 

letter x miss howe to clarissa 
chides her with friendly impatience for not answering her letter 
re-urges her to marry lovelace and instantly to put herself under lady
betty's protection 

letter xi miss howe to miss montague 
in a phrensy of her soul writes to her to demand news of her beloved
friend spirited away as she apprehends by the base arts of the
blackest of men 

letter xii lovelace to belford 
the suffering innocent arrested and confined by the execrable woman in
a sham action he curses himself and all his plots and contrivances 
conjures him to fly to her and clear him of this low this dirty
villany to set her free without conditions and assure her that he will
never molest her more horribly execrates the diabolical women who
thought to make themselves a merit with him by this abominable insult 

letter xiii xiv miss montague to miss howe 
with the particulars of all that has happened to the lady mr lovelace
the most miserable of men reflections on libertines she her sister 
lady betty lady sarah lord m and lovelace himself all sign letters
to miss howe asserting his innocence of this horrid insult and
imploring her continued interest in his and their favour with clarissa 

letter xv belford to lovelace 
particulars of the vile arrest insolent visits of the wicked women to
her her unexampled meekness and patience her fortitude he admires
it and prefers it to the false courage of men of their class 

letter xvi from the same 
goes to the officer's house a description of the horrid prison-room 
and of the suffering lady on her knees in one corner of it her great
and moving behaviour breaks off and sends away his letter on purpose
to harass him by suspense 

letter xvii lovelace to belford 
curses him for his tormenting abruption clarissa never suffered half
what he suffers that sex made to bear pain conjures him to hasten to
him the rest of his soul-harrowing intelligence 

letter xviii belford to lovelace 
his farther proceedings the lady returns to her lodgings at smith's 
distinction between revenge and resentment in her character sends her 
from the vile women all her apparel as lovelace had desired 

letter xix belford to lovelace 
rejoices to find he can feel will endeavour from time to time to add to
his remorse insists upon his promise not to molest the lady 

letter xx from the same 
describes her lodgings and gives a character of the people and of the
good widow lovick she is so ill that they provide her an honest nurse 
and send for mr goddard a worthy apothecary substance of a letter to
miss howe dictated by the lady 

letter xxi from the same 
admitted to the lady's presence what passed on the occasion really
believes that she still loves him has a reverence and even a holy love
for her astonished that lovelace could hold his purposes against such
an angel of a woman condemns him for not timely exerting himself to
save her 

letter xxii from the same 
dr h called in not having a single guinea to give him she accepts of
three from mrs lovick on a diamond ring her dutiful reasons for
admitting the doctor's visit his engaging and gentlemanly behaviour 
she resolves to part with some of her richest apparel her reasons 

letter xxiii lovelace to belford 
raves at him for what rallies him with his usual gayety on several
passages in his letters reasons why clarissa's heart cannot be broken
by what she has suffered passionate girls easily subdued sedate ones
hardly ever pardon he has some retrograde motions yet is in earnest to
marry clarissa gravely concludes that a person intending to marry
should never be a rake his gay resolutions renews however his
promises not to molest her a charming encouragement for a man of
intrigue when a woman is known not to love her husband advantages
which men have over women when disappointed in love he knows she will
permit him to make her amends after she has plagued him heartily 

letter xxiv miss howe to clarissa 
is shocked at receiving a letter from her written by another hand 
tenderly consoles her and inveighs against lovelace re-urges her 
however to marry him her mother absolutely of her opinion praises
mr hickman's sister who with her lord had paid her a visit 

letter xxv clarissa to miss howe 
her condition greatly mended in what particulars her mind begins to
strengthen and she finds herself at times superior to her calamities 
in what light she wishes her to think of her desires her to love her
still but with a weaning love she is not now what she was when they
were inseparable lovers their views must now be different 

letter xxvi belford to lovelace 
a consuming malady and a consuming mistress as in belton's case 
dreadful things to struggle with farther reflections on the life of
keeping the poor man afraid to enter into his own house belford
undertakes his cause instinct in brutes equivalent to natural affection
in men story of the ancient sarmatians and their slaves reflects on
the lives of rakes and free-livers and how ready they are in sickness
to run away from one another picture of a rake on a sick bed will
marry and desert them all 

letter xxvii from the same 
the lady parts with some of her laces instances of the worthiness of
dr h and mr goddard he severely reflects upon lovelace 

letter xxviii lovelace to belford 
has an interview with mr hickman on what occasion he endeavours to
disconcert him by assurance and ridicule but finds him to behave with
spirit 

letter xxix from the same 
rallies him on his intentional reformation ascribes the lady's ill
health entirely to the arrest in which he says he had no hand and
to her relations' cruelty makes light of her selling her clothes and
laces touches upon belton's case distinguishes between companionship
and friendship how he purposes to rid belton of his thomasine and her
cubs 

letter xxx belford to lovelace 
the lady has written to her sister to obtain a revocation of her
father's malediction defends her parents he pleads with the utmost
earnestness to her for his friend 

letter xxxi from the same 
can hardly forbear prostration to her tenders himself as her banker 
conversation on this subject admires her magnanimity no wonder that a
virtue so solidly based could baffle all his arts other instances of
her greatness of mind mr smith and his wife invite him and beg of her
to dine with them it being their wedding day her affecting behaviour
on the occasion she briefly and with her usual noble simplicity 
relates to them the particulars of her life and misfortunes 

letter xxxii lovelace to belford 
ridicules him on his address to the lady as her banker and on his
aspirations and prostrations wants to come at letters she has written 
puts him upon engaging mrs lovick to bring this about weight that
proselytes have with the good people that convert them reasons for it 
he has hopes still of the lady's favour and why never adored her so
much as now is about to go to a ball at colonel ambrose's who to be
there censures affectation and finery in the dress of men and
particularly with a view to exalt himself ridicules belford on this
subject 

letter xxxiii xxxiv xxxv xxxvi xxxvii 
sharp letters that pass between miss howe and arabella harlowe 

letter xxxviii mrs harlowe to mrs howe 
sent with copies of the five foregoing letters 

letter xxxix mrs howe to mrs harlowe in answer 

letter xl miss howe to clarissa 
desires an answer to her former letters for her to communicate to miss
montague farther enforces her own and her mother's opinion that she
should marry lovelace is obliged by her mother to go to a ball at
colonel ambrose's fervent professions of her friendly love 

letter xli clarissa to miss howe 
her noble reasons for refusing lovelace desires her to communicate
extracts from this letter to the ladies of his family 

letter xlii from the same 
begs for her sake that she will forbear treating her relations with
freedom and asperity endeavours in her usual dutiful manner to defend
their conduct towards her presses her to make mr hickman happy 

letter xliii mrs norton to clarissa 
excuses her long silence her family who were intending to favour her 
incensed against her by means of miss howe's warm letters to her sister 

letter xliv clarissa to mrs norton 
is concerned that miss howe should write about her to her friends gives
her a narrative of all that has befallen her since her last her truly
christian frame of mind makes reflections worthy of herself upon her
present situation and upon her hopes with regard to a happy futurity 

letter xlv 
copy of clarissa's humble letter to her sister imploring the revocation
of her father's heavy malediction 

letter xlvi belford to lovelace 
defends the lady from the perverseness he lovelace imputes to her on
parting with some of her apparel poor belton's miserable state both of
body and mind observations on the friendship of libertines admires
the noble simplicity and natural ease and dignity of style of the
sacred books expatiates upon the pragmatical folly of man those who
know least the greatest scoffers 

letter xlvii from the same 
the lady parts with one of her best suits of clothes reflections upon
such purchasers as take advantage of the necessities of their
fellow-creatures self an odious devil a visible alteration in the
lady for the worse she gives him all mr lovelace's letters he
 belford takes this opportunity to plead for him mr hickman comes to
visit her 

letter xlviii from the same 
breakfasts next morning with the lady and mr hickman his advantageous
opinion of that gentleman censures the conceited pride and
narrow-mindedness of rakes and libertines tender and affecting parting
between mr hickman and the lady observations in praise of intellectual
friendship 

letter xlix miss howe to clarissa 
has no notion of coldness in friendship is not a daughter of those whom
she so freely treats delays giving the desired negative to the
solicitation of the ladies of lovelace's family and why has been
exceedingly fluttered by the appearance of lovelace at the ball given by
colonel ambrose what passed on that occasion her mother and all the
ladies of their select acquaintance of opinion that she should accept of
him 

letter l clarissa in answer 
chides her for suspending the decisive negative were she sure she
should live many years she would not have mr lovelace censures of the
world to be but of second regard with any body method as to devotion
and exercise she was in when so cruelly arrested 

letter li clarissa to miss howe 
designed to be communicated to mr lovelace's relations 

letter lii liii lovelace to belford 
two letters entirely characteristic yet intermingled with lessons and
observations not unworthy of a better character he has great hopes from
miss howe's mediation in his favour picture of two rakes turned
hermits in their penitentials 

letter liv miss howe to clarissa 
she now greatly approves of her rejection of lovelace admires the noble
example she has given her sex of a passion conquered is sorry she wrote
to arabella but cannot imitate her in her self-accusations and
acquittals of others who are all in fault her notions of a husband's
prerogative hopes she is employing herself in penning down the
particulars of her tragical story use to be made of it to the advantage
of her sex her mother earnest about it 

letter lv miss howe to miss montague 
with clarissa's letter no xli of this volume her own sentiments of
the villanous treatment her beloved friend had met with from their
kinsman prays for vengeance upon him if she do not recover 

letter lvi mrs norton to clarissa 
acquaints her with some of their movements at harlowe-place almost
wishes she would marry the wicked man and why useful reflections on
what has befallen a young lady so universally beloved must try to move
her mother in her favour but by what means will not tell her unless
she succeed 

letter lvii mrs norton to mrs harlowe 

letter lviii mrs harlowe's affecting answer 

letter lix clarissa to mrs norton 
earnestly begs for reasons equally generous and dutiful that she may be
left to her own way of working with her relations has received her
sister's answer to her letter no xlv of this volume she tries to
find an excuse for the severity of it though greatly affected by it 
other affecting and dutiful reflections 

letter lx her sister's cruel letter mentioned in the preceding 

letter lxi clarissa to miss howe 
is pleased that she now at last approved of her rejecting lovelace 
desires her to be comforted as to her promises that she will not run
away from life hopes she has already got above the shock given her by
the ill treatment she has met with from lovelace has had an escape 
rather than a loss impossible were it not for the outrage that she
could have been happy with him and why sets in the most affecting the
most dutiful and generous lights the grief of her father mother and
other relations on her account had begun the particulars of her
tragical story but would fain avoid proceeding with it and why opens
her design to make mr belford her executor and gives her reasons for
it her father having withdrawn his malediction she now has only a last
blessing to supplicate for 

letter lxii clarissa to her sister 
beseeching her in the most humble and earnest manner to procure her a
last blessing 

letter lxiii mrs norton to clarissa 
mr brand to be sent up to inquire after her way of life and health his
pedantic character believes they will withhold any favour till they
hear his report doubts not that matters will soon take a happy turn 

letter lxiv clarissa in answer 
the grace she asks for is only a blessing to die with not to live with 
their favour if they design her any may come too late doubts her
mother can do nothing for her of herself a strong confederacy against a
poor girl their daughter sister niece her brother perhaps got it
renewed before he went to edinburgh he needed not says she his work
is done and more than done 

letter lxv lovelace to belford 
is mortified at receiving letters of rejection charlotte writes to the
lady in his favour in the name of all the family every body approves
of what she has written and he has great hopes from it 

letter lxvi copy of miss montague's letter to clarissa 
beseeching her in the names of all their noble family to receive
lovelace to favour 

letter lxvii belford to lovelace 
proposes to put belton's sister into possession of belton's house for
him the lady visibly altered for the worse again insists upon his
promise not to molest her 

letter lxviii clarissa to miss montague 
in answer to her's no lxvi 

letter lxix belford to lovelace 
has just now received a letter from the lady which he encloses 
requesting extracts form the letters written to him by mr lovelace
within a particular period the reasons which determine him to oblige
her 

letter lxx belford to clarissa 
with the requested extracts and a plea in his friend's favour 

letter lxxi clarissa to belford 
thanks him for his communications requests that he will be her
executor and gives her reasons for her choice of him for that solemn
office 

letter lxxii belford to clarissa 
his cheerful acceptance of the trust 

letter lxxiii belford to lovelace 
brief account of the extracts delivered to the lady tells him of her
appointing him her executor the melancholy pleasure he shall have in
the perusal of her papers much more lively and affecting says he must
be the style of those who write in the height of a present distress than
the dry narrative unanimated style of a person relating difficulties
surmounted can be 

letter lxxiv arabella to clarissa 
in answer to her letter no lxii requesting a last blessing 

letter lxxv clarissa to her mother 
written in the fervour of her spirit yet with the deepest humility and
on her knees imploring her blessing and her father's as what will
sprinkle comfort through her last hours 

letter lxxvi miss montague to clarissa 
in reply to her's no lxviii all their family love and admire her 
their kinsman has not one friend among them beseech her to oblige them
with the acceptance of an annuity and the first payment now sent her at
least till she can be put in possession of her own estate this letter
signed by lord m lady sarah lady betty and her sister and self 

letter lxxvii lovelace to belford 
raves against the lady for rejecting him yet adores her the more for it 
has one half of the house to himself and that the best having forbid
lord m and the ladies to see him in return for their forbidding him to
see them incensed against belford for the extracts he has promised from
his letters is piqued to death at her proud refusal of him curses the
vile women and their potions but for these latter the majesty of her
virtue he says would have saved her as it did once before 

letter lxxviii lovelace to belford 
he shall not he tells him be her executor nobody shall be any thing
to her but himself what a reprobation of a man who was once so dear to
her farther instances of his raving impatience 

letter lxxix lovelace to clarissa 
a letter full of penitence promises praises and admiration of her
virtue has no hopes of escaping from perdition but by her precepts and
example all he begs for the present is a few lines to encourage him to
hope for forgiveness if he can justify his vows by his future conduct 

letter lxxx clarissa to lord m and the ladies of the house 
thankfully declines accepting of their offered bounty pleads for their
being reconciled to their kinsman for reasons respecting her own peace 
hopes that they may be enabled to rejoice in the effects of his
reformation many years after she is laid low and forgotten 

letter lxxxi belford to lovelace 
brief account of his expelling thomasine her sons and her gallant 
farther reflections on keeping a state not calculated for a sick bed 
gives a short journal of what had passed relating to the lady since his
last mr brand inquires after her character and behaviour of mrs 
smith his starchedness conceit and pedantry 

letter lxxxii from the same 
farther particulars relating to the lady power left her by her
grandfather's will 

letter lxxxiii clarissa to lovelace 
in answer to his letter no lxxix 

letter lxxxiv her uncle harlowe's cruel answer 
in answer to her's to her mother no lxxv meditation stitched to it
with black silk 

letter lxxxv clarissa to her uncle harlowe in reply 




the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
wed night july 12 


i write my dearest creature i cannot but write to express my concern
on your dejection let me beseech you my charming excellence let me
beseech you not to give way to it 

comfort yourself on the contrary in the triumphs of a virtue unsullied 
a will wholly faultless who could have withstood the trials you have
surmounted your cousin morden will soon come he will see justice done
you i make no doubt as well with regard to what concerns your person as
your estate and many happy days may you yet see and much good may you
still do if you will not heighten unavoidable accidents into guilty
despondency 

but why why my dear this pining solicitude continued after a
reconciliation with relations as unworthy as implacable whose wills are
governed by an all-grasping brother who finds his account in keeping the
breach open on this over-solicitude it is now plain to me that the
vilest of men built all his schemes he saw that you thirsted after it
beyond all reason for hope the view the hope i own extremely
desirable had your family been christians or even had they been pagans
who had had bowels 

i shall send this short letter  i am obliged to make it a short one  by
young rogers as we call him the fellow i sent to you to hampstead an
innocent though pragmatical rustic admit him i pray you into you
presence that he may report to me how you look and how you are 

mr hickman should attend you but i apprehend that all his motions and
mine own too are watched by the execrable wretch and indeed his are by
an agent of mine for i own that i am so apprehensive of his plots and
revenge now i know that he has intercepted my vehement letters against
him that he is the subject of my dreams as well as of my waking fears 


 


my mother at my earnest importunity has just given me leave to write 
and to receive your letters but fastened this condition upon the
concession that your's must be under cover to mr hickman  this is a
view i suppose to give him consideration with me  and upon this
further consideration that she is to see all we write when girls are
set upon a point  she told one who told me again it is better for a
mother if possible to make herself of their party than to oppose them 
since there will be then hopes that she will still hold the reins in her
own hands 

pray let me know what the people are with whom you lodge shall i send
mrs townsend to direct you to lodgings either more safe or more
convenient for you 

be pleased to write to me by rogers who will wait on you for your
answer at your own time 

adieu my dearest creature comfort yourself as you would in the like
unhappy circumstances comfort

your own
anna howe 



letter ii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday july 13 


i am extremely concerned my dear miss howe for being primarily the
occasion of the apprehensions you have of this wicked man's vindictive
attempts what a wide-spreading error is mine 

if i find that he has set foot on any machination against you or against
mr hickman i do assure you i will consent to prosecute him although i
were sure i could not survive my first appearance at the bar he should be
arraigned at 

i own the justice of your mother's arguments on that subject but must
say that i think there are circumstances in my particular case which
will excuse me although on a slighter occasion than that you are
apprehensive of i should decline to appear against him i have said 
that i may one day enter more particularly into this argument 

your messenger has now indeed seen me i talked with him on the cheat
put upon him at hampstead and am sorry to have reason to say that had
not the poor young man been very simple and very self-sufficient he had
not been so grossly deluded mrs bevis has the same plea to make for
herself a good-natured thoughtless woman not used to converse with so
vile and so specious a deceiver as him who made his advantage of both
these shallow creatures 

i think i cannot be more private than where i am i hope i am safe all
the risque i run is in going out and returning from morning-prayers 
which i have two or three times ventured to do once at lincoln's-inn
chapel at eleven once at st dunstan's fleet-street at seven in the
morning in a chair both times and twice at six in the morning at the
neighbouring church in covent-garden the wicked wretches i have escaped
from will not i hope come to church to look for me especially at so
early prayers and i have fixed upon the privatest pew in the latter
church to hide myself in and perhaps i may lay out a little matter in an
ordinary gown by way of disguise my face half hid by my mob i am very
careless my dear of my appearance now neat and clean takes up the
whole of my attention 


 the seven-o'clock prayers at st dunstan's have been since
discontinued 


the man's name at whose house i belong is smith a glove maker as well
as seller his wife is the shop-keeper a dealer also in stockings 
ribbands snuff and perfumes a matron-like woman plain-hearted and
prudent the husband an honest industrious man and they live in good
understanding with each other a proof with me that their hearts are
right for where a married couple live together upon ill terms it is a
sign i think that each knows something amiss of the other either with
regard to temper or morals which if the world knew as well as
themselves it would perhaps as little like them as such people like each
other happy the marriage where neither man nor wife has any wilful or
premeditated evil in their general conduct to reproach the other with 
for even persons who have bad hearts will have a veneration for those who
have good ones 

two neat rooms with plain but clean furniture on the first floor are
mine one they call the dining-room 

there is up another pair of stairs a very worthy widow-lodger mrs 
lovick by name who although of low fortunes is much respected as mrs 
smith assures me by people of condition of her acquaintance for her
piety prudence and understanding with her i propose to be well
acquainted 

i thank you my dear for your kind your seasonable advice and
consolation i hope i shall have more grace given me than to despond in
the religious sense of the word especially as i can apply to myself the
comfort you give me that neither my will nor my inconsiderateness has
contributed to my calamity but nevertheless the irreconcilableness of
my relations whom i love with an unabated reverence my apprehensions of
fresh violences  this wicked man i doubt will not let me rest  my
being destitute of protection my youth my sex my unacquaintedness with
the world subjecting me to insults my reflections on the scandal i have
given added to the sense of the indignities i have received from a man 
of whom i deserved not ill all together will undoubtedly bring on the
effect that cannot be undesirable to me the situation and as i
presume to imagine from principles which i hope will in due time and
by due reflection set me above the sense of all worldly disappointments 

at present my head is much disordered i have not indeed enjoyed it
with any degree of clearness since the violence done to that and to my
heart too by the wicked arts of the abandoned creatures i was cast
among 

i must have more conflicts at times i find myself not subdued enough to
my condition i will welcome those conflicts as they come as
probationary ones but yet my father's malediction the temporary part
so strangely and so literally completed i cannot however think when
my mind is strongest but what is the story of isaac and jacob and
esau and of rebekah's cheating the latter of the blessing designed for
him in favour of jacob given us for in the 27th chapter of genesis 
my father used i remember to enforce the doctrine deducible from it on
his children by many arguments at least therefore he must believe
there is great weight in the curse he has announced and shall i not be
solicitous to get it revoked that he may not hereafter be grieved for
my sake that he did not revoke it 

all i will at present add are my thanks to your mother for her
indulgence to us due compliments to mr hickman and my request that
you will believe me to be to my last hour and beyond it if possible 
my beloved friend and my dearer self for what is now myself 

your obliged and affectionate
clarissa harlowe 



letter iii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday july 7 


i have three of thy letters at once before me to answer in each of which
thou complainest of my silence and in one of them tallest me that thou
canst not live without i scribble to thee every day or every other day
at least 

why then die jack if thou wilt what heart thinkest thou can i
have to write when i have lost the only subject worth writing upon 

help me again to my angel to my clarissa and thou shalt have a letter
from me or writing at least part of a letter every hour all that the
charmer of my heart shall say that will i put down every motion every
air of her beloved person every look will i try to describe and when
she is silent i will endeavour to tell thee her thoughts either what
they are or what i would have them to be so that having her i shall
never want a subject having lost her my whole soul is a blank the
whole creation round me the elements above beneath and every thing i
behold for nothing can i enjoy are a blank without her 

oh return return thou only charmer of my soul return to thy adoring
lovelace what is the light what the air what the town what the
country what's any thing without thee light air joy harmony in my
notion are but parts of thee and could they be all expressed in one
word that word would be clarissa 

o my beloved clarissa return thou then once more return to bless thy
lovelace who now by the loss of thee knows the value of the jewel he
has slighted and rises every morning but to curse the sun that shines
upon every body but him 


 


well but jack tis a surprising thing to me that the dear fugitive
cannot be met with cannot be heard of she is so poor a plotter for
plotting is not her talent that i am confident had i been at liberty 
i should have found her out before now although the different emissaries
i have employed about town round the adjacent villages and in miss
howe's vicinage have hitherto failed of success but my lord continues
so weak and low-spirited that there is no getting from him i would not
disoblige a man whom i think in danger still for would his gout now it
has got him down but give him like a fair boxer the rising-blow all
would be over with him and here  pox of his fondness for me it happens
at a very bad time  he makes me sit hours together entertaining him with
my rogueries a pretty amusement for a sick man and yet whenever he
has the gout he prays night and morning with his chaplain but what
must his notions of religion be who after he has nosed and mumbled over
his responses can give a sigh or groan of satisfaction as if he thought
he had made up with heaven and return with a new appetite to my stories 
 encouraging them by shaking his sides with laughing at them and
calling me a sad fellow in such an accent as shows he takes no small
delight in his kinsman 

the old peer has been a sinner in his day and suffers for it now a
sneaking sinner sliding rather than rushing into vices for fear of his
reputation paying for what he never had and never daring to rise to
the joy of an enterprise at first hand which could bring him within view
of a tilting or of the honour of being considered as a principal man in
a court of justice 

to see such an old trojan as this just dropping into the grave which i
hoped ere this would have been dug and filled up with him crying out
with pain and grunting with weakness yet in the same moment crack his
leathern face into an horrible laugh and call a young sinner charming
varlet encoreing him as formerly he used to do to the italian eunuchs 
what a preposterous what an unnatural adherence to old habits 

my two cousins are generally present when i entertain as the old peer
calls it those stories must drag horribly that have not more hearers
and applauders than relaters 

applauders 

ay belford applauders repeat i for although these girls pretend to
blame me sometimes for the facts they praise my manner my invention my
intrepidity besides what other people call blame that call i praise 
i ever did and so i very early discharged shame that cold-water damper
to an enterprising spirit 

these are smart girls they have life and wit and yesterday upon
charlotte's raving against me upon a related enterprise i told her that
i had had in debate several times whether she were or were not too near
of kin to me and that it was once a moot point with me whether i could
not love her dearly for a month or so and perhaps it was well for her 
that another pretty little puss started up and diverted me just as i
was entering upon the course 

they all three held up their hands and eyes at once but i observed
that though the girls exclaimed against me they were not so angry at
this plain speaking as i have found my beloved upon hints so dark that
i have wondered at her quick apprehension 

i told charlotte that grave as she pretended to be in her smiling
resentments on this declaration i was sure i should not have been put to
the expense of above two or three stratagems for nobody admired a good
invention more than she could i but have disentangled her conscience
from the embarrasses of consanguinity 

she pretended to be highly displeased so did her sister for her i told
her she seemed as much in earnest as if she had thought me so and dared
the trial plain words i said in these cases were more shocking to
their sex than gradatim actions and i bid patty not be displeased at my
distinguishing her sister since i had a great respect for her likewise 

an italian air in my usual careless way a half-struggled-for kiss from
me and a shrug of the shoulder by way of admiration from each pretty
cousin and sad sad fellow from the old peer attended with a
side-shaking laugh made us all friends 

there jack wilt thou or wilt thou not take this for a letter 
there's quantity i am sure how have i filled a sheet not a short-hand
one indeed without a subject my fellow shall take this for he is
going to town and if thou canst think tolerably of such execrable
stuff i will send thee another 



letter iv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
six saturday morning july 8 


have i nothing new nothing diverting in my whimsical way thou askest 
in one of thy three letters before me to entertain thee with and thou
tallest me that when i have least to narrate to speak in the scottish
phrase i am most diverting a pretty compliment either to thyself or
to me to both indeed a sign that thou hast as frothy a heart as i a
head but canst thou suppose that this admirable woman is not all is
not every thing with me yet i dread to think of her too for detection
of all my contrivances i doubt must come next 

the old peer is also full of miss harlowe and so are my cousins he
hopes i will not be such a dog  there's a specimen of his peer-like
dialect  as to think of doing dishonourably by a woman of so much merit 
beauty and fortune and he says of so good a family but i tell him 
that this is a string he must not touch that it is a very tender point 
in short is my sore place and that i am afraid he would handle it too
roughly were i to put myself in the power of so ungentle an operator 

he shakes his crazy head he thinks all is not as it should be between
us longs to have me present her to him as my wife and often tells me
what great things he will do additional to his former proposals and
what presents he will make on the birth of the first child but i hope
the whole of his estate will be in my hands before such an event takes
place no harm in hoping jack lord m says were it not for hope the
heart would break 


 


eight o'clock at midsummer and these lazy varletesses in full health 
not come down yet to breakfast what a confounded indecency in young
ladies to let a rake know that they love their beds so dearly and at
the same time where to have them but i'll punish them they shall
breakfast with their old uncle and yawn at one another as if for a
wager while i drive my phaeton to colonel ambroses's who yesterday gave
me an invitation both to breakfast and dine on account of two yorkshire
nieces celebrated toasts who have been with him this fortnight past 
and who he says want to see me so jack all women do not run away
from me thank heaven i wish i could have leave of my heart since the
dear fugitive is so ungrateful to drive her out of it with another
beauty but who can supplant her who can be admitted to a place in it
after miss clarissa harlowe 

at my return if i can find a subject i will scribble on to oblige
thee 

my phaeton's ready my cousins send me word they are just coming down 
so in spite i'll be gone 


saturday afternoon 

i did stay to dine with the colonel and his lady and nieces but i
could not pass the afternoon with them for the heart of me there was
enough in the persons and faces of the two young ladies to set me upon
comparisons particular features held my attention for a few moments 
but these served but to whet my impatience to find the charmer of my
soul who for person for air for mind never had any equal my heart
recoiled and sickened upon comparing minds and conversation pert wit a
too-studied desire to please each in high good humour with herself an
open-mouth affectation in both to show white teeth as if the principal
excellence and to invite amorous familiarity by the promise of a sweet
breath at the same time reflecting tacitly upon breaths arrogantly
implied to be less pure 

once i could have borne them 

they seemed to be disappointed that i was so soon able to leave them 
yet have i not at present so much vanity  my clarissa has cured me of my
vanity  as to attribute their disappointment so much to particular liking
of me as to their own self-admiration they looked upon me as a
connoisseur in beauty they would have been proud of engaging my
attention as such but so affected so flimsy-witted mere skin-deep
beauties they had looked no farther into themselves than what their
glasses were flattering-glasses too for i thought them passive-faced 
and spiritless with eyes however upon the hunt for conquests and
bespeaking the attention of others in order to countenance their own 
 i believe i could with a little pains have given them life and
soul and to every feature of their faces sparkling information but my
clarissa o belford my clarissa has made me eyeless and senseless to
every other beauty do thou find her for me as a subject worthy of my
pen or this shall be the last from

thy
lovelace 




letter v

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday night july 9 


now jack have i a subject with a vengeance i am in the very height of
my trial for all my sins to my beloved fugitive for here to-day at
about five o'clock arrived lady sarah sadleir and lady betty lawrance 
each in her chariot-and-six dowagers love equipage and these cannot
travel ten miles without a sett and half a dozen horsemen 

my time had hung heavy upon my hands and so i went to church after
dinner why may not handsome fellows thought i like to be looked at 
as well as handsome wenches i fell in when service was over with
major warneton and so came not home till after six and was surprised 
at entering the court-yard here to find it littered with equipages and
servants i was sure the owners of them came for no good to me 

lady sarah i soon found was raised to this visit by lady betty who has
health enough to allow her to look out to herself and out of her own
affairs for business yet congratulation to lord m on his amendment 
 spiteful devils on both accounts   was the avowed errand but coming in
my absence i was their principal subject and they had opportunity to
set each other's heart against me 

simon parsons hinted this to me as i passed by the steward's office for
it seems they talked loud and he was making up some accounts with old
pritchard 

however i hastened to pay my duty to them other people not performing
theirs is no excuse for the neglect of our own you know 


 and now i enter upon my trial 


with horrible grave faces was i received the two antiquities only bowed
their tabby heads making longer faces than ordinary and all the old
lines appearing strong in their furrowed foreheads and fallen cheeks how
do you cousin and how do you mr lovelace looking all round at one
another as who should say do you speak first and do you for they
seemed resolved to lose no time 

i had nothing for it but an air as manly as theirs was womanly your
servant madam to lady betty and your servant madam i am glad to see
you abroad to lady sarah 

i took my seat lord m looked horribly glum his fingers claspt and
turning round and round under and over his but just disgouted thumb 
his sallow face and goggling eyes on his two kinswomen by turns but
not once deigning to look upon me 

then i began to think of the laudanum and wet cloth i told thee of long
ago and to call myself in question for a tenderness of heart that will
never do me good 

at last mr lovelace cousin lovelace hem hem i am sorry 
very sorry hesitated lady sarah that there is no hope of your ever
taking up 

what's the matter now madam 

the matter now why lady betty has two letters from miss harlowe 
which have told us what's the matter are all women alike with you 

yes i could have answered bating the difference which pride makes 

then they all chorus'd upon me such a character as miss harlowe's 
cried one a lady of so much generosity and good sense another how
charmingly she writes the two maiden monkeys looking at her find
handwriting her perfections my crimes what can you expect will be the
end of these things cried lady sarah d d d d doings vociferated
the peer shaking his loose-fleshe'd wabbling chaps which hung on his
shoulders like an old cow's dewlap 

for my part i hardly knew whether to sing or say what i had to reply to
these all-at-once attacks upon me -fair and softly ladies one at a
time i beseech you i am not to be hunted down without being heard i
hope pray let me see these letters i beg you will let me see them 

there they are that's the first read it out if you can 

i opened a letter from my charmer dated thursday june 29 our
wedding-day that was to be and written to lady betty lawrance by the
contents to my great joy i find the dear creature is alive and well 
and in charming spirits but the direction where to send an answer to
was so scratched out that i could not read it which afflicted me much 

she puts three questions in it to lady betty 

1st about a letter of her's dated june 7 congratulating me on my
nuptials and which i was so good as to save lady betty the trouble of
writing a very civil thing of me i think 

again whether she and one of her nieces montague were to go to town on
an old chancery suit  and whether they actually did go to town
accordingly and to hampstead afterwards  and whether they brought to
town from thence the young creature whom they visited  was the subject
of the second and third questions 

a little inquisitive dear rogue and what did she expect to be the
better for these questions but curiosity d d curiosity is the
itch of the sex yet when didst thou know it turned to their benefit 
for they seldom inquire but what they fear and the proverb as my lord
has it says it comes with a fear that is i suppose what they fear
generally happens because there is generally occasion for the fear 

curiosity indeed she avows to be her only motive for these
interrogatories for though she says her ladyship may suppose the
questions are not asked for good to me yet the answer can do me no harm 
nor her good only to give her to understand whether i have told her a
parcel of d d lyes that's the plain english of her inquiry 

well madam said i with as much philosophy as i could assume and may i
ask pray what was your ladyship's answer 

there's a copy of it tossing it to me very disrespectfully 

this answer was dated july 1 a very kind and complaisant one to the
lady but very so-so to her poor kinsman that people can give up their
own flesh and blood with so much ease she tells her how proud all our
family would be of an alliance with such an excellence  she does me
justice in saying how much i adore her as an angel of a woman and begs
of her for i know not how many sakes besides my soul's sake that she
will be so good as to have me for a husband  and answers thou wilt
guess how to the lady's questions 

well madam and pray may i be favoured with the lady's other letter 
i presume it is in reply to your's 

it is said the peer but sir let me ask you a few questions before
you read it give me the letter lady betty 

there it is my lord 

then on went the spectacles and his head moved to the lines a charming
pretty hand i have often heard that this lady is a genius 

and so jack repeating my lord's wise comments and questions will let
thee into the contents of this merciless letter 

monday july 3   reads my lord   let me see that was last monday no
longer ago monday july the third madam i cannot excuse myself' um 
um um um um um  humming inarticulately and skipping   i must own
to you madam that the honour of being related' 

off went the spectacles now tell me sir-r has not this lady lost all
the friends she had in the world for your sake 

she has very implacable friends my lord we all know that 

but has she not lost them all for your sake tell me that 

i believe so my lord 

well then i am glad thou art not so graceless as to deny that 

on went the spectacles again i must own to you madam that the honour
of being related to ladies as eminent for their virtue as for their
descent  very pretty truly saith my lord repeating as eminent for
their virtue as for their descent was at first no small inducement
with me to lend an ear to mr lovelace's address 

there is dignity born-dignity in this lady cried my lord 

lady sarah she would have been a grace to our family 

lady betty indeed she would 

lovel to a royal family i will venture to say 

lord m then what a devil 

lovel please to read on my lord it cannot be her letter if it does
not make you admire her more and more as you read cousin charlotte 
cousin patty pray attend read on my lord 

miss charlotte amazing fortitude 

miss patty only lifted up her dove's eyes 

lord m  reading   and the rather as i was determined had it come
to effect to do every thing in my power to deserve your favourable
opinion 

then again they chorus'd upon me 

a blessed time of it poor i i had nothing for it but impudence 

lovel pray read on my lord i told you how you would all admire her
 or shall i read 

lord m d d assurance  then reading   i had another motive 
which i knew would of itself give me merit with your whole family  they
were all ear   a presumptuous one a punishably-presumptuous one as it
has proved in the hope that i might be an humble mean in the hand of
providence to reclaim a man who had as i thought good sense enough at
bottom to be reclaimed or at least gratitude enough to acknowledge the
intended obligation whether the generous hope were to succeed or not 
 excellent young creature 

excellent young creature echoed the ladies with their handkerchiefs at
their eyes attended with music 

lovel by my soul miss patty you weep in the wrong place you shall
never go with me to a tragedy 

lady betty hardened wretch 

his lordship had pulled off his spectacles to wipe them his eyes were
misty and he thought the fault in his spectacles 

i saw they were all cocked and primed to be sure that is a very pretty
sentence said i that is the excellency of this lady that in every
line as she writes on she improves upon herself pray my lord 
proceed i know her style the next sentence will still rise upon us 

lord m d d fellow  again saddling and reading   but i have
been most egregiously mistaken in mr lovelace   then they all
clamoured again   the only man i persuade myself' 

lovel ladies may persuade themselves to any thing but how can she
answer for what other men would or would not have done in the same
circumstances 

i was forced to say any thing to stifle their outcries pox take ye
altogether thought i as if i had not vexation enough in losing her 

lord m  reading   the only man i persuade myself pretending to be
a gentleman in whom i could have been so much mistaken 

they were all beginning again pray my lord proceed hear hear pray 
ladies hear now my lord be pleased to proceed the ladies are
silent 

so they were lost in admiration of me hands and eyes uplifted 

lord m i will to thy confusion for he had looked over the next
sentence 

what wretches belford what spiteful wretches are poor mortals so
rejoiced to sting one another to see each other stung 

lord m  reading   for while i was endeavouring to save a drowning
wretch i have been not accidentally but premeditatedly and of set
purpose drawn in after him  what say you to that sir-r 

lady s ay sir what say you to this 
lady b 

lovel say why i say it is a very pretty metaphor if it would but
hold but if you please my lord read on let me hear what is further
said and i will speak to it all together 

lord m i will and he has had the glory to add to the list of those
he has ruined a name that i will be bold to say would not have
disparaged his own 

they all looked at me as expecting me to speak 

lovel be pleased to proceed my lord i will speak to this by-and-by 
how came she to know i kept a list i will speak to this by-and-by 

lord m  reading on   and this madam by means that would shock
humanity to be made acquainted with 

then again in a hurry off went the spectacles 

this was a plaguy stroke upon me i thought myself an oak in impudence 
but by my troth this almost felled me 

lord m what say you to this sir-r 

remember jack to read all their sirs in this dialogue with a double rr 
sir-r denoting indignation rather than respect 

they all looked at me as if to see if i could blush 

lovel eyes off my lord eyes off ladies  looking bashfully i
believe   what say i to this my lord why i say that this lady has a
strong manner of expressing herself that's all there are many things
that pass among lovers which a man cannot explain himself upon before
grave people 

lady betty among lovers sir-r but mr lovelace can you say that
this lady behaved either like a weak or a credulous person can you say 

lovel i am ready to do the lady all manner of justice but pray now 
ladies if i am to be thus interrogated let me know the contents of the
rest of the letter that i may be prepared for my defence as you are all
for my arraignment for to be required to answer piecemeal thus 
without knowing what is to follow is a cursed ensnaring way of
proceeding 

they gave me the letter i read it through to myself and by the
repetition of what i said thou wilt guess at the remaining contents 

you shall find ladies you shall find my lord that i will not spare
myself then holding the letter in my hand and looking upon it as a
lawyer upon his brief 

miss harlowe says that when your ladyship   turning to lady betty  
shall know that in the progress to her ruin wilful falsehoods 
repeated forgeries and numberless perjuries were not the least of my
crimes you will judge that she can have no principles that will make her
worthy of an alliance with ladies of your's and your noble sister's
character if she could not from her soul declare that such an
alliance can never now take place 

surely ladies this is passion this is not reason if our family
would not think themselves dishonoured by my marrying a person whom i had
so treated but on the contrary would rejoice that i did her this
justice and if she has come out pure gold from the assay and has
nothing to reproach herself with why should it be an impeachment of her
principles to consent that such an alliance take place 

she cannot think herself the worse justly she cannot for what was done
against her will 

their countenances menaced a general uproar but i proceeded 

your lordship read to us that she had an hope a presumptuous one nay 
a punishably-presumptuous one she calls it that she might be a mean 
in the hand of providence to reclaim me and that this she knew if
effected would give her a merit with you all  but from what would she
reclaim me she had heard you'll say but she had only heard at the
time she entertained that hope that to express myself in the women's
dialect i was a very wicked fellow well and what then why truly 
the very moment she was convinced by her own experience that the charge
against me was more than hearsay and that of consequence i was a fit
subject for her generous endeavours to work upon she would needs give me
up accordingly she flies out and declares that the ceremony which
would repair all shall never take place can this be from any other
motive than female resentment 

this brought them all upon me as i intended it should it was as a tub
to a whale and after i had let them play with it a while i claimed
their attention and knowing that they always loved to hear me prate 
went on 

the lady it is plain thought that the reclaiming of a man from bad
habits was a much easier task than in the nature of things it can be 

she writes as your lordship has read that in endeavouring to save a
drowning wretch she had been not accidentally but premeditatedly and
of set purpose drawn in after him  but how is this ladies you see
by her own words that i am still far from being out of danger myself 
had she found me in a quagmire suppose and i had got out of it by her
means and left her to perish in it that would have been a crime indeed 
 but is not the fact quite otherwise has she not if her allegory
prove what she would have it prove got out herself and left me
floundering still deeper and deeper in what she should have done had
she been in earnest to save me was to join her hand with mine that so
we might by our united strength help one another out i held out my hand
to her and besought her to give me her's but no truly she was
determined to get out herself as fast as she could let me sink or swim 
refusing her assistance against her own principles because she saw i
wanted it you see ladies you see my lord how pretty tinkling words
run away with ears inclined to be musical 

they were all ready to exclaim again but i went on proleptically as a
rhetorician would say before their voices would break out into words 

but my fair accuser says that i have added to the list of those i have
ruined a name that would not have disparaged my own  it is true i
have been gay and enterprising it is in my constitution to be so i
know not how i came by such a constitution but i was never accustomed to
check or controul that you all know when a man finds himself hurried
by passion into a slight offence which however slight will not be
forgiven he may be made desperate as a thief who only intends a
robbery is often by resistance and for self-preservation drawn in to
commit murder 

i was a strange a horrid wretch with every one but he must be a silly
fellow who has not something to say for himself when every cause has its
black and its white side westminster-hall jack affords every day as
confident defences as mine 

but what right proceeded i has this lady to complain of me when she as
good as says here lovelace you have acted the part of a villain by me 
 you would repair your fault but i won't let you that i may have the
satisfaction of exposing you and the pride of refusing you 

but was that the case was that the case would i pretend to say i
would now marry the lady if she would have me 

lovel you find she renounces lady betty's mediation 

lord m  interrupting me   words are wind but deeds are mind what
signifies your cursed quibbling bob say plainly if she will have
you will you have her answer me yes or no and lead us not a
wild-goose chace after your meaning 

lovel she knows i would but here my lord if she thus goes on to
expose herself and me she will make it a dishonour to us both to marry 

charl but how must she have been treated 

lovel  interrupting her   why now cousin charlotte chucking her
under the chin would you have me tell you all that has passed between
the lady and me would you care had you a bold and enterprizing lover 
that proclamation should be made of every little piece of amorous
roguery that he offered to you 

charlotte reddened they all began to exclaim but i proceeded 

the lady says she has been dishonoured' devil take me if i spare
myself by means that would shock humanity to be made acquainted with
them  she is a very innocent lady and may not be a judge of the means
she hints at over-niceness may be under-niceness have you not such a
proverb my lord tantamount to one extreme produces another such
a lady as this may possibly think her case more extraordinary than it is 
this i will take upon me to say that if she has met with the only man in
the world who would have treated her as she says i have treated her i
have met in her with the only woman in the world who would have made such
a rout about a case that is uncommon only from the circumstances that
attend it 

this brought them all upon me hands eyes voices all lifted at once 
but my lord m who has in his head the last seat of retreating lewdness 
as much wickedness as i have in my heart was forced upon the air i
spoke this with and charlotte's and all the rest reddening to make a
mouth that was big enough to swallow up the other half of his face 
crying out to avoid laughing oh oh as if under the power of a gouty
twinge 

hadst thou seen how the two tabbies and the young grimalkins looked at
one another at my lord and at me by turns thou would have been ready
to split thy ugly face just in the middle thy mouth hath already done
half the work and after all i found not seldom in this conversation 
that my humourous undaunted airs forced a smile into my service from the
prim mouths of the young ladies they perhaps had they met with such
another intrepid fellow as myself who had first gained upon their
affections would not have made such a rout as my beloved has done about
such an affair as that we were assembled upon young ladies as i have
observed on an hundred occasions fear not half so much for themselves
as their mothers do for them but here the girls were forced to put on
grave airs and to seem angry because the antiques made the matter of
such high importance yet so lightly sat anger and fellow-feeling at
their hearts that they were forced to purse in their mouths to
suppress the smiles i now-and-then laid out for while the elders
having had roses that is to say daughters of their own and knowing
how fond men are of a trifle would have been very loth to have had
them nipt in the bud without saying to the mother of them by your
leave mrs rose-bush 

the next article of my indictment was for forgery and for personating
of lady betty and my cousin charlotte 

two shocking charges thou'lt say and so they were the peer was
outrageous upon the forgery charge the ladies vowed never to forgive
the personating part 

not a peace-maker among them so we all turned women and scolded 

my lord told me that he believed in his conscience there was not a
viler fellow upon god's earth than me what signifies mincing the
matter said he and that it was not the first time i had forged his
hand 

to this i answered that i supposed when the statute of scandalum
magnatum was framed there were a good many in the peerage who knew
they deserved hard names and that that law therefore was rather made
to privilege their qualities than to whiten their characters 

he called upon me to explain myself with a sir-r so pronounced as to
show that one of the most ignominious words in our language was in his
head 

people i said that were fenced in by their quality and by their
years should not take freedoms that a man of spirit could not put up
with unless he were able heartily to despise the insulter 

this set him in a violent passion he would send for pritchard
instantly let pritchard be called he would alter his will and all
he could leave from me he would 

do do my lord said i i always valued my own pleasure above your
estate but i'll let pritchard know that if he draws he shall sign
and seal 

why what would i do to pritchard shaking his crazy head at me 

only what he or any man else writes with his pen to despoil me of
what i think my right he shall seal with his ears that's all my
lord 

then the two ladies interposed 

lady sarah told me that i carried things a great way and that neither
lord m nor any of them deserved the treatment i gave them 

i said i could not bear to be used ill by my lord for two reasons 
first because i respected his lordship above any man living and next 
because it looked as if i were induced by selfish considerations to
take that from him which nobody else would offer to me 

and what returned he shall be my inducement to take what i do at your
hands hay sir 

indeed cousin lovelace said lady betty with great gravity we do not
any of us as lady sarah says deserve at your hands the treatment you
give us and let me tell you that i don't think my character and your
cousin charlotte's ought to be prostituted in order to ruin an innocent
lady she must have known early the good opinion we all have of her and
how much we wished her to be your wife this good opinion of ours has
been an inducement to her you see she says so to listen to your
address and this with her friends' folly has helped to throw her into
your power how you have requited her is too apparent it becomes the
character we all bear to disclaim your actions by her and let me tell
you that to have her abused by wicked people raised up to personate us 
or any of us makes a double call upon us to disclaim them 

lovel why this is talking somewhat like i would have you all
disclaim my actions i own i have done very vilely by this lady one
step led to another i am curst with an enterprizing spirit i hate
to be foiled 

foiled interrupted lady sarah what a shame to talk at this
rate did the lady set up a contention with you all nobly sincere 
and plain-hearted have i heard miss clarissa harlowe is above art 
above disguise neither the coquette nor the prude poor lady she
deserved a better fare from the man for whom she took the step which
she so freely blames 

this above half affected me had this dispute been so handled by every
one i had been ashamed to look up i began to be bashful 

charlotte asked if i did not still seem inclinable to do the lady
justice if she would accept of me it would be she dared to say the
greatest felicity the family could know she would answer for one that
this fine lady were of it 

they all declared to the same effect and lady sarah put the matter
home to me 

but my lord marplot would have it that i could not be serious for six
minutes together 

i told his lordship that he was mistaken light as he thought i made of
his subject i never knew any that went so near my heart 

miss patty said she was glad to hear that and her soft eyes glistened
with pleasure 

lord m called her sweet soul and was ready to cry 

not from humanity neither jack this peer has no bowels as thou
mayest observe by this treatment of me but when people's minds are
weakened by a sense of their own infirmities and when they are drawing
on to their latter ends they will be moved on the slightest occasions 
whether those offer from within or without them and this frequently 
the unpenetrating world calls humanity when all the time in
compassionating the miseries of human nature they are but pitying
themselves and were they in strong health and spirits would care as
little for any body else as thou or i do 

here broke they off my trial for this sitting lady sarah was much
fatigued it was agreed to pursue the subject in the morning they
all however retired together and went into private conference 



letter vi

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


the ladies instead of taking up the subject where we had laid it down 
must needs touch upon passage in my fair accuser's letter which i was in
hopes they would have let rest as we were in a tolerable way but 
truly they must hear all they could hear of our story and what i had to
say to those passages that they might be better enabled to mediate
between us if i were really and indeed inclined to do her the hoped-for
justice 

these passages were 1st that after i had compulsorily tricked her
into the act of going off with me i carried her to one of the worst
houses in london 

2nd that i had made a wicked attempt upon her in resentment of which
she fled to hampstead privately 

3dly came the forgery and personating charges again and we were upon
the point of renewing out quarrel before we could get to the next
charge which was still worse 

for that 4thly was that having betrayed her back to the vile house i
first robbed her of her senses and then her honour detaining her
afterwards a prisoner there 

were i to tell thee the glosses i put upon these heavy charges what
would it be but repeat many of the extenuating arguments i have used in
my letters to thee suffice it therefore to say that i insisted much 
by way of palliation on the lady's extreme niceness on her diffidence
in my honour on miss howe's contriving spirit plots on their parts
begetting plots on mine on the high passions of the sex i asserted 
that my whole view in gently restraining her was to oblige her to
forgive me and to marry me and this for the honour of both families 
i boasted of my own good qualities some of which none that knew me deny 
and to which few libertines can lay claim 

they then fell into warm admirations and praises of the lady all of them
preparatory as i knew to the grand question and thus it was introduced
by lady sarah 

we have said as much as i think we can say upon these letters of the poor
lady to dwell upon the mischiefs that may ensue from the abuse of a
person of her rank if all the reparation be not made that now can be
made would perhaps be to little purpose but you seem sir still to
have a just opinion of her as well as affection for her her virtue is
not in the least questionable she could not resent as she does had she
any thing to reproach herself with she is by every body's account a
fine woman has a good estate in her own right is of no contemptible
family though i think with regard to her they have acted as
imprudently as unworthily for the excellency of her mind for good
economy the common speech of her as the worthy dr lewen once told me 
is that her prudence would enrich a poor man and her piety reclaim a
licentious one i who have not been abroad twice this twelvemonth came
hither purposely so did lady betty to see if justice may not be done
her and also whether we and my lord m your nearest relations sir 
have or have not any influence over you and for my own part as your
determination shall be in this article such shall be mine with regard
to the disposition of all that is within my power 

lady betty and mine 

and mine said my lord and valiantly he swore to it 

lovel far be it from me to think slightly of favours you may any of
you be glad i would deserve but as far be it from me to enter into
conditions against my own liking with sordid views as to future
mischiefs let them come i have not done with the harlowes yet they
were the aggressors and i should be glad they would let me hear from
them in the way they should hear from me in the like case perhaps i
should not be sorry to be found rather than be obliged to seek on this
occasion 

miss charlotte  reddening   spoke like a man of violence rather than
a man of reason i hope you'll allow that cousin 

lady sarah well but since what is done and cannot be undone let us
think of the next best have you any objection against marrying miss
harlowe if she will have you 

lovel there can possibly be but one that she is to every body no
doubt as well as to lady betty pursuing that maxim peculiar to herself 
 and let me tell you so it ought to be that what she cannot conceal
from herself she will publish to the world 

miss patty the lady to be sure writes this in the bitterness of her
grief and in despair 

lovel and so when her grief is allayed when her despairing fit is
over and this from you cousin patty sweet girl and would you my
dear in the like case  whispering her  have yielded to entreaty would
you have meant no more by the like exclamations 

i had a rap with her fan and blush and from lord m a reflection that
i turn'd into jest every thing they said 

i asked if they thought the harlowes deserved any consideration from me 
and whether that family would not exult over me were i to marry their
daughter as if i dared not to do otherwise 

lady sarah once i was angry with that family as we all were but now
i pity them and think that you have but too well justified the worse
treatment they gave you 

lord m their family is of standing all gentlemen of it and rich 
and reputable let me tell you that many of our coronets would be glad
they could derive their descents from no worse a stem than theirs 

lovel the harlowes are a narrow-souled and implacable family i hate
them and though i revere the lady scorn all relation to them 

lady betty i wish no worse could be said of him who is such a scorner
of common failings in others 

lord m how would my sister lovelace have reproached herself for all
her indulgent folly to this favourite boy of her's had she lived till
now and been present on this occasion 

lady sarah well but begging your lordship's pardon let us see if
any thing can be done for this poor lady 

miss ch if mr lovelace has nothing to object against the lady's
character and i presume to think he is not ashamed to do her justice 
though it may make against himself i cannot but see her honour and
generosity will compel from him all that we expect if there be any
levities any weaknesses to be charged upon the lady i should not open
my lips in her favour though in private i would pity her and deplore
her hard hap and yet even then there might not want arguments from
honour to gratitude in so particular a case to engage you sir to make
good the vows it is plain you have broken 

lady betty my niece charlotte has called upon you so justly and has
put the question to you so properly that i cannot but wish you would
speak to it directly and without evasion 

all in a breath then bespoke my seriousness and my justice and in this
manner i delivered myself assuming an air sincerely solemn 

i am very sensible that the performance of the task you have put me upon
will leave me without excuse but i will not have recourse either to
evasion or palliation 

as my cousin charlotte has severely observed i am not ashamed to do
justice to miss harlowe's merit 

i own to you all and what is more with high regret if not with
shame cousin charlotte that i have a great deal to answer for in my
usage of this lady the sex has not a nobler mind nor a lovelier person
of it and for virtue i could not have believed excuse me ladies 
that there ever was a woman who gave or could have given such
illustrious such uniform proofs of it for in her whole conduct she
has shown herself to be equally above temptation and art and i had
almost said human frailty 

the step she so freely blames herself for taking was truly what she
calls compulsatory for though she was provoked to think of going off
with me she intended it not nor was provided to do so neither would
she ever have had the thought of it had her relations left her free 
upon her offered composition to renounce the man she did not hate in
order to avoid the man she did 

it piqued my pride i own that i could so little depend upon the force
of those impressions which i had the vanity to hope i had made in a heart
so delicate and in my worst devices against her i encouraged myself
that i abused no confidence for none had she in my honour 

the evils she has suffered it would have been more than a miracle had
she avoided her watchfulness rendered more plots abortive than those
which contributed to her fall and they were many and various and all
her greater trials and hardships were owing to her noble resistance and
just resentment 

i know proceeded i how much i condemn myself in the justice i am doing
to this excellent creature but yet i will do her justice and cannot
help it if i would and i hope this shows that i am not so totally
abandoned as i have been thought to be 

indeed with me she has done more honour to her sex in her fall if it
be to be called a fall in truth it ought not than ever any other
could do in her standing 

when at length i had given her watchful virtue cause of suspicion i
was then indeed obliged to make use of power and art to prevent her
escaping from me she then formed contrivances to elude mine but all
her's were such as strict truth and punctilious honour would justify 
she could not stoop to deceit and falsehood no not to save herself 
more than once justly did she tell me fired by conscious worthiness 
that her soul was my soul's superior forgive me ladies for saying 
that till i knew her i questioned a soul in a sex created as i was
willing to suppose only for temporary purposes it is not to be
imagined into what absurdities men of free principle run in order to
justify to themselves their free practices and to make a religion to
their minds and yet in this respect i have not been so faulty as some
others 

no wonder that such a noble creature as this looked upon every studied
artifice as a degree of baseness not to be forgiven no wonder that she
could so easily become averse to the man though once she beheld him with
an eye not wholly indifferent whom she thought capable of premeditated
guilt nor give me leave on the other hand to say is it to be
wondered at that the man who found it so difficult to be forgiven for
the slighter offences and who had not the grace to recede or repent 
 made desperate should be hurried on to the commission of the greater 

in short ladies in a word my lord miss clarissa harlowe is an angel 
if ever there was or could be one in human nature and is and ever was 
as pure as an angel in her will and this justice i must do her although
the question i see by every glistening eye is ready to be asked what
then lovelace art thou  

lord m a devil a d d devil i must answer and may the curse of
god follow you in all you undertake if you do not make her the best
amends now in your power to make her 

lovel from you my lord i could expect no other but from the ladies
i hope for less violence from the ingenuousness of my confession 

the ladies elder and younger had their handkerchiefs to their eyes at
the just testimony which i bore to the merits of this exalted creature 
and which i would make no scruple to bear at the bar of a court of
justice were i to be called to it 

lady betty well sir this is a noble character if you think as you
speak surely you cannot refuse to do the lady all the justice now in
your power to do her 

they all joined in this demand 

i pleaded that i was sure she would not have me that when she had
taken a resolution she was not to be moved unpersuadableness was an
harlowe sin that and her name i told them were all she had of theirs 

all were of opinion that she might in her present desolate
circumstances be brought to forgive me lady sarah said that lady
betty and she would endeavour to find out the noble sufferer as they
justly called her and would take her into their protection and be
guarantees of the justice that i would do her as well after marriage as
before 

it was some pleasure to me to observe the placability of these ladies of
my own family had they any or either of them met with a lovelace but
twould be hard upon us honest fellows jack if all women were
clarissas 

here i am obliged to break off 



letter vii

mr lovelace
 in continuation  


it is much better jack to tell your own story when it must be known 
than to have an adversary tell it for you conscious of this i gave
them a particular account how urgent i had been with her to fix upon the
thursday after i left her it being her uncle harlowe's anniversary
birth-day and named to oblige her for the private celebration having
some days before actually procured a license which still remained with
her 

that not being able to prevail upon her to promise any thing while
under a supposed restraint i offered to leave her at full liberty if
she would give me the least hope for that day but neither did this
offer avail me 

that this inflexibleness making me desperate i resolved to add to my
former fault by giving directions that she should not either go or
correspond out of the house till i returned from m hall well knowing 
that if she were at full liberty i must for ever lose her 

that this constraint had so much incensed her that although i wrote no
less than four different letters i could not procure a single word in
answer though i pressed her but for four words to signify the day and
the church 

i referred to my two cousins to vouch for me the extraordinary methods i
took to send messengers to town though they knew not the occasion which
now i told them was this 

i acquainted them that i even had wrote to you jack and to another
gentleman of whom i thought she had a good opinion to attend her in
order to press for her compliance holding myself in readiness the last
day at salt-hill to meet the messenger they should send and proceed to
london if his message were favourable but that before they could
attend her she had found means to fly away once more and is now said
i perched perhaps somewhere under lady betty's window at glenham-hall 
and there like the sweet philomela a thorn in her breast warbles forth
her melancholy complaints against her barbarous tereus 

lady betty declared that she was not with her nor did she know where she
was she should be she added the most welcome guest to her that she
ever received 

in truth i had a suspicion that she was already in their knowledge and
taken into their protection for lady sarah i imagined incapable of being
roused to this spirit by a letter only from miss harlowe and that not
directed to herself she being a very indolent and melancholy woman but
her sister i find had wrought her up to it for lady betty is as
officious and managing a woman as mrs howe but of a much more generous
and noble disposition she is my aunt jack 

i supposed i said that her ladyship might have a private direction
where to send to her i spoke as i wished i would have given the world
to have heard that she was inclined to cultivate the interest of any of
my family 

lady betty answered that she had no direction but what was in the letter 
which she had scratched out and which it was probable was only a
temporary one in order to avoid me otherwise she would hardly have
directed an answer to be left at an inn and she was of opinion that to
apply to miss howe would be the only certain way to succeed in any
application for forgiveness would i enable that young lady to interest
herself in procuring it 

miss charlotte permit me to make a proposal since we are all of
one mind in relation to the justice due to miss harlowe if mr lovelace
will oblige himself to marry her i will make miss howe a visit little
as i am acquainted with her and endeavour to engage her interest to
forward the desired reconciliation and if this can be done i make no
question but all may be happily accommodated for every body knows the
love there is between miss harlowe and miss howe 

marriage with these women thou seest jack is an atonement for all we
can do to them a true dramatic recompense 

this motion was highly approved of and i gave my honour as desired in
the fullest manner they could wish 

lady sarah well then cousin charlotte begin your treaty with miss
howe out of hand 

lady betty pray do and let miss harlowe be told that i am ready to
receive her as the most welcome of guests and i will not have her out of
my sight till the knot is tied 

lady sarah tell her from me that she shall be my daughter instead of
my poor betsey and shed a tear in remembrance of her lost daughter 

lord m what say you sir to this 

lovel content my lord i speak in the language of your house 

lord m we are not to be fooled nephew no quibbling we will have
no slur put upon us 

lovel you shall not and yet i did not intend to marry if she
exceeded the appointed thursday but i think according to her own
notions that i have injured her beyond reparation although i were to
make her the best of husbands as i am resolved to be if she will
condescend as i will call it to have me and be this cousin
charlotte my part of your commission to say 

this pleased them all 

lord m give me thy hand bob thou talkest like a man of honour at
last i hope we may depend upon what thou sayest 

the ladies eyes put the same question to me 

lovel you may my lord you may ladies absolutely you may 

then was the personal character of the lady as well as her more
extraordinary talents and endowments again expatiated upon and miss
patty who had once seen her launched out more than all the rest in her
praise these were followed by such inquiries as are never forgotten to
be made in marriage-treaties and which generally are the principal
motives with the sages of a family though the least to be mentioned by
the parties themselves and yet even by them perhaps the first thought
of that is to say inquisition into the lady's fortune into the
particulars of the grandfather's estate and what her father and her
single-souled uncles will probably do for her if a reconciliation be
effected as by their means they make no doubt but it will be between
both families if it be not my fault the two venerables  no longer
tabbies with me now  hinted at rich presents on their own parts and my
lord declared that he would make such overtures in my behalf as should
render my marriage with miss harlowe the best day's work i ever made 
and what he doubted not would be as agreeable to that family as to
myself 

thus at present by a single hair hangs over my head the matrimonial
sword and thus ended my trial and thus are we all friends and cousin
and cousin and nephew and nephew at every word 

did ever comedy end more happily than this long trial 



letter viii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wedn july 12 


so jack they think they have gained a mighty point but were i to
change my mind were i to repent i fancy i am safe and yet this very
moment it rises to my mind that tis hard trusting too for surely there
must be some embers where there was fire so lately that may be stirred
up to give a blaze to combustibles strewed lightly upon them love like
some self-propagating plants or roots which have taken strong hold in
the earth when once got deep into the heart is hardly ever totally
extirpated except by matrimony indeed which is the grave of love 
because it allows of the end of love then these ladies all advocates
for herself with herself miss howe at their head perhaps not in
favour to me i don't expect that from miss howe but perhaps in favour
to herself for miss howe has reason to apprehend vengeance from me i
ween her hickman will be safe too as she may think if i marry her
beloved friend for he has been a busy fellow and i have long wished to
have a slap at him the lady's case desperate with her friends too and
likely to be so while single and her character exposed to censure 

a husband is a charming cloke a fig-leaved apron for a wife and for a
lady to be protected in liberties in diversions which her heart pants
after and all her faults even the most criminal were she to be
detected to be thrown upon the husband and the ridicule too a charming
privilege for a wife 

but i shall have one comfort if i marry which pleases me not a little 
if a man's wife has a dear friend of her sex a hundred liberties may be
taken with that friend which could not be taken if the single lady
 knowing what a title to freedoms marriage had given him with her friend 
was not less scrupulous with him than she ought to be as to herself 
then there are broad freedoms shall i call them that may be taken by
the husband with his wife that may not be quite shocking which if the
wife bears before her friends will serve for a lesson to that friend 
and if that friend bears to be present at them without check or
bashfulness will show a sagacious fellow that she can bear as much
herself at proper time and place 

chastity jack like piety is an uniform thing if in look if in
speech a girl give way to undue levity depend upon it the devil has
got one of his cloven feet in her heart already so hickman take care
of thyself i advise thee whether i marry or not 

thus jack have i at once reconciled myself to all my relations and if
the lady refuses me thrown the fault upon her this i knew would be
in my power to do at any time and i was the more arrogant to them in
order to heighten the merit of my compliance 

but after all it would be very whimsical would it not if all my plots
and contrivances should end in wedlock what a punishment should this
come out to be upon myself too that all this while i have been
plundering my own treasury 

and then can there be so much harm done if it can be so easily repaired
by a few magical words as i robert take thee clarissa and i clarissa
take thee robert with the rest of the for-better and for-worse
legerdemain which will hocus pocus all the wrongs the crying wrongs 
that i have done to miss harlowe into acts of kindness and benevolence
to mrs lovelace 

but jack two things i must insist upon with thee if this is to be the
case having put secrets of so high a nature between me and my spouse
into thy power i must for my own honour and for the honour of my wife
and illustrious progeny first oblige thee to give up the letters i have
so profusely scribbled to thee and in the next place do by thee as i
have head whispered in france was done by the true father of a certain
monarque that is to say cut thy throat to prevent thy telling of
tales 

i have found means to heighten the kind opinion my friends here have
begun to have of me by communicating to them the contents of the four
last letters which i wrote to press my elected spouse to solemnize my
lord repeated one of his phrases in my favour that he hopes it will come
out that the devil is not quite so black as he is painted 

now pr'ythee dear jack since so many good consequences are to flow from
these our nuptials one of which to thyself since the sooner thou
diest the less thou wilt have to answer for and that i now-and-then am
apt to believe there may be something in the old fellow's notion who
once told us that he who kills a man has all that man's sins to answer
for as well as his own because he gave him not the time to repent of
them that heaven designed to allow him  a fine thing for thee if thou
consentest to be knocked of the head but a cursed one for the
manslayer   and since there may be room to fear that miss howe will not
give us her help i pr'ythee now exert thyself to find out my clarissa
harlowe that i may make a lovelace of her set all the city bellmen 
and the country criers for ten miles round the metropolis at work with
their oye's and if any man woman or child can give tale or tidings 
 advertise her in all the news-papers and let her know that if she
will repair to lady betty lawrance or to miss charlotte montague she
may hear of something greatly to her advantage 


 


my two cousins montague are actually to set out to-morrow to mrs howe's 
to engage her vixen daughter's interest with her friend they will
flaunt it away in a chariot-and-six for the greater state and
significance 

confounded mortification to be reduced this low my pride hardly knows
how to brook it 

lord m has engaged the two venerables to stay here to attend the issue 
and i standing very high at present in their good graces am to gallant
them to oxford to blenheim and to several other places 



letter ix

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
thursday night july 13 


collins sets not out to-morrow some domestic occasion hinders him 
rogers is but now returned from you and cannot be well spared mr 
hickman is gone upon an affair of my mother's and has taken both his
servants with him to do credit to his employer so i am forced to
venture this by post directed by your assumed name 

i am to acquaint you that i have been favoured with a visit from miss
montague and her sister in lord m s chariot-and-six my lord's
gentleman rode here yesterday with a request that i would receive a
visit from the two young ladies on a very particular occasion the
greater favour if it might be the next day 

as i had so little personal knowledge of either i doubted not but it
must be in relation to the interests of my dear friend and so consulting
with my mother i sent them an invitation to favour me because of the
distance with their company at dinner which they kindly accepted 

i hope my dear since things have been so very bad that their errand to
me will be as agreeable to you as any thing that can now happen they
came in the name of lord m and lady sarah and lady betty his two
sisters to desire my interest to engage you to put yourself into the
protection of lady betty who will not part with you till she sees all
the justice done you that now can be done 

lady sarah had not stirred out for a twelve-month before never since she
lost her agreeable daughter whom you and i saw at mrs benson's but was
induced to take this journey by lady betty purely to procure you
reparation if possible and their joint strength united with lord
m s has so far succeeded that the wretch has bound himself to them 
and to these young ladies in the solemnest manner to wed you in their
presence if they can prevail upon you to give him your hand 

this consolation you may take to yourself that all this honourable
family have a due that is the highest sense of your merit and greatly
admire you the horrid creature has not spared himself in doing justice
to your virtue and the young ladies gave us such an account of his
confessions and self-condemnation that my mother was quite charmed with
you and we all four shed tears of joy that there is one of our sex  i 
that that one is my dearest friend   who has done so much honour to it 
as to deserve the exalted praises given you by a wretch so
self-conceited though pity for the excellent creature mixed with our
joy 

he promises by them to make the best of husbands and my lord and lady
sarah and lady betty are all three to be guarantees that he will be so 
noble settlements noble presents they talked of they say they left
lord m and his two sisters talking of nothing else but of those presents
and settlements how most to do you honour the greater in proportion for
the indignities you have suffered and of changing of names by act of
parliament preparative to the interest they will all join to make to get
the titles to go where the bulk of the estate must go at my lord's
death which they apprehend to be nearer than they wish nor doubt they
of a thorough reformation in his morals from your example and influence
over him 

i made a great many objections for you all i believe that you could
have made yourself had you been present but i have no doubt to advise
you my dear and so does my mother instantly to put yourself into
lady betty's protection with a resolution to take the wretch for your
husband all his future grandeur  he wants not pride  depends upon his
sincerity to you and the young ladies vouch for the depth of his concern
for the wrongs he has done you 

all his apprehension is in your readiness to communicate to every one 
as he fears the evils you have suffered which he thinks will expose you
both but had you not revealed them to lady betty you had not had so
warm a friend since it is owing to two letters you wrote to her that
all this good as i hope it will prove was brought about but i advise
you to be more sparing in exposing what is past whether you have
thoughts of accepting him or not for what my dear can that avail now 
but to give a handle to vile wretches to triumph over your friends since
every one will not know how much to your honour your very sufferings have
been 

your melancholy letter brought by rogers with his account of your
indifferent health confirmed to him by the woman of the house as well
as by your looks and by your faintness while you talked with him would
have given me inexpressible affliction had i not bee cheered by this
agreeable visit from the young ladies i hope you will be equally so on
my imparting the subject of it to you 


 see letter ii of this volume 


indeed my dear you must not hesitate you must oblige them the
alliance is splendid and honourable very few will know any thing of his
brutal baseness to you all must end in a little while in a general
reconciliation and you will be able to resume your course of doing the
good to every deserving object which procured you blessings wherever you
set your foot 

i am concerned to find that your father's inhuman curse affects you so
much as it does yet you are a noble creature to put it as you put it 
i hope you are indeed more solicitous to get it revoked for their sakes
than for your own it is for them to be penitent who hurried you into
evils you could not well avoid you are apt to judge by the unhappy
event rather than upon the true merits of your case upon my honour i
think you faultless almost in every step you have taken what has not
that vilely-insolent and ambitious yet stupid brother of your's to
answer for that spiteful thing your sister too 

but come since what is past cannot be helped let us look forward you
have now happy prospects opening to you a family already noble 
prepared to receive you with open arms and joyful heart and who by
their love to you will teach another family who know not what an
excellence they have confederated to persecute how to value you your
prudence your piety will crown all you will reclaim a wretch that 
for an hundred sakes more than for his own one would wish to be
reclaimed 

like a traveller who has been put out of his way by the overflowing of
some rapid stream you have only had the fore-right path you were in
overwhelmed a few miles about a day or two only lost as i may say 
and you are in a way to recover it and by quickening your speed will
get up the lost time the hurry upon your spirits mean time will be
all your inconvenience for it was not your fault you were stopped in
your progress 

think of this my dear and improve upon the allegory as you know how 
if you can without impeding your progress be the means of assuaging the
inundation of bounding the waters within their natural channel and
thereby of recovering the overwhelmed path for the sake of future
passengers who travel the same way what a merit will your's be 

i shall impatiently expect your next letter the young ladies proposed
that you should put yourself if in town or near it into the reading
stage-coach which inns somewhere in fleet-street and if you give
notice of the day you will be met on the road and that pretty early in
your journey by some of both sexes one of whom you won't be sorry to
see 

mr hickman shall attend you at slough and lady betty herself and one
of the miss montagues with proper equipages will be at reading to
receive you and carry you directly to the seat of the former for i have
expressly stipulated that the wretch himself shall not come into your
presence till your nuptials are to be solemnized unless you give leave 

adieu my dearest friend be happy and hundreds will then be happy of
consequence inexpressibly so i am sure will then be

your ever affectionate
anna howe 



letter x

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
sunday night july 16 


my dearest friend 

why should you permit a mind so much devoted to your service to labour
under such an impatience as you must know it would labour under for want
of an answer to a letter of such consequence to you and therefore to me 
as was mine of thursday night rogers told me on thursday you were so
ill your letter sent by him was so melancholy yet you must be ill
indeed if you could not write something to such a letter were it but a
line to say you would write as soon as you could sure you have
received it the master of your nearest post-office will pawn his
reputation that it went safe i gave him particular charge of it 

god send me good news of your health of your ability to write and then
i will chide you indeed i will as i never yet did chide you 

i suppose your excuse will be that the subject required consideration 
lord my dear so it might but you have so right a mind and the matter
in question is so obvious that you could not want half an hour to
determine then you intended probably to wait collins's call for your
letter as on to-morrow suppose something were to happen as it did on
friday that he should not be able to go to town to-morrow how child 
could you serve me so i know not how to leave off scolding you 

dear honest collins make haste he will he will he sets out and
travels all night for i have told him that the dearest friend i have in
the world has it in her own choice to be happy and to make me so and
that the letter he will bring from her will assure it to me 

i have ordered him to go directly without stopping at the
saracen's-head-inn to you at your lodgings matters are now in so good
a way that he safely may 

your expected letter is ready written i hope if it can be not he will
call for it at your hour 

you can't be so happy as you deserve to be but i doubt not that you will
be as happy as you can that is that you will choose to put yourself
instantly into lady betty's protection if you would not have the wretch
for your own sake have him you must for mine for your family's for
your honour's sake dear honest collins make haste make haste and
relieve the impatient heart of my beloved's

ever faithful ever affectionate 
anna howe 



letter xi

miss howe to miss charlotte montague
tuesday morn july 18 


madam 

i take the liberty to write to you by this special messenger in the
phrensy of my soul i write to you to demand of you and of any of your
family who can tell news of my beloved friend who i doubt has been
spirited away by the base arts of one of the blackest o help me to a
name black enough to call him by her piety is proof against
self-attempts it must it must be he the only wretch who could injure
such an innocent and now who knows what he has done with her 

if i have patience i will give you the occasion of this distracted
vehemence 

i wrote to her the very moment you and your sister left me but being
unable to procure a special messenger as i intended was forced to send
by the post i urged her  you know i promised that i would i urged
her   with earnestness to comply with the desires of all your family 
having no answer i wrote again on sunday night and sent it by a
particular hand who travelled all night chiding her for keeping a heart
so impatient as mine in such cruel suspense upon a matter of so much
importance to her and therefore to me and very angry i was with her in
my mind 

but judge my astonishment my distraction when last night the
messenger returning post-haste brought me word that she had not been
heard of since friday morning and that a letter lay for her at her
lodgings which came by the post and must be mine 

she went out about six that morning only intending as they believe to
go to morning-prayers at covent-garden church just by her lodgings as
she had done divers times before went on foot left word she should be
back in an hour very poorly in health 

lord have mercy upon me what shall i do i was a distracted creature
all last night 

o madam you know not how i love her my own soul is not dearer to me 
than my clarissa harlowe nay she is my soul for i now have none only
a miserable one however for she was the joy the stay the prop of my
life never woman loved woman as we love one another it is impossible
to tell you half her excellencies it was my glory and my pride that i
was capable of so fervent a love of so pure and matchless a creature 
but now who knows whether the dear injured has not all her woes her
undeserved woes completed in death or is not reserved for a worse fate 
 this i leave to your inquiry for your  shall i call the man 
your   relation i understand is still with you 

surely my good ladies you were well authorized in the proposals you
made in presence of my mother surely he dare not abuse your confidence 
and the confidence of your noble relations i make no apology for giving
you this trouble nor for desiring you to favour with a line by this
messenger 

your almost distracted
anna howe 



letter xii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
m hall sat night june 15 


all undone undone by jupiter zounds jack what shall i do now a
curse upon all my plots and contrivances but i have it in the very
heart and soul of me i have it 

thou toldest me that my punishments were but beginning canst thou o
fatal prognosticator cans thou tell me where they will end 

thy assistance i bespeak the moment thou receivest this i bespeak thy
assistance this messenger rides for life and death and i hope he'll
find you at your town-lodgings if he meet not with you at edgware 
where being sunday he will call first 

this cursed cursed woman on friday dispatched man and horse with the
joyful news as she thought it would be to me in an exulting letter from
sally martin that she had found out my angel as on wednesday last and
on friday morning after she had been at prayers at covent-garden church
 praying for my reformation perhaps got her arrested by two sheriff's
officers as she was returning to her lodgings who villains put her
into a chair they had in readiness and carried her to one of the cursed
fellow's houses 

she has arrested her for 150  pretendedly due for board and lodging a
sum besides the low villany of the proceeding which the dear soul could
not possibly raise all her clothes and effects except what she had on
and with her when she went away being at the old devil's 

and here for an aggravation has the dear creature lain already two
days for i must be gallanting my two aunts and my two cousins and
giving lord m an airing after his lying-in pox upon the whole family
of us and returned not till within this hour and now returned to my
distraction on receiving the cursed tidings and the exulting letter 

hasten hasten dear jack for the love of god hasten to the injured
charmer my heart bleeds for her she deserved not this i dare not
stir it will be thought done by my contrivance and if i am absent from
this place that will confirm the suspicion 

damnation seize quick this accursed woman yet she thinks she has made
no small merit with me unhappy thrice unhappy circumstances at a
time too when better prospects were opening for the sweet creature 

hasten to her clear me of this cursed job most sincerely by all
that's sacred i swear you may yet have i been such a villanous
plotter that the charming sufferer will hardly believe it although the
proceeding be so dirtily low 

set her free the moment you see her without conditioning free on your
knees for me beg her pardon and assure her that wherever she goes i
will not molest her no nor come near her without her leave and be sure
allow not any of the d d crew to go near her only let her permit you
to receive her commands from time to time you have always been her
friend and advocate what would i now give had i permitted you to have
been a successful one 

let her have all her clothes and effects sent her instantly as a small
proof of my sincerity and force upon the dear creature who must be
moneyless what sums you can get her to take let me know how she has
been treated if roughly woe be to the guilty 

take thy watch in thy hand after thou hast freed her and d n the whole
brood dragon and serpents by the hour till thou'rt tired and tell
them i bid thee do so for their cursed officiousness 

they had nothing to do when they had found her but to wait my orders how
to proceed 

the great devil fly away with them all one by one through the roof of
their own cursed house and dash them to pieces against the tops of
chimneys as he flies and let the lesser devils collect the scattered
scraps and bag them up in order to put them together again in their
allotted place in the element of fire with cements of molten lead 

a line a line a kingdom for a line with tolerable news the first
moment thou canst write this fellow waits to bring it 



letter xiii

miss charlotte montague to miss howe
m hall tuesday afternoon 


dear miss howe 

your letter has infinitely disturbed us all 

this wretched man has been half distracted ever since saturday night 

we knew not what ailed him till your letter was brought 

vile wretch as he is he is however innocent of this new evil 

indeed he is he must be as i shall more at large acquaint you 

but will not now detain your messenger 

only to satisfy your just impatience by telling you that the dear young
lady is safe and we hope well 

a horrid mistake of his general orders has subjected her to the terror
and disgrace of an arrest 

poor dear miss harlowe her sufferings have endeared her to us almost
as much as her excellencies can have endeared her to you 

but she must now be quite at liberty 

he has been a distracted man ever since the news was brought him and we
knew not what ailed him 

but that i said before 

my lord m my lady sarah sadleir and my lady betty lawrance will all
write to you this very afternoon 

and so will the wretch himself 

and send it by a servant of their own not to detain your's 

i know not what i write 

but you shall have all the particulars just and true and fair from

dear madam 
your most faithful and obedient servant 
ch montague 



letter xiv

miss montague to miss howe
m hall july 18 


dear madam 

in pursuance of my promise i will minutely inform you of every thing we
know relating to this shocking transaction 

when we returned from you on thursday night and made our report of the
kind reception both we and our message met with in that you had been so
good as to promise to use your interest with your dear friend it put us
all into such good humour with one another and with my cousin lovelace 
that we resolved upon a little tour of two days the friday and saturday 
in order to give an airing to my lord and lady sarah both having been
long confined one by illness the other by melancholy my lord lady
sarah lady betty and myself were in the coach and all our talk was of
dear miss harlowe and of our future happiness with her mr lovelace and
my sister who is his favourite as he is her's were in his phaeton 
and whenever we joined company that was still the subject 

as to him never man praised woman as he did her never man gave greater
hopes and made better resolutions he is none of those that are
governed by interest he is too proud for that but most sincerely
delighted was he in talking of her and of his hopes of her returning
favour he said however more than once that he feared she would not
forgive him for from his heart he must say he deserved not her
forgiveness and often and often that there was not such a woman in the
world 

this i mention to show you madam that he could not at this time be
privy to such a barbarous and disgraceful treatment of her 

we returned not till saturday night all in as good humour with one
another as we went out we never had such pleasure in his company
before if he would be good and as he ought to be no man would be
better beloved by relations than he but never was there a greater
alteration in man when he came home and received a letter from a
messenger who it seems had been flattering himself in hopes of a
reward and had been waiting for his return from the night before in
such a fury the man fared but badly he instantly shut himself up to
write and ordered man and horse to be ready to set out before day-light
the next morning to carry the letter to a friend in london 

he would not see us all that night neither breakfast nor dine with us
next day he ought he said never to see the light and bid my sister 
whom he called an innocent and who was very desirous to know the
occasion of all this shun him saying he was a wretch and made so by
his own inventions and the consequences of them 

none of us could get out of him what so disturbed him we should too
soon hear he said to the utter dissipation of all his hopes and of all
ours 

we could easily suppose that all was not right with regard to the worthy
young lady and him 

he went out each day and said he wanted to run away from himself 

late on monday night he received a letter from mr belford his most
favoured friend by his own messenger who came back in a foam man and
horse whatever were the contents he was not easier but like a madman
rather but still would not let us know the occasion but to my sister
he said nobody my dear patsey who can think but of half the plagues
that pursue an intriguing spirit would ever quit the fore-right path 

he was out when your messenger came but soon came in and bad enough was
his reception from us all and he said that his own torments were
greater than ours than miss harlowe's or your's madam all put
together he would see your letter he always carries every thing
before him and said when he had read it that he thanked god he was
not such a villain as you with too great an appearance of reason 
thought him 

thus then he owned the matter to be 

he had left general instructions to the people of the lodgings the dear
lady went from to find out where she was gone to if possible that he
might have an opportunity to importune her to be his before their
difference was public the wicked people officious at least if not
wicked discovered where she was on wednesday and for fear she should
remove before they could have his orders they put her under a gentle
restraint as they call it and dispatched away a messenger to acquaint
him with it and to take his orders 

this messenger arrived friday afternoon and staid here till we returned
on saturday night and when he read the letter he brought i have told
you madam what a fury he was in 

the letter he retired to write and which he dispatched away so early on
sunday morning was to conjure his friend mr belford on receipt of it 
to fly to the lady and set her free and to order all her things to be
sent to her and to clear him of so black and villanous a fact as he
justly called it 

and by this time he doubts not that all is happily over and the beloved
of his soul as he calls her at ever word in an easier and happier way
than she was before the horrid fact and now he owns that the reason why
mr belford's letter set him into stronger ravings was because of his
keeping him wilfully and on purpose to torment him in suspense and
reflecting very heavily upon him for mr belford he says was ever the
lady's friend and advocate and only mentioning that he had waited upon
her referring to his next for further particulars which mr belford
could have told him at the time 

he declares and we can vouch for him that he has been ever since last
saturday night the most miserable of men 

he forbore going up himself that it might not be imagined he was guilty
of so black a contrivance and that he went up to complete any base views
in consequence of it 

believe us all dear miss howe under the deepest concern at this unhappy
accident which will we fear exasperate the charming sufferer not too
much for the occasion but too much for our hopes 

o what wretches are these free-living men who love to tread in intricate
paths and when once they err know not how far out of the way their
headstrong course may lead them 

my sister joins her thanks with mine to your good mother and self for
the favours you heaped upon us last thursday we beseech your continued
interest as to the subject of our visit it shall be all our studies to
oblige and recompense the dear lady to the utmost of our power and for
what she has suffered from the unhappy man 

we are dear madam 
your obliged and faithful servants 
charlotte montague 
martha 


 


dear miss howe 

we join in the above request of miss charlotte and miss patty montague 
for your favour and interest being convinced that the accident was an
accident and no plot or contrivance of a wretch too full of them we
are madam 

your most obedient humble servants 

m 
sarah sadleir 
eliz lawrance 


 


dear miss howe 

after what is written above by names and characters of unquestionable
honour i might have been excused signing a name almost as hateful to
myself as i know it is to you but the above will have it so since 
therefore i must write it shall be the truth which is that if i may
be once more admitted to pay my duty to the most deserving and most
injured of her sex i will be content to do it with a halter about my
neck and attended by a parson on my right hand and the hangman on my
left be doomed at her will either to the church or the gallows 

your most humble servant 
robert lovelace 

tuesday july 18 



letter xv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sunday night july 16 


what a cursed piece of work hast thou made of it with the most excellent
of women thou mayest be in earnest or in jest as thou wilt but the
poor lady will not be long either thy sport or the sport of fortune 

i will give thee an account of a scene that wants but her affecting pen
to represent it justly and it would wring all the black blood out of thy
callous heart 

thou only who art the author of her calamities shouldst have attended
her in her prison i am unequal to such a task nor know i any other man
but would 

this last act however unintended by thee yet a consequence of thy
general orders and too likely to be thought agreeable to thee by those
who know thy other villanies by her has finished thy barbarous work 
and i advise thee to trumpet forth every where how much in earnest thou
art to marry her whether true or not 

thou mayest safely do it she will not live to put thee to the trial 
and it will a little palliate for thy enormous usage of her and be a
mean to make mankind who know not what i know of the matter herd a
little longer with thee and forbear to hunt thee to thy fellow-savages
in the lybian wilds and desarts 

your messenger found me at edgware expecting to dinner with me several
friends whom i had invited three days before i sent apologies to them 
as in a case of life and death and speeded to town to the
woman's for how knew i but shocking attempts might be made upon her by
the cursed wretches perhaps by your connivance in order to mortify her
into your measures 

little knows the public what villanies are committed by vile wretches in
these abominable houses upon innocent creatures drawn into their snares 

finding the lady not there i posted away to the officer's although
sally told me that she had but just come from thence and that she had
refused to see her or as she sent down word any body else being
resolved to have the remainder of that sunday to herself as it might 
perhaps be the last she should ever see 

i had the same thing told me when i got thither 

i sent up to let her know that i came with a commission to set her at
liberty i was afraid of sending up the name of a man known to be your
friend she absolutely refused to see any man however for that day or
to answer further to any thing said from me 

having therefore informed myself of all that the officer and his wife 
and servant could acquaint me with as well in relation to the horrid
arrest as to her behaviour and the women's to her and her ill state of
health i went back to sinclair's as i will still call her and heard
the three women's story from all which i am enabled to give you the
following shocking particulars which may serve till i can see the
unhappy lady herself to-morrow if then i gain admittance to her you
will find that i have been very minute in my inquiries 

your villain it was that set the poor lady and had the impudence to
appear and abet the sheriff's officers in the cursed transaction he
thought no doubt that he was doing the most acceptable service to his
blessed master they had got a chair the head ready up as soon as
service was over and as she came out of the church at the door
fronting bedford-street the officers stepping up to her whispered that
they had an action against her 

she was terrified trembled and turned pale 

action said she what is that i have committed no bad action 
lord bless me men what mean you 

that you are our prisoner madam 

prisoner sirs what how why what have i done 

you must go with us be pleased madam to step into this chair 

with you with men must go with men i am not used to go with strange
men indeed you must excuse me 

we can't excuse you we are sheriff's officers we have a writ against
you you must go with us and you shall know at whose suit 

suit said the charming innocent i don't know what you mean pray men 
don't lay hands upon me they offering to put her into the chair i am
not used to be thus treated i have done nothing to deserve it 

she then spied thy villain o thou wretch said she where is thy vile
master am i again to be his prisoner help good people 

a crowd had begun to gather 

my master is in the country madam many miles off if you please to go
with these men they will treat you civilly 

the people were most of them struck with compassion a fine young
creature a thousand pities cried some while some few threw out vile
and shocking reflections but a gentleman interposed and demanded to
see the fellow's authority 

they showed it is your name clarissa harlowe madam said he 

yes yes indeed ready to sink my name was clarissa harlowe but it is
now wretchedness lord be merciful to me what is to come next 

you must go with these men madam said the gentleman they have
authority for what they do 

he pitied her and retired 

indeed you must said one chairman 

indeed you must said the other 

can nobody joined in another gentleman be applied to who will see that
so fine a creature is not ill used 

thy villain answered orders were given particularly for that she had
rich relations she need but ask and have she would only be carried to
the officer's house till matters could be made up the people she had
lodged with loved her but she had left her lodgings privately 

oh had she those tricks already cried one or two 

she heard not this but said well if i must go i must i cannot resist
 but i will not be carried to the woman's i will rather die at your
feet than be carried to the woman's 

you won't be carried there madam cried thy fellow 

only to my house madam said one of the officers 

where is that 

in high-holborn madam 

i know not where high-holborn is but any where except to the woman's 
 but am i to go with men only 

looking about her and seeing the three passages to wit that leading to
henrietta-street that to king-street and the fore-right one to
bedford-street crowded she started any where any where said she but
to the woman's and stepping into the chair threw herself on the seat 
in the utmost distress and confusion carry me carry me out of sight 
cover me cover me up for ever were her words 

thy villain drew the curtain she had not power and they went away with
her through a vast crowd of people 

here i must rest i can write no more at present 

only lovelace remember all this was to a clarissa 


 


the unhappy lady fainted away when she was taken out of the chair at the
officer's house 

several people followed the chair to the very house which is in a
wretched court sally was there and satisfied some of the inquirers 
that the young gentlewoman would be exceedingly well used and they soon
dispersed 

dorcas was also there but came not in her sight sally as a favour 
offered to carry her to her former lodgings but she declared they should
carry her thither a corpse if they did 

very gentle usage the women boast of so would a vulture could it speak 
with the entrails of its prey upon its rapacious talons of this you'll
judge from what i have to recite 

she asked what was meant by this usage of her people told me said
she that i must go with the men that they had authority to take me so
i submitted but now what is to be the end of this disgraceful
violence 

the end said the vile sally martin is for honest people to come at
their own 

bless me have i taken away any thing that belongs to those who have
obtained the power over me i have left very valuable things behind me 
but have taken away that is not my own 

and who do you think miss harlowe for i understand said the cursed
creature you are not married who do you think is to pay for your board
and your lodgings such handsome lodgings for so long a time as you were
at mrs sinclair's 

lord have mercy upon me miss martin i think you are miss martin 
and is this the cause of such a disgraceful insult upon me in the open
streets 

and cause enough miss harlowe fond of gratifying her jealous revenge 
by calling her miss one hundred and fifty guineas or pounds is no
small sum to lose and by a young creature who would have bilked her
lodgings 

you amaze me miss martin what language do you talk in bilk my
lodgings what is that 

she stood astonished and silent for a few moments 

but recovering herself and turning from her to the window she wrung her
hands  the cursed sally showed me how   and lifting them up now 
lovelace now indeed do i think i ought to forgive thee but who shall
forgive clarissa harlowe o my sister o my brother tender mercies
were your cruelties to this 

after a pause her handkerchief drying up her falling tears she turned
to sally now have i noting to do but acquiesce only let me say that
if this aunt of your's this mrs sinclair or this man this mr 
lovelace come near me or if i am carried to the horrid house for
that i suppose is the design of this new outrage god be merciful to
the poor clarissa harlowe look to the consequence look i charge
you to the consequence 

the vile wretch told her it was not designed to carry her any where
against her will but if it were they should take care not to be
frighted again by a penknife 

she cast up her eyes to heaven and was silent and went to the farthest
corner of the room and sitting down threw her handkerchief over her
face 

sally asked her several questions but not answering her she told her 
she would wait upon her by-and-by when she had found her speech 

she ordered the people to press her to eat and drink she must be
fasting nothing but her prayers and tears poor thing were the
merciless devil's words as she owned to me dost think i did not curse
her 

she went away and after her own dinner returned 

the unhappy lady by this devil's account of her then seemed either
mortified into meekness or to have made a resolution not to be provoked
by the insults of this cursed creature 

sally inquired in her presence whether she had eat or drank any thing 
and being told by the woman that she could not prevail upon her to taste
a morsel or drink a drop she said this is wrong miss harlowe very
wrong your religion i think should teach you that starving yourself
is self-murder 

she answered not 

the wretch owned she was resolved to make her speak 

she asked if mabell should attend her till it were seen what her friends
would do for her in discharge of the debt mabell said she had not yet
earned the clothes you were so good as to give her 

am i not worthy an answer miss harlowe 

i would answer you said the sweet sufferer without any emotion if i
knew how 

i have ordered pen ink and paper to be brought you miss harlowe 
there they are i know you love writing you may write to whom you
please your friend miss howe will expect to hear from you 

i have no friend said she i deserve none 

rowland for that's the officer's name told her she had friends enow to
pay the debt if she would write 

she would trouble nobody she had no friends was all they could get from
her while sally staid but yet spoken with a patience of spirit as if
she enjoyed her griefs 

the insolent creature went away ordering them in the lady's hearing to
be very civil to her and to let her want for nothing now had she she
owned the triumph of her heart over this haughty beauty who kept them
all at such a distance in their own house 

what thinkest thou lovelace of this this wretch's triumph was over a
clarissa 

about six in the evening rowland's wife pressed her to drink tea she
said she had rather have a glass of water for her tongue was ready to
cleave to the roof of her mouth 

the woman brought her a glass and some bread and butter she tried to
taste the latter but could not swallow it but eagerly drank the water 
lifting up her eyes in thankfulness for that 

the divine clarissa lovelace reduced to rejoice for a cup of cold
water by whom reduced 

about nine o'clock she asked if any body were to be her bedfellow 

their maid if she pleased or as she was so weak and ill the girl
should sit up with her if she chose she should 

she chose to be alone both night and day she said but might she not be
trusted with the key of the room where she was to lie down for she
should not put off her clothes 

that they told her could not be 

she was afraid not she said but indeed she would not get away if she
could 

they told me that they had but one bed besides that they lay in
themselves which they would fain have had her accept of and besides
that their maid lay in in a garret which they called a hole of a
garret and that that one bed was the prisoner's bed which they made
several apologies to me about i suppose it is shocking enough 

but the lady would not lie in theirs was she not a prisoner she said
 let her have the prisoner's room 

yet they owned that she started when she was conducted thither but
recovering herself very well said she why should not all be of a
piece why should not my wretchedness be complete 

she found fault that all the fastenings were on the outside and none
within and said she could not trust herself in a room where others
could come in at their pleasure and she not go out she had not been
used to it 

dear dear soul my tears flow as i write indeed lovelace she had
not been used to such treatment 

they assured her that it was as much their duty to protect her from
other persons' insults as from escaping herself 

then they were people of more honour she said than she had been of late
used to 

she asked if they knew mr lovelace 

no was their answer 

have you heard of him 

no 

well then you may be good sort of folks in your way 

pause here for a moment lovelace and reflect i must 


 


again they asked her if they should send any word to her lodgings 

these are my lodgings now are they not was all her answer 

she sat up in a chair all night the back against the door having it
seems thrust a piece of a poker through the staples where a bolt had
been on the inside 


 


next morning sally and polly both went to visit her 

she had begged of sally the day before that she might not see mrs 
sinclair nor dorcas nor the broken-toothed servant called william 

polly would have ingratiated herself with her and pretended to be
concerned for her misfortunes but she took no more notice of her than
of the other 

they asked if she had any commands if she had she only need to mention
what they were and she should be obeyed 

none at all she said 

how did she like the people of the house were they civil to her 

pretty well considering she had no money to give them 

would she accept of any money they could put it to her account 

she would contract no debts 

had she any money about her 

she meekly put her hand in her pocket and pulled out half a guinea and
a little silver yes i have a little but here should be fees paid 
i believe should there not i have heard of entrance-money to compound
for not being stript but these people are very civil people i fancy 
for they have not offered to take away my clothes 

they have orders to be civil to you 

it is very kind 

but we two will bail you miss if you will go back with us to mrs 
sinclair's 

not for the world 

her's are very handsome apartments 

the fitter for those who own them 

these are very sad ones 

the fitter for me 

you may be happy yet miss if you will 

i hope i shall 

if you refuse to eat or drink we will give bail and take you with us 

then i will try to eat and drink any thing but go with you 

will you not send to your new lodgings the people will be frighted 

so they will if i send so they will if they know where i am 

but have you no things to send for from thence 

there is what will pay for their lodgings and trouble i shall not lessen
their security 

but perhaps letters or messages may be left for you there 

i have very few friends and to those i have i will spare the
mortification of knowing what has befallen me 

we are surprised at your indifference miss harlowe will you not write
to any of your friends 

no 

why you don't think of tarrying here always 

i shall not live always 

do you think you are to stay here as long as you live 

that's as it shall please god and those who have brought me hither 

should you like to be at liberty 

i am miserable what is liberty to the miserable but to be more
miserable 

how miserable miss you may make yourself as happy as you please 

i hope you are both happy 

we are 

may you be more and more happy 

but we wish you to be so too 

i shall never be of your opinion i believe as to what happiness is 

what do you take our opinion of happiness to be 

to live at mrs sinclair's 

perhaps said sally we were once as squeamish and narrow-minded as you 

how came it over with you 

because we saw the ridiculousness of prudery 

do you come hither to persuade me to hate prudery as you call it as
much as you do 

we came to offer our service to you 

it is out of your power to serve me 

perhaps not 

it is not in my inclination to trouble you 

you may be worse offered 

perhaps i may 

you are mighty short miss 

as i wish your visit to be ladies 

they owned to me that they cracked their fans and laughed 

adieu perverse beauty 

your servant ladies 

adieu haughty airs 

you see me humbled 

as you deserve miss harlowe pride will have a fall 

better fall with what you call pride than stand with meanness 

who does 

i had once a better opinion of you miss horton indeed you should not
insult the miserable 

neither should the miserable said sally insult people for their
civility 

i should be sorry if i did 

mrs sinclair shall attend you by-and-by to know if you have any
commands for her 

i have no wish for any liberty but that of refusing to see her and one
more person 

what we came for was to know if you had any proposals to make for your
enlargement 

then it seems the officer put in you have very good friends madam 
i understand is it not better that you make it up charges will run
high a hundred and fifty guineas are easier paid than two hundred let
these ladies bail you and go along with them or write to your friends
to make it up 

sally said there is a gentleman who saw you taken and was so much moved
for you miss harlowe that he would gladly advance the money for you 
and leave you to pay it when you can 

see lovelace what cursed devils these are this is the way we know 
that many an innocent heart is thrown upon keeping and then upon the
town but for these wretches thus to go to work with such an angel as
this how glad would have been the devilish sally to have had the least
handle to report to thee a listening ear or patient spirit upon this
hint 

sir said she with high indignation to the officer did not you say 
last night that it was as much your business to protect me from the
insults of others as from escaping cannot i be permitted to see whom
i please and to refuse admittance to those i like not 

your creditors madam will expect to see you 

not if i declare i will not treat with them 

then madam you will be sent to prison 

prison friend what dost thou call thy house 

not a prison madam 

why these iron-barred windows then why these double locks and bolts
all on the outside none on the in 

and down she dropt into her chair and they could not get another word
from her she threw her handkerchief over her face as one before which
was soon wet with tears and grievously they own she sobbed 

gentle treatment lovelace perhaps thou as well as these wretches 
will think it so 

sally then ordered a dinner and said they would soon be back a gain 
and see that she eat and drank as a good christian should comporting
herself to her condition and making the best of it 

what has not this charming creature suffered what has she not gone
through in these last three months that i know of who would think
such a delicately-framed person could have sustained what she has
sustained we sometimes talk of bravery of courage of fortitude here
they are in perfection such bravoes as thou and i should never have
been able to support ourselves under half the persecutions the
disappointments and contumelies that she has met with but like
cowards should have slid out of the world basely by some back-door 
that is to say by a sword by a pistol by a halter or knife but here
is a fine-principled woman who by dint of this noble consideration as
i imagine  what else can support her   that she has not deserved the
evils she contends with and that this world is designed but as a
transitory state of the probation and that she is travelling to another
and better puts up with all the hardships of the journey and is not to
be diverted from her course by the attacks of thieves and robbers or any
other terrors and difficulties being assured of an ample reward at the
end of it 

if thou thinkest this reflection uncharacteristic from a companion and
friend of thine imaginest thou that i profited nothing by my long
attendance on my uncle in his dying state and from the pious reflections
of the good clergyman who day by day at the poor man's own request 
visited and prayed by him and could i have another such instance as
this to bring all these reflections home to me 

then who can write of good persons and of good subjects and be capable
of admiring them and not be made serious for the time and hence may we
gather what a benefit to the morals of men the keeping of good company
must be while those who keep only bad must necessarily more and more
harden and be hardened 


 


tis twelve of the clock sunday night i can think of nothing but this
excellent creature her distresses fill my head and my heart i was
drowsy for a quarter of an hour but the fit is gone off and i will
continue the melancholy subject from the information of these wretches 
enough i dare say will arise in the visit i shall make if admitted
to-morrow to send by thy servant as to the way i am likely to find her
in 

after the women had left her she complained of her head and her heart 
and seemed terrified with apprehensions of being carried once more to
sinclair's 

refusing any thing for breakfast mrs rowland came up to her and told
her as these wretches owned they had ordered her for fear she should
starve herself that she must and should have tea and bread and butter 
and that as she had friends who could support her if she wrote to them 
it was a wrong thing both for herself and them to starve herself thus 

if it be for your own sakes said she that is another thing let coffee 
or tea or chocolate or what you will be got and put down a chicken to
my account every day if you please and eat it yourselves i will taste
it if i can i would do nothing to hinder you i have friends will pay
you liberally when they know i am gone 

they wondered they told her at her strange composure in such
distresses 

they were nothing she said to what she had suffered already from the
vilest of all men the disgrace of seizing her in the street multitudes
of people about her shocking imputations wounding her ears had indeed
been very affecting to her but that was over every thing soon would 
 and she should be still more composed were it not for the
apprehensions of seeing one man and one woman and being tricked or
forced back to the vilest house in the world 

then were it not better to give way to the two gentlewoman's offer to
bail her they could tell her it was a very kind proffer and what was
not to be met every day 

she believed so 

the ladies might possibly dispense with her going back to the house to
which she had such an antipathy then the compassionate gentleman who
was inclined to make it up with her creditors on her own bond it was
very strange to them she hearkened not to so generous a proposal 

did the two ladies tell you who the gentleman was or did they say any
more on the subject 

yes they did and hinted to me said the woman that you had nothing to
do but to receive a visit from the gentleman and the money they
believed would be laid down on your own bond or note 

she was startled 

i charge you said she as you will answer it one day to my friends i
charge you don't if you do you know not what may be the consequence 

they apprehended no bad consequence they said in doing their duty and
if she knew not her own good her friends would thank them for taking any
innocent steps to serve her though against her will 

don't push me upon extremities man don't make me desperate woman i
have no small difficulty notwithstanding the seeming composure you just
now took notice of to bear as i ought to bear the evils i suffer but
if you bring a man or men to me be the pretence what it will 

she stopt there and looked so earnestly and so wildly they said that
they did not know but she would do some harm to herself if they
disobeyed her and that would be a sad thing in their house and might be
their ruin they therefore promised that no man should be brought to
her but by her own consent 

mrs rowland prevailed on her to drink a dish of tea and taste some
bread and butter about eleven on saturday morning which she probably
did to have an excuse not to dine with the women when they returned 

but she would not quit her prison-room as she called it to go into
their parlour 

unbarred windows and a lightsomer apartment  she said had too
cheerful an appearance for her mind 

a shower falling as she spoke what  said she looking up do the
elements weep for me 

at another time the light of the sun was irksome to her the sun
seemed to shine in to mock her woes 

methought  added she the sun darting in and gilding these iron bars 
plays upon me like the two women who came to insult my haggard looks by
the word beauty and my dejected heart by the word haughty airs 

sally came again at dinner-time to see how she fared as she told her 
and that she did not starve herself and as she wanted to have some talk
with her if she gave her leave she would dine with her 

i cannot eat 

you must try miss harlowe 

and dinner being ready just then she offered her hand and desired her
to walk down 

no she would not stir out of her prison-room 

these sullen airs won't do miss harlowe indeed they won't 

she was silent 

you will have harder usage than any you have ever yet known i can tell
you if you come not into some humour to make matters up 

she was still silent 

come miss walk down to dinner let me entreat you do miss horton is
below she was once your favourite 

she waited for an answer but received none 

we came to make some proposals to you for your good though you
affronted us so lately and we would not let mrs sinclair come in
person because we thought to oblige you 

this is indeed obliging 

come give me your hand miss harlowe you are obliged to me i can tell
you that and let us go down to miss horton 

excuse me i will not stir out of this room 

would you have me and miss horton dine in this filthy bed-room 

it is not a bed-room to me i have not been in bed nor will while i am
here 

and yet you care not as i see to leave the house and so you won't go
down miss harlowe 

i won't except i am forced to it 

well well let it alone i sha'n't ask miss horton to dine in this
room i assure you i will send up a plate 

and away the little saucy toad fluttered down 

when they had dined up they came together 

well miss you would not eat any thing it seems very pretty sullen
airs these no wonder the honest gentleman had such a hand with you 

she only held up her hands and eyes the tears trickling down her cheeks 

insolent devils how much more cruel and insulting are bad women even
than bad men 

methinks miss said sally you are a little soily to what we have seen
you pity such a nice lady should not have changes of apparel why
won't you send to your lodgings for linen at least 

i am not nice now 

miss looks well and clean in any thing said polly but dear madam why
won't you send to your lodgings were it but in kindness to the people 
they must have a concern about you and your miss howe will wonder
what's become of you for no doubt you correspond 

she turned from them and to herself said too much too much she
tossed her handkerchief wet before with her tears from her and held
her apron to her eyes 

don't weep miss said the vile polly 

yet do cried the viler sally it will be a relief nothing as mr 
lovelace once told me dries sooner than tears for once i too wept
mightily 

i could not bear the recital of this with patience yet i cursed them
not so much as i should have done had i not had a mind to get from them
all the particulars of their gentle treatment and this for two reasons 
the one that i might stab thee to the heart with the repetition and the
other that i might know upon what terms i am likely to see the unhappy
lady to-morrow 

well but miss harlowe cried sally do you think these forlorn airs
pretty you are a good christian child mrs rowland tells me she has
got you a bible-book o there it lies i make no doubt but you have
doubled down the useful places as honest matt prior says 

then rising and taking it up ay so you have the book of job one
opens naturally here i see my mamma made me a fine bible-scholar you
see miss horton i know something of the book 

they proposed once more to bail her and to go home with them a motion
which she received with the same indignation as before 

sally told her that she had written in a very favourable manner in her
behalf to you and that she every hour expected an answer and made no
doubt that you would come up with a messenger and generously pay the
whole debt and ask her pardon for neglecting it 

this disturbed her so much that they feared she would have fallen into
fits she could not bear your name she said she hoped she should
never see you more and were you to intrude yourself dreadful
consequences might follow 

surely they said she would be glad to be released from her confinement 

indeed she should now they had begun to alarm her with his name who was
the author of all her woes and who she now saw plainly gave way to
this new outrage in order to bring her to his own infamous terms 

why then they asked would she not write to her friends to pay mrs 
sinclair's demand 

because she hoped she should not trouble any body and because she knew
that the payment of the money if she should be able to pay it was not
what was aimed at 

sally owned that she told her that truly she had thought herself as
well descended and as well educated as herself though not entitled to
such considerable fortunes and had the impudence to insist upon it to
me to be truth 

she had the insolence to add to the lady that she had as much reason as
she to expect mr lovelace would marry her he having contracted to do so
before he knew miss clarissa harlowe and that she had it under his hand
and seal too or else he had not obtained his end therefore it was not
likely she should be so officious as to do his work against herself if
she thought mr lovelace had designs upon her like what she presumed to
hint at that for her part her only view was to procure liberty to a
young gentlewoman who made those things grievous to her which would not
be made such a rout about by any body else and to procure the payment of
a just debt to her friend mrs sinclair 

she besought them to leave her she wanted not these instances she
said to convince her of the company she was in and told them that to
get rid of such visiters and of the still worse she was apprehensive of 
she would write to one friend to raise the money for her though it would
be death for her to do so because that friend could not do it without
her mother in whose eye it would give a selfish appearance to a
friendship that was above all sordid alloys 

they advised her to write out of hand 

but how much must i write for what is the sum should i not have had a
bill delivered me god knows i took not your lodgings but he that
could treat me as he has done could do this 

don't speak against mr lovelace miss harlowe he is a man i greatly
esteem  cursed toad   and bating that he will take his advantage 
where he can of us silly credulous women he is a man of honour 

she lifted up her hands and eyes instead of speaking and well she
might for any words she could have used could not have expressed the
anguish she must feel on being comprehended in the us 

she must write for one hundred and fifty guineas at least two hundred 
if she were short of more money might well be written for 

mrs sinclair she said had all her clothes let them be sold fairly
sold and the money go as far as it would go she had also a few other
valuables but no money none at all but the poor half guinea and the
little silver they had seen she would give bond to pay all that her
apparel and the other maters she had would fall short of she had
great effects belonging to her of right her bond would and must be
paid were it for a thousand pounds but her clothes she should never
want she believed if not too much undervalued those and her few
valuables would answer every thing she wished for no surplus but to
discharge the last expenses and forty shillings would do as well for
those as forty pounds let my ruin said she lifting up her eyes be
large let it be complete in this life for a composition let it be
complete  and there she stopped 

the wretches could not help wishing to me for the opportunity of making
such a purchase for their own wear how i cursed them and in my heart 
thee but too probable thought i that this vile sally martin may hope 
 though thou art incapable of it   that her lovelace as she has the
assurance behind thy back to call thee may present her with some of
the poor lady's spoils 

will not mrs sinclair proceeded she think my clothes a security till
they can be sold they are very good clothes a suit or two but just
put on as it were never worn they cost much more than it demanded of
me my father loved to see me fine all shall go but let me have the
particulars of her demand i suppose i must pay for my destroyer  that
was her well-adapted word   and his servants as well as for myself i
am content to do so i am above wishing that any body who could thus
act should be so much as expostulated with as to the justice and equity
of this payment if i have but enough to pay the demand i shall be
satisfied and will leave the baseness of such an action as this as ana
aggravation of a guilt which i thought could not be aggravated 

i own lovelace i have malice in this particularity in order to sting
thee on the heart and let me ask thee what now thou can'st think of
thy barbarity thy unprecedented barbarity in having reduced a person of
her rank fortune talents and virtue so low 

the wretched women it must be owned act but in their profession a
profession thou hast been the principal means of reducing these two to
act in and they know what thy designs have been and how far
prosecuted it is in their opinions using her gently that they have
forborne to bring her to the woman so justly odious to her and that they
have not threatened her with the introducing to her strange men nor yet
brought into her company their spirit-breakers and humbling-drones 
 fellows not allowed to carry stings to trace and force her back to
their detested house and when there into all their measures 

till i came they thought thou wouldst not be displeased at any thing she
suffered that could help to mortify her into a state of shame and
disgrace and bring her to comply with thy views when thou shouldst come
to release her from these wretches as from a greater evil than
cohabiting with thee 

when thou considerest these things thou wilt make no difficulty of
believing that this their own account of their behaviour to this
admirable woman has been far short of their insults and the less when i
tell thee that all together their usage had such effect upon her that
they left her in violent hysterics ordering an apothecary to be sent
for if she should continue in them and be worse and particularly as
they had done from the first that they kept out of her way any edged or
pointed instrument especially a pen-knife which pretending to mend a
pen they said she might ask for 

at twelve saturday night rowland sent to tell them that she was so
ill that he knew not what might be the issue and wished her out of his
house 

and this made them as heartily wish to hear from you for their
messenger to their great surprise was not then returned from m hall 
and they were sure he must have reached that place by friday night 

early on sunday morning both devils went to see how she did they had
such an account of her weakness lowness and anguish that they forebore
 out of compassion they said finding their visits so disagreeable to
her to see her but their apprehension of what might be the issue was 
no doubt their principal consideration nothing else could have softened
such flinty bosoms 

they sent for the apothecary rowland had had to her and gave him and
rowland and his wife and maid strict orders many times repeated for
the utmost care to be taken of her no doubt with an old-bailey
forecast and they sent up to let her know what orders they had given 
but that understanding she had taken something to compose herself they
would not disturb her 

she had scrupled it seems to admit the apothecary's visit over night 
because he was a man nor could she be prevailed upon to see him till
they pleaded their own safety to her 

they went again from church  lord bob these creatures go to church  
but she sent them down word that she must have all the remainder of the
day to herself 

when i first came and told them of thy execrations for what they had
done and joined my own to them they were astonished the mother said 
she had thought she had known mr lovelace better and expected thanks 
and not curses 

while i was with them came back halting and cursing most horribly 
their messenger by reason of the ill-usage he had received from you 
instead of the reward he had been taught to expect for the supposed good
news that he carried down a pretty fellow art thou not to abuse
people for the consequences of thy own faults 

dorcas whose acquaintance this fellow is and who recommended him for
the journey had conditioned with him it seems for a share in the
expected bounty from you had she been to have had her share made good 
i wish thou hadst broken every bone in his skin 

under what shocking disadvantages and with this addition to them that i
am thy friend and intimate am i to make a visit to this unhappy lady
to-morrow morning in thy name too enough to be refused that i am of
a sex to which for thy sake she has so justifiable an aversion nor 
having such a tyrant of a father and such an implacable brother has she
the reason to make an exception in favour of any of it on their accounts 

it is three o'clock i will close here and take a little rest what i
have written will be a proper preparative for what shall offer by-and-by 

thy servant is not to return without a letter he tells me and that thou
expectest him back in the morning thou hast fellows enough where thou
art at thy command if i find any difficulty in seeing the lady thy
messenger shall post away with this let him look to broken bones and
other consequences if what he carries answer not thy expectation but 
if i am admitted thou shalt have this and the result of my audience both
together in the former case thou mayest send another servant to wait
the next advices from

j belford 



letter xvi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
monday july 17 


about six this morning i went to rowland's mrs sinclair was to follow
me in order to dismiss the action but not to come in sight 

rowland upon inquiry told me that the lady was extremely ill and that
she had desired that no one but his wife or maid should come near her 

i said i must see her i had told him my business over-night and i
must see her 

his wife went up but returned presently saying she could not get her
to speak to her yet that her eyelids moved though she either would not 
or could not open them to look up at her 

oons woman said i the lady may be in a fit the lady may be dying let
me go up show me the way 

a horrid hole of a house in an alley they call a court stairs
wretchedly narrow even to the first-floor rooms and into a den they led
me with broken walls which had been papered as i saw by a multitude of
tacks and some torn bits held on by the rusty heads 

the floor indeed was clean but the ceiling was smoked with variety of
figures and initials of names that had been the woeful employment of
wretches who had no other way to amuse themselves 

a bed at one corner with coarse curtains tacked up at the feet to the
ceiling because the curtain-rings were broken off but a coverlid upon
it with a cleanish look though plaguily in tatters and the corners tied
up in tassels that the rents in it might go no farther 

the windows dark and double-barred the tops boarded up to save mending 
and only a little four-paned eyelet-hole of a casement to let in air 
more however coming in at broken panes than could come in at that 

four old turkey-worked chairs bursten-bottomed the stuffing staring
out 

an old tottering worm-eaten table that had more nails bestowed in
mending it to make it stand than the table cost fifty years ago when
new 

on the mantle-piece was an iron shove-up candlestick with a lighted
candle in it twinkle twinkle twinkle four of them i suppose for a
penny 

near that on the same shelf was an old looking-glass cracked through
the middle breaking out into a thousand points the crack given it 
perhaps in a rage by some poor creature to whom it gave the
representation of his heart's woes in his face 

the chimney had two half-tiles in it on one side and one whole one on
the other which showed it had been in better plight but now the very
mortar had followed the rest of the tiles in every other place and left
the bricks bare 

an old half-barred stove grate was in the chimney and in that a large
stone-bottle without a neck filled with baleful yew as an evergreen 
withered southern-wood dead sweet-briar and sprigs of rue in flower 

to finish the shocking description in a dark nook stood an old
broken-bottomed cane couch without a squab or coverlid sunk at one
corner and unmortised by the failing of one of its worm-eater legs 
which lay in two pieces under the wretched piece of furniture it could
no longer support 

and this thou horrid lovelace was the bed-chamber of the divine
clarissa 

i had leisure to cast my eye on these things for going up softly the
poor lady turned not about at our entrance nor till i spoke moved her
head 

she was kneeling in a corner of the room near the dismal window against
the table on an old bolster as it seemed to be of the cane couch 
half-covered with her handkerchief her back to the door which was only
shut to  no need of fastenings   her arms crossed upon the table the
fore-finger of her right-hand in her bible she had perhaps been reading
in it and could read no longer paper pens ink lay by her book on
the table her dress was white damask exceeding neat but her stays
seemed not tight-laced i was told afterwards that her laces had been
cut when she fainted away at her entrance into this cursed place and
she had not been solicitous enough about her dress to send for others 
her head-dress was a little discomposed her charming hair in natural
ringlets as you have heretofore described it but a little tangled as
if not lately combed irregularly shading one side of the loveliest neck
in the world as her disordered rumpled handkerchief did the other her
face  o how altered from what i had seen it yet lovely in spite of all
her griefs and sufferings   was reclined when we entered upon her
crossed arms but so as not more than one side of it could be hid 

when i surveyed the room around and the kneeling lady sunk with majesty
too in her white flowing robes for she had not on a hoop spreading
the dark though not dirty floor and illuminating that horrid corner 
her linen beyond imagination white considering that she had not been
undressed every since she had been here i thought my concern would have
choked me something rose in my throat i know not what which made me 
for a moment guggle as it were for speech which at last forcing its
way con con confound you both said i to the man and woman is this
an apartment for such a lady and could the cursed devils of her own sex 
who visited this suffering angel see her and leave her in so d d a
nook 

sir we would have had the lady to accept of our own bed-chamber but she
refused it we are poor people and we expect nobody will stay with us
longer than they can help it 

you are people chosen purposely i doubt not by the d d woman who has
employed you and if your usage of this lady has been but half as bad as
your house you had better never to have seen the light 

up then raised the charming sufferer her lovely face but with such a
significance of woe overspreading it that i could not for the soul of
me help being visibly affected 

she waved her hand two or three times towards the door as if commanding
me to withdraw and displeased at my intrusion but did not speak 

permit me madam i will not approach one step farther without your leave
 permit me for one moment the favour of your ear 

no no go go man with an emphasis and would have said more but as
if struggling in vain for words she seemed to give up speech for lost 
and dropped her head down once more with a deep sigh upon her left arm 
her right as if she had not the use of it numbed i suppose 
self-moved dropping on her side 

o that thou hadst been there and in my place but by what i then felt 
in myself i am convinced that a capacity of being moved by the
distresses of our fellow creatures is far from being disgraceful to a
manly heart with what pleasure at that moment could i have given up
my own life could i but first have avenged this charming creature and
cut the throat of her destroyer as she emphatically calls thee though
the friend that i best love and yet at the same time my heart and my
eyes gave way to a softness of which though not so hardened a wretch as
thou they were never before so susceptible 

i dare not approach you dearest lady without your leave but on my
knees i beseech you to permit me to release you from this d d house 
and out of the power of the cursed woman who was the occasion of your
being here 

she lifted up her sweet face once more and beheld me on my knees never
knew i before what it was to pray so heartily 

are you not are you not mr belford sir i think your name is belford 

it is madam and i ever was a worshipper of your virtues and an
advocate for you and i come to release you from the hands you are in 

and in whose to place me o leave me leave me let me never rise from
this spot let me never never more believe in man 

this moment dearest lady this very moment if you please you may
depart whithersoever you think fit you are absolutely free and your
own mistress 

i had now as lieve die here in this place as any where i will owe no
obligation to any friend of him in whose company you have seen me so 
pray sir withdraw 

then turning to the officer mr rowland i think your name is i am
better reconciled to your house than i was at first if you can but
engage that i shall have nobody come near me but your wife no man 
and neither of those women who have sported with my calamities i will
die with you and in this very corner and you shall be well satisfied
for the trouble you have had with me i have value enough for that for 
see i have a diamond ring taking it out of her bosom and i have
friends will redeem it at a high price when i am gone 

but for you sir looking at me i beg you to withdraw if you mean well
by me god i hope will reward you for your good meaning but to the
friend of my destroyer will i not owe an obligation 

you will owe no obligation to me nor to any body you have been
detained for a debt you do not owe the action is dismissed and you
will only be so good as to give me your hand into the coach which stands
as near to this house as it could draw up and i will either leave you
at the coach-door or attend you whithersoever you please till i see you
safe where you would wish to be 

will you then sir compel me to be beholden to you 

you will inexpressibly oblige me madam to command me to do you either
service or pleasure 

why then sir  looking at me  but why do you mock me in that humble
posture rise sir i cannot speak to you else 

i rose 

only sir take this ring i have a sister who will be glad to have it 
at the price it shall be valued at for the former owner's sake out of
the money she gives let this man be paid handsomely paid and i have a
few valuables more at my lodging dorcas or the man william can tell
where that is let them and my clothes at the wicked woman's where you
have seen me be sold for the payment of my lodging first and next of
your friend's debts that i have been arrested for as far as they will
go only reserving enough to put me into the ground any where or any
how no matter tell your friend i wish it may be enough to satisfy
the whole demand but if it be not he must make it up himself or if he
think fit to draw for it on miss howe she will repay it and with
interest if he insist upon it and this sir if you promise to
perform you will do me as you offer both pleasure and service and say
you will and take the ring and withdraw if i want to say any thing
more to you you seem to be an humane man i will let you know and so 
sir god bless you 

i approached her and was going to speak 

don't speak sir here's the ring 

i stood off 

and won't you take it won't you do this last office for me i have no
other person to ask it of else believe me i would not request it of
you but take it or not laying it upon the table you must withdraw 
sir i am very ill i would fain get a little rest if i could i find
i am going to be bad again 

and offering to rise she sunk down through excess of weakness and grief 
in a fainting fit 

why lovelace was thou not present thyself why dost thou commit such
villanies as even thou art afraid to appear in and yet puttest a weaker
heart and head upon encountering with them 

the maid coming in just then the woman and she lifted her up on a
decrepit couch and i withdrew with this rowland who wept like a child 
and said he never in his life was so moved 

yet so hardened a wretch art thou that i question whether thou wilt shed
a tear at my relation 

they recovered her by hartshorn and water i went down mean while for
the detestable woman had been below some time o how i did curse her i
never before was so fluent in curses 

she tried to wheedle me but i renounced her and after she had
dismissed the action sent her away crying or pretending to cry because
of my behaviour to her 

you will observe that i did not mention one word to the lady about you 
i was afraid to do it for twas plain that she could not bear your
name your friend and the company you have seen me in were the words
nearest to naming you she could speak and yet i wanted to clear your
intention of this brutal this sordid-looking villany 

i sent up again by rowland's wife when i heard that the lady was
recovered beseeching her to quit that devilish place and the woman
assured her that she was at liberty to do so for that the action was
dismissed 

but she cared not to answer her and was so weak and low that it was
almost as much out of her power as inclination the woman told me to
speak 

i would have hastened away for my friend doctor h but the house is such
a den and the room she was in such a hole that i was ashamed to be seen
in it by a man of his reputation especially with a woman of such an
appearance and in such uncommon distress and i found there was no
prevailing upon her to quit it for the people's bed-room which was neat
and lightsome 

the strong room she was in the wretches told me should have been in
better order but that it was but the very morning that she was brought
in that an unhappy man had quitted it for a more eligible prison no
doubt since there could hardly be a worse 

being told that she desired not to be disturbed and seemed inclined to
doze i took this opportunity to go to her lodgings in covent-garden to
which dorcas who first discovered her there as will was the setter
from church had before given me a direction 

the man's name is smith a dealer in gloves snuff and such petty
merchandize his wife the shopkeeper he a maker of the gloves they sell 
honest people it seems 

i thought to have got the woman with me to the lady but she was not
within 

i talked with the man and told him what had befallen the lady owing as
i said to a mistake of orders and gave her the character she deserved 
and desired him to send his wife the moment she came in to the lady 
directing him whither not doubting that her attendance would be very
welcome to her which he promised 

he told me that a letter was left for her there on saturday and about
half an hour before i came another superscribed by the same hand the
first by the post the other by a countryman who having been informed
of her absence and of all the circumstances they could tell him of it 
posted away full of concern saying that the lady he was sent from
would be ready to break her heart at the tidings 

i thought it right to take the two letters back with me and dismissing
my coach took a chair as a more proper vehicle for the lady if i the
friend of her destroyer could prevail upon her to leave rowland's 

and here being obliged to give way to an indispensable avocation i will
make thee taste a little in thy turn of the plague of suspense and
break off without giving thee the least hint of the issue of my further
proceedings i know that those least bear disappointment who love most
to give it in twenty instances hast thou afforded me proof of the
truth of this observation and i matter not thy raving 

another letter however shall be ready send for it a soon as thou wilt 
but were it not have i not written enough to convince thee that i am

thy ready and obliging friend 
j belford 



letter xvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday july 17 eleven at night 


curse upon thy hard heart thou vile caitiff how hast thou tortured me 
by thy designed abruption tis impossible that miss harlowe should have
ever suffered as thou hast made me suffer and as i now suffer 

that sex is made to bear pain it is a curse that the first of it
entailed upon all her daughters when she brought the curse upon us all 
and they love those best whether man or child who give them most but
to stretch upon thy d d tenter-hooks such a spirit as mine no rack 
no torture can equal my torture 

and must i still wait the return of another messenger 

confound thee for a malicious devil i wish thou wert a post-horse and
i upon the back of thee how would i whip and spur and harrow up thy
clumsy sides till i make thee a ready-roasted ready-flayed mess of
dog's meat all the hounds in the country howling after thee as i drove
thee to wait my dismounting in order to devour thee piece-meal life
still throbbing in each churned mouthful 

give this fellow the sequel of thy tormenting scribble 

dispatch him away with it thou hast promised it shall be ready every
cushion or chair i shall sit upon the bed i shall lie down upon if i go
to bed till he return will be stuffed with bolt-upright awls bodkins 
corking-pins and packing needles already i can fancy that to pink my
body like my mind i need only to be put into a hogshead stuck full of
steel-pointed spikes and rolled down a hill three times as high as the
monument 

but i lose time yet know not how to employ it till this fellow returns
with the sequel of thy soul-harrowing intelligence 



letter xviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
monday night july 17 


on my return to rowland's i found that the apothecary was just gone up 
mrs rowland being above with him i made the less scruple to go up too 
as it was probable that to ask for leave would be to ask to be denied 
hoping also that the letters had with me would be a good excuse 

she was sitting on the side of the broken couch extremely weak and low 
and i observed cared not to speak to the man and no wonder for i
never saw a more shocking fellow of a profession tolerably genteel nor
heard a more illiterate one prate physician in ordinary to this house 
and others like it i suppose he put me in mind of otway's apothecary
in his caius marius as borrowed from the immortal shakspeare 

 meagre and very rueful were his looks 
 sharp misery had worn him to the bones 
 famine in his cheeks 
 need and oppression staring in his eyes 
 contempt and beggary hanging on his back 
 the world no friend of his nor the world's law 

as i am in black he took me at my entrance i believe to be a doctor 
and slunk behind me with his hat upon his two thumbs and looked as if he
expected the oracle to open and give him orders 

the lady looked displeased as well at me as at rowland who followed me 
and at the apothecary it was not she said the least of her present
misfortunes that she could not be left to her own sex and to her option
to see whom she pleased 

i besought her excuse and winking for the apothecary to withdraw  which
he did   told her that i had been at her new lodgings to order every
thing to be got ready for reception presuming she would choose to go
thither that i had a chair at the door that mr smith and his wife  i
named their names that she should not have room for the least fear of
sinclair's  had been full of apprehensions for her safety that i had
brought two letters which were left there fore her the one by the post 
the other that very morning 

this took her attention she held out her charming hand for them took
them and pressing them to her lips from the only friend i have in the
world said she kissing them again and looking at the seals as if to
see whether they had been opened i can't read them said she my eyes
are too dim and put them into her bosom 

i besought her to think of quitting that wretched hole 

whither could she go she asked to be safe and uninterrupted for the
short remainder of her life and to avoid being again visited by the
creatures who had insulted her before 

i gave her the solemnest assurances that she should not be invaded in her
new lodgings by any body and said that i would particularly engage my
honour that the person who had most offended her should not come near
her without her own consent 

your honour sir are you not that man's friend 

i am not a friend madam to his vile actions to the most excellent of
women 

do you flatter me sir then you are a man but oh sir your friend 
holding her face forward with great earnestness your barbarous friend 
what has he not to answer for 

there she stopt her heart full and putting her hand over her eyes and
forehead the tears tricked through her fingers resenting thy barbarity 
it seemed as caesar did the stab from his distinguished brutus 

though she was so very much disordered i thought i would not lose this
opportunity to assert your innocence of this villanous arrest 

there is no defending the unhappy man in any of his vile actions by you 
madam but of this last outrage by all that's good and sacred he is
innocent 

o wretches what a sex is your's have you all one dialect good and
sacred if sir you can find an oath or a vow or an adjuration that
my ears have not been twenty times a day wounded with then speak it and
i may again believe a man 

i was excessively touched at these words knowing thy baseness and the
reason she had for them 

but say you sir for i would not methinks have the wretch capable of
this sordid baseness say you that he is innocent of this last
wickedness can you truly say that he is 

by the great god of heaven 

nay sir if you swear i must doubt you if you yourself think your
word insufficient what reliance can i have on your oath o that this my
experience had not cost me so dear but were i to love a thousand years 
i would always suspect the veracity of a swearer excuse me sir but is
it likely that he who makes so free with his god will scruple any thing
that may serve his turn with his fellow creature 

this was a most affecting reprimand 

madam said i i have a regard a regard a gentleman ought to have to my
word and whenever i forfeit it to you 

nay sir don't be angry with me it is grievous to me to question a
gentleman's veracity but your friend calls himself a gentleman you
know not what i have suffered by a gentleman and then again she wept 

i would give you madam demonstration if your grief and your weakness
would permit it that he has no hand in this barbarous baseness and that
he resents it as it ought to be resented 

well well sir  with quickness   he will have his account to make up
somewhere else not to me i should not be sorry to find him able to
acquit his intention on this occasion let him know sir only one
thing that when you heard me in the bitterness of my spirit most
vehemently exclaim against the undeserved usage i have met with from him 
that even then in that passionate moment i was able to say  and never
did i see such an earnest and affecting exultation of hands and eyes  
give him good god repentance and amendment that i may be the last
poor creature who shall be ruined by him and in thine own good time 
receive to thy mercy the poor wretch who had none on me 

by my soul i could not speak she had not her bible before her for
nothing 

i was forced to turn my head away and to take out my handkerchief 

what an angel is this even the gaoler and his wife and maid wept 

again i wish thou hadst been there that thou mightest have sunk down at
her feet and begun that moment to reap the effect of her generous wishes
for thee undeserving as thou art of any thing but perdition 

i represented to her that she would be less free where she was from
visits she liked not than at her own lodgings i told her that it
would probably bring her in particular one visiter who otherwise i
would engage  but i durst not swear again after the severe reprimand
she had just given me   should not come near her without her consent 
and i expressed my surprize that she should be unwilling to quit such a
place as this when it was more than probable that some of her friends 
when it was known how bad she was would visit her 

she said the place when she was first brought into it was indeed very
shocking to her but that she had found herself so weak and ill and her
griefs had so sunk her that she did not expect to have lived till now 
that therefore all places had been alike to her for to die in a prison 
was to die and equally eligible as to die in a palace  palaces she
said could have no attractions for a dying person   but that since she
feared she was not so soon to be released as she had hoped since she
was suffered to be so little mistress of herself here and since she
might by removal be in the way of her dear friend's letters she would
hope that she might depend upon the assurances i gave her of being at
liberty to return to her last lodgings otherwise she would provide
herself with new ones out of my knowledge as well as your's and that
i was too much of a gentleman to be concerned in carrying her back to
the house she had so much reason to abhor and to which she had been once
before most vilely betrayed to her ruin 

i assured her in the strongest terms  but swore not   that you were
resolved not to molest her and as a proof of the sincerity of my
professions besought her to give me directions in pursuance of my
friend's express desire about sending all her apparel and whatever
belonged to her to her new lodgings 

she seemed pleased and gave me instantly out of her pocket her keys 
asking me if mrs smith whom i had named might not attend me and she
would give her further directions to which i cheerfully assented and
then she told me that she would accept of the chair i had offered her 

i withdrew and took the opportunity to be civil to rowland and his maid 
for she found no fault with their behaviour for what they were and the
fellow seems to be miserably poor i sent also for the apothecary who
is as poor as the officer and still poorer i dare say as to the skill
required in his business and satisfied him beyond his hopes 

the lady after i had withdrawn attempted to read the letters i had
brought her but she could read but a little way in one of them and had
great emotions upon it 

she told the woman she would take a speedy opportunity to acknowledge her
civilities and her husband's and to satisfy the apothecary who might
send her his bill to her lodgings 

she gave the maid something probably the only half-guinea she had and
then with difficulty her limbs trembling under her and supported by
mrs rowland got down stairs 

i offered my arm she was pleased to lean upon it i doubt sir said
she as she moved i have behaved rudely to you but if you knew all 
you would forgive me 

i know enough madam to convince me that there is not such purity and
honour in any woman upon earth nor any one that has been so barbarously
treated 

she looked at me very earnestly what she thought i cannot say but in
general i never saw so much soul in a woman's eyes as in her's 

i ordered my servant whose mourning made him less observable as such 
and who had not been in the lady's eye to keep the chair in view and
to bring me word how she did when set down the fellow had the thought
to step into the shop just before the chair entered it under pretence
of buying snuff and so enabled himself to give me an account that she
was received with great joy by the good woman of the house who told her 
she was but just come in and was preparing to attend her in high
holborn o mrs smith said she as soon as she saw her did you not
think i was run away you don't know what i have suffered since i saw
you i have been in a prison arrested for debts i owe not but 
thank god i am here will your maid i have forgot her name already 

catharine madam 

will you let catharine assist me to bed i have not had my clothes off
since thursday night 

what she further said the fellow heard not she leaning upon the maid 
and going up stairs 

but dost thou not observe what a strange what an uncommon openness of
heart reigns in this lady she had been in a prison she said before a
stranger in the shop and before the maid-servant and so probably she
would have said had there been twenty people in the shop 

the disgrace she cannot hide from herself as she says in her letter to
lady betty she is not solicitous to conceal from the world 

but this makes it evident to me that she is resolved to keep no terms
with thee and yet to be able to put up such a prayer for thee as she
did in her prison  i will often mention the prison-room to tease thee  
does this not show that revenge has very little sway in her mind though
she can retain so much proper resentment 

and this is another excellence in this admirable woman's character for
whom before her have we met with in the whole sex or in ours either 
that knew how in practice to distinguish between revenge and
resentment for base and ungrateful treatment 

tis a cursed thing after all that such a woman as this should be
treated as she has been treated hadst thou been a king and done as
thou hast done by such a meritorious innocent i believe in my heart it
would have been adjudged to be a national sin and the sword the
pestilence or famine must have atoned for it but as thou art a
private man thou wilt certainly meet with thy punishment besides what
thou mayest expect from the justice of the country and the vengeance of
her friends as she will her reward hereafter 

it must be so if there be really such a thing as future remuneration as
now i am more and more convinced there must else what a hard fate is
her's whose punishment to all appearance has so much exceeded her
fault and as to thine how can temporary burnings wert thou by some
accident to be consumed in thy bed expiate for thy abominable vileness
to her in breach of all obligations moral and divine 

i was resolved to lose no time in having every thing which belonged to
the lady at the cursed woman's sent her accordingly i took coach to
smith's and procured the lady to whom i sent up my compliments and
inquiries how she bore her removal ill as she sent down word she was 
to give proper direction to mrs smith whom i took with me to
sinclair's and who saw every thing looked out and put into the trunks
and boxes they were first brought in and carried away in two coaches 

had i not been there sally and polly would each of them have taken to
herself something of the poor lady's spoils this they declared and i
had some difficulty to get from sally a fine brussels-lace head which
she had the confidence to say she would wear for miss harlowe's sake 
nor should either i or mrs smith have known she had got it had she not
been in search of the ruffles belonging to it 

my resentment on this occasion and the conversation which mrs smith and
i had in which i not only expatiated on the merits of the lady but
expressed my concern for her sufferings though i left her room to
suppose her married yet without averring it gave me high credit with
the good woman so that we are perfectly well acquainted already by
which means i shall be enabled to give you accounts from time to time of
all that passes and which i will be very industrious to do provided i
may depend upon the solemn promises i have given the lady in your name 
as well as in my own that she shall be free from all personal
molestation from you and thus shall i have it in my power to return in
kind your writing favours and preserve my short-hand besides which 
till this correspondence was opened i had pretty much neglected 

i ordered the abandoned women to make out your account they answered 
that they would do it with a vengeance indeed they breathe nothing but
vengeance for now they say you will assuredly marry and your example
will be followed by all your friends and companions as the old one says 
to the utter ruin of her poor house 



letter xix

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday morn july 18 six o'clock 


having sat up so late to finish and seal in readiness my letter to the
above period i am disturbed before i wished to have risen by the
arrival of thy second fellow man and horse in a foam 

while he baits i will write a few lines most heartily to congratulate
thee on thy expected rage and impatience and on thy recovery of mental
feeling 

how much does the idea thou givest me of thy deserved torments by thy
upright awls bodkins pins and packing-needles by thy rolling hogshead
with iron spikes and by thy macerated sides delight me 

i will upon every occasion that offers drive more spikes into thy
hogshead and roll thee down hill and up as thou recoverest to sense 
or rather returnest back to senselessness thou knowest therefore the
terms on which thou art to enjoy my correspondence am not i who have
all along and in time protested against thy barbarous and ungrateful
perfidies to a woman so noble entitled to drive remorse if possible 
into thy hitherto-callous heart 

only let me repeat one thing which perhaps i mentioned too slightly
before that the lady was determined to remove to new lodgings where
neither you nor i should be able to find her had i not solemnly assured
her that she might depend upon being free from your visits 

these assurances i thought i might give her not only because of your
promise but because it is necessary for you to know where she is in
order to address yourself to her by your friends 

enable me therefore to make good to her this my solemn engagement or
adieu to all friendship at least to all correspondence with thee for
ever 

j belford 



letter xx

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday july 18 afternoon 


i renewed my inquiries after the lady's health in the morning by my
servant and as soon as i had dined i went myself 

i had but a poor account of it yet sent up my compliments she returned
me thanks for all my good offices and her excuses that they could not
be personal just then being very low and faint but if i gave myself the
trouble of coming about six this evening she should be able she hoped 
to drink a dish of tea with me and would then thank me herself 

i am very proud of this condescension and think it looks not amiss for
you as i am your avowed friend methinks i want fully to remove from
her mind all doubts of you in this last villanous action and who knows
then what your noble relations may be able to do for you with her if you
hold your mind for your servant acquainted me with their having
actually engaged miss howe in their and your favour before this cursed
affair happened and i desire the particulars of all from yourself that
i may the better know how to serve you 

she has two handsome apartments a bed-chamber and dining-room with
light closets in each she has already a nurse the people of the house
having but one maid a woman whose care diligence and honesty mrs 
smith highly commends she has likewise the benefit of a widow
gentlewoman mrs lovick her name who lodges over her apartment and of
whom she seems very fond having found something in her she thinks 
resembling the qualities of her worthy mrs norton 

about seven o'clock this morning it seems the lady was so ill that she
yielded to their desires to have an apothecary sent for not the fellow 
thou mayest believe she had had before at rowland's but one mr 
goddard a man of skill and eminence and of conscience too demonstrated
as well by general character as by his prescriptions to this lady for
pronouncing her case to be grief he ordered for the present only
innocent juleps by way of cordial and as soon as her stomach should be
able to bear it light kitchen-diet telling mrs lovick that that with
air moderate exercise and cheerful company would do her more good than
all the medicines in his shop 

this has given me as it seems it has the lady who also praises his
modest behaviour paternal looks and genteel address a very good
opinion of the man and i design to make myself acquainted with him and 
if he advises to call in a doctor to wish him for the fair patient's
sake more than the physician's who wants not practice my worthy
friend dr h whose character is above all exception as his humanity i
am sure will distinguish him to the lady 

mrs lovick gratified me with an account of a letter she had written from
the lady's mouth to miss howe she being unable to write herself with
steadiness 

it was to this effect in answer it seems to her two letters whatever
were the contents of them 

that she had been involved in a dreadful calamity which she was sure 
when known would exempt her from the effects of her friendly
displeasure for not answering her first having been put under an
arrest could she have believed it that she was released but the day
before and was now so weak and so low that she was obliged to account
thus for her silence to her  miss howe's  two letters of the 13th and
16th that she would as soon as able answer them begged of her mean
time not to be uneasy for her since only that this was a calamity
which came upon her when she was far from being well a load laid upon
the shoulders of a poor wretch ready before to sink under too heavy a
burden it was nothing to the evil she had before suffered and one
felicity seemed likely to issue from it which was that she would be
at rest in an honest house with considerate and kind-hearted people 
having assurance given her that she should not be molested by the
wretch whom it would be death for her to see so that now she  miss
howe   needed not to send to her by private and expensive conveyances 
nor need collins to take precautions for fear of being dogged to her
lodgings nor need she write by a fictitious name to her but by her
own 

you can see i am in a way to oblige you you see how much she depends
upon my engaging for your forbearing to intrude yourself into her
company let not your flaming impatience destroy all and make me look
like a villain to a lady who has reason to suspect every man she sees to
be so upon this condition you may expect all the services that can
flow from

your sincere well-wisher 
j belford 



letter xxi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday night july 18 


i am just come from the lady i was admitted into the dining-room where
she was sitting in an elbow-chair in a very weak and low way she made
an effort to stand up when i entered but was forced to keep her seat 
you'll excuse me mr belford i ought to rise to thank you for all your
kindness to me i was to blame to be so loth to leave that sad place 
for i am in heaven here to what i was there and good people about me
too i have not had good people about me for a long long time before 
so that  with a half-smile  i had begun to wonder whither they were all
gone 

her nurse and mrs smith who were present took occasion to retire and 
when we were alone you seem to be a person of humanity sir said she 
you hinted as i was leaving my prison that you were not a stranger to
my sad story if you know it truly you must know that i have been most
barbarously treated and have not deserved it at the man's hands by whom
i have suffered 

i told her i knew enough to be convinced that she had the merit of a
saint and the purity of an angel and was proceeding when she said no
flighty compliments no undue attributes sir 

i offered to plead for my sincerity and mentioned the word politeness 
and would have distinguished between that and flattery nothing can be
polite said she that is not just whatever i may have had i have now
no vanity to gratify 

i disclaimed all intentions of compliment all i had said and what i
should say was and should be the effect of sincere veneration my
unhappy friend's account of her had entitled her to that 

i then mentioned your grief your penitence your resolutions of making
her all the amends that were possible now to be made her and in the most
earnest manner i asserted your innocence as to the last villanous
outrage 

her answer was to this effect it is painful to me to think of him the
amends you talk of cannot be made this last violence you speak of is
nothing to what preceded it that cannot be atoned for nor palliated 
this may and i shall not be sorry to be convinced that he cannot be
guilty of so very low a wickedness yet after his vile forgeries of
hands after his baseness in imposing upon me the most infamous persons
as ladies of honour of his own family what are the iniquities he is not
capable of 

i would then have given her an account of the trial you stood with your
friends your own previous resolutions of marriage had she honoured you
with the requested four words all your family's earnestness to have the
honour of her alliance and the application of your two cousins to miss
howe by general consent for that young lady's interest with her but 
having just touched upon these topics she cut me short saying that was
a cause before another tribunal miss howe's letters to her were upon the
subject and as she would write her thoughts to her as soon as she was
able 

i then attempted more particularly to clear you of having any hand in the
vile sinclair's officious arrest a point she had the generosity to wish
you cleared of and having mentioned the outrageous letter you had
written to me on this occasion she asked if i had that letter about me 

i owned i had 

she wished to see it 

this puzzled me horribly for you must needs think that most of the free
things which among us rakes pass for wit and spirit must be shocking
stuff to the ears or eyes of persons of delicacy of that sex and then
such an air of levity runs through thy most serious letters such a false
bravery endeavouring to carry off ludicrously the subjects that most
affect thee that those letters are generally the least fit to be seen 
which ought to be most to thy credit 

something like this i observed to her and would fain have excused myself
from showing it but she was so earnest that i undertook to read some
parts of it resolving to omit the most exceptionable 

i know thou'lt curse me for that but i thought it better to oblige her
than to be suspected myself and so not have it in my power to serve thee
with her when so good a foundation was laid for it and when she knows
as bad of thee as i can tell her 

thou rememberest the contents i suppose of thy furious letter her
remarks upon the different parts of it which i read to her were to the
following effect 


 see letter xii of this volume 


upon the last two lines all undone undone by jupiter zounds jack 
what shall i do now a curse upon all my plots and contrivances thus she
expressed herself 

o how light how unaffected with the sense of its own crimes is the
heart that could dictate to the pen this libertine froth 

the paragraph which mentions the vile arrest affected her a good deal 

in the next i omitted thy curse upon thy relations whom thou wert
gallanting and read on the seven subsequent paragraphs down to thy
execrable wish which was too shocking to read to her what i read
produced the following reflections from her 

the plots and contrivances which he curses and the exultings of the
wicked wretches on finding me out show me that all his guilt was
premeditated nor doubt i that his dreadful perjuries and inhuman arts 
as he went along were to pass for fine stratagems for witty sport and
to demonstrate a superiority of inventive talents o my cruel cruel
brother had it not been for thee i had not been thrown upon so
pernicious and so despicable a plotter but proceed sir pray proceed 

at that part canst thou o fatal prognosticator tell me where my
punishment will end she sighed and when i came to that sentence 
praying for my reformation perhaps is that there said she sighing
again wretched man and shed a tear for thee by my faith lovelace 
i believe she hates thee not she has at least a concern a generous
concern for thy future happiness what a noble creature hast thou
injured 

she made a very severe reflection upon me on reading the words on your
knees for me beg her pardon you had all your lessons sir said she 
when you came to redeem me you was so condescending as to kneel i
thought it was the effect of your own humanity and good-natured
earnestness to serve me excuse me sir i knew not that it was in
consequence of a prescribed lesson 

this concerned me not a little i could not bear to be thought such a
wretched puppet such a joseph leman such a tomlinson i endeavoured 
therefore with some warmth to clear myself of this reflection and she
again asked my excuse i was avowedly she said the friend of a man 
whose friendship she had reason to be sorry to say was no credit to any
body  and desired me to proceed 

i did but fared not much better afterwards for on that passage where
you say i had always been her friend and advocate this was her
unanswerable remark i find sir by this expression that he had always
designs against me and that you all along knew that he had would to
heaven you had had the goodness to have contrived some way that might
not have endangered your own safety to give me notice of his baseness 
since you approved not of it but you gentlemen i suppose had rather
see an innocent fellow-creature ruined than be thought capable of an
action which however generous might be likely to loosen the bands of a
wicked friendship 

after this severe but just reflection i would have avoided reading the
following although i had unawares begun the sentence but she held me
to it what would i now give had i permitted you to have been a
successful advocate and this was her remark upon it so sir you see 
if you had been the happy means of preventing the evils designed me you
would have had your friend's thanks for it when he came to his
consideration this satisfaction i am persuaded every one in the long
run will enjoy who has the virtue to withstand or prevent a wicked
purpose i was obliged i see to your kind wishes but it was a point
of honour with you to keep his secret the more indispensable with you 
perhaps the viler the secret yet permit me to wish mr belford that
you were capable of relishing the pleasures that arise to a benevolent
mind from virtuous friendship none other is worthy of the sacred name 
you seem an humane man i hope for your own sake you will one day
experience the difference and when you do think of miss howe and
clarissa harlowe i find you know much of my sad story who were the
happiest creatures on earth in each other's friendship till this friend
of your's' and there she stopt and turned from me 

where thou callest thyself a villanous plotter to take a crime to
himself said she without shame o what a hardened wretch is this man 

on that passage where thou sayest let me know how she has been treated 
if roughly woe be to the guilty this was her remark with an air of
indignation what a man is your friend sir is such a one as he to set
himself up to punish the guilty all the rough usage i could receive
from them was infinitely less' and there she stopt a moment or two 
then proceeding and who shall punish him what an assuming wretch 
nobody but himself is entitled to injure the innocent he is i suppose 
on the earth to act the part which the malignant fiend is supposed to
act below dealing out punishments at his pleasure to every inferior
instrument of mischief 

what thought i have i been doing i shall have this savage fellow
think i have been playing him booty in reading part of his letter to
this sagacious lady yet if thou art angry it can only in reason 
be at thyself for who would think i might not communicate to her some
of thy sincerity in exculpating thyself from a criminal charge which
thou wrotest to thy friend to convince him of thy innocence but a bad
heart and a bad cause are confounded things and so let us put it to its
proper account 

i passed over thy charge to me to curse them by the hour and thy names
of dragon and serpents though so applicable since had i read them 
thou must have been supposed to know from the first what creatures they
were vile fellow as thou wert for bringing so much purity among them 
and i closed with thy own concluding paragraph a line a line a kingdom
for a line etc however telling her since she saw that i omitted some
sentences that there were farther vehemences in it but as they were
better fitted to show to me the sincerity of the writer than for so
delicate an ear as her's to hear i chose to pass them over 

you have read enough said she he is a wicked wicked man i see he
intended to have me in his power at any rate and i have no doubt of what
his purposes were by what his actions have been you know his vile
tomlinson i suppose you know but what signifies talking never was
there such a premeditated false heart in man  nothing can be truer 
thought i   what has he not vowed what has he not invented and all for
what only to ruin a poor young creature whom he ought to have
protected and whom he had first deceived of all other protection 

she arose and turned from me her handkerchief at her eyes and after a
pause came towards me again i hope said she i talk to a man who has
a better heart and i thank you sir for all your kind though
ineffectual pleas in my favour formerly whether the motives for them
were compassion or principle or both that they were ineffectual 
might very probably be owing to your want of earnestness and that as
you might think to my want of merit i might not in your eye deserve
to be saved i might appear to you a giddy creature who had run away
from her true and natural friends and who therefore ought to take the
consequence of the lot she had drawn 

i was afraid for thy sake to let her know how very earnest i had been 
but assured her that i had been her zealous friend and that my motives
were founded upon a merit that i believed was never equaled that 
however indefensible mr lovelace was he had always done justice to her
virtue that to a full conviction of her untainted honour it was owing
that he so earnestly desired to call so inestimable a jewel his and was
proceeding when she again cut me short 

enough and too much of this subject sir if he will never more let me
behold his face that is all i have now to ask of him indeed indeed 
clasping her hands i never will if i can by any means not criminally
desperate avoid it 

what could i say for thee there was no room however at that time to
touch this string again for fear of bringing upon myself a prohibition 
not only of the subject but of ever attending her again 

i gave some distant intimations of money-matters i should have told
thee when i read to her that passage where thou biddest me force what
sums upon her i can get her to take she repeated no no no no 
several times with great quickness and i durst no more than just
intimate it again and that so darkly as left her room to seem not to
understand me 

indeed i know not the person man or woman i should be so much afraid
of disobliging or incurring a censure from as from her she has so
much true dignity in her manner without pride or arrogance which in
those who have either one is tempted to mortify such a piercing eye 
yet softened so sweetly with rays of benignity that she commands all
one's reverence 

methinks i have a kind of holy love for this angel of a woman and it is
matter of astonishment to me that thou couldst converse with her a
quarter of an hour together and hold thy devilish purposes 

guarded as she was by piety prudence virtue dignity family fortune 
and a purity of heart that never woman before her boasted what a real
devil must he be yet i doubt i shall make thee proud who could resolve
to break through so many fences 

for my own part i am more and more sensible that i ought not to have
contented myself with representing against and expostulating with thee
upon thy base intentions and indeed i had it in my head more than
once to try to do something for her but wretch that i was i was
with-held by notions of false honour as she justly reproached me 
because of thy own voluntary communications to me of thy purposes and
then as she was brought into such a cursed house and was so watched by
thyself as well as by thy infernal agents i thought knowing my man 
that i should only accelerate the intended mischiefs moreover finding
thee so much over-awed by her virtue that thou hadst not at thy first
carrying her thither the courage to attempt her and that she had more
than once without knowing thy base views obliged thee to abandon them 
and to resolve to do her justice and thyself honour i hardly doubted 
that her merit would be triumphant at last 

it is my opinion if thou holdest thy purposes to marry that thou
canst not do better than to procure thy real aunts and thy real cousins 
to pay her a visit and to be thy advocates but if they decline
personal visits letters from them and from my lord m supported by miss
howe's interest may perhaps effect something in thy favour 

but these are only my hopes founded on what i wish for thy sake the
lady i really think would choose death rather than thee and the two
women are of opinion though they knew not half of what she has suffered 
that her heart is actually broken 

at taking my leave i tendered my best services to her and besought her
to permit me frequently to inquire after her health 

she made me no answer but by bowing her head 



letter xxii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday july 19 


this morning i took a chair to smith's and being told that the lady had
a very bad night but was up i sent for her worthy apothecary who on
his coming to me approving of my proposal of calling in dr h i bid
the woman acquaint her with the designed visit 

it seems she was at first displeased yet withdrew her objection but 
after a pause asked them what she should do she had effects of value 
some of which she intended as soon as she could to turn into money 
but till then had not a single guinea to give the doctor for his fee 

mrs lovick said she had five guineas by her they were at her service 

she would accept of three she said if she would take that pulling a
diamond ring from her finger till she repaid her but on no other terms 

having been told i was below with mr goddard she desired to speak one
word with me before she saw the doctor 

she was sitting in an elbow-chair leaning her head on a pillow mrs 
smith and the widow on each side her chair her nurse with a phial of
hartshorn behind her in her own hand her salts 

raising her head at my entrance she inquired if the doctor knew mr 
lovelace 

i told her no and that i believed you never saw him in your life 

was the doctor my friend 

he was and a very worthy and skilful man i named him for his eminence
in his profession and mr goddard said he knew not a better physician 

i have but one condition to make before i see the gentleman that he
refuse not his fees from me if i am poor sir i am proud i will not
be under obligation you may believe sir i will not i suffer this
visit because i would not appear ungrateful to the few friends i have
left nor obstinate to such of my relations as may some time hence for
their private satisfaction inquire after my behaviour in my sick hours 
so sir you know the condition and don't let me be vexed i am very
ill and cannot debate the matter 

seeing her so determined i told her if it must be so it should 

then sir the gentleman may come but i shall not be able to answer
many questions nurse you can tell him at the window there what a night
i have had and how i have been for two days past and mr goddard if
he be here can let him know what i have taken pray let me be as little
questioned as possible 

the doctor paid his respects to her with the gentlemanly address for
which he is noted and she cast up her sweet eyes to him with that
benignity which accompanies her every graceful look 

i would have retired but she forbid it 

he took her hand the lily not of so beautiful a white indeed madam 
you are very low said he but give me leave to say that you can do more
for yourself than all the faculty can do for you 

he then withdrew to the window and after a short conference with the
women he turned to me and to mr goddard at the other window we can
do nothing here speaking low but by cordials and nourishment what
friends has the lady she seems to be a person of condition and ill as
she is a very fine woman a single lady i presume 

i whisperingly told him she was that there were extraordinary
circumstances in her case as i would have apprized him had i met with
him yesterday that her friends were very cruel to her but that she
could not hear them named without reproaching herself though they were
much more to blame than she 

i knew i was right said the doctor a love-case mr goddard a
love-case mr belford there is one person in the world who can do her
more service than all the faculty 

mr goddard said he had apprehended her disorder was in her mind and had
treated her accordingly and then told the doctor what he had done which
he approving of again taking her charming hand said my good young
lady you will require very little of our assistance you must in a
great measure be your own assistance you must in a great measure be
your own doctress come dear madam  forgive me the familiar
tenderness your aspect commands love as well as reverence and a father
of children some of them older than yourself may be excused for his
familiar address   cheer up your spirits resolve to do all in your
power to be well and you'll soon grow better 

you are very kind sir said she i will take whatever you direct my
spirits have been hurried i shall be better i believe before i am
worse the care of my good friends here looking at the women shall not
meet with an ungrateful return 

the doctor wrote he would fain have declined his fee as her malady 
he said was rather to be relieved by the soothings of a friend than by
the prescriptions of a physician he should think himself greatly
honoured to be admitted rather to advise her in the one character than
to prescribe to her in the other 

she answered that she should be always glad to see so humane a man that
his visits would keep her in charity with his sex but that where  sic 
she able to forget that he was her physician she might be apt to abate
of the confidence in his skill which might be necessary to effect the
amendment that was the end of his visits 

and when he urged her still further which he did in a very polite
manner and as passing by the door two or three times a day she said she
should always have pleasure in considering him in the kind light he
offered himself to her that that might be very generous in one person to
offer which would be as ungenerous in another to accept that indeed she
was not at present high in circumstance and he saw by the tender which
he must accept of that she had greater respect to her own convenience
than to his merit or than to the pleasure she should take in his visits 

we all withdrew together and the doctor and mr goddard having a great
curiosity to know something more of her story at the motion of the
latter we went into a neighbouring coffee-house and i gave them in
confidence a brief relation of it making all as light for you as i
could and yet you'll suppose that in order to do but common justice
to the lady's character heavy must be that light 


three o'clock afternoon 

i just now called again at smith's and am told she is somewhat better 
which she attributed to the soothings of her doctor she expressed
herself highly pleased with both gentlemen and said that their behaviour
to her was perfectly paternal 

paternal poor lady never having been till very lately from under
her parents' wings and now abandoned by all her friends she is for
finding out something paternal and maternal in every one the latter
qualities in mrs lovick and mrs smith to supply to herself the father
and mother her dutiful heart pants after 

mrs smith told me that after we were gone she gave the keys of her
trunk and drawers to her and the widow lovick and desired them to take
an inventory of them which they did in her presence 

they also informed me that she had requested them to find her a
purchaser for two rich dressed suits one never worn the other not above
once or twice 

this shocked me exceedingly perhaps it may thee a little her reason
for so doing she told them was that she should never live to wear
them that her sister and other relations were above wearing them that
her mother would not endure in her sight any thing that was her's that
she wanted the money that she would not be obliged to any body when she
had effects by her for which she had no occasion and yet said she i
expect not that they will fetch a price answerable to their value 

they were both very much concerned as they owned and asked my advice
upon it and the richness of her apparel having given them a still higher
notion of her rank than they had before they supposed she must be of
quality and again wanted to know her story 

i told them that she was indeed a woman of family and fortune i still
gave them room to suppose her married but left it to her to tell them
all in her own time and manner all i would say was that she had been
very vilely treated deserved it not and was all innocence and purity 

you may suppose that they both expressed their astonishment that there
could be a man in the world who could ill treat so fine a creature 

as to the disposing of the two suits of apparel i told mrs smith that
she should pretend that upon inquiry she had found a friend who would
purchase the richest of them but that she might not mistrust would
stand upon a good bargain and having twenty guineas about me i left
them with her in part of payment and bid her pretend to get her to part
with it for as little more as she could induce her to take 

i am setting out for edgeware with poor belton more of whom in my next 
i shall return to-morrow and leave this in readiness for your messenger 
if he call in my absence 

adieu 



letter xxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to letter xxi of this volume  
m hall wed night july 19 


you might well apprehend that i should think you were playing me booty in
communicating my letter to the lady 

you ask who would think you might not read to her the least
exceptionable parts of a letter written in my own defence i'll tell you
who the man who in the same letter that he asks this question tells
the friend whom he exposes to her resentment that there is such an air
of levity runs through his most serious letters that those of this are
least fit to be seen which ought to be most to his credit  and now what
thinkest thou of thyself-condemned folly be however i charge thee 
more circumspect for the future that so this clumsy error may stand
singly by itself 

it is painful to her to think of me  libertine froth  so pernicious
and so despicable a plotter  a man whose friendship is no credit to any
body  hardened wretch  the devil's counterpart  a wicked wicked
man  but did she could she dared she to say or imply all this and
say it to a man whom she praises for humanity and prefers to myself for
that virtue when all the humanity he shows and she knows it too is by
my direction so robs me of the credit of my own works admirably
entitled all this shows her to thy refinement upon the words resentment
and revenge but thou wert always aiming and blundering at some thing
thou never couldst make out 

the praise thou givest to her ingenuousness is another of thy peculiars 
i think not as thou dost of her tell-tale recapitulations and
exclamations what end can they answer only that thou hast a holy love
for her  the devil fetch thee for thy oddity   or it is extremely
provoking to suppose one sees such a charming creature stand upright
before a libertine and talk of the sin against her that cannot be
forgiven i wish at my heart that these chaste ladies would have a
little modesty in their anger it would sound very strange if i robert
lovelace should pretend to have more true delicacy in a point that
requires the utmost than miss clarissa harlowe 

i think i will put it into the head of her nurse norton and her miss
howe by some one of my agents to chide the dear novice for her
proclamations 

but to be serious let me tell thee that severe as she is and saucy 
in asking so contemptuously what a man is your friend sir to set
himself to punish guilty people  i will never forgive the cursed woman 
who could commit this last horrid violence on so excellent a creature 

the barbarous insults of the two nymphs in their visits to her the
choice of the most execrable den that could be found out in order no
doubt to induce her to go back to theirs and the still more execrable
attempt to propose to her a man who would pay the debt a snare i make
no question laid for her despairing and resenting heart by that devilish
sally thinking her no doubt a woman in order to ruin her with me 
and to provoke me in a fury to give her up to their remorseless
cruelty are outrages that to express myself in her style i never can 
never will forgive 

but as to thy opinion and the two women's at smith's that her heart is
broken that is the true women's language i wonder how thou camest into
it thou who hast seen and heard of so many female deaths and revivals 

i'll tell thee what makes against this notion of theirs 

her time of life and charming constitution the good she ever delighted
to do and fancified she was born to do and which she may still continue
to do to as high a degree as ever nay higher since i am no sordid
varlet thou knowest her religious turn a turn that will always teach
her to bear inevitable evils with patience the contemplation upon her
last noble triumph over me and over the whole crew and upon her
succeeding escape from us all her will unviolated and the inward pride
of having not deserved the treatment she has met with 

how is it possible to imagine that a woman who has all these
consolations to reflect upon will die of a broken heart 

on the contrary i make no doubt but that as she recovers from the
dejection into which this last scurvy villany which none but wretches
of her own sex could have been guilty of has thrown her returning love
will re-enter her time-pacified mind her thoughts will then turn once
more on the conjugal pivot of course she will have livelier notions in
her head and these will make her perform all her circumvolutions with
ease and pleasure though not with so high a degree of either as if the
dear proud rogue could have exalted herself above the rest of her sex as
she turned round 

thou askest on reciting the bitter invectives that the lady made against
thy poor friend standing before her i suppose with thy fingers in thy
mouth what couldst thou say for me 

have i not in my former letters suggested an hundred things which a
friend in earnest to vindicate or excuse a friend might say on such an
occasion 

but now to current topics and the present state of matters here it is
true as my servant told thee that miss howe had engaged before this
cursed woman's officiousness to use her interest with her friend in my
behalf and yet she told my cousins in the visit they made her that it
was her opinion that she would never forgive me i send to thee enclosed
copies of all that passed on this occasion between my cousins montague 
miss howe myself lady betty lady sarah and lord m 

i long to know what miss howe wrote to her friend in order to induce her
to marry the despicable plotter the man whose friendship is no credit to
any body the wicked wicked man thou hadst the two letters in thy
hand had they been in mine the seal would have yielded to the touch of
my warm finger perhaps without the help of the post-office bullet and
the folds as other placations have done opened of themselves to oblige
my curiosity a wicked omission jack not to contrive to send them down
to me by man and horse it might have passed that the messenger who
brought the second letter took them both back i could have returned
them by another when copied as from miss howe and nobody but myself
and thee the wiser 

that's a charming girl her spirit her delightful spirit not to be
married to it how i wish to get that lively bird into my cage how would
i make her flutter and fly about till she left a feather upon every
wire 

had i begun there i am confident as i have heretofore said that i
should not have had half the difficulty with her as i have had with her
charming friend for these passionate girls have high pulses and a
clever fellow may make what sport he pleases with their unevenness now
too high now too low you need only to provoke and appease them by
turns to bear with them and to forbear to tease and ask pardon and
sometimes to give yourself the merit of a sufferer from them then
catching them in the moment of concession conscious of their ill usage
of you they are all your own 


 see vol vi letter vii 


but these sedate contemplative girls never out of temper but with
reason when that reason is given them hardly ever pardon or afford you
another opportunity to offend 

it was in part the apprehension that this would be so with my dear miss
harlowe that made me carry her to a place where i believed she would be
unable to escape me although i were not to succeed in my first attempts 
else widow sorlings's would have been as well for me as widow sinclair's 
for early i saw that there was no credulity in her to graft upon no
pretending to whine myself into her confidence she was proof against
amorous persuasion she had reason in her love her penetration and
good sense made her hate all compliments that had not truth and nature in
them what could i have done with her in any other place and yet how
long even there was i kept in awe in spite of natural incitement and
unnatural instigations as i now think them by the mere force of that
native dignity and obvious purity of mind and manners which fill every
one with reverence if not with holy love as thou callest it the
moment he sees her else thinkest thou not it was easy for me to be a
fine gentleman and a delicate lover or at least a specious and
flattering one 


 see letter xxi of this volume 


lady sarah and lady betty finding the treaty upon the success of which
they have set their foolish hearts likely to run into length are about
departing to their own seats having taken from me the best security the
nature of the case will admit of that is to say my word to marry the
lady if she will have me 

and after all methinks thou asked art thou still resolved to repair 
if reparation be put into thy power 

why jack i must needs own that my heart has now-and-then some
retrograde motions upon thinking seriously of the irrevocable ceremony 
we do not easily give up the desire of our hearts and what we imagine
essential to our happiness let the expectation or hope of compassing it
be ever so unreasonable or absurd in the opinion of others recurrings
there will be hankerings that will on every but-remotely-favourable
incident however before discouraged and beaten back by ill success 
pop up and abate the satisfaction we should otherwise take in
contrariant overtures 

tis ungentlemanly jack man to man to lie but matrimony i do not
heartily love although with a clarissa yet i am in earnest to marry
her 

but i am often thinking that if now this dear creature suffering time 
and my penitence my relations' prayers and miss howe's mediation to
soften her resentments her revenge thou hast prettily distinguished
away and to recall repulsed inclination should consent to meet me at
the altar how vain will she then make all thy eloquent periods of
execration how many charming interjections of her own will she spoil 
and what a couple of old patriarchs shall we become going in the
mill-horse round getting sons and daughters providing nurses for them
first governors and governesses next teaching them lessons their
fathers never practised nor which their mother as her parents will say 
was much the better for and at last perhaps when life shall be turned
into the dully sober stillness and i become desirous to forget all my
past rogueries what comfortable reflections will it afford to find them
all revived with equal or probably greater trouble and expense in the
persons and manners of so many young lovelaces of the boys and to have
the girls run away with varlets perhaps not half so ingenious as myself 
clumsy fellows as it might happen who could not afford the baggages one
excuse for their weakness besides those disgraceful ones of sex and
nature o belford who can bear to think of these things who at my
time of life especially and with such a bias for mischief 


 see letter xviii of this volume 


of this i am absolutely convinced that if a man ever intends to marry 
and to enjoy in peace his own reflections and not be afraid
retribution or of the consequences of his own example he should never
be a rake 

this looks like conscience don't it belford 

but being in earnest still as i have said all i have to do in my
present uncertainty is to brighten up my faculties by filing off the
rust they have contracted by the town smoke a long imprisonment in my
close attendance to so little purpose on my fair perverse and to brace
up if i can the relaxed fibres of my mind which have been twitched and
convulsed like the nerves of some tottering paralytic by means of the
tumults she has excited in it that so i may be able to present to her a
husband as worthy as i can be of her acceptance or if she reject me be
in a capacity to resume my usual gaiety of heart and show others of the
misleading sex that i am not discouraged by the difficulties i have met
with from this sweet individual of it from endeavouring to make myself
as acceptable to them as before 

in this latter case one tour to france and italy i dare say will do
the business miss harlowe will by that time have forgotten all she has
suffered from her ungrateful lovelace though it will be impossible that
her lovelace should ever forget a woman whose equal he despairs to meet
with were he to travel from one end of the world to the other 

if thou continuest paying off the heavy debts my long letters for so
many weeks together have made thee groan under i will endeavour to
restrain myself in the desires i have importunate as they are of
going to town to throw myself at the feet of my soul's beloved policy
and honesty both join to strengthen the restraint my own promise and thy
engagement have laid me under on this head i would not afresh provoke 
on the contrary would give time for her resentments to subside that so
all that follows may be her own act and deed 


 


hickman  i have a mortal aversion to that fellow   has by a line which
i have just now received requested an interview with me on friday at mr 
dormer's as at a common friend's does the business he wants to meet me
upon require that it should be at a common friend's a challenge
implied is it not belford i shall not be civil to him i doubt he
has been an intermeddler then i envy him on miss howe's account for if
i have a right notion of this hickman it is impossible that that virago
can ever love him 

every one knows that the mother saucy as the daughter sometimes is 
crams him down her throat her mother is one of the most
violent-spirited women in england her late husband could not stand in
the matrimonial contention of who should but tipt off the perch in it 
neither knowing how to yield nor knowing how to conquer 

a charming encouragement for a man of intrigue when he has reason to
believe that the woman he has a view upon has no love for her husband 
what good principles must that wife have who is kept in against
temptation by a sense of her duty and plighted faith where affection
has no hold of her 

pr'ythee let's know very particularly how it fares with poor belton 
tis an honest fellow something more than his thomasine seems to stick
with him 

thou hast not been preaching to him conscience and reformation hast
thou thou shouldest not take liberties with him of this sort unless
thou thoughtest him absolutely irrecoverable a man in ill health and
crop-sick cannot play with these solemn things as thou canst and be
neither better nor worse for them repentance jack i have a notion 
should be set about while a man is in health and spirits what's a man
fit for  not to begin a new work surely   when he is not himself nor
master of his faculties hence as i apprehend it is that a death-bed
repentance is supposed to be such a precarious and ineffectual thing 

as to myself i hope i have a great deal of time before me since i
intend one day to be a reformed man i have very serious reflections
now-and-then yet am i half afraid of the truth of what my charmer once
told me that a man cannot repent when he will not to hold it i
suppose she meant by fits and starts i have repented a thousand times 

casting my eye over the two preceding paragraphs i fancy there is
something like contradiction in them but i will not reconsider them 
the subject is a very serious one i don't at present quite understand
it but now for one more airy 

tourville mowbray and myself pass away our time as pleasantly as
possibly we can without thee i wish we don't add to lord m s gouty
days by the joy we give him 

this is one advantage as i believe i have elsewhere observed that we
male-delinquents in love-matters have of the other sex for while they 
poor things sit sighing in holes and corners or run to woods and groves
to bemoan themselves on their baffled hopes we can rant and roar hunt
and hawk and by new loves banish from our hearts all remembrance of
the old ones 

merrily however as we pass our time my reflections upon the injuries
done to this noble creature bring a qualm upon my heart very often but
i know she will permit me to make her amends after she has plagued me
heartily and that's my consolation 

an honest fellow still clap thy wings and crow jack 



letter xxiv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
thursday morn june 20 


 text error should be july 


what my dearest creature have been your sufferings what must have
been your anguish on so disgraceful an insult committed in the open
streets and in the broad day 

no end i think of the undeserved calamities of a dear soul who had
been so unhappily driven and betrayed into the hands of a vile libertine 
 how was i shocked at the receiving of your letter written by another
hand and only dictated by you you must be very ill nor is it to be
wondered at but i hope it is rather from hurry and surprise and
lowness which may be overcome than from a grief given way to which may
be attended with effects i cannot bear to think of 

but whatever you do my dear you must not despond indeed you must not
despond hitherto you have been in no fault but despair would be all
your own and the worst fault you can be guilty of 

i cannot bear to look upon another hand instead of your's my dear
creature send me a few lines though ever so few in your own hand if
possible for they will revive my heart especially if they can acquaint
me of your amended health 

i expect your answer to my letter of the 13th we all expect it with
impatience 

his relations are persons of so much honour they are so very earnest to
rank you among them the wretch is so very penitent every one of his
family says he is your own are so implacable your last distress though
the consequence of his former villany yet neither brought on by his
direction nor with his knowledge and so much resented by him that my
mother is absolutely of opinion that you should be his especially if 
yielding to my wishes as expressed in my letter and those of all his
friends you would have complied had it not been for this horrid arrest 

i will enclose the copy of the letter i wrote to miss montague last
tuesday on hearing that nobody knew what was become of you and the
answer to it underwritten and signed by lord m lady sarah sadleir and
lady betty lawrance as well as by the young ladies and also by the
wretch himself 

i own that i like not the turn of what he has written to me and before
i will further interest myself in his favour i have determined to inform
myself by a friend from his own mouth of his sincerity and whether
his whole inclination be in his request to me exclusive of the wishes
of his relations yet my heart rises against him on the supposition
that there is the shadow of a reason for such a question the woman miss
clarissa harlowe but i think with my mother that marriage is now the
only means left to make your future life tolerably easy happy there is
no saying his disgraces in that case in the eye of the world itself 
will be more than your's and to those who know you glorious will be
your triumph 

i am obliged to accompany my mother soon to the isle of wight my aunt
harman is in a declining way and insists upon seeing us both and mr 
hickman too i think 

his sister of whom we had heard so much with her lord were brought
t'other day to visit us she strangely likes me or says she does 

i can't say but that i think she answers the excellent character we heard
of her 

it would be death to me to set out for the little island and not see you
first and yet my mother fond of exerting an authority that she herself 
by that exertion often brings into question insists that my next visit
to you must be a congratulatory one as mrs lovelace 

when i know what will be the result of the questions to be put in my name
to that wretch and what is your mind on my letter of the 13th i shall
tell you more of mine 

the bearer promises to make so much dispatch as to attend you this very
afternoon may he return with good tidings to

your ever affectionate
anna howe 



letter xxv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday afternoon 


you pain me miss howe by the ardour of your noble friendship i will
be brief because i am not well yet a good deal better than i was and
because i am preparing an answer to your's of the 13th but before
hand i must tell you my dear i will not have that man don't be angry
with me but indeed i won't so let him be asked no questions about me 
i beseech you 

i do not despond my dear i hope i may say i will not despond is not
my condition greatly mended i thank heaven it is 

i am no prisoner now in a vile house i am not now in the power of that
man's devices i am not now obliged to hide myself in corners for fear
of him one of his intimate companions is become my warm friend and
engages to keep him from me and that by his own consent i am among
honest people i have all my clothes and effects restored to me the
wretch himself bears testimony to my honour 

indeed i am very weak and ill but i have an excellent physician dr h 
and as worthy an apothecary mr goddard their treatment of me my
dear is perfectly paternal my mind too i can find begins to
strengthen and methinks at times i find myself superior to my
calamities 

i shall have sinkings sometimes i must expect such and my father's
maledict but you will chide me for introducing that now i am
enumerating my comforts 

but i charge you my dear that you do not suffer my calamities to sit
too heavily upon your own mind if you do that will be to new-point
some of those arrows that have been blunted and lost their sharpness 

if you would contribute to my happiness give way my dear to your own 
and to the cheerful prospects before you 

you will think very meanly of your clarissa if you do not believe that
the greatest pleasure she can receive in this life is in your prosperity
and welfare think not of me my only friend but as we were in times
past and suppose me gone a great great way off a long journey how
often are the dearest of friends at their country's call thus parted 
with a certainty for years with a probability for ever 

love me still however but let it be with a weaning love i am not what
i was when we were inseparable lovers as i may say our views must now
be different resolve my dear to make a worthy man happy because a
worthy man make you so and so my dearest love for the present adieu 
 adieu my dearest love but i shall soon write again i hope 



letter xxvi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
 in answer to letter xxiii of this volume  
thurday july 20 


i read that part of your conclusion to poor belton where you inquire
after him and mention how merrily you and the reset pass your time at
m hall he fetched a deep sigh you are all very happy were his words 
 i am sorry they were his words for poor fellow he is going very
fast change of air he hopes will mend him joined to the cheerful
company i have left him in but nothing i dare say will 

a consuming malady and a consuming mistress to an indulgent keeper are
dreadful things to struggle with both together violence must be used to
get rid of the latter and yet he has not spirit enough left him to exert
himself his house is thomasine's house not his he has not been
within his doors for a fortnight past vagabonding about from inn to
inn entering each for a bait only and staying two or three days without
power to remove and hardly knowing which to go to next his malady is
within him and he cannot run away from it 

her boys once he thought them his are sturdy enough to shoulder him in
his own house as they pass by him siding with the mother they in a
manner expel him and in his absence riot away on the remnant of his
broken fortunes as to their mother who was once so tender so
submissive so studious to oblige that we all pronounced him happy and
his course of life the eligible she is now so termagant so insolent 
that he cannot contend with her without doing infinite prejudice to his
health a broken-spirited defensive hardly a defensive therefore 
reduced to and this to a heart for so many years waging offensive war 
 not valuing whom the opponent what a reduction now comparing himself
to the superannuated lion in the fable kicked in the jaws and laid
sprawling by the spurning heel of an ignoble ass 

i have undertaken his cause he has given me leave yet not without
reluctance to put him into possession of his own house and to place in
it for him his unhappy sister whom he has hitherto slighted because
unhappy it is hard he told me and wept poor fellow when he said
it that he cannot be permitted to die quietly in his own house the
fruits of blessed keeping these 

though but lately apprized of her infidelity it now comes out to have
been of so long continuance that he has no room to believe the boys to
be his yet how fond did he use to be of them 

to what lovelace shall we attribute the tenderness which a reputed
father frequently shows to the children of another man what is that i
pray thee which we call nature and natural affection and what has man
to boast of as to sagacity and penetration when he is as easily brought
to cover and rear and even to love and often to prefer the product of
another's guilt with his wife or mistress as a hen or a goose the eggs 
and even young of others of their kind 

nay let me ask if instinct as it is called in the animal creation 
does not enable them to distinguish their own much more easily than we 
with our boasted reason and sagacity in this nice particular can do 

if some men who have wives but of doubtful virtue considered this
matter duly i believe their inordinate ardour after gain would be a good
deal cooled when they could not be certain though their mates could 
for whose children they were elbowing bustling griping and perhaps
cheating those with whom they have concerns whether friends 
neighbours or more certain next-of-kin by the mother's side however 

but i will not push this notion so far as it might be carried because 
if propagated it might be of unsocial or unnatural consequence since
women of virtue would perhaps be more liable to suffer by the mistrusts
and caprices or bad-hearted and foolish-headed husbands than those who
can screen themselves from detection by arts and hypocrisy to which a
woman of virtue cannot have recourse and yet were this notion duly and
generally considered it might be attended with no bad effects as good
education good inclinations and established virtue would be the
principally-sought-after qualities and not money when a man not
biased by mere personal attractions was looking round him for a partner
in his fortunes and for a mother of his future children which are to be
the heirs of his possessions and to enjoy the fruits of his industry 

but to return to poor belton 

if i have occasion for your assistance and that of our compeers in
re-instating the poor fellow i will give you notice mean time i have
just now been told that thomasine declares she will not stir for it
seems she suspects that measures will be fallen upon to make her quit 
she is mrs belton she says and will prove her marriage 

if she would give herself these airs in his life-time what would she
attempt to do after his death 

her boy threatens any body who shall presume to insult their mother 
their father as they call poor belton they speak of as an unnatural
one and their probably true father is for ever there hostilely there 
passing for her cousin as usual now her protecting cousin 

hardly ever i dare say was there a keeper that did not make
keeperess who lavished away on her kept-fellow what she obtained from
the extravagant folly of him who kept her 

i will do without you if i can the case will be only as i conceive 
that like of the ancient sarmatians their wives then in possession of
their slaves so that they had to contend not only with those wives 
conscious of their infidelity and with their slaves but with the
children of those slaves grown up to manhood resolute to defend their
mothers and their long-manumitted fathers but the noble sarmatians 
scorning to attack their slaves with equal weapons only provided
themselves with the same sort of whips with which they used formerly to
chastise them and attacking them with them the miscreants fled before
them in memory of which to this day the device on the coin in
novogrod in russia a city of the antient sarmatia is a man on
horseback with a whip in his hand 

the poor fellow takes it ill that you did not press him more than you
did to be of your party at m hall it is owing to mowbray he is sure 
that he had so very slight an invitation from one whose invitations used
to be so warm 

mowbray's speech to him he says he never will forgive why tom  said
the brutal fellow with a curse thou droopest like a pip or
roup-cloaking chicken thou shouldst grow perter or submit to a
solitary quarantine if thou wouldst not infect the whole brood 

for my own part only that this poor fellow is in distress as well in
his affairs as in his mind or i should be sick of you all such is the
relish i have of the conversation and such my admiration of the
deportment and sentiments of this divine lady that i would forego a
month even of thy company to be admitted into her's but for one hour 
and i am highly in conceit with myself greatly as i used to value thine 
for being able spontaneously as i may say to make this preference 

it is after all a devilish life we have lived and to consider how it
all ends in a very few years to see to what a state of ill health this
poor fellow is so soon reduced and then to observe how every one of ye
run away from the unhappy being as rats from a falling house is fine
comfort to help a man to look back upon companions ill-chosen and a life
mis-spent 

it will be your turns by-and-by every man of ye if the justice of your
country interpose not 

thou art the only rake we have herded with if thou wilt not except
thyself who hast preserved entire thy health and thy fortunes 

mowbray indeed is indebted to a robust constitution that he has not yet
suffered in his health but his estate is dwindled away year by year 

three-fourths of tourville's very considerable fortunes are already
dissipated and the remaining fourth will probably soon go after the
other three 

poor belton we see how it is with him his own felicity is that he
will hardly live to want 

thou art too proud and too prudent ever to be destitute and to do
thee justice hath a spirit to assist such of thy friends as may be
reduced and wilt if thou shouldest then be living but i think thou
must much sooner than thou imaginest be called to thy account knocked
on the head perhaps by the friends of those whom thou hast injured for
if thou escapest this fate from the harlowe family thou wilt go on
tempting danger and vengeance till thou meetest with vengeance and
this whether thou marriest or not for the nuptial life will not i
doubt till age join with it cure thee of that spirit for intrigue which
is continually running away with thee in spite of thy better sense and
transitory resolutions 

well then i will suppose thee laid down quietly among thy worthier
ancestors 

and now let me look forward to the ends of tourville and mowbray  belton
will be crumbled into dust before thee perhaps   supposing thy early
exit has saved thee from gallows intervention 

reduced probably by riotous waste to consequential want behold them
refuged in some obscene hole or garret obliged to the careless care of
some dirty old woman whom nothing but her poverty prevails upon to
attend to perform the last offices for men who have made such shocking
ravage among the young ones 

then how miserably will they whine through squeaking organs their big
voices turned into puling pity-begging lamentations their now-offensive
paws how helpless then their now-erect necks then denying support to
their aching heads those globes of mischief dropping upon their quaking
shoulders then what wry faces will they make their hearts and their
heads reproaching each other distended their parched mouths sunk
their unmuscled cheeks dropt their under jaws each grunting like the
swine he had resembled in his life oh what a vile wretch have i been 
oh that i had my life to come over again confessing to the poor old
woman who cannot shrive them imaginary ghosts of deflowered virgins 
and polluted matrons flitting before their glassy eyes and old satan 
to their apprehensions grinning behind a looking-glass held up before
them to frighten them with the horror visible in their own countenances 

for my own part if i can get some good family to credit me with a sister
or daughter as i have now an increased fortune which will enable me to
propose handsome settlements i will desert ye all marry and live a
life of reason rather than a life of a brute for the time to come 



letter xxvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday night 


i was forced to take back my twenty guineas how the women managed it i
can't tell i suppose they too readily found a purchaser for the rich
suit but she mistrusted that i was the advancer of the money and
would not let the clothes go but mrs lovick has actually sold for
fifteen guineas some rich lace worth three times the sum out of which
she repaid her the money she borrowed for fees to the doctor in an
illness occasioned by the barbarity of the most savage of men thou
knowest his name 

the doctor called on her in the morning it seems and had a short debate
with her about fees she insisted that he should take one every time he
came write or not write mistrusting that he only gave verbal directions
to mrs lovick or the nurse to avoid taking any 

he said that it would be impossible for him had he not been a physician 
to forbear inquiries after the health and welfare of so excellent a
person he had not the thought of paying her a compliment in declining
the offered fee but he knew her case could not so suddenly vary as to
demand his daily visits she must permit him therefore to inquire of
the women below after her health and he must not think of coming up if
he were to be pecuniarily rewarded for the satisfaction he was so
desirous to give himself 

it ended in a compromise for a fee each other time which she unwillingly
submitted to telling him that though she was at present desolate and in
disgrace yet her circumstances were of right high and no expenses
could rise so as to be scrupled whether she lived or died but she
submitted she added to the compromise in hopes to see him as often as
he had opportunity for she really looked upon him and mr goddard from
their kind and tender treatment of her with a regard next to filial 

i hope thou wilt make thyself acquainted with this worthy doctor when
thou comest to town and give him thy thanks for putting her into
conceit with the sex that thou hast given her so much reason to execrate 

farewell 


letter xxviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
m hall friday july 21 


just returned from an interview with this hickman a precise fop of a
fellow as starched as his ruffles 

thou knowest i love him not jack and whom we love not we cannot allow a
merit to perhaps not the merit they should be granted however i am in
earnest when i say that he seems to me to be so set so prim so
affected so mincing yet so clouterly in his person that i dare engage
for thy opinion if thou dost justice to him and to thyself that thou
never beheldest such another except in a pier-glass 

i'll tell thee how i play'd him off 

he came in his own chariot to dormer's and we took a turn in the garden 
at his request he was devilish ceremonious and made a bushel of
apologies for the freedom he was going to take and after half a hundred
hums and haws told me that he came that he came to wait on me at the
request of dear miss howe on the account on the account of miss
harlowe 

well sir speak on said i but give me leave to say that if your book
be as long as your preface it will take up a week to read it 

this was pretty rough thou'lt say but there's nothing like balking
these formalities at first when they are put out of their road they
are filled with doubts of themselves and can never get into it again so
that an honest fellow impertinently attacked as i was has all the game
in his own hand quite through the conference 

he stroked his chin and hardly knew what to say at last after
parenthesis within parenthesis apologizing for apologies in imitation 
i suppose of swift's digression in praise of digressions i presume i
presume sir you were privy to the visit made to miss howe by the young
ladies your cousins in the name of lord m and lady sarah sadleir and
lady betty lawrance 

i was sir and miss howe had a letter afterwards signed by his lordship
and by those ladies and underwritten by myself have you seen it sir 

i can't say but i have it is the principal cause of this visit for
miss howe thinks your part of it is written with such an air of levity 
pardon me sir that she knows not whether you are in earnest or not in
your address to her for her interest to her friend 


 see mr lovelace's billet to miss howe letter xiv of this volume 


will miss howe permit me to explain myself in person to her mr hickman 

o sir by no means miss howe i am sure would not give you that
trouble 

i should not think it a trouble i will most readily attend you sir to
miss howe and satisfy her in all her scruples come sir i will wait
upon you now you have a chariot are alone we can talk as we ride 

he hesitated wriggled winced stroked his ruffles set his wig and
pulled his neckcloth which was long enough for a bib i am not going
directly back to miss howe sir it will be as well if you will be so
good as to satisfy miss howe by me 

what is it she scruples mr hickman 

why sir miss howe observes that in your part of the letter you say 
but let me see sir i have a copy of what you wrote  pulling it out  
will you give me leave sir thus you begin dear miss howe 

no offence i hope mr hickman 

none in the least sir none at all sir taking aim as it were to
read 

do you use spectacles mr hickman 

spectacles sir his whole broad face lifted up at me spectacles what
makes you ask me such a question such a young man as i use spectacles 
sir 

they do in spain mr hickman young as well as old to save their eyes 
 have you ever read prior's alma mr hickman 

i have sir custom is every thing in nations as well as with
individuals i know the meaning of your question but tis not the
english custom 

was you ever in spain mr hickman 

no sir i have been in holland 

in holland sir never to france or italy i was resolved to travel
with him into the land of puzzledom 

no sir i cannot say i have as yet 

that's a wonder sir when on the continent 

i went on a particular affair i was obliged to return soon 

well sir you was going to read pray be pleased to proceed 

again he took aim as if his eyes were older than the rest of him and
read after what is written above and signed by names and characters of
such unquestionable honour to be sure taking off his eye nobody
questions the honour of lord m nor that of the good ladies who signed
the letter 

i hope mr hickman nobody questions mine neither 

if you please sir i will read on i might have been excused signing a
name almost as hateful to myself  you are pleased to say  as i know it
is to you 

well mr hickman i must interrupt you at this place in what i wrote
to miss howe i distinguished the word know i had a reason for it 
miss howe has been very free with my character i have never done her
any harm i take it very ill of her and i hope sir you come in her
name to make excuses for it 

miss howe sir is a very polite young lady she is not accustomed to
treat any man's character unbecomingly 

then i have the more reason to take it amiss mr hickman 

why sir you know the friendship 

no friendship should warrant such freedoms as miss howe has taken with my
character 

 i believed he began to wish he had not come near me he seemed quite
disconcerted 

have you not heard miss howe treat my name with great 

sir i come not to offend or affront you but you know what a love there
is between miss howe and miss harlowe i doubt sir you have not
treated miss harlowe as so fine a young lady deserved to be treated and
if love for her friend has made miss howe take freedoms as you call
them a mind not ungenerous on such an occasion will rather be sorry
for having given the cause than 

i know your consequence sir but i'd rather have this reproof from a
lady than from a gentleman i have a great desire to wait upon miss
howe i am persuaded we should soon come to a good understanding 
generous minds are always of kin i know we should agree in every thing 
pray mr hickman be so kind as to introduce me to miss howe 

sir i can signify your desire if you please to miss howe 

do so be pleased to read on mr hickman 

he did very formally as if i remembered not what i had written and when
he came to the passage about the halter the parson and the hangman 
reading it why sir says he does not this look like a jest miss howe
thinks it does it is not in the lady's power you know sir to doom
you to the gallows 

then if it were mr hickman you think she would 

you say here to miss howe proceeded he that miss harlowe is the most
injured of her sex i know from miss howe that she highly resents the
injuries you own insomuch that miss howe doubts that she shall never
prevail upon her to overlook them and as your family are all desirous
you should repair her wrongs and likewise desire miss howe's
interposition with her friend miss howe fears from this part of your
letter that you are too much in jest and that your offer to do her
justice is rather in compliment to your friends' entreaties than
proceeding form your own inclinations and she desires to know your true
sentiments on this occasion before she interposes further 

do you think mr hickman that if i am capable of deceiving my own
relations i have so much obligation to miss howe who has always treated
me with great freedom as to acknowledge to her what i don't to them 

sir i beg pardon but miss howe thinks that as you have written to her 
she may ask you by me for an explanation of what you have written 

you see mr hickman something of me do you think i am in jest or in
earnest 

i see sir you are a gay gentleman of fine spirits and all that all
i beg in miss howe's name is to know if you really and bona fide join
with your friends in desiring her to use her interest to reconcile you to
miss harlowe 

i should be extremely glad to be reconciled to miss harlowe and should
owe great obligations to miss howe if she could bring about so happy an
event 

well sir and you have no objections to marriage i presume as the
condition of that reconciliation 

i never liked matrimony in my life i must be plain with you mr 
hickman 

i am sorry for it i think it a very happy state 

i hope you will find it so mr hickman 

i doubt not but i shall sir and i dare say so would you if you were
to have miss harlowe 

if i could be happy in it with any body it would be with miss harlowe 

i am surprised sir then after all you don't think of marrying miss
harlowe after the hard usage 

what hard usage mr hickman i don't doubt but a lady of her niceness
has represented what would appear trifles to any other in a very strong
light 

if what i have had hinted to me sir excuse me had been offered to the
lady she has more than trifles to complain of 

let me know what you have heard mr hickman i will very truly answer
to the accusations 

sir you know best what you have done you own the lady is the most
injured as well as the most deserving of her sex 

i do sir and yet i would be glad to know what you have heard for on
that perhaps depends my answer to the questions miss howe puts to me by
you 

why then sir since you ask it you cannot be displeased if i answer
you in the first place sir you will acknowledge i suppose that you
promised miss harlowe marriage and all that 

well sir and i suppose what you have to charge me with is that i was
desirous to have all that without marriage 

cot-so sir i know you are deemed to be a man of wit but may i not ask
if these things sit not too light upon you 

when a thing is done and cannot be helped tis right to make the best
of it i wish the lady would think so too 

i think sir ladies should not be deceived i think a promise to a lady
should be as binding as to any other person at the least 

i believe you think so mr hickman and i believe you are a very honest 
good sort of a man 

i would always keep my word sir whether to man or woman 

you say well and far be it from me to persuade you to do otherwise 
but what have you farther heard 

 thou wilt think jack i must be very desirous to know in what light my
elected spouse had represented things to miss howe and how far miss howe
had communicated them to mr hickman 

sir this is no part of my present business 

but mr hickman tis part of mine i hope you would not expect that i
should answer your questions at the same time that you refused to answer
mine what pray have you farther heard 

why then sir if i must say i am told that miss harlowe was carried to
a very bad house 

why indeed the people did not prove so good as they should be what
farther have you heard 

i have heard sir that the lady had strange advantages taken of her 
very unfair ones but what i cannot say 

and cannot you say cannot you guess then i'll tell you sir perhaps
some liberty was taken with her when she was asleep do you think no
lady ever was taken at such an advantage you know mr hickman that
ladies are very shy of trusting themselves with the modestest of our sex 
when they are disposed to sleep and why so if they did not expect that
advantages would be taken of them at such times 

but sir had not the lady something given her to make her sleep 

ay mr hickman that's the question i want to know if the lady says she
had 

i have not seen all she has written but by what i have heard it is a
very black affair excuse me sir 

i do excuse you mr hickman but supposing it were so do you think a
lady was never imposed upon by wine or so do you not think the most
cautious woman in the world might not be cheated by a stronger liquor for
a smaller when she was thirsty after a fatigue in this very warm
weather and do you think if she was thus thrown into a profound sleep 
that she is the only lady that was ever taken at such an advantage 

even as you make it mr lovelace this matter is not a light one but i
fear it is a great deal heavier than as you put it 

what reasons have you to fear this sir what has the lady said pray
let me know i have reason to be so earnest 

why sir miss howe herself knows not the whole the lady promises to
give her all the particulars at a proper time if she lives but has said
enough to make it out to be a very bad affair 

i am glad miss harlowe has not yet given all the particulars and since
she has not you may tell miss howe from me that neither she nor any
woman in the world can be more virtuous than miss harlowe is to this
hour as to her own mind tell her that i hope she never will know the
particulars but that she has been unworthily used tell her that though
i know not what she has said yet i have such an opinion of her veracity 
that i would blindly subscribe to the truth of every tittle of it though
it make me ever so black tell her that i have but three things to
blame her for one that she won't give me an opportunity of repairing
her wrongs the second that she is so ready to acquaint every body with
what she has suffered that it will put it out of my power to redress
those wrongs with any tolerable reputation to either of us will this 
mr hickman answer any part of the intention of this visit 

why sir this is talking like a man of honour i own but you say there
is a third thing you blame the lady for may i ask what that is 

i don't know sir whether i ought to tell it you or not perhaps you
won't believe it if i do but though the lady will tell the truth and
nothing but the truth yet perhaps she will not tell the whole truth 

pray sir but it mayn't be proper yet you give me great curiosity 
sure there is no misconduct in the lady i hope there is not i am
sure if miss howe did not believe her to be faultless in every
particular she would not interest herself so much in her favour as she
does dearly as she loves her 

i love miss harlowe too well mr hickman to wish to lessen her in miss
howe's opinion especially as she is abandoned of every other friend 
but perhaps it would hardly be credited if i should tell you 

i should be very sorry sir and so would miss howe if this poor lady's
conduct had laid her under obligation to you for this reserve you have
so much the appearance of a gentleman as well as are so much
distinguished in your family and fortunes that i hope you are incapable
of loading such a young lady as this in order to lighten yourself 
excuse me sir 

i do i do mr hickman you say you came not with any intention to
affront me i take freedom and i give it i should be very loth i
repeat to say any thing that may weaken miss harlowe in the good opinion
of the only friend she thinks she has left 

it may not be proper said he for me to know your third article against
this unhappy lady but i never heard of any body out of her own
implacable family that had the least doubt of her honour mrs howe 
indeed once said after a conference with one of her uncles that she
feared all was not right on her side but else i never heard 

oons sir in a fierce tone and with an erect mien stopping short upon
him which made him start back tis next to blasphemy to question this
lady's honour she is more pure than a vestal for vestals have often
been warmed by their own fires no age from the first to the present 
ever produced nor will the future to the end of the world i dare aver 
ever produce a young blooming lady tried as she has been tried who has
stood all trials as she has done let me tell you sir that you never
saw never knew never heard of such another woman as miss harlowe 

sir sir i beg your pardon far be it from me to question the lady 
you have not heard me say a word that could be so construed i have the
utmost honour for her miss howe loves her as she loves her own soul 
and that she would not do if she were not sure she were as virtuous as
herself 

as herself sir i have a high opinion of miss howe sir but i dare
say 

what sir dare you say of miss howe i hope sir you will not presume
to say any thing to the disparagement of miss howe 

presume mr hickman that is presuming language let me tell you mr 
hickman 

the occasion for it mr lovelace if designed is presuming if you
please i am not a man ready to take offence sir especially where i am
employed as a mediator but no man breathing shall say disparaging
things of miss howe in my hearing without observation 

well said mr hickman i dislike not your spirit on such a supposed
occasion but what i was going to say is this that there is not in my
opinion a woman in the world who ought to compare herself with miss
clarissa harlowe till she has stood her trials and has behaved under
them and after them as she has done you see sir i speak against
myself you see i do for libertine as i am thought to be i never
will attempt to bring down the measures of right and wrong to the
standard of my actions 

why sir this is very right it is very noble i will say but tis
pity that the man who can pronounce so fine a sentence will not square
his actions accordingly 

that mr hickman is another point we all err in some things i wish
not that miss howe should have miss harlowe's trials and i rejoice that
she is in no danger of any such from so good a man 

 poor hickman he looked as if he knew not whether i meant a compliment
or a reflection 

but proceeded i since i find that i have excited your curiosity that
you may not go away with a doubt that may be injurious to the most
admirable of women i am enclined to hint to you what i have in the third
place to blame her for 

sir as you please it may not be proper 

it cannot be very improper mr hickman so let me ask you what would
miss howe think if her friend is the more determined against me because
she thinks to revenge to me i verily believe that of encouraging
another lover 

how sir sure this cannot be the case i can tell you sir if miss
howe thought this she would not approve of it at all for little as you
think miss howe likes you sir and little as she approves of your
actions by her friend i know she is of opinion that she ought to have
nobody living but you and should continue single all her life if she be
not your's 

revenge and obstinacy mr hickman will make women the best of them do
very unaccountable things rather than not put out both eyes of a man
they are offended with they will give up one of their own 

i don't know what to say to this sir but sure she cannot encourage any
other person's address so soon too why sir she is as we are told 
so ill and so weak 

not in resentment weak i'll assure you i am well acquainted with all
her movements and i tell you believe it or not that she refuses me in
view of another lover 

can it be 

tis true by my soul has she not hinted this to miss howe do you
think 

no indeed sir if she had i should not have troubled you at this time
from miss howe 

well then you see i am right that though she cannot be guilty of a
falsehood yet she has not told her friend the whole truth 

what shall a man say to these things looking most stupidly perplexed 

say say mr hickman who can account for the workings and ways of a
passionate and offended woman endless would be the histories i could
give you within my own knowledge of the dreadful effects of woman's
passionate resentments and what that sex will do when disappointed 

there was miss dorrington  perhaps you know her not   who run away with
her father's groom because he would not let her have a half-pay officer 
with whom her passions all up she fell in love at first sight as he
accidentally passed under her window 

there was miss savage she married her mother's coachman because her
mother refused her a journey to wales in apprehension that miss intended
to league herself with a remote cousin of unequal fortunes of whom she
was not a little fond when he was a visiting-guest at their house for a
week 

there was the young widow sanderson who believing herself slighted by a
younger brother of a noble family sarah stout like took it into her
head to drown herself 

miss sally anderson  you have heard of her no doubt   being checked by
her uncle for encouraging an address beneath her in spite threw herself
into the arms of an ugly dog a shoe-maker's apprentice running away
with him in a pair of shoes he had just fitted to her feet though she
never saw the fellow before and hated him ever after and at last took
laudanum to make her forget for ever her own folly 

but can there be a stronger instance in point than what the unaccountable
resentments of such a lady as miss clarissa harlowe afford us who at
this instant ill as she is not only encourages but in a manner makes
court to one of the most odious dogs that ever was seen i think miss
howe should not be told this and yet she ought too in order to dissuade
her from such a preposterous rashness 

o fie o strange miss howe knows nothing of this to be sure she
won't look upon her if this be true 

tis true very true mr hickman true as i am here to tell you so 
and he is an ugly fellow too uglier to look at than me 

than you sir why to be sure you are one of the handsomest men in
england 

well but the wretch she so spitefully prefers to me is a mis-shapen 
meagre varlet more like a skeleton than a man then he dresses you
never saw a devil so bedizened hardly a coat to his back nor a shoe
to his foot a bald-pated villain yet grudges to buy a peruke to his
baldness for he is as covetous as hell never satisfied yet plaguy
rich 

why sir there is some joke in this surely a man of common parts
knows not how to take such gentleman as you but sir if there be any
truth in the story what is he some jew or miserly citizen i suppose 
that may have presumed on the lady's distressful circumstances and your
lively wit points him out as it pleases 

why the rascal has estates in every county in england and out of
england too 

some east india governor i suppose if there be any thing in it the
lady once had thoughts of going abroad but i fancy all this time you
are in jest sir if not we must surely have heard of him 

heard of him aye sir we have all heard of him but none of us care to
be intimate with him except this lady and that as i told you in spite
of me his name in short is death death sir stamping and speaking
loud and full in his ears which made him jump half a yard high 

 thou never beheldest any man so disconcerted he looked as if the
frightful skeleton was before him and he had not his accounts ready 
when a little recovered he fribbled with his waistcoat buttons as if he
had been telling his beads 

this sir proceeded i is her wooer nay she is so forward a girl 
that she wooes him but i hope it never will be a match 

he had before behaved and now looked with more spirit than i expected
from him 

i came sir said he as a mediator of differences it behoves me to
keep my temper but sir and turned short upon me as much as i love
peace and to promote it i will not be ill-used 

as i had played so much upon him it would have been wrong to take him at
his more than half-menace yet i think i owe him a grudge for his
presuming to address miss howe 

you mean no defiance i presume mr hickman any more than i do offence 
on that presumption i ask your excuse but this is my way i mean no
harm i cannot let sorrow touch my heart i cannot be grave six minutes
together for the blood of me i am a descendant of old chancellor
moore i believe and should not forbear to cut a joke were i upon the
scaffold but you may gather from what i have said that i prefer miss
harlowe and that upon the justest grounds to all the women in the
world and i wonder that there should be any difficulty to believe from
what i have signed and from what i have promised to my relations and
enabled them to promise for me that i should be glad to marry that
excellent creature upon her own terms i acknowledge to you mr 
hickman that i have basely injured her if she will honour me with her
hand i declare that is my intention to make her the best of husbands 
but nevertheless i must say that if she goes on appealing her case and
exposing us both as she does it is impossible to think the knot can be
knit with reputation to either and although mr hickman i have
delivered my apprehensions under so ludicrous a figure i am afraid that
she will ruin her constitution and by seeking death when she may shun
him will not be able to avoid him when she would be glad to do so 

this cool and honest speech let down his stiffened muscles into
complacence he was my very obedient and faithful humble servant several
times over as i waited on him to his chariot and i was his almost as
often 

and so exit hickman 



letter xxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to letters xxii xxvi xxvii of this volume  
friday night july 21 


i will throw away a few paragraphs upon the contents of thy last shocking
letters just brought me and send what i shall write by the fellow who
carries mine on the interview with hickman 

reformation i see is coming fast upon thee thy uncle's slow death 
and thy attendance upon him through every stage towards it prepared thee
for it but go thou on in thine own way as i will in mine happiness
consists in being pleased with what we do and if thou canst find delight
in being sad it will be as well for thee as if thou wert merry though
no other person should join to keep thee in countenance 

i am nevertheless exceedingly disturbed at the lady's ill health it
is entirely owing to the cursed arrest she was absolutely triumphant
over me and the whole crew before thou believest me guiltless of that 
so i hope does she the rest as i have often said is a common case 
only a little uncommonly circumstanced that's all why then all these
severe things from her and from thee 

as to selling her clothes and her laces and so forth it has i own a
shocking sound to it what an implacable as well as unjust set of
wretches are those of her unkindredly kin who have money of her's in
their hands as well as large arrears of her own estate yet with-hold
both avowedly to distress her but may she not have money of that proud
and saucy friend of her's miss howe more than she wants and should
not i be overjoyed thinkest thou to serve her what then is there in
the parting with her apparel but female perverseness and i am not sure 
whether i ought not to be glad if she does this out of spite to me 
some disappointed fair-ones would have hanged some drowned themselves 
my beloved only revenges herself upon her clothes different ways of
working has passion in different bosoms as humours or complexion induce 
 besides dost think i shall grudge to replace to three times the
value what she disposes of so jack there is no great matter in this 

thou seest how sensible she is of the soothings of the polite doctor 
this will enable thee to judge how dreadfully the horrid arrest and her
gloomy father's curse must have hurt her i have great hope if she
will but see me that my behaviour my contrition my soothings may have
some happy effect upon her 

but thou art too ready to give up let me seriously tell thee that all
excellence as she is i think the earnest interposition of my relations 
the implored mediation of that little fury miss howe and the commissions
thou actest under from myself are such instances of condescension and
high value in them and such contrition in me that nothing farther can
be done so here let the matter rest for the present till she considers
better of it 

but now a few words upon poor belton's case i own i was at first a
little startled at the disloyalty of his thomasine her hypocrisy to be
for so many years undetected i have very lately had some intimations
given me of her vileness and had intended to mention them to thee when i
saw thee to say the truth i always suspected her eye the eye thou
knowest is the casement at which the heart generally looks out many
a woman who will not show herself at the door has tipt the sly the
intelligible wink from the windows 

but tom had no management at all a very careless fellow would never
look into his own affairs the estate his uncle left him was his ruin 
wife or mistress whoever was must have had his fortune to sport with 

i have often hinted his weakness of this sort to him and the danger he
was in of becoming the property of designing people but he hated to
take pains he would ever run away from his accounts as now poor
fellow he would be glad to do from himself had he not had a woman to
fleece him his coachman or valet would have been his prime-minister 
and done it as effectually 

but yet for many years i thought she was true to his bed at least i
thought the boys were his own for though they are muscular and
big-boned yet i supposed the healthy mother might have furnished them
with legs and shoulders for she is not of a delicate frame and then
tom some years ago looked up and spoke more like a man than he has
done of late squeaking inwardly poor fellow for some time past from
contracted quail-pipes and wheezing from lungs half spit away 

he complains thou sayest that we all run away from him why after
all belford it is no pleasant thing to see a poor fellow one loves 
dying by inches yet unable to do him good there are friendships which
are only bottle-deep i should be loth to have it thought that mine for
any of my vassals is such a one yet with gay hearts which become
intimate because they were gay the reason for their first intimacy
ceasing the friendship will fade but may not this sort of friendship be
more properly distinguished by the word companionship 

but mine as i said is deeper than this i would still be as ready as
ever i was in my life to the utmost of my power to do him service 

as once instance of this my readiness to extricate him from all his
difficulties as to thomasine dost thou care to propose to him an
expedient that is just come into my head 

it is this i would engage thomasine and her cubs if belton be convinced
they are neither of them his in a party of pleasure she was always
complaisant to me it should be in a boat hired for the purpose to
sail to tilbury to the isle shepey or pleasuring up the medway and
tis but contriving to turn the boat bottom upward i can swim like a
fish another boat shall be ready to take up whom i should direct for
fear of the worst and then if tom has a mind to be decent one suit of
mourning will serve for all three nay the hostler-cousin may take his
plunge from the steerage and who knows but they may be thrown up on the
beach thomasine and he hand in hand 

this thou'lt say is no common instance of friendship 

mean time do thou prevail on him to come down to us he never was more
welcome in his life than he shall be now if he will not let him find
me some other service and i will clap a pair of wings to my shoulders 
and he shall see me come flying in at his windows at the word of command 

mowbray and tourville each intend to give thee a letter and i leave to
those rough varlets to handle thee as thou deservest for the shocking
picture thou hast drawn of their last ends thy own past guilt has
stared thee full in the face one may see by it and made thee in
consciousness of thy demerits sketch out these cursed out-lines i am
glad thou hast got the old fiend to hold the glass before thy own face
so soon thou must be in earnest surely when thou wrotest it and have
severe conviction upon thee for what a hardened varlet must he be who
could draw such a picture as this in sport 


 see letter xxvi of this volume 


as for thy resolution of repenting and marrying i would have thee
consider which thou wilt set about first if thou wilt follow my advice 
thou shalt make short work of it let matrimony take place of the other 
for then thou wilt very possibly have repentance come tumbling in fast
upon thee as a consequence and so have both in one 



letter xxx

mr belford to mr robert lovelace esq 
friday noon july 21 


this morning i was admitted as soon as i sent up my name into the
presence of the divine lady such i may call her as what i have to
relate will fully prove 

she had had a tolerable night and was much better in spirits though
weak in person and visibly declining in looks 

mrs lovick and mrs smith were with her and accused her in a gentle
manner of having applied herself too assiduously to her pen for her
strength having been up ever since five she said she had rested
better than she had done for many nights she had found her spirits free 
and her mind tolerably easy and having as she had reason to think but
a short time and much to do in it she must be a good housewife of her
hours 

she had been writing she said a letter to her sister but had not
pleased herself in it though she had made two or three essays but that
the last must go 

by hints i had dropt from time to time she had reason she said to
think that i knew every thing that concerned her and her family and if
so must be acquainted with the heavy curse her father had laid upon her 
which had been dreadfully fulfilled in one part as to her prospects in
this life and that in a very short time which gave her great
apprehensions of the other part she had been applying herself to her
sister to obtain a revocation of it i hope my father will revoke it 
said she or i shall be very miserable yet  and she gasped as she spoke 
with apprehension  i am ready to tremble at what the answer may be for
my sister is hard-hearted 

i said something reflecting upon her friends as to what they would
deserve to be thought of if the unmerited imprecation were not
withdrawn upon which she took me up and talked in such a dutiful
manner of her parents as must doubly condemn them if they remain
implacable for their inhuman treatment of such a daughter 

she said i must not blame her parents it was her dear miss howe's fault
to do so but what an enormity was there in her crime which could set
the best of parents they had been to her till she disobliged them in a
bad light for resenting the rashness of a child from whose education
they had reason to expect better fruits there were some hard
circumstances in her case it was true but my friend could tell me that
no one person throughout the whole fatal transaction had acted out of
character but herself she submitted therefore to the penalty she had
incurred if they had any fault it was only that they would not inform
themselves of such circumstances which would alleviate a little her
misdeed and that supposing her a more guilty creature than she was they
punished her without a hearing 

lord i was going to curse thee lovelace how every instance of
excellence in this all excelling creature condemns thee thou wilt
have reason to think thyself of all men the most accursed if she die 

i then besought her while she was capable of such glorious instances of
generosity and forgiveness to extend her goodness to a man whose heart
bled in every vein of it for the injuries he had done her and who would
make it the study of his whole life to repair them 

the women would have withdrawn when the subject became so particular 
but she would not permit them to go she told me that if after this
time i was for entering with so much earnestness into a subject so very
disagreeable to her my visits must not be repeated nor was there
occasion she said for my friendly offices in your favour since she
had begun to write her whole mind upon that subject to miss howe in
answer to letters from her in which miss howe urged the same arguments 
in compliment to the wishes of your noble and worthy relations 

mean time you may let him know said she that i reject him with my
whole heart yet that although i say this with such a determination as
shall leave no room for doubt i say it not however with passion on the
contrary tell him that i am trying to bring my mind into such a frame
as to be able to pity him  poor perjured wretch what has he not to
answer for   and that i shall not think myself qualified for the state i
am aspiring to if after a few struggles more i cannot forgive him too 
and i hope clasping her hands together uplifted as were her eyes my
dear earthly father will set me the example my heavenly one has already
set us all and by forgiving his fallen daughter teach her to forgive
the man who then i hope will not have destroyed my eternal prospects 
as he has my temporal 

stop here thou wretch but i need not bid thee for i can go no
farther 



letter xxxi

mr belford
 in continuation  


you will imagine how affecting her noble speech and behaviour were to me 
at the time when the bare recollecting and transcribing them obliged me
to drop my pen the women had tears in their eyes i was silent for a
few moments at last matchless excellence inimitable goodness i
called her with a voice so accented that i was half-ashamed of myself 
as it was before the women but who could stand such sublime generosity
of soul in so young a creature her loveliness giving grace to all she
said methinks said i  and i really in a manner involuntarily bent
my knee   i have before me an angel indeed i can hardly forbear
prostration and to beg your influence to draw me after you to the world
you are aspiring to yet but what shall i say only dearest
excellence make me in some small instances serviceable to you that i
may if i survive you have the glory to think i was able to contribute
to your satisfaction while among us 

here i stopt she was silent i proceeded have you no commission to
employ me in deserted as you are by all your friends among strangers 
though i doubt not worthy people cannot i be serviceable by message 
by letter-writing by attending personally with either message or
letter your father your uncles your brother your sister miss howe 
lord m or the ladies his sisters any office to be employed to serve
you absolutely independent of my friend's wishes or of my own wishes
to oblige him think madam if i cannot 

i thank you sir very heartily i thank you but in nothing that i can at
present think of or at least resolve upon can you do me service i
will see what return the letter i have written will bring me till then
 

my life and my fortune interrupted i are devoted to your service 
permit me to observe that here you are without one natural friend and
 so much do i know of your unhappy case that you must be in a manner
destitute of the means to make friends 

she was going to interrupt me with a prohibitory kind of earnestness in
her manner 

i beg leave to proceed madam i have cast about twenty ways how to
mention this before but never dared till now suffer me now that i
have broken the ice to tender myself as your banker only i know you
will not be obliged you need not you have sufficient of your own if
it were in your hands and from that whether you live or die will i
consent to be reimbursed i do assure you that the unhappy man shall
never know either my offer or your acceptance only permit me this small
 

and down behind her chair dropt a bank note of 100  which i had brought
with me intending some how or other to leave it behind me nor shouldst
thou ever have known it had she favoured me with the acceptance of it 
as i told her 

you give me great pain mr belford said she by these instances of your
humanity and yet considering the company i have seen you in i am not
sorry to find you capable of such methinks i am glad for the sake of
human nature that there could be but one such man in the world as he
you and i know but as to your kind offer whatever it be if you take
it not up you will greatly disturb me i have no need of your kindness 
i have effects enough which i never can want to supply my present
occasion and if needful can have recourse to miss howe i have
promised that i would so pray sir urge not upon me this favour take
it up yourself if you mean me peace and ease of mind urge not this
favour and she spoke with impatience 

i beg madam but one word 

not one sir till you have taken back what you have let fall i doubt
not either the honour or the kindness of your offer but you must not
say one word more on this subject i cannot bear it 

she was stooping but with pain i therefore prevented her and besought
her to forgive me for a tender which i saw had been more discomposing
to her than i had hoped from the purity of my intentions it would be 
but i could not bear to think that such a mind as her's should be
distressed since the want of the conveniencies she was used to abound in
might affect and disturb her in the divine course she was in 

you are very kind to me sir said she and very favourable in your
opinion of me but i hope that i cannot now be easily put out of my
present course my declining health will more and more confirm me in it 
those who arrested and confined me no doubt thought they had fallen
upon the most ready method to distress me so as to bring me into all
their measures but i presume to hope that i have a mind that cannot be
debased in essential instances by temporal calamities 

little do those poor wretches know of the force of innate principles 
 forgive my own implied vanity was her word who imagine that a
prison or penury can bring a right-turned mind to be guilty of a wilful
baseness in order to avoid such short-lived evils 

she then turned from me towards the window with a dignity suitable to her
words and such as showed her to be more of soul than of body at that
instant 

what magnanimity no wonder a virtue so solidly founded could baffle all
thy arts and that it forced thee in order to carry thy accursed point 
to have recourse to those unnatural ones which robbed her of her
charming senses 

the women were extremely affected mrs lovick especially who said 
whisperingly to mrs smith we have an angel not a woman with us mrs 
smith 

i repeated my offers to write to any of her friends and told her that 
having taken the liberty to acquaint dr h with the cruel displeasure of
her relations as what i presumed lay nearest to her heart he had
proposed to write himself to acquaint her friends how ill she was if
she would not take it amiss 

it was kind in the doctor she said but begged that no step of that
sort might be taken without her knowledge or consent she would wait to
see what effects her letter to her sister would have all she had to
hope for was that her father would revoke his malediction previous to
the last blessing she should then implore for the rest her friends
would think she could not suffer too much and she was content to suffer 
for now nothing could happen that could make her wish to live 

mrs smith went down and soon returning asked if the lady and i would
not dine with her that day for it was her wedding-day she had engaged
mrs lovick she said and should have nobody else if we would do her
that favour 

the charming creature sighed and shook her head wedding-day repeated
she i wish you mrs smith many happy wedding-days but you will
excuse me 

mr smith came up with the same request they both applied to me 

on condition the lady would i should make no scruple and would suspend
an engagement which i actually had 

she then desired they would all sit down you have several times mrs 
lovick and mrs smith hinted your wishes that i would give you some
little history of myself now if you are at leisure that this
gentleman who i have reason to believe knows it all is present and
can tell you if i give it justly or not i will oblige your curiosity 

they all eagerly the man smith too sat down and she began an account
of herself which i will endeavour to repeat as nearly in her own words
as i possibly can for i know you will think it of importance to be
apprized of her manner of relating your barbarity to her as well as what
her sentiments are of it and what room there is for the hopes your
friends have in your favour for her 

at first when i took these lodgings said she i thought of staying but
a short time in them and so mrs smith i told you i therefore avoided
giving any other account of myself than that i was a very unhappy young
creature seduced from good and escaped from very vile wretches 

this account i thought myself obliged to give that you might the less
wonder at seeing a young creature rushing through your shop into your
back apartment all trembling and out of breath an ordinary garb over my
own craving lodging and protection only giving my bare word that you
should be handsomely paid all my effects contained in a
pocket-handkerchief 

my sudden absence for three days and nights together when arrested 
must still further surprise you and although this gentleman who 
perhaps knows more of the darker part of my story than i do myself has
informed you as you mrs lovick tell me that i am only an unhappy 
not a guilty creature yet i think it incumbent upon me not to suffer
honest minds to be in doubt about my character 

you must know then that i have been in one instance i had like to
have said but in one instance but that was a capital one an undutiful
child to the most indulgent of parents for what some people call cruelty
in them is owing but to the excess of their love and to their
disappointment having had reason to expect better from me 

i was visited at first with my friends connivance by a man of birth
and fortune but of worse principles as it proved than i believed any
man could have my brother a very headstrong young man was absent at
that time and when he returned from an old grudge and knowing the
gentleman it is plain better than i knew him entirely disapproved of
his visits and having a great sway in our family brought other
gentlemen to address me and at last several having been rejected he
introduced one extremely disagreeable in every indifferent person's eyes
disagreeable i could not love him they all joined to compel me to
have him a rencounter between the gentleman my friends were set against 
and my brother having confirmed them all his enemies 

to be short i was confined and treated so very hardly that in a rash
fit i appointed to go off with the man they hated a wicked intention 
you'll say but i was greatly provoked nevertheless i repented and
resolved not to go off with him yet i did not mistrust his honour to me
neither nor his love because nobody thought me unworthy of the latter 
and my fortune was not to be despised but foolishly wickedly and
contrivingly as my friends still think with a design as they imagine 
to abandon them giving him a private meeting i was tricked away poorly
enough tricked away i must needs say though others who had been first
guilty of so rash a step as the meeting of him was might have been so
deceived and surprised as well as i 

after remaining some time at a farm-house in the country and behaving
to me all the time with honour he brought me to handsome lodgings in
town till still better provision could be made for me but they proved
to be as he indeed knew and designed at a vile a very vile creature's 
though it was long before i found her to be so for i knew nothing of the
town or its ways 

there is no repeating what followed such unprecedented vile arts for
i gave him no opportunity to take me at any disreputable advantage  

and here half covering her sweet face with her handkerchief put to her
tearful eyes she stopt 

hastily as if she would fly from the hateful remembrance she resumed 
i made escape afterward from the abominable house in his absence and
came to your's and this gentleman has almost prevailed on me to think 
that the ungrateful man did not connive at the vile arrest which was
made no doubt in order to get me once more to those wicked lodgings 
for nothing do i owe them except i were to pay them'  she sighed and
again wiped her charming eyes adding in a softer lower voice  for
being ruined 

indeed madam said i guilty abominably guilty as he is in all the
rest he is innocent of this last wicked outrage 

well and so i wish him to be that evil heavy as it was is one of
the slightest evils i have suffered but hence you'll observe mrs 
lovick for you seemed this morning curious to know if i were not a
wife that i never was married you mr belford no doubt knew before
that i am no wife and now i never will be one yet i bless god that
i am not a guilty creature 

as to my parentage i am of no mean family i have in my own right by
the intended favour of my grandfather a fortune not contemptible 
independent of my father if i had pleased but i never will please 

my father is very rich i went by another name when i came to you
first but that was to avoid being discovered to the perfidious man who
now engages by this gentleman not to molest me 

my real name you now know to be harlowe clarissa harlowe i am not yet
twenty years of age 

i have an excellent mother as well as father a woman of family and
fine sense worthy of a better child they both doated upon me 

i have two good uncles men of great fortune jealous of the honour of
their family which i have wounded 

i was the joy of their hearts and with theirs and my father's i had
three houses to call my own for they used to have me with them by turns 
and almost kindly to quarrel for me so that i was two months in the year
with the one two months with the other six months at my father's and
two at the houses of others of my dear friends who thought themselves
happy in me and whenever i was at any one's i was crowded upon with
letters by all the rest who longed for my return to them 

in short i was beloved by every body the poor i used to make glad
their hearts i never shut my hand to any distress wherever i was but
now i am poor myself 

so mrs smith so mrs lovick i am not married it is but just to tell
you so and i am now as i ought to be in a state of humiliation and
penitence for the rash step which has been followed by so much evil 
god i hope will forgive me as i am endeavouring to bring my mind to
forgive all the world even the man who has ungratefully and by dreadful
perjuries  poor wretch he thought all his wickedness to be wit  
reduced to this a young creature who had his happiness in her view and
in her wish even beyond this life and who was believed to be of rank 
and fortune and expectations considerable enough to make it the
interest of any gentleman in england to be faithful to his vows to her 
but i cannot expect that my parents will forgive me my refuge must be
death the most painful kind of which i would suffer rather than be the
wife of one who could act by me as the man has acted upon whose birth 
education and honour i had so much reason to found better expectations 

i see continued she that i who once was every one's delight am now
the cause of grief to every one you that are strangers to me are moved
for me tis kind but tis time to stop your compassionate hearts 
mrs smith and mrs lovick are too much touched   for the women sobbed 
and the man was also affected   it is barbarous in me with my woes 
thus to sadden your wedding-day  then turning to mr and mrs smith 
may you see many happy ones honest good couple how agreeable is it
to see you both join so kindly to celebrate it after many years are gone
over you i once but no more all my prospects of felicity as to this
life are at an end my hopes like opening buds or blossoms in an
over-forward spring have been nipt by a severe frost blighted by an
eastern wind but i can but once die and if life be spared me but till
i am discharged from a heavy malediction which my father in his wrath
laid upon me and which is fulfilled literally in every article relating
to this world that and a last blessing are all i have to wish for and
death will be welcomer to me than rest to the most wearied traveller
that ever reached his journey's end 

and then she sunk her head against the back of her chair and hiding her
face with her handkerchief endeavoured to conceal her tears from us 

not a soul of us could speak a word thy presence perhaps thou
hardened wretch might have made us ashamed of a weakness which perhaps
thou wilt deride me in particular for when thou readest this 

she retired to her chamber soon after and was forced it seems to lie
down we all went down together and for an hour and a half dwelt upon
her praises mrs smith and mrs lovick repeatedly expressing their
astonishment that there could be a man in the world capable of
offending much more of wilfully injuring such a lady and repeating 
that they had an angel in their house i thought they had and that
as assuredly as there is a devil under the roof of good lord m 

i hate thee heartily by my faith i do every hour i hate thee more
than the former 

j belford 



letter xxxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
saturday july 22 


what dost hate me for belford and why more and more have i been
guilty of any offence thou knewest not before if pathos can move such a
heart as thine can it alter facts did i not always do this
incomparable creature as much justice as thou canst do her for the heart
of thee or as she can do herself what nonsense then thy hatred thy
augmented hatred when i still persist to marry her pursuant to word
given to thee and to faith plighted to all my relations but hate if
thou wilt so thou dost but write thou canst not hate me so much as i
do myself and yet i know if thou really hatedst me thou wouldst not
venture to tell me so 

well but after all what need of her history to these women she will
certainly repent some time hence that she has thus needless exposed us
both 

sickness palls every appetite and makes us hate what we loved but
renewed health changes the scene disposes us to be pleased with
ourselves and then we are in a way to be pleased with every one else 
every hope then rises upon us every hour presents itself to us on
dancing feet and what mr addison says of liberty may with still
greater propriety be said of health for what is liberty itself without
health 

 it makes the gloomy face of nature gay 
 gives beauty to the sun and pleasure to the day 

and i rejoice that she is already so much better as to hold with
strangers such a long and interesting conversation 

strange confoundedly strange and as perverse  that is to say womanly 
as strange that she should refuse and sooner choose to die  o the
obscene word and yet how free does thy pen make with it to me   than be
mine who offended her by acting in character while her parents acted
shamefully out of theirs and when i am now willing to act out of my own
to oblige her yet i am not to be forgiven they to be faultless with
her and marriage the only medium to repair all breaches and to salve
her own honour surely thou must see the inconsistence of her forgiving
unforgiveness as i may call it yet heavy varlet as thou art thou
wantest to be drawn up after her and what a figure dost thou make with
thy speeches stiff as hickman's ruffles with thy aspirations and
protestations unused thy weak head to bear the sublimities that fall 
even in common conversation from the lips of this ever-charming
creature 

but the prettiest whim of all was to drop the bank note behind her
chair instead of presenting it on thy knees to her hand to make such a
woman as this doubly stoop by the acceptance and to take it from the
ground what an ungrateful benefit-conferrer art thou how awkward to
take in into thy head that the best way of making a present to a lady
was to throw the present behind her chair 

i am very desirous to see what she has written to her sister what she is
about to write to miss howe and what return she will have from the
harlowe-arabella canst thou not form some scheme to come at the copies
of these letters or the substance of them at least and of that of her
other correspondencies mrs lovick thou seemest to say is a pious
woman the lady having given such a particular history of herself will
acquaint her with every thing and art thou not about to reform won't
this consent of minds between thee and the widow  what age is she jack 
the devil never trumpt up a friendship between a man and a woman of any
thing like years which did not end in matrimony or in the ruin of their
morals   won't it strike out an intimacy between ye that may enable
thee to gratify me in this particular a proselyte i can tell thee has
great influence upon your good people such a one is a saint of their own
creation and they will water and cultivate and cherish him as a plant
of their own raising and this from a pride truly spiritual 

one of my lovers in paris was a devotee she took great pains to convert
me i gave way to her kind endeavours for the good of my soul she
thought it a point gained to make me profess some religion the catholic
has its conveniencies i permitted her to bring a father to me my
reformation went on swimmingly the father had hopes of me he applauded
her zeal so did i and how dost thou think it ended not a girl in
england reading thus far but would guess in a word very happily for
she not only brought me a father but made me one and then being
satisfied with each other's conversation we took different routes she
into navarre i into italy both well inclined to propagate the good
lessons in which we had so well instructed each other 

but to return one consolation arises to me from the pretty regrets
which this admirable creature seems to have in indulging reflections on
the people's wedding-day i once thou makest her break off with
saying 

she once what o belford why didst thou not urge her to explain what
she once hoped 

what once a woman hopes in love matters she always hopes while there
is room for hope and are we not both single can she be any man's but
mine will i be any woman's but her's 

i never will i never can and i tell thee that i am every day every
hour more and more in love with her and at this instant have a more
vehement passion for her than ever i had in my life and that with views
absolutely honourable in her own sense of the word nor have i varied 
so much as in wish for this week past firmly fixed and wrought into my
very nature as the life of honour or of generous confidence in me was 
in preference to the life of doubt and distrust that must be a life of
doubt and distrust surely where the woman confides nothing and ties up
a man for his good behaviour for life taking church-and-state sanctions
in aid of the obligation she imposes upon him 

i shall go on monday to a kind of ball to which colonel ambrose has
invited me it is given on a family account i care not on what for
all that delights me in the thing is that mrs and miss howe are to be
there hickman of course for the old lady will not stir abroad without
him the colonel is in hopes that miss arabella harlowe will be there
likewise for all the men and women of fashion round him are invited 

i fell in by accident with the colonel who i believe hardly thought i
would accept of the invitation but he knows me not if he thinks i am
ashamed to appear at any place where women dare show their faces yet
he hinted to me that my name was up on miss harlowe's account but to
allude to one of lord m s phrases if it be i will not lie a bed when
any thing joyous is going forward 

as i shall go in my lord's chariot i would have had one of my cousins
montague to go with me but they both refused and i shall not choose to
take either of thy brethren it would look as if i thought i wanted a
bodyguard besides one of them is too rough the other too smooth and
too great a fop for some of the staid company that will be there and for
me in particular men are known by their companions and a fop  as
tourville for example  takes great pains to hang out a sign by his dress
of what he has in his shop thou indeed art an exception dressing
like a coxcomb yet a very clever fellow nevertheless so clumsy a beau 
that thou seemest to me to owe thyself a double spite making thy
ungracefulness appear the more ungraceful by thy remarkable tawdriness 
when thou art out of mourning 

i remember when i first saw thee my mind laboured with a strong puzzle 
whether i should put thee down for a great fool or a smatterer in wit 
something i saw was wrong in thee by thy dress if this fellow thought
i delights not so much in ridicule that he will not spare himself he
must be plaguy silly to take so much pains to make his ugliness more
conspicuous than it would otherwise be 

plain dress for an ordinary man or woman implies at least modesty and
always procures a kind quarter from the censorious who will ridicule a
personal imperfection in one that seems conscious that it is an
imperfection who ever said an anchoret was poor but who would spare
so very absurd a wrong-head as should bestow tinsel to make his
deformity the more conspicuous 

but although i put on these lively airs i am sick at my soul my whole
heart is with my charmer with what indifference shall i look upon all
the assembly at the colonel's my beloved in my ideal eye and engrossing
my whole heart 



letter xxxiii

miss howe to miss arabella harlowe
thursday july 20 


miss harlowe 

i cannot help acquainting you however it may be received coming from
me that your poor sister is dangerously ill at the house of one smith 
who keeps a glover's and perfume shop in king-street covent-garden 
she knows not that i write some violent words in the nature of an
imprecation from her father afflict her greatly in her weak state i
presume not to direct you what to do in this case you are her sister 
i therefore could not help writing to you not only for her sake but for
your own i am madam 

your humble servant 
anna howe 



letter xxxiv

miss arabella harlowe
 in answer  
thursday july 20 


miss howe 

i have your's of this morning all that has happened to the unhappy body
you mentioned is what we foretold and expected let him for whose sake
she abandoned us be her comfort we are told he has remorse and would
marry her we don't believe it indeed she may be very ill her
disappointment may make her so or ought yet is she the only one i know
who is disappointed 

i cannot say miss that the notification from you is the more welcome 
for the liberties you have been pleased to take with our whole family for
resenting a conduct that it is a shame any young lady should justify 
excuse this freedom occasioned by greater i am miss 

your humble servant 
arabella harlowe 



letter xxxv

miss howe
 in reply  
friday july 21 


miss arabella harlowe 

if you had half as much sense as you have ill-nature you would
 notwithstanding the exuberance of the latter have been able to
distinguish between a kind intention to you all that you might have the
less to reproach yourselves with if a deplorable case should happen and
an officiousness i owed you not by reason of freedoms at least
reciprocal i will not for the unhappy body's sake as you call a
sister you have helped to make so say all that i could say if what i
fear happen you shall hear whether desired or not all the mind of

anna howe 



letter xxxvi

miss arabella harlowe to miss howe
friday july 21 


miss anna howe 

your pert letter i have received you that spare nobody i cannot
expect should spare me you are very happy in a prudent and watchful
mother but else mine cannot be exceeded in prudence but we had all too
good an opinion of somebody to think watchfulness needful there may
possibly be some reason why you are so much attached to her in an error
of this flagrant nature 

i help to make a sister unhappy it is false miss it is all her own
doings except indeed what she may owe to somebody's advice you know
who can best answer for that 

let us know your mind as soon as you please as we shall know it to be
your mind we shall judge what attention to give it that's all from 
etc 

ar h 


letter xxxvii

miss howe to miss arabella harlowe
sat july 22 


it may be the misfortune of some people to engage every body's notice 
others may be the happier though they may be the more envious for
nobody's thinking them worthy of any but one would be glad people had
the sense to be thankful for that want of consequence which subject them
not to hazards they would heartily have been able to manage under 

i own to you that had it not been for the prudent advice of that
admirable somebody whose principal fault is the superiority of her
talents and whose misfortune to be brother'd and sister'd by a couple of
creatures who are not able to comprehend her excellencies i might at
one time have been plunged into difficulties but pert as the
superlatively pert may think me i thought not myself wiser because i
was older nor for that poor reason qualified to prescribe to much less
to maltreat a genius so superior 

i repeat it with gratitude that the dear creature's advice was of very
great service to me and this before my mother's watchfulness became
necessary but how it would have fared with me i cannot say had i had
a brother or sister who had deemed it their interest as well as a
gratification of their sordid envy to misrepresent me 

your admirable sister in effect saved you miss as well as me with
this difference you against your will me with mine and but for your
own brother and his own sister would not have been lost herself 

would to heaven both sisters had been obliged with their own wills the
most admirable of her sex would never then have been out of her father's
house you miss i don't know what had become of you but let what
would have happened you would have met with the humanity you have not
shown whether you had deserved it or not nor at the worst lost
either a kind sister or a pitying friend in the most excellent of
sisters 

but why run i into length to such a poor thing why push i so weak an
adversary whose first letter is all low malice and whose next is made
up of falsehood and inconsistence as well as spite and ill-manners yet
i was willing to give you a part of my mind call for more of it it
shall be at your service from one who though she thanks god she is not
your sister is not your enemy but that she is not the latter is
withheld but by two considerations one that you bear though unworthily 
a relation to a sister so excellent the other that you are not of
consequence enough to engage any thing but the pity and contempt of

a h 



letter xxxviii

mrs harlowe to mrs howe
sat july 22 


dear madam 

i send you enclosed copies of five letters that have passed between
miss howe and my arabella you are a person of so much prudence and good
sense and being a mother yourself can so well enter into the
distresses of all our family upon the rashness and ingratitude of a
child we once doated upon that i dare say you will not countenance the
strange freedoms your daughter has taken with us all these are not the
only ones we have to complain of but we were silent on the others as
they did not as these have done spread themselves out upon paper we
only beg that we may not be reflected upon by a young lady who knows not
what we have suffered and do suffer by the rashness of a naughty
creature who has brought ruin upon herself and disgrace upon a family
which she had robbed of all comfort i offer not to prescribe to your
known wisdom in this case but leave it to you to do as you think most
proper i am madam 

your most humble servant 
charl harlowe 



letter xxxix

mrs howe
 in answer  
sat july 22 


dear madam 

i am highly offended with my daughter's letters to miss harlowe i knew
nothing at all of her having taken such a liberty these young creatures
have such romantic notions some of live some of friendship that there
is no governing them in either nothing but time and dear experience 
will convince them of their absurdities in both i have chidden miss
howe very severely i had before so just a notion of what your whole
family's distress must be that as i told your brother mr antony
harlowe i had often forbid her corresponding with the poor fallen angel
 for surely never did young lady more resemble what we imagine of
angels both in person and mind but tired out with her headstrong
ways  i am sorry to say this of my own child   i was forced to give way
to it again and indeed so sturdy was she in her will that i was
afraid it would end in a fit of sickness as too often it did in fits of
sullens 

none but parents know the trouble that children give they are happiest 
i have often thought who have none and these women-grown girls bless
my heart how ungovernable 

i believe however you will have no more such letters from my nancy i
have been forced to use compulsion with her upon miss clary's illness 
 and it seems she is very bad   or she would have run away to london to
attend upon her and this she calls doing the duty of a friend 
forgetting that she sacrifices to her romantic friendship her duty to her
fond indulgent mother 

there are a thousand excellencies in the poor sufferer notwithstanding
her fault and if the hints she has given to my daughter be true she
has been most grievously abused but i think your forgiveness and her
father's forgiveness of her ought to be all at your own choice and
nobody should intermeddle in that for the sake of due authority in
parents and besides as miss harlowe writes it was what every body
expected though miss clary would not believe it till she smarted for her
credulity and fir these reasons i offer not to plead any thing in
alleviation of her fault which is aggravated by her admirable sense and
a judgment above her years 

i am madam with compliments to good mr harlowe and all your afflicted
family 

your most humble servant 
annabella howe 


i shall set out for the isle of wight in a few days with my daughter i
 will hasten our setting out on purpose to break her mind from her
 friend's distresses which afflict us as much nearly as miss
 clary's rashness has done you 



letter xl

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
sat july 22 


my dearest friend 

we are busy in preparing for our little journey and voyage but i will be
ill i will be very ill if i cannot hear you are better before i go 

rogers greatly afflicted me by telling me the bad way you are in but
now you have been able to hold a pen and as your sense is strong and
clear i hope that the amusement you will receive from writing will make
you better 

i dispatch this by an extraordinary way that it may reach you time
enough to move you to consider well before you absolutely decide upon the
contents of mine of the 13th on the subject of the two misses montague's
visit to me since according to what you write must i answer them 

in your last conclude very positively that you will not be his to be
sure he rather deserves an infamous death than such a wife but as i
really believe him innocent of the arrest and as all his family are such
earnest pleaders and will be guarantees for him i think the compliance
with their entreaties and his own will be now the best step you can
take your own family remaining implacable as i can assure you they do 
he is a man of sense and it is not impossible but he may make you a good
husband and in time may become no bad man 

my mother is entirely of my opinion and on friday pursuant to a hint i
gave you in my last mr hickman had a conference with the strange
wretch and though he liked not by any means his behaviour to himself 
nor indeed had reason to do so yet he is of opinion that he is
sincerely determined to marry you if you will condescend to have him 

perhaps mr hickman may make you a private visit before we set out if
i may not attend you myself i shall not be easy except he does and he
will then give you an account of the admirable character the surprising
wretch gave of you and of the justice he does to your virtue 

he was as acknowledging to his relations though to his own condemnation 
as his two cousins told me all he apprehends as he said to mr 
hickman is that if you go on exposing him wedlock itself will not wipe
off the dishonour to both and moreover that you would ruin your
constitution by your immoderate sorrow and by seeking death when you
might avoid it would not be able to escape it when you would wish to do
so 

so my dearest friend i charge you if you can to get over your
aversion to this vile man you may yet live to see many happy days and
be once more the delight of all your friends neighbours and
acquaintance as well as a stay a comfort and a blessing to your anna
howe 

i long to have your answer to mine of the 13th pray keep the messenger
till it be ready if he return on monday night it will be time enough
for his affairs and to find me come back from colonel ambrose's who
gives a ball on the anniversary of mrs ambrose's birth and marriage both
in one the gentry all round the neighbourhood are invited this time on
some good news they have received from mrs ambrose's brother the
governor 

my mother promised the colonel for me and herself in my absence i
would fain have excused myself to her and the rather as i had
exceptions on account of the day but she is almost as young as her
daughter and thinking it not so well to go without me she told me and
having had a few sparring blows with each other very lately i think i
must comply for i don't love jingling when i can help it though i
seldom make it my study to avoid the occasion when it offers of itself 
i don't know if either were not a little afraid of the other whether it
would be possible that we could live together i all my father my
mamma what all my mother what else should i say 


 the 24th of july miss clarissa harlowe's birth-day 


o my dear how many things happen in this life to give us displeasure 
how few to give us joy i am sure i shall have none on this occasion 
since the true partner of my heart the principal of the one soul that
it used to be said animated the pair of friends as we were called you 
my dear  who used to irradiate every circle you set your foot into and
to give me real significance in a second place to yourself   cannot be
there one hour of your company my ever instructive friend  i thirst
for it   how infinitely preferable would it be to me to all the
diversions and amusements with which our sex are generally most delighted
 adieu my dear 

a howe 



letter xli

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday july 23 


what pain my dearest friend does your kind solicitude for my welfare
give me how much more binding and tender are the ties of pure
friendship and the union of like minds than the ties of nature well
might the sweet-singer of israel when he was carrying to the utmost
extent the praises of the friendship between him and his beloved friend 
say that the love of jonathan to him was wonderful that it surpassed
the love of women what an exalted idea does it give of the soul of
jonathan sweetly attempered for the sacred band if we may suppose it
but equal to that of my anna howe for her fallen clarissa but although
i can glory in your kind love for me think my dear what concern must
fill a mind not ungenerous when the obligation lies all on one side 
and when at the same time that your light is the brighter for my
darkness i must give pain to a dear friend to whom i delighted to give
pleasure and not pain only but discredit for supporting my blighted
fame against the busy tongues of uncharitable censures 

this is that makes me in the words of my admired exclaimer very little
altered often repeat oh that i were as in months past as in the days
when god preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and when by
his light i walked through darkness as i was in the days of my
childhood when the almighty was yet with me when i was in my father's
house when i washed my steps with butter and the rock poured me out
rivers of oil 

you set before me your reasons enforced by the opinion of your honoured
mother why i should think of mr lovelace for a husband 


 see the preceding letter 


and i have before me your letter of the 13th containing the account of
the visit and proposals and kind interposition of the two misses
montague in the names of the good ladies sadleir and betty lawrance and
in that of my lord m 


 see letter ix of this vol 


also your's of the 18th demanding me as i may say of those ladies 
and of that family when i was so infamously and cruelly arrested and
you knew not what was become of me 


 see letter xi ibid 


the answer likewise of those ladies signed in so full and generous a
manner by themselves and by that nobleman and those two venerable
ladies and in his light way by the wretch himself 


 see letter xiv ibid 


thse my dearest miss howe and your letter of the 16th which came when
i was under arrest and which i received not till some days after are
all before me 


 see letter x of this volume 


and i have as well weighed the whole matter and your arguments in
support of your advice as at present my head and my heart will let me
weigh them 

i am moreover willing to believe not only from your own opinion but
from the assurances of one of mr lovelace's friends mr belford a
good-natured and humane man who spares not to censure the author of my
calamities i think with undissembled and undesigning sincerity that
that man is innocent of the disgraceful arrest 

and even if you please in sincere compliment to your opinion and to
that of mr hickman that over-persuaded by his friends and ashamed of
his unmerited baseness to me he would in earnest marry me if i would
have him 

 well and now what is the result of all it is this that i must
abide by what i have already declared and that is  don't be angry at
me my best friend   that i have much more pleasure in thinking of death 
than of such a husband in short as i declared in my last that i
cannot  forgive me if i say i will not  ever be his 


 those parts of this letter which are marked with an inverted comma
 thus    were afterwards transcribed by miss howe in letter lv written
to the ladies of mr lovelace's family and are thus distinguished to
avoid the necessity of repeating them in that letter 


but you will expect my reasons i know you will and if i give them not 
will conclude me either obstinate or implacable or both and those
would be sad imputations if just to be laid to the charge of a person
who thinks and talks of dying and yet to say that resentment and
disappointment have no part in my determination would be saying a thing
hardly to be credited for i own i have resentment strong resentment 
but not unreasonable ones as you will be convinced if already you are
not so when you know all my story if ever you do know it for i begin
to fear so many things more necessary to be thought of than either this
man or my own vindication have i to do that i shall not have time to
compass what i have intended and in a manner promised you 


 see vol vi letter lxxiii 


i have one reason to give in support of my resolution that i believe 
yourself will allow of but having owned that i have resentments i will
begin with those considerations in which anger and disappointment have
too great a share in hopes that having once disburdened my mind upon
paper and to my anna howe of those corroding uneasy passions i shall
prevent them for ever from returning to my heart and to have their place
supplied by better milder and more agreeable ones 

my pride then my dearest friend although a great deal mortified is
not sufficiently mortified if it be necessary for me to submit to make
that man my choice whose actions are and ought to be my abhorrence 
what shall i who have been treated with such premeditated and
perfidious barbarity as is painful to be thought of and cannot with
modesty be described think of taking the violator to my heart can i
vow duty to one so wicked and hazard my salvation by joining myself to
so great a profligate now i know him to be so do you think your
clarissa harlowe so lost so sunk at least as that she could for the
sake of patching up in the world's eye a broken reputation meanly
appear indebted to the generosity or perhaps compassion of a man who
has by means so inhuman robbed her of it indeed my dear i should
not think my penitence for the rash step i took any thing better than a
specious delusion if i had not got above the least wish to have mr 
lovelace for my husband 

yes i warrant i must creep to the violator and be thankful to him for
doing me poor justice 

do you not already see me pursuing the advice you give with a downcast
eye appear before his friends and before my own supposing the latter
would at last condescend to own me divested of that noble confidence
which arises from a mind unconscious of having deserved reproach 

do you not see me creep about mine own house preferring all my honest
maidens to myself as if afraid too to open my lips either by way of
reproof or admonition lest their bolder eyes should bid me look inward 
and not expect perfection from them 

and shall i entitle the wretch to upbraid me with his generosity and
his pity and perhaps to reproach me for having been capable of forgiving
crimes of such a nature 

i once indeed hoped little thinking him so premeditatedly vile a man 
that i might have the happiness to reclaim him i vainly believed that he
loved me well enough to suffer my advice for his good and the example i
humbly presumed i should be enabled to set him to have weight with him 
and the rather as he had no mean opinion of my morals and understanding 
but now what hope is there left for this my prime hope were i to marry
him what a figure should i make preaching virtue and morality to a man
whom i had trusted with opportunities to seduce me from all my own
duties and then supposing i were to have children by such a husband 
must it not think you cut a thoughtful person to the heart to look
round upon her little family and think she had given them a father
destined without a miracle to perdition and whose immoralities 
propagated among them by his vile example might too probably bring
down a curse upon them and after all who knows but that my own sinful
compliances with a man who might think himself entitled to my obedience 
might taint my own morals and make me instead of a reformer an
imitator of him for who can touch pitch and not be defiled 

let me then repeat that i truly despise this man if i know my own
heart indeed i do i pity him beneath my very pity as he is i
nevertheless pity him but this i could not do if i still loved him 
for my dear one must be greatly sensible of the baseness and
ingratitude of those we love i love him not therefore my soul
disdains communion with him 

but although thus much is due to resentment yet have i not been so
far carried away by its angry effects as to be rendered incapable of
casting about what i ought to do and what could be done if the
almighty in order to lengthen the time of my penitence were to bid
me to live 

the single life at such times has offered to me as the life the
only life to be chosen but in that must i not now sit brooding over
my past afflictions and mourning my faults till the hour of my release 
and would not every one be able to assign the reason why clarissa harlowe
chose solitude and to sequester herself from the world would not the
look of every creature who beheld me appear as a reproach to me and
would not my conscious eye confess my fault whether the eyes of others
accused me or not one of my delights was to enter the cots of my poor
neighbours to leave lessons to the boys and cautions to the elder
girls and how should i be able unconscious and without pain to say
to the latter fly the delusions of men who had been supposed to have
run away with one 

what then my dear and only friend can i wish for but death and what 
after all is death tis but a cessation from mortal life tis but the
finishing of an appointed course the refreshing inn after a fatiguing
journey the end of a life of cares and troubles and if happy the
beginning of a life of immortal happiness 

if i die not now it may possibly happen that i may be taken when i am
less prepared had i escaped the evils i labour under it might have
been in the midst of some gay promising hope when my heart had beat high
with the desire of life and when the vanity of this earth had taken hold
of me 

but now my dear for your satisfaction let me say that although i wish
not for life yet would i not like a poor coward desert my post when i
can maintain it and when it is my duty to maintain it 

more than once indeed was i urged by thoughts so sinful but then it
was in the height of my distress and once particularly i have reason
to believe i saved myself by my desperation from the most shocking
personal insults from a repetition as far as i know of his vileness 
the base women with so much reason dreaded by me present to intimidate
me if not to assist him o my dear you know not what i suffered on
that occasion nor do i what i escaped at the time if the wicked man
had approached me to execute the horrid purposes of his vile heart 

as i am of opinion that it would have manifested more of revenge and
despair than of principle had i committed a violence upon myself when
the villany was perpetrated so i should think it equally criminal were
i now wilfully to neglect myself were i purposely to run into the arms
of death as that man supposes i shall do when i might avoid it 

nor my dear whatever are the suppositions of such a short-sighted such
a low-souled man must you impute to gloom to melancholy to
despondency nor yet to a spirit of faulty pride or still more faulty
revenge the resolution i have taken never to marry this and if not
this any man so far from deserving this imputation i do assure you 
 my dear and only love that i will do every thing i can to prolong my
life till god in mercy to me shall be pleased to call for it i have
reason to think my punishment is but the due consequence of my fault and
i will not run away from it but beg of heaven to sanctify it to me 
when appetite serves i will eat and drink what is sufficient to support
nature a very little you know will do for that and whatever my
physicians shall think fit to prescribe i will take though ever so
disagreeable in short i will do every thing i can do to convince all
my friends who hereafter may think it worth their while to inquire after
my last behaviour that i possessed my soul with tolerable patience and
endeavoured to bear with a lot of my own drawing for thus in humble
imitation of the sublimest exemplar i often say lord it is thy will 
and it shall be mine thou art just in all thy dealings with the
children of men and i know thou wilt not afflict me beyond what i can
bear and if i can bear it i ought to bear it and thy grace assisting
me i will bear it 

but here my dear is another reason a reason that will convince you
yourself that i ought not to think of wedlock but of a preparation for a
quite different event i am persuaded as much as that i am now alive 
that i shall not long live the strong sense i have ever had of my
fault the loss of my reputation my disappointments the determined
resentment of my friends aiding the barbarous usage i have met with
where i least deserved it have seized upon my heart seized upon it 
before it was so well fortified by religious considerations as i hope it
now is don't be concerned my dear but i am sure if i may say it with
as little presumption as grief that god will soon dissolve my substance 
and bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living 

and now my dearest friend you know all my mind and you will be
pleased to write to the ladies of mr lovelace's family that i think
myself infinitely obliged to them for their good opinion of me and that
it has given me greater pleasure than i thought i had to come in this
life that upon the little knowledge they have of me and that not
personal i was thought worthy after the ill usage i have received of
an alliance with their honourable family but that i can by no means
think of their kinsman for a husband and do you my dear extract from
the above such reasons as you think have any weight with them 

i would write myself to acknowledge their favour had i not more
employment for my head my heart and my fingers than i doubt they will
be able to go through 

i should be glad to know when you set out on your journey as also your
little stages and your time of stay at your aunt harman's that my
prayers may locally attend you whithersoever you go and wherever you
are 

clarissa harlowe 



letter xlii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday july 23 


the letter accompanying this being upon a very particular subject i
would not embarrass it as i may say with any other and yet having
some farther matters upon my mind which will want your excuse for
directing them to you i hope the following lines will have that excuse 

my good mrs norton so long ago as in a letter dated the 3d of this
month hinted to me that my relations took amiss some severe things you
were pleased in love to me to say to them mrs norton mentioned it
with that respectful love which she bears to my dearest friend but
wished for my sake that you would rein in a vivacity which on most
other occasions so charmingly becomes you this was her sense you
know that i am warranted to speak and write freer to my anna howe than
mrs norton would do 


 see vol vi letter lxiii 


i durst not mention it to you at that time because appearances were so
strong against me on mr lovelace's getting me again into his power 
 after my escape to hampstead as made you very angry with me when you
answered mine on my second escape and soon afterwards i was put under
that barbarous arrest so that i could not well touch upon the subject
till now 

now therefore my dearest miss howe let me repeat my earnest request
 for this is not the first time by several that i have been obliged to
chide you on this occasion that you will spare my parents and other
relations in all your conversations about me indeed i wish they had
thought fit to take other measures with me but who shall judge for them 
 the event has justified them and condemned me they expected nothing
good of this vile man he had not therefore deceived them but they
expected other things from me and i have and they have the more reason
to be set against me if as my aunt hervey wrote formerly they
intended not to force my inclinations in favour of mr solmes and if
they believe that my going off was the effect of choice and
premeditation 


 see vol iii letter lii 


i have no desire to be received to favour by them for why should i sit
down to wish for what i have no reason to expect besides i could not
look them in the face if they would receive me indeed i could not 
all i have to hope for is first that my father will absolve me from his
heavy malediction and next for a last blessing the obtaining of these
favours are needful to my peace of mind 

i have written to my sister but have only mentioned the absolution 

i am afraid i shall receive a very harsh answer from her my fault in
the eyes of my family is of so enormous a nature that my first
application will hardly be encouraged then they know not nor perhaps
will believe that i am so very ill as i am so that were i actually to
die before they could have time to take the necessary informations you
must not blame them too severely you must call it a fatality i know
not what you must call it for alas i have made them as miserable as i
am myself and yet sometimes i think that were they cheerfully to
pronounce me forgiven i know not whether my concern for having offended
them would not be augmented since i imagine that nothing can be more
wounding to a spirit not ungenerous than a generous forgiveness 

i hope your mother will permit our correspondence for one month more 
although i do not take her advice as to having this man when
catastrophes are winding up what changes changes that make one's heart
shudder to think of may one short month produce but if she will not 
why then my dear it becomes us both to acquiesce 

you can't think what my apprehensions would have been had i known mr 
hickman was to have had a meeting on such a questioning occasion as must
have been his errand from you with that haughty and uncontroulable man 

you give me hope of a visit from mr hickman let him expect to see me
greatly altered i know he loves me for he loves every one whom you
love a painful interview i doubt but i shall be glad to see a man
whom you will one day and that on an early day i hope make happy 
whose gentle manners and unbounded love for you will make you so if it
be not your own fault 

i am my dearest kindest friend the sweet companion of my happy hours 
the friend ever dearest and nearest to my fond heart 

your equally obliged and faithful 
clarissa harlowe 



letter xliii

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
monday july 24 


excuse my dearest young lady my long silence i have been extremely
ill my poor boy has also been at death's door and when i hoped that
he was better he has relapsed alas my dear he is very dangerously
ill let us both have your prayers 

very angry letters have passed between your sister and miss howe every
one of your family is incensed against that young lady i wish you would
remonstrate against her warmth since it can do no good for they will
not believe but that her interposition had your connivance nor that you
are so ill as miss howe assures them you are 

before she wrote they were going to send up young mr brand the
clergyman to make private inquiries of your health and way of life 
but now they are so exasperated that they have laid aside their
intention 

we have flying reports here and at harlowe-place of some fresh insults
which you have undergone and that you are about to put yourself into
lady betty lawrance's protection i believe they would not be glad as i
should be that you would do so and this perhaps will make them
suspend for the present any determination in your favour 

how unhappy am i that the dangerous way my son is in prevents my
attendance on you let me beg of you to write to me word how you are 
both as to person and mind a servant of sir robert beachcroft who
rides post on his master's business to town will present you with this 
and perhaps will bring me the favour of a few lines in return he will
be obliged to stay in town several hours for an answer to his dispatches 

this is the anniversary that used to give joy to as many as had the
pleasure and honour of knowing you may the almighty bless you and
grant that it may be the only unhappy one that may ever be known by you 
my dearest young lady and by

your ever affectionate
judith norton 



letter xliv

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs norton
monday night july 24 


my dear mrs norton 

had i not fallen into fresh troubles which disabled me for several days
from holding a pen i should not have forborne inquiring after your
health and that of your son for i should have been but too ready to
impute your silence to the cause to which to my very great concern i
find it was owing i pray to heaven my dear good friend to give you
comfort in the way most desirable to yourself 

i am exceedingly concerned at miss howe's writing about me to my friends 
i do assure you that i was as ignorant of her intention so to do as of
the contents of her letter nor has she yet let me know discouraged i
suppose by her ill success that she did write it is impossible to
share the delight which such charming spirits give without the
inconvenience that will attend their volatility so mixed are our best
enjoyments 

it was but yesterday that i wrote to chide the dear creature for freedoms
of that nature which her unseasonably-expressed love for me had made her
take as you wrote me word in your former i was afraid that all such
freedoms would be attributed to me and i am sure that nothing but my
own application to my friends and a full conviction of my contrition 
will procure me favour least of all can i expect that either your
mediation or her's both of whose fond and partial love of me is so well
known will avail me 


 she then gives a brief account of the arrest of her dejection under it 
 of her apprehensions of being carried to her former lodgings of
 mr lovelace's avowed innocence as to that insult of her release
 by mr belford of mr lovelace's promise not to molest her of her
 clothes being sent her of the earnest desire of all his friends 
 and of himself to marry her of miss howe's advice to comply with
 their requests and of her declared resolution rather to die than
 be his sent to miss howe to be given to his relations but as the
 day before after which she thus proceeds  

now my dear mrs norton you will be surprised perhaps that i should
have returned such an answer but when you have every thing before you 
you who know me so well will not think me wrong and besides i am
upon a better preparation than for an earthly husband 

nor let it be imagined my dear and ever venerable friend that my
present turn of mind proceeds from gloominess or melancholy for although
it was brought on by disappointment the world showing me early even at
my first rushing into it its true and ugly face yet i hope that it has
obtained a better root and will every day more and more by its fruits 
demonstrate to me and to all my friends that it has 

i have written to my sister last friday i wrote so the die is thrown 
i hope for a gentle answer but perhaps they will not vouchsafe me
any it is my first direct application you know i wish miss howe had
left me to my own workings in this tender point 

it will be a great satisfaction to me to hear of your perfect recovery 
and that my foster-brother is out of danger but why said i out of
danger when can this be justly said of creatures who hold by so
uncertain a tenure this is one of those forms of common speech that
proves the frailty and the presumption of poor mortal at the same time 

don't be uneasy you cannot answer your wishes to be with me i am
happier than i could have expected to be among mere strangers it was
grievous at first but use reconciles every thing to us the people of
the house where i am are courteous and honest there is a widow who
lodges in it  have i not said so formerly   a good woman who is the
better for having been a proficient in the school of affliction 

an excellent school my dear mrs norton in which we are taught to know
ourselves to be able to compassionate and bear with one another and to
look up to a better hope 

i have as humane a physician whose fees are his least regard and as
worthy an apothecary as ever patient was visited by my nurse is
diligent obliging silent and sober so i am not unhappy without and
within i hope my dear mrs norton that i shall be every day more and
more happy within 

no doubt it would be one of the greatest comforts i could know to have
you with me you who love me so dearly who have been the watchful
sustainer of my helpless infancy you by whose precepts i have been so
much benefited in your dear bosom could i repose all my griefs and by
your piety and experience in the ways of heaven should i be strengthened
in what i am still to go through 

but as it must not be i will acquiesce and so i hope will you for
you see in what respects i am not unhappy and in those that i am they
lie not in your power to remedy 

then as i have told you i have all my clothes in my own possession so
i am rich enough as to this world in common conveniencies 

you see my venerable and dear friend that i am not always turning the
dark side of my prospects in order to move compassion a trick imputed
to me too often by my hard-hearted sister when if i know my own
heart it is above all trick or artifice yet i hope at last i shall be
so happy as to receive benefit rather than reproach from this talent if
it be my talent at last i say for whose heart have i hitherto moved 
 not one i am sure that was not predetermined in my favour 

as to the day i have passed it as i ought to pass it it has been a
very heavy day to me more for my friends sake too than for my own 
how did they use to pass it what a festivity how have they now passed
it to imagine it how grievous say not that those are cruel who
suffer so much for my fault and who for eighteen years together 
rejoiced in me and rejoiced me by their indulgent goodness but i will
think the rest adieu my dearest mrs norton 

adieu 



letter xlv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss arabella harlowe
friday july 21 


if my dearest sister i did not think the state of my health very
precarious and that it was my duty to take this step i should hardly
have dared to approach you although but with my pen after having found
your censures so dreadfully justified as they have been 

i have not the courage to write to my father himself nor yet to my
mother and it is with trembling that i address myself to you to beg of
you to intercede for me that my father will have the goodness to revoke
that heaviest part of the very heavy curse he laid upon me which relates
to hereafter for as to the here i have indeed met with my punishment
from the very wretch in whom i was supposed to place my confidence 

as i hope not for restoration to favour i may be allowed to be very
earnest on this head yet will i not use any arguments in support of my
request because i am sure my father were it in his power would not
have his poor child miserable for ever 

i have the most grateful sense of my mother's goodness in sending me up
my clothes i would have acknowledged the favour the moment i received
them with the most thankful duty but that i feared any line from me
would be unacceptable 

i would not give fresh offence so will decline all other commendations
of duty and love appealing to my heart for both where both are flaming
with an ardour that nothing but death can extinguish therefore only
subscribe myself without so much as a name 

my dear and happy sister 
your afflicted servant 


a letter directed for me at mr smith's a glover in king-street 
 covent-garden will come to hand 



letter xlvi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
 in answer to letters xxix xxxii of this volume  
edgware monday july 24 


what pains thou takest to persuade thyself that the lady's ill health
is owing to the vile arrest and to the implacableness of her friends 
both primarily if they were to be laid at thy door what poor excuses
will good hearts make for the evils they are put upon by bad hearts but
tis no wonder that he who can sit down premeditatedly to do a bad
action will content himself with a bad excuse and yet what fools must
he suppose the rest of the world to be if he imagines them as easy to be
imposed upon as he can impose upon himself 

in vain dost thou impute to pride or wilfulness the necessity to which
thou hast reduced this lady of parting with her clothes for can she do
otherwise and be the noble-minded creature she is 

her implacable friends have refused her the current cash she left behind
her and wished as her sister wrote to her to see her reduced to want 
probably therefore they will not be sorry that she is reduced to such
straights and will take it for a justification from heaven of their
wicked hard heartedness thou canst not suppose she would take supplies
from thee to take them from me would in her opinion be taking them
from thee miss howe's mother is an avaricious woman and perhaps the
daughter can do nothing of that sort unknown to her and if she could 
is too noble a girl to deny it if charged and then miss harlowe is
firmly of opinion that she shall never want nor wear the think she
disposes of 

having heard nothing from town that obliges me to go thither i shall
gratify poor belton with my company till to-morrow or perhaps till
wednesday for the unhappy man is more and more loth to part with me 
i shall soon set out for epsom to endeavour to serve him there and
re-instate him in his own house poor fellow he is most horribly low
spirited mopes about and nothing diverts him i pity him at my heart 
but can do him no good what consolation can i give him either from his
past life or from his future prospects 

our friendships and intimacies lovelace are only calculated for strong
life and health when sickness comes we look round us and upon one
another like frighted birds at the sight of a kite ready to souse upon
them then with all our bravery what miserable wretches are we 

thou tallest me that thou seest reformation is coming swiftly upon me i
hope it is i see so much difference in the behaviour of this admirable
woman in her illness and that of poor belton in his that it is plain to
me the sinner is the real coward and the saint the true hero and 
sooner or later we shall all find it to be so if we are not cut off
suddenly 

the lady shut herself up at six o'clock yesterday afternoon and intends
not to see company till seven or eight this not even her nurse imposing
upon herself a severe fast and why it is her birth-day every
birth-day till this no doubt happy what must be her reflections 
what ought to be thine 

what sport dost thou make with my aspirations and my prostrations as
thou callest them and with my dropping of the banknote behind her chair 
i had too much awe of her at the time to make it with the grace that
would better have become my intention but the action if awkward was
modest indeed the fitter subject for ridicule with thee who canst no
more taste the beauty and delicacy of modest obligingness than of modest
love for the same may be said of inviolable respect that the poet says
of unfeigned affection 

 i speak i know not what 
 speak ever so and if i answer you
 i know not what it shows the more of love 
 love is a child that talks in broken language 
 yet then it speaks most plain 

the like may be pleaded in behalf of that modest respect which made the
humble offerer afraid to invade the awful eye or the revered hand but
awkwardly to drop its incense behind the altar it should have been laid
upon but how should that soul which could treat delicacy itself
brutally know any thing of this 

but i am still more amazed at thy courage to think of throwing thyself
in the way of miss howe and miss arabella harlowe thou wilt not dare 
surely to carry this thought into execution 

as to my dress and thy dress i have only to say that the sum total of
thy observation is this that my outside is the worst of me and thine
the best of thee and what gettest thou by the comparison do thou
reform the one i'll try to mend the other i challenge thee to begin 

mrs lovick gave me at my request the copy of a meditation she showed
me which was extracted by the lady from the scriptures while under
arrest at rowland's as appears by the date the lady is not to know
that i have taken a copy 

you and i always admired the noble simplicity and natural ease and
dignity of style which are the distinguishing characteristics of these
books whenever any passages from them by way of quotation in the works
of other authors popt upon us and once i remember you even you 
observed that those passages always appeared to you like a rich vein of
golden ore which runs through baser metals embellishing the work they
were brought to authenticate 

try lovelace if thou canst relish a divine beauty i think it must
strike transient if not permanent remorse into thy heart thou
boastest of thy ingenuousness let this be the test of it and whether
thou canst be serious on a subject too deep the occasion of it resulting
from thyself 


meditation
saturday july 15 

o that my grief were thoroughly weighed and my calamity laid in the
balance together 

for now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea therefore my words
are swallowed up 

for the arrows of the almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh
up my spirit the terrors of god do set themselves in array against me 

when i lie down i say when shall i arise when will the night be gone 
and i am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day 

my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and are spent without hope 
mine eye shall no more see good 

wherefore is light given to her that is in misery and life unto the
bitter in soul 

who longeth for death but it cometh not and diggeth for it more than
for hid treasures 

why is light given to one whose way is hid and whom god hath hedged in 

for the thing which i greatly feared is come upon me 

i was not in safety neither had i rest neither was i quiet yet trouble
came 

but behold god is mighty and despiseth not any 

he giveth right to the poor and if they be found in fetters and holden
in cords of affliction then he showeth them their works and their
transgressions 


i have a little leisure and am in a scribbing vein indulge me 
lovelace a few reflections on these sacred books 

we are taught to read the bible when children as a rudiment only and 
as far as i know this may be the reason why we think ourselves above it
when at a maturer age for you know that our parents as well as we 
wisely rate our proficiency by the books we are advanced to and not by
our understanding of those we have passed through but in my uncle's
illness i had the curiosity in some of my dull hours lighting upon
one in his closet to dip into it and then i found wherever i turned 
that there were admirable things in it i have borrowed one on
receiving from mrs lovick the above meditation for i had a mind to
compare the passages contained in it by the book hardly believing they
could be so exceedingly apposite as i find they are and one time or
another it is very likely that i shall make a resolution to give the
whole bible a perusal by way of course as i may say 

this meantime i will venture to repeat is certain that the style is
that truly easy simple and natural one which we should admire in each
other authors excessively then all the world join in an opinion of the
antiquity and authenticity too of the book and the learned are fond of
strengthening their different arguments by its sanctions indeed i was
so much taken with it at my uncle's that i was half ashamed that it
appeared so new to me and yet i cannot but say that i have some of
the old testament history as it is called in my head but perhaps am
more obliged for it to josephus than to the bible itself 

odd enough with all our pride of learning that we choose to derive the
little we know from the under currents perhaps muddy ones too when the
clear the pellucid fountain-head is much nearer at hand and easier to
be come at slighted the more possibly for that very reason 

but man is a pragmatical foolish creature and the more we look into
him the more we must despise him lords of the creation who can
forbear indignant laughter when we see not one of the individuals of
that creation his perpetually-eccentric self excepted but acts within
its own natural and original appointment is of fancied and
self-dependent excellence he is obliged not only for the ornaments but
for the necessaries of life that is to say for food as well as
raiment to all the other creatures strutting with their blood and
spirits in his veins and with their plumage on his back for what has he
of his own but a very mischievous monkey-like bad nature yet thinks
himself at liberty to kick and cuff and elbow out every worthier
creature and when he has none of the animal creation to hunt down and
abuse will make use of his power his strength or his wealth to
oppress the less powerful and weaker of his own species 

when you and i meet next let us enter more largely into this subject 
and i dare say we shall take it by turns in imitation of the two sages
of antiquity to laugh and to weep at the thoughts of what miserable yet
conceited beings men in general but we libertines in particular are 

i fell upon a piece at dorrell's this very evening intituled the
sacred classics written by one blackwell 

i took it home with me and had not read a dozen pages when i was
convinced that i ought to be ashamed of myself to think how greatly i
have admired less noble and less natural beauties in pagan authors while
i have known nothing of this all-exciting collection of beauties the
bible by my faith lovelace i shall for the future have a better
opinion of the good sense and taste of half a score of parsons whom i
have fallen in with in my time and despised for magnifying as i thought
they did the language and the sentiments to be found in it in
preference to all the ancient poets and philosophers and this is now a
convincing proof to me and shames as much an infidel's presumption as
his ignorance that those who know least are the greatest scoffers a
pretty pack of would-be wits of us who censure without knowledge laugh
without reason and are most noisy and loud against things we know least
of 



letter xlvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday july 26 


i came not to town till this morning early poor belton clinging to me 
as a man destitute of all other hold 

i hastened to smith's and had but a very indifferent account of the
lady's health i sent up my compliments and she desired to see me in
the afternoon 

mrs lovick told me that after i went away on saturday she actually
parted with one of her best suits of clothes to a gentlewoman who is her
 mrs lovick's  benefactress and who bought them for a niece who is very
speedily to be married and whom she fits out and portions as her
intended heiress the lady was so jealous that the money might come from
you or me that she would see the purchaser who owned to mrs lovick
that she bought them for half their worth but yet though her conscience
permitted her to take them at such an under rate the widow says her
friend admired the lady as one of the loveliest of her sex and having
been let into a little of her story could not help shedding tears at
taking away her purchase 

she may be a good sort of woman mrs lovick says she is but self is an
odious devil that reconciles to some people the most cruel and dishonest
actions but nevertheless it is my opinion that those who can suffer
themselves to take advantage of the necessities of their
fellow-creatures in order to buy any thing at a less rate than would
allow them the legal interest of their purchase-money supposing they
purchase before they want are no better than robbers for the difference 
 to plunder a wreck and to rob at a fire are indeed higher degrees of
wickedness but do not those as well as these heighten the distresses
of the distressed and heap misery on the miserable whom it is the duty
of every one to relieve 

about three o'clock i went again to smith's the lady was writing when i
sent up my name but admitted of my visit i saw a miserable alteration
in her countenance for the worse and mrs lovick respectfully accusing
her of too great assiduity to her pen early and late and of her
abstinence the day before i took notice of the alteration and told her 
that her physician had greater hopes of her than she had of herself and
i would take the liberty to say that despair of recovery allowed not
room for cure 

she said she neither despaired nor hoped then stepping to the glass 
with great composure my countenance said she is indeed an honest
picture of my heart but the mind will run away with the body at any
time 

writing is all my diversion continued she and i have subjects that
cannot be dispensed with as to my hours i have always been an early
riser but now rest is less in my power than ever sleep has a long time
ago quarreled with me and will not be friends although i have made the
first advances what will be must 

she then stept to her closet and brought me a parcel sealed up with
three seals be so kind said she as to give this to your friend a
very grateful present it ought to be to him for sir this packet
contains such letters of his to me as compared with his actions would
reflect dishonour upon all his sex were they to fall into other hands 

as to my letters to him they are not many he may either keep or
destroy them as he pleases 

i thought lovelace i ought not to forego this opportunity to plead for
you i therefore with the packet in my hand urged all the arguments i
could think of in your favour 

she heard me out with more attention than i could have promised myself 
considering her determined resolution 

i would not interrupt you mr belford said she though i am far from
being pleased with the subject of your discourse the motives for your
pleas in his favour are generous i love to see instances of generous
friendship in either sex but i have written my full mind on this
subject to miss howe who will communicate it to the ladies of his
family no more therefore i pray you upon a topic that may lead to
disagreeable recrimination 

her apothecary came in he advised her to the air and blamed her for so
great an application as he was told she made to her pen and he gave it
as the doctor's opinion as well as his own that she would recover if
she herself desired to recover and would use the means 

she may possibly write too much for her health but i have observed on
several occasions that when the medical men are at a loss what to
prescribe they inquire what their patients like best or are most
diverted with and forbid them that 

but noble minded as they see this lady is they know not half her
nobleness of mind nor how deeply she is wounded and depend too much
upon her youth which i doubt will not do in this case and upon time 
which will not alleviate the woes of such a mind for having been bent
upon doing good and upon reclaiming a libertine whom she loved she is
disappointed in all her darling views and will never be able i fear to
look up with satisfaction enough in herself to make life desirable to
her for this lady had other views in living than the common ones of
eating sleeping dressing visiting and those other fashionable
amusements which fill up the time of most of her sex especially of
those of it who think themselves fitted to shine in and adorn polite
assemblies her grief in short seems to me to be of such a nature 
that time which alleviates most other person's afflictions will as the
poet says give increase to her's 

thou lovelace mightest have seen all this superior excellence as thou
wentest along in every word in every sentiment in every action is it
visible but thy cursed inventions and intriguing spirit ran away with
thee tis fit that the subject of thy wicked boast and thy reflections
on talents so egregiously misapplied should be thy punishment and thy
curse 

mr goddard took his leave and i was going to do so too when the maid
came up and told her a gentleman was below who very earnestly inquired
after her health and desired to see her his name hickman 

she was overjoyed and bid the maid desire the gentleman to walk up 

i would have withdrawn but i supposed she thought it was likely i should
have met him upon the stairs and so she forbid it 

she shot to the stairs-head to receive him and taking his hand asked
half a dozen questions without waiting for any answer in relation to
miss howe's health acknowledging in high terms her goodness in sending
him to see her before she set out upon her little journey 

he gave her a letter from that young lady which she put into her bosom 
saying she would read it by-and-by 

he was visibly shocked to see how ill she looked 

you look at me with concern mr hickman said she o sir times are
strangely altered with me since i saw you last at my dear miss howe's 
what a cheerful creature was i then my heart at rest my prospects
charming and beloved by every body but i will not pain you 

indeed madam said he i am grieved for you at my soul 

he turned away his face with visible grief in it 

her own eyes glistened but she turned to each of us presenting one to
the other him to me as a gentleman truly deserving to be called so me
to him as your friend indeed  how was i at that instant ashamed of
myself   but nevertheless as a man of humanity detesting my friend's
baseness and desirous of doing her all manner of good offices 

mr hickman received my civilities with a coldness which however was
rather to be expected on your account than that it deserved exception on
mine and the lady invited us both to breakfast with her in the morning 
he being obliged to return the next day 

i left them together and called upon mr dorrell my attorney to
consult him upon poor belton's affairs and then went home and wrote
thus far preparative to what may occur in my breakfasting-visit in the
morning 



letter xlviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday july 27 


i went this morning according to the lady's invitation to breakfast 
and found mr hickman with her 

a good deal of heaviness and concern hung upon his countenance but he
received me with more respect than he did yesterday which i presume 
was owing to the lady's favourable character of me 

he spoke very little for i suppose they had all their talk out
yesterday and before i came this morning 

by the hints that dropped i perceived that miss howe's letter gave an
account of your interview with her at col ambrose's of your professions
to miss howe and miss howe's opinion that marrying you was the only way
now left to repair her wrongs 

mr hickman as i also gathered had pressed her in miss howe's name to
let her on her return from the isle of wight find her at a neighbouring
farm-house where neat apartments would be made ready to receive her 
she asked how long it would be before they returned and he told her it
was proposed to be no more than a fortnight out and in upon which she
said she should then perhaps have time to consider of that kind
proposal 

he had tendered her money from miss howe but could not induce her to
take any no wonder i was refused she only said that if she had
occasion she would be obliged to nobody but miss howe 

mr goddard her apothecary came in before breakfast was over at her
desire he sat down with us mr hickman asked him if he could give him
any consolation in relation to miss harlowe's recovery to carry down to
a friend who loved her as she loved her own life 

the lady said he will do very well if she will resolve upon it
herself indeed you will madam the doctor is entirely of this
opinion and has ordered nothing for you but weak jellies and innocent
cordials lest you should starve yourself and let me tell you madam 
that so much watching so little nourishment and so much grief as you
seem to indulge is enough to impair the most vigorous health and to
wear out the strongest constitution 

what sir said she can i do i have no appetite nothing you call
nourishing will stay on my stomach i do what i can and have such kind
directors in dr h and you that i should be inexcusable if i did not 

i'll give you a regimen madam replied he which i am sure the doctor
will approve of and will make physic unnecessary in your case and that
is go to rest at ten at night rise not till seven in the morning 
let your breakfast be watergruel or milk-pottage or weak broths your
dinner any thing you like so you will but eat a dish of tea with milk 
in the afternoon and sago for your supper and my life for your's this
diet and a month's country air will set you up 

we were much pleased with the worthy gentleman's disinterested regimen 
and she said referring to her nurse who vouched for her pray mr 
hickman let miss howe know the good hands i am in and as to the kind
charge of the gentleman assure her that all i promised to her in the
longest of my two last letters on the subject of my health i do and
will to the utmost of my power observe i have engaged sir to mr 
goddard i have engaged sir to me to miss howe to avoid all wilful
neglects it would be an unpardonable fault and very ill become the
character i would be glad to deserve or the temper of mind i wish my
friends hereafter to think me mistress of if i did not 

mr hickman and i went afterwards to a neighbouring coffee-house and he
gave me some account of your behaviour at the ball on monday night and
of your treatment of him in the conference he had with you before that 
which he represented in a more favourable light than you had done
yourself and yet he gave his sentiments of you with great freedom but
with the politeness of a gentleman 

he told me how very determined the lady was against marrying you that
she had early this morning set herself to write a letter to miss howe 
in answer to one he brought her which he was to call for at twelve it
being almost finished before he saw her at breakfast and that at three
he proposed to set out on his return 

he told me that miss howe and her mother and himself were to begin
their little journey for the isle of wight on monday next but that he
must make the most favourable representation of miss harlowe's bad
health or they should have a very uneasy absence he expressed the
pleasure he had in finding the lady in such good hands he proposed to
call on dr h to take his opinion whether it were likely she would
recover and hoped he should find it favourable 

as he was resolved to make the best of the matter and as the lady had
refused to accept of the money offered by mr hickman i said nothing of
her parting with her clothes i thought it would serve no other end to
mention it but to shock miss howe for it has such a sound with it that
a woman of her rank and fortune should be so reduced that i cannot
myself think of it with patience nor know i but one man in the world who
can 

this gentleman is a little finical and formal modest or diffident men
wear not soon off those little precisenesses which the confident if
ever they had them presently get above because they are too confident
to doubt any thing but i think mr hickman is an agreeable sensible
man and not at all deserving of the treatment or the character you give
him 

but you are really a strange mortal because you have advantages in your
person in your air and intellect above all the men i know and a face
that would deceive the devil you can't think any man else tolerable 

it is upon this modest principle that thou deridest some of us who not
having thy confidence in their outside appearance seek to hide their
defects by the tailor's and peruke-maker's assistance mistakenly
enough if it be really done so absurdly as to expose them more and
sayest that we do but hang out a sign in our dress of what we have in
the shop of our minds this no doubt thou thinkest is smartly
observed but pr'ythee lovelace let me tell thee if thou canst what
sort of a sign must thou hang out wert thou obliged to give us a clear
idea by it of the furniture of thy mind 

mr hickman tells me he should have been happy with miss howe some weeks
ago for all the settlements have been some time engrossed but that
she will not marry she declares while her dear friend is so unhappy 

this is truly a charming instance of the force of female friendship 
which you and i and our brother rakes have constantly ridiculed as a
chimerical thing in women of equal age and perfections 

but really lovelace i see more and more that there are not in the
world with our conceited pride narrower-souled wretches than we rakes
and libertines are and i'll tell thee how it comes about 

our early love of roguery makes us generally run away from instruction 
and so we become mere smatterers in the sciences we are put to learn 
and because we will know no more think there is no more to be known 

with an infinite deal of vanity un-reined imaginations and no judgments
at all we next commence half-wits and then think we have the whole
field of knowledge in possession and despise every one who takes more
pains and is more serious than ourselves as phlegmatic stupid
fellows who have no taste for the most poignant pleasures of life 

this makes us insufferable to men of modesty and merit and obliges us to
herd with those of our own cast and by this means we have no
opportunities of seeing or conversing with any body who could or would
show us what we are and so we conclude that we are the cleverest fellows
in the world and the only men of spirit in it and looking down with
supercilious eyes on all who gave not themselves the liberties we take 
imagine the world made for us and for us only 

thus as to useful knowledge while others go to the bottom we only skim
the surface are despised by people of solid sense of true honour and
superior talents and shutting our eyes move round and round like so
many blind mill-horses in one narrow circle while we imagine we have
all the world to range in 


 


i threw myself in mr hickman's way on his return from the lady 

he was excessively moved at taking leave of her being afraid as he said
to me though he would not tell her so that he should never see her
again she charged him to represent every thing to miss howe in the most
favourable light that the truth would bear 

he told me of a tender passage at parting which was that having saluted
her at her closet-door he could not help once more taking the same
liberty in a more fervent manner at the stairs-head whither she
accompanied him and this in the thought that it was the last time he
should ever have that honour and offering to apologize for his freedom
 for he had pressed her to his heart with a vehemence that he could
neither account for or resist excuse you mr hickman that i will 
you are my brother and my friend and to show you that the good man who
is to be happy with my beloved miss howe is very dear to me you shall
carry to her this token of my love   offering her sweet face to his
salute and pressing his hand between her's   and perhaps her love of me
will make it more agreeable to her than her punctilio would otherwise
allow it to be and tell her said she dropping on one knee with
clasped hands and uplifted eyes that in this posture you see me in the
last moment of our parting begging a blessing upon you both and that
you may be the delight and comfort of each other for many very many
happy years 

tears said he fell from my eyes i even sobbed with mingled joy and
sorrow and she retreating as soon as i raised her i went down stairs
highly dissatisfied with myself for going yet unable to stay my eyes
fixed the contrary way to my feet as long as i could behold the skirts
of her raiment 

i went to the back-shop continued the worthy man and recommended the
angelic lady to the best care of mrs smith and when i was in the
street cast my eye up at her window there for the last time i doubt 
said he that i shall ever behold her i saw her and she waved her
charming hand to me and with such a look of smiling goodness and
mingled concern as i cannot describe 

pr'ythee tell me thou vile lovelace if thou hast not a notion even
from these jejune descriptions of mine that there must be a more exalted
pleasure in intellectual friendship than ever thou couldst taste in the
gross fumes of sensuality and whether it may not be possible for thee 
in time to give that preference to the infinitely preferable which i
hope now that i shall always give 

i will leave thee to make the most of this reflection from

thy true friend 
j belford 



letter xlix

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
thursday july 25 

 text error should be tuesday 


your two affecting letters were brought to me as i had directed any
letter from you should be to the colonel's about an hour before we
broke up i could not forbear dipping into them there and shedding
more tears over them than i will tell you of although i dried my eyes
as well as i could that the company i was obliged to return to and my
mother should see as little of my concern as possible 

i am yet and was then still more excessively fluttered the occasion
i will communicate to you by-and-by for nothing but the flutters given
by the stroke of death could divert my first attention from the sad and
solemn contents of your last favour these therefore i must begin with 

how can i bear the thoughts of losing so dear a friend i will not so
much as suppose it indeed i cannot such a mind as your's was not
vested in humanity to be snatched away from us so soon there must still
be a great deal for you to do for the good of all who have the happiness
to know you 

you enumerate in your letter of thursday last the particulars in which
your situation is already mended let me see by effects that you are in
earnest in that enumeration and that you really have the courage to
resolve to get above the sense of injuries you could not avoid and then
will i trust to providence and my humble prayers for your perfect
recovery and glad at my heart shall i be on my return from the little
island to find you well enough to be near us according to the proposal
mr hickman has to make to you 


 see vol vii letter xxv 


you chide me in your's of sunday on the freedom i take with your
friends 


 ibid letter xlii 


i may be warm i know i am too warm yet warmth in friendship surely 
cannot be a crime especially when our friend has great merit labours
under oppression and is struggling with undeserved calamity 

i have no opinion of coolness in friendship be it dignified or
distinguished by the name of prudence or what it will 

you may excuse your relations it was ever your way to do so but my
dear other people must be allowed to judge as they please i am not
their daughter nor the sister of your brother and sister i thank
heaven i am not 

but if you are displeased with me for the freedoms i took so long ago as
you mention i am afraid if you knew what passed upon an application i
made to your sister very lately in hopes to procure you the absolution
your heart is so much set upon that you would be still more concerned 
but they have been even with me but i must not tell you all i hope 
however that these unforgivers  my mother is among them  were always
good dutiful passive children to their parents 

once more forgive me i owned i was too warm but i have no example to
the contrary but from you and the treatment you meet with is very little
encouragement to me to endeavour to imitate you in your dutiful meekness 

you leave it to me to give a negative to the hopes of the noble family 
whose only disgrace is that so very vile a man is so nearly related to
them but yet alas my dear i am so fearful of consequences so
selfishly fearful if this negative must be given i don't know what i
should say but give me leave to suspend however this negative till i
hear from you again 

this earnest courtship of you into their splendid family is so very
honourable to you they so justly admire you you must have had such a
noble triumph over the base man he is so much in earnest the world
knows so much of the unhappy affair you may do still so much good your
will is so inviolate your relations are so implacable think my dear 
and re-think 

and let me leave you to do so while i give you the occasion of the
flutter i mentioned at the beginning of this letter in the conclusion
of which you will find the obligation i have consented to lay myself
under to refer this important point once more to your discussion before
i give in your name the negative that cannot when given be with
honour to yourself repented of or recalled 

know then my dear that i accompanied my mother to colonel ambrose's on
the occasion i mentioned to you in my former many ladies and gentlemen
were there whom you know particularly miss kitty d'oily miss lloyd 
miss biddy d'ollyffe miss biddulph and their respective admirers with
the colonel's two nieces fine women both besides many whom you know
not for they were strangers to me but by name a splendid company and
all pleased with one another till colonel ambrose introduced one who 
the moment he was brought into the great hall set the whole assembly
into a kind of agitation 

it was your villain 

i thought i should have sunk as soon as i set my eyes upon him my
mother was also affected and coming to me nancy whispered she can
you bear the sight of that wretch without too much emotion if not 
withdraw into the next apartment 

i could not remove every body's eyes were glanced from him to me i
sat down and fanned myself and was forced to order a glass of water 
oh that i had the eye the basilisk is reported to have thought i and
that his life were within the power of it directly would i kill him 

he entered with an air so hateful to me but so agreeable to every other
eye that i could have looked him dead for that too 

after the general salutations he singled out mr hickman and told him he
had recollected some parts of his behaviour to him when he saw him last 
which had made him think himself under obligation to his patience and
politeness 

and so indeed he was 

miss d'oily upon his complimenting her among a knot of ladies asked
him in their hearing how miss clarissa harlowe did 

he heard he said you were not so well as he wished you to be and as
you deserved to be 

o mr lovelace said she what have you to answer for on that young
lady's account if all be true that i have heard 

i have a great deal to answer for said the unblushing villain but that
dear lady has so many excellencies and so much delicacy that little
sins are great ones in her eye 

little sins replied miss d'oily mr lovelace's character is so well
known that nobody believes he can commit little sins 

you are very good to me miss d'oily 

indeed i am not 

then i am the only person to whom you are not very good and so i am the
less obliged to you 

he turned with an unconcerned air to miss playford and made her some
genteel compliments i believe you know her not she visits his cousins
montague indeed he had something in his specious manner to say to every
body and this too soon quieted the disgust each person had at his
entrance 

i still kept my seat and he either saw me not or would not yet see me 
and addressing himself to my mother taking her unwilling hand with an
air of high assurance i am glad to see you here madam i hope miss howe
is well i have reason to complain greatly of her but hope to owe to
her the highest obligation that can be laid on man 

my daughter sir is accustomed to be too warm and too zealous in her
friendships for either my tranquility or her own 

there had indeed been some late occasion given for mutual displeasure
between my mother and me but i think she might have spared this to him 
though nobody heard it i believe but the person to whom it was spoken 
and the lady who told it me for my mother spoke it low 

we are not wholly madam to live for ourselves said the vile hypocrite 
it is not every one who had a soul capable of friendship and what a
heart must that be which can be insensible to the interests of a
suffering friend 

this sentiment from mr lovelace's mouth said my mother forgive me 
sir but you can have no end surely in endeavouring to make me think as
well of you as some innocent creatures have thought of you to their cost 

she would have flung from him but detaining her hand less severe 
dear madam said he be less severe in this place i beseech you you
will allow that a very faulty person may see his errors and when he
does and owns them and repents should he not be treated mercifully 

your air sir seems not to be that of a penitent but the place may as
properly excuse this subject as what you call my severity 

but dearest madam permit me to say that i hope for your interest with
your charming daughter was his syncophant word to have it put in my
power to convince all the world that there never was a truer penitent 
and why why this anger dear madam for she struggled to get her hand
out of his these violent airs so maidenly  impudent fellow   may i
not ask if miss howe be here 

she would not have been here replied my mother had she known whom she
had been to see 

and is she here then thank heaven he disengaged her hand and stept
forward into company 

dear miss lloyd said he with an air taking her hand as he quitted my
mother's tell me tell me is miss arabella harlowe here or will she
be here i was informed she would and this and the opportunity of
paying my compliments to your friend miss howe were great inducements
with me to attend the colonel 

superlative assurance was it not my dear 

miss arabella harlowe excuse me sir said miss lloyd would be very
little inclined to meet you here or any where else 

perhaps so my dear miss lloyd but perhaps for that very reason i am
more desirous to see her 

miss harlowe sir and miss biddulph with a threatening air will hardly
be here without her brother i imagine if one comes both will come 

heaven grant they both may said the wretch nothing miss biddulph 
shall begin from me to disturb this assembly i assure you if they do 
one calm half-hour's conversation with that brother and sister would be
a most fortunate opportunity to me in presence of the colonel and his
lady or whom else they should choose 

then turning round as if desirous to find out the one or the other he
spied me and with a very low bow approached me 

i was all in a flutter you may suppose he would have taken my hand i
refused it all glowing with indignation every body's eyes upon us 

i went down from him to the other end of the room and sat down as i
thought out of his hated sight but presently i heard his odious voice 
whispering behind my chair he leaning upon the back of it with
impudent unconcern charming miss howe looking over my shoulder one
request  i started up from my seat but could hardly stand neither for
very indignation  o this sweet but becoming disdain whispered on the
insufferable creature i am sorry to give you all this emotion but
either here or at your own house let me entreat from you one quarter of
an hour's audience i beseech you madam but one quarter of an hour in
any of the adjoining apartments 

not for a kingdom fluttering my fan i knew not what i did but i
could have killed him 

we are so much observed else on my knees my dear miss howe would i beg
your interest with your charming friend 

she'll have nothing to say to you 

 i had not then your letters my dear 

killing words but indeed i have deserved them and a dagger in my heart
besides i am so conscious of my demerits that i have no hope but in
your interposition could i owe that favour to miss howe's mediation
which i cannot hope for on any other account 

my mediation vilest of men my mediation i abhor you from my soul 
i abhor you vilest of men three or four times i repeated these words 
stammering too i was excessively fluttered 

you can tell me nothing madam so bad as i will call myself i have
been indeed the vilest of men but now i am not so permit me every
body's eyes are upon us but one moment's audience to exchange but ten
words with you dearest miss howe in whose presence you please for your
dear friend's sake but ten words with you in the next apartment 

it is an insult upon me to presume that i would exchange with you if i
could help it out of my way out of my sight fellow 

and away i would have flung but he took my hand i was excessively
disordered every body's eyes more and more intent upon us 

mr hickman whom my mother had drawn on one side to enjoin him a
patience which perhaps needed not to have been enforced came up just
then with my mother who had him by his leading-strings by his sleeve
i should say 

mr hickman said the bold wretch be my advocate but for ten words in
the next apartment with miss howe in your presence and in your's 
madam to my mother 

hear nancy what he has to say to you to get rid of him hear his ten
words 

excuse me madam his very breath unhand me sir 

he sighed and looked o how the practised villain sighed and looked he
then let go my hand with such a reverence in his manner as brought
blame upon me from some that i would not hear him and this incensed me
the more o my dear this man is a devil this man is indeed a devil 
so much patience when he pleases so much gentleness yet so resolute 
so persisting so audacious 

i was going out of the assembly in great disorder he was at the door as
soon as i 

how kind this is said the wretch and ready to follow me opened the
door for me 

i turned back upon this and not knowing what i did snapped my fan just
in his face as he turned short upon me and the powder flew from his
hair 

every body seemed as much pleased as i was vexed 

he turned to mr hickman nettled at the powder flying and at the smiles
of the company upon him mr hickman you will be one of the happiest men
in the world because you are a good man and will do nothing to provoke
this passionate lady and because she has too much good sense to be
provoked without reason but else the lord have mercy upon you 

this man this mr hickman my dear is too meek for a man indeed he
is but my patient mother twits me that her passionate daughter ought
to like him the better for that but meek men abroad are not always meek
at home i have observed that in more instances than one and if they
were i should not i verily think like them the better for being so 

he then turned to my mother resolved to be even with her too where 
good madam could miss howe get all this spirit 

the company around smiled for i need not tell you that my mother's high
spiritedness is pretty well known and she sadly vexed said sir you
treat me as you do the rest of the world but 

i beg pardon madam interrupted he i might have spared my question and
instantly i retiring to the other end of the hall he turned to miss
playford what would i give madam to hear you sing that song you
obliged us with at lord m s 

he then as if nothing had happened fell into a conversation with her
and miss d'ollyffe upon music and whisperingly sung to miss playford 
holding her two hands with such airs of genteel unconcern that it vexed
me not a little to look round and see how pleased half the giddy fools
of our sex were with him notwithstanding his notorious wicked character 
to this it is that such vile fellows owe much of their vileness whereas 
if they found themselves shunned and despised and treated as beasts of
prey as they are they would run to their caverns there howl by
themselves and none but such as sad accident or unpitiable presumption 
threw in their way would suffer by them 

he afterwards talked very seriously at times to mr hickman at times 
i say for it was with such breaks and starts of gaiety turning to this
lady and to that and then to mr hickman again resuming a serious or
a gay air at pleasure that he took every body's eye the women's
especially who were full of their whispering admirations of him 
qualified with if's and but's and what pity's and such sort of stuff 
that showed in their very dispraises too much liking 

well may our sex be the sport and ridicule of such libertines 
unthinking eye-governed creatures would not a little reflection teach
us that a man of merit must be a man of modesty because a diffident
one and that such a wretch as this must have taken his degrees in
wickedness and gone through a course of vileness before he could arrive
at this impenetrable effrontery an effrontery which can produce only
from the light opinion he has of us and the high one of himself 

but our sex are generally modest and bashful themselves and are too apt
to consider that which in the main is their principal grace as a defect 
and finely do they judge when they think of supplying that defect by
choosing a man that cannot be ashamed 

his discourse to mr hickman turned upon you and his acknowledged
injuries of you though he could so lightly start from the subject and
return to it 

i have no patience with such a devil man he cannot be called to be
sure he would behave in the same manner any where or in any presence 
even at the altar itself if a woman were with him there 

it shall ever be a rule with me that he who does not regard a woman with
some degree of reverence will look upon her and occasionally treat her
with contempt 

he had the confidence to offer to take me out but i absolutely refused
him and shunned him all i could putting on the most contemptuous airs 
but nothing could mortify him 

i wished twenty times i had not been there 

the gentlemen were as ready as i to wish he had broken his neck rather
than been present i believe for nobody was regarded but he so little
of the fop yet so elegant and rich in his dress his person so specious 
his air so intrepid so much meaning and penetration in his face so much
gaiety yet so little affectation no mere toupet-man but all manly and
his courage and wit the one so known the other so dreaded you must
think the petits-maitres of which there were four or five present were
most deplorably off in his company and one grave gentleman observed to
me pleased to see me shun him as i did that the poet's observation
was too true that the generality of ladies were rakes in their hearts 
or they could not be so much taken with a man who had so notorious a
character 

i told him the reflection both of the poet and applier was much too
general and made with more ill-nature than good manners 

when the wretch saw how industriously i avoided him shifting from one
part of the hall to another he at last boldly stept up to me as my
mother and mr hickman were talking to me and thus before them accosted
me 

i beg your pardon madam but by your mother's leave i must have a few
moments' conversation with you either here or at your own house and i
beg you will give me the opportunity 

nancy said my mother hear what he has to say to you in my presence
you may and better in the adjoining apartment if it must be than to
come to you at our own house 

i retired to one corner of the hall my mother following me and he 
taking mr hickman under his arm following her well sir said i what
have you to say tell me here 

i have been telling mr hickman said he how much i am concerned for the
injuries i have done to the most excellent woman in the world and yet 
that she obtained such a glorious triumph over me the last time i had the
honour to see her as with my penitence ought to have abated her former
resentments but that i will with all my soul enter into any measures
to obtain her forgiveness of me my cousins montague have told you this 
lady betty and lady sarah and my lord m are engaged for my honour i
know your power with the dear creature my cousins told me you gave them
hopes you would use it in my behalf my lord m and his two sisters are
impatiently expecting the fruits of it you must have heard from her
before now i hope you have and will you be so good as to tell me if i
may have any hopes 

if i must speak on this subject let me tell you that you have broken her
heart you know not the value of the lady you have injured you deserve
her not and she despises you as she ought 

dear miss howe mingle not passion with denunciations so severe i must
know my fate i will go abroad once more if i find her absolutely
irreconcileable but i hope she will give me leave to attend upon her 
to know my doom from her own mouth 

it would be death immediate for her to see you and what must you be to
be able to look her in the face 

i then reproached him with vehemence enough you may believe on his
baseness and the evils he had made you suffer the distress he had
reduced you to all your friends made your enemies the vile house he had
carried you to hinted at his villanous arts the dreadful arrest and
told him of your present deplorable illness and resolution to die rather
than to have him 

he vindicated not any part of his conduct but that of the arrest and so
solemnly protested his sorrow for his usage of you accusing himself in
the freest manner and by deserved appellations that i promised to lay
before you this part of our conversation and now you have it 

my mother as well as mr hickman believes from what passed on this
occasion that he is touched in conscience for the wrongs he has done
you but by his whole behaviour i must own it seems to me that nothing
can touch him for half an hour together yet i have no doubt that he
would willingly marry you and it piques his pride i could see that he
should be denied as it did mine that such a wretch had dared to think
it in his power to have such a woman whenever he pleased and that it
must be accounted a condescension and matter of obligation by all his
own family at least that he would vouchsafe to think of marriage 

now my dear you have before you the reason why i suspend the decisive
negative to the ladies of his family my mother miss lloyd and miss
biddulph who were inquisitive after the subject of our retired
conversation and whose curiosity i thought it was right in some degree 
to gratify especially as these young ladies are of our select
acquaintance are all of opinion that you should be his 

you will let mr hickman know your whole mind and when he acquaint me
with it i will tell you all my own 

mean time may the news he will bring me of the state of your health be
favourable prays with the utmost fervency 

your ever faithful and affectionate
anna howe 



letter l

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
thursday july 27 


my dearest miss howe 

after i have thankfully acknowledged your favour in sending mr hickman
to visit me before you set out upon your intended journey i must chide
you in the sincerity of that faithful love which could not be the love
it is if it would not admit of that cementing freedom for suspending the
decisive negative which upon such full deliberation i had entreated
you to give to mr lovelace's relations 

i am sorry that i am obliged to repeat to you my dear who know me so
well that were i sure i should live many years i would not have mr 
lovelace much less can i think of him as it is probable i may not live
one 

as to the world and its censures you know my dear that however
desirous i always was of a fair fame yet i never thought it right to
give more than a second place to the world's opinion the challenges
made to mr lovelace by miss d'oily in public company are a fresh
proof that i have lost my reputation and what advantage would it be to
me were it retrievable and were i to live long if i could not acquit
myself to myself 

having in my former said so much on the freedoms you have taken with my
friends i shall say the less now but your hint that something else has
newly passed between some of them and you gives me great concern and
that as well for my own sake as for theirs since it must necessarily
incense them against me i wise my dear that i had been left to my own
course on an occasion so very interesting to myself but since what is
done cannot be helped i must abide the consequences yet i dread more
than before what may be my sister's answer if an answer will be at all
vouchsafed 

will you give me leave my dear to close this subject with one remark 
 it is this that my beloved friend in points where her own laudable
zeal is concerned has ever seemed more ready to fly from the rebuke 
than from the fault if you will excuse this freedom i will acknowledge
thus far in favour of your way of thinking as to the conduct of some
parents in these nice cases that indiscreet opposition does frequently
as much mischief as giddy love 

as to the invitation you are so kind as to give me to remove privately
into your neighbourhood i have told mr hickman that i will consider of
it but believe if you will be so good as to excuse me that i shall not
accept of it even should i be able to remove i will give you my
reasons for declining it and so i ought when both my love and my
gratitude would make a visit now-and-then from my dear miss howe the most
consolate thing in the world to me 

you must know then that this great town wicked as it is wants not
opportunities of being better having daily prayers at several churches
in it and i am desirous as my strength will permit to embrace those
opportunities the method i have proposed to myself and was beginning
to practise when that cruel arrest deprived me of both freedom and
strength is this when i was disposed to gentle exercise i took a chair
to st dunstan's church in fleet-street where are prayers at seven in
the morning i proposed if the weather favoured to walk if not to take
chair to lincoln's-inn chapel where at eleven in the morning and at
five in the afternoon are the same desirable opportunities and at other
times to go no farther than covent-garden church where are early morning
prayers likewise 

this method pursued i doubt not will greatly help as it has already
done to calm my disturbed thoughts and to bring me to that perfect
resignation after which i aspire for i must own my dear that sometimes
still my griefs and my reflections are too heavy for me and all the aid
i can draw from religious duties is hardly sufficient to support my
staggering reason i am a very young creature you know my dear to be
left to my own conduct in such circumstances as i am in 

another reason why i choose not to go down into your neighbourhood is
the displeasure that might arise on my account between your mother and
you 

if indeed you were actually married and the worthy man who would then
have a title to all your regard were earnestly desirous of near
neighbourhood i know not what i might do for although i might not
perhaps intend to give up my other important reasons at the time i should
make you a congratulatory visit yet i might not know how to deny myself
the pleasure of continuing near you when there 

i send you enclosed the copy of my letter to my sister i hope it will
be thought to be written with a true penitent spirit for indeed it is 
i desire that you will not think i stoop too low in it since there can
be no such thing as that in a child to parents whom she has unhappily
offended 

but if still perhaps more disgusted than before at your freedom with
them they should pass it by with the contempt of silence for i have
not yet been favoured with an answer i must learn to think it right in
them to do so especially as it is my first direct application for i
have often censured the boldness of those who applying for a favour 
which it is in a person's option to grant or refuse take the liberty of
being offended if they are not gratified as if the petitioned had not
as good a right to reject as the petitioner to ask 

but if my letter should be answered and that in such terms as will make
me loth to communicate it to so warm a friend you must not my dear 
take it upon yourself to censure my relations but allow for them as they
know not what i have suffered as being filled with just resentments
against me just to them if they think them just and as not being able
to judge of the reality of my penitence 

and after all what can they do for me they can only pity me and what
will that but augment their own grief to which at present their
resentment is an alleviation for can they by their pity restore to me my
lost reputation can they by it purchase a sponge that will wipe out
from the year the past fatal four months of my life 


 she takes in the time that she appointed to meet mr lovelace 


your account of the gay unconcerned behaviour of mr lovelace at the
colonel's does not surprise me at all after i am told that he had the
intrepidity to go there knowing who were invited and expected only
this my dear i really wonder at that miss howe could imagine that i
could have a thought of such a man for a husband 

poor wretch i pity him to see him fluttering about abusing talents
that were given him for excellent purposes taking in consideration for
courage and dancing fearless of danger on the edge of a precipice 

but indeed his threatening to see me most sensibly alarms and shocks me 
i cannot but hope that i never never more shall see him in this world 

since you are so loth my dear to send the desired negative to the
ladies of his family i will only trouble you to transmit the letter i
shall enclose for that purpose directed indeed to yourself because it
was to you that those ladies applied themselves on this occasion but to
be sent by you to any one of the ladies at your own choice 

i commend myself my dearest miss howe to your prayers and conclude
with repeated thanks for sending mr hickman to me and with wishes for
your health and happiness and for the speedy celebration of your
nuptials 

your ever affectionate and obliged 
clarissa harlowe 



letter li

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
 enclosed in the preceding  
thursday july 27 


my dearest miss howe 

since you seem loth to acquiesce in my determined resolution signified
to you as soon as i was able to hold a pen i beg the favour of you by
this or by any other way you think most proper to acquaint the worthy
ladies who have applied to you in behalf of their relation that
although i am infinitely obliged to their generous opinion of me yet i
cannot consent to sanctify as i may say mr lovelace's repeated
breaches of all moral sanctions and hazard my future happiness by a
union with a man through whose premeditated injuries in a long train of
the basest contrivances i have forfeited my temporal hopes 

he himself when he reflects upon his own actions must surely bear
testimony to the justice as well as fitness of my determination the
ladies i dare say would were they to know the whole of my unhappy
story 

be pleased to acquaint them that i deceive myself if my resolution on
this head however ungratefully and even inhumanely he has treated me be
not owing more to principle than passion nor can i give a stronger
proof of the truth of this assurance on this one easy condition that he
will never molest me more 

in whatever way you choose to make this declaration be pleased to let my
most respectful compliments to the ladies of that noble family and to my
lord m accompany it and do you my dear believe that i shall be to
the last moment of my life 

your ever obliged and affectionate
clarissa harlowe 



letter lii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
friday july 28 


i have three letters of thine to take notice of but am divided in my
mind whether to quarrel with thee on thy unmerciful reflections or to
thank thee for thy acceptable particularity and diligence but several
of my sweet dears have i indeed in my time made to cry and laugh
before the cry could go off the other why may i not therefore curse
and applaud thee in the same moment so take both in one and what
follows as it shall rise from my pen 


 letters xlvi xlvii and xlviii of this volume 


how often have i ingenuously confessed my sins against this excellent
creature yet thou never sparest me although as bad a man as myself 
since then i get so little by my confessions i had a good mind to try to
defend myself and that not only from antient and modern story but from
common practice and yet avoid repeating any thing i have suggested
before in my own behalf 

i am in a humour to play the fool with my pen briefly then from antient
story first dost thou not think that i am as much entitled to
forgiveness on miss harlowe's account as virgil's hero was on queen
dido's for what an ungrateful varlet was that vagabond to the
hospitable princess who had willingly conferred upon him the last
favour stealing away whence i suppose the ironical phrase of trusty
trojan to this day like a thief pretendedly indeed at the command of
the gods but could that be when the errand he went upon was to rob
other princes not only of their dominions but of their lives yet this
fellow is at every word the pious aeneas with the immortal bard who
celebrates him 

should miss harlowe even break her heart which heaven forbid for the
usage she has received to say nothing of her disappointed pride to
which her death would be attributable more than to reason what
comparison will her fate hold to queen dido's and have i half the
obligation to her that aeneas had to the queen of carthage the latter
placing a confidence the former none in her man then whom else have
i robbed whom else have i injured her brother's worthless life i gave
him instead of taking any man's while the trojan vagabond destroyed his
thousands why then should it not be the pious lovelace as well as the
pious aeneas for dost thou think had a conflagration happened and had
it been in my power that i would not have saved my old anchises as he
did his from the ilion bonfire even at the expense of my creusa had i
a wife of that name 

but for a more modern instance in my favour have i used miss harlowe as
our famous maiden queen as she was called used one of her own blood a
sister-queen who threw herself into her protection from her
rebel-subjects and whom she detained prisoner eighteen years and at
last cut off her head yet do not honest protestants pronounce her pious
too and call her particularly their queen 

as to common practice who let me ask that has it in his power to
gratify a predominant passion be it what it will denies himself the
gratification leaving it to cooler deliberation and if he be a great
man to his flatterers to find a reason for it afterwards 

then as to the worst part of my treatment of this lady how many men are
there who as well as i have sought by intoxicating liquors first to
inebriate then to subdue what signifies what the potations were when
the same end was in view 

let me tell thee upon the whole that neither the queen of carthage nor
the queen of scots would have thought they had any reason to complain of
cruelty had they been used no worse than i have used the queen of my
heart and then do i not aspire with my whole soul to repair by marriage 
would the pious aeneas thinkest thou have done such a piece of justice
by dido had she lived 

come come belford let people run away with notions as they will i am
comparatively a very innocent man and if by these and other like
reasonings i have quieted my own conscience a great end is answered 
what have i to do with the world 

and now i sit me peaceably down to consider thy letters 

i hope thy pleas in my favour when she gave thee so generously gave
thee for me my letters were urged with an honest energy but i
suspect thee much for being too ready to give up thy client then thou
hast such a misgiving aspect an aspect rather inviting rejection than
carrying persuasion with it and art such an hesitating such a humming
and hawing caitiff that i shall attribute my failure if i do fail 
rather to the inability and ill looks of my advocate than to my cause 
again thou art deprived of the force men of our cast give to arguments 
for she won't let thee swear -art moreover a very heavy thoughtless
fellow tolerable only at a second rebound a horrid dunce at the
impromptu these encountering with such a lady are great
disadvantages and still a greater is thy balancing as thou dost at
present between old rakery and new reformation since this puts thee
into the same situation with her as they told me at leipsick martin
luther was in at the first public dispute which he held in defence of
his supposed new doctrines with eckius for martin was then but a
linsey-wolsey reformer he retained some dogmas which by natural
consequence made others that he held untenable so that eckius in
some points had the better of him but from that time he made clear
work renouncing all that stood in his way and then his doctrines ran
upon all fours he was never puzzled afterwards and could boldly
declare that he would defend them in the face of angels and men and to
his friends who would have dissuaded him from venturing to appear before
the emperor charles at spires that were there as many devils at spires 
as tiles upon the houses he would go an answer that is admired by
every protestant saxon to this day 


 see letter xlvii of this volume 


since then thy unhappy awkwardness destroys the force of thy arguments i
think thou hadst better for the present however forbear to urge her on
the subject of accepting the reparation i offer lest the continual
teasing of her to forgive me should but strengthen her in her denials of
forgiveness till for consistency sake she'll be forced to adhere to a
resolution so often avowed whereas if left to herself a little time 
and better health which will bring on better spirits will give her
quicker resentments those quicker resentments will lead her into
vehemence that vehemence will subside and turn into expostulation and
parley my friends will then interpose and guaranty for me and all our
trouble on both sides will be over such is the natural course of
things 

i cannot endure thee for thy hopelessness in the lady's recovery and
that in contradiction to the doctor and apothecary 


 see letter xlvii of this volume 


time in the words of congreve thou sayest will give increase to her
afflictions but why so knowest thou not that those words so contrary
to common experience were applied to the case of a person while passion
was in its full vigour at such a time every one in a heavy grief
thinks the same but as enthusiasts do by scripture so dost thou by the
poets thou hast read any thing that carries the most distant allusion
from either to the case in hand is put down by both for gospel however
incongruous to the general scope of either and to that case so once 
in a pulpit i heard one of the former very vehemently declare himself to
be a dead dog when every man woman and child were convinced to the
contrary by his howling 

i can tell thee that if nothing else will do i am determined in spite
of thy buskin-airs and of thy engagements for me to the contrary to see
her myself 

face to face have i known many a quarrel made up which distance would
have kept alive and widened thou wilt be a madder jack than he in the
tale of a tub if thou givest an active opposition to this interview 

in short i cannot bear the thought that a woman whom once i had bound
to me in the silken cords of love should slip through my fingers and be
able while my heart flames out with a violent passion for her to
despise me and to set both love and me at defiance thou canst not
imagine how much i envy thee and her doctor and her apothecary and
every one who i hear are admitted to her presence and conversation and
wish to be the one or the other in turn 

wherefore if nothing else will do i will see her i'll tell thee of an
admirable expedient just come cross me to save thy promise and my own 

mrs lovick you say is a good woman if the lady be worse you shall
advise her to send for a parson to pray by her unknown to her unknown
to the lady unknown to thee for so it may pass i will contrive to be
the man petticoated out and vested in a gown and cassock i once for
a certain purpose did assume the canonicals and i was thought to make a
fine sleek appearance my broad rose-bound beaver became me mightily and
i was much admired upon the whole by all who saw me 

methinks it must be charmingly a propos to see me kneeling down by her
bed-side i am sure i shall pray heartily beginning out of the
common-prayer book the sick-office for the restoration of the languishing
lady and concluding with an exhortation to charity and forgiveness for
myself 

i will consider of this matter but in whatever shape i shall choose to
appear of this thou mayest assure thyself i will apprize thee
beforehand of my visit that thou mayst contrive to be out of the way 
and to know nothing of the matter this will save thy word and as to
mine can she think worse of me than she does at present 

an indispensable of true love and profound respect in thy wise opinion 
is absurdity or awkwardness tis surprising that thou shouldst be one
of those partial mortals who take their measures of right and wrong from
what they find themselves to be and cannot help being so awkwardness
is a perfection in the awkward at this rate no man ever can be in the
wrong but i insist upon it that an awkward fellow will do every thing
awkwardly and if he be like thee will when he has done foolishly 
rack his unmeaning brain for excuses as awkward as his first fault 
respectful love is an inspirer of actions worthy of itself and he who
cannot show it where he most means it manifests that he is an unpolite
rough creature a perfect belford and has it not in him 


 see letter xlvi of this volume 


but here thou'lt throw out that notable witticism that my outside is the
best of me thine the worst of thee and that if i set about mending my
mind thou wilt mend thy appearance 

but pr'ythee jack don't stay for that but set about thy amendment in
dress when thou leavest off thy mourning for why shouldst thou
prepossess in thy disfavour all those who never saw thee before it is
hard to remove early-taken prejudices whether of liking or distaste 
people will hunt as i may say for reasons to confirm first impressions 
in compliment to their own sagacity nor is it every mind that has the
ingenuousness to confess itself half mistaken when it finds itself to be
wrong thou thyself art an adept in the pretended science of reading
men and whenever thou art out wilt study to find some reasons why it
was more probable that thou shouldst have been right and wilt watch
every motion and action and every word and sentiment in the person thou
hast once censured for proofs in order to help thee to revive and
maintain thy first opinion and indeed as thou seldom errest on the
favourable side human nature is so vile a thing that thou art likely to
be right five times in six on what thou findest in thine own heart to
have reason to compliment thyself on thy penetration 

here is preachment for thy preachment and i hope if thou likest thy
own thou wilt thank me for mine the rather as thou mayest be the
better for it if thou wilt since it is calculated for thy own meridian 

well but the lady refers my destiny to the letter she has written 
actually written to miss howe to whom it seems she has given her
reasons why she will not have me i long to know the contents of this
letter but am in great hopes that she has so expressed her denials as
shall give room to think she only wants to be persuaded to the contrary 
in order to reconcile herself to herself 

i could make some pretty observations upon one or two places of the
lady's mediation but wicked as i am thought to be i never was so
abandoned as to turn into ridicule or even to treat with levity things
sacred i think it the highest degree of ill manners to jest upon those
subjects which the world in general look upon with veneration and call
divine i would not even treat the mythology of the heathen to a
heathen with the ridicule that perhaps would fairly lie from some of the
absurdities that strike every common observer nor when at rome and in
other popish countries did i ever behave indecently at those ceremonies
which i thought very extraordinary for i saw some people affected and
seemingly edified by them and i contented myself to think though they
were any good end to the many there was religion enough in them or
civil policy at least to exempt them from the ridicule of even a bad man
who had common sense and good manners 

for the like reason i have never given noisy or tumultuous instances of
dislike to a new play if i thought it ever so indifferent for i
concluded first that every one was entitled to see quietly what he paid
for and next as the theatre the epitome of the world consisted of
pit boxes and gallery it was hard i thought if there could be such a
performance exhibited as would not please somebody in that mixed
multitude and if it did those somebodies had as much right to enjoy
their own judgments undisturbedly as i had to enjoy mine 

this was my way of showing my disapprobation i never went again and as
a man is at his option whether he will go to a play or not he has not
the same excuse for expressing his dislike clamorously as if he were
compelled to see it 

i have ever thou knowest declared against those shallow libertines who
could not make out their pretensions to wit but on two subjects to
which every man of true wit will scorn to be beholden profaneness and
obscenity i mean which must shock the ears of every man or woman of
sense without answering any end but of showing a very low and abandoned
nature and till i came acquainted with the brutal mowbray  no great
praise to myself from such a tutor   i was far from making so free as i
do now with oaths and curses for then i was forced to out-swear him
sometimes in order to keep him in his allegiance to me his general nay 
i often check myself to myself for this empty unprofitable liberty of
speech in which we are outdone by the sons of the common-sewer 

all my vice is women and the love of plots and intrigues and i cannot
but wonder how i fell into those shocking freedoms of speech since 
generally speaking they are far from helping forward my main end only 
now-and-then indeed a little novice rises to one's notice who seems to
think dress and oaths and curses the diagnostics of the rakish spirit
she is inclined to favour and indeed they are the only qualifications
that some who are called rakes and pretty fellows have to boast of but
what must the women be who can be attracted by such empty-souled
profligates since wickedness with wit is hardly tolerable but without
it is equally shocking and contemptible 

there again is preachment for thy preachment and thou wilt be apt to
think that i am reforming too but no such matter if this were new
light darting in upon me as thy morality seems to be to thee something
of this kind might be apprehended but this was always my way of
thinking and i defy thee or any of thy brethren to name a time when i
have either ridiculed religion or talked obscenely on the contrary 
thou knowest how often i have checked that bear in love-matters 
mowbray and the finical tourville and thyself too for what ye have
called the double-entendre in love as in points that required a
manly-resentment it has always been my maxim to act rather than to
talk and i do assure thee as to the first the women themselves will
excuse the one sooner than the other 

as to the admiration thou expressest for the books of scripture thou art
certainly right in it but tis strange to me that thou wert ignorant
of their beauty and noble simplicity till now their antiquity always
made me reverence them and how was it possible that thou couldest not 
for that reason if for no other give them a perusal 

i'll tell thee a short story which i had from my tutor admonishing me
against exposing myself by ignorant wonder when i should quit college 
to go to town or travel 

the first time dryden's alexander's feast fell into his hands he told
me he was prodigiously charmed with it and having never heard any body
speak of it before thought as thou dost of the bible that he had made
a new discovery 

he hastened to an appointment which he had with several wits for he
was then in town one of whom was a noted critic who according to him 
had more merit than good fortune for all the little nibblers in wit 
whose writings would not stand the test of criticism made it he said a
common cause to run him down as men would a mad dog 

the young gentleman for young he then was set forth magnificently in
the praises of that inimitable performance and gave himself airs of
second-hand merit for finding out its beauties 

the old bard heard him out with a smile which the collegian took for
approbation till he spoke and then it was in these mortifying words 
sdeath sir where have you lived till now or with what sort of company
have you conversed young as you are that you have never before heard of
the finest piece in the english language 

this story had such an effect upon me who had ever a proud heart and
wanted to be thought a clever fellow that in order to avoid the like
disgrace i laid down two rules to myself the first whenever i went
into company where there were strangers to hear every one of them speak 
before i gave myself liberty to prate the other if i found any of them
above my match to give up all title to new discoveries contenting
myself to praise what they praised as beauties familiar to me though i
had never heard of them before and so by degrees i got the reputation
of a wit myself and when i threw off all restraint and books and
learned conversation and fell in with some of our brethren who are now
wandering in erebus and with such others as belton mowbray tourville 
and thyself i set up on my own stock and like what we have been told
of sir richard in his latter days valued myself on being the emperor of
the company for having fathomed the depth of them all and afraid of no
rival but thee whom also i had got a little under by my gaiety and
promptitude at least i proudly like addison's cato delighted to give
laws to my little senate 

proceed with thee by-and-by 



letter liii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


but now i have cleared myself of any intentional levity on occasion of my
beloved's meditation which as you observe is finely suited to her
case that is to say as she and you have drawn her case i cannot help
expressing my pleasure that by one or two verses of it  the arrow 
jack and what she feared being come upon her   i am encouraged to hope 
what it will be very surprising to me if it do not happen that is in
plain english that the dear creature is in the way to be a mamma 

this cursed arrest because of the ill effects the terror might have had
upon her in that hoped-for circumstance has concerned me more than on
any other account it would be the pride of my life to prove in this
charming frost-piece the triumph of nature over principle and to have a
young lovelace by such an angel and then for its sake i am confident
she will live and will legitimate it and what a meritorious little
cherub would it be that should lay an obligation upon both parents
before it was born which neither of them would be able to repay could
i be sure it is so i should be out of all pain for her recovery pain i
say since were she to die  die abominable word how i hate it   i
verily think i should be the most miserable man in the world 

as for the earnestness she expresses for death she has found the words
ready to her hand in honest job else she would not have delivered
herself with such strength and vehemence 

her innate piety as i have more than once observed will not permit her
to shorten her own life either by violence or neglect she has a mind
too noble for that and would have done it before now had she designed
any such thing for to do it like the roman matron when the mischief is
over and it can serve no end and when the man however a tarquin as
some may think me in this action is not a tarquin in power so that no
national point can be made of it is what she has too much good sense to
think of 

then as i observed in a like case a little while ago the distress 
when this was written was strong upon her and she saw no end of it but
all was darkness and apprehension before her moreover has she it not
in her power to disappoint as much as she has been disappointed 
revenge jack has induced many a woman to cherish a life to which grief
and despair would otherwise have put an end 

and after all death is no such eligible thing as job in his
calamities makes it and a death desired merely from worldly
disappointments shows not a right mind let me tell this lady whatever
she may think of it you and i jack although not afraid in the height
of passion or resentment to rush into those dangers which might be
followed by a sudden and violent death whenever a point of honour calls
upon us would shudder at his cool and deliberate approach in a lingering
sickness which had debilitated the spirits 


 mr lovelace could not know that the lady was so thoroughly sensible
of the solidity of this doctrine as she really was for in her letter
to mrs norton letter xliv of this volume she says nor let it be
imagined that my present turn of mind proceeds from gloominess or
melancholy for although it was brought on by disappointment the world
showing me early even at my first rushing into it its true and ugly
face yet i hope that it has obtained a better root and will every day
more and more by its fruits demonstrate to me and to all my friends 
that it has 


so we read of a famous french general  i forget as well the reign of the
prince as the name of the man  who having faced with intrepidity the
ghastly varlet on an hundred occasions in the field was the most
dejected of wretches when having forfeited his life for treason he was
led with all the cruel parade of preparation and surrounding guards to
the scaffold 

the poet says well 

 tis not the stoic lesson got by rote 
 the pomp of words and pedant dissertation 
 that can support us in the hour of terror 
 books have taught cowards to talk nobly of it 
 but when the trial comes they start and stand aghast 

very true for then it is the old man in the fable with his bundle of
sticks 

the lady is well read in shakspeare our english pride and glory and
must sometimes reason with herself in his words so greatly expressed 
that the subject affecting as it is cannot produce any thing greater 

 ay but to die and go we know not where 
 to lie in cold obstruction and to rot 
 this sensible warm motion to become
 a kneaded clod and the delighted spirit
 to bathe in fiery floods or to reside
 in thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice 
 to be imprison'd in the viewless winds 
 or blown with restless violence about
 the pendant worlds or to be worse than worst
 of those that lawless and uncertain thought
 imagines howling tis too horrible 
 the weariest and most loaded worldly life 
 that pain age penury and imprisonment 
 can lay on nature is a paradise
 to what we fear of death 

i find by one of thy three letters that my beloved had some account
from hickman of my interview with miss howe at col ambrose's i had a
very agreeable time of it there although severely rallied by several of
the assembly it concerns me however not a little to find our affair
so generally known among the flippanti of both sexes it is all her own
fault there never surely was such an odd little soul as this not to
keep her own secret when the revealing of it could answer no possible
good end and when she wants not one would think to raise to herself
either pity or friends or to me enemies by the proclamation why 
jack must not all her own sex laugh in their sleeves at her weakness 
what would become of the peace of the world if all women should take it
into their heads to follow her example what a fine time of it would the
heads of families have their wives always filling their ears with their
confessions their daughters with theirs sisters would be every day
setting their brothers about cutting of throats if the brothers had at
heart the honour of their families as it is called and the whole world
would either be a scene of confusion or cuckoldom as much the fashion as
it is in lithuania 


 in lithuania the women are said to have so allowedly their gallants 
called adjutores that the husbands hardly ever enter upon any part of
pleasure without them 


i am glad however that miss howe as much as she hates me kept her
word with my cousins on their visit to her and with me at the colonel's 
to endeavour to persuade her friend to make up all matters by matrimony 
which no doubt is the best nay the only method she can take for her
own honour and that of her family 

i had once thoughts of revenging myself on that vixen and particularly 
as thou mayest remember had planned something to this purpose on the
journey she is going to take which had been talked of some time but i
think let me see yet i think i will let this hickman have her safe
and entire as thou believest the fellow to be a tolerable sort of a
mortal and that i have made the worst of him and i am glad for his own
sake he has not launched out too virulently against me to thee 


 see vol iv letter liv 


but thou seest jack by her refusal of money from him or miss howe 
that the dear extravagant takes a delight in oddnesses choosing to part
with her clothes though for a song dost think she is not a little
touched at times i am afraid she is a little spice of that insanity 
i doubt runs through her that she had in a stronger degree in the
first week of my operations her contempt of life her proclamations 
her refusal of matrimony and now of money from her most intimate
friends are sprinklings of this kind and no other way i think to be
accounted for 


 see letter xlviii of this volume 


her apothecary is a good honest fellow i like him much but the silly
dear's harping so continually upon one string dying dying dying is
what i have no patience with i hope all this melancholy jargon is owing
entirely to the way i would have her to be in and it being as new to
her as the bible beauties to thee no wonder she knows not what to make
of herself and so fancies she is breeding death when the event will
turn out quite the contrary 


 see letter xlvi of this volume 


thou art a sorry fellow in thy remarks on the education and qualification
of smarts and beaux of the rakish order if by thy we's and us's thou
meanest thyself or me for i pretend to say that the picture has no
resemblance of us who have read and conversed as we have done it may
indeed and i believe it does resemble the generality of the fops and
coxcombs about town but that let them look to for if it affects not
me to what purpose thy random shot if indeed thou findest by the new
light darted in upon thee since thou hast had the honour of conversing
with this admirable creature that the cap fits thy own head why then 
according to the qui capit rule e'en take and clap it on and i will
add a string of bells to it to complete thee for the fore-horse of the
idiot team 


 ibid and letter lxviii 


although i just now said a kind thing or two for this fellow hickman yet
i can tell thee i could to use one of my noble peer's humble phrases 
eat him up without a corn of salt when i think of his impudence to
salute my charmer twice at parting and have still less patience with
the lady herself for presuming to offer her cheek or lip  thou sayest not
which  to him and to press his clumsy fist between her charming hands 
an honour worth a king's ransom and what i would give what would i not
give to have and then he in return to press her as thou sayest he
did to his stupid heart at that time no doubt more sensible than
ever it was before 


 see letter xlviii of this volume 


by thy description of their parting i see thou wilt be a delicate fellow
in time my mortification in this lady's displeasure will be thy
exaltation from her conversation i envy thee as well for thy
opportunities as for thy improvements and such an impression has thy
concluding paragraph made upon me that i wish i do not get into a
reformation-humour as well as thou and then what a couple of lamentable
puppies shall we make howling in recitative to each other's discordant
music 


 ibid 


let me improve upon the thought and imagine that turned hermits we
have opened the two old caves at hornsey or dug new ones and in each of
our cells set up a death's head and an hour-glass for objects of
contemplation i have seen such a picture but then jack had not the
old penitent fornicator a suffocating long grey beard what figures
would a couple of brocaded or laced-waistcoated toupets make with their
sour screw'd up half-cock'd faces and more than half shut eyes in a
kneeling attitude recapitulating their respective rogueries this
scheme were we only to make trial of it and return afterwards to our
old ways might serve to better purpose by far than horner's in the
country wife to bring the pretty wenches to us 

let me see the author of hudibras has somewhere a description that would
suit us when met in one of our caves and comparing our dismal notes
together this is it suppose me described 

 he sat upon his rump 
 his head like one in doleful dump 
 betwixt his knees his hands apply'd
 unto his cheeks on either side 
 and by him in another hole 
 sat stupid belford cheek by jowl 

i know thou wilt think me too ludicrous i think myself so it is
truly to be ingenuous a forced put for my passions are so wound up 
that i am obliged either to laugh or cry like honest drunken jack
daventry  poor fellow what an unhappy end was his   thou knowest i
used to observe that whenever he rose from an entertainment which he
never did sober it was his way as soon as he got to the door to look
round him like a carrier pigeon just thrown up in order to spy out his
course and then taking to his heels he would run all the way home 
though it were a mile or two when he could hardly stand and must have
tumbled on his nose if he had attempted to walk moderately this then
must be my excuse in this my unconverted estate for a conclusion so
unworthy of the conclusion to thy third letter 

what a length have i run thou wilt own that if i pay thee not in
quality i do in quantity and yet i leave a multitude of things
unobserved upon indeed i hardly at this present know what to do with
myself but scribble tired with lord m who in his recovery has played
upon me the fable of the nurse the crying child and the wolf tired
with my cousins montague though charming girls were they not so near of
kin tired with mowbray and tourville and their everlasting identity 
tired with the country tired of myself longing for what i have not i
must go to town and there have an interview with the charmer of my soul 
for desperate diseases must have desperate remedies and i only wait to
know my doom from miss howe and then if it be rejection i will try my
fate and receive my sentence at her feet but i will apprize thee of it
beforehand as i told thee that thou mayest keep thy parole with the
lady in the best manner thou canst 



letter liv

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
 in answer to her's of july 27 see letters l li of this volume  
friday night july 28 


i will now my dearest friend write to you all my mind without reserve 
on your resolution not to have this vilest of men you gave me in
your's of sunday the 23d reasons so worthy of the pure mind of my
clarissa in support of this your resolution that nothing but self-love 
lest i should lose my ever-amiable friend could have prevailed upon me
to wish you to alter it 

indeed i thought it was impossible there could be however desirable so
noble an instance given by any of our sex of a passion conquered when
there were so many inducements to give way to it and therefore i was
willing to urge you once more to overcome your just indignation and to
be prevailed upon by the solicitations of his friends before you carried
your resentments to so great a height that it would be more difficult
for you and less to your honour to comply than if you had complied at
first 

but now my dear that i see you fixed in your noble resolution and that
it is impossible for your pure mind to join itself with that of so
perjured a miscreant i congratulate you most heartily upon it and beg
your pardon for but seeming to doubt that theory and practice were not
the same thing with my beloved clarissa 

i have only one thing that saddens my heart on this occasion and that
is the bad state of health mr hickman unwillingly owns you are in 
hitherto you have well observed the doctrine you always laid down to me 
that a cursed person should first seek the world's opinion of her and 
in all cases where the two could not be reconciled have preferred the
first to the last and are of consequence well justified to your own
heart as well as to your anna howe let me therefore beseech you to
endeavour by all possible means to recover your health and spirits 
and this as what if it can be effected will crown the work and show
the world that you were indeed got above the base wretch and though
put out of your course for a little while could resume it again and go
on blessing all within your knowledge as well by your example as by your
precepts 

for heaven's sake then for the world's sake for the honour of our sex 
and for my sake once more i beseech you try to overcome this shock 
and if you can overcome it i shall then be as happy as i wish to be 
for i cannot indeed i cannot think of parting with you for many many
years to come 

the reasons you give for discouraging my wishes to have you near us are
so convincing that i ought at present to acquiesce in them but my
dear when your mind is fully settled as now you are so absolutely
determined in it with regard this wretch i hope it will soon be i
shall expect you with us or near us and then you shall chalk out every
path that i will set my foot in nor will i turn aside either to the
right hand or to the left 

you wish i had not mediated for you to your friends i wish so too 
because my mediation was ineffectual because it may give new ground for
the malice of some of them to work upon and because you are angry with
me for doing so but how as i said in my former could i sit down in
quiet when i knew how uneasy their implacableness made you but i will
tear myself from the subject for i see i shall be warm again and
displease you and there is not one thing in the world that i would do 
however agreeable to myself if i thought it would disoblige you nor any
one that i would omit to do if i knew it would give you pleasure and
indeed my dear half-severe friend i will try if i cannot avoid the
fault as willingly as i would the rebuke 

for this reason i forbear saying any thing on so nice a subject as your
letter to your sister it must be right because you think it so and if
it be taken as it ought that will show you that it is but if it beget
insults and revilings as it is but too likely i find you don't intend
to let me know it 

you were always so ready to accuse yourself for other people's faults 
and to suspect your own conduct rather than the judgment of your
relations that i have often told you i cannot imitate you in this it
is not a necessary point of belief with me that all people in years are
therefore wise or that all young people are therefore rash and
headstrong it may be generally the case as far as i know and possibly
it may be so in the case of my mother and her girl but i will venture
to say that it has not yet appeared to be so between the principals of
harlowe-place and their second daughter 

you are for excusing them beforehand for their expected cruelty as not
knowing what you have suffered nor how ill you are they have heard of
the former and are not sorry for it of the latter they have been told 
and i have most reason to know how they have taken it but i shall be far
from avoiding the fault and as surely shall incur the rebuke if i say
any more upon this subject i will therefore only add at present that
your reasonings in their behalf show you to be all excellence their
returns to you that they are all do my dear let me end with a little
bit of spiteful justice but you won't i know so i have done quite
done however reluctantly yet if you think of the word i would have
said don't doubt the justice of it and fill up the blank with it 

you intimate that were i actually married and mr hickman to desire it 
you would think of obliging me with a visit on the occasion and that 
perhaps when with me it would be difficult for you to remove far from
me 

lord my dear what a stress do you seem to lay upon mr hickman's
desiring it to be sure he does and would of all things desire to have
you near us and with us if we might be so favoured policy as well as
veneration for you would undoubtedly make the man if not a fool desire
this but let me tell you that if mr hickman after marriage should
pretend to dispute with me my friendships as i hope i am not quite a
fool i should let him know how far his own quiet was concerned in such
an impertinence especially if they were such friendships as were
contracted before i knew him 

i know i always differed from you on this subject for you think more
highly of a husband's prerogative than most people do of the royal one 
these notions my dear from a person of your sense and judgment are no
way advantageous to us inasmuch as they justify the assuming sex in
their insolence when hardly one out of ten of them their opportunities
considered deserves any prerogative at all look through all the
families we know and we shall not find one-third of them have half the
sense of their wives and yet these are to be vested with prerogatives 
and a woman of twice their sense has nothing to do but hear tremble and
obey and for conscience-sake too i warrant 

but mr hickman and i may perhaps have a little discourse upon these
sorts of subjects before i suffer him to talk of the day and then i
shall let him know what he has to trust to as he will me if he be a
sincere man what he pretends to expect from me but let me tell you my
dear that it is more in your power than perhaps you think it to
hasten the day so much pressed for by my mother as well as wished for by
you for the very day that you can assure me that you are in a tolerable
state of health and have discharged your doctor and apothecary at their
own motions on that account some day in a month from that desirable
news shall be it so my dear make haste and be well and then this
matter will be brought to effect in a manner more agreeable to your anna
howe than it otherwise ever can 

i sent this day by a particular hand to the misses montague your
letter of just reprobation of the greatest profligate in the kingdom and
hope i shall not have done amiss that i transcribe some of the paragraphs
of your letter of the 23d and send them with it as you at first
intended should be done 

you are it seems and that too much for your health employed in
writing i hope it is in penning down the particulars of your tragical
story and my mother has put me in mind to press you to it with a view
that one day if it might be published under feigned names it would be
as much use as honour to the sex my mother says she cannot help
admiring you for the propriety of your resentment of the wretch and she
would be extremely glad to have her advice of penning your sad story
complied with and then she says your noble conduct throughout your
trials and calamities will afford not only a shining example to your sex 
but at the same time those calamities befalling such a person a
fearful warning to the inconsiderate young creatures of it 

on monday we shall set out on our journey and i hope to be back in a
fortnight and on my return will have one pull more with my mother for a
london journey and if the pretence must be the buying of clothes the
principal motive will be that of seeing once more my dear friend while i
can say i have not finally given consent to the change of a visiter into
a relation and so can call myself my own as well as

your
anna howe 



letter lv

miss howe to the two misses montague
sat july 29 


dear ladies 

i have not bee wanting to use all my interest with my beloved friend to
induce her to forgive and be reconciled to your kinsman though he has
so ill deserved it and have even repeated my earnest advice to her on
this head this repetition and the waiting for her answer having taken
up time have bee the cause that i could not sooner do myself the honour
of writing to you on this subject 

you will see by the enclosed her immovable resolution grounded on
noble and high-souled motives which i cannot but regret and applaud at
the same time applaud for the justice of her determination which will
confirm all your worthy house in the opinion you had conceived of her
unequalled merit and regret because i have but too much reason to
apprehend as well by that as by the report of a gentleman just come
from her that she is in a declining way as to her health that her
thoughts are very differently employed than on a continuance here 

the enclosed letter she thought fit to send to me unsealed that after
i had perused it i might forward it to you and this is the reason it is
superscribed by myself and sealed with my seal it is very full and
peremptory but as she had been pleased in a letter to me dated the 23d
instant as soon as she could hold a pen to give me more ample reasons
why she could not comply with your pressing requests as well as mine i
will transcribe some of the passages in that letter which will give one
of the wickedest men in the world if he sees them reason to think
himself one of the most unhappy in the loss of so incomparable a wife as
he might have gloried in had he not been so superlatively wicked these
are the passages 


 see for these passages miss harlowe's letter no xli of this volume 
 dated july 23 marked with a turned comma thus  

and now ladies you have before you my beloved friend's reasons for her
refusal of a man unworthy of the relation he bears to so many excellent
persons and i will add  for i cannot help it   that the merit and rank
of the person considered and the vile manner of his proceedings there
never was a greater villany committed and since she thinks her first and
only fault cannot be expiated but by death i pray to god daily and will
hourly from the moment i shall hear of that sad catastrophe that he will
be pleased to make him the subject of his vengeance in some such way as
that all who know of his perfidious crime may see the hand of heaven in
the punishment of it 

you will forgive me ladies i love not mine own soul better than i do
miss clarissa harlowe and the distresses she has gone through the
persecution she suffers from all her friends the curse she lies under 
for his sake from her implacable father her reduced health and
circumstances from high health and affluence and that execrable arrest
and confinement which have deepened all her other calamities  and which
must be laid at his door as it was the act of his vile agents that 
whether from his immediate orders or not naturally flowed from his
preceding baseness   the sex dishonoured in the eye of the world in the
person of one of the greatest ornaments of it the unmanly methods 
whatever they were  for i know not all as yet   by which he compassed
her ruin all these considerations join to justify my warmth and my
execrations of a man whom i think excluded by his crimes from the benefit
even of christian forgiveness and were you to see all she writes and to
know the admirable talents she is mistress of you yourselves would join
with me to admire her and execrate him 

believe me to be with a high sense of your merits 

dear ladies 
your most obedient and humble servant 
anna howe 



letter lvi

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
friday july 28 


my dearest young lady 

i have the consolation to tell you that my son is once again in a hopeful
way as to his health he desires his duty to you he is very low and
weak and so am i but this is the first time that i have been able 
for several days past to sit up to write or i would not have been so
long silent 

your letter to your sister is received and answered you have the answer
by this time i suppose i wish it may be to your satisfaction but am
afraid it will not for by betty barnes i find they were in a great
ferment on receiving your's and much divided whether it should be
answered or not they will not yet believe that you are so ill as  to
my infinite concern  i find you are what passed between miss harlowe
and miss howe has been as i feared it would be an aggravation 

i showed betty two or three passages in your letter to me and she seemed
moved and said she would report them favourably and would procure me a
visit from miss harlowe if i would promise to show the same to her but
i have heard no more of that 

methinks i am sorry you refuse the wicked man but doubt not 
nevertheless that your motives for doing so are more commendable than my
wishes that you would not but as you would be resolved as i may say 
on life if you gave way to such a thought and as i have so much
interest in your recovery i cannot forbear showing this regard to
myself and to ask you if you cannot get over your just resentments 
but i dare say no more on this subject 

what a dreadful thing indeed was it for my dearest tender young lady to
be arrested in the streets of london how does my heart go over again
and again for you what your's must have suffered at that time yet
this to such a mind as your's must be light compared to what you had
suffered before 

o my dearest miss clary how shall we know what to pray for when we
pray but that god's will may be done and that we may be resigned to it 
 when at nine years old and afterwards at eleven you had a dangerous
fever how incessantly did we grieve and pray and put up our vows to
the throne of grace for your recovery for all our lives were bound up
in your life yet now my dear as it has proved  especially if we are
soon to lose you   what a much more desirable event both for you and for
us would it have been had we then lost you 

a sad thing to say but as it is in pure love to you that i say it and
in full conviction that we are not always fit to be our own choosers i
hope it may be excusable and the rather as the same reflection will
naturally lead both you and me to acquiesce under the
dispensation since we are assured that nothing happens by chance and
the greatest good may for aught we know be produced from the heaviest
evils 

i am glad you are with such honest people and that you have all your
effects restored how dreadfully have you been used that one should be
glad of such a poor piece of justice as that 

your talent at moving the passions is always hinted at and this betty of
your sister's never comes near me that she is not full of it but as
you say whom has it moved that you wished to move yet were it not
for this unhappy notion i am sure your mother would relent forgive me 
my dear miss clary for i must try one way to be convinced if my opinion
be not just but i will not tell you what that is unless it succeeds 
i will try in pure duty and love to them as to you 

may heaven be your support in all your trials is the constant prayer my
dearest young lady of

your ever affectionate friend and servant 
judith norton 



letter lvii

mrs norton to mrs harlowe
friday july 28 


honoured madam 

being forbid without leave to send you any thing i might happen to
receive from my beloved miss clary and so ill that i cannot attend
you to ask your leave i give you this trouble to let you know that i
have received a letter from her which i think i should hereafter be
held inexcusable as things may happen if i did not desire permission
to communicate to you and that as soon as possible 

applications have been made to the dear young lady from lord m from
the two ladies his sisters and from both his nieces and from the wicked
man himself to forgive and marry him this in noble indignation for
the usage she has received from him she has absolutely refused and
perhaps madam if you and the honoured family should be of opinion that
to comply with their wishes is now the properest measure that can be
taken the circumstances of things may require your authority or advice 
to induce her to change her mind 

i have reason to believe that one motive for her refusal is her full
conviction that she shall not long be a trouble to any body and so she
would not give a husband a right to interfere with her family in
relation to the estate her grandfather devised to her but of this 
however i have not the least intimation from her nor would she i dare
say mention it as a reason having still stronger reasons from his vile
treatment of her to refuse him 

the letter i have received will show how truly penitent the dear creature
is and if i have your permission i will send it sealed up with a copy
of mine to which it is an answer but as i resolve upon this step
without her knowledge  and indeed i do   i will not acquaint her with
it unless it be attended with desirable effects because otherwise 
besides making me incur her displeasure it might quite break her already
half-broken heart i am 

honoured madam 
your dutiful and ever-obliged servant 
judith norton 



letter lviii

mrs harlowe to mrs judith norton
sunday july 30 


we all know your virtuous prudence worthy woman we all do but your
partiality to this your rash favourite is likewise known and we are no
less acquainted with the unhappy body's power of painting her distresses
so as to pierce a stone 

every one is of opinion that the dear naughty creature is working about
to be forgiven and received and for this reason it is that betty has
been forbidden  not by me you may be assured   to mention any more of
her letters for she did speak to my bella of some moving passages you
read to her 

this will convince you that nothing will be heard in her favour to what
purpose then should i mention any thing about her but you may be sure
that i will if i can have but one second however that is not at all
likely until we see what the consequences of her crime will be and who
can tell that she may how can i speak it and my once darling daughter
unmarried she may be with child this would perpetuate her stain her
brother may come to some harm which god forbid one child's ruin i
hope will not be followed by another's murder 

as to her grief and her present misery whatever it be she must bear
with it and it must be short of what i hourly bear for her indeed i am
afraid nothing but her being at the last extremity of all will make her
father and her uncles and her other friends forgive her 

the easy pardon perverse children meet with when they have done the
rashest and most rebellious thing they can do is the reason as is
pleaded to us every day that so may follow their example they depend
upon the indulgent weakness of their parents' tempers and in that
dependence harden their own hearts and a little humiliation when they
have brought themselves into the foretold misery is to be a sufficient
atonement for the greatest perverseness 

but for such a child as this  i mention what others hourly say but what
i must sorrowfully subscribe to  to lay plots and stratagems to deceive
her parents as well as herself and to run away with a libertine can
there be any atonement for her crime and is she not answerable to god 
to us to you and to all the world who knew her for the abuse of such
talents as she has abused 

you say her heart is half-broken is it to be wondered at was not her
sin committed equally against warning and the light of her own knowledge 

that he would now marry her or that she would refuse him if she
believed him in earnest as she has circumstanced herself is not at all
probable and were i inclined to believe it nobody else here would he
values not his relations and would deceive them as soon as any others 
his aversion to marriage he has always openly declared and still
occasionally declares it but if he be now in earnest which every one
who knows him must doubt which do you think hating us too as he
professes to hate and despise us all would be most eligible here to
hear of her death or of her marriage to such a vile man 

to all of us yet i cannot say for o my good mrs norton you know
what a mother's tenderness for the child of her heart would make her
choose notwithstanding all that child's faults rather than lose her
for ever 

but i must sail with the tide my own judgment also joining with the
general resentment or i should make the unhappiness of the more worthy
still greater  my dear mr harlowe's particularly   which is already
more than enough to make them unhappy for the remainder of their days 
this i know if i were to oppose the rest our son would fly out to find
this libertine and who could tell what would be the issue of that with
such a man of violence and blood as that lovelace is known to be 

all i can expect to prevail for her is that in a week or so mr brand
may be sent up to inquire privately about her present state and way of
life and to see she is not altogether destitute for nothing she writes
herself will be regarded 

her father indeed has at her earnest request withdrawn the curse 
which in a passion he laid upon her at her first wicked flight from
us but miss howe  it is a sad thing mrs norton to suffer so many
ways at once   had made matters so difficult by her undue liberties with
us all as well by speech in all companies as by letters written to my
bella that we could hardly prevail upon him to hear her letter read 

these liberties of miss howe with us the general cry against us abroad
wherever we are spoken of and the visible and not seldom audible 
disrespectfulness which high and low treat us with to our faces as we
go to and from church and even at church for no where else have we the
heart to go as if none of us had been regarded but upon her account 
and as if she were innocent we all in fault are constant aggravations 
you must needs think to the whole family 

she has made my lot heavy i am sure that was far from being light
before to tell you truth i am enjoined not to receive any thing of
her's from any hand without leave should i therefore gratify my
yearnings after her so far as to receive privately the letter you
mention what would the case be but to torment myself without being
able to do her good and were it to be known mr harlowe is so
passionate and should it throw his gout into his stomach as her rash
flight did indeed indeed i am very unhappy for o my good woman 
she is my child still but unless it were more in my power yet do i
long to see the letter you say it tells of her present way and
circumstances the poor child who ought to be in possession of
thousands and will for her father will be a faithful steward for
her but it must be in his own way and at his own time 

and is she really ill so very ill but she ought to sorrow she has
given a double measure of it 

but does she really believe she shall not long trouble us but o my
norton she must she will long trouble us for can she think her
death if we should be deprived of her will put an end to our
afflictions can it be thought that the fall of such a child will not
be regretted by us to the last hour of our lives 

but in the letter you have does she without reserve express her
contrition has she in it no reflecting hints does she not aim at
extenuations if i were to see it will it not shock me so much that
my apparent grief may expose me to harshnesses can it be contrived 

but to what purpose don't send it i charge you don't i dare not see
it 

yet 

but alas 

oh forgive the almost distracted mother you can you know how to
allow for all this so i will let it go i will not write over again
this part of my letter 

but i choose not to know more of her than is communicated to us all 
no more than i dare own i have seen and what some of them may rather
communicate to me than receive from me and this for the sake of my
outward quiet although my inward peace suffers more and more by the
compelled reserve 


 


i was forced to break off but i will now try to conclude my long
letter 

i am sorry you are ill but if you were well i could not for your own
sake wish you to go up as betty tells us you long to do if you went 
nothing would be minded that came from you as they already think you
too partial in her favour your going up would confirm it and do
yourself prejudice and her no good and as every body values you here 
i advise you not to interest yourself too warmly in her favour 
especially before my bella's betty till i can let you know a proper
time yet to forbid you to love the dear naughty creature who can o
my norton you must love her and so must i 

i send you five guineas to help you in your present illness and your
son's for it must have lain heavy upon you what a sad sad thing my
dear good woman that all your pains and all my pains for eighteen or
nineteen years together have in so few months been rendered thus
deplorably vain yet i must be always your friend and pity you for the
very reason that i myself deserve every one's pity 

perhaps i may find an opportunity to pay you a visit as in your illness 
and then may weep over the letter you mention with you but for the
future write nothing to me about the poor girl that you think may not be
communicated to us all 

and i charge you as you value my friendship as you wish my peace not
to say any thing of a letter you have from me either to the naughty one 
or to any body else it was with some little relief the occasion given 
to write to you who must in so particular a manner share my
affliction a mother mrs norton cannot forget her child though that
child could abandon her mother and in so doing run away with all her
mother's comforts as i truly say is the case of

your unhappy friend 
charlotte harlowe 



letter lix

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs judith norton
sat july 29 


i congratulate you my dear mrs norton with all my heart on your son's
recovery which i pray to god with all your own health to perfect 

i write in some hurry being apprehensive of the sequence of the hints
you give of some method you propose to try in my favour  with my
relations i presume you mean  but you will not tell me what you say 
if it prove unsuccessful 

now i must beg of you that you will not take any step in my favour with
which you do not first acquaint me 

i have but one request to make to them besides what is contained in my
letter to my sister and i would not methinks for the sake of their own
future peace of mind that they should be teased so by your well-meant
kindness and that of miss howe as to be put upon denying me that and
why should more be asked for me than i can partake of more than is
absolutely necessary for my own peace 

you suppose i should have my sister's answer to my letter by the time
your's reached my hand i have it and a severe one a very severe one 
it is yet considering my fault in their eyes and the provocations i
am to suppose they so newly had from my dear miss howe i am to look upon
it as a favour that it was answered at all i will send you a copy of it
soon as also of mine to which it is an answer 

i have reason to be very thankful that my father has withdrawn that heavy
malediction which affected me so much a parent's curse my dear mrs 
norton what child could die in peace under a parent's curse so
literally fulfilled too as this has been in what relates to this life 

my heart is too full to touch upon the particulars of my sister's letter 
i can make but one atonement for my fault may that be accepted and
may it soon be forgotten by every dear relation that there was such an
unhappy daughter sister or niece as clarissa harlowe 

my cousin morden was one of those who was so earnest in prayer for my
recovery at nine and eleven years of age as you mention my sister
thinks he will be one of those who wish i never had had a being but
pray when he does come let me hear of it with the first 

you think that were it not for that unhappy notion of my moving talent 
my mother would relent what would i give to see her once more and 
although unknown to her to kiss but the hem of her garment 

could i have thought that the last time i saw her would have been the
last with what difficulty should i have been torn from her embraced
feet and when screened behind the yew-hedge on the 5th of april last 
i saw my father and my uncle antony and my brother and sister how
little did i think that that would be the last time i should ever see
them and in so short a space that so many dreadful evils would befal
me 


 see vol ii letter xxxvi 


but i can write nothing but what must give you trouble i will
therefore after repeating my desire that you will not intercede for me
but with my previous consent conclude with the assurance that i am and
ever will be 

your most affectionate and dutiful
clarissa harlowe 



letter lx

miss ar harlowe to miss cl harlowe
 in answer to her's of friday july 21 letter xlv of this volume  
thursday july 27 


o my unhappy lost sister 

what a miserable hand have you made of your romantic and giddy
expedition i pity you at my heart 

you may well grieve and repent lovelace has left you in what way or
circumstances you know best 

i wish your conduct had made your case more pitiable but tis your own
seeking 

god help you for you have not a friend will look upon you poor 
wicked undone creature fallen as you are against warning against
expostulation against duty 

but it signifies nothing to reproach you i weep over you 

my poor mother your rashness and folly have made her more miserable
than you can be yet she has besought my father to grant your request 

my uncles joined with her for they thought there was a little more
modesty in your letter than in the letters of your pert advocate and my
father is pleased to give me leave to write but only these words for
him and no more that he withdraws the curse he laid upon you at the
first hearing of your wicked flight so far as it is in his power to do
it and hopes that your present punishment may be all that you will meet
with for the rest he will never own you nor forgive you and grieves
he has such a daughter in the world 

all this and more you have deserved from him and from all of us but
what have you done to this abandoned libertine to deserve what you have
met with at his hands i fear i fear sister but no more a blessed
four months' work have you made of it 

my brother is now at edinburgh sent thither by my father  though he
knows not this to be the motive   that he may not meet your triumphant
deluder 

we are told he would be glad to marry you but why then did he abandon
you he had kept you till he was tired of you no question and it is
not likely he would wish to have you but upon the terms you have already
without all doubt been his 

you ought to advise your friend miss howe to concern herself less in your
matters than she does except she could do it with more decency she has
written three letters to me very insolent ones your favourer poor
mrs norton thinks you know nothing of the pert creature's writing i
hope you don't but then the more impertinent the writer but 
believing the fond woman i sat down the more readily to answer your
letter and i write with less severity i can tell you than otherwise i
should have done if i had answered it all 

monday last was your birth-day think poor ungrateful wretch as you
are how we all used to keep it and you will not wonder to be told that
we ran away from one another that day but god give you true penitence 
if you have it not already and it will be true if it be equal to the
shame and the sorrow you have given us all 

your afflicted sister 
arabella harlowe 


your cousin morden is every day expected in england he as well as
 others of the family when he comes to hear what a blessed piece of
 work you have made of it will wish you never had had a being 



letter lxi

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
sunday july 30 


you have given me great pleasure my dearest friend by your approbation
of my reasonings and of my resolution founded upon them never to have
mr lovelace this approbation is so right a thing give me leave to
say from the nature of the case and from the strict honour and true
dignity of mind which i always admired in my anna howe that i could
hardly tell to what but to my evil destiny which of late would not let
me please any body to attribute the advice you gave me to the contrary 

but let not the ill state of my health and what that may naturally tend
to sadden you i have told you that i will not run away from life nor
avoid the means that may continue it if god see fit and if he do not 
who shall repine at his will 

if it shall be found that i have not acted unworthy of your love and of
my own character in my greater trials that will be a happiness to both
on reflection 

the shock which you so earnestly advise me to try to get above was a
shock the greatest that i could receive but my dear as it was not
occasioned by my fault i hope i am already got above it i hope i am 

i am more grieved at times however for others than for myself and so
i ought for as to myself i cannot but reflect that i have had an
escape rather than a loss in missing mr lovelace for a husband even
had he not committed the vilest of all outrages 

let any one who knows my story collect his character from his behaviour
to me before that outrage and then judge whether it was in the least
probable that such a man should make me happy but to collect his
character from his principles with regard to the sex in general and from
his enterprizes upon many of them and to consider the cruelty of his
nature and the sportiveness of his invention together with the high
opinion he has of himself it will not be doubted that a wife of his must
have been miserable and more miserable if she loved him than she could
have been were she to be indifferent to him 

a twelvemonth might very probably have put a period to my life situated
as i was with my friends persecuted and harassed as i had been by my
brother and sister and my very heart torn in pieces by the wilful and
 as it is now apparent premeditated suspenses of the man whose
gratitude i wished to engage and whose protection i was the more
entitled to expect as he had robbed me of every other and reduced me to
an absolute dependence upon himself indeed i once thought that it was
all his view to bring me to this as he hated my family and
uncomfortable enough for me if it had been all 

can it be thought my dear that my heart was not more than half broken
 happy as i was before i knew mr lovelace by a grievous change in my
circumstances indeed it was nor perhaps was the wicked violence
wanting to have cut short though possibly not so very short a life that
he has sported with 

had i been his but a month he must have possessed the estate on which my
relations had set their hearts the more to their regret as they hated
him as much as he hated them 

have i not reason these things considered to think myself happier
without mr lovelace than i could have been with him my will too
unviolated and very little nay not any thing as to him to reproach
myself with 

but with my relations it is otherwise they indeed deserve to be pitied 
they are and no doubt will long be unhappy 

to judge of their resentments and of their conduct we must put
ourselves in their situation and while they think me more in fault than
themselves whether my favourers are of their opinion or not and have
a right to judge for themselves they ought to have great allowances made
for them my parents especially they stand at least self-acquitted 
 that i cannot and the rather as they can recollect to their pain 
their past indulgencies to me and their unquestionable love 

your partiality for the friend you so much value will not easily let you
come into this way of thinking but only my dear be pleased to consider
the matter in the following light 

here was my mother one of the most prudent persons of her sex married
into a family not perhaps so happily tempered as herself but every one
of which she had the address for a great while absolutely to govern as
she pleased by her directing wisdom at the same time that they knew not
but her prescriptions were the dictates of their own hearts such a sweet
heart had she of conquering by seeming to yield think my dear what
must be the pride and the pleasure of such a mother that in my brother
she could give a son to the family she distinguished with her love not
unworthy of their wishes a daughter in my sister of whom she had no
reason to be ashamed and in me a second daughter whom every body
complimented such was their partial favour to me as being the still
more immediate likeness of herself how self pleased could she smile
round upon a family she had so blessed what compliments were paid her
upon the example she had given us which was followed with such hopeful
effects with what a noble confidence could she look upon her dear mr 
harlowe as a person made happy by her and be delighted to think that
nothing but purity streamed from a fountain so pure 

now my dear reverse as i daily do this charming prospect see my
dear mother sorrowing in her closet endeavouring to suppress her sorrow
at her table and in those retirements where sorrow was before a
stranger hanging down her pensive head smiles no more beaming over her
benign aspect her virtue made to suffer for faults she could not be
guilty of her patience continually tried because she has more of it
than any other with repetitions of faults she is as much wounded by as
those can be from whom she so often hears of them taking to herself as
the fountain-head a taint which only had infected one of the
under-currents afraid to open her lips were she willing in my favour 
lest it should be thought she has any bias in her own mind to failings
that never could have been suspected in her robbed of that pleasing
merit which the mother of well-nurtured and hopeful children may glory
in every one who visits her or is visited by her by dumb show and
looks that mean more than words can express condoling where they used to
congratulate the affected silence wounding the compassionating look
reminding the half-suppressed sigh in them calling up deeper sighs from
her and their averted eyes while they endeavour to restrain the rising
tear provoking tears from her that will not be restrained 

when i consider these things and added to these the pangs that tear
in pieces the stronger heart of my father because it cannot relieve
itself by those which carry the torturing grief to the eyes of softer
spirits the overboiling tumults of my impatient and uncontroulable
brother piqued to the heart of his honour in the fall of a sister in
whom he once gloried the pride of an elder sister who had given
unwilling way to the honours paid over her head to one born after her 
and lastly the dishonour i have brought upon two uncles who each
contended which should most favour their then happy niece when i say 
i reflect upon my fault in these strong yet just lights what room can
there be to censure any body but my unhappy self and how much reason
have i to say if i justify myself mine own heart shall condemn me if i
say i am perfect it shall also prove me perverse 

here permit me to lay down my pen for a few moments 


 


you are very obliging to me intentionally i know when you tell me it
is in my power to hasten the day of mr hickman's happiness but yet 
give me leave to say that i admire this kind assurance less than any
other paragraph of your letter 

in the first place you know it is not in my power to say when i can
dismiss my physician and you should not put the celebration of a
marriage intended by yourself and so desirable to your mother upon so
precarious an issue nor will i accept of a compliment which must mean
a slight to her 

if any thing could give me a relish for life after what i have suffered 
it would be the hopes of the continuance of the more than sisterly love 
which has for years uninterruptedly bound us together as one mind and
why my dear should you defer giving by a tie still stronger another
friend to one who has so few 

i am glad you have sent my letter to miss montague i hope i shall hear
no more of this unhappy man 

i had begun the particulars of my tragical story but it is so painful a
task and i have so many more important things to do and as i
apprehend so little time to do them in that could i avoid it i would
go no farther in it 

then to this hour i know not by what means several of his machinations
to ruin me were brought about so that some material parts of my sad
story must be defective if i were to sit down to write it but i have
been thinking of a way that will answer the end wished for by your mother
and you full as well perhaps better 

mr lovelace it seems had communicated to his friend mr belford all
that has passed between himself and me as he went on mr belford has
not been able to deny it so that as we may observe by the way a poor
young creature whose indiscretion has given a libertine power over her 
has a reason she little thinks of to regret her folly since these
wretches who have no more honour in one point than in another scruple
not to make her weakness a part of their triumph to their brother
libertines 

i have nothing to apprehend of this sort if i have the justice done me
in his letters which mr belford assures me i have and therefore the
particulars of my story and the base arts of this vile man will i
think be best collected from those very letters of his if mr belford
can be prevailed upon to communicate them to which i dare appeal with
the same truth and fervour as he did who says o that one would hear me 
and that mine adversary had written a book surely i would take it upon
my shoulders and bind it to me as a crown for i covered not my
transgressions as adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom 

there is one way which may be fallen upon to induce mr belford to
communicate these letters since he seems to have and declares he always
had a sincere abhorrence of his friend's baseness to me but that 
you'll say when you hear it is a strange one nevertheless i am very
earnest upon it at present 

it is no other than this 

i think to make mr belford the executor of my last will  don't be
surprised   and with this view i permit his visits with the less scruple 
and every time i see him from his concern for me am more and more
inclined to do so if i hold in the same mind and if he accept the
trust and will communicate the materials in his power those joined
with what you can furnish will answer the whole end 

i know you will start at my notion of such an executor but pray my
dear consider in my present circumstances what i can do better as i
am empowered to make a will and have considerable matters in my own
disposal 

your mother i am sure would not consent that you should take this
office upon you it might subject mr hickman to the insults of that
violent man mrs norton cannot for several reasons respecting herself 
my brother looks upon what i ought to have as his right my uncle
harlowe is already one of my trustees as my cousin morden is the other 
for the estate my grandfather left me but you see i could not get from
my own family the few guineas i left behind me at harlowe-place and my
uncle antony once threatened to have my grandfather's will controverted 
my father to be sure my dear i could not expect that my father would
do all i wish should be done and a will to be executed by a father for a
daughter parts of it perhaps absolutely against his own judgment 
carries somewhat daring and prescriptive in the very word 

if indeed my cousin morden were to come in time and would undertake this
trust but even him it might subject to hazards and the more as he is a
man of great spirit and as the other man of as great looks upon me
 unprotected as i have long been as his property 

now mr belford as i have already mentioned knows every thing that has
passed he is a man of spirit and it seems as fearless as the other 
with more humane qualities you don't know my dear what instances of
sincere humanity this mr belford has shown not only on occasion of the
cruel arrest but on several occasions since and mrs lovick has taken
pains to inquire after his general character and hears a very good one
of him his justice and generosity in all his concerns of meum and tuum 
as they are called he has a knowledge of law-matters and has two
executorships upon him at this time in the discharge of which his honour
is unquestioned 

all these reasons have already in a manner determined me to ask this
favour of him although it will have an odd sound with it to make an
intimate friend of mr lovelace my executor 

this is certain my brother will be more acquiescent a great deal in such
a case with the articles of the will as he will see that it will be to
no purpose to controvert some of them which else i dare say he would
controvert or persuade my other friends to do so and who would involve
an executor in a law-suit if they could help it which would be the
case if any body were left whom my brother could hope to awe or
controul since my father has possession of all and is absolutely
governed by him  angry spirits my dear as i have often seen will be
overcome by more angry ones as well as sometimes be disarmed by the
meek   nor would i wish you may believe to have effects torn out of my
father's hands while mr belford who is a man of fortune and a good
economist in his own affairs would have no interest but to do justice 

then he exceedingly presses for some occasion to show his readiness to
serve me and he would be able to manage his violent friend over whom he
has more influence than any other person 

but after all i know not if it were not more eligible by far that my
story and myself too should be forgotten as soon as possible and of
this i shall have the less doubt if the character of my parents  you
will forgive my my dear  cannot be guarded against the unqualified
bitterness which from your affectionate zeal for me has sometimes
mingled with your ink a point that ought and i insist upon it must be
well considered of if any thing be done which your mother and you are
desirous to have done the generality of the world is too apt to oppose
a duty and general duties my dear ought not to be weakened by the
justification of a single person however unhappily circumstanced 

my father has been so good as to take off the heavy malediction he laid
me under i must be now solicitous for a last blessing and that is all
i shall presume to petition for my sister's letter communicating this
grace is a severe one but as she writes to me as from every body how
could i expect it to be otherwise 

if you set out to-morrow this letter cannot reach you till you get to
your aunt harman's i shall therefore direct it thither as mr hickman
instructed me 

i hope you will have met with no inconveniencies in your little journey
and voyage and that you will have found in good health all whom you wish
to see well 

if your relations in the little island join their solicitations with your
mother's commands to have your nuptials celebrated before you leave
them let me beg of you my dear to oblige them how grateful will the
notification that you have done so be to

your ever faithful and affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter lxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss harlowe
saturday july 29 


i repine not my dear sister at the severity you have been pleased to
express in the letter you favoured me with because that severity was
accompanied with the grace i had petitioned for and because the
reproaches of mine own heart are stronger than any other person's
reproaches can be and yet i am not half so culpable as i am imagined
to be as would be allowed if all the circumstances of my unhappy story
were known and which i shall be ready to communicate to mrs norton if
she be commissioned to inquire into them or to you my sister if you
can have patience to hear them 

i remembered with a bleeding heart what day the 24th of july was i began
with the eve of it and i passed the day itself as it was fit i should
pass it nor have i any comfort to give to my dear and ever-honoured
father and mother and to you my bella but this that as it was the
first unhappy anniversary of my birth in all probability it will be the
last 

believe me my dear sister i say not this merely to move compassion but
from the best grounds and as on that account i think it of the
highest importance to my peace of mind to obtain one farther favour i
would choose to owe to your intercession as my sister the leave i beg 
to address half a dozen lines with the hope of having them answered as i
wish to either or to both my honoured parents to beg their last
blessing 

this blessing is all the favour i have now to ask it is all i dare to
ask yet am i afraid to rush at once though by letter into the presence
of either and if i did not ask it it might seem to be owing to
stubbornness and want of duty when my heart is all humility
penitence only be so good as to embolden me to attempt this task 
write but this one line clary harlowe you are at liberty to write as
you desire  this will be enough and shall to my last hour be
acknowledged as the greatest favour by

your truly penitent sister 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxiii

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
monday july 31 


my dearest young lady 

i must indeed own that i took the liberty to write to your mother 
offering to enclose to her if she gave me leave your's of the 24th by
which i thought she would see what was the state of your mind what the
nature of your last troubles was from the wicked arrest what the people
are where you lodge what proposals were made you from lord m s family 
also your sincere penitence and how much miss howe's writing to them in
the terms she wrote in disturbed you but as you have taken the matter
into your own hands and forbid me in your last to act in this nice
affair unknown to you i am glad the letter was not required of me and
indeed it may be better that the matter lie wholly between you and them 
since my affection for you is thought to proceed from partiality 

they would choose no doubt that you should owe to themselves and not
to my humble mediation the favour for which you so earnestly sue and of
which i would not have your despair for i will venture to assure you 
that your mother is ready to take the first opportunity to show her
maternal tenderness and this i gather from several hints i am not at
liberty to explain myself upon 

i long to be with you now i am better and now my son is in a fair way
of recovery but is it not hard to have it signified to me that at
present it will not be taken well if i go i suppose while the
reconciliation which i hope will take place is negotiating by means of
the correspondence so newly opened between you and your sister but if
you will have me come i will rely on my good intentions and risque
every one's displeasure 

mr brand has business in town to solicit for a benefice which it is
expected the incumbent will be obliged to quit for a better preferment 
and when there he is to inquire privately after your way of life and
of your health 

he is a very officious young man and but that your uncle harlowe who
has chosen him for this errand regards him as an oracle your mother had
rather any body else had been sent 

he is one of those puzzling over-doing gentlemen who think they see
farther into matters than any body else and are fond of discovered
mysteries where there are none in order to be thought shrewd men 

i can't say i like him either in the pulpit or out of it i who had a
father one of the soundest divines and finest scholars in the kingdom 
who never made an ostentation of what he knew but loved and venerated he
gospel he taught preferring it to all other learning to be obliged to
hear a young man depart from his text as soon as he has named it so
contrary too to the example set him by his learned and worthy
principal when his health permits him to preach and throwing about 
to a christian and country audience scraps of latin and greek from the
pagan classics and not always brought in with great propriety neither 
 if i am to judge by the only way given me to judge of them by the
english he puts them into is an indication of something wrong either
in his head or his heart or both for otherwise his education at the
university must have taught him better you know my dear miss clary 
the honour i have for the cloth it is owing to that that i say what i
do 


 dr lewen 


i know not the day he is to set out and as his inquiries are to be
private be pleased to take no notice of this intelligence i have no
doubt that your life and conversation are such as may defy the scrutinies
of the most officious inquirer 

i am just now told that you have written a second letter to your sister 
but am afraid they will wait for mr brand's report before farther
favour will be obtained from them for they will not yet believe you are
so ill as i fear you are 

but you would soon find that you have an indulgent mother were she at
liberty to act according to her own inclination and this gives me great
hopes that all will end well at last for i verily think you are in the
right way to a reconciliation god give a blessing to it and restore
your health and you to all your friends prays

your ever affectionate 
judith norton 


your mother has privately sent me five guineas she is pleased to say to
 help us in the illness we have been afflicted with but more
 likely that i might send them to you as from myself i hope 
 therefore i may send them up with ten more i have still left 

i will send you word of mr morden's arrival the moment i know it 

if agreeable i should be glad to know all that passes between your
 relations and you 



letter lxiv

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs norton
wednesday aug 2 


you give me my dear mrs norton great pleasure in hearing of your's and
your son's recovery may you continue for many many years a blessing
to each other 

you tell me that you did actually write to my mother offering to enclose
to her mine of the 24th past and you say it was not required of you 
that is to say although you cover it over as gently as you could that
your offer was rejected which makes it evident that no plea could be
made for me yet you bid me hope that the grace i sued for would in
time be granted 

the grace i then sued for was indeed granted but you are afraid you
say that they will wait for mr brand's report before favour will be
obtained in return to the second letter which i wrote to my sister and
you add that i have an indulgent mother were she at liberty to act
according to her own inclination and that all will end well at last 

but what my dear mrs norton what is the grace i sue for in my second
letter it is not that they will receive me into favour if they think
it is they are mistaken i do not i cannot expect that nor as i
have often said should i if they would receive me bear to live in the
eye of those dear friends whom i have so grievously offended tis only 
simply a blessing i ask a blessing to die with not to lie with do
they know that and do they know that their unkindness will perhaps
shorten my date so that their favour if ever they intend to grant it 
may come too late 

once more i desire you not to think of coming to me i have no
uneasiness now but what proceeds from the apprehension of seeing a man i
would not see for the world if i could help it and from the severity of
my nearest and dearest relations a severity entirely their own i doubt 
for you tell me that my brother is at edinburgh you would therefore
heighten their severity and make yourself enemies besides if you were
to come to me don't you see you would 

mr brand may come if he will he is a clergyman and must mean well 
or i must think so let him say of me what he will all my fear is 
that as he knows i am in disgrace with a family whose esteem he is
desirous to cultivate and as he has obligations to my uncle harlowe and
to my father he will be but a languid acquitter not that i am afraid of
what he or any body in the world can hear as to my conduct you may 
my revered and dear friend indeed you may rest satisfied that that is
such as may warrant me to challenge the inquiries of the most officious 

i will send you copies of what passes as you desire when i have an
answer to my second letter i now begin to wish that i had taken the
heart to write to my father himself or to my mother at least instead
of to my sister and yet i doubt my poor mother can do nothing for me of
herself a strong confederacy my dear mrs norton a strong
confederacy indeed against a poor girl their daughter sister niece 
 my brother perhaps got it renewed before he left them he needed
not his work is done and more than done 

don't afflict yourself about money-matters on my account i have no
occasion for money i am glad my mother was so considerate to you i
was in pain for you on the same subject but heaven will not permit so
good a woman to want the humble blessings she was always satisfied with 
i wish every individual of our family were but as rich as you o my
mamma norton you are rich you are rich indeed the true riches are
such content as you are blessed with and i hope in god that i am in the
way to be rich too 

adieu my ever-indulgent friend you say all will be at last happy and
i know it will i confide that it will with as much security as you
may that i will be to my last hour 

your ever grateful and affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter lxv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday aug 1 


i am most confoundedly chagrined and disappointed for here on saturday 
arrived a messenger from miss howe with a letter to my cousins which i
knew nothing of till yesterday when lady sarah and lady betty were
procured to be here to sit in judgment upon it with the old peer and my
two kinswomen and never was bear so miserably baited as thy poor
friend and for what why for the cruelty of miss harlowe for have i
committed any new offence and would i not have re-instated myself in her
favour upon her own terms if i could and is it fair to punish me for
what is my misfortune and not my fault such event-judging fools as i
have for my relations i am ashamed of them all 


 see letter lv of this volume 


in that of miss howe was enclosed one to her from miss harlowe to be
transmitted to my cousins containing a final rejection of me and that
in very vehement and positive terms yet she pretends that in this
rejection she is governed more by principle than passion  d d lie 
as ever was told   and as a proof that she is says that she can
forgive me and does on this one condition that i will never molest her
more the whole letter so written as to make herself more admired me
more detested 


 see letter xli of this volume 


what we have been told of the agitations and workings and sighings and
sobbings of the french prophets among us formerly was nothing at all to
the scene exhibited by these maudlin souls at the reading of these
letters and of some affecting passages extracted from another of my fair
implacable's to miss howe such lamentations for the loss of so charming
a relation such applaudings of her virtue of her exaltedness of soul
and sentiment such menaces of disinherisons i not needing their
reproaches to be stung to the heart with my own reflections and with the
rage of disappointment and as sincerely as any of them admiring her 
what the devil  cried i is all this for is it not enough to be
despised and rejected can i help her implacable spirit would i not
repair the evils i have made her suffer  then was i ready to curse them
all herself and miss howe for company and heartily swore that she
should yet be mine 

i now swear it over again to thee were her death to follow in a week
after the knot is tied by the lord of heaven it shall be tied and she
shall die a lovelace  tell her so if thou wilt but at the same time 
tell her that i have no view to her fortune and that i will solemnly
resign that and all pretensions to it in whose favour she pleases if
she resign life issueless i am not so low-minded a wretch as to be
guilty of any sordid views to her fortune let her judge for herself 
then whether it be not for her honour rather to leave this world a
lovelace than a harlowe 

but do not think i will entirely rest a cause so near my heart upon an
advocate who so much more admires his client's adversary than his client 
i will go to town in a few days in order to throw myself at her feet 
and i will carry with me or have at hand a resolute well-prepared
parson and the ceremony shall be performed let what will be the
consequence 

but if she will permit me to attend her for this purpose at either of the
churches mentioned in the license which she has by her and thank
heaven has not returned me with my letters then will i not disturb
her but meet her at the altar in either church and will engage to bring
my two cousins to attend her and even lady sarah and lady betty and my
lord m in person shall give her to me 

or if it be still more agreeable to her i will undertake that either
lady sarah or lady betty or both shall go to town and attend her down 
and the marriage shall be celebrated in their presence and in that of
lord m either here or elsewhere at her own choice 

do not play me booty belford but sincerely and warmly use all the
eloquence thou art master of to prevail upon her to choose one of these
three methods one of them she must choose by my soul she must 

here is charlotte tapping at my closet-door for admittance what a devil
wants charlotte i will hear no more reproaches come in girl 


 


my cousin charlotte finding me writing on with too much earnestness to
have any regard for politeness to her and guessing at my subject 
besought me to let her see what i had written 

i obliged her and she was so highly pleased on seeing me so much in
earnest that she offered and i accepted her offer to write a letter to
miss harlowe with permission to treat me in it as she thought fit 

i shall enclose a copy of her letter 

when she had written it she brought it to me with apologies for the
freedom taken with me in it but i excused it and she was ready to give
me a kiss for it telling her i had hopes of success from it and that i
thought she had luckily hit it off 

every one approves of it as well as i and is pleased with me for so
patiently submitting to be abused and undertaken for if it do not
succeed all the blame will be thrown upon the dear creature's
perverseness her charitable or forgiving disposition about which she
makes such a parade will be justly questioned and the piety of which
she is now in full possession will be transferred to me 

putting therefore my whole confidence in this letter i postpone all my
other alternatives as also my going to town till my empress send an
answer to my cousin montague 

but if she persist and will not promise to take time to consider of the
matter thou mayest communicate to her what i had written as above 
before my cousin entered and if she be still perverse assure her that
i must and will see her but this with all honour all humility and if
i cannot move her in my favour i will then go abroad and perhaps never
more return to england 

i am sorry thou art at this critical time so busily employed as thou
informest me thou art in thy watford affairs and in preparing to do
belton justice if thou wantest my assistance in the latter command me 
though engrossed by this perverse beauty and plagued as i am i will
obey thy first summons 

i have great dependence upon thy zeal and thy friendship hasten back to
her therefore and resume a task so interesting to me that it is
equally the subject of my dreams as of my waking hours 



letter lxvi

miss montague to miss clarissa harlowe
tuesday aug 1 


dearest madam 

all our family is deeply sensible of the injuries you have received at
the hands of one of it whom you only can render in any manner worthy of
the relation he stands in to us all and if as an act of mercy and
charity the greatest your pious heart can show you will be pleased to
look over his past wickedness and ingratitude and suffer yourself to be
our kinswoman you will make us the happiest family in the world and i
can engage that lord m and lady sarah sadleir and lady betty
lawrance and my sister who are all admirers of your virtues and of
your nobleness of mind will for ever love and reverence you and do
every thing in all their powers to make you amends for what you have
suffered from mr lovelace this madam we should not however dare
to petition for were we not assured that mr lovelace is most sincerely
sorry for his past vileness to you and that he will on his knees beg
your pardon and vow eternal love and honour to you 

wherefore my dearest cousin  how you will charm us all if this
agreeable style may be permitted   for all our sakes for his soul's
sake  you must i am sure be so good a lady as to wish to save a
soul   and allow me to say for your own fame's sake condescend to our
joint request and if by way of encouragement you will but say you will
be glad to see and to be as much known personally as you are by fame 
to charlotte montague i will in two days' time from the receipt of your
permission wait upon you with or without my sister and receive your
farther commands 

let me our dearest cousin  we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of
calling you so let me  entreat you to give me your permission for my
journey to london and put it in the power of lord m and of the ladies
of the family to make you what reparation they can make you for the
injuries which a person of the greatest merit in the world has received
from one of the most audacious men in it and you will infinitely oblige
us all and particularly her who repeatedly presumes to style herself

your affectionate cousin and obliged servant 
charlotte montague 



letter lxvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday morning aug 3 six o'clock 


i have been so much employed in my own and belton's affairs that i could
not come to town till last night having contented myself with sending to
mrs lovick to know from time to time the state of the lady's health 
of which i received but very indifferent accounts owing in a great
measure to letters or advices brought her from her implacable family 

i have now completed my own affairs and next week shall go to epsom 
to endeavour to put belton's sister into possession of his own house for
him after which i shall devote myself wholly to your service and to
that of the lady 

i was admitted to her presence last night and found her visibly altered
for the worse when i went home i had your letter of tuesday last put
into my hands let me tell thee lovelace that i insist upon the
performance of thy engagement to me that thou wilt not personally molest
her 


 mr belford dates again on thursday morning ten o'clock and gives an
 account of a conversation which he had just held with the lady upon
 the subject of miss montague's letter to her preceding and upon
 mr lovelace's alternatives as mentioned in letter lxv which mr 
 belford supported with the utmost earnestness but as the result
 of this conversation will be found in the subsequent letters mr 
 belford's pleas and arguments in favour of his friend and the
 lady's answers are omitted  



letter lxviii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss montague
thursday aug 3 


dear madam 

i am infinitely obliged to you for your kind and condescending letter a
letter however which heightens my regrets as it gives me a new
instance of what a happy creature i might have been in an alliance so
much approved of by such worthy ladies and which on their accounts and
on that of lord m would have been so reputable to myself and was once
so desirable 

but indeed indeed madam my heart sincerely repulses the man who 
descended from such a family could be guilty first of such
premeditated violence as he has been guilty of and as he knows farther
intended me on the night previous to the day he set out for berkshire 
and next pretending to spirit could be so mean as to wish to lift into
that family a person he was capable of abasing into a companionship with
the most abandoned of her sex 

allow me then dear madam to declare with favour that i think i never
could be ranked with the ladies of a family so splendid and so noble if 
by vowing love and honour at the altar to such a violator i could
sanctify as i may say his unprecedented and elaborate wickedness 

permit me however to make one request to my good lord m and to lady
betty and lady sarah and to your kind self and your sister it is 
that you will all be pleased to join your authority and interests to
prevail upon mr lovelace not to molest me farther 

be pleased to tell him that if i am designed for life it will be very
cruel in him to attempt to hunt me out of it for i am determined never
to see him more if i can help it the more cruel because he knows that
i have nobody to defend me from him nor do i wish to engage any body to
his hurt or to their own 

if i am on the other hand destined for death it will be no less cruel 
if he will not permit me to die in peace since a peaceable and happy end
i wish him indeed i do 

every worldly good attend you dear madam and every branch of the
honourable family is the wish of one whose misfortune it is that she is
obliged to disclaim any other title than that of 

dear madam 
your and their obliged and faithful servant 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxix

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday afternoon aug 3 


i am just now agreeably surprised by the following letter delivered into
my hands by a messenger from the lady the letter she mentions as
enclosed i have returned without taking a copy of it the contents of
it will soon be communicated to you i presume by other hands they are
an absolute rejection of thee poor lovelace 


 see miss harlowe's letter no lxviii 


to john belford esq 
aug 3 


sir 

you have frequently offered to oblige me in any thing that shall be
within your power and i have such an opinion of you as to be willing to
hope that at the times you made these offers you meant more than mere
compliment 

i have therefore two requests to make to you the first i will now
mention the other if this shall be complied with otherwise not 

it behoves me to leave behind me such an account as may clear up my
conduct to several of my friends who will not at present concern
themselves about me and miss howe and her mother are very solicitous
that i will do so 

i am apprehensive that i shall not have time to do this and you will not
wonder that i have less and less inclination to set about such a painful
task especially as i find myself unable to look back with patience on
what i have suffered and shall be too much discomposed by the
retrospection were i obliged to make it to proceed with the requisite
temper in a task of still greater importance which i have before me 

it is very evident to me that your wicked friend has given you from time
to time a circumstantial account of all his behaviour to me and devices
against me and you have more than once assured me that he has done my
character all the justice i could wish for both by writing and speech 

now sir if i may have a fair a faithful specimen from his letters or
accounts to you written upon some of the most interesting occasions i
shall be able to judge whether there will or will not be a necessity for
me for my honour's sake to enter upon the solicited task 

you may be assured from my enclosed answer to the letter which miss
montague has honoured me with and which you'll be pleased to return me
as soon as read that it is impossible for me ever to think of your
friend in the way i am importuned to think of him he cannot therefore
receive any detriment from the requested specimen and i give you my
honour that no use shall be made of it to his prejudice in law or
otherwise and that it may not after i am no more i assure you that
it is a main part of my view that the passages you shall oblige me with
shall be always in your own power and not in that of any other person 

if sir you think fit to comply with my request the passages i would
wish to be transcribed making neither better nor worse of the matter 
are those which he has written to you on or about the 7th and 8th of
june when i was alarmed by the wicked pretence of a fire and what he
has written from sunday june 11 to the 19th and in doing this you
will much oblige

your humble servant 
clarissa harlowe 


 


now lovelace since there are no hopes for thee of her returning
favour since some praise may lie for thy ingenuousness having neither
offered  as more diminutive-minded libertines would have done  to
palliate thy crimes by aspersing the lady or her sex since she may be
made easier by it since thou must fare better from thine own pen than
from her's and finally since thy actions have manifested that thy
letters are not the most guilty part of what she knows of thee i see not
why i may not oblige her upon her honour and under the restrictions 
and for the reasons she has given and this without breach of the
confidence due to friendly communication especially as i might have
added since thou gloriest in thy pen and in thy wickedness and canst
not be ashamed 

but be this as it may she will be obliged before thy remonstrances or
clamours against it can come so pr'ythee now make the best of it and
rave not except for the sake of a pretence against me and to exercise
thy talent of execration and if thou likest to do so for these
reasons rave and welcome 

i long to know what the second request is but this i know that if it be
any thing less than cutting thy throat or endangering my own neck i
will certainly comply and be proud of having it in my power to oblige
her 

and now i am actually going to be busy in the extracts 



letter lxx

mr belford to miss clarissa harlowe
aug 3 4 


madam 

you have engaged me to communicate to you upon my honour making
neither better nor worse of the matter what mr lovelace has written to
me in relation to yourself in the period preceding your going to
hampstead and in that between the 11th and 19th of june and you assure
me you have no view in this request but to see if it be necessary for
you from the account he gives to touch upon the painful subjects
yourself for the sake of your own character 

your commands madam are of a very delicate nature as they may seem to
affect the secrets of private friendship but as i know you are not
capable of a view the motives to which you will not own and as i think
the communication may do some credit to my unhappy friend's character as
an ingenuous man though his actions by the most excellent woman in the
world have lost him all title to that of an honourable one i obey you
with the greater cheerfulness 


 he then proceeds with his extracts and concludes them with an address
 to her in his friend's behalf in the following words  

and now madam i have fulfilled your commands and i hope have not
dis-served my friend with you since you will hereby see the justice he
does to your virtue in every line he writes he does the same in all his
letters though to his own condemnation and give me leave to add that
if this ever-amiable sufferer can think it in any manner consistent with
her honour to receive his vows on the altar on his truly penitent turn
of mind i have not the least doubt but that he will make her the best
and tenderest of husbands what obligation will not the admirable lady
hereby lay upon all his noble family who so greatly admire her and i
will presume to say upon her own when the unhappy family aversion
 which certainly has been carried to an unreasonable height against him 
shall be got over and a general reconciliation takes place for who is
it that would not give these two admirable persons to each other were
not his morals an objection 

however this be i would humbly refer to you madam whether as you will
be mistress of very delicate particulars from me his friend you should
not in honour think yourself concerned to pass them by as if you had
never seen them and not to take advantage of the communication not even
in an argument as some perhaps might lie with respect to the
premeditated design he seems to have had not against you as you but as
against the sex over whom i am sorry i can bear witness myself it is
the villanous aim of all libertines to triumph and i would not if any
misunderstanding should arise between him and me give him room to
reproach me that his losing of you and through his usage of you of his
own friends were owing to what perhaps he would call breach of trust 
were he to judge rather by the event than by my intention 

i am madam with the most profound veneration 

your most faithful humble servant 
j belford 



letter lxxi

miss clarissa harlowe to john belford esq 
friday aug 4 


sir 

i hold myself extremely obliged to you for your communications i will
make no use of them that you shall have reason to reproach either
yourself or me with i wanted no new lights to make the unhappy man's
premeditated baseness to me unquestionable as my answer to miss
montague's letter might convince you 


 see letter lxviii of this volume 


i must own in his favour that he has observed some decency in his
accounts to you of the most indecent and shocking actions and if all
his strangely-communicative narrations are equally decent nothing will
be rendered criminally odious by them but the vile heart that could
meditate such contrivances as were much stronger evidences of his
inhumanity than of his wit since men of very contemptible parts and
understanding may succeed in the vilest attempts if they can once bring
themselves to trample on the sanctions which bind man to man and sooner
upon an innocent person than upon any other because such a one is apt to
judge of the integrity of others' hearts by its own 

i find i have had great reason to think myself obliged to your intention
in the whole progress of my sufferings it is however impossible sir 
to miss the natural inference on this occasion that lies against his
predetermined baseness but i say the less because you shall not think
i borrow from what you have communicated aggravations that are not
needed 

and now sir that i may spare you the trouble of offering any future
arguments in his favour let me tell you that i have weighed every thing
thoroughly all that human vanity could suggest all that a desirable
reconciliation with my friends and the kind respects of his own could
bid me hope for the enjoyment of miss howe's friendship the dearest
consideration to me now of all the worldly ones all these i have
weighed and the result is and was before you favoured me with these
communications that i have more satisfaction in the hope that in one
month there will be an end of all with me than in the most agreeable
things that could happen from an alliance with mr lovelace although i
were to be assured he would make the best and tenderest of husbands but
as to the rest if satisfied with the evils he has brought upon me he
will forbear all further persecutions of me i will to my last hour 
wish him good although he hath overwhelmed the fatherless and digged a
pit for his friend fatherless may she well be called and motherless
too who has been denied all paternal protection and motherly
forgiveness 


 


and now sir acknowledging gratefully your favour in the extracts i
come to the second request i had to make you which requires a great deal
of courage to mention and which courage nothing but a great deal of
distress and a very destitute condition can give but if improper i
can but be denied and dare to say i shall be at least excused thus 
then i preface it 

you see sir that i am thrown absolutely into the hands of strangers 
who although as kind and compassionate as strangers can be wished to be 
are nevertheless persons from whom i cannot expect any thing more than
pity and good wishes nor can my memory receive from them any more
protection than my person if either should need it 

if then i request it of the only person possessed of materials that
will enable him to do my character justice 

and who has courage independence and ability to oblige me 

to be the protector or my memory as i may say 

and to be my executor and to see some of my dying requests performed 

and if i leave it to him to do the whole in his own way manner and
time consulting however in requisite cases my dear miss howe 

i presume to hope that this my second request may be granted 

and if it may these satisfactions will accrue to me from the favour done
me and the office undertaken 

it will be an honour to my memory with all those who shall know that i
was so well satisfied of my innocence that having not time to write my
own story i could intrust it to the relation which the destroyer of my
fame and fortunes has given of it 

i shall not be apprehensive of involving any one in my troubles or
hazards by this task either with my own relations or with your friend 
having dispositions to make which perhaps my own friends will not be so
well pleased with as it were to be wished they would be  as i intend not
unreasonable ones but you know sir where self is judge matters even
with good people will not always be rightly judged of 

i shall also be freed from the pain of recollecting things that my soul
is vexed at and this at a time when its tumults should be allayed in
order to make way for the most important preparation 

and who knows but that mr belford who already from a principle of
humanity is touched at my misfortunes when he comes to revolve the
whole story placed before him in one strong light and when he shall
have the catastrophe likewise before him and shall become in a manner
interested in it who knows but that from a still higher principle he
may so regulate his future actions as to find his own reward in the
everlasting welfare which is wished him by his

obliged servant 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxxii

mr belford to miss clarissa harlowe
friday aug 4 


madam 

i am so sensible of the honour done me in your's of this day that i
would not delay for one moment the answering of it i hope you will live
to see many happy years and to be your own executrix in those points
which your heart is most set upon but in the case of survivorship i
most cheerfully accept of the sacred office you are pleased to offer me 
and you may absolutely rely upon my fidelity and if possible upon the
literal performance of every article you shall enjoin me 

the effect of the kind wish you conclude with had been my concern ever
since i have been admitted to the honour of your conversation it shall
be my whole endeavour that it be not vain the happiness of approaching
you which this trust as i presume will give me frequent opportunities
of doing must necessarily promote the desired end since it will be
impossible to be a witness of your piety equanimity and other virtues 
and not aspire to emulate you all i beg is that you will not suffer
any future candidate or event to displace me unless some new instances
of unworthiness appear either in the morals or behaviour of 

madam 
your most obliged and faithful servant 
j belford 



letter lxxiii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday night aug 4 


i have actually delivered to the lady the extracts she requested me to
give her from your letters i do assure you that i have made the very
best of the matter for you not that conscience but that friendship 
could oblige me to make i have changed or omitted some free words the
warm description of her person in the fire-scene as i may call it i
have omitted i have told her that i have done justice to you in the
justice you have done to her by her unexampled virtue but take the very
words which i wrote to her immediately following the extracts 


and now madam  see the paragraph marked with an inverted comma
 thus   letter lxx of this volume 


the lady is extremely uneasy at the thoughts of your attempting to visit
her for heaven's sake your word being given and for pity's sake 
 for she is really in a very weak and languishing way let me beg of you
not to think of it 

yesterday afternoon she received a cruel letter as mrs lovick supposes
it to be by the effect it had upon her from her sister in answer to
one written last saturday entreating a blessing and forgiveness from her
parents 

she acknowledges that if the same decency and justice are observed in
all of your letters as in the extracts i have obliged her with as i
have assured her they are she shall think herself freed from the
necessity of writing her own story and this is an advantage to thee
which thou oughtest to thank me for 

but what thinkest thou is the second request she had to make to me no
other than that i would be her executor her motives will appear before
thee in proper time and then i dare to answer will be satisfactory 

you cannot imagine how proud i am of this trust i am afraid i shall too
soon come into the execution of it as she is always writing what a
melancholy pleasure will be the perusal and disposition of her papers
afford me such a sweetness of temper so much patience and resignation 
as she seems to be mistress of yet writing of and in the midst of
present distresses how much more lively and affecting for that reason 
must her style be her mind tortured by the pangs of uncertainty the
events then hidden in the womb of fate than the dry narrative 
unanimated style of persons relating difficulties and dangers
surmounted the relater perfectly at ease and if himself unmoved by his
own story not likely greatly to affect the reader 


 


saturday morning aug 5 

i am just returned from visiting the lady and thanking her in person for
the honour she has done me and assuring her if called to the sacred
trust of the utmost fidelity and exactness 

i found her very ill i took notice of it she said she had received a
second hard-hearted letter from her sister and she had been writing a
letter and that on her knees directly to her mother which before she
had not had the courage to do it was for a last blessing and
forgiveness no wonder she said that i saw her affected now that i
had accepted of the last charitable office for her for which as well
as for complying with her other request she thanked me i should one
day have all these letters before me and could she have a kind one in
return to that she had been now writing to counterbalance the unkind one
she had from her sister she might be induced to show me both together 
otherwise for her sister's sake it were no matter how few saw the poor
bella's letter 

i knew she would be displeased if i had censured the cruelty of her
relations i therefore only said that surely she must have enemies who
hoped to find their account in keeping up the resentments of her friends
against her 

it may be so mr belford said she the unhappy never want enemies one
fault wilfully committed authorizes the imputation of many more where
the ear is opened to accusations accusers will not be wanting and every
one will officiously come with stories against a disgraced child where
nothing dare be said in her favour i should have been wise in time and
not have needed to be convinced by my own misfortunes of the truth of
what common experience daily demonstrates mr lovelace's baseness my
father's inflexibility my sister's reproaches are the natural
consequences of my own rashness so i must make the best of my hard lot 
only as these consequences follow one another so closely while they are
new how can i help being anew affected 

i asked if a letter written by myself by her doctor or apothecary to
any of her friends representing her low state of health and great
humility would be acceptable or if a journey to any of them would be of
service i would gladly undertake it in person and strictly conform to
her orders to whomsoever she should direct me to apply 

she earnestly desired that nothing of this sort might be attempted 
especially without her knowledge and consent miss howe she said had
done harm by her kindly-intended zeal and if there were room to expect
favour by mediation she had ready at hand a kind friend mrs norton 
who for piety and prudence had few equals and who would let slip no
opportunity to endeavour to do her service 

i let her know that i was going out of town till monday she wished me
pleasure and said she should be glad to see me on my return 

adieu 



letter lxxiv

miss ar harlowe to miss cl harlowe
 in answer to her's of july 29 see letter lxii of this volume  
thursday morn aug 3 


sister clary 

i wish you would not trouble me with any more of your letters you had
always a knack at writing and depended upon making every one do what you
would when you wrote but your wit and folly have undone you and now 
as all naughty creatures do when they can't help themselves you come
begging and praying and make others as uneasy as yourself 

when i wrote last to you i expected that i should not be at rest 

and so you'd creep on by little and little till you'll want to be
received again 

but you only hope for forgiveness and a blessing you say a blessing
for what sister clary think for what however i read your letter to
my father and mother 

i won't tell you what my father said one who has the true sense you
boast to have of your misdeeds may guess without my telling you what a
justly-incensed father would say on such an occasion 

my poor mother o wretch what has not your ungrateful folly cost my poor
mother had you been less a darling you would not perhaps have been
so graceless but i never in my life saw a cockered favourite come to
good 

my heart is full and i can't help writing my mind for your crimes have
disgraced us all and i am afraid and ashamed to go to any public or
private assembly or diversion and why i need not say why when your
actions are the subjects either of the open talk or of the affronting
whispers of both sexes at all such places 

upon the whole i am sorry i have no more comfort to send you but i find
nobody willing to forgive you 

i don't know what time may do for you and when it is seen that your
penitence is not owing more to disappointment than to true conviction 
for it is too probable miss clary that had not your feather-headed
villain abandoned you we should have heard nothing of these moving
supplications nor of any thing but defiances from him and a guilt
gloried in from you and this is every one's opinion as well as that of

your afflicted sister 
arabella harlowe 


i send this by a particular hand who undertakes to give it you or leave
 it for you by to-morrow night 



letter lxxv

miss clarissa harlowe to her mother
saturday aug 5


honoured madam 

no self-convicted criminal ever approached her angry and just judge with
greater awe nor with a truer contrition than i do you by these lines 

indeed i must say that if the latter of my humble prayer had not
respected my future welfare i had not dared to take this liberty but
my heart is set upon it as upon a thing next to god almighty's
forgiveness necessary for me 

had my happy sister known my distresses she would not have wrung my
heart as she has done by a severity which i must needs think unkind
and unsisterly 

but complaint of any unkindness from her belongs not to me yet as she
is pleased to write that it must be seen that my penitence is less owing
to disappointment than to true conviction permit me madam to insist
upon it that if such a plea can be allowed me i an actually entitled
to the blessing i sue for since my humble prayer is founded upon a true
and unfeigned repentance and this you will the readier believe if the
creature who never to the best of her remembrance told her mamma a
wilful falsehood may be credited when she declares as she does in the
most solemn manner that she met the seducer with a determination not to
go off with him that the rash step was owing more to compulsion than to
infatuation and that her heart was so little in it that she repented
and grieved from the moment she found herself in his power and for every
moment after for several weeks before she had any cause from him to
apprehend the usage she met with 

wherefore on my knees my ever-honoured mamma for on my knees i write
this letter i do most humbly beg your blessing say but in so many
words i ask you not madam to call me your daughter lost unhappy
wretch i forgive you and may god bless you this is all let me on
a blessed scrap of paper but see one sentence to this effect under your
dear hand that i may hold it to my heart in my most trying struggles 
and i shall think it a passport to heaven and if i do not too much
presume and it were we instead of i and both your honoured names
subjoined to it i should then have nothing more to wish then would i
say great and merciful god thou seest here in this paper thy poor
unworthy creature absolved by her justly-offended parents oh join for
my redeemer's sake thy all-gracious fiat and receive a repentant sinner
to the arms of thy mercy 

i can conjure you madam by no subject of motherly tenderness that will
not in the opinion of my severe censurers before whom this humble
address must appear add to reproach let me therefore for god's sake 
prevail upon you to pronounce me blest and forgiven since you will
thereby sprinkle comfort through the last hours of

your
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxxvi

miss montague to miss clarissa harlowe
 in answer to her's of aug 3 see letter lxviii of this volume  
monday aug 7 


dear madam 

we were all of opinion before your letter came that mr lovelace was
utterly unworthy of you and deserved condign punishment rather than to
be blessed with such a wife and hoped far more from your kind
consideration for us than any we supposed you could have for so base an
injurer for we were all determined to love you and admire you let his
behaviour to you be what it would 

but after your letter what can be said 

i am however commanded to write in all the subscribing names to let
you know how greatly your sufferings have affected us to tell you that
my lord m has forbid him ever more to enter the doors of the apartments
where he shall be and as you labour under the unhappy effects of your
friends' displeasure which may subject you to inconveniencies his
lordship and lady sarah and lady betty beg of you to accept for your
life or at least till you are admitted to enjoy your own estate of
one hundred guineas per quarter which will be regularly brought you by
an especial hand and of the enclosed bank-bill for a beginning and do
not dearest madam we all beseech you do not think you are beholden
 for this token of lord m s and lady sarah's and lady betty's love to
you to the friends of this vile man for he has not one friend left
among us 

we each of us desire to be favoured with a place in your esteem and to
be considered upon the same foot of relationship as if what once was so
much our pleasure to hope would be had been and it shall be our united
prayer that you may recover health and spirits and live to see many
happy years and since this wretch can no more be pleaded for that 
when he is gone abroad as he now is preparing to do we may be permitted
the honour of a personal acquaintance with a lady who has no equal 
these are the earnest requests dearest young lady of

your affectionate friends 
and most faithful servants 
m 
sarah sadleir 
eliz lawrance 
charl montague 
marth montague 


you will break the hearts of the three first-named more particularly if
 you refuse them your acceptance dearest young lady punish not
 them for his crimes we send by a particular hand which will
 bring us we hope your accepting favour 

mr lovelace writes by the same hand but he knows nothing of our letter 
 nor we of his for we shun each other and one part of the house
 holds us another him the remotest from each other 



letter lxxvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sat aug 23 


i am so disturbed at the contents of miss harlowe's answer to my cousin
charlotte's letter of tuesday last which was given her by the same
fellow that gave me your's that i have hardly patience or consideration
enough to weigh what you write 

she had need indeed to cry out for mercy for herself from her friends 
who knows not how to show any she is a true daughter of the harlowes 
by my soul jack she is a true daughter of the harlowes yet has she so
many excellencies that i must love her and fool that i am love her
the more for despising me 

thou runnest on with thy cursed nonsensical reformado rote of dying 
dying dying and having once got the word by the end canst not help
foisting it in at every period the devil take me if i don't think thou
wouldst rather give her poison with thy own hands rather than she should
recover and rob thee of the merit of being a conjurer 

but no more of thy cursed knell thy changes upon death's candlestick
turned bottom-upwards she'll live to bury me i see that for by my
soul i can neither eat drink nor sleep nor what is still worse love
any woman in the world but her nor care i to look upon a woman now on
the contrary i turn my head from every one i meet except by chance an
eye an air a feature strikes me resembling her's in some glancing-by
face and then i cannot forbear looking again though the second look
recovers me for there can be nobody like her 

but surely belford the devil's in this woman the more i think of her
nonsense and obstinacy the less patience i have with her is it
possible she can do herself her family her friends so much justice any
other way as by marrying me were she sure she should live but a day 
she ought to die a wife if her christian revenge will not let her wish
to do so for her own sake ought she not for the sake of her family and
of her sex which she pretends sometimes to have so much concern for 
and if no sake is dear enough to move her harlowe-spirit in my favour 
has she any title to the pity thou so pitifully art always bespeaking for
her 

as to the difference which her letter has made between me and the stupid
family here  and i must tell thee we are all broke in pieces   i value
not that of a button they are fools to anathematize and curse me who
can give them ten curses for one were they to hold it for a day
together 

i have one half of the house to myself and that the best for the great
enjoy that least which costs them most grandeur and use are two things 
the common part is their's the state part is mine and here i lord it 
and will lord it as long as i please while the two pursy sisters the
old gouty brother and the two musty nieces are stived up in the other
half and dare not stir for fear of meeting me whom that's the jest
of it they have forbidden coming into their apartments as i have them
into mine and so i have them all prisoners while i range about as i
please pretty dogs and doggesses to quarrel and bark at me and yet 
whenever i appear afraid to pop out of their kennels or if out before
they see me at the sight of me run growling in again with their flapt
ears their sweeping dewlaps and their quivering tails curling inwards 

and here while i am thus worthily waging war with beetles drones 
wasps and hornets and am all on fire with the rage of slighted love 
thou art regaling thyself with phlegm and rock-water and art going on
with thy reformation-scheme and thy exultations in my misfortunes 

the devil take thee for an insensible dough-baked varlet i have no more
patience with thee than with the lady for thou knowest nothing either of
love or friendship but art as unworthy of the one as incapable of the
other else wouldst thou not rejoice as thou dost under the grimace of
pity in my disappointments 

and thou art a pretty fellow art thou not to engage to transcribe for
her some parts of my letters written to thee in confidence letters that
thou shouldest sooner have parted with thy cursed tongue than have owned
that thou ever hadst received such yet these are now to be communicated
to her but i charge thee and woe be to thee if it be too late that
thou do not oblige her with a line of mine 

if thou hast done it the least vengeance i will take is to break through
my honour given to thee not to visit her as thou wilt have broken
through thine to me in communicating letters written under the seal of
friendship 

i am now convinced too sadly for my hopes by her letter to my cousin
charlotte that she is determined never to have me 

unprecedented wickedness she calls mine to her but how does she know
what love in its flaming ardour will stimulate men to do how does she
know the requisite distinctions of the words she uses in this case to
think the worst and to be able to make comparisons in these very
delicate situations must she not be less delicate than i had imagined
her to be but she has head that the devil is black and having a mind
to make one of me brays together in the mortar of her wild fancy 
twenty chimney-sweepers in order to make one sootier than ordinary rise
out of the dirty mass 

but what a whirlwind does she raise in my soul by her proud contempts of
me never never was mortal man's pride so mortified how does she
sink me even in my own eyes her heart sincerely repulses me she
says for my meanness  yet she intends to reap the benefit of what she
calls so curse upon her haughtiness and her meanness at the same
time her haughtiness to me and her meanness to her own relations more
unworthy of kindred with her than i can be or i am mean indeed 

yet who but must admire who but must adore her oh that cursed cursed
house but for the women of that then their d d potions but for
those had her unimpaired intellects and the majesty of her virtue 
saved her as once it did by her humble eloquence another time by her
terrifying menaces against her own life 


 in the fire-scene vol v letter xvi 
 vol vi letter xxxvi in the pen-knife-scene 


yet in both these to find her power over me and my love for her and to
hate to despise and to refuse me she might have done this with some
show of justice had the last-intended violation been perpetrated but
to go away conqueress and triumphant in every light well may she
despise me for suffering her to do so 

she left me low and mean indeed and the impression holds with her i
could tear my flesh that i gave her not cause that i humbled her not
indeed or that i staid not in town to attend her motions instead of
lord m s till i could have exalted myself by giving to myself a wife
superior to all trial to all temptation 

i will venture one more letter to her however and if that don't do or
procure me an answer then will i endeavour to see her let what will be
the consequence if she get out of my way i will do some noble mischief
to the vixen girl whom she most loves and then quit the kingdom for
ever 

and now jack since thy hand is in at communicating the contents of
private letters tell her this if thou wilt and add to it that if she
abandon me god will and what then will be the fate of

her
lovelace 



letter lxxviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to letter lxv of this volume  
monday aug 7 


and so you have actually delivered to the fair implacable extracts of
letters written in the confidence of friendship take care take care 
belford i do indeed love you better than i love any man in the world 
but this is a very delicate point the matter is grown very serious to
me my heart is bent upon having her and have her i will though i
marry her in the agonies of death 

she is very earnest you say that i will not offer to molest her that 
let me tell her will absolutely depend upon herself and the answer she
returns whether by pen and ink or the contemptuous one of silence 
which she bestowed upon my last four to her and i will write it in such
humble and in such reasonable terms that if she be not a true harlowe 
she shall forgive me but as to the executorship which she is for
conferring upon thee thou shalt not be her executor let me perish if
thou shalt nor shall she die nobody shall be any thing nobody shall
dare to be any thing to her but i thy happiness is already too great 
to be admitted daily to her presence to look upon her to talk to her 
to hear her talk while i am forbid to come within view of her window 
what a reprobation is this of the man who was once more dear to her than
all the men in the world and now to be able to look down upon me while
her exalted head is hid from me among the stars sometimes with scorn at
other times with pity i cannot bear it 

this i tell thee that if i have not success in my effort by letter i
will overcome the creeping folly that has found its way to my heart or i
will tear it out in her presence and throw it at her's that she may see
how much more tender than her own that organ is which she and you and
every one else have taken the liberty to call callous 

give notice of the people who live back and edge and on either hand of
the cursed mother to remove their best effects if i am rejected for
the first vengeance i shall take will be to set fire to that den of
serpents nor will there be any fear of taking them when they are in any
act that has the relish of salvation in it as shakspeare says so that
my revenge if they perish in the flames i shall light up will be
complete as to them 



letter lxxix

mr lovelace to miss clarissa harlowe
monday aug 7 


little as i have reason to expect either your patient ear or forgiving
heart yet cannot i forbear to write to you once more as a more
pardonable intrusion perhaps than a visit would be to beg of you to
put it in my power to atone as far as it is possible to atone for the
injuries i have done you 

your angelic purity and my awakened conscience are standing records of
your exalted merit and of my detestable baseness but your forgiveness
will lay me under an eternal obligation to you forgive me then my
dearest life my earthly good the visible anchor of my future hope as
you who believe you have something to be forgiven for hope for pardon
yourself forgive me and consent to meet me upon your own conditions 
and in whose company you please at the holy altar and to give yourself
a title to the most repentant and affectionate heart that ever beat in a
human bosom 

but perhaps a time of probation may be required it may be impossible
for you as well from indisposition as doubt so soon to receive me to
absolute favour as my heart wishes to be received in this case i will
submit to your pleasure and there shall be no penance which you can
impose that i will not cheerfully undergo if you will be pleased to give
me hope that after an expiation suppose of months wherein the
regularity of my future life and actions shall convince you of my
reformation you will at last be mine 

let me beg then the favour of a few lines encouraging me in this
conditional hope if it must not be a still nearer hope and a more
generous encouragement 

if you refuse me this you will make me desperate but even then i must 
at all events throw myself at your feet that i may not charge myself
with the omission of any earnest any humble effort to move you in my
favour for in you madam in your forgiveness are centred my hopes as
to both worlds since to be reprobated finally by you will leave me
without expectation of mercy from above for i am now awakened enough to
think that to be forgiven by injured innocents is necessary to the divine
pardon the almighty putting into the power of such as is reasonable to
believe the wretch who causelessly and capitally offends them and who
can be entitled to this power if you are not 

your cause madam in a word i look upon to be the cause of virtue and 
as such the cause of god and may i not expect that he will assert it
in the perdition of a man who has acted by a person of the most spotless
purity as i have done if you by rejecting me show that i have offended
beyond the possibility of forgiveness 

i do most solemnly assure you that no temporal or worldly views induce me
to this earnest address i deserve not forgiveness from you nor do my
lord m and his sisters from me i despise them from my heart for
presuming to imagine that i will be controuled by the prospect of any
benefits in their power to confer there is not a person breathing but
yourself who shall prescribe to me your whole conduct madam has been
so nobly principled and your resentments are so admirably just that you
appear to me even in a divine light and in an infinitely more amiable
one at the same time than you could have appeared in had you not
suffered the barbarous wrongs that now fill my mind with anguish and
horror at my own recollected villany to the most excellent of women 

i repeat that all i beg for the present is a few lines to guide my
doubtful steps and if possible for you so far to condescend to
encourage me to hope that if i can justify my present vows by my future
conduct i may be permitted the honour to style myself 

eternally your's 
r lovelace 



letter lxxx

miss clarissa harlowe to lord m and to the ladies of his house
 in reply to miss montague's of aug 7 see letter lxxvi of this volume  
tuesday aug 8 


excuse me my good lord and my ever-honoured ladies from accepting of
your noble quarterly bounty and allow me to return with all grateful
acknowledgement and true humility the enclosed earnest of your goodness
to me indeed i have no need of the one and cannot possibly want the
other but nevertheless have such a sense of your generous favour that 
to my last hour i shall have pleasure in contemplating upon it and be
proud of the place i hold in the esteem of such venerable persons to
whom i once had the ambition to hope to be related 

but give me leave to express my concern that you have banished your
kinsman from your presence and favour since now perhaps he will be
under less restraint than ever and since i in particular who had hoped
by your influence to remain unmolested for the remainder of my days may
again be subjected to his persecutions 

he has not my good lord and my dear ladies offended against you as he
has against me yet you could all very generously intercede for him with
me and shall i be very improper if i desire for my own peace-sake for
the sake of other poor creatures who may still be injured by him if he
be made quite desperate and for the sake of all your worthy family that
you will extend to him that forgiveness which you hope for from me and
this the rather as i presume to think that his daring and impetuous
spirit will not be subdued by violent methods since i have no doubt that
the gratifying of a present passion will be always more prevalent with
him than any future prospects however unwarrantable the one or
beneficial the other 

your resentments on my account are extremely generous as your goodness
to me is truly noble but i am not without hope that he will be properly
affected by the evils he has made me suffer and that when i am laid low
and forgotten your whole honourable family will be enabled to rejoice in
his reformation and see many of those happy years together which my
good lord and my dear ladies you so kindly wish to

your ever-grateful and obliged
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxxxi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday night aug 10 


you have been informed by tourville how much belton's illness and
affairs have engaged me as well as mowbray and him since my former 
i called at smith's on monday in my way to epsom 

the lady was gone to chapel but i had the satisfaction to hear she was
not worse and left my compliments and an intimation that i should be
out of town for three or four days 

i refer myself to tourville who will let you know the difficulty we had
to drive out this meek mistress and frugal manager with her cubs and
to give the poor fellow's sister possession for him of his own house he
skulking mean while at an inn at croydon too dispirited to appear in his
own cause 

but i must observe that we were probably but just in time to save the
shattered remains of his fortune from this rapacious woman and her
accomplices for as he cannot live long and she thinks so we found she
had certainly taken measures to set up a marriage and keep possession of
all for herself and her sons 

tourville will tell you how i was forced to chastise the quondam hostler
in her sight before i could drive him out of the house he had the
insolence to lay hands on me and i made him take but one step from the
top to the bottom of a pair of stairs i thought his neck and all his
bones had been broken and then he being carried out neck-and-heels 
thomasine thought fit to walk out after him 

charming consequences of keeping the state we have been so fond of
extolling whatever it may be thought of in strong health sickness and
declining spirits in the keeper will bring him to see the difference 

she should soon have him she told a confidant in the space of six foot
by five meaning his bed and then she would let nobody come near him but
whom she pleased this hostler-fellow i suppose would then have been
his physician his will ready made for him and widows' weeds probably
ready provided who knows but she to appear in them in his own sight as
once i knew an instance in a wicked wife insulting a husband she hated 
when she thought him past recovery though it gave the man such spirits 
and such a turn that he got over it and lived to see her in her coffin 
dressed out in the very weeds she had insulted him in 

so much for the present for belton and his thomasine 


 


i begin to pity thee heartily now i see thee in earnest in the fruitless
love thou expressest to this angel of a woman and the rather as say
what thou wilt it is impossible she should get over her illness and her
friends' implacableness of which she has had fresh instances 

i hope thou art not indeed displeased with the extracts i have made from
thy letters for her the letting her know the justice thou hast done to
her virtue in them is so much in favour of thy ingenuousness a
quality let me repeat that gives thee a superiority over common
libertines that i think in my heart i was right though to any other
woman and to one who had not known the worst of thee that she could
know it might have been wrong 

if the end will justify the means it is plain that i have done well
with regard to ye both since i have made her easier and thee appear in
a better light to her than otherwise thou wouldst have done 

but if nevertheless thou art dissatisfied with my having obliged her in
a point which i acknowledge to be delicate let us canvas this matter at
our first meeting and then i will show thee what the extracts were and
what connections i gave them in thy favour 

but surely thou dost not pretend to say what i shall or shall not do as
to the executorship 

i am my own man i hope i think thou shouldst be glad to have the
justification of her memory left to one who at the same time thou
mayest be assured will treat thee and thy actions with all the lenity
the case will admit 

i cannot help expressing my surprise at one instance of thy
self-partiality and that is where thou sayest she has need indeed to
cry out for mercy herself from her friends who knows not how to show
any 

surely thou canst not think the cases alike for she as i understand 
desires but a last blessing and a last forgiveness for a fault in a
manner involuntary if a fault at all and does not so much as hope to be
received thou to be forgiven premeditated wrongs which nevertheless 
she forgives on condition to be no more molested by thee and hopest to
be received into favour and to make the finest jewel in the world thy
absolute property in consequence of that forgiveness 

i will now briefly proceed to relate what has passed since my last as to
the excellent lady by the account i shall give thee thou wilt see that
she has troubles enough upon her all springing originally from thyself 
without needing to add more to them by new vexations and as long as
thou canst exert thyself so very cavalierly at m hall where every one
is thy prisoner i see not but the bravery of thy spirit may be as well
gratified in domineering there over half a dozen persons of rank and
distinction as it could be over an helpless orphan as i may call this
lady since she has not a single friend to stand by her if i do not and
who will think herself happy if she can refuge herself from thee and
from all the world in the arms of death 

my last was dated on saturday 

on sunday in compliance with her doctor's advice she took a little
airing mrs lovick and mr smith and his wife were with her after
being at highgate chapel at divine service she treated them with a
little repast and in the afternoon was at islington church in her way
home returning tolerably cheerful 

she had received several letters in my absence as mrs lovick acquainted
me besides your's your's it seems much distressed her but she
ordered the messenger who pressed for an answer to be told that it did
not require an immediate one 

on wednesday she received a letter from her uncle harlowe in answer to
one she had written to her mother on saturday on her knees it must be a
very cruel one mrs lovick says by the effects it had upon her for 
when she received it she was intending to take an afternoon airing in a
coach but was thrown into so violent a fit of hysterics upon it that
she was forced to lie down and being not recovered by it to go to bed
about eight o'clock 


 see letter lxxxiv of this volume 


on thursday morning she was up very early and had recourse to the
scriptures to calm her mind as she told mrs lovick and weak as she
was would go in a chair to lincoln's-inn chapel about eleven she was
brought home a little better and then sat down to write to her uncle 
but was obliged to leave off several times to struggle as she told mrs 
lovick for an humble temper my heart said she to the good woman is
a proud heart and not yet i find enough mortified to my condition 
but do what i can will be for prescribing resenting things to my pen 

i arrived in town from belton's this thursday evening and went directly
to smith's she was too ill to receive my visit but on sending up my
compliments she sent me down word that she should be glad to see me in
the morning 

mrs lovick obliged me with the copy of a meditation collected by the
lady from the scriptures she has entitled it poor mortals the cause of
their own misery so entitled i presume with intention to take off the
edge of her repinings at hardships so disproportioned to her fault were
her fault even as great as she is inclined to think it we may see by
this the method she takes to fortify her mind and to which she owes in
a great measure the magnanimity with which she bears her undeserved
persecutions 


meditation


poor mortals the cause of their own misery 

say not thou it is through the lord that i fell away for thou oughtest
not to do the thing that he hateth 

say not thou he hath caused me to err for he hath no need of the sinful
man 

he himself made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his
own counsel 

if thou wilt to keep the commandments and to perform acceptable
faithfulness 

he hath set fire and water before thee stretch forth thine hand to
whither thou wilt 

he hath commanded no man to do wickedly neither hath he given any man
license to sin 

and now lord what is my hope truly my hope is only in thee 

deliver me from all my offences and make me not a rebuke unto the
foolish 

when thou with rebuke dost chasten man for sin thou makest his beauty
to consume away like as it were a moth fretting a garment every man 
therefore is vanity 

turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for i am desolate and
afflicted 

the troubles of my heart are enlarged o bring thou me out of my
distresses 


 


mrs smith gave me the following particulars of a conversation that
passed between herself and a young clergyman on tuesday afternoon who 
as it appears was employed to make inquiries about the lady by her
friends 

he came into the shop in a riding-habit and asked for some spanish
snuff and finding only mrs smith there he desired to have a little
talk with her in the back-shop 

he beat about the bush in several distant questions and at last began to
talk more directly about miss harlowe 

he said he knew her before her fall  that was his impudent word   and
gave the substance of the following account of her as i collected it
from mrs smith 

she was then he said the admiration and delight of every body he
lamented with great solemnity her backsliding another of his phrases 
mrs smith said he was a fine scholar for he spoke several things she
understood not and either in latin or greek she could not tell which 
but was so good as to give her the english of them without asking a
fine thing she said for a scholar to be so condescending 

he said her going off with so vile a rake had given great scandal and
offence to all the neighbouring ladies as well as to her friends 

he told mrs smith how much she used to be followed by every one's eye 
whenever she went abroad or to church and praised and blessed by every
tongue as she passed especially by the poor that she gave the fashion
to the fashionable without seeming herself to intend it or to know she
did that however it was pleasant to see ladies imitate her in dress
and behaviour who being unable to come up to her in grace and ease 
exposed but their own affectation and awkwardness at the time that they
thought themselves secure of general approbation because they wore the
same things and put them on in the same manner that she did who had
every body's admiration little considering that were her person like
their's or if she had their defects she would have brought up a very
different fashion for that nature was her guide in every thing and ease
her study which joined with a mingled dignity and condescension in her
air and manner whether she received or paid a compliment distinguished
her above all her sex 

he spoke not he said his own sentiments only on this occasion but
those of every body for that the praises of miss clarissa harlowe were
such a favourite topic that a person who could not speak well upon any
other subject was sure to speak well upon that because he could say
nothing but what he had heard repeated and applauded twenty times over 

hence it was perhaps that this novice accounted for the best things he
said himself though i must own that the personal knowledge of the lady 
which i am favoured with made it easy to me to lick into shape what the
good woman reported to me as the character given her by the young
levite for who even now in her decline of health sees not that all
these attributes belong to her 

i suppose he has not been long come from college and now thinks he has
nothing to do but to blaze away for a scholar among the ignorant as such
young fellows are apt to think those who cannot cap verses with them and
tell us how an antient author expressed himself in latin on a subject 
upon which however they may know how as well as that author to express
themselves in english 

mrs smith was so taken with him that she would fain have introduced him
to the lady not questioning but it would be very acceptable to her to
see one who knew her and her friends so well but this he declined for
several reasons as he call them which he gave one was that persons
of his cloth should be very cautious of the company they were in 
especially where sex was concerned and where a woman had slurred her
reputation  i wish i had been there when he gave himself these airs  
another that he was desired to inform himself of her present way of
life and who her visiters were for as to the praises mrs smith gave
the lady he hinted that she seemed to be a good-natured woman and
might though for the lady's sake he hoped not be too partial and
short-sighted to be trusted to absolutely in a concern of so high a
nature as he intimated the task was which he had undertaken nodding out
words of doubtful import and assuming airs of great significance as i
could gather throughout the whole conversation and when mrs smith
told him that the lady was in a very bad state of health he gave a
careless shrug she may be very ill says he her disappointments must
have touched her to the quick but she is not bad enough i dare say 
yet to atone for her very great lapse and to expect to be forgiven by
those whom she has so much disgraced 

a starched conceited coxcomb what would i give he had fallen in my way 

he departed highly satisfied with himself no doubt and assured of mrs 
smith's great opinion of his sagacity and learning but bid her not say
any thing to the lady about him or his inquiries and i for very
different reasons enjoined the same thing 

i am glad however for her peace of mind's sake that they begin to
think it behoves them to inquire about her 



letter lxxxii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday aug 11 


 mr belford acquaints his friend with the generosity of lord m and the
 ladies of his family and with the lady's grateful sentiments upon
 the occasion 

he says that in hopes to avoid the pain of seeing him mr lovelace 
 she intends to answer his letter of the 7th though much against
 her inclination  

she took great notice  says mr belford of that passage in your's 
which makes necessary to the divine pardon the forgiveness of a person
causelessly injured 

her grandfather i find has enabled her at eighteen years of age to
make her will and to devise great part of his estate to whom she pleases
of the family and the rest out of it if she die single at her own
discretion and this to create respect to her as he apprehended that she
would be envied and she now resolves to set about making her will out of
hand 


 mr belford insists upon the promise he had made him not to molest the
 lady and gives him the contents of her answer to lord m and the
 ladies of his lordship's family declining their generous offers 
 see letter lxxx of this volume 



letter lxxxiii

miss cl harlowe to robert lovelace esq 
friday aug 11 


it is a cruel alternative to be either forced to see you or to write to
you but a will of my own has been long denied me and to avoid a
greater evil nay now i may say the greatest i write 

were i capable of disguising or concealing my real sentiments i might
safely i dare say give you the remote hope you request and yet keep
all my resolutions but i must tell you sir it becomes my character
to tell you that were i to live more years than perhaps i may weeks 
and there were not another man in the world i could not i would not be
your's 

there is no merit in performing a duty 

religion enjoins me not only to forgive injuries but to return good for
evil it is all my consolation and i bless god for giving me that that
i am now in such a state of mind with regard to you that i can
cheerfully obey its dictates and accordingly i tell you that wherever
you go i wish you happy and in this i mean to include every good wish 

and now having with great reluctance i own complied with one of your
compulsatory alternatives i expect the fruits of it 

clarissa harlowe 



letter lxxxiv

mr john harlowe to miss cl harlowe
 in answer to her's to her mother see letter lxxv of this volume  
monday aug 7 


poor ungrateful naughty kinswoman 

your mother neither caring nor being permitted to write i am desired
to set pen to paper though i had resolved against it 

and so i am to tell you that your letters joined to the occasion of
them almost break the hearts of us all 

were we sure you had seen your folly and were truly penitent and at
the same time that you were so very ill as you pretend i know not what
might be done for you but we are all acquainted with your moving ways
when you want to carry a point 

unhappy girl how miserable have you made us all we who used to visit
with so much pleasure now cannot endure to look upon one another 

if you had not know upon an hundred occasions how dear you once was to
us you might judge of it now were you to know how much your folly has
unhinged us all 

naughty naughty girl you see the fruits of preferring a rake and
libertine to a man of sobriety and morals against full warning against
better knowledge and such a modest creature too as you were how
could you think of such an unworthy preference 

your mother can't ask and your sister knows not in modesty how to ask 
and so i ask you if you have any reason to think yourself with child by
this villain you must answer this and answer it truly before any
thing can be resolved upon about you 

you may well be touched with a deep remorse for your misdeeds could i
ever have thought that my doting-piece as every one called you would
have done thus to be sure i loved you too well but that is over now 
yet though i will not pretend to answer for any body but myself for my
own part i say god forgive you and this is all from

your afflicted uncle 
john harlowe 


 


the following meditation was stitched to the bottom of this letter with
black silk 


meditation

o that thou wouldst hide me in the grave that thou wouldst keep me
secret till thy wrath be past 

my face is foul with weeping and on my eye-lid is the shadow of death 

my friends scorn me but mine eye poureth out tears unto god 

a dreadful sound is in my ears in prosperity the destroyer came upon me 

i have sinned what shall i do unto thee o thou preserver of men why
hast thou set me as a mark against thee so that i am a burden to myself 

when i say my bed shall comfort me my couch shall ease my complaint 

then thou scarest me with dreams and terrifiest me through visions 

so that my soul chooseth strangling and death rather than life 

i loath it i would not live always let me alone for my days are
vanity 

he hath made me a bye-word of the people and aforetime i was as a
tabret 

my days are past my purposes are broken off even the thoughts of my
heart 

when i looked for good then evil came unto me and when i waited for
light then came darkness 

and where now is my hope 

yet all the days of my appointed time will i wait till my change come 



letter lxxxv

miss clarissa harlowe to john harlowe esq 
thursday aug 10 


honoured sir 

it was an act of charity i begged only for a last blessing that i might
die in peace i ask not to be received again as my severe sister  oh 
that i had not written to her   is pleased to say is my view let that
grace be denied me when i do 

i could not look forward to my last scene with comfort without seeking 
at least to obtain the blessing i petitioned for and that with a
contrition so deep that i deserved not were it known to be turned over
from the tender nature of a mother to the upbraiding pen of an uncle 
and to be wounded by a cruel question put by him in a shocking manner 
and which a little a very little time will better answer than i can 
for i am not either a hardened or shameless creature if i were i should
not have been so solicitous to obtain the favour i sued for 

and permit me to say that i asked it as well for my father and mother's
sake as for my own for i am sure they at least will be uneasy after i
am gone that they refused it to me 

i should still be glad to have theirs and your's sir and all your
blessings and your prayers but denied in such a manner i will not
presume again to ask it relying entirely on the almighty's which is
never denied when supplicated for with such true penitence as i hope
mine is 

god preserve my dear uncle and all my honoured friends prays

your unhappy
clarissa harlowe 



contents of volume viii


letter i miss howe from the isle of wight 
in answer to her's no lxi of vol vii approves not of her choice of
belford for her executor yet thinks she cannot appoint for that office
any of her own family hopes she will live any years 

letter ii clarissa to miss howe 
sends her a large packet of letters but for her relations' sake not
all she has received must now abide by the choice of mr belford for
executor but farther refers to the papers she sends her for her
justification on this head 

letter iii antony harlowe to clarissa 
a letter more taunting and reproachful than that of her other uncle to
what owing 

letter iv clarissa in answer 
wishes that the circumstances of her case had been inquired into 
concludes with a solemn and pathetic prayer for the happiness of the
whole family 

letter v mrs norton to clarissa 
her friends through brand's reports as she imagines intent upon her
going to the plantations wishes her to discourage improper visiters 
difficult situations the tests of prudence as well as virtue dr 
lewen's solicitude for her welfare her cousin morden arrived in
england farther pious consolations 

letter vi clarissa in answer 
sends her a packet of letters which for her relations' sake she cannot
communicate to miss howe from these she will collect a good deal of her
story defends yet gently blames her mother afraid that her cousin
morden will be set against her or what is worse that he will seek to
avenge her her affecting conclusion on her norton's divine
consolations 

letter vii lovelace to belford 
is very ill the lady if he die will repent her refusal of him one
of the greatest felicities that can befal a woman what extremely ill 
his ludicrous behaviour on awaking and finding a clergyman and his
friends praying for him by his bedside 

letter viii belford to lovelace 
concerned at his illness wishes that he had died before last april 
the lady he tells him generously pities him and prays that he may meet
with the mercy he has not shown 

letter ix lovelace to belford 
in raptures on her goodness to him his deep regrets for his treatment
of her blesses her 

letter x belford to lovelace 
congratulates him on his amendment the lady's exalted charity to him 
her story a fine subject for tragedy compares with it and censures 
the play of the fair penitent she is very ill the worse for some new
instances of the implacableness of her relations a meditation on the
subject poor belton he tells him is at death's door and desirous to
see him 

letter xi belford to clarissa 
acquaints her with the obligation he is under to go to belton and lest
she should be surprised with lovelace's resolution as signified in the
next letter to visit her 

letter xii lovelace to belford 
resolves to throw himself at the lady's feet lord m of opinion that
she ought to admit of one interview 

letter xiii from the same 
arrived in london he finds the lady gone abroad suspects belford his
unaccountable freaks at smith's his motives for behaving so ludicrously
there the vile sally martin entertains him with her mimicry of the
divine lady 

letter xiv from the same 
his frightful dream how affected by it sleeping or waking his
clarissa always present with him hears she is returned to her lodgings 
is hastening to her 

letter xv from the same 
disappointed again is affected by mrs lovick's expostulations is
shown a meditation on being hunted after by the enemy of her soul as it
is entitled his light comments upon it leaves word that he resolves
to see her makes several other efforts for that purpose 

letter xvi belford to lovelace 
reproaches him that he has not kept his honour with him inveighs
against and severely censures him for his light behaviour at smith's 
belton's terrors and despondency mowbray's impenetrable behaviour 

letter xvii from the same 
mowbray's impatience to run from a dying belton to a too-lively lovelace 
mowbray abuses mr belton's servant in the language of a rake of the
common class reflection on the brevity of life 

letter xviii lovelace to belford 
receives a letter from clarissa written by way of allegory to induce him
to forbear hunting after her copy of it he takes it in a literal
sense exults upon it will now hasten down to lord m and receive the
gratulations of all his family on her returning favour gives an
interpretation of his frightful dream to his own liking 

letter xix xx from the same 
pities belton rakishly defends him on the issue of a duel which now
adds to the poor man's terrors his opinion of death and the fear of
it reflections upon the conduct of play-writers with regard
servants he cannot account for the turn his clarissa has taken in his
favour hints at one hopeful cause of it now matrimony seems to be in
his power he has some retrograde motions 

letter xxi belford to lovelace 
continuation of his narrative of belton's last illness and impatience 
the poor man abuses the gentlemen of the faculty belford censures some
of them for their greediness after fees belton dies serious
reflections on the occasion 

letter xxii lovelace to belford 
hopes belton is happy and why he is setting out for berks 

letter xxiii belford to lovelace 
attends the lady she is extremely ill and receives the sacrament 
complains of the harasses his friend had given her two different
persons from her relations he supposes inquire after her her
affecting address to the doctor apothecary and himself disposes of
some more of her apparel for a very affecting purpose 

letter xxiv dr lewen to clarissa 
writes on his pillow to prevail upon her to prosecute lovelace for his
life 

letter xxv her pathetic and noble answer 

letter xxvi miss arabella harlowe to clarissa 
proposes in a most taunting and cruel manner the prosecution of
lovelace or if not her going to pensylvania 

letter xxvii clarissa's affecting answer 

letter xxviii xxix mrs norton to clarissa 
her uncle's cruel letter to what owing colonel morden resolved on a
visit to lovelace mrs hervey in a private conversation with her 
accounts for yet blames the cruelty of her family miss dolly hervey
wishes to attend her 

letter xxx clarissa in answer 
thinks she has been treated with great rigour by her relations 
expresses more warmth than usual on this subject yet soon checks
herself grieves that colonel morden resolves on a visit to lovelace 
touches upon her sister's taunting letter requests mrs norton's
prayers for patience and resignation 

letter xxxi miss howe to clarissa 
approves now of her appointment of belford for an executor admires her
greatness of mind in despising lovelace every body she is with taken
with hickman yet she cannot help wantoning with the power his obsequious
love gives her over him 

letter xxxii xxxiii clarissa to miss howe 
instructive lessons and observations on her treatment of hickman 
acquaints her with all that has happened since her last fears that all
her allegorical letter is not strictly right is forced by illness to
break off resumes wishes her married 

letter xxxiv mr wyerley to clarissa 
a generous renewal of his address to her now in her calamity and a
tender of his best services 

letter xxxv her open kind and instructive answer 

letter xxxvi lovelace to belford 
uneasy on a suspicion that her letter to him was a stratagem only what
he will do if he find it so 

letter xxxvii belford to lovelace 
brief account of his proceedings in belton's affairs the lady extremely
ill thought to be near her end has a low-spirited day recovers her
spirits and thinks herself above this world she bespeaks her coffin 
confesses that her letter to lovelace was allegorical only the light in
which belford beholds her 

letter xxxviii belford to lovelace 
an affecting conversation that passed between the lady and dr h she
talks of death he says and prepares for it as if it were an occurrence
as familiar to her as dressing and undressing worthy behaviour of the
doctor she makes observations on the vanity of life on the wisdom of
an early preparation for death and on the last behaviour of belton 

letter xxxix xl xli lovelace to belford 
particulars of what passed between himself colonel morden lord m and
mowbray on the visit made him by the colonel proposes belford to miss
charlotte montague by way of raillery for an husband he encloses
brand's letter which misrepresents from credulity and officiousness 
rather than ill-will the lady's conduct 

letter xlii belford to lovelace 
expatiates on the baseness of deluding young creatures whose confidence
has been obtained by oaths vows promises evil of censoriousness 
people deemed good too much addicted to it desires to know what he
means my his ridicule with regard to his charming cousin 

letter xliii from the same 
a proper test of the purity of writing the lady again makes excuses for
her allegorical letter her calm behaviour and generous and useful
reflections on his communicating to her brand's misrepresentations of
her conduct 

letter xliv colonel morden to clarissa 
offers his assistance and service to make the best of what has happened 
advises her to marry lovelace as the only means to bring about a general
reconciliation has no doubt of his resolution to do her justice 
desires to know if she has 

letter xlv clarissa in answer 

letter xlvi lovelace to belford 
his reasonings and ravings on finding the lady's letter to him only an
allegorical one in the midst of these the natural gayety of his heart
runs him into ridicule on belford his ludicrous image drawn from a
monument in westminster abbey resumes his serious disposition if the
worst happen the lord of heaven and earth says he avert that worst 
he bids him only write that he advises him to take a trip to paris and
that will stab him to the heart 

letter xlvii belford to lovelace 
the lady's coffin brought up stairs he is extremely shocked and
discomposed at it her intrepidity great minds he observes cannot
avoid doing uncommon things reflections on the curiosity of women 

letter xlviii from the same 
description of the coffin and devices on the lid it is placed in her
bed-chamber his serious application to lovelace on her great behaviour 

letter xlix from the same 
astonished at his levity in the abbey-instance the lady extremely ill 

letter l lovelace to belford 
all he has done to the lady a jest to die for since her triumph has ever
been greater than her sufferings he will make over all his possessions
and all his reversions to the doctor if he will but prolong her life for
one twelvemonth how but for her calamities could her equanimity blaze
out as it does he would now love her with an intellectual flame he
cannot bear to think that the last time she so triumphantly left him
should be the last his conscience he says tears him he is sick of
the remembrance of his vile plots 

letter li belford to lovelace 
the lady alive serene and calm the more serene for having finished 
signed and sealed her last will deferred till now for reasons of filial
duty 

letter lii miss howe to clarissa 
pathetically laments the illness of her own mother and of her dear
friend now all her pertness to the former she says fly in her face 
she lays down her pen and resumes it to tell her with great joy that
her mother is better she has had a visit form her cousin morden what
passed in it 

letter liii from the same 
displeased with the colonel for thinking too freely of the sex never
knew a man that had a slight notion of the virtue of women in general 
who deserved to be valued for his morals why women must either be more
or less virtuous than men useful hints to young ladies is out of
humour with mr hickman resolves to see her soon in town 

letter liv belford to lovelace 
the lady writes and reads upon her coffin as upon a desk the doctor
resolves to write to her father her intense yet cheerful devotion 

letter lv clarissa to miss howe 
a letter full of pious reflections and good advice both general and
particular and breathing the true spirit of charity forgiveness 
patience and resignation a just reflection to her dear friend upon
the mortifying nature of pride 

letter lvi mrs norton to clarissa 
her account of an interesting conversation at harlowe-place between the
family and colonel morden and of another between her mother and self 
the colonel incensed against them all her advice concerning belford 
and other matters miss howe has obtained leave she hears to visit
her praises mr hickman gently censures miss howe on his account 
her truly maternal and pious comfortings 

letter lvii belford to lovelace 
the lady's sight begins to fail her she blesses god for the serenity
she enjoys it is what she says she had prayed for what a blessing 
so near to her dissolution to have her prayers answered gives
particular directions to him about her papers about her last will and
apparel comforts the women and him on their concern for her another
letter brought her from colonel morden the substance of it belford
writes to hasten up the colonel dr h has also written to her father 
and brand to mr john harlowe a letter recanting his officious one 

letter lviii dr h to james harlowe senior esq 

letter lix copy of mr belford's letter to colonel morden 
to hasten him up 

letter lx lovelace to belford 
he feels the torments of the damned in the remorse that wrings his
heart on looking back on his past actions by this lady gives him what
he calls a faint picture of his horrible uneasiness riding up and down 
expecting the return of his servant as soon as he had dispatched him 
woe be to the man who brings him the fatal news 

letter lxi belford to lovelace 
farther particulars of the lady's pious and exemplary behaviour she
rejoices in the gradual death afforded her her thankful acknowledgments
to mr belford mrs smith and mrs lovick for their kindness to her 
her edifying address to mr belford 

letter lxii clarissa to mrs norton in answer to her's no lvi 
afflicted only for her friends desires not now to see her cousin
morden nor even herself or miss howe god will have no rivals she
says in the hearts of those whom he sanctifies advice to miss howe 
to mr hickman blesses all her relations and friends 

letter lxiii lovelace to belford 
a letter of deep distress remorse and impatience yet would he fain
lighten his own guilt by reflections on the cruelty of her relations 

letter lxiv belford to lovelace
the lady is disappointed at the doctor's telling her that she may yet
live two or three days death from grief the slowest of deaths her
solemn forgiveness of lovelace and prayer for him owns that once she
could have loved him her generous concern for his future happiness 
belford's good resolutions 

letter lxv mr brand to mr john walton 

letter lxvi mr brand to john harlowe esq 
in excuse of his credulity and of the misreports founded upon it 

letter lxvii lovelace to belford 
blesses him for sending him word the lady is better her charity towards
him cuts him to the heart he cannot bear it his vehement self
reproaches curses his contriving genius and his disbelief that there
could be such virtue in woman the world never saw such an husband as he
will make if she recover and will be his 

letter lxviii belford to lovelace 
the lady's pious frame the approaches of death how supportable to her 
and why she has no reason she says to grieve for any thing but the
sorrow she has given to her friends 

letter lxix lovelace to belford 
never prayed in his life put all the years of it together as he has
done for this fortnight has repented of all his baseness and will
nothing do conjures him to send him good news in his next as he would
not be answerable for consequences 

letter lxx belford to lovelace 
solemn leave taken of her by the doctor and apothecary who tell her she
will hardly see the next night the pleasure with which she receives the
intimation how unlike poor belton's behaviour her's a letter from
miss howe copy of it she cannot see to read it her exalted
expressions on hearing it read tries to write an answer to it but
cannot dictates to mrs lovick writes the superscriptive part herself
on her knees colonel morden arrives in town 

letter lxxi from the same 
what passes on colonel morden's visit to his cousin she enjoins the
colonel not to avenge her 




the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
yarmouth isle of wight monday aug 7 


my dearest creature 

i can write but just now a few lines i cannot tell how to bear the
sound of that mr belford for your executor cogent as your reasons for
that measure are and yet i am firmly of opinion that none of your
relations should be named for the trust but i dwell the less on this
subject as i hope and cannot bear to apprehend the contrary that you
will still live many many years 

mr hickman indeed speaks very handsomely of mr belford but he poor
man has not much penetration if he had he would hardly think so well
of me as he does 

i have a particular opportunity of sending this by a friend of my aunt
harman's who is ready to set out for london and this occasions my
hurry and is to return out of hand i expect therefore by him a large
packet from you and hope and long for news of your amended health which
heaven grant to the prayers of

your ever-affectionate
anna howe 



letter ii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
friday aug 11 


i will send you a large packet as you desire and expect since i can do
it by so safe a conveyance but not all that is come to my hand for i
must own that my friends are very severe too severe for any body who
loves them not to see their letters you my dear would not call them
my friends you said long ago but my relations indeed i cannot call
them my relations i think but i am ill and therefore perhaps more
peevish than i should be it is difficult to go out of ourselves to give
a judgment against ourselves and yet oftentimes to pass a just
judgment we ought 

i thought i should alarm you in the choice of my executor but the sad
necessity i am reduced to must excuse me 

i shall not repeat any thing i have said before on that subject but if
your objections will not be answered to your satisfaction by the papers
and letters i shall enclose marked 1 2 3 4 to 9 i must think myself
in another instance unhappy since i am engaged too far and with my own
judgment too to recede 

as mr belford has transcribed for me in confidence from his friend's
letters the passages which accompany this i must insist that you suffer
no soul but yourself to peruse them and that you return them by the very
first opportunity that so no use may be made of them that may do hurt
either to the original writer or to the communicator you'll observe i
am bound by promise to this care if through my means any mischief
should arise between this humane and that inhuman libertine i should
think myself utterly inexcusable 

i subjoin a list of the papers or letters i shall enclose you must
return them all when perused 


 1 a letter from miss montague dated aug 1 
 2 a copy of my answer aug 3 
 3 mr belford's letter to me which will show
 you what my request was to him and his
 compliance with it and the desired ex-
 tracts from his friend's letters aug 3 4 
 4 a copy of my answer with thanks and re-
 questing him to undertake the executor-
 ship aug 4 
 5 mr belford's acceptance of the trust aug 4 
 6 miss montague's letter with a generous
 offer from lord m and the ladies of that
 family aug 7 
 7 mr lovelace's to me aug 7 
 8 copy of mine to miss montague in answer
 to her's of the day before aug 8 
 9 copy of my answer to mr lovelace aug 11 

you will see by these several letters written and received in so little
a space of time to say nothing of what i have received and written which
i cannot show you how little opportunity or leisure i can have for
writing my own story 


i am very much tired and fatigued with i don't know what with writing 
i think but most with myself and with a situation i cannot help
aspiring to get out of and above 

o my dear the world we live in is a sad a very sad world while
under our parents' protecting wings we know nothing at all of it 
book-learned and a scribbler and looking at people as i saw them as
visiters or visiting i thought i knew a great deal of it pitiable
ignorance alas i knew nothing at all 

with zealous wishes for your happiness and the happiness of every one
dear to you i am and will ever be 

your gratefully-affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter iii

mr antony harlowe to miss cl harlowe
 in reply to her's to her uncle harlowe of thursday aug 10  
aug 12 


unhappy girl 

as your uncle harlowe chooses not to answer your pert letter to him 
and as mine written to you before was written as if it were in the
spirit of prophecy as you have found to your sorrow and as you are now
making yourself worse than you are in your health and better than you
are in your penitence as we are very well assured in order to move
compassion which you do not deserve having had so much warning for all
these reasons i take up my pen once more though i had told your
brother at his going to edinburgh that i would not write to you even
were you to write to me without letting him know so indeed had we all 
for he prognosticated what would happen as to your applying to us when
you knew not how to help it 


 see vol i letter xxxii 


brother john has hurt your niceness it seems by asking you a plain
question which your mother's heart is too full of grief to let her ask 
and modesty will not let your sister ask though but the consequence of
your actions and yet it must be answered before you'll obtain from your
father and mother and us the notice you hope for i can tell you that 

you lived several guilty weeks with one of the vilest fellows that ever
drew breath at bed as well as at board no doubt for is not his
character known and pray don't be ashamed to be asked after what may
naturally come of such free living this modesty indeed would have
become you for eighteen years of your life you'll be pleased to mark
that but makes no good figure compared with your behaviour since the
beginning of april last so pray don't take it up and wipe your mouth
upon it as if nothing had happened 

but may be i likewise am to shocking to your niceness o girl girl 
your modesty had better been shown at the right time and place every
body but you believed what the rake was but you would believe nothing
bad of him what think you now 

your folly has ruined all our peace and who knows where it may yet end 
 your poor father but yesterday showed me this text with bitter grief
he showed it me poor man and do you lay it to your heart 

a father waketh for his daughter when no man knoweth and the care for
her taketh away his sleep when she is young lest she pass away the
flower of her age  and you know what proposals were made to you at
different times   and being married lest she should be hated in her
virginity lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her
father's house  and i don't make the words mind that   and having an
husband lest she should misbehave herself  and what follows keep
a sure watch over a shameless daughter  yet no watch could hold you  
lest she make thee a laughing stock to thine enemies  as you have made
us all to this cursed lovelace   and a bye-word in the city and a
reproach among the people and make thee ashamed before the multitude 
ecclus xlii 9 10 etc 

now will you wish you had not written pertly your sister's severities 
 never girl say that is severe that is deserved you know the meaning
of words no body better would to the lord you had acted up but to one
half of what you know then had we not been disappointed and grieved as
we all have been and nobody more than him who was

your loving uncle 
antony harlowe 

this will be with you to-morrow perhaps you may be suffered to have
 some part of your estate after you have smarted a little more 
 your pertly-answered uncle john who is your trustee will not have
 you be destitute but we hope all is not true that we hear of you 
 only take care i advise you that bad as you have acted you
 act not still worse if it be possible to act worse improve upon
 the hint 



letter iv

miss cl harlowe to antony harlowe esq 
sunday aug 13 


honoured sir 

i am very sorry for my pert letter to my uncle harlowe yet i did not
intend it to be pert people new to misfortune may be too easily moved
to impatience 

the fall of a regular person no doubt is dreadful and inexcusable 
is like the sin of apostacy would to heaven however that i had had
the circumstances of mine inquired into 

if sir i make myself worse than i am in my health and better than i am
in my penitence it is fit i should be punished for my double
dissimulation and you have the pleasure of being one of my punishers 
my sincerity in both respects will however be best justified by the
event to that i refer may heaven give you always as much comfort in
reflecting upon the reprobation i have met with as you seem to have
pleasure in mortifying a young creature extremely mortified and that
from a right sense as she presumes to hope of her own fault 

what you heard of me i cannot tell when the nearest and dearest
relations give up an unhappy wretch it is not to be wondered at that
those who are not related to her are ready to take up and propagate
slanders against her yet i think i may defy calumny itself and
 excepting the fatal though involuntary step of april 10 wrap myself in
my own innocence and be easy i thank you sir nevertheless for your
caution mean it what it will 

as to the question required of me to answer and which is allowed to be
too shocking either for a mother to put to a daughter or a sister to a
sister and which however you say i must answer o sir and must i
answer this then be my answer a little time a much less time than
is imagined will afford a more satisfactory answer to my whole family 
and even to my brother and sister than i can give in words 

nevertheless be pleased to let it be remembered that i did not petition
for a restoration to favour i could not hope for that nor yet to be
put in possession of any part of my own estate nor even for means of
necessary subsistence from the produce of that estate but only for a
blessing for a last blessing 

and this i will farther add because it is true that i have no wilful
crime to charge against myself no free living at bed and at board as
you phrase it 

why why sir were not other inquiries made of me as well as this
shocking one inquiries that modesty would have permitted a mother or
sister to make and which if i may be excused to say so would have been
still less improper and more charitable to have been made by uncles 
 were the mother forbidden or the sister not inclined to make them 
than those they have made 

although my humble application has brought upon me so much severe
reproach i repent not that i have written to my mother although i
cannot but wish that i had not written to my sister because i have
satisfied a dutiful consciousness by it however unanswered by the
wished-for success nevertheless i cannot help saying that mine is
indeed a hard fate that i cannot beg pardon for my capital errors
without doing it in such terms as shall be an aggravation of the offence 

but i had best leave off lest as my full mind i find is rising to my
pen i have other pardons to beg as i multiply lines where none at all
will be given 

god almighty bless preserve and comfort my dear sorrowing and
grievously offended father and mother and continue in honour favour 
and merit my happy sister may god forgive my brother and protect him
from the violence of his own temper as well as from the destroyer of his
sister's honour and may you my dear uncle and your no less now than
ever dear brother my second papa as he used to bid me call him be
blessed and happy in them and in each other and in order to this may
you all speedily banish from your remembrance for ever 

the unhappy
clarissa harlowe 



letter v

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
monday aug 14 


all your friends here my dear young lady now seem set upon proposing to
you to go to one of the plantations this i believe is owing to some
misrepresentations of mr brand from whom they have received a letter 

i wish with all my heart that you could consistently with your own
notions of honour yield to the pressing requests of all mr lovelace's
family in his behalf this i think would stop every mouth and in
time reconcile every body to you for your own friends will not believe
that he is in earnest to marry you and the hatred between the families
is such that they will not condescend to inform themselves better nor
would believe him if he were ever so solemnly to avow that he is 

i should be very glad to have in readiness upon occasion some brief
particulars of your sad story under your own hand but let me tell you 
at the same time that no misrepresentations nor even your own
confession shall lessen my opinion either of your piety or of your
prudence in essential points because i know it was always your humble
way to make light faults heavy against yourself and well might you my
dearest young lady aggravate your own failings who have ever had so
few and those few so slight that your ingenuousness has turned most of
them into excellencies 

nevertheless let me advise you my dear miss clary to discountenance
any visits which with the censorious may affect your character as
that has not hitherto suffered by your wilful default i hope you will
not in a desponding negligence satisfying yourself with a consciousness
of your own innocence permit it to suffer difficult situations you
know my dear young lady are the tests not only of prudence but of
virtue 

i think i must own to you that since mr brand's letter has been
received i have a renewed prohibition to attend you however if you
will give me leave that shall not detain me from you nor would i stay
for that leave if i were not in hopes that in this critical situation 
i may be able to do you service here 

i have often had messages and inquiries after your health from the
truly-reverend dr lewen who has always expressed and still expresses 
infinite concern for you he entirely disapproves of the measures of the
family with regard to you he is too much indisposed to go abroad but 
were he in good health he would not as i understand visit at
harlowe-place having some time since been unhandsomely treated by your
brother on his offering to mediate for you with your family 


 


i am just now informed that your cousin morden is arrived in england he
is at canterbury it seems looking after some concerns he has there and
is soon expected in these parts who knows what may arise from his
arrival god be with you my dearest miss clary and be your comforter
and sustainer and never fear but he will for i am sure i am very
sure that you put your whole trust in him 

and what after all is this world on which we so much depend for
durable good poor creatures that we are when all the joys of it and
 what is a balancing comfort all the troubles of it are but momentary 
and vanish like a morning dream 

and be this remembered my dearest young lady that worldly joy claims no
kindred with the joys we are bid to aspire after these latter we must
be fitted for by affliction and disappointment you are therefore in the
direct road to glory however thorny the path you are in and i had
almost said that it depends upon yourself by your patience and by your
resignedness to the dispensation god enabling you who never fails the
true penitent and sincere invoker to be an heir of a blessed
immortality 

but this glory i humbly pray that you may not be permitted to enter
into ripe as you are so soon to be for it till with your gentle hand 
 a pleasure i have so often as you now promised to myself you have
closed the eyes of

your maternally-affectionate
judith norton 



letter vi

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs norton
thursday aug 27 


what mr brand or any body can have written or said to my prejudice i
cannot imagine and yet some evil reports have gone out against me as i
find by some hints in a very severe letter written to me by my uncle
antony such a letter as i believe was never written to any poor
creature who by ill health of body as well as of mind was before
tottering on the brink of the grave but my friends may possibly be
better justified than the reporters for who knows what they may have
heard 

you give me a kind caution which seems to imply more than you express 
when you advise me against countenancing visiters that may discredit me 
you have spoken quite out surely i have had afflictions enow to
strengthen my mind and to enable it to bear the worst that can now
happen but i will not puzzle myself by conjectural evils as i might
perhaps do if i had not enow that were certain i shall hear all when
it is thought proper that i should mean time let me say for your
satisfaction that i know not that i have any thing criminal or
disreputable to answer for either in word or deed since the fatal 10th
of april last 

you desire an account of what passes between me and my friends and also
particulars or brief heads of my sad story in order to serve me as
occasion shall offer my dear good mrs norton you shall have a whole
packet of papers which i have sent to my miss howe when she returns
them and you shall have likewise another packet and that with this
letter which i cannot at present think of sending to that dear friend
for the sake of my own relations whom without seeing that packet she
is but too ready to censure heavily from these you will be able to
collect a great deal of my story but for what is previous to these
papers and which more particularly relates to what i have suffered from
mr lovelace you must have patience for at present i have neither head
nor heart for such subjects the papers i send you with this will be
those mentioned in the margin you must restore them to me as soon as
perused and upon your honour make no use of them or of any intelligence
you have from me but by my previous consent 


 1 a copy of mine to my sister begging
 off my father's malediction dated july 21 
 2 my sister's answer dated july 27 
 3 copy of my second letter to my sister dated july 29 
 4 my sister's answer dated aug 3 
 5 copy of my letter to my mother dated aug 5 
 6 my uncle harlowe's letter dated aug 7 
 7 copy of my answer to it dated the 1oth 
 8 letter from my uncle antony dated the 12th 
 9 and lastly the copy of my answer to it dated the 13th 


these communications you must not my good mrs norton look upon as
appeals against my relations on the contrary i am heartily sorry that
they have incurred the displeasure of so excellent a divine as dr lewen 
but you desire to have every thing before you and i think you ought for
who knows as you say but you may be applied to at last to administer
comfort from their conceding hearts to one that wants it and who
sometimes judging by what she knows of her own heart thinks herself
entitled to it 

i know that i have a most indulgent and sweet-tempered mother but 
having to deal with violent spirits she has too often forfeited that
peace of mind which she so much prefers by her over concern to preserve
it 

i am sure she would not have turned me over for an answer to a letter
written with so contrite and fervent a spirit as was mine to her to a
masculine spirit had she been left to herself 

but my dear mrs norton might not think you the revered lady have
favoured me with one private line if not might not you have written
by her order or connivance one softening one motherly line when she
saw her poor girl whom once she dearly loved borne so hard upon 

o no she might not because her heart to be sure is in their
measures and if she think them right perhaps they must be right at
least knowing only what they know they must and yet they might know
all if they would and possibly in their own good time they think to
make proper inquiry my application was made to them but lately yet
how deeply will it afflict them if their time should be out of time 

when you have before you the letters i have sent to miss howe you will
see that lord m and the ladies of his family jealous as they are of the
honour of their house to express myself in their language think
better of me than my own relations do you will see an instance of their
generosity to me which at the time extremely affected me and indeed
still affects me unhappy man gay inconsiderate and cruel what has
been his gain by making unhappy a creature who hoped to make him happy 
and who was determined to deserve the love of all to whom he is related 
 poor man but you will mistake a compassionate and placable nature for
love he took care great care that i should rein-in betimes any
passion that i might have had for him had he known how to be but
commonly grateful or generous but the almighty knows what is best for
his poor creatures 

some of the letters in the same packet will also let you into the
knowledge of a strange step which i have taken strange you will think
it and at the same time give you my reasons for taking it 


 she means that of making mr belford her executor 


it must be expected that situations uncommonly difficult will make
necessary some extraordinary steps which but for those situations 
would be hardly excusable it will be very happy indeed and somewhat
wonderful if all the measures i have been driven to take should be
right a pure intention void of all undutiful resentment is what must
be my consolation whatever others may think of those measures when they
come to know them which however will hardly be till it is out of my
power to justify them or to answer for myself 

i am glad to hear of my cousin morden's safe arrival i should wish to
see him methinks but i am afraid that he will sail with the stream as
it must be expected that he will hear what they have to say first but
what i most fear is that he will take upon himself to avenge me rather
than he should do so i would have him look upon me as a creature utterly
unworthy of his concern at least of his vindictive concern 

how soothing to the wounded heart of your clarissa how balmy are the
assurances of your continued love and favour love me my dear mamma
norton continue to love me to the end i now think that i may without
presumption promise to deserve your love to the end and when i am
gone cherish my memory in your worthy heart for in so doing you will
cherish the memory of one who loves and honours you more than she can
express 

but when i am no more i charge you as soon as you can the smarting
pangs of grief that will attend a recent loss and let all be early
turned into that sweetly melancholy regard to memory which engaging us
to forget all faults and to remember nothing but what was thought
amiable gives more pleasure than pain to survivors especially if they
can comfort themselves with the humble hope that the divine mercy has
taken the dear departed to itself 

and what is the space of time to look backward upon between an early
departure and the longest survivance and what the consolation attending
the sweet hope of meeting again never more to be separated never more
to be pained grieved or aspersed but mutually blessing and being
blessed to all eternity 

in the contemplation of this happy state in which i hope in god's good
time to rejoice with you my beloved mrs norton and also with my dear
relations all reconciled to and blessing the child against whom they
are now so much incensed i conclude myself

your ever dutiful and affectionate
clarissa harlowe 



letter vii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
sunday aug 13 


i don't know what a devil ails me but i never was so much indisposed in
my life at first i thought some of my blessed relations here had got a
dose administered to me in order to get the whole house to themselves 
but as i am the hopes of the family i believe they would not be so
wicked 

i must lay down my pen i cannot write with any spirit at all what a
plague can be the matter with me 


 


lord m paid me just now a cursed gloomy visit to ask how i do after
bleeding his sisters both drove away yesterday god be thanked but
they asked not my leave and hardly bid me good-bye my lord was more
tender and more dutiful than i expected men are less unforgiving than
women i have reason to say so i am sure for besides implacable miss
harlowe and the old ladies the two montague apes han't been near me
yet 


 


neither eat drink nor sleep a piteous case jack if i should die
like a fool now people would say miss harlowe had broken my heart that
she vexes me to the heart is certain 

confounded squeamish i would fain write it off but must lay down my
pen again it won't do poor lovelace what a devil ails thee 


 


well but now let's try for't hoy hoy hoy confound me for a gaping
puppy how i yawn where shall i begin at thy executorship thou shalt
have a double office of it for i really think thou mayest send me a
coffin and a shroud i shall be ready for them by the time they can come
down 

what a little fool is this miss harlowe i warrant she'll now repent
that she refused me such a lovely young widow what a charming widow
would she have made how would she have adorned the weeds to be a widow
in the first twelve months is one of the greatest felicities that can
befal a fine woman such pretty employment in new dismals when she had
hardly worn round her blazing joyfuls such lights and such shades how
would they set off one another and be adorned by the wearer 

go to the devil i will write can i do anything else 

they would not have me write belford i must be ill indeed when i
can't write 


 


but thou seemest nettled jack is it because i was stung it is not
for two friends any more than for man and wife to be out of patience
at one time what must be the consequence if they are i am in no
fighting mood just now but as patient and passive as the chickens that
are brought me in broth for i am come to that already 

but i can tell thee for all this be thy own man if thou wilt as to
the executorship i will never suffer thee to expose my letters they
are too ingenuous by half to be seen and i absolutely insist upon it 
that on receipt of this thou burn them all 

i will never forgive thee that impudent and unfriendly reflection of my
cavaliering it here over half a dozen persons of distinction remember 
too thy words poor helpless orphan these reflections are too serious 
and thou art also too serious for me to let these things go off as
jesting notwithstanding the roman style is preserved and indeed but
just preserved by my soul jack if i had not been taken thus
egregiously cropsick i would have been up with thee and the lady too 
before now 


 for what these gentlemen mean by the roman style see vol i letter
xxxi in the first note 


but write on however and send me copies if thou canst of all that
passes between our charlotte and miss harlowe i'll take no notice of
what thou communicatest of that sort i like not the people here the
worse for their generous offer to the lady but you see she is as proud
as implacable there's no obliging her she'd rather sell her clothes
than be beholden to any body although she would oblige by permitting the
obligation 

o lord o lord mortal ill adieu jack 


 


i was forced to leave off i was so ill at this place and what dost
think why lord m brought the parson of the parish to pray by me for
his chaplain is at oxford i was lain down in my night-gown over my
waistcoat and in a doze and when i opened my eyes who should i see 
but the parson kneeling on one side the bed lord m on the other mrs 
greme who had been sent for to tend me as they call it at the feet 
god be thanked my lord said i in an ecstasy where's miss for i
supposed they were going to marry me 

they thought me delirious at first and prayed louder and louder 

this roused me off the bed i started slid my feet into my slippers 
put my hand in my waistcoat pocket and pulled out thy letter with my
beloved's meditation in it my lord dr wright mrs greme you have
thought me a very wicked fellow but see i can read you as good as you
can read me 

they stared at one another i gaped and read poor mo or tals the
cau o ause of their own their own mi ser ry 

it is as suitable to my case as to the lady's as thou'lt observe if
thou readest it again at the passage where it is said that when a man
is chastened for sin his beauty consumes away i stept to the glass a
poor figure by jupiter cried i and they all praised and admired me 
lifted up their hands and their eyes and the doctor said he always
thought it impossible that a man of my sense could be so wild as the
world said i was my lord chuckled for joy congratulated me and thank
my dear miss harlowe i got high reputation among good bad and
indifferent in short i have established myself for ever with all here 
 but o belford even this will not do i must leave off again 


 see vol vii letter lxxxi 


 


a visit from the montague sisters led in by the hobbling peer to
congratulate my amendment and reformation both in one what a lucky
event this illness with this meditation in my pocket for we were all to
pieces before thus when a boy have i joined with a crowd coming out
of church and have been thought to have been there myself 

i am incensed at the insolence of the young levite thou wilt highly
oblige me if thou'lt find him out and send me his ears in the next
letter 

my beloved mistakes me if she thinks i proposed her writing to me as an
alternative that should dispense with my attendance upon her that it
shall not do nor did i intend it should unless she pleased me better in
the contents of her letter than she has done bid her read again i
gave no such hopes i would have been with her in spite of you both by
to-morrow at farthest had i not been laid by the heels thus like a
helpless miscreant 

but i grow better and better every hour i say the doctor says not but
i am sure i know best and i will soon be in london depend on't but
say nothing of this to my dear cruel and implacable miss harlowe 

a dieu u ja aack what a gaping puppy yaw n yaw n yaw n 

thy
lovelace 



letter viii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
monday aug 15 


i am extremely concerned for thy illness i should be very sorry to lose
thee yet if thou diest so soon i could wish from my soul it had
been before the beginning of last april and this as well for thy sake 
as for the sake of the most excellent woman in the world for then thou
wouldst not have had the most crying sin of thy life to answer for 

i was told on saturday that thou wert very much out of order and this
made me forbear writing till i heard farther harry on his return from
thee confirmed the bad way thou art in but i hope lord m in his
unmerited tenderness for thee thinks the worst of thee what can it be 
bob a violent fever they say but attended with odd and severe
symptoms 

i will not trouble thee in the way thou art in with what passes here
with miss harlowe i wish thy repentance as swift as thy illness and as
efficacious if thou diest for it is else to be feared that she and you
will never meet in one place 

i told her how ill you are poor man said she dangerously ill say
you 

dangerously indeed madam so lord m sends me word 

god be merciful to him if he die said the admirable creature then 
after a pause poor wretch may he meet with the mercy he has not shown 

i send this by a special messenger for i am impatient to hear how it
goes with thee if i have received thy last letter what melancholy
reflections will that last so full of shocking levity give to

thy true friend 
john belford 



letter ix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday aug 15 


 text error should be aug 16 


thank thee jack most heartily i thank thee for the sober conclusion of
thy last i have a good mind for the sake of it to forgive thy till
now absolutely unpardonable extracts 

but dost think i will lose such an angel such a forgiving angel as
this by my soul i will not to pray for mercy for such an ungrateful
miscreant how she wounds me how she cuts me to the soul by her
exalted generosity but she must have mercy upon me first then will
she teach me a reliance for the sake of which her prayer for me will be
answered 

but hasten hasten to me particulars of her health of her employments 
of her conversation 

i am sick only of love oh that i could have called her mine it would
then have been worth while to be sick to have sent for her down to me
from town and to have had her with healing in her dove-like wings 
flying to my comfort her duty and her choice to pray for me and to bid
me live for her sake o jack what an angel have i 

but i have not lost her i will not lose her i am almost well should
be quite well but for these prescribing rascals who to do credit to
their skill will make the disease of importance and i will make her
mine and be sick again to entitle myself to her dutiful tenderness 
and pious as well as personal concern 

god for ever bless her hasten hasten particulars of her i am sick
of love such generous goodness by all that's great and good i will
not lose her so tell her she says that she could not pity me if she
thought of being mine this according to miss howe's transcriptions to
charlotte but bid her hate me and have me and my behaviour to her
shall soon turn that hate to love for body and mind i will be wholly
her's 



letter x

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday aug 17 


i am sincerely rejoiced to hear that thou art already so much amended as
thy servant tells me thou art thy letter looks as if thy morals were
mending with thy health this was a letter i could show as i did to
the lady 

she is very ill cursed letters received from her implacable family so
i could not have much conversation with her in thy favour upon it but
what passed will make thee more and more adore her 

she was very attentive to me as i read it and when i had done poor
man said she what a letter is this he had timely instances that my
temper was not ungenerous if generosity could have obliged him but his
remorse and that for his own sake is all the punishment i wish him 
yet i must be more reserved if you write to him every thing i say 

i extolled her unbounded goodness how could i help it though to her
face 

no goodness in it she said it was a frame of mind she had endeavoured
after for her own sake she suffered too much in want of mercy not to
wish it to a penitent heart he seems to be penitent said she and it
is not for me to judge beyond appearances if he be not he deceives
himself more than any body else 

she was so ill that this was all that passed on the occasion 

what a fine subject for tragedy would the injuries of this lady and her
behaviour under them both with regard to her implacable friends and to
her persecutor make with a grand objection as to the moral 
nevertheless for here virtue is punished except indeed we look
forward to the rewards of hereafter which morally she must be sure of 
or who can yet after all i know not so sad a fellow art thou and so
vile an husband mightest thou have made whether her virtue is not
rewarded in missing thee for things the most grievous to human nature 
when they happen as this charming creature once observed are often the
happiest for us in the event 


 mr belford's objections that virtue ought not to suffer in a tragedy 
is not well considered monimia in the orphean belvidera in venice
preserved athenais in theodosius cordelia in shakespeare's king lear 
desdemona in othello hamlet to name no more are instances that a
tragedy could hardly be justly called a tragedy if virtue did not
temporarily suffer and vice for a while triumph but he recovers
himself in the same paragraph and leads us to look up to the future for
the reward of virtue and for the punishment of guilt and observes not
amiss when he says he knows not but that the virtue of such a woman as
clarissa is rewarded in missing such a man as lovelace 


i have frequently thought in my attendance on this lady that if
belton's admired author nic rowe had had such a character before him 
he would have drawn another sort of penitent than he has done or given
his play which he calls the fair penitent a fitter title miss harlowe
is a penitent indeed i think if i am not guilty of a contradiction in
terms a penitent without a fault her parents' conduct towards her from
the first considered 

the whole story of the other is a pack of d d stuff lothario tis
true seems such another wicked ungenerous varlet as thou knowest who 
the author knew how to draw a rake but not to paint a penitent calista
is a desiring luscious wench and her penitence is nothing else but rage 
insolence and scorn her passions are all storm and tumult nothing of
the finer passions of the sex which if naturally drawn will
distinguish themselves from the masculine passions by a softness that
will even shine through rage and despair her character is made up of
deceit and disguise she has no virtue is all pride and her devil is
as much within her as without her 

how then can the fall of such a one create a proper distress when all
the circumstances of it are considered for does she not brazen out her
crime even after detection knowing her own guilt she calls for
altamont's vengeance on his best friend as if he had traduced her 
yields to marry altamont though criminal with another and actually beds
that whining puppy when she had given up herself body and soul to
lothario who nevertheless refused to marry her 

her penitence when begun she justly styles the phrensy of her soul 
and as i said after having as long as she could most audaciously
brazened out her crime and done all the mischief she could do 
 occasioning the death of lothario of her father and others she stabs
herself 

and can this be the act of penitence 

but indeed our poets hardly know how to create a distress without
horror murder and suicide and must shock your soul to bring tears
from your eyes 

altamont indeed who is an amorous blockhead a credulous cuckold and 
 though painted as a brave fellow and a soldier a mere tom essence 
and a quarreler with his best friend dies like a fool as we are led to
suppose at the conclusion of the play without either sword or pop-gun 
of mere grief and nonsense for one of the vilest of her sex but the fair
penitent as she is called perishes by her own hand and having no
title by her past crimes to laudable pity forfeits all claim to true
penitence and in all probability to future mercy 

but here is miss clarissa harlowe a virtuous noble wise and pious
young lady who being ill used by her friends and unhappily ensnared by
a vile libertine whom she believes to be a man of honour is in a manner
forced to throw herself upon his protection and he in order to obtain
her confidence never scruples the deepest and most solemn protestations
of honour 

after a series of plots and contrivances al baffled by her virtue and
vigilance he basely has recourse to the vilest of arts and to rob her
of her honour is forced first to rob her of her senses 

unable to bring her notwithstanding to his ungenerous views of
cohabitation she over-awes him in the very entrance of a fresh act of
premeditated guilt in presence of the most abandoned of women assembled
to assist his devilish purpose triumphs over them all by virtue only of
her innocence and escapes from the vile hands he had put her into 

she nobly not franticly resents refuses to see or to marry the wretch 
who repenting his usage of so divine a creature would fain move her to
forgive his baseness and make him her husband and this though
persecuted by all her friends and abandoned to the deepest distress 
being obliged from ample fortunes to make away with her apparel for
subsistence surrounded also by strangers and forced in want of others 
to make a friend of the friend of her seducer 

though longing for death and making all proper preparations for it 
convinced that grief and ill usage have broken her noble heart she
abhors the impious thought of shortening her allotted period and as
much a stranger to revenge as despair is able to forgive the author of
her ruin wishes his repentance and that she may be the last victim to
his barbarous perfidy and is solicitous for nothing so much in this
life as to prevent vindictive mischief to and from the man who used her
so basely 

this is penitence this is piety and hence distress naturally arises 
that must worthily effect every heart 

whatever the ill usage of this excellent woman is from her relations she
breaks not out into excesses she strives on the contrary to find
reason to justify them at her own expense and seems more concerned for
their cruelty to her for their sakes hereafter when she shall be no
more than for her own for as to herself she is sure she says god
will forgive her though no one on earth will 

on every extraordinary provocation she has recourse to the scriptures 
and endeavours to regulate her vehemence by sacred precedents better
people she says have been more afflicted than she grievous as she
sometimes thinks her afflictions and shall she not bear what less faulty
persons have borne  on the very occasion i have mentioned some new
instances of implacableness from her friends the enclosed meditation
will show how mildly and yet how forcibly she complains see if thou 
in the wicked levity of thy heart canst apply it to thy cause as thou
didst the other if thou canst not give way to thy conscience and that
will make the properest application 


meditation

how long will ye vex my soul and break me in pieces with words 

be it indeed that i have erred mine error remaineth with myself 

to her that is afflicted pity should be shown from her friend 

but she that is ready to slip with her feet is as a lamp despised in the
thought of them that are at ease 

there is a shame which bringeth sin and there is a shame which bringeth
glory and grace 

have pity upon me have pity upon me o ye my friends for the hand of
god hath touched me 

if your soul were in my soul's stead i also could speak as ye do i
could heap up words against you 

but i would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips
should assuage your grief 

why will ye break a leaf driven to and fro why will ye pursue the dry
stubble why will ye write bitter words against me and make me possess
the iniquities of my youth 

mercy is seasonable in the time of affliction as clouds of rain in the
time of drought 

are not my days few cease then and let me alone that i may take
comfort a little before i go whence i shall not return even to the land
of darkness and shadow of death 


let me add that the excellent lady is informed by a letter from mrs 
norton that colonel morden is just arrived in england he is now the
only person she wishes to see 

i expressed some jealousy upon it lest he should have place given over
me in the executorship she said that she had no thoughts to do so now 
because such a trust were he to accept of it which she doubted 
might from the nature of some of the papers which in that case would
necessarily pass through his hands occasion mischiefs between my friend
and him that would be worse than death for her to think of 

poor belton i hear is at death's door a messenger is just come from
him who tells me he cannot die till he sees me i hope the poor fellow
will not go off yet since neither his affairs of this world nor for the
other are in tolerable order i cannot avoid going to the poor man 
yet am unwilling to stir till i have an assurance from you that you will
not disturb the lady for i know he will be very loth to part with me 
when he gets me to him 

tourville tells me how fast thou mendest let me conjure thee not to
think of molesting this incomparable woman for thy own sake i request
this as well as for her's and for the sake of thy given promise for 
should she die within a few weeks as i fear she will it will be said 
and perhaps too justly that thy visit has hastened her end 

in hopes thou wilt not i wish thy perfect recovery else that thou
mayest relapse and be confined to thy bed 



letter xi

mr belford to miss clarissa harlowe
sat morn aug 19 


madam 

i think myself obliged in honour to acquaint you that i am afraid mr 
lovelace will try his fate by an interview with you 

i wish to heaven you could prevail upon yourself to receive his visit 
all that is respectful even to veneration and all that is penitent 
will you see in his behaviour if you can admit of it but as i am
obliged to set out directly for epsom to perform as i apprehend the
last friendly offices for poor mr belton whom once you saw and as i
think it more likely that mr lovelace will not be prevailed upon than
that he will i thought fit to give you this intimation lest if he
should come you should be too much surprised 

he flatters himself that you are not so ill as i represent you to be 
when he sees you he will be convinced that the most obliging things he
can do will be as proper to be done for the sake of his own future peace
of mind as for your health-sake and i dare say in fear of hurting the
latter he will forbear the thoughts of any farther intrusion at least
while you are so much indisposed so that one half-hour's shock if it
will be a shock to see the unhappy man but just got up himself from a
dangerous fever will be all you will have occasion to stand 

i beg you will not too much hurry and discompose yourself it is
impossible he can be in town till monday at soonest and if he resolve
to come i hope to be at mr smith's before him 

i am madam with the profoundest veneration 

your most faithful and most obedient servant 
j belford 



letter xii
mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to his of aug 17 see letter x of this volume  
sunday aug 20 


what an unmerciful fellow art thou a man has no need of a conscience 
who has such an impertinent monitor but if nic rowe wrote a play that
answers not his title am i to be reflected upon for that i have
sinned i repent i would repair she forgives my sin she accepts my
repentance but she won't let me repair what wouldst thou have me do 

but get thee gone to belton as soon as thou canst yet whether thou
goest or not up i must go and see what i can do with the sweet oddity
myself the moment these prescribing varlets will let me depend
upon it i go nay lord m thinks she ought to permit me one interview 
his opinion has great authority with me when it squares with my own and
i have assured him and my two cousins that i will behave with all the
decency and respect that man can behave with to the person whom he most
respects and so i will of this if thou choosest not to go to belton
mean time thou shalt be witness 

colonel morden thou hast heard me say is a man of honour and bravery 
but colonel morden has had his girls as well as you or i and indeed 
either openly or secretly who has not the devil always baits with a
pretty wench when he angles for a man be his age rank or degree what
it will 

i have often heard my beloved speak of the colonel with great distinction
and esteem i wish he could make matters a little easier for her mind's
sake between the rest of the implacables and herself 

methinks i am sorry for honest belton but a man cannot be ill or
vapourish but thou liftest up thy shriek-owl note and killest him
immediately none but a fellow who is for a drummer in death's
forlorn-hope could take so much delight as thou dost in beating a
dead-march with thy goose-quills whereas didst thou but know thine own
talents thou art formed to give mirth by thy very appearance and
wouldst make a better figure by half leading up thy brother-bears at
hockley in the hole to the music of a scot's bagpipe methinks i see
thy clumsy sides shaking and shaking the sides of all beholders in
these attitudes thy fat head archly beating time on thy porterly
shoulders right and left by turns as i once beheld thee practising to
the horn-pipe at preston thou remembrest the frolick as i have done
an hundred times for i never before saw thee appear so much in
character 

but i know what i shall get by this only that notable observation
repeated that thy outside is the worst of thee and mine the best of me 
and so let it be nothing thou writest of this sort can i take amiss 

but i shall call thee seriously to account when i see thee for the
extracts thou hast given the lady from my letters notwithstanding what i
said in my last especially if she continue to refuse me an hundred
times have i myself known a woman deny yet comply at last but by these
extracts thou hast i doubt made her bar up the door of her heart as
she used to do her chamber-door against me this therefore is a
disloyalty that friendship cannot bear nor honour allow me to forgive 



letter xiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
london aug 21 monday 


i believe i am bound to curse thee jack nevertheless i won't
anticipate but proceed to write thee a longer letter than thou hast had
from me for some time past so here goes 

that thou mightest have as little notice as possible of the time i was
resolved to be in town i set out in my lord's chariot-and-six yesterday 
as soon as i had dispatched my letter to thee and arrived in town last
night for i knew i could have no dependence on thy friendship where miss
harlowe's humour was concerned 

i had no other place so ready and so was forced to go to my old
lodgings where also my wardrobe is and there i poured out millions of
curses upon the whole crew and refused to see either sally or polly and
this not only for suffering the lady to escape but for the villanous
arrest and for their detestable insolence to her at the officer's house 

i dressed myself in a never-worn suit which i had intended for one of my
wedding-suits and liked myself so well that i began to think with
thee that my outside was the best of me 

i took a chair to smith's my heart bounding in almost audible thumps to
my throat with the assured expectations of seeing my beloved i clasped
my fingers as i was danced along i charged my eyes to languish and
sparkle by turns i talked to my knees telling them how they must bend 
and in the language of a charming describer acted my part in fancy as
well as spoke it to myself 

 tenderly kneeling thus will i complain 
 thus court her pity and thus plead my pain 
 thus sigh for fancy'd frowns if frowns should rise 
 and thus meet favour in her soft'ning eyes 

in this manner entertained i myself till i arrived at smith's and there
the fellows set down their gay burden off went their hats will ready
at hand in a new livery up went the head out rushed my honour the
woman behind the counter all in flutters respect and fear giving due
solemnity to her features and her knees i doubt not knocking against
the inside of her wainscot-fence 

your servant madam will let the fellows move to some distance and
wait 

you have a young lady lodges here miss harlowe madam is she above 

sir sir and please your honour  the woman is struck with my figure 
thought i   miss harlowe sir there is indeed such a young lady
lodges here but but 

but what madam i must see her one pair of stairs is it not 
don't trouble yourself i shall find her apartment and was making
towards the stairs 

sir sir the lady the lady is not at home she is abroad she is in the
country 

in the country not at home impossible you will not pass this story
upon me good woman i must see her i have business of life and death
with her 

indeed sir the lady is not at home indeed sir she is abroad 

she then rung a bell john cried she pray step down indeed sir the
lady is not at home 

down came john the good man of the house when i expected one of his
journeymen by her saucy familiarity 

my dear said she the gentleman will not believe miss harlowe is abroad 

john bowed to my fine clothes your servant sir indeed the lady is
abroad she went out of town this morning by six o'clock into the
country by the doctor's advice 

still i would not believe either john or his wife i am sure said i 
she cannot be abroad i heard she was very ill she is not able to go
out in a coach do you know mr belford friend 

yes sir i have the honour to know squire belford he is gone into the
country to visit a sick friend he went on saturday sir 

this had also been told from thy lodgings to will whom i sent to desire
to see thee on my first coming to town 

well and mr belford wrote me word that she was exceeding ill how then
can she be gone out 

o sir she is very ill very ill indeed she could hardly walk to the
coach 

belford thought i himself knew nothing of the time of my coming 
neither can he have received my letter of yesterday and so ill tis
impossible she would go out 

where is her servant call her servant to me 

her servant sir is her nurse she has no other and she is gone with
her 

well friend i must not believe you you'll excuse me but i must go up
stairs myself and was stepping up 

john hereupon put on a serious and a less respectful face sir this
house is mine and 

and what friend not doubting then but she was above i must and will
see her i have authority for it i am a justice of the peace i have
a search warrant 

and up i went they following me muttering and in a plaguy flutter 

the first door i came to was locked i tapped at it 

the lady sir has the key of her own apartment 

on the inside i question not my honest friend tapping again and
being assured if she heard my voice that her timorous and soft temper
would make her betray herself by some flutters to my listning ear i
said aloud i am confident miss harlowe is here dearest madam open the
door admit me but for one moment to your presence 

but neither answer nor fluttering saluted my ear and the people being
very quiet i led on to the next apartment and the key being on the
outside i opened it and looked all around it and into the closet 

the mans said he never saw so uncivil a gentleman in his life 

hark thee friend said i let me advise thee to be a little decent or
i shall teach thee a lesson thou never learnedst in all thy life 

sir said he tis not like a gentleman to affront a man in his own
house 

then prythee man replied i don't crow upon thine own dunghil 

i stept back to the locked door my dear miss harlowe i beg of you to
open the door or i'll break it open pushing hard against it that it
cracked again 

the man looked pale and trembling with his fright made a plaguy long
face and called to one of his bodice-makers above joseph come down
quickly 

joseph came down a lion's-face grinning fellow thick and short and
bushy-headed like an old oak-pollard then did master john put on a
sturdier look but i only hummed a tune traversed all the other
apartments sounded the passages with my knuckles to find whether there
were private doors and walked up the next pair of stairs singing all
the way john and joseph and mrs smith following me up trembling 

i looked round me there and went into two open-door bed-chambers 
searched the closets and the passages and peeped through the key-hole
of another no miss harlowe by jupiter what shall i do what shall i
do as the girls say now will she be grieved that she is out of the
way 

i said this on purpose to find out whether these people knew the lady's
story and had the answer i expected from mrs smith i believe not sir 

why so mrs smith do you know who i am 

i can guess sir 

whom do you guess me to be 

your name is mr lovelace sir i make no doubt 

the very same but how came you to guess so well dame smith you never
saw me before did you 

here jack i laid out for a compliment and missed it 

tis easy to guess sir for there cannot be two such gentlemen as you 

well said dame smith but mean you good or bad handsome was the least
i thought she would have said 

i leave you to guess sir 

condemned thought i by myself on this appeal 

why father smith thy wife is a wit man didst thou ever find that out
before but where is widow lovick dame smith my cousin john belford
says she is a very good woman is she within or is she gone with miss
harlowe too 

she will be within by-and-by sir she is not with the lady 

well but my good dear mrs smith where is the lady gone and when will
she return 

i can't tell sir 

don't tell fibs dame smith don't tell fibs chucking her under the
chin which made john's upper-lip with chin shortened rise to his nose 
 i am sure you know but here's another pair of stairs let us see who
lives up there but hold here's another room locked up tapping at the
door who's at home cried i 

that's mrs lovick's apartment she is gone out and has the key with
her 

widow lovick rapping again i believe you are at home pray open the
door 

john and joseph muttered and whispered together 

no whispering honest friends tis not manners to whisper joseph what
said john to thee 

john sir disdainfully repeated the good woman 

i beg pardon mrs smith but you see the force of example had you
showed your honest man more respect i should let me give you a piece
of advice women who treat their husbands irreverently teach strangers
to use them with contempt there honest master john why dost not pull
off thy hat to me oh so thou wouldst if thou hadst it on but thou
never wearest thy hat in thy wife's presence i believe dost thou 

none of your fleers and your jeers sir cried john i wish every
married pair lived as happily as we do 

i wish so too honest friend but i'll be hanged if thou hast any
children 

why so sir 

hast thou answer me man hast thou or not 

perhaps not sir but what of that 

what of that why i'll tell thee the man who has no children by his
wife must put up with plain john hadst thou a child or two thou'dst be
called mr smith with a courtesy or a smile at least at every word 

you are very pleasant sir replied my dame i fancy if either my
husband or i had as much to answer for as i know whom we should not be
so merry 

why then dame smith so much the worse for those who were obliged to
keep you company but i am not merry i am sad hey-ho where shall i
find my dear miss harlowe 

my beloved miss harlowe  calling at the foot of the third pair of
stairs   if you are above for heaven's sake answer me i am coming up 

sir said the good man i wish you'd walk down the servants' rooms and
the working-rooms are up those stairs and another pair and nobody's
there that you want 

shall i go up and see if miss harlowe be there mrs smith 

you may sir if you please 

then i won't for if she was you would not be so obliging 

i am ashamed to give you all this attendance you are the politest
traders i ever knew honest joseph slapping him upon the shoulders on
a sudden which made him jump didst ever grin for a wager man for the
rascal seemed not displeased with me and cracking his flat face from
ear to ear with a distended mouth showed his teeth as broad and as
black as his thumb-nails but don't i hinder thee what canst earn
a-day man 

half-a-crown i can earn a-day with an air of pride and petulance at
being startled 

there then is a day's wages for thee but thou needest not attend me
farther 

come mrs smith come john master smith i should say let's walk
down and give me an account where the lady is gone and when she will
return 

so down stairs led i john and joseph thought i had discharged the
latter and my dame following me to show their complaisance to a
stranger 

i re-entered one of the first-floor rooms i have a great mind to be
your lodger for i never saw such obliging folks in my life what rooms
have you to let 

none at all sir 

i am sorry for that but whose is this 

mine sir chuffily said john 

thine man why then i will take it of thee this and a bed-chamber 
and a garret for one servant will content me i will give thee thine
own price and half a guinea a day over for those conveniencies 

for ten guineas a day sir 

hold john master smith i should say before thou speakest consider 
i won't be affronted man 

sir i wish you'd walk down said the good woman really sir you
take 

great liberties i hope you would not say mrs smith 

indeed sir i was going to say something like it 

well then i am glad i prevented you for such words better become my
mouth than yours but i must lodge with you till the lady returns i
believe i must however you may be wanted in the shop so we'll talk
that over there 

down i went they paying diligent attendance on my steps 

when i came into the shop seeing no chair or stool i went behind the
compter and sat down under an arched kind of canopy of carved work 
which these proud traders emulating the royal niche-fillers often give
themselves while a joint-stool perhaps serves those by whom they get
their bread such is the dignity of trade in this mercantile nation 

i looked about me and above me and told them i was very proud of my
seat asking if john were ever permitted to fill this superb niche 

perhaps he was he said very surlily 

that is it that makes thee looks so like a statue man 

john looked plaguy glum upon me but his man joseph and my man will 
turned round with their backs to us to hide their grinning with each
his fist in his mouth 

i asked what it was they sold 

powder and wash-balls and snuff they said and gloves and stockings 

o come i'll be your customer will do i want wash-balls 

yes and please your honour you can dispense with one or two 

give him half a dozen dame smith 

she told me she must come where i was to serve them pray sir walk
from behind the compter 

indeed but i won't the shop shall be mine where are they if a
customer shall come in 

she pointed over my head with a purse mouth as if she would not have
simpered could she have helped it i reached down the glass and gave
will six there put em up sirrah 

he did grinning with his teeth out before which touching my conscience 
as the loss of them was owing to me joseph said i come hither come
hither man when i bid thee 

he stalked towards me his hands behind him half willing and half
unwilling 

i suddenly wrapt my arm round his neck will thy penknife this moment 
d n the fellow where's thy penknife 

o lord said the pollard-headed dog struggling to get his head loose
from under my arm while my other hand was muzzling about his cursed
chaps as if i would take his teeth out 

i will pay thee a good price man don't struggle thus the penknife 
will 

o lord cried joseph struggling still more and more and out comes
will s pruning-knife for the rascal is a gardener in the country i
have only this sir 

the best in the world to launch a gum d n the fellow why dost
struggle thus 

master and mistress smith being afraid i suppose that i had a design
upon joseph's throat because he was their champion and this indeed 
made me take the more notice of him coming towards me with countenances
tragic-comical i let him go 

i only wanted said i to take out two or three of this rascal's broad
teeth to put them into my servant's jaws and i would have paid him his
price for them i would by my soul joseph 

joseph shook his ears and with both hands stroked down smooth as it
would lie his bushy hair and looked at me as if he knew not whether he
should laugh or be angry but after a stupid stare or two stalked off
to the other end of the shop nodding his head at me as he went still
stroking down his hair and took his stand by his master facing about
and muttering that i was plaguy strong in the arms and he thought would
have throttled him then folding his arms and shaking his bristled
head added twas well i was a gentleman or he would not have taken
such an affront 

i demanded where their rappee was the good woman pointed to the place 
and i took up a scollop-shell of it refusing to let her weight it and
filled my box and now mrs smith said i where are your gloves 

she showed me and i chose four pair of them and set joseph who looked
as if he wanted to be taken notice of again to open the fingers 

a female customer who had been gaping at the door came in for some
scots sniff and i would serve her the wench was plaguy homely and i
told her so or else i said i would have treated her she in anger 
 no woman is homely in her own opinion   threw down her penny and i put
it in my pocket 

just then turning my eye to the door i saw a pretty genteel lady with
a footman after her peeping in with a what's the matter good folks to
the starers and i ran to her from behind the compter and as she was
making off took her hand and drew her into the shop begging that she
would be my customer for that i had but just begun trade 

what do you sell sir said she smiling but a little surprised 

tapes ribbands silk laces pins and needles for i am a pedlar 
powder patches wash-balls stockings garters snuffs and pin
cushions don't we goody smith 

so in i gently drew her to the compter running behind it myself with an
air of great dilingence and obligingness i have excellent gloves and
wash-balls madam rappee scots portugal and all sorts of snuff 

well said she in a very good humour i'll encourage a young beginner
for once here andrew  to her footman   you want a pair of gloves 
don't you 

i took down a parcel of gloves which mrs smith pointed to and came
round to the fellow to fit them on myself 

no matter for opening them said i thy fingers friend are as stiff as
drum-sticks push thou'rt an awkward dog i wonder such a pretty lady
will be followed by such a clumsy varlet 

the fellow had no strength for laughing and joseph was mightily pleased 
in hopes i suppose i would borrow a few of andrew's teeth to keep him
in countenance and father and mother smith like all the world as the
jest was turned from themselves seemed diverted with the humour 

the fellow said the gloves were too little 

thrust and be d d to thee said i why fellow thou hast not the
strength of a cat 

sir sir said he laughing i shall hurt your honour's side 

d n thee thrust i say 

he did and burst out the sides of the glove 

will said i where's thy pruning-knife by my soul friend i had a
good mind to pare thy cursed paws but come here's a larger pair try
them when thou gettest home and let thy sweetheart if thou hast one 
mend the other so take both 

the lady laughed at the humour as did my fellow and mrs smith and
joseph even john laughed though he seemed by the force put upon his
countenance to be but half pleased with me neither 

madam said i and stepped behind the compter bowing over it now i hope
you will buy something for yourself nobody shall use you better nor
sell you cheaper 

come said she give me six-penny worth of portugal snuff 

they showed me where it was and i served her and said when she would
have paid me i took nothing at my opening 

if i treated her footman she told me i should not treat her 

well with all my heart said i tis not for us tradesmen to be saucy 
is it mrs smith 

i put her sixpence in my pocket and seizing her hand took notice to
her of the crowd that had gathered about the door and besought her to
walk into the back-shop with me 

she struggled her hand out of mine and would stay no longer 

so i bowed and bid her kindly welcome and thanked her and hoped i
should have her custom another time 

she went away smiling and andrew after her who made me a fine bow 

i began to be out of countenance at the crowd which thickened apace and
bid will order the chair to the door 

well mrs smith with a grave air i am heartily sorry miss harlowe is
abroad you don't tell me where she is 

indeed sir i cannot 

you will not you mean she could have no notion of my coming i came
to town but last night i have been very ill she has almost broken my
heart by her cruelty you know my story i doubt not tell her i must
go out of town to-morrow morning but i will send my servant to know if
she will favour me with one half-hour's conversation for as soon as i
get down i shall set out for dover in my way to france if i have not a
countermand from her who has the sole disposal of my fate 

and so flinging down a portugal six-and-thirty i took mr smith by the
hand telling him i was sorry we had not more time to be better
acquainted and bidding farewell to honest joseph who pursed up his
mouth as i passed by him as if he thought his teeth still in jeopardy 
and mrs smith adieu and to recommend me to her fair lodger hummed an
air and the chair being come whipt into it the people about the door
seeming to be in good humour with me one crying a pleasant gentleman i
warrant him and away i was carried to white's according to direction 

as soon as i came thither i ordered will to go and change his clothes 
and to disguise himself by putting on his black wig and keeping his
mouth shut and then to dodge about smith's to inform himself of the
lady's motions 


 


i give thee this impudent account of myself that thou mayest rave at me 
and call me hardened and what thou wilt for in the first place i 
who had been so lately ill was glad i was alive and then i was so
balked by my charmer's unexpected absence and so ruffled by that and by
the bluff treatment of father john that i had no other way to avoid
being out of humour with all i met with moreover i was rejoiced to
find by the lady's absence and by her going out at six in the morning 
that it was impossible she should be so ill as thou representest her to
be and this gave me still higher spirits then i know the sex always
love cheerful and humourous fellows the dear creature herself used to
be pleased with my gay temper and lively manner and had she been told
that i was blubbering for her in the back-shop she would have despised
me still more than she does 

furthermore i was sensible that the people of the house must needs have
a terrible notion of me as a savage bloody-minded obdurate fellow a
perfect woman-eater and no doubt expected to see me with the claws of
a lion and the fangs of a tiger and it was but policy to show them what
a harmless pleasant fellow i am in order to familiarize the johns and
the josephs to me for it was evident to me by the good woman's calling
them down that she thought me a dangerous man whereas now john and i
have shaken hands together and dame smith having seen that i have the
face and hands and looks of a man and walk upright and prate and
laugh and joke like other people and joseph that i can talk of taking
his teeth out of his head without doing him the least hurt they will
all at my next visit be much more easy and pleasant to me than andrew's
gloves were to him and we shall be as thoroughly acquainted as if we
had known one another a twelvemonth 

when i returned to our mother's i again cursed her and all her nymphs
together and still refused to see either sally or polly i raved at the
horrid arrest and told the old dragon that it was owing to her and her's
that the fairest virtue in the world was ruined my reputation for ever
blasted and that i was not married and perfectly happy in the love of
the most excellent of her sex 

she to pacify me said she would show me a new face that would please
me since i would not see my sally who was dying with grief 

where is this new face cried i let me see her though i shall never see
any face with pleasure but miss harlowe's 

she won't come down replied she she will not be at the word of command
yet she is but just in the trammels and must be waited upon i'll
assure you and courted much besides 

ay said i that looks well lead me to her this instant 

i followed her up and who should she be but that little toad sally 

o curse you said i for a devil is it you is your's the new face 

o my dear dear mr lovelace cried she i am glad any thing will bring
you to me and so the little beast threw herself about my neck and
there clung like a cat come said she what will you give me and i'll
be as virtuous for a quarter of an hour and mimic your clarissa to the
life 

i was belforded all over i could not bear such an insult upon the dear
creature for i have a soft and generous nature in the main whatever
thou thinkest and cursed her most devoutly for taking my beloved's
name in her mouth in such a way but the little devil was not to be
balked but fell a crying sobbing praying begging exclaiming 
fainting that i never saw my lovely girl so well aped indeed i was
almost taken in for i could have fancied i had her before me once more 

o this sex this artful sex there's no minding them at first indeed 
their grief and their concern may be real but give way to the
hurricane and it will soon die away in soft murmurs thrilling upon your
ears like the notes of a well-tuned viol and by sally one sees that
art will generally so well supply the place of nature that you shall not
easily know the difference miss clarisa harlowe indeed is the only
woman in the world i believe that can say in the words of her favourite
job for i can quote a text as well as she but it is not so with me 

they were very inquisitive about my fair-one they told me that you
seldom came near them that when you did you put on plaguy grave airs 
would hardly stay five minutes and did nothing but praise miss harlowe 
and lament her hard fate in short that you despised them was full of
sentences and they doubted not in a little while would be a lost man 
and marry 

a pretty character for thee is it not thou art in a blessed way yet
hast nothing to do but to go on in it and then what work hast thou to go
through if thou turnest back these sorceresses will be like the czar's
cossacks  at pultowa i think it was   who were planted with ready
primed and cocked pieces behind the regulars in order to shoot them
dead if they did not push on and conquer and then wilt thou be most
lamentably despised by every harlot thou hast made and o jack how
formidable in that case will be the number of thy enemies 

i intend to regulate my motions by will s intelligence for see this
dear creature i must and will yet i have promised lord m to be down in
two or three days at farthest for he is grown plaguy fond of me since i
was ill 

i am in hopes that the word i left that i am to go out of town to-morrow
morning will soon bring the lady back again 

mean time i thought i would write to divert thee while thou art of such
importance about the dying and as thy servant it seems comes backward
and forward every day perhaps i may send thee another letter to-morrow 
with the particulars of the interview between the dear creature and me 
after which my soul thirsteth 



letter xiv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday aug 22 


i must write on to divert myself for i can get no rest no refreshing
rest i awaked just now in a cursed fright how a man may be affected
by dreams 

methought i had an interview with my beloved i found her all goodness 
condescension and forgiveness she suffered herself to be overcome in
my favour by the joint intercessions of lord m lady sarah lady betty 
and my two cousins montague who waited upon her in deep mourning the
ladies in long trains sweeping after them lord m in a long black mantle
trailing after him they told her they came in these robs to express
their sorrow for my sins against her and to implore her to forgive me 

i myself i thought was upon my knees with a sword in my hand 
offering either to put it up in the scabbard or to thrust it into my
heart as she should command the one or the other 

at that moment her cousin morden i thought all of a sudden flashed in
through a window with his drawn sword die lovelace said he this
instant die and be d d if in earnest thou repairest not by marriage
my cousin's wrongs 

i was rising to resent this insult i thought when lord m ran between
us with his great black mantle and threw it over my face and instantly
my charmer with that sweet voice which has so often played upon my
ravished ears wrapped her arms around me muffled as i was in my lord's
mantle o spare spare my lovelace and spare o lovelace my beloved
cousin morden let me not have my distresses augmented by the fall of
either or both of those who are so dear to me 

at this charmed with her sweet mediation i thought i would have
clasped her in my arms when immediately the most angelic form i had ever
beheld all clad in transparent white descended in a cloud which 
opening discovered a firmament above it crowded with golden cherubs and
glittering seraphs all addressing her with welcome welcome welcome 
and encircling my charmer ascended with her to the region of seraphims 
and instantly the opened cloud closing i lost sight of her and of the
bright form together and found wrapt in my arms her azure robe all
stuck thick with stars of embossed silver which i had caught hold of in
hopes of detaining her but was all that was left me of my beloved
clarissa and then horrid to relate the floor sinking under me as
the firmament had opened for her i dropt into a hole more frightful than
that of elden and tumbling over and over down it without view of a
bottom i awaked in a panic and was as effectually disordered for half
an hour as if my dream had been a reality 

wilt thou forgive my troubling thee with such visionary stuff thou wilt
see by it only that sleeping or waking my clarissa is always present
with me 

but here this moment is will come running hither to tell me that his
lady actually returned to her lodgings last night between eleven and
twelve and is now there though very ill 

i hasten to her but that i may not add to her indisposition by any
rough or boisterous behaviour i will be as soft and gentle as the dove
herself in my addresses to her 

 that i do love her i all ye host of heaven 
 be witness that she is dear to me 
 dearer than day to one whom sight must leave 
 dearer than life to one who fears to die 

the chair is come i fly to my beloved 



letter xv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


curse upon my stars disappointed again it was about eight when i
arrived at smith's the woman was in the shop 

so old acquaintance how do you now i know my love is above let her
be acquainted that i am here waiting for admission to her presence and
can take no denial tell her that i will approach her with the most
respectful duty and in whose company she pleases and i will not touch
the hem of her garment without her leave 

indeed sir you are mistaken the lady is not in this house nor near
it 

i'll see that will beckoning him to me and whispering see if thou
canst any way find out without losing sight of the door lest she should
be below stairs if she be in the neighbourhood if not within 

will bowed and went off up went i without further ceremony attended
now only by the good woman 

i went into each apartment except that which was locked before and was
now also locked and i called to my clarissa in the voice of love but 
by the still silence was convinced she was not there yet on the
strength of my intelligence i doubted not but she was in the house 

i then went up two pairs of stairs and looked round the first room but
no miss harlowe 

and who pray is in this room stopping at the door of another 

a widow gentlewoman sir mrs lovick 

o my dear mrs lovick said i i am intimately acquainted with mrs 
lovick's character from my cousin john belford i must see mrs lovick
by all means good mrs lovick open the door 

she did 

your servant madam be so good as to excuse me you have heard my
story you are an admirer of the most excellent woman in the world 
dear mrs lovick tell me what is become of her 

the poor lady sir went out yesterday on purpose to avoid you 

how so she knew not that i would be here 

she was afraid you would come when she heard you were recovered from
your illness ah sir what pity it is that so fine a gentleman should
make such ill returns for god's goodness to him 

you are an excellent woman mrs lovick i know that by my cousin john
belford's account of you and miss clarissa harlowe is an angel 

miss harlowe is indeed an angel replied she and soon will be company
for angels 

no jesting with such a woman as this jack 

tell me of a truth good mrs lovick where i may see this dear lady 
upon my soul i will neither fright for offend her i will only beg of
her to hear me speak for one half-quarter of an hour and if she will
have it so i will never trouble her more 

sir said the widow it would be death for her to see you she was at
home last night i'll tell you truth but fitter to be in bed all day 
she came home she said to die and if she could not avoid your visit 
she was unable to fly from you and believed she should die in your
presence 

and yet go out again this morning early how can that be widow 

why sir she rested not two hours for fear of you her fear gave her
strength which she'll suffer for when that fear is over and finding
herself the more she thought of your visit the less able to stay to
receive it she took chair and is gone nobody knows whither but i
believe she intended to be carried to the waterside in order to take
boat for she cannot bear a coach it extremely incommoded her
yesterday 

but before we talk any further said i if she be gone abroad you can
have no objection to my looking into every apartment above and below 
because i am told she is actually in the house 

indeed sir she is not you may satisfy yourself if you please but
mrs smith and i waited on her to her chair we were forced to support
her she was so weak she said whither can i go mrs lovick whither
can i go mrs smith cruel cruel man tell him i called him so if he
come again god give him that peace which he denies me 

sweet creature cried i and looked down and took out my handkerchief 

the widow wept i wish said she i had never known so excellent a lady 
and so great a sufferer i love her as my own child 

mrs smith wept 

i then gave over the hope of seeing her for this time i was extremely
chagrined at my disappointment and at the account they gave of her ill
health 

would to heaven said i she would put it in my power to repair her
wrongs i have been an ungrateful wretch to her i need not tell you 
mrs lovick how much i have injured her nor how much she suffers by her
relations' implacableness mrs smith that cuts her to the heart her
family is the most implacable family on earth and the dear creature in
refusing to see me and to be reconciled to me shows her relation to
them a little too plainly 

o sir said the widow not one syllable of what you say belongs to this
lady i never saw so sweet a temper she is always accusing herself and
excusing her relations and as to you sir she forgives you she
wishes you well and happier than you will let her die in peace tis all
she wishes for you don't look like a hard-hearted gentleman how can
you thus hunt and persecute a poor lady whom none of her relations will
look upon it makes my heart bleed for her 

and then she wept again mrs smith wept also my seat grew uneasy to
me i shifted to another several times and what mrs lovick farther
said and showed me made me still more uneasy 

bad as the poor lady was last night said she she transcribed into her
book a meditation on your persecuting her thus i have a copy of it if
i thought it would have any effect i would read it to you 

let me read it myself mrs lovick 

she gave it to me it has an harlowe-spirited title and from a
forgiving spirit intolerable i desired to take it with me she
consented on condition that i showed it to squire belford so here 
mr squire belford thou mayest read it if thou wilt 


on being hunted after by the enemy of my soul 

monday aug 21 

deliver me o lord from the evil man 

preserve me from the violent man 

who imagines mischief in his heart 

he hath sharpened his tongue like a serpent adders' poison is under his
lips 

keep me o lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the
violent man who hath purposed to overthrow my goings 

he hath hid a snare for me he hath spread a net by the way-side he
hath set gins for me in the way wherein i walked 

keep me from the snares which he hath laid for me and the gins of this
worker of iniquity 

the enemy hath persecuted my soul he hath smitten my life down to the
ground he hath made me dwell in darkness as those that have been long
dead 

therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me my heart within me is
desolate 

hide not thy face from me in the day when i am in trouble 

for my days are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt as the
hearth 

my heart is smitten and withered like grass so that i forget to eat my
bread 

by reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin 

i am like a pelican of the wilderness i am like an owl of the desart 

i watch and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top 

i have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping 

because of thine indignation and thy wrath for thou hast lifted me up 
and cast me down 

my days are like a shadow that declineth and i am withered like grass 

grant not o lord the desires of the wicked further not his devices 
lest he exalt himself 


why now mrs lovick said i when i had read this meditation as she
called it i think i am very severely treated by the lady if she mean me
in all this for how is it that i am the enemy of her soul when i love
her both soul and body 

she says that i am a violent man and a wicked man that i have been
so i own but i repent and only wish to have it in my power to repair
the injuries i have done her 

the gin the snare the net mean matrimony i suppose but is it a crime
in me to wish to marry her would any other woman think it so and
choose to become a pelican in the wilderness or a lonely sparrow on the
house-top rather than have a mate that would chirp about her all day and
all night 

she says she has eaten ashes like bread a sad mistake to be sure and
mingled her drink with weeping sweet maudlin soul should i say of any
body confessing this but miss harlowe 

she concludes with praying that the desires of the wicked meaning poor
me i doubt may not be granted that my devices may not be furthered 
lest i exalt myself i should undoubtedly exalt myself and with reason 
could i have the honour and the blessing of such a wife and if my
desires have so honourable an end i know not why i should be called
wicked and why i should not be allowed to hope that my honest devices
may be furthered that i may exalt myself 

but here mrs lovick let me ask as something is undoubtedly meant by
the lonely sparrow on the house-top is not the dear creature at this
very instant tell me truly concealed in mrs smith's cockloft what
say you mrs lovick what say you mrs smith to this 

they assured me to the contrary and that shew as actually abroad and
they knew not where 

thou seest jack that i would fain have diverted the chagrin given me
not only by the women's talk but by this collection of scripture-texts
drawn up in array against me several other whimsical and light things i
said  all i had for it   with the same view but the widow would not let
me come off so she stuck to me and gave me as i told thee a good
deal of uneasiness by her sensible and serious expostulations mrs 
smith put in now-and-then and the two jack-pudding fellows john and
joseph not being present i had no provocation to turn the conversation
into a farce and at last they both joined warmly to endeavour to
prevail upon me to give up all thoughts of seeing the lady but i could
not hear of that on the contrary i besought mrs smith to let me have
one of her rooms but till i could see her and were it but for one two 
or three days i would pay a year's rent for it and quit it the moment
the interview was over but they desired to be excused and were sure
the lady would not come to the house till i was gone were it for a
month 

this pleased me for i found they did not think her so very ill as they
would have me believe her to be but i took no notice of the slip 
because i would not guard them against more of the like 

in short i told them i must and would see her but that it should be
with all the respect and veneration that heart could pay to excellence
like her's and that i would go round to all the churches in london and
westminster where there were prayers or service from sun-rise to
sun-set and haunt their house like a ghost till i had the opportunity
my soul panted after 

this i bid them tell her and thus ended our serious conversation 

i took leave of them and went down and stepping into my chair caused
myself to be carried to lincoln's-inn and walked in the gardens till the
chapel was opened and then i went in and staid prayers in hopes of
seeing the dear creature enter but to no purpose and yet i prayed most
devoutly that she might be conducted thither either by my good angel or
her own and indeed i burn more than ever with impatience to be once
more permitted to kneel at the feet of this adorable woman and had i
met her or espied her in the chapel it is my firm belief that i should
not have been able though it had been in the midst of the sacred office 
and in the presence of thousands to have forborne prostration to her 
and even clamorous supplication for her forgiveness a christian act the
exercise of it therefore worthy of the place 

after service was over i stept into my chair again and once more was
carried to smith's in hopes i might have surprised her there but no
such happiness for thy friend i staid in the back-shop an hour and an
half by my watch and again underwent a good deal of preachment from the
women john was mainly civil to me now won over a little by my serious
talk and the honour i professed for the lady they all three wished
matters could be made up between us but still insisted that she could
never get over her illness and that her heart was broken a cue i
suppose they had from you 

while i was there a letter was brought by a particular hand they seemed
very solicitous to hide it from me which made me suspect it was for her 
i desired to be suffered to cast an eye upon the seal and the
superscription promising to give it back to them unopened 

looking upon it i told them i knew the hand and seal it was from her
sister and i hoped it would bring her news that she would be pleased
with 


 see letter xxvi of this volume 


they joined most heartily in the same hope and giving the letter to
them again i civilly took leave and went away 

but i will be there again presently for i fancy my courteous behaviour
to these women will on their report of it procure me the favour i so
earnestly covet and so i will leave my letter unsealed to tell thee
the event of my next visit at smith's 


 


thy servant just calling i sent thee this and will soon follow it by
another mean time i long to hear how poor belton is to whom my best
wishes 



letter xvi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday aug 22 


i have been under such concern for the poor man whose exit i almost
hourly expect and at the shocking scenes his illness and his agonies
exhibit that i have been only able to make memoranda of the melancholy
passages from which to draw up a more perfect account for the
instruction of us all when the writing appetite shall return 


 


it is returned indignation has revived it on receipt of thy letters of
sunday and yesterday by which i have reason to reproach thee in very
serious terms that thou hast not kept thy honour with me and if thy
breach of it be attended with such effects as i fear it will be i shall
let thee know more of my mind on this head 

if thou wouldst be thought in earnest in thy wishes to move the poor lady
in thy favour thy ludicrous behaviour at smith's when it comes to be
represented to her will have a very consistent appearance will it
not i will indeed confirm in her opinion that the grave is more to
be wished-for by one of her serious and pious turn than a husband
incapable either of reflection or remorse just recovered as thou art 
from a dangerous at least a sharp turn 

i am extremely concerned for the poor unprotected lady she was so
excessively low and weak on saturday that i could not be admitted to her
speech and to be driven out of her lodgings when it was fitter for her
to be in bed is such a piece of cruelty as he only could be guilty of
who could act as thou hast done by such an angel 

canst thou thyself say on reflection that it has not the look of a
wicked and hardened sportiveness in thee for the sake of a wanton
humour only since it can answer no end that thou proposest to thyself 
but the direct contrary to hunt from place to place a poor lady who 
like a harmless deer that has already a barbed shaft in her breast 
seeks only a refuge from thee in the shades of death 

but i will leave this matter upon thy own conscience to paint thee such
a scene from my memoranda as thou perhaps wilt be moved by more
effectually than by any other because it is such a one as thou thyself
must one day be a principal actor in and as i thought hadst very
lately in apprehension and is the last scene of one of thy more intimate
friends who has been for the four past days labouring in the agonies of
death for lovelace let this truth this undoubted truth be engraved
on thy memory in all thy gaieties that the life we are so fond of is
hardly life a mere breathing space only and that at the end of its
longest date 

 thou must die as well as belton 

thou knowest by tourville what we had done as to the poor man's worldly
affairs and that we had got his unhappy sister to come and live with him
 little did we think him so very near to his end and so i will proceed
to tell thee that when i arrived at his house on saturday night i found
him excessively ill but just raised and in his elbow-chair held up by
his nurse and mowbray the roughest and most untouched creature that ever
entered a sick man's chamber while the maid-servants were trying to
make that bed easier for him which he was to return to his mind ten
times uneasier than that could be and the true cause that the down was
no softer to him 

he had so much longed to see me as i was told by his sister whom i
sent for down to inquire how he was that they all rejoiced when i
entered here said mowbray here tommy is honest jack belford 

where where said the poor man 

i hear his voice cried mowbray he is coming up stairs 

in a transport of joy he would have raised himself at my entrance but
had like to have pitched out of the chair and when recovered called me
his best friend his kindest friend but burst into a flood of tears o
jack o belford said he see the way i am in see how weak so much 
and so soon reduced do you know me do you know your poor friend
belton 

you are not so much altered my dear belton as you think you are but i
see you are weak very weak and i am sorry for it 

weak weak indeed my dearest belford said he and weaker in mind if
possible than in body and wept bitterly or i should not thus unman
myself i who never feared any thing to be forced to show myself such
a nursling i am quite ashamed of myself but don't despise me dear
belford don't despise me i beseech thee 

i ever honoured a man that could weep for the distresses of others and
ever shall said i and such a one cannot be insensible of his own 

however i could not help being visibly moved at the poor fellow's emotion 

now said the brutal mowbray do i think thee insufferable jack our
poor friend is already a peg too low and here thou art letting him down
lower and lower still this soothing of him in his dejected moments and
joining thy womanish tears with his is not the way i am sure it is not 
if our lovelace were here he'd tell thee so 

thou art an impenetrable creature replied i unfit to be present at a
scene the terrors of which thou wilt not be able to feel till thou
feelest them in thyself and then if thou hadst time for feeling my
life for thine thou behavest as pitifully as those thou thinkest most
pitiful 

then turning to the poor sick man tears my dear belton are no signs of
an unmanly but contrarily of a humane nature they ease the
over-charged heart which would burst but for that kindly and natural
relief 

 give sorrow words says shakspeare 
 the grief that does not speak 
 whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break 

i know my dear belton thou usedst to take pleasure in repetitions from
the poets but thou must be tasteless of their beauties now yet be not
discountenanced by this uncouth and unreflecting mowbray for as juvenal
says tears are the prerogative of manhood 

tis at least seasonably said my dear belford it is kind to keep me in
countenance for this womanish weakness as mowbray has been upbraidingly
calling it ever since he has been with me and in so doing whatever i
might have thought in such high health as he enjoys has convinced me 
that bottle-friends feel nothing but what moves in that little circle 

well well proceed in your own way jack i love my friend belton as
well as you can do yet for the blood of me i cannot but think that
soothing a man's weakness is increasing it 

if it be a weakness to be touched at great and concerning events in
which our humanity is concerned said i thou mayest be right 

i have seen many a man said the rough creature going up holborn-hill 
that has behaved more like a man than either of you 

ay but mowbray replied the poor man those wretches have not had their
minds enervated by such infirmities of body as i have long laboured
under thou art a shocking fellow and ever wert but to be able to
remember nothing in these moments but what reproaches me and to know
that i cannot hold it long and what may then be my lot if but
interrupting himself and turning to me give me thy pity jack tis
balm to my wounded soul and let mowbray sit indifferent enough to the
pangs of a dying friend to laugh at us both 

the hardened fellow then retired with the air of a lovelace only more
stupid yawning and stretching instead of humming a tune as thou didst
at smith's 

i assisted to get the poor man into bed he was so weak and low that he
could not bear the fatigue and fainted away and i verily thought was
quite gone but recovering and his doctor coming and advising to keep
him quiet i retired and joined mowbray in the garden who took more
delight to talk of the living lovelace and levities than of the dying
belton and his repentance 

i just saw him again on saturday night before i went to bed which i did
early for i was surfeited with mowbray's frothy insensibility and could
not bear him 

it is such a horrid thing to think of that a man who had lived in such
strict terms of what shall i call it with another the proof does not
come out so as to say friendship who had pretended so much love for
him could not bear to be out of his company would ride an hundred miles
on end to enjoy it and would fight for him be the cause right or wrong 
yet now could be so little moved to see him in such misery of body and
mind as to be able to rebuke him and rather ridicule than pity him 
because he was more affected by what he felt than he had seen a
malefactor hardened perhaps by liquor and not softened by previous
sickness on his going to execution 

this put me strongly in mind of what the divine miss harlowe once said to
me talking of friendship and what my friendship to you required of me 
depend upon it mr belford  said she that one day you will be
convinced that what you call friendship is chaff and stubble and that
nothing is worthy of that sacred name 

 that has not virtue for its base 


sunday morning i was called up at six o'clock at the poor man's earnest
request and found him in a terrible agony o jack jack said he 
looking wildly as if he had seen a spectre come nearer me dear dear
belford save me then clasping my arm with both his hands and rearing
up his head towards me his eyes strangely rolling save me dear
belford save me repeated he 

i put my other arm about him save you from what my dear belton said i 
save you from what nothing shall hurt you what must i save you from 

recovering from his terror he sunk down again o save me from myself 
said he save me from my own reflections o dear jack what a thing it
is to die and not to have one comfortable reflection to revolve what
would i give for one year of my past life only one year and to have
the same sense of things that i now have 

i tried to comfort him as well as i could but free-livers to free-livers
are sorry death-bed comforters and he broke in upon me o my dear
belford said he i am told and i have heard you ridiculed for it 
that the excellent miss harlowe has wrought a conversion in you may it
be so you are a man of sense o may it be so now is your time now 
that you are in full vigour of mind and body but your poor belton 
alas your poor belton kept his vices till they left him and see the
miserable effects in debility of mind and despondency were mowbray
here and were he to laugh at me i would own that this is the cause of
my despair that god's justice cannot let his mercy operate for my
comfort for oh i have been very very wicked and have despised the
offers of his grace till he has withdrawn it from me for ever 

i used all the arguments i could think of to give him consolation and
what i said had such an effect upon him as to quiet his mind for the
greatest part of the day and in a lucid hour his memory served him to
repeat these lines of dryden grasping my hand and looking wistfully
upon me 

 o that i less could fear to lose this being 
 which like a snow-ball in my coward hand 
 the more tis grasped the faster melts away 

in the afternoon of sunday he was inquisitive after you and your
present behaviour to miss harlowe i told him how you had been and how
light you made of it mowbray was pleased with your impenetrable
hardness of heart and said bob lovelace was a good edge-tool and
steel to the back and such coarse but hearty praises he gave you as an
abandoned man might give and only an abandoned man could wish to
deserve 

but hadst thou heard what the poor dying belton said on this occasion 
perhaps it would have made thee serious an hour or two at least 

when poor lovelace is brought  said he to a sick-bed as i am now 
and his mind forebodes that it is impossible he should recover which
his could not do in his late illness if it had he could not have
behaved so lightly in it when he revolves his past mis-spent life his
actions of offence to helpless innocents in miss harlowe's case
particularly what then will he think of himself or of his past actions 
his mind debilitated his strength turned into weakness unable to stir
or to move without help not one ray of hope darting in upon his
benighted soul his conscience standing in the place of a thousand
witnesses his pains excruciating weary of the poor remnant of life he
drags yet dreading that in a few short hours his bad will be changed
to worse nay to worst of all and that worst of all to last beyond
time and to all eternity o jack what will he then think of the poor
transitory gratifications of sense which now engage all his attention 
tell him dear belford tell him how happy he is if he know his own
dying happiness how happy compared to his poor dying friend that he
has recovered from his illness and has still an opportunity lent him 
for which i would give a thousand worlds had i them to give 

i approved exceedingly of his reflections as suited to his present
circumstances and inferred consolations to him from a mind so properly
touched 

he proceeded in the like penitent strain i have lived a very wicked
life so have we all we have never made a conscience of doing whatever
mischief either force or fraud enabled us to do we have laid snares for
the innocent heart and have not scrupled by the too-ready sword to
extend as occasions offered the wrongs we did to the persons whom we
had before injured in their dearest relations but yet i flatter
myself sometimes that i have less to answer for than either lovelace or
mowbray for i by taking to myself that accursed deceiver from whom thou
hast freed me and who for years unknown to me was retaliating upon
my own head some of the evils i had brought upon others and retiring 
and living with her as a wife was not party to half the mischiefs that
i doubt they and tourville and even you belford committed as to the
ungrateful thomasine i hope i have met with my punishment in her but
notwithstanding this dost thou not think that such an action and such
an action and such an action  and then he recapitulated several
enormities in the perpetration of which led on by false bravery and
the heat of youth and wine we have all been concerned   dost thou not
think that these villanies let me call them now by their proper name 
joined to the wilful and gloried-in neglect of every duty that our better
sense and education gave us to know were required of us as men and
christians are not enough to weigh down my soul into despondency 
indeed indeed they are and now to hope for mercy and to depend upon
the efficacy of that gracious attribute when that no less shining one of
justice forbids me to hope how can i i who have despised all
warnings and taken no advantage of the benefit i might have reaped from
the lingering consumptive illness i have laboured under but left all to
the last stake hoping for recovery against hope and driving off
repentance till that grace is denied me for oh my dear belford i can
now neither repent nor pray as i ought my heart is hardened and i can
do nothing but despair 

more he would have said but overwhelmed with grief and infirmity he
bowed his head upon his pangful bosom endeavouring to hide from the
sight of the hardened mowbray who just then entered the room those
tears which he could not restrain 

prefaced by a phlegmatic hem sad very sad truly cried mowbray who
sat himself down on one side of the bed as i sat on the other his eyes
half closed and his lips pouting out to his turned-up nose his chin
curdled  to use one of thy descriptions  leaving one at a loss to know
whether stupid drowsiness or intense contemplation had got most hold of
him 

an excellent however uneasy lesson mowbray said i by my faith it is 
it may one day who knows how soon be our own case 

i thought of thy yawning-fit as described in thy letter of aug 13 for
up started mowbray writhing and shaking himself as in an ague-fit his
hands stretched over his head with thy hoy hoy hoy yawning and then
recovering himself with another stretch and a shake what's o'clock 
cried he pulling out his watch and stalking by long tip-toe strides
through the room down stairs he went and meeting the maid in the
passage i heard him say betty bring me a bumper of claret thy poor
master and this d d belford are enough to throw a hercules into the
vapours 

mowbray after this assuming himself in our friend's library which is 
as thou knowest chiefly classical and dramatical found out a passage in
lee's oedipus which he would needs have to be extremely apt and in he
came full fraught with the notion of the courage it would give the dying
man and read it to him tis poetical and pretty this is it 

 when the sun sets shadows that show'd at noon
 but small appear most long and terrible 
 so when we think fate hovers o'er our heads 
 our apprehensions shoot beyond all bounds 
 owls ravens crickets seem the watch of death 
 nature's worst vermin scare her godlike sons 
 echoes the very leavings of a voice 
 grow babbling ghosts and call us to our graves 
 each mole-hill thought swells to a huge olympus 
 while we fantastic dreamers heave and puff 
 and sweat with our imagination's weight 

he expected praises for finding this out but belton turning his head
from him ah dick said he these are not the reflections of a dying
man what thou wilt one day feel if it be what i now feel will
convince thee that the evils before thee and with thee are more than
the effects of imagination 

i was called twice on sunday night to him for the poor fellow when his
reflections on his past life annoy him most is afraid of being left with
the women and his eyes they tell me hunt and roll about for me 
where's mr belford but i shall tire him out cries he yet beg of him
to step to me yet don't yet do were once the doubting and changeful
orders he gave and they called me accordingly 

but alas what could belford do for him belford who had been but too
often the companion of his guilty hours who wants mercy as much as he
does and is unable to promise it to himself though tis all he can bid
his poor friend rely upon 

what miscreants are we what figures shall we make in these terrible
hours 

if miss harlowe's glorious example on one hand and the terrors of this
poor man's last scene on the other affect me not i must be abandoned to
perdition as i fear thou wilt be if thou benefittest not thyself from
both 

among the consolatory things i urged when i was called up the last time
on sunday night i told him that he must not absolutely give himself up
to despair that many of the apprehensions he was under were such as the
best men must have on the dreadful uncertainty of what was to succeed to
this life tis well observed said i by a poetical divine who was an
excellent christian that

 death could not a more sad retinue find 
 sickness and pain before and darkness all behind 


 the rev mr norris of bremerton 


about eight o'clock yesterday monday morning i found him a little
calmer he asked me who was the author of the two lines i had repeated
to him and made me speak them over again a sad retinue indeed said
the poor man and then expressing his hopelessness of life and his
terrors at the thoughts of dying and drawing from thence terrible
conclusions with regard to his future state there is said i such a
natural aversion to death in human nature that you are not to imagine 
that you my dear belton are singular in the fear of it and in the
apprehensions that fill the thoughtful mind upon its approach but you
ought as much as possible to separate those natural fears which all men
must have on so solemn an occasion from those particular ones which your
justly-apprehended unfitness fills you with mr pomfret in his
prospect of death which i dipped into last night from a collection in
your closet which i put into my pocket says  and i turned to the
place 

 merely to die no man of reason fears 
 for certainly we must 
 as we are born return to dust 
 tis the last point of many ling-ring years 
 but whither then we go 
 whither we fain would know 
 but human understanding cannot show 
 this makes us tremble 

mr pomfret therefore proceeded i had such apprehensions of this dark
state as you have and the excellent divine i hinted at last night who
had very little else but human frailties to reproach himself with and
whose miscellanies fell into my hands among my uncle's books in my
attendance upon him in his last hours says 

 it must be done my soul but tis a strange 
 a dismal and mysterious change 
 when thou shalt leave this tenement of clay 
 and to an unknown somewhere wing away 
 when time shall be eternity and thou
 shalt be thou know'st not what and live 
 thou know'st not how 
 amazing state no wonder that we dread
 to think of death or view the dead 
 thou'rt all wrapt up in clouds as if to thee
 our very knowledge had antipathy 

then follows what i repeated 

 death could not a more sad retinue find 
 sickness and pain before and darkness all behind 

alas my dear belford  inferred the unhappy deep-thinker  what poor
creatures does this convince me we mortals are at best but what then
must be the case of such a profligate as i who by a past wicked life
have added greater force to these natural terrors if death be so
repugnant a thing to human nature that good men will be startled at it 
what must it be to one who has lived a life of sense and appetite nor
ever reflected upon the end which i now am within view of 

what could i say to an inference so fairly drawn mercy mercy 
unbounded mercy was still my plea though his repeated opposition of
justice to it in a manner silenced that plea and what would i have
given to have had rise in my mind one good eminently good action to
have remembered him of in order to combat his fears with it 

i believe lovelace i shall tire thee and that more with the subject
of my letter than even with the length of it but really i think thy
spirits are so offensively up since thy recovery that i ought as the
melancholy subjects offer to endeavour to reduce thee to the standard
of humanity by expatiating upon them and then thou canst not but be
curious to know every thing that concerns the poor man for whom thou
hast always expressed a great regard i will therefore proceed as i have
begun if thou likest not to read it now lay it by if thou wilt till
the like circumstances befall thee till like reflections from those
circumstances seize thee and then take it up and compare the two cases
together 


 


at his earnest request i sat up with him last night and poor man it
is impossible to tell thee how easy and safe he thought himself in my
company for the first part of the night a drowning man will catch at a
straw the proverb well says and a straw was i with respect to any real
help i could give him he often awaked in terrors and once calling out
for me dear belford said he where are you oh there you are give
me your friendly hand then grasping it and putting his clammy 
half-cold lips to it how kind i fear every thing when you are absent 
but the presence of a friend a sympathising friend oh how comfortable 

but about four in the morning he frighted me much he waked with three
terrible groans and endeavoured to speak but could not presently and
when he did jack jack jack five or six times repeated he as quick as
thought now now now save me save me save me i am going going
indeed 

i threw my arms about him and raised him upon his pillow as he was
sinking as if to hide himself in the bed-clothes and staring wildly 
where am i said he a little recovering did you not see him turning
his head this way and that horror in his countenance did you not see
him 

see whom see what my dear belton 

o lay me upon the bed again cried he let me not die upon the floor 
lay me down gently and stand by me leave me not all all will soon
be over 

you are already my dear belton upon the bed you have not been upon
the floor this is a strong delirium you are faint for want of
refreshment  for he had refused several times to take any thing  let me
persuade you to take some of this cordial julap i will leave you if
you will not oblige me 

he then readily took it but said he could have sworn that tom metcalfe
had been in the room and had drawn him out of bed by the throat 
upbraiding him with the injuries he had first done his sister and then
him in the duel to which he owed that fever which cost him his life 

thou knowest the story lovelace too well to need my repeating it but 
mercy on us if in these terrible moments all the evils we do rise to our
frighted imaginations if so what shocking scenes have i but still
what more shocking ones hast thou to go through if as the noble poet
says 

 if any sense at that sad time remains 

the doctor ordered him an opiate this morning early which operated so
well that he dosed and slept several hours more quietly than he had done
for the two past days and nights though he had sleeping-draughts given
him before but it is more and more evident every hour that nature is
almost worn out in him 


 


mowbray quite tired with this house of mourning intends to set out in
the morning to find you he was not a little rejoiced to hear you were
in town i believe to have a pretence to leave us 


 


he has just taken leave of his poor friend intending to go away early 
an everlasting leave i may venture to say for i think he will hardly
live till to-morrow night 

i believe the poor man would not have been sorry had he left him when i
arrived for tis a shocking creature and enjoys too strong health to
know how to pity the sick then to borrow an observation from thee he
has by nature strong bodily organs which those of his soul are not
likely to whet out and he as well as the wicked friend he is going to 
may last a great while from the strength of their constitutions though
so greatly different in their talents if neither the sword nor the
halter interpose 

i must repeat that i cannot but be very uneasy for the poor lady whom
you so cruelly persecute and that i do not think that you have kept your
honour with me i was apprehensive indeed that you would attempt to
see her as soon as you got well enough to come up and i told her as
much making use of it as an argument to prepare her for your visit and
to induce her to stand it but she could not it is plain bear the
shock of it and indeed she told me that she would not see you though
but for one half-hour for the world 

could she have prevailed upon herself i know that the sight of her would
have been as affecting to you as your visit could have been to her when
you had seen to what a lovely skeleton for she is really lovely still 
nor can she with such a form and features be otherwise you have in a
few weeks reduced one of the most charming women in the world and that
in the full bloom of her youth and beauty 

mowbray undertakes to carry this that he may be more welcome to you he
says were it to be sent unsealed the characters we write in would be
hebrew to the dunce i desire you to return it and i'll give you a copy
of it upon demand for i intend to keep it by me as a guard against the
infection of your company which might otherwise perhaps some time
hence be apt to weaken the impressions i always desire to have of the
awful scene before me god convert us both 



letter xvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday morn 11 o'clock 


i believe no man has two such servants as i have because i treat them
with kindness and do not lord it over my inferiors and d n and curse
them by looks and words like mowbray or beat their teeth out like
lovelace but cry pr'ythee harry do this and pr'ythee jonathan do
that the fellows pursue their own devices and regard nothing i say but
what falls in with these 

here this vile harry who might have brought your letter of yesterday in
good time came not in with it till past eleven at night drunk i
suppose and concluding that i was in bed as he pretends because he
was told i sat up the preceding night brought it not to me and having
overslept himself just as i had sealed up my letter in comes the
villain with the forgotten one shaking his ears and looking as if he
himself did not believe the excuses he was going to make i questioned
him about it and heard his pitiful pleas and though i never think it
becomes a gentleman to treat people insolently who by their stations are
humbled beneath his feet yet could i not forbear to lovelace and mowbray
him most cordially 

and this detaining mowbray who was ready to set out to you before while
i write a few lines upon it the fierce fellow who is impatient to
exchange the company of a dying belton for that of a too-lively lovelace 
affixed a supplement of curses upon the staring fellow that was larger
than my book nor did i offer to take off the bear from such a mongrel 
since on this occasion he deserved not of me the protection which every
master owes to a good servant 

he has not done cursing him yet for stalking about the court-yard with
his boots on the poor fellow dressing his horse and unable to get from
him he is at him without mercy and i will heighten his impatience 
 since being just under the window where i am writing he will not let me
attend to my pen by telling you how he fills my ears as well as the
fellow's with his hay sir and g d d n ye sir and were ye my
servant ye dog ye and must i stay here till the mid-day sun scorches
me to a parchment for such a mangy dog's drunken neglect ye lie 
sirrah ye lie i tell you  i hear the fellow's voice in an humble
excusatory tone though not articulately  ye lie ye dog i'd a good
mind to thrust my whip down your drunken throat d n me if i would not
flay the skin from the back of such a rascal if thou wert mine and have
dog's-skin gloves made of it for thy brother scoundrels to wear in
remembrance of thy abuses of such a master 

the poor horse suffers for this i doubt not for what now and stand
still and be d d to ye cries the fellow with a kick i suppose which
he better deserves himself for these varlets where they can are
mowbrays and lovelaces to man or beast and not daring to answer him is
flaying the poor horse 

i hear the fellow is just escaped the horse better curried than
ordinary i suppose in half the usual time by his clanking shoes and
mowbray's silence letting me know that i may now write on and so i
will tell thee that in the first place little as i as well as you 
regard dreams i would have thee lay thine to heart for i could give
thee such an interpretation of it as would shock thee perhaps and if
thou askest me for it i will 

mowbray calls to me from the court-yard that tis a cursed hot day and
he shall be fried by riding in the noon of it and that poor belton longs
to see me so i will only add my earnest desire that you will give over
all thoughts of seeing the lady if when this comes to your hand you
have not seen her and that it would be kind if you'd come and for
the last time you will ever see your poor friend share my concern for
him and in him see what in a little time will be your fate and mine 
and that of mowbray tourville and the rest of us for what are ten 
fifteen twenty or thirty years to look back to in the longest of
which periods forward we shall all perhaps be mingled with the dust from
which we sprung 



letter xviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday morn aug 23 


all alive dear jack and in ecstacy likely to be once more a happy
man for i have received a letter from my beloved miss harlowe in
consequence i suppose of that which i mentioned in my last to be left
for her from her sister and i am setting out for berks directly to
show the contents to my lord m and to receive the congratulations of all
my kindred upon it 

i went last night as i intended to smith's but the dear creature was
not returned at near ten o'clock and lighting upon tourville i took
him home with me and made him sing me out of my megrims i went to bed
tolerably easy at two had bright and pleasant dreams not such of a
frightful one as that i gave thee an account of and at eight this
morning as i was dressing to be in readiness against the return of my
fellow whom i had sent to inquire after the lady i had the following
letter brought to me by a chairman 


to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday night 11 o'clock aug 22 


sir 

i have good news to tell you i am setting out with all diligence for my
father's house i am bid to hope that he will receive his poor penitent
with a goodness peculiar to himself for i am overjoyed with the
assurance of a thorough reconciliation through the interposition of a
dear blessed friend whom i always loved and honoured i am so taken up
with my preparation for this joyful and long-wished-for journey that i
cannot spare one moment for any other business having several matters of
the last importance to settle first so pray sir don't disturb or
interrupt me i beseech you don't you may possibly in time see me at my
father's at least if it be not your own fault 

i will write a letter which shall be sent you when i am got thither and
received till when i am etc 

clarissa harlowe 


 


i dispatched instantly a letter to the dear creature assuring her with
the most thankful joy that i would directly set out for berks and wait
the issue of the happy reconciliation and the charming hopes she had
filled me with i poured out upon her a thousand blessings i declared
that it should be the study of my whole life to merit such transcendent
goodness and that there was nothing which her father or friends should
require at my hands that i would not for her sake comply with in order
to promote and complete so desirable a reconciliation 

i hurried it away without taking a copy of it and i have ordered the
chariot-and-six to be got ready and hey for m hall let me but know
how belton does i hope a letter from thee is on the road and if the
poor fellow can spare thee make haste i command thee to attend this
truly divine lady thou mayest not else see her of months perhaps at
least not while she is miss harlowe and oblige me if possible with
one letter before she sets out confirming to me and accounting for this
generous change 

but what accounting for it is necessary the dear creature cannot
receive consolation herself but she must communicate it to others how
noble she would not see me in her adversity but no sooner does the sun
of prosperity begin to shine upon her than she forgives me 

i know to whose mediation all this is owing it is to colonel morden's 
she always as she says loved and honoured him and he loved her above
all his relations 

i shall now be convinced that there is something in dreams the opening
cloud is the reconciliation in view the bright form lifting up my
charmer through it to a firmament stuck round with golden cherubims and
seraphims indicates the charming little boys and girls that will be the
fruits of this happy reconciliation the welcomes thrice repeated are
those of her family now no more to be deemed implacable yet are they
family too that my soul cannot mingle with 

but then what is my tumbling over and over through the floor into a
frightful hole descending as she ascends ho only this it alludes to
my disrelish to matrimony which is a bottomless pit a gulph and i know
not what and i suppose had i not awoke in such a plaguy fright i had
been soused into some river at the bottom of the hole and then been
carried mundified or purified from my past iniquities by the same
bright form waiting for me upon the mossy banks to my beloved girl 
and we should have gone on cherubiming of it and caroling to the end of
the chapter 

but what are the black sweeping mantles and robes of lord m thrown over
my face and what are those of the ladies o jack i have these too 
they indicate nothing in the world but that my lord will be so good as to
die and leave me all he has so rest to thy good-natured soul honest
lord m 

lady sarah sadleir and lady betty lawrance will also die and leave me
swinging legacies 

miss charlotte and her sister what will become of the oh they will be
in mourning of course for their uncle and aunts that's right 

as to morden's flashing through the window and crying die lovelace 
and be d d if thou wilt not repair my cousin's wrong that is only 
that he would have sent me a challenge had i not been disposed to do the
lady justice 

all i dislike is this part of the dream for even in a dream i would
not be thought to be threatened into any measure though i liked it ever
so well 

and so much for my prophetic dream 

dear charming creature what a meeting will there be between her and her
father and mother and uncles what transports what pleasure will this
happy long-wished-for reconciliation give her dutiful heart and indeed
now methinks i am glad she is so dutiful to them for her duty to her
parents is a conviction to me that she will be as dutiful to her husband 
since duty upon principle is an uniform thing 

why pr'ythee now jack i have not been so much to blame as thou
thinkest for had it not been for me who have led her into so much
distress she could neither have received nor given the joy that will now
overwhelm them all so here rises great and durable good out of
temporary evil 

i know they loved her the pride and glory of their family too well to
hold out long 

i wish i could have seen arabella's letter she has always been so much
eclipsed by her sister that i dare say she has signified this
reconciliation to her with intermingled phlegm and wormwood and her
invitation must certainly runs all in the rock-water style 

i shall long to see the promised letter too when she is got to her
father's which i hope will give an account of the reception she will
meet with 

there is a solemnity however i think in the style of her letter which
pleases and affects me at the same time but as it is evident she loves
me still and hopes soon to see me at her father's she could not help
being a little solemn and half-ashamed  dear blushing pretty rogue   to
own her love after my usage of her 

and then her subscription till when i am clarissa harlowe as much as
to say after that i shall be if not to your own fault 
clarissa lovelace 

o my best love my ever-generous and adorable creature how much does
this thy forgiving goodness exalt us both me for the occasion given
thee thee for turning it so gloriously to thy advantage and to the
honour of both 

and if my beloved creature you will but connive at the imperfections of
your adorer and not play the wife with me if while the charms of
novelty have their force with me i should happen to be drawn aside by
the love of intrigue and of plots that my soul delights to form and
pursue and if thou wilt not be open-eyed to the follies of my youth  a
transitory state   every excursion shall serve but the more to endear
thee to me till in time and in a very little time too i shall get
above sense and then charmed by thy soul-attracting converse and
brought to despise my former courses what i now at distance consider
as a painful duty will be my joyful choice and all my delight will
centre in thee 


 


mowbray is just arrived with thy letters i therefore close my agreeable
subject to attend to one which i doubt will be very shocking 

i have engaged the rough varlet to bear me company in the morning to
berks where i shall file off the rust he has contracted in his
attendance upon the poor fellow 

he tells me that between the dying belton and the preaching belford he
shan't be his own man these three days and says that thou addest to the
unhappy fellow's weakness instead of giving him courage to help him to
bear his destiny 

i am sorry he takes the unavoidable lot so heavily but he has been long
ill and sickness enervates the mind as well as the body as he himself
very significantly observed to thee 



letter xix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wedn evening 


i have been reading thy shocking letter poor belton what a multitude of
lively hours have we passed together he was a fearless cheerful
fellow who'd have thought all that should end in such dejected
whimpering and terror 

but why didst thou not comfort the poor man about the rencounter between
him and that poltroon metcalfe he acted in that affair like a man of
true honour and as i should have acted in the same circumstances tell
him i say so and that what happened he could neither help nor foresee 

some people are as sensible of a scratch from a pin's point as others
from a push of a sword and who can say any thing for the sensibility of
such fellows metcalfe would resent for his sister when his sister
resented not for herself had she demanded her brother's protection and
resentment that would have been another man's matte to speak in lord
m s phrase but she herself thought her brother a coxcomb to busy
himself undesired in her affairs and wished for nothing but to be
provided for decently and privately in her lying-in and was willing to
take the chance of maintenon-ing his conscience in her favour and
getting him to marry when the little stranger came for she knew what
an easy good-natured fellow he was and indeed if she had prevailed
upon him it might have been happy for both as then he would not have
fallen in with his cursed thomasine but truly this officious brother of
her's must interpose this made a trifling affair important and what
was the issue metcalfe challenged belton met him disarmed him gave
him his life but the fellow more sensible in his skin than in his head 
having received a scratch was frighted it gave him first a puke then
a fever and then he died that was all and how could belton help that 
 but sickness a long tedious sickness will make a bugbear of any thing
to a languishing heart i see that and so far was mowbray a-propos in
the verses from nat lee which thou hast described 


 madam maintenon was reported to have prevailed upon lewis xiv of
france in his old age sunk as he was by ill success in the field 
to marry her by way of compounding with his conscience for the freedoms
of his past life to which she attributed his public losses 


merely to die no man of reason fears is a mistake say thou or say
thy author what ye will and thy solemn parading about the natural
repugnance between life and death is a proof that it is 

let me tell thee jack that so much am i pleased with this world in
the main though in some points too the world to make a person of it 
has been a rascal to me so delighted am i with the joys of youth with
my worldly prospects as to fortune and now newly with the charming
hopes given me by my dear thrice dear and for ever dear clarissa that
were i even sure that nothing bad would come hereafter i should be very
loth very much afraid if thou wilt have it so to lay down my life
and them together and yet upon a call of honour no man fears death
less than myself 

but i have not either inclination or leisure to weigh thy leaden
arguments except in the pig or as thou wouldst say in the lump 

if i return thy letters let me have them again some time hence that is
to say when i am married or when poor belton is half forgotten or when
time has enrolled the honest fellow among those whom we have so long
lost that we may remember them with more pleasure than pain and then i
may give them a serious perusal and enter with thee as deeply as thou
wilt into the subject 

when i am married said i what a sound has that 

i must wait with patience for a sight of this charming creature till she
is at her father's and yet as the but blossoming beauty as thou
tellest me is reduced to a shadow i should have been exceedingly
delighted to see her now and every day till the happy one that i might
have the pleasure of observing how sweetly hour by hour she will rise
to her pristine glories by means of that state of ease and contentment 
which will take place of the stormy past upon her reconciliation with
her friends and our happy nuptials 



letter xx

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


well but now my heart is a little at ease i will condescend to take
brief notice of some other passages in thy letters 

i find i am to thank thee that the dear creature has avoided my visit 
things are now in so good a train that i must forgive thee else thou
shouldst have heard more of this new instance of disloyalty to thy
general 

thou art continually giving thyself high praise by way of opposition as
i may say to others gently and artfully blaming thyself for qualities
thou wouldst at the same time have to be thought and which generally are
thought praise-worthy 

thus in the airs thou assumest about thy servants thou wouldst pass for
a mighty humane mortal and that at the expense of mowbray and me whom
thou representest as kings and emperors to our menials yet art thou
always unhappy in thy attempts of this kind and never canst make us who
know thee believe that to be a virtue in thee which is but the effect
of constitutional phlegm and absurdity 

knowest thou not that some men have a native dignity in their manner 
that makes them more regarded by a look than either thou canst be in thy
low style or mowbray in his high 

i am fit to be a prince i can tell thee for i reward well and i punish
seasonably and properly and i am generally as well served by any man 

the art of governing these underbred varlets lies more in the dignity of
looks than in words and thou art a sorry fellow to think humanity
consists in acting by thy servants as men must act who are not able to
pay them their wages or had made them masters of secrets which if
divulged would lay them at the mercy of such wretches 

now to me who never did any thing i was ashamed to own and who have
more ingenuousness than ever man had who can call a villany by its own
right name though practised by myself and by my own readiness to
reproach myself anticipate all reproach from others who am not such a
hypocrite as to wish the world to think me other or better than i am 
it is my part to look a servant into his duty if i can nor will i keep
one who knows not how to take me by a nod or a wink and who when i
smile shall not be all transport when i frown all terror if indeed 
i am out of the way a little i always take care to rewards the varlets
for patiently bearing my displeasure but this i hardly ever am but when
a fellow is egregiously stupid in any plain point of duty or will be
wiser than his master and when he shall tell me that he thought acting
contrary to my orders was the way to serve me best 

one time or other i will enter the lists with thee upon thy conduct and
mine to servants and i will convince thee that what thou wouldst have
pass for humanity if it be indiscriminately practised to all tempers 
will perpetually subject thee to the evils thou complainest of and
justly too and that he only is fit to be a master of servants who can
command their attention as much by a nod as if he were to pr'ythee a
fellow to do his duty on one hand or to talk of flaying and
horse-whipping like mowbray on the other for the servant who being
used to expect thy creeping style will always be master of his master 
and he who deserves to be treated as the other is not fit to be any
man's servant nor would i keep such a fellow to rub my horse's heels 

i shall be the readier to enter the lists with thee upon this argument 
because i have presumption enough to think that we have not in any of our
dramatic poets that i can at present call to mind one character of a
servant of either sex that is justly hit off so absurdly wise some 
and so sottishly foolish others and both sometime in the same person 
foils drawn from lees or dregs of the people to set off the characters of
their masters and mistresses nay sometimes which is still more absurd 
introduced with more wit than the poet has to bestow upon their
principals mere flints and steels to strike fire with or to vary the
metaphor to serve for whetstones to wit which otherwise could not be
made apparent or for engines to be made use of like the machinery of
the antient poets or the still more unnatural soliloquy to help on a
sorry plot or to bring about a necessary eclaircissement to save the
poet the trouble of thinking deeply for a better way to wind up his
bottoms 

of this i am persuaded whatever my practice be to my own servants 
that thou wilt be benefited by my theory when we come to controvert the
point for then i shall convince thee that the dramatic as well as
natural characteristics of a good servant ought to be fidelity common
sense cheerful obedience and silent respect that wit in his station 
except to his companions would be sauciness that he should never
presume to give his advice that if he venture to expostulate upon any
unreasonable command or such a one a appeared to him to be so he should
do it with humility and respect and take a proper season for it but
such lessons do most of the dramatic performances i have seen give where
servants are introduced as characters essential to the play or to act
very significant or long parts in it which of itself i think a
fault such lessons i say do they give to the footmen's gallery that
i have not wondered we have so few modest or good men-servants among
those who often attend their masters or mistresses to plays then how
miserably evident must that poet's conscious want of genius be who can
stoop to raise or give force to a clap by the indiscriminate roar of the
party-coloured gallery 

but this subject i will suspend to a better opportunity that is to say 
to the happy one when my nuptials with my clarissa will oblige me to
increase the number of my servants and of consequence to enter more
nicely into their qualifications 


 


although i have the highest opinion that man can have of the generosity
of my dear miss harlowe yet i cannot for the heart of me account for
this agreeable change in her temper but one way faith and troth 
belford i verily believe laying all circumstances together that the
dear creature unexpectedly finds herself in the way i have so ardently
wished her to be in and that this makes her at last incline to favour
me that she may set the better face upon her gestation when at her
father's 

if this be the case all her falling away and her fainting fits are
charmingly accounted for nor is it surprising that such a sweet novice
in these matters should not for some time have known to what to
attribute her frequent indispositions if this should be the case how i
shall laugh at thee and when i am sure of her at the dear novice
herself that all her grievous distresses shall end in a man-child which
i shall love better than all the cherubims and seraphims that may come
after though there were to be as many of them as i beheld in my dream 
in which a vast expanse of firmament was stuck as full of them as it
could hold 

i shall be afraid to open thy next lest it bring me the account of poor
belton's death yet as there are no hopes of his recovery but what
should i say unless the poor man were better fitted but thy heavy
sermon shall not affect me too much neither 

i enclose thy papers and do thou transcribe them for me or return them 
for there are some things in them which at a proper season a mortal
man should not avoid attending to and thou seemest to have entered
deeply into the shocking subject but here i will end lest i grow too
serious 


 


thy servant called here about an hour ago to know if i had any commands 
i therefore hope that thou wilt have this early in the morning and if
thou canst let me hear from thee do i'll stretch an hour or two in
expectation of it yet i must be at lord m s to-morrow night if
possible though ever so late 

thy fellow tells me the poor man is much as he was when mowbray left him 

wouldst thou think that this varlet mowbray is sorry that i am so near
being happy with miss harlowe and egad jack i know not what to say
to it now the fruit seems to be within my reach but let what will come 
i'll stand to't for i find i can't live without her 



letter xxi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday three o'clock 


i will proceed where i left off in my last 

as soon as i had seen mowbray mounted i went to attend upon poor belton 
whom i found in dreadful agonies in which he awoke after he generally
does 

the doctor came in presently after and i was concerned at the scene that
passed between them 

it opened with the dying man's asking him with melancholy earnestness 
if nothing if nothing at all could be done for him 

the doctor shook his head and told him he doubted not 

i cannot die said the poor man i cannot think of dying i am very
desirous of living a little longer if i could but be free from these
horrible pains in my stomach and head can you give me nothing to make
me pass one week but one week in tolerable ease that i may die like a
man if i must die 

but doctor i am yet a young man in the prime of my years youth is a
good subject for a physician to work upon can you do nothing nothing at
all for me doctor 

alas sir replied his physician you have been long in a bad way i
fear i fear nothing in physic can help you 

he was then out of all patience what then is your art sir i have
been a passive machine for a whole twelvemonth to be wrought upon at the
pleasure of you people of the faculty i verily believe had i not taken
such doses of nasty stuff i had been now a well man but who the plague
would regard physicians whose art is to cheat us with hopes while they
help to destroy us and who not one of you know any thing but by
guess 

sir continued he fiercely and with more strength of voice and
coherence than he had shown for several hours before if you give me
over i give you over the only honest and certain part of the art of
healing is surgery a good surgeon is worth a thousand of you i have
been in surgeons' hands often and have always found reason to depend
upon their skill but your art sir what is it but to daub daub 
daub load load load plaster plaster plaster till ye utterly
destroy the appetite first and the constitution afterwards which you
are called in to help i had a companion once my dear belford thou
knewest honest blomer as pretty a physician he would have made as any
in england had he kept himself from excess in wine and women and he
always used to say there was nothing at all but the pick-pocket parade
in the physician's art and that the best guesser was the best physician 
and i used to believe him too and yet fond of life and fearful of
death what do we do when we are taken ill but call ye in and what
do ye do when called in but nurse our distempers till from pigmies you
make giants of them and then ye come creeping with solemn faces when ye
are ashamed to prescribe or when the stomach won't bear its natural
food by reason of your poisonous potions alas i am afraid physic can
do no more for him nor need it when it has brought to the brink of the
grave the poor wretch who placed all his reliance in your cursed slops 
and the flattering hopes you gave him 

the doctor was out of countenance but said if we could make mortal men
immortal and would not all this might be just 

i blamed the poor man yet excused him to the physician to die dear
doctor when like my poor friend we are so desirous of life is a
melancholy thing we are apt to hope too much not considering that the
seeds of death are sown in us when we begin to live and grow up till 
like rampant weeds they choke the tender flower of life which declines
in us as those weeds flourish we ought therefore to begin early to
study what our constitutions will bear in order to root out by
temperance the weeds which the soil is most apt to produce or at
least to keep them down as they rise and not when the flower or plant
is withered at the root and the weed in its full vigour expect that
the medical art will restore the one or destroy the other when that
other as i hinted has been rooting itself in the habit from the time of
our birth 

this speech bob thou wilt call a prettiness but the allegory is just 
and thou hast not quite cured me of the metaphorical 

very true said the doctor you have brought a good metaphor to
illustrate the thing i am sorry i can do nothing for the gentleman and
can only recommend patience and a better frame of mind 

well sir said the poor angry man vexed at the doctor but more at
death you will perhaps recommend the next succession to the physician 
when he can do no more and i suppose will send your brother to pray by
me for those virtues which you wish me 

it seems the physician's brother is a clergyman in the neighbourhood 

i was greatly concerned to see the gentleman thus treated and so i told
poor belton when he was gone but he continued impatient and would not
be denied he said the liberty of talking to a man who had taken so
many guineas of him for doing nothing or worse than nothing and never
declined one though he know all the time he could do him no good 

it seems the gentleman though rich is noted for being greedy after
fees and poor belton went on raving at the extravagant fees of english
physicians compared with those of the most eminent foreign ones but 
poor man he like the turks who judge of a general by his success out
of patience to think he must die would have worshipped the doctor and
not grudged thee times the sum could he have given him hopes of
recovery 

but nevertheless i must needs say that gentlemen of the faculty should
be more moderate in their fees or take more pains to deserve them for 
generally they only come into a room feel the sick man's pulse ask the
nurse a few questions inspect the patient's tongue and perhaps his
water then sit down look plaguy wise and write the golden fee finds
the ready hand and they hurry away as if the sick man's room were
infectious so to the next they troll and to the next if men of great
practice valuing themselves upon the number of visits they make in a
morning and the little time they make them in they go to dinner and
unload their pockets and sally out again to refill them and thus in a
little time they raise vast estates for as ratcliffe said when first
told of a great loss which befell him it was only going up and down one
hundred pairs of stairs to fetch it up 

mrs sambre belton's sister had several times proposed to him a
minister to pray by him but the poor man could not he said bear the
thoughts of one for that he should certainly die in an hour or two
after and he was willing to hope still against all probability that he
might recover and was often asking his sister if she had not seen people
as bad as he was who almost to a miracle when every body gave them
over had got up again 

she shaking her head told him she had but once saying that their
disorders were of an acute kind and such as had a crisis in them he
called her small-hopes and job's comforter and bid her say nothing if
she could not say more to the purpose and what was fitter for a sick man
to hear and yet poor fellow he has no hopes himself as is plain by
his desponding terrors one of which he fell into and a very dreadful
one soon after the doctor went 


 


wednesday nine o'clock at night 

the poor man had been in convulsions terrible convulsions for an hour
past o lord lovelace death is a shocking thing by my faith it is 
i wish thou wert present on this occasion it is not merely the concern
a man has for his friend but as death is the common lot we see in his
agonies how it will be one day with ourselves i am all over as if cold
water were poured down my back or as if i had a strong ague-fit upon me 
i was obliged to come away and i write hardly knowing what i wish
thou wert here 


 


though i left him because i could stay no longer i can't be easy by
myself but must go to him again 


eleven o'clock 

poor belton drawing on apace yet was he sensible when i went in too
sensible poor man he has something upon his mind to reveal he tells
me that is the worst action of his life worse than ever you or i knew
of him he says it must then be very bad 

he ordered every body out but was seized with another convulsion-fit 
before he could reveal it and in it he lies struggling between life and
death but i'll go in again 


one o'clock in the morning 

all now must soon be over with him poor poor fellow he has given me
some hints of what he wanted to say but all incoherent interrupted by
dying hiccoughs and convulsions 

bad enough it must be heaven knows by what i can gather alas 
lovelace i fear i fear he came too soon into his uncle's estate 

if a man were to live always he might have some temptation to do base
things in order to procure to himself as it would then be everlasting
ease plenty or affluence but for the sake of ten twenty thirty
years of poor life to be a villain can that be worth while with a
conscience stinging him all the time too and when he comes to wind up
all such agonizing reflections upon his past guilt all then appearing
as nothing what he most valued most disgustful and not one thing to
think of as the poor fellow says twenty and twenty times over but what
is attended with anguish and reproach 

to hear the poor man wish he had never been born to hear him pray to be
nothing after death good god how shocking 

by his incoherent hints i am afraid tis very bad with him no pardon 
no mercy he repeats can lie for him 

i hope i shall make a proper use of this lesson laugh at me if thou
wilt but never never more will i take the liberties i have taken but
whenever i am tempted will think of belton's dying agonies and what my
own may be 


 


thursday three in the morning 

he is now at the last gasp rattles in the throat has a new convulsion
every minute almost what horror is he in his eyes look like
breath-stained glass they roll ghastly no more are quite set his face
distorted and drawn out by his sinking jaws and erected staring
eyebrows with his lengthened furrowed forehead to double its usual
length as it seems it is not it cannot be the face of belton thy
belton and my belton whom we have beheld with so much delight over the
social bottle comparing notes that one day may be brought against us 
and make us groan as they very lately did him that is to say while he
had strength to groan for now his voice is not to be heard all inward 
lost not so much as speaking by his eyes yet strange how can it be 
the bed rocking under him like a cradle 

four o'clock 

 alas he's gone that groan that dreadful groan 
 was the last farewell of the parting mind 
 the struggling soul has bid a long adieu
 to its late mansion fled ah whither fled 

now is all indeed over poor poor belton by this time thou knowest if
thy crimes were above the size of god's mercies now are every one's
cares and attendance at an end now do we thy friends poor belton 
know the worst of thee as to this life thou art released from
insufferable tortures both of body and mind may those tortures and thy
repentance expiate for thy offences and mayest thou be happy to all
eternity 

we are told that god desires not the death the spiritual death of a
sinner and tis certain that thou didst deeply repent i hope 
therefore as thou wert not cut off in the midst of thy sins by the sword
of injured friendship which more than once thou hadst braved  the
dreadfullest of all deaths next to suicide because it gives no
opportunity for repentance  that this is a merciful earnest that thy
penitence is accepted and that thy long illness and dreadful agonies in
the last stages of it were thy only punishment 

i wish indeed i heartily wish we could have seen one ray of comfort
darting in upon his benighted mind before he departed but all alas 
to the very last gasp was horror and confusion and my only fear arises
from this that till within the four last days of his life he could not
be brought to think he should die though in a visible decline for
months and in that presumption was too little inclined to set about a
serious preparation for a journey which he hoped he should not be
obliged to take and when he began to apprehend that he could not put it
off his impatience and terror and apprehension showed too little of
that reliance and resignation which afford the most comfortable
reflections to the friends of the dying as well as to the dying
themselves 

but we must leave poor belton to that mercy of which we have all so much
need and for my own part do you lovelace and the rest of the
fraternity as ye will i am resolved i will endeavour to begin to
repent of my follies while my health is sound my intellects untouched 
and while it is in my power to make some atonement as near to
restitution or reparation as is possible to those i have wronged or
misled and do ye outwardly and from a point of false bravery make as
light as ye will of my resolution as ye are none of ye of the class of
abandoned and stupid sots who endeavour to disbelieve the future
existence of which ye are afraid i am sure you will justify me in your
hearts if not by your practices and one day you will wish you had
joined with me in the same resolution and will confess there is more
good sense in it than now perhaps you will own 


seven o'clock thursday morning 

you are very earnest by your last letter just given me to hear again
from me before you set out for berks i will therefore close with a few
words upon the only subject in your letter which i can at present touch
upon and this is the letter of which you give me a copy from the lady 

want of rest and the sad scene i have before my eyes have rendered me
altogether incapable of accounting for the contents of it in any shape 
you are in ecstacies upon it you have reason to be so if it be as you
think nor would i rob you of your joy but i must say i am amazed at
it 

surely lovelace this surprising letter cannot be a forgery of thy own 
in order to carry on some view and to impose upon me yet by the style
of it it cannot though thou art a perfect proteus too 

i will not however add another word after i have desired the return of
this and have told you that i am

your true friend and well-wisher 
j belford 



letter xxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
aug 24 thursday morning 


i received thy letter in such good time by thy fellow's dispatch that
it gives me an opportunity of throwing in a few paragraphs upon it i
read a passage or two of it to mowbray and we both agree that thou art
an absolute master of the lamentable 

poor belton what terrible conflicts were thy last conflicts i hope 
however that he is happy and i have the more hope because the hardness
of his death is likely to be such a warning to thee if it have the
effect thou declarest it shall have what a world of mischief will it
prevent how much good will it do how many poor wretches will rejoice at
the occasion if they know it however melancholy in itself which
shall bring them in a compensation for injuries they had been forced to
sit down contented with but jack though thy uncle's death has made
thee a rich fellow art thou sure that the making good of such a vow will
not totally bankrupt thee 

thou sayest i may laugh at thee if i will not i jack i do not take
it to be a laughing subject and i am heartily concerned at the loss we
all have in poor belton and when i get a little settled and have
leisure to contemplate the vanity of all sublunary things a subject that
will now-and-then in my gayest hours obtrude itself upon me it is very
likely that i may talk seriously with thee upon these topics and if
thou hast not got too much the start of me in the repentance thou art
entering upon will go hand-in-hand with thee in it if thou hast thou
wilt let me just keep thee in my eye for it is an up-hill work and i
shall see thee at setting out at a great distance but as thou art a
much heavier and clumsier fellow than myself i hope that without much
puffing and sweating only keeping on a good round dog-trot i shall be
able to overtake thee 

mean time take back thy letter as thou desirest i would not have it
in my pocket upon any account at present nor read it once more 

i am going down without seeing my beloved i was a hasty fool to write
her a letter promising that i would not come near her till i saw her at
her father's for as she is now actually at smith's and i so near her 
one short visit could have done no harm 

i sent will two hours ago with my grateful compliments and to know
how she does 

how must i adore this charming creature for i am ready to think my
servant a happier fellow than myself for having been within a pair of
stairs and an apartment of her 

mowbray and i will drop a tear a-piece as we ride along to the memory
of poor belton as we ride along said i for we shall have so much joy
when we arrive at lord m s and when i communicate to him and my cousins
the dear creature's letter that we shall forget every thing grievous 
since now their family-hopes in my reformation the point which lies so
near their hearts will all revive it being an article of their faith 
that if i marry repentance and mortification will follow of course 

neither mowbray nor i shall accept of thy verbal invitation to the
funeral we like not these dismal formalities and as to the respect
that is supposed to be shown to the memory of a deceased friend in such
an attendance why should we do any thing to reflect upon those who have
made it a fashion to leave this parade to people whom they hire for that
purpose 

adieu and be cheerful thou canst now do no more for poor belton wert
thou to howl for him to the end of thy life 



letter xxiii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sat aug 26 


on thursday afternoon i assisted at the opening of poor belton's will in
which he has left me his sole executor and bequeathed me a legacy of an
hundred guineas which i shall present to his unfortunate sister to whom
he has not been so kind as i think he ought to have been he has also
left twenty pounds a-piece to mowbray tourville thyself and me for a
ring to be worn in remembrance of him 

after i had given some particular orders about the preparations to be
made for his funeral i went to town but having made it late before i
got in on thursday night and being fatigued for want of rest several
nights before and now in my spirits  i could not help it lovelace   i
contented myself to send my compliments to the innocent sufferer to
inquire after her health 

my servant saw mrs smith who told him she was very glad i was come to
town for that lady was worse than she had yet been 

it is impossible to account for the contents of her letter to you or to
reconcile those contents to the facts i have to communicate 

i was at smith's by seven yesterday friday morning and found that the
lady was just gone in a chair to st dunstan's to prayers she was too
ill to get out by six to covent-garden church and was forced to be
supported to her chair by mrs lovick they would have persuaded her
against going but she said she knew not but it would be her last
opportunity mrs lovick dreading that she would be taken worse at
church walked thither before her 

mrs smith told me she was so ill on wednesday night that she had
desired to receive the sacrament and accordingly it was administered to
her by the parson of the parish whom she besought to take all
opportunities of assisting her in her solemn preparation 

this the gentleman promised and called in the morning to inquire after
her health and was admitted at the first word he staid with her about
half an hour and when he came down with his face turned aside and a
faltering accent mrs smith  said he you have an angel in your
house i will attend her again in the evening as she desires and as
often as i think it will be agreeable to her 

her increased weakness she attributed to the fatigues she had undergone
by your means and to a letter she had received from her sister which
she answered the same day 

mrs smith told me that two different persons had called there one on
thursday morning one in the evening to inquire after her state of
health and seemed as if commissioned from her relations for that
purpose but asked not to see her only were very inquisitive after her
visiters particularly it seems after me what could they mean by
that after her way of life and expenses and one of them inquired
after her manner of supporting them to the latter of which mrs smith
said she had answered as the truth was that she had been obliged to
sell some of her clothes and was actually about parting with more at
which the inquirist a grave old farmer-looking man held up his hands 
and said good god this will be sad sad news to somebody i believe
i must not mention it but mrs smith says she desired he would let him
come from whom he would he shook his head and said if she died the
flower of the world would be gone and the family she belonged to would
be no more than a common family i was pleased with the man's
expression 


 this man came from her cousin morden as will be seen hereafter 
letters lii and lvi of this volume 


you may be curious to know how she passed her time when she was obliged
to leave her lodging to avoid you 

mrs smith tells me that she was very ill when she went out on monday
morning and sighed as if her heart would break as she came down stairs 
and as she went through the shop into the coach her nurse with her as
you had informed me before that she ordered the coachman whom she hired
for the day to drive any where so it was into the air he accordingly
drove her to hampstead and thence to highgate there at the
bowling-green house she alighted extremely ill and having breakfasted 
ordered the coachman to drive very slowly any where he crept along to
muswell-hill and put up at a public house there where she employed
herself two hours in writing though exceedingly weak and low till the
dinner she had ordered was brought in she endeavoured to eat but could
not her appetite was gone quite gone she said and then she wrote on
for three hours more after which being heavy she dozed a little in an
elbow-chair when she awoke she ordered the coachman to drive her very
slowly to town to the house of a friend of mrs lovick whom as agreed
upon she met there but being extremely ill she would venture home at
a late hour although she heard from the widow that you had been there 
and had reason to be shocked at your behaviour she said she found there
was no avoiding you she was apprehensive she should not live many hours 
and it was not impossible but the shock the sight of you must give her
would determine her fate in your presence 

she accordingly went home she heard the relation of your astonishing
vagaries with hands and eyes often lifted up and with these words
intermingled shocking creature incorrigible wretch and will nothing
make him serious and not being able to bear the thoughts of an
interview with a man so hardened she took to her usual chair early in
the morning and was carried to the temple-stairs where she had ordered
her nurse before her to get a pair of oars in readiness for her
fatigues the day before made her unable to bear a coach and then she
was rowed to chelsea where she breakfasted and after rowing about put
in at the swan at brentford-ait where she dined and would have written 
but had no conveniency either of tolerable pens or ink or private room 
and then proceeding to richmond they rowed her back to mort-lake where
she put in and drank tea at a house her waterman recommended to her 
she wrote there for an hour and returned to the temple and when she
landed made one of the watermen get her a chair and so was carried to
the widow's friend as the night before where she again met the widow 
who informed her that you had been after her twice that day 

mrs lovick gave her there her sister's letter and she was so much
affected with the contents of it that she was twice very nigh fainting
away and wept bitterly as mrs lovick told mrs smith dropping some
warmer expressions than ever they had heard proceed from her lips in
relation to her friends calling them cruel and complaining of ill
offices done her and of vile reports raised against her 


 see letter xxvi of this volume 


while she was thus disturbed mrs smith came to her and told her that
you had been there a third time and was just gone at half an hour
after nine having left word how civil and respectful you would be but
that you was determined to see her at all events 

she said it was hard she could not be permitted to die in peace that
her lot was a severe one that she began to be afraid she should not
forbear repining and to think her punishment greater than her fault 
but recalling herself immediately she comforted herself that her life
would be short and with the assurance of a better 

by what i have mentioned you will conclude with me that the letter
brought her by mrs lovick the superscription of which you saw to be
written in her sister's hand could not be the letter on the contents of
which she grounded that she wrote to you on her return home and yet
neither mrs lovick nor mrs smith nor the servant of the latter know
of any other brought her but as the women assured me that she actually
did write to you i was eased of a suspicion which i had begun to
entertain that you for some purpose i could not guess at had forged
the letter from her of which you sent me a copy 

on wednesday morning when she received your letter in answer to her's 
she said necessity may well be called the mother of invention but
calamity is the test of integrity i hope i have not taken an
inexcusable step and there she stopt a minute or two and then said i
shall now perhaps be allowed to die in peace 

i staid till she came in she was glad to see me but being very weak 
said she must sit down before she could go up stairs and so went into
the back-shop leaning upon mrs lovick and when she had sat down i am
glad to see you mr belford said she i must say so let mis-reporters
say what they will 

i wondered at this expression but would not interrupt her 


 explained in letter xxviii of this volume 


o sir said she i have been grievously harassed your friend who would
not let me live with reputation will not permit me to die in peace you
see how i am is there not a great alteration in me within this week 
but tis all for the better yet were i to wish for life i must say
that your friend your barbarous friend has hurt me greatly 

she was so weak so short breathed and her words and actions so very
moving that i was forced to walk from her the two women and her nurse
turning away their faces also weeping 

i have had madam said i since i saw you a most shocking scene before
my eyes for days together my poor friend belton is no more he quitted
the world yesterday morning in such dreadful agonies that the impression
they have left upon me have so weakened my mind 

i was loth to have her think that my grief was owing to the weak state i
saw her in for fear of dispiriting her 

that is only mr belford interrupted she in order to strengthen it if
a proper use be made of the impression but i should be glad since you
are so humanely affected with the solemn circumstance that you could
have written an account of it to your gay friend in the style and manner
you are master of who knows as it would have come from an associate 
and of an associate it might have affected him 

that i had done i told her in such a manner as had i believed some
effect upon you 

his behaviour in this honest family so lately said she and his cruel
pursuit of me give me but little hope that any thing serious or solemn
will affect him 

we had some talk about belton's dying behaviour and i gave her several
particulars of the poor man's impatience and despair to which she was
very attentive and made fine observations upon the subject of
procrastination 

a letter and packet were brought her by a man on horseback from miss
howe while we were talking she retired up stairs to read it and while
i was in discourse with mrs smith and mrs lovick the doctor and
apothecary both came in together they confirmed to me my fears as to
the dangerous way she is in they had both been apprized of the new
instances of implacableness in her friends and of your persecutions and
the doctor said he would not for the world be either the unforgiving
father of that lady or the man who had brought her to this distress 
her heart's broken she'll die said he there is no saving her but
how were i either the one or the other of the people i have named i
should support myself afterwards i cannot tell 

when she was told we were all three together she desired us to walk up 
she arose to receive us and after answering two or three general
questions relating to her health she addressed herself to us to the
following effect 

as i may not said she see you three gentlemen together again let me
take this opportunity to acknowledge my obligations to you all i am
inexpressibly obliged to you sir and to you sir  courtesying to the
doctor and to mr goddard  for your more than friendly your paternal
care and concern for me humanity in your profession i dare say is far
from being a rare qualification because you are gentlemen by your
profession but so much kindness so much humanity did never desolate
creature meet with as i have met with from you both but indeed i have
always observed that where a person relies upon providence it never
fails to raise up a new friend for every old one that falls off 

this gentleman  bowing to me   who some people think should have been
one of the last i should have thought of for my executor is 
nevertheless such is the strange turn that things have taken the only
one i can choose and therefore i have chosen him for that charitable
office and he has been so good as to accept of it for rich as i may
boast myself to be i am rather so in right than in fact at this
present i repeat therefore my humble thanks to you all three and beg
of god to return to you and yours  looking to each  an hundred-fold the
kindness and favour you have shown me and that it may be in the power of
you and of yours to the end of time to confer benefits rather than to
be obliged to receive them this is a godlike power gentlemen i once
rejoiced in it some little degree and much more in the prospect i had of
its being enlarged to me though i have had the mortification to
experience the reverse and to be obliged almost to every body i have
seen or met with but all originally through my own fault so i ought
to bear the punishment without repining and i hope i do forgive these
impertinencies a grateful heart that wants the power it wishes for to
express itself suitably to its own impulses will be at a loss what
properly to dictate to the tongue and yet unable to restrain its
overflowings will force the tongue to say weak and silly things rather
than appear ungratefully silent once more then i thank ye all three
for your kindness to me and god almighty make you that amends which at
present i cannot 

she retired from us to her closet with her eyes full and left us looking
upon one another 

we had hardly recovered ourselves when she quite easy cheerful and
smiling returned to us doctor said she seeing we had been moved you
will excuse me for the concern i give you and so will you mr goddard 
and you mr belford for tis a concern that only generous natures can
show and to such natures sweet is the pain if i may say so that
attends such a concern but as i have some few preparations still to
make and would not though in ease of mr belford's future cares which
is and ought to be part of my study undertake more than it is likely i
shall have time lent me to perform i would beg of you to give me your
opinions  you see my way of living and you may be assured that i will do
nothing wilfully to shorten my life  how long it may possibly be before
i may hope to be released from all my troubles 

they both hesitated and looked upon each other don't be afraid to
answer me said she each sweet hand pressing upon the arm of each
gentleman with that mingled freedom and reserve which virgin modesty 
mixed with conscious dignity can only express and with a look serenely
earnest tell me how long you think i may hold it and believe me 
gentlemen the shorter you tell me my time is likely to be the more
comfort you will give me 

with what pleasing woe said the doctor do you fill the minds of those
who have the happiness to converse with you and see the happy frame you
are in what you have undergone within a few days past has much hurt you 
and should you have fresh troubles of those kinds i could not be
answerable for your holding it and there he paused 

how long doctor i believe i shall have a little more ruffling i am
afraid i shall but there can happen only one thing that i shall not be
tolerably easy under how long then sir 

he was silent 

a fortnight sir 

he was still silent 

ten days a week how long sir with smiling earnestness 

if i must speak madam if you have not better treatment than you have
lately met with i am afraid there again he stopt 

afraid of what doctor don't be afraid how long sir 

that a fortnight or three weeks may deprive the world of the finest
flower in it 

a fortnight or three weeks yet doctor but god's will be done i
shall however by this means have full time if i have but strength
and intellect to do all that is now upon my mind to do and so sirs 
i can but once more thank you  turning to each of us  for all your
goodness to me and having letters to write will take up no more of
your time only doctor be pleased to order me some more of those drops 
they cheer me a little when i am low and putting a fee into his
unwilling hand you know the terms sir then turning to mr goddard 
you'll be so good sir as to look in upon me to-night or to-morrow as
you have opportunity and you mr belford i know will be desirous to
set out to prepare for the last office for your late friend so i wish
you a good journey and hope to see you when that is performed 

she then retired with a cheerful and serene air the two gentlemen
went away together i went down to the women and inquiring found 
that mrs lovick was this day to bring her twenty guineas more for some
other of her apparel 

the widow told me that she had taken the liberty to expostulate with her
upon the occasion she had for raising this money to such great
disadvantage and it produced the following short and affecting
conversation between them 

none of my friends will wear any thing of mine said she i shall leave
a great many good things behind me and as to what i want the money for
 don't be surprised but suppose i want it to purchase a house 

you are all mystery madam i don't comprehend you 

why then mrs lovick i will explain myself i have a man not a
woman for my executor and think you that i will leave to his care any
thing that concerns my own person now mrs lovick smiling do you
comprehend me 

mrs lovick wept 

o fie proceeded the lady drying up her tears with her own handkerchief 
and giving her a kiss why this kind weakness for one with whom you have
been so little while acquainted dear good mrs lovick don't be
concerned for me on a prospect with which i have occasion to be pleased 
but go to-morrow to your friends and bring me the money they have agreed
to give you 

thus lovelace it is plain she means to bespeak her last house here's
presence of mind here's tranquillity of heart on the most affecting
occasion this is magnanimity indeed couldst thou or could i with all
our boisterous bravery and offensive false courage act thus poor
belton how unlike was thy behaviour 

mrs lovick tells me that the lady spoke of a letter she had received
from her favourite divine dr lewen in the time of my absence and of an
letter she had returned to it but mrs lovick knows not the contents of
either 

when thou receivest the letter i am now writing thou wilt see what will
soon be the end of all thy injuries to this divine lady i say when thou
receivest it for i will delay it for some little time lest thou
shouldest take it into thy head under pretence of resenting the
disappointment her letter must give thee to molest her again 

this letter having detained me by its length i shall not now set out for
epsom till to-morrow 

i should have mentioned that the lady explained to me what the one thing
was that she was afraid might happen to ruffle her it was the
apprehension of what may result from a visit which col morden as she is
informed designs to make you 



letter xxiv

the rev dr lewen to miss cl harlowe
friday aug 18 


presuming dearest and ever-respectable young lady upon your former
favour and upon your opinion of my judgment and sincerity i cannot help
addressing you by a few lines on your present unhappy situation 

i will not look back upon the measures into which you have either been
led or driven but will only say as to those that i think you are the
least to blame of any young lady that was ever reduced from happy to
unhappy circumstances and i have not been wanting to say as much where
i hoped my freedom would have been better received than i have had the
mortification to find it to be 

what i principally write for now is to put you upon doing a piece of
justice to yourself and to your sex in the prosecuting for his life i
am assured his life is in your power the most profligate and abandoned
of men as he must be who could act so basely as i understand mr 
lovelace has acted by you 

i am very ill and am now forced to write upon my pillow my thoughts
confused and incapable of method i shall not therefore aim at method 
but to give you in general my opinion and that is that your religion 
your duty to your family the duty you owe to your honour and even
charity to your sex oblige you to give public evidence against this very
wicked man 

and let me add another consideration the prevention by this means of
the mischiefs that may otherwise happen between your brother and mr 
lovelace or between the latter and your cousin morden who is now i
hear arrived and resolves to have justice done you 

a consideration which ought to affect your conscience  forgive me 
dearest young lady i think i am now in the way of my duty   and to be
of more concern to you than that hard pressure upon your modesty which
i know the appearance against him in an open court must be of to such a
lady as you and which i conceive will be your great difficulty but i
know madam that you have dignity enough to become the blushes of the
most naked truth when necessity justice and honour exact it from you 
rakes and ravishers would meet with encouragement indeed and most from
those who had the greatest abhorrence of their actions if violated
modesty were never to complain of the injury it received from the
villanous attempters of it 

in a word the reparation of your family dishonour now rests in your own
bosom and which only one of these two alternatives can repair to wit 
either to marry the offender or to prosecute him at law bitter
expedients for a soul so delicate as your's 

he and all his friends i understand solicit you to the first and it
is certainly now all the amends within his power to make but i am
assured that you have rejected their solicitations and his with the
indignation and contempt that his foul actions have deserved but yet 
that you refuse not to extend to him the christian forgiveness he has so
little reason to expect provided he will not disturb you farther 

but madam the prosecution i advise will not let your present and
future exemption from fresh disturbance from so vile a molester depend
upon his courtesy i should think so noble and so rightly-guided a spirit
as your's would not permit that it should if you could help it 

and can indignities of any kind be properly pardoned till we have it in
our power to punish them to pretend to pardon while we are labouring
under the pain or dishonour of them will be thought by some to be but
the vaunted mercy of a pusillanimous heart trembling to resent them 
the remedy i propose is a severe one but what pain can be more severe
than the injury or how will injuries be believed to grieve us that are
never honourably complained of 

i am sure miss clarissa harlowe however injured and oppressed remains
unshaken in her sentiments of honour and virtue and although she would
sooner die than deserve that her modesty should be drawn into question 
yet she will think no truth immodest that is to be uttered in the
vindicated cause of innocence and chastity little very little
difference is there my dear young lady between a suppressed evidence 
and a false one 

it is a terrible circumstance i once more own for a young lady of your
delicacy to be under the obligation of telling so shocking a story in
public court but it is still a worse imputation that she should pass
over so mortal an injury unresented 

conscience honour justice are on your side and modesty would by
some be thought but an empty name should you refuse to obey their
dictates 

i have been consulted i own on this subject i have given it as my
opinion that you ought to prosecute the abandoned man but without my
reasons these i reserved with a resolution to lay them before you
unknown to any body that the result if what i wish may be your own 

i will only add that the misfortunes which have befallen you had they
been the lot of a child of my own could not have affected me more than
your's have done my own child i love but i both love and honour you 
since to love you is to love virtue good sense prudence and every
thing that is good and noble in woman 

wounded as i think all these are by the injuries you have received you
will believe that the knowledge of your distresses must have afflicted 
beyond what i am able to express 

your sincere admirer and humble servant 
arthur lewen 


i just now understand that your sister will by proper authority propose
 this prosecution to you i humbly presume that the reason why you
 resolved not upon this step from the first was that you did not
 know that it would have the countenance and support of your
 relations 



letter xxv

miss cl harlowe to the rev dr lewen
sat aug 19 


reverend and dear sir 

i thought till i received your affectionate and welcome letter that i
had neither father uncle brother left nor hardly a friend among my
former favourers of your sex yet knowing you so well and having no
reason to upbraid myself with a faulty will i was to blame even
although i had doubted the continuance of your good opinion to decline
the trial whether i had forfeited it or not and if i had whether i
could not honourably reinstate myself in it 

but sir it was owing to different causes that i did not partly to
shame to think how high in my happier days i stood in your esteem and
how much i must be sunk in it since those so much nearer in relation to
me gave me up partly to deep distress which makes the humbled heart
diffident and made mine afraid to claim the kindred mind in your's 
which would have supplied to me in some measure all the dear and lost
relations i have named 

then so loth as i sometimes was to be thought to want to make a party
against those whom both duty and inclination bid me reverence so long
trailed on between hope and doubt so little my own mistress at one time 
so fearful of making or causing mischief at another and not being
encouraged to hope by your kind notice that my application to you would
be acceptable apprehending that my relations had engaged your silence
at least these but why these unavailing retrospections now i was to
be unhappy in order to be happy that is my hope resigning therefore
to that hope i will without any further preamble write a few lines 
 if writing to you i can write but a few in answer to the subject of
your kind letter 


 the stiff visit this good divine was prevailed upon to make her as
mentioned in vol ii letter xxxi of which however she was too
generous to remind him might warrant the lady to think that he had
rather inclined to their party as to the parental side than to her's 


permit me then to say that i believe your arguments would have been
unanswerable in almost every other case of this nature but in that of
the unhappy clarissa harlowe 

it is certain that creatures who cannot stand the shock of public shame 
should be doubly careful how they expose themselves to the danger of
incurring private guilt which may possibly bring them to it but as to
myself suppose there were no objections from the declining way i am in
as to my health and supposing i could have prevailed upon myself to
appear against this man were there not room to apprehend that the end so
much wished for by my friends to wit his condign punishment would
not have been obtained when it came to be seen that i had consented to
give him a clandestine meeting and in consequence of that had been
weakly tricked out of living under one roof with him for several weeks 
which i did not only without complaint but without cause of
complaint 

little advantage in a court perhaps bandied about and jested
profligately with would some of those pleas in my favour have been 
which out of court and to a private and serious audience would have
carried the greatest weight against him such particularly as the
infamous methods to which he had recourse 

it would no doubt have been a ready retort from every mouth that i
ought not to have thrown myself into the power of such a man and that i
ought to take for my pains what had befallen me 

but had the prosecution been carried on to effect and had he even been
sentenced to death can it be supposed that his family would not have had
interest enough to obtain his pardon for a crime thought too lightly of 
though one of the greatest that can be committed against a creature
valuing her honour above her life while i had been censured as pursuing
with sanguinary views a man who offered me early all the reparation in
his power to make 

and had he been pardoned would he not then have been at liberty to do as
much mischief as ever 

i dare say sir such is the assurance of the man upon whom my unhappy
destiny threw me and such his inveteracy to my family which would then
have appeared to be justified by their known inveteracy to him and by
their earnest endeavours to take away his life that he would not have
been sorry to have had an opportunity to confront me and my father 
uncles and brother at the bar of a court of justice on such an
occasion in which case would not on his acquittal or pardon 
resentments have been reciprocally heightened and then would my
brother or my cousin morden have been more secure than now 

how do these conditions aggravate my fault my motives at first were
not indeed blamable but i had forgotten the excellent caution which yet
i was not ignorant of that we ought not to do evil that good may come of
it 

in full conviction of the purity of my heart and of the firmness of my
principles  why may i not thus called upon say what i am conscious of 
and yet without the imputation of faulty pride since all is but a duty 
and i should be utterly inexcusable could i not justly say what i do 
in this full conviction   he has offered me marriage he has avowed his
penitence a sincere penitence i have reason to think it though perhaps
not a christian one and his noble relations kinder to the poor
sufferer than her own on the same conviction and his own not
ungenerous acknowledgements have joined to intercede with me to forgive
and accept of him although i cannot comply with the latter part of
their intercession have not you sir from the best rules and from the
divinest example taught me to forgive injuries 

the injury i have received from him is indeed of the highest nature and
it was attended with circumstances of unmanly baseness and premeditation 
yet i bless god it has not tainted my mind it has not hurt my morals 
no thanks indeed to the wicked man that it has not no vile courses have
followed it my will is unviolated the evil respecting myself and
not my friends is merely personal no credulity no weakness no want
of vigilance have i to reproach myself with i have through grace 
triumphed over the deepest machinations i have escaped from him i
have renounced him the man whom once i could have loved i have been
enabled to despise and shall not charity complete my triumph and shall
i not enjoy it and where would be my triumph if he deserved my
forgiveness poor man he has had a loss in losing me i have the pride
to think so because i think i know my own heart i have had none in
losing him 

but i have another plea to make which alone would have been enough as i
presume to answer the contents of your very kind and friendly letter 

i know my dear and reverend friend the spiritual guide and director of
my happier days i know that you will allow of my endeavour to bring
myself to this charitable disposition when i tell you how near i think
myself to that great and awful moment in which and even in the ardent
preparation to which every sense of indignity or injury that concerns
not the immortal soul ought to be absorbed in higher and more important
contemplations 

thus much for myself 

and for the satisfaction of my friends and favourers miss howe is
solicitous to have all those letters and materials preserved which will
set my whole story in a true light the good dr lewen is one of the
principal of those friends and favourers 

the warning that may be given from those papers to all such young
creatures as may have known or heard of me may be of more efficacy to
the end wished for as i humbly presume to think than my appearance
could have been in a court of justice pursuing a doubtful event under
the disadvantages i have mentioned and if my dear and good sir you
are now on considering every thing of this opinion and i could know
it i should consider it as a particular felicity being as solicitous
as ever to be justified in what i may in your eyes 

i am sorry sir that your indisposition has reduced you to the necessity
of writing upon your pillow but how much am i obliged to that kind and
generous concern for me which has impelled you as i may say to write a
letter containing so many paternal lines with such inconvenience to
yourself 

may the almighty bless you dear and reverend sir for all your goodness
to me of long time past as well as for that which engaged my present
gratitude continue to esteem me to the last as i do and will venerate
you and let me bespeak your prayers the continuance i should say of
your prayers for i doubt not that i have always had them and to them 
perhaps has in part been owing as well as to your pious precepts
instilled through my earlier youth that i have been able to make the
stand i have made although every thing that you prayed for has not been
granted to me by that divine wisdom which knows what is best for its
poor creatures 

my prayers for you are that it will please god to restore you to your
affectionate flock and after as many years of life as shall be for his
service and to your own comfort give us a happy meeting in those
regions of blessedness which you have taught me as well by example as
by precept to aspire to 

clarissa harlowe 



letter xxvi

miss arab harlowe to miss cl harlowe
 in answer to her's to her uncle antony of aug 13  
monday aug 21 


 see letter iv of this volume 


sister clary 

i find by your letters to my uncles that they as well as i are in
great disgrace with you for writing our minds to you 

we can't help it sister clary 

you don't think it worth your while i find a second time to press for
the blessing you pretend to be so earnest about you think no doubt 
that you have done your duty in asking for it so you'll sit down
satisfied with that i suppose and leave it to your wounded parents to
repent hereafter that they have not done theirs in giving it to you at
the first word and in making such inquiries about you as you think
ought to have been made fine encouragement to inquire after a run-away
daughter living with her fellow as long as he would live with her you
repent also with your full mind as you modestly call it that you wrote
to me 

so we are not likely to be applied to any more i find in this way 

well then since this is the case sister clary let me with all
humility address myself with a proposal or two to you to which you will
be graciously pleased to give an answer 

now you must know that we have had hints given us from several
quarters that you have been used in such a manner by the villain you ran
away with that his life would be answerable for his crime if it were
fairly to be proved and by your own hints something like it appears
to us 

if clary there be any thing but jingle and affected period in what
proceeds from your full mind and your dutiful consciousness and if
there be truth in what mrs norton and mrs howe have acquainted us with 
you may yet justify your character to us and to the world in every
thing but your scandalous elopement and the law may reach the villain 
and could we but bring him to the gallows what a meritorious revenge
would that be to our whole injured family and to the innocents he has
deluded as well as the saving from ruin many others 

let me therefore know if you please whether you are willing to appear
to do yourself and us and your sex this justice if not sister
clary we shall know what to think of you for neither you nor we can
suffer more than we have done from the scandal of your fall and if you
will mr ackland and counselor derham will both attend you to make
proper inquiries and to take minutes of your story to found a process
upon if it will bear one with as great a probability of success as we
are told it may be prosecuted with 

but by what mrs howe intimates this is not likely to be complied with 
for it is what she hinted to you it seems by her lively daughter but
not without effect so prudently in some certain points as to entitle
yourself to public justice which if true the lord have mercy upon you 


 see vol vi letter lxxii 


one word only more as to the above proposal your admirer dr lewen is
clear in his opinion that you should prosecute the villain 

but if you will not agree to this i have another proposal to make to
you and that in the name of every one in the family which is that you
will think of going to pensylvania to reside there for some few years
till all is blown over and if it please god to spare you and your
unhappy parents till they can be satisfied that you behave like a true
and uniform penitent at least till you are one-and-twenty you may then
come back to your own estate or have the produce of it sent you thither 
as you shall choose a period which my father fixes because it is the
custom and because he thinks your grandfather should have fixed it and
because let me add you have fully proved by your fine conduct that you
were not at years of discretion at eighteen poor doting though good
old man your grandfather he thought but i would not be too severe 

mr hartley has a widow-sister at pensylvania with whom he will
undertake you may board and who is a sober sensible well-read woman 
and if you were once well there it would rid your father and mother of
a world of cares and fears and scandal and that i think is what you
should wish for of all things 

mr hartley will engage for all accommodations in your passage suitable
to your rank and fortune and he has a concern in a ship which will sail
in a month and you may take your secret-keeping hannah with you or whom
you will of your newer acquaintance tis presumed that your companions
will be of your own sex 

these are what i had to communicate to you and if you'll oblige me with
an answer which the hand that conveys this will call for on wednesday
morning it will be very condescending 

arabella harlowe 



letter xxvii

miss cl harlowe to miss arab harlowe
tuesday aug 22 


write to me my hard-hearted sister in what manner you please i shall
always be thankful to you for your notice but think what you will of
me i cannot see mr ackland and the counselor on such a business as you
mention 

the lord have mercy upon me indeed for none else will 

surely i am believed to a creature past all shame or it could not be
thought of sending two gentlemen to me on such an errand 

had my mother required of me or would modesty have permitted you to
inquire into the particulars of my sad story or had mrs norton been
directed to receive them from me methinks it had been more fit and i
presume to think that it would have been more in every one's character
too had they been required of me before such heavy judgment had been
passed upon me as has been passed 

i know that this is dr lewen's opinion he has been so good as to
enforce it in a kind letter to me i have answered his letter and given
such reasons as i hope will satisfy him i could wish it were thought
worth while to request of him a sight of my answer 


 her letter containing the reasons she refers to was not asked for 
and dr lewen's death which fell out soon after he had received it was
the reason that it was not communicated to the family till it was too
late to do the service that might have been hoped for from it 


to your other proposal of going to pensylvania this is my answer if
nothing happen within a month which may full as effectually rid my
parents and friends of that world of cares and fears and scandals 
which you mention and if i am then able to be carried on board of ship 
i will cheerfully obey my father and mother although i were sure to die
in the passage and if i may be forgiven for saying so for indeed it
proceeds not from a spirit of reprisal you shall set over me instead of
my poor obliging but really-unculpable hannah your betty barnes to
whom i will be answerable for all my conduct and i will make it worth
her while to accompany me 

i am equally surprised and concerned at the hints which both you and my
uncle antony give of new points of misbehaviour in me what can be meant
by them 

i will not tell you miss harlowe how much i am afflicted at your
severity and how much i suffer by it and by your hard-hearted levity of
style because what i shall say may be construed into jingle and period 
and because i know it is intended very possibly for kind ends to
mortify me all i will therefore say is that it does not lose its end 
if that be it 

but nevertheless divesting myself as much as possible of all
resentment i will only pray that heaven will give you for your own
sake a kinder heart than at present you seem to have since a kind
heart i am convinced is a greater blessing to its possessor than it can
be to any other person under this conviction i subscribe myself my
dear bella 

your ever-affectionate sister 
cl harlowe 



letter xxviii

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
 in answer to her's of thursday aug 17  
tuesday aug 22 


 see letter vi of this volume 


my dearest young lady 

the letters you sent me i now return by the hand that brings you this 

it is impossible for me to express how much i have been affected by them 
and by your last of the 17th indeed my dear miss clary you are very
harshly used indeed you are and if you should be taken from us what
grief and what punishment are not treasuring up against themselves in the
heavy reflections which their rash censures and unforgivingness will
occasion them 

but i find to what your uncle antony's cruel letter is owing as well as
one you will be still more afflicted by  god help you my poor dear
child   when it comes to your hand written by your sister with
proposals to you 


 see letter xxvi ibid 


it was finished to send you yesterday i know and i apprize you of it 
that you should fortify your heart against the contents of it 

the motives which incline them all to this severity if well grounded 
would authorize any severity they could express and which while they
believe them to be so both they and you are to be equally pitied 

they are owning to the information of that officious mr brand who has
acquainted them from some enemy of your's in the neighbourhood about
you that visits are made you highly censurable by a man of a free
character and an intimate of mr lovelace who is often in private with
you sometimes twice or thrice a day 

betty gives herself great liberties of speech upon this occasion and all
your friends are too ready to believe that things are not as they should
be which makes me wish that let the gentleman's views be ever so
honourable you could entirely drop acquaintance with him 

something of this nature was hinted at by betty to me before but so
darkly that i could not tell what to make of it and this made me mention
to you so generally as i did in my last 

your cousin morden has been among them he is exceedingly concerned for
your misfortunes and as they will not believe mr lovelace would marry
you he is determined to go to lord m s in order to inform himself from
mr lovelace's own mouth whether he intends to do you that justice or
not 

he was extremely caressed by every one at his first arrival but i am
told there is some little coldness between them and him at present 

i was in hopes of getting a sight of this letter of mr brand a rash
officious man but it seems mr morden had it given him yesterday to
read and he took it away with him 

god be your comfort my dear miss but indeed i am exceedingly disturbed
at the thoughts of what may still be the issue of all these things i
am my beloved young lady 

your most affectionate and faithful
judith norton 



letter xxix

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
tuesday aug 22 


after i had sealed up the enclosed i had the honour of a private visit
from your aunt hervey who has been in a very low-spirited way and kept
her chamber for several weeks past and is but just got abroad 

she longed she said to see me and to weep with me on the hard fate
that had befallen her beloved niece 

i will give you a faithful account of what passed between us as i expect
that it will upon the whole administer hope and comfort to you 

she pitied very much your good mother who she assured me is obliged
to act a part entirely contrary to her inclinations as she herself she
owns had been in a great measure 

she said that the poor lady was with great difficulty with-held from
answering your letter to her which had as was your aunt's expression 
almost broken the heart of every one that she had reason to think that
she was neither consenting to your two uncles writing nor approving of
what they wrote 

she is sure they all love you dearly but have gone so far that they
know not how to recede 

that but for the abominable league which your brother had got every
body into he refusing to set out for scotland till it was renewed and
till they had all promised to take no step towards a reconciliation in
his absence but by his consent and to which your sister's resentments
kept them up all would before now have happily subsided 

that nobody knew the pangs which their inflexible behaviour gave them 
ever since you had begun to write to them in so affecting and humble a
style 

that however they were not inclined to believe that you were either so
ill or so penitent as you really are and still less that mr lovelace
is in earnest in his offers of marriage 

she is sure however she says that all will soon be well and the
sooner for mr morden's arrival who is very zealous in your behalf 

she wished to heaven that you would accept of mr lovelace wicked as he
has been if he were now in earnest 

it had always  she said been matter of astonishment to her that so
weak a pride in her cousin james of making himself the whole family 
should induce them all to refuse an alliance with such a family as mr 
lovelace's was 

she would have it that your going off with mr lovelace was the
unhappiest step for your honour and your interest that could have been
taken for that although you would have had a severe trial the next day 
yet it would probably have been the last and your pathetic powers must
have drawn you off some friends hinting at your mother at your uncle
harlowe at your uncle hervey and herself 

but here that the regret that you did not trust to the event of that
meeting may not in your present low way too much afflict you i must
observe that it seems a little too evident even from this opinion of
your aunt's that it was not absolutely determined that all compulsion
was designed to be avoided since your freedom from it must have been
owing to the party to be made among them by your persuasive eloquence and
dutiful expostulation 

she owned that some of them were as much afraid of meeting you as you
could be of meeting them  but why so if they designed in the last
instance to give you your way 

your aunt told me that mrs williams had been with her and asked her
opinion if it would be taken amiss if she desired leave to go up to
attend her dearest young lady in her calamity your aunt referred her to
your mother but had heard no more of it 


 the former housekeeper at harlowe-place 


her daughter  miss dolly she said had been frequently earnest with
her on the same subject and renewed her request with the greatest
fervour when your first letter came to hand 

your aunt says that she then being very ill wrote to your mother upon
it hoping it would not be taken amiss if she permitted dolly to go but
that your sister as from your mother answered her that now you seemed
to be coming-to and to have a due sense of your faults you must be left
entirely to their own management 

miss dolly  she said had pined ever since she had heard of mr 
lovelace's baseness being doubly mortified by it first on account of
your sufferings next because she was one who rejoiced in your getting
off and vindicated you for it and had incurred censure and ill-will on
that account especially from your brother and sister so that she seldom
went to harlowe-place 

make the best use of these intelligences my dearest young lady for your
consolation 

i will only add that i am with the most fervent prayers for your
recovery and restoration to favour 

your ever-faitful
judith norton 



letter xxx

miss cl harlowe to mrs judith norton
thursday aug 24 


the relation of such a conversation as passed between my aunt and you
would have given me pleasure had it come some time ago because it would
have met with a spirit more industrious than mine now is to pick out
remote comfort in the hope of a favourable turn that might one day have
rewarded my patient duty 

i did not doubt my aunt't good-will to me her affection i did not
doubt but shall we wonder that kings and princes meet with so little
controul in their passions be they every so violent when in a private
family an aunt nay even a mother in that family shall choose to give
up a once-favoured child against their own inclinations rather than
oppose an aspiring young man who had armed himself with the authority of
a father who when once determined never would be expostulated with 

and will you not blame me if i say that good sense that kindred
indulgence must be a little offended at the treatment i have met with 
and if i own that i think that great rigour has been exercised towards
me and yet i am now authorized to call it rigour by the judgment of two
excellent sisters my mother and my aunt who acknowledge as you tell me
from my aunt that they have been obliged to join against me contrary to
their inclinations and that even in a point which might seem to concern
my eternal welfare 

but i must not go on at this rate for may not the inclination my mother
has given up be the effect of a too-fond indulgence rather than that i
merit the indulgence and yet so petulantly perverse am i that i must
tear myself from the subject 

all then that i will say further to it at this time is that were the
intended goodness to be granted to me but a week hence it would possibly
be too late too late i mean to be of the consolation to me that i would
wish from it for what an inefficacious preparation must i have been
making if it has not by this time carried me above but above what 
poor mistaken creature unhappy self-deluder that finds herself above
nothing nor able to subdue her own faulty impatience 

but in-deed to have done with a subject that i dare not trust myself
with if it come in your way let my aunt hervey let my dear cousin
dolly let the worthy mrs williams know how exceedingly grateful to me
their kind intentions and concern for me are and as the best warrant
or justification of their good opinions since i know that their favour
for me is founded on the belief that i loved virtue tell them that i
continued to love virtue to my last hour as i presume to hope it may be
said and assure them that i never made the least wilful deviation 
however unhappy i became for one faulty step which nevertheless was not
owing to unworthy or perverse motives 

i am very sorry that my cousin morden has taken a resolution to see mr 
lovelace 

my apprehensions on this intelligence are a great abatement to the
pleasure i have in knowing that he still loves me 

my sister's letter to me is a most affecting one so needlessly so
ludicrously taunting but for that part of it that is so i ought rather
to pity her than to be so much concerned at it as i am 

i wonder what i have done to mr brand i pray god to forgive both him
and his informants whoever they be but if the scandal arise solely
from mr belford's visits a very little time will confute it mean
while the packet i shall send you which i sent to miss howe will i
hope satisfy you my dear mrs norton as to my reasons for admitting
his visits 

my sister's taunting letter and the inflexibleness of my dearer friends
 but how do remoter-begun subjects tend to the point which lies nearest
the heart as new-caught bodily disorders all crowd to a fractured or
distempered part 

i will break off with requesting your prayers that i may be blessed with
patience and due resignation and with assuring you that i am and will
be to the last hour of my life 

your equally grateful and affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter xxxi

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
 in reply to her's of friday aug 11  
yarmouth isle of wight aug 23 


 see letter ii of this volume 


my dearest friend 

i have read the letters and copies of letters you favoured me with and i
return them by a particular hand i am extremely concerned at your
indifferent state of health but i approve of all your proceedings and
precautions in relation to the appointment of mr belford for an office 
in which i hope neither he nor any body else will be wanted to act for
many very many years 

i admire and so we do all that greatness of mind which can make you so
stedfastly  sic  despise through such inducements as no other woman
could resist and in such desolate circumstances as you have been reduced
to the wretch that ought to be so heartily despised and detested 

what must the contents of those letters from your relations be which you
will not communicate to me fie upon them how my heart rises but i
dare say no more though you yourself now begin to think they use you
with great severity 

every body here is so taken with mr hickman and the more from the
horror they conceive at the character of the detestable lovelace that i
have been teased to death almost to name a day this has given him airs 
and did i not keep him to it he would behave as carelessly and as
insolently as if he were sure of me i have been forced to mortify him
no less than four times since we have been here 

i made him lately undergo a severe penance for some negligences that were
not to be passed over not designed ones he said but that was a poor
excuse as i told him for had they been designed he should never have
come into my presence more that they were not showed his want of
thought and attention and those were inexcusable in a man only in his
probatory state 

he hoped he had been more than in a probatory state he said 

and therefore sir might be more careless so you add ingratitude to
negligence and make what you plead as accident that itself wants an
excuse design which deserves none 

i would not see him for two days and he was so penitent and so humble 
that i had like to have lost myself to make him amends for as you have
said resentment carried too high often ends in amends too humble 

i long to be nearer to you but that must not yet be it seems pray my
dear let me hear from you as often as you can 

may heaven increase your comforts and restore your health are the
prayers of

your ever faithful and affectionate
anna howe 


p s excuse me that i did not write before it was owing to a little
 coasting voyage i was obliged to give into 



letter xxxii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
friday aug 25 


you are very obliging my dear miss howe to account to me for your
silence i was easy in it as i doubted not that among such near and
dear friends as you are with you was diverted from writing by some such
agreeable excursion as that you mention 

i was in hopes that you had given over at this time of day those very
sprightly airs which i have taken the liberty to blame you for as often
as you have given me occasion to so do and that has been very often 

i was always very grave with you upon this subject and while your own
and a worthy man's future happiness are in the question i must enter
into it whenever you forget yourself although i had not a day to live 
and indeed i am very ill 

i am sure it was not your intention to take your future husband with you
to the little island to make him look weak and silly among those of your
relations who never before had seen him yet do you think it possible
for them however prepared and resolved they may be to like him to
forbear smiling at him when they see him suffering under your whimsical
penances a modest man should no more be made little in his own eyes 
than in the eyes of others if he be he will have a diffidence which
will give an awkwardness to every thing he says or does and this will be
no more to the credit of your choice than to that of the approbation he
meets with from your friends or to his own credit 

i love an obliging and even an humble deportment in a man to the woman
he addresses it is a mark of his politeness and tends to give her that
opinion of herself which it may be supposed bashful merit wants to be
inspired with but if the woman exacts it with an high hand she shows
not either her own politeness or gratitude although i must confess she
does her courage i gave you expectations that i would be very serious
with you 

o my dear that it had been my lot as i was not permitted to live
single to have met with a man by whom i could have acted generously and
unreservedly 

mr lovelace it is now plain in order to have a pretence against me 
taxed my behaviour to him with stiffness and distance you at one time 
thought me guilty of some degree of prudery difficult situations should
be allowed for which often make seeming occasions for censure
unavoidable i deserved not blame from him who made mine difficult and
you my dear had i any other man to deal with or had he but half the
merit which mr hickman has would have found that my doctrine on this
subject should have governed my practice 

but to put myself out of the question i'll tell you what i should think 
were i an indifferent by-stander of those high airs of your's in return
for mr hickman's humble demeanour the lady thinks of having the
gentleman i see plainly would i say but i see as plainly that she
has a very great indifference to him and to what may this indifference
be owing to one or all of these considerations no doubt that she
receives his addresses rather from motives of convenience than choice 
that she thinks meanly of his endowments and intellects at least more
highly of her own or she has not the generosity to use that power with
moderation which his great affection for her puts into her hands 

how would you like my dear to have any of these things said 

then to give but the shadow of a reason for free-livers and free speakers
to say or to imagine that miss howe gives her hand to a man who has no
reason to expect any share in her heart i am sure you would not wish
that such a thing should be so much as supposed then all the regard
from you to come afterwards none to be shown before must should i
think be capable of being construed as a compliment to the husband made
at the expense of the wife's and even of the sex's delicacy 

there is no fear that attempts could be formed by the most audacious  two
lovelaces there cannot be   upon a character so revered for virtue and
so charmingly spirited as miss howe's yet to have any man encouraged
to despise a husband by the example of one who is most concerned to do
him honour what my dear think you of that it is but too natural for
envious men and who that knows miss howe will not envy mr hickman to
scoff at and to jest upon those who are treated with or will bear
indignity from a woman 

if a man so treated have a true and ardent love for the woman he
addresses he will be easily overawed by her displeasure and this will
put him upon acts of submission which will be called meanness and what
woman of true spirit would like to have it said that she would impose
any thing upon the man from whom she one day expects protection and
defence that should be capable of being construed as a meanness or
unmanly abjectness in his behaviour even to herself nay i am not
sure and i ask it of you my dear to resolve me whether in your own
opinion it is not likely that a woman of spirit will despise rather
than value more the man who will take patiently an insult at her hands 
especially before company 

i have always observed that prejudices in disfavour of a person at his
first appearance fix deeper and are much more difficult to be removed
when fixed than that malignant principle so eminently visible in little
minds which makes them wish to bring down the more worthy characters to
their own low level i pretend not to determine when once therefore a
woman of your good sense gives room to the world to think she has not an
high opinion of the lover whom nevertheless she entertains it will be
very difficult for her afterwards to make that world think so well as she
would have it of the husband she has chosen 

give me leave to observe that to condescend with dignity and to command
with such kindness and sweetness of manners as should let the
condescension while in a single state be seen and acknowledged are
points which a wise woman knowing her man should aim at and a wise
woman i should think would choose to live single all her life rather
than give herself to a man whom she thinks unworthy of a treatment so
noble 

but when a woman lets her lover see that she has the generosity to
approve of and reward a well-meant service that she has a mind that
lifts her above the little captious follies which some too
licentiously i hope attribute to the sex in general that she resents
not if ever she thinks she has reason to be displeased with petulance 
or through pride nor thinks it necessary to insist upon little points 
to come at or secure great ones perhaps not proper to be aimed at nor
leaves room to suppose she has so much cause to doubt her own merit as
to put the love of the man she intends to favour upon disagreeable or
arrogant trials but let reason be the principal guide of her actions 
she will then never fail of that true respect of that sincere
veneration which she wishes to meet with and which will make her
judgment after marriage consulted sometimes with a preference to a man's
own at other times as a delightful confirmation of his 

and so much my beloved miss howe for this subject now and i dare say 
for ever 

i will begin another letter by-and-by and send both together mean
time i am etc 



letter xxxiii

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe


 in this letter the lady acquaints miss howe with mr brand's report 
 with her sister's proposals either that she will go abroad or
 prosecute mr lovelace she complains of the severe letters of
 her uncle antony and her sister but in milder terms than they
 deserved 

she sends her dr lewen's letter and the copy of her answer to it 

she tells her of the difficulties she had been under to avoid seeing mr 
 lovelace she gives her the contents of the letter she wrote to
 him to divert him from his proposed visit she is afraid she says 
 that it is a step that is not strictly right if allegory or
 metaphor be not allowable to one in her circumstances 

she informs her of her cousin morden's arrival and readiness to take her
 part with her relations of his designed interview with mr 
 lovelace and tells her what her apprehensions are upon it 

she gives her the purport of the conversation between her aunt hervey and
 mrs norton and then add  


but were they ever so favourably inclined to me now what can they do for
me i wish and that for their sakes more than for my own that they
would yet relent but i am very ill i must drop my pen a sudden
faintness overspreads my heart excuse my crooked writing adieu my
dear adieu 


three o'clock friday 

once more i resume my pen i thought i had taken my last farewell to
you i never was so very oddly affected something that seemed totally
to overwhelm my faculties i don't know how to describe it i believe i
do amiss in writing so much and taking too much upon me but an active
mind though clouded by bodily illness cannot be idle 

i'll see if the air and a discontinued attention will help me but if
it will not don't be concerned for me my dear i shall be happy nay 
i am more so already than of late i thought i could ever be in this life 
 yet how this body clings how it encumbers 


seven o'clock 

i could not send this letter away with so melancholy an ending as you
would have thought it so i deferred closing it till i saw how i should
be on my return from my airing and now i must say i am quite another
thing so alert that i could proceed with as much spirit as i began and
add more preachment to your lively subject if i had not written more
than enough upon it already 

i wish you would let me give you and mr hickman joy do my dear i
should take some to myself if you would 

my respectful compliments to all your friends as well to those i have
the honour to know as to those i do not know 


 


i have just now been surprised with a letter from one whom i long ago
gave up all thoughts of hearing from from mr wyerley i will enclose
it you'll be surprised at it as much as i was this seems to be a man
whom i might have reclaimed but i could not love him yet i hope i
never treated him with arrogance indeed my dear if i am not too
partial to myself i think i refused him with more gentleness than you
retain somebody else and this recollection gives me less pain than i
should have had in the other case on receiving this instance of a
generosity that affects me i will also enclose the rough draught of my
answer as soon as i have transcribed it 

if i begin another sheet i shall write to the end of it wherefore i
will only add my prayers for your honour and prosperity and for a long 
long happy life and that when it comes to be wound up you may be as
calm and as easy at quitting it as i hope in god i shall be i am and
will be to the latest moment 

your truly affectionate and obliged servant 
cl harlowe 



letter xxxiv

mr wyerley to miss clarissa harlowe
wednesday aug 23 


dearest madam 

you will be surprised to find renewed at this distance of time an
address so positively though so politely discouraged but however it be
received i must renew it every body has heard that you have been
vilely treated by a man who to treat you ill must be the vilest of men 
every body knows your just resentment of his base treatment that you are
determined never to be reconciled to him and that you persist in these
sentiments against all the entreaties of his noble relations against all
the prayers and repentance of his ignoble self and all the world that
have the honour to know you or have heard of him applaud your
resolution as worthy of yourself worthy of your virtue and of that
strict honour which was always attributed to you by every one who spoke
of you 

but madam were all the world to have been of a different opinion it
could never have altered mine i ever loved you i ever must love you 
yet have i endeavoured to resign to my hard fate when i had so many
ways in vain sought to move you in my favour i sat down seemingly
contented i even wrote to you that i would sit down contented and i
endeavoured to make all my friends and companions think i was but
nobody knows what pangs this self-denial cost me in vain did the chace 
in vain did travel in vain did lively company offer themselves and
were embraced in their turn with redoubled force did my passion for you
renew my unhappiness when i looked into myself into my own heart for
there did your charming image sit enthroned and you engrossed me all 

i truly deplore those misfortunes and those sufferings for your own
sake which nevertheless encourage me to renew my old hope i know not
particulars i dare not inquire after them because my sufferings would
be increased with the knowledge of what your's have been i therefore
desire not the know more than what common report wounds my ears with and
what is given me to know by your absence from your cruel family and
from the sacred place where i among numbers of your rejected admirers 
used to be twice a week sure to behold you doing credit to that service
of which your example gave me the highest notions but whatever be those
misfortunes of whatsoever nature those sufferings i shall bless the
occasion for my own sake though for your's curse the author of them if
they may give me the happiness to know that this my renewed address may
not be absolutely rejected only give me hope that it may one day meet
with encouragement if in the interim nothing happen either in my morals
or behaviour to give you fresh offence give me but hope of this not
absolutely to reject me is all the hope i ask for and i will love you 
if possible still more than i ever loved you and that for your
sufferings for well you deserve to be loved even to adoration who can 
for honour's and for virtue's sake subdue a passion which common spirits
 i speak by cruel experience  find invincible and this at a time when
the black offender kneels and supplicates as i am well assured he does 
 all his friends likewise supplicating for him to be forgiven 

that you cannot forgive him not forgive him so as to receive him again
to favour is no wonder his offence is against virtue this is a part
of your essence what magnanimity is this how just to yourself and to
your spotless character is it any merit to admire more than ever a lady
who can so exaltedly distinguish it is not i cannot plead it 

what hope have i left may it be said when my address was before
rejected now that your sufferings so nobly borne have with all the
good judges exalted your character yet madam i have to pride myself
in this that while your friends not looking upon you in the just light
i do persecute and banish you while your estate is withheld from you 
and threatened as i know to be withheld as long as the chicaning law 
or rather the chicaneries of its practisers can keep it from you while
you are destitute of protection every body standing aloof either
through fear of the injurer of one family or of the hard-hearted of the
other i pride myself i say to stand forth and offer my fortune and
my life at your devotion with a selfish hope indeed i should be too
great an hypocrite not to own this and i know how much you abhor
insincerity 

but whether you encourage that hope or not accept my best services i
beseech you madam and be pleased to excuse me for a piece of honest
art which the nature of the case doubting the honour of your notice
otherwise makes me choose to conclude with it is this 

if i am to be still the most unhappy of men let your pen by one line
tell me so if i am permitted to indulge a hope however distant your
silence shall be deemed by me the happiest indication of it that you
can give except that still happier the happiest than can befall me 
a signification that you will accept the tender of that life and fortune 
which it would be my pride and my glory to sacrifice in your service 
leaving the reward to yourself 

be your determination as it may i must for ever admire and love you 
nor will i ever change my condition while you live whether you change
your's or not for having once had the presumption to address you i
cannot stoop to think of any other woman and this i solemnly declare in
the presence of that god whom i daily pray to bless and protect you be
your determination what it will with regard to dearest madam 

your most devoted and ever affectionate
and faithful servant 
alexander wyerley 



letter xxxv

miss cl harlowe to alex wyerley esq 
sat aug 26 


sir 

the generosity of your purpose would have commanded not only my notice 
but my thanks although you had not given me the alternative you are
pleased to call artful and i do therefore give you my thanks for your
kind letter 

at the time you distinguished me by your favourable opinion i told you 
sir that my choice was the single life and most truly did i tell you
so 

when that was not permitted me and i looked round upon the several
gentlemen who had been proposed to me and had reason to believe that
there was not one of them against whose morals or principles there lay
not some exception it would not have been much to be wondered at if
fancy had been allowed to give a preference where judgment was at a loss
to determine 

far be it from me to say this with a design to upbraid you sir or to
reflect upon you i always wished you well you had reason to think i
did you had the generosity to be pleased with the frankness of my
behaviour to you as i had with that of your's to me and i am sorry 
very sorry to be now told that the acquaintance you obliged me with
gave you so much pain 

had the option i have mentioned been allowed me afterwards as i not
only wished but proposed things had not happened that did happen but
there was a kind of fatality by which our whole family was impelled as i
may say and which none of us were permitted to avoid but this is a
subject that cannot be dwelt upon 

as matters are i have only to wish for your own sake that you will
encourage and cultivate those good motions in your mind to which many
passages in your kind and generous letter now before me must be owing 
depend upon it sir that such motions wrought into habit will yield
you pleasure at a time when nothing else can and at present shining out
in your actions and conversation will commend you to the worthiest of
our sex for sir the man who is so good upon choice as well as by
education has that quality in himself which ennobles the human race 
and without which the most dignified by birth or rank or ignoble 

as to the resolution you solemnly make not to marry while i live i
should be concerned at it were i not morally sure that you may keep it 
and yet not be detrimented by it since a few a very few days will
convince you that i am got above all human dependence and that there is
no need of that protection and favour which you so generously offer to 
sir 

your obliged well-wisher and humble servant 
cl harlowe 



letter xxxvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
monday noon aug 28 


about the time of poor belton's interment last night as near as we could
guess lord m mowbray and myself toasted once to the memory of
honest tom belton and by a quick transition to the living health to
miss harlowe which lord m obligingly began and to the happy
reconciliation and then we stuck in a remembrance to honest jack
belford who of late we all agreed is become an useful and humane man 
and one who prefers his friend's service to his own 

but what is the meaning i hear nothing from thee and why dost thou not
let me into the grounds of the sudden reconciliation between my beloved
and her friends and the cause of the generous invitation which she gives
me of attending her at her father's some time hence 


 mr belford has not yet sent him his last-written letter his reason
for which see letter xxiii of this volume 


thou must certainly have been let into the secret by this time and i can
tell thee i shall be plaguy jealous if there is to be any one thing pass
between my angel and thee that is to be concealed from me for either i
am a principal in this cause or i am nothing 

i have dispatched will to know the reason of thy neglect 

but let me whisper a word or two in thy ear i begin to be afraid after
all that this letter was a stratagem to get me out of town and for
nothing else for in the first place tourville in a letter i received
this morning tells me that the lady is actually very ill  i am sorry
for it with all my soul   this thou'lt say i may think a reason why
she cannot set out as yet but then i have heard on the other hand but
last night that the family is as implacable as ever and my lord and i
expect this very afternoon a visit from colonel morden who undertakes 
it seems to question me as to my intention with regard to his cousin 

this convinces me that if she has apprized her friends of my offers to
her they will not believe me to be in earnest till they are assured
that i am so from my own mouth but then i understand that the intended
visit is an officiousness of morden's own without the desire of any of
her friends 

now jack what can a man make of all this my intelligence as to the
continuance of her family's implacableness is not to be doubted and yet
when i read her letter what can one say surely the dear little rogue
will not lie 

i never knew her dispense with her word but once and that was when she
promised to forgive me after the dreadful fire that had like to have
happened at our mother's and yet would not see me the next day and
afterwards made her escape to hampstead in order to avoid forgiving me 
and as she severely smarted for this departure from her honour given 
 for it is a sad thing for good people to break their word when it is in
their power to keep it one would not expect that she should set about
deceiving again more especially by the premeditation of writing thou 
perhaps wilt ask what honest man is obliged to keep his promise with a
highwayman for well i know thy unmannerly way of making comparisons but
i say every honest man is and i will give thee an illustration 

here is a marauding varlet who demands your money with a pistol at your
breast you have neither money nor valuable effects about you and
promise solemnly if he will spare your life that you will send him an
agreed-upon sum by such a day to such a place 

the question is if your life is not in the fellow's power 

how he came by the power is another question for which he must answer
with his life when caught so he runs risque for risque 

now if he give you your life does he not give think you a valuable
consideration for the money you engage your honour to send him if not 
the sum must be exorbitant or your life is a very paltry one even in
your own opinion 

i need not make the application and i am sure that even thou thyself 
who never sparest me and thinkest thou knowest my heart by thy own 
canst not possibly put the case in a stronger light against me 

then why do good people take upon themselves to censure as they do 
persons less scrupulous than themselves is it not because the latter
allow themselves in any liberty in order to carry a point and can my
not doing my duty warrant another for not doing his thou wilt not say
it can 

and how would it sound to put the case as strongly once more as my
greatest enemy would put it both as to fact and in words here has that
profligate wretch lovelace broken his vow with and deceived miss clarissa
harlowe a vile fellow would an enemy say but it is like him but
when it comes to be said that the pious clarissa has broken her word with
and deceived lovelace good lord would every one say sure it cannot be 

upon my soul jack such is the veneration i have for this admirable
woman that i am shocked barely at putting the case and so wilt thou if
thou respectest her as thou oughtest for thou knowest that men and
women all the world over form their opinions of one another by each
person's professions and known practices in this lady therefore it
would be unpardonable to tell a wilful untruth as it would be strange if
i kept my word in love cases i mean for as to the rest i am an
honest moral man as all who know me can testify 

and what after all would this lady deserve if she has deceived me in
this case for did she not set me prancing away upon lord m s best
nag to lady sarah's and to lady betty's with an erect and triumphing
countenance to show them her letter to me 

and let me tell thee that i have received their congratulations upon it 
well and now cousin lovelace cries one well and now cousin
lovelace cries t'other i hope you will make the best of husbands to so
excellent and so forgiving a lady and now we shall soon have the
pleasure of looking upon you as a reformed man added one and now we
shall see you in the way we have so long wished you to be in cried the
other 

my cousins montague also have been ever since rejoicing in the new
relationship their charming cousin and their lovely cousin at every
word and how dearly they will love he what lessons they will take
from her and yet charlotte who pretends to have the eye of an eagle 
was for finding out some mystery in the style and manner till i overbore
her and laughed her out of it 

as for lord m he has been in hourly expectation of being sent to with
proposals of one sort or other from the harlowes and still we have it 
that such proposals will be made by colonel morden when he comes and
that the harlowes only put on a fae of irreconcileableness till they
know the issue of morden's visit in order to make the better terms with
us 

indeed if i had not undoubted reason as i said to believe the
continuance of their antipathy to me and implacableness to her i should
be apt to think there might be some foundation for my lord's conjecture 
for there is a cursed deal of low cunning in all that family except in
the angel of it who has so much generosity of soul that she despises
cunning both name and thing 

what i mean by all this is to let thee see what a stupid figure i shall
make to all my own family if my clarissa has been capable as gulliver
in his abominable yahoo story phrases it if it were only that i should
be outwitted by such a novice at plotting and that it would make me look
silly to my kinswomen here who know i value myself upon my contrivances 
it would vex me to the heart and i would instantly clap a featherbed
into a coach and six and fetch her away sick or well and marry her at
my leisure 

but col morden is come and i must break off 



letter xxxvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
monday night aug 28 


i doubt you will be all impatience that you have not heard from me since
mine of thursday last you would be still more so if you knew that i
had by me a letter ready written 

i went early yesterday morning to epsom and found every thing disposed
according to the directions i had left on friday and at night the solemn
office was performed tourville was there and behaved very decently 
and with greater concern than i thought he would every have expressed for
any body 

thomasine they told me in a kind of disguise was in an obscure pew 
out of curiosity for it seems she was far from showing any tokens of
grief to see the last office performed for the man whose heart she had
so largely contributed to break 

i was obliged to stay till this afternoon to settle several necessary
matters and to direct inventories to be taken in order for
appraisement for every thing is to be turned into money by his will 
i presented his sister with the hundred guineas the poor man left me as
his executor and desired her to continue in the house and take the
direction of every thing till i could hear from his nephew at antigua 
who is heir at law he had left her but fifty pounds although he knew
her indigence and that it was owing to a vile husband and not to
herself that she was indigent 

the poor man left about two hundred pounds in money and two hundred
pounds in two east-india bonds and i will contrive if i can to make
up the poor woman's fifty pounds and my hundred guineas two hundred
pounds to her and then she will have some little matter coming in
certain which i will oblige her to keep out of the hands of a son who
has completed that ruin which his father had very nearly effected 

i gave tourville his twenty pounds and will send you and mowbray your's
by the first order 

and so much for poor belton's affairs till i see you 

i got to town in the evening and went directly to smith's i found mrs 
lovick and mrs smith in the back shop and i saw they had been both in
tears they rejoiced to see me however and told me that the doctor
and mr goddard were but just gone as was also the worthy clergyman who
often comes to pray by her and all three were of opinion that she would
hardly live to see the entrance of another week i was not so much
surprised as grieved for i had feared as much when i left her on
saturday 

i sent up my compliments and she returned that she would take it for a
favour if i would call upon her in the morning by eight o'clock mrs 
lovick told me that she had fainted away on saturday while she was
writing as she had done likewise the day before and having received
benefit then by a little turn in a chair she was carried abroad again 
she returned somewhat better and wrote till late yet had a pretty good
night and went to covent-garden church in the morning but came home so
ill that she was obliged to lie down 

when she arose seeing how much grieved mrs lovick and mrs smith were
for her she made apologies for the trouble she gave them you were
happy said she before i came hither it was a cruel thing in me to
come amongst honest strangers and to be sick and die with you 

when they touched upon the irreconcileableness of her friends i have had
ill offices done me to them said she and they do not know how ill i am 
nor will they believe any thing i should write but yet i cannot
sometimes forbear thinking it a little hard that out of so many near and
dear friends as i have living not one of them will vouchsafe to look
upon me no old servant no old friend proceeded she to be permitted
to come near me without being sure of incurring displeasure and to
have such a great work to go through by myself a young creature as i am 
and to have every thing to think of as to my temporal matters and to
order to my very interment no dear mother said the sweet sufferer to
pray by me and bless me no kind sister to sooth and comfort me but
come recollected she how do i know but all is for the best if i can
but make a right use of my discomforts pray for me mrs lovick pray
for me mrs smith that i may i have great need of your prayers this
cruel man has discomposed me his persecutions have given mea pain just
here  putting her hand to her heart   what a step has he made me take
to avoid him who can touch pitch and not be defiled he had made a
bad spirit take possession of me i think broken in upon all my duties
 and will not yet i doubt let me be at rest indeed he is very cruel
 but this is one of my trials i believe by god's grace i shall be
easier to-morrow and especially if i have no more of his tormentings 
and if i can get a tolerable night and i will sit up till eleven that
i may 

she said that though this was so heavy a day with her she was at other
times within these few days past especially blessed with bright hours 
and particularly that she had now and then such joyful assurances which
she hoped were not presumptuous ones that god would receive her to his
mercy that she could hardly contain herself and was ready to think
herself above this earth while she was in it and what inferred she to
mrs lovick must be the state itself the very aspirations after which
have often cast a beamy light through the thickest darkness and when i
have been at the lowest ebb have dispelled the black clouds of
despondency as i hope they soon will this spirit of repining 

she had a pretty good night it seems and this morning went in a chair
to st dunstan's church 

the chairmen told mrs smith that after prayers for she did not return
till between nine and ten they carried her to a house in fleet-street 
whither they never waited on her before and where dost think this was 
 why to an undertaker's good heaven what a woman is this she went
into the back shop and talked with the master of it about half an hour 
and came from him with great serenity he waiting upon her to her chair
with a respectful countenance but full of curiosity and seriousness 

tis evident that she went to bespeak her house that she talked of as
soon as you can sir were her words to him as she got into the chair 
mrs smith told me this with the same surprise and grief that i heard it 


 see letter xxiii of this volume 


she was very ill in the afternoon having got cold either at st 
dunstan's or at chapel and sent for the clergyman to pray by her and
the women unknown to her sent both for dr h and mr goddard who were
just gone as i told you when i came to pay my respects to her this
evening 

and thus have i recounted from the good women what passed to this night
since my absence 

i long for to-morrow that i may see her and yet it is such a melancholy
longing as i never experienced and know not how to describe 


tuesday aug 29 

i was at smith's at half an hour after seven they told me that the lady
was gone in a chair to st dunstan's but was better than she had been in
either of the two preceding days and that she said she to mrs lovick
and mrs smith as she went into the chair i have a good deal to answer
for to you my good friends for my vapourish conversation of last night 

if mrs lovick said she smiling i have no new matters to discompose
me i believe my spirits will hold out purely 

she returned immediately after prayers 

mr belford said she as she entered the back shop where i was and
upon my approaching her i am very glad to see you you have been
performing for your poor friend a kind last office tis not long ago
since you did the same for a near relation is it not a little hard upon
you that these troubles should fall so thick to your lot but they are
charitable offices and it is a praise to your humanity that poor dying
people know not where to choose so well 

i told her i was sorry to hear she had been so ill since i had the honour
to attend her but rejoiced to find that now she seemed a good deal
better 

it will be sometimes better and sometimes worse replied she with poor
creatures when they are balancing between life and death but no more
of these matters just now i hope sir you'll breakfast with me i was
quite vapourish yesterday i had a very bad spirit upon me had i not 
mrs smith but i hope i shall be no more so and to-day i am perfectly
serene this day rises upon me as if it would be a bright one 

she desired me to walk up and invited mr smith and his wife and mrs 
lovick also to breakfast with her i was better pleased with her
liveliness than with her looks 

the good people retiring after breakfast the following conversation
passed between us 

pray sir let me ask you if you think i may promise myself that i shall
be no more molested by your friend 

i hesitated for how could i answer for such a man 

what shall i do if he comes again you see how i am i cannot fly from
him now if he has any pity left for the poor creature whom he has thus
reduced let him not come but have you heard from him lately and will
he come 

i hope not madam i have not heard from him since thursday last that
he went out of town rejoicing in the hopes your letter gave him of a
reconciliation between your friends and you and that he might in good
time see you at your father's and he is gone down to give all his
friends joy of the news and is in high spirits upon it 

alas for me i shall then surely have him come up to persecute me again 
as soon as he discovers that that was only a stratagem to keep him away 
he will come up and who knows but even now he is upon the road i
thought i was so bad that i should have been out of his and every body's
way before now for i expected not that this contrivance would serve me
above two or three days and by this time he must have found out that i
am not so happy as to have any hope of a reconciliation with my family 
and then he will come if it be only in revenge for what he will think a
deceit but is not i hope a wicked one 

i believe i looked surprised to hear her confess that her letter was a
stratagem only for she said you wonder mr belford i observe that i
could be guilty of such an artifice i doubt it is not right it was
done in a hurry of spirits how could i see a man who had so mortally
injured me yet pretending a sorrow for his crimes and wanting to see
me could behave with so much shocking levity as he did to the honest
people of the house yet tis strange too that neither you nor he
found out my meaning on perusal of my letter you have seen what i
wrote no doubt 

i have madam and then i began to account for it as an innocent
artifice 

thus far indeed sir it is an innocent that i meant him no hurt and
had a right to the effect i hoped for from it and he had none to invade
me but have you sir that letter of his in which he gives you as i
suppose he does the copy of mine 

i have madam and pulled it out of my letter-case but hesitating 
nay sir said she be pleased to read my letter to yourself i desire
not to see his and see if you can be longer a stranger to a meaning so
obvious 

i read it to myself indeed madam i can find nothing but that you are
going down to harlowe-place to be reconciled to your father and other
friends and mr lovelace presumed that a letter from your sister which
he saw brought when he was at mr smith's gave you the welcome news of
it 

she then explained all to me and that as i may say in six words a
religious meaning is couched under it and that's the reason that neither
you nor i could find it out 

read but for my father's house heaven said she and for the
interposition of my dear blessed friend suppose the mediation of my
saviour which i humbly rely upon and all the rest of the letter will
be accounted for  i hope repeated she that it is a pardonable
artifice but i am afraid it is not strictly right 

i read it so and stood astonished for a minute at her invention her
piety her charity and at thine and mine own stupidity to be thus taken
in 

and now thou vile lovelace what hast thou to do the lady all
consistent with herself and no hopes left for thee but to hang drown 
or shoot thyself for an outwitted boaster 

my surprise being a little over she proceeded as to the letter that
came from my sister while your friend was here you will soon see sir 
that it is the cruellest letter she ever wrote me 

and then she expressed a deep concern for what might be the consequence
of colonel morden's intended visit to you and besought me that if now 
or at any time hereafter i had opportunity to prevent any further
mischief without detriment or danger to myself i would do it 

i assured her of the most particular attention to this and to all her
commands and that in a manner so agreeable to her that she invoked a
blessing upon me for my goodness as she called it to a desolate
creature who suffered under the worst of orphanage those were her words 

she then went back to her first subject her uneasiness for fear of your
molesting her again and said if you have any influence over him mr 
belford prevail upon him that he will give me the assurance that the
short remainder of my time shall be all my own i have need of it 
indeed i have why will he wish to interrupt me in my duty has he not
punished me enough for my preference of him to all his sex has he not
destroyed my fame and my fortune and will not his causeless vengeance
upon me be complete unless he ruin my soul too excuse me sir for
this vehemence but indeed it greatly imports me to know that i shall be
no more disturbed by him and yet with all this aversion i would
sooner give way to his visit though i were to expire the moment i saw
him than to be the cause of any fatal misunderstanding between you and
him 

i assured her that i would make such a representation of the matter to
you and of the state of her health that i would undertake to answer for
you that you would not attempt to come near her 

and for this reason lovelace do i lay the whole matter before you and
desire you will authorize me as soon as this and mine of saturday last
come to your hands to dissipate her fears 

this gave her a little satisfaction and then she said that had i not
told her that i could promise for you she was determined ill as she is 
to remove somewhere out of my knowledge as well as out of your's and
yet to have been obliged to leave people i am but just got acquainted
with said the poor lady and to have died among perfect strangers would
have completed my hardships 

this conversation i found as well from the length as the nature of it 
had fatigued her and seeing her change colour once or twice i made that
my excuse and took leave of her desiring her permission however to
attend her in the evening and as often as possible for i could not help
telling her that every time i saw her i more and more considered her as
a beatified spirit and as one sent from heaven to draw me after her out
of the miry gulf in which i had been so long immersed 

and laugh at me if thou wilt but it is true that every time i approach
her i cannot but look upon her as one just entering into a companionship
with saints and angels this thought so wholly possessed me that i
could not help begging as i went away her prayers and her blessing 
with the reverence due to an angel 

in the evening she was so low and weak that i took my leave of her in
less than a quarter of an hour i went directly home where to the
pleasure and wonder of my cousin and her family i now pass many honest
evenings which they impute to your being out of town 

i shall dispatch my packet to-morrow morning early by my own servant to
make thee amends for the suspense i must have kept thee in thou'lt thank
me for that i hope but wilt not i am sure for sending thy servant
back without a letter 

i long for the particulars of the conversation between you and mr 
morden the lady as i have hinted is full of apprehensions about it 
send me back this packet when perused for i have not had either time or
patience to take a copy of it and i beseech you enable me to make good
my engagements to the poor lady that you will not invade her again 



letter xxxviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday aug 30 


i have a conversation to give you that passed between this admirable lady
and dr h which will furnish a new instance of the calmness and serenity
with which she can talk of death and prepare for it as if it were an
occurrence as familiar to her as dressing and undressing 

as soon as i had dispatched my servant to you with my letters of the
26th 28th and yesterday the 29th i went to pay my duty to her and had
the pleasure to find her after a tolerable night pretty lively and
cheerful she was but just returned from her usual devotions and doctor
h alighted as she entered the door 

after inquiring how she did and hearing her complaints of shortness of
breath which she attributed to inward decay precipitated by her late
harasses as well from her friends as from you he was for advising her
to go into the air 

what will that do for me said she tell me truly good sir with a
cheerful aspect you know you cannot disturb me by it whether now you
do not put on the true physician and despairing that any thing in
medicine will help me advise me to the air as the last resource can
you think the air will avail in such a malady as mine 

he was silent 

i ask said she because my friends who will possibly some time hence
inquire after the means i used for my recovery may be satisfied that i
omitted nothing which so worthy and skilful a physician prescribed 

the air madam may possibly help the difficulty of breathing which has
so lately attacked you 

but sir you see how weak i am you must see that i have been consuming
from day to day and now if i can judge by what i feel in myself 
putting her hand to her heart i cannot continue long if the air would
very probably add to my days though i am far from being desirous to have
them lengthened i would go into it and the rather as i know mrs 
lovick would kindly accompany me but if i were to be at the trouble of
removing into new lodgings a trouble which i think now would be too
much for me and this only to die in the country i had rather the scene
were to shut up here for here have i meditated the spot and the
manner and every thing as well of the minutest as of the highest
consequence that can attend the solemn moments so doctor tell me
truly may i stay here and be clear of any imputations of curtailing 
through wilfulness or impatiency or through resentments which i hope i
am got above a life that might otherwise be prolonged tell me sir 
you are not talking to a coward in this respect indeed you are not 
unaffectedly smiling 

the doctor turning to me was at a loss what to say lifting up his eyes
only in admiration of her 

never had any patient said she a more indulgent and more humane
physician but since you are loth to answer my question directly i will
put it in other words you don't enjoin me to go into the air doctor do
you 

i do not madam nor do i now visit you as a physician but as a person
whose conversation i admire and whose sufferings i condole and to
explain myself more directly as to the occasion of this day's visit in
particular i must tell you madam that understanding how much you
suffer by the displeasure of your friends and having no doubt but that 
if they knew the way you are in they would alter their conduct to you 
and believing it must cut them to the heart when too late they shall be
informed of every thing i have resolved to apprize them by letter
 stranger as i am to their persons how necessary it is for some of them
to attend you very speedily for their sakes madam let me press for
your approbation of this measure 

she paused and at last said this is kind very kind in you sir but
i hope that you do not think me so perverse and so obstinate as to have
left till now any means unessayed which i thought likely to move my
friends in my favour but now doctor said she i should be too much
disturbed at their grief if they were any of them to come or to send to
me and perhaps if i found they still loved me wish to live and so
should quit unwillingly that life which i am now really fond of
quitting and hope to quit as becomes a person who has had such a
weaning-time as i have been favoured with 

i hope madam said i we are not so near as you apprehend to that
deplorable catastrophe you hint at with such an amazing presence of mind 
and therefore i presume to second the doctor's motion if it were only
for the sake of your father and mother that they may have the
satisfaction if they must lose you to think they were first reconciled
to you 

it is very kindly very humanely considered said she but if you think
me not so very near my last hour let me desire this may be postponed
till i see what effect my cousin morden's mediation may have perhaps he
may vouchsafe to make me a visit yet after his intended interview with
mr lovelace is over of which who knows mr belford but your next
letters may give an account i hope it will not be a fatal one to any
body will you promise me doctor to forbear writing for two days only 
and i will communicate to you any thing that occurs in that time and then
you shall take your own way mean time i repeat my thanks for your
goodness to me nay dear doctor hurry not away from me so
precipitately  for he was going for fear of an offered fee  i will no
more affront you with tenders that have pained you for some time past 
and since i must now from this kindly-offered favour look upon you only
as a friend i will assure you henceforth that i will give you no more
uneasiness on that head and now sir i know i shall have the pleasure
of seeing you oftener than heretofore 

the worthy gentleman was pleased with this assurance telling her that he
had always come to see her with great pleasure but parted with her on
the account she hinted at with as much pain and that he should not have
forborne to double his visits could he have had this kind assurance as
early as he wished for it 

there are few instances of like disinterestedness i doubt in this
tribe till now i always held it for gospel that friendship and
physician were incompatible things and little imagined that a man of
medicine when he had given over his patient to death would think of any
visits but those of ceremony that he might stand well with the family 
against it came to their turns to go through his turnpike 

after the doctor was gone she fell into a very serious discourse of the
vanity of life and the wisdom of preparing for death while health and
strength remained and before the infirmities of body impaired the
faculties of the mind and disabled them from acting with the necessary
efficacy and clearness the whole calculated for every one's meridian 
but particularly as it was easy to observe for thine and mine 

she was very curious to know farther particulars of the behaviour of poor
belton in his last moments you must not wonder at my inquiries mr 
belford said she for who is it that is to undertake a journey into a
country they never travelled to before that inquires not into the
difficulties of the road and what accommodations are to be expected in
the way 

i gave her a brief account of the poor man's terrors and unwillingness
to die and when i had done thus mr belford said she must it always
be with poor souls who have never thought of their long voyage till the
moment they are to embark for it 

she made other such observations upon this subject as coming from the
mouth of a person who will so soon be a companion for angels i shall
never forget and indeed when i went home that i might engraft them
the better on my memory i entered them down in writing but i will not
let you see them until you are in a frame more proper to benefit by them
than you are likely to be in one while 

thus far had i written when the unexpected early return of my servant
with your packet your's and he meeting at slough and exchanging
letters obliged me to leave off to give its contents a reading here 
therefore i close this letter 



letter xxxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday morn aug 29 


now jack will i give thee an account of what passed on occasion of the
visit made us by col morden 

he came on horseback attended by one servant and lord m received him
as a relation of miss harlowe's with the highest marks of civility and
respect 

after some general talk of the times and of the weather and such
nonsense as englishmen generally make their introductory topics to
conversation the colonel addressed himself to lord m and to me as
follows 

i need not my lord and mr lovelace as you know the relation i bear to
the harlowe family make any apology for entering upon a subject which 
on account of that relation you must think is the principal reason of
the honour i have done myself in this visit 

miss harlowe miss clarissa harlowe's affair said lord m with his usual
forward bluntness that sir is what you mean she is by all
accounts the most excellent woman in the world 

i am glad to hear that is your lordship's opinion of her it is every
one's 

it is not only my opinion col morden proceeded the prating peer but
it is the opinion of all my family of my sisters of my nieces and of
mr lovelace himself 

col would to heaven it had been always mr lovelace's opinion of her 

lovel you have been out of england colonel a good many years 
perhaps you are not yet fully apprized of all the particulars of this
case 

col i have been out of england sir about seven years my cousin
clary was then about 12 years of age but never was there at twenty so
discreet so prudent and so excellent a creature all that knew her or
saw her admired her mind and person never did i see such promises of
perfection in any young lady and i am told nor is it to be wondered at 
that as she advanced to maturity she more than justified and made good
those promises then as to fortune what her father what her uncles 
and what i myself intended to do for her besides what her grandfather
had done there is not a finer fortune in the country 

lovel all this colonel and more than this is miss clarissa harlowe 
and had it not been for the implacableness and violence of her family
 all resolved to push her upon a match as unworthy of her as hateful to
her she had still been happy 

col i own mr lovelace the truth of what you observed just now that
i am not thoroughly acquainted with all that has passed between you and
my cousin but permit me to say that when i first heard that you made
your addresses to her i knew but of one objection against you that 
indeed a very great one and upon a letter sent me i gave her my free
opinion upon that subject but had it not been for that i own that 
in my private mind there could not have been a more suitable match for
you are a gallant gentleman graceful in your person easy and genteel in
your deportment and in your family fortunes and expectations happy as
a man can wish to be then the knowledge i had of you in italy
 although give me leave to say your conduct there was not wholly
unexceptionable convinces me that you are brave and few gentlemen come
up to you in wit and vivacity your education has given you great
advantages your manners are engaging and you have travelled and i
know if you'll excuse me you make better observations than you are
governed by all these qualifications make it not at all surprising that
a young lady should love you and that this love joined to that
indiscreet warmth wherewith my cousin's friends would have forced her
inclinations in favour of men who are far your inferiors in the qualities
i have named should throw herself upon your protection but then if
there were these two strong motives the one to induce the other to
impel her let me ask you sir if she were not doubly entitled to
generous usage from a man whom she chose for her protector and whom let
me take the liberty to say she could so amply reward for the protection
he was to afford her 


 see vol iv letter xix 


lovel miss clarissa harlowe was entitled sir to have the best usage
that man could give her i have no scruple to own it i will always do
her the justice she so well deserves i know what will be your inference 
and have only to say that time past cannot be recalled perhaps i wish
it could 

the colonel then in a very manly strain set forth the wickedness of
attempting a woman of virtue and character he said that men had
generally too many advantages from the weakness credulity and
inexperience of the fair sex that their early learning which chiefly
consisted in inflaming novels and idle and improbable romances 
contributed to enervate and weaken their minds that his cousin however 
he was sure was above the reach of common seduction and not to be
influenced to the rashness her parents accused her of by weaker motives
than their violence and the most solemn promises on my part but 
nevertheless having those motives and her prudence eminent as it was 
being rather the effect of constitution than experience a fine
advantage however he said to ground an unblamable future life upon 
she might not be apprehensive of bad designs in a man she loved it was 
therefore a very heinous thing to abuse the confidence of such a woman 

he was going on in this trite manner when interrupting him i said 
these general observations colonel suit not perhaps this particular
case but you yourself are a man of gallantry and possibly were you
to be put to the question might not be able to vindicate every action of
your life any more than i 

col you are welcome sir to put what questions you please to me 
and i thank god i can both own an be ashamed of my errors 

lord m looked at me but as the colonel did not by his manner seem to
intend a reflection i had no occasion to take it for one especially as
i can as readily own my errors as he or any man can his whether
ashamed of them or not 

he proceeded as you seem to call upon me mr lovelace i will tell you
 without boasting of it what has been my general practice till lately 
that i hope i have reformed it a good deal 

i have taken liberties which the laws of morality will by no means
justify and once i should have thought myself warranted to cut the
throat of any young fellow who should make as free with a sister of mine
as i have made with the sisters and daughters of others but then i took
care never to promise any thing i intended not to perform a modest ear
should as soon have heard downright obscenity from my lips as matrimony 
if i had not intended it young ladies are generally ready enough to
believe we mean honourably if they love us and it would look lie a
strange affront to their virtue and charms that it should be supposed
needful to put the question whether in your address you mean a wife but
when once a man make a promise i think it ought to be performed and a
woman is well warranted to appeal to every one against the perfidy of a
deceiver and is always sure to have the world on her side 

now sir continued he i believe you have so much honour as to own that
you could not have made way to so eminent a virtue without promising
marriage and that very explicitly and solemnly 

i know very well colonel interrupted i all you would say you will
excuse me i am sure that i break in upon you when you find it is to
answer the end you drive at 

i own to you then that i have acted very unworthily by miss clarissa
harlowe and i'll tell you farther that i heartily repent of my
ingratitude and baseness to her nay i will say still farther that i
am so grossly culpable as to her that even to plead that the abuses and
affronts i daily received from her implacable relations were in any
manner a provocation to me to act vilely by her would be a mean and low
attempt to excuse myself so low and so mean that it would doubly
condemn me and if you can say worse speak it 

he looked upon lord m and then upon me two or three times and my lord
said my kinsman speaks what he thinks i'll answer for him 

lovel i do sir and what can i say more and what farther in your
opinion can be done 

col done sir why sir  in a haughty tone he spoke   i need not
tell you that reparation follows repentance and i hope you make no
scruple of justifying your sincerity as to the one or the other 

i hesitated for i relished not the manner of his speech and his
haughty accent as undetermined whether to take proper notice of it or
not 

col let me put this question to you mr lovelace is it true as i
have heard it is that you would marry my cousin if she would have you 
 what say you sir 

this wound me up a peg higher 

lovel some questions as they may be put imply commands colonel i
would be glad to know how i am to take your's and what is to be the end
of your interrogatories 

col my questions are not meant by me as commands mr lovelace the
end is to prevail upon a gentleman to act like a gentleman and a man of
honour 

lovel briskly and by what arguments sir do you propose to prevail
upon me 

col by what arguments sir prevail upon a gentleman to act like a
gentleman i am surprised at that question from mr lovelace 

lovel why so sir 

col why so sir angrily let me 

lovel interrupting i don't choose colonel to be repeated upon in
that accent 

lord m come come gentlemen i beg of you to be willing to understand
one another you young gentlemen are so warm 

col not i my lord i am neither very young nor unduly warm your
nephew my lord can make me be every thing he would have me to be 

lovel and that shall be whatever you please to be colonel 

col fiercely the choice be your's mr lovelace friend or foe as
you do or are willing to do justice to one of the finest women in the
world 

lord m i guessed from both your characters what would be the case
when you met let me interpose gentlemen and beg you but to understand
one another you both shoot at one mark and if you are patient will
both hit it let me beg of you colonel to give no challenges 

col challenges my lord they are things i ever was readier to accept
than to offer but does your lordship think that a man so nearly
related as i have the honour to be to the most accomplished woman on
earth 

lord m interrupting we all allow the excellencies of the lady and
we shall all take it as the greatest honour to be allied to her that can
be conferred upon us 

col so you ought my lord 

a perfect chamont thought i 


 see otway's orphan 


lord m so we ought colonel and so we do and pray let every one do
as he ought and no more than he ought and you colonel let me tell
you will not be so hasty 

lovel coolly come come col morden don't let this dispute whatever
you intend to make of it go farther than with you and me you
deliver yourself in very high terms higher than ever i was talked to in
my life but here beneath this roof twould be inexcusable for me to
take that notice of it which perhaps it would become me to take
elsewhere 

col that is spoken as i wish the man to speak whom i should be pleased
to call my friend if all his actions were of a piece and as i would
have the man speak whom i would think it worth my while to call my foe 
i love a man of spirit as i love my soul but mr lovelace as my lord
thinks we aim at one mark let me say that were we permitted to be alone
for six minutes i dare say we should soon understand one another
perfectly well and he moved to the door 

lovel i am entirely of your opinion sir and will attend you 

my lord rung and stept between us colonel return i beseech you
return said he for he had stept out of the room while my lord held me 
nephew you shall not go out 

the bell and my lord's raised voice brought in mowbray and clements my
lord's gentleman the former in his careless way with his hands behind
him what's the matter bobby what's the matter my lord 

only only only stammered the agitated peer these young gentlemen are 
are are are young gentlemen that's all pray colonel morden  who
again entered the room with a sedater aspect   let this cause have a fair
trial i beseech you 

col with all my heart my lord 

mowbray whispered me what is the cause bobby shall i take the
gentleman to task for thee my boy 

not for the world whispered i the colonel is a gentleman and i desire
you'll not say one word 

well well well bobby i have done i can turn thee loose to the best
man upon god's earth that's all bobby strutting off to the other end
of the room 

col i am sorry my lord i should give your lordship the least
uneasiness i came not with such a design 

lord m indeed colonel i thought you did by your taking fire so
quickly i am glad to hear you say you did not how soon a little spark
kindles into a flame especially when it meets with such combustible
spirits 

col if i had had the least thought of proceeding to extremities i am
sure mr lovelace would have given me the honour of a meeting where i
should have been less an intruder but i came with an amicable intention 
to reconcile differences rather than to widen them 

lovel well then colonel morden let us enter upon the subject in your
own way i don't know the man i should sooner choose to be upon terms
with than one whom miss clarissa harlowe so much respects but i cannot
bear to be treated either in word or accent in a menacing way 

lord m well well well well gentlemen this is somewhat like 
angry men make to themselves beds of nettles and when they lie down in
them are uneasy with every body but i hope you are friends let me
hear you say you are i am persuaded colonel that you don't know all
this unhappy story you don't know how desirous my kinsman is as well
as all of us to have this matter end happily you don't know do you 
colonel that mr lovelace at all our requests is disposed to marry the
lady 

col at all your requests my lord i should have hoped that mr 
lovelace was disposed to do justice for the sake of justice and when at
the same time the doing of justice was doing himself the highest honour 

mowbray lifted up his before half-closed eyes to the colonel and glanced
them upon me 

lovel this is in very high language colonel 

mowbr by my soul i thought so 

col high language mr lovelace is it not just language 

lovel it is colonel and i think the man that does honour to miss
clarissa harlowe does me honour but nevertheless there is a manner
in speaking that may be liable to exception where the words without
that manner can bear none 

col your observation in the general is undoubtedly just but if you
have the value for my cousin that you say you have you must needs think
 

lovel you must allow me sir to interrupt you if i have the value i
say i have i hope sir when i say i have that value there is no room
for that if pronounced as you pronounced it with an emphasis 

col you have broken in upon me twice mr lovelace i am as little
accustomed to be broken in upon as you are to be repeated upon 

lord m two barrels of gunpowder by my conscience what a devil will
it signify talking if thus you are to blow one another up at every word 

lovel no man of honour my lord will be easy to have his veracity
called into question though but by implication 

col had you heard me out mr lovelace you would have found that my
if was rather an if of inference than of doubt but tis really a
strange liberty gentlemen of free principles take who at the same time
that they would resent unto death the imputation of being capable of
telling an untruth to a man will not scruple to break through the most
solemn oaths and promises to a woman i must assure you mr lovelace 
that i always made a conscience of my vows and promises 

lovel you did right colonel but let me tell you sir that you know
not the man you talk to if you imagine he is not able to rise to a
proper resentment when he sees his generous confessions taken for a mark
of base-spiritedness 

col warmly and with a sneer far be it from me mr lovelace to
impute to you the baseness of spirit you speak of for what would that be
but to imagine that a man who has done a very flagrant injury is not
ready to show his bravery in defending it 

mowbr this is d d severe colonel it is by jove i could not
take so much at the hands of any man breathing as mr lovelace before
this took at your's 

col who are you sir what pretence have you to interpose in a cause
where there is an acknowledged guilt on one side and the honour of a
considerable family wounded in the tenderest part by that guilt on the
other 

mowbr whispering to the colonel my dear child you will oblige me
highly if you will give me the opportunity of answering your question 
and was going out 

the colonel was held in by my lord and i brought in mowbray 

col pray my good lord let me attend this officious gentleman i
beseech you do i will wait upon your lordship in three minutes depend
upon it 

lovel mowbray is this acting like a friend by me to suppose me
incapable of answering for myself and shall a man of honour and
bravery as i know colonel morden to be rash as perhaps in this visit
he has shown himself have it to say that he comes to my lord m s
house in a manner naked as to attendants and friends and shall not for
that reason be rather borne with than insulted this moment my dear
mowbray leave us you have really no concern in this business and if
you are my friend i desire you'll ask the colonel pardon for interfering
in it in the manner you have done 

mowbr well well bob thou shalt be arbiter in this matter i know i
have no business in it and colonel holding out his hand i leave you
to one who knows how to defend his own cause as well as any man in
england 

col taking mowbray's hand at lord m s request you need not tell
me that mr mowbray i have no doubt of mr lovelace's ability to
defend his own cause were it a cause to be defended and let me tell
you mr lovelace that i am astonished to think that a brave man and a
generous man as you have appeared to be in two or three instances that
you have given in the little knowledge i have of you should be capable
of acting as you have done by the most excellent of her sex 

lord m well but gentlemen now mr mowbray is gone and you have
both shown instances of courage and generosity to boot let me desire you
to lay your heads together amicably and think whether there be any thing
to be done to make all end happily for the lady 

lovel but hold my lord let me say one thing now mowbray is gone 
and that is that i think a gentleman ought not to put up tamely one or
two severe things that the colonel has said 

lord m what the devil canst thou mean i thought all had been over 
why thou hast nothing to do but to confirm to the colonel that thou art
willing to marry miss harlowe if she will have thee 

col mr lovelace will not scruple to say that i suppose 
notwithstanding all that has passed but if you think mr lovelace i
have said any thing i should not have said i suppose it is this that
the man who has shown so little of the thing honour to a defenceless
unprotected woman ought not to stand so nicely upon the empty name of
it with a man who is expostulating with him upon it i am sorry to have
cause to say this mr lovelace but i would on the same occasion 
repeat it to a king upon his throne and surrounded by all his guards 

lord m but what is all this but more sacks upon the mill more coals
upon the fire you have a mind to quarrel both of you i see that are
you not willing nephew are you not most willing to marry this lady if
she can be prevailed upon to have you 

lovel d n me my lord if i'd marry my empress upon such treatment
as this 

lord m why now bob thou art more choleric than the colonel it was
his turn just now and now you see he is cool you are all gunpowder 

lovel i own the colonel has many advantages over me but perhaps 
there is one advantage he has not if it were put to the trial 

col i came not hither as i said before to seek the occasion but if
it were offered me i won't refuse it and since we find we disturb my
good lord m i'll take my leave and will go home by the way of st 
alban's 

lovel i'll see you part of the way with all my heart colonel 

col i accept your civility very cheerfully mr lovelace 

lord m interposing again as we were both for going out and what
will this do gentlemen suppose you kill one another will the matter
be bettered or worsted by that will the lady be made happier or
unhappier do you think by either or both of your deaths your
characters are too well known to make fresh instances of the courage of
either needful and i think if the honour of the lady is your view 
colonel it can by no other way so effectually promoted as by marriage 
and sir if you would use your interest with her it is very probable
that you may succeed though nobody else can 

lovel i think my lord i have said all that a man can say since
what is passed cannot be recalled and you see colonel morden rises in
proportion to my coolness till it is necessary for me to assert myself 
or even he would despise me 

lord m let me ask you colonel have you any way any method that you
think reasonable and honourable to propose to bring about a
reconciliation with the lady that is what we all wish for and i can
tell you sir it is not a little owing to her family and to their
implacable usage of her that her resentments are heightened against my
kinsman who however has used her vilely but is willing to repair her
wrongs 

lovel not my lord for the sake of her family nor for this
gentleman's haughty behaviour but for her own sake and in full sense of
the wrongs i have done her 

col as to my haughty behaviour as you call it sir i am mistaken if
you would not have gone beyond it in the like case of a relation so
meritorious and so unworthily injured and sir let me tell you that
if your motives are not love honour and justice and if they have the
least tincture of mean compassion for her or of an uncheerful assent on
your part i am sure it will neither be desired or accepted by a person
of my cousin's merit and sense nor shall i wish that it should 

lovel don't think colonel that i am meanly compounding off a debate 
that i should as willingly go through with you as to eat or drink if i
have the occasion given me for it but thus much i will tell you that my
lord that lady sarah sadleir lady betty lawrance my two cousins
montague and myself have written to her in the most solemn and sincere
manner to offer her such terms as no one but herself would refuse and
this long enough before colonel morden's arrival was dreamt of 

col what reason sir may i ask does she give against listening to
so powerful a mediation and to such offers 

lovel it looks like capitulating or else 

col it looks not like any such thing to me mr lovelace who have as
good an opinion of your spirit as man can have and what pray is the
part i act and my motives for it are they not in desiring that
justice may be done to my cousin clarissa harlowe that i seek to
establish the honour of mrs lovelace if matters can once be brought to
bear 

lovel were she to honour me with her acceptance of that name mr 
morden i should not want you or any man to assert the honour of mrs 
lovelace 

col i believe it but still she has honoured you with that
acceptance she is nearer to me than to you mr lovelace and i speak
this only to show you that in the part i take i mean rather to deserve
your thanks than your displeasure though against yourself were there
occasion nor ought you take it amiss if you rightly weigh the matter 
for sir whom does a lady want protection against but her injurers and
who has been her greatest injurer till therefore she becomes entitled
to your protection as your wife you yourself cannot refuse me some
merit in wishing to have justice done my cousin but sir you were
going to say that if it were not to look like capitulating you would
hint the reasons my cousin gives against accepting such an honourable
mediation 

i then told him of my sincere offers of marriage i made no difficulty 
i said to own my apprehensions that my unhappy behaviour to her had
greatly affected her but that it was the implacableness of her friends
that had thrown her into despair and given her a contempt for life  i
told him that she had been so good as to send me a letter to divert me
from a visit my heart was set upon making her a letter on which i built
great hopes because she assured me that in it she was going to her
father's and that i might see her there when she was received if it
were not my own fault 

col is it possible and were you sir thus earnest and did she
send you such a letter 

lord m confirmed both and also that in obedience to her desires and
that intimation i had come down without the satisfaction i had proposed
to myself in seeing her 

it is very true colonel said i and i should have told you this before 
but your heat made me decline it for as i said it had an appearance of
meanly capitulating with you an abjectness of heart of which had i
been capable i should have despised myself as much as i might have
expected you would despise me 

lord m proposed to enter into the proof of all this he said in his
phraseological way that one story was good till another was heard and
that the harlowe family and i twas true had behaved like so many
orsons to one another and that they had been very free with all our
family besides that nevertheless for the lady's sake more than for
their's or even for mine he could tell me he would do greater things
for me than they could ask if she could be brought to have me and that
this he wanted to declare and would sooner have declared if he could
have brought us sooner to patience and a good understanding 

the colonel made excuses for his warmth on the score of his affection to
his cousin 

my regard for her made me readily admit them and so a fresh bottle of
burgundy and another of champagne being put upon the table we sat down
in good humour after all this blustering in order to enter closer into
the particulars of the case which i undertook at both their desires to
do 

but these things must be the subject of another letter which shall
immediately follow this if it do not accompany it 

mean time you will observe that a bad cause gives a man great
disadvantages for i myself thing that the interrogatories put to me with
so much spirit by the colonel made me look cursedly mean at the same
time that it gave him a superiority which i know not how to allow to the
best man in europe so that literally speaking as a good man would
infer guilt is its own punisher in that it makes the most lofty spirit
look like the miscreant he is a good man i say so jack proleptically
i add thou hast no right to make the observation 



letter xl

mr lovelace
 in continuation  
tuesday afternoon aug 29 


i went back in this part of our conversation to the day that i was
obliged to come down to attend my lord in the dangerous illness which
some feared would have been his last 

i told the colonel what earnest letters i had written to a particular
friend to engage him to prevail upon the lady not to slip a day that had
been proposed for the private celebration of our nuptials and of my
letters written to her on that subject  for i had stepped to my closet 
and fetched down all the letters and draughts and copies of letters
relating to this affair 


 see vol vi letters xxxvii xxxviii xxxix xliii 


i read to him several passages in the copies of those letters which 
thou wilt remember make not a little to my honour  and i told him 
that i wished i had kept copies of those to my friend on the same
occasion by which he would have seen how much in earnest i was in my
professions to her although she would not answer one of them  and thou
mayest remember that one of those four letters accounted to herself why
i was desirous she should remain where i had left her 


 see vol vi letter xxxvii 


i then proceeded to give him an account of the visit made by lady sarah
and lady betty to lord m and me in order to induce me to do her
justice of my readiness to comply with their desires and of their high
opinion of her merit of the visit made to miss howe by my cousins
montague in the name of us all to engage her interest with her friend
in my behalf of my conversation with miss howe at a private assembly 
to whom i gave the same assurances and besought her interest with her
friend 

i then read a copy of the letter though so much to my disadvantage 
which was written to her by miss charlotte montague aug 1 entreating
her alliance in the names of all our family 


 see vol vii letter lxvi 


this made him ready to think that his fair cousin carried her resentment
against me too far he did not imagine he said that either myself or
our family had been so much in earnest 

so thou seest belford that it is but glossing over one part of a story 
and omitting another that will make a bad cause a good one at any time 
what an admirable lawyer should i have made and what a poor hand would
this charming creature with all her innocence have made of it in a
court of justice against a man who had so much to say and to show for
himself 

i then hinted at the generous annual tender which lord m and his sisters
made to his fair cousin in apprehension that she might suffer by her
friends' implacableness 

and this also the colonel highly applauded and was pleased to lament the
unhappy misunderstanding between the two families which had made the
harlowes less fond of an alliance with a family of so much honour as this
instance showed ours to be 

i then told him that having by my friend  meaning thee   who was
admitted into her presence and who had always been an admirer of her
virtues and had given me such advice from time to time in relation to
her as i wished i had followed been assured that a visit from me would
be very disagreeable to her i once more resolved to try what a letter
would do and that accordingly on the seventh of august i wrote her
one 

this colonel is the copy of it i was then out of humour with my lord
m and the ladies of my family you will therefore read it to
yourself  


 see vol vii letter lxxix 


this letter gave him high satisfaction you write here mr lovelace 
from your heart tis a letter full of penitence and acknowledgement 
your request is reasonable to be forgiven only as you shall appear to
deserve it after a time of probation which you leave to her to fix 
pray sir did she return an answer to this letter 

she did but with reluctance i own and not till i had declared by my
friend that if i could not procure one i would go up to town and
throw myself at her feet 

i wish i might be permitted to see it sir or to hear such parts of it
read as you shall think proper 

turning over my papers here it is sir i will make no scruple to put
it into your hands 

this is very obliging mr lovelace 

he read it my charming cousin how strong her resentments yet how
charitable her wishes good heaven that such an excellent creature 
but mr lovelace it is to your regret as much as to mine i doubt not
 

interrupting him i swore that it was 

so it ought said he nor do i wonder that it should be so i shall
tell you by-and-by proceeded he how much she suffers with her friends
by false and villanous reports but sir will you permit me to take
with me these two letters i shall make use of them to the advantage of
you both 

i told him i would oblige him with all my heart and this he took very
kindly as he had reason and put them in his pocket-book promising to
return hem in a few days 

i then told him that upon this her refusal i took upon myself to go to
town in hopes to move her in my favour and that though i went without
giving her notice of my intention yet had she got some notion of my
coming and so contrived to be out of the way and at last when she
found i was fully determined at all events to see her before i went
abroad which i shall do said i if i cannot prevail upon her she
sent me the letter i have already mentioned to you desiring me to
suspend my purposed visit and that for a reason which amazes and
confounds me because i don't find there is any thing in it and yet i
never knew her once dispense with her word for she always made it a
maxim that it was not lawful to do evil that good might come of it and
yet in this letter for no reason in the world but to avoid seeing me to
gratify an humour only has she sent me out of town depending upon the
assurance she had given me 

col this is indeed surprising but i cannot believe that my cousin 
for such an end only or indeed for any end according to the character i
hear of her should stoop to make use of such an artifice 

lovel this colonel is the thing that astonishes me and yet see
here this is the letter she wrote me nay sir tis her own hand 

col i see it is and a charming hand it is 

lovel you observe colonel that all her hopes of reconciliation with
her parents are from you you are her dear blessed friend she always
talked of you with delight 

col would to heaven i had come to england before she left
harlowe-place nothing of this had then happened not a man of those
whom i have heard that her friends proposed for her should have had her 
nor you mr lovelace unless i had found you to be the man every one who
sees you must wish you to be and if you had been that man no one living
should i have preferred to you for such an excellence 

my lord and i both joined in the wish and faith i wished it most
cordially 

the colonel read the letter twice over and then returned it to me tis
all a mystery said he i can make nothing of it for alas her
friends are as averse to a reconciliation as ever 

lord m i could not have thought it but don't you think there is
something very favourable to my nephew in this letter something that
looks as if the lady would comply at last 

col let me die if i know what to make of it this letter is very
different from her preceding one you returned an answer to it mr 
lovelace 

lovel an answer colonel no doubt of it and an answer full of
transport i told her i would directly set out for lord m s in
obedience to her will i told her that i would consent to any thing she
should command in order to promote this happy reconciliation i told
her that it should be my hourly study to the end of my life to deserve
a goodness so transcendent  but i cannot forbear saying that i am not a
little shocked and surprised if nothing more be meant by it than to get
me into the country without seeing her 

col that can't be the thing depend upon it sir there must be more
in it than that for were that all she must think you would soon be
undeceived and that you would then most probably resume your intention 
unless indeed she depended upon seeing me in the interim as she knew i
was arrived but i own i know not what to make of it only that she
does me a great deal of honour if it be me that she calls her dear
blessed friend whom she always loved and honoured indeed i ever loved
her and if i die unmarried and without children shall be as kind to
her as her grandfather was and the rather as i fear there is too much
of envy and self-love in the resentments her brother and sister endeavour
to keep up in her father and mother against her but i shall know better
how to judge of this when my cousin james comes from edinburgh and he
is every hour expected 

but let me ask you mr lovelace what is the name of your friend who is
admitted so easily into my cousin's presence is it not belford pray 

lovel it is sir and mr belford's a man of honour and a great
admirer of your fair cousin 

was i right as to the first jack the last i have such strong proof
of that it makes me question the first since she would not have been
out of the way of my intended visit but for thee 

col are you sure sir that mr belford is a man of honour 

lovel i can swear for him colonel what makes you put this question 

col only this that an officious pragmatical novice has been sent up
to inquire into my cousin's life and conversation and would you believe
it the frequent visits of this gentlemen have been interpreted basely to
her disreputation read that letter mr lovelace and you will be
shocked at ever part of it 

this cursed letter no doubt is from the young levite whom thou jack 
describest as making inquiry of mrs smith about miss harlowe's character
and visiters 


 see vol vii letter lxxxi 


i believe i was a quarter of an hour in reading it for i made it though
not a short one six times as long as it is by the additions of oaths
and curses to every pedantic line lord m too helped to lengthen it by
the like execrations and thou jack wilt have as much reason to curse
it as we 

you cannot but see said the colonel when i had done reading it that
this fellow has been officious in his malevolence for what he says is
mere hearsay and that hearsay conjectural scandal without fact or the
appearance of fact to support it so that an unprejudiced eye upon the
face of the letter would condemn the writer of it as i did and acquit
my cousin but yet such is the spirit by which the rest of my relations
are governed that they run away with the belief of the worst it
insinuates and the dear creature has had shocking letters upon it the
pedant's hints are taken and a voyage to one of the colonies has been
proposed to her as the only way to avoid mr belford and you i have
not seen these letters indeed but they took a pride in repeating some of
their contents which must have cut the poor soul to the heart and
these joined to her former sufferings what have you not mr lovelace 
to answer for 

lovel who the devil could have expected such consequences as these 
who could have believe there could be parents so implacable brother and
sister so immovably fixed against the only means that could be taken to
put all right with every body and what now can be done 

lord m i have great hopes that col morden may yet prevail upon his
cousin and by her last letter it runs in my mind that she has some
thoughts of forgiving all that's past do you think colonel if there
should not be such a thing as a reconciliation going forward at present 
that her letter may not imply that if we could bring such a thing to
bear with her friends she would be reconciled with mr lovelace 

col such an artifice would better become the italian subtilty than the
english simplicity your lordship has been in italy i presume 

lovel my lord has read boccaccio perhaps and that's as well as to
the hint he gives which may be borrowed from one of that author's
stories but miss clarissa harlowe is above all artifice she must have
some meaning i cannot fathom 

col well my lord i can only say that i will make some use of the
letters mr lovelace has obliged me with and after i have had some talk
with my cousin james who is hourly expected and when i have dispatched
two or three affairs that press upon me i will pay my respects to my
dear cousin and shall then be able to form a better judgment of things 
mean time i will write to her for i have sent to inquire about her and
find she wants consolation 

lovel if you favour me colonel with the d d letter of that fellow
brand for a day or two you will oblige me 

col i will but remember the man is a parson mr lovelace an
innocent one too they say else i had been at him before now and
these college novices who think they know every thing in their
cloisters and that all learning lies in books make dismal figures when
they come into the world among men and women 

lord m brand brand it should have been firebrand i think in my
conscience 

thus ended this doughty conference 

i cannot say jack but i am greatly taken with col morden he is brave
and generous and knows the world and then his contempt of the parsons
is a certain sign that he is one of us 

we parted with great civility lord m not a little pleased that we did 
and as greatly taken with colonel repeated his wish after the colonel
was gone that he had arrived in time to save the lady if that would
have done it 

i wish so too for by my soul jack i am every day more and more uneasy
about her but i hope she is not so ill as i am told she is 

i have made charlotte transcribe the letter of this firebrand as my lord
calls him and will enclose her copy of it all thy phlegm i know will
be roused into vengeance when thou readest it 

i know not what to advise as to showing it to the lady yet perhaps 
she will be able to reap more satisfaction than concern from it knowing
her own innocence in that it will give her to hope that her friends'
treatment of her is owing as much to misrepresentation as to their own
natural implacableness such a mind as her's i know would be glad to
find out the shadow of a reason for the shocking letters the colonel says
they have sent her and for their proposal to her of going to some one of
the colonies  confound them all but if i begin to curse i shall never
have done  then it may put her upon such a defence as she might be glad
of an opportunity to make and to shame them for their monstrous
credulity but this i leave to thy own fat-headed prudence only it vexes
me to the heart that even scandal and calumny should dare to surmise the
bare possibility of any man sharing the favours of a woman whom now
methinks i could worship with a veneration due only to a divinity 

charlotte and her sister could not help weeping at the base aspersion 
when when said patty lifting up her hands will this sweet lady's
sufferings be at an end o cousin lovelace 

and thus am i blamed for every one's faults when her brutal father
curses her it is i i upbraid her with her severe mother the
implacableness of her stupid uncles is all mine the virulence of her
brother and the spite of her sister are entirely owing to me the
letter of this rascal brand is of my writing o jack what a wretch is
thy lovelace 


 


returned without a letter this d d fellow will is returned without
a letter yet the rascal tells me that he hears you have been writing to
me these two days 

plague confound thee who must know my impatience and the reason for it 

to send a man and horse on purpose as i did my imagination chained me
to the belly of the beast in order to keep pace with him now he is got
to this place now to that now to london now to thee 

now  a letter given him  whip and spur upon the return this town just
entered not staying to bait that village passed by leaves the wind
behind him in a foaming sweat man and horse 

and in this way did he actually enter lord m s courtyard 

the reverberating pavement brought me down the letter will the
letter dog the letter sirrah 

no letter sir then wildly staring round me fists clenched and
grinning like a maniac confound thee for a dog and him that sent thee
without one this moment out of my sight or i'll scatter thy stupid
brains through the air i snatched from his holsters a pistol while the
rascal threw himself from the foaming beast and ran to avoid the fate
which i wished with all my soul thou hadst been within the reach of me to
have met with 

but to be as meek as a lamb to one who has me at his mercy and can
wring and torture my soul as he pleases what canst thou mean to send
back my varlet without a letter i will send away by day-dawn another
fellow upon another beast for what thou hast written and i charge thee
on thy allegiance that thou dispatch him not back empty-handed 


postscript

charlotte in a whim of delicacy is displeased that i send the enclosed
letter to you that her handwriting forsooth should go into the hands
of a single man 

there's encouragement for thee belford this is a certain sign that
thou may'st have her if thou wilt and yet till she has given me this
unerring demonstration of her glancing towards thee i could not have
thought it indeed i have often in pleasantry told her that i would
bring such an affair to bear but i never intended it because she
really is a dainty girl and thou art such a clumsy fellow in thy person 
that i should as soon have wished her a rhinoceros for a husband as thee 
but poor little dears they must stay till their time's come they
won't have this man and they won't have that man from seventeen to
twenty-five but then afraid as the saying is that god has forgot
them and finding their bloom departing they are glad of whom they can
get and verify the fable of the parson and the pears 



letter xli

mr brand to john harlowe esq 
 enclosed in the preceding  


worthy sir my very good friend and patron 

i arrived in town yesterday after a tolerably pleasant journey
 considering the hot weather and dusty roads i put up at the bull and
gate in holborn and hastened to covent-garden i soon found the house
where the unhappy lady lodgeth and in the back shop had a good deal
of discourse with mrs smith her landlady whom i found to be so
highly prepossessed' in her favour  that i saw it would not answer
your desires to take my informations altogether' from her and being
obliged to attend my patron who to my sorrow 


 see vol vii letter lxxxi 
 transcriber's note mr brand's letters are characterized by a style
that makes excessive use of italics for emphasis although in the
remainder of clarissa i have largely disregarded italics for the sake
of plain-text formatting this style makes such emphatic use of italics
that i have indicated all such instances in his letters by placing the
italicized words and phrases in quotations thus   


 miserum et aliena vivere quadra  

i find wanteth much waiting upon and is another' sort of man than he
was at college for sir inter nos  honours change manners  for the
aforesaid causes  i thought it would best answer all the ends of the
commission with which you honoured me to engage in the desired
scrutiny the wife of a particular friend  who liveth almost
over-against the house where she lodgeth and who is a gentlewoman of
character  and sobriety  a mother of children  and one who
knoweth' the world' well 

to her i applied myself therefore and gave her a short history of the
case and desired she would very particularly inquire into the conduct'
of the unhappy young lady her present way of life' and subsistence' 
her visiters  her employments  and such-like for these sir you
know are the things whereof you wished to be informed 

accordingly sir i waited upon the gentlewoman aforesaid this day and 
to my' very great trouble because i know it will be to your's  and
likewise to all your worthy family's i must say that i do find things
look a little more darkly' than i hoped the would for alas sir the
gentlewoman's report turneth out not so favourable' for miss's
reputation as i' wished as you' wished and as every one' of her
friends wished but so it is throughout the world that one false step'
generally brings on another' and peradventure a worse  and a still
worse' till the poor limed soul' a very fit epithet of the divine
quarles's is quite entangled  and without infinite mercy lost for
ever 

it seemeth sir she is notwithstanding in a very ill state of
health  in this both' gentlewomen that is to say mrs smith her
landlady and my friend's wife agree yet she goeth often out in a
chair to prayers' as it is said but my friend's wife told me that
nothing is more common in london than that the frequenting of the church
at morning prayers is made the pretence' and cover' for private
assignations  what a sad thing is this that what was designed for
wholesome nourishment' to the poor soul  should be turned into rank
poison  but as mr daniel de foe an ingenious man though a
dissenter' observeth but indeed it is an old proverb only i think he
was the first that put it into verse 

 god never had a house of pray'r
 but satan had a chapel there 

yet to do the lady justice  nobody cometh home with her nor indeed
can' they because she goeth forward and backward in a sedan  or
chair  as they call it but then there is a gentleman of no good
character' an intimado' of mr lovelace who is a constant' visiter
of her and of the people of the house whom he regaleth' and
treateth  and hath of consequence their high good words 

i have thereupon taken the trouble for i love to be exact' in any
commission' i undertake to inquire particularly' about this
gentleman  as he is called albeit i hold no man so but by his actions 
for as juvenal saith 

 nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus' 

and this i did before' i would sit down to write to you 

his name is belford he hath a paternal estate of upwards of one
thousand pounds by the year and is now in mourning for an uncle who left
him very considerably besides he beareth a very profligate character as
to women  for i inquired particularly about that  and is mr 
lovelace's more especial privado  with whom he holdeth a regular
correspondence' and hath been often seen with miss tete a tete at the
window' in no bad way  indeed but my friend's wife is of opinion
that all is not as it should be  and indeed it is mighty strange to
me if miss be so notable a penitent' as is represented and if she
have such an aversion' to mr lovelace that she will admit his
privado' into her retirements  and see no other company 

i understand from mrs smith that mr hickman was to see her some time
ago from miss howe and i am told by another' hand you see sir how
diligent i have been to execute the commissions' you gave me that he
had no extraordinary opinion' of this belford at first though they were
seen together one morning by the opposite neighbour at breakfast' and
another time this belford was observed to watch' mr hickman's coming
from her so that as it should seem he was mighty zealous to
ingratiate' himself with mr hickman no doubt to engage him to make a
favourable report to miss howe' of the intimacy' he was admitted into
by her unhappy friend who as she is very ill' may mean no harm' in
allowing his visits for he it seemeth brought to her or recommended 
at least the doctor and apothecary that attend her but i think upon
the whole it looketh not well 

i am sorry sir i cannot give you a better account of the young lady's
prudence  but what shall we say 

 uvaque conspecta livorem ducit ab uva 

as juvenal observeth 

one thing i am afraid of which is that miss may be under necessities' 
and that this belford who as mrs smith owns hath offered her money 
which she at the time  refused may find an opportunity to take
advantage' of those necessities' and it is well observed by that poet 
that

 aegre formosam poteris servare puellam 
 nunc prece nunc pretio forma petita ruit 

and this belford who is a bold man  and hath as they say the look'
of one may make good that of horace with whose writings you are so
well acquainted nobody better 

 audax omnia perpeti 
 gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas 

forgive me sir for what i am going to write but if you could prevail
upon the rest of your family to join in the scheme which you  and her
virtuous sister  miss arabella and the archdeacon and i once talked
of which is to persuade the unhappy young lady to go in some
creditable' manner to some one of the foreign colonies it might not
save only her own credit' and reputation  but the reputation' and
credit' of all her family  and a great deal of vexation' moreover 
for it is my humble opinion that you will hardly any of you enjoy
yourselves while this once' innocent young lady is in the way of being
so frequently heard of by you and this would put her out of the way'
both of this belford' and of that lovelace  and it might 
peradventure prevent as much evil' as scandal 

you will forgive me sir for this my plainness  ovid pleadeth for me 

  adulator nullus amicus erit 

and i have no view but that of approving myself a zealous well-wisher'
to all' your worthy family whereto i owe a great number of
obligations and very particularly sir 

your obliged and humble servant 
elias brand 

wedn aug 9 


p s i shall give you farther hints' when i come down which will be in
 a few days and who my informants' were but by these' you will
 see that i have been very assiduous for the time in the task you
 set me upon 

the length' of my letter you will excuse for i need not tell you sir 
 what narrative  complex  and conversation' letters such a one
 as mine' require every one to his talent  letter-writing'
 is mine i will be bold to say and that my correspondence' was
 much coveted in the university on that account by tyros  and
 by sophs  when i was hardly a soph' myself but this i should
 not have taken upon myself to mention but only in defence of the
 length' of my letter for nobody writeth shorter' or pithier 
 when the subject requireth common forms' only but in apologizing
 for my prolixity  i am adding' to the fault  if it were one 
 which however i cannot think it to be the subject' considered 
 but this i have said before in other words so sir if you will
 excuse my post-script  i am sure you will not find fault with my
 letter 

one word more as to a matter of erudition  which you greatly love to
 hear me start' and dwell upon  dr lewen once in your'
 presence as you my good patron  cannot but remember in a
 smartish' kind of debate between him' and me  took upon him to
 censure the paranthetical' style as i call it he was a very
 learned and judicious man to be sure and an ornament to our
 function' but yet i must needs say that it is a style which i
 greatly like and the good doctor was then past his youth  and
 that time of life of consequence when a fertile imagination 
 and a rich fancy  pour in ideas so fast upon a writer that
 parentheses are often wanted and that for the sake of brevity 
 as well as perspicuity' to save the reader the trouble of reading
 a passage more than once  every man to his talent as i said
 before we are all so apt to set up our natural biasses' for
 general standards  that i wondered the less' at the worthy
 doctor's stiffness' on this occasion he smiled at me  you may
 remember sir and whether i was right or not i am sure i smiled
 at him  and you  my worthy patron  as i had the satisfaction
 to observe seemed to be of my party  but was it not strange 
 that the old gentleman' and i' should so widely differ when the
 end' with both' that is to say perspicuity' or clearness  
 was the same but what shall we say 

 errare est hominis sed non persistere 

i think i have nothing to add until i have the honour of attending you in
 person' but i am as above etc etc etc 

e b 



letter xlii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday night aug 30 


it was lucky enough that our two servants met at hannah's which gave
them so good an opportunity of exchanging their letters time enough for
each to return to his master early in the day 


 the windmill near slough 


thou dost well to boast of thy capacity for managing servants and to set
up for correcting our poets in their characters of this class of people 
when like a madman thou canst beat their teeth out and attempt to
shoot them through the head for not bringing to thee what they had no
power to obtain 


 see letter xx of this volume 


you well observe that you would have made a thorough-paced lawyer the
whole of the conversation-piece between you and the colonel affords a
convincing proof that there is a black and a white side to every cause 
but what must the conscience of a partial whitener of his own cause or
blackener of another's tell him while he is throwing dust in the eyes
of his judges and all the time knows his own guilt 


 see letter xl of this volume 


the colonel i see is far from being a faultless man but while he
sought not to carry his point by breach of faith he has an excuse which
thou hast not but with respect to him and to us all i can now with
the detestation of some of my own actions see that the taking advantage
of another person's good opinion of us to injure perhaps to ruin that
other is the most ungenerous wickedness that can be committed 

man acting thus by man we should not be at a loss to give such actions a
name but is it not doubly and trebly aggravated when such advantage is
taken of an unexperienced and innocent young creature whom we pretend to
love above all the women in the world and when we seal our pretences by
the most solemn vows and protestations of inviolable honour that we can
invent 

i see that this gentleman is the best match thou ever couldest have had 
upon all accounts his spirit such another impetuous one as thy own soon
taking fire vindictive and only differing in this that the cause he
engages in is a just one but commend me to honest brutal mowbray who 
before he knew the cause offers his sword in thy behalf against a man
who had taken the injured side and whom he had never seen before 

as soon as i had run through your letters and the copy of that of the
incendiary brand's by the latter of which i saw to what cause a great
deal of this last implacableness of the harlowe family is owing i took
coach to smith's although i had been come from thence but about an hour 
and had taken leave of the lady for the night 

i sent up for mrs lovick and desired her in the first place to
acquaint the lady who was busied in her closet that i had letters from
berks in which i was informed that the interview between colonel morden
and mr lovelace had ended without ill consequences that the colonel
intended to write to her very soon and was interesting himself mean
while in her favour with her relations that i hoped that this
agreeable news would be means of giving her good rest and i would wait
upon her in the morning by the time she should return from prayers with
all the particulars 

she sent me word that she should be glad to see me in the morning and
was highly obliged to me for the good news i had sent her up 

i then in the back shop read to mrs lovick and to mrs smith the copy
of brand's letter and asked them if they could guess at the man's
informant they were not at a loss mrs smith having seen the same
fellow brand who had talked with her as i mentioned in the former come
out of a milliner's shop over against them which milliner she said had
also lately been very inquisitive about the lady 


 see vol vii letter lxxxi 


i wanted no farther hint but bidding them take no notice to the lady of
what i had read i shot over the way and asking for the mistress of the
house she came to me 

retiring with her at her invitation into her parlour i desired to know
if she were acquainted with a young country clergyman of the name of
brand she hesitatingly seeing me in some emotion owned that she had
some small knowledge of the gentleman just then came in her husband 
who is it seems a petty officer of excise and not an ill-behaved
man who owned a fuller knowledge of him 

i have the copy of a letter said i from this brand in which he has
taken great liberties with my character and with that of the most
unblamable lady in the world which he grounds upon information that you 
madam have given him and then i read to them several passages in his
letter and asked what foundation she had for giving that fellow such
impressions of either of us 

they knew not what to answer but at last said that he had told them how
wickedly the young lady had run away from her parents what worthy and
rich people they were in what favour he stood with them and that they
had employed him to inquire after her behaviour visiters etc 

they said that indeed they knew very little of the young lady but that
 curse upon their censoriousness   it was but too natural to think that 
where a lady had given way to a delusion and taken so wrong a step she
would not stop there that the most sacred places and things were but too
often made clokes for bad actions that mr brand had been informed
 perhaps by some enemy of mine that i was a man of very free principles 
and an intimado as he calls it of the man who had ruined her and that
their cousin barker a manteau-maker who lodged up one pair of stairs 
 and who at their desire came down and confirmed what they said had
often from her window seen me with the lady in her chamber and both
talking very earnestly together and that mr brand being unable to
account for her admiring my visits and knowing i was but a new
acquaintance of her's and an old one of mr lovelace thought himself
obliged to lay these matters before her friends 

this was the sum and substance of their tale o how i cursed the
censoriousness of this plaguy triumvirate a parson a milliner and a
mantua-maker the two latter not more by business led to adorn the
persons than generally by scandal to destroy the reputations of those
they have a mind to exercise their talents upon 

the two women took great pains to persuade me that they themselves were
people of conscience of consequence i told them too much addicted i
feared to censure other people who pretended not to their strictness 
for that i had ever found censoriousness with those who affected to be
thought more pious than their neighbours 

they answered that that was not their case and that they had since
inquired into the lady's character and manner of life and were very much
concerned to think any thing they had said should be made use of against
her and as they heard from mrs smith that she was not likely to live
long they should be sorry she should go out of the world a sufferer by
their means or with an ill opinion of them though strangers to her 
the husband offered to write if i pleased to mr brand in vindication
of the lady and the two women said they should be glad to wait upon her
in person to beg her pardon for any thing she had reason to take amiss
from them because they were now convinced that there was not such
another young lady in the world 

i told them that the least said of the affair to the lady in her present
circumstances was best that she was a heavenly creature and fond of
taking all occasions to find excuses for her relations on their
implacableness to her that therefore i should take some notice to her of
the uncharitable and weak surmises which gave birth to so vile a scandal 
but that i would have him mr walton for that is the husband's name 
write to his acquaintance brand as soon as possible as he had offered 
and so i left them 

as to what thou sayest of thy charming cousin let me know if thou hast
any meaning in it i have not the vanity to think myself deserving of
such a lady as miss montague and should not therefore care to expose
myself to her scorn and to thy derision but were i assured i might
avoid both of these i would soon acquaint thee that i should think no
pains nor assiduity too much to obtain a share in the good graces of such
a lady 

but i know thee too well to depend upon any thing thou sayest on this
subject thou lovest to make thy friends the objects of ridicule to
ladies and imaginest from the vanity and in this respect i will say
littleness of thine own heart that thou shinest the brighter for the
foil 

thus didst thou once play off the rough mowbray with miss hatton till
the poor fellow knew not how to go either backward or forward 



letter xliii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday 11 o'clock aug 31 


i am just come from the lady whom i left cheerful and serene 

she thanked me for my communication of the preceding night i read to
her such parts of your letters as i could read to her and i thought it
was a good test to distinguish the froth and whipt-syllabub in them from
the cream in what one could and could not read to a woman of so fine a
mind since four parts out of six of thy letters which i thought
entertaining as i read them to myself appeared to me when i should have
read them to her most abominable stuff and gave me a very contemptible
idea of thy talents and of my own judgment 

she as far from rejoicing as i had done at the disappointment her
letter gave you when explained 

she said she meant only an innocent allegory which might carry
instruction and warning to you when the meaning was taken as well as
answer her own hopes for the time it was run off in a hurry she was
afraid it was not quite right in her but hoped the end would excuse if
it could not justify the means and then she again expressed a good
deal of apprehension lest you should still take it into your head to
molest her when her time she said was so short that she wanted every
moment of it repeating what she had once said before that when she
wrote she was so ill that she believed she should not have lived till
now if she had thought she should she must have studied for an
expedient that would have better answered her intentions hinting at a
removal out of the knowledge of us both 

but she was much pleased that the conference between you and colonel
morden after two or three such violent sallies as i acquainted her you
had had between you ended so amicably and said she must absolutely
depend upon the promise i had given her to use my utmost endeavours to
prevent farther mischief on her account 

she was pleased with the justice you did her character to her cousin 

she was glad to hear that he had so kind an opinion of her and that he
would write to her 

i was under an unnecessary concern how to break to her that i had the
copy of brand's vile letter unnecessary i say for she took it just as
you thought she would as an excuse she wished to have for the
implacableness of her friends and begged i would let her read it
herself for said she the contents cannot disturb me be they what they
will 

i gave it to her and she read it to herself a tear now and then being
ready to start and a sigh sometimes interposing 

she gave me back the letter with great and surprising calmness 
considering the subject 

there was a time said she and that not long since when such a letter
as this would have greatly pained me but i hope i have now go above all
these things and i can refer to your kind offices and to those of miss
howe the justice that will be done to my memory among my friends there
is a good and a bad light in which every thing that befalls us may be
taken if the human mind will busy itself to make the worst of every
disagreeable occurrence it will never want woe this letter affecting
as the subject of it is to my reputation gives me more pleasure than
pain because i can gather from it that had not my friends been
prepossessed by misinformed or rash and officious persons who are always
at hand to flatter or soothe the passions of the affluent they could not
have been so immovably determined against me but now they are
sufficiently cleared from every imputation of unforgivingness for while
i appeared to them in the character of a vile hypocrite pretending to
true penitence yet giving up myself to profligate courses how could i
expect either their pardon or blessing 

but madam said i you'll see by the date of this letter that their
severity previous to that cannot be excused by it 

it imports me much replied she on account of my present wishes as to
the office you are so kind to undertake that you should not think
harshly of my friends i must own to you that i have been apt sometimes
myself to think them not only severe but cruel suffering minds will be
partial to their own cause and merits knowing their own hearts if
sincere they are apt to murmur when harshly treated but if they are
not believed to be innocent by persons who have a right to decide upon
their conduct according to their own judgments how can it be helped 
besides sir how do you know that there are not about my friends as
well-meaning misrepresenters as mr brand really seems to be but be
this as it will there is no doubt that there are and have been
multitudes of persons as innocent as myself who have suffered upon
surmises as little probable as those on which mr brand founds his
judgment your intimacy sir with mr lovelace and may i say a
character which it seems you have been less solicitous formerly to
justify than perhaps you will be for the future and your frequent visits
to me may well be thought to be questionable circumstances in my conduct 

i could only admire her in silence 

but you see sir proceeded she how necessary it is for young people of
our sex to be careful of our company and how much at the same time it
behoves young persons of your's to be chary of their own reputation were
it only for the sake of such of our's as they may mean honourably by and
who otherwise may suffer in their good names for being seen in their
company 

as to mr brand continued she he is to be pitied and let me enjoin
you mr belford not to take any resentments against him which may be
detrimental either to his person or his fortunes let his function and
his good meaning plead for him he will have concern enough when he
finds every body whose displeasure i now labour under acquitting my
memory of perverse guilt and joining in a general pity for me 

this lovelace is the woman whose life thou hast curtailed in the
blossom of it how many opportunities must thou have had of admiring her
inestimable worth yet couldst have thy senses so much absorbed in the
woman in her charming person as to be blind to the angel that shines
out in such full glory in her mind indeed i have ever thought myself 
when blest with her conversation in the company of a real angel and i
am sure it would be impossible for me were she to be as beautiful and
as crimsoned over with health as i have seen her to have the least
thought of sex when i heard her talk 


thursday three o'clock aug 31 

on my re-visit to the lady i found her almost as much a sufferer from
joy as she had sometimes been from grief for she had just received a
very kind letter from her cousin morden which she was so good as to
communicate to me as she had already begun to answer it i begged leave
to attend her in the evening that i might not interrupt her in it 

the letter is a very tender one 

 here mr belford gives the substance of it upon his memory but that is
 omitted as the letter is given at length see the next letter 
 and then adds  

but alas all will be now too late for the decree is certainly gone
out the world is unworthy of her 



letter xliv

colonel morden to miss clarissa harlowe
tuesday aug 29 


i should not my dearest cousin have been a fortnight in england 
without either doing myself the honour of waiting upon you in person or
of writing to you if i had not been busying myself almost all the time
in your service in hopes of making my visit or letter still more
acceptable to you acceptable as i have reason to presume either will be
from the unquestionable love i ever bore you and from the esteem you
always honoured me with 

little did i think that so many days would have been required to effect
my well-intended purpose where there used to be a love so ardent on one
side and where there still is as i am thoroughly convinced the most
exalted merit on the other 

i was yesterday with mr lovelace and lord m i need not tell you it
seems how very desirous the whole family and all the relations of that
nobleman are of the honour of an alliance with you nor how exceedingly
earnest the ungrateful man is to make you all the reparation in his
power 

i think my dear cousin that you cannot now do better than to give him
the honour of your hand he says just and great things of your virtue 
and so heartily condemns himself that i think there is honorable room
for you to forgive him and the more room as it seems you are determined
against a legal prosecution 

your effectual forgiveness of mr lovelace it is evident to me will
accelerate a general reconciliation for at present my other cousins
cannot persuade themselves that he is in earnest to do you justice or
that you would refuse him if you believed he was 

but my dear cousin there may possibly be something in this affair to
which i may be a stranger if there be and you will acquaint me with
it all that a naturally-warm heart can do in your behalf shall be done 

i hope i shall be able in my next visits to my several cousins to set
all right with them haughty spirits when convinced that they have
carried resentments too high want but a good excuse to condescend and
parents must always love the child they once loved 

but if i find them inflexible i will set out and attend you without
delay for i long to see you after so many years' absence 

mean while i beg the favour of a few lines to know if you have reason
to doubt mr lovelace's sincerity for my part i can have none if i am
to judge from the conversation that passed between us yesterday in
presence of lord m 

you will be pleased to direct for me at your uncle antony's 

permit me my dearest cousin till i can procure a happy reconciliation
between you and your father and brother and uncles to supply the place
to you of all those near relations as well as that of

your affectionate kinsman and humble servant 
wm morden 



letter xlv

miss clarissa harlowe to wm morden esq 
thursday aug 31 


i most heartily congratulate you dear sir on your return to your native
country 

i heard with much pleasure that you were come but i was both afraid and
ashamed till you encouraged me by a first notice to address myself to
you 

how consoling is it to my wounded heart to find that you have not been
carried away by that tide of resentment and displeasure with which i have
been so unhappily overwhelmed but that while my still nearer relations
have not thought fit to examine into the truth of vile reports raised
against me you have informed yourself of my innocence and generously
credited the information 

i have not the least reason to doubt mr lovelace's sincerity in his
offers of marriage nor that all his relations are heartily desirous of
ranking me among them i have had noble instances of their esteem for
me on their apprehending that my father's displeasure must have had
absolutely refused their pressing solicitations in their kinsman's favour
as well as his own 

nor think me my dear cousin blamable for refusing him i had given mr 
lovelace no reason to think me a weak creature if i had a man of his
character might have thought himself warranted to endeavour to take
ungenerous advantage of the weakness he had been able to inspire the
consciousness of my own weakness in that case might have brought me to
a composition with his wickedness 

i can indeed forgive him but that is because i think his crimes have
set me above him can i be above the man sir to whom i shall give my
hand and my vows and with them a sanction to the most premeditated
baseness no sir let me say that your cousin clarissa were she
likely to live many years and that if she married not this man in
penury or want despised and forsaken by all her friends puts not so
high a value upon the conveniencies of life nor upon life itself as to
seek to re-obtain the one or to preserve the other by giving such a
sanction a sanction which were she to perform her duty would reward
the violator 

nor is it so much from pride as from principle that i say this what 
sir when virtue when chastity is the crown of a woman and
particularly of a wife shall form an attempt upon her's but upon a
presumption that she was capable of receiving his offered hand when he
had found himself mistaken in the vile opinion he had conceived of her 
hitherto he has not had reason to think me weak nor will i give an
instance so flagrant that weak i am in a point in which it would be
criminal to be found weak 

one day sir you will perhaps know all my story but whenever it is
known i beg that the author of my calamities may not be vindictively
sought after he could not have been the author of them but for a
strange concurrence of unhappy causes as the law will not be able to
reach him when i am gone the apprehension of any other sort of vengeance
terrifies me since in such a case should my friends be safe what
honour would his death bring to my memory if any of them should come to
misfortune how would my fault be aggravated 

god long preserve you my dearest cousin and bless you but in proportion
to the consolation you have given me in letting me know that you still
love me and that i have one near and dear relation who can pity and
forgive me and then you will be greatly blessed is the prayer of

your ever grateful and affectionate
cl harlowe 



letter xlvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to his letters xxiii xxxvii of this volume  
thursday aug 31 


i cannot but own that i am cut to the heart by this miss harlowe's
interpretation of her letter she ought never to be forgiven she a
meek person and a penitent and innocent and pious and i know not
what who can deceive with a foot in the grave 

tis evident that she sat down to write this letter with a design to
mislead and deceive and if she be capable of that at such a crisis 
she has as much need of heaven's forgiveness as i have of her's and 
with all her cant of charity and charity if she be not more sure of it
than i am of her real pardon and if she take the thing in the light she
ought to take it in she will have a few darker moments yet to come than
she seems to expect 

lord m himself who is not one of those to speak in his own phrase who
can penetrate a millstone sees the deceit and thinks it unworthy of
her though my cousins montague vindicate her and no wonder this cursed
partial sex  i hate em all by my soul i hate em all   will never
allow any thing against an individual of it where our's is concerned 
and why because if they censure deceit in another they must condemn
their own hearts 

she is to send me a letter after she is in heaven is she the devil
take such allegories and the devil take thee for calling this absurdity
an innocent artifice 

i insist upon it that if a woman of her character at such a critical
time is to be justified in such a deception a man in full health and
vigour of body and mind as i am may be excused for all his stratagems
and attempts against her and thank my stars i can now sit me down
with a quiet conscience on that score by my soul i can jack nor has
any body who can acquit her a right to blame me but with some 
indeed every thing she does must be good every thing i do must be bad 
and why because she has always taken care to coax the stupid misjudging
world like a woman while i have constantly defied and despised its
censures like a man 

but notwithstanding all you may let her know from me that i will not
molest her since my visits would be so shocking to her and i hope she
will take this into her consideration as a piece of generosity which she
could hardly expect after the deception she has put upon me and let her
farther know that if there be any thing in my power that will
contribute either to her ease or honour i will obey her at the very
first intimation however disgraceful or detrimental to myself all
this to make her unapprehensive and that she may have nothing to pull
her back 

if her cursed relations could be brought as cheerfully to perform their
parts i'd answer life for life for her recovery 

but who that has so many ludicrous images raised in his mind by the
awkward penitence can forbear laughing at thee spare i beseech thee 
dear belford for the future all thine own aspirations if thou wouldst
not dishonour those of an angel indeed 

when i came to that passage where thou sayest that thou considerest her 
as one sent from heaven to draw thee after her for the heart of me i
could not for an hour put thee out of my head in the attitude of dame
elizabeth carteret on her monument in westminster abbey if thou never
observedst it go thither on purpose and there wilt thou see this dame
in effigy with uplifted head and hand the latter taken hold of by a
cupid every inch of stone one clumsy foot lifted up also aiming as the
sculptor designed it to ascend but so executed as would rather make
one imagine that the figure without shoe or stocking as it is though
the rest of the body is robed was looking up to its corn-cutter the
other riveted to its native earth bemired like thee immersed thou
callest it beyond the possibility of unsticking itself both figures 
thou wilt find seem to be in a contention the bigger whether it should
pull down the lesser about its ears the lesser a chubby fat little
varlet of a fourth part of the other's bigness with wings not much
larger than those of a butterfly whether it should raise the larger to a
heaven it points to hardly big enough to contain the great toes of
either 


 see letter xxxvii of this volume 


thou wilt say perhaps that the dame's figure in stone may do credit in
the comparison to thine both in grain and shape wooden as thou art all
over but that the lady who in every thing but in the trick she has
played me so lately is truly an angel is but sorrily represented by the
fat-flanked cupid this i allow thee but yet there is enough in thy
aspirations to strike my mind with a resemblance of thee and the lady to
the figures on the wretched monument for thou oughtest to remember 
that prepared as she may be to mount to her native skies it is
impossible for her to draw after her a heavy fellow who has so much to
repent of as thou hast 

but now to be serious once more let me tell you belford that if the
lady be really so ill as you write she is it will become you  no roman
style here   in a case so very affecting to be a little less pointed and
sarcastic in your reflections for upon my soul the matter begins to
grate me most confoundedly 

i am now so impatient to hear oftener of her that i take the hint
accidentally given me by our two fellows meeting at slough and resolve
to go to our friend doleman's at uxbridge whose wife and sister as well
as he have so frequently pressed me to give them my company for a week
or two there shall i be within two hours' ride if any thing should
happen to induce her to see me for it will well become her piety and
avowed charity should the worst happen  the lord of heaven and earth 
however avert that worst   to give me that pardon from her lips which
she has not denied to me by pen and ink and as she wishes my
reformation she knows not what good effects such an interview may have
upon me 

i shall accordingly be at doleman's to-morrow morning by eleven at
farthest my fellow will find me there at his return from you with a
letter i hope i shall have joel with me likewise that i may send
the oftener as matters fall out were i to be still nearer or in town 
it would be impossible to withhold myself from seeing her 

but if the worst happen as by your continual knelling i know not
what to think of it  yet once more heaven avert that worst how
natural it is to pray when once cannot help one's self   then say not 
in so many dreadful words what the event is only that you advise me to
take a trip to paris and that will stab me to the heart 


 


i so well approve of your generosity to poor belton's sister that i have
made mowbray give up his legacy as i do mine towards her india bonds 
when i come to town tourville shall do the like and we will buy each a
ring to wear in memory of the honest fellow with our own money that we
may perform his will as well as our own 

my fellow rides the rest of the night i charge you jack if you would
save his life that you send him not back empty-handed 



letter xlvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tuesday night aug 30 


when i concluded my last i hoped that my next attendance upon this
surprising lady would furnish me with some particulars as agreeable as
now could be hoped for from the declining way she is in by reason of
the welcome letter she had received from her cousin morden but it
proved quite otherwise to me though not to herself for i think i was
never more shocked in my life than on the occasion i shall mention
presently 

when i attended her about seven in the evening she told me that she
found herself in a very petulant way after i had left her strange said
she that the pleasure i received from my cousin's letter should have
such an effect upon me but i could not help giving way to a comparative
humour as i may call it and to think it very hard that my nearer
relations did not take the methods which my cousin morden kindly took by
inquiring into my merit or demerit and giving my cause a fair audit
before they proceeded to condemnation 

she had hardly said this when she started and a blush overspread her
sweet face on hearing as i also did a sort of lumbering noise upon the
stairs as if a large trunk were bringing up between two people and 
looking upon me with an eye of concern blunderers said she they have
brought in something two hours before the time don't be surprised sir
 it is all to save you trouble 

before i could speak in came mrs smith o madam said she what have
you done mrs lovick entering made the same exclamation lord have
mercy upon me madam cried i what have you done for she stepping at
the same instant to the door the women told me it was a coffin o
lovelace that thou hadst been there at that moment thou the causer of
all these shocking scenes surely thou couldst not have been less
affected than i who have no guilt as to her to answer for 

with an intrepidity of a piece with the preparation having directed them
to carry it to her bed-chamber she returned to us they were not to have
brought it in till after dark said she pray excuse me mr belford 
and don't you mrs lovick be concerned nor you mrs smith why
should you there is nothing more in it than the unusualness of the
thing why may we not be as reasonably shocked at going to church where
are the monuments of our ancestors with whose dust we even hope our dust
shall be one day mingled as to be moved at such a sight as this 

we all remaining silent the women having their aprons at their eyes why
this concern for nothing at all said she if i am to be blamed for any
thing it is for showing too much solicitude as it may be thought for
this earthly part i love to do every thing for myself that i can do i
ever did every other material point is so far done and taken care of 
that i have had leisure for things of lesser moment minutenesses may be
observed where greater articles are not neglected for them i might
have had this to order perhaps when less fit to order it i have no
mother no sister no mrs norton no miss howe near me some of you
must have seen this in a few days if not now perhaps have had the
friendly trouble of directing it and what is the difference of a few
days to you when i am gratified rather than discomposed by it i shall
not die the sooner for such a preparation should not every body that
has any thing to bequeath make their will and who that makes a will 
should be afraid of a coffin my dear friends  to the women  i have
considered these things do not with such an object before you as you
have had in me for weeks give me reason to think you have not 

how reasonable was all this it showed indeed that she herself had
well considered it but yet we could not help being shocked at the
thoughts of the coffin thus brought in the lovely person before our
eyes who is in all likelihood so soon to fill it 

we were all silent still the women in grief i in a manner stunned she
would not ask me she said but would be glad since it had thus earlier
than she had intended been brought in that her two good friends would
walk in and look upon it they would be less shocked when it was made
more familiar to their eye don't you lead back said she a starting
steed to the object he is apt to start at in order to familiarize him to
it and cure his starting the same reason will hold in this case come 
my good friends i will lead you in 

i took my leave telling her she had done wrong very wrong and ought
not by any means to have such an object before her 

the women followed her in tis a strange sex nothing is too shocking
for them to look upon or see acted that has but novelty and curiosity
in it 

down i posted got a chair and was carried home extremely shocked and
discomposed yet weighing the lady's arguments i know not why i was so
affected except as she said at the unusualness of the thing 

while i waited for a chair mrs smith came down and told me that there
were devices and inscriptions upon the lid lord bless me is a coffin a
proper subject to display fancy upon but these great minds cannot avoid
doing extraordinary things 



letter xlviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday morn sept 1 


it is surprising that i a man should be so much affected as i was at
such an object as is the subject of my former letter who also in my
late uncle's case and poor belton's had the like before me and the
directing of it when she a woman of so weak and tender a frame who
was to fill it so soon perhaps to fill it could give orders about it 
and draw out the devices upon it and explain them with so little concern
as the women tell me she did to them last night after i was gone 

i really was ill and restless all night thou wert the subject of my
execration as she was of my admiration all the time i was quite awake 
and when i dozed i dreamt of nothing but of flying hour-glasses 
deaths-heads spades mattocks and eternity the hint of her devices as
given me by mrs smith running in my head 

however not being able to keep away from smith's i went thither about
seven the lady was just gone out she had slept better i found than
i though her solemn repository was under her window not far from her
bed-side 

i was prevailed upon by mrs smith and her nurse shelburne mrs lovick
being abroad with her to go up and look at the devices mrs lovick has
since shown me a copy of the draught by which all was ordered and i will
give thee a sketch of the symbols 

the principal device neatly etched on a plate of white metal is a
crowned serpent with its tail in its mouth forming a ring the emblem
of eternity and in the circle made by it is this inscription 

 clarissa harlowe 

 april x 

  then the year  

 aetat xix 

for ornaments at top an hour-glass winged at bottom an urn 

under the hour-glass on another plate this inscription 

 here the wicked cease from troubling and here the
 weary be at rest job iii 17 

over the urn near the bottom 

 turn again unto thy rest o my soul for the lord hath
 rewarded thee and why thou hast delivered my
 soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet
 from falling ps cxvi 7 8 

over this is the head of a white lily snapt short off and just falling
from the stalk and this inscription over that between the principal
plate and the lily 

 the days of man are but as grass for he flourisheth as a
 flower of the field for as soon as the wind goeth over
 it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no
 more ps ciii 15 16 

she excused herself to the women on the score of her youth and being
used to draw for her needleworks for having shown more fancy than would
perhaps be thought suitable on so solemn an occasion 

the date april 10 she accounted for as not being able to tell what her
closing-day would be and as that was the fatal day of her leaving her
father's house 

she discharged the undertaker's bill after i went away with as much
cheerfulness as she could ever have paid for the clothes she sold to
purchase this her palace for such she called it reflecting upon herself
for the expensiveness of it saying that they might observe in her that
pride left not poor mortals to the last but indeed she did not know but
her father would permit it when furnished to be carried down to be
deposited with her ancestors and in that case she ought not to
discredit those ancestors in her appearance amongst them 

it is covered with fine black cloth and lined with white satin soon 
she said to be tarnished with viler earth than any it could be covered
by 

the burial-dress was brought home with it the women had curiosity
enough i suppose to see her open that if she did open it and 
perhaps thou wouldst have been glad to have been present to have admired
it too 

mrs lovick said she took the liberty to blame her and wished the
removal of such an object from her bed-chamber at least and was so
affected with the noble answer she made upon it that she entered it down
the moment she left her 

to persons in health said she this sight may be shocking and the
preparation and my unconcernedness in it may appear affected but to
me who have had so gradual a weaning-time from the world and so much
reason not to love it i must say i dwell on i indulge and strictly
speaking i enjoy the thoughts of death for believe me   looking
stedfastly at the awful receptacle   believe what at this instant i feel
to be most true that there is such a vast superiority of weight and
importance in the thought of death and its hoped-for happy consequences 
that it in a manner annihilates all other considerations and concerns 
believe me my good friends it does what nothing else can do it teaches
me by strengthening in me the force of the divinest example to forgive
the injuries i have received and shuts out the remembrance of past evils
from my soul 

and now let me ask thee lovelace dost thou think that when the time
shall come that thou shalt be obliged to launch into the boundless ocean
of eternity thou wilt be able any more than poor belton to act thy
part with such true heroism as this sweet and tender blossom of a woman
has manifested and continues to manifest 

oh no it cannot be and why can't it be the reason is evident she
has no wilful errors to look back upon with self-reproach and her mind
is strengthened by the consolations which flow from that religious
rectitude which has been the guide of all her actions and which has
taught her rather to choose to be a sufferer than an aggressor 

this was the support of the divine socrates as thou hast read when led
to execution his wife lamenting that he should suffer being innocent 
thou fool said he wouldst thou wish me to be guilty 



letter xlix

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday sept 1 


how astonishing in the midst of such affecting scenes is thy mirth on
what thou callest my own aspirations never surely was there such
another man in this world thy talents and thy levity taken together 
surely what i shall send thee with this will affect thee if not 
nothing can till thy own hour come and heavy will then thy reflections
be 

i am glad however that thou enablest me to assure the lady that thou
wilt no more molest her that is to say in other words that after
having ruined her fortunes and all her worldly prospects thou wilt be
so gracious as to let her lie down and die in peace 

thy giving up to poor belton's sister the little legacy and thy
undertaking to make mowbray and tourville follow thy example are i must
say to thy honour of a piece with thy generosity to thy rose-bud and her
johnny and to a number of other good actions in pecuniary matters 
although thy rose-bud's is i believe the only instance where a pretty
woman was concerned of such a disinterested bounty 

upon my faith lovelace i love to praise thee and often and often as
thou knowest have i studied for occasions to do it insomuch that when 
for the life of me i could not think of any thing done by thee that
deserved praise i have taken pains to applaud the not ungraceful manner
in which thou hast performed actions that merited the gallows 

now thou art so near i will dispatch my servant to thee if occasion
requires but i fear i shall soon give thee the news thou art
apprehensive of for i am just now sent for by mrs smith who has
ordered the messenger to tell me that she knew not if the lady will be
alive when i come 


friday sept 1 two o'clock at smith's 

i could not close my letter in such an uncertainty as must have added to
your impatience for you have on several occasions convinced me that
the suspense you love to give would be the greatest torment to you that
you could receive a common case with all aggressive and violent
spirits i believe i will just mention then your servant waiting here
till i have written that the lady has had two very severe fits in the
last of which whilst she lay they sent to the doctor and mr goddard 
who both advised that a messenger should be dispatched for me as her
executor being doubtful whether if she had a third it would not carry
her off 

she was tolerably recovered by the time i cane and the doctor made her
promise before me that while she was so weak she would not attempt any
more to go abroad for by mrs lovick's description who attended her 
the shortness of her breath her extreme weakness and the fervour of her
devotions when at church were contraries which pulling different ways
 the soul aspiring the body sinking tore her tender frame in pieces 

so much for the present i shall detain will no longer than just to beg
that you will send me back this packet and the last your memory is so
good that once reading is all you ever give or need to give to any
thing and who but ourselves can make out our characters were you
inclined to let any body see what passes between us if i cannot be
obliged i shall be tempted to withhold what i write till i have time to
take a copy of it 


 it may not be amiss to observe that mr belford's solicitude to get
back his letters was owing to his desire of fulfilling the lady's wishes
that he would furnish miss howe with materials to vindicate her memory 


a letter from miss howe is just now brought by a particular messenger 
who says he must carry back a few lines in return but as the lady is
just retired to lie down the man is to call again by-and-by 



letter l

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
uxbridge sept 1 twelve o'clock at night 


i send you the papers with this you must account to me honestly and
fairly when i see you for the earnestness with which you write for
them and then also will we talk about the contents of your last
dispatch and about some of your severe and unfriendly reflections 

mean time whatever thou dost don't let the wonderful creature leave us 
set before her the sin of her preparation as if she thought she could
depart when she pleased she'll persuade herself at this rate that she
has nothing to do when all is ready but to lie down and go to sleep 
and such a lively fancy as her's will make a reality of a jest at any
time 

a jest i call all that has passed between her and me a mere jest to die
for for has not her triumph over me from first to last been infinitely
greater than her sufferings from me 

would the sacred regard i have for her purity even for her personal as
well as intellectual purity permit i could prove this as clear as the
sun tell therefore the dear creature that she must not be wicked in
her piety there is a too much as well as too little even in
righteousness perhaps she does not think of that oh that she would
have permitted my attendance as obligingly as she does of thine the
dear soul used to love humour i remember the time that she knew how to
smile at a piece of apropos humour and let me tell thee a smile upon
the lips or a sparkling in the eye must have had its correspondent
cheerfulness in a heart so sincere as her's 

tell the doctor i will make over all my possessions and all my
reversions to him if he will but prolong her life for one twelvemonth
to come but for one twelvemonth jack he will lose all his reputation
with me and i shall treat him as belton did his doctor if he cannot do
this for me on so young a subject but nineteen belford nineteen
cannot so soon die of grief if the doctor deserve that title and so
blooming and so fine a constitution as she had but three or four months
ago 

but what need the doctor to ask her leave to write to her friends could
he not have done it without letting her know any thing of the matter 
that was one of the likeliest means that could be thought of to bring
some of them about her since she is so desirous to see them at least
it would have induced them to send up her favourite norton but these
plaguy solemn fellows are great traders in parade they'll cram down
your throat their poisonous drugs by wholesale without asking you a
question and have the assurance to own it to be prescribing but when
they are to do good they are to require your consent 

how the dear creature's character rises in every line of thy letters 
but it is owing to the uncommon occasions she has met with that she
blazes out upon us with such a meridian lustre how but for those
occasions could her noble sentiments her prudent consideration her
forgiving spirit her exalted benevolence and her equanimity in view of
the most shocking prospects which set her in a light so superior to all
her sex and even to the philosophers of antiquity have been manifested 

i know thou wilt think i am going to claim some merit to myself for
having given her such opportunities of signalizing her virtues but i am
not for if i did i must share that merit with her implacable
relations who would justly be entitled to two-thirds of it at least 
and my soul disdains a partnership in any thing with such a family 

but this i mention as an answer to thy reproaches that i could be so
little edified by perfections to which thou supposest i was for so
long together daily and hourly a personal witness when admirable as she
was in all she said and in all she did occasion had not at that time
ripened and called forth those amazing perfections which now astonish
and confound me 

hence it is that i admire her more than ever and that my love for her is
less personal as i may say more intellectual than ever i thought it
could be to a woman 

hence also it is that i am confident would it please the fates to spare
her and make her mine i could love her with a purity that would draw on
my own future as well as ensure her temporal happiness and hence by
necessary consequence shall i be the most miserable of all men if i am
deprived of her 

thou severely reflectest upon me for my levity the abbey instance in
thine eye i suppose and i will be ingenuous enough to own that as
thou seest not my heart there may be passages in every one of my
letters which the melancholy occasion considered deserve thy most
pointed rebukes but faith jack thou art such a tragi-comical mortal 
with thy leaden aspirations at one time and thy flying hour-glasses and
dreaming terrors at another that as prior says what serious is thou
turn'st to farce and it is impossible to keep within the bounds of
decorum or gravity when one reads what thou writest 

but to restrain myself for my constitutional gayety was ready to run
away with me again i will repeat i must ever repeat that i am most
egregiously affected with the circumstances of the case and were this
paragon actually to quit the world should never enjoy myself one hour
together though i were to live to the age of methusalem 

indeed it is to this deep concern that my levity is owing for i
struggle and struggle and try to buffet down my cruel reflections as
they rise and when i cannot i am forced as i have often said to try
to make myself laugh that i may not cry for one or other i must do and
is it not philosophy carried to the highest pitch for a man to conquer
such tumults of soul as i am sometimes agitated by and in the very
height of the storm to be able to quaver out an horse-laugh 

your seneca's your epictetus's and the rest of your stoical tribe with
all their apathy nonsense could not come up to this they could forbear
wry faces bodily pains they could well enough seem to support and that
was all but the pangs of their own smitten-down souls they could not
laugh over though they could at the follies of others they read grave
lectures but they were grave this high point of philosophy to laugh
and be merry in the midst of the most soul-harrowing woes when the
heart-strings are just bursting asunder was reserved for thy lovelace 

there is something owing to constitution i own and that this is the
laughing-time of my life for what a woe must that be which for an hour
together can mortify a man six or seven and twenty in high blood and
spirits of a naturally gay disposition who can sing dance and
scribble and take and give delight in them all but then my grief as
my joy is sharper-pointed than most other men's and like what dolly
welby once told me describing the parturient throes if there were not
lucid intervals if they did not come and go there would be no bearing
them 


 


after all as i am so little distant from the dear creature and as she
is so very ill i think i cannot excuse myself from making her one visit 
nevertheless if i thought her so near  what word shall i use that my
soul is not shocked at   and that she would be too much discomposed by a
visit i would not think of it yet how can i bear the recollection 
that when she last went from me her innocence so triumphant over my
premeditated guilt as was enough to reconcile her to life and to set
her above the sense of injuries so nobly sustained that she should then
depart with an incurable fracture in her heart and that that should be
the last time i should ever see her how how can i bear this
reflection 

o jack how my conscience that gives edge even to thy blunt reflections 
tears me even this moment would i give the world to push the cruel
reproacher from me by one ray of my usual gayety sick of myself sick
of the remembrance of my vile plots and of my light my momentary
ecstacy  villanous burglar felon thief that i was   which has brought
on me such durable and such heavy remorse what would i give that i had
not been guilty of such barbarous and ungrateful perfidy to the most
excellent of god's creatures 

i would end methinks with one sprightlier line but it will not be 
let me tell thee then and rejoice at it if thou wilt that i am

inexpressibly miserable 



letter li

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sat morning sept 2 


i have some little pleasure given me by thine just now brought me i
see now that thou hast a little humanity left would to heaven for the
dear lady's sake as well as for thy own that thou hadst rummaged it up
from all the dark forgotten corners of thy soul a little sooner 

the lady is alive and serene and calm and has all her noble intellects
clear and strong but nineteen will not however save her she says she
will now content herself with her closet duties and the visits of the
parish-minister and will not attempt to go out nor indeed will she 
i am afraid ever walk up or down a pair of stairs again 

i am sorry at my soul to have this to say but it would be a folly to
flatter thee 

as to thy seeing her i believe the least hint of that sort now would
cut off some hours of her life 

what has contributed to her serenity it seems is that taking the alarm
her fits gave her she has entirely finished and signed and sealed her
last will which she had deferred till this time in hopes as she said 
of some good news from harlowe-place which would have induced her to
alter some passages in it 

miss howe's letter was not given her till four in the afternoon 
yesterday at which time the messenger returned for an answer she
admitted him into her presence in the dining-room ill as she then was 
and she would have written a few lines as desired by miss howe but not
being able to hold a pen she bid the messenger tell her that she hoped
to be well enough to write a long letter by the next day's post and
would not now detain him 


 


saturday six in the afternoon 

i called just now and found the lady writing to miss howe she made me
a melancholy compliment that she showed me not miss howe's letter 
because i should soon have that and all her papers before me but she
told me that miss howe had very considerably obviated to colonel morden
several things which might have occasioned misapprehensions between him
and me and had likewise put a lighter construction for the sake of
peace on some of your actions than they deserved 

she added that her cousin morden was warmly engaged in her favour with
her friends and one good piece of news miss howe's letter contained 
that her father would give up some matters which appertaining to her of
right would make my executorship the easier in some particulars that had
given her a little pain 

she owned she had been obliged to leave off in the letter she was
writing through weakness 

will says he shall reach you to-night i shall send in the morning 
and if i find her not worse will ride to edgware and return in the
afternoon 



letter lii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
tuesday aug 29 


my dearest friend 

we are at length returned to our own home i had intended to wait on you
in london but my mother is very ill alas my dear she is very ill
indeed and you are likewise very ill i see that by your's of the 25th 
what shall i do if i lose two such near and dear and tender friends 
she was taken ill yesterday at our last stage in our return home and has
a violent surfeit and fever and the doctors are doubtful about her 

if she should die how will all my pertnesses to her fly in my face 
why why did i ever vex her she says i have been all duty and
obedience she kindly forgets all my faults and remembers every thing i
have been so happy as to oblige her in and this cuts me to the heart 

i see i see my dear that you are very bad and i cannot bear it do 
my beloved miss harlowe if you can be better do for my sake be
better and send me word of it let the bearer bring me a line be sure
you send me a line if i lose you my more than sister and lose my
mother i shall distrust my own conduct and will not marry and why
should i creeping cringing in courtship o my dear these men are a
vile race of reptiles in our day and mere bears in their own see in
lovelace all that is desirable in figure in birth and in fortune but
in his heart a devil see in hickman indeed my dear i cannot tell
what any body can see in hickman to be always preaching in his favour 
and is it to be expected that i who could hardly bear control from a
mother should take it from a husband from one too who has neither
more wit nor more understanding than myself yet he to be my
instructor so he will i suppose but more by the insolence of his will
than by the merit of his counsel it is in vain to think of it i
cannot be a wife to any man breathing whom i at present know this i the
rather mention now because on my mother's danger i know you will be
for pressing me the sooner to throw myself into another sort of
protection should i be deprived of her but no more of this subject or
indeed of any other for i am obliged to attend my mamma who cannot bear
me out of her sight 


 


wednesday aug 30 

my mother heaven be praised has had a fine night and is much better 
her fever has yielded to medicine and now i can write once more with
freedom and ease to you in hopes that you also are better if this be
granted to my prayers i shall again be happy i writhe with still the
more alacrity as i have an opportunity given me to touch upon a subject
in which you are nearly concerned 

you must know then my dear that your cousin morden has been here with
me he told me of an interview he had on monday at lord m s with
lovelace and asked me abundance of questions about you and about that
villanous man 

i could have raised a fine flame between them if i would but observing
that he is a man of very lively passions and believing you would be
miserable if any thing should happen to him from a quarrel with a man who
is known to have so many advantages at his sword i made not the worst of
the subjects we talked of but as i could not tell untruths in his
favour you must think i said enough to make him curse the wretch 

i don't find well as they all used to respect colonel morden that he
has influence enough upon them to bring them to any terms of
reconciliation 

what can they mean by it but your brother is come home it seems so 
the honour of the house the reputation of the family is all the cry 

the colonel is exceedingly out of humour with them all yet has he not
hitherto it seems seen your brutal brother i told him how ill you
were and communicated to him some of the contents of your letter he
admired you cursed lovelace and raved against all your family he
declared that they were all unworthy of you 

at his earnest request i permitted him to take some brief notes of such
of the contents of your letter to me as i thought i could read to him 
and particularly of your melancholy conclusion 


 see letter xxxii of this volume 


he says that none of your friends think you are so ill as you are nor
will believe it he is sure they all love you and that dearly too 

if they do their present hardness of heart will be the subject of
everlasting remorse to them should you be taken from us but now it seems
 barbarous wretches   you are to suffer within an inch of your life 

he asked me questions about mr belford and when he had heard what i
had to say of that gentleman and his disinterested services to you he
raved at some villanous surmises thrown out against you by that officious
pedant brand who but for his gown i find would come off poorly enough
between your cousin and lovelace 

he was so uneasy about you himself that on thursday the 24th he sent
up an honest serious man one alston a gentleman farmer to inquire of
your condition your visiters and the like who brought him word that
you was very ill and was put to great straits to support yourself but
as this was told him by the gentlewoman of the house where you lodge 
who it seems mingled it with some tart though deserved reflections
upon your relations' cruelty it was not credited by them and i myself
hope it cannot be true for surely you could not be so unjust i will
say to my friendship as to suffer any inconveniencies for want of
money i think i could not forgive you if it were so 


 see letter xxiii ibid 


the colonel as one of your trustees is resolved to see you put into
possession of your estate and in the mean time he has actually engaged
them to remit to him for you the produce of it accrued since your
grandfather's death a very considerable sum and proposes himself to
attend you with it but by a hint he dropt i find you had disappointed
some people's littleness by not writing to them for money and supplies 
since they were determined to distress you and to put you at defiance 

like all the rest i hope i may say that without offence 

your cousin imagines that before a reconciliation takes place they will
insist that you make such a will as to that estate as they shall
approve of but he declares that he will not go out of england till he
has seen justice done you by every body and that you shall not be
imposed on either by friend or foe 

by relation or foe should he not have said for a friend will not
impose upon a friend 

so my dear you are to buy your peace if some people are to have their
wills 

your cousin  not i my dear though it was always my opinion   says that
the whole family is too rich to be either humble considerate or
contented and as for himself he has an ample fortune he says and
thinks of leaving it wholly to you 


 see vol i letter x 


had this villain lovelace consulted his worldly interest only what a
fortune would he have had in you even although your marrying him had
deprived you of a paternal share 

i am obliged to leave off here but having a good deal still more to
write and my mother better i will pursue the subject in another letter 
although i send both together i need not say how much i am and will
ever be 

your affectionate etc 
anna howe 



letter liii

miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
thursday august 31 


the colonel thought fit once in praise of lovelace's generosity to say 
that as a man of honour ought he took to himself all the blame and
acquitted you of the consequences of the precipitate step you had taken 
since he said as you loved him and was in his power he must have had
advantages which he would not have had if you had continued at your
father's or at any friend's 

mighty generous i said were it as he supposed in such insolent
reflectors the best of them who pretend to clear reputations which
never had been sullied but by falling into their dirty acquaintance but
in this case i averred that there was no need of any thing but the
strictest truth to demonstrate lovelace to be the blackest of villains 
you the brightest of innocents 

this he catched at and swore that if any thing uncommon or barbarous in
the seduction were to come out as indeed one of the letters you had
written to your friends and which had been shown him very strongly
implied that is to say my dear if any thing worse than perjury breach
of faith and abuse of a generous confidence were to appear  sorry
fellows   he would avenge his cousin to the utmost 

i urged your apprehensions on this head from your last letter to me but
he seemed capable of taking what i know to be real greatness of soul in
an unworthy sense for he mentioned directly upon it the expectations
your friends had that you should previous to any reconciliation with
them appear in a court of justice against the villain if you could do
it with the advantage to yourself that i hinted might be done 

and truly if i would have heard him he had indelicacy enough to have
gone into the nature of the proof of the crime upon which they wanted to
have lovelace arraigned yet this is a man improved by travel and
learning upon my word my dear i who have been accustomed to the most
delicate conversation ever since i had the honour to know you despise
this sex from the gentleman down to the peasant 

upon the whole i find that mr morden has a very slender notion of
women's virtue in particular cases for which reason i put him down 
though your favourite as one who is not entitled to cast the first
stone 

i never knew a man who deserved to be well thought of himself for his
morals who had a slight opinion of the virtue of our sex in general 
for if from the difference of temperament and education modesty 
chastity and piety too are not to be found in our sex preferably to
the other i should think it a sign of much worse nature in ours 

he even hinted as from your relations indeed that it is impossible
but there most be some will where there is much love 

these sort of reflections are enough to make a woman who has at heart
her own honour and the honour of her sex to look about her and consider
what she is doing when she enters into an intimacy with these wretches 
since it is plain that whenever she throws herself into the power of a
man and leaves for him her parents or guardians every body will believe
it to be owing more to her good luck than to her discretion if there be
not an end of her virtue and let the man be ever such a villain to her 
she must take into her own bosom a share of his guilty baseness 

i am writing to general cases you my dear are out of the question 
your story as i have heretofore said will afford a warning as well as
an example for who is it that will not infer that if a person of your
fortune character and merit could not escape ruin after she had put
herself into the power of her hyaena what can a thoughtless fond giddy
creature expect 


 see vol iv letter xxiii 


every man they will say is not a lovelace true but then neither is
every woman a clarissa and allow for the one and for the other the
example must be of general use 

i prepared mr morden to expect your appointment of mr belford for an
office that we both hope he will have no occasion to act in nor any body
else for many very many years to come he was at first startled at it 
but upon hearing such of your reasons as had satisfied me he only said
that such an appointment were it to take place would exceedingly affect
his other cousins 

he told me he had a copy of lovelace's letter to you imploring your
pardon and offering to undergo any penance to procure it and also of
your answer to it 


 see vol vii letter lxxix 
 ibid letter lxxxiii 


i find he is willing to hope that a marriage between you may still take
place which he says will heal up all breaches 

i would have written much more on the following particulars especially 
to wit of the wretched man's hunting you out of your lodgings of your
relations' strange implacableness  i am in haste and cannot think of a
word you would like better just now   of your last letter to lovelace to
divert him from pursuing you of your aunt hervey's penitential
conversation with mrs norton of mr wyerley's renewed address of your
lessons to me in hickman's behalf so approvable were the man more so
than he is but indeed i am offended with him at this instant and have
been for these two days of your sister's transportation-project and of
twenty and twenty other things but am obliged to leave off to attend my
two cousins spilsworth and my cousin herbert who are come to visit us
on account of my mother's illness i will therefore dispatch these by
rogers and if my mother gets well soon as i hope she will i am
resolved to see you in town and tell you every thing that now is upon my
mind and particularly mingling my soul with your's how much i am and
will ever be my dearest dear friend 

your affectionate
anna howe 

let rogers bring one line i pray you i thought to have sent him this
 afternoon but he cannot set out till to-morrow morning early 

i cannot express how much your staggering lines and your conclusion
 affect me 



letter liv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sunday evening sept 3 


i wonder not at the impatience your servant tells me you express to hear
from me i was designing to write you a long letter and was just
returned from smith's for that purpose but since you are urgent you
must be contented with a short one 

i attended the lady this morning just before i set out for edgware she
was so ill over-night that she was obliged to leave unfinished her
letter to miss howe but early this morning she made an end of it and
just sealed it up as i came she was so fatigued with writing that she
told me she would lie down after i was gone and endeavour to recruit her
spirits 

they had sent for mr goddard when she was so ill last night and not
being able to see him out of her own chamber he for the first time saw
her house as she calls it he was extremely shocked and concerned at
it and chid mrs smith and mrs lovick for not persuading her to have
such an object removed form her bed-chamber and when they excused
themselves on the little authority it was reasonable to suppose they must
have with a lady so much their superior he reflected warmly on those who
had more authority and who left her to proceed with such a shocking and
solemn whimsy as he called it 

it is placed near the window like a harpsichord though covered over to
the ground and when she is so ill that she cannot well go to her closet 
she writes and reads upon it as others would upon a desk or table but
 only as she was so ill last night she chooses not to see any body in
that apartment 

i went to edgware and returning in the evening attended her again 
she had a letter brought her from mrs norton a long one as it seems by
its bulk just before i came but she had not opened it and said that
as she was pretty calm and composed she was afraid to look into the
contents lest she should be ruffled expecting now to hear of nothing
that could do her good or give her pleasure from that good woman's dear
hard-hearted neighbours as she called her own relations 

seeing her so weak and ill i withdrew nor did she desire me to tarry 
as sometimes she does when i make a motion to depart 

i had some hints as i went away from mrs smith that she had
appropriated that evening to some offices that were to save trouble as
she called it after her departure and had been giving orders to her
nurse and to mrs lovick and mrs smith about what she would have done
when she was gone and i believe they were of a very delicate and
affecting nature but mrs smith descended not to particulars 

the doctor had been with her as well as mr goddard and they both
joined with great earnestness to persuade her to have her house removed
out of her sight but she assured them that it gave her pleasure and
spirits and being a necessary preparation she wondered they should be
surprised at it when she had not any of her family about her or any old
acquaintance on whose care and exactness in these punctilios as she
called them she could rely 

the doctor told mrs smith that he believed she would hold out long
enough for any of her friends to have notice of her state and to see
her and hardly longer and since he could not find that she had any
certainty of seeing her cousin morden which made it plain that her
relations continued inflexible he would go home and write a letter to
her father take it as she would 

she had spent great part of the day in intense devotions and to-morrow
morning she is to have with her the same clergyman who has often attended
her from whose hands she will again receive the sacrament 

thou seest lovelace that all is preparing that all will be ready and
i am to attend her to-morrow afternoon to take some instructions from
her in relation to my part in the office to be performed for her and
thus omitting the particulars of a fine conversation between her and
mrs lovick which the latter acquainted me with as well as another
between her and the doctor and apothecary which i had a design this
evening to give you they being of a very affecting nature i have
yielded to your impatience 

 i shall dispatch harry to-morrow morning early with her letter to miss
 howe an offer she took very kindly as she is extremely
 solicitous to lessen that young lady's apprehensions for her on
 not hearing from her by saturday's post and yet if she write
 truth as no doubt but she will how can her apprehensions be
 lessened 



letter lv

miss clarissa harlowe to miss howe
saturday sept 2 


i write my beloved miss howe though very ill still but i could not by
the return of your messenger for i was then unable to hold a pen 

your mother's illness as mentioned in the first part of your letter 
gave me great distress for you till i read farther you bewailed it as
became a daughter so sensible may you be blessed in each other for
many very many years to come i doubt not that even this sudden and
grievous indisposition by the frame it has put you in and the
apprehension it has given you of losing so dear a mother will contribute
to the happiness i wish you for alas my dear we seldom know how to
value the blessings we enjoy till we are in danger of losing them or
have actually lost them and then what would we give to have them
restored to us 

what i wonder has again happened between you and mr hickman although
i know not i dare say it is owing to some petty petulance to some
half-ungenerous advantage taken of his obligingness and assiduity will
you never my dear give the weight you and all our sex ought to give to
the qualities of sobriety and regularity of life and manners in that sex 
must bold creatures and forward spirits for ever and by the best and
wisest of us as well as by the indiscreetest be the most kindly
treated 

my dear friends know not that i have actually suffered within less than
an inch of my life 

poor mr brand he meant well i believe i am afraid all will turn
heavily upon him when he probably imagined that he was taking the best
method to oblige but were he not to have been so light of belief and
so weakly officious and had given a more favourable and it would be
strange if i could not say a juster report things would have been 
nevertheless exactly as they are 

i must lay down my pen i am very ill i believe i shall be better
by-and-by the bad writing would betray me although i had a mind to
keep from you what the event must soon 


 


now i resume my trembling pen excuse the unsteady writing it will
be so 

i have wanted no money so don't be angry about such a trifle as money 
yet i am glad of what you inclined me to hope that my friends will give
up the produce of my grandfather's estate since it has been in their
hands because knowing it to be my right and that they could not want
it i had already disposed of a good part of it and could only hope they
would be willing to give it up at my last request and now how rich
shall i think myself in this my last stage and yet i did not want
before indeed i did not for who that has many superfluities can be
said to want 

do not my dear friend be concerned that i call it my last stage for
what is even the long life which in high health we wish for what but 
as we go along a life of apprehension sometimes for our friends 
oftener for ourselves and at last when arrived at the old age we
covet one heavy loss or deprivation having succeeded another we see
ourselves stript as i may say of every one we loved and find ourselves
exposed as uncompanionable poor creatures to the slights to the
contempts of jostling youth who want to push us off the stage in hopes
to possess what we have and superadded to all our own infirmities
every day increasing of themselves enough to make the life we wished for
the greatest disease of all don't you remember the lines of howard 
which once you read to me in my ivy-bower 


 these are the lines the lady refers to 

 from death we rose to life tis but the same 
 through life to pass again from whence we came 
 with shame we see our passions can prevail 
 where reason certainty and virtue fail 
 honour that empty name can death despise 
 scorn'd love to death as to a refuge flies 
 and sorrow waits for death with longing eyes 
 hope triumphs o'er the thoughts of death and fate
 cheats fools and flatters the unfortunate 
 we fear to lose what a small time must waste 
 till life itself grows the disease at last 
 begging for life we beg for more decay 
 and to be long a dying only pray 


in the disposition of what belongs to me i have endeavoured to do every
thing in the justest and best manner i could think of putting myself in
my relations' places and in the greater points ordering my matters as
if no misunderstanding had happened 

i hope they will not think much of some bequests where wanted and where
due from my gratitude but if they should what is done is done and i
cannot now help it yet i must repeat that i hope i hope i have
pleased every one of them for i would not on any account have it
thought that in my last disposition any thing undaughterly unsisterly 
or unlike a kinswoman should have had place in a mind that is a truly
free as i will presume to say from all resentment that it now
overflows with gratitude and blessings for the good i have received 
although it be not all that my heart wished to receive were it even an
hardship that i was not favoured with more what is it but an hardship
of half a year against the most indulgent goodness of eighteen years and
an half that ever was shown to a daughter 

my cousin you tell me thinks i was off my guard and that i was taken
at some advantage indeed my dear i was not indeed i gave no room
for advantage to be taken of me i hope one day that will be seen if
i have the justice done me which mr belford assures me of 

i should hope that my cousin has not taken the liberties which you by an
observation not in general unjust seem to charge him with for it is
sad to think that the generality of that sex should make so light of
crimes which they justly hold so unpardonable in their own most intimate
relations of our's yet cannot commit them without doing such injuries to
other families as they think themselves obliged to resent unto death 
when offered to their own 

but we women are to often to blame on this head since the most virtuous
among us seldom make virtue the test of their approbation of the other
sex insomuch that a man may glory in his wickedness of this sort without
being rejected on that account even to the faces of women of
unquestionable virtue hence it is that a libertine seldom thinks
himself concerned so much as to save appearances and what is it not that
our sex suffers in their opinion on this very score and what have i 
more than many others to answer for on this account in the world's eye 

may my story be a warning to all how they prefer a libertine to a man of
true honour and how they permit themselves to be misled where they mean
the best by the specious yet foolish hope of subduing riveted habits 
and as i may say of altering natures the more foolish as constant
experience might convince us that there is hardly one in ten of even
tolerably happy marriages in which the wife keeps the hold in the
husband's affections which she had in the lover's what influence then
can she hope to have over the morals of an avowed libertine who marries
perhaps for conveniency who despises the tie and whom it is too
probable nothing but old age or sickness or disease the consequence
of ruinous riot can reclaim 

i am very glad you gave my cous 


sunday morning sept 3 six o'clock 

hither i had written and was forced to quit my pen and so much weaker
and worse i grew that had i resumed it to have closed here it must
have been with such trembling unsteadiness that it would have given you
more concern for me than the delay of sending it away by last night's
post can do i deferred it therefore to see how it would please god to
deal with me and i find myself after a better night than i expected 
lively and clear and hope to give a proof that i do in the continuation
of my letter which i will pursue as currently as if i had not left off 

i am glad that you so considerately gave my cousin morden favourable
impressions of mr belford since otherwise some misunderstanding might
have happened between them for although i hope this mr belford is an
altered man and in time will be a reformed one yet is he one of those
high spirits that has been accustomed to resent imaginary indignities to
himself when i believe he has not been studious to avoid giving real
offences to others men of this cast acting as if they thought all the
world was made to bar with them and they with nobody in it 

mr lovelace you tell me thought fit to intrust my cousin with the copy
of his letter of penitence to me and with my answer to it rejecting him
and his suit and mr belford moreover acquaints me how much concerned
mr lovelace is for his baseness and how freely he accused himself to my
cousin this shows that the true bravery of spirit is to be above doing
a vile action and that nothing subjects the human mind to so much
meanness as the consciousness of having done wilful wrong to our fellow
creatures how low how sordid are the submissions which elaborate
baseness compels that that wretch could treat me as he did and then
could so poorly creep to me for forgiveness of crimes so wilful so
black and so premeditated how my soul despised him for his meanness on
a certain occasion of which you will one day be informed and him whose
actions one's heart despises it is far from being difficult to reject 
had one ever so partially favoured him once 


 meaning his meditated second violence see vol vi letter xxxvi and
his succeeding letters to her supplicating for her pardon 


yet am i glad this violent spirit can thus creep that like a poisonous
serpent he can thus coil himself and hide his head in his own narrow
circlets because this stooping this abasement gives me hope that no
farther mischief will ensue 

all my apprehension is what may happen when i am gone lest then my
cousin or any other of my family should endeavour to avenge me and
risk their own more precious lives on that account 

if that part of cain's curse were mr lovelace's to be a fugitive and
vagabond in the earth that is to say if it meant no more harm to him
than that he should be obliged to travel as it seems he intends though
i wish him no ill in his travels and i could know it then should i be
easy in the hoped-for safety of my friends from his skilful violence oh 
that i could hear he was a thousand miles off 

when i began this letter i did not think i could have run to such a
length but tis to you my dearest friend and you have a title to the
spirits you raise and support for they are no longer mine and will
subside the moment i cease writing to you 

but what do you bid me hope for when you tell me that if your mother's
health will permit you will see me in town i hope your mother's health
will be perfected as you wish but i dare not promise myself so great a
favour so great a blessing i will call it and indeed i know not if i
should be able to bear it now 

yet one comfort it is in your power to give me and that is let me know 
and very speedily it must be if you wish to oblige me that all matters
are made up between you and mr hickman to whom i see you are
resolved with all your bravery of spirit to owe a multitude of
obligations for his patience with your flightiness think of this my
dear proud friend and think likewise of what i have often told you 
that pride in man or woman is an extreme that hardly ever fails sooner
or later to bring forth its mortifying contrary 

may you my dear miss howe have no discomforts but what you make to
yourself as it will be in your own power to lessen such as these they
ought to be your punishment if you do not there is no such thing as
perfect happiness here since the busy mind will make to itself evils 
were it to find none you will therefore pardon this limited wish 
strange as it may appear till you consider it for to wish you no
infelicity either within or without you were to wish you what can never
happen in this world and what perhaps ought not to be wished for if by
a wish one could give one's friend such an exemption since we are not to
live here always 

we must not in short expect that our roses will grow without thorns 
but then they are useful and instructive thorns which by pricking the
fingers of the too-hasty plucker teach future caution and who knows
not that difficulty gives poignancy to our enjoyments which are apt to
lose their relish with us when they are over easily obtained 

i must conclude 

god for ever bless you and all you love and honour and reward you here
and hereafter for your kindness to

your ever obliged and affectionate
clarissa harlowe 



letter lvi

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
 in answer to her's of thursday august 24 see letter xxx of this
volume  
thursday aug 31 


i had written sooner my dearest young lady but that i have been
endeavouring ever since the receipt of your last letter to obtain a
private audience of your mother in hopes of leave to communicate it to
her but last night i was surprised by an invitation to breakfast at
harlowe-place this morning and the chariot came early to fetch me an
honour i did not expect 

when i came i found there was to be a meeting of all your family with
col morden at harlowe-place and it was proposed by your mother and
consented to that i should be present your cousin i understand had
with difficulty brought this meeting to bear for your brother had before
industriously avoided all conversation with him on the affecting subject 
urging that it was not necessary to talk to mr morden upon it who 
being a remoter relation than themselves had no business to make himself
a judge of their conduct to their daughter their niece and their
sister especially as he had declared himself in her favour adding that
he should hardly have patience to be questioned by mr morden on that
head 

i was in hopes that your mother would have given me an opportunity of
talking with her alone before the company met but she seemed studiously
to avoid it i dare say however not with her inclination 

i was ordered in just before mr morden came and was bid to sit down 
which i did in the window 

the colonel when he came began the discourse by renewing as he called
it his solicitations in your favour he set before them your penitence 
your ill health your virtue though once betrayed and basely used he
then read to them mr lovelace's letter a most contrite one indeed and
your high-souled answer for that was what he justly called it and he
treated as it deserved mr brand's officious information of which i had
before heard he had made them ashamed by representations founded upon
inquiries made by mr alston whom he had procured to go up on purpose
to acquaint himself with your manner of life and what was meant by the
visits of that mr belford 


 see vol vii lxxix 
 ibid letter lxxxiii 
 see vol viii letter xxiii 


he then told them that he had the day before waited upon miss howe and
had been shown a letter from you to her and permitted to take some
memorandums from it in which you appeared both by handwriting and the
contents to be so very ill that it seemed doubtful to him if it were
possible for you to get over it and when he read to them that passage 
where you ask miss howe what can be done for you now were your friends
to be ever so favourable and wish for their sakes more than for your
own that they would still relent  and then say you are very ill you
must drop your pen and ask excuse for your crooked writing and take as
it were a last farewell of miss howe adieu my dear adieu  are your
words 


 ibid letter xxxiii 


o my child my child said you mamma weeping and clasping her hands 

dear madam said your brother be so good as to think you have more
children than this ungrateful one 

yet your sister seemed affected 

your uncle harlowe wiping his eyes o cousin said he if one thought
the poor girl was really so ill 

she must said your uncle antony this is written to her private friend 
god forbid she should be quite lost 

your uncle harlowe wished they did not carry their resentments too far 

i begged for god's sake wringing my hands and with a bended knee that
they would permit me to go up to you engaging to give them a faithful
account of the way you were in but i was chidden by your brother and
this occasioned some angry words between him and mr morden 

i believe sir i believe madam said your sister to her father and
mother we need not trouble my cousin to read any more it does but
grieve and disturb you my sister clary seems to be ill i think if
mrs norton were permitted to go up to her it would be right wickedly
as she has acted if she be truly penitent 

here she stopt and every one being silent i stood up once more and
besought them to let me go and then i offered to read a passage or two
in your letter to me of the 24th but i was taken up again by your
brother and this occasioned still higher words between the colonel and
him 

your mother hoping to gain upon your inflexible brother and to divert
the anger of the two gentlemen from each other proposed that the colonel
should proceed in reading the minutes he had taken from your letter 

he accordingly read of your resuming your pen that you thought you had
taken your last farewell and the rest of that very affecting passage in
which you are obliged to break off more than once and afterwards to take
an airing in a chair  your brother and sister were affected at this 
and he had recourse to his snuff-box and where you comfort miss howe 
and say you shall be happy  it is more said he than she will let any
body else be 

your sister called you sweet soul but with a low voice then grew
hard-hearted again set said  sic  nobody could help being affected by
your pathetic grief but that it was your talent 

the colonel then went on to the good effect your airing had upon you to
your good wishes to miss howe and mr hickman and to your concluding
sentence that when the happy life you wished to her comes to be wound
up she may be as calm and as easy at quitting it as you hope in god you
shall be your mother could not stand this but retired to a corner of
the room and sobbed and wept your father for a few minutes could not
speak though he seemed inclined to say something 

your uncles were also both affected but your brother went round to each 
and again reminded your mother that she had other children what was
there he said in what was read but the result of the talent you had of
moving the passions and he blamed them for choosing to hear read what
they knew their abused indulgence could not be a proof against 

this set mr morden up again fie upon you cousin harlowe said he i
see plainly to whom it is owing that all relationship and ties of blood 
with regard to this sweet sufferer are laid aside such rigours as
these make it difficult for a sliding virtue ever to recover itself 

your brother pretended the honour of the family and declared that no
child ought to be forgiven who abandoned the most indulgent of parents
against warning against the light of knowledge as you had done 

but sir and ladies said i rising from the seat in the window and
humbly turning round to each if i may be permitted to speak my dear
miss asks only for a blessing she does not beg to be received to
favour she is very ill and asks only for a last blessing 

come come good norton  i need not tell you who said this   you are
up again with your lamentables a good woman as you are to forgive
so readily a crime that has been as disgraceful to your part in her
education as to her family is a weakness that would induce one to
suspect your virtue if you were to be encountered by a temptation
properly adapted 

by some such charitable logic said mr morden as this is my cousin
arabella captivated i doubt not if virtue you mr james harlowe 
are the most virtuous young man in the world 

i knew how it would be replied your brother in a passion if i met mr 
morden upon this business i would have declined it but you sir to
his father would not permit me to do so 

but sir turning to the colonel in no other presence 

then cousin james interrupted the other gentleman that which is your
protection it seems is mine i am not used to bear defiances thus 
you are my cousin sir and the son and nephew of persons as dear as near
to me there he paused 

are we said your father to be made still more unhappy among ourselves 
when the villain lives that ought to be the object of every one's
resentment who has either a value for the family or for this ungrateful
girl 

that's the man said your cousin whom last monday as you know i went
purposely to make the object of mine but what could i say when i found
him so willing to repair his crime and i give it as my opinion and
have written accordingly to my poor cousin that it is best for all round
that his offer should be accepted and let me tell you 

tell me nothing said your father quite enraged or that very vile
fellow i have a rivetted hatred to him i would rather see the rebel
die an hundred deaths were it possible than that she should give such a
villain as him a relation to my family 

well but there is no room to think said you mother that she will give
us such a relation my dear the poor girl will lessen i fear the
number of our relations not increase it if she be so ill as we are told
she is let us send mrs norton up to her that's the least we can do 
let us take her however out of the hands of that belford 

both your uncles supported this motion the latter part of it especially 

your brother observed in his ill-natured way what a fine piece of
consistency it was in you to refuse the vile injurer and the amends he
offered yet to throw yourself upon the protection of his fast friend 

miss harlowe was apprehensive she said that you would leave all you
could leave to that pert creature miss howe  so she called her   if you
should die 

o do not do not suppose that my bella said your poor mother i cannot
think of parting with my clary with all her faults she is my child her
reasons for her conduct are not heard it would break my heart to lose
her i think my dear to your father none so fit as i to go up if you
will give me leave and mrs norton shall accompany me 

this was a sweet motion and your father paused upon it mr morden
offered his service to escort her your uncles seemed to approve of it 
but your brother dashed all i hope sir said he to his father i
hope madam to his mother that you will not endeavour to recover a
faulty daughter by losing an unculpable son i do declare that if ever
my sister clary darkens these doors again i never will i will set out 
madam the same hour you go to london on such an errand to edinburgh 
and there i will reside and try to forget that i have relations in
england so near and so dear as you are now all to me 

good god said the colonel what a declaration is this and suppose 
sir and suppose madam  turning to your father and mother   this should
be the case whether it is better think you that you should lose for
ever such a daughter as my cousin clary or that your son should go to
edinburgh and reside there upon an estate which will be the better for
his residence upon it 

your brother's passionate behaviour hereupon is hardly to be described 
he resented it as promising an alienation of the affection of the family
to him and to such an height were resentments carried every one siding
with him that the colonel with hands and eyes lifted up cried out 
what hearts of flint am i related to o cousin harlowe to your father 
are you resolved to have but one daughter are you madam to be taught 
by a son who has no bowels to forget you are a mother 

the colonel turned from them to draw out his handkerchief and could not
for a minute speak the eyes of every one but the hard-hearted brother 
caught tears from his 

but then turning to them with the more indignation as it seemed as he
had been obliged to show a humanity which however no brave heart
should be ashamed of i leave ye all said he fit company for one
another i will never open my lips to any of you more upon this subject 
i will instantly make my will and in me shall the dear creature have the
father uncle brother she has lost i will prevail upon her to take
the tour of france and italy with me nor shall she return till ye know
the value of such a daughter 

and saying this he hurried out of the room went into the court-yard 
and ordered his horse 

mr antony harlowe went to him there just as he was mounting and said
he hoped he should find him cooler in the evening for he till then 
had lodged at his house and that then they would converse calmly and
every one mean time would weigh all matters well but the angry
gentleman said cousin harlowe i shall endeavour to discharge the
obligations i owe to your civility since i have been in england but i
have been so treated by that hot-headed young man who as far as i
know has done more to ruin his sister than lovelace himself and this
with the approbation of you all that i will not again enter into your
doors or theirs my servants shall have orders whither to bring what
belongs to me from your house i will see my dear cousin clary as soon
as i can and so god bless you altogether only this one word to your
nephew if you please that he wants to be taught the difference between
courage and bluster and it is happy for him perhaps that i am his
kinsman though i am sorry he is mine 

i wondered to hear your uncle on his return to them all repeat this 
because of the consequences it may be attended with though i hope it
will not have bad ones yet it was considered as a sort of challenge and
so it confirmed every body in your brother's favour and miss harlowe
forgot not to inveigh against that error which had brought on all these
evils 

i took the liberty again but with fear and trembling to desire leave to
attend you 

before any other person could answer your brother said i suppose you
look upon yourself mrs norton to be your own mistress pray do you
want our consents and courtship to go up if i may speak my mind you
and my sister clary are the fittest to be together yet i wish you would
not trouble your head about our family matters till you are desired to
do so 

but don't you know brother said miss harlowe that the error of any
branch of a family splits that family into two parties and makes not
only every common friend and acquaintance but even servants judges over
both this is one of the blessed effects of my sister clary's fault 

there never was a creature so criminal said your father looking with
displeasure at me who had not some weak heads to pity and side with her 

i wept your mother was so good as to take me by the hand come good
woman said she come along with me you have too much reason to be
afflicted with what afflicts us to want additions to your grief 

but my dearest young lady i was more touched for your sake than for my
own for i have been low in the world for a great number of years and 
of consequence have been accustomed to snubs and rebuffs from the
affluent but i hope that patience is written as legibly on my forehead 
as haughtiness on that of any of my obligers 

your mother led me to her chamber and there we sat and wept together for
several minutes without being able to speak either of us one word to the
other at last she broke silence asking me if you were really and
indeed so ill as it was said you were 

i answered in the affirmative and would have shown her your last letter 
but she declined seeing it 

i would fain have procured from her the favour of a line to you with her
blessing i asked what was intended by your brother and sister would
nothing satisfy them but your final reprobation i insinuated how easy
it would be did not your duty and humility govern you to make yourself
independent as to circumstances but that nothing but a blessing a last
blessing was requested by you and many other thins i urged in your
behalf the following brief repetition of what she was pleased to say in
answer to my pleas will give you a notion of it all and of the present
situation of things 

she said she was very unhappy she had lost the little authority she
once had over her other children through one child's failing and all
influence over mr harlowe and his brothers your father she said had
besought her to leave it to him to take his own methods with you and 
 as she valued him to take no step in your favour unknown to him and
your uncles yet she owned that they were too much governed by your
brother they would however give way in time she knew to a
reconciliation they designed no other for they all still loved you 

your brother and sister she owned were very jealous of your coming
into favour again yet could but mr morden have kept his temper and
stood her son's first sallies who having always had the family grandeur
in view had carried his resentment so high that he knew not how to
descend the conferences so abruptly broken off just now would have
ended more happily for that she had reason to think that a few
concessions on your part with regard to your grandfather's estate and
your cousin's engaging for your submission as from proper motives would
have softened them all 

mr brand's account of your intimacy with the friend of the obnoxious
man she said had for the time very unhappy effects for before that
she had gained some ground but afterwards dared not nor indeed had
inclination to open her lips in your behalf your continued intimacy
with that mr belford was wholly unaccountable and as wholly
inexcusable 

what made the wished-for reconciliation she said more difficult was 
first that you yourself acknowledged yourself dishonoured and it was
too well known that it was your own fault that you ever were in the
power of so great a profligate of consequence that their and your
disgrace could not be greater than it was yet that you refuse to
prosecute the wretch next that the pardon and blessing hoped for must
probably be attended with your marriage to the man they hate and who
hates them as much very disagreeable circumstances she said i must
allow to found a reconciliation upon 

as to her own part she must needs say that if there were any hope that
mr lovelace would become a reformed man the letter her cousin morden
had read to them from him to you and the justice as she hoped it was 
he did your character though to his own condemnation his family and
fortunes being unexceptionable and all his relations earnest to be
related to you were arguments that would weigh with her could they have
any with your father and uncles 

to my plea of your illness she could not but flatter herself she
answered that it was from lowness of spirits and temporary dejection 
a young creature she said so very considerate as you naturally were 
and fallen so low must have enough of that should they lose you which
god forbid the scene would then indeed be sadly changed for then those
who now most resented would be most grieved all your fine qualities
would rise to their remembrance and your unhappy error would be quite
forgotten 

she wished you would put yourself into your cousin's protection
entirely and have nothing to more to say to mr belford 

and i would recommend it to your most serious consideration my dear miss
clary whether now as your cousin who is your trustee for your
grandfather's estate is come you should not give over all thoughts of
mr lovelace's intimate friend for your executor more especially as
that gentleman's interfering in the concerns of your family should the
sad event take place which my heart aches but to think of might be
attended with those consequences which you are so desirous in other
cases to obviate and prevent and suppose my dear young lady you were
to write one letter more to each of your uncles to let them know how ill
you are and to ask their advice and offer to be governed by it in
relation to the disposition of your estate and effects methinks i wish
you would 

i find they will send you up a large part of what has been received from
that estate since it was your's together with your current cash which
you left behind you and this by your cousin morden for fear you should
have contracted debts which may make you uneasy 

they seem to expect that you will wish to live at your grandfather's
house in a private manner if your cousin prevail not upon you to go
abroad for a year or two 


friday morning 

betty was with me just now she tells me that your cousin morden is so
much displeased with them all that he has refused to lodge any more at
your uncle antony's and has even taken up with inconvenient lodgings 
till he is provided with others to his mind this very much concerns
them and they repent their violent treatment of him and the more as he
is resolved he says to make you his sole executrix and heir to all his
fortune 

what noble fortunes still my dearest young lady await you i am
thoroughly convinced if it please god to preserve your life and your
health that every body will soon be reconciled to you and that you will
see many happy days 

your mother wished me not to attend you as yet because she hopes that i
may give myself that pleasure soon with every body's good liking and
even at their desire your cousin morden's reconciliation with them 
which they are very desirous of i am ready to hope will include theirs
with you 

but if that should happen which i so much dread and i not with you i
should never forgive myself let me therefore my dearest young lady 
desire you to command my attendance if you find any danger and if you
wish me peace of mind and no consideration shall withhold me 

i hear that miss howe has obtained leave from her mother to see you and
intends next week to go to town for that purpose and as it is believed 
to buy clothes for her approaching nuptials 

mr hickman's mother-in-law is lately dead her jointure of 600  a-year
is fallen to him and she has moreover as an acknowledgement of his
good behaviour to her left him all she was worth which was very
considerable a few legacies excepted to her own relations 

these good men are uniformly good indeed could not else be good and
never fare the worse for being so all the world agrees he will make
that fine young lady an excellent husband and i am sorry they are not as
much agreed in her making him an excellent wife but i hope a woman of
her principles would not encourage his address if whether she at
present love him or not she thought she could not love him or if she
preferred any other man to him 

mr pocock undertakes to deliver this but fears it will be saturday
night first if not sunday morning 

may the almighty protect and bless you i long to see you my dearest
young lady i long to see you and to fold you once more to my fond
heart i dare to say happy days are coming be but cheerful give way
to hope 

whether for this world or the other you must be happy wish to live 
however were it only because you are so well fitted in mind to make
every one happy who has the honour to know you what signifies this
transitory eclipse you are as near perfection by all i have heard 
as any creature in this world can be for here is your glory you are
brightened and purified as i may say by your sufferings how i long to
hear your whole sad yet instructive story from your own lips 

for miss howe's sake who in her new engagements will so much want you 
for your cousin morden's sake for your mother's sake if i must go on
farther in your family and yet i can say for all their sakes and for
my sake my dearest miss clary let your resumed and accustomed
magnanimity bear you up you have many things to do which i know not the
person who will do if you leave us 

join your prayers then to mine that god will spare you to a world that
wants you and your example and although your days may seem to have been
numbered who knows but that with the good king hezekiah you may have
them prolonged which god grant if it be his blessed will to the
prayers of

your
judith norton



letter lvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
monday sept 4 


the lady would not read the letter she had from mrs norton till she had
received the communion for fear it should contain any thing that might
disturb that happy calm which she had been endeavouring to obtain for
it and when that solemn office was over she was so composed she said 
that she thought she could receive any news however affecting with
tranquillity 

nevertheless in reading it she was forced to leave off several times
through weakness and a dimness in her sight of which she complained if
i may say complained for so easy and soft were her complaints that they
could hardly be called such 

she was very much affected at divers parts of this letter she wept
several times and sighed often mrs lovick told me that these were
the gentle exclamations she broke out into as she read her unkind her
cruel brother how unsisterly poor dear woman seeming to speak of
mrs norton her kind cousin o these flaming spirits and then
reflecting upon herself more than once what a deep error is mine what
evils have i been the occasion of 

when i was admitted to her presence i have received said she a long
and not very pleasing letter from my dear mrs norton it will soon be
in your hands i am advised against appointing you to the office you
have so kindly accepted of but you must resent nothing of these things 
my choice will have an odd appearance to them but it is now too late to
alter it if i would 

i would fain write an answer to it continued she but i have no distinct
sight mr belford no steadiness of fingers this mistiness however 
will perhaps be gone by-and-by then turning to mrs lovick i don't
think i am dying yet not actually dying mrs lovick for i have no
bodily pain no numbnesses no signs of immediate death i think and my
breath which used of late to be so short is now tolerable my head
clear my intellects free i think i cannot be dying yet i shall have
agonies i doubt life will not give up so blessedly easy i fear yet
how merciful is the almighty to give his poor creature such a sweet
serenity tis what i have prayed for what encouragement mrs lovick 
so near one's dissolution to have it to hope that one's prayers are
answered 

mrs smith as well as mrs lovick was with her they were both in
tears nor had i any more than they power to say a word in answer yet
she spoke all this as well as what follows with a surprising composure
of mind and countenance 

but mr belford said she assuming a still sprightlier air and accent 
let me talk a little to you while i am thus able to say what i have to
say 

mrs lovick don't leave us  for the women were rising to go   pray sit
down and do you mrs smith sit down too dame shelbourne take this
key and open the upper drawer i will move to it 

she did with trembling knees here mr belford is my will it is
witnessed by three persons of mr smith's acquaintance 

i dare to hope that my cousin morden will give you assistance if you
request it of him my cousin morden continued his affection for me but
as i have not seen him i leave all the trouble upon you mr belford 
this deed may want forms and it does no doubt but the less as i have
my grandfather's will almost by heart and have often enough heard that
canvassed i will lay it by itself in this corner putting it at the
further end of the drawer 

she then took up a parcel of letters enclosed in one cover sealed with
three seals of black wax this said she i sealed up last night the
cover sir will let you know what is to be done with what it encloses 
this is the superscription  holding it close to her eyes and rubbing
them  as soon as i am certainly dead this to be broke open by mr 
belford here sir i put it  placing it by the will  these folded
papers are letters and copies of letters disposed according to their
dates miss howe will do with those as you and she shall think fit 
if i receive any more or more come when i cannot receive them they may
be put into this drawer  pulling out and pushing in the looking-glass
drawer   to be given to mr belford be they from whom they will you'll
be so kind as to observe that mrs lovick and dame shelbourne 

here sir proceeded she i put the keys of my apparel  putting them into
the drawer with her papers  all is in order and the inventory upon
them and an account of what i have disposed of so that nobody need to
ask mrs smith any questions 

there will be no immediate need to open or inspect the trunks which
contain my wearing apparel mrs norton will open them or order
somebody to do it for her in your presence mrs lovick for so i have
directed in my will they may be sealed up now i shall never more have
occasion to open them 

she then though i expostulated with her to the contrary caused me to
seal them up with my seal 

after this she locked up the drawer where were her papers first taking
out her book of meditations as she called it saying she should 
perhaps have use for that and then desired me to take the key of that
drawer for she should have no further occasion for that neither 

all this in so composed and cheerful a manner that we were equally
surprised and affected with it 

you can witness for me mrs smith and so can you mrs lovick 
proceeded she if any one ask after my life and conversation since you
have known me that i have been very orderly have kept good hours and
never have lain out of your house but when i was in prison and then you
know i could not help it 

o lovelace that thou hadst heard her or seen her unknown to herself 
on this occasion not one of us could speak a word 

i shall leave the world in perfect charity proceeded she and turning
towards the women don't be so much concerned for me my good friends 
this is all but needful preparation and i shall be very happy 

then again rubbing her eyes which she said were misty and looked more
intently round upon each particularly on me god bless you all said
she how kindly are you concerned for me who says i am friendless who
says i am abandoned and among strangers good mr belford don't be so
generously humane indeed  putting her handkerchief to her charming
eyes   you will make me less happy than i am sure you wish me to be 

while we were thus solemnly engaged a servant came with a letter from
her cousin morden then said she he is not come himself 

she broke it open but every line she said appeared two to her so
that being unable to read it herself she desired i would read it to
her i did so and wished it were more consolatory to her but she was
all patient attention tears however often trickling down her cheeks 
by the date it was written yesterday and this is the substance of it 

he tells her that the thursday before he had procured a general meeting
of her principal relations at her father's though not without
difficulty her haughty brother opposing it and when met rendering all
his endeavours to reconcile them to her ineffectual he censures him as
the most ungovernable young man he ever knew some great sickness he
says some heavy misfortune is wanted to bring him to a knowledge of
himself and of what is due from him to others and he wishes that he
were not her brother and his cousin nor doe he spare her father and
uncles for being so implicitly led by him 

he tells her that he parted with them all in high displeasure and
thought never more to darken any of their doors that he declared as much
to her two uncles who came to him on saturday to try to accommodate
with him and who found him preparing to go to london to attend her and
that notwithstanding their pressing entreaties he determined so to do 
and not to go with them to harlowe-place or to either of their own
houses and accordingly dismissed them with such an answer 

but that her noble letter  as he calls it of aug 31 being brought
him about an hour after their departure he thought it might affect them
as much as it did him and give them the exalted opinion of her virtue
which was so well deserved he therefore turned his horse's head back
to her uncle antony's instead of forwards toward london 


 see letter xlv of this volume 


that accordingly arriving there and finding her two uncles together he
read to them the affecting letter which left none of the three a dry
eye that the absent as is usual in such cases bearing all the load 
they accused her brother and sister and besought him to put off his
journey to town till he could carry with him the blessings which she had
formerly in vain solicited for and as they hoped the happy tidings of
a general reconciliation 

that not doubting but his visit would be the more welcome to her if
these good ends could be obtained he the more readily complied with
their desires but not being willing to subject himself to the
possibility of receiving fresh insult from her brother he had given her
uncles a copy of her letter for the family to assemble upon and desired
to know as soon as possible the result of their deliberations 

he tells her that he shall bring her up the accounts relating to the
produce of her grandfather's estate and adjust them with her having
actually in his hands the arrears due to her from it 

he highly applauds the noble manner in which she resents your usage of
her it is impossible he owns that you can either deserve her or to
be forgiven but as you do justice to her virtue and offer to make her
all the reparation now in your power and as she is so very earnest with
him not to resent that usage and declares that you could not have been
the author of her calamities but through a strange concurrence of unhappy
causes and as he is not at a loss to know how to place to a proper
account that strange concurrence he desires her not to be apprehensive
of any vindictive measures from him 

nevertheless as may be expected he inveighs against you as he finds
that she gave you no advantage over her but he forbears to enter
further into this subject he says till he has the honour to see her 
and the rather as she seems so much determined against you however he
cannot but say that he thinks you a gallant man and a man of sense and
that you have the reputation of being thought a generous man in every
instance but where the sex is concerned in such he owns that you have
taken inexcusable liberties and he is sorry to say that there are very
few young men of fortune but who allow themselves in the same both
sexes he observes too much love to have each other in their power yet
he hardly ever knew man or woman who was very fond of power make a right
use of it 

if she be so absolutely determined against marrying you as she declares
she is he hopes he says to prevail upon her to take as soon as her
health will permit a little tour abroad with him as what will probably
establish it since traveling is certainly the best physic for all those
disorders which owe their rise to grief or disappointment an absence of
two or three years will endear her to every one on her return and every
one to her 

he expresses his impatience to see her he will set out he says the
moment he knows the result of her family's determination which he
doubts not will be favourable nor will he wait long for that 

when i had read the letter through to the languishing lady and so my
friends said she have i heard of a patient who actually died while
five or six principal physicians were in a consultation and not agreed
upon what name to give his distemper the patient was an emperor the
emperor joseph i think 

i asked if i should write to her cousin as he knew not how ill she was 
to hasten up 

by no means she said since if he were not already set out she was
persuaded that she should be so low by the time he could receive my
letter and come that his presence would but discompose and hurry her 
and afflict him 

i hope however she is not so very near her end and without saying any
more to her when i retired i wrote to colonel morden that if he
expects to see his beloved cousin alive he must lose no time in setting
out i sent this letter by his own servant 

dr h sent away his letter to her father by a particular hand this
morning 

mrs walton the milliner has also just now acquainted mrs smith that
her husband had a letter brought by a special messenger from parson
brand within this half hour enclosing the copy of one he had written to
mr john harlowe recanting his officious one 

and as all these and the copy of the lady's letter to col morden will
be with them pretty much at a time the devil's in the family if they are
not struck with a remorse that shall burst open the double-barred doors
of their hearts 

will engages to reach you with this late as it will be before you go
to rest he begs that i will testify for him the hour and the minute i
shall give it him it is just half an hour after ten 

i pretend to be now by use the swiftest short-hand writer in england 
next to yourself but were matter to arise every hour to write upon and
i had nothing else to do i cannot write so fast as you expect and let
it be remembered that your servants cannot bring letters or messages
before they are written or sent 



letter lviii

dr h to james harlowe senior esq 
london sept 4 


sir 

if i may judge of the hearts of other parents by my own i cannot doubt
but you will take it well to be informed that you have yet an opportunity
to save yourself and family great future regret by dispatching hither
some one of it with your last blessing and your lady's to the most
excellent of her sex 

i have some reason to believe sir that she has been represented to you
in a very different light from the true one and this it is that induces
me to acquaint you that i think her on the best grounds absolutely
irreproachable in all her conduct which has passed under my eye or come
to my ear and that her very misfortunes are made glorious to her and
honourable to all that are related to her by the use she has made of
them and by the patience and resignation with which she supports herself
in a painful lingering and dispiriting decay and by the greatness of
mind with which she views her approaching dissolution and all this from
proper motives from motives in which a dying saint might glory 

she knows not that i write i must indeed acknowledge that i offered to
do so some days ago and that very pressingly nor did she refuse me from
obstinacy she seemed not to know what that is but desired me to forbear
for two days only in hopes that her newly-arrived cousin who as she
heard was soliciting for her would be able to succeed in her favour 

i hope i shall not be thought an officious man on this occasion but if
i am i cannot help it being driven to write by a kind of parental and
irresistible impulse 

but sir whatever you think fit to do or permit to be done must be
speedily done for she cannot i verily think live a week and how long
of that short space she may enjoy her admirable intellects to take
comfort in the favours you may think proper to confer upon her cannot be
said i am sir 

your most humble servant 

r h 



letter lix

mr belford to william morden esq 
london sept 4 


sir 

the urgency of the case and the opportunity by your servant will
sufficiently apologize for this trouble from a stranger to your person 
who however is not a stranger to your merit 

i understand you are employing your good offices with the parents of
miss clarissa harlowe and other relations to reconcile them to the most
meritorious daughter and kinswoman that ever family had to boast of 

generously as this is intended by you we here have too much reason to
think all your solicitudes on this head will be unnecessary for it is
the opinion of every one who has the honour of being admitted to her
presence that she cannot lie over three days so that if you wish to
see her alive you must lose no time to come up 

she knows not that i write i had done it sooner if i had had the least
doubt that before now she would not have received from you some news of
the happy effects of your kind mediation in her behalf i am sir 

your most humble servant 
j belford 



letter lx

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to letter lvii  
uxbridge tuesday morn between 4 and 5 


and can it be that this admirable creature will so soon leave this
cursed world for cursed i shall think it and more cursed myself when
she is gone o jack thou who canst sit so cool and like addison's
angel direct and even enjoy the storm that tears up my happiness by
the roots blame me not for my impatience however unreasonable if thou
knowest that already i feel the torments of the damned in the remorse
that wrings my heart on looking back upon my past actions by her thou
wouldst not be the devil thou art to halloo on a worrying conscience 
which without my merciless aggravations is altogether intolerable 

i know not what to write nor what i would write when the company that
used to delight me is as uneasy to me as my reflections are painful and
i can neither help nor divert myself must not every servant about me
partake in a perturbation so sincere 

shall i give thee a faint picture of the horrible uneasiness with which
my mind struggles and faint indeed it must be for nothing but
outrageous madness can exceed it and that only in the apprehension of
others since as to the sufferer it is certain that actual distraction
 take it out of its lucid intervals must be an infinitely more happy
state than the state of suspense and anxiety which often brings it on 

forbidden to attend the dear creature yet longing to see her i would
give the world to be admitted once more to her beloved presence i ride
towards london three or four times a day resolving pro and con twenty
times in two or three miles and at last ride back and in view of
uxbridge loathing even the kind friend and hospitable house turn my
horse's head again towards the town and resolve to gratify my humour 
let her take it as she will but at the very entrance of it after
infinite canvassings once more alter my mind dreading to offend and
shock her lest by that means i should curtail a life so precious 

yesterday in particular to give you an idea of the strength of that
impatience which i cannot avoid suffering to break out upon my servants 
i had no sooner dispatched will than i took horse to meet him on his
return 

in order to give him time i loitered about on the road riding up this
lane to the one highway down that to the other just as my horse
pointed all the way cursing my very being and though so lately looking
down upon all the world wishing to change conditions with the poorest
beggar that cried to me for charity as i rode by him and throwing him
money in hopes to obtain by his prayers the blessing my heart pants
after 

after i had sauntered about an hour or two which seemed three or four
tedious ones fearing i had slipt the fellow i inquired at every
turnpike whether a servant in such a livery had not passed through in
his return from london on a full gallop for woe had been to the dog 
had i met him on a sluggish trot and lest i should miss him at one end
of kensingtohn as he might take either the acton or hammersmith road or
at the other as he might come through the park or not how many score
times did i ride backwards and forwards from the palace to the gore 
making myself the subject of observation to all passengers whether on
horseback or on foot who no doubt wondered to see a well-dressed and
well-mounted man sometimes ambling sometimes prancing as the beast
had more fire than his master backwards and forwards in so short a
compass 

yet all this time though longing to espy the fellow did i dread to meet
him lest he should be charged with fatal tidings 

when at distance i saw any man galloping towards me my
resemblance-forming fancy immediately made it to be him and then my
heart choked me but when the person's nearer approach undeceived me 
how did i curse the varlet's delay and thee by turns and how ready
was i to draw my pistol at the stranger for having the impudence to
gallop which none but my messenger i thought had either right or
reason to do for all the business of the world i am ready to imagine 
should stand still on an occasion so melancholy and so interesting to me 
nay for this week past i could cut the throat of any man or woman i see
laugh while i am in such dejection of mind 

i am now convinced that the wretches who fly from a heavy scene labour
under ten times more distress in the intermediate suspense and
apprehension than they could have were they present at it and to see
and know the worst so capable is fancy or imagination the more
immediate offspring of the soul to outgo fact let the subject be either
joyous or grievous 

and hence as i conceive it is that all pleasures are greater in the
expectation or in the reflection than in fruition as all pains which
press heavy upon both parts of that unequal union by which frail
mortality holds its precarious tenure are ever most acute in the time of
suffering for how easy sit upon the reflection the heaviest misfortunes 
when surmounted but most easy i confess those in which body has more
concern than soul this however is a point of philosophy i have
neither time nor head just now to weigh so take it as it falls from a
madman's pen 

woe be to either of the wretches who shall bring me the fatal news that
she is no more for it is but too likely that a shriek-owl so hated will
never hoot or scream again unless the shock that will probably disorder
my whole frame on so sad an occasion by unsteadying my hand shall
divert my aim from his head heart or bowels if it turn not against my
own 

but surely she will not she cannot yet die such a matchless
excellence 

 whose mind
 contains a world and seems for all things fram'd 

could not be lent to be so soon demanded back again 

but may it not be that thou belford art in a plot with the dear
creature who will not let me attend her to convince myself in order
to work up my soul to the deepest remorse and that when she is
convinced of the sincerity of my penitence and when my mind is made such
wax as to be fit to take what impression she pleases to give it she
will then raise me up with the joyful tidings of her returning health and
acceptance of me 

what would i give to have it so and when the happiness of hundreds as
well as the peace and reconciliation of several eminent families depend
upon her restoration and happiness why should it not be so 

but let me presume it will let me indulge my former hope however
improbable i will and enjoy it too and let me tell thee how ecstatic
my delight would be on the unravelling of such a plot as this 

do dear belford let it be so and o my dearest and ever-dear
clarissa keep me no loner in this cruel suspense in which i suffer a
thousand times more than ever i made thee suffer nor fear thou that i
will resent or recede on an ecclaircissement so desirable for i will
adore thee for ever and without reproaching thee for the pangs thou hast
tortured me with confess thee as much my superior in virtue and honour 

but once more should the worst happen say not what that worst is and i
am gone from this hated island gone for ever and may eternal but i am
crazed already and will therefore conclude myself 

thine more than my own 
 and no great compliment neither 
r l 



letter lxi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tues sept 9 in the morn at mr smith's 


when i read yours of this morning i could not help pitying you for the
account you give of the dreadful anxiety and suspense you labour under 
i wish from my heart all were to end as you are so willing to hope but
it will not be and your suspense if the worst part of your torment as
you say it is will soon be over but alas in a way you wish not 

i attended the lady just now she is extremely ill yet is she aiming
at an answer to her norton's letter which she began yesterday in her own
chamber and has written a good deal but in a hand not like her own fine
one as mrs lovick tells me but larger and the lines crooked 

i have accepted of the offer of a room adjoining to the widow lovick's 
till i see how matters go but unknown to the lady and i shall go home
every night for a few hours i would not lose a sentence that i could
gain from lips so instructive nor the opportunity of receiving any
command from her for an estate 

in this my new apartment i now write and shall continue to write as
occasions offer that i may be the more circumstantial but i depend upon
the return of my letters or copies of them on demand that i may have
together all that relates to this affecting story which i shall
re-peruse with melancholy pleasure to the end of my life 

i think i will send thee brand's letter to mr john harlowe recanting
his base surmises it is a matchless piece of pedantry and may perhaps
a little divert thy deep chagrin some time hence at least it may if not
now 

what wretched creatures are there in the world what strangely mixed
creatures so sensible and so silly at the same time what a various 
what a foolish creature is man 


three o'clock 

the lady has just finished her letter and has entertained mrs lovick 
mrs smith and me with a noble discourse on the vanity and brevity of
life to which i cannot do justice in the repetition and indeed i am so
grieved for her that ill as she is my intellects are not half so clear
as her's 

a few things which made the strongest impression upon me as well from
the sentiments themselves as from her manner of uttering them i
remember she introduced them thus 

i am thinking said she what a gradual and happy death god almighty
 blessed be his name affords me who would have thought that suffering
what i have suffered and abandoned as i have been with such a
tender education as i have had i should be so long a dying but see now
by little and little it had come to this i was first take off from the
power of walking then i took a coach a coach grew too violent an
exercise then i took up a chair the prison was a large death-stride
upon me i should have suffered longer else next i was unable to go to
church then to go up or down stairs now hardly can move from one room
to another and a less room will soon hold me my eyes begin to fail me 
so that at times i cannot see to read distinctly and now i can hardly
write or hold a pen next i presume i shall know nobody nor be able
to thank any of you i therefore now once more thank you mrs lovick 
and you mrs smith and you mr belford while i can thank you for all
your kindness to me and thus by little and little in such a gradual
sensible death as i am blessed with god dies away in us as i may say 
all human satisfaction in order to subdue his poor creatures to himself 

thou mayest guess how affected we all were at this moving account of her
progressive weakness we heard it with wet eyes for what with the
women's example and what with her moving eloquence i could no more help
it than they but we were silent nevertheless and she went on applying
herself to me 

o mr belford this is a poor transitory life in the best enjoyments 
we flutter about here and there with all our vanities about us like
painted butterflies for a gay but a very short season till at last we
lay ourselves down in a quiescent state and turn into vile worms and
who knows in what form or to what condition we shall rise again 

i wish you would permit me a young creature just turned of nineteen
years of age blooming and healthy as i was a few months ago now nipt by
the cold hand of death to influence you in these my last hours to a
life of regularity and repentance for any past evils you may have been
guilty of for believe me sir that now in this last stage very few
things will bear the test or be passed as laudable if pardonable at
our own bar much less at a more tremendous one in all we have done or
delighted in even in a life not very offensive neither as we may think 
 ought we not then to study in our full day before the dark hours
approach so to live as may afford reflections that will soften the
agony of the last moments when they come and let in upon the departing
soul a ray of divine mercy to illuminate its passage into an awful
eternity 

she was ready to faint and choosing to lie down i withdrew i need not
say with a melancholy heart and when i got to my new-taken apartment my
heart was still more affected by the sight of the solemn letter the
admirable lady had so lately finished it was communicated to me by mrs 
lovick who had it to copy for me but it was not to be delivered to me
till after her departure however i trespassed so far as to prevail
upon the widow to let me take a copy of it which i did directly in
character 

i send it enclosed if thou canst read it and thy heart not bleed at
thy eyes thy remorse can hardly be so deep as thou hast inclined me to
think it is 



letter lxii

miss clarissa harlowe to mrs norton
 in answer to letter lvi  


 begun on monday sept 4 and by piecemeal finished on tuesday but not
sent till the thursday following 


my dearest mrs norton 

i am afraid i shall not be able to write all that is upon my mind to say
to you upon the subject of your last yet i will try 

as to my friends and as to the sad breakfasting i cannot help being
afflicted for them what alas has not my mother in particular 
suffered by my rashness yet to allow so much for a son so little for
a daughter but all now will soon be over as to me i hope they will
bury all their resentments in my grave 

as to your advice in relation to mr belford let me only say that the
unhappy reprobation i have met with and my short time must be my
apology now i wish i could have written to my mother and my uncles as
you advise and yet favours come so slowly from them 

the granting of one request only now remains as a desirable one from
them which nevertheless when granted i shall not be sensible of it
is that they will be pleased to permit my remains to be laid with those
of my ancestors placed at the feet of my dear grandfather as i have
mentioned in my will this however as they please for after all 
this vile body ought not so much to engage my cares it is a weakness 
but let it be called a natural weakness and i shall be excused 
especially when a reverential gratitude shall be known to be the
foundation of it you know my dear woman how my grandfather loved me 
and you know how much i honoured him and that from my very infancy to
the hour of his death how often since have i wished that he had not
loved me so well 

i wish not now at the writing of this to see even my cousin morden 
o my blessed woman my dear maternal friend i am entering upon a
better tour than to france or italy either or even than to settle at my
once-beloved dairy-house all these prospects and pleasures which used
to be so agreeable to me in health how poor seem they to me now 

indeed indeed my dear mamma norton i shall be happy i know i shall 
 i have charming forebodings of happiness already tell all my dear
friends for their comfort that i shall who would not bear the
punishments i have borne to have the prospects and assurances i rejoice
in assurances i might not have had were my own wishes to have been
granted to me 

neither do i want to see even you my dear mrs norton nevertheless i
must in justice to my own gratitude declare that there was a time 
could you have been permitted to come without incurring displeasure from
those whose esteem it is necessary for you to cultivate and preserve 
that your presence and comfortings would have been balm to my wounded
mind but were you now even by consent and with reconciliatory
tidings to come it would but add to your grief and the sight of one i
so dearly love so happily fraught with good news might but draw me back
to wishes i have had great struggles to get above and let me tell you
for your comfort that i have not left undone any thing that ought to be
done either respecting mind or person no not to the minutest
preparation so that nothing is left for you to do for me every one has
her direction as to the last offices and my desk that i now write upon
 o my dearest mrs norton all is provided all is ready and all will
be as decent as it should be 

and pray let my miss howe know that by the time you will receive this 
and she your signification of the contents of it will in all
probability be too late for her to do me the inestimable favour as i
should once have thought it to see me god will have no rivals in the
hearts of those he sanctifies by various methods he deadens all other
sensations or rather absorbs them all in the love of him 

i shall nevertheless love you my mamma norton and my miss howe whose
love to me has passed the love of woman to my latest hour but yet i
am now above the quick sense of those pleasures which once delighted me 
and once more i say that i do not wish to see objects so dear to me 
which might bring me back again into sense and rival my supreme love 


 


twice have i been forced to leave off i wished that my last writing
might be to you or to miss howe if it might not be to my dearest ma 

mamma i would have wrote is the word distinct my eyes are so misty 
if when i apply to you i break off in half-words do you supply them 
the kindest are your due be sure take the kindest to fill up chasms
with if any chasms there be 


 


another breaking off but the new day seems to rise upon me with healing
in its wings i have gotten i think a recruit of strength spirits i
bless god i have not of late wanted 

let my dearest miss howe purchase her wedding-garments and may all
temporal blessings attend the charming preparation blessings will i
make no question notwithstanding the little cloudiness that mr hickman
encounters with now and then which are but prognostications of a future
golden day to him for her heart is good and her head not wrong but
great merit is coy and that coyness had not always its foundation in
pride but if it should seem to be pride take off the skin-deep
covering and in her it is noble diffidence and a love that wants but
to be assured 

tell mr hickman i write this and write it as i believe with my last
pen and bid him bear a little at first and forbear and all the future
will be crowning gratitude and rewarding love for miss howe had great
sense fine judgment and exalted generosity and can such a one be
ungrateful or easy under those obligations which his assiduity and
obligingness when he shall be so happy as to call her his will lay her
under to him 

as for me never bride was so ready as i am my wedding garments are
bought and though not fine or gawdy to the sight though not adorned
with jewels and set off with gold and silver for i have no beholders'
eyes to wish to glitter in yet will they be the easiest the happiest
suit that ever bridal maiden wore for they are such as carry with them
a security against all those anxieties pains and perturbations which
sometimes succeed to the most promising outsettings 

and now my dear mrs norton do i wish for no other 

o hasten good god if it be thy blessed will the happy moment that i am
to be decked out in his all-quieting garb and sustain comfort bless 
and protect with the all-shadowing wing of thy mercy my dear parents my
uncles my brother my sister my cousin morden my ever-dear and
ever-kind miss howe my good mrs norton and every deserving person to
whom they wish well is the ardent prayer first and last of every
beginning hour as the clock tells it me hours now are days nay 
years of

your now not sorrowing or afflicted but happy 
clarissa harlowe 



letter lxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wed morn sept 6 half an hour after three 


i am not the savage which you and my worst enemies think me my soul is
too much penetrated by the contents of the letter which you enclosed in
your last to say one word more to it than that my heart has bled over
it from every vein i will fly from the subject but what other can i
choose that will not be as grievous and lead into the same 

i could quarrel with all the world with thee as well as the rest 
obliging as thou supposest thyself for writing to me hourly how darest
thou though unknown to her to presume to take an apartment under the
sane roof with her i cannot bear to think that thou shouldest be seen 
at all hours passing to and repassing from her apartments while i who
have so much reason to call her mine and one was preferred by her to all
the world am forced to keep aloof and hardly dare to enter the city
where she is 

if there be any thing in brand's letter that will divert me hasten it to
me but nothing now will ever divert me will ever again give me joy or
pleasure i can neither eat drink nor sleep i am sick of all the
world 

surely it will be better when all is over when i know the worst the
fates can do against me yet how shall i bear that worst o belford 
belford write it not to me but if it must happen get somebody else to
write for i shall curse the pen the hand the head and the heart 
employed in communicating to me the fatal tidings but what is this
saying when already i curse the whole world except her myself most 

in fine i am a most miserable being life is a burden to me i would
not bear it upon these terms for one week more let what would be my lot 
for already is there a hell begun in my own mind never more mention it
to me let her or who will say it the prison i cannot bear it may
d n n seize quick the cursed woman who could set death upon taking
that large stride as the dear creature calls it i had no hand in it 
but her relations her implacable relations have done the business all
else would have been got over never persuade me but it would the fire
of youth and the violence of passion would have pleaded for me to good
purpose with an individual of a sex which loves to be addressed with
passionate ardour even to tumult had it not been for that cruelty and
unforgivingness which the object and the penitence considered have
no example and have aggravated the heinousness of my faults 

unable to rest though i went not to bed till two i dispatch this ere
the day dawn who knows what this night this dismal night may have
produced 

i must after my messenger i have told the varlet i will meet him 
perhaps at knightsbridge perhaps in piccadilly and i trust not myself
with pistols not only on his account but my own for pistols are too
ready a mischief 

i hope thou hast a letter ready for him he goes to thy lodgings first 
for surely thou wilt not presume to take thy rest in an apartment near
her's if he miss thee there he flies to smith's and brings me word
whether in being or not 

i shall look for him through the air as i ride as well as on horseback 
for if the prince of it serve me as well as i have served him he will
bring the dog by his ears like another habakkuk to my saddle-bow with
the tidings that my heart pants after 

nothing but the excruciating pangs the condemned soul fells at its
entrance into the eternity of the torments we are taught to fear can
exceed what i now feel and have felt for almost this week past and
mayest thou have a spice of those if thou hast not a letter ready
written for thy

lovelace 



letter lxiv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
tueday sept 5 six o'clock 


the lady remains exceedingly weak and ill her intellects nevertheless 
continue clear and strong and her piety and patience are without
example every one thinks this night will be her last what a shocking
thing is that to say of such an excellence she will not however send
away her letter to her norton as yet she endeavoured in vain to
superscribe it so desired me to do it her fingers will not hold the
pen with the requisite steadiness she has i fear written and read her
last 


eight o'clock 

she is somewhat better than she was the doctor had been here and
thinks she will hold out yet a day or two he has ordered her as for
some time past only some little cordials to take when ready to faint 
she seemed disappointed when he told her she might yet live two or three
days and said she longed for dismission life was not so easily
extinguished she saw as some imagined death from grief was she
believed the slowest of deaths but god's will must be done her only
prayer was now for submission to it for she doubted not but by the
divine goodness she should be an happy creature as soon as she could be
divested of these rags of mortality 

of her own accord she mentioned you which till then she had avoided to
do she asked with great serenity where you were 

i told her where and your motives for being so near and read to her a
few lines of your's of this morning in which you mention your wishes to
see her your sincere affliction and your resolution not to approach her
without her consent 

i would have read more but she said enough mr belford enough poor
man does his conscience begin to find him then need not any body to
wish him a greater punishment may it work upon him to an happy purpose 

i took the liberty to say that as she was in such a frame that nothing
now seemed capable of discomposing her i could wish that you might have
the benefit of her exhortations which i dared to say while you were so
seriously affected would have a greater force upon you than a thousand
sermons and how happy you would think yourself if you could but receive
her forgiveness on your knees 

how can you think of such a thing mr belford said she with some
emotion my composure is owing next to the divine goodness blessing my
earnest supplications for it to the not seeing him yet let him know
that i now again repeat that i forgive him and may god almighty 
clasping her fingers and lifting up her eyes forgive him too and
perfect repentance and sanctify it to him tell him i say so and tell
him that if i could not say so with my whole heart i should be very
uneasy and think that my hopes of mercy were but weakly founded and
that i had still in my harboured resentment some hankerings after a
life which he has been the cause of shortening 

the divine creature then turning aside her head poor man said she i
once could have loved him this is saying more than ever i could say of
any other man out of my own family would he have permitted me to have
been an humble instrument to have made him good i think i could have
made him happy but tell him not this if he be really penitent it may
too much affect him there she paused 

admirable creature heavenly forgiver then resuming but pray tell
him that if i could know that my death might be a mean to reclaim and
save him it would be an inexpressible satisfaction to me 

but let me not however be made uneasy with the apprehension of seeing
him i cannot bear to see him 

just as she had done speaking the minister who had so often attended
her sent up his name and was admitted 

being apprehensive that it would be with difficulty that you could
prevail upon that impetuous spirit of your's not to invade her in her
dying hours and of the agonies into which a surprise of this nature
would throw her i thought this gentleman's visit afforded a proper
opportunity to renew the subject and having asked her leave 
acquainted him with the topic we had been upon 

the good man urged that some condescensions were usually expected on
these solemn occasions from pious souls like her's however satisfied
with themselves for the sake of showing the world and for example-sake 
that all resentments against those who had most injured them were
subdued and if she would vouchsafe to a heart so truly penitent as i
had represented mr lovelace's to be that personal pardon which i had
been pleading for there would be no room to suppose the least lurking
resentment remained and it might have very happy effects upon the
gentleman 

i have no lurking resentment sir said she this is not a time for
resentment and you will be the readier to believe me when i can assure
you looking at me that even what i have most rejoiced in the truly
friendly love that has so long subsisted between my miss howe and her
clarissa although to my last gasp it will be the dearest to me of all
that is dear in this life has already abated of its fervour has already
given place to supremer fervours and shall the remembrance of mr 
lovelace's personal insults which i bless god never corrupted that mind
which her friendship so much delighted be stronger in these hours with
me then the remembrance of a love as pure as the human heart ever
boasted tell therefore the world if you please and if mr 
belford you think what i said to you before not strong enough tell the
poor man that i not only forgive him but have such earnest wishes for
the good of his soul and that from consideration of its immortality 
that could my penitence avail for more sins than my own my last tear
should fall for him by whom i die 

our eyes and hands expressed to us both what our lips could not utter 

say not then proceeded she nor let it be said that my resentments are
unsubdued and yet these eyes lifted up to heaven as witness to the
truth of what i have said shall never if i can help it behold him
more for do you not consider sirs how short my time is what much
more important subjects i have to employ it upon and how unable i should
be so weak as i am to contend even with the avowed penitence of a
person in strong health governed by passions unabated and always
violent and now i hope you will never urge me more on this subject 

the minister said it were pity ever to urge this plea again 

you see lovelace that i did not forget the office of a friend in
endeavouring to prevail upon her to give you her last forgiveness
personally and i hope as she is so near her end you will not invade
her in her last hours since she must be extremely discomposed at such an
interview and it might make her leave the world the sooner for it 

this reminds me of an expression which she used on your barbarous hunting
of her at smith's on her return to her lodgings and that with a
serenity unexampled as mrs lovick told me considering the occasion 
and the trouble given her by it and her indisposition at the time he
will not let me die decently said the angelic sufferer he will not let
me enter into my maker's presence with the composure that is required in
entering into the drawing-room of an earthly prince 

i cannot however forbear to wish that the heavenly creature could have
prevailed upon herself in these her last hours to see you and that for
my sake as well as yours for although i am determined never to be
guilty of the crimes which till within these few past weeks have
blackened my former life and for which at present i most heartily hate
myself yet should i be less apprehensive of such a relapse if wrought
upon by the solemnity which such an interview must have been attended
with you had become a reformed man for no devil do i fear but one in
your shape 


 


it is now eleven o'clock at night the lady who retired to rest an hour
ago is as mrs lovick tells me in a sweet slumber 

i will close here i hope i shall find her the better for it in the
morning yet alas how frail is hope how frail is life when we are
apt to build so much on every shadowy relief although in such a
desperate case as this sitting down to reflect we must know that it is
but shadowy 

i will enclose brand's horrid pedantry and for once am aforehand with
thy ravenous impatience 



letter lxv

mr brand to mr john walton
sat night sept 2 


dear mr walton 

i am obliged to you for the very handsomely penned' and elegantly
written  letter which you have sent me on purpose to do justice' to
the character' of the younger' miss harlowe and yet i must tell you
that i had reason before that came  to think  and to know'
indeed that we were all wrong  and so i had employed the greatest
part' of this week  in drawing up an apologetical letter' to my worthy
patron  mr john harlowe in order to set all matters right' between
me and them  and as far as i could  between them' and miss 
so it required little more than connection' and transcribing  when i
received your's' and it will be with mr harlowe aforesaid to-morrow
morning' and this and the copy of that will be with you on monday
morning 

you cannot imagine how sorry i am that you' and mrs walton and mrs 
barker and i myself  should have taken matters up so lightly 
 judging alas-a-day by appearance and conjecture where character'
and reputation' are concerned horace says truly 

 et semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum 

that is words one spoken cannot be recalled  but mr walton they
may be contradicted' by other' words and we may confess ourselves
guilty of a mistake  and express our concern' for being mistaken' 
and resolve to make our mistake' a warning' to us for the future' and
this is all that can be done  and what every worthy mind will do' and
what nobody can be readier to do' than we four undesigning offenders 
 as i see by your letter  on your part  and as you will see by the
enclosed copy  on mine' which if it be received as i think it
ought  and as i believe it will  must give me a speedy' opportunity
to see you when i visit the lady' to whom as you will see in it i
expect to be sent up with the olive-branch 

the matter in which we all erred  must be owned to be very nice' and
 mr belford's character considered' appearances' ran very strong
against the lady  but all that this serveth to show is that in
doubtful matters the wisest people may be mistaken' for so saith the
poet 

 fallitur in dubiis hominum solertia rebus 

if you have an opportunity  you may as if from yourself  and
unknown to me' show the enclosed to mr belford who you tell me 
resenteth' the matter very heinously but not to let him see' or hear
read  those words that relate to him  in the paragraph at the bottom
of the second page  beginning  'but yet i do insist upon it   to the
end' of that paragraph for one would not make one's self enemies  you
know and i have reason to think  that this mr belford' is as
passionate' and fierce' a man as mr lovelace what pity it is the
lady could find no worthier a protector  you may paste those lines
over with blue' or black paper  before he seeth it and if he
insisteth upon taking a copy of my letter for he or any body that
seeth it  or heareth it read  will no doubt be glad to have by them
the copy of a letter so full of the sentiments' of the noblest writers'
of antiquity  and so well adapted  as i will be bold to say they are 
to the point in hand' i say if he insisteth upon taking a copy let
him give you the strongest assurances' not to suffer it to be printed'
on any account' and i make the same request to you that you' will
not for if any thing be to be made of a man's works  who but the
author  should have the advantage' and if the spectators  the
tatlers  the examiners  the guardians  and other of our polite
papers make such a strutting' with a single verse  or so by way of
motto  in the front' of each day's' paper and if other authors'
pride themselves in finding out' and embellishing' the title-pages'
of their books' with a verse' or adage' from the classical writers' 
what a figure would such a letter as the enclosed make  so full fraught
with admirable precepts  and a-propos quotations  from the best
authority' 

i have been told that a certain noble lord  who once sat himself down
to write a pamphlet' in behalf of a great minister  after taking
infinite pains' to no purpose' to find a latin motto  gave commission
to a friend of his' to offer to any one  who could help him to a
suitable one  but of one or two lines a hamper of claret 
accordingly his lordship had a motto found him' from juvenal  which
he unhappily mistaking  not knowing juvenal' was a poet  printed
as a prose sentence' in his title-page 

if then one' or two' lines were of so much worth a hamper of
claret' no less' of what inestimable value' would such a letter as
mine' be deemed and who knoweth but that this noble p r who is now 
living if he should happen to see this letter' shining with such a
glorious string of jewels  might give the writer a scarf  in order to
have him always at hand  or be a mean' some way or other to bring
him into notice' and i would be bold to say bad' as the world' is 
a man of sound learning' wanteth nothing but an initiation' to make his
fortune 


 i e at the time this letter was written 


i hope my good friend that the lady will not die' i shall be much
grieved  if she doth and the more because of mine unhappy
misrepresentation' so will you' for the same cause' so will her
parents' and friends  they are very rich' and very worthy'
gentlefolks 

but let me tell you by-the-by  that they had carried the matter
against her so far  that i believe in my heart they were glad to
justify themselves' by my report' and would have been less pleased 
had i made a more favourable one  and yet in their hearts' they
dote' upon her but now they are all as i hear inclined to be
friends with her  and forgive her' her brother  as well as the
rest 

but their cousin  col morden a very fine gentleman  had had such
high words' with them and they with him that they know not how to
stoop  lest it should look like being frighted into an accommodation 
hence it is that i' have taken the greater liberty to press the
reconciliation' and i hope in such good season  that they will all be
pleased' with it for can they have a better handle' to save their
pride' all round than by my mediation' and let me tell you inter
nos betwixt ourselves  very proud they all are 

by this honest means  for by dishonest ones' i would not be
archbishop of canterbury  i hope to please every body to be
forgiven  in the first place  by the lady  whom being a lover of
learning' and learned men  i shall have great opportunities' of
obliging' for when she departed from her father's house i had but
just the honour of her notice  and she seemed highly pleased' with my
conversation' and next' to be thanked' and respected' by her
parents  and all her family' as i am i bless god for it by my dear
friend' mr john harlowe who indeed is a man that professeth a great
esteem' for men of erudition' and who with singular delight  i know 
will run over with me the authorities' i have quoted  and wonder' at
my memory  and the happy knack' i have of recommending mine own sense
of things' in the words of the greatest sages of antiquity 

excuse me my good friend for this seeming vanity  the great cicero
 you must have heard i suppose had a much greater' spice of it and
wrote a long letter begging' and praying' to be flattered  but if i
say less of myself' than other people who know me say of me  i think
i keep a medium' between vanity' and false modesty' the latter of
which oftentimes gives itself the lie  when it is declaring of' the
compliments  that every body' gives it as its due an hypocrisy as
well as folly that i hope i shall for ever scorn to be guilty of 

i have another reason' as i may tell to you my old school-fellow' to
make me wish for this fine lady's recovery' and health' and that is 
 by some distant intimations i have heard from mr john harlowe that
it is very likely' because of the slur' she hath received that she
will choose to live privately' and penitently' and will probably when
she cometh into her estate' keep a chaplain' to direct her in her
devotions' and penitence' if she doth who can stand a better chance'
than myself' and as i find by your' account as well as by every
body's' that she is innocent as to intention  and is resolved never to
think of mr lovelace more  who knoweth what' in time may happen' 
 and yet it must be after mr lovelace's death  which may possibly
sooner happen than he thinketh' of by means of his detestable
courses' for after all a man who is of public utility  ought not
 for the finest woman' in the world to lay his throat' at the mercy'
of a man who boggleth at nothing 

i beseech you let not this hint go farther' than to yourself  your
spouse  and mrs barker  i know i may trust my life' in your
hands' and theirs  there have been let me tell ye unlikelier'
things come to pass and that with rich widows  some of quality'
truly whose choice in their first marriages' hath perhaps been
guided by motives of convenience  or mere corporalities  as i may
say but who by their second' have had for their view the corporal' and
spiritual' mingled which is the most eligible no doubt to substance'
composed of both  as men' and women' are 

nor think sir that should such a thing come to pass either' would be
disgraced  since the lady' in me' would marry a gentleman' and a
scholar' and as to mine own honour  as the slur' would bring her
high fortunes' down to an equivalence' with my mean ones  if
fortune' only and not merit  be considered so hath not the life'
of this lady' been so tainted  either by length of time  or
naughtiness of practice  as to put her on a foot' with the cast
abigails  that too too often god knoweth are thought good enough
for a young clergyman  who perhaps is drawn in by a poor benefice' 
and if the wicked one' be not quite worn out' groweth poorer and
poorer upon it by an increase of family' he knoweth not whether is
most his  or his noble  ignoble  i should say patrons 

but all this apart  and in confidence 

i know you made at school but a small progress in languages  so i have
restrained myself from many illustrations' from the classics  that i
could have filled this letter with as i have done the enclosed one 
and being at a distance  i cannot explain' them to you as i do to
my friend  mr john harlowe and who after all is obliged to me'
for pointing out to him' many beauties' of the authors i quote  which
otherwise would lie concealed from him  as they must from every common
observer  but this too inter nos' for he would not take it well to
have it known' jays' you know old school-fellow jays  you know 
will strut in peacocks' feathers 

but whither am i running i never know where to end when i get upon
learned topics  and albeit i cannot compliment you' with the name of
a learned man  yet are you a sensible man' and as such' must have
pleasure' in learned men  and in their writings 

in this confidence mr walton with my kind respects' to the good
ladies your spouse' and sister  and in hopes for the young lady's
sake  soon to follow this long long epistle in person  i conclude
myself 

your loving and faithful friend 
elias brand 


you will perhaps mr walton wonder at the meaning of the lines drawn
 under many of the words and sentences  underscoring we call it 
 and were my letters to be printed those would be put in a
 different character  now you must know sir that we learned
 men' do this to point out to the readers who are not so learned 
 where the jet of our arguments lieth  and the emphasis' they are
 to lay upon those words' whereby they will take in readily our
 sense' and cogency  some pragmatical' people have said that
 an author who doth a great deal of this  either calleth his
 readers fools  or tacitly condemneth his own style  as
 supposing his meaning would be dark' without it or that all of
 his force' lay in words  but all of those with whom i have
 conversed in a learned way think as i think  and to give a very
 pretty  though familiar illustration  i have considered a page
 distinguished by different characters  as a verdant field'
 overspread with butter-flowers' and daisies  and other
 summer-flowers these the poets liken to enamelling' have you
 not read in the poets of enamelled meads  and so forth 



letter lxvi

mr brand to john harlowe esq 
sat night sept 2 


worthy sir 

i am under no small concern  that i should unhappily be the
occasion' i am sure i intended' nothing like it of widening
differences' by light misreport  when it is the duty' of one of my
function' and no less consisting with my inclination' to heal' and
reconcile 

i have received two letter to set me right' one from a particular
acquaintance  whom i set to inquire of mr belford's character and
that came on tuesday last informing me that your unhappy niece' was
greatly injured in the account i had had of her for i had told him'
of it and that with very great concern  i am sure apprehending it to
be true  so i then' set about writing to you to acknowledge' the
error  and had gone a good way in it when the second letter came a
very handsome one' it is both in style' and penmanship' from my
friend mr walton though i am sure it cannot be his inditing  
expressing his sorrow and his wife's and his sister-in-law's likewise 
for having been the cause of misleading me  in the account i gave of
the said young lady' whom they now' say upon further inquiry' they
find to be the most unblameable  and most prudent  and it seems the
most pious' young lady that ever once committed a great error' as
 to be sure her's was  in leaving such worthy parents' and
relations' for so vile a man' as mr lovelace but what shall we say 
why the divine virgil tells us 

 improbe amor quid non mortalia pectora cogis 

for my part  i was but too much afraid for we have great
opportunities  you are sensible sir at the university  of knowing
human nature' from books  the calm result' of the wise man's
wisdom  as i may say 

  haurit aquam cribro qui discere vult sine libro 

uninterrupted' by the noise' and vanities' that will mingle with
personal conversation  which in the turbulent world' is not to be
enjoyed but over a bottle  where you have an hundred foolish things'
pass to one that deserveth to be remembered' i was but too much afraid
i say' that so great a slip' might be attended with still greater'
and worse' for your' horace and my' horace the most charming writer
that ever lived among the pagans' for the lyric kind of poetry  i
mean for the be sure homer' and virgil' would otherwise' be first'
named in their way' well observeth and who understood human nature'
better than he 

 nec vera virtus cum semel excidit 
 curat reponi deterioribus 

and ovid' no less wisely observeth 

 et mala sunt vicina bonis errore sub illo
 pro vitio virtus crimina saepe tulit 

who that can draw knowledge' from its fountain-head  the works of the
sages of antiquity  improved by the comments' of the moderns  but
would prefer' to all others the silent quiet life  which
contemplative men' lead in the seats of learning  were they not called
out according to their dedication' to the service' and instruction'
of the world 

now sir another' favourite poet of mine and not the less a
favourite' for being a christian' telleth us that ill is the custom of
some  when in a fault  to throw the blame upon the backs of others 

  hominum quoque mos est 
 quae nos cunque premunt alieno imponere tergo 
 mant 

but i though in this case misled  well intendedly  nevertheless 
both in the misleaders' and misled  and therefore entitled to lay hold
of that plea if any body' is so entitled will not however be classed
among such extenuators' but contrarily will always keep in mind that
verse which comforteth in mistake  as well as instructeth' and which
i quoted in my last letter 

 errare est hominis sed non persistere 

and will own that i was very rash' to take up with conjectures' and
consequences' drawn from probabilites  where especially the
character' of so fine a lady' was concerned 

 credere fallacy gravis est dementia famae  mant 

notwithstanding miss clarissa harlowe i must be bold to say is the
only young lady  that ever i heard of or indeed read of that having
made such a false step  so soon' of her own accord  as i may say 
recovered' herself and conquered her love of the deceiver' a great
conquest indeed and who flieth him and resolveth to die  rather than
to be his which now to her never-dying honour' i am well assured is
the case and in justice' to her i am now ready to take to myself
 with no small vexation that of ovid 

 heu patior telis vulnera facta meis 

but yet i do insist upon it that all that part' of my information 
which i took upon mine own personal inquiry  which is what relates to
mr belford' and his character  is literally true' for there is not
any where to be met with a man of a more libertine character' as to
women  mr lovelace' excepted than he beareth 

and so sir i must desire of you that you will not let any blame' lie
upon my intention' since you see how ready i am to accuse myself' of
too lightly giving ear to a rash information' not knowing it to be so 
however for i depended the more upon it as the people i had it from'
are very sober  and live in the fear of god' and indeed when i wait
upon you you will see by their letter that they must be conscientious'
good people wherefore sir let me be entitled from all your good
family  to that of my last-named poet 

 aspera confesso verba remitte reo 

and now sir what is much more becoming of my function  let me 
instead of appearing with the face of an accuser  and a rash
censurer  which in my heart' i have not deserved' to be thought 
assume the character of a reconciler' and propose by way of penance'
to myself for my fault' to be sent up as a messenger of peace' to the
pious young lady' for they write me word absolutely' and i believe
in my heart truly' that the doctors' have given her over  and that
she cannot live  alas alas what a sad thing would that be if the
poor bough  that was only designed as i very well know  and am
fully assured' to be bent should be broken 

let it not dear sir seem to the world' that there was any thing in
your resentments' which while meant for reclaiming  were just and
fit that hath the appearance' of violence  and fierce wrath  and
inexorability' as it would look to some if carried to extremity 
after repentance' and contrition  and humiliation  on the fair
offender's' side for all this while it seemeth she hat been a second
magdalen' in her penitence  and yet not so bad as a magdalen' in her
faults' faulty nevertheless as she hath been once the lord knoweth 

 nam vitiis nemo sine nascitur optimus ille est 
 qui minimis urgentur' saith horace 

now sir if i may be named for this blessed' employment for blessed
is the peace-maker  i will hasten to london and as i know miss had
always a great regard' to the function' i have the honour to be of i
have no doubt of making myself acceptable to her and to bring her by
sound arguments  and good advice  into a liking of life  which must
be the first step' to her recovery' for when the mind' is made
easy  the body' will not long suffer' and the love of life' is a
natural passion  that is soon revived  when fortune turneth about 
and smileth 

 vivere quisque diu quamvis and egenus and ager 
 optat  ovid 

and the sweet lucan truly observeth 

  fatis debentibus annos
 mors invita subit 

and now sir let me tell you what shall be the tenor' of my pleadings'
with her and comfortings' of her as she is as i may say a learned
lady' and as i can explain' to her those sentences  which she cannot
so readily construe herself' and this in order to convince you' did
you not already know' my qualifications' how well qualified i am' for
the christian office' to which i commend myself 

i will in the first place put her in mind of the common course of
things' in this sublunary world  in which joy' and sorrow sorrow'
and joy  succeed one another by turns' in order to convince her that
her griefs have been but according to that' common course of things 

 gaudia post luctus veniunt post gaudia luctus 

secondly i will remind her of her own notable description of sorrow 
whence she was once called upon to distinguish wherein sorrow grief 
and melancholy  differed from each other which she did impromptu  by
their effects  in a truly admirable manner to the high satisfaction of
every one i myself could not by study  have distinguished better 
nor more concisely' sorrow said she wears' grief tears' but
melancholy sooths 

my inference to her shall be that since a happy reconciliation will take
place grief' will be banished sorrow' dismissed and only sweet
melancholy' remain to sooth' and indulge' her contrite heart  and
show to all the world the penitent sense she hath of her great error 

thirdly that her joys  when restored to health and favour will be
the greater the deeper her griefs were 


 joy  let me here observe my dear sir by way of note is not
absolutely inconsistent with melancholy' a soft gentle joy  not a
rapid  not a rampant joy  however but such a joy  as shall lift
her temporarily' out of her soothing melancholy  and then let her
down gently' into it again for melancholy  to be sure her
reflection' will generally make to be her state 


 gaudia quae multo parta labore placent 

fourthly that having really' been guilty of a great error  she should
not take impatiently' the correction' and anger' with which she hath
been treated 

 leniter ex merito quicquid patiare ferundum est 

fifthly that virtue' must be established by patience' as saith
prudentius 

 haec virtus vidua est quam non patientia firmat 

sixthly that in the words of horace she may expect better times  than
 of late she had reason' to look for 

 grata superveniet quae non sperabitur hora 

seventhly that she is really now in a way' to be happy  since 
according to ovid  she can count up all her woe' 

 felix qui patitur quae numerare potest 

and those comforting lines 

 estque serena dies post longos gratior imbres 
 et post triste malum gratior ipsa salus 

eighthly that in the words of mantuan her parents' and uncles' could
not help loving her' all the time they were angry at her' 

 aequa tamen mens est and amica voluntas 
 sit licet in natos austere parentum 

ninthly that the ills she hath met with' may be turned by the good
use' to be made of them to her everlasting benefit' for that 

 cum furit atque ferit deus olim parcere quaerit 

tenthly that she will be able to give a fine lesson' a very' fine
lesson to all the young ladies' of her acquaintance  of the vanity'
of being lifted up' in prosperity  and the weakness' of being cast
down' in adversity' since no one is so high  as to be above being
humbled' so low  as to need to despair' for which purpose the
advice of ausonius 

 dum fortuna juvat caveto tolli 
 dum fortuna tonat caveto mergi 

i shall tell her that lucan saith well when he calleth adversity the
element of patience' 

  gaudet patientia duris 

that

 fortunam superat virtus prudential famam 

that while weak souls are crushed by fortune  the brave mind' maketh
the fickle deity afraid of it 

 fortuna fortes metuit ignavos permit 

eleventhly that if she take the advice of horace 

 fortiaque adversis opponite pectora rebus 

it will delight her hereafter' as virgil' saith to revoke her past
troubles' 

  forsan and haec olim meminisse juvabit 

and to the same purpose juvenal' speaking of the prating joy' of
mariners after all their dangers are over' 

 gaudent securi narrare pericula nautae 

which suiting the case so well you'll forgive me sir for popping
down' in english metre  as the translative impulse' pardon a new
word and yet we scholars' are not fond of authenticating new' words 
came upon me uncalled for' 

 the seaman safe on shore with joy doth tell
 what cruel dangers him at sea befell 

with these  sir and an hundred more' wise adages  which i have
always at my fingers' end  will i when reduced to form' and method' 
entertain miss and as she is a well-read  and i might say but for
this one' great error a wise' young lady i make no doubt but i shall
prevail' upon her if not by mine own arguments  by those of wits'
and capacities' that have a congeniality' as i may say to her own 
to take to heart 

 nor of the laws of fate complain 
 since though it has been cloudy now't clears up again 

oh what wisdom' is there in these noble classical authors  a wise
man' will upon searching into them always find that they speak his'
sense of men' and things  hence it is that they so readily occur to
my memory' on every occasion though this may look like vanity  it is
too true to be omitted and i see not why a man may not know these
things of himself  which every body' seeth and saith of him' who 
nevertheless perhaps know not half so much as he  in other matters 

i know but of one objection  sir that can lie against my going and
that will arise from your kind care' and concern' for the safety of my
person  in case that fierce' and terrible man  the wicked mr 
lovelace of whom every one standeth in fear should come cross me as
he may be resolved to try once more to gain a footing in miss's
affections' but i will trust in providence' for my safety  while i
shall be engaged in a cause so worthy of my function' and the more'
trust in it as he is a learned man' as i am told 

strange too that so vile a rake' i hope he will never see this 
should be a learned man' that is to say that a learned man' may be a
sly sinner  and take opportunities as they come in his way' which 
however i do assure you i never did 

i repeat that as he is a learned man  i shall vest myself  as i may
say in classical armour' beginning meekly' with him for sir 
bravery' and meekness' are qualities very consistent with each other 
and in no persons so shiningly exert' themselves as in the christian
priesthood' beginning meekly' with him i say from ovid 

 corpora magnanimo satis est protrasse leoni 

so that if i should not be safe behind the shield of mine own
prudence  i certainly should be behind the shields' of the
ever-admirable classics' of horace' particularly who being a rake'
 and a jovial rake' too himself must have great weight with all
learned rakes 

and who knoweth but i may be able to bring even this goliath in
wickedness  although in person' but a little david' myself armed
with the slings' and stones' of the ancient sages  to a due sense of
his errors and what a victory would that be 

i could here sir pursuing the allegory of david and goliath give you
some of the stones' hard arguments' may be called stones  since they
knock down a pertinacious opponent' which i could pelt him with  were
he to be wroth with me and this in order to take from you sir all
apprehensions for my life  or my bones' but i forbear them till you
demand them of me when i have the honour to attend you in person 

and now my dear sir what remaineth but that having shown you what
yet i believe you did not doubt how well qualified' i am to attend
the lady with the olive-branch  i beg of you to dispatch me with it
out of hand' for if she be so very ill  and if she should not live
to receive the grace which to my knowledge all the worthy family'
design her how much will that grieve you all and then sir of what
avail will be the eulogies' you shall all peradventure join to give to
her memory for as martial wisely observeth 

  post cineres gloria sera venit 

then as ausonius' layeth it down with equal propriety  that those
favours which are speedily conferred are the most grateful and obliging'
 

and to the same purpose ovid 

 gratia ab officio quod mora tar dat abest 

and sir whatever you do let the lady's pardon' be as ample  and as
cheerfully given  as she can wish for it' that i may be able to tell
her that it hath your hands  your countenances  and your whole
hearts  with it for as the latin verse hath it and i presume to
think i have not weakened its sense by my humble advice 

 dat bene dat multum qui dat cum munere vultum 

and now sir when i survey this long letter albeit i see it
enamelled as a beautiful meadow' is enamelled by the spring' or
summer' flowers very glorious to behold i begin to be afraid that i
may have tired you and the more likely as i have written without that
method' or order  which i think constituteth the beauty' of good
writing' which method' or order  nevertheless may be the better
excused' in a familiar epistle  as this may be called you pardoning 
sir the familiarity' of the word' but yet not altogether here  i
must needs own because this is a letter' and not a letter  as i may
say but a kind of short' and pithy discourse  touching upon various'
and sundry topics  every one of which might be a fit theme' to enlarge
upon of volumes if this epistolary discourse' then let me call it 
should be pleasing to you as i am inclined to think it will because of
the sentiments' and aphorisms' of the wisest of the antients  which
glitter through it' like so many dazzling sunbeams  i will at my
leisure work it up into a methodical discourse' and perhaps may one
day print it with a dedication' to my honoured patron  if sir i
have your' leave singly' at first but not till i have thrown out
anonymously  two or three smaller things  by the success of which i
shall have made myself of some account' in the commonwealth of
letters  and afterwards in my works' not for the vanity' of the
thing however i will say but for the use' it may be of to the
public' for as one well observeth though glory always followeth
virtue yet it should be considered only as its shadow 


 and here by way of note permit me to say that no sermon' i ever
composed cost me half the pains' that this letter hath done but i knew
your great appetite' after as well as admiration' of the antient
wisdom  which you so justly prefer to the modern' and indeed i join
with you to think that the modern' is only borrowed  as the moon'
doth its light from the sun  at least that we excel' them in
nothing and that our best cogitations' may be found generally
speaking more elegantly' dressed and expressed by them 


 contemnit laudem virtus licet usque sequatur
 gloria virtutem corpus ut umbra suum 

a very pretty saying and worthy of all men's admiration 

and now most worthy sir  my very good friend and patron referring
the whole to your's  and to your two brothers  and to young mr 
harlowe's' consideration and to the wise consideration of good madam
harlowe  and her excellent daughter miss arabella harlowe' i take the
liberty to subscribe myself what i truly am  and every shall delight
to be  in all cases  and at all times 

your and their most ready and obedient
as well as faithful servant 
elias brand 



letter lxvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
 in answer to letter lxiv of this volume  
wedn morn sept 6 


and is she somewhat better blessings upon thee without number or
measure let her still be better and better tell me so at least if
she be not so for thou knowest not what a joy that poor temporary
reprieve that she will hold out yet a day or two gave me 

but who told this hard-hearted and death-pronouncing doctor that she will
hold it no longer by what warrant says he this what presumption in
these parading solemn fellows of a college which will be my contempt to
the latest hour of my life if this brother of it eminent as he is
deemed to be cannot work an ordinary miracle in her favour or rather in
mine 

let me tell thee belford that already he deserves the utmost contempt 
for suffering this charming clock to run down so low what must be his
art if it could not wind it up in a quarter of the time he has attended
her when at his first visits the springs and wheels of life and motion
were so god that they seemed only to want common care and oiling 

i am obliged to you for endeavouring to engage her to see me twas
acting like a friend if she had vouchsafed me that favour she should
have seen at her feet the most abject adorer that ever kneeled to
justly-offended beauty 

what she bid you and what she forbid you to tell me the latter for
tender considerations that she forgives me and that could she have
made me a good man she would have made me a happy one that she even
loved me at such a moment to own that she once loved me never before
loved any man that she prays for me that her last tear should be shed
for me could she by it save a soul doomed without her to perdition 
o belford belford i cannot bear it what a dog what a devil have i
been to a goodness so superlative why does she not inveigh against me 
 why does she not execrate me o the triumphant subduer ever above
me and now to leave me so infinitely below her 

marry and repair at any time this wretch that i was was my plea to
myself to give her a lowering sensibility to bring her down from among
the stars which her beamy head was surrounded by that my wife so
greatly above me might not despise me this was one of my reptile
motives owing to my more reptile envy and to my consciousness of
inferiority to her yet she from step to step from distress to
distress to maintain her superiority and like the sun to break out
upon me with the greater refulgence for the clouds that i had contrived
to cast about her and now to escape me thus no power left me to
repair her wrongs no alleviation to my self-reproach no dividing of
blame with her 

tell her o tell her belford that her prayers and wishes her
superlatively-generous prayers and wishes shall not be vain that i can 
and do repent and long have repented tell her of my frequent deep
remorses it was impossible that such remorses should not at last produce
effectual remorse yet she must not leave me she must live if she would
wish to have my contrition perfect for what can despair produce 


 


i will do every thing you would have me do in the return of your
letters you have infinitely obliged me by this last and by pressing
for an admission for me though it succeeded not 

once more how could i be such a villain to so divine a creature yet
love her all the time as never man loved woman curse upon my
contriving genius curse upon my intriguing head and upon my seconding
heart to sport with the fame with the honour with the life of such
an angel of a woman o my d d incredulity that believing her to be
a woman i must hope to find her a woman on my incredulity that there
could be such virtue virtue for virtue's sake in the sex founded i my
hope of succeeding with her 

but say not jack that she must leave us yet if she recover and if i
can but re-obtain her favour then indeed will life be life to me the
world never saw such an husband as i will make i will have no will but
her's she shall conduct me in all my steps she shall open and direct
my prospects and turn every motion of my heart as she pleases 

you tell me in your letter that at eleven o'clock she had sweet rest 
and my servant acquaints me from mrs smith that she has had a good
night what hopes does this fill me with i have given the fellow five
guineas for his good news to be divided between him and his
fellow-servant 

dear dear jack confirm this to me in thy next for heaven's sake do 
tell the doctor i'll make a present of a thousand guineas if he recover
her ask if a consultation then be necessary 

adieu dear belford confirm i beseech thee the hopes that now with
sovereign gladness have taken possession of a heart that next to
her's is

thine 



letter lxviii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wedn morn eight o'clock 6 sept 


your servant arrived here before i was stirring i sent him to smith's
to inquire how the lady was and ordered him to call upon me when he came
back i was pleased to hear she had tolerable rest as soon as i had
dispatched him with the letter i had written over night i went to attend
her 

i found hr up and dressed in a white sattin night-gown ever elegant 
but now more so than i had seen her for a week past her aspect serenely
cheerful 

she mentioned the increased dimness of her eyes and the tremor which had
invaded her limbs if this be dying said she there is nothing at all
shocking in it my body hardly sensible of pain my mind at ease my
intellects clear and perfect as ever what a good and gracious god have
i for this is what i always prayed for 

i told her it was not so serene with you 

there is not the same reason for it replied she tis a choice comfort 
mr belford at the winding up of our short story to be able to say i
have rather suffered injuries myself than offered them to others i
bless god though i have bee unhappy as the world deems it and once i
thought more so than at present i think i ought to have done since my
calamities were to work out for me my everlasting happiness yet have i
not wilfully made any one creature so i have no reason to grieve for
any thing but for the sorrow i have given my friends 

but pray mr belford remember me in the best manner to my cousin
morden and desire him to comfort them and to tell them that all would
have been the same had they accepted of my true penitence as i wish and
as i trust the almighty has done 

i was called down it was to harry who was just returned from miss
howe's to whom he carried the lady's letter the stupid fellow being
bid to make haste with it and return as soon as possible staid not
until miss howe had it she being at the distance of five minutes 
although mrs howe would have had him stay and sent a man and horse
purposely with it to her daughter 


wednesday morning ten o'clock 

the poor lady is just recovered from a fainting fit which has left her
at death's door her late tranquillity and freedom from pain seemed but
a lightening as mrs lovick and mrs smith call it 

by my faith lovelace i had rather part with all the friends i have in
the world than with this lady i never knew what a virtuous a holy
friendship as i may call mine to her was before but to be so new to
it and to be obliged to forego it so soon what an affliction yet 
thank heaven i lose her not by my own fault but twould be barbarous
not to spare thee now 

she has sent for the divine who visited her before to pray with her 



letter lxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
kensington wednesday noon 


like aesop's traveller thou blowest hot and cold life and death in the
same breath with a view no doubt to distract me how familiarly dost
thou use the words dying dimness tremor never did any mortal ring so
many changes on so few bells thy true father i dare swear was a
butcher or an undertaker by the delight thou seemest to take in scenes
of death and horror thy barbarous reflection that thou losest her not
by thy own fault is never to be forgiven thou hast but one way to
atone for the torments thou hast given me and that is by sending me
word that she is better and will recover whether it be true or not 
let me be told so and i will go abroad rejoicing and believing it and
my wishes and imaginations shall make out all the rest 

if she live but one year that i may acquit myself to myself no matter
for the world that her death is not owing to me i will compound for
the rest 

will neither vows nor prayers save her i never prayed in my life put
all the years of it together as i have done for this fortnight past and
i have most sincerely repented of all my baseness to her and will
nothing do 

but after all if she recovers not this reflection must be my comfort 
and it is truth that her departure will be owing rather to wilfulness 
to downright female wilfulness than to any other cause 

it is difficult for people who pursue the dictates of a violent
resentment to stop where first they designed to stop 

i have the charity to believe that even james and arabella harlowe at
first intended no more by the confederacy they formed against this their
angel sister than to disgrace and keep her down lest sordid wretches 
their uncles should follow the example their grandfather had set to
their detriment 

so this lady as i suppose intended only at first to vex and plague me 
and finding she could do it to purpose her desire of revenge insensibly
became stronger in her than the desire of life and now she is willing to
die as an event which she thinks will cut my heart-strings asunder and
still the more to be revenged puts on the christian and forgives me 

but i'll have none of her forgiveness my own heart tells me i do not
deserve it and i cannot bear it and what is it but a mere verbal
forgiveness as ostentatiously as cruelly given with a view to magnify
herself and wound me deeper a little dear specious but let me stop
 lest i blaspheme 


 


reading over the above i am ashamed of my ramblings but what wouldest
have me do seest thou not that i am but seeking to run out of myself 
in hope to lose myself yet that i am unable to do either 

if ever thou lovedst but half so fervently as i love but of that thy
heavy soul is not capable 

send me word by the next i conjure thee in the names of all her kindred
saints and angels that she is living and likely to live if thou
sendest ill news thou wilt be answerable for the consequences whether
it be fatal to the messenger or to

thy
lovelace 



letter lxx

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
wednesday eleven o'clock 


dr h has just been here he tarried with me till the minister had done
praying by the lady and then we were both admitted mr goddard who
came while the doctor and the clergyman were with her went away with
them when they went they took a solemn and everlasting leave of her as
i have no scruple to say blessing her and being blessed by her and
wishing when it came to be their lot for an exit as happy as her's is
likely to be 

she had again earnestly requested of the doctor his opinion how long it
was now probable that she could continue and he told her that he
apprehended she would hardly see to-morrow night she said she should
number the hours with greater pleasure than ever she numbered any in her
life on the most joyful occasion 

how unlike poor belton's last hours her's see the infinite differences
in the effects on the same awful and affecting occasion between a good
and a bad conscience 

this moment a man is come from miss howe with a letter perhaps i shall
be able to send you the contents 


 


she endeavoured several times with earnestness but in vain to read the
letter of her dear friend the writing she said was too fine for her
grosser sight and the lines staggered under her eye and indeed she
trembled so she could not hold the paper and at last desired mrs 
lovick to read it to her the messenger waiting for an answer 

thou wilt see in miss howe's letter how different the expression of the
same impatience and passionate love is when dictated by the gentler
mind of a woman from that which results from a mind so boisterous and
knotty as thine for mrs lovick will transcribe it and i shall send
it to be read in this place if thou wilt 


miss howe to miss clarissa harlowe
tuesday sept 5 


o my dearest friend 

what will become of your poor anna howe i see by your writing as well
as read by your own account which were you not very very ill you
would have touched more tenderly how it is with you why have i thus
long delayed to attend you could i think that the comfortings of a
faithful friend were as nothing to a gentle mind in distress that i
could be prevailed upon to forbear visiting you so much as once in all
this time i as well as every body else to desert and abandon my dear
creature to strangers what will become of you if you be as bad as my
apprehensions make you 

i will set out this moment little as the encouragement is that you give
me to do so my mother is willing i should why o why was she not
before willing 

yet she persuades me too lest i should be fatally affected were i to
find my fears too well justified to wait the return of this messenger 
who rides our swiftest horse god speed him with good news to me one
line from your hand by him send me but one line to bid me attend you 
i will set out the moment the very moment i receive it i am now
actually ready to do so and if you love me as i love you the sight
of me will revive you to my hopes but why why when i can think this 
did i not go up sooner 

blessed heaven deny not to my prayers my friend my admonisher my
adviser at a time so critical to myself 

but methinks your style and sentiments are too well connected too
full of life and vigour to give cause for so much despair as thy
staggering pen seems to forbode 

i am sorry i was not at home  i must add thus much though the servant
is ready mounted at the door   when mr belford's servant came with your
affecting letter i was at miss lloyd's my mamma sent it to me and i
came home that instant but he was gone he would not stay it seems 
yet i wanted to ask him an hundred thousand questions but why delay i
thus my messenger i have a multitude of things to say to you to advise
with you about you shall direct me in every thing i will obey the
holding up of your finger but if you leave me what is the world or
any thing in it to your

anna howe 


the effect this letter had on the lady who is so near the end which the
fair writer so much apprehends and deplores obliged mrs lovick to make
many breaks in reading it and many changes of voice 

this is a friend said the divine lady taking the letter in her hand 
and kissing it worth wishing to live for o my dear anna howe how
uninterruptedly sweet and noble has been our friendship but we shall
one day meet and this hope must comfort us both never to part again 
then divested of the shades of body shall be all light and all mind 
then how unalloyed how perfect will be our friendship our love then
will have one and the same adorable object and we shall enjoy it and
each other to all eternity 

she said her dear friend was so earnest for a line or two that she fain
would write if she could and she tried but to no purpose she could
dictate however she believed and desired mrs lovick would take pen
and paper which she did and then she dictated to her i would have
withdrawn but at her desire staid 

she wandered a good deal at first she took notice that she did and
when she got into a little train not pleasing herself she apologized to
mrs lovick for making her begin again and again and said that the
third time should go let it be as it would 

she dictated the farewell part without hesitation and when she came to
blessing and subscription she took the pen and dropping on her knees 
supported by mrs lovick wrote the conclusion but mrs lovick was
forced to guide her hand 

you will find the sense surprisingly entire her weakness considered 

i made the messenger wait while i transcribed it i have endeavoured to
imitate the subscriptive part and in the letter made pauses where to
the best of my remembrance she paused in nothing that relates to this
admirable lady can i be too minute 


wedn near three o'clock 


my dearest miss howe 

you must not be surprised nor grieved that mrs lovick writes for me 
although i cannot obey you and write with my pen yet my heart writes
by her's accept it so it is the nearest to obedience i can 

and now what ought i to say what can i say but why should not you
know the truth since soon you must very soon 

know then and let your tears be those if of pity of joyful pity for
i permit you to shed a few to embalm as i may say a fallen blossom 
know then that the good doctor and the pious clergyman and the worthy
apothecary have just now with joint benedictions taken their last
leave of me and the former bids me hope do my dearest let me say hope
 hope for my enlargement before to-morrow sun-set 

adieu therefore my dearest friend be this your consolation as it is
mine that in god's good time we shall meet in a blessed eternity never
more to part once more then adieu and be happy which a generous
nature cannot be unless to its power it makes others so too 

god for ever bless you prays dropt on my bended knees although
supported upon them 

your obliged grateful affectionate 
cl harlowe 


 


when i had transcribed and sealed this letter by her direction i gave
it to the messenger myself who told me that miss howe waited for nothing
but his return to set out for london 

thy servant is just come so i will close here thou art a merciless
master these two fellows are battered to death by thee to use a female
word and all female words though we are not sure of their derivation 
have very significant meanings i believe in their hearts they wish
the angel in the heaven that is ready to receive her and thee at the
proper place that there might be an end of their flurries another word
of the same gender 

what a letter hast thou sent me poor lovelace is all the answer i
will return 


five o'clock   col morden is this moment arrived 



letter lxxi

mr belford
 in continuation  
eight in the evening 


i had but just time in my former to tell you that col morden was
arrived he was on horseback attended by two servants and alighted
at the door just as the clock struck five mrs smith was then below in
her back-shop weeping her husband with her who was as much affected as
she mrs lovick having left them a little before in tears likewise for
they had been bemoaning one another joining in opinion that the
admirable lady would not live the night over she had told them it was
her opinion too from some numbnesses which she called the forerunners
of death and from an increased inclination to doze 

the colonel as mrs smith told me afterwards asked with great
impatience the moment he alighted how miss harlowe was she answered 
alive but she feared drawing on apace good god said he with his
hands and eyes lifted up can i see her my name is morden i have the
honour to be nearly related to her step up pray and let her know 
 she is sensible i hope that i am here who is with her 

nobody but her nurse and mrs lovick a widow gentlewoman who is as
careful of her as if she were her mother 

and more careful too interrupted he or she is not careful at all 

except a gentleman be with her one mr belford continued mrs smith 
who has been the best friend she has had 

if mr belford be with her surely i may but pray step up and let mr 
belford know that i shall take it for a favour to speak with him first 

mrs smith came up to me in my new apartment i had but just dispatched
your servant and was asking her nurse if i might be again admitted who
answered that she was dozing in the elbow chair having refused to lie
down saying she should soon she hoped lie down for good 

the colonel who is really a fine gentleman received me with great
politeness after the first compliments my kinswoman sir said he is
more obliged to you than to any of her own family for my part i have
been endeavouring to move so many rocks in her favour and little
thinking the dear creature so very bad have neglected to attend her as
i ought to have done the moment i arrived and would had i known how ill
she was and what a task i should have had with the family but sir 
your friend has been excessively to blame and you being so intimately
his friend has made her fare the worse for your civilities to her but
are there no hopes of her recovery 

the doctors have left her with the melancholy declaration that there are
none 

has she had good attendance sir a skilful physician i hear these
good folks have been very civil and obliging to her 

who could be otherwise said mrs smith weeping she is the sweetest
lady in the world 

the character said the colonel lifting up his eyes and one hand that
she has from every living creature good god how could your accursed
friend 

and how could her cruel parents interrupted i we may as easily account
for him as for them 

too true returned me the vileness of the profligates of our sex
considered whenever they can get any of the other into their power 

i satisfied him about the care that had been taken of her and told him
of the friendly and even paternal attendance she had had from dr h and
mr goddard 

he was impatient to attend her having not seen her as he said since
she was twelve years old and that then she gave promises of being one of
the finest women in england 

she was so replied i a very few months ago and though emaciated she
will appear to you to have confirmed those promises for her features are
so regular and exact her proportions so fine and her manner so
inimitably graceful that were she only skin and bone she must be a
beauty 

mrs smith at his request stept up and brought us down word that mrs 
lovick and her nurse were with her and that she was in so sound a sleep 
leaning upon the former in her elbow-chair that she had neither heard
her enter the room nor go out the colonel begged if not improper 
that he might see her though sleeping he said that his impatience
would not let him stay till he awaked yet he would not have her
disturbed and should be glad to contemplate her sweet features when she
saw not him and asked if she thought he could not go in and come out 
without disturbing her 

she believed he might she answered for her chair's back was towards the
door 

he said he would take care to withdraw if she awoke that his sudden
appearance might not surprise her 

mrs smith stepping up before us bid mrs lovick and nurse not stir 
when we entered and then we went up softly together 

we beheld the lady in a charming attitude dressed as i told you
before in her virgin white she was sitting in her elbow-chair mrs 
lovick close by her in another chair with her left arm round her neck 
supporting it as it were for it seems the lady had bid her do so 
saying she had been a mother to her and she would delight herself in
thinking she was in her mamma's arms for she found herself drowsy 
perhaps she said for the last time she should be so 

one faded cheek rested upon the good woman's bosom the kindly warmth of
which had overspread it with a faint but charming flush the other paler
and hollow as if already iced over by death her hands white as the
lily with her meandering veins more transparently blue than ever i had
seen even her's veins so soon alas to be choked up by the congealment
of that purple stream which already so languidly creeps rather than
flows through them her hands hanging lifelessly one before her the
other grasped by the right-hand of the kind widow whose tears bedewed
the sweet face which her motherly boson supported though unfelt by the
fair sleeper and either insensibly to the good woman or what she would
not disturb her to wipe off or to change her posture her aspect was
sweetly calm and serene and though she started now and then yet her
sleep seemed easy her breath indeed short and quick but tolerably
free and not like that of a dying person 

in this heart-moving attitude she appeared to us when we approached her 
and came to have her lovely face before us 

the colonel sighing often gazed upon her with his arms folded and with
the most profound and affectionate attention till at last on her
starting and fetching her breath with greater difficulty than before he
retired to a screen that was drawn before her house as she calls it 
which as i have heretofore observed stands under one of the windows 
this screen was placed there at the time she found herself obliged to
take to her chamber and in the depth of our concern and the fulness of
other discourse at our first interview i had forgotten to apprize the
colonel of what he would probably see 

retiring thither he drew out his handkerchief and overwhelmed with
grief seemed unable to speak but on casting his eye behind the screen 
he soon broke silence for struck with the shape of the coffin he
lifted up a purplish-coloured cloth that was spread over it and 
starting back good god said he what's here 

mrs smith standing next him why said he with great emotion is my
cousin suffered to indulge her sad reflections with such an object before
her 

alas sir replied the good woman who should controul her we are all
strangers about her in a manner and yet we have expostulated with her
upon this sad occasion 

i ought said i stepping softly up to him the lady again falling into
a doze to have apprized you of this i was here when it was brought
in and never was so shocked in my life but she had none of her friends
about her and no reason to hope for any of them to come near her and 
assured she should not recover she was resolved to leave as little as
possible especially as to what related to her person to her executor 
but it is not a shocking object to her though it be to every body else 

curse upon the hard-heartedness of those said he who occasioned her to
make so sad a provision for herself what must her reflections have been
all the time she was thinking of it and giving orders about it and
what must they be every time she turns her head towards it these
uncommon genius's but indeed she should have been controuled in it had
i been here 

the lady fetched a profound sigh and starting it broke off our talk 
and the colonel then withdrew farther behind the screen that his sudden
appearance might not surprise her 

where am i said she how drowsy i am how long have i dozed don't
go sir for i was retiring i am very stupid and shall be more and
more so i suppose 

she then offered to raise herself but being ready to faint through
weakness was forced to sit down again reclining her head on her chair
back and after a few moments i believe now my good friends said she 
all your kind trouble will soon be over i have slept but am not
refreshed and my fingers' ends seem numbed have no feeling holding
them up tis time to send the letter to my good norton 

shall i madam send my servant post with it 

o no sir i thank you it will reach the dear woman too soon as she
will think by the post 

i told her this was not post-day 

is it wednesday still said she bless me i know not how the time goes
 but very tediously tis plain and now i think i must soon take to my
bed all will be most conveniently and with least trouble over there 
will it not mrs lovick i think sir turning to me i have left
nothing to these last incapacitating hours nothing either to say or to
do i bless god i have not if i had how unhappy should i be can
you sir remind me of any thing necessary to be done or said to make
your office easy 

if madam your cousin morden should come you would be glad to see him 
i presume 

i am too weak to wish to see my cousin now it would but discompose me 
and him too yet if he come while i can see him i will see him were
it but to thank him for former favours and for his present kind
intentions to me has any body been here from him 

he has called and will be here madam in half an hour but he feared to
surprise you 

nothing can surprise me now except my mamma were to favour me with her
last blessing in person that would be a welcome surprise to me even
yet but did my cousin come purposely to town to see me 

yes madam i took the liberty to let him know by a line last monday 
how ill you were 

you are very kind sir i am and have been greatly obliged to you but
i think i shall be pained to see him now because he will be concerned to
see me and yet as i am not so ill as i shall presently be the sooner
he comes the better but if he come what shall i do about the screen 
he will chide me very probably and i cannot bear chiding now perhaps 
 leaning upon mrs lovick and mrs smith   i can walk into the next
apartment to receive him 

she motioned to rise but was ready to faint again and forced to sit
still 

the colonel was in a perfect agitation behind the screen to hear this
discourse and twice unseen by his cousin was coming from it towards
her but retreated for fear of surprising her too much 

i stept to him and favoured his retreat she only saying are you going 
mr belford are you sent for down is my cousin come for she heard
somebody step softly across the room and thought it to be me her
hearing being more perfect than her sight 

i told her i believed he was and she said we must make the best of it 
mrs lovick and mrs smith i shall otherwise most grievously shock my
poor cousin for he loved me dearly once pray give me a few of the
doctor's last drops in water to keep up my spirits for this one
interview and that is all i believe that can concern me now 

the colonel who heard all this sent in his name and i pretending to
go down to him introduced the afflicted gentleman she having first
ordered the screen to be put as close to the window as possible that he
might not see what was behind it while he having heard what she had
said about it was determined to take no notice of it 

he folded the angel in his arms as she sat dropping down on one knee 
for supporting herself upon the two elbows of the chair she attempted
to rise but could not excuse my dear cousin said she excuse me 
that i cannot stand up i did not expect this favour now but i am glad
of this opportunity to thank you for all your generous goodness to me 

i never my best-beloved and dearest cousin said he with eyes running
over shall forgive myself that i did not attend you sooner little
did i think you were so ill nor do any of your friends believe it if
they did 

if they did repeated she interrupting him i should have had more
compassion from them i am sure i should but pray sir how did you
leave them are you reconciled to them if you are not i beg if you
love your poor clarissa that you will for every widened difference
augments but my fault since that is the foundation of all 

i had been expecting to hear from them in your favour my dear cousin 
said he for some hours when this gentleman's letter arrived which
hastened me up but i have the account of your grandfather's estate to
make up with you and have bills and drafts upon their banker for the
sums due to you which they desire you may receive lest you should have
occasion for money and this is such an earnest of an approaching
reconciliation that i dare to answer for all the rest being according to
your wishes if 

ah sir interrupted she with frequent breaks and pauses i wish i wish
this does not rather show that were i to live they would have nothing
more to say to me i never had any pride in being independent of them 
all my actions when i might have made myself more independent show this
 but what avail these reflections now i only beg sir that you and
this gentleman to whom i am exceedingly obliged will adjust those
matters according to the will i have written mr belford will excuse
me but it was in truth more necessity than choice that made me think of
giving him the trouble he so kindly accepts had i the happiness to see
you my cousin sooner or to know that you still honoured me with your
regard i should not have had the assurance to ask this favour of him 
but though the friend of mr lovelace he is a man of honour and he
will make peace rather than break it and my dear cousin let me beg
of you while i have nearer relations than my cousin morden dear as you
are and always were to me you have no title to avenge my wrongs upon
him who has been the occasion of them but i wrote to you my mind on
this subject and my reasons and i hope i need not further urge them 

i must do mr lovelace so much justice answered he wiping his eyes as
to witness how sincerely he repents him of his ungrateful baseness to
you and how ready he is to make you all the amends in his power he
owns his wickedness and your merit if he did not i could not pass it
over though you have nearer relations for my dear cousin did not your
grandfather leave me in trust for you and should i think myself
concerned for your fortune and not for your honour but since he is so
desirous to do you justice i have the less to say and you may make
yourself entirely easy on that account 

i thank you thank you sir said she all is now as i wished but i am
very faint very weak i am sorry i cannot hold up that i cannot better
deserve the honour of this visit but it will not be and saying this she
sunk down in her chair and was silent 

hereupon we both withdrew leaving word that we would be at the bedford
head if any thing extraordinary happened 

we bespoke a little repast having neither of us dined and while it was
getting ready you may guess at the subject of our discourse both
joined in lamentation for the lady's desperate state admired her
manifold excellencies severely condemned you and her friends yet to
bring him into better opinion of you i read to him some passages from
your last letters which showed your concern for the wrongs you had done
her and your deep remorse and he said it was a dreadful thing to labour
under the sense of a guilt so irredeemable 

we procured mr goddard dr h not being at home once more to visit
her and to call upon us in his return he was so good as to do so but
he tarried with her not five minutes and told us that she was drawing
on apace that he feared she would not live till morning and that she
wished to see colonel morden directly 

the colonel made excuses where none were needed and though our little
refection was just brought in he went away immediately 

i could not touch a morsel and took pen and ink to amuse myself and
oblige you knowing how impatient you would be for a few lines for from
what i have recited you see it was impossible i could withdraw to write
when your servant came at half an hour after five or have an opportunity
for it till now and this is accidental and yet your poor fellow was
afraid to go away with the verbal message i sent importing as no doubt
he told you that the colonel was with us the lady excessively ill and
that i could not stir to write a line 


ten o'clock 

the colonel sent to me afterwards to tell me that the lady having been
in convulsions he was so much disordered that he could not possibly
attend me 

i have sent every half hour to know how she does and just now i have the
pleasure to hear that her convulsions have left her and that she is gone
to rest in a much quieter way than could be expected 

her poor cousin is very much indisposed yet will not stir out of the
house while she is in such a way but intends to lie down on a couch 
having refused any other accommodation 


contents of volume ix


letter i belford to lovelace 
her silent devotion strong symptoms of her approaching dissolution 
comforts her cousin and him wishes she had her parents' last blessing 
but god she says would not let her depend for comfort on any but
himself repeats her request to the colonel that he will not seek to
avenge her wrongs and to belford that he will endeavour to heal all
breaches 

letter ii from the same 
the colonel writes to mr john harlowe that they may now spare themselves
the trouble of debating about a reconciliation the lady takes from her
bosom a miniature picture of miss howe to be given to mr hickman after
her decease her affecting address to it on parting with it 

letter iii belford to mowbray 
desires him and tourville to throw themselves in the way of lovelace in
order to prevent him doing either mischief to himself or others on the
receipt of the fatal news which he shall probably send him in an hour or
two 

letter iv lovelace to belford 
a letter filled with rage curses and alternate despair and hope 

letter v belford to lovelace 
with the fatal hint that he may take a tour to paris or wherever else
his destiny shall lead him 

letter vi mowbray to belford 
with the particulars in his libertine manner of lovelace's behaviour
on his receiving the fatal breviate and of the distracted way he is in 

letter vii belford to lovelace 
particulars of clarissa's truly christian behaviour in her last hours a
short sketch of her character 

letter viii from the same 
the three next following letters brought by a servant in livery directed
to the departed lady viz 

letter ix from mrs norton 
with the news of a general reconciliation upon her own conditions 

letter x from miss arabella 
in which she assures her of all their returning love and favour 

letter xi from mr john harlowe 
regretting that things have been carried so far and desiring her to
excuse his part in what had passed 

letter xii belford to lovelace 
his executorial proceedings eleven posthumous letters of the lady 
copy of one of them written to himself tells lovelace of one written to
him in pursuance of her promise in her allegorical letter see letter
xviii of vol viii other executorial proceedings the colonel's
letter to james harlowe signifying clarissa's request to be buried at
the feet of her grandfather 

letter xiii from the same 
mrs norton arrives her surprise and grief to find her beloved young
lady departed the posthumous letters calculated to give comfort and
not to reproach 

letter xiv xv xvi xvii xviii 
copies of clarissa's posthumous letters to her father mother brother 
sister and uncle 

substance of her letter to her aunt hervey concluding with advice to her
cousin dolly 

substance of her letter to miss howe with advice in favour of mr 
hickman 

letter xix belford to lovelace 
the wretched sinclair breaks her leg and dispatches sally martin to beg
a visit from him and that he will procure for her the
forgiveness sally's remorse for the treatment she gave her at
rowland's acknowledges the lady's ruin to be in a great measure owing
to their instigations 

letter xx from the same 
miss howe's distress on receiving the fatal news and the posthumous
letters directed to her copy of james harlowe's answer to colonel
morden's letter in which he relates the unspeakable distress of the
family endeavours to exculpate himself desires the body may be sent
down to harlowe-place and that the colonel will favour them with his
company 

letter xxi belford to lovelace 
the corpse sent down attended by the colonel and mrs norton 

letter xxii mowbray to belford 
an account of lovelace's delirious unmanageableness and extravagant
design had they not all interposed they have got lord m to him he
endeavours to justify lovelace by rakish principles and by a true story
of a villany which he thinks greater than that of lovelace by clarissa 

letter xxiii lovelace to belford 
written in the height of his delirium the whole world he says is but
one great bedlam every one in it mad but himself 

letter xxiv belford to mowbray 
desires that lovelace on his recovery may be prevailed upon to go
abroad and why exhorts him and tourville to reform as he is resolved
to do 

letter xxv belford to lovelace 
describing the terrible impatience despondency and death of the
wretched sinclair 

 as the bad house is often mentioned in this work without any other
stigma than what arises from the wicked principles and actions
occasionally given of the wretches who inhabit it mr belford here
enters into the secret retirements of those creatures and exposes them
in the appearances they are supposed to make before they are tricked out
to ensnare weak and inconsiderate minds  

letter xxvi colonel morden to mr belford 
with an account of his arrival at harlowe-place before the body the
dreadful distress of the whole family in expectation of its coming the
deep remorse of james and arabella harlowe mutual recriminations on
recollecting the numerous instances of their inexorable cruelty mrs 
norton so ill he was forced to leave her at st alban's he dates again
to give a farther account of their distress on the arrival of the hearse 
solemn respect paid to her memory by crowds of people 

letter xxvii from the same 
farther interesting accounts of what passed among the harlowes miss
howe expected to see for the last time her beloved friend 

letter xxviii from the same 
miss howe arrives the colonel receives her her tender woe and
characteristic behaviour 

letter xxix colonel morden to mr belford 
mrs norton arrives amended in spirits to what owing farther
recriminations of the unhappy parents they attempt to see the corpse 
but cannot could ever wilful hard-heartedness the colonel asks be
more severely punished substance of the lady's posthumous letter to
mrs norton 

letter xxx from the same 
account of the funeral solemnity heads of the eulogium the universal
justice done to the lady's great and good qualities other affecting
particulars 

letter xxxi belford to colonel morden 
compliments him on his pathetic narratives farther account of his
executorial proceedings 

letter xxxii james harlowe to belford 

letter xxxiii mr belford in answer 

the lady's last will in the preamble to which as well as in the body
of it she gives several instructive hints and displays in an exemplary
manner her forgiving spirit her piety her charity her gratitude and
other christian and heroic virtues 

letter xxxiv colonel morden to mr belford 
the will read what passed on the occasion 

letter xxxv belford to lord m 
apprehends a vindictive resentment from the colonel desires that mr 
lovelace may be prevailed upon to take a tour 

letter xxxvi miss montague in answer 

summary account of proceedings relating to the execution of the lady's
will and other matters substance of a letter from mr belford to mr 
hickman of mr hickman's answer and of a letter from miss howe to mr 
belford 

letter xxxvii lovelace to belford 
describing his delirium as dawning into sense and recollection all is
conscience and horror with him he says a description of his misery at
its height 

letter xxxviii from the same 
revokes his last letter as ashamed of it yet breaks into fits and
starts and is ready to go back again why he asks did his mother
bring him up to know no controul his heart sickens at the recollection
of what he was dreads the return of his malady makes an effort to
forget all 

letter xxxix lovelace to belford 
is preparing to leave the kingdom his route seasonable warnings 
though delivered in a ludicrous manner on belford's resolution to
reform complains that he has been strangely kept in the dark of late 
demands a copy of the lady's will 

letter xl belford to lovelace 
justice likely to overtake his instrument tomlinson on what occasion 
the wretched man's remorse on the lady's account belford urges lovelace
to go abroad for his health answers very seriously to the warnings he
gives him amiable scheme for the conduct of his future life 

letter xli lovelace to belford 
pities tomlinson finds that he is dead in prison happy that he lived
not to be hanged why no discomfort so great but some comfort may be
drawn from it endeavours to defend himself by a whimsical case which
he puts between a a miser and b a thief 

letter xlii from the same 
ridicules him on the scheme of life he has drawn out for himself in his
manner gives belford some farther cautions and warnings reproaches him
for not saving the lady a breach of confidence in some cases is more
excusable than to keep a secret rallies him on his person and air on
his cousin charlotte and the widow lovick 

letter xliii mr belford to colonel morden 
on a declaration he had made of taking vengeance of mr lovelace his
arguments with him on that subject from various topics 

letter xliv the lady's posthumous letter to her cousin morden 
containing arguments against duelling as well as with regard to her
particular case as in general see also letter xvi to her brother on
the same subject 

letter xlv colonel morden to mr belford 
in answer to his pleas against avenging his cousin he paints in very
strong colours the grief and distress of the whole family on the loss of
a child whose character and excellencies rise upon them to their
torment 

letter xlvi colonel morden to mr belford 
farther particulars relating to the execution of the lady's will gives
his thoughts of women's friendships in general of that of miss howe and
his cousin in particular an early habit of familiar letter-writing 
how improving censures miss howe for her behaviour to mr hickman mr 
hickman's good character caution to parents who desire to preserve
their children's veneration for them mr hickman unknown to miss howe 
puts himself and equipage in mourning for clarissa her lively turn upon
him on that occasion what he the colonel expects from the generosity
of miss howe in relation to mr hickman weakness of such as are afraid
of making their last wills 

letter xlvii belford to miss howe 
with copies of clarissa's posthumous letters and respectfully as from
colonel morden and himself reminding her of her performing her part of
her dear friend's last desires in making one of the most deserving men
in england happy informs her of the delirium of lovelace in order to
move her compassion for him and of the dreadful death of sinclair and
tomlinson 

letter xlviii miss howe to mr belford 
observations on the letters and subjects he communicates to her she
promises another letter in answer to his and colonel morden's call upon
her in mr hickman's favour applauds the colonel for purchasing her
beloved friend's jewels in order to present them to miss dolly hervey 

letter xlix from the same 
she accounts for though not defends her treatment of mr hickman she
owns that he is a man worthy of a better choice that she values no man
more than him and assures mr belford and the colonel that her
endeavours shall not be wanting to make him happy 

letter l mr belford to miss howe 
a letter full of grateful acknowledgements for the favour of her's 

letter li lord m to mr belford 
acquainting him with his kinsman's setting out for london in order to
embark wishes him to prevent a meeting between him and mr morden 

letter lii mr belford to lord m 
has had a visit from mr lovelace what passed between them on the
occasion has an interview with colonel morden 

letter liii mr belford to lord m 
just returned from attending mr lovelace part of his way towards dover 
their solemn parting 

letter liv from the same 
an account of what passed between himself and colonel morden at their
next meeting their affectionate parting 

letter lv miss howe to mr belford 
gives at his request the character of her beloved friend at large and
an account of the particular distribution of her time in the twenty-four
hours of the natural day 

letter lvi lovelace to belford from paris 
conscience the conqueror of souls he cannot run away from his
reflections he desires a particular account of all that has passed
since he left england 

letter lvii belford to lovelace 
answers him as to all the particulars he writes about 

letter lviii lovelace to belford 
has received a letter from joseph leman who he says is
conscience-ridden to inform him that colonel morden resolves to have his
will of him he cannot bear to be threatened he will write to the
colonel to know his purpose he cannot get off his regrets on account of
the dear lady for the blood of him 

letter lix belford to lovelace 
it would be matter of serious reflection to him he says if that very
leman who had been his machine should be the instrument of his fall 

letter lx lovelace to belford 
has written to the colonel to know his intention but yet in such a
manner that he may handsomely avoid taking it as a challenge though in
the like case he owns that he himself should not copy of his letter to
the colonel 

letter lxi from the same 
he is now in his way to trent in order to meet colonel morden he is
sure of victory but will not if he can help it out of regard to
clarissa kill the colonel 

letter lxii from the same 
interview with colonel morden to-morrow says he is the day that will 
in all probability send either one or two ghosts to attend the manes of
my clarissa he doubts not to give the colonel his life or his death 
and to be able by next morning eleven to write all the particulars 

letter lxiv the issue of the duel 

conclusion

postscript



the history

of

clarissa harlowe



letter i

mr belford
 in continuation  
soho six o'clock sept 7 


the lady is still alive the colonel having just sent his servant to let
me know that she inquired after me about an hour ago i am dressing to
attend her joel begs of me to dispatch him back though but with one
line to gratify your present impatience he expects he says to find
you at knightsbridge let him make what haste he can back and if he has
not a line or two to pacify you he is afraid you will pistol him for he
apprehends that you are hardly yourself i therefore dispatch this and
will have another ready as soon as i can with particulars but you
must have a little patience for how can i withdraw myself every half
hour to write if i am admitted to the lady's presence or if i am with
the colonel 


smith's eight in the morning 

the lady is in a slumber mrs lovick who sat up with her says she had
a better night than was expected for although she slept little she
seemed easy and the easier for the pious frame she was in all her
waking moments being taken up in devotion or in an ejaculatory silence 
her hands and eyes often lifted up and her lips moving with a fervour
worthy of these her last hours 


ten o'clock 

the colonel being earnest to see his cousin as soon as she awoke we were
both admitted we observed in her as soon as we entered strong
symptoms of her approaching dissolution notwithstanding what the women
had flattered us with from her last night's tranquillity the colonel
and i each loth to say what we thought looked upon one another with
melancholy countenances 

the colonel told her he should send a servant to her uncle antony's for
some papers he had left there and asked if she had any commands that
way 

she thought not she said speaking more inwardly than she did the day
before she had indeed a letter ready to be sent to her good norton and
there was a request intimated in it but it was time enough if the
request were signified to those whom it concerned when all was over 
 however it might be sent them by the servant who was going that way 
and she caused it to be given to the colonel for that purpose 

her breath being very short she desired another pillow having two
before this made her in a manner sit up in her bed and she spoke then
with more distinctness and seeing us greatly concerned forgot her own
sufferings to comfort us and a charming lecture she gave us though a
brief one upon the happiness of a timely preparation and upon the
hazards of a late repentance when the mind as she observed was so much
weakened as well as the body as to render a poor soul hardly able to
contend with its natural infirmities 

i beseech ye my good friends proceeded she mourn not for one who
mourns not nor has cause to mourn for herself on the contrary 
rejoice with me that all my worldly troubles are so near to their end 
believe me sirs that i would not if i might choose to live although
the pleasantest part of my life were to come over again and yet eighteen
years of it out of nineteen have been very pleasant to be so much
exposed to temptation and to be so liable to fail in the trial who
would not rejoice that all her dangers are over all i wished was pardon
and blessing from my dear parents easy as my departure seems promised
to be it would have been still easier had i that pleasure but god
almighty would not let me depend for comfort upon any but himself 

she then repeated her request in the most earnest manner to her cousin 
that he would not heighten her fault by seeking to avenge her death to
me that i would endeavour to make up all breaches and use the power i
had with my friend to prevent all future mischiefs from him as well as
that which this trust might give me to prevent any to him 

she made some excuses to her cousin for not having been able to alter
her will to join him in the executorship with me and to me for the
trouble she had given and yet should give me 

she had fatigued herself so much growing sensibly weaker that she sunk
her head upon her pillows ready to faint and we withdrew to the window 
looking upon one another but could not tell what to say and yet both
seemed inclinable to speak but the motion passed over in silence our
eyes only spoke and that in a manner neither's were used to mine at
least not till i knew this admirable creature 

the colonel withdrew to dismiss his messenger and send away the letter
to mrs norton i took the opportunity to retire likewise and to write
thus far and joel returning to take it i now close here 

eleven o'clock 



letter ii

mr belford
 in continuation  


the colonel tells me that he had written to mr john harlowe by his
servant that they might spare themselves the trouble of debating about
a reconciliation for that his dear cousin would probably be no more
before they could resolve 

he asked me after his cousin's means of subsisting and whether she had
accepted of any favour from me he was sure he said she would not from
you 

i acquainted him with the truth of her parting with some of her apparel 

this wrung his heart and bitterly did he exclaim as well against you as
against her implacable relations 

he wished he had not come to england at all or had come sooner and
hoped i would apprize him of the whole mournful story at a proper
season he added that he had thoughts when he came over of fixing
here for the remainder of his days but now as it was impossible his
cousin could recover he would go abroad again and re-settle himself at
florence or leghorn 

the lady has been giving orders with great presence of mind about her
body directing her nurse and the maid of the house to put her in the
coffin as soon as she is cold mr belford she said would know the
rest by her will 


 


she has just now given from her bosom where she always wore it a
miniature picture set in gold of miss howe she gave it to mrs 
lovick desiring her to fold it up in white paper and direct it to
charles hickman esq and to give it to me when she was departed for
that gentleman 

she looked upon the picture before she gave it her sweet and
ever-amiable friend companion sister lover said she and kissed
it four several times once at each tender appellation 


 


your other servant is come well may you be impatient well may you 
 but do you think i can leave off in the middle of a conversation to
run and set down what offers and send it away piece-meal as i write 
 if i could must i not lose one half while i put down the other 

this event is nearly as interesting to me as it is to you if you are
more grieved than i there can be but one reason for it and that's at
your heart i had rather lose all the friends i have in the world 
 yourself in the number than this divine lady and shall be unhappy
whenever i think of her sufferings and of her merit though i have
nothing to reproach myself by reason of the former 

i say not this just now so much to reflect upon you as to express my
own grief though your conscience i suppose will make you think
otherwise 

your poor fellow who says that he begs for his life in desiring to be
dispatched back with a letter tears this from me else perhaps for
i am just sent for down a quarter of an hour would make you not easy
indeed but certain and that in a state like your's to a mind like
your's is a relief 

thursday afternoon four o'clock 



letter iii

mr belford to richard mowbray esq 
thursday afternoon 


dear mowbray 

i am glad to hear you are in town throw yourself the moment this comes
to your hand if possible with tourville in the way of the man who
least of all men deserves the love of the worthy heart but most that of
thine and tourville else the news i shall most probably send him within
an hour or two will make annihilation the greatest blessing he has to
wish for 

you will find him between piccadilly and kensington most probably on
horseback riding backwards and forwards in a crazy way or put up 
perhaps at some inn or tavern in the way a waiter possibly if so 
watching for his servant's return to him from me 


 


his man will is just come to me he will carry this to you in his way
back and be your director hie away in a coach or any how your being
with him may save either his or a servant's life see the blessed
effects of triumphant libertinism sooner or later it comes home to us 
and all concludes in gall and bitterness 

adieu 
j belford 



letter iv

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


curse upon the colonel and curse upon the writer of the last letter i
received and upon all the world thou to pretend to be as much
interested in my clarissa's fate as myself tis well for one of us that
this was not said to me instead of written living or dying she is
mine and only mine have i not earned her dearly is not d n n
likely to be the purchase to me though a happy eternity will be her's 

an eternal separation o god o god how can i bear that thought but
yet there is life yet therefore hope enlarge my hope and thou shalt
be my good genius and i will forgive thee every thing 

for this last time but it must not shall not be the last let me hear 
the moment thou receivest this what i am to be for at present i am

the most miserable of men 


rose at knightsbridge five o'clock 

my fellow tells me that thou art sending mowbray and tourville to me i
want them not my soul's sick of them and of all the world but most of
myself yet as they send me word they will come to me immediately i
will wait for them and for thy next o belford let it not be but
hasten it be what it may 



letter v

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
seven o'clock thursday evening sept 7 


i have only to say at present thou wilt do well to take a tour to
paris or wherever else thy destiny shall lead thee 

john belford 



letter vi

mr mowbray to john belford esq 
uxbridge sept 7 between eleven and twelve at night 


dear jack 

i send by poor lovelace's desire for particulars of the fatal breviate
thou sentest him this night he cannot bear to set pen to paper yet
wants to know every minute passage of miss harlowe's departure yet why
he should i cannot see for if she is gone she is gone and who can
help it 

i never heard of such a woman in my life what great matters has she
suffered that grief should kill her thus 

i wish the poor fellow had never known her from first to last what
trouble she has cost him the charming fellow had been half lost to us
ever since he pursued her and what is there in one woman more than
another for matter of that 

it was well we were with him when your note came your showed your true
friendship in your foresight why jack the poor fellow was quite
beside himself mad as any man ever was in bedlam 

will brought him the letter just after we had joined him at the bohemia
head where he had left word at the rose at knightsbridge he should be 
for he had been sauntering up and down backwards and forwards expecting
us and his fellow will as soon as he delivered it got out of his
way and when he opened it never was such a piece of scenery he
trembled like a devil at receiving it fumbled at the seal his fingers
in a palsy like tom doleman's his hand shake shake shake that he
tore the letter in two before he could come at the contents and when
he had read them off went his hat to one corner of the room his wig to
the other d n n seize the world and a whole volley of such-like
excratious wishes running up and down the room and throwing up the
sash and pulling it down and smiting his forehead with his double fist 
with such force as would have felled as ox and stamping and tearing 
that the landlord ran in and faster out again and this was the
distraction scene for some time 

in vain was all jemmy or i could say to him i offered once to take hold
of his hands because he was going to do himself a mischief as i
believed looking about for his pistols which he had laid upon the
table but which will unseen had taken out with him  a faithful 
honest dog that will i shall for ever love the fellow for it   and he
hit me a d d dowse of the chops as made my nose bleed twas well
twas he for i hardly knew how to take it 

jemmy raved at him and told him how wicked it was in him to be so
brutish to abuse a friend and run mad for a woman and then he said he
was sorry for it and then will ventured in with water and a towel and
the dog rejoiced as i could see by his look that i had it rather than
he 

and so by degrees we brought him a little to his reason and he
promised to behave more like a man and so i forgave him and we rode on
in the dark to here at doleman's and we all tried to shame him out of
his mad ungovernable foolishness for we told him as how she was but a
woman and an obstinate perverse woman too and how could he help it 

and you know jack as we told him moreover that it was a shame to
manhood for a man who had served twenty and twenty women as bad or
worse let him have served miss harlowe never so bad should give himself
such obstropulous airs because she would die and we advised him never
to attempt a woman proud of her character and virtue as they call it 
any more for why the conquest did not pay trouble and what was there
in one woman more than another hay you know jack and thus we
comforted him and advised him 

but yet his d d addled pate runs upon this lady as much now she's dead
as it did when she was living for i suppose jack it is no joke she
is certainly and bona fide dead i'n't she if not thou deservest to be
doubly d d for thy fooling i tell thee that so he will have me write
for particulars of her departure 

he won't bear the word dead on any account a squeamish puppy how love
unmans and softens and such a noble fellow as this too rot him for an
idiot and an oaf i have no patience with the foolish duncical dog
 upon my soul i have not 

so send the account and let him howl over it as i suppose he will 

but he must and shall go abroad and in a month or two jemmy and you 
and i will join him and he'll soon get the better of this
chicken-hearted folly never fear and will then be ashamed of himself 
and then we'll not spare him though now poor fellow it were pity to
lay him on so thick as he deserves and do thou till then spare all
reflections upon him for it seems thou hast worked him unmercifully 

i was willing to give thee some account of the hand we have had with the
tearing fellow who had certainly been a lost man had we not been with
him or he would have killed somebody or other i have no doubt of it 
and now he is but very middling sits grinning like a man in straw 
curses and swears and is confounded gloomy and creeps into holes and
corners like an old hedge-hog hunted for his grease 

and so adieu jack tourville and all of us wish for thee for no one
has the influence upon him that thou hast 

r mowbray 


as i promised him that i would write for the particulars abovesaid i
 write this after all are gone to bed and the fellow is set out
 with it by day-break 



letter vii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
thursday night 


i may as well try to write since were i to go to bed i shall not
sleep i never had such a weight of grief upon my mind in my life as
upon the demise of this admirable woman whose soul is now rejoicing
in the regions of light 

you may be glad to know the particulars of her happy exit i will try
to proceed for all is hush and still the family retired but not one
of them and least of all her poor cousin i dare say to rest 

at four o'clock as i mentioned in my last i was sent for down and 
as thou usedst to like my descriptions i will give thee the woeful scene
that presented itself to me as i approached the bed 

the colonel was the first that took my attention kneeling on the side of
the bed the lady's right hand in both his which his face covered 
bathing it with his tears although she had been comforting him as the
women since told me in elevated strains but broken accents 

on the other side of the bed sat the good widow her face overwhelmed
with tears leaning her head against the bed's head in a most
disconsolate manner and turning her face to me as soon as she saw me 
o mr belford cried she with folded hands the dear lady a heavy sob
permitted her not to say more 

mrs smith with clasped fingers and uplifted eyes as if imploring help
from the only power which could give it was kneeling down at the bed's
feet tears in large drops trickling down her cheeks 

her nurse was kneeling between the widow and mrs smith her arms
extended in one hand she held an ineffectual cordial which she had
just been offering to her dying mistress her face was swoln with weeping
 though used to such scenes as this and she turned her eyes towards me 
as if she called upon me by them to join in the helpless sorrow a fresh
stream bursting from them as i approached the bed 

the maid of the house with her face upon her folded arms as she stood
leaning against the wainscot more audibly exprest her grief than any of
the others 

the lady had been silent a few minutes and speechless as they thought 
moving her lips without uttering a word one hand as i said in her
cousin's but when mrs lovick on my approach pronounced my name o
mr belford said she with a faint inward voice but very distinct
nevertheless now now  in broken periods she spoke  i bless god for
his mercies to his poor creature all will soon be over a few a very
few moments will end this strife and i shall be happy 

comfort here sir turning her head to the colonel comfort my cousin
 see the blame able kindness he would not wish me to be happy
 so soon 

here she stopt for two or three minutes earnestly looking upon him 
then resuming my dearest cousin said she be comforted what is dying
but the common lot the mortal frame may seem to labour but that is
all it is not so hard to die as i believed it to be the preparation
is the difficulty i bless god i have had time for that the rest is
worse to beholders than to me i am all blessed hope hope itself she
looked what she said a sweet smile beaming over her countenance 

after a short silence once more my dear cousin said she but still in
broken accents commend me most dutifully to my father and mother there
she stopt and then proceeding to my sister to my brother to my
uncles and tell them i bless them with my parting breath for all their
goodness to me even for their displeasure i bless them most happy has
been to me my punishment here happy indeed 

she was silent for a few moments lifting up her eyes and the hand her
cousin held not between his then o death said she where is thy
sting  the words i remember to have heard in the burial-service read
over my uncle and poor belton   and after a pause it is good for me
that i was afflicted words of scripture i suppose 

then turning towards us who were lost in speechless sorrow o dear dear
gentlemen said she you know not what foretastes what assurances and
there she again stopped and looked up as if in a thankful rapture 
sweetly smiling 

then turning her head towards me do you sir tell your friend that i
forgive him and i pray to god to forgive him again pausing and
lifting up her eyes as if praying that he would let him know how
happily i die and that such as my own i wish to be his last hour 

she was again silent for a few moments and then resuming my sight
fails me your voices only  for we both applauded her christian her
divine frame though in accents as broken as her own  and the voice of
grief is alike in all is not this mr morden's hand pressing one of
his with that he had just let go which is mr belford's holding out
the other i gave her mine god almighty bless you both said she and
make you both in your last hour for you must come to this happy as i
am 

she paused again her breath growing shorter and after a few minutes
 and now my dearest cousin give me your hand nearer still nearer
 drawing it towards her and she pressed it with her dying lips god
protect you dear dear sir and once more receive my best and most
grateful thanks and tell my dear miss howe and vouchsafe to see and to
tell my worthy norton she will be one day i fear not though now lowly
in her fortunes a saint in heaven tell them both that i remember them
with thankful blessings in my last moments and pray god to give them
happiness here for many many years for the sake of their friends and
lovers and an heavenly crown hereafter and such assurances of it as i
have through the all-satisfying merits of my blessed redeemer 

her sweet voice and broken periods methinks still fill my ears and never
will be out of my memory 

after a short silence in a more broken and faint accent and you mr 
belford pressing my hand may god preserve you and make you sensible of
all your errors you see in me how all ends may you be and down sunk
her head upon her pillow she fainting away and drawing from us her
hands 

we thought she was then gone and each gave way to a violent burst of
grief 

but soon showing signs of returning life our attention was again
engaged and i besought her when a little recovered to complete in my
favour her half-pronounced blessing she waved her hand to us both and
bowed her head six several times as we have since recollected as if
distinguishing every person present not forgetting the nurse and the
maid-servant the latter having approached the bed weeping as if
crowding in for the divine lady's blessing and she spoke faltering and
inwardly bless bless bless you all and now and now  holding up
her almost lifeless hands for the last time  come o come blessed lord
 jesus 

and with these words the last but half-pronounced expired such a
smile such a charming serenity overspreading her sweet face at the
instant as seemed to manifest her eternal happiness already begun 

o lovelace but i can write no more 


 


i resume my pen to add a few lines 

while warm though pulseless we pressed each her hand with our lips 
and then retired into the next room 

we looked at each other with intent to speak but as if one motion
governed as one cause affected both we turned away silent 

the colonel sighed as if his heart would burst at last his face and
hands uplifted his back towards me good heaven said he to himself 
support me and is it thus o flower of nature then pausing and must
we no more never more my blessed blessed cousin uttering some other
words which his sighs made inarticulate and then as if recollecting
himself forgive me sir excuse me mr belford and sliding by me 
anon i hope to see you sir and down stairs he went and out of the
house leaving me a statue 

when i recovered i was ready to repine at what i then called an unequal
dispensation forgetting her happy preparation and still happier
departure and that she had but drawn a common lot triumphing in it and
leaving behind her every one less assured of happiness though equally
certain that the lot would one day be their own 

she departed exactly at forty minutes after six o'clock as by her watch
on the table 

and thus died miss clarissa harlowe in the blossom of her youth and
beauty and who her tender years considered had not left behind her her
superior in extensive knowledge and watchful prudence nor hardly her
equal for unblemished virtue exemplary piety sweetness of manners 
discreet generosity and true christian charity and these all set off by
the most graceful modesty and humility yet on all proper occasions 
manifesting a noble presence of mind and true magnanimity so that she
may be said to have been not only an ornament to her sex but to human
nature 

a better pen than mine may do her fuller justice thine i mean o
lovelace for well dost thou know how much she excelled in the graces of
both mind and person natural and acquired all that is woman and thou
also can best account for the causes of her immature death through those
calamities which in so short a space of time from the highest pitch of
felicity every one in a manner adoring her brought he to an exit so
happy for herself but that it was so early so much to be deplored by
all who had the honour of her acquaintance 

this task then i leave to thee but now i can write no more only that
i am a sympathizer in every part of thy distress except and yet it is
cruel to say it in that which arises from thy guilt 

one o'clock friday morning 



letter viii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
nine friday morn 


i have no opportunity to write at length having necessary orders to give
on the melancholy occasion joel who got to me by six in the morning 
and whom i dispatched instantly back with the letter i had ready from
last night gives me but an indifferent account of the state of your
mind i wonder not at it but time and nothing else can will make it
easier to you if that is to say you have compounded with your
conscience else it may be heavier every day than other 


 


tourville tells us what a way you are in i hope you will not think of
coming hither the lady in her will desires you may not see her four
copies are making of it it is a long one for she gives her reasons for
all she wills i will write to you more particularly as soon as possibly
i can 


 


three letters are just brought by a servant in livery directed to miss
clarissa harlowe i will send copies of them to you the contents are
enough to make one mad how would this poor lady have rejoiced to
receive them and yet if she had she would not have been enabled to
say as she nobly did that god would not let her depend for comfort
upon any but himself and indeed for some days past she had seemed to
have got above all worldly considerations her fervent love even for
her miss howe as she acknowledged having given way to supremer
fervours 


 see letter i of this volume 
 see vol viii letter lxii 



letter ix

mrs norton to miss clarissa harlowe
wednesday sept 6 


at length my best beloved miss clary every thing is in the wished
train for all your relations are unanimous in your favour even your
brother and your sister are with the foremost to be reconciled to you 

i knew it must end thus by patience and persevering sweetness what a
triumph have you gained 

this happy change is owing to letters received from your physician from
your cousin morden and from mr brand 

colonel morden will be with you no doubt before this can reach you 
with his pocket-book filled with money-bills that nothing may be wanting
to make you easy 

and now all our hopes all our prayers are that this good news may
restore you to spirits and health and that so long withheld it may not
come too late 

i know how much your dutiful heart will be raised with the joyful tidings
i write you and still shall more particularly tell you of when i have
the happiness to see you which will be by next sunday at farthest 
perhaps on friday afternoon by the time you can receive this 

for this day being sent for by the general voice i was received by
every one with great goodness and condescension and entreated for that
was the word they were pleased to use when i needed no entreaty i am
sure to hasten up to you and to assure you of all their affectionate
regards to you and your father bid me say all the kind things that were
in my heart to say in order to comfort and raise you up and they would
hold themselves bound to make them good 

how agreeable is this commission to your norton my heart will overflow
with kind speeches never fear i am already meditating what i shall
say to cheer and raise you up in the names of every one dear and near
to you and sorry i am that i cannot this moment set out as i might 
instead of writing would they favour my eager impatience with their
chariot but as it was not offered it would be a presumption to have
asked for it and to-morrow a hired chaise and pair will be ready but at
what hour i know not 

how i long once more to fold my dear precious young lady to my fond my
more than fond my maternal bosom 

your sister will write to you and send her letter with this by a
particular hand 

i must not let them see what i write because of my wish about the
chariot 

your uncle harlowe will also write and i doubt not in the kindest
terms for they are all extremely alarmed and troubled at the dangerous
way your doctor represents you to be in as well as delighted with the
character he gives you would to heaven the good gentleman had written
sooner and yet he writes that you know not he has now written but it
is all our confidence and our consolation that he would not have
written at all had he thought it too late 

they will prescribe no conditions to you my dear young lady but will
leave all to your own duty and discretion only your brother and sister
declare they will never yield to call mr lovelace brother nor will your
father i believe be easily brought to think of him for a son 

i am to bring you down with me as soon as your health and inclination
will permit you will be received with open arms every one longs to
see you all the servants please themselves that they shall be permitted
to kiss your hands the pert betty's note is already changed and she
now runs over in your just praises what friends does prosperity make 
what enemies adversity it always was and always will be so in every
state of life from the throne to the cottage but let all be forgotten
now on this jubilee change and may you my dearest miss be capable of
rejoicing in this good news as i know you will rejoice if capable of
any thing 

god preserve you to our happy meeting and i will if i may say so 
weary heaven with my incessant prayers to preserve and restore you
afterwards 

i need not say how much i am my dear young lady 
your ever-affectionate and devoted 
judith norton 


an unhappy delay as to the chaise will make it saturday morning before
 i can fold you to my fond heart 



letter x

miss arab harlowe to miss cl harlowe
wedn morn sept 6 


dear sister 

we have just heard that you are exceedingly ill we all loved you as
never young creature was loved you are sensible of that sister clary 
and you have been very naughty but we could not be angry always 

we are indeed more afflicted with the news of your being so very ill than
i can express for i see not but after this separation as we
understand that your misfortune has been greater than your fault and
that however unhappy you have demeaned yourself like the good young
creature you used to be we shall love you better if possible than
ever 

take comfort therefore sister clary and don't be too much cast down
 whatever your mortifications may be from such noble prospects
over-clouded and from the reflections you will have from within on your
faulty step and from the sullying of such a charming character by it 
you will receive none from any of us and as an earnest of your papa's
and mamma's favour and reconciliation they assure you by me of their
blessing and hourly prayers 

if it will be any comfort to you and my mother finds this letter is
received as we expect which we shall know by the good effect it will
have upon your health she will herself go to town to you mean-time 
the good woman you so dearly love will be hastened up to you and she
writes by this opportunity to acquaint you of it and of all our
returning love 

i hope you will rejoice at this good news pray let us hear that you do 
your next grateful letter on this occasion especially if it gives us the
pleasure of hearing you are better upon this news will be received with
the same if not greater delight than we used to have in all your
prettily-penn'd epistles adieu my dear clary i am 

your loving sister and true friend 
arabella harlowe 



letter xi

to his dear niece miss clarissa harlowe
wednesday sept 6 


we were greatly grieved my beloved miss clary at your fault but we are
still more if possible to hear you are so very ill and we are sorry
things have been carried so far we know your talents my dear and how
movingly you could write whenever you pleased so that nobody could ever
deny you any thing and believing you depended on your pen and little
thinking you were so ill and that you lived so regular a life and are
so truly penitent are must troubled every one of us your brother and
all for being so severe forgive my part in it my dearest clary i
am your second papa you know and you used to love me 

i hope you'll soon be able to come down and after a while when your
indulgent parents can spare you that you will come to me for a whole
month and rejoice my heart as you used to do but if through illness 
you cannot so soon come down as we wish i will go up to you for i long
to see you i never more longed to see you in my life and you was
always the darling of my heart you know 

my brother antony desires his hearty commendations to you and joins with
me in the tenderest assurance that all shall be well and if possible 
better than ever for we now have been so long without you that we know
the miss of you and even hunger and thirst as i may say to see you 
and to take you once more to our hearts whence indeed you was never
banished so far as our concern for the unhappy step made us think and you
believe you were your sister and brother both talk of seeing you in
town so does my dear sister your indulgent mother 

god restore your health if it be his will else i know not what will
become of

your truly loving uncle and second papa 
john harlowe 



letter xii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday night sept 8 past ten 


i will now take up the account of our proceedings from my letter of last
night which contained the dying words of this incomparable lady 

as soon as we had seen the last scene closed so blessedly for herself 
we left the body to the care of the good women who according to the
orders she had given them that very night removed her into that last
house which she had displayed so much fortitude in providing 

in the morning between seven and eight o'clock according to
appointment the colonel came to me here he was very much indisposed 
we went together accompanied by mrs lovick and mrs smith into the
deceased's chamber we could not help taking a view of the lovely
corpse and admiring the charming serenity of her noble aspect the
women declared they never say death so lovely before and that she looked
as if in an easy slumber the colour having not quite left her cheeks and
lips 

i unlocked the drawer in which as i mentioned in a former she had
deposited her papers i told you in mine of monday last that she had
the night before sealed up with three black seals a parcel inscribed 
as soon as i am certainly dead this to be broke open by mr belford i
accused myself for not having done it over-night but really i was then
incapable of any thing 


 see vol viii letter lvii 


i broke it open accordingly and found in it no less than eleven letters 
each sealed with her own seal and black wax one of which was directed
to me 

i will enclose a copy of it 


to john belford esq 
sunday evening sept 3 


sir 

i take this last and solemn occasion to repeat to you my thanks for all
your kindness to me at a time when i most needed countenance and
protection 

a few considerations i beg leave as now at your perusal of this from
the dead to press upon you with all the warmth of a sincere friendship 

by the time you will see this you will have had an instance i humbly
trust of the comfortable importance of a pacified conscience in the
last hours of one who to the last hour will wish your eternal welfare 

the great duke of luxemburgh as i have heard on his death-bed 
declared that he would then much rather have had it to reflect upon 
that he had administered a cup of cold water to a worthy poor creature in
distress than that he had won so many battles as he had triumphed for 
and as one well observes all the sentiments of worldly grandeur vanish
at that unavoidable moment which decides the destiny of men 

if then sir at the tremendous hour it be thus with the conquerors of
armies and the subduers of nations let me in a very few words many are
not needed ask what at that period must be the reflection of those 
 if capable of reflection who have lived a life of sense and offence 
whose study and whose pride most ingloriously have been to seduce the
innocent and to ruin the weak the unguarded and the friendless made
still more friendless by their base seductions o mr belford weigh 
ponder and reflect upon it now that in health and in vigour of mind
and body the reflections will most avail you what an ungrateful what
an unmanly what a meaner than reptile pride is this 

in the next place sir let me beg of you for my sake who am or as
now you will best read it have been driven to the necessity of applying
to you to be the executor of my will that you will bear according to
that generosity which i think to be in you with all my friends and
particularly with my brother who is really a worthy young man but
perhaps a little too headstrong in his first resentments and conceptions
of things if any thing by reason of this trust should fall out
disagreeably and that you will study to make peace and to reconcile all
parties and more especially that you who seem to have a great
influence upon your still-more headstrong friend will interpose if
occasion be to prevent farther mischief for surely sir that violent
spirit may sit down satisfied with the evils he has already wrought and 
particularly with the wrongs the heinous and ignoble wrongs he has in
me done to my family wounded in the tenderest part of its honour 

for your compliance with this request i have already your repeated
promise i claim the observance of it therefore as a debt from you 
and though i hope i need not doubt it yet was i willing on this solemn 
this last occasion thus earnestly to re-inforce it 

i have another request to make to you it is only that you will be
pleased by a particular messenger to forward the enclosed letters as
directed 

and now sir having the presumption to think that an useful member is
lost to society by means of the unhappy step which has brought my life so
soon to its period let me hope that i may be an humble instrument in
the hands of providence to reform a man of your abilities and then i
shall think that loss will be more abundantly repaired to the world 
while it will be by god's goodness my gain and i shall have this
farther hope that once more i shall have an opportunity in a blessed
eternity to thank you as i now repeatedly do for the good you have done
to and the trouble you will have taken for sir 

your obliged servant 
clarissa harlowe 


 


the other letters are directed to her father to her mother one to her
two uncles to her brother to her sister to her aunt hervey to her
cousin morden to miss howe to mrs norton and lastly one to you in
performance of her promise that a letter should be sent you when she
arrived at her father's house i will withhold this last till i can
be assured that you will be fitter to receive it than tourville tells me
you are at present 

copies of all these are sealed up and entitled copies of my ten
posthumous letters for j belford esq and put in among the bundle of
papers left to my direction which i have not yet had leisure to open 

no wonder while able that she was always writing since thus only of
late could she employ that time which heretofore from the long days she
made caused so many beautiful works to spring from her fingers it is
my opinion that there never was a woman so young who wrote so much and
with such celerity her thoughts keeping pace as i have seen with her
pen she hardly ever stopped or hesitated and very seldom blotted out 
or altered it was a natural talent she was mistress of among many
other extraordinary ones i gave the colonel his letter and ordered
harry instantly to get ready to carry the others mean time retiring
into the next apartment we opened the will we were both so much
affected in perusing it that at one time the colonel breaking off gave
it to me to read on at another i gave it back to him to proceed with 
neither of us being able to read it through without such tokens of
sensibility as affected the voice of each 

mrs lovick mrs smith and her nurse were still more touched when we
read those articles in which they are respectively remembered but i will
avoid mentioning the particulars except in what relates to the thread
of my narration as in proper time i shall send you a copy of it 

the colonel told me he was ready to account with me for the money and
bills brought up from harlowe-place which would enable me as he said 
directly to execute the legacy parts of the will and he would needs at
the instant force into my hands a paper relating to that subject i put
it into my pocket-book without looking into it telling him that as i
hoped he would do all in his power to promote a literal performance of
the will i must beg his advice and assistance in the execution of it 

her request to be buried with her ancestors made a letter of the
following import necessary which i prevailed upon the colonel to write 
being unwilling myself so early at least to appear officious in the
eye of a family which probably wishes not any communication with me 


to james harlowe jun esq 


sir 

the letter which the bearer of this brings with him will i presume 
make it unnecessary to acquaint you and my cousins with the death of the
most excellent of women but i am requested by her executor who will
soon send you a copy of her last will to acquaint her father which i
choose to do by your means that in it she earnestly desires to be laid
in the family-vault at the feet of her grandfather 

if her father will not admit of it she has directed her body to be
buried in the church-yard of the parish where she died 

i need not tell you that a speedy answer to this is necessary 

her beatification commenced yesterday afternoon exactly at forty minutes
after six 

i can write no more than that i am

your's etc 
wm morden 

friday morn sept 8 


by the time this was written and by the colonel's leave transcribed 
harry was booted and spurred his horse at the door and i delivered him
the letters to the family with those to mrs norton and miss howe 
 eight in all together with the above of the colonel to mr james
harlowe and gave him orders to use the utmost dispatch with them 

the colonel and i have bespoke mourning for our selves and servants 



letter xiii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sat ten o'clock 


poor mrs norton is come she was set down at the door and would have
gone up stairs directly but mrs smith and mrs lovick being together
and in tears and the former hinting too suddenly to the truly-venerable
woman the fatal news she sunk down at her feet in fits so that they
were forced to breath a vein to bring her to herself and to a capacity
of exclamation and then she ran on to mrs lovick and me who entered
just as she recovered in praise of the lady in lamentations for her 
and invectives against you but yet so circumscribed were her invectives 
that i could observe in them the woman well educated and in her
lamentations the passion christianized as i may say 

she was impatient to see the corpse the women went up with her but
they owned that they were too much affected themselves on this occasion
to describe her extremely-affecting behaviour 

with trembling impatience she pushed aside the coffin-lid she bathed
the face with her tears and kissed her cheeks and forehead as if she
were living it was she indeed she said her sweet young lady her very
self nor had death which changed all things a power to alter her
lovely features she admired the serenity of her aspect she no doubt
was happy she said as she had written to her she should be but how
many miserable creatures had she left behind her the good woman
lamenting that she herself had lived to be one of them 

it was with difficulty they prevailed upon her to quit the corpse and
when they went into the next apartment i joined them and acquainted her
with the kind legacy her beloved young lady had left her but this rather
augmented than diminished her concern she ought she said to have
attended her in person what was the world to her wringing her hands 
now the child of her bosom and of her heart was no more her principal
consolation however was that she should not long survive her she
hoped she said that she did not sin in wishing she might not 

it was easy to observe by the similitude of sentiments shown in this and
other particulars that the divine lady owed to this excellent woman many
of her good notions 

i thought it would divert the poor gentlewoman and not altogether
unsuitably if i were to put her upon furnishing mourning for herself as
it would rouse her by a seasonable and necessary employment from that
dismal lethargy of grief which generally succeeds to the violent anguish
with which a gentle nature is accustomed to be torn upon the first
communication of the unexpected loss of a dear friend i gave her
therefore the thirty guineas bequeathed to her and to her son for
mourning the only mourning which the testatrix has mentioned and
desired her to lose no time in preparing her own as i doubted not that
she would accompany the corpse if it were permitted to be carried down 

the colonel proposes to attend the hearse if his kindred give him not
fresh cause of displeasure and will take with him a copy of the will 
and being intent to give the family some favourable impressions of me he
desired me to permit him to take with him the copy of the posthumous
letter to me which i readily granted he is so kind as to promise me a
minute account of all that should pass on the melancholy occasion and
we have begun a friendship and settled a correspondence which but one
incident can possibly happen to interrupt to the end of our lives and
that i hope will not happen 

but what must be the grief the remorse that will seize upon the hearts
of this hitherto-inexorable family on the receiving of the posthumous
letters and that of the colonel apprizing them of what has happened i
have given requisite orders to an undertaker on the supposition that the
body will be permitted to be carried down and the women intend to fill
the coffin with aromatic herbs 

the colonel has obliged me to take the bills and draughts which he
brought up with him for the considerable sums which accrued since the
grandfather's death from the lady's estate 

i could have shown to mrs norton the copies of the two letters which she
missed by coming up but her grief wants not the heightenings which the
reading of them would have given her 


 


i have been dipping into the copies of the posthumous letters to the
family which harry has carried down well may i call this lady divine 
they are all calculated to give comfort rather than reproach though
their cruelty to her merited nothing but reproach but were i in any of
their places how much rather had i that she had quitted scores with me
by the most severe recrimination than that she should thus nobly triumph
over me by a generosity that has no example i will enclose some of
them which i desire you to return as soon as you can 



letter xiv

to the ever-honoured jas harlowe sen esq 


most dear sir 

with exulting confidence now does your emboldened daughter come into your
awful presence by these lines who dared not but upon this occasion to
look up to you with hopes of favour and forgiveness since when this
comes to your hands it will be out of her power ever to offend you more 

and now let me bless you my honoured papa and bless you as i write 
upon my knees for all the benefits i have received from your indulgence 
for your fond love to me in the days of my prattling innocence for the
virtuous education you gave me and for the crown of all the happy end 
which through divine grace by means of that virtuous education i hope 
by the time you will receive this i shall have made and let me beg of
you dear venerable sir to blot out from your remembrance if possible 
the last unhappy eight months and then i shall hope to be remembered
with advantage for the pleasure you had the goodness to take in your
clarissa 

still on her knees let your poor penitent implore your forgiveness of
all her faults and follies more especially of that fatal error which
threw her out of your protection 

when you know sir that i have never been faulty in my will that ever
since my calamity became irretrievable i have been in a state of
preparation that i have the strongest assurance that the almighty has
accepted my unfeigned repentance and that by this time you will as i
humbly presume to hope have been the means of adding one to the number
of the blessed you will have reason for joy rather than sorrow since 
had i escaped the snares by which i was entangled i might have wanted
those exercises which i look upon now as so many mercies dispensed to
wean me betimes from a world that presented itself to me with prospects
too alluring and in that case too easily satisfied with the worldly
felicity i might not have attained to that blessedness in which now 
on your reading of this i humbly presume through the divine goodness 
i am rejoicing 

that the almighty in his own good time will bring you sir and my
ever-honoured mother after a series of earthly felicities of which my
unhappy fault be the only interruption and very grievous i know that
must have been to rejoice in the same blessed state is the repeated
prayer of sir 

your now happy daughter 
clarissa harlowe 



letter xv

to the ever-honoured mrs harlowe


honoured madam 

the last time i had the boldness to write to you it was with all the
consciousness of a self-convicted criminal supplicating her offended
judge for mercy and pardon i now by these lines approach you with
more assurance but nevertheless with the highest degree of reverence 
gratitude and duty the reason of my assurance my letter to my papa
will give and as i humbly on my knees implored his pardon so now in
the same dutiful manner do i supplicate your's for the grief and
trouble i have given you 

every vein of my heart has bled for an unhappy rashness which although
involuntary as to the act from the moment it was committed carried
with it its own punishment and was accompanied with a true and sincere
penitence 

god who has been a witness of my distresses knows that great as they
have been the greatest of all was the distress that i knew i must have
given to you madam and to my father by a step that had so very ugly an
appearance in your eyes and his and indeed in the eyes of all my family 
a step so unworthy of your daughter and of the education you had given
her 

but he i presume to hope has forgiven me and at the instant this will
reach your hands i humbly trust i shall be rejoicing in the blessed
fruits of his forgiveness and be this your comfort my ever-honoured
mamma that the principal end of your pious care for me is attained 
though not in the way so much hoped for 

may the grief which my fatal error has given to you both be the only
grief that shall ever annoy you in this world may you madam long live
to sweeten the cares and heighten the comforts of my papa may my
sister's continued and if possible augmented duty happily make up to
you the loss you have sustained in me and whenever my brother and she
change their single state may it be with such satisfaction to you both
as may make you forget my offence and remember me only in those days in
which you took pleasure in me and at last may a happy meeting with
your forgiven penitent in the eternal mansions augment the bliss of
her who purified by sufferings already when this salutes your hands 
presumes she shall be

the happy and for ever happy
clarissa harlowe 



letter xvi

to james harlowe jun esq 


sir 

there was but one time but one occasion after the rash step i was
precipitated upon that i would hope to be excused looking up to you
in the character of a brother and friend and now is that time and
this the occasion now at reading this will you pity your late unhappy
sister now will you forgive her faults both supposed and real and
now will you afford to her memory that kind concern which you refused to
her before 

i write my brother in the first place to beg your pardon for the
offence my unhappy step gave to you and to the rest of a family so dear
to me 

virgin purity should not so behave as to be suspected yet when you come
to know all my story you will find farther room for pity if not more
than pity for your late unhappy sister 

o that passion had not been deaf that misconception would have given
way to inquiry that your rigorous heart if it could not itself be
softened moderating the power you had obtained over every one had
permitted other hearts more indulgently to expand 

but i write not to give pain i had rather you should think me faulty
still than take to yourself the consequence that will follow from
acquitting me 

abandoning therefore a subject which i had not intended to touch upon 
 for i hope at the writing of this i am above the spirit of
recrimination let me tell you sir that my next motive for writing to
you in this last and most solemn manner is to beg of you to forego any
active resentments which may endanger a life so precious to all your
friends against the man to whose elaborate baseness i owe my worldly
ruin 

for ought an innocent man to run an equal risque with a guilty one 
a more than equal risque as the guilty one has been long inured to acts
of violence and is skilled in the arts of offence 

you would not arrogate to yourself god's province who has said 
vengeance is mine and i will repay it if you would i tremble for the
consequence for will it not be suitable to the divine justice to punish
the presumptuous innocent as you would be in this case in the very
error and that by the hand of the self-defending guilty reserving him
for a future day of vengeance for his accumulated crimes 

leave then the poor wretch to the divine justice let your sister's
fault die with her at least let it not be revived in blood life is a
short stage where longest a little time hence the now-green head will
be grey if it lives this little time and if heaven will afford him time
for repentance why should not you 

then think my brother what will be the consequence to your dear
parents if the guilty wretch who has occasioned to them the loss of a
daughter should likewise deprive them of their best hope and only son 
more worth in the family account than several daughters 

would you add my brother to those distresses which you hold your sister
so inexcusable for having although from involuntary and undersigned
causes given 

seek not then i beseech you to extend the evil consequences of your
sister's error his conscience when it shall please god to touch it 
will be sharper than your sword 

i have still another motive for writing to you in this solemn manner it
is to entreat you to watch over your passions the principal fault i
knew you to be guilty of is the violence of your temper when you think
yourself in the right which you would oftener be but for that very
violence 

you have several times brought your life into danger by it 

is not the man guilty of a high degree of injustice who is more apt
to give contradiction than able to bear it how often with you has
impetuosity brought on abasement a consequence too natural 

let me then caution you dear sir against a warmth of temper an
impetuosity when moved and you so ready to be moved that may hurry you
into unforeseen difficulties and which it is in some measure a sin not
to endeavour to restrain god enable you to do it for the sake of your
own peace and safety as well present as future and for the sake of your
family and friends who all see your fault but are tender of speaking to
you of it 

as for me my brother my punishment has been seasonable god gave me
grace to make a right use of my sufferings i early repented i never
loved the man half so much as i hated his actions when i saw what he was
capable of i gave up my whole heart to a better hope god blessed my
penitence and my reliance upon him and now i presume to say i am
happy 

may heave preserve you in safety health and honour and long continue
your life for a comfort and stay to your honoured parents and may you 
in that change of your single state meet with a wife as agreeable to
every one else as to yourself and be happy in a hopeful race and not
have one clarissa among them to embitter your comforts when she should
give you most comfort but may my example be of use to warn the dear
creatures whom once i hoped to live to see and to cherish of the evils
with which the deceitful world abounds are the prayers of

your affectionate sister 
cl harlowe 



letter xvii

to miss harlowe


now may you my dear arabella unrestrained by the severity of your
virtue let fall a pitying tear on the past faults and sufferings of
your late unhappy sister since now she can never offend you more 
the divine mercy which first inspired her with repentance an early
repentance it was since it preceded her sufferings for an error which
she offers not to extenuate although perhaps it were capable of some
extenuation has now as the instant that you are reading this as i
humbly hope blessed her with the fruits of it 

thus already even while she writes in imagination purified and exalted 
she the more fearlessly writes to her sister and now is assured of
pardon for all those little occasions of displeasure which her forwarder
youth might give you and for the disgrace which her fall has fastened
upon you and upon her family 

may you my sister continue to bless those dear and honoured relations 
whose indulgence so well deserves your utmost gratitude with those
cheerful instances of duty and obedience which have hitherto been so
acceptable to them and praise-worthy in you and may you when a
suitable proposal shall offer fill up more worthily that chasm which
the loss they have sustained in me has made in the family 

thus my arabella my only sister and for many happy years my friend 
most fervently prays that sister whose affection for you no acts no
unkindness no misconstruction of her conduct could cancel and who
now made perfect as she hopes through sufferings styles herself 

the happy
clarissa harlowe 



letter xviii

to john and antony harlowe esqrs 


honoured sirs 

when these lines reach your hands your late unhappy niece will have
known the end of all her troubles and as she humbly hopes will be
rejoicing in the mercies of a gracious god who has declared that he
will forgive the truly penitent of heart 

i write therefore my dear uncles and to you both in one letter since
your fraternal love has made you both but as one person to give you
comfort and not distress for however sharp my afflictions have been 
they have been but of short duration and i am betimes happily as i
hope arrived at the end of a painful journey 

at the same time i write to thank you both for all your kind indulgence
to me and to beg your forgiveness of my last my only great fault to
you and to my family 

the ways of providence are unsearchable various are the means made use
of by it to bring poor sinners to a sense of their duty some are drawn
by love others are driven by terrors to their divine refuge i had for
eighteen years out of nineteen rejoiced in the favour and affection of
every one no trouble came near to my heart i seemed to be one of those
designed to be drawn by the silken cords of love but perhaps i was
too apt to value myself upon the love and favour of every one the merit
of the good i delighted to do and of the inclinations which were given
me and which i could not help having i was perhaps too ready to
attribute to myself and now being led to account for the cause of my
temporary calamities find i had a secret pride to be punished for which
i had not fathomed and it was necessary perhaps that some sore and
terrible misfortunes should befall me in order to mortify that my pride 
and that my vanity 

temptations were accordingly sent i shrunk in the day of trial my
discretion which had been so cried up was found wanting when it came to
be weighed in an equal balance i was betrayed fell and became the
by-word of my companions and a disgrace to my family which had prided
itself in me perhaps too much but as my fault was not that of a
culpable will when my pride was sufficiently mortified i was not
suffered although surrounded by dangers and entangled in snares to be
totally lost but purified by sufferings i was fitted for the change i
have now at the time you will receive this so newly and as i humbly
hope so happily experienced 

rejoice with me then dear sirs that i have weathered so great a storm 
nor let it be matter of concern that i am cut off in the bloom of youth 
there is no inquisition in the grave  says the wise man whether we
lived ten or a hundred years and the day of death is better than the day
of our birth 

once more dear sirs accept my grateful thanks for all your goodness to
me from my early childhood to the day the unhappy day of my error 
forgive that error and god give us a happy meeting in a blessed
eternity prays

your most dutiful and obliged kinswoman 
clarissa harlowe 


mr belford gives the lady's posthumous letters to mrs hervey miss
 howe and mrs norton at length likewise but although every
 letter varies in style as well as matter from the others yet as
 they are written on the same subject and are pretty long it is
 thought proper to abstract them 

that to her aunt hervey is written in the same pious and generous strain
with those preceding seeking to give comfort rather than distress the
almighty i hope  says she has received and blessed my penitence and
i am happy could i have been more than so at the end of what is called
a happy life of twenty or thirty or forty years to come and what are
twenty or thirty or forty years to look back upon in half of any of
these periods what friends might not i have mourned for what
temptations from worldly prosperity might i not have encountered with 
and in such a case immersed in earthly pleasures how little likelihood 
that in my last stage i should have been blessed with such a
preparation and resignation as i have now been blessed with 

she proceeds as follows thus much madam of comfort to you and to
myself from this dispensation as to my dear parents i hope they will
console themselves that they have still many blessings left which ought
to balance the troubles my error has given them that unhappy as i have
been to be the interrupter of their felicities they never till this my
fault know any heavy evil that afflictions patiently borne may be
turned into blessings that uninterrupted happiness is not to be expected
in this life that after all they have not as i humbly presume to
hope the probability of the everlasting perdition of their child to
deplore and that in short when my story comes to be fully known they
will have the comfort to find that my sufferings redound more to my
honour than to my disgrace 

these considerations will i hope make their temporary loss of but one
child out of three unhappily circumstances too as she was matter of
greater consolation than affliction and the rather as we may hope for
a happy meeting once more never to be separated either by time or
offences 

she concludes this letter with an address to her cousin dolly hervey 
whom she calls her amiable cousin and thankfully remembers for the part
she took in her afflictions o my dear cousin let your worthy heart be
guarded against those delusions which have been fatal to my worldly
happiness that pity which you bestowed upon me demonstrates a
gentleness of nature which may possibly subject you to misfortunes if
your eye be permitted to mislead your judgment but a strict observance
of your filial duty my dearest cousin and the precepts of so prudent a
mother as you have the happiness to have enforced by so sad an example
in your own family as i have set will i make no doubt with the divine
assistance be your guard and security 


the posthumous letter to miss howe is extremely tender and affectionate 
she pathetically calls upon her to rejoice that all her clarissa's
troubles are now at an end that the state of temptation and trial of
doubt and uncertainty is now over with her and that she has happily
escaped the snares that were laid for her soul the rather to rejoice 
as that her misfortunes were of such a nature that it was impossible
she could be tolerably happy in this life 

she thankfully acknowledges the favours she had received from mrs howe
and mr hickman and expresses her concern for the trouble she has
occasioned to the former as well as to her and prays that all the
earthly blessings they used to wish to each other may singly devolve
upon her 

she beseeches her that she will not suspend the day which shall supply
to herself the friend she will have lost in her and give to herself a
still nearer and dearer relation 

she tells her that her choice a choice made with the approbation of
all her friends has fallen upon a sincere an honest a virtuous and 
what is more than all a pious man a man who although he admires her
person is still more in love with the graces of her mind and as those
graces are improvable with every added year of life which will impair
the transitory ones of person what a firm basis infers she has mr 
hickman chosen to build his love upon 

she prays that god will bless them together and that the remembrance
of her and of what she has suffered may not interrupt their mutual
happiness she desires them to think of nothing but what she now is and
that a time will come when they shall meet again never to be divided 

to the divine protection mean time she commits her and charges her 
by the love that has always subsisted between them that she will not
mourn too heavily for her and again calls upon her after a gentle tear 
which she will allow her to let fall in memory of their uninterrupted
friendship to rejoice that she is so early released and that she is
purified by her sufferings and is made as she assuredly trusts by
god's goodness eternally happy 


the posthumous letters to mr lovelace and mr morden will be inserted
 hereafter as will also the substance of that written to mrs 
 norton 



letter xix

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sat afternoon sept 9 


i understand that thou breathest nothing but revenge against me for
treating thee with so much freedom and against the cursed woman and her
infernal crew i am not at all concerned for thy menaces against myself 
it is my design to make thee feel it gives me pleasure to find my
intention answered and i congratulate thee that thou hast not lost
that sense 

as to the cursed crew well do they deserve the fire here that thou
threatenest them with and the fire hereafter that seems to await them 
but i have this moment received news which will in all likelihood save
thee the guilt of punishing the old wretch for her share of wickedness as
thy agent but if that happens to her which is likely to happen wilt
thou not tremble for what may befal the principal 

not to keep thee longer in suspense last night it seems the infamous
woman got so heartily intoxicated with her beloved liquor arrack punch 
at the expense of colonel salter that mistaking her way she fell down
a pair of stairs and broke her leg and now after a dreadful night she
lies foaming raving roaring in a burning fever that wants not any
other fire to scorch her into a feeling more exquisite and durable than
any thy vengeance could give her 

the wretch has requested me to come to her and lest i should refuse a
common messenger sent her vile associate sally martin who not finding
me at soho came hither another part of her business being to procure
the divine lady's pardon for the old creature's wickedness to her 

this devil incarnate sally declares that she never was so shocked in
her life as when i told her the lady was dead 

she took out her salts to keep from fainting and when a little recovered
she accused herself for her part of the injuries the lady had sustained 
as she said polly horton would do for her's and shedding tears 
declared that the world never produced such another woman she called
her the ornament and glory of her sex acknowledged that her ruin was
owing more to their instigations than even savage as thou art to thy
own vileness since thou wert inclined to have done her justice more than
once had they not kept up thy profligate spirit to its height 

this wretch would fain have been admitted to a sight of the corpse but i
refused the request with execrations 

she could forgive herself she said for every thing but her insults upon
the admirable lady at rowland's since all the rest was but in pursuit of
a livelihood to which she had been reduced as she boasted from better
expectations and which hundred follow as well as she i did not ask
her by whom reduced 

at going away she told me that the old monster's bruises are of more
dangerous consequence than the fracture that a mortification is
apprehended and that the vile wretch has so much compunction of heart 
on recollecting her treatment of miss harlowe and is so much set upon
procuring her forgiveness that she is sure the news she is to carry her
will hasten her end 

all these things i leave upon thy reflection 



letter xx

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sat night 


your servant gives me a dreadful account of your raving unmanageableness 
i wonder not at it but as nothing violent is lasting i dare say that
your habitual gaiety of heart will quickly get the better of your
phrensy and the rather do i judge so as your fits are of the raving
kind suitable to your natural impetuosity and not of that melancholy
species which seizes slower souls 

for this reason i will proceed in writing to you that my narrative may
not be broken by your discomposure and that the contents of it may find
you and help you to reflection when you shall be restored 

harry is returned from carrying the posthumous letters to the family and
to miss howe and that of the colonel which acquaints james harlowe with
his sister's death and with her desire to be interred near her
grandfather 

harry was not admitted into the presence of any of the family they were
all assembled together it seems at harlowe-place on occasion of the
colonel's letter which informed them of the lady's dangerous way and
were comforting themselves as harry was told with hopes that mr morden
had made the worst of her state in order to quicken their resolutions 


 see the beginning of letter ii 


it is easy to judge what must be their grief and surprise on receiving
the fatal news which the letters harry sent in to them communicated 

he staid there long enough to find the whole house in confusion the
servants running different ways lamenting and wringing their hands as
they ran the female servants particularly as if somebody poor mrs 
harlowe no doubt and perhaps mrs hervey too were in fits 

every one was in such disorder that he could get no commands nor obtain
any notice of himself the servants seemed more inclined to execrate
than welcome him o master o young man cried three or four together 
what dismal tidings have you brought they helped him at the very first
word to his horse which with great civility they had put up on his
arrival and he went to an inn and pursued on foot his way to mrs 
norton's and finding her come to town left the letter he carried don
for her with her son a fine youth who when he heard the fatal news 
burst out into a flood of tears first lamenting the lady's death and
then crying out what what would become of his poor mother how would
she support herself when she should find on her arrival in town that
the dear lady who was so deservedly the darling of her heart was no
more 

he proceeded to miss howe's with the letter for her that lady he was
told had just given orders for a young man a tenant's son to post to
london and bring her news of her dear friend's condition and whether
she should herself be encouraged by an account of her being still alive 
to make her a visit every thing being ordered to be in readiness for her
going up on his return with the news she wished and prayed for with the
utmost impatience and harry was just in time to prevent the man's
setting out 

he had the precaution to desire to speak with miss howe's woman or maid 
and communicated to her the fatal tidings that she might break them to
her young lady the maid herself was so affected that her old lady
 who harry said seemed to be every where at once came to see what
ailed her and was herself so struck with the communication that she
was forced to sit down in a chair o the sweet creature said she and
is it come to this o my poor nancy how shall i be able to break the
matter to my nancy 

mr hickman was in the house he hastened in to comfort the old lady 
but he could not restrain his own tears he feared he said when he was
last in town that this sad event would soon happen but little thought
it would be so very soon but she is happy i am sure said the good
gentleman 

mrs howe when a little recovered went up in order to break the news
to her daughter she took the letter and her salts in her hand and
they had occasion for the latter for the housekeeper soon came hurrying
down into the kitchen her face overspread with tears her young mistress
had fainted away she said nor did she wonder at it never did there
live a lady more deserving of general admiration and lamentation than
miss clarissa harlowe and never was there a stronger friendship
dissolved by death than between her young lady and her 

she hurried with a lighted wax candle and with feathers to burn under
the nose of her young mistress which showed that she continued in fits 

mr hickman afterwards with his usual humanity directed that harry
should be taken care of all night it being then the close of day he
asked him after my health he expressed himself excessively afflicted 
as well for the death of the most excellent of women as for the just
grief of the lady whom he so passionately loves but he called the
departed lady an angel of light we dreaded said he tell your
master to read the letter sent but we needed not tis a blessed
letter written by a blessed hand but the consolation she aims to give 
will for the present heighten the sense we all shall have of the loss of
so excellent a creature tell mr belford that i thank god i am not the
man who had the unmerited honour to call himself her brother 

i know how terribly this great catastrophe as i may call it since so
many persons are interested in it affects thee i should have been glad
to have had particulars of the distress which the first communication of
it must have given to the harlowes yet who but must pity the unhappy
mother 

the answer which james harlowe returned to colonel morden's letter of
notification of his sister's death and to her request as to her
interment will give a faint idea of what their concern must be here
follows a copy of it 


to william morden esq 
saturday sept 9 


dear cousin 

i cannot find words to express what we all suffer on the most mournful
news that ever was communicated to us 

my sister arabella but alas i have now no other sister was preparing
to follow mrs norton up and i had resolved to escort her and to have
looked in upon the dear creature 

god be merciful to us all to what purpose did the doctor write if she
was so near her end why as every body says did he not send sooner 
or why at all 

the most admirable young creature that ever swerved not one friend to
be with her alas sir i fear my mother will never get over this shock 
 she has been in hourly fits ever since she received the fatal news my
poor father has the gout thrown into his stomach and heaven knows o
cousin o sir i meant nothing but the honour of the family yet have i
all the weight thrown upon me  o this cursed lovelace may i perish if
he escape the deserved vengeance   


 the words thus enclosed    were omitted in the transcript to mr 
lovelace 


we had begun to please ourselves that we should soon see her here good
heaven that her next entrance into this house after she abandoned us so
precipitately should be in a coffin 

we can have nothing to do with her executor another strange step of the
dear creature's he cannot expect we will nor if he be a gentleman 
will he think of acting do you therefore be pleased sir to order an
undertaker to convey the body down to us my mother says she shall be
for ever unhappy if she may not in death see the dear creature whom she
could not see in life be so kind therefore as to direct the lid to be
only half-screwed down that if my poor mother cannot be prevailed upon
to dispense with so shocking a spectacle she may be obliged she was the
darling of her heart 

if we know her well in relation to the funeral it shall be punctually
complied with as shall every thing in it that is fit or reasonable to be
performed and this without the intervention of strangers 

will you not dear sir favour us with your presence at this melancholy
time pray do and pity and excuse with the generosity which is natural
to the brave and the wise what passed at our last meeting every one's
respects attend you and i am sir 

your inexpressibly afflicted cousin and servant 
ja harlowe jun 


every thing that's fit or reasonable to be performed  repeated i to the
colonel from the above letter on his reading it to me   that is every
thing which she has directed that can be performed i hope colonel 
that i shall have no contention with them i wish no more for their
acquaintance than they do for mine but you sir must be the mediator
between them and me for i shall insist upon a literal performance in
every article 

the colonel was so kind as to declare that he would support me in my
resolution 



letter xxi

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
sunday morn eight o'clock sept 10 


i staid at smith's till i saw the last of all that is mortal of the
divine lady 

as she has directed rings by her will to several persons with her hair
to be set in crystal the afflicted mrs norton cut off before the
coffin was closed four charming ringlets one of which the colonel took
for a locket which he says he will cause to be made and wear next his
heart in memory of his beloved cousin 

between four and five in the morning the corpse was put into the hearse 
the coffin before being filled as intended with flowers and aromatic
herbs and proper care taken to prevent the corpse suffering to the eye 
from the jolting of the hearse 

poor mrs norton is extremely ill i gave particular directions to mrs 
smith's maid whom i have ordered to attend the good woman in a mourning
chariot to take care of her the colonel who rides with his servants
within view of the hearse says that he will see my orders in relation to
her enforced 

when the hearse moved off and was out of sight i locked up the lady's
chamber into which all that had belonged to her was removed 

i expect to hear from the colonel as soon as he is got down by a servant
of his own 



letter xxii

mr mowbray to john belford esq 
uxbridge sunday morn nine o'clock 


dear jack 

i send you enclosed a letter from mr lovelace which though written in
the cursed algebra i know to be such a one as will show what a queer way
he is in for he read it to us with the air of a tragedian you will see
by it what the mad fellow had intended to do if we had not all of us
interposed he was actually setting out with a surgeon of this place to
have the lady opened and embalmed rot me if it be not my full
persuasion that if he had her heart would have been found to be either
iron or marble 

we have got lord m to him his lordship is also much afflicted at the
lady's death his sisters and nieces he says will be ready to break
their hearts what a rout's here about a woman for after all she was
no more 

we have taken a pailful of black bull's blood from him and this has
lowered him a little but he threatens col morden he threatens you for
your cursed reflections  cursed reflections indeed jack   and curses
all the world and himself still 

last night his mourning which is full as deep as for a wife was brought
home and his fellows' mourning too and though eight o'clock he would
put it on and make them attend him in theirs 

every body blames him on this lady's account but i see not for why 
she was a vixen in her virtue what a pretty fellow she has ruined hey 
jack and her relations are ten times more to blame than he i will
prove this to the teeth of them all if they could use her ill why
should they expect him to use her well you or i or tourville in his
shoes would have done as he has done are not all the girls forewarned 
 has he done by her as that caitiff miles did to the farmer's daughter 
whom he tricked up to town a pretty girl also just such another as
bob s rosebud under a notion of waiting on a lady drilled her on 
pretending the lady was abroad drank her light-hearted then carried
her to a play then it was too late you know to see the pretended lady
 then to a bagnio ruined her as they call it and all this the same
day kept her on an ugly dog too a fortnight or three weeks then
left her to the mercy of the people of the bagnio never paying for any
thing who stript her of all her clothes and because she would not take
on threw her into prison where she died in want and despair  a true
story thou knowest jack this fellow deserved to be d d but has
our bob been such a villain as this and would he not have married this
flinty-hearted lady so he is justified very evidently 

why then should such cursed qualms take him who would have thought he
had been such poor blood now  rot the puppy   to see him sit silent in a
corner when he has tired himself with his mock majesty and with his
argumentation who so fond of arguing as he and teaching his shadow to
make mouths against the wainscot the devil fetch me if i have patience
with him 

but he has had no rest for these ten days that's the thing you must
write to him and pr'ythee coax him jack and send him what he writes
for and give him all his way there will be no bearing him else and
get the lady buried as fast as you can and don't let him know where 

this letter should have gone yesterday we told him it did but were in
hopes he would have inquired after it again but he raves as he has not
any answer 

what he vouchsafed to read of other of your letters has given my lord
such a curiosity as makes him desire you to continue your accounts pray
do but not in your hellish arabic and we will let the poor fellow only
into what we think fitting for his present way 

i live a cursed dull poking life here what with i so lately saw of poor
belton and what i now see of this charming fellow i shall be as crazy
as he soon or as dull as thou jack so must seek for better company in
town than either of you i have been forced to read sometimes to divert
me and you know i hate reading it presently sets me into a fit of
drowsiness and then i yawn and stretch like a devil 

yet in dryden's palemon and arcite have i just now met with a passage 
that has in it much of our bob s case these are some of the lines 


mr mowbray then recites some lines from that poem describing a
 distracted man and runs the parallel and then priding himself
 in his performance says 

let me tell you that had i begun to write as early as you and lovelace 
i might have cut as good a figure as either of you why not but boy or
man i ever hated a book tis folly to lie i loved action my boy i
hated droning and have led in former days more boys from their book 
than ever my master made to profit by it kicking and cuffing and
orchard-robbing were my early glory 

but i am tired of writing i never wrote such a long letter in my life 
my wrist and my fingers and thumb ache d n y the pen is an
hundred weight at least and my eyes are ready to drop out of my head
upon the paper the cramp but this minute in my fingers rot the goose
and the goose-quill i will write no more long letters for a
twelve-month to come yet one word we think the mad fellow coming to 
adieu 



letter xxiii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
uxbridge sat sept 9 


jack 

i think it absolutely right that my ever-dear and beloved lady should be
opened and embalmed it must be done out of hand this very afternoon 
your acquaintance tomkins and old anderson of this place i will bring
with me shall be the surgeons i have talked to the latter about it 

i will see every thing done with that decorum which the case and the
sacred person of my beloved require 

every thing that can be done to preserve the charmer from decay shall
also be done and when she will descend to her original dust or cannot
be kept longer i will then have her laid in my family-vault between my
own father and mother myself as i am in my soul so in person chief
mourner but her heart to which i have such unquestionable pretensions 
in which once i had so large a share and which i will prize above my
own i will have i will keep it in spirits it shall never be out of
my sight and all the charges of sepulture too shall be mine 

surely nobody will dispute my right to her whose was she living whose
is she dead but mine her cursed parents whose barbarity to her no
doubt was the true cause of her death have long since renounced her 
she left them for me she chose me therefore and i was her husband 
what though i treated her like a villain do i not pay for it now 
would she not have been mine had i not nobody will dispute but she
would and has she not forgiven me i am then in statu quo prius with
her am i not as if i had never offended whose then can she be but
mine 

i will free you from your executorship and all your cares 

take notice belford that i do hereby actually discharge you and every
body from all cares and troubles relating to her and as to her last
testament i will execute it myself 

there were no articles between us no settlements and she is mine as
you see i have proved to a demonstration nor could she dispose of
herself but as i pleased d n n seize me then if i make not good
my right against all opposers 

her bowels if her friends are very solicitous about them and very
humble and sorrowful and none have they of their own shall be sent
down to them to be laid with her ancestors unless she has ordered
otherwise for except that she shall not be committed to the unworthy
earth so long as she can be kept out of it her will shall be performed
in every thing 

i send in the mean time for a lock of her hair 

i charge you stir not in any part of her will but by my express
direction i will order every thing myself for am i not her husband 
and being forgiven by her am i not the chosen of her heart what else
signifies her forgiveness 

the two insufferable wretches you have sent me plague me to death and
would treat me like a babe in strings d n the fellows what end can
they mean by it yet that crippled monkey doleman joins with them and 
as i hear them whisper they have sent for lord m to controul me i
suppose 

what i write to you for is 

1 to forbid you intermeddling with any thing relating to her to
forbid morden intermeddling also if i remember right he has threatened
me and cursed me and used me ill and let him be gone from her if he
would avoid my resentment 

2 to send me a lock of her hair instantly by the bearer 

3 to engage tomkins to have every thing ready for the opening and
embalming i shall bring anderson with me 

4 to get her will and every thing ready for my perusal and
consideration 

i will have possession of her dear heart this very night and let tomkins
provide a proper receptacle and spirits till i can get a golden one made
for it 

i will take her papers and as no one can do her memory justice equal
to myself and i will not spare myself who can better show the world
what she was and what a villain he that could use her ill and the
world shall also see what implacable and unworthy parents she had 

all shall be set forth in words at length no mincing of the matter 
names undisguised as well as facts for as i shall make the worst
figure in it myself and have a right to treat myself as nobody else
shall who shall controul me who dare call me to account 

let me know if the d d mother be yet the subject of the devil's own
vengeance if the old wretch be dead or alive some exemplary mischief
i must yet do my revenge shall sweep away that devil and all my
opposers of the cruel harlowe family from the face of the earth whole
hecatombs ought to be offered up to the manes of my clarissa lovelace 

although her will may in some respects cross mine yet i expect to be
observed i will be the interpreter of her's 

next to mine her's shall be observed for she is my wife and shall be
to all eternity i will never have another 

adieu jack i am preparing to be with you i charge you as you value
my life or your own do not oppose me in any thing relating to my
clarissa lovelace 

my temper is entirely altered i know not what it is to laugh or smile 
or be pleasant i am grown choleric and impatient and will not be
controuled 

i write this in characters as i used to do that nobody but you should
know what i write for never was any man plagued with impertinents as
i am 

r lovelace 


in a separate paper enclosed in the above 

let me tell thee in characters still that i am in a dreadful way just
now my brain is all boiling like a cauldron over a fiery furnace what
a devil is the matter with me i wonder i never was so strange in my
life 

in truth jack i have been a most execrable villain and when i
consider all my actions to the angel of a woman and in her the piety 
the charity the wit the beauty i have helped to destroy and the good
to the world i have thereby been a mean of frustrating i can pronounce
d n n upon myself how then can i expect mercy any where else 

i believe i shall have no patience with you when i see you your d d
stings and reflections have almost turned my brain 

but here lord m they tell me is come d n him and those who sent
for him 

i know not what i have written but her dear heart and a lock of her
hair i will have let who will be the gainsayers for is she not mine 
whose else can she be she has no father nor mother no sister no
brother no relations but me and my beloved is mine and i am her's 
and that's enough but oh 

 she's out the damp of death has quench'd her quite 
 those spicy doors her lips are shut close lock'd 
 which never gale of life shall open more 

and is it so is it indeed so good god good god but they will not
let me write on i must go down to this officious peer who the devil
sent for him 



letter xxiv

mr belford to richard mowbray esq 
sunday sept 10 four in the afternoon 


i have your's with our unhappy friend's enclosed i am glad my lord is
with him as i presume that his phrensy will be but of short
continuance i most earnestly wish that on his recovery he could be
prevailed upon to go abroad mr morden who is inconsolable has seen
by the will as indeed he suspected before he read it that the case
was more than a common seduction and has dropt hints already that he
looks on himself on that account as freed from his promises made to the
dying lady which were that he would not seek to avenge her death 

you must make the recovery of his health the motive for urging him on
this head for if you hint at his own safety he will not stir but
rather seek the colonel 

as to the lock of hair you may easily pacify him as you once saw the
angel with hair near the colour if he be intent upon it 

at my lord's desire i will write on and in my common hand that you may
judge what is and what is not fit to be read to mr lovelace at
present but as i shall not forbear reflections as i go along in hopes
to reach his heart on his recovery i think it best to direct myself to
him still and that as if he were not disordered 

as i shall not have leisure to take copies and yet am willing to have
the whole subject before me for my own future contemplation i must
insist upon a return of my letters some time hence mr lovelace knows
that this is one of my conditions and has hitherto complied with it 

thy letter mowbray is an inimitable performance thou art a strange
impenetrable creature but let me most earnestly conjure thee and the
idle flutterer tourville from what you have seen of poor belton's exit 
from our friend lovelace's phrensy and the occasion of it and from the
terrible condition in which the wretched sinclair lies to set about an
immediate change of life and manners for my own part i am determined 
be your resolutions what they may to take the advice i give 

as witness 
j belford 



letter xxv

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 


o lovelace i have a scene to paint in relation to the wretched sinclair 
that if i do it justice will make thee seriously ponder and reflect or
nothing can i will lead thee to it in order and that in my usual hand 
that thy compeers may be able to read it as well as thyself 

when i had written the preceding letter not knowing what to do with
myself recollecting and in vain wishing for that delightful and
improving conversation which i had now for ever lost i thought i had as
good begin the task which i had for some time past resolved to begin 
that is to say to go to church and see if i could not reap some benefit
from what i should hear there accordingly i determined to go to hear
the celebrated preacher at st james's church but as if the devil for
so i was then ready to conclude thought himself concerned to prevent my
intention a visit was made me just as i was dressed which took me off
from my purpose 

from whom should this visit be but from sally martin accompanied by
mrs carter the sister of the infamous sinclair the same i suppose i
need not tell you who keeps the bagnio near bloomsbury 

these told me that the surgeon apothecary and physician had all given
the wretched woman over but that she said she should not die nor be at
rest till she saw me and they besought me to accompany them in the
coach they came in if i had one spark of charity of christian charity 
as they called it left 

i was very loth to be diverted from my purpose by a request so unwelcome 
and from people so abhorred but at last went and we got thither by ten 
where a scene so shocking presented itself to me that the death of poor
desponding belton is not i think to be compared with it 

the old wretch had once put her leg out by her rage and violence and had
been crying scolding cursing ever since the preceding evening that
the surgeon had told her it was impossible to save her and that a
mortification had begun to show itself insomuch that purely in
compassion to their own ears they had been forced to send for another
surgeon purposely to tell her though against his judgment and being a
friend of the other to seem to convince him that he mistook the case 
and that if she would be patient she might recover but nevertheless 
her apprehensions of death and her antipathy to the thoughts of dying 
were so strong that their imposture had not the intended effect and she
was raving crying cursing and even howling more like a wolf than a
human creature when i came so that as i went up stairs i said surely
this noise this howling cannot be from the unhappy woman sally said
it was and assured me that it was noting to the noise she had made all
night and stepping into her room before me dear madam sinclair said
she forbear this noise it is more like that of a bull than a woman 
here comes mr belford and you'll fright him away if you bellow at this
rate 

there were no less than eight of her cursed daughters surrounding her bed
when i entered one of her partners polly horton at their head and now
sally her other partner and madam carter as they called her for they
are all madams with one another made the number ten all in shocking
dishabille and without stays except sally carter and polly who not
daring to leave her had not been in bed all night 

the other seven seemed to have been but just up risen perhaps from their
customers in the fore-house and their nocturnal orgies with faces 
three or four of them that had run the paint lying in streaky seams not
half blowzed off discovering coarse wrinkled skins the hair of some of
them of divers colours obliged to the black-lead comb where black was
affected the artificial jet however yielding apace to the natural
brindle that of others plastered with oil and powder the oil
predominating but every one's hanging about her ears and neck in broken
curls or ragged ends and each at my entrance taken with one motion 
stroking their matted locks with both hands under their coifs mobs or
pinners every one of which was awry they were all slip-shoed 
stockingless some only under-petticoated all their gowns made to cover
straddling hoops hanging trollopy and tangling about their heels but
hastily wrapt round them as soon as i came up stairs and half of them
 unpadded shoulder-bent pallid-lips limber-jointed wretches 
appearing from a blooming nineteen or twenty perhaps over-night haggard
well-worn strumpets of thirty-eight or forty 

i am the more particular in describing to thee the appearance these
creatures made in my eyes when i came into the room because i believe
thou never sawest any of them much less a group of them thus unprepared
for being seen i for my part never did before nor had i now but
upon this occasion being thus favoured if thou hadst i believe thou
wouldst hate a profligate woman as one of swift's yahoos or virgil's
obscene harpies squirting their ordure upon the trojan trenches since
the persons of such in their retirements are as filthy as their minds 
hate them as much as i do and as much as i admire and next to adore a
truly virtuous and elegant woman for to me it is evident that as a neat
and clean woman must be an angel of a creature so a sluttish one is the
impurest animal in nature but these were the veterans the chosen band 
for now-and-then flitted in to the number of half a dozen or more by
turns subordinate sinners under-graduates younger than some of the
chosen phalanx but not less obscene in their appearance though indeed
not so much beholden to the plastering focus yet unpropt by stays 
squalid loose in attire sluggish-haired uner-petticoated only as the
former eyes half-opened winking and pinking mispatched yawning 
stretching as if from the unworn-off effects of the midnight revel all
armed in succession with supplies of cordials of which every one present
was either taster or partaker under the direction of the busier dorcas 
who frequently popt in to see her slops duly given and taken 


 whoever has seen dean swift's lady's dressing room will think this
description of mr belford's not only more natural but more decent
painting as well as better justified by the design and by the use that
may be made of it 


but when i approached the old wretch what a spectacle presented itself
to my eyes 

her misfortune has not at all sunk but rather as i thought increased
her flesh rage and violence perhaps swelling her muscular features 
behold her then spreading the whole troubled bed with her huge quaggy
carcase her mill-post arms held up her broad hands clenched with
violence her big eyes goggling and flaming ready as we may suppose
those of a salamander her matted griesly hair made irreverend by her
wickedness her clouted head-dress being half off spread about her fat
ears and brawny neck her livid lips parched and working violently 
her broad chin in convulsive motion her wide mouth by reason of the
contraction of her forehead which seemed to be half-lost in its own
frightful furrows splitting her face as it were into two parts and
her huge tongue hideously rolling in it heaving puffing as if four
breath her bellows-shaped and various-coloured breasts ascending by
turns to her chin and descending out of sight with the violence of her
gaspings 

this was the spectacle as recollection has enabled me to describe it 
that this wretch made to my eye by her suffragans and daughters who
surveyed her with scouling frighted attention which one might easily
see had more in it of horror and self-concern and self-condemnation too 
than of love or pity as who should say see what we ourselves must one
day be 

as soon as she saw me her naturally-big voice more hoarsened by her
ravings broke upon me o mr belford o sir see what i am come to 
see what i am brought to to have such a cursed crew about me and not
one of them to take care of me but to let me tumble down stairs so
distant from the room i went from so distant from the room i meant to go
to cursed cursed be every careless devil may this or worse be their
fate every one of them 

and then she cursed and swore most vehemently and the more as two or
three of them were excusing themselves on the score of their being at
that time as unable to help themselves as she as soon as she had
cleared the passage of her throat by the oaths and curses which her wild
impatience made her utter she began in a more hollow and whining strain
to bemoan herself and here said she heaven grant me patience 
 clenching and unclenching her hands  am i to die thus miserably of a
broken leg in my old age snatched away by means of my own intemperance 
self-do self-undone no time for my affairs no time to repent and
in a few hours oh oh with another long howling o h u gh o a
kind of screaming key terminating it who knows who can tell where i
shall be oh that indeed i never never had had a being 

what could one say to such a wretch as this whose whole life had been
spent in the most diffusive wickedness and who no doubt has numbers of
souls to answer for yet i told her she must be patient that her
violence made her worse and that if she would compose herself she
might get into a frame more proper for her present circumstances 

who i interrupted she i get into a better frame i who can neither
cry nor pray yet already feel the torments of the d d what mercy
can i expect what hope is left for me then that sweet creature that
incomparable miss harlowe she it seems is dead and gone o that
cursed man had it not been for him i had never had this the most
crying of all my sins to answer for 

and then she set up another howl 

and is she dead indeed dead proceeded she when her howl was over o
what an angel have i been the means of destroying for though it was
that it was mine and your's and your's and your's devils as we all
were  turning to sally to polly and to one or two more  that he did not
do her justice and that that is my curse and will one day be yours 
and then again she howled 

i still advised patience i said that if her time were to be so short
as she apprehended the more ought she to endeavour to compose herself 
and then she would at least die with more ease to herself and
satisfaction to her friends i was going to say but the word die put her
into a violent raving and thus she broke in upon me die did you say 
sir die i will not i cannot die i know not how to die die sir 
 and must i then die leave this world i cannot bear it and who
brought you hither sir  her eyes striking fire at me  who brought you
hither to tell me i must die sir i cannot i will not leave this
world let others die who wish for another who expect a better i
have had my plagues in this but would compound for all future hopes so
as i may be nothing after this 

and then she howled and bellowed by turns 

by my faith lovelace i trembled in every joint and looking upon her
who spoke this and roared thus and upon the company round me i more
than once thought myself to be in one of the infernal mansions 

yet will i proceed and try for thy good if i can shock thee but half
as much with my descriptions as i was shocked with what i saw and heard 

sally polly sister carter said she did you not tell me i might
recover did not the surgeon tell me i might 

and so you may cried sally monsieur garon says you may if you'll be
patient but as i have often told you this blessed morning you are
reader to take despair from your own fears than comfort from all the
hope we can give you 

yet cried the wretch interrupting does not mr belford and to him you
have told the truth though you won't to me does not he tell me that i
shall die i cannot bear it i cannot bear the thoughts of dying 

and then but that half a dozen at once endeavoured to keep down her
violent hands would she have beaten herself as it seems she had often
attempted to do from the time the surgeon popt out the word mortification
to her 

well but to what purpose said i turning aside to her sister and to
sally and polly are these hopes given her if the gentlemen of the
faculty give her over you should let her know the worst and then she
must submit for there is no running away from death if she had any
matters to settle put her upon settling them and do not by telling her
she will live when there is no room to expect it take from her the
opportunity of doing needful things do the surgeons actually give her
over 

they do whispered they her gross habit they say gives no hopes we
have sent for both surgeons whom we expect every minute 

both the surgeons who are french for mrs sinclair has heard tourville
launch out in the praise of french surgeons came in while we were thus
talking i retired to the farther end of the room and threw up a window
for a little air being half-poisoned by the effluvia arising from so
many contaminated carcases which gave me no imperfect idea of the stench
of gaols which corrupting the ambient air gives what is called the
prison distemper 

i came back to the bed-side when the surgeons had inspected the fracture 
and asked them if there were any expectation of her life 

one of them whispered me there was none that she had a strong fever
upon her which alone in such a habit would probably do the business 
and that the mortification had visibly gained upon her since they were
there six hours ago 

will amputation save her her affairs and her mind want settling a
few days added to her life may be of service to her in both respects 

they told me the fracture was high in her leg that the knee was greatly
bruised that the mortification in all probability had spread half-way
of the femur and then getting me between them three or four of the
women joining us and listening with their mouths open and all the signs
of ignorant wonder in their faces as there appeared of self-sufficiency
in those of the artists did they by turns fill my ears with an
anatomical description of the leg and thigh running over with terms of
art of the tarsus the metatarsus the tibia the fibula the patella 
the os tali the os tibae the tibialis posticus and tibialis anticus up
to the os femoris to the acetabulum of the os ischion the great
trochanter glutaeus triceps lividus and little rotators in short of
all the muscles cartilages and bones that constitute the leg and thigh
from the great toe to the hip as if they would show me that all their
science had penetrated their heads no farther than their mouths while
sally lifted up her hands with a laud bless me are all surgeons so
learned but at last both the gentlemen declared that if she and her
friends would consent to amputation they would whip off her leg in a
moment 

mrs carter asked to what purpose if the operation would not save her 

very true they said but it might be a satisfaction to the patient's
friends that all was done that could be done 

and so the poor wretch was to be lanced and quartered as i may say for
an experiment only and without any hope of benefit from the operation 
was to pay the surgeons for tormenting her 

i cannot but say i have a mean opinion of both these gentlemen who 
though they make a figure it seems in their way of living and boast
not only french extraction but a paris education never will make any in
their practice 

how unlike my honest english friend tomkins a plain serious intelligent
man whose art lies deeper than in words who always avoids parade and
jargon and endeavours to make every one as much a judge of what he is
about as himself 

all the time that the surgeons ran on with their anatomical process the
wretched woman most frightfully roared and bellowed which the gentlemen
 who showed themselves to be of the class of those who are not affected
with the evils they do not feel took no other notice of than by
raising their voices to be heard as she raised her's being evidently
more solicitous to increase their acquaintance and to propagate the
notion of their skill than to attend to the clamours of the poor wretch
whom they were called in to relieve though by this very means like the
dog and the shadow in the fable they lost both aims with me for i never
was deceived in one rule which i made early to wit that the stillest
water is the deepest while the bubbling stream only betrays shallowness 
and that stones and pebbles lie there so near the surface to point out
the best place to ford a river dry shod 

as nobody cared to tell the unhappy wretch what every one apprehended
must follow and what the surgeons convinced me soon would i undertook
to be the denouncer of her doom accordingly the operators being
withdrawn i sat down by the bed-side and said come mrs sinclair let
me advise you to forbear these ravings at the carelessness of those who 
i find at the time could take no care of themselves and since the
accident has happened and cannot be remedied to resolve to make the
best of the matter for all this violence but enrages the malady and you
will probably fall into a delirium if you give way to it which will
deprive you of that reason which you ought to make the best of for the
time it may be lent you 

she turned her head towards me and hearing me speak with a determined
voice and seeing me assume as determined an air became more calm and
attentive 

i went on telling her that i was glad from the hints she had given 
to find her concerned for her past misspent life and particularly for
the part she had had in the ruin of the most excellent woman on earth 
that if she would compose herself and patiently submit to the
consequences of an evil she had brought upon herself it might possibly
be happy for her yet meantime continued i tell me with temper and
calmness why was you so desirous to see me 

she seemed to be in great confusion of thought and turned her head this
way and that and at last after much hesitation said alad for me i
hardly know what i wanted with you when i awoke from my intemperate
trance and found what a cursed way i was in my conscience smote me and
i was for catching like a drowning wretch at every straw i wanted to
see every body and any body but those i did see every body who i thought
could give me comfort yet could i expect none from you neither for you
had declared yourself my enemy although i had never done you harm for
what jackey in her old tone whining through her nose was miss harlowe
to you but she is happy but oh what will become of me yet tell me 
 for the surgeons have told you the truth no doubt tell me shall i do
well again may i recover if i may i will begin a new course of life 
as i hope to be saved i will i'll renounce you all every one of you 
 looking round her   and scrape all i can together and live a life of
penitence and when i die leave it all to charitable uses i will by my
soul every doit of it to charity but this once lifting up her rolling
eyes and folded hands with a wry-mouthed earnestness in which every
muscle and feature of her face bore its part this one time good god of
heaven and earth but this once this once repeating those words five or
six times spare thy poor creature and every hour of my life shall be
passed in penitence and atonement upon my soul it shall 

less vehement a little less vehement said i it is not for me who have
led so free a life as you but too well know to talk to you in a
reproaching strain and to set before you the iniquity you have lived in 
and the many souls you have helped to destroy but as you are in so
penitent a way if i might advise you should send for a good clergyman 
the purity of whose life and manners may make all these things come from
him with a better grace than they can from me 

how sir what sir interrupting me send for a parson then you
indeed think i shall die then you think there is no room for hope a
parson sir who sends for a parson while there is any hope left 
the sight of a parson would be death immediate to me i cannot cannot
die never tell me of it what die what cut off in the midst of my
sins 

and then she began again to rave 

i cannot bear said i rising from my seat with a stern air to see a
reasonable creature behave so outrageously will this vehemence think
you mend the matter will it avail you any thing will it not rather
shorten the life you are so desirous to have lengthened and deprive you
of the only opportunity you can ever have to settle your affairs for both
worlds death is but the common lot and if it be your's soon looking
at her it will be also your's and your's and your's speaking with a
raised voice and turning to every trembling devil round her  for they
all shook at my forcible application   and mine too and you have reason
to be thankful turning again to her that you did not perish in that act
of intemperance which brought you to this for it might have been your
neck as well as your leg and then you had not had the opportunity you
now have for repentance and the lord have mercy upon you into what a
state might you have awoke 

then did the poor wretch set up an inarticulate frightful howl such a
one as i never before heard of her and seeing every one half-frighted 
and me motioning to withdraw o pity me pity me mr belford cried she 
her words interrupted by groans i find you think i shall die and what
may i be and where in a very few hours who can tell 

i told her it was vain to flatter her it was my opinion she would not
recover 

i was going to re-advise her to calm her spirits and endeavour to resign
herself and to make the beset of the opportunity yet left her but this
declaration set her into a most outrageous raving she would have torn
her hair and beaten her breast had not some of the wretches held her
hands by force while others kept her as steady as they could lest she
should again put out her new-set leg so that seeing her thus incapable
of advice and in a perfect phrensy i told sally martin that there was
no bearing the room and that their best way was to send for a minister
to pray by her and to reason with her as soon as she should be capable
of it and so i left them and never was so sensible of the benefit of
fresh air as i was the moment i entered the street 

nor is it to be wondered at when it is considered that to the various
ill smells that will always be found in a close sick bed-room for
generally when the physician comes the air is shut out this of mrs 
sinclair was the more particularly offensive as to the scent of
plasters salves and ointments were added the stenches of spirituous
liquors burnt and unburnt of all denominations for one or other of
the creatures under pretence of colics gripes or qualms were
continually calling for supplies of these all the time i was there 
and yet this is thought to be a genteel house of the sort and all the
prostitutes in it are prostitutes of price and their visiters people of
note 

o lovelace what lives do most of us rakes and libertines lead what
company do we keep and for such company what society renounce or
endeavour to make like these 

what woman nice in her person and of purity in her mind and manners 
did she know what miry wallowers the generality of men of our class are
in themselves and constantly trough and sty with but would detest the
thoughts of associating with such filthy sensualists whose favourite
taste carries them to mingle with the dregs of stews brothels and
common sewers 

yet to such a choice are many worthy women betrayed by that false and
inconsiderate notion raised and propagated no doubt by the author of
all delusion that a reformed rake makes the best husband we rakes 
indeed are bold enough to suppose that women in general are as much
rakes in their hearts as the libertines some of them suffer themselves
to be take with are in their practice a supposition therefore which
it behoves persons of true honour of that sex to discountenance by
rejecting the address of every man whose character will not stand the
test of that virtue which is the glory of a woman and indeed i may
say of a man too why should it not 

how indeed can it be if this point be duly weighed that a man who
thinks alike of all the sex and knows it to be in the power of a wife
to do him the greatest dishonour man can receive and doubts not her will
to do it if opportunity offer and importunity be not wanting that such
a one from principle should be a good husband to any woman and 
indeed little do innocents think what a total revolution of manners 
what a change of fixed habits nay what a conquest of a bad nature and
what a portion of divine grace is required to make a man a good
husband a worthy father and true friend from principle especially
when it is considered that it is not in a man's own power to reform when
he will this to say nothing of my own experience thou lovelace 
hast found in the progress of thy attempts upon the divine miss harlowe 
for whose remorses could be deeper or more frequent yet more transient
than thine 

now lovelace let me know if the word grace can be read from my pen
without a sneer from thee and thy associates i own that once it sounded
oddly in my ears but i shall never forget what a grave man once said on
this very word that with him it was a rake's sibboleth he had always
hopes of one who could bear the mention of it without ridiculing it and
ever gave him up for an abandoned man who made a jest of it or of him
who used it 


 see judges xii 6 


don't be disgusted that i mingle such grave reflections as these with my
narratives it becomes me in my present way of thinking to do so when
i see in miss harlowe how all human excellence and in poor belton how
all inhuman libertinism and am near seeing in this abandoned woman how
all diabolical profligacy end and glad should i be for your own sake 
for your splendid family's sake and for the sake of all your intimates
and acquaintance that you were labouring under the same impressions 
that so we who have been companions in and promoters of one another's 
wickedness might join in a general atonement to the utmost of our power 

i came home reflecting upon all these things more edifying to me than
any sermon i could have heard preached and i shall conclude this long
letter with observing that although i left the wretched howler in a high
phrensy-fit which was excessively shocking to the by-standers yet her
phrensy must be the happiest part of her dreadful condition for when she
is herself as it is called what must be her reflections upon her past
profligate life throughout which it has been her constant delight and
business devil-like to make others as wicked as herself what must her
terrors be a hell already begun in her mind on looking forward to the
dreadful state she is now upon the verge of but i drop my trembling
pen 


to have done with so shocking a subject at once we shall take notice 
 that mr belford in a future letter writes that the miserable
 woman to the surprise of the operators themselves through hourly
 increasing tortures of body and mind held out so long as till
 thursday sept 21 and then died in such agonies as terrified into
 a transitory penitence all the wretches about her 



letter xxvi

colonel morden to john belford esq 
sunday night sept 10 


dear sir 

according to my promise i send you an account of matters here poor
mrs norton was so very ill upon the road that slowly as the hearse
moved and the chariot followed i was afraid we should not have got her
to st albans we put up there as i had intended i was in hopes that
she would have been better for the stop but i was forced to leave her
behind me i ordered the maid-servant you were so considerately kind as
to send down with her to be very careful of her and left the chariot to
attend her she deserves all the regard that can be paid her not only
upon my cousin's account but on her own she is an excellent woman 

when we were within five miles of harlowe-place i put on a hand-gallop 
i ordered the hearse to proceed more slowly still the cross-road we were
in being rough and having more time before us than i wanted for i
wished not the hearse to be in till near dusk i got to harlowe-place
about four o'clock you may believe i found a mournful house you
desire me to be very minute 

at my entrance into the court they were all in motion every servant
whom i saw had swelled eyes and looked with so much concern that at
first i apprehended some new disaster had happened in the family mr 
john and mr antony harlowe and mrs hervey were there they all helped
on one another's grief as they had before done each other's hardness of
heart 

my cousin james met me at the entrance of the hall his countenance
expressed a fixed concern and he desired me to excuse his behaviour the
last time i was there 

my cousin arabella came to me full of tears and grief 

o cousin said she hanging upon my arm i dare not ask you any
questions about the approach of the hearse i suppose she meant 

i myself was full of grief and without going farther or speaking sat
down in the hall in the first chair 

the brother sat on one hand of me the sister on the other both were
silent the latter in tears 

mr antony harlowe came to me soon after his face was overspread with
all the appearance of woe he requested me to walk into the parlour 
where as he said were all his fellow-mourners 

i attended him in my cousins james and arabella followed me 

a perfect concert of grief as i may say broke out the moment i entered
the parlour 

my cousin harlowe the dear creature's father as soon as he saw me 
said o cousin cousin of all our family you are the only one who have
nothing to reproach yourself with you are a happy man 

the poor mother bowing her head to me in speechless grief sat with her
handkerchief held to her eyes with one hand the other hand was held by
her sister hervey between both her's mrs hervey weeping upon it 

near the window sat mr john harlowe his face and his body turned from
the sorrowing company his eyes red and swelled 

my cousin antony at his re-entering the parlour went towards mrs 
harlowe don't dear sister said he then towards my cousin harlowe 
don't dear brother don't thus give way and without being able to
say another word went to a corner of the parlour and wanting himself
the comfort he would fain have given sunk into a chair and audibly
sobbed 

miss arabella followed her uncle antony as he walked in before me and
seemed as if she would have spoken to the pierced mother some words of
comfort but she was unable to utter them and got behind her mother's
chair and inclining her face over it on the unhappy lady's shoulder 
seemed to claim the consolation that indulgent parent used but then was
unable to afford her 

young mr harlowe with all his vehemence of spirit was now subdued 
his self-reproaching conscience no doubt was the cause of it 

and what sir must their thoughts be which at that moment in a
manner deprived them of all motion and turned their speech into sighs
and groans how to be pitied how greatly to be pitied all of them 
but how much to be cursed that abhorred lovelace who as it seems by
arts uncommon and a villany without example has been the sole author
of a woe so complicated and extensive god judge me as but i stop 
the man the man can i say is your friend he already suffers you
tell me in his intellect restore him heaven to that if i find the
matter come out as i apprehend it will indeed her own hint of his usage
of her as in her will is enough nor think my beloved cousin thou
darling of my heart that thy gentle spirit breathing charity and
forgiveness to the vilest of men shall avail him but once more i stop
 forgive me sir who could behold such a scene who could recollect it
in order to describe it as minutely as you wished me to relate how this
unhappy family were affected on this sad occasion every one of the
mourners nearly related to himself and not to be exasperated against the
author of all 

as i was the only person grieved as i was myself from whom any of them 
at that instant could derive comfort let us not said i my dear
cousin approaching the inconsolable mother give way to a grief which 
however just can now avail us nothing we hurt ourselves and cannot
recall the dear creature for whom we mourn nor would you wish it if
you know with what assurance of eternal happiness she left the world she
is happy madam depend upon it she is happy and comfort yourselves
with that assurance 

o cousin cousin cried the unhappy mother withdrawing her hand from
that of her sister hervey and pressing mine with it you know not what
a child i have lost then in a low voice and how lost that it is that
makes the loss insupportable 

they all joined in a kind of melancholy chorus and each accused him and
herself and some of them one another but the eyes of all in turn 
were cast upon my cousin james as the person who had kept up the general
resentment against so sweet a creature while he was hardly able to bear
his own remorse nor miss harlowe her's she breaking out into words how
tauntingly did i write to her how barbarously did i insult her yet
how patiently did she take it who would have thought that she had been
so near her end o brother brother but for you but for you double
not upon me said he my own woes i have every thing before me that has
passed i thought only to reclaim a dear creature that had erred i
intended not to break her tender heart but it was the villanous
lovelace who did that not any of us yet cousin did she not attribute
all to me i fear she did tell me only did she name me did she speak
of me in her last hours i hope she who could forgive the greatest
villain on earth and plead that he may be safe from our vengeance i
hope she could forgive me 

she died blessing you all and justified rather than condemned your
severity to her 

then they set up another general lamentation we see said her father 
enough we see in her heart-piercing letters to us what a happy frame
she was in a few days before her death but did it hold to the last had
she no repinings had the dear child no heart burnings 

none at all i never saw and never shall see so blessed a departure 
and no wonder for i never heard of such a preparation every hour for
weeks together were taken up in it let this be our comfort we need
only to wish for so happy an end for ourselves and for those who are
nearest to our hearts we may any of us be grieved for acts of
unkindness to her but had all happened that once she wished for she
could not have made a happier perhaps not so happy an end 

dear soul and dear sweet soul the father uncles sister my cousin
hervey cried out all at once in accents of anguish inexpressibly
affecting 

we must for every be disturbed for those acts of unkindness to so sweet a
child cried the unhappy mother indeed indeed  softly to her sister
hervey   i have been too passive much too passive in this case the
temporary quiet i have been so studious all my life to preserve has cost
me everlasting disquiet there she stopt 

dear sister was all mrs hervey could say 

i have done but half my duty to the dearest and most meritorious of
children resumed the sorrowing mother nay not half how have we
hardened our hearts against her again her tears denied passage to her
words 

my dearest dearest sister again was all mrs hervey could say 

would to heaven proceeded exclaiming the poor mother i had but once
seen her then turning to my cousin james and his sister o my son 
o my arabella if we were to receive as little mercy and there again she
stopt her tears interrupting her farther speech every one all the
time remaining silent their countenances showing a grief in their
hearts too big for expression 

now you see mr belford that my dearest cousin could be allowed all her
merit what a dreadful thing is after-reflection upon a conduct so
perverse and unnatural 

o this cursed friend of your's mr belford this detested lovelace to
him to him is owing 

pardon me sir i will lay down my pen till i have recovered my temper 


one in the morning 

in vain sir have i endeavoured to compose myself to rest you wished
me to be very particular and i cannot help it this melancholy subject
fills my whole mind i will proceed though it be midnight 

about six o'clock the hearse came to the outward gate the parish church
is at some distance but the wind setting fair the afflicted family were
struck just before it came into a fresh fit of grief on hearing the
funeral bell tolled in a very solemn manner a respect as it proved 
and as they all guessed paid to the memory of the dear deceased out of
officious love as the hearse passed near the church 

judge when their grief was so great in expectation of it what it must
be when it arrived 

a servant came in to acquaint us with what its lumbering heavy noise up
the paved inner court-yard apprized us of before he spoke not he
could not speak he looked bowed and withdrew 

i stept out no one else could then stir her brother however soon
followed me when i came to the door i beheld a sight very affecting 

you have heard sir how universally my dear cousin was beloved by the
poor and middling sort especially no young lady was ever so much
beloved and with reason she was the common patroness of all the honest
poor in her neighbourhood 

it is natural for us in every deep and sincere grief to interest all we
know in what is so concerning to ourselves the servants of the family 
it seems had told their friends and those their's that though living 
their dear young lady could not be received nor looked upon her body was
permitted to be brought home the space of time was so confined that
those who knew when she died must easily guess near the time the hearse
was to come a hearse passing through country villages and from
london however slenderly attended for the chariot as i have said 
waited upon poor mrs norton takes every one's attention nor was it
hard to guess whose this must be though not adorned by escutcheons when
the cross-roads to harlowe-place were taken as soon as it came within
six miles of it so that the hearse and the solemn tolling of the bell 
had drawn together at least fifty or the neighbouring men women and
children and some of good appearance not a soul of them it seems 
with a dry eye and each lamenting the death of this admired lady who 
as i am told never stirred out but somebody was the better for her 

these when the coffin was taken out of the hearse crowding about it 
hindered for a few moments its being carried in the young people
struggling who should bear it and yet with respectful whisperings 
rather than clamorous contention a mark of veneration i had never
before seen paid upon any occasion in all my travels from the
under-bred many from whom noise is generally inseparable in all their
emulations 

at last six maidens were permitted to carry it in by the six handles 

the corpse was thus borne with the most solemn respect into the hall 
and placed for the present upon two stools there the plates and
emblems and inscription set every one gazing upon it and admiring it 
the more when they were told that all was of her own ordering they
wished to be permitted a sight of the corpse but rather mentioned this
as their wish than as their hope when they had all satisfied their
curiosity and remarked upon the emblems they dispersed with blessings
upon her memory and with tears and lamentations pronouncing her to be
happy and inferring were she not so what would become of them while
others ran over with repetitions of the good she delighted to do nor
were there wanting those among them who heaped curses upon the man who
was the author of her fall 

the servants of the family then got about the coffin they could not
before and that afforded a new scene of sorrow but a silent one for
they spoke only by their eyes and by sighs looking upon the lid and
upon one another by turns with hands lifted up the presence of their
young master possibly might awe them and cause their grief to be
expressed only in dumb show 

as for mr james harlowe who accompanied me but withdrew when he saw
the crowd he stood looking upon the lid when the people had left it 
with a fixed attention yet i dare say knew not a symbol or letter upon
it at that moment had the question been asked him in a profound
reverie he stood his arms folded his head on one side and marks of
stupefaction imprinted upon every feature 

but when the corpse was carried into the lesser parlour adjoining to the
hall which she used to call her parlour and put upon a table in the
midst of the room and the father and mother the two uncles her aunt
hervey and her sister came in joining her brother and me with
trembling feet and eager woe the scene was still more affecting their
sorrow was heightened no doubt by the remembrance of their unforgiving
severity and now seeing before them the receptacle that contained the
glory of their family who so lately was driven thence by their
indiscreet violence never never more to be restored to the no wonder
that their grief was more than common grief 

they would have withheld the mother it seems from coming in but when
they could not though undetermined before they all bore her company 
led on by an impulse they could not resist the poor lady but just cast
her eye upon the coffin and then snatched it away retiring with
passionate grief towards the window yet addressing herself with
clasped hands as if to her beloved daughter o my child my child cried
she thou pride of my hope why was i not permitted to speak pardon and
peace to thee o forgive thy cruel mother 

her son his heart then softened as his eyes showed besought her to
withdraw and her woman looking in at that moment he called her to
assist him in conducting her lady into the middle parlour and then
returning met his father going out of the door who also had but just
cast his eye on the coffin and yielded to my entreaties to withdraw 
his grief was too deep for utterance till he saw his son coming in and
then fetching a heavy groan never said he was sorrow like my sorrow 
 o son son in a reproaching accent his face turned from him 

i attended him through the middle parlour endeavouring to console him 
his lady was there in agonies she took his eye he made a motion
towards her o my dear said he but turning short his eyes as full as
his heart he hastened through to the great parlour and when there he
desired me to leave him to himself 

the uncles and sister looked and turned away very often upon the
emblems in silent sorrow mrs hervey would have read to them the
inscription these words she did read here the wicked cease from
troubling but could read no farther her tears fell in large drops upon
the plate she was contemplating and yet she was desirous of gratifying a
curiosity that mingled impatience with her grief because she could not
gratify it although she often wiped her eyes as they flowed 

judge you mr belford for you have great humanity how i must be
affected yet was i forced to try to comfort them all 

but here i will close this letter in order to send it to you in the
morning early nevertheless i will begin another upon supposition that
my doleful prolixity will be disagreeable to you indeed i am altogether
indisposed for rest as i have mentioned before so can do nothing but
write i have also more melancholy scenes to paint my pen if i may
say so is untired these scenes are fresh upon my memory and i myself 
perhaps may owe to you the favour of a review of them with such other
papers as you shall think proper to oblige me with when heavy grief has
given way to milder melancholy 

my servant in his way to you with this letter shall call at st alban's
upon the good woman that he may inform you how she does miss arabella
asked me after her when i withdrew to my chamber to which she
complaisantly accompanied me she was much concerned at the bad way we
left her in and said her mother would be more so 

no wonder that the dear departed who foresaw the remorse that would fall
to the lot of this unhappy family when they came to have the news of her
death confirmed to them was so grieved for their apprehended grief and
endeavoured to comfort them by her posthumous letters but it was still
a greater generosity in her to try to excuse them to me as she did when
we were alone together a few hours before she died and to aggravate
more than as far as i can find she ought to have done the only error
she was ever guilty of the more freely however perhaps exalted
creature that i might think the better of her friends although at her
own expense i am dear sir 

your faithful and obedient servant 
wm morden 



letter xxvii

colonel morden
 in continuation  


when the unhappy mourners were all retired i directed the lid of the
coffin to be unscrewed and caused some fresh aromatics and flowers to
be put into it 

the corpse was very little altered notwithstanding the journey the
sweet smile remained 

the maids who brought the flowers were ambitious of strewing them about
it they poured forth fresh lamentations over her each wishing she had
been so happy as to have been allowed to attend her in london one of
them particularly who is it seems my cousin arabella's personal
servant was more clamorous in her grief than any of the rest and the
moment she turned her back all the others allowed she had reason for it 
i inquired afterwards about her and found that this creature was set
over my dear cousin when she was confined to her chamber by indiscreet
severity 

good heaven that they should treat and suffer thus to be treated a
young lady who was qualified to give laws to all her family 

when my cousins were told that the lid was unscrewed they pressed in
again all but the mournful father and mother as if by consent mrs 
hervey kissed her pale lips flower of the world was all she could say 
and gave place to miss arabella who kissing the forehead of her whom she
had so cruelly treated could only say to my cousin james looking upon
the corpse and upon him o brother while he taking the fair 
lifeless hand kissed it and retreated with precipitation 

her two uncles were speechless they seemed to wait each other's
example whether to look upon the corpse or not i ordered the lid to
be replaced and then they pressed forward as the others again did to
take a last farewell of the casket which so lately contained so rich a
jewel 

then it was that the grief of each found fluent expression and the fair
corpse was addressed to with all the tenderness that the sincerest love
and warmest admiration could inspire each according to their different
degrees of relationship as if none of them had before looked upon her 
she was their very niece both uncles said the injured saint her uncle
harlowe the same smiling sister arabella the dear creature all of
them the same benignity of countenance the same sweet composure the
same natural dignity she was questionless happy that sweet smile
betokened her being so themselves most unhappy and then once more 
the brother took the lifeless hand and vowed revenge upon it on the
cursed author of all this distress 

the unhappy parents proposed to take one last view and farewell of their
once darling daughter the father was got to the parlour-door after the
inconsolable mother but neither of them were able to enter it the
mother said she must once more see the child of her heart or she should
never enjoy herself but they both agreed to refer their melancholy
curiosity till the next day and had in hand retired inconsolable 
speechless both their faces overspread with woe and turned from each
other as unable each to behold the distress of the other 

when all were withdrawn i retired and sent for my cousin james and
acquainted him with his sister's request in relation to the discourse to
be pronounced at her interment telling him how necessary it was that the
minister whoever he were should have the earliest notice given him that
the case would admit he lamented the death of the reverend dr lewen 
who as he said was a great admirer of his sister as she was of him 
and would have been the fittest of all men for that office he spoke
with great asperity of mr brand upon whose light inquiry after his
sister's character in town he was willing to lay some of the blame due to
himself mr melvill dr lewen's assistant must he said be the man 
and he praised him for his abilities his elocution and unexceptionable
manners and promised to engage him early in the morning 

he called out his sister and he was of his opinion so i let this upon
them 

they both with no little warmth hinted their disapprobation of you 
sir for their sister's executor on the score of your intimate
friendship with the author of her ruin 

you must not resent any thing i shall communicate to you of what they say
on this occasion depending that you will not i shall write with the
greater freedom 

i told them how much my dear cousin was obliged to your friendship and
humanity the injunctions she had laid you under and your own
inclination to observe them i said that you were a man of honour that
you were desirous of consulting me because you would not willingly give
offence to any of them and that i was very fond of cultivating your
favour and correspondence 

they said there was no need of an executor out of their family and they
hoped that you would relinquish so unnecessary a trust as they called
it my cousin james declared that he would write to you as soon as the
funeral was over to desire that you would do so upon proper assurances
that all the will prescribed should be performed 

i said you were a man of resolution that i thought he would hardly
succeed for that you made a point of honour of it 

i then showed them their sister's posthumous letter to you in which she
confesses her obligations to you and regard for you and for your future
welfare you may believe sir they were extremely affected with the
perusal of it 


 see letter xii of this volume 


they were surprised that i had given up to you the produce of her
grandfather's estate since his death i told them plainly that they must
thank themselves if any thing disagreeable to them occurred from their
sister's devise deserted and thrown into the hands of strangers as she
had been 

they said they would report all i had said to their father and mother 
adding that great as their trouble was they found they had still more
to come but if mr belford were to be the executor of her will 
contrary to their hopes they besought me to take the trouble of
transacting every thing with you that a friend of the man to whom they
owed all their calamity might not appear to them 

they were extremely moved at the text their sister had chosen for the
subject of their funeral discourse i had extracted from the will that
article supposing it probable that i might not so soon have an
opportunity to show them the will itself as would otherwise have been
necessary on account of the interment which cannot be delayed 


 see the will in pg 112 of this volume 



monday morning between eight and nine 

the unhappy family are preparing for a mournful meeting at breakfast 
mr james harlowe who has had as little rest as i has written to mr 
melvill who has promised to draw up a brief eulogium on the deceased 
miss howe is expected here by-and-by to see for the last time her
beloved friend 

miss howe by her messenger desires she may not be taken any notice of 
she shall not tarry six minutes was the word her desire will be easily
granted her 

her servant who brought the request if it were denied was to return 
and meet her for she was ready to set out in her chariot when he got on
horseback 

if he met her not with the refusal he was to say here till she came i
am sir 

your faithful humble servant 
william morden 



letter xxviii

colonel morden
 in continuation  
monday afternoon sept 11 


sir 

we are such bad company here to one another that it is some relief to
retire and write 

i was summoned to breakfast about half an hour after nine slowly did
the mournful congress meet each lifelessly and spiritless took our
places with swoln eyes inquiring without expecting any tolerable
account how each had rested 

the sorrowing mother gave for answer that she should never more know
what rest was 

by the time we were well seated the bell ringing the outward gate
opening a chariot rattling over the pavement of the court-yard put them
into emotion 

i left them and was just time enough to give miss howe my hand as she
alighted her maid in tears remaining in the chariot 

i think you told me sir you never saw miss howe she is a fine 
graceful young lady a fixed melancholy on her whole aspect overclouded
a vivacity and fire which nevertheless darted now-and-then through the
awful gloom i shall ever respect her for her love to my dear cousin 

never did i think said she as she gave me her hand to enter more these
doors but living or dead clarissa brings me after her any where 

she entered with me the little parlour and seeing the coffin withdrew
her hand from mine and with impatience pushed aside the lid as
impatiently she removed the face-cloth in a wild air she clasped her
uplifted hands together and now looked upon the corpse now up to
heaven as if appealing to that her bosom heaved and fluttered
discernible through her handkerchief and at last she broke silence o
sir see you not here the glory of her sex thus by the most
villanous of yours thus laid low 

o my blessed friend said she my sweet companion my lovely monitress 
 kissing her lips at every tender appellation and is this all is it
all of my clarissa's story 

then after a short pause and a profound sigh she turned to me and
then to her breathless friend but is she can she be really dead o
no she only sleeps awake my beloved friend my sweet clay-cold
friend awake let thy anna howe revive thee by her warm breath revive
thee my dear creature and kissing her again let my warm lips animate
thy cold ones 

then sighing again as from the bottom of her heart and with an air as
if disappointed that she answered not and can such perfection end thus 
 and art thou really and indeed flown from thine anna howe o my unkind
clarissa 

she was silent a few moments and then seeming to recover herself she
turned to me forgive forgive mr morden this wild phrensy i am
myself i never shall be you knew not the excellence no not half the
excellence that is thus laid low repeating this cannot surely be
all of my clarissa's story 

again pausing one tear my beloved friend didst thou allow me but
this dumb sorrow o for a tear to ease my full-swoln heart that is just
bursting 

but why sir why mr morden was she sent hither why not to me she
has no father no mother no relation no not one they had all
renounced her i was her sympathizing friend and had not i the best
right to my dear creature's remains and must names without nature be
preferred to such a love as mine 

again she kissed her lips each cheek her forehead and sighed as if
her heart would break 

but why why said she was i withheld from seeing my dearest dear
friend and too easily persuaded to delay the friendly visit that my
heart panted after what pain will this reflection give me o my blessed
friend who knows who knows had i come in time what my cordial
comfortings might have done for thee but looking round her as if she
apprehended seeing some of the family one more kiss my angel my
friend my ever-to-be-regretted lost companion and let me fly this
hated house which i never loved but for thy sake adieu then my
dearest clarissa thou art happy i doubt not as thou assuredst me in
thy last letter o may we meet and rejoice together where no villanous
lovelaces no hard-hearted relations will ever shock our innocence or
ruffle our felicity 

again she was silent unable to go though seeming to intend it 
struggling as it were with her grief and heaving with anguish at
last happily a flood of tears gushed from her eyes now now said
she shall i shall i be easier but for this kindly relief my heart
would have burst asunder more many more tears than these are due to my
clarissa whose counsel has done for me what mine could not do for her 
but why looking earnestly upon her her hands clasped and lifted up but
why do i thus lament the happy and that thou art so is my comfort it
is it is my dear creature kissing her again 

excuse me sir  turning to me who was as much moved as herself   i
loved the dear creature as never woman loved another excuse my frantic
grief how has the glory of her sex fallen a victim to villany and to
hard-heartedness 

madam said i they all have it now indeed they have it 

and let them have it i should belie my love for the friend of my heart 
were i to pity them but how unhappy am i  looking upon her  that i saw
her not before these eyes were shut before these lips were for ever
closed o sir you know not the wisdom that continually flowed from
these lips when she spoke nor what a friend i have lost 

then surveying the lid she seemed to take in at once the meaning of the
emblems and this gave her so much fresh grief that though she several
times wipes her eyes she was unable to read the inscription and texts 
turning therefore to me favour me sir i pray you by a line with
the description of these emblems and with these texts and if i might be
allowed a lock of the dear creature's hair 

i told her that her executor would order both and would also send her a
copy of her last will in which she would find the most grateful
remembrances of her love for her whom she calls the sister of her heart 

justly said she does she call me so for we had but one heart but one
soul between us and now my better half is torn from me what shall i
do 

but looking round her on a servant's stepping by the door as if again
she had apprehended it was some of the family once more said she a
solemn an everlasting adieu alas for me a solemn an everlasting
adieu 

then again embracing her face with both her hands and kissing it and
afterwards the hands of the dear deceased first one then the other she
gave me her hand and quitting the room with precipitation rushed into
her chariot and when there with profound sight and a fresh burst of
tears unable to speak she bowed her head to me and was driven away 

the inconsolable company saw how much i had been moved on my return to
them mr james harlowe had been telling them what had passed between
him and me and finding myself unfit for company and observing that
they broke off talk at my coming in i thought it proper to leave them to
their consultations 

and here i will put an end to this letter for indeed sir the very
recollection of this affecting scene has left me nearly as unable to
proceed as i was just after it to converse with my cousins i am 
sir with great truth 

your most obedient humble servant 
william morden 



letter xxix

colonel morden
 in continuation  
tuesday morning sept 12 


the good mrs norton is arrived a little amended in her spirits owing
to the very posthumous letters as i may call them which you mr 
belford as well as i apprehended would have had fatal effects upon her 

i cannot but attribute this to the right turn of her mind it seems she
has been inured to afflictions and has lived in a constant hope of a
better life and having no acts of unkindness to the dear deceased to
reproach herself with is most considerately resolved to exert her utmost
fortitude in order to comfort the sorrowing mother 

o mr belford how does the character of my dear departed cousin rise
upon me from every mouth had she been my own child or my sister but
do you think that the man who occasioned this great this extended ruin 
but i forbear 

the will is not to be looked into till the funeral rites are performed 
preparations are making for the solemnity and the servants as well as
principals of all the branches of the family are put into close
mourning 

i have seen mr melvill he is a serious and sensible man i have given
him particulars to go upon in the discourse he is to pronounce at the
funeral but had the less need to do this as i find he is extremely well
acquainted with the whole unhappy story and was a personal admirer of my
dear cousin and a sincere lamenter of her misfortunes and death the
reverend dr lewen who is but very lately dead was his particular
friend and had once intended to recommend him to her favour and notice 


 


i am just returned from attending the afflicted parents in an effort
they made to see the corpse of their beloved child they had requested
my company and that of the good mrs norton a last leave the mother
said she must take 

an effort however it was and no more the moment they came in sight
of the coffin before the lid could be put aside o my dear said the
father retreating i cannot i find i cannot bear it had i had i had
i never been hard-hearted then turning round to his lady he had but
just time to catch her in his arms and prevent her sinking on the floor 
 o my dearest life said he this is too much too much indeed let
us let us retire mrs norton who attracted by the awful receptacle 
had but just left the good lady hastened to her dear dear woman cried
the unhappy parent flinging her arms about her neck bear me bear me
hence o my child my child my own clarissa harlowe thou pride of my
life so lately never never more must i behold thee 

i supported the unhappy father mrs norton the sinking mother into the
next parlour she threw herself on a settee there he into an
elbow-chair by her the good woman at her feet her arms clasped round
her waist the two mothers i as may call them of my beloved cousin 
thus tenderly engaged what a variety of distress in these woeful
scenes 

the unhappy father in endeavouring to comfort his lady loaded himself 
would to god my dear said he would to god i had no more to charge
myself with than you have you relented you would have prevailed upon
me to relent 

the greater my fault said she when i knew that displeasure was carried
too high to acquiesce as i did what a barbarous parent was i to let
two angry children make me forget that i was mother to a third to such a
third 

mrs norton used arguments and prayers to comfort her o my dear norton 
answered the unhappy lady you was the dear creature's more natural
mother would to heaven i had no more to answer for than you have 

thus the unhappy pair unavailingly recriminated till my cousin hervey
entered and with mrs norton conducted up to her own chamber the
inconsolable mother the two uncles and mr hervey came in at the same
time and prevailed upon the afflicted father to retire with them to his
 both giving up all thoughts of ever seeing more the child whose death
was so deservedly regretted by them 

time only mr belford can combat with advantage such a heavy
deprivation as this advice will not do while the loss is recent 
nature will have way given to it and so it ought till sorrow has in a
manner exhausted itself and then reason and religion will come in
seasonably with their powerful aids to raise the drooping heart 

i see here no face that is the same i saw at my first arrival proud and
haughty every countenance then unyielding to entreaty now how greatly
are they humbled the utmost distress is apparent in every protracted
feature and in every bursting muscle of each disconsolate mourner 
their eyes which so lately flashed anger and resentment now are turned
to every one that approaches them as if imploring pity could ever
wilful hard-heartedness be more severely punished 

the following lines of juvenal are upon the whole applicable to this
house and family and i have revolved them many times since sunday
evening 

 humani generis mores tibi nosse volenti
 sufficit una domus paucos consumere dies and
 dicere te miserum postquam illinc veneris aude 

let me add that mrs norton has communicated to the family the
posthumous letter sent her this letter affords a foundation for future
consolation to them but at present it has new pointed their grief by
making them reflect on their cruelty to so excellent a daughter niece 
and sister i am dear sir 

your faithful humble servant 
wm morden 


 this letter contains in substance her thanks to the good woman for her
care of her in her infancy for her good instructions and the excellent
example she had set her with self-accusations of a vanity and
presumption which lay lurking in her heart unknown to herself till her
calamities obliging her to look into herself brought them to light 

she expatiates upon the benefit of afflictions to a mind modest fearful 
and diffident 

she comforts her on her early death having finished as she says her
probatory course at so early a time of life when many are not ripened
by the sunshine of divine grace for a better till they are fifty sixty 
or seventy years of age 

i hope she says that my father will grant the request i have made to
him in my last will to let you pass the remainder of your days at my
dairy-house as it used to be called where once i promised myself to be
happy in you your discretion prudence and economy my dear good
woman proceeds she will male your presiding over the concerns of that
house as beneficial to them as it can be convenient to you for your
sake my dear mrs norton i hope they will make you this offer and if
they do i hope you will accept it for theirs 

she remembers herself to her foster-brother in a very kind manner and
charges her for his sake that she will not take too much to heart what
has befallen her 

she concludes as follows 

remember me in the last place to all my kind well-wishers of your
acquaintance and to those i used to call my poor they will be god's
poor if they trust in him i have taken such care that i hope they
will not be losers by my death bid them therefore rejoice and do you
also my reverend comforter and sustainer as well in my darker as in my
fairer days likewise rejoice that i am so soon delivered from the
evils that were before me and that i am now when this comes to your
hands as i humbly trust exulting in the mercies of a gracious god who
has conducted an end to all my temptations and distresses and who i
most humbly trust will in his own good time give us a joyful meeting
in the regions of eternal blessedness 



letter xxx

colonel morden
 in continuation  
thursday night sept 14 


we are just returned from the solemnization of the last mournful rite 
my cousin james and his sister mr and mrs hervey and their daughter 
a young lady whose affection for my departed cousin shall ever bind me to
her my cousins john and antony harlowe myself and some other more
distant relations of the names of fuller and allinson who to testify
their respect to the memory of the dear deceased had put themselves in
mourning self-invited attended it 

the father and mother would have joined in these last honours had they
been able but they were both very much indisposed and continue to be
so 

the inconsolable mother told mrs norton that the two mothers of the
sweetest child in the world ought not on this occasion to be separated 
she therefore desired her to stay with her 

the whole solemnity was performed with great decency and order the
distance from harlowe-place to the church is about half a mile all the
way the corpse was attended by great numbers of people of all conditions 

it was nine when it entered the church every corner of which was
crowded such a profound such a silent respect did i never see paid at
the funeral of princes an attentive sadness overspread the face of all 

the eulogy pronounced by mr melvill was a very pathetic one he wiped
his own eyes often and made every body present still oftener wipe
theirs 

the auditors were most particularly affected when he told them that the
solemn text was her own choice 

he enumerated her fine qualities naming with honour their late worthy
pastor for his authority 

every enumerated excellence was witnessed to in different parts of the
church in respectful whispers by different persons as of their own
knowledge as i have been since informed 

when he pointed to the pew where doing credit to religion by her
example she used to sit or kneel the whole auditory as one person 
turned to the pew with the most respectful solemnity as if she had been
herself there 

when the gentleman attributed condescension and mingled dignity to her 
a buzzing approbation was given to the attribute throughout the church 
and a poor neat woman under my pew added that she was indeed all
graciousness and would speak to any body 

many eyes ran over when he mentioned her charities her well-judged
charities and her reward was decreed from every mouth with sighs and
sobs from some and these words from others the poor will dearly miss
her 

the cheerful giver whom god is said to love was allowed to be her and
a young lady i am told said it was miss clarissa harlowe's care to
find out the unhappy upon a sudden distress before the sighing heart
was overwhelmed by it 

she had a set of poor people chosen for their remarkable honesty and
ineffectual industry these voluntarily paid their last attendance on
their benefactress and mingling in the church as they could crowd near
the aisle where the corpse was on stands it was the less wonder that her
praises from the preacher met with such general and such grateful
whispers of approbation 

some it seems there were who knowing her unhappy story remarked upon
the dejected looks of the brother and the drowned eyes of the sister 
o what would they now give they'd warrant had they not been so
hard-hearted  others pursued as i may say the severe father and
unhappy mother into their chambers at home they answered for their
relenting now that it was too late what must be their grief no
wonder they could not be present 

several expressed their astonishment as people do every hour that a
man could live whom such perfections could not engage to be just to her 
 to be humane i may say and who her rank and fortune considered 
could be so disregardful of his own interest had he had no other motive
to be just 

the good divine led by his text just touched upon the unhappy step that
was the cause of her untimely fate he attributed it to the state of
things below in which there could not be absolute perfection he very
politely touched upon the noble disdain she showed though earnestly
solicited by a whole splendid family to join interests with a man whom
she found unworthy of her esteem and confidence and who courted her with
the utmost earnestness to accept of him 

what he most insisted upon was the happy end she made and thence drew
consolation to her relations and instruction to the auditory 

in a word his performance was such as heightened the reputation which he
had before in a very eminent degree obtained 

when the corpse was to be carried down into the vault a very spacious
one within the church there was great crowding to see the coffin-lid 
and the devices upon it particularly two gentlemen muffled up in
clokes pressed forward these it seems were mr mullins and mr 
wyerley both of them professed admirers of my dear cousin 

when they came near the coffin and cast their eyes upon the lid in
that little space  said mr mullins is included all human excellence 
 and then mr wyerley unable to contain himself was forced to quit the
church and we hear is very ill 

it is said that mr solmes was in a remote part of the church wrapped
round in a horseman's coat and that he shed tears several times but i
saw him not 

another gentleman was there incognito in a pew near the entrance of the
vault who had not been taken notice of but for his great emotion when
he looked over his pew at the time the coffin was carried down to its
last place this was miss howe's worthy mr hickman 

my cousins john and antony and their nephew james chose not to descend
into the vault among their departed ancestors 

miss harlowe was extremely affected her conscience as well as her
love was concerned on the occasion she would go down with the corpse
of her dear her only sister she said but her brother would not permit
it and her overwhelmed eye pursued the coffin till she could see no
more of it and then she threw herself on the seat and was near fainting
away 

i accompanied it down that i might not only satisfy myself but you 
sir her executor that it was deposited as she had directed at the
feet of her grandfather 

mr melvill came down contemplated the lid and shed a few tears over
it i was so well satisfied with his discourse and behaviour that i
presented him on the solemn spot with a ring of some value and thanked
him for his performance 

and here i left the remains of my beloved cousin having bespoken my own
place by the side of her coffin 

on my return to harlowe-place i contented myself with sending my
compliments to the sorrowing parents and retired to my chamber nor am
i ashamed to own that i could not help giving way to a repeated fit of
humanity as soon as i entered it i am sir 

your most faithful and obedient servant 
wm morden 


p s you will have a letter from my cousin james who hopes to prevail
 upon you to relinquish the executorship it has not my
 encouragement 



letter xxxi

mr belford to william morden esq 
saturday sept 16 


dear sir 

i once had thoughts to go down privately in order disguised to see the
last solemnity performed but there was no need to give myself this
melancholy trouble since your last letter so naturally describes all
that passed that i have every scene before my eyes 

you crowd me sir methinks into the silent slow procession now with
the sacred bier do i enter the awful porch now measure i with solemn
paces the venerable aisle now ambitious of a relationship to her 
placed in a pew near to the eye-attracting coffin do i listen to the
moving eulogy now through the buz of gaping eye-swoln crowds do i
descend into the clammy vault as a true executor to see that part of
her will performed with my own eyes there with a soul filled with
musing do i number the surrounding monuments of mortality and
contemplate the present stillness of so many once busy vanities crowded
all into one poor vaulted nook as if the living grudged room for the
corpse of those for which when animated the earth the air and the
waters could hardly find room then seeing her placed at the feet of
him whose earthly delight she was and who as i find ascribes to the
pleasure she gave him the prolongation of his own life sighing and
with averted face i quit the solemn mansion the symbolic coffin and 
for ever the glory of her sex and ascend with those who in a few
years after a very short blaze of life will fill up other spaces of the
same vault which now while they mourn only for her whom they jointly
persecuted they press with their feet 


 see vol i letter v 


nor do your affecting descriptions permit me here to stop but ascended 
i mingle my tears and my praises with those of the numerous spectators 
i accompany the afflicted mourners back to their uncomfortable mansion 
and make one in the general concert of unavailing woe till retiring as i
imagine as they retire like them in reality i give up to new scenes
of solitary and sleepless grief reflecting upon the perfections i have
seen the end of and having no relief but from an indignation which
makes me approve of the resentments of others against the unhappy man 
and those equally unhappy relations of her's to whom the irreparable
loss is owing 

forgive me sir these reflections and permit me with this to send you
what you declined receiving till the funeral was over 


 he gives him then an account of the money and effects which he sends
 him down by this opportunity for the legatees at harlowe-place 
 and in its neighbourhood which he desires him to dispose of
 according to the will 

he also sends him an account of other steps he has taken in pursuance of
 the will and desires to know if mr harlowe expects the discharge
 of the funeral-expenses from the effects in his hands and the
 re-imbursement of the sums advanced to the testatrix since her
 grandfather's death  


these expeditious proceedings says he will convince mr james harlowe
that i am resolved to see the will completely executed and yet by my
manner of doing it that i desire not to give unnecessary mortification
to the family since every thing that relates to them shall pass through
your hands 



letter xxxii

mr james harlowe to john belford esq 
harlowe-place friday night sept 15 


sir 

i hope from the character my worthy cousin morden gives you that you
will excuse the application i make to you to oblige a whole family in
an affair that much concerns their peace and cannot equally concern any
body else you will immediately judge sir that this is the
executorship of which my sister has given you the trouble by her last
will 

we shall all think ourselves extremely obliged to you if you please to
relinquish this trust to our own family the reasons which follow
pleading for our own expectation of this favour from you 

first because she never would have had the thought of troubling you 
sir if she had believed any of her near relations would have taken it
upon themselves 

secondly i understand that she recommends to you in the will to trust
to the honour of any of our family for the performance of such of the
articles as are of a domestic nature we are any of us and all of us 
if you request it willing to stake our honours upon this occasion and
all you can desire as a man of honour is that the trust be executed 

we are the more concerned sir to wish you to decline this office 
because of your short and accidental knowledge of the dear testatrix and
long and intimate acquaintance with the man to whom she owed her ruin 
and we the greatest loss and disappointment her manifold excellencies
considered that ever befell a family 

you will allow due weight i dare say to this plea if you make our case
your own and so much the readier when i assure you that your
interfering in this matter so much against our inclinations excuse 
sir my plain dealing will very probably occasion an opposition in some
points where otherwise there might be none 

what therefore i propose is not that my father should assume this
trust he is too much afflicted to undertake it nor yet myself i might
be thought too much concerned in interest but that it might be allowed
to devolve upon my two uncles whose known honour and whose affection to
the dear deceased nobody every doubted and they will treat with you 
sir through my cousin morden as to the points they will undertake to
perform 

the trouble you have already had will well entitle you to the legacy she
bequeaths you together with the re-imbursement of all the charges you
have been at and allowance of the legacies you have discharged although
you should not have qualified yourself to act as an executor as i
presume you have not yet done nor will now do 

your compliance sir will oblige a family who have already distress
enough upon them in the circumstance that occasions this application to
you and more particularly sir 

your most humble servant 
james harlowe jun 


i send this by one of my servants who will attend your dispatch 



letter xxxiii

mr belford to mr james harlowe jun esq 
saturday sept 16 


sir 

you will excuse my plain-dealing in turn for i must observe that if i
had not the just opinion i have of the sacred nature of this office i
have undertaken some passages in the letter you have favoured me with
would convince me that i ought not to excuse myself from acting in it 

i need only name one of them you are pleased to say that your uncles 
if the trust be relinquished to them will treat with me through colonel
morden as to the points they will undertake to perform 

permit me sir to say that it is the duty of an executor to see every
point performed that can be performed nor will i leave the performance
of mine to any other persons especially where a qualifying is so
directly intimated and where all the branches of your family have shown
themselves with respect to the incomparable lady to have but one mind 

you are pleased to urge that she recommends to me the leaving to the
honour of any of your family such of the articles as are of a domestic
nature but admitting this to be so does it not imply that the other
articles are still to obtain my care but even these you will find by
the will she gives not up and to that i refer you 

i am sorry for the hints you give of an opposition where as you say 
there might be none if i did not interfere i see not sir why your
animosity against a man who cannot be defended should be carried to such
a height against one who never gave you offence and this only because
he is acquainted with that man i will not say all i might say on this
occasion 

as to the legacy to myself i assure you sir that neither my
circumstances nor my temper will put me upon being a gainer by the
executorship i shall take pleasure to tread in the steps of the
admirable testatrix in all i may and rather will increase than diminish
her poor's fund 

with regard to the trouble that may attend the execution of the trust i
shall not in honour to her memory value ten times more than this can
give me i have indeed two other executorships on my hands but they
sit light upon me and survivors cannot better or more charitably bestow
their time 

i conceive that every article but that relating to the poor's fund 
 such is the excellence of the disposition of the most excellent of
women may be performed in two months' time at farthest 

occasions of litigation or offence shall not proceed from me you need
only apply to colonel morden who shall command me in every thing that the
will allows me to oblige your family in i do assure you that i am as
unwilling to obtrude myself upon it as any of it can wish 

i own that i have not yet proved the will nor shall i do it till next
week at soonest that you may have time for amicable objections if such
you think fit to make through the colonel's mediation but let me
observe to you sir that an executor's power in such instances as i
have exercised it is the same before the probate as after it he can
even without taking that out commence an action although he cannot
declare upon it and these acts of administration make him liable to
actions himself  i am therefore very proper in the steps i shall have
taken in part of the execution of this sacred trust and want not
allowance on the occasion 

permit me to add that when you have perused the will and coolly
considered every thing it is my hope that you will yourself be of
opinion that there can be no room for dispute or opposition and that if
your family will join to expedite the execution it will be the most
natural and easy way of shutting up the whole affair and to have done
with a man so causelessly as to his own particular the object of your
dislike as is sir 

your very humble servant notwithstanding 
john belford 



the will

to which the following preamble written on a separate paper was
stitched in black silk 


to my executor

i hope i may be excused for expatiating in divers parts of this solemn
last act upon subjects of importance for i have heard of so many
instances of confusion and disagreement in families and so much doubt
and difficulty for want of absolute clearness in the testaments of
departed persons that i have often concluded were there to be no other
reasons but those which respect the peace of surviving friends that
this last act as to its designation and operation ought not to be the
last in its composition or making but should be the result of cool
deliberation and as is more frequently than justly said of a sound
mind and memory which too seldom are to be met with but in sound health 
all pretences of insanity of mind are likewise prevented when a testator
gives reasons for what he wills all cavils about words are obviated the
obliged are assured and they enjoy the benefit for whom the benefit was
intended hence have i for some time past employed myself in penning
down heads of such a disposition which as reasons offered i have
altered and added to so that i was never absolutely destitute of a will 
had i been taken off ever so suddenly these minutes and imperfect
sketches enabled me as god has graciously given me time and sedateness 
to digest them into the form in which they appear 


i clarissa harlowe now by strange melancholy accidents lodging in the
parish of st paul covent-garden being of sound and perfect mind and
memory as i hope these presents drawn up by myself and written with my
own hand will testify do  this second day of september   in the year
of our lord make and publish this my last will and testament in
manner and form following 


 a blank at the writing was left for this date and filled up on this
day see vol viii letter li 
 the date of the year is left blank for particular reasons 


in the first place i desire that my body may lie unburied three days
after my decease or till the pleasure of my father be known concerning
it but the occasion of my death not admitting of doubt i will not on
any account that it be opened and it is my desire that it shall not be
touched but by those of my own sex 

i have always earnestly requested that my body might be deposited in the
family vault with those of my ancestors if it might be granted i could
now wish that it might be placed at the feet of my dear and honoured
grandfather but as i have by one very unhappy step been thought to
disgrace my whole lineage and therefore this last honour may be refused
to my corpse in this case my desire is that it may be interred in the
churchyard belonging to the parish in which i shall die and that in the
most private manner between the hours of eleven and twelve at night 
attended only by mrs lovick and mr and mrs smith and their maid
servant 

but it is my desire that the same fees and dues may be paid which are
usually paid for those who are laid in the best ground as it is called 
or even in the chancel and i bequeath five pounds to be given at the
discretion of the church-wardens to twenty poor people the sunday after
my interment and this whether i shall be buried here or elsewhere 

i have already given verbal directions that after i am dead and laid
out in the manner i have ordered i may be put into my coffin as soon as
possible it is my desire that i may not be unnecessarily exposed to the
view of any body except any of my relations should vouchsafe for the
last time to look upon me 

and i could wish if it might be avoided without making ill will between
mr lovelace and my executor that the former might not be permitted to
see my corpse but if as he is a man very uncontroulable and as i am
nobody's he insist upon viewing her dead whom he once before saw in a
manner dead let his gay curiosity be gratified let him behold and
triumph over the wretched remains of one who has been made a victim to
his barbarous perfidy but let some good person as by my desire give
him a paper whist he is viewing the ghastly spectacle containing these
few words only gay cruel heart behold here the remains of the once
ruined yet now happy clarissa harlowe see what thou thyself must
quickly be and repent 

yet to show that i die in perfect charity with all the world i do most
sincerely forgive mr lovelace the wrongs he has done me 

if my father can pardon the errors of his unworthy child so far as to
suffer her corpse to be deposited at the feet of her grandfather as
above requested i could wish my misfortunes being so notorious that a
short discourse be pronounced over my remains before they be interred 
the subject of the discourse i shall determine before i conclude this
writing 


so much written about what deserves not the least consideration and
 about what will be nothing when this writing comes to be opened
 and read will be excused when my present unhappy circumstances
 and absence from all my natural friends are considered 


and now with regard to the worldly matters which i shall die possessed
of as well as to those which of right appertain to me either by the
will of my said grandfather or otherwise thus do i dispose of them 

in the first place i give and bequeath all the real estates in or to
which i have any claim or title by the said will to my ever-honoured
father james harlowe esq and that rather than to my brother and
sister to whom i had once thoughts of devising them because if they
survive my father those estates will assuredly vest in them or one of
them by virtue of his favour and indulgence as the circumstances of
things with regard to marriage-settlements or otherwise may require 
or as they may respectively merit by the continuance of their duty 

the house late my grandfather's called the grove and by him in honour
of me and of some of my voluntary employments my dairy-house and the
furniture thereof as it now stands the pictures and large iron chest of
old plate excepted i also bequeath to my said father only begging it
as a favour that he will be pleased to permit my dear mrs norton to pass
the remainder of her days in that house and to have and enjoy the
apartments in it known by the name of the housekeeper's apartments with
the furniture in them and which plain and neat was bought for me by
my grandfather who delighted to call me his house-keeper and which 
therefore in his life-time i used as such the office to go with the
apartments and as i am the more earnest in this recommendation as i
had once thought to have been very happy there with the good woman and
because i think her prudent management will be as beneficial to my
father as his favour can be convenient to her 

but with regard to what has accrued from that estate since my
grandfather's death and to the sum of nine hundred and seventy pounds 
which proved to be the moiety of the money that my said grandfather had
by him at his death and which moiety he bequeathed to me for my sole
and separate use  as he did the other moiety in like manner to my
sister   and which sum that i might convince my brother and sister that
i wished not for an independence upon my father's pleasure i gave into
my father's hands together with the management and produce of the whole
estate devised to me these sums however considerable when put together 
i hope i may be allowed to dispose of absolutely as my love and
gratitude not confined only to my own family which is very wealthy in
all its branches may warrant and which therefore i shall dispose of in
the manner hereafter mentioned but it is my will and express direction 
that my father's account of the above-mentioned produce may be taken and
established absolutely and without contravention or question as he
shall be pleased to give it to my cousin morden or to whom else he shall
choose to give it so as that the said account be not subject to
litigation or to the controul of my executor or of any other person 


 see vol i letter xiii 


my father of his love and bounty was pleased to allow me the same
quarterly sums that he allowed my sister for apparel and other
requisites and pleased with me then used to say that those sums
should not be deducted from the estate and effects bequeathed to me by my
grandfather but having mortally offended him as i fear it may be said 
by one unhappy step it may be expected that he will reimburse himself
those sums it is therefore my will and direction that he shall be
allowed to pay and satisfy himself for all such quarterly or other sums 
which he was so good as to advance me from the time of my grandfather's
death and that his account of such sums shall likewise be taken without
questioning the money however which i left behind me in my escritoire 
being to be taken in part of those disbursements 

my grandfather who in his goodness and favour to me knew no bounds 
was pleased to bequeath to me all the family pictures at his late house 
some of which are very masterly performances with command that if i
died unmarried or if married and had no descendants they should then go
to that son of his if more than one should be then living whom i should
think would set most value by them now as i know that my honoured
uncle mr john harlowe esq was pleased to express some concern that
they were not left to him as eldest son and as he has a gallery where
they may be placed to advantage and as i have reason to believe that he
will bequeath them to my father if he survive him who no doubt will
leave them to my brother i therefore bequeath all the said family
pictures to my said uncle john harlowe in these pictures however i
include not one of my own drawn when i was about fourteen years of age 
which i shall hereafter in another article bequeath 

my said honoured grandfather having a great fondness for the old family
plate which he would never permit to be changed having lived as he
used to day to see a great deal of it come into request again in the
revolution of fashions and having left the same to me with a command
to keep it entire and with power at my death to bequeath it to
whomsoever i pleased that i thought would forward his desire which was 
as he expresses it that it should be kept to the end of time this
family plate which is deposited in a large iron chest in the strong
room at his late dwelling-house i bequeath entire to my honoured uncle
antony harlowe esq with the same injunctions which were laid on me not
doubting but he will confirm and strengthen them by his own last will 

i bequeath to my ever-valued friend mrs judith norton to whose piety
and care seconding the piety and care of my ever-honoured and excellent
mother i owe morally speaking the qualifications which for eighteen
years of my life made me beloved and respected the full sum of six
hundred pounds to be paid her within three months after my death 

i bequeath also to the same good woman thirty guineas for mourning for
her and for her son my foster-brother 

to mrs dorothy hervey the only sister of my honoured mother i bequeath
the sum of fifty guineas for a ring and i beg of her to accept of my
thankful acknowledgements for all her goodness to me from my infancy and
particularly for her patience with me in the several altercations that
happened between my brother and sister and me before my unhappy
departure from harlowe-place 

to my kind and much valued cousin miss dolly hervey daughter of my aunt
hervey i bequeath my watch and equipage and my best mechlin and
brussels head-dresses and ruffles also my gown and petticoat of flowered
silver of my own work which having been made up but a few days before i
was confined to my chamber i never wore 

to the same young lady i bequeath likewise my harpsichord my
chamber-organ and all my music-books 

as my sister has a very pretty library and as my beloved miss howe has
also her late father's as well as her own i bequeath all my books in
general with the cases they are in to my said cousin dolly hervey as
they are not ill-chosen for a woman's library i know that she will take
the greater pleasure in them when her friendly grief is mellowed by
time into a remembrance more sweet than painful because they were mine 
and because there are observations in many of them of my own writing and
some very judicious ones written by the truly reverend dr lewen 

i also bequeath to the same young lady twenty-five guineas for a ring to
be worn in remembrance of her true friend 

if i live not to see my worthy cousin william morden esq i desire my
humble and grateful thanks may be given to him for his favours and
goodness to me and particularly for his endeavours to reconcile my other
friends to me at a time when i was doubtful whether he would forgive me
himself as he is in great circumstances i will only beg of him to
accept of two or three trifles in remembrance of a kinswoman who always
honoured him as much as he loved her particularly of that piece of
flowers which my uncle robert his father was very earnest to obtain in
order to carry it abroad with him 

i desire him likewise to accept of the little miniature picture set in
gold which his worthy father made me sit for to the famous italian
master whom he brought over with him and which he presented to me that
i might bestow it as he was pleased to say upon the man whom i should
be one day most inclined to favour 

to the same gentleman i also bequeath my rose diamond ring which was a
present from his good father to me and will be the more valuable to him
on that account 

i humbly request mrs annabella howe the mother of my dear miss howe to
accept of my respectful thanks for all her favours and goodness to me 
when i was so frequently a visiter to her beloved daughter and of a ring
of twenty-five guineas price 

my picture at full length which is in my late grandfather's closet 
 excepted in an article above from the family pictures drawn when i was
near fourteen years of age about which time my dear miss howe and i
began to know to distinguish and to love one another so dearly i
cannot express how dearly i bequeath to that sister of my heart of
whose friendship as well in adversity as prosperity when i was deprived
of all other comfort and comforters i have had such instances as that
our love can only be exceeded in that state of perfection in which i
hope to rejoice with her hereafter to all eternity 

i bequeath also to the same dear friend my best diamond ring which with
other jewels is in the private drawer of my escritoire as also all my
finished and framed pieces of needle-work the flower-piece excepted 
which i have already bequeathed to my cousin morden 

these pieces have all been taken down as i have heard and my relations
will have no heart to put them up again but if my good mother chooses to
keep back any one piece the above capital piece as it is called 
excepted not knowing but some time hence she may bear the sight of it 
i except that also from this general bequest and direct it to be
presented to her 


 see vol iii letter lv 


my whole-length picture in the vandyke taste that used to hang in my
own parlour as i was permitted to call it i bequeath to my aunt hervey 
except my mother should think fit to keep it herself 


 ibid 


i bequeath to the worthy charles hickman esq the locket with the
miniature picture of the lady he best loves which i have constantly
worn and shall continue to wear next my heart till the approach of my
last hour it must be the most acceptable present that can be made him 
next to the hand of the dear original and o my dear miss howe let it
not be long before you permit his claim to the latter for indeed you
know not the value of a virtuous mind in that sex and how preferable
such a mind is to one distinguished by the more dazzling flights of
unruly wit although the latter were to be joined by that specious
outward appearance which too too often attracts the hasty eye and
susceptible heart 


 see letter ii of this volume 


permit me my dear friends this solemn apostrophe in this last solemn
 act to a young lady so deservedly dear to me 

i make it my earnest request to my dear miss howe that she will not put
herself into mourning for me but i desire her acceptance of a ring with
my hair and that mr hickman will also accept of the like each of the
value of twenty-five guineas 

i bequeath to lady betty lawrance and to her sister lady sarah sadleir 
and to the right honourable lord m and to their worthy nieces miss
charlotte and miss martha montague each an enamelled ring with a cipher
cl h with my hair in crystal and round the inside of each the day 
month and year of my death each ring with brilliants to cost twenty
guineas and this as a small token of the grateful sense i have of the
honour of their good opinions and kind wishes in my favour and of their
truly noble offer t me of a very considerable annual provision when they
apprehended me to be entirely destitute of any 

to the reverend and learned dr arthur lewen by whose instructions i
have been equally delighted and benefited i bequeath twenty guineas for
a ring if it should please god to call him to himself before he can
receive this small bequest it is my will that his worthy daughter may
have the benefit of it 

in token of the grateful sense i have of the civilities paid me by mrs 
and miss howe's domestics from time to time in my visits there i
bequeath thirty guineas to be divided among them as their dear young
mistress shall think proper 

to each of my worthy companions and friends miss biddy lloyd miss fanny
alston miss rachel biddulph and miss cartright campbell i bequeath
five guineas for a ring 

to my late maid servant hannah burton an honest faithful creature who
loved me reverenced my mother and respected my sister and never sought
to do any thing unbecoming of her character i bequeath the sum of fifty
pounds to be paid within one month after my decease she labouring under
ill health and if that ill-health continue i commend her for farther
assistance to my good mrs norton to be put upon my poor's fund 
hereafter to be mentioned 

to the coachman groom and two footmen and five maids at
harlowe-place i bequeath ten pounds each to the helper five pounds 

to my sister's maid betty barnes i bequeath ten pounds to show that i
resent no former disobligations which i believe were owing more to the
insolence of office and to natural pertness than to personal ill will 

all my wearing-apparel of whatever sort that i have not been obliged to
part with or which is not already bequeathed my linen excepted i
desire mrs norton to accept of 

the trunks and boxes in which my clothes are sealed up i desire may not
be opened but in presence of mrs norton or of someone deputed by her 
and of mrs lovick 

to the worthy mrs lovick above-mentioned from whom i have received
great civilities and even maternal kindnesses and to mrs smith with
whom i lodge from whom also i have received great kindnesses i bequeath
all my linen and all my unsold laces to be divided equally between
them as they shall agree or in case of disagreement the same to be
sold and the money arising to be equally shared by them 

and i bequeath to the same good gentlewomen as a further token of my
thankful acknowledgements of their kind love and compassionate concern
for me the sum of twenty guineas each 

to mr smith the husband of mrs smith above-named i bequeath the sum
of ten guineas in acknowledgement of his civilities to me 

to katharine the honest maid servant of mrs smith to whom having no
servant of my own i have been troublesome i bequeath five guineas and
ten guineas more in lieu of a suit of my wearing-apparel which once 
with some linen i thought of leaving to her with this she may purchase
what may be more suitable to her liking and degree 

to the honest and careful widow anne shelburne my nurse over and above
her wages and the customary perquisites that may belong to her i
bequeath the sum of ten guineas here is a careful and to persons of
such humanity and tenderness a melancholy employment attended in the
latter part of life with great watching and fatigue which is hardly ever
enough considered 

the few books i have at my present lodgings i desire mrs lovick to
accept of and that she be permitted if she please to take a copy of my
book of meditations as i used to call it being extracts from the best
of books which she seemed to approve of although suited particularly to
my own case as for the book itself perhaps my good mrs norton will be
glad to have it as it is written with my own hand 

in the middle drawer of my escritoire at harlowe-place are many
letters and copies of letters put up according to their dates which i
have written or received in a course of years ever since i learned to
write from and to my grandfather my father and mother my uncles my
brother and sister on occasional little absences my late uncle morden 
my cousin morden mrs norton and miss howe and other of my companions
and friends before my confinement at my father's as also from the three
reverent gentlemen dr blome mr arnold and mr tomkins now with god 
and the very reverend dr lewen on serious subjects as these letters
exhibit a correspondence that no person of my sex need to be ashamed of 
allowing for the time of life when mine were written and as many
excellent things are contained in those written to me and as miss howe 
to whom most of them have been communicated wished formerly to have
them if she survived me for these reasons i bequeath them to my said
dear friend miss anna howe and the rather as she had for some years
past a very considerable share in the correspondence 

i do hereby make constitute and ordain john belford of edgware in
the county of middlesex esq the sole executor of this my last will and
testament having previously obtained his leave so to do i have given
the reasons which induced me to ask this gentleman to take upon him this
trouble to miss howe i therefore refer to her on this subject 

but i do most earnestly beg of him the said mr belford that in the
execution of his trust he will as he has repeatedly promised 
studiously endeavour to promote peace with and suppress resentments in 
every one so that all farther mischiefs may be prevented as well from 
as to his friend and in order to this i beseech him to cultivate the
friendship of my worthy cousin morden who as i presume to hope when
he understands it to be my dying request will give him his advice and
assistance in every article where it may be necessary and who will
perhaps be so good as to interpose with my relations if any difficulty
should arise about carrying out some of the articles of this my last will
into execution and to soften them into the wished-for condescension 
for it is my earnest request to mr belford that he will not seek by
law or by any sort of violence either by word or deed to extort the
performance from them if there be any articles of a merely domestic
nature that my relations shall think unfit to be carried into execution 
such articles i leave entirely to my said cousin morden and mr belford
to vary or totally dispense with as they shall agree upon the matter 
or if they two differ in opinion they will be pleased to be determined
by a third person to be chosen by them both 

having been pressed by miss howe and her mother to collect the
particulars of my sad story and given expectation that i would in order
to do my character justice with all my friends and companions but not
having time before me for the painful task it has been a pleasure for me
to find by extracts kindly communicated to me by my said executor that
i may safely trust my fame to the justice done me by mr lovelace in his
letters to him my said executor and as mr belford has engaged to
contribute what is in his power towards a compliment to be made of all
that relates to my story and knows my whole mind in this respect it is
my desire that he will cause two copies to be made of this collection 
one to remain with miss howe the other with himself and that he will
show or lend his copy if required to my aunt hervey for the
satisfaction of any of my family but under such restrictions as the said
mr belford shall think fit to impose that neither any other person's
safety may be endangered nor his own honour suffer by the
communication 

i bequeath to my said executor the sum of one hundred guineas as a
grateful though insufficient acknowledgment of the trouble he will be at
in the execution of the trust he has so kindly undertaken i desire him
likewise to accept of twenty guineas for a ring and that he will
reimburse himself for all the charges and expenses which he shall be at
in the execution of this trust 

in the worthy dr h i have found a physician a father and a friend i
beg of him as a testimony of my gratitude to accept of twenty guineas
for a ring 

i have the same obligations to the kind and skilful mr goddard who
attended me as my apothecary his very moderate bill i have discharged
down to yesterday i have always thought it incumbent upon testators to
shorten all they can the trouble of their executors i know i under-rate
the value of mr goddard's attendances when over and above what may
accrue from yesterday to the hour that will finish all i desire fifteen
guineas for a ring may be presented to him 

to the reverend mr who frequently attended me and prayed by me in
my last stages i also bequeath fifteen guineas for a ring 

there are a set of honest indigent people whom i used to call my poor 
and to whom mrs norton conveys relief each month or at shorter
periods in proportion to their necessities from a sum i deposited in
her hands and from time to time recruited as means accrued to me but
now nearly if not wholly expended now that my fault may be as little
aggravated as possible by the sufferings of the worthy people whom
heaven gave me a heart to relieve and as the produce of my grandfather's
estate including the moiety of the sums he had by him and was pleased
to give me at his death as above mentioned together with what i shall
further appropriate to the same use in the subsequent articles will as
i hope more than answer all my legacies and bequests it is my will and
desire that the remainder be it little or much shall become a fund to
be appropriated and i hereby direct that it be appropriated to the like
purposes with the sums which i put into mrs norton's hands as aforesaid
 and this under the direction and management of the said mrs norton 
who knows my whole mind in this particular and in case of her death or
of her desire to be acquitted of the management thereof it is my earnest
request to my dear miss howe that she will take it upon herself and
that at her own death she will transfer what shall remain undisposed of
at the time to such persons and with such limitations restrictions 
and provisoes as she shall think will best answer my intention for as
to the management and distribution of all or any part of it while in
mrs norton's hands or her own i will that it be entirely discretional 
and without account either to my executor or any other person 

although mrs norton as i have hinted knows my whole mind in this
respect yet it may be proper to mention in this solemn last act that
my intention is that this fund be entirely set apart and appropriated to
relieve temporarily from the interest thereof as i dare say it will be
put out to the best advantage or even from the principal if need be 
the honest industrious labouring poor only when sickness lameness 
unforeseen losses or other accidents disable them from following their
lawful callings or to assist such honest people of large families as
shall have a child of good inclinations to put out to service trade or
husbandry 

it has always been a rule with me in my little donations to endeavour
to aid and set forward the sober and industrious poor small helps if
seasonably afforded will do for such and so the fund may be of more
extensive benefit an ocean of wealth will not be sufficient for the idle
and dissolute whom therefore since they will always be in want it
will be no charity to relieve if worthier creatures would by relieving
the others be deprived of such assistance as may set the wheels of their
industry going and put them in a sphere of useful action 

but it is my express will and direction that let this fund come out to
be ever so considerable it shall be applied only in support of the
temporary exigencies of the persons i have described and that no one
family or person receive from it at one time or in one year more than
the sum of twenty pounds 

it is my will and desire that the set of jewels which was my
grandmother's and presented to me soon after her death be valued and
the worth of them paid to my executor if any of my family choose to have
them or otherwise that they should be sold and go to the augmentation
of my poor's fund but if they may be deemed an equivalent for the sums
my father was pleased to advance to me since the death of my grandfather 
i desire that they may be given to him 

i presume that the diamond necklace solitaire and buckles which were
properly my own presented by my mother's uncle sir josias brookland 
will not be purchased by any one of my family for a too obvious reason 
in this case i desire that they may be sent to the best advantage and
apply the money to the uses of my will 

in the beginning of this tedious writing i referred to the latter part
of it the naming of the subject of the discourse which i wished might be
delivered at my funeral if permitted to be interred with my ancestors 
i think the following will be suitable to my case i hope the alteration
of the words her and she for him and he may be allowable 

 let not her that is deceived trust in vanity for vanity
 shall be her recompense she shall be accomplished before
 her time and her branch shall not be green she shall
 shake off her unripe grape as the vine and shall cut off her
 flower as the olive  


 job xv 31 32 33 


but if i am to be interred in town let only the usual burial-service be
read over my corpse 

if my body be permitted to be carried down i bequeath ten pounds to be
given to the poor of the parish at the discretion of the church-wardens 
within a fortnight after my interment 

if any necessary matter be omitted in this my will or if any thing
appear doubtful or contradictory as possibly may be the case since
besides my inexperience in these matters i am now at this time very
weak and ill having put off the finishing hand a little too long in
hopes of obtaining the last forgiveness of my honoured friend in which
case i should have acknowledged the favour with a suitable warmth of
duty and filled up some blanks which i left to the very last in a more
agreeable manner to myself than now i have been enabled to do in case of
such omissions and imperfections i desire that my cousin morden will be
so good as to join with mr belford in considering them and in comparing
them with what i have more explicitly written and if after that any
doubt remain that they will be pleased to apply to miss howe who knows
my whole heart and i desire that the construction of these three may be
established and i hereby establish it provided it be unanimous and
direct it to be put in force as if i had so written and determined
myself 


and now o my blessed redeemer do i with a lively faith humbly lay
 hold of thy meritorious death and sufferings hoping to be washed
 clean in thy precious blood from all my sins in the bare hope of
 the happy consequences of which how light do those sufferings seem
 grievous as they were at the time which i confidently trust 
 will be a mean by the grace to work out for me a more exceeding
 and eternal weight of glory 

clarissa harlowe 

signed sealed published and declared the day and year above-written 
 by the said clarissa harlowe as her last will and testament 
 contained in seven sheets of paper all written with her own hand 
 and every sheet signed and sealed by herself in the presence of
 us 

john williams 
arthur bedall 
elizabeth swanton 



letter xxxiv

colonel morden to john belford esq 
sat sept 16 


i have been employed in a most melancholy task in reading the will of
the dear deceased 

the unhappy mother and mrs norton chose to be absent on the affecting
occasion but mrs harlowe made it her earnest request that every
article of it should be fulfilled 

they were all extremely touched with the preamble 

the first words of the will i clarissa harlowe now by strange
melancholy accidents lodging  etc drew tears from some sighs from
all 

the directions for her funeral in case she were or were not permitted
to be carried down the mention of her orders having been given for the
manner of her being laid out and the presence of mind so visible
throughout the whole obtained their admiration expressed by hands and
eyes lifted up and by falling tears 

when i read the direction that her body was not to be viewed except
any of her relations should vouchsafe for the last time to look upon
her  they turned away and turned to me three or four times
alternately mrs hervey and miss arabella sobbed the uncles wiped
their eyes the brother looked down the father wrung his hands 

i was obliged to stop at the words that she was nobody's 

but when i came to the address to be made to the accursed man if he
were not to be diverted from seeing her dead whom once before he had
seen in a manner dead' execration and either vows or wishes of
revenge filled every mouth 

these were still more fervently renewed when they came to hear read her
forgiveness of even this man 

you remember sir on our first reading of the will in town the
observations i made on the foul play which it is evident the excellent
creature met with from this abandoned man and what i said upon the
occasion i am not used to repeat things of that nature 

the dear creature's noble contempt of the nothing as she nobly calls it 
about which she had been giving such particular directions to wit her
body and her apologizing for the particularity of those directions from
the circumstances she was in had the same and as strong an effect upon
me as when i first read the animated paragraph and pointed by my eye 
 by turns cast upon them all affected them all 

when the article was read which bequeathed to the father the
grandfather's estate and the reason assigned for it so generous and so
dutiful the father could sit no longer but withdrew wiping his eyes 
and lifting up his spread hands at mr james harlowe who rose to attend
him to the door as arabella likewise did all he could say o son 
son o girl girl as if he reproached them for the parts they had
acted and put him upon acting 

but yet on some occasions this brother and sister showed themselves to
be true will disputants 

let tongue and eyes express what they will mr belford the first
reading of a will where a person dies worth anything considerable 
generally affords a true test of the relations' love to the deceased 

the clothes the thirty guineas for mourning to mrs norton with the
recommendation of the good woman for housekeeper at the grove were
thought sufficient had the article of 600  which was called monstrous 
been omitted some other passages in the will were called flights and
such whimsies as distinguish people of imagination from those of
judgment 

my cousin dolly hervey was grudged the library miss harlowe said that
as she and her sister never bought the same books she would take that
to herself and would make it up to her cousin dolly one way or other 

i intend mr belford to save you the trouble of interposing the
library shall be my cousin dolly's 

mrs hervey could hardly keep her seat on this occasion however she
only said that her late dear and ever dear niece was too glad to her
and hers but at another time she declared with tears that she could
not forgive herself for a letter she wrote looking at miss arabella 
whom it seems unknown to any body she had consulted before she wrote
it and which she said must have wounded a spirit that now she saw had
been too deeply wounded before 


 see vol iii letter lii 


o my aunt said arabella no more of that who would have thought that
the dear creature had been such a penitent 

mr john and mr antony harlowe were so much affected with the articles
in their favour bequeathed to them without a word or hint of reproach
or recrimination that they broke out into self-accusations and
lamented that their sweet niece as they called her was not got above
all grateful acknowledgement and returns indeed the mutual upbraidings
and grief of all present upon those articles in which every one was
remembered for good so often interrupted me that the reading took up
above six hours but curses upon the accursed man were a refuge to which
they often resorted to exonerate themselves 

how wounding a thing mr belford is a generous and well-distinguished
forgiveness what revenge can be more effectual and more noble were
revenge intended and were it wished to strike remorse into a guilty or
ungrateful heart but my dear cousin's motives were all duty and love 
she seems indeed to have been as much as a mortal could be love itself 
love sublimed by a purity by a true delicacy that hardly any woman
before her could boast of o mr belford what an example would she have
given in every station of life as wife mother mistress friend had
her lot fallen upon a man blessed with a mind like her own 

the 600  bequeathed to mrs norton the library to miss hervey and the
remembrances to miss howe were not the only articles grudged yet to
what purpose did they regret the pecuniary bequests when the poor's
fund and not themselves would have had the benefit had not those
legacies been bequeathed 

but enough passed to convince me that my cousin was absolutely right in
her choice of an executor out of the family had she chosen one in it 
i dare say that her will would have been no more regarded than if it had
been the will of a dead king than that of lousi xiv in particular so
flagrantly broken through by his nephew the duke of orleans before he was
cold the only will of that monarch perhaps which was ever disputed 

but little does mr james harlowe think that while he is grasping at
hundreds he will most probably lose thousands if he be my survivor 
a man of a spirit so selfish and narrow shall not be my heir 

you will better conceive mr belford than i can express how much they
were touched at the hint that the dear creature had been obliged to part
with some of her clothes 

silent reproach seized every one of them when i came to the passage where
she mentions that she deferred filling up some blanks in hopes of
receiving their last blessing and forgiveness 

i will only add that they could not bear to hear read the concluding
part so solemnly addressed to her redeemer they all arose from their
seats and crowded out of the apartment we were in and then as i
afterwards found separated in order to seek that consolation in
solitary retirement which though they could not hope for from their own
reflections yet at the time they had less reason to expect in each
other's company i am sir 

your faithful and obedient servant 
william morden 



letter xxxv

mr belford to the right hon lord m 
london sept 14 


my lord 

i am very apprehensive that the affair between mr lovelace and the late
excellent miss clarissa harlowe will be attended with farther bad
consequences notwithstanding her dying injunctions to the contrary i
would therefore humbly propose that your lordship and his other
relations will forward the purpose your kinsman lately had to go abroad 
where i hope he will stay till all is blown over but as he will not
stir if he knew the true motives of your wishes the avowed inducement 
as i hinted once to mr mowbray may be such as respects his own health
both of person and mind to mr mowbray and mr tourville all countries
are alike and they perhaps will accompany him 

i am glad to hear that he is in a way of recovery but this the rather
induces me to press the matter i think no time should be lost 

your lordship had head that i have the honour to be the executor of this
admirable lady's last will i transcribe from it the following
paragraph 


 he then transcribes the article which so gratefully mentions this
 nobleman and the ladies of his family in relation to the rings
 she bequeaths them about which he desires their commands  



letter xxxvi

miss montague to john belford esq 
m hall friday sept 15 


sir 

my lord having the gout in his right hand his lordship and lady sarah 
and lady betty have commanded me to inform you that before your letter
came mr lovelace was preparing for a foreign tour we shall endeavour
to hasten him away on the motives you suggest 

we are all extremely affected with the dear lady's death lady betty and
lady sarah have been indisposed ever since they heard of it they had
pleased themselves as had my sister and self with the hopes of
cultivating her acquaintance and friendship after he was gone abroad 
upon her own terms her kind remembrance of each of us has renewed 
though it could not heighten our regrets for so irreparable a loss we
shall order mr finch our goldsmith to wait on you he has our
directions about the rings they will be long long worn in memory of
the dear testatrix 

every body is assured that you will do all in your power to prevent
farther ill consequences from this melancholy affair my lord desires
his compliments to you i am sir 

your humble servant 
ch montague 


 


this collection having run into a much greater length than was wished it
is proper to omit several letters that passed between colonel morden 
miss howe mr belford and mr hickman in relation to the execution of
the lady's will etc 

it is however necessary to observe on this subject that the unhappy
mother being supported by the two uncles influenced the afflicted
father to over-rule all his son's objections and to direct a literal
observation of the will and at the same time to give up all the sums
which he was empowered by it to reimburse himself as also to take upon
himself to defray the funeral expenses 

mr belford so much obliges miss howe by his steadiness equity and
dispatch and by his readiness to contribute to the directed collection 
that she voluntarily entered into a correspondence with him as the
representative of her beloved friend in the course of which he
communicated to her in confidence the letters which passed between him
and mr lovelace and by colonel morden's consent those which passed
between that gentleman and himself 

he sent with the first parcel of letters which he had transcribed out of
short-hand for miss howe a letter to mr hickman dated the 16th of
september in which he expresses himself as follows 

but i ought sir in this parcel to have kept out one letter it is
that which relates to the interview between yourself and mr lovelace at
mr dormer's in which mr lovelace treats you with an air of levity 
which neither your person your character nor your commission deserved 
but which was his usual way of treating every one whose business he was
not pleased with i hope sir you have too much greatness of mind to be
disturbed at the contents of this letter should miss howe communicate
them to you and the rather as it is impossible that you should suffer
with her on that account 


 see vol vii letter xxviii 


mr belford then excuses mr lovelace as a good-natured man with all his
faults and gives instances of his still greater freedoms with himself 

to this mr hickman answers in his letter of the 18th 

as to mr lovelace's treatment of me in the letter you are pleased to
mention i shall not be concerned at it whatever it be i went to him
prepared to expect odd behaviour from him and was not disappointed i
argue to myself in all such cases as this as miss howe from her
ever-dear friend argues that if the reflections thrown upon me are
just i ought not only to forgive them but endeavour to profit by them 
if unjust that i ought to despise them and the reflector too since it
would be inexcusable to strengthen by anger an enemy whose malice might
be disarmed by contempt and moreover i should be almost sorry to find
myself spoken well of by a man who could treat as he treated a lady who
was an ornament to her sex and to human nature 

i thank you however sir for your consideration for me in this
particular and for your whole letter which gives me so desirable an
instance of the friendship which you assured me of when i was last in
town and which i as cordially embrace as wish to cultivate 

miss howe in her's of the 20th acknowledging the receipt of the
letters and papers and legacies sent with mr belford's letter to mr 
hickman assures him that no use shall be made of his communications 
but what he shall approve of 

he had mentioned with compassion the distresses of the harlowe family 
persons of a pitiful nature says she may pity them i am not one of
those you i think pity the infernal man likewise while i from my
heart grudge him his phrensy because it deprives him of that remorse 
which i hope in his recovery will never leave him at times sir let
me tell you that i hate your whole sex for his sake even men of
unblamable characters whom at those times i cannot but look upon as
persons i have not yet found out 

if my dear creature's personal jewels be sent up to you for sale i
desire that i may be the purchaser of them at the highest price of the
necklace and solitaire particularly 

oh what tears did the perusal of my beloved's will cost me but i must
not touch upon the heart-piercing subject i can neither take it up nor
quit it but with execration of the man whom all the world must
execrate 

mr belford in his answer promises that she shall be the purchaser of
the jewels if they come into his hands 

he acquaints her that the family had given colonel morden the keys of all
that belonged to the dear departed that the unhappy mother had as the
will allows ordered a piece of needlework to be set aside for her and
had desired mrs norton to get the little book of meditations
transcribed and to let her have the original as it was all of her dear
daughter's hand-writing and as it might when she could bear to look
into it administer consolation to herself and that she had likewise
reserved for herself her picture in the vandyke taste 

mr belford sends with this letter to miss howe the lady's memorandum
book and promises to send her copies of the several posthumous letters 
he tells her that mr lovelace being upon the recovery he had enclosed
the posthumous letter directed for him to lord m that his lordship might
give it to him or not as he should find he could bear it the
following is a copy of that letter 


to mr lovelace
thursday aug 24 

i told you in the letter i wrote to you on tuesday last that you
should have another sent you when i had got into my father's house 


 see her letter enclosed in mr lovelace's no liv of vol vii 

the reader may observe by the date of this letter that it was written
within two days of the allegorical one to which it refers and while the
lady was labouring under the increased illness occasioned by the hurries
and terrors into which mr lovelace had thrown her in order to avoid the
visit he was so earnest to make her at mr smith's so early written 
perhaps that she might not be surprised by death into a seeming breach
of her word 

high as her christian spirit soars in this letter the reader has seen 
in vol viii letter lxiv and in other places that that exalted spirit
carried her to still more divine elevations as she drew nearer to her
end 


i presume to say that i am now at your receiving of this arrived
there and i invite you to follow me as soon as you are prepared for so
great a journey 

not to allegorize farther my fate is now at your perusal of this 
accomplished my doom is unalterably fixed and i am either a miserable
or happy being to all eternity if happy i owe it solely to the divine
mercy if miserable to your undeserved cruelty and consider not for
your own sake gay cruel fluttering unhappy man consider whether the
barbarous and perfidious treatment i have met with from you was worthy
the hazard of your immortal soul since your wicked views were not to be
effected but by the wilful breach of the most solemn vows that ever were
made by man and those aided by a violence and baseness unworthy of a
human creature 

in time then once more i wish you to consider your ways your golden
dream cannot long last your present course can yield you pleasure no
longer than you can keep off thought or reflection a hardened
insensibility is the only foundation on which your inward tranquillity
is built when once a dangerous sickness seizes you when once effectual
remorse breaks in upon you how dreadful will be your condition how
poor a triumph will you then find it to have been able by a series of
black perjuries and studied baseness under the name of gallantry or
intrigue to betray poor unexperienced young creatures who perhaps knew
nothing but their duty till they knew you not one good action in the
hour of languishing to recollect not one worthy intention to revolve it
will be all reproach and horror and you will wish to have it in your
power to compound for annihilation 

reflect sir that i can have no other motive in what i write than your
good and the safety of other innocent creatures who may be drawn in by
your wicked arts and perjuries you have not in my wishes for future
welfare the wishes of a suppliant wife endeavouring for her own sake 
as well as for your's to induce you to reform those ways they are
wholly as disinterested as undeserved but i should mistrust my own
penitence were i capable of wishing to recompense evil for evil if 
black as your offences have been against me i could not forgive as i
wish to be forgiven 

i repeat therefore that i do forgive you and may the almighty forgive
you too nor have i at the writing of this any other essential regrets
than what are occasioned by the grief i have given to parents who till
i knew you were the most indulgent of parents by the scandal given to
the other branches of my family by the disreputation brought upon my
sex and by the offence given to virtue in my fall 

as to myself you have only robbed me of what once were my favourite
expectations in the transient life i shall have quitted when you receive
this you have only been the cause that i have been cut off in the bloom
of youth and of curtailing a life that might have been agreeable to
myself or otherwise as had reason to be thankful for being taken away
from the evil of supporting my part of a yoke with a man so unhappy i
will only say that in all probability every hour i had lived with him
might have brought with it some new trouble and i am indeed through
sharp afflictions and distresses indebted to you secondarily as i
humbly presume to hope for so many years of glory as might have proved
years of danger temptation and anguish had they been added to my
mortal life 

so sir though no thanks to your intention you have done me real
service and in return i wish you happy but such has been your life
hitherto that you can have no time to lose in setting about your
repentance repentance to such as have lived only carelessly and in the
omission of their regular duties and who never aimed to draw any poor
creatures into evil is not so easy a task nor so much in our own power 
as some imagine how difficult a grace then to be obtained where the
guilt is premeditated wilful and complicated 

to say i once respected you with a preference is what i ought to blush
to own since at the very time i was far from thinking you even a
mortal man though i little thought that you or indeed any man
breathing could be what you have proved yourself to be but indeed 
sir i have long been greatly above you for from my heart i have
despised you and all your ways ever since i saw what manner of man you
were 

nor is it to be wondered that i should be able so to do when that
preference was not grounded on ignoble motives for i was weak enough 
and presumptuous enough to hope to be a mean in the hand of providence 
to reclaim a man whom i thought worthy of the attempt 

nor have i yet as you will see by the pains i take on this solemn
occasion to awaken you out of your sensual dream given over all hopes
of this nature 

hear me therefore o lovelace as one speaking from the dead lose no
time set about your repentance instantly be no longer the instrument of
satan to draw poor souls into those subtile snares which at last shall
entangle your own feet seek not to multiply your offences till they
become beyond the power as i may say of the divine mercy to forgive 
since justice no less than mercy is an attribute of the almighty 

tremble and reform when you read what is the portion of the wicked man
from god thus it is written 

the triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite but
for a moment he is cast into a net by his own feet he walketh upon a
snare terrors shall make him afraid on every side and shall drive him
to his feet his strength shall be hunger-bitten and destruction shall
be ready at his side the first born of death shall devour his strength 
his remembrance shall perish from the earth and he shall have no name in
the streets he shall be chaced  sic  out of the world he shall have
neither son nor nephew among his people they that have seen him shall
say where is he he shall fly away as a dream he shall be chased away
as a vision of the night his meat is the gall of asps within him he
shall flee from the iron weapon and the bow of steel shall strike him
through a fire not blown shall consume him the heaven shall reveal
his iniquity and the earth shall rise up against him the worm shall
feed sweetly on him he shall be no more remembered this is the fate
of him that knoweth not god 

whenever you shall be inclined to consult the sacred oracles from whence
the above threatenings are extracted you will find doctrines and texts
which a truly penitent and contrite heart may lay hold of for its
consolation 

may your's mr lovelace become such and may you be enabled to escape
the fate denounced against the abandoned man and be entitled to the
mercies of a long suffering and gracious god is the sincere prayer of

clarissa harlowe

 



letter xxxvii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
m hall thursday sept 14 


ever since the fatal seventh of this month i have been lost to myself 
and to all the joys of life i might have gone farther back than that
fatal seventh which for the future i will never see anniversarily
revolve but in sables only till that cursed day i had some gleams of
hope now-and-then darting in upon me 

they tell me of an odd letter i wrote to you i remember i did write 
but very little of the contents of what i wrote do i remember 


 see his delirious letter no xxiii 


i have been in a cursed way methinks something has been working
strangely retributive i never was such a fool as to disbelieve a
providence yet am i not for resolving into judgments every thing that
seems to wear an avenging face yet if we must be punished either here
or hereafter for our misdeeds better here say i than hereafter have
i not then an interest to think my punishment already not only begun but
completed since what i have suffered and do suffer passes all
description 

to give but one instance of the retributive here i who was the
barbarous cause of the loss of senses for a week together to the most
inimitable of women have been punished with the loss of my own 
preparative to who knows what when oh when shall i know a joyful
hour 

i am kept excessively low and excessively low i am this sweet
creature's posthumous letter sticks close to me all her excellencies
rise up hourly to my remembrance 

yet dare i not indulge in these melancholy reflections i find my head
strangely working again pen begone 


friday sept 15 

i resume in a sprightly vein i hope mowbray and tourville have just
now 

but what of mowbray and tourville what's the world what's any body
in it 

yet they are highly exasperated against thee for the last letter thou
wrotest to them such an unfriendly such a merciless 


 this letter appears not 


but it won't do i must again lay down my pen o belford belford 
i am still i am still most miserably absent from myself shall never 
never more be what i was 


 


saturday sunday nothing done incapable of any thing 


monday sept 18 

heavy d n y heavy and sick at soul by jupiter i must come into
their expedient i must see what change of climate will do 

you tell these fellows and you tell me of repenting and reforming but
i can do neither he who can must not have the extinction of a clarissa
harlowe to answer for harlowe curse upon the name and curse upon
myself for not changing it as i might have done yet i have no need of
urging a curse upon myself i have it effectually 

to say i once respected you with a preference  in what stiff language
does maidenly modesty on these nice occasion express itself to say i
once loved you is the english and there is truth and ease in the
expression to say i once loved you  then let it be is what i ought
to blush to own 


 see letter xxxvi of this volume 


and dost thou own it excellent creature and dost thou then own it 
what music in these words from such an angel what would i give that my
clarissa were in being and could and would own that she loved me 

but indeed sir i have been long greatly above you  long my blessed
charmer long indeed for you have been ever greatly above me and
above your sex and above all the world 

that preference was not grounded on ignoble motives 

what a wretch was i to be so distinguished by her and yet to be so
unworthy of her hope to reclaim me 

then how generous her motives not for her own sake merely not
altogether for mine did she hope to reclaim me but equally for the sake
of innocents who might otherwise be ruined by me 

and now why did she write this letter and why direct it to be given me
when an event the most deplorable had taken place but for my good and
with a view to the safety of innocents she knew not and when was this
letter written was it not at the time at the very time that i had
been pursuing her as i may say from place to place when her soul was
bowed down by calamity and persecution and herself was denied all
forgiveness from relations the most implacable 

exalted creature and couldst thou at such a time and so early and in
such circumstances have so far subdued thy own just resentments as to
wish happiness to the principal author of all thy distresses wish
happiness to him who had robbed thee of all thy favourite expectations
in this life  to him who had been the cause that thou wert cut off in
the bloom of youth 

heavenly aspirer what a frame must thou be in to be able to use the
word only in mentioning these important deprivations and as this was
before thou puttest off immortalily may i not presume that thou now 

 with pitying eye 
 not derogating from thy perfect bliss 
 survey'st all heav'n around and wishest for me 

consider my ways  dear life of my life of what avail is
consideration now when i have lost the dear creature for whose sake
alone it was worth while to have consideration lost her beyond
retrieving swallowed up by the greedy grave for ever lost her that 
that's the thing matchless woman how does this reflection wound me 

your golden dream cannot long last  divine prophetess my golden dream
is already over thought and reflection are no longer to be kept off 
 no longer continues that hardened insensibility' thou chargest upon
me remorse has broken in upon me dreadful is my condition it is
all reproach and horror with me  a thousand vultures in turn are
preying upon my heart 

but no more of these fruitless reflections since i am incapable of
writing any thing else since my pen will slide into this gloomy subject 
whether i will or not i will once more quit it nor will i again resume
it till i can be more its master and my own 

all i took pen to write for is however unwritten it was in few words 
to wish you to proceed with your communications as usual and why
should you not since in her ever-to-be-lamented death i know every
thing shocking and grievous acquaint me then with all thou knowest 
which i do not know how her relations her cruel relations take it and
whether now the barbed dart of after-reflection sticks not in their
hearts as in mine up to the very feathers 


 


i will soon quit this kingdom for now my clarissa is no more what is
there in it in the world indeed worth living for but shall i not
first by some masterly mischief avenge her and myself upon her cursed
family 

the accursed woman they tell me has broken her leg why was it not her
neck all all but what is owing to her relations is the fault of that
woman and of her hell-born nymphs the greater the virtue the nobler
the triumph was a sentence for ever in their mouths i have had it
several times in my head to set fire to the execrable house and to watch
at the doors and windows that not a devil in it escape the consuming
flames had the house stood by itself i had certainly done it 

but it seems the old wretch is in the way to be rewarded without my
help a shocking letter is received of somebody's in relation to her 
your's i suppose too shocking for me they say to see at present 


 see letter xxv of this volume 


they govern me as a child in strings yet did i suffer so much in my
fever that i am willing to bear with them till i can get tolerably
well 

at present i can neither eat drink nor sleep yet are my disorders
nothing to what they were for jack my brain was on fire day and night 
and had it not been of the asbestos kind it had all been consumed 

i had no distinct ideas but of dark and confused misery it was all
remorse and horror indeed thoughts of hanging drowning shooting then
rage violence mischief and despair took their turns with me my
lucid intervals still worse giving me to reflect upon what i was the
hour before and what i was likely to be the next and perhaps for life 
the sport of enemies the laughter of fools and the hanging-sleeved 
go-carted property of hired slaves who were perhaps to find their
account in manacling and abhorred thought in personally abusing me by
blows and stripes 

who can bear such reflections as these to be made to fear only to such
a one as me and to fear such wretches too what a thing was this but
remotely to apprehend and yet for a man to be in such a state as to
render it necessary for his dearest friends to suffer this to be done for
his own sake and in order to prevent further mischief there is no
thinking of these things 

i will not think of them therefore but will either get a train of
cheerful ideas or hang myself by to-morrow morning 

 to be a dog and dead 
 were paradise to such a life as mine 



letter xxxviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
wednesday sept 20 


i write to demand back again my last letter i own it was my mind at
the different times i wrote it and whatever ailed me i could not help
writing it such a gloomy impulse came upon me and increased as i
wrote that for my soul i could not forbear running into the miserable 

tis strange very strange that a man's conscience should be able to
force his fingers to write whether he will or not and to run him into a
subject he more than once at the very time resolved not to think of 

nor is it less strange that no new reason occurring he should in a
day or two more so totally change his mind have his mind i should
rather say so wholly illuminated by gay hopes and rising prospects as
to be ashamed of what he had written 

for on reperusal of a copy of my letter which fell into my hands by
accident in the hand-writing of my cousin charlotte who unknown to me 
had transcribed it i find it to be such a letter as an enemy would
rejoice to see 

this i know that were i to have continued but one week more in the way
i was in when i wrote the latter part of it i should have been confined 
and in straw the next for i now recollect that all my distemper was
returning upon me with irresistible violence and that in spite of
water-gruel and soup-meagre 

i own i am still excessively grieved at the disappointment this admirable
woman made it so much her whimsical choice to give me 

but since it has thus fallen out since she was determined to leave the
world and since she actually ceases to be ought i who have such a
share of life and health in hand to indulge gloomy reflections upon an
event that is passed and being passed cannot be recalled have i not
had a specimen of what will be my case if i do 

for belford tis a folly to deny it i have been to use an old word 
quite bestraught 

why why did my mother bring me up to bear no controul why was i so
enabled as that to my very tutors it was a request that i should not
know what contradiction or disappointment was ought she not to have
known what cruelty there was in her kindness 

what a punishment to have my first very great disappointment touch my
intellect and intellects once touched but that i cannot bear to think
of only thus far the very repentance and amendment wished me so
heartily by my kind and cross dear have been invalidated and postponed 
and who knows for how long the amendment at least can a madman be
capable of either 

once touched therefore i must endeavour to banish those gloomy
reflections which might otherwise have brought on the right turn of
mind and this to express myself in lord m s style that my wits may
not be sent a wool-gathering 

for let me moreover own to thee that dr hale who was my good astolfo 
 you read ariosto jack   and has brought me back my wit-jar had much
ado by starving diet by profuse phlebotomy by flaying-blisters 
eyelet-hole-cupping a dark room a midnight solitude in a midday sun to
effect my recovery and now for my comfort he tells me that i may
still have returns upon full moons horrible most horrible and must be
as careful of myself at both equinoctials as caesar was warned to be of
the ides of march 

how my heart sickens at looking back upon what i was denied the sun 
and all comfort all my visiters low-born tip-toe attendants even those
tip-toe slaves never approaching me but periodically armed with
gallipots boluses and cephalic draughts delivering their orders to me
in hated whispers and answering other curtain-holding impertinents 
inquiring how i was and how i took their execrable potions whisperingly
too what a cursed still life was this nothing active in me or about
me but the worm that never dies 

again i hasten from the recollection of scenes which will at times 
obtrude themselves upon me 

adieu belford 

but return me my last letter and build nothing upon its contents i
must i will i have already overcome these fruitless gloominess every
hour my constitution rises stronger and stronger to befriend me and 
except a tributary sigh now-and-then to the memory of my heart's beloved 
it gives me hope that i shall quickly be what i was life spirit 
gaiety and once more the plague of a sex that has been my plague and
will be every man's plague at one time or other of his life i repeat my
desire however that you will write to me as usual i hope you have
good store of particulars by you to communicate when i can better bear
to hear of the dispositions that were made for all that was mortal of my
beloved clarissa 

but it will be the joy of my heart to be told that her implacable friends
are plagued with remorse such things as those you may now send me for
company in misery is some relief especially when a man can think those
he hates as miserable as himself 

one more adieu jack 



letter xxxix

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


i am preparing to leave this kingdom mowbray and tourville promise to
give me their company in a month or two 

i'll give thee my route 

i shall first to paris and for some amusement and diversion sake try
to renew some of my old friendships thence to some of the german courts 
thence perhaps to vienna thence descend through bavaria and the tyrol
to venice where i shall keep the carnival thence to florence and turin 
thence again over mount cenis to france and when i return again to
paris shall expect to see my friend belford who by that time i doubt
not will be all crusted and bearded over with penitence self-denial 
and mortification a very anchoret only an itinerant one journeying
over in hope to cover a multitude of his own sins by proselyting his old
companions 

but let me tell thee jack if stock rises on as it has done since i
wrote my last letter i am afraid thou wilt find a difficult task in
succeeding should such be thy purpose 

nor i verily think can thy own penitence and reformation hold strong
habits are not so easily rooted out old satan has had too much benefit
from thy faithful services for a series of years to let thee so easily
get out of his clutches he knows what will do with thee a fine
strapping bona roba in the charters-taste but well-limbed 
clear-complexioned and turkish-eyed thou the first man with her or
made to believe so which is the same thing how will thy frosty face be
illuminated by it a composition will be made between thee and the grand
tempter thou wilt promise to do him suit and service till old age and
inability come and then will he in all probability be sure of thee
for ever for wert thou to outlive thy present reigning appetites he
will trump up some other darling sin or make a now secondary one
darling in order to keep thee firmly attached to his infernal interests 
thou wilt continue resolving to amend but never amending till grown
old before thou art aware a dozen years after thou art old with every
body else thy for-time-built tenement having lasted its allotted
period he claps down upon thy grizzled head the universal trap-door and
then all will be over with thee in his own way 

thou wilt think these hints uncharacteristic from me but yet i cannot
help warning thee of the danger thou art actually in which is the
greater as thou seemst not to know it a few words more therefore 
on this subject 

thou hast made good resolutions if thou keepest them not thou wilt
never be able to keep any but nevertheless the devil and thy time of
life are against thee and six to one thou failest were it only that
thou hast resolved six to one thou failest and if thou dost thou wilt
become the scoff of men and the triumph of devils then how will i
laugh at thee for this warning is not from principle perhaps i wish
it were but i never lied to man and hardly ever said truth to woman 
the firs is what all free-livers cannot say the second what every one
can 

i am mad again by jupiter but thank my stars not gloomily so 
farewell farewell farewell for the third or fourth time concludes

thy
lovelace 


i believe charlotte and you are in private league together letters i
 find have passed between her and you and lord m i have been
 kept strangely in the dark of late but will soon break upon you
 all as the sun upon a midnight thief 

remember that you never sent me the copy of my beloved's will 



letter xl

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
friday sept 22 


just as i was sitting down to answer your's of the 14th to the 18th in
order to give you all the consolation in my power came your revoking
letter of wednesday 

i am really concerned and disappointed that your first was so soon
followed by one so contrary to it 

the shocking letter you mention which your friends withhold from you is
indeed from me they may now i see show you any thing ask them 
then for that letter if you think it worth while to read aught about
the true mother of your mind 


 


i will suppose that thou hast just read the letter thou callest shocking 
and which i intended to be so and let me ask what thou thinkest of it 
dost thou not tremble at the horrors the vilest of women labours with on
the apprehensions of death and future judgment how sit the reflections
that must have been raised by the perusal of this letter upon thy yet
unclosed eyelet-holes will not some serious thoughts mingle with thy
melilot and tear off the callus of thy mind as that may flay the
leather from thy back and as thy epispastics may strip the parchment
from thy plotting head if not then indeed is thy conscience seared 
and no hopes will lie for thee 


 mr belford then gives an account of the wretched sinclair's terrible
 exit which he had just then received  

if this move thee not i have news to acquaint thee with of another
dismal catastrophe that is but within this hour come to my ear of
another of thy blessed agents thy tomlinson dying and in all
probability before this can reach thee dead in maidstone gaol as
thou sayest in thy first letter something strangely retributive seems
to be working 

this is his case he was at the head of a gang of smugglers 
endeavouring to carry off run goods landed last tuesday when a party of
dragoons came up with them in the evening some of his comrades fled 
m'donald being surrounded attempted to fight his way through and
wounded his man but having received a shot in his neck and being cut
deeply in the head by a broad-sword he fell from his horse was taken 
and carried to maidstone gaol and there my informant left him just
dying and assured of hanging if he recover 

absolutely destitute he got a kinsman of his to apply to me and if in
town to the rest of the confraternity for something not to support him
was the word for he expected not to live till the fellow returned but
to bury him 

i never employed him but once and then he ruined my project i now
thank heaven that he did but i sent him five guineas and promised him
more as from you and mowbray and tourville if he live a few days or
to take his trial and i put it upon you to make further inquiry of him 
and to give him what you think fit 

his messenger tells me that he is very penitent that he weeps
continually he cries out that he has been the vilest of men yet
palliates that his necessities made him worse than he should otherwise
have been  an excuse which none of us can plead   but that which touches
him most of all is a vile imposture he was put upon to serve a certain
gentleman of fortune to the ruin of the most excellent woman that ever
lived and who he had heard was dead of grief 

let me consider lovelace whose turn can be next 

i wish it may not be thine but since thou givest me one piece of
advice which i should indeed have thought out of character hadst thou
not taken pains to convince me that it proceeds not from principle i
will give thee another and that is prosecute as fast as thou canst 
thy intended tour change of scene and of climate may establish thy
health while this gross air and the approach of winter may thicken thy
blood and with the help of a conscience that is upon the struggle with
thee and like a cunning wrestler watches its opportunity to give thee
another fall may make thee miserable for thy life 

i return your revoked letter don't destroy it however the same
dialect may one day come in fashion with you again 

as to the family at harlowe-place i have most affecting letters from
colonel morden relating to their grief and compunction but are you to
whom the occasion is owing entitled to rejoice in their distress 

i should be sorry if i could not say that what you have warned me of in
sport makes me tremble in earnest i hope for this is a serious
subject with me though nothing can be so with you that i never shall
deserve by my apostasy to be the scoff of men and the triumph of
devils 

all that you say of the difficulty of conquering rooted habits is but
too true those and time of life are indeed too much against me but 
when i reflect upon the ends some untimely of those of our companions
whom we have formerly lost upon belton's miserable exit upon the howls
and screams of sinclair which are still in my ears and now upon your
miserable tomlinson and compare their ends with the happy and desirable
end of the inimitable miss harlowe i hope i have reason to think my
footing morally secure your caution nevertheless will be of use 
however you might design it and since i know my weak side i will
endeavour to fortify myself in that quarter by marriage as soon as i can
make myself worthy of the confidence and esteem of some virtuous woman 
and by this means become the subject of your envy rather than of your
scoffs 

i have already begun my retributory purposes as i may call them i have
settled an annual sum for life upon poor john loftus whom i disabled
while he was endeavouring to protect his young mistress from my lawless
attempts i rejoice that i succeeded not in that as i do in
recollecting many others of the like sort in which i miscarried 

poor farley who had become a bankrupt i have set up again but have
declared that the annual allowance i make her shall cease if i hear she
returns to her former courses and i have made her accountable for her
conduct to the good widow lovick whom i have taken at a handsome
salary for my housekeeper at edgware for i have let the house at
watford and she is to dispense the quarterly allotment to her as she
merits 

this good woman shall have other matters of the like nature under her
care as we grow better acquainted and i make no doubt that she will
answer my expectations and that i shall be both confirmed and improved
by her conversation for she shall generally sit at my own table 

the undeserved sufferings of miss clarissa harlowe her exalted merit 
her exemplary preparation and her happy end will be standing subjects
with us 

she shall read to me when i have no company write for me out of books 
passages she shall recommend her years turned of fifty and her good
character will secure me from scandal and i have great pleasure in
reflecting that i shall be better myself for making her happy 

then whenever i am in danger i will read some of the admirable lady's
papers whenever i would abhor my former ways i will read some of thine 
and copies of my own 

the consequence of all this will be that i shall be the delight of my
own relations of both sexes who were wont to look upon me as a lost man 
i shall have good order in my own family because i shall give a good
example myself i shall be visited and respected not perhaps by
lovelace by mowbray and by tourville because they cannot see me upon
the old terms and will not perhaps see me upon the new but by the
best and worthiest gentlemen clergy as well as laity all around me i
shall look upon my past follies with contempt upon my old companions
with pity oaths and curses shall be for ever banished my mouth in
their place shall succeed conversation becoming a rational being and a
gentleman and instead of acts of offence subjecting me perpetually to
acts of defence will i endeavour to atone for my past evils by doing
all the good in my power and by becoming an universal benefactor to the
extent of that power 

now tell me lovelace upon this faint sketch of what i hope to do and
to be if this be not a scheme infinitely preferable to the wild the
pernicious the dangerous ones both to body and soul which we have
pursued 

i wish i could make my sketch as amiable to you as it appears to me i
wish it with all my soul for i always loved you it has been my
misfortune that i did for this led me into infinite riots and follies 
of which otherwise i verily think i should not have been guilty 

you have a great deal more to answer for than i have were it only in the
temporal ruin of this admirable woman let me now while you yet have
youth and health and intellect prevail upon you for i am afraid very
much afraid that such is the enormity of this single wickedness in
depriving the world of such a shining light that if you do not quickly
reform it will be out of your power to reform at all and that
providence which has already given you the fates of your agents sinclair
and tomlinson to take warning by will not let the principal offender
escape if he slight the warning 

you will perhaps laugh at me for these serious reflections do if you
will i had rather you should laugh at me for continuing in this way of
thinking and acting than triumph over me as you threaten on my
swerving from purposes i have determined upon with such good reason and
induced and warned by such examples 

and so much for this subject at present 

i should be glad to know when you intend to set out i have too much
concern for your welfare not to wish you in a thinner air and more
certain climate 

what have tourville and mowbray to do that they cannot set out with you 
they will not covet my company i dare say and i shall not be able to
endure theirs when you are gone take them therefore with you 

i will not however forswear making you a visit at paris at your return
from germany and italy but hardly with the hope of reclaiming you if
due reflection upon what i have set before you and upon what you have
written in your two last will not by that time have done it 

i suppose i shall see you before you go once more i wish you were gone 
this heavy island-air cannot do for you what that of the continent will 

i do not think i ought to communicate with you as i used to do on this
side the channel let me then hear from you on the opposite shore and
you shall command the pen as you please and honestly the power of

j belford 



letter xli

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
tuesday sept 26 


fate i believe in my conscience spins threads for tragedies on
purpose for thee to weave with thy watford uncle poor belton the
fair inimitable  exalted creature and is she to be found in such a
list   the accursed woman and tomlinson seemed to have been all doomed
to give thee a theme for the dismal and the horrible and by my soul 
that thou dost work it going as lord m would phrase it 

that's the horrid thing a man cannot begin to think but causes for
thought crowd in upon him the gloomy takes place and mirth and gaiety
abandon his heard for ever 

poor m'donald i am really sorry for the fellow he was an useful 
faithful solemn varlet who could act incomparably any part given him 
and knew not what a blush was he really took honest pains for me in the
last affair which has cost him and me so dearly in reflection often
gravelled as we both were yet was he never daunted poor m'donald i
must once more say for carrying on a solemn piece of roguery he had no
equal 

i was so solicitous to know if he were really as bad as thou hast a knack
of painting every body whom thou singlest out to exercise thy murdering
pen upon that i dispatched a man and horse to maidstone as soon as i
had thine and had word brought me that he died in two hours after he
had received thy five guineas and all thou wrotest of his concern in
relation to the ever-dear miss harlowe it seems was true 

i can't help it belford i have only to add that it is happy that the
poor fellow lived not to be hanged as it seems he would have been for
who knows as he had got into such a penitential strain what might have
been in his dying speech 

when a man has not great good to comfort himself with it is right to
make the best of the little that may offer there never was any
discomfort happened to mortal man but some little ray of consolation
would dart in if the wretch was not so much a wretch as to draw 
instead of undraw the curtain to keep it out 

and so much at this time and for ever for poor capt tomlinson as i
called him 

your solicitude to get me out of this heavy changeable climate exactly
tallies with every body's here they all believe that travelling will
establish me yet i think i am quite well only these plaguy news and
fulls and the equinoctals fright me a little when i think of them and
that is always for the whole family are continually ringing these
changes in my ears and are more sedulously intent than i can well
account for to get me out of the kingdom 

but wilt thou write often when i am gone wilt thou then piece the
thread where thou brokest it off wilt thou give me the particulars of
their distress who were my auxiliaries in bringing on the event that
affects me nay principals rather since say what thou wilt what did
i do worth a woman's breaking her heart for 

faith and troth jack i have had very hard usage as i have often said 
 to have such a plaguy ill name given me screamed out upon run away
from as a mad dog would be all my own friends ready to renounce me 
yet i think i deserve it all for have i not been as ready to give up
myself as others are to condemn me 

what madness what folly this who will take the part of a man that
condemns himself who can he that pleads guilty to an indictment 
leaves no room for aught but the sentence out upon me for an
impolitical wretch i have not the art of the least artful of any of our
christian princes who every day are guilty of ten times worse breaches
of faith and yet issuing out a manifesto they wipe their mouths and
go on from infraction to infraction from robbery to robbery commit
devastation upon devastation and destroy for their glory and are
rewarded with the names of conquerors and are dubbed le grand praised 
and even deified by orators and poets for their butcheries and
depredations 

while i a poor single harmless prowler at least comparatively
harmless in order to satisfy my hunger steal but one poor lamb and
every mouth is opened every hand is lifted up against me 

nay as i have just now heard i am to be manifestoed against though
no prince for miss howe threatens to have the case published to the whole
world 

i have a good mind not to oppose it and to write an answer to it as
soon as it comes forth and exculpate myself by throwing all the fault
upon the old ones and this i have to plead supposing all that my worst
enemies can allege against me were true that i am not answerable for
all the extravagant consequences that this affair has been attended with 
and which could not possibly be foreseen 

and this i will prove demonstrably by a case which but a few hours ago 
i put to lord m and the two misses montague this it is 

suppose a a miser had hid a parcel of gold in a secret place in order
 to keep it there till he could lend it out at extravagant
 interest 

suppose b in such a great want of this treasure as to be unable to live
 without it 

and suppose a the miser has such an opinion of b the wanter that he
 would rather lend it to him than to any mortal living but yet 
 though he has no other use in the world for it insists upon very
 unconscionable terms 

b would gladly pay common interest for it but would be undone in his
 own opinion at least and that is every thing to him if he
 complied with the miser's terms since he would be sure to be soon
 thrown into gaol for the debt and made a prisoner for life 
 wherefore guessing being an arch penetrating fellow where the
 sweet hoard lies he searches for it when the miser is in a
 profound sleep finds it and runs away with it 

 b in this case can only be a thief that's plain jack  


here miss montague put in very smartly a thief sir said she that
steals what is and ought to be dearer to me than my life deserves less
to be forgiven than he who murders me 

but what is this cousin charlotte said i that is dearer to you than
your life your honour you'll say i will not talk to a lady i never
did in a way she cannot answer me but in the instance for which i put
my case allowing all you attribute to the phantom what honour is lost 
where the will is not violated and the person cannot help it but with
respect to the case put how knew we till the theft was committed that
the miser did actually set so romantic a value upon the treasure 

both my cousins were silent and my lord because he could not answer me 
cursed me and i proceeded 

well then the result is that b can only be a thief that's plain to
pursue therefore my case 

suppose this same miserly a on awaking and searching for and finding
 his treasure gone takes it so much to heart that he starves
 himself 

who but himself is to blame for that would either equity law or
 conscience hang b for a murder 

and now to apply said i 

none of your applications cried my cousins both in a breath 

none of your applications and be d d to you the passionate peer 

well then returned i i am to conclude it to be a case so plain that it
needs none looking at the two girls who tried for a blush a-piece and
i hold myself of consequence acquitted of the death 

not so cried my lord  peers are judges thou knowest jack in the last
resort   for if by committing an unlawful act a capital crime is the
consequence you are answerable for both 

say you so my good lord but will you take upon you to say supposing
 as in the present case a rape saving your presence cousin charlotte 
saving your presence cousin patty is death the natural consequence of
a rape did you ever hear my lord or did you ladies that it was 
and if not the natural consequence and a lady will destroy herself 
whether by a lingering death as of grief or by the dagger as lucretia
did is there more than one fault the man's is not the other her's 
were it not so let me tell you my dears chucking each of my blushing
cousins under the chin we either would have had no men so wicked as
young tarquin was or no women so virtuous as lucretia in the space of 
how many thousand years my lord and so lucretia is recorded as a
single wonder 

you may believe i was cried out upon people who cannot answer will
rave and this they all did but i insisted upon it to them and so i do
to you jack that i ought to be acquitted of every thing but a common
theft a private larceny as the lawyers call it in this point and
were my life to be a forfeit of the law it would not be for murder 

besides as i told them there was a circumstance strongly in my favour
in this case for i would have been glad with all my soul to have
purchased my forgiveness by a compliance with the terms i first boggled
at and this you all know i offered and my lord and lady betty and
lady sarah and my two cousins and all my cousins' cousins to the
fourteenth generation would have been bound for me but it would not do 
the sweet miser would break her heart and die and how could i help it 

upon the whole jack had not the lady died would there have been half
so much said of it as there is was i the cause of her death or could
i help it and have there not been in a million of cases like this 
nine hundred and ninty-nine thousand that have not ended as this has
ended how hard then is my fate upon my soul i won't bear it as i
have done but instead of taking guilt to myself claim pity and this
 since yesterday cannot be recalled is the only course i can pursue to
make myself easy proceed anon 



letter xlii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 


but what a pretty scheme of life hast thou drawn out for thyself and thy
old widow by my soul jack i was mightily taken with it there is but
one thing wanting in it and that will come of course only to be in the
commission and one of the quorum thou art already provided with a
clerk as good as thou'lt want in the widow lovick for thou
understandest law and she conscience a good lord chancellor between ye 
 i should take prodigious pleasure to hear thee decide in a bastard
case upon thy new notions and old remembrances 

but raillery apart  all gloom at heart by jupiter although the pen
and the countenance assume airs of levity   if after all thou canst so
easily repent and reform as thou thinkest thou canst if thou canst thus
shake off thy old sins and thy old habits and if thy old master will so
readily dismiss so tried and so faithful a servant and permit thee thus
calmly to enjoy thy new system no room for scandal all temptation
ceasing and if at last thy reformation warranted and approved by time 
thou marriest and livest honest why belford i cannot but say that
if all these if's come to pass thou standest a good chance to be a happy
man 

all i think as i told thee in my last is that the devil knows his own
interest too well to let thee off so easily thou thyself tallest me 
that we cannot repent when we will and indeed i found it so for in my
lucid intervals i made good resolutions but as health turned its blithe
side to me and opened my prospects of recovery all my old inclinations
and appetites returned and this letter perhaps will be a thorough
conviction to thee that i am as wild a fellow as ever or in the way to
be so 

thou askest me very seriously if upon the faint sketch thou hast
drawn thy new scheme be not infinitely preferable to any of those which
we have so long pursued why jack let me reflect why belford i
can't say i can't say but it is to speak out it is really as biddy
in the play says a good comfortable scheme 

but when thou tallest me that it was thy misfortune to love me because
thy value for me made thee a wickeder man than otherwise thou wouldst
have been i desire thee to revolve this assertion and i am persuaded
that thou wilt not find thyself in so right a train as thou imaginest 

no false colourings no glosses does a true penitent aim at 
debasement diffidence mortification contrition are all near of a kin 
jack and inseparable from a repentant spirit if thou knowest not this 
thou art not got three steps out of threescore towards repentance and
amendment and let me remind thee before the grand accuser come to do
it that thou wert ever above being a passive follower in iniquity 
though thou hadst not so good an invention as he to whom thou writest 
thou hadst as active an heart for mischief as ever i met with in man 

then for improving an hint thou wert always a true englishman i never
started a roguery that did not come out of thy forge in a manner ready
anvilled and hammered for execution when i have sometimes been at a loss
to make any thing of it myself 

what indeed made me appear to be more wicked than thou was that i being
a handsome fellow and thou an ugly one when we had started a game and
hunted it down the poor frighted puss generally threw herself into my
paws rather than into thine and then disappointed hast thou wiped thy
blubber-lips and marched off to start a new game calling me a wicked
fellow all the while 

in short belford thou wert an excellent starter and setter the old
women were not afraid for their daughters when they saw such a face as
thine but when i came whip was the key turned upon the girls and
yet all signified nothing for love upon occasion will draw an elephant
through a key-hole but for thy heart belford who ever doubted the
wickedness of that 

nor even in this affair that sticks most upon me which my conscience
makes such a handle of against me art thou so innocent as thou fanciest
thyself thou wilt stare at this but it is true and i will convince
thee of it in an instant 

thou sayest thou wouldst have saved the lady from the ruin she met with 
thou art a pretty fellow for this for how wouldst thou have saved her 
what methods didst thou take to save her 

thou knewest my designs all along hadst thou a mind to make thyself a
good title to the merit to which thou now pretendest to lay claim thou
shouldest like a true knight-errant have sought to set the lady free
from the enchanted castle thou shouldst have apprized her of her
danger have stolen in when the giant was out of the way or hadst thou
had the true spirit of chivalry upon thee and nothing else would have
done have killed the giant and then something wouldst thou have had to
brag of 

oh but the giant was my friend he reposed a confidence in me and i
should have betrayed my friend and his confidence  this thou wouldst
have pleaded no doubt but try this plea upon thy present principles 
and thou wilt see what a caitiff thou wert to let it have weight with
thee upon an occasion where a breach of confidence is more excusable
than to keep the secret did not the lady herself once putt his very
point home upon me and didst thou not on that occasion heavily blame
thyself 


 see vol vii letter xxi 


thou canst not pretend and i know thou wilt not that thou wert afraid
of thy life by taking such a measure for a braver fellow lives not nor
a more fearless than jack belford i remember several instances and
thou canst not forget them where thou hast ventured thy bones thy neck 
thy life against numbers in a cause of roguery and hadst thou had a
spark of that virtue which now thou art willing to flatter thyself thou
hast thou wouldst surely have run a risk to save an innocence and a
virtue that it became every man to protect and espouse this is the
truth of the case greatly as it makes against myself but i hate a
hypocrite from my soul 

i believe i should have killed thee at the time if i could hadst thou
betrayed me thus but i am sure now that i would have thanked thee for
it with all my heart and thought thee more a father and a friend than
my real father and my best friend and it was natural for thee to think 
with so exalted a merit as this lady had that this would have been the
case when consideration took place of passion or rather when the
d d fondness for intrigue ceased which never was my pride so much as
it is now upon reflection my curse 

set about defending myself and i will probe thee still deeper and
convince thee still more effectually that thou hast more guilt than
merit even in this affair and as to all the others in which we were
accustomed to hunt in couples thou wert always the forwardest whelp and
more ready by far to run away with me than i with thee yet canst
thou now compose thy horse-muscles and cry out how much more hadst
thou lovelace to answer for than i have saying nothing neither when
thou sayest this were it true for thou wilt not be tried when the time
comes by comparison in short thou mayest at this rate so miserably
deceive thyself that notwithstanding all thy self-denial and
mortification when thou closest thy eyes thou mayst perhaps open them
in a place where thou thoughtest least to be 

however consult thy old woman on this subject i shall be thought to be
out of character if i go on in this strain but really as to a title
to merit in this affair i do assure thee jack that thou less deservest
praise than a horsepond and i wish i had the sousing of thee 


 


i am actually now employed in taking leave of my friends in the country 
i had once thought of taking tomlinson as i called him with me but his
destiny has frustrated that intention 

next monday i think to see you in town and then you and i and mowbray 
and tourville will laugh off that evening together they will both
accompany me as i expect you will to dover if not cross the water i
must leave you and them good friends they take extremely amiss the
treatment you have given them in your last letters they say you strike
at their understandings i laugh at them and tell them that those
people who have least are the most apt to be angry when it is called
into question 

make up all the papers and narratives you can spare me against the time 
the will particularly i expect to take with me who knows but that
those things which will help to secure you in the way you are got into 
may convert me 

thou talkest of a wife jack what thinkest you of our charlotte her
family and fortune i doubt according to thy scheme are a little too
high will those be an objection charlotte is a smart girl for piety
 thy present turn i cannot say much yet she is as serious as most of
her sex at her time of life would flaunt it a little i believe too 
like the rest of them were her reputation under covert 

but it won't do neither now i think of it thou art so homely and so
awkward a creature hast such a boatswain-like air people would think
she had picked thee up in wapping or rotherhithe or in going to see
some new ship launched or to view the docks at chatham or portsmouth 
so gaudy and so clumsy thy tawdriness won't do with charlotte so sit
thee down contented belford although i think in a whimsical way as
now i mentioned charlotte to thee once before yet would i fain secure
thy morals too if matrimony will do it let me see now i have it 
has not the widow lovick a daughter or a niece it is not every girl of
fortune and family that will go to prayers with thee once or twice a day 
but since thou art for taking a wife to mortify with what if thou
marriest the widow herself she will then have a double concern in thy
conversation you and she may tete a tete pass many a comfortable
winter's evening together comparing experiences as the good folks call
them 


 see the postscript to letter xl of vol viii 


i am serious jack faith i am and i would have thee take it into thy
wise consideration 

r l 


mr belford returns a very serious answer to the preceding letter which
 appears not 

in it he most heartily wishes that he had withstood mr lovelace 
 whatever had been the consequence in designs so elaborately base
 and ungrateful and so long and steadily pursued against a lady
 whose merit and innocence entitled her to the protection of every
 man who had the least pretences to the title of a gentleman and
 who deserved to be even the public care 

he most severely censures himself for his false notions of honour to his
 friend on this head and recollects what the divine lady as he
 calls her said to him on this very subject as related by himself
 in his letter to lovelace no xxi vol vii to which lovelace
 also both instigator and accuser refers and to his own regret
 and shame on the occasion he distinguishes however between an
 irreparable injury intended to a clarissa and one designed to such
 of the sex as contribute by their weakness and indiscretion to
 their own fall and thereby entitle themselves to a large share of
 the guilt which accompanies the crime 

he offers not he says to palliate or extenuate the crimes he himself
 has been guilty of but laments for mr lovelace's own sake that
 he gives him with so ludicrous and unconcerned an air such solemn
 and useful lessons and warnings nevertheless he resolves to make
 it his whole endeavour he tells him to render them efficacious to
 himself and should think himself but too happy if he shall be
 enabled to set him such an example as may be a mean to bring about
 the reformation of a man so dear to him as he has always been from
 the first of their acquaintance and who is capable of thinking so
 rightly and deeply though at present to such little purpose as
 make his very knowledge add to his condemnation 



letter xliii

mr belford to colonel morden
thursday sept 21 


give me leave dear sir to address myself to you in a very serious and
solemn manner on a subject that i must not cannot dispense with as i
promised the divine lady that i would do every thing in my power to
prevent that further mischief of which she was so very apprehensive 

i will not content myself with distant hints it is with very great
concern that i have just now heard of a declaration which you are said to
have made to your relations at harlowe-place that you will not rest till
you have avenged your cousin's wrongs upon mr lovelace 

far be it from me to offer to defend the unhappy man or even unduly to
extenuate his crime but yet i must say that the family by their
persecutions of the dear lady at first and by their implacableness
afterwards ought at least to share the blame with him there is even
great reason to believe that a lady of such a religious turn her virtue
neither to be surprised nor corrupted her will inviolate would have got
over a mere personal injury especially as he would have done all that
was in his power to repair it and as from the application of all his
family in his favour and other circumstances attending his sincere and
voluntary offer the lady might have condescended with greater glory to
herself than if he had never offended 

when i have the pleasure of seeing you next i will acquaint you sir 
with all the circumstances of this melancholy story from which you will
see that mr lovelace was extremely ill treated at first by the whole
family this admirable lady excepted this exception i know heightens
his crime but as his principal intention was but to try her virtue and
that he became so earnest a suppliant to her for marriage and as he has
suffered so deplorably in the loss of his reason for not having it in
his power to repair her wrongs i presume to hope that much is to be
pleaded against such a resolution as you are said to have made i will
read to you at the same time some passages from letters of his two of
which one but this moment received will convince you that the unhappy
man who is but now recovering his intellects needs no greater
punishment than what he has from his own reflections 

i have just now read over the copies of the dear lady's posthumous
letters i send them all to you except that directed for mr lovelace 
which i reserve till i have the pleasure of seeing you let me entreat
you to read once more that written to yourself and that to her brother 
which latter i now send you as they are in point to the present subject 


 see letter xvi of this volume 


i think sir they are unanswerable such at least is the effect they
have upon me that i hope i shall never be provoked to draw my sword
again in a private quarrel 

to the weight these must needs have upon you let me add that the
unhappy man has given no new occasion of offence since your visit to him
at lord m s when you were so well satisfied of his intention to atone
for his crimes that you yourself urged to your dear cousin her
forgiveness of him 

let me also though i presume to hope there is no need when you coolly
consider every thing remind you of your own promise to your departing
cousin relying upon which her last moments were the easier 

reflect my dear colonel morden that the highest injury was to her her
family all have a share in the cause she forgives it why should we not
endeavour to imitate what we admire 

you asked me sir when in town if a brave man could be a premeditatedly
base one generally speaking i believe bravery and baseness are
incompatible but mr lovelace's character in the instance before us 
affords a proof of the truth of the common observation that there is no
general rule but has its exceptions for england i believe as gallant a
nation as it is deemed to be has not in it a braver spirit than his nor
a man who has a greater skill at his weapons nor more calmness with his
skill 

i mention not this with a thought that it can affect col morden who if
he be not withheld by superior motives as well as influenced by those i
have reminded him of will tell me that this skill and this bravery 
will make him the more worthy of being called upon by him 

to these superior motives then i refer myself and with the greater
confidence as a pursuit ending in blood would not at this time have
the plea lie for it with any body which sudden passion might have with
some but would be construed by all to be a cool and deliberate act of
revenge for an evil absolutely irretrievable an act of which a brave and
noble spirit such as is the gentleman's to whom i now write is not
capable 

excuse me sir for the sake of my executorial duty and promise keeping
in eye the dear lady's personal injunctions as well as written will 
enforced by letters posthumous every article of which solicitous as we
both are to see it duly performed she would have dispensed with rather
than farther mischief should happen on her account i am dear sir 

your affectionate and faithful friend 
j belford 



letter xliv

 this is the posthumous letter to col morden referred to in the above  

superscribed 

to my beloved cousin william morden esq 
to be delivered after my death 


my dearest cousin 

as it is uncertain from my present weak state whether if living i may
be in a condition to receive as i ought the favour you intend me of a
visit when you come to london i take this opportunity to return you 
while able the humble acknowledgments of a grateful heart for all your
goodness to me from childhood till now and more particularly for your
present kind interposition in my favour god almighty for ever bless you 
dear sir for the kindness you endeavoured to procure for me 

one principal end of my writing to you in this solemn manner is to beg
of you which i do with the utmost earnestness that when you come to
hear the particulars of my story you will not suffer active resentment
to take place in your generous breast on my account 

remember my dear cousin that vengeance is god's province and he has
undertaken to repay it nor will you i hope invade that province 
especially as there is no necessity for you to attempt to vindicate my
fame since the offender himself before he is called upon has stood
forth and offered to do me all the justice that you could have extorted
from him had i lived and when your own person may be endangered by
running an equal risque with a guilty man 

duelling sir i need not tell you who have adorned a public character 
is not only an usurpation of the divine prerogative but it is an insult
upon magistracy and good government tis an impious act tis an
attempt to take away a life that ought not to depend upon a private
sword an act the consequence of which is to hurry a soul all its sins
upon its had into perdition endangering that of the poor triumpher 
since neither intend to give to the other that chance as i may call it 
for the divine mercy in an opportunity for repentance which each
presumes to hope for himself 

seek not then i beseech you sir to aggravate my fault by a pursuit of
blood which must necessarily be deemed a consequence of that fault 
give not the unhappy man the merit were you assuredly to be the victor 
of falling by your hand at present he is the perfidious the ungrateful
deceiver but will not the forfeiture of his life and the probable loss
of his soul be a dreadful expiation for having made me miserable for a
few months only and through that misery by the divine favour happy to
all eternity 

in such a case my cousin where shall the evil stop and who shall
avenge on you and who on your avenger 

let the poor man's conscience then dear sir avenge me he will one
day find punishment more than enough from that leave him to the chance
of repentance if the almighty will give him time for it who should you
deny it him let him still be the guilty aggressor and let no one say 
clarissa harlowe is now amply revenged in his fall or in the case of
your's which heaven avert that her fault instead of being buried in
her grave is perpetuated and aggravated by a loss far greater than
that of herself 

often sir has the more guilty been the vanquisher of the less an earl
of shrewsbury in the reign of charles ii as i have read endeavouring
to revenge the greatest injury that man can do to man met with his death
at barn-elms from the hand of the ignoble duke who had vilely
dishonoured him nor can it be thought an unequal dispensation were it
generally to happen that the usurper of the divine prerogative should be
punished for his presumption by the man whom he sought to destroy and
who however previously criminal is put in this case upon a necessary
act of self-defence 

may heaven protect you sir in all your ways and once more i pray 
reward you for all your kindness to me a kindness so worthy of your
heart and so exceedingly grateful to mine that of seeking to make
peace and to reconcile parents to a once-beloved child uncles to a
niece late their favourite and a brother and sister to a sister whom
once they thought not unworthy of that tender relation a kindness so
greatly preferable to the vengeance of a murdering sword 

be a comforter dear sir to my honoured parents as you have been to me 
and may we through the divine goodness to us both meet in that blessed
eternity into which as i humbly trust i shall have entered when you
will read this 

so prays and to her latest hour will pray my dear cousin morden my
friend my guardian but not my avenger  dear sir remember that  

your ever-affectionate and obliged
clarissa harlowe 



letter xlv

colonel morden to john belford esq 
saturday sept 23 


dear sir 

i am very sorry that any thing you have heard i have said should give you
uneasiness 

i am obliged to you for the letters you have communicated to me and
still further for your promise to favour me with others occasionally 

all that relates to my dear cousin i shall be glad to see be it from
whom it will 

i leave to your own discretion what may or may not be proper for miss
howe to see from a pen so free as mine 

i admire her spirit were she a man do you think sir she at this
time would have your advice to take upon such a subject as that upon
which you write 

fear not however that your communications shall put me upon any
measures that otherwise i should not have taken the wickedness sir is
of such a nature as admits not of aggravation 

yet i do assure you that i have not made any resolutions that will be a
tie upon me 

i have indeed expressed myself with vehemence upon the occasion who
could forbear to do so but it is not my way to resolve in matters of
moment till opportunity brings the execution of my purposes within my
reach we shall see by what manner of spirit this young man will be
actuated on his recovery if he continue to brave and defy a family 
which he has so irreparably injured if but resolutions depending upon
future contingencies are best left to future determination as i just
now hinted 

mean time i will own that i think my cousin's arguments unanswerable 
no good man but must be influenced by them but alas sir who is good 

as to your arguments i hope you will believe me when i assure you as i
now do that your opinion and your reasonings have and will always have 
great and deserved weight with me and that i respect you still more than
i did if possible for your expostulations in support of my cousin's
pious injunctions to me they come from you sir with the greatest
propriety as her executor and representative and likewise as you are a
man of humanity and a well-wisher to both parties 

i am not exempt from violent passions sir any more than your friend 
but then i hope they are only capable of being raised by other people's
insolence and not by my own arrogance if ever i am stimulated by my
imperfections and my resentments to act against my judgment and my
cousin's injunctions some such reflections as these that follow will
run away with my reason indeed they are always present with me 


in the first place my own disappointment who came over with the hope of
 passing the remainder of my days in the conversation of a kinswoman
 so beloved and to whom i have a double relation as her cousin and
 trustee 

then i reflect too too often perhaps for my engagements to her in her
 last hours that the dear creature could only forgive for herself 
 she no doubt is happy but who shall forgive for a whole family 
 in all its branches made miserable for their lives 

that the more faulty her friends were as to her the more enormous his
 ingratitude and the more inexcusable what sir was it not enough
 that she suffered what she did for him but the barbarian must make
 her suffer for her sufferings for his sake passion makes me
 express this weakly passion refuses the aid of expression
 sometimes where the propriety of a resentment prima facie declares
 expression to be needless i leave it to you sir to give this
 reflection its due force 

that the author of this diffusive mischief perpetuated it premeditatedly 
 wantonly in the gaiety of his heart to try my cousin say you 
 sir to try the virtue of a clarissa sir has she then given him
 any cause to doubt her virtue it could not be if he avers that
 she did i am indeed called upon but i will have patience 

that he carried her as now appears to a vile brothel purposely to put
 her out of all human resource himself out of the reach of all
 human remorse and that finding her proof against all the common
 arts of delusion base and unmanly arts were there used to effect
 his wicked purposes once dead the injured saint in her will 
 says he has seen her 

that i could not know this when i saw him at m hall that the object
 of his attempts considered i could not suppose there was such a
 monster breathing as he that it was natural for me to impute her
 refusal of him rather to transitory resentment to consciousness of
 human frailty and mingled doubts of the sincerity of his offers 
 than to villanies which had given the irreversible blow and had
 at that instant brought her down to the gates of death which in a
 very few days enclosed her 

that he is a man of defiance a man who thinks to awe every one by his
 insolent darings and by his pretensions to superior courage and
 skill 

that disgrace as he is to his name and to the character of a gentleman 
 the man would not want merit who in vindication of the
 dishonoured distincion should expunge and blot him out of the
 worthy list 

that the injured family has a son who however unworthy of such a
 sister is of a temper vehement unbridled fierce unequal 
 therefore as he has once indeed been found to a contention
 with this man the loss of which son by a violent death on such
 an occasion and by a hand so justly hated would complete the
 misery of the whole family and who nevertheless resolves to
 call him to account if i do not his very misbehaviour perhaps 
 to such a sister stimulating his perverse heart to do her memory
 the more signal justice though the attempt might be fatal to
 himself 

then sir to be a witness as i am every hour to the calamity and
 distress of a family to which i am related every one of whom 
 however averse to an alliance with him while it had not place 
 would no doubt have been soon reconciled to the admirable
 creature had the man to whom for his family and fortunes it
 was not a disgrace to be allied done her but common justice 

to see them hang their pensive heads mope about shunning one another 
 though formerly never used to meet but to rejoice in each other 
 afflicting themselves with reflections that the last time they
 respectively saw the dear creature it was here or there at such
 a place in such an attitude and could they have thought that it
 would have been the last every one of them reviving instances of
 her excellencies that will for a long time make their very
 blessings a curse to them 

her closet her chamber her cabinet given up to me to disfurnish in
 order to answer now too late obliging the legacies bequeathed 
 unable themselves to enter them and even making use of less
 convenient back stairs that they may avoid passing by the doors
 of her apartment 

her parlour locked up the walks the retirements the summer-house in
 which she delighted and in which she used to pursue her charming
 works that in particular from which she went to the fatal
 interview shunned or hurried by or over 

her perfections nevertheless called up to remembrance and enumerated 
 incidents and graces unheeded before or passed over in the group
 of her numberless perfections now brought back into notice and
 dwelt upon 

the very servants allowed to expatiate upon these praiseful topics to
 their principals even eloquent in their praises the distressed
 principals listening and weeping then to see them break in upon
 the zealous applauders by their impatience and remorse and throw
 abroad their helpless hands and exclaim then again to see them
 listen to hear more of her praises and weep again they even
 encouraging the servants to repeat how they used to be stopt by
 strangers to ask after her and by those who knew her to be told
 of some new instances to her honour how aggravating all this 

in dreams they see her and desire to see her always an angle and
 accompanied by angels always clad in robes of light always
 endeavouring to comfort them who declare that they shall never
 more know comfort 

what an example she set how she indited how she drew how she
 wrought how she talked how she sung how she played her
 voice music her accent harmony 

her conversation how instructive how sought after the delight of
 persons of all ages of both sexes of all ranks yet how humble 
 how condescending never were dignity and humility so
 illustriously mingled 

at other times how generous how noble how charitable how judicious in
 her charities in every action laudable in every attitude
 attractive in every appearance whether full-dressed or in the
 housewife's more humble garb equally elegant and equally lovely 
 like or resembling miss clarissa harlowe they now remember to
 be a praise denoting the highest degree of excellence with every
 one whatever person action or rank spoken of the desirable
 daughter the obliging kinswoman the affectionate sister all
 envy now subsided the faithful the warm friend the affable 
 the kind the benevolent mistress not one fault remembered all
 their severities called cruelties mutually accusing each other 
 each him and herself and all to raise her character and torment
 themselves 


such sir was the angel of whom the vilest of men has deprived the
world you sir who know more of the barbarous machinations and
practices of this strange man can help me to still more inflaming
reasons were they needed why a man not perfect may stand excused to
the generality of the world if he should pursue his vengeance and the
rather as through an absence of six years high as just report and the
promises of her early youth from childhood had raised her in his
esteem he could not till now know one half of her excellencies till
now that we have lost for ever lost the admirable creature 

but i will force myself from the subject after i have repeated that i
have not yet made any resolutions that can bind me whenever i do i
shall be glad they may be such as may merit the honour of your
approbation 

i send you back the copies of the posthumous letters i see the humanity
of your purpose in the transmission of them to me and i thank you most
heartily for it i presume that it is owing to the same laudable
consideration that you kept back the copy of that to the wicked man
himself 

i intend to wait upon miss howe in person with the diamond ring and such
other of the effects bequeathed to her as are here i am sir 

your most faithful and obliged servant 
wm morden 


 mr belford in his answer to this letter farther enforces the lady's
 dying injunctions and rejoices that the colonel has made no
 vindictive resolutions and hopes every thing from his prudence
 and consideration and from his promise given to the dying lady 

he refers to the seeing him in town on account of the dreadful ends of
 two of the greatest criminals in his cousin's affair this says
 he together with mr lovelace's disorder of mind looks as if
 providence had already taken the punishment of these unhappy
 wretches into its own hands 

he desires the colonel will give him a day's notice of his coming to
 town lest otherwise he may be absent at the time this he does 
 though he tells him not the reason with a view to prevent a
 meeting between him and mr lovelace who might be in town as he
 apprehends about the same time in his way to go abroad  



letter xlvi

colonel morden to john belford esq 
tuesday sept 26 


dear sir 

i cannot help congratulating myself as well as you that we have already
got through with the family every article of the will where they have any
concern 

you left me a discretional power in many instances and in pursuance of
it i have had my dear cousin's personal jewels and will account to you
for them at the highest price when i come to town as well as for other
matters that you were pleased to intrust to my management 

these jewels i have presented to my cousin dolly hervey in
acknowledgement of her love to the dear departed i have told miss howe
of this and she is as well pleased with what i have done as if she had
been the purchaser of them herself as that young lady has jewels of her
own she could only have wished to purchase these because they were her
beloved friend's the grandmother's jewels are also valued and the
money will be paid me for you to be carried to the uses of the will 

mrs norton is preparing by general consent to enter upon her office as
housekeeper at the grove but it is my opinion that she will not be long
on this side heaven 

i waited upon miss howe myself as i told you i would with what was
bequeathed to her and her mother you will not be displeased perhaps 
if i make a few observations with regard to that young lady so dear to
my beloved cousin as you have not a personal acquaintance with her 

there never was a firmer or nobler friendship in women than between my
dear cousin and miss howe to which this wretched man had given a period 

friendship generally speaking mr belford is too fervent a flame for
female minds to manage a light that but in few of their hands burns
steady and often hurries the sex into flight and absurdity like other
extremes it is hardly ever durable marriage which is the highest
state of friendship generally absorbs the most vehement friendships of
female to female and that whether the wedlock be happy or not 

what female mind is capable of two fervent female friendships at the same
time this i mention as a general observation but the friendship that
subsisted between these two ladies affords a remarkable exception to it 
which i account for from those qualities and attainments in both which 
were they more common would furnish more exceptions still in favour of
the sex 

both had an enlarged and even a liberal education both had minds
thirsting after virtuous knowledge great readers both great writers 
 and early familiar writing i take to be one of the greatest openers and
improvers of the mind that man or woman can be employed in   both
generous high in fortune therefore above that dependence each on the
other that frequently destroys that familiarity which is the cement of
friendship both excelling in different ways in which neither sought
to envy the other both blessed with clear and distinguishing faculties 
with solid sense and from their first intimacy  i have many of my
lights sir from mrs norton   each seeing something in the other to
fear as well as to love yet making it an indispensable condition of
their friendship each to tell the other of her failings and to be
thankful for the freedom taken one by nature gentle the other made so
by her love and admiration of her exalted friend impossible that there
could be a friendship better calculated for duration 

i must however take the liberty to blame miss howe for her behaviour
to mr hickman and i infer from it that even women of sense are not
to be trusted with power 

by the way i am sure i need not desire you not to communicate to this
fervent young lady the liberties i have taken with her character 

i dare say my cousin could not approve of miss howe's behaviour to this
gentleman a behaviour which is talked of by as many as know mr hickman
and her can a wise young lady be easy under such censure she must
know it 

mr hickman is really a very worthy man every body speaks well of him 
but he is gentle-dispositioned and he adores miss howe and love admits
not of an air of even due dignity to the object of it yet will mr 
hickman hardly ever get back the reins he has yielded up unless she by
carrying too far the power of which she seems at present too sensible 
should when she has no favours to confer which he has not a right to
demand provoke him to throw off the too-heavy yoke and should he do
so and then treat her with negligence miss howe of all the women i
know will be the least able to support herself under it she will then
be more unhappy than she ever made him for a man who is uneasy at home 
can divert himself abroad which a woman cannot so easily do without
scandal permit me to take farther notice as to miss howe that it is
very obvious to me that she has by her haughty behaviour to this worthy
man involved herself in one difficulty from which she knows not how to
extricate herself with that grace which accompanies all her actions she
intends to have mr hickman i believe she does not dislike him and it
will cost her no small pains to descend from the elevation she has
climbed to 

another inconvenience she will suffer from her having taught every body
 for she is above disguise to think by her treatment of mr hickman 
much more meanly of him than he deserves to be thought of and must she
not suffer dishonour in his dishonour 

mrs howe is much disturbed at her daughter's behaviour to the gentleman 
he is very deservedly a favourite of her's but  another failing in miss
howe  her mother has not all the authority with her that a mother ought
to have miss howe is indeed a woman of fine sense but it requires a
high degree of good understanding as well as a sweet and gentle
disposition of mind and great discretion in a child when grown up to
let it be seen that she mingles reverence with her love to a parent 
who has talents visibly inferior to her own 

miss howe is open generous noble the mother has not any of her fine
qualities parents in order to preserve their children's veneration for
them should take great care not to let them see any thing in their
conduct or behaviour or principles which they themselves would not
approve of in others 

mr hickman has however this consideration to comfort himself with 
that the same vivacity by which he suffers makes miss howe's own mother 
at times equally sensible and as he sees enough of this beforehand he
will have more reason to blame himself than the lady should she prove as
lively a wife as she was a mistress for having continued his addresses 
and married her against such threatening appearances 

there is also another circumstance which good-natured men who engage
with even lively women may look forward to with pleasure a circumstance
which generally lowers the spirits of the ladies and domesticates them 
as i may call it and which as it will bring those of mr hickman and
miss howe nearer to a par that worthy gentleman will have double reason 
when it happens to congratulate himself upon it 

but after all i see that there is something so charmingly brilliant and
frank in miss howe's disposition although at present visibly overclouded
by grief that it is impossible not to love her even for her failings 
she may and i hope she will make mr hickman an obliging wife and if
she does she will have additional merit with me since she cannot be
apprehensive of check or controul and may therefore by her generosity
and prudence lay an obligation upon her husband by the performance of
what is no more than her duty 

her mother both loves and fears her yet is mrs howe also a woman of
vivacity and ready enough i dare say to cry out when she is pained 
but alas she has as i hinted above weakened her authority by the
narrowness of her mind 

yet once she praised her daughter to me with so much warmth for the
generosity of her spirit that had i not known the old lady's character 
i should have thought her generous herself and yet i have always
observed that people of narrow tempers are ready to praise generous
ones and thus have i accounted for it that such persons generally find
it to their purpose that all the world should be open-minded but
themselves 

the old lady applied herself to me to urge to the young one the contents
of the will in order to hasten her to fix a day for her marriage but
desired that i would not let miss howe know that she did 

i took the liberty upon it to tell miss howe that i hoped that her part
of a will so soon and so punctually in almost all its other articles 
fulfilled would not be the only one that would be slighted 

her answer was she would consider of it and made me a courtesy with
such an air as showed me that she thought me more out of my sphere than
i could allow her to think me had i been permitted to argue the point
with her 

i found miss howe and her own servant-maid in deep mourning this it
seems had occasioned a great debate at first between her mother and her 
her mother had the words of the will on her side and mr hickman's
interest in her view her daughter having said that she would wear it for
six months at least but the young lady carried her point strange 
said she if i who shall mourn the heavy the irreparable loss to the
last hour of my life should not show my concern to the world for a few
months 

mr hickman for his part was so far from uttering an opposing word on
this occasion that on the very day that miss howe put on her's he
waited on her in a new suit of mourning as for a near relation his
servants and equipage made the same respectful appearance 

whether the mother was consulted by him in it i cannot say but the
daughter knew nothing of it till she saw him in it she looked at him
with surprise and asked him for whom he mourned 

the dear and ever-dear miss harlowe he said 

she was at a loss it seems at last all the world ought to mourn for
my clarissa said she but whom man  that was her whimsical address to
him   thinkest thou to oblige by this appearance 

it is more than appearance madam i love not my own sister worthy as
she is better than i loved miss clarissa harlowe i oblige myself by
it and if i disoblige not you that is all i wish 

she surveyed him i am told from head to foot she knew not at first 
whether to be angry or pleased at length i thought at first  said
she that you might have a bolder and freer motive but as my mamma
says you may be a well-meaning man though generally a little
wrong-headed however as the world is censorious and may think us
nearer of kin than i would have it supposed i must take care that i am
not seen abroad in your company 

but let me add mr belford that if this compliment of mr hickman or
this more than compliment as i may call it since the worthy man speaks
not of my dear cousin without emotion does not produce a short day i
shall think miss howe has less generosity in her temper than i am willing
to allow her 

you will excuse me mr belford for the particularities which you
invited and encouraged having now seen every thing that relates to the
will of my dear cousin brought to a desirable issue i will set about
making my own i shall follow the dear creature's example and give my
reasons for every article that there may be no room for
after-contention 

what but a fear of death a fear unworthy of a creature who knows that he
must one day as surely die as he was born can hinder any one from making
such a disposition 

i hope soon to pay my respects to you in town mean time i am with
great respect dear sir 

your faithful and affectionate humble servant 
wm morden 



letter xlvii

mr belford to miss howe
thursday sept 28 


madam 

i do myself the honour to send you by this according to my promise 
copies of the posthumous letters written by your exalted friend 


 see letter xxxvi of this volume 


these will be accompanied with other letters particularly a copy of one
from mr lovelace begun to be written on the 14th and continued down to
the 18th you will see by it madam the dreadful anguish that his
spirits labour with and his deep remorse 


 see letter xxxvii ibid 


mr lovelace sent for this letter back i complied but i first took a
copy of it as i have not told him that i have done so you will be
pleased to forbear communicating of it to any body but mr hickman that
gentleman's perusal of it will be the same as if nobody but yourself saw
it 

one of the letters of colonel morden which i enclose you will observe 
madam is only a copy the true reason for which as i will ingenuously
acknowledge is some free but respectful animadversions which the
colonel has made upon your declining to carry into execution your part of
your dear friend's last requests i have therefore in respect to that
worthy gentleman having a caution from him on that head omitted those
parts 


 the preceding letter 


will you allow me madam however to tell you that i myself could not
have believed that my inimitable testatrix's own miss howe would have
been the most backward in performing such a part of her dear friend's
last will as is entirely in her own power to perform especially when
that performance would make one of the most deserving men in england
happy and whom i presume she proposes to honour with her hand 

excuse me madam i have a most sincere veneration for you and would not
disoblige you for the world 

i will not presume to make remarks on the letters i send you nor upon
the informations i have to give you of the dreadful end of two unhappy
wretches who were the greatest criminals in the affair of your adorable
friend these are the infamous sinclair and a person whom you have read
of no doubt in the letters of the charming innocent by the name of
captain tomlinson 

the wretched woman died in the extremest tortures and despondency the
man from wounds got in defending himself in carrying on a contraband
trade both accusing themselves in their last hours for the parts they
had acted against the most excellent of women as of the crime that gave
them the deepest remorse 

give me leave to say madam that if your compassion be not excited for
the poor man who suffers so greatly from his own anguish of mind as you
will observe by his letter he does and for the unhappy family whose
remorse you will see by colonel morden's is so deep your terror must 
and yet i should not wonder if the just sense of the irreparable loss
you have sustained hardens a heart against pity which on a less
extraordinary occasion would want its principal grace if it were not
compassionate 

i am madam with the greatest respect and gratitude 
your most obliged and faithful humble servant 
j belford 



letter xlviii

miss howe to john belford esq 
saturday sept 30 


sir 

i little thought i ever could have owed so much obligation to any man as
you have laid me under and yet what you have sent me has almost broken
my heart and ruined my eyes 

i am surprised though agreeably that you have so soon and so well got
over that part of the trust you have engaged in which relates to the
family 

it may be presumed from the exits you mention of two of the infernal
man's accomplices that the thunderbolt will not stop short of the
principal indeed i have some pleasure to think it seems rolling along
towards the devoted head that has plotted all the mischief but let me 
however say that although i think mr morden not altogether in the
wrong in his reasons for resentment as he is the dear creature's kinsman
and trustee yet i think you very much in the right in endeavouring to
dissuade him from it as you are her executor and act in pursuance of
her earnest request 

but what a letter is that of the infernal man's i cannot observe upon
it neither can i for very different reasons upon my dear creature's
posthumous letters particularly on that to him o mr belford what
numberless perfections died when my clarissa drew her last breath 

if decency be observed in his letters for i have not yet had patience
to read above two or three of them besides this horrid one which i
return to you enclosed i may some time hence be curious to look by
their means into the hearts of wretches which though they must be the
abhorrence of virtuous minds will when they are laid open as i
presume they are in them afford a proper warning to those who read
them and teach them to detest men of such profligate characters 

if your reformation be sincere you will not be offended that i do not
except you on this occasion and thus have i helped you to a criterion
to try yourself by 

by this letter of the wicked man it is apparent that there are still
wickeder women but see what a guilty commerce with the devils of your
sex will bring those to whose morals ye have ruined for these women
were once innocent it was man that made them otherwise the first bad
man perhaps threw them upon worse men those upon still worse till
they commenced devils incarnate the height of wickedness or of shame
is not arrived at all at once as i have somewhere heard observed 

but this man this monster rather for him to curse these women and to
curse the dear creature's family implacable as the latter were in
order to lighten a burden he voluntarily took up and groans under is
meanness added to wickedness and in vain will he one day find his low
plea of sharing with her friends and with those common wretches a guilt
which will be adjudged him as all his own though they too may meet their
punishment as it is evidently begun in the first in their ineffectual
reproaches of one another in the second as you have told me 

this letter of the abandoned wretch i have not shown to any body not
even to mr hickman for sir i must tell you i do not as yet think it
the same thing as only seeing it myself 

mr hickman like the rest of his sex would grow upon indulgence one
distinction from me would make him pay two to himself insolent
creepers or encroachers all of you to show any of you a favour to-day 
you would expect it as a right to-morrow 

i am as you see very open and sincere with you and design in another
letter to be still more so in answer to your call and colonel morden's
call upon me in a point that concerns me to explain myself upon to my
beloved creature's executor and to the colonel as her only tender and
only worthy relation 

i cannot but highly applaud colonel morden for his generosity to miss
dolly hervey 

o that he had arrived time enough to save my inimitable friend from the
machinations of the vilest of men and from the envy and malice of the
most selfish and implacable of brothers and sisters 

anna howe 



letter xlix

miss howe to john belford esq 
monday oct 2 


when you question me sir as you do and on a subject so affecting to
me in the character of the representative of my best beloved friend 
and have in every particular hitherto acted up to that character you are
entitled to my regard especially as you are joined in your questioning
of me by a gentleman whom i look upon as the dearest and nearest because
worthiest relation of my dear friend and who it seems has been so
severe a censurer of my conduct that your politeness will not permit you
to send me his letter with others of his but a copy only in which the
passages reflecting upon me are omitted 

i presume however that what is meant by this alarming freedom of the
colonel is no more than what you both have already hinted to me as if
you thought i were not inclined to pay so much regard to my beloved
creature's last will in my own case as i would have others pay to it 
a charge that i ought not to be quite silent under 

you have observed no doubt that i have seemed to value myself upon the
freedom i take in declaring my sentiments without reserve upon every
subject that i pretend to touch upon and i can hardly question that i
have or shall in your opinion by my unceremonious treatment of you
upon so short an acquaintance run into the error of those who wanting
to be thought above hypocrisy and flattery fall into rusticity if not
ill-manners a common fault with such who not caring to correct
constitutional failings seek to gloss them over by some nominal virtue 
when all the time perhaps these failings are entirely owing to native
arrogance or at least to a contracted rust that they will not 
because it would give them pain submit to have filed off 

you see sir that i can however be as free with myself as with you 
and by what i am going to write you will find me still more free and
yet i am aware that such of my sex as will not assume some little
dignity and exact respect from your's will render themselves cheap 
and perhaps for their modesty and diffidence be repaid with scorn and
insult 

but the scorn i will endeavour not to deserve and the insult i will not
bear 

in some of the dear creature's papers which you have had in your
possession and must again have in order to get transcribed you will
find several friendly but severe reprehensions of me on account of a
natural or at least an habitual warmth of temper which she was
pleased to impute to me 

i was thinking to give you her charge against me in her own words from
one of her letters delivered to me with her own hands on taking leave
of me on the last visit she honoured me with but i will supply that
charge by confession of more than it imports to wit that i am haughty 
uncontroulable and violent in my temper  this i say impatient of
contradiction  was my beloved's charge  from any body but her dear
self she should have said   and aim not at that affability that
gentleness next to meekness which in the letter i was going to
communicate she tells me are the peculiar and indispensable
characteristics of a real fine lady who she is pleased to say should
appear to be gall-less as a dove and never should know what warmth or
high spirit is but in the cause of religion or virtue or in cases where
her own honour the honour of a friend or that of an innocent person is
concerned 

now sir as i needs must plead guilty to this indictment do you think i
ought not to resolve upon a single life i who have such an opinion of
your sex that i think there is not one man in an hundred whom a woman of
sense and spirit can either honour or obey though you make us promise
both in that solemn form of words which unites or rather binds us to you
in marriage 

when i look round upon all the married people of my acquaintance and see
how they live and what they bear who live best i am confirmed in my
dislike to the state 

well do your sex contrive to bring us up fools and idiots in order to
make us bear the yoke you lay upon our shoulders and that we may not
despise you from our hearts as we certainly should if we were brought
up as you are for your ignorance as much as you often make us do as
it is for your insolence 

these sir are some of my notions and with these notions let me
repeat my question do you think i ought to marry at all 

if i marry either a sordid or an imperious wretch can i do you think 
live with him and ought a man of a contrary character for the sake of
either of our reputations to be plagued with me 

long did i stand out against all the offers made me and against all the
persuasions of my mother and to tell you the truth the longer and
with the more obstinacy as the person my choice would have first fallen
upon was neither approved by my mother nor by my dear friend this
riveted me to my pride and to my opposition for although i was
convinced after a while that my choice would neither have been prudent
nor happy and that the specious wretch was not what he had made me
believe he was yet could i not easily think of any other man and
indeed from the detection of him took a settled aversion to the whole
sex 

at last mr hickman offered himself a man worthy of a better choice he
had the good fortune  he thinks it so  to be agreeable and to make his
proposals agreeable to my mother 

as to myself i own that were i to have chosen a brother mr hickman
should have been the man virtuous sober sincere friendly as he is 
but i wish not to marry nor knew i the man in the world whom i could
think deserving of my beloved friend but neither of our parents would
let us live single 

the accursed lovelace was proposed warmly to her at one time and while
she was yet but indifferent to him they by ungenerous usage of him 
 for then sir he was not known to be beelzebub himself and by
endeavouring to force her inclinations in favour first of one worthless
man then of another in antipathy to him through her foolish brother's
caprice turned that indifference from the natural generosity of her
soul into a regard which she never otherwise would have had for a man of
his character 

mr hickman was proposed to me i refused him again and again he
persisted my mother his advocate i told him my dislike of all men of
him of matrimony still he persisted i used him with tyranny led 
indeed partly by my temper partly by design hoping thereby to get rid
of him till the poor man his character unexceptionably uniform still
persisting made himself a merit with me by his patience this brought
down my pride  i never sir was accounted very ungenerous nor quite
ungrateful   and gave me at one time an inferiority in my own opinion
to him which lasted just long enough for my friends to prevail upon me
to promise him encouragement and to receive his addresses 

having done so when the weather-glass of my pride got up again i found
i had gone too far to recede my mother and my friends both held me to
it yet i tried him i vexed him an hundred ways and not so much
neither with design to vex him as to make him hate me and decline his
suit 

he bore this however and got nothing but my pity yet still my mother 
and my friend having obtained my promise  made however not to him 
but to them   and being well assured that i valued no man more than mr 
hickman who never once disobliged me in word or deed or look except
by his foolish perseverance insisted upon the performance 

while my dear friend was in her unhappy uncertainty i could not think of
marriage and now what encouragement have i she my monitress my
guide my counsel gone for ever gone by whose advice and instructions
i hoped to acquit myself tolerably in the state to which i could not
avoid entering for sir my mother is so partially mr hickman's
friend that i am sure should any difference arise she would always
censure me and acquit him even were he ungenerous enough to remember me
in his day 

this sir being my situation consider how difficult it is for me to
think of marriage whenever we approve we can find an hundred good
reasons to justify our approbation whenever we dislike we can find a
thousand to justify our dislike every thing in the latter case is an
impediment every shadow a bugbear thus can i enumerate and swell 
perhaps only imaginary grievances i must go whither he would have me
to go visit whom he would have me to visit well as i love to write 
 though now alas my grand inducement to write is over it must be to
whom he pleases  and mrs hickman who as miss howe cannot do wrong 
would hardly ever be able to do right thus the tables turned upon me 
i am reminded of my vowed obedience madam'd up perhaps to matrimonial
perfection and all the wedded warfare practised comfortably over between
us for i shall not be passive under insolent treatment till we become
curses to each other a bye-word to our neighbours and the jest of our
own servants 

but there must be bear and forbear methinks some wise body will tell me 
but why must i be teased into a state where that must be necessarily the
case when now i can do as i please and wish only to be let alone to do
as best pleases me and what in effect does my mother say anna
howe you now do every thing that pleases you you now have nobody to
controul you you go and you come you dress and you undress you rise
and you go to rest just as you think best but you must be happier
still child  

as how madam 

why you must marry my dear and have none of these options but in
every thing do as your husband commands you 

this is very hard you will own sir for such a one as me to think of 
and yet engaged to enter into that state as i am how can i help
myself my mother presses me my friend my beloved friend writing as
from the dead presses me and you and mr morden as executors of her
will remind me the man is not afraid of me  i am sure were i the man 
i should not have half his courage   and i think i ought to conclude to
punish him the only effectual way i have to do it for his perverse
adherence and persecution with the grant of his own wishes a punishment
which many others who enjoy their's very commonly experience 

let me then assure you sir that when i can find in the words of my
charming friend in her will writing of her cousin hervey that my grief
for her is mellowed by time into a remembrance more sweet than painful 
that i may not be utterly unworthy of the passion a man of some merit has
for me i will answer the request of my dear friend so often repeated 
and so earnestly pressed and mr hickman shall find if he continue to
deserve my gratitude that my endeavours shall not be wanting to make him
amends for the patience he has had and must still a little while longer
have with me and then will it be his own fault i hope not mine if our
marriage answer not those happy prognostics which filled her generous
presaging mind upon this view as she once for my encouragement and to
induce me to encourage him told me 

thus sir have i in a very free manner accounted to you as to the
executor of my beloved friend for all that relates to you as such to
know and even for more than i needed to do against myself only that
you will find as much against me in some of her letters and so losing
nothing i gain the character of ingenuousness with you 

and thus much for the double reprimand on my delaying my part of the
performance of my dear friend's will 

and now while you are admonishing me on this subject let me remind you
of one great article relating to yourself it is furnished me by my dear
creature's posthumous letter to you i hope you will not forget that the
most benevolent of her sex expresses herself as earnestly concerned for
your thorough reformation as she does for my marrying you'll see to
it then that her wishes are as completely answered in that particular 
as you are desirous they should be in all others 

i have i own disobeyed her in one article and that is where she
desires i would not put myself into mourning i could not help it 

i send this and mine of saturday last together and will not add another
word after i have told you that i think myself

your obliged servant 
a howe 



letter l

mr belford to miss howe
thursday night oct 5 


i return you madam my most respectful thanks for your condescending
hint in relation to the pious wishes of your exalted friend for my
thorough reformation 

i will only say that it will be my earnest and unwearied endeavour to
make those generous wishes effectual and i hope for the divine blessing
upon such my endeavours or else i know they will be in vain 

i cannot madam express how much i think myself obliged to you for your
farther condescension in writing to me so frankly the state of your past
and present mind in relation to the single and matrimonial life if the
lady by whom as the executor of her inimitable friend i am thus
honoured has failings never were failings so lovely in woman how much
more lovely indeed than the virtues of many of her sex 

i might have ventured into the hands of such a lady the colonel's
original letter entire the worthy gentleman exceedingly admires you 
and this caution was the effect of his politeness only and of his regard
for you 

i send you madam a letter from lord m to myself and the copies of
three others written in consequence of that these will acquaint you
with mr lovelace's departure from england and with other particulars 
which you will be curious to know 

be pleased to keep to yourself such of the contents as your own prudence
will suggest to you ought not to be seen by any body else 

i am madam with the profoundest and most grateful respect 

your faithful and obliged humble servant 
john belford 



letter li

lord m to john belford esq 
m hall friday sept 29 


dear sir 

my kinsman lovelace is now setting out for london proposing to see you 
and then to go to dover and so embark god send him well out of the
kingdom 

on monday he will be with you i believe pray let me be favoured with
an account of all your conversations for mr mowbray and mr tourville
are to be there too and whether you think he is grown quite his own man
again 

what i mostly write for is to wish you to keep colonel morden and him
asunder and so i give you notice of his going to town i should be very
loth there should be any mischief between them as you gave me notice
that the colonel threatened my nephew but my kinsman would not bear
that so nobody let him know that he did but i hope there is no fear 
for the colonel does not as i hear threaten now for his own sake i
am glad of that for there is not such a man in the world as my kinsman
is said to be at all the weapons as well he was not he would not be so
daring 

we shall all here miss the wild fellow to be sure there is no man
better company when he pleases 

pray do you never travel thirty or forty miles i should be glad to see
you here at m hall it will be charity when my kinsman is gone for we
suppose you will be his chief correspondent although he has promised to
write to my nieces often but he is very apt to forget his promises to
us his relations particularly god preserve us all amen prays

your very humble servant 
m 



letter lii

mr belford to lord m 
london tuesday night oct 3 


my lord 

i obey your lordship's commands with great pleasure 

yesterday in the afternoon mr lovelace made me a visit at my lodgings 
as i was in expectation of one from colonel morden about the same time 
i thought proper to carry him to a tavern which neither of us frequented 
 on pretence of a half-appointment ordering notice to be sent me
thither if the colonel came and mr lovelace sent to mowbray and
tourville and mr doleman of uxbridge who came to town to take leave
of him to let them know where to find us 

mr lovelace is too well recovered i was going to say i never saw him
more gay lively and handsome we had a good deal of bluster about some
parts of the trust i had engaged in and upon freedoms i had treated him
with in which he would have it that i had exceeded our agreed-upon
limits but on the arrival of our three old companions and a nephew of
mr doleman's who had a good while been desirous to pass an hour with
mr lovelace it blew off for the present 

mr mowbray and mr tourville had also taken some exceptions at the
freedoms of my pen and mr lovelace after his way took upon him to
reconcile us and did it at the expense of all three and with such an
infinite run of humour and raillery that we had nothing to do but to
laugh at what he said and at one another i can deal tolerably with
him at my pen but in conversation he has no equal in short it was his
day he was glad he said to find himself alive and his two friends 
clapping and rubbing their hands twenty times in an hour declared that
now once more he was all himself the charming'st fellow in the world 
and they would follow him to the farthest part of the globe 

i threw a bur upon his coat now-and-then but none would stick 

your lordship knows that there are many things which occasion a roar of
applause in conversation when the heart is open and men are resolved to
be merry which will neither bear repeating nor thinking of afterwards 
common things in the mouth of a man we admire and whose wit has passed
upon us for sterling become in a gay hour uncommon we watch every
turn of such a one's countenance and are resolved to laugh when he
smiles even before he utters what we are expecting to flow from his
lips 

mr doleman and his nephew took leave of us by twelve mowbray and
tourville grew very noisy by one and were carried off by two wine
never moves mr lovelace notwithstanding a vivacity which generally
helps on over-gay spirits as to myself the little part i had taken
in the gaiety kept me unconcerned 

the clock struck three before i could get him into any serious or
attentive way so natural to him is gaiety of heart and such strong
hold had the liveliness of the evening taken of him his conversation 
you know my lord when his heart is free runs off to the bottom without
any dregs 

but after that hour and when we thought of parting he became a little
more serious and then he told me his designs and gave me a plan of his
intended tour wishing heartily that i could have accompanied him 

we parted about four he not a little dissatisfied with me for we had
some talk about subjects which he said he loved not to think of to
whit miss harlowe's will my executorship papers i had in confidence
communicated to that admirable lady with no unfriendly design i assure
your lordship and he insisting upon and i refusing the return of the
letters he had written to me from the time that he had made his first
addresses to her 

he would see me once again he said and it would be upon very ill terms
if i complied not with his request which i bid him not expect but 
that i might not deny him every thing i told him that i would give him
a copy of the will though i was sure i said when he read it he would
wish he had never seen it 

i had a message from him about eleven this morning desiring me to name
a place at which to dine with him and mowbray and tourville for the
last time and soon after another from colonel morden inviting me to
pass the evening with him at the bedford-head in covent-garden and 
that i might keep them at distance from one another i appointed mr 
lovelace at the eagle in suffolk-street 

there i met him and the two others we began where we left off at our
last parting and were very high with each other but at last all was
made up and he offered to forget and forgive every thing on condition
that i would correspond with him while abroad and continue the series
which had been broken through by his illness and particularly give him 
as i had offered a copy of the lady's last will 

i promised him and he then fell to rallying me on my gravity and on my
reformation-schemes as he called them as we walked about the room 
expecting dinner to be brought in he laid his hand upon my shoulder 
then pushed me from him with a curse walking round me and surveying me
from head to foot then calling for the observations of the others he
turned round upon his heel and with one of his peculiar wild airs ha 
ha ha ha  burst he out that these sour-faced proselytes should take
it into their heads that they cannot be pious without forfeiting both
their good-nature and good-manners why jack  turning me about 
pr'ythee look up man dost thou not know that religion if it has
taken proper hold of the heart is the most cheerful countenance-maker
in the world i have heard my beloved miss harlowe say so and she knew 
or nobody did and was not her aspect a benign proof of the observation 
but thy these wamblings in thy cursed gizzard and thy awkward grimaces 
i see thou'rt but a novice in it yet ah belford belford thou hast
a confounded parcel of briers and thorns to trample over barefoot before
religion will illuminate these gloomy features 

i give your lordship this account in answer to your desire to know if i
think him the man he was 

in our conversation at dinner he was balancing whether he should set out
the next morning or the morning after but finding he had nothing to
do and col morden being in town which however i told him not of i
turned the scale and he agreed upon setting out to-morrow morning they
to see him embark and i promised to accompany them for a morning's ride
 as they proposed their horses but said that i must return in the
afternoon 

with much reluctance they let me go to my evening's appointment they
little thought with whom for mr lovelace had put it as a case of honour
to all of us whether as he had been told that mr morden and mr james
harlowe had thrown out menaces against him he ought to leave the kingdom
till he had thrown himself in their way 

mowbray gave his opinion that he ought to leave it like a man of honour
as he was and if he did not take those gentlemen to task for their
opprobrious speeches that at least he should be seen by them in public
before he went away else they might give themselves airs as if he had
left the kingdom in fear of them 

to this he himself so much inclined that it was with difficulty i
persuaded him that as they had neither of them proceeded to a direct
and formal challenge as they knew he had not made himself difficult of
access and as he had already done the family injury enough and it was
miss harlowe's earnest desire that he would be content with that he had
no reason from any point of honour to delay his journey especially as
he had so just a motive for his going as the establishing of his health 
and as he might return the sooner if he saw occasion for it 

i found the colonel in a very solemn way we had a good deal of
discourse upon the subject of certain letters which had passed between us
in relation to miss harlowe's will and to her family he has some
accounts to settle with his banker which he says will be adjusted
to-morrow and on thursday he proposes to go down again to take leave of
his friends and then intends to set out directly for italy 

i wish mr lovelace could have been prevailed upon to take any other
tour than that of france and italy i did propose madrid to him but he
laughed at me and told me that the proposal was in character from a
mule and from one who was become as grave as a spaniard of the old cut 
at ninety 

i expressed to the colonel my apprehensions that his cousin's dying
injunctions would not have the force upon him that were to be wished 

they have great force upon me mr belford  said he or one world
would not have held mr lovelace and me thus long but my intention is
to go to florence and not to lay my bones there as upon my cousin's
death i told you i thought to do but to settle all my affairs in those
parts and then to come over and reside upon a little paternal estate in
kent which is strangely gone to ruin in my absence indeed were i to
meet mr lovelace either here or abroad i might not be answerable for
the consequence 

he would have engaged me for to-morrow but having promised to attend
mr lovelace on his journey as i have mentioned i said i was obliged
to go out of town and was uncertain as to the time of my return in the
evening and so i am to see him on thursday morning at my own lodgings 

i will do myself the honour to write again to your lordship to-morrow
night mean time i am my lord 

your lordship's etc 



letter liii

mr belford to lord m 
wedn night oct 4 


my lord 

i am just returned from attending mr lovelace as far as gad's-hill near
rochester he was exceeding gay all the way mowbray and tourville are
gone on with him they will see him embark and under sail and promise
to follow him in a month or two for they say there is no living without
him now he is once more himself 

he and i parted with great and even solemn tokens of affection but yet
not without gay intermixtures as i will acquaint your lordship 

taking me aside and clasping his arms about me adieu dear belford 
said he may you proceed in the course you have entered upon whatever
airs i give myself this charming creature has fast hold of me here 
 clapping his hand upon his heart  and i must either appear what you see
me or be what i so lately was o the divine creature  lifting up his
eyes 

but if i live to come to england and you remain fixed in your present
way and can give me encouragement i hope rather to follow your example 
than to ridicule you for it this will  for i had given him a copy of
it  i will make the companion of my solitary hours you have told me a
part of its melancholy contents and that and her posthumous letter 
shall be my study and they will prepare me for being your disciple if
you hold on 

you jack may marry  continued he and i have a wife in my eye for
you only thou'rt such an awkward mortal   he saw me affected and
thought to make me smile   but we don't make ourselves except it be
worse by our dress thou art in mourning now as well as i but if ever
thy ridiculous turn lead thee again to be beau-brocade i will bedizen
thee as the girls say on my return to my own fancy and according to
thy own natural appearance thou shalt doctor my soul and i will
doctor thy body thou shalt see what a clever fellow i will make of thee 

as for me i never will i never can marry that i will not take a few
liberties and that i will not try to start some of my former game i
won't promise habits are not so easily shaken off but they shall be by
way of wearing so return and reform shall go together 

and now thou sorrowful monkey what aileth thee  i do love him my
lord 

adieu and once more adieu  embracing me and when thou thinkest
thou hast made thyself an interest out yonder looking up then put in
a word for thy lovelace 

joining company he recommended to me to write often and promised to let
me hear quickly from him and that he would write to your lordship and
to all his family round for he said that you had all been more kind to
him than he had deserved 

and so we parted 

i hope my lord for all your noble family's sake that we shall see him
soon return and reform as he promises 

i return your lordship my humble thanks for the honour of your invitation
to m hall the first letter i receive from mr lovelace shall give me
the opportunity of embracing it i am my lord 

your most faithful and obedient servant 
j belford 



letter liv

mr belford to lord m 
thursday morning oct 5 


it may be some satisfaction to your lordship to have a brief account of
what has just now passed between colonel morden and me 

we had a good deal of discourse about the harlowe family and those parts
of the lady's will which still remain unexecuted after which the colonel
addressed himself to me in a manner which gave me some surprise 

he flattered himself he said from my present happy turn and from my
good constitution that i should live a great many years it was
therefore his request that i would consent to be his executor since it
was impossible for him to make a better choice or pursue a better
example than his cousin had set 

his heart he said was in it there were some things in his cousin's will
and his analogous and he had named one person to me with whom he was
sure i would not refuse to be joined and to whom he intended to apply
for his consent when he had obtained mine  intimating as far as i
could gather that it was mr hickman son of sir charles hickman to
whom i know your lordship is not a stranger for he said every one who
was dear to his beloved cousin must be so to him and he knew that the
gentleman who he had thoughts of would have besides my advice and
assistance the advice of one of the most sensible ladies in england  


 what is between crotchets thus     mr belford omitted in the
transcription of this letter to miss howe 


he took my hand seeing me under some surprise you must not hesitate 
much less deny me mr belford indeed you must not two things i will
assure you of that i have as i hope made every thing so clear that you
cannot have any litigation and that i have done so justly and i hope it
will be thought so generously by all my relations that a mind like
your's will rather have pleasure than pain in the execution of this
trust and this is what i think every honest man who hopes to find an
honest man for his executor should do 

i told him that i was greatly obliged to him for his good opinion of me 
that it was so much every man's duty to be an honest man that it could
not be interpreted as vanity to say that i had no doubt to be found so 
but if i accepted of this trust it must be on condition 

i could name no condition he said interrupting me which he would
refuse to comply with 

this condition i told him was that as there was as great a probability
of his being my survivor as i his he would permit me to name him for
mine and in that case a week should not pass before i made my will 

with all his heart he said and the readier as he had no apprehensions
of suddenly dying for what he had done and requested was really the
effect of the satisfaction he had taken in the part i had already acted
as his cousin's executor and in my ability he was pleased to add as
well as in pursuance of his cousin's advice in the preamble of her will 
to wit that this was a work which should be set about in full health 
both of body and mind 

i told him that i was pleased to hear him say that he was not in any
apprehension of suddenly dying as this gave me assurance that he had
laid aside all thoughts of acting contrary to the dying request of his
beloved cousin 

does it argue said he smiling that if i were to pursue a vengeance so
justifiable in my own opinion i must be in apprehension of falling by
mr lovelace's hand i will assure you that i have no fears of that
sort but i know this is an ungrateful subject to you mr lovelace is
your friend and i will allow that a good man may have a friendship for
a bad one so far as to wish him well without countenancing him in his
evil 

i will assure you added he that i have not yet made any resolutions
either way i have told you what force my cousin's repeated requests
have with me hitherto they have with-held me but let us quit this
subject 

this sir  giving me a sealed-up parcel  is my will it is witnessed 
i made no doubt of prevailing upon you to do me the requested favour i
have a duplicate to leave with the other gentleman and an attested copy 
which i shall deposit at my banker's at my return which will be in six
or eight months at farthest i will allow you to make an exchange of
your's if you will have it so i have only now to take leave of my
relations in the country and so god protect you mr belford you will
soon hear of me again 

he then very solemnly embraced me as i did him and we parted 

i heartily congratulate your lordship on the narrow escape each gentleman
has had from the other for i apprehend that they could not have met
without fatal consequences 

time i hope which subdues all things will subdue their resentments i
am my lord 

your lordship's most faithful and obedient servant 
j belford 


several other letters passed between miss howe and mr belford relating
 to the disposition of the papers and letters to the poor's fund 
 and to other articles of the lady's will wherein the method of
 proceeding in each case was adjusted after which the papers were
 returned to mr belford that he might order the two directed
 copies of them to be taken 

in one of these letters mr belford requests miss howe to give the
 character of the friend she so dearly loved a task he imagines 
 that will be as agreeable to herself as worthy of her pen 

i am more especially curious to know  says he what was that
 particular disposition of her time which i find mentioned in a
 letter which i have just dipt into where her sister is enviously
 reproaching her on that score this information may
 enable me  says he to account for what has often surprised me 
 how at so tender an age this admirable lady became mistress of
 such extraordinary and such various qualifications 


 see vol i letter xlii 



letter lv

miss howe to john belford esq 
thursday oct 12 


sir 

i am incapable of doing justice to the character of my beloved friend 
and that not only from want of talents but from grief which i think 
rather increases than diminishes by time and which will not let me sit
down to a task that requires so much thought and a greater degree of
accuracy than i ever believed myself mistress of and yet i so well
approve of your motion that i will throw into your hands a few
materials that may serve by way of supplement as i may say to those
you will be able to collect from the papers themselves from col 
morden's letters to you particularly that of sept 23 and from the
letters of the detestable wretch himself who i find has done her
justice although to his own condemnation all these together will enable
you who seem to be so great an admirer of her virtues to perform the
task and i think better than any person i know but i make it my
request that if you do any thing in this way you will let me see it 
if i find it not to my mind i will add or diminish as justice shall
require she was a wonderful creature from her infancy but i suppose
you intend to give a character of her at those years when she was
qualified to be an example to other young ladies rather than a history
of her life 


 see letter xlv of this volume 


perhaps nevertheless you will choose to give a description of her
person and as you knew not the dear creature when her heart was easy 
i will tell you what yet in part you can confirm 

that her shape was so fine her proportion so exact her features so
regular her complexion so lovely and her whole person and manner so
distinguishedly charming that she could not move without being admired
and followed by the eyes of every one though strangers who never saw
her before col morden's letter above referred to will confirm this 

in her dress she was elegant beyond imitation and generally led the
fashion to all the ladies round her without seeming to intend it and
without being proud of doing so 


 see vol vii letter lxxxi 


she was rather tall than of a middling stature and had a dignity in her
aspect and air that bespoke the mind that animated every feature 

this native dignity as i may call it induced some superficial persons 
who knew not how to account for the reverence which involuntarily filled
their hearts on her appearance to impute pride to her but these were
such as knew that they should have been proud of any one of her
perfections judging therefore by their own narrowness they thought it
impossible that the lady who possessed so many should not think herself
superior to them all indeed i have heard her noble aspect found fault
with as indicating pride and superiority but people awed and
controuled though but by their own consciousness of inferiority will
find fault right or wrong with those whose rectitude of mind and
manners their own culpable hearts give them to be afraid but in the
bad sense of the word miss clarissa harlowe knew not what pride was 

you may if you touch upon this subject throw in these sentences of
her's spoken at different times and on different occasions 

persons of accidental or shadowy merit may be proud but inborn worth
must be always as much above conceit as arrogance 

who can be better or more worthy than they should be and who shall
be proud of talents they give not to themselves 

the darkest and most contemptible ignorance is that of not knowing one's
self and that all we have and all we excel in is the gift of god 

all human excellence is but comparative there are persons who excel us 
as much as we fancy we excel the meanest 

in the general scale of beings the lowest is as useful and as much a
link of the great chain as the highest 

the grace that makes every other grace amiable is humility 

there is but one pride pardonable that of being above doing a base or
dishonourable action 

such were the sentiments by which this admirable young lady endeavoured
to conduct herself and to regulate her conduct to others 

and in truth never were affability and complacency graciousness some
have called it more eminent in any person man or woman than in her to
those who put it in her power to oblige them insomuch that the
benefitted has sometimes not known which to prefer the grace bestowed 
or the manner in which it was conferred 

it has been observed that what was said of henry iv of france might be
said of her manner of refusing a request that she generally sent from
her presence the person refused nearly as well satisfied as if she had
granted it 

then she had such a sacred regard to truth you cannot sir expatiate
too much upon this topic i dare say that in all her letters in all
the letters of the wretch her veracity will not once be found
impeachable although her calamities were so heavy the horrid man's
wiles so subtle and her struggles to free herself from them so active 

her charity was so great that she always chose to defend or acquit where
the fault was not so flagrant that it became a piece of justice to
condemn it and was always an advocate for an absent person whose
discretion was called in question without having given manifest proofs
of indiscretion 

once i remember in a large circle of ladies every one of which  i among
the rest  having censured a generally-reported indiscretion in a young
lady come my miss howe said she  for we had agreed to take each other
to task when either thought the other gave occasion for it and when by
blaming each other we intended a general reprehension which as she used
to say it would appear arrogant or assuming to level more properly   let
me be miss fanny darlington then removing out of the circle and
standing up here i stand unworthy of a seat with the rest of the
company till i have cleared myself and now suppose me to be her let
me hear you charge and do you hear what the poor culprit can say to it
in her own defence and then answering the conjectural and unproved
circumstances by circumstances as fairly to be supposed favourable she
brought off triumphantly the censured lady and so much to every one's
satisfaction that she was led to her chair and voted a double rank in
the circle as the reinstated miss fanny darlington and as miss clarissa
harlowe 

very few persons she used to say would be condemned or even accused 
in the circles of ladies were they present it is generous therefore 
nay it is but just said she to take the part of the absent if not
flagrantly culpable 

but though wisdom was her birthright as i may say yet she had not lived
years enow to pretend to so much experience as to exempt her from the
necessity of sometimes altering her opinion both of persons and things 
but when she found herself obliged to do this she took care that the
particular instance of mistaken worthiness in the person should not
narrow or contract her almost universal charity into general doubt or
jealousy an instance of what i mean occurs to my memory 

being upbraided by a severe censure with a person's proving base whom
she had frequently defended and by whose baseness my beloved friend was
a sufferer you madam  said she had more penetration than such a
young creature as i can pretend to have but although human depravity
may i doubt oftener justify those who judge harshly than human
rectitude can those who judge favourably yet will i not part with my
charity nevertheless for the future i will endeavour in cases where
the judgment of my elders is against me to make mine consistent with
caution and prudence 

indeed when she was convinced of any error or mistake however
seemingly derogatory to her judgment and sagacity no one was ever so
acknowledging so ingenuous as she it was a merit  she used to say 
next in degree to that of having avoided error frankly to own an error 
and that the offering at an excuse in a blameable manner was the
undoubted mark of a disingenuous if not of a perverse mind 

but i ought to add on this head  of her great charity where character
was concerned and where there was room for charity   that she was always
deservedly severe in her reprehensions of a wilful and studied vileness 
how could she then forgive the wretch by whose premeditated villany she
was entangled 

you must every where insist upon it that had it not been for the stupid
persecutions of her relations she never would have been in the power of
that horrid lovelace and yet on several occasions she acknowledged
frankly that were person and address and alliance to be allowedly the
principal attractives in the choice of a lover it would not have been
difficult for her eye to mislead her heart 

when she was last with me three happy weeks together in every visit
the wretch made her he left her more dissatisfied with him than in the
former and yet his behaviour before her was too specious to have been
very exceptionable to a woman who had a less share of that charming
delicacy and of that penetration which so much distinguished her 

in obedience to the commands of her gloomy father on his allowing her to
be my guest for that last time  as it most unhappily proved   she never
would see him out of my company and would often say when he was gone 
o my nancy this is not the man  at other times gay giddy creature 
he has always something to be forgiven for  at others this man will
much sooner excite one's fears than attract one's love  and then would
she repeat this is not the man all that the world says of him cannot
be untrue but what title have i to call him to account who intend not
to have him 

in short had she been left to a judgment and discretion which nobody
ever questioned who had either she would soon have discovered enough of
him to cause her to discard him for ever 

she was an admirable mistress of all the graces of elocution the hand
she wrote for the neat and free cut of her letters like her mind 
solid and above all flourish for its fairness evenness and
swiftness distinguished her as much as the correctness of her
orthography and even punctuation from the generality of her own sex 
and left her none among the most accurate of the other who excelled
her 

and here you may if you please take occasion to throw in one hint for
the benefit of such of our sex as are too careless in their orthography 
 a consciousness of a defect which generally keeps them from writing   
she was used to say it was a proof that a woman understood the
derivation as well as sense of the words she used and that she stopt not
at sound when she spelt accurately 

on this head you may take notice that it was always matter of surprise
to her that the sex are generally so averse as they are to writing 
since the pen next to the needle of all employments is the most
proper and best adapted to their geniuses and this as well for
improvement as amusement who sees not  would she say that those
women who take delight in writing excel the men in all the graces of the
familiar style the gentleness of their minds the delicacy of their
sentiments improved by the manner of their education and the
liveliness of their imaginations qualify them to a high degree of
preference for this employment while men of learning as they are
called that is to say of mere learning aiming to get above that
natural ease and freedom which distinguish this and indeed every other
kind of writing when they think they have best succeeded are got
above or rather beneath all natural beauty 

then stiffened and starched  let me add  into dry and indelectable
affectation one sort of these scholars assume a style as rough as
frequently are their manners they spangle over their productions with
metaphors they tumble into bombast the sublime with them lying in
words and not in sentiment they fancy themselves most exalted when
least understood and down they sit fully satisfied with their own
performances and call them masculine while a second sort aiming at
wit that wicked misleader forfeit all title to judgment and a third 
sinking into the classical pits there poke and scramble about never
seeking to show genius of their own all their lives spent in
common-place quotation fit only to write notes and comments upon other
people's texts all their pride that they know those beauties of two
thousand years old in another tongue which they can only admire but not
imitate in their own 

and these truly must be learned men and despisers of our insipid sex 

but i need not mention the exceptions which my beloved friend always made
 and to which i subscribe  in favour of men of sound learning true
taste and extensive abilities nor in particular her respect even to
reverence for gentlemen of the cloath which i dare say will appear in
every paragraph of her letters wherever any of the clergy are mentioned 
indeed the pious dr lewen the worthy dr blome the ingenious mr 
arnold and mr tompkins gentlemen whom she names in one article of her
will as learned divines with whom she held an early correspondence well
deserved her respect since to their conversation and correspondence she
owed many of her valuable acquirements 

nor were the little slights she would now-and-then following as i must
own my lead put upon such mere scholars  and her stupid and pedantic
brother was one of those who deserved those slights  as despised not only
our sex but all such as had not had their opportunities of being
acquainted with the parts of speech  i cannot speak low enough of such  
and with the dead languages owing to that contempt which some affect for
what they have not been able to master for she had an admirable facility
for learning languages and read with great ease both in italian and
french she had begun to apply herself to latin and having such a
critical knowledge of her own tongue and such a foundation from the two
others would soon have made herself an adept in it 

but notwithstanding all her acquirements she was an excellent economist
and housewife and those qualifications you must take notice she was
particularly fond of inculcating upon all her reading and writing
companions of the sex for it was a maxim with her that a woman who
neglects the useful and the elegant which distinguish her own sex for
the sake of obtaining the learning which is supposed more peculiar to the
other incurs more contempt by what she foregoes than she gains credit
by what she acquires 

all that a woman can learn  she used to say  expatiating on this
maxim   above the useful knowledge proper to her sex let her learn 
this will show that she is a good housewife of her time and that she has
not a narrow or confined genius but then let her not give up for these
those more necessary and therefore not meaner employments which will
qualify her to be a good mistress of a family a good wife and a good
mother for what can be more disgraceful to a woman than either through
negligence of dress to be found a learned slattern or through
ignorance of household-management to be known to be a stranger to
domestic economy 

she would have it indeed sometimes from the frequent ill use learned
women make of that respectable acquirement that it was no great matter
whether the sex aimed at any thing but excelling in the knowledge of the
beauties and graces of their mother-tongue and once she said that this
was field enough for a woman and an ampler was but endangering her
family usefulness but i who think our sex inferior in nothing to the
other but in want of opportunities of which the narrow-minded mortals
industriously seek to deprive us lest we should surpass them as much in
what they chiefly value themselves upon as we do in all the graces of a
fine imagination could never agree with her in that and yet i was
entirely of her opinion that those women who were solicitous to obtain
that knowledge of learning which they supposed would add to their
significance in sensible company and in their attainment of it imagined
themselves above all domestic usefulness deservedly incurred the
contempt which they hardly ever failed to meet with 

perhaps you will not think it amiss further to observe on this head as
it will now show that precept and example always went hand and hand with
her that her dairy at her grandfather's was the delight of every one who
saw it and she of all who saw her in it 

her grandfather in honour of her dexterity and of her skill in all the
parts of the dairy management as well as of the elegance of the offices
allotted for that use would have his seat before known by the name of
the grove to be called the dairy-house she had an easy convenient 
and graceful habit made on purpose which she put on when she employed
herself in these works and it was noted of her that in the same hour
that she appeared to be a most elegant dairy-maid she was when called
to a change of dress the finest lady that ever graced a circle 


 see vol i letter ii 


her grandfather father mother uncles aunt and even her brother and
sister made her frequent visits there and were delighted with her
silent ease and unaffected behaviour in her works for she always out of
modesty chose rather the operative than the directive part that she
might not discourage the servant whose proper business it was 

each was fond of a regale from her hands in her dairy-house her mother
and aunt hervey generally admired her in silence that they might not
give uneasiness to her sister a spiteful perverse unimitating thing 
who usually looked upon her all the time with speechless envy 
now-and-then however the pouting creature would suffer extorted and
sparing praise to burst open her lips though looking at the same time
like saul meditating the pointed javelin at the heart of david the glory
of his kingdom and now methinks i see my angel-friend too superior
to take notice of her gloom courting her acceptance of the milk-white
curd from hands more pure than that 

her skill and dexterity in every branch of family management seem to be
the only excellence of her innumerable ones which she owed to her family 
whose narrowness immensely rich and immensely carking put them upon
indulging her in the turn she took to this part of knowledge while her
elder sister affected dress without being graceful in it and the fine
lady which she could never be and which her sister was without studying
for it or seeming to know she was so 

it was usual with the one sister when company was expected to be half
the morning dressing while the other would give directions for the whole
business and entertainment of the day and then go up to her
dressing-room and before she could well be missed  having all her
things in admirable order   come down fit to receive company and with
all that graceful ease and tranquillity as if she had nothing else to
think of 

long after her  hours perhaps of previous preparation having passed  
down would come rustling and bustling the tawdry and awkward bella 
disordering more her native disorderliness at the sight of her serene
sister by her sullen envy to see herself so much surpassed with such
little pains and in a sixth part of the time 

yet was this admirable creature mistress of all these domestic
qualifications without the least intermixture of narrowness she knew
how to distinguish between frugality a necessary virtue and
niggardliness an odious vice and used to say that to define
generosity it must be called the happy medium betwixt parsimony and
profusion 

she was the most graceful reader i ever knew she added by her
melodious voice graces to those she found in the parts of books she read
out to her friends and gave grace and significance to others where they
were not she had no tone no whine her accent was always admirably
placed the emphasis she always forcibly laid as the subject required 
no buskin elevation no tragedy pomp could mislead her and yet poetry
was poetry indeed when she read it 

but if her voice was melodious when she read it was all harmony when she
sung and the delight she gave by that and by her skill and great
compass was heightened by the ease and gracefulness of her air and
manner and by the alacrity with which she obliged 

nevertheless she generally chose rather to hear others sing or play than
either to play or sing herself 

she delighted to give praise where deserved yet she always bestowed it
in such a manner as gave not the least suspicion that she laid out for a
return of it to herself though so universally allowed to be her due 

she had a talent of saying uncommon things in such an easy manner that
every body thought they could have said the same and which yet required
both genius and observation to say them 

even severe things appeared gentle though they lost not their force 
from the sweetness of her air and utterance and the apparent benevolence
of her purpose 

we form the truest judgment of persons by their behaviour on the most
familiar occasions i will give an instance or two of the correction she
favoured me with on such a one 

when very young i was guilty of the fault of those who want to be
courted to sing she cured me of it at the first of our happy intimacy 
by her own example and by the following correctives occasionally yet
privately enforced 

well my dear shall we take you at your word shall we suppose that
you sing but indifferently is not however the act of obliging the
company so worthy preferable to the talent of singing and shall not
young ladies endeavour to make up for their defects in one part of
education by their excellence in another 

again you must convince us by attempting to sing that you cannot
sing and then we will rid you not only of present but of future
importunity  an indulgence however let me add that but tolerable
singers do not always wish to meet with 

again i know you will favour us by and by and what do you by your
excuses but raise our expectations and enhance your own difficulties 

at another time has not this accomplishment been a part of your
education my nancy how then for your own honour can we allow of
your excuses 

and i once pleading a cold the usual pretence of those who love to be
entreated sing however my dear as well as you can the greater the
difficulty to you the higher the compliment to the company do you
think you are among those who know not how to make allowances you should
sing my love lest there should be any body present who may think your
excuses owing to affectation 

at another time when i had truly observed that a young lady present sung
better than i and that therefore i chose not to sing before that lady
 fie said she drawing me on one side is not this pride my nancy 
does it not look as if your principal motive to oblige was to obtain
applause a generous mind will not scruple to give advantage to a person
of merit though not always to her own advantage and yet she will have
a high merit in doing that supposing this excellent person absent who 
my dear if your example spread shall sing after you you know every
one else must be but as a foil to you indeed i must have you as much
superior to other ladies in these smaller points as you are in greater 
so she was pleased to say to shame me she was so much above reserve as
disguise so communicative that no young lady could be in her company
half an hour and not carry away instruction with her whatever was the
topic yet all sweetly insinuated nothing given with the air of
prescription so that while she seemed to ask a question for
information-sake she dropt in the needful instruction and left the
instructed unable to decide whether the thought which being started 
she the instructed could improve came primarily from herself or from
the sweet instructress 

she had a pretty hand at drawing which she obtained with very little
instruction her time was too much taken up to allow though to so fine
an art the attention which was necessary to make her greatly excel in
it and she used to say that she was afraid of aiming at too many
things for fear she should not be tolerable at any thing 

for her years and her opportunities she was an extraordinary judge of
painting in this as in every thing else nature was her art her art
was nature she even prettily performed in it her grandfather for
this reason bequeathed to her all the family pictures charming was her
fancy alike sweet and easy was every touch of her pencil and her pen 
yet her judgment exceeded her performance she did not practise enough
to excel in the executive part she could not in every thing excel 
but upon the whole she knew what every subject required according to
the nature of it in other words was an absolute mistress of the
should-be 

to give a familiar instance for the sake of young ladies she untaught 
observed when but a child that the sun moon and stars never appeared
at once and were therefore never to be in one piece that bears tigers 
lions were not natives of an english climate and should not therefore
have place in an english landscape that these ravagers of the forest
consorted not with lambs kids or fawns nor kites hawks and vultures 
with doves partridges or pheasants 

and alas she knew before she was nineteen years of age by fatal
experience she knew that all these beasts and birds of prey were
outdone in treacherous cruelty by man vile barbarous plotting 
destructive man who infinitely less excusable than those destroys 
through wantonness and sport what those only destroy through hunger and
necessity 

the mere pretenders to those branches of science which she aimed at
acquiring she knew how to detect and from all nature propriety 
another word for nature was as i have hinted her law as it is the
foundation of all true judgment but nevertheless she was always
uneasy if what she said exposed those pretenders to knowledge even in
their absence to the ridicule of lively spirits 

let the modern ladies who have not any one of her excellent qualities 
whose whole time in the short days they generally make and in the
inverted night and day where they make them longer is wholly spent in
dress visits cards plays operas and musical entertainments wonder
at what i have written and shall further write and let them look upon
it as an incredible thing that when at a mature age they cannot boast
one of her perfections there should have been a lady so young who had
so many 

these must be such as know not how she employed her time and cannot form
the least idea of what may be done in those hours in which they lie
enveloped with the shades of death as she used to call sleep 

but before i come to mention the distribution she usually made of her
time let me say a few words upon another subject in which she excelled
all the young ladies i ever knew 

this was her skill in almost all sorts of fine needleworks of which 
however i shall say the less since possibly you will find it mentioned
in some of the letters 

that piece which she bequeaths to her cousin morden is indeed a capital
piece a performance so admirable that that gentleman's father who
resided chiefly abroad was as is mentioned in her will very desirous
to obtain it in order to carry it to italy with him to show the curious
of other countries as he used to say for the honour of his own that
the cloistered confinement was not necessary to make english women excel
in any of those fine arts upon which nuns and recluses value themselves 

her quickness at these sort of works was astonishing and a great
encouragement to herself to prosecute them 

mr morden's father would have been continually making her presents 
would she have permitted him to do so and he used to call them and so
did her grandfather tributes due to a merit so sovereign and not
presents 

as to her diversions the accomplishments and acquirements she was
mistress of will show what they must have been she was far from being
fond of cards the fashionable foible of modern ladies nor as will be
easily perceived from what i have said and more from what i shall
further say had she much time for play she never therefore promoted
their being called for and often insensibly diverted the company from
them by starting some entertaining subject when she could do it without
incurring the imputation of particularity 

indeed very few of her intimates would propose cards if they could
engage her to read to talk to touch the keys or to sing when any new
book or new piece of music came down but when company was so
numerous that conversation could not take that agreeable turn which it
oftenest does among four or five friends of like years and inclinations 
and it became in a manner necessary to detach off some of it to make the
rest better company she would not refuse to play if upon casting in 
it fell to her lot and then she showed that her disrelish to cards was
the effect of choice only and that she was an easy mistress of every
genteel game played with them but then she always declared against
playing high except for trifles  she used to say she would not
submit to chance what she was already sure of 

at other times she should make her friends a very ill compliment  she
said if she supposed they would wish to be possessed of what of right
belonged to her and she should be very unworthy if she desired to make
herself a title to what was theirs 

high gaming in short  she used to say was a sordid vice an
immorality the child of avarice and a direct breach of that
commandment which forbids us to covet what is our neighbour's 

she was exceedingly charitable the only one of her family that knew the
meaning of the word and this with regard both to the souls and the
bodies of those who were the well-chosen objects of her benevolence she
kept a list of these whom she used to call her poor entering one upon
it as another was provided for by death or any other way but always
made a reserve nevertheless for unforeseen cases and for accidental
distresses and it must be owned that in the prudent distribution of
them she had neither example nor equal 

the aged the blind the lame the widow the orphan the unsuccessful
industrious were particularly the objects of it and the contributing
to the schooling of some to the putting out to trades and husbandry the
children of others of the labouring or needy poor and setting them
forward at the expiration of their servitude were her great delights as
was the giving good books to others and when she had opportunity the
instructing the poorer sort of her honest neighbours and father's
tenants in the use of them that charity  she used to say which
provides for the morals as well as for the bodily wants of the poor 
gives a double benefit to the public as it adds to the number of the
hopeful what it takes from that of the profligate and can there be in
the eyes of that god she was wont to say who requires nothing so much
from us as acts of beneficence to one another a charity more worthy 

her uncle antony when he came to settle in england with his vast fortune
obtained in the indies used to say this girl by her charities will
bring down a blessing upon us all  and it must be owned they trusted
pretty much to this presumption 

but i need not say more on this head nor perhaps was it necessary to say
so much since the charitable bequests in her will sufficiently set forth
her excellence in this branch of duty 

she was extremely moderate in her diet quantity in food  she used to
say was more to be regarded than quality that a full meal was the
great enemy both to study and industry that a well-built house required
but little repairs 

but this moderation in her diet she enjoyed with a delicate frame of
body a fine state of health was always serene lively cheerful of
course and i never knew but of one illness she had and that was by a
violent cold caught in an open chaise by a sudden storm of hail and
rain in a place where was no shelter and which threw her into a fever 
attended with dangerous symptoms that no doubt were lightened by her
temperance but which gave her friends who then knew her value infinite
apprehensions for her 


 in her common-place book she has the following note upon the
recollection of this illness in the time of her distress 

in a dangerous illness with which i was visited a few years before i
had the unhappiness to know this ungrateful man  would to heaven i had
died in it   my bed was surrounded by my dear relations father mother 
brother sister my two uncles weeping kneeling round me then put up
their vows to heaven for my recovery and i fearing that i should drag
down with me to my grave one or other of my sorrowing friends wished and
prayed to recover for their sakes alas how shall parents in such cases
know what to wish for how happy for them and for me had i then been
denied to their prayers but now i am eased of that care all those
dear relations are living still but not one of them such as they think 
has been the heinousness of my error but far from being grieved would
rejoice to hear of my death 


in all her readings and her conversations upon them she was fonder of
finding beauties than blemishes and chose to applaud but authors and
books where she could find the least room for it yet she used to
lament that certain writers of the first class who were capable of
exalting virtue and of putting vice out of countenance too generally
employed themselves in works of imagination only upon subjects merely
speculative disinteresting and unedifying from which no useful moral or
example could be drawn 

but she was a severe censurer of pieces of a light or indecent turn 
which had a tendency to corrupt the morals of youth to convey polluted
images or to wound religion whether in itself or through the sides of
its professors and this whoever were the authors and how admirable
soever the execution she often pitied the celebrated dr swift for so
employing his admirable pen that a pure eye was afraid of looking into
his works and a pure ear of hearing any thing quoted from them such
authors  she used to say were not honest to their own talents nor
grateful to the god who gave them  nor would she on these occasions 
admit their beauties as a palliation on the contrary she held it as an
aggravation of their crime that they who are so capable of mending the
heart should in any places show a corrupt one in themselves which must
weaken the influences of their good works and pull down with one hand
what they build up with the other 

all she said and all she did was accompanied with a natural ease and
dignity which set her above affectation or the suspicion of it 
insomuch that that degrading fault so generally imputed to a learned
woman was never laid to her charge for with all her excellencies she
was forwarder to hear than speak and hence no doubt derived no small
part of her improvement 

although she was well read in the english french and italian poets and
had read the best translations of the latin classics yet seldom did she
quote or repeat from them either in her letters or conversation though
exceedingly happy in a tenacious memory principally through modesty and
to avoid the imputation of that affectation which i have just mentioned 

mr wyerley once said of her she had such a fund of knowledge of her
own and made naturally such fine observations upon persons and things 
being capable by the egg  that was his familiar expression   of judging
of the bird that she had seldom either room or necessity for foreign
assistances 

but it was plain from her whole conduct and behaviour that she had not
so good an opinion of herself however deserved since whenever she was
urged to give her sentiments on any subject although all she thought fit
to say was clear an intelligible yet she seemed in haste to have done
speaking her reason for it i know was twofold that she might not
lose the benefit of other people's sentiments by engrossing the
conversation and lest as were her words she should be praised into
loquaciousness and so forfeit the good opinion which a person always
maintains with her friends who knows when she has said enough it was 
finally a rule with her to leave her hearers wishing her to say more 
rather than to give them cause to show by their inattention an
uneasiness that she had said so much  

you are curious to know the particular distribution of her time which
you suppose will help you to account for what you own yourself surprised
at to wit how so young a lady could make herself mistress of so many
accomplishments 

i will premise that she was from infancy inured to rise early in a
morning by an excellent and as i may say a learned woman mrs 
norton to whose care wisdom and example she was beholden for the
ground-work of her taste and acquirements which meeting with such
assistances from the divines i have named and with such a genius made
it the less wonder that she surpassed most of her age and sex 

her sex did i say what honour to the other does this imply when one
might challenge the proudest pedant of them all to say he has been
disciplined into greater improvement than she had made from the mere
force of genius and application but it is demonstrable to all who know
how to make observations on their acquaintance of both sexes arrogant as
some are of their superficialities that a lady at eighteen take the
world through is more prudent and conversable than a man at twenty-five 
i can prove this by nineteen instances out of twenty in my own knowledge 
yet how do these poor boasters value themselves upon the advantages their
education gives them who has not seen some one of them just come from
the university disdainfully smile at a mistaken or ill-pronounced word
from a lady when her sense has been clear and her sentiments just and
when he could not himself utter a single sentence fit to be repeated but
what he had borrowed from the authors he had been obliged to study as a
painful exercise to slow and creeping parts but how i digress 

this excellent young lady used to say it was incredible to think what
might be done by early rising and by long days well filled up 

it may be added that she had calculated according to the practice of too
many she had actually lived more years at sixteen than they had at
twenty-six 

she was of opinion that no one could spend their time properly who did
not live by some rule who did not appropriate the hours as nearly as
might be to particular purposes and employments 

in conformity to this self-set lesson the usual distribution of the
twenty-four hours when left to her own choice were as follows 


 for rest she allotted six hours only 

she thought herself not so well and so clear in her intellects  so much
alive she used to say   if she exceeded this proportion if she slept
not she chose to rise sooner and in winter had her fire laid and a
taper ready burning to light it not loving to give trouble to the
servants whose harder work and later hours of going to bed  she used
to say required consideration 

i have blamed her for her greater regard to them than to herself but
this was her answer i have my choice who can wish for more why
should i oppress others to gratify myself you see what free-will
enables one to do while imposition would make a light burden heavy 


 her first three morning hours

were generally passed in her study and in her closet duties and were
occasionally augmented by those she saved from rest and in these passed
her epistolary amusements 

 two hours she generally allotted to domestic management 

these at different times of the day as occasions required all the
housekeeper's bills in ease of her mother passing through her hands 
for she was a perfect mistress of the four principal rules of arithmetic 

 five hours to her needle drawings music etc 

in these she included the assistance and inspection she gave to her own
servants and to her sister's servants in the needle-works required for
the family for her sister as i have above hinted is a modern in
these she also included dr lewen's conversation-visits with whom
likewise she held a correspondence by letters that reverend gentleman
delighted himself and her twice or thrice a week if his health
permitted with these visits and she always preferred his company to any
other engagement 

 two hours she allotted to her two first meals 

but if conversation or the desire of friends or the falling in of
company or guests required it to be otherwise she never scrupled to
oblige and would on such occasions borrow as she called it from other
distributions and as she found it very hard not to exceed in this
appropriation she put down

 one hour more to dinner-time conversation 

to be added or subtracted as occasions offered or the desire of her
friends required and yet found it difficult as she often said to keep
this account even especially if dr lewen obliged them with his company
at their table which however he seldom did for being a
valetudinarian and in a regimen he generally made his visits in the
afternoon 

 one hour to visits to the neighbouring poor 

to a select number of whom and to their children she used to give brief
instructions and good books and as this happened not every day and
seldom above twice a-week she had two or three hours at a time to bestow
in this benevolent employment 

 the remaining four hours

were occasionally allotted to supper to conversation or to reading
after supper to the family this allotment she called her fund upon
which she used to draw to satisfy her other debits and in this she
included visits received and returned shows spectacles etc which in a
country life not occurring every day she used to think a great
allowance no less than two days in six for amusements only and she was
wont to say that it was hard if she could not steal time out of this
fund for an excursion of even two or three days in a month 

if it be said that her relations or the young neighbouring ladies had
but little of her time it will be considered that besides these four
hours in the twenty-four great part of the time she was employed in her
needle-works she used to converse as she worked and it was a custom she
had introduced among her acquaintance that the young ladies in their
visits used frequently in a neighbourly way in the winter evenings
especially to bring their work with them and one of half a dozen of her
select acquaintance used by turns to read to the rest as they were at
work 

this was her usual method when at her own command for six days in the
week 


 the seventh day

she kept as it ought to be kept and as some part of it was frequently
employed in works of mercy the hour she allotted to visiting the
neighbouring poor was occasionally supplied from this day and added to
her fund 

but i must observe that when in her grandfather's lifetime she was three
or four weeks at a time his housekeeper or guest as also at either of
her uncles her usual distribution of time was varied but still she had
an eye to it as nearly as circumstances would admit 

when i had the happiness of having her for my guest for a fortnight or
so she likewise dispensed with her rules in mere indulgence to my
foibles and idler habits for i also though i had the benefit of an
example i so much admired am too much of a modern yet as to morning
risings i had corrected myself by such a precedent in the summer-time 
and can witness to the benefit i found by it in my health as also to the
many useful things i was enabled by that means with ease and pleasure 
to perform and in her account-book i have found this memorandum since
her ever-to-be-lamented death from such a day to such a day all
holidays at my dear miss howe's  at her return account resumed such
a day  naming it and then she proceeded regularly as before 

once-a-week she used to reckon with herself when if within the 144
hours contained in the six days she had made her account even she
noted it accordingly if otherwise she carried the debit to the next
week's account as thus debtor to the article of the benevolent visits 
so many hours and so of the rest 

but it was always an especial part of her care that whether visiting or
visited she showed in all companies an entire ease satisfaction and
cheerfulness as if she had kept no such particular account and as if
she did not make herself answerable to herself for her occasional
exceedings 

this method which to others will appear perplexing and unnecessary her
early hours and custom had made easy and pleasant to her 

and indeed as i used to tell her greatly as i admired her in all
methods i could not bring myself to this might i have had the world for
my reward 

i had indeed too much impatience in my temper to observe such a
regularity in accounting between me and myself i satisfied myself in a
lump-account as i may call it if i had nothing greatly wrong to
reproach myself when i looked back on a past week as she had taught me
to do 

for she used indulgently to say i do not think all i do necessary for
another to do nor even for myself but when it is more pleasant for me
to keep such an account than to let it alone why may i not proceed in
my supererogatories there can be no harm in it it keeps up my
attention to accounts which one day may be of use to me in more material
instances those who will not keep a strict account seldom long keep
any i neglect not more useful employments for it and it teaches me to
be covetous of time the only thing of which we can be allowably
covetous since we live but once in this world and when gone are gone
from it for ever 

she always reconciled the necessity under which these interventions as
she called them laid her of now-and-then breaking into some of her
appropriations saying that was good sense and good manners too in
the common lesson when at rome do as they do at rome and that to be
easy of persuasion in matters where one could oblige without endangering
virtue or worthy habits was an apostolical excellency since if a
person conformed with a view of making herself an interest in her
friend's affections in order to be heeded in greater points it was
imitating his example who became all things to all men that he might
gain some  nor is it to be doubted had life been spared her that the
sweetness of her temper and her cheerful piety would have made virtue
and religion appear so lovely that her example would have had no small
influence upon the minds and manners of those who would have had the
honour of conversing with her 

o mr belford i can write no further on this subject for looking
into the account-book for other particulars i met with a most affecting
memorandum which being written on the extreme edge of the paper with a
fine pen and in the dear creature's smallest hand i saw not before 
this it is written i suppose at some calamitous period after the day
named in it help me to curse to blast the monster who gave occasion for
it 

 april 10 the account concluded 
 and with it all my worldly hopes and prospects 


 


i take up my pen but not to apologize for my execration once more i
pray to god to avenge me of him me i say for mine is the loss her's
the gain 

o sir you did not you could not know her as i knew her never was
such an excellence so warm yet so cool a friend so much what i wish
to be but never shall be for alas my stay my adviser my monitress 
my directress is gone for ever gone she honoured me with the title
of the sister of her heart but i was only so in the love i bore her a
love beyond a sister's infinitely beyond her sister's in the hatred i
have to every mean and sordid action and in my love of virtue for 
otherwise i am of a high and haughty temper as i have acknowledged
heretofore and very violent in my passions 

in short she was the nearest perfection of any creature i ever knew 
she never preached to me lessons which she practised not herself she
lived the life she taught all humility meekness self-accusing others
acquitting though the shadow of the fault was hardly hers the substance
their's whose only honour was their relation to her 

to lose such a friend such a guide if ever my violence was
justifiable it is upon this recollection for she lived only to make me
sensible of my failings but not long enough to enable me to conquer
them as i was resolved to endeavour to do 

once more then let me execrate but now violence and passion again
predominate and how can it be otherwise 

but i force myself from the subject having lost the purpose for which i
resumed my pen 

a howe 



letter lvi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
paris oct 14 


 timor and minae
 scandunt eodum quo dominus neque
 decedit aerata triremi and
 post equitem sedet atra cura 

in a language so expressive as the english i hate the pedantry of
tagging or prefacing what i write with latin scraps and ever was a
censurer of the motto-mongers among our weekly and daily scribblers 
but these verses of horace are so applicable to my case that whether
on ship-board whether in my post-chaise or in my inn at night i am
not able to put them out of my head dryden once i thought said very
well in these bouncing lines 

 man makes his fate according to his mind 
 the weak low spirit fortune makes her slave 
 but she's a drudge when hector'd by the brave 
 if fate weave common thread i'll change the doom 
 and with new purple weave a nobler loom 

and in these 

 let fortune empty her whole quiver on me 
 i have a soul that like an ample shield 
 can take in all and verge enough for more 
 fate was not mine nor am i fate's 
 souls know no conquerors 

but in the first quoted lines considering them closely there is nothing
but blustering absurdity in the other the poet says not truth for
conscience is the conqueror of souls at least it is the conqueror of
mine and who ever thought it a narrow one but this is occasioned
partly by poring over the affecting will and posthumous letter what an
army of texts has she drawn up in array against me in the letter but
yet jack do they not show me that two or three thousand years ago 
there were as wicked fellows as myself they do and that's some
consolation 

but the generosity of her mind displayed in both is what stings me most 
and the more still as it is now out of my power any way in the world to
be even with her 

i ought to have written to you sooner but i loitered two days at calais 
for an answer to a letter i wrote to engage my former travelling valet 
de la tour an ingenious ready fellow as you have heard me say i have
engaged him and he is now with me 

i shall make no stay here but intend for some of the electoral courts 
that of bavaria i think will engage me longest perhaps i may step out
of my way if i can be out of my way any where to those of dresden and
berlin and it is not impossible that you may have one letter from me at
vienna and then perhaps i may fall down into italy by the tyrol and
so taking turin in my way return to paris where i hope to see mowbray
and tourville nor do i despair of you 

this a good deal differs from the plan i gave you but you may expect to
hear from me as i move and whether i shall pursue this route or the
other 

i have my former lodgings in the rue st antoine which i shall hold 
notwithstanding my tour so they will be ready to accommodate any two of
you if you come hither before my return and for this i have
conditioned 

i write to charlotte and that is writing to all my relations at once 

do thou jack inform me duly of every thing that passes particularly 
how thou proceededst in thy reformation-scheme how mowbray and tourville
go on in my absence whether thou hast any chance for a wife  i am the
more solicitous on this head because thou seemest to think that thy
mortification will not be complete nor thy reformation secure till thou
art shackled   how the harlowes proceed in their penitentials if miss
howe be married or near being so how honest doleman goes on with his
empiric now he has dismissed his regulars or they him and if any
likelihood of his perfect recovery be sure be very minute for every
trifling occurrence relating to those we value becomes interesting when
we are at a distance from them finally prepare thou to piece thy
broken thread if thou wouldst oblige

thy
lovelace 



letter lvii

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
london oct 25 


i write to show you that i am incapable of slighting even the minutest
requests of an absent and distant friend yet you may believe that there
cannot be any great alterations in the little time that you have been out
of england with respect to the subjects of your inquiry nevertheless i
will answer to each for the reason above given and for the reason you
mention that even trifles and chit-chat are agreeable from friend to
friend and of friends and even of those to whom we give the importance
of deeming them our foes when we are abroad 

first then as to my reformation-scheme as you call it i hope i go on
very well i wish you had entered upon the like and could say so too 
you would then find infinitely more peace of mind than you are likely
ever otherwise to be acquainted with when i look back upon the sweep
that has been made among us in the two or three past years and forward
upon what may still happen i hardly think myself secure though of late
i have been guided by other lights than those of sense and appetite 
which have hurried so many of our confraternity into worldly ruin if not
into eternal perdition 

i am very earnest in my wishes to be admitted into the nuptial state 
but i think i ought to pass some time as a probationary till by
steadiness in my good resolutions i can convince some woman whom i
could love and honour and whose worthy example might confirm my morals 
that there is one libertine who had the grace to reform before age or
disease put it out of his power to sin on 

the harlowes continue inconsolable and i dare say will to the end of
their lives 

miss howe is not yet married but i have reason to think will soon i
have the honour of corresponding with her and the more i know of her 
the more i admire the nobleness of her mind she must be conscious that
she is superior to half our sex and to most of her own which may make
her give way to a temper naturally hasty and impatient but if she meet
with condescension in her man  and who would not veil to a superiority
so visible if it be not exacted with arrogance   i dare say she will
make an excellent wife 

as to doleman the poor man goes on trying and hoping with his empiric 
i cannot but say that as the latter is a sensible and judicious man and
not rash opinionative or over-sanguine i have great hopes little as i
think of quacks and nostrum-mongers in general that he will do him good 
if his case will admit of it my reasons are that the man pays a
regular and constant attendance upon him watches with his own eye 
every change and new symptom of his patient's malady varies his
applications as the indications vary fetters not himself to rules laid
down by the fathers of the art who lived many hundred years ago when
diseases and the causes of them were different as the modes of living
were different from what they are now as well as climates and accidents 
that he is to have his reward not in daily fees but after the first
five guineas for medicines in proportion as the patient himself shall
find amendment 

as to mowbray and tourville what novelties can be expected in so short
a time from men who have not sense enough to strike out or pursue new
lights either good or bad now especially that you are gone who were
the soul of all enterprise and in particular their soul besides i see
them but seldom i suppose they'll be at paris before you can return
from germany for they cannot live without you and you gave them such a
specimen of your recovered volatility in the last evening's
conversation as delighted them and concerned me 

i wish with all my heart that thou wouldst bend thy course toward the
pyraneans i should then if thou writest to thy cousin montague an
account of what is most observable in thy tour put in for a copy of thy
letters i wonder thou wilt not since then thy subjects would be as new
to thyself as to

thy
belford 



letter lviii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
paris oct 16 27 


i follow my last of the 14 25th on occasion of a letter just now come to
hand from joseph leman the fellow is conscience ridden jack and tells
me that he cannot rest either day or night for the mischiefs which he
fears he has been or may still further be the means of doing  he
wishes if it please god and if it please me that he had never seen my
honour's face 

and what is the cause of his present concern as to his own particular 
what but the slights and contempts which he receives from every one of
the harlowes from those particularly he says whom he has endeavoured
to serve as faithfully as his engagements to me would let him serve them 
and i always made him believe he tells me poor weak soul as he was
from his cradle that serving me was serving both in the long run 
but this and the death of his dear young lady is a grief he declares 
that he shall never claw off were he to love to the age of matthew
salem althoff and howsomever he is sure that he shall not live a
month to an end being strangely pined and his stomach nothing like what
it was and mrs betty being also now she has got his love very cross
and slighting but thank his god for punishing her she is in a poor
way hersell 

but the chief occasion of troubling my honour now is not his own griefs
only althoff they are very great but to prevent further mischiefs to
me for he can assure me that colonel morden has set out from them all 
with a full resolution to have his will of me and he is well assured 
that he said and swore to it as how he was resolved that he would
either have my honour's heart's-blood or i should have his or some
such-like sad threatenings and that all the family rejoice in it and
hope i shall come short home 

this is the substance of joseph's letter and i have one from mowbray 
which has a hint to the same effect and i recollect now that you were
very importunate with me to go to madrid rather than to france and
italy the last evening we passed together 

what i desire of you is by the first dispatch to let me faithfully
know all that you know on this head 

i can't bear to be threatened jack nor shall any man unquestioned 
give himself airs in my absence if i know it that shall make me look
mean in any body's eyes that shall give friends pain for me that shall
put them upon wishing me to change my intentions or my plan to avoid
him upon such despicable terms as these think you that i could bear to
live 

but why if such were his purpose did he not let me know it before i
left england was he unable to work himself up to a resolution till he
knew me to be out of the kingdom 

as soon as i can inform myself where to direct to him i will write to
know his purpose for i cannot bear suspense in such a case as this that
solemn act were it even to be marriage or hanging which must be done
to-morrow i had rather should be done to-day my mind tires and sickens
with impatience on ruminating upon scenes that can afford neither variety
nor certainty to dwell twenty days in expectation of an even that may
be decided in a quarter of an hour is grievous 

if he come to paris although i should be on my tour he will very easily
find out my lodgings for i every day see some one or other of my
countrymen and divers of them have i entertained here i go frequently
to the opera and to the play and appear at court and at all public
places and on my quitting this city will leave a direction whither my
letters from england or elsewhere shall from time to time be forwarded 
were i sure that his intention is what joseph leman tells me it is i
would stay here or shorten his course to me let him be where he would 

i cannot get off my regrets on account of this dear lady for the blood of
me if the colonel and i are to meet as he has done me no injury and
loves the memory of his cousin we shall engage with the same sentiments 
as to the object of our dispute and that you know is no very common
case 

in short i am as much convinced that i have done wrong as he can be 
and regret it as much but i will not bear to be threatened by any man
in the world however conscious i may be of having deserved blame 

adieu belford be sincere with me no palliation as thou valuest

thy
lovelace 



letter lix

mr belford to robert lovelace esq 
london oct 26 


i cannot think my dear lovelace that colonel morden has either
threatened you in those gross terms mentioned by the vile joseph leman 
or intends to follow you they are the words of people of that fellow's
class and not of a gentleman not of colonel morden i am sure you'll
observe that joseph pretends not to say that he heard him speak them 

i have been very solicitous to sound the colonel for your sake and for
his own and for the sake of the injunctions of the excellent lady to me 
as well as to him on that subject he is and you will not wonder that
he should be extremely affected and owns that he has expressed himself
in terms of resentment on the occasion once he said to me that had his
beloved cousin's case been that of a common seduction her own credulity
or weakness contributing to her fall he could have forgiven you but 
in so many words he assured me that he had not taken any resolutions 
nor had he declared himself to the family in such a way as should bind
him to resent on the contrary he has owned that his cousin's
injunctions have hitherto had the force upon him which i could wish they
should have 

he went abroad in a week after you when he took his leave of me he
told me that his design was to go to florence and that he would settle
his affairs there and then return to england and here pass the
remainder of his days 

i was indeed apprehensive that if you and he were to meet something
unhappy might fall out and as i knew that you proposed to take italy 
and very likely florence in your return to france i was very solicitous
to prevail upon you to take the court of spain into your plan i am
still so and if you are not to be prevailed upon to do that let me
entreat you to avoid florence or leghorn in your return since you have
visited both heretofore at least let not the proposal of a meeting
come from you 

it would be matter of serious reflection to me if the very fellow this
joseph leman who gave you such an opportunity to turn all the artillery
of his masters against themselves and to play them upon one another to
favour your plotting purposes should be the instrument in the devil's
hand unwittingly too to avenge them all upon you for should you even
get the better of the colonel would the mischief end there it would
but add remorse to your present remorse since the interview must end in
death for he would not i am confident take his life at your hand the
harlowes would moreover prosecute you in a legal way you hate them 
and they would be gainers by his death rejoicers in your's and have you
not done mischief enough already 

let me therefore and through me all your friends have the
satisfaction to hear that you are resolved to avoid this gentleman time
will subdue all things nobody doubts your bravery nor will it be known
that your plan is changed through persuasion 

young harlowe talks of calling you to account this is a plain evidence 
that mr morden has not taken the quarrel upon himself for their family 

i am in no apprehension of any body but colonel morden i know it will
not be a mean to prevail upon you to oblige me if i say that i am well
assured that this gentleman is a skillful swordsman and that he is as
cool and sedate as skillful but yet i will add that if i had a value
for my life he should be the last man except yourself with whom i
would choose to have a contention 

i have as you required been very candid and sincere with you i have
not aimed at palliation if you seek not colonel morden it is my
opinion he will not seek you for he is a man of principle but if you
seek him i believe he will not shun you 

let me re-urge  it is the effect of my love for you   that you know your
own guilt in this affair and should not be again an aggressor it would
be pity that so brave a man as the colonel should drop were you and he
to meet and on the other hand it would be dreadful that you should be
sent to your account unprepared for it and pursuing a fresh violence 
moreover seest thou not in the deaths of two of thy principal agents 
the hand-writing upon the wall against thee 

my zeal on this occasion may make me guilty of repetition indeed i know
not how to quit the subject but if what i have written added to your
own remorse and consciousness cannot prevail all that i might further
urge would be ineffectual 

adieu therefore mayst thou repent of the past and may no new
violences add to thy heavy reflections and overwhelm thy future hopes 
are the wishes of

thy true friend 
john belford 



letter lx 

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
munich nov 11 22 


i received your's this moment just as i was setting out for vienna 

as to going to madrid or one single step out of the way to avoid colonel
morden let me perish if i do you cannot think me so mean a wretch 

and so you own that he has threatened me but not in gross and
ungentlemanly terms you say if he has threatened me like a gentleman 
i will resent his threats like a gentleman but he has not done as a man
of honour if he has threatened at all behind my back i would scorn to
threaten any man to whom i knew how to address myself either personally
or by pen and ink 

as to what you mention of my guilt of the hand-writing on the wall of a
legal prosecution if he meet his fate from my hand of his skill 
coolness courage and such-like poltroon stuff what can you mean by it 
surely you cannot believe that such insinuations as those will weaken
either my hands or my heart no more of this sort of nonsense i beseech
you in any of your future letters 

he had not taken any resolutions you say when you saw him he must and
will take resolutions one way or other very quickly for i wrote to him
yesterday without waiting for this or your answer to my last i could
not avoid it i could not as i told you in that live in suspense i
have directed my letter to florence nor could i suffer my friends to
live in suspense as to my safety but i have couched it in such moderate
terms that he has fairly his option he will be the challenger if he
take it in the sense in which he may so handsomely avoid taking it and
if he does it will demonstrate that malice and revenge were the
predominant passions with him and that he was determined but to settle
his affairs and then take his resolutions as you phrase it yet if we
are to meet  for i know what my option would be in his case on such a
letter complaisant as it is  i wish he had a worse i a better cause 
it would be a sweet revenge to him were i to fall by his hand but what
should i be the better for killing him 

i will enclose a copy of the letter i sent him 


 


on re-perusing your's in a cooler moment i cannot but thank you for your
friendly love and good intentions my value for you from the first
hour of our acquaintance till now i have never found misplaced 
regarding at least your intention thou must however own a good deal of
blunder of the over-do and under-do kind with respect to the part thou
actest between me and the beloved of my heart but thou art really an
honest fellow and a sincere and warm friend i could almost wish i had
not written to florence till i had received thy letter now before me 
but it is gone let it go if he wish peace and to avoid violence he
will have a fair opportunity to embrace the one and shun the other if
not he must take his fate 

but be this as it may you may contrive to let young harlowe know  he is
a menacer too   that i shall be in england in march next at farthest 

this of bavaria is a gallant and polite court nevertheless being
uncertain whether my letter may meet with the colonel at florence i
shall quit it and set out as i intended for vienna taking care to
have any letter or message from him conveyed to me there which will soon
bring me back hither or to any other place to which i shall be invited 

as i write to charlotte i have nothing more to add after compliments to
all friends than that i am

wholly your's 
lovelace 


 


mr lovelace to william morden esq 
 enclosed in the above  
munich nov 10 21 


sir 

i have heard with a great deal of surprise that you have thought fit to
throw out some menacing expressions against me 

i should have been very glad that you had thought i had punishment enough
in my own mind for the wrongs i have done to the most excellent of women 
and that it had been possible for two persons so ardently joining in one
love especially as i was desirous to the utmost of my power to repair
those wrongs to have lived if not on amicable terms in such a way as
not to put either to the pain of hearing of threatenings thrown out in
absence which either ought to be despised for if he had not spirit to
take notice of them 

now sir if what i have heard be owing only to warmth of temper or to
sudden passion while the loss of all other losses the most deplorable to
me was recent i not only excuse but commend you for it but if you are
really determined to meet me on any other account  which i own to you 
is not however what i wish   it would be very blamable and very unworthy
of the character i desire to maintain as well with you as with every
other gentleman to give you a difficulty in doing it 

being uncertain when this letter may meet you i shall set out to-morrow
for vienna where any letter directed to the post-house in the city or
to baron windisgrat's at the favorita to whom i have commendations 
will come to hand 

mean time believing you to be a man too generous to make a wrong
construction of what i am going to declare and knowing the value which
the dearest of all creatures had for you and your relation to her i
will not scruple to assure you that the most acceptable return will be 
that colonel morden chooses to be upon an amicable rather than upon any
other footing with

his sincere admirer and humble servant 
r lovelace 



letter lxi

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
lintz nov 28 
 dec 9 


i am now on my way to trent in order to meet colonel morden in
pursuance of his answer to my letter enclosed in my last i had been
at presburgh and had intended to visit some other cities of hungary 
but having obliged myself to return first to vienna i there met with
his letter which follows 


munich nov 21 
 dec 2 


sir 

your letter was at florence four days before i arrived there 

that i might not appear unworthy of your favour i set out for this city
the very next morning i knew not but that the politeness of this court
might have engaged beyond his intention a gentleman who has only his
pleasure to pursue 

but being disappointed in my hope of finding you here it becomes me to
acquaint you that i have such a desire to stand well in the opinion of a
man of your spirit that i cannot hesitate a moment upon the option 
which i am sure mr lovelace in my situation thus called upon would
make 

i own sir that i have on all occasions spoken of your treatment of my
ever-dear cousin as it deserved it would have been very surprising if i
had not and it behoves me now you have given me so noble an opportunity
of explaining myself to convince you that no words fell from my lips 
of you merely because you were absent i acquaint you therefore that
i will attend your appointment and would were it to the farthest part
of the globe 

i shall stay some days at this court and if you please to direct for me
at m klienfurt's in this city whether i remain here or not your
commands will come safely and speedily to the hands of sir 

your most humble servant 
wm morden 


 


so you see belford that the colonel by his ready his even
eagerly-expressed acceptance of the offered interview was determined 
and is it not much better to bring such a point as this to an issue 
than to give pain to friends for my safety or continue in suspense
myself as i must do if i imagined that another had aught against me 

this was my reply 


vienna nov 25 
 dec 6 


sir 

i have this moment the favour of your's i will suspend a tour i was
going to take into hungary and instantly set out for munich and if i
can find you not there will proceed on to trent this city being on
the confines of italy will be most convenient as i presume to you in
your return to tuscany and i shall hope to meet you in it on the 3 14th
of december 

i shall bring with me only a french valet and an english footman other
particulars may be adjusted when i have the honour to see you till
when i am sir 

your most obedient servant 
r lovelace 


 


now jack i have no manner of apprehension of the event of this meeting 
and i think i must say he seeks me out not i him and so let him take
the consequence 

what is infinitely nearer to my heart is my ingratitude to the most
excellent of women my premeditated ingratitude yet all the while
enabled to distinguish and to adore her excellencies in spite of the
mean opinion of the sex which i had imbibed from early manhood 

but this lady has asserted the worthiness of her sex and most gloriously
has she exalted it with me now yet surely as i have said and written
an hundred times there cannot be such another woman 

but as my loss in her departure is the greatest of any man's and as she
was dearer to me than to any other person in the world and once she
herself wished to be so what an insolence in any man breathing to
pretend to avenge her on me happy happy thrice happy had i known how
to value as i ought to have valued the glory of such a preference 

i will not aggravate to myself this aggravation of the colonel's
pretending to call me to account for my treatment of a lady so much my
own lest in the approaching interview my heart should relent for one
so nearly related to her and who means honour and justice to her memory 
and i should thereby give him advantages which otherwise he cannot have 
for i know that i shall be inclined to trust to my skill to save a man
who was so much and so justly valued by her and shall be loath to give
way to my resentment as a threatened man and in this respect only i am
sorry for his skill and his courage lest i should be obliged in my own
defence to add a chalk to a score that is already too long 


 


indeed indeed belford i am and shall be to my latest hour the most
miserable of beings such exalted generosity why didst thou put into
my craving hands the copy of her will why sentest thou to me the
posthumous letter what thou i was earnest to see the will thou knewest
what they both were  i did not  and that it would be cruel to oblige me 

the meeting of twenty colonel mordens were there twenty to meet in turn 
would be nothing to me would not give me a moment's concern as to my
own safety but my reflections upon my vile ingratitude to so superior an
excellence will ever be my curse 

had she been a miss howe to me and treated me as if i were a hickman i
had had a call for revenge and policy when i had intended to be an
husband might have justified my attempts to humble her but a meek and
gentle temper was her's though a true heroine whenever honour or virtue
called for an exertion of spirit 

nothing but my cursed devices stood in the way of my happiness 
remembrest thou not how repeatedly from the first i poured cold water
upon her rising flame by meanly and ungratefully turning upon her the
injunctions which virgin delicacy and filial duty induced her to lay
me under before i got her into my power 


 see vol iii letter xv see also letters xvii xlv xlvi of that
volume and many other places 


did she not tell me and did i not know it if she had not told me that
she could not be guilty of affectation or tyranny to the man whom she
intended to marry i knew as she once upbraided me that from the time
i had got her from her father's house i had a plain path before me 
true did she say and i triumphed in the discovery that from that time
i held her soul in suspense an hundred times my ipecacuanha trial
alone was enough to convince an infidel that she had a mind in which love
and tenderness would have presided had i permitted the charming buds to
put forth and blow 


 see vol v letter xxxiv it may be observed further that all
clarissa's occasional lectures to miss howe on that young lady's
treatment of mr hickman prove that she was herself above affectation
and tyranny see more particularly the advice she gives to that
friend of her heart letter xxxii of vol viii o my dear  says she 
in that letter that it had been my lot as i was not permitted to live
single to have met with a man by whom i could have acted generously and
unreservedly  etc etc 
 see vol v letters xxvi and xxxiv 
 ibid letter xxxiv 
 see vol v letters ii iii 


she would have had no reserve as once she told me had i given her cause
of doubt and did she not own to thee that once she could have loved
me and could she have made me good would have made me happy o 
belford here was love a love of the noblest kind a love as she hints
in her posthumous letter that extended to the soul and which she not
only avowed in her dying hours but contrived to let me know it after
death in that letter filled with warnings and exhortations which had
for their sole end my eternal welfare 


 ibid letter xxxvi 
 see vol viii letter lxiv 
 see letter xxxvi of this volume 


the cursed women indeed endeavoured to excite my vengeance and my
pride by preaching to me of me and my pride was at times too much
excited by their vile insinuations but had it even been as they said 
well might she who had been used to be courted and admired by every
desiring eye and worshipped by every respectful heart well might such
a woman be allowed to draw back when she found herself kept in suspense 
as to the great question of all by a designing and intriguing spirit 
pretending awe and distance as reasons for reining-in a fervour which 
if real cannot be reined-in divine creature her very doubts her
reserves so justly doubting would have been my assurance and my
glory and what other trial needed her virtue what other needed a
purity so angelic blessed with such a command in her passions in the
bloom of youth had i not been a villain and a wanton a conceited a
proud fool as well as a villain 

these reflections sharpened rather than their edge by time abated 
accompany me in whatever i do and wherever i go and mingle with all
my diversions and amusements and yet i go into gay and splendid
company i have made new acquaintance in the different courts i have
visited i am both esteemed and sought after by persons of rank and
merit i visit the colleges the churches the palaces i frequent
the theatre am present at every public exhibition and see all that is
worth seeing that i had not see before in the cabinets of the curious 
am sometimes admitted to the toilette of an eminent toast and make one
with distinction at the assemblies of others yet can think of nothing 
nor of any body with delight but of my clarissa nor have i seen one
woman with advantage to herself but as she resembles in stature air 
complexion voice or in some feature that charmer that only charmer
of my soul 

what greater punishment than to have these astonishing perfections 
which she was mistress of strike my remembrance with such force when i
have nothing left me but the remorse of having deprived myself and the
world of such a blessing now and then indeed am i capable of a gleam
of comfort arising not ungenerously from the moral certainty which i
have of her everlasting happiness in spite of all the machinations and
devices which i set on foot to ensnare her virtue and to bring down so
pure a mind to my own level 

 for can i be at worst  avert that worst 
 o thou supreme who only canst avert it  
 so much a wretch so very far abandon'd 
 but that i must even in the horrid's gloom 
 reap intervenient joy at least some respite 
 from pain and anguish in her bliss 


 


if i find myself thus miserable abroad i will soon return to england 
and follow your example i think turn hermit or some plaguy thing or
other and see what a constant course of penitence and mortification will
do for me there is no living at this rate d n me if there be 

if any mishap should befal me you'll have the particulars of it from de
la tour he indeed knows but little english but every modern tongue is
your's he is a trusty and ingenious fellow and if any thing happen 
will have some other papers which i have already sealed up for you to
transmit to lord m and since thou art so expert and so ready at
executorships pr'ythee belford accept of the office for me as well as
for my clarissa clarissa lovelace let me call her 

by all that's good i am bewitched to her memory her very name with
mine joined to it ravishes my soul and is more delightful to me than
the sweetest music 

had i carried her  i must still recriminate  to any other place than that
accursed woman's for the potion was her invention and mixture and all
the persisted-in violence was at her instigation and at that of her
wretched daughters who have now amply revenged upon me their own ruin 
which they lay at my door 

but this looks so like the confession of a thief at the gallows that
possibly thou wilt be apt to think i am intimidated in prospect of the
approaching interview but far otherwise on the contrary most
cheerfully do i go to meet the colonel and i would tear my heart out
of my breast with my own hands were it capable of fear or concern on
that account 

thus much only i know that if i should kill him  which i will not do 
if i can help it   i shall be far from being easy in my mind that shall
i never more be but as the meeting is evidently of his own seeking 
against an option fairly given to the contrary and i cannot avoid it 
i'll think of that hereafter it is but repenting and mortifying for all
at once for i am sure of victory as i am that i now live let him be
ever so skillful a swordsman since besides that i am no unfleshed
novice this is a sport that when provoked to it i love as well as my
food and moreover i shall be as calm and undisturbed as the bishop at
his prayers while he as is evident by his letter must be actuated by
revenge and passion 

doubt not therefore jack that i shall give a good account of this
affair mean time i remain 

your's most affectionately etc 
lovelace 



letter lxii

mr lovelace to john belford esq 
trent dec 3 14 


to-morrow is to be the day that will in all probability send either
one or two ghosts to attend the manes of my clarissa 

i arrived here yesterday and inquiring for an english gentleman of the
name of morden soon found out the colonel's lodgings he had been in
town two days and left his name at every probable place 

he was gone to ride out and i left my name and where to be found and
in the evening he made me a visit 

he was plaguy gloomy that was not i but yet he told me that i had
acted like a man of true spirit in my first letter and with honour in
giving him so readily this meeting he wished i had in other respects 
and then we might have seen each other upon better terms than now we did 

i said there was no recalling what was passed and that i wished some
things had not been done as well as he 

to recriminate now he said would be as exasperating as unavailable 
and as i had so cheerfully given him this opportunity words should give
place to business your choice mr lovelace of time of place of
weapon shall be my choice 

the two latter be your's mr morden the time to-morrow or next day 
as you please 

next day then mr lovelace and we'll ride out to-morrow to fix the
place 

agreed sir 

well now mr lovelace do you choose the weapon 

i said i believed we might be upon an equal footing with the single
rapier but if he thought otherwise i had no objection to a pistol 

i will only say replied he that the chances may be more equal by the
sword because we can neither of us be to seek in that and you would
stand says he a worse chance as i apprehend with a pistol and yet
i have brought two that you may take your choice of either for added
he i have never missed a mark at pistol-distance since i knew how to
hold a pistol 

i told him that he spoke like himself that i was expert enough that
way to embrace it if he chose it though not so sure of my mark as
he pretended to be yet the devil's in it colonel if i who have slit
a bullet in two upon a knife's edge hit not my man so i have no
objection to a pistol if it be your choice no man i'll venture to
say has a steadier hand or eye than i have 

they may both be of use to you sir at the sword as well as at the
pistol the sword therefore be the thing if you please 

with all my heart 

we parted with a solemn sort of ceremonious civility and this day i
called upon him and we rode out together to fix upon the place and
both being of one mind and hating to put off for the morrow what could
be done to-day would have decided it then but de la tour and the
colonel's valet who attended us being unavoidably let into the secret 
joined to beg we would have with us a surgeon from brixen whom la tour
had fallen in with there and who had told him he was to ride next
morning to bleed a person in a fever at a lone cottage which by the
surgeon's description was not far from the place where we then were if
it were not that very cottage within sight of us 

they overtook so to manage it that the surgeon should know nothing of
the matter till his assistance was called in and la tour being as i
assured the colonel a ready contriving fellow  whom i ordered to obey
him as myself were the chance to be in his favour   we both agreed to
defer the decision till to-morrow and to leave the whole about the
surgeon to the management of our two valets enjoining them absolute
secrecy and so rode back again by different ways 

we fixed upon a little lone valley for the spot ten to-morrow morning
the time and single rapier the word yet i repeatedly told him that i
valued myself so much upon my skill in that weapon that i would wish him
to choose any other 

he said it was a gentleman's weapon and he who understood it not wanted
a qualification that he ought to suffer for not having but that as to
him one weapon was as good as another throughout all the instruments of
offence 

so jack you see i take no advantage of him but my devil must deceive
me if he take not his life or his death at my hands before eleven
to-morrow morning 

his valet and mine are to be present but both strictly enjoined to be
impartial and inactive and in return for my civility of the like
nature he commanded his to be assisting me if he fell 

we are to ride thither and to dismount when at the place and his
footman and mine are to wait at an appointed distance with a chaise to
carry off to the borders of the venetian territories the survivor if one
drop or to assist either or both as occasion may demand 

and thus belford is the matter settled 

a shower of rain has left me nothing else to do and therefore i write
this letter though i might as well have deferred it till to-morrow
twelve o'clock when i doubt not to be able to write again to assure you
much i am

yours etc 
lovelace 



letter lxiv

translation of a letter from f j de la tour 

to john belford esq 
near soho-square london 
trent dec 18 n s 


sir 

i have melancholy news to inform you of by order of the chevalier
lovelace he showed me his letter to you before he sealed it 
signifying that he was to meet the chevalier morden on the 15th 
wherefore as the occasion of the meeting is so well known to you i
shall say nothing of it here 

i had taken care to have ready within a little distance a surgeon and
his assistant to whom under an oath of secrecy i had revealed the
matter though i did not own it to the two gentlemen so that they were
prepared with bandages and all things proper for well was i acquainted
with the bravery and skill of my chevalier and had heard the character
of the other and knew the animosity of both a post-chaise was ready 
with each of their footmen at a little distance 

the two chevaliers came exactly at their time they were attended by
monsieur margate the colonel's gentleman and myself they had given
orders over night and now repeated them in each other's presence that
we should observe a strict impartiality between them and that if one
fell each of us should look upon himself as to any needful help or
retreat as the servant of the survivor and take his commands
accordingly 

after a few compliments both the gentlemen with the greatest presence
of mind that i ever beheld in men stript to their shirts and drew 

they parried with equal judgment several passes my chevalier drew the
first blood making a desperate push which by a sudden turn of his
antagonist missed going clear through him and wounded him on the fleshy
part of the ribs of his right side which part the sword tore out being
on the extremity of the body but before my chevalier could recover
himself the colonel in return pushed him into the inside of the left
arm near the shoulder and the sword raking his breast as it passed 
being followed by a great effusion of blood the colonel said sir i
believe you have enough 

my chevalier swore by g d he was not hurt twas a pin's point and so
made another pass at his antagonist which he with a surprising
dexterity received under his arm and run my dear chevalier into the
body who immediately fell saying the luck is your's sir o my beloved
clarissa now art thou inwardly he spoke three or four words more his
sword dropt from his hand mr morden threw his down and ran to him 
saying in french ah monsieur you are a dead man call to god for
mercy 

we gave the signal agreed upon to the footmen and they to the surgeons 
who instantly came up 

colonel morden i found was too well used to the bloody work for he was
as cool as if nothing extraordinary had happened assisting the surgeons 
though his own wound bled much but my dear chevalier fainted away two
or three times running and vomited blood besides 

however they stopped the bleeding for the present and we helped him
into the voiture and then the colonel suffered his own wound to be
dressed and appeared concerned that my chevalier was between whiles
 when he could speak and struggle extremely outrageous poor
gentleman he had made quite sure of victory 

the colonel against the surgeons' advice would mount on horseback to
pass into the venetian territories and generously gave me a purse of
gold to pay the surgeons desiring me to make a present to the footman 
and to accept of the remainder as a mark of his satisfaction in my
conduct and in my care and tenderness of my master 

the surgeons told him that my chevalier could not live over the day 

when the colonel took leave of him mr lovelace said you have well
revenged the dear creature 

i have sir said mr morden and perhaps shall be sorry that you called
upon me to this work while i was balancing whether to obey or disobey 
the dear angel 

there is a fate in it replied my chevalier a cursed fate or this
could not have been but be ye all witnesses that i have provoked my
destiny and acknowledge that i fall by a man of honour 

sir said the colonel with the piety of a confessor wringing mr 
lovelace's hand snatch these few fleeting moments and commend yourself
to god 

and so he rode off 

the voiture proceeded slowly with my chevalier yet the motion set both
his wounds bleeding afresh and it was with difficulty they again stopped
the blood 

we brought him alive to the nearest cottage and he gave orders to me to
dispatch to you the packet i herewith send sealed up and bid me write to
you the particulars of this most unhappy affair and give you thanks in
his name for all your favours and friendship to him 

contrary to all expectation he lived over the night but suffered much 
as well from his impatience and disappointment as from his wounds for
he seemed very unwilling to die 

he was delirious at times in the two last hours and then several times
cried out as if he had seen some frightful spectre take her away take
her away but named nobody and sometimes praised some lady that
clarissa i suppose whom he had invoked when he received his death's
wound calling her sweet excellence divine creature fair sufferer 
and once he said look down blessed spirit look down and there stopt 
 his lips however moving 

at nine in the morning he was seized with convulsions and fainted away 
and it was a quarter of an hour before he came out of them 

his few last words i must not omit as they show an ultimate composure 
which may administer some consolation to his honourable friends 

blessed said he addressing himself no doubt to heaven for his dying
eyes were lifted up a strong convulsion prevented him for a few moments
saying more but recovering he again with great fervour lifting up
his eyes and his spread hands pronounced the word blessed then in a
seeming ejaculation he spoke inwardly so as not to be understood at
last he distinctly pronounced these three words 

 let this expiate 

and then his head sinking on his pillow he expired at about half an
hour after ten 

he little thought poor gentleman his end so near so had given no
direction about his body i have caused it to be embowelled and
deposited in a vault till i have orders from england 

this is a favour that was procured with difficulty and would have been
refused had he not been an englishman of rank a nation with reason
respected in every austrian government for he had refused ghostly
attendance and the sacraments in the catholic way may his soul be
happy i pray god 

i have had some trouble also on account of the manner of his death from
the magistracy here who have taken the requisite informations in the
affair and it has cost some money of which and of the dear
chevalier's effects i will give you a faithful account in my next and
so waiting at this place your commands i am sir 

your most faithful and obedient servant 
f j de la tour 



conclusion

supposed to be written by mr belford


what remains to be mentioned for the satisfaction of such of the readers
as may be presumed to have interested themselves in the fortunes of those
other principals in the story who survived mr lovelace will be found
summarily related as follows 

the news of mr lovelace's unhappy end was received with as much grief by
his own relations as it was with exultation by the harlowe family and
by miss howe his own family were most to be pitied because being
sincere admirers of the inimitable lady they were greatly grieved for
the injustice done her and now had the additional mortification of
losing the only male of it by a violent death 

that his fate was deserved was still a heightening of their calamity as
they had for that very reason and his unpreparedness for it but too
much ground for apprehension with regard to his future happiness while
the other family from their unforgiving spirit and even the noble young
lady above mentioned from her lively resentments found his death some
little some temporary alleviation of the heavy loss they had sustained 
principally through his means 

temporary alleviation we repeat as to the harlowe family for they were
far from being happy or easy in their reflections upon their own conduct 
 and still the less as the inconsolable mother rested not till she had
procured by means of colonel morden large extracts from some of the
letters that compose this history which convinced them all that the very
correspondence which clarissa while with them renewed with mr 
lovelace was renewed for their sakes more than for her own that she
had given him no encouragement contrary to her duty and to that prudence
for which she was so early noted that had they trusted to a discretion
which they owned she had never brought into question she would have
extricated them and herself as she once proposed to her mother from
all difficulties as to lovelace that she if any woman ever could would
have given a glorious instance of a passion conquered or at least kept
under by reason and by piety the man being too immoral to be implicitly
beloved 


 see vol i letter xvii 


the unhappy parents and uncles from the perusal of these extracts too
evidently for their peace saw that it was entirely owing to the avarice 
the ambition the envy of her implacable brother and sister and to the
senseless confederacy entered into by the whole family to compel her to
give her hand to a man she must despise or she had not been a clarissa 
and to their consequent persecution of her that she ever thought of
quitting her father's house and that even when she first entertained
such a thought it was with intent if possible to procure for herself a
private asylum with mrs howe or at some other place of safety but not
with mr lovelace nor with any of the ladies of his family though
invited by the latter from whence she might propose terms which ought
to have been complied with and which were entirely consistent with her
duty that though she found herself disappointed of the hoped-for refuge
and protection she intended not by meeting mr lovelace to put herself
into his power all that she aimed at by taking that step being to
endeavour to pacify so fierce a spirit lest he should as he indeed was
determined to do pay a visit to her friends which might have been
attended with fatal consequences but was spirited away by him in such a
manner as made her an object of pity rather than of blame 

these extracts further convinced them all that it was to her unaffected
regret that she found that marriage was not in her power afterwards for a
long time and at last but on one occasion when their unnatural cruelty
to her on a new application she had made to her aunt hervey to procure
mercy and pardon rendered her incapable of receiving his proffered hand 
and so obliged her to suspend the day intending only to suspend it till
recovered 

they saw with equal abhorrence of lovelace and of their own cruelty and
with the highest admiration of her that the majesty of her virtue had
awed the most daring spirit in the world so that he durst not attempt to
carry his base designs into execution till by wicked potions he had
made her senses the previous sacrifice 

but how did they in a manner adore her memory how did they recriminate
upon each other when they found that she had not only preserved herself
from repeated outrage by the most glorious and intrepid behaviour in
defiance and to the utter confusion of all his libertine notions but
had the fortitude constantly and with a noble disdain to reject him 
whom why the man she once could have loved kneeling for pardon and
begging to be permitted to make her the best reparation then in his power
to make her that is to say by marriage his fortunes high and
unbroken she his prisoner at the time in a vile house rejected by all
her friends upon repeated application to them for mercy and
forgiveness rejected mercy and forgiveness and a last blessing 
afterwards imploring and that as much to lighten their future remorses 
as for the comfort of her own pious heart yet though savagely refused 
on a supposition that she was not so near her end as she was represented
departed forgiving and blessing them all 

then they recollected that her posthumous letters instead of reproaches 
were filled with comfortings that she had in her last will in their own
way laid obligations upon them all obligations which they neither
deserved nor expected as if she thought to repair the injustice which
self-partiality made some of them conclude done to them by her
grandfather in his will 

these intelligences and recollections were perpetual subjects of
recrimination to them heightened their anguish for the loss of a child
who was the glory of their family and not seldom made them shun each
other at the times they were accustomed to meet together that they
might avoid the mutual reproaches of eyes that spoke when tongues were
silent their stings also sharpened by time what an unhappy family was
this well might colonel morden in the words of juvenal challenge all
other miserable families to produce such a growing distress as that of
the harlowes a few months before so happy was able to produce 

 humani generis mores tibi nosse volenti
 sufficit una domus paucos consume dies and
 dicere te miserum postquam illinc veneris aude 

mrs harlowe lived about two years and an half after the lamented death
of her clarissa 

mr harlowe had the additional affliction to survive his lady about half
a year her death by new pointing his former anguish and remorse 
hastening his own 

both in their last hours however comforted themselves that they
should be restored to their blessed daughter as they always from the
time they were acquainted with the above particulars of her story and
with her happy exit called her 

they both lived however to see their son james and their daughter
arabella married but not to take joy in either of their nuptials 

mr james harlowe married a woman of family an orphan and is obliged 
at a very great expense to support his claim to estates which were his
principal inducement to make his addresses to her but which to this
day he has not recovered nor is likely to recover having powerful
adversaries to contend with and a title to assert which admits of
litigation and he not blessed with so much patience as is necessary to
persons embarrassed in law 

what is further observable with regard to him is that the match was
entirely of his own head against the advice of his father mother and
uncles who warned him of marrying in this lady a law-suit for life his
ungenerous behaviour to his wife for what she cannot help and for what
is as much her misfortune as his has occasioned such estrangements
between them she being a woman of spirit as were the law-suits
determined even more favourably than probably they will be must make
him unhappy to the end of his life he attributes all his misfortunes 
when he opens himself to the few friends he has to his vile and cruel
treatment of his angelic sister he confesses these misfortunes to be
just without having temper to acquiesce in the acknowledged justice 
one month in every year he puts on mourning and that month commences
with him on the 7th of september during which he shuts himself up from
all company finally he is looked upon and often calls himself 

 the most miserable of beings 

arabella's fortune became a temptation to a man of quality to make his
addresses to her his title an inducement with her to approve of him 
brothers and sisters when they are not friends are generally the
sharpest enemies to each other he thought too much was done for in the
settlements she thought not enough and for some years past they have
so heartily hated each other that if either know a joy it is in being
told of some new misfortune or displeasure that happens to the other 
indeed before they came to an open rupture they were continually
loading each other by way of exonerating themselves to the additional
disquiet of the whole family with the principal guilt of their
implacable behaviour and sordid cruelty to their admirable sister may
the reports that are spread of this lady's farther unhappiness from her
lord's free life a fault she justly thought so odious in mr lovelace
 though that would not have been an insuperable objection with her to his
addresses and of his public slights and contempt of her and even
sometimes of his personal abuses which are said to be owing to her
impatient spirit and violent passions be utterly groundless for what
a heart must that be which would wish she might be as great a torment
to herself as she had aimed to be to her sister especially as she
regrets to this hour and declares that she shall to the last of her
life her cruel treatment of that sister and as well as her brother is
but too ready to attribute to that her own unhappiness 

mr antony and mr john harlowe are still at the writing of this 
living but often declare that with their beloved niece they lost all
the joy of their lives and lament without reserve in all companies 
the unnatural part they were induced to take against her 

mr solmes is also still living if a man of his cast may be said to
live for his general behaviour and sordid manners are such as justify
the aversion the excellent lady had to him he has moreover found his
addresses rejected by several women of far inferior fortunes great as
his own are to those of the lady to whom he was encouraged to aspire 

mr mowbray and mr tourville having lost the man in whose conversation
they so much delighted shocked and awakened by the several unhappy
catastrophes before their eyes and having always rather ductile and
dictating hearts took their friend belford's advice converted the
remainder of their fortunes into annuities for life and retired the one
into yorkshire the other into nottinghamshire of which counties they
are natives their friend belford managing their concerns for them and
corresponding with them and having more and more hopes every time he
sees them which is once or twice a year when they come to town that
they will become more and more worthy of their names and families 

as those sisters in iniquity sally martin and polly horton had
abilities and education superior to what creatures of their cast
generally can boast of and as their histories are no where given in the
preceding papers in which they are frequently mentioned it cannot fail
of gratifying the reader's curiosity as well as answering the good ends
designed by the publication of this work to give a brief account of
their parentage and manner of training-up preparative to the vile
courses they fell into and of what became of them after the dreadful
exit of the infamous sinclair 

sally martin was the daughter of a substantial mercer at the court-end
of the town to whom her mother a grocer's daughter in the city brought
a handsome fortune and both having a gay turn and being fond of the
fashions which it was their business to promote and which the wives and
daughters of the uppermost tradesmen especially in that quarter of the
town generally affect to follow it was no wonder that they brought up
their daughter accordingly nor that she who was a very sprightly and
ready-witted girl and reckoned very pretty and very genteel should
every year improve upon such examples 

she early found herself mistress of herself all she did was right all
she said was admired early very early did she dismiss blushes from
her cheek she could not blush because she could not doubt and
silence whatever was the subject was as much a stranger to her as
diffidence 

she never was left out of any party of pleasure after she had passed her
ninth year and in honour of her prattling vein was considered as a
principal person in the frequent treats and entertainments which her
parents fond of luxurious living gave with a view to increase their
acquaintance for the sake of their business not duly reflecting that
the part they suffered her to take in what made for their interest would
probably be a mean to quicken their appetites and ruin the morals of
their daughter for whose sake as an only child they were solicitous to
obtain wealth 

the child so much a woman what must the woman be 

at fifteen or sixteen she affected both in dress and manners to ape
such of the quality as were most apish the richest silks in her
father's shop were not too rich for her at all public diversions she
was the leader instead of the led of all her female kindred and
acquaintances though they were a third older than herself she would
bustle herself into a place and make room for her more bashful
companions through the frowns of the first possessors at a crowded
theatre leaving every one near her amazed at her self-consequence 
wondering she had no servant to keep place for her whisperingly
inquiring who she was and then sitting down admiring her fortitude 

she officiously made herself of consequence to the most noted players 
who as one of their patronesses applied to her for her interest on
their benefit-nights she knew the christian as well as sur name of
every pretty fellow who frequented public places and affected to speak
of them by the former 

those who had not obeyed the call her eyes always made upon all of them
for notice at her entrance or before she took her seat were spoken of
with haughtiness as jacks or toms wile her favourites with an
affectedly-endearing familiarity and a prettiness of accent were
jackeys and tommys and if they stood very high in her graces dear
devils and agreeable toads 

she sat in judgment and an inexorable judge she was upon the actions
and conduct of every man and woman of quality and fashion as they became
the subjects of conversation she was deeply learned in the scandalous
chronicle she made every character every praise and every censure 
serve to exalt herself she should scorn to do so or so or that was
ever her way and just what she did or liked to do and judging herself
by the vileness of the most vile of her sex she wiped her mouth and sat
down satisfied with her own virtue 

she had her chair to attend her wherever she went and found people among
her betters as her pride stooped to call some of the most insignificant
people in the world to encourage her visits 

she was practised in all the arts of the card-table a true spartan girl 
and had even courage occasionally to wrangle off a detection late
hours turning night into day and day into night were the almost
unavoidable consequences of her frequent play her parents pleased
themselves that their sally had a charming constitution and as long as
she suffered not in her health they were regardless of her morals 

the needle she hated and made the constant subjects of her ridicule the
fine works that used to employ and keep out of idleness luxury and
extravagance and at home were they to have been of no other service 
the women of the last age when there were no vauxhalls ranelaghs 
marybones and such-like places of diversion to dress out for and gad
after 

and as to family-management her parents had not required any knowledge
of that sort from her and she considered it as a qualification only
necessary for hirelings and the low-born and as utterly unworthy of the
attention of a modern fine lady 

although her father had great business yet living in so high and
expensive a way he pretended not to give her a fortune answerable to it 
neither he nor his wife having set out with any notion of frugality could
think of retrenching nor did their daughter desire that they should
retrench they thought glare or ostentation reputable they called it
living genteely and as they lifted their heads above their neighbours 
they supposed their credit concerned to go forward rather than backward
in outward appearances they flattered themselves and they flattered
their girl and she was entirely of their opinion that she had charms
and wit enough to attract some man of rank of fortune at least and yet
this daughter of a mercer-father and grocer-mother could not bear the
thoughts of a creeping cit encouraging herself with the few instances
 comcommon ones of girls much inferior to herself in station talents 
education and even fortune who had succeeded as she doubted not to
succeed handsome settlements and a chariot that tempting gewgaw to
the vanity of the middling class of females were the least that she
proposed to herself but all this while neither her parents nor herself
considered that she had appetites indulged to struggle with and a turn
of education given her as well as a warm constitution unguarded by
sound principles and unbenefitted by example which made her much better
qualified for a mistress than a wife 

her twentieth year to her own equal wonder and regret passed over her
head and she had not one offer that her pride would permit her to accept
of a girl from fifteen to eighteen her beauty then beginning to
blossom will as a new thing attract the eyes of men but if she make
her face cheap at public places she will find that new faces will draw
more attention than fine faces constantly seen policy therefore if
nothing else were considered would induce a young beauty if she could
tame her vanity just to show herself and to be talked of and then
withdrawing as if from discretion and discreet it will be to do so 
expect to be sought after rather than to be thought to seek for only
reviving now-and-then the memory of herself at the public places in
turn if she find herself likely to be forgotten and then she will be
new again but this observation ought young ladies always to have in
their heads that they can hardly ever expect to gratify their vanity 
and at the same time gain the admiration of men worthy of making partners
for life they may in short have many admirers at public places but
not one lover 

sally martin knew nothing of this doctrine her beauty was in its bloom 
and yet she found herself neglected sally martin the mercer's
daughter she never fails being here  was the answer and the
accompanying observation made to every questioner who is that lady 

at last her destiny approached it was at a masquerade that she first
saw the gay the handsome lovelace who was just returned from his
travels she was immediately struck with his figure and with the
brilliant things that she heard fall from his lips as he happened to sit
near her he who was not then looking out for a wife was taken with
sally's smartness and with an air that at the same time showed her to be
equally genteel and self-significant and signs of approbation mutually
passing he found no difficulty in acquainting himself where to visit her
next day and yet it was some mortification to a person of her
self-consequence and gay appearance to submit to be known by so fine a
young gentleman as no more than a mercer's daughter so natural is it
for a girl brought up as sally was to be occasionally ashamed of those
whose folly had set her above herself 

but whatever it might be to sally it was no disappointment to mr 
lovelace to find his mistress of no higher degree because he hoped to
reduce her soon to the lowest condition that an unhappy woman can fall
into 

but when miss martin had informed herself that her lover was the nephew
and presumptive heir of lord m she thought him the very man for whom she
had been so long and so impatiently looking out and for whom it was
worth her while to spread her toils and here it may not be amiss to
observe that it is very probable that mr lovelace had sally martin in
his thoughts and perhaps two or three more whose hopes of marriage from
him had led them to their ruin when he drew the following whimsical
picture in a letter to his friend belford not inserted in the preceding
collection 

methinks  says he i see a young couple in courtship having each a
design upon the other the girl plays off she is very happy as she is 
she cannot be happier she will not change her single state the man i
will suppose is one who does not confess that he desires not that she
should she holds ready a net under her apron he another under his coat 
each intending to throw it over the other's neck she over his when her
pride is gratified and she thinks she can be sure of him he over her's 
when the watched-for yielding moment has carried consent too far and
suppose he happens to be the more dexterous of the two and whips his net
over her before she can cast her's over him how i would fain know can
she cast her's over him how i would fain know can she be justly
entitled to cry out upon cruelty barbarity deception sacrifices and
all the rest of the exclamatory nonsense with which the pretty fools in
such a case are wont to din the ears of their conquerors is it not
just thinkest thou when she makes her appeal to gods and men that both
gods and men should laugh at her and hitting her in the teeth with her
own felonious intentions bid her sit down patiently under her deserved
disappointment 

in short sally's parents as well as herself encouraged mr lovelace's
visits they thought they might trust to a discretion in he which she
herself was too wise to doubt pride they knew she had and that in
these cases is often called discretion lord help the sex says
lovelace if they had not pride nor did they suspect danger from that
specious air of sincerity and gentleness of manners which he could
assume or lay aside whenever he pleased 

the second masquerade which was no more than their third meeting abroad 
completed her ruin from so practised though so young a deceiver and
that before she well knew she was in danger for having prevailed on her
to go off with him about twelve o'clock to his aunt forbes's a lady of
honour and fortune to whom he had given reason to expect her future
niece  the only hint of marriage he ever gave her   he carried her off
to the house of the wicked woman who bears the name of sinclair in these
papers and there by promises which she understood in the favourable
sense for where a woman loves she seldom doubts enough for her safety 
obtained an easy conquest over a virtue that was little more than
nominal 

he found it not difficult to induce her to proceed in the guilty
commerce till the effects of it became to apparent to be hid her
parents then in the first fury of their disappointment and vexation for
being deprived of all hopes of such a son-in-law turned her out of
doors 

her disgrace thus published she became hardened and protected by her
seducer whose favourite mistress she then was she was so incensed
against her parents for an indignity so little suiting with her pride 
and the head they had always given her that she refused to return to
them when repenting of their passionate treatment of her they would
have been reconciled to her and becoming the favourite daughter of her
mother sinclair at the persuasions of that abandoned woman she practised
to bring on an abortion which she effected though she was so far gone
that it had like to have cost her her life 

thus unchastity her first crime murder her next her conscience became
seared and young as she was and fond of her deceiver soon grew
indelicate enough having so thorough-paced a school-mistress to do all
she could to promote the pleasures of the man who had ruined her 
scrupling not with a spirit truly diabolical to endeavour to draw in
others to follow her example and it is hardly to be believed what
mischiefs of this sort she was the means of effecting woman confiding in
and daring woman and she a creature of specious appearance and great
art 

a still viler wickedness if possible remains to be said of sally
martin 

her father dying her mother in hopes to reclaim her as she called it 
proposed her to quit the house of the infamous sinclair and to retire
with her into the country where her disgrace and her then wicked way of
life would not be known and there so to live as to save appearances 
the only virtue she had ever taught her besides that of endeavouring
rather to delude than be deluded 

to this sally consented but with no other intention as she often owned 
 and gloried in it than to cheat her mother of the greatest part of her
substance in revenge for consenting to her being turned out of doors
long before and by way of reprisal for having persuaded her father as
she would have it to cut her off in his last will from any share in
his fortune 

this unnatural wickedness in half a year's time she brought about and
then the serpent retired to her obscene den with her spoils laughing at
what she had done even after it had broken her mother's heart as it did
in a few months' time a severe but just punishment for the unprincipled
education she had given her 

it ought to be added that this was an iniquity of which neither mr 
lovelace nor any of his friends could bear to hear her boast and
always checked her for it whenever she did condemning it with one voice 
and it is certain that this and other instances of her complicated
wickedness turned early lovelace's heart against her and had she not
been subservient to him in his other pursuits he would not have endured
her for speaking of her he would say let not any one reproach us 
jack there is no wickedness like the wickedness of a woman 


 eccles xxv 19 


a bad education was the preparative it must be confessed and for this
sally martin had reason to thank her parents as they had reason to thank
themselves for what followed but had she not met with a lovelace she
had avoided a sinclair and might have gone on at the common rate of
wives so educated and been the mother of children turned out to take
their chance in the world as she was so many lumps of soft wax fit to
take any impression that the first accidents gave them neither happy 
nor making happy every thing but useful and well off if not extremely
miserable 

polly horton was the daughter of a gentlewoman well descended whose
husband a man of family and of honour was a captain in the guards 

he died when polly was about nine years of age leaving her to the care
of her mother a lively young lady of about twenty-six with a genteel
provision for both 

her mother was extremely fond of her polly but had it not in herself to
manifest the true the genuine fondness of a parent by a strict and
guarded education dressing out and visiting and being visited by the
gay of her own sex and casting her eye abroad as one very ready to try
her fortune again in the married state 

this induced those airs and a love to those diversions which make a
young widow of so lively a turn the unfittest tutoress in the world 
even to her own daughter 

mrs horton herself having had an early turn to music and that sort of
reading which is but an earlier debauchery for young minds preparative
to the grosser at riper years to wit romances and novels songs and
plays and those without distinction moral or immoral she indulged her
daughter in the same taste and at those hours when they could not take
part in the more active and lively amusements and kill-times as some
call them used to employ miss to read to her happy enough in her own
imagination that while she was diverting her own ears and sometimes as
the piece was corrupting her own heart and her child's too she was
teaching miss to read and improve her mind for it was the boast of
every tea-table half-hour that miss horton in propriety accent and
emphasis surpassed all the young ladies her age and at other times 
complimenting the pleased mother bless me madam with what a surprising
grace miss horton reads she enters into the very spirit of her subject
 this she could have from nobody but you an intended praise but as
the subjects were would have been a severe satire in the mouth of an
enemy while the fond the inconsiderate mother with a delighted air 
would cry why i cannot but say miss horton does credit to her
tutoress and then a come hither my best love and with a kiss of
approbation what a pleasure to your dear papa had he lived to see your
improvements my charmer concluding with a sigh of satisfaction her
eyes turning round upon the circle to take in all the silent applauses
of theirs but little though the fond the foolish mother what the
plant would be which was springing up from these seeds little imagined
she that her own ruin as well as her child's was to be the consequence
of this fine education and that in the same ill-fated hour the honour
of both mother and daughter was to become a sacrifice to the intriguing
invader 

this the laughing girl when abandoned to her evil destiny and in
company with her sister sally and others each recounting their
settings-out their progress and their fall frequently related to be
her education and manner of training-up 

this and to see a succession of humble servants buzzing about a mother 
who took too much pride in addresses of that kind what a beginning what
an example to a constitution of tinder so prepared to receive the spark
struck from the steely forehead and flinty heart of such a libertine as
at last it was their fortune to be encountered by 

in short as miss grew up under the influences of such a directress and
of books so light and frothy with the inflaming additions of music 
concerts operas plays assemblies balls and the rest of the rabble of
amusements of modern life it is no wonder that like early fruit she
was soon ripened to the hand of the insidious gatherer 

at fifteen she owned she was ready to fancy herself the heroine of every
novel and of every comedy she read so well did she enter into the spirit
of her subject she glowed to become the object of some hero's flame and
perfectly longed to begin an intrigue and even to be run away with by
some enterprising lover yet had neither confinement nor check to
apprehend from her indiscreet mother which she thought absolutely
necessary to constitute a parthenissa 

nevertheless with all these fine modern qualities did she complete her
nineteenth year before she met with any address of consequence one half
of her admirers being afraid because of her gay turn and but middling
fortune to make serious applications for her favour while others were
kept at a distance by the superior airs she assumed and a third sort 
not sufficiently penetrating the foibles either of mother or daughter 
were kept off by the supposed watchful care of the former 

but when the man of intrepidity and intrigue was found never was heroine
so soon subdued never goddess so easily stript of her celestials for 
at the opera a diversion at which neither she nor her mother ever missed
to be present she beheld the specious lovelace beheld him invested with
all the airs of heroic insult resenting a slight affront offered to his
sally martin by two gentlemen who had known her in her more hopeful
state one of whom mr lovelace obliged to sneak away with a broken head 
given with the pummel of his sword the other with a bloody nose neither
of them well supporting that readiness of offence which it seems was a
part of their known character to be guilty of 

the gallantry of this action drawing every by-stander on the side of the
hero o the brave man cried polly horton aloud to her mother in a
kind of rapture how needful the protection of the brave to the fair 
with a softness in her voice which she had taught herself to suit her
fancied high condition of life 

a speech so much in his favour could not but take the notice of a man
who was but too sensible of the advantages which his fine person and
noble air gave him over the gentler hearts who was always watching
every female eye and who had his ear continually turned to every
affected voice for that was one of his indications of a proper subject
to be attempted affectation of every sort he used to say is a certain
sign of a wrong turned head of a faulty judgment and upon such a basis
i seldom build in vain 

he instantly resolved to be acquainted with a young creature who seemed
so strongly prejudiced in his favour never man had a readier invention
for all sorts of mischief he gave his sally her cue he called her
sister in their hearing and sally whisperingly gave the young lady and
her mother in her own way the particulars of the affront she had
received making herself an angel of light to cast the brighter ray upon
the character of her heroic brother she particularly praised his known
and approved courage and mingled with her praises of him such
circumstances relating to his birth his fortune and endowments as left
him nothing to do but to fall in love with the enamoured polly 

mr lovelace presently saw what turn to give his professions so brave a
man yet of manners so gentle hit the young lady's taste nor could she
suspect the heart that such an aspect covered this was the man the
very man she whispered to her mother and when the opera was over his
servant procuring a coach he undertook with his specious sister to set
them down at their own lodgings though situated a quite different way
from his and there were they prevailed upon to alight and partake of a
slight repast 

sally pressed them to return the favour to her at her aunt forbes's and
hoped it would be before her brother went to his own seat 

they promised her and named their evening 

a splendid entertainment was provided the guests came having in the
interim found all that was said of his name and family and fortune to
be true persons of so little strictness in their own morals took it
not into their heads to be very inquisitive after his 

music and dancing had their share in the entertainment these opened
their hearts already half opened by love the aunt forbes and the
lover's sister kept them open by their own example the hero sung 
vowed promised their gratitude was moved their delights were
augmented their hopes increased their confidence was engaged all their
appetites up in arms the rich wines co-operating beat quite off their
guard and not thought enough remaining for so much as suspicion miss 
detached from her mother by sally soon fell a sacrifice to the
successful intriguer 

the widow herself half intoxicated and raised as she was with artful
mixtures and inflamed by love unexpectedly tendered by one of the
libertines his constant companions to whom an opportunity was
contrived to be given to be alone with her and that closely followed by
importunity fell into her daughter's error the consequences of which 
in length of time becoming apparent grief shame remorse seized her
heart her own indiscretion not allowing her to arraign her daughter's 
and she survived not her delivery leaving polly with child likewise 
who when delivered being too fond of the gay deluder to renounce his
company even when she found herself deluded fell into a course of
extravagance and dissoluteness ran through her fortune in a very little
time and as an high preferment at last with sally was admitted a
quarter partner with the detestable sinclair 

all that is necessary to add to the history of these unhappy women will
be comprised in a very little compass 

after the death of the profligate sinclair they kept on the infamous
trade with too much success till an accident happened in the house a
gentleman of family killed in it in a fray contending with another for
a new-vamped face sally was accused of holding the gentleman's arm 
while his more-favoured adversary ran him through the heart and then
made off and she being tried for her life narrowly escaped 

this accident obliged them to break up house-keeping and not having been
frugal enough of their ill-gotten gains lavishing upon one what they
got by another they were compelled for subsistence sake to enter
themselves as under-managers at such another house as their own had been 
in which service soon after sally died of a fever and surfeit got by a
debauch and the other about a month after by a violent cold 
occasioned through carelessness in a salivation 


happier scenes open for the remaining characters for it might be
descending too low to mention the untimely ends of dorcas and of
william mr lovelace's wicked servant and the pining and consumptive
one's of betty barnes and joseph leman unmarried both and in less than
a year after the happy death of their excellent young lady 

the good mrs norton passed the small remainder of her life as happily
as she wished in her beloved foster-daughter's dairy-house as it used
to be called as she wished we repeat for she had too strong
aspirations after another life to be greatly attached to this 

she laid out the greatest part of her time in doing good by her advice 
and by the prudent management of the fund committed to her direction 
having lived an exemplary life from her youth upwards and seen her son
happily settled in the world she departed with ease and calmness 
without pang or agony like a tired traveller falling into a sweet
slumber her last words expressing her hope of being restored to the
child of her bosom and to her own excellent father and mother to whose
care and pains she owed that good education to which she was indebted for
all her other blessings 

the poor's fund which was committed to her care she resigned a week
before her death into the hands of mrs hickman according the direction
of the will and all the accounts and disbursements with it which she
had kept with such an exactness that the lady declares that she will
follow her method and only wishes to discharge the trust as well 

miss howe was not to be persuaded to quit her mourning for her dear
friend until six months were fully expired and then she made mr 
hickman one of the happiest men in the world a woman of her fine sense
and understanding married to a man of virtue and good-nature who had
no past capital errors to reflect upon and to abate his joys and whose
behaviour to mrs hickman is as affectionate as it was respectful to miss
howe could not do otherwise they are already blessed with two fine
children a daughter to whom by joint consent they have given the name
of her beloved friend an a son who bears that of his father 

she has allotted to mr hickman who takes delight in doing good and
that as much for its own sake as to oblige her his part of the
management of the poor's fund to be accountable for it as she
pleasantly says to her she has appropriated every thursday morning for
her part of that management and takes so much delight in the task that
she declares it to be one of the most agreeable of her amusements and
the more agreeable as she teaches every one whom she benefits to bless
the memory of her departed friend to whom she attributes the merit of
all her own charities as well as the honour of those which she dispenses
in pursuance of her will 

she has declared that this fund shall never fail while she lives she
has even engaged her mother to contribute annually to it and mr 
hickman has appropriated twenty pounds a year to the same in
consideration of which she allows him to recommend four objects yearly to
partake of it allows is her style for she assumes the whole
prerogative of dispensing this charity the only prerogative she does or
has occasion to assume in every other case there is but one will
between them and that is generally his or her's as either speaks first 
upon any subject be it what it will mrs hickman she sometimes as
pleasantly as generously tells him must not quite forget that she was
once miss howe because if he had not loved her as such and with all her
foibles she had never been mrs hickman nevertheless she seriously on
all occasions and that to others as well as to himself confesses that
she owes him unreturnable obligations for his patience with her in her
day and for his generous behaviour to her in his 

and still more the highly does she esteem and love him as she reflects
upon his past kindness to her beloved friend and on that dear friend's
good opinion of him nor is it less grateful to her that the worthy
man joins most sincerely with her in all those respectful and
affectionate recollections which make the memory of the departed
precious to survivors 

mr belford was not so destitute of humanity and affection as to be
unconcerned at the unhappy fate of his most intimate friend but when
he reflects upon the untimely ends of several of his companions but just
mentioned in the preceding history on the shocking despondency and
death of his poor friend belton on the signal justice which overtook the
wicked tomlinson on the dreadful exit of the infamous sinclair on the
deep remorses of his more valued friend and on the other hand on the
example set him by the most excellent of her sex and on her blessed
preparation and happy departure and when he considers as he often does
with awe and terror that his wicked habits were so rooted in his
depraved heart that all these warnings and this lovely example seemed
to be but necessary to enable him to subdue them and to reform and that
such awakening-calls are hardly ever afforded to men of his cast or if
they are but seldom attended the full vigour of constitution when he
reflects upon all these things he adores the mercy which through these
calls has snatched him as a brand out of the fire and thinks himself
obliged to make it his endeavours to find out and to reform any of
those who may have been endangered by his means as well as to repair to
the utmost of his power any damage or mischiefs which he may have
occasioned to others 


 see letters xli and lvii of this volume 


with regard to the trust with which he was honoured by the inimitable
lady he had the pleasure of acquitting himself of it in a very few
months to every body's satisfaction even to that of the unhappy family 
who sent him their thanks on the occasion nor was he at delivering up
his accounts contented without resigning the legacy bequeathed to him 
to the uses of the will so that the poor's fund as it is called is
become a very considerable sum and will be a lasting bank for relief of
objects who best deserve relief 

there was but one earthly blessing which remained for mr belford to wish
for in order morally speaking to secure to him all his other
blessings and that was the greatest of all worldly ones a virtuous and
prudent wife so free a liver as he had been he did not think that he
could be worthy of such a one till upon an impartial examination of
himself he found the pleasure he had in his new resolutions so great 
and his abhorrence of his former courses so sincere that he was the less
apprehensive of a deviation 

upon this presumption having also kept in his mind some encouraging
hints from mr lovelace and having been so happy as to have it in his
power to oblige lord m and that whole noble family by some services
grateful to them the request for which from his unhappy friend was
brought over among other papers with the dead body by de la tour he
besought that nobleman's leave to make his addresses to miss charlotte
montague the eldest of his lordship's two nieces and making at the same
time such proposals of settlements as were not objected to his lordship
was pleased to use his powerful interest in his favour and his worthy
niece having no engagement she had the goodness to honour mr belford
with her hand and thereby made him as completely happy as a man can be 
who has enormities to reflect upon which are out of his power to atone
for by reason of the death of some of the injured parties and the
irreclaimableness of others 

happy is the man who in the time of health and strength sees and
reforms the error of his ways but how much more happy is he who has no
capital and wilful errors to repent of how unmixed and sincere must the
joys of such a one come to him 

lord m added bountifully in his life-time as did also the two ladies
his sisters to the fortune of their worthy niece and as mr belford
had been blessed with a son by her his lordship at his death  which
happened just three years after the untimely one of his unhappy nephew 
was pleased to devise to that son and to his descendents for ever and
in case of his death unmarried to any other children of his niece his
hertfordshire estate designed for mr lovelace which he made up to
the value of a moiety of his real estates bequeathing also a moiety
of his personal to the same lady 

miss patty montague a fine young lady  to whom her noble uncle at his
death devised the other moiety of his real and personal estates 
including his seat in berkshire  lives at present with her excellent
sister mrs belford to whom she removed upon lord m s death but in
all probability will soon be the lady of a worthy baronet of ancient
family fine qualities and ample fortunes just returned from his
travels with a character superior to the very good one he set out with 
a case that very seldom happens although the end of travel is
improvement 

colonel morden who with so many virtues and accomplishments cannot be
unhappy in several letters tot eh executor with whom he corresponds
from florence  having since his unhappy affair with mr lovelace
changed his purpose of coming so soon to reside in england as he had
intended   declares that although he thought himself obliged either to
accept of what he took to be a challenge as such or tamely to
acknowledge that he gave up all resentment of his cousin's wrongs and
in a manner to beg pardon for having spoken freely of mr lovelace behind
his back and although at the time he owns he was not sorry to be called
upon as he was to take either the one course or the other yet now 
coolly reflecting upon his beloved cousin's reasonings against duelling 
and upon the price it had too probably cost the unhappy man he wishes he
had more fully considered those words in his cousin's posthumous letter 
if god will allow him time for repentance why should you deny it him  


 several worthy persons have wished that the heinous practice of
duelling had been more forcibly discouraged by way of note at the
conclusion of a work designed to recommend the highest and most important
doctrines of christianity it is humbly presumed that these persons
have not sufficiently attended to what is already done on that subject in
vol ii letter xii and in this volume letter xvi xliii xliv and
xlv 


to conclude the worthy widow lovick continues to live with mr belford 
and by her prudent behaviour piety and usefulness has endeared
herself to her lady and to the whole family 



postscript

referred to in the preface

in which several objections that have been made as well to the
 catastrophe as to different parts of the preceding history 
 are briefly considered 


the foregoing work having been published at three different periods of
time the author in the course of its publication was favoured with
many anonymous letters in which the writers differently expressed their
wishes with regard to the apprehended catastrophe 

most of those directed to him by the gentler sex turned in favour of
what they called a fortunate ending some of the fair writers 
enamoured as they declared with the character of the heroine were
warmly solicitous to have her made happy and others likewise of their
mind insisted that poetical justice required that it should be so and
when says one ingenious lady whose undoubted motive was good-nature and
humanity it must be concluded that it is in an author's power to make
his piece end as he pleases why should he not give pleasure rather than
pain to the reader whom he has interested in favour of his principal
characters 

others and some gentlemen declared against tragedies in general and in
favour of comedies almost in the words of lovelace who was supported in
his taste by all the women at mrs sinclair's and by sinclair herself 
i have too much feeling said he there is enough in the world to make
our hearts sad without carrying grief into our diversions and making
the distresses of others our own 


 see vol iv letter xl 


and how was this happy ending to be brought about why by this very
easy and trite expedient to wit by reforming lovelace and marrying him
to clarissa not however abating her one of her trials nor any of her
sufferings  for the sake of the sport her distresses would give to the
tender-hearted reader as she went along   the last outrage excepted 
that indeed partly in compliment to lovelace himself and partly for
her delicacy-sake they were willing to spare her 

but whatever were the fate of his work the author was resolved to take a
different method he always thought that sudden conversions such 
especially as were left to the candour of the reader to suppose and make
out has neither art nor nature nor even probability in them and that
they were moreover of a very bad example to have a lovelace for a
series of years glory in his wickedness and think that he had nothing
to do but as an act of grace and favour to hold out his hand to receive
that of the best of women whenever he pleased and to have it thought
that marriage would be a sufficient amends for all his enormities to
others as well as to her he could not bear that nor is reformation as
he has shown in another piece to be secured by a fine face by a passion
that has sense for its object nor by the goodness of a wife's heart nor
even example if the heart of the husband be not graciously touched by
the divine finger 

it will be seen by this time that the author had a great end in view 
he had lived to see the scepticism and infidelity openly avowed and even
endeavoured to be propagated from the press the greatest doctrines of
the gospel brought into question those of self-denial and mortification
blotted out of the catalogue of christian virtues and a taste even to
wantonness for out-door pleasure and luxury to the general exclusion of
domestic as well as public virtue industriously promoted among all ranks
and degrees of people 

in this general depravity when even the pulpit has lost great part of
its weight and the clergy are considered as a body of interested men 
the author thought he should be able to answer it to his own heart be
the success what it would if he threw in his mite towards introducing a
reformation so much wanted and he imagined that if in an age given up
to diversion and entertainment if he could steal in as may be said and
investigate the great doctrines of christianity under the fashionable
guise of an amusement he should be most likely to serve his purpose 
remembering that of the poet 

 a verse may find him who a sermon flies 
 and turn delight into a sacrifice 

he was resolved therefore to attempt something that never yet had been
done he considered that the tragic poets have as seldom made their
heroes true objects of pity as the comics theirs laudable ones of
imitation and still more rarely have made them in their deaths look
forward to a future hope and thus when they die they seem totally to
perish death in such instances must appear terrible it must be
considered as the greatest evil but why is death set in such shocking
lights when it is the universal lot 

he has indeed thought fit to paint the death of the wicked as terrible
as he could paint it but he has endeavoured to draw that of the good in
such an amiable manner that the very balaams of the world should not
forbear to wish that their latter end might be like that of the heroine 

and after all what is the poetical justice so much contended for by
some as the generality of writers have managed it but another sort of
dispensation than that with which god by revelation teaches us he has
thought fit to exercise mankind whom placing here only in a state of
probation he hath so intermingled good and evil as to necessitate us to
look forward for a more equal dispensation of both 

the author of the history or rather dramatic narrative of clarissa is
therefore well justified by the christian system in deferring to
extricate suffering virtue to the time in which it will meet with the
completion of its reward 

but not absolutely to shelter the conduct observed in it under the
sanction of religion  an authority perhaps not of the greatest weight
with some of our modern critics   it must be observed that the author is
justified in its catastrophe by the greatest master of reason and best
judge of composition that ever lived the learned reader knows we must
mean aristotle whose sentiments in this matter we shall beg leave to
deliver in the words of a very amiable writer of our own country 

the english writers of tragedy  says mr addison are possessed with
a notion that when they represent a virtuous or innocent person in
distress they ought not to leave him till they have delivered him out of
his troubles or made him triumph over his enemies 


 spectator vol i no xl 


this error they have been led into by a ridiculous doctrine in modern
criticism that they are obliged to an equal distribution of rewards and
punishments and an impartial execution of poetical justice 

who were the first that established this rule i know not but i am sure
it has no foundation in nature in reason or in the practice of the
antients 

we find that good and evil happen alike unto all men on this side the
grave and as the principal design of tragedy is to raise commiseration
and terror in the minds of the audience we shall defeat this great end 
if we always make virtue and innocence happy and successful 

whatever crosses and disappoints a good man suffers in the body of the
tragedy they will make but small impression on our minds when we know 
that in the last act he is to arrive at the end of his wishes and
desires 

when we see him engaged in the depth of his afflictions we are apt to
comfort ourselves because we are sure he will find his way out of them 
and that his grief however great soever it may be at present will soon
terminate in gladness 

for this reason the antient writers of tragedy treated men in their
plays as they are dealt with in the world by making virtue sometimes
happy and sometimes miserable as they found it in the fable which they
made choice of or as it might affect their audience in the most
agreeable manner 

aristotle considers the tragedies that were written in either of those
kinds and observes that those which ended unhappily had always pleased
the people and carried away the prize in the public disputes of the
state from those that ended happily 

terror and commiseration leave a pleasing anguish in the mind and fix
the audience in such a serious composure of thought as is much more
lasting and delightful than any little transient starts of joy and
satisfaction 

accordingly we find that more of our english tragedies have succeeded 
in which the favourites of the audience sink under their calamities than
those in which they recover themselves out of them 

the best plays of this kind are the orphan venice preserved alexander
the great theodosius all for love oedipus oroonoko othello etc 

king lear is an admirable tragedy of the same kind as shakespeare wrote
it but as it is reformed according to the chimerical notion of poetical
justice in my humble opinion it has lost half its beauty 

at the same time i must allow that there are very noble tragedies which
have been framed upon the other plan and have ended happily as indeed
most of the good tragedies which have been written since the starting of
the above-mentioned criticism have taken this turn the mourning bride 
tamerlane ulysses phaedra and hippolitus with most of mr dryden's i
must also allow that many of shakespeare's and several of the
celebrated tragedies of antiquity are cast in the same form i do not 
therefore dispute against this way of writing tragedies but against the
criticism that would establish this as the only method and by that means
would very much cramp the english tragedy and perhaps give a wrong bent
to the genius of our writers 


 yet in tamerlane two of the most amiable characters moneses and
arpasia suffer death 


this subject is further considered in a letter to the spectator 


 see spect vol vii no 548 


i find your opinion  says the author of it concerning the
late-invented term called poetical justice is controverted by some
eminent critics i have drawn up some additional arguments to strengthen
the opinion which you have there delivered having endeavoured to go to
the bottom of that matter 

the most perfect man has vices enough to draw down punishments upon his
head and to justify providence in regard to any miseries that may befall
him for this reason i cannot but think that the instruction and moral
are much finer where a man who is virtuous in the main of his character
falls into distress and sinks under the blows of fortune at the end of
a tragedy than when he is represented as happy and triumphant such an
example corrects the insolence of human nature softens the mind of the
beholder with sentiments of pity and compassion comforts him under his
own private affliction and teaches him not to judge of men's virtues by
their successes i cannot think of one real hero in all antiquity so
far raised above human infirmities that he might not be very naturally
represented in a tragedy as plunged in misfortunes and calamities the
poet may still find out some prevailing passion or indiscretion in his
character and show it in such a manner as will sufficiently acquit
providence of any injustice in his sufferings for as horace observes 
the best man is faulty though not in so great a degree as those whom
we generally call vicious men 


 a caution that our blessed saviour himself gives in the case of the
eighteen person killed by the fall of the tower of siloam luke xiii 4 
 vitiis nemo sine nascitur optimus ille 
 qui minimis urgentur 


if such a strict poetical justice proceeds the letter-writer as some
gentlemen insist upon were to be observed in this art there is no
manner of reason why it should not be so little observed in homer that
his achilles is placed in the greatest point of glory and success though
his character is morally vicious and only poetically good if i may use
the phrase of our modern critics the aenead is filled with innocent
unhappy persons nisus and euryalus lausus and pallas come all to
unfortunate ends the poet takes notice in particular that in the
sacking of troy ripheus fell who was the most just character among the
trojans 

  cadit and ripheus justissimus unus
 qui fuit in teucris and servantissimus aequi 
 diis aliter visum est 

 the gods thought fit so blameless ripheus fell 
 who lov'd fair justice and observ'd it well 

and that pantheus could neither be preserved by his transcendent piety 
nor by the holy fillets of apollo whose priest he was 

  nec te tua plurima pantheu 
 labentum pietas nec apollinis infula texit aen ii 

 nor could thy piety thee pantheus save 
 nor ev'n thy priesthood from an early grave 

i might here mention the practice of antient tragic poets both greek
and latin but as this particular is touched upon in the paper
above-mentioned i shall pass it over in silence i could produce
passages out of aristotle in favour of my opinion and if in one place he
says that an absolutely virtuous man should not be represented as
unhappy this does not justify any one who should think fit to bring in
an absolutely virtuous man upon the stage those who are acquainted with
that author's way of writing know very well that to take the whole
extent of his subject into his divisions of it he often makes use of
such cases as are imaginary and not reducible to practice 

i shall conclude  says this gentleman with observing that though the
spectator above-mentioned is so far against the rule of poetical justice 
as to affirm that good men may meet with an unhappy catastrophe in
tragedy it does not say that ill men may go off unpunished the reason
for this distinction is very plain namely because the best of men  as
is said above   have faults enough to justify providence for any
misfortunes and afflictions which may befall them but there are many men
so criminal that they can have no claim or pretence to happiness the
best of men may deserve punishment but the worst of men cannot deserve
happiness 

mr addison as we have seen above tells us that aristotle in
considering the tragedies that were written in either of the kinds 
observes that those which ended unhappily had always pleased the people 
and carried away the prize in the public disputes of the stage from
those that ended happily and we shall take leave to add that this
preference was given at a time when the entertainments of the stage were
committed to the care of the magistrates when the prizes contended for
were given by the state when of consequence the emulation among
writers was ardent and when learning was at the highest pitch of glory
in that renowned commonwealth 

it cannot be supposed that the athenians in this their highest age of
taste and politeness were less humane less tender-hearted than we of
the present but they were not afraid of being moved nor ashamed of
showing themselves to be so at the distresses they saw well painted and
represented in short they were of the opinion with the wisest of men 
that it was better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of
mirth and had fortitude enough to trust themselves with their own
generous grief because they found their hearts mended by it 

thus also horace and the politest romans in the augustan age wished to
be affected 

 ac ne forte putes me quae facere ipse recusem 
 cum recte tractant alii laudere maligne 
 ille per extentum funem mihi posse videtur
 ire poeta meum qui pectus inaniter angit 
 irritat mulcet falsis terroribus implet 
 ut magus et modo me thebis modo point athenis 

thus englished by mr pope 

 yet lest thou think i rally more than teach 
 or praise malignly arts i cannot reach 
 let me for once presume t'instruct the times
 to know the poet from the man of rhymes 
 tis he who gives my breast a thousand pains 
 can make me feel each passion that he feigns 
 enrage compose with more than magic art 
 with pity and with terror tear my heart 
 and snatch me o'er the earth or through the air 
 to thebes to athens when he will and where 

our fair readers are also desired to attend to what a celebrated critic 
of a neighbouring nation says on the nature and design of tragedy from
the rules laid down by the same great antient 


 rapin on aristotle's poetics 


tragedy  says he makes man modest by representing the great masters
of the earth humbled and it makes him tender and merciful by showing
him the strange accidents of life and the unforeseen disgraces to which
the most important persons are subject 

but because man is naturally timorous and compassionate he may fall
into other extremes too much fear may shake his constancy of mind and
too much of tragedy to regulate these two weaknesses it prepares and
arms him against disgraces by showing them so frequent in the most
considerable persons and he will cease to fear extraordinary accidents 
when he sees them happen to the highest part of mankind and still more
efficacious we may add the example will be when he sees them happen
to the best 

but as the end of tragedy is to teach men not to fear too weakly common
misfortunes it proposes also to teach them to spare their compassion for
objects that deserve it for there is an injustice in being moved at the
afflictions of those who deserve to be miserable we may see without
pity clytemnestra slain by her son orestes in aeschylus because she had
murdered agamemnon her husband yet we cannot see hippolytus die by the
plot of his step-mother phaedra in euripides without compassion because
he died not but for being chaste and virtuous 

these are the great authorities so favourable to the stories that end
unhappily and we beg leave to reinforce this inference from them that
if the temporary sufferings of the virtuous and the good can be accounted
for and justified on pagan principles many more and infinitely stronger
reasons will occur to a christian reader in behalf of what are called
unhappy catastrophes from the consideration of the doctrine of future
rewards which is every where strongly enforced in the history of
clarissa 

of this to give but one instance an ingenious modern distinguished
by his rank but much more for his excellent defence of some of the most
important doctrines of christianity appears convinced in the conclusion
of a pathetic monody lately published in which after he had deplored 
as a man without hope expressing ourselves in the scripture phrase 
the loss of an excellent wife he thus consoles himself 

 yet o my soul thy rising murmurs stay 
 nor dare th' all-wise disposer to arraign 
 or against his supreme decree
 with impious grief complain 
 that all thy full-blown joys at once should fade 
 was his most righteous will and be that will obey'd 
 would thy fond love his grace to her controul 
 and in these low abodes of sin and pain
 her pure exalted soul 
 unjustly for thy partial good detain 
 no rather strive thy grov'ling mind to raise
 up to that unclouded blaze 
 that heav'nly radiance of eternal light 
 in which enthron'd she now with pity sees 
 how frail how insecure how slight 
 is every mortal bliss 

but of infinitely greater weight than all that has been above produced
on this subject are the words of the psalmist 

as for me says he my feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh
slipt for i was envious at the foolish when i saw the prosperity of the
wicked for their strength is firm they are not in trouble as other
men neither are they plagued like other men their eyes stand out with
fatness they have more than their heart could wish verily i have
cleansed mine heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence for all
the day long have i been plagued and chastened every morning when i
thought to know this it was too painful for me until i went into the
sanctuary of god then understood i their end thou shalt guide me with
thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory 


 psalm lxxiii 


this is the psalmist's comfort and dependence and shall man presuming
to alter the common course of nature and so far as he is able to elude
the tenure by which frail mortality indispensably holds imagine that he
can make a better dispensation and by calling it poetical justice 
indirectly reflect on the divine 

the more pains have been taken to obviate the objections arising from the
notion of poetical justice as the doctrine built upon it had obtained
general credit among us and as it must be confessed to have the
appearance of humanity and good nature for its supports and yet the
writer of the history of clarissa is humbly of opinion that he might
have been excused referring to them for the vindication of his
catastrophe even by those who are advocates for the contrary opinion 
since the notion of poetical justice founded on the modern rules has
hardly ever been more strictly observed in works of this nature than in
the present performance 

for is not mr lovelace who could persevere in his villanous views 
against the strongest and most frequent convictions and remorses that
ever were sent to awaken and reclaim a wicked man is not this great 
this wilful transgressor condignly punished and his punishment brought
on through the intelligence of the very joseph leman whom he had
corrupted and by means of the very woman whom he had debauched is
not mr belton who had an uncle's hastened death to answer for are
not the infamous sinclair and her wretched partners and even the wicked
servants who with their eyes open contributed their parts to the
carrying on of the vile schemes of their respective principals are they
not all likewise exemplarily punished 


 see letter lviii of this volume 
 ibid letter lxi 
 see vol viii letter xvi 


on the other hand is not miss howe for her noble friendship to the
exalted lady in her calamities is not mr hickman for his
unexceptionable morals and integrity of life is not the repentant and
not ungenerous belford is not the worthy norton made signally happy 

and who that are in earnest in their professions of christianity but
will rather envy than regret the triumphant death of clarissa whose
piety from her early childhood whose diffusive charity whose steady
virtue whose christian humility whose forgiving spirit whose meekness 
and resignation heaven only could reward 


 and here it may not be amiss to remind the reader that so early in the
work as vol ii letter xxxviii the dispensations of providence are
justified by herself and thus she ends her reflections i shall not
live always may my closing scene be happy  she had her wish it was
happy 


we shall now according to the expectation given in the preface to this
edition proceed to take brief notice of such other objections as have
come to our knowledge for as is there said this work being addressed
to the public as a history of life and manners those parts of it which
are proposed to carry with them the force of example ought to be as
unobjectionable as is consistent with the design of the whole and with
human nature 

several persons have censured the heroine as too cold in her love too
haughty and even sometimes provoking but we may presume to say that
this objection has arisen from want of attention to the story to the
character of clarissa and to her particular situation 

it was not intended that she should be in love but in liking only if
that expression may be admitted it is meant to be every where
inculcated in the story for example sake that she never would have
married mr lovelace because of his immoralities had she been left to
herself and that of her ruin was principally owing to the persecutions
of her friends 

what is too generally called love ought perhaps as generally to be
called by another name cupidity or a paphian stimulus as some women 
even of condition have acted are not words too harsh to be substituted
on the occasion however grating they may be to delicate ears but take
the word love in the gentlest and most honourable sense it would have
been thought by some highly improbable that clarissa should have been
able to show such a command of her passions as makes so distinguishing
a part of her character had she been as violently in love as certain
warm and fierce spirits would have had her to be a few observations are
thrown in by way of note in the present edition at proper places to
obviate this objection or rather to bespeak the attention of hasty
readers to what lies obviously before them for thus the heroine
anticipates this very objection expostulating with miss howe on her
contemptuous treatment of mr hickman which far from being guilty of
the same fault herself she did on all occasions and declares she would
do so whenever miss howe forgot herself although she had not a day to
live 

o my dear  says she that it had been my lot as i was not permitted
to live single to have met with a man by whom i could have acted
generously and unreservedly 

mr lovelace it is now plain in order to have a pretence against me 
taxed my behaviour to him with stiffness and distance you at one time 
thought me guilty of some degree of prudery difficult situations should
be allowed for which often make seeming occasions for censure
unavoidable i deserved not blame from him who made mine difficult 
and you my dear had i any other man to deal with than mr lovelace or
had he but half the merit which mr hickman has would have found that
my doctrine on this subject should have governed my whole practice 
see this whole letter no xxxii vol viii see also mr lovelace's
letter vol viii no lix and vol ix no xlii where just before his
death he entirely acquits her conduct on this head 

it has been thought by some worthy and ingenious persons that if
lovelace had been drawn an infidel or scoffer his character according
to the taste of the present worse than sceptical age would have been
more natural it is however too well known that there are very many
persons of his cast whose actions discredit their belief and are not
the very devils in scripture said to believe and tremble 

but the reader must have observed that great and it is hoped good
use has been made throughout the work by drawing lovelace an infidel 
only in practice and this as well in the arguments of his friend
belford as in his own frequent remorses when touched with temporary
compunction and in his last scenes which could not have been made had
either of them been painted as sentimental unbelievers not to say that
clarissa whose great objection to mr wyerley was that he was a
scoffer must have been inexcusable had she known lovelace to be so and
had given the least attention to his addresses on the contrary thus
she comforts herself when she thinks she must be his this one
consolation however remains he is not an infidel an unbeliever had
he been an infidel there would have been no room at all for hope of him 
but priding himself as he does in his fertile invention he would have
been utterly abandoned irreclaimable and a savage  and it must be
observed that scoffers are too witty in their own opinion in other
words value themselves too much upon their profligacy to aim at
concealing it 


 see vol iv letter xxxix and vol v letter viii 


besides had lovelace added ribbald jests upon religion to his other
liberties the freedoms which would then have passed between him and his
friend must have been of a nature truly infernal 

and this father hint was meant to be given by way of inference that the
man who allowed himself in those liberties either of speech or action 
which lovelace thought shameful was so far a worse man than lovelace 
for this reason he is every where made to treat jests on sacred things
and subjects even down to the mythology of the pagans among pagans as
undoubted marks of the ill-breeding of the jester obscene images and
talk as liberties too shameful for even rakes to allow themselves in 
and injustice to creditors and in matters of meum and tuum as what it
was beneath him to be guilty of 

some have objected to the meekness to the tameness as they will have it
to be of mr hickman's character and yet lovelace owns that he rose
upon him with great spirit in the interview between them once when he
thought a reflection was but implied on miss howe and another time 
when he imagined himself treated contemptuously miss howe it must be
owned though not to the credit of her own character treats him
ludicrously on several occasions but so she does her mother and
perhaps a lady of her lively turn would have treated as whimsically any
man but a lovelace mr belford speaks of him with honour and
respect so does colonel morden and so does clarissa on every
occasion and all that miss howe herself says of him tends more to his
reputation than discredit as clarissa indeed tells her 


 see vol vii letter xxviii 
 ibid 
 ibid letter xlviii 
 see letter xlvi of this volume 
 see vol ii letter ii and vol iii letter xl 
 see vol ii letter xi 


and as to lovelace's treatment of him the reader must have observed 
that it was his way to treat every man with contempt partly by way of
self-exaltation and partly to gratify the natural gaiety of his
disposition he says himself to belford thou knowest i love him not 
jack and whom we love not we cannot allow a merit to perhaps not the
merit they should be granted  modest and diffident men  writes
belford to lovelace in praise of mr hickman wear not soon off those
little precisenesses which the confident if ever they had them 
presently get over  


 see vol vii letter xxviii 
 ibid letter xlviii 


but as miss howe treats her mother as freely as she does her lover so
does mr lovelace take still greater liberties with mr belford than he
does with mr hickman with respect to his person air and address as
mr belford himself hints to mr hickman and yet is he not so readily
believed to the discredit of mr belford by the ladies in general as he
is when he disparages mr hickman whence can this particularity arise 


 see letter xxxvi of this volume 


mr belford had been a rake but was in a way of reformation 

mr hickman had always been a good man 

and lovelace confidently says that the women love a man whose regard for
 them is founded in the knowledge of them 


 see vol v letter xviii 


nevertheless it must be owned that it was not purposed to draw mr 
hickman as the man of whom the ladies in general were likely to be very
fond had it been so goodness of heart and gentleness of manners 
great assiduity and inviolable and modest love would not of themselves
have been supposed sufficient recommendations he would not have been
allowed the least share of preciseness or formality although those
defects might have been imputed to his reverence for the object of his
passion but in his character it was designed to show that the same man
could not be every thing and to intimate to ladies that in choosing
companions for life they should rather prefer the honest heart of a
hickman which would be all their own than to risk the chance of
sharing perhaps with scores and some of those probably the most
profligate of the sex the volatile mischievous one of a lovelace in
short that they should choose if they wished for durable happiness for
rectitude of mind and not for speciousness of person or address nor
make a jest of a good man in favour of a bad one who would make a jest
of them and of their whole sex 

two letters however by way of accommodation are inserted in this
edition which perhaps will give mr hickman's character some heightening
with such ladies as love spirit in a man and had rather suffer by it 
than not meet with it 

 women born to be controul'd 
 stoop to the forward and the bold 

says waller and lovelace too 


some have wished that the story had been told in the usual narrative way
of telling stories designed to amuse and divert and not in letters
written by the respective persons whose history is given in them the
author thinks he ought not to prescribe to the taste of others but
imagined himself at liberty to follow his own he perhaps mistrusted his
talents for the narrative kind of writing he had the good fortune to
succeed in the epistolary way once before a story in which so many
persons were concerned either principally or collaterally and of
characters and dispositions so various carried on with tolerable
connection and perspicuity in a series of letters from different
persons without the aid of digressions and episodes foreign to the
principal end and design he thought had novelty to be pleaded for it 
and that in the present age he supposed would not be a slight
recommendation 

besides what has been said above and in the preface on this head the
following opinion of an ingenious and candid foreigner on this manner of
writing may not be improperly inserted here 

the method which the author had pursued in the history of clarissa is
the same as in the life of pamela both are related in familiar letters
by the parties themselves at the very time in which the events happened 
and this method has given the author great advantages which he could not
have drawn from any other species of narration the minute particulars
of events the sentiments and conversation of the parties are upon this
plan exhibited with all the warmth and spirit that the passion supposed
to be predominant at the very time could produce and with all the
distinguishing characteristics which memory can supply in a history of
recent transactions 

romances in general and marivaux's amongst others are wholly
improbable because they suppose the history to be written after the
series of events is closed by the catastrophe a circumstance which
implies a strength of memory beyond all example and probability in the
persons concerned enabling them at the distance of several years to
relate all the particulars of a transient conversation or rather it
implies a yet more improbable confidence and familiarity between all
these persons and the author 

there is however one difficulty attending the epistolary method for
it is necessary that all the characters should have an uncommon taste for
this kind of conversation and that they should suffer no event not even
a remarkable conversation to pass without immediately committing it to
writing but for the preservation of the letters once written the
author has provided with great judgment so as to render this
circumstance highly probable  


 this quotation is translated from a critique on the history of
clarissa written in french and published at amsterdam the whole
critique rendered into english was inserted in the gentleman's magazine
of june and august 1749 the author has done great honour in it to the
history of clarissa and as there are remarks published with it which
answer several objections made to different passages in the story by that
candid foreigner the reader is referred to the aforesaid magazine for
both 


it is presumed that what this gentleman says of the difficulties
attending a story thus given in the epistolary manner of writing will
not be found to reach the history before us it is very well accounted
for in it how the two principal female characters came to take so great
a delight in writing their subjects are not merely subjects of
amusement but greatly interesting to both yet many ladies there are who
now laudably correspond when at distance from each other on occasions
that far less affect their mutual welfare and friendships than those
treated of by these ladies the two principal gentlemen had motives of
gaiety and vain-glory for their inducements it will generally be found 
that persons who have talents for familiar writing as these
correspondents are presumed to have will not forbear amusing themselves
with their pens on less arduous occasions than what offer to these 
these four whose stories have a connection with each other out of the
great number of characters who are introduced in this history are only
eminent in the epistolary way the rest appear but as occasional writers 
and as drawn in rather by necessity than choice from the different
relations in which they stand with the four principal persons 

the length of the piece has been objected to by some who perhaps looked
upon it as a mere novel or romance and yet of these there are not
wanting works of equal length 

they were of opinion that the story moved too slowly particularly in
the first and second volumes which are chiefly taken up with the
altercations between clarissa and the several persons of her family 

but is it not true that those altercations are the foundation of the
whole and therefore a necessary part of the work the letters and
conversations where the story makes the slowest progress are presumed
to be characteristic they give occasion likewise to suggest many
interesting personalities in which a good deal of the instruction
essential to a work of this nature is conveyed and it will moreover 
be remembered that the author at his first setting out apprized the
reader that the story interesting as it is generally allowed to be was
to be principally looked upon as the vehicle to the instruction 

to all which we may add that there was frequently a necessity to be very
circumstantial and minute in order to preserve and maintain that air of
probability which is necessary to be maintained in a story designed to
represent real life and which is rendered extremely busy and active by
the plots and contrivances formed and carried on by one of the principal
characters 

some there are and ladies too who have supposed that the excellencies
of the heroine are carried to an improbable and even to an
impracticable height in this history but the education of clarissa 
from early childhood ought to be considered as one of her very great
advantages as indeed the foundation of all her excellencies and it
is to be hoped for the sake of the doctrine designed to be inculcated by
it that it will 

she had a pious a well-read a not meanly-descended woman for her nurse 
who with her milk as mrs harlowe says gave her that nurture which no
other nurse could give her she was very early happy in the
conversation-visits of her learned and worthy dr lewen and in her
correspondencies not with him only but with other divines mentioned in
her last will her mother was upon the whole a good woman who did
credit to her birth and fortune and both delighted in her for those
improvements and attainments which gave her and them in her a
distinction that caused it to be said that when she was out of the
family it was considered but as a common family she was moreover a
country lady and as we have seen in miss howe's character of her 
took great delight in rural and household employments though qualified
to adorn the brightest circle 


 see vol iv letter xxviii 
 see her mother's praises of her to mrs norton vol i letter xxxix 
 see letter lv of this volume 


it must be confessed that we are not to look for clarissa's name among
the constant frequenters of ranelagh and vauxhall nor among those who
may be called daughters of the card-table if we do the character of
our heroine may then indeed only be justly thought not improbable but
unattainable but we have neither room in this place nor inclination 
to pursue a subject so invidious we quit it therefore after we have
repeated that we know there are some and we hope there are many in the
british dominions or they are hardly any where in the european world 
who as far as occasion has called upon them to exert the like humble and
modest yet steady and useful virtues have reached the perfections of a
clarissa 

having thus briefly taken notice of the most material objections that
have been made to different parts of this history it is hoped we may be
allowed to add that had we thought ourselves at liberty to give copies
of some of the many letters that have been written on the other side of
the question that is to say in approbation of the catastrophe and of
the general conduct and execution of the work by some of the most
eminent judges of composition in every branch of literature most of what
has been written in this postscript might have been spared 

but as the principal objection with many has lain against the length of
the piece we shall add to what we have said above on that subject in
the words of one of those eminent writers that if in the history
before us it shall be found that the spirit is duly diffused throughout 
that the characters are various and natural well distinguished and
uniformly supported and maintained if there be a variety of incidents
sufficient to excite attention and those so conducted as to keep the
reader always awake the length then must add proportionably to the
pleasure that every person of taste receives from a well-drawn picture
of nature but where the contrary of all these qualities shock the
understanding the extravagant performance will be judged tedious though
no longer than a fairy-tale 

finis
artamene ou le grand cyrus 
scudery madeleine 1608-1701 
 
 1656 
 
 projet cyrus 
 
 
 bourqui c et gefen a 
 artamene ou le grand cyrus 
 dedie a madame la duchesse de longueville 
 scudery georges 
 
 paris 
 augustin courbe 
 1656 
 
 1656 
 
 
a madame
 la duchesse
 de longueville
 madame
 un des plus grands et des plus sages princes de toute l'asie va demander audience a une des plus grandes et des plus sages princesses de toute l'europe ce vainqueur de la moitie du monde qui croit avecque raison que vostre altesse seroit digne de le commander tout entier vient mettre a vos pieds ses palmes et ses trophees et advouer ingenument qu'il a moins conqueste de sceptres et de couronnes que vous ne meritez d'en avoir 
 il a sceu que vous n'avez pas autrefois denie vostre glorieuse protection a un prince deguise si bien qu'estant deguise et prince et prince incomparablement plus fameux que l'autre il a creu qu'il pouvoit aspirer au mesme honneur il a creu dis-je que puis que vous aviez en suitte escoute favorablement la mort de cesar vous souffririez bien la vie de cyrus et que vous luy permettriez de se faire revoir a tout l'univers avec plus d'eclat et plus de splendeur qu'il n'en avoit en montant aut throsne des rois d'assirie veu la splendeur et l'eclat qui rejalira sur luy de vostre illustre nom si vous agreez qu'il le mesle parmy ses lauriers et qu'il le porte par toute la terre il scait bien madame qu'en pretendant a cette gloire son ambition est extreme mais qui doit estre hardy si ce ne sont les conquerans et que n'entreprennent point ces heureux temeraires que la fortune favorise et puis il est certain que peu de rois l'ont egale et que si alexandre mesme a eu depuis sa valeur et son esprit il n'a pas eu sa sagesse et sa temperance en un mot il a este seul 
 de qui l'on puisse dire comme de vostre altesse qu'il avoit toutes les vertus et pas un defaut aussi comme un des plus celebres escrivains de toute l'antiquite en a fait l'exemple de tous les princes vous serez un jour si j'ay l'adresse de xenophon et si la posterite vous rend justice l'exemple de toutes les princesses cette glorieuse conformite que l'on voit entre un heros et une heroine me fait esperer qu'il sera bien receu de vous et que vous connoistrez que si parmy tant de personnes illustres qui sont au monde il n'a eu pour objet que vous seule c'est parce que les persans n'adorent que le soleil icy madame comme j'ay l'honneur d'estre l'interprete de ce prince et de vous parler pour luy il ne me sera pas difficile de faire voir que ma comparaison est juste que le mesme eclat que ce grand astre a dans les cieux vouz l'avez dans cette cour et que vous estes comme luy toute couverte de rayons et toute brillante de lumiere en effet si l'on regarde la haute naissance de vostre altesse quelle splendeur n'y verra t'on pas ce ne sont que throsnes que 
 sceptres et que couronnes et cette longue suitte de rois dont vous descendez vous couvre d'un si grand eclat qu'il en est presque inaccessible que si du sang royal de bourbon nous passons au noble sang de montmorency dont est la princesse adorable qui vous a donne la vie et dont les rares qualitez donnent de l'admiration a toute la terre et vous donnent encore un nouveau lustre nous verrons autant de heros que nous aurons veu de monarques et nous verrons aussi la grandeur de cette illustre maison plus ancienne que la monarchie francoise mais madame je ne juge pas qu'il soit a propos de vous arrester plus long temps parmy ces magnifiques mausolees de rois de princes de connestables et d'admiraux que si pour vous en esloigner et pour passer de ces grands morts au plus grand de tous ceux qui vivent l'on regarde celuy que toute l'europe regarde avec estonnement de quelle gloire ne brillera pas vostre altesse lors qu'on la verra digne soeur d'un prince tout couvert de palmes et de lauriers et pour lequel l'eloquence la plus haute et la 
 plus sublime est basse et rampante quand elle ose entreprendre de le louer la grece qui nomma autrefois un de ses capitaines le preneur de villes auroit este obligee d'aller plus loing de la moitie pour nostre heros et de le nommer le preneur de villes et le gagneur de batailles ainsi madame estre digne soeur d'un frere tel que le vostre c'est estre tout ce qu'on peut estre et plus que personne n'a jamais este et que personne ne sera jamais que si des vertus militaires nous passons aux vertus paisibles et du brillant eclat des armes au pompeux eclat de la pourpre de quel nouveau lustre ne vous verra t'on pas reluire pour estre encore soeur d'un autre prince dont le merite est aussi grand que sa condition et pour qui rome mesme n'a que des honneurs trop bas soit que l'on considere la grandeur de sa naissance soit que l'on regarde la grandeur de son esprit ou celle de ses hautes et genereuses inclinations mais si vostre altesse a eu pour ancestres des rois et des heros et si elle a pour freres des heros 
 dignes d'estre rois elle a encore pour mary un prince si illustre par sa condition et si considerable par ses rares qualitez que soit que l'on vous regarde comme fille comme soeur ou comme femme l'on vous voit tousjours comme je l'ay dit toute couverte de splendeur de rayons et de lumiere en effect ce grand prince qui conte parmy ses devanciers le restaurateur de l'estat seroit capable de l'estre luy mesme veu les grandes choses qu'il a faites et l'invincible comte de dunois ne fit rien qu'il ne peust faire par son courage et par son esprit mais madame je n'oserois toucher davantage a une matiere si precieuse ce seroit entreprendre sur le fameux autheur de la pucelle qu'un si noble travail regarde et il est juste de ne luy oster pas ce marbre et ce jaspe qu'il mettra mieux en oeuvre que moy et dont il fait un monument eternel a la gloire de vos altesses et puis a dire les choses comme elles sont ce n'est pas seulement de ces lumieres empruntees dont on vous voit briller comme en brillent tous les astres inferieurs qui prennent leur eclat d'un plus grand astre vous 
 avez des rayons et des clartez que vous ne prenez que de vous mesme et des splendeurs qui vous sont essencielles comme celles du soleil mais des splendeurs si eclatantes qu'aupres d'elles toutes lumieres tous rayons toutes clartez et toutes splendeurs ne sont qu'ombres et que tenebres la beaute mesme que vous possedez au souverain degre elle que le plus grand homme de l'eglise greque n'a pas craint de nommer splendeur celeste et un autre encore plus hardy rayaon de la divinite n'est pas ce que vous aves de plus merveilleux quoy qu'elle soit l'objet de la merveille de tout le monde l'on en voit sans doute en vostre altesse l'idee la plus parfaite qui puisse tomber sous la veue soit pour la taille qu'elle a si belle et si noble soit pour la majeste du port soit pour la beaute de ces cheveux qui effacent les rayons de l'astre avec lequel je vous compare soit pour l'eclat et pour le charme des yeux pour la blancheur et pour la juste proportion de tous les traits et pour cet air modeste et galant tout ensemble qui est 
 l'ame de la beaute et que vos miroirs vous feront bien mieux voir que mes paroles mais apres tout madame l'oseray je dire et me pourra t'on croire si je le dis vostre esprit est encore plus beau que vostre visage et c'est par luy principalement que ma comparaison du soleil est juste en effet ce grand esprit a des clartez qui nous eblouissent il brille et brille tousjours ses rayons percent l'obscurite des choses les plus cachees il penetre tout il voit tout il connoist tout et rien ne se derobe a sa veue mais il ne voit et ne connoist pas seulement les belles choses car il les produit luy mesme les fleurs qui sont le plus bel ouvrage du soleil cedent a celles de l'eloquence naturelle qui brille en tout ce qu'on vous entend dire et l'or les perles les rubis les esmeraudes les diamans et toutes les autres pierreries qui sont ses derniers chefs-d'oeuvres n'ont rien de si eclatant ny de si precieux que vos paroles et vos pensees cependant le mesme avantage qu'a vostre beaute sur toutes les autres beautez et vostre esprit sur vostre visage 
 vostre jugement l'a sur vostre esprit c'est un monarque qui regne souverainement qui regle toutes vos actions a l'infaillible compas de la raison et qui agit en vous avec tant d'ordre et tant de justesse que le cours du soleil dont je vous parle n'est pas plus justement regle ouy madame le plus grand roy de la terre pourroit se reposer sur la prudence de vostre altesse de la conduite de tous ses estats et tant qu'elle veilleroit a cette conduite il pourroit dormir en assurance quelque tempeste qui peut s'eslever contre luy toutefois je n'en demeure pas encore la et je descouvre quelque chose du plus eclatant en vous que tout ce que j'ay dit jusques icy c'est la grandeur de vostre ame qui non plus que le soleil ne voit rien au monde qui ne soit au dessous d'elle cette grande ame dis-je qui est au dessus des foudres et des orages et qui demeure ferme et tranquile lors que tout est en trouble et en agitation mais quelques belles que soient toutes vos hautes et genereuses inclinations elles ne paroissent presque plus des qu'on voit paroistre la 
 purete de cette grande ame c'est a dire le plus parfait ouvrage de la nature et de la vertu elle a moins de taches que le soleil elle passe comme les rayons de ce bel astre sur la corruption de la terre sans s'y alterer elle ne change jamais non plus que luy elle ne quitte non plus sa routte que le soleil quitte la sienne et elle ne s'arreste non plus dans le chemin de la gloire que cet astre si eclatant dans son chemin ordinaire allant tousjours de perfection en perfection sans retrograder jamais non plus que l'astre dont je parle iray je encore plus loing que tout cela et finiray je le denombrement de vos vertus par la reine de toutes les vertus je veux dire cette haute piete dont vous faites une profession si publique et si exacte que vous vous en departez moins que le soleil ne se depart des premiers ordres qu'il a receus de l'eternelle puissance qui fait agir son corps et vostre ame enfin madame cyrus vous voyant tant au dessus de tout l'univers vous voyant dis-je si brillante et si lumineuse vous voyant 
unique comme le soleil et voyant que s'il est nuit ou il n'est pas le jour n'est beau qu'ou vous estes suivant la religion de son pais il se prosterne devant vous et cet illustre persan vous prenant pour ce grand astre qu'il adore s'offre luy mesme a vostre altesse avec tout le zele et tout le respect qu'il croit devoir a la divinite visible voila madame ce que j'avois a vous dire pour le vainqueur de l'asie
mais si apres vous avoir parle pour luy j'ose vous parler pour moy j'advoueray franchement a vostre altesse qu'encore que toute la france ait assez bien receu mon illustre bassa et que les nations estrangeres l'ayent traduit en leur langue je ne laisse pas de craindre pour artamene car enfin vous estes sans doute capable de voir ce que mille autres ne verroient pas et vous decouvrirez peut-estre des deffauts dans mon ouvrage qui ne seront aperceus que de vous seule il est vray que si la sublimite de vostre esprit me fait peur vostre extreme bonte 
 me r'assure et me fait mesme esperer que vous recevrez favorablement ce que vous presente avec toute l'humilite possible
 madame
 de vostre altesse
 le tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
 de scudery
 
 
 
 
 au lecteur
 le heros que vous allez voir n'est pas un de ces heros imaginaires qui ne sont que le beau songe d'un homme esveille et qui n'ont jamais este en l'estre des choses c'est un heros effectif mais un des plus grands dont l'histoire conserve le souvenir et dont elle ait jamais consacre la memoire immortelle a la glorieuse eternite c'est un prince que l'on a propose pour exemple a tous les princes ce qui fait bien connoistre qu'elle estoit la vertu de cyrus puis qu'un grec a pu se resoudre de louer tant un persan de faire tant d'honneur a une nation qui estoit ennemie irreconciliable de la sienne et contre laquelle xenophon avoit fait luy mesme de si belles actions enfin lecteur c'est un homme dont les oracles avoient parle comme d'un dieu tant ils en avoient promis de merveilles et dont les prophetes ont plustost fait des panegyriques que des predictions tant ils en ont avantageusement parle et tant ils ont esleve la gloire de cet invincible conquerant je vous dis tout cecy lecteur pour vous faire voir que si j'ay nomme mon livre le grand cyrus la vanite 
 ne m'a pas fait prendre ce superbe titre que par ce mot de grand je n'ay rien entendu qui me regarde comme il vous est aise de le connoistre puis qu'effectivement ce prince dont j'ay fait mon heros a este le plus grand prince du monde et que l'histoire l'a nomme grand comme moy et pour ses hautes vertus et pour le distinguer de l'autre cyrus qu'elle a appelle le moindre au reste lecteur je me suis si bien trouve des regles que j'ay suivies dans mon illustre bassa que je n'ay pas juge que je les deusse changer en composant ce second roman de force que pour ne redire pas deux fois les mesmes choses c'est a la preface de ce premier que je vous renvoye si vous voulez voir l'ordre que je suy en travaillant sur ces matieres je vous diray donc seulement que j'ay pris et que je prendray tousjours pour mes uniques modelles l'immortel heliodore et le grand urfe ce sont les seuls maistres que j'imite et les seuls qu'il faut imiter car quiconque s'ecartera de leur route s'egarera certainement puis qu'il n'en est point d'autre qui soit bonne que la leur au contraire est assuree et qu'elle mene infailliblement ou l'on veut aller je veux dire lecteur a la gloire comme xenophon a fait de cyrus l'exemple des rois j'ay tasche de ne luy faire rien dire ny rien faire qui fust indigne d'un homme si accomply et d'un prince si esleve que si je luy ay donne beaucoup d'amour l'histoire ne luy en a guere moins donne que moy la luy ayant fait tesmoigner mesme apres la mort de sa femme puis que pour faire voir combien il en estoit touche il ordonna un deuil public d'un an par tout son empire et puis lors que l'amour est innocente comme 
 la sienne l'estoit cette noble passion est plustost une vertu qu'une foiblesse puis qu'elle porte l'ame aux grandes choses et qu'elle est la source des actions les plus heroiques j'ay engage dans mon ouvrage presque toutes les personnes illustres qui vivoient au siecle de mon heros et vous verrez tant dans ces deux parties que dans toutes les autres jusques a la conclusion que je suy quasi par tout herodote xenophon justin zonare et diodore sicilien vous pourrez dis-je voir qu'encore qu'une fable ne soit pas une histoire et qu'il suffise a celuy qui la compose de s'attacher au vray-semblable sans s'attacher toujours au vray neantmoins dans les choses que j'ay inventees je ne suis pas si esloigne de tous ces autheurs qu'ils le sont tous l'un de l'autre car par exemple herodote decrit la guerre des scithes dont xenophon ne parle point et xenophon parle de celle d'armenie dont herodote ne dit pas un mot ils renversent de mesme l'ordre des guerres dont ils conviennent ensemble car celle de lydie precede celle d'assirie dans herodote et celle d'assirie precede celle de lydie dans xenophon l'un parle de la conqueste de l'egypte l'autre n'en fait mention aucune l'un fait exposer cyrus en naissant l'autre oublie une circonstance si remarquable l'un met l'histoire de panthee l'autre n'en parle en facon du monde l'un le fait mourir encore assez jeune l'autre fort vieux l'un dans une bataille l'autre dans son lict toutes choses directement opposees ainsi j'ay suivy tantost l'un et tantost l'autre selon qu'ils ont este plus ou moins propres a mon dessein et quelquefois 
 suivant leur exemple j'ay dit ce qu'ils n'ont dit ny l'un ny l'autre car apres tout c'est une fable que je compose et non pas une histoire que j'ecris que si cette raison ne satisfait pas pleinement les scrupuleux ils n'ont qu'a s'imaginer pour se mettre l'esprit en repos que mon ouvrage est tire d'un vieux manuscrit grec d'egesippe qui est dans la bibliotheque vaticane mais si precieux et si rare qu'il n'a jamais este imprime et ne le sera jamais voila lecteur tout ce que j'avois a vous dire 
 
 
 
 
 l'embrazement de la ville de sinope estoit si grand que tout le ciel toute la mer toute la plaine et le haut de toutes les montagnes les plus reculees en recevoient une impression de lumiere qui malgre l'obscurite de la nuit permettoit de distinguer toutes choses jamais objet ne fut si terrible que celuyla l'on voyoit tout a la fois vingt galeres qui brusloient dans le port et qui au milieu de l'eau dont elles estoient si proches ne laissoient pas de pousser des flames ondoyantes jusques aux nues ces flames estant agitees par un vent assez impetueux se courboient quelquefois 
 vers la plus grande partie de la ville qu'elles avoient desja toute embrazee et de laquelle elles n'avoient presque plus fait qu'un grand bucher l'on les voyoit passer d'un lieu a l'autre en un moment et par une funeste communication il n'y avoit quasi pas un endroit en toute cette deplorable ville qui n'esprouvast leur fureur tous les cordages et toutes les voilles des vaisseaux et des galeres se destachans toutes embrazees s'eslevoient affreusement en l'air et retomboient en estincelles sur toutes les maisons voisines quelques unes de ces maisons estant desja consumees cedoient a la violence de cet impitoyable vainqueur et tomboient en un instant dans les rues et dans les places dont elles avoient este l'ornement cette effroyable multitude de flames qui s'elevoient de tant de divers endroits et qui avoient plus ou moins de force selon la matiere qui les entretenoit sembloient faire un combat entr'elles a cause du vent qui les agitoit et qui quelques-fois les confondant et les separant sembloit faire voir en effet qu'elles se disputoient la gloire de destruire cette belle ville parmy ces flames esclattantes l'on voyoit encore des tourbillons de fumee qui par leur sombre couleur adjoustoient quelque chose de plus terrible a un si espouvantable objet et l'abondance des estincelles dont nous avons desja parle retombant a l'entour de cette ville comme une gresle enflamee faisoit sans doute que l'abord en estoit affreux au milieu de ce grand desordre et tout au plus bas de la ville 
 il y avoit un chasteau basty sur la cime d'un grand rocher qui s'avancoit dans la mer que ces flames n'avoient encore pu devorer et vers lequel toutefois elles sembloient s'eslancer a chaque moment parce que le vent les y poussoit avec violence il paroissoit que l'embrazement devoit avoir commence par le port puis que toutes les maisons qui le bordoient estoient les plus allumees et les plus proches de leur entiere ruine si toutefois il estoit permis de mettre quelque difference en un lieu ou l'on voyoit esclater par tout le feu et la flame parmy ces feux et parmy ces flames l'on voyoit pourtant encore quelques temples et quelques maisons qui faisoient un peu plus de resistance que les autres et qui laissoient encore assez voir de la beaute de leur structure pour donner de la compassion de leur inevitable ruine enfin ce terrible element detruisoit toutes choses ou faisoit voir ce qu'il n'avoit pas encore detruit si proche de l'estre qu'il estoit difficile de n'estre pas saisi d'horreur et de pitie par une veue si extraordinaire et si funeste ce fut par cet espouvantable objet que l'amoureux artamene apres estre sorty d'un valon tournoyant et couvert de bois a la teste de quatre mille hommes fut estrangement surpris aussi en parut-il si estonne qu'il s'arresta tout d'un coup et sans scavoir si ce qu'il voyoit estoit veritable et sans pouvoir mesme exprimer son estonnement par ses paroles il regarda cette ville il regarda le port il jetta les yeux sur cette mer qui paroissoit toute embrazee 
 par la reflexion qu'elle recevoit des nues que ce feu avoit toutes illuminees il regarda la plaine et les montagnes il tourna ses yeux vers le ciel et sans pouvoir ny parler ny marcher il sembloit demander a toutes ces choses si ce qu'il voyoit estoit effectif ou si ce n'estoit point une illusion hidaspe chrisante aglatidas araspe et feraulas qui estoient les plus proches de luy regardoient cet embrazement et n'osoient regarder artamene qui poussant enfin son cheval sur une petite eminence ou ils le suivirent vit et connut si distinctement que cette ville qui brusloit estoit celle-la mesme qu'il pensoit venir surprendre cette nuit par une intelligence qu'il y avoit afin d'en tirer sa princesse que le roy d'assirie y tenoit captive que tout d'un coup s'emportant avec une violence extreme quoy injustes dieux s'ecria t'il il est donc bien vray que vous avez consenti a la perte de la plus belle princesse qui fut jamais et que dans le mesmne temps que je croyois sa liberte infaillible vous me faites voir sa perte indubitable en disant cela il s'avanca encore un peu davantage et n'estant suivi que de chrisante et de feraulas helas mes amis leur dit il en commencant de galoper et commandant que tout le suivist quel pitoyable destin est le mien et a quel effroyable spectacle m'a t'on amene allons du moins allons mourir dans les mesmes flames qui ont fait perir nostre illustre princesse peut-estre poursuivoit il en luy mesme que ces flames que je voy viennent d'achever de reduire en cendre 
 mon adorable mandane mais que dis-je peut-estre non non ne mettons point nostre malheur en doute il est desja arrive et les dieux n'ont pas permis un si grand embrazement pour la sauver s'ils eussent voulu ne la perdre pas ils auroient sousleve les vagues de la mer pour esteindre ces cruelles flames et ne l'auroient pas mise en un si grand danger mais helas s'ecrioit il injuste rival n'as tu point songe a ta conservation plustost qu'a la sienne et n'as tu point cause sa perte par ta laschete si je voyois ma princesse adjoustoit il en se tournant vers chrisante entre les mains d'un prince a la teste de cent mille hommes et que ce prince la voulust sacrifier a mes yeux je ne serois pas si desespere j'aurois un ennemy que je pourrois du moins attaquer si je ne le pouvois vaincre mais icy je n'ay rien a faire qu'a m'aller jetter dans ces mesmes flames qui ont desja confume ma princesse en disant cela il s'avancoit encore davantage et apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler ha ciel s'ecrioit il tout d'un coup voyant qu'il n'y avoit que chrisante qui le peust entendre ne seroit-je point la cause de la mort de ma princesse n'est-ce point pour l'amour de moy qu'elle a elle mesme embraze cette ville plustost que de manquer de fidelite au malheureux artamene ha dieu s'il est ainsi je suis digne de mon infortune et je merite tous les maux que je ressens chrisante voyant qu'il avoit cesse de parler s'approcha de luy pour tascher de luy donner quelque legere consolation mais artamene 
 marchant tousjours et le regardant d'une maniere capable de donner de la compassion aux personnes les plus insensibles non non luy dit-il chrisante ce malheur n'est pas de ceux dont l'on peut estre console et je n'ay qu'une voye a prendre que je suivray sans doute bien tost ouy chrisante j'auray du moins cette funeste consolation que ce mesme feu qui a peut-estre brusle ma maistresse et mon rival qui a confondu l'innocence et le crime et qui m'a prive tout ensemble de l'objet de ma haine et de celuy de mon amour achevera encore de me detruire et meslera du moins mes cendres avec celles de mon adorable princesse en disant cela il sembloit avoir toutes les marques d'un prochain desespoir sur le visage sa voix avoit quelque chose de triste et de funeste et toutes ses actions tesmoignoient assez qu'il se preparoit a mourir cependant la pointe du jour venant a paroistre et l'approche du soleil diminuant quelque chose de l'horreur de cet embrazement parce que la mer la plaine et les montagnes reprenoient une partie de leurs couleurs naturelles la face de cette funeste scene changea en quelque facon et feraulas vit presque en mesme temps deux choses qu'il fit remarquer au mesme instant a son cher maistre seigneur luy dit-il ne voyez vous pas en mer une galere qui vogue et qui semble faire beaucoup d'effort pour s'esloigner de cette malheureuse ville et ne voyez vous pas encore comme quoy il semble que l'on ne songe qu'a esteindre 
 le feu qui s'approche de cette grosse tour qui est sur le portail du chasteau et que l'on abandonne tout le reste pour la conserver je voy l'un et l'autre respondit artamene je ne scay adjousta chrisante si ce n'est point une marque asseuree que la princesse n'a pas encore pery puis qu'il peut estre qu'elle est dans cette galere ou dans cette tour que les flames n'ont pas encore embrazee helas s'escria tout d'un coup artamene s'il estoit ainsi que je serois heureux de pouvoir conserver quelque espoir il s'approcha alors beaucoup plus pres de la ville et voyant effectivement qu'il y avoit plusieurs personnes qui taschoient d'empescher le feu d'approcher de cette tour travaille s'ecria t'il en redoublant sa course trop heureux rival travaille pour le salut de nostre princesse et sois asseure si tu la peux sauver de ce peril que je te pardonne tous les maux que tu m'as faits ce prince ne demeuroit pourtant pas long temps dans un mesme sentiment tantost il faisoit des voeux pour sa maistresse tantost des imprecations contre son rival un moment apres regardant cette galere et luy semblant y remarquer des femmes sur la poupe il s'en resjouissoit beaucoup puis venant a songer que quand ce seroit sa maistresse elle seroit tousjours perdue pour luy il rentroit dans son desespoir apres venant a considerer cette tour que la mer et les flames environnoient de toutes parts et venant a penser que peut-estre sa princesse estoit enfermee en ce lieu-la il changeoit de sentimens tout 
 d'un coup et ces mesmes troupes qui estoient venues pour detruire cette ville eurent commandement d'aider a en esteindre le feu artamene donc ne pouvant se resoudre de retourner sur ses pas envoya feraulas commander aux siens de marcher en diligence et de le suivre mais en approchant de sinope l'on sentoit un air si chaud et si embraze et l'on entendoit un bruit si espouvantable que tout autre qu'artamene n'auroit jamais entrepris d'y aller le mugissement de la mer le murmure du vent le petillement de la flame joint au bruit affreux de la chutte des maisons entieres qui crouloient de fonds en comble et a toutes les plaintes et a tous les cris que jettoient les mourants ou ceux que la peur d'une mort prochaine faisoit crier causoient une confusion espouventable de tous ces mugissemens dis-je de tous ces murmures de tous ces cris de toutes ces chuttes de maisons et de toutes ces plaintes il se formoit un bruit si lugubre et si esclatant que tous les echos des montagnes y respondans encore en formoient une harmonie tres-funeste s'il est permis d'appeller harmonie un retentissement si rempli de confusion cela n'empescha pourtant pas artamene de se faire entendre car estant desja assez proche de la ville en un lieu ou tous les siens l'avoient joint il se tourna vers eux et leur dit avec une affection inconcevable imaginez vous mes compagnons que c'est moy qui suis dans cette tour que c'est moy qui suis dans la necessite de perir parmy les eaux ou parmy 
 les flames et que c'est a moy enfin a qui vous allez sauver la vie ou pour mieux dire encore imaginez vous que vostre roy vostre princesse vos femmes vos peres et vos enfans sont enfermez dans cette tour avec artamene et y vont perir afin qu'estans poussez par des sentimens si tendres vous agissiez avec plus de courage et avec plus de diligence il faut mes compagnons il faut aujourd'huy faire ce qui n'a peut-estre jamais este fait il faut perdre nos ennemis et les sauver il faut les combattre d'une main et les secourir de l'autre et bref il faut faire toutes choses pour conserver une princesse qui doit estre vostre reine et qui merite de l'estre de toute la terre a ces mots chrisante araspe aglatidas et hidaspe qui commandoient chacun mille hommes en cette occasion s'approcherent d'artamene pour recevoir ses derniers ordres et feraulas qui estoit l'agent de l'entreprise et celuy qui avoit intelligence dans sinope et auquel artucas avoit promis de livrer une des portes de la ville cette mesme nuit fut aussi de ce conseil et ce fut luy qui dit qu'il ne faloit pas laisser d'agir de la mesme facon que si cette ville n'estoit pas embrazee et qu'ainsi sans chercher d'autres expediens il faloit sans doute marcher droit a la porte du temple de mars parce dit il que si par hazard cet embrazement n'a pas encore mis toute la ville en confusion par tout autre lieu que par celuy-la nous pourrions trouver de la resistance la coustume estant mesme en de semblables rencontres 
 de redoubler la garde de peur que l'incendie ne soit un artifice des ennemis ou au contraire nous sommes assurez de n'en trouver aucune par cet endroit car si artucas et les siens n'ont pas encore este devorez par les flames nous les trouverons prests a nous aider et s'ils ont peri aparemment nous ne trouverons la personne qui s'oppose a nostre passage cet aduis ayant este trouve raisonnable ils resolurent apres par quel lieu ils pourroient le plus commodement gagner le pied de la tour mais aglatidas leur fit remarquer que l'embrazement commencoit de diminuer du coste du port parce que des galeres et des vaisseaux estans plustost consumez que des maisons il faloit sans doute que le feu s'y esteignist plus tost qu'ailleurs et qu'ainsi il faloit prendre tout le long du port afin de n'avoir presque plus a se garantir que d'un coste et que par ce moyen ils pourroient arriver avec assez de facilite au pied de la tour artamene qui souhaittoit impatiemment d'y estre ne voulut contredire a rien de peur de les arrester davantage et se mit a marcher le premier commandant seulement aux siens de crier par toute la ville qu'ils ne venoient que pour sauver la princesse afin que ce peuple entendant un nom qui luy estoit si cher et si precieux peust faire moins de resistance et mettre moins d'obstacle a leur dessein ils marcherent donc et feraulas conduisant artamene qui avoit mis pied a terre aussi bien que tous ses capitaines a la porte du temple de mars ils y trouverent celuy qu'ils 
 cherchoient qui desespere qu'il estoit qu'artamene devst arriver car la veue de ce funeste embrazement l'avoit beaucoup retarde commencoit de ne songer plus qu'a se mettre a couvert de la violence des flames mais il n'eut pas plustost veu ceux qu'il attendoit qu'il fit ouvrir la porte ou il estoit peu accompagne parce que malgre luy une grande partie des siens estoit alle voir en quel estat estoient leurs maisons leurs peres leurs enfans ou leurs femmes ils n'eurent donc aucune peine a se rendre maistres de cette porte mais ils en eurent bien davantage a se garantir du feu qu'ils trouvoient par tout artamene en marchant dans ces rues toutes enflamees fut plusieurs fois expose a se voir accabler par la chutte des maisons et si cet objet luy avoit semble terrible par le dehors de la ville il luy sembla espouvantable par le dedans ils marchoient l'espee a la main droite et le bouclier a la gauche dont ils eurent plus de besoin de se servir pour repousser les charbons ardants qui tomboient de toutes parts sur leurs testes que pour recevoir les traits de leurs ennemis ce n'est pas que d'abord l'arrivee d'artamene ne redoublast les cris et l'estonnement parmy ce qui restoit de personnes vivantes dans cette ville et que ce heros n'en vist plusieurs qui estans occupez a esteindre le feu de leurs propres logemens ou a sauver leurs familles quittoient cet office charitable pour tascher de se rassembler et de faire quelque resistance mais ils ne trouvoient dans ce grand desordre ny 
 armes ny chefs ny compagnons capables de s'opposer a son passage l'on voyoit en un lieu des gens qui abatoient leurs propres maisons pour sauver celles de leurs voisins l'on en voyoit d'autres qui jettoient ce qu'ils avoient de plus precieux par les fenestres pour tascher d'en sauver au moins quelque chose l'on voyoit des meres qui sans se soucier ny de meubles ny de maisons s'enfuyoient les cheveux desja a demy bruslez avec leurs enfans seulement entre les bras enfin l'on voyoit des choses si pitoyables et si terribles tout ensemble que si artamene n'eust pas este emporte comme il l'estoit par une passion violente il se fust arreste a chaque pas pour les secourir tant ils estoient dignes de compassion et tant il estoit sensible a leur misere cependant il avancoit tousjours mais le bruit de sa venue l'ayant pourtant devance aribee gouverneur de sinope qui faisoit tous ses efforts pour empescher que le feu ne gagnast la tour et qui occupoit en ce lieu la meilleure partie de ce qui restoit de peuple et de soldats dans la ville ne le sceut pas plustost qu'il se trouva dans une inquietude inconcevable et dans une incertitude qu'on ne scauroit exprimer ne scachant s'il devoit aller combattre ou s'il devoit continuer de faire esteindre ce feu car disoit il que servira au roy d'assirie que je vainque s'il est vaincu par les flames mais que me servira t'il aussi a moy mesme d'esteindre ce feu adjoustoit il si je suis pris par artamene moy qui suis son plus grand ennemy moy qui ay trahy le roy mon maistre 
 moy qui ay servi a l'enlevement de la princesse sa fille et qui ay fait revolter ses peuples ha non non combattons artamene qui est aussi redoutable au roy d'assirie que le feu et que les flames et songeons a nostre conservation en pensant a celle d'autruy en disant cela il commanda a ceux qui esteignoient le feu et qui par des machines dont ils se servoient taschoient de luy couper chemin en abatant les maisons voisines ou il s'estoit attache de prendre des armes s'ils en avoient d'en aller chercher en diligence s'ils n'en avoient point ou de s'en faire de tout ce qu'ils rencontreroient et mesme du feu et des flames plustost que de ne le secourir pas apres donc qu'artamene eut traverse une partie de cette ville embrazee et qu'ayant marche tout le long du port il fut arrive proche de la tour il fut bien surpris de voir que personne ne travailloit plus pour esteindre le feu et qu'aribee s'avancoit pour le combattre quoy s'ecria-t'il je viens pour esteindre ces flames et ce sera moy qui empescheray qu'on ne les esteigne ha non non mes compagnons il ne le faut pas en disant cela il commanda a une partie de siens de songer a faire ce que les autres ne faisoient plus pendant qu'il combatroit ceux qui sembloient en avoir envie comme il estoit en cet estat et qu'il s'avancoit vers le gros a la teste duquel estoit aribee il leva les yeux vers le haut de la tour et y reconnut le roy d'assirie qui par une action toute desesperee sembloit n'avoir autre dessein que de choisir s'il 
 se jetteroit dans les flames ou dans la mer cette veue ayant encore confirme artamene dans la croyance que sa maistresse n'estoit pas morte il redoubla les commandemens qu'il avoit desja faits d'esteindre ce feu et marcha teste baissee vers ses ennemis qui venoient a luy avec assez de resolution comme il fut proche d'eux et qu'il reconnut distinctement qui estoit leur chef aribee luy cria t'il je ne viens pas aujourd'huy pour te combatre et pour te punir et il ne tiendra qu'a toy que je n'obtienne ton pardon du roy des medes si tu veux mettre les armes bas et m'ayder a sauver ta princesse et la mienne mais aribee qui croyoit son crime trop grand pour luy pouvoir estre jamais pardonne et qui de plus avoit appris une chose qu'artamene ignoroit encore au lieu de luy respondre s'eslanca vers luy l'espee haute et commenca un combat au milieu des feux et des flames qui n'estoit pas moins redoutable par ce qui tomboit d'enhaut que pour les coups qui partoient de la main d'un ennemy invincible que l'amour la haine et la vangeance rendoient encore plus vaillant qu'a 1'accoustumee quoy qu'il fust toujours le plus vaillant homme du monde hidaspe artucas chrisante aglatidas et araspe se rangerent aupres d'artamene car pour feraulas ce fut luy qui eut ordre de faire continuer d'esteindre le feu ainsi le roy d'assirie voyoit tout a la fois travailler a son falut et a sa perte vouloir sauver sa vie et vaincre celuy qui l'avoit servi encore disoit artamene en luy mesme et 
 en jettant les yeux vers le haut de la tour ou il voyoit tousjours son rival si ma princesse regardoit ce que je fais pour la sauver je serois bien moins malheureux et si j'estois asseure qu'elle vist ma mort ou ma victoire je n'aurois presque rien a desirer cependant la meslee se commence et se continue fort chaudement et sans qu'artamene cesse de fraper il ne laisse pas d'avoir soin de voir si feraulas fait bien executer ses ordres enfin dans cette confusion il s'attache en un combat particulier contre aribee qui fut dangereux et opiniastre car quoy que ce traistre eust en teste le plus redoutable des hommes le desespoir faisoit en luy ce que la valeur n'auroit pu faire en un autre neantmoins comme au contraire artamene combatoit alors avec espoir et qu'il estoit persuade qu'il n'y avoit plus que quelques murailles entre sa princesse et luy il fit des choses prodigieuses il tua tout ce qui s'opposa a son passage et blessa aribee en tant de lieux qu'enfin il se seroit sans doute resolu de se rendre si tout d'un coup une maison enflamee ne fust tombee si pres du lieu ou ils combatoient qu'aribee en fut enseveli sous ses ruines et l'on creut qu'il avoit peri par le fer et par le feu pour expier une rebellion criminelle qui meritoit tous les deux ensemble artamene qui n'avoit pu estre blesse par son ennemy pensa estre accable en cette rencontre et se vit tout couvert de flame tout environne de charbons et de fumee et s'il n'eust mis son bouclier sur sa teste il estoit infailliblement 
 perdu toute sa cotte d'armes en fut a demy bruslee et peu s'en falut qu'il ne perist en cette rencontre la chutte de cette maison fit qu'il s'esleva en l'air une poussiere si espaisse une fumee si noire et une nuee d'estincelles si bruslantes que l'on fut quelque temps sans pouvoir rien voir de tout ce qui se passoit en ce lieu la ce qui surprit artamene en cette occasion fut que lors que cette maison embrazee tomba aribee qui a ce qu'on pouvoit juger par son action avoit eu dessein de se rendre s'estoit recule de quatre ou cinq pas si bien que par la il sembloit estre alle au devant de ce qui le devoit accabler et par un miracle de la fortune artamene qui le touchoit de la pointe de son espee ne se trouva pourtant point engage sous ces perilleuses ruines apres cet accident tout ce qui le secondoit s'estonna et s'enfuit et nostre heros faisant crier et leur criant luy mesme qu'il venoit pour les servir et qu'il ne vouloit point leur perte les obligea enfin a jetter leurs armes et a se fier en la parole d'un vainqueur qui'ls avoient autre-fois tant ayme ainsi en fort de peu temps tout le monde se trouva d'un mesme parti et artamene encourageant les siens et leur monstrant par son exemple ce qu'il faloit faire pour esteindre le feu ce peuple fut ravi de voir de charitables ennemis ils abatirent des maisons avec des beliers ils employerent leurs boucliers a jetter de l'eau sur tout ce qui tomboit d'enflame de peur que cela n'embrazast ce qui ne l'estoit pas encore 
 et enfin ils n'oublierent rien de tout ce qu'ils jugerent qui pouvoit servir tous les chefs firent des miracles en cette journee mais entre les autres aglatidas sembloit avoir eu dessein de chercher plustost la mort que la victoire tant il s'estoit courageusement expose a la fureur des flames et au desespoir des ennnemis cependant artamene voyant que le feu commencoit de diminuer se resjouissoit en luy mesme dans l'esperance qu'il avoit de revoir bien tost sa chere princesse elle est disoit-il en son coeur dans cette tour et si je ne suis le plus malheureux des hommes je verray dans quelques moments cette adorable personne et j'entendray peut-estre sa belle bouche m'appeller son liberateur enfin disoit il encore je verray bien tost l'objet de ma haine et de mon amour en effet le feu ayant este esteint de ce coste la et estant arrive a la porte de la tour qui commencoit desja de s'embrazer il envoya s'asseurer de toutes les portes de la ville mais comme il voulut faire enfoncer celle de cette tour ne scachant s'il n'y trouveroit point encore quelque resistance il vit un homme de fort bonne mine qui la luy ouvrit et qui au lieu de luy en disputer l'entree comme il eust fait s'il ne l'eust pas reconnu auparavant du haut des creneaux luy dit avec beaucoup de respect seigneur si le nom de thrasibule n'est pas sorti de vostre memoire accordez luy la grace d'employer vostre authorite pour empescher la perte d'une illustre personne 
 que le desespoir va sans doute faire perir sur le haut de cette tour si vous ne m'aydez a la secourir promptement artamene qui creut que c'estoit sa princesse qui estoit en cette extremite ne s'amusa pas a faire un long compliment au genereux thrasibule qu'il reconnut d'abord a la voix allons mon ancien vainqueur dit il a ce fameux pirate qui n'avoit point deguise son veritable nom parce qu'estant fort commun parmi les grecs il ne pouvoit pas le faire reconnoistre allons secourir cette personne illustre et en disant ces paroles avec assez de precipitation il monta l'escalier suivi de grand nombre des siens mais particulierement d'hidaspe de chrisante d'aglatidas de thrasibule et de feraulas et tous excepte thrasibule estoient estonnez de ne rencontrer point de soldats dans cette tour et de n'en voir point dans le reste du chasteau araspe par les ordres d'artamene demeura a la porte avec ses compagnons afin de ne s'exposer pas mal a propos a quelque surprise ce prince donc impatient de revoir sa maistresse marche le premier et devancant les autres d'assez loing arrive au haut de cette tour mais helas quel desplaisir et quel estonnement fut le sien lors qu'au lieu d'y voir sa princesse il n'y vit que le roy d'assirie c'est a dire le ravisseur de mandane son rival et son ennemi mais un ennemi sans armes et accable de douleur artamene se tourna alors vers thrasibule comme pour luy demander si c'estoit la cette illustre personne 
 dont il luy avoit voulu parler et voyant que tous ceux qui l'avoient suivi vouloient aussi estre sur le haut de cette tour et prevoyant que sa conversation avec le roy d'assirie ne seroit pas d'un stile a estre escoutee de tant de monde il leur fit signe qu'ils se retirassent se preparant a demander ou estoit sa princesse croyant encore qu'elle pouvoit estre dans un apartement plus bas ou en quelque autre lieu du chasteau mais il fut bien surpris d'entendre que le roy d'assirie luy dit tu vois artamene tu vois un prince bien plus malheureux que toy puis qu'il est la cause de son malheur et du tien mais tu peux voir en mesme temps adjousta t'il en luy monstrant une galere qui paroissoit en mer et qui n'estoit pas encore fort esloignee parce qu'elle avoit le vent contraire un autre ravisseur de nostre princesse bien plus criminel que moy puis qu'il m'avoit promis une amitie inviolable et que je ne t'avois jamais fait esperer nulle part en mon affection quoy s'ecria alors artamene en regardant cette galere et ne regardant plus son ennemi la princesse n'est plus en tes mains non luy respondit le roy d'assirie en soupirant le prince mazare le plus infidelle de tous les hommes me l'enleve et t'oste le plus doux fruit de ta victoire mais puis que tu ne peux satisfaire ton amour par la veue de ta princesse satisfaits du moins ta haine par la vangeance que tu peux prendre de ton rival tu vois que je ne suis pas en estat de t'en empescher et si j'avois pu ne suivre 
 pas des yeux cette galere tant qu'elle paroistra le long de cette coste il y auroit desja long temps que je me serois jette dans la mer ou dans les flames pour achever mes mal-heurs et pour ne tomber pas entre les mains de mon ennemi les ennemis d'artamene luy respondit ce genereux afflige n'ont rien a craindre de luy que lors qu'ils ont les armes a la main et l'estat ou je te voy te met a couvert de ma haine et de mon ressentiment a ces mots artamene se sentit si accable de douleur que jamais personne ne le fut davantage il voyoit sa maistresse une seconde fois enlevee et ne pouvoit la suivre ny la secourir puis que tous les vaisseaux et toutes les galeres qui estoient dans le port ayant peri par les flames il n'estoit pas en sa puissance de suivre ce dernier ravisseur pour le punir il voyoit d'autre coste ton premier rival en son pouvoir mais il le voyoit seul et sans armes et sans autre dessein que celuy de songer a mourir en ce pitoyable estat desespere qu'il estoit par une affliction sans egale comme sans remede il y avoit des momens ou sa generosite n'estoit assez sorte pour l'empescher de penser a satisfaire en quelque facon sa vangeance par la perte de son rival il y en avoit d'autres aussi ou il n'en vouloit qu'a sa propre vie et dans cette cruelle incertitude de sentimens ne scachant ce qu'il devoit faire ny mesme ce qu'il vouloit faire il entendit le roy d'assirie qui luy cria tu vois artamene tu vois que la fortune te favorise en toutes choses que le vent s'estant renforce 
 repousse cette galere vers le rivage et que peut-estre bien tost tu reverras ta princesse artamene regardant alors vers la mer vit effectivement que par la violence d'un vent contraire cette galere c'estoit si fort raprochee que l'on pouvoit facilement distinguer des femmes qui paroissoient sur la poupe et remarquer en mesme temps qu'avec un prodigieux et vain effort la chiurme faisoit ce que les mariniers appellent passe-vogue pour resister aux vagues et aux vents et pour s'esloigner de la terre a force de rames a cet instant l'on vit de la joye dans les yeux d'artamene mais pour le roy d'assirie l'on ne vit que de la douleur et du desespoir dans les siens scachant bien que quand le vent repousseroit cette galere dans le port ce ne seroit qu'a l'avantage d'artamene et que ce ne pouvoit estre au sien il s'imaginoit pourtant quelque espece de consolation dans l'esperance qu'il concevoit de pouvoir punir mazare ne me permettras tu pas dit il a artamene si les dieux te redonnent ta princesse de t'espargner la peine de chastier ton ravisseur et ne souffriras tu pas que pour faire ce combat l'on me donne une espee que je te promets de passer un moment apres ma victoire au travers de mon coeur afin de te laisser jouir en paix d'un bon heur que je te disputerois toujours tant que je serois en vie cette vangeance me doit estre reservee reprit artamene et puis que par le respect que je porte au roy d'assirie desarme et malheureux je 
 me prive du plaisir de me vanger de luy il faut du moins que je me reserve celuy de punir mazare et de sa perfidie etde sa temerite apres cela ces deux rivaux sans se souvenir presque plus de leur haine se mirent a regarder l un et l'autre cette galere et faisant tantost des voeux et tantost des imprecations comme s'ils n'eussent eu qu'un mesme interest il y avoit des momens ou l'on eust dit qu'ils estoient amis tant cet objet dominant attachoit leurs yeux leurs esprits et leurs pensees mais enfin ils virent que tout d'un coup la mer changea de couleur que ses vagues s'esleverent et que grossissant encore en un moment elles portoient tantost la galere dans les cieux et tantost elles l'enfoncoient dans les abismes cette triste veue faisant alors un mesme effet dans ces coeurs egalement passionnez artamene regarda le roy d'assirie avec une douleur inconcevable et le roy d'assirie regarda artamene avec un desespoir que l'on ne scauroit exprimer ce fut alors que l'egalite de leur malheur suspendit tous leurs autres sentimens et qu'ils esprouverent tout ce que l'amour peut faire esprouver de douloureux et de sensible ils voyoient que si le vent continuoit de souffler du coste qu'il estoit cette galere se viendroit infailliblement briser contre le pied de la tour ou ils estoient si bien que faisant des voeux tous contraires a ceux qu'ils avoient faits un peu auparavant ils desiroient que le vent secondast les voeux du ravisseur et qu'il l'esloignast de la terre cependant la tempeste se redoubla 
 et selon le caprice et l'inconstance de la mer le vent ayant par des tourbillons qui s'entre-choquoient este quelque temps en balance comme s'il n'eust pu determiner de quel coste il devoit se ranger tout d'un coup il esloigna la galere de la ville et luy fit raser la coste avec tant de vistesse que ces deux rivaux la perdirent de veue en un instant et perdirent avec elle tout ce qui leur restoit d'esperance voyant tousjours durer l'orage aussi fort qu'auparavant que ne dirent point apres cela ces deux illustres malheureux dans la crainte qu'ils avoient voyant continuer la tempeste que leur princesse ne fist naufrage ils eussent bien voulu pouvoir separer mazare de mandane et ne luy donner point de part aux voeux qu'ils faisoient pour elle mais apres tout ils consentoient au salut du rival plus tost que de se consentir a la perte de la maistresse ils se la souhaiterent mesme plus d'une fois l'un a l'autre plustost que de la scavoir exposee au danger ou elle estoit et plus d'une fois aussi ils se repentirent de leurs propres souhaits cependant cet objet qui avoit comme suspendu toutes leurs passions et toutes leurs pensees n'estant plus devant leurs yeux ils recommencerent de se regarder comme auparavant c'est a dire comme deux rivaux et comme deux ennemis artamene estoit pres de s'en aller et de commander que l'on gardast le roy d'assirie lors que ce prince luy dit je scay bien que ta naissance est egale a la mienne et je le scay par des voyes si differentes et si asseurees que je n'en 
 scaurois douter c'est pourquoy me confiant en cette generosite de laquelle j'ay este si souvent le secret admirateur malgre ma haine et que j'ay si souvent esprouvee je veux croire encore que tu ne me refuseras pas une grace que je te veux demander comme a mon rival luy respondit artamene je te dois refuser toute chose mais comme au roy d'assirie je te dois accorder tout ce qui n'offensera point le roy que je sers ou la princesse sa fille c'est pourquoy fois asseure que je ne te refuseray rien de tout ce qui ne choquera point ny mon honneur ny mon amour et je t'en engage la parole d'un homme qui comme tu dis n'est pas de naissance inegale a la tienne quoy qu'il ne passe pas pour cela dans l'opinion de toute la terre demande donc ce que tu voudras mais consulte auparavant ta propre vertu pour ne forcer pas la mienne a te refuser malgre elle le roy d'assirie voyant qu'il avoit cesse de parler je scay bien luy dit il que tu peux me remettre entre les mains de ciaxare et qu'apres luy avoir conquis la meilleure partie de mon royaume il te seroit en quelque facon avantageux de luy en remettre le roy dans ses fers mais tu es trop brave pour vouloir que la fortune t'ayde a triompher d'un homme fait comme moy et pour te prevaloir de la captivite d'un rival que tu ne scaurois croire qu'homme de coeur puis qu'il a desja mesure ton espee avec la tienne dans les termes ou est ma passion pour la princesse 
 je ne te celle pas qu'il faut de necessite que je meure avant que tu la possedes ne me prive donc pas inutilement de la gloire d'avoir contribue quelque chose a la punition de nostre ennemy commun et a la liberte de la princesse te promettant apres cela quand mesme le destin me seroit favorable et me feroit retrouver l'illustre mandane de ne songer jamais a la persuader a ton prejudice que par un combat particulier le fort des armes n'ait decide de nostre fortune je voy bien artamene adjousta t'il que ce que je veux est difficile mais si ton ame n'estoit capable que des choses aisees tu serois indigne d'estre mon rival il est vray reprit artamene qu'il ne m'est pas aise de faire ce que tu desires et qu'il me fera bien plus facile de terminer nos differens te faisant redonner une espee que de t'accorder cette liberte que tu me demandes et qui n'est pas peut-estre tant en mon pouvoir que tu le crois comme mon amour n'est pas moins sorte que la tienne reprit le roy d'assirie peut-estre que le desir de combattre n'est pas moins violent dans mon coeur que dans celuy d'artamene mais comme je ne veux combattre artamene que pour la possession de la princesse et qu'elle n'est pas en estat de pouvoir estre le prix du vainqueur il faut artamene il faut aller apres le ravisseur de mandane et travailler conjointement a sa liberte y ayant egal interest ne consideres tu point que si nous perissions tous deux dans ce combat 
 mandane l'illustre mandane demeureroit sans protection et sans deffence entre les mains de nostre rival a ces mots artamene s'arresta un moment puis reprenant la parole il ne seroit sans doute pas juste dit il d'exposer nostre princesse a un semblable malheur mais il n'est pas equitable non plus que commandant les armes du roy des medes je dispose souverainement de la liberte d'un prisonnier comme est le roy d'assirie tout ce que je puis avec honneur c'est de luy promettre d'employer tous mes soins et tout mon credit pour la luy faire rendre s'il m'est possible et de n'oublier rien pour cela mais pour luy tesmoigner adjousta t'il que je ne veux pas m'espargner la peine qui se rencontre a combattre un si redoutable ennemy ny m'en exempter laschement en le retenant prisonnier je veux bien luy engager ma parole de ne pretendre jamais rien a la possession de la princesse quand mesme elle seroit en ma puissance quand mesme le roy des medes y consentiroit et quand mesme elle le voudroit qu'auparavant par un combat particulier le sort des armes ne m'ait rendu son vainqueur je ne scaurois nier luy dit le roy d'assirie que vous n'ayez raison d'en user comme vous faites et que je n'aye eu tort de vous faire cette demande mais advouant que vous estes plus sage que moy confessez aussi que je suis plus amoureux que vous puis que je le suis jusques a perdre la raison que vous conservez toute entiere 
 je vous disputeray luy repliqua artamene cette derniere qualite bien plus opiniastrement que l'autre le roy d'assirie le supplia alors sans luy repliquer de se souvenir que peut-estre ne seroit il pas inutile pour la liberte de la princesse et qu'ainsi par cette seule raison il le conjuroit de travailler pour la sienne a ces mots artamene se retira apres avoir mis le roy d'assirie sous la garde d'araspe luy ordonnant de le traiter avec tout le respect et toute la civilite possible et de le mener a son apartement accoustume le roy d'assirie l'entendant respondit que ce devoit estre le sien mais artamene ne le voulut pas et s'en separant a l'instant mesme il s'en alla dans toutes les rues pour tenir le peuple en son devoir et pour faire achever d'esteindre le feu
 
 
 
 
il envoya tout le long des cistes pour voir si l'on n'apprendroit rien de la galere qui avoit enleve sa princesse et il depescha un des siens vers ciaxare pour l'advertir de ce qui s'estoit passe enfin il employa tout le reste du jour a donner ses ordres et le soir estant venu il se retira dans le mesme apartement que sa princesse avoit occupe a ce qu'il sceut par thrasibule auquel artamene fit toute la civilite que l'extreme inquietude ou il estoit luy put permettre de luy faire il sceut qu'estant arrive seulement depuis un jour dans ce port pour y faire radouber ses vaisseaux qui avoient este battus de la tempeste le roy d'assirie l'y avoit fort bien receu et l'avoit oblige 
 de loger dans le chasteau ou il avoit veu la princesse de medie mais que la nuit derniere l'on avoit entendu tout d'un coup le bruit que faisoient les vaisseaux embrazez qui en suite avoient mis le feu aux maisons voisines qu'a ce bruit le roy d'assirie ayant voulu prendre son espee ne l'avoit plus trouvee a sa place et qu'ayant voulu aller a l'apartement de la princesse il l'avoit trouve ferme et n'avoit trouve aucun des soldats qui avoient accoustume de garder le chasteau qu'aussi tost il avoit appelle quelques uns des siens qui avoient ouvert par force cet apartement et qui n'y avoient trouve personne que cependant ayant voulu faire sortir tous les domestiques et voulu sortir luy mesme il luy avoit este impossible a cause de l'embrazement et que depuis cela il avoit toujours este sur le haut de cette tour a considerer son infortune resolu a tous les momens de se jetter dans la mer ou dans les flames thrasibule n'en pouvoit pas dire d'avantage car il n'y avoit encore qu'un jour qu'il estoit arrive a sinope il laissa donc artamene dans cet apartement apres que ce prince l'eut asseure en s'en separant qu'il auroit soing de le faire recompenser par le roy de la perte de ses vaisseaux que le feu avoit devorez le louant infiniment de sa moderation luy qui dans un accident tant inopine ne s'amusoit point a des regrets inutiles et souffroit en homme de coeur une perte si considerable artamene 
 passa la nuit avec des inquietudes que l'on ne scauroit concevoir voicy disoit il en luy mesme le lieu de la persecution de ma princesse et voicy peut-estre l'endroit ou elle s'est souvenue de moy avec douleur et ou peut-estre elle a regrette le malheureux artamene du moins scay-je bien qu'elle en a parle car par quelle autre voye le roy d'assirie auroit il pu scavoir qu'artamene n'est pas veritablement artamene moy qui dans le temps que je l'ay veu a la cour de capadoce ne le croyois estre que philidaspe c'est a dire un simple chevalier tel qu'il se disoit quoy que je fusse pour le moins aussi amoureux que luy et par consequent aussi difficile a tromper mais helas adorable princesse pourquoy faut il que je fois dans vostre prison que vostre persecuteur soit icy et que vous n'y soyez pas je tiens un rival que je ne puis punir je pers une maistresse que je ne puis sauver et sa beaute qui fait tout mon bon-heur et toute sa gloire fait aussi toute mon infortune et tout son mal-heur elle luy donne des adorateurs mais des adorateurs sans respect et en quelque lieu qu'elle aille elle me donne des rivaux et des ennemis ha beaux yeux s'ecrioit il comme est-il possible que vous inspiriez des sentimens si injustes et si dereglez vous dis-je qui n'avez jamais porte dans mon coeur que de la crainte et de la veneration moy qui n'ay presque jamais ose vous dire que je vous aymois moy qui ne vous ay regarde qu'en tremblant moy qui vous ay si long 
 temps adorez en secret et moy dis-je enfin qui serois plustost mort mille fois que de vous faire voir dans mes actions la moindre chose qui vous peust desplaire cependant vous avez embraze des coeurs indignes de vous et des coeurs qui sans considerer ce qu'ils vous doivent n'ont considere que ce qui leur plaist cependant je ne scaurois me repentir de ma respectueuse passion et je ne scay si tout malheureux que je suis si tout esloigne que je me trouve de ma princesse je n'aime pas encore mieux estre artamene que d'estre mazare ce n'est pas poursuivit il qu'il ne soit heureux dans son crime car enfin il la voit il luy parle et il luy parle de sa passion mais sans doute aussi qu'elle luy respond avec mepris et que les mesmes yeux qui sont son plaisir et sa gloire sont aussi sa peine et son chastiment par les marques de leur colere en un mot je pense que j'ayme mieux estre innocent dans le coeur de ma princesse qu'estre seulement a ses pieds comme un criminel mais ciel adjoustoit il tout d'un coup qui m'a dit que cette tempeste qui s'est eslevee et qui dure encore ne l'aura pas fait perir et de quelles flateuses pensees laissez-je entretenir mon espoir dans l'incertitude ou j'en suis comme il en estoit la il entendit un bruit assez grand et chrisante estant entre dans sa chambre seigneur luy dit-il l'on delivre le roy d'assirie ou pour mieux dire on l'a desja delivre araspe ayant entendu quelque bruit dans la chambre du roy prisonnier ou par respect il n'avoit pas voulu coucher l'a ouverte et ne l'y a 
 plus trouve a l'instant mesme nous sommes sortis nous avons cherche et nous avons veu que sous une fenestre qui respond vers une maison bruslee un amas de ruines et de cendres a comble le fosse du chateau en cet endroit et a esleve un grand monceau de ces matieres fumantes a la faveur duquel nous jugeons que ce prince s'est sauve artamene surpris d'une nouvelle si fascheuse envoya promptement ses ordres a toutes les portes de sinope et fut luy mesme en personne pour tascher de retrouver son prisonnier mais durant qu'il estoit a un des bouts de la ville il sceut qu'une troupe de gens armez paroissoit a l'autre et qu'ils taschoient de se rendre maistres de la porte il y courut aussi tost mais il y arriva trop tard car le roy d'assirie estoit desja sorti et avoit force le corps de garde il y avoit pourtant encore quelques uns des siens commandez par aribee que l'on avoit creu mort et qui s'estoit retire de dessous ces ruines qui l'avoient enseveli qui pour donner temps au roy d'assirie de se sauver rendoient encore avec luy quelque combat malgre les blessures que ce perfide avoit desja receues mais artamene ne l'eut pas plustost reconnu qu'il luy dit traistre tu es donc ressuscite pour trahir encore une fois ton maistre mais si tu veux echaper de mes mains il faut que les tiennes m'ostent la vie en disant cela il fut a luy avec une impetuosite si grande qu'aribee quoy que courageux fut contraint de lascher le pied ce ne fut neantmoins reculer sa perte que d'un moment 
 car artamene le pressa de telle sorte qu'il ne songea plus qu'a parer les coups qu'il luy portoit cedant visiblement a la valeur d'un homme qui ne combatoit gueres sans vaincre il luy donna donc enfin un si grand coup d'espee a travers le corps au deffaut de sa cuirasse qu'il l'abatit a ses pieds la il advoua avant qu'expirer que s'estant retire de dessous ces ruines il avoit rassemble tout ce qu'il avoit pu des siens qu'il avoit fait cacher parmi ces maisons bruslees et qu'ayant sceu en quel apartement estoit le roy d'assirie il avoit este au commencement de la nuit monter sur cet amas de cendres et de bois a demi consume faire quelque bruit a la fenestre de ce prince pour l'obliger a y regarder et que la chose luy ayant succede il l'avoit fait sauver par cette fenestre a ces mots cet infidelle perdit la parole et la vie et tous ses compagnons le voyant en cet estat prirent aussi tost la suite mais artamene fut contraint de ne poursuivre pas davantage un prince que l'obscurite de la nuit deroboit facilement a ses soins comme il s'en fut retourne au chasteau il depescha vers ciaxare pour l'advertir de cet accident et s'occupa tout le reste de la nuit a considerer le caprice de sa fortune et de son malheur repassant donc tout ce qui luy estoit arrive il s'estonnoit quelquesfois qu'une vie aussi peu avancee que la sienne eust desja este subjette a tant d'evenemens extraordinaires et se promenant seul dans sa chambre car il n'avoit pu se 
 resoudre de se remettre au lit il apperceut sur la table des tablettes de feuilles de palmier assez magnifiques mais helas quelle surprise fut la sienne lors qu'en les ouvrant il vit qu'il y avoit quelque chose qui estoit escrit de la main de sa princesse il les regarde de plus pres il parcourt en un moment toutes ces precieuses lignes et apres s'estre fortement confirme en l'opinion que c'estoit elle qui les avoit tracees il lut distinctement ces paroles
 
 
 a princesse mandane au roy d'assirie 
 
 
 souvenez vous seigneur que vous m'avez dit plus de cent fois que rien ne pouvoit resister a mandane afin que vous en souvenant vous n'accusiez pas le genereux mazare d'une infidelite que mes larmes mes prieres et mes plaintes luy ont persuade de commettre sans qu'il ait autre interest en ma liberte que celuy que la vertu inspire aux ames bien nees en faveur des personnes malheureuses resoluez vous donc a luy pardonner un crime qui a parler raisonnablement vous est en quelque facon avantageux puis qu'il vous oste les moyens d'attirer mon aversion par les tesmoignages que vous me donnez de vostre amour scachez donc que je protegeray dans la cour du roy mon pere celuy qui m'a protegee dans la vostre et que c'est par le pardon de mazare que vous pouvez obtenir le vostre de la princesse de medie et 
 trouver quelque place en son estime n'en pouvant jamais avoir en son affection 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
artamene achevant de lire ce billet se repentit de tout ce qu'il avoit dit et pense contre mazare et admirant sa generosite il faisoit autant de voeux pour son falut qu'il en avoit fait pour sa perte que les apparences sont trompeuses disoit il et qu'il y a de temerite a juger des sentimens d'autruy a moins que d'en estre pleinement informe qui n'eust pas dit que mazare estoit le plus criminel des hommes et que l'infidelite qu'il avoit eue pour le roy d'assirie ne pouvoit avoir d'autre cause qu'une injuste amour cependant il se trouve que la pitie et la compassion sont les veritables motifs qui l'ont fait agir et il n'a pas tenu a luy que je ne fois parfaitement heureux mais adjoustoit il si la tempeste a espargne sa galere comme je le veux esperer mon bon heur ne me fera pas long temps differe et je n'auray bien tost plus d'autre desplaisir que celuy de n'avoir rien contribue a la liberte de ma princesse et d'estre arrive trop tard pour la delivrer mais qu'importe poursuivoit il par quelles mains le bon heur nous arrive pourveu que nous le recevions jouissons donc de cette esperance et disposons nous a estre l'ami de mazare et a le proteger contre le roy d'assirie apres un semblable raisonnement il se mit a relire ce que la princesse de medie avoit escrit et apres l'avoir releu diverses fois il se mit 
 a regarder s'il n'y avoit plus rien dans ces tablettes mais helas il y trouva ce qu'il ne croyoit pas y rencontrer c'estoit un billet de mazare au roy d'assirie qui estoit conceu en ces termes
 
 
 mazare prince des saces au roy d'assirie 
 
 
 bien loing de vous cacher mon crime je veux vous le descouvrir aussi grand qu'il est je ne vous fais pas seulement une infidelite je trompe encore la personne du monde pour laquelle j'ay le plus de veneration qui est sans doute la princesse mandane elle croit que je songe a la soulager dans ses malheurs lors que je ne pense qu'a diminuer les miens enfin je suis coupable envers elle comme envers vous et je le suis encore envers moy mesme puis que selon toutes les apparences je fais un crime inutilement mais qu'y ferois-je l'amour m'y force et m'y contraint et je ne me suis pas rendu sans combatre si vous estes veritablement genereux vous me plaindrez si non vous chercherez les voyes de vous vanger sans que je m'en plaigne je vous declare toutefois que je seray assez bien puni par mandane puis qu'artamene est assez bien dans son coeur pour en deffendre l'entree et a vous et a moy et a tous les princes de la terre et pour me punir de tout ce que je fais malgre que j'en aye et contre vous et contre l'exacte generosite 
 
 
 mazare 
 
 
 que vois-je dit alors artamene et que ne dois-je point craindre de voir je pense avoir trouve un ami et un moment apres je retrouve un rival et un rival encore qui peut-estre a employe mon nom pour abuser ma princesse et pour l'enlever mais genereuse princesse puis-je esperer pour me consoler que je fois aussi bien dans ton coeur que mazare tesmoigne le croire ha s'il est ainsi fortune que je suis heureux et malheureux tout ensemble heureux de posseder un honneur que tous les rois de la terre ne scauroient jamais meriter et malheureux d'avoir quelque droit a un thresor dont la possession m'est deffendue le destin capricieux qui regle mes avantures ne me montre jamais aucun bien que pour m'en rendre la privation plus sensible je ne connois la douceur que pour mieux gouster l'amertume et je n'aprens que je suis aime que lors que par l'exces de mes infortunes je suis contraint de hair la vie et de souhaiter la mort comme il en estoit la on luy vint dire que l'on n'avoit rien appris de cette galere ou estoit la princesse le long du rivage de la mer ce qui le consola en quelque facon dans la peur ou il estoit qu'elle n'eust fait un triste naufrage et ce qui l'obligea a souffrir la veue de tous les chefs qui l'avoient suivi hidaspe chrisante aglatidas araspe feraulas et thrasibule cet illustre grec entrerent tous dans sa chambre ou artamene ayant entretenu ce dernier en particulier luy dit qu'il estoit bien 
 fasche de ne pouvoir aussi promptement qu'il l'eust desire luy rendre d'autres vaisseaux mais que s'il estoit vray qu'il ne courust la mer que pour se mettre en seurete de ses ennemis ainsi qu'on le luy avoit dit il l'assuroit de luy faire trouver un azile inviolable a la cour du roy des medes et de l'obliger mesme a le remettre dans son estat aussi tost qu'il auroit retrouve la princesse sa fille thrasibule le remercia fort civilement de cette offre obligeante et l'accepta ne pouvant faire autre chose en un temps ou il n'avoit point a choisir joint que la valeur et les rares qualitez d'artamene luy avoient donne tant d'amour des la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit connu qu'il estoit presque console de sa disgrace par une si heureuse rencontre artamene donc luy faisant beaucoup d'honneur sortit avec luy et avec tous ces autres chefs et fut par les rues de cette ville ou le feu estoit veritablement esteint mais ou la desolation n'estoit pas passee cette noirceur espouvantable qui paroissoit par tout ces poutres a demi bruslees et tous ces bastimens ruinez inspiroient quelque chose de si lugubre dans l'imagination qu'il eust este difficile de pouvoir rien penser que de triste en un lieu qui paroissoit si funeste l'on y voyoit diverses personnes qui parmi les cendres de leurs maisons cherchoient leurs thresors fondus et l'on en voyoit d'autres qui poussez par un sentiment plus tendre cherchoient sous ces ruines a demy consumees les os de leurs parens ou de leurs 
 amis artamene touche par des objets si tristes consola tous ceux qui se trouverent sur son passage et promit aux habitans en general malgre leur rebellion d'obliger le roy a faire rebastir leur ville feraulas presenta alors un homme a artamene qui luy donna une lettre de la part du roy d'assirie il la prit et l'ayant leue tout bas il trouva ces paroles lors qu'il eut rompu les cachets des tablettes de cire ou elles estoient gravees
 
 
 le roy d'assirie a artamene 
 
 
 je loue cette scrupuleuse vertu qui vous a force de n'escouter pas vostre generosite elle qui auroit sans doute este bien aise d'accorder la liberte a un ennemy qui vous la demandoit si elle eust pu consentir que vous eussiez un peu manque a ce que vous deviez au roy des medes mais comme je suis equitable envers vous ne soyez pas injuste envers moy et ne blasmez pas un prince qui ne se seroit pas sauve si vous l'aviez laisse sur sa foy et qui n'a pas creu faire un crime de s'echaper de ses gardes pour tascher de delivrer nostre princesse pour vous tesmoigner qu'en rompant ma prison je n'ay pas rompu les conditions de nostre traite je vous promets tout de nouveau de vous advertir de toutes choses de ne faire plus la guerre contre le roy des medes de luy envoyer des troupes et ce qui est le plus difficile a executer je vous promets 
 encore une fois de ne parler jamais de ma passion a la princesse quand mesme ce seroit moy qui la delivrerois que vostre deffaite ne m'en ait donne la liberte faites ce que je feray et gardez la fidelite a un ennemi si vous voulez qu'il vous la garde 
 
 
 le roy d'assirie 
 
 
artamene leut cette lettre avec joye et avec chagrin tout ensemble il estoit bien aise de la promesse que le roy d'assirie luy faisoit car enfin la princesse pouvoit aussi tost tomber entre les mains de labinet qu'entre les siennes mais d'autre part il estoit fasche d'avoir receu devant tant de monde une lettre du roy d'assirie qu'il n'oseroit montrer a ciaxare pour beaucoup de choses qu'elle disoit il n'en fit pourtant pas semblant et comme il fut rentre dans sa chambre choisissant d'entre des tablettes de bois de cedre de plomb et d'escorce de philire les plus magnifiquement enrichies car toute l'antiquite ne connut jamais papier ni encre et prenant un de ces burins que les anciens appelloient un style il en escrivit ces mesmes paroles
 
 
 artamene au roy d'assirie 
 
 
 je ne manque jamais a ce que j'ay promis non plus qu'a ce que je dois ainsi vous devez estre assure de me voir observer inviolablement toutes les choses 
 dont nous sommes convenus je souhaite seulement que nous soyons bien tost en estat de disputer un prix dont je suis indigne mais que personne ne possedera pourtant jamais que par la mort 
 
 
 d'artamene 
 
 
ces tablettes estant cachetees il les donna a cet homme qui luy avoit apporte les autres qui s'estant approche de son oreille luy dit qu'il avoit ordre du roy d'assirie de luy apprendre en cas qu'il eust quelque chose a luy mander qu'il s'estoit retire a pterie ville dont aribee avoit este gouverneur aussi bien que de sinope et qu'il avoit remise en ses mains apres cela cet homme sortit et artamene sortant aussi continua de faire le tour de la ville pour s'en aller a un temple a une stade de sinope qui luy estoit considerable pour plus d'une raison puis que c'estoit le lieu ou il avoit commence d'aymer de la sans scavoir precisement ce qu'il cherchoit ny ce qu'il faisoit il se mit a suivre le bord de la mer du coste que la galere qui avoit enleve sa princesse avoit pris sa route pendant cette promenade melancholique il s'entretenoit avec les deux fidelles compagnons de ses avantures le sage chrisante et le hardy feraulas fut il jamais un temps leur dit il ny mieux ny plus mal employe que celuy que nous avons passe depuis que nous sommes arrivez a sinope car enfin par le nombre des choses qui m'y sont advenues en si peu de momens s'il faut 
 ainsi dire il est impossible de passer jamais aucun jour avec plus d'occupation mais aussi pour le peu d'utilite que je retire de cet employ je ne pense pas que jamais personne ait si mal occupe sa vie je m'imagine venir delivrer ma princesse et je la trouve selon les apparences dans un danger espouvantable si j'en crois la crainte qui faisoit mon coeur je la voy dans les feux et dans les flames et je la voy mesme reduite en cendre aussi bien que la ville ou elle estoit apres je la voy ressuscitee je travaille a la sauver je combats j'esteins les flames qui apparamment la veulent devorer et puis a la fin il se trouve que je ne delivre que mon rival et que je le delivre en un estat qui ne me permet pas mesme de m'en vanger avec honneur enfin je voy un autre ravisseur de ma princesse que je ne puis suivre et peu apres je me voy sans rival prisonnier comme sans maistresse delivree dans le moment qui suit je change encore d'estat je fais des voeux pour mazare dont j'avois desire la perte et au mesme instant je le hais plus que je ne faisois o destins rigoureux destins determinez vous sur ma fortune rendez moy absolument heureux ou absolument miserable et ne me tenez pas tousjours entre la crainte et l'esperance entre la vie et la mort seigneur luy dit alors chrisante apres tant de maux que vous avez soufferts ou evitez vous devez esperer de surmonter toutes choses et apres une si longue obstination de la fortune a vous persecuter adjousta feraulas il est a croire qu'elle 
 se lassera bien tost cependant le ciel s'estoit esclairci et depuis qu'artamene estoit hors de la ville le vent s'estoit appaise et la mer paroissoit aussi tranquile qu'elle avoit este agitee ses ondes ne faisoient plus que s'espancher lentement sur le rivage et par un mouvement regle elles sembloient se remettre avec respect dans les bornes que la puissance souveraine qui les gouverne leur a prescrites artamene se resjouissant de cette profonde tranquilite presques avec autant de transport qu'il en eust pu avoir s'il eust este le ravisseur de sa princesse vit encore assez loing devant luy au bord de la mer plusieurs personnes ensemble qui par leurs actions tesmoignoient avoir de l'estonnement et estre fort occupees il s'avanca alors pousse d'une curiosite extraordinaire et changeant de couleur en un instant que peuvent faire ces gens dit il a chrisante et a feraulas seigneur luy dirent ils peut-estre sont-ce des pescheurs qui sechent ou qui demeslent leurs filets sur le fable cependant artamene s'avancant tousjours vers eux feraulas commenca de remarquer le long de la rive quelque debris d'un naufrage il fit pourtant signe a chrisante de n'en parler point a leur maistre qui regardoit avec tant d'attention ces hommes qui estoient au bord de la mer qu'il ne s'aperceut pas encore de ce que chrisante et feraulas avoient veu mais helas a peine eut il fait vingt pas que tournant les yeux vers le rivage qu'il avoit a sa gauche il vit qu'il estoit tout couvert de planches rompues de cordages entremeslez 
 et de corps privez de vie o que cette funeste veue donna de frayeur a artamene il s'arreste il regarde ces debris il regarde ces morts il regarde chrisante et feraulas et n'ose plus s'avancer vers ces gens qui n'estoient qu'a trente pas de luy dans la crainte effroyable qu'il a desja d'y rencontrer le corps de sa chere princesse feraulas le voyant en cet estat luy dit he quoy seigneur pensez vous qu'il n'y ait que cette galere pour laquelle vous craignez en toutes les mers du monde et ne scavez vous pas que les naufrages sont des choses fort ordinaires c'est pour cette raison que je crains luy respondit le malheureux artamene et si ces malheurs estoient plus rares je ne les craindrois pas tant cependant malgre son apprehension il s'aprocha de ces mariniers qui estoient fort occupez a profiter des infortunes d'autruy et qui ramassoient tout ce qu'ils pouvoient de ce debris artamene leur demanda ce qu'ils scavoient de cet accident et l'un d'eux luy respondit qu'il faloit que quelque galere eust peri la derniere nuit a ce qu'ils en pouvoient juger par ce que la mer poussoit au bord et a ce qu'ils en avoient pu apprendre d'un homme bien fait et de bonne mine que l'on avoit porte dans une cabane de pescheurs qu'il luy montra a cent pas de la sur le rivage et qui faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour refuser le secours que l'on taschoit de luy donner artamene sans attendre davantage d'esclaircissement s'y en alla et entrant dans cette cabane ou tout le monde 
 estoit occupe a secourir cet homme qui avoit pense perir et qui souhaitoit encore la mort il vit que c'estoit mazare il l'avoit veu si souvent dans babilone a la cour de la reine nitocris mere du roy d'assirie que d'abord il reconnut ce ravisseur de mandane il estoit couche sur un lit le visage plus mouille de ses larmes que de l'eau de la mer et plus change par son desespoir que par son naufrage ce prince afflige tenoit les yeux quelquesfois eslevez vers le ciel et quelquesfois aussi il les abaissoit sur une escharpe magnifique qu'il avoit entre les mains et qu'artamene reconnut a l'instant pour estre a sa princesse parce qu'elle la luy avoit refusee autrefois cette veue fit un effet si estrange dans le coeur d'artamene qu'il en pensa expirer mais pendant que la douleur luy ostoit l'usage de la voix il entendit que mazare qui sembloit presques aller pousser le dernier soupir faisant un effort pour parler s'escria aussi haut que sa foiblesse le luy permit o pitoyables restes de ma belle princesse pourquoy ne l'ay-je pas sauvee ou pourquoy du moins n'ay-je pas peri avec elle helas que me dites vous que me monstrez vous funestes reliques de la malheureuse princesse que j'ay perdue et vous dieux qui scaviez le dessein que j'avois et qui n'ignorez pas tout ce j'ay tasche de faire pour sa conservation pourquoy ne m'avez vous pas seconde comme il disoit cela artamene s'estant approche et sa douleur sa colere sa rage son desespoir et son amour ne luy laissant pas la 
 liberte de determiner s'il devoit achever de faire mourir ce miserable qui paroissoit a demy mort s'il devoit luy reprocher son crime ou s'informer du moins comment ce malheur estoit arrive il fut encore quelque temps en cette cruelle irresolution il vouloit interroger mazare il vouloit pleindre sa princesse il vouloit accuser les dieux il vouloit tuer son rival il se vouloit tuer luy mesme et ses pleurs et ses plaintes voulant et ne pouvant sortir tout a la fois firent que mazare eut le temps d'entendre quelqu'un de cette maison qui prononca le nom d'artamene il se tourna alors de son coste avec autant de precipitation qu'une personne extremement foible en pouvoit avoir et le regardant d'une facon tres touchante et tres pitoyable est-ce vous luy dit il qui par l'affection d'une grande princesse estiez le plus heureux de tous les hommes et que j'ay rendu le plus infortune par sa perte est-ce toy luy respondit artamene outre de douleur qui par ton injustice as desole toute la terre en la privant de ce qu'elle avoit de plus beau et de plus illustre c'est moy luy repliqua cet infortune les yeux tout couverts de larmes qui suis ce criminel que vous dittes et qui me serois desja puni si j'en avois eu la force mais j'espere toutefois que la mort ne sera pas long temps a venir cependant comme je la trouve trop lente je ne vous seray pas peu oblige si vostre main devance la sienne ceux qui mont trouve au bord de la mer scavent bien que je ne les ay pas priez de me secourir et que 
 c'est malgre moy que j'ay vescu depuis la mort de cette illustre princesse mais est il bien vray reprit artamene que ma princesse soit morte l'as tu veue perir as tu fait ce que tu as pu pour la sauver ne l'as tu point abandonnee l'as tu veue sur la galere l'as tu veue sur le rivage enfin l'as tu veue mourante ou morte je l'ay veue sur la galere respondit tristement mazare je l'ay veue tomber dans la mer je m'y suis jette apres elle je l'ay prise par cette escharpe je l'ay soustenue long temps sur les flots mais o dieux un coup de mer espouvantable a fait detacher cette malheureuse escharpe qui m'est demeuree a la main et tout d'un coup cette mesme vague nous ayant separez je n'ay fait que l'entrevoir parmy les ondes sans pouvoir ny la rejoindre ny la secourir ne me demandez plus apres cela ce que j'ay fait ny ce que j'ay pense j'ay souhaite la mort et je me suis abandonne a la fureur des vagues sans prendre plus aucun soin de ma vie et enfin je me suis trouve esvanouy sur le rivage entre les mains de ceux qui sont dans cette cabane voila artamene tout ce que je puis vous dire et voila prince infortune luy dit il en luy presentant cette funeste escharpe qu'il tenoit ce qui vous apartient mieux qu'a moy qui n'attens plus rien au monde que la gloire de mourir de vostre main si vous me la voulez accorder mazare prononca ces dernieres paroles d'une voix si basse et si foible que chacun creut qu'il s'en alloit expirer artamene le voyant en cet estat prist cette escharpe 
 que ce malheureux prince dans sa foiblesse avoit laisse tomber aupres de luy et s'esloignant d'un ennemy qui n'estoit pas en estat de satisfaire sa vangeance apres avoir satisfait sa curiosite il sortit de cette maison et s'en alla tout le long du rivage de la mer suivi de chrisante et de feraulas pour voir si par hazard il ne trouveroit point encore du moins quelque chose qui eust este a sa princesse il commanda mesme a ces pescheurs qu'il avoit laissez au bord de la mer d'aller tous le long des rochers pour voir s'ils n'y descouriroient rien de ce qu'il craignoit et de ce qu'il desiroit tout ensemble de trouver jamais l'on n'a vu personne en un si deplorable estat chrisante et feraulas n'avoient pas la hardiesse de luy parler et luy mesme ne scavoit pas seulement s'ils estoient aupres de luy il marchoit en regardant le rivage et s'imaginant que tout ce qu'il voyoit estoit le corps de sa chere princesse il y couroit avec une precipitation extreme et s'y arrestoit apres avec un redoublement de chagrin estrange enfin apres avoir este fort loing inutilement il se mit sur un rocher qui s'avancoit un peu dans la mer comme pour attendre si les vagues ne luy rendroient point ce qu'elles luy avoient derobe et commandant encore une fois a tous ceux qui avoient commence de chercher de continuer leur queste il ne demeura que chrisante et feraulas aupres de luy qui quoy qu'il leur peust dire ne le voulurent point abandonner helas que ne dit point et que ne pensa point ce malheureux amant 
 en cet endroit ne suis-je pas disoit il le plus infortune de tous les hommes et pourroit-on imaginer un suplice plus espouvantable que celuy que je suis oblige de soufrir par la rigueur de ma destinee ha belle princesse faloit-il que les dieux ne fissent que vous montrer a la terre et ne vous avoient-ils rendue la plus adorable personne du monde que pour vous mettre si tost en estat de n'estre plus adoree helas cruelles flames s'ecrioit il en regardant vers la ville dont on voyoit les ruines en esloignement que j'avois de tort de vous accuser de la perte de ma princesse et que je scavois peu que ce seroit par un element qui vous est oppose que ce malheur m'arriveroit toutes impitoyables que vous estiez vous m'en eussiez au moins laisse les precieuses cendres et les miennes eussent pu avoir la gloire d'y estre meslees mais o rigueur de mon sort cette mer inexorable ne me veut pas seulement rendre ma princesse morte et elle se contente de sauver la vie a son ravisseur et a mon rival encore la cruelle qu'elle est si elle la luy eust conservee en estat de satisfaire ma haine et ma vangeance j'aurois quelque legere consolation dans mon infortune mais la barbare en retenant ma princesse me rend mon rival seulement pour me dire qu'il l'a veue en un danger presques inevitable qu'il l'a veue entre les bras de la mort et qu'il l'a veue dans des sentimens pour moy que je n'osois esperer qu'elle eust et apres cela il perd la parole et demeure en estat de ne pouvoir servir de soulagement 
 a mon desespoir du moins respondit chrisante vous avez la consolation de scavoir qu'il ne l'a pas veue morte et que cet arrest irrevocable ne vous a pas este prononce ainsi adjousta feraulas il vous est permis d'esperer que le mesme fort de mazare aura este celuy de la princesse et peut-estre mesme que le sien aura encore este meilleur car comme elle n'aura pas eu le mesme regret de sa mort qu'il a eu de la sienne elle aura voulu vivre au lieu qu'il a voulu mourir et la douleur n'aura pas fait en elle ce que le naufrage n'aura pu faire ouy seigneur peut-estre qu'elle aura vescu et qu'elle vit presentement sans autre inquietude que celle de se voir sans vous ha chrisante ha feraulas s'ecria t'il cette foible esperance qui malgre moy occupe encore quelque petite place au fonds de mon coeur est peut-estre un de mes plus grands malheurs car si je ne l'avois pas scachez mes amis que sans m'amuser a des cris ni a des pleintes j'aurois desja suivi l'illustre mandane ce n'est donc que par ce foible espoir que je vis encore mais quoy que l'esperance soit un grand bien dans la vie et qu'elle soit appellee le secours de tous les malheureux elle est si debile dans mon esprit qu'elle ne m'empesche pas de souffrir les mesmes douleurs que je souffrirois si j'avois veu de mes propres yeux la perte de ma princesse ouy chrisante je la voy dans la mer recevoir comme avec chagrin le secours de son ravisseur je voy cette vague impitoyable qui l'arrache d'entre les mains de celuy qui apres 
 l'avoir perdue la vouloit sauver et je voy cette mesme vague o dieux quelle veue et quelle pensee la sufoquer et l'engloutir dans l'abisme en disant cela ses larmes redoublerent encore et il se mit a baiser cette escharpe qu'il tenoit avec une tendresse extreme o vous s'ecria t'il qui fustes autrefois l'objet de mes desirs et que je souhaitay comme la plus grande faveur que j'eusse jamais pu pretendre qui m'eust dit que je vous eusse deu recevoir avec tant de douleur j'aurois eu bien de la peine a le croire je vous desirois alors pour me donner le courage de vaincre les ennemis du roy et de la princesse et je vous regarde aujourd'huy afin que vous hastiez ma mort en redoublant dans mon esprit desespere le triste souvenir de mandane mais n'admirez vous pas dit il a chrisante le caprice de ma fortune j'ay plus receu de tesmoignages d'affection de cette chere princesse par la bouche de mes rivaux que je n'en avois jamais receu par la sienne et cette vertu severe avoit tousjours distribue les graces qu'elle m'avoit faites avec tant de sagesse et tant de retenue que je n'avois jamais ose m'assurer entierement de ma bonne fortune et cependant j'aprens du roy d'assirie d'une lettre de mazare et de mazare luy mesme et de mazare mourant que j'avois plus de part en son coeur que je n'y en osois esperer et qu'enfin j'estois beaucoup plus heureux que je n avois pense l'estre mais o dieux a quoy me sert ce bonheur a quoy me sert cette certitude 
 d'estre aime si celle qui pouvoit faire ma felicite par son eslection n'est plus en estat d'aimer et si je suis contraint moy mesme d'abandonner avec la vie et toutes mes esperances et toute ma bonne fortune apres cela il fut quelque temps sans parler tantost regardant vers la mer tantost regardant si ces gens qu'il avoit envoye chercher ne revenoient point et tantost regardant cette escharpe qu'il tenoit mais enfin chrisante voyant que le jour alloit finir voulut luy persuader de reprendre le chemin de la ville quand mesme ce ne seroit luy dit il que pour pouvoir renvoyer plus de monde chercher tout le long de la coste cette derniere raison quoy que forte et puissante sur son esprit ne l'eust neantmoins pas si tost fait partir du lieu ou il estoit n'eust este qu'il vit paroistre de loing thrasibule araspe aglatidas hidaspe et beaucoup d'autres qui ne l'ayant pas suivy par respect pour luy laisser la liberte de ses pensees venoient le rejoindre apres luy avoir laisse un temps raisonnable pour les entretenir il ne les vit pas plus tost qu'il se leva et regardant chrisante et feraulas le moyen leur dit il de cacher une partie de ma douleur et comment pourray-je faire pour tesmoigner a tous ceux qui viennent a nous que je n'en ay qu'autant que la compassion en peut raisonnablement donner et que si je regrette la princesse c'est comme fille de ciaxare et non pas comme maistresse d'artamene pour moy leur dit il mes amis je 
 ne pense pas le pouvoir faire cependant je scay bien que si mandane pouvoit m'aparoistre en cet instant ce seroit pour me l'ordonner et ce seroit pour me commander de cacher mes larmes afin de cacher mon affection mais belle princesse s'ecria t'il il faudroit ne vous aimer pas comme je vous aime et il faudroit avoir sa raison plus libre que n'est la mienne pour vous pouvoir obeir a ces mots thrasibule et toute cette troupe se trouverent si pres de luy qu'il fut contraint de se taire et de s'avancer vers eux pour les recevoir ils le virent si change que quand il ne leur auroit rien dit ils n'eussent pas laisse de connoistre qu'il luy estoit arrive quelque grand sujet de deplaisir et comme il estoit infiniment aime de tout le monde et particulierement de ceux qui estoient alors aupres de luy sans scavoir mesmes ce qu'il avoit ils changerent tous de visage et partagerent une affliction dont ils ne scavoient pas encore la cause ils ne l'ignorerent pourtant pas long temps et l'afflige artamene qui n'eust pu leur dire cette funeste nouvelle le premier sans en mourir fut releve de cette peine par feraulas qui la leur apprit d'abord en peu de mots de peur que s'il se fust arreste a exagerer cette perte artamene n'eust pas este maistre de sa douleur et n'eust donne des marques trop visibles d'une chose qu'il vouloit cacher thrasibule deplora ce malheur autant qu'il estoit deplorable hidaspe comme plus attache d'interest a la maison de ciaxare en fut 
 sensiblement touche araspe s'en affligea aussi beaucoup et aglatidas qui par sa propre melancolie avoit tousjours une forte disposition a partager celle d'autruy en pleura comme s'il eust eu un interest plus particulier en la perte de cette princesse cependant artamene qui crut qu'il luy seroit plus aise de cacher sa douleur dans la ville qu'en ce lieu la parce qu'il pourroit y estre seul dans sa chambre sur le pretexte d'y aller escrire cette funeste nouvelle a ciaxare en reprit le chemin apres avoir ordonne a feraulas d'aller encore avec quelques uns de ceux qui avoient accompagne thrasibule chercher et s'informer tout le long du rivage si l'on n'auroit rien veu ny rien trouve qui peust donner une connoissance plus assuree du salut ou de la perte de la princesse pendant ce chemin il parla le moins qu'il luy fut possible et tous les autres s'entretindrent de ce funeste accident les uns plaignoient la princesse pour les grandes qualitez qu'elle possedoit soit pour les beautez du corps soit pour celles de l'esprit ou pour les beautez de l'ame les autres pleignoient le roy son pere pour la douleur qu'il recevroit et les autres disoient que c'estoit grand dommage qu'une race aussi illustre que celle des rois des medes s'esteignist en cette princesse d'une maniere si pitoyable enfin tous pleignoient et tous regrettoient cette perte sans scavoir que celuy qui estoit le plus a pleindre estoit mesle parmy eux hidaspe parlant a chrisante cet accident luy dit il me fait souvenir de la douleur que 
 ressentit le roy de perse nostre maistre lors qu'il receut les nouvelles du naufrage du jeune cyrus qui comme vous scavez mieux que moy estoit le prince du monde de la plus belle esperance et comme je ne doute point que ciaxare ne soit aussi sensible au malheur de la princesse sa fille que cambise le fut a celuy du prince son fils je le pleins infiniment car encore que je ne fusse pas si estroitement attache que le roy aux interests de cyrus je ne laissay pas de le pleurer et de le regretter beaucoup chrisante pour faire changer de discours et pour ne respondre pas a celuy-la dit a l'afflige artamene que peut-estre ceux qu'il avoit envoyez vers ciaxare l'auroient desja trouve fort avance estans convenus ensemble lors qu'il estoit parti qu'il le suivroit bien tost avec toute l'armee et aglatidas de qui toutes les pensees alloient tousjours a l'amour et a la melancolie adressant la parole au mesme artamene je vous assure luy dit il que quoy que je sois sujet de ciaxare et par consequent ennemy du roy d'assirie je ne puis m'empescher de pleindre ce dernier comme devant estre sans doute le plus malheureux lors qu'il scaura cette perte s'il est vray qu'elle nous soit arrivee car enfin adjousta t'il quoy qu'il ne fust pas aime il estoit amant et l'amour est tellement au dessus de tous les sentimens que la nature la raison et l'amitie peuvent donner qu'il n'y a nulle comparaison d'elle aux autres pour moy adjousta t'il encore si au lieu de connoistre un amant 
 hai comme le roy d'assirie je connoissois un amant aime qui eust souffert cette infortune je pense que la seule compassion que j'en aurois me feroit mourir de douleur mais comme la vertu de la princesse estoit trop severe pour avoir donne cette matiere d'affliction a personne il se faut contenter de pleindre le roy d'assirie qui effectivement est le plus a pleindre artamene fut estrangement embarrasse a respondre a un discours si pressant mais s'il eut assez de force pour retenir ses larmes il n'en eut pas assez pour estousser ses souspirs il dit donc seulement a aglatidas que cette princesse avoit tant de vertus que tous ceux qui l'avoient connue avoient este ses adorateurs et qu'ainsi il faloit pleindre en general tous ceux qui avoient eu cet honneur soit qu'ils fussent medes assiriens ou persans apres cela pour n'estre plus expose a une conversation si penible il marcha trente pas devant les autres qui continuerent de s'entretenir de la douleur qu'ils voyoient en artamene et de louer l'affection qu'il temoignoit avoir pour le roy son maistre car encore que cet accident les eust fort touchez comme une partie d'entr'eux n'avoient jamais veu la princesse et que pas un n'en avoit este amoureux ils remarquoient facilement qu'il y avoit une notable difference de leur affliction a la sienne dont ils ne scavoient pas la cause la plus forte et la plus cachee artamene estant arrive a la ville et entre dans sa chambre congedia tout le monde et demeura seul a 
 entretenir son desespoir par le souvenir de toutes ses infortunes il fut luy mesme mettre dans sa cassette l'excharpe de sa princesse qu'il avoit eue par les mains du miserable mazare mais s'il prit soin de la conserver ce fut plustost comme un moyen infaillible de redoubler ses desplaisirs que comme une consolation a ses douleurs et pour ne negliger rien de tout ce qui pouvoit augmenter ses peines il fit mesme servir a son suplice la memoire de quelques legeres faveurs qu'il avoit receues de sa princesse et cette ame grande et noble qui ne faisoit jamais nulle reflexion sur les belles choses qu'elle avoit faites et qui ne s'attachoit qu'a l'advenir pour en faire encore de plus heroiques souffrit en cette occasion que l'image de tant de glorieux combats de tant de batailles gagnees et de tant de triomphes repassast en son imagination afin de le faire passer en un desespoir plus legitime et d'avoir du moins quelque excuse a se donner a luy mesme de la foiblesse qu'il tesmoignoit en cette rencontre car lors qu'il venoit a songer que tout ce qu'il avoit fait avoit este fait pour cette princesse qu'il croyoit presque n'estre plus au monde le souvenir de toutes ces choses redoubloit encore son affliction s'il est possible de concevoir quelque redoublement en une douleur qui des le premier moment qu'il l'avoit sentie avoit este extreme et insuportable il ne pouvoit se resoudre d'envoyer porter cette triste nouvelle au roy des medes il pouvoit encore moins se resoudre 
 a la luy apprendre de sa propre bouche et dans cette irresolution le reste du jour et de la nuit se passerent sans qu'il peust en facon aucune se determiner la dessus feraulas estant revenu le matin assura ce prince que du moins il n'y avoit nulle autre marque de sa disgrace que celle qu'il en avoit veue luy mesme mais reprit artamene tout d'un coup n'avez vous point sceu des nouvelles de mazare et ne seroit il point revenu de la foiblesse ou il tomba hier devant moy et en laquelle je le laissay dans cette cabane que l'on aille dit il le scavoir et si cela est que l'on me l'amene il donna cet ordre avec beaucoup de precipitation et sans scavoir presques ce qu'il vouloit dire mais a quelque temps de la on luy vint raporter que les pescheurs entre les mains desquels ce prince estoit demeure avoient dit que mazare n'estoit point revenu de l'evanouissement ou artamene l'avoit veu le jour auparavant et qu'il estoit mort un moment apres qu'il avoit este sorti de cette cabane la nouvelle de cette mort donna divers sentimens au malheureux artamene et admirant la justice divine en la perte d'un prince qu'il croyoit tres criminel il ne pouvoit s'empescher de murmurer contre la rigueur que ces mesmes dieux avoient eue pour une princesse tres innocente cependant comme il avoit l'esprit entierement occupe de la grandeur de sa perte il ne fit pas faire une plus exacte perquisition de la mort et des funeraille de mazare et l'image de ce ravisseur l'affligeoit si fort 
 qu'il l'esloigna de son souvenir autant qu'il luy fut possible comme il agissoit de cette sorte l'on luy vint dire qu'il y avoit apparence que ciaxare alloit arriver avec toute son armee parce que du haut de la tour l'on voyoit s'eslever sur un vallon une poussiere si grande et si espaisse qu'il estoit aise de juger que ce ne pouvoit estre que la marche de ces troupes qui la causoit artamene fut fort esmeu a ce discours et il le fut encore davantage lors qu'il vit arriver andramias qui l'assura que ciaxare seroit a sinope tout au plus tard dans une heure il voulut pourtant faire quelque effort sur luy et il y travailla avec tant de succes qu'il espera avoir assez de pouvoir sur sa douleur pour en cacher une partie il commanda a tous les chefs de ces troupes de les faire mettre en bataille et il monta luy mesme a cheval suivy de thrasibule d'hidaspe de chrisante d'araspe et d'aglatidas pour aller au devant du roy qui a la veue de sinope s'estoit detache de son armee et marchoit accompagnee du roy de phrigie du roy d'hircanie de persode prince des cadusiens du prince des paphlagoniens de celuy de licaonie de gobrias de gadate de thimocrate de philocles et d'artabase de madate et d'adusius persans et les premiers d'entre les homotimes aussi bien que l'estoient hidaspe et chrisante qui accompagnoient artamene jamais entre-veue ne fut si triste que celle-la ciaxare voyant de loing sa ville detruite ne put s'empescher d'en soupirer 
 et artamene voyant ciaxare auquel il alloit donner un si grand redoublement de douleur par la funeste nouvelle du naufrage de la princesse sa fille ne pouvoit quasi se resoudre d'avancer vers luy cependant quelque lentement qu'il marchast comme le roy venoit assez viste ils furent bien tost a trente pas l'un de l'autre artamene et tous ceux qui l'accompagnoient descendirent de cheval et furent a pied a la rencontre du roy qui sembla se haster d'aller droit a luy
 
 
 
 
ce prince malgre sa douleur luy presenta thrasibule et ciaxare leur ayant tendu la main a tous leur commanda de remonter a cheval et ayant appelle artamene aupres de luy il se mit a luy parler de son malheur en general et a exagerer combien il avoit este surpris d'apprendre que mazare eust enleve sa fille seigneur interrompit tristement artamene vous le serez bien encore davantage lors que vous scaurez que mazare n'est plus et que peut-estre a ces mots artamene s'arresta et ne put jamais achever de dire ce qu'il vouloit luy apprendre ciaxare le regardant alors tout trouble que voulez vous dire artamene luy demanda t'il et quel nouveau malheur avez vous a m'anoncer seigneur luy respondit il ce malheur est si grand que je n'oserois presques vous le faire scavoir et je demande du moins a vostre majeste qu'elle se donne la patience d'estre a sinope pour en estre pleinement instruite afin que la douleur qu'il vous causera puisse avoir moins de tesmoins dans vostre cabinet que 
 vous n'en auriez a la campagne ciaxare estrangement surpris d'un discours si obscur pour luy regardoit artamene et luy voyant sur le visage et dans les yeux toutes les marques d'une tristesse excessive il n'osoit plus le presser de luy apprendre ce qu'il mouroit d'envie de scavoir de peur de trouver ce qu'il craignoit de rencontrer et d'estre contraint en effet de donner des marques de foiblesse devant tant d'illustres personnes il cherchoit donc dans les yeux d'artamene et dans sa propre raison a devenir ce qu'il ignoroit et par son silence et par celuy d'artamene il estoit aise de juger que l'un craignoit de dire ce qu'il scavoit et que l'autre apprehendoit d'aprendre ce qu'il ignoroit cependant ceux qui estoient venus avec artamene s'estans meslez avec ceux qui avoient suivi ciaxare leur racontoient ce qui leur estoit advenu et cette funeste nouvelle qu'ils leur aprenoient faisoit eslever parmi eux un murmure plaintif d'exclamations et d'estonnement qui raisonnant aux oreilles de ciaxare luy disoit encore qu'il y avoit quelque chose d'estrange a scavoir mais comme ils estoient alors assez pres de sinope toutes les troupes qu'artamene avoit amenees suivant l'ordre qu'elles en avoient receu ayant paru sous les armes et s'estans rangees en haye pour laisser passer le roy il ne voulut pas devant tant de monde satisfaire sa curiosite il marcha donc sans parler jusques a tant qu'il fust arrive au chasteau car pour son armee il avoit ordonne qu'elle 
 camperoit dans une grande plaine qui est entre un vallon et la ville et qui estoit assez spacieuse pour l'y loger commodement quoy qu'elle fust composee de plus de cent mille combatans le roy ne fut pas plustost descendu de cheval qu'artamene le conduisit dans le plus bel apartement du chasteau et il n'y fut pas si tost qu'estant entre seul avec luy dans son cabinet et bien mon cher artamene luy dit il que m'aprendrez vous de plus estrange que ce que je scay desja cette demande ou artamene s'estoit bien attendu ne laissa pas de le surprendre et se voyant sans autre tesmoin que le roy et force de luy faire scavoir le naufrage de la princesse il ne put empescher que ses larmes ne previnssent son discours ciaxare les voyant couler que me disent vos pleurs artamene s'ecria t'il et auriez vous la mort de ma fille a m'annoncer alors artamene faisant un effort extraordinaire sur son esprit luy dit en peu de mots tout ce qu'il scavoit du naufrage de mandane cette nouvelle affligea si fort ciaxare que l'on peut dire que jamais pere n'avoit tesmoigne plus de tendresse ni plus de douleur artamene voyant qu'il luy estoit permis de pleurer en un temps ou l'affliction de ciaxare l'empeschoit de prendre garde a la sienne s'y abandonna de telle sorte que jamais l'on n'avoit rien veu de si pitoyable il ne disoit rien a ciaxare pour le consoler et ciaxare ne laissoit pourtant pas de trouver de la consolation aux pleurs d'artamene fut il jamais disoit ce malheureux 
 pere un prince plus afflige que moy mais adjoustoit il ne devois-je pas aussi prevoir mon malheur et tant d'oracles qui avoient asseure a astiage que le sceptre qu'il portoit et qu'il m'a laisse passeroit bien tost en des mains estrangeres ne devoient ils pas m'avoir appris puis que je n'avois qu'une fille unique que je la perdrois infailliblement helas astiage s'amusoit a chercher les voyes de perdre celuy qui devoit luy arracher la couronne et il ne songeoit pas a conserver celle qui la devoit perdre en perdant la vie car n'en doutons point dit il a artamene mandane n'est plus et l'esperance est un bien ou nous ne devons plus pretendre de part mais du moins adjousta t'il cette innocente princesse ne demeurera t'elle pas sans vangeance et les dieux qui ont fait perir mazare l'un de ses ravisseurs nous enseignent ce que nous devons faire du roy d'assirie il mourra poursuivoit il il mourra et comme il est cause que la race de l'illustre dejoce est esteinte en la personne de ma fille il faut que celle des rois d'assirie le soit en la sienne et les dieux non mesme les dieux ne scauroient l'empescher de mourir ny le derober a ma colere artamene surpris de ce discours et regardant le roy seigneur luy dit il n'avez vous pas vu celuy que je vous ay envoye pour vous advertir de la suite de ce prince que dites vous artamene que ce prince reprit brusquement le roy je dis seigneur luy respondit il que j'ay envoye advertir vostre majeste de sa suite 
 quoy interrompit ciaxare le roy d'assirie n'est plus en mon pouvoir le roy d'assirie est en liberte ha non non cela n'est pas possible et je ne le croiray pas facilement je ne croiray dis-je pas facilement qu'artamene ait laisse eschaper un prisonnier de cette importance il est pourtant vray respondit froidement artamene que mon malheur et sa bonne fortune ont voulu qu'il s'echapast malgre les gardes que je luy avois donnez mais seigneur que cela ne vous inquiete pas tant car s'il m'estoit aussi aise de vous faire revoir la princesse qu'il me sera peut-estre facile de donner la mort a cet ennemy de vostre majeste vostre douleur ne seroit pas sans remede ciaxare ne trouva pourtant pas grande consolation en ce discours et quoy qu'il aimast artamene qu'il luy eust des obligations infinies et qu'il n'eust jamais eu le moindre soubcon de sa fidelite neantmoins en cette rencontre il ne pouvoit concevoir que le roy d'assirie se fust sauve sans qu'artamene fust au moins coupable de peu de soin et de beaucoup d'imprudence quoy qu'il n'eust jamais veu nulle de ses actions qui luy peust donner un raisonnable sujet de l'accuser de semblables choses il sortit donc de ce cabinet sans luy parler davantage et trouvant dans sa chambre tous les princes et tous les chefs qui l'avoient suivi il leur parla de son affliction avec assez de constance quoy qu'avec beaucoup de douleur et chacun selon l'obligation qu'il y avoit luy tesmoigna la part qu'il prenoit en sa perte luy disant 
 pourtant tousjours que tant que le corps de la princesse ne paroistroit point il faloit conserver quelque esperance pour artamene il passa un moment apres dans une autre chambre ou tous ces princes qui avoient suivi ciaxare furent les uns apres les autres luy faire compliment et le visiter car ils le regardoient bien plus comme leur protecteur et leur maistre que non pas le roy qu'il servoit cependant ciaxare qui vouloit estre pleinement esclairci de tout ce qui s'estoit passe en la suite du roy d'assirie sceut qu'il avoit este mis a la garde d'araspe qui estoit un des hommes du monde qu'artamene aimoit le plus toute-fois quoy qu'il pust faire il ne put jamais rien descouvrir qui luy fist voir que personne des siens eust facilite l'evasion du roy d'assirie mais parmi ceux qui estoient venus avec le roy il y avoit un amy particulier d'aribee qui scachant sa mort en conceut beaucoup de ressentiment contre artamene si bien qu'ayant sceu fortuitement que le roy d'assirie luy avoit escrit il fut en advertir ciaxare qui au mesme instant envoya querir artamene il ne le vit pas plustost qu'il luy demanda d'un ton fort aigre pourquoy il ne luy avoit pas dit que le roy d'assirie luy avoit escrit depuis sa fuite artamene surpris de cette demande parce que la lettre dont il s'agissoit parlant de l'amour du roy d'assirie et de la sienne n'estoit pas de nature a estre monstree fut un moment sans respondre en suitte dequoy il dit a ciaxare qu'il 
 avoit eu de si fascheuses choses a luy apprendre tout a la fois qu'il n'estoit pas fort estrange qu'il en eust oublie une de si peu d'importance que celle-la puis qu'il estoit vray que le roy d'assirie ne luy avoit escrit que pour luy mander qu'il n'avoit rien cru faire contre la generosite en s'echapant de ses gardes puis qu'on ne l'avoit pas laisse sur sa foy nous scaurons plus precisement luy respondit ciaxare ce que le roy d'assirie vous a mande en nous monstrant son billet que nous ne l'aprenons par vos paroles seigneur repliqua artamene je voudrois bien pouvoir satisfaire vostre majeste mais ayant este tout un jour le long de la coste a chercher des nouvelles de la princesse j'ay eu le malheur de perdre les tablettes que j'avois receues et je m'imagine qu'elles pourront bien estre tombees dans la mer cette responce faite avec assez de froideur surprit ciaxare et l'obligea de dire a artamene contre sa coustume avec beaucoup de rudesse que ce cas fortuit luy sembloit estrange et que sa procedure en cette rencontre ne la luy sembloit pas moins mais comme artamene avoit un grand respect pour le pere de sa princesse et qu'il scavoit bien qu'en effet ciaxare avoit raison de trouver quelque chose a dire en sa conduite il se teut et se retira voyant que le roy luy avoit tourne le dos sans vouloir plus l'escouter le soir estant venu une partie des chefs s'en retournerent au camp et tous les princes furent logez dans le chasteau et dans les plus belles 
 maisons que la flame eust espargnees ciaxare passa la nuit avec beaucoup d'inquietude et artamene fut encore bien plus malheureux que luy qui du moins n'avoit que sa propre douleur a souffrir au lieu que ce prince en souffrant la sienne partageoit encore celle du roy malgre ses soubcons et sa rudesse mais comme il arrive assez souvent que la fortune ne garde nulle mesure ny en ses faveurs ny en ses disgraces et qu'elle comble de felicite ou accable de malheur ceux qu'elle regarde avec amour ou avec haine l'afflige artamene de qui la constance succomboit presque en cette occasion se vit encore attaque par un endroit assez sensible puis qu'il s'agissoit de son honneur le lendemain au matin ciaxare luy envoya dire qu'il se rendist en diligence dans son cabinet comme il fut aupres de luy il le trouva avec un visage ou la colere paroissoit plus que la douleur et qui luy fit bien connoistre qu'infailliblement il alloit tomber dans quelque nouvelle infortune mais comme l'estat ou il estoit luy donnoit beaucoup d'indifference pour la vie il ne se troubla point voyant ciaxare si trouble et luy demanda avec beaucoup de respect s'il faloit faire quelque chose pour son service ciaxare sans luy respondre luy donna des tablettes qu'il tenoit et apres l'avoir regarde avec des yeux remplis de fureur voyez artamene luy dit il voyez s'il y a quelque apparence que vous soyez innocent de la suite du roy d'assirie et expliquez moy silabe pour silabe cet enigme obscur que je ne puis deviner 
 artamene fut d'abord estrangement surpris parce qu'il luy sembla que ces tablettes estoint celles qu'il pensoit que le roy d'assirie eust receues et qu'il avoit donnees a celuy qui luy avoit apporte les siennes neantmoins pour s'eclaircir pleinement de la chose il les ouvrit et y relut les mesmes paroles qu'il y avoit escrites mais en les relisant il changea de couleur plusieurs fois et fit durer cette lecture le plus long temps qu'il luy fut possible cherchant a prendre sa resolution sur une chose si difficile a resoudre car il voyoit bien que s'il n'expliquoit pas son billet son honneur souffriroit sans doute une tache puis qu'il paroistroit perfide a son maistre ayant eu une intelligence secrette avec son ennemy et d'autre coste il voyoit qu'en descouvrant son amour il exposoit en quelque facon la reputation de sa princesse qui luy estoit encore plus precieuse que la sienne cependant ciaxare qui ne penetroit pas dans le fonds de son coeur s'ennuyant de son silence que cherchez vous artamene luy dit il dans ce billet ce n'est pas la que vous pouvez trouver vostre excuse et les marques de vostre crime ne scauroient servir a faire paroistre vostre innocence parlez donc vous dis-je et expliquez moy ce que vous avez escrit depuis le premier mot jusques au dernier en disant cela il reprit les tablettes des mains d'artamene qui regardant le roy avec beaucoup de respect seigneur luy dit il si je pouvois vous montrer le billet que j'ay receu du roy d'assirie vostre majeste verroit bien que 
 je ne suis pas si criminel qu'elle le croit et que les conventions que nous avons ensemble ne sont pas de la nature que vous les imaginez si elles ne sont pas criminelles respondit ciaxare vous n'avez qu'a me les apprendre n'ignorant pas qu'il y a sans doute quelque secret sentiment dans le fonds de mon coeur qui ne cherche qu'a vous justifier ciaxare ouvrant alors les tablettes se mit a relire tout haut ce qu'artamene y avoit escrit et le regardant fixement comment expliquez vous ces paroles luy dit il
 
 
 je ne manque jamais a ce que j'ay promis non plus qu'a ce que je dois ainsi vous devez estre assure de me voir observer inviolablememt toutes les choses dont nous sommes convenus 
 
 
parlez artamene parlez adjousta t'il qu'avez vous promis au roy d'assirie et comment pouvez vous luy avoir promis quelque chose et n'avoir pas manque a ce que vous me devez seigneur respondit artamene vous scavez que le roy d'assirie et moy avons eu autrefois quelques petits differens ensemble et que l'amour de la gloire nous a faits rivaux il y a long temps ainsi seigneur nous avons certaines choses a demesler qui ne regardent point vostre majeste et dont je la supplie tres-humblement de ne s'informer pas davantage vous me direz pourtant encore respondit ciaxare en eslevant la voix quelle couleur vous pouvez donner a ces paroles qui sont la fin de vostre billet 
 
 
 
 je souhaite seulement que nous soyons bien tost en estat de disputer un prix dont je suis indigne mais que personne ne possedera pourtant jamais que par la mort 
 
 
 d'artamene 
 
 
quel est ce prix artamene dont la possession vous est si chere je vous ay desja dit seigneur respondit il que la gloire est la cause de tous les differens que le roy d'assirie a eus et aura tousjours avec artamene et c'est ce premier rang de la valeur que je veux luy disputer jusques a la mort pour moy adjousta ciaxare apres avoir bien cherche l'explication de ces paroles je ne voy point qu'il puisse y avoir d'autre prix a disputer entre vous que ma couronne ou ma fille et lequel que ce soit des deux vous estes egalement criminel et mesme beaucoup plus criminel que n'est pas le roy d'assirie puis qu'en fin il est d'une condition a pouvoir pretendre a l'une et a l'autre et que selon les apparences la vostre en est bien esloignee seigneur reprit froidement artamene par cette mesme raison vous devez croire que le roy d'assirie ne voudroit pas me faire l'honneur de disputer contre moy une chose ou je ne pourrois jamais pretendre vous dites cela d'un certain ton repliqua le roy si disproportionne a vostre condition qu'il me confirme encore dans ma croyance car en fin tout mon ennemy qu'est le roy d'assirie il est tousjours roy et des la vous luy devez plus de respect qu'il n'en paroist en vos discours 
 lors que j'ay l'espee a la main respondit artamene qui ne put s'empescher d'estre un peu esmeu j'embarrasse peut-estre les rois aussi bien que les autres hommes vous en connoissez plus d'un qui peut vous apprendre si je dis vray et celuy mesme dont vous semblez prendre la deffence peut vous en dire quelque chose s'il n'a mauvaise memoire il n'est pas icy question de vostre bravure adjousta ciaxare je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez vaillant mais j'ay lieu de douter si vous estes fidelle vostre majeste ne douteroit non plus de l'un que de l'autre si elle me connoissoit bien luy dit artamene et il n'est pas aise d'imaginer qui pourroit corrompre la fidelite de celuy qui dispose a son gre des couronnes pourquoy donc repartit le roy ne m'eclaircissez vous de vos intentions s'il est vray qu'elles soient innocentes je supplie vostre majeste luy respondit il de ne me presser pas davantage sur une chose que je ne puis ny ne dois luy dire il me suffit adjousta t'il que l'on scait que les dieux ont voulu quelque-fois se servir de ma main pour soutenir ce mesme sceptre auquel vous croyez que je pretens ne me reprochez point interrompit alors ciaxare les services que vous m'avez rendus car outre que vous verrez que vous n'en estes pas mal paye si vous vous souvenez de ce que vous estiez et de ce que vous estes il ne m'en souvient que trop et si j'en avois perdu la memoire peut-estre auriez vous desja perdu la vie du moins ne m'arresterois-je pas si long temps a chercher moy mesme des excuses 
 a vostre crime et je ne me verrois pas plus diligent que vous a essayer de vous justifier seigneur reprit artamene je ne vous reproche pas mes services et ils sont si peu considerables que je ne vous en aurois pas parle si j'eusse eu d'autres raisons pour soutenir mon innocence calomniee et d'ou voulez vous que nous tirions les preuves de cette innocence pretendue luy dit ciaxare de la connoissance de ma vertu respondit artamene si vous estes encore capable de la connoistre quoy adjousta ciaxare encore plus irrite vous ne voulez donc pas me descouvrir plus precisement quelle est cette intelligence que vous avez avec le ravisseur de ma fille et mon ennemy seigneur le temps vous l'apprendra respondit cet innocent accuse et ce ne sera que par luy que vous scaurez de quelle facon artamene cet homme que vous ne connoissez pas cet homme qui a ce que vous croyez vous a voulu trahir cet homme dis-je que vous avez aime est d'intelligence avec vostre ennemy je n'ay que faire du temps pour vous le faire avouer repliqua ciaxare il paroist assez dans vostre billet et mesme dans vos discours mais comme la connoissance des particularitez de cette conjuration secrette est necessaire a ma seurete et au bien de mon estat sans attendre que le temps m'en esclaircisse il pourra estre qu'estant mis dans une prison plus estroite et plus sevre que celle que vous aviez donnee au roy d'assirie vous vous resoudrez enfin de me les apprendre seigneur respondit artamene sans 
 plus s'esmouvoir et sans s'emporter ce n'est point par la captivite ny mesme par les suplices que l'on peut faire dire a artamene ce qu'il ne veut pas descouvrir ce qui me console en cette avanture c'est que je ne quitteray mon espee pour recevoir des fers qu'en un temps ou vostre majeste n'a plus gueres d'ennemis assez puissans pour luy nuire et qu'ainsi elle ne perdra en me perdant qu'un serviteur inutile je vous entens bien repliqua le roy en colere et vous ne pouvez vous empescher de me reprocher vos services alors se tournant vers la porte de son cabinet ou il estoit seul avec artamene il appella le capitaine de ses gardes et luy commanda de le mener a sa chambre et de luy en respondre sur peine de la vie ce capitaine qui aimoit artamene cherement et qui scavoit quelle avoit este sa faveur demeura surpris de ce commandement ne scachant presque s'il y devoit obeir et voyant une si prompte revolution en la fortune d'un homme qui un jour auparavant estoit le plus absolu de tout le royaume et qui faisoit le destin des princes et des rois tel qu'il luy plaisoit il ne pouvoit s'empescher de faire voir son estonnement ny se determiner sur ce qu'il avoit a faire mais artamene l'ayant remarque allons luy dit il allons en luy tendant son espee et rendons mesme ce dernier service au roy d'aprendre a tous ses subjets a obeir de bonne grace aux commandemens les plus rudes en disant cela il fit une grande et profonde reverence a ciaxare et suivit 
 andramias avec aussi peu d'emotion que s'il fust retourne libre a sa chambre comme il en estoit sorti le roy commanda en suitte que l'on s'assurast d'araspe et ses ordres furent suivis de dire ce que le malheureux artamene pensa en cette occasion et combien le roy des medes eut de repugnance a faire ce qu'il fit ce seroit une chose assez difficile le premier s'arrestoit quelquesfois autant a admirer la bizarrerie de ce dernier accident qu'a s'en pleindre et le second se repentoit presque a tous les momens de ce qu'il venoit de faire il n'estoit jamais un instant bien d'accord avec luy mesme que feray-je disoit il de ce criminel qui m'a tant servi que j'ay tant aime et qui possede le coeur de mes amis et de mes ennemis tout ensemble de ce criminel dis-je que toute la terre connoist avec estime et dont personne ne connoist pourtant la naissance qui vit jamais adjoustoit il une chose plus surprenante que celle qui m'arrive aujourd'huy le moyen de s'imaginer qu'artamene par la valeur duquel j'ay remporte tant de victoires et vaincu tant de rois ait voulu ternir sa reputation par une perfidie mais le moyen aussi de penser que ce billet que j'ay dans les mains ne puisse estre explique par luy sans penser en mesme temps que le crime qu'il a commis est si grand que la confusion qu'il en a ne luy laisse pas seulement assez de liberte d'esprit pour inventer un pretexte a cette intelligence non non poursuivit il artamene est criminel et soit par amour ou par 
 ambition ou par tous les deux ensemble il est coupable et merite d'estre puni la difficulte que j'y trouve n'est qu'a scavoir si l'aimant comme je l'aime je pourray bien m'y resoudre et si ce coupable n'est point assez puissant dans mon coeur pour m'affliger plus de sa perte qu'il ne s'en afflige luy mesme mais reprenoit il tout d'un coup la douleur que je sens pour la perte de mandane me sera un puissant preservatif contre celle d'artamene estant a croire que mon ame se trouvant si sensible pour celle-la ne se la trouvera pas tant pour l'autre essayons neantmoins toutes choses adjoustoit il pour flechir cet esprit obstine et pour trouver matiere de luy pardonner faisons encore ce que nous pourrons pour luy faire confesser son crime mais pendant que ciaxare raisonnoit de cette sorte en luy mesme artamene de qui l'esprit amoureux ne pouvoit se separer de sa princesse songeoit bien plus a son naufrage qu'a sa prison et avoit bien plus d'aprehension de sa perte que de frayeur de la sienne fais ce que tu voudras rigoureux destin s'ecrioit il tu ne scaurois plus m affliger et mon ame n'estant plus sensible que du coste de mandane te deffie de l'esbranler par tous les autres adjouste les suplices a la prison je ne me pleindray point de ton injustice et tant que j'auray lieu de craindre que ma princesse ne soit dans le tombeau s'il m'arrive de murmurer d'estre dans les fers ce sera parce qu'ils m'empescheront d'avoir recours a une mort plus prompte et plus genereuse ha belle princesse 
 adjoustoit il soit que vous soyez parmi les morts ou parmi les vivans dans le ciel ou sur la terre si vous pouviez voir le malheureux artamene dans les prisons de ciaxare n'en auriez vous pas de la douleur et de l'estonnement cependant je ne me pleins ni de sa rigueur ni de son injustice car enfin je parois coupable a ses yeux et je le suis en effet mais c'est d'une maniere bien differente de celle qu'il imagine je suis coupable ma princesse mais c'est envers vous ouy je suis criminel poursuivoit il de vous avoir aimee non pas comme fille du roy des medes mais comme la plus parfaite personne qui sera jamais comme fille d'un grand roy je vous pouvois aimer mais comme mandane il faloit vous aimer sans le dire il faloit souffrir sans se plaindre il faloit vous adorer en mourant et mourir sans oser vous parler d'amour ouy mandane s'escrioit il je suis peut-estre la cause de tous vos malheurs car si je ne vous eusse point aimee vostre ame n'estant preoccupee de nulle bonte pour moy peut-estre auriez vous reconnu l'affection d'un des plus grands rois du monde et sans tant de guerres et sans tant de peines vous seriez femme du roy d'assirie et reine de plusieurs royaumes mais aussi adjoustoit il je n'aurois pas eu la gloire d'estre aime de vous et vous n'auriez pas eu l'advantage d'avoir en la personne du malheureux artamene un amant dont la passion respectueuse n'a jamais offense vostre vertu par un desir criminel de qui l'ame obeissante s'est soumise a toutes vos volontez de 
 qui la vie a este consacree a vostre service et de qui la mort ne sera mesme que pour vous car enfin poursuivoit il je mourray ma princesse sans apprendre a ciaxare quelle est la cause de l'intelligence qui paroist entre le roy d'assirie et artamene ne pensez pas disoit il en luy mesme adorable mandane que ce soit un petit sacrifice que celuy que je suis resolu de vous faire en cette rencontre le desir de la gloire est une passion aussi bien que l'amour et une passion dominante et une passion imperieuse qui n'a pas accoustume de ceder mais apres tout je n'ay point d'interest ou celuy de ma princesse se trouve que ciaxare me croye lasche et perfide tant qu'il luy plaira pourveu que je ne le sois pas il ne m'importe je scay que le roy d'assirie tout mon ennemy qu'il est deposera en ma faveur et que tout mon rival qu'il est il parlera a mon advantage croyez donc ciaxare croyez que je vous ay trahy tant qu'il vous plaira pourveu que vous ne croyez pas la chose telle qu'elle est et que la verite vous en soit cachee car encore que ma princesse soit tres innocente et que sa vertu n'ait eu que trop de severite dans une affection toute pure ciaxare et les malicieux de la cour ne croiroient peut-estre jamais que j'eusse peu estre si long temps deguise sans le consentement de mandane joint qu'en descouvrant ce que je suis ce seroit encore confirmer le roy dans l'opinion qu'il a que j'en veux a sa couronne puis qu'en fin je ne suis pas nay si loin du throsne qu'il se l'imagine helas disoit 
 il quel pitoyable destin est le mien je crains autant ma justification qu'il est naturel de la desirer et la peur d'offenser ma princesse est plus puissante en moy que la crainte de l'infamie quoy que la crainte de l'infamie soit le plus grand de tous les maux pour quiconque cherit la gloire au point qu'artamene la cherit je ne pense pourtant pas estre condamnable d'en user ainsi car enfin quelque passion que j'aye pour la princesse je ne ferois pas un crime pour la contenter mais aussi quelque amour que je puisse avoir pour cette gloire je n'offenseray jamais la reputation de mandane plustost que de laisser soubconner la mienne non non disoit il nostre vertu ne doit point despendre d'autruy et quand nous sommes assurez du tesmoignage de nostre propre conscience et de celuy de nos plus mortels ennemis il faut ne se mettre pas en peine du reste les dieux qui sont les protecteurs de l'innocence oprimee auront soing de faire connoistre la mienne apres ma mort sans que je m'en mesle ceux qui souffrent que l'on m'accuse scauront bien me justifier par des voyes que je ne scaurois moy mesme comprendre et la verite se trouera la plus forte mais pendant qu'artamene et ciaxare sont si occupez en eux mesmes toute cour et toute l'armee ne le sont pas moins en cette occasion le roy de phrigie le roy d'hircanie le prince des cadusiens celuy de licaonie et celuy des paphlagoniens hidaspe chrisante aglatidas thrasibule madate megabise adusius 
 artabase et feraulas furent estrangement estonnez de la prison d'artamene et non seulement tous ces princes et tous ces capitaines mais encore tous les habitans de sinope et toute l'armee d'abord que le bruit s'en espandit tous ces rois et tous ces princes furent a l'apartement d'artamene dont on leur refusa l'entree et un moment apres ciaxare les envoyant tous querir leur dit qu'il avoit este oblige de faire arrester artamene pour le bien de ses affaires qu'il leur ordonnoit d'empescher que leurs soldats dont il scavoit qu'il estoit aime ne se mutinassent et qu'il y alloit du repos de son estat et de celuy de tous les princes ses alliez un discours si peu vray-semblable ne fit nulle impression dans l'esprit de ceux ausquels il parloit qui tous d'une voix le supplierent de songer bien meurement a une chose si importante vous scavez seigneur dit le roy de phrigie que nous n'avons pas tousjours este de mesme party c'est pourquoy vous devez adjouster plus de croyance a mes paroles et croire qu'il est absolument impossible qu'artamene vous ait trahi puis que je n'en ay rien sceu pour moy adjousta le roy d'hircanie je ne croiray jamais qu'il soit coupable d'une trahison non pas mesme adjousta hidaspe quand il la confesseroit s'il ne faut que ma teste pour estre caution de son innocence dit aglatidas je la mets aux pieds de vostre majeste et si cette innocence repliqua le prince des cadusiens a pour ses accusateurs la moitie de vostre armee il 
 ne faut que le bras d'artamene pour les confondre si on luy permet de la deffendre je dementirois mes yeux adjousta le prince de licaonie s'ils pouvoient tesmoigner contre luy et je ne croy pas dit celuy de paphlagonie qu'il se trouve un homme qui ait l'audace de faire cette accusation je suis son complice s'il est criminel adjousta chrisante et je scay que je suis innocent j'ay veu son ame trop ferme dans la mauvaise fortune dit alors thrasibule pour croire qu'elle ait seulement chancele dans la bonne cela n'est croyable ny possible s'ecrierent a la fois madate et megabise et si vostre majeste adjousta feraulas fait parler ceux qui l'accusent je m'offre a les faire taire enfin tous ces princes et tous ces chefs les uns apres les autres et quelques fois tous ensemble s'empressoient a qui parleroit plus fortement pour l'illustre et malheureux artamene l'un se souvenoit de ses victoires l'autre de sa generosite l'un exaltoit sa valeur l'autre vantoit son affection et tous enfin en vindrent a tel point qu'ils perdirent une partie du respect qu'ils devoient a ciaxare par le peu de loisir qu'ils luy donnoient de s'expliquer le roy emporte de colere leur presenta les tablettes dans lesquelles artamene avoit escrit au roy d'assirie et leur dit tout en fureur voyez si celuy que vous deffendez si ardamment est aussi innocent que vous le pensez le roy de phrigie ayant leu ce billet tout haut en demeura un peu surpris aussi bien que tous ceux qui l'entendirent neantmoins 
 il ne changea point de sentimens non plus que les autres et apres avoir fort exagere comme quoy les apparences sont bien souvent trompeuses et incertaines ils conclurent tous d'une voix sans pouvoit bien dire pourquoy qu'artamene estoit innocent mais que quand mesme il seroit coupable ce seroit tousjours un coupable qu'il ne faudroit pas perdre legerement nous y adviserons leur respondit alors ciaxare mais cependant que chacun se souvienne en cette rencontre qu'il est quelquefois tres dangereux d'embrasser avec trop de chaleur la deffence des criminels et que ceux dont les troupes feront quelque rumeur dans mon camp me respondront en leurs propres personnes de l'insolence et de la revolte de leurs soldats ces princes et ces capitaines qui virent que ciaxare se laissoit emporter a la colere ne voulurent pas l'irriter davantage et comme la valeur d'artamene les avoit presque tous rendus ses vassaux ses sujets ou ses alliez ils ne voulurent pas perdre entierement le respect qu'ils luy devoient ny se mettre en estat de se rendre inutiles pour artamene qu'ils aimoient beaucoup comme ils eussent fait s'ils eussent continue d'eschauffer un esprit qui ne l'estoit desja que trop ils le laisserent donc dans la liberte de s'entretenir soy mesme et de dissiper une partie de son chagrin par le temps qu'il auroit de faire reflexion sur ce qu'il avoit fait et sur ce qu'il avoit a faire cependant chrisante et feraulas en sortant du cabinet du roy leur firent de nouveau 
 mille sermens en faveur de l'innocence de leur maistre et les confirmerent puissamment dans le dessein qu'ils avoient de le servir ils protesterent tous de perir plus tost que de souffrir qu'un homme d'un merite si extraordinaire fust injustement traite ce n'est pas que ce billet ne les embarrassast un peu mais artamene eut pourtant ce bonheur la que tous creurent qu'il y avoit quelque chose de cache qui le justifieroit et que personne ne crut qu'il fust coupable en effet quelle apparence y avoit il qu'artamene peust avoir une intelligence criminelle avec un prince qu'il venoit de vaincre et du quel il venoit de renverser l'empire et sans qu'il eust paru aux yeux du monde nul sujet de mescontentement de sa part ny nul changement en sa fortune aussi ne fust-ce pas sans peine que les chefs retindrent le peuple et les soldats en leur devoir et en les y retenant ils agirent de telle sorte avec eux qu'ils les laisserent dans la disposition qu'il faloit qu'ils fussent pour s'en pouvoir servir en cas qu'il en fust besoin ils leur dirent seulement qu'il faloit se donner patience et qu'artamene seroit bien tost delivre qu'il ne faloit pas precipiter le secours qu'ils luy vouloient donner de peur de rendre sa condition plus mauvaise et meslant tousjours parmi cela des louanges d'artamene ils empeschoient la revolte et la fomentoient tout ensemble ainsi sans atiedir leur affection ils reprimoient seulement leur violence qui n'estoit pas encore necessaire cependant tout le camp et toute la ville 
 estoient en desordre le nom d'artamene retentissoit par tout les medes les persans les capadociens les phrigiens les hircaniens les cadusiens les paphlagoniens et tant d'autres nations differentes dont cette grande armee estoit composee s'accordoient toutes en faveur d'artamene et faisant toutes son eloge chacun en sa langue et en sa maniere il n'y avoit presque pas un capitaine en tout ce grand corps qui ne se vantast d'avoir receu quelque bien-fait de luy ny presque pas un soldat qui ne publiast qu'il avoit l'honneur d'en estre connu enfin artamene estoit le sujet de toutes leurs conversations tous les soldats vouloient quitter le camp pour aller apprendre a la ville ce qui s'y passoit et quelques uns des habitans de la ville alloient au camp pour y exciter les soldats a ne laisser pas perdre leur general il n'y avoit que cet amy d'aribee qui n'agissant qu'en secret ne laissoit pas de nuire beaucoup au genereux artamene et d'entretenir la colere du roy c'estoit luy qui luy avoit escrit a cet illustre accuse mais qui luy avoit encore baille les tablettes dans lesquelles il avoit respondu a ce roy chrisante et feraulas estoient fort empeschez a deviner par quelle voye ciaxare pouvoit les avoir receues mais le ciel qui veut tousjours que les crimes se descouvrent fit qu'ils en furent bien tost esclaircis ils n'avoient garde d'imaginer comment la chose estoit advenue ny de prevoir par quel moyen ils l'apprendroient 
 car il estoit arrive que celuy que le roy d'assirie avoit envoye vers artamene et par lequel artamene luy avoit respondu avoit rencontre en s'en retournant un frere d'aribee qui luy ayant demande d'ou il venoit et ou il alloit avoit sceu par luy la verite de la chose ce frere l'ayant apprise avoit suborne cet homme qui luy avoit montre ces tablettes et apres les avoir ouvertes et leues il avoit par sa permission escrit la mesme chose dans d'autres et luy avoit persuade qu'il pouvoit a toute la medie et a toute la capadoce d'ou il estoit mais encore a toute l'asie et mesme a toute la terre s'il vouloit retourner a sinope et aller porter les tablettes d'artamene a un de ses amis qui estoit aupres de ciaxare et c'estoit le mesme qui de son coste avoit commence d'agir contre ce fameux prisonnier il luy dit en suitte que ce seroit rendre un service tres important au roy et dont il seroit tres magnifiquement recompense que le roy d'assirie qui a faute de gens l'avoit envoye seroit ravi de ce qu'il auroit fait ayant interest en la perte d'artamene qu'il verroit aussi bien sa lettre en copie qu'en original et qu'il la luy porteroit pendant qu'il retourneroit a sinope qu'au reste il ne faloit pas qu'il eust de scrupule de perdre un homme ambitieux qui aspiroit a la monarchie universelle un homme que l'on faisoit semblant d'aimer pour la crainte que l'on avoit de luy mais que s'il arrivoit jamais que 
 la fortune l'abandonnast pour un moment il seroit perdu sans ressource que tout changeroit de face que ses plus chers amis en apparence estoient ses ennemis en secret et qu'enfin il recevroit des louanges et des benedictions de tout le monde s'il venoit about d'un grand dessein que tout grand qu'il estoit il l'acheveroit pourtant sans aucun danger puis que ce ne seroit pas luy qui presenteroit ces tablettes au roy et qu'il ne seroit connu qu'apres que tout le peril seroit passe enfin ce frere d'aribee qui se nommoit artaxe sceut tant dire de choses a celuy auquel il parloit qu'adjoustant une riche bague a ses raisons il persuada cette ame foible et mercenaire et luy fit faire tout ce qu'il voulut artaxe escrivit donc a son amy qu'ayant trouve un moyen infaillible de vanger la mort de son frere il le conjuroit de ne le negliger pas et de s'en servir utilement que pour luy il s'en alloit de son coste dans pterie ville qui n'est pas fort esloignee de sinope ou le roy d'assirie s'estoit retire afin d'agir aupres de ce prince contre artamene et pour y attendre le succes de l'affaire dont il luy laissoit la conduite n'osant pas paroistre a la cour cet homme donc estant arrive a sinope avoit este trouver cet amy d'aribee et d'artaxe l'avoit trouve dispose a ce qu'il desiroit de luy et ce traistre avoit en effet conduit la chose jusques au point qu'elle estoit mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre ce fut que cet homme qui ne s'estoit principalement resolu a ce qu'il 
 avoit fait que parce qu'il s'estoit laisse persuader que c'estoit rendre un office universel a toute l'asie que de faire perir artamene fut bien estonne de voir qu'au lieu de causer une joye generale il avoit cause une douleur publique et qu'il avoit mis un desordre et une confusion si grande par tout qu'il n'estoit pas aise de prevoir par quels moyens l'on pourroit remettre les choses en leur tranquilite premiere cet homme donc de qui l'ame estoit sans doute plus fragile que meschante presse de remords et de plus extremement irrite de la fourbe qu'on luy avoit faite et de la mauvaise action qu'on luy avoit fait faire a luy mesme se resolut absolument de la reparer et d'apprendre aux amis d'artamene quel estoit celuy qui entretenoit ciaxare dans son chagrin et dans sa colere il s'adressa pour en venir about a feraulas et luy advoua ingenument comme la chose s'estoit passee mais avec des paroles si pleines de repentir que quoy que cet homme eust mis la vie de son maistre en danger il ne le mal-traita point au contraire apres avoir blasme sa premiere action il loua fort la seconde et se resolut de se servir de luy pour descouvrir tout ce qui se passeroit chez l'ennemy cache d'artamene il fit aussi tost scavoir a son maistre tout ce qu'il avoit appris car encore que ciaxare eust deffendu que personne ne luy parlast le capitaine des gardes n'observoit pas cet ordre si exactement qu'il ne donnast la liberte de luy escrire estant fortement persuade de son innocence et plus fortement 
 amoureux encore d'une vertu si extraordinaire artamene sceut ainsi par quelle voye son billet avoit este entre les mains de ciaxare dont il fut extremement aise car bien que les grandes ames qui sont incapables de crimes n'en croyent pas aisement les autres capables non plus qu'elles il avoit pourtant eu quelque leger soubcon que le roy d'assirie n'eust fait la chose et cette pensee luy avoit donne beaucoup d'inquietude car disoit il si par hazard l'illustre mandane n'estoit point morte et que par le mesme hazard elle revinst entre les mains du roy d'assirie quelle asseurance pourrois-je avoir en la parole d'un prince capable d'une si noire perfidie cependant chrisante et feraulas voulant se servir du moyen que le sort leur presentoit et travailler a la conservation d'artamene se trouvoient fort embarrassez car en l'estat qu'estoient les choses ils ne scavoient s'ils devoient dire la verite des advantures de leur maistre a ciaxare ils voyoient qu'en le justifiant d'un coste ils l'accuseroient de l'autre et jugeoient bien que sa vie seroit encore plus en danger comme amant de la princesse que comme amy du roy d'assirie sa condition mesme qui estoit tant au dessus de ce qu'elle paroissoit estre leur sembloit aussi un mauvais moyen pour le sauver et dans cette incertitude ils ne scavoient ny que resoudre ny qu'imaginer ils crurent neantmoins enfin qu'il estoit juste en une chose si importante de ne se fier pas entierement en leurs propres 
 opinions et de ne se charger pas seuls de l'evenement d'une affaire d'ou dependoit la perte ou la conservation de la personne du monde la plus considerable ils jugerent donc a propos de choisir les principaux des persans et ceux d'entre ces princes estrangers qui paroissoient les plus affectionnez a artamene et qu'il avoit le plus obligez afin de leur apprendre que celuy qu'ils aimoient estoit encore plus digne de leur amitie et de leur protection qu'ils ne pensoient et pour avoir apres cela leurs advis sur ce qu'ils avoient a faire ils eussent bien voulu en faire demander la permission a leur cher maistre mais c'estoit une chose si delicate a confier legerement qu'ils ne crurent pas qu'il la falust hazarder joint que dans l'indifference qu'il tesmoignoit avoir pour la vie ils s'imaginerent facilement qu'il ne se donneroit pas la peine d'examiner ce qui luy seroit le plus advantageux et ils jugerent mesme qu'il n'y consentiroit jamais vu le silence obstine qu'il observoit en une occasion ou il s'agissoit de son honneur et de sa vie comme ils eurent forme cette resolution ils prirent encore celle de ne confier ce secret qu'a des persans et a des princes estrangers et de n'en donner point de partaux medes parce qu'estans nais subjets de ciaxare ils auroient peut-estre pu se dispenser de la fidelite qu'ils auroient promise ou du moins la garder avec quelque repugnance et quelque scrupule ainsi apres s'estre fortement determinez sur ce dessein ils furent 
 chercher l'occasion de l'executer afin d'avoir au moins la satisfaction de n'avoir rien neglige pour la conservation de la personne du monde la plus illustre et la plus malheureuse tout ensemble 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 chrisante et feraulas avoient un dessein si juste que la fortune toute ennemie qu'elle est de la vertu et toute irritpe qu'elle estoit contre l'illustre artamene le favorisa au lieu de s'y opposer et le hazard voulut que ces deux fidelles serviteurs ayant intention d'assembler les plus chers amis de leur maistre a la reserve des medes trouverent tout a la fois chez hidaspe le roy d'hircanie le prince des cadusiens et thrasibule qu'artamene leur avoit envoye recommander depuis qu'il estoit arreste adusius et artabase s'y rencontrerent aussi tous ces autres princes s'y trouverent excepte le roy de phrigie qui estoit aupres de ciaxare pour tascher de le flechir et comme artamene estoit le sujet de tous leurs discours en l'estat qu'estoient les choses ils ne les virent pas plustost 
 qu'ils leur en parlerent et leur apprirent que ciaxare estoit tousjours irrite en suitte le roy d'hircanie s'adressant a chrisante le pria de luy dire si luy qui avoit une si grande part a l'amitie et a la confidence d'artamene et qui avoit tousjours este aupres de luy depuis si long temps a ce qu'il avoit entendu dire depuis qu'il estoit arrive a la cour de ciaxare lors qu'il n'estoit que roy de capadoce n'avoit rien sceu qui peust les instruire de sa naissance afin de voir si par ce coste la ils ne pourroient point trouver les moyens d'interesser a sa conservation le prince dont il seroit nay subjet ou de se servir du moins de ce pretexte pour tenir ciaxare en suspens en attendant que sa colere fust passee en effet adjousta hidaspe le moyen que l'armee de ciaxare estant composee de tant de nations differentes il ne soit pas de quelqu'une de celles-la et si cela est il est bon de le scavoir puis que ce seroit encore un puissant motif pour luy concilier les coeurs de ceux qui auroient la gloire d'estre nais sous mesmes loix et sous mesme prince que si aussi il est nay dans le party de nos ennemis peut-estre que ciaxare scachant qu'il a entre ses mains un homme de cette importance sera bien aise de le conserver pour en tirer quelque advantage contre eux hidaspe ayant cesse de parler tous les autres approuverent ce qu'il avoit dit et thrasibule adjousta que peut-estre mesme tireroient ils de cette connoissance celle des raisons de l'intelligence d'artamene avec le roy d'assirie 
 et celle de l'obstination qu'il avoit a ne vouloir point les descouvrir a ciaxare qui estoient deux choses qui ne les embarrassoient pas peu seigneurs respondit chrisante je tiens a bon presage que vous ayez prevenu l'intention de feraulas et la mienne puis que nous n'estions venus chez hidaspe qu'a dessein de l'obliger d'assembler chez luy tous ceux que la fortune y a fait trouver fortuitement la suitte de nostre discours vous fera voir pourquoy nous avons choisi la maison d'hidaspe et pourquoy nous n'avons pas juge a propos que tant d'illustres medes qui sont amis d'artamene s'y rencontrassent en un mot seigneurs nous sommes icy pour vous apprendre qui est veritablement artamene chrisante n'eut pas plustost prononce cette derniere parole que tous ces princes l'interrompirent par des tesmoignages de joye et d'impatience et par des souhaits qu'ils firent qu'il peust estre de leur nation non disoit le roy d'hircanie je n'auray point cet avantage je ne suis point assez heureux pour cela le prince des cadusiens disoit aussi la mesme chose et tous ensemble n'osant l'esperer quoy qu'ils le desirassent avec ardeur advouoient tacitement que personne n'estoit digne d'estre nay son souverain et qu'il l'estoit de l'estre de toute la terre mais enfin un moment apres hidaspe le plus impatient de tous ayant fait assoir tous ces princes et ordonne que l'on ne laissast entrer personne qui peust interrompre cette narration pressa chrisante de parler quelqu'un demanda 
 alors s'il ne faloit point attendre le roy de phrigie mais tout les autres qui brusloient depuis si long temps du desir de scavoir les commencemens d'une vie dont ils avoient veu les glorieuses suittes ne peurent souffrir cette remise et prierent tout de nouveau chrisante de ne les faire plus languir alors ce sage persan apres avoir este quelques momens sans dire mot pour rappeller en sa memoire l'idee de tant de grandes actions qu'il avoit veu faire a son cher maistre suivant qu'ils en estoient convenus feraulas et luy commenca son recit de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
histoire d'artamene
 
 
j'ay de si merveilleuses choses c vous apprendre que ce n'est pas sans sujet que je croy qu'il est a propos de vous preparer en quelque facon a n'en estre pas surpris car enfin seigneur dit il s'adressant au roy d'hircanie la naissance et la vie d'artamene ont des circonstances si extraordinaires si glorieuses pour luy et si surprenantes pour ceux qui ne les scavent pas que pour trouver de la creance parmy ceux qui m'escoutent je ne pense pas qu'il soit inutile de leur protester que la verite toute pure leur parlera par ma bouche et que si dans la narration que je vay faire je ne la dis pas tousjours exactement c'est que la modestie d'artamene m'a accoustume a cacher 
 une partie de sa gloire et a n'exagerer jamais les grandes choses qu'il a faites cependant seigneur cet artamene dont le nom s'est rendu si fameux et si illustre par sa valeur et par sa vertu en porte un autre qui n'est pas moins considerable par le grand prince qui le luy a donne avec la vie car seigneur quand je vous diray qu'artamene a este promis par les dieux apprehende des rois de la terre avant sa naissance et qu'artamene enfin n'est autre que cyrus fils de cambise roy de perse je ne vous diray rien qui ne soit veritable et que je ne prouve facilement a ces mots hidaspe et tous ceux qui estoient presens firent un grand cry et interrompirent chrisante quoy s'ecrierent-ils tous d'une voix artamene est cyrus artamene est fils du roy de perse artamene reprit chrisante est certainement ce que je dis et est par consequent d'une des plus illustres races du monde puis qu'elle compte entre ses premiers devanciers le vaillant persee celuy dis-je qui se vantoit d'estre fils de jupiter mais luy respondit hidaspe ne m'avez vous pas confirme vous mesme dans l'opinion que tout le monde a eu de son naufrage et ne m'avez vous pas dit vous mesme quand je vous ay reconnu icy que vous aviez change de maistre apres sa perte et que celuy que vous serviez presentement s'appelle artamene je l'ay fait sans doute reprit chrisante mais je l'ay fait par le commandement de cyrus qui voulant encore estre artamene m'obligera a ne luy changer 
 point de nom qu'il ne me l'ait permis a continuer de l'appeller ainsi dans la plus part de ce recit pour vous en faciliter d'autant plus l'intelligence et vous scaurez enfin par la suitte de mon discours quelles ont este les raisons qui l'ont oblige de se cacher il faut tomber d'accord dit lors hidaspe que vous aviez sujet de preparer ceux qui vous escoutent a estre surpris et il faut advouer adjousta artabase que nous avions bien perdu la raison de ne subconner rien de la verite vous voyant vous et feraulas si attachez a artamene quoy qu'il en soit dit le roy d'hircanie parlant a hidaspe a adusius et a artabase je n'ay point de peine a me persuader qu'artamene est cyrus et j'en avois bien davantage a m'imaginer qu'un homme si extraordinaire fust d'une naissance commune pour moy adjousta thrasibule je ne le creus pas mesme le premier jour que je le connus et je luy vis faire des choses qui ne me permirent pas de douter de sa condition persode prince des cadusiens s'adressant a hidaspe a artabase a adusius a chrisante et a feraulas je vous estime si heureux leur dit il de vous devoir touver subjets d'un tel prince qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne die que cette glorieuse servitude est preferable a la souveraine domination et qu'il vaudroit mieux luy obeir que de commander a cent millle autres hidaspe qui brusloit d'impatience de scavoir precisement les particularitez de toute une vie dont il scavoit les premieres advantures voulut 
 obliger chrisante a commencer son recit par le depart de cyrus de la cour du roy son pere mais comme thrasibule n'en avoit rien sceu et que ces autres princes n'avoient apris tout ce qui s'estoit autrefois passe a la cour d'astiage que par la renommee qui change tousjours un peu les choses en les publiant ils furent tous bien aises que chrisante les repassast en general afin de leur en rafraischir la memoire et d'en instruire thrasibule qui les ignoroit absolument chrisante donc apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler comme pour chercher a reprendre le fil de son discours se tournant vers le roy d'hircanie seigneur luy dit il je ne m'arresteray point a vous particulariser de nouveau la glorieuse naissance d'artamene puis qu'il suffit de dire son veritable nom et d'adjouster qu'il est de l'illustre race des perfides pour faire advouer qu'il n'y en a point de plus noble sur la terre il a mesme cet avantage d'estre nay parmi des peuples s'il est permis a un persan de parler de cette sorte ou toutes les vertus s'apprennent pour ainsi dire en naissant et chez qui les vices sont en si grande horreur qu'ils n'oseroient mesme y paroistre que sous les apparences de ces vertus artamene car nous l'appellerons encore long temps ainsi a de plus la gloire d'estre fils d'un prince et d'une princesse de qui les louanges sont en la bouche de toutes les nations et le bonheur de n'avoir par consequent pu recevoir de ses parens que des inclinations tres nobles tres hautes et tres 
 heroiques mais comme il semble que l'histoire des rois de medie n'est pas moins necessaire que celle des rois de perse pour esclaircir ce que j'ay a dire et qu'il faille reprendre les choses d'un peu plus loing pour vous faire perfaitement entendre toutes celles que j'ay a vous raconter il faut que je vous fasse souvenir comment les anciens rois des assiriens s'estoient rendus maistres de la haute asie et comment le sage et l'illustre dejoce fils de phraorte fit souslever ses compatriotes contre leurs tyrans et remit la souverainete des medes entre les mains d'un mede puis que ce fut entre les siennes vous scavez seigneur que ce grand et excellent homme estoit descendu en droite ligne des anciens rois de medie que ce fut luy qui fit de si belles loix qui bastit la superbe ville d'ecbatane et qui remit enfin sous son obeissance tous les estats de ses devanciers qui comprennent comme vous ne l'ignorez pas les brusses les paretacenes les struchates les arisantins et les budiens apres dejoce qui regna cinquante trois ans phraorte son fils posseda sa couronne et fut aussi paisible dans son royaume que si les rois d'assirie ne l'eussent jamais usurpe mais non content de se revoir sur le throsne de ses peres il fut faire la guerre aux persans qui apres une paix de plus d'un siecle dont ils avoient jouy se trouverent surpris par des gens aguerris et desja accoustumez a vaincre si bien que pour empescher la desolation entiere de leur pais ils firent alliance avec eux et convindrent 
 que la couvronne de perse et celle de medie n'auroient plus d'interests se parez et que toutes les fois que phraorte auroit besoin de leur assistance ils seroient obligez de la luy donner voila seigneur quelle fut la premiere liaison des medes avec les persans je ne m'arreste point a vous dire comment phraorte qui estoit ambitieux ayant voulu declarer la guerre au roy d'assirie qui le laissoit paisible dans ses estats perit en cette entreprise en assiegeant la ville de ninos apres avoir regne vint et deux ans ny comment apres sa mort ciaxare son fils et premier de ce nom parmy les rois des medes parvint a la couronne ny comment ce prince fut tantost mal-traite de la fortune et tantost favorise car vous n'ignorez pas que donnant une bataille contre les lydiens qu'il estoit prest de gagner il s'espandit tout d'un coup sur toutes les deux armees des tenebres si espaisses qu'il luy fut impossible de continuer de combattre et d'achever de gagner la victoire vous scavez aussi comment en assiegeant la ville de ninos dont je vous ay desja parle pour vanger la mort de phraorte son pere qui comme je l'ay dit avoit este tue devant cette ville et qu'estant tout prest de la prendre madias roy des scithes parut avec une armee de plus de cent mille hommes a la portee d'une fleche de son camp enfin seigneur vous scavez que ce prince combatit le roy des medes qui perdit la bataille avec l'empire mais vous scavez aussi qu'il remonta sur le throsne que cette invasion 
 des scithes ne dura que vingt-huit ans et que n'ayant pas change de sentimens en changeant de fortune il recommenca la guerre contre les rois d'assirie et qu'il prit enfin cette ville de ninos or seigneur ce premier ciaxare fut pere d'astiage qu'il laissa paisible possesseur de ses estats mais comme ce prince estoit nay dans un temps de troubles et de divisions je pense que les troubles et les agitations de l'esprit du pere pendant de si grandes revolutions passerent dans l'ame du fils et y laisserent certaines impressions melancoliques et defiantes qui ont fait passer toute la vie de ce prince avec beaucoup d'inquietude et qui ont peut-estre cause en partie toutes les traverses de celle d'artamene il fut marie assez jeune et d'une facon sans doute assez extraordinaire pour m'en devoir souvenir icy cette bataille que le roy son pere n'avoit pu gagner contre aliatte roy de lydie a cause de cette obscurite qui s'estoit espandue sur toutes les deux armees fut cause des nopces dont je vous parle car apres un accident si estrange le roy des medes consulta les mages et aliatte envoya au temple de diane a ephese qui commencoit d'estre en grande reputation pour les oracles qui s'y rendoient ces princes sceurent par l'advis des mages et par l'oracle de diane que les dieux avoient donne une marque trop visible qu'ils ne trouvoient pas bon qu'ils se fissent la guerre pour la continuer davantage et qu'ainsi il faloit qu'ils se resolussent a faire la paix le roy 
 de cilicie s'estant entremis de la chose fit que le roy de lydie qui avoit une fille soeur de cresus la fit espouser a astiage fils de son ennemy ainsi vous pouvez connoistre par la que ces nopces furent faites si tost apres la guerre de lydie que ce n'est pas sans raison que je dis que ce prince nay dans le tumulte en receut quelques dispositions au trouble et a la confusion pour son regne seigneur comme il n'y a pas long temps qu'il est acheve il seroit superflu de vous le raconter exactement il suffira donc que je vous die que ce prince qui scavoit que pas un de ses predecesseurs depuis l'illustre dejoce n'avoit possede la couronne de medie en paix se tenoit tousjours prepare a la guerre et craignoit tousjours quelque revolte vous n'ignorez pas non plus qu'il eut de la reine sa femme fille d'alliate et soeur de cresus ciaxare qui regne presentement et qui retient l'invincible artamene prisonnier vous scavez aussi qu'il eut encore une fille appellee mandane d'une eminente beaute et d'une grande vertu a quelque temps de la il perdit la reine sa femme qu'il avoit si cherement aimee qu'il ne voulut jamais se remarier depuis cette perte il ne songea plus qu'a faire bien eslever le jeune ciaxare et la jeune mandane et a tascher de se maintenir en paix sans rien entreprendre contre ses voisins mais s'il eut le bonheur de n'avoir pas de guerre fort considerable il eut aussi le malheur de se voir presque tousjours a la veille d'en avoir tantost contre ses anciens 
 ennemis les rois d'assirie tantost contre ses alliez tantost contre ses propres subjets neantmoins au milieu de tant d'inquietudes que ces remuemens continuels luy donnoient sa cour ne laissoit pas d'estre la plus superbe de toute l'asie car comme vous scavez que la nation des medes aime les plaisirs et la magnificence et qu'astiage en son particulier estoit fort sensible a tous les divertissemens malgre ses chagrins et ses inquietudes ecbatane ne laissoit pas d'estre le sejour du monde le plus agreable ce prince avoit observe cette coustume depuis la naissance de ciaxare son fils de ne manquer pas toutes les annees d'en faire celebrer le jour par des resjouissances publiques et de le conduire luy mesme au temple pour y remercier les dieux de le luy avoir donne et pour les prier encore de le luy vouloir conserver le jeune ciaxare pouvoit avoir seize ans et la princesse sa soeur quatorze lors qu'une de ces festes arrivant il y advint une chose qui troubla estrangement la ceremonie car comme astiage partit un matin de son palais pour aller au temple y mener le prince son fils tout d'un coup la clarte du jour commenca de diminuer et le soleil s'eclipsant il y eut une si grande obscurite sur toute la terre qu'a peine se pouvoit-on reconnoistre et ce peu de lumiere qui restoit avoit je ne scay quoy de si lugubre que l'aveuglement absolu eust en quelque chose de moins effroyable cet accident surprit infiniment astiage tout le peuple 
 mesme ne prit pas cela pour un bon augure encore que tous ceux qui virent cette eclipse en eussent veu d'autres celle la ne laissoit pas de leur donner une frayeur que les autres ne leur avoient pas donnee outre que celle-cy estoit plus grande que toutes celles qu'ils pouvoient avoir veues la rencontre du jour leur sembloit une chose si remarquable qu'ils ne pouvoient s'imaginer que le cas fortuit l'eust causee et ils croyoient asseurement que les dieux vouloient advertir le roy et tous les medes de quelque evenement considerable chacun se souvenoit de ces effroyables tenebres dont le premier ciaxare pere d'astiage avoit este si trouble et personne ne doutoit que puis que celles la avoient este causees pour advertir le roy des medes et celuy de lydie de faire la paix celles cy ne voulussent aussi signifier quelque chose de grande importance enfin tout le monde en parloit selon son caprice et chacun se mesloit d'expliquer cet accident selon son humeur et selon sa passion les uns disoient qu'il pourroit bien presager la mort du roy les autres craignoient seulement la chutte de son empire quelques uns la perte du prince son fils et tous ensemble n'en auguroient que des evenemens funestes mais si l'obscurite et l'epaisseur des tenebres les avoit surpris ce qui suivit cette eclipse ne les estonna gueres moins car apres qu'elle eut dure quatre heures toutes entieres le soleil contre sa coustume se descouvrit en un moment 
 et parut si clair et si brillant et d'une lumiere si inaccessible qu'il pensa aveugler tous ceux qui eurent la hardiesse de le vouloir regarder sa chaleur ne fut pas moins extreme que sa clarte et l'on sentit tout d'un coup une ardeur si grande que le peuple creut que toute la terre s'alloit embrazer cependant astiage qui de son naturel estoit fort inquiet et fort apprehensif et qui de plus estoit fort scrupuleux et fort persuade de l'opinion que les mages connoissoient presque tout ce qui devoit advenir les assembla tous et les conjura de bien considerer cet accident vous scavez sans doute que ces hommes menent une vie qui leur donne plus de loisir qu'aux autres de connoistre les choses celestes car outre leur austerite leur retraite et leur solitude ils ont une connoissance si particuliere des astres que par eux seulement ils penetrent bien loing dans celle de l'advenir joint que les dieux les inspirent encore par des voyes secrettes et particulieres que le vulgaire ne connoist pas leurs responses sont presque aussi asseurees que celles des oracles et quand elles rencontrent heureusement elles ont cet advantage qu'elles sont beaucoup plus claires quoy qu'il en soit astiage ayant fait assembler tous les mages comme je l'ay desja dit et eux ayant prie les dieux et consulte les astres dirent a ce prince apres l'avoir prepare a recevoir ce qu'ils avoient a luy dire sans se laisser emporter a nulle violence que selon toutes leurs s selon tout ce que leur scavoir et 
 les dons qu'ils avoient receus du ciel leur pouvoient aprendre il faloit de necessite que cette grande eclipse qui ne venoit point dans le temps ny dans les revolutions establies par la nature signifiast ou sa mort ou celle du prince son fils ou la perte de son authorite souveraine que pour les deux premiers ils luy respondoient que cela ne pouvoit estre parce qu'ayant fait autrefois par son commandement des observations astronomiques sur la duree de leur vie et dresse la figure de leur nativite avec tout le soing que demande un horoscope ils avoient tousjours trouve qu'elle seroit assez longue et qu'ainsi il faloit de necessite conclurre que ce mauvais presage regardoit son authorite toute seule que venant a considerer que la paix estoit presentement chez tous ses voisins comme chez luy ils ne voioyent point de cause bien apparente de cette revolution universelle dont toute l'asie et particulierement la medie estoit menacee que cependant il estoit certain qu'elle arriveroit d'ou qu'elle vinst si l'on ne profitoit des advertissemens que le ciel en avoit donne comme ciaxare son pere en avoit profite autrefois astiage surpris et espouvante de ce discours les pressa de nouveau fort instamment de luy dire tout ce qu'ils pensoient et comme il eut remarque qu'infailliblement ils cragnoient encore quelque chose qu'ils ne luy disoient pas il leur commanda si absolument de parler avec sincerite qu'enfin ils luy dirent que selon leur advis 
 il estoit a craindre que cette clarte extraordinaire qui avoit suivy l'obscurite et que ce soleil qui s'estoit decouvert en un instant ne voulussent signifier que le prince son fils conseille par quelques esprits ambitieux ne songeast un jour a s'emparer de sa couronne que cette lumiere eclipsee ne fust un presage que sa puissance la seroit bien tost et que cette nouvelle clarte ne marquast bien visiblement l'esclat qui suit un nouveau prince que la chose n'estoit pas pourtant sans remede que les dieux n'advertissoient pas les hommes inutilement et que comme le roy son pere les avoit appaisez en faisant la paix il faloit qu'il songeast a se les rendre propices par des sacrifices et par des voeux aussi bien que par ses vertus que sur tout il faloit avoir grand soing de tenir aupres du jeune prince des gens sages et raisonnables qui pussent luy donner de bons conseils et detruire dans son esprit les mauvais que d'autres gens mal intentionnez luy pourroient suggerer le roy n'eut pas si tost entendu ce que les mages luy dirent qu'il en fut pleinement persuade car outre qu'il avoit quelque disposition naturelle a croire les choses facheuses il est certain qu'il y avoit quelque apparence en celle la car enfin ciaxare paroissoit estre fort ambitieux et toutes ses inclinations penchoient a la grandeur et a la domination il y avoit mesme diverses personnes apres de luy qui fomentoient cette inclination naturelle si bien qu'astiage n'eut pas plustost tourne son esprit de ce 
 coste la qu'il pensa voir son fils dans son trone luy arracher le sceptre et luy vouloir donner des fers vostre majeste peut juger quel trouble un pareil accident mit dans l'ame d'un prince qui preferoit ce throsne a la vie et qui malgre la jalousie qu'il avoit de son authorite ne laissoit pas d'avoir de la tendresse pour son fils cependant il deffendit aux mages de publier ce qu'ils luy avoient dit de peur d'avancer luy mesme sa ruine et de peur que son fils venant a scavoir la chose ne creust qu'il n'y avoit point de crime a oster la couronne a son pere puis qu'il sembloit presque que les dieux l'eussent absolument resolu il leur commanda donc de dire au prince son fils et au peuple que cette eclipse n'avoit rien d'extraordinaire que la rencontre du jour ou elle avoit paru n'estoit qu'un simple cas fortuit dont il ne faloit pas tirer de mauvaises consequences et que pourtant ils ne laissassent pas de prier les dieux de vouloir conserver sa bonne fortune les mages obeirent a ses commandemens mais en luy obeissant il ne receut pas de leur silence tout l'effet qu'il en attendoit car le peuple crut au contraire que puis que l'on ne vouloit pas luy apprendre de quel mal il estoit menace il faloit necessairement qu'il fust fort a craindre le jeune prince mesme s'imagina que peut-estre les mages avoient trouve que sa vie estoit menacee ainsi toute la cour et tout le peuple estoit en confusion et en desordre le roy faisoit pourtant tout ce qui luy estoit possible 
 pour tesmoigner qu'il n'avoit rien de facheux en l'esprit mais au milieu des festes de resjouissance qu'il faisoit faire expres pour deguiser son chagrin l'on ne laissoit pas de remarquer en luy une inquietude si extraordinaire qu'il estoit aise de juger que son ame n'estoit pas en repos en effet l'on peut dire que son coeur estoit agite par deux passions qui ne se trouvent ensemble sans exciter de grands troubles et la tendresse paternelle ayant a combattre la jalousie de la souveraine authorite il est facile de juger qu'astiage n'estoit pas d'accord avec luy mesme il aimoit la couronne comme il aimoit son fils et peut-estre mesme penchoit il un peu plus d'un coste que d'autre en effet sa procedure le fit assez remarquer peu de temps apres car venant a chercher les moyens d'empescher le jeune ciaxare de songer a la revolte il crut qu'il n'en avoit point de meilleure voye que celle de l'esloigner de la cour ou les grands de l'estat demeurent qui le regardant comme devant estre un jour leur roy avoient des deferences pour luy qui l'entretenoient dans une disposition fort propre a recevoir agreablement de mauvais conseils neantmoins ce n'estoit pas sans beaucoup d'inquietudes et sans beaucoup d'irresolutions qu'il se determinoit a cet esloignement car il y avoit des momens ou au contraire il craignoit que ce ne fust donner a ciaxare les moyens de luy nuire plustost car disoit il en luy mesme tant qu'il est aux lieux ou je suis je n'ay presque pas besoin 
 d'espions pour observer ce qu'il fait et je suis moy mesme le tesmoin de ses actions mais quand il fera dans une province esloignee en qui me pourray-je confier de sa conduitte et ne dois-je pas croire que les personnes mal intentionees luy diront en ce lieu la ce qu'elles ne feroient peut-estre que penser en celuy cy enfin seigneur apres avoir bien examine la chose et l'avoir bien regardee de tous les biais il crut avoir trouve un expedient plus seur de l'eloigner que tous ceux qu'il avoit imaginez auparavant car venant a penser que le roy de capadoce son voisin et son allie n'avoit laisse en mourant qu'une fille sous la conduite de la reine sa mere il creut que s'il la pouvoit faire espouser a ciaxare ce seroit une excellente voye de l'esloigner sans luy donner sujet de pleinte et sans qu'il parust que ce fust avec un dessein cache que de plus il estoit a croire qu'en mettant une couronne sur la teste de son fils elle suffiroit a satisfaire son ambition et qu'elle pourroit l'empescher de commettre un crime en songeant a arracher celle de son pere enfin il vit tant d'avantage en ce dessein qu'il ne pensa plus qu'a l'achever je ne m'arresteray point seigneur a vous dire tout ce qu'il fit pour y parvenir et tous les obstacles qu'il y rencontra car je presupose que vous n'ignorez pas qu'il y a une loy en capadoce qui veut que les rois ne marient jamais leurs filles a des princes estrangers de peur d'exposer leur estat a passer sous la domination de quelqu'un qui ne fust pas 
 du pais neantmoins astiage dont je vous parle agit avec tant d'adresse et tant de bonheur qu'il vint a bout de son entreprise il se trouva mesme par hazard que ciaxare estoit nay en capadoce parce que la reine sa mere revenant de visiter un fameux temple qui estoit en ce pais la avoit este surprise de mal vers la fin de sa grossesse et contrainte d'accoucher en un lieu qui estoit effectivement dans les limites de la capadoce il maria donc ciaxare a cette jeune reine de qui la beaute et la vertu estoient encore d'un prix plus considerable que sa couronne mais a peine l'eut il espousee que la reine mere de sa femme mourut et le peuple s'imagina que cette mort estoit une punition des dieux pour n'avoir pas assez rigoureusement observee la loy fondamentale de l'estat cependant astiage apprenant que ciaxare son fils se tenoit tres content de sa condition et que la couronne de capadoce et la vertu de la princesse sa femme suffiroient pour le rendre heureux il se l'estima luy mesme et la joye et les plaisirs reprenant leur place dans ecbatane l'on peut dire que la jeune mandane sa fille ne devoit rien apprehender davantage que de partir d'une cour dans laquelle tout le monde l'adoroit car depuis l'absence du prince son frere ce n'estoit plus que par elle que l'on obtenoit quelque chose du roy son pere mais au milieu de ce calme et de cette felicite universelle il advint qu'astiage fit un songe estrange et bizarre dont l'on a parle par toute la 
 terre et comme il consultoit tousjours les mages sur tous les accidens de sa vie ils trouverent que leurs premieres predictions pouvoient les avoir trompez et qu'infailliblement la princesse sa fille devoit avoir un fils qui se rendroit maistre de toute l'asie et par consequent un fils qui le renverseroit du throne qui occuperoit la place de ciaxare et qui causeroit enfin une revolution generale d'abord astiage contre sa coustume eut peine a se laisser persuader une chose si peu vray-semblable et resista long temps aux mages dont les secondes predictions luy estoient en quelque facon suspectes de mensonge par la faussete des premieres que celles-cy destruisoient mais ces fascheuses et extravagantes visions l'ayant persecute plusieurs nuits de suitte il commenca d'apprehender tout de bon neantmoins une semblable chose quoy que d'assez grande consideration chez les medes et parmy les mages qui croyent que les songes sont les voyes les plus ordinaires par lesquelles les dieux se communiquent aux hommes n'auroit pourtant peut-estre pas oblige astiage a craindre si fort les malheurs dont il estoit menace s'il n'en fust arrive d'autres qui redoublerent sa crainte et qui semblerent mesme l'authoriser la princesse mandane qui ne scavoit rien de ce qui se passoit estant un soir dans son cabinet qui estoit esclaire de plusieurs lampes de cristal on luy vint dire que le roy son pere la venoit voir comme en effet astiage avoit resolu de s'entretenir 
 avec elle pour tascher de trouver quelque soulagement a ses inquietudes dans la moderation de cette princesse qui certainement est la plus vertueuse personne qui sera jamais mais a peine estoit il entre dans ce cabinet que toutes ces lampes s'esteignirent d'elles mesmes a la reserve d'une qui estoit droit sur la teste de mandane et qui sembla redoubler sa lumiere de toute celle que les autres avoient perdue astiage plus trouble de ce dernier prodige qu'il ne l'avoit este de ses songes consulta de nouveau les mages qui luy dirent que sans doute cela estoit une marque asseuree que toute domination cesseroit et seroit confondue dans celle qu'un fils de mandane devoit avoir selon les songes qu'ils luy avoient expliquez auparavant le jour d'apres la princesse estant allee au temple les fondemens s'en esbranlerent tous les ornemens en tomberent a terre excepte une image d'un jeune enfant qui demeura debout avec un arc a la main ce qui fit encore dire aux mages que cet enfant qui devoit naistre seroit l'amour de toutes les nations et seroit maistre absolu de la plus noble partie du monde apres ces accidens et ces prodiges redoublez astiage abandonna entierement son coeur a la crainte et la princesse qui peu de jours auparavant faisoit toutes ses delices fut la cause de tous ses chagrins et de toutes ses inquietudes il est vray qu'il ne les souffrit pas seul et qu'elle les partagea avec luy quoy que ce fust d'une maniere differente car ayant 
 sceu enfin l'explication que les mages avoient donnee a ciaxare sur tout ce qui estoit arrive cette sage princesse fut trouver le roy son pere pour le suplier tres humblement de se mettre l'esprit en repos que pour le pouvoir faire il n'avoit qu'a s'asseurer que s'il le jugeoit a propos elle ne songeroit jamais a se marier et qu'ainsi toutes les menaces qu'on luy faisoit se trouveroient vaines que si sa vie luy donnoit de l'inquietude et qu'il ne voulust pas se fier en ses paroles elle venoit luy dire qu'elle estoit resolue a la mort qu'elle s'estimeroit heureuse d'estre la victime qui appaiseroit les dieux irritez et qui remettroit la tranquilite dans son ame et qu'apres tout luy devant la vie elle se croyoit obligee de la luy rendre astiage entendant parler la princesse sa fille de cette sorte au lieu d'en estre touche crut qu'il y avoit de dissimulation en sa procedure et que la frayeur la faisoit parler si hardiment de plus comme il scavoit qu'il y avoit un homme de qualite nomme artambare qui estoit fort amoureux de la princesse et qui avoit mesme espere l'obtenir de luy il crut que cet homme qui effectivement estoit fort ambitieux devoit estre pere de celuy qu'il apprehendoit si fort de sorte que sans respondre rien a tout ce que la princesse sa fille luy avoit dit d'obligeant il se contenta de luy dire qu'il luy deffendoit de sortir de son apartement et qu'il ne vouloit autre chose d'elle si non qu'elle se preparast a obeir sans reserve a tout ce qu'il ordonneroit cette sage 
 princesse se retira apres avoir promis cette obeissance aveugle et astiage demeura dans sa chambre avec une inquietude insupportable il ne pouvoit pas se resoudre de penser a la mort de sa fille et il ne pouvoit non plus s'assurer en la promesse qu'elle luy faisoit de ne se marier jamais car disoit il quand mesme elle n'en auroit nulle intention presentement qui scait si artambare qui en est amoureux ne gagnera point enfin son esprit ou bien si sans son consentement il ne l'enlevera pas elle est jeune et belle et soit par les desseins qu'elle peut prendre ou par ceux que l'on peut avoir pour elle il y a beaucoup de danger a se confier en ses paroles si je l'enferme dans une tour ceux qui en sont amoureux la delivreront ou par force ou par adresse si je la laisse libre on la persuadera contre ma volonte enfin disoit il je ne scay que faire ny que resoudre mais apres tout il crut puis qu'il n'estoit pas capable du violent dessein de la perdre que le mieux qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de la marier mais de la marier de facon que selon toutes les apparences il ne deust pas craindre les choses dont il estoit menace apres avoir bien resve sur cette pretendue alliance il s'avisa que cambise qui depuis peu estoit parvenu a la couronne de perse par la mort du roy son pere pouvoit estre assez propre pour le r'assurer et pour le guarir de ses craintes car disoit il en luy mesme je scay que les persans naturellement ne sont point ambitieux qui'ils sont fort equitables 
 qu'ils sont satisfaits des terres qu'ils possedent qu'ils ne songent point a reculer les bornes de leur estat et que pourveu qu'on les laisse jouir en paix de ce qui leur appartient ils n'ont jamais nulle intention de perdre un repos assure pour des conquestes incertaines de plus adjoustoit il je scay que cambise en son particulier surpasse autant en moderation tous les autres persans que les persans en general surpassent en cette vertu tous les autres peuples de la terre il se laisse gouverner par les loix et ne gouverne que par elles de sorte qu'il semble par toutes ses facons d'agir avec ses subjets qu'il est moins leur roy que leur pere joint que la royaute de perse n'est pas si absolue que le gouvernement n'y retienne quelque ombre de republique ainsi moins facilement plusieurs s'engagent a la guerre qu'un seul et l'ambition qui peut tout dans l'ame d'un prince ne peut presque rien sur tout un senat enfin seigneur pour n'allonger pas mon recit par des choses qui n'y sont pas absolument necessaires en ayant tant d'autres importantes a vous dire vous scaurez seulement que le roy des medes resolut ce mariage en luy mesme et le fit proposer adroitement a cambise qui y consentant avec joye envoya des ambassadeurs a ecbatane pour y demander la princesse astiage qui s'estoit procure cette demande n'eut garde de les refuser de sorte qu'il envoya aussi tost sa fille en perse qui luy obeit avec sa vertu ordinaire et qui s'estima peu de temps 
 apres la plus heureuse princesse du monde par la connoissance qu'elle eut des excellentes qualitez que possedoit le roy son mary et par les tesmoignages qu'elle receut de l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle enfin selon les apparences astiage sembloit estre en seurete ciaxare son fils estoit en estat d'attendre en repos sa couronne et la princesse sa fille estoit en un pais de paix d'ou selon les regles de la prudence humaine il ne faloit pas craindre la guerre cependant le calme ne fut pas long dans l'ame d'astiage et a peine mandane fut elle mariee que se repentant de ce qu'il avoit fait il ne fut rien qu'il ne fist pour tascher de la faire revenir en son pouvoir ce qui entretenoit ses frayeurs et ce qui les redoubloit souvent c'estoit que tous les sacrifices qu'il offroit aux dieux sembloient n'estre pas bien receus et que tous les mages qui depuis les songes qu'il avoit faits ne s'occupoient continuellement qu'a la contemplation des astres et qu'a l'observation des choses celestes disoient tousjours tout d'une voix que le grand changement dont la medie estoit menacee arriveroit bien tost que de jour en jour ils voyoient plus clair dans ces malignes constellations une revolution generale et qu'enfin il faloit plustost desormais songer a s'y preparer qu'a l'empescher les choses estant en cet estat astiage envoya prier cambise de souffrir que mandane fist un voyage aupres de luy cette princesse quoy que bien informee de l'humeur de roy son pere n'en 
 dit rien au roy son mary et le supplia de luy permettre de donner cette satisfaction a celuy qui luy avoit donne la vie car encore qu'elle sceust bien les imaginations de son pere elle espera l'en pouvoir guerir enfin et au pis aller quoy qu'elle aimast infiniment cambise elle se resoluoit plustost a s'en priver qu'a estre cause d'une guerre entre son pere et son mary comme elle eust este par ce refus ce prince qui aymoit cherement la reine sa femme eut cette complaisance pour elle et la renvoya en medie avec un equipage proportionne a sa condition et a la cour ou elle avoit este nourrie plustost qu'a la moderation de celle ou elle demeuroit alors le roy son mary la conduisit jusques sur la frontiere et la ils se dirent un adieu le plus touchant et le plus tendre qu'il est possible d'imaginer car comme mandane craignoit que le roy son pere ne la voulust retenir pour se mettre l'esprit en repos et pour se delivrer de ses terreurs elle avoit une secrette cause de douleur dans l'ame que cambise ne partageoit pas avec elle parce qu'il ne la scavoit point mais enfin ils se separerent cambise s'en retournant a persepolis et mandane fort melancolique s'en allant a ecbatane elle y fut receue avec une joye inconcevable et astiage ne s'estoit jamais veu si en repos ny si assure qu'il se le croyoit car auparavant que la princesse fust mariee il apprehendoit que quelqu'un comme je l'ay dit ne luy persuadast de se marier ou ne l'en levast au lieu que la voyant mariee et esloignee 
 du roy son mary il ne croyoit pas que rien peust troubler son repos il prevoyoit bien toutefois que lors qu'il auroit retenu la princesse sa fille un temps considerable aupres de luy et qu'elle voudroit s'en retourner il seroit oblige peut-estre d'avoir la guerre contre la perse pour l'outrage fait a son roy mais il n'estoit rien qu'il n'apprehendast moins que de voir mandane en estat de pouvoir avoir un fils ce ne furent donc que festes et que resjouissances a son arrivee dans la cour et veu le bon accueil qu'astiage luy avoit fait elle creu avoir lieu d'esperer que ce qu'elle avoit apprehende n'arriveroit pas mais au milieu de tant de divertissemens sa sante commenca de s'alterer et son visage donna des marques visibles des incommoditez qu'elle sentoit d'abord elle s'imagina que la fatigue du voyage le changement d'air quoy qu'elle fust en celuy ou elle estoit nee et le deplaisir qu'elle sentoit de l'absence de son mary pouvoient luy causer cette indisposition mais peu de jours apres elle connut avec certitude qu'elle estoit partie grosse de perse ce qui la troubla d'une telle facon qu'elle en fut effectivement malade car elle s'imagina qu'infailliblement le roy son pere ne luy permettroit pas de s'en aller en cet estat et que si elle accouchoit d'un fils a ecbatane le moindre mal qui luy pust arriver seroit qu'en entrant dans le berceau il entreroit dans les fers et seroit mis en lieu ou elle n'en pourroit pas disposer elle apprehendoit mesme quelquefois que le roy son mary ne l'accusast 
 de luy avoir cache l'humeur de son pere enfin tant de choses l'inquietoient qu'elle avoit besoin de toute sa constance pour ne montrer qu'une partie de ses chagrins cependant elle se resolut de cacher sa grossesse aussi long temps qu'elle le pourroit elle ne sortit donc plus de sa chambre et mesme pour l'ordinaire elle gardoit tousjours le lict a quelque temps de la se pleignant tousjours davantage elle fit semblant de croire que l'air d'ecbatane ne luy estoit point bon suppliant le roy son pere de souffrir qu'elle s'en retournast en perse ou du moins qu'il luy permist de s'en aller a une tres belle maison qui estoit environ a deux cens stades de cette ville esperant qu'il luy seroit plus aise en ce lieu la de cacher ce qu'elle vouloit tenir secret mais le malheur voulut qu'un des medecins qui la visitoient s'aperceut de la verite de la chose malgre les soins qu'elle avoit eus de la deguiser car elle s'estoit pleinte de plusieurs incommoditez qu'elle n'avoit pas afin de les tromper et de leur oster la connoissance de son veritable mal ce medecin croyant donner une agreable nouvelle a astiage luy apprit qu'elle estoit grosse si bien que la reine venant a demander son conge ne fut pas en estat de l'obtenir au contraire le roy luy dit que si elle estoit en perse il faudroit qu'elle revinst en medie pour y recouvrer la sante puis que c'estoit son pais natal et que l'air y estoit beaucoup plus sain qu'a persepolis et qu'enfin il ne faloit pas seulement songer a partir que pour aller a la 
 campagne il y consentiroit volontiers s'il estoit persuade que cela luy peust servir mais qu'ecbatane ayant d'aussi beaux jardins qu'elle en avoit il croyoit que le chagrin qui paroissoit mesle dans ses maux se vaincroit plustost a la cour que non pas dans la solitude qui seroit plus propre a l'entretenir qu'a le chasser a quelques jours dela on luy osta toutes les femmes qu'elle avoit aupres d'elle on luy en donna d'autres et le temps de son accouchement estant arrive vous scavez seigneur jusques ou cette crainte ambitieuse qui possedoit astiage le porta et quelle inhumanite la frayeur qu'il avoit de perdre l'empire luy inspira en cette rencontre cet accident seigneur a este si extraordinaire que toute la terre l'a sceu ainsi je vous feray seulement souvenir en peu de paroles comme mandane estant accouchee d'un fils l'ambitieux astiage le fit prendre par harpage son confident avec commandement de l'exposer sur quelque montagne deserte ou dans quelque affreuse forest ce prince tout inhumain qu'il estoit n'ayant pu se resoudre a la faire tuer ou plus tost les dieux l'ayant aveugle pour l'empescher de commettre un crime mais harpage estant encore moins cruel que luy ne put se resoudre d'executer luy mesme cet ordre quoy qu'il l'eust promis et n'estant pas aussi assez hardy pour sauver cet enfant il le remit entre les mains d'un berger appelle mitradate qui demeuroit au pied des montagnes et qu'il envoya querir pour cela a une maison de la compagne qui 
 estoit a luy afin qu'il fist ce qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre de faire vostre majeste aura sceu sans doute que ce berger emportant cet enfant chez luy qui estoit le plus beau que l'on eust jamais veu trouva que pendant le temps qu'il avoit este a la ville sa femme estoit accouchee d'un enfant mort et que luy ayant monstre celuy qu'il tenoit qui commenca de sousrire des qu'elle le prit entre ses bras elle ne donna point de repos a son mary qu'il ne luy eust advoue l'ordre qu'il avoit eu de l'exposer cette femme genereuse et pitoyable comme vous scavez n'y voulut jamais consentir mais pour se mettre en seurete elle abandonna le corps mort de son fils pour sauver celuy de ce bel enfant vivant ce n'est pas que cette pauvre mere qui se nommoit spaco n'eust quelque peine a se resoudre de mettre le corps de son fils en estat d'estre devore par les bestes sauvages enfin cette tendresse maternelle ceda a une tendresse plus legitime et ne pouvant ressusciter son enfant elle voulut du moins conserver celuy de quelque personne de haute condition a ce qu'elle en pouvoit juger par les langes de drap d'or dans lesquels cet enfant estoit enveloppe tant y a seigneur que mitradate et sa femme demeurant au pied de ces montagnes desertes tirant vers le septentrion d'ecbatane etb le pont euxin il leur fut aise de mettre cet enfant mort en lieu ou il peust estre dechire car comme partie de la medie qui regarde les aspires est extremement 
 montagneuse et couverte d'espaisses forests qui sont toutes remplies de bestes sauvages jusques a cette grande plaine qui la borne de ce coste la vous scavez aussi comment mitradate ayant expose son fils mort dans le berceau magnifique dans lequel on luy avoit baille le fils de mandane fit voir cet enfant dechire a ceux qu'harpage y envoya qui prenant ces pitoyables restes de la fureur des tigres et des pantheres les reporterent a leur maistre qui en ayant adverty astiage receut ordre de les faire mettre dans le tombeau des rois de medie ainsi l'on voyoit le fils d'un berger dans un sepulchre royal et le fils d'un roy dans la cabanne d'un berger vous n'ignorez pas non plus qu'astiage fit publier dans sa cour que le fils de mandane estoit mort de maladie qu'il fit dire la mesme chose a cette princesse et qu'il envoya consoler cambise de cette perte mais vous ne scavez peut-estre pas que mandane ne soubconnat que trop la verite de la chose eut pourtant la fermete de n'en tesmoigner jamais rien et de se contenter de faire voir une melancolie estrange dans ses yeux sans en vouloir decouvrir la cause elle ne voulut pas mesme mander rien de ses soubcons au roy son mary et pour cacher mieux sa douleur elle demanda une seconde fois la permission d'aller aux champs qu'on luy accorda alors sans repugnance et mesme a quelque temps de la astiage luy fit dire que si elle vouloit retourner en perse il luy en donnoit la liberte car comme il s'estoit 
 imagine que ce premier fils de mandane estoit celuy qu'il devoit apprehender il fut bien aise de s'oster la veue d'une princesse qui par sa respectueuse douleur luy faisoit mille reproches secrets de sa cruaute elle partit donc pour s'en retourner aupres de cambise auquel elle ne dit jamais rien des soubcons qu'elle avoit dans l'esprit n'attribuant le changement qu'il vit en son visage qu'a son absence et a la mort de son fils mais seigneur je ne songe pas que contre mon intention je m'estens plus que je ne devrois il faut donc reparer le passe par ce qui me reste a vous dire et ne vous exagerer point la merveilleuse enfance de mon maistre qui dans la cabane d'un berger ne laissa pas de trouver les honneurs de la royaute vous scaurez donc seulement en peu de paroles que ce jeune prince qui sans se connoistre agissoit en roy se fit declarer pour tel a l'age de dix ans par tous les autres enfans des hameaux voisins qui se jouoient aveques luy qu'en suitte il s'en fit craindre aimer et obeir comme s'il eust este leur maistre et qu'ayant puny un de ces enfans qu'il appelloit ses subjets pour une faute qu'il avoit commise le pere de cet enfant qui se trouva estre un officier de la maison du roy ayant sceu la chose et ayant admire ce jeune berger qui faisoit si bien le prince avoit redit a astiage ce qu'il avoit veu comme une chose extraordinaire luy vantant infiniment la beaute et la hardiesse de cet enfant qu'il luy depeignoit miraculeuses que le roy l'ayant fait venir pour 
 rendre raison de la punition qu'il avoit faite il luy avoit respondu si admirablement qu'il en avoit este surpris voyant qu'il ne parloit pas moins en roy avec un roy qu'avec les enfans qui l'avoient esleu qu'apres astiage avoit este fort estonne de voir que ce fils de berger ressembloit si fort a mandane sa fille que rien n'a jamais este plus semblable et que de plus il sentoit des mouvemens en son coeur qui l'advertissoient de ce qu'il estoit enfin seigneur vous scavez qu'astiage fit venir le berger dans son cabinet et que luy ayant demande ou il avoit pris cet enfant d'un ton qui l'espouvanta et qui luy fit croire que le roy scavoit la chose mitradate demeura interdit et qu'ayant este menace par astiage il l'advoua telle qu'elle s'estoit passee qu'en suitte le roy qui malgre ses frayeurs se sentoit force d'aimer cet aymable enfant ayant assemble tous les mages ils trouverent soit que ce fust leur veritable sentiment soit que la pitie les obligeast a le deguiser que cette royaute dont il avoit jouy sur tous ses compagnons estoit assurement une marque infaillible que les dieux avoient exauce ses prieres que toute la domination de ce jeune prince sur les medes seroit bornee a celle qu'il avoit eue sur ces sujets volontaires et qu'ainsi il n'avoit plus rien a craindre de ce coste la que les cas fortuit ayant fait que les bergers peres de ces enfans fussent presque de toutes les provinces de l'asie les astres n'eussent pu marquer plus precisement les conquestes innocentes d'un vainqueur 
 si noble et si jeune que les dieux se plaisoient quelquesfois a menacer les grands princes de peur qu'il n'oubliassent le respect qu'ils leur devoient et qu'enfin s'il suivoit leur advis il renvoyeroit ce jeune prince au roy de perse son pere astiage qui avoit effectivement conceu quelque amitie pour cet enfant fut bien aise qu'on le conseillast de cette sorte et comme il deferoit beaucoup aux mages et que son ame estoit un peu foible il crut tout de bon que cette royaute imaginaire estoit la veritable explication de son mauvais songe comme en effet l'estat ou nous voyons le malheureux artamene aujourd'huy nous fait bien voir qu'astiage n'avoit pas raison de craindre cyrus cependant en laissant vivre ce jeune prince qu'il nomma ainsi il ne pardonna pas a harpage car il le bannit de sa cour et cet homme qui n'avoit pu se determiner a estre absolument pitoyable ou absolument cruel se vit sans suport et sans refuge contraint d'endurer la rigueur d'un long exil cependant comme vous ne l'ignorez pas astiage renvoya cyrus a cambise luy escrivant que pour eviter certaines constellations malignes qui menacoient cet enfant il avoit este contraint de luy causer durant quelque temps le desplaisir de le croire mort mais que cette douleur seroit changee en une joye qui le recompenseroit au couble par la satisfaction qu'il auroit de se voir un fils si bien fait et si aimable tanty a seigneur que cambise le receut avec un plaisir inconcevable et que mandane 
 toute sage et toute genereuse en fit un remerciment aussi tendre a astiage que si jamais elle n'eust receu aucun sujet de plainte de luy quoy qu'elle eust sceu la verite de la chose par harpage qui l'en advertit croyant du moins par la s'assurer de sa protection comme en effet mandane luy sceut bon gre de ne l'avoir pas laissee dans l'opinion qu'astiage fust aussi innocent qu'il tesmoignoit l'estre parce que la connoissance du passe la feroit precautionner pour l'advenir cependant voicy le jeune cyrus dans persepolis pour lequel l'on fit des sacrifices publics et particuliers dans toute la perse et pour lequel tout ce qui se trouva de grands hommes en tout le royaume fut employe a son education ciaxare ayant sceu la chose telle qu'elle estoit envoya se resjouir avec cambise et avec la reine sa soeur de la joye qu'il avoient receue et escrivit mesme a la reine d'une maniere assez galante qu'il souhaittoit que la jeune mandane sa fille peust un jour se rendre digne d'estre maistresse de cyrus de qui on luy avoit parle si advantageusement car le roy de capadoce avoit eu cette jeune princesse trois ans apres la naissance de cyrus et luy avoit fait donner le nom de sa soeur
 
 
 
 
maintenant seigneur de vous dire de quelle facon le jeune cyrus fut esleve ce seroit abuser de vostre patience et les grandes choses qu'il a faites depuis montrent assez qu'il faut qu'il ait appris de bonne heure a pratiquer la vertu je vous diray donc seulement que le roy et la reine n'eurent plus d'autres pensees 
 que celles de tascher de cultiver avec tous les soins imaginables un aussi beau naturel que celuy de cyrus leur paroissoit estre car en tout ce qu'il faisoit et en tout ce qu'il disoit il y avoit quelque chose de si grand de si agreable et de si plein d'esprit qu'il estoit impossible de le voir sans l'aimer il estoit admirablement beau et quoy que l'on vist encore en quelques unes de ses actions cette naivete charmante et inseparable de l'enfance il y avoit pourtant tousjours en luy je ne scay quoy qui faisoit voir que son esprit estoit plus avance que son corps vous avez peut estre sceu qu'il y a dans persepolis une grande place que l'on appelle la place de la liberte qu'a une de ses faces est le palais de nos rois et que les trois autres ne sont habitees que par les plus grands seigneurs et par les plus sages d'entre les persans car la sagesse chez nostre nation a des privileges qui ne sont pas moins considerables que ceux de la noblesse du sang quoy que la noblesse du sang le soit infiniment parmy nous ce fut donc dans cette fameuse place ou ne demeurent que des personnes veritablement libres et par leur naissance et par leur vertu que le jeune cyrus commenca de faire connoistre ce que l'on devoit attendre de luy car comme parmy nous l'on esleve les enfans des particuliers avec autant de soin que s'ils devoient tous estre rosi estant persuadez que toutes les vertus sont necessaires a tous les hommes cyrus passant de la cabane d'un berger a la plus celebre et a la plus rigoureuse academie 
 qui soit au monde ce ne fut pas sans estonnement que l'on vit que la nature luy avoit enseigne tout ce que la prudence cultivee peut apprendre il avoit aupres de luy des vieillards consommez en la pratique de la vertu des jeunes gens fort adroits a tous les exercices du corps et des enfans admirablement bien nais et bien faits pour le divertir mais le soin le plus grand qu'eurent le roy et la reine ce fut d'empescher que nulles personnes vicieuses n'approchassent jamais de luy de peur qu'elles ne corrompissent ses belles inclinations scachant bien que c'est empoisonner une source publique que de corrompre l'ame d'un prince qui doit regner si bien que de la facon qu'il vivoit il apprenoit tousjours quelque chose de bon de tous ceux qui l'environnoient la moderation la liberalite la justice et toutes les autres vertus estoient desja si eminemment en luy qu'il en avoit aquis une reputation si grande parmy les persans qu'ils parloient de cyrus comme d'un enfant envoye du ciel pour les instruire plustost que pour estre instruit par eux mais seigneur je ne songe pas que je sors des bornes que je m'estois moy mesme prescrites et que sans y penser je lasse vostre patience et plus encore celle des persans qui m'escoutent ne leur disant que ce qu'ils scavent aussi bien que moy mon maistre vescut donc de cette sorte jusques a sa seiziesme annee que la fortune commenca de luy donner un moyen de faire paroistre par des effets aussi bien que par des paroles la generosite de son 
 ame par une avanture qui luy arriva et de mettre en pratique cette equite et cette grandeur de courage qui paroissoit en tous ces discours il vous souvient sans doute seigneur qu'harpage avoit este banny par le roy des medes pour n'avoir pas este assez exact a obeir au commandement qu'il luy avoit fait de faire mourir le jeune cyrus or seigneur ce banni avoit este assez puissant en medie s'estant veu par la faveur du roy gouverneur d'une de ses meilleures provinces cet homme donc apres avoir tasche vainement de faire sa paix avec astiage ennuye qu'il estoit de s'en aller de cour en cour demander retraite et protection a tous les princes ennemis du roy son maistre s'en alla six ans apres son exil en perse ou s'estant tenu cache quelque temps il prit l'occasion d'une grande chasse que faisoit cyrus pour l'aborder plus facilement il s'estoit habille a la persienne si bien que s'estant mesle parmy ce grand nombre de chasseurs qui accompagnoient le prince il ne fut point reconnu pour estranger scachant mesme assez bien la langue du pais pour s'en servir en cas de necessite cyrus des ce temps la estoit si grand si adroit et si vigoureux qu'il n'y avoit point d'homme qui parust plus infatigable que luy ny plus hardy soit qu'il falust poursuivre les bestes ou les attaquer dans leur fort il scavoit tirer de l'arc lancer le javelot ou se servir d'une espee admirablement et comme il y avoit des prix destinez pour toutes ces choses il les emportoit tous sans y manquer 
 jamais et paroissoit tousjours vainqueur dans toutes ces festes publiques que l'on faisoit pour cela mais pour revenir a harpage il suivit donc cyrus a cette grande chasse dont je vous ay desja parle et l'observant soigneusement il prit garde que ce jeune prince s'estant emporte se mit a poursuivre un sanglier dans le plus espais de la forest il fit alors des efforts incroyables pour le suivre et pour ne le perdre pas de veue comme firent tous les persans qui l'avoient suivy dont pas un ne le put atteindre cependant malgre la vitesse de la beste cyrus l'approcha banda son arc tira et luy fit heureusement passer la fleche au travers du coeur cette victoire dont harpage avoit este le seul tesmoin et qu'il n'avoit mesme veue que d'une distance assez esloignee fit que ce jeune prince se reposa en attendant qu'il vinst quelques uns des siens il s'assit donc aupres du sanglier qu'il avoit tue sur le bord d'un petit ruisseau qui traversoit la forest en cet endroit et comme dans ces sortes de chasses ceux de nostre nation portent d'ordinaire un arc un carquois une espee et deux javelots ce beau chasseur mit toutes ses armes aupres de luy et s'appuya sur son bouclier car nous le portons aussi bien a la chasse qu'a la guerre pour jouir en repos de sa victoire comme il estoit en cet estat harpage enfin s'approcha de luy et cyrus le prenant pour un persan commenca de luy crier en souriant et en luy montrant sa prise j'ay vaincu j'ay vaincu mais harpage ayant mis un genouil a terre luy dit qu'il ne tiendroit 
 qu'a luy qu'il ne remportast une victoire plus glorieuse le jeune prince croyant que cet homme avoit descouvert la bauge de quelque sanglier plus grand et plus redoutable que celuy qu'il avoit tue se releva et luy demanda promptement ou il faloit aller pour remporter cette victoire a la teste d'une armee de trente mille hommes luy respondit harpage que je viens vous offrir pour vous rendre maistre d'un grand royaume si vous le voulez a ce discours cyrus tout estonne regarda harpage avec plus d'attention qu'auparavant et luy semblant l'avoir veu autrefois qui estes vous luy dit il qui venez m'offrir une chose si glorieuse et dont je n'ose croire estre digne par une valeur que je n'ay encore esprouvee que contre des ours des sangliers des lyons et des tygres je suis seigneur luy respondit il un homme que les dieux vous envoyent pour vous donner un illustre moyen d'acquerir une gloire immortelle si cela est repartit cyrus vous n'avez qu'a me montrer le chemin qu'il faut suivre pour l'aquerir car quelque difficile qu'il puisse estre vous m'y verrez aller avec precipitation et avec joye je vous l'ay desja dit respondit harpage il ne faut que vous rendre a la teste d'une armee de trente mille hommes qui ne sont que vous attendre pour se mettre en campagne et pour vaincre ce n'est point repliqua cyrus a celuy qui ne scait pas encore obeir a commander et ce sera bien assez que je sois le compagnon de ceux que vous dittes qui me veulent pour leur 
 general mais de grace poursuivit il genereux estranger que je pense avoir veu et que je ne me remets pourtant pas parfaitement aprenez moy qui sont ceux qui me veulent faire cet honneur et ne me cachez pas plus long temps quels sont ces amis qu'il faut proteger et ces ennemis qu'il faut vaincre seigneur luy respondit harpage je ne vous demande rien d'injuste en vous demandant vostre assistance contre un roy qui a viole toutes sortes de droits en la personne d'un jeune prince qui est l'admiration de tous ceux qui le connoissent qui a dis-je mesprise tous les sentimens de la nature et de la raison et qui contre toute sorte de droits par une jalousie d'ambition mal fondee luy a voulu faire perdre la vie c'est pour les interests de cet illustre prince que je vous solicite c'est contre cet injuste roy que je vous anime et c'est pour vostre propre gloire que je vous conjure de m'accorder ce que je vous demande ce que vous me demandez respondit cyrus est trop equitable et m'est trop advantageux pour le refuser mais pour ne retarder pas le service que vous attendez de moy et que j'ay grande impatience de rendre a ceux qui me sont l'honneur de le desirer achevez de me dire quel est ce roy inhumain et quel est ce prince injustement oppresse car je m'estonne fort de n'avoir point entendu parler de la violence de l'un et de l'infortune de l'autre moy que l'on instruit si soigneusement de tous les grands evenemens seigneur luy dit alors harpage vous estes 
 ce prince qu'il faut vanger moy adjousta cyrus et par qui genereux estranger puis-je estre oppresse moy dis-je qui vis dans une profonde paix qui a peine ay commence de vivre qui n'eus jamais d'ennemis en toute ma vie et qui ne suis ennemy que de ces bestes sauvages dit il en montrant ce sanglier qui habitent dans nos forests seigneur repliqua harpage qui voyoit venir plusieurs chasseurs de divers endroits du bois s'il vous plaist de vous enfoncer un peu plus avant dans la forest et de m'y donner un moment d'audience vous verrez que vous avez des ennemis plus redoutables que vous ne croyez et que si vous ne leur faites une guerre ouverte ils vous en feront peut-estre une secrette qui pourra vous estre funeste cyrus luy accordant ce qu'il luy demandoit s'enfonca vingt ou trente pas plus avant dans le bois et faisant signe de la main a ceux qui venoient qu'il ne vouloit point estre suivy il s'apuya enfin contre un arbre et regardant harpage attentivement est il possible luy dit il qu'il puisse y avoir de la verite en vos paroles et que vous scachiez mieux ma vie que moy mesme mais apres m'avoir apris le nom du prince opresse aprenez moy celuy de cet ennemy que j'ignore seigneur luy respondit harpage le roy des medes est ce redoutable ennemy qui vous a pense perdre et qui vous perdra si vous ne le perdez luy mesme quoy interrompit cyrus encore plus estonne qu'auparavant astiage est mon ennemy et je dois estre le sien ha non non poursuivit il 
 cela ne peut jamais estre et si ce prince a des ennemis je vous prie de me les apprendre afin que j'aille les combattre et les vaincre s'il m'est possible mais de luy faire la guerre et de l'attaquer c'est ce que je ne dois ce que je ne veux et ce que je ne scaurois faire astiage est pere de la reine de qui j'ay l'honneur d'estre fils je le dois presque autant respecter que le roy qui m'a fait naistre et je ne me souviens point d'avoir receu de luy que des caresses et des tesmoignages d'affection fort tendres il a eu soin de ma vie en naissant il a fait courir le bruit de ma mort afin de me faire vivre il m'a tire de la cabane d'un berger pour me remettre en un lieu plus proportionne a ma naissance et il n'a rien fait enfin qui ne demande de moy du respect et de la tendresse cyrus ayant acheve de parler harpage le suplia de le laisser parler a son tour et alors il commenca de luy raconter tout ce que ce jeune prince n'avoit point sceu car la reine sa mere depuis son retour n'avoit eu garde de luy en rien dire il se mit donc a luy exagerer la cruaute du roy des medes il se fit reconnoistre a luy pour l'avoir veu a ecbatane durant quelques jours qu'ils y avoient este en mesme temps et il luy dit qu'il n'avoit garde d'estre mal informe de ce qu'il disoit puis que c'avoit este luy qui avoit receu l'injuste commandement de le perdre il n'eut pourtant pas la hardiesse de dire a cyrus qu'il l'avoit baille a mitradate pour l'exposer au contraire de la facon dont il fit son recit il sembloit qu'il eust dessein de le sauver 
 en suitte il luy apprit quelles intelligences il avoit dans la province des paretacenes et luy fit voir effectivement que s'il vouloit estre le chef des troupes qu'il pouvoit mettre en campagne et authoriser de son nom et de sa presence le party qu'il avoit forme il pouvoit facilement envahir toute la medie cependant cyrus l'ayant paisiblement escoute fut quelque temps sans parler puis reprenant la parole avec un visage un peu plus triste qu'auparavant je ne scay harpage luy dit il si je dois me pleindre de vous ou vous remercier mais je scay bien que vous m'avez cause une sensible douleur en m'apprenant que je suis la cause innocente de l'injustice d'un prince en la gloire duquel je me dois interesser la vostre luy respondit harpage vous doit encore estre plus considerable et c'est pour cela repliqua cyrus qu'il ne m'est pas permis de songer a la vangeance cruel ami s'ecria t'il quelle proposition me venez vous faire vous me venez offrir une armee dont je n'oserois me servir vous me faites connoistre un ennemi que je dois respecter au lieu de le combattre et vous me proposez tant de choses injustes et agreables tout ensemble que j'admire comment il est possible que mon coeur n'en soit pas esbranle cependant harpage malgre cette bouillante ardeur que j'ay d'acquerir un jour ce glorieux bruit qui fait conquester des couronnes ou qui du moins les fait meriter je ne balance point sur la resolution que je dois prendre et quoy que je fois en un age ou 
 l'on ne doit au plus donner que des marques de valeur il faut neantmoins que j'en donne une de moderation ha harpage s'escria t'il encore une fois que n'avez vous dit et pour quoy ne m'avez vous plustost propore de legitimes ennemis seigneur luy respondit harpage assez froidement je pensois que les violences du roy des medes contre vous fussent des causes assez justes pour vous dispenser du respect que les droits du sang vous obligent d'avoir pour luy mais puis que je me suis trompe il faut seigneur que je me taise et que je ne sois pas plus sensible que vous aux injustices qu'on vous a faites il faut donc poursuivit il satisfaire pleinement cette moderation qui vous fait oublier vos propres injures et que passant tout le reste de ma vie exile de mon pais j'aye peut-estre encore le desplaisir d'apprendre pendant mon bannissement que cyrus fils du sage cambise et de la vertueuse mandane que cyrus dis-je de qui l'on attend tant de grandes choses aura succombe sous l'injustice du roy des medes qui sans doute ne manquera pas d'attaquer de nouveau son illustre vie ou par le fer ou par le poison cyrus dis-je qui pourroit s'il le vouloit se vanger pleinement se mettre a couvert de l'orage conserver aux persans leur ancienne liberte se rendre maistre d'un grand royaume et peut-estre de toute l'asie luy dis-je encore une fois que les dieux semblent appeller a la souveraine puissance par tant de prodiges qui devroient luy avoir apris qu'ils veulent 
 que je luy propose et que quand il entreprendra la guerre quand il renversera toute la medie quand il conquestera toute la terre et qu'enfin il montera au throsne d'astiage il ne fera que ce que les dieux veulent qu'il face s'ils le veulent respondit brusquement cyrus il scavent bien par ou ils m'y doivent conduire sans que je m'en mesle du moins suis-je bien resolu de n'y monter jamais par l'injustice l'on ne gagne pas des royaumes sans combattre respondit harpage et la gloire est une cruelle maistresse qui ne se laisse pas posseder sans que l'on ait expose sa vie a de grands perils j'exposeray la mienne repliqua cyrus en ne voulant pas perdre celuy qui me la veut oster mais pour me la voir encore exposer plus noblement donnez vous patience harpage car si je ne me trompe je quitteray bien tost la guerre innocente que je fais dans ces bois pour une autre plus penible et plus glorieuse cependant pour vous montrer que je veux estre equitable envers vous comme je suis indulgent envers astiage scachez que tout autre que vous qui m'eust fait une semblable proposition ne me l'eust pas faite sans estre puny mais pour vous harpage qui n'avez pas voulu m'oster la vie je ne veux point escouter une vertu si severe tant s'en faut je veux vous proteger je veux vous presenter au roy mon pere et a la reine ma mere et je veux que cette cour vous soit un azyle inviolable a condition toutefois que vous ne me proposerez plus rien qui choque si fort mon devoir 
 je veux mesme croire que l'exces de vostre zele vous a porte a me faire ces propositions injustes et je veux me persuader que si je dois respecter mon ennemy je dois aussi aimer celuy qui m'a garenty de sa violence mais harpage luy dit il avec un visage un peu plus tranquille il est bon que je ne vous escoute pas plus long temps car de quelque generosite que je me pique ce n'est pas sans peine que je rejette un discours qui me parle de guerres de combats de victoires et de triomphes a ces mots ce miraculeux enfant commenca de retourner vers ses gens et harpage ravy et confus de l'esprit et de la vertu de ce jeune prince accepta l'offre qu'il luy avoit faite et le suplia seulement de scavoir la volonte de la reine sa mere auparavant qu'il parust a la cour ce que cyrus luy promit ainsi harpage s'estant separe de luy se mesla dans la presse et cyrus s'en retourna sans songer plus a continuer sa chasse quoy qu'il en eust eu dessein j'avois alors l'honneur d'estre aupres de luy et d'estre destine par le roy et par la reine a avoir un soin particulier de sa conduitte et feraulas que vous voyez icy n'estant age que de deux ans plus que cyrus servoit seulement a ses plaisirs comme estant tres propre a le divertir et comme l'ayant touche d'une inclination fort estroite feraulas donc qui ne l'abandonnoit presque jamais s'aperceut le premier que cyrus avoit quelque chose en l'esprit si bien que s'aprochant de moy qui n'avois pas pris garde seigneur me dit il le prince me semble bien 
 resveur et bien melancolique d'ou peut venir ce changement je ne scay luy dis-je et je ne voy pas qu'il ait eu nulle avanture fascheuse en cette chasse peut-estre me dit il qu'un homme que j'ay veu qui luy a parle assez long temps en particulier luy aura apris quelque chose qui le fasche comme nous en estions la cyrus s'estant aproche de moy chrisante me dit il j'ay quelque affaire a vous communiquer tous les siens qui l'entendirent s'esloignerent aussi tost de nous et le prince commenca de me parler bas mais seigneur pour ne vous arrester pas plus long temps sur cet endroit de ma narration le prince me dit tout ce qu'harpage luy avoit dit et tout ce qu'il luy avoit respondu et il me le dit avec tant d'esprit tant de sagesse et tant de generosite que j'en fus surpris et que je le regarday comme un prodige quand il m'exageroit la joye qu'il avoit eue lors qu'harpage luy avoit offert une armee de trente mille hommes a commander l'on eust presque dit qu'il n'estoit pas bien aise de l'avoir refuse mais quand il venoit en suitte a representer la douleur qu'il avoit sentie en aprenant qu'il ne luy estoit pas permis d'accepter ce qu'on luy offroit il donnoit aussi de la pitie en donnant de l'admiration et je ne pense pas que depuis qu'il y a des hommes et des hommes illustres il y en ait jamais eu un de cet age-la qui en une rencontre aussi delicate ait agy avec tant de prudence ny tant de generosite il se repentit mesme d'avoir promis a harpage de le proteger et de le presenter a la 
 reine sa mere car disoit il si elle ne scait pas la cruaute d'astiage elle s'en affligera et je serois bien marry de luy causer cette douleur enfin chrisante me dit il c'est a vous a me dire si j'ay bien fait et a me conseiller ce que je dois faire car adjousta t'il je me fierois peut-estre bien a mon courage s'il s'agissoit de combattre quelque redoutable ennemy mais il n'est pas juste que je me fie en ma prudence en un age ou l'experience ne luy a encore rien apris comme il eut cesse de parler je le louay autant qu'il meritoit de l'estre et je luy dis que tout ce qu'il avoit dit estoit bien dit mais que pour ce qui estoit de faire un secret a la reine de ce qu'harpage luy avoit apris je ne le jugeois pas a propos chargez vous donc de cette commission me respondit il car pour moy je vous advoue que je ne puis me resoudre de luy dire une chose si fascheuse a scavoir pour elle je luy accorday ce qu'il me demandoit et comme nous fusmes retournez a persepolis il s'en alla droit a l'apartement du roy pour me donner le temps d'aller a celuy de la reine je fus donc aprendre a cette sage princesse la rencontre du prince son fils dont elle receut beaucoup de deplaisir et beaucoup de satisfaction car elle eust bien voulu que ce jeune prince eust tousjours ignore la cruaute d'astiage mais voyant aussi comme il en avoit use elle se consoloit de ce qui estoit advenu et s'abandonnoit a la joye voyant qu'elle avoit un fils si bien nay et si admirable cependant apres avoir bien examine l'estat des choses elle 
 trouva qu'il faloit obliger cyrus a ne dire rien de ce qu'il scavoit au roy son pere puis que ce seroit l'affliger inutilement pour une chose passee que pour harpage il estoit sans doute juste de le proteger et que de plus il estoit necessaire de tascher de le retenir en perse par l'esperance qu'il luy faloit donner de faire sa paix avec astiage car disoit cette vertueuse princesse encore que le roy mon pere soit injuste je suis pourtant toujours sa fille c'est pourquoy je dois songer a son repos autant que je le pourray et c'est pour cela poursuivoit elle qu'il ne faut pas renvoyer harpage mescontent car s'il est vray qu'il ait trente mille hommes en sa disposition il pourroit allumer la guerre civile en medie et desoler mon pais il vaut donc mieux luy donner un azyle en cette cour que de le renvoyer dans une autre dont le prince profiteroit peut-estre de nos malheurs et des intelligences de cet homme violent et irrite aux despens de ma patrie helas disoit elle encore qui vit jamais une advanture pareille a la mienne harpage comme voulant faire la guerre au roy mon pere doit estre mon ennemi mais comme n'ayant pas tue mon fils lors qu'on le luy commanda il merite que je le protege le roy des medes comme m'ayant donne la vie me demande de la tendresse et de l'amitie et comme l'ayant voulu oster a mon fils il faut que j'aye si je l'ose dire de l'horreur et de la haine pour luy et comment chrisante me disoit elle accorderons nous toutes ces choses comment satisferons nous 
 la nature et la raison mais enfin apres avoir bien exagere cette affaire et bien examine ce qu'elle feroit nous resolumes qu'elle obligeroit le roy son mary a proteger harpage comme un de ses anciens serviteurs a elle que le roy son pere avoit exile pour quelque autre sujet qu'il faudroit inventer que l'on tascheroit d'arrester harpage en perse le plus long temps que l'on pourroit de peur qu'il n'allast faire la guerre au roy des medes mais qu'on l'obligeroit a demeurer a la campagne et a ne paroistre point a la cour de peur qu'astiage ne s'en offencast s'il scavoit qu'on donnast retraite a ceux qu'il chasse et que de mon coste j'apporterois un soin particulier a empescher que cet homme n'aprochast le jeune cyrus et ne luy fist enfin changer de pensee la chose s'executa comme elle avoit este resolue et apres que le reine eut extraordinairement carresse le prince son fils et qu'elle l'eut infiniment loue de l'action qu'il avoit faite elle receut harpage fort civilement le presenta en particulier au roy son mary l'envoya en suitte a une des plus belles maisons du roy y donna ordre a sa subsistance et l'entretint tousjours d'espoir durant tout le temps qu'il y fut cependant comme astiage ne s'estoit jamais entierement affermy en l'opinion qu'il avoit eue que les menaces des dieux ne seroient point suivies de mauvais effets il avoit tousjours des espions a persepolis qui l'advertirent de l'arrivee et du sejour d'harpage en perse sans que nous ayons pu scavoir par ou ils 
 l'avoient pu decouvrir le roy des medes sceut bien tost qu'il avoit este receu favorablement et que mesme il avoit parle au prince dans la forest car depuis quelques persans le reconnurent et le publierent il sceut de plus que toute la province des paretacenes dont harpage avoit eu le gouvernement luy estoit fort affectionnee qu'elle se sousleveroit facilement s'il en avoit l'intention et que mesme depuis peu il s'y estoit fait quelques assemblees secrettes dont il ignoroit la cause si bien que par toutes ces nouvelles qui luy venoient de divers lieux tout a la fois et par son temperament craintif il retomba dans ses premieres frayeurs et dans ses premieres inquietudes il r'assembla donc les mages ils consulterent de nouveau et les astres et les dieux ils firent des prieres et des sacrifices et apres toutes ces choses ils dirent a astiage qu'ils ne pouvoient sans manquer a la fidelite qu'ils luy devoient luy celer que tout ce qu'ils avoient veu et observe dans les estoiles ou dans les victimes ne leur parloir que de revolution et de changement et que sans doute l'on en verroit bien tost des marques il n'en faloit pas davantage pour exciter le trouble en l'ame d'un prince qui estoit tousjours dispose a le recevoir et qui d'ailleurs voyoit ce luy sembloit desja quelque apparence a ce que les mages luy disoient ciaxare qui n'estoit que roy de capadoce en ce temps la n'avoit qu'une fille de sorte que ce prince defiant voyoit bien que si le jeune cyrus avoit de mauvais desseins il les pouvoit 
 executer plus facilement que s'il eust eu un fils estant certain que les peuples aiment ordinairement mieux avoir un roy qu'une reine de plus harpage estant refugie en perse et ayant autant d'intelligences dans ses estats qu'il y en avoit il estoit a croire que les choses n'en demeureroient pas la tant y a seigneur qu'astiage craignant tout et prevoyant non seulement ce qui vray-semblablement pouvoit arriver mais apprehendant encore les choses impossibles il se retrouva plus malheureux qu'il n'avoit jamais este la reine de perse fut bien tost informee des inquietudes du roy son pere car comme il avoit des espions a persepolis elle avoit des amis a ecbatane qui l'en advertirent a l'heure mesme et qui en luy rendant cet office luy causerent beaucoup de douleur elle me fit la grace de me descouvrir la crainte qu'elle avoit qu'astiage ne se laissast persuader par sa passion de suivre quelque conseil violent et de chercher les voyes de se deffaire du jeune cyrus car enfin l'exemple du passe luy faisant aprehender l'advenir rendoit sa crainte bien fondee je la r'asseurois neantmoins autant qu'il m'estoit possible mais comme elle a beaucoup d'esprit il n'estoit pas aise de s'opposer absolument a son opinion estant certain qu'il y avoit sujet d'aprehender qu'astiage ne se portast aux dernieres extremitez par quelque voye cachee que nous ne pouvions pas prevoir precisement cependant la reine m'ordonna de prendre garde de plus pres au prince son fils et de l'empescher d'aller a la 
 chasse autant que je le pourrois sans pourtant luy apprendre la cause de ce changement estant a croire que si astiage faisoit quelque entreprise contre sa vie ce seroit plustost en une semblable occasion qu'en toute autre je luy promis donc de suivre ses ordres que je n'eus pas grand peine a executer car depuis quelque temps cyrus estoit devenu melancolique et ce qui le divertissoit autrefois ne faisoit plus que l'ennuyer neantmoins comme il est naturellement fort complaisant je ne m'aperceus de ce que je dis que lors que par les ordres de la reine je commencay de l'observer plus exactement car comme il voulut un jour aller a la chasse plustost par coustume et par bien-seance que par aucun plaisir qu'il y prist je luy dis que j'avois un conseil a luy donner en cette rencontre que je le suppliois de recevoir favorablement et comme il m'eut asseure qu'il suivroit tousjours mes advis sans repugnance je luy dis que la chasse qui dans sa premiere jeunesse avoit este son occupation ne devoit plus estre que son divertissement et qu'ainsi il y falloit aller un peu moins souvent qu'il n'avoit accoustume vous avez raison chrisante me dit il en m'interrompant il y a desja long temps que je prie feraulas de m'aider a trouver les moyens de m'occuper plus noblement seigneur luy dis-je feraulas est sans doute digne de l'honneur que vous luy faites de l'aimer et de luy demander des conseils mais en cette rencontre je pense qu'il n'a pas eu grand peine a trouver les voyes de vous faire employer 
 en autre chose les heures que vous aviez accoustume de donner a la chasse chrisante me dit il cela n'est pas si aise que vous pensez comme nous estions la le roy envoya querir cyrus et cette partie de chasse fut rompue comme nostre conversation quelques jours apres le roy partit pour un voyage d'un mois qu'il estoit oblige de faire et laissa la reine et le prince a persepolis avec ordre d'y attendre son retour aussi tost qu'il fut party cyrus n'allant plus du tout a la chasse et paroissant tousjours plus triste je me mis a presse feraulas de m'aprendre la cause de cette melancoile mais d'abord il ne voulut rien dire de ce que le prince luy avoir dit toutefois je le pressay tant qu'a la fin il me confessa que cyrus s'ennuyoit de l'oysivete de sa vie et qu'il s'en estoit pleint a luy depuis cela le prince devint d'une humeur si sombre qu'il n'estoit pas connoissable cet air galant et enjoue qui le faisoit adorer des dames l'avoit absolument abandonne la chasse n'avoit plus de par en son esprit l'estude luy donnoit du chagrin il ne s'occupoit plus ny a lancer un javelot ny a tirer de l'arc comme il avoit accoustume et la solitude estoit la seule chose qu'il sembloit aimer la reine estant en une peine extreme de ce changement luy en parla diverses fois mais il luy respondit tousjours que quelques legeres incommoditez faisoient cet effet en luy et qu'il l'a suplioit de ne s'en inquieter pas davantage harpage cependant soulageoit tousjours les ennuis qu'il avoit 
 dans son desert par l'espoir qu'il conservoit en son coeur que cyrus s'avancant en age pourroit peut-estre devenir plus sensible a l'ambition qu'a la justice et luy donner les moyens d'achever ce qu'il avoit projette les choses estoient en ces termes lors que voyant un jour le prince encore plus chagrin qu'a l'accoustumee et remarquant qu'il n'y avoit point d'occupations ny de divertissemens qu'il n'eust refusez seigneur luy dis-je jusques a maintenant vous m'avez tousjours fait l'honneur de me croire quand j'ay pris la liberte de vous advertir de quelque chose que vous ne pouviez pas scavoir dans un age si peu avance que le vostre mais aujourd'huy que je vous voy mener une vie si differente et si esloignee de celle que vous meniez autrefois je ne puis que je ne vous en demande la cause ne m'avez vous pas dit assez souvent me respondit il que les occupations des enfans ne devoient plus estre celles des hommes je vous l'ay dit seigneur luy dis-je mais il y a bien de la difference entre ne faire plus ce que font les enfans et ne faire rien du tout il est vray chrisante me respondit le prince que si je ne faisois tousjours que ce que je fais presentement je serois indigne de vivre mais le malheur de ma condition veut que j'aye besion de cet intervale pour chercher les voyes de changer de vie quoy seigneur luy dis-je vous parlez du malheur de vostre condition comme si vous n'estiez pas nay fils d'un grand roy et d'une grande peine que la fortune favorise 
 de telle sorte qu'ils sont adorez de tous leurs subjets et respectez de tous leurs voisins vous dis-je qui pouvez prevoir sans crime que vous serez un jour possesseur d'un grand royaume ou la paix est si solidement establie que rien ne l'en scauroit bannir vous dis-je enfin que les dieux ont fait naistre avec tant de rares qualitez vous de qui l'esprit est grand de qui l'ame est genereuse de qui les inclinations sont nobles de qui la sante et la vigeur sont incomparables et de qui l'adresse du corps secondant les genereux mouvemens du coeur peut vous faire executer facilement les actions les plus heroiques quand je serois tout ce que vous venez de dire me respondit brusquement cyrus a quoy me serviroit cette disposition a faire de grandes choses et s'il est vray que les dieux ayent mis en moy quelqu'une des qualitez necessaires pour les actions peu communes ne suis-je pas le plus malheureux des hommes de sembler estre destine a passer toute ma vie dans une oysivete honteuse qui si j'y demeurois tousjours feroit douter au siecle qui suivra le nostre si cyrus auroit este non non chrisante je ne suis pas si heureux que vous pensez particulierement depuis le jour qu'harpage me parla dans la forest j'ay souffert des choses qui vous seroient pitie si vous les scaviez et que je vous diray si vous me promettez de m'estre fidelle et de me servir seigneur luy dis-je je ne puis jamais manquer de 
 fidelite non pas mesme a mes ennemis mais je ne puis non plus vous promettre de vous servir que dans les choses justes je n'en veux pas davantage me dit il et alors me regardant d'une facon toute propre a gagner le coeur des plus barbares mon cher chrisante poursuivit il si vous scaviez le martyre secret que j'ay souffert depuis long temps je vous donnerois de la compassion car enfin harpage m'a propose d'aller a la guerre et je l'ay refuse vous en repentez vous seigneur luy dis-je en l'interrompant non me dit il mais cela n'empesche pas que ce ne me soit une avanture bien fascheuse de voir qu'apres tout il y a un homme au monde qui m'a voulu porter a une chose difficile sans que je l'aye acceptee et a n'en mentir pas si j'avois suivy mon inclination je n'aurois pas este huit jours apres cette fascheuse avanture sans aller chercher la guerre en quelque endroit de l'univers pour luy faire voir que si je ne voulus pas faire celle qu'il me proposoit ce fut parce que je la trouvay injuste et non pas parce qu'elle me parut dangereuse car qui scait me dit il si harpage dans le fond de son coeur ne me soubconne pas plustost de foiblesse qu'il ne me loue de moderation je suis dans un age ou cette vertu peut estre raisonnablement suspecte et je ne seray jamais en repos que je ne l'aye justifiee par une autre dont a mon advis la pratique est un peu plus perilleuse tant y a me dit il chrisante je suis las de mon oysivete et je ne puis comprendre pourquoy vous m'avez 
 esleve comme vous avez fait pour ne vouloir exiger de moy que ce que je fais l'on m'a dit des que j'ay ouvert les yeux qu'il faloit estre infatigable que la mollesse estoit un deffaut l'on m'a appris en suitte que la valeur estoit une qualite essentiellement necessaire a un prince apres l'on m'a enseigne comment il faloit combattre et comment il faloit se servir d'un arc d'un javelot d'un bouclier et d'une espee mais a quoy bon toutes ces choses si je les laisse inutiles a quoy bon estre infatigable si je passe toute ma vie dans la tranquilite de la cour a quoy bon estre nay avec quelque valeur si je suis dans une paix continuelle a quoy bon avoir de l'adresse si je n'ay a combatre que des bestes qui ne scavent que ce que la nature leur a enseigne enfin chrisante pour ne vous deguiser pas mes sentimens en me disant tout ce que l'on m'a dit et en m'aprenant tout ce que l'on m'a apris il me semble que l'on m'a assez authorise pour achever de faire ce que j'ay resolu aussi tost que j'en auray trouve les moyens et que voulez vous faire luy dis-je je veux me respondit il quitter la cour m'en aller passer en assirie et de la en phrigie ou l'on m'a dit qu'il y a guerre et puis que vous voulez que je vous parle avec sincerite je veux m'instruire par les voyages je veux m'esprouver dans les occasions je veux me connoistre moy mesme et s'il est possible je veux me faire connoistre a toute la terre ce dessein est grand luy respondis-je et ne peut partir que d'une ame toute noble mais seigneur 
 il ne faut pas l'executer legerement je ne scay pas si je le pourray executer me respondit il car la fortune a sa part a toutes choses mais je scay bien que je feray tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir pour cela he de grace adjousta ce prince n'entreprenez pas de m'en destourner car tout ce que vous pourriez me dire seroit absolument inutile je scay le respect que je dois au roy et a la reine et je scay de plus que j'ay une tendresse inconcevable pour l'un et pour l'autre mais apres tout la gloire m'arrache d'aupres d'eux et soit que vous y consentiez ou que vous n'y consentiez pas croyez mon cher chrisante que je trouveray les voyes de faire ce que je veux ou que la mort sera le seul obstacle qui m'en pourra empescher cyrus prononca toutes ces paroles avec une action si animee et avec tant de marques d'une veritable ardeur heroique que je fus quelque temps a le considerer sans pouvoir luy respondre ses yeux estoient plus brillans qu'a l'accoustumee son teint en estoit plus vermeil et il m'aparut quelque chose de si grand et de si divin en toute sa personne et quelque chose de si ferme en tous ses discours que je n'osay le contredire ouvertement je l'advoue j'eus du respect pour cette vertu naissante et je ne pus me resoudre de combattre ce que j'admirois enfin je luy demanday huit jours pour songer a ce que j'avois a faire ne voulant rien faire en tumulte dan une chose si importante j'eus bien de la peine a les obtenir car il avoit resolu de partir 
 durant le voyage que cambise estoit alle faire pour visiter la frontiere qui regarde la medie ou les peuples s'estoient pleints de la violence de leur gouverneur or seigneur je me trouvay estrangement embarrasse en cette rencontre je voyois par les advis que la reine recevoit tous les jours d'ecbatane que les frayeurs d'astiage augmentoient au lieu de diminuer et qu'ainsi il estoit presque indubitable que ce pince violent deffiant et scrupuleux se porteroit a faire perir cyrus ou a declarer la guerre a la perse et que le quel que ce fust des deux c'estoit une chose qu'il seroit bon d'eviter s'il estoit possible pendant cela je proposay avec adresse a la reine que je voyois tousjours plus inquietee des advis qu'elle recevoit de persuader au roy son mary d'envoyer le prince son fils voyager inconnu afin de s'instruire dans les pais estrangers et de laisser passer en mesme temps une constellation si maligne mais elle me respondit que cambise estant persuade que les moeurs des persans estoient generalement parlant plus vertueuses que celles des autres peuples il n'y consentiroit jamais a moins que de luy dire la pressante raison qu'il y devoit obliger mais que pour celle la elle advouoit que dans le respect qu'elle avoit pour le roy son pere elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a la luy apprendre je vis bien neantmoins a travers beaucoup d'autres choses qu'elle m'opposa qu'elle eust bien voulu que le prince son fils eust este esloigne d'elle le jugeant si expose mais la tendresse maternelle jointe a ce qu'elle ne 
 vouloit pas aprendre au roy son mary la cruaute du roy son pere faisoit qu'elle ne consentoit pas absolument au depart de cyrus car elle voyoit bien que selon les apparences cela devoit produire un bon effet suppose que l'on deguisast si bien cyrus et que l'on cachast si bien sa route qu'il ne peust pas estre suivy par les espions qu'astiage avoit dans persepolis et que l'on ne connoissoit pas elle voyoit de plus que comme le roy des medes estoit fort vieux et fort changeant en ses opinions il estoit a croire que pendant le voyage de ce jeune prince il pourroit arriver qu'il mourroit ou qu'il se gueriroit de ses aprehensions aprenant que celuy qu'il redoutoit si fort bien loing de se mettre a la teste d'une armee pour luy faire la guerre s'en seroit alle voyager sans suitte et sans train proportionne a sa condition mais quoy que la reine connust toutes ces choses et les advouast la veue de son fils luy estoit si chere qu'elle ne pouvoit prendre cette facheuse resolution quelque necessaire qu'elle la vist estre voyant donc dans son esprit tous ces sentimens et connoissant en effet que le dessein que cyrus avoit forme par le seul desir de la gloire estoit le seul que l'on pouvoit prendre par prudence pour sa conservation et pour maintenir la paix entre deux grands royaumes je me resolus sans rien descouvrir au prince des motifs qui me portoient a consentir a ce qu'il vouloit de favoriser sa fuite et d'estre moy mesme le compagnon de sa fortune et le tesmoin de cette vertu dont j'attendois 
 de si grandes choses et certes ce ne fut pas sans raison que je luy cachay les sujets de crainte que nous avions pour sa vie s'il demeuroit plus long temps en perse puis qu'il est certain que s'il eust sceu la verite il eust bien tost change de resolution et n'eust jamais consenty a quitter le nom de cyrus pour prendre celuy d'artamene comme je le luy conseillay de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la joye de ce jeune prince lors que l'estant alle trouver dans sa chambre je luy apris que je m'estois laisse vaincre et persuader ce qu'il vouloit pourveu qu'il me promist que durant le voyage qu'il alloit entreprendre il defereroit tousjours quelque chose a mes prieres je n'aurois jamais fait estant certain que je n'ay veu de ma vie tant de marques de satisfaction en personne qu'il en parut en ses yeux ha chrisante s'ecria t'il en m'embrassant apres ce que vous faites aujourd'huy pour moy ne craignez pas que je vous refuse jamais rien allons seulement allons et du reste ne vous en mettez pas en peine car tant que vous ne me deffendrez pas les choses justes et glorieuses je ne vous desobeiray jamais enfin seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience nous resolusmes cyrus et moy que le seul feraulas auquel il n'avoit pas cache son dessein et deux hommes pour le servir seroit tout ce que nous menerions pour ce qui estoit de nostre subsistance nous prismes tout ce que le prince avoit de pierreries qui n'estoient pas en petit nombre car encore que nostre nation face profession ouverte de mespriser 
 les choses superflues et trop magnifiques la reine qui suivant la coustume de son pais en avoit aporte une quantite prodigieuse en avoit donne la meilleure partie a cyrus dont il ne se servoit toutefois que pour les festes publiques et dans les grandes ceremonies afin de se partager entre la magnificence medoise et la moderation persienne de peur d'irriter l'une ou l'autre de ces deux nations
 
 
 
 
nous prismes donc toutes ces pierreries et le prince ayant feint de vouloir aller la chasse avec peu de monde nous fismes durer cette chasse jusques a la nuit et nous estant escartez dans la forest et retrouvez a un rendez-vous que nous nous estions donne nous nous mismes en chemin et commencasmes un voyage dont les admirables fuites m'espouventent toutes les fois qu'elles me repassent dans la memoire mais auparavant que de partir le prince escrivit au roy son pere pour luy demander pardon de sortir de ses estats sans son conge il escrivit aussi a la reine sur le mesme sujet et donna mesme ordre sans m'en rien dire que l'on portast un billet a harpage dans lequel il luy disoit qu'il verroit bien tost par quels sentimens il avoit agi lors qu'il avoit refuse ses offres pour moy je ne creus pas qu'il fust a propos que j'escrivisse a la reine de peur que ce que j'escrirois ne fust veu du roy qui auroit pu comprendre par la ce que la reine ne vouloit pas qu'il sceust enfin seigneur cyrus cessa d'estre cyrus et ce ne sera plus que sous le nom d'artamene que vous apprendrez les merveilleuses 
 choses qu'il a faites apres avoir campe dans les forests durant trois jours ou nous changeasmes d'habillemens et marche durant trois nuits nous arrivasmes bien tost a la susiane que nous traversasmes ce chemin nous semblant plus seur que nul autre pour entrer dans l'assirie de qui comme vous scavez babilone est la capitale ville qui estoit alors en la plus grande splendeur ou jamais ville ait este mais seigneur ce n'est pas icy ou j'en dois parler et comme tous ceux qui m'escoutent a la reserve de thrasibule ont aide a la destruire ils n'ignorent pas ce qu'elle estoit je vous diray donc seulement qu'encore qu'artamene n'eust pas fait dessein de prendre le party des assiriens contre les phrigiens a cause que ces premiers estoient les anciens ennemis d'astiage je ne laissay pas de le porter a voir cette cour la qui estoit la plus grande et la plus pompeuse qui fust en toute l'asie comme nous aprochasmes de babilone artamene receut un desplaisir bien sensible car comme nous marchions le long de l'euphrate et que je luy faisois admirer la merveilleuse scituation de cette superbe ville que l'on a bastie entre deux des plus beaux fleuves du monde le tigre n'estant gueres moins fameux que l'euphrate il passa deux hommes aupres de nous qui dirent que la reine avoit eu tout a la fois une grande joye et une grande douleur or seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que cambise avoit voulu que le prince son fils sceust les langues des nations les plus celebres qui soient au monde luy 
 semblant disoit il estrange qu'un prince n'entende pas le langage de ceux dont il doit un jour recevoir des ambassadeurs ainsi comme la nation des assiriens estoit la plus fameuse de toutes le prince scavoit leur langue et je la scavois aussi entendant donc ce que ces deux hommes dirent il leur demanda fort civilement en la mesme langue quelle estoit cette joye et cette douleur que leur reine avoit receue l'un d'entr'eux luy respondit que quant a la joye c'estoit que depuis huit jours la guerre que l'on croyoit aller estre tres forte entre le roy d'assirie et le roy de phrigie s'estoit heureusement terminee par une paix avantageuse qui avoit este publiee depuis deux jours seulement mais que le lendemain la joye de cette grande reine qui gouvernoit seule ce grand royaume depuis la mort du roy son mary comme estant effectivement a elle quoy qu'elle eust fait couronner le prince son fils avoit receu un desplaisir tres sensible que ce qui l'avoit cause estoit que n'ayant que ce fils unique auquel elle vouloit faire espouser la fille d'un prince appelle gadatte des que la paix avoit este conclue et laquelle il ne pouvoit aimer il s'estoit derobe de la cour sans que l'on eust pu scavoir ce qu'il estoit devenu apres que cet homme eut satisfait a la demande que le prince luy avoit faite et que je l'en eus remercie il poursuivit son chemin et nous le nostre mais venant a regarder artamene je le trouvay tout change et tout melancolique et quoy seigneur luy dis-je en souriant prenez 
 vous un si grand interest aux choses qui regardent la reine nitocris que vous deviez partager son affliction chrisante me dit il quoy que je scache bien que cette princesse est la gloire de son sexe et que le bruit de son nom et de sa vertu m'ait donne beaucoup d'estime pour elle ce n'est pas toutefois ce qui m'afflige le plus mais n'admirez vous point poursuivit il la bizarrerie de ma fortune je viens pour faire la guerre et c'est sans doute moy qui fais la paix je cherche un pais de trouble et de division et j'arrive en un pais de tranquilite et de repos je me prepare a entendre le bruit des trompettes et je n'entendray que les cris d'allegresse que ce peuple fait sans doute pour son bonheur que si pour me consoler de voir l'effet d'un dessein si noble differe je veux au moins scavoir de quelle facon le plus puissant prince d'asie regne dans la plus superbe bille du monde il se trouve que ce prince n'y est plus et que cette cour est en larmes et en deuil mais feraulas disoit il en se tournant de son coste cette derniere chose ne m'inquiete gueres et si l'autre ne me tourmentoit pas davantage j'en serois bien tost console feraulas aussi bien que moy le consoloit de cette petite disgrace que nous ne croiyons pas aussi grande qu'il la croyoit cependant nous arrivasmes dans babilone que nous visitasmes avec grand soing le prince en observa toutes les fortifications et j'estois estonne de voir avec quel jugement il parloit des choses qu'il ne pouvoit pas mesmes avoir aprises cette humeur guerriere qui le 
 possedoit faisoit qu'il s'arestoit bien plus a tout ce qui avoit quelque raport avec elle que non pas aux autres choses il consideroit bien plus attentivement les prodigieuses murailles de cette grande ville les fossez pleins d'eau qui l'environnent les cent portes d'airain qui la ferment l'euphrate qui la divise et qui la rend plus forte que non pas la magnificence du palais des rois celle de ces merveilleux jardins que l'on a dit qui estoient en l'air parce qu'ils sont sur les maisons et sur les murailles ny que celle du temple de jupiter belus qui est pourtant comme vous le scavez une des plus rares choses du monde toutes les fois que nous nous promenions ou que nous faisions voyage toutes ses pensees n'alloient qu'a la guerre si je voulois prendre cette ville nous disoit-il je l'attaquerois par un tel coste une autrefois voyant une plaine ou il y avoit quelque petite eminence il me demandoit s'il ne faudroit pas s'en rendre maistre si l'on avoit a donner bataille en cet endroit et l'on eust dit des ce temps la veu la facon dont il regarda babilone qu'il avoit desja dessein de la prendre et qu'il scavoit desja quelque chose de ce qui est arrive depuis mais comme il y avoit beaucoup a voir dans une si belle ville nous y fusmes pres d'un mois pendant lequel il vit plusieurs fois la reine qui certainement estoit une des plus grandes princesses du monde elle faisoit alors achever ce magnfiique pont et ce grand ouvrage par lequel elle changea le cours de l'euphrate qui depuis a donne tant de 
 peine a artamene et comme malgre le desplaisir qu'elle avoit de l'absence du prince son fils elle n'abandonnoit point son dessein nous la voyons tous les matins et tous les soirs suivie de toute sa cour aller elle mesme voir travailler et haster un labeur qui rendra sans doute son nom illustre a toute la posterite nous vismes souvent aupres d'elle mazare prince des saces qui depuis se trouva estrangement mesle dans les avantures de mon maistre qui luy causa mille desplaisirs et qui luy pensa mesme couster la vie artamene considerant un jour nitocris me dit en se tournant vers moy cette princesse par les soins qu'elle prend me donne de la confusion car apres tout adjousta t'il c'est pour sa gloire qu'elle travaille et je n'ay encore rien fait pour la mienne ne vous en inquietez pas seigneur luy dis-je puis qu'enfin vous avez encore si peu vescu que vous n'avez pas grand sujet de pleindre le temps que vous avez laisse perdre et vous avez encore tant a vivre que vous n'avez pas raison non plus d'aprehender de n'avoir pas loisir de faire parler de vous neantmoins il falut contenter son impatience et partir de bablione principalement depuis qu'il eut sceu qu'il y avoit apparence de guerre entre les grecs asiatiques comme aussi entre le roy de lydie et celuy de phrigie qu'on disoit n'avoir fait la paix avec les assiriens que pour n'avoir pas tout a la fois tant d'ennemis sur les bras mais comme je n'estois pas si haste que luy de l'exposer aux perils je taschay de le faire resoudre en attendant que ces guerres dont on parloit 
 fussent ouvertement declarees de voir tous ces divers pais sans prendre party ce ne fut pas sans peine qu'il consentit mais le faisant souvenir qu'il m'avoit promis quelque deference a mes prieres durant nostre voyage il s'y resolut avec beaucoup de repugnance nous vismes donc ces petits estats qui sont gouvernez par de si grands hommes et artamene tout imparient qu'il estoit de se voir les armes a la main ne fut pas marry de s'estre laisse persuader en effet il faut advouer que la nation greque a quelque chose au dessus de beaucoup d'autres et que si elle estoit aussi unie qu'elle est divisee que ceux qui habitent leur ancien pais se fussent joints a ceux qui sont en asie ils pourroient peut-estre bien apprendre a obeir a ceux qu'ils appellent barbares tant y a seigneur qu'apres avoir veu plusieurs choses qui seroient trop longues a dire nous fusmes a la ville de milet que nous trouvasmes toute partialisee les uns regrettant leur prince que les autres avoient banny et les autres apprehendant qu'il ne recouvrast son estat de peur d'estre traitez comme des rebelles nous vismes en suitte la ville de mius et celle de prienne qui sont toutes deux dans la carie nous fusmes apres a clasomene a phocee et a ephese ou la beaute du temple de diane pensa presque persuader a artamene que nostre nation avoit tort de n'en bastir jamais et de n'offrir ses sacrifices que sur le haut des montagnes ne jugeant pas que les ouvrages des hommes puissent estre dignes d'estre la maison des dieux 
 et certes il faut advouer que ce temple est une chose si magnifique qu'elle merite bien la reputation qu'elle a d'estre une des merveilles du monde nous sceusmes en ce lieu la que le dernier roy de lydie nomme aliatte et pere de cresus qui regne aujourd'huy y avoit eu beaucoup de devotion et qu'il y avoit en effet envoye des offrandes si riches que le temple de delphes n'en avoit pas qui le fussent davantage quoy qu'il soit un des plus celebres de toute la terre et qu'il soit mesme plus ancien que celuy d'ephese mais nous aprismes aussi que les habitans de cette fameuse ville n'estoient pas si satisfaits de cresus qu'ils l'avoient este de son pere le bruit courant qu'il avoit dessein de leur declarer la guerre ce qui fut cause qu'artamene pour s'en esclaircir y tarda quelques jours pendant lesquels nous admirasmes cette multitude d'estrangers qui venoient en foule consulter l'oracle je voulus obliger artamene de s'informer quel devoit estre le succes de son voyage et quelle devoit estre sa fortune mais il ne le voulut pas et me dit que pour luy il croyoit que c'estoit tesmoigner plus de respect pour les dieux de ne vouloir pas scavoir leurs secrets que de vouloir par une impatience inutile penetrer si avant dans l'advenir cependant il est certain que ce qui l'en empescha principalement ce fut la crainte qu'il eut de ne trouver pas dans la responce de la deesse ce qu'il desiroit si ardemment c'est a dire des occasions de guerre et de gloire mais la suitte des choses a bien monstre que sa crainte 
 estoit mal fondee et que les dieux qui voyoient dans ses destins ne luy pouvoient promettre que des victoires et der triomphes pendant que nous fusmes a ephese nous conversasmes avec beaucoup de grecs qui vinrent en ce lieu la ou par curiosite ou par devotion et entre les autres periandre roy de corinthe y vint inconnu et logea en mesme lieu que nous ce qui lia une amitie assez estroite entre luy et moy s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi d'un souverain ce sage prince qui passe pour un des excellens hommes de toute la grece eut tant d'inclination pour artamene qu'il me fit promettre que nous passerions a corinthe si l'ordre de nos affaires et la route que nous devions prendre nous le permettoit apres avoir donc visite toute la carie et une partie de la lydie comme je l'ay desja dit nous fusmes en la haute et basse phrigie nous vismes en la premiere la grande ville d'apamee et en l'autre le mont ida le port de tenedos le fleuve de xanthe et les deplorables ruines de troye ce fut la qu'artamene s'arresta avec beaucoup de plaisir et que se voyant aux mesmes lieux ou le vaillant hector et le redoutable achille avoient combattu il ne s'en pouvoit tirer et il passa des journees entieres a regarder le tombeau de ce dernier demi-dieu mais comme depuis que nous estions entrez dans l'jonie nous avions toujours eu un homme de l'isle de samos qui ayant fort voyage et estant fort scavant aux choses de l'antiquite nous guidoit et nous monstroit tout ce 
 qu'il y avoit de rare ce fut la qu'il pensa venir a bout de sa patience en luy faisant cent questions et cent demandes sur le siege d'ilium il y reste encore quelques ruines de deux grands chasteaux de marbre que les flames espargnerent et que le temps a jusques icy respectez ce prince les visita avec un plaisir extreme et parcourut tous les rivages des fameux fleuves de scamandre et de simois enfin cette terre qui a autrefois este arrosee de tant d'illustre sang luy sembloit une terre consacree aux dieux tant il avoit de veneration pour elle cependant cet excellent grec que nous avions avec nous luy ayant dit que periandre que nous avions veu dans ephese n'estoit pas seul sage en grece et qu'enfin cette nation commencoit de n'estre pas moins remplie d'excellens hommes qu'elle l'estoit du temps d'agamemnon d'ulysse et de nestor commenca aussi de mettre en son coeur une forte envie d'y aller si bien que ne voyant pas que la guerre de lydie ny celle de phrigie s'avancassent fort je luy persuaday de passer en grece ce que nous fismes et pour commencer par ce qu'elle avoit de plus grand nous fusmes droit a athenes dont il admira la beaute aussi bien que celle du fameux port de piree comme l'ordre merveilleux que les loix d'un homme repute souverainement sage y entretenoit nous sceumes que cet excellent homme apelle solon s'estoit banny volontairement de son pais pour dix ans afin de ne changer plus rien a ses loix ayant oblige ses citoyens par ferment de les observer 
 jusques a son retour artamene connut pisistrate en ce lieu la qui a ce que l'on disoit aspiroit a la tyrannie mais durant que nous estions dans athenes il courut bruit que solon s'estoit arreste a l'isle de chypre si bien que j'advoue que je contribuay beaucoup au dessein qu'artamene prit d'aller en ce lieu la tant pour voir la plus belle isle de la mer egee et le celebre temple de venus que pour connoistre le plus fameux sage de grece nous eusmes pourtant le malheur de ne l'y trouver plus bien est-il vray qu'artamene eut du moins l'avantage d'y faire amitie particuliere avec un prince nomme philoxipe de grand esprit et de grande vertu mais comme je ne veux pas m'estendre sur toutes les rencontres de nostre voyage et que je ne le vous raconte qu'afin que vous vous estonniez moins des grandes choses que mon maistre a faites dans une si grande jeunesse je reserveray pour quelques autres occasions plusieurs petites avantures qu'il eut aux divers lieux ou nous passasmes ainsi sans vous particulariser ce grand nombre d'isles que nous vismes dans la mer egee je vous diray seulement qu'apres nostre retour a athenes ou mon maistre avoit promis a pisistrate de retourner nous fusmes a lacedemone de qui le gouvernement ne luy pleut pas cette grande ame ne pouvant s'imaginer que deux rois peussent compatir ensemble elle qui auroit trouve toute la terre trop petite pour assouvir pleinement son ambition nous fusmes en suitte a delphes a argos a micenes et a 
 corinthe ou le sage periandre nous receut magnifiquement car cet excellent homme est persuade que le droit d'hospitalite doit estre un des plus inviolables et qu'ainsi l'on ne peut faire trop d'honneur aux estrangers aussi voulut il que la princesse cleobuline sa fille de qui la beaute la sagesse et le scavoir l'ont rendue celebre par toute la grece ne refusast pas sa conversation a artamene qui estoit devenu scavant en la langue grecque qu'il pouvoit estre pris pour originaire de ce pais la periandre luy fit mesme entendre pour le regaller ce fameux musicien nomme arion que de l'istme de corinthe a porte sa reputation par toute la terre tant pour l'excellence de son art que pour le dauphin qui le sauva comme vous l'avez sceu sans doute je ne m'amuse pas seigneur a vous dire que nous vismes mille belles choses pendant ce voyage que mon maistre remarqua avec beaucoup de jugement et qu'il profita de tout ce qu'il y avoit de bon dans les moeurs ou dans les coustumes de tous ces peuples differens que nous visitames estant aise de connoistre par le grand nombre des vertus qu'il possede que c'est une acquisition qu'il a faite en plus d'un lieu mais je vous diray enfin que corinthe ayant un port ou l'on aborde de toutes parts nous sceumes que la guerre de lydie et de l'jonie estoit declaree et qu'apres que cet orage avoit si long temps gronde il estoit fondu sur ces deux provinces si bien qu'artamene impatient qu'il estoit de se voir des ennemis 
 a combattre se resolut de s'en aller jetter dans ephese pour la deffendre contre cresus qui l'attaquoit voulant du moins dit il a periandre en prenant conge de luy recompenser en quelque sorte les grecs asiatiques de la civilite qu'il avoit rencontree parmy les veritables grecs ainsi periandre nous ayant fait trouver un vaisseau bien equipe nous nous mismes a la voille avec un vent tres favorable artamene croyant avoir bien tost une occasion de mettre en pratique cette valeur prodigieuse que la nature luy a donne et que le desir de la gloire a porte a un si haut point estoit dans une joye qui n'est pas imaginable mais la fortune qui estoit lasse de le faire attendre si long temps les occasions de se signaler luy en donna une qu'il n'attendoit pas et qui pensa luy estre bien funeste car tout d'un coup un de nos mariniers cria qu'il voyoit quatre voilles a la mer qui venoient sur nous et que si l'on n'y prenoit garde ces quatre vaisseaux auroient bien tost joint le nostre a cet advis le pilote observa ce qu'on luy monstroit et plus estonne que le premier il cria que sans doute c'estoit le vaillant corsaire qui nous venoit investir pardonnez moy genereux thrasibule dit alors chrisante en interrompant son recit si je suis contraint pour suivre ma narration exactement de vous donner un nom que vous avez rendu si redoutable sur toutes les mers ou nous avons passe non non luy dit thrasibule je ne trouveray 
 point mauvais que vous me donniez un nom que ma mauvaise fortune m'a fait porter et que peut-estre mon bonheur a rendu assez considerable sur la mer egee sur l'helespont et sur le pont euxin pour en avoir oste toute l'infamie qui suit la qualite de pyrate continuez donc vostre recit et ne cachez pas la moindre circonstance d'une des plus grandes actions de la vie d'artamene quoy que je scache qu'il en a fait d'admirables chrisante voyant que thrasibule avoit cesse de parler et que tous ces princes renouvelloient leur attention par ce qu'ils venoient d'entendre reprit ainsi la parole ce pilote donc ayant asseure que c'estoit le vaillant corsaire qui nous venoit investir sans attendre d'autre commandement voulut changer sa route et tascher d'eviter la rencontre d'un ennemy accoustume a vaincre et de qui les forces estoient tant au dessus des nostres mais artamene ne s'en fut pas si tost aperceu qu'entrant en une colere estrange il prit son espee d'une main et luy arracha le timon de l'autre non non luy dit il tu ne seras pas le maistre du vaisseau et si tu ne veux me conduire droit aux ennemis je vay te jetter dans la mer ou te passer mon espee au travers du corps cet homme surpris aussi bien que moy d'un discours si violent se jetta a ses pieds et luy dit qu'il ne pensoit pas qu'il voulust aller vers des ennemis qu'il n'estoit pas permis d'esperer de vaincre fais seulement ce que je veux luy respondit 
 artamene et laisse le soing du reste a la conduite des dieux et mon courage entendant parler le prince de cette sorte et ayant apris des mariniers combien le fameux corsaire estoit redoutable seigneur luy dis-je que voulez vous faire je veux vaincre ou mourir me respondit il et ne refuser pas la premiere occasion que la fortune m'ait offerte mais seigneur luy repliquay-je le moyen de vaincre en combattant sans esperance je vous l'ay desja dit adjousta le prince si nous ne pouvons vaincre nous mourrons et je l'aime beaucoup mieux que de ne combattre pas et de fuir laschement a la premier occasion ou s'est trouve artamene seigneur luy repliquay-je se retirer devant un ennemy trop sort n'est pas une suite honteuse mais une prudente retraite et il ne faut pas confondre la temerite et la valeur je ne scay pas encore trop bien me dit le prince assez brusquement faire toutes ces distinctions c'est pourquoy de peur de me tromper en une chose ou il va de mon honneur je veux prendre le chemin le plus asseure qui est celuy de combattre et c'est pour cela dit il en se tournant vers les soldats et vers les mariniers que je veux que chacun se prepare a faire son devoir et a m'imiter pendant cette contestation les quatre vaisseaux qui nous donnoient la chasse et qui estoient beaucoup meilleurs voilliers que le nostre estoient desja si proches que je jugeay qu'il n'y avoit plus rien a faire qu'a penser a se deffendre n'estant pas croyable que celuy qui n'avoit pas voulu se retirer 
 voulust se rendre sans combattre je commencay donc d'aider au prince a donner les ordres et apres qu'il eut commande a tous les siens de ne tirer point qu'ils ne fussent un peu plus pres que la portee de la fleche et a son pilote de le porter tousjours sur l'admiral des ennemis feraulas et moy nous nous rengeasmes aupres de luy je suis oblige de rendre ce tesmoignage a sa vertu que jamais peut-estre il ne s'est veu dans un si grand peril plus de sermete qu'il en parut en l'ame de ce jeune prince il fit mettre un arc et un carquois aupres de luy outre celuy qu'il avoit a la main et sur l'espaule quantite de fleches avec plusieurs javelots mais il ne s'avisoit pas de demander un bouclier tant il songeoit peu a eviter le peril si je ne luy en eusse fait donner un pour s'en servir lors qu'on aborderoit les ennemis cependant le fameux corsaire qui ne doutoit point du tout qu'il ne nous prist sans combattre veu l'inegalite de nos forces commenca de nous faire signe d'ameiner mais artamene qui par sa hardiesse avoit enfin inspire de la valeur a tous ces soldats et a tous ces mariniers ayant commande au pilote de le mener droit aux ennemis et de tascher de gagner le vent il fut si promptement et si adroitement obei qu'en fort peu de temps nous fusmes a la portee de la fleche les uns des autres et mesme encore un peu plus pres si bien qu'au lieu d'ameiner les voiles comme le fameux corsaire l'avoit creu nous le couvrismes d'une gresle des traits qui tua plusieurs de ses soldats que nous vismes 
 tomber sur le tillac un procede si hardi luy persuada qu'il y avoit sans doute quelque homme de grand coeur dans nostre vaisseau ou que peut-estre mesme pouvoit il y avoir quelques uns de ses ennemis qui plustost que de se rendre a luy vouloient combattre en desesperez irrite donc qu'il fut de nostre temerite il commenca d'agir en homme qui scavoit faire la guerre car il commanda a tous ses vaisseaux de nous enfermer entr'eux afin de nous estonner et de nous prendre sans estre oblige d'aborder mais quoy qu'il peust faire il fut plus de deux heures sans en pouvoir venir a bout et si le prince eust pu se resoudre de se contenter d'avoir eu la gloire de combattre avec des forces tant inegales et de se retirer sans vouloir vaincre absolument il ne se fust pas trouve dans le peril ou je le vis bien tost apres car enfin ces quatre vaisseaux malgre tout l'art de nostre pilote nous mirent au milieu d'eux et commencerent de tirer sur nous avec tant de violence que nous combattions a l'ombre par la multitude des traits qui couvroient nostre vaisseau et qui tomboient de toutes parts sur nos testes artamene voyant les choses en cet estat commanda alors d'aller droit a l'amiral et de s'attacher a luy on luy obeit nous l'abordons nous l'acrochons et nous commencons un combat qui n'eut jamais de semblable artamene fautant au mesme instant dans le vaisseau du fameux corsaire le fameux corsaire fit la mesme chose dans celuy d'artamene si bien qu'il y eut intervale d'un moment ou les deux 
 chefs se trouverent seuls parmy leurs ennemis mais la chose ne fut pas long temps en ces termes et il arriva en cette occasion ce qui n'arrivera peut-estre jamais car comme nous ne songions qu'a suivre artamene tout se lanca avec luy tout se pressa pour le suivre et tout passa dans le vaisseau du corsaire excepte quelques uns qui tomberent dans la mer ou qui furent tuez par ceux qui d'abord les repousserent d'autre part les soldats du corsaire ayant fait mesme chose que nous et ayant suivy leur capitaine avec mesme impetuosite que nous avions suivy le nostre dans ce desordre et dans cette confusion il se trouva qu'artamene fut maistre du vaisseau du fameux corsaire et que le fameux corsaire aussi fut maistre du vaisseau d'artamene d'abord ils eurent tous deux de la joye mais venant a considerer qu'ils n'avoient fait que changer de navire et que comme artamene par des menaces faisoit obeir les mariniers de l'illustre pyrate l'illustre pyrate aussi faisoit suivre ses ordres a ceux d'artamene ils recommencerent le combat et chacun voulant rentrer dans son vaisseau combatit avec une ardeur qui n'est pas imaginable cependant ce bizarre evenement differa nostre perte de quelques momens car les trois autres vaisseaux du corsaire qui ne discernoient pas si parfaitement les choses tant parce qu'ils estoient plus esloignez qu'a cause de la quantite de leurs propres traits ne songeoient point attaquer le vaisseau de leur amiral dont nous estions les maistres si bien 
 que durant quelque temps ce genereux corsaire se vit attaque et par nous et par les siens tout a la fois bien est il vray qu'il n'estoit pas luy mesme trop en estat d'y prendre garde et d'y donner ordre car mon maistre l'ayant connu pour le chef des ennemis l'attaqua avec tant de vigueur et tant de resolution qu'il ne s'est jamais veu une pareille chose et tous nos mariniers qui estoient les seuls spectateurs de ce combat nous ont asseure que plus de vingt fois artamene rentra dans son vaisseau et que plus de vingt fois aussi le fameux pyrate revint dans le sien sans que ny l'un ny l'autre parust avoir nul avantage tous a leur exemple ou lancoient un javelot ou tiroient des fleches ou se servoient d'une espee pour artamene l'on peut dire qu'il employa toutes sortes d'armes en cette journee car tant que nous fusmes un peu esloignez il tira de l'arc estant un peu plus pres il lanca plusieurs javelots avec une force incroyable et quand nous fusmes accorchez il ne se servit plus que de son espee mais a dire la verite il s'en servit d'une maniere si prodigieuse que je n'oserois presque croire ce que je luy vis faire en cette occasion cependant les trois vaisseaux du pyrate s'estant apreceus de leur erreur ne tirerent plus contre leur maistre et nous vismes en un moment sur nous toutes les forces de nos ennemis ce fut alors qu'artamene voyant qu'il faloit perir et nous voyant tousjours aupres de luy feraulas et moy feraulas dis-je de la valeur duquel je n'oserois parler en sa presence 
 nous dit en se tournant vers nous toujours plus fier nous ne vaincrons pas mes amis mais si vous me secondez la victoire coustera bien cher a ces pyrates apres cela que ne fit il point et que pourrois-je dire qui ne fust au dessous de la verite il voyoit nostre vaisseau investy de tous les costez il voyoit au chef des corsaires une valeur peu commune s'il m'est permis de le dire devant luy il voyoit que ce qui luy restoit de gens estoient presque tous blessez et qu'il l'estoit luy mesme a l'espaule gauche d'un coup de fleche qui l'avoit atteint et malgre tout ce que je dis il donnoit encore ses ordres il estoit tantost a la proue tantost a la poupe il poussoit un pyrate dans la mer il en tuoit un autre d'un coup d'espee et bref il agissoit de facon qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'il estoit incapable de se rendre cependant feraulas et moy eusmes le malheur d'estre blessez de telle forte que nous en demeurasmes hors de combat feraulas ayant deux coups de javelot dans une cuisse et moy deux grands coups d'espee au bras droit neantmoins quoy qu'artamene vist qu'il estoit perdu que je luy criasse qu'il pouvoit se rendre sans honte que le fameux corsaire tout blesse qu'il estoit de sa main le voulust sauver que le tillac fust tout couvert de sang de blessez et de morts a l'entour de luy ce coeur inflexible et opiniastre dans sa generosite n'escouta rien de tout ce qu'on luy dit et combatit tousjours avec plus d'ardeur mais enfin estant venu aux prises avec un vaillant grec qui s'estoit signale 
 en ce combat ils tomberent tous deux dans la mer sans que d'abord l'on y prist garde un moment apres l'absence d'artamene ayant fait quitter les armes au petit nombre des siens qui ne les avoient pas abandonnees tant qu'ils l'avoient veu combattre le fameux corsaire n'ayant plus d'ennemis qui luy resistassent vit a trente pas de son vaisseau l'invincible artamene qui nageant d'une main et tenant son espee de l'autre combatoit encore contre ce genereux grec qu'il avoit entraisne dans la mer lors qu'il y estoit tombe et qui estant en mesme posture que luy faisoit voir une chose qui n'avoit jamais este veue artamene s'elancoit tousjours vers son ennemy avec un courage incroyable mais comme ce grec estoit plus avance en age que luy beaucoup plus fort et moins blesse il resistoit mieux a la violence des vagues qui tantost les separant tantost les rejoignant et tantost semblant les engloutir et terminer leurs differents en triomphant de tous les deux faisoient voir un spectacle au milieu des flots qui n'avoit jamais eu de pareil sur la terre mais un moment apres on les voyoit revenir sur l'eau et se chercher des yeux pour recommencer un combat si extraordinaire je vous laisse a penser seigneur quel effet fit cette veue dans mon coeur car comme je n'estois blesse qu'au bras quoy que je fusse si foible que je ne pouvois me remuer a cause du sang que j'avois perdu et que je perdois encore je ne laissois pas d'avoir l'usage de la veue et de la raison imaginez vous donc ce que 
 je devins lors que je vis cet excellent prince en cet estat je ne scay pas quel estoit mon dessein mais je scay bien que je taschay de me trainer et que j'estois prest de me jetter dans la mer pour aller a luy si je l'eusse pu lors que le fameux corsaire qui avoit este charme de la valeur d'artamene le voyant en ce peril commanda a cinq ou six des siens de se jetter dans son esquif et d'aller sauver mon cher maistre ces hommes donc obeissant au commandement qu'ils avoient receu furent droit a artamene et commandant a ce vaillant grec de la part de leur amiral de n'attaquer plus ce genereux estranger il se jetta dans leur bateau et changea le dessein de tuer artamene en celuy de le sauver mais je ne scay si tous ensemble ils en eussent pu venir au bout sans un accident qui luy arriva ce fut qu'artamene qui estoit las de combattre et de nager qui de plus avoit este blesse au bras droit par la pinte d'une escueil a une des fois qu'il avoit plonge voulant faire un effort pour nager plus viste et se reculer de ceux qui venoient a luy laissa tomber son espee dans la mer que l'impetuosite des vagues deroba bien tost a sa veue il voulut plonger pour la reprendre mais ces cinq ou six mariniers le prirent luy mesme malgre qu'il en eust le tirerent dans leur esquif le menerent a leur bord et le presenterent au fameux pyrate qui le receut avec une gerosite sans exemple des qu'il le vit dans son vaisseau ou 
 il estoit repasse apres s'estre rendu maistre du nostre ay-je combattu avec si peu de coeur luy dit il que vous me jugiez indigne d'estre vostre vainqueur et vostre liberateur tout ensemble vous avez combatu luy respondit artamene avec tant de courage que la crainte de ne pouvoir jamais vous esgaler m'a desespere joint que j'ay quelque repugnance a recevoir la vie d'un homme auquel j'ay voulu donner la mort l'inegalite du nombre luy respondit doucement l'illustre corsaire justifie assez vostre valeur et excuse assez vostre deffaite si je triomphois deux fois ainsi je ne triompherois plus de ma vie et je trouve adjousta t'il que la victoire que j'ay r'emportee m'est si peu avantageuse et vous est si honorable que s'il y avoit un prix pour le vainqueur je vous le cederois et n'aurois pas la hardiesse de l'accepter cela dit il commanda que l'on eust autant de soing d'artamene que de luy et apres s'estre informe quel estoit ce vaisseau et avoir apris que nous estions des estrangers que la seule curiosite avoit conduit en grece il nous traita encore avec plus de douceur je ne vous diray point seigneur toute la bonte que l'illustre corsaire eut pour artamene et pour nous parce qu'il est trop de la connoissance du genereux thrasibule que quand artamene eust este son frere il n'en eust pas eu un soing plus particulier comme les blessures de mon maistre n'estoient pas dangereuses non plus que celles du fameux pyrate ils furent bien tost 
 gueris mais feraulas et moy ne le fusmes pas si promptement cependant quoy qu'artamene ne peust presque se consoler de n'avoir pas este vainqueur au premier combat qu'il eust jamais fait quelque gloire qu'il y eust aquise comme la vertu a des charmes tres puissans il se lia insensiblement une amitie si estroitte entre luy et le fameux corsaire que jamais vainqueur et vaincu n'avoient agy comme ils agirent cette amitie fut cause que l'illustre pyrate ne se hasta pas d'offrir la liberte a mon maistre et que mon maistre aussi ne se hasta pas de la luy demander si bien que comme les affaires du premier l'appelloient au pont euxin nous prismes cette route avec luy sans scavoir presque ou nous allions et sans prevoir qu'il nous y arriveroit des choses d'ou dependoit toute la gloire tout le bonheur et toute l'infortune d'artamene en y allant nous abordasmes a lesbos ou le fameux pyrate avoit affaire et mon maistre et moy fusmes voir une fille illustre appellee sapho que toute la grece admire et qui est sans doute admirable et par sa beaute et par les vers qu'elle compose mais seigneur pour venir promptement au point le plus important de mon recit je vous diray en peu de mots qu'estant arrivez au pont euxin nous n'avions pas marche trois jours et trois nuits que le fameux corsaire accoustume a attaquer les autres fut attaque par six vaisseaux ce combat ayant este tres long et tres opiniastre artamene qui voulut combattre y fit des actions si admirables 
 que la modestie de l'illustre pyrate luy fit dire apres le combat qu'il luy devoit la victoire et en effet il se sentit si estroitement oblige a mon maistre que de trois vaisseaux qu'il avoit pris il voulut luy en donner deux mais artamene n'en voulut prendre qu'un avec lequel il eut dessein de s'en aller regagner l'helespont et la mer egee pour se rendre a ephese suivant son intention et de la renvoyer a periandre le vaisseau qu'il acceptoit en eschange du sien qui avoit este coule a fonds dans le dernier combat il se separa donc du genereux pyrate sans estre connu de luy et sans le connoistre car comme ils avoient tous deux resolu de ne se descouvrir pas ils n'osoient se demander l'un a l'autre ce qu'ils ne se vouloient pas dire ainsi leur amitie quoy que grande fit qu'ils ne se presserent que mediocrement sur une chose qui leur tenoit pourtant fort au coeur et la retenue de mon maistre fut telle en cette rencontre qu'il combatit sans demander seulement pourquoy il avoit combatu ny qui il avoit combatu parce qu'il remarqua que le genereux pyrate en vouloit faire un mystere artamene reprenant donc feraulas et moy et les deux hommes de sa suite nous commmencasmes de retourner d'ou nous venions avec un vent assez favorable mais a peine avions nous marche un demy jour qu'une terrible tempeste se leva mais si violente et si extraordinare que le pilote luy mesme en fut espouvente l'air se troubla tout d'un coup la mer se grossit et roulant des montages 
 d'escume les unes sur les autres elle mugissoit effroyablement et agitoit si fort le vaisseau que les plus fermes mariniers ne pouvoient se tenir debout le feu des esclairs le bruit du tonnerre et l'obscurite de la nuit se joignant a toutes ces choses nous firent voir lors mesme que nous ne voyons plus rien que ceux qui sont veritablement genereux n'aprehendent jamais la mort sous quelque forme qu'elle leur apparoisse car mon maistre fut aussi peu esmeu de cette tempeste que s'il se fust promene sur un fleuve le plus tranquille du monde il donnoit ses ordres sans confusion et quoy qu'il n'eust pas este marry d'eschaper de ce peril qui paroissoit si grand et presque si inevitable la crainte ne luy fit pourtant jamais changer de visage nous fusmes trois jours et trois nuits de cette sorte nous esloignant tousjours de nostre routte et nous engageant tellement dans le pont euxin qu'en fin le quatriesme jour au soleil levant la tempeste nous jetta au port de sinope ou nous sommes qui comme vous scavez est en capadoce et vers les frontieres de galatie
 
 
 
 
je vous fais souvenir seigneur de cette particularite afin que vous admiriez davantage la bizarrerie de la fortune qui voulant sauver artamene de la rigueur des flots irritez le jetta au milieu des pais de ses ennemis car enfin ciaxare estoit fils d'astiage et c'estoit veritablement plustost luy qui devoit craindre les menaces des dieux que non pas le roy son pere qui par son extreme vieillesse n'avoit 
 plus gueres de part au throne qu'il occupoit neantmoins comme nous sceumes que la cour n'estoit pas alors a sinope et qu'elle estoit a une autre ville qui s'appelle pterie je fus en quelque repos joint que je ne voyois pas qu'il fust possible qu'artamene peust facilement estre connu pour ce qu'il estoit toutefois je fis tout ce que je pus pour l'empescher de descendre de son vaisseau mais il n'y eut pas moyen et voyant d'ou nous estions ce beau temple de mars qui comme vous scavez est hors de la ville il voulut y aller le lendemain de fort bon matin pendant que l'on radouberoit son vaisseau que la tempeste avoit fort gaste feraulas et moy y fusmes donc avec luy et comme les choses indifferentes sont ordinairement l'objet de la conversation de ceux qui n'ont rien a faire dans un pais que d'en voir les raretez le prince commenca de me demander pourquoy en tant de lieux que nous avions visitez il avoit remarque moins de temples de mars que de nulle autre divinite et comme s'il eust este jaloux des honneurs qu'on leur redoit il repassa dans sa memoire tous les temples qu'il avoit veus dediez a venus et trouva qu'il y en avoit beaucoup davantage pour cette deesse des amours que pour le dieu de la guerre et quoy seigneur luy dis-je en sous-riant estes vous ennemy de cette divinite qui recoit des voeux de toute la terre et qui sous des noms differens recoit des sacrifices de toutes les nations et mesme de tous les hommes je 
 n'en suis pas ennemy me respondit il mais j'en suis jaloux et je voudrois bien que mars eust autant d'autels qu'elle en a peut-estre luy dis-je ne serez vous pas tousjours de cette humeur je ne scay me respondit il mais dans celle ou je suis presentement je prefere la guerre a l'amour vous avez raison seigneur luy dis-je et la passion de l'une est bien plus heroique que celle de l'autre mais quelque ardeur que vous ayez pour la gloire peut-estre luy ferez vous quelque jour infidelite je ne le pense pas me dit il et je seray fort trompe si jamais une pareille chose m'arrive en disant cela nous entrasmes dans ce temple que nous vismes magnifiquement orne il y avoit alors encore peu de monde si bien que nous eusmes plus de liberte d'en considerer toutes les beautez il se trouva en ce mesme lieu un estranger de fort bonne mine et fort bien fait a peu pres de mesme age que mon maistre n'ayant pas a ce que l'on pouvoit juger en le voyant plus d'un an ou deux plus que luy ce jeune chevalier suivant la coustume de ceux qui ne sont pas du pais ou ils se rencontrent vint se mesler parmy nous et fit conversation avec artamene ils se regarderent tous deux avec attention et avec estonnement et comme cet estranger avoit entendu que nous parlions la langue du pais qui ressemble fort a celle des medes aussi bien qu'a celle des assiriens par le voisinage de tous ces royaumes qui se touchent il la parla aussi comme nous et tesmoigna avoir autant d'esprit que de bonne 
 mine cependant nous vismes venir beaucoup de monde dans ce temple et a quelque temps de la nous commencasmes de voir passer devant nous tous les aprests d'un superbe sacrifice nous vismes donc arriver cent taureaux blancs couronnez de fleurs conduits chacun par deux hommes nombre ordinaire aux hecatombes nous vismes passer quantite de riches vases d'or pour recevoir le sang des victimes et pour faire les libations nous vismes aussi porter les foyers sacrez pour brusler l'encens et les riches couteaux qui devoient servir a esgorger ces victimes tous les sacrificateurs marchoient deux a deux en leurs habits de ceremonie et toutes choses enfin estoient prestes pour le sacrifice n'y manquant plus rien que la personne qui le devoit offrir je regardois toutes ces choses avec autant de plaisir qu'artamene lors que tout d'un coup l'on entendit dire a plusieurs personnes voicy le roy voicy le roy et a ces mots tout le peuple se pressa des deux costez du temple pour laisser passer le prince je vous advoue seigneur que cette advanture me surprit un peu et que je fus bien fasche de voir artamene si pres de ciaxare qui estoit venu de pterie a sinope ce jour la pour faire ce sacrifice cependant artamene encore plus curieux qu'il n'avoit este s'avanca malgre moy au premier rang et se mit droit au passage du prince un moment apres les gardes se saisirent des portes se mirent en haye au milieu du temple et toute cette foule de courtisans qui 
 marchent ordinairement devant les rois s'avanca jusques a l'autel artamene qui ne s'estoit prepare qu'a voir le roy de capadoce seulement le vit alors entrer appuye sur le bras d'aribee qui estoit en faveur aupres de luy en ce temps la mais o dieux il le vit accompagne de la princesse mandane sa fille qui certainement estoit la plus belle personne qui sera jamais je ne la vy pas plustost paroistre que je vy artamene presser ceux qui le touchoient et quitter le jeune estranger que nous avions rencontre pour voir mieux et plus long temps cette princesse qui comme je l'ay desja dit meritoit bien d'exciter en son coeur la curiosite qu'elle y fit naistre vous vous souvenez sans doute seigneur qu'en un endroit de mon recit je vous ay dit que cette princesse estoit nee trois ans apres artamene ainsi la premiere fois qu'il la vit elle commencoit d'entrer dans sa seiziesme annee elle estoit ce jour la habillee assez magnifiquement et quoy qu'il ne parust nulle affectation en sa proprete elle estoit neantmoins tres propre le voile de gaze d'argent qu'elle avoit sur sa teste n'empeschoit pas que l'on ne vist mille anneaux d'or que faisoient ses beaux cheveux qui sans doute estoient du plus beau blond qui sera jamais ayant tout ce qu'il faut pour donner de l'esclat sans oster rien de la vivacite qui est une des parties necessaires a la beaute parfaite cette princesse estoit d'une taille tres noble tres advantageuse et tres elegante et elle marchoit avec une majeste si modeste qu'elle entrainoit 
 apres elle les coeurs de tous ceux qui la voyoient sa gorge estoit blanche pleine et bien taillee elle avoit les yeux bleux mais si doux si brillans et si remplis de pudeur et de charmes qu'il estoit impossible de les voir sans respect et sans admiration elle avoit la bouche si incarnatte les dents si blanches si egales et si bien rangees le teint si eclatant si lustre si uni et si vermeil que la fraicheur et la beaute des plus rares fleurs du printemps ne scauroit donner qu'une idee imparfaite de ce que je vy et de ce que cette princesse possedoit elle avoit les plus belles mains et les plus beaux bras qu'il estoit possible de voir car comme elle avoit releve son voile par deux fois en entrant au temple je remarquay cette derniere beaute comme j'avois desja remarque toutes les autres mais enfin seigneur de toutes ces beautez et de tous ces charmes que je ne vous ay decris si au long que pour vous rendre artamene plus excusable il resultoit un agreement en toutes les actions de cette illustre princesse si merveilleux et si peu commun que soit qu'elle marchast ou qu'elle s'arrestast qu'elle parlast ou qu'elle se teust qu'elle sous-rist ou qu'elle resvast elle estoit toujours charmante et tousjours admirable ce fut donc par une si belle apparition qu'artamene fut surpris lors que n'attendant que ciaxare il vit arriver mandane telle que je l'ay depeinte et plus belle encore mille fois aussi en fut il tellement charme que partant de sa place il la suivit jusques au pied de l'autel ou elle se fut mettre 
 a genoux feraulas et moy voyant qu'il se mesloit parmy ceux qui la suivoient fismes aussi la mesme chose et nous remarquasmes qu'il s'estoit place de facon qu'il pouvoit voir la princesse et en estre vu pour moy je ne vy de ma vie une pareille chose car imaginez vous seigneur que depuis que la princesse de capadoce fut entree dans ce temple artamene ne vit plus rien de tout ce qui s'y passa il ne sceut si c'estoit un sacrifice ou une assemblee pour donner des prix a des jeux publics et il ne vit rien autre chose que mandane il la regarda tousjours et en la regardant il changea diverses fois de couleur il nous a dit depuis qu'il se trouva si extraordinairement surpris de cette veue et si fortement attache par un si bel objet qu'il luy fut absolument impossible d'en pouvoir detourner les yeux il nous assura qu'il avoit fait tout ce qu'il avoit pu pour cela mais qu'il n'avoit jamais este en son pouvoir d'en destourner ny ses regards ny ses pensee cependant le sacrifice commenca et le premier des mages s'estant prosterne au pied de l'autel prononca ces paroles a haute voix le roy la princesse et tout le monde estant a genoux avec un profond silence apres les douceurs de la paix acceptez o puissant dieu de la guerre ces pures et innocentes victimes que nous vous allons offrir au lieu de celles que le jeune cyrus la terreur de toute l'asie devoit vous immoler si la bonte du ciel n'eust affermy tous les trosnes des rois de la terre par sa mort recevez au nom du 
 roy de la princesse sa fille de toute la capadoce et de toute la medie les remerciemens de cette bienheureuse mort de cette mort dis-je qui a remis la tranquilite dans toute l'asie et sans laquelle toute la terre auroit este en trouble et en division je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle surprise fut la mienne et quelle fut celle de mon maistre car encore qu'il n'eust rien veu que mandane et qu'il ne songeast qu'a elle lors qu'il s'entendit nommer il en fut estrangement estonne et je remarquay sur son visage une partie de ce qu'il eust pu voir sur le mien s'il y eust pris garde aussi bien que je l'observois je changeay alors de place et m'avancant vers luy seigneur luy dis-je tout bas nous ne ferons pas mal de sortir d'icy et nous ferons encore mieux me respondit il en rougissant d'y demeurer voyant le prince en cette resolution je n'osay pas le presser davantage de peur de faire prendre garde a nous je demeuray donc aupres d'artamene qui malgre un evenement si surprenant regarda mandane avec tant d'attention qu'il ne vit ny la mort des victimes ny la fumee des parfums et il ne s'aperceut de la fin de cette ceremonie que lors que le roy et la princesse sa fille s'en allerent il les suivit jusques hors du temple et je pense qu'il les auroit suivis jusques a un chasteau qui n'est qu'a six stades de sinope ou ils s'en alloient disner si je ne l'en eusse empesche seigneur luy dis-je en luy montrant nostre chemin c'est par la qu'il faut aller a sinope artamene sans me respondre fit 
 ce que je luy disois mais ce ne fut pas sans regarder le chariot de la princesse le plus long temps qu'il luy fut possible et sans tourner mesme encore plus d'une fois la teste de ce coste la quoy qu'il ne la peust plus voir enfin nous arrivasmes a la maison ou nous nous estions logez pendant que l'on travailloit a remettre noste vaisseau en estat de faire voile mais nous y arrivasmes avec un changement bien considerable car artamene en partant pour aller au temple avoit commande que l'on se hastast et a son retour il dit que l'on se hastoit trop et que ce n'estoit pas le moyen de pouvoir bien faire les choses il parla peu durant le disner et mangea encore moins pour moy quoy que je l'eusse veu si attentif a regarder la princesse de capadoce je ne l'avois au plus soubconne que d'une assez forte disposition a l'aymer si la fortune l'eust attache aupres d'elle mais je n'avois pas creu qu'en si peu de temps une passion violente eust pu naistre cependant aussi tost apres le repas feraulas que nous avions perdu dans la presse lors que le roy estoit arrive estant revenu et ayant appris plus particulierement la cause du sacrifice nous tirant a part artamene et moy seigneur luy dit il il faut songer a partir d'icy et a en partir promptement et d'ou peut venir cette precipitation qu'il faut avoir pour cela luy respondit le prince en soupirant c'est parce luy repliqua feraulas que vous estes en un pais ou vostre mort passe pour un si grand bien que la croyant veritable l'on en fait des sacrifices 
 aux dieux pour les en remercier je l'ay desja sceu repliqua le prince sans s'emouvoir et puis que l'on me croit mort l'on ne me cherchera pas vivant mais feraulas luy dis-je scavez vous quelque chose de plus que ce que nous avons entendu de la bouche du mage qui a parle dans le temple j'ay sceu me respondit-il par un des sacrificateurs a qui je m'en suis informe qu'astiage ayant este assure par diverses personnes que le jeune cyrus avoit fait naufrage depuis ce temps la c'est a dire depuis trois ans qu'il y a que nous sommes partis et qu'il croit que le prince est mort a fait faire en pareil jour qu'il croit que cyrus a pery des sacrifices dans tous les temples de medie et de capadoce pour rendre graces aux dieux d'avoir fait cesser la cause apparente du renversement de son empire dont les astres l'avoient menace c'est donc a vous me dit il a songer a la seurete du prince et a considerer quel traitement il recevroit s'il estoit reconnu d'un roy et d'une princesse qui se resjouissent de sa mort et qui en remercient les dieux pendant le discours de feraulas artamene avoit este fort pensif mais voyant que je me preparois a luy parler il me prevint et me dit avec un visage assez inquiet ne craignez pas chrisante que je sois reconnu et croyez que si quelque chose le pouvoit faire ce seroit la precipitation que nous aporterions a partir qui pourroit nous rendre suspects c'est pourquoy ne nous hastons pas tant et ne faisons rien tumultuairement 
 en disant cela il nous quitta sans me donner le temps de luy respondre et fut se promener au bord de la mer suivy de deux esclaves que le fameux corsaire luy avoit donnez mais helas que cette promenade ou nous le suivismes bien toust apres fut peu agreable pour luy et de quelles estranges inquietudes ne se vit il pas accable car enfin seigneur il aimoit et il aimoit si esperdument que jamais personne n'a aime avec plus de violence neantmoins comme cette passion en avoit trouve une autre en possession du coeur d'artamene il se fit un grand combat en son ame et ce qu'il nous avoit dit contre l'amour en allant au temple estoit cause qu'il n'osoit nous descouvrir sa foiblesse il y avoit mesme des momens ou ne scachant pas trop bien si ce qu'il sentoit en luy estoit amour il se le demandoit en secret quel est ce tourment que je sens disoit il et d'ou me peut venir l'inquietude ou je me trouve quoy pour avoir veu la plus belle personne du monde faut il que j'en sois le plus malheureux les beaux objets adjoustoit il n'ont accoustume d'inspirer que de la joye d'ou peut donc venir que le plus bel objet qui sera jamais ne me donne que de la douleur je ne scay poursuivoit il si ce que je soubconne estre amour ne seroit point quelque chose de pire car enfin que veux-je et que puis-je vouloir mais helas adjoustoit il c'est parce que je ne scay ce que je veux ny ce que je puis vouloir que je suis inquiet et que je suis malheureux je scay bien toutefois 
 que si je suy mon inclination j'aimeray la belle mandane toute mon ennemie qu'elle est mais que dis-je j'aimeray ha non non j'explique mal mes pensees et ma langue a trahi les sentimens de mon coeur disons donc que je scay bien que j'aime mandane que je la veux tousjours aimer et que je ne seray jamais heureux que je ne puisse esperer d'en estre aime mais helas infortune que je suis poursuivoit il ne viens-je pas d'apprendre qu'elle fait des sacrifices pour remercier les dieux de ma mort et ne viens-je pas de scavoir que cyrus ne luy peut jamais plaire que dans le tombeau ou elle le croit ensevely apres cela il estoit quelque temps un peu plus en repos s'imaginant que cette consideration seroit assez forte pour le guerir de cette passion naissante mais tout d'un coup l'esperance qui seule fait vivre l'amour et qui s'attache mesme aux choses les plus impossibles pour entretenir dans une ame ce feu consumant qui la devore et qui ne peut subsister sans elle luy persuada qu'artamene n'estoit plus cyrus et qu'il ne devoit presque plus prendre de part a ce que l'on seroit contre luy tant qu'il ne seroit fait que contre le fils du roy de perse et qu'ainsi encore que cyrus fust hai artamene ne laisseroit pas d'estre aime s'il en cherchoit les moyens et qu'il taschast de s'en rendre digne par ses services mais au milieu de ce raisonement flateur cet ardent desir d'aquerir de la gloire qui jusques la avoit este maistre de son coeur commenca de disputer la victoire a la princesse 
 de capadoce et d'abord qu'il retourna les yeux vers cette eclatante rivale de mandane il la vit briller de tant d'appas qu'il pensa ne les tourner plus vers la princesse quoy disoit il je pourrois abandonner une maistresse qui ne manque jamais de recompenser ceux qui la suivent et de qui la servitude est si glorieuse qu'elle ne donne pas moins que des couronnes et une immortelle renommee a ceux qui luy sont fidelles qu'est devenu disoit il ce puissant desir d'estre connu de toute la terre moy qui me veux cacher sous le faux nom d'artamene et qui me veux ensevelir tout vivant pour satisfaire mes ennemis n'ay je quitte la perse que pour devenir amant de la princesse de capadoce et n'ay-je cesse d'estre cyrus que pour estre l'esclave d'une personne qui fait des sacrifices de rejouissance pour ma mort et qui me repousseroit peut-estre de sa propre main dans le tombeau si elle m'en voyoit sortir non non disoit il ne soyons pas assez foibles pour nous rendre si facilement et ne soyons pas assez lasches pour nous enchainer nous mesme souviens toy artamene adjoustoit il combien de fois l'on t'a dit en perse que l'amour estoit une dangereuse passion dispute luy donc l'entree de ton coeur et ne souffre pas qu'elle en triomphe mais helas adjoustoit il tout d'un coup que dis-je et que fais-je je parle de liberte et je suis charge de fers je parle de regner et je suis esclave je parle d'ambition et je n'en ay plus d'autre que 
 celle de pouvoir estre aime de mandane je parle de gloire et je ne la veux plus chercher qu'aux pieds de ma princesse enfin je sens bien que je ne suis plus a moy mesme et que c'est en vain que ma raison se veut opposer a mon amour mes yeux m'ont trahi mon coeur m'a abandonne ma volonte a suivi mandane tous mes desirs me portent vers cette adorable personne toutes mes pensees sont pour elle je n'aime presque plus la vie que par la seule esperance de l'employer a la servir et je sens mesme que ma raison toute revoltee qu'elle paroist estre contre mon coeur commence de me parler pour ma princesse elle me dit secretement que cette belle passion est la plus noble cause de toutes les actions heroiques qu'elle a trouve place dans le coeur de tous les herois que l'illustre persee le premier roy de ma race s'en laissa vaincre tout vaillant qu'il estoit d'abord qu'il eut veu son andromede que les dieux mesmes s'y trouvent sensibles qu'elle n'est lasche que dans le coeur des lasches et qu'elle est heroique dans l'ame de ceux qui sont veritablement genereux enfin elle me dit que mandane estant la plus belle chose du monde je suis excusable d'en estre amoureux et n'osant pas m'avouer que j'en dois estre loue elle m'assure du moins que je n'en suis pas fort blasmable suivons donc suivons cette amour qui nous emporte malgre nous et ne resistons pas davantage a une ennemie que nous ne pourrions jamais vaincre et que nous serions mesme bien marris d'avoir 
 surmontee apres une agitation d'esprit si violente le prince commencant de revenir sur ses pas et nous ayant joints feraulas et moy je le trouvay si change que j'en demeuray surpris il paroissoit dans ses yeux beaucoup de tristesse et je ne scay quelle inquietude en toutes ses actions qui commenca de m'en donner a moy mesme seigneur luy dis-je en le separant un peu des autres qui nous suivoient j'ay peine a comprendre d'ou peut venir la melancolie qui paroist sur vostre visage car encore que les sacrifices de remerciment que l'on fait icy pour vostre mort ne soient pas une chose agreable neantmoins je ne juge pas qu'une ame comme la vostre soit capable de s'en laisser ebranler vous dis-je qui avez desja meprise la mort plus d'une fois sous la plus effroyable forme ou l'on la puisse rencontrer vous avez raison chrisante me dit il de croire que cette rejouissance publique de ma perte ne fait pas ma douleur particuliere car enfin je suis assure que toutes les fois que cyrus voudra ressusciter cette fausse joye de ses ennemis sera bien tost changee en une veritable affliction mais chrisante j'aurois bien d'autres choses a vous dire si j'en avois la hardiesse mais je vous advoue que vostre sagesse me fait peur seigneur luy dis-je il faut estre si sage en l'age ou vous estes pour apprehender la sagesse d'autruy comme vous dites que vous faites que cela seul me persuade que je n'ay rien a craindre de vous et que cette sagesse dont vous parlez n'aura rien a faire qu'a vous louer quand 
 mesme vous m'aurez apris vos secrettes pensees je ne scay pourtant me dit il si vous pourrez scavoir que a ces mots il fut impossible a artamene d'achever ce qu'il vouloit dire et cherchant a s'expliquer sans le pouvoir faire et changeant de couleur et me regardant avec un sous-ris accompagne d'un souspir devinez me dit il mon cher chrisante ce que je n'oserois vous apprendre et ce que vous blasmerez sans doute des que vous l'aurez apris lors que j'entendis parler artamene de cette sorte l'attention que je luy avois veue au temple a regarder la princesse et tout ce qu'il avoit fait depuis furent cause que je me persuaday qu'il en estoit amoureux si bien que me souvenant de ce qu'il m'avoit dit auparavant que d'entrer dans ce temple ou il avoit veu mandane n'est-ce point luy dit-je seigneur que venus a voulu se vanger de vous et que mars n'a pu vous deffendre contre venus je luy dis cela en riant ne voulant pas presupposer que cette passion peust estre autre chose qu'une simple galanterie et une legere disposition a pouvoir aimer cette princesse mais helas artamene qui demandoit de moy des sentimens plus tendres et plus pitoyables en m'advouant sa deffaite me respondit d'une maniere qui me fit bien voir qu'il ne faloit pas de mediocres remedes pour le guerir d'un mal aussi grand que le sien je n'oubliay donc rien pour cela et apres qu'il m'eut advoue ce mal je luy representay tout ce que je pus pour le detourner de cette pensee 
 je luy fis voir le peu de raison qu'il y avoit d'aimer si esperdument ce qu'il avoit si peu veu et le peu d'apparence qu'il y avoit aussi qu'il peust esperer d'en estre jamais aime car luy disois-je seigneur si vous paroissez comme cyrus bien loing de pouvoir plaire a la princesse vous luy donnerez de l'aversion et astiage tout au moins vous chargera de chaines et de fers si vous n'estes aussi qu'artamene que pouvez vous esperer de mandane et que peut pretendre un simple chevalier de la fille d'un grand roy et d'une princesse qui est regardee comme devant succeder a la couronne de medie a celle de capadoce et de galatie et mesme a celle de perse car comme l'on vous croit mort astiage et ciaxare se preparent sans doute desja a l'usurper si cambise meurt le premier quoy qu'ils scachent bien l'un et l'autre que la royaute parmy les persans est elective encore qu'elle soit depuis long temps par succession dans l'illustre maison des persides revenez donc seigneur revenez a la raison et ne vous perdez pas legerement les dieux adjoustay-je n'ont pas predit de vous de si grandes choses pour ne vous amuser qu'a faire l'amour que voulez vous que j'y face me respondit le prince en m'embrassant je ne me suis pas rendu sans combattre et je me suis dit a moy mesme tout ce que vous venez de me dire si bien chrisante que tout ce que je puis est de vous promettre de faire encore de nouveaux efforts pour me guerir mais pour cela il me faut du temps c'est pourquoy 
 ne pressez pas tant nostre depart et donnez moy quelques jours a me resoudre seigneur luy repliquay-je l'amour est une espece de maladie de qui le venin est contagieux et d'une nature si maligne et si subtile que l'on ne scauroit fuir avec trop de diligence les jeux ou l'on s'en peut trouver atteint ceux qui sont empoisonnez me repliqua le prince emportent le poison avec eux en changeant de place c'est pourquoy ne me pressez pas davantage de partir je vous en conjure si vous ne voulez rendre mon mal encore plus grand qu'il n'est mais si vous estes reconnu luy dis-je vostre perte est indubitable elle la seroit encore plus si je partois me respondit-il c'est pourquoy donnons quelque chose a la fortune et ne parlons point encore de partir le prince me dit cela d'une maniere qui me fit connoistre qu'il faloit avoir quelque indulgence pour luy joint qu'aussi bien nostre vaisseau n'estoit pas en estat de nous permettre de faire voile si tost le lendemain artamene retourna au temple de mars et faignant de vouloir s'informer des particularitez du pais il parla a un des sacrificateurs mais en effet ce fut pour avoir sujet de luy parler de la princesse ce mage qui se trouva estre un homme d'esprit apres avoir respondu a cent questions indifferentes que luy fit artamene ne venant pas de luy mesme ou il desiroit qu'il vinst ce prince ne scachant par ou commencer a luy parler de mandane luy demanda si ciaxare n'avoit jamais 
 eu d'autres enfans que la princesse sa fille non luy dit ce sacrificateur et ce qu'il y a en cela de fort extraordinaire c'est que tous les peuples qui ont accoustume de desirer plus tost un roy qu'une reine ont cesse d'avoir cette fantaisie depuis que la princesse mandane a este en age de raison car adjousta t'il sa vertu a paru avec tant d'eclat aux yeux de ces peuples que quand la chose seroit a leur choix ils ne voudroient pas changer cette reine pour un roy artamene ravi d'entendre parler ce mage de cette sorte luy dit que si la beaute de l'ame de cette princesse respondoit a celle du corps il faloit sans doute qu'elle fust admirable en toutes choses plus encore mille fois luy respondit le sacrificateur que vous ne pouvez vous l'imaginer car enfin elle possede la beaute sans affectation et sans vanite elle est pres du throne sans orgueil elle voit les malheurs d'autruy avec compassion elle les soulage avec vonte et ceux qui l'approchent plus souvent que je ne fais disent qu'elle a des charmes inevitables dans sa conversation pour moy qui ne puis et qui ne dois parler que des sentimens de piete qu'elle tesmoigne avoir envers les dieux je puis assurer qu'il n'y a pas au monde une personne plus vertueuse qu'elle ny plus esclairee en toutes les choses qui peuvent estre comprises par l'esprit humain en un mot adjousta ce mage elle est la gloire de son sexe et presque la honte du nostre tant il est vray qu'elle est au dessus de tout ce qu'il y a de grand sur la terre je vous laisse a juger 
 seigneur si l'amoureux artamene avoit une joye bien sensible d'aprendre qu'il ne s'estoit pas trompe et si sa passion n'en augmenta pas encore il me regarda plusieurs fois pendant le discours de ce sacrificateur comme pour se resjouir avec moy de trouver une si puissante excuse a sa foiblesse mais comme il ne se lassoit pas d'une conversation qui luy estoit si agreable pour la faire durer plus long temps il demanda encore a ce mage si elle venoit souvent a leur temple quand elle est a sinope luy respondit il elle y vient presque tous les jours mais du moins ne pouvons nous pas manquer de la voir tous les ans a pareil jour que celuy d'hier car elle y vient tousjours avec le roy pour y remercier les dieux de la mort d'un jeune prince qui eust usurpe toute l'asie s'il eust vescu elle hait donc bien sa memoire interrompit artamene en changeant de couleur et elle est bien aise de la mort de celuy qui l'auroit dit on empeschee d'estre reine de tant de royaumes je n'ay pas remarque ce sentiment la dans son esprit reprit le sacrificateur et je la croy trop sage pour porter sa haine au dela du tombeau ny mesme pour hair un homme qu'elle n'a pas connu et que l'on disoit estre fort accompli elle est trop scavante adjousta t'il dans les choses de la religion pour ignorer qu'il faut recevoir avec un respect egal tous les biens et tous les maux que le ciel nous envoye comme elle scait que les conquerans et les usurpateurs n'agissent que par les ordres des dieux qui veulent en ces occasions 
 chastier ceux qu'ils renversent du throne je m'imagine que si elle a de la joye c'est de connoistre par la mort de ce jeune prince dont les astres et les victimes nous menacoient que les dieux sont apaisez mais cette joye est une joye tranquile qui n'estant accompagnee ny de haine ny de colere laisse l'ame en son assiette naturelle et toutes ses passions en repos remercier les dieux de la mort d'un homme a le considerer simplement comme homme seroit une impiete et un sacrilege plustost qu'un acte de devotion dont le roy la princesse ny les mages ne seroient jamais capables mais les remercier de la mort des tyrans et des usurpateurs comme d'une chose qui eust renverse des thrones et desole des empires c'est faire une action de justice et de piete tout ensemble qui ne choque ny l'humanite ny l'equite artamene escoutoit tout ce que luy disoit cet homme avec des sentimens si differens et si contraires qu'il men faisoit compassion car tantost il avoit de la joye et tantost de la douleur tantost de l'esperance et tantost du desespoir mais apres tout il estimoit son bonheur fort grand d'avoir apris que mandane avoit autant d'esprit et de vertu que de beaute cependant comme ce sacrificateur avoit trouve quelque chose en la personne d'artamene qui luy plaisoit infiniment aimable estranger luy dit il si vous aimez a voir les belles ceremonies revenez a ce temple dans trois jours car celle que l'on y fera sera beaucoup plus magnifique et plus superbe 
 que n'a este celle que vous y avez veue artamene l'ayant prie de luy dire ce que ce seroit ce sacrificateur luy aprit qu'un prince voisin de la capadoce qui estoit roy de pont et de bithinie et duquel il luy dit beaucoup de bien estant devenu fort amoureux de la princesse mandane avoit envoye des ambassadeurs a ciaxare pour la demander en mariage artamene tout trouble de ce discours ne luy donna pas le loisir de l'achever et luy demanda en l'interrompant si cette ceremonie seroit pour les nopces de cette princesse non luy respondit le mage car nous avons garde une coustume des assiriens qui ont este nos anciens maistres qui veut que le lors qu'il n'y a qu'une princesse a succeder a la couronne elle ne puisse espouser de prince estranger c'est pourquoy ciaxare a refuse le roy de pont qui ne s'estant pas contente de cette responce et ne pouvant se guerir de la passion qu'il a pour cette princesse a fait alliance avec le roy de phrygie et a declare la guerre a celuy de capadoce si bien que les troupes estant prestes a marcher dans peu de jours le roy et la princesse viendront icy dans le temps que je vous marque pour demander aux dieux et principalement a celuy auquel ce temple est consacre luy qui preside dans les combats l'heureux succes d'une guerre si importante puis qu'elle regarde les loix fondamentales de l'estat artamene surpris d'aprendre tant de choses differentes tout a la fois et qui luy donnoient aussi de fort differents sentimens n'eut plus la 
 force de faire de nouvelles questions a ce sacrificateur de sorte qu'apres l'avoir remercie en peu de paroles il s'en separa civilement et comme il s'estoit enfin resolu de ne cacher plus ses sentimens ny a feraulas ny a moy parce qu'il ne pouvoit recevoir assistance que de nous aussi tost que nous fusmes en liberte fut il jamais nous dit il rien de comparable a la bizarrerie de mon destin et ne diroit on pas que les dieux ont resolu de me faire esprouver en un seul jour toutes les passions les plus violentes a peine ay-je de l'amour que j'ay desja de la jalousie je n'apprens pas plustost que mandane a autant d'esprit que de beaute que j'apprens que cet esprit et cette beaute luy ont acquis le coeur d'un prince et d'un excellent prince que la seule coustume de capadoce a fait refuser mais qui scait si cette princesse ne desaprouve point cette coustume dans son coeur et si je n'aime point une personne de qui l'ame est preoccupee mais helas disoit-il cette coustume qui me met un peu de seurete du roy de pont me desespere pour moy mesme car s'il est estranger je le suis aussi et par cette raison et par beaucoup d'autres je n'y dois jamais rien pretendre seigneur luy dis-je si toutes les difficultez que vous pouvez imaginer vous peuvent faire changer de dessein figurez les vous encore plus grandes mille fois que vous ne faites j'y consens de fort bon coeur mais si cela n'est pas ne vous inquietez point sans sujet et ne vous formez pas vous mesme des monstres pour les combattre et 
 peut-estre pour en estre vaincu non chrisante me respondit il n'esperez jamais de me voir changer de resolution principalement aujourd'huy que je puis satisfaire tout ensemble le desir que j'ay pour la gloire et la passion que j'ay pour mandane car enfin puis que je trouve la guerre en capadoce je n'ay que faire de l'aller chercher dans ephese mais seigneur luy dis-je s'il arrivoit que vous fussiez connu en quel peril ne vous exposeriez vous pas ce n'est point par la consideration du peril reprit artamene que l'on me peut faire changer de resolution au contraire toutes les entreprises dangereuses sont celles que je dois chercher avec le plus de soin cependant pour vous mettre en repos me dit il scachez que je suis resolu de faire de si belles choses en cette guerre sous le nom d'artamene qu'apres cela cyrus pourra mesme sortir du tombeau sans devoir craindre d'y rentrer mais seigneur luy dis-je puis que le roy vostre pere et la reine vostre mere vous croyent mort n'y aura-t'il point quelque inhumanite de les laisser dans une creance qui sans doute les afflige infiniment et quoy chrisante me dit alors le prince ne croyez vous pas aussi bien que moy que ce bruit de ma mort n'aura este qu'une adresse de la reine ma mere qui pour empescher qu'astiage ne me fist chercher par toute la terre aura enfin apris sa cruaute a cambise de son consentement aura fait semer cette fausse nouvelle et l'aura peut-estre elle mesme fait donner a astiage comme si elle estoit veritable ainsi la raison dont 
 vous me voulez combattre est trop foible pour me vaincre et pour me faire changer de resolution il est certain que je trouvois quelque apparence a ce que le prince disoit ne pouvant m'imaginer par quelle autre voye ce bruit de naufrage auroit pu estre si universel neantmoins je ne laissay pas tout de nouveau de luy vouloir persuader de se deffaire de sa passion de vouloir s'esloigner d'une cour si dangereuse pour luy et de vouloir donner au roy son pere et a la reine sa mere quelque certitude de sa vie mais pour le premier c'estoit luy demander une chose impossible pour le second comme nul danger ne pouvoit ebranler son ame c'estoit sans doute une mauvaise raison a luy dire que celle dont je ne me servois que parce que je n'en avois pas de meilleure et pour le dernier scachez me dit il chrisante que cyrus n'apprendra jamais au roy de perse en quelle terre il habite qu'artamene ne se soit rendu si fameux qu'il soit connu de toute l'asie ouy me dit il chrisante je veux qu'astiage estime artamene que ciaxare le favorise que le roy de pont le craigne et que mandane l'aime autrement il s'ensevelira dans le tombeau de cyrus et mourra effectivement plustost que de ne faire pas tout ce qui sera en son pouvoir pour satisfaire pleinement la passion qu'il a pour la gloire et l'amour qu'il a aussi pour la princesse de capadoce seigneur luy dis-je vous m'avez demande du temps pour vous resoudre et je vous en demande a mon tour ne m'estant possible de ceder si promptement 
 a vostre passion et d'entrer dans les sentimens d'une personne de qui la raison estant preoccupee doit me les rendre suspects nous nous separasmes de cette sorte et le prince estant bien aise de demeurer seul avec feraulas qui comme plus jeune que moy n'estoit pas si contraire au dessein d'artamene je me retiray pour aller songer a loisir a ce que je devois faire en une rencontre si fascheuse pour artamene il ne faut pas demander de quoy il s'entretint avec feraulas mandane estoit la seule chose dont il luy pouvoit parler il luy demanda s'il n'advouoit pas que c'estoit la plus belle personne du monde et comme il luy respondit que toute la perse n'avoit rien qui luy fust comparable ce n'est pas encore assez luy repliqua le prince mais dites que toute la grece elle qui se vante d'estre la premiere partie du monde pour la beaute des femmes qui l'habitent n'a rien qui ne soit mille degrez au dessous de celle que j'adore dittes que cette fameuse image de venus que nous avons veue en chypre et des charmes de laquelle l'on dit que personne n'a jamais approche est absolument sans graces si on la compare a la princesse de capadoce tant il est vray qu'elle est au dessus de tout ce qu'il y a de beau en l'univers je vous exagere seigneur peut-estre un peu plus que je ne devrois tous ces petits effets de la passion d'artamene mais comme je fus contraint de luy ceder il me semble que c'est me justifier en quelque facon que de vous faire voir que je souffris un mal que je ne 
 pouvois guerir et que j'enduray ce que je ne pouvois empescher cependant le jour de ce sacrifice dont l'on avoit parle a artamene estant venu il ne manqua pas de s'y trouver et d'estre mesme plus diligent que tous les mages estant arrive au temple que les portes n'en estoient pas encore ouvertes mais quoy que nous y allassions si matin nous trouvasmes pourtant que ce jeune estranger que nous y avions rencontre la premiere fois nous avoit desja devancez et attendoit que l'on les ouvrist mon maistre sans en scavoir la raison eut quelque secret despit de le trouver en ce lieu la et de voir qu'il avoit este plus diligent que luy ne pouvant toutefois s'empescher avec bien-seance de luy parler il le fit du moins d'une maniere qui descouvrit une partie de son chagrin et qui me surprit beaucoup car il ne fut jamais un esprit plus doux ny plus civil que le sien aussi ne fut ce pas tant par ces paroles que par le ton de sa voix que je remarquay que la rencontre de ce jeune estranger ne luy plaisoit pas il faut sans doute luy dit il en l'abordant que vous soyez bien devot ou bien curieux puis que vous estes si diligent a venir voir une ceremonie ou a mon advis vous n'avez pas grand interest et qui n'aura pas la grace de la nouveaute pour vous puis que vous en avez desja veu une autre comme vous n'avez este gueres plus paresseux que moy respondit ce jeune estranger je pourrois vous dire ce que vous me dites mais j'aime mieux vous advouer que je vy de si belles choses dans ce 
 temple le premier jour que nous nous y rencontrasmes que je n'ay pu m'empescher d'y revenir je voudrois bien scavoir luy repliqua artamene avec assez de precipitation ce que vous trouvastes le plus beau en cette ceremonie fut-ce les ornemens du temple l'abondance des victimes la richesse des vazes sacrez tout ce que firent les mages l'affluence du peuple la majeste du prince la magnificence de sa cour ou la beaute de la princesse ce furent toutes ces choses ensemble respondit cet agreable inconnu et si je ne me trompe adjousta t'il en rougissant vous vous connoissez assez bien en belles ceremonies pour deviner facilement ce qu'un homme qui s'y connoist aussi un peu doit avoir trouve le plus beau en celle dont vous parlez comme nous ne sommes sans doute pas de mesme pais repliqua mon maistre nos inclinations peuvent estre differentes ainsi ce qui seroit beau pour moy ne le seroit pas pour vous les persans ne veulent point de temples les scithes ne bastissent point de maisons les grecs s'immortalisent par des statues les assiriens et les medes ont des palais magnifiques ainsi chacun se formant une raison a sa fantaisie ne trouve rien de beau que ce qui se conforme a son humeur et se raporte a l'usage de sa patrie il est certaines beautez universelles repliqua l'estranger qui sont au goust de toutes les nations le soleil plaist a tout le monde les diamans brillent a tous les yeux et il est des choses enfin qui sont si parfaites qu'elles plairoient a tous les peuples de la terre 
 ce discours qui pouvoit estre fort indifferent ne plaisoit pourtant point a artamene et je pense que s'il ne fust venu un des sacrificateurs ouvrir la porte du temple cette conversation eust pu ne finir pas aussi civilement qu'elle avoit commence tant il est vray qu'artamene avoit une secrette et puissant aversion pour cet estranger quoy qu'il eust peu d'egaux en bonne mine aussi la porte du temple ne fut-elle pas plus tost ouverte qu'il s'en separa et se meslant parmy d'autres gens qui estoient venus depuis nous il evita sa conversation et sa rencontre il est certain que ce sacrifice parut beaucoup plus magnifique que l'autre car comme les peuples s'empressent bien davantage pour demander aux dieux qu'ils puissent eviter les malheurs a venir que pour les remercier de les avoir garantis de ceux dont ils avoient este menacez il y eut incomparablement plus de monde qu'au premier il y eut plus de ceremonies les victimes y parurent plus ornees et toutes choses enfin y furent plus agreables a voir la princesse mesme sembla encore plus belle a l'amoureux artamene qu'elle n'avoit fait la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit veue et comme l'amour est ingenieux dans ses caprices il fit remarquer a mon maistre que mandane prioit les dieux avec plus de ferveur et plus d'attention qu'elle n'avoit fait l'autrefois ce qui d'abord luy donna beaucoup de joye luy semblant qu'il y avoit quelque chose d'avantageux pour luy qu'elle priast plus ardemment les dieux pour le bon succes de la guerre que 
 pour leur rendre grace de sa mort mais un moment apres il passa de la joye a l'inquietude car qui scait disoit il si de l'heure que je parle elle ne prie point pour mon rival et si les voeux secrets qu'elle fait en son coeur ne contredisent point ceux que l'on fait en public peut-estre qu'elle prie egalement pour le roy de capadoce et pour celuy de pont et que l'heureux succes de la guerre qu'elle demande est l'heureux succes de l'affection qu'elle a pour ce prince mais que fais-je insense que je suis reprenoit il j'offense une princesse de qui la vertu est sans tache et de qui l'ame sans doute n'est preoccupee d'aucune passion je le voy dans ses yeux je le juge par toutes ses actions et peut-estre que je ne trouveray son coeur que trop insensible et que trop incapable d'amour enfin seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience cette seconde veue acheva ce que la premiere avoit commence il arriva mesme une chose qui contribua encore beaucoup a augmenter la passion d'artamene qui fut que le sacrifice estant acheve la princesse ne sortit pas si tost du temple comme l'autrefois au contraire elle y demeura apres le roy et la plus grande partie du peuple scachant la coustume qu'elle avoit d'y estre tousjours assez long temps apres la ceremonie lors qu'elle devoit tarder a sinope se retira insensiblement et la laissa dans la liberte d'achever ses devotions pour artamene il n'en alla pas ainsi car il ne sortit du temple qu'avec elle non plus que cet autre jeune estranger dont 
 j'ay deja parle plus d'une fois que j'observay n'estre pas plus diligent a sortir que nous et que je vis tousjours devant mandane comme ce sacrificateur auquel mon maistre avoit parle il y avoit trois jours l'eut reconnu parmy la presse il s'aprocha de luy et le voulant favoriser comme un estranger curieux et comme un homme dont la mine et la conversation luy avoient plu et luy estoient demeurees dans la memoire si vous voulez luy dit il tout bas vous donner un peu de patience vous pourrez entendre parler la princesse quand elle sortira car j'ay quelque chose a luy dire artamene ravy de cette heureuse rencontre remercia ce mage tres civilement de ce bon office et se prepara a recevoir un plaisir qu'il n'avoit pas attendu si tost icy encore nostre jeune inconnu profitant de l'advis qu'il entendit donner a mon maistre commenca de s'aprocher du sacrificateur avec un empressement estrange la princesse s'estant donc levee pour s'en aller comme elle fut assez pres de la porte du temple ce sacrificateur s'approcha d'elle suivy de mon maistre comme mon maistre de nostre estranger et la supplia de vouloir employer son credit pour obtenir du roy son pere que dans la guerre que l'on alloit entreprendre l'on apportast un soin particulier a la conservation des temples car madame luy dit il les dieux sont les dieux de tous les hommes la capadoce a des autels aussi bien que le pont en a et comme la victoire peut changer de party il ne faut pas enseigner 
 aux ennemis a commettre des sacrileges ny s'attirer sur les bras des dieux irritez pensant n'avoir a combattre que des hommes la princesse qui trouva cette priere juste remercia le sacrificateur de la luy avoir faite et l'assura qu'elle auroit un soin particulier d'empescher que ce desordre n'arrivast comme il estoit autrefois arrive durant les guerres des scithes en medie et en assirie et qu'elle en parleroit au roy de la facon qu'elle devoit mais sage thiamis luy dit elle car il se nommoit ainsi pour mieux conserver vos temples demandez la paix aux dieux et ne vous en lassez jamais car enfin tant que la guerre durera je n'auray pas l'esprit en repos et de l'humeur dont je suis j'avoue que j'aimerois mieux la paix que la victoire demandez donc au ciel luy dit elle qu'il change le coeur du roy de pont et qu'il porte tousjours celuy du roy mon pere a preferer le bien general de ses subjets a sa gloire particuliere a ces mots la princesse se retira et laissa artamene aussi charme de sa sagesse que de sa beaute car encore qu'elle eust dit peu de chose il n'avoit pas laisse de trouver dans le son de sa voix dans la purete de son expression et dans le sens de ses paroles dequoy se persuader qu'elle avoit beaucoup d'agrement en la conversation beaucoup d'esprit beaucoup de bonte et beaucoup de vertu enfin seigneur artamene ne fut plus en estat d'estre guery et quoy que je pusse faire il ne voulut plus m'escouter cependant lors que nous fusmes retournez a la ville venant a examiner la chose 
 de plus pres je trouvay qu'elle n'estoit pas aussi dangereuse qu'elle me l'avoit paru d'abord car qui scait disois-je si ce n'est point par cette innocente voye que les dieux malgre toute la prudence d'astiage et toutes ses craintes veulent conduire artamene au throne des medes et le rendre maistre de toute l'asie est il a croire que ces souveraines puissances qui ne sont jamais rien sans raison ayent fait predire par les mages tant de grandes choses de cyrus inutilement l'auront il expose au danger d'estre devore par les lions et par les tigres l'auront il sauve miraculeusement l'auront il rendu si accomply luy auront il donne de si grandes inclinations l'auront il fait errer parmy tant de peuples sans s'y arrester l'auront il sauve du dangereux combat qu'il fit contre le fameux corsaire l'auront il conduit malgre luy chez ses ennemis l'auront il amene a sinope par une tempeste l'auront il fait assister a un sacrifice fait pour sa mort l'auront il fait devenir amoureux de la princesse qui l'offroit auront ils dis-je fait toutes ces choses pour le perdre non non cela n'est pas possible et si les dieux ne le destinoient point a une meilleure fortune ils l'auroient laisse dechirer par les bestes sauvages ou il auroit pery sur la mer il eust este tue dans les dangereux combats qu'il a faits ou ce port nous eust este un escueil de plus disois-je il n'est presque pas possible qu'artamene soit reconnu pour estre cyrus car enfin les capadociens ne vont guere en perse la seule fois que 
 ciaxare y envoya son ambassadeur estoit de medie et j'ay sceu qu'il n'est plus en cette cour et qu'il s'en est retourne a ecbatane joint que de tous les lieux ou il pourroit estre reconnu celuy cy apparamment seroit le moins dangereux que l'on peust choisir estant certain que quand par une joye que je ne puis iamginer astiage viendroit a scavoir qu'artamene seroit cyrus il n'est pas croyable qu'il peust mal-traiter un prince qu'il trouveroit les armes a la main pour les interests de ciaxare qui est son fils ny que ciaxare son fils qui regne seul en capadoce voulust se des-honorer pour les frayeurs de son pere qu'il n'a pas si grandes que luy au lieu qu'en toute autre cour astiages s'imaginant qu'artamene y caballeroit pour luy susciter des ennemis n'oublieroit rien pour le perdre s'il venoit a scavoir qu'il y fust ainsi tant qu'astiage sera vivant cyrus ne scauroit estre plus seurement que dans l'armee du roy de capadoce le temps mesme que nous avons employe a nos voyages n'a pas si peu change ce jeune prince qui croist qu'il soit fort aise a reconnoistre par ceux qui l'ont pu voir en medie durant sa premiere enfance ny mesme depuis en perse dans un age un peu plus avance il est vray que feraulas et moy qui avons tenu un rang assez considerable a persepolis pouvons estre plus facilement reconnus mais ne pouvons nous pas dire que depuis le naufrage de cyrus nous avons change de maistre et ne faut-il pas donner quelque chose a la fortune et puis apres tout qui scait si l'amour 
 n'est point necessaire a la gloire d'artamene l'ambition toute seule dans un jeune coeur n'a pas toujours assez de force pour le retenir long temps dans un violent desir d'entasser victoire sur victoire et comme cet age a un grand panchant aux plaisirs l'amour est un moyen plus aise et plus agreable pour faire trouver de la facilite aux choses les plus penibles de plus comme artamene est fort bien fait et fort aimable qui scait s'il ne sera point aime comme il aime et si comme il est hai sans estre connu l'on ne l'aimera point lors que l'on le connoistra ce fut seigneur par ces raisonnemens que je me resolus enfin a satisfaire mon maistre neantmoins ne voulant pas me fier en ma propre raison en une chose de cette importance je fis offrir le lendemain un sacrifice aux dieux pour les prier de m'inspirer ce que je devois faire dans une conjoncture si delicate mais il me sembla que depuis que je l'eus offert je me sentis si puissamment confirme en la resolution de laisser agir artamene selon les mouvemens de son amour que je crus en effet que ce seroit m'opposer aux ordres du ciel que d'apporter un plus long obstacle a son intention et de cette sorte la prudence humaine qui est une aveugle pour les choses de l'avenir me fit consentir a un dessein qui enfin a jette mon cher maistre dans le peril ou il est je ne voulus pas toutefois ceder si tost en apparence et je resistay encore un peu a l'amoureux artamene mais apres avoir consenty qu'il taschast de se signaler a la guerre que l'on alloit entreprendre 
 il ne falut plus songer qu'a le mettre en equipage d'y paroistre en homme de quelque condition nous avions encore assez de pierreries pour cela et mesme plus qu'il n'en faloit de sorte que la chose estant absolument resolue il escrivit une lettre tres civile a periandre et commanda au capitaine de son vaisseau de reprendre la route de corinthe et de l'offrir de sa part a ce fameux grec au lieu du sien qui avoit este coule a fonds au dernier combat or comme le roy et la princesse estoient demeurez icy artamene les vit encore plusieurs fois l'un et l'autre mais quoy qu'il eust pu trouver les moyens de les saluer il ne le voulut jamais estant resolu de se faire connoistre d'une facon plus glorieuse pour luy
 
 
 
 
cependant ce n'estoient que preparatifs de guerre et les nouvelles venoient tous les jours que le roy de pont et le roy de phrigie s'avanuoient a grandes journees vers la galatie ciaxare voulant donc les prevenir marcha en diligence vers le rendez-vous general qu'il avoit donne a ses troupes afin de tascher s'il estoit possible de porter la guerre chez son ennemy et d'entrer dans la bithinie mais comme la princesse sa fille estoit la cause de cette guerre et qu'il eut peur que durant son absence l'on n'entreprist quelque chose contre sa personne il voulut qu'elle le suivist jusques a une ville appellee ancire qui n'est pas fort esloignee du lieu par ou il avoit resolu d'entrer en pais ennemy pendant cela artamene n'estoit occupe qu'a donner ordre aux choses qui luy estoient necessaires c'est a 
 dire a des armes a des chevaux et a des tentes il rencontra diverses fois ce jeune estranger qu'il avoit veu au temple de mars et le mesme homme qui vendit des armes a artamene en vendit aussi a philidaspe car c'estoit le nom que cet inconnu portoit si bien que s'estant rencontrez en ce lieu-la ils sceurent l'un de l'autre qu'un mesme desir de gloire les faisoit resoudre de se trouver a cette guerre et en tesmoignerent l'un et l'autre assez peu de satisfaction mais seigneur pour ne m'arrester pas si long temps sur des choses qui ne sont pas absolument necessaires a mon recit nous fusmes au rendez vous le roy y fit la reveue de ses troupes et nous marchasmes droit a l'ennemy ce ne fut pourtant pas sans douleur qu'artamene vit partir la princesse mandane pour aller a ancire ou deux mille hommes luy firent escorte et furent laissez pour sa garde mais enfin comme c'estoit son destin de souffrir tout ce que l'amour peut faire endurer de rigoureux auparavant qu'il eust seulement dit qu'il aimoit il falut se resoudre a cette absence et s'en consoler par l'espoir de la victoire et du retour mon maistre se rangea donc dans l'escadron des volontaires tant pour camper et pour combatre plus pres de la personne du roy que parce que dans ces troupes qui n'obeissent qu'au general mesme et qui n'ont point de capitaine particulier il est plus aise de cacher qui l'on est et plus aise encore a ceux qui se veulent signaler par des actions extraordinaires d'en pouvoir 
 trouver l'occasion l'armee de ciaxare estoit composee de quarante mille hommes et celle des ennemis de cinquante mille je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous dire le nombre des gens de trait ny de ceux qui lancoient le javelot des gens de pied ou des gens de cheval puis que cela ne serviroit de rien a mon discours et qu'ayant encore tant de combats et tant de batailles a vous raconter il n'est pas juste que je m'estende beaucoup a celle-cy car enfin ce n'est pas l'histoire de capadoce que je compose c'est celle d'artamene que je vous raconte je vous diray donc seulement que les deux armees estant en presence je ne vy jamais artamene si content il estoit arme ce jour la d'une facon assez remarquable ses armes estoient brunies et toutes couvertes de flames d'or son pennache ondoyant et tombant jusques sur la croupe de son cheval estoit d'une couleur de feu tres vive et ce cheval suivant l'usage du pais estoit tout barde de mailles d'acier moitie brunies et moitie dorees artamene voulut porter deux javelines a la main gauche avec son bouclier au mesme bras une autre javeline a la main droite et une espee courte et large a son coste pour s'en servir plus commodement lors qu'il seroit mesle parmy les ennemis jamais je ne le vy si fier ny si beau et quoy que la perse ait peu de bons hommes de cheval il fit pourtant aller le sien avec tant de justesse et d'un si bel air que son adresse le fit remarquer a tout le monde aussi bien que sa bonne mine les armees estant donc en estat de venir 
 aux mains et la charge ayant sonne de part et d'autre artamene qui s'estoit mis au premier rang ne vit pas plustost branler les premiers escadrons qu'il partit a l'instant comme un foudre devanca tous les nostres de plus de cent pas et fut fondre sur les ennemis avec une hardiesse qui les mit en desordre qui rompit leurs rangs et qui porta d'abord la mort et la terreur bien avant dans leur armee et certes je me suis souvent estonne comment il ne succomba point en cette premiere bataille estant certain qu'il essuya toutes les fleches que les ennemis tirerent apres que ce funeste nuage qui obscurcit l'air a l'approche des deux armees fut dissipe et qu'elles vindrent a se mesler artamene y fit des choses qui surpassent tout ce que l'on s'en peut imaginer ces trois javelines porterent la mort a trois des plus braves et lors qu'il vint a tirer l'espee malheur a quiconque se trouva devant ses pas et malheur encore plus grand a quiconque eut la temerite de l'attendre il chercha le roy de pont autant qu'il put pour s'attacher a un combat particulier avec luy mais il ne le put trouver le hazard voulant que lors qu'il estoit d'un coste le roy de pont estoit de l'autre et quoy que sa valeur eclaircist tous les rangs qu'il rompist tous les escadrons qu'il rencontroit et que rien ne peust resister a son courage il n'en estoit pourtant pas satisfait et il luy sembloit qu'a moins que de tuer ou de faire prisonnier le roy de pont c'estoit ne s'estre pas signale ce qui l'excita encore davantage a bien faire ce fut 
 que malgre le desordre et la confusion d'une bataille il reconnut philidaspe et remarqua que c'estoit sans doute un des plus vaillants hommes du monde cette valeur extraordinaire luy donnant de l'estime et de l'estonnement luy donna aussi de l'emulation et il commenca de faire un nouvel effort de combattre afin de tascher de faire encore plus qu'il ne voyoit faire a un autre philidaspe de son coste avoit remarque la mesme chose en mon maistre et avoit eu les mesmes sentimens si bien que se regardant tous deux avec une espece d'envie qui n'avoit pourtant rien de lasche ny de bas ils taschoient de se surmonter l'un l'autre en valeur et ils commencerent des ce jour la d'estre rivaux d'ambition et d'aspirer a mesme gloire artamene fut pourtant plus heureux que philidaspe et la fortune luy presenta une occasion plus important qu'a luy de se signaler ce fut que le roy de pont qui ne pouvoit terminer plus heuresement cette guerre qu'en prenant le roy de capadoce prisonnier puis qu'alors pour sa rancon il pourroit obtenir sa fille avoit laisse un gros de reserve de dix mille hommes les meilleurs de toutes ses troupes qui avoient eu commandement de ne combattre point que par un signal qu'on leur devoit faire ils n'eussent apris precisement l'endroit ou seroit ciaxare afin d'y donner tout d'un coup et de tascher de le prendre cet ordre ayant este donne fut execute exactement et le roy de pont et celuy de phrigie voyant que 
 la victoire balancoit et ayant demesle l'endroit ou ciaxare estoit en personne ils firent faire le signal et ces dix mille hommes tous frais venant attaquer des gens qui estoient desja las de combattre mirent une estrange confusion dans nostre armee artamene eut le bonheur de se trouver assez pres du roy lors qu'il fut envelope et attaque si rudement et certes il est a croire que s'il ne s'y fust pas rencontre ce prince ne seroit pas aujourd'huy en estat de le tenir prisonneir estant aise de juger qu'il auroit succombe en cette occasion artamene voyant donc ce nouvel orage qui venoit fondre sur la teste du roy prit la hardiesse de s'aprocher de luy pour luy dire seigneur quoy que je ne sois qu'un malheureux estranger si tous vos subjets sont aujourd'huy pour vostre conservation ce que je suis resolu de faire vous vaincrez et vos ennemis seront deffaits alors sans attendre la response du roy a moy vaillants hommes dit il a ceux qui l'environnoient et que la peur commencoit d'ebranler a moy si vous me suivez nous sauverons vostre prince et n'acquerrons pas peu de gloire a ces mots la honte leur fit faire ferme et l'asseurance qu'ils virent dans les yeux de mon maistre en remit enfin en leur coeur il se mit donc a leur teste et commenca de charger les ennemis avec une ardeur inconcevable et comme ils avoient ordre d'espargner ciaxare autant qu'ils pourroient et de tascher seulement de le prendre prisonnier cela fut cause que n'osant pas combattre 
 en tumulte ny de toute leur force de peur de s'y tromper artamene en tua un si grand nombre quoy qu'ils se deffendissent contre luy autant qu'ils pouvoient que je m'estonne qu'il ne se trouva las de vaincre mais pendant qu'il se laissoit emporter a cette noble ardeur il entendit plusieurs voix qui crierent en confusion et en trouble le roy est pris et un moment apres le roy est mort a ces mots si funestes pour luy il se tourna et vit un gros de cavalerie qui sembloit vouloir garder le roy qu'ils avoient pris soit qu'il fust vivant ou mort il s'avanca donc droit vers eux et animant de nouveau les capadociens qui le suivoient et nous appellant par nos noms feraulas et moy qu'il aperceut allons nous dit il allons delivrer le roy et ne soyons pas moins vaillans a le secourir que les ennemis l'ont este a le prendre nous fusmes donc attaquer ce gros de cavalerie au milieu duquel nous voyons encore quelque confusion et quelque combat artamene comme le plus vaillant le plus adroit le plus interesse et le plus hereux fendit le premier la presse et rompit les rangs des ennemis donnant la mort a tout ce qui s'opposa a son passage estant arrive au milieu de cet escadron il vit ciaxare accompagne de quinze ou vingt seulement qui ayant encore les armes a la main ne se vouloit pas rendre a ceux qui l'avoient envelope et qui le pressoient de le faire mais comme les ennemis virent que le secours qu'artamene luy donnoit l'alloit sauver un d'entr'eux qui creut qu'il seroit encore plus avantageux 
 au roy de pont que ciaxare mourust que de le laisser echaper quelque deffense qu'on luy en eust faite leva le bras et voulut luy decharger un grand coup d'espee sur la teste qu'il avoit nue parce que dans le combat le courroyes de son casque s'estoient defaites et le luy avoient fait perdre si bien que ce coup l'eust infailliblement tue si artamene ne l'eust pare avec son espee et sans perdre temps ne l'eust enfoncee jusqu'aux gardes dans le corps de ce temeraire qui tomba mort a ses pieds le roy qui vit cette action l'appella son liberateur mais mon maistre voyant qu'un pareil malheur pouvoit encore arriver sans cesser de combattre et sans perdre moment de temps s'osta son habillement de teste et le mit sur celle du roy se servant de son bouclier pour se garantir des coups qu'on luy vouloit porter cette action qui fut veue des amis et des ennemis fit des effetr differents le roy en fut surpris et voulut s'oster le casque qu'artamene luy avoit donne pour le luy rendre mais les ennemis voyant mieux qu'ils ne faisoient auparavant l'admirable beaute d'artamene et cette fierte guerrerie qui luy donnoit si bonne mine dans les combats ils creurent que c'estoit quelque divinite qui venoit sauver leur ennemy et contre laquelle il n'y avoit pas moyen de resister leurs efforts commencant donc de s'alentir peu a peu ils lascherent le pied et tout d'un coup prenant l'espouvante et la suite artamene les poursuivant et eux se renversant sur l'aisle 
 gauche de leur armee qu'ils mirent toute en desordre il les eust absolument deffaits si la nuit ne fust survenue et n'eust oblige tous les deux partis a se retirer sous leurs enseignes philidaspe quoy qu'il ne fust pas present a tout ce qui s'estoit passe n'avoit pas laisse de contribuer quelque chose a l'heureux succes de cette grande action car de l'adveu mesme des capadociens ce fut luy qui empescha nostre aisle droite de plier et qui combatit la gauche des ennemis pendant que nous estions occupez a delivrer le roy si bien que si cela n'eust pas este nous eussions eu toute l'armee des rois alliez sur les bras et n'eussions peut-estre pas pu faire ce que nous fismes ainsi l'on peut dire qu'artamene et philidaspe sauverent la capadoce en cette journee mais comme l'action de mon maistre avoit eu le roy pour tesmoin et qu'effectivement il luy avoit sauve la couronne et la vie elle fit aussi un effet different dans son esprit cependant la nuit ayant fait retirer chacun dans son camp sans que la victoire se fust absolument declaree pour l'un ny pour l'autre party artamene fut a sa tente se faire penser de deux blessures assez legeres qu'il avoit receues au bras gauche et qui ne l'obligerent pas mesme a garder le lit le roy se trouva aussi estre un peu blesse a la main mais nous sceusmes par un de nos gens qui avoit este pris prisonnier et qui se sauva d'entre les ennemis que le roy de pont l'avoit este encore plus considerablement d'un coup de traict ce qui fut cause que 
 de part et d'autre l'on ne songea pas si tost a combattre a peine le roy fut il entre dans sa tente qu'il ordonna que l'on cherchast par tout son liberateur et qu'on le luy amenast toutefois comme personne ne scavoit le nom d'artamene ce ne fut que le lendemain au matin que l'on put satisfaire l'extreme desir qu'avoit ciaxare de remercier celuy auquel il devoit la vie mon maistre ayant enfin este trouve et ayant receu l'ordre du roy se rendit aupres de luy mais avec autant de modestie et autant de respect que s'il ne luy eust rendu aucun service des qu'il commenca de paroistre tout le monde se pressa et pour le voir et pour le laisser passer philidaspe mesme en y allant luy fit un compliment fort civil sur le bonheur qu'il avoit eu le jour auparavant et tout le monde enfin ravi de sa valeur et de sa bonne mine eut de l'estime pour luy et de la curiosite pour sa naissance le roy ne le vit pas plustost qu'il fit trois pas pour l'embrasser apres ces premieres carresses et ces premieres civilitez il le loua si hautement que la modestie d'artamene ne le put souffrir seigneur luy dit il j'ay fait si peut de chose pour vostre majeste que si je n'esperois me rendre a l'advenir plus digne de l'honneur qu'elle me fait aujourd'huy que je ne le suis j'en aurois beaucoup de confusion mais peut-estre que si elle me permet de continuer de combattre sous ses enseignes les zele que j'ay pour son service et l'exemple de tant de braves gens qui sont dans son armee me donnant un nouveau desir de gloire me 
 donnera aussi la force d'en aquerir et la hardiesse que je n'ay pas d'oser peut-estre recevoir sans rougir les louanges d'un prince tel que ciaxare vostre modestie luy respondit le roy m'estonne encore plus que vostre valeur estant bien plus extraordinaire de trouver cette sage vertu en un homme de vostre age que non pas d'y rencontrer l'autre qui estant plus tumultueuse n'est pas incompatible avec la jeunesse seigneur luy repliqua artamene votre majeste me pardonnera si je luy dis qu'elle change le nom des choses puis qu'elle appelle modestie en moy ce qui n'est qu'un simple effet de ma raison et de mon equite car enfin apres avoir veu tous ceux qui m'escoutent faire de si grandes actions et entre les autres dit il en montrant philidaspe ce brave estranger en faire de si heroiques il faudroit estre bien hardy et bien injuste pour oser prendre de la vanite de ce que j'ay fait et pour ne recevoir pas plustost les louanges de vostre majeste comme un moyen fort propre a m'exciter a bien faire que comme une legitime recompense du petit service que je luy ay rendu en cette journee je voy bien luy respondit ciaxare que vous estes difficile a vaincre en toutes choses c'est pourquoy j'ay quelque crainte de vous demander quelle terre vous a veu naistre de peur que vous ne le veuilliez pas dire seigneur luy repartit artamene suivant ce que nous avons resolu en partant de sinope et que j'avois oublie a vous apprendre je suis d'un pais ou il semble que l'on soit oblige d'estre 
 sage et vaillant des le berceau et c'est ce qui fait sans doute que j'ay quelque peine a me resoudre de vous le nommer auparavant que je me sois rendu digne d'estre advoue par ma patrie et que je me sois mis en estat par mes actions de ne luy faire point de honte ne laissez pas de satisfaire ma curiosite luy repliqua ciaxare en sous-riant car quand vous seriez grec ou persan qui sont a mon advis les deux nations de toute la terre ausquelles peut mieux convenir l'idee que vous nous avez donne de vostre pais et quand vous seriez fils du plus grand et du plus sage roy du monde il luy seroit advantageux de vous advouer pour tel artamene ayant seulement respondu a ce discours par une profonde reverence puis que vous me l'ordonnez luy dit il je vous advoueray seigneur que ma naissance est assez illustre et que je suis de plus d'une des plus considerables parties de toute la terre de vous dire maintenant seigneur ny le nom de mes parens ny precisement le lieu qui m'a vu naistre c'est ce que je ne puis ny ne dois pas faire m'estant resolu en partant de mon pais de voyager inconnu pour des raisons qui sans doute ne donneroient pas grande satisfaction a vostre majeste quand elle les scauroit c'est pourquoy je la suplie tres humblement de ne me commander pas de luy en dire davantage et de se contenter de scavoir lors qu'elle aura quelque chose a m'ordonner que je m'appelle artamene il est juste luy respondit ciaxare en l'embrassant de n'exiger de vous que ce que vous nous voulez 
 accorder et je vous dois bien assez pour ne vous contraindre pas en une chose ou vous seul avez interest et ou je n'en ay sans doute point d'autre que celuy de vous obliger si je le pouvois voila seigneur tout le deguisement dont se servit artamene qui fut de ne nommer rien et de donner une idee de son pais qui convient aux grecs et aux persans pour laisser la chose en doute cette ame grande et noble ayant une vertu scrupuleuse et delicate qui ne peut se resoudre a dire un mensonge quelque innocent qu'il puisse estre apres cela ciaxare pria mon maistre avec toute la civilite imaginable de vouloir prendre la place d'un chef qui estoit mort a la bataille et qui commandoit mille chevaux d'abord artamene s'en excusa mais enfin craignant de deplaire a ciaxare il accepta cet employ il remercia donc le roy de fort bonne grace et l'assura qu'il n'acceptoit cette charge qu'afin de le pouvoir servir plus utilement et comme il y en avoit encore une autre vacante par la mort de celuy qui la possedoit ciaxare la donna a philidaspe qu'il connoissoit un peu de plus long temps que mon maistre parce qu'aribee qui estoit alors en faveur comme je l'ay ce me semble desja dit le luy avoit presente auparavant que de partir de sinope le roy n'eut pas plustost fait cette derniere liberalite qu'artamene fut s'en resjouir avec philidaspe qui receut son compliment avec beaucoup de civilite qui dans le fonds de son ame avoit encore pourtant quelque espece de jalousie de toutes les carresses 
 que ciaxare avoit faites a artamene cependant mon maistre estant regarde comme le liberateur du roy c'eust este se rendre criminel que de ne le carresser pas si bien que tant par cette raison que parce qu'en effet il a ce don particulier d'attirer les coeurs de tous ceux qui le voyent il fut visite loue et carresse de toute l'armee mais entre les autres ceux qu'il devoit commander en eurent une joye inconcevable et vindrent luy rendre leurs premiers devoirs avec des marques d'une satisfaction que je ne scaurois exprimer philidaspe et luy se visiterent aussi et nous sceusmes qu'il se disoit estre de la bactriane et de fort bonne condition comme la bataille avoit este tres sanglante de tous les deux costez les choses ne furent pas si tost en estat de pouvoir songer a combattre de nouveau c'est pourquoy le roy voulant advertir la princesse sa fille de tout ce qui s'estoit passe et voulant favoriser mon maistre en l'en faisant connoistre et carresser luy commanda d'aller jusques a ancire porter une lettre a mandane afin de la pouvoir assurer mieux que tout autre et de sa vie et du gain de la bataille aussi bien luy dit le roy en sous-riant un homme qui porte encore le bras en echarpe peut avec bienseance quitter l'armeee pour quatre jours sans craindre d'estre pris pour deserteur et ne refuser pas cette commission a la priere de ses amis je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle fut la joye et l'emotion d'artamene et si quelque passion qu'il eust pour la guerre l'amour ne l'emporta 
 pas sur son esprit il changea pourtant de couleur a cette proposition et n'osant l'accepter sans resistance seigneur luy dit il les blessures qui me sont porter une echarpe sont si petites qu'elles ne m'empescheroient pas de combattre vos ennemis si l'occasion s'en offroit c'est pourquoy je ne scay si dans la crainte que j'ay qu'il ne s'en presente quelqu'une je dois accepter l'honneur que vostre majeste me veut faire non non luy dit ciaxare en luy donnant sa lettre pour la princesse ne craignez pas que nous combations sans vous vous m'avez trop persuade que vous nous estes necessaire a remporter la victoire sur nos ennemis pour ne vous attendre pas il est juste poursuivit-il qu'une princesse qui doit porter la couronne de capadoce aussi tost qu'elle aura l'age ordonne par nos loix scache le service que vous lu
 
 
 
 
y avez rendu et qu'elle l'aprenne mesme de vostre bouche afin que vous puissiez apprendre de la sienne la reconnoissance que vous en devez esperer comme artamene se preparoit n respondre philidaspe qui pour des raisons que vous scaurez apres n'estoit nullement bien aise que mon maistre acceptast cette commission prit la parole et l'adressant au roy d'une maniere fort respectueuse et assez adroite seigneur dit il en sous-riant si vostre majeste a dessein que la princesse soit bien informee des belles actions que ce genereux estranger a faites il me semble qu'estant aussi modeste qu'il est ce n'est pas une bonne voye a suivre et qu'il est a craindre que ce ne soit luy 
 donner un moyen de derober beaucoup a sa propre gloire c'est pourquoy si vostre majeste me le permet j'iray faire son panegyrique a la princesse moy dis-je qui ay este le tesmoin de sa valeur et un des plus grands admirateurs de son courage artamene entendant ainsi parler philidaspe eut peur qu'on ne luy accordast ce qu'il demandoit c'est pourquoy sans donner loisir au roy de respondre seigneur luy dit il comme les actions de ce genereux estranger sont bien plus illustres que les miennes il est bien plus juste qu'elles ne soient pas ignorees de la princesse et c'est pour cela que ne m'opposant plus au dessein de vostre majeste j'accepte la commission qu'elle m'a fait l'honneur de me donner estant plus equitable qu'au lieu qu'il face mon panegyryque je m'en aille faire son eloge seigneur repliqua philidaspe en changeant de couleur il y va de la gloire d'artamene de le refuser il y va de celle de philidaspe respondit mon maistre de ne l'escouter pas le roy prenant plaisir a cette agreable contestation dont nous avons depuis sceu la cause et que nous ignorions alors voulut pourtant la terminer et pour les mettre d'accord je veux dit il a artamene profiter des advis de philidaspe et me precautionner contre vostre modestie je veux donc qu'arbace le lieutenant de mes gardes vous accompagne afin qu'il die ce que vous ne direz pas le roy s'estant fait donner d'autres tablettes changea sa lettre et la donna a artamene qui la receut avec autant de 
 joye que philidaspe en eut de depit mon maistre donc ravy de cette heureuse rencontre prit la lettre du roy que ce prince luy bailla ouverte et si je ne me trompe elle estoit a peu pres conceue en ces termes
 
 
 ciaxare roy de capadoce et de galatie a la princesse mandane sa fille 
 
 
 celuy qui vous rendra ma lettre m'ayant sauve la vie j'ay creu ne pouvoir vous apprendre plus agreablement le peril dont je suis echape que par la mesme personne qui me l'a fait eviter et j'ay pense ne pouvoir employer un moyen plus puissant pour l'arrester aupres de nous que les prieres que je scay que vous luy en ferez toutefois comme je connois sa modestie j'envoye arbace avec luy pour vous dire ce que peut-estre il ne vous dira pas m'imaginant assez aisement qu'il vous entretiendra plus de la valeur d'autruy que de la sienne mais enfin il m'a sauve la vie et il auroit vaincu tous mes ennemis si la nuit ne les eust derobez a sa poursuite priez les dieux que tous mes capitaines luy ressemblent et ne pouvant en faire mon sujet taschez du moins d'en faire mon amy 
 
 
 ciaxare 
 
 
 je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle fut la joye d'artamene feraulas l'accompagna a ce petit voyage aussi bien qu'arbace et fut le tesmoin de tout ce qui s'y passa comme du transport de mon maistre helas disoit-il en luy mesme en lisant la fin de la lettre du roy que cette priere est inutile et qu'il seroit difficile a un amant de mandane de n'estre pas amy de ciaxare ouy ouy poursuivoit-il je suis amy du roy de capadoce et mesme du roy des medes et amy jusques a tel point que j'en suis ennemy de cyrus qu'il demeure donc dans le tombeau ce malheureux cyrus qui est l'objet de la crainte et de la haine de ces princes et pourveu qu'artamene puisse conserver sa bonne fortune puisse t'il demeurer dans l'obscurite du sepulchre et n'en ressortir jamais o artamene heureux artamene adjoustoit-il tu vas revoir ta princesse tu luy vas parler tu vas en estre loue tu vas en estre connu et peut-estre disoit-il peut-estre que ta bonne fortune fera que tu n'en seras pas hai mais helas poursuivoit-il ce ne seroit pas encore assez et pour estre entierement heureux il faudroit pouvoir esperer d'en estre aime tant y a seigneur que tout ce que l'amour peut inspirer de tendre et de delicat dans un esprit passionne se trouva dans celuy d'artamene en cette rencontre tantost il s'abandonnoit absolument a la joye et tantost cette joye estoit moderee par la crainte car qui scait disoit-il si malgre ce que le roy dit a la princesse je n'attireray point son aversion 
 il est des sentimens secrets qui nous portent a aimer ou a hair dont l'on ne peut dire de raison et ausquels l'on ne scauroit resister ainsi quand il seroit vray que je ne serois pas le plus haissable des hommes et que j'aurois rendu un service assez important au roy s'il arrive que j'aye le malheur de trouver quelque anthipathie dans son ame toutes mes actions tous mes soings tous mes services toutes les vertus du monde si je les possedois et toutes les couronnes de la terre si je les avois conquises ne m'obtiendroient pas son affection je pourrois mesme posseder son estime que je ne serois pas content et l'amour cette passion capricieuse qui ne se satisfait que par elle mesme me rendroit tousjours le plus malheureux des hommes si je ne pouvois trouver en ma princesse qu'une simple estime sans cette affection les violents transports de son esprit ne l'empeschoient pourtant pas d'avoir soing de cent petites choses dont il n'avoit guere accoustume de se soucier aussi tost qu'il fut arrive a ancire il voulut luy mesme choisir un habillement parmy les siens et demanda cent fois a feraulas lequel il devoit prendre et lequel luy estoit le plus advantageux mais enfin s'estant fait habiller et ayant pris une escharpe d'une tissu d'or tres beau et tres magnifique pour soustenir le bras ou il estoit blesse il se laissa conduire par arbace au lieu ou estoit la princesse artamene seigneur nous a advoue depuis que le jour du combat du fameux corsaire ny celuy de la bataille il n'avoit point 
 eu tant d'emotion qu'il en sentit en celuy-la et ce grand coeur qui ne s'ebranloit jamais dans les perils les plus effroyables se trouva saisi de tant de crainte que si la joye ne l'eust un peu moderee il n'eust sans doute jamais pu se resoudre des exposer a pouvoir estre hai mais enfin il fut chez la princesse qu'arbace avoit este voir auparavant pendant que mon maistre s'habilloit afin de le prevenir sans luy en rien dire en instruisant mandane de la maniere dont elle le devoit recevoir il la trouva dans un apartement magnifiquement meuble et accompagnee d'un grand nombre de dames tant de celles de la cour qui l'avoient suivie en ce voyage que de celles de la ville d'ancire et de toute la province qui ne la quittoient que le moins qu'il leur estoit possible elle estoit ce jour la habillee avec assez de negligence mais elle estoit toutefois si belle et si propre que de tant de personnes belles et richement parees qui l'environnoient artamene m'a dit depuis qu'il n'en discerna aucune tant ce puissant objet attacha fortement et ses yeux et son esprit la princesse ne vit pas plustost mon maistre qu'elle se leva et se prepara a le recevoir avec beaucoup de joye et beaucoup de bonte ayant desja sceu par arbace le service qu'il avoit rendu au roy son pere artamene luy fit alors deux profonds reverences et s'approchant apres d'elle avec tout le respect qui estoit deu a une personne de sa condition il luy baisa la robe et luy presenta la lettre du roy qu'elle leut a l'instant mesme 
 et comme elle eut acheve de la voir il voulut commencer la conversation par un compliment apres luy avoir dit ce qui l'amenoit mais la princesse le prevenant d'une facon fort obligeante quelle divinite luy dit elle genereux estranger vous a conduit parmy nous pour sauver toute la capadoce en sauvant le roy et pour luy rendre un service que tous ses subjets ne luy auroient pas rendu madame luy respondit artamene vous avez raison de croire que quelque divinite m'a conduit icy et il faut mesme que ce soit une de ces divinitez bien-faisantes que ne font que du bien aux hommes puis qu'elle m'y a fait recevoir l'honneur d'estre connu de vous et le bonheur d'estre choisi de la fortune pour rendre un petit service au roy qu'il pouvoit sans doute recevoir mieux de tout autre la modestie luy dit la princesse en sous-riant et se tournant vers les dames qui estoient les plus proches d'elle est une vertu qui apartient si essentiellement a nostre sexe que je ne scay si je dois souffrir que ce genereux estranger l'usurpe sur nous avec tant d'injustice et que ne se contenant pas de posseder la valeur eminemment ou nous ne devons rien pretendre il veuille encore estre aussi modeste quand on luy parle de la beaute des actions qu'il a faites que les femmes raisonnables le sont quand on les loue de leur beaute pour moy adjousta t'elle en regardant artamene je vous avoue que je trouve un peu d'injustice en vostre procede et je ne pense pas que je la doive souffrir 
 ny m'empescher de vous louer infiniment quoy que vous ne le puissiez endurer les personnes comme vous luy repartit artamene avec un profond respect doivent recevoir des louanges de toute la terre et n'en donner pas legerement c'est une chose madame dont il n'est pas agreable de se repentir c'est pourquoy-je vous suplie de ne vous exposer pas a ce peril attendez madame que j'aye l'honneur d'estre un peu mieux connu de vous j'ay desja sceu par arbace luy respondit elle en sous-riant que l'on vous croit estre d'une nation quoy que vous na l'avouyez pas qui parmy les grandes qualitez que l'on attribue a ceux qui en sont est un peu soubconnee d'artifice mais ce que vous avez fait merite bien que je vous excepte de la regle generale que je ne vous soubconne pas de cet exces de raison qui fait de generer la prudence en finesse et qu'au contraire je sois persuadee que vous estes effectivement tel que vous paroissez estre je vous suis bien oblige madame respondit artamene de vous voir faire une si glorieuse exception en ma faveur je puis aussi vous assurer qu'en cette rencontre vous ne vous abusez pas et que l'artifice dont la foy greque est suspecte n'est pas un deffaut que l'on me puisse reprocher mais madame soit que je fois grec comme vous semblez le croire soit que je fois d'une autre nation que l'on croye plus ingenue n'avoir point une mauvaise qualite n'est pas avoir une grande vertu et j'ay toujours raison de dire que si vous avez bonne opinion de 
 moy j'ay sujet de craindre que le temps ne vous fasse changer d'avis le temps repliqua-t'elle ne scauroit tousjours faire que ce que vous avez fait ne soit digne de louange ainsi en attendant que le temps que vous dittes m'ait desabusee de la bonne opinion que je veux et dois avoir de celuy qui a sauve la vie au roy mon pere laissez moy dans une erreur qui ne vous est pas desavantageuse je souhaite madame luy respondit artamene que vous ne la perdiez jamais et que la plus illustre princesse qui soit au monde me fasse toujours l'honneur de croire que je ne suis pas absolument indigne de son estime apres cela la princesse s'informa particulierement de tout ce qui s'estoit passe a la bataille et artamene le luy raconta avec beaucoup d'exactitude excepte ce qui le regardoit qu'il passoit tousjours legerement et en peu de mots ce qui donnoit de l'admiration a mandane qui en avoit este bien mieux informee par arbace artamene n'oublia pas de luy parler dignement de la valeur de philidaspe que la princesse se ressouvint d'avoir veu a sinope quelques jours auparavant que d'en partir et enfin il sortit si heureusement de cette premiere conversation qu'il en fut hautement loue de toutes les dames qui l'entendirent ce n'est pas qu'il eust la liberte entiere de son esprit car outre qu'il estoit fortement attache par les yeux a la veue de la princesse son coeur estoit si agite qu'il n'avoit pas la moitie des charmes qu'il avoit accoustme d'avoir mais la bonne mine d'artamene sa civilite 
 sa modestie et sa bonne grace jointe a ce qu'il disoit qui estoit tousjours respectueusement dit et judicieusement pense firent que le desordre de son ame ne fut point aperceu et qu'il se tira de cet entretien avec une approbation generale arbace le fit loger en un pavillon du chasteau qui gardoit sur le jardin et eut de luy tout le soin qu'il devoit avoir d'un homme qui avoit sauve la vie au roy son maistre et qu'on luy avoit recommande d'une facon toute particuliere mais artamene ne fut pas plustost au superbe apartement qu'on luy avoit destine qu'il luy prit envie de s'aller promener et qu'il descendit dans le jardin qu'il avoit veu par les fenestres de sa chambre tant son inquietude amoureuse luy donnoit peu de repos ce n'est pas que son ame ne s'abandonnast alors a la joye et que la veue et les civilitez de cette princesse ne l'intretinssent agreablement mais c'est qu'en effet l'amour est de telle nature qu'il ne peut jamais causer de plaisirs tranquiles et soit qu'il donne de la joye ou de la douleur il ne donne presque jamais rien qu'en tumulte et avec agitation et desordre artamene donc tout heureux qu'il estoit ne laissoit pas d'estre inquiete il estoit pourtant bien aise d'avoir entretenu la princesse et d'avoir encore trouve en sa veue et en sa conversation de nouveaux charmes pour le captiver du moins disoit il raison tu ne t'oposeras plus a mon amour et bien loin de t'employer a la destruire tu m'ayderas a chercher les voyes de la satisfaire il y avoit aussi des 
 momens ou luy sembloit qu'il n'avoit pas dit tout ce qu'il eust pu dire et tout ce qu'il eust dit en une conversation ou il n'eust pas este si preoccupe mais apres tout l'image de mandane fut ce qui remplit toute son ame il luy sembloit la revoir a chaque pas qu'il faisoit et apres se l'estre figuree avec tous ses charmes et s'estre dit plus de cent fois a luy mesme que s'estoit la plus belle chose du monde et la plus aimable apres avoir admire cette facon d'agir qu'elle avoit ou sans perdre rien de sa modestie naturelle elle avoit pourtant quelque chose de galant et d'aise dans l'esprit qui rendoit son entretien incomparable apres dis-je avoir bien passe et repasse toutes ces choses en son imagination o dieux disoit il si estant si aimable il arrivoit que je ne pusse en estre aime que deviendroit le malheureux artamene mais reprennoit il tout d'un coup puis qu'elle paroist sensible a la gloire et aux bien-faits continuons d'agir comme nous avons commence et faisons de si grandes choses que quand mesme son inclination nous resisteroit l'estime nous introduisist malgre elle dans son coeur car enfin quoy que l'on puisse dire et quoy que j'aye dit moy mesme l'on peut estimer un peu ce que l'on n'aimera point du tout mais je ne pense pas ne l'on puisse estimer beaucoup ce que l'on n'aimera pas un peu esperons donc esperons et rendons nous dignes d'estre pleints si nous ne le sommes pas d'estre pleints si nous ne le sommes pas en d'estre pleints si nous ne le sommes pas d'estre aimez comme il raisonnoit de cette sorte sur l'estat de sa fortune feraulas l'advertit 
 qu'il voyoit paroistre la princesse au bout d'une allee qui suivant sa coustume venoit se promener dans le jardin sur le point que le soleils s'abaissoit artamene voyant qu'elle venoit vers luy eust sans doute passe par respect dans une autre allee qui touchoit celle ou elle se promenoit si elle ne luy eust fait signe de s'approcher mais seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience je vous diray qu'en cette seconde conversation et en cette promenade artamene descouvrit tant de nouvelles beautez et tant de saggesse en l'esprit de mandane que si jusques la il avoit eu de l'amour depuis il eut de l'adoration la princesse aussi connoissant mieux par cet entretien moins general et un peu plus long le merveilleux esprit de mon maistre conceut une grande estime de luy et le traita encore plus civilement que la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit veue pour s'aquitter du commandement du roy elle entreprit de luy persuader de s'attacher a son service mais helas que cette priere estoit inutile qu'il eut peu de peine a luy en accorder l'effet et qu'il eut de joye de se voir prier de faire une chose ou il estoit resolu et qui estoit si favorable a sa passion comme il eut remene la princesse a son apartement suivie de sa dame d'honneur de sa gouvernante et de toutes ses filles elle donna ordre qu'on le servist au sien avec toute la magnificence possible comme en effet la chose fut ponctuellement executee selon ses intentions cependant artamene qui ne parla presque point tant qu'il fut a table lors que ceux qui le servoient se 
 furent retirez a son antichambre estant demeure seul avec feraulas se mit a luy demander son advis de la princesse comme si de son approbation eust dependu toute sa felicite et malgre luy et contre son dessein et presque sans qu'il s'en prist garde il employa la moitie de la nuit a s'entretenir avec feraulas qui sans doute ne pouvoit pas combattre sa passion du coste de la princesse estant certain que c'estoit la plus aimable personne qui sera jamais mais enfin il falut se coucher toutefois ce ne fut pas pour dormir car venant a penser que la bien-seance vouloit qu'il demandast son conge des le lendemain et qu'il s'en retournast au camp l'inquietude qu'il en eut ne luy permit pas assez de repos pour s'abandonner au sommeil il se leva donc le matin sans avoir pu fermer les yeux et aussi tost que la princesse fut en estat d'estre veue il fut la supplier de luy permettre de s'en retourner aupres du roy ou son devoir et l'estat ou il avoit laisse les choses l'appelloient mais elle luy dit qu'elle vouloit qu'il fust tesmoin d'un sacrifice qu'elle alloit offrir aux dieux pour les remercier d'avoir preserve le roy par son moyen afin qu'il le peust assurer de la part qu'elle prenoit en sa conservation et du soing qu'elle avoit de la demander au ciel enfin luy dit-elle je vous en prie n'osant pas dire que je vous le commande vous le pourriez pourtant madame par plus d'une raison luy respondit artamene et une princesse comme vous en a plus de cent qui la doivent faire obeir de toute la terre artamene demeura donc encore ce jour 
 la tout entier a ancire il fut au temple avec la princesse qu'il eut l'honneur d'y accompagner ou tout le peuple le combla de benedictions car en un moment par le moyen d'arbace et des domestiques de la princesse il fut connu pour estre le liberateur du roy le lendemain au matin estant venu plustost qu'il n'eust souhaitte il falut partir et prendre conge de la princesse ce qu'il fit sans doute avec autant de douleur que d'amour quoy qu'il n'osast tesmoigner ny l'une ny l'autre que par son silence et par un profond respect elle luy donna une lettre pour le roy qui se trouva estre telle que je m'en vay vous la dire car ciaxare la montra a tant de monde afin d'obliger mon maistre qu'il y eut peu de gens de quelque consideration dans l'armee qui par leurs propres yeux ou par le raport d'autruy ne sceussent ce qu'elle contenoit
 
 
 la princesse mandane au roy de capadoce et de galatie son pere 
 
 
seigneur
 
 
 ce n'estoit pas sans raison que vostre majeste avoit de la defiance de la modestie d'artamene puis que ce 
 n'a este que par le lieutenant de vos gardes que j'ay apris ce qu'il a fait pour vostre conservation ou pour mieux dire pour celle de toute la capadoce de toute la galatie de toute la medie et pour celle de mandane que vostre perte auroit fait mourir de douleur il m'a bien dit le grand danger ou vostre majeste s'est exposee mais il ne m'auroit jamais apris que sa valeur vous en avoit garanty et je l'aurais tousjours ignore si je ne l'eusse sceu par une autre voye je l'ay touve si persuade de vostre vertu et si attache a vostre service que mes soings ont este absolument inutiles pour vous l'aquerir davantage mais seigneur faites s'il vous plaist que mes prieres ne le soient pas aupres de vous lors que je vous supplieray comme je fais de n'exposer plus une vie si precieuse a de si grands hazards vostre majeste scait comme je luy ay desja dit que le salut de ses estats y est attache et que peut-estre artamene ne seroit pas toujours assez heureux pour la pouvoir secourir laissez donc seulement seigneur a ce genereux estranger le soing de vaincre vos ennemu et ne l'occupez plus a deffendre la vie d'un prince a laquelle est inseparablement attachee celle de 
 mandane 
 
 
artamene ayant rendu cette lettre au roy en fut admirablement bien receu mais philidaspe qui l'entendit lire ne fut pas celuy de toute l'assemblee qui tesmoigna y prendre le plus de plaisir et l'on vit un chagrin sur son visage qui marquoit visiblement le trouble et l'emotion de son coeur a quelques jours de la les blessures de mon maistre estant entierement gueries et voulant 
 commencer de mettre en exercice le corps qu'on luy avoit donne a commander comme les deux armees estoient retranchees l'une devant l'autre il fit plusieurs parties ou il eut tousjours de l'avantage et il enleva mesme un quartier au roy de phrigie philidaspe sur aussi assez heureux en de pareilles rencontres cependant quoy que cette guerre fust effectivement faite par le roy de pont a cause qu'on luy avoit refuse la princesse de capadoce neantmoins comme cette cause n'eust pas este assez plausible aux yeux des peuples veu qu'il n'est rien qui doive estre si libre que les mariages ny rien de plus juste que l'authorite des peres sur leurs enfans ny rien de plus fort que les loix fondamentales de l'estat qui deffendoient cette alliance le pretexte avoit este de deux villes qui bornoient de deux costez une grand plaine qui joint la galatie a la bithinie en cet endroit tous ces deux princes croyant que toutes les deux leur appartenoient quoy qu'ils ne fussent chacun en possession que de celle qui estoit la plus proche de leurs provinces c'estoit donc apparemment pour ces deux villes que la guerre se faisoit dont l'une se nomme cerasie qui estoit alors en la puissance du roy de pont et l'autre anise qui estoit sous le pouvoir de ciaxare mais comme le roy de pont avoit este assez blesse et que ses medecins et ses chirurgiens l'avoient assure qu'il ne seroit pas si tost guery il fuyoit le combat autant qu'il pouvoit neantmoins l'on ne laissa pas de combattre a diverses fois pendant sa maladie et 
 mesme excepte lors qu'artamene ou philidaspe furent a la guerre la victoire sembla tousjours balancer entre les deux partis cependant le roy de phrigie ayant este adverty secrettement que le roy de lydie se vouloit encore declarer contre luy et entrer dans ses estats le fit scavoir au roy de pont qui se trouva fort embarrasse scachant bien que si le roy de phrigie l'abandonnoit il ne seroit pas assez puissant pour resister a ciaxare qui luy jetteroit sur les bras non seulement toute la capadoce et toute la galatie mais encore toutes les forces des medes et des persans
 
 
 
 
apres que ces princes eurent bien cherch a imaginer ce qu'ils avoient a faire dans une conjoncture si fascheuse le roy de phrigie dit que comme l'advis qu'il avoit receu estoit apparemment ignore de ciaxare puis que le roy de lydie n'avoit encore fait aucun acte d'hostilite contre luy et qu'il avoit eu cet adus par une intelligence secrette qu'il avoit dans le conseil de ce prince il faloit avant qu'il en apprist des nouvelles luy envoyer offrir de terminer leurs differens par un combat de deux cens hommes contre deux cens afin d'espargner de tous les deux partis le sang de leurs sujets et de terminer plus promptement cette guerre car enfin luy dit le roy de phrigie si celle de lydie ne m'occupe pas trop long temps nous ne manquerons pas apres de pretextes pour rompre la paix que nous aurons faite avec le roy de capadoce le roy de pont qui ne voyoit point d'apparence de pouvoir sortir avec honneur de cette guerre si ce 
 prince son allie l'abandonnoit quelque desir qu'il eust de se vanger quelque brave qu'il fust et quelque passion qu'il eust pour la princesse de capadoce fut contraint d'aprouver cet advis et de le suivre il envoya donc proposer la chose a ciaxare qui tint conseil de guerre pour cela les opinions furent differentes les uns vouloient que l'on acceptast cette proposition les autres qu'on la refusast aribee qui trouvoit quelque avantage pour luy a faire durer la guerre s'y opposoit ouvertement mais le roy qui par l'extreme vieillesse d'astiage roy des medes prevoyoit que sa mort arriveroit bien tost auroit este bien aise de ne se trouver pas engage en cette guerre en un temps ou il luy faudroit peut-estre quitter dans peu de jours la capadoce pour s'en aller en medie de sorte qu'ayant bien examine toutes choses et connu qu'apres tout les ennemis estoient un peu plus forts en nombre que les capadociens ciaxare accepta le party qu'on luy presentoit et l'execution de la chose fut remise a huit jours de la les conditions de se traite furent
 
 
 que ces deux princes retireroient leurs armees au de la de chacune de ces villes qui estoient le sujet de la guerre que le combat se ferait dans cette grande plaine ou les armees estoient presentement retranchees et aux extremitez de laquelle sont les deux villes qui estoient en contestation 
 
 
 que chaque prince choisiroit a sa volonte ceux qui devroient combattre pour ses interests sans considerer le 
 rang ny la qualite et que la seule valeur suffiroit pour estre receu en ce combat 
 
 
 que partant en mesme temps des deux villes les combattans de part et d'autre se trouveroient au milieu de la plaine ou se feroit leur combat 
 
 
 que ceux qui combatroient seroient a pied et n'auroient pour armes que deux javelots avec leur espees et qu'ils ne porteroient ny arcs ny fleches 
 
 
 que les deux rois ennemis attendroient l'evenement du combat chacun a la teste de leur armee pres de la ville ou elle camperoit sans s'en informer par nulle autre voye que par le retour des vainqueurs et par l'advis que le victorieux en envoyeroit donner a l'autre n'estant pas permis aux vaincus de revenir ny mesme de demander la vie a leur ennemis ny a pas un des deux paris d'envoyer aucun pendant l'action aux nouvelles pour eviter superoberie 
 
 
 que la fin du combat estant sceve les deux rois suivis chacun de deux mille hommes de guerre se rendroient au champ de bataille tant pour s'y embrasser que pour verifier le raport des victorieux 
 
 
 que l'on se donneroit des ostages de part et d'autre que ces ostages qui seroient dans les deux camps visiteroient les deux cens hommes qui seroient choisis pour combattre afin qu'ils n'eussent point d'autres armes que celles qui estoient permises selon leurs conditions et qu'ils en envoyeroient assurer chacun leur prince 
 
 
 qu'apres le combat le party vaincu abandonneroit la ville et retiroit son armee dans son pais le vainqueur entrant en possesion de cette ville pour laquelle cette guerre avoit este commencee 
 
 
 
 que les corps des deux cens morts du party vaincu ne recevroient nulle ignominie et que leurs funerailles seroient faites avec honneur sur le propre champ de bataille avec celles des morts du party victorieux et qu'apres cela la paix seroit ferme et stable entre ces deux princes le commerce restably entre leurs subjets le roy de phrigie compris dans cette paix comme allie du roy de pont 
 
 
tous ces articles estant accordez et signez de part et d'autre on les publia dans les deux camps et les deux armees commencerent de marcher vers ces deux villes ou elles se devoient rendre la princesse ayant sceu la chose voulut estre aupres du roy son pere si bien qu'en ayant eu la permission elle arriva dans anise le jour auparavant que l'on deust choisir ceux qui devoient combatre je vous laisse a juger seigneur avec qu'elle ardeur tous ceux qui avoient du courage et qui estoient piquez d'un puissant desir de gloire solicitoient en cette occasion et je vous laisse a juger encore si artamene et philidaspe entre les autres estoient des plus empressez ce dernier esperoit en la faveur d'aribee qui le protegeoit et mon maistre dans l'extreme envie qu'il avoit d'estre du nombre des combatans n'osoit s'assurer a rien car encore qu'il eust rendu un grand service au roy et que sa valeur eust desja este assez connue neantmoins parce qu'il estoit estranger il craignoit plus qu'il n'esperoit et jugeoit bien que ce luy estoit un grand obstacle je voyoit cependant que s'il n'estoit pas de ce combat toutes ses esperances s'en 
 alloient bien reculees car disoit il que pourray-je faire pour acquerir l'estime de la princesse dans une cour tranquile et ou je ne pourray jamais trouver d'occasions de la servir du moins si je pouvois aider a emporter cette victoire j'aurois toujours quelque leger sujet d'esperer mais helas je ne suis pas assez heureux pour cela et je crains bien mesme que philidaspe ne me soit prefere quoy qu'il soit estranger aussi bien que moy car seigneur c'estoit une chose inconcevable de voir combien ces deux jeunes et braves guerriers se regardoient tousjours en tous leurs desseins sinon avec envie du moins avec une emulation extreme ainsi la princesse ne fut pas plustost arrivee qu'artamene se determinant tout d'un coup fut la trouver sans m'en rien dire et comme il y avoit alors peu de monde aupres d'elle madame luy dit il je viens vous demander une grace quoy que je n'en sois pas digne vous estes digne de tout luy respondit la princesse fort obligeamment et soyez assure que si ce que vous voulez n'est ny injuste ny impossible vous l'obtiendrez infailliblement et comme vous estes trop genereux et trop sage pour vouloir des choses de cette nature vous ne devez point mettre en doute l'effet de vostre demande artamene ayant fait une profonde reverence reprit la parole de cette sorte je scay bien madame que ce que je souhaite est en vostre pouvoir puis qu'il est en celuy du roy n'ignorant nullement qu'il n'est rien qu'il vous puisse refuser mais je vous advoue que je n'oserois pas m'assurer 
 qu'il y ait autant de justice en ma demande que de possibilite et quoy que je face ce que je dois en vous supliant de me faire obtenir ce que je souhaite je ne scay si vous ferez ce que vous devez en me l'accordant cependant madame je vous le demande avec toute l'affection imaginable et s'il est vray que le bonheur que j'ay eu de rendre quelque petit service au roy vous ait obligee faites m'en obtenir s'il vous plaist la plus grande et la plus glorieuse recompense que j'en puisse jamais recevoir faites donc madame que le roy me face l'honneur de me nommer pour estre un des deux cens qui doivent combattre ce que vous me demandez reprit la princesse toute surprise de la generosite d'artamene n'est sans doute pas impossible et est mesme tres advantageux au roy mon pere mais je vous advoue que je ne le trouve guere juste car apres luy avoir sauve la vie comme vous avez fait c'est vous en recompenser d'une facon bien estrange que d'exposer de nouveau la vostre a un combat qui ne peut manquer d'estre tres sanglant et tres dangereux veu les conditions du traite vous estes trop bonne luy respondit artamene de craindre ma perte mais madame ne vous en inquietez pas la bonte que vous avez pour moy me met a couvert de tous les perils n'estant pas croyable que les dieux veuillent perdre ce que vous voulez sauver ainsi madame poursuivit-il en sous-riant pouvant me faire combatre sans danger faites moy la grace de m'en faire obtenir la permission car madame adjousta-t'il en prenant 
 un visage plus serieux si je ne l'obtiens pas il faudra necessairement que je m'esloigne d'un lieu ou je ne pourrois vivre sans honte et ou l'on ne m'auroit pas juge digne de faire ce que deux cens autres auroient fait s'il n'y avoit luy dit il encore qu'un seul homme qui deust combattre peut-estre n'auroi-je pas la hardiesse d'oser vous dire estant estranger que je souhaiterois ardemment pouvoir estre ce bien-heureux qui seroit choisi pour deffendre vos interests mais puis qu'il y en doit avoir deux cens appellez a cette gloire je pense madame que sans une trop grande presomption je puis vous demander ce bon office je voudrois bien au moins luy respondit la princesse fort obligeamment que vous eussiez choisi une autre personne pour vous le rendre mais enfin puis que vous le voulez je vous promets de l'obtenir du roy comme artamene vouloit luy respondre et se jetter a ses pieds pour la remercier ciaxare entra dans sa chambre et la princesse ne le vit pas plustost que s'avancant vers luy seigneur luy dit-elle artamene qui est insatiable de gloire n'estant pas content du service qu'il vous a rendu veut encore que ce soit de sa main que vous receviez la victoire et il vous supplie de luy permettre de combattre vos ennemis en l'occasion qui s'en presente ciaxare ravi de cette proposition embrassa artamene pour le remercier du zele qui'l tesmoignoit avoir pour son service mais il fut toute-fois quelque temps sans pouvoir se resoudre de luy accorder ce qu'il demandoit et comme la princesse durant ce 
 temps-la ne parloit point artamene se tournant vers elle madame luy dit il est-ce-la ce que vous m'aviez fait l'honneur de me promettre non luy respondit mandane mais je vous advoue que je ne vous puis tenir ma parole et que la guerre est une chose qui choque si fort mon humeur que je ne puis obtenir de moy d'y contribuer rien que des voeux tres passionnez pour la faire cesser ha madame reprit artamene vostre bonte m'oblige et m'outrage tout ensemble et alors il pressa tant ciaxare qu'il se rendit enfin apres avoir long temps resiste ce n'est pas qu'il ne fust bien aise qu'un homme aussi vaillant qu'artamene fust de ce combat mais c'est qu'effectivement il l'aimoit et qu'il craignoit de le perdre en cette occasion de vous dire quelle fut la joye d'artamene quels furent les remercimens qu'il fit au roy et les agreables reproches qu'il fit a la princesse de l'avoir si mal servi ce seroit perdre un temps qui m'est cher veu ce qui me reste encore a vous aprendre je vous diray donc seulement au lieu de cela que philidaspe qui souhaittoit estre de ce combat aussi bien que mon maistre n'eut pas le mesme destin car quoy qu'aribee peust dire ciaxare ne le voulut pas il en fit des excuses a philidaspe de fort bonne grace et luy dit qu'artamene ayant parle le premier et qu'ayant desja accorde la chose a un estranger il n'osoit l'accorder encore a un second de peur de faire trop murmurer les capadociens qui diroient que ce seroit leur faire tort cette avanture donna une grande douleur a philidaspe 
 et s'il n'eust este attache aupres du roy par une raison tres puissante il auroit quitte son service ce qui l'affligeoit le plus c'estoit de voir qu'artamene luy estoit prefere quoy qu'il fust estranger comme luy et bien que ciaxare luy dist comme je l'ay remarque que s'il eust parle le premier il n'eust pas este refuse cela ne le consoloit gueres artamene au contraire sentit redoubler sa joye par la douleur de philidaspe et ce grand coeur tout genereux qu'il estoit ne put s'empescher d'estre bien aise de son deplaisir tant il y avoit desja d'emulation entre ces deux grands courages ne suis-je pas bien heureux me dit artamene lors que je l'eus rencontre de voir qu'enfin je ne puis manquer ou de vaincre pour ma princesse ou de mourir pour elle si j'echape de ce danger je suis assure de ne la revoir que pour luy annoncer la victoire et mon triomphe et si je meurs je suis encore assure d'en estre pleint ha chrisante quelle gloire ha seigneur luy respondis-je qu'avez vous fait ce que j'ay deu mon cher amy me repartit il et ce que vous auriez fait si vous eussiez este en ma place mais luy dis-je seigneur avez vous oublie qu'artamene n'est pas un simple chevalier tel qu'il paroist et qu'il est fils du roy de perse non mon gouverneur adjousta t'il et c'est parce que je me souviens que sa naissance n'est pas commune que je veux qu'il tasche de faire des actions extraordinaires mais seigneur luy dis-je pourquoy du moins n'avez vous obtenu pour feraulas et pour moy ce que vous 
 avez obtenu pour vous est-ce que vous doutez de nostre courage ha chrisante me dit-il en m'embrassant je douterois plustost du mien mais la chose n'estoit pas possible et si je l'eusse demandee pour vous je me fusse expose peut-estre a ne l'avoir pas pour moy mesme cependant malgre toutes ses raisons comme je n'estois pas possede de passions si violentes que luy je ne pouvois me consoler de le voir engage dans un semblable combat mais la chose estoit sans remedes et il s'estoit cache de moy lors qu'il avoit este chez mandane pour la prier de le servir en cette rencontre le choix des deux cens combatans estant donc fait le jour du combat estant arrive les ostages estant donnez de part et d'autre la visite des armes estant faite par eux suivant les conditions du traite et l'advis en ayant este envoye au roy de pont qui envoya le mesme a ciaxare de la part de ceux qui estoient a luy et qui avoient aussi visite ses gens la troupe choisie passa devant le roy qui avoit fait faire des la pointe du jour un sacrifice pour demander la victoire aux dieux artamene avoit espere que la princesse seroit aupres de ciaxare lors qu'ils partiroient et qu'il auroit le plaisir de la voir encore en partant mais elle ne put s'y resoudre et elle aima mieux demeurer au temple si bien qu'il fut prive de cette consolation pour moy seigneur qui le vis partir je ne pus m'empescher d'en avoir les larmes aux yeux car enfin dans les autres occasions feraulas et moy taschions au moins de luy rendre tousjours quelque service 
 mais en celle-cy nous ne pouvions pas seulement estre les tesmoins de sa valeur il s'apperceut de nostre tristesse et nous regardant d'un visage aussi gay que le nostre estoit melancolique je vaincray nous dit il en sous-riant et vous ne serez pas bons devins artamene vous en assure comme il disoit cela nous arrivasmes a la porte le la ville ou le roy les attendoit seigneur luy dit mon genereux maistre qui marchoit a la teste de cette troupe je vay tascher de me rendre digne de l'honneur que vostre majeste m'a fait a l'exemple de ces vaillans hommes et je vay respondit le roy preparer des couronnes pour vous et pour eux ne doutant point de l'heureux succes de nos armes puis qu'artamene combat ta gloire est grande artamene s'escria le desespere philidaspe mais tu ne la possederois pas seul si j'eusse eu ta bonne fortune aussi bien que j'ay ta valeur nous eussions este trop forts avec toy luy respondit mon maistre en passant et nous tascherons de vaincre sans toy a ces mots ces deux heros devouez a la grandeur et au repos de la capadoce sortirent de la ville et les portes furent refermees nous ne laissasmes pourtant pas seigneur d'estre assez bien informez du detail de cette grande action c'est pourquoy je vous reciteray ce que nous en avons sceu me reservant a la suitte de mon discours a vous dire par quelle voye nous l'avons apris comme ces deux troupes furent donc dans la plaine elles firent alte quelque temps et chaque party envoya quatre des siens 
 pour voir une seconde fois eux mesmes si le nombre estoit egal et si les armes estoient semblables tout s'estant trouve comme il devoit estre de part et d'autre et chac s'en estant retourne a son rang apres avoir partage le soleil et choisi un endroit egalement avantageux ils commencerent d'avancer teste baissee sans bruit sans cris et avec un silence qui donnoit de la terreur comme ils furent assez proches pour se servir de leurs javelots ils les lancerent avec tant de violence que de tous les deux partis ces armes volantes firent un assez grand effet mais beaucoup plus grand sur les capadociens que sur les autres en suite ayant mis l'espee a la main et s'estans couverts de leurs boucliers ils commencerent de se mesler et artamene a ce que nous avons sceu immola la premiere victime de ce sacrifice sanglant car ayant devance tous ses compagnons de quelques pas il tua d'un grand coup d'espee le premier qui luy resista sa valeur ne fut pourtant pas assez heureusement secondee au commencement de ce combat estant certain qu'a parler en general le party du roy de pont eut de l'avantage sur celuy du roy de capadoce ce n'est pas que l'autre ne fist bien son devoir ny qu'il reculast mais c'est enfin que ceux de pont estoient plus heureux et que les blessures qu'ils faisoient a leurs ennemis estoient plus mortelles artamene voyant donc que malgre tous ses efforts le nombre des capadociens diminuoit plus que celuy des autres estoit en un desespoir estrange et faisoit des choses qui 
 ne se peuvent non plus imaginer que dire l'on eust dit qu'il estoit seul charge de l'evenement de ce combat car il ne se contentoit pas d'attaquer et de se deffendre il deffendoit encore tous ceux de son party et paroit autant qu'il le pouvoit tous les coups qu'il voyoit porter a ceux qui estoient proches de luy enfin il fit tant de merveilles et tant d'actions heroiques qu'un homme d'entre les ennemis nomme artane commenca de croire que quelque advantage qu'eust son party il seroit fort difficile qu'il emportast la victoire et ce fut pourquoy il se resolut de fourber et de jouer d'adresse dont il avoit plus que de courage pour tascher de sauver sa vie car dit il en luy mesme a ce que l'on a sceu depuis si nos gens sont les plus forts je me remesleray parmy eux sur la fin du combat sans qu'aucun s'en apercoive et s'ils succombent tous je sauveray au moins ma vie en me tenant cache et en seray quitte pour me bannir apres de mon pais et pour aller vivre inconnu en quelqu'autre part de la terre comme il se fut resolu a cette laschete dans le desordre et dans l'embarras de ce combat laschant le pied insensiblement et se demeslant d'entre les siens il se retira enfin derriere eux qui estant occupez a combattre ne songerent pas a luy pour les capadociens comme ils estoient desja moins en nombre que leurs ennemis ils ne s'aperceurent pas du dessein de ce lasche qui a six pas de la se laissa tomber comme s'il eust este blesse et se trainant tout doucement derriere une petite eminence 
 qui s'elevoit a un endroit de la plaine qui n'estoit pas fort esloigne il demeura la paisible spectateur du combat cependant les choses en vindrent aux termes qu'artamene se vit luy quinziesme contre quarante je vous laisse a juger seigneur si le party du roy de pont ne croyoit pas avoir vaincu et si les capadociens n'avoient pas sujet de croire qu'ils estoient vaincus mais comme en ce combat il n'estoit permis ny de demander la vie ny de la donner et qu'il y faloit necessairement vaincre ou mourir les plus desesperez devinrent les plus vaillans et artamene leur redonna tant de courage et par sa voix et par son exemple qu'ils reprirent une nouvelle ardeur pour luy l'on eust dit qu'il estoit assure d'estre invulnerable veu la facon dont il s'exposoit mais en s'exposant aussi comme il faisoit a tous les momens l'on peut dire qu'il sembloit y avoir une fatalite attachee a tous les coups qu'il portoit il n'en donnoit pas un qu'il ne fist rougir son espee du sang de ses ennemis il se faisoit jour par tout il escartoit tous ceux qui le vouloient envelopper il suivoit ceux qui le fuyoient il tuoit ceux qui l'attendoient et artamene enfin fit de si grandes choses qu'apres s'estre veu luy quinziesme contre quarante comme je l'ay dit il se revit luy dixiesme contre dix cette egalite luy ayant redonne un nouveau coeur allons dit il aux siens mes chers amis allons achever de vaincre et en effet veu le changement qui estoit arrive il leur pouvoit parler de cette sorte mais il ne scavoit 
 pas que des neuf compagnons qui luy restoient il y en avoit trois qui estant blessez en divers lieux s'affoiblirent tout d'un coup et tomberent un moment apres si bien qu'il demeura luy septiesme contre dix il avoit este si heureux qu'il n'avoit encore receu qu'un leger coup d'espee au coste au deffaut de sa cuirace qui n'ayant qu'effleure la peau ne l'incommodoit point du tout ce coeur de lion sans s'estonner de ce nouveau malheur ne laissa donc pas de continuer de combattre avec mesme vigueur que s'il eust encore este au commencement du combat d'abord il tua deux de ces dix ennemis qui restoient mais le troisiesme qu'il attaqua luy ayant un peu plus resiste que les autres comme il eut acheve de vaincre et qu'il se voulut tourner vers les siens pour s'en resjouir avec eux il vit qu'il n'y en avoit plus qu'un debout que trois ennemis qui restoient alloient infailliblement tuer il y courut en diligence pour le secourir mais il y arriva trop tard cet homme estant tombe mort comme il estoit prest de le deffendre ce fut en cet endroit seigneur ou l'illustre artamene eut besoin de tout son courage car enfin apres trois heures de combat et d'un combat encore plus violent et plus opiniastre qu'une bataille il se vit seul de son party contre trois neantmoins ne perdant ny le coeur ny le jugement il se recula de quelques pas pour n'estre point enveloppe et comme il a une agilite merveilleuse quand il s'en veut servir ces trois hommes se virent fort embarrassez de quelque coste qu'ils l'attaquassent ils trouvoient 
 par tout la pointe de son espee quand ils le pressoient ils ne le pouvoient atteindre et son corps disparoissoit a leurs yeux quand ils ne le pressoient pas il les pressoit et quoy que tous leurs coups ne fussent pas portez en vain et qu'ils vissent couler son sang de plusieurs endroits sa vigueur ne diminuoit point du tout enfin s'estant resolus de le vaincre ou de mourir et s'estant encouragez l'un l'autre avec quelque confusion de voir un homme seul leur resister si long temps ils furent a luy teste baissee mais artamene ayant eu l'adresse d'en separer un de quelques pas d'avec ses compagnons il se couvrit si bien de son bouclier du coste qu'estoient les deux autres qu'il ne put en estre blesse et s'elancant avec une force estrange sur ce troisiesme il luy passa son espee au travers du corps et le fit tomber mort ses pieds cette chutte fit lascher le pied aux deux autres et redonna une nouvelle vigueur a artamene si bien que changeant alors la facon de combattre qu'il avoit este contraint de prendre quand il estoit seul contre trois il commenca de presser et de charger les deux qui restoient avec tant de precipitation que l'un ayant pense tomber a cause d'un bouclier qu'il avoit rencontre sous ses pieds artamene prenant ce temps dechargea un si grand coup sur la teste de l'autre qu'il le renversa mort a l'instant c'est maintenant s'escria alors artamene en haussant l'espee et se tournant vers celuy qui restoit encore que la veritable valeur decidera nostre combat sans que la fortune s'en mesle et 
 sans que personne partage la gloire du vainqueur en disant cela il marcha comme un lion contre ce dernier adversaire qui le receut avec une fermete qui n'estoit pas d'une ame commune voila donc enfin artamene en estat de n'avoir plus qu'un ennemy a combattre mais certes c'estoit un ennemy qui n'estoit pas des moins redoutables et l'on eust dit que la fortune l'avoit choisi expres pour faire qu'artamene achetast cette victoire bien cher ces deux vaillans guerriers se voyant seuls a soustenir toute la gloire de leur party furent un temps a se regarder comme pour reprendre haleine et se voyant tous couverts de sang et au milieu d'un champ tout couvert de morts il est a croire que la victoire ne leur aparut pas avec tous ses charmes et que si chacun d'eux dans son coeur eut de l'esperance il eut aussi de la crainte de ne la remporter pas cependant le combat se recommenca entre ces deux vaillans hommes mais avec tant d'ardeur etb tant de courage qu'il ne s'est jamais rien veu de semblable celuy qui combattoit contre artamene estoit un homme de qualite aussi bien que ce lasche artane qui estoit tousjours cache et qui ayant tousjours veu mon maistre pour ainsi dire foudroyer les siens n'avoit jamais ose se lever icy seigneur admirez la conduitte des dieux lors qu'ils ont resolu de conserver quelqu'un et tombez d'accord avec moy que leurs secrets sont impenetrables car enfin les choses estant en cet estat n'est il pas vray qu'il n'y a personne qui ne croye que cet artane qui s'estoit cache 
 voyant mon maistre blesse en tant de lieux ne deust se lever pour aider a celuy de son party qui combattoit encore a vaincre un homme de qui le sang couloit de divers endroits cependant il n'en alla pas ainsi quoy que c'eust este la premiere intention de ce lasche comme je pense l'avoir dit car outre qu'artane n'estoit pas vaillant et qu'il s'estoit veu contraint d'estre de ce combat malgre luy comme nous l'avons sceu depuis outre dis-je qu'il avoit veu qu'artamene s'estant trouve seul contre trois n'avoit pas laisse de vaincre il se trouva encore que celuy qui combatoit le dernier contre mon maistre estoit son rival si bien que se voyant en cette occasion entre les sentimens de la patrie et les sentimens de vangeance de jalousie et d'amour il ne balanca point du tout et se resolut de laisser finir ce combat sans s'en mesler car disoit-il en luy mesme comme on l'a sceu depuis de sa propre bouche ce combat ne finira pas sans qu'il en meure au moins un des deux veu la maniere dont ils agissent et celuy qui mourra ne mourra pas sans faire de nouvelles blessures a son ennemy ainsi donc si l'ennemy de mon pais succombe je trouveray tousjours mon rival en estat d'estre vaincu plus facilement et si mon rival meurt plus facilement encore vaincray-je l'ennemy de ma patrie qui en perdant tant de sang aura perdu toutes ses forces et qui en faisant respandre tout celuy de son ennemy aura respandu presque tout le sien de forte que de quelque coste que la fortune se tourne ils combatront ils mourront 
 et je vivraz et triomphery sans peine artane demeura donc en cet estat faisant des voeux egalement pour la mort ses deux ennemis et veritablement il s'en falut peu que ses injustes voeux ne fussent exaucez artamene et pharnace car nous avons sceu que ce vaillant homme s'apelloit ainsi s'estant regardez un moment comme je l'ay desja dit pour reprendre un peu d'haleine recommencerent un combat ou tout ce que l'amour de la gloire peut inspirer de grand et de noble se fit voir en cette occasion et comme artamene craignoit que le sang qu'il perdoit ne trahist enfin son courage et ne l'affoiblist malgre luy il pressa son ennemy avec une ardeur qui n'est pas imaginable si bien que pharnace qui voyoit qu'il n'y avoit a choisir que la mort ou la victoire et qui en se voyant seul de son party avoit eu cette consolation de croire qu'artane son rival et son ennemy estoit mort puis qu'il ne combattoit plus il est dis-je a croire que dans l'esperance ou il estoit de n'estre plus traverse dans son amour il avoit encore un plus grand desir de vaincre du moins fit il des choses si merveilleuses que j'ay entendu dire a mon maistre que quand on ne luy en eust rien apris il n'eust pas laisse de connoistre que l'amour soustenoit son courage et l'enflamoit d'une ardeur si heroique ils se battirent donc encore fort long temps pharnace blessa artamene en quatre endroits et artamene blessa pharnace en plus de six leurs forces commencerent alors de diminuer et leurs corps de s'apesantir 
 peu a peu si bien que pour finir leur combat plustost ils se tinrent tousjours pres l'un de l'autre et ne s'esloignerent plus de la pointe de leurs espees ny ne se servirent plus de leurs boucliers qu'ils ne pouvoient soustenir qu'a peine en cet estat se frappant continuellement il arriva qu'ils se porterent en mesme temps mais avec cette difference qu'artamene passa son espee au travers du coeur de pharnace et le fit tomber mort a ses pieds et que pharnace passa la sienne au travers d'une cuisse d'artamene ou il la laissa si bien que mon maistre ayant encore son espee a la main et ayant retire courageusement celle de son ennemy de sa blessure tenant ces deux espees entre ses mains j'ay vaincu s'ecria-t'il et un moment apres cette derniere blessure luy ayant fait perdre beaucoup plus de sang il tomba et fut quelque temps en foiblesse mais admirez seigneur encore cette advanture si artamene ne fust pas tombe il estoit mort car artane l'auroit acheve et en effet nous avons sceu par luy mesme comme vous l'aprendrez en suitte qu'aussi tost qu'il vit son rival mort il se leva et se prepara a venir attaquer mon maistre qu'il voyoit chanceler a tous les pas mais conme un moment apres il le vit tomber et ne remuer plus du tout il ne s'amusa point a aller voir s'il avoit pousse le dernier soupir et il s'en alla en diligence vers ceux de son party pour profiter laschement du labeur des autres et pour annoncer la victoire au roy de pont et certes cet homme si toutefois il est digne de ce 
 nom avoit bien plus de joye que le veritable vainqueur car il se croyoit prest de remporter une grande gloire qu'il avoit eue a fort bon marche il avoit veu mourir son rival il croyoit que cette victoire luy feroit obtenir sa maistresse qui estoit soeur du roy de pont et rien enfin ne pouvoit troubler sa felicite que le remors de sa malice et de sa laschete sans exemple je scay bien seigneur que je ne vous ay pas raconte cette grande action avec assez de particularitez mais comme nous ne l'avons sceue que par artane lors qu'il fut vaincu et depuis encore prisonnier de guerre parmy nous et par mon maistre de qui la modestie ne luy permet guere d'exagerer les choses qui luy sont avantageuses je n'en ay pas pu dire davantage cependant artamene ayant este quelque temps en foiblesse il arriva que le sang s'estant arreste par l'evanouissement luy redonna de la force si bien qu'estant revenu a soy il se releva sur un genouil son espee a la main comme pour voir s'il n'y avoit plus personne en estat de luy disputer la victoire mais regardant de tous les costez il ne vit plus a l'entour de luy que des javelots rompus des troncons d'espees des boucliers sanglants et des hommes qui tous morts qu'ils estoient avoient encore de la fureur sur le visage il voyoit d'un coste un capadocien de l'autre un de ses ennemis et par tout de l'horreur et du sang en abondance il effaya diverses fois de se lever pour marcher mais il luy fut impossible principalement a cause de sa derniere blessure qui 
 faisoit qu'il ne pouvoit absolument se soustenir cependant il scavoit que c'estoit aux vainqueurs a aller porter la nouvelle de la victoire puis que leur combat n'avoit point eu de tesmoins et comme le fort des armes avoit voulu qu'il fust demeure seul en vie il estoit en une peine qui n'est pas imaginable helas disoit-il que me servira d'avoir vaincu si je meurs sans qu'on scache que j'ay este victorieux ciaxare se repentira de l'honneur qu'il m'a fait et mandane l'illustre mandane croira peut-estre que je seray mort des le commencement du combat sans rien faire de considerable pour elle qu'enfin j'ay mal occupe la place que j'ay tenue et que peut-estre philidaspe l'auroit mieux remplie que moy cependant o dieux o justes dieux vous scavez ce que me couste la victoire et ce que j'ay fait pour ma princesse en disant cela il regardoit tousjours de tous costez mais il ne voyoit personne car comme la plaine baisse un peu du coste qu'artane s'en alloit il ne le pouvoit plus voir artamene en cette extremite ne scachant que faire et craignant effectivement de mourir sans que l'on sceust qu'il avoit vaincu commenca de se trainer lentement et d'amasser autant qu'il put de javelots d'espees de casques et de boucliers et ayant entasse toutes ces armes les unes sur les autres comme pour en eslever un trophee il prit un grand bouclier d'argent qui avoit este au vaillant pharnace et trempant son doict dans son propre sang qui recommencoit de couler abondamment par l'agitation qu'il s'estoit 
 donnee il escrivit en lettres vermeiles au milieu de ce bouclier a jupiter garde des trophees et le placa sur le haut de ce superbe amas d'armes qu'il avoit entassees aupres de luy en suitte dequoy foible et las qu'il estoit de ce glorieux travail il se coucha a demy le bras gauche appuye sur son bouclier et tenant tousjours son espee de la main droite comme pour deffendre le trophee qu'il avoit esleve et le monument de sa victoire en cet estat la un peu plus en repos qu'auparavant il m'a dit depuis qu'il donna toutes ses pensees a sa princesse et que dans l'esperance qu'il eut qu'elle n'ignoreroit peut-estre pas l'avantage qu'il avoit remporte la mort luy parut douce et agreable il eust pourtant bien voulu la voir encore une fois apres avoir vaincu s'imaginant que s'il eust pu avoir ce bonheur il n'auroit plus rien eu a desirer cependant artane qui estoit alle annoncer son faux triomphe mit la joye dans le coeur de tous ceux de son party et principalement dans celuy du roy de pont qui quoy qu'il n'aimast pas trop artane ne laissa pas d'estre bien aise de recevoir une si agreable nouvelle par luy les ostages qui suivant l'accord estoient avec le roy de pont en furent sensiblement affligez et furent advertir leur maistre de ce qui estoit 
 arrive afin que les autres ostages fussent rendus et que ces deux princes chacun de leur coste se rendissent au champ de bataille avec deux mille hommes seulement comme ils en estoient convenus ciaxare et la princesse mandane estoient en une inquietude estrange car ne voyant revenir personne de leur party il y avoit grande apparence que les choses n'alloient pas bien mais enfin ayant este tirez de ce doute par le retour de ces ostages ce qui n'estoit qu'une simple inquietude devint a l'instant une douleur effective neantmoins pour demeurer dans les termes de leurs conditions ciaxare marcha vers le lieu du combat avec le nombre de gens dont ils estoient tombez d'accord comme fit aussi le roy de pont mais pour la princesse elle demeura dans la ville extremement affligee nous sceumes mesmes alors que malgre l'interest qu'elle avoit en cette guerre une des premieres choses qu'elle dit en apprenant cette funeste nouvelle fut de s'ecrier en parlant au roy et presque les larmes aux yeux helas seigneur le pauvre artamene ne servira plus vostre majeste et je l'ay mal recompense du bon office qu'il me rendit lors qu'il vous sauva la vie pour feraulas et pour moy je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle fut nostre douleur et quel fut nostre desespoir mais encore que nous ne doutassions point que nostre cher maistre n'eust peri nous ne laissasmes pas d'accompagner le roy pour rendre du moins les derniers devoirs au corps d'un si grand et si genereux prince nous fusmes 
 donc avec ciaxare qui arriva en mesme temps que le roy de pont sur le champ de bataille mais les deux partis furent bien estonnez lors que s'en approchant ils virent artamene qui ayant repris de nouvelles forces a la veue du roy qu'il servoit s'estoit releve sur un genouil l'espee a la main aupres du trophee qu'il avoit dresse semblant se vouloir mettre en estat de le deffendre si quelqu'un eust voulu l'abatre mais entre tous ceux qui eurent de l'estonnement artane qui estoit mene victorieux par ceux de son party parut le plus estonne principalement quand il entendit qu'artamene faisant un effort pour hausser la voix en se tournant vers ciaxare luy dit seigneur vous avez vaincu et les dieux se sont servis de ma main pour vous donner la victoire le roy de pont entendant parler artamene de cette sorte luy dit que c'estoit luy qui l'avoit remportee puis qu'enfin il s'estoit trouve un des siens en estat de la luy annoncer n'estant pas mesme blesse il faut sans doute interrompit artamene que celuy que vous dites soit un lasche qui ait esvite la mort par la fuitte et qui bien loing d'avoir triomphe n'ait pas seulement combattu car s'il estoit vainqueur que ne m'a-t'il acheve et que ne m'a-t'il empescfie d'eslever ce trophee je t'ay laisse entre les morts luy respondit alors l'insolent artane et il y avoit long temps que tu estois hors de combat quand je suis party ha lasche imposteur luy cria artamene si je n'avois pas eu de plus redoutables ennemis que toy a combattre 
 la victoire que j'ay remportee ne m'auroit pas couste si cher ce vaillant guerrier que tu vois mort a mes peids dit il en monstrant pharnace est le dernier que j'ay veu debout et le seul qui m'a pense vaincre mais pour toy qui parois sans blessure dans un champ tout couvert de morts oses tu bien te vanter d'avoir triomphe a si bon marche l'estat ou tu es luy respondit l'insolent artane n'est guerer celuy d'un victorieux a ces mots artamene transporte de fureur ramassant toutes ses forces acheva de se lever et regardant artane avec une fierte qui faisoit peur et qui avoit pourtant quelque chose de divin viens luy dit il viens seulement toy qui te vantes de n'estre point blesse car tout foible que je suis tout couvert de playes et tout trempe de mon sang et de celuy de nos ennemis je ne laisseray pas de te soustenir que tu es un imposteur et qu'il est impossible que tu ayes combatu en disant cela il se mit en posture de l'attendre lors que le roy de phrigie qui estoit venu avec le roy de pont ravy de la generosite d'artamene luy cria qu'il n'estoit pas juste qu'un homme qui paroissoit si vaillant entreprist un nouveau combat en l'estat qu'il estoit mon maistre l'interrompant seigneur luy dit-il je n'ay peut estre pas assez de force pour vivre long temps mais j'en ay encore trop pour vaincre un ennemy si foible artane estoit si confondu qu'il estoit aise pas de sincerite en ses paroles cependant ciaxare ayant mis pied a terre aussi bien que les deux autres 
 rois fut embrasser artamene et commanda qu'on luy aidast a se soutenir de sorte que feraulas et moy nous approchasmes pour l'appuyer malgre qu'il en eust ciaxare dit alors que quand bien artamene seroit en estat de combattre il ne trouvoit pas qu'il le deust souffrir n'estant pas juste que le victorieux hazardast une seconde fois sa victoire a cet instant il se fit une contestation qui pensa porter les choses aux dernieres extremitez et sans doute si le roy de pont n'eust pas encore eu le bras en echarpe pour la blessure qu'il avoit receue dans la derniere bataille ce desordre eust este plus avant qu'il ne fut mais le roy de phrigie comme le moins interesse appaisa ce deux princes en quelque sorte et dit a ces rois ennemis qu'il faloit du temps pour bien examiner cette affaire qu'il faloit dire ses raisons de part et d'autre et ne faire rien inconsiderement les deux rois ayant consenty a ce que l'autre voulut ils se retirerent mais artamene demanda auparavant fort instamment que son trophee ne fust point abatu et qu'il fust permis a ciaxare d'y laisser des gardees ce qui luy fut accorde pendant toutes ces contestation comme j'avois bien preveu que quoy qu'il en arrivast il faudroit tousjours faire remporter artamene j'avois envoye a la ville pour avoir une lictiere la princesse l'ayant sceu envoya la sienne dont mon maistre comme vostre majeste peut juger ne luy fut pas mediocrement oblige tous ces princes estant donc partis apres avoir 
 donne l'ordre necessaire pour faire enterrer les morts sur le champ de bataille tant d'un coste que de l'autre avec de belles pompes funebres nous voulumes feraulas et moy mener artamene a une maison de la ville ou nous avions loge durant quelques jours mais ciaxare ne le voulut pas et le fit conduire dans le chasteau tous les medecins et tous les chirurgiens du roy furent au mesme instant dans sa chambre et apres avoir visite huit grandes blessures qu'il avoit et y avoir mis le premier appareil ils raporterent au roy qu'il n'y en avoit aucune qui fust absolument mortelle quoy qu'il y en eust deux assez dangereuses et qu'ainsi il faloit esperer de leurs soings du regime du malade et de la force de la nature un heureux succes a son mal la princesse envoya aussi plusieurs fois des ce premier soir la s'informer de l'estat ou estoit artamene ce qu'ayant entendu a la derniere quoy que celuy qu'elle envoyoit parlast fort bas les medecins ayant deffendu qu'on ne luy fist aucun bruit il l'appella et voulut recevoir luy mesme le compliment de la princesse apres qu'il l'eut receu il tourna foiblement la teste du coste de celuy qui luy avoit parle et haussant un coing d'un pavillon de drap d'or qui couvroit son lict vous direz luy dit il a la princesse que je luy demande pardon d'avoir si mal combatu ses ennemis et d'avoir remporte une victoire qui peut encore estre mise en doute si je meurs j'espere qu'elle me le pardonnera et si j'eschape j'espere aussi de reparer cette 
 faute par quelque action plus heureuse rendez-luy graces tres-humbles pour moy de l'honneur de son souvenir et l'asseurez que sa bonte n'a pas oblige une ame ingrate cependant la fievre luy prit si violente que je creus qu'il estoit perdu je ne vous scaurois exprimer quels furent les soings que ciaxare et la princesse sa fille eurent de luy si je ne vous dis que ciaxare fit pour artamene tout ce qu'il eust pu faire si mandane eust este malade et que mandane aussi ne fut guere moins soigneuse que si ciaxare eust este blesse apres que le peril ou nous avions veu artamene fut un peu diminue je ne pouvois pas m'empescher de penser assez souvent a la bizarrerie de son destin qui faisoit que ce mesme prince qui offroit des sacrifices pour remercier les dieux de sa mort estoit occupe avec tant d'empressement a luy conserver la vie nous eusmes enfin la satisfaction de voir que tant de soins ne furent pas inutiles et le vingtiesme jour les medecins respondirent de son falut et promirent mesme une guerison assez prompte a ses blessures aussi tost qu'il fut permis de le voir toute la cour et toute l'armee le visita aribee tout favory qu'il estoit y fut plusieurs fois philidaspe malgre cette ambitieuse jalousie que la valeur d'artamene luy donnoit ne manqua pas de luy rendre cette civilite et le roy qui le voyoit presque tous les jours y mena la princesse sa fille par deux fois cela fit un effet merveilleux en artamene estant certain qu'en fort peu de jours il parut un amendement 
 extraordinaire en ses blessures tant l'esprit a de pouvoit sur le corps je ne m'arreste point a vous dire quels furent leurs entretiens en ces deux visites de la princesse estant bien aise de s'imaginer que le mal et la valeur d'artamene furent tout le sujet de la conversation mais seigneur pour reprendre les choses de la guerre au point ou je les ay laissees je vous diray que tant que le mal d'artamene dura ce ne furent qu'ambassadeurs de part et d'autre pour convenir d'arbitres et pour chercher les voyes de terminer ce different le roy de pont le faisoit durer autant qu'il pouvoit esperant que pendant ce temps la le roy de phrigie pourroit estre esclaircy des desseins des lydiens et que selon cela il pourroit conclure la paix ou recommencer la guerre mais les choses furent tousjours si douteuses durant toute cette negociation qu'il sembla que les dieux eussent permis que cela arrivast ainsi afin de donner seulement le loisir a artamene de recouvrer la force et la sante pour acquerir une nouvelle gloire deux mois apres ses blessures il quitta la chambre pour aller remercier le roy et la princesse de la bonte qu'ils avoient eue pour luy et en suitte il rendit ses civilitez a toute la cour et fut mesme chez philidaspe
 
 
 
 
ce fut en ce temps ll seigneur qu'enfin les rois ennemis estant convenus de luges pour entendre les raisons de tous les deux partis l'on dressa une tente magnifique dans la mesme plaine ou s'estoit fait le combat et tout devant le trophee qu'artamene avoit dresse 
 quatre des plus grands seigneurs de capadoce et degalatie et autant de pont et de bythinie furent les arbitres de ce fameux different apres avoir fait le ferment necessaire pour oster toute crainte de preoccupation a leurs maistres les deux coins de cette tente estant retroussez par de gros cordons a houpes d'or laissoient voir trois superbes thrones egalement eslevez et plus bas un long siege couvert de pourpre pour placer ces juges de camp toutes choses estant donc preparees les rois de pont et de phrigie conduisirent artane pour soustenir sa pretendue victoire mais encore qu'il eust plus d'esprit que de valeur il fut pourtant avec beaucoup de repugnance a ce combat quoy qu'il ne deust pas estre sanglant artamene de son coste fut conduit par ciaxare quatre mille hommes des deux partis se rangerent a droit et a gauche et ces rois ayant pris leurs places selon leur rang les arbitres s'assirent a leurs pieds artamene et artane demeurant debout il se fit alors un fort grand silence mais seigneur je ne m'arresteray pas a vous redire mot a mot les harangues de ces deux nouveaux orateurs car il me seroit peut-estre impossible je vous diray donc seulement que celuy qui parla le premier fut artane et qu'encore qu'il eust beaucoup d'adresse son discours ne fit aucune impression mais au contraire celuy d'artamene estant appuye sur la verite estant prononce par un homme de qui la bonne mine gagnoit d'abord le coeur des auditeurs et de qui le 
 courage rendoit l'eloquence plus heroique et plus forte toucha mesme jusques au roy de pont qui n'admira pas moins l'esprit d'artamene que sa valeur a ces mots le roy d'hircanie prenant la parole ne pensez pas dit il sage chrisante nous priver absolument du plaisir de scavoir du moins le sens de ce qui fut dit en un playdoye si remarquable dont la cause estoit si extraordinaire dont les juges estoient subjets de ceux qui devoient estre jugez et qui par consequent donne tant de curiosite a ceux qui l'ignorent puis que vous voulez seigneur reprit chrisante je vous en rapporteray tout ce que ma memoire en aura pu conserver je vous ay ce me semble desja dit poursuivit il que le premier qui parla fut artane qui apres avoir fait une profonde reverence aux rois et aux juges commenca son discours a peu pres de cette sorte 
 
 
harangue d'artane
 
 
 comme il ne s'agit fus de nu gloire particuliere en cette occasion je ne m'arresteray point a exagerer a mes luges tout ce que je fis au combat ou je me trouvay et ce sera bien assez si je leur montre seulement que c'est mon party qui a vaincu et qui doit jouir du fruit de la victoire je pense si je ne me trompe que l'on ne peut pas mettre en doute que si j'ay 
 vaincu c'est pourquoy le plus important pour la justice de ma cause est de faire voir par des conjectures tres pressantes puis que tous les tesmoins de mes actions sont morts que si j'ay paru sans blessures a la fin du combat c'a este par une grace toute particuliere que les dieux m'ont faite et non pas par ma laschete imaginez vous o mes juges quelle apparence il y a qu'un combat de cette nature se faisant dans vue plaine toute descouverte je pusse avoir oze entreprendre de fuir et de me cacher n'y eust il pas eu plus de peril a cette fuitte qu'a combattre puis que si elle eust este apperceue des ennemis j'aurois infailliblement este poursuivy et que si elle l'eust este des amis j'estois expose a leur vangeance et a toutes les punitions d'un lasche deserteur qui trahit son roy et sa patrie ainsi j'eusse attire contre moy les amis ou les ennemis ou peut estre tous les deux ensemble et je me fusse jette dans un danger bien plus grand que si je fusse demeure parmy ceux qui combatoient au reste seigneur vous scavez que l on n'a force personne de se trouver en ce combat de sorte qu'il est ce me semble a croire que si je ne me fusse pas senti le coeur de m'exposer a une semblable occasion je ne m'y serois pas engage tout le pont et toute la bithinie n'ont pas combatu en cette journee et tous les braves gens de l'un et de l'autre royaume n'ont pas este employez en cette action si bien qu'il m'eust este aise de faire sans honte ce que cent mille autres ont fait j'eusse pu comme eux tesmoigner de desirer le combat et pourtant ne combatre point enfin comme la peur est ingenieuse elle auroit en assez d'adresse pour me fournir les moyens de ne me trouver pas en une semblable rencontre je 
 pense donc qu'il suffira de dire a toute personne raisonnable et desinteressee que je me suis trouve au champ de bataille pour prouver que j'ay combatu et que puis que j'ay combatu j'ay gagne la victoire estant hors de doute qu'elle appartient a celuy qui demeure les armes a la main et en estat d'oster la vie a son ennemi or seigneurs aucun n'ignore qu'artamene n'ait este plus malheureux que moy et les rois qui m'escoutent scavent bien qu'ils ne voulurent pas qu'il combatist en l'estat qu'il estoit c'est a dire tout couvert de sang et blessures et si foible que l'on peut assurer que son courage soutenoit plustost son espee que son bras je scay bien que cette grande inegalite qui parut entre nous a quelque chose d'extraordinaire et qu'il y a lieu de s'estonner de voir que de quatre cens qui ont combatu il n'en soit demeure que deux vivans dont l'un ait este veu blesse en tant de lieux et l'autre aussi sain que s'il n'eust pas seulement veu les ennemis mais outre comme je l'ay desja dit que les dieux sont des miracles quand il leur plaist depuis quand est-ce que les blessures sont des marques infaillibles de la victoire et si cela est pourquoy nos maistres nous apprennent-ils avec tant de soin a esviter les coups qu'on nous porte il faut si la chose est ainsi ne porter plus de boucliers aller a la guerre sans armes deffensives et n'attaquer mesme nos ennemis que pour les obliger a nous couvrir de playes et de sang enfin seigneurs les blessures sont aussi souvent des marques de la foiblesse de ceux qui les recoivent que de leur grand coeur et si pour se vanter d'estre victorieux il faloit estre necessairement le plus blesse les foibles les mal-adroits et malheureux auroient 
 bien de l'avantage sur les forts sur les adroits et sur les heureux dans un combat particulier une petite egratigneure est comptee pour un desavantage et l'on veut en celuy-cy que de grandes blessures soient des preuves suffisantes de la victoire de celuy qui les a receues je scay bien que c'est vue marque indubitable qu'il s'est trouve dans le peril mais c'en est une aussi certaine que sa valeur ne le luy a pas fait esviter que l'on ne me die donc plus que ses playes parlent pour luy puis qu'au contraire si l'on entend bien leur langage elles ne parlent que de sa deffaite et de mon triomphe car pour ce trophee quil a esleve pendant mon absence il ne luy estoit pas difficile de le faire puis qu'il estoit seul et c'est un mauvais artifice que la honte d'avoir este vaincu et le desir de la vie luy ont inspire mais apres tout seigneurs supposons que je n'aye pas combatu que j'aye fui et que je me sois cache des le commencement du combat ou est ce grand advantage qu'il en pretend il est vray que j'en meriterois punition mais il n'est pas vray qu'il en meritast beaucoup de louange puis qu'enfin il y auroit eu inegalite dans le combat y ayant deux cens hommes d'un coste et un homme moins de l'autre ainsi veu l'estat ou l'on l'a trouve il est aise de connaistre qu'un homme de plus dans mon party aurois facilement acheve de le vaincre et de le tuer qu'il die luy mesme s'il m'a veu fuir s'il m'a veu cacher et si cela est je douteray peut-estre de ma victoire et je croiray autant a ses yeux qu'a ma propre valeur mais si mon ennemy ne dit autre chose contre moy sinon qu'il ne m'a point vu combattre et que je ne suis pas blesse je demande que l'on n'escoute point ses mauvaises raisons et que 
 l'on recoive les miennes qui sont bonnes car enfin si j'ay combatu j'ay vaincu et il paroist assez que j'ay combatu puis que je me suis trouve au lieu du combat et m'y suis trouve volontairement de plus quand je ne l'aurois pas fait il ne devroit pas pour cela estre declare vainqueur puis que ce ne seroit pas avoir vaincu legitimement que d'avoir combatu avec inegalite ainsi seigneurs ne deliberez pas plus long temps sur ce que vous avez a prononcer je ne m'oppose point a la gloire d'artamene concedons luy qu'il a bien fait son devoir que ses blessures sont plustost des marques de son grand coeur que de sa faiblesse et disons seulement que personne ne deposant contre moy non pas mesme mou ennemy qui ne peut rien dire a mon prejudice sinon qu'il ne m'a point veu combattre luy qui peut-estre des le commencement du combat n'estoit plus en estat de rien voir je merite que l'on m'adjuge la victoire car s'il ne m'a point veu il est a croire comme je le dis que c'est que la perte du sang luy avoit oste l'usage de la veue mais pour moy a qui la bonte des dieux et ma valeur ont laisse la veue le sang et la force je l'ay veu combattre je l'ay veu blesse et vous l'avez veu presque mort aupres de ce trophee imaginaire apres cela seigneurs je n'ay plus rien a dire ne voulant pas differer plus long temps l'heure de mon triomphe et la gloire de mon party 
 
 
artane ayant cesse de parler il s'esleva dans toute l'assemblee un bruit confus sans acclamations par lequel il estoit aise de comprendre que le monde n'estoit guere persuade de son discours artamene m'a dit depuis qu'il n'eut jamais tant 
 de peine en sa vie qu'il en eut a le souffrir neantmoins il se resolut d'y respondre sans s'emporter et la foiblesse de cet homme faisant succeder la pitie a la colere qu'il ne luy dit point d'injures que celles qui estoient absolument necessaires pour la deffense de sa valeur et pour l'advantage de sa cause apres donc que ce murmure qui s'estoit esleve dans cette illustre compagnie fut entierement appaise et qu'artamene eut fait une reverence de fort bonne grace aux rois et a ses juges tout le monde se pressa pour escouter et par une attention extraordinaire il se fit un si grand silence qu'il se vit oblige de l'interrompre en commencant son discours par ces mesmes paroles si ma memoire ne me trompe
 
 
 harangue d'artamene 
 
 
 la victoire est un si grand bien et la laschete un si grand mal que je ne m'estonne pas qu'il se trouve un homme qui veuille remporter les honneurs de la premiere sans l'avoir gagnee et des-advouer l'autre quoy qu'effectivement elle soit en luy le desir de la gloire naist avec nous et la crainte de l'infamie n'abandonne pas mesme les plus lasches et les plus criminels je ne suis donc point estonne de voir qu'artane veuille triompher sans avoir combatu mais je suis fort surpris de voir qu'ayant plus d'esprit que de coeur il n'ait pas rendu son me songe plus vray-semblable par son discours qu'il n'ait un peu plus 
 particularise la grandes choses qu'il doit avoir faites pour pouvoir sortir d'un pareil combat sans blessure il devoit du moins nous dire quel est le dieu qui l'a conserve car pour moy je scay bien que la valeur d'un homme ne pourroit pas faire voir une chose si prodigieuse il devoit en suitte nous apprendre par quelle autre divinite il s'est rendu invisible a mes yeux lors qu'apres estre demeure seul contre trois je n'ay veu personne a l'entour de moy que ceux que je dis eux que le sort a fait succomber en cette occasion plustost que ma force ny que mon adresse je scay bien qu'artane n'estoit pas un de ces trois je scay bien encore que le vaillant pharnace est demeure de bout le dernier qu'il m'a opinastrement dispute la victoire et que s'il eust este seconde par un homme qui n'eust pas este blesse comme artane il luy eust este aise de me vaincre puis que tout affoibly qu'il estoit il s'en est si peu falu qu'il n'ait vaincu je scay bien que les blessures ne sont pas des marques infaillibles de l'advantage d'un combat mais je scay bien mieux encore que ce n'est pas prouver d'avoir combatu que de se vanter de n'estre pas blesse il faut du moins estre couvert du sang de ses ennemis si l'on ne l'est pas du sien mais pour artane il sort de ce combat comme il sortiroit d'un simple combat de galanterie ou les victoires sanglantes auroient este deffendues j'advoue que je ne puis rien dire de particulier contre luy je ne scay ny comment il a fui ny comment il s'est cache ny comment il a disparu je scay seulement que je ne l'ay point veu combattre et cela suffit pour luy pouvoir soustenir qu'il ne peut avoir vaincu il est sans doute des crimes d'une autre nature et dont l'en ne peut convaincre 
 ceux qui en sont accusez qu'en leur soutenant qu'on leur a veu attendre un homme pour l'assassiner qu'on le leur a veu tuer au coing d'un bois qu'on leur a veu hausser le bras et enfoncer leur espee dans je coeur de leur ennemi enfin il faut avoir veu bien des choses et ceux qui n'ont rien veu de tout cela justifient les accusez bien plus tost qu'ils ne les convainquent mais en l'occasion qui presente il en va tout autrement car disant que je n'ay point veu artane je dis tout ce que l'on peut dire centre luy et je l'accuse d'un crime dont il ne peut se justifier qu'en faisant advouer a artamene qu'il l'a veu qu'il l'a combatu et qu'il la vaincu ce qui a mon advis ne luy sera pas fort facile au reste comme il se fie pas trop aux exploits qu'il a faits pour remporter cette fameuse victoire il ose encore dire que quand il auroit fui je n'aurois pas vaincu puis que j'aurois combatu avec inegalite mais seigneurs ou trouve-t'il des loix qui authorisent son discours quand l'on commence un combat comme celuy dont il est question il faut sans doute que le nombre des combatans soit esgal et que les armes soient semblables mais des que ce combat est commence chacun peut profiter de tous les avantages que la fortune luy presente ou que ses ennemis luy laissent prendre qu'importe donc si un soldat est hors de combat par sa mort ou par sa laschete s'il suit il est aussi bien vaincu que s'il estoit mort ou prisonnier et celuy qui ne s'oppose a la victoire de ses ennemis qu'en fuyant qui ne sauve sa vie qu'en ne l'exposant pas est indigne pretendre aucune part a la gloire du triomphe si celle d'une semblable action consistoit a sauver 
 sa vie j'advoue qu'artane ayant si bien conserve la sienne auroit quelque sujet de dire qu'il auroit mieux agi que moy qui n'ay pas si bien mesnage la mienne mais la victoire consistant icy en la mort de ses ennemis il n'aura pas sans doute l'audace de dire qu'il l'a remportee puis que tous ceux qui m'escoutent scavent que l'on m'a trouve les armes a la main et qu'il n'a pas tenu a moy que je n'aye deffendu mon droit contre luy or seigneurs pour vous faire voir que bien qu'artane ait paru invulnerable dans un combat ou tous ceux qui l'ont fait ont perdu la vie je ne crains ny sa valeur ny son adresse je vous demande pour grace de me permettre de le combattre en champ clos et en presence des rois qui m'escoutent car si l'on m'accorde ce que je demande ce qu'il n'a pas demande et ce que l'on ne peut equitablement me refuser je suis asseure qu'il ne disparoistra plus a mes yeux et que je vous en rendray bon compte je scay bien que c'est en quelque facon faire tort a l'equite de ma cause et a l'illustre roy de qui j'ay l'honneur de soutenir les interests que de remettre la chose en doute mais apres tout puis qu'elle doit estre jugee par vous je ne pense pas que vous en puisiez estre aussi bien instruits par les paroles d'artane que par ses actions et par les miennes joint qu'a dire les choses comme elles sont j'aurois quelque peine a me resoudre de conserver par mon eloquence ce que sans vanite j'ay acquis par ma valeur et l'esclat de cette victoire est trop grand pour qu'il n'en couste pas une goutte de sang au vaillant artane il faut seigneurs il faut qu'a la veue de tous ceux qui m'escoutent je luy fasse advouer la verite de la chose ou qu'il m'arrache la vie puis que deux cens hommes 
 ne l'ont peu blesser il n'en doit pas craindre un tout seul et un encore dont les forces sont diminuees de beaucoup par ces grandes blessures qu'il luy a tant reprochees je l'assure toutefois qu'il ne me vaincra pas sans gloire et que je feray tout ce qui me sera possible pour luy en faire trouver en ma deffaite tant y a seigneurs que s'il a combatu comme il le dit il ne doit pas craindre de combattre encore et s'il n'a pas combatu comme je le soustiens je veux bien me retracter de ce que j'ay avance et tomber d'accord que je ne dois point triompher que je ne l'aye vaincu je ne vous demande donc plus o mes juges le gain de ma cause mais seulement la permission de combattre aussi bien ne pourriez vous juger vos maistres qu'en tremblant quoy que vous pussiez dire et faire il y auroit tousjours quelqu'un qui se plaindroit au lieu que lors que par la propre bouche d'artane je vous feray entendre la verite vous pourrez prononcer hardiment sans craindre de faire une injustice et sans que personne vous en accuse ne me refusez donc pas je vous en conjure puis que je ne vous demande rien que d'equitable au reste qu'artane ne s'amuse pas a s'opposer a ce que je veux par l'esperance de s'epargner un combat puis que quand on me l'auroit refuse et que l'on m'auroit mesme fait justice il ne luy seroit pas aise de l'eviter il vaut donc mieux qu'il s'y resolue de bonne grace et qu'il tesmoigne du moins en cette rencontre que s'il a eu de la laschete en l'occasion qui s'est presentee c'est qu'il a creu qu'il valoit mieux derober la victoire que la hazarder mais aujourd'huy qu'elle luy est disputee et qu'il s'agit de son honneur en particulier il faut que ce brave se resolue a ce que je vous demande 
 et a ce que je vous suplie de luy ordonner je luy donne le choix des armes et luy promets de plus de n'abuser pas de ma victoire je la remporte pourveu qu'il soit plus ingenu sous mes pieds qu'il ne le paroist devant des thrones si venerables et devant un tribunal qu'il ne pas redouter c'est a vous seigneurs a prononcer l'arrest favorable que j'attens de vostre equite et a ne me refuser pas la seule voye qui vous peut montrer la venite telle qu'elle est et telle que je l'ay raportee 
 
 
artamene n'eut pas si tost acheve de parler qu'il se fit un bruit extremement grand dans toute cette assemblee mais avec cette difference entre le premier qui s'estoit esleve a la fin du discours d'artane et ce dernier qu'en celuy-la l'on n'avoit entendu que des murmures et des doutes et qu'en celuy cy l'on n'entendit que des exclamations et des louanges qui sembloient demander aux dieux aux rois et aux juges la victoire pour artamene ceux mesme du party ennemy ne pouvoient s'empescher de le louer tant il est vray que la vertu a de charmes et que la verite est puissante artane voulut respondre quelque chose pour s'opposer a ce combat mais on luy imposa silence par des cris et par des injures sans que personne voulust seulement l'escouter toutefois les rois n'estoient pas bien aises de la proposition qu'artamene avoit faite ciaxare estant fasche d'exposer de nouveau la vie d'un homme si illustre et le roy de pont n'estant nullement satisfait que sa cause fust entre les mains d'artane dont 
 il n'avoit pas fort bonne opinion cependant les juges s'estant levez et s'estant assemblez pour examiner tout bas la chose entre eux philidaspe qui avoit este present a tout ce qui venoit d'estre fait et qui estoit au desespoir de voir tous les jours acquerir une nouvelle gloire a artamene s'approcha de ciaxare et le suplia de considerer le peu de temps qu'il y avoit qu'artamene avoit quitte le lict et la chambre qu'ainsi s'il luy vouloit faire l'honneur de souffrir que ce fust luy qui combatist artane en cas que les juges permissent ce second combat il luy en seroit eternellement oblige philidaspe ne put parler si bas qu'artamene qui l'observoit tousjours sans scavoir precisement pourquoy n'en entendist quelque chose si bien qu'ayant peur qu'il n'obtinst ce qu'il demandoit il s'approcha du roy de capadoce a son tour avec beaucoup de respect et luy adressant la parole seigneur luy dit il n'escoutez pas la priere de philidaspe puis qu'elle est egalement injurieuse et a sa valeur et a la mienne comment l'entendez vous reprit le jeune inconnu l'entens luy repliqua artamene qu'un homme comme philidaspe ne doit pas demander a combattre un lasche sans y estre force comme moy et que c'est aussi me faire un outrage que de croire que j'aye besoin de toutes mes forces pour vaincre un pareil ennemy quand artane seroit artamene repliqua brusquement philidaspe je demanderois ce que je demande et quand artane seroit philidaspe repliqua mon maistre 
 je ne cederois pas ma place a un autre ciaxare voyant que cette contestation pouvoit aller trop avant les embrassa et louant leur zele et leur courage les fit embrasser eux mesmes a l'instant ce prince dit a philidaspe qu'il n'estoit pas juge en sa propre cause a artamene qu'il devoit scavoir bon gre a philidaspe de ce qu'il avoit voulu faire et les conjura tous deux d'attendre en repos j'arrest que l'on alloit prononcer cependant les juges furent long temps a deliberer sur ce qu'il avoient a resoudre car encore qu'l n'y en eust pas un qui ne connust distinctement qu'il y avoit de la fourbe du coste d'artane toutefois comme il se deffendoit opiniastrement et que la chose n'avoit point eu de tesmoins ils se trouvoient fort embarrassez ceux du coste de ciaxare ne pouvoient pas condamner leur prince eux qui connoissant artamene ne doutoient point du tout qu'il n'eust vaincu et les autres quoy que persuadez de la mesme chose n'osoient pourtant condamner le roy de pont parce que ce qu'ils croyoient n'estoit fonde que sur des conjectures ainsi apres avoir bien examine cette affaire ils permirent le combat a artamene et ordonnerent que celuy qui feroit advouer a son ennemy qu'il auroit este vaincu seroit estime le victorieux et que s'il arrivoit qu'il en mourust un sans pouvoir parler l'on expliqueroit la chose a l'avantage de celuy qui l'auroit tue que ce duel se feroit en champ clos comme artamene l'avoit desire et en la presence des rois ennemis cet arrest estant prononce 
 artamene en tesmoigna une extreme joye et en remercia ses juges d'une facon qui sembloit luy presager la victoire il n'en fut pas ainsi d'artane qui s'en plaignit et aux juges et au roy son maistre car nous avons sceu depuis que comme ce prince est tres brave il le mal-traitta assez et luy dit mesme assez rudement que s'il avoit effectivement vaincu il vaincroit encore mais que s'il estoit un lasche comme il commencoit de le soubconner il seroit bien aise de le voir puny par la main d'artamene adjoustant a ce discours qu'il se consoleroit de la perte de cerasie par la joye quil auroit de la sienne en effet nous sceusmes que ce prince le fit observer avec tant de soing qu'il fut impossible a ce lasche d'eviter ce combat par sa fuite comme il eust fait infailliblement s'il en eust pu trouver les moyens pour ciaxare il ne fut fasche de la chose que parce qu'enfin c'estoit tousjours en quelque facon exposer la vie d'un homme si illustre que de l'engager dans un nouveau peril n'y ayant point de si foible ennemy qui ne puisse quelquefois par un malheur blesser dangereusement le plus vaillant homme du monde cependant le temps du combat ayant este remis a quatre jours de la chacun se retira dans sa ville aupres de laquelle comme je l'ay dit les rois avoient fait camper leurs armees ciaxare ne fut pas plustost arrive dans anise qu'il fut a l'apartement de la princesse accompagne d'aribee d'artamene de philidaspe et de beaucoup d'autres comme il luy aprit ce 
 qui avoit este resolu quoy seigneur luy dit elle est-il juste de vaincre deux fois un mesme ennemy et n'acheterez vous point trop cher la conqueste de cerasie si elle couste encore quelques gouttes de sang a artamene pour moy je vous advoue ma foiblesse poursuivit elle en portant la main sur ses yeux pour cacher la rougeur qui luy estoit montee au visage je ne puis entendre parler de combats sans emotion et sans repugnance principalement lors qu'il s'agit d'exposer la vie d'un homme qui a defendu la vostre je suis trop glorieux madame interrompit artamene que vous me faciez l'honneur de prendre quelque soin d'une chose qui ne peut jamais estre plus avantageusement exposee que pour le service du roy mais madame ne craignez rien pour moy en ce combat et pleignez moy plustost d'avoir un si foible ennemy il n'a pas tenu a philidaspe dit alors aribee a la princesse qu'artamene ne se soit pas expose a ce danger puis qu'il a fait tout ce qu'il a pu pour l'en exempter et pour pouvoir combattre au lieu de luy il est vray madame poursuivit philidaspe que j'avois eu la hardiesse d'en supplier le roy mais il ne m'en a pas juge digne ce n'est pas par cette raison respondit ciaxare mais c'est parce qu'il n'eust pas este juste et c'est aussi adjousta mon maistre parce qu'artamene ne l'eust pu souffrir et qu'il n'a guere accoustume de ceder sa place a un autre le roy qui eut peur que ces deux braves estrangers ne s'aigrissent tout de nouveau changea de discours 
 et apres avoir encore este quelque temps chez la princesse il la quitta et emmena avec luy tous ceux qui l'avoient suivy chez mandane cependant comme l'amour n'abandonnoit point artamene qu'il ne voyoit jamais la princesse qu'il n'en remarquast toutes les actions avec une exactitude estrange et qu'il ne s'en entretinst avec feraulas ou avec moy il nous demanda quand il fut retire dans sa chambre ce que nous pensions de cette rougeur qui avoit paru sur le visage de mandane lors qu'elle avoit parle de luy et de l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour les combats est-ce nous disoit-il un simple effet de cette humeur douce et tranquile qui luy fait avoir de la repugnance pour la guerre et pour le sang ou ne seroit-ce point que le service que j'ay rendu au roy son pere eust insensiblement engage son esprit dans quelque legere disposition a ne me hair pas mais helas poursuivoit-il un moment apres et sans nous donner le loisir de luy respondre n'est-ce point aussi que ces paroles obligeantes qu'elle a prononcees en ma faveur luy ont donne de la honte et du repentir lors qu'elle s'en est apperceue n'est-ce point dis-je une marque infaillible que son coeur a desadvoue sa bouche et ne scaurois-je deviner precisement la veritable cause de cette aimable rougeur qui me l'a fait paroistre si belle et qui luy a adjouste de nouveaux charmes ne me flatez point mon cher feraulas luy disoit-il qu'en pensez vous qu'en dois-je croire seigneur luy dit il je ne voy rien en cette rougeur 
 qui ne vous soit advantageux car quand ce ne seroit qu'un simple effet de pitie ce seroit tousjours avoir sujet d'esperer que plus facilement vous pourrez toucher son coeur lors qu'elle scaura les maux que vous aurez souffers pour elle ha feraulas s'ecria-t'il qui sera-ce qui les y fera scavoir cyrus n'osant pas sortir du tombeau ne les y aprendra jamais et artamene quine paroist estre qu'un simple chevalier en pourroit-il concevoir la temeraire pensee sans folie et sans extravagance enfin seigneur a vous parler sincerement artamene songeoit bien plus a la princesse qu'a artane ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust tous les soings qu'il faloit avoit pour le combat qu'il devoit faire mais c'est qu'en effet en pensant a toute autre chose il pensoit encore a mandane et l'amour qui fait bien d'autres miracles luy avoit donne ce privilege de pouvoir parler de guerre d'affaires de nouvelles de complimens et de toutes sortes de choses sans abandonner jamais entierement le cher souvenir de sa princesse cependant le jour du combat estant arrive il fut prendre conge d'elle avec une joye sur le visage qui devoit l'assurer de son triomphe je viens madame luy dit il vous demander des armes pour combattre artane je voudrois bien luy respondit elle fort obligeamment mais avec un peu plus de melancolie qu'il n'en avoit avoir trouve les moyens de vous rendre absolument invincible vous le pouvez aisement madame adjousta t'il me faisant seulement l'honneur de recevoir favorablement 
 les services que je veux rendre au roy et a vous et me faisant simplement la grace de me desirer la victoire car si j'obtiens cette faveur quand artane seroit le plus vaillant homme du monde ce que je suis bien asseure qu'il n'est pas je le vaincrois infailliblement s'il ne faut que de sa reconnoissance pour vos services repliqua la princesse et pour des voeux vous faire triompher allez artamene allez et ne craignez pas d'estre vaincu apres cela la princesse comme si elle n'eust pu souffrir davantage cette conversation le congedia d'une maniere fort civile et fort obligeante et artamene s'en alla retrouver le roy qui estoit prest a partir ciaxare ne fut suivy que de deux mille hommes non plus que l'autre fois et les rois de pont et de phrigie se rendirent aussi avec pareil nombre de gens dans cette mesme plaine et au mesme lieu ou les juges avoient prononce leur arrest c'est a dire a la veue du trophee d'artamene l'on y avoit dresse des barrieres qui formoient un quarre plus long que large de grandeur assez raisonnable pour y pouvoir faire un combat artane qui se trouvoit assez embarrasse de son espee ne voulut point avoir d'autres armes offensives et s'imagina que moins son ennemy en auroit moins il seroit expose ils n'avoient donc chacun que l'espee et le bouclier aux deux bouts du champ il y avoit deux eschaffaux dressez pour les rois ennemis et a un des costez il y en avoit un autre ou estoient les juges les quatre mille hommes de 
 guerre estoient placez partie derriere les eschaffaux des rois et partie a l'autre face du champ de bataille sans se mesler toutefois les uns parmy les autres chacun demeurant sous ses enseignes mais si bien rangez que presque tout le monde pouvoit voir aux deux bouts des lices il y avoit deux entrees et ce fut par ces deux endroits opposez qu'artamene et artane entrerent en mesme temps et commencerent de faire prevoir l'evenement du combat par leur differente contenance artane avoit voulu se battre a cheval se confiant plus en la vigueur et en l'adresse de celuy qu'il devoit monter qu'en sa force et en son courage mais il ne scavoit pas que plus un cheval est vigoureux moins il rend de service a celuy qui perdant le jugement par la crainte ne le scait plus conduire comme il faut ny luy faire les chastimens a propos artane parut donc avec des armes tres magnifiques et sur un cheval blanc si beau si bien fait si noble et si plein de fierte que d'abord il attira les yeux de tout le monde il avoit l'action vive et superbe et frapant du pied secouant son crin blanchissant son mors d'escume et hanissant avec violence en entrant dans la carriere il sembloit avoir impatience de porter son maistre vers son ennemy mais seigneur si le cheval d'artane attira l'admiration de tout le monde la mauvaise posture de celuy qui le montoit donna de l'aversion et de la pitie le moindre mouvement du cheval l'esbranloit et l'on voyoit qu'il ne songeoit qu'a l'empescher d'avancer vers son ennemy 
 comme s'il eust eu peur d'estre trop tost attaque pour artamene il n'en alla pas ainsi car encore qu'il fust monte sur un cheval noir extremement beau ce fut directement a sa personne que furent toutes les aclamations bien que ce jour la il n'eust voulu prendre que des armes toutes simples comme ayant quelque honte de combattre un si foible adversaire son corps estoit bien plante sa contenance estoit assuree il portoit ses jambes si admirablement et paroissoit si bien estre maistre absolu du cheval qu'il montoit qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il s'en scauroit bien servir comme en effet les ceremonies ordinaires en pareilles occasions ne furent pas plustost achevees et le signal fut a peine donne par les trompettes que partant de la main et poussant son cheval a toute bride il fut contre artane en haussant le bras avec une impetuosite estrange sans songer presque a se servir de son bouclier tant il craignoit peu ce foible ennemy pour artane qui ne scavoit ce qu'il faisoit il arriva que laschant trop la bride a son cheval et puis voulant le retenir tout d'un coup il fit qu'il se jetta a coste par un grand bond et que secouant la teste fierement et se cabrant a demy il emporta en suitte son maistre a l'autre bout du champ sans qu'artamene le peust joindre ce prince marry de l'avoir manque achevant prestement sa passade et faisant prendre la demy volte au sien fondit sur artane qui a peine s'estoit raffermy dans la selle il le poussa alors et luy dechargea un grand coup 
 d'espee qui glissant sur son casque luy tomba sur l'espaule droite et en fit jalir le sang jusques sur sa cotte d'armes artamene redoubla encore artane para le mieux qu'il put et sans oser attaquer un si redoutable ennemy il se contenta de se tenir sur la deffensive esperant tousjours que le cheval d'artamene se lasseroit plustost que le sien ou qu'il luy arriveroit quelqu'autre accident qui le sauveroit cependant artamene n'estoit pas sans quelque inquietude car il voyoit bien qu'il luy estoit for aise de tuer artane s'il vouloit employer toute sa force mais son esprit ne se contentoit pas de cette espece de victoire et il vouloit avoit la satisfaction d'ouir de la bouche de son ennemy l'adveu de la verite il le combatit donc et l'espargna tout a la fois mais malgre cet advantage qu'artamene donnoit a artane ce miserable n'eut jamais la force de s'en prevaloir il fut blesse en quatre endroits sans qu'il portast jamais un seul coup d'espee a mon maistre et comme si son cheval eust este las de porter ce honteux fardeau l'on voyoit qu'il avoit dessein de s'en decharger comme en effet mon maistre ayant quelque confusion de voir ce lasche si long temps devant luy et voulant le traiter avec mepris luy dechargea un si grand coup de plat d'espee qu'il l'estourdit et le fit tomber sur le col de son cheval qui prenant son temps se deroba de dessous luy et le renversa demy mort sur la poussiere son casque en tombant s'osta de sa teste son espee luy echapa de la main et il ne luy demeura que son bouclier 
 dont se servoit bien mieux que de tout le reste de ses armes aussi tost artamene descendit de cheval et courant a luy l'espee haute advoueras tu luy dit il indigne ennemy que tu es ce que tu scais de ma premiere victoire j'advoueray tout luy respondit ce miserable en se couvrant de son bouchlier pourveu que vous me promettiez la vie il y auroit trop peu d'honneur a te l'oster luy respondit mon maistre en luy mettant le pied sur la gorge pour ne te l'accorder pas mais songe a ne mentir pas devant nos juges car enfin rien ne te scauroit derober a ma vangeance si tu ne dis la verite toute pure les juges estant alors descendus de leur eschaffaut furent dans la lice trouver artamene qui les voyant aprocher venez leur dit il venez aprendre la verite de la bouche mesme de mon ennemy parle donc luy dit il si tu veux vivre et ne differe pas davantage ma justification alors le malheureux artane presse de quelque remords et beaucoup plus de la crainte de mourri raconta en peu de paroles la verite de la chose disant seulement pour son excuse qu'ayant bien connu veu la maniere dont on combatoit que la victoire seroit si opinastrement disputee qu'aparemment tout y periroit il avoit voulu tascher d'avoir par la ruse ce qu'il ne pouvoit avoir par la force mais enfin il advoua qu'artamene estoit demeure luy quinziesme contre quarante qu'en suitte il avoit combattu dix contre dix qu'apres il s'estoit veu luy septiesme contre ces dix encore luy seul contre 
 trois de nouveau luy seul contre deux et puis luy seul contre pharnace bref il dit tout ce qu'il scavoit et la peur de la mort fut plus forte en luy que celle de l'infamie il est vray qu'apres s'estre si mal battu il ne devoit plus craindre de se deshonorer l'estant presque desja autant qu'on le pouvoit estre les juges ayant entendu tout ce qu'artane avoit a dire prierent mon maistre de se contenter de ce qu'il avoit advoue et de le vouloir laisser relever et vivre qu'il se releve et qu'il vive respondit artamene en remettant son espee au fourreau mais qu'il tasche de vivre en homme d'honneur et de ne faire plus d'actions si lasches les juges alors n'eurent plus de contestation et tous tomberent d'accord que mon maistre avoit este et estoit victorieux declarant que cerasie appartenoit au roy de capadoce et ordonnant que le trophee d'artamene demeureroit et seroit dresse a loisir avec plus d'art ce qui fut execute le roy de pont receut cette nouvelle en prince qui avoit du coeur et de la sagesse et il tesmoigna plus de ressentiment de la mauvaise action d'artane que de la perte de cerasie pour ciaxare il receut artamene avec des caresses extraordinaires ce qui ne fut sans doute guere agreable ny a ariblee ny a philidaspe qui estoient presens a cette action pour artance comme il estoit de grande condition malgre la colere du roy de pont quelques uns de ses parens ne laisserent pas de l'oster de la et d'en avoir soing mais le roy de pont leur dit que s'il guerissoit 
 de ses blessures il ne le vouloit plus voir lors que les juges eurent les uns et les autres adverty leurs maistres de ce qu'ils avoient resolu les deux rois ennemis et le roy de phrigie se virent et s'embrasserent pour la seconde fois celuy de pont dit a ciaxare qu'il s'en retourneroit dans son armee et que le lendemain il decamperoit de devant cerasie et s'en reculeroit d'une journee afin de l'en laisser prendre possession il dit en suitte au roy de capadoce qu'il l'estimoit bien plus heureux d'avoir aquis l'amitie d'artamene que d'avoir recouvre une ville et que pour luy il donneroit tousjours volontiers la moitie de ses estats pour aquerir un simple soldat aussi vaillant que mon maistre artamene se trouva aupres de ciaxare lors qu'il receut ce compliment ou il respondit avec beaucoup de civilite quoy que tout ce qui venoit de la part d'un amant de mandane ne luy fust guere agreable cependant les rois se separerent et ciaxare s'en retourna dans anise tout le peuple sortit de la ville pour le recevoir toute l'armee parut en bataille la princesse mesme qui avoit este advertie de ce qui s'estoit passe par un homme que le roy luy avoit envoye en diligence et qui en avoient averty le camp et le peuple vint au devant du roy jusques a la porte du chasteau ou ciaxare luy presenta artamene qu'elle receut de fort bonne grace et avec beaucoup de joye mais comme elle voulut luy tesmoigner la satisfaction qu'elle avoit de le voir sorty d'une occasion dangereuse ne la 
 nommez pas ainsi madame luy dit il en rougissant et ne me faites pas ce tort de croire que j'aye este fort expose en ce combat l'honneur que vous m'aviez fait de m'assurer de faire des voeux pour ma victoire a este plus loing que je ne voulois puis qu'enfin ces voeux et ces prieres m'ont fait vaincre sans peril j'e ne scay pas luy respondit la princesse si vous avez vaincu sans peril mais je scay bien que vous n'avez pas viancu sans gloire ils dirent encore beaucoup d'autres choses qui seroient trop longues a raconter et ciaxare pour reconnoistre en quelque facon les services d'artamene luy donna non seulement le gouvernement de cerasie qu'il avoit conquise et de la quelle il croyoit entrer en possession un jour apres mais encore celuy d'anise et de tout le pais qui l'environne qui vaquoit par la mort e son gouverneur estant bien juste dit le roy qu'artamene jouisse de ce qu'il a ganne et de ce qu'il m'a empesche de perdre aribee n'osa pas s'opposer directement a ce bien-fait de ciaxare car les services d'artamene estoient trop considerables pour cela il avoit fait des merveilles a la bataille il avoit sauve la vie du roy il avoit remporte plusieurs advantages sur ses ennemis il avoit vaincu par un prodige dans le combat des deux cens hommes qui devoient terminer la guerre et il venoit d'achever de conclurre la paix par une victoire particuliere mais encore qu'aribee ne s'opposast pas absolument a cette reconnoissance comme la nouvelle faveur de mon maistre faisoit 
 quelque ombre a la sienne et que de plus il estoit fasche de le voir devancer philidaspe il dit toutefois tout bas au roy comme nous l'avons sceu depuis qu'il y avoit quelque danger de confier deux places frontieres a un inconnu et qu'il vaudroit mieux luy donner de plus grandes recompenses pourveu que ce fust au milieu de l'estat mais quoy qu'il peust dire et quoy qu'il peust faire il ne put rien changer au dessein du roy ce prince voulut aussi que suivant ce qu'avoient prononce les juges il demeurast un monument eternel de la victoire d'artamene au mesme lieu ou il avoit esleve son trophee et le propre jour de son triomphe il commanda que l'on fist venir des sculpteurs et des architectes pour placer ce trouphee dont artamene avoit amasse les armes de sa propre main sur un magnifique piedestal de marbre ou toutes ses grandes actions seroient representees en bas relief avec une inscription tres glorieuse pour luy ce que fut execute quelque temps apres malgre la continuation de la guerre
 
 
 
 
car seigneur vous scaurez que le roy de pont suivant sa parole se retira effectivement de devant cerasie mais vous scaurez aussi que les habitans de cette ville aimoient si passionement ce prince sous la domination duquel ils vivoient depuis long temps et avoient este si mal traitez par les derniers rois de capadoce sous lesquels ils avoient autrefois este que le roy de pont ne put jamais leur persuader d'ouvrir leurs portes a son ennemy il creut toutefois 
 que lors qu'ils le verroient party ils changeroient de resolution si bien qu'il n'en envoya rien dire a ciaxare pour ne l'irriter pas contre eux et se contenta de se retirer comme il y estoit oblige y laissant un capitaine et cinq cens soldats avec ordre de remettre la place a ceux que le roy de capadoce envoyeroit pour la recevoir d'autre par ciaxare voulant favoriser artamene en toutes choses luy dit fort obligeamment que c'estoit a luy a s'en aller prendre possession de sa conqueste et pour cet effet le jour qu'il devoit entrer dans cerasie estant arrive le roy l'envoya vers cette ville a la teste de six mille hommes mais artamene fut bien estonnee de voir que les portes en estoient fermees et que toute les murailles estoient bordees de soldats avec des arcs et des fleches pour se deffendre si on les vouloit attaquer artamene qui s'estoit attendu a une entree fut un peu surpris de vois qu'il luy faloit plustost songer a un affaut neantmoins il voulut auparavant scavoir ce que cela vouloit dire il fit donc faire alte a ses trouper a la portee de la fleche et envoya sommer les habitans de cerasie de luy ouvrir leurs portes suivant les conditions faites avec le roy de pont mais comme ils avoient bien preveu que la chose iroit ainsi lors qu'ils s'estoint resolus a ne changer point de maistre aussi tost qu'ils avoient eu pris les armes et defarme ces cinq cens soldats que le roy de pont y avoit laissez ils avoient dresse un manifeste qu'ils jetterent 
 alors du haut des murailles au heraut qui leur parloit et luy dirent en le luy jettant que ciaxare verroit leurs raisons par cet escrit et peut-estre les approuveroit que cependant il se retirast s'il ne vouloit qu'on le fist retirer bien viste estant resolus de se deffendre eux mesmes puis que le roy de pont les avoit abandonnez artamene ayant receu ce manifeste en demeura estonne non seulement parce qu'il estoit admirablement bien fait mais encore parce qu'il faisoit voir qu'il n'y eut jamais de subjets si fideles a leur prince je ne me scaurois plus souvenir de ce que precisement il contenoit je n'ay pas oublie toutefois qu'il finissoit a peu pres par ces paroles si nous estions persuadez que nous fussions vos legitimes subjets nous serions contre le roy de pont ce que nous faisons contre vous mais comme au contraire nous croyons estre les siens nous mourrons mille fois plustost que de recevoir un autre maistre nous scavons bien qu'il nous abandonne mais nous scavons aussi qu'il nous abandonne a regret ainsi nous sommes resolus de nous garder pour luy malgre luy et de luy estre rebelles en cette rencontre plustost que de changer de domination si nous pouvons vous resister nous serons heureux et si nous perissons en vous resistant la mort nous delivrera de toute servitude quoy qu'il en soit nous ne voulons point changer de roy et si vous estes genereux et bien conseille comme nous le voulons croire vous nous recompenserez de nostre fidelite au lieu de nous en vouloir punir et vous serez bien aise 
 que nous ayons donne un si illustre exemple a vos subjets afin de leur apprendre d'estre aussi fideles que nous quand l'occasion s'en presentera 
 
 
artamene trouvant quelque chose de fort heroique dans le sentiment de ces peuples n'eut garde de songer a les attaquer sans un nouvel ordre il m'envoya donc le prendre de ciaxare et luy porter le manifeste que son heraut avoit receu se contentant de demeurer a la teste de ses troupes et a la veue de cerasie le roy fut sans doute fort surpris de cet evenement et comme aribee avoit un esprit artificieux il ne creut point du tout que cette advanture si extraordinaire n'eust autre fondement que l'affection de ces peuples pour leur prince et il s'imagina que le prince faisoit plustost ainsi agir ces peuples de sorte que comme son interrest se trouvoit a faire durer la guerre il aigrit l'esprit du roy autant qu'il luy fut possible cependant nous avons bien sceu depuis que cela n'estoit pas et que la passion que les habitans de cerasie avoient pour leur roy et l'aversion qu'ils avoient pour les capadociens ciaxare depescha vers le roy de pont pour se plaindre a luy du procede de ces habitans et pour luy reprocher l'infraction de leur traitte et le manquement de sa parole et pour ne perdre point de temps il fit avancer toute son armee pour investir la ville de peur qu'il n'y entrast des vivres ou des gens de guerre le roy donna alors sa lieutenance general a artamene ce qui pensa faire 
 mourir philidaspe de douleur et de despit se voyant sous-mis a l'homme du monde qui faisoit le plus d'obstacle a sa gloire et par consequent a ses desseins la princesse s'affligea de cet accident philidaspe s'en affligea aussi bien qu'elle ciaxare en fut en inquietude le roy de pont en eut de la joye et de la douleur le roy de phrigie en fut fasche aribee en fut fort aise et artamene n'en estant ny bien aise ny bien fasche demeura assez indifferent entre ces deux sentimens parce qu'il n'y voyoit pas son amour interessee elle qui estoit la seule chose qui pouvoit luy donner de la couleur et de la joye le roy de pont respondit a ceux que ciaxare envoya vers luy qu'il estoit bien fasche que les habitans de cerasie n'eussent pas obei que pour luy il y avoit fait tout ce qu'il avoit peu et que mesme il n'y pouvoit pas faire autre chose que de leur commander encore une fois d'ouvrir leurs portes mais apres cela dit il a ces envoyez je pense pas estre oblige de les aller assieger et de les aller combattre eux dis-je qui ne se portent a cette desobeissance que par un exces d'amour ce sera bien assez que je n'aille pas les secourir apres tout ils ne sont plus mes subjets ils sont ceux de ciaxare c'est donc a luy a y donner ordre je me sens pourtant oblige de le prier de ne les traiter pas a la rigueur et de se souvenir que s'ils peuvent se resoudre un jour a luy obeir ils luy seront plus fidelles que le reste de ses subjets ce prince congediant ainsi les ambassadeurs 
 de ciaxare envoya avec eux un de ses herauts que le roy de capadoce fit conduire au pied des murailles de cerasie pour sommer les habitans de rendre la place mais il n'en voulurent rien faire et dirent a ce heraut qu'il dist a leur maistre que quoy qu'ils se vissent cruellement abandonnez par luy ils prefereroient tousjours la mort a la domination du roy de galatie ciaxare voyant leur fermete quoy qu'il l'estimast dans son coeur ne laissa pas de songer a les attaquer et pour cet effet il fit tenir conseil de guerre ou il fut resolu d'emporter cette ville de force il commenca donc son campement il ordonna ses quartiers et ses attaques il fit travailler a sa circonvalation il fit ouvrir la tranchee et preparer ses beliers et ses autres machines pendant cela philidaspe qu'en ce temps la nous ne croyons capable que d'une ambition demesuree n'estoit pas sans inquietude et sans chagrin et la chose paroissoit si visiblement dans ses yeux que tout le monde y prenoit garde il pensoit que s'il ne se signaloit point en ce siege il demeureroit infiniment au dessous d'artamene veu les grandes actions qu'il avoit faites et qu'ainsi ce seroit ruiner les grands desseins qu'il avoit mais aussi il consideroit en suitte qu'il ne pouvoit faire de belles choses en cette occasion ou mon maistre estoit destine au gouvernement de cette ville que ce ne fust a l'advantage d'artamene qu'il estimoit infiniment mais qu'il ne pouvoit pourtant aimer le roy 
 de pont son coste n'estoit pas aussi sans inquietude car enfin l'affection de ces peuples luy donnoit de la tendresse pour eux et de plus il aimoit tousjours mandane ainsi il est certain que si ce n'eust este la guerre de lydie que le roy de phrigie craignoit il n'eust pas este marry de recommencer celle qui venoit de finir mais seigneur il ne tarda guere sans avoir ce qu'il souhaittoit si fort car le roy de phrigie fut adverty en ce mesme temps que celuy de lydie n'estoit plus en estat de luy faire la guerre une partie de ses subjets s'estant revoltez cette nouvelle mit d'autres sentimens dans l'esprit du roy de pont mais pendant qu'il deliberoit sur ce qu'il avoit a faire ciaxare fit attaquer cerasie artamene y fit des choses admirables et philidaspe y en fit aussi qui ne furent guere moins merveilleuses je ne m'arresteray point seigneur e vous decrire ce siege exactement ayant encore trop de choses plus importantes a vous dire je vous diray donc en peu de mots que les habitans de cerasie se deffendirent en desesperez et donnerent une ample matiere la valeur d'artamene et a celle de philidaspe cependant j'ay entendu dire plusieurs fois long temps depuis a mon maistre qu'il n'avoit jamais combatu avec plus de repugnance qu'en cette occasion car voyant le grand coeur de ces gens la et leur incomparable fidelite ce n'estoit pas sans douleur qu'il estoit contraint d'employer contre eux les deniers efforts de son courage ils soustinrent quatre affauts avec une 
 vigueur sans exemple ils virent leurs portes rompues une partie de leurs murailles renversees par les beliers sans se vouloir rendre et s'estant retranchez vers le plus haut de la ville ils donnerent encore beaucoup de peine philidaspe sans doute ne servit pas peu en ce siege et artamene et luy conceurent une si haute estime l'un de l'autre en cette rencontre que l'on peut dire que jamais la valeur ne donna tant d'admiration et si peu d'amitie mais enfin apres que ces infortunez habitans de cerasie eurent long temps resiste ils furent forcez neantmoins auparavant que de les attaquer pour la derniere fois artamene supplia le roy de luy permettre de les envoyer encore sommer de se rendre avec assurance d'un pardon general s'ils ne resistoient plus ce que ciaxare luy accorda en ce mesme instant il luy vint un ambassadeur du roy de pont pour le prier de nouveau de vouloir pardonner aux habitans de cette ville quand il les auroit vaincus et de n'ensanglanter pas sa victoire il luy repartit qu'il ne tiendroit qu'aux rebelles s'il ne leur pardonnoit pas mais cette derniere sommation ne servit de rien et ces desesperez respondirent qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses ils ne songeoient plus qu'a mourir glorieusement que puis que leur prince les avoit abandonnez comme il avoit fait ils ne vouloient plus avoir de maistre et que par consequent ils ne pouvoient plus vouloir que la mort n'ayant point d'autre voye de recouvrer la liberte ciaxare voyant donc 
 leur obstination non seulement les fit attaquer et les fit prendre mais encore malgre toutes les prieres d'artamene il les fit passer au fil de l'espee ce qui avoit tant irrite le roy c'estoit tant qu'effectivement il avoit perdu plus de six mille hommes en ce siege au reste jamais philidaspe ne combatit mieux qu'en cette derniere attaque car comme il voyoit que c'estoit achever de perdre cette miserable ville cette ambitieuse jalousie qui le possedoit trouvoit quelque douceur a voir qu'artamene ne seroit gouverneur que d'une ville destruite mon maistre sauva pourtant de ces malheureux autant qu'il luy fut possible et vers la fin du combat il forca le roy de luy permettre de donner la vie au peu qui restoit qui fut contraint de la recevoir cette funeste victoire fut remportee assez heureusement et pour artamene et pour philidaspe n'ayant chacun receu qu'une blessure assez legere cependant le roy de pont que l'amour et le despit ne laissoient pas en repos et qui ne cherchoit qu'un pretexte pour recommencer la guerre envoya se pleindre a ciaxare de la cruaute qu'il avoit eue mais ce prince respondit que ceux qu'il avoit punis estoient ses subjets et ses subjets rebelles plus d'une fois et qu'ainsi il n'avoit a en rendre compte a personne le roy de pont fort satisfait de cette response un peu aigre parce qu'elle luy fournissoit un leger sujet de pleinte renvoya vers ciaxare et luy manda qu'il ne vouloit point d'alliance avec un prince qui traittoit 
 si mal ses propres subjets et qu'ainsi il luy declaroit qu'il estoit tousjours son ennemy qu'au reste ciaxare scavoit bien qu'il avoit un moyen infailible de faire la paix quand il luy plairoit et de luy faire tomber les armes des mains c'est pourquoy il le supplioit de ne se pleindre pas de son procede vous entendez bien seigneur que ce moyen dont le roy de pont vouloit parler estoit le mariage de la princesse madane et de luy mais ciaxare receut ce discours fort aigrement et respondit avec autant de fierte que l'autre avoit d'injustice revola donc les choses plus brouillees qu'auparavant ciaxare de qui l'armee estoit exremement affoiblie se retira vers anise ou aussi bien quelque legere emotion le rapelloit apres avoit fait mettre le feu dans cerasie tant pour empescher le roy de pont de s'en emparer que pour n'estre pas oblige d'y laisser garnison et pour en faire aussi un monument redoutable de sa vangeance mais artamene qui creut que cette retraite pouvoit faire croire au roy de pont qu'on le craignoit supplia ciaxare de luy permettre de demeurer a quelques stades au dela de cerasie avec dix mille hommes de pied et quatre mille chevaux seulement pour observer la contenance de l'ennemy et pour luy faire voir qu'on ne le redoutoit pas pendant que de son coste il grossiroit son armee de toutes les garnisons des places les plus proches feroit faire de nouvelles levees et apaiseroit par sa presence et par celle des troupes qu'il emmeneroit le 
 tumulte arrive dans anise qui n'estoit pas fort considerable le roy aprouvant la proposition d'artamene consentit a ce qu'il voulut et commanda les troupes qui devoient demeurer sous la conduitte de mon maistre mais admirez seigneur les bizarres effets que produisent les passions violentes dans une ame ambitieuse qui en est possedee philidaspe qui estoit desespere de se voir dans la cruelle necessite d'obeir a artamene comme lieutenant general et qui par plus d'une raison devoit estre bien aise de suivre le roy dans anise ou il s'en retournoit ne laissa pas malgre tous les sentimens secrets qui luy donnoient de la repugnance a obeir a mon maistre et qui l'appelloient aupres de ciaxare de soliciter puissamment le roy pour estre de ceux qui devoient demeurer aupres d'artamene et en effet il agit si fortement pour cela qu'il obtint ce qu'il de mandoit ce n'est pas que ce qu'il demandoit n'eust des choses tres fascheuses pour luy mais c'est qu'enfin rien ne luy estoit plus insupportable que de voir qu'artamene peust aquerir de la gloire sans que du moins il la partageast avec luy et qu'il estoit absolument resolu d'estre son rival en ambition le roy de pont ayant donc sceu que l'armee de ses ennemis estoit partagee s'avanca vers artamene avec toute la sienne qui estoit encore de vingt-cinq mille hommes resolu de profiter de cette occasion et de pousser au moins les troupes de mon maistre jusques a anise l'inegalite du nombre ne pouvant obliger 
 artamene a se retirer je pris la liberte de luy dire qu'il hazardoit trop en cette rencontre je hazarderois bien davantage me respondit il si je fuyois le combat puis qu'enfin je pourrois peut-estre perdre l'estime de ma princesse non non chrisante me dit il dans le dessein que j'ay d'en estre aime il faut faire des choses toutes extraordinaires gagner des batailles avec des forces egales c'est ce que la fortune fait voir tous les jours avec une mediocre valeur mais les gagner lors que selon toutes les apparences on les doit perdre c'est de ces choses la dont il faut qu'artamene face s'il veut esperer de se mettre assez bien dans l'esprit de mandane pour luy faire souffrir artamene comme artamene ou pour l'obliger a ne hair pas cyrus enfin seigneur il assembla le conseil de guerre mais comme philidaspe estoit de son advis luy qui n'avoit garde de refuser le combat et de paroistre moins hardy qu'artamene tous les autres chefs eurent beau faire et beau dire il falut en cette occasion que la prudence cedast a la valeur artamene toutefois ne laissa pas de songer a se mesnager autant qu'il put il se saisit tousjours de tous les postes advantageux et n'oublia rien de tout ce que le plus grand capitaine du monde eust pu faire le roy de phrigie et le roy de pont essayerent diverses fois d'enlever quelque quartier a artamene mais par tout ils furent battus et de que coste qu'ils l'attaquassent ils trouvoient toujours mon maistre en teste ils se voyoient toujours repoussez et le voyoient tousjours invincible 
 ces deux rois conceurent une estime si particuliere pour luy comme nous l'avons sceu depuis qu'ils craignoient bien plus ciaxare a cause d'artamene qu'a cause de sa puissance soit qu'ils le considerassent comme fils du roy des medes ou comme roy de capadoce et de galatie mais seigneur pour ne vous arrester pas si long temps l'on peut dire qu'artamene donna et gagna trois petites batailles en peu de jours a la premiere il s'attacha a un combat particulier avec le roy de pont qu'il blessa legerement et eut tout l'advantage de cette journee a la seconde les choses furent un peu plus douteuses et philidaspe y fit des merveilles et pensa prendre le roy de phrigie prisonnier mais a la troisiesme il arriva une chose a artamene qui luy sauva la vie quelque temps apres comme vous l'apprendrez par la suitte de mon discours et qui merite que vous la scachiez je vous diray donc seigneur que comme artamene avoit accoustume a tous les combats ou il se trouvoit de chercher autant qu'il luy estoit possible les chefs du party contraire il fit tout ce qu'il put pour combattre le roy de pont et comme roy ennemy et comme amant de mandane ainsi le cherchant par tout il vit a sa droite un cavalier qui se deffendoit contre quinze ou vingt des siens avec une valeur extreme il s'avance il s'en approche et reconnoist que c'est le roy de pont qu'ils vont infailliblement accabler par le nombre il va droit a eux et se faisant aisement connoistre a la voix mes compagnons leur dit 
 il arrestez vous les rois ne doivent pas estre vaincus de cette sorte il faut les combattre plus noblement et ne les vaincre pas par la multitude en disant cela il escarte tous ces cavaliers leur fait cesser le combat et adressant la parole au roy de pont vaillant prince luy dit il en s'arrestant un moment il ne tiendra qu'a vous que vous ne vous vangiez du sang que je vous ay fait verser et que nous n'achevions presentement ce que nous avions commence il y a peu de jours genereux ennemy luy repliqua le roy de pont en se reculant et levant son espee il ne seroit pas juste de combattre mon liberateur et je ne veux point vous mettre en estat de m'oster ce que vous venez de me donner ny me mettre en estat moy mesme de me deshonorer en tuant celuy qui m'a sauve la vie mais comme il vit qu'artamene n'estoit pas content de ce discours et que peut-estre le forceroit il a combattre il le quitta et se mesla avec precipitation dans la multitude ou artamene le suivit sans le pouvoir rejoindre de tout ce jour la cette action donna de l'admiration a mon maistre et de la douleur tout ensemble car enfin apres les belles choses qu'il avoit veu faire au roy de pont il connoissoit parfaitement que la seule generosite le faisoit agir ainsi helas me dit il le soir lors qu'il fut retire a sa tente que j'ay un dangereux rival et que je serois malheureux si mandane le connoissoit aussi bien que moy mais dieux poursuivoit-il que ce prince scait peu quel est celuy qu'il n'a point voulu combattre et quel est 
 celuy qui luy a sauve la vie il ne scait pas adjoustoit-il encore que je ne le sauvois que pour le perdre car il ne me regarde que comme un ennemy genereux et ne me soubconne point du tout d'estre son rival mais chrisante me disoit-il comment est-il possible que la princesse l'ait connu et l'ait hai et que ne dois-je point craindre moy qui ne suis qu'artamene et qui suis bien plus haissable pour elle comme fils du roy de perse que comme un simple estranger apres cela par un secret sentiment de jalousie il m'ordonna de m'informer avec soin et avec adresse de la naissance de l'amour du roy de pont ce que je fis et ce que je sceu facilement n'y ayant personne en capadoce qui l'ignorast je sceu donc que le feu roy de pont ayant en guerre contre celuy de capadoce et en suitte estans venus a quelque traite de paix ils s'estoient donnez des ostages de part et d'autre et que le roy de pont avoit envoye un de ses enfans qui estoit celuy-cy mais qui n'estoit pas alors l'aisne qu'en six mois qu'il avoit este a la cour de ciaxare son amour avoit pris naissance qu'il n'avoit pourtant ose tesmoigner ouvertement parce que ce n'estoit pas luy qui devoit estre roy apres la mort de son pere qu'en suitte ce pere et ce frere estant morts et estant parvenu a la couronne il avoit envoye demander la princesse en mariage que l'on luy avoit refusee pour diverses raisons comme je vous l'ay desja dit artamene aprenant cela en fut estrangement inquiet et toute la vertu de mandane 
 sa modestie et sa severite eurent bien de la peine a luy persuader qu'en six mois ce prince n'eust gagne nulle place en son affection genereux bien fait amant et honneste homme comme il est neantmoins quand il venoit a penser que personne n'en disoit rien que la princesse se resjouissoit effectivement des victoires qu'il remportoit sur ce prince cette crainte se dissipoit et donnoit quelque tresve a ses inquietudes mais son ame n'en estoit pourtant pas plus en repos car disoit-il si ce prince qui est beau de bonne mine extremement vaillant et plein d'esprit comme on me l'assure n'a pu rien gagner sur son coeur que puis-je pretendre moy qui suis prince sans oser le dire et qui me dis simplement un malheureux estranger sans biens et sans patrie tant y a seigneur que quelques jours apres ce troisiesme combat ou artamene avoit eu de l'advantage et ou philidaspe s'estoit signale il crut qu'il pouvoit aller un peu refraichir ses troupes puis que le roy de pont en faisoit autant que luy en ce mesme temps ciaxare receut celles qu'il avoit donne ordre qu'on luy amenast de toutes ses places acheva de faire ses recrues et son armee se retrouva alors de plus de cinquante mille hommes celle du roy de pont fut aussi fortifiee d'un puissant secours et ces deux rois ennemis se retrouverent egalement forts et egalement en estat de se disputer la victoire artamene fut receu du roy et de la princesse avec des eloges merveilleux et philidaspe en fut aussi assez carresse quoy 
 que beaucoup moins qu'artamene ce qui le mettoit dans un chagrin inconcevable durant quelques jours qu'ils furent a anise ils virent fort souvent la princesse et presque tousjours ensemble ce qui ne plaisoit guere a artamene que philidaspe est cruel me disoit quelquefois mon maistre de me derober la moitie des regards de l'adorable mandane et toute la douceur de sa conversation car enfin quoy que tout le monde ne le croye capable que d'une ambition genereuse il est aussi assidu aupres d'elle que s'il en estoit amoureux que ne s'attache-t'il a ciaxare pour obtenir cette fortune qu'il cherche et que ne me laisse-t'il ma princesse helas ne s'imagnie-t'il point poursuivoit-il que c'est par cette voye que je veux estre son rival en ambition et me maintenir bien dans l'esprit du roy ha s'il est ainsi philidaspe que tu es abuse possede possede en repos toutes les grandes charges de capadoce sois plus en faveur que personne n'y fut jamais et laisse moy seulement aupres de mandane prens un autre chemin pour arriver ou ton ambition te porte et ne viens pas troubler le plaisir que je prens a l'entretenir en liberte et a la voir seule ce n'est pas nous disoit-il que je ne scache bien que je n'oserois luy parler de ma passion car outre que sa vertu m'impose silence que le respect m'en empesche que sa modestie et sa severite me le deffendent je n'ay pas encore fait d'assez grandes choses pour m'exposer a un si grand peril mais enfin je ne laisse pas de souhaiter ardemment 
 de l'entretenir sans tesmoins car mes chers amis si du moins ce bonheur m'arrivoit personne ne partageroit ses regards et sa civilite j'occuperois seul ses yeux et son esprit et sans luy rien dire de ma passion je ne laisserois pas de m'estimer fort heureux que scay-je mesme poursuivoit-il si cette princesse si pleine d'esprit et de lumiere me voyant seul aupres d'elle ne devineroit point peut-estre plus aisement une partie de ce que je veux qu'elle scache que lors que sa courtoisie fait qu'elle partage son esprit entre philidaspe et moy mais que dis-je reprenoit-il non non il n'est pas temps artamene de descouvrir nostre passion cachons la si bien au contraire que personne ne la puisse connoistre artamene n'est pas encore en l'estat ou je le veux pour avoir un party assez fort dans le coeur de mandane pour le deffendre de sa colere il faut auparavant l'obliger par de grands services gagner son estime par des actions heroiques forcer son inclination par une complaisance continuelle divertir son esprit par toutes les voyes possibles et meriter son amitie par la plus respectueuse passion qui sera jamais et apres cela nous pourrons peut-estre luy parler d'amour mais helas adjoustoit-il si philidaspe l'obsede tousjours comment en pourray-je trouver les moyens en suite il y avoit des moments ou il craignoit que philidaspe n'eust de l'amour aussi bien que de l'ambition et cette amour enfin luy inspiroit tant de pensees differentes que l'on 
 peut dire que personne n'a jamais guere plus souffert cependant toutes les recrues estant arrivees comme je l'ay dit le roy avant que marcher vers son ennemy qui s'estoit remis en campagne pour venir luy presenter la bataille fit faire une reveue generale a son armee et la fit toute passer devant les murailles d'anise sur lesquelles estoit la princesse pour regarder cette ceremonie guerriere artamene avoit ce jour la des armes toutes simples quoy qu'il en eust d'admirablement belles qu'il avoit fait faire et que personne n'avoit encore jamais veues mais il ne voulut pas les porter a un jour de montre qu'il ne les eust portees auparavant a un jour de combat nous respondant en riant a feraulas et a moy qui l'en pressions que des armes n'estoient point belles a separer si elles n'estoient emaillees du sang des ennemis mais quoy qu'il se fust confie ce jour la a sa seule bonne mine il ne laissa pas toutefois de paroistre plus que tout le reste de l'armee et que philidaspe mesme quoy que philidaspe soit extremement bien fait et qu'il fust ce jour la fort superbement arme la princesse estant donc sur le haut de ces murailles accompagnee de toutes les dames de la cour et de toutes celles d'anise regardoit filer toutes les troupes qui apres avoir passe devant le roy s'alloient mettre en bataille assez pres de la sous les ordres d'artamene qui marchoit a leur teste et qui les donnoit de si bonne grace qu'il attiroit les yeux de tout le monde avec plaisir l'on eust 
 dit que tout ce grand corps estoit attache a luy par une chaine invisible puis qu'au moindre signe de la main ou de la voix il se failoit mouvoir comme il luy plaisoit tantost a droit tantost a gauche tantost en avant tantost en arriere tantost en doublant les rangs tantost en elargissant les files enfin jamais sergeant de bataille n'a mieux entendu son mestier qu'artamene l'entendit comme il estoit occupe a ce noble exercice la princesse vit venir d'assez loin dans la plaine un heraut du roy de pont qui fut aisement remarque pour tel par les marques qu'il portoit qui le faisoient distinguer d'un simple cavalier et comme il fut arrive aux premiers rangs l'on le conduisit au roy auquel il demanda la permission de dire quelque chose a artamene de la part du roy de pont ciaxare au mesme instant l'ayant fait approcher ce heraut luy adressant la parole seigneur luy dit il le roy mon maistre qui vous estime qui vous a de l'obligation et qui ne veut point devoir la victoire s'il la remporte a la laschete des siens m'envoye vous advertir qu'il a sceu qu'il y a quarante chevaliers dans son camp qu'il ne connoist pas car s'il les connoissoit il les feroit tous punir qui ont conspire contre vostre vie et qui ont jure solemnellement de se trouver a la premiere bataille qui se donnera de ne s'y separer point de ne chercher qu'artamene de ne combattre qu'artamene et de tuer artamene ou d'y perir tous eux mesmes ce sont seigneur les mesmes paroles que le roy mon maistre a veues 
 dans un bille qui s'est trouve dans son camp sans qu'il ait pu scavoir a qui il s'adresse ny qui sont ceux qui l'on escrit or seigneur le roy de pont et le roy de phrigie qui m'envoyent vers vous n'osant pas vous prier ny pour vostre gloire ny pour la leur de ne combattre pas ce jour la scachant bien que vostre grand courage ne le pourroit souffrir vous conjurent au moins de ne prendre que des armes toutes simples en cette journee comme je vous en voy afin que les lasches qui ont fait cette conspiration contre vous ne vous reconnoissant pas ne puissent pas venir a bout de leur infame entreprise le heraut ayant cesse de parler fit une profonde reverence et artamene apres en avoit aussi fait une au roy et luy avoir demande la permission de respondre tout desespere qu'il estoit d'avoir cette nouvelle obligation a son rival ne laissa pas de le faire tres civilement je suis trop oblige au roy ton maistre dit il au heraut du soin qu'il prend de la conservation du ma vie mais pour luy tesmoigner que je ne suis pas indigne de l'honneur qu'il me fait il faut avec la permission du roy dit il en se tournant vers ciaxare que je tarde un moment a te donner ma response alors il s'aprocha de l'oreille de feraulas qui estoit assez pres de luy et luy commanda quelque chose tout bas que personne n'entendit mais nous en fusmes bien tost eclaircis car feraulas ayant obei promptement et la tente de nostre maistre n'estant pas fort esloignee nous le vismes revenir un moment apres 
 suivy d'un soldat que portoit comme en trophee ces magnifiques armes qu'artamene avoit fait faire cette veue surprit tout le monde et donna mesme de la curiosite a la princesse car feraulas remarqua qu'elle le suivit des yeux et qu'elle sembloit s'estonner de ce qu'elle voyoit porter ces armes certes seigneur artamene n'en pouvoit pas choisir de plus magnifiques ny de plus remarquables elles estoient d'or cizele et emaillees en divers endroits de couleurs si vives que l'arc en ciel n'en a pas de plus eclatantes tous les cloux en estoient marquez par des rubis et par des esmeraudes entre-meslees son bouclier au milieu un grand soleil represente avec des diamans qui esblouissoit tous ceux qui le regardoient et sur son casque tres riche estoit une aigle d'or massif avec les aisles deployees qui penchant la teste tenoit avec ses serres et avec le bec le haut de ce casque et sembloit regarder fixement du coste que devoit estre le bouclier ou brilloit ce soleil de diamans comme voulant dire que ce soleil qui representoit la princesse selon l'intention d'artamene meriotoit mieux ses regards que celuy qui eclaire tout le monde de la queue de ce superbe oyseau sortoit un grand panache ondoyant de vingt couleurs differentes et admirablement assorties la garde de l'espee le fourreau le baudrier la cotte d'armes et tout le reste respondoit a cette magnificence et comme mon maistre les a encore vous pourrez voir seigneur si vous voulez 
 que soit pour la richesse de la matiere pour l'excellence de l'ouvrage ou pour la diversite des couleurs il n'en fut jamais comme je l'ay dit de plus riches ny de plus faciles a remarquer d'abord qu'on les vit paroistre chacun en parla tout bas et eut envie de scavoir ce qu'artamene en vouloit faire le roy regarda mon maistre et alloit s'informer de ce que cela vouloit dire lors qu'artamene apres avoir fait une profonde reverence et luy avoir demande conge de parler a ce heraut tu diras luy dit il au roy ton maistre que puis que mes armes se sont trouvees assez bonnes pour pouvoir resister aux siennes qui sont tres-redoutables j'espere qu'elles seront encore assez fortes pour ne devoir pas craindre celles de ces cavaliers qui ont si mauvaise opinion de leur valeur qu'ils croyent avoir besoin d'estre quarante pour en vaincre un seul publie donc dans tout le camp du roy de pont que je porteray le jour de la bataille les mesmes armes que tu vois et assure de ma part ton maistre si le roy me le permet que pour reconnoistre en quelque facon sa generosite personne ne l'attaquera jamais en ma presence que seul a seul et que du moins sa valeur ne succombera point sous le nombre aux lieux ou je me trouveray ce heraut surpris et charme du grand coeur d'artamene voulut luy repartir quelque chose mais il l'en empescha non non luy dit il mon amy ne t'oppose pas a mon dessein et sois assure que si le roy ton maistre me connoissoit bien il ne desaprouveroit pas ce que je fais
 
 
 
 
 ciaxare entendant ce que disoit artamene s'y voulut opposer luy representant qu'il n'estoit pas juste de hazarder si legerement une vie qui luy estoit si considerable ma gloire seigneur luy repliqua-t'il vous doit encore estre plus precieuse c'est pourquoy je suplie tres-humblement vostre majest de ne me forcer pas a luy desobeir ciaxare repartit encore mais ce fut inutilement et il falut congedier le heraut sans qu'artamene luy voulust faire d'autre response apres qu'il fut party et que l'on eut reporte ses armes a sa tente il parut aussi peu esmeu que si on ne luy eust pas donne un advis si important pour sa vie il n'en estoit pas de mesme de ciaxare qui en parut fort inquiete et qui se rosoluoit presque de ne marcher pas si tost vers l'ennemy tant la conservation d'artamene luy estoit chere cependant la princesse qui avoit veu arriver ce heraut aupres du roy et qui en suite avoit reconnu feraulas qui faisoit porter ces armes magnifiques avoit eu une fort curiosite de scavoir ce que tout cela vouloit dire de sorte qu'elle avoit envoye un des siens pour s'en informer que nous rencontrasmes comme nous allions remener ce heraut hors de l'enceinte du camp apres l'avoir fait passer suivant l'ordre d'artamene a travers toute l'armee mon maistre estant bien aise qu'il peust redire au roy de pont combien elle estoit belle et forte nous luy donnasmes alors en luy disant adieu par les mesmes ordres d'artamene un diamant d'un prix fort considerable cet officier de la princesse nous 
 ayant donc demande ce qu'il vouloit scavoir nous le luy apprismes feraulas et moy luy recitant en peu de paroles la generosite de nostre maistre il estoit si aime de tout le monde que cet homme n'en tesmoigna pas avoir une petite inquietude pour le grand peril ou il le voyoit expose ny une mediocre joye non plus de voir qu'il faisoit servir toutes choses a sa gloire jusques aux mauvais desseins de ses ennemis il fut donc apprendre a mandane ce que le heraut du roy de pont estoit venu faire et ce qu'artamene avoit fait nous avons sceu apres par une fille que la princesse aimoit beaucoup et avec laquelle feraulas a eu depuis une amitie assez particuliere qu'elle changea de couleur a ce discours qu'elle en parut inquietee et qu'elle loua veritablement mais ce fut d'une maniere ou il parut de l'envie et de la jalousie j'entens toutefois de cette envie et de cette jalousie ambitieuse qui est inseparable de ceux qui aspirent a la fortune et a la haute reputation car pour celle que l'amour peut inspirer comme artamene n'eut que de legers soubcons que philidaspe fust amoureux de la princesse je pense que philidaspe non plus n'en soubconna guere artamene cependant ils agissoient tous deux comme s'ils eussent sceu l'un et l'autre qu'ils l'aimoient egalement et qu'ils estoient possedez d'une mesme passion la princesse de son coste ne les croyoit amoureux que 
 de la gloire et ne pensoit avoir nulle part en leur haine ny en leur amitie ciaxare les aimoit sans doute beaucoup tous deux parce qu'en effet ils le meritoient mais avec cette difference qu'il se sentoit force par une puissante inclination a preferer artamene a philidaspe quand mesme il ne luy eust pas eu plus d'obligation qu'a l'autre bien est-il vray que philidaspe aussi estoit appuye d'aribee lequel voulant s'opposer a la faveur naissante d'artamene croyoit ne le pouvoir mieux faire que par ce jeune estranger qui aussi bien que mon maistre avoit la grace de la nouveaute qui est un charme particulier presque pour tout le monde afin que s'estant un obstacle l'un a l'autre il peust par l'un et par l'autre conserver sa puissance et son credit cependant mon maistre qui n'a jamais laisse echaper une occasion d'inquietude dans son amour en eut beaucoup lors qu'il aprit que la princesse apres l'avoir loue avoit aussi parle assez advantageusement de la generosite du roy de pont que je suis malheureux nous dit il le soir quand il se fut retire et que ne dois-je point craindre de ma fortune puis qu'elle employe des artifices tout particuliers pour me tourmenter trop genereux ennemy s'escria-t'il que ne laissois tu conjurer contre ma vie sans me la vouloir conserver d'une facon si cruelle que ne cherchois tu d'autres voyes pour aquerir l'estime du monde sans vouloir que je servisse moy mesme a te la faire meriter mais aussi adjoustoit il je suis coupable de ne faire pas scavoir 
 au roy de pont quels sont mes veritables sentimens c'est abuser de sa generosite que de luy cacher un rival contre lequel il conjureroit peut-estre luy mesme s'il le connoissoit tel qu'il est mais helas oseray-je descouvrir mon amour a mon rival moy qui n'oserois en parler ma princesse mais aussi endureray-je tousjours que le roy de pont m'accable d'obligation et me force malgre moy a luy rendre generosite pour generosite et a luy conserver une vie que je voudrois luy oster et que je luy osteray infailliblement des que j'en trouveray une occasion honorable s'il ne change de passion helas malheureux prince reprenoit il que je te pleins tu as sans doute quelque estime pour artamene tu voudrois qu'il fust attache a ton service et qu'il fust nay ton subjet ou qu'il devinst ton vassal mais dieux quand il seroit ton vassal ton subjet et mesme son frere il seroit tousjours ton rival et tu ne devrois point souhaiter sa vie cependant tu me la conserves et quoy que je puisse faire si ce que tu m'as mande est veritable je te la devray sans doute si j'echape de ce peril puis que si je ne m'y estois pas prepare il seroit comme impossible que je n'y succombasse ha mandane s'escrioit-il tout d'un coup incomparable mandane ne donne pas toute ton estime a mon rival attens la fin de cette bataille afin de la dispenser equitablement et donne toy le loisir de comparer ses actions avec les miennes toutefois adjoustoit il il y a une notable difference entre luy et moy car 
 enfin mandane scait que le roy de pont est amoureux d'elle et elle ignore absolument ma passion peut-estre luy dis-je seigneur que cette connoissance qu'elle a de ses sentimens luy est plus nuisible qu'advantageuse non non chrisante me dit il quelque severe que soit ma princesse quelque rigoureuse vertu qui soit en elle il est impossible qu'elle prive l'amour du privilege qu'il a de donner un nouveau prix aux belles actions que font ceux qui le reconnoissent ouy chrisante quand la personne aimee ne devroit jamais aimer il est certain que lors qu'elle est persuadee que tout ce que l'on fait de beau et d'heroique est fait pour elle si elle n'en concoit pas de amour elle a du moins de l'estime et quelquefois de la pitie ainsi chrisante peut-estre que de l'heure que je parle mandane estime et pleint mon rival j'ay peut-estre quelque part a cette estime mais je n'en ay point a cette pitie et je suis bien assure que dans les recompenses qu'elle me destine elle n'y met ny son coeur ny son affection elle me trait peut-estre dis-je de mercenaire et d'interesse qui cherche sa fortune par sa valeur et qui songe plus a la recompense qu'a la gloire mais pour le roy de pont il n'en va pas de cette sorte toutes ses actions luy parlent d'amour la guerre mesme qu'il fait au roy son pere luy en fait connoistre la violence la generosite qu'il tesmoigne luy persuade qu'il est digne d'estre aime d'elle et toutes choses enfin sont pour luy et contre moy je n'aurois jamais fait seigneur 
 si je voulois vous redire tout ce qu'artamene dit cependant comme il faloit partir le lendemain et marcher vers l'ennemy apres avoir donne l'ordre necessaire pour son depart et commande plusieurs fois que l'on s'empeschast bien d'oublier ces armes magnifiques qu'il vouloit porter le jour de la bataille il fut le matin accompagner le roy chez la princesse a laquelle il alloit dire adieu ciaxare le loua extremement en ce lieu la mais apres l'avoir beaucoup loue il le blasma beaucoup aussi de l'opinastrete qu'il avoit a vouloir absolument porter des armes si remarquables du moins luy dit le roy fort obligeamment suis-je bien resolu de vous rendre ce que vous m'avez preste et de deffendre vostre vie comme vous avez deffendu la mienne car enfin je ne veux point que vous m'abandonniez le jour du combat seigneur luy respondit artamene en se jettant a ses pieds je suis trop oblige a vostre majeste de la bonte qu'elle a pour moy mais je la supplie de me pardonner si je luy desobeis en cette occasion estant bien resolu de m'esloigner d'elle le plus qu'il me sera possible en cette journee n'estant pas juste que je l'expose a la fureur de quarante hommes tout a la fois qui pourroient peut-estre me blesser plus dangereusement en sa personne qu'en la mienne combatez donc luy repliqua le roy avec des armes toutes simples car encore que vous l'ayez mande autrement vous l'avez mande sans que j'y aye consenty et je dois estre le maistre dans mes 
 estats et dans mon armee il est vray seigneur reprit artamene mais la generosite doit estre la maistresse de toutes vos actions et par consequent elle ne me commandera pas de faire une chose qui me deshonoreroit le roy voyant qu'artamene ne se vouloit pas rendre je vous le laisse ma fille dit il a la princesse combattez-le et surmontez-le si vous pouvez et si vous voulez m'obliger en disant cela le roy embrassa la princesse et sortit de sa chambre jusques a la porte de laquelle elle fut l'accompagner artamene fut donc oblige de tarder un peu apres luy et comme la princesse revenue d'accompagner le roy son pere qu'elle n'avoit pas pu quitter sans larmes artamene qui luy avoit donne la main voulut prendre conge d'elle mais le retenant de fort bonne grace artamene luy dit-elle craint-il si fort d'estre vaincu par mes prieres qu'il veuille partir avec tant de precipitation vous estes redoutable en toutes facons madame luy respondit mon maistre et je dois me defier de ma propre generosite contre vous je n'ay pas dessein repliqua-t'elle de vous persuader de n'estre plus genereux mais je voudrois bien s'il estoit possible vous obliger a n'exposer pas sans sujet une vie aussi glorieuse que la vostre et qui a este si utile au roy mon pere vous scavez adjousta-t'elle que la raison doit donner des bornes a toutes choses et que la valeur a les siennes au dela desquelles l'on peut estre soubconne de temerite plus tost que loue de veritable courage je pense madame 
 interrompit artamene qu'il vaut encore mieux a un homme de mon age aller un peu au dela des bornes que l'exacte sagesse luy prescrit que de demeurer au deca et que l'excez en cette rencontre vaut toujours mieux que le deffaut vous avez raison repliqua la princesse mais je voudrois qu'artamene ne fust ny trop prudent ny trop hardy il n'est pas possible madame interrompit il de nouveau que je puisse regler mes sentimens a cette juste mediocrite que vous desirez de moy et dans le choix de ces deux extremitez je vous supplie tres-humblement de me permettre d'aller tousjours plustost vers celle qui du moins peut faire trouver la gloire en son chemin que non pas vers l'autre qui ne la peut jamais faire rencontrer il y en a pourtant quelquefois beaucoup interrompit la princesse a se surmonter soy mesme ouy madame respondit artamene pourveu que cette victoire ne nous rende pas indignes de vaincre les autres mais enfin adjousta mandane je ne vous demande pas que vous ne combatiez point et je voudrois seulement que vous voulussiez ne porter pas ces armes si remarquables a la premiere bataille vous pouvez madame repliqua mon maistre commander les choses du monde les plus difficiles a artamene sans craindre d'estre desobeie mais pour celle-la il ne scauroit suivre vos volontez le deguisement poursuivit il en rougissant est pardonnable en amour et ne l'est pas a la guerre enfin madame adjousta t'il en sous-riant bien loing de me vouloir 
 cacher a mes ennemis et de me rendre moins remarquable si j'avois toutes les qualitez necessaires pour meriter une faveur de la plus excellent princesse du monde je prendrois sans doute la liberte de demander a l'illustre mandane cette belle et magnifique escharpe qu'elle porte presentement et si je l'avois obtenue ce seroit un moyen infaillible de me faire remporter la victoire sans peril et de me rendre invincible en me rendant plus remarquable artamene repliqua la princesse en rougissant a son tour a toutes les qualitez necessaires pour meriter que la plus grande princesse du monde prenne soing de sa conservation et si j'estois persuadee que cette escharpe dont il parle le peust rendre invulnerable il l'obtiendroit infailliblement mais bien loin de croire ce qu'il dit je pense que ce seroit ayder moy mesme a sa perte et conduire les traits de ses ennemis contre son coeur ce que je n'ay garde de faire c'est estre bien ingenieuse respondit artamene que d'obliger en refusant mais madame poursuivit il d'un visage plus serieux je ne vous ay rien demande car enfin pour oser vous faire une semblable priere il faudroit estre ce que l'on ne me voit pas et ce que je deviendray peut-estre si la fortune ne m'abandonne et si mon courage ne me trahit je suis bien aise reprit la princesse que vous mesme tombiez d'accord que vous ne m'avez pas mise en estant de vous refuser quelque chose mais enfin artamene poursuivit elle que voulez vous faire vaincre vos 
 ennemis madame respondit il et faire que vous scachiez que je les auray vaincus ce qui n'arriveroit pas si je me cachois ainsi que vous le desirez comme ils en estoient la ils virent entrer philidaspe qui venoit aussi prendre conge de la princesse ils changerent tous trois de couleur en cet instant philidaspe rougit de colere de trouver mon maistre en ce lieu la artamene de despit d'estre interrompu par philidaspe et la princesse d'une confusion dont elle mesme n'eust pu dire la cause comme il y avoit desja assez long temps que le roy estoit sorty de la chambre de mandane artamene jugeoit bien qu'il eust este a propos qu'il eust laisse philidaspe aupres d'elle et qu'il fust alle le retrouver mais il luy fut impossible et il y demeura autant que luy aussi tost donc que philidaspe fut entre la conversation changea et quoy qu'il n'y eust nulle intelligence entre artamene et mandane que cette princesse mesme ne sceust pas que mon maistre estoit amoureux d'elle et que cette flame si belle et si pure qui s'est depuis allumee dans son coeur y fust encore si foible si petite et si peu de considerable qu'elle mesme ne s'en apercevoit pas neantmoins il sembla a feraulas et a moy qui estions presens a cette conversation que l'arrivee de philidaspe avoit un peu fache et interdit la princesse il ne fut pourtant pas plustost aupres d'elle qu'elle luy parla avec beaucoup de civilite mais il faut advouer que quelque douceur qu'eust l'incomparable mandane dans l'esprit elle se conservoit 
 toutefois quelque chose de si majestueux de si modeste et de si grand sur le visage que mon maistre m'a dit souvent que lors qu'il estoit aupres d'elle il n'osoit quasi penser a sa passion bien loing de l'entretenir et s'il eust pu s'en separer il l'eust presque souhaite tant il est vray qu'elle se faisoit autant craindre comme elle se faisoit aimer philidaspe et artamene demeurerent donc encore quelque temps avec elle sans oser se tesmoigner ouvertement cette secrette aversion qu'ils avoient tous deux l'un pour l'autre et comme ils luy estoient tous deux esgalement inconnus elle les traita a peu pres avec une esgalle civilite neantmoins comme artamene avoit commande philidaspe a la derniere occasion et que peut-estre aussi l'inclination de la princesse l'y porta elle fit un peu plus d'honneur a artamene qu'a philidaspe comme ils furent prests a partir allez leur dit elle genereux estrangers et mesnagez si bien vostre vie le jour de la bataille que ce soit de vostre bouche a tous deux que j'apprenne les particularitez de la victoire mais sur toutes choses dit elle en se tournant vers mon maistre je vous recommande le roy c'est a moy madame repliqua philidaspe a qui apartient cet honneur car pour artamene devant avoir quarante chevaliers a combattre il ne faut pas luy en demander davantage nous verrons madame a la fin de la bataille respondit froidement artamene qui se sera le mieux aquite de son devoir car si je ne me trompe c'est de cette espece 
 de chose dont il est permis de juger par l'evenement je jugeray tousjours reprit la princesse que vous ferez l'un et l'autre tout ce que des gens de grand coeur doivent faire et je m'en vay demander aux dieux qu'ils vous facent vaincre et triompher en disant cela elle les quitta tous deux et s'en alla effectivement au temple un moment apres il vint un lieutenant des gardes dire a artamene et a philidaspe que le roy les demandoit et qu'il s'en alloit partir et certes il fut peut-estre a propos que cet ordre arrivast ainsi car si la conversation eust continue entr'eux en l'absence de la princesse je croy qu'ils se seroient querellez tant ils avoient de disposition a n'estre pas bien ensemble cette precipitation avec laquelle il faloit aller fit que chacun ne songea qu'a obeir et ne s'amusa point a parler en un temps ou il faloit songer a agir ils furent donc trouver le roy et toute l'armee qui avoit desja commence de marcher s'avanca droit vers l'ennemy qui n'estoit qu'a deux petites journees de la je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez surpris d'entendre parler de tant de batailles comme artamene en donna et en gagna en cette guerre mais seigneur vous n'ignorez pas que comme il n'y a pas un fort grand nombre de places fortes ny en bythinie ny en galatie ny en capadoce la victoire est sans doute a celuy qui se peut rendre maistre de la campagne ce qui ne se peut faire qu'en donnant et en gagnant des batailles le premier jour de cette marche artamene fut assez resveur et 
 comme je scavois bien que ce n'estoit pas l'inquietude du peril qui l'attendoit qui luy causoit cette resverie je luy en demanday la cause et je sceu que cette capricieuse passion qui se fait une affaire d'importance d'une fort petite chose avoit occupe tout ce jour la l'esprit de mon maistre a determiner si le refus que la princesse luy avoit fait de cette escharpe qu'il luy avoit demandee avoit este veritablement cause par le sentiment qu'elle avoit tesmoignee avoir ou par quelque autre qui ne luy fust pas si advantageux est-ce me disoit il qu'en effet elle ait eu soing de ma vie et qu'elle ait cru que cette escharpe qui est si magnifique et si belle me feroit encore plus aisement remarquer par mes ennemis ou n'est ce point qu'elle ne m'en ait pas juge digne et que son esprit adroit ait voulu prendre un pretexte si obligeant pour me refuser sans me donner sujet de pleinte enfin est-ce pour artamene ou contre artamene qu'elle a agi me dois-je louer d'elle ou m'en dois-je plaindre faut il que je m'aflige ou que je me resjouisse et ne scaurois-je connoistre les veritables sentimens de ma princesse afin de regler les miens mais helas poursuivoit il quels qu'ils puissent estre ils seront tousjours raisonnables et je n'auray pas sujet de la blasmer si elle m'a refuse parce qu'elle a eu peur que cette escharpe ne fust fatale a ma vie c'est une bonte inconcevable et si elle m'a refuse comme ne me croyant pas de condition a obtenir une pareille faveur elle ne fait point de tort a cyrus et n'offence guere artamene 
 mais dieux adjoustoit il si apres les services qu'artamene a rendus l'on refuse une escharpe a artamene parce qu'il n'est qu'artamene comment peut il esperer qu'on luy accorde jamais la permission de dire qu'il aime et comment peut il esperer d'estre aime non non disoit il ne nous attachons point a ce cruel sentiment interpretons le refus de la princesse de l'autre maniere qui nous est plus advantageuse et croyons puis qu'elle nous l'a dit et qu'elle nous l'a dit si obligeamment que c'est pour nous qu'elle a agy contre nous n'expliquons point ses paroles n'ayons pas l'audace de vouloir penetrer le secret de son coeur et laissons nous tromper agreablement plustost que d'aller chercher une verite si fascheuse a scavoir apres cela artamene examina encore jusques aux moindres regards de la princesse tant que philidaspe avoit este aupres d'elle et quoy qu'il luy eust semble qu'en effet il avoit este beaucoup mieux receu que luy neantmoins il eust voulu qu'il n'y fust point venu du tout et peu s'en faloit qu'il ne souhaitast que la princesse l'eust querelle sans sujet il se reprenoit pourtant luy mesme de tant de bizarres pensees que sa passion luy donnoit elle qui toute violente qu'elle se faisoit paroistre luy permettoit pourtant tousjours d'entre-voir un peu la raison lors mesme qu'il ne la suivoit pas mais enfin seigneur le lendemain nous marchasmes le jour d'apres nous fusmes a veue de l'avantgarde de l'ennemy et a deux jours de la nous fusmes en estat de donner 
 la bataille que les deux partis desiroient egalement le roy voulut encore empescher artamene de prendre ces armes si remarquables mais il n'en put venir a bout et je ne vy de ma vie mon maistre avec plus de joye sur le visage que ce matin la pour moy quelque valeur que je connusse estre en luy je tremblay de frayeur a la seule pensee du peril ou je le voyois expose feraulas et moy sans luy en parler resolusmes de le suivre par tout autant que le desordre d'une bataille le pourroit permettre et de tascher de conserver sa vie aux despens mesme de la nostre ciaxare fit tout ce qu'il put pour l'arrester aupres de luy et voyant qu'il ne vouloit pas il luy bailla l'aisle droite de son armee a commander et la gauche a aribee aupres duquel se rangeoit tousjours philidaspe enfin seigneur sans vous particulariser l'ordre de cette bataille il suffit que je vous die qu'elle se donna et qu'artamene y fit des choses si prodigieuses que moy qui en ay este le tesmoin ay peine a comprendre comment il les put executer il avoit donc suivant son intention et ce qu'il avoit promis au heraut du roy de pont ces magnifiques armes que je vous ay representees si bien qu'il ne fut pas difficile aux quarante chevaliers de la conjuration de le connoistre de l'attaquer et de le combatre quand ils le jugerent le plus a propos ils avoient resolu entr'eux comme nous l'avons sceu depuis de ne l'attaquer jamais seul a seul et de tascher tousjours de le surprendre lors qu'il seroit occupe 
 contre quelques autres de leur party mais comme artamene estoit prepare il ne leur fut pas possible d'executer leur dessein d'abord que les armees furent a la portee de la fleche et que de part et d'autre l'on eut obscurcy l'air par une gresle de traits feraulas et moy qui n'avions des yeux que pour artamene remarquasmes qu'il en estoit plus accable que tous ceux qui l'environnoient que son bouclier quoy qu'il fust couvert d'une lame d'or en estoit tout herisse et qu'ainsi il y avoit grande apparence que plusieurs personnes concertees n'avoient vise qu'a luy seul mais artamene sans s'estonner du prejuge qu'il devoit avoir du peril ou il alloit estre expose secouant fortement son bras gauche pour le decharger de la pesanteur des fleches qui l'incommodoient et se tournant vers ceux qui estoient a l'entour de luy allons leur dit il mes compagnons vaincre ceux qui nous combatent si bien de loin et qui peut-estre ne seront pas si vaillans l'espee a la main qu'a tirer de l'arc en disant cela il s'avanca le premier tout le suivit et tout se mesla mais avec tant de courage tant d'ardeur et tant de precipitation que l'aisle gauche des ennemis en fut esbranlee et pensa plier entierement un moment apres pourtant elle se r'affermit et se r'assura et le combat fut estrangement opiniastre cependant les quarante chevaliers qui devoient tuer artamene n'oublierent pas ce qu'ils avoient promis a celuy qui les faisoit agir et il fut aise de les distinguer des autres ennemis qui n'avoient 
 pas un dessein particulier contre sa vie car pour ceux-cy ils fuyoient tous ceux des nostres qui les attaquoient et ne cherchoient que mon maistre si bien qu'il estoit impossible qu'il peust jamais jouir de certains momens de relasche que l'on a quelquefois dans les plus sanglantes batailles par tout ou il alloit il estoit tousjours en estat d'estre enveloppe s'il en attaquoit un il estoit aussi tost attaque par trois ou quatre s'il en tuoit un il en reparoissoit deux plus il se deffendoit plus il estoit accable plus il en faisoit trebucher et plus ceux qui restoient debout redoubloient leurs efforts pour achever leur dessein feraulas et moy faisions ce que nous pouvions pour luy aider a combattre ces cruels ennemis qui le poursuivoient si opiniastrement toutefois si sa propre valeur ne l'eust mieux garanty que la nostre tous nos efforts eussent sans doute este vains mais seigneur il fit des choses si suprenantes que l'on n'ose presque les raconter tant elles sont incroyables comme le chef de la conjuration estoit aussi fin et aussi mechant qu'il estoit lasche il avoit commande a quelques uns de ces chevaliers de ne songer qu'a tuer le cheval d'artamene afin qu'estant renverse par terre il fust plus aise a leurs compagnons de le tuer en effet cet accident luy arriva par deux fois a la premiere j'eus le bon-heur de me trouver assez pres de luy pour luy bailler le mien malgre qu'il en eust et je pense qu'il ne l'auroit pas accepte si le hazard ne m'en eust fait trouver un autre au 
 mesme instant d'un homme de nostre party qui fut tue proche de moy mais pour la seconde je vy seulement le cheval que j'avois donne a mon maistre tomber mort et artamene se degager de dessous luy et combatre ceux qui l'attaquoient sans que je pusse joindre parce que ceux qui l'avoient environne m'en empeschoient mais quoy que selon les apparences il d'eust succomber en cette occasion le ciel voulut encore le conserver et fit qu'il fut si heureux qu'il tua un de ces chevaliers dont le cheval estoit admirablement bon si bien qu'artamene sans perdre temps et malgre la resistance de ceux qui vouloient s'y opposer se jetta dessus et coupa la main d'un autre qui voulut luy saisir la bride achevant de mettre en deroute tout ce qui luy voulut resister enfin seigneur artamene de ma connoissance en tua ou blessa plus de trente et fit plusieurs prisonniers tant des conjurez que des autres cependant l'aisle droite des ennemis avoit encore plus resiste que la gauche et quelque valeur qu'eussent aribee et philidaspe la victoire leur avoit couste un peu plus cher et plus de temps qu'a artamene quoy qu'ils n'eussent pas d'ennemis particuliers a combattre neantmoins ils l'avoient enfin remportee ciaxare de son coste qui estoit au corps de la bataille s'estoit mesle avec les ennemis et les avoit mis en desordre de sorte que la victoire s'estoit entierement declaree pour luy tout estoit donc dans une confusion extreme les vainqueurs poursuivoient les 
 vaincus opiniastrement les uns se rendoient et jettoient leurs armes les autres preferoient la mort a la captivite et toutes choses enfin estoient dans un bouleversement estrange et tout cela par la valeur d'artamene qui estoit sans doute la plus sorte cause de la victoire car j'avois oublie de vous dire qu'au commencement de la bataille aribee et philidaspe avoient este contraints par le rude choc des ennemis de plier un peu si bien qu'artamene en ayant este adverty et se sentant assez fort pour vaincre ceux qu'il avoit en teste avec moins de troupes avoit detache deux mille hommes et les avoit envoyez a aribee et a philidaspe pour les soustenir ce qui les avoit empeschez d'estre vaincus et ce qui par consequent avoit fait remporter la victoire entiere dans ce grand desordre artamene qui n'estoit blesse qu'en deux endroits et mesme assez legerement chargeoit les ennemis et les poursuivoit par tout ou il leur voyoit rendre encore quelque combat car pour ceux qui n'estoient plus en estat de resister il ne fut jamais un vainqueur si doux ny si clement qu'artamene comme il estoit donc engage en cette poursuite il reconnut le roy de pont que philidaspe pressoit estrangement et qui estant suivy de douze ou quinze l'auroit infailliblement tue si mon maistre suivy de feraulas de moy et de deux autres encore n'y fust heureusement arrive d'abord qu'il approcha haussant la voix autant qu'il put et escartant ceux qui secondoient philidaspe en son dessein 
 genereux prince dit il au roy de pont comme vous n'estes pas si heureux que moy quoy que vous soyez plus vaillant vous n'eschapperez pas peut-estre si facilement de ceux qui vous attaquent que j'ay eschape de ceux qui m'ont attaque c'est pourquoy ne vous obstinez pas a combattre contre des gens ausquels je ne puis pas commander absolument pour vous tenir ma parole puis que le roy que je sers est en personne dans son armee mais rendez vous ou combatez moy en particulier je vous donne le choix des deux a ces mots qui ravirent d'admiration le roy de pont et qui surprirent fort philidaspe le premier voulut repartir lors que cent chevaux des siens qui le cherchoient s'estant r'alliez et l'ayant reconnu vinrent pour charger ceux qui l'avoient enveloppe mais luy qui vit qu'il ne pouvoit combattre philidaspe qui luy avoit pense oster la vie sans combattre aussi artamene qui la luy avoit conservee ne songea qu'a se retirer avec assez de diligence un evenement si peu attendu surprit autant philidaspe que vous pouvez vous l'imaginer neantmoins un moment apres estant revenu de son estonnement sans songer a suivre le roy de pont et se tournant brusquement vers artamene vous voulez donc luy dit il qu'il n'y ait que vous qui triomphe et non content de vos propres victoires vous voulez encore derober celles des autres artamene le regardant assez fierement c'est a ceux luy respondit il qui se servent de la valeur d'autruy pour vaincre un 
 prince abandonne des siens qu'il faudroit reprocher de vouloir derober la victoire et non pas a artamene qui n'employe que son propre bras pour la remporter et qui laissant tout le butin aux soldats les apelle peu souvent au partage du peril ceux que la fortune favorise repliqua philidaspe n'ont besoin d'apeller personne a leur secours ceux qui se fient a leur courage respondit artamene n'invoquent point la puissance de la fortune il faut bien pourtant qu'elle vous ait secouru en cette journee reprit philidaspe et il faut bien qu'elle vous ait abandonne repliqua artamene pour avoir eu besoin d'estre assiste de douze ou quinze pour attaquer un prince seul et las de combattre il vous est facile respondit philidaspe de trouver tout aise a vaincre vous qui n'avez a combattre que des lasches et de simples chevaliers il vous est encore plus facile reprit artamene de vaincre des rois abandonnez et de les faire succomber sous le nombre mais il ne vous le sera peut-estre pas tant adjousta t'il en haussant la voix de vaincre artamene tout seul quand vous luy donnerez l'occasion de vous combattre il vous la demande et ce sera demain au matin si vous le voulez il ne faut pas attendre si long temps repliqua fort haut philidaspe et alors haussant le bras il se mit en estat de vouloir attaquer artamene qui de son coste s'avanca fierement sur luy et luy porta un grand coup d'espee qui l'eust sans doute fort blesse si la main ne luy eust tourne et si ce coup n'eust glisse 
 sur ses armes enfin malgre nous qui taschions de les separer ils sentirent chacun plus d'une fois et la pesanteur de leurs coups et la force de leur bras mais seigneur admirez je vous prie ce que peut la vertu et la veritable valeur nous n'estions que quatre avec artamene et ils estoient douze ou quinze avec philidaspe cependant au mesme instant qu'ils virent la dispute qui estoit entre eux ceux qui l'avoient suivy contre le roy de pont l'abandonnerent contre mon maistre et se rangerent de son party bien est-il vray qu'il n'en eust pas este plus mal traite mais nous n'eusmes pas loisir de voir ce qu'il fust arrive de ce different car au mesme temps ciaxare suivy de grand nombre des siens arriva en ce mesme endroit et ces deux fiers ennemis a la veue du roy suspendirent leur colere et cesserent de se frapper quel demon ennemy de ma gloire s'escria ciaxare en les separant veut faire perir ceux qui m'ont fait triompher et pourquoy faut il que vous faciez vous mesme ce qu'une armee de cinquante mille hommes n'a pu faire a ces mots il s'informa du sujet de leur querelle et l'ayant apris il blasma fort philidaspe d'avoir tire l'espee contre un homme qui luy pouvoit commander et se pleignit un peu de mon maistre de ce qu'il avoit este cause en quelque facon que le roy de pont s'estoit sauve seigneur luy dit artamene je m'engage a reparer cette faute par des voyes plus honorables et je vous promets de remettre en vos mains cet illustre prisonnier avant 
 que la guerre finisse ou de mourir dans cette entreprise j'avois promis devant vostre majeste de n'endurer point qu'on le vainquist par le nombre et je me suis aquite de ma promesse si le roy ne fust pas venu reprit le desespere philidaspe vous auriez peut-estre este puny adjousta mon maistre en l'interrompant de vostre audace et de vostre temerite le roy leur imposa alors silence a l'un et a l'autre les accorda sur le champ d'authorite absolue et les fit embrasser devant luy en suitte dequoy ayant fait sonner la retraite l'on campa sur le champ de bataille et chacun s'estant retire a sa tente artamene fut se faire penser a la sienne et feraulas qui avoit este blesse fit aussi la mesme chose pour moy qui avois este plus heureux je me trouvay en estat de servir les autres le roy vint voir artamene des le mesme soir et ne pouvant se lasser de le louer ny de se resjouir de le voir echape d'une occasion si dangereuse il luy donna sans doute toutes les marques d'une affection tres tendre et tres reconnoissante il envoya a l'instant mesme advertir la princesse sa fille et du gain de la bataille et de la conservation d'artamene et mon maistre comme vous pouvez croire receut l'honneur que luy fit le roy avec beaucoup de joye et beaucoup de respect cependant philidaspe et artamene estant demeurez amis en apparence ne l'estoient pas en effet et il est aise de juger que cette derniere advanture avoit encore aigry leur esprit elle avoit pourtant produit un assez 
 bizarre sentiment dans leur ame car seigneur pour ne vous deguiser plus la chose philidaspe que mon maistre ne croyoit estre qu'un ambitieux avoit autant d'amour que luy pour la princesse c'est pourquoy il avoit attaque si ardemment le roy de pont le regardant bien plus comme amant de mandane que comme ennemy de ciaxare il tira toutefois quelque repos de cet accident car voyant avec quelle generosite artamene avoit couserve la vie du roy de pont il s'imagina qu'il ne devoit pas soubconner mon maistre d'estre son rival luy semblant qu'il estoit impossible d'estre rival et genereux tout ensemble en une pareille occasion pour artamene il n'en alla pas ainsi au contraire il n'avoit jamais eu un si fort soubcon de l'amour de philidaspe pour la princesse comme il en eut ce jour la comment est-il possible nous dit il le soir apres que ciaxare fut sorty de sa tente que philidaspe qui ne peut avoir nulle haine particuliere contre le roy de pont si ce n'est qu'il soit son rival ait pu se resoudre de le faire tuer si cruellement comme il s'y preparoit luy qui est brave et genereux et qui semble estre pique d'un veritable desir de gloire ha non non chrisante me disoit il philidaspe aime mandane si je ne suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes ainsi seigneur une mesme action faisoit differens effets car philidaspe croyoit qu'artamene n'aimoit point parce qu'il avoit voulu sauver le roy de pont et artamene croyoit au contraire que philidaspe aimoit parce 
 qu'il avoit voulu perdre ce prince d'une maniere si peu genereuse toutefois toutes ces diverses opinions estoient si chancelantes si incertaines et appuyees sur des conjectures si foibles qu'ils ne pouvoient s'y asseurer et il n'y avoit rien de constant dans leur esprit que l'invincible aversion qu'ils avoient tous deux l'un pour l'autre
 
 
 
 
cependant deux ou trois jours apres la bataille ciaxare tint conseil de guerre pour s avoir si l'on poursuivoit les ennemis qui s'estoient retirez et que l'on scavoit qui attendoient un puissant secours il fut alors resolu pour les embarrasser davantage de separer l'armee et d'envoyer assieger une place de bythinie qui est scituee au bord d'un grand lac et par ce moyen faire une puissante diversion des forces qu'ils attendoient que cependant la partie la plus considerable de l'armee demeureroit pour observer la contenance de l'ennemy lors qu'il se seroit r'allie et pour agir selon qu'il agiroit la chose ayant este resolue de cette facon ciaxare qui se trouvoit un peu mal s'en retourna dans anise et laissa artamene lieutenant general de l'armee qui devoit tenir la campagne aribee le suivant et envoyant philidaspe assieger cette ville dont j'ay desja parle avec le reste des troupes ces deux rivaux par le caprice de leur passion n'estoient pas contents de leur employ philidaspe trouvoit qu'artamene demeurant en estat de pouvoir combattre le roy de pont avoit de l'advantage sur luy et artamene s'imaginoit que la prise 
 d'une ville importante estoit quelque chose de plus que le gain d'une bataille parce disoit il que l'une fait avoir qualite de conquerant et de vainqueur tout ensemble au lieu que l'autre ne donne d'ordinaire que la derniere il adjoustoit qu'apres la victoire l'un se trouve en possession d'une place considerable et que l'autre n'a que le simple champ de bataille sans avoir quelquefois nul advantage d'avoir vaincu mais enfin il falut qu'ils se contentassent philidaspe partit avec seize mille hommes et artamene demeura avec trente mille le roy ne remenant avec luy que ce qui estoit absolument necessaire pour sa garde mon maistre avoit este si legerement blesse a la derniere bataille qu'il n'en garda le lit qu'un jour seulement ces deux rivaux se separant en presence du roy se souhaiterent en apparence toute sorte de bonheur mais en effet ils se regarderent avec aversion si ce ne fut avec une haine formee le lendemain que le roy fut party et qu'il eut laisse le commandement de l'armee a mon maistre malgre la resistance qu'y fit aribee il y eut deux des prisonniers que l'on avoit faits a la bataille dont l'un estoit fort blesse qui demanderent a parler a artamene pour une chose importante mon maistre en estant adverty fut a l'instant mesme a la tente ou estoient ces chevaliers s'imaginant que ce pouvoit estre quelque chose qui regardoit le service du roy comme il y fut arrive le blesse parla le premier seigneur luy dit il apres m'avoir donne de si puissantes marques de vostre 
 valeur par les blessures que je porte et que j'ay receues de vostre main je veux vous donner une ample matiere d'exercer vostre justice ou vostre clemence ce sont deux vertus repliqua mon maistre au choix desquelles il n'est pas dangereux de se tromper neantmoins mon inclination panchant tousjours plus tost vers l'indulgence que vers la rigueur vous devez presque estre asseure laquelle des deux je dois suivre seigneur interrompit le chevalier qui n'estoit pas blesse ce que mon frere vous veut dire et que je vous diray pour luy a cause de sa foiblesse vous surprendra assez pour vous mettre en peine de ce que vous aurez a faire et suffiroit mesme pour justifier toute la rigueur que vous pourriez avoir contre nous car enfin seigneur poursuivit-il en se jettant a ses pieds nous sommes des lasches et des criminels que la connoissance de vostre vertu a rendus vertueux en les rendant amoureux de vostre gloire et qui par consequent ne pouvons plus souffrir la vie que nous n'ayons repare par quelque petit service le mal que nous vous avons voulu faire artamene entendant parler ces chevaliers de cette sorte ne scavoit que penser lors qu'enfin celuy qui estoit blesse reprit la parole et luy dit avec quelque peine seigneur pour ne vous tenir pas davantage en suspens et pour vous tesmoigner que nous sommes veritablement repentans de nostre crime puis que nous le descouvrons nous mesmes scachez seigneur que nous estions mon frere et moy du nombre de ces quarante chevaliers 
 qui avoient conjure contre vostre vie et qui l'ont attaquee avec tant de laschete a la derniere bataille helas mes amis dit alors artamene interrompant celuy qui parloit et les regardant tous deux sans aucune esmotion par quels mouvemens avez vous agy et par quels mouvemens agissez vous pourquoy m'avez vous voulu perdre pourquoy me voulez vous sauver et pourquoy voulez vous encore vous exposer a la discretion d'un vainqueur justement irrite seigneur reprit ce chevalier nous avons voulu vous perdre parce que nous estions malheureux et que l'espoir de la recompense a este plus puissant en nous qu'un veritable desir de gloire mais aujourd'huy seigneur vostre illustre exemple nous a mieux instruits et nous preferons une action de vertu a toutes les grandeurs de la terre c'est pourquoy nous avons mieux aime hazarder nostre vie en vous descouvrant nostre faute que d'exposer encore une fois la vostre en ne vous aprenant pas que le chef de la conspiration est en vos mains sans estre connu et que si on le delivre par l'eschange des prisonniers il n'en deviendra peut-estre pas meilleur pour cela et attentera une seconde fois contre la personne du monde de qui la vie est la plus glorieuse quoy s'escria alors artamene le chef de la conspiration est entre mes mains et quel peut-estre cet homme que je n'ay point offense qui me hait si estrangement et qui se hait si fort luy mesme qu'il prefere la mort de son enemy a sa propre gloire c'est artane seigneur 
 repliquerent tout a la fois ces deux chevaliers c'est artane reprit mon maistre fort estonne ouy seigneur poursuivit l'un d'eux et c'estoit effectivement a artane que s'adressoit le billet qui fut trouve dans le camp du roy de pont par lequel mon frere et moy l'asseurions que tous les quarante chevaliers estoient resolus de ne combattre qu'artamene et de tuer artamene mais celuy qui le luy devoit rendre et qui nous avoit parle de sa part le perdit parmy nos tentes si bien qu'ayant este porte au roy il fut cause de l'advis qu'il vous donne car comme artane ny pas un des conjurez n'y estoit nomme et que mon escriture que j'avois desguisee ne fut connue de personne il sceut bien la conjuration mais il n'en put descouvrir ny l'autheur ny ses complices et ce fut pourquoy comme je l'ay dit il envoya vous en advertir ne pouvant pas y remedier par la en advertir ne pouvant pas y remedier par la punition des coupables puis qu'il ne les connoissoit point croyez donc seigneur que c'est artane qui nous a subornez que c'est luy qui desespere de la mauvaise action qu'il a faite et d'avoir este vaincu par vous d'une facon si honteuse pour luy et si prejudiciable a l'amour qu'il a pour la princesse de pont dont il est amoureux a voulu vous perdre et pour se pouvoir restablir aupres de son prince il s'est trouve desguise a cette bataille ou ne doutant point que vous ne deussiez perir par la partie qu'il vous avoit dressee il pretendoit se monstrer apres le combat avec vos armes et si j'ose dire tout avec vostre teste a 
 la main comme vous ayant vaincu afin que le roy de pont le remist en grace pour avoir sur monte le plus vaillant de ses ennemis mais seigneur la justice des dieux et vostre valeur en ont dispose autrement et c'est maintenant a vous a disposer de nostre fortune et de nostre vie si vos blessures ne sont pas dangereuses respondit artamene en regardant celuy qui estoit au lit vous aurez loisir de reparer vostre faute par quelque action genereuse car je ne scay point punir ceux qui se repentent ny me vanger de ceux qui ne sont plus en estat de se deffendre ha seigneur s'escrierent ces deux chevaliers l'un en joignant les mains et l'autre en se rejettant a genoux contre quel homme ou plus tost contre quel dieu nous avoit-on employez contre un homme qui craint les dieux repliqua mon maistre en le relevant d'une main et tendant l'autre a son frere et qui prefereroit la mort a la moindre injustice et a la moindre laschete c'est pourquoy poursuivit il oubliant la faute que le malheur de vostre condition vous a fait commettre et voulant vous recompenser de vostre repentir et du service que vous m'avez voulu rendre en m'advertissant qu'artane est en mon pouvoir je vous donne la vie et vous promets la liberte que je ne veux pourtant pas vous accorder sans rancon ha seigneur s'escrierent de nouveau ces chevaliers demandez nous toutes choses sans craindre d'estre refuse car que ne doivent pas des gens a qui l'on accorde la vie apres avoir marite la mort 
 je veux donc repliqua artamene auparavant que je vous delivre que vous me juriez solemnellement que par nulle consideration vous ne vous porterez jamais plus a employer votre courage et vostre valeur contre qui que ce soit de la maniere que vous avez fait contre moy et que vous ne deshonnorerez de vostre vie la glorieuse profession que vous faites par des actions qui en sont indignes combattez-moy en vaillans soldats poursuivit il comme l'ennemy de vostre roy et n'oubliez rien pour me vaincre car je vous promets de ne refuser a pas un de vous de mesurer mon espee contre la sienne attaquez moy mesme plusieurs ensemble si vous avez assez bonne opinion de moy pour n'oser pas m'attaquer seuls mais ne marchandez jamais le sang ny la vie de personne et faites que l'espoir d'un gain infame ne vous mette jamais en estat de le devenir ha seigneur s'escrierent ces deux chevaliers en l'interrompant nous passerions plustost nos espees a travers nostre coeur que de les tirer plus contre vous et que de les employer jamais a faire une mauvaise action apres cela artamene les carressa fort et ayant sceu qui estoit celuy qui tenoit artane prisonnier qui s'estoit cache autant qu'il avoit pu il luy envoya commander de le luy amener dans la tente ou estoient ces deux chevaliers d'abord qu'il y fut et qu'il les eut reconnus il jugea bien qu'il estoit descouvert c'est pourquoy sans attendre qu'artamene luy parlast et luy reprochast son crime je connois bien 
 luy dit il que ces traistres que je voy qui n'ont pas eu la force de resister a des promesses ont eu la perfidie de m'accuser c'est pourquoy-je ne m'arresteray point a vouloir me justifier d'une chose dont ils me pourroient facilement convaincre mais seigneur luy dit il d'une facon toute suppliante et ou la crainte de la mort paroissoit visiblement que vouliez vous que fist un homme qui en perdant l'honneur avoit perdu la raison sinon de tascher d'effacer son crime par un autre crime et trouver son salut dans vostre perte je scay bien que c'est dire une mauvaise raison mais n'en ayant point d'autre il faut avoir recours a la clemence de l'offense que l'on a desja esprouvee et demander de nouveau pardon quand l'on ne peut demander justice qu'en demandant chastiment c'est craindre la honte d'une estrange maniere respondit artamene que de se deshonnorer de peur d'estre deshonnore non non artane vostre passion vous avoit fait esgarer et ce n'est nullement par le chemin que vous aviez pris que l'on peut rencontrer la gloire je scay sans doute un peu mieux que vous par quels sentiers on la peut trouver c'est pourquoy souffrez aujourd'huy que je sois vostre guide et que je vous aprenne sans colere et sans reproche que pour faire oublier vos fautes passees il n'en faloit point commettre de nouvelles et que si vous avez dessein d'effacer de la memoire des hommes le souvenir d'une action ou de deux qui n'ont peut-estre pas este fort genereuses il en faut 
 faire cent de vertu et de courage et non pas en adjouster de pires aux mauvaises c'est pour cela artane que je vay vous renvoyer au roy vostre maistre a ces mots artane changea de couleur et l'on vit bien qu'il eust presques mieux aime demeurer entre les mains de celuy a qui il avoit voulu desrober la victoire et a qui il avoit en suite voulu faire perdre la vie que de retourner aupres du roy de pont de sorte que comme artamene le remarqua ne craignez rien luy dit il artane je ne vous rendray pas sans mettre vostre vie en seurete car si je vous la voulois faire perdre je n'aurois pas besoin de vous envoyer a un autre pour vous punir a juger de l'advenir par le passe il y a veritablement peu d'espoir que vous deveniez plus raisonnable et a en juger mesme par le present il est facile de voir dans vos yeux et dans vostre procede qu'il y a dans vostre coeur beaucoup de colere un peu de crainte et point du tout de repentir mais apres tout artane ne m'est guere plus redoutable vivant que mort c'est pourquoy j'oubli le passe qui n'est plus je laisse l'advenir aux dieux et j'use du present comme un homme de coeur en doit user faites la mesme chose si vous estes sage enfin seigneur apres plusieurs discours qu'ils eurent encore ensemble artamene renvoya artane au roy de pont et luy manda qu'il ne luy auroit pas mesme descouvert le crime de cet homme s'il n'eust juge qu'il est tousjours dangereux aux rois d'avoir des sujets capables d'une extreme meschancete sans les connoistre 
 mais qu'il le supplioit de se contenter de connoistre artane sans le punir ordonnant au heraut auquel il commanda de l'aller conduire de ne le laisser point que le roy de pont ne luy euse engage sa parole d'en user ainsi artane malgre toute sa malice ne pouvant s'empescher de voir la moderation d'artamene ne pouvoit s'empescher non plus de se pleindre de sa fortune qui luy faisoit trouver tant de rigueur en la clemence de son ennemy puis qu'en luy donnant la vie et la liberte il le couvroit de honte et de confusion en le renvoyant au roy de pont et achevoit de le detruire dans l'esprit de la princesse qu'il aimoit pour ces deux chevaliers prisonniers apres qu'artamene leur eut rendu la liberte ils le supplierent de ne les renvoyer point au roy leur maistre et de souffrir qu'ils allassent cacher leur infamie en quelque pais esloigne artamene qui jugea qu'ils craignoient peut-estre quelque lasche vangeance d'artane qui estoit homme de condition leur accorda ce qu'ils demandoient lors que celuy qui estoit blesse fut guery leur faisant encore de magnifiques presens a leur depart cette action qui fut sceue de la princesse en fut extremement louee aussi bien que du roy de pont lors qu'on luy remena artane et de cette sorte mon maistre receut des eloges en mesme temps et de son rival et de sa maistresse bien est-il vray que ce prince ne scavoit pas que celuy qu'il louoit avec tant d'empressement estoit l'homme du monde qui devoit mettre le plus d'obstacle a tous ses 
 desseins et que la princesse ignoroit aussi qu'aretamene fust son amant nous sceusmes seigneur par le retour du heraut que le roy de pont avoit en beaucoup de peine a se resoudre de laisser vivre le lasche artane mais que s'estant obstine suivant l'ordre de mon maistre a ne le laisser point qu'il ne fust assure de sa vie par la parole de ce prince il avoit enfin promis de ne le faire pas punir a condition toutefois qu'il ne se presenteroit jamais devant luy et qu'il sortiroit pour tousjours de ses estats et de son armee artamene durant toutes ces choses n'envoyoit jamais vers ciaxare qu'il ne fist faire un compliment a la princesse et la princesse aussi ne voyoit jamais venir personne du camp a anise qu'elle ne s'informast exactement de tout ce qui le regardoit et qu'elle ne temoignast beaucoup de plaisir d'aprendre toutes les merveilles de sa vie en effet l'on peut dire que tout ce qu'artamene a fait il l'a fait excellemment et je me souviens mesme qu'en ce temps la un vieux capitaine capadocien qui avoit son quartier dans la galatie fit quelque desordre dans un logement dont les habitans se vinrent pleindre artamene scachant que c'estoit un homme de service et qui avoit vieilli sous les armes voulut luy faire une reprimande qui le corrigeast sans l'irriter luy semblant qu'il devoit ce respect pour un officier qui avoit porte les armes si long temps devant luy il luy manda donc dans un billet qu'il le conjuroit de ne forcer pas un jeune soldat d'avoir l'audace de reprendre et de chastier un vieux 
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je vous dis cecy seigneur afin que vous connoissiez par ce discours le jugement et la moderation de mon maistre et que vous ne vous estonniez pas de voir que tout estranger qu'il estoit il ne laissoit pas d'estre craint aime et obei comme s'il fust nay en capadoce et de la plus illustre race qui y fust cependant le roy de pont ayant eu un puissant secours de phrigie en avoit fortifie son armee de telle sorte qu'il estoit en estat s'il eust voulu de s'opposer en mesme temps a artamene et a philidaspe mais il jugea plus a propos de tascher de combattre mon maistre sans separer ses troupes parce qu'en effet il en avoit alors plus que luy se reservant a secourir la ville que philidaspe assiegeoit et qui estoit bien munie de toutes choses lors qu'il auroit gagne la bataille comme il esperoit la gagner mais comme il estoit amoureux de la valeur d'artamene et que luy devant la vie il vouloit s'en aquiter le roy de phrigie et luy chercherent quelque voye extraordinaire de ne luy estre pas tousjours redevables et de n'estre pas aussi absolument vaincus par sa vertu que par sa valeur ils prirent donc une resolution fort estrange et fort nouvelle bien est-il vray que le roy de pont qui est effectivement genereux avoit un peu d'interest a ce qu'il fit car enfin quoy qu'il sceust bien qu'artamen ne l'eust pas soubconne d'une fausse generosite en l'affaire des quarante chevaliers neantmoins depuis qu'artane avoit este renvoye quelques esprits mal intentionnez ou peut-estre 
 artane luy mesme avoient fait courir un bruit sourd que le chef de cette conspiration n'avoit pas este bien connu et ils faisoient entendre tacitement que le roy de pont quoy qu'il eust envoye advertir artamene de cette entreprise sur sa vie en estoit toutefois l'autheur et que cette generosite n'estoit au fonds qu'une finesse ce prince ayant donc sceu ce qui s'estoit dit voulut en s'aquittant de ce qu'il devoit a artamene se justifier pleinement de cette fausse accusation et pour cet effet les deux rois firent publier dans leur camp un commandement absolu de ne se servir ny d'arcs ny d'arbalestes ny de frondes ny de javelots contre artamene dont les armes estoient assez remarquables pour ne s'y pouvoir tromper de n'employer contre luy que l'espee seulement et de ne le combattre que seul a seul autant que la confusion d'une bataille le pourroit permettre ne voulant pas qu'un homme si vaillant mourust de la main d'un lasche qui pourroit le tuer de loin par un coup de fleche ny qu'il fust accable par le nombre comme artane avoit pense l'accabler jugeant disoient ils qu'il y alloit de la gloire de leurs nations d'en user de cette sorte et de tesmoigner qu'ils n'avoient pas besoin pour vaincre d'estre plusieurs contre un seul quelque vaillant qu'il peust estre le jour d'apres ce commandement artamene qui ne se fioit qu'a luy mesme de toutes les choses importantes et qui exercoit successivement s'il est permis de parler ainsi toutes les charges 
 de l'armee tant il estoit vigilant et capable de toutes choses fit une partie pour aller reconnoistre la contenance de l'ennemy le roy de pont qui en fut adverty par un espion destacha pareil nombre des siens pour aller repousser ceux qui le venoient regarder de si pres mais artamene fut bien surpris de remarquer que luy qui avoit accoustume de se voir tout couvert d'une gresle de fleches et de traits n'en estoit plus touche que par hazard et que bien loing d'estre enveloppe par la multitude a son ordinaire il ne se voyoit presque jamais qu'un ennemy a la fois il en attaquoit plusieurs mais il n'estoit attaque que par un seul et au milieu d'un combat de douze cens hommes l'on peut dire qu'il faisoit un combat particulier puis qu'il n'en avoit jamais qu'un a la fois sur les bras cet evenement l'estonnoit un peu car la chose n'avoit accoustume d'aller ainsi neantmoins dans la chaleur de l'action il ne fit qu'une legere reflexion la dessus et ne songea qu'a remporter la victoire comme en effet une bonne partie des ennemis fut taillee en pieces beaucoup demeurerent prisonniers et le reste se sauva en desordre et en confusion artamene estant retourne au camp les prisonniers que l'on avoit faits esperant en estre mieux traitez y publierent la generosite de leur maistre et de la defense qu'il avoit faite en faveur du mien ces soldats y ayant descouvert un procede si peu commun et artamene l'ayant sceu il les fit delivrver au mesme instant les priant de dire au roy leur 
 maistre qu'il verroit bien tost qu'il n'estoit peut-estre pas absolument indigne de l'honneur qu'il luy faisoit et qu'il scauroit aussi bien recevoir ses bons offices que ses bons advis j'estois aupres de luy lors que cela arriva et a peine fut-il seul que me regardant avec estonnement quelle bizarre fortune est la mienne me dit-il chrisante d'avoir un rival qui me poursuit par ses bien-faits et par sa generosite jusques a me forcer presque de ne le hair pas et qui tout bien intentionne qu'il est pour moy ne laisse pas de me causer un estrange desespoir il cherche sans doute l'estime de ma princesse par cette voye et cherche plus les acclamations publiques que la victoire ha s'il est ainsi disoit-il combien m'est il plus redoutable lors qu'il veut conserver ma vie que lors qu'il la veut attaquer non non trop genereux rival poursuivoit ce prince amoureux je ne sousriray point que tu me surmontes en vertu et je suis resolu de te disputer aussi opiniastrement l'estime de mandane que je t'ay dispute la victoire a la teste d'une armee ouy chrisante adjoustoit il en me regardant je veux que ma princesse n'entende jamais dire que le roy de pont a fait une belle action qu'elle n'aprenne en mesme temps qu'artamene en a fait une autre encore plus heroique je veux que du moins il se fasse un combat secret dans le coeur de mandane ou il roy de pont ne me puisse vaincre avec justice si l'inclination de ma princesse ne panche de son coste et ne me surmonte plustost son merite 
 apres cela seigneur je voulus luy dire quelque chose mais il ne m'escouta pas le lendemain il tint conseil de guerre et quoy que selon l'ordre il falust se contenter d'empescher l'ennemy d'aller faire lever le siege que faisoit philidaspe en cas qu'il se mist en devoir de le vouloir faire il ne put se resoudre d'aider a la gloire de celuy-cy ny de laisser plus long temps le roy de pont en estat d'avoir eu l'avantage de donner la derniere marque de generosite extraordinaire il fit donc si bien par cette eloquence forte et puissante que la nature luy a donne et qu'il a beaucoup cultivee en grece qu'il fit resoudre tous les chefs de son armee a forcer l'ennemy de combattre qui de son coste comme je vous l'ay desja dit en avoit aussi l'intention vous pouvez juger seigneur que deux ennemis qui se cherchent se rencontrent facilement c'est pourquoy artamene ne fut pas long temps sans avoir la satisfaction qu'il desiroit mais admirez seigneur ce que peut le desir de la gloire dans une ame vrayement genereuse artamene qui sur l'advis que le roy de pont luy avoit donne de la conjuration faite contre sa vie avoit pris les plus belles et les plus magnifiques armes du monde afin de se faire mieux remarquer a ceux qui le cherchoient dans cette derniere rencontre aprenant que ceux qui le reconnoistroient ne le combattroient ny avec l'arc ny avec le javelot et ne l'attaqueroient que seul a seul il quitta ces belles armes et en prenant de toutes simples afin de n'estre pas reconnu 
 il acheva sans doute de montrer a toute la terre que personne ne le pouvoit vaincre en generosite seigneur luy dis-je le matin comme il commenca de s'armer voulez vous cacher tant de belles actions que vous faites sous des armes si peu remarquables il faut bien me dit-il chrisante que je me cache en cette occasion si je me veux montrer digne de la grace que l'on m'a voulu faire mais adjoustay-je seigneur ne craignez vous point d'oster le coeur a vos soldats faisant qu'ils ne puissent vous distinguer dans le grand nombre de ceux qui seront armez comme vous s'ils me suivent me respondit-il ils ne laisseront pas de me reconnoistre et je pretens agir d'une facon qui ne leur permettra peut-estre pas de douter des lieux ou je combattray en effet seigneur l'on combatit et artamene fit des choses en cette journee qui ne sont pas concevables jusques la il avoit combattu en vaillant homme mais en cette occasion l'on peut quasi dire qu'il combatit comme un dieu irrite l'on eust dit qu'il scavoit qu'il estoit invulnerable veu la maniere dont il s'exposoit il enfoncoit des escadrons il eclaircissoit tous les rangs il se faisoit jour a travers les bataillons les plus serrez et rien ne luy pouvoit resister enfin il agissoit d'une maniere si prodigieuse que malgre ses armes simples il se fit bien tost reconnoistre et des ennemis elles estoient toutes teintes du sang qu'il avoit respandu et qui jalissant jusques sur sa cuirace l'avoit rendu plus terrible et plus redoutable 
 son bouclier estoit tout herisse des traits qu'on luy avoit tirez et qu'il n'avoit pu faire tomber comme autrefois en le secouant tant ils avoient eu la pointe aceree et tant ils avoient penetre avant dans ce bouclier le roy de pont l'ayant rencontre en cet estat et le reconnoissant facilement il ne tient pas a moy luy cria-t'il genereux artamene que je ne m'aquite de ce que je vous dois en conservant vostre vie il ne tient pas non plus a moy luy respondit mon maistre que vostre valeur ne recoive un grand avantage de ma deffaite puis que je fais tout ce que je puis pour vous la rendre plus glorieuse et pour n'espargner pas une vie qui fait peut-estre plus d'un obstacle a vostre victoire et a vostre felicite mais vaillant prince poursuivit-il nous avons assez dispute de generosite voyons donc aujourd'huy si nous scaurons aussi bien combattre que nous scavons reconnoistre un bien-fait car enfin je ne me trompe nous pouvons nous vaincre l'un l'autre sans deshonneur a ces mots le roy de pont voulut encore repartir quelque chose mais artamene luy faisant signe qu'il valoit mieux combattre que parler s'avanca vers luy et alors ces excellens hommes commencerent un combat qui eust peut-estre este funeste a tous les deux si la nuit et la foule les eust separez malgre qu'ils en eussent et n'eust par consequent laisse et la victoire generale et la victoire particuliere un peu douteuses le plus grand advantage demeura toutefois du coste d'artamene car il perdit peu de 
 gens en tua beaucoup et fit grand nombre de prisonniers mais enfin comme le combat n'estoit pas finy lors que la nuit estoit survenue que les uns et les autre estoient demeurez sur les armes et les autres estoient demeurez sur les armes et sur le champ de bataille l'on ne pouvoit pas dire qu'elle eust este absolument perdue ny absolument gagnee neantmoins elle fut cause en partie de la prise de la ville que philidaspe assiegeoit parce qu'apres cela l'armee du roy de pont ne se trouva plus assez forte pour estre partagee ny pour oser entreprendre devant la nostre d'aller secourir cette place en s'enfermant entre deux armees le lendemain artamene estant adverty que deux mille hommes venoient par un chemin destourne le long de certaines montagnes qui bornent la plaine d'anise et de cerasie pour se rendre au camp des ennemis ou ils escortoient l'argent d'une montre que le roy de pont faisoit venir pour la payer a ses soldats il fut couper chemin a ce convoy si bien qu'ayant rencontre ces deux mille hommes il les poussa dans un vallon environne de rochers inaccessibles d'ou ils ne se pouvoient sauver se voyant reduits en cet estat ils consulterent sur ce qu'ils avoient a faire et connurent clairement que s'ils combattoient ils estoient perdus et demeureroient inutiles au roy leur maistre de sorte que pour essayer de se sauver et de se tirer d'un si mauvais pas ils firent signe qu'ils vouloient parler et envoyerent douze d'entr'eux vers artamene avec leurs boucliers pleins d'or et d'argent le 
 priant de le recevoir pour leur rancon et de les laisser passer artamene qui fait tousjours les choses de la facon la plus heroique qu'elles se puissent faire leur dit qu'il leur donnoit la vie et la liberte et qu'il vouloit mesme qu'ils remportassent leur or et leur argent pourveu qu'ils laissassent les boucliers dans lesquels il estoit comme une marque de sa victoire mais ces soldats braves et courageux jettant par terre tout ce qui estoit dans ces boucliers les remettant a leurs bras gauche et mettant leurs espees a la main droite vous verrez luy dirent-ils en s'en retournant vers leurs compagnons que ceux de nostre nation ne laissent leurs boucliers qu'avec la vie et que peut-estre quelque inegalite qui soit entre nous ne les aurez vous pas sans peril artamene voyant faire une action si heroique a ces soldats en fut si charme qu'il ne put resister a la genereuse envie qu'il eut de ne les perdre pas et d'autant plus qu'il voyoit qu'il eust emporte cet avantage sans gloire parce qu'il l'eust remporte sans peine et qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses deux mille hommes de plus aux ennemis ne pouvoient pas changer la face des affaires voyant donc ces douze soldats s'en aller avec une fermete admirable vaillans hommes leur cria-t'il revenez prendre vostre argent et recevoir la liberte que vous avez si bien meritee vous avez vaincu mes compagnons leur dit-il encore et si vous eussiez este a la derniere bataille le roy vostre maistre nous auroit deffaits ces soldats aussi surpris de la generosite 
 d'artamene qu'il l'avoit este de la leur ne scavoient s'ils devoient adjouster foy a ce qu'il disoit mais enfin ils connurent que la chose estoit vraye et en ayant adverty leurs capitaines ils en jetterent des cris de joye et d'estonnement qui firent retentir tous les rochers d'alentour du glorieux nom d'artamene ainsi on laissa degager ces braves gens d'entre ces vallons ou ils s'estoient embarrassez qui furent publier dans leur camp la generosite de mon maistre auquel le roy de pont envoya aussi tost un trompette pour le remercier tres civilement de cette bonte
 
 
 
 
mais seigneur je ne songe pas que j'abuse de vostre patience et que la passion que j'ay pour artamene m'emporte trop loing revenons donc s'il vous plaist aux choses les plus importantes de mon recit l'hyver estoit desja commence lors que cette derniere bataille fut donnee qui se vit suivie peu de jours apres de la prise de cette ville que philidaspe estoit alle assieger et ou certainement il avoit agi en homme de coeur et en capitaine ciaxare ayant donc eu tant d'heureux succes en une campagne de huit mois rapella artamene et philidaspe qui apres avoir mis toutes les troupes en leurs quartiers d'hyver et avoir veu que l'ennemy en avoit fait autant se rendirent aupres du roy qui s'en revint a sinope je ne vous diray point seigneur comment artamene et philidaspe furent receus de ciaxare et de la princesse car vous pouvez aisement juger que ce fut avec toute la civilite et toute la joye que leurs grands services meritoient 
 comme ils s'estoient importunez en prenant conge de la princesse ils s'importunerent encore a leur retour et la premiere fois qu'ils virent mandane a son apartement ils s'y rencontrerent a l'ordinaire il sembla a feraulas qui s'y trouva et qui estoit parfaitement guery de ses blessures que la princesse en eut de l'inquietude et du chagrin neantmoins elle ne laissa pas d'avoir pour eux tous les charmes qui peuvent captiver les coeurs les plus rebelles a l'amour et par une complaisance adroite qui n'avoit rien be bas ny d'affecte elle destourna la conversation d'une facon si ingenieuse qu'elle ne leur donna aucune occasion de renouveller les differens qu'ils avoient eus ensemble pendant la derniere campagne et que la princesse n'ignoroit pas quand vous pristes conge de moy leur dit-elle je me souviens que je vous priay de vous conserver si bien que ce fust de vostre bouche que je pusse apprendre les particularitez de la victoire mais aujourd'huy je vous dispence de cette peine et j'ay une si forte aversion pour la guerre que je n'aime pas mesme a entendre parler souvent des glorieux advantages que le roy mon pere a remportez par vostre valeur ne craignez pourtant pas poursuivit-elle que je les ignore ny que je les oublie la renommee aime trop artamene et ne hait pas assez philidaspe pour ne publier point jusques a leurs moindres actions et mon ame est trop reconnoissante pour perdre la memoire des bienfaits mais enfin j'aime la paix et toutes les vertus paisibles touchent plus mon inclination que les 
 fieres et les superbes ce seroit donc un grand malheur reprit artamene aux princes qui auroient un dessein particulier de vous plaire de ne trouver point d'autre voye de vous rendre service que par le fer le feu et le sang il est certain adjousta-t'elle qu'un prince qui n'auroit que de la valeur et de la bonne fortune dans les combats n'auroit pas selon mon sens tout ce qui est necessaire pour meriter l'estime d'une princesse raisonnable ce n'est pas que ces bonnes qualitez ne soient dignes de louange mais s'il les avoit seules je croirois qu'il se devroit contenter d'une legere estime et qu'il ne devroit pas pretendre a son amitie que faudroit-il donc qu'il eust repliqua philidaspe pour pouvoir esperer quelque part en la bien-veuillance d'une illustre et grande princesse il faudroit reprit-elle si je ne me trompe que sa valeur ne fust point trop farouche qu'il aimast la victoire sans aimer le sang que la fierte ne le suivist que dans les combats que la civilite ne l'abandonnast jamais qu'il aimast la gloire sans orgueil qu'il la cherchast par toutes les voyes ou l'on la peut rencontrer que la douceur et la clemence fussent ses qualitez dominantes qu'il fust tres liberal mais liberal avec choix qu'il fust reconnoissant en tout temps qu'il n'enviast point la gloire d'autruy qu'il fust equitable a ses propres ennemis qu'il fust maistre absolu de ses passions que sa conversation n'eust rien d'altier ny de superbe qu'il fust aussi fidelle a ses amis que redoutable a ses ennemis et pour dire tout en 
 peu de paroles qu'il eust toutes les vertus et qu'il n'eust aucun deffaut vous avez raison madame repartit artamene en la regardant avec beaucoup d'amour et de respect de dire qu'il faudroit estre parfait en toutes choses pour meriter l'affection d'une illustre princesse mais madame il faudroit sans doute aussi qu'elle vous ressemblest pour pouvoir sans injustice demander ce qui ne se trouve point aux hommes je veux dire la perfection et si elle n'accordoit jamais cette affection qu'a ceux qui en seroient dignes ce seroit un thresor qui ne seroit possede de personne quoy qu'infailliblement il fust desire de tous les princes de la terre je ne scay pas poursuivit-elle si la bien-veuillance d'une princesse qui me ressembleroit seroit une chose assez precieuse pour pouvoir la nommer un thresor mais je scay bien du moins que si elle me ressembloit parfaitement cette bien-veuillance ne seroit pas aisee a aquerir puis que de dessein premedite je suis resolue de ne donner jamais legerement aucune par en mon amitie et de combattre mesme pour cela mes propres inclinations si elles entreprenoient de me vaincre je ne scay madame interrompit philidaspe si cette durete de coeur n'est point aussi condamnable en une personne de vostre sexe que vous trouvez que l'orgueil l'est au nostre je ne le pense pas dit-elle car si je le croyois je changerois peut-estre de sentimens mais quoy qu'il en soit pour vous tesmoigner que je ne suis pas injuste scachez que je suis aussi liberale de mon estime que je suis 
 avare de mon amitie puis qu'enfin je ne la refuse pas mesme a mes plus grands ennemis lors qu'ils la meritent juges donc dit-elle a artamene si je n'ay pas pour vous non seulement beaucoup d'estime mais mesme beaucoup d'admiration apres tant de belles choses que vous avez faites et juges aussi philidaspe dit-elle en se tournant vers lux si vous n'avez pas droit de pretendre une grande part en mes louages apres tout ce que vous venez de faire c'estoit de cette sorte que cette adroite et sage princesse entretenoit deux personnes qu'elle voyoit fort ambitieuses et fort jalouses de leur propre gloire et c'estoit aussi pour cela qu'elle n'avoit ose exagerer les grandes actions que mon maistre avoit faites de peur que philidaspe qui paroissiot le plus inquiet et le plus violent ne s'en offencast ils se separerent donc et tres satisfaits de la civilite de mandane et tres affligez d'avoir apris de sa bouche combien son affection estoit difficile a aquerir du moins y a-t'il apparence que philidaspe estant aussi amoureux qu'artamene eut a peu pres les mesmes sentimens que luy et peut-estre encore plus fascheux puis qu'enfin dans le discours de la princesse il y avoit tousjours eu quelques paroles un peu plus obligeantes pour son rival que pour luy cependant ciaxare ne parla plus que de festes et de resjouissances publiques astiage aprenant ses victoires envoya s'en resjouir avec son fils et fit mesme faire un grand compliment a mon maistre de la valeur duquel il avoit assez entendu parler la 
 cour ne fut jamais si grosse ny si belle qu'en ce temps la tous les chefs de l'armee estoient a sinope et presque toutes les femmes de qualite des deux royaumes s'y rendirent la conversation estoit assez libre chez la princesse il n'y avoit point de jour que le roy n'allast a son apartement et que par consequent tout le monde n'eust la permission d'y entrer de plus comme le roy connoissoit parfaitement la vertu de mandane elle ne laissoit pas d'estre veue chez elle encore qu'il ne la vist pas et d'y souffrir les gens de condition en presence de sa dame d'honneur de sa gouvernante et de ses filles qui ne l'abandonnoient jamais ainsi l'on peut dire qu'artamene sembloit estre heureux quoy qu'en effet il ne le fust pas car enfin il avoit eu le bonheur dans sa passion d'aquerir une gloire infiniment grande d'avoir servy ciaxare tres importemment et d'avoir sensiblement oblige sa princesse en sauvant la vie du roy son pere et en luy faisant vaincre ses ennemis de sorte qu'il pouvoit presque estre assure de son estime mais apres tout quand il venoit a considerer cette austere vertu dont elle faisoit profession il n'osoit esperer qu'elle peust jamais souffrir ny qu'artamene ny que mesme cyrus eussent la temerite de luy parler d'amour de plus la passion du roy de pont luy donnoit encore de la jalousie et la presence de philidaspe de l'inquietude quoy qu'il n'en sceust pas bien la raison cependant artamene et luy ne perdoient aucune occasion de voir la princesse ils la suivoient 
 au temple ils l'accompagnoient aux chasses et aux promenades ils la visitoient aux heures ou il estoit permis de la voir et n'oublioient rien de tout ce que deux hommes egalement passionnez peuvent faire mais ce qui abusoit tousjours un peu mon maistre touchant philidaspe c'estoit qu'outre les soings qu'il avoit pour la princesse on luy en voyoit aussi beaucoup pour ciaxare et pour aribee et il paroissoit tant d'empressement en toutes ses actions que mon maistre y soubconnoit autant d'ambition que d'amour quoy qu'il y eust tousjours des momens ou il le croyoit capable de l'une et de l'autre en toutes les parties de galanterie qui se faisoient ils estoient tousjours opposez et dans toutes les conversations leurs opinions estoient tousjours differentes bien est-il vray qu'artamene avoit cet advantage qu'il s'opposoit a philidaspe sans qu'il parust nulle bizarrerie en son esprit ce qui n'arrivoit pas toussjours a son rival car encore qu'il soit effectivement fort honneste homme comme il est plus violent et d'un temperament plus actif il y avoit des jours ou son entretien n'estoit pas fort agreable parce qu'il estoit trop contredisant en effet il parut bien un soir qu'ils estoient chez la princesse qu'il n'estoit pas toujours maistre de ses sentimens et qu'ils l'emportoient quelque fois plus loing qu'il ne vouloit il y avoit alors peu de monde aupres d'elle et ces deux amans secrets y estoient presque seuls capables de l'entretenir et de la divertir apres plusieurs discours sur des choses indifferentes 
 la princesse qui vouloit les mettre bien ensemble s'il estoit possible afin de les attacher plus fortement au service du roy son pere venant a parler de ce qui ordinairement fait naistre l'amitie je me suis cent fois estonnee dit-elle a artamene et a philidaspe de ne remarquer pas en vous une plus grande liaison que celle que j'y voy me semblant que vous devriez vous aimer plus que vous ne faites quoy que je scache bien que vous vous estimez beaucoup mais j'entens adjousta-t'elle de cette amitie de confiance et de tendresse qui fait que l'on dit toutes choses a la personne que l'on aime et que l'on partage toutes ses douleurs et tous ses plaisirs car enfin poursuivit-elle vous estes tous deux estrangers vous avez tous deux de l'esprit du coeur et de la generosite vous servez le mesme prince vous en estes aimez l'un et l'autre et je vous crois l'ame trop grande pour estre capables d'envie d'ou vient donc que vous ne vous aimez pas autant que vous vous estimez et d'ou vient que je ne voy pas entre vous cette union qui rend les amis maistres de toutes les pensees et de tous les secrets de ceux qu'ils aiment et de qui ils sont aimez c'est peut-estre respondit philidaspe que nous nous estimons trop pour nous aimer et c'est peut-estre aussi repliqua artamene que nos secrets sont de trop grande consequence pour nous mettre en estat de les reveler a personne je voudrois pourtant bien reprit la princesse que vous m'eussiez apris plus precisement ce qui vous desunit car je vous advoue que je 
 ne le puis comprendre pour moy adjousta-t'elle je ne scache que deux passions capables d'empescher les honnestes gens de s'aimer qui sont a ce que j'ay entendu dire l'ambition et l'amour mais pour la premiere il me semble que le roy mon pere a dequoy contenter celle de l'un et de l'autre et pour la seconde outre que je ne veux pas soubconner deux hommes si genereux d'une si grande foiblesse je ne voy pas encore qu'il y ait acuune apparence que cela soit et peut-estre n'y a-t'il pas une de mes filles dit-elle en sous-riant et en les regardant toutes qui n'ait fait un secret reproche a sa beaute de n'avoir pu vous donner des chaines depuis que vous estes a la cour ou l'on ne remarque pas que vous ayez un attachement de cette espece parlez donc leur dit-elle je vous en conjure et ne me deguisez point vos veritables sentimens je vous laisse a penser seigneur quel embarras estoit celuy ou se trouvoient artamene et philidaspe et quel bizarre evenement estoit celuy-la qui faisoit que la princesse vouloit scavoir ce qu'ils ne pouvoient luy dire et ce qu'elle eust este bien estonnee d'apprendre s'ils eussent eu la hardiesse de luy declarer ce qu'ils en scavoient quoy que chacun en particulier ne sceust pas tout ce qu'il y avoit a scavoir car il est certain qu'elle ne soubconnoit encore rien de la passion d'artamene ny de celle de philidaspe et que philidaspe et artamene aussi se haissoient plustost par quelques pressentimens secrets qu'ils avoient de leurs desseins que par aucun 
 sujet raisonnable qu'ils eussent de se douter de la verite des choses cependant la princesse qui croyoit agir fort advantageusement pour le service du roy son pere de tascher de concilier les esprits de deux hommes de cette importance les pressa encore de vouloir luy dire quel estoit cet obstacle qui s'opposoit a leur amitie madame luy respondit artamene il ne me seroit pas aise de vous l'apprendre puis qu'il est vray que pour l'ordinaire je n'ay pas accoustume d'avoir de l'indifference pour ceux que j'estime pour moy repliqua philidaspe je vay bien plus loing que cela et je dis que je n'ay guere accoustume de n'avoir que de l'indifference pour ceux que je n'aime pas soit que je les estime ou que je les meprise mon coeur poursuivit il ne scait point comment il se faut arrester dans cette juste mediocrite qui separe la haine et l'amitie et quoy que je puisse faire je panche tousjours vers l'une ou vers l'autre vous me donnez beaucoup de joye respondit la princesse avec precipitation de peur qu'artamene ne dist quelque chose qui aigrist davantage l'esprit de philidaspe car je n'ay garde de vous soubconner de hair un homme du merite d'artamene qui ne vous a point offense que toute la cour adore que le roy mon pere aime cherement et que j'estime beaucoup ainsi philidaspe poursuivit-elle sans luy donner loisir de parler ne pouvant sans doute hair artamene je conclus qu'il faut de necessite que vous l'aimiez un peu et cela estant ainsi j'espere que je n'auray pas grand peine 
 a faire que vous l'aimiez beaucoup car dit-elle en se tournant vers artamene vous ne me resisterez pas sans doute et vous ne serez pas tousjours indifferent pour philidaspe luy dis-je qui a cent bonnes qualitez luy que le roy estime aussi infiniment luy qui certainement vous aime desja un peu et qui merite l'approbation de personnes bien plus connoissantes que je ne suis et puis adjousta-t'elle si mes prieres vous sont en quelque consideration vous ferez pour l'amour de moy qu'a l'advenir toute la cour ne parlera que de la bonne intelligence qui sera entre vous et ne s'estonnera plus de cette froideur qui paroist en toutes vos actions en toutes vos paroles et dont la cause est ignoree de tout le monde nous ne la scavons peut-estre pas nous mesmes reprit philiaspe mais enfin adjousta la princesse soit que vous la scachiez ou que vous ne la scachiez pas vous ne laisserez pourtant pas de faire ce que je desire les dieux madame interrompit artamene a ce que je voy sont bien moins rigoureux que vous puis qu'ils nous laissent la liberte d'aimer ou de hair ceux que nous jugeons dignes de nostre affectio ou de nostre haine contentez vous madame de cette authorite legitime que vos rares qualitez vous ont donnee sur les coeurs de tous ceux qui ont l'honneur de vous approcher et n'ayez pas la tyrannie si le respect que je vous dois me permet de parler ainsi de vouloir que philidaspe aime artamene par contraient n'y qu'artamene aime philidaspe malgre luy s'ils 
 ont a s'aimer quelque jour laissez leur en la liberte toute entiere et ne leur ostez pas le merite de cette affection et s'ils ont a se hair eternellement reprit philidaspe laissez les dans la liberte de le pouvoir faire sans vous offenser injustement cela n'est pas possible reprit elle et je vous estime trop tous deux quoy madame luy dit artamene en changeant de couleur je ne pourrois pas hair philidaspe sans irriter la princesse mandane non dit-elle ny philidaspe aussi ne pourroit pas hair artamene sans m'offenser extremement apres la priere que je luy ay faite nous sommes tous deux bien heureux et bien malheureux reprit philidaspe et vous serez tous deux bien raisonnables adjousta la princesse si vous voulez vous aimer pour l'amour de moy cela n'est pas possible repartit philidaspe en effet madame respondit artamene je pense qu'il nous seroit plus aise de nous hair pour l'amour de vous que de nous aimer pour l'amour de vous car enfin dit-il aimant tous deux la gloire comme nous faisons et cherchant avec soing les occasions de nous signaler et d'aquerir l'estime et l'amitie du roy si vous panchiez plus vers philidaspe que vers artamene je pense qu'artamene n'osant se pleindre de vous en hairoit un peu philidaspe et je pense mesme repliqua ce prince violent que quoy qu'il en arrive philidaspe se contentera d'estimer artamene sans l'aimer la princesse fut alors bien faschee d'avoir entrepris une chose qu'elle trouvoit beaucoup plus difficile qu'elle n'avoit cru 
 et elle jugea qu'il valoit encore mieux finir tost ce discours que de le continuer davantage c'est pourquoy reprenant la parole avec beaucoup de douceur du moins dit-elle promettez moy que vous vivrez comme si vous vous aimiez et que vous ne vous contredirez jamais en aucune chose philidaspe respondit artamene paroist si zele pour le service du roy et pour le vostre et je le suis aussi de telle sorte qu'il y a lieu de croire que nous aurons tousjours beaucoup de raport en tous nos desseins du moins scay-je bien repliqua philidaspe que nous nous rencontrons en tous lieux et je pense que depuis le premier jour qu'artamene arriva en capadoce je l'ay tousjours veu par tout il est vray que je vous rencontray au temple de mars respondit artamene le lendemain que j'eus aborde a sinope quel jour fut celuy-la reprit la princesse ce fut celuy repliqua philidaspe ou l'on sacrifioit pour remercier les dieux de la mort de ce prince qui devoit renverser toute l'asie et vous oster la couronne je m'en souviens bien dit la princesse qui vouloit destourner la conversation et je n'eus de ma vie si peu de disposition a les remercier d'un bien-fait que ce jour-la ce n'est pas que selon ce que les mages en ont dit la perte du jeune cyrus n'ait este un bonheur par toute l'asie mais c'est que naturellement j'ay tant de repugnance a me resjouir de la mort de quelqu'un que j'ay eu besoin de m'interesser beaucoup en la felicite publique pour pouvoir obtenir de moy de prendre 
 quelque part en celle-cy et quoy madame respondit mon maistre en rougissant un peu estes vous assez bonne pour n'avoir pas hai cyrus et comment interrompit philidaspe qui vouloir tousjours estre d'avis contraire eust elle pu hair un prince qu'elle n'avoit jamais veu qui estoit son parent et que l'on assure qui avoit beaucoup de merite cela n'eust pas este raisonnable ny mesme n'eust pas este possible mais respondit mon maistre vous venez de dire ce me semble que cyrus devoit renverser toute l'asie et oster la couronne a la princesse mais je l'ay dit repartit brusquement philidaspe parce que les mages l'ont dit sans y voir guere d'aparence cyrus respondit froidement mon maistre vous seroit oblige s'il vivoit encore et il ne vous l'est pas beaucoup reprit philidaspe de vouloir qu'on le haisse tout mort qu'il est puis que le roy mon pere leur dit la princesse devoit vous avoir l'un et l'autre a son service je pense que philidaspe a raison et qu'il n'eust pas este aise a cyrus de nous detruire tant que nous eussions eu de si genereux defenseurs ce sentiment nous est bien glorieux madame respondit artamene et j'adjousterois bien agreable reprit philidaspe si elle n'avoit nomme que moy je vous laisse a juger seigneur quel effet ces discours faisoient en l'esprit de mon maistre mais comme il alloit encore repartir quelque chose le roy arriva qui rompit la conversation comme il eut este quelque temps avec mandane il fut se promener au bord de la mer ou 
 tout le monde le suivit le hazard qui se mesle de toutes choses fit malheureusement qu'aribee se mit a entretenir le roy en particulier si bien qu'artamene et philidaspe s'estant trouvez l'un aupres de l'autre firent cette promenade ensemble mais comme ils estoient sortis de chez la princesse l'esprit irrite ils furent quelque temps sans parler mon maistre et luy repassant sans doute en leur memoire tout ce qui venoit de leur arriver qui vit jamais disoit artamene en luy mesme une plus bizarre avanture que la mienne mandane veut que j'aime par force philidaspe qui ne m'aime point qui s'oppose a tous mes desseins qui contredit tous mes discours que je trouve continuellement aupres d'elle qui me regard eternellement avec envie et qui peut-estre est mon rival cette derniere reflexion s'imprimant alors fortement en son ame fit paroistre sur son visage un chagrin que je remarquay facilement car je ne marchois pas fort loing de luy et pour moy je juge que son ennemy pensa a peu pres les mesmes choses puis que je vy en un instant philidaspe aussi bien que mon maistre changer de couleur et de resveurs qu'ils avoient paru tous deux ils parurent chagrins et en colere apres avoir donc este quelque temps sans parler et marchant assez lentement ils demeurerent derriere un peu separez des autres parce que ne songeant pas au roy en un temps ou leur passion les occupoit si fort ils ne s'aperceurent qu'ils alloient trop doucement pour le suivre qu'apres avoir fait vingt ou 
 trente pas de cette sorte mais tout d'un coup artamene revenant un peu de sa resverie vit que le roy estoit deja assez esloigne si bien que se souvenant de ce que philidaspe luy avoit dit chez la princesse vous avez raison luy dit-il de dire que nous nous rencontrons par tout puis que mesme nous nous trouvons seuls au milieu de tant de monde sans en avoir aucun dessein il ne m'importe pas beaucoup reprit brusquement philidaspe de me rencontrer aupres de vous a une promenade mais je vous advoue que je n'aime pas tant a vous rencontrer chez le roy chez la princesse ou dans les bataille lors que je suis prest de faire des rois prisonniers pour moy repliqua artamene je n'ay pas tant d'aversion a vous rencontrer et je voudrois bien vous avoir trouve a la teste d'un armee ennemie pour vous disputer la victoire et pour vous apprendre de quelle facon il faut faire des prisonniers pour les faire glorieusement il n'est pas besoing respondit phidaspe d'un armee de cinquante mille hommes pour vous faire avoir le plaisir que vous desirez et pour peu que vous en ayez d'envie je vous la feray passer facilement il ne tiendra donc qu'a vous reprit artamene et pourveu que les pretentions que vous avez a la cour ne vous empeschent pas de me satisfaire et ne vous obligent pas a vous repentir de ce que vous venez de dire nous verrons demain au matin au soleil levant si la princesse a raison de desirer que philidaspe aime artamene et qu'artamene aime philidaspe il le veux 
 bien respondit-il mais de vostre coste gardez que le respect que vous avez pour le roy et celuy que vous avez pour la princesse ne vous facent changer de resolution c'est dequoy nous serons esclaircis demain au matin repliqua artamene derriere le temple de mars ou je vous attendray avec une espee cependant poursuivit il je pense qu'il est bon de nous r'aprocher du roy afin que l'on ne descouvre rien de nostre dessein apres cela ils se r'aprocherent en effet et se contraignirent si admirablement que personne ne s'aperceut de ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux moy mesme qui comme je l'ay desja dit avois remarque quelque agitation sur le visage d'artamene et sur celuy de philidaspe y fus trompe comme les autres tant parce que j'avois accoustume de les voir tousjours assez chagrins quand ils estoient seuls ensemble sans qu'il en arrivast aucun malheur que parce qu'en effet l'on peut dire que mon maistre a este presque l'inventeur des combats particuliers et qu'ainsi je ne pouvois pas prevoir ce qui arriva en suite le soin artamene estant retire s'enferma seul dans son cabinet avec feraulas auquel il confia son dessein parce qu'il avoit besoin de luy pour l'executer et pour luy faciliter les voyes de sortir sans estre aperceu feraulas a ce qu'il m'a dit voulut luy representer que philidaspe paroissoit estre d'une condition si inegale a la sienne qu'il y avoit de l'injustice a mesurer son espee contre luy mais il luy respondit qu'artamene ne paroissoit pas estre plus que philidaspe 
 qu'il faloit plus regarder la valeur que l'a condition dans les combats et qu'apres tout il croiroit se battre plus glorieusement contre un vaillant soldat que contre un grand roy qui seroit lasche cependant seigneur quoy que l'action qu'artamene avoit a faire deust luy occuper tout l'esprit cela ne l'empescha pas de raconter a feraulas qui l'escoutoit la conversation qu'il avoit eue chez la princesse avec philidaspe et d'y faire toutes les reflexions qu'il eust pu faire en un temps ou il n'auroit point eu de peril a courre tant cette passion occupoit son ame et tant cette grande ame est ferme au milieu des plus grands dangers quel a este le dessein de mandane disoit-il a feraulas en voulant si opiniastrement que nous nous aimassions philidaspe et moy n'est-ce qu'un simple effet de sa prudence et de sa bonte ou en seroit-ce un de quelque secrette bienveuillance pour artamene ou pour philidaspe a-t'elle veu dans mon coeur poursuivoit-il les soubcons qui entretiennent l'aversion que j'ay a l'aimer mais helas s'il estoit ainsi elle scauroit que je l'adore et n'ignorant pas ma passion elle ne m'auroit pas souffert aupres d'elle et bien loing de s'amuser a me commander d'aimer philidaspe je m'imagine qu'elle m'auroit plustost deffendu de la voir et qu'elle m'auroit mesme plustost commande de mourir o dieux poursuivoit-il ne scauroi-je scavoir precisement si philidaspe n'a que de l'ambition ou s'il n'a que de l'amour quoy qu'il en soit je puis esperer 
 que s'il est amoureux la princesse ne scait rien de sa passion non plus que de la mienne et ce qu'elle nous a dit au commencement de son discours me le fait assez connoistre je vous crois trop genereux a-t'elle dit pour vous soubconner d'une pareille foiblesse 
 
 
ha mandane illustre mandane s'escrioit-il que cette foiblesse est glorieuse et qu'il faut avoir l'ame grande pour en estre capable mais est-il possible adjoustoit-il encore que mes yeux et toutes mes actions ne vous ayent pas au moins donne un leger soubcon de mon amour et que tant de choses que j'ay entreprises a la guerre et que j'ay executees assez heureusement ne vous ayent pu faire concevoir que je ne les ay faites que pour vous m'a-t'on veu demander les recompenses que l'on m'a donnees ay-je paru interesse et mandane la divine mandane n'a-t'elle point deu imaginer qu'artamene estoit pousse a ce qu'il faisoit par quelque passion encore plus noble que l'ambition cependant feraulas reprenoit-il cette aimable et aveugle princesse bien loing d'en avoir quelque legere connoissance a adjouste a ce qu'elle avoit desja dit et peut-estre n'y a-t'il pas une de mes filles qui n'ait-fait une reproche secret a sa beaute de n'avoir pu vous donner des chaines depuis que vous estes a la cour ou l'on ne remaque pas que vous ayez un attachement de cette espece 
 
 
ha trop injuste princesse s'escrioit-il pourquoy ne le remarquez vous pas et pourquoy ne dites vous pas plustost en vous mesme 
 puis qu'artamene n'aime rien dans la cour il m'aime sans doute mais helas poursuivoit-il mandane m'a bien fait voir par ce discours qu'elle ne me voudroit pas pour sa conqueste et qu'elle croit m'avoir encore assez fait d'honneur de me dire que la beaute de ses filles pourroit m'avoir donne des chaines 
 
 
seigneur luy dit alors feraulas ce n'est qu'artamene qui a receu ce leger outrage il est vray reprit-il mais cyrus n'est-il pas fait comme artamene mais est-il permis a artamene d'estre cyrus et cyrus peut-il cesser d'estre artamene sans commencer d'estre hai ha cruelle parole s'escrioit-il de nouveau que tu me donnes de douleur et de desespoir car enfin je veux que mandane connoisse ma passion sans que je la luy die et le moyen qu'elle le puisse jamais si elle s'amuse a chercher dans toute la cour qui peut m'avoir surmonte et si elle ne s'avise jamais que l'on ne la peut voir sans l'aimer et que quand artamene ne seroit qu'artamene ayant le coeur aussi grand qu'il l'a il ne pourroit s'abaisser a aimer ailleurs ce qui me console un peu en cette occasion c'est qu'elle n'a pas mieux traite mon pretendu rival que moy et qu'il y a mesme eu dans son discours quelques paroles un peu plus obligeantes pour artamene que pour luy il y en a pourtant eu de bien cruelles poursuivoit-il et si j'eusse este fortement assure que philidaspe eust este mon rival j'en serois mort de douleur et les marques de ma jalousie eussent descouvert mon amour 
 a ma princesse enfin seigneur artamene parla a feraulas comme s'il n'eust rien eu a faire le lendemain au matin mais voyant qu'il ne songeoit pas a se coucher il l'en fit souvenir et mon maistre l'ayant creu se mit au lit d'ou il sortit a la pointe du jour j'avois oublie de vous dire que philidaspe et ouy estoient convenus qu'ils se batroient a cheval sans autres armes qu'un bouclier et qu'une espee de peur que cela ne fist descouvrir leur dessein et qu'ils auroient chacun un escuyer avec eux qui seroient spectateurs de leur combat feraulas donc sortit avec artamene aussi tost qu'il fut habille et par une porte de derriere il se deroba facilement a la veue de tout le monde et se rendit au lieu de l'assignation demie heure plustost que philidaspe ce fut la seigneur ou artamene commenca de craindre beaucoup l'indignation de la princesse qui venant a scavoir leur querelle si tost apres la priere qu'elle leur avoit faite de s'aimer auroit lieu d'en estre offensee neantmoins cette forte aversion qu'il avoit pour philidaspe estoit encore plus puissante que sa crainte et il concluoit que dans les soubcons qu'il avoit qu'il ne fust amoureux de mandane il valoit mieux s'exposer a desplaire une fois a sa princesse que de manquer a se vanger d'un rival il attendoit donc philidaspe avec une estrange impatience lors que paroissant tout d'un coup et s'apercevant que mon maistre l'avoit attendu je vous demande pardon artamene luy dit-il de n'estre pas venu plustost mais je tascheray de reparer ma 
 paresse par la diligence que j'apporteray a vous vaincre si je le puis l'espere luy repliqua artamene que la mienne vous previendra une seconde fois et que nous scaurons bien tost si nous nous devons aimer ou hair en disant cela il mit l'espee a la main aussi bien que philidaspe et apres avoir fait faire chacun une passade a leurs chevaux comme pour les mettre en haleine ils demeurerent un moment vis-a-vis l'un de l'autre pour prendre leurs mesures et pour se r'affermir dans la selle en suite dequoy artamene et philidaspe partant de la main en mesme temps et se couvrant de leurs boucliers se heurterent si rudement qu'ils penserent tomber tous deux l'espee de philidaspe glissa sur le bouclier d'artamene et celle d'artamene effleura legerement le coste droit de philidaspe leurs chevaux qui estoient fort bien dans la main ne s'emporterent point apres un choc si violent et ces redoutables rivaux tournant tout court en mesme temps tascherent de se gagner la croupe autant qu'ils purent mais ils estoient tous deux si adroits et conservoient tant de jugement dans ce combat qu'il ne leur fut pas possible redonnant donc la main a leurs chevaux et leur faisant faire une seconde toute bride l'espee d'artamene a cette seconde fois tombant sur la teste de philidaspe et glissant de la sur son espaule luy fit deux grandes blessures d'un seul coup celle de philidaspe aussi demeura tenite du sang d'artamene et luy 
 perca une cuisse d'outre en outre mon maistre se sentant blesse en devint plus furieux et philidaspe de mesme voyant couler son sang de divers endroits en augmenta sa colere de la moitie voila donc ces deux fiers ennemis aussi animez que s'ils eussent sceu tous deux l'un de l'autre et leur condition et leur amour de sorte seigneur que tout ce que l'adresse la force et la valeur peuvent faire ils le firent en cette occasion artamene pressa son ennemy son ennemy le pressa a son tour quelques fois ils ruserent et voulurent mesnager leurs forces un moment apres ils voulurent vaincre ou mourir et tous deux enfin se disputerent si opiniastrement la victoire qu'ils s'en estimerent encore depuis beaucoup plus qu'auparavant quoy qu'ils ne s'en aimassent pas davantage mais sans m'auser a vous raconter plus precisement tout ce qui se passa en ce furieux combat je vous diray seulement que mon maistre blessa philidaspe en six endroits et qu'il ne receut que trois blessures ils estoient en cet estat lors qu'artamene desespere de se voir resister si long temps jettant son bouclier deriere son dos pressant son cheval des talons et de la voix et haussant l'espee de toute l'estendue de ses bras la fit tomber si terriblement sur la teste de philidaspe qu'il le fit trebucher a demy pasme entre les pieds de leurs chevaux luy arrachant son espee de la main comme il tomboit a l'instant mesme mon maistre se jettant a vas de son cheval et tenant ces deux espees courut a luy fierement et luy cira philidaspe 
 si tu peux te relever je te le permets et je te rends ton espee pour recommencer mais si tu ne le peux pas advoue qu'artamene estoit digne d'estre ton amy si ta mauvaise fortune l'eust voulu permettre philidaspe a ces mots revenant de son estourdissement voulut faire effort pour se relever mais il luy fut impossible de sorte que regardant mon maistre avec des yeux d'ou le feu sembloit sortit tu as vaincu luy respondit-il en gemissant mais tu ne vaincras peut-estre pas tousjours si tu es assez inhumain pour me laisser vivre ils en estoient la et artamene s'aprochoit pour le soustenir lors qu'aribee qui fortuitement alloit a la chasse parut suivy de grand nombre de personnes et voyant mon maistre l'espee a la main il vint a luy avec tous les fines ne scachant ce que ce pouvoit bien estre d'abord il fut fort estonne lors qu'en s'aprochant plus pres il reconnut mon maistre et vit que c'estoit philidaspe qu'il avoit vaincu quoy artamene luy dit-il vous combatez donc aussi bien les amis du roy que ses ennemis je combats luy respondit-il les ennemis du roy par tout ou je les rencontre mais je combats aussi les ennemis d'artamene en quelque lieu que les trouve mon maistre se tournant alors vers ce genereux vaincu qui mouroit de despit et de douleur d'estre veu en cette posture dont il n'avoit pas la force de s'oster philidaspe luy dit-il en luy rejettant son espee tu t'en es trop bien servy pour t'en priver et si tu estois aussi raisonnable 
 que vaillant tu ne me mettrois jamais en estat de te faire la mesme grace artamene sans attendre sa response voulut remonter a cheval mais il eut besoin que feraulas luy aidast car la perte du sang l'avoit extremement affoibly neantmoins estant un peu soustenu par luy il se tint encore assez ferme dans la selle pour pouvoir faire sa retraite il n'en fut pas de mesme de philidaspe car comme il estoit beaucoup plus blesse il falut que cinq ou six hommes le portassent sur leurs bras dans la maison la plus proche afin de l'y faire penser aribee apres avoir laisse des gens avec luy et donne ordre d'avoir les chirurgiens du roy pour le secourir fut advertir ciaxare de ce qui estoit arrive pour artamene il ne voulut pas par respect rentrer dans la ville et il s'en alla chez ce sacrificateur auquel il avoit parle la premiere fois qu'il fut au temple de mars ayant fait depuis avec luy une amitie fort particuliere aussi tost qu'il y fut et que l'on eut donne ordre a ce qu'il faloit pour ses blessure il envoya feraulas vers le roy et vers la princesse pour leur demander pardon et pour les suplier de ne le condamner pas sans l'entendre comme chrisante vouloit continuer son recit le roy de phrigie arriva qui venant de chez ciaxare interrompit cette narration pour dire a tout cette illustre compagnie que ce prince estoit inflexible et quil paroissoit tousjours plus irrite contre artamene ha s'ecrierent tout d'une voix le roy d'hircanie et tous ces princes qui 
 venoient d'entendre ce que chrisante avoit dit si vous scaviez quel est cet artamene dont vous parlez vous le pleindriez encore beaucoup davantage il seroit difficile reprit le roy de phrigie que cela peust estre car j'ay une si prodigieuse estime pour luy qu'il n'est pas aise de m'interesser plus que je le suis en la conservation d'un si grand homme vous changerez pourtant de sentimens respondit le roy d'hircanie quand vous connoistrez veritablement artamene et vous confesserez adjousta persode qu'il ne fut jamais un prince si illustre que luy un prince reprit precipitamment le roy de phrigie ouy seigneur repliqua hidaspe et des plus considerables du monde a ces mots le roy de phrigie se mit a les presser tous de luy dire ce qu'ils en scavoient et tous voulurent luy en raconter quelque chose l'un luy vouloit parler de sa naissance l'autre exageroit sa valeur l'autre luy vouloit dire quelques particularitez de son amour et tous selon les choses qui les avoient le plus touchez vouloient l'instruire de la merveilleuse vie d'artamene chrisante voyant cet empressement entre des personnes si illustres encore que cette confusion fust glorieuse a son cher maistre puis que c'estoit un effet de la passion qu'ils avoient pour luy et une marque de la grandeur des choses qu'il avoit faites les supplia voyant qu'il se faisoit tard de vouloir remettre la partie a une autre fois se soumettant d'aller aprendre le commencement de cette histoire au roy de phrigie en son particulier 
 afin qu'ils peussent apres tout ensemble en escouter la merveilleuse suitte de la bouche de feraulas qui en estoit encore mieux instruit que luy comme ayant este fort employe a sa cause de sa jeunesse dans les amours de son maistre tous ces princes estant tombez d'accord que chrisante avoit raison ne peurent toutefois se separer si tost et ils furent encore un temps assez considerable a louer le malheureux artamene et a exagerer egalement ses vertus ses infortunes et sa gloire 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pendant que ces illustres amis d'artamene s'entretenoient de son malheur et de ses grandes qualitez il se rendoit encore plus digne des louanges qu'ils luy donnoient estant certain qu'il supportoit sa prison avec une constance admirable l'incertitude de la vie de sa princesse estoit la seule chose qui touchoit son coeur sensiblement et le malheur de sa propre captivite luy sembloit trop peu considerable pour pouvoir esbranler son esprit mais a dire vray l'amour le tourmentoit si cruellement qu'il n'estoit pas besoin que d'autres passions s'en meslassent jamais personne ne le fut davantage et quand il repassoit dans sa memoire tous les merveilleux evenemens de sa vie qu'il se souvenoit de combien de perils il estoit echappe quelle amitie ciaxare avoit eue pour luy quels 
 services il luy avoit rendus quelle passion respectueuse il avoit eue pour mandane quels obstacles il avoit trouve en tous ses desseins quelle douce vie il eust pu mener s'il ne fust point sorty de perse a combien de travaux il avoit este expose combien la fortune luy avoit fait acquerir de gloire quels illustres rivaux l'amour luy avoit donnez quelles fameuses victoires il avoit remportees et en quel malheur il estoit reduit repassant dis-je toutes choses en confusion dans son esprit il ne pouvoit presque se croire soy mesme et se voyant seul dans sa chambre il avoit y des momens ou il ne scavoit trop bien s'il estoit cyrus ou artamene ou s'il n'estoit ny l'un ny l'autre mais du moins n'ignoroit-il pas qu'il estoit le plus malheureux prince du monde et qu'a moins que de la puissance absolue des dieux il ne luy estoit pas possible d'esperer jamais nulle satisfaction en la vie l'absence de la personne aimee disoit-il en luy mesme passe dans la croyance de toute la terre pour une supresme infortune mais helas je n'en suis pas seulement absent pour un temps j'en suis peut-estre esloigne pour tousjours quand j'estois a l'armee adjoustoit-il et que je scavois qu'elle estoit dans ancire ou dans sinope je scavois qu'elle estoit en seurete je scavois qu'elle estoit en un beau lieu je scavois qu'elle estoit en agreable compagnie et je scavois encore de certitude que mon absence ne la touchoit pas ainsi je n'avois que ma propre douleur a suporter et le seul deplaisir d'estre esloigne d'elle faisoit 
 toute mon inquietude cependant les dieux scavent quelle estoit ma peine et combien la privation de la veue de ce que l'on cherit est une chose insupportable mais helas je suis bien en un estat plus pitoyable je scay que ma princesse est ou morte ou entre les mains de quelqu'un qui la retient contre sa volonte je scay qu'elle est infailliblement dans le tombeau ou dans la prison et qu'en quelque lieu qu'elle soit elle souffre et me pleint sans doute dans mon infortune encore poursuivoit-il si je pouvois rompre mes chaines avec honneur j'irois chercher son cercueil ou sa prison car la mer suivant sa coustume aura rendu ce beau corps vivant ou mort j'irois mourir aupres de l'un ou la delivrer de l'autre et j'aurois quelque consolation dans mon malheur au lieu qu'il faut que j'expire dans les fers et que malgre moy je souffre une accusation injuste sans m'en oser justifier ce n'est pas que je ne parusse encore plus criminel a ciaxare comme amant de mandane que comme amy du roy d'assirie mais ce seroit un crime ou il n'y auroit rien de honteux pour artamene et qui au contraire luy donneroit beaucoup de gloire apres tout poursuivoit-il celle de ma princesse m'est encore plus considerable et cette severe et scrupuleuse vertu dont elle faisoit profession m'ayant toujours deffendu de donner le moindre tesmoignage de ma passion a personne mourons plustost mille fois que d'en faire paroistre la moindre marque ce n'est pas o illustre princesse s'escrioit-il 
 que vous ayez eu raison de me faire cacher mon amour comme une amour criminelle ny la bonte que vous avez eue pour moy comme une chose qui eust pu offenser cette vertu car enfin qu'avez vous fait pour artamene que ne vous ait pas conseille la raison et que n'ait pas aprouve l'innocence vous m'avez fuy opiniastrement vous vous estes combatue vous mesme vous m'avez cache une partie de vostre bien-veuillance et vous ne m'en avez presque jamais donne d'autres preuves que celles que j'ay pu tirer de foibles conjectures de n'estre pas hai de vous il a falu que j'aye penetre dans vostre coeur par des voyes extremement detournees vous m'avez derobe quelques fois jusques a vos regards vous avez mesnage jusques a vos moindres paroles et tout ce que je puis dire de vous c'est que me pouvant perdre vous ne m'avez pas perdu mais dieux eussiez vous pu concevoir innocemment la pensee de perdre un homme qui vous aimoit de la plus respectueuse facon dont personne ait jamais aime un prince qui vous a cache tous ses desirs qui les a estoussez en naissant et qui mesme n'a jamais ose desirer rien qui peust offenser la vertu la plus delicate un prince dis-je qui vous adoroit comme l'on adore les dieux et qui vous avoit consacre tous les momens de sa vie cependant vous avez voulu que je fisse un grand secret de ma passion ne le descouvrons donc pas ma princesse et preparons nous a mourir sans nous pleindre et sans faire voir nostre veritable douleur 
 c'estoit de cette sorte que l'amoureux artamene passoit les jours et les nuits il avoit pourtant cet advantage dans sa prison que ses gardes le pleignoient et le respectoient et s'il eust este d'humeur a vouloir rompre ses fers il ne luy eust pas este difficile andramias qui commandoit a ceux qui le gardoient estoit proche parent d'aglatidas qui avoit une amitie si particuliere et si desmesuree pour artamene qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'eust este capable de faire pour le delivrer andramias outre l'alliance qui estoit entr'eux luy avoit beaucoup d'obligation si bien qu'il luy fut fort aise de l'obliger a luy donner la permission de voir artamene il fut donc un soir comme tout le monde fut retire le visiter dans sa chambre et luy offrir tout ce qu'il pouvoit il voulut mesme luy parler de quelques moyens qu'il avoit imaginez pour faciliter sa fuite s'il le vouloit mais artamene apres l'en avoir remercie fort civilement l'assura qu'il ne sortiroit jamais de sa prison que par la mesme main qui l'y avoit mis il luy dit encore que les criminels faisoient bien de rompre leurs liens mais que les innocens devoient attendre que l'on desnouast les leurs sans violence qu'ainsi il le conjuroit de se mettre en repos de ce coste la et de ne s'exposer pas pour l'amour de luy a la colere du roy que ce n'estoit pas qu'il n'eust eu beaucoup de consolation de le voir quelquesfois et d'autant plus que la melancolie qui paroissoit tousjours en son esprit s'accommodoit assez a sa fortune presente mais qu'enfin 
 il n'estoit pas juste qu'il se mist en un si grand peril a sa consideration aglatidas respondit alors a artamene que la vie ne luy estoit pas si agreable qu'il deust craindre d'exposer la sienne et que mesme en cette occasion il ne se hazardoit point du tout parce qu'outre que le roy n'avoit pas precisement deffendu de le laisser voir andramias estant son amy son parent et son oblige ce n'estoit pas une chose fort extraordinaire qu'il le visitast souvent et que comme sa chambre estoit engagee dans celle d'andramias et par consequent separee de celle de ses gardes il pouvoit sans doute le visiter tant qu'il voudroit sans qu'ils s'en aperceussent et luy donner du moins cette foible consolation d'avoir quelqu'un aupres de luy qui peust l'aider a se pleindre de son malheur artamene s'en defendit autant qu'il put mais aglatidas fut si pressant qu'enfin il fut contraint de luy permettre d'aller passer tous les soirs dans sa chambre jamais personne n'eust pu estre plus propre qu'aglatidas a consoler un malheureux qui ne trouve rien de plus capable d'irriter sa douleur que la joye qu'il voit sur le visage de ceux qui l'approchent un soir donc que cet illustre melancolique estoit aupres d'artamene et qu'apres avoir long temps parle de l'inconstance de la fortune et de toutes les miseres de la vie ils eurent observe l'un et l'autre un assez long silence aglatidas qui voulut luy donner quelque legere consolation et qui ne scavoit rien de son amour commenca de luy parler 
 de cette sorte seigneur luy dit-il je vous voy sans doute bien malheureux mais apres tout vous ne l'estes pas le plus qu'on le peut estre la grandeur que vous semblez avoir perdue se peut recouvrer facilement et l'on passe assez souvent du throne dans la prison et de la prison sur le throne enfin il est des malheurs moins eclatans qui sont encore plus sensibles et qui sont d'autant plus insuportables qu'ils sont plus secrets vous avez du moins ce triste soulagement adjousta-t'il que tout le monde vous plaint car ces grandes chuttes telles que la vostre ne manquent gueres d'attirer la compassion de tous les honnestes gens ou au contraire il est des malheurs de telle nature qu'ils ne sont pitie a personne et qui bien loing d'exciter la compassion sont que l'on accuse de foiblesse et mesme de folie les malheureux qui les souffrent si bien que pour esviter ce surcroist d'infortune et de douleur il faut etousser ses souspirs il faut cacher ses larmes ou ne dire du moins jamais la cause de son affliction artamene entendant parler aglatidas de cette sorte s'imagina alors facilement que cette tristesse qui paroissoit tousjours dans son esprit comme sur son visage et dont il n'avoit jamais sceu le sujet estoit sans doute causee par l'amour et comme il est certain que la curiosite d'aprendre les malheurs de ceux qui ont quelque conformite avec nous est inseparable de tous les infortunez artamene qui en l'estat ou estoit son ame n'en eust pointeu pour toutes les affaires de la terre quand 
 on eust deu la bouleverser en eut en cette rencontre pour ce qui pouvoit avoir quelque raport avec sa passion si bien que regardant aglatidas en soupirant seroit-il possible luy dit-il que cette melancolie que j'avois creu estre un simple effet de vostre temperamment eust quelque cause secrette dont je n'eusse point entendu parler ouy seigneur repliqua aglatidas elle en a une mais elle est de telle nature que je la dois cacher soigneusement a tous ceux qui comme vous n'ont peut-estre jamais eu l'ame sensible qu'a l'ambition et qu'a la gloire et qui n'ayant jamais esprouve la puissance de l'amour appelleroient foiblesse et folie comme je l'ay dit tout ce que cette passion auroit fait faire aux autres ne craignez pas luy respondit artamene en soupirant une seconde fois que ma vertu soit aussi severe que vous la croyez car bien que ma vie ne soit pas encore fort avancee peut-estre qu'en tant de voyages que j'ay faits n'ay-je pas este absolument insensible a cette passion ainsi mon cher aglatidas luy dit-il si vous avez dessein de me consoler dans mes infortunes faites que je scache les vostres et n'apprehendez pas je vous en conjure de ne trouver point de compassion dans mon ame qui toute accablee qu'elle est de sa propre douleur ne laissera pas d'estre sensible pour la vostre aglatidas fut encore quelque temps a se deffendre mais enfin vaincu par les prieres d'artamene et par les persuasions d'andramias qui avoit este tesmoin de toutes ses disgraces il commenca de parler cette sorte apres 
 que ce capitaine des gardes eut donne tous les ordres necessaires pour n'estre ny descouverts ny interrompus
 
 
 
 
histoire d'aglatidas et d'amestris
 
 
j'ay entendu dire bien souvent que l'amour est une passion qui se sert de toutes les autres qui les fortifie ou qui les affoiblit selon les occasions qui s'en presentent et qui ne les chasse jamais si absolument d'une ame qu'il n'y reste tousjours quelques marques de leur ancienne domination il n'en a pourtant pas este ainsi en mon coeur et cette regle generale a eu son exception en luy comme toutes les autres regles en ont puis que lors que l'amour s'en empara il en bannit l'ambition il luy osta le desir de la gloire et ne luy laissa plus de sentiment que pour la jalousie et pour la douleur je ne m'arresteray point seigneur a vous dire que je suis de l'illustre race du fameux aglatidas dont je porte le nom qui fit de si de belles choses sous le regne de phraorte aux guerres qu'il eut en perse en medie et en assirie car peut-estre ne l'ignorez vous pas mais je vous diray seulement que depuis cela ceux de ma maison ont tousjours tenu aupres de nos rois un des rangs le plus considerable apres les princes 
 de leur sang j'estois donc nay seigneur d'une condition assez relevee et j'ose dire que toutes mes inclinations n'estoient pas indignes de ma naissance j'avois un pere qui eut sans doute beaucoup de soin de mon education et si l'amour n'eust pas empesche l'effet de ce qu'il attendoit de moy je serois peut-estre encore aujourd'huy beaucoup au dessus de ce que je suis je n'eus donc pas plustost attaint ma dix-septiesme annee que voyant la paix par toute la medie et voulant pourtant acquerir quelque estime je fus chez le roy des saces pere du prince mazare qui a fait naufrage et qui a pery ces jours passez qui avoit guerre avec un prince de ses voisins ou j'ose dire qu'en fort peu de temps j'aquis quelque reputation mais comme cette guerre fut bien tost termine et que la paix estoit alors par toute l'asie je fus contraint apres avoir este deux ans ou parmy les saces ou en mes voyages de m'en retourner a ecbatane qui comme vous scavez est une des plus belles des plus magnifiques et des plus agreables villes du monde j'y arrivay seigneur quelques jours apres qu'astiage eut receu la nouvelle de la mort du jeune cyrus fils du roy de perse et de la princesse sa fille or il y a desja trop long temps que vous estes en capadoce pour n'avoir pas sceu ce qui s'est passe en medie et pour avoir ignore les menaces des dieux les frayeurs d'astiage et la joye qu'il eut de croire que le repos de toute l'asie estoit solidement estably par la perte d'un prince que l'on dit qui promettoit des grandes choses je 
 revins donc a la cour en une saison de festes et de resjouissances et j'y fus sans doute quelque temps avec toute la douceur imaginable le roy ne faisoit pas une chasse que je n'en fusse il ne se faisoit pas une assemblee de dames que je ne m'y trouvasse j'aimois la magnificence des habillemens je me divertissois aux promenades et comme vous scavez que le palais du roy et les jardins d'ecbatane sont la plus belle chose du monde il n'y avoit point de jour qui ne me fournist un nouveau plaisir le roy me faisoit l'honneur de me considerer plus que je ne le meritois je m'estois fait aimer de tous les jeunes gens de la cour et si je l'ose dire toutes nos dames ne me haissoient pas car comme je n'avois qu'un dessein general de plaire a tout le monde il eust este assez difficile que j'eusse beaucoup despleu a quelqu'un je jouissois donc de la jeunesse et de la liberte avec une satisfaction extreme lors qu'artambare qui comme vous scavez peut-estre avoit autrefois este amoureux de la reine de perse avant qu'elle fust mariee avec cambise pere de cyrus dont j'ay parle et qui s'estoit esloigne de la cour pour ce sujet et marie depuis en la provinces des arisantins avec la fille du plus grand seigneur de ce pais la revint a ecbatane et amena avec luy une fille unique qu'il avoit agee de quinze ans qu'il aimoit infiniment et qui meritoit sans doute de l'estre de cette sorte le hazard voulut qu'en ce temps-la metrouvant l'esprit un peu lasse du tumulte de la cour et de l'abondance 
 des plaisirs je montay a cheval suivy seulement d'un escuyer avec intention de m'en aller pour quelques jours jouir de la solitude dans une assez belle maison qu'avoit mon pere a deux cens stades d'ecbatane je m'en allay donc assez melancolique et assez resveur sans que j'en eusse aucun sujet et sans avoir autre dessein que d'aller visiter les peintures les statues les jardins et les fontaines de la maison de mon pere afin de retrouver apres la conversation plus douce quand je retournerois a la ville mais helas seigneur que je scavois peu ce qui me devoit arriver en ce voyage et que je me suis estonne de fois depuis ce temps la du soin que je pris de m'enchainer moy mesme et du chemin que je fis pour aller chercher ce qui a trouble tout le repos de ma vie comme j'arrivay a cent pas d'une grande route qui conduit jusques a la porte du chasteau je vis un chariot renverse dont l'essieu estoit absolument rompu et qui par sa magnificence tesmoignoit estre a une personne de qualite mais comme il n'y avoit aucuns valets aupres de ce chariot pour scavoir a qu'il estoit je continuy d'avancer estant arrive a la premiere porte du chasteau le concierge qui me l'ouvrit me dit qu'artambare dont je connoissois assez le nom et la condition s'en allant a ecbatane avoit eu le malheur qu'un de ses chariots s'estoit rompu si bien que ne voyant pas qu'il peust aller plus loin ce jour la il estoit venu demander retraite pour cette nuit en attendant que l'on racommodast son chariot et qu'il la 
 luy avoit accordee ce concierge qui ne songeoit simplement qu'a me dire pourquoy artambare estoit la ne me dit rien d'hermaniste sa femme ny d'amestris qui estoit sa fille si bien qu'apres luy avoir dit qu'il avoit bien fait et apres luy avoir ordonne qu'il fist toutes choses possibles pour bien traiter artambare je m'en allay en diligence dans le jardin ou cet homme me dit qu'il estoit mais seigneur je fus estrangement surpris de trouver dans un cabinet de verdure que je voulus traverser pour aller au parterre la plus belle personne que je vy de ma vie et que je ne connoissois point du tout car amestris n'avoit jamais este a la cour cette belle fille ne fut guere moins surprise de me voir que je le fus de la rencontrer car croyant quil n'y avoit personne dans cette maison que des domestiques elle ne s'estoit pas attendue a y voir un homme fait comme moy et en effet comme il faisoit assez chaud et qu'elle n'avoit qu'une de ses femmes avec elle elle avoit oste un crespe qui luy couvroit la gorge qu'elle a admirablement belle et ayant les bras assez descouverts elle estoit negligemment couchee sur un siege de gazon la teste appuyee sur les genoux de cette fille qui estoit aupres d'elle je ne la vy opas plustost que je m'arrestay et des le premier moment qu'elle m'aperceut elle se leva avec precipitation et se fit remettre son crespe nous rougismes tous deux a cet abord mais ce fut sans doute par des sentimens differens la modestie faisant en elle ce que l'amour fit en moy 
 car seigneur le premier instant de cette fatale veue fut le premier de ma passion neantmoins malgre mon estonnement ma surprise et mon admiration sans egale je saluay l'adorable amestris avec beaucoup de respect car c'estoit effectivement la fille d'artambare et prenant la parole madame luy dis-je pour luy faire connoistre qui s'estois je ne pensois pas trouver une si belle et si agreable compagnie dans la maison de mon pere et si j'eusse sceu qu'une personne comme vous eust este dans ce cabinet le respect que je porte a toutes celles qui vous ressemblent si toutefois il en est au monde m'auroit bien empesche d'y entrer et de troubler vostre repos seigneur me respondre-elle ce seroit plus tost a moy a vous demander pardon de ce que j'interromps peut-estre la douceur de la solitude que vous venez sans doute chercher dans un si aimable lieu mais seigneur c'est a mon pere qui est dans ce parterre poursuivit-elle en commencant d'y aller a vous faire des excuses de la liberte qu'il a pris de loger chez vous apres un accident assez fascheux qui l'y a force voyant alors qu'elle avoit dessein de me conduire vers artambare je luy donnay la main t je remarquay aisement par cette premiere adresse qu'elle avoit eue a me faire connoistre qui elle estoit et par je ne scay quel air galant spirituel et modeste qui paroissoit en ses actions qu'elle avoit autant d'esprit que de beaute madame luy dis-je en la conduisant et en respondant a ce qu'elle m'avoit dit il est 
 est bien advantageux d'estre interrompu dans la solitude par une personne comme vous et je pense qu'il n'y a pont de gens raisonnables qui nen seulement ne quitassent pour un si grand bien la solitude avec joye mais mesme la cour avec toute sa magnificence et tous ses plaisirs je me suis bien preparee me dit-elle en souriant a trouver la flatterie dans ecbatane et peut-estre scauray-je bien m'en deffendre en ce lieu-ia mais je vous avoue que je crains un peu d'en estre surprise en celuy-cy ou je n'avois pas creu en estre attaquee et lors que vous estes arrive dans le cabinet ou j'estois je disois a cette fille que vous voyez aupres de moy qu'il seroit bien tost temps de songer a dire adieu a l'innocence de nos bois et a la simplicite de nos provinces mais a ce que je voy l'empire de la flaterie s'estend bien plus loing que je ne pensois puis qu'il n'y a pas mesme de seurete pour l'humilite et pour la modestie a deux cens stades d'ecbatane quand vous vous deffendrez luy repliqua-je de toutes les louanges que l'on vous donnera sans doute a la cour il ne sera pas aise que vous vous defendiez de vostre propre connoissance et que vous ignoriez que vous estes la plus belle personne du monde nous nous trouvasmes alors si pres d'artambare et d'hermaniste sa femme qu'au lieu de me respondre elle leur dit qui j'estois et m'obligea par son discours l'estant desja par mon devoir a leur faire un compliment ils me firent beaucoup d'excuses de la liberte qu'ils avoient prise et je leur tesmoignay que 
 mon pere leur en seroit extremement oblige et qu'en mon particulier je m'en estimois infiniment leur redevable ils respondirent a cette civilite par une autre et la conversation fut assez long temps panchant un peu trop vers la ceremonie tant il est dangereux de tarder dans les provinces apres mesme avoir este a la cour en suitte ils se mirent a louer la beaute des jardins et des fontaines et amestris tesmoigna trouver ce lieu-la si beau qu'elle osa bien dire qu'elle croyoit qu'ecbatane ne luy plairoit pas davantage quoy qu'elle en eust entendu raconter des miracles artambare me demanda apres des nouvelles de la cour et s'informa de cent choses qu'il ignoroit parce qu'elles estoient arrivees depuis son depart et j'eus le bonheur en cette premiere veue de trouver beaucoup de disposition a m'aimer et dans l'esprit d'artambare et dans celuy d'hermaniste pour amestris ce fut bien assez de ne pas remarquer qu'elle eust de l'aversion pour moy et de demeurer dans une incertitude de ses sentimens qui ne me deffendoit pas absolument d'esperer de n'en estre pas hai comme elle a beaucoup de jugement et qu'elle scavoit qu'il y a une notable difference de l'air de la cour a celuy des provinces elle parloit avec moderation et ne se hazardoit pas legerement s'estant resolue de laisser agir sa beaute toute seule dans les commencemens qu'elle seroit a ecbatane avant que de faire eclater les charmes de son esprit et veritablement c'est le seul secret infaillible dont se peuvent servir 
 les provinciales en arrivant a la cour si elles veulent y aquerir quelque estime car les manieres d'agir du grand monde et celles de la campagne sont si differentes que quelque adresse que puissent avoir ces personnes nouvelles venues il est impossible qu'elles ne facent quelques manquemens si elles se commettent a parler beaucoup et hors de battre froid en ces rencontres et d'escouter long temps les autres avant que de se vouloir faire escouter soy mesme il est dis-je absolument impossible que ces personnes dont je parle ne s'embarrassent et ne nuisent a leur gloire plus elles travaillent a l'establir amestris parut donc fort reservee en cette premiere conversation elle ne put pas toutefois me cacher les rares qualitez qui sont en elle et durant un jour et demy que je retins artambare a la maison de mon pere je vy briller amestris de tant de lumieres que j'en demeuray esblouy j'admirois la purete de son accent la beaute de ses expressions et combien son eloquence estoit naturelle la galanterie de son esprit la complaisance de son humeur et les charmes de son entretien quelque retenue quelle y voulust aporter pendant le temps que cette agreable compagnie fut en ce lieu la je taschay de la divertir le plus qu'il me fut possible je la menay a la chasse dans un parc qui est derriere les jardins je la fis tousjours promener a l'ombre aux heures mesme ou les soleil est le plus ardant enfin soit par le chant des oyseaux par le bruit des fontaines 
 par l'email des parterres par les peintures des galeries et par les statues ou par ma conversation que je vinsse a bout de mon dessein toutes ces illustres personnes m'assurerent qu'elles ne s'estoient point ennuyees apres donc seigneur les avoir traitees avec le plus de magnificence qu'il me fut possible il falut se resoudre a partir je dis a partir en general car il ne fut pas en mon pouvoir de demeurer davantage dans cette maison quoy que j'y fusse alle avec intention d'y tarder sept ou huit jours je dis a artambare que je voulois estre son guide et que je voulois aussi aller estre tesmoin de l'aparition de ce bel astre a la cour dis-je en monstrant la belle amestris elle rougit a ce discours et y repartit sans affectation et sans se piquer trop de bel esprit elle ne laissa pas de tesmoigner qu'elle en avoit infiniment leur chariot estant racommode nous partismes je montay a cheval et fus tousjours a la portiere ou estoit amestris et tant que le chemin dura je continuay de faire ce que j'avois fait de puis le premier instant que je l'avois veue c'est a dire la regarder et l'admirer avec tant de plaisir et tant de satisfaction que moy qui avois tousjours entendu dire que l'amour n'estoit jamais sans inquietude ne soubconnay point d'en avoir je sentis bien que mes yeux mon coeur et toutes mes pensees estoient pour amestris mais je me trouvois si content et si tranquile que je croyois n'avoir pour cette belle personne que de cette espece d'amour que l'on a pour tous les beaux objets je m'apercevois 
 que je n'avois jamais eu tant d'attachement ny tant d'admiration pour nulle autre chose mais comme je scavois que je n'avois aussi jamais rien veu de si beau je ne m'en estonnois pas et je jouissois en repos du plaisir de la voir de l'honneur d'estre aupres d'elle et de la joye de l'entendre parler nous fismes donc de cette facon tout le chemin qu'il y avoit a faire du lieu d'ou nous partions jusques a ecbatane et pendant cet intervale j'instruisois amestris de tous les divertissemens de la cour et elle s'informoit avec adresse quelles estoient celles qui avoient l'empire de la beaute qu'elles avoient la reputation d'avoir le plus d'esprit et par cent questions de cette sorte qu'artambare hermaniste ou amestris me firent elle connut la cour avant mesme que d'y estre mais enfin nous arrivasmes a ecbatane et nous fusmes descendre a l'ancien palais d'artambare qui est un des plus beaux qui s'y voye je m'imagine seigneur que vous vous souvenez bien que cette fameuse ville a sept murailles qui sont enfermees les unes dans les autres ques les creneaux pour les distinguer sont tous de hauteur differente et pour faire un plus magnifique objet aux yeux de ceux qui y viennent sont peints de differentes couleurs que ceux de la premiere le sont de blanc ceux de la seconde de noir ceux de la troisiesme de rouge ceux de la quatriesme de bleu ceux de la cinquiesme d'orange et que ceux de la sixiesme sont argentez et ceux de la derniere dorez or seigneur vous scavez que dans l'enceinte de 
 cette derniere muraille est le palais des rois de medie depuis que l'illustre dejoce fit bastir ces superbes murs et que dans celles qui sont les plus proches sont ceux des personnes de la plus haute condition celuy d'artambare est donc entre la muraille a creneaux dorez et celle qui les a d'argent et le hazard qui se mesle de tout fit que celuy de mon pere touchoit celuy dont je parle comme nous fusmes arrivez a la porte de celuy d'artambare nous y trouvasmes grand nombre de ses anciens amis qui l'y attendoient ce qui fut cause qu'il me fut plus aise de donner la main a amestris pour la conduire a son apartement parce que de ce grand nombre de gens qui estoient la il ne manqua pas d'y en avoir qui la donnerent a hermaniste jusques la seigneur la joye avoit este dans mon ame et l'amour ce dangereux serpent s'estoit si bien cache sous des fleurs que je n'avois point senti ses piqueures mais des le premier moment que je songeay qu'il faloit quitter amestris et prendre conge d'elle l'amour m'aparut tout d'un coup le plus terrible et le plus espouventable qu'il se soit jamais monstre a personne je le vy tout arme de fleches et de traits je luy vy plus d'un flambeau a la main et je connus enfin parfaitement que c'estoit le plus redoutable des dieux a peine eus-je veu que tout le monde commencoit de s'en aller que je changeay de couleur je perdis la parole tout d'un coup je devins serieux et triste et regardant amestris sans luy rien dire je luy dis sans doute beaucoup 
 de choses si elle eust voulu les entendre mais enfin il falut partir et je partis ce fut toutefois avec tant de peine et avec tant d'amour que je ne pense pas que jamais nulle passion ait aproche de la mienne mon pere me demanda le soir quelle cause m'avoit fait revenir si tost mais comme je voulois luy respondre un escuyer d'artambare vint luy faire un compliment de sa part sur ce qu'il avoit pris sa maison et le remercier de la civilite que j'avois eue pour luy et certes il fut a propos pour moy que la chose allast ainsi car j'avois l'esprit si inquiet et si preoccupe que je n'aurois pas trop bien respondu a ce que mon pere me demandoit je me retiray donc a ma chambre bien different de ce que j'estois lors que j'en estois sorti l'image d'amestris me suivoit par tout et je ne pouvois me lasser d'admirer sa beaute son esprit et son jugement je la comparois dans mon imagination avec tout ce que la cour avoit d'aimable en ce temps-la et je ne trouvois rien qui ne luy cedast en toutes choses je m'estonnois de voir qu'une personne nourrie dans une province et dans une province assez esloignee n'eust rien qui la peust faire distinguer d'avec les personnes de la cour les mieux faites ny en son action ny en son habit ny en son langage et je la considerois comme un miracle or en la considerant de cette sorte je l'admirois sans doute avec beaucoup de satisfaction mais ce qui m'estonnoit le plus c'estoit de me sentir malgre moy inquiet et melancolique que veux-je disois-je en moy 
 mesme et d'ou vient que la beaute d'amestris ne produit pas en mon esprit ce que tous les beaux objets ont accoustume d'y produire car enfin c'est l'ordinaire que la veue des belles choses remplit l'imagination d'idees agreables qui donnent encore du plaisir lors mesme que l'on ne voit plus ce qui les a causees d'ou vient donc divine amestris poursuivois-je qu'en me souvenant de vous j'ay de l'inquietude et du chagrin au contraire n'ay-je pas sujet d'estre content je vous ay veue le premier je vous ay trouvee dans une maison ou j'ay pu vous rendre une partie de ce qui vous est deu et de la facon dont la chose s'est passee la civilite veut presque absolument que vous me preferiez a toutes les connoissances que vous ferez a la cour j'auray du moins cet avantage d'avoir este le premier a vous connoistre a vous admirer et a vous je m'arrestois a ce mot la ne scachant si je devois dire estimer aimer ou adorer tant mes sentimens estoient confus et tant je les connoissois peu moy-mesme mais enfin me determinant tout d'un coup apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler non non mon coeur m'escriay-je en reprenant la parle ne balancons plus advouons que nous estimons que nous aimons et que nous adorons amestris et s'il y a encore quelques termes plus propres a exprimer une violente passion servons nous en cette rencontre et publions que nous avons este heureux d'estre la premiere conqueste d'une beaute si extraordinaire d'ou vient donc ma melancolie disois-je 
 en moy-mesme et me taisant comme si j'en eusse bien voulu examiner la cause mais helas seigneur j'estois encore bien ignorant en amour et je ne scavois pas sans doute que la nature de cette passion porte l'inquietude avec celle que les biens que l'on n'a pas affligent que ceux que l'on possede ostent le repos et que ceux que l'on a perdus desesperent j'ignorois que la douleur et le chagrin sont inseparables de l'amour que l'on ne fait point de conquestes sans peine que l'on ne les conserve pas sans travail et que l'on ne les scauroit perdre sans perdre la raison je ne fus pas toutefois longtemps dans cette ignorance et je fis une espreuve si rude de cette dangereuse manie que j'ose dire qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui soit devenu si universellement scavant en tous ses caprices apres avoir donc bien examine ce que je sentois je conclus que j'estois sans doute amoureux et que l'inquietude que j'avois venoit aparemment de cette crainte qui naist tousjours avec l'amour et qui fait que l'on aprehende de n'estre pas aime de ce que l'on aime en effet quand je venois a penser que peut-estre mes services ne seroient pas receus favorablement ce mot de peut-estre me sembloit si funeste et cette incertitude si cruelle que j'en devenois presque furieux et si j'eusse ose suivre la folie qui me possedoit j'eusse volontiers accuse amestris de ce qu'elle ne songeoit pas desja a recompenser une amour naissante qu'elle ne scavoit pas encore et que j'ignorois moy mesme quelques momens auparavant 
 je vous demande pardon seigneur si je vous raconte si particulierement les premiers transports de ma passion mais je pense qu'il est a propos que vous les scachiez afin que vous ne vous estonniez point de voir avec quelle violence j'en ay este tourmente dans la suitte de ma vie apres avoir donc passe la nuit avec beaucoup d'agitation je me levay assez matin et je voulus me rendre chez artambare avec mon pere afin de l'accompagner quand il iroit chez le roy me semblant que c'estoit en quelque facon rendre service a amestris que d'en rendre a une personne qui luy estoit si proche et si chere en effet artambare apres avoir salue mon pere me remercia de cette derniere civilite comme d'une chose qui l'obligeoit beaucoup car il n'ignoroit pas que je n'estois pas mal avec astiage nous fusmes donc chez le roy ou il me fut impossible de ne parler pas d'amestris a autant de gens que j'y rencontray j'annoncay a tous ceux que je scavois qui avoient desja de l'amour que leur constance alloit estre mise a une dangereuse espreuve et a tous ceux qui n'en avoient pas qu'ils ne vissent point amestris s'ils vouloient conserver leur liberte enfin je puis dire que j'en parlay tant que j'en parlay trop comme vous scaurez par la suite de mon discours il y avoit pourtant des momens ou je me demandois a moy mesme quel dessein j'avois en voulant gagner tant de coeurs a amestris et ou un secret sentiment de jalousie me faisoit taire au milieu de mon discours le mesme jour ayant voulu aller 
 chez hermaniste j'appris qu'on ne la voyoit pas parce qu'elle s'estoit trouvee un peu mal la derniere nuit je fus donc faire quelques visites chez d'autres dames non pas pour me divertir car il n'y avoit desja plus de divertissement pour moy qu'aupres d'amestris mais avec intention de parler d'elle sans crainte de me faire des rivaux je fus donc chez les plus belles personnes de toute la cour et de toute la ville et quoy que ce ne soit pas estre fort judicieux que de louer extraordinairement la beaute d'une autre en parlant a une belle je le fis pourtant avec tant d'exageration que je suis asseure que je m'en fis presque hair de toute celles que je vy ce jour la et que de la facon dont j'en usay il n'y eut plus qu'amestris qui ne sceust pas que j'estois amoureux d'elle je donnay de la jalousie a quelques unes de l'envie a d'autres et du moins de la curiosite aux plus sages le lendemain hermaniste s'estant mieux portee toute la cour fut chez elle et je my rendis des premiers amestris s'estoit paree ce jour la de sorte qu'elle me sembla encore si admirablement belle que je m'estimay cent fois en ce moment le plus heureux homme du monde d'avoir l'honneur d'estre son esclave elle me receut avec beaucoup de civilite et me pria fort obligeamment de vouloir prendre le soing de luy nommer les personnes qui viendroient chez elle et de l'empescher de faire quelque faute considerable l'advertissant de leur condition je vous laisse a penser seigneur si je recensee commandement 
 avec satisfaction et avec respect et si je mesloignay d'elle de tout le jour je vous avoue que je le passay avec des sentimens bien differens et que la joye et l'inquietude furent tousjours si bien meslees dans mon ame que je puis dire que je ne sentis point de plaisir sans douleur ny de douleur sans plaisir il est certain comme je l'ay desja dit que toute la cour fut chez hermaniste et plus certain encore que la beaute d'amestris charma et surprit toute la cour il n'entra pas un homme en qui l'on ne vist de l'estonnement ny pas une femme je dis mesme des plus belles qui n'eust de la confusion de se voir surmontee par une personne de province de vous dire seigneur quelle estoit la joye que je recevois de la gloire d'amestris il ne me seroit pas aise et de vous dire aussi l'inquietude ou je me trouvay par la pensee que j'aurois autant de rivaux qu'il y auroit d'hommes qui la verroient ce ne me seroit pas non plus une chose facile a faire ce qu'il y eut de plus admirable en ce premier jour de sa gloire ce fut qu'elle ne fit pas une faute en toute cette grande et longue conversation et qu'elle receut toutes les louanges que tout le monde luy donna avec tant de modestie que mesme les plus belles de nos dames furent contraintes de l'aimer malgre leur deffaite et d'advouer qu'elle meritoit l'estime universelle de toute la cour apres que tout le monde fut party a la reserve de cinq ou six personnes du nombre desquelles je fus je voulus la louer comme les autres mais elle me dit que si elle 
 n'avoit point fait de fautes en cette rencontre elle m'en avoit l'obligation et que de cette sorte si elle avoit merite quelques louanges des autres elle n'en devoit point recevoir de moy ny n'en devoit pas pretendre je voulus luy respondre et l'assurer qu'elle avoit sujet de pretendre plus loing qu'a mes louanges mais elle m'en empescha et commenca de me parler de tout ce qu'elle avoit veu elle loua extremement la beaute de toutes celles qui en avoient et qui l'avoient visitee et me demanda en suite plus particulierement des nouvelles de tous ceux qu'elle avoit veus tantost en louant l'esprit de quelques uns et tantost la bonne mine de quelques autres je vous avoue seigneur que je me trouvay alors fort embarrasse car j'avois remarque que tout le monde l'avoit trouvee si belle que je craignois un peu en satisfaisant sa curiosite de dire trop de bien de quelqu'un qui fust mon rival et j'apprehenday mesme aussi que cette curiosite qu'elle avoit pour quelques uns ne fust un effet de quelque legere disposition qu'elle eust a ne les hair pas je parlay donc avec le plus de moderation que je pus et contre ma coustume je louay mes plus chers amis avec un peu moins de chaleur de peur d'aider a me detruire moy mesme cependant le soir estant venu il falut se retirer en m'en retournant je passay chez le roy ou l'on ne parloit que de la beaute d'amestris mais en des termes si advantageux qu'il fit dessein de n'attendre pas qu'hermaniste le vinst voir comme artambare l'avoit assure qu'elle feroit 
 et d'y aller le jour suivant quoy que comme vous scavez son age deust raisonnablement le dispenser d'avoir de la curiosite pour les belles personnes en effet ce prince y fut le lendemain et advoua comme les autres qu'amestris estoit un miracle je ne vous diray point combien cette beaute se fit d'esclaves combien d'amants rompirent leurs chaines pour porter les siennes et quelle estrange revolution elle aporta a toute la galanterie d'ecbatane mais je vous diray seulement qu'il n'y avoit pas un homme en toute la cour qui ne l'eust veue qui ne l'eust aimee ou qui du moins n'eust eu de l'admiration pour elle excepte un de mes amis nomme arbate frere de megabise qui est icy et qui comme vous scavez est un peu allie a la maison royale cet homme avoit certainement beaucoup d'esprit et tesmoignoit avoir beaucoup d'affection pour moy aussi en avois-je une pour luy si tendre et si fidelle qu'il n'est rien que je n'eusse fait pour luy pouvoir tesmoigner que je le preferois a tous mes autres amis arbate aimoit assez la solitude et n'aimoit guere la conversation des dames si bien que quoy qu'on luy eust pu dire et quoy que la bien-seance de sa condition l'obligeast a cette visite il s'estoit contente de voir artambare et n'avoit point veu hermaniste ny par consequent amestris cependant je voyois cette belle personne avec une assiduite estrange et quoy que eusse assurement plus d'occasions de luy parler que nul autre parce qu'il s'estoit lie une assez estroite 
 amitie entre artambare et mon pere et que de plus ce premier eust de l'affection pour moy amestris avoit un pouvoir si absolu sur mon esprit et j'avois tant de respect pour elle que je n'osois luy descouvrir ce que j'avois dans le coeur de sorte que je luy cachois ma passion presque avec autant de soing que les autres en aportoient a luy monstrer la leur tant j'avois de crainte de la fascher
 
 
 
 
je voyois donc entre plusieurs autres que megabise en estoit devenu amoureux cette connoissance m'affligeoit sans doute et comme je ne cachois rien a arbate de tout ce que j'avois dans l'ame je me pleignis a luy de ce que megabise son frere devenoit mon rival et je luy demanday conseil de ce que j'avois a faire il est certain qu'il me le donna alors tres fidelle d'arbord il me dit que s'il estoit possible de me guerir d'une si dangereuse maladie il me le conseilloit fort que si cela n'estoit pas il seroit tout ce qu'il pourroit pour tascher d'en guerir son frere mais que du moins il trouvoit a propos que comme j'avois este le premier amant d'amestris a la cour je fusse aussi le premier a luy descouvrir ma passion je le remerciay d'un conseil si genereux et si fidelle et je le pressay si extraordinairement de vouloir voir amestris qu'enfin il me promit d'y venir pourveu que j'eusse prepare cette belle personne a la conversation d'un solitaire je fus donc chez amestris que pour ma bonne fortune je rencontray presque seule si bien qu'il me fut aise de trouver occasion de luy parler sans estre entendu que d'elle madame 
 luy dis-je apres quelques discours indifferens vous me trouverez sans doute bien hardy de n'estre pas satisfait de l'honneur que je recoy d'estre souffert aupres de vous et de vouloir encore obtenir la permission de vous amener un de mes amis qui souhaite passionnement de recevoir ce mesme honneur quoy que ce ne soit guere sa coustume de visiter les dames je luy en suis d'autant plus obligee me respondit elle et puis que vous le jugez digne d'estre de vos amis je suis persuadee qu'il me sera advantageux qu'il puisse devenir des miens mais madame luy dis-je en changeant de couleur je voudrois bien vous demander grace pour luy et vous obliger s'il estoit possible d'agir de telle sorte avec mon amy qu'il n'eust que de l'estime pour vous et qu'il vous admirast sans vous aimer j'ay creu me dit-elle en sous-riant et en rougissant tout ensemble que vous desiriez de moy une chose bien difficile mais a ce que je voy puis que vous ne me deffendez que les choses impossibles il me sera bien aise de vous satisfaire ha madame luy dis-je que vous croyez peu ce que vous dites s'il est vray que vous vous connoissiez comme je vous connois aglatidas me respondit-elle avec un sous-ris encore plus malicieux scachez que je ne pretens nullement que vous qui estes des amis d'artambare mon pere viviez avec moy comme y vivent les autres qui ne le sont pas et desquels je souffre les flatteries par complaisance et par coustume mais pour vous je n'en userois pas ainsi et si vous continuyez 
 de me parler de cette sorte vous me forceriez d'agir d'une maniere qui ne vous plairoit peut-estre pas quoy madame luy dis-je vous souffrirez que tout le monde vous loue et vous ne pourrez souffrir qu'aglatidas vous die que tout le monde vous aime du moins s'il juge des sentimens d'autruy par les siens j'advoue me dit-elle en riant et cherchant une voye de tourner la chose en raillerie et de ne se fascher pas que voila me parler de vostre affection d'une facon qui n'est pas commune puis qu'on ne me parlant pas plus de la vostre que de celle de toute la cour je n'ay pas lieu de vous en punir en particulier mais enfin dit-elle en changeant de discours amenez moy vostre amy et du reste laissez en le soing a mon peu de merite sans rien craindre pour sa liberte je souhaitte madame luy repliquay-je qu'il soit plus heureux qu'un de ses plus chers amis vous estes si peu sage me repliqua-t'elle que l'on trouve en ce que vous dites plus de sujet de vous pleindre que de vous quereller c'est pourquoy aglatidas j'ay quelque indulgence pour vous en disant cela elle se leva et fut s'appuyer contre un balcon qui donnoit sur un jardin de son palais elle appella alors deux de ses filles aupres d'elle et je jugeay facilement qu'elle vouloit rompre ce discours je fus donc joindre hermaniste sa mere avec laquelle j'estois aussi bien qu'avec artambare et apres que la conversation eut dure encore quelque temps je sortis et m'en allay retrouver arbate a qui j'apris la permission 
 que j'avois obtenue d'amestris je luy racontay tout ce que je luy avois dit et tout ce qu'elle m'avoit respondu et comme j'exagerois un peu l'endroit ou je l'avois priee despargner la liberte d'arbate advouez la verite me dit-il en riant vous n'estes pas seulement jaloux de megabise et de plusieurs autres qui voyent tous les jours amestris mais vous l'estes desja d'arbate qui ne l'a point encore veue qui ne la vouloit point voir et qui ne la verra mesme jamais si vous souhaittez arbate me dit cela avec un sous-ris malicieux qui me fit quelque confusion de ma foiblesse car il est certain que je n'eus pas plustost demande a amestris la permission de mener arbate chez elle que je m'en repentis et que j'eusse bien voulu que la chose eust este encore a faire pour ne la faire point du tout mais enfin je creus que ce seroit paroistre trop bizarre a mon amy que d'en user de cette sorte et qu'apres ce que j'avois dit a amestris elle mesme trouveroit estrange que je ne l'y menasse pas joint que venant a considerer que megabise estoit frere d'arbate et amant d'amestris il me sembla que j'estois en quelque surete et ce qui m'avoit beaucoup fasche auparavant ne m'inquieta plus tant apres m'imaginant qu'arbate ne se resoudroit jamais de devenir rival de son frere et de son amy tout ensemble j'avois donc este quelque temps sans parler apres la proposition qu'il m'avoit faite de ne voir point amestris si je le voulois lors que reprenant la parole tout d'un coup non luy dis-je 
 arbate je ne veux pas priver amestris du plaisir de connoistre un aussi honneste homme que vous et il n'est pas juste non plus qu'arbate qui connoist si admirablement le prix de toutes les belles choses ne connoisse pas amestris mais si elle m'enchaine me dit-il en riant que deviendra nostre amitie si vous rompez ses fers pour l'amour de moy luy respondis-je elle en deviendra beaucoup plus forte mais si je ne le pouvois pas faire me repliqua-t'il serois-je coupable je ne scay luy repliquay-je mais je scay bien que je ne scaurois concevoir que l'on puisse aimer un rival ne m'exposez donc pas reprit-il a perdre vostre amitie et si amestris est si dangereuse et si redoutable laissez moy dans ma solitude jouir du repos de la liberte car je ne scay me dit-il si j'avois le malheur de la perdre si je ne vous hairois point autant de me l'avoir cause que vous me hairiez d'estre devenu vostre rival ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que je sente nulle disposition en moy qui me face craindre cet accident au contraire je voy tant de foiblesse dans l'esprit des gens les plus raisonnables des qu'ils sont possedez de cette passion que je pense avoir trouve par ce moyen un puissant contrepoison pour me garantir d'un venin si dangereux ne craignez donc rien mon cher aglatidas me dit-il et croyez que si je pers ma liberte ce ne sera pas sans la deffendre lors que vous avez este pris poursuivit-il l'on peut dire que l'amour vous a trompe vous pensiez estre dans la solitude lors que vous 
 rencontrastes amestris vostre ame ne s'estoit pas preparee a une si rude attaque vos yeux en furent esblouis vostre raison en fut troublee et vostre coeur en fut surpris ce ne fut donc pas une grande merveille si elle fit un esclave d'un homme qui ne se deffendit pas et qui n'avoit point d'armes pour se deffendre mais pour moy il n'en est pas ainsi tout le monde m'a dit et vous me l'avez dit comme tout le monde et me l'avez dit plus de cent fois qu'amestris est la plus belle chose de la terre et des la je m'en suis forme une idee si parfaite que je suis absolument persuade qu'elle ne me surprendra point et que peut-estre mesme suivant la coustume la trouveray-je un peu moins belle que l'image que je m'en suis faite sur vostre raport de plus j'y vay avec intention de luy resister et de luy disputer mon coeur autant qu'il me sera possible et scachant que mon frere l'aime et que vous l'aimez a moins que je perde tout d'un coup l'usage de la raison je ne suis pas en danger de porter des fers je le souhaite luy dis-je mais je ne laisse pas de craindre le contraire arbate ne pouvant s'empescher de rire de ma foiblesse vous estes si peu sage me dit-il que la crainte que j'ay de devenir aussi fou que vous vous doit mettre l'esprit en repos neantmoins je vous le dis encore pendant qu'il en est temps si vous voulez je ne la verray point si ce n'est que le hazard me la face rencontrer je vous advoue seigneur que je fus tente cent et cent fois de le prendre au mot mais je n'en 
 eux pas la force et je trouvois moy mesme tant de folie en mon procede que j'en eus de la confusion je dis donc a arbate que je ne changerois point d'avis et qu'enfin le lendemain aussitost apres disner je l'irois prendre et que nous irions chez amestris arbate comme je vous l'ay depeint estoit un peu solitaire mais il n'estoit pourtant pas de ces melancoliques chagrins de qui la conversation est pesante et incommode au contraire il avoit l'esprit agreable et mesme assez enjoue pour un serieux parmy les personnes avec lesquelles il se plaisoit et ce qui faisoit sa retraite n'estoit pas tant qu'il fust de temperamment melancolique que c'estoit qu'il avoit un esprit difficle et delicat qui se rebutoit aisement et qui ne pouvoit souffrir qu'avec beaucoup de difficulte le moindre deffaut en ses amis il cherchoit la perfection en toutes choses et fuyoit tout ce qui estoit defectueux si bien que comme il n'est pas aise de trouver grand nombre de personnes parfaites il en aimoit peu et en voyoit encore moins pour moy il m'avoit fait grace et son inclination le forcant sans doute a m'aimer une regle si generale pour luy avoit eu de l'exception en ma faveur et je le voyois plus souvent qu'aucun autre ne le voyoit le lendemain nous fusmes donc chez amestris ou nous trouvasmes megabise qui paroissoit estre le plus assidu de mes rivaux et le plus redoutable aussi estant certain que c'estoit le plus honneste homme et le mieux fait de toute la cour vous en pouvez juger seigneur puis que 
 vous le connoissez et qu'il est presentement a sinope il est pourtant vray qu'il estoit encore beaucoup plus aimable en ce temps-la qu'il n'est en celuy-cy parce que la melancolie l'a change aussi bien que moy d'abord que nous entrasmes je presentay arbate a hermaniste et en suitte a amestris elles le receurent l'une et l'autre avec beaucoup de civilite et me tesmoignerent en effet veu la facon dont elles le traitterent qu'elles faisoient quelque estime de ce que j'estimois car outre le respect qu'elles devoient et qu'elles rendirent a sa condition et a son merite elles firent les choses d'un certain air obligeant qui me disoit sans me le dire que les faveurs que recevoit arbate estoient faites en partie pour l'amour d'aglatidas et a parler veritablement les premieres carresses qu'il receut ne pouvant estre attribuees a ce merite dont j'ay parle dans une si nouvelle connoissance bien loin de me causer de l'inquietude me donnerent de la joye ce n'est pas qu'il ne me vinst quelque legere crainte que cette civilite n'engageast arbate plus que je ne voulois mais enfin elle se dissipa bien-tost la conversation fut sans doute fort agreable ce jour-la car comme megabise avoit este surpris de voir son frere chez des dames il ne put s'empescher de luy en faire la guerre et de vouloir persuader a amestris que c'estoit un des plus grands miracles de sa beaute ne pensez pourtant pas madame luy dit-il que mon frere vienne icy avec intention de chercher en vous toutes les belles choses 
 que tout le monde y admire au contraire madame j'oserois presque assurer qu'il seroit ravy de trouver s'il estoit possible quelque legere imperfection en vostre beaute quelque petit deffaut en vostre langage quelque obscurite en vostre esprit et quelque rudesse en vostre humeur il seroit peut-estre avantageux a megabise et a beaucoup d'autres reprit arbate que la belle amestris eust eu quelque deffaut pour ne pouvoir pas juger des leurs mais pour moy qui ne cherche les deffaux que parce que je cherche la perfection je suis ravy de la rencontrer en une seule personne et de me voir desabuse de l'erreur ou j'estois de croire qu'il n'y avoit rien de parfait au monde vous estes bien flateur pour un solitaire interrompit amestris je suis bien sincere madame reprit-il et c'est pour cette raison que je vous ay dit si franchement ce que je devois peut-estre me contenter de penser apres cela hermaniste changea la conversation et les nouvelles du monde et les divertissemens de la cour furent ce qui servit d'entretien durant toute l'apres-disnee pour moy je parlay peu tout ce jour-la et j'estois si occupe a regarder amestris a observer megabise arbate et otane que je ne le fus jamais plus je voyois megabise devenir tous les jours plus amoureux et cent autres paroistre aussi tous les jours plus assidus et plus passionnez arbate selon mon sens se plaisoit trop en cette premiere conversation pour un homme qui aimoit tant la solitude et amestris avoit une civilite si esgalle et 
 une modestie qui cachoit si bien ses sentimens que je ne les pouvois descouvrir enfin je fus fort inquiet tout ce jour-la et jusques au point qu'amestris s'en aperceut et m'en fit la guerre avec beaucoup d'adresse me reprochant agreablement que si elle ne m'eust connu que de reputation non plus que mon amy elle eust pris aglatidas pour arbate et arbate pour aglatidas cependant je me creus fort heureux de ce qu'amestris s'estoit aperceue de ma mauvaise humeur et arbate demeura tres-satisfait de ce que la solitude en laquelle il avoit accoustume de vivre ne l'avoit pas fait paroistre plus melancolique qu'un autre le soir estant venu chacun et retira chez soy je menay pourant arbate chez mon pere et voulant l'entretenir je le conduisis sur une terrasse d'ou l'on voit l'oronte qui comme vous scavez passe a ecbatane comme nous y fusmes nous fismes deux tours entiers sans parler arbate n'osant peut-estre me dire ce qu'il pensoit d'amestris et moy n'osant aussi luy demander quel jugement il en faisoit mais admirez seigneur la bizarrerie de l'amour je vous proteste que je craignois alors esgalement qu'arbate louast trop amestris ou ne la louast pas assez je craignois qu'il ne desaprouvast mon choix ou qu'il ne choisist luy mesme ce que j'avois choisi et dans cette inquietude ayant este comme je l'ay desja dit deux fois tout le long de la terrasse sans parler ny l'un ny l'autre enfin rompant un silence si plein de trouble et bien arbate luy dis-je avec un sous-ris un peu 
 force vous estes vous bien deffendu et la belle amestris ne m'a-t'elle point fait un rival du plus cher amy que j'aye vous estes si soubconneux me respondit arbate que pour vous desacoustumer d'une si mauvaise habitude je veux ne satisfaire pas vostre curiosite et vous dire seulement qu'amestris est sans doute digne de l'admiration de toute la terre mais si vous l'admirez luy dis-je vous l'aimez ce n'est pas une necessite absolue me respondit-il ny une consequence necessaire toutefois je ne veux point vous esclaircir davantage la dessus car je veux guerir vostre esprit l'acoustumer insensiblement a ne se former pas des monstres pour les combatre ha mon cher arbate luy dis-je en l'interrompant ne me laissez point dans cette incertitude et dites moy de grace quels sont vos veritables sentimens pour amestris que voulez-vous que je vous die me respondit-il si je la loue vous direz que j'en suis amoureux et si je la blasme vous croirez que je vous veux tromper ou que j'ay perdu la raison il n'en faut pas davantage luy dis-je pour me faire connoistre que vous l'estimez mais je voudrois scavoir si vostre coeur n'en est point esmeu et si vous ne l'aimerez point assez pour m'en hair quelque jour je ne scay pas l'advenir me respondit-il mais je scay bien que presentement je vous suis infiniment oblige de m'avoir donne la connoissance d'une personne si aimable et si illustre je vous advoue seigneur que voyant avec quelle liberte d'esprit arbate me parloit je creus que 
 toutes les tesponses malicieuses qu'il me fit n'estoient qu'un jeu pour se divertir et pour se moquer de ma foiblesse si bien qu'en ayant honte moy mesme je cessay de le tourmenter et nous fusmes souper en repos en effet j'ay bien sceu depuis qu'arbate quoy que puissamment touche de la beaute d'amestris ne croyoit pas encore se trouver force de s'engager a l'aimer et que comme il avoit de la vertu il resista sans doute autant qu'il put et fit tous ses efforts pour ne devenir pas rival de son frere et de son amy et d'un amy encore qui l'avoit choisi pour confident de sa passion et sans lequel il n'eust jamais vu amestris il est donc a croire que ce qu'il en a dit depuis a un de ses amis et des miens est veritable et qu'il fit toutes choses possibles pour n'aimer pas amestris mais seigneur que tous ses efforts furent inutiles et que l'amour fit un estrange changement en luy jusques la il m'avoit toujours paru le plus sincere et le plus fidele de tous les hommes que j'avois connus et il devint en un moment le plus fourbe de toute la terre il fut donc quelques jours sans me parler non plus d'amestris que s'il ne l'eust jamais veue et il guerit si bien mon esprit de tout soubcon par cet artifice que je luy en parlay le premier et le priay mesme de la vouloir visiter quelquefois il s'en deffendit avec opiniastrete et en effet il fut plusieurs jours sans la vouloir voir chez elle mais pour mon malheur je sceu depuis qu'il l'avoit veue trois fois au temple deux fois a la promenade dans les jardins du roy 
 et une encore aux bords de l'oronte ou elle alloit assez souvent voyant donc combien arbate me paroissoit essoigne d'avoir aucun dessein pour amestris je continuois a luy parler de ma passion et a luy demander conseil et comme je luy disois que je n'avois pu profiter entierement de celuy qu'il m'avoit donne de descouvrir mon amour le plus tost que je pourrois a celle qui l'avoit fait naistre parce qu'elle en evitoit les occasions lors que je vous conseillay me respondit le malicieux arbate de vous haster de parler de vostre passion a amestris je ne la connoissois pas encore mais dieux aglatidas s'escria t'il que j'ay bien change de sentimens en la voyant et que cette extreme modestie que j'ay remarquee sur son visage m'a bien fait connoistre qu'il ne faut pas vous exposer legerement a luy descouvrir vostre dessein croyez moy reprit cet infidelle amy ne songez point a parler d'amour a amestris que vous ne luy ayez rendu cent et cent services et que vous ne l'ayez mise en estat de ne pouvoir vous maltraiter sans ingratitude ce chemin est bien long luy dis-je ouy me respondit-il mais il est bien assure et l'autre est bien dangereux car enfin poursuivit-il si elle se fasche lors que vous luy descouvrirez vostre passion qu'elle vous deffende de la voir qu'elle vous fuye et qu'elle vous haisse que ferez vous je mourray sans doute luy repliquay-je mais aussi pousuivis-je si elle ne scait point que je l'aime si je ne le luy dis jamais et que mes rivaux plus heureux et plus hardis que moy 
 luy parlent de leur amour voulez vous qu'elle devine la mienne et qu'elle me recompense d'une chose qu'elle ignorera je veux me repondit-il qu'elle la scache mais je veux que ce soit d'une facon qui ne luy puisse deplaire et que son coeur soit desja un peu engage quand vous luy direz ouvertement qu'elle possede le vostre mais qui l'engagera luy repliquay-je cet illustre coeur d'amestris vos soings vos services vostre respect et vostre silence me respondit-il au lieu que les autres se feront hair par leurs importunitez et puis adjousta-t'il encore croyez aglatidas que bien que je n'aye connu l'amour que par le raport d'autruy comme j'ay examine cette passion en elle mesme connoissant sa cause je puis dire que j'en connois les effets soyez donc assure que puis que vous aimez amestris le scait l'amour est un feu qui brille aussi bien qu'il brusle en tous les lieux ou il se rencontre et personne ne le fait naistre sans s'en apercevoir ainsi aglatidas mettez vous l'esprit en repos de ce coste la et songez seulement a trouver les voyes de servir la personne que vous adorez et de luy faire adroitement deviner vostre amour sans la luy dire tant y a seigneur que l'artificieux arbate sceut si bien manier mon esprit qu'il me fit resoudre a ne descouvrir point ma passion plus ouvertement que j'avois fait car encore que toute la cour me soubconnast d'estre amoureux je ne l'avois advoue qu'a arbate et tant d'autres le paroissoient estre autant que moy que cela ne m'empeschoit pas de 
 pouvoir demeurer dans les termes que mon infidelle amy me prescrivoit je luy promis donc de me conduire par ses ordres et luy me promit aussi de faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour m'oster le plus dangereux de mes rivaux ne jugeant pas adjoustoit il finement que ce dessein fust advantageux a megabise son frere en effet il s'aquita admirablement de cette promesse mais helas ce fut pour son interest et non pas pour le mien comme vous scaurez apres or seigneur la veritable raison qui l'empeschoit de retourner si tost chez amestris n'estoit pas seulement pour me cacher l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle mais encore afin que les conseils qu'il prentendoit donner a megabise ne luy fussent point suspects il fut donc un matin a sa chambre ou il le trouva seul d'abord il luy parla de cent choses indifferentes et faisant semblant de le vouloir quitter il luy demanda ou il passeroit le jour megabise qui ne voyoit pas l'artifice de son frere luy respondit ingenument que ce seroit chez hermaniste vous deviez plustost dire chez amestris respondit arbate en sous-riant et en se r'aprochant de luy car quelque vertu qu'ait hermaniste si amestris estoit sans beaute vos visites ne seroient pas si frequentes chez artambare il est vray respondit megabise mais que fais-je que toute la cour ne fasse aussi bien que moy aglatidas mesme qui est vostre amy particulier n'est-il pas aussi assidu aupres d'amestris que je le suis ouy repliqua le malicieux arbate et pleust au ciel que la chose ne fust 
 pas ainsi car aimant son repos comme je fais je voudrois qu'il ne s'amusast pas a un dessein qui ne peut estre fort advantageux a ceux qui s'y opiniastreront je scay bien repliqua megabise que l'amour est une passion inquiette qui ne donne pas mesme de plaisirs tranquiles mais apres tout si arbate la connoissoit par experience il pleindroit peut-estre moins qu'il ne fait ceux qui en sont possedez et scauroit que les peines de l'amour toutes rigoureuses qu'elles sont ont plus de douceur que tous les autres plaisirs du monde qui ne sont pas causez par cette passion celle ou vous vous engagez est pourtant si dangereuse respondit arbate qu'il n'est rien que je ne fisse pour vous en guerir s'il estoit en mon pouvoir commencez par aglatidas interrompit megabise en embrassant son frere et croyez que je vous seray plus oblige de sa guerison que de la mienne il ne tiendra pas a moy repliqua arbate et j'ay peut-estre desja plus fait aupres de luy qu'apres de vous he dieux reprit megabise seroit-il bien possible que vous pussiez empescher aglatidas de me nuire apres d'amestris je feray sans doute respondit arbate tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir afin qu'aglatidas ne nuise point aux amants d'amestris mais ne vous y trompez pas et scachez que ce n'est point avec intention que megabise en profite au contraire je souhaite de tout mon coeur qu'il ne nuise non plus aux autres que je veux qu'aglatidas luy nuise et que voulez vous donc repliqua megabise je veux respondit arbate 
 que vous faciez effort pour vous deffaire d'une passion qui en general a beaucoup de foiblesse et qui en cette rencontre particuliere vous peut donner beaucoup de peine inutilement car enfin poursuivit-il vous avez un dessein que cent autres ont comme vous et de plus vous servez une personne de laquelle il n'est pas aise de toucher le coeur la difficulte respondit megabise est ce qui fait vivre l'amour ouy repliqua arbate mais l'impossibilite le doit faire mourir il est vray respondit megabise mais ou voyez vous qu'il soit impossible a un homme de ma condition d'espouser la fille d'artambare je ne tiens pas repliqua arbate absolument impossible a megabise d'espouser amestris mais je ne pense pas qu'il luy soit aussi aise d'en estre aime car j'ay sceu par aglatidas poursuivit-il qui s'en est assez bien informe qu'amestris malgre toute cette modestie qui paroist en elle aime si passionnement sa beaute qu'elle en est absolument incapable de rien aimer autre chose or mon frere croyez vous que ce soit estre fort heureux que d'espouser une femme qui preferera tousjours son miroir a son mary et qui n'a l'ame sensible que pour ses propres attraits de plus ne songez vous point poursuivit-il en prenant un visage encore plus serieux qu'amestris est fille d'artambare c'est a dire d'un homme exile depuis dix-huit ans et qui n'a fait sa paix parce que ciaxare qui le hait tousjours a cause de la reine de perse sa soeur n'est pas maintenant icy et ne songez vous point 
 qu'astiage estant extremement vieux artambare est expose a sortir d'ecbatane le jour mesme que ciaxare quittera la capadoce et viendra prendre la couronne de medie imaginez vous megabise quel plaisir vous auriez alors en ce changement de regne de vous aller confiner dans la province des arisantins avec une personne insensible qui auroit destruit vostre fortune au lieu de l'establir et qui n'estant peut-estre desja plus belle car cent choses aussi bien que l'age peuvent destruire la beaute ne contribueroit plus rien a vostre satisfaction ha mon frere s'escria megabise amestris sera belle eternellement ainsi faites seulement que je l'espouse et ne vous mettez pas en peine de mon bon heur que je sois exile ou qu'elle soit insensible il ne m'importe si nous sommes bannis ensemble je jouiray de mon bon heur avec plus de liberte et si elle est incapable de rien aimer je seray delivre de tout sujet de jalousie de sorte que quoy qu'il en soit si vous m'aimez servez moy dans ma passion et ne vous y opposez plus vous me demandez respondit arbate ce que je ne feray pas car enfin nous ne devons pas donner du poison a nos amis phrenetiques lors qu'ils nous en demandent principalement quand nous avons beaucoup d'interest a ce qui les touche insensible frere s'escria de nouveau megabise je voudrois presque que vous fussiez mon rival pour vous punir de cette humeur severe qui vous fait condamner ma passion et pour vous apprendre par vostre propre experience 
 ce que l'amour n'est pas une chose volontaire vous vous repentiriez bien tost de vostre souhait reprit arbate si vous croiyez qu'il peust estre possible mais du moins poursuivit-il advouez moy que vous estiez plus heureux quand vous estiez libre que vous ne l'estes presentement et promettez moy en suitte que vous essayerez durant quelques jours de rompre vos chaines je ne pense pas le pouvoir faire reprit megabise mais pour ne vous refuser pas toutes choses je vieux bien vous promettre celle-la quoy qu'a vous dire la verite ce soit ne vous promettre rien arbate voyant qu'il ne pouvoit gagner davantage sur l'esprit de megabise le quitta a cet instant resolu de chercher toutes les voyes possibles de satisfaire son amour aux despens de celle de son frere et de son amy je veux croire comme il l'a dit depuis qu'il fut force a faire tout ce qu'il fit par une passion fort violente et qu'il ne se rendit pas sans combattre mais je suis pourtant persuade que l'amour quelque forte qu'elle puisse estre ne doit jamais rien faire faire contre l'honneur ny contre la probite et que cette passion toute noble ne peut et ne doit point servir d'excuse a une mechante action cependant arbate se trouvoit en un assez estrange estat il estoit amoureux d'une personne qu'il n'osoit aller voir de peur que le changement de sa vie retiree ne parust trop grand et ne devinst suspect et a son frere et a moy il avoit une amour violente qu'il n'osoit descouvrir il avoit deux rivaux qu'il aimoit et qu'il devoit aimer son frere 
 le prioit de ne luy nuire pas et il m'avoit promis de me servir il m'assuroit qu'il faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour guerir megabise de sa passion et il disoit aussi a megabise qu'il en vouloit delivrer aglatidas comment donc fera-t'il pour voir amestris pour trahir son frere pour tromper son amy et pour s'establir a leur prejudice il scait qu'ils sont inseparables d'amestris qu'elle voye prendra-t'il donc pour la pouvoir visiter tous les jours sans leur devenir suspect l'un ny a l'autre et de quel artifice pourra-t'il user pour venir a bout de son dessein preparez vous seigneur a entendre la plus signalee trahison dont l'amour ait jamais fait adviser personne et soyez persuade que vous ne laisserez pas d'estre surpris de celle que j'ay a vous raconter arbate fut donc quelques jours a me dire qu'il faisoit tous ses efforts pour guerir son frere de sa passion et en effet comme la chose estoit vraye il me la fit scavoir si precisement que je n'en doutay point du tout et je luy en fus si oblige que je pense que si apres cela il m'eust descouvert son amour et qu'il m'eust dit qu'elle estoit nee depuis le tesmoignage d'amitie que je croyois qu'il m'eust rendu je me serois resolu a la mort afin de luy pouvoir ceder amestris tant il est vray que je suis sensible aux bien-faits et a la generosite mais pendant qu'arbate m'amusoit durant quelque temps a me raconter tout ce qu'il disoit a megabise et tout ce que megabise luy respondoit il changea de personnage avec son frere et peu a peu feignant de 
 se laisser toucher a la compassion il joua si bien que megabise en fit le plus cher confident de son amour il luy demandoit donc conseil en toutes choses et ne se laissoit plus conduire que par ses ordres non plus que moy et comme arbate ne craignoit rien tant sinon que megabise et moy nous trouvassions seuls aupres d'amestris et que de plus ce qu'il projettoit avoit besoin que nous nous trouvassions souvent aupres d'elle il ne manquoit jamais d'advertir megabise de l'heure ou je devois aller chez amestris et de me donner advis a mon tour de celle ou son frere s'y devoit rendre de sorte que depuis qu'il se mesla de nos affaires nous ne la vismes jamais plus l'un sans l'autre et l'amour et la jalousie luy firent plus craindre un rival tout seul aupres d'amestris que plusieurs ensemble neantmoins il avoit eu cette prudence de me prier et pour son interest et pour le mien de ne quereller pas son frere et de m'assurer tousjours en la parole qu'il me donnoit qu'il faisoit toutes choses possibles pour ruiner les desseins de megabise qui aussi bien me disoit-il ne luy plairoient pas quand mesme je n'y eusse point eu de part il avoit aussi dit a son frere qu'il ne faloit pas me faire une querelle legerement parce que durant qu'il seroit force de s'esloigner apres un combat d'autres pourroient profiter de son absence nous vivions donc de cette sorte megabise se pleignant fort de l'obstacle eternel que je luy aportois et me pleignant aussi beaucoup de celuy qu'il me faisoit pour amestris elle vivoit 
 avec une sagesse et une retenue si grande que la vertu mesme n'eust pu trouver rien a redire a toutes ses actions il est pourtant certain que quelque egalite qu'elle peust aporter a la civilite qu'elle avoit pour tous ceux qui l'aprochoient l'on remarquoit toutefois que megabise et moy avions un peu plus de part en son estime que tout le reste du monde et qu'otane que vous avez peut-estre veu a la cour de medie estoit le plus meprise et le plus hai en mon particulier il ne me sembloit pas que je fusse mieux avec elle que beaucoup d'autres y estoient et il me sembloit mesme que megabise y estoit un peu mieux que moy de sorte que je ne pouvois m'empescher de m'en pleindre eternellement a arbate megabise de son coste croyoit que j'estois mieux traite que luy et s'en pleignoit aussi a son frere qui enfin se determina a nous trahir egalement un soir donc qu'il estoit dans ma chambre et que nous y estions seuls mon cher arbate luy dis-je jusques a quand m'entretiendrez vous d'esperance et jusques a quand seray-je persecute par la passion de megabise pourquoy faut-il disois-je que les yeux d'amestris ayent este choisir le frere de mon amy pour s'en faire un amant et un amant qu'ils regardent un peu trop favorablement si ma jalousie ne m'abuse ha mon cher arbate luy disois-je si megabise n'estoit pas ce qu'il vous est qu'il y auroit desja long temps que mon espee m'auroit fait raison de l'injustice que l'on fait a mon amour qui a precede la sienne et qui est peut-estre 
 estre encore plus fidelle et plus sincere arbate paroissoit alors fort touche de mes pleintes et de ma douleur tantost il me demandoit pardon du mal que son frere me faisoit tantost il me remercioit du respect que j'avois pour nostre amitie tantost il me prioit de continuer apres il me demandoit ce que je voulois qu'il fist puis tout d'un coup me regardant d'un visage un peu trouble voyez vous aglatidas me dit-il si arbate n'aimoit et n'aimoit autant que l'on peut aimer il ne vous feroit pas la proposition qu'il vous va faire et ne se porteroit jamais a faire une trahison pareille a celle qu'il premedite scachez donc poursuivit-il que je ne scay plus qu'une voye que je tiens presque infaillible pour rompre les desseins de megabise pour amestris ha mon cher arbate m'ecriay-je tentons la promptement cette bien heureuse voye si elle me peut delivrer d'un si redoutable rival vous scavez me dit-il que megabise m'aime avec une tendresse estrange de sorte que peut-estre fera-t'il pour mes interests et pour ma conservation ce qu'il n'a pas voulu faire pour mes prieres et pour mes raisons il faut donc poursuivit-il que je luy paroisse durant quelques jours plus inquiet et plus melancolique qu'a l'ordinaire et que lors qu'il m'en demandera la cause apres m'en estre fait presser plus d'une fois je luy die que je suis amoureux d'amestris et que tous les soins que j'ay aportez a le guerir de cette passion n'estoient que parce que je ne pouvois vaincre la mienne qu'en suitte je le prie et je le 
 presse de prendre quelque soing de ma vie et qu'avec des larmes et des soupirs je tasche de l'obliger a souffrir que je luy dispute cette victoire s'il ne me la veut pas ceder je scay poursuivit-il que megabise a l'ame tendre et qu'il ne luy sera pas aise de me resister je rougis mon cher amy adjousta le malicieux arbate de vous proposer une si noire trahison mais que ne fait-on point quand l'on aime bien mais mon cher arbate luy dis-je l'embrassant et craignant qu'il ne s'offencast de ce que j'allois luy dire si l'amitie que vous avez pour moy est assez forte pour vous obliger a tromper megabise que ne feriez vous point et a megabise et a aglatidas si vous deveniez amoureux d'amestris et ne dois-je point craindre qu'en feignant de l'estre vous ne le soyez enfin effectivement c'est donc ainsi reprit l'artificieux arbate tesmoignant estre un peu irrite que vous recevez les preuves de mon affection mais prenez garde aglatidas me dit-il que si je demeure dans les simples bornes de la raison je ne me trouve oblige de servir megabise contre vous et de preferer en effet les droits du sang a ceux de l'amitie arbate prononca ces paroles d'un visage si serieux que j'eus peur de l'avoir fasche de sorte que faisant un effort sur moy je taschay de me fier en ses promesses et je luy dis tant de choses que sa feinte colere s'appaisa et il m'en respondit de si adroites que ma crainte s'en dissipa presque entierement je vous advoue seigneur que d'abord cette proposition m'estonna mais voyant l'utilite que 
 j'en devois recevoir et sentant bien enfin que je ne souffrirois jamais que l'on m'ostast amestris sans m'oster la vie je creus qu'il valoit mieux avoir recours a l'adresse qu'a la force et je consentis a ce qu'arbate voulut sans avoir presque ny soubcon ny jalousie ne pouvant m'imaginer qu'il fust amoureux et craignant seulement un peu qu'il ne le devinst cependant comme ce n'estoit pas encore assez pour luy d'avoir la liberte de voir amestris sans que je le trouvasse mauvais s'il n'avoit le mesme advantage dans l'esprit de son frere il le fut trouver le lendemain au matin et le trompa aussi bien que moy presque de la mesme facon qu'il m'avoit trompe quoy que les raisons dont il se servit ne fussent pas toutes semblables il fut donc chercher megabise dans les jardins du roy ou l'on luy dit qu'il estoit comme il l'eut trouve que faites vous icy luy dit-il mon frere pendant qu'aglatidas est peut-estre chez amestris du moins poursuivit-il m'assura-t'il hier au soir qu'il iroit ce matin chez artambare vous feriez bien mieux luy respondit brusquement megabise de n'estre plus son amy et de l'abandonner a ma fureur et a ma jalousie que de m'advertir comme vous faites des soings qu'il rend a amestris aussi bien ne pensay-je pas que je puisse avoir long temps cette complaisance pour vous et ma patience se lasse enfin de voir eternellement aglatidas aime d'arbate et favorise de la personne que j'aime aglatidas adjousta-t'il qui est le seul que je crains de tous mes rivaux et 
 le seul que l'on me prefere arbate fit alors le surpris et l'estonne et regardant megabise quoy mon frere luy dit'il vous voudriez que je rompisse avec aglatidas parce qu'il est vostre rival luy qui est assez genereux pour ne rompre pas avec moy encore que vous soyez le sien et que je sois vostre frere mais qui au contraire m'a cent et cent fois demande pardon de ce que son malheur l'avoit engage a aimer amestris de plus il l'a aimee auparavant que vous la connussiez et il m'avoit mesme donne quelque legere esperance ces jours passez de et guerir de cette passion pour l'amour de vous et de moy cependant a ce que je voy poursuivit l'artificieux arbate feignant d'estre en colere et de s'en vouloir aller vous recevez si mal les bons offices que l'on vous rend qu'il ne vous en faut plus rendre ha mon frere s'escria megabise en le retenant pardonnez a un malheureux qui n'a pas l'usage de sa raison et ne l'abandonnez point dans son desespoir je voy que vous aimez si fort mon rival poursuivit-il que j'ay pense vous prendre pour luy et malgre moy et presque sans que je m'en sois aperceu la colere m'a surpris et m'a peut-estre force de vous dire quelque chose qui vous a depleu mais pardonnez le moy je vous en conjure et s'il est vray que vous m'aimiez et que mesme vous aimiez aglatidas ostez luy l'amour qu'il a pour amestris car je ne la puis plus souffrir et il faut que je meure ou qu'il cesse de l'aimer de quelque facon que ce soit vous estes bien violent luy repliqua arbate et 
 quelle apparence y a-t'il de pouvoir servir un homme incapable de raison et qui veut que l'on renonce a toute sorte de generosite pour contenter sa passion dereglee l'amour reprit megabise excuse presque toutes sortes d'injustices souvenez vous de ce que vous dites reprit arbate et voyons un peu si pour empescher que je ne sois expose a voir mon frere et mon amy l'espee a la main l'un contre l'autre il me sera permis de faire une trahison a aglatidas en faveur de megabise a ces mots arbate se teut comme pour mieux examiner en soy mesme la proposition qu'il avoit a faire car megabise l'a raconte depuis ainsi a plusieurs personnes et apres avoir un peu resve il reprit la parole d'un ton plus serieux jusques icy mon frere luy dit-il je n'ay employe contre aglatidas que des raisons qui le regardoient pour le dissuader de sa passion ou qui vous regardoient vous pour qui il n'a pas sans doute mesme amitie que pour moy mais aujourd'huy que je voy vostre amour devenir extreme et que je crains qu'en voulant respecter l'affection que j'ay pour aglatidas je ne hazarde sa vie je veux suivant vos maximes agir pour ce que j'ayme sans considerer si la chose est juste ou si elle ne l'est pas je veux donc luy dit-il faire une fausse confidence a aglatidas luy demander pardon d'un secret que je luy ay fait luy dire que lors que je l'ay voulu retirer de son amour c'a este pour mon interest et non pas pour le sien ny pour le vostre et enfin le prier et le presser de souffrir que j'ayme 
 et que je serve amestris comme cent autres l'aiment et la servent luy representant qu'il y va de ma vie et de mon repos et le conjurant mesme avec des larmes de ne me hair pas et de ne me desesperer point mais qu'esperez vous de cette fourbe luy repliqua megabise j'espere respondit arbate que peut-estre me cedera-t'il amestris ou que du moins estant persuade que j'en seray amoureux il ne trouvera point estrange que je la voye et ne soubconnera point que je ne seray aupres d'elle que pour vous y servir ha mon frere interrompit megabise si aglatidas scait aimer il ne vous la cedera pas et vous la disputera aussi bien qu'a moy vous aurez du moins cet avantage reprit arbate que vous aurez tousjours une personne fidelle aupres d'amestris qui destruira tous les desseins de vostre rival et qui avancera tous les vostres vous avez raison reprit le trop credule megabise mais mon frere adjousta-t'il je vous ay veu une fois chez amestris ne seroit-ce point que vous l'aimeriez un peu quand je suis arrive icy reprit arbate en sousriant j'aimois trop vostre rival et a la fin de la conversation il s'en faut peu que vous ne me croiyez amoureux de vostre maistresse encore une fois megabise adjousta-t'il voyez si vous voulez que je vous serve ou si vous ne le voulez pas car pour moy vous m'obligerez fort de me dispenser de faire une infidelite a mon amy megabise voyant une si grande indifference dans l'esprit d'arbate se r'assura et il ne soubconna point en effet qu'un homme qui tesmoignoit 
 aimer tant aglatidas et l'aimer tant luy mesme peust jamais aimer amestris tant y a seigneur qu'il le deceut comme il m'avoit deceu et qu'il se vit alors au point ou il s'estoit tant desire car enfin il m'assura qu'il avoit dit la chose dont nous estions convenus a son frere il me representa sa douleur et son desespoir et me dit en suitte que megabise ne luy avoit pas voulu promettre de ne voir plus amestris mais qu'il luy avoit permis de la voir et de tascher de s'en faire aimer luy jurant que s'il remarquoit que cette belle fille le traitast mieux que luy il s'en retireroit absolument et le laisseroit en paisible possession de son bonheur or seigneur ce qu'arbate me dit a moy il le dit a megabise et luy persuada que j'aurois cette defference pour luy de luy ceder amestris des qu'il sembleroit estre assez bien avec elle et qu'alors il la luy cederoit a son tour et qu'ainsi rien ne s'opposeroit plus a sa joye de sorte donc nous disoit-il separement qu'il n'y a plus rien a faire sinon que je voye amestris avec assiduite que je tasche de gagner son estime et de l'obliger a quelque civilite particuliere mais luy dis-je mon cher arbate si elle venoit a vous aimer tout de bon durant cette feinte que ferions nous je ne crains pas cela me respondit-il et sans doute ce n'estoit pas ce qu'il craignoit car mes propres deffauts ne m'asseurent que trop du contraire et puis adjoustoit-il je vous promets que tant que je seray seul aupres d'elle je ne luy parleray que de vous et de cette facon il n'y a rien a harzarder en 
 un mot seigneur arbate sceut si bien conduire l'esprit de megabise et le mien que nous consentismes qu'il vist amestris et qu'il en fust presque inseparable je vous laisse a juger si jamais il y a eu une pareille avanture et si jamais il y eut un fourbe plus heureux qu'arbate le fut durant quelques jours car comme je croyois que megabise se retireroit des qu'il connoistroit qu'arbate seroit mieux traite que luy je faisois des voeux pour cela et megabise de son coste ayant les mesmes sentimens faisoit aussi les mesmes souhaits si bien que de cette facon nous servions tous deux nostre plus grand ennemy et nostre plus redoutable rival et durant qu'il travailloit a nostre ruine nous luy rendions grace comme s'il eust estably nostre felicite le voila donc tous les jours chez amestris qui le recevoit tres-civilement il sembloit mesme qu'elle tesmoignoit luy avoir plus d'obligation de ses visites qu'a tout le reste du monde a cause que ce n'estoit qu'a sa consideration qu'il avoit quitte sa solitude et qu'il avoit change de vie il parloit avec amestris autant qu'il vouloit et avec beaucoup plus de liberte que pas un de nous car comme nous estions persuadez l'un et l'autre que lors qu'il luy parloit seul il luy parloit a nostre advantage nous luy en facilitions les moyens et luy fournissions nous mesmes des armes pour nous destruire car au lieu d'employer ces precieux moments ou il estoit seul aupres d'elle a l'entretenir de megabise ou de moy il s'en servoit a tascher de se mettre bien dans l'esprit d'amestris 
 mais pendant les premiers jours ce fut d'une facon si adroite et si respectueuse qu'elle ne s'en put pas fascher et si elle soubconna qu'il eust de l'amour elle creut aussi qu'il ne luy en donneroit jamais de tesmoignages qui luy pussent desplaire elle vescut donc avec luy avec beaucoup de retenue mais pourtant comme je l'ay dit avec beaucoup de civilite parce qu'en effet il en estoit digne et par sa condition et par son esprit megabise luy demandoit tous les jours si je ne commencois point de changer de sentimens et je luy demandois aussi fort souvent si son frere n'auroit pas bien tost pitie de sa pretendue passion a cela il respondoit a l'un qu'il commencoit d'en avoir quelque esperance a l'autre qu'il ne scavoit encore qu'en esperer a l'un que la chose estoit possible mais difficile a l'autre que malgre la difficulte il en viendroit pourtant a bout et a tous les deux qu'il ne faloit rien precipiter si l'on vouloit qu'il peust agir utilement et qu'il faloit luy donner tout loisir de prendre son temps pour pouvoir faire reussir la chose bref seigneur ce fourbe conduisoit si bien son entreprise que nous le servions l'un et l'autre au lieu qu'il nous devoit servir et que nous luy rendions mille graces lors qu'il nous assassinoit nous nous trouvasmes plusieurs fois tous ensemble chez amestris et plusieurs fois aussi megabise et moy souffrismes ce que l'on ne peut s'imaginer car tantost nostre seule passion nous desesperoit par sa violence tantost la jalousie s'y joignoit megabise craignoit 
 que son frere ne me servist au lieu de luy j'aprehendois aussi qu'arbate ne me trahist pour le favoriser et il y eut aussi quelques moments ou nous craignismes ce que nous devions croire et ou nous aprehendasmes qu'arbate ne fust amoureux ou ne le devinst je pense que vous vous souvenez bien que je vous ay dit que par les ordres de mon infidelle amy je n'avois ose parler ouvertement de ma passion a amestris mais bien que je les eusse suivis exactement j'ose dire que cette belle personne n'ignoroit pas le pouvoir que ses beaux yeux avoient sur mon coeur puis qu'encore que ma bouche ne revelast pas le secret de mon ame toutes mes actions tous mes regards et mesme toutes mes paroles les plus indifferentes ne laissoient pas d'avoir je ne scay quoy qui faisoit connoistre assez clairement la violence de mon amour principalement a une personne qui estoit prevenue de quelque legere inclination a juger de toutes choses a mon advantage je suis oblige de dire pour justifier amestris de la bonte qu'elle a eue pour moy que si elle me souffrit ce fut parce qu'elle connut qu'artambare et hermaniste le souhaitoient estant certain qu'ils avoient desire comme nous l'avons sceu depuis que je m'attachasse a la servir ce fut aussi parce que j'estois le premier homme de la cour qui eust eu l'honneur de la connoistre que de plus je ne luy avois jamais rien dit qui luy peust desplaire et que j'avois cherche avec beaucoup de soing toutes les occasions de la divertir neantmoins cette petite 
 disposition a ne me hair pas qui estoit dans le coeur d'amestris ne me rendoit pas plus heureux en ce temps-la parce qu'elle avoit une sagesse si severe et une civilite si prudente qu'aucun ne pouvoit croire raisonnablement estre bien dans son esprit ny craindre aussi fortement d'y estre mal tant elle avoit d'adresse et de jugement en sa conduite cependant j'ose dire qu'arbate tout heureux qu'il estoit dans sa fourbe avoit quelques facheux moments car lors qu'il se voyoit aupres d'amestris entre megabise et moy je tiens impossible qu'il n'eust quelque remords de trahir son frere et son amy tout ensemble et qu'il n'aprehendast quelque-fois la fin de cette advanture ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust preveu toutes choses et que si son dessein eust reussi il n'eust songe a ce qu'il avoit a nous dire il avoit donc eu intention des qu'il auroit pu s'assurer de l'esprit d'amestris de nous demander pardon a tous deux de feindre qu'il seroit devenu amoureux d'elle en la voyant pour l'amour de nous et de tesmoigner une si grande douleur de cet accident qu'il nous en eust fait pitie il s'estoit imagine aussi que du coste de son frere il n'avoit rien a craindre pour sa vie et il avoit creu que nostre amitie et le respect que j'aurois pour amestris m'empescheroient de faire esclatter la chose et puis apres tout cette belle personne valoit bien la peine de s'exposer a avoir une querelle c'estoit donc de cette sorte qu'arbate avoit forme ses desseins mais la fortune qui se mesle de tout en disposa 
 autrement il y avoit desja quelque temps que nous vivions de la facon que je vous ay dit lors qu'arbate se trouvant persecute de son frere et de moy et jugeant qu'il estoit assez bien avec amestris pour chercher les voyes de l'entretenir de sa passion plus ouvertement qu'il n'avoit fait forma le dessein de luy en parler et peu de temps apres il en fit naistre une occasion tres-favorable il dit a megabise et a moy separement qu'enfin il estoit resolu de scavoir qui de nous deux estoit le mieux dans l'esprit d'amestris mais que pour cela il faloit que nous n'allassions point chez elle durant deux jours afin qu'il ne manquast pas de trouver les moyens de l'entretenir en particulier et de tascher de descouvrir en luy parlant de l'un et de l'autre la privation de la veue duquel luy estoit la plus sensible nous luy accordasmes tout ce qu'il voulut quoy que de mon coste ce ne fust pas sans beaucoup de peine il fut donc chez amestris a la quelle il ne put parler le premier jour qu'en presence de beaucoup de monde joint qu'il y vint alors un de ses amants apelle otane le plus mal fait le plus haissable et le plus hai de toute la cour quoy qu'il eust assez d'esprit lequel ne partoit presque plus de chez elle ce n'est pas qu'amestris n'eust une aversion estrange pour luy mais comme c'estoit un homme de qualite artambare n'osoit le bannir de sa maison et ce fut principalement celuy-la qui empescha arbate de pouvoir parler le premier jour qu'il fut chez amestris mais le lendemain il fut plus 
 heureux car il la trouva sans autre compagnie que celle de ses femmes elle estoit mesme apuyee sur un balcon qui regarde le jardin si bien qu'ainsi il pouvoit aisement luy dire tout ce qu'il vouloit sans estre entendu de personne d'abord la conversation fut de choses indifferentes mais comme il avoit son dessein cache et qu'il vouloit la faire tomber insensiblement dans un discours qui facilitast ce qu'il avoit a luy descouvrir madame luy dit il je vous trouve aujourd'huy dans une solitude qui ne vous est pas ordinaire et qui ressemble fort a celle dont vous m'avez retire je m'estimerois bien glorieuse luy respondit-elle si je pouvois croire que ce fust a ma consideration que vous vous fussiez redonne a vos amis mais il y a bien plus d'aparence que les persuasions de megabise et d'aglatidas ont enfin eu ce pouvoir sur vous que de croire que j'y aye contribue quelque chose megabise et aglatidas reprit-il n'ont pas tant de pouvoir sur moy que la belle amestris vous estes donc fort injuste respondit elle car selon mon sens ils ont bien plus de droit d'y en pretendre qu'amestris qui n'en veut avoir sur personne que sur elle mesme ce que vous vous reservez madame repartit arbate vaut sans doute beaucoup mieux que tout le reste de vostre empire quoy que vous regniez absolument sur tous ceux qui ont l'honneur de vous approcher et en mon particulier je le prefererois tousjours a toutes les couronnes du monde si la difficulte d'aquerir quelque chose respondit elle luy donne 
 un nouveau prix vous avez raison d'estimer celle-la estant certain qu'il n'est pas aise d'avoir jamais un pouvoir absolu sur le coeur d'amestris ce seroit trop madame que de vouloir regner souverainement en un lieu si glorieux repliqua arbate et je connois des gens de qui l'ambition se contenteroit a moins et qui se croiroient heureux si on les advouoit pour esclaves pour moy repartit amestris sans croire encore qu'arbate voulust s'expliquer plus clairement je ne conseillerois jamais a personne de donner ny de recevoir des chaines et de mon consentement nul de mes amis ne sera jamais malheureux ha madame luy dit alors arbate demeurez tousjours dans un sentiment si juste et ne vous en repentez jamais le repentir des choses equitables respondit amestris seroit sans doute un crime c'est pourquoy je n'ay garde d'y tomber cela estant ainsi madame repliqua-t'il comment souffrez vous qu'il y ait un homme au monde qui vous adore avec un respect sans pareil et dans un silence dont la rigueur ne se peut exprimer sans adoucir ses malheurs par un regard favorable vous qui dites que de vostre consentement nul de vos amis ne sera jamais malheureux amestris fut quelque temps sans respondre et ne scachant si arbate vouloit parler pour megabise pour moy ou pour luy elle fut si surprise de ce discours qu'elle ne scavoit pas trop bien comment l'expliquer neantmoins le premier desordre de son esprit estant passe je ne scay arbate luy dit-elle d'un ton de voix un peu esleve si vous 
 avez dessein suivant vostre humeur ordinaire de me faire preferer la solitude a la conversation mais je scay bien que si la vostre ne change elle m'obligera de vous conseiller d'aller chercher le repos dans vostre cabinet et de ne troubler plus le mien dans ma chambre je ne le scaurois plus trouver qu'aupres de vous reprit precipitamment arbate qui estoit assez violent de son naturel quoy qu'il parust froid et melancolique a ceux qui ne le connoissoient gueres je pense arbate luy dit alors amestris en le regardant avec beaucoup de marques de colere dans les yeux que vous ne me connoissez plus pardonnez moy madame luy respondit-il je vous connois bien encore et je ne puis ignorer que vous ne soyez la plus belle et la plus aimable personne du monde mais c'est vous madame adjousta-t'il qui ne connoissez pas le malheureux arbate luy dis-je qui vous adore comme l'on adore les dieux luy qui ne considere que vous luy qui ne cherche que vous luy dis-je enfin qui meurt et qui mourra mille fois plustost que de vivre sans estre aime d'amestris vous n'avez donc qu'a vous preparer a la mort luy respondit-elle en l'interrompant car amestris ne donne ny son estime ny son amitie a ceux qui perdent le respect qu'on luy doit est-ce manquer de respect que de vous adorer luy repliqua-t'il c'est en manquer luy respondit-elle que de me le dire devinez donc mes pensees comme les dieux respondit arbate et comme les dieux prevenez les voeux et les prieres et 
 accordez ce que vous ne voulez pas que l'on vous demande je n'accorde rien dit-elle a ceux qui s'en sont rendus indignes non pas mesme la compassion que je n'ay guere acoustume de refuser aux miserables mais arbate poursuivit amestris je ne veux pas que vous m'entreteniez davantage et je vous deffends mesme de me voir jamais en disant cela elle s'en voulut aller mais il la retint puis que c'est la derniere fois luy dit-il que je dois avoir l'honneur de vous entretenir il faut madame que vous m'escoutiez tant que je voudray parler et que je vous face connoistre arbate pour ce qu'il est afin qu'auparavant que vous l'ayez absolument perdu vous songiez bien si vous avez raison de le perdre je ne le connois que trop luy repliqua-t'elle et il luy seroit plus advantageux que je le connusse moins vous ne scavez pourtant pas madame adjousta-t'il que celuy qui vous parle vous aime avec une telle violence qu'il n'est point de crime qu'il n'ait commis pour vous il a trahi ses amis il a trahi ses plus proches il s'est deshonore luy mesme et il n'est rien enfin qu'il n'ait fait et qu'il ne soit capable de faire pour posseder vostre affection et pour empescher que personne ne la possede c'est pourquoy madame poursuivit-il je vous declare ce que j'ay fait afin que vous connoissiez ce que je suis capable de faire s'il y a quelqu'un de mes rivaux adjousta-t'il qui vous deplaise faignez de luy vouloir du bien et je vous en defferay bien tost mais si au contraire continua-t'il encore 
 megabise ou aglatidas sont plus heureux que moy si vous les voulez conserver cachez de telle sorte les sentimens advantageux que vous avez pour l'un ou pour l'autre que je ne m'en apercoive pas et qu'ils ne s'en apercoivent pas eux mesmes megabise et aglatidas repliqua amestris sont a mon advis plus sages que vous je ne scay madame respondit-il s'ils sont plus sages mais je scay bien que s'ils sont plus heureux ils ne le seront pas long temps a ces dernieres paroles amestris entra en une si grande colere qu'il n'est rien de facheux et de rude qu'elle ne dist a arbate qui se repentit sans doute plus d'une fois de sa violence quoy que ce fust inutilement cet homme si fin et si ruse ayant perdu en cette rencontre par la force de sa passion et de sa douleur toute sa ruse et toute sa finesse ils en estoient la lors que l'on advertit amestris qu'il venoit du monde pour la visiter mais comme elle se sentoit l'esprit un peu en desordre et qu'elle ne doutoit point qu'elle n'eust beaucoup de marques de despit et de tristesse sur le visage que l'on auroit pu apercevoir elle quitta arbate et entra un moment dans sons cabinet pour se remettre pendant quoy il sortit de cette chambre mais si furieux et si desespere que jamais homme ne le fut davantage l'affliction le posseda de telle sorte que ne pouvant se resoudre de me voir non plus que megabise et ne scachant pas encore ce qu'il vouloit faire il monta a cheval et s'en alla aux champs pour quelque jours ordonnant que l'on nous dist 
 qu'il luy estoit arrive une affaire importante qui l'avoit force de partir sans nous dire adieu et sans nous voir
 
 
 
 
cependant megabise et moy qui ne scavions rien de la verite et qui estions au desespoir de ce qu'arbate ne nous avoit point rendu conte de la conversation qu'il avoit eue avec amestris voulusmes aller chez elle le lendemain mais l'on nous dit que l'on ne la voyoit pas et qu'elle se trouvoit mal le jour d'apres nous y retournasmes encore et nous la vismes mais plus melancolique qu'a l'accoustumee il me sembla mesme qu'elle nous traita un peu plus froidement qu'a l'ordinaire je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle inquietude j'en eus car comme je croyois qu'arbate luy avoit parle de moy la derniere fois qu'il l'avoit entretenue j'expliquois cela d'une maniere bien cruelle megabise de son coste n'estoit pas plus en repos que j'estois a ce que j'ay sceu depuis et nous passasmes l'apresdisnee avec beaucoup de chagrin mais admirez seigneur comment la fortune dispose des choses durant que je m'affligeois de cette sorte et que j'avois donne la conduitte de mon amour a un amy qui me trahissoit mon pere sans que j'en sceusse rien travailloit a ma felicite comme vous allez scavoir j'estois donc fort melancolique et pour l'absence d'arbate et pour la froideur que j'avois remarquee sur le visage d'amestris lors que mon pere m'ayant fait appeller me proposa le mariage de la fille d'artambare non seulement comme une chose qu'il souhaitoit mais comme une chose dont il 
 avoit desja fait parler et comme une chose presque faite seigneur luy repliquay-je ce que vous me proposez m'est trop advantageux pour n'y consentir pas avec joye mais croyez vous qu'amestris ait les mesmes intentions amestris me respondit-il n'en scait encore rien je ne laisse pourtant pas de croire qu'elle est trop bien nee pour desobeir aux volontez de ses parens que je scay qui le desirent autant que moy seigneur luy dis-je je voudrois bien devoir amestris a amestris et non pas a artambare c'est a vous me repliqua mon pere a vous informer des ses sentimens estant toujours bien aise de ne trouver point de resistance aux vostres je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle fut ma joye a une si agreable nouvelle elle fut si grande que je ne la goustois qu'imparfaitement et elle excita un trouble en mon ame qui fit que je ne la sentis pas comme je devois o dieux combien de fois souhaitay-je l'infidelle arbate pour estre le tesmoin de ma bonne fortune et pour luy demander pardon du desplaisir que megabise en recevroit cependant comme je trouvois un peu estrange que l'on me mariast avec amestris auparavant que je l'eusse entretenue moy mesme de m amour j'en cherchay l'occasion le lendemain et je fus assez heureux pour la rencontrer m'estant donc trouve seul aupres d'amestris je remarquay qu'elle changea de couleur plus d'une fois et je m'imaginay comme il estoit vray qu'elle scavoit deja quelque chose de l'intention d'attambare touchant nostre mariage comme 
 en effet il luy en avoit parle une heure avant que j'arrivasse aupres d'elle mais helas seigneur que cet aimable incarnant en l'embellissant me donna d'estranges inquietudes et que je craignis fortement qu'elle n'eust de l'aversion pour ce que je m'imaginois qu'on luy avoit propose madame luy dis-je presque en tremblant aglatidas oseroit-il bien prendre la liberte de demander a la belle amestris si les divers changemens qu'il voit sur son visage sont d'un bon ou d'un mauvais presage pour luy je pensois dit-elle en rougissant encore plus fort avoir entendu dire a nos mages que les hommes ne devoient consulter que les astres pour s'informer de leur fortune et ne s'amuser pas a de si petites et de si legeres observations je pense luy repliquay-je que ceux qui ont dessein de scavoir s'ils seront riches ou s'ils seront heureux a la guerre doivent faire ce que vous dittes mais je crois aussi que ceux qui ne veulent scavoir autre chose que ce qui se passe dans le coeur de l'adorable amestris ne doivent consulter que ses yeux et ne doivent aprendre que d'eux leur bonne ou leur mauvaise fortune amestris me respondit elle n'est pas assez considerable pour faire le malheur ou la felicite de quelqu'un mais quand cela seroit aglatidas la doit assez connoistre pour croire qu'elle ne cherchera pas mesme la sienne que par la volonte de ceux qui doivent raisonnablement disposer d'elle mais madame adjoustay-je si ceux que vous dittes souhaittoient de vous une chose ou vous eussiez de la repugnance 
 leur obeiriez vous sans murmurer je le ferois sans doute repliqua-t'elle quand mesme j'en devrois perdre la vie car je tiens bien plus advantageux pour moy de faire ce que je dois que de faire ce qui me plaist cette vertu est bien severe luy dis-je et cette obeissance me semble un peu trop aveugle car madame quel desespoir seroit celuy d'un homme qui auroit eu le bonheur d'estre choisi par vos parens pour estre le mary de la divine amestris s'il venoit a connoistre apres qu'elle auroit obei par contrainte je cacherois si bien mes sentimens respondit elle qu'il ne connoistroit jamais ha madame luy dis-je ne vous y abusez pas c'est une chose qui ne scauroit estre c'est pourquoy madame je vous conjure par tout ce qui vous est de plus venerable et de plus sacre de me dire ingenument en quels termes je suis dans vostre esprit car madame je ne crois pas estre assez malheureux pour faire que vous ignoriez de quelle facon vous estes dans le mien ouy madame poursuivis-je vous scavez que depuis le premier moment que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir je vous ay aimee avec une passion sans egale que je vous ay servie avec un respect tel que celuy que l'on a pour les dieux et que je vous ay adoree en secret de toutes les forces de mon coeur c'est donc a vous madame a m'apprendre si je dois esperer ou craindre si vous me souffrez sans aversion ou si vous m'endurez par complaisance et c'est a vous enfin a determiner de mon bonheur ou de mon infortune je vous ay desja dit me repliqua-t'elle 
 que je n'ay point de pouvoir en ma propre felicite et par consequent je n'en ay guere en celle d'autruy mais aglatidas puis qu'un commandement que je viens de recevoir d'artambare et d'hermaniste me permet de souffrir avec bien-seance que vous me parliez de vostre affection je vous diray avec beaucoup de sincerite que le choix qu'ils ont fait me semble si avantageux pour moy que j'en ay quelque confusion et si vous avez remarque quelque changement sur mon visage c'a este sans doute par la honte que j'ay de n'estre pas digne de l'honneur que vous me faites amestris prononca ces paroles avec tant de retenue qu'il me fut impossible de descouvrir ses sentimens ce qui me mit en une inquietude si estrange et si bizarre que jamais l'on n'a entendu parler d'une pareille chose en cet instant je voulois presque mal a mon pere d'avoir si tost avance mon bonheur car disois-je le moyen de scavoir si je suis aime d'amestris amestris reprenois-je qui est la plus sage personne de toute la terre et qui vivroit bien avec l'homme du monde le plus mal fait si elle l'avoit espouse tant y a seigneur que je fus si fort possede de cette espece d'inquietude que je ne pus la cacher a amestris madame luy dis-je vous voyez devant vous le plus malheureux de tous les hommes tout ensemble le plus heureux sans doute adjoustai-je par la glorieuse esperance qu'artambare a donne a mon pere de ne me refuser pas amestris mais le plus malheureux aussi de ce que je ne puis scavoir 
 si aglatidas eust este choisi par amestris quand artambare ne l'eust pas choisi que vous importe me respondit elle de scavoir une chose qui ne peut plus arriver et que je ne scay pas moy mesme car comme j'ay tousjours creu fortement que je ne devois pas disposer de moy je me suis contentee d'empescher mon coeur d'estre capable d'aucune preocupation sans me determiner a rien qu'a obeir aveuglement si bien madame luy dis-je que si l'on vous eust commande de recevoir les services de megabise ou d'otane vous n'eussiez pas desobei je vous l'ay desja advoue si je ne me trompe repliqua-t'elle ha dieux m'escriay-je madame pourquoy ne voulez vous pas que je sois heureux je ne m'oppose point a vostre bonheur respondit amestris s'il est vray que mon consentement y soit necessaire mais madame luy dis-je en l'interrompant qui m'assurera que ce n'est point par contrainte que vous obeissez vous qui dites que vous obeiriez quelque repugnance que vous y pussiez avoir vous estes injuste aglatidas me dit elle de vouloir que je vous die mes sentimens vous qui voulez que j'aye devine tous les vostres c'est pourquoy taschez de les descouvrir si vous pouvez et contentez vous de scavoir qu'artambare tient le coeur d'amestris en sa puissance et que s'il en dispose en vostre faveur comme il y a beaucoup d'apparence qu'il le fera vous y aurez un pouvoir absolu et legitime que ri ne troublera jamais ce n'est pas encore assez madame luy dis-je et je voudris 
 scavoir precisement ce que vous pensiez d'aglatidas un moment auparavant qu'artambare vous eust parle en sa faveur j'en pensois me dit elle sans doute ce que toutes les personnes raisonnables en pensent mais vous estoit-il absolument indifferent luy dis-je vous estes trop curieux me respondit-elle en sous-riant et en rougissant tout ensemble et si je continuois de vous respondre il seroit difficile que je ne disse quelque chose qui seroit a vostre desavantage ou au mien ce fut de cette sorte seigneur que cette sage et adroite personne se delivra de ma persecution et qu'elle me guerit un peu de mon bizarre chagrin car il me sembla que de la facon dont elle m'avoit dit ces dernieres paroles je pouvois les expliquer favorablement pour moy je me trouvay donc heureux et si arbate eust este a ecbatane il me sembloit que je n'eusse rien eu a souhaiter cependant comme les personnes de condition ne se marient jamais en medie sans le consentement du roy artambare et mon pere tinrent encore la chose secrette durant quelques jours afin de prendre leur temps a propos pour la faire agreer a astiage mais seigneur que ces jours furent heureux pour aglatidas et quelles douceurs ne trouva-t'il point en la conversation d'amestris car comme cette sage fille avoit enfin receu un commandement de son pere de me regarder comme celuy qu'elle devoit espouser je trouvay dans son ame tant de complaisance et il me sembla y remarquer tant de tendresse pour moy que je puis 
 dire que je fus pleinement recompense par ces bien-heureux momens de tous les maux que j'avois souffers elle ne voulut pourtant jamais m'advouer qu'elle m'eust aime ny qu'elle m'aimast mais en me permettant d'esperer que cela pourroit estre un jour elle m'en dit assez pour me faire croire qu'elle ne me haissoit pas artambare et mon pere ayant alors trouve l'occasion qu'ils attendoient parlerent de nostre mariage au roy qui y consentit sans peine parce qu'il ne scavoit pas que megabise qui avoit l'honneur de luy apartenir songeast a espouser amestris le consentement d'astiage ne fut pas plustost obtenu que la chose fut sceue de toute la cour megabise en estant informe des premiers fut a l'instant mesme supplier le roy de ne souffrir pas ce mariage et de vouloir le proteger au dessein qu'il avoit pour amestris mais ce prince luy dit qu'il avoit parle trop tard et qu'ayant donne sa parole la chose estoit absolument sans remede megabise quitta le roy assez mescontent et se resolut de prendre une voye qu'il jugea meilleure pour arriver a sa fin il chercha donc l'occasion de me rencontrer et l'ayant trouvee sans me faire un plus long discours aglatidas me dit-il tout bas a l'oreille ne possedera point amestris que par la mort de megabise c'est pourquoy poursuivit-il sans tarder davantage sortons par la porte qui regarde les montagnes et venez achever vostre conqueste par ma deffaite megabise luy dis-je je n'ay guere accoustume de me faire presser d'aller ou vous me voulez conduire mais 
 je vous advoue que je voudrois bien s'il estoit possible ne mettre point l'espee a la main contre un frere d'arbate vous le pouvez me repliqua-t'il en me cedant amestris amestris repliquay-je ha non non megabise je ne la scaurois ceder et s'il n'y a point d'autre voye de vous satisfaire il faut suivre vestre intention en disant cela nous sortismes apres nous estre deffaits de ceux qui estoient aveque nous et nous fusmes au pied d'un grand rocher sur une assez belle pelouse ou il voulut que nous batissions je vous advoue que l'amitie que j'avois pour arbate me troubloit un peu et que j'avois beaucoup de repugnance a respandre le sang d'un homme qui estoit son frere mais des que je venois a penser que megabise estoit mon rival et que de sa vie ou de sa mort dependoit la possession d'amestris cette consideration me quittoit et la fureur se rendoit maistresse de mon esprit nous ne fusmes donc pas plustost au lieu qu'il avoit choisi que nous mismes l'espee a la main car comme c'estoit fort pres de la ville quoy que nous fussions a pied nous n'eusmes pas besoin de reprendre haleine d'abord megabise vint a moy avec une fierte et une violence qui me firent bien connoistre que j'avois a faire a un dangereux ennemy et j'ose dire que je le receus avec assez de vigueur et de fermete pour ne luy donner pas mauvaise opinion de mon courage comme nous n'estions pas mal adroits tous deux nous nous portasmes plusieurs coups sans nous blesser ce qui a mon advis nous fascha egalement mais 
 comme nous nous estions enfin resolus d'abandonner tout a la fortune et de ne nous mesnager plus arbate l'artificieux arbate ayant selon toutes les apparences invente quelque nouvelle fourbe pour nous tromper revenant a la ville nous vit de loin au pied de ce rocher et sans scavoir qui c'estoit il vint a nous l'espee haute pour nous separer mais dieux qu'il fut surpris lors qu'il nous reconnut et que de divers sentimens s'emparerent de son ame megabise estant son frere il est a croire qu'il m'eust volontiers prie de cesser de le combattre et je pense aussi que me regardant comme son amy il eust presque bien voulu obliger megabise a ne tirer plus l'espee contre moy mais comme estant tous deux ses rivaux je ne scay s'il n'eut point quelque tentation d'attaquer tous les deux ensemble et de ne respecter ny le sang ny l'amitie neantmoins les sentimens de la nature estans presques tousjours les plus diligens a paroistre dans les accidens inopinez arbate ne nous reconnut pas plustost qu'il nous cria autant qu'il put que nous nous arrestassions sa voix que nous reconnusmes d'abord nous ayant touchez egalement megabise et moy nous tournasmes la teste et vismes arbate l'espee a la main comme je l'ay dit qui s'estant mis au milieu de nous pour nous separer et sans descendre de cheval quelle fureur vous possede nous dit-il et quel nouveau sujet de querelle avez vous ensemble il n'a pas tenu a moy luy dis-je mon cher arbate que je ne me sois pas battu contre megabise 
 et les dieux scavent avec quelle repugnance j'y ay consenty c'est donc vous megabise luy dit alors arbate qui sans considerer qu'aglatidas est mon amy avez voulu le quereller en mon absence contre ce que vous m'aviez tant promis c'est moy sans doute luy repliqua-t'il qui ay voulu voir aglatidas l'espee a la main et qui le verray dans le tombeau s'il ne m'y pousse le premier ou s'il ne me cede amestris arbate qui ne scavoit pas l'estat ou estoient les choses depuis son depart et qui ne vouloit non plus que megabise possedast amestris qu'aglatidas nous regardant l'un et l'autre vous estes des furieux nous dit-il qui avez perdu la raison car enfin poursuivit-il je n'ay pas entendu dire qu'artambare veuille donner sa fille au plus vaillant de tous ceux qui la servent c'est pourquoy au lieu de vous battre inutilement allez la luy demander tous deux et celuy auquel il l'accordera en demeurera paisible possesseur ha mon cher arbate luy dis-je vous avez prononce en ma faveur sans y penser car artambare m'a promis de me donner amestris ouy adjousta megabise et le roy y a consenti jugez apres cela luy dit-il encore si j'ay tort de me battre contre aglatidas et si nous sommes en termes de pouvoir suivre vostre conseil a ces mots arbate qui sans doute ne nous l'avoit donne que dans la pensee qu'artambare ne voudroit pas accorder sa fille a des gens qui avoient querelle et qu'il profiteroit de nostre infortune changea de couleur et me regardant alors avec 
 des yeux ou la rage et le desespoir paroissoient egalement il est donc vray aglatidas me dit-il que l'on vous a promis amestris et qu'amestris y consent il est vray luy dis-je que je jouis de ce bonheur et que la belle amestris obeit sans murmurer ha s'il est ainsi dit-il en m'interrompant et en regardant son frere laissez moy megabise laissez moy le soing de combattre un amant heureux d'amestris et ne vous en meslez pas car j'y ay plus d'interest que vous et aglatidas mesme sera encore plus innocent d'avoir cause ma mort que la vostre si elle arrive en disant cela il s'en vint de mon coste avec une fureur estrange d'abord je laschay le pied et ne pouvant a fraper mon amy et ne pouvant aussi me retirer de l'estonnement ou venoient de me mettre ses paroles megabise qui est genereux se mettant alors entre son frere et moy insense luy dit-il tu veux donc te couvrir d'infamie et m'en couvrir en mesme temps faisant croire a tout le monde veu ce que tu m'es que nous aurons este deux a combattre un homme seul et que nous l'aurons assassine retire toy ou les sentimens de l'honneur et de l'amour me feront oublier ceux de la nature a ces mots j'abaissay la pointe de mon espee pour faire voir a arbate que je n'avois pas dessein de m'en servir contre luy quoy arbate luy dis-je dois-je croire ce que je voy et aglatidas pourra t'il s'imaginer qu'arbate soit devenu son ennemy ha non non adjoustay-je je ne le scaurois penser mais quand 
 cela seroit je ne serois pourtant jamais le sien car je ne suis capable de haine que pour les amans d'amestris c'est aussi en cette qualite me respondit le furieux arbate en descendant de cheval et en s'avancant vers moy que je ne puis souffrir vostre bonheur et que je vous le veux disputer jusques a la derniere goutte de mon sang vous estes amant d'amestris s'ecria megabise aussi bien que moy ouy nous repliqua-t'il je le suis et de telle sorte que nul ne la possedera jamais tant que je seray vivant je vous laisse a juger seigneur de l'etonnement de megabise et du mien mais admirez un peu le bizarre effet du discours d'arbate un moment auparavant j'aimois cet infidelle amy et haissois megabise mais a peine eus-je entendu ce qu'il avoit dit que l'amitie que j'avois pour luy cessa et que la haine que j'avois pour l'autre en fut comme suspendue cette nouvelle jalousie s'emparant de mon esprit plus fortement que la premiere megabise de son coste me regardant comme estant egalement trompe aveque luy par arbate sembla aussi diminuer de l'aversion qu'il avoit pour moy pour le hair davantage et arbate dans sa violente passion et dans son desespoir ne faisoit a mon advis nulle distinction entre son amy et son frere quoy qu'il en soit je pense qu'il estoit le plus malheureux estant a croire que l'image de son crime et de sa double trahison s'offroit continuellement a son esprit et le tourmentoit sans relasche cependant comme il n'estoit pas 
 aise a arbate de se battre contre moy et parce qu'en effet j'y resistois et parce que megabise ne le vouloit pas souffrir que d'autre part arbate ne vouloit pas estre le tesmoin du combat que j'avois commence contre megabise que ce furieux ne pouvoit pas non plus nous combattre tous deux a la fois et que je n'aurois pas endure qu'il eust combattu son frere nous estions contraints malgre nous d'employer a parler un temps que nous avions destine a un autre usage mais comme megabise n'estoit pas moins surpris de l'amour d'arbate que je l'estois et depuis quand mon frere luy dit-il s'il m'est permis de donner ce nom a mon rival estes vous devenu amoureux d'amestris depuis le premier moment que je la vy luy respondit-il quoy luy dis-je en l'interrompant vous devintes amant le jour que je vous y menay ouy cruel amy reprit arbate ce fut vous qui me forcastes d'y aller et qui m'avez force en suitte de vous trahir de tromper megabise d'offenser amestris et de me deshonorer c'est pourquoy aglatidas poursuivit-il je ne puis plus estre vostre amy et il faut de necessite que vous mouriez ou que je meure il vaudroit mieux luy dis-je que vous vous repentissiez de vostre crime je m'en repentiray me respondit-il quand aglatidas et megabise n'aimeront plus amestris ha si cela ne doit arriver qu'ainsi luy dismes nous en mesme temps megabise et moy nous n'avons qu'a songer lequel vaut mieux de vous pardonner ou de vous punir comme nous en estions la nous 
 vismes arriver quantite de gens qui ayant este advertis que nous estions sortis de la ville venoient nous chercher ayant eu quelque soubcon de nostre querelle le furieux arbate ne voulant pas estre arreste remonta a cheval et me dit tout bas qu'il m'attendroit trois jours depuis le matin jusqu'au soir a un lieu qu'il me marqua et me dit que si je n'estois le plus lasche de tous les hommes j'yrois le satisfaire et me vanger il s'esloigna alors en un moment et nous le perdismes de veue dans les montagnes ceux qui nous cherchoient nous ayant trouve comme je l'ay dit nous remenerent a la ville et nous donnerent en garde a nos amis en attendant que le roy nous accommodast mais quelques diligens qu'ils pussent estre megabise et moy nous echapasmes et nous fusmes battre a cinq cens pas d'ecbatane je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire les particularitez de nostre combat et vous scaurez seulement que je fus assez heureux pour ne blesser megabise que legerement a la main et pour le desarmer neantmoins quoy que sa blessure ne fust pas considerable je creux que je devois point r'entrer dans la ville le mesme jour par ce que megabise estant allie du roy c'eust este manquer de respect pour luy que d'en user de cette sorte quoy que ce n'eust pas este moy qui eust commence nostre querelle je pris donc le chemin de la maison d'un de mes amis sans songer que ce chemin m'obligeoit de passer par l'endroit ou arbate m'avoit donne assignation car si j'eusse pense peut-estre n'y eussay-je 
 pas este quelque haine que j'eusse pour luy tant mon amitie avoit este forte or seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire qu'en desarmant megabise mon espee s'estoit rompue si bien qu'a la fin du combat je n'avois pu luy rendre la sienne ne me semblant pas juste que celuy qui avoit eu le bonheur de vaincre demeurast sans armes j'avois donc l'espee de megabise qui estoit assez remarquable par la garde qu'elle avoit d'une facon fort particuliere de sorte que comme j'arrivay a l'endroit qu'arbate m'avoit designe et ou il m'attendoit effectivement il ne me vit pas plustost qu'il reconnut l'espee de megabise et s'imagina que je venois de le tuer cette veue suspendit pour un moment toutes ses autres pensees quoy dit-il en s'avancant vers moy je ne voy donc pas seulement celuy qui doit posseder amestris mais je voy encore le meurtrier de mon frere vostre frere luy dis-je en me reculant n'est pas en l'estat que vous dittes et s'il vous estoit aussi aise de n'aimer plus amestris qu'il me le sera de vous redonner megabise nous serions bien tost amis cela ne peut-estre me dit-il ceux de ma maison n'ont accoustume de quitter leur espee qu'avec la vie mais quoy qu'il en soit adjousta-t'il il faut tousjours que vous vous battiez contre moy et quand cela ne seroit pas j'ay assez d'autres sujets de hair la vie et de desirer vostre mort arbate luy dis-je alors au nom des dieux ne me forcez pas a tuer un homme que j'ay tant aime donnez vous la patience de m'escouter un moment arbate s'arresta a ces mots et ne me pressa 
 plus tant je commencay donc malgre ma haine et mon ressentiment de luy dire cent choses touchantes pour le ramener a la raison sans le pouvoir faire quoy luy dis-je ne vous souvient il plus que j'estois vostre amy ouy me repliqua-t'il mais je me souviens encore mieux que vous estes mon rival et un rival encore qui doit espouser amestris les dieux me sont tesmoins luy dis-je que si je vous la pouvois ceder je le ferois malgre toutes vos trahisons il n'en est pas ainsi de moy me respondit ce desespere car si je pensois que mon coeur fust capable de la ceder a quelqu'un je passerois mon espee au travers pour le punir d'un sentiment si lasche et si indigne d'amestris mais luy repliquay-je quand je n'espouserois pas amestris peut-estre qu'arbate n'en seroit pas plus heureux et qu'un autre le seroit plus que luy cet autre me respondit-il seroit alors pour arbate ce qu'aglatidas luy est presentement c'est a dire l'homme du monde de qui il peut le moins souffrir ny la veue ny la vie car poursuivit ce furieux si je vous regarde comme mon amy j'ay de la confusion de mes perfidies sans en avoir de repentir si je vous regarde comme le vainqueur de mon frere il faut que je vange sa honte et sa deffaite et si je vous regarde comme mon rival il faut que je vous haisse et que je vous tue si je le puis mais luy dis-je voulez vous que je me batte contre vous avec l'espee de megabise et que je vous blesse des armes de vostre frere mon frere me respondit-il est mon rival aussi 
 aussi bien que vous et vous n'employerez contre moy que les armes d'un de mes ennemis quand vous vous servirez des siennes au nom de nostre amitie passe luy dis-je ne me forcez point a me battre au nom de nostre haine et de nostre amour presente me repliqua-t'il ne discourons pas davantage a ces mots perdant patience il s'eslanca sur moy tout d'un coup et je me vy alors force de songer a me deffendre je fus pourtant encore assez long temps sans faire autre chose que parer aux coups qu'arbate me portoit et je le fis d'autant plustost que je remarquay que la colere et la fureur luy avoient fait perdre le jugement il ne songeoit qu'a me porter il s'abandonnoit a tous les momens et si j'eusse voulu je luy aurois passe cent fois mon espee au travers du corps mais voyant la facon dont il se battoit il me fit quelque pitie et il ne seroit point mort si luy mesme n'eust cause sa perte apres que nostre combat eut dure quelque temps il remarqua que je l'espargnois et ce qui le devoit fleschir fut ce qui l'irrita davantage de sorte que voulant passer sur moy il prit mal ses mesures et s'eslancant avec violence il s'enferra de luy mesme et mon espee luy entra dans le corps jusqu'a la garde je la retiray au mesme instant mais en la retirant il sembla que j'eusse donne un passage plus libre a son ame car il expira un moment apres sans pouvoir parler je vous advoue seigneur que je ne fus jamais guere plus afflige que je me le trouvay alors car enfin j'avois aime cherement arbate de plus je j'avois tue de l'espee 
 de son frere et ce qui m'estoit le plus sensible et le plus important c'estoit que je voyois bien que cette mort reculeroit mon mariage et me forceroit de ne paroistre point a la cour durant quelque temps arbate estant d'une condition trop relevee pour pouvoir faire que la chose allast autrement cependant au mesme instant qu'arbate avoit voulu passer sur moy il estoit venu du monde qui avoit veu son action et la mienne et qui en rendit tesmoignage en suitte quand il en fut besoing mais comme ma douleur estoit extreme apres avoir prie ces gens de prendre soing du corps de mon infidelle et infortune amy je m'en allay chez un de mes parens qui avoit une maison assez proche de ce lieu-la je n'y fus pas plustost que que j'envoyay vers mon pere vers artambare et vers amestris pour leur aprendre ce qui m'estoit arrive et je n'oubliay rien de tout ce que je creus devoir faire en une occasion si fascheuse je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire les divers sentimens de toutes ces diverses personnes puis que vous les pouvez aisement concevoir la mort d'arbate fit un grand bruit dans la cour et le hazard qui avoit fait que j'avois combatu les deux freres en un mesme jour et que j'avois tue arbate de l'espee de megabise estoient des circonstances qui agravoient bien la chose en apparence mais qui en effet ne me rendoient pas plus coupable toutefois astiage ne laissa pas d'en paroistre fort irrite et megabise quoy que son frere l'eust trahi et fust son rival ne laissa pas aussi de tesmoigner 
 beaucoup de ressentiment de sa mort et de cacher l'interest de son amour sous le pretexte de la vangeance de son frere artambare donc et mon pere avec luy resolurent que je me tiendrois cache pour quelque temps que mesme je m'esloignerois d'ecbatane le plus que je pourrois afin d'esviter un nouveau combat contre megabise et que pendant mon absence ils travailleroient l'un et l'autre de toute leur force pour tascher d'accommoder les choses ils n'eurent pas plustost pris cette resolution qu'ils me la firent scavoir mais encore que je l'eusse preveue il est pourtant certain que je ne laissay pas d'en estre surpris et que la seule pensee de la felicite ou j'estois un jour auparavant et du malheur ou je me voyois tombe m'accabloit de telle sorte que je n'avois pas mesme la liberte de raisonner sur mon infortune je fis pourtant supplier mon pere de me donner encore quelque temps pour me resoudre a ce fascheux depart et pour m'y pouvoir preparer ce qu'il m'accorda sans peine parce qu'il scavoit que j'estois en une maison ou il y avoit seurete pour moy et que d'ailleurs il n'ignoroit pas qu'encore qu'astiage fust irrite il ne se pourteroit pas a la derniere violence contre le fils d'un homme qui l'avoit si long temps et bien servy je fus donc encore quelques jours en ce lieu la pendant lesquels j'escrivis trois fois a amestris pour obtenir d'elle la permission de luy aller dire adieu mais quelques pressantes que fussent mes prieres et mes raisons je pense qu'elle ne seroit pas laissee persuader 
 si je n'eusse employe aupres d'elle l'adresse d'une parente que j'ay qui est fort de ses amies et a laquelle j'escrivis aussi pour cela
 
 
 
 
enfin seigneur j'obtins donc la liberte de me rendre un soir dans ces superbes jardins qui sont a cent pas d'ecbatane du coste du midy et de qui la vaste estendue fait que l'on les peut plustost nommer un grand parc que de grands jardins c'est en cet endroit que ceux qui ne cherchent pas le tumulte se vont promener estant certain qu'il y en a beaucoup moins que dans les jardins du palais du roy ou au bord de l'oronte je ne scay seigneur s'il vous souvient qu'en ce lieu la il y a un grand parterre rustique dont les compartimens ne sont que de gazon au milieu duquel est une belle fontaine de qui le bassin est seme d'un sable argente et de qui les bords sont ornez d'une mousse verte qui par son espaisseur et par sa fraischeur offre un lict fort agreable a ceux qui s'y veulent reposer or seigneur ce grand parterre est environne d'un bois taillis fort espais entrecoupe de petits sentiers ondoyans qui y conduisent et qui par cent tours et retours rendent l'abord de ce lieu-la un peu long et difficile aussi est-il beaucoup moins frequente que tous les autres quoy que ce ne soit pas le moins agreable mais comme les autres parterres sont plus proches des portes par ou l'on entre il n'y a presque que les solitaires et les melancoliques qui aillent resver au bord de cette fontaine ce fut donc en cet endroit que la belle amestris persuadee par ma parente qui estoit 
 son amie se resolut de m'accorder la permission de la voir de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la joye que je receus a cette agreable nouvelle il me seroit bien difficile j'oubliay quasi que je ne la reverrois que pour luy dire adieu et sans songer a ce qui devoit suivre cette entreveue je pensay seulement que je reverrois amestris par sa permission en un lieu ou je pourrois l'entretenir de mon amour et ou je pourrois peut-estre recevoir quelque leger tesmoignage qu'elle ne luy desplaisoit pas je me rendis donc des la pointe du jour de peur d'estre aperceu dans ces beaux jardins et je passay tout le matin et toute l'apresdisnee dans un petit pavillon qui est au bout d'une allee ou il ne loge que des jardiniers desquels en leur donnant quelque chose l'on obtient tout ce que l'on veut cependant le soleil n'eut pas si tost commence de s'abaisser que je fus me mettre dans le bois-taillis qui environne le parterre de gazon regardant avec beaucoup de soin et d'impatience si amestris ne venoit point toutes les fois que le vent agitoit les feuilles je croyois l'entendre venir et mon imagination me la representa si vivement que je creus la voir en plus d'un lieu ou elle n'estoit pas enfin le soleil s'estant couche ce bel astre m'aparut et je vis sortir amestris du bocage suivie de ma parente et de trois ou quatre de ses femmes car encore que ce fust un secret que nostre entreveue comme ce n'estoit pas un crime cette sage fille avoit mieux aime y venir avec plusieurs personnes que d'y 
 venir peu accompagnee je ne la vis pas plustost que je fus vers elle et luy donnant la main je la menay aupres de la fontaine ou l'on estoit assure de n'estre entendu de personne et de ne pouvoir estre surpris d'abord je la remerciay de la bonte qu'elle avoit pour moy avec toute la passion et tout le respect qu'il me fut possible mais comme les momens m'estoient precieux elle ne fut pas plustost assise que me mettant a genoux aupres d'elle pendant que ma parente et toutes ses femmes parloient de la beaute du lieu et de la saison a trois pas de nous madame luy dis-je est-il permis au malheureux aglatidas de croire que vous avez bien sceu qu'il auroit l'honneur de vous voir icy et est-il bien vray que ce ne soit pas un hazard qui luy donne le plaisir qu'il a de vous entretenir ouy aglatidas me respondit elle c'est de mon consentement que je vous voy et j'ay creu que mon pere m'ayant commande de vous honorer infiniment je pouvois sans crime aucun vous donner ce tesmoignage de mon estime et si je l'ose dire de mon amitie ha madame luy dis-je ne me cachez point mon bonheur et s'il est vray que je sois assez heureux pour vous avoir obligee a quelque legere connoissance de ma passion faites le moy connoistre madame si vous voulez conserver ma vie et ne croyez pas que je sois de l'humeur de ceux qui se flatent en toutes choses et qui expliquent tout a leur advantage au contraire je me connois si parfaitement que je doute tousjours que l'on me puisse estimer c'est pourquoy madame 
 il faut que vous ayez cette indulgence pour ma foiblesse de n'escouter pas tant aujourd'huy cette humeur severe qui vous fait croire que l'amour est une chose qui ne peut-estre sans crime dans un esprit et qui fait que ces cruelles paroles d'estime et d'amitie trouvent tousjours leur place en tous vos discours et que celles d'amour et de passion ne s'y rencontrent jamais songez s'il vous plaist luy dis-je que je suis infortune et que je vay estre exile du seul lieu de la terre ou je puis trouver quelque repos pensez donc je vous en conjure que j'ay besoin de quelque consolation pendant une si cruelle absence et que si vous ne me donnez quelques marques particulieres de vostre affection je mourray de douleur et de desespoir croyez vous aglatidas me dit elle que ce soit avoir fait peu de chose pour vous que d'estre venue dans ce jardin que de souffrir que vous me parliez en particulier et que d'endurer que vous m'entreteniez d'une passion qui quelque legitime qu'elle puisse estre ne laisse pas d'avoir quelque chose de dangereux quand elle est trop forte et qui apres tout ne peut-estre soufferte par une fille sans faire beaucoup de violence a sa modestie si elle est effectivement raisonnable quoy madame luy dis-je une passion qu'artambare et hermaniste n'ont pas desaprouvee laisseroit quelque scrupule dans l'esprit d'amestris et aglatidas qui n'a pas eu une seule pensee qui vous puisse offenser seroit criminel de vous parler de son amour ha madame s'il est ainsi je suis bien plus 
 malheureux que je ne pensois non me dit-elle aglatidas je ne veux pas estre si severe et je veux bien vous advouer poursuivit-elle en baissant les yeux que je vous estime assez pour n'estre pas faschee que vous m'aimiez et pour souhaiter mesme que cela soit eternellement mais je ne scay aglatidas si quand il seroit vray que je vous aimerois autant que vous voulez que je croye que vous m'aimez je ne scay dis-je s'il seroit dans l'ordre de vous le dire et s'il ne vaut pas mieux vous laisser deviner mes sentimens que de vous les expliquer davantage car enfin aglatidas adjousta-t'elle l'absence destruit bien souvent les affections les plus fortes et s'il arrivoit que vous changeassiez amestris ne se consoleroit jamais si elle vous avoit advoue qu'elle se fust trouvee sensible a vostre amour ha madame luy dis-je que cette consideration ne vous empesche point de me dire une parole si favorable et scachez que lors que je n'aimeray plus l'adorable amestris je ne seray plus au monde le temps et l'absence sont deux puissans ennemis reprit-elle ouy contre les foibles luy repliquay-je mais aglatidas n'est pas de ce nombre la et vos beaux yeux ont trop puissamment attache son coeur pour qu'il se puisse jamais degager mais vous madame poursuivis-je qui estes adoree de toute la terre qui me respondra que quelqu'un de tant d'illustres rivaux n'occupera point en vostre ame une place que vous ne m'y avez pas donnee car madame adjoustay-je apres ce que vous venez de dire je 
 voy bien que ce n'est qu'a artambare que je dois toute la bonte d'amestris vous ne luy devez pas cette promenade me dit elle en sous-riant puis que personne ne la scait he bons dieux madame luy dis-je en la regardant que ne vous determinez vous et que ne dittes vous precisement que vous haissez aglatidas ou que vous l'aimez le premier n'est pas veritable me repliqua-t'elle et l'autre ne seroit pas dans la bien-seance quoy qu'il ne fust pas criminel permettez moy donc madame luy dis-je d'expliquer toutes vos actions et toutes vos paroles a mon advantage de faire parler vos yeux favorablement pour moy et mesme vostre silence puis que vous ne voulez pas parler je vous permets me dit-elle alors en rougissant de penser tout ce qui pourra conserver la vie d'aglatidas et me le ramener fidelle c'est assez madame luy dis-je c'est assez et puis que vous desirez que je sois constant il n'en faut pas davantage pour me rendre le plus heureux de tous les hommes mais madame scavez vous bien a quoy un si glorieux commandement vous engage et oseray-je me persuader qu'en m'ordonnant d'estre fidelle vous m'avez assure de l'estre croyez aglatidas me dit-elle alors qu'amestris n'engage pas son coeur legerement et que puis que j'ay creu vous pouvoir donner place dans le mien rien ne vous en ostera que la mort je vous laisse a penser seigneur quel effet firent ces favorables paroles dans mon esprit je pris alors la main d'amestris et malgre elle la luy baisant avec autant de respect 
 que d'amour je la remerciay avec des termes si passionnez que j'ose croire que j'en attendris son coeur cependant comme je laissois megabise otane et cent autres aupres d'elle que je scavois qui en estoient amoureux madame luy dis-je j'ay une grace a vous demander que je n'ose presque vous dire et que je ne puis toutesfois vous taire elle me pressa alors de m'expliquer m'assurant que tout ce qui ne seroit point injuste ne me seroit pas refuse ce que je voudrois luy dis-je madame si je le pouvois sans perdre le respect que je vous dois seroit de vous prier d'estre la moins liberale que vous pourrez de vos regards et a megabise et a otane et a cent autres qui vous aiment et qui vous servent et de ne souffrir pas que tous mes rivaux soient heureux pendant que l'infortune aglatidas endurera des suplices qui ne sont pas imaginables je scay bien madame adjoustay-je que je ne suis pas trop raisonnable de parler de cette sorte mais l'amour n'est pas accoustume de reconnoistre la raison et de s'enfermer dans les bornes qu'elle prescrit je ne puis pas me respondit-elle vous promettre de ne voir point ceux que vous nommez vos rivaux mais je puis bien vous assurer que je ne les regarderay pas favorablement ce n'est pas encore assez madame luy repliquay-je pour satisfaire ma bizarre jalousie et si vous voulez m'obliger vous me ferez l'honneur de me promettre de les regarder le moins qu'il vous sera possible car madame poursuivis-je quelques irritez que puissent 
 estre vos yeux ils sont tousjours beaux et leur esclat a quelque chose de si divin et de si merveilleux qu'il vaut beaucoup mieux les voir en colere que de ne les voir point du tout ainsi madame ayez compassion de ma foiblesse et ne me refusez pas la consolation de pouvoir esperer que mes ennemis ne profiteront point de mon absence et que je ne seray pas seul prive de la satisfaction de vous voir je veux bien aglatidas me dit elle vous mettre en repos de ce coste la et vous asseurer que je chercheray la solitude avec soing tant que je ne pourray pas jouir de vostre presence et de vostre conversation mais en vous accordant ce que vous desirez je vous diray toutefois que je ne m'y engage qu'autant que la bien-seance me le permettra ne me semblant pas juste de vous promettre davantage c'est peut-estre trop peu madame luy dis-je pour satisfaire mon amour mais c'est sans doute assez pour une personne qui doit donner des loix a tout le monde et qui n'en doit recevoir que de sa propre volonte et c'est mesme trop si l'on considere le peu que je vaux et vostre rare merite je serois trop long seigneur si je vous redisois tout ce que nous dismes dans cette triste et pourtant agreable conference mais enfin comme il estoit desja assez tard amestris s'en voulut aller et je me separay d'elle avec autant de desplaisir que de satisfaction plus elle m'avoit dit de choses obligeantes plus je me trouvois malheureux en l'abandonnant et j'eusse presque bien voulu qu'elle m'eust este moins favorable 
 afin d'estre moins afflige je n'estois pourtant pas long temps dans un sentiment si interesse et j'aimois de telle sorte la cause de ma douleur que ma douleur mesme m'en devenoit precieuse et presque agreable aussi la conservay-je avec un soing que je ne vous puis exprimer et depuis le fatal moment ou je quittay amestris jusques a celuy ou je parle je ne l'ay presque point abandonnee comme j'avois suivy amestris des yeux le plus long temps qu'il m'avoit este possible et que je m'estois separe d'elle en soupirant et sans luy pouvoir dire adieu je m'en retournay aussi au lieu de ma demeure sans songer ny au chemin que je tenois ny a nulle autre chose qu'a mon affliction et l'image d'amestris malgre l'espaisseur des tenebres ne laissa pas de m'apparoistre avec tous ses charmes et tout son esclat deux jours apres cette entreveue je partis pour m'en aller dans la province des arisantins ou artambare me fit trouver retraite chez un de ses amis qui estoit gouverneur d'une assez bonne place je ne vous dis point quelle fut ma melancolie et mon chagrin pendant ce voyage et pendant mon exil estant assez aise de comprendre qu'une amour aussi violente que celle qui regnoit dans mon coeur et une ame aussi passionnee que la mienne ne me laisserent guere en repos aussi tost apres mon depart j'apris encore une nouvelle qui augmenta beaucoup ma douleur qui fut qu'hermaniste ayant este prise d'une fievre continue en estoit morte le septiesme jour et qu'artambare qui l'aimoit avec 
 une tendresse inconcevable en estoit tombe malade le malheur ne s'arresta pas encore la car quelques jours apres je sceu que le mary avoit suivy au tombeau celle qu'il avoit tant aimee au monde et qu'amestris par les ordres du roy avoit este remise sous la conduite d'un de ses parens qui estoit allie de megabise et qui n'estoit point du tout de mes amis je vous laisse a penser seigneur en quel estat me mirent ses funestes nouvelles j'avois effectivement beaucoup d'obligation a artambare et a hermaniste de plus je partageois encore l'affliction d'amestris et je voyois outre cela qu'elle alloit en des mains ennemies qui ne me permettroient pas de la voir facilement et qu'enfin je n'avois rien a esperer qu'en la fidelite d'amestris que je n'avois pas ce me sembloit assez bien meritee pour m'y devoir assurer ce n'est pas que je ne sceusse que mon pere desiroit tousjours nostre mariage mais il y avoit pourtant lieu de craindre que s'il voyoit que le roy changeasst de sentimens en faveur de megabise qui avoit fait sa paix apres mon troisiesme combat il ne changeast aussi bien que luy et ne s'accommodast au temps pour obtenir plus facilement ma grace je vivois donc avec un chagrin qui se peut plus aisement concevoir qu'exprimer et amestris de son coste menoit aussi une vie qui avoit beaucoup d'amertume je luy escrivois regulierement toutes les semaines par un homme que je luy envoyois expres et elle avoit la bonte de me respondre mais avec tant d'esprit et tant de sagesse que je puis dire 
 que ses lettres ne me donnoient pas moins d'admiration que d'amour comme elle avoit este extraordinairement touche de la perte d'artambare et d'hermaniste elle m'en escrivit en des termes capables d'inspirer la douleur dans l'ame la plus gaye et la plus esloignee de toute melancolie et comme naturellement elle a de la tendresse pour tout ce qu'elle doit aimer elle paroissoit si fort dans les lettres qu'elle m'envoyoit que je souhaittois presque d'estre a la place d'hermaniste et d'artambare pour recevoir des marques aussi sensibles de l'amitie d'amestris helas disois-je que cette personne scait bien aimer ce qu'elle veut aimer et que je serois heureux si son affection estoit un bien que je pusse posseder en repos et en liberte mais durant que je passois les jours et les nuits a soupirer et a me pleindre sans autre consolation que celle des lettres d'amestris mes affaires se reculoient plustost que de s'avancer parce que megabise s'estant mis assez bien dans l'esprit du roy empeschoit qu'elles ne fissent de sorte que mon pere me mandoit tousjours que je ne m'aprochasse pas d'ecbatane et que je me donnasse patience amestris qui craignoit aussi que je ne me hazardasse pour l'amour d'elle et que je ne m'exposasse encore a un nouveau combat contre megabise ou contre otane qui la servoit tousjours me prioit instamment de ne precipiter pas mon retour ainsi je me voyois attache malgre moy au lieu de mon suplice et contraint de demeurer dans la plus cruelle incertitude ou un 
 homme qui aime se soit jamais trouve je scavois que megabise avoit tousjours este un peu mieux avec amestris que tous mes autres rivaux que pendant un assez long temps elle nous avoit traitez egalement et qu'enfin megabise estoit bien fait avoit du coeur de l'esprit et de la condition de plus je scavois encore qu'il estoit devenu beaucoup plus riche par la mort d'arbate et qu'il estoit en faveur aupres du roy de sorte que comme je faisois des armes de toutes choses pour me persecuter je ne manquay pas de m'accuser moy mesme du malheur que je craignois m'imaginant que si je n'eusse point tue arbate je n'eusse pas tant deu craindre que megabise eust espouse amestris parce qu'il n'eust pas este si riche ny peut-estre tant en faveur je vivois donc de cette sorte c'est a dire le plus malheureux des hommes me persuadant tousjours que ce que je souhaitois n'arriveroit jamais et que ce que je craignois pouvoit arriver a tous les momens je ne voulois pas seulement esperer qu'amestris fust sincere et fidelle et je m'imaginois quelques fois que ses lettres me deguisoient ses sentimens et qu'elle ne me tesmoignoit quelque affection que pour me tromper cependant cette aimable personne comme je l'ay sceu depuis m'avoit garde une fidelite inviolable car non seulement elle m'avoit conserve son amitie mais elle avoit agi avec tous ses amants d'une facon si severe et si rigoureuse que si elle eust pu inspirer de mediocres passions sa cruaute les auroit infailliblement tous gueris mais 
 comme sa beaute n'a jamais fait naistre que de violentes amours ils ne laissoient pas de s'opiniastrer dans leur dessein et de la persecuter sans cesse neantmoins comme le deuil qu'elle portoit effectivement au coeur aussi bien qu'a l'habillement luy fournissoit un pretexte specieux de retraite et de melancolie elle s'en servit au dela des bornes que la plus exacte bien-seance demande en de pareilles occasions et elle devint tellement solitaire et retiree que ce n'estoit pas sans peine que ceux qui l'aimoient la pouvoient voir les premiers mois de son deuil et de son affliction estant passez elle ne changea point de forme de vivre car elle refusa tous les divertissemens qu'on luy offrit de la seule conversation de menaste c'est ainsi que s'appelle cette parente que j'ay et qui est tant de ses amies estoit sans doute toute sa consolation et tout son plaisir elles alloient souvent ensemble se promener dans ce mesme jardin ou je l'avois veue la derniere fois et tout ce que l'amour peut inspirer a une personne vertueuse il est certain qu'il l'inspira en ma faveur a l'adorable amestris mais helas je n'en estois pas plus heureux et je voyois les choses d'une facon bien differente de ce qu'elles estoient ce n'est pas qu'il n'y eust quelques moments ou je m'imaginois qu'amestris m'estoit fidelle et que j'en estois effectivement aime mais dieux cette imagination toute douce qu'elle estoit ne me rendoit pas moins impatient et j'estois encore beaucoup plus presse du desir d'aller a ecbatane pour y voir 
 amestris constante que pour y trouver amestris infidelle enfin je fus tellement emporte de mon amour et de ma jalousie tout ensemble que je me resolus de m'en aller secrettement a ecbatane chez ce mesme jardinier ou j'avois demeure un jour lors que j'avois pris conge d'amestris et que j'avois trouve tout dispose a recevoir des presens et a me rendre un pareil office si j'en avois besoin je partis donc avec un de mes gens seulement et faisant le plus de diligence qu'il me fut possible j'arrivay proche d'ecbatane sans que le bruit de mon depart peust estre parvenu jusques a mon pere ny jusques a amestris parce que j'avois oblige celuy qui m'avoit donne retraite a ne l'escrire point a la cour je voulus arriver de nuit afin de n'estre pas reconnu et ayant envoye mon escuyer s'assurer du logement que je m'estois destine je fus en suitte dans le jardin resolu de m'envoyer informer secrettement de ce que faisoit amestris auparavant que de la voir apres que celuy qui me servoit auroit mene mes chevaux a un vilage proche de la je passay toute la nuit a me promener au mesme lieu ou je l'avois veue la derniere fois et repassant dans ma memoire toutes les favorables paroles que j'avois entendues de sa belle bouche j'estois dans une satisfaction que je ne vous puis exprimer je ne scay par quel charme secret ce beau lieu appaisa tous les troubles de mon ame mais il est certain que depuis que j'y fus je n'eus plus ny jalousie ny chagrin et que je n'eus plus d'autre inquietude que celle que me causoit 
 l'impatience que j'avois de revoir amestris bien est-il vray qu'elle fut si grande que comme je l'ay desja dit je passay toute la nuit a me promener m'estant impossible de concevoir que je pusse dormir or comme je ne pouvois faire scavoir a amestris que j'estois arrive que par ma parente il falut attendre qu'il fust jour mais j'eus le malheur d'apprendre lors que j'y envoyay qu'elle estoit aux champs et qu'elle n'en reviendroit que le lendemain neantmoins je jugeay qu'il valoit mieux se donner patience que de m'exposer a deplaire a amestris en luy donnant de mes nouvelles par une autre voye que par celle ou elle avoit accoustume d'en recevoir je ne vous dis point seigneur quelles furent mes inquietudes tant que cette journee dura dans ce pavillon du jardinier ou je m'estois retire de peur d'estre veu de quelqu'un mais je vous diray qu'aussi tost que le soleil s'abaissa et que je creus me pouvoir promener sans danger dans les petites routes du bois taillis qui environne ce grand parterre de gazon au milieu duquel est une fontaine comme je vous l'ay deja dit je m'y en allay afin de pouvoir du moins jouir de la veue des mesmes lieux ou j'avois veu la derniere fois ce que j'aimois je repassois des yeux tous les endroits ou amestris avoit este et principalement le lieu ou je l'avois veue assise ce fut en cette mesme place disois-je que l'incomparable amestris m'assura d'estre constante lorsqu'elle me pria de l'estre et ou elle me permit de penser tout ce qui pourroit conserver aglatidas et le luy 
 r'amener fidelle le voicy poursuivois-je en moy mesme et comme si je l'eusse veue le voicy adorable amestris cet aglatidas tel que vous l'avez desire c'est a dire le plus amoureux et le plus passionne de tous vos amants mais aimable amestris adjoustois-je encore vous retrouveray-je ce que vous estiez lors que je vous quittay et puis-je esperer de n'avoir rien a combattre que cette severe vertu qui vous oblige a me refuser les choses les plus innocentes comme je m'entretenois de cette sorte tout d'un coup j'entrevis a travers les branches des arbres de l'autre coste du parterre une personne qui me sembla estre amestris suivie de trois autres femmes je la regarday avec attention je l'observay avec soing et me confirmay absolument dans ma creance je vy alors qu'elle prit le chemin de la fontaine et qu'apres avoir regarde de tous les costez comme pour voir si elle ne seroit point interrompue en sa solitude elle se mit au bord de cette belle source precisement au mesme endroit ou j'avois este a genoux aupres d'elle lors que je luy avoit dit adieu elle s'appuya la teste de la main gauche a demy couchee sur la mousse verte qui bordoit la fontaine et laissant aller negligeamment son bras droit le long de sa robe elle sembloit regarder dans l'eau comme une personne qui resve profondement au moins a ce que j'en pouvois juger par son action car elle n'avoit pas le visage de mon coste mais o dieux quel effet fit cette veue dans mon ame mon coeur en fut esmu mon esprit en fut trouble 
 et je ne fus pas maistre de ma raison je voulois avancer vers amestris sans le pouvoir faire et je ne scay quel bizarre sentiment que je ne puis exprimer fit que je voulus jouir quelques moments sans estre veu de ce bonheur que le hazard m'avoit envoye tant au dela de mon esperance enfin seigneur la joye s'empara si absolument de mon ame que je n'en avois jamais guere senty davantage car non seulement je voyois amestris en lieu ou j'esperois luy parler bientost mais je la voyois en un endroit qui me faisoit croire qu'elle pensoit a moy et qu'elle n'y estoit venue que pour se mieux souvenir de nostre derniere conversation ha trop heureux aglatidas me dis-je a moy mesme a quoy t'amuses-tu et que ne vas tu rendre grace a ta fidelle amestris a ces mots pliant avec violence les branches qui s'opposoient a mon passage je voulus sortir du bois pour m'aller jetter a ses pieds et interrompre le souvenir qu'elle avoit d'aglatidas par aglatidas luy mesme mais comme j'estois presque entierement hors de ce bois et que je n'avois plus qu'un pas a faire pour estre dans le parterre je vy paroiste un personne de l'autre coste qui me sembla avoir l'air d'un homme de condition je me retiray donc alors avec autant de precipitation que je m'estois avance et comme l'amour est ingenieux a persecuter ceux qui le reconnoissent pour maistre je passay de la joye a l'inquietude en un moment lequel est ce de mes rivaux disois-je qui va peut-estre interrompre les pensees que la divine 
 amestris a de son cher aglatidas ha s'il est vray poursuivois-je que je sois dans son coeur que je porte peu d'envie a celuy qui va se mettre a ses pieds pour l'entretenir de sa passion mais qui scait reprenois-je tout d'un coup si amestris n'attend point cet heureux rival en cet endroit et si elle ne prophane point par son infidelite des lieux que je pensois estre consacrez par des tesmoignages de son affection sans doute disois-je encore tout transporte et tout hors de moy voyant qu'il avancoit tousjours vers elle cette inconstante personne l'attend car si cela n'estoit pas il ne se hasteroit point comme il fait et il s'aprocheroit avec moins d'empressement si le cas fortuit avoit fait cette rencontre mais o dieux quel redoublement de douleur fut le mien lors que le connus distinctement que celuy que je voyois estoit non seulement un de mes rivaux mais le plus redoutable de tous puis qu'en effet c'estoit megabise il fut tel seigneur que je n'y puis encore songer sans une emotion extraordinaire
 
 
 
 
cependant comme du lieu ou j'estois cache je ne pouvois voir le visage d'amestris et que je n'osois changer de place de peur de faire quelque bruit qui me fist descouvrir je ne pouvois precisement connoistre si elle le voyoit venir ou non neantmoins comme la jalousie change tous les objets je ne laissay pas de m'imaginer qu'elle le voyoit effectivement venir et que par consequent puis qu'elle ne s'en alloit point il faloit croire qu'elle l'attendoit et qu'ils estoient mesme en grande familiarite 
 ensemble puis qu'elle luy faisoit la grace de ne se lever pas pour le saluer et de ne luy faire point de ceremonie je ne scay seigneur si je pourray bien vous exprimer ce que je sentis en ces funestes moments mais je scay bien que l'amour n'a jamais rien invente de si cruel pour tourmenter ceux qu'il veut punir que ce que je souffris en cette occasion enfin seigneur pour vous le faire connoistre je n'ay qu'a vous dire que quelque joye que m'eust donne un instant auparavant la veue d'une si belle et si chere personne je ne laissay pas de desirer passionnement de la perdre je souhaittay qu'elle se levast et qu'elle s'ostast de ce lieu-la en diligence mais disois-je si elle s'en va je ne la verray plus mais reprenois-je si elle demeure je la verray peut-estre favoriser mon rival mais si elle se leve adjoustois-je il la suivra et je ne verray point de quelle facon il sera traite mais si elle ne s'en va pas reprenois-je encore ne sera-ce pas une preuve assuree que megabise est bien avec elle va-t'en donc adorable amestris disois-je alors en joignant les mains et n'attends pas davantage le plus grand de mes ennemis mais helas cette illustre personne n'avoit garde de s'en aller car comme je ne l'ay que trop sceu depuis pour mon repos elle estoit si fort occuppee du souvenir d'aglatidas et de la longueur de son absence qu'elle ne vit megabise que lors qu'il fut si proche d'elle qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de l'eviter elle ne l'eut pas plus tost aperceu qu'elle se leva contre la creance que j'en avois eue et 
 comme je l'ay sceu depuis luy demanda avec assez de severite pourquoy il la venoit troubler dans sa solitude mais o dieux comme je ne voyois pas le visage d'amestris sa fidelite pour moy et sa rigueur pour megabise ne m'en rendoient pas plus heureux je fus cent fois tente de sortir du bois et d'aller interrompre leur conversation que je ne pouvois entendre je pensay mesme aller attaquer megabise devant amestris toutefois voyant qu'il n'avoit point d'espee et que je n'en avois qu'une je changeay de dessein et je differay ma vangeance joint aussi que j'avois un si grand respect pour amestris malgre mon desespoir et ma jalousie et malgre mesme tout ce que je croyois voir que je pense que je n'eusse pas ose en manquer jamais pour elle quand megabise eust eu son espee comme j'avois la mienne et que je n'eusse pas eu l'audace de luy donner cette frayeur ny l'inconsideration de l'exposer aux mauvais discours du monde apres une avanture de cette sorte je demeuray donc immobile spectateur d'une conversation assez longue car comme je l'ay apris depuis assez exactement apres qu'elle eut tesmoigne a megabise qu'elle ne trouvoit pas bon qu'il l'eust interrompue elle voulut s'en aller mais il se mit a la conjurer tres-pressamment de l'escouter pour la derniere fois luy protestant que si apres luy avoir accorde la permission de l'entretenir elle continuoit de luy deffendre d'esperer rien de son affection il ne l'en importuneroit jamais et mesme ne la verroit plus amestris croyant 
 avoir trouve une occasion favorable de se delivrer de la persecution qu'elle recevoit de megabise luy dit enfin qu'il pouvoit parler pourveu que ce fust en effet pour la derniere fois et pourveu qu'il fust absolument resolu de suivre ses ordres quels qu'ils pussent estre megabise bien aise dans son desespoir d'avoir obtenu la permission d'estre escoute fit une profonde reverence pour remercier amestris de la grace qu'elle luy faisoit mais helas seigneur que ce remerciment fit une profonde blessure en mon coeur et que je m'imaginay peu la verite de la chose la fontaine ou ils estoient est au milieu du parterre le parterre est extremement large le bois qui l'environne est egalement esloigne par tout de ce milieu ou je les voyois puis que le parterre est rond j'estois trop loing pour les entendre je ne pouvois m'approcher sans estre veu je ne voyois point le visage d'amestris je voyois megabise en l'action d'un homme qui remercie d'une faveur et par toutes ces choses je ne pus rien concevoir qui ne me desesperast ny rien faire que souffrir une gehenne secrette la plus insupportable qui fut jamais cependant megabise pour ne perdre pas des momens si precieux et d'ou dependoit tout le repos ou tout le malheur de sa vie commenca de luy parler a peu pres en ces termes comme je l'ay sceu depuis vous scavez madame luy dit-il que la passion que j'ay pour vous a tousjours este si respectueuse qu'elle n'a presque ose paroistre a vos yeux que lors que le desespoir m'ayant oste la raison 
 m'a force de la faire esclater ouy madame j'ay souffert j'ay endure sans me plaindre jusques a tant que la nouvelle du bonheur dont aglatidas estoit prest de jouir m'ait force de luy disputer une gloire ou je pensois avoir autant de droit que luy car enfin madame nos conditions sont egales je vous ay aimee des le premier moment que je vous ay veue je vous ay servie avec une assiduite sans pareille et une fidelite sans exemple et tout cela madame sans recevoir une parole favorable de vous ny seulement un simple regard qui eust quelque legere ombre de douceur pour moy je vous ay trouvee civile il est vray tant qu'il ne s'est agi que de choses indifferentes mais des lors que ma passion a eclate ha madame ces yeux ces beaux yeux que j'adore ne m'ont plus regarde qu'en colere vous avez esvite ma rencontre comme celle d'un ennemy et pour dire tout en peu de paroles je croy que vous m'avez hai cependant madame je n'ay pas laisse de vous adorer vous dis-je qui m'avez oste le repos qui avez trouble toute la tranquilite de ma vie qui m'avez fait perdre un frere que j'avois beaucoup aime qui luy aviez oste la raison et la vertu qui me l'aviez fait hair qui m'en aviez fait hair et qui enfin m'avez prefere celuy qui l'a tue de ma propre espee cependant madame je vous aime encore et je vous aimeray eternellement neantmoins comme il me reste quelque rayon de bons sens malgre le trouble de mon esprit je voudrois aujourd'huy vous conjurer de m'apprendre sans deguisement 
 la cause de vostre aversion pour moy afin de regler mes sentimens car encore que je scache bien que vostre mariage avoit este resolu avec aglatidas comme je scay qu'artambare l'aimoit je ne scay pas si ce fut par son choix ou par le vostre dites moy donc madame je vous en conjure si vostre insensibilite pour mon amour est un effet de vostre affection pour aglatidas ou d'une antipathie naturelle pour megabise parlez donc madame afin que je scache de quelle sorte je dois agir et ne craignez rien de mon desespoir au contraire je vous promets de reconnoistre vostre sincerite par un redoublement de respect quand mesme vous prononceriez l'arrest de ma mort je pouvois madame adjousta-t'il sans m'amuser a descouvrir vos veritables sentimens me servir d'autres moyens et prendre d'autres voyes pour faire reussir mes desseins vous scavez que je ne suis pas mal aupres du roy que vous estes presentement chez un de mes amis et de mes alliez qui pouvoit me servir de plus d'une facon et qu'enfin soit par la ruse ou par l'authorite d'astiage je pouvois prendre des voyes plus violentes et plus infaillibles mais madame je n'en suis point capable et le coeur d'amestris est une chose que l'on ne peut recevoir agreablement que par elle mesme ainsi madame c'est a vous a m'apprendre avec ingenuite le secret de vostre ame car si elle n'est pas engagee je m'estimeray tres-heureux et ne desespereray pas de ma fortune mais si elle l'est madame il est juste que je sois seul malheureux et que je ne 
 vous persecute pas tousjours ou en vostre personne ou en celle de ce bien-heureux rival que vous aurez choisi parlez donc madame luy disoit-il avec une action suppliante et passionnee et ne refusez pas du moins cette grace au malheureux megabise a ces mots il s'arresta et il attendit la response d'amestris avec une impatience que je pouvois aisement discerner mais helas la mienne estoit bien encore plus cruelle et quand je pensois que peut-estre ce qu'amestris alloit respondre seroit favorable a megabise il s'en faloit peu que je ne me resolusse a sortir du lieu ou j'estois pour interrompre leur conversation neantmoins comme c'est le propre de la jalousie de se nourrir de poison de chercher ce qui l'entretien et de fuir ce qui la peut detruire je demeuray a ma place et je taschay de connoistre sur le visage de megabise si la response d'amestris luy seroit favorable car comme je l'ay desja dit je ne voyois pas le sien cette sage fille donc comme je l'ay sceu depuis estant touchee de quelque compassion pour megabise se resolut d'essayer de le guerir en luy apprenant ses veritables sentimens mais admirez seigneur les bizarres effets de l'amour amestris dit plus de choses a mon advantage a megabise qu'elle ne m'en avoit dit en toute sa vie et pendant qu'elle les disoit je luy disois presque des injures dans mon coeur prenant toutes ses actions pour des tesmoignages de sa nouvelle passion et toutes ses paroles que je ne pouvois entendre du lieu ou j'estois pour des infidelitez apres donc qu'elle eut 
 resve un moment a ce qu'elle luy devoit respondre je ne scay luy dit elle si ce que vous me dites sont vos veritables sentimens mais je scay bien que je vous deguiseray point les miens scachez donc megabise que je vous ay estime autant que vous meritez de l'estre et que j'ay eu mesme de l'amitie pour vous tant que j'ay creu que vous n'aviez que de la civilite pour moy mais des lors que vous m'avez donne des marques d'une passion violente j'ay creu que je ne devois pas vous tromper par des esperances mal fondees car enfin comme je m'estois resolue d'obeir aveuglement a mon pere je ne voulois point que mon esprit se determinast a rien quoy luy dit alors megabise en l'interrompant si artambare vous eust commande de recevoir mes services vous y auriez consenty n'en doutez nullement luy respondit elle mais adjousta-t'il n'avez vous eu que cette obeissance aveugle pour aglatidas et vostre choix n'avoit il point precede celuy d'artambare il ne l'avoit sans doute pas precede repliqua cette aimable personne mais megabise il l'a depuis si puissamment confirme que rien ne me scauroit faire changer ne pensez donc pas adjousta-t'elle qu'advouant que je ne hai point aglatidas ce soit vous donner un nouveau sujet d'esperer que puis que mon coeur est sensible pour luy il pourroit le devenir pour vous non megabise ne vous y trompez point j'aime aglatidas et parce que mon pere me l'a commande mesme en mourant et parce que mon inclination n'y a pas resiste 
 et parce que ma raison mesme m'a parle en sa faveur mais outre cela il faut encore vous advouer quelque chose de plus et vous dire pour vous guerir quoy que je ne puisse vous le dire qu'en rougissant que je l'aime et l'aimeray enternellement quand mesme il n'y auroit autre raison a dire sinon que je l'ay aime l'amour poursuivit elle est sans doute une passion que s'il estoit possible il ne faudroit jamais avoir mais apres tout quand elle est innocente comme la mienne et quand on l'a receue il faut du moins la rendre illustre par une constance inviolable le commandement de mon pere a rendu la naissance de cette passion sans crime c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas que je songe jamais a la rendre criminelle par une infidelite ne croyez donc point megabise qu'il y ait rien d'offencant pour vous en l'affection que j'ay pour aglatidas je ne l'ay pas choisi on me l'a donne mais l'ayant accepte comme j'ay fait il faut le conserver jusques a la mort et me conserver a luy tant que je vivray toutefois pour vous tesmoigner que je fais pour vous tout ce que je puis reglez vos sentimens si vous pouvez contentez vous de mon estime et de mon amitie et soyez assure de posseder l'une et l'autre aussi long temps que je jouiray de la vie amestris ayant cesse de parler le malheureux megabise qui avoit un respect inconcevable pour elle au lieu de s'emporter en des pleintes et en des reproches la remercia de sa franchise et de sa sincerite et luy tesmoigna mesme les larmes aux yeux qu'il luy estoit oblige de la 
 part qu'elle luy offroit en son estime et en son amitie mais comme il avoit un peu change de place et que je ne le voyois plus que par le coste je ne pouvois pas voir la melancolie qu'il avoit sur le visage et je voyois seulement qu'il faisoit quelque action comme pour remercier ce qui comme vous pouvez juger ne m'affligeoit pas avec mediocrite cependant megabise apres avoir un peu deplore son malheur et admire luy mesme le changement qui estoit arrive en luy et la moderation dont il se trouvoit capable dit a amestris qu'il n'osoit pas luy promettre de changer ses sentimens mais du moins luy dit-il madame je vous promets de les cacher si bien que vous ne vous en aperceurez jamais je ne veux pas mesme adjousta-t'il en soupirant que vous partagiez vostre coeur non madame ne pouvant avoir de place en vostre affection de la facon dont je l'ay souhaite ne m'en donnez ny en vostre estime ny en vostre amitie confondez toutes ces choses en faveur du trop heureux aglatidas et n'accordez rien au malheureux megabise qu'une seule grace qu'il a dessein de vous demander apres cela madame il vous tiendra sa parole il ne vous parlera plus il ne vous verra mesme plus et peut-estre encore ne vivra-t'il plus quoy qu'il en soit madame poursuivit-il les larmes aux yeux ne me refusez pas et souffrez du moins que dans l'exil que je premedite je puisse dire que vous ne m'avez pas tout refuse assurez vous luy dit alors amestris que tout ce qui n'offensera ny mon devoir ny aglatidas 
 ne vous sera point denie dittes donc seulement madame adjousta-t'il que si le desespere megabise eust este heureux il eust pu estre aime de la divine amestris et qu'estant infortune elle a du moins quelque legere compassion de son infortune je vous ay desja dit le premier luy respondit elle et pour le second comme je ne suis ny aveugle ny stupide je voy les choses comme elles sont et comme je les dois voir et pour dire plus je les sens comme je les dois sentir mais n'en demandez pas davantage et vous souvenez de vos promesses je mourray si je m'en souviens madame luy respondit-il mais je ne les oublieray pourtant jamais a ces mots il se jetta a genoux pour luy rendre grace et pour luy dire un dernier adieu et sans qu'elle eust le temps de s'y opposer ny de faire aucune action qui peust tesmoigner qu'elle ne l'agreoit pas il luy baisa deux fois la main o dieux seigneur que devins-je lors que je vy ce que je vous raconte maintenant ce fut a cet instant que l'amour et la jalousie se virent contraintes de ceder a une autre passion qui fut la haine ou pour mieux dire encore la haine l'amour la jalousie la colere la fureur et la rage se meslerent toutes a la fois dans mon esprit et voulant regner toutes ensemble dans mon ame elles y mirent un desordre si grand que je n'eus plus de respect pour amestris je commencay donc d'avancer afin de sortir du lieu ou j'estois cache pour luy aller faire mille reproches et peut-estre quelque chose de pire a megabise quand tout d'un coup 
 je vy paroistre le roy suivi de toute la cour qui contre sa coustume venoit se promener en ce lieu la les gardes ne commencerent pas plustost de paroistre qu'amestris se separa de megabise qui de son coste s'en alla pleindre son infortune en quelque lieu plus solitaire que celuy la ne l'estoit alors mais ils ne vinrent ny l'un ny l'autre vers le lieu ou j'estois et je demeuray seul sans pouvoir ny me pleindre ny me vanger je m'enfoncay donc dans l'espaisseur du bois mais tellement tourmente par toutes les passions qui me possedoient que je ne pouvois attacher mon esprit a nul objet je n'avois pas plustost commence de songer a l'infidelite d'amestris que je pensois au bonheur de megabise je ne songeois pas plustost aussi a me pleindre de ma maistresse que je faisois le dessein de me vanger de mon rival et mon ame estoit si cruellement agitee que je n'estois pas un moment d'accord avec moy mesme cependant comme le roy estoit arrive fort tard sa promenade ne fut pas longue et la nuit tombant tout d'un coup je demeuray seul dans ce jardin je me souviens que la lune esclairoit ce soir la assez foiblement parce qu'elle estoit vers la fin de son cours et cette sombre lumiere rendant le lieu ou j'estois plus conforme a mon humeur apres avoir envoye mon escuyer reprendre mes chevaux j'y passay la nuit sans m'assoir et sans m'arrester que fort peu de temps en chaque endroit excepte sur le bord de la fontaine l'on eust dit que je cherchois ma maistresse et mon rival par tous les coings 
 du bois et du parterre quoy que je sceusse bien qu'ils n'y estoient plus n'y l'un ny l'autre mais lors que je fus arrive au mesme lieu ou je les avois veux ensemble c'est icy m'ecriay-je ou j'ay veu l'infidelle amestris accorder une grace a mon rival ou je n'aurois jamais ose prentendre et ce fut en ce mesme lieu adjousta-je ou je receus une faveur que je ne pensois pas que jamais nul autre que moy peust obtenir ouy amestris pousuivis-je j'avois creu que vostre vertu estoit si severe que sans le secours d'artambare je n'eusse pu trouver de place en vostre coeur mais a ce que je voy megabise n'a eu besoin de personne pour y regner souverainement vostre inclination l'en a rendu maistre et vostre inconstance en a chasse le malheureux aglatidas mais cruelle personne adjoustay-je faloit-il choisir le mesme lieu qui avoit este le tesmoin de la seule preuve d'amour que vous m'ayez donnee pour favoriser megabise et comment avez vous pu me trahir au mesme endroit ou vous m'aviez promis d'estre fidelle est-il possible qu'en parlant a megabise vous ne vous soyez point souvenue d'aglatidas le murmure de cette fontaine ne vous a-t'il point fait souvenir que vous me vistes mesler mes pleurs avec ses eaux lors que je vous quittay cette mousse verte sur laquelle vous estiez assise ne vous a-t'elle point remis en la memoire que je l'arrosay de mes larmes et enfin cruelle et infidelle personne avez vous perdu le souvenir que vous retirastes cruellement d'entre mes mains cette 
 belle main que je baisay malgre vous et que megabise n'a pas baisee malgre vous pourquoy donc injuste et ingratte amestris cette mesme main a-t'elle este si liberale a mon rival apres m'avoir este si avare ne vous souvient-il plus adjoustois-je que vous me permistes de penser tout ce qui pourroit conserver aglatidas et vous le ramener fidelle ne vouliez vous donc le conserver que pour le perdre et ne souhaitiez vous qu'il fust constant qu'afin qu'il sentist mieux vostre infidelite si vous vouliez que je fusse malheureux ne suffisoit-il pas de paroistre insensible et ne vous eust-il pas este plus glorieux de me maltraiter que de me trahir vous n'eussiez este que cruelle et peut-estre un peu injuste mais de la facon dont vous en avez use vous estes perfide lasche et inhumaine mais helas disois-je encore seroit-il bien possible que dans le temps mesme ou j'entretenois amestris elle ne m'aimast point du tout est-ce qu'elle m'a tousjours trompe ou est-ce qu'elle m'a change enfin dois-je regarder amestris comme une personne fourbe et insensible qui se plaist aux malheurs d'autruy ou comme une personne foible inconstante et passionnee pour la nouveaute qui aime ce qu'elle voit qui oublie ce qu'elle ne voit plus et qui donne son coeur a quiconque le luy demande mais heals reprenois-je ce coeur cet illustre coeur m'avoit tant couste a aquerir combien de larmes respandues combien de soupirs inutiles et combien de peines souffertes auparavant que de recevoir la moindre marque 
 de bien-veillance que puis-je donc penser de vous infidelle amestris m'avez vous quelquefois aime ou m'avez vous tousjours hai ha non non reprenoit-je tout d'un coup vous m'aimiez lors que je vous quittay je vy vostre coeur esmeu j'apperceus malgre vous dans vos yeux quelques larmes de tendresse que vostre modestie vouloit retenir vous me cachastes mesme une partie de vos sentimens vous eustes de la douleur lors que je vous abandonnay et vous m'aimastes enfin trop aimable amestris mais malheureux que je suis vous ne m'aimez plus sans que je puisse comprendre pourquoy je scay bien adjoustois-je que l'absence est une dangereuse chose mais helas j'estois absent je l'estois pour l'amour de vous de plus vous m'avez toujours escrit comme si vous eussiez este fidelle et cependant vous estes la plus infidelle personne qui sera jamais ha trop heureux megabise m'ecriois je alors ne pense pas jouir en repos de ton bonheur il faut que je me vange du tort que tu m'as fait c'est toy qui par quelque artifice as fait changer le coeur d'amestris et qui as seduit sa bonte il faut sans doute il faut que tu sois la seule cause de son crime et de mon malheur ayons donc ce respect pour amestris de ne luy dire rien de ne vous pleindre pas mesme de son injustice et de n'attaquer que celuy seul qui l'a rendue coupable mais dieux adjoustois-je encore amestris a de l'esprit et du jugement amestris n'est pas aisee a tromper et arbate tout fin qu'il estoit n'en avoit pu venir 
 a bout non non ne nous flattons point reprenois-je le coeur d'amestris est d'intelligence avec megabise elle est plus coupable que luy et il ne possede son affection que parce qu'elle a voulu la luy donner si je voulois seigneur vous dire tout ce que je dis ou tout ce que je pensay en cette occasion je n'aurois pas finy mon recit a la fin de la nuit et j'abuserois trop de vostre patience et de vostre bonte je vous diray donc seulement que je fis cent fois dessein de quitter amestris de l'oublier et de la mepriser et cent fois aussi je m'en repentis et me resolus de l'aimer eternellement malgre son crime il n'y avoit qu'une seule resolution constante dans mon esprit qui estoit celle de tuer megabise des que je le trouverois et il y avoit des momens ou je ne scavois si je devois aimer ou hair amestris mais ou je scavois tousjours bien que je devois perdre mon rival le jour ne fut donc pas plustost venu et mes chevaux ne furent pas plustost arrivez a la porte de ce jardin que j'envoyay mon escuyer scavoir si megabise estoit chez luy pour luy donner de mes nouvelles mais pour mon malheur il estoit party pour aller aux champs sans que ses gens pussent dire quelle route il avoit prise cette fascheuse rencontre augmenta de beaucoup mon desplaisir et la pensee que l'entreveue d'amestris et de megabise ne s'estoit faite en ce lieu la que pour se dire adieu redoubla encore mon desespoir j'envoyay en suite pour voir si menaste n'estoit point revenue de la campagne afin de me pouvoir 
 pleindre a elle de l'infidelite de son amie nais je sceu qu'elle y estoit tombee malade et qu'elle n'en reviendroit pas si tost me voila donc le plus desespere de tous les hommes j'avois veu des choses qui ne me permettoient pas de douter de l'infidelite d'amestris je l'avois retrouvee plus belle que je ne l'avois jamais veue du moins mon imagination me l'avoit figuree telle je voyois mon rival absent et la confidente de ma passion esloignee si bien que je ne pouvois ny me pleindre ny me vanger en ce deplorable estat ne scachant quelle resolution prendre je demeuray encore deux jours cache dans un vilage qui est assez pres de la ville pour tascher de descouvrir ou estoit alle megabise mais quoy que je pusse faire je n'en pus rien aprendre avec certitude l'on me dit seulement qu'il avoit pris le mesme chemin que l'on a accoustume de prendre pour aller dans la province des arisantins qui estoit le lieu de ma retraite neantmoins comme ce chemin est croise par plusieurs autres je ne devois pas faire un grand fondement la dessus toutefois je ne laissay pas de m'imaginer que pour posseder amestris plus en repos megabise s'estoit peut-estre resolu de m'aller chercher pour se rebattre contre moy cette pensee eut a peine fait quelque legere impression dans mon esprit que je montray a cheval et que je m'en retournay m'informant exactement par les chemins de ce que je cherchois je creus quelques fois l'avoir trouve peu de temps apres je connus que je m'estois 
 trompe et j'arrivay enfin au lieu d'ou j'estois party sans avoir eu de veritables nouvelles de megabise a mon retour je trouvay une lettre d'amestris que l'on avoit receue durant mon absence qui m'affligea autant que raisonnablement elle me devoit plaire si je n'eusse pas eu l'esprit preoccupe mais comme elle n'estoit pas extremement longue et qu'elle ne servit pas a la resolution que je pris en suitte il faut que je vous la die car si je ne me trompe elle estoit telle
 
 
 amestris a aglatidas 
 
 
 puis que vous avez quelque curiosite de scavoir ce que je fais et quels sont mes divertissemens scachez que je suis le tumulte de la cour autant que la bien-seance me le peut permettre qu'il n'y a icy qu'une seule personne de qui je puisse souffrir la conversation sans chagrin et que mesme je fais autant que je le puis que cette conversation soit en un lieu retire et solitaire vous pouvez donc bien juger que je ne choisis pas les jardins du palais pour me promener et que la fontaine du parterre de gazon est le lieu de plus ordinaire ou j'entretiens la seule personne qui presentement me peut plaire a ecbatane et ou je m'entretiens moy mesme je ne vous dis point aglatidas tout ce que je pense dans mes resveries car peut-estre est-il bon pour vostre repos que 
 vous l'ignoriez et peut-estre aussi est-il advantageux a amestris que vous ne le deviniez pas 
 
 
admirez seigneur je vous supplie la bizarrerie de mon advanture si j'eusse receu cette lettre auparavant que d'avoir veu ce que mes yeux pensoient m'avoir monstre j'en eusse este ravy de joye car enfin j'eusse bien entendu que cette solitude de laquelle amestris parloit n'estoit aimee que pour l'amour d'aglatidas j'eusse bien compris encore que cette seule personne qu'elle pouvoit souffrir estoit m'a parente avec laquelle elle pouvoit parler de moy je n'eusse pas ignore non plus qu'elle n'alloit a la fontaine du parterre de gazon que pour s'y souvenir de la derniere fois que je l'y avois veue et j'eusse bien entendu sans doute que la fin de sa lettre estoit infiniment tendre et obligeante puis qu'en me disant qu'il estoit bon pour mon repos que je ne sceusse pas ses resveries j'eusse bien compris qu'elle vouloit dire que la connoissance de sa douleur augmenteroit la mienne et j'eusse enfin bien entendu qu'une personne aussi retenue qu'elle est ne pouvoit exprimer la tendresse de son affection plus fortement ny plus galamment qu'en me disant a la fin de sa lettre que peut-estre estoit-il aussi avantageux pour elle que je ne devinasse pas ses pensees 
 
 
 
 
cependant seigneur cette lettre fit un effet bien different dans mon esprit et l'expliquant d'un sens tout oppose a celuy qu'elle avoit effectivement je trouvois quelque chose de si inhumain de voir qu'en me trahissant amestris se fust donne la peine de m'escrire d'une maniere 
 ou il y avoit un sens cache que je ne doutay presque point que pour obliger megabise elle ne luy eust monstre ce qu'elle m'avoit escrit ouy ouy infidelle amestris disois-je en relisant cette lettre et en la repassant presque parole pour parole j'ay eu quelque curiosite de scavoir ce que vous faisiez et quels estoient vos divertissemens et j'ay connu enfin que vous ne mentez pas lors que vous m'escrivez que vous fuyez le tumulte de la cour qu'il n'y a qu'une seule personne de qui vous puissiez souffrir la conversation sans chagrin et que mesme vous faites tousjours tout ce qui vous est possible pour faire que cette conversation soit en un lieu solitaire et retire vous me dites cruelle amestris que je puis bien juger que vous ne cherchez pas les jardins du palais pour vous promener mais infidelle que vous estes je ne pouvois pas juger que vous n'alliez a la fontaine du parterre de gazon que pour y entretenir megabise cependant j'ay veu de mes prepres yeux que la seule personne qui presentement vous peut plaire a ecbatane est le trop heureux megabise vous dittes encore que vous vous entretenez vous mesme ha je ne l'ay que trop veu cruelle amestris et pleust aux dieux toutefois que je n'eusse veu que cela vous avez raison adjoustois-je de dire qu'il seroit bon pour mon repos que j'ignorasse vos resveries et plus de raison encore d'advouer qu'il ne seroit pas advantageux a amestris que je les devinasse mais comment injuste personne pouvez vous connoistre que vous avez tort sans vous en repentir et toutefois vous avez peut-estre escrit 
 cette lettre avant la cruelle conversation que je vous ay veu avoir avec megabise en effet je ne me trompois pas alors en mes conjectures car ayant regarde de quel jour elle estoit dattee et me ressouvenant precisement de celuy ou j'avois veu amestris avec megabise je trouvay qu'elle estoit escrit d'un jour auparavant ce qui me mit en une colere si grande que je fis resolution de faire tout ce qui me seroit possible pour me guerir d'une passion si mal reconnue vous pouvez juger que je ne la pris pas sans peine cette cruelle resolution et qu'il falut me combattre plus d'une fois je fis pourtant dessein d'attendre mesme que la fortune me fist rencontrer megabise pour me vanger sans l'aller chercher par toute la terre comme j'en n'avois eu l'intention et de tascher de surmonter dans mon coeur les sentimens que l'amour y avoit inspirez je ne voulus pas mesme respondre a amestris ny chercher quelque consolation a luy reprocher son crime au contraire j'ordonnay encore a celuy qui avoit accoustume de recevoir ses lettres de les luy renvoyer sans me les faire voir et sans les ouvrir si vous aviez aime seigneur je n'aurois que faire de vous exagerer tout ce que je souffris en cette rencontre et vous connoistriez facilement qu'il n'est rien de plus difficile que de vouloir arracher de son coeur une violente passion j'avois beau ne vouloir plus songer a amestris j'y songeois eternellement et c'estoit en vain que je faisois effort pour la mepriser puis que malgre 
 moy je sentois que je l'estimois tousjours plus que tout le reste de la terre je cherchois le monde et la conversation pour m'en destacher mais je m'y ennuyois si cruellement que la solitude m'estoit encore moins insuportable j'appellay les livres a mon secours mais je n'y rencontray que de bons conseils inutiles je m'amusay en suitte a la chasse mais je ne trouvay pas que la lassitude du corps soulageast les peines de l'esprit enfin je me resolus d'attendre du temps ce que je ne trouvois point ailleurs mais dieux que ce remede fut long et mal assure et que ma guerison fut penible et mal affermie cependant l'innocente amestris ne recevant plus de mes nouvelles et voyant qu'on luy renvoyoit toutes ses lettres ne m'en escrivit plus et en fut en une peine incroyable d'abord elle s'imagina que j'estois mort mais ma parente sceust bien tost chez mon pere que cela n'estoit pas elles chercherent alors en vain la cause de mon silence sans la pouvoir rencontrer et l'innocence d'amestris estoit une cause assez forte pour l'empescher de la deviner elle craignit toutefois un peu que megabise ne m'eust fait faire quelque mauvais conte d'elle mais apres y avoir bien pense elle ne trouvoit pas que quand il eust este assez lasche pour le faire j'eusse deu estre assez foible pour le croire puis qu'il estoit mon ennemy et mon rival joint qu'il n'y avoit point d'apparence qu'il l'eust fait car outre qu'il estoit trop homme d'honneur pour concevoir une fourbe de cette nature il n'estoit 
 pas demeure en lieu pour pouvoir jouir de l'effet de son artifice puis que l'on avoit sceu enfin que son desespoir l'avoit porte a la guerre qui estoit alors en lydie que ne pensa donc point l'aimable amestris et dequoy n'accusa t'elle point le malheureux aglatidas elle creut qu'il estoit inconstant que quelque nouvelle passion l'avoit fait changer et dans cette pensee elle s'abandonna a la douleur se repentit de m'avoir aime dit cent choses contre moy et contre l'amour et fit tout ce qu'elle put pour m'oster le coeur qu'elle m'avoit donne menaste mesme qui m'aimoit beaucoup et qui estoit revenue de la campagne ne pouvoit pas m'excuser et la confirmoit encore dans les sentimens de colere ou elle estoit enfin seigneur l'on peut dire que nous estions tous deux aussi infortunez que nous estions innocens cependant celuy chez qui amestris demeuroit et qui vouloit favoriser megabise le voyant absent et scachant le grand nombre de pretendans qu'il y avoit tousjours pour amestris luy proposa d'aller faire un voyage a la province des arisantins ou estoit la plus grande partie de son bien pour y donner ordre a quelques affaires pressantes car seigneur l'on n'avoit point sceu a la cour ou je m'estois retire et cet homme ne scavoit pas que j'y fusse amestris qui ne pouvoit souffrir la cour qu'avec peine et qui estoit bien aise de pouvoir cacher son chagrin y consentit facilement et d'autant plus tost a ce que je sceu depuis qu'elle espera que venant a la mesme province ou j'estois 
 elle pourroit du moins apprendre la cause de mon changement dont elle n'avoit pu rien scavoir cependant comme l'absence de megabise avoit facilite mes affaires mon pere ayant enfin obtenu ma grace du roy m'ordonna de m'en retourner a ecbatane dans le mesme temps qu'amestris en partoit je vous advoue que je receus la nouvelle de la fin de mon exil avec douleur et que j'eusse bien voulu que mon bannissement eust dure plus long temps neantmoins je pense a dires les choses comme elles sont que me voulant trahir moy mesme je fis semblant de croire que mon coeur estoit assez bien guery pour ne craindre plus que ses blessures se pussent r'ouvrir par la veue d'amestris je partis donc et m'en retournay a ecbatane sans la rencontrer parce qu'elle avoit pris un chemin different de celuy que je tins de vous dire seigneur quel trouble d'esprit fut le mien en approchant d'ecbatane en y entrant et en passant devant la porte du palais d'artambare c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire je craignois de rencontrer amestris et je la cherchois pourtant exactement des yeux en passant dans toutes les rues je me persuadois pour me tromper que je ne voulois scavoir le lieu ou elle estoit que pour ne la regarder pas mais helas que je me connoissois peu moy mesme et que j'ignorois bien ce qui me devoit advenir je ne fus pas plustost arrive que je fus a l'apartement de mon pere qui me receut avec une joye incroyable quoy qu'il eust quelque sentiment de douleur de me trouver 
 le visage aussi change qu'il me le vit car seigneur il estoit en effet arrive un changement si considerable en moy que je doutois quelquefois si j'estois le mesme que j'avois este mon pere eut la bonte de me dire en suitte qu'ayant eu a soliciter une affaire ou il alloit de ma vie il n'avoit pu songer a presser celle de mon mariage parce que c'eust este trop irriter megabise que de s'opposer tout a la fois a son amour et a sa vangeance seigneur luy dis-je tout ce que vous avez fait a este bien fait et le mariage est une chose que je crains presentement bien plus que je ne le desire mon pere voulut me faire expliquer cet enigme mais je m'en excusay et me retiray a mon ancien apartement avec un chagrin estrange le lendemain au matin mon pere me mena chez le roy qui me receut assez bien et qui acheva l'accommodement de la famille de megabise et de la nostre car pour luy il n'estoit pas encore revenu a ecbatane au sortir du palais je m'en retournay dans ma chambre ou je ne fus pas long temps seul le bruit de mon retour n'ayant pas este plustost respandu dans ecbatane que la meilleure partie de mes amis me vint visiter et comme mon amour avoit este sceue de tout le monde apres les premiers complimens artabane frere d'harpage que le roy avoit autrefois employe pour faire perir le jeune cyrus et qui estoit fort de mes amis me demanda si je n'avois point rencontre la belle amestris par les chemins en revenant a la cour je rougis au nom d'amestris 
 et demanday a mon amy s'il estoit bien vray qu'elle ne fust pas a ecbatane mais admirez seigneur tout ce que fait faire l'amour je n'eus pas plustost este assure qu'elle n'y estoit plus effectivement que j'en eus de la joye et de la douleur tout ensemble et mon esprit fut si partage en cette occasion qu'il ne put jamais se determiner je pense toutefois que si j'eusse bien examine le fonds de mon coeur je l'eusse trouve plus dispose a desirer qu'amestris eust este a ecbatane qu'a se resjouir de ce qu'elle en estoit eloignee ce n'est pas que je ne creusse estre fortement resolu a ne luy donner plus jamais nulle marque d'amour quand mesme j'en eusse deu mourir mais c'est qu'enfin pour ne deguiser pas les choses je l'aimois encore plus que je ne le croyois moy mesme et que c'est le propre de l'amour de faire desirer la veue de la personne aimee je me tins pourtant l'esprit si ferme pendant cette conversation que je n'en parlay jamais le premier je me surpris bien plus de cent fois dans un secret desir que quelqu'un m'en parlast mais je n'osay pourtant en parler et puis comme je n'avois point eu d'autres personnes confidentes de ma passion qu'arbate qui n'estoit plus et que menaste qui avoit suivy amestris en son voyage parce qu'elles s'aimoient cherement je ne pouvois pas me resoudre d'aller aprendre mes malheurs a ceux qui ne les scavoient point neantmoins il falut changer de resolution et artabane aporta un si grand soing a aquerir mon amitie et a s'informer du 
 sujet de cette profonde melancolie qui paroissoit et sur mon visage et en toutes mes actions qu'en fin presse par son affection et par ma propre douleur je luy apris la naissance de mon amour son progres et sa fin car j'avois quelques fois la hardiesse de parler comme si je n'eusse plus aime il me souvient mesme qu'un jour que nous estions seuls parlant de quelque chose qui estoit arrive a la cour j'eus l'audace de dire a artabane pour luy designer precisement quand cela estoit advenu que c'estoit du temps que j'aimois amestris mais seigneur en prononcant ces paroles je rougis et artabane s'escria en m'embrassant ha mon cher aglatidas vous l'aimez encore vostre visage vous a trahi et vostre coeur a plus de sincerite que vos paroles je ne scay si je l'aime encore luy respondis-je en soupirant mais je scay bien que je ne la dois plus aimer et que mesme je ne la veux plus aimer l'amour me respondit-il n'est pas acoustume a demander le conseil de nostre raison ny le consentement de nostre volonte pour nous assujettir et la mesme violence qui le rend quelquefois maistre de nostre coeur malgre nous l'y peut maintenir par la mesme voye l'amour poursuivit artabane n'est pas un roy legitime mais un tyran qui ne traite pas mesme plus doucement ceux qui ne se deffendent point que ceux qui luy disputent leur liberte et qui regne enfin souverainement par tous les lieux ou il veut regner quoy qu'il en puisse estre luy dis-je soit que j'aime amestris ou que je ne l'aime 
 pas elle n'aura plus de moy ny marques d'amour ny marques de haine vous changerez bien tost d'avis me repliqua-t'il et je n'auray pas besoin de beaucoup de paroles pour vous prouver que tous les momens de vostre vie luy parlent d'amour que tous vos discours et toutes vos actions l'assurent que vous luy estes tousjours fidelle et qu'il n'est pas jusques a vos yeux ou vostre passion ne soit vivement depeinte car poursuivit-il sans me donner loisir de luy respondre d'ou vient ce prodigieux changement qui paroist en vostre visage en vostre esprit et en vostre humeur et que veulent dire autre chose cette profonde melancolie qui vous possede sans sujet cette solitude que vous preferez a tous vos amis ces soupirs continuels cette indifference pour tout ce qu'il y a de beau a la cour sinon que vous aimez encore je n'aime peut-estre plus amestris luy repliquay-je mais je hai tout le reste du monde a la reserve d'artabane et pourquoy le haissez vous me respondit-il que vous ont fait tant d'honnestes gens qui vous recherchent et qui vous estiment que vous ont fait tant de belles et aimables personnes qui sont a ecbatane et que vous a fait enfin toute la nature pour faire que vous la haissiez non non adjousta-t'il aglatidas ne vous y trompez point vous aimez encore amestris et vous l'aimez autant que vous haissez tout le reste de la terre si vous n'aviez point d'amour pour elle vous n'auriez point de haine pour les autres et vous aimeriez sans doute ce que tous les honnestes gens 
 ont accoustume d'aimer si j'aimois amestris luy dis-je je souhaiterois son retour et je l'aprehende cette apprehension me repliqua-t'il n'est pas moins une marque d'amour que le pourroient estre vos souhaits car enfin amestris ne peut vous estre redoutable que d'une facon et vous ne la pouvez craindre sans l'aimer de plus adjousta-t'il quelle cause pouvez vous trouver a vostre melancolie vous estes aime de tout le monde vous avez un pere qui vous accorde tout ce que vous desirez vous estes d'une condition qui n'en voit guere d'autre au dessus d'elle vous ne pouvez manquer d'estre extremement riche vous avez de la jeunesse et de la sante vous avez de plus me dit-il en me flattant de l'adresse et de la bonne mine du courage et de la reputation qu'est-ce donc aglatidas qui vous manque et qui cause vostre melancolie le souvenir de mes malheurs luy repliquay-je le souvenir des malheurs me respondit-il donne de la joye quand il est vray qu'ils sont effectivement passez et vous feriez mieux de dire que les vostres durent encore mais de grace adjousta-t'il que faudroit-il pour vous rendre heureux il faudroit luy dis-je des choses impossibles il faudroit qu'amestris n'eust jamais este infidelle de sorte donc me repliqua artabane que vostre bonheur est inseparablement attache a amestris et que sans amestris vous ne pouvez estre heureux vous estes trop pressant luy dis-je et je ne veux plus vous respondre dittes que vous ne le pouvez pas me repartit-il sans 
 advouer en mesme temps que vous estes le plus amoureux des hommes mais mon cher aglatidas poursuivit artabane pourquoy cachez vous un mal si grand et si dangereux et qui ne peut jamais estre guery qu'en le descouvrant je le cache luy dis-je en changeant de couleur parce que je le crois incurable et si je n'aimois infiniment artabane et qu'artabane n'eust pas eu une opiniastrete invincible je ne luy eusse jamais advoue comme je fay qu'en despit de ma raison et contre ma volonte amestris l'infidelle amestris occupe encore toutes mes pensees et possede mon coeur malgre moy comme j'eus cesse de parler artabane m'embrassant et prenant la parole maintenant me dit-il que vous m'avez advoue vostre mal je veux tascher de le guerir je croy que vous le souhaitez luy dis-je mais il n'est pas fort aise d'en venir a bout car scachez artabane que quand mesme amestris se repentiroit de sa perfidie et qu'elle reviendroit a moy les larmes aux yeux je ne pourrois jamais estre parfaitement satisfait le souvenir du passe me tiendroit en une continuelle inquietude de l'advenir et je possederois un thresor que je craindrois eternellement de perdre toutes les fois qu'elle me diroit quelque chose d'obligeant je m'imaginerois que ces mesmes paroles auroient este employees en faveur de mon rival et je ne pourrois tout au plus regarder le coeur d'amestris que comme un autel prophane quoy me dit alors artabane si amestris avec tous ses charmes et toute sa beaute vous demandoit 
 pardon de sa foiblesse et de son changement vous le luy refuseriez ha cruel amy luy dis-je quel plaisir prenez vous a me persecuter au lieu de me guerir et a me proposer des choses impossibles mais si elles arrivoient me dit il comment en useriez vous malgre cette jalousie delicate luy repliquay-je qui certainement est dans mon esprit de la facon que je viens de le dire je sens bien que je me jetterois aux pieds d'amestris pour luy rendre grace de son repentir pour l'assurer d'une passion eternelle et pour luy demander une fidelite plus exacte que celle qu'elle a eue mais helas que je suis loing de me trouver en cet estat voulez vous me dit alors artabane croire mes conseils je veux faire luy dis-je tout ce qui me pourra soulager si cela est me respondit-il ne negligez pas ce que je m'en vay vous dire et scachez qu'en l'estat qu'est vostre ame j'ay trouve un remede infaillible ou pour vous oster l'amour que vous avez pour amestris ou pour faire qu'amestris la satisface si j'escoute la raison luy dis-je j'aimeray mieux le premier que l'autre et si j'escoute mon coeur je prefereray le second au premier scachez donc me dit alors artabane que comme l'amour est une passion si noble qu'elle ne peut-estre recompensee que par elle mesme elle est aussi si puissante qu'elle ne peut-estre vaincue que par ses propres forces il faut aimer pour cesser d'aimer et la haine qui succede a l'amour n'est pour l'ordinaire qu'une amour deguisee sous les apparences de la colere et qui est plus redoutable 
 et plus dangereuse que si elle paroissoit avec les marques qui luy sont naturelles enfin aglatidas me dit-il il faut se guerir d'une passion par une autre passion et pour n'aimer plus amestris il faut aimer une autre beaute helas luy repliquay-je alors qu'il est aise a artabane de donner un semblable conseil et qu'il est difficile a aglatidas de le suivre mais me respondit-il le remede que je vous enseigne est pourtant le meilleur de tous et n'est pas si impossible que vous le croyez veritablement poursuivit-il tant que vous demeurerez dans la solitude ou vous vivez il ne sera pas aise que vous vous trouviez engage dans une nouvelle amour mais il faut voir celles qui en peuvent donner il faut s'exposer au peril des flots et se jetter mesme dans la mer quand on veut se sauver d'un naufrage et il est des maux si dangereux et des remedes si extraordinaires qu'il faut se mettre en danger de mourir un peu plustost par la seule esperance de pouvoir vivre plus long temps mais croyez vous luy dis-je que je puisse je ne dis pas aimer une autre beaute mais seulement la souffrir vous le pourrez sans doute si vous le voulez me respondit-il car enfin d'abord il ne faut avoir dessein que de feindre d'aimer quelque belle personne car peut-estre viendrez vous a l'aimer effectivement si cela arrive vous vous moquerez de l'inconstance d'amestris et si cela n'est pas vous vous vangerez au moins de l'outrage que vous avez 
 receu d'elle peut-estre mesme continua-t'il que cette feinte ramenera vostre maistresse a la raison et que ce que vostre amour ne vous a pas donne sa jalousie vous le donnera ce remede luy dis-je est bien dangereux et bien incertain pour estre si difficile car enfin vous dites que peut-estre j'aimeray que peut-estre je n'aimeray pas que peut-estre je me vangeray que peut-estre amestris reviendra de son erreur en un mot tout est fonde sur un peut-estre c'est a dire a peu pres sur rien et je voy pour conclusion tant d'incertitude en ce remede que je ne le trouve pas fort bon en avez vous un autre me dit-il j'en ay plus infaillible luy dis-je qui est la mort qui me delivrera sans doute de toutes mes peines c'est le dernier qu'il faut tenter me respondit artabane et il ne le faut au moins prendre que lors que l'on a essaye vainement tous les autres enfin seigneur quoy qu'il me peust dire je ne me rendis point de tout ce jour la mais quelque temps apres ayant sceu qu'amestris devoit revenir il me persecuta de telle sorte de vouloir suivre son conseil que je m'y resolus quoy que ce ne fust pas sans peine il y avoit alors a la cour une fille nommee anatise qui avoit effectivement du merite et de la beaute mais qui n'avoit pourtant pas fait grandes conquestes et qui estoit sans doute incomparablement moins belle qu'amestris quoy qu'elle le fust beaucoup le hazard voulut que le 
 jour mesme qu'artabane m'avoit fait consentir d'essayer le remede qu'il m'avoit propose je la trouvay a la promenade des jardins du palais ou il y avoit long temps que je n'avois este parce que je fuyois le monde autant qu'il m'estoit possible et comme je n'avois et ne pouvois avoir d'inclination particuliere pour personne et que mesme je n'avois pas la liberte de choisir en une saison ou tout ce qui n'estoit pas amestris ne me pouvoit plaire le hazard dis-je m'ayant fait rencontrer anatise plustost qu'une autre je n'esvitay pas sa conversation comme j'avois accoustume d'esviter celle de toutes les dames depuis mon retour a ecbatane c'est a dire toutesfois autant que la civilite me le permettoit je parlay donc a cette fille diverses fois ce jour la et quoy que ce ne fust que de choses indifferentes elle ne laissa pas de s'estimer en quelque facon mon obligee parce qu'enfin je faisois pour elle ce que je n'avois fait pour personne depuis que j'estois revenu a la cour et certes il me fut advantageux que la solitude ou j'avois vescu m'aidast a persuader au monde ce que je voulois qu'il creust estant certain qu'il ne m'eust pas este bien aise de faire tout ce qu'il eust falu pour le tromper s'il ne se fust trompe luy mesme et si anatise de son coste ne m'eust aide a le decevoir car seigneur je n'ay garde de croire que la complaisance que cette aimable fille eut pour quelques petits soins que je luy rendis fust un effet de mon merite au contraire je connus clairement que c'en fust un de celuy d'amestris 
 estant indubitable qu'anatise ne me traita favorablement comme elle fit que parce qu'elle s'imagina qu'il y avoit quelque chose de glorieux pour elle qu'un homme qui avoit aime la plus belle personne du monde quittast ses fers pour prendre ses chaines cette petite jalousie de beaute fit donc qu'anatise eut pour moy toute la civilite possible et que trouvant tant de facilite a executer ce qu'artabane m'avoit conseille je continuay d'agir comme il voulut ce n'est pas seigneur que je pusse jamais me resoudre a dire a anatise que je l'aimois tant parce qu'en effet je ne le pus jamais obtenir de ma veritable passion que parce qu'il me sembloit que c'eust este choquer directement la generosite cependant ma facon de vivre avec anatise ne laissoit pas d'avoir presque le mesme effet dans la cour et dans l'esprit de cette fille car enfin je la voyois souvent je ne parlois presque qu'a elle je paroissois fort melancolique et fort inquiet et tout le monde regardoit toutes ces choses comme des effets de ma nouvelle passion anatise d'autre part voyoit que je m'attachois a son entretien que je la louois a toutes les occasions qui s'en presentoient que je fuyois toutes les femmes excepte elle et que dans nos conversations je paroissois souvent avoir l'esprit interdit et ne scavoir pas trop bien ce que je luy voulois dire mais helas ce qu'elle croyoit estre un effet de l'amour que j'avois pour elle en estoit un de celle que j'avois pour amestris toute infidelle qu'elle me paroissoit alors et certes il y avoit des 
 jours ou je me repentois d'avoir suivy les conseils d'artabane et d'autres aussi ou il sembloit que je me resolusse fortement d'aimer anatise et de vouloir chasser amestris de mon coeur et de ma memoire changeons changeons disois-je en moy mesme cette feinte passion en une passion veritable ne soyons plus fidelles a celle qui nous a trahis et ne trahissons plus celle qui n'a que de la sincerite pour nous anatise n'est pas sans doute si belle qu'amestris mais elle nous aimera peut-estre plus fidellement disons luy donc que nous l'aimons poursuivois-je quoy que cela ne soit pas encore afin qu'estant obligez par generosite a ne nous dementir pas nous ne soyons plus en termes de craindre de retourner vers l'infidelle amestris et d'avoir la foiblesse de la voir et de luy parler si elle revient comme on nous le dit cette pensee seigneur se fortifia de telle sorte dans mon esprit que je fus trois ou quatre jours de suitte chez anatise avec intention de luy dire que je l'aimois mais quelque resolution determinee que j'en eusse faite je ne pus jamais l'executer je perdois la parole tout d'un coup des que la pensee m'en venoit je changeois de discours et de couleur hors de propos ma bouche ne vouloit point m'obeir mon coeur se revoltoit contre ma volonte ma volonte mesme demeuroit changeante et mal affermie et enfin ne voulant plus du tout ce que j'avois voulu un moment auparavant je me taisois en baissant les yeux comme estant presque egalement honteux de ce que je faisois et de ce 
 que j'avois voulu faire mais dieux ce qui me devoit detruire dans l'esprit d'anatise m'y establissoit car s'imaginant que l'amour et le respect que j'avois pour elle causoient tout le desordre qu'elle voyoit en mon esprit elle ne laissoit pas de me bien traitter et je ne laissois pas de la voir tant y a seigneur que toute la cour creut que j'estois amoureux d'anatise il y eut mesme un de mes parens qui l'escrivit a menaste qui comme je vous l'ay dit estoit avec amestris mais cette fille qui scavoit que son amie ne pourroit aprendre cette nouvelle sans douleur ne luy en dit rien et voulut attendre qu'elle fust a ecbatane pour s'en esclaircir cependant je sceu deux choses tout a la fois qui me donnerent bien de l'inquietude l'une qu'amestris arriveroit en peu de temps l'autre que megabise devoit revenir dans peu de jours cette rencontre si precise que le seul hazard avoit faite me parut une chose concertee et je ne doutay point du tout que le voyage d'amestris n'eust este fait a la seule consideration de l'absence de megabise de laquelle je ne pouvois pas deviner la raison mais comme la jalousie s'attache bien plus a ce qui la fortifie qu'a ce qui la peut detruire je ne m'amusois pas a raisonner sur ce qui pouvoit me faire tirer quelques conjectures a mon advantage et je ne cherchois que ce qui me pouvoit affliger ils reviennent disois-je pour triompher a mes yeux de mon infortune et ils ne s'estimeroient pas heureux si je n'estois le tesmoin de leur felicite du moins adjoustois-je infidelle amestris 
 vous n'aurez pas la satisfaction de croire que je sois malheureux et je veux agir de telle sorte aupres d'anatise que vous ne puissiez pas seulement soubconner que je vous aime encore malgre moy mais pour toy trop heureux megabise n'espere pas de pouvoir jouir en repos de ta conqueste car encore que je n'y pretende plus rien je ne laisseray pas de t'en oster la possession en t'ostant la vie ou de te la disputer du moins jusques au dernier moment de la mienne ces sentimens tumultueux estant un peu appaisez je trouvay en effet quelque consolation a penser qu'amestris croiroit que j'aimois anatise et je m'attachay de telle sorte a elle durant quelques jours que j'en estois moy mesme estonne cependant amestris arriva et menaste ne fut que trop confirmee pour mon malheur en la croyance qu'on luy avoit donnee de ma nouvelle passion elle voulut toutefois me parler auparavant que de me condamner et elle en trouva les moyens facilement car enfin comme elle estoit ma parente je fus oblige de luy faire une visite bien que je ne m'y resolusse pas sans peine je fis ce que je pus pour n'y aller pas seul mais quoy que je pusse faire elle me parla en particulier est-il possible me dit-elle aglatidas que ce que l'on m'a dit soit veritable et qu'un homme qui a este assez heureux pour n'estre pas hai d'amestris puisse se resoudre d'aimer anatise amestris luy dis-je n'a pas creu qu'aglatidas fust digne d'elle et je ne scay pourtant menaste adjoustay-je si elle n'a pas plus mal choisi que moy 
 elle a peut-estre fait par foiblesse et par caprice poursuivis-je ce que j'ay fait par raison et pour me vanger mais apres tout menaste n'en parlons plus je scay qu'elle est tousjours de vos amies et je veux mesme croire qu'elle s'est cachee de vous pour me trahir il faut bien sans doute me respondit-elle qu'elle m'en ait fait un secret si cela est vray car je n'en ay jamais rien sceu mais je vous advoue que j'ay beaucoup de peine a me le persuader j'en ay bien eu davantage luy repliquay-je et si je n'avois este moy mesme le tesmoin de son infidelite si je n'avois veu de mes propres yeux sa trahison et sa perfidie je ne l'aurois jamais creue non pas mesme quand vous m'en auriez assure mais comme je ne vous aurois pas crue adjoustay-je si vous m'eussiez parle contre elle je ne vous croiray pas non plus aujourd'huy que vous la voulez justifier non menaste ne m'en parlez jamais amestris m'a trahi et je l'ay quittee amestris ne m'a pas juge digne de son affection et je ne la juge plus digne de la mienne quoy qu'elle la soit tousjours a l'infidelite pres de l'admiration de toute la terre mais enfin comme je suis asseure qu'elle a eu pour moy de la haine ou de mespris je suis dispense de la fidelite que je luy avois promise j'advoue me dit menaste que si elle est coupable vous estes moins criminel mais vous n'estes pourtant pas innocent car enfin vous estes vous pleint a amestris l'avez vous accusee et luy avez vous donne lieu de se justifier ou de se repentir il faut se pleindre luy dis-je lors 
 que l'on est en doute du crime de la personne aimee ou que ce crime est si petit qu'on le peut effacer en l'advouant mais lors que l'offence est de la nature de celle que j'ay receue les pleintes ne serviroient qu'a donner nouvelle matiere de se laisser tromper espargnons cette peine a amestris pousuivis-je et ne la forcons pas d'advouer une chose qu'elle ne pourroit advouer sans confusion toute preoccupee qu'elle est de l'amour qui la possede menaste estoit si surprise de m'entendre parler de cette sorte qu'elle ne pouvoit me respondre car comme amestris ne luy avoit rien dit de la conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec megabise elle ne pouvoit imaginer nul pretexte a mes pleintes et elle creut que pour excuser mon inconstance je luy supposois un crime qu'elle estoit aussi innocente qu'elle la paroissoit a ses yeux et que j'estois encore beaucoup plus coupable qu'elle ne l'avoit pensee ce qui la confirmoit en son opinion estoit le trouble qu'elle remarquoit en mon esprit ne doutant nullement que ce trouble ne fust cause par la honte que j'avois de ma foiblesse et par celle de mon changement toutefois voulant encore l'augmenter je vous assure du moins me dit-elle que tant que le voyage qu'amestris vient de faire a dure elle n'a pas eu d'amants qui puissent se louer de son indulgence ny se vanter de ses faveurs je n'en doute pas luy respondis-je car elle est plus fidelle a celuy qu'elle m'a prefere qu'elle ne l'a este pour moy mais quel est ce bienheureux amant d'amestris me 
 repliqua-t'elle en colere que menaste ne connoist point puis qu'elle vous en a fait un secret luy dis-je je veux bien avoir encore ce respect pour elle de ne relever pas ce que j'en scay et d'aider a cacher une chose qui ne sera que trop tost publiee et de laquelle vous ne douterez plus gueres dans peu de jours comme nous en estions la il arriva tant de monde que nostre conversation ne put continuer davantage et je sortis de chez menaste avec un redoublement de chagrin estrange car disois-je si amestris estoit capable de repentir son amie m'auroit advoue une partie de sa foiblesse ou du moins l'auroit pretextee de quelque legere excuse mais en niant tout l'on se rend coupable de tout et il n'est plus rien apres cela qu'il ne soit permis de faire pour se vanger vangeons nous donc de la veritable infidelite d'amestris par une feinte infidelite donnons nos soins a anatise ne luy pouvant donner nostre coeur punissons nous par ce suplice du mauvais choix que nous avions fait et n'oublions rien de tout ce qui peut satisfaire nostre ressentiment ne pouvant plus satisfaire nostre amour
 
 
 
 
cependant menaste qui estoit effectivement irritee contre moy ne doutant point que quelqu'un n'aprist ma nouvelle passion a amestris trouva plus a propos de luy en parler et fut chez elle le soir mesme dont je j'avois veue l'apresdisnee elle ne fut pourtant pas la premiere qui luy aprit cette nouvelle et de tant de personnes qui l'avoient visitee il s'en estoit trouve quelqu'une qui par malice ou par simplicite luy avoit dit une 
 chose ou tout le monde scavoit bien qu'elle devoit prendre interest menaste la trouva donc assez triste car seigneur pour vous bien faire connoistre mon infortune je suis contraint de vous advouer qu'amestris m'aimoit veritablement et m'aimoit d'une affection si tendre que je ne puis encore m'en sovenir sans une extreme joye sans une excessive douleur et sans une estrange confusion tout ensemble elle ne vit donc pas plustost menaste qu'elle luy fit connoistre par sa melancolie qu'elle scavoit ma nouvelle passion neantmoins comme elle se voulut contraindre elle fut quelque temps a luy parler de choses indifferentes menaste de son coste ne scachant par ou commencer un discours si fascheux luy respondoit a mots entrecoupez et ne scavoit pas trop bien ce qu'elle luy vouloit dire mais enfin l'adorable amestris ne pouvant plus cacher son ressentiment luy demanda si elle ne m'avoit point veu et si ma nouvelle amour estoit assez forte pour m'avoir fait manquer a la civilite que je luy devois je l'ay veu luy respondit elle mais je l'ay veu si prive de raison que je n'oserois plus j'advouer pour mon parent ny croire presque qu'il soit encore ce mesme aglatidas que j'ay connu autrefois et que j'ay tant estime enfin luy dit elle il sert anatise il la suit en tous lieux et je pense qu'il l'aime effectivement mais quoy que ce crime soit grand ce n'est pas encore ce qui m'anime le plus contre luy car apres tout ceux qui sont nais foibles et inconstans meritent plustost 
 de la compassion que des reproches puis qu'il est certain qu'ils ne sont que ce qu'ils ne peuvent s'empescher de faire mais qu'aglatidas veuille exuser son crime en vous en supposant un c'est ce que je ne puis souffrir et c'est ce que j'ay creu a propos de vous dire afin que par vostre haine et par vostre mepris vous le punissiez de son extravagance et de son ingratitude quoy interrompit amestris aglatidas m'accuse de quelque chose ouy repliqua menaste il dit que vous l'avez trahi il dit qu'il l'a veu de ses propres yeux qu'il n'en scauroit jamais douter et que vostre nouveau choix est beaucoup plus deraisonnable que le sien enfin dit elle je ne puis dire autre chose sinon qu'il a de la folie et de la malice tout ensemble amestris fut si surprise de ce discours que son ame toute grande qu'elle estoit ne put s'empescher d'en estre esbranlee elle changea de couleur les larmes luy vinrent aux yeux et sa sagesse eut beaucoup de peine a les retenir si elle se souvenoit de l'amour que je luy avois tesmoignee et du respect avec lequel je l'avois servie elle regardoit mon changement comme luy ayant cause une perte irreparable si elle repassoit en sa memoire la bonte quelle avoit eue pour moy elle ne pouvoit assez condamner mon ingratitude si elle consideroit la fidelite qu'elle m'avoit gardee elle avoit de l'horreur pour ma perfidie et si elle regardoit la difference qu'il y avoit d'elle a anatise elle ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de ma foiblesse et de mon aveuglement 
 mais apres tout il faloit me croire capable de l'une et de l'autre et il n'estoit pas possible d'en douter menaste m'a pourtant assure depuis que le tort que je faisois a sa beaute luy preferant une personne qui luy devoit ceder en toutes choses ne la toucha pas si sensiblement que le tort que je faisois a sa vertu en l'accusant d'estre inconstante qu'aglatidas disoit elle m'oste le coeur qu'il m'avoit donne qu'il cesse de me voir et de m'aimer et qu'il oublie les obligations qu'il m'a sans doute d'avoir souffert qu'il me parlast de sa passion apres tout je m'en affligeray sans colere et je m'en consoleray peut-estre par raison mais qu'il veuille excuser sa foiblesse en m'en accusant ha menaste c'est ce qui vient au bout de toute ma patience et ce qui me fait bien voir que l'amour est une dangereuse passion car enfin y eut-il jamais une personne plus excusable que moy ny plus innocente j'ay aime aglatidas il est vray mais je l'ay aime non seulement parce qu'il m'aimoit mais parce que mes parens ont creu qu'il avoit de la sagesse et du jugement et qu'il avoit toutes les qualitez qui peuvent faire un honneste homme de plus ne devois-je pas croire que la fortune m'ayant fait naistre assez riche son propre interest feroit en son coeur ce que mon peu de beaute ne pourroit pas faire et que soit qu'il fust sensible a l'amour ou a l'ambition je pouvois esperer qu'il seroit fidelle cependant je me suis trompee en mes conjectures et je ne connois que trop qu'il ne faut jamais rien aimer 
 mais helas reprenoit-elle nous n'en sommes plus en pouvoir l'innocence et la raison ayant estably l'amour en mon ame le moyen de l'en chasser il faut toutefois adjoustoit elle et j'y suis si fortement resolue que je ne dois pas desesperer d'en venir a bout enfin seigneur l'adorable amestris n'estant pourtant pas bien d'accord avec elle mesme ne put achever de prendre sa resolution et elle fit dessein d'aller le lendemain a quelque promenade solitaire avec sa chere confidente pour tascher de resoudre ce qu'elle feroit et pour esviter la conversation des personnes indifferentes qui en l'estat ou estoit son ame n'eusse fait que la contraindre et l'importuner elles furent donc le jour suivant a un jardin ou peu de monde avoit accoustume d'aller et ou pourtant artabane se rencontra fortuitement il ne les vit pas plustost que la curiosite luy prit d'entendre leur conversation il se cacha pour cet effet derriere une pallissade fort espaisse et les suivant des yeux il vit qu'elles allerent s'assoir dans un cabinet de verdure il y fut en se glissant entre les arbres d'une grande allee qui y respondoit et se coucha derriere une petite palissade de mirthe qui estoit au dela du cabinet il n'y fut pas plus tost qu'il entendit que menaste respondant a quelque chose qu'amestris avoit dit et qu'il n'avoit pas entendu non luy disoit elle il ne faut pas vous vanger sur vous mesme et il faut qu'aglatidas tout seul porte la peine de son crime ne confondez pas adjoustoit-elle l'innocente et le coupable 
 haissez aglatidas si vous le pouvez et ne punissez pas amestris qui n'a point failly amestris repliqua cette aimable personne ne pouvant hair ce qu'elle a aime que voulez vous qu'elle devienne et pourquoy ne voulez vous pas qu'elle s'estime aussi coupable de pouvoir cesser d'aimer ce qu'elle devroit hair qu'aglatidas paroist criminel de hair ce qu'il devoit aimer eternellement en suitte de cela ces deux filles se mirent a chercher ce qui pouvoit m'avoir donne la hardiesse d'accuser amestris car disoit menaste quelle apparence y a-t'il que sans avoir un leger pretexte de le pouvoir faire il ait eu cette inconsideration amestris faisant quelque reflexion sur ce que disoit menaste commenca de luy conter ce qu'elle n'avoit point sceu c'est a dire la conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec megabise mais adjousta t'elle quand aglatidas eust este present a la chose il m'en auroit deu remercier au lieu de s'en pleindre joint qu'il estoit bien esloigne d'icy et megabise de son coste ayant tousjours este en lydie n'a garde de le luy avoir dit non adjousta menaste ce n'est point cela car enfin il ne m'a point nomme megabise et infailliblement si c'estoit luy il m'en auroit dit quelque chose ainsi il faut conclurre que la seule honte de sa foiblesse l'a force d'avoir recours a l'imposture pour s'excuser en parlant a moy en verite disoit elle ceux qui sont des crimes se punissent sans doute eux mesmes tres severement en les commettant et si vous eussiez veu l'inquietude qu'avoit aglatidas 
 lors qu'il me parloit vous n'en douteriez nullement ce qui m'embarrasse le plus luy dit amestris c'est que lors que nous avons este a la province des arisantins nous avons entendu dire qu'aglatidas y a toujours paru assez melancolique et n'y a eu aucun attachement or s'il n'avoit change sa forme de vivre aveque moy qu'a son retour a ecbatane je dirois que par caprice ou par raison il auroit prefere la beaute d'anatise a celle d'amestris mais menaste son changement pour moy a commence pendant son exil et dans un temps ou il recevoit plus de marques de mon affection que je ne luy en avois jamais donne car enfin je luy escrivois et luy escrivois d'une maniere assez obligeante pour retenir tout autre coeur que le sien mais apres tout luy dit menaste que pretendez vous faire m'affliger de mon malheur reprit elle m'en pleindre eternellement me repentir de ma foiblesse tascher d'oublier aglatidas sans pouvoir peut-estre en venir a bout et mener enfin la plus malheureuse vie que personne ait jamais menee mais repliqua menaste je ne voy point que vous songiez a deux choses assez importantes l'une si vous ne pouvez hair aglatidas d'essayer de le ramener a la raison et l'autre si vous pouvez l'oublier a le punir de son crime helas repliqua amestris qu'il est difficile de hair ce que l'on avoit resolu d'aimer toute sa vie et qu'il est mal aise de se resoudre a punir ce que l'on aime encore malgre soy j'en scay pourtant une voye infaillible repartit menaste mais admirez 
 seigneur le bizarre destin des choses du monde menaste proposa a amestris la mesme voye qu'arbatane m'avoit proposee c'est a dire de feindre de souffrir sans chagrin quelqu'un de ceux qui pretendoient a son affection car luy disoit cette fille j'ay tousjours connu aglatidas extremement sensible a la gloire de sorte que je ne doute point que s'il voit effectivement devant ses yeux ce qu'il n'a fait qu'inventer et qu'il connoisse qu'en effet amestris est capable de luy preferer un autre il n'arrive de deux choses l'une c'est a dire qu'il quittera anatise pour revenir a amestris ou que du moins il sera fort afflige dans son coeur de plus qui scait si en souffrant d'estre aimee vous ne viendrez point a cesser d'aimer l'amour a ce que j'ay entendu dire adjousta-t'elle ne se guerit point par des remedes qui luy soient contraires ny par des remedes violents le temps et la raison par des voyes plus insensibles viennent a bout de toutes choses c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous suivrez absolument mon conseil il est mesme a propos pour vostre gloire adjousta menaste que l'on ne vous soubconne point d'avoir aime aglatidas et pour l'empescher il faut faire ce que je dis cette derniere consideration fut sans doute la plus forte sur l'ame d'amestris qui apres plusieurs autres discours se resolut de suivre les advis qu'on luy donnoit cependant artabane qui estoit ravy d'avoir entendu tout ce que ces deux personnes avoient dit se leva tout doucement et sortit du jardin sans estre aperceu allant 
 en diligence me chercher par tous les lieux ou il creut me devoir rencontrer mais mon malheur fit qu'il ne me put jamais trouver apres m'avoir cherche vainement chez le roy dans les jardins du palais et chez anatise il se resolut enfin d'attendre que je me retirasse le soir ne pouvant pas imaginer qu'il peust rien m'arriver d'important le reste de la journee ou l'ignorance de ce qu'il scavoit me peust nuire mais dieux que cette fatale journee m'a este funeste et qu'elle me coustera encore de soupirs si la mort n'en arreste le cours je vous ay dit seigneur que ce jardin ou estoit amestris estoit un jardin solitaire ou peu de monde se promenoit mais pour mon malheur tout ce qui me pouvoit donner de l'inquietude s'y assembla sans doute pour m'affliger et pour me rendre le plus infortune de tous les hommes anatise conduitte par mon mauvais destin ayant fait dessein de se promener avec quelques unes de ses amies choisit ce lieu la parce qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais veu et je le choisis en mon particulier pour aller entretenir mes tristes pensees a cause que je croyois estre fort assure de n'y rencontrer ny amestris ny anatise ny rien qui me peust troubler dans mes resveries mais seigneur que je fus estrangement surpris lors qu'entrant dans ce jardin je vy d'assez loin amestris qui se promenoit dans une allee avec sa chere menaste et que je vy en mesme temps anatise au pied d'une palissade ou elle s'estoit assise qui faisoit un bouquet des fleurs qu'elle avoit desja 
 cueillies cette veue que je n'attendois pas me troubla et me surprit de telle sorte que je m'arrestay tout court et ne scachant si je devois aller vers celle que j'aimois quoy qu'elle m'eust trahi ou vers celle qui m'aimoit et que je trahissois je fus un moment dans une incertitude que je ne vous puis exprimer mes pas accoustumez a me conduire vers amestris penserent m'y porter quoy que je ne le voulusse point et peu s'en falut que ma jalousie ne se trouvast plus foible que mon amour et que sans regarder anatise je n'allasse me jetter aux pieds d'amestris mais enfin l'image du crime dont je pensois avoir este le tesmoin s'estant remise en mon souvenir je me determinay tout d'un coup et je commencay d'aller vers anatise je m'en approchay toutefois si lentement et je me fis une telle contrainte pour m'esloigner d'amestris et pour m'empescher de la regarder qu'il s'en falut peu que sans aller ny vers l'une ny vers l'autre je n'expirasse de douleur mais mon desespoir me faisant passer tout d'un coup d'un extreme incertitude a une obstination invincible je ne regarday plus amestris et je fus me mettre a genoux aupres d'anatise a laquelle je parlay suivant ma coustume ce fut neantmoins avec un esprit si distrait que si cette fille n'eust elle mesme este fort distraite par le soing qu'elle avoit d'observer les actions d'amestris elle se seroit aisement aperceue de la cause de mes inquietudes mais elle avoit une joye si sensible de se voir preferee a la plus belle personne du monde qu'elle ne 
 prit point garde aux changemens de mon visage ny a l'obscurite de mes paroles amestris de son coste comme je l'ay sceu depuis voyant elle mesme ce qu'elle n'avoit fait qu'entendre dire en fut extraordinairement surprise jusques la cette adorable personne n'avoit eu que de la douleur de mon changement mais voyant de ses propres yeux aglatidas aux pieds d'anatise la colere s'empara de son esprit et un secret sentiment de gloire luy inspira une si forte envie de se vanger du mepris que je faisois d'elle qu'elle ne put s'empescher de le tesmoigner a menaste mais seigneur admirez encore icy la prodigieuse rencontre que le hazard tout seul causa en cette journee je vous ay dit ce me semble que megabise devoit revenir dans peu de jours et en effet apres avoir este a la guerre de lydie il se resolut de revenir a ecbatane et de ne songer plus a me voir l'espee a la main ny pour la mort de son frere qu'il scavoit bien qui estoit coupable ny pour nos anciens differens le roy le luy avoit envoye deffendre absolument a sardis apres l'accommodement qu'il avoit fait de nos familles et m'avoit aussi ordonne de ne le quereller plus jamais et d'eviter sa rencontre autant qu'il me seroit possible estant juste d'avoir ce respect pour un homme dont j'avois tue le frere megabise ne voulant donc entrer que de nuit dans la ville afin de pouvoir estre plus particulierement informe de l'estat des choses auparavant que de recevoir des visites se resolut d'aller passer le reste du jour dans le 
 mesme jardin ou j'estois comme le scachant peu frequente et ou estoient aussi amestris et anatise megabise donc qui connoissoit fort celuy a qui apartenoit ce jardin y entra aussi tost qu'il fut descendu de cheval et dans le mesme instant qu'amestris emportee de colere de me voir aupres d'anatise disoit a menaste qu'elle avoit bien eu raison de luy conseiller de me punir megabise donc entrant inopinement fut extremement surpris de voir en un mesme lieu son rival et sa maistresse et plus surpris encore de remarquer que je n'estois pas avec amestris cependant seigneur comme megabise ne l'avoit point veue depuis le jour qu'il luy avoit promis de ne la voir plus et de ne luy parler plus il voulut luy faire connoistre par son respect qu'il n'avoit pas oublie la parole qu'il luy avoit donnee de sorte qu'apres luy avoir fait une profonde reverence il voulut se retirer et sortir de ce jardin mais amestris qui avoit l'esprit irrite croyant avoir trouve une occasion favorable de se vanger l'appella et le receut avec beaucoup de civilite ce qui luy donna autant de joye qu'il me donna d'affliction car seigneur j'avois veu entrer megabise j'avois remarque qu'il avoit voulu s'en aller et qu'elle l'avoit retenu j'avois creu qu'il en usoit ainsi parce qu'il voyoit que j'y estois et je ne doutay point du tout qu'amestris scachant qu'il devoit arriver ne fust venue l'attendre en ce lieu la je vous laisse donc a juger seigneur du trouble de mon ame et de l'agitation de mon esprit pour 
 moy toutes les fois que je me souviens de l'estat ou nous estions je ne puis assez m'estonner du caprice de la fortune car enfin anatise avoit une joye extreme de se croire preferee a amestris et aimee d'aglatidas qui ne la preferoit ny ne l'amoit megabise de son coste tout guery qu'il pensoit estre de sa passion estoit infiniment aise de se voir rapelle par celle qui l'avoit banny pour tousjours quoy que cette personne ne l'eust rapelle par aucune affection qu'elle eust pour luy et amestris et moy qui eussions este si heureux si nous eussions sceu nos veritables sentimens estions les plus malheureuses personnes de la terre cependant quoy que megabise fust fort aise aupres d'amestris le souvenir de la mort de son frere et la veue de celuy qui l'avoit tue faisant sentir a son coeur que nulle bien-seance ne luy permettoit d'estre ou j'estois madame dit-il a amestris je doute si le commandement que j'ay receu du roy seroit assez puissant sur mon esprit pour empescher mon juste ressentiment contre un homme que je voy si le respect que j'ay pour vous ne me retenoit et c'est pourquoy madame craignant que ce respect ne fust pas long temps assez fort contre les sentimens du sans et de la nature je vous supplie tres-humblement de me pardonner mon incivilite et de souffrir que je vous quitte a ces mots sans attendre la responce d'amestris il luy fit une profonde reverence et sortit de ce jardin elle qui ne l'avoit appelle que pour me fascher ne fit aucun effort pour le retenir au 
 contraire un second sentiment corrigeant le premier luy fit voir qu'elle avoit eu tort de nous mettre en estat d'en venir aux mains si megabise n'eust pas eu ce tespect pour elle pour moy seigneur qui n'entendois pas ce qu'ils disoient je ne le vy pas si tost sortir que je n'en fusse autant en colere que je l'avois este de le voir entrer m'imaginant qu'il ne s'en alloit que pour faire le fin et pour tascher de deguiser l'assignation qu'amestris luy avoit donnee ne pouvant donc plus durer au lieu ou j'estois et croyant qu'il me seroit plus aise de cacher mon inquietude en me promenant qu'en demeurant tousjours en un mesme endroit je le proposay a anatise qui y consentit bien est il vray que ce ne fut pas tant par complaisance que par vanite car elle voulut quoy que je pusse dire aller droit vers amestris luy semblant que c'estoit veritablement triompher d'elle que mener un de ses esclaves ou il luy plaisoit nous fusmes donc a le rencontre d'amestris et de menaste et comme nous fusmes assez pres les uns des autres anatise sans me rien dire de son dessein commenca de parler a amestris dont je fus si fasche que je pensay la quitter et sortir d'un lieu ou tout ce que j'aimois et tout ce que je haissois venoit de se trouver ensemble je n'osois et voulois regarder amestris j'eusse voulu que megabise y eust encore este pour le combattre et je ne scache point de sentimens bizarres et violens qui ne me passassent dans l'esprit il y eut mesme des moments ou amestris me sembla moins belle et ou anatise 
 me la parut davantage mais dieux que ces moments passerent viste et qu'il y en eut d'autres ou je trouvay anatise laide et amestris admirablement belle cependant anatise qui comme je vous l'ay dit vouloit triompher pleinement et s'assurer mieux de sa conqueste parla malicieusement a amestris et en l'abordant je m'estime bien heureuse luy dit elle d'avoir rencontre une si agreable compagnie en un lieu que l'on a accoustume de trouver fort solitaire et j'ay raison de me la croire puis que ne cherchant icy que le seul plaisir de la promenade j'y ay encore trouve celuy de la conversation la mienne respondit froidement amestris est si peu agreable que vous auriez grand sujet de vous plaindre si vous n'en aviez point trouve de plus propre a vous divertir si vous vouliez reconnoistre des juges repliqua malicieusement anatise je m'assure que megabise que j'ay veu ce me semble aupres de vous ne seroit pas de vostre opinion et qu'aglatidas mesme prononceroit en ma faveur pour moy dis-je avec une confusion estrange je ne doute point que megabise ne trouvast amestris incomparable en toutes choses et je ne feray nulle difficulte d'avouer adjoustay-je en changeant de couleur qu'il a sujet de publier que la conversation d'amestris est la plus complaisante du monde quand elle veut et la plus contredisante aussi quand il luy plaist me repliqua-t'elle ha madame luy dit anatise qui estoit ravie de voir quelques marques de colere sur le visage d'amestris ne soyez pas 
 aujourd'huy de cette humeur et resoluez vous de souffrir toutes les louanges que je vous veux donner j'en merite si peu respondit-elle que je ne vous conseille pas de les employer si mal a propos il est une espece d'humilite reprit anatise ou la gloire ne laisse pas de se trouver ouy repliqua amestris et il y a aussi une espece de fausse gloire qui cache souvent beaucoup de bassesse je m'imagine respondit anatise que ny vous ny moy n'avons point de part a l'une ny a l'autre de ces choses je n'en scay rien repliqua amestris car on ne se connoist pas trop bien soy mesme il est bien encore plus difficile luy dis-je de connoistre les sentimens d'autruy principalement me repartit elle de ceux qui contrefont les genereux et les sinceres et qui ne le sont point du tout je m'assure dit la malicieuse anatise que megabise est absolument incapable de vous deguiser ses sentimens ceux qui comme luy respondit amestris pour me faire despit aiment la veritable gloire n'ont garde d'en user autrement et il n'y a que les lasches qui se cachent je vous advoue seigneur que je fus tellement trouble d'entendre parler amestris de cette sorte qu'il me fut impossible de demeurer la plus long temps et comme je n'estois pas venu dans ce jardin avec anatise je ne creus pas estre oblige d'y tarder autant qu'elle joint que je n'estois pas en estat d'observer une exacte bien-seance en mes actions j'avois creu voir megabise si satisfait je voyois anatise si contente amestris si fiere contre sa coustume et je me sentois tant de chagrin tant 
 de colere et tant de desespoir qu'enfin emporte par mon amour par ma haine et par ma jalousie je me separay d'une compagnie si chere et si insupportable tout ensemble je sortis donc de ce jardin avec un assez mauvais pretexte resolu de me vanger sur megabise de tous les outrages qu'amestris m'avoit faits pour cet effet au lieu de rentrer dans la ville je m'allay cacher en la maison d'un homme de ma connoissance avec intention d'envoyer le lendemain de mes nouvelles a megabise afin de le revoir l'espee a la main je ne voulus point en faire advertir artabane parce que je scavois qu'il s'opposeroit a mon intention mais helas je ne scavois pas que si je l'eusse veu j'eusse este aussi heureux que j'estois infortune cependant amestris qui n'avoit bien traitte megabise que pour me fascher ne m'eut pas plustost perdu de veue que ne pouvant plus souffrir la conversation de sa rivale elle chercha un pretexte pour la quitter et la laissant dans ce jardin elle s'en alla se pleindre en secret de son malheur avec sa chere menaste pour megabise l'on peut dire qu'il ne vit la bonne fortune que comme un esclair qui en finissant aussi tost qu'il a commence de paroistre fait trouver les tenebres plus espaisses et plus insupportables qu'auparavant quant a anatise si la joye qu'elle eut d'estre preferee a amestris dura un peu davantage ce ne fut non plus que pour l'affliger plus sensiblement apres pour moy seigneur je ne m'estois jamais trouve si malheureux que je me le trouvois encore disois-je 
 la premiere fois que je vy amestris favoriser megabise j'avois cet advantage qu'elle m'estimoit encore assez pour se donner la peine de me tromper elle ne scavoit pas que je la voyois et dans le mesme temps qu'elle luy parloit avec douceur elle m'escrivoit au moins sans rudesse je pouvois mesme penser que son coeur pouvoit estre partage et qu'il ne l'occupoit pas si absolument qu'il n'en demeurast une partie pour moy de plus il la voyoit pour luy dire adieu mais aujourd'huy il revient pour ne la quitter plus sans doute et amestris estoit certainement dans ce jardin pour l'attendre elle m'a veu auparavant qu'il arrivast et ne s'est pas souciee que je fusse le tesmoin de leur entreveue puis qu'elle y est demeuree pour megabise adjoustois-je il vouloit estre plus discret il a fait semblant lors qu'il m'a descouvert de ne la vouloir pas aborder mais elle l'a appelle cruellement pour me faire despit elle m'a regarde avec colere elle l'a regarde avec douceur et l'a loue en ma presence elle dis-je qui faisoit autrefois profession d'une vertu si austere elle qui m'a refuse son affection si opiniastrement elle qui m'a este si severe et si rigoureuse et comment amestris disois-je est-il possible que vous ayez si fort change d'humeur mais du moins adjoustois-je faut-il que je trouble vostre felicite comme vous troublez la mienne et que le respect m'empeschant de songer a me vanger directement de vous je me vange de megabise voila seigneur comment je faisois du poison des choses les plus 
 innocentes et comment j'expliquois toutes les actions d'amestris qui de son coste n'entendoit guere mieux les miennes et qui premeditoit de se vanger de moy d'une facon bien plus cruelle mais seigneur il faut que je vous die auparavant que celuy chez qui demeuroit amestris ayant este gagne par otane ne tenoit plus le party de megabise aupres d'elle et persecutoit continuellement cette aimable personne afin de l'obliger a preferer la richesse a toutes choses et a ne considerer ny les bonnes ny les mauvaises qualitez de celuy qu'elle voudroit espouser de plus en s'en retournant chez elle artabane l'avoit rencontree et l'avoit suivie mais comme elle avoit alors l'esprit peu capable d'une conversation indifferente aussi tost qu'elle estoit arrivee dans sans chambre elle l'avoit laisse seul avec menaste et s'estoit enfermee dans son cabinet or seigneur l'entretien de ces deux personnes n'ayant este que de moy menaste qui scavoit qu'artabane avoit grande part a ma confidence le pressa de telle sorte qu'elle l'obligea de luy advouer qu'une effroyable jalousie estoit ce qui m'avoit detache du service d'amestris mais quoy qu'elle peust faire il ne luy en voulut rien dire davantage car comme il esperoit me voir le soir mesme il ne voulut point se declarer plus ouvertement ne scachant pas si je le trouverois bon il ne fut pas long temps avec menaste parce que l'impatience qu'il avoit de m'entretenir ne luy permit point de faire une plus longue visite il ne fut donc pas plustost sorty 
 qu'elle fut trouver amestris dans son cabinet qui s'y estoit retiree sur le pretexte d'avoir quelques lettres importantes a escrire et luy aprit qu'artabane apres plusieurs choses qu'elle luy avoit dites luy avoit enfin advoue qu'une effroyable jalousie avoit cause mon changement aglatidas respondit amestris a este effroyablement jaloux he bons dieux comment est-il possible que cela puisse estre quel sujet luy en ay-je donne et quel est celuy de ses rivaux que j'ay assez bien traitte pour servir de pretexte a son changement m'a-t'on veu avoir un soin extraordinaire de plaire a tout le monde ay-je cherche les occasions de voir et d'estre veue ay-je eu des conversations particulieres avec quelqu'un ay-je receu des lettres en secret ou en ay-je escrit y a-t'il quelqu'un qui se vante d'avoir seulement este regarde favorablement d'amestris si ce n'est le perfide aglatidas et enfin menaste qu'ay-je fait qu'ay-je dit qu'ay-je pense qui puisse excuser son inconstance pour moy adjousta-t'elle je n'entendis jamais parler d'une pareille jalousie a celle-la mais de grace dittes moy un peu si je l'eusse sceue des le commencement qu'eussay-je pu faire pour l'en guerir il eust falu sans doute ne regarder plus personne et s'enfermer eternellement le moyen de deviner dans une grande cour et dans une grande ville ou je suis veue de tout le monde et ou je vis egalement avec tous ceux qui m'approchent quel estoit celuy qui luy donnoit de l'inquietude car enfin peut-estre que c'estoit andramias peut-estre que 
 c'estoit araspe peut-estre que c'estoit megabise et peut-estre que c'estoit le roy le moyen donc menaste que j'eusse pu le guerir quand je l'eusse voulu il faut advouer luy respondit ma parente qu'aglatidas a bien manque de conduitte dittes adjousta amestris qu'il a perdu la raison en perdant l'estime qu'il avoit pour moy car veu la facon dont j'avois vescu avec aglatidas il ne devoit jamais me soubconner mal a propos ny croire a ses propres yeux contre amestris et puis l'inconstance doit elle tousjours suivre la jalousie pour moy je pensois que la jalousie fist des malheureux mais je ne croyois pas qu'elle deust tousjours faire des infidelles qu'aglatidas me croyant peu sincere en mes paroles ne me voye plus ne m'aime plus et mesme me haisse je ne m'en pleindray pas et je regarderay sa haine comme une marque de la violence de son amour mais qu'aussi tost qu'aglatidas pense que je ne l'estime plus il m'oublie entierement et se trouve au mesme instant l'ame sensible a une nouvelle passion ha menaste c'est ce qui ne scauroit estre si aglatidas m'avoit aimee fortement quelque sujet de pleinte que je peusse luy avoir donne il seroit impossible qu'il ne m'aimast pas encore ou que du moins il ne me haist point et il seroit encore plus impossible s'il est permis de parler ainsi qu'il peust si tost aimer anatise helas disoit elle qui m'eust dit autrefois vous verrez aglatidas entrer en un lieu ou vous serez et aller plus tost vers anatise que vers vous je ne l'eusse pas creu cependant cet 
 injuste que j'ay trop estime pour ne pas dire trop aime apres m'avoir veue la derniere fois dans des sentimens qui luy estoient si advantageux a pu revoir amestris d'une maniere si offencante ne pouvoit il pas du moins empescher anatise de m'aborder et ne pouvoit il pas esviter ma rencontre non non disoit elle a menaste il ne l'a pas voulu et il a voulu au contraire mettre ma patience a la plus rigoureuse espreuve je scay adjoustoit elle qu'enfin il a quitte sa compagnie et qu'il est sorty seul du jardin mais la confusion l'en a chasse et non pas le repentir il a quelque honte de son crime mais il n'a pas assez de vertu pour s'en degager joint qu'apres tout quand il se repentiroit presentement je n'en serois pas satisfaite mais luy dit alors menaste en l'interrompant a quoy vous resoluez vous je veux luy respondit elle le visage tout change ne me souvenir jamais plus d'aglatidas et faire que malgre luy il se souvienne eternellement d'amestris je veux qu'il connoisse son crime par mon innocence et qu'il connoisse mon innocence par mon malheur il faut que je luy face voir que je n'ay jamais rien aime que luy et que je luy ay tousjours este fidelle mais en le luy faisant voir je veux que ce soit d'une facon qu'il n'en puisse jamais profiter s'il ne se repent pas de sa faute poursuivit elle je me puniray de l'avoir aime et s'il s'en repent je le puniray de m'avoir trahie et le puniray aussi cruellement qu'il merite de l'estre je vous advoue luy dit alors menaste qu'il ne m'est pas aise de comprendre 
 quelle espece de vangeance vous premeditez elle est si estrange luy respondit amestris que je n'ose vous la dire de peur que vous ne m'en detourniez par vos raisons ou par vos prieres mais comment pourriez vous luy dit menaste luy faire voir si precisement que vous luy avez este fidelle puis que vous ne scavez pas mesme de qui il est jaloux je ne scay pas veritablement repliqua amestris de qui aglatidas est jaloux mais je scay du moins de qui il ne peut jamais l'avoir este et cela suffit pour ma justification pour ma vangeance et pour mon chastiment tout ensemble menaste l'entendant parler ainsi et comprenant tousjours moins le sens cache de ces paroles obscures se mit a la presser si tendrement et l'assura tant de fois qu'elle ne s'opposeroit point a ce qu'elle voudroit qu'enfin reprenant son discours vous n'ignorez pas luy dit elle menaste non plus que l'inconstant aglatidas l'aversion invincible que j'ay tousjours eue pour otane malgre sa richesse et sa condition car je vous en ay parle cent et cent fois a tous deux comme de l'homme du monde pour lequel j'avois le plus de mepris et le plus de haine malgre sa condition et sa richesse vous scavez adjousta-t'elle qu'il m'a aimee des le premier jour que j'arrivay a ecbatane et que je l'ay hai des le premier moment que je l'ay veu scachez donc menaste qu'auparavant que je puisse recevoir en nulle part le perfide aglatidas je veux obeir a celuy de mes parens qui a le soing de ma conduite c'est a dire que je veux espouser otane 
 le plus imparfait des hommes et par la faire voir a aglatidas si j'ay aime quelqu'un de ses rivaux quoy luy dit menaste vous voudriez espouser otane ouy luy respondit amestris je le veux et je ne scaurois choisir un suplice plus grand pour me punir d'avoir aime aglatidas et pour chastier aglatidas de m'avoir trahie c'est de cette facon menaste poursuivit elle que je me justifieray et que je me vangeray quoy que je ne scache pas quel est celuy que l'on accuse d'estre le complice de mon crime par la je suis assuree de guerir aglatidas de sa jalousie car enfin otane a tant de deffauts que je ne m'y scaurois tromper estant absolument impossible qu'aglatidas en aye este jaloux ha amestris luy dit alors menaste ne confondez point l'innocente avec le coupable punissez aglatidas tout seul et ne punissez point amestris espousez plus tost megabise et croyez que vous ne laisserez pas de vous vanger de mon perfide parent non menaste luy dit elle ce que vous me proposez ne seroit pas juste et ce seroit me vanger sur moy mesme et ne me vanger pas d'aglatidas car enfin megabise est assez bien fait pour faire croire a aglatidas que je l'aurois aime ainsi il acheveroit de se guerir de sa passion s'il est vray qu'il en ait eu pour moy et demeureroit en paix avec sa chere anatise ouy il auroit lieu de croire que j'aurois aime un homme qui en effet est digne de l'estre mais lors qu'il verra que j'auray choisi pour mary un homme qu'il scait de certitude que je ne scaurois jamais aimer peut-estre que 
 son coeur tout perfide et tout inconstant qu'il est aura quelque repentir de sa faute mais un repentir inutile car enfin en espousant otane je luy seray aussi fidelle que si je l'aimois et que s'il estoit le plus accompli de tous les hommes he dieux interrompit menaste songez vous bien a ce que vous dittes et pourrez vous avoir assez de resolution ou pour la mieux nommer assez d'inhumanite envers vous mesme pour vous exposer au plus grand malheur qui puisse arriver pourrez vous souffrir toute vostre vie la presence d'un homme de qui la conversation vous a tousjours este insuportable pour une heure seulement je la souffriray sans doute respondit amestris dans l'esperance que les maux que j'endureray me justifieront dans l'esprit d'aglatidas et qu'apres avoir justifiee ma mort arrivant infailliblement bientost en suitte je laisseray dans son ame un douleur qui n'aura jamais de fin s'il me demeuroit quelqu'autre voye de me justifier peut-estre ne prendrois-je pas celle-la mais apres tout aglatidas ne se plaignant pas le moyen de deviner son mal et de le guerir mais luy dit menaste les apparences sont quelquefois si trompeuses que scavez vous s'il n'y a point eu quelque chose qui ait fait naistre la jalousie d'aglatidas que nous ignorions absolument quand cela seroit respondit amestris aglatidas n'en seroit pas plus innocent j'advoue qu'il pouvoit estre un peu jaloux sans m'offencer mais il ne pouvoit jamais aimer anatise sans me faire un outrage irreparable ainsi menaste il faut s'il est 
 possible que je destruise cette amour naissante par une douleur eternelle et par un repentir inutile mais ne songez vous point luy dit menaste qu' detruisant cette amour par une si estrange voye vous vous detruisez vous mesme c'est ce que je souhaite luy repliqua amestris et si je ne scavois que la melancolie est un poison lent dont l'effet est presque infaillible je ne m'y abandonnerois pas souffrez luy dit menaste que je parle encore une fois a aglatidas quand je seray morte luy dit elle je vous le permets et je vous conjure mesme de luy bien exagerer ma douleur afin d'augmenter la sienne quoy luy dit menaste vous parlez de mort et de mariage tout ensemble ouy luy repliqua amestris en allant au temple je songeray que je m'en iray au tombeau et j'espereray que les torches nuptiales seront bien tost changees en torches funebres mais pourquoy voulez vous mourir reprit menaste parce respondit elle que je ne puis plus vivre heureuse ny innocente trouvant que c'est estre fort criminelle que d'avoir aime aglatidas enfin seigneur menaste fut contrainte de quitter amestris parce qu'il estoit fort tard sans avoir rien avance aupres d'elle cette prudente fille ne fut pas pourtant plustost arrivee a son logis qu'elle m'envoya chercher resolue de me parler et de me guerir l'esprit si elle pouvoit et de ma jalousie et de ma nouvelle passion car elle me croyoit veritablement amoureux d'anatise mais ce fut en vain qu'elle prit cette peine le lendemain elle envoya aussi chez artabane afin de le 
 prier de luy aider a me trouver mais elle y envoya un moment trop tard car il estoit desja sorty cependant artabane aussi bien que menaste estoit desespere de ne me trouver point et ces deux personnes qui avoient de si agreables choses a me dire estoient egalement affligees chacune en leur particulier de n'apprendre point ce que j'estois devenu elles n'avoient pourtant garde de le scavoir puis que je me cachois avec beaucoup de soin dans l'intention que j'avois de donner de mes nouvelles a megabise en effet la pointe du jour ne commenca pas plus tost de paroistre que je luy envoyay un homme avec un billet qui luy aprenant l'intention que j'avois de me battre contre luy pour des raisons qu'il pouvoit aisement deviner luy disoit encore que cet homme le conduiroit au lieu ou je l'attendois avec une espee mais le hazard voulut que lors que celuy que j'envoyois a megabise arriva chez luy il y avoit desja du monde parce que le roy devant aller a la chasse ce jour la trois des ses amis l'estoient alle prendre afin de se rendre au lever d'astiage ce billet que j'avois escrit ne put donc estre rendu si adroitement que l'on ne s'en aperceust et que l'on ne soubconnast quelque chose de la verite de sorte qu'il fut impossible a megabise de me satisfaire artabane ayant entendu quelque bruit de ce qui estoit arrive en advertit le roy qui donna ordre que l'on arrestast megabise et qui commanda que l'on me cherchast paroissant fort en colere contre moy mais admirez seigneur comme la fortune se 
 joue des destins des hommes quoy que ce fust moy qui eust envoye apeller megabise il n'y eut pourtant presque personne dans la cour qui le creust ainsi et le bruit s'epandant d'abord que megabise et aglatidas s'estoient voulu batre comme il y avoit aparence qu'ayant tue son frere ce devoit estre luy qui m'eust fait apeller tout le monde le dit cette sorte a la reserve de ceux qui s'estoient trouvez chez luy et qui luy avoient vu recevoir mon biller mais pour amestris elle crut en effet que c'estoit megabise qui m'avoit fait apeller et s'imagina encore que cela me confirmeroit en l'opinion que j'avois d'elle de sorte qu'elle se confirma d'autant plus elle mesme en sa bizarre resolution cependant artabane estant monte a cheval avec dix ou douze de mes amis afin de me chercher il le fit avec tant de soin qu'il me descouvrit comme je ne faisois que d'aprendre par le retour de celuy que j'avois envoye que megabise estoit arreste et qu'il me mandoit par luy qu'il ne manqueroit pas de me satisfaire et de se satisfaire luy mesme aussi tost qu'il le pourroit mai comme j'aperceus artabane de deux cens pas loing et que je ne voulois pas estre arreste comme megabise je poussay mon cheval au grand galop et tournant la teste a diverses fois je vy qu'artabane devancant tous les autres poussoit le sien a toute bride et me faisoit signe de la main que je m'arrestasse et qu'il me vouloit parler mais comme mon malheur avoit resoulu ma perte je me persuaday qu'artabane qui avoit de la sagesse avoit trouve mauvais 
 que j'eusse fait appeller un homme de qui j'avois tue le frere en effet je connoissois bien que cela n'estoit pas trop raisonnable de sorte que m'imaginant qu'il n'avoit rien a me dire sinon qu'il faloit que le roy m'accommodast avec megabise plus il me faisoit de signes plus je pressois mon cheval j'entendis mesme plusieurs fois sa voix sans luy vouloir respondre et je pense qu'il m'eust a la fin atteint n'eust este qu'ayant rencontre un grand fosse que mon cheval franchit sans s'arrester il ne put venir a bout d'en faire faire autant au sien qu'apres un qu'art d'heure de chastiment pendant cela ayant trouve un bois qui me deroba a sa veue j'en quittay la route ordinaire et prenant un petit sentier fort couvert je fis tant qu'artabane fut contraint de s'en retourner bien afflige et bien en colere de ne m'avoir pu parler ne scachant donc alors qu'elle resolution prendre apres avoir forme et detruit cent desseins je m'en allay a un temple qui n'estoit pas fort esloigne dont je connoissois un sacrificateur chez lequel j'eus intention de demeurer cache durant quinze jours m'imaginant que l'on ne garderoit pas eternellement megabise et qu'aussi tost qu'il seroit libre luy donnant de mes nouvelles je pourrois me satisfaire plus aisement de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la vie que je menay en ce lieu la ce seroit une chose inutile vous estant fort aise d'imaginer qu'elle fut tres inquiette et tres melancolique ce temple est basty dans une vieille forest dont les arbres sont si grands et si espais que le 
 soleil n'en dissipe jamais les ombres j'errois donc tout le jour dans les lieux les moins frequentez et m'entretenois quelquesfois aussi avec les mages qui y demeureroient et principalement avec celuy chez lequel j'estois loge a qui j'avois dit qu'une brouillerie que j'avois eue a la cour m'en avoit fait retirer pour quelque temps mais soit que je m'entretinsse avec quelqu'un ou que je me promenasse seul megabise et amestris occupoient toutes mes pensees peut-estre disoisje qu'ils sont presentement ensemble peut-estre qu'amestris luy parle de moy avec mespris peut estre qu'elle le prie de s'exposer pas a un nouveau combat peut-estre qu'elle fait des voeux contre ma vie et peut-estre enfin que megabise l'espouse
 
 
 
 
de vous dire seigneur le trouble que cette derniere pensde excitoit en mon ame c'est que je ne scaurois faire un jour donc que j'estois le plus tourmente de mes inquietudes et que je me promenois dans la forest je vy arriver un chariot plein de dames je ne l'eus pas plustost aperceu que je voulus m'enfoncer dans le bois mais une de ces dames m'ayant reconnu aglatidas me cria-t'elle ne me fuyez pas et souffrez que je vous parle un moment cette voix fut bien tost reconnue de moy pour estre celle de menaste si bien que m'imaginant que peut-estre amestris estoit avec elle je ne scavois si je devois m'arrester ou continuer de fuir mais enfin m'entendant appeller diverses fois je retournay sur mes pas et arrivay aupres de menaste comme elle descendoit du chariot car 
 elle estoit fort pres du temple ou elle alloit ayant deux de ses amies avec elle et une fille qui la servoit elle retint celle-cy et pria les deux autres de l'aller attendre au temple pendant qu'elle me parleroit d'une affaire dont elle avoit a m'entretenir comme nous estions parents cette liberte ne choquoit pas la bien-seance et ces dames la luy ayant accordee menaste me donna la main et commenca de prendre une route du bois dans laquelle nous avancasmes vingt ou trente pas sans parler ny l'un ny l'autre puis tout d'un coup menaste s'estant arrestee et me regardant fixement je ne scay aglatidas me dit-elle si ce que j'ay a vous dire vous donnera de la douleur ou de la joye et si vous aimez assez anatise pour ne prendre aucune part au mariage d'amestris amestris m'escriai-je tout transporte de douleur et de jalousie est mariee ouy reprit froidement menaste mais aglatidas poursuivit-elle quelle part pouvez vous prendre eu cette nouvelle qu'elle vous trouble si fort vous qui m'avez dit que vous n'aimiez plus amestris je pense aussi luy repliquay-je que je n'aime plus amestris mais je hai si fort megabise que je ne puis aprendre qu'il soit heureux sans avoir un desespoir qui n'est pas imaginable si megabise me respondit elle n'a jamais de joye plus sensible que celle que luy cause le mariage d'amestris je ne vous conseille pas de vous affliger de sa bonne fortune quoy luy dis-je l'esprit tout preoccupe de haine de douleur et de jalousie et n'ayant pas bien entendu le sens de ce qu'elle m'avoit dit megabise 
 peut estre mary d'amestris et n'estre pas le plus satisfait et le plus heureux de tous les hommes ha menaste luy dis-je sans luy donner loisir de me respondre cela n'est pas possible et vous auriez plus de raison si vous disiez qu'il jouit d'un bonheur qu'il ne possedera pas long temps car enfin il mourra de ma main cet injuste ravisseur d'un thresor qui m'apartenoit et que je pensois avoir bien aquis menaste toute surprise de me voir si trouble et si transporte de colere me regardant avec estonnement me dit en m'interrompant si vous ne haissez megabise vous dis-je encore une fois que comme mary d'amestris vous n'avez qu'a remettre le calme en vostre ame puis que ce n'est pas megabise qu'elle a espouse ce n'est pas megabise qu'elle a espouse luy dis-je non me respondit-elle ha menaste luy repliquay-je l'esprit un peu moins agite ne me trompez pas et parlez moy sincerement je vous proteste me dit-elle que je ne vous ments point du tout et qu'otane est celuy que l'incomparable amestris a espouse otane luy dis-je a espouse amestris otane le moins aimable des hommes otane qu'elle a tousjours hai ha s'il est ainsi il faut que ses parens ou le roy l'ayent contrainte de consentir a cet estrange mariage point du tout reprit menaste et vous y avez beaucoup plus de part que personne moy repris-je tout estonne j'auray marie amestris je vous avoue bien poursuivis-je sans scavoir presque ce que je disois que je l'aurois encore plustost mariee a otane 
 qu'a megabise mais apres tout scachez menaste qu'aglatidas est incapable d'avoir marie amestris et que s'il avoit pu disposer de sa volonte c'auroit este a son avantage ouy reprit menaste auparavant que la beaute d'anatise eust efface de vostre coeur celle d'amestris anatise luy repliquay-je avec precipitation n'a jamais eu de place en mon ame et amestris l'infidelle amestris y a tousjours regne souverainement menaste n'estant pas alors moins estonnee de m'entendre parler ainsi que je l'estois d'aprendre qu'amestris estoit mariee me demanda s'il estoit bi vray que j'aimasse encore amestris ouy menaste luy dis-je je l'aime encore et quoy que mes propres yeux m'ayent fait voir des choses que je ne croyois jamais voir je ne laisse pas de l'adorer tousjours l'amour d'anatise n'a este qu'une feinte et un effet de mon desespoir mais menaste poursuivis-je aprenez moy qui peut avoir mis megabise et amestris mal ensemble et qui peut l'avoir oblige a espouser otane megabise me dit-elle n'a jamais este bien avec amestris ha menaste luy repliquay-je vous n'avez pas vu ce que j'ay veu ha aglatidas reprit-elle vous ne scavez pas ce que je scay mais admirez seigneur quels estranges effets l'amour produisit en mon ame la seule nouvelle du mariage d'amestris m'auroit sans doute infiniment afflige mais parce que d'abord j'avois creu qu'elle avoit espouse megabise et qu'en suite j'avois apris que cela n'estoit pas il y avoit quelques moments ou un petit sentiment de joye 
 se mesloit a ma douleur malgre moy et me donnoit quelques instans de consolation mais enfin seigneur apres que menaste m'eut fait jurer cent et cent fois que je n'aimois point anatise elle commenca de m'exagerer les obligations que j'avois a amestris sa fidelite pour moy sa rigueur pour megabise et pour me la faire mieux comprendre elle me conta comme quoy elle luy avoit deffendu de la voir jamais et comme il le luy avoit promis dans le jardin du parterre de gazon ou le hazard les avoit fait rencontrer ha menaste luy dis-je en l'interrompant si vous estes veritable que mes yeux m'ont cruellement trahy et qu'ils m'ont rendu un mauvais office tant y a seigneur que menaste ne me disant que des choses vrayes et trouvant mon ame attendrie par la douleur il luy fut aise de me persuader et le bandeau que la jalousie m'avoit mis devant les yeux estant tombe je vy tout d'un coup ce que je ne voyois point auparavant c'est a dire qu'amestris me parut innocente et que je me trouvay coupable apres cela menaste me conta tout ce que je vous ay desja dit le desespoir d'amestris de me voir inconstant et de scavoir que j'avois este jaloux sans pouvoir deviner de qui en suitte le bizarre dessein qu'elle avoit pris d'espouser otane pour se justifier dans mon esprit scachant bien qu'il estoit impossible que ce fust luy qui m'eust este suspect enfin me dit menaste pouvant estre le plus heureux de tous les hommes et rendre amestris tres contente vous vous estes rendu malheureux et l'avez rendue elle mesme 
 beaucoup plus infortunee que vous ha menaste cela n'est pas possible m'ecriay-je et rien ne peut egaler mon malheur elle me conta encore comment la querelle que j'avois avec megabise avoit haste sa bizarre resolution qu'apres ayant disparu et anatise s'en estant allee aux champs en mesme temps elle avoit pense que ce voyage estoit concerte et qu'enfin ayant dit a ceux qui luy parloient tous les jours d'otane qu'elle estoit resolue de l'espouser pourveu que l'on ne fist pas trainer la chose en longueur a l'instant mesme l'on en avoit demande la permission au roy qui l'avoit accordee volontiers pensant par ce moyen nous accommoder plustost megabise et moy nous ostant egalement la principale cause de nos differens menaste me dit mesme que l'on croyoit que le roy en avoit parle a mon pere comme en effet la chose estoit ainsi et que mon pere pensant m'obliger veu la froideur qu'il avoit remarquee en moy pour amestris et estant bien aise que je n'eusse plus d'interests d'amour a demesler avec megabise avoit luy mesme prie le roy de conclurre ce mariage bref seigneur menaste me dit que la chose avoit este si secrette que l'on ne l'avoit sceue que lors qu'ils estoient allez au temple pour se marier helas aglatidas me dit-elle si vous eussiez veu amestris en cet estat vous eussiez bien plus tost creu vous eussiez bien connu son innocence par sa douleur je la vy poursuivit elle une heure auparavant cette funeste ceremonie et elle ne m'aperceut pas 
 plustost que me regardant avec les larmes aux yeux je ne scay me dit elle si l'inconstant aglatidas me voyoit s'il ne partageroit point ma douleur et s'il ne se repentiroit point de son crime mais quoy qu'il en soit menaste il faut nous justifier il faut qu'il voye que sa jalousie a este mal fondee il faut que je meure de deplaisir et si mes voeux sont exaucez il faut qu'il pleure ma mort eternellement en achevant de prononcer ces tristes paroles on la vint querir pour aller au temple et je la suivis toute en pleurs tous ceux qui la virent en pleurerent tous ceux qui ont sceu ce mariage s'en sont estonnez megabise quoy qu'assez constant en cette occasion en a pourtant paru fort touche artabane a qui je l'apris fut sur le point de troubler la ceremonie qui estoit presque achevee lors qu'il entra ou nous estions otane luy mesme en a este surpris et n'est pas si satisfait qu'il le devroit estre parce qu'il ne scait pas trop bien d'ou ce bonheur luy est arrive et qu'il a trop de deffauts pour ignorer qu'il ne peut pas estre aime enfin tout le monde en parle et tout le monde en dit ce qu'il en pense sans rencontrer la verite n'y ayant qu'amestris et menaste qui scachent qu'aglatidas est la seule cause d'un mariage si injuste si deraisonnable et si mal assorty ne me demandez point apres cela me dit elle ce que fait amestris depuis ce funeste jour elle est si melancolique et si changee que je ne la puis voir sans pleurer et si vous la voiyez vous mesme vous en auriez de la douleur comme nous en estions-la artabane pour 
 achever de me rendre malheureux ayant enfin descouvert ou j'estois vint m'y trouver comme j'escoutois menaste il ne me vit pas plus tost que venant a moy ha cruel amy s'ecria-t'il qu'avez vous fait et pourquoy m'avez vous fuy si opiniastrement moy qui avois une des meilleures et des plus agreables nouvelles du monde a vous aprendre moy qui pouvois vous asseurer que vos yeux vous avoient trompe et qu'amestris estoit innocente menaste fort surprise de l'entendre parler ainsi luy demanda ce qu'il vouloit dire et alors il luy raconta devant moy comme quoy il les avoit escoutees amestris et elle dans un cabinet de verdure ou par leurs discours il avoit apris qu'amestris m'estoit fidelle et que megabise n'en avoit jamais este aime que leur entreveue dans le jardin du parterre de gazon avoit este un pur effet du hazard qu'elle avoit commande a megabise de ne la voir jamais et qu'effectivement il estoit party et avoit observe ses ordres et qu'enfin amestris estoit tres innocente entendant donc parler artabane de cette sorte et ne pouvant plus me demeurer nul soubcon de la fidelite d'amestris achevez luy dis-je cruel amy de me faire connoistre mon bonheur afin de redoubler mon infortune et n'oubliez rien de tout ce qui m'eust pu rendre heureux afin de me rendre eternellement miserable de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la confusion de mes sentimens en cette rencontre il ne me seroit pas aise j'ecoutois avec joye la justification d'amestris je voyois mon erreur avec une honte estrange 
 et je regardois mon infortune avec un si grand desespoir que rien ne le scauroit egaler mais lors que tout d'un coup mon imagination me representoit amestris la plus belle personne du monde en la puissance du plus imparfait et du plus haissable de tous les hommes quoy qu'il ait pourtant assez d'esprit je perdois patience et je ne pouvois plus m'empescher de me pleindre et d'esclatter mais comme menaste ne pouvoit pas alors me donner le temps qui m'estoit necessaire pour cela elle me voulut quitter du moins luy dis-je ne me sera-t'il pas deffendu de voir amestris encore une fois je ne pense pas reprit menaste qu'elle vous le permette et dans les sentimens ou je l'ay veue vous ne devez plus rien esperer d'amestris ha menaste luy dis-je n'achevez pas de me desesperer je veux voir amestris je la veux entretenir je veux mourir a ses pieds et si vous ne m'en facilitez les voyes je feray peut-estre des choses qui deplairont a amestris et qui rendronr mon desespoir trop public enfin seigneur je parlay avec tant de violence que menaste eut pitie de moy et me promit de tromper son amie et de me donner de ses nouvelles aussi tost qu'elle auroit imagine les moyens de me la faire rencontrer en quelque lieu apres cela menaste fut achever ses devotions et artabane qui n'avoit point eu d'autre dessein que de me trouver pour me dire qu'il n'avoit pu empescher un malheur qu'il n'avoit sceu que lors qu'il estoit desja arrive s'arresta et ne voulut point me quitter en l'estat ou j'estois et 
 d'autant moins qu'il voyoit que le conseil qu'il m'avoit donne m'avoit fort mal reussi je fus toutesfois assez equitable pour ne luy en faire point de reproches et j'avois tant a m'accuser moy mesme que je n'accusay point mon amy ne faut-il pas advouer disois-je que je suis le plus malheureux le plus criminel et pourtant le plus a pleindre de tous les hommes car enfin dis-je a artabane j'ay perdu plus que personne n'a jamais perdu j'ay failly plus que personne ne faillira jamais et je souffre plus que tous les malheureux n'ont jamais souffert apres avoir dit cela je fus quelque temps sans parler puis reprenant la parole tout d'un coup mais artabane luy dis-je vistes vous amestris dans le temple non me respondit-il et je fus si trouble lors que rencontrant menaste parmy la presse elle m'eut dit qu'otane espousoit amestris que je ne fus plus capable de curiosite pour une chose que je ne pouvois plus empescher et que j'eusse empeschee sans doute si je l'eusse sceue quatte heures auparavant quoy donc reprenois-je alors il est donc bien vray qu'amestris m'a toujours aime il est donc bien vray que megabise n'a jamais este favorise d'elle et cependant il peut estre vray que je ne sois pas heureux et comment artabane cela peut il estre possible ha non non poursuivois-je je ne le scaurois comprendre et puis qu'amestris est fidelle et que megabise n'est point heureux il faut de necessite que le coeur d'aglatidas se trouve sensible a la joye mais heals le moyen de songer qu'amestris toute 
 fidelle qu'elle est ne sera jamais plus pour moy sans mourir de douleur au mesme instant non non j'aime mieux qu'elle soit inconstante que fidelle et ne pouvant jamais estre mienne pourquoy trop cruelle amestris m'avez vous conserve vostre affection pour m'en oster tous les effets et pour me priver de vostre veue de vostre entretien et de vostre chere personne c'est inhumaine amestris cacher un serpent sous des fleurs c'est empoisonner vos presens et c'est enfin estre barbare en feignant d'estre pitoyable helas qu'il m'eust bien mieux valu que vous ne vous fussiez pas justifiee que de le faire par une voye si extraordinaire et si cruelle du moins en vous croyant inconstante je n'avois que mes propres malheurs a supporter je vous croyois heureuse pendant que je soupirois et je ne scay si vostre felicite pretendue ne faisoit point alors mon plus plus grand suplice mais dieux je n'avois pas encore esprouve combien les infortunes sont plus sensibles en la personne aimee qu'en la nostre quoy amestris vous serez tousjours malheureuse et malheureuse pour l'amour de moy vous serez contrainte de souffrir eternellement la veue d'un homme que vous haissez et de n'en voir jamais un autre que vous avez honnore de vostre amitie et tout cela parce qu'aglatidas vous a paru infidelle et qu'il a este jaloux sans raison quoy que ce ne fust pas sans aparence de l'estre et par consequent sans faire voir que j'aimois encore puis que l'on n'est point jaloux de ce que l'on n'aime pas helas 
 amestris reprenois-je connoissiez vous si peu vostre beaute que vous pussiez vous laisser tromper a un artifice si aise a descouvrir pouviez vous croire qu'un coeur qui vous avoit adoree pust offrir des voeux a nulle autre divinite pour aglatidas il pouvoit avec raison s'imaginer qu'il n'estoit pas aime d'amestris ses defauts authorisoient tous ses soubcons mais pour amestris le moyen qu'elle ait pu seulement concevoir bien loin de le croire fortement que l'on peust cesser de l'aimer et cesser de l'aimer pour en regarder une autre cependant elle l'a pense elle l'a cru et elle s'en est vangee et vangee d'une maniere qui me fera eternellement soupirer car enfin il n'y eut et n'y aura jamais de malheur comparable au mien je ne scay me dit alors artabane si ceux qui ne sont pas aimez vous avoueroient ce que vous dittes ceux qui ne sont point aimez luy respondis-je peuvent esperer de l'estre un jour et cette esperance peut leur faire supporter leur mal avec plus de quietude et plus de repos pour moy au contraire j'avoue que je scay que je suis aime mais des l'instant que j'en recoy une preuve indubitable j'aprens que je ne recevray jamais plus nulle marque de cette affection que je ne verray plus amestris que je ne luy parleray plus qu'elle ne m'escrira plus et que je seray traite comme si j'estois hai non non artabane je suis le plus malheureux des hommes ceux qui pleignent la mort de leur maistresse reprit il vous disputeroient encore ce premier rang que vous voulez que tout le monde vous cede ils 
 me le disputeroient sans raison luy repliquay-je car enfin qui les empesche de suivre au tombeau celles qu'ils ont aimees il y a cent chemins qui conduisent a la mort et la fin de leur mal est en leur disposition mais il n'en est pas ainsi de moy tant qu'amestris fera vivante ce remede m'est deffendu il faut que je conserve la vie comme si elle m'estoit agreable car enfin je ne puis quitter amestris parce que peut-estre je perdrois quelque occasion de la servir et parce qu'apres tout je veux voir tant que je le pourray jusques ou ira la fidelite de cette personne avouez de moins me dit artabane que ceux qui voyent leurs maistresses non seulement inconstantes et mariees mais mariees a ceux qu'elles ont plus cheris que les premiers qu'elles avoient aimez sont encore plus a pleindre que vous n'estes je tarday alors un moment a respondre puis reprenant la parole tout d'un coup et parlant comme si j'eusse veu amestris pardonnez dis-je divine personne a ma foiblesse et ne me haissez pas si je me considere plus que vous en cette rencontre ouy ouy artabane adjoustay-je en me tournant vers luy j'avoue que malgre moy je contredis mes propres sentimens et qu'encore que je sois desespere du malheur d'amestris je ne voudrois pas qu'elle fust heureuse avec megabise et que j'aime mieux qu'elle soit infortunee avec otane j'ay beau apeller ma raison et ma generosite a mon secours pour deffendre l'entree de mon coeur a cette criminelle joye je ne puis m'empescher d'en avoir de ce 
 que je scay que celuy qui possede amestris n'en sera jamais aime et de ce que je scay qu'elle se souviendra de moy avec douleur et qu'elle me regrettera eternellement car apres tout je veux qu'elle scache mon innocence comme je scay la sienne et que je sois aussi justifie dans son esprit qu'elle l'est maintenant dans le mien je n'ignore pas disois-je que ce sera augmenter son malheur puis qu'il pourroit arriver que le despit luy osteroit une partie de l'affection qu'elle a pour moy mais adorable amestris poursuivois-je cherchez un autre remede a vos douleurs et trouvez le plus tost dans la douceur qu'il y a de scavoir que l'on est parfaitement aime quoy qu'inutilement aime apres cela je fus quelque temps a me promener sans rien dire puis reprenant tout d'un coup la parole et respondant a ce que j'avois pense non megabise disois-je je ne veux plus me battre contre vous et quand vous m'auriez offense si vous aimez encore amestris vous estes plus cruellement puni que la mort ne vous puniroit et puis a dire les choses comme elles sont et sans cette passion qui m'a aveugle je dois ce respect au sang de son frere que j'ay respandu de ne songer plus a respandre le sien mais pour otane disois-je le moyen de souffrir qu'il vive et le moy en d'oser seulement desirer sa mort scachant quelle est la vertu d'amestris quoy donc disois-je a artabane avec une colere que je ne puis exprimer il faudra voir toute nostre vie amestris l'incomparable amestris en la puissance d'un homme a qui 
 les dieux ont refuse toutes choses excepte la condition et les richesses et auquel ils n'ont donne de l'esprit que pour le rendre plus haissable veu la maniere dont il s'en sert quoy artabane ne me seroit il point permis de remettre amestris en liberte ha non non reprenois-je moy mesme je n'oserois l'entreprendre je n'oserois le luy proposer je n'oserois mesme en concevoir la pensee de peur qu'elle ne la devinast dans mes yeux que feray-je donc disois-je a artabane et que pourray-je devenir tant y a seigneur que je puis dire que je souffris tout ce que l'on peut souffrir sans mourir la joye de scavoir qu'amestris estoit innocente me conserva infailliblement la vie en cette occasion n'estant pas possible que sans ce secours j'eusse jamais pu apprendre qu'elle estoit mariee sans expirer de douleur mais si je vescus ce fut sans doute pour endurer davantage estant certain que l'obscurite du tombeau est preferable au trouble et au miserable estat ou j'estois il y avoit mesme des instans ou otane ne me sembloit pas si haissable qu'il me l'avoit tousjours semble et ou j'apprehendois qu'amestris ne trouvast ses deffauts moins grands par l'habitude qu'elle auroit a les voir tousjours je craignois mesme que les tresors d'otane ne touchassent enfin son coeur mais cette crainte ne duroit pourtant gueres et ma plus forte consolation estoit de penser qu'amestris ne pourroit jamais aimer celuy qui la possedoit cependant le soir estant arrive il falut se retirer je passay la nuit sans dormir 
 les deux jours suivans a me pleindre et le troisiesme au matin je receus des nouvelles de menaste qui me mandoit que si je voulois me rendre au jardin du parterre de gazon a six heures du soir elle y conduiroit amestris sans qu'elle sceust que j'y deusse estre mais qu'afin que cette entreveue ne fust point descouverte il faloit qu'elle se fist dans le plus espais du bocage a la main droite de la fontaine qui m'eust dit seigneur un moment auparavant vous aurez un instant de joye en toute vostre vie je ne l'eusse pas creu et cependant je ne sceu pas plus tost que je reverrois amestris ce jour la que je m'y abandonnay entierement et je fus pres d'une heure que je ne me souvenois ny de megabise ny d'otane ny mesme du mariage d'amestris et que je ne pensois a autre chose sinon que je la reverrois que je luy parlerois et qu'elle me respondroit peut-estre favorablement puis revenant tout d'une coup de cette douce lethargie mais helas disois-je que me pourroit elle respondre qui me peust rendre moins miserable puis que plus elle me sera douce plus je seray malheureux je ne laissois pas neantmoins de desirer de l'estre de cette sorte et de ne la trouver pas irritee je m'entretins donc tout le jour de cette facon avec artabane et je manday a menaste que je ne manquerois pas de faire ce qu'elle desiroit de moy cependant cette adroite fille comme je l'ay sceu depuis avoit effectivement trompe amestris et luy avoit propose cette promenade solitaire comme tres conforme a son 
 humeur et a sa fortune presente toutefois elle avoit juge a propos qu'elle ne me creust pas aussi coupable qu'elle pensoit que je le fusse lors que je la verrois de sorte qu'elle la mena une heure plustost a cette promenade qu'elle ne me l'avoit mande afin d'avoir le temps de l'entretenir comme elles furent donc dans ce petit bois ou elle la conduisit cette belle affligee contribua elle mesme a son dessein et commenca un discours dont ma parente fut bien aise advouez luy dit elle menaste que le malheur qui me persecute est bien opiniastre puis que mesme il ne veut pas que j'aye la consolation de scavoir ce que pense aglatidas de mon infortune il a disparu aussi bien qu'anatise et j'ay lieu de croire qu'ils se moquent peut-estre de mon bizarre destin et qu'aglatidas regarde plus tost mon mariage comme un effet de mon caprice que comme un malheur dont il soit la veritable cause mais adjousta-t'elle mon ame est en une assiette bien peu raisonnable car enfin je ne puis m'empescher de vouloir deux choses toutes differentes a la fois puis que je n'ay pas plus tost souhaitte de scavoir qu'aglatidas soit sensible a mon infortune qu'un moment apres je desire pour mon repos de n'en aprendre jamais rien de ne le rencontrer de ma vie et de n'entendre plus parler de luy mais helas que tous ces desseins sont mal affermis dans mon coeur et que j'avois bien raison de choisir mon mariage comme un supplice assez grand pour me punir d'avoir aime un infidele je voudrois luy dit alors menaste que vous 
 ne l'eussiez jamais creu tel ou que vous le creussiez tousjours mais a mon advis la chose n'ira pas ainsi et vous serez encore plus malheureuse que vous n'estes quoy interrompit amestris j'eusse pu ne croire pas aglatidas infidelle et je pourrois croire qu'il ne l'auroit point este ha non menaste je n'ay point deu faire ce que vous dites et je ne pourray pas non plus a l'advenir me persuader rien qui le justifie je souhaite seulement qu'il se repente de son crime afin qu'il en soit puny par luy mesme mais scachez que tant que je ne croirois aglatidas que repentant et malheureux il ne mettroit pas la fermete de mon ame a une dangereuse espreuve et il faudroit pour me proposer quelque chose de bien cruel pour moy me dire que je me suis trompee qu'aglatidas ne fut jamais coupable que ce que j'ay veu estoit une illusion qu'il m'a tousjours este fidelle qu'il n'a jamais aime anatise et qu'il a tousjours aime amestris j'avoue menaste que si l'on m'avoit persuade tout cela je serois plus malheureuse que je ne suis et quoy que je n'en devinsse pas plus criminelle j'en deviendrois sans doute bien plus infortunee mais a vous dire la verite c'est ce qui ne scauroit arriver et c'est ce que je ne dois pas craindre pleust aux dieux luy dit menaste qu'il me fust possible d'empescher que vous ne connussiez l'innocence d'aglatidas l'innocence d'aglatidas reprit amestris he de grace ne vous jouez point de mon malheur il est trop grand menaste pour servir a vostre divertissement et 
 je suis trop vostre amie pour me traiter de cette sorte non luy respondit elle je parle serieusement aglatidas a eu de l'imprudence mais il ne fut jamais infidelle quoy repliqua amestris aglatidas n'a point aime anatise aglatidas respondit menaste n'a jamais rien aime que vous dieux s'escria cette sage personne impitoyable et cruelle fille que vous estes pourquoy me parlez vous ainsi si ce que vous dittes est faux pourquoy me le dittes vous et s'il est veritable que ne me l'avez vous dit plus tost ou que ne me le cachez vous eternellement je ne vous l'ay pas dit plus tost respondit menaste parce que je ne l'ay point sceu et je ne vous l'ay pu cacher parce qu'aglatidas est resolu de vous le dire luy mesme ha repliqua precipitamment amestris le visage tout change soit qu'aglatidas soit coupable ou innocent je ne le veux plus voir de ma vie s'il est coupable il n'en est pas digne et s'il est innocent je serois criminelle de le souffrir ainsi menaste ne me parlez plus d'aglatidas il n'occupe que trop ma memoire il n'est que trop dans mon coeur et pleust au ciel qu'il y fust moins a ces mots elle se teut et menaste voyant tant de trouble dans son esprit se repentit de ce qu'elle m'avoit promis et fut aussi assez long temps sans oser parler davantage quelques moments s'estant passez de cette sorte amestris la regarda les yeux mouillez de larmes et reprenant la parole avec moins de violence mais encore luy dit elle menaste qui vous a obligee de me parler ainsi je 
 n'oserois plus vous le dire luy respondit elle et voyant que l'innocence d'aglatidas vous afflige autant que son crime vous affligeoit je pense qu'il vaut mieux ne vous parler jamais de luy ny comme inconstant ny comme fidelle ne m'accordez pas si exactement reprit amestris la priere que je vous ay faite et scachez luy dit elle en rougissant que je l'ay trop aime pour ne vous pardonner pas une semblable faute parlez donc menaste et dites moy de grace tout ce que vous scavez d'aglatidas sans m'en deguiser aucune chose menaste voyant qu'en effet amestris le souhaitoit luy raconta tout ce qu'elle avoit sceu de mon avanture c'est a dire comment j'estois devenu jaloux voyant megabise avec elle dans ce jardin comment j'avois cesse de luy escrire comment je n'avois pu cesser de l'aimer comment artabane m'avoit conseille de tascher d'aimer anatise ou du moins d'en faire semblant et enfin comment c'estoit moy qui avois fait apeller megabise et que je ne m'estois cache que pour me battre contre luy quand on ne le garderoit plus en suitte voyant qu'amestris escoutoit favorablement ce qu'elle luy disoit elle luy redit une partie de ce que je luy avois dit et luy confessa qu'elle avoit veu tant de marques de desespoir sur mon visage qu'elle n'avoit pu me refuser la priere que je luy avois faite de me donner les moyens de la voir seulement une fois et en effet luy dit elle scachez pour n'estre pas surprise absolument que je ne vous ay conduite en ce lieu que parce qu'aglatidas s'y doit 
 rendre ha menaste luy dit amestris qu'avez vous fait et a quoy m'exposez vous comment pensez vous que je puisse souffrir la veue d'un homme que j'ay rendu malheureux et comment puis-je refuser celle d'une personne qui pouvoit faire toute ma felicite ouy menaste vous avez grand tort si cette entreveue est descouverte croira t'on encore qu'il soit vray qu'elle se soit faite sans mon consentement qu'en pensera toute la cour qu'en devra penser otane et a quel danger n'exposez vous pas ma reputation non non vous ne deviez jamais consentir a ce qu'aglatidas a desire de vous comment voulez vous porsuivit-elle que je luy parle que voulez vous que je luy die luy diray-je que je l'aime encore helas je ne puis plus le faire sans crime ou du moins sans choquer la bien-seance luy diray-je que je le hai he bons dieux comment le pourrois-je dire moy qui ne l'ay pu quand je l'ay creu infidelle parlez donc menaste je vous en conjure vous avez de l'esprit de la vertu et de l'amitie de grace conseillez moy donc mais conseillez moy fidellement toutefois reprit elle sans luy donner loisir de respondre il vaut mieux ne demander point de conseil et fuir une si dangereuse occasion en disant cela elle commenca de marcher pour s'en aller lors que menaste la retenant luy fit prendre garde que j'arrivois elle ne me vit pas plustost qu'elle essuya ses larmes et se destournant a demy pour se cacher de moy j'eus loisir de me jetter a genoux auparavant qu'elle se fust entierement remise je creus bien seigneur que j'avois 
 quelque part en la douleur que je remarquay sur le visage d'amestris ce qui augmenta si fort la mienne qu'a peine puis-je ouvrir la bouche pour luy parler neantmoins apres m'estre fait quelque violence vous voyez a vos pieds luy dis-je madame le plus criminel le plus innocent et le plus malheureux de tous les hommes qui comme criminel vient vous demander punition qui comme innocent vient pour se justifier devant vous et qui comme malheureux vient du moins chercher en vostre compassion quelque soulagement a ses maux ce n'est pas madame que je cherche a vivre mais je cherche a mourir et plus doucement et plus glorieusement tout ensemble cela sera ainsi divine amestris poursuivis-je si vous voulez seulement m'avouer que je n'ay pas merite mon infortune et que vous ne m'aviez pas juge indigne d'un destin plus heureux je ne scay aglatidas me respondit elle en me relevant ny ce que je vous dois respondre ny mesme si je vous dois escouter mais je scay bien tousjours que vous estes la seule cause de vos malheurs et des miens car enfin amestris n'estoit point une personne de qui l'on deust estre jaloux quoy madame luy dis-je j'eusse pu dementir mes propres yeux j'eusse pu me fier malgre leur tesmoignage a mon merite et a vostre bonte ne scavez vous pas madame qu'excepte la derniere fois que j'eus l'honneur de vous parler vous ne m'avez jamais rien dit qui peust me faire croire fortement que je n'estois pas mal dans vostre esprit que vouliez vous donc 
 madame qui soustinst ma foiblesse en cette occasion si j'eusse receu diverses preuves de vostre affection j'eusse este coupable de vous soubconner d'inconstance mais qu'avois-je madame de si engageant pour vous qui me peust donner une grande seurete j'avois veritablement entendu quelque paroles favorables l'on m'avoit permis de les expliquer a mon advantage et j'avois receu quelques lettres civiles et obligeantes mais madame estoit-ce assez pour dementir mes yeux et ma passion eust elle este digne de vous si j'eusse pu raisonner sans preoccupation en cette rencontre non madame pour vous aimer parfaitement il falloit perdre la raison comme je la perdis et il faloit conserver le respect comme je le conservay car enfin je ne me suis point pleint devant le monde j'ay pleure en secret j'ay cherche la solitude pour soupirer et quand je suis revenu a ecbatane j'y suis revenu par force vous y estes revenu me dit alors amestris en m'interrompant et en changeant de couleur pour servir anatise a mes yeux et pour me forcer malgre moy a recevoir une passion qui ne peut-estre dans une ame qu'elle n'y soit precedee par une autre ha madame luy dis-je ne me reprochez point la seule faute que j'ay faite mais que j'ay faite par le conseil d'autruy il est vray j'ay feint d'aimer anatise mais c'a este parce que je vous aimois tousjours cette amour aparente n'estoit qu'un effet d'une amour veritable et je ne scay comment l'adorable amestris a pu se laisser tromper par un artifice si grossier et ou j'aportois si peu 
 de soin ne pensez pas madame que j'aye prophane les mesmes paroles que j'ay employees a vous persuader mon affection et que je m'en sois servy aupres d'anatise non je ne luy ay jamais dit que je l'aimois je luy ay laisse expliquer ma melancolie comme il luy a pleu mais je n'ay jamais pu luy dire je vous aime j'avoue que je l'ay voulu quelquesfois mais malgre moy mon coeur et ma bouche vous ont este fidelles enfin madame je puis vous assurer que je ne vous ay jamais donne de si grandes preuves d'amour que lors que vous n'en avez point receu ouy madame quand je vous fuyois quand vous croyez que je cherchois anatise c'estoit lors que je vous donnois des preuves convainquantes de la grandeur de mon affection car enfin que j'aiye aime la plus belle personne du monde tant qu'elle m'a este favorable ce n'est pas une chose fort extraordinaire mais que j'aye continue de l'aimer lors que je croyois qu'elle m'avoit abandonne qu'elle m'avoit trahy et qu'elle en aimoit un autre et que de peur de luy monstrer ma foiblesse j'aye esvite sa rencontre et j'ay fait semblant d'aimer ailleurs ha madame c'est la ce qui fait voir que rien ne peut faire finir ma passion que la mort et que vous regnerez dans mon coeur eternellement amestris pendant ce discours tenoit les yeux abaissez puis les relevant tout d'un coup avec une melancolie extreme ne vous justifiez pas davantage me dit elle car vous ne l'estes desja que trop dans mon esprit et laissez moy employer le peu de moments qui me restent pour vous entretenir a vous dire avec 
 ingenuite mes veritables sentimens je voudrois bien luy dis-je madame si cela se peut sans perdre le respect que je vous dois vous suplier auparavant de ne me desesperer pas et de me laisser mourir avec un peu moins de violence je voudrois bien mesme pousuivis-je vous demander pourquoy lors que vous m'avez creu coupable vous vous en estes vangee sur vous mesme ne pouviez vous trouver un suplice ou je souffrisse seul la peine que vous pensiez que je meritois que ne m'ordonniez vous plustost de mourir a vos yeux et pourquoy madame faloit il vous rendre malheureuse pour me punir il le faloit me respondit elle parce que je ne pouvois selon mon opinion vous rendre malheureux de cette sorte sans me justifier dans vostre esprit et que je ne croyois pas le pouvoir faire plus seurement qu'en espousant otane que vous scaviez bien que je n'aimois pas et dont je scavois bien assurement que vous n'estiez point jaloux ha madame luy dis-je que venez vous de me dire et faloit il qu'aglatidas entendist encore de vostre bouche de si cruelle paroles quoy madame otane ce mesme otane que j'ay veu estre l'objet de vostre aversion peut il estre mary d'amestris ouy me respondit elle puis qu'aglatidas l'a voulu de grace madame luy dis-je ne m'attribuez pas un pareil sentiment et croyez au contraire que si vous laissiez agir librement aglatidas amestris ne seroit pas long temps femme d'otane je prononcay ces paroles avec une violence dont 
 je ne pus pas estre le maistre mais dieux je fus bien estonne lors que je vy amestris se reculer d'un pas et me regarder d'un air imperieux ou il ne paroissoit guere moins de colere que de tristesse scachez aglatidas me dit elle que comme je n'ay pas change de sentimens pour vous je n'ay pas aussi change de vertu je suis tousjours la mesme personne que vous avez connue c'est a dire incapable de toute injustice je vous ay aime je l'avoue mais je vous ay aime sans crime ne pensez donc pas qu'encore que j'aye toujours eu de l'aversion pour otane et que je ne l'aye espouse que par un sentiment que je ne puis moy mesme exprimer je puisse jamais desirer de n'estre plus sa femme je voudrois sans doute ne l'avoir point este mais puis que je la suis il faut que je vive comme l'estant et pour ne vous tromper point scachez poursuivit elle les yeux tous pleins de larmes qu'elle vouloit retenir qu'il faut que je vive le reste de mes jours avec otane que j'ay tousjours hai comme si je l'aimois et avec aglatidas que j'ay tousjours aime comme si je le haissois quoy madame luy dis-je il faut que vous viviez avec aglatidas comme si vous le haissiez et quelle severe vertu vous peut imposer une telle loy non non madame luy dis-je ne craignez rien de ma violence et ne me punissez pas si cruellement d'une parole prononcee contre ma volonte et sans dessein de l'executer j'ay voulu faire perdre la vie a megabise parce que je croyois que vous l'aimiez mais je n'attenteray pas a celle 
 d'otane que vous n'avez point aime et que je veux esperer que vous n'aimerez jamais qu'il vive donc cet heureux mary de la belle ametris pourveu qu'elle souffre que je la voye quelquefois et que je la face souvenir de ces glorieux moments ou par la volonte d'artambare je pouvois esperer d'occuper la place qu'otane occupe aujourd'huy qu'il la possede en paix adjoustay-je cette glorieuse place puis que les destins l'ont voulu mais laissez moy aussi posseder en repos ce que vous m'avez donne laissez moy madame jouir de quelque legere ombre de felicite dans les derniers moments de ma vie vous pouvez si vous le voulez me conduire a la mort comme l'on y conduit les victimes c'est a dire avec des chants d'allegresse et des couronnes de fleurs ouy madame je mourray avec joye et avec gloire si vous souffrez seulement que je vous rende conte de mes douleurs et ne craignez pas que je desire jamais de vous rien qui vous puisse deplaire non divine amestris je ne veux qu'estre escoute favorablement dans mes pleintes ou tout au plus je ne veux qu'estre console par quelques paroles de tendresse vous escoutastes megabise que vous n'aimiez pas refuserez vous la mesme grace a un homme que vous n'avez pas hai et que peut-estre ne haissez vous pas encore c'est pour cette raison reprit elle que je vous dois tout refuser car enfin aglatidas je vous ay aime et je ne vous puis hair de sorte que c'est pour cela que je me dois deffier de mes propres 
 sentiments ce n'est pas poursuivit elle et les dieux le scavent bien que quelque affection que je pusse avoir pour vous je pusse jamais manquer a rien ny de ce que je dois a otane ny de ce que je me dois a moy mesme mais apres tout ne pouvant plus estre a vous je ne dois plus continuer de vous voir ny de vous aimer quoy madame luy dis-je vous pretendez donc me hair je ne le pourrois pas quand je le voudrois me respondit elle mais je puis m'empescher de vous parler ha si vous le pouvez luy dis-je vous ne m'aimez plus et prenez garde madame de renouveller la jalousie dans une ame desesperee et de me persuader que peut-estre les tresors d'otane ont touche vostre coeur n'excitez pas madame une si violente passion dans mon esprit et pour l'empescher donnez moy un peu moins de marques d'indifference car enfin madame si vous achevez de me desesperer je perdray de nouveau entierement la raison comme je l'avois perdue dans ma premiere jalousie et ne conserveray peut-estre pas tout le respect que j'ay tousjours conserve dittes moy donc adorable amestris que vous ne me haissez pas que vous voulez bien que je vous aime et que vous souffrirez que je vous die quelques fois que je meurs pour l'amour de vous je vous diray me respondit elle bien davantage car je vous advoueray que j'estime aglatidas comme je le dois estimer que je l'aime autant que je l'ay jamais aimee et que je l'aimeray mesme jusques a la mort mais apres 
 tout cela il faut ne me voir plus de toute voste vie et tout ce que je puis faire pour vous c'est de vous permettre de croire lors que vous apprendrez ma mort qui a mon advis arrivera bien tost que la seule melancolie l'aura causee et que mes dernieres pensees auront este pour aglatidas voila me dit elle tout ce que je puis et peut-estre mesme plus que je ne dois c'est pourquoy n'esperez rien davantage qui vit jamais luy dis-je madame une pareille advanture a la mienne vous dittes que vous m'avez aime et que vous m'aimez encore vous dittes mesme que vous mourrez en pensant a moy et pourquoy donc ne voulez vous pas vivre en m'escoutant quelques fois c'est parce que je ne le puis me respondit elle sans offenser un peu la vertu et sans exposer ma reputation vostre innocence luy dis-je ne suffit elle pas pour vous satisfaire nullement me respondit amestris et il faut paroistre ce que l'on est paroissez donc luy dis-je bonne et pitoyable s'il est vray que vous la soyez paroissez vous mesme repliqua t'elle raisonnable et genereux si vous estes tousjours ce que vous estiez mais le moyen madame de ne vous voir plus luy repliquay-je mais le moyen reprit elle de se voir pour se voir toujours infortunez les larmes luy dis-je que l'on mesle avec celles de la personne aimee n'ont presque point d'amertume et les douceurs interrompit elle ou la vertu trouve quelque scrupule a faire ne sont plus douceurs pour moy vous voulez donc madame 
 luy dis-je qu'aglatidas ne vous voye plus et peut-estre ne vous aime plus je devrois en effet souhaitter cette derniere chose comme la premiere reprit elle mais j'advoue que je ne le puis que voulez vous donc qu'il face luy dis-je je veux respondit amestris qu'il m'aime sans esperance qu'il se console sans me voir qu'il vive sans chercher la mort et qu'il ne m'oublie jamais en disant cela elle me voulut quitter mais je luy pris la main malgre elle et la retenant par force en me jettant a genoux au nom des dieux madame luy dis-je accordez moy ce que je vous demande ou ne me deffendez pas de chercher la mort je ne puis plus vous rien accorder me dit elle car la gloire veut que je vous refuse ce que vous souhaitez et mon affection demande que vous viviez au moins tant que je vivray ayez patience aglatidas adjousta t'elle le terme ne sera peut-estre pas long ha madame luy dis-je ne parlez point de vostre mort oubliez plustost le malheureux aglatidas que de faire entrer au tombeau la plus belle personne du monde vous feriez mieux interrompit elle de la nommer la plus infortunee et peut-estre aussi adjoustay-je la plus injuste et la plus inhumaine mais au nom de ces mesmes dieux que j'ay desja invoquez madame luy dis-je souffrez au moins que je vous parle encore une fois adieu aglatidas me dit elle adieu je commence a sentir que mon coeur me trahiroit si je vous escoutois davantage et que je ne dois pas me fier 
 plus long temps a ma propre vertu contre vous vivez adjousta t'elle si vous pouvez n'aimez qu'amestris s'il est possible et ne la voyez jamais plus elle vous en prie et mesme si vous le voulez elle vous l'ordonne en achevant de prononcer ces tristes paroles elle me quitta toute en larmes et tout ce que je pus faire fut de luy baiser la main qu'elle retira d'entre les miennes avec assez de violence vous pouvez juger seigneur en quel estat je demeuray lors que je vy partir amestris avec menaste qui pendant toute nostre conversation s'estoit tenue a trois pas de nous pour prendre garde si personne ne venoit ne laissant pas d'entendre de la tout ce que nous disions je ne m'arresteray point seigneur a vous exagerer tous mes sentimens car ce seroit abuser de vostre patience je vous diray seulement que personne ne s'est jamais estime plus malheureux que je me le trouvois car enfin je voyois que j'aimois et que j'estois aime mais qu'apres tout je n'avois plus d'esperance je voyois mesme qu'il ne m'estoit pas permis d'oster mon bien a celuy qui le possedoit je n'avois plus de rival a punir je n'avois plus de maistresse inconstante de qui je me peusse pleindre quel soulagement pouvois-je donc esperer dans mes douleurs il n'y avoit pas moyen de pouvoir songer a oublier jamais une personne qui m'aimoit qui occupoit mon coeur mon esprit et toute ma memoire et pour laquelle j'oubliois tout le reste du monde il ne m'estoit plus permis d'esperer de luy pouvoir parler 
 elle m'avoit mesme deffendu de mourir enfin je ne trouvois rien qui ne m'affligeast extraordinairement neantmoins je voulus essayer de nouveau si par l'adresse de menaste je ne pourrois point parler encore une fois a amestris mais seigneur il me fut impossible et depuis ce jour la cette cruelle personne ne voulut plus aller a nulle promenade de peur de m'y rencontrer et elle feignit mesme d'estre malade afin de ne sortir plus du tout ayant donc apris par menaste que rien ne pouvoit changer la resolution d'amestris je pris celle de m'esloigner d'un lieu ou je ne la pouvois voir et ou j'eusse contribue peut-estre encore a sa perte par la contrainte ou elle vivoit a ma consideration pour megabise qui avoit aussi este fort touche du mariage d'amestris quoy qu'il se fust imagine ne l'aimer plus quand il estoit revenu a ecbatane il sentit aussi bien que moy que l'on ne se deffait pas aisement d'une passion violente astiage ayant sceu ou j'estois nous accommoda sans pourtant nous faire embrasser ny nous faire voir me commandant parce que j'avois tue son frere d'eviter sa rencontre autant que je le pourrois la cause de nostre derniere querelle n'ayant este sceue de personne non pas mesme de megabise qui a tousjours ignore ce que j'avois veu dans ce malheureux jardin du parterre de gazon pour ce qui est d'anatise je partis d'ecbatane auparavant qu'elle fust revenue des champs ainsi je ne vous puis dire ce qu'elle aura pense 
 de moy j'escrivis en partant une lettre a amestris que j'envoyay a menaste de laquelle je n'ay point eu de response je fus quelque temps a errer de province en province sans scavoir ce que je voulois faire ny ce que je pretendois devenir jusques a ce que la guerre d'assirie commencant je creus que je devois y chercher la fin de mes malheurs en y cherchant une mort honnorable durant tout ce temps la je n'ay jamais receu nulles nouvelles ny d'amestris ny de menaste quoy que j'aye fait toutes choses possibles pour obliger l'une ou l'autre a m'en donner
 
 
 
 
et depuis cela seigneur vous avez este le tesmoin de mon chagrin quoy que vous n'en sceussiez pas la cause et depuis cela encore je n'ay non plus rien apris d'amestris sinon que j'ay sceu par araspe qu'otane est tousjours vivant qu'elle est tousjours malheureuse et que selon les apparences veu la melancolie qui paroist sur son visage elle aime peut-estre encore l'infortune aglatidas voila seigneur qu'elle est l'advanture que vous avez desire d'aprendre et quels sont les malheurs de l'homme du monde qui souhaitteroit le plus de voir bien tost finir les vostres et qui n'attend plus que la mort pour le guerir de tous les siens a ces mots aglatidas s'estant teu artamene le remercia de la peine qu'il avoit prise luy demanda pardon d'avoir renouvelle toutes ses douleurs et luy tesmoigna en avoir este tres sensiblement touche j'advoue luy dit il que vous estes infiniment a pleindre et que ce n'est pas un evenement 
 fort ordinaire que celuy qui vous a rendu malheureux mais apres tout luy dit il encore en souspirant vous scavez qu'amestris est vivante et vous ne pouvez presque pas douter qu'elle ne vous aime encore ainsi vous pouvez esperer du temps et de la fortune quelque changement en vostre affliction mais j'en connois de plus infortunez que vous je ne scay seigneur repliqua aglatidas si cela peut estre mais je scay bien que quand j'aurois perdu une couronne en perdant amestris et que l'ambition de seroit jointe a l'amour pour me persecuter je ne serois pas plus melancolique que je le suis cependant seigneur poursuivit il c'est estre bien genereux de vouloir plus tost vous interesser dans les malheurs d'autruy que dans les vostres vous portez des chaines assez injustes et assez pesantes pour vous en pleindre plus tost que de vous arrester a pleindre aglatidas qui n'est pas digne de cet honneur aglatidas luy respondit il est digne de l'amitie de tout ce qu'il y a de grand au monde et c'est ce qui me fait esperer que les dieux feront un jour finir ses malheurs quand j'aurois quelques bonnes qualitez reprit il ce que vous dites ne me donneroit pas grand espoir et tant qu'artamene sera malheureux je ne voy pas que les personnes qui ont de la vertu doivent fonder leur esperance sur cette raison qui n'est pas tousjours infaillible c'estoit de cette sorte qu'artamene et aglatidas s'entretenoient lors qu'andramias les advertit qu'il estoit temps de se retirer 
 aglatidas voulut avec adresse demander a artamene s'il ne pouvoit rien pour son service voulant luy faire entendre qu'il estoit capable d'entreprendre de le delivrer mais il le remercia en l'embrassant et luy fit connoistre que sa prison n'estoit pas son plus grand malheur et qu'il n'en vouloit sortir que par la mesme main qui l'y avoit mis 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 le peu de soing que cet illustre prisonnier avoit pour sa liberte n'empeschoit pas ses amis d'y songer et depuis qu'hidaspe avoit sceu qu'artamene estoit cyrus il n'avoit plus d'autre pensee ce sentiment n'estoit pourtant pas particulier a hidaspe a adusius a artabase a chrisante et a feraulas qui estoient nais sujets du roy son pere et qui devoient estre les siens mais le roy de phrigie celuy d'hircanie persode thrasibule et beaucoup d'autres n'en avoient pas moins d'empressement si bien que pour ne perdre point de temps chrisante fut le 
 lendemain au marin au lever du roy de phrigie pour luy apprendre par un recit moins estendu que celuy du jour precedent tout ce qu'il avoit desja raconte de la merveilleuse vie de son cher maistre a la reserve des choses dont ce prince avoit este le tesmoing mais comme ils jugerent qu'il estoit a propos de ne laisser pas ciaxare sans qu'il y eust quelqu'un aupres de luy qui peust l'empescher de prendre une resolution violente contre artamene le roy de phrigie dit qu'il valoit mieux qu'il y allast et comme estant le plus affectionne et comme estant un des plus puissans sur l'esprit du roy des medes qu'ainsi il faloit que chrisante achevast de luy dire en peu de mots le reste de la vie d'artamene dont il avoit veu la plus grande partie et qu'en suite il pourroit tout a loisir en aprendre toutes les particularitez a ceux qui en avoient desja sceu le commencement d'une facon plus estendue chrisante trouvnt que ce prince avoit raison satisfit sa curiosite et le charma si puissamment par son recit quoy que ce ne fust qu'un simple abrege de la vie d'artamene qu'il redoubla encore de beaucoup l'estime qu'il avoit pour luy et fit qu'il s'en alla encore avec plus de diligence chez ciaxare afin d'observer tous ses sentimens cependant chrisante et feraulas s'estant rendus chez hidaspe ou le roy d'hircanie persode thrasibule artabase adusius et tous ceux qui avoient escoute chrisante les attendoient ils 
 ne les virent pas plustost qu'ils les presserent d'achever de leur apprendre la suite de la belle vie d'artamene ces princes voulurent alors envoyer chez le roy de phrigie mais chrisante leur aprit ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux si bien que n'ayant plus d'obstacle qui les empeschast de satisfaire leur curiosite ils s'assirent au mesme instant et feraulas prenant la parole poursuivit de cette sorte la narration que chrisante avoit commencee leur jour auparavant
 
 
 
 
suite de l'histoire d'artamene
 
 
lors qui je repasse en ma memoire toutes les grandes actions que chrisante vous raconta j'ay quelque peine a m'imaginer qu'il soit possible que j'aye encore quelque chose a vous aprendre et lors que je pense aussi a tout ce qui me reste a vous dire je ne puis presque concevoir que chrisante vous ait rien apris tant il est vray que la vie de mon maistre est extraordinaire et emplie de choses merveilleuses je m'assure seigneur dit feraulas au roy d'hircanie que vous n'avez pas oublie qu'apres le combat qu'il fit contre philidaspe dont il remporta tout l'avantage il se retira chez ce mesme sacrificateur qu'il avoit veu dans le temple de mars lors qu'il estoit aborde a sinope 
 et que de la il envoya vers le roy et vers la princesse faire ses excuses du combat qu'il avoit fait mais vous n'avez rien sceu si je ne me trompe de ce qui suivit cet accident aribee qui protegeoit philidaspe fit toutes choses possibles pour donner toute la faute a artamene mais a vous dire la verite si aribee parloit pour philidaspe les grands services de mon maistre parloient encore plus efficacement pour luy jamais rien n'avoit fait plus de bruit dans la cour que ce combat y en fit tout le monde en cherchoit la cause et personne ne la pouvoit trouver ce n'est pas qu'universellement parlant toute la cour ne s'imaginast que l'ambition estoit le sujet de cette querelle mais comme personne ne l'avoit veue naistre l'on ne scavoit point le particulier de la chose dont il estoit permis de penser ce que l'on vouloit le roy fut extremement fasche de ce malheur car comme c'estoient deux hommes de grand service il voyoit qu'il avoit pense les perdre tous deux et craignoit mesme encore d'en perdre quelqu'un parce que leurs blessures estoient assez grandes principalement celles de philidaspe qui se trouverent beaucoup plus dangereuses que celles d'artamene mais bien que le roy s'interessast pour tous les deux il y avoit neantmoins une notable difference dans son esprit et quand il venoit a penser qu'il devoit la vie a artamene et qu'en suite c'estoit par sa valeur qu'il avoit remporte tant d'illustres victoires il n'estoit 
 pas possible que malgre tout ce qu'aribee luy pouvoit dire il ne preferast artamene a philidaspe il parut donc extremement fasche de la chose mais il ne creut pas la devoir punir tant parce que c'estoient deux personnes qu'il aimoit et ausquelles il avoit de l'obligation que parce qu'enfin artamene et philidaspe n'estoient point nais ses sujets et par consequent devoient estre traitez d'une maniere moins rigoureuse toutefois pour garder quelque formalite en cette occasion il voulut que la princesse luy vinst demander leur grace ce qu'elle fit par le commandement absolu du roy bien que ce ne fust pas sans repugnance apres cette petite ceremonie il envoya scavoir de leur sante et il manda a artamene qu'il luy avoit rendu un plus mauvais office en s'exposant que s'il avoit hazarde une bataille legerement il fit faire aussi un compliment assez obligeant a philidaspe et de cette sorte la chose s'appaisa plus facilement que l'on ne l'avoit pense ce qui fascha le plus philidaspe en cette occasion ce fut de voir que presque toute la cour prit le party d'artamene excepte quelques anciens amis d'aribee qui prirent le sien pour plaire a ce favory cependant seigneur il est temps de vous dire ce que pensa la princesse en cette rencontre car encore qu'elle eust demande la grade de ces deux illustres criminels parce que le roy l'avoit voulu elle ne scavoit pourtant pas encore bien si en son particulier elle la leur devoit 
 accorder je m'en vay sans doute vous dire des choses assez secrettes d'elle et qui vous devroient donner quelque curiosite de scavoir comment je les ay sceues c'est pour quoy il vaut mieux vous advertir d'abord que long temps depuis une de ses filles nommee martesie avec laquelle j'ay eu une amitie assez grande me les a dites car en ce temps-la nous n'estions encore qu'en simple civilite l'un pour l'autre et j'ignorois absolument ce que je m'en vay vous aprendre lors que ce combat se fit vous pouvez vous souvenir que le jour auparavant la princesse avoit fait tout ce qu'elle avoit pu pour tascher de lier une estroite amitie entre artamene et philidaspe et qu'elle les avoit priez de vivre du moins comme s'ils s'aimoient puis qu'ils ne se pouvoient aimer si bien que venant a scavoir qu'ils s'estoient batus elle en fut surprise et en colere luy semblant que s'estoit avoir manque de respect pour elle martesie dont je vous ay parle estoit sans doute celle de toutes ses filles qu'elle aimoit le plus et en laquelle elle se confioit davantage mais comme jusques-la elle n'avoit pas eu de grands secrets elle avoit eu plus de part en sa liberalite qu'en sa confidence et je croy enfin que ce que la princesse pensa d'artamene en cette occasion fut le premier et l'unique secret qu'elle confia a martesie puis qu'a mon advis elle n'en a jamais eu d'autre il y avoit desja long temps que la princesse regardoit mon maistre avec estime 
 et j'ay sceu en effet depuis par martesie que des la premiere fois qu'il vit la princesse elle le loua extraordinairement et qu'en cent autres rencontres depuis celle la elle l'avoit entendu parler de luy d'une facon dont elle ne l'avoit jamais ouy parler de personne elle le trouvoit de bonne mine elle luy trouvoit l'esprit agreable elle le louoit de sagesse elle admiroit sa valeur elle ne pouvoit concevoir sa bonne fortune et elle disoit enfin qu'artamene estoit un miracle et un protecteur que les dieux avoient envoye au roy son pere pour la deffence de sa vie et pour la gloire de son regne mais en cette derniere occasion la colere ayant un peu agite son esprit elle fut contrainte d'ouvrir son coeur a martesie je ne scay luy dit elle le soir mesme que ce combat fut arrive si a l'exemple du roy je pourray bien pardonner a artamene et a philidaspe car enfin martesie fut-il jamais rien de plus offencant que leur procede envers moy je les prie de s'aimer et ils se querellent je ils se battent et se battent mesme des le lendemain que je leur ay fait cette priere en verite je ne pense pas que jamais l'on ait entendu parler d'une pareille inconsideration et je ne pense pas aussi que je la leur puisse pardonner il faut bien croire madame reprit martesie qu'il y a quelque chose de cache en cette avanture que l'on ne comprend point et qui peut-estre les justifieroit si vous la scaviez car enfin ils ont de l'esprit et du jugement 
 et beaucoup de respect pour vous ils me l'ont mal tesmoigne en cette occasion repartit brusquement la princesse aussi pretenday je bi leur faire voir que je suis sensible aux injures mais vous l'estes aussi aux bien-faits reprit martesie et cela estant que deviendront les services de ces deux braves estrangers mais martesie je voudrois donc bien scavoir luy dit la princesse ce que je dois penser de la hardiesse d'artamene et de celle de philidaspe et je voudrois bien scavoir aussi lequel a este l'agresseur l'evenement du combat m'a bien apris qu'artamene a eu l'avantage mais personne ne m'a dit lequel est le plus coupable je pense madame luy respondit martesie qui estoit seule avec elle dans son cabinet que l'on peut aisement les condamner tous deux sans injustice car ne les aviez vous pas priez tous deux de s'aimer ouy reprit la princesse mais encore qu'ils ne puissent estre innocens ny l'un ny l'autre il est pourtant assez difficile qu'ils soient tous deux esgalement coupables et c'est ce que je voudrois scavoir precisement ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je ne croye presque qu'artamene est le moins criminel et pourquoy madame respondit martesie le croyez-vous ainsi puis que vous n'avez pas plus de preuves en faveur de l'un que de l'autre je ne scay reprit la princesse mais il me semble que j'ay plus de sujet de soubconner l'humeur violente de philidaspe de m'avoir manque de respect que non 
 pas la sagesse d'artamene et puis adjousta t'elle encore il semble que la victoire qu'il a remportee soit une marque infaillible que son party estoit le plus juste enfin luy dit elle en rougissant je ne scay pas bien par quelle raison mais je souhaite que ce soit plustost philidaspe qu'artamene qui ait le plus failly et je seray tousjours bien aise qu'un homme a qui j'ay de grandes obligations ne me donne pas un si grand sujet de pleinte il est vray luy respondit martesie qu'artamene est un homme incomparable et qui merite sans doute que vous l'estimiez preferablement a tout autre mais madame adjousta-t'elle comment est-ce qu'un homme d'une vertu si extraordinaire cache le lieu de sa naissance et sa condition il est a croire dit la princesse en rougissant qu'il faut qu'elle soit au dessous de son courage car si cela n'estoit pas il n'en useroit pas ainsi mais adjousta martesie qu'est-ce qui l'a amene en cette cour et qu'est-ce qui l'y retient car enfin j'ay entendu dire qu'il n'a jamais rien demande au roy jamais rien respondit la princesse que la permission d'aller combattre ses ennemis cependant dit-elle ses services n'ont pas este petits ny ses actions mediocrement esclatantes et la cette grande princesse se mit a repasser ce que mon maistre avoit fait a la premiere bataille lors qu'il avoit sauve la vie du roy son pere contre tant d'ennemis qui l'environnoient les prodigieux avantages qu'il avoit remportez en 
 toutes les autres le merveilleux combat ou il s'estoit trouve seul vainqueur de deux cens ennemis et ou il avoit esleve un trophee si glorieux le combat qu'il avoit fait avez artane la prise de cerasie les batailles qu'il avoit gagnees contre le roy de pont ces armes esclatantes qu'il avoit prises pour se faire mieux remarquer a ceux qui avoient conspire contre sa vie ces armes simples qu'il avoit choisies en suite pour se cacher a ceux qui avoient ordre de l'espargner l'action genereuse qu'il avoit faite en rendant l'argent et laissant emporter les boucliers a ces vaillans soldats qui n'avoient pas voulu les laisser et tant d'autres dont elle se souvenoit aussi precisement que si elles fussent venues d'arriver cependant dit-elle a martesie il ne paroist nulle ambition dans l'esprit d'artamene et je ne concoy point ny ce qui le retient icy ny ce qu'il y pretend ce n'est pas que le roy mon pere n'ait beaucoup fait pour luy mais apres tout ses services font encore infiniment au dessus de ses recompenses et c'est pour cela martesie que je souhaite qu'il soit plus innocent que philidaspe car encore que ce dernier ait du coeur et de l'esprit et qu'il ait aussi fort bien servy en diverses rencontres il y a pourtant une notable difference entre eux l'humeur turbulente de philidaspe ne me plaist pas et de plus je pense qu'il est plus ambitieux et plus interesse qu'artamene ce fut de cette sorte seigneur que cette premiere conversation se 
 passe cependant comme le roy pardonna a ces deux illustres criminels la princesse creut qu'elle ne devoit pas faire esclater son ressentiment si bien qu'elle ne laissa pas d'envoyer scavoir de leur sante celle de philidaspe fut long temps assez mauvaise et mesme sa vie assez douteuse pour mon maistre ses blessures furent tousjours en assez bon estat et trois sepmaines apres s'estre batu il fut remercier le roy de la grace qu'il luy avoit accordee et la princesse de l'honneur qu'elle luy avoit fait de la demander pour luy elle estoit alors dans son cabinet ou il n'y avoit que ses femmes si bien que comme il voulut la remercier et exagerer la reconnoissance qu'il en avoit ne pensez pas luy dit elle qu'encore que j'aye demande grace pour vous je vous l'aye accordee en mon particulier non artamene luy dit elle d'un ton de voix assez imperieux il n'y a encore que le roy qui vous a pardonne et mandane n'est pas satisfaite s'il ne faut que mourir a ses pieds luy respondit artamene je suis tout prest de le faire mais madame quel est le crime que j'ay commis et comment est-il possible qu'un homme qui vous respecte autant qu'il respecte les dieux qu'il adore puisse vous avoir offensee dites moy donc luy dit-elle si ce n'est pas avoir failly que d'avoir mesprise la priere que je vous avois faite de vivre bien avec philidaspe mais madame adjousta-t'il vous aviez aussi prie philipe de vivre bien avec artamene il est vray respondit-elle et je ne pretends 
 pas le justifier en vous accusant je veux seulement scavoir si vous estes le plus coupable ou si vous estes le moins criminel je ne le scay pas moy-mesme reprit artamene en changeant de couleur et le sujet de nostre querelle est mesme si douteux dans nostre esprit que nous ne nous le sommes pas explique l'un a l'autre et peut-estre ne nous l'expliquerons nous jamais vous estes vous connus ailleurs qu'icy luy demanda la princesse non madame respondit artamene et nostre connoissance et nostre aversion ont commence en cette cour et presque en mesme moment mais apres tout madame poursuivit-il ce n'est point a moy a m'informer par quels sentimens vous voulez que j'ayme philidaspe et c'est seulement a artamene a vous demander pardon de n'avoir pu vous obeir comme je ne fais gueres de prieres injustes repliqua-t'elle je n'ay gueres accoustume d'estre refusee et je ne pensois pas qu'artamene et philidaspe deussent estre les premiers a me desobliger mon maistre qui vit que la princesse paroissoit avoir de la colere en fut tres sensiblement touche ha madame luy dit-il si j'eusse creu ne pouvoir me vanger sans vous irriter je ne l'aurois sans doute pas fait mais est-il possible que l'on ne puisse obtenir pardon d'un crime qui n'a pas este volontaire et la princesse mandane est-elle plus inexorable que les dieux qui se laissent flechir par des larmes et par des prieres la princesse qui estimoit veritablement artamene 
 et qui avoit desja quelque disposition a l'aimer voyant qu'il paroissoit assez trouble eut peur qu'il ne se tinst offence de ce qu'elle estoit plus severe que ciaxare de sorte que faisant effort sur elle mesme elle le voulut appaiser et luy pardonner de bonne grace allez luy dit-elle artamene allez vous avez este assez puny par la seule inquietude que je voy dans vostre esprit et je ne veux point vous ordonner d'autre chastiment que celuy de ne vous exposer plus en un pareil danger ha madame luy dit-il vous estes bien bonne de me pardonner et bien rigoureuse de vouloir tousjours conserver celuy qui s'oppose a tout ce que je veux je vous promets luy dit elle que si philidaspe pretend quelque chose du roy a vostre prejudice de prendre vostre party contre luy non madame repliqua artamene je ne pretens rien du roy j'en recoy plus de bien que je n'en desire et si philidaspe ne me dispute jamais rien que des charges et des recompenses nous ne nous battrons plus jamais ensemble et quelle autre chose reprit la princesse vous pourroit il disputer a ces mots artamene se trouvant embarrasse ne put s'empescher de rougir en regardant la princesse d'une maniere tres passionnee et je ne scay si sa response n'eust point explique malgre luy une partie de ses sentimens les plus cachez si le roy ne fust pas arrive mandane qui avoit beaucoup d'esprit et qui observoit tout ce que je veux je vous promets luy dit elle que si philidaspe pretend quelque chose du roy a vostre prejudice de prendre vostre party contre luy non madame repliqua artamene je ne pretens rien du roy j'en recoy plus de bien que je n'en desire et si philidaspe ne me dispute jamais rien que des charges et des recompenses nous ne nous battrons plus jamais ensemble et quelle autre chose reprit la princesse vous pourroit il disputer a ces mots artamene se trouvant embarrasse ne put s'empescher de rougir en regardant la princesse d'une maniere tres passionnee et je ne scay si sa response n'eust point explique malgre luy une partie de ses sentimens les plus cachez si le roy ne fust pas arrive mandane qui avoit beaucoup d'esprit et qui observoit tousjours assez exactement toutes les actions d'artamene prit garde 
 au trouble de son ame mais comme le roy estoit avec elle il ne luy fut pas possible d'y faire alors une plus longue reflexion ciaxare luy dit apres plusieurs autres choses qu'il vouloit absolument qu'artamene et philidaspe vescussent bien ensemble a l'avenir et que pour cela il faloit qu'artamene l'accompagnast a une promenade qu'il vouloit faire que comme il passeroit devant le logis de philidaspe il le verroit en passant parce qu'aribee l'en avoit prie et que la il les feroit embrasser artamene eust bien voulu ne le pas faire mais ciaxare qui s'aperceut de la repugnance qu'il y avoit luy dit que les vainqueurs n'avoient point de mesures a garder avec leurs ennemis vaincus que de plus il faloit que la princesse fust de cette promenade et de cette visite que ce fust luy qui la conduisist et que de cette sorte la chose se feroit avec plus de bien-seance et plus d'avantage pour luy la princesse qui vit que le roy le souhaitoit n'y resista point et creut en effet qu'elle ne devoit pas empescher que cet acconmodement ne se fist pour artamene il parut fort agite et il n'obeit qu'avec peine car enfin dans les soubcons qu'il avoit ce luy estoit une avanture facheuse que celle de s'accommoder avec philidaspe et celle d'aller chez luy et d'y conduire luy mesme la princesse neantmoins ce mal n'ayant point de remede il salut necessairement s'y resoudre le roy et la princesse monterent dans leur chariots et sortirent de la ville car 
 philidaspe n'y estoit point rentre depuis ses blessures et apres avoit fait leur promenade ils descendirent au lieu ou il estoit et le roy se mit a parler bas a mandane au pied de l'escalier durant un assez long temps mon maistre pendant cela s'aprocha de martesie mais si inquiet et l'humeur et le visage si changez qu'il n'estoit pas connoissable martesie qui s'en aperceut ne put s'empescher de luy en faire la guerre luy disant que sa haine estoit trop violente et que s'il scavoit aussi bien aimer que hair son amitie devoit estre la plus belle chose du monde n'en doutez pas luy dit-il martesie et s'il est vray que j'ayme quelque chose je l'ayme sans doute encore plus fortement que je ne hai philidaspe vous me donnez une grande curiosite luy dit-elle tout bas et je voudrois bien scavoir si vous aimez et qui vous aimez je ne puis luy repliqua-t'il en rougissant satisfaire que la moitie de vostre curiosite n'estant pas juste que vous scachiez ce que je n'ay jamais dit a personne et ce que je ne diray peut-estre jamais comme ils en estoient la la conversation du roy finit et mon maistre fut oblige de donner la main a la princesse qui avoit remarque fort aisement l'inquietude d'artamene le roy trouva philidaspe en assez bon estat ce jour-la mais si surpris de voir artamene dans sa chambre qu'il s'en salut peu que ses playes ne se r'ouvrissent a la veue de celuy qui les luy avoit faites tant il sentit d'esmotion ciaxare luy dit alors que pour l'empescher de retomber 
 en un pareil malheur avec artamene il vouloit qu'ils s'embrassassent le naturel violent de philidaspe eut beaucoup de peine a se contraindre en cette occasion neantmoins voyant que le roy le vouloit ainsi que la princesse se plaignoit de luy et que la moitie de la cour estoit presente il se retint et obeit mandane donc faisant aprocher artamene luy dit que c'estoit a celuy qui estoit le plus en sante a faire le plus de chemin et en effet elle le poussa doucement vers philidaspe qui l'embrassant par force luy dit que les rois devoient estre obeis dans leur estats vous avez raison luy respondit mon maistre et c'est pour cela que je fais ce que le roy et la princesse m'ordonnent quiconque seigneur auroit bien observe leurs mouvemens auroit aisement remarque qu'il y avoit quelque grand secret dans leur coeur cette visite ne fut pas longue mais tant qu'elle dura artamene regarda tousjours la princesse mandane ou philidaspe qui de son coste estoit si interdit qu'il ne regardoit presque personne le roy s'estant retire et la princesse l'ayant suivy l'on s'en retourna au palais ou mandane ne fut pas plustost arrivee qu'elle tesmoigna ne vouloir plus voir personne pour artamene il fut encore quelque temps chez le roy mais avec tant d'inquietude qu'il fut contraint d'en sortir et de s'en aller dans sa chambre il n'y fut pas plustost que repassant dans son esprit tout ce qui luy estoit arrive il ne sentist un desplaisir dont il ne se pouvoit consoler 
 quoy disoit il ne souspirant il ne me sera pas permis de hair mon ennemy et mandane voudra eternellement violenter toutes mes inclinations quel interest cache peut elle avoir en cette rencontre qui l'oblige a vouloir que j'ayme philidaspe et que philidaspe m'aime n'est-ce qu'un simple dessein de conserver la vie de deux hommes qu'elle ne croit pas inutiles au service du roy son pere ou n'est-ce point qu'ayant quelque estime particuliere pour philidaspe elle veuille luy oster un ennemy qu'elle ne croit pas estre des moins redoutables et que faisant semblant de nous traiter esgalement il y ait pourtant une grande inesgalite aux sentimens qu'elle a pour nous mais helas reprenoit-il que je suis injuste d'expliquer de cette sorte les actions et les paroles d'une princesse qui m'a toujours si bien traite dequoy me puis-je pleindre raisonnablement artamene comme artamene peut il pretendre quelque chose de la princesse de capadoce qu'il n'ait obtenue elle le loue elle le recoit avec civilite elle souffre sa conversation sans chagrin elle luy offre sa protection aupres du roy elle prend soing de sa vie elle demande sa grace quand il a failly et il n'est rien enfin que l'illustre mandane ne face pour artamene mais helas si artamene est content comme artamene cyrus n'est gueres satisfait comme cyrus cet artamene adjoustoit-il que la princesse favorise n'est pas veritablement celuy que je veux qui le soit celuy la 
 semble n'aimer que la guerre et ne chercher que la gloire et celui que je voudrois qu'elle connust et qu'elle favorisast n'aime que mandane et ne cherche que son affection seigneur luy dis-je car j'estois aupres de luy lors qu'il s'entretenoit tout haut et tout seul de certe sorte le moyen que cet amoureux artamene que vous desirez qui soit favorise le puisse estre si mandane ne le connoist point voulez vous seigneur que la plus vertueuse princesse du monde vous aime ne scachant pas seulement que vous l'aimez et voulez vous reprit artamene que la plus vertueuse princesse du monde souffre que je luy parle d'amour principalement n'estant qu'artamene non seigneur luy dis-je mais artamene est cyrus vous avez raison me repliqua-t'il mais ne m'est il pas aussi dangereux de paroistre cyrus qu'artamene comme artamene peut-estre se contenteroit-elle de me chasser avec quelque compassion mais comme cyrus elle pourroit me punir avec haine et avec colere je voy bien luy respondis-je que vous n'avez pas tort en beaucoup de choses mais apres tout si vous voulez estre aime il faut que l'on scache que vous aimez autrement vous n'en viendrez jamais a bout quant vous auriez gagne cent batailles pousuivis-je et conqueste des royaumes et des empires apres tant de victoires et tant de conquestes vous ne triompheriez point du coeur de mandane si mandane ne scavoit qu'elle eust triomphe du vostre l'amour seigneur 
 en cette rencontre ne peut jamais naistre sans l'amour la princesse vous louera la princesse vous estimera mais elle ne vous aimera point car enfin toutes les grandes choses que vous avez faites sont a vous et la seule conqueste de vostre coeur est ce qui luy peut appartenir et ce qui luy peut plaire si vous voulez que vos victoires vous servent faites luy scavoir qu'elle a vaincu le vainqueur des autres et que celuy a qui rien ne peut resister a cede a ses charmes et a sa beaute mais feraulas me dit-il le moyen d'oser parler et le moyen de ne craindre pas la colere d'une personne de qui la modestie est extreme de qui la vertu est severe jusqu'a la rigueur je ne dis pas seigneur luy repliquay-je qu'il soit a propos de parler d'amour ouvertement a la princesse mais je voudrois du moins luy en dire assez pour luy faire deviner le reste mais si en le devinant me respondit-il elle venoit a me hair que deviendrois-je ne craignez pas cela luy repliquay-je et scachez seigneur que l'amour n'a jamais fait naistre la haine mandane vous peut commander de vous taire mandane vous peut mesme chasser mais elle ne vous scauroit hair parce que vous l'aimez ce n'est seigneur que la maniere de se faire entendre qui peut estre dangereuse et qu'il est necessaire de bien choisir il ne faut donc pas parler d'estre aime en descouvrant que l'on aime il ne faut rien demander rien esperer et rien pretendre que le seul soulagement de faire scavoir son mal a celle qui le 
 cause et quand on en vie ainsi croyez moy seigneur qu'il est bien difficile que l'on soit hai quelque vertu qui puisse estre en la personne aimee enfin poursuivis-je tant que mandane ne scaura point que vous l'aimez il est indubitable que vous n'en serez point aime ou au contraire si vous luy donnez lieu de deviner vostre passion peut-estre que malgre toute sa severite elle vous aimera mais feraulas me dit-il si elle me bannit non non luy dis-je ne craignez pas un si rude traitement tant de grandes actions que vous avez faites luy parleront tellement en vostre faveur qu'elle ne sera pas si inhumaine et si je ne me trompe la chose reussira mieux que vous ne pensez tant y a seigneur qu'apres avoir passe une partie de la nuit a raisonner sur cette matiere artamene se resolut de chercher quelque occasion favorable de faire connoistre a la princesse la passion qu'il avoit pour elle sans toutefois s'en expliquer ouvertement mais helas durant que nous prenions cette resolution mandane en prenoit une autre que nous ne scavions pas et qui s'opposoit bien a nos desseins le vous ay dit seigneur qu'elle s'estoit retiree dans son cabinet ou elle ne fut pas plustost qu'elle apella martesie et luy demanda ce qu'artamene luy avoit dit pendant qu'elle parloit au roy en entrant chez philidaspe car elle avoit pris garde a leur entretien cette fille luy obeissant luy raconta parole pour parole toute cette conversation et joignant en 
 suitte ses sentimens a ceux de mon maistre pour moy madame dit-elle a la princesse veu la facon dont artamene m'a respondu lors que je luy ay tesmoigne vouloir scavoir s'il aimoit et qui il aimoit je crois qu'il est amoureux mandane rougit a ce discours car elle avoit commence d'en soubconner quelque chose mais voulant scavoir le sentiment de martesie sans descouvrir le sien et de qui pensez vous qu'il le puisse estre luy demanda-t'elle pour moy madame adjousta cette fille j'y ay tousjours songe depuis cela sans pouvoir demeurer d'accord avec ma propre raison car enfin artamene ne visite personne avec attachement il ne parle a pas une de mes compagnes qu'autant que la simple civilite le veut il passe toute sa vie chez le roy ou chez vous et si artamene estoit d'une autre condition qu'il n'est il ne seroit pas difficile de s'imaginer de qui il seroit amoureux car madame luy dit-elle en sous-riant artamene ne voit que vous ou ne parle que de vous il vous loue il vous estime et l'on peut presque dire qu'il vous adore il vous suit au temple il vous suit a la promenade et a la chasse il vous accompagne aux festes publiques quand le roy vient chez vous il y vient quand il n'y vient point il ne laisse pas d'y venir il rougit toutes les fois qu'il aproche de vous ou que vous estes seulement eu lieu ou il est enfin dit elle en riant si artamene estoit roy ou que la princesse mandane fust martesie je croirois qu'il seroit amoureux 
 d'elle je pense dit la princesse en l'interrompant qu'artamene vous a rendu quelque mauvais office car si vous m'aviez fortement persuade ce que vous dites vous jugez bien qu'il n'en seroit pas plus heureux et que vous ne pourriez pas avoir trouve une meilleure voye de vous vanger de luy je serois bien marrie madame repliqua martesie en prenant un visage plus serieux d'avoir cause aucun mal a artamene mais comme vos interests me font plus chers que les siens je crois estre obligee de vous dire encore que je ne scay madame si vous ne devriez point durant quelques jours vous donner la peine d'observer un peu ses actions pour vous esclaircir de mes doutes la princesse rougit a ce discours plus qu'elle n'avoit encore fait et baissant la voix comme si elle eust eu peur d'estre entendue de martesie mesme a qui elle parloit comme vous estes sage et discrette luy dit-elle je vous advoueray que depuis ce matin j'ay quelque soubcon de ce que vous dites et j'ay une si grande confusion de ne m'estre pas aperceue plustost de la folie d'artamene que je ne puis vous l'exprimer car enfin en un moment j'ay veu cent choses que je n'avois point veues ou pour mieux dire je les ay veues d'une autre facon que je ne les voyois auparavant vous souvient il martesie du premier jour que je vy artamene apres qu'il eut sauve la vie du roy mon pere ne vous sembla-t'il pas qu'il me regarda avec une attention extraordinaire et passionnee 
 et qu'il ne considera presque point tant de belles personnes qui m'accompagnoient ne vous souvenez vous pas encore de la facon avec laquelle il me pria d'obtenir du roy la permission de combattre ses ennemis et la maniere dont il prit conge de moy ne le voyez vous pas encore lors que je priay de ne prendre point d'armes remarquables ne voyez-vous pas dis-je de quelle sorte il me resista de quel air il me demanda l'escharpe que je luy refusay et en quels termes il s'expliqua lors que je luy dis que je voudrois qu'artamene ne fust ny trop prudent ny trop temeraire il ne m'est pas possible madame dit-il que je puisse regler mes sentimens a cette juste mediocrite que vous desirez ne vous souvient-il point aussi poursuivit-elle du jour que philidaspe et artamene se trouverent ensemble a me dire adieu pour moy j'admire que je n'expliquay point mieux en ce temps la les inquietudes que je vy sur son visage ne vous remettez vous pas encore la joye qui parut dans les yeux du mesme artamene a son retour et une certaine conversation que j'eus et avec luy et avec philidaspe mais sur toutes choses dit-elle vous souvenez vous quels furent les sentimens d'artamene lors que je voulus l'obliger a aimer philidaspe pour moy interrompit martesie je croy madame par tout ce que vous venez de dire et par mille autres petites choses que j'ay remarquees en mon particulier et que vous ne pouvez pas avoir veues 
 que non seulement artamene est amoureux mais qu'il est jaloux de philidaspe et que peut estre encore philidaspe est aussi amoureux de vous qu'artamene vous n'estes pas trop sage luy dit la princesse de vouloir me faire recevoir tant d'ouvrages tout a la fois non martesie adjousta-t'elle philidaspe n'est qu'ambitieux et je ne voudrois pas pour mon repos le pouvoir soubconner d'un autre sentiment ce feroit avoir trop de crimes a punir pour une personne qui n'aime pas les suplices c'est pourquoy ne songeons qu'a artamene mais pour celuy-la dit-elle il faut y donner ordre et m'empescher s'il est possible de recevoir un sensible desplaisir car enfin poursuivit la princesse j'ay de l'estime pour artamene je luy ay de l'obligation et je serois bien faschee qu'il me mist dans la necessite de le mal-traiter c'est pourquoy martesie je vous ordonne tant qu'il fera aupres de moy de faire avec adresse que toutes vos compagnes y soient aussi et de ne m'abandonner point du tout comme il faudra bien tost qu'il parte et que le commencement de la campagne aproche cette contrainte ne durera pas long temps apres cela elle congedia martesie et demeura seule dans son cabinet mais dieux que de facheuses et de tyranniques pensees s'emparerent de son esprit pour le troubler et que cette profonde tranquilite dont elle avoit jouy jusques alors se retrouva peu en son ame elle demeura pourtant dans la resolution qu'elle avoit prise 
 avec martesie vous pouvez donc bien juger seigneur qu'artamene ne put pas executer celle qu'il avoit formee de descouvrir sa passion a la princesse puis qu'elle luy en osta toutes les voyes qu'il avoit accoustume d'en avoir bien est-il vray que durant trois semaines ce fut avec tant d'adresse qu'il ne creut point que mandane eust nulle part a la chose et il s'imagina que le hazard tout seul la faisoit cependant toutes les fois qu'il se souvenoit combien il avoit perdu d'occasions favorables malgre l'assiduite de philidaspe aupres d'elle il en estoit au desespoir mais lors qu'il venoit a penser que ce n'estoit point philidaspe qui l'empeschoit d'executer ce qu'il avoit resolu il croyoit encore qu'il y avoit plus de malignite en son destin bien est il vray qu'il ne fut pas longtemps sans cet obstacle puis que vingt jours apres la visite du roy et de la princesse chez philidaspe il vint les en remercier et occuper aussi opiniastrement la place qu'il avoit accoustume de tenir chez mandane comme il faisoit auparavant ce fut lors que martesie n'eut plus de besoin d'estre si soigneuse et ce fut lors qu'artamene desespera entierement de pouvoir entretenir sa princesse en particulier il y avoit mesme eu plusieurs conversations generales ou mandane avoit dit beaucoup de choses qui pouvoient aisement faire connoistre a artamene que ce seroit un dessein bien dangereux que de luy parler d'amour car encore que ce n'eust este qu'en 
 parlant d'autruy qu'elle eust explique ses sentimens il ne laissoit pas de croire que ce pouvoient estre les siens veu l'air dont elle avoit parle et ainsi il ne pouvoit nullement douter que ce ne fust s'exposer a un grad peril que de descouvrir sa passion a la princesse cette difficulte qu'il trouvoit et qu'il n'avoit pas preveue aussi grande qu'il la rencontroit alors luy donnoit une douleur bien sensible et l'on peut dire que si sa bouche ne parloit pas d'amour a la princesse toutes ses actions en parloient pour luy aussi ay-je sceu depuis par martesie qu'il en fut parfaitement entendu et que la princesse expliqua comme il faloit ses inquietudes ses melancolies ses impatiences ses changemens de visage et ses resveries et qu'elle ne douta plus du tout qu'artamene ne fust passionnement amoureux d'elle mais admirez seigneur comme quoy la prudence humaine est bornee si mon maistre eust parle d'amour a la princesse en l'estat qu'estoient les choses il estoit perdu pour tousjours elle l'auroit mal-traite et l'auroit banny d'aupres d'elle infailliblement quelque estime qu'elle eust pour luy et quelques grands services qu'il eust rendus au roy son pere mais parce qu'il ne luy en parla point et que cependant elle voyoit bien qu'il souffroit et qu'ainsi il avoit beaucoup de respect pour elle cette princesse le souffrit et en eut pitie et receut malgre elle dans son coeur je ne scay quelle tendresse que l'on pouvoit peut-estre 
 desja nommer amour ce n'est pas que cette vertueuse personne la creust telle car il est certain que si cela eust este elle se seroit surmonte elle mesme a quelque prix que ce fust ce n'est pas aussi qu'elle ne s'observast avec soing mais apres tout c'est que l'amour porte je ne scay quel aveuglement dans l'esprit des personnes les plus esclairees qui les empesche de pouvoir connoistre les autres et de se connoistre elles mesmes il y avoit pourtant des momens ou elle se faisoit plusieurs questions en particulier ausquelles elle ne pouvoit pas respondre bien precisement elle s'estonnoit quelquefois de voir que malgre elle artamene luy revenoit en la pensee et de ce que la connoissance de son amour ne luy donnoit pas davantage de colere quoy disoit-elle en elle mesme je scauray qu'un homme que j'ay veu arriver a la cour comme un simple chevalier est amoureux de moy et je souffriray encore sa veue et sa conversation ha non mandane cette scrupuleuse vertu dont vous faites profession ne le doit point du tout souffrir et s'il est vray que l'amour ne puisse estre sans esperance il faut punir artamene et de sa temerite et de sa folie car que peut-il esperer sans me faire outrage que peut-il desirer sans extravagance et que peut-il pretendre sans m'offencer mais helas reprenoit elle il ne me dit rien qui me fasche ny qui me doive fascher il ne me demande rien qui me puisse desplaire je luy dois la vie du roy et le roy luy doit 
 plusieurs victoires je luy dois mesme peut-estre tout le repos de mes jours puis qu'il est a croire que le roy de pont auroit vaincu sans luy et et que je ferois maintenant ou sa femme ou sa prisonniere ne haissons donc pas artamene parce qu'il nous aime et pourveu qu'il ne nous le die jamais ne luy disons rien de fascheux helas disoit-elle quelque-fois en parlant a martesie pourquoy faut-il qu'artamene se soit mis un pareil setiment dans le coeur et que n'est il demeure dans les bornes d'une simple estime pour moy madame luy dit martesie j'ay peine a croire que vous songiez bien a ce que vous dites et je ne scaurois m'imaginer quelque vertu qui soit en vostre ame que vous aimassiez mieux qu'artamene ne vous aimast point du tout que de vous voir aimee de luy comme il vous aime tant qu'il ne vous le dira point vous me pressez beaucoup martesie reprit la princesse mais je vous diray toutefois que j'estime si fort artamene que quand je ne considererois que luy je devrois tousjours souhaiter pour son repos qu'il ne fust pas amoureux de moy le scay bien madame reprit martesie qu'a ne considerer que luy la chose est comme vous la dites mais je scay bien aussi qu'a ne considerer que vous il vous est en quelque facon avantageux de voir que le plus grand homme du monde et le plus accomply en toutes choses vous estime et vous aime jusques a l'adoration je ne doute point repliqua mandant que l'estime d'artamene 
 ne me soit glorieuse et je vous avoueray de plus que je la prefere a celle de tout le reste de la terre mais je voudrois martesie que cette estime ne fust suivie que d'une amitie telle qu'un homme de sa condition la doit avoir pour une personne de la mienne dites moy madame je vous en conjure adjousta martesie si vous voudriez bien qu'artamene que vous estimez tant aimast quelque autre plus que vous vous m'embarrassez un peu repliqua la princesse mais je pense toutefois que pourveu qu'artamene m'estimast plus que tout le reste du monde je ne me soucierois pas qu'il m'aimast un peu moins ha madame reprit martesie vous vous abusez et l'on ne scauroit avoir cette indifference pour l'affection de ceux de qui on desire l'estime et en effet madame vous auriez grand tort de vouloir que celuy de tous les hommes qui a le plus d'esprit et le plus de jugement ne vous aimast pas plus que tout le reste de la terre et puis madame que manque t'il a l'illustre artamene une couronne luy respondit la princesse en rougissant et cela suffit martesie pour faire que je craigne la passion d'un homme qui n'est pas roy pour faire que toutes ses actions me soient suspectes a l'advenir et pour faire que je me la fois a moy mesme car enfin dit elle j'ay un ennemy qui a une intelligence secrette dans mon coeur et que j'estime assez pour aprehender de l'aimer s'il n'y avoit pas un obstacle invincible qui sans doute me deffendra 
 de tout ce que les grandes qualitez d'artamene pourroient entreprendre contre moy et qui fera que malgre son amour son merite et ma reconnoissance je ne laisseray pas de conserver ma liberte toute entiere voila seigneur ou en estoient les choses en ce temps-la artamene aimoit passionnement sans le pouvoir dire philidaspe n'estoit pas moins amoureux ny moins secret estant oblige par diverses raisons de desguiser ses sentimens ciaxare les aimoit tous deux mais incomparablement plus artamene que philidaspe et mandane quoy qu'elle ne le pensast pas aimoit sans doute desja un peu mon maistre et estimoit assez philidaspe quoy qu'il y eust beaucoup de choses dans son humeur qui choquassent la sienne 
 
 
 
 
en ce temps-la le fils du roy d'armenie appelle tigrane vint a la cour de capadoce et fit grande amitie avec artamene cependant comme le commencement du printemps approchoit il vint un advis certain que les rois alliez avoient defia mis leurs armees en campagne cette nouvelle fit haster toutes les levees et donner tous les ordres necessaires pour faire qu'en fort peu de temps toutes choses fussent prestes pour recevoir les ennemis il y avoit bien desja un corps d'armee assemble dans la plaine de cerasie mais selon les apparence il n'estoit pas en estat de pouvoir resister aux rois de pont et de phrigie bien qu'il fust assez avantageusement retranche voila donc artamene contraint de partir et de partir 
 sans pouvoir dire qu'il aimoit ce qui ne luy fut pas un petit desplaisir il fut prendre conge de la princesse avec beaucoup de precipitation parce qu'il estoit venu un second advis qui assuroit que l'armee de ciaxare alloit estre enfermee entre celle du roy de pont et un puissant secours de phrigie qui devoit arriver dans peu de jours si bien que mon maistre ne pouvant tarder un moment de peur d'arriver trop tard fut contraint de partir en tumulte et de renfermer toute sa passion dans son coeur il en parut toutefois encore assez dans ses yeux et il en tesmoigna assez par sa douleur pour faire que la princesse s'en aperceust allez artamene luy dit elle en luy disant adieu soyez aussi heureux que vous l'avez este et si vous voulez obliger le roy mon pere ne songez pas plus a la perte de ses ennemis qu'a la conservation de vostre vie mandane luy dit cela devant tant de monde qu'artamene n'osay respondre que comme tout autre que luy y eust respondu c'est a dire avec beaucoup de respect et de reconnoissancc et il la quitta sans s'expliquer que par des regards derobez et par des souspirs qu'il retenoit aussi tost qu'ils estoient poussez pour philidaspe il ne partit pas en mesme temps car il devoit commander des troupes qui n'estoient pas encore prestes mon maistre s'en alla donc accompagne de toute la jeunesse de la cour qui le voulut suivre en une occasion qui selon les apparences devoit estre dangereuse et le prince tigrane 
 mesme voulut estre de la partie et se ranger parmy les volontaires dont il fut le chef nous fismes une diligence extreme mais comme artamene n'avoit pu estre parfaitement informe de l'estat ou estoient les ennemis comme nous fusmes a cinquante stades de la plaine de cerasie il envoya chrisante aux nouvelles accompagne de dix ou douze seulement afin d'aprendre si les partages estoient libres ou occuppez et si son armee estoit desja enfermee par celle du roy de pont et par les troupes de phrigie cependant il falut faire alte a un petit vilage deshabite ou l'on eust pu se deffendre en cas que les coureurs des ennemis y fussent venus nous trouvasmes parmy ces mafures quelques paisans cachez qui nous assurerent de nouveau que les rois consederez avoient deux armees tres puissantes et que si la nostre n'estoit desja enfermee elle la feroit bien tost artamene voyant donc les affaires de la guerre en aussi mauvais estat que celles de son amour estoit en une affliction que je ne vous puis exprimer il ne pouvoit souffrir que des ennemis qu'il avoit si souvent battus fussent en termes de le vaincre et il se resolut du moins de mourir plustost mille fois que de survivre a sa deffaite si elle arrivoit non disoit-il en luy mesme je ne scaurois me resoudre a revoir ma princesse apres avoir este vaincu et si le malheur veut que je le sois il faut se preparer a la mort moy dis-je qui apres de grandes victoires n'ay ose l'approcher qu'en 
 tremblant et qui n'ay jamais eu la hardiesse apres avoir vaincu des rois de luy faire connoistre seulement qu'artamene estoit son esclave mais dieux adjoustoit-il mourray-je sans que l'illustre mandane scache que je seray mort pour elle et n'auray-je point cette triste consolation de pouvoir esperer qu'elle n'ignorera pas absolument les maux que j'ay soufferts depuis le premier moment que je l'ay veue peut-estre que si elle aprend mon amour en aprenant ma mort la connoissance qu'elle en aura n'irritera pas son esprit et qu'elle pardonnera aisement a un homme qui n'aura perdu le respect qu'en perdant la vie aprenons luy donc en mourant poursuivit-il que nous n'avons vescu que pour elle mais pour amoindrir nostre faute faisons luy connoistre nostre condition sans luy aprendre pourtant veritablement qui nous sommes il suffira qu'elle scache qu'artamene estoit de naissance royalle sans scavoir que cyrus et artamene n'estoient qu'une mesme chose ne mettons point nous mesmes poursuivoit-il d'obstacle a la compassion que nous attendons de sa bonte et n'arrestons pas les l'armes que nous esperons de la tendresse de son coeur je scay bien disoit-il encore que les plaisirs du tombeau font des plaisirs peu sensibles mais du moins si j'ay a perdre la bataille et la vie je perdray l'une et l'autre plus doucement par cette esperance et je murmureray moins de la rigueur de ma destinee cette pensee seigneur 
 flatta de telle sorte le desespoir d'artamene que sans differer davantage il se mit a escrire a la princesse et a luy descouvrir ce qu'il luy avoit cache si soigneusement durant si long temps apres avoir leu et releu sa lettre et en avoir este satisfait il ferma avec beaucoup de soing les tablettes dans lesquelles il l'avoit escrite et m'ayant fait appeller en particulier feraulas me dit-il le visage tout change il s'agit de me rendre un service d'importance et de me le rendre avec beaucoup d'exactitude seigneur luy dis-je je m'estimerois bien heureux si j'avois trouve ce qu'il y a si long temps que je cherche je veux dire un moyen de vous faire connoistre parfaitement le zele que j'ay pour vostre service vous le pouvez sans doute me repliqua t'il mais je crains que le courage de feraulas ne me resiste et ne puisse pas sans peine se resoudre a ne combattre point en l'occasion qui va s'en presenter j'avoue seigneur luy dis-je qu'il ne m'est pas aise de concevoir ce que vous me voulez ordonner et qu'il me seroit assez difficile de ne partager pas un peril ou je vous verrois expose il le faut pourtant me dit-il et soit que vous me consideriez comme vostre maistre comme vostre prince ou comme vostre amy il faut que vous ne me resistiez point davantage vous scavez me dit-il avec une bonte extreme que je connois le coeur de feraulas et que je n'ay pas besoin d'en avoir de nouvelles prevues pour me le faite estimer c'est pourquoy 
 ne vous inquietez pas pour cela et croyez que vous ne m'avez jamais plus oblige que vous m'obligerez aujourd'huy enfin adjousta-t'il encore quoy que je puisse vous commander de faire ce qui me plaist je ne laisse pas de vous dire en cette rencontre que je vous en prie a ces mots ne pouvant souffrir qu'il continuast davantage seigneur luy dis-je vous me donnez de la confusion c'est pourquoy ne differez pas plus long temps a me dire ce que vous voulez que je face afin que je me haste de vous obeir il faut me dit-il mon cher feraulas que vous ne combattiez point du tout que je ne vous en aye donne la permission que vous vous teniez tousjours au lieu le moins expose afin d'entendre l'evenement du combat que nous allons sans doute faire et s'il arrive que j'y sucombe et que j'y meure comme assurement si je suis vaincu j'y mourray que vous alliez en diligence porter cette lettre a l'illustre mandane et quoy qu'elle vous puisse dire ne luy dittes pas que j'estois cyrus vous pourrez luy avouer ma condition mais non pas precisement le lieu de ma naissance voila mon cher feraulas tout ce que je veux de vous n'y manquez donc pas je vous en conjure et soyez moy aussi fidelle en cette derniere occasion que vous me l'avez tousjours este et que j'ay tousjours eu dessein d'estre reconnoissant de vos services seigneur luy dis-je les larmes aux yeux ce m'est une cruelle chose de recevoir sa conmandement de vous que 
 je ne dois executer qu'apres vostre mort mais j'espere seigneur que la fortune en ordonnera autrement je le souhaite me respondit-il mais les choies ne s'y disposent pas cependant ne manquez a rien de ce que je vous ay dit adjousta-t'il en m'embrassant et tesmoignez moy en cette importante rencontre qu'il n'est point de service si difficile que vous ne soyez capable de me rendre je luy promis seigneur tout ce qu'il voulut car le moyen de resister a un prince aflige amoureux et inebranlable en ses resolutions a quelque temps dela chrisante revint et amena deux prisonniers qu'il avoit faits qui apurent a artamene que l'armee de phrigie n'arriveroit que le lendemain et que celle du roy de pont dans laquelle estoit aussi le roy de phrigie ne vouloit point combattre la sienne que l'autre ne fust arrivee qui par le chemin qu'elle avoit pris l'enfermeroit infailliblement entre les deux artamene a cette nouvelle eut du moins beaucoup de joye d'aprendre que cela n'estoit pas encore et que par un partage que chrisante avoit reconnu et que les ennemis n'avoient pas garde il luy seroit facile de passer en effet estans montez a cheval un moment apres le retour de chrisante nous marchasmes avec tant de diligence et si a propos que la nuit favorisant nostre dessein et cachant nostre marche nous nous rendismes au camp sans avoir rencontre personne je ne m'arreste point seigneur a vous exagerer laioye que receurent tous 
 les officiers et tous les soldats lors qu'ils virent artamene luy qu'ils regardoient comme un dieu et qu'ils croyoient tous invincible aussi tost qu'il fut arrive il fit la reveue de son armee qui ne se trouva monter qu'a seize mille hommes seulement de sorte que bien que toutes ces troupes fussent effectivement les meilleures de toute la capadoce artamene ne laissoit pas d'estre fort embarrasse car enfin l'armee du roy de pont qui avoit quitte ses retranchemens et de qui l'avant-garde estoit a veue de celle de mon maistre estoit de vingt mille hommes et celle qui devoit arriver le foie a trente stades de luy estoit de quinze mille hommes effectifs se voyant donc reduit en cette extremite et jugeant bien qu' auparavant que ciaxare le peust scavoir les ennemis l'auroient force de combattre et l'auroient vaincu il prit une resolution aussi hardie que personne en ait jamais pris bien est il vray qu'outre les raisons que j'ay dites il y en eut encore une autre qui a mon advis ne fut pas de petite consideration dans son esprit il scavoit que philidaspe devanceroit le roy et viendroit le joindre avec les premieres troupes qui seroient en estat de marcher or seigneur dans les sentimens qu'il avoit pour luy il ne pouvoit se resoudre a luy donner l'avantage de l'avoir desgage d'un si grand peril apres avoir donc bien examine la chose il tint conseil de guerre mais comme les opinions d'artamene faisoient tousjours toutes les resolutions 
 des conseils ou il se trouvoit la henne fut suivie sans contredit quoy qu'elle fust extremement hardie il dit donc a tous le chefs que s'ils estoient une fois enfermez entre l'armee du roy de pont et celle de phrigie il n'y avoit plus de salut pour eux qu'ainsi il faloit s'il estoit possible les combattre separement que d'aller attaquer celle du roy de pont la premiere il estoit a craindre que pour peu que l'ennemy tinst la chose en balence et tardast a donner la bataille l'autre armee ne vinst les enveloper au milieu du combat et infailliblement les deffaire que d'attendre dans leurs retranchemens qu'ils fussent secourus ce serait attendre une chose sans aparence qu'ils ne le pouvoient estre a temps et que sans doute ils y seroient forcez avant que ciaxare peust estre a eux de sorte qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses le mieux qu'ils pouvoient faire estoit d'aller combattre l'armee de phrigie sans que celle du roy de pont s'en aperceust et cela par un moyen qu'il en avoit imagine que cette armee n'estant pas plus forte que la leur et estant lasse et fatiguee d'une assez longue marche pourroit estre deffaite assez facilement et les laisser peut estre en termes de faire encore peur au roy de pont tant y a seigneur que tout ce qu'artamene proposa fut aprouve et fut suivy il envoya quelques-uns des siens battre l'estrade du coste que l'armee de phrigie devoit venir et scachant de certitude qu'elle arriveroit le soir mesme a trente stades du lieu ou il estoit campe aussi tost que la nuit commenca de paroistre il fit marcher toute son armee sans trompettes et sans bruit et 
 ne laissa dans son camp que la garde avancee tous les valets et ceux qui ne pouvoient combattre leur ordonnant qu'aussi tost qu'il seroit un peu esloigne ils allumassent grand nombre de feux pour abuser les ennemis et pour oster tout soupcon de son entreprise au roy de pont je demeuray donc seigneur en ce lieu-la malgre moy avec un commandement absolu d'artamene si je ne le voyois pas revenir le matin de m'en aller en diligence a sinope m'aquitter de ma commission ce n'est pas seigneur comme vous pouvez penser qu'un camp ou il n'y avoit presque personne fust un lieu de grande seurete mais enfin artamene creut que son dessein reussiroit et que si cela n'estoit pas je me pourrois sauvcr facilement pourveu que je me retirasse aussi tost que je scaurois sa mort cependant seigneur quoy que je ne suivisse point mon maistre je ne laissay pas de scavoir tout ce qui se passa en cette dangereuse occasion mais pour n'oublier rien de ce que j'en ay veu je vous diray qu'auparavant que de partir artamene voulant donner coeur aux officiers et aux soldats les flatta les loua et leur promit recompense c'est icy leur dit-il mes compagnons qu'il est necessaire de vous souvenir de vostre ancienne vertu et du commandement que je vous fais de combattre avec autant d'ardeur que si toute la terre voyoit vos actions je ne pourray pas en cette rencontre estre le spectateur de vostre courage je ne 
 pourray pas non plus veut montrer par mon exemple ce que vous aurez a faire je ne pourray pas mesme d'abord vous exciter par ma voix puis qu'il faut surprendre l'ennemy dans l'obscurite de la unit et le vaincre sans qu'il ait presque loisir de se recueiller vous serez donc les seuls tesmoins de vostre hardiesse et de vostre fidelite ne pensez pourtant pas mes compagnons que les tenebres puissent empescher que nostre valeur ou nostre laschete ne soient connues la victoire de nos ennemis deposera en general contre nous s'ils la remportent et je deposeray au contraire avantageusement pour vous lors qu'a la pointe du jour je verray vos mains victorieuses m'aporter les despoilles sanglantes des phrigiens morts leurs enseignes rompues et les testes tranchees de nos ennemis voila mes compagnons par ou te connoistray si vous aurez fait vostre devoir ce sont les marques que je vous en demande et ce sont les marques que moy mesme je vous veux donner de ma propre valeur a ces mots artamene s'estantteu tous les chefs et tous les soldats leverent leurs javelines ou leurs espees pour tesmoigner leur apropation et par un murmure bas et confus assiterent mon maistre qu'ils luy obeiroient exactement ils marcherent donc en diligence et apres avoir pris chacun une escharpe blanche pour se reconnoistre dans l'obscurite ils furent a cette expedition sans autres armes que leurs javelines et leurs espees parce que le combat se devant faire de nuit les arcs et les fleches leur eussent este inutiles artamene fut si heureux qu'il trouva les ennemis 
 bien avant dans leur sommeil ce qui ne facilita pas peu son entreprise comme ils scavoient que l'armee du roy de pont estoit en presence de la nostre ils n'imaginerent point du tout qu'ils pussent estre attaquez de sorte qu'ils dormoient profondement sans aucune crainte de surprise leur garde avancee ne laissa pourtant pas de faire son devoir mais elle fut poussee avec tant de promptitude qu'auparavant que les soldats fussent recueillez qu'ils se fussent rangez sous leurs enseignes et qu'ils se fussent mis en deffence il y en avoit desja beaucoup de tuez celuy qui commandoit ces troupes et qui s'apelloit imbas estoit extremement vaillant aussi le monstra t'il bien en cette occasion puis que malgre cette surprise et le desordre de son armee il r'assembla un gros assez considerable et s'opposa si fortement et si genereusement a artamene qu'il y eut des moments ou il desespera de la victoire jamais il ne c'est rien entendu dire de pareil a ce que m'ont raporte ceux qui se trouverent en ce combat car apres que le premier choc fut passe ou artamene avoit tant recommande le silence il commenca de se faire connoistre a la voix afin d'encourager les siens et comme tous luy vouloient respondre et se vouloient faire entendre a luy de toutes ces voix esclattantes qui ne parloient que de mort et de triomphe il se fit un bruit si grand et si espouvantable que les ennemis creurent 
 qu'ils avoient este mal advertis et que les nostres estoient plus de trente mille hommes la nuit quoy qu'obscure parce que la lune n'esclaircit point ne l'estoit toutefois pas si fort qu'a la faveur des estoiles l'on ne s'entrevist les uns les autres et ce fut aussi par cette sombre lumiere qu'artamene ne laissa pas de garder quelque ordre en un combat ou il y avoit tant de desordre et tant de confusion comme il vit donc qu'il y avoit un gros qui faisoit ferme et qui luy resistoit il se douta bien qu'imbas qu'il connoisoit pour homme de coeur et qu'il scavoit qui commandoit cette armee retenoit ce gros en son devoir mais comme il ne le pouvoit voir distinctement pour l'attaquer il s'avisa d'une ruse qui luy reussit il se mit donc a crier aussi haut qu'il le put si le vaillant imbas veut vaincre que ne vient il combattre artamene et luy disputer la victoire en personne a ces paroles le hazard qui se mesle de toutes choses fit qu'imbas se trouvant fort proche de luy se tourna de son coste et allant a artamene l'espee haute je ne pensois pas luy dit-il avoir un si illustre ennemy si pres de moy ny une si legitime excuse de ma deffaite si elle arrive a ces mots ils s'aprochent ils se battent et se parlent de temps en temps de peut que la presse ne les separe et qu'ils ne se connoissent plus mais a la fin mon maistre estant le plus fort et le plus heureux luy fit sauter l'espee des mains et luy saisissant la bride 
 il le menaca de le tuer s'il ne se rendoit imbas se voyant en cet estat ne fit aucune difficulte de se rendre et artamene l'ayant donne en garde a quatre des siens fut achever de vaincre tout ce qui resistoit encore l'on voyoit la cavalerie d'artamene renverser l'infanterie phrigienne sous les pieds de ses chevaux et l'on voyoit presque toute l'infanterie capadocienne estre devenue cavalerie parce que dans le desordre ou avoient este leurs ennemis comme ils avoient voulu monter a cheval les nostres les en avoient empeschez et les tuant avoient pris leurs chevaux dont ils se servoient apres contre leurs compagnons il y en avoit quelques-uns qui passoient d'un simple sommeil a un sommeil eternel sans s'eveiller les autres a moitie armez estoient contraints de se deffendre d'autres se servant de l'obscurite de la nuit s'en-fuyoient sans honte d'autres sans armes ne laissoient pas de disputer leur vie avec opiniastrete et tous ensemble estoient en une confusion estrange enfin seigneur apres un combat de deux heures artamene ne trouva plus rien qui luy peust resister et faisant sonner sourdement la retraite chacun se rassembla sous ses enseignes et tous ensemble reprirent le chemin du camp cette entreprise fut si judicieusement conduite et si heureusement executee qu'a la pointe du jour je vy revenir artamene a la teste de ses 
 troupes qui s'estant fait rendre son prisonnier par ceux a qui il l'avoit baille a garder le faisoit marcher aupres de luy mon maistre tenant une espee qu'il avoit arrachee a un des ennemis et qu'imbas qui la reconnut luy assura estre celle de son lieutenant general jamais seigneur il ne s'est veu une pareille chose ny un plus magnifique triomphe que celuy-la il n'y avoit pas un capitaine ny pas un soldat qui n'eust quelque marque de victoire entre les mains l'on en voyoit qui tenoient des boucliers a la phrigienne d'autres des cottes d'armes toutes sanglantes quelques-uns des enseignes a demy rompues d'autres des faisseaux de javelots sur leurs espaules d'autres encore des testes de soldats morts qu'ils portoient par les cheveux un grand nombre d'autres menoient des prisonniers enchainez le prince tigrane avoit deux enseignes des ennemis qu'il leur avoit arrachees et tous enfin portoient une marque assuree qu'ils s'estoient trouvez au combat comme artamene les vit tous de cette facon il en eut une joye extreme il les loua il les carressa et pour s'aquitter de sa parole leur fit voir le general de l'armee ennemie qu'il avoit fait prisonnier et l'espee de son lieutenant qu'il portoit artamene estoit dans cette glorieuse occupation lors qu'on vint l'advertir qu'il paroissoit environ cinquante chevaux qui venoient du coste de sinope il envoya aussi tost les reconnoistre mais il se trouva que c'estoit philidaspe 
 qui estant jaloux de la gloire d'artamene estoit party de la cour sans conge et n'avoit pu souffrir que son rival se trouvast en une occasion dangereuse ou il ne seroit pas je pense toutefois seigneur qu'il se repentit de sa diligence lors qu'il aprit qu'il n'auroit point de part a la victoire qui venoit d'estre r'emportee sans luy il arriva donc aupres d'artamene comme tous ces chefs et tous ces soldats tenoient encore ces illustres marques de leur avantage et comme il avoit sceu la chose par ceux qui l'estoient alle reconnoistre s'il eust ose il ne seroit pas venu si avant mais la bienseance ne le souffroit pas mon maistre ne le vit pas plustost qu'il en fut esmeu neantmoins comme il n'est jamais plus doux ny plus civil qu'apres la victoire il fut au devant de luy jugez luy dit-il philidaspe de ce que nous eussions fait si vous y eussiez este parce que nous avons fait vous n'y estant pas je ne scay pas respondit-il si j'eusse partage la gloire avec vous mais je scay bien que j'eusse partage le peril lien reste encore assez luy repliqua artamene puis que nous avons devant nous une armee de vingt mille hommes a combattre la premiere victoire que vous avez remportee respondit philidaspe n'est pas un presage assure de la seconde et peut-estre qu'en partageant le peril avec vous je ne partageray pas la gloire nous le verrons bien tost respondit artamene car je ne pense pas qu'il soit a propos de laisser fortifier nos ennemis auparavant 
 que de les combattre il faut profiter des faveurs que la fortune nous a faites c'est une capricieuse qui ne veut pas qu'on les neglige et qui les oste quelquefois pour tousjours lors qu'on ne les prend pas des qu'elle les presente vous la connoissez mieux que moy respondit philidaspe qui n'ay jamais receu aucun bien d'elle voyons donc repliqua artamene qui se sentit un peu pique de ce discours si les maux ou les biens que j'en ay receus m'ont apris a la bien connoistre apres cela il se tourna vers tous les chefs et vers tous les soldats et leur parlant avec une hardiesse et une joye dans les yeux qui sembloit estre d'un heureux presage n'est il pas vray leur dit-il mes compagnons que les vainqueurs ne sont jamais las et que vous l'estiez davantage auparavant que d'avoir combatu que vous ne l'estes maintenant que vous avez vaincu vos ennemis mais mes chers compagnons ne nous trompons pas nous mesmes nous n'avons encore que commence de vaincre et il faut achever d'abattre tout ce qui pourrait s'opposer a nous que le nombre de nos ennemis ne vous espouvante point car je puis vous asssurer que nous leur allons estre plus redoutables qu'ils ne nous le doivent estre estant bien plus difficile combattre des soldats qui viennent de vaincre que d'autres qui n'auroient pas combatu le brait de nostre victoire devancera nostre armee et affaiblira le coeur de nos ennemis la crainte et la douleur les auront a demy deffaus quand nous arriverons a eux et si les conjectures ne me trompent cette seconde victoire ne nous coustera pas trop cher le vaillant philidaspe 
 qui vient d'arriver nous la rendra encore plus facile et la fortune qui aime a favoriser les entreprises dangereuses et extraordinaires ne nous abandonnera pas en celle-cy allons donc mes compagnons allons car si vous aimez le travail vous n'en pouvez jamais trouver de plus glorieux et si vous cherchez le repos vous ne pouvez aussi jamais establir plus fondement le vostre qu'en mettant vos ennemis en estat de ne le pouvoir plus troubler artamene ayant parle a peu pres de cette sorte tous les officiers et tous les soldats aplaudirent a la resolution qu'il sembloit avoir prise en suitte de quoy il fit la reveue de ses troupes pour voir combien il en avoit perdu et trouva qu'il ne luy manquoit que cinq cens hommes quoy qu'il en eust deffait quinze mille apres cela il commanda que chacun fist un leger repas et se preparast a combattre dans deux heures cependant il traitta tousjours fort civilement avec philidaspe mais comme il vouloit que le bruit de sa premiere victoire devancast ses troupes et commencast de luy embaucher la seconde il renvoya au roy de phrigie imbas general de l'armee qu'il avoit deffaite et qu'il avoit pris comme je l'ay desja dit ordonnant au heraut qui le devoit conduire de dire a ce prince que ce vaillant homme s'estoit si bien deffendu et avoit tesmoigne tant de coeur dans sa disgrace qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre de luy donner le desplaisir d'estre prisonnier pendant une bataille ny se priver luy mesme de la gloire de le vaincre une seconde fois si le bonheur luy en vouloit philidaspe 
 l'entendant parler ainsi et ne pouvant s'empescher de le contredire voulut luy representer qu'il vaudroit mieux ne se deffaire pas d'un homme qui pouvoit tousjours servir a quelque chose apres la bataille si le succes n'en estoit pas heureux si nous sommes vaincus repliqua artamene nous n'aurons que faire de prisonniers puis que nous serons ou morts ou prisonniers nous mesmes et que ceux que nous avons pris feront delivrez malgre nous et si nous sommes vainqueurs aujousta-t'il nous n'aurons que faire non plus d'avoir des ostages entre nos mains pour porter nos ennemis a ce que nous voudrons puis qu'eux mesmes feront sous nostre puissance toujours m'avouerez vous repliqua philidaspe que vous donnez un vaillant homme a nos ennemis il est vray respondit artamene mais en leur en donnant un nous en gagnons plusieurs qu'il faudroit laisser a garder celuy-la tant y a seigneur que mon maistre fit ce qu'il vouloit faire et que philidaspe se teut cependant le roy de pont et celuy de phrigie furent etrangement surpris lors qu'a la pointe du jour on les advertit dans leurs tentes que l'on entendoit de grands cris de joye dans l'armee d'artamene et que mesme ceux qui s'en estoient aprochez disoient y avoir remarque quantite d'enseignes phrigiennes ces princes ne pouvoient s'imaginer comment il estoit possible qu'ayant veu des feux toute la nuit dans le camp de leur ennemy il eust pu aller combattre 
 et deffaire les troupes qu'ils attendoient ils ne pouvoient croire non plus qu'imbas eust trahy son roy et son party pour prendre celuy des capadociens de sorte que dans cette incertitude ils ne scavoient que dire ny que penser tous les capitaines et tous les soldats n'en estoient pas moins en peine et tous ensemble voyoient tousjours bien que cela ne leur pouvoit pas estre avantageux mais comme ces princes alloient envoyer reconnoistre de nouveau ce que c'estoit ils virent arriver imbas qui pousse par sa propre generosite et ayant interest d'excuser sa deffaite parla valeur de ses ennemis exagera leur courage si fortement et parla de celuy d'artamene avec de si grands eloges qu'il en porta la frayeur dans l'ame de tous ceux qui l'escoutoient c'est assez luy respondit le roy de pont que de dire que c'est artamene qui vous a vaincu pour oster la honte de vostre deffaite et c'est assez aussi adjousta le roy de phrigie de dire qu'artamene veut encore combattre pour nous obliger a ne fuir pas un ennemy dont on peut estre vaincu sans deshonneur vous direz donc a artamene dit le roy de phrigie au heraut que nous allons nous preparer a le recevoir comme il merite de l'estre et a luy rendre grace si nous le pouvons en taschant de nous mettre en estat de luy pouvoir renvoyer a nostre tour des prisonniers apres la bataille cependant artamene qui s'estoit resolu de finir la guerre par cette journee n'oublioit rien de tout ce qui la luy pouvoit rendre 
 heureuse il ne rencontroit pas un capitaine a qui il ne promust recompense de la part du roy il ne voyoit pas un soldat passer aupres de luy qu'il ne l'appellast par son nom et qu'il ne luy dist quelque chose d'obligeant et par son action et par ses paroles il leur inspira un si ardant desir de gloire qu'il n'eust pas este aise de les retenir tant il est vray qu'il avoit un art puissant pour exciter leurs coeurs et pour se rendre maistre de leurs esprits apres donc que toutes les troupes eurent fait un repas assez leger et qu'a la teste de l'armee l'on eut offert un sacrifice aux dieux artamene la fit marcher en bataille droit a l'ennemy et marcha le premier avec le prince tigrane et philidaspe qui ne le voulut point abandonner afin qu'il ne peust rien faire qu'il ne fist aussi bien que luy j'advoue seigneur que voyant les choses en cet estat je ne pus me resoudre de continuer d'obeir exactement a artamene je me mefiay donc parmy toute cette jeunesse de la cour qui formoit un corps de volontaires et qui suivoit mon maistre mais je ne scay comment il me vit et me fit signe dela main aussi tost qu'il m'eut aperceu je quittay alors mon rang et comme il s'avanca quinze ou vingt pas seigneur luy dis je en l'abordant ne me refusez pas la permission de combattre non me respondit-il je ne vous la donneray point et vous m'avez fasche de me desobeir je ne le feray plus luy dis-je seigneur puis que vous ne le pouvez souffrir et je m'en vay me retirer du moins 
 feraulas me dit-il si je meurs en cette occasion vous pourrez assurer a la princesse que le jour de ma mort aura este bien marque du sang de ses ennemis et qu'en une mesme journee j'aurai este vainqueur et vaincu a ces mots ce cher et bon maistre me commanda de nouveau tout haut de suivre ses ordres afin que personne ne pensast lie de mon courage et de ma retraite qui me peust estre desavantageux apres cela je le quittay et luy rejoignances siens continua de marcher vers l'armee des rois alliez qui de leur coste se preparoient a combattre ils taschoient de persuader a leurs soldats que la deffaite de leurs troupes leur feroit avantageuse puis que la fatigue que leurs ennemis avoient eue a les vaincre devoit les avoir affaiblis mais quoy qu'ils pussent dite le nom d'artamene les estonnoit plus que la voix de leurs princes ne les s'assuroit cependant ces deux corps d'armee paroissant animez d'un mesme esprit et d'une mesme fureur s'avancerent et s'aprocherent a la portee de la fleche l'air en fut en un moment tout obscurcy le fracas des traits qui se rencontrent qui se choquent et qui se brisent en ces occasions se joignit au bruit esclattant de cette harmonie guerriere dont on se sert dans tous les combats et frapant l'oreille de tous les soldats de l'un et de l'autre party redoubla dans le coeur des uns et des aimes un ardant desir de vaincre apres avoir vide leurs carquois ils s'aprocherent davantage ceux qui portoient des javelots les lancerent avec une force extreme les espees 
 suivirent bien toit et ces deux armees venant aux mains et se meslant tous ceux qui les composoient firent ce qu'ont accoustume de faire de vaillans soldats conduits par de vaillans capitaines c'est a dire que tout se mesla que tout combatit que tout voulut vaincre et que chacun a son tour attaqua et fut attaque l'aigle gauche de l'armee d'artamene enfonca la droite de celle des rois alliez et la gauche de ces princes esbranla fort la droite d'artamene pour luy il fit non seulement ce qu'il avoit accoustume de faire mais il fit encore ce qu'il n'avoit jamais fait le prince tigrane se signa la aussi en cette occasion philidaspe a leur exemple fit tout de que l'on pouvoit attendre d'un homme de grand coeur et mon maistre luy mesme m'a dit souvent malgre la haine qu'il avoit pour luy qu'il estoit digne d'une immortelle louange il ne font donc pas s'estonner si la plus petite armee eut l'avantage sur la plus grande ayant trois hommes il extraordinaires qui la soustenoient il faut pourtant avouer que le gain de cette bataille apartint tout entier a artamene non seulement parce qu'il combatit cent fois plus vaillamment qu'aucun autre non seulement parce qu'il donna tous les ordres avec jugement non seulement parce qu'il anima les siens qu'il les s'allia quelquefois qu'il les soustint qu'il les deffendit et qu'il fut par tous les lieux ou il estoit besoin d'estre mais encore parce qu'il fit une chose qui mit plus les ennemis en deroutte que 
 tout ce que les autres avoient fait mon cher et invincible maistre qui s'estoit resolu de vaincre ou de mourir et de conserver d'autant plus soigneusement tout l'honneur de sa premiere victoire qu'il n'ignoroit pas que s'il perdoit la bataille il seroit accuse de l'avoir un peu legerement hazardee artamene dis-je voulant donc triompher ou se perdre ne s'amusoit pas en cette occasion a choisir les ennemis qu'il combattoit et a espargner mesme leur sang comme il faisoit presque tousjours estant certain qu'en cent occasions differentes il a mieux aime s'exposer a estre blesse pour tascher de prendre de vaillants hommes prisonniers que de les tuer comme il le pouvoit aisement faire mais en celle-cy il attaquoit tout ce qui s'opposoit a son passage il blessoit tout ce qui ne se rendoit pas et il soit tout ce qui luy resistoit opiniastrement rencontrant donc un gros de cavalerie qui faisoit ferme il le charge il l'enfonce et le met en suitte sans prendre garde que le roy de pont ce genereux rival dont il estoit si estime et si aime estoit celuy qui luy faisoit le plus de resistance mais enfin l'ayant blesse au bras droit et ce prince se voyant hors de combat et hors d'apparence d'estre desgage par les siens puis qu'il alloit estre envelope par ceux d'artamene se voyant dis-je en cet estat et reconnoissant mon maistre il aima mieux se rendre a luy qu'a aucun autre et dans cette pensee se voyant presse de toutes parts et prest de perir il faut se rendre 
 artamene il faut te ceder luy cria ce prince blesse et il faut mesme te confesser en se rendant et en te cedant que tu merites de vaincre a ces mots artamene le reconnoissant s'approcha encore plus pres de luy et voyant qu'il ne pouvoit plus soustenir son espee il escarta ceux qui le pressoient et l'abordant fort civilement vous cedez plustost a ma fortune qu'a ma valeur luy repliqua-t'il mais il faut du moins que j'use comme je dois de cette bonne fortune et que je tasche de vous tesmoigner qu'elle est accompagnee de quelque vertu en disant cela il se tourna vers chrisante qui combattoit alors aupres de luy et luy remettant le roy de pont entre les mains allez chrisante luy dit-il allez conduire le roy dans nostre camp car il y fera mieux servy que dans le sien ou tout est en confusion mais ayez en soing adjousta t'il comme d'un prince qui feroit nostre vainqueur si tous ses soldats estoient aussi vaillants que luy chrisante obeissant a son maistre et s'accompagnant de cent cavaliers se chargea de la conduite du roy de pont auquel artamene dit encore en le quittant avec beaucoup de civilite seigneur j'irois moy-mesme vous servir si la necessite de mon devoir me le permettoit mais comme je voy encore quelques-uns des vostres les armes a la main vostre majeste me pardonnera si je la quitte et si je vay achever de me mettre en estat de luy rendre apres mes devoirs avec plus de respect et plus de loisir a ces mots 
 s'abaissant jusques sur l'arcon il tourna bride et ce prince vaincu recevant la loy d'un vainqueur qui le traitoit de si bonne grace suivit chrisante sans songer plus a sa liberte cependant le roy de phrigie ayant sceu bien tost apres que le roy de pont estoit prisonnier en entra en une fureur estrange et quoy que ce prince soit desja assez esloigne de sa premiere jeunesse il a pourtant beaucoup de vigueur et beaucoup de generosite si bien qu'aprenant cette perte il redoubla ses efforts pour tascher de la reparer il rassembla donc ce qu'il put des siens et fut luy mesme en personne aux lieux les plus dangereux artamene ayant apris en quel endroit combattoit ce prince y fut accompagne de tout ce qui le put suivre de tout ce qu'il rencontra en son passage et recommenca alors un nouveau combat par tout ailleurs l'on ne voyoit que des ennemis morts ou mourans que des soldats qui jettoient leurs armes pour fuir ou qui se rendoient et la victoire estoit entierement du coste d'artamene cependant la nuit tombant tout d'un coup l'on ne discerna plus du tout l'endroit ou il y avoit encore combat de ceux ou il n'y en avoit plus et philidaspe que la foule avoit separe d'artamene malgre la resolution qu'il avoit prise de ne l'abandonner pas achevant de vaincre tous ceux qui luy avoient resiste ne voyant point mon maistre pour donner les ordres fit a l'instant sonner la retraite 
 
 
 
 
 apres chacun se retrouva sous son enseigne et le party d'artamene se trouva maistre du champ de bataille et du bagage des ennemis qui l'avoient abandonne mais pour le vainqueur l'on ne le voyoit en nulle part tous les capitaines se demandoient les uns aux autres ou il estoit et tous les soldats vouloient scavoir ce qu'estoit devenu leur general les uns disoient je ne l'ay point veu depuis qu'a la teste de nostre compagnie il a enfonce un escadron qui luy resistoit les autres adjoustoient je ne l'ai point rencontre depuis que je luy ay veu tuer un vaillant homme qui j'avoit attaque et tous enfin marquoient la derniere fois qu'ils l'avoient veu par quelque action heroique mais encore que tout le monde l'eust veu durant le combat personne ne scavoit ce qu'il estoit devenu l'on ne le trouvoit en nul endroit il n'estoit point dans son camp il n'estoit point dans son camp il n'estoit point au champ de bataille et ainsi il sembloit demeurer confiant qu'il faloit qu'il fust mort ou prisonnier philidaspe mesme en paroissoit fort empresse et soit que ce fust par generosite ou par un sentiment tout contraire il s'en informa avec un grand soing pour moy seigneur je n'eus jamais une douleur si grande chrisante n'en avoit pas une mediocre et je puis dire qu'il n'y avoit personne en toute l'armee qui ne s'affligeast bien plus de cette perte qu'il ne se rejouissoit du gain de deux batailles cependant comme l'on scavoit que philidaspe avoit desja commande 
 des armees avec la qualite de general tous les officiers ne firent point de difficulte de prendre les ordres de luy car pour le prince tigrane comme il ne devoit pas tarder en capadoce il n'avoit voulu accepter nul employ et ne vouloit estre que volontaire mais tous ces capitaines n'avoient rien de plus pressant dans l'esprit que d'estre pleinement esclaircis de la fortune de leur general ils dirent a philidaspe qu'il faloit s'informer du roy de pont en quel lieu il croyoit que le roy de phrigie se seroit retire afin d'y envoyer un heraut demander si artamene ne seroit point prisonnier car enfin il s'estoit trouve deux soldats qui assuroient avoir veu d'essez loing artamene a l'entree de la nuit poursuivre les ennemis du coste que le roy de phrigie avoit fait sa retraite ce fut moy seigneur qui receus l'ordre d'aller vers le roy de pont que l'on avoit loge et pense dans la tente de mon maistre il m'assura qu'on trouveroit le roy de phrigie a la ville la plus proche de cerasie au dela de la riviere de sangar mais seigneur je ne vy jamais un prince plus raisonnable que celuy-la car des le mesme instant que je luy eus fait connoistre la crainte que l'on avoit qu'artamene ne fust prisonnier si cela est me dit-il ne craignez rien pour vostre maistre et se faisant donner de quoy escrire bien qu'il fust assez blesse au bras droit il fit une lettre au roy de phrigie par laquelle elle prioit si artamene se rencontroit par hazard en sa puissance 
 de le traiter avec toute la civilite possible l'on envoya donc aussi tost un heraut vers le roy de phrigie et chrisante et moy suivis d'un nombre infiny d'autres de toutes conditions ayant fait allumer force flambeaux fusmes chercher parmy les morts ce que nous souhaitions ardemment de n'y rencontrer pas et ce que nous craignions estrangement d'y trouver helas disois-je a chrisante les dieux auroient-ils este si favorables a artamene pour luy estre si contraire a quoy bon luy faire remporter deux illustres victoires en un jour pour le faire perir de cette sorte et pour laisser philidaspe son ennemy jouir du fruit de ses travaux cependant la pointe du jour estant venue nous continuasmes de chercher et de chercher avec soing bien aises pourtant de voir que nous cherchions inutilement comme nous scavions le coste ou l'on avoit veu artamene la derniere fois chrisante et moy fusmes encore allez loing sans que nous sceussions bien precisement nous mesmes pourquoy nous nous escartions tant mais le destin qui nous conduisoit scavoit bien ce que nous ignorions comme nous commencions de desesperer de pouvoir rien aprendre de notre cher maistre et que nous nous resolutions de nous en retourner nous entendismes quelques voix plaintives qui nous appelloient nous fusmes en diligence de ce coste la et nous y trouvasmes deux soldats fort blessez l'un a la jambe et l'autre a la cuisse qui ne pouvant se soustenir 
 estoient demeurez en ce lien toute la nuit en attendant qu'il passast quelqu'un pour les secourir ayant receu ces blessures l'un et l'autre en cet endroit comme ils poursuivoient les ennemis mais quoy que ces blessures fussent grandes et que leur foiblesse fust extreme par la perte de leur sang la premiere chose qu'ils nous dirent ne fut point de nous demander secours bien qu'ils fussent de nostre party au contraire l'un des deux prenant la parole et nous regardant car il scavoit bi que nous estions a artamene allez nous dit-il allez vers le bord de cette riviere que vous voyez a deux cens pas d'icy et cherchez y avec foin pour voir si vostre illustre maistre n'y est point en mesme estat que nous nostre maistre luy dismes nous tout a la fois chrisante et moy helas mes amis que nous en pouvez vous aprendre nous le vismes hier au soir fort tard me respondit le soldat qui avoit desja parle poursuivre le roy de phrigie qui se retiroit en combattant mais comme ils passerent aupres de nous nous connusmes qu'artamene estoit blesse bien que le jour fust prest de finir car nous vismes sa cotte d'armes toute sanglante nous estions comme vous le voyez couverts des buttions qui nous environnent et qui nous desroberent a la veue de ceux du party contraire le roy de phrigie avoit gagne le devant d'assez loing mais nous eusmes beau crier car de tous ceux qui suivoient artamene aucun ne s'arresta pour nous secourir et nous vismes 
 qu'environ a l'endroit que je vous ay marque il se fit encore un grand combat ou si je ne me trompe je vy tomber l'illustre artamene du moins fuis-je bien assure que je ne vy personne demeurer debout que quelques-uns qui passerent la riviere a la nage entre lesquels je suis certain qu'artamene n'estoit pas ce soldat n'eut pas si toit acheve de parler que chrisante et moy commencasmes de courir vers le lieu qu'il nous avoit monstre avec un redoublement de crainte que je ne vous puis exprimer et je pense que nous eussions abandonne ces deux pauvres soldats sans les secourir n'eust este que nous vismes paroistre quelques-uns des nostres entre les mains desquels nous les remismes pour en avoir soing cependant seigneur nous arrivasmes sur le bord de cette riviere qui est celle de sangar qui separe le royaume de pont de celuy de bythinie comme nous y fusmes nous vismes que toutes ses rives estoient couvertes de morts il y avoit un petit pont de bois qui paroissoit avoir este rompu de nouveau et comme le cours de cette riviere n'est pas fort rapide on la voyoit aussi loing que la veue se pouvoit estendre du coste qu'elle descend toute couverte en ces deux bords de soldats tuez et d'armes rompues toutes ses eaux mesmes en avoient change de couleur toutes les herbes de ces rivages estoient teintes de sang et l'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus funeste que cet objet nous reconnusmes aussi tost grand nombre de gens de nostre party 
 et nous en discernasmes aussi beaucoup de celuy du roy de phrigie mais o dieux je fremis encore quand je me souviens de la surprise que j'eus lors que suivant l'une de ces rives un peu plus bas je reconnus le cheval de mon cher maistre que je vy mort au bord de l'eau il avoit les deux pieds de devant dans la riviere comme s'il eust voulu la passer et qu'il eust este tue en cette action d'un coup de trait qu'il avoit au travers du flanc helas m'escriay-je chrisante il n'en faut plus douter nostre illustre maistre a pery ou par le fer ou parles flots et de quelque facon que la chose soit arrivee nous avons perdu le grand artamene de vous dire seigneur quel fut nostre estonnement et quelle fut nostre douleur c'est ce qui n'est pas possible nous reconnusmes fort bien ce cheval qui estoit tres-remarquable nous vismes de plus a deux pas de la l'habillement de teste de mon maistre que je reconnus aussi tost a un grand panache dont il estoit couvert et comme la riviere est estroite je reconnus encore de l'autre coste de l'eau son bouclier qui estant de bois par dedans flottoit le long de cette rive et s'estoit accroche par ses courroyes a quelques joncs et a quelques roseaux qui la bordent enfin seigneur nous ne doutasmes point que nostre cher maistre n'eust pery principalement apres que nous eusmes visite fort exactement et fort inutilement tout ensemble les deux costez de cette riviere la longueur de plusieurs stades car je la passay a la 
 nage et principalement encore quand nous fusmes retournez au camp avec ces tristes et funestes marques de la perte d'artamene et que nous eusmes sceu que le heraut que l'on avoit envoye vers le roy de phrigie estoit revenu sans en avoir apris aucunes nouvelles a ce redoublement d'affliction nous recourusmes chrisante et moy une seconde fois tout le long de ces funestes rivages qui nous firent tant verser de larmes nous suivismes ces bords beaucoup plus loing qu'il n'estoit vray-semblable que ces vagues eussent pu porter le corps de nostre cher maistre et comme cette riviere se jette dans la mer assez pres de la nous creusmes qu'elle auroit jette avec elle le corps d'artamene dans ces abismes enfin seigneur nous retournasmes une autre fois au camp tous desesperez nous creusmes absolument qu'il estoit mort et toute l'armee le creut comme nous jamais jour de victoire ne fut si triste que celuy-la et la perte de vingt batailles n'auroit pu causer une consternation esgale a celle que l'on voyoit dans toutes nos troupes tout le monde soupiroit tout le monde gemissoit et les capitaines avoient beaucoup de peine a retenir les soldats et a les empescher de se desbander ils s'imaginoient presque que tous ces morts dont le champ de bataille estoit couvert alloient ressusciter pour leur arracher d'entre les mains les lauriers qu'ils avoient r'emportez et ils publioient hautement qu'il n'y avoit plus d'esperance de vaincre puis 
 qu'artamene ne vivoit plus les uns disoient qu'il ne faloit plus servir parce qu'il n'y avoit plus de recompense a attendre les autres qu'il ne faloit plus s'exposer pour des gens qui ne s'exposoient pas comme artamene enfin disoient ils tous nous regrettons un general qui nous faisoit presque vaincre sans peril qui faisoit tousjours plus luy mesme qu'il ne nous commandoit de faire qui nous recompensoit magnifiquement des moindres services qui nous laissoit tout le butin apres avoit partage le danger et qui par sa douceur et par sa familiarite charmante estoit tout ensemble nostre compagnon et nostre general voila seigneur ce que disoient les soldats pendant que tous les capitaines pleuroient publiquement comme eux ou cachoient du moins leur douleur dans leurs tentes tous les prisonniers que nous avions faits en furent sensiblement affligez et ne pouvoient se consoler de leur captivite scachant qu'ils ne feroient plus sous la puissance d'artamene dont ils avoient espere un traitement favorable le roy de pont en son particulier en fut extraordinairement afflige et tesmoigna plus de douleur de la perte de celuy qui l'avoit blesse qui l'avoit vaincu et qui l'avoit fait prisonnier que de la perte de deux batailles et de celle de sa liberte philidaspe mesme malgre tous leurs desmeslez et toute son aversion tesmoigna estre touche d'une avanture si pitoyable et s'il eut de la joye il la desguisa si bien qu'elle ne parut point 
 sur son visage mais pendant que tout le monde pleure et que tout le monde le pleint je parts du camp tout desespere sans en parler a personne non pas mesme au sage chrisante et je m'en viens a sinope pour m'aquitter de la triste commission que mon maistre m'avoit donnee d'aller porter ce qu'il avoit escrit a la princesse de capadoce je fis une telle diligence que l'arrivay icy quatre heures plustost que celuy que philidaspe envoyoit au roy pour l'advertir de ce qui s'estoit passe et pour prendre de nouveaux ordres mais comme je ne voulois voir que mandane je fis le tour de la ville par dehors et je fus mettre pied a terre a la porte qui est la plus proche du chasteau et qui comme vous scavez n'en est qu'a vingt pas apres avoir dit a ceux qui m'arresterent a cette porte que je venois de themiscire ils me different passer de sorte que j'entray mesme dans le chasteau sans estre connu parce qu'il estoit presque nuit et ainsi montant par un escallier derobe qui respondoit a l'apartement de la princesse j'entray dans son antichambre sans que personne m'eust veu je luy fis pourtant dire auparavant par martesie que je demanday la premiere que feraulas avoit quelque choie a luy dire en particulier l'ay sceu depuis par cette fille que la princesse avoit este extremement triste tout ce jour-la et qu'elle tut fort esmue quand on luy dit que je voulois parler a elle sans que personne entendist ce que je luy voulois dire que me peut vouloir feraulas 
 dit-elle a martesie car si artamene est vainqueur c'est au roy a qui il doit rendre compte de sa victoire et s'il est vaincu adjousta-t'elle en soupirant je ne scauray que trop tost son infortune madame luy respondit cette fille je ne puis vous dire rien de ce que vous voulez scavoir car je n'ay pas plustost veu feraulas que sans luy donner presque le loisir de me dire qu'il vouloit parler a vous je suis venue vous en advertir qu'il entre donc dit elle dans mon cabinet ou je m'en vay et ou vous me l'amenerez martesie ayant receu cet ordre me vint querir ou elle m'avoit laisse et me conduisit aupres de la princesse sans que j'eusse la force d'ouvrir la bouche tant j'estois accable de douleur je ne vy pas plus tost j'illustre mandane que malgre moy j'eus le visage tout couvert de larmes la princesse me voyant en cet estat changea de couleur et prenant la parole la premiere avec precipitation artamene me dit-elle a t'il perdu la bataille et nos ennemis font ils nos vainqueurs artamene luy dis-je madame a vaincu vos ennemis a mis de sa main le roy de pont dans vos fers et a gagne deux batailles en un mesme jour mais madame adjoustay-je en redoublant mes pleurs artamene a pery a la derniere et a finy sa vie en finissant aussi la guerre artamene reprit-elle avec un ton de voix ou la douleur paroissoit sensiblement exprimee a pery en cette occasion ouy madame luy repliquay-je et artamene n'est plus voicy luy dis-je 
 en luy presentant la lettre que mon maistre luy avoit escrite ce qu'il me donna un peu auparavant que d'aller combattre et ce qu'il m'ordonna de ne remettre entre vos mains qu'apres sa mort si elle arrivoit en cette funeste bataille a ces mots la princesse ne put retenir ses larmes non plus que moy elle s'assit aupres d'une table ou il y avoit de la lumiere et elle s'y placa de facon que je ne luy voyois point le visage parce qu'elle vouloit me cacher ses pleurs mais quoy qu'elle peust faire je ne laissay pas de m'apercevoir malgre mon affliction que la sienne n'estoit pas mediocre je dois tant de choses a artamene me dit elle en prenant ce qu'il luy avoit escrit que je serois ingratte si sa perte ne me touchoit sensiblement et si je ne faisois pas apres sa mort tout ce qu'il a pu desirer de moy car dit elle en se tournant un peu de mon coste je m'imagine que cet homme illustre aura voulu me recommander les siens et me demander pour eux les recompenses qu'il n'a jamais demandees pour luy je ne scay madame luy dis-je ce que mon maistre vous a escrit mais je scay bien que ceux qui ont eu l'honneur d'estre a luy ne demandent plus que la mort et ne pretendent plus rien a la fortune ny a la vie cependant la princesse apres avoir essuye les larmes qu'elle ne pouvoit retenir se mit a lire ce que mon maistre luy mandoit qui a ce que martesie m'a dit depuis estoit a peu pres en ces termes 
 
 
 artamene a la princesse de capadoce
 auparavant que de lire ce qu'un prince malheureux vous escrit souvenez vous de grace que celuy qui prend la liberte de vous parler ne vous parlera plus jamais et qu'il n'a pu se resoudre de perdre le respect qu'il vous devoit qu'apres avoir perdu la vie pour vostre service mais madame comme il n'a pu s'exposer a vous desplaire tant qu'il a vescu il n'a pu aussi se priver de la consolation qu'il recoit d'esperer que vous scaurez du moins apres sa mort qu'il n'a vescu que pour vous et qu'il n'a adore que vous ouy madame artamene qui par sa naissance n'est pas absolument indigne de la princesse de capadoce se l'est si fort trouve par ses deffauts de la princesse mandane qu'il n'a jamais ose luy dire qu'il l'a aimee des le premier moment qu'il l'a veue et que son amour a fait tout le bonheur de ses armes et tout le tourment de sa vie non divine princesse ce n'a este que pour vous que je suis demeure desguise et inconnu dans cette cour que l'ay combattu que l'ay vaincu et que j'ay renonce a tout le reste de la terre quoy qu'il y en ait une des plus nobles parties ou je devois un jour commander ce qui m'afflige le plus presentement c'est que je ne puis scavoir si je mourray vainqueur ou vaincu si c'est le premier recevez sans vous irriter une declaration d'amour qui ne vous est faite que far un homme qui vous aura donne 
 la victoire au prix de son sang et si c'est le dernier pleignez du moins un malheureux qui fera mort pour vostre service et mort en vous adorant comme te n'ay jamais rien espere te pense que vostre vertu ne se doit pas offencer de ma respectueuse passion et que vous ne devez pas trouver mauvais que je vaut la descouvre puis que la premiere fois que je vous en escris fera la derniere que j'escriray en toute ma vie il m faut point madame d'autre responce a ce que je vous mande que quelques legeres marques de douleur et de pitie ne me les refusez donc pas je vous en conjure et pour me pardonner ma hardiesse souvenez vous s'il vous plaist madame que si j'eusse vescu vous eussiez peut-estre tousjours ignore ce que te ne vous ay apris qu'en entrant au tombeau 
 artamene tant que la lecture de cette lettre dura les larmes de la princesse se redoublerent de telle sorte qu'elle fut contrainte de l'interrompre a diverses fois mais apres qu'elle eut acheve de lire sentant bien qu'elle ne pourroit gueres mieux retenir ses plaintes que ses pleurs et ne voulant pas que je fusse le tesmoin de son excessive douleur feraulas me dit elle vous voyez que je ne suis pas mesconnoissante et que je n'ay pas oublie que l'illustre artamene avoit sauve la vie du roy mon pere puis que je m'afflige bien plus de sa perte que je ne me resjouis des glorieux avantages qu'il a r'emportez mais adjousta-t'elle en soupirant que pourroit-on moins faire pour luy que de marquer par des larmes 
 un jour qu'il a rendu memorable par le gain de deux batailles par la prise d'un roy ennemy et par la paix qu'il donne a toute la capadoce la princesse ne pouvoit presque prononcer ces paroles tant la douleur la pressoit de sorte que pour demeurer avec plus de liberte allez me dit elle feraulas pleurer vostre illustre maistre et revenez icy demain au matin car je seray bien aise de vous revoir je fis alors une profonde reverence pour m'en aller et l'estois desja la porte du cabinet lors qu'elle me r'apella feraulas me dit elle aprenez moy auparavant que de vous retirer d'ou estoit l'illustre artamene et precisement en quelle condition il estoit nay il estoit prince madame luy dis-je et s'il eust vescu il eust sans doute este roy d'un grand royaume mais madame c'est tout ce que mon maistre m'a permis de vous dire de luy m'ayant expressement deffendu de vous aprendre son nom c'en est assez dit-elle pour la gloire d'artamene et trop pour le repos de mandane a ces mots se sentant encore plus pressee de son desplaisir elle me congedia et demeura seule avec sa chere martesie je ne fus pas plustost sorty a ce qu'elle m'a dit depuis que luy donnant ce que mon maistre luy avoit escrit voyez luy dit-elle voyez la cause de mon excessive douleur et considerez je vous en conjure si jamais il y eut rien de plus pitoyable ny de plus surprenant martesie obeissant a la princesse voulut commencer de lire tout bas ce qu'elle 
 luy avoit donne mais mandate ne le pouvant endurer non luy dit elle martesie je veux entendre ce que je n'ay fait que voir confusement et ce que j'ay peut-estre mal leu martesie se mit donc a lire tout haut mais dieux que cette lecture fut interrompue de fois et qu'artamene eust este heureux s'il eust sceu les sentimens que mandane avoit pour luy qui m'eust dit il y a seulement une heure disoit la princesse a martesie vous recevrez une declaration d'amour sans colere vous pleurerez celuy qui vous l'aura faite et vous aimerez cherement sa memoire ha martesie je ne l'aurois jamais creu cependant je suis contrainte de vous advouer ma foiblesse et de vous confesser que je ne sens que de la douleur et de la compassion pour le malheureux artamene je ne suis pas mesme faschee qu'il ait eu de l'affection pour moy et je ne scay adjousta t'elle en souspirant s'il ressuscitoit si j'aurois la force de me repentir de ce que je dis et il tout ce que je pourrois sur moy mesme ne feroit pas de luy cacher mes sentimens ouy martesie poursuivit la princesse je m'apercoy qu'artamene avoit plus de part en mon coeur que je ne pensois et peutestre plus que je ne devois luy en donner car enfin je sens que mon ame est troublee je sens que la douleur me possede et je sens malgre moy que la certitude de sa passion ne m'offence pas je sens adjousta-t'elle encore que la connoissance de sa condition mesle quelque secret et foible sentiment 
 de joye a ma douleur je repasse toute sa vie et toutes ses actions en ma memoire et contre mon gre et sans mon consentement je ne puis m'empescher d'estre en quelque facon bien aise lors que je trouve en toutes ces choses des circonstances qui me confirment ce qu'il ma dit de sa naissance et de son amour enfin martesie pour ne vous desguiser pas la verite je pense que comme artamene m'aimoit beaucoup sans que je le sceusse avec certitude je l'aimois aussi un peu sans le scavoir et que ce que je nommois estime et reconnoissance dit-elle en rougissant ne se devoit peutestre pas apeller ainsi je scay mesme que diverses fois poursuivit-elle j'ay souhaite une couronne a artamene sans scavoir precisement pourquoy je la luy souhaitois et je scay de plus que quelque inquietude que j'eusse des soupcons que j'avois de sa passion je n'eusse peut-estre pas absolument voulu qu'il ne m'eust point aimee mais dieux ce qui est le plus considerable et le plus fascheux c'est que je scay bien que de la facon dont je sens sa mort elle troublera tout le repos de ma vie l'illustre mandane s'arresta a ces paroles et martesie quoy que sensiblement touchee de la perte d'artamene voulant toutefois consoler la princesse luy dit que les dieux avoient tousjours acoustume de mesler les biens et les maux et de n'envoyer jamais gueres les uns sans les autres et qu'ainsi en cette occasion il 
 faloit se resoudre d'acheter la victoire un peu cher ha martesie luy dit-elle puis que cette victoire couste la vie d'artamene elle couste trop quand mesme elle me donneroit une couronne car enfin ma cher fille il n'est pas aise de se consoler de la perte d'un prince comme luy d'un prince dis je qui possedoit toutes les bonnes qualitez qui n'en avoit point de mauvaises et qui nous aimoit mais luy dit alors martesie s'il eust vescu vous ne l'eussiez pas sceu ou s'il vous l'eust dit vous vous en fussiez offencee je l'advoue reprit la princesse avec precipitation je m'en ferois offencee et offencee mortellement mais martesie il ne me la dit qu'en allant a la mort je ne l'ay sceu qu'apres qu'il n'a plus este en estat de pouvoir scavoir ce que j'en penserois et s'est cela principalement qui cause toute ma tendresse et qui fait ma plus aigre douleur toutes les grandes actions d'artamene poursuivit elle et toutes ses hautes vertus ont este des choses qui ont veritablement merite et gagne mon estime mais je vous advoue que le respect qu'il a eu pour moy touche plus sensiblement mon coeur les combats qu'il a faits les batailles qu'il a gagnees et tant d'autres actions esclatantes qu'il a faites si vous voulez pour meriter mon aprobation ne m'apartiennent pas de telle sorte que la gloire ne les ait pu partager avec moy mais qu'artamene m'ait aimee et se empesche de me le dire jusques a la mort par un pur sentiment de respect c'est 
 martesie c'est ce qui est absolument pour mandane c'est ce qui me fait voir parfaitement qu'artamene l'estimoit et la connoissoit et c'est enfin ce qui m'oblige d'aimer la memoire d'un homme qui avoit sceu accorder la raison avec l'amour et m'aimer sans m'offencer et sans me desplaire madame luy dit alors martesie je trouve bien qu'il est juste que vous cherissiez la memoire d'artamene mais je ne scay s'il l'est que vous vous haissiez vous mesme en vous affligeant demesurement je ne scay repliqua la princesse s'il est juste ny mesme s'il est de la bien-seance mais je scay bien que je ne scaurois faire autrement le n'aurois jamais fait seigneur si je vous redisois tout ce que mandane dit en cette rencontre elle se mit au lit sans vouloir manger et passa la nuit sans dormir le soir mesme le roy sceut la victoire et la mort d'artamene par celuy que philidaspe avoit envoye a sinope pour l'en advertir ce prince tesmoigna avoir une douleur extreme de la perte de mon maistre toute la cour et toute la ville s'en affligerent et l'on eust dit qu'il estoit venu nouvelle que l'on avoit perdu la bataille et que tout le royaume alloit estre renverse enfin il n'y eut qu'aribee seul qui dans son ame en estoit bien aise quoy qu'il n'osast pas le tesmoigner comme le roy ignoroit que la princesse sceust cet accident il envoya le luy dire et tut luy mesme le lendemain au matin pour s'en consoler avec elle car il scavoit bien 
 qu'elle estimoit beaucoup artamene cette conversation fut fort tendre et fort touchante du coste du roy et fort sage et fort retenue de la princesse ne descouvrant de sa douleur que ce que la compassion et l'interest de l'estat en devoient raisonnablement eau fer dans son ame pour une semblable perte mais des que le roy fut party elle m'envoya chercher et comme je ne pouvois plus demeurer a sinope l'on me trouva que je me preparois a aller prendre conge d'elle comme je fus dans sa chambre madame luy dis je en m'aprochant de son lit je viens vous demander la permission de m'en retourner au camp et qu'y voulez vous aller faire reprit la princesse je veux luy repliquay-je aller voir si chrisante n'aura point apris depuis mon depart ce qu'est devenu le corps de mon illustre maistre que nous n'avons jamais pu trouver quoy me dit la princesse en soupirant l'infortune artamene ne recevra pas mesme les honneurs de la sepulture non madame luy dis-je les yeux tous couverts de pleurs si chrisante n'en a rien sceu depuis que je suis party elle me pressa alors de luy raconter exactement tout ce que je viens de vous aprendre c'est a dire tout ce que j'avois veu le long de la riviere de sangar et tout ce que je scavois de la mort de mon maistre apres que je luy eus tout dit et que par un recit si funeste je luy eus fait mouiller tout son beau visage de larmes elle me pressa de nouveau de luy vouloir dire son 
 nom car dit elle quelle bonne raison peut il avoir eue de me le vouloir cacher le n'en scay rien madame luy respondis-je et je vous advoue que je ne la comprens point du tour veu la grandeur de sa naissance mais enfin ce n'est pas a moy a examiner les motifs par lesquels mon maistre a agy et c'est a moy madame a executer ponctuellement ses dernieres volontez vous avez raison dit elle et j'ay tort de vous presser d'une chose injuste et inutile il suffit que je scache qu'artamene estoit de naissance royalle et qu'il n'y a point de prince au monde quelque grand qu'il puisse estre qui ne deust desirer d'avoir un fils qui luy ressemblast cependant me dit elle croyez feraulas et asseurez chrisante que tous ceux qui ont este a l'illustre artamene doivent attendre toutes choses de la princesse mandane et que ce qu'elle n'a pas fait pour luy elle le veut faire pour les siens vous estes trop genereuse madame luy dis-je mais je vous ay desja dit que nous ne demandons plus rien aux dieux que le corps de nostre cher maistre et la gloire de nous enfermer dans son tombeau ces paroles toucherent extraordinairement la princesse de sorte que me tendant la main allez feraulas me dit elle vous estes digne du maistre que vous avez perdu cherchez bien ces glorieuses et funestes reliques que jusques icy vous n'avez pu trouver et si vous les rencontrez faites que l'on m'en advertisse afin que l'oblige le roy a rendre des honneurs funebres 
 a artamene proportionnez a son merite et aux services qu'il en a receus apres cela elle me congedia en soupirant et voulut me faire donner des pierreries mais je les refusay et je partis de sinope pour m'en retourner au camp afin d'y errer du moins sur les pas de l'invincible artamene si je ne pouvois faire autre chose cependant comme le roy bien que tres afflige de la perte de mon maistre ne voulut pas pourtant perdre le fruit de toutes ses victoires et qu'il craignit que le roy de phrigie ne remist de nouvelles troupes en campagne et ne reprist le roy de pont il envoya le lendemain que je fus party de sinope un commandement a philidaspe d'amener ce roy prisonnier a la cour de sorte que le jour d'apres que je fus arrive au camp philidaspe prenant six mille hommes se mit en chemin pour le conduire luy mesme il laissa le commandement de l'armee par les ordres de ciaxare a artaxe frere d'aribee et s'en alla avec intention de triompher et de profiter des glorieux travaux de mon illustre maistre chrisante non plus que moy ne voulut point retourner a la cour et nous demeurasmes l'un et l'autre au camp pour continuer de nous informer tout le long de cette malheureuse riviere de sangar et par tous les lieux d'alentour de ce que nous avions perdu et pour nous pleindre de nostre infortune le prince tigrane qui vit qu'il n'y avoir plus rien a faire a l'armee s'en retourna seul a sinope fort afflige 
 de la perte d'artamene pour philidaspe quelque genereux qu'il fust je pense que s'il n'estoit pas bien aise de la mort d'artamene il avoit du moins certains sentimens qui ressembloient assez a celuy-la et qui produisoient a peu pres les mesmes effets dans son coeur il partit donc du camp d'une facon qui n'estoit pas ordinaire et qui estoit assez magnifique pour le roy de pont il avoit des agitations bien differentes dans son ame car il avoit une extreme douleur de la perte de la bataille beaucoup de desplaisir de la mort de celuy qui l'avoit gagnee quelque despit de suivre philidaspe comme son vainqueur luy qui ne avoit pas este et une extreme confusion de paroistre vaincu et prisonnier devant la princesse qu'il aimoit mais parmy tout cela il avoit pourtant une secrette joye de ce qu'il la reverroit cependant philidaspe marcha avec assez de diligence et comme il fut a une journee de sinope il ordonna une espece de petit triomphe ou l'on voyoit par tout des marques de deuil aussi bien que des marques de victoire a cause de la mort du general n'ayant pas ose en user autrement or comme a la derniere bataille tout le bagage des deux rois avoit este pris il s'y estoit fortuitement rencontre beaucoup de choies que le roy de phrigie avoit autrefois gagnees sur ciaxare en une guerre qu'ils avoient eue ensemble et philidaspe se servit de tout ce riche butin pour en faire une pompe assez superbe il fit donc marcher premierement 
 deux mille hommes de guerre a la teste desquels l'on portoit quantite d'enseignes gagnees sur les ennemis mais pour marquer la mort du general ceux qui les portoient estoient en deuil cinquante trompettes ou clairons suivoient ces enseignes avec des banderolles et des casaques noires en faite l'on voyoit quarante chariots tendus de noir tous remplis de cottes d'armes magnifiques d'habillemens de teste avec des panaches de diverses couleurs de boucliers de cent facons differentes d'espees d'arcs de carquois de fleches et de javelots de diverses nations et tout cela avec un meslange si adroit et si bien entendu et toutes ces choies si bien entassees avec ordre et avec confusion tout ensemble qu'a ce que nous ont dit ceux qui s'y trouverent l'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus beau ny de plus superbe six autres chariots suivoient ces quarante premiers tous remplis de ce que ciaxare avoit autrefois perdu c'est a dire de pavillons magnifiques de grands vases d'argent cizele d'un prix inestimable par leur grandeur prodigieuse et par leurs belles graveures un throsne d'or enrichy d'onices et de topases et plusieurs autres choses rares et precieuses derriere ces chariots marchoit le roy prisonnier a cheval mais sans espee environne de cent gardes avec des casaques de deuil et suivy de quinze cens captifs tous enchainez quatre a quatre immediatement apres marchoit philidaspe seul le baston de general a la main 
 vestu de deuil et son cheval caparaconne de mesme le reste des troupes le suivoit marchant en mesme ordre que les premieres 
 
 
 
 
comme ce petit triomphe arriva dans une grande plaine qui n'est qu'a vingt stades de sinope ceux des premiers rangs virent une lictiere qui croisant leur chemin a cent pas devant eux le rangea et s'arresta comme pour laisser passer les gens de guerre mais a peine furent ils vis a vis de cette lictiere que faisant alte tout d'un coup ils se mirent a crier tous d'une voix en rompant leur ordre c'est artamene c'est artamene cette voix ayant passe du premier rang au second du second au troisiesme et ainsi successivement a tous les autres le glorieux nom d'artamene fut en un instant en la bouche des amis et des ennemis des capitaines et des soldats des vaincus et des vainqueurs tout fit alte tout s'arresta et un moment apres tout le monde voulut s'avancer pour s'esclaircir de ce que c'estoit philidaspe qui eut peur que ce ne fust un artifice du roy de phrigie pour mettre ses troupes en confusion et pour tascher d'enlever le roy de pont commanda que chacun demeurast a sa place et s'avanca vers le lieu ou ce bruit avoit commence mais dieux quelle surprise fut la sienne lors que s'aprochant de cette lictiere il vit que c'estoit effectivement artamene qui estoit dedans qui tendoit la main aux soldats et qui caressoit tous ceux qui s'estoient aprochez de 
 luy cette veue luy donna sans doute un estonnement et peut-estre une douleur qu'il n'avoit jamais esprouvee mais comme il a l'ame grande et qu'en effet il a de l'esprit et de la generosite il en cacha une partie et sans tesmoigner trop de froideur ny aussi trop de joye il descendit de cheval et s'aprocha de mon maistre artamene luy dit-il en l'abordant et en luy presentant le baston de general ne pouvoit ressusciter plus a propos et celuy qui estoit mort en un jour de victoire devoit en effet ressusciter en un jour de triomphe en l'estat ou je suis repliqua artamene en sous-riant et en le saluant tres-civilement l'on me prendroit bien plustost pour estre du nombre des vaincus que de celuy des vainqueurs et je pense a vous dire la verite que presentement je ne suis gueres propre ny a suivre un char ny a le mener les chars de tromphe respondit philidaspe ne font pas difficiles a conduire car pour l'ordinaire la fortune prend le soing de les guider artamene n'eut pas loisir de respondre a cette attaque assez delicatte car tous les officiers malgre ce que philidaspe leur avoit commande quitterent leurs places et ne les reconnoissant plus vinrent saluer leur general toutes les troupes n'osant absolument quitter leurs rangs a cause des prisonniers qu'elles conduisoient se presserent de telle sorte que du moins tous les soldats pouvoient voir la lictiere ou estoit artamene et le roy de pont impatient d'embrasser 
 son illustre vainqueur luy en envoya demander la permission par un de ceux qui estoient destinez a sa garde ce soldat s'estant approche d'artamene luy dit ce que le roy de pont souhaitoit mais mon maistre avec une modestie sans egale luy faisant signe de la main c'est a philidaspe luy dit-il et non pas a artamene qu'il faut demander cette permission puis qu'il a receu les derniers ordres du roy et qu'il commande vos troupes philidaspe confus et presque fasche de la civilite que mon maistre luy faisoit en cette rencontre luy dit qu'il n'avoit plus de pouvoir ou il estoit et que c'estoit a luy a commander je n'aime gueres respondit artamene a commander aux autres quand je ne suis pas en estat d'executer moy mesme ce que je leur commande il faut pourtant aujourd'huy respondit philidaspe que vous enduriez cette incommodite car je ne pense pas qu'il y ait icy personne qui veuille occuper vostre place vous la tiendriez mieux que moy repartit artamene tous vos soldats repliqua philidaspe n'en tomberoient pas d'accord et je pense qu'ils auroient raison enfin seigneur apres que cette contestation eut assez dure artamene reprit les marques du commandement qui luy apartenoit et se tournant vers ce carde mon compagnon luy dit il dittes au roy de pont que si je pouvois marcher j'irois luy faire la reverence ou il est et qu'il peut faite tout ce qui luy plaira ce genereux prisonnier vint donc avec une joye extreme 
 saluer celuy qui l'avoit rendu captif le ne pouvois luy dit il en l'aprochant me consoler de vostre perte et je n'ay presque senty celle de ma liberte que depuis le moment que je vous ay creu mort seigneur luy respondit mon maistre avec beaucoup de douceur si je n'estois pas encore assez blesse pour ne me pouvoir soutenir artamene ne recevroit pas le roy de pont d'une maniere si incivile et il luy feroit sans doute connoistre que la vertu malheureuse ne laisse pas de luy estre en veneration ne parlons plus de malheur respondit le roy de pont mes chaines ne font presque plus pesantes puis que c'est vous qui me les donnez et je n'ay pas besoin de toute ma vertu pour future artamene comme mon vainqueur ceux qui comme vous ont merite de vaincre luy respondit mon maistre ne doivent s'affliger que mediocrement d'estre vaincus et c'est plustost en vostre propre valeur qu'en la mienne que vous trouvez la consolation de vostre infortune le roy de pont s'estant un peu recule pour faire place a ceux qui vouloient encore saluer artamene mon maistre voulut scavoir si la victoire n'avoit pas este entiere il demanda des nouvelles du roy et de la princesse il s'informa mesme de la pluspart des capitaines et il eut aussi la bonte de demander ou estoit chrisante et ou j'estois il caressa des yeux ceux a qui il ne put parler et assura les soldats en sous-riant qu'il ne leur demanderoit point sa part du butin 
 tout le monde eust bien voulu scavoir ce qui estoit arrive a mon maistre mais il leur representa que le lieu n'estoit pas propre et les conjura d'avoir un peu de patience apres que cet agreable tumulte fut appaise artamene envoya vers le roy pour l'advertir qu'il estoit vivant et qu'il estoit a la teste de six mille hommes qui amenoient le roy de pont afin de l'aquitter de son ancienne promesse et pour luy dire aussi qu'il attendoit precisement ses ordres cependant il ne laissa pas de marcher et de s'avancer lentement jusques a dix stades de sinope je vous laisse a juger seigneur de combien de pensees differentes l'esprit de mon maistre estoit agite il voyoit bien qu'il retournoit a la cour d'une facon tres glorieuse puis qu'il y retournoit apres avoir gagne deux batailles en un mesme jour et apres avoir fait un roy prisonnier mais il scavoit que ce roy estoit son rival et peu s'en faloit qu'il ne se repentist de l'avoir pris la veue de philidaspe renouvelloit aussi dans son esprit le souvenir de tous leurs anciens different et n'excitoit pas de petits troubles en son ame mais l'incertitude ou il estoit de scavoir si j'aurois donne sa lettre a la princesse le tenoit en une inquietude estrange il y avoit des moments ou il le desiroit d'autres ou il le craignoit et d'autres ou il demeuroit incertain entre les deux et ou il ne pouvoit regler ny determiner ses propres souhaits philidaspe de son coste n'estoit pas sans peine il voyoit 
 ressusciter son ennemy tout couvert de gloire et le regardoit presque plus comme son vainqueur que ne faisoit pas le roy de pont qui n'avoit point d'autre inquietude que celle de la perte de sa liberte ce prince qui en effet estoit le plus infortune de tous en ce temps la n'estoit pas toutefois celuy qui sentoit alors le plus son malheur car il ne scavoit pas que philidaspe et artamene fussent ses rivaux t au contraire il esperoit que mon maistre le serviroit et aupres du roy et aupres de mandane si bien qu'il l'aimoit avec une tendresse extreme c'estoit de cette sorte que ces trois illustres amants de la princesse de capadoce s'entretenoient en eux mesmes pendant que celuy que mon maistre avoit envoye devant a sinope y alloit porter l'heureuse nouvelle de sa resurrection je vous laisse a juger seigneur de quelle facon elle y fut receue le roy en eut une joye que l'on ne scauroit exprimer et il se fit dire plus de cent fois la mesme chose par celuy qui luy annonca cette agreable nouveaute a l'instant mesme ciaxare en envoya advertir la princesse qui en tesmoigna une satisfaction qui n'est pas imaginable toute la cour en fut ravie tout le peuple en fut transporte de plaisir aribee luy mesme fut contraint de faire semblant de se resjouir comme il avoit semblant de s'affliger et le prince tigrane qui avoit fait dessein de s'en aller differa son depart pour revoir artamene et ne s'en alla que quinze jours apres son retour le roy 
 qui voulut obliger mon maistre luy manda qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'il entrast dans la ville en tumulte et sans ceremonie et qu'il luy ordonnoit de faire camper ses troupes aupres d'un chasteau qui n'est qu'a six stades d'icy qui se rencontroit sur sa route et ou il vouloit qu'il logeast l'assurant qu'il iroit l'embrasser la des le mesme soir en effet la chose alla comme il voulut et il falut obeir le roy fut donc luy mesme mener ses medecins et ses chirurgiens a artamene qu'il carressa si extraordinairement qu'il ne s'est jamais rien veu de semblable il receut aussi assez bien philidaspe mais non pas comme mon maistre qui avoit este contraint de se mettre au lict des qu'il avoit este arrive pour le roy de pont il luy avoit fait donner le plus bel apartement du chasteau et comme un peu auparavant que ciaxare arrivast ce prince l'avoit prie de tascher d'obtenir du roy qu'il n'entrast point dans sinope comme les autres prisonniers mon maistre qui croyoit ne pouvoir assez dignement reconnoistre la generosite de cet illustre captif en tout ce qui ne regardoit point son amour ne manqua pas de luy rendre l'office qu'il desiroit car comme ciaxare luy dit qu'il n'eust pas elle juste qu'il fust entre dans sinope comme s'il n'avoit point vaincu artamene le supplia de vouloir luy accorder pour recompense de tous les services que le roy de pont entrast de nuit aussi bien que luy il suffira seigneur luy dit il que le peuple voye le butin et les autres 
 prisonniers sans augmenter le malheur d'un grand prince a qui j'ay de l'obligation par une pompe inutile et sans me couvrit moy mesme de confusion en mon particulier par des honneurs que je ne merite pas le roy eut beaucoup de peine a se resoudre a ce qu'il vouloit mais enfin il falut qu'il cedast a celuy qui estoit si accoustume a vaincre artamene supplia mesme ciaxare de vouloir voir le roy de pont son prisonnier il le fit a la priere de mon maistre et l'entreveue de ces deux princes ennemis se fit avec toute la civilite possible de part et d'autre 
 
 
 
 
cependant le roy qui bruloit d'impatience de scavoir ou artamene avoit este comment il estoit echape et revenu si heureusement et si a propos ne sceut pas plustost par ses chirurgiens qui avoient veu les blessures de mon maistre pendant qu'il estoit alle voir le roy de pont qu'elles estoient absolument sans danger qu'il l'en pressa extraordinairement il eust bien voulu se dispenser de ce recit en un jour ou il avoit l'esprit fort agite de diverses pensees mais l'impatience de ciaxare n'y put consentir et il falut qu'il luy racontait exactement tout ce que je m'en vay vous dire que j'ay sceu depuis de sa propre bouche pour vous faire donc scavoir ce qui estoit arrive a mon maistre il faut retourner au champ de bataille et vous dire que lors que ces deux soldats dont je vous ay desja parle l'avoient veu passer il estoit vray comme ils l'avoient creu qu'il 
 estoit desja blesse a l'espaule gauche et que cependant il ne laissa pas de poursuivre le roy de phrigie jusques au bord de la riviere de sangar comme ce prince qui se retiroit eut passe un petit pont de bois qui estoit en cet endroit dont je parle la multitude de ceux qui fuyoient et qui vouloient passer tout a la fois aussi bien que luy fit que ce pont rompit lors qu'il n'y avoit pas encore la moitie des siens de l'autre coste de l'eau mais ce qui sembla luy rendre un mauvais office luy en rendit sans doute un bon parce que cet accident arresta mon maistre et l'empescha de continuer de le poursuivre cependant ceux qui estoient demeurez au deca du pont rompu redoublant leur valeur par le desespoir de se sauver se deffendirent opiniastrement d'autre coste artamene qui estoit en colere que ce prince luy fust echappe les attaqua avec une ardeur inconcevable et de part et d'autre ils commencerent un nouveau combat quelques uns de ceux qui avoient suivy le roy de phrigie et qui s'estoient arrestez a l'autre bord de la riviere comme s'y croyant en surete taschoient de secourir les leurs a grands coups de traits qu'ils tiroient de l'autre coste du fleuve sans que l'on peust aller a eux a cause de sa profondeur ny leur rendre la pareille parce qu'artamene n'avoit point alors d'archers aupres de luy enfin presque tous ceux qui combattoient estans morts et le jour allant finir un de ces traits qui 
 estoient tirez de l'autre coste de l'eau donna dans le flanc du cheval d'artamene cet animal le entant blesse se mit a courir de toute sa force le long de la riviere et maigre toute la resistance de son maistre il l'emporta allez loin de ce peu de gens qui restoient des siens et qui n'y prirent pas garde puis tout d'un coup se cabrant et s'eslancant du coste de l'eau comme s'il eust voulu guayer le fleuve il tomba mort et pensa noyer mon maistre parce que depuis qu'il combatoit aupres de ce pont rompu il avoit este blesse a la cuisse de facon qu'il ne luy fut pas si aise de se degager de dessous cet animal et de se retirer de l'eau neantmoins malgre le sang qu'il avoit perdu et la pensanteur de ses armes il en vint a bout mais comme il se vit hors de ce peril il se retrouva dans un autre car il s'aperceut qu'il estoit beaucoup plus blesse qu'il ne pensoit l'estre luy estant absolument impossible de se soustenir de plus la nuit estoit arrivee et il ne voyoit plus personne a l'entour de luy il entendit bien encore durant quelque temps le bruit de gens qui fuyoient et qui ne passoient pas trop loing du lieu ou il estoit mais comme il ne scavoit s'ils estoient amis ou ennemis il fut quelques moments a deliberer en luy mesme s'il les appelleroit ou non pendant quoy il ne les entendit plus et demeura sans scavoir que faire ny que devenir sentant bien qu'il n'avoit pas la force de pouvoir retourner au camp quand l'obscurite de la nuit luy eust 
 permis d'en retrouver le chemin au lieu qu'elle ne luy permit pas mesme de pouvoir retrouver son calque et son bouclier qu'il avoit perdus en tombant quoy qu'il les cherchait avec grand soing il s'assit donc au pied d'un arbre resolu d'attendre le jour en ce lieu la et certes il eust este difficile d'imaginer en le voyant en un si deplorable estat qu'il avoit gagne deux batailles ce mesme jour fait un roy prisonnier et donne la chasse a un autre mais enfin apres avoir este quelque temps de cette facon le hazard voulut qu'un cheval qui estoit demeure sans maistre en ce combat errant le long de ce fleuve vint passer aupres de luy et comme cet animal l'aperceut a la faveur des estoiles il voulut s'en reculer avec impetuosite mais par bonheur sa bride qu'il portoit trainante luy embarrassa les pieds et le fit broncher si pres de mon maistre que portant la main avec diligence a cette bride il en saisit les resnes et le retint ce cheval qui ne se trouva pas estre des plus fougueux s'arresta tout court et artamene sentant bien qu'il s'affoiblissoit par la perte du sang et considerant qu'il estoit fort esloigne de son camp monta sur ce cheval quoy qu'avec beaucoup de difficulte et se resolut d'aller vers un lieu ou il voyoit quelque lumiere a travers les arbres et ou il luy sembloit apercevoir quelque bastimens jugeant enfin qu'il valoit encore mieux aller demander du se cours mesme a ses ennemis que de se laisser mourir au pied d'un arbre fans 
 estre assiste de personne joint qu'il scavoit qu'il y avoit une partie de la bythinie qui n'estoit pas fort affectionnee au roy de pont de qui le pere l'avoit usurpee sur ceux qui en estoient les princes legitimes enfin ne pointant faire autre chose il marcha droit vers le lieu ou il voyoit cette lumiere comme il en aprocha il connut que c'estoit un assez beau chasteau dont l'on avoit abatu les fortifications et qui n'avoit plus ny tours ny murailles artamene y entra donc sans resistance mais a peine le bruit des pas de son cheval eut-il frape les oreilles de ceux qui estoient dans cette maison qu'artamene entendit crier grand nombre de femmes comme si elles se fussent imaginees qu'il y avoit deux mille hommes qui les alloient prendre mais mon maistre les ayant r'assurees par la foiblesse de sa voix il vit paroistre une femme assez avancee en age et de fort bonne mine sur je haut du perron a laquelle quatre belles filles esclairoient avec des flambeaux cependant artamene estant desja descendu de cheval quoy qu'avec beaucoup de peine vit que cette dame le regardoit avec une attention extraordinaire et qu'apres l'avoir considere de cette sorte sans luy donner le loisir de parler elle s'escria tout d'un coup ha mon fils ha spitridate est-il possible que je vous revoye a ces mots tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens dans cette maison accourut pour secourir artamene ceux qui avoient pris des 
 armes les laisserent pour le soustenir toutes ces femmes s'approcherent pour le regarder et cette dame qui avoit parle voulant embrasser mon maistre il s'esvanouit et demeura comme mort entre ses bras ce qui comme vous pouvez juger l'affligea extremement dans la croyance qu'elle avoit qu'il estoit son fils elle commanda donc qu'on le portail dans une chambre qu'on le desarmast qu'on le mist au lict et qu'on le pensast car comme il estoit tout couvert de sang elle avoit bien connu qu'il estoit blesse et que son esvanouissement n'estoit venu que de la par bonheur il se trouva chez elle un jeune chirurgien que la deroute de l'armee dit roy de pont y avoit fait venir cependant quoy qu'artamene n'eust pas eu la force de respondre a cette dame qui l'avoit nomme spitridate il ne laissa pas de s'en souvenir en revenant de cette foiblesse mais il fut bien estonne lors qu'il vint a ouvrir les yeux de voir qu'il estoit dans une belle chambre dans un lict assez magnifique et quantite de dames a l'entour de luy entre lesquelles il y en avoit une admirablement belle il vit aussi cette mesme personne qui l'avoit nomme spitridate mais il la vit toute en larmes et pour les blessures qu'il avoit et pour les armes qu'elle luy avoit veues mon maistre malgre sa foiblesse n'eut pas plustost recouvre la veue et la raison qu'il salua ces dames avec beaucoup de respect il voulut 
 mesme parler pour leur faire un compliment et pour leur tesmoigner sa surprise mais cette dame avancee en age le prevint et luy dit en soupirant helas est il possible que je vous revoye et que les dieux en m'accordant ce bonheur le meslent de tant d'amertume car enfin je vous retrouve apres avoir pleure si long temps vostre absence mais je vous retrouve blesse et je vous retrouve avec des armes qui font celles de nos ennemis et avec lesquelles vous avez peutestre tue vostre pere ou vostre frere eux qui estoient a la bataille ou sans doute vous vous elles trouve veu les marques que l'on vous en voit car nous n'avons point encore de leurs nouvelles ha spitridate quelque sujet de pleinte que vous pussiez avoir du roy il ne faloit point apres cinq annees d'exil revenir a vostre patrie les armes a la main mon maistre entendant parler cette dame de cette sorte en fut estrangement surpris et quoy qu'il ne peust pas parler sans incommodite neantmoins il ne laissa pas de la vouloir desabuser si j'estois celuy que vous pensez que je sois luy respondit il croyez madame que je ne le desadvouerois pas mais comme je ne le suis point du tant il faut aussi que je ne vous laisse pas dans vostre erreur bien qu'elle me peust estre avantageuse quoy s'escria cette dame vous n'estes pas mon fils non madame luy respondit mon maistre et bien loing d'avoir assiste un fils vous avez secouru va ennemy mais un ennemy qui n'a 
 pourtant rien fait qui raisonnablement vous doive irriter en particulier contre luy puis qu'il n'a eu autre dessein que de bien servir le roy dans le party duquel il est engage je voy bien mon fils luy dit elle en l'interrompant que vous avez de la confusion de ce que vous avez fait et que vous ne vous resoudrez point a m'avouer ce que vous estes que nous n'ayons sceu des nouvelles des deux personnes qui vous font si proches et que vous avez peut-estre combatues sans les connoistre j'y consens luy dit elle en le quittant aussi bien n'est il pas fort a propos de vous donner nulle esmotion en l'estat ou vous estes apres cela cette dame sortit de la chambre et laissa mon maistre dans un estonnement estrange voyant qu'on le prenoit pour ce qu'il n'estoit pas il passa toutefois la nuit assez doucement car comme il avoit perdu beaucoup de sang la fievre ne luy prit pas d'abord et la lassitude l'ayant fait dormir il se trouva le lendemain aussi bien qu'un homme qui avoit deux grandes blessures se pouvoit trouver cette dame ne manqua pas de le visiter de bon matin et de recommencer ses pleintes elle voyoit bien qu'il y avoit quelque difference entre artamene et spitridate mais elle croyoit que depuis cinq ans qu'il y avoit qu'elle n'avoit veu son fils ce petit changement pouvoit estre arrive en luy mon fils disoit-elle a une fille qu'elle avoit n'estoit pas du tout si grand qu'il est quand il partit il n'avoit pas mesme l'air du visage si haut et si noble 
 mais il estoit jeune et cinq annees apportent bien du changement a un homme de son age cependant artamene qui ne voulue rien devoir a un mensonge luy dit encore tant de choses qu'elle commenca de douter un peu de son opinion il luy demanda alors la permission d'envoyer un billet au lieutenant general de l'armee de capadoce mais elle n'y voulut pas consentir non luy dit elle je ne suis pas encore en estat de me resoudre sur mes doutes mes yeux me disent que vous estes mon fils vos paroles m'assurent que vous estes mon ennemy et lequel que vous soyez des deux il pourroit estre enfin que vous auriez tue mon mary a ces mots les larmes luy venant aux yeux si vous estes mou fils luy dit elle je vous dois pardonner et je vous dois secourir et si vous estes amplement l'ennemy du roy a qui nous obeissons presentement je vous dois encore quelque compassion se comme malheureux et comme ayant de la generosite en ne me voulant pas tromper c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'elle je ne puis manquer en vous assistant je scay bien mon fils qu'estant party d'aupres du roy de pont comme vous en estes party il faut vous cacher comme un criminel mais mon fils poursuivit elle encore je suis vostre mere et puis l'on nous a assurees que ce prince a este fait prisonnier de plus vous scavez bien que la princesse sa soeur ne vous fera pas prendre pendant son absence au contraire nous en recevons 
 tous les jours cent assistances secrettes a vostre consideration parlez donc je vous en conjure ne vous deguisez point icy dittes nous precisement la verite et s'il est possible que vous ne soyez pas spitridate dittes nous vostre veritable nom et vostre veritable naissance mon maistre se trouva alors fort embarrasse car de dire qu'il estoit artamene il n'y avoit point d'apparence il en eust sans doute este plus respecte mais il en eust aussi este mieux garde et c'eust este perdre tous ses travaux et n'avoir rien fait du tout que de mettre en la puissance des ennemis un homme comme luy il la suplia donc instamment de croire qu'il n'estoit point spitridate et de ne l'obliger pas a luy dire son nom il l'assura que c'estoit une chose qu'il n'avoit pas accordee au roy qu'il servoit et une chose que pour diverses raisons il ne pouvoir absolument faire cette conversation estant un peu longue et fascheuse les playes de mon maistre recommencerent a saigner la fievre luy prit et il fut huit jours assez mal pendant lesquels on ne luy parla de rien que de guerir et pendant lesquels il fut admirablement bien assiste par cette dame quoy qu'il y eust cent moments tous les jours ou elle le croyit tantost son ennemy et tantost son fils mais enfin ayant eu nouvelles que son mary et son autre fils estoient eschapez de la bataille et avoient suivy le roy de phrigie son ame estant plus tranquile elle se trouva aussi plus capable 
 de raison et comme le lendemain qu'elle eut receu cette bonne nouvelle mon maistre se porta mieux elle voulut essayer encore une chose pour descouvrir s'il estoit son fils elle employa donc cette belle personne que mon maistre avoit remarquee entre les autres lors qu'il estoit arrive et qui estoit fille de cette dame comme elle l'eut laissee aupres de luy avec deux de ses femmes il se vit encore expose a une nouvelle espreuve mon frere luy dit elle madame luy respondit il en l'interrompant il me seroit glorieux de porter ce nom mais comme je ne luis point spitridate il faut que je ne le recoive pas et que je me contente de la qualite de vostre tres-humble serviteur quel que vous puissiez estre repliqua cette belle fille vous meritez davantage que ce que vous dites puis qu'en l'estat qu'est nostre fortune il est peu de personnes plus malheureuses que nous cependant pour aider a m'esclaircir du doute ou je fuis aussi bien que tout le reste de nostre maison je vous prie de vous donner la peine d'ouvrir cette boitte et de voir quelque chose qui peutestre vous surprendra agreablement en disant cela elle luy presenta effectivement une boitte de portrait assez magnifique et se mit a la regarder avec une attention extreme artamene qui ne scavoit pourquoy elle vouloit qu'il ouvrist cette boitte ne laissa pas de luy obeir et fut en effet fort agreablement surpris par la veue du portrait d'une personne admirablement 
 belle mais comme il n'avoit jamais veu celle qu'il representoit et qu'il avoit dans le coeur une autre image qui ternissoit la beaute de celle la il ne parut en ses yeux ny en ses actions nulle esmotion extraordinaire et il regarda cette peinture comme une belle chose qui ne luy donnoit ny grande joye ny grande inquietude cette belle fille voyant la tranquilite avec laquelle artamene regardoit ce portrait ha s'ecria-t'elle genereux inconnu je pense que vous avez raison et je ne doute presque plus que vous ne soyez point spitridate car spitridate adjousta-t'elle ne pourroit jamais estre capable de regarder cette peinture avec une pareille froideur non pas mesme quand il feroit inconstant a ces mots elle quitta mon maistre et s'en allant retrouver sa mere il n'en faut point douter luy dit elle celuy que vous prenez pour spitridate ne l'est pas il a regarde le portrait que je luy ay monstre sans joye et sans esmotion il n'en a ny pasly ny rougy son ame est demeuree tranquile ses yeux n'en ont point paru ny plus guais ny plus tristes et il est impossible enfin que cet homme soit spitridate non madame luy dit elle il n'est point mon frere puis qu'il n'est point amant de la princesse de pont et il n'est point amoureux puis qu'il a pu voir ce portrait avec tant d'indifference luy dis-je encore une fois qui ne l'a seulement jamais entendue nommer sans rougir qui ne l'a jamais veue sans changer de couleur et luy enfin qui a este 
 le plus amoureux de tous les hommes ce fut de cette sorte que cette fille parla et ce fut en effect ce qui commenca de desabuser le plus cette dame mon maistre aprit ce que je viens de vous dire d'une des femmes qui avoient soing de luy et qui voulant l'obliger luy raconta ce quelle avoit entendu tant y a seigneur que cette dame s'estant enfin laisse persuader qu'artamene n'estoit point spitridate se resolut de ne laisser pas de le bien traiter et son merite avoit desja si puissamment gagne son coeur que le voyant un matin en assez bon estat genereux estranger luy dit elle puis que vous n'avez pas voulu estre spitridate il faut vouloir ce qui vous plaist et perdre une seconde fois un fils que je pensois avoir retrouve ne vous offensez pas de grace de la ressemblance qu'il a aveque vous car de quelque condition que vous puissiez estre son nom ne vous scauroit estre honteux puis que ses peres en perdant la couronne de bythinie luy ont au moins laisse la noblesse de leur sang madame luy dit alors artamene je vous demande pardon si je ne vous ay pas rendu tout le respect que je vous devois ne vous excusez point dit elle d'une chose ou vous n'avez point failly et puis adjousta cette dame en soupirant des princesses qui vivent sous la domination d'un usurpateur ne font pas en termes d'exiger si regulierement tout ce que l'on devroit peut-estre a leur condition dans un autre temps quoy qu'il en soit 
 poursuivit elle si vous n'estes pas mon fils vous luy ressemblez et par cette seule raison je me trouve obligee de vous rendre la liberte si vous estiez mon fils vous ne feriez pas en seurete dans cette maison et ne l'estant point vous n'y feriez pas non plus en asseurance ainsi il vaut mieux que vous en partiez et que vous me disiez ou vous voulez que je vous face conduire mon maistre ravy de joye de la generosite de cette dame la remercia et luy protesta qu'il la serviroit toute sa vie et peut estre plus importamment qu'elle ne croyoit en suitte de quoy il la pria de luy vouloir presser une lictiere pour le reporter au camp de ciaxare mon maistre n'estoit pas encore trop bien mais l'amour luy redonnant de nouvelles forces pour pouvoir retourner vers le lieu ou il scavoit qu'il entendroit parler de mandane il voulut partir des le lendemain et partit en effet accompagne du jeune chirurgien qui l'avoit pense et de deux autres qui avoient ordre s'ils rencontroient quelqu'un du party du roy de pont et du roy de phrigie de dire qu'artamene estoit un parent de leur maistresse que l'on reportoit chez luy et qui avoit este blesse a la derniere bataille mon maistre en partant receut cent civilitez de toutes ces illustres personnes qu'il leur rendit avec usure leur promettant de leur faire bien tost scavoir de ses nouvelles mais comme il prit le chemin du camp il sceut par quelques soldats qui alloient a la petite guerre et ausquels il 
 fit demander ou estoit l'armee que philidaspe en estoit party le jour auparavant pour aller conduire le roy de pont a sinope si bien que changeant sa routte il prit celle de philidaspe qu'il r'atrapa aisement parce que des chariots et des prisonniers marchent encore plus lentement qu'une lictiere il arriva donc comme vous l'avez sceu dans cette plaine que traversoit philidaspe et voila seigneur quelle avoit este l'avanture de mon maistre et ce qui l'avoit fait croire mort comme la chose avoit este fort extraordinaire artamene eut la curiosite depuis de demander au roy de pont s'il estoit vray qu'un prince appelle spitridate luy ressemblast et l'assura qu'il avoit pense y estre trompe plus d'une fois et qu'il n'estoit pas possible de voir deux personnes avoir jamais tant de conformite d'air de troits et de taille que spitridate et luy en avoient 
 
 
 
 
mais pour reprendre le fil de mon discours ou nous l'avons laisse apres que ciaxare eut escoute de la bouche de mon maistre tout ce que je viens de vous raconter il admira son bonheur et s'en resjouit et apres une assez longue conversation il le quitta et s'en retourna a sinope ils resolurent toutefois auparavant que le lendemain tout le butin et tous les prisonniers entreroient dans la ville et que le soir estant venu le roy de ponty feroit conduit et qu'artamene y entreroit en mesme temps cependant ciaxare ne fut pas plus tost party que mon maistre envoya dire au 
 roy prisonnier qu'il avoit obtenu ce qu'il avoit souhaite ce qui luy donna beaucoup de joye en suite artamene songea a renvoyer la lictiere qu'on luy avoit prestee mais en la renvoyant il fit choisir parmy toutes ses pierreries qu'il avoit envoye querir a sinope ce qu'il y avoit de plus beau et en bailla une quantite fort grande a un des siens avec ordre de les presenter a cette jeune et belle personne qui luy avoit monstre un portraict et de la supplier de vouloir recevoir cette foible marque de sa reconnoissance n'osant pas parler de rancon a la princesse sa mere apres la haute generosite qu'elle avoit eue il recompensa aussi magnifiquement le chirurgien qui l'avoit pense et tous ceux de cette maison qui l'avoient servy et tant par la richesse de ses presens que par la facon dont ils virent que le roy et toute la cour traitoient artamene ils jugerent bien que leur maistresse n'avoit pas connu la veritable condition de son prisonnier apres que mon maistre eut donc donne tous les ordres necessaires la nuit estant deja bien advancee il demeura seul et en liberte de s'entretenir de sa passion me voicy enfin disoit-il en luy mesme eschape de beaucoup de perils et il y a peu de gens qui n'admirent ma bonne fortune mais durant que ce bonheur excite peut-estre l'envie contre moy je ne laisse pas de m'estimer le plus malheurex homme du monde et je le seray tousjours sans doute jusques a ce que je puisse obtenir quelque tesmoignage 
 d'affection de ma princesse ou que du moins elle n'ait receu la mienne favorablement helas disoit-il encore peut-estre que si feraulas luy a donne ce que je luy avois commande de luy presenter elle l'aura leu avec chagrin et que bien loing d'avoir de la compassion elle n'aura eu que de la colere peut-estre aussi adjoustoit il qu'elle m'aura pardonne et que la pitie attendrissant son coeur elle aura receu la declaration que je luy ay faite sans s'en irriter et sans m'en hair mais quand cela seroit poursuivoit il qui scait si ce qu'elle m'a pardonne lors qu'elle m'a pardonne lors qu'elle m'a creu mort me le sera aujourd'huy qu'elle scait que je suis vivant peut estre encore que feraulas ne luy aura pas donne ce que je luy escrivois et qu'ainsi je suis aussi innocent dans son esprit que je l'estois en partant mais aussi reprenoit ce prince je suis aussi malheureux car enfin si elle ne scait point que je l'aime le moyen que j'ose jamais le luy dire que veux je donc disoit-il encore et que puis-je vouloir je crains qu'elle ne scache mon amour et je le souhaite j'ay de la crainte et de l'esperance je desire passionnement de revoir mandane et je l'aprehende et je suis enfin si pres de la supreme felicite ou de la supreme infortune qu'il n'est pas aise que mon ame n'en soit point esbranlee et que l'incertitude ou je suis du bien ou du mal qui me doit arriver ne trouble pas ma raison ce fut en de pareilles pensees qu'artamene passa une partie de la nuit neantmoins le 
 sommeil l'ayant surpris malgre luy il se trouva le lendemain au matin en assez bon estat et les chirurgiens du roy assurerent qu'en fort peu de jours il quitteroit non seulement le lict mais la chambre et seroit en parfaite sante il receut tout ce jour la les visites de toute la cour et envoya faire un compliment a la princesse mandane qui le receut avec beaucoup de civilite et le luy rendit de mesme ce fut pourtant d'une maniere que quoy que mon maistre se fist redire plusieurs fois parole pour parole tout ce qu'elle avoit dit a celuy qui luy avoit parle de sa part il n'y put rien trouver qui fortifiast son esperance ny qui deust aussi accroistre sa crainte le matin fut employe a faire entrer dans sinope apres que chacun eut quitte le deuil tout le butin et tous les prisonniers que philidaspe conduisit et la princesse qui estoit a une des fenestres du chasteau vit entrer toutes ces choses et les regarda avec un esprit qui n'estoit gueres plus tranquile que celuy de mon maistre le soir estant venu le roy de pont fut conduit dans la ville par ses gardes et mis en lieu de seurete mais en passant sous les fenestres de la princesse il la vit a la clarte des flambeaux et il en fut veu ce qui donna de la pitie a mandane et de la confusion au roy prisonnier artamene suivit d'assez pres le roy de pont mais quelque secret que l'on eust pu garder pour son arrivee afin de contenter sa modestie les habitans de sinope n'ayant pas laisse de scavoir qu'il devoit entrer ce soir la se tindrent 
 dans les rues avec des flambeaux allumez mirent des lampes a toutes les fenestres et par des cris d'allegresse et par l'abondance des lumieres cette entree de nuit ne laissa pas d'avoir quelque chose d'assez magnifique artamene estoit accompagne de tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand a la cour qui le conduisit chez luy ou le roy l'attendoit mon maistre fut pourtant moins heureux que le roy de pont en une chose car il ne vit point la princesse en passant sous les fenestres parce qu'elle s'estoit mise au lit et avoit feint de se trouver mal martesie qui dans les premiers momens que sa maistresse avoit apris qu'artamene estoit vivant avoit veu tant de joye dans ses yeux ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de remarquer le trouble de son ame c'est pourquoy voyant qu'il n'y avoit personne aupres d'elle et qu'elle pouvoit luy parler en liberte me permettrez vous madame luy dit elle de vous demander si ce n'est qu'une simple incommodite qui vous a fait mettre au lict ou s'il vous est arrive quelque malheur que l'ignore et qui trouble la satisfaction que vous devez avoir en un des plus heureux jours de vostre vie car enfin madame vous voyez la guerre finie glorieusement vous voyez dans les fers un roy que vous ne vouliez pas espouser et vous voyez vivant un prince que vous avez pleure lors que vous l'avez creu mort et que vous avez deu pleurer je l'advoue ma chere fille luy respondit la princesse je suis heureuse 
 en beaucoup de choses mais je ne la suis pas en toutes et l'endroit par ou je suis infortunee est si senfible que je ne jouis point du tout de cette felicite aparente dont je parois environnee de toutes parts a ceux qui ne connoissent pas le fond de mon coeur mais encore madame reprit martesie que pouvez vous avoir qui vous fasche le roy vous aime toute la capadoce vous adore la paix va ramener tous les plaisirs a la cour et artamene sera bien tost guery a ce que disent les medecins du roy artamene reprit la princesse en soupirant ne le sera peut estre qu'un peu trop tost et quoy que je luy souhaite toute sorte de bonheur je voudrois bien qu'il ne fust pas en estat de quitter la chambre que je n'eusse auparavant resolu de quelle facon je dois vivre aveque luy comment madame interrompit martesie toute surprise artamene de qui je vous ay veu pleurer la mort avec tant d'amertume sera peut-estre dites vous un peu trop tost guery ha madame j'ay sans doute mal entendu ou sans y penser vous vous estes mal expliquee nullement martesie reprit elle et la bizarrerie de mon destin fait que je n'aprehende guere moins la veue d'artamene que j'ay desire sa vie car scachez luy dit elle en changeant de couleur que j'ayme la gloire preferablement a toutes choses mais que je ne hais pas aussi assez artamene pour me pouvoir priver de sa conversation sans repugnance cependant vous 
 jugez bien martesie qu'apres m'avoir fait scavoir qu'il a de l'amour pour moy je ne dois plus luy donner la mesme liberte qu'il a eue autrefois parmy nous et qu'il faut que je vive avec beaucoup plus de contrainte que je ne faisois dans un temps ou je n'avois pas pour luy la tendresse que je sens dans mon coeur malgre toute ma vertu car enfin martesie puis qu'il faut vous descouvrir le fond de mon ame scachez que si artamene eust eu la hardiesse de me parler de son amour je l'eusse mal traite je l'eusse banny et je l'eusse peut estre moins estime parce que j'eusse soubconne qu'il n'eust pas eu une veritable estime pour moy mais de la facon dont j'ay sceu cette amour la compassion ayant attendry mon coeur je l'ay aprise sans colere je l'ay creue sans difficulte et comme je ne voyois pas qu'il peust y avoir nulle dangereuse suite en cette affection je ne me suis point opposee a sa naissance je me suis souvenue de tous les services d'artamene j'ay repasse cent et cent fois dans mon esprit toutes ses vertus et toutes ses bonnes qualitez j'ay r'apelle toutes ses actions dans ma memoire elles m'ont toutes dit qu'il m'avoit aimee d'une maniere tres respectueuse j'en ay plus creu qu'il ne m'en pouvoit jamais dire et l'en ay eu plus de reconnoissance qu'il n'en pouvoit jamais esperer enfin martesie sa mort a fait naistre mon amitie pour ne pas nommer autrement une affection toute pure jugez donc si 
 apres avoir abandonne mon ame a une passion toute innocente il me sera bien aise de la combattre et de la vaincre il le faut toutefois reprit elle quand mesme nous en devrions mourir mais madame luy dit martesie artamene est il plus coupable vivant qu'il n'estoit dans le tombeau non respondit la princesse mais il m'est plus redoutable ce n'est pas que je pretende luy oster absolument mon amitie et tout ce que je pourray faire sera peut-estre bien assez si je puis ne luy en donner nulles marques mais madame reprit martesie pourquoy le voulez vous punir luy qui n'est pas criminel et pourquoy voulez vous aussi vous affliger en le rendant malheureux attendez madame qu'il vous donne sujet de pleinte et s'il vous dit quelque chose qui vous deplaise il sera assez a temps de vous priver de sa veue mais martesie interrompit la princesse comment voulez vous que je le puisse voir sans une confusion estrange et comment voulez vous encore qu'en le voyant je puisse venir a bout de bannir de mon ame cette affection que j'y avois receue lorsque je le croyois dans le tombeau pour moy madame repliqua martesie je vous advoue que je ne puis concevoir que vous eussiez raison d'aimer artamene mort et que vous le deviez hair vivant ha martesie s'ecria mandane que mes sentimens sont esloignez de la haine et qu'artamene feroit heureux si je l'aimois un peu moins car 
 enfin si je ne me deffiois pas de mon coeur je vivrois aveque luy comme auparavant j'attendrois comme vous dites qu'il me donnast un juste sujet de me pleindre et je demeurerois en repos mais madame repliqua martesie le ne voy pas qu'il faille vous inquieter si fort artamene a ce qu'il vous escrit et a ce que feraulas vous a dit est prince ainsi encore une fois je ne voy point qu'il y eust tant de sujet de vous offenser quand mesme il entreprendroit de vous dire ce qu'il vous a escrit ha ma chere fille reprit la princesse ce que vous me dites pour me consoler est ce qui m'afflige encore davantage car si artamene n'estoit pas de la condition dont il se dit estre sa temerite m'auroit offencee et tout mort qu'il auroit este je n'aurois eu au plus que de la compassion de sa folie et de son malheur mais icy je ne voy rien qui m'offense et rien pourtant qui ne me fasche car apres tout je ne dois point me choisir un mary de plus cette fatale coustume que les assiriens qui ont este maistres de la capadoce ont laissee parmy nous et qui veut que je n'espouse point un prince estranger ne me laisse nul pretexte qui puisse justifier l'affection d'artamene pour moy ny moins encore celle de mandane pour luy ainsi martesie il la faut vaincre et c'est a dire qu'il faut se faire une violence extreme qu'il faut rendre artamene malheureux et me rendre infortunee il me semble desja disoit elle que je le voy chercher dans mes 
 yeux de quelle facon j'ay receu sa lettre mais helas reprenoit elle tout d'un coup que dis-je et comment ne pensay-je pas que feraulas s'il l'a veu luy aura dit qu'il n'a remarque nul sentiment de colere dans mon esprit qu'il m'a veu pleurer qu'il m'a veu rougir et qu'enfin il a connu que je l'aimois et que peut-estre mesme je l'aimois devant qu'il m'eust fait scavoir qu'il m'aimoit ha martesie s'ecrioit elle ce malheur nous est arrive et c'est en vain que je veux cacher mes sentimens a artamene il les scait disoit elle il les scait et peut- estre mesme que les imaginant autres qu'ils ne sont il concoit des esperances criminelles et se prepare a m'offenser helas disoit elle encore qui vit jamais un malheur egal au mien je passe toute ma vie avec une retenue qui n'eut jamais d'egale je me prive presque de tous les plaisirs innocens bien loing d'en chercher qui puissent estre suspects je deffens l'entree de mon ame a tout ce qui paroist un peu esloigne de la plus severe vertu je resiste au merite aux services et a toutes les grandes qualitez d'artamene et mon coeur ne se rend qu'au bord de son tombeau cependant peut-estre qu'a l'heure que je parle artamene se repent de ne m'avoir pas parle plustost peut-estre qu'il croit qu'il eust este bien receu des la premiere fois qu'il me vit et cette vertu severe dont j'ay fait une si haute profession ne luy paroist peut estre qu'un artifice mais que sais-je reprenoit elle tout 
 d'un coup j'accuse sans doute un innocent qui apprehende autant ma veue que je crains la sienne non non artamene explique les larmes que j'ay versees d'une autre facon il scait que la compassion toute seule en fait respandre il scait que je luy devois la vie du roy mon pere et que par cette seule raison je luy devois des soupirs et des pleurs demeurons donc disoit elle avec un peu plus de repos satisfaisons nous de nostre innocence ostons seulement a artamene toutes les occasions de nous parler en particulier cachons luy du moins la tendresse que nous avons dans le coeur si nous ne pouvons vaincre et quoy qu'il en puisse arriver resoluons nous plustost a la mort que de rien faire de rien dire ny mesme de rien penser qui ne soit juste qui ne soit vertueux et qui ne satisface pleinement l'amour que nous avons pour la gloire c'estoit de cette sorte que l'ilustre mandane s'entretenoit avec mattesie pendant que mon maistre qui ne scavoit point si elle avoit veu ce qu'il luy avoit escrit en estoit tousjours plus en peine philidaspe durant ce temps la ne paroissoit presque point il vit la princesse en arrivant a sinope mais ce ne fut qu'un moment et feignant d'aller donner ordre aux troupes que l'on avoit levees pensant qu'il les deust commander et qui s'estoient assemblees aupres d'un chasteau dont il estoit gouverneur a soixante stades de cette ville la princesse eut du moins un peu plus de liberte 
 d'entretenir ses pensees et de songer a la resolution qu'elle vouloit prendre cependant les blessures de mon maistre se guerissant mesme plustost que les chirurgiens ne l'avoient espere il fut dans peu de jours en estat de quitter non seulement le lict mais la chambre et d'aller rendre ses devoirs au roy et a mandane il eust bien voulu que j'eusse este aupres de luy afin de luy dire ce que l'avois sait mais il creut qu'il eust falu attendre trop long temps car encore qu'il m'eust envoye un ordre de le venir trouver il y avoit assez loing de sinope au lieu ou nous estions campez et hors d'une diligence extraordinaire je ne pouvois pas si tost arriver ainsi se voyant presse par sa passion et dans une impatience extreme de revoir sa princesse apres avoir este chez le roy il fut chez mandane et il y fut avec une agitation d'esprit qui n'eut jamais de semblable jusques la il n'avoit senty qu'une crainte respectueuse en l'approchant mais en cette occasion il craignit de toutes les facons dont l'on peut craindre la princesse de son coste scachant qu'artamene alloit entrer dans sa chambre en changea de couleur plus d'une fois et il y eut quelques moments ou ille eut de la colere de n'estre pas maistresse absolue des mouvements de son coeur comme elle estoit sur son lict il luy fut un peu plus aise de cacher le desordre de son esprit qu'a artamene qui par malheur pour luy trouva beaucoup de monde chez la princesse il la salua avec tout le respect qui luy 
 estoit deu et elle le receut avec toute la civilite que la princesse de capadoce devoit a un homme qui venoit de remporter des victoires et de faire des rois prisonniers mais ce fut toutefois avec une certaine retenue que mon maistre remarqua et qui luy fit croire durant quelque temps qu'elle avoit veu ce qu'il luy avoit escrit elle scait sans doute disoit il en luy mesme ce que je souhaite et ce que je crains qu'elle ne scache et un moment apres la princesse luy disant quelque chose d'obligeant le me trompe adjoustoit il elle ne scait encore rien de ce que je veux qu'elle ne scache pas et de ce que je n'oseray jamais luy dire la princesse d'autre part n'estoit pas peu embarrassee elle condamnoit toutes ses pensees elle se repentoit de tout ce qu'elle disoit lors qu'elle louoit artamene elle trouvoit qu'il expliqueroit ses louanges a son prejuoice et lors qu'elle se faisoit et qu'elle respondoit avec froideur elle craignoit de le desobliger et presque malgre son intention elle reparoit cette froideur par quelque legere civilite toute cette visite se passa de cette sorte et mandane conduisit la chose avec tant d'adresse qu'artamene ne put connoistre ses veritables sentimens et il se retira avec plus d'amour et plus d'inquietude qu'auparavant en s'en retournant il trouva chez luy un capitaine d'archers a cheval qui l'y attendoit et qui luy ayant demande audience en particulier luy aprit qu'il y avoit environ trois ou quatre heures qu'il avoit 
 rencontre a vingt stades de sinope un homme a cheval qui estoit assez de sa connoissance et qui venoit a la ville comme luy que luy ayant demande ou il alloit cet homme luy avoit paru interdit et ne luy avoit pas respondu bien a propos qu'en suitte estans venus a parler de diverses choses ils s'estoient querellez et battus et qu'il estoit arrive des gens qui les avoient separez mais que pendant ce combat cet homme avoit laisse tomber des tablettes qu'il avoit ramassees apres qu'il avoit este party et dans lesquelles il croyoit qu'il pourroit peut-estre y avoir des choses qui meritoient d'estre sceues de luy veu la confusion qu'il avoit remarque dans l'esprit de celuy a qui elles estoient et que cette pensee luy estant venue il avoit creu de son devoir de ne les ouvrir point et de les luy aposter toutes cachetees artamene remercia ce capitaine et prenant ces tablettes il y trouva a peu pres ces paroles ne manquez a rien de tout ce que vous m'avez promis et soyez certain que de mon coste je ne manqueray pas de faire ce que je dois assurez veut aussi bien des gardes qui vaut ont engage leur foy que je suis assure des soldats que je vous meneray preparez vos gens a garder le respect qu'ils doivent a la personne du monde qui en merite le plus et promettez leur en suitte des recompenses dignes de leur service au reste quoy que vous m'ayez dit et quoy que je vous aye promis ma passion ne peut endurer que ce soit vous seul qui faciez tout mon bonheur ainsi attendez moy auparavant que 
 de commencer l'execution de nostre dessein car enfin il pourra estre que lors que la princesse verra le prince d'assirie a ses pieds elle luy pardonnera sa violence ou du moins l'execusera et comme elle ignore egalement que philidaspe soit sils de la reine nitocris il importe que ce soit moy qui luy aprenne l'un et l'autre aussi tost que nous l'aurons enlevee afin de diminuer son deplaisir par connoissance de ma condition celuy qui vous porte as tablettes est fidelle donnez luy donc librement vostre response et hastez vous si vous voulez obliger le plus amoureux prince de la terre et le plus reconnoissant artamene apres avoir leu ce que je viens de vous dire fut surpris d'une estrange sorte et demeura dans une peine encore plus estrange il eut pourtant la force de se contraindre pour un moment il loua ce capitaine de sa fidelite luy promit de l'en recompenser de le faire connoistre au roy et apres avoir commande qu'en attendant mieux on luy donnast un fort beau cheval et de belles armes il le congedia et luy ordonna toutefois de ne s'esloigner point afin qu'il sceust precisement ou il seroit en cas qu'il eust besoin de luy apres que cet officier fut party artamene releut ce qu'il avoit desja leu et reconnoissant l'escriture de philidaspe o dieux s'escria-t'il philidaspe est le prince d'assirie philidaspe est amoureux de mandane et philidaspe la veut enlever que voisie qu'aprens-je et quel remede y puis-je aporter du moins disoit-il je suis assure de sa propre 
 main qu'il n'a pas este plus heureux que moy la princesse ne scait ny sa condition ny son amour profitons de cette ignorance soyons fidelles a nostre ennemy et ne le descouvrons pas de peur qu'en le descouvrant nous ne le servissions nous mesmes il faut faire manquer sa conspiration par une autre voye et il faut qu'en luy faisant perdre la vie nous mettions la princesse en seurete il envoya alors s'informer si l'on ne pourroit point descouvrir precisement ou estoit philidaspe mais quelque soing que l'on y peust aporter il luy fut impossible de l'aprendre quelques uns disoient qu'il estoit dans ce chasteau ou il commandoit quelques autres assuroient qu'il n'y estoit pas les uns disoient qu'il estoit alle faire un voyage de quinze jours et les autres encore que l'on n'en scavoit rien du tout cependant comme artamene ne scavoit pas le temps ou cette conjuration devoit esclater il voyoit bien que la chose pressoit mais il avoit pourtant quelque peine a se resoudre d'aller aprendre a la princesse que philidaspe devoit estre un jour roy d'assirie il se souvenoit alors que quand il avoit passe a babilone ce prince en estoit party deux jours auparavant et il se souvenoit encore qu'il l'avoit veu dans le temple de mars le premier jour qu'il avoit este a sinope que feray-je disoit-il contre ce dangereux rival iray-je advertir le roy de ce qu'il trame sans en rien dire a la princesse ou iray-je a la 
 princesse auparavant que d'aller au roy peutestre que comme la chose la regarde directement elle s'offencera si je ne l'advertis pas la premiere allons donc allons luy descouvrir la verite de la chose et ne luy en desguisons rien mais que dis-je reprenoit il tout d'un coup suis-je bien assure que je veux faire ce que je dis non cela n'a point d'aparence quoy j'aprendrois moy mesme a la princesse que mon rival l'aime qu'il est un des plus grands princes du monde et qu'il ne manque rien a sa bonne fortune que le consentement de mandane quoy je n'oseray parler pour moy mesme et je parleray pour mon ennemy l'estoufferay mes soupirs je cacheray mes larmes et j' iray aprendre a la princesse les transports et la passion de mon rival mais d'un rival encore qui est bien fait qui a du coeur et de l'esprit et que j'ay entendu louer plus d'une fois a mandane ha non non il vaut mieux mourir mais d'autre part disoit-il la conjuration est preste d'esclatter si je ne montre point ce que philidaspe a escrit et que je me contente de dire qu'il a un pernicieux dessein et qu'il y faut donner ordre qui scait si je seray creu l'on scait que nous ne sommes pas trop bien ensemble et cette conspiration si peu d'aparence qu'auparavant que j'aye peut-estre persuade qu'elle est veritable et qu'il faut songer a l'empescher elle sera executee la ville sera surprise ma princesse sera enlevee et cet heureux rival enlevera avec elle tout ce 
 qui me peut faire aimer la vie parlons donc parlons pour luy afin de pouvoir agir contre luy s'il estoit en lieu poursuivoit-il en luy mesme ou je le pusse trouver j'irois luy aprendre ma passion et non pas descouvrir la sienne a la princesse et je tascherois apres la luy avoir aprise de ne le laisser pas en estat de la reveler a personne enfin je ferois ce que je serois oblige de faire il mourroit ou je mourrois et tous nos differens seroient terminez mais helas il se cache il est a couvert de ma violence et je ne scay de son entreprise que ce qu'il faut que j'en scache pour avoir de la jalousie de la crainte de la haine et du desespoir je ne scay qui sont ceux qui le servent je ne scay quand ny comment ils le doivent servir et je scay seulement qu'ils travaillent a ma ruine mais que fais-je malheureux je perds le temps a discourir inutilement pendant que mon ennemy avance ma perte en avancant son dessein allons donc allons parler a la princesse allons luy aprendre ce que jamais nul autre amant que moy n'a apris a la personne aimee peut-estre adjoustoit-il tirerons nous quelque avantage de nostre malheur nous verrons dans ses yeux les mouvemens de son ame nous descouvrirons les plus secrets sentimens de son coeur et peut-estre encore qu'apres avoir parle pour autruy nous trouverons les moyens de parler pour nous mesmes va donc malheureux amant va ou ta destinee te conduit et ne differes pas davantage songe qu'il 
 s'agit de tout ton bonheur ou de toute ton infortune espere qu'en aprenant l'amour de philidaspe a mandane tu l'en feras hair pour toujours et pense enfin que peut-estre si tu ne te hastes il executera son dessein il l'enlevera il la tiendra en sa puissance il ne la rendra jamais il gagnera peut-estre son coeur il obtiendra son pardon et la possedera tousjours cette derniere pensee acheva de luy faire prendre la resolution de ne perdre pas plus un seul moment et d'aller trouver mandane il y fut donc en diligence et luy fit demander la grace de pouvoir l'entretenir en particulier la princesse qui creut que c'estoit pour luy parler de son amour s'en offenca et luy fit dire qu'il ne pouvoit pas la voir parce qu'elle avoit quelque affaire importante qui l'occupoit artamene desespere de cette response la fit supplier encore une fois qu'il peust l'entretenir un moment d'une chose qui regardoit le service du roy et le sien et qui ne pouvoit souffrir de retardement mandane surprise de cet empressement d'artamene pensa s'obstiner a refuser de le voir mais craignant qu'en effet il n'y eust quelque chose d'important a scavoir pour le service du roy elle commanda qu'on le fist entrer et ordonna a martesie de demeurer dans son cabinet avec une autre de ses filles mon maistre estant donc entre et ne pouvant obtenir de sa passion d'aprendre de sa bouche celle de philidaspe a la princesse madame luy dit-il apres 
 j'avoir saluee avec beaucoup de respect et en luy presentant ce que philidaspe avoit escrit vous trouverez dans ces tablettes la justification de mon importunite artamene prononca ces paroles avec un esprit si trouble que mandane craignit encore que ce ne fust une nouvelle invention de luy parler de son amour mais enfin apres les avoir prises en tremblant et les avoir ouvertes en changeant de couleur elle fut esclaircie de tous ses doutes et elle aprit ce qu'elle n'eust jamais creu aprendre par artamene d'abord il parut beaucoup de colere dans ses yeux et mon maistre eut la satisfaction de connoistre parfaitement que philidaspe n'avoit pas grande part au coeur de mandane je vous suis bien obligee luy dite elle de m'avoir advertie d'une chose si importante mais aprenez moy de grace tout ce que vous scavez de ce dessein artamene luy conta alors comment ces tablettes estoient venues en ses mains et luy dit en suite que s'il eust pu trouver philidaspe il auroit destruit la conjuration sans l'en advertir la princesse le remercia alors aussi civilement que le trouble ou elle estoit le luy put permettre et ne pouvant assez s'estonner de cette avanture que philidaspe dit elle veuille usurper un royaume par la force et par la trahison comme je m'imagine qu'il en a le dessein je n'y trouve rien de fort extraordinaire mais qu'un amant commence de descouvrir son amour par un enlevement c'est ce qui n'a jamais eu 
 d'exemple et c'est ce qui vient a bout de toute ma patience moy dis-je adjousta-t'elle toute esmue qui ne pourrois pas me resoudre de souffrit une declaration d'amour du plus grand prince de la terre apres dix ans de services de respects et de soumissions artamene escouta ces paroles avec beaucoup de douleur et craignant d'en entendre encore de semblables il l'interrompit et luy demanda ce qu'il luy plaisoit qu'il fist je veux luy dit elle que vous me conduisiez chez le roy pour l'advertir de la chose et que vous ne m'abandonniez point en un temps ou vostre valeur m'est si necessaire tant que je seray vivant luy repliqua mon maistre ne craignez rien de philidaspe et soyez s'il vous plaist persuadee madame que je ne prens pas moins d'interest que vous a destruire ses mauvais desseins je vous en suis bien obligee reprit la princesse mais ne perdons pas davantage de temps et allons trouver le roy je ne scay madame adjousta mon maistre si le zele que j'ay pour vous ne m'a point fait manquer au respect que je dois avoir pour luy et s'il ne trouvera point mauvais que je vous aye apris la temeraire entreprise de philidaspe avant que de l'en advertir ce que vous dites n'est pas absolument sans aparence respondit la princesse c'est pourquoy il luy faut dire que je vous ay rencontre fortuitement comme vous veniez luy aporter ces tablettes et que vous m'avez dit en me donnant la main 
 ce qu'il y a d'escrit dedans la puissance souveraine adjousta-t'elle est delicatte et sensible et quelques droites qu'ayant este vos intentions en cette rencontre il pourroit estre que le roy n'agreeroit pas vostre procede de sorte qu'il est a propos de luy dire cet innocent mensonge ils furent donc a l'apartement de ciaxare et luy aprirent ce qu'ils scavoient de la maniere dont ils estoient convenus artamene envoya mesme querir ce capitaine qui luy avoit aporte ces tablettes afin que le roy entendist de la propre bouche de cet officier tout ce qu'il avoit apris de la chose ciaxare connoissant l'escriture de philidaspe ne douta point du tout qu'il n'y eust une dangereuse conjuration il se souvint mesme avoir sceu que le prince d'assirie n'estoit point a babilone depuis un tres long temps et se confirma en l'opinion qu'en effet philidaspe ne mentoit pas mais pour ses complices qui n'estoient point nommez dans cette lettre on ne les pouvoit pas deviner la princesse et mon maistre jugeoient bien que peut-estre aribee pouvoit en scavoir quelque chose toutefois comme ils scavoient que le roy l'aimoit ils n'ofoient luy dire ouvertement ce qu'ils en pensoient
 
 
 
 
cependant artamene ayant eu ordre de faire ce qu'il jugeroit a propos pour mettre la princesse en sevrete fit changer les gardes du chasteau et de la ville et ayant fait prendre les armes a tous les habitans il fit mettre des corps 
 de garde dans toutes les rues il demanda en fuite permission au roy d'aller chastier philidaspe mais ciaxare ne voulut point souffrir qu'il sortist de la ville et la princesse s'y opposa si fortement qu'il n'y falut pas songer joint qu'en effet l'on ne scavoit pas precisement ou il estoit les six mille hommes qui estoient venus amener le roy de pont furent mis en divers postes aux environs de sinope car l'on ne douta nullement que philidaspe qui avoit quatre mille hommes aupres du chasteau dont il estoit gouverneur n'eust eu dessein de s'en servir aribee en cette occasion agit avec une finesse extreme et comme le roy luy eut dit la chose ce fut luy qui tesmoigna le plus d'empressement qui blasma le plus philidaspe et qui fit le plus de semblant de vouloir tascher de le prendre comme l'on ne scavoit s'il estoit cache dans la ville ou s'il estoit dans ce chasteau l'on se trouva fort embarrasse neantmoins le lendemain au matin artamene pressa tant qu'on luy permit d'aller avec ces six mille hommes sommer ce chasteau de se rendre et combattre les quatre mille qui estoient la en cas qu'ils se missent en estat de s'opposer a ses desseins mais il fut estrangement estonne lors qu'il vit ce chasteau sans garnison et que ces quatre mille hommes n'estoient plus campez aupres il sceut seulement qu'en effet philidaspe y avoit este mais qu'il en estoit sorty la derniere nuit et qu'a trente stades de la il 
 avoit fait desbander toutes ses troupes et estoit alle peu accompagne vers une forest qui n'estoit pas fort esloignee artamene y fut y chercha par tout et envoya plusieurs petits corps separez a l'entour de cette forest pour en prendre des nouvelles toutefois il ne put jamais rien trouver que des soldats qui fuyoient et qui ne scavoient autre chose sinon que depuis long temps philidaspe avoit apporte un grand soing a se faire aimer de ces troupes la et que depuis quelques jours ils scavoient qu'il avoit eu intention de les employer en une occasion importante artamene voyant donc qu'il ne pouvoit rien aprendre davantage s'en retourna a sinope pour y rendre conte au roy et a la princesse de ce qu'il avoit fait cependant l'on ne laissa pas de se tenir tousjours sur ses gardes et de bien observer tous ceux qui avoient quelque commandement dans les troupes on dans la ville apres tant de tumulte et tant de trouble artamene s'estant trouve seul dans son cabinet se mit a repasser dans sa memoire ses dernieres avantures et a s'affliger sensiblement de cette extreme fierte qu'il avoit remarquee dans l'esprit de la princesse lors quelle avoit apris l'amour de philidaspe pour elle que feray-je disoit il et que pourray-je esperer d'une personne qui parle du plus puissant prince d'asie avec tant d'orgueil toutefois reprenoit il tout d'un coup serois-je plus heureux si elle avoit parle 
 moins rigoureusement qu'elle n'a fait du moins de la facon dont elle s'est expliquee je n'ay pas sujet d'estre jaloux et je n'ay point a craindre le plus grand suplice de l'amour mais helas s'ecrioit il en me guerissant de la jalousie elle m'a desespere car enfin si une declaration d'amour qui luy seroit faite par le plus grand prince du monde et faite encore apres dix ans de services de respects et de soumissions passe pour un crime effroyable dans son esprit que puis-je esperer moy qui n'ay point encore de couronne a luy offrir moy qui peut-estre ne feray pas trop bien receu du roy mon pere quand je retourneray en perse et moy enfin qui suis ce que je n'oserois luy dire et ce que je ne puis luy aprendre sans m'exposer a estre hai o dieux adjoustoit il a quoy me servira d'avoir destruit une puissante conjuration et de voir mon rival esloigne si le coeur de mandane est inflexible et si rien ne le peut toucher comme il s'entretenoit de cette sorte chrisante et moy arrivasmes et luy fismes dire que nous estions revenus a l'instant mesme il commanda non seulement que l'on nous fist entrer mais il vint au devant de nous avec une joye que je ne vous scaurois depeindre pour nous seigneur nous en eusmes une si sensible que nous perdismes une partie du respect que nous luy devions et en mon particulier il me fut impossible demeurer dans les termes de ma condition apres les premieres carresses et apres que chrisante 
 estant plus fatigue que moy de la diligence que nous avions faite se fut alle reposer mon maistre m'embrassant encore avec une tendresse infiniment obligeante et bien feraulas me dit il qu'est devenue la lettre que je vous donnay est elle encore en vos mains ou l'avez vous rendue a la princesse pendant un petit voyage que l'on m'a dit que vous avez fait icy seigneur luy repliquay je cette demande offence un peu la fidelite de feraulas et vous ne pouvez douter de mon exacte obeissance sans douter de mon affection quoy feraulas me dit il la princesse a donc receu ma lettre ouy seigneur luy dis-je elle l'a reccue ha feraulas s'ecria-t'il ne me desesperez point et si mandane vous dit alors quelque chose de bien fascheux je pense qu'il est bon que je ne le scache pas toutefois reprit il sans me donner le loisir de parler il vaut mieux que je scache la verite toute pure afin de ne m'amuser point a trainer une malheureuse vie et a conserver quelque espoit inutilement seigneur luy dis-je vous estes plus heurex que vous ne pensez non non feraulas me respondit il ne me flatez point et ne faites pas ce que je vous ay dit d'abord non seigneur luy dis- je je ne vous deguiseray rien et alors je me mis effectivement a luy raconter fort exactement tout ce que la princesse m'avoit dit je luy representay sa douleur je luy dis que je l'avois entendue soupirer que je luy avois veu respandre des larmes 
 qu'elle m'avoit parle avec beaucoup de tendresse qu'elle m'avoit offert de me servir en sa consideration qu'elle s'estoit informee avec beaucoup de foin de sa naissance que je ne luy en avois dit que ce qu'il avoit voulu qu'elle en sceust et qu'en fin si l'on devoit juger de l'estime et de l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour luy par la douleur qu'elle avoit tesmoignee je pouvois l'assurer qu'il estoit fort bien dans son esprit ha feraulas me dit il tout ce que vous me dites n'est que pour artamene mort mais qui scait si artamene vivant et si artamene devenant cyrus pourroit estre aussi heureux il faut l'esperer luy dis-je et pour moy je vous advoue que j'y voy beaucoup d'aparence mon maistre escoutoit alors tout ce que je luy disois comme si un dieu eust parle et je m'aquis un tel credit sur son esprit par l'agreable nouvelle que je luy donnay que depuis cela il me dit tousjours jusques a ses moindres pensees il me fit redire plus de cent fois tout ce que je luy avois desja dit il vouloit presque encore que je luy racontasse ce que la princesse avoit pense et mesme ce qu'elle avoit dit quand l'avois este sorty de son cabinet mais je ne pouvois pas le luy aprendre car je n'avois pas encore lie amitie avec martesie bien est il vray que ce fut bien tost apres que je m'attachay a la servir et que j'entray dans la confidence artamene se trouvent donc beaucoup plus heureux qu'il n'avoit espere ne pouvoit se lasser de me parler 
 et de me faire tousjours de nouvelles questions tantost sur ce qui estoit desja passe et tantost sur ce que je croyois de l'advenir neantmoins quelque joye que je luy eusse donnee il y avoit tousjours quelques moments ou son ame n'estoit pas tranquille et ou il craignoit estrangement qu'artamene ne fust plus malheureux vivant qu'il n'avoit este dans le tombeau et certes ses soubcons n'estoient pas tout a fait sans fondement car dans le mesme temps que je l'entretenois martesie qui fortuitement nous avoit veus arriver chrisante et moy fut en advertir sa maistresse ha martesie luy dit elle que m'aprenez vous et que va aprendre feraulas a artamene je m'imagine poursuivit cette sage princesse que pour gagner l'amitie de son maistre il luy dira cent choses que je n'ay point dites et que voulez vous qu'il luy die autre chose reprit martesie fin on qu'il vous a entendu soupirer et qu'il vous a veu pleurer pour la mort d'un homme que vous pleureriez peutestre encore s'il mouroit effectivement je l'advoue luy respondit mandane mais s'il estoit mort il ne pourroit pas scavoir ma foiblesse ny la reconnoistre aussi repliqua cette fille par des services et par des respects quoy qu'il en soit dit la princesse artamene scaura par feraulas que j'ay fait des choses que l'on ne fait gueres que pour les personnes que l'on aime il est vray madame interrompit martesie mais voudriez vous qu'artamene creus 
 que vous l'enffiez hai luy qui a expose mille et mille fois sa vie pour vostre service qui a sauve celle du roy vostre pere qui a tant gagne de batailles qui a fait des rois prisonniers et qui vient presentement d'empescher l'effet d'une conspiration qui s'adressoit directement a vostre personne non martesie respondit la princesse je ne voudrois pas qu'artamene creust que je fusse stupide ingrate et insensible comme il faudroit que je la fusse si je le haissois mais comme je ne voudrois pas qu'il creust que je le haisse je serois bien aise aussi qu'il ne s'imaginast pas que je l'aime et je souhaiterois qu'il le desirast sans le croire et mesme sans l'esperer et qu'enfin il se contentast d'une fort grande estime et de beaucoup de reconnoissance ces distinctions font bien delicates reprit martesie et je pense qu'il n'est pas bien aise de demeurer dans cette juste mediocrite que vous imaginez et que je doute que vous puissiez vous mesme garder ne me reprochez point ma foiblesse respondit mandane et aidez moy a la cacher en ne m'abandonnant jamais tant qu'artamene fera aupres de moy car je vous advoue que je ne seray pas marrie qu'il ne me mette pas en estat de le bannir voila seigneur de quelle sorte la princesse et mon maistre raisonnoient chacun en leur particulier et en effect la chose alla comme elle l'avoit resolue c'est a dire que durant plus de quinze jours il fut impossible a artamene de pouvoir parler 
 un moment seul a la princesse elle conduisit pourtant la chose si adroitement qu'elle ne fit nulle incivilite a mon maistre il ne laissoit pas neantmoins de se trouver tres malheureux et sans oser le pleindre de mandane il se pleignoit incessamment de la rigueur de son destin il connoissoit toutefois fort bien que la princesse estoit la veritable cause de cette espece de malheur mais il avoit un respect si grand pour elle qu'il ne l'aceufoit jamais que lors qu'il n'y avoit plus de moyen de l'excuser ny de donner nulle autre cause a ses infortunes cependant apres que durant quinze jours mandane eut opiniastrement esvite toutes les occasions d'estre seule avec artamene enfin la fortune fit malgre toute sa rigueur que mon maistre l'entretint la princesse depuis ce que le prince d'assirie avoit entrepris contre elle car nous ne le nommerons plus philidaspe n'avoit point sorty de la ville pour aller prendre l'air et toutes ses promenades estoient bornees aux jardins qui font dans l'enceinte des murailles et qui ne font pas de fort grande estendue elle y alloit donc ordinairement lors que le soleil estoit abaisse mais elle y estoit suivie de tant de monde qu'il estoit impossible a mon maistre de luy parler que des yeux encore estoit-ce un langage qu'elle ne vouloir pas entendre et ou elle ne vouloit point respondre estant certain que depuis le recour d'artamene elle avoit esvite ses regards avec beaucoup de soing il arriva 
 pourtant enfin que le roy ayant voulu entretenir la princesse en particulier en ce lieu la tout le monde se retira par respect a un coste du jardin et comme cette conversation fut longue peu a peu ceux qui n'estoient pas absolument attachez a la personne du roy ou a celle de la princesse s'en allerent si bien que comme le roy vint a partir il n'y eut plus qu'autant de gens qu'il en faloit pour l'accompagner mon maistre voulant le suivre et ciaxare voyant que la princesse demeuroit seule avec ses femmes non luy dit il artamene je veux que vous entreteniez ma fille et que vous demeuriez pour la divertir dans la solitude ou je la laisse ce prince ravy de ce commandement y obeit avec joye et la princesse surprise de cette avanture n'eut pas le loisir de trouver un pretexte pour l'empescher elle regarda alors en diligence si martesie n'estoit pas aupres d'elle mais elle ne la vit point car il estoit arrive que cette fille ayant veu d'abord toute la cour dans ce jardin n'avoit pas creu qu'elle fust necessaire pour empescher artamene de parler a mandane de sorte qu'ayant quelque affaire elle estoit allee y donner ordre il estoit bien demeure quatre ou cinq de ses compagnes aupres de la princesse neantmoins comme elles n'avoient pas eu de commandement particulier de ne s'eloigner jamais d'elle tant qu'artamene y seroit mon maistre n'eut pas plustost commence d'aider a marcher a mandane qu'elles demeurerent 
 dix ou douze pas derriere elle la princesse se trouva alors du coste du parterre qui est directement oppose a la porte du jardin c'est pour quoy encore qu'elle dist qu'elle se vouloit retirer il faloit tousjours de necessite faire tout ce chemin la elle voulut donc commencer de parler afin d'en oster les moyens a mon maistre qui emporte par sa passion et tente par une occasion si favorable l'interrompit et luy dit avec beaucoup de respect file peu de service que j'ay eu le bonheur de rendre au roy vous acu quelque sorte obligee comme vous m'avez fait l'honneur de me le dire diverses fois je vous supplietres-humblement madame de ne vous retirer pas si tost et de me donner la liberte de vous entretenir une heure en particulier si c'est respondit la princesse pour me demander quelque chose qui depende du roy mon pere j'y consens avec joye mais si cela n'est pas je ne croy point que vous puissiez avoir d'affaire dont vous deviez m'entretenir en secret la princesse rougit en prononcant ces dernieres paroles et mon maistre qu'une si belle crainte rendit plus hardy continuant de luy parler bas ce que je desire de vous luy respondit-il est encore plus aise que vous ne pensez puis qu'enfin vous en pouvez disposer absolument sans employer le credit du roy mais madame adjousta-t'il que craignez vous d'artamene et pourquoy ne voulez vous pas l'entendre je crains luy repliqua-t'elle qu'il ne me connoisse 
 pas bien et qu'il ne desire des choses que je ne puisse luy accorder c'est pourquoy s'il croit mon conseil il ne s'exposera pas legerement a estre refuse non madame reprit artamene aux termes ou est mon esprit la chose ne peut plus aller ainsi et il faut absolument que je quitte la cour que je m'en aille pour tousjours que je meure desespere ou que l'illustre mandane m'escoute une seule fois je ne veux madame poursuivit-il que cette seule faveur je n'en demande point d'autre et si vous l'accordez a artamene il s'estimera tres heureux toutes les fois repliqua la princesse que vous demandez a me parler en particulier je m'imagine tousjours que vous me venez aprendre quelque nouvelle conjuration et qu'il y a encore quelque autre philidaspe dont il faut me faire scavoir les mauvais desseins et l'en punit s'il est possible il est vray reprit mon maistre que ce que j'ay a vous dire n'est pas si esloigne des desseins de philidaspe que vous pourriez penser puis qu'enfin la mesme cause qui l'a fait agir me fait parler mais madame bien loing de songer a vous faire nulle violence je pense seulement a mourir et je ne veux rien scavoir de vous sinon s'il me fera permis d'esperer de vostre bonte quelques tesmoignages de compassion lors que je seray mort par vostre rigueur comme vous m'en avez accorde lors que vous m'avez creu mort par la main de vos ennemis c'est madame toute la grace que j'ay a vous demander 
 et tout ce que je veux presentement de l'illustre mandane la princesse surprise de ce discours creut qu'il n'y faloit pas respondre en tumulte et que dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de satisfaire sa vertu sans choquer directement l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour mon maistre il faloit un peu plus de temps que cela c'est pour quoy ayant veu un siege de gazon assez pres d'elle elle s'y assit et mon maistre demeura debout se baissant a demy pour l'entendre pendant que les filles de la princesse s'apuyant contre une palissade s'amuserent a parler ensemble a sept ou huit pas de leur maistresse comme la princesse fut assise et qu'artamene voulut reprendre son discours elle l'en empescha et luy dit je voy bien que feraulas a trouve mes larmes assez precieuses pour ne vous les cacher pas et que la compassion que j'ay eue pour artamene mort fait la hardiesse d'artamene vivant c'est pourquoy comme j'ay contribue quelque chose a vostre faute je ne veux pas vous traiter aussi severement que si vous n'aviez point excuse et je pense que les obligations que je vous ay meritent bien que je ne vous bannisse pas de ma conversation legerement mais artamene apres la bonte que j'ay eue pour vous et celle que j'ay encore aujourd'huy il faut se repentir et il faut se corriger s'il faut se repentir de vous avoir aimee respondit mon maistre vous n'avez qu'a prononcer l'arrest de ma mort sans differer davantage car madame c'est ce que je ne seray jamais 
 et ce que je ne scaurois faire repentez vous du moins repliqua la princesse de me l'avoir dit et resoluez vous de ne me le dire plus quand je vous l'auray dit une fois respondit mon maistre si vous continuez de me deffendre de parler je ne doute pas que je ne vous obeisse et que la mesme m'empesche en peu de jours de vous importuner de ma passion mais madame il faut que je vous la die une fois seulement il faut que vous connoissiez mon amour telle qu'elle est puis qu'il peut estre enfin que vous ne la connoissez pas je vous conjure donc poursuivit-il de ne me refuser point souvenez vous madame que vous venez de me dire que celuy qui vous parle a eu le bonheur d'estre pleure de vous et pleure de vous apres avoir eu la hardiesse de vous escrire qu'il vous aimoit il est vray reprit la princesse toute confuse mais ce fut principalement parce que vous ne me l'aviez jamais dit que j'eus de la tendresse et de la pitie demeurez donc dans les mesmes termes ou vous avez vescu et je demeureray dans la mesme disposition ou j'estois mais madame respondit artamene je ne puis plus r'apeller le passe et je ne puis plus faire que je ne vous l'aye escrit il est vray reprit mandane mais vous pouvez ne me le dire plus quand cela seroit possible madame repliqua artamene mes yeux et toutes mes actions vous le diroient pour moy et ma mort mesme vous le confirmeroit bien tost plus fortement que toutes mes paroles n'auroient pu faire au 
 reste madame ne pensez pas que je me sois rendu sans combattre je vous ay resiste autant que j'ay pu et j'ay peut-estre des raisons plus fortes que vous ne pensez qui m'ont oblige d'en user ainsi je vous vy madame et je vous aimay quoy que je fisse tous mes efforts pour ne vous aimer point du moins il me le sembla toutefois quoy que je pusse faire je ne pus jamais rompre mes chaines et je les ay tousjours portees avec autant de patience que de respect depuis cela madame j'ay servy le roy ou plus tost je vous ay servie puis qu'il est vray que je n'ay songe qu'a vous et que si les armes de capadoce ont este heureuses entre mes mains il en faut attribuer tout le bonheur a l'ambition que j'avois de me rendre digne de l'amour que j'avois dans l'ame vous scavez madame comme j'ay vescu vous scavez que je ne vous ay jamais dit une seule parole qui vous peust desplaire et que je ne vous ay parle que lors que j'ay creu ne devoir jamais plus parler je vous ay cache mon amour jusques a la mort et il est certain que si je ne vous l'eusse dite au bord du tombeau je ne vous en aurois jamais donne nulle connoissance par mes paroles mais madame quis que vos larmes m'ont ressuscite puis que les dieux ont voulu faire cesser le desplaisir que vous aviez de ma perte en me redonnant la vie pourquoy me voulez vous repousser cruellement dans le cercueil et pourquoy ne voulez vous pas avoir quelque pitie d'un prince malheureux apres avoir eu quelque 
 compassion d'un prince mort c'est repliqua mandane que ce prince mort avoit expie sa faute en mourant et que ce prince vivant recommence son crime en ressuscitant enfin artamene luy dit elle avec un visage fort serieux je vous advoue que je vous estime que je vous ay de l'obligation et que vostre mort pretendue ma donne une veritable douleur mais en mesme temps je vous declare aussi que j'ayme la gloire beaucoup plus que je n'estime artamene quoy que je l'estime beaucoup et que quand j'aurois pour vous toute la tendresse imaginable je la combattrois et la vaincrois plustost que de consentir que vous m'entretinsiez d'une passion qui me doit estre suspeste ha madame s'escria artamene que vous connoissez mal l'amour que vous avez fait naistre en mon coeur et que vous scavez peu de quelle facon je vous aime scachez madame que la purete de ma passion esgale la purete de vostre ame ouy divine princesse je vous aime d'une maniere si respectueuse que je desadvouerois mon propre coeur s'il avoit souffert un injuste desir j'ayme la gloire de mandane autant que ma propre gloire et si je m'estois surpris dans une pensee criminelle je n'aurois jamais eu la hardiesse de luy parler de mon amour au reste madame si ma naissance m'eust rendu indigne de porter vos fers j'aurois rompu mes chaines en me donnant la mort et je n'aurois jamais souffert que l'illustre mandane eust eu un esclave indigne d'elle de ce coste-la eh 
 pleust aux dieux qu'artamene meritast certe glorieuse qualite par sa propre vertu comme il la merite par sa condition cependant divine mandane c'est pour l'amour de vous qu'artamene n'est qu'artamene et que bien loing de passer pour le fils d'un grand roy il passe seulement pour un homme que la fortune a favorise mais madame en s'attachant a vostre service il n'a pas cesse d'estre ce qu'il est c'est a dire qu'il a tousjours l'ame grande et incapable d'un injuste sentiment ne croyez donc pas s'il vous plaist que je vous aye si mal connue que mon coeur vous ait soubconnee d'une foiblesse non madame je n'ay point creu que la princesse mandane deust estre susceptible d'une passion violente mais j'ay espere qu'elle souffriroit la mienne puis qu'elle ne s'oppose point a sa vertu car enfin madame je ne veux rien de vous que la seule permission de vous aimer et de vous le dire vous en demandez trop de la moitie respondit la princesse en rougissant et je ferois indigne de cette innocente passion que vous m'assurez avoir pour moy si je vous accordois ce que vous voulez et si je souffrois que vous me dissiez plus d'une fois ce que tout autre que vous ne m'auroit jamais dit sans estre hai cette exception m'est bien glorieuse madame repliqua artamene mais cette deffence m'est aussi bien rigoureuse et je voudrois bien scavoir quel crime j'ay commis de puis mon retour vous m'avez dit reprit la princesse 
 ce que vous ne me deviez pas dire il faloit donc madame perdre la vie adjousta artamene car enfin la chose en est arrivee aux termes que je ne scaurois vivre sans vous aimer ny vous aimer sans vous le dire ny me taire sans mourir la princesse fut alors un moment sans parler puis reprenant la parole l'advoue artamene luy dit elle que vous me mettez en une facheuse extremite je vous estime je vous suis obligee et ce ne seroit pas sans peine que je me resoudrois a vous bannir songez donc je vous en conjure a regler vos sentimens s'il est possible estimez mandane comme elle le doit estre elle ne s'en offencera pas au contraire comme elle est satisfaite du tesmoignage secret de la purete de son ame elle vous advoue ingenument qu'elle a quelque joye qu'artamene la considere et peut-estre qu'artamene l'ayme mais elle veut que cette affection ait des bornes elle veut donc ce qui n'est pas possible respondit mon maistre et ce qui est forte quitable repliqua la princesse car enfin la vertu en doit donner a toutes choses je vous ay desja dit madame repliqua artamene que ma passion ne choque point la vertu le temps et vostre silence m'en esclairciront respondit mandane en se levant et ce fera par ces deux choses que je jugeray si l'affection qu'artamene a pour moy est aussi pure qu'il le dit quoy madame reprit mon maistre vous me deffendez de parler ouy luy respondit elle en rougissant si ce n'est pour me dire le veritable 
 nom d'artamene mon maistre demeura surpris a ce discours neantmoins apres avoir este un moment sans respondre je ne suis pas assez bien dans vostre esprit reprit il pour vous le dire et si j'ay a mourir par vostre rigueur il vaudra mieux que vous ne vous reprochiez a vous mesme que la mort d'un simple chevalier que celle du fils d'un grand roy ils en estoient la lors qu'il vint du monde qui interrompit leur conversation et comme la princesse avoit l'esprit un peu esmeu elle se retira et ne fut pas plustost arrivee au chasteau qu'elle entra dans son cabinet ou elle apella martesie cette fille s'estant rendue aupres d'elle a l'heure mesme elle se pleignit de ce que contre son ordre elle l'avoit abandonnee et luy raconta en suitte ce que mon maistre luy avoit dit et ce qu'elle luy avoit respondu mais avec tant d'inquietude qu'il estoit aise de juger qu'il y avoit un assez grand combat dans son coeur et que quelque innocente que fust la passion d'artamene sa vertu scrupuleuse n'estoit pas satisfaite de la conversation qu'elle avoit eue aveque luy elle trouvoit qu'elle devoit luy avoir parle plus rudement et qu'elle devoit l'avoir banny mon maistre de son coste se pleignoit de mandane et de luy mesme il ne trouvoit pas qu'il eust bien exagere son amour il ne trouvoit pas non plus que la princesse l'eust assez bien receue et quoy qu'elle ne l'eust pas exile neantmoins il ne trouvoit pas qu'il y eust grand raport entre ce que feraulas disoit avoir veu et ce qu'il 
 avoit entendu toutefois il luy demeura un peu d'espoir et il vescut avec un peu plus de repos qu'il n'avoit fait auparavant il ne voyoit plus la princesse qu'elle ne rougist il ne luy parloit plus qu'elle n'evitast ses regards et malgre tout cela quoy que toutes leurs conversations fussent interrompues et generales elles ne laissoient pas de luy donner tousjours quelque legere satisfaction mais enfin pour ne vous arrester pas trop long temps sur cet endroit de mon recit artamene vescut avec tant de respect aupres de mandane et elle connut si parfaitement qu'il n'avoit pour elle que des sentimens pleins de vertu et d'innocence qu'elle commenca de n'esviter plus sa rencontre avec tant de foin et de luy accorder quelquefois la liberte de luy dire combien il l'estimoit sans oser neantmoins l'entretenir ouvertement de sa passion un jour donc qu'il estoit dans sa chambre emporte par la violence de son amour et voyant qu'il n'y avoit que martesie aupres d'elle il la supplia les larmes aux yeux de luy vouloir dire les veritables sentimens qu'elle avoit pour luy ce que vous me demandez luy respondit elle fort obligeamment et avec beaucoup d'esprit n'est peut estre pas de si petite importance que vous pensez et je ne juge point que je sois obligee de faire cette confidence a une personne qui ne m'a pas encore jugee assez discrette pour m'apprendre sa veritable naissance ha madame repliqua mon maistre 
 que me demandez vous et que voulez vous scavoir ha artamene luy respondit elle que me demandez vous aussi et que voulez vous apprendre ce que je veux aprendre madame repliqua-t'il n'est pas de petite importance car enfin je voudrois scavoir si vous me haissez si je vous suis indifferent ou si par bonheur vous auriez quelque legere disposition a souffrir mon amour sans repugnance ce que je veux aprendre de vous repliqua la princesse ne m'est guere moins important car enfin puis que vous n'estes pas artamene je ne dois pas vous considerer comme tel et je dirois des choses a un mede que je ne dirois pas a un scithe comment voulez vous donc que je vous parle si je ne vous connois point ne suffit il pas madame respondit il que vous connoissiez mon coeur et que vous scachiez que je vous adore nullement respondit elle et quand je connoistrois ce que vous dittes cela ne suffiroit pas pour regler la maniere dont je dois vivre aveque vous de sorte madame interrompit mon maistre que selon ce que je fuis vous agirez plus ou moins obligeamment il n'en faut pas douter repartit elle mais madame adjousta mon maistre de quelque pais que je sois je seray tousjours le mesme que je suis ainsi ne vous semble-t'il point qu'il y aura quelque injustice si vous venez a me hair parce que peut-estre je feray d'un lieu qui ne vous plaira pas ce n'est pas ce que je dis repliqua 
 la princesse et je vous promets que j'estimeray tousjours artamene egalement dans mon coeur en quelque lieu qu'il ait pris naissance mais il est certain que l'inegalite de sa condition en peut beaucoup mettre en mes paroles et en ma facon d'agir que si vous estes poursuivit elle de la qualite dont vous vous dittes et dont je vous crois comment est il possible qu'il puisse y avoir un si grand mistere a vostre naissance parlez donc luy dit elle si vous voulez que je parle et dittes moy qui vous estes si vous voulez scavoir ce que je pense de vous mon maistre se trouvant alors extremement presse ne pensa jamais prendre sa resolution neantmois venant a considerer qu'apres tout il faloit enfin se descouvrir pour ce qu'il estoit et jugeant bien que quelque bonte que la princesse peust avoir pour luy elle ne la luy tesmoigneroit pas tant qu'elle ne le connoistroit point il se resolut tout d'un coup de luy advouer la verite je scay bien madame luy dit-il qu'en vous aprenant ma naissance je m'expose peut-estre a me voir hai de vous mais je scay bien aussi qu'en vous disant qui je suis je vous dois bien mieux persuader la grandeur de ma passion que je n'ay fait par toutes paroles et par tous mes services puis qu'il est certain que si elle n'avoit este tres violente des le premier moment qu'elle a commence d'estre cyrus ne vous auroit jamais aimee cyrus reprit la princesse fort estonnee et quoy artamene cyrus n'a-fit 
 pas este noye non madame reprit il et je puis vous affeurer qu'il n'a pas mesme este en danger de l'estre mais est-il possible interrompit elle que vous soyez cyrus ouy divine princesse vous voyez a vos pieds dit-il en se mettant a genoux ce mesme cyrus de qui la vie a donne tant d'inquietude au roy des medes et de qui la more a cause une joye si universelle par toute l'asie que l'illustre mandane mesme toute pitoyable qu'elle est en a remercie les dieux et leur en a offert des sacrifices ouy madame poursuivit-il la premiere fois que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir ce fut au temple de mars et ce fut la que pas la passion que j'eus pour vous je pris la resolution de ne ressusciter jamais cyrus qu'artamene n en eust obtenu la permission de mandane c'est donc a vous a disposer absolument de son destin il demeurera dans le tombeau si vous le voulez il en fortira si vous le luy permettez car enfin pourveu que vous luy faciez la grace de ne le hair pas il ne luy importe d'estre cyrus ou d'estre artamene de ne passer que pour un simple chevalier ou pour un grand prince puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'a point de plus violente ambition que celle d'estre aime de vous mandane escouta ce discours avec beacoup d'attention et beaucoup d'estonnement d'abord elle ne scavoit si elle devoit croire mon maistre mais ce doute se dissipa en un instant et elle connoissoit si bien sa haute generosite qu'elle 
 creut presque sans peine ce qu'il luy dit et ne douta plus qu'il ne fust effectivement cyrus elle considera mesme qu'il n'estoit pas plus difficile que l'on eust creu a faux que cyrus s'estoit noye que de croire qu'artamene avoit este tue comme toute la capadoce l'avoit creu quelques jours auparavant et qu'il n'y avoit pas aussi plus d'impossibilite qu'artamene fust cyrus que philidaspe fust le prince d'assirie faisant donc tous ces raisonnemens en secret elle fut quelque temps a regarder mon maistre sans luy respondre ce qui luy donna tant d'inquietude que ne pouvant la cacher je voy bien madame luy dit il que vous ne pouvez me tenir la parole que vous m'avez donnee de ne changer point de sentimens pour artamene et je m'apercoy par vostre silence que cyrus l'a destruit aupres de vous cyrus repliqua la princesse a sans doute un peu trouble le calme de mon esprit je vous assure toutefois qu'il n'a rendu aucun mauvais office a artamene au contraire poursuivit elle en soupirant comme je trouve artamene plus malheureux que je ne pensois je me trouve aussi avec plus de disposition a le pleindre mais de grace poursuivit elle apprenez moy tout ce qui vous est advenu et ne cachez plus rien des commencemens d'une vie dont la suitte a este si glorieuse mon maistre pour la satisfaire luy dit effectivement tout ce qui luy estoit arrive il luy aprit tout ce qu'harpage luy avoit apris des mauvaises intentions 
 d'astiage contre luy il luy dit apres les offres qu'harpage luy avoit faites de faire souslever la province des paretacenes contre le roy de medie il luy conta de quelle sorte il l'avoit refuse et luy avoit ordonne de ne luy faire plus de semblables propositions il luy exagera un peu la droicture de ses sentimens en une occasion si delicate et si dangereuse il luy dit encore comme quoy le desir de voyager pour aller chercher la guerre l'avoit fait quitter la perse et changer de nom et en peu de mots il repassa une partie des lieux ou il avoit este et luy dit enfin comment la tempeste l'avoit jette a sinope et comment il avoit este au temple de mars ou il l'avoit veue remercier les dieux de sa mort il est vray dit la princesse que j'ay tousjours assiste aux sacrifices que l'on a faits pour rendre graces aux dieux de la perte de cyrus mais il est pourtant vray aussi que je ne me resjouiffois point de sa mort et qu'il m'a tousjours semble qu'il y avoit beaucoup de temerite a ceux qui osoient se vanter d'expliquer si precisement les oracles et les presages des astres quoy madame interrompit mon maistre je pourrois croire que l'illustre mandane ne se seroit pas resjouie de la mort de cyrus cyrus dis-je qu'astiage a voulu faire mourir dans le berceau cyrus que les mages ont assure devoir occuper le throsne du roy des medes et commander a toute l'asie et cyrus enfin qui des son enfance a trouble le repos d'un roy qui vous doit 
 estre tres considerable il ne vous doit pas sembler estrange reprit la princesse que je ne me sois pas resjouie de la mort d'un prince que je ne connoissois point et qui ne m'avoit fait aucun mal puis que vous avez bien eu la generosite de ne vouloir pas vous vanger d'un roy qui vous avoit voulu faire mourir et de servir comme vous avez fait un prince qui tient la vie de celuy qui vous l'a voulue oster mais artamene luy dit elle car je n'oserois encore vous nommer cyrus bien qu'en vous connoissant pour ce que vous estes je n'aye pas diminue l'estime que je fais de vous et qu'au contraire voyant que je vous ay encore plus d'obligation que je ne pensois je me trouve engagee a plus de reconnoissance neantmoins j'advoue que je ne scay pas trop bien comment je dois agir aveque vous si je vous regarde poursuivit elle comme un prince qui n'a pas voulu se vanger de son ennemy parce que les droicts du sang l'en devoient empescher comme un prince dis-je qui n'a pas laisse de m'aimer malgre toutes les raisons qui devoient l'en destourner absolument qui a sauve la vie au roy mon pere qui a mille et mille fois expose la sienne pour luy qui s'est veu tout couvert de blessures qui a conqueste des provinces gagne des batailles fait des rois prisonniers empesche l'effect d'une dangereuse conjuration qui m'a enfin pu aimer assez long temps sans me le dire et sans me desplaire si je vous regarde dis-je de cette sorte 
 j'advoue artamene que sans choquer la vertu ny la bien-seance je pourrois souhaitter que du consentement du roy mon pere je pusse vous donner quelque marque de l'estime extraordinaire que je fais de vous mais si je vous regarde aussi comme ce prince de qui la naissance a este precedee par tant de prodiges qui a cause des eclipses qui a redouble la clarte et la chaleur du soleil qui a esbranle les fondemens des temples de qui tous les astres ont fait predire tant de choses et que tous les mages nous ont assure devoir faire un renversement universel dans toute l'asie j'advoue dis-je que je ne scay pas trop bien que resoudre car quand il seroit vray que je croirois dans mon coeur que ceux qui ont explique toutes ces choses les ont mal entendues et que si les astres ont predit vostre naissance c'est parce qu'en effet vous estes un prince de qui la vertu est assez extraordmaire pour obliger les dieux d'en donner des prefages aux hommes quand dis je je ferois dans ces sentimens cela ne fuffiroit pas et astiage et ciaxare n'aprouveroient sans doute jamais que mandane accordast son affection a cyrus mais madame interrompit artamene ce mesme cyrus que vous dites qui est si redoutable a toute l'asie est presentement a vos pieds et vous pouvez disposer de son fort comme il vous plaira ou font madame adjousta-t'il ou font les conquestes que j'ay faites pour commencer cette usurpation universelle j'ay 
 refuse tout ce que le roy m'a voulu donner et si j'ay combatu si j'ay vaincu si j'ay conqueste il a sans doute jouy du fruit de mes combats de mes victoires et de mes conquestes je ne suis encore maistre que de mon espee mais comme vous regnez dans le coeur qui conduit la main qui la porte ne craignez pas que je m'en serve jamais a commencer une injuste guerre c'est a vous divine personne a faire le destin et des peuples et des rois et c'est de vostre volonte que depend toute la vie d'artamene encore une fois madame luy dit il d'une maniere tres touchante voulez vous que cyrus ne ressuscite point il est prest de vous obeir ouy adorable princesse cyrus qui peut troubler le repos de toute l'asie et esperer de regner sur un grand et beau royaume est prest de renoncer a tous les droits qu'il a a la couronne de perse et de passer le reste de ses jours sous le nom d'artamene pourveu qu'il puisse esperer que mandane ne l'en estimera pas moins que s'il est vray qu'il faille porter un sceptre pour vous meriter choisissez en quel lieu de la terre vous voulez que j'aille exposer ma vie pour en aquerir un je le seray sans doute et les choses les plus impossibles me paroistront aisees pourveu que vous ne m'ostiez pas l'esperance d'estre aime de vous parlez donc divine princesse voulez vous que cyrus ressuscite voulez vous qu'artamene vive ou voulez vous qu'ils meurent tous deux je vous donne le choix de ces trois choses parlez donc 
 de grace et ne me cachez pas vos veritables sentimens encore une fois voulez vous que cyrus sorte du tombeau je n'oserois le luy conseiller reprit la princesse et je craindrois qu'il n'y rentrast pour tousjours voulez vous donc qu'artamene vive comme n'estant qu'artamene repliqua t'il il ne seroit pas juste respondit elle et mesme il ne luy feroit pas avantageux vous voulez donc reprit il madame qu'ils meurent tous deux a la fois nullement respondit elle et j'ay eu trop de douleur de la mort d'artamene pour esperer de pouvoir me consoler de celle de cyrus et de la sien ne tout ensemble que voulez vous donc qu'ils deviennent repliquat-il je n'en scay rien luy respondit elle et je vous demande quelques jours pour m'y resoudre mais du moins madame repartit mon maistre vous me permettrez bien d'esperer de n'estre pas hai soit que vous me consideriez comme artamene ou comme cyrus je vous le permets luy dit elle en se levant puis qu'il ne seroit pas juste que je fusse moins genereuse que vous ce fut de cette sorte seigneur que cette conversation finit que mon maistre eut la bonte de me raconter exactement aussi tost qu'il fut retire et qu'il m'eut fait appeller feraulas me dit-il j'avois bien preveu qu'artamene ne seroit pas si heureux vivant que mort et que la compassion toute seule avoit fait pleurer l'illustre mandane seigneur luy dis-je apres qu'il m'eut dit tout ce que je viens de vous dire 
 je ne voy pas que vous ayez sujet de vous pleindre ny que vous deussiez gueres esperer plus d'indulgence de la severite de la princesse que ce qu'elle en a eu pour vous car enfin elle ne vous a point encore banny elle ne vous a point absolument deffendu de luy parler et elle vous a demande du temps pour se resoudre esperez seigneur esperez et croyez qu'il est bien difficile que tant de grandes choses que vous avez faites ne solicitent pas puissamment pour vous dans le coeur de l'illustre mandane ha feraulas me dit il en m'interrompant il n'est pas aise de se laisser flatter par l'esperance et il l'est beaucoup davantage de se laisser emporter au desespoir si vous scaviez me disoit-il quelle est l'inquietude ou je fuis dans l'aprehension d'entendre l'arrest de ma mort de la bouche de mandane la premiere fois qu'elle me parlera vous auriez pitie de moy en l'estat ou je suis presentement je ne scay si je dois tousjours estre artamene s'il me fera permis d'estre cyrus si l'on souffrira que je vive si l'on voudra qui je meure et j'ignore si absolument si je seray le plus malheureux prince de la terre ou le plus heureux qu'il n'est pas aise que cette cruelle incertitude ne mette un grand trouble en mon ame car enfin j'en suis arrive aux termes que je ne puis plus attendre autre chose qu'une mort tres inhumaine ou une vie comblee de beaucoup de felicite artamene adjousta encore cent autres raisonnemens a ceux-cy qui me donnoient 
 de la compassion et qui me faisoient voir clairement qu'il aimoit autant qu'on pouvoit aimer mais pendant qu'il me parloit de cette sorte la princesse entretenoit martesie et s'entretenoit elle mesme sur ce qui luy estoit arrive qui vit jamais disoit elle une avanture semblable a la mienne je fais des voeux j'offre des sacrifices et je remercie les dieux de la mort de cyrus et ce mesme cyrus est le tesmoing de ces sacrifices et de ces voeux et malgre tout cela il m'aime il me sert il s'attache aupres du roy mon pere et fait cent milles belles choses dont je n'ose presque me souvenir de peur qu'elles ne rendent cyrus trop puissant dans mon coeur helas justes dieux poursuivoit elle pourquoy avez vous permis que les hommes expliquassent si mal vos intentions et qu'ils creussent que cyrus devoit renverser le trosne du roy des medes et commander a toute l'asie luy dis-je qui n'employe sa valeur qu'a l'avantage de celuy qui doit porter quelque jour le sceptre d'astiage mais madame luy dit martesie qui scait si les dieux n'ont point entendu que cyrus regnera en medie en espousant une princesse qui selon les aparences en fera reine si les choses ne changent de face si les dieux l'avoient voulu reprit elle ils n'auroient pas mis dans le coeur d'astiage tant de haine pour cyrus ainsi ma fille poursuivit la princesse ce que vous vous imaginez n'a pas de fondemens trop vray-semblables et quoy qu'il en soit il faut le 
 deffendre opiniastrement contre le merite la naissance les services et la vertu d'artamene et ne se rendre qu'a la raison toute seule mais encore madame luy dit martesie que resoluez vous et que voulez vous qu'artamene soit sera-t'il tousjours artamene ou deviendra-t'il bien tost cyrus je veux repliqua mandane luy permettre de chercher les voyes d'estre cyrus de n'estre plus aprehende d'astiage d'estre protege du roy mon pere et d'obtenir d'eux la permission de m'espouser s'il le peut je ne feray point d'obstacle a son bonheur et peut-estre si je l'ose dire sans rougir le partageray-je aveques luy mais si dans un terme que je luy veux preserire et qui ne sera pas fort long il ne trouve les moyens de pouvoir faire ce que je dis il faudra ma chere fille bannir artamene pour tousjours et nous priver peut-estre pour jamais de toute sorte de plaisir et de repos il me semble madame respondit martesie que cette resolution est un peu violente et que vous pourriez connoissant la vertu d'artamene et vostre innocence comme vous les connoissez ne desesperer pas si fort un prince a qui vous avez tant d'obligation le temps madame fait tant de changemens tous les jours vous scavez qu'astiage est extremement vieux et qu'ainsi cet obstacle pourroit cesser en un moment non non martesie luy dit elle je ne puis ny ne dois plus souffrir qu'artamene apres m'avoir descouvert sa passion et sa naissance 
 demeure plus long temps cache parmy nous si le roy venoit a le descouvrir n'auroit il pas lieu de m'accuser de plus d'un crime et ne pourroit il pas s'imaginer que j'aurois songe a partager avec cyrus la domination de toute l'asie que les mages luy ont predite quelle meilleure voye madame reprit martesie pourriez vous trouver pour empescher cyrus d'avoir des desseins trop ambitieux que de le retenir aupres de vous tant qu'il ne sera qu'artamene et tant qu'il sera amoureux de la princesse mandane il ne sera pas la guerre a astiage et il n'attaquera pas ciaxare mais qui scait madame si vous le bannissez si cette ame grande et heroique pourra souffrir vostre rigueur avec patience qui scait s'il ne portera point la guerre par toute la capadoce et par toute la medie vous scavez son bonheur vous connoissez son courage craignez donc craignez de l'irriter et de contribuer vous mesme a la desolation de toute l'asie songez madame songez bien a ce que vous avez a faire et ne bannissez pas artamene legerement ma fille reprit la princesse tout ce que vous me dites est puissant neantmoins ce que je pense l'est encore davantage et j'ay me beaucoup mieux exposer toute l'asie que ma propre gloire car apres tout si ce renversement doit arriver c'est que sans doute les dieux l'auront ainsi resolu mais que mandane puisse ny doive se commettre a pouvoir estre soubconnee d'une intelligence 
 ce criminelle en souffrant long temps dans la cour un prince desguise bien fait de grand coeur et de grand esprit et de plus fort amoureux d'elle ha martesie c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle en rougissant que s'il faut bannir artamene je ne le bannisse avec repugnance et que je ne m'y resolve avec beaucoup de douleur toutefois a bien considerer ma propre gloire il m'est mesme important qu'artamene ne me puisse pas soupconner de foiblesse je luy ay dit assez de choses obligeantes pour craindre qu'il n'en pense plus que je ne veux et j'ayme mieux enfin qu'il souffre et que je souffre moy mesme que de m'exposer a estre moins estimee de luy mais madame reprit martesie pourrez vous bien luy prononcer cet arrest je ne scay luy respondit elle et je n'oserois pas l'assurer neantmoins je seray tout ce qui me sera possible pour luy cacher la tendresse que j'ay pour luy c'estoit de cette sorte que l'illustre mandane premeditoit le cruel arrest qu'elle devoit prononcer a mon cher maistre mais comme il ne le scavoit pas il vivoit entre l'esperance et la crainte 
 
 
 
 
cependant le roy de pont quoy qu'admirablement bien traite dans sa prison ne laissoit pas d'estre tres malheureux car encore qu'il n'eust fait qu'entre-voir la princesse a une fenestre en entrant dans sinope cette veue n'avoit pas laisse de renouveller dans son coeur les plus vifs sentimens d'amour dont il se fust jamais trouve capable et le souvenir de tant de fois qu'il 
 l'avoit veue dans cette mesme ville le tourmentoit d'une estrange sorte helas disoit-il a ce qu'il a conte depuis que dois-je esperer de ma fortune moy qui dans le temps que j'estois en cette cour et en liberte n'ay jamais pu obtenir un regard favorable de mandane que puis-je donc pretendre vaincu et charge de fers comme je suis je vous dis seigneur une petite partie de ce que pensoit le roy de pont afin que vous n'ignoriez rien de ce qui se passoit a sinope pour ciaxare il vivoit en repos et jouissoit paisiblement du fruit des victoires d'artamene aribee de son coste agissoit avec beaucoup de finesse et faisoit semblant de ne songer qu'a la conduite des affaires de l'estat dont artamene ne s'estoit jamais voulu mesler ayant borne son employ a tout ce qui regardoit la guerre en ce mesme temps il vint nouvelles du camp que le roy de phrigie n'avoit pu encore r'assembler un corps considerable depuis sa deffaite et qu'il couroit un bruit que la bythinie se vouloit souslever et secouer le joug du roy de pont cette derniere nouvelle n'estoit pourtant pas bien assuree et le roy prisonnier n'en avoit pas encore entendu parler lors qu'il envoya un matin prier mon maistre qu'il le peust entretenir artamene qui est naturellement tres civil et qui de plus estimoit beaucoup ce prince tout son rival qu'il estoit ne manqua pas de faire ce qu'il desiroit de luy apres avoir demande au roy la permission de le voir comme il fut entre dans se chambre et 
 que ceux qui le gardoient se furent retirez genereux artamene luy dit il vous m'avez oblige de si bonne grace les armes a la main que je ne puis croire que vous ne le faciez encore avec plus de joye aujourd'huy que je suis dans les fers c'est pourquoy j'ay pris la liberte de faire prier mon vainqueur de venir icy afin de le prier moy mesme de vouloir estre mon amy mon protecteur et mon confident tout ensemble comme c'est la fortune toute seule respondit artamene qui vous a fait perdre la liberte vous me donnez une qualite dont je ne dois pas abuser et vous m'en offrez trois autres que je n'oserois accepter puis que je ne suis pas digne d'estre vostre amy que je ne suis pas assez puissant pour estre vostre protecteur et que je n'ay peut-estre pas toutes les qualitez necessaires pour avoir l'honneur d'estre vostre confident mais seigneur sans s'amuser a chercher quelle qualite vous me devez donner je vous assure avec sincerite que tout ce qu'artamene croira devoir faire pour vostre service il fera avec beaucoup de satisfaction car enfin vous m'avez oblige et peut-estre trop oblige le roy de pont ne comprenant pas le sens cache de ces dernieres paroles n'y respondit point et se mit a le louer tout de nouveau et a exagerer sa generalite et lors qu'il creue luy en avoir assez dit pour preparer son esprit a ne le refuser pas genereux artamene luy dit il vous n'ignorez pas sans doute que ce prince que vous voyez 
 porte plus d'une espece de chaines et que celles qu'il a autrefois receues de la princesse mandane ne sont ny usees ny rompues et qu'elles font beaucoup plus fortes et plus pesantes que celles que vostre valeur m'a fait porter artamene fut fort surpris de ce discours mais comme le roy de pont avoit l'esprit occupe des choses qu'il vouloir dire il ne le remarqua pas et continua de parler je scay donc bien luy dit il que vous n'ignorez pas qu'ayant autrefois este envoye pour ostage aupres de ciaxare pendant un troitte de paix entre le feu roy de pont mon pere et luy je fus six mois en cette cour que j'y devins amoureux de la princesse mandane que je n'osay luy descouvrir ma passion que par mes soupirs et que je partis fort afflige vous scavez aussi comment en m'en retournant j'apris que non seulement le roy mon pere estoit mort mais qu'un frere aisne que j'avois l'estoit comme luy de sorte que des que mes premieres larmes furent essuyees croyant qu'estant alors roy de deux royaumes je pouvois pretendre a la princesse de capadoce sans l'offenser j'envoyay des ambassadeurs a ciaxare pour la luy demander en mariage vous avez aussi sans doute sceu que ce prince me la refusa parce que j'estois estranger luy dis-je qui n'a pas este assujetty si rigoureusement a cette loy de l'estat qui ne peut mesme estre observee en l'occasion qui se presente puis qu'il n'y a point de prince en capadoce qui puisse espouser mandane scachant 
 donc toutes ces choses genereux artamene je ne m'arresteray pas a vous les dire avec exactitude et je vous suplieray seulement de vouloir m'assister de vos conseils au malheureux estat ou je me trouve mais afin que vous le puissiez mieux faire il faut que je vous ouvre mon coeur que je vous advoue que j'aime tousjours passionnement la princesse mandane et que tout vaincu que je fuis je ne puis m'empescher de desirer quelquefois de pouvoir regner dans son coeur dites moy donc de grace ce que je dois devenir ce que je dois esperer et si l'illustre artamene par sa faveur par sa generosite et par son adresse ne pourroit point me donner les moyens de flechir ciaxare d'adoucir l'esprit de mandane et de me faire vaincre dans les fers je scay bien adjousta t'il que ce que je dis paroist sans fondement comme sans raison mais que voulez vous que face un homme amoureux et passionne qui n'a que faire de la liberte sans mandane et qui ne veut pas mesme de la vie sans la permission de l'aimer qui ne scauroit songer a la paix ayant une si cruelle guerre dans son coeur ny a parler de rancon a un prince avec lequel il ne peut faire aucun troitte sans mandane je scay bien adjousta-t'il encore une fuis que je suis injuste de vous parler ainsi mais genereux artamene si vous avez aime vous me plaindrez au lieu de vous pleindre et vous soulagerez du moins mes maux si vous ne les pouvez guerir mon maistre escouta ce discours 
 avec un chagrin et un desplaisir extreme il eust bien voulu pouvoir dire au roy de pont qu'il ne pouvoit choisir personne plus incapable de luy rendre cet office et luy aprendre enfin la veritable cause qu'il avoit de luy refuser son assistance en cette occasion toutefois ne scachant pas si sa princesse trouveroit cette franchise raisonnable il n'osa prendre cette voye et il falut contre son inclination qu'il deguisast en quelque sorte la verite l'estat ou vous estes respondit artamene au roy de pont apres y avoir un peu pense est sans doute digne de compassion et je vous trouve bien plus a pleindre des chaines que l'illustre mandane vous fait porter que de celles dont la fortune vous a attache par mes mains cependant comme c'est la princesse qui vous les a donnees c'est a elle seule a vous en soulager et vous demandez une chose a artamene ou il ne peut ny ne doit vous servir ne pensez pas seigneur adjousta t'il que ce soit manque de generosite qui me face agir de cette sorte et croyez que si vous me connoissiez bien vous ne me soubconneriez pas d'une semblable chose et que vous advoueriez que je ne fais que ce que je dois faire mais pour vous tesmoigner que j'ay un veritable dessein de reconnoistre les obligations que je vous ay je vous promets de tascher de vous faire obtenir de ciaxare une paix aussi advantageuse que si vous n'aviez pas este prisonnier et de n'oublier rien pour vous faire recouvrer la liberte mais 
 pour la princesse mandane adjousta-t'il dispensez moy s'il vous plaist de luy parler de vostre passion et de vous y rendre office cette personne poursuivit mon maistre fait profession d'une vertu si austere et il paroist tant de majeste et tant de modestie sur son visage que quand je serois le plus puissant roy du monde que je ferois sur le throsne et qu'elle seroit dans les fers je pense dis-je que je ne luy pourrois parler d'amour qu'en tremblant fust pour moy ou pour autruy ainsi seigneur en l'estat ou la fortune vous a mis je ne voy pas que ce fust une proposition que je peusse ny que je deusse luy faire le scay bien repliqua le roy de pont que j'ay tort de vous avoir parle comme j'ay fait mais genereux artamene que puis-je devenir mourray-je dans les fers que je porte sans m'en pleindre et ne pourray-je du moins obtenir de vous la permission de voir encore une fois l'illustre mandane artamene se trouva alors bien embarrasse car malgre toute la vertu de la princesse la jalousie ne laissoit pas de s'emparer de son coeur il voyoit que le roy de pont estoit un prince fort bien fait et de beaucoup d'esprit et il s'imagina d'abord que cette entreveue ne se pouvoit faire sans qu'il en eust du desplaisir neantmoins comme ce premier sentiment fut bien tost corrige par un second qui luy fit voir qu'il n'avoit rien a craindre de ce coste la il dit au roy de pont que s'il vouloit obtenir cette faveur il faloit qu'il l'envoyast demander a ciaxare 
 qui peut-estre ne la luy refuseroit pas mais luy dit-il seigneur si vous m'en vouliez croire vous ne le seriez point car enfin a quoy vous servira cette veue vous reverrez la princesse si belle que peut-estre en ferez vous plus malheureux ha artamene s'ecria le roy de pont vous ne scavez point aimer ou pour mieux dire vous n'avez jamais aime car scachez que quelque mal traite que l'on puisse estre que quelque rigueur qui paroisse dans les yeux de la personne que l'on aime que quelque cruaute qu'elle puisse avoir dans le coeur que quelques fascheuses paroles qu'elle puisse dire sa veue a tousjours quelque douceur et cause tousjours quelque plaisir et je ne scay si un amant mal traite et qui voit la personne qui le mal-traite n'a point de plus heureux momens qu'un amant aime et absent de ce qu'il aime ainsi genereux artamene pourveu que je voye mandane je seray tousjours console quand mesme elle ne me dira rien d'obligeant faites donc je vous en conjure que ciaxare ne me refuse pas la grace que j'envoyeray luy demander je vous ay desja dit repliqua artamene que je ne me scaurois mesler de rien qui regarde la princesse et que tout ce que je puis c'est de travailler pour vostre liberte mais je le seray si ardamment que vous connoistrez sans doute par la qu'artamene veut s'acquiter de ce qu'il vous doit et que s'il vous refuse les autres choses que vous souhaitez de luy c'est qu'il a des raisons invincibles qui l'empeschent de 
 vous les accorder et qui l'en doivent raisonnablement empescher ne voyez vous pas seigneur luy dit il encore que je suis estranger en capadoce que je n'y ay de pouvoir que celuy que mon espee m'y a donne et qu'enfin ce que vous desirez de moy est une chose ou je ne puis ny ne dois pas vous servir le roy de pont quoy que tres-ignorant de la veritable raison qui faisoit agir artamene de cette sorte ne laissa pas de recevoir ses excuses et connoissant bien qu'en este il souhaitoit des choses aparemment impossibles a la reserve de la veue de la princesse qu'il espera d'obtenir il demanda pardon a artamene de l'injuste priere qu'il luy avoit faite et comme mon maistre luy dit qu'il connoistroit bien tost par les foins qu'il prendroit poux sa liberte qu'il faisoit tousjours tout ce qu'il croyoit devoir faire ce prince amoureux le pria de ne se haster pas tant car luy dit-il genereux artamene je doute si je n'aime point encore mieux estre prisonnier a sinope que d'estre libre sur le throsne de pont et de bythinie apres cela artamene quitta ce prince avec beaucoup de chagrin et presque aussi afflige que si mandane eust pu entendre tout ce que le roy de pont venoit de luy dire et qu'elle en eust paru fort touchee au sortir de la il fut chez le roy qui le carressa fort et qui se mit a l'entretenir assez long temps en particulier il luy dit qu'il luy devoit toute la gloire de son regne et luy exagera en suitte toutes les faveurs qu'il avoit receues du 
 ciel il luy repassa alors son mariage avec la reine de capadoce tous les demeslez qu'il avoit eus avec les princes ses voisins dont il estoit sorty heureusement son bonheur d'avoir eu une princesse pour fille aussi accomplie que mandane et enfin il luy raconta exactement tout ce que les mages avoient dit a la naissance du fils du roy de perse les menaces qu'ils avoient faites a toute l'asie et particulierement au roy des medes combien astiage en avoit este trouble et quelle avoit este sa joye lors qu'on l'avoit assure que cyrus avoit este noye mais artamene luy dit il alors vous devez aussi vous resjouir de sa perte et venir demain au temple pour offrir aveque nous le sacrifice que l'on fait tous les ans icy pour remercier les dieux de sa mort car enfin comme il avoit les astres pour luy s'il eust vescu il vous eust peut-estre dispute une partie de vos victoires puis qu'il ne pouvoit pas se rendre maistre de toute l'asie sans estre vostre vainqueur artamene rougit a ce discours mais ciaxare creut que c'estoit par modestie a cause des louanges qu'il luy donnoit et ne laissa pas de continuer de parler et de repasser encore en suitte toutes les obligations qu'il luy avoit je vous laisse a juger seigneur si mon maistre n'eut pas dequoy entretenir ses pensees lors qu'il fut retourne chez luy il voyoit que le roy de pont estoit tousjours amoureux mais quoy que l'on ne puisse aimer un rival celuy 
 la pourtant luy donnoit de la compassion quoy qu'il luy donnast quelque inquietude ce qui le faschoit bien davantage c'estoit que de la facon dont ciaxare luy avoit parle il jugeoit bien que cyrus n'estoit pas en termes d'oser ressusciter quand mesme la princesse y consentiroit de sorte qu'il en avoit une affliction estrange le lendemain au matin ciaxare l'envoya querir et le mena au temple ou il entendit une seconde fois remercier les dieux de sa mort mais au lieu de faire comme les autres un remerciement si peu necessaire et si mal fonde il leur rendit grace de ce que mesme sacrifice fait pour sa mort estoit cause de la naissance de son amour imaginez vous seigneur si jamais il y arien eu de plus surprenant que de voir le veritable cyrus sous le faux nom d'artamene estre present a cette ceremonie il me dit apres qu'il avoit este tente plus d'une fois de se jetter aux pieds do ciaxare au milieu du temple et de se faire connoistre pour ce qu'il estoit mais craignant de desplaire a la princesse il se retint et demeura fort interdit tant que la ceremonie dura il eut pourtant quelque leger sentiment de joye de voir que mandane n'y avoit point voulu assister et avoit fait semblant de se trouver mal n'ayant pas la force d'aller entendre parler de la mort d'un prince qu'elle scavoit qui estoit vivant cette feinte fournissant un pretexte a mon maistre de la visiter il y fut aussi tost que l'heure ou l'on la pouvoit voir fut venue et la trouvant sur 
 son lit sans qu'il y eust personne aupres d'elle que ses femmes qui ne pouvoient pas entendre ce qu'il disoit se tenant par respect assez esloignees je viens madame luy dit-il en abaissant la voix vous rendre grace de ce que vous n'estes pas venue remercier les dieux de la mort de cyrus et je viens vous demander aussi jusques a quand vous voulez qu'il ignore s'il doit vivre ou s'il doit mourir je voudrois sans doute qu'il peust vivre repliqua la princesse et je voudrois mesme qu'il peust vivre heureux mais a vous dire la verite je n'y voy gueres d'aparence quoy madame reprit artamene avec beaucoup de precipitation m'est-il arrive quelque nouvelle diferance et suis-je plus mal avec vous que je n'estois nullement repliqua- t'elle mais je ne voy pas aussi que vous soyez mieux avec la fortune car enfin le sacrifice ou vous venez d'assister marque tousjours que les sentimens du roy continuent d'estre ce qu'ils estoient et qu'ainsi il y a lieu de douter que malgre tous vos services vous puissiez entreprendre sans peril de vous descouvrir pour ce que vous estes ce n'est pas adjousta la princesse que j'aye jamais remarque dans l'esprit du roy ces mouvemens violens que l'on dit avoir este en celuy d'astiage mais je craindrois si vous vous estiez descouvert que le roy de medie ne vous demandast a son fils que ciaxare n'eust pas la force de vous refuser a un prince qui luy a donne la vie et qu'ainsi bien loing d'obtenir mandane 
 l'on ne vous mist dans les fers laissez donc luy respondit alors mon maistre le malheureux cyrus dans le tombeau et laissez vivre le bienheureux artamene aupres de vous la princesse l'entendant parler de cette sorte se releva a demy sur le bras droit et le regardant d'un maniere tres-obligeante quoy que tres-modeste les dieux me sont tesmoins luy dit elle si je n'ay pas pour vostre vertu une estime que je n'ay jamais eue pour nulle autre et si je ne sens pas dans mon coeur une reconnoissance et une tendresse qui n'y peuvent estre sans y estre accompagnees de beaucoup d'amitie mais enfin artamene il faut que la raison soit plus forte que toutes choses et il ne faut pas tant considerer ce qui nous plaist que ce qui nous doit plaire c'est pourquoy encore que vostre conversation me soit tres-agreable que la facon dont vous m'aimez satisface pleinement ma vertu neantmoins je suis obligee de vous dire que si pendant trois mois et je doute mesme si ce terme n'est point trop long pour la bien-seance vous ne pouvez trouver les moyens de me faire voir que vous pouvez ressusciter sans peril vous vous en retournerez en perse que vous y vivrez heureux si vous le pouvez et que vous ne vous souviendrez plus de la malheureuse mandane de peur qu'elle ne trouble vostre repos mais artamene luy dit elle sans luy donner le loisir de l'interrompre pour vous oster tout sujet de pleinte scachez que pendant les trois mois que je vous donne 
 je contribueray a vostre bon-heur autant que je le pourray et que la bien-seance me le permettra je vous assisteray de mes conseils je tascheray de descouvrir les sentimens du roy je vous diray par quelle voye l'on pourroit peut-estre gagner aribee qui peut beaucoup sur son esprit et je n'oublieray rien de tout ce que raisonnablement je pourray faire pour vostre satisfaction si toutefois la loy de capadoce n'est pas un obstacle invincible a vos desseins et que la qualite d'estranger n'y soit pas incompatible avec celle de roy mais apres cela si tous vos foins et les miens font inutiles il faudra dit elle en changeant de couleur se refondre a une separation eternelle et il faudra absolument que la raison triomphe de tout ce qui luy voudroit resister quoy madame reprit artamene vous me bannirez et me bannirez pour tousjours attendez a vous pleindre luy dit elle que le temps en soit venu et ne vous rendez pas malheureux auparavant que de l'estre c'est l'estre desja repliqua mon maistre que de voir que vous estes capable de vous resoudre a me le rendre car enfin madame si j'estois dans vostre esprit de la facon dont j'y pourrois estre vous auriez un peu plus d'indulgence pour mon amour et vous ne pourriez vous resoudre a perdre pour jamais un prince qui vous adore avec un respect sans esgal et qui mourra infailliblement des qu'il fera esloigne de vous encore une fois luy dit la princesse ne vous affligez point inutilement et n'attendrissez 
 pas mon coeur sans qu'il en soit besoin contentez vous que si je suis contrainte de vous bannir je ne vous banniray pas sans douleur et que je n'eus gueres plus de desplaisir de la nouvelle de vostre mort que j'en auray de vostre absence mais apres tout artamene la gloire est preferable a toute chose et tant que je n'agiray contre vous que pour la satisfaire vous n'aurez point de sujet legitime de vous plaindre de moy artamene voyoit bien qu'il n'en pouvoit ny n'en devoit pas esperer davantage d'une personne comme mandane mais quoy qu'il deust y avoir prepare son esprit il ne put toutefois s'empescher d'estre tres afflige elle sceut pourtant le consoler si doucement dans sa douleur par les charmes de sa conversation qu'il ne laissa pas de preferer les maux qu'il souffroit en servant mandane a toutes les felicitez qu'il eust pu avoir sans elle il commenca donc de s'assujettir plus qu'auparavant aupres de ciaxare il rendit mesme contre son inclination plus de foins a aribee et il n'oublia rien pour s'aquerir un si grand credit dans la cour que quand il viendroit a se descouvrir l'on deust aprehender de le perdre bien est il vray qu'il estoit si universellement aime que le soin extraordinaire qu'il en prit ne luy aquit gueres de nouveaux serviteurs ny n'augmenta gueres le zele de ceux qu'il avoit desja ce zele estant desja extreme cependant celuy qu'il avoit envoye porter des pierreries a la fille de cette dame chez laquelle 
 il avoit este pris pour spitridate et chez laquelle il avoit este si bien secouru revint a sinope et luy aprit qu'il y alloit avoir une nouvelle guerre en bythinie il luy dit qu'il avoit trouve ce chasteau environne de quantite de troupes et que lors qu'il avoit parle a cette dame elle avoit este extremement surprise de voir les pierreries qu'il avoit eu ordre de presenter a sa fille que d'abord elle avoit fait quelque difficulte de souffrir qu'elle les acceptast mais qu'enfin elle s'y estoit resolue qu'en le congediant elle luy avoit fait un present fort magnifique et l'avoit charge do luy dire apres qu'elle avoit apris avec estonnement qu'il estoit artamene que le roy son mary alloit tascher de se mettre en estat de respondre un jour a sa liberalite et de faire en sorte que spitridate son fils qui avoit la gloire de luy ressembler ne passast pas le reste de ses jours sans se rendre digne de cette ressemblance cet homme aprit encore a artamene qu'en s'en revenant il avoit trouve toute la campagne couverte de gens de guerre qu'il avoit mesme este arreste durant quelques jours et que c'estoit ce qui l'avoit tant fait tarder deux heures apres son arrivee il vint nouvelles assurees d'artaxe que toute la bythinie s'estoit revoltee que le pont alloit faire la mesme chose et que le roy de phrigie avoit este contraint de se retirer parce que cresus roy de lydie estoit entre a main armee dans ses estats joint qu'une partie de ses troupes avoient change de party et avoient pris celuy 
 luy de ceux qui avoient fait souslever les peuples et qui avoient veritablement beaucoup de droit a la couronne de bythinie enfin l'on sceut qu'arsamone mary de cette dame qui avoit si bien receu artamene lors qu'il estoit blesse et qui l'avoit pris pour spitridate son fils estoit a la teste d'une armee tres considerable et que si l'on ne mettoit le roy de pont en liberte pour y donner ordre et pour s'opposer a ses conquestes non seulement la bythinie que ses peres avoient usurpee seroit perdue pour luy mais que le pont qui luy apartenoit legitimement le seroit aussi l'on disoit bien que le roy de phrigie faisoit faire de nouvelles levees dans ses pais mais en mesme temps l'on disoit aussi qu'il estoit menace en son particulier d'avoir une longue guerre contre le roy de lydie de sorte qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il alloit infailliblement arriver une revolution universelle aux royaumes de pont et de bythinie si l'on n'y remedioit promptement artamene trouvant une si belle matiere d'obliger le roy de pont de s'aquitter envers luy de faire une action heroique et de le faire partir de sinope ou il n'estoit pas trop aise de le voir supplia le roy de vouloir non seulement le delivrer mais mesme luy donner des troupes pour remettre ses sujets en leur devoir il luy representa qu'il luy seroit beaucoup plus glorieux et mesme plus avantageux d'en user ainsi que de le retenir prisonnier puis que s'il arrivoit qu'il perdist 
 ses deux royaumes comme il y avoit bien de l'aparence qu'il les perdroit il ne seroit pas alors en estat de pouvoir payer sa rancon de sorte que l'on seroit apres oblige de le garder toujours ou de le delivrer cruellement en un temps ou il n'auroit plus nulle esperance de remonter sur le throsne il luy representa de plus que ce prince estoit genereux et qu'en l'obligeant de bonne grace l'on ne s'exposeroit a rien enfin comme artamene estoit fort puissant sur l'esprit de ciaxare et qu'en effet il scait persuader tout ce qu'il veut quant il l'entreprend le roy consentit a ce qu'il voulut a condition toutefois que le roy de pont remettroit entre ses mains deux places considerables de celles qui tenoient encore son party et qu'il promettroit solemnellement de ne faire jamais la guerre contre la capadoce artamene ayant obtenu ce qu'il desiroit fut au mesme instant trouver le roy de pont qui scavoit desja son malheur mais qui ne scavoit pas le remede que l'on y vouloit aporter il ne vit pas plustost mon maistre que s'advancant vers luy avec beaucoup de constance quoy qu'avec beaucoup de melancolie genereux artamene luy dit il si en perdant la couronne de bythinie vous l'aviez gagnee je ne serois pas si afflige que je le suis mais lors que je songe que mes plus mortels ennemis triomphent de mon infortune je vous advoue que je n'ay pas assez de patience pour supporter cet accident sans en murmurer et pour ne desirer pas la liberte 
 que je vous avois prie de ne demander pas si tost pour moy seigneur luy respondit artamene comme je fais tousjours ce que je dois j'ay prevenu vos prieres et peut estre vos souhaits et je scay mesme si je n'ay pas este plus loing que vous n'auriez desire mon maistre luy raconta alors ce qu'il avoit fait aupres de ciaxare et quoy que par cet article de ne faire jamais plus la guerre a la capadoce il entendist bien que c'estoit luy dire tacitement qu'il ne pretendist jamais plus rien a la princesse comme il estoit raisonnable il n'en murmura point il s'en affligea en secret sans s'en pleindre et remercia fort civilement artamene de sa generosite le priant de vouloir remercier le roy en attendant qu'il le peust faire luy mesme il exagera extremement cette grande action et il ne pouvoit assez louer a son gre celuy qu'il jugeoit bien l'avoir faite si je remonte au throsne genereux artamene luy disoit il je vous devray toute ma gloire et tout mon bon-heur et je vous proteste que si je puis reconquerir la bythinie il ne tiendra qu'a vous que vous n'y commandiez aussi absolument que moy vous n'estes luy disoit il non plus de capadoce que de pont ainsi il me semble que je puis sans offenser ciaxare esperer le mesme avantage qu'il a eu il s'en va demeurer en paix adjoustoit il et je m'en vay recommencer la guerre et par cette raison je veux croire que le souhait que je fais n'est pas injuste et qu'il ne vous scauroit deplaire seigneur luy respondit 
 artamene je vous suis fort oblige d'avoir des sentimens si avantageux de moy mais seigneur si vous me connaissiez plus particulierement que vous ne faites vous changeriez bien tost d'avis c'est pourquoy me connaissant mieux que vous ne me connaissez je ne veux pas abuser de vostre erreur ny recevoir des graces dont vous vous repentiriez sans doute un jour joint qu'encore que je ne sois pas nay sujet de ciaxare je ne laisse pas d'estre attache a son service par d'assez puissantes raisons pour ne m'en degager jamais apres que les premiers sentimens de joye furent passez dans l'esprit du roy de pont pour la liberte qu'on luy rendoit et pour le secours qu'on luy offroit l'amour reprenant sa place dans son coeur il ne put s'empescher de donner quelque marque de foiblesse et de s'affliger en la presence d'artamene de la facheuse necessite ou il se trouvoit car disoit-il tant que je seray dans les fers je connois bien que je ne dois rien pretendre a la princesse mandane et que de plus si j'y demeure je me trouveray sans royaume et par consequent bien esloigne de mes pretensions mais aussi disoit-il genereux artamene en quittant les fers que vous m'avez donnez il faudra briser ceux que j'ay receus de l'illustre mandane ou du moins les porter en secret helas adjoustoit il pour estre cachez ils n'en seront pas moins pesants et je n'en seray pas moins son esclave artamene ne scavoit pas trop bien que respondre a un semblable discours et tout 
 ce qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de le destourner avec adresse et de parler de guerre au lieu de parler d'amour cependant comme la chose pressoit effectivement beaucoup artamene donna ordre au depart du roy de pont en fort peu de jours et ce prince ne pouvant se resoudre a partir sans avoir parle a la princesse et sans prendre conge d'elle en envoya supplier ciaxare qui ne voulut pas le luy refuser artamene qui se trouva present lors que l'on demanda cette permission au roy eust bien voulu s'y opposer mais il n'osa pourtant le faire il se trouva mesme fort embarrasse a resoudre s'il devoit se trouver a cette entre-veue ou ne s'y trouver pas toutefois quoy qu'il peust faire et quelque repugnance qu'il y eust il voulut estre le tesmoin de cette conversation il craignit pourtant beaucoup de ne pouvoir se contraindre autant qu'il seroit a propos de le faire mais apres tout il ne put s'empescher d'y aller bien est il vray que ce ne fut pas sans en demander permission a la princesse qui n'eust pas este fachee de pouvoir se dispenser de cette visite neantmoins ciaxare l'ayant promis il n'y avoit point de remede joint que se souvenant des belles choses qu'il avoit faites pour artamene elle s'en resolut plus tost a le recevoir civilement le jour du depart de ce prince estant donc venu toutes les dames et toute la cour se rendirent chez la princesse qui l'avoit ainsi ordonne artamene fut un des plus diligens a 
 s'y trouver et le pins empresse sans doute a observer tout ce qui se passeroit en cette entre-veue comme le traite qui s'estoit fait entre ces deux rois eut este signe de part et d'autre le roy de phrigie y estant compris s'il le vouloit et tous les prisonniers rendus et que ces princes se furent veus au temple ou ils jurerent d'en observer les articles et de vivre tousjours en paix le roy de pont ne fut point chez la princesse comme un prisonnier au contraire il y fut comme un prince libre et servy par les officiers de ciaxare comme si c'eust este luy mesme ce prince a sans doute fort bonne mine et il estoit fort superbement habille la princesse qui peut-estre avoit voulu avoir cette indulgence pour artamene n'estoit point extraordinairement paree bien est il vray qu'elle n'en avoit pas besoin et elle estoit si belle ce jour la qu'elle effaca tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus beau et de plus magnifique a cette audience le roy de pont estant donc arrive la salua avec beaucoup de respect et elle le receut avec beaucoup de civilite elle voulut luy ceder sa place mais il ne le voulut pas et il prit celle qui estoit au dessous de la princesse luy disant de fort bonne grace que ce n'estoit point au prisonnier d'anamene dit il en regardant mon maistre en sous-riant a occuper la place de la princesse mandane je pense seigneur luy dit elle que vostre vainqueur ne pretend pas vous faire changer de rang 
 ny de condition et qu'il est trop genereux pour vouloir que le roy de pont ne jouisse pas de tous les honneurs que sa naissance luy donne pleust aux dieux madame repliqua ce prince en soupirant que toutes les personnes de qui j'ay porte des fers m'eussent traite aussi favorablement qu'artamene car si cela estoit je ne serois pas aux termes ou j'en suis c'est a dire en estat d'estre tousjours esclave et tousjours malheureux je ne m'estonne pas dit la princesse que tous ceux qui vont a la guerre n'y facent pas des prisonniers puis qu'en fin il faut avoir tout ensemble beaucoup de coeur et beaucoup de bonne fortune mais je vous advoue que je ne puis faire que je ne trouve fort estrange que ceux qui en font ne les traitent pas bien car pour moy je vous assure seigneur que de mon consentement ils ne porteroient pas long temps leurs chaines et qu'ils jouiroient bien tost de la liberte je ne doute nullement madame repliqua le roy de pont que vous ne soyez capable de cette espece de pitie mais madame il est des captifs de qui la liberte ne depend pas de la volonte des vainqueurs et qui seroient tousjours prisonniers dans une prison sans portes sans grilles et sans gardes ceux qui sont de cette humeur repartit la princesse doivent souffrir avec patience un malheur ou il n'y a point de remede et ne se pleindre de personne que d'eux mesmes j'en connois aussi madame reprit le roy de pont qui en usent comme vous dittes et qui sans vous 
 accuser des maux qu'ils endurent se preparent a les souffrir toute leur vie je serois bien fachee luy dit elle qu'un aussi grand prince que vous eust quelque sujet legitime de se pleindre de moy mais si ma memoire ne me trompe j'eus tousjours pour vous dans le temps que vous fustes a la cour de capadoce toute la civilite que je devois au fils du roy de pont je l'advoue madame repliqua ce prince mais je doute si vous ne m'avez point plus mal traitte lors que j'ay porte la couronne que lors que je n'y avois point de part je veux croire reprit la princesse que vous avez creu avoir sujet de vous pleindre puis que vous nous avez declare la guerre mais j'auray beaucoup de peine a me persuader que vous ayez eu raison de le faire si j'ay failly madame repliqua ce prince j'en ay este bien puny j'ay perdu des batailles j'ay perdu la liberte et je me voy en termes de perdre encore deux royaumes cependant madame tout cela seroit peu de chose si j'avois pu gagner quelque part en vostre estime je scay bien que perdre des batailles et ne paroistre devant vous que comme un captif ne sont pas des choses qui aparemment me la doivent faire meriter mais madame souvenez vous que la gloire de mon vainqueur oste toute la honte de ma deffaite et qu'ainsi tout vaincu et tout prisonnier que je suis je n'offense point la princesse mandane en luy demandant quelque place en son estime n'en devant jamais plus pretendre a son affection ne soyez pas madame 
 adjousta-t'il moins genereuse que le roy vostre pere et que l'illustre artamene ce dernier a demande ma liberte et l'autre me l'a accordee ne me refusez donc pas la faveur que je vous demande et faites moy la grace de croire que des le premier moment que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir j'eus pour vous toute l'estime et toute la veneration imaginable enfin madame je vous ay adoree devant que d'estre roy j'ay fait la mesme chose lors que je suis monte au throsne j'ay continue de le faire mesme en declarant la guerre au roy de capadoce je ne m'en suis pas repenty lors que je me suis veu tout couvert de sang et de blessures j'ay eu les mesmes sentimens dans les fers que la clemence du roy vostre pere vient de m'oster et je les auray tousjours soit que mon espee me fasse reprendre le sceptre soit que mon malheur me face perdre la couronne et tant que je seray vivant j'auray pour vous madame une passion tres respectueuse et tres violente voila madame dit ce prince en se levant ce que j'avois envie de vous dire une fois en ma vie et ce qui me fera mourir moins malheureux maintenant que je vous l'ay dit comme mon amour a este sceue de toute l'asie bien que je ne vous en aye parle que des yeux je ne crains pas de vous offenser en vous en parlant avec tant de hardiesse et en une si grande compagnie et puis comme je scay que mon protecteur dit il en regardant artamene a quelque credit aupres de vous je veux esperer 
 qu'a sa consideration et a son exemple vous ne voudrez pas insulter sur un malheureux ny luy dire des choses fascheuses la derniere fois qu'il aura peut-estre l'honneur de vous parler artamene escouta tout ce discours avec une inquietude qui n'est pas imaginable il regardoit la princesse il regardoit son rival et quoy qu'il ne peust bien connoistre les sentimens de mandane a cause qu'elle avoit les yeux baissez neantmoins il se les imaginoit quelquefois trop favorables pour le roy de pont et il estoit presque tout prest de se mesler dans la conversation quoy que la qualite sous laquelle il paroisoit ne luy permist pas de le faire il estoit pourtant bien aise d'aprendre de la bouche de son rival qu'il n'avoit jamais parle d'amour a mandane mais il avoit quelque confusion d'entendre les louanges que ce prince luy donnoit scachant combien leur amour rendoit leur amitie impossible enfin apres que le roy de pont eut cesse de parler la princesse qui s'estoit levee en mesme temps que luy relevant les yeux et rougissant un peu si je ne scavois luy dit elle que c'est presque la coustume de tous les jeunes princes de pretexter leur veritable ambition d'une passion plus galante ou d'un simple desir de gloire vous me donneriez sans doute en mesme temps beaucoup de sujet de vanite et beaucoup de sujet de me pleindre de vous car seigneur je ne puis nier qu'il ne me fust avantageux d'estre estimee 
 d'un roy qui a tant de bonnes qualitez et que je n'eusse aussi quelque cause de vous accuser et peut-estre de vous punir de me parler comme vous faites mais seigneur luy dit elle je prens tout ce que vous m'avez dit comme je le dois prendre et bien loing de vous mal traitter je vous proteste qu'il ne tiendra pas a moy que vous ne partiez de cette cour aussi libre de l'esprit que du corps et si mes voeux sont necessaires pour vous faire remonter au throsne malgre toutes les choses passees je ne les espargneray pas j'aurois mieux aime madame respondit le roy de pont que vous eussiez escoute les miens que d'employer les vostres pour moy mais c'est une chose ou il ne faut plus penser que pour me punir de la temerite que j'ay eue d'oser aimer la plus merveilleuse personne du monde apres cela la princesse luy respondit et il luy repliqua encore une fois en suitte de quoy il prit conge d'elle et sortit pour mon maistre il ne scavoit s'il devoit demeurer ou suivre ce prince il craignoit que le roy de pont ne remarquast son chagrin et il aprehendoit aussi que mandane ne s'aperceust de sa jalousie et ne s'en offencast de sorte que pour ne s'exposer ny a l'une ny a l'autre de ces choses il fut chez ciaxare ou peu de temps apres le roy de pont retourna pour luy dire adieu ce mot d'adieu ayant un peu remis la tranquilite dans l'esprit d'artamene par la joye qu'il eut de voir partir son rival il recommenca d'agir avec luy comme 
 a l'ordinaire c'est a dire avec beaucoup de civilite ciaxare le traita fort bien en s'en separant on luy donna cent chevaux pour le conduire au camp et l'on envoya un ordre a artaxe qui commandoit l'armee d'obeir a ce prince et d'envoyer garnison dans les deux places que le roy de pont devoit remettre en la puissance de celuy de capadoce artamene suivy de toute la cour fut conduire le roy de pont a quelques stades de la ville et quoy qu'il fust son rival et qu'il eust eu mesme quelques momens de jalousie ce prince tesmoigna tant d'amitie a mon maistre en s'en separant qu'il en eut de la confusion et ne put s'empescher d'en estre esmeu cependant apres son depart artamene se trouva plus heureux qu'il ne s'estoit encore veu car enfin sa princesse scavoit sa naissance et son amour et souffroit qu'il la vist assez souvent il n'avoit plus de philidaspe qui l'importunast le roy de pont estoit party pour ne revenir jamais et il y avoit des momens ou il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne se creust absolument heureux il y en avoit aussi quelques uns ou il n'estoit pas sans inquietude car apres tout il faloit se descouvrir pour ce qu'il estoit et s'exposer a l'humeur violente d'astiage et peut-estre a la colere de ciaxare neantmoins comme l'un estoit esloigne et qu'il paroissoit estre fort aime de l'autre l'esperance estoit plus forte que la crainte dans son coeur et il ne s'estoit jamais veu si satisfait comme la paix avoit remis la joye dans toute la capadoce 
 ce ne furent que divertissemens a la cour et mon maistre ne parut pas moins adroit ny moins galant dans les festes publiques et parmy les dames qu'il avoit paru courageux dans les batailles et prudent dans les conseils le roy voulut mesme en ce temps-la revoir l'agreable ville d'amasie qui comme vous scavez est scituee sur les bords de l'iris et en suitte il fut a la superbe themiscire ou il s'arresta tant parce qu'il y avoit quelques affaires que parce qu'en effet la princesse aimoit assez ce lieu-la car comme le thermodon qui mouille le pied de ses murailles est un des plus agreables fleuves du monde elle prenoit souvent plaisir de s'aller promener sur ses bords et mon maistre avoit souvent l'honneur de l'y accompagner et le moyen de luy pouvoir donner cent tesmoignages respectieux de sa passion il vescut donc de cette sorte avec beaucoup de douceur durant les trois mois qu'on luy avoit accordez pendant lesquels il avoit si puissamment gagne le coeur de ciaxare qu'il espera de pouvoir se descouvrir sans danger il en demanda conseil a sa chere princesse qui n'osoit presques le luy donner par la crainte qu'elle avoit d'exposer une personne si chere elle ne laissa pourtant pas d'aider a luy faire prendre cette resolution en le faisant souvenir que le terme qu'elle luy avoit donne s'aprochoit et qu'ainsi il faloit tenter la chose ou se resoudre a partir il n'en falut pas davantage pour obliger artamene a hazarder tout plustost 
 que de quitter sa princesse c'est pourquoy apres avoir este prendre conge d'elle comme s'il fust alle a la mort dans l'incertitude ou il estoit de la facon dont il seroit receu de ciaxare il s'en alla chez le roy avec intention de luy dire qu'il estoit cyrus et de luy aprendre que l'amour qu'il avoit pour la princesse l'avoit oblige a demeurer desguise dans sa cour sans qu'elle en sceust rien comme il arriva chez claxare un de ses officiers luy dit qu'il venoit de recevoir des nouvelles d'astiage qui le troubloient fort et qu'il avoit eu ordre d'aller querir la princesse et de l'envoyer advertir qu'il se rendist aupres du roy anamene entendant cela creut que c'estoit quelque souslevement de peuples et n'en imagina rien autre chose mais il creut tousjours bien que ce jour la n'estoit pas favorable pour se descouvrir et qu'il estoit mesme a propos que la princesse en fust advertie de peur qu'estant mandee par le roy elle n'en fust surprise s'imaginant que c'estoit parce qu'il s'estoit descouvert et que sur cette opinion elle ne dist quelque chose a contre-temps qui leur peust nuire il retourna donc promptement sur ses pas et dit a cet officier du roy qu'il seroit bien aise de conduire la princesse chez ciaxare puis qu'elle y devoit venir le priant de luy remettre sa commission cet homme qui scavoit la faveur de mon maistre consentit a ce qu'il voulut et l'assura qu'il les attendroit dans l'antichambre et qu'il ne se monstreroit point a ciaxare 
 qu'il n'eust amene la princesse artamene fut donc la prendre a son apartement ou il luy dit ce qu'il scavoit luy faisant comprendre en allant qu'il faloit differer l'execution de son dessein jusques a tant qu'ils sceussent quelle inquietude avoit le roy 
 
 
 
 
comme ils entrerent dans son cabinet ils le trouverent qu'il se promenoit seul mais il ne les vit pas plustost qu'il s'arresta et adressant la parole a la princesse vous aviez raison ma fille luy dit il le visage tout change de ne vous trouver pas au dernier sacrifice que l'on fit pour remercier les dieux de la mort de cyrus puis que c'estoit en effet leur rendre grace inutilement et si j'eusse sceu ce que je scay j'eusse bien change l'intention du sacrificateur la princesse et artamene furent estrangement surpris d'un semblable discours et ne douterent nullement que ciaxare ne sceust que cyrus estoit non seulement dans sa cour mais dans son cabinet mandane se repentoit desja de la bonte qu'elle avoit eue pour mon maistre et se preparoit a tascher de se justifier aupres de ciaxare artamene de son coste estoit au desespoir de remarquer sur le visage de sa princesse qu'elle souffroit infiniment et par un exces d'amour il songeoit bien plus a sa douleur qu'au peril ou il croyoit estre expose mais voyant enfin que mandane n'avoit pas la force de parler et que le roy avoit recommence de se promener sans rien dire comme s'il eust attendu qu'on luy eust dit quelque chose seigneur reprit mon 
 maistre ceux qui vous ont assure que cyrus estoit vivant vous ont ils apris qu'il ait de mauvais desseins contre la medie et contre la capadoce il ne faut repliqua ciaxare qu'entendre tout ce que les mages qui sont a ecbatane eux qui sont les plus scavans de toute l'asie nous anoncent et nous presagent de cyrus il faut pourtant tascher poursuivit il de donner quelque remede a un mal qui n'a pas encore fait un et grand progres qu'on ne le puisse arrester et puis que le bonheur ou l'infortune de toute l'asie sont attachez a la mort ou a la vie d'un seul homme il faut faire tout ce que l'on pourra pour se mettre en estat de pouvoir disposer de sa vie ou de sa mort sans peril cyrus a ce que j'aprens par le roy mon pere adjousta-t'il en s'arrestant et en regardant la princesse n'est pas presentement a la teste d'un armee de cent mille hommes c'est pourquoy ma fille luy dit-il je ne m'en mets pas tant en peine et si je ne me trompe il ne nous fera pas tout le mal dont nous sommes menacez a ces mots artamene ne doutant plus du tout que ciaxare ne sceust la verite de son avanture estoit sur le point de l'assurer qu'il luy respondoit de la fidelite de cyrus lors que la princesse l'interrompant seigneur dit elle au roy il faut esperer en effet que les dieux qui sont tous bons ne souffriront pas que toute l'asie soit renversee et ils seront peut-estre si clemens que sans qu'il en couste mesme la vie a cyrus ils vous laissent jouir en repos de la felicite 
 de vostre regne je le veux croire ma fille repliqua le roy car enfin tant que cyrus ne paroistra point les armes a la main il ne conquestera ny provinces ny royaumes et des que nous le verrons a la teste d'une armee voicy adjousta-t'il en embrassant mon maistre celuy que nous luy opposerons et qui nous empeschera sans doute de suivre le char de ce pretendu vainqueur de toute l'asie la princesse et artamene demeurerent alors aussi surpris d'entendre ce que le roy disoit qu'ils l'avoient este de ce qu'il avoit dit au commencement de son discours mais plus agreablement mandane qui n'avoit ose lever les yeux jusques a ce moment la regarda mon maistre qui reprenant la parole pour confirmer encore davantage le roy en l'opinion ou il estoit ouy seigneur dit il a ciaxare j'ose vous assurer que tant qu'artamene sera artamene vous n'avez rien a craindre de cyrus quand mesme il seroit a la teste d'une armee de cent mille hommes mais je ne laisse pas de vous estre infiniment oblige des sentimens avantageux que vostre majeste tesmoigne avoir de moy je ne les scaurois avoir trop grands repliqua ciaxare et si les dieux ne vous avoient envoye a mon secours je serois sans doute beaucoup plus en peine que je ne suis de tout ce que me mande le roy mon pere alors il se mit a raconter a la princesse et a artamene qu'astiage luy mandoit que cyrus avoit este veu en perse que depuis peu il avoit 
 passe en medie et avoit pris le chemin de la bythinie et du pont qu'en suitte il avoit fait consulter les mages qui avoient assure plus fortement que jamais que le renversement de toute l'asie alloit arriver et arriveroit infailliblement si l'on n'appaisoit les dieux que de plus astiage luy mandoit qu'il avoit fait publier par toutes les terres de son obeissance un commandement d'arrester cyrus si on l'y trouvoit et de le luy amener vif ou mort promettant de grandes recompenses a ceux qui le pourroient prendre ou le tuer que pour cet effet il avoit tait aussi publier afin qu'il peust estre plus aisement reconnu que cyrus portoit des armes toutes noires et que l'on voyoit represente a son escu un esclave qui semblant avoir a choisir de chaines et de couronnes brisoit les dernieres et prenoit les autres avec ce mot plus pesantes mais plus glorieuses ciaxare adjousta encore qu'il avoit desja donne ordre a aribee de faire publier la mesme chose dans themiscire et en toute l'estendue de la capadoce et de la galatie afin de ne rien negliger en une chose il importante je vous laisse a juger seigneur de l'estat ou se trouverent alors mandane et artamene et de combien 
 de pensees differentes leur ame estoit agitee la princesse avoit une telle impatience que cette conversation finist qu'elle pensa s'en aller plus d'une fois sans rien dire elle n'eust pas sans doute voulu descouvrir qu'artamene estoit cyrus mais elle avoit aussi tant de repugnance a contribuer quelque chose a l'innocente tromperie qu'il faloit de necessite continuer pour mettre mon maistre en seurete qu'elle ne trouvoit rien a respondre a tout ce que le roy disoit mais par bonne fortune aribee estant entre pour parler d'une affaire importante au roy elle se retira et fut conduite par artamene jusques dans son cabinet ou elle entra sans estre accompagnee que de martesie elle n'y fut pas si tost que regardant mon maistre d'un air fort melancolique et bien luy dit elle artamene il n'y a pas moyen que cyrus ressuscite et il faut mesme qu'artamene parte bien tost ce prince l'entendant parler ainsi voulut luy r'assurer l'esprit autant qu'il put et luy faire comprendre qu'il n'estoit pas autant en peril qu'elle pensoit que selon les apparences celuy que l'on avoit pris pour luy en perse devoit estre ce mesme spitridate pour lequel on l'avoit pris en bythinie et qu'ainsi il ne se faloit pas tant alarmer parce qu'enfin il venoit peu de persans en capadoce principalement de ceux qui pourroient le reconnoistre et qu'eu effet il paroissoit bien qu'ils ne le reconnoistroient pas puis qu'ils prenoient un autre pour luy quand cela seroit ainsi dit la princesse 
 ce ne seroit pas assez car artamene je vous ay souffert quelque temps dans l'esperance que j'avois que vous pourriez trouver les moyens de vous decouvrir sans danger et dans la certitude ou j'estois que je ne serois pas moins innocente en souffrant la conversation de cyrus que je l'avois este en endurant celle d'artamene mais aujourd'huy que je voy cyrus et ma gloire en un danger eminent il n'y a plus rien qui puisse m'obliger a avoir cette indulgence pour vous quand je n'aurois qu'un seul de ces deux interest adjousta-t'elle je devrois faire ce que je fais mais les ayant tous deux a la fois il faut artamene il faut partir dites plustost madame interrompit mon maistre qu'il faut aller a la mort car enfin je ne scaurois plus vivre sans vous voir ouy ouy madame poursuivit il vous avez trouve un moyen infaillible de delivrer toute l'asie de ce prince malheureux que les mages assurent qui la doit conquester et vous ne pouviez jamais trouver une voye plus certaine de mettre astiage en repos mais madame ne serez vous pas plus inhumaine qu'il ne fut cruel de me faire mourir de cette sorte il voulut m'oster la vie il est vray mais ce fut en un age ou je n'en connoissois pas la douceur de plus je ne l'avois ny servy ny aime au lieu que vous qui me poussez de vostre propre main dans le tombeau apres m'avoir fait l'honneur de me donner quelque place en vostre ame scavez bien que je vous ay voulu servir que je vous ay adoree 
 que je vous adore et que je vous adoreray jusques a mon dernier soupir ne seroit-ce point madame qu'en effet les menaces des mages esbranleroient vostre esprit et que vous me regarderiez presentement comme ce prince redoutable qui doit desoler toute l'asie si la chose est ainsi madame il faut mourir j'y consents et pour executer vos volontez je n'auray pas beaucoup de peine il ne me faudra insensible princesse ny fers ny poisons pour vous obeir et je n'auray pour finir mes tristes jours qu'a me resoudre a vous dire adieu non ma princesse adjousta-t'il en se mettant a genoux cette cruelle parole ne sortira jamais de ma bouche qu'avec ma vie songez donc bien je vous en conjure si vous voulez que je la prononce mais ne prononcez pas vous mesme mon arrest de mort sans vous consulter encore une fois artamene dit tout ce que je viens de vous dire d'une maniere si passionnee et avec tant de violence et de respect tout ensemble que la princesse en fut attendrie je pensois artamene luy dit elle en le relouant et en le faisant rassoir que la peine que je sens a vous bannir deust vous consoler de vostre malheur quoy madame s'ecria t'il en l'interrompant vous croyez que quelque chose me puisse consoler de la perte de mandane ha non non cela n'est pas possible vous ne perdrez que sa veue luy respondit elle et vous ne perdrez jamais son estime ny son amitie si vous ne vous en rendez indigne par une 
 desobeissance trop opiniastree mais enfin madame luy dit il quand je vous desobeiray vous ne pourrez faire autre chose pour me punir que de faire scavoir a ciaxare que je suis cyrus et quand cela sera l'on me mettra dans les fers et peut-estre l'on sacrifiera ma vie pour le repos d'astiage mais madame ne vous y trompez pas j'ayme encore mieux porter des fers en capadoce qu'une couronne en tout autre endroit de la terre ou vous n'estes pas et j'aime mieux aussi mourir de la main d'astiage que de celle de mandane mandane luy respondit la princesse ne feroit rien de tout ce que vous dites mais elle vous osteroit peut-estre son affection s'il estoit vray que vous eussiez manque de respect pour elle eh madame reprit mon maistre seroit-ce manquer de respect que de vouloir demeurer aupres de vous pour vous adorer enfin artamene luy dit elle d'un visage ou il paroissoit de la douleur et beaucoup de majeste il y va de ma gloire et rien ne me scavroit flechir si cela est madame repliqua-t'il vous avez raison et la vie d'artamene est trop peu considerable pour estre comparee a une chose si precieuse mourons donc madame mourons mais n'ayez pas du moins l'inhumanite de haster tant l'heure de ma mort laissez moy donc expirer lentement et ne me refusez pas la consolation de jouir encore quelques momens 
 de vostre veue vous scavez madame qu'il me demeure encore quinze jours de trois mois que vous m'aviez donnez ne me les ostez pas si vous ne voulez que je perde patience et peutestre que je vous desobeisse artamene prononca ces tristes paroles d'une facon si touchante qu'il fut impossible a mandane de luy refuser ce qu'il vouloit aussi bien ne faloit il guere moins de temps pour pretexter son depart aupres du roy je ne vous dis point seigneur tout ce que ces deux illustres personnes se dirent encore en cette conversation ny en celles qu'elles eurent en suitte durant cinq ou six jours car cela seroit trop long ny ce que mon maistre dit lors qu'il fut seul dans sa chambre mais je vous diray seulement qu'il n'y eut jamais de melancolie egale a la sienne ny peut-estre guere de semblable a celle de mandane quoy qu'elle la cachast mieux elle le prioit quelquefois de luy promettre qu'il ne feroit jamais la guerre ny en capadoce ny en medie et il luy respondoit tousjours que le moyen infaillible de s'en assurer estoit de le retenir aupres d'elle enfin elle vouloit pour sa consolation qu'il l'aimast elle vouloit pour son repos qu'il l'oubliast mais elle vouloit tousjours qu'il partist comme les choses en estoient la et qu'artamene estoit chez la princesse ciaxare l'envoya querir d'abord elle eut peur que ce ne fust qu'il eust descouvert tout de bon quelque chose de la verite et que ce ne fust en effet pour arrester 
 artamene qu'il recevoit cet ordre d'aller chez le roy car ce matin la araspe estoit arrive a themiscire venant de la part d'astiage mais elle aprit bien tost apres que le roy n'envoyoit querir mon maistre que pour luy communiquer une affaire assez importante car seigneur vous scaurez qu'astiage n'envoya araspe a ciaxare que pour luy dire qu'il vouloit absolument qu'il si remariast parce que de disoit il dependoit tout le repos de la medie ce prince adjoustoit qu'il scavoit bien que les capadociens ne se soucioient pas d'avoir un roy et qu'ils aimoient assez la princesse mandane pour estre bien aises qu'elle fust leur reine mais qu'il n'en estoit pas ainsi des medes de sorte qu'il estoit a croire que s'il arrivoit que cyrus entreprist quelque chose et se monstrast a ces peuples ils pourroient se donner a luy sans croire presque faire rien d'injuste parce qu'il n'avoit qu'une fille qu'il faloit donc songer a se donner un successeur que de plus il devoit encore considerer que l'on n'avoit sans doute entrepris d'enlever mandane que parce que selon les apparences elle devoit estre reine de plusieurs royaumes qu'ainsi il valoit mieux luy oster une couronne et la laisser avecque deux que de l'exposer encore a de pareils accidents que les loix de capadoce et de medie estoient differentes que les capodociens ne vouloient point de prince estranger et que les medes au contraire ne souffriroient pas qu'un sujet de la reine de capadoce fust leur roy qu'au reste apres avoir bien pense a l'alliance qu'il devoit faire il avoit trouve que thomiris reine des massagettes estoit celle qui luy estoit la plus propre que c'estoit une 
 princesse de grande beaute de grand esprit et de grand coeur qu'il scavoit que comme elle avoit un fils age de quinze ans il faudroit qu'elle luy remist bien tost la conduitte de son estat et qu'il estoit a croire que cette grande reine accoustumee a la domination ne seroit pas marrie de trouver une voye de remonter sur le throsne que la proportion de leur age estoit telle qu'elle devoit estre pour esperer dis enfans et pour avoir une vie heureuse que chez tous les princes voisins il n'y avoit point de princesse qu'il peust espouser qu'une partie d'entre eux estoient ses ennemis et que les autres n'avoient point de filles qu'au reste encore que thomiris eust un fils age de quinze ans elle n'en avoit pourtant que vingt-neuf que de plus l'alliance faite avec ces peuples la estoit tousjours avantageuse parce qu'encore qu'ils fussent assez loin de ses estats neantmoins l'on pouvoit dire que les scubes en general estoient voisins de tout le monde puis que n'ayant ny villes ny maisons et vivant tousjours sous des tentes ils passoient d'un royaume a l'autre en un instant comme ils l'avoient bien monstre lors qu'autre fois ils avoient envahy toute l'asie qu'ainsi c'estoit se faire de puissans amis et s'oster de redoutables ennemis que de faire alliance avec eux qu'apres tout il le vouloit et que s'il n'y consentoit pas il chercheroit d'autres voyes d'empescher que son sceptre ne passast dans les mains d'une fille voila seigneur une partie des choses qu'araspe avoit dites de la part d'astiage a ciaxare aribee qui s'estoit trouve present a ce discours comme ayant la confidence du roy et qui avoit bien des desseins cachez 
 dans l'esprit demeura un peu estonne a ce que nous avons sceu depuis neantmoins apres avoir fait semblant de resver profondement a ce qu'il devoit conseiller a ciaxare qui luy commandoit de dire son advis il approuva tout ce qu'astiage avoit mande fortifia la chose par de nouvelles raisons exagera celles qu'araspe n'avoit fait que toucher legerement et fit enfin resoudre le roy a faire ce qu'on luy conseilloit ce n'est pas que la tendresse extreme qu'il avoit pour mandane ne resistast un peu a ce dessein mais comme il luy demeuroit deux couronnes et qu'on luy faisoit comprendre qu'il s'agissoit du throsne de medie il consentit a ce qu'on voulut or comme aribee avoit interest par plus d'une raison que mon maistre fust esloigne de la cour il dit a ciaxare qu'il n'y avoit qu'artamene seul qui fust capable de faire reussir heureusement le dessein de son mariage avec la reine des massagettes qu'il avoit toutes les qualitez necessaires pour cela qu'il avoit beaucoup d'esprit et beaucoup de reputation et qu'ainsi il n'y avoit presque pas lieu de douter que si l'on envoyoit artamene vers thomiris il ne vinst a bout d'une negociation si glorieuse pour luy et si importante pour l'estat ciaxare qui en effet voyoit beaucoup d'aparence a ce que luy disoit aribee aprouva son advis et peu de temps apres envoya querir mon maistre comme je vous l'ay deja dit d'abord qu'il entra dans son cabinet il fut au 
 devant de luy et le carressant encore plus qu'a l'ordinaire artamene luy dit il les dieux ne vous ont pas rendu propre a tant de choses differentes pour ne vous employer jamais qu'a une seule c'est pourquoy afin de ne laisser pas inutiles les dons que vous avez receus du ciel il faut qu'apres avoir donne tant d'illustre matiere a vostre valeur je vous en donne aussi de faire paroistre vostre prudence mon maistre suivant fa coustume et son humeur respondit aux civilitez de ciaxare avec autant de modestie que de soumission et tesmoignant en suitte beaucoup d'impatience de scavoir en quoy il le pouvoit servir ciaxare luy dit tout ce qu'astiage luy avoit mande par araspe tout ce qu'ariee luy avoit conseille et enfin tout ce qu'il avoit resolu il le pria de plus de vouloir aprendre la chose a la princesse sa fille et de tascher de faire qu'elle ne l'en aimast pas moins car luy dit il artamene je scay qu'elle vous estime et qu'elle recevra mieux une semblable nouvelle par vous que par aribee pour lequel elle n'a jamais eu grande inclination je vous laisse a juger seigneur combien mon maistre fut surpris d'une pareille proposition il ne scavoit s'il devoit contredire le dessein du roy ou l'aprouver accepter la commission qu'on luy donnoit de parler a la princesse ou la refuser absolument et il fut un assez long temps ou il ne scavoit pas trop bien que respondre tant il avoit de peur d'offencer le roy ou mandane et de choquer 
 son devoir ou son amour dans une conjoncture si delicate mais voyant enfin qu'encore que ciaxare luy fist l'honneur de luy demander son advis c'estoit pourtant une chose resolue il luy dit a la fin que pour ce qui estoit de son mariage ce n'estoit point a luy a se mesler d'en parler ny de conseiller un roy si prudent que pour ce qui estoit de l'aprendre a la princesse il le seroit puis qu'il le luy commandoit mais que pour aller vers la reine des massagettes c'estoit une chose ou selon son sens il n'estoit pas propre s'il falloit l'aller conquerir a force d'armes luy dit il je pourrois peut-estre me vanter de le faire aussi tost qu'un autre mais comme il ne faut que la persuader dispensez moy s'il vous plaist seigneur d'un employ ou certainement je suis moins propre que vous ne croyez ciaxare l'entendant parler ainsi creut tousjours que sa modestie toute seule luy faisoit tenir un semblable discours c'est pourquoy il ne s'y arresta pas et il luy dit seulement qu'il se preparast a partir le plustost qu'il luy seroit possible mon maistre ne pouvant encore se resoudre absolument ne respondit pas precisement a ciaxare et sans refuser ny accepter l'employ qu'on luy vouloit donner il le quitta et fut chez mandane avec ordre du roy de mesnager son esprit avec tant d'adresse qu'elle ne se plaignist pas de luy aussi tost que la princesse vit artamene elle remarqua aisement qu'il luy estoit arrive quelque chose de nouveau et de fascheux 
 et bien luy dit elle en paslissant cyrus est il descouvert non madame repliqua-t'il et je puis dire au contraire qu'il n'est que trop bien cache puis qu'on luy veut donner une commission ou il est si peu propre la princesse devenue plus curieuse par cette responce le pressa de luy expliquer cet enigme ce qu'il fit fort exactement en luy racontant parole pour parole toute sa conversation avec ciaxare il eut mesme le soin de luy exagerer les sentimens de tendresse qu'il avoit veus dans l'esprit du roy pour ce qui la regardoit mais apres luy avoir apris et le dessein de son mariage avec thomiris et le commandement qu'il avoit receu d'aller vers la reine des massagettes pour le faire reussir il se mit a regarder la princesse et a vouloir observer dans ses yeux ce qu'elle pensoit en une avanture assez extraordinaire mais comme elle s'aperceut de son intention non non luy dit elle artamene la perte d'une couronne n'excitera pas de grands troubles dans mon esprit et quand le roy mon pere pourroit aussi bien m'oster celles de capadoce et de galatie que celle de medie vous ne m'en entendriez pas murmurer j'ay l'ame plus ferme que vous ne pensez et l'on pourroit m'oster plus d'un sceptre que je n'en changerois pas de visage ce n'est artamene ce n'est que pour la veritable gloire que mon coeur est sensible et non pas pour cette gloire passagere qui depend du caprice de la fortune et qui est absolument detachee de nostre propre vertu 
 ainsi je puis vous assurer que je ne trouve rien dans le dessein de ciaxare qui m'afflige et qui ne soit juste et je luy suis mesme bien obligee d'avoir eu la bonte de m'en vouloir faire dire quelque chose tout ce que vous dites madame respondit mon maistre est extremement genereux mais quoy que vous agissiez en cette rencontre comme une personne heroique doit tousjours agir cela n'empesche pas que je n'aye beaucoup de sujet de me plaindre de la rigueur de mon destin je ne voy pas luy dit alors la princesse ce grand malheur dont vous vous plaignez quoy madame adjousta-t'il l'on employera artamene a vous oster la couronne de medie et il ne s'en plaindra pas luy dis-je qui voudroit vous pouvoir donner toutes les couronnes de l'univers je vous ay desja dit respondit elle que ma plus grande felicite n'est pas inseparablement attachee au throsne c'est pourquoy ne craignez pas de me desplaire en obeissant au roy mais peut-estre artamene luy dit elle avec un demy souris ne sommes nous pas de mesme humeur peut-estre dis-je que mandane ayant moins d'une couronne ne paroistra plus a vos yeux ce qu'elle leur paroissoit auparavant ha madame s'escria mon maistre en l'interrompant songez vous bien a ce que vous dites et est il possible que la princesse mandane puisse railler innocemment sur une matiere si delicate ouy madame poursuivit-il vous en estes capable mais il est pourtant certaines 
 choses que l'on ne peut jamais dire sans injustice encore qu'on ne les croye pas comme on les dit cependant madame apres les cruelles paroles que vous venez de prononcer je n'ay plus rien a faire qu'a obeir au roy et a aporter autant de soing a vous oster des couronnes que j'en devrois raisonnablement avoir de vous en conquester encore une fois madame vous avez eu son de me parler comme vous avez fait a moy dis-je qui ay arreste tous mes regards sur vostre visage et qui n'ay jamais regarde vos couronnes que comme un ornement beaucoup au dessous de vostre vertu ouy divine princesse adjousta-t'il encore quand vous seriez aussi loing du throsne que vous en estes pres je serois pour vous ce que je suis il ne m'importe de scavoir si vous possederez des sceptres il suffit que je scache que vous les meritez c'est a ma valeur a faire le reste et si j'ay dit quelque chose qui tesmoignast de la repugnance a vous oster la couronne de medie c'est madame que de quelque facon que ce soit je ne puis agir contre vous tous mes sentimens se revolteroient sans doute contre moy si j'en pouvois avoir la pensee comme au contraire tous les mouvemens de mon coeur vont a vous servir sans mesme que ma raison et ma volonte s'en meslent la princesse voyant qu'artamene avoit este si sensible a une si petite injure se repentit de la luy avoir faite et pour l'appaiser en quelque sorte artamene luy dit elle s'il est vray conme je le veux croire que la 
 vertu de mandane soit effectivement ce que vous aimez le mieux en elle le voyage que l'on vous propose doit vous donner de la joye plustost que de vous donner du desplaisir car enfin a vous parler sincerement c'est bien plustost comme devant estre reine de medie que comme reine de capadoce que l'on me refuse a ceux qui me demandent car encore que la loy de laquelle on se sert pour authoriser ce refus soit effectivement parmy nous neantmoins comme il n'y a point presentement de prince en capadoce elle pourroit peut-estre recevoir quelque explication ainsi encore une fois en m'ostant la couronne de medie vous vous osterez peut estre un grand obstacle et quand je ne seray et ne pourray jamais estre que reine de capadoce il ne vous sera pas si difficile d'obliger le roy a consentir a ce que vous desirez pourveu qu'il puisse souffrir que vous soyez cyrus mais madame luy dit alors mon maistre quand voulez vous que je hazarde la chose a vostre retour repliqua-t'elle et je m'imagine que la reine des massagettes ne vous refusera pas son assistance apres que vous l'aurez placee dans le throsne de medie vous aurez mesme cet avantage luy dit elle encore de partir sans que je vous bannisse et j'auray aussi cette consolation de voir que du moins en me quittant vous ne vous plaindrez pas de moy ha madame repliqua-t'il je n'en seray gueres plus heureux et l'absence est un si grand mal a 
 ceux qui scavent veritablement aimer que par quelque occasion que l'on s'esloigne de ce que l'on aime il s'en faut peu que l'on ne soit esgalement malheureux et puis madame adjousta t'il qui m'a dit que durant mon absence le roy d'assirie n'entreprendra rien contre vous vous scavez qu'il a des intelligences secrettes dans la cour que nous n'avons pu descouvrir vous scavez ce qu'il a desja tente une fois comment donc madame voulez vous que je m'expose au plus effroyable danger qui puisse menacer ma vie il faut esperer luy respondit elle que le mauvais succes de son premier dessein le rebutera d'un second il faut que je songe a le rendre vain s'il l'avoit et que je vous assure mesme qu'il en viendroit a bout inutilement et puis demeurer ou partir n'est pas une chose qui fust a vostre choix ny au mien quand mesme ce nouveau sujet d'absence ne seroit pas survenu et vous scavez et je vous l'ay dit qu'il faudroit tousjours s'y resoudre ainsi artamene laissons l'advenir a la conduite des dieux et obeissons au roy 
 
 
 
 
enfin seigneur artamene se resolut a partir ciaxare de son coste l'en pressa et luy fit preparer un equipage le plus grand et le plus magnifique dont l'on eust jamais entendu parler en capadoce il eut pourtant ordre de ne proposer pas d'abord la chose dont il s'agissoit a thomiris ciaxare ne voulant pas s'exposer a estre refuse mais comme il estoit arrive que quelques pyrates avoient 
 pris plusieurs vaisseaux marchands sur la met caspie qui apertenoient a des capadociens et qu'il s'estoit fait une espece de petite guerre maritime entre ces capadociens et ces pyrates qui estoient du pars des massagettes ce fut cette negociation qui fut le pretexte de ce voyage quoy qu'en effet il ne fut entrepris que pour traiter en secret du mariage de thomiris avec ciaxare je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire toutes les carresses que le roy fit a mon maistre en s'en separant ny toutes celles que toute la cour luy fit aribee mesme parut estre plus de ses amis qu'a l'ordinaire et artamene avoit sans doute en aparence tous les sujets du monde d estre satisfait de luy mon maistre avoit pourtant dans le coeur une inquietude secrette qui ne luy donnoit pas peu de peine car enfin depuis que philidaspe ou pour mieux dire le prince d'assirie avoit disparu l'on n'en avoit eu aucunes nouvelles l'on avoit mesme sceu qu'il n'estoit point retourne a babylone et que la reine nitocris estoit tousjours fort en peine d'une si longue absence il y avoit aussi des momens ou artamene ne scavoit pas trop bien s'il devoit croire que philidaspe fust en effet ce qu'il avoit dit estre et il y en avoit d'autres aussi ou il n'en doutoit point du tout mais enfin son equipage estant prest il falut partir et dire adieu a la princesse jamais seigneur je n'ay este plus fortement persuade qu'en cette rencontre que les dieux 
 envoyent quelquefois aux hommes des pressentimens de ce qui leur doit arriver car mon maistre eut une si sensible douleur en quittant mandane et cette princesse quoy que tres accoustume a vaincre ses sentimens en parut aussi si affligee que quand ils eussent sceu infailliblement qu'ils ne se reverroient jamais ils ne l'eussent pas este davantage cet adieu comme vous pouvez penser se fit sans autres tesmoins que la fidelle martesie avec laquelle il y avoit desia quelque temps que j'avois lie une amitie tres estroite ce compliment ne fut pas long et leur conversation se fit presque plustost par leur silence que par leurs paroles la tristesse qui paroissoit dans les yeux d'artamene fut toute l'eloquence qu'il employa a prier sa princesse de ne l'oublier pas s et la douleur qu'il vit dans ceux de mandane fut presque toute la faveur qu'il receut d'elle en s'en separant voulez vous bien luy dit il madame que je ne demente pas mes propres yeux et me permettrez vous de croire que j'ay quelque part a la melancolie que je voy dans les vostres ouy artamene luy respondit elle je vous le permets et je ne seray pas mesme marrie que vous croiyez qu'il y en a plus dans mon coeur que vous n'en voyez sur mon visage il n'en eust pas falu plus que cela pour ressusciter mon maistre s'il eust este mort mais je pense aussi seigneur qu'il n'en eust guere plus falu pour le faire mourir et de douleur et de joye aussi ces deux sentimens 
 opposez firent tant de desordre en son ame qu'il en perdit la parole et presque la raison il quitta donc la princesse sans luy dire plus rien et la regardant aussi long temps qu'il le put il sortit enfin et monta a cheval sans scavoir ny qui estoit aveque luy ny quel chemin il tenoit ny mesme ce qu'il pensoit le premier jour de nostre voyage se passa de cette sorte le second ne fut guere moins melancolique tous les autres furent a peu pres semblables et depuis themiscire jusques au bord de l'araxe ce fleuve fameux qui borne le royaume des massagettes je pense que mon maistre ne sceut point quelle route nous tinsmes il ne sceut dis-je si nous avions pris celle de la province des aspires si nous avions traverse la colchide ou si nous avions pris le haut des montagnes enfin je pense qu'il ne sceut si nous avions este sur la mer ou sur la terre ny si nous avions passe des forests ou des rivieres tant il est vray qu'il fut entierement possede par sa passion et par ta melancolie pendant ce voyage qui est assez long et ou l'on voit d'assez belles choses estant donc arrivez au bord de l'araxe nous le passasmes sur de grands bateaux qui sont destinez a cet usage pour la commodite de ceux qui voyagent en ce pais la et nous commencasmes s'il faut ainsi dire d'entrer en un autre monde car seigneur nous ne vismes plus ny villes ny vilages ny maisons ny temples et toute cette grande estendue de pais qui borde un des costez 
 de l'araxe et qui regarde vers les issedones n'est que de grandes et vastes plaines entremeslees de petites colines extremement agreables un objet si nouveau forca la melancolie d'artamene et l'obligea de remarquer avec plaisir que toutes ces plaines et toutes ces colines estoient semees de cent mille tentes differentes et par leurs formes et par leur grandeur et par leurs couleurs l'on en voyoit deux ou trois cens en un mesme lieu trente ou quarante en un autre quelques unes en plus petit nombre et d'autres mesmes toutes seules et separees de tout le reste l'on voyoit aussi grande quantite d'une espece de pavillons roulans dont ces peuples se servent principalement a la guerre qui sont de grands chariots couverts de dais magnifiques sous lesquels ils peuvent estre a l'abry de l'incommodite de la pluye et des vents et a l'ombre aussi quand il arrive que le soleil les importune un nombre infiny de troupeaux paissoient parmy toutes ces vastes plaines et adjoustoient encore beaucoup d'agrement a un si merveilleux objet artamene donc apercevoir bien admire cette diversite de coustumes continua son chemin droit vers le quartier des tentes royalles car c'est ainsi qu'ils apellent en ce pais la l'endroit ou la cour fait sa demeure ces tentes changent toutefois de lieu selon les saisons et quoy qu'elles soient assez souvent proche de l'araxe a cause de la commodite que ce grand et beau fleuve aporte a son voisinage 
 lors que nous y fusmes il nous falut faire deux journees entieres dans le pais des massagettes auparavant que d'arriver ou estoit la reine mais seigneur a vous dire la verite ce voyage nous donna assez de divertissement a l'abord et la veue de tant de choses nouvelles ne nous permit pas de nous ennuyer de plus tous ces peuples quoy que confondus par beaucoup de personnes avec les veritables scithes n'ont pas leur simplicite en habillemens au contraire ils sont tres superbes et tres magnifiques car comme leur pais produit une quantite prodigieuse d'or et de cuivre ils se servent en toutes sortes de choses de ces deux metaux n'employant que tres rarement le fer et l'argent parce qu'ils en ont fort peu chez eux ainsi leurs lances leurs carquois leurs fleches leurs marteaux d'armes leurs baudriers la bride le mors tout le harnois de leurs chevaux et cent autres choses qui seroient trop longues a dire sont toutes d'or ou du moins ornees avec de l'or de sorte que tout ce que nous rencontrasmes ne nous fit voir que magnificence nous sceusmes en allant que le fils de la reine appelle spargapise n'estoit pas alors aupres d'elle et qu'il estoit alle accompagne d'ariante frere de thomiris vers ces provinces qui regardent le mont imaus qui comme vous scavez partage les deux scithies certe absence n'empescha pas que nous ne trouvassions la cour extremement grosse car comme spargapise n'avoit que quinze ans et qu'ariante n'avoit 
 point d'authorite en ce pais la tout le monde s'attachoit a la reine qui depuis fort long temps gouvernoit toutes choses et qui en effet a de tres grandes qualitez quoy qu'elle en ait aussi quelques unes qu'il seroit a souhaitter qu'elle n'eust pas nous sceusmes encore qu'il y avoit deux princes estrangers dans cette cour l'un prince des tauroscites apelle indathirse et neveu d'un fameux scithe qui se nomme anacharsis qui estoit alors en voyage et dont en mon particulier l'avois fort entendu parler en grece du temps que nous estions a corinthe pour l'autre qui s'apelle aripithe il est prince des sauromates de sorte qu'a ce que nous sceusmes ces deux estrangers rendoient la cour de thomiris encore plus belle qu'a l'acoustumee enfin seigneur nous marchasmes si bien que nous descouvasmes de fort loing les tentes royalles ou pour mieux dire la plus belle ville du monde estant certain qu'il ne peut jamais tomber un plus magnifique objet sous les yeux il y avoit une estendue de plus de vingt cinq stades en quarre entierement pleine de tentes rangees avec ordre et par grandes rues et pour rendre la chose encore plus superbe il y avoit symetrie en leur forme et en leur disposition le meslange mesme des couleurs y estoit judicieusement observe et la pourpre l'or le blanc et le bleu estoient meslez avec une confusion ou il ne laissoit pas d'y avoir de la regularite toutes ces tentes avoient sur le haut de grosses pommes 
 d'or ou de cuivre avec des banderolles ondoyantes et en divers endroits de cette ville s'il est permis de parler ainsi l'on voyoit des pavillons beaucoup plus eslevez que les autres qui paroissoient comme font dans nos villes les palais et les magnifiques temples au milieu de tout cela estoit le pavillon de thomiris fort remarquable et par sa beaute et par sa grandeur prodigieuse et parles enseignes royalles que l'on voyoit arborees sur le haut de ce superbe pavillon comme nous arrivasmes donc a quinze ou seize stades de ces magnifiques tentes nous vismes paroistre un gros de cavalerie a la teste duquel estoit un des plus considerables d'entre les massagettes qui venoit recevoir mon maistre au nom de la reine car des que nous avions eu passe l'araxe elle avoit este advertie qu'un ambassadeur de ciaxare appelle artamene estoit entre dans ses estats de sorte qu'au nom de ciaxare et a celuy d'artamene qu'elle ne connoissoit que trop comme vous scaurez apres elle avoit envoye comme je viens de le dire un homme de consideration suivy de beaucoup d'autres pour le recevoir les premiers complimens estans faits nous continuasmes nostre chemin meslez parmy eux et en aprochant nous vismes que tout ce grand quarre de tentes estoit enferme de barrieres peintes et dorees ou il y avoit en garde des soldats de fort bonne mine nous vismes aussi qu'il y avoit une petite riviere qui se divisoit en deux petits 
 bras dont l'un passoit tout le long d'une des faces de cette ville portative et l'autre la traversoit par le milieu se rejoignant apres un peu plus bas comme auparavant nous vismes que le pavillon de la reine estoit au milieu d'une grande place ou quatre grandes rues aboutissoient avec des gardes aux deux bouts de toutes les quatre enfin seigneur l'on conduisit mon maistre dans une superbe tente destinee pour les ambassadeurs des rois estrangers comme le train et l'equipage d'artamene estoit extremement grand et magnifique ces peuples la n'avoient pas moins de curiosite de nous regarder que nous en avions de les voir car corne l'habillement des medes est beaucoup plus beau que celuy de tout le reste de l'asie ciaxare avoit voulu que nous eussions tous des robes a la medoise toutes couvertes d'or et celle d'artamene estoit toute semee de pierreries comme nous estions armiez apres midy le reste du jour fut employe a se reposer et ce ne fut que le lendemain au matin que thomiris donna audience a mon maistre j'avois oublie de vous dire qu'en envoyant recevoir artamene thomiris luy avoit aussi envoye un truchement qui scavoit toutes les langues asiatiques mais pour elle mon maistre n'en eut pas besoin car elle scavoit la langue assirienne qui comme vous ne l'ignorez pas est la plus generalement entendue par tout et qu'artamene scavoit assez bien parce qu'elle ressemble fort a celle de capadoce de sorte que mon maistre ayant 
 este adverty qu'elle la scavoit se prepara a luy parler en cette langue aussi tost qu'il auroit fait son premier compliment en celle de capadoce pour garder quelque ceremonie et pour rendre ce respect la au roy de qui il estoit envoye l'heure de l'audience estant donc venue plusieurs officiers de la reine vinrent prendre mon maistre pour le conduire chez elle ou les deux princes que je vous ay nommez et tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand et de beau a cette cour soit parmy les hommes ou parmy les dames s'estoit rendu pour voir cet ambassadeur de qui l'on disoit desja tant de choses quoy que l'on ne peust encore juger en ce lieu la que de sa bonne mine l'on nous fit passer dans ces superbes tentes de thomiris par trois differentes chambres richement meublees auparavant que d'arriver au lieu ou estoit la reine mais lors que nous entrasmes en celuy la j'advoue que je fus un peu surpris et que j'eus peine a croire que je ne fusse pas plustost a babylone a ecbatane a themiscire a amasie ou a sinope que dans un camp de massagettes tant il est vray que je ay de magnificence et de marques de grandeur tout cet apartement estoit tendu de pourpre tyrienne toute couverte de plaques d'or massif ou estoient representees en bas relief diverses actions de leurs rois l'on voyoit pendre au haut du dome de cette chambre cent lampes d'or enrichies de pierreries la reine estoit sur un throsne esleve 
 de trois marches tout couvert de drap d'or dont le dais estoit aussi l'un et l'autre estant encore orne de plusieurs plaques d'or massif il y avoit au pied du throsne une petite balustrade d'or qui separoit la reine de tout le reste du monde qui l'accompagnoit toutes les dames richement vestues estoient assises des deux costez de ce throsne sur des quarreaux de pourpre avec de l'or et tous les hommes estoient debout derriere elles thomiris avoit ce jour la une espece de robe et de manteau a l'egyptienne qui semblant avoir quelque chose de neglige ne laissoient pas d'estre fort majestueux l'un et l'autre estoient tissus d'or et de soye de diverses couleurs car le deuil des veusves parmy les massagettes ne passejamais la premiere annee sa coiffure estoit assez haute par derriere d'ou pendoit un crespe qui apres avoir este jusqu'a terre se s'atachoit sur l'espaule et se mesloit confusement avec un grand panache de diverses couleurs qui luy flottoit sur la teste ses cheveux qui sont blonds estoient a demy espars et sa gorge pleine et blanche a demy cachee d'une gaze plissee et transparente qui donnoit beaucoup d'agrement a son habit l'oubliois de vous dire que sa robe estoit retroussee du coste droit avec une agrasse de pierreries ce qui faisoit voir qu'elle estoit doublee de peaux de tigres admirablement belles et fort mouchetees elle avoit des brodequins de drap d'or bordez de cette mesme fourrure et s'attachez sur le devant par 
 des meuffles de lyon faits d'or massif et dont les yeux estoient de rubis enfin l'on peut dire que l'habillement de thomiris ornoit sa beaute comme sa beaute ornoit son habillement cette princesse qui effectivement n'avoit alors que vingt-neuf ans ne m'en parut pas avoir plus de vingt elle est d'une taille fort avantageuse et un peu au dessus de la grandeur ordinaire elle a la mine haute mais un peu superbe les yeux beaux et remplis de feu le teint si blanc si vif et couvert d'une fraischeur si agreable que la premiere jeunesse n'en peut jamais donner davantage a personne en un mot elle a une belle bouche de belles dents de belles mains de beaux bras et et un embonpoint admirable je trouvay donc thomiris une tres belle princesse et mon maistre tout preocupe qu'il estoit fut contraint d'adjouer apres qu'excepte mandane qui certainement estoit encore infiniment plus accomplie il n'avoit jamais veu de beaute plus esclatante que celle de thomiris cette reine se leva des qu'elle aperceut mon maistre et descendit mesme le premier degre de son throsne cette balustrade d'or que l'on ouvrit par le milieu fit que mon maistre s'avanca jusqu'au bas de ce throsne et que mettant le pied sur la derniere marche il luy baisa la robe et luy presenta des tablettes toutes couvertes de diamants ou estoit la lettre de ciaxare luy disant en peu de mots et en capadocien le sujet de son ambassade elle respondit en sa langue mais fort peu 
 de chose et prenant ces tablettes elle les donna au capitaine de ses gardes qui les remit entre les mains du truchement apres cela elle se remit a sa place et mon maistre prit celle qui estoit destinee pour luy a la droite du throsne et au dela de la balustrade vous scavez seigneur que ces especes de depesches ne servent qu'a authoriser celuy qui les porte et qu'en ces premieres audiences l'on ne parle jamais gueres a fond des affaires qui amenent les ambassadeurs apres donc que pour la ceremonie cette lettre de creance eut este leve et expliquee a la reine et que chacun comme je l'ay dit eut commence de parler en la langue de son pais artamene fut fort estonne d'entendre que thomiris luy dit en assirien je ne suis pas peu obligee au roy de capadoce de m'avoir fait connoistre un homme de qui la reputation m'avoit donne une si forte curiosite car ne pensez pas luy dit elle que la renommee ne passe jamais l'araxe pour nous aprendre ce que l'on fait aux lieux d'ou vous venez vous scavez qu'elle traverse les mers et vous devez bien croire qu'elle passe ainsi les fleuves avec joye quand elle est chargee d'une gloire conme la vostre ouy genereux artamene adjousta t'elle nous vous connoissions sans vous avoir veu vostre nom a devance vostre personne et nostre estime pour vous a precede vostre arrivee je crains bien madame respondit mon maistre en la mesme langue qu'elle avoit parle que je ne destruise 
 moy mesme cette glorieuse estime et que je ne rende un mauvais office a la renommee qui m'a tant flatte puis qu'apres cela vous ne la croirez peut-estre jamais plus et tiendrez pour suspectes de mensonge toutes les veritez qu'elle vous annoncera mais madame quoy qu'elle m'ait fait grace elle ne laisse pas de rendre quelque fois justice c'est pourquoy je supplie tres-humblement vostre majeste de ne douter jamais de ce qu'elle dira lors qu'elle voudra vous assurer que le prince que je sers est un des plus grands rois du monde je scay bien reprit thomiris qu'en effet ciaxare est un grand prince et un prince qui a de bonnes qualitez et je scay de plus que la princesse sa fille est aussi admirable en beaute qu'artamene l'est en valeur mais je scay aussi adjoustat'elle que vostre main a fait trembler la plus grande partie de l'asie et que vous avez presques autant gagne de batailles que vous avez vescu d'annees mon maistre estoit si surpris et si confondu d'entendre parler thomiris de cette sorte qu'il ne put s'empescher de luy tesmoigner son estonnement car il s'estoit imagine que les scithes et les massagettes qui sont leurs alliez ne prenoient gueres de part en tout le reste du monde madame luy dit il vous me surprenez estrangement car comme je ne me souviens point d'avoir veu de massagettes ny a la cour de capadoce ny a l'armee de ciaxare je ne puis m'imaginer par quelle voye vous scavez une partie de ce qui s'y passe il paroist toutefois assez adjousta-t'il 
 que vostre majeste n'en est pas informee bien precisement puis qu'elle me donne une gloire qui apartient toute au roy mon maistre de qui les armes ont sans doute este heureuses entre mes mains mais qui l'auroient autant este en celles de tout autre que de moy je ne m'arresteray point seigneur a vous redire toute cette conversation qui fut beaucoup plus longue que n'ont accoustume de l'estre celles des premieres audiences la reine assura mon maistre en le congediant qu'il auroit toute la satisfaction qu'il pouvoit esperer de son voyage et qu'elle contenteroit ciaxare en toutes les choses ou elle le pourroit faire raisonnablement artamene se retira donc tres satisfait de thomiris et fort estonne de trouver si pres des scithes des peuples si magnifiques si civilisez et si pleins d'esprit nous sceusmes apres que thomiris avoit cette coustume d'envoyer diverses personnes chez tous les princes estrangers qui sans estre connus luy rendoient compte de temps en temps de tout ce qui se passoit par toute l'asie et d'autant plus que la politique de toutes les deux scithies et des massagettes qui les imitent en cela est de faire des invasions lors que l'on y pense le moins et c'est pour cet effet qu'ils taschent de scavoir precisement tout ce qui se passe chez tous les peuples dont ils ont connoissance afin de s'empescher d'estre surpris et de surprendre les autres cependant ces deux princes estrangers qui estoient dans cette cour donc 
 l'un comme je l'ay deja dit s'apelloit indathirse et l'autre aripithe et qui estoient tous deux amoureux de thomiris voyant avec quelle civilite extraordinaire elle avoit receu mon maistre le vinrent voir le lendemain il leur rendit leur visite un jour apres et il trouva que ces deux scithes estoient fort honnestes gens principalement indathirse prince des tauroscithes et neveu du fameux anacharsis aripithe avoit aussi de l'esprit mais il estoit un peu soubconneux et violent au lieu qu'indathirse n'avoit rien qui ne sentist la douceur asiatique et rien du tout de sauvage ny de rude l'un et l'autre de ces princes parloit la langue assirienne aussi bien que thomiris ainsi ils purent faire conversation avec mon maistre qui d'abord les ravit et les charma de telle sorte qu'ils le regarderent comme un dieu tant sa facon d'agir sa maniere de parler sa douceur sa bonne mine et sa beaute leur donnerent d'admiration la reine de son coste en avoit este tres satisfaite et en avoit parle en des termes si avantageux qu'il n'y avoit pas lieu de douter que mon maistre n eust puissamment confirme par sa presence la bonne opinion qu'elle avoit desja de luy car nous sceusmes qu'elle avoit dit ces propres paroles parlant de la beaute et de la bonne mine d'artamene il faut sans doute disoit elle que ces peuples qui moins raionnables que nous qui n'adorons que le soleil et qui se sont advisez de donner des figures a leurs dieux ou d'adorer 
 dorer des hommes en eussent veu qui ressembloient artamene car il est certain qu'il a quelque chose de grand et de divin qui donne de l'admiration et du respect en donnant de l'amitie enfin seigneur durant les premiers jours que nous fusmes en ce pais la l'on peut dire que tout le monde estoit content thomins estoit ravie de voir artamene dans sa cour ces deux princes estrangers estoient aussi bien aises de faire amitie avec un homme si illustre toute la cour en general prevoyant bien que la presence d'artamene augmenteroit les divertissemens s'en resjouissoit ce peuple qui aime naturellement les hommes vaillans regardoit artamenc avec plaisir et mon maistre luy mesme esperant de bien reussir en son dessein veu la maniere dont on l'avoit receu n'avoit point d'autre inquietude que celle de l'absence et de sa passion qui a dire vray estoit assez sorte mais qui estoit pourtant un peu soulagee par l'esperance d'un prompt et d'un heureux retour cependant pour ne perdre point de temps durant qu'il faisoit semblant de songer a negocier avec le conseil de la reine des affaires qui estoient le pretexte de son voyage c'est a dire de ces courses de pyrates sur la mer caspie il s'informa adroitement qui gouvernoit l'esprit de thomiris afin de decouvrir ses sentimens et de pressentir si elle voudroit entendre au mariage de ciaxare il sceut donc qu'un homme appelle terez avoit assez de credit aupres d'elle c'est 
 pourquoy il songea a se l'aquerir autant qu'il put mais comme il faut du temps pour cela il faloit malgre qu'il en eust qu'il se donnast patience pendant quoy il voyoit la reine tous les jours et presque a toutes les heures elle luy parla de toutes les manieres differentes de faire la guerre elle s'enquit de la facon dont ciaxare gouvernoit ses peuples elle voulut scavoir de quelle sorte on vivoit a sa cour pendant la paix et sur toutes ces choses elle trouva tant d'esprit tant de sagesse et tant d'agrement en la conversation d'artamene qu'elle ne pouvoit assez le louer aussi fit elle tout ce qui luy fut possible pour l'empescher de s'ennuyer aupres d'elle car elle luy fit voir toute la magnificence des massagettes et tous leurs plaisirs elle le mena a la chasse elle fit faire des courses de chevaux ou il signala son adresse elle luy fit mesme voir une espece de dance scithique ou ceux qui la sont habillez comme les veritables scithes de magnifiques fourrures de diverses sortes et dont pharmome quoy qu'un peu sauvage ne laisse pas de plaire extremement elle luy fit voir encore des combats et des victoires non sanglantes enfin elle n'oublia rien de tout ce qui pouvoit le divertir il vit mesme un de leurs sacrifices et il eut la satisfaction de voir que mitra le dieu des persans quoy que sous un autre nom estoit aussi le dieu des scithes et des massagettes et mesme plus particulierement qu'a nous car ils ne sacrifient jamais qu'au soleil que nous appelions ainsi et ne luy immollent que 
 des chevaux trouvant disent-ils qu'il est juste de sacrifier au plus grand et au plus viste de tous les dieux le plus noble et le plus viste de tous les animaux thomiris vivant donc de cette sorte avec mon maistre il estoit carresse de toute la cour et selon les aparences il devoit bien tost estre en estat d'obtenir tout ce qu'il demanderoit il remarquoit bien que thomiris avoit pour luy toute la complaisance imaginable et nous voyons bien chrisante et moy qu'elle l'estimoit infiniment mais nous ne prevoiyons pas que ce qui en aparence devoit avancer les desseins d'artamene les reculeroit en effet 
 
 
 
 
mon maistre ayant enfin commence de parler a terez des affaires qui regardoient ces pyrates de la mer caspie terez parles ordres de la reine luy dit qu'il auroit satisfaction mais qu'il faloit se donner un peu de patience parce que thomiris seroit bien aise que spargapise son fils fust revenu auparavant que de luy respondre enfin apres qu'artamene par des presents assez considerables creut avoir lieu d'esperer d'estre servy par terez aupres de la reine il luy dit qu'il eust bien voulu scavoir si une proposition de mariage avec ciaxare luy desplairoit mon maistre representa alors a ce premier ministre la grandeur d'un prince qui devoit estre roy des medes l'avantage et la gloire qu'en recevroient tous les massagettes et il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut propre a persuader son agent afin qu'estant bien 
 persuade luy mesme il peust agir plus efficacement aupres de thomiris terez escouta artamene avec plaisir et tesmoignant aprouver cette proposition il luy promit de la taire a la reine avec toute l'adresse et toute l'affection possible cependant thomiris qui ne scavoit encore rien de la chose vivoit avec mon maistre comme a l'ordinaire c'est a dire avec une civilite extreme ce qui commenca de ne plaire pas trop a indathirse et a aripithe pour moy je vous advoue que je commencay aussi de m'apercevoir que thomiris avoit une estime pour artamene qui pouvoit aise ment faire naistre beaucoup d'affection je voyois qu'elle le louoit tres souvent qu'elle changeoit de couleur quand il aprochoit d'elle et qu'elle le suivoit des yeux quand il la quittoit neantmoins je ne dis rien de ce que je pensois a mon maistre qui estoit trop possede par sa passion pour prendre garde a une semblable chose cependant seigneur ce leger soubcon ne se trouva pas uns fondement et nous sceusmes que cette grande reine qui n'avoit jamais rien aime qui avoit este mariee fort jeune qui estoit demeuree veusve a quinze ans qui avoit refuse tous ce qu'il y avoit de grand dans les deux scithies et qui avoit defendu son coeur contre l'amour d'indathirse et d'aripithe depuis plus d'un an qu'ils la servoient et qu'ils en estoient amoureux ne put s'empescher de le laisser surprendre au merite d'artamene mais seigneur admirez un peu 
 par quelles voyes les dieux conduisent les choses lors qu'ils veulent qu'elles arrivent quoy que thomiris eust sceu une partie des grandes actions que mon maistre avoit faites elle n'en avoit pas sceu toutes les particularitez c'est pourquoy ayant eu unel' curiosite de les aprendre elle jetta les yeux sur moy si bien que mon maistre m'ayant un jour envoye vers elle pour luy dire quelque chose elle me commanda de luy raconter tout ce que je scavois de la belle vie d'artamene pour moy qui croyois que c'estoit rendre un bon office a mon maistre que d'augmenter l'estune que thomiris avoit pour luy car je n'avois pas encore le soubcona dont je viens de parler je luy racontay exactement tous ses combats toutes ses victoires et tout ce que sa generosite luy avoit fait faire comment il avoit sauve la vie du roy de capadoce en exposant la sienne le combat des deux cens celuy d'artamene contre ariane je siege de cerasie les batailles qu'il avoit gagnees ces armes remarquables qu'il avoit prises le jour de la conjuration des quarante chevaliers les armes simples qu'il avoit choisies en suitte pour se cacher a ceux qui le vouloient espargner son combat avec philidaspe et enfin generalement tout ce qui luy estoit arrive a la guerre car pour son amour vous jugez bien que le ne luy en parlay pas elle me demanda encore quelle estoit sa condition et je luy assuray qu'elle estoit tres noble mais que j'avois ordre de n'en descouvrir 
 pas davantage tant y a seigneur pour vous dire la verite je croy que si la reputation d'artamene sa bonne mine sa beaute et son esprit avoient fait naistre l'amour dans le coeur de thomiris mon discours l'augmenta et la rendit si puissante qu'il n'y eut plus moyen de l'en chasser ny de la vaincre je ne doute pas seigneur que vous n'ayez quelque curiosite de scavoir par quelle voye je sceu les pensees les plus secrettes de la reine c'est pourquoy auparavant que de vous en dire des choses qui vous surprendroient il faut que je vous fasse souvenir que sous le regne du premier ciaxare pere d'astiage qui vivoit encore les scithes avoient envahi toute la medie et qu'apres l'avoir possedee durant vingt huit ans ils en avoient este chassez or seigneur en s'en retournant en leur pais ils emmenerent grand nombre de prisonniers de tous sexes de tous ages et de toutes conditions et il se trouva qu'un homme de consideration parmy les managettes et qui suivoient le party des scithes estant devenu amoureux d'une tante d'aglatidas que vous connoissez et qui est un homme de si grand merite il l'enleva en s'en allant et l'espousa lors qu'il fut retourne en son pais je vous raconte cecy seigneur parce que cette personne vivoit encore lors que nous fusmes a cette cour et avoit conserve une si forte passion pour tout ce qui touchoit en quelque facon la medie qu'il n'est point de bons offices qu'elle 
 ne nous rendist et chrisante aquit une confiance si particuliere avec gelonide car elle se nommoit ainsi depuis qu'elle estoit parmy les massagettes qu'elle l'advertit fidelement de tout ce qui vint a sa connoissance comme elle avoit este fort bien eslevee et qu'elle scavoit cent choses que l'on ignoroit en ce pais la il luy avoit este aise de se rendre recommandable principalement ayant espouse un homme de fort bonne condition et fort estime parmy ces peuples de sorte que par ses bonnes qualitez elle avoit este choisie pour estre aupres de la reine des sa premiere jeunesse et y estoit encore quand nous arrivasmes dans la cour de thomiris gelonide a sans doute de l'esprit et mesme de la vertu et c'est pourquoy elle fut contrainte de dire une partie des choses que vous scaurez a chrisante afin qu'il taschast de remedier a un mal qu'elle ne pouvoit empescher sans son assistance nous avions donc sceu seigneur que thomiris n'eut pas plustost veu artamene qu'elle l'estima et eut une si forte disposition a l'aimer que l'on peut presque dire qu'elle l'aima un moment apres qu'elle eut commence de l'estimer cette princesse a l'ame grande mais naturellement fort passionnee elle ne veut rien avec mediocrite ses plus foibles desirs sont des resolutions determinees et comme elle est persuadee qu'elle ne veut rien que de juste elle abandonne sa raison a sa volonte et fait toutes choses pour la satisfaire 
 ainsi il ne faut pas s'estonner de la violence avec laquelle elle agit pour faire reussir tout ce qu'elle souhaite neantmoins dans les premiers momens qu'elle s'aperceut que son coeur commencoit de s'engager elle voulut faire quelque resistance mais ce fut d'une maniere qui augmenta le mal au lieu de le diminuer et comme l'agitation de l'air excite le feu et luy fait pousser des flames plus vives de mesme thomiris voulant tout d'un coup esteindre cet embrazement naissant qu'elle sentoit dans son ame l'alluma davantage et fit qu'une petite estincelle qui n'avoit presque encore ny lumiere ny chaleur prit une nouvelle force par l'agitation qu'elle se donna enfin elle aporta tant de soing a scavoir ce qui la tourmentoit qu'elle s'en esclaircit et trouva que c'estoit l'amour d'ou vient disoit elle a gelonide lors qu'il ne luy fut plus possible de celer sa douleur que la veue de cet estanger me donne de la joye et de l'inquietude a moy dis-je qui ay passe toute ma vie sans connoistre ny la haine ny l'amour et qui n'ay jamais rien aime que la liberte et la gloire qu'ay je disoit-elle a m'affliger quand je ne le voy point et quand je le voy s'il a de l'esprit et de l'agrement pourquoy ne souffray-je pas sa conversation sans chagrin et s'il n'en a pas pourquoy son absence m'inquiete t'elle ne scay-je pas qu'artamene n'est icy que pour quelque temps et que la mesme fortune qui me l'a amene me 
 l'ostera dans peu de jours mais quand cela ne seroit pas adjoustoit elle que voudrois-je d'artamene n'ay-je pas sceu par un des siens qu'il ne veut pas que l'on die quelle est sa naissance de plus ne scay je pas encore que quand toutes ces considerations ne seroient pas assez fortes il y en a une autre invincible ou je ne scay point de remede car enfin disoit elle quand l'amour seroit une passion absolument permise quand artamene seroit prince et prince de quelqu'une des deux scithies thomiris devroit elle songer a l'aimer puis qu'il ne l'aime pas ha non non ne renversons point l'ordre universel du monde les dieux n'ont pas donne la beaute aux femmes pour commencer d'aimer les premieres au contraire ils ont voulu que ce rayon de divinite qui fait en un moment tout ce qu'il veut faire et qui aussi bien que le soleil luit et eschausse en un mesme instant leur fist des adorateurs sans leur propre consentement ils n'ont pas dis-je donne ce rare privilege a mon sexe pour faire qu'il soit permis d'y renoncer et puis qui scait si le coeur d'artamene n'est pas desja engage et qui scait encore si les massagettes que l'on confond si souvent avec les scithes n'ont point son aversion je voy bien adjoustoit elle qu'il est civil et complaisant mais apres tout il est estranger il ne nous aime point et nous ne le devons point aimer gelonide l'entendant parler ainsi la voulut 
 confirmer en cette resolution mais thomiris qui craignoit d'estre guerie d'un mal qui luy donnoit presque autant de plaisir que de douleur l'arresta non non ma mere luy dit elle car elle l'apelloit souvent de cette sorte en particulier ne parlez point encore et ne m'obligez point a vous resister je ne suis pas bien d'accord avec moy mesme et quoy que je vienne de dire que je ne dois pas aimer artamene ce n'est pas a dire que je ne l'aime point il est des fautes excusables et des erreurs innocentes l'amour passe bien parmy nous pour une passion dangereuse mais non pas pour une passion criminelle ainsi quand le dis que je ne dois point aimer artamene c'est pour mon repos que je le dis et non pas pour ma gloire car je ne doute nullement que si j'avois pu obliger artamene a m'aimer et a espouser je n'en fusse louee de tous les massagettes les veritables scithes qui haissent tous les estrangers m'en blasmeroient peut-estre mais pour les peuples sur lesquels mon fils va regner et pour les issedones dont le royaume est a moy ils m'en estimeroient davantage la valeur vaut plus parmy nous qu'une couronne et ayant choisi le plus vaillant homme du monde j'en meriterois plus d'honneur que si j'avois espouse le plus grand roy de la terre spargapise mesme m'en auroit de l'obligation et si ce heros pouvoit le conduire a sa premiere guerre je ne mettrois 
 trois par le bonheur de ses armes en doute ainsi gelonide je ne veux rien d'injuste ny rien de criminel quand je veux aimer artamene et puis que mes peuples m'ont desja tant solicitee de fois de choisir pour mary ou le prince des tauroscithes ou celuy des sauromates je dois facilement penser qu'artamene n'auroit pas leur aversion luy qu'ils regardent avec tant d'estime mais gelonide l'importance de la chose c'est qu'artamene ne m'aime point qu'il ne scait point que je l'aime et que peut-estre il aime ailleurs pour le premier disoit elle encore il ne fait pas un grand tort au peu de beaute dont l'on m'a flattee quelquefois car enfin quand il seroit vray que je ne luy deplairois pas comme sans doute il ne croiroit point que je deusse recevoir son affection il combattroit ce foible sentiment et le vaincroit sans beaucoup de peine mais helas si l'ignorance ou il est de ce que je sents pour luy dans mon coeur m'empesche de faire un grand progres dans le sien n'est il pas encore vray que si je le luy faisois scavoir il passeroit peut-estre d'une legere disposition a m'aimer a une forte disposition a me hair et a me mespriser il croiroit peut-estre qu'une passion brutale seroit maistresse de mes sens et thomiris qui prefere sans doute son courage son esprit et sa vertu aux charmes de sa personne seroit soubconnee d'une honteuse foiblesse helas disoit elle en quel estat suis-je reduite si artamene ne scait point que je le puis aimer ou pour mieux 
 dire que je l'aime il ne m'aimera jamais et s'il le scait il ne m'estimera de sa vie et puis s'il est vray que son coeur fuit desja engage que veux-je et que puis je vouloir non-non reprenoit elle tout d'un coup il faut se guerir du mal qui nous tourmente quelque facheux qu'en soit le remede il faut renvoyer promptement ce dangereux ambassadeur que nous voudrions pourtant qui ne partist jamais d'icy il le faut je le dois et je le veux mais je ne scay si je le puis enfin seigneur apres une agitation fort violente et fort contestee elle se retira sans avoir rien resolu et admirez de grace le caprice de l'amour et de la fortune quand ils se joignent ensemble pour persecuter une personne mon maistre a qui le souvenir de mandane donnoit de cruelles inquietudes et a qui l'impatience de son retour n'accordoit pas un moment de repos se mit a presser terez de parler a la reine et afin que cette princesse respondist favorablement il la vit encore plus qu'a l'ordinaire et luy parla beaucoup plus long temps mais comme il ne pouvoit pas si absolument se contraindre qu'il n'y eust des momens ou son chagrin estoit plus fort que luy il luy arrivoit assez souvent de soupirer en parlant a thomiris et de faire paroistre quelque legere inquietude en son esprit il luy estoit mesme advenu plus d'une fois d'examiner toute la beaute de thomiris en songeant a celle de mandane et d'attacher fortement ses regards sur son visage et dans ses yeux 
 princesse est belle disoit il quelquefois en luy mesme en la regardant mais ma princesse l'est bien encore davantage je ne voy point en celle-cy cette modestie charmante et cette douceur incomparable qui est l'ame de la beaute enfin disoit il encore en soupirant thomiris n'est pas mandane et je voy ce qu'elle a de beau avec autant d'indifference que j'ay d'attachement pour l'autre cependant seigneur la reine des massagettes qui n'entendoit pas ce langage muet et qui n'interpretoit pas comme il faloit ny les regards ny les soupirs d'artamene creut que peut-estre il l'aimoit sans oser le luy dire et ce sentiment ne luy donna pas peu de joye ce ne fut pas toutefois une joye tranquile car disoit elle peut-estre que la cause de ses soupirs est a themiscire bien loing d'estre parmy les massagettes mais aussi adjoustoit elle il peut estre que je fais toute sa douleur comme il fait toute la mienne car enfin quand je ne voudrois pas croire mon miroir et qu'il me seroit suspect de flatterie la passion d'indathirse et celle d'aripithe me persuadent assez qu'il n'est pas impossible de trouver quelque beaute en thomiris esperons donc disoit elle et taschons pourtant de ne nous tromper pas en l'explication d'une chose qui nous est si importante comme elle en estoit la terez suivant ce qu'il avoit promis a mon maistre la fut trouver pour commencer de luy proposer le mariage de ciaxare et comme il ne luy dit pas d'abord la chose fort clairement 
 et que terez nomma plusieurs fois artamene cette princesse ne scavoit pas trop bien ce qu'il avoit a luy dire quoy qu'elle sceust bien ce qu'elle eust voulu qu'il eust dit mais enfin il luy aprit que ces courses de pyrates dont on luy avoit parle n'estoient que le pretexte du voyage d'artamene et que sa veritable cause estoit pour tascher de l'obliger a se resoudre d'espouser ciaxare roy de capadoce et de galatie et qui devoit estre roy des medes thomiris demeura fort surprise a ce discours neantmoins ne voulant pas descouvrit son inquietude a terez quoy qu'il fust bien aupres d'elle cette princesse luy dit qu'elle estoit bien obligee a ciaxare mais que c'estoit une chose dont elle ne devoit pas prendre sa resolution en tumulte que cependant pour avoir un plus de loisir de penser a ce qu'elle avoit a faire elle vouloit qu'il dist a artamene qu'il ne luy en avoit point encore parle et qu'il tirast les choses en longuer autant qu'il pourroit terez promit a la reine de faire ce qu'elle vouloit mais comme la liberalite d'artamene luy avoit acquis un grand credit sur l'esprit de terez il dit confidemment a mon maistre la veritable responce de la reine luy donnant beaucoup d'espoir de sa negociation parce disoit il que si elle ne vouloit pas la chose elle l'auroit refusee d'abord cette esperance ayant donne beaucoup de satisfaction a artamene il vit encore plus souvent thomiris et commenca de remarquer quelque alteration en son esprit car seigneur cette proposition 
 de mariage donna de si cruelles inquietudes a cette reine qu'elle en pensa perdre la raison ne doutons plus disoit elle a gelonide de l'indifference d'artamene pour nous apres une semblable proposition et soyons assurees que quand il nous auroit dit de sa propre bouche qu'il ne nous aime point nous ne le scaurions pas avec plus de certitude mais peut-estre aussi reprenoit elle n'obeit il pas sans repugnance et cette melancolie ou je le surprens si souvent ne pourroit elle point estre causee par la douleur qu'il a d'estre contraint de parler pour autruy lors qu'il voudroit parler pour luy mesme cette princesse n'estoit pourtant pas long temps dans un mesme sentiment elle se contredisoit cent fois en un jour mais de quelque facon qu'elle raisonnast elle aimoit tousjours artamene elle s'imaginoit que si elle le pouvoit espouser elle porteroit le nom des massagettes aux deux bouts de la terre et l'ambition se joignant encore a l'amour elle n'avoit gueres de repos cependant mon maistre qui ne scavoit pas ses veritables sentimens vivoit comme a l'ordinaire mais afin qu'il ne manquast rien a son malheur il arriva qu'indathirse et aripithe qui avoient tous deux de l'esprit et qui estoient tous deux amoureux prirent garde et a l'assiduite d'artamene aupres de thomiris et a ces souspirs qui luy eschapoient ils remarquerent aussi que la reine avoit je ne scay quelle inquietude qu'elle n'avoit point accoustume 
 d'avoir et que toutes les fois qu'artamene aprochoit d'elle il paroissoit sur son visage une esmotion de joye qu'ils ne luy avoient jamais veue avoir pour personne enfin seigneur ces deux princes qui lors que nous estions arrivez a cette cour avoient quelque jalousie l'un de l'autre quoy que la reine les traitast avec une esgalle indifference cesserent tout d'un coup de se regarder avec des sentimens jaloux et cesserent presques d'estre ennemis afin de tourner toute leur jalousie et toute leur haine contre mon maistre ils en firent mesme entre eux une espece de confidence et artamene sans y penser fit voir en ces deux princes durant quelque temps ce qui n'a peut-estre jamais este veu je veux dire deux rivaux en bonne intelligence ils voyoient qu'il ne paroissoit point de cause bien importante au long sejour d'artamene et l'insensibilite de la reine pour eux leur persuadoit que du moins l'inclination qu'elle tesmoignoit avoir pour artamene n'estoit pas nee sans qu'il y eust contribue quelque chose enfin ils croyoient que mon maistre aimoit thomiris et que thomiris ne le haissoit pas ils en parlerent ensemble comme d'une chose qui les regardoit esgalement et ils parurent estre en une amitie fort estroite souffrirons nous disoit aripithe que cet estranger vienne nous faire cet outrage et qu'aux yeux de tous les massagettes il obtienne en peu de jours ce que nos soins et nos services n'ont pu obtenir pendant une annee je scay bien 
 disoit indathirse qu'il est infiniment bien fait et infiniment aimable mais ce qui excuse peut-estre thomiris ne justifie pas artamene qui ne devoit jamais sortir des termes de la condition d'un ambassadeur cependant seigneur lors qu'ils estoient convenus du crime de mon maistre ils ne convenoient pas de la punition qu'ils en vouloient faire car ils estoient trop braves pour songer a se vanger d'artamene par une voye lasche de se battre aussi contre un ambassadeur il sembloit que c'estoit chercher les moyens de se faire bannir par thomiris qui trouveroit sans doute fort mauvais que l'on eust viole le droit des gens en la personne d'artamene et qu'on l'eust exposee a une guerre estrangere ainsi ils avoient bien de la peine a resoudre ce qu'ils feroient ils n'estoient pas mesme d'accord en cas qu'il se falust battre contre artamene lequel des deux auroit cet employ qui n'estoit pas moins difficile que glorieux indathirse disoit que c'estoit a luy aripithe disoit y avoir autant de droit qu'indathirse et l'on peut dire qu'il ne scavoient pas trop bien ny quand ny comment ils se vangeroient d'un rival qu'ils ne pouvoient perdre sans perdre en mesme temps toutes leurs esperances aupres de thomiris ce fut donc principalement cette raison qui les obligea de differer leur vangeance et d'observer encore fort exactement durant quelque temps les actions d'artamene et celles de thomiris ils tomberent mesme d'accord de se rendre conte de ce qu'ils 
 prendroient chacun de leur coste et d'agir conjointement pour se delivrer d'un si redoutable ennemy c'estoit certainement une plaisante chose de voir thomiris artamene indathirse et aripithe ensemble car thomiris ne pensoit qu'a donner de l'amour a artamene artamene ne songeoit ny a thomiris ny a indathirse ny a aripithe et donnoit toutes ses pensees a mandane et indathirse et aripithe sans se souvenir plus de la jalousie qu'ils avoient eue l'un de l'autre ne pensoient plus qu'a celle que leur donnoient artamene et thomiris cependant mon maistre a qui les momens sembloient des siecles se mit a presser terez de demander response a la reine et la reine s'en voyant pressee assura terez qu'artamene auroit de ses nouvelles devant qu'il fust trois jours de vous representer seigneur quelle fut l'agitation de l'esprit de thomiris pendant ce temps la ce seroit une chose assez difficile suffit de vous dire seulement que cette princesse estant fort glorieuse ce ne fut pas sans peine que son ame altiere et superbe se resolut de luy permettre de commander absolument a gelonide de pressentir avec adresse de chrisante qu'elle voyoit fort souvent s'entretenir avec elle si mon maistre seroit capable de vouloir pour artamene ce qu'il demandoit pour ciaxare gelonide fit alors ses derniers efforts pour guerir l'esprit de thomiris et pour l'obliger de preferer le roy a l'ambassadeur mais elle luy respondit qu'elle preferoit la vertu d'artamene a toutes les 
 couronnes du monde cependant gelonide luy dit elle agissez pourtant de telle sorte qu'artamene scache que je l'aime sans qu'il m'en estime moins et faites si bien que sans choquer directement la passion que j'ay pour la gloire celle que j'ay pour artamene ne laisse pas d'estre satisfaite gelonide qui estoit infiniment fachee d'avoir une pareille commission ne laissa pas d'assurer la reine que puis que rien ne pouvoit changer ses sentimens elle luy obeiroit avec fidelite et elle luy promit cela d'autant plus fortement qu'elle eut peur que thomiris ne confiast ce secret a une autre qui n'en useroit pas si bien qu'elle l'esperance que gelonide eust eue de retourner en son pars si la reine eust espouse ciaxare faisoit qu'elle estoit doublement affligee de la passion de thomiris pour artamene de plus elle n'imaginoit nullement que mon maistre peust refuser l'honneur qui luy alloit estre offert et elle prevoyoit bien que s'il l'acceptoit cela ne pouvoit presque manquer de causer une guerre entre thomiris et ciaxare cependant il faloit parler et parler promptement car la reine ne luy donnoit point de repos enfin ayant envoye querir chrisante elle se resolut de luy confier la verite de la chose et de luy representer apres la luy avoir dite que s'il aimoit artamene il devoit l'empescher d'accepter l'honneur que thomiris luy offroit parce que selon toutes les apparences il n'en jouiroit pas en repos et auroit trahy son maistre 
 inutilement chrisante fort surpris du discours de gelonide ne laissa pas de l'assurer aussi tost qu'il fut un peu remis de son estonnement qu'elle n'avoit rien a craindre et qu'artamene n'estoit sans doute pas capable de faire une pareille chose mais comme il ne vouloit pas luy respondre plus precisement sans que son maistre le sceust il luy demanda du temps et fut le chercher dans sa tente ou m'ayant trouve seul aupres de luy seigneur luy dit il je ne pense pas qu'il vous fust aise de prevoir quelle espece de malheur j'ay a vous annoncer et a quelle espreuve vostre constance va estre exposee la fortune luy dit il chrisante n'est pas absolument rigoureuse lors qu'elle n'envoye que des maux que l'on a preveus et quand sa malice est extreme elle accable et surprend tout d'un coup ceux qu'elle veut perdre je m'imagine toutesfois poursuivit il qu'il n'est pas aise qu'il m'arrive rien de bien fascheux en cette cour si ce n'est que par malheur thomiris eust une aversion secrette pour moy qui fust cause qu'elle ne respondist pas favorablement a ciaxare et qu'ainsi je fusse contraint de m'en retourner sans rien faire seigneur luy repliqua chrisante cette derniere chose pourroit bien arriver mais ce sera par une raison toute opposee a celle que vous dittes je ne vous comprens pas luy respondit artamene vous me comprendrez peut-estre mieux luy dit chrisante quand je vous auray apris que j'ay sceu par gelonide 
 que thomiris vous aime et vous aime jusques au point d'offrir a artamene ce qu'elle refuse a ciaxare mon maistre fit un grand cry au discours de chrisante et fut quelque temps sans le vouloir croire non non luy disoit il il faut que gelonide ait perdu la raison ou que la vostre ne soit pas en son assiette ordinaire thomiris qui depuis plus d'un an voit avec indifference la passion d'indathirse et d'aripithe ne scauroit estre capable d'aimer artamene artamene dis-je qui ne l'aime point qui n'a rien fait ny rien dit qui le luy deust faire croire qui au contraire luy fait parler de mariage pour le roy qui l'envoye et qui ne paroist enfin a ses yeux que comme un simple ambassadeur de ciaxare encore une fois chrisante vous n'estes pas ce que vous avez accoustume d'estre ou gelonide vous a trompe seigneur luy dit il il n'est arrive nul changement en mon esprit gelonide ne m'a point trompe et gelonide m'a parle avec beaucoup de sagesse ainsi il faut s'il vous plaist que vous me donniez vostre response car elle ne m'a donne que jusques a demain pour la luy rendre artamene paroissoit estre si confondu entendant parler chrisante de cette sorte qu'il estoit facile de voir que ce n'estoit pas sans peine qu'il se resoluoit a croire ce qu'on luy disoit neantmoins r'apellant en sa memoire plusieurs choses qu'il avoit veues ou entendues et ausquelles il n'avoit pas pris garde auparavant il ne douta plus qu'il ny eust 
 de la verite en ce que luy disoit chrisante il eust pourtant bien voulu s'il eust este en son pouvoir que chrisante et moy ne l'eussions pas sceue et s'il luy eust este possible de nous la cacher je ne doute pas qu'il n'y eust aporte tous ses soins tant il est vray que son ame agit genereusement en toutes choses mais comme il ne le pouvoit faire il tascha du moins de se consoler avec nous en exagerant son malheur qui vit jamais disoit il une advanture semblable a la mienne lors que j'ay commence d'aimer l'illustre mandane n'estoit il pas a croire que cette humeur douce et pitoyable pourroit se laisser toucher a la compassion et estre facilement sensible a la tendresse et a l'amitie cependant combien de choses ay-je faites combien de services ay-je rendus combien de peines ay-je endurees combien de soupirs inutiles ay-je poussez combien de larmes ay-je respandues sans pouvoir attendrir son ame l'on peut presque dire que si je ne fusse mort ou du moins que si elle n'eust creu que je l'estois mandane l'illustre mandane ne m'auroit jamais accorde le moindre tesmoignage d'affection encore malgre tout cela estoit elle resolue de me bannir et de me bannir pour tousjours lors que je suis venu icy mais helas le malheur qui m'a persecute en capadoce ne m'a pas suivy chez les massagettes sous la mesme forme puis qu'il y fait au contraire qu'une reine qui paroist avoir de la 
 fierte et de l'orgueil aime celuy qui ne l'aime point offre un coeur qu'on ne luy demande pas et veut accorder de son propre mouvement ce qu'elle pourroit refuser sans injustice quand mesme on le luy demanderoit non non nous disoit il en nous regardant cette facheuse avanture n'est ny un effet de mon merite ny un effet de la foiblesse de thomiris c'en est un de mon malheur et de mon destin qui veut mesme tascher de m'affliger autant par les biens qu'il faut que je refuse que par ceux que l'on ne m'a pas accordez ne pensez pas toutesfois s'escrioit il divine mandane que la douleur que le sens toit un effet de la peine que j'ay a n'accepter pas l'affection d'une grande reine et d'une belle reine non divine princesse ce ne sont pas la mes sentimens et mon coeur conserve trop cherement l'image de vostre beaute pour pouvoir estre touche par la sienne mais j'advoue que cette bizarre advanture me desplaist et que si j'avois a choisir j'aimerois mieux donner deux batailles que de me trouver dans l'insuportable necessite de faire rougir de honte et de confusion une reine glorieuse et superbe dittes donc a gelonide dit il a chrisante que je n'ay point creu ce que vous m'avez dit mais que quand vous me l'auriez persuade il n'en seroit rien davantage puis qu'enfin la fidelite que j'ay pour le roy que je sers ne me permettroit jamais d'accepter un pareil honneur encore une fois chrisante dit il n'oubliez pas de 
 dire a gelonide que je n'ay point adjouste de foy a vos paroles et laissons du moins a thomiris une honneste voye de se repentir de bonne grace d'une premiere pensee qu'elle a peut-estre desja codamnee elle mesme ce fut de cette sorte seigneur que mon maistre parla a chrisante qui ne manqua pas d'aller trouver gelonide et gelonide aussi ne manqua pas de rendre sa response a la reine mais helas que cette response fit un effet bien contraire a celuy qu'artamene en attendoit et que thomiris se servit peu de cette honeste voye qu'il luy offrit de pouvoir corriger ses premieres pensees par les secondes au contraire la difficulte piqua l'esprit de cette reine au lieu de le rebuter et cette ame superbe creut qu'elle estoit doublement obligee de vaincre ce qui luy resistoit non non gelonide dit elle apres que cette dame luy eut rendu la response de chrisante artamene n'est pas aussi difficile a persuader qu'il le paroist et peut-estre n'est il que trop persuade pour ma gloire et pour faire reussir mon dessein ce n'est point une chose poursuivit thomiris que l'on puisse soubconner de faussete personne ne s'avisa jamais d'en inventer une semblable et quand une princesse advoue la premiere qu'elle aime il n'y a point lieu d'en douter ainsi il faut conclurre de la ou qu'artamene qui fait semblant de ne croire pas ce qu'on luy dit aime a se le faire dire plus d'une fois ou veut qu'on ne luy en parle jamais lequel que ce soit des deux 
 n'est guere obligeant pour thomiris si ce n'est qu'en effet artamene croye qu'il y a plus de modestie d'en user de cette sorte que de respondre d'abord a une proposition qui luy est si advantageuse quoy qu'il en soit gelonide il faut que du moins je connoisse le coeur d'artamene si je ne le puis gagner et il faut que je parle avec tant d'adresse qu'il ne puisse pas se deguiser quand mesme il seroit aussi fin qu'un grec il faut que vous parliez madame reprit gelonide eh de grace ne vous hastez pas de faire une chose si peu ordinaire de peur de vous en repentir apres consultez vous plus d'une fois auparavant et ne suivez pas aveuglement une passion qui vous emportera trop loing si vous n'y prenez garde non gelonide reprit thomiris la passion qui me possede ne me fera rien faire de criminel mais en cette occasion scachez que je prefere la sincerite des scithes mes voisins a la bien-seance d'ecbatane dont vous m'avez tant parle cette vertu apparente qui fait ses plus grands efforts a deguiser ses sentimens et a cacher ce que l'on a dans l'ame n'est pas a l'usage des massagettes parmy vous il n'importe presque point qu'une femme ait de l'amour pourveu qu'elle ne le tesmoigne pas au lieu qu'entre nous autres nous taschons d'arracher de nostre coeur les sentimens les plus tendres si nous ne les trouvons pas justes ainsi je puis vous assurer que si je croyois faire un crime en aimant un homme illustre 
 comme artamene je combatrois ma passion au lieu de la cacher mais comme au contraire je croy qu'il n'y a rien de bas ny rien de lasche a avoir de l'affection pour un homme que je tiens digne de commander a tous les autres je ne voy pas qu'il faille en faire un mistere aussi grand que vous vous l'imaginez puis qu'enfin il n'y a que les crimes que l'on doive cacher mais madame repliqua gelonide si artamene ne respond pas favorablement comme je le croy ne vous repentirez vous point d'avoir parle je ne scay point l'avenir respondit brusquement thomiris mais je scay bien que presentement je veux scavoir ce que pense veritablement artamene bons dieux madame adjousta encore gelonide ne craignez vous point de destruire ce que vous voulez avancer je crains toutes choses respondit thomiris mais que voulez vous que je face je ne suis plus maistresse de ma volonte et je n'agis plus que comme il plaist a la passion qui me possede parce que je la croy juste et que je luy ay abandonne l'empire de mon ame et de ma raison thomiris dit encore beaucoup d'autres choses qui faisoient voir le dereglement de son esprit elle ne pouvoit plus souffrir la veue ny la conversation d'indathirse ny d'aripithe elle ne songeoit a rien qu'a artamene et parce qu'en effet c'estoit la vertu de mon maistre qui avoit puissamment touche son coeur elle croyoit que tous les effets d'une cause si noble et si pure estoient 
 innocens cependant artamene n'estoit pas en une petite inquietude dans la crainte de voit thomiris apres la proposition qu'on luy avoit faite et la reine de son coste quelque determinee qu'elle eust paru estre apprehendoit la veue d'artamene et ne scavoit pas trop bien comment elle oseroit souffrir ses regards cette violente passion qui la possedoit estant neantmoins plus forte que toute sa modestie fit qu'elle ne put demeurer plus long temps sans voir l'objet de son affection mon maistre aussi n'osant manquer de luy rendre ce qu'il luy devoit fut chez elle a l'heure qu'il avoit accoustume d'y aller et pour son malheur il ne trouva personne aupres de thomiris que ses femmes qui n'estoient pas un obstacle a une conversation particuliere parce qu'elles se tenoient tousjours assez esloignees de la reine a un des costez de sa chambre artamene la saluant donc avec un profond respect et n'osant presque la regarder de peur de luy donner de la confusion voulut luy parler de choses fort esloignees de celle qu'il apprehendoit mais comme thomiris n'avoit que d'une espece de sentimens dans l'esprit elle faisoit tout servir a son dessein et il n'y avoit point de discours si esloigne de cette matiere qu'elle ne sceust destourner adroitement et en tirer un sens qui luy fust propre en effet apres qu'elle eut rendu le salut a artamene avec autant de confusion qu'il en avoit et qu'apres les premiers complimens il eut commence de parler de la beaute du pais 
 des massagettes et de son estendue il est vray luy respondit elle que nostre pais n'est pas laid mais je ne laisse pas d'estre persuadee que vous luy preserez la capadoce et que peut estre adjousta-t'elle en rougissant vous aimeriez mieux obeir en ce lieu la que commander en celuy-cy il est sans doute juste repliqua artamene un peu interdit que je demeure dans les sentimens que vous dites car madame je me suis impose moy mesme la necessite d'obeir en capadoce quoy que je ne sois pas nay sujet de ciaxare et je ne pourrois jamais avoir nul droit de commander aux massagettes a moins luy dit il en sous-riant que le roy mon maistre m'envoyast leur faire la guerre ce que vostre majeste scait bien qui n'a garde d'arriver vous scavez luy dit elle que l'on gagne des couronnes de plus d'une facon il est des rois electifs comme des rois conquerans ainsi qui vous a dit que sans combattre vous ne pourriez pas regner icy ou du moins sur les issedones la raison madame me l'a enseigne repliqua artamene scachant bien que la couronne des issedones n'est pas elective et scachant plus certainement encore que tous vos peuples sont si contens de vostre domination qu'ils ne changeroient pas facilement de sentimens non madame je ne suis pas si peu verse aux diverses coustumes des peuples que je ne scache bien que celles de sparte ne sont pas celles des massagettes et que ce n'est pas icy ou les rois sont electifs mais c'est vous 
 madame luy dit il sans luy donner loisir de respondre qui pouvez gagner plus d'une couronne sans combattre et vostre vertu vous a fait assez d'illustres adorateurs par toute la terre pour me pouvoir permettre de dire que vous pourrez choisir des sceptres et des couronnes quand il vous plaira et quoy que celles que vous portez soient illustres croyez madame adjousta-t'il qu'il y en a encore d'autres qui ne seroient pas indignes de vous pour moy repliqua la reine je suis peut-estre de vostre sentiment en une chose car vous aimeriez mieux obeir en capadoce que regner icy et moy j'aimerois mieux tout de mesme obeir icy que regner en capadoce peut-estre madame repliqua mon maistre ne diriez vous pas la mesme chose de medie si vous y aviez este et les superbes palais d'ecbatane sont si je ne me trompe preferables a vos plus magnifiques tentes non artamene reprit elle toute la magnificence d'ecbatane ne touchera jamais mon esprit je cherche des vertus solides et non pas des throsnes esclattans et vous estes vous mesme trop raisonnable pour n'estre pas de mon sentiment aussi suis-je persuadee adjousta-t'elle qu'encore que nous n'ayons ny palais ny villes si vous trouviez parmy nous une princesse illustre en toutes choses vous la prefereriez a celle qui seroit sur le throsne mesme d'assirie si elle ne l'estoit pas j'en connoy sans doute madame respondit artamene que j'estimerois plus dans les 
 fers que beaucoup d'autres qui portent des couronnes mais madame lors que je vous parle du throsne de medie je ne suis pas en cette peine la puis que le prince qui est destine a y monter a beaucoup de bones qualitez et de grandes vertus il a du moins bien sceu choisir respondit thomiris lors qu'il vous a donne ses armees a commander mais je doute adjousta-t'elle s'il a este esgalement judicieux de faire un ambassadeur d'un illustre conquerant puis qu'a mon advis ce sont des qualitez differentes que celles qui sont necessaires pour ces deux emplois si la fidelite respondit artamene fort embarrasse est une des plus essencielles pour cette espece d'employ je puis assurer vostre majeste que j'en ay pour le moins autant que de courage et que si je ne suis pas aussi heureux en ma negociation que je l'ay este a la guerre ce sera madame que vostre majeste ne l'aura pas voulu et ce ne sera sans doute jamais par ma faute non madame poursuivit il je n'oublieray rien pour tascher de satisfaire le roy qui m'envoye et si je ne le puis je m'en retourneray avec beaucoup de douleur mais du moins n'auray-je rien dans l'esprit qui me reproche nulle infidelite ny nulle negligence vous ne m'avez pourtant pas encore dit repliqua thomiris avec beaucoup d'esmotion le veritable sujet qui vous amene en cette cour et ce n'a este que par le raport de terez que j'en ay sceu quelque chose ce que vous me reprochez comme un crime madame respondu mon maistre 
 a este un effet de mon respect et si je l'ose dire de mon adresse car madame je n'ay pas creu qu'il falust commettre legerement l'honneur du prince que je sers ny exposer aussi vostre majeste a desobliger ouvertement un grand roy si elle n'agreoit pas ma proposition j'espere toutefois luy dit il encore qu'elle en usera autrement et que malgre tout ce que l'on m'a dit je seray aussi heureux en negociation que je l'ay este a la guerre non artamene ne vous y trompez pas respondit la reine ce que vous avez propose ne scauroit reussir et vous y avez mis un obstacle invincible moy madame interrompit mon maistre vous mesme respondit thomiris c'est pourquoy ne vous pleignez pas si ciaxare n'est point satisfait je vous advoue madame respondit ce prince que je ne vous comprens pas vous m'entendez bien artamene luy dit elle en baissant les yeux et la voix mais c'est moy qui ne vous entens pas vous m'entendrez madame quand il vous plaira repliqua mon maistre et si je me suis mal explique je suis tout prest d'esclaircir vos doutes et de me justifier vostre crime respondit thomiris est de telle nature que je ne pourrois vous accuser qu'en m'accusant moy mesme et c'est ce qui n'est pas bien aise a faire comme je suis fort assure de mon innocence repliqua artamene je ne doute point de la vostre et je n'ay garde de soubconner une grande reine de la plus petite erreur non artamene luy dit elle tout d'un 
 coup en portant la main sur ses yeux je n'ay point erre quand je vous ay creu digne d'une couronne ha madame s'escria mon maistre j'ay sans doute mal entendu et je pense mesme que de peur de perdre le respect que je vous dois je ne dois pas vous respondre vous me respondez assez en me respondant point repliqua la reine et je n'ay pas besoin d'un plus long discours pour vous entendre mais madame luy dit alors artamene si ce que vostre majeste m'a dit est veritable je n'ay plus qu'a songer a prendre conge d'elle et a m'en retourner promptement a themiscire afin de ne laisser pas plus long temps dans une esperance inutile un des plus grands rois de la terre ce discours que mon maistre avoit fait de dessein premedite pour embarrasser la reine la surprit sans doute un peu et la mit en un estat ou elle ne scavoit pas trop bien que respondre car elle avoit creu qu'en ne laissant nulle esperance a artamene de reussir pour ciaxare c'estoit en quelque facon avancer le dessein qu'elle avoit de luy persuader qu'elle l'aimoit mais voyant aussi que cela produisoit un si mauvais effet et que cette response determinee luy ostoit tout pretexte de le pouvoir retenir elle se repentit de ce qu'elle venoit de dire quoy qu'elle ne sceust pas trop bien comment elle y remedieroit il s'en falut peu qu'elle ne se resolust de descouvrir plus ouvertement sa passion a mon maistre et l'amour et la modestie luy ouvrirent et luy fermerent 
 la bouche plus d'une fois elle vouloit parler et vouloit se taire elle changeoit de couleur tres souvent elle regardoit artamene puis un moment apres elle esvitoit ses regards et par une agitation si violente et une irresolution si estrange elle causoit une peine extreme a mon maistre qui estoit desespere de la facheuse avanture ou la fortune l'exposoit mais enfin thomiris ne pouvant obtenir d'elle la force de parler plus ouvertement de sa passion a artamene et ne voulant pas aussi qu'il songeast a partir chercha a destourner la chose adroitement si bien que reprenant la parole ce n'est pas icy artamene luy dit elle que vous devez recevoir vostre response comme vous m'avez fait parler par terez c'est a terez aussi a vous la rendre cependant ne determinons encore rien il ne faut qu'un moment pour faire changer les resolutions les plus fermes peut-estre ne voudrez vous plus demain ce que vous voulez aujourd'huy et peut-estre aussi ne voudray-je plus moy mesme ce que je souhaite presentement quoy que je sois persuadee adjousta-t'elle que ce que je desire est esgalement innocent et glorieux come ils en estoient la indathirse et aripithe qui depuis leur jalousie pour mon maistre estoient devenus inseparables arriverent et interrompirent cette conversation ces deux princes remarquerent aisement une grande agitation dans l'esprit de thomiris et virent aussi quelques marques de chagrin sur le visage d'artamene 
 qu'ils creurent estre cause par le despit d'estre interrompu en un entretien qu'ils pensoient luy estre tres agreable mais qui en effet luy estoit plustost tres fascheux ces princes jaloux parlerent peu artamene de son coste ne dit pas grand chose et thomiris se trouva tellement inquiette que ne pouvant souffrir la presence de deux princes qui l'aymoient et quelle ne pouvoit aimer et l'agreable et pourtant cruelle veue d'artamene qu'elle aimoit et qui ne l'aimoit pas elle les congedia tous et bannit en mesme temps l'objet de son indifference et celuy de son amour artamcne sortit donc de chez la reine avec ces deux princes et comme indathirse luy plaisoit beaucoup et qu'il ne soubconnoit rien des sentimens qu'ils avoient pour luy il ne les quitta pas si tost eux de leur coste qui ne cherchoient qu'a descouvrit ses intentions estant aussi bien aises de faire durer cette conversation luy proposerent de s'aller promener ensemble pendant cette promenade ils luy firent cent questions malicieuses sur le temps qu'il devoit encore estre en cette cour ou il respondoit fort innocemment de sorte que tantost il fortifioit leurs soubcons tantost il les affoiblissoit mais pour l'ordinaire il les augmentoit bien plus qu'il ne les faisoit diminuer il faut sans doute luy disoit indathirse que ce soit quelque affaire de grande importance qui vous retienne si long teps icy et qui ait oblige le roy de capadoce d'envoyer un homme de vostre 
 reputation vers la reine mon maistre qui croyoit leur faire plaisir de parler avantageusement de thomiris respondit a indathirse d'une maniere qui luy donna un sentiment bien oppose a la joye la reine luy repliqua-t'il est une princesse si illustre que quand il ne s'agiroit pas d'une affaire importante le roy que le sers auroit deu ne luy envoyer qu'une personne de grande consideration et s'il a manque en quelque chose c'est de n'en avoir pas choisi une plus digne que moy de traitter avec une si grande princesse je pense respondit aripithe qu'il eust eu peine a en trouver une qui luy eust este plus agreable mais ce qui m'estonne un peu adjousta-t'il c'est de voir que la reine vous traitant aussi bien qu'elle vous traitre ne vous depesche pas plustost les affaires repliqua mon maistre ne se font jamais guere avec diligence si ce ne sont celles qui regardent les guerres declarees celles que vous traittez respondit indathirse ne sont pas a mon advis de cette nature et elles pourroient plus facilement estre d'amour puis qu'enfin le roy que vous servez n'estant point marie ayant une fille qui ne l'est pas et la reine aussi estant veufue et le roy son fils estant desja assez grand il ne seroit pas impossible que l'amour fust le sujet de cette negociacion si secrette non reprit aripithe en l'interrompant ce n'est rien de ce que vous dittes les mariages des rois ne sont point des amours cachees et je soubconnerois plustost 
 toute autre chose que celle la vous jugez bien leur dit alors artamene en sous-riant a demy que si j'ay quelques ordres secrets je ne vous les dois pas dire ny vous faire voir mes instructions ainsi il faut vous laisser dans la liberte de penser ce qu'il vous plaira et de vous divertir en raisonnant sur une chose douteuse et que vous ne scaurez peut-estre jamais je ne pense pas dit alors indathirse qu'il y en ait guere de cette nature les choses les plus particulieres viennent tousjours a estre sceues de tout le monde mais si je ne me trompe adjousta-t'il nostre impatience de scavoir ce qui vous amene icy n'est guere plus forte que celle que vous devez avoir de la fin de vostre negociation car apres tout la cour de thomiris quoy que tres belle pour nous autres scithes qui faisons profession ouvertement d'estre ennemis declarez de la magnificence ne la doit point estre pour vous qui avez sans doute veu la cour de medie et qui vivez en celle de capadoce ou l'on dit que toutes choses sont et plus superbes et plus galantes qu'icy mon maistre qui creut encore leur faire une civilite fortifia leur jalousie lors qu'il leur dit j'advoue que la capadoce a des charmes pour moy qui ne sont pas mediocres mais j'advoue aussi en mesme temps que toute personne libre et raisonnable ne peut manquer d'en trouver aussi de fort grands en la cour de thomiris et quand au lieu d'estre en un aussi beau pais qu'est le sien elle regneroit 
 sur ces peuples qui sont au pied du mont imaus parmy des rochers et des precipices elle seule rendroit tousjours le lieu ou elle seroit infiniment agreable et empescheroit sans doute que les ambassadeurs qu'elle feroit attendre long temps ne s'ennuyassent aupres d'elle comme nous sommes estrangers aussi bien que vous reprit indathirse ce n'est pas a nous a vous faire compliment sur les louanges que vous donnez au pais des massagettes et pour ce qui regarde la reine adjousta aripithe ce n'est pas non plus a nous a luy aprendre ce que vous dittes a son avantage y ayant beaucoup d'apparence qu'estant aussi adroit que vous l'estes vous aurez bien sceu trouver les voyes de luy faire connoistre les sentimens avantageux que vous avez d'elle il est des personnes repliqua artamene qu'il ne faut jamais louer en leur presence et ce n'est quelquefois guere moins manquer de respect pour une grande reine de la louer avec trop de liberte que de dire des injures a une personne de mediocre condition mais pour ce qui regarde thomiris je pense leur dit il encore qu'il n'est pas besoin de luy dire qu'elle est infiniment estimable et par consequent infiniment estimee n'estant pas possible qu'elle ignore les excellentes qualitez qu'elle possede vous pouvez vous imaginer seigneur combien ces deux rivaux estoient inquietez d'entendre parler mon maistre de cette sorte ils se regardoient quelquefois d'intelligence et quelquefois aussi 
 ils regardoient artamene et vouloient chercher dans ses yeux ce qu'ils ne voyoient pas assez clairement dans ses paroles pour luy il avoit l'esprit si occupe de sa passion et de la facheuse avanture ou il se trouvoit engage qu'il ne prenoit pas garde aux discours ny aux actions de ces deux princes et nous avons sceu ce que je viens de vous dire par un des gens de mon maistre qui l'avoit suivy et qui le raconta depuis a chrisante mais enfin seigneur artamene qui avoit quelque impatience d'estre seul afin de pouvoir entretenir ses pensees en liberte fit si bien que la promenade finit et qu'il se separa de ces deux princes qui le quitterent avec encore un peu plus de froideur qu'ils n'en avoient eu en commencant leur conversation nous avons sceu depuis qu'apres que mon maistre s'en fut separe ils raisonnerent long-temps sur l'agitation qu'ils avoient remarquee sur le visage de la reine sur le chagrin qui avoit paru dans les yeux de leur pretendu rival lors qu'ils estoient arrivez aupres de thomiris et sur tout ce qu'il leur avoit dit pendant qu'ils s'estoient entretenus ensemble mais apres avoir bien raisonne sur toutes ces diverses choses ils conclurent qu'il aimoit thomiris et que thomiris ne le haissoit pas et penserent et dirent en suite tout ce qu'une violente jalousie peut faire dire et penser mon maistre de son coste n'avoit pas l'esprit fort tranquile et la reine estoit encore la plus affligee quelque forte que fust 
 sa passion elle ne laissoit pas d'avoir de la douleur de voir qu'elle estoit contrainte de renoncer en quelque facon a la modestie de son sexe mais ce qui la faschoit le plus estoit de voir qu'elle faisoit peut-estre une faute inutilement elle avoit pourtant beaucoup de peine a s'imaginer que sa beaute et sa condition ne pussent pas toucher le coeur d'artamene et ce leger espoir la forca de commander absolument a gelonide de parler elle mesme a mon maistre et de scavoir precisement ce qu'il pensoit gelonide s'opposa encore comme elle avoit desja fait a un dessein si peu raisonnable et thomiris sans se laisser vaincre voulut estre obeie ponctuellement gelonide ne pouvant donc faire autre chose parla enfin elle mesme a artamene apres luy avoir fait preparer l'esprit par chrisante sur ce qu'elle avoit a luy proposer mais a vous dire la verite ce fut plustost pour luy aider a chercher un pretexte de refuser la reine que pour le persuader car comme cette dame estoit affectionnee aux interests de ciaxare et que de plus elle croyoit que la reine faisoit un choix disproportionne a sa condition en choisissant artamene elle agit d'une maniere qui embarrassa un peu moins mon maistre que si effectivement elle eust voulu le porter a ce que thomiris vouloit il est pourtant certain qu'il ne se trouva jamais en une occasion plus facheuse il pria cent fois gelonde de vouloir bien persuader a la reine qu'il avoit pour elle toute l'estime qu'il pouvoit 
 avoir mais que quand il auroit este fort amoureux d'elle il n'auroit jamais pu se resoudre a manquer au respect qu'il devoit au roy de capadoce enfin seigneur il luy dit tout ce qu'un homme d'esprit et un honneste homme peut dire pour ne couvrir pas de honte et de confusion une grande et belle reine gelonide et luy estant donc bien convenus de ce qu'elle avoit a respondre cette femme s'en retourna vers thomiris qui l'attendoit avec une impatience estrange elle ne la vit pas plustost que faisant sortir tout ce qui estoit dans sa chambre et bien gelonide luy dit elle scauray-je enfin par vostre bouche si c'est thomiris ou sa couronne qu'artamene estime indigne de luy c'est bien plustost luy madame repliqua gelonide qu'il croit indigne de l'une et de l'autre mais madame adjousta-t'elle il dit deplus que quand il pourroit aspirer sans injustice a l'honneur que vostre majeste luy veut faire que quand outre l'estime qu'il a pour vous il auroit encore une passion demesuree la fidelite qu'il doit a ciaxare feroit qu'il se resoudroit plustost a mourir qu'a manquer a ce qu'il doit a son maistre quoy reprit thomiris quand mesme il m'aimeroit il en useroit ainsi il n'en faut presque pas douter madame luy dit gelonide et l'amour ne le feroit jamais manquer a son devoir il dit madame qu'il vous adoreroit dans son coeur qu'il seroit malheureux toute sa vie mais qu'il ne seroit jamais criminel sa vertu seroit 
 grande gelonide reprit la reine mais son amour seroit bien petite aussi ne parle-t'il sans doute de cette passion que comme d'une chose supposee et imaginaire qui ne trouble pas sa raison et que certainement il ne connut jamais par sa propre experience j'eusse parle comme luy adjousta-t'elle le jour qui preceda son arrivee mais aujourd'huy que j'ay change de sentimens je suis persuadee que s'il m'aimoit il en changeroir comme moy et que sa generosite se trouveroit peut-estre un peu esbranlee principalement en une chose ou il ne la choqueroit pas directement mais gelonide adjousta-t'elle encore ce n'est pas a moy a le persuader et ce que mon merite n'a pu faire mes raisons ne le feroient pas vostre merite madame repliqua gelonide a fait a ce qu'il assure dans son esprit tout le progres que raisonnablement vous deviez attendre il advoue qu'il a de l'estime et de l'admiration pour vous mais il adjouste qu'il l'a de la mesme facon que l'on en doit avoir pour une reine de qui l'on seroit nay sujet quoy qu'il ne soit pas le vostre pour moy repliqua thomiris je ne pourrois pas definir si precisement ce que je sens pour artamene car enfin je scay de certitude qu'il n'y a dans mon coeur nul sentiment criminel et que s'il estoit capable d'en concevoir la moindre pensee le despit et le repentir me gueriroient du mal qui me persecute cependant quoy que cette sorte de foiblesse ne 
 soit pas dans mon ame je ne me trouve pas tranquile artamene m'a presque fait hair indathirse et aripithe je ne puis souffrir le nom de ciaxare dont il m'a fait parler et dont il m'a parle luy mesme tout ce qui me divertissoit m'ennuye mes propres pensees m'importunent et sans que je puisse dire si je l'aime ou si je le dois aimer je scay seulement que je hai mon propre repos et qu'il sera difficile que j'en trouve en nulle part s'il ne souffre que je luy donne une couronne et que je luy accorde enfin ce que sa vertu merite et ce que sa naissance luy a refuse pour moy madame repliqua gelonide je pense qu'artamene preferera son devoir a son ambition mais gelonide reprit brusquement thomiris s'il est vray que vous croiyez de l'impossibilite en mon dessein que ne me dites vous qu'artamene me meprise qu'artamene parle de moy peu respectueusement et qu'artamene est indigne de mon affection peut-estre que si vous agissiez ainsi le despit feroit en mon coeur ce que la raison n'y peut faire mais vous faites parler artamene avec tant de respect et tant de sagesse que je ne trouve presque pas de sujet de me plaindre ny dequoy me desesperer car apres tout si artamene m'estime il me peut aimer et s'il vient a m'aimer ce qu'il croit devoir a ciaxare cedera bien tost a ce qu'il croira devoir a thomiris ainsi il faut seulement retenir artamene en cette cour le plus long temps qu'il sera possible et laisser faire le reste a la fortune 
 je croy madame repliqua gelonide qu'il ne vous sera pas facile car si je ne me trompe artamene vous demandera bien tost son conge il peut le demander respondit cette violente princesse mais il ne l'obtiendra pas et je pense mesme qu'il ne repassera pas l'araxe facilement par l'ordre que j'y donneray ce fut de cette sorte que finit la conversation de thomiris et de gelonide mais afin que terez ne s'aperceust pas de ce qu'elle avoit dans l'ame elle luy ordonna de dire a mon maistre qu'il se donnast un peu de patience et qu'elle luy respondroit dans peu de jours artamene estoit donc fort embarrasse car gelonide luy faisoit scavoir par chrisante que la passion de la reine devenoit tousjours plus forte terez au contraire luy parloit comme s'il y eust eu beaucoup d'esperance a sa negociation enfin il ne scavoit ny que penser ny que resoudre il pressa pourtant encore fortement terez et luy dit franchement que si on ne luy donnoit response en peu de temps il se retireroit quoy qu'on peust luy faire dire cependant ce mauvais succes l'affligeoit beaucoup non seulement parce qu'il estoit marry d'avoir trouble le repos de thomiris non seulement parce que ciaxare seroit peut-estre mescontent de luy mais encore parce qu'il apprehendoit que mandane ne s'imaginast qu'un sentiment d'interest ne l'eust oblige de n'agir pas fortement en cette rencontre pour ne s'oster pas une couronne en l'ostant a cette princesse il falut 
 pourtant se donner un peu de patience et attendre le succes d'une chose qui selon toutes les aparences n'en pouvoit avoir que de facheux 
 
 
 
 
thomiris apres avoir fait parler si ouvertement a artamene fut deux jours sans vouloir estre veue de personne faignant de se trouver un peu mal afin d'en avoir un pretexte artamene durant ce temps la bien aise de pouvoir entretenir sa melancolie alloit ordinairement se promener au bord d'une petite riviere qui comme je vous l'ay dit passoit le long des tentes royales et prenoit assez de plaisir d'y aller peu accompagne il nous laissoit mesme quelquefois sous des arbres et nous commandant de l'y attendre il se promenoit seul et s'esloignoit souvent de telle sorte que nous ne le voiyons plus deux jours apres que gelonide luy eut parle indathirse et aripithe qui avoient bien pris garde qu'il y avoit un grand secret entre chrisante et gelonide et qui s'imaginoient les choses bien differentes de ce qu'elles estoient furent estrangement tourmentez de la jalousie qui les possedoit et prirent enfin une forte resolution de s'esclaircir de leurs doutes et de se vanger d'artamene a perte de toute consideration mais la difficulte fut de tomber d'accord entre eux qui feroit la chose car disoit aripithe a indathirse si c'est vous qui parliez a artamene et qu'il ne vous satisface pas ce sera vous aussi qui en tirerez raison et qui peut-estre voudrez pretendre un nouveau droit a thomiris par ce 
 combat nullement luy respondoit indathirse et je vous promets de ne pretendre jamais rien a thomiris que de son consentement de sorte qu'il vous est aise de juger que si j'avois eu un demesle avec artamene ce ne seroit pas un moyen de me mettre bien avec elle si elle l'aime et ainsi vous serez pas en seurete de sa haine que moy aussi luy disoit il encore ne scay-je pas trop bien ce que je veux en voulant demander a artamene la verite de ses sentimens pour thomiris tant y a seigneur que ne pouvant s'accorder a qui combatroit mon maistre ils penserent se battre entre eux car vous jugez bien que cette union que la seule jalousie avoit faite n'estoit pas indissoluble ils se separerent donc assez mal satisfaits l'un de l'autre et indathirse ayant veu artamene sortir a cheval des tentes pour s'aller promener suivy seulement de deux ou trois des siens y monta aussi suivy d'un nombre esgal de ses gens et vint chercher mon maistre le long de cette riviere ou il estoit si souvent aussi tost qu'artamene le vit il fut au devant de luy et l'abordant avec civilite je suis plus heureux que je ne pensois luy dit il puis que ne croyant trouver a ma promenade que la solitude a m'entretenir j'y trouve encore une conversation agreable indathirse respondit aussi devant ceux qui accompagnoient mon maistre assez civilement et s'estant joints et ayant commence de marcher indathirse proposa a artamene de se promener 
 a pied ce que mon maistre ayant bien voulu ils baillerent leurs chevaux a leurs gens et commencerent de marcher seuls le long de cette riviere ils ne furent pas plustost descendus et un peu esloignez des leurs qu'indathirse regardant attamene je ne scay luy dit il si le discours que j'ay a vous faire vous surprendra mais je scay bien qu'il ne vous peut jamais tant surprendre que la chose dont j'ay a vous parler m'a surpris le n'ay garde repliqua mon maistre de scavoir si je seray surpris de ce que vous avez a me dire puis que je l'ignore mais je puis seulement vous assurer que je n'ay guere accoustume de l'estre pour les evenemens facheux me preparant tousjours a recevoir la mauvaise fortune d'un esprit assez tranquile ce que j'ay a vous dire reprit indathirse n'est pas une chose de cette nature mais avant que je m'explique davantage dites moy je vous prie si en arrivant parmy les massagettes vous n'avez point entendu dire la raison pour laquelle j'estois a la cour de thomiris comme je suis fort sincere reprit artamene je vous advoueray que l'on m'assura quand j'arrivay icy que vous estiez amoureux de la reine et que vous et le prince des sauromates estiez possedez d'une mesme passion vous avez donc sceu ce que vous dites repliqua indathirse auparavant que de voir thomiris il est vray respondit mon maistre et pourquoy donc adjousta indathirse n'avez vous pas deffendu vostre coeur contre les charmes et pourquoy 
 quoy faisant profession de generosite comme vous faites avez vous voulu desobliger deux princes qui vous ont receu avec toute la civilite possible car adjousta indathirse je scay de certitude que la reine vous aime et je juge des la que vous l'aimez car enfin cette princesse ne m'a point refuse son affection opiniastrement durant un an pour l'accorder a un homme qui ne la luy auroit pas demandee et qui ne seroit pas amoureux d'elle j'advoue respondit froidement artamene que ce que vous me dites me surprend plus que je ne pensois mais comme je ne suis guere accoustume de donner des esclaircissemens de cette nature a ceux qui se pleignent de moy et qui me parlent de l'air dont je voy que vous me parlez je ne puis vous dire autre chose sinon que j'ay trop de respect pour la reine pour la soubconner de la foiblesse dont vous l'accusez et qu'en mon particulier si j'ay voulu aporter quelque obstacle a vostre affection je n'ay rien fait que je ne deusse faire quoy reprit indathirse vous ne me direz pas plus precisement si vous aimez la reine si la reine vous aime et si ce que vous avez a faire a la cour finira bien tost je n'ay rien a vous dire repliqua mon maistre sinon encore une fois que je n'ay rien fait que ce que j'ay deu faire et que si par malheur vous n'en estes pas content vous n'avez qu'a chercher les voyes de vous satisfaire mieux car je ne vous en refuseray aucune je scay bien reprit indathirse que c'est en quelque sorte violer 
 le droit des gens que de s'attaquer a la personne d'un ambassadeur que tous les peuples de la terre estiment sacree mais comme je suis estranger aussi bien que vous je ne pense pas estre oblige aux loix du pais ny faire rien contre l'honneur de vous demander reparation de l'outrage que vous m'avez fait en me faisant hair de thomiris il est juste respondit mon maistre sans s'esmouvoir et si vous voulez seulement que nous nous eloignions encore deux cens pas de ceux qui nous suivent comme vous avez une espee aussi bien que moy nous terminerons nostre different et nous verrons si l'amour que vous avez pour la reine vous fera vaincre sans peril artamene nous dit apres que la colere de se voir encore persecute par un homme dont il n'estoit point rival le transporta de telle sorte qu'il n'estoit gueres moins irrite que s'il eust este amoureux de la reine indathirse ayant donc accepte ce qu'il luy offroit ils recommencerent de marcher jusques a ce qu'ils fussent hors de la veue de leurs gens qui n'y prirent pas garde et la indathirse et artamene ayant mis l'espee a la main firent un combat dont je ne puis pas vous dire beaucoup de particularitez parce que ce n'a este que de la bouche des combattans que nous l'avons sceu et que leur modestie ne leur a pas permis d'exagerer leur propre valeur ce qu'il y a de vray c'est qu'artamene nous dit qu'indathirse tesmoigna beaucoup de coeur et mesme beaucoup d'adresse 
 en cette dangereuse occasion ils se porterent plusieurs fois sans se toucher mais en fin comme mon maistre a tousjours este destine a vaincre il vit rougir son espee du sang d'indathirse cette blessure fut pourtant assez legere neantmoins comme elle estoit au bras droit elle ne laissoit pas de l'incommoder assez de sorte que craignant de ne pouvoir pas tenir long temps son espee assez ferme il se resolut de passer sur mon maistre qui ne refusa pas de venir aux prises aveque luy indathirse est d'une taille aussi haute que celle d'artamene mais il y a je ne scay quelle vigueur dans le coeur de mon maistre qui redouble sans doute sa force dans les perils et qui luy fait tousjours r'emporter la victoire de sorte qu'apres s'estre disputez quelque temps l'avantage de ce combat artamene arracha l'espee a indathirse et racourcissant la sienne il le mit en estat de confesser qu'il estoit vaincu artamene et luy s'estant donc relevez et mon maistre tenant les deux espees en ses mains vous advouerez luy dit il qu'artamene ne seroit pas absolument indigne de l'affection de thomiris j'advoueray sans doute repliqua indathirse que vous avez assez de valeur pour la conquerir et que j'ay trop peu de bonne fortune pour vous la disputer et je vous advoueray en suitte repliqua mon maistre luy rendant son espee et en l'embrassant que je ne suis point amoureux de thomiris que je ne l'ay point este et que mesme je ne le seray jamais quoy reprit indathirse vous n'estes 
 point amant de thomiris non repartit artamene de mon consentement je ne feray point d'obstacle a vostre felicite mais si cela est repliqua indathirse pourquoy vous estes vous battu pour vous persuader de meilleure grace la verite respondit mon maistre et pour ne vous laisser pas lieu de douter de mon courage indathirse fut si surpris et si charme de la generosite d'artamene qu'il ne put s'empescher de le supplier de luy bien expliquer cet enigme et il l'en pria en des termes si pressans et si pleins de soumission que mon maistre luy promit de le faire mais comme il estoit blesse au bras il falut s'en retourner ou camp pour l'aller faire penser la difficulte estoit de le pouvoir sans que l'on s'en aperceust et n'estant pas possible artamene dit a indathirse qu'il ne se mist pas en peine et que de peur que thomiris ne le maltraitast et ne le bannist il diroit que c'estoit luy qui l'avoit attaque vous estes donc si bien avec elle luy respondit indathirse que vous ne craignez pas sa colere dites plustost repliqua artamene en sous-riant que sa colere m'est si peu redoutable que je ne crains pas de m'y exposer cependant seigneur jugez quelle fut la surprise de ceux qu'ils avoient laissez aupres de leurs chevaux lors qu'ils les virent revenir et qu'ils connurent par le sang que perdoit indathirse qu'ils s'estoient batus ce qui les embarrassoit davantage cestoit qu'ils voyoient qu'ils paroissoient estre mieux ensemble que quand il les avoient 
 quittez et en effet indathirse et artamene s'aimerent tousjours cherement depuis cela mon maistre donc pour tenir sa parole apres qu'il eut mis indathirse dans son pavillon envoya chrisante vers la reine pour luy demander pardon d'un combat qu'il avoit fait contre indathirse qu'il advouoit mesme l'avoir fait un peu legerement et que c'estoit aussi pour cette raison qu'il demandoit le pardon d'indathirse aussi bien que le sien thomiris fut estrangement surprise de ce combat et ne scavoit a quoy en attribuer la cause et aripithe qui s'estoit separe mal d'avec indathirse estoit bien fache de n'oser luy aller demander ce qu'artamene luy avoit dit cependant la reine qui ne pouvoit pas se resoudre de se pleindre de mon maistre fit esclatter toute sa colere contre indathirse disant qu'il l'avoit extremement offencee en offencant un ambassadeur dans sa cour artamene l'ayant sceu par le retour de chrisante fut luy mesme la supplier de ne le refuser pas ou si elle vouloit punir indathirse qu'elle n'avoit qu'a se resoudre de le punir aussi de la mesme sorte elle voulut le presser de luy dire la cause de ce combat mais il ne le voulut pas faire et il la contraignit enfin de pardonner esgalement a indathirse et a luy aripithe bien fache d'avoir este prevenu par indathirse et plus fache encore de voir mon maistre eschape de ce combat et victorieux se resolut a ce que j'ay sceu malgre l'interest qu'y prenoit la reine de le quereller a 
 son tour et d'en chercher l'occasion cependant le prince des tauroscithes qui mouroit d'impatience d'estre esclaircy de la bouche d'artamene de tout ce qu'il luy avoit dit l'envoya sommer fort civilement de sa parole que mon maistre luy tint le mesme jour il fut donc le voir a la tente ou il luy advoua qu'il estoit venu a cette cour pour proposer adroitement a la reine son mariage avec ciaxare mais que sans qu'il en peust dire la raison il l'en voyoit fort esloignee et qu'il commencoit de voir qu'infailliblement il s'en retourneroit sans avoir fait autre chose que l'affaire qui regardoit les pleintes qu'il avoit faites des pyrates de la mer caspie qui n'estoient que le pretexte de son voyage ainsi luy dit il seigneur vous jugez bien que je ne suis pas coupable et que je ne le seray mesme pas encore quand je continueray d'agir comme j'ay fait pour les interests du roy mon maistre mais ne vous en inquietez pas car je vous assure que je n'avanceray rien et afin de vous mettre l'esprit plus en repos pour ce qui me regarde je vous advoueray que j'aime une personne de qui je ne quitterois pas les chaines pour toutes les couronnes de l'univers ind'athirse remercia artamene de sa generosite et de sa franchise et apres luy avoir promis une affection eternelle d'ou peut venir luy dit il que vous n'avancez rien en vostre negociation veu que la reine vous donne tant de marques d'estime et d'amitie artamene qui voulut cacher la 
 foiblesse de thomiris a indathirse luy dit que c'estoit bien souvent la coustume des rois de refuser de bonne grace et d'adoucir le mauvais succes d'une affaire par la maniere dont ils agissoient mais indathirse estoit trop interesse en la chose pour s'y laisser tromper si facilement et pour ne discerner pas les simples effets de la civilite d'avec ceux d'une passion violente cependant quoy qu'il peust faire il ne put jamais obliger artamene a luy advouer ce qu'il scavoit de l'amour de thomiris mon maistre luy disant toujours qu'il devoit se contenter de scavoir qu'il n'avoit point de passion pour la reine et ne la soubconner pas d'en avoir une si peu raisonnable cette conversation estant finie artamene s'en retourna chez luy ou il ne fut pas si tost entre que chrisante vint l'advertir de la part de gelonide que la reine avoit donne des ordres secrets qu'on l'observast soigneusement de peur qu'il ne s'echapast je vous laisse a juger seigneur combien cette nouvelle l'affligea neantmoins il falut dissimuler et agir comme s'il n'en eust rien sceu il retourna voir la reine diverses fois qui ne luy parloit plus comme a l'ordininaire tantost elle estoit melancolique tantost elle passoit de la melancolie jusques au chagrin et donnoit mesme quelquefois des marques de colere et de fureur il y avoit aussi des momens ou elle reprenoit son humeur civile et obligeante et ou il estoit aise de juger qu'une mesme cause produisoit des effets 
 si differents mon maistre pressa alors encore une fois terez qui luy respondit qu'il estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir le servir comme il en avoit eu le dessein mais qu'il ne pouvoit plus luy respondre de rien il luy dit en suite que la reine luy avoit commande de luy dire qu'il faloit attendre le retour de spargapise et d'ariante nulle bien-seance ne luy permettant de rien conclurre ny mesme de le renvoyer que le roy son fils ne fust revenu mais il luy dit qu'il avoit sceu en mesme temps qu'elle leur avoit envoye un ordre secret de ne revenir pas si tost qu'ainsi il le supplioit de luy pardonner s'il ne pouvoit luy rendre tous les offices qu'il luy avoit promis apres deux advis si surprenans nous remarquasmes en effet qu'artamene n'estoit plus libre et qu'il y avoit beaucoup de personnes qui l'observoient il ne pouvoit plus sortir pour s'aller promener qu'il ne fust accompagne de grand nombre de gens et a peine avoit il la liberte d'estre dans sa tente sans compagnie la garde ordinaire estoit non seulement redoublee mais l'on avoit mis encore des corps de garde de distance en distance par dehors tout a l'entour des barrieres du camp nous sceusmes par gelonide que la reine pour pretexter la chose avoit faint d'estre advertie qu'artamene avoit des desseins chachez sur ses pais et que c'estoit pour cela que sans luy faire nulle violence dans le doute ou elle en estoit elle vouloit qu'on l'observast soigneusement ammene se 
 voyant donc en cette extremite ne scavoit a quoy se resoudre il voyoit qu'infailliblement le mariage de ciaxare ne pouvoit reussir il scavoit que s'il demandoit de nouveau son conge cela ne serviroit qu'a le faire resserrer plus estroitement il voyoit par l'ordre que l'on avoit donne a la garde des tentes royalles et par ceux qui veilloient sur ses actions qu'il n'y avoit nulle apparence de se pouvoir sauver et il ne voyoit point du tout par ou se tirer de ce labyrinthe helas nous disoit il quelquefois quand mesme je le pourray faire que diray-je a ciaxare et que diray-je a mandane leur aprendray je que thomiris a eu de l'amour pour moy et seroit il possible que je pusse faire un discours de cette nature mais si je ne le dis point que penseront aussi de ma suitte le roy et la princesse que diront ils d'un procede qui leur paroistra si estrange et ne m'accuseront ils point d'avoir perdu la raison cependant en l'estat ou sont les choses ce seroit le mieux qui me peust arriver car du moins l'esperance de revoir mandame me consoleroit et mon innocence ne pourroit pas estre long temps cachee c'estoit de cette sorte que raisonnoit artamene lors que gelonide luy fit dire qu'elle luy conseilloit de s'en aller le plustost qu'il pourroit mais outre qu'il ne scavoit pas trop bien comment il le pourroit faire il creut encore qu'il estoit bon de garder quelque forme en sa fuite et pour cet effet il fit supplier encore une fois la reine de luy donner 
 son conge mais elle luy fit respondre que les choses n'estoient pas en termes de cela et qu'il faloit absolument attendre le retour de spargapise artamene se voyant donc refuse et prisonnier s'il faut ainsi dire estoit en une melancolie estrange ce n'est pas que gelonide ne fist tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour luy donner les voyes de s'echaper mais il n'y avoit pas moyen d'en venir a bout ce qui mettoit mon maistre dans une inquietude si grande qu'il n'y eut jamais rien de semblable car s'il luy eust este permis de mettre l'espee a la main de forcer les gardes et de vaincre tout ce qui se seroit oppose a son passage je pense qu'il auroit pu esperer de le sauver tant il est vray que je luy ay veu faire des choses merveilleuses et incroyables mais quand il venoit a penser qu'apres tout la reine n'estoit injuste et violente que parce qu'elle l'aimoit il n'avoit pas la force de se resoudre a la deshonnorer comme il eust fait par cette action ny de tuer les sujets d'une princesse qui n'estoit coupable que pour l'amour de luy la tristesse s'empara donc si fort de son ame qu'indathirse guery de sa blessure l'estant venu voir s'en aperceut et le pressa de telle sorte de luy advouer que thomiris l'aimoit et que cette amour causoit sa douleur qu'en fin il luy dit qu'il estoit vray que la reine luy avoit fait dire des choses qu'il ne pouvoit presque expliquer dautre facon et que s'il vouloit l'obliger sensiblement il tascheroit de luy donner les voyes de se sauver vous voyez 
 bien luy dit il genereux indathirse que je ne suis pas vostre rival puis que je vous demande pour gracc de me vouloir donner les moyens de m'esloigner de thomiris je voy bien luy respondit ce prince qu'en effet vous n'estes pas coupable et qu'au contraire je vous ay beaucoup d'obligation mais apres tout luy dit il vous causez un trouble si grand en mon ame que personne n'en sentira jamais un pareil car enfin pour vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur je serois moins afflige que je ne suis si thomiris aimoit quelqu'un qui l'aimast mais que cette princesse si belle si aimable de qui l'ame a tousjours paru si grande et qui a tesmoigne une fermete invincible a resister a l'amour d'aripithe et a la mienne se trouve capable d'aimer un homme qui ne l'aime point je vous advoue que c'est ce que je ne puis souffrir sans une douleur extraordinaire je serois plus jaloux adjoustoit il si vous l'aimiez mais je ne serois pas si afflige et en l'estat ou je me trouve pardonnez moy luy disoit il si vostre rare merite ne peut justifier thomiris dans mon esprit non luy disoit il encore genereux artamene je ne la veux plus aimer il faut que je m'arrache cette passion de l'ame ou que je meure et pour faciliter vostre depart il faut que je premedite le mien il faut dit il que je die a la reine que j'ay receu ordre du roy des tauroscithes mon pere de m'en retourner aupres de luy et que je la supplie de me le permettre comme je ne suis pas artamene 
 adjousta-t'il en soupirant elle me le permettra et pour faire reussir nostre dessein vous feindrez de vous trouver mal vous viendrez apres la nuit dans ma tente je vous emmeneray avecque moy suivy de quelques uns des vostres vous faisant passer parmy mon train et partant si matin que les gardes du camp ne vous puissent reconnoistre et vous ordonnerez a ceux de vos gens qui demeureront de dire que l'on n'ose entrer dans vostre chambre qu'il ne soit fort tard afin de nous donner le loisir d'estre desja bien loing quand on scaura vostre fuitte comme ceux que je scay qui vous observent ne vous suivent que le jour s'assurant la nuit sur les gardes qui veillent dans le camp et hors du camp la chose apparemment reussira et je vous feray prendre un chemin ou si je ne me trompe l'on ne vous cherchera pas enfin luy dit indathirse je veux estre vostre guide et vostre escorte tout ensemble mais ne pensez pas adjousta-t'il que ce soit par interest que je vous rende cet office car encore une fois dit alors ce prince afflige je ne veux plus aimer thomiris et je veux que l'absence qui a accoustume de guerir de semblables maladies acheve de faire ce que le despit a desja commence en un mot seigneur pour accourcir mon discours autant que je le pourray quoy qu'artamene peust dire afin de n'oster pas un si illustre amant a thomiris il ne put jamais en venir a bout et il falut qu'il 
 acceptast ce qu'indathirse luy offroit la chose s'executa avec plus de facilite que nous ne pensions indathirse demanda son conge et l'obtint mon maistre faignit de se trouver mal nous sortismes la nuit de sa tente pour aller a celle d'indathirse qui estoit fort proche nous ordonnasmes a un de ceux qui restoient et qui estoit un soldat determine de cacher nostre fuitte aussi longtemps qu'il pourroit et a le premiere pointe du jour nous sortismes des tentes royales sans que personne nous reconnust parce que l'on ne voyoit encore guere clair et que de plus nous estions meslez parmy le train d'indathirse les gardes qui le soir avoient receu ordre de la reine de laisser partir ce prince ne s'opposerent point a nostre sortie de sorte que nous nous vismes hors du camp et au dela des corps de gardes avancez sans estre reconnus de personne mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire avec quelle peine mon maistre se resolut d'abandonner ses gens et si gelonide qui scavoit nostre depart ne luy eust assure qu'elle estoit assez puissante sur l'esprit de la reine pour empescher qu'on ne les mal-traitast je pense qu'il ne se seroit point resolu a partir mais cette vertueuse femme luy promit si absolument de les proteger qu'enfin il creut son conseil artamene ne mena donc que chrisante et moy et deux autres des siens pour le servir laissant une lettre pour thomiris ou il taschoit de pretexter son depart et de l'excuser cependant nous marchasmes si heureusement 
 que nous ne fusmes point trouvez par ceux qui sans doute nous chercherent car indathirse nous fit prendre un chemin ou l'on ne soubconna pas que nous fussions mon maistre fit encore tout ce qu'il put pour empescher ce prince de se destourner comme il faisoit pour estre son guide mais il ne le voulut jamais faire or seigneur comme indathirse s'estoit bien imagine qu'aussi tost que l'on s'aperceuroit de la fuite de mon maistre la reine envoyeroit a cous les passages de l'araxe il prit un chemin qui remontoit vers sa source et fut a un endroit ou ce fleuve se separe en trois et ou il n'est pas impossible de le passer a gue ce fut donc jusques au bord de l'araxe qu'indathirse conduisit artamene pour lequel il avoit conceu beaucoup d'amitie quoy qu'il luy eust cause beaucoup de douleur mon maistre luy demanda lors pardon d'avoir este en quelque sorte le sujet de ses desplaisirs et s'embrassant tous deux avec une egale tendresse ils se separerent avec une promesse reciproque de s'aimer eternellement indathirse voulut toutefois regarder passer artamene qui estant arrive a l'autre coste du fleuve salua encore le prince des tauroscithes qui fit aussi la mesme chose en suite dequoy commencant a marcher en mesme temps indathirse prit le chemin de son pais bien qu'il s'en fust fort esloigne et nous suivismes celuy qui pouvoit nous conduire en capadoce 
 
 
 
 
mais seigneur que ce voyage se fit peu agreablement durant les premiers 
 jours et qu'artamene eut de peine a resoudre en luy mesme ce qu'il diroit a ciaxare neantmoins apres avoir bien cherche dans son esprit il fit dessein de luy dire seulement qu'il n'avoit pas trouve les choses disposees a parler ouvertement de son mariage a thomiris et que cette princesse s'estant laisse persuader par des personnes mal intentionnees avoit fait courir quelque bruit qu'il avoit de mauvais desseins qu'ayant este adverty qu'on l'observoit il avoit este demander son conge que luy ayant este refuse et ayant sceu que l'on avoit resolu de l'arrester il avoit cru qu'il estoit de son devoir d'empescher que le roy ne receust cet outrage en sa personne enfin apres avoir imagine ce qu'il pourroit dire l'esperance de revoir mandane commenca de remettre la joye dans son esprit et depuis cela nous ne marchasmes pas un jour que je ne visse des marques d'une nouvelle satisfaction sur le visage d'artamene chaque pas qu'il faisoit l'aprochant de mandane luy faisoit faire cent reslexions agreables et ses propres pensees l'entretenoient si doucement qu'il n'avoit besoin ny de la conversation de chrisante ny de la mienne pour le divertir il marchoit ordinairement trente pas devant ou trente pas derriere afin de pouvoir resver avec plus de liberte un jour donc que nous n'estions plus qu'a cinq cens stades de themiscire et que pour faire une journee extremement grande nous estions partis devant le jour apres avoir marche plus d'une 
 heure nous arrivasmes dans une espaisse forest comme la premiere clarte commencoit de blanchir les nues du coste du soleil louant il y avoit un des gens de mon maistre nomme ortalque monte sur un cheval blanc qu'a cause de l'obscurite nous avions fait marcher le premier de sorte qu'artamene alloit apres et chrisante et moy avec un autre suivions artamene marchant donc en cet ordre et cette lumiere naissante commencant de percer l'obscurite de la forest et de permettre de discerner les objets qui n'estoient pas trop estoignez mon maistre vit assez avant sur la main droite un grand et riche pavillon tendu sous des arbres a l'entour duquel plusieurs soldats estoient en garde et sembloient en vouloir deffendre l'entree a ceux qui eussent eu dessein d'y aller cette veue assez extraordinaire dona bien quelque legere curiosite a artamene mais il avoit l'esprit si remply de l'image de sa princesse que ce premier mouvement ne fut pas assez long pour luy donner seulement la curiosite de demander ce que c'estoit comme il fut un peu esloigne il ne put toutefois s'empescher de tourner la teste de ce coste la et alors a travers les branches et les troncs des arbres il vit une femme qui levant le coing de la tente sembloit regarder s'il estoit jour a dix ou douze pas plus avant celuy des siens que je vous ay dit qui marchoit le premier et qui se nonmoit ortalque se trouvant a plus de vingt pas d'artamene vit un homme arme qui montant sur un cheval que son 
 escuyer luy presenta s'aprocha de luy pour luy demander s'il estoit du pais et 'il ne pourroit point luy enseigner quelque chemin qui traversast la forest pour n'estre pas oblige de prendre la plaine non seigneur luy respondit ortalque mais peut-estre que ceux qui me suivent dit il en nous montrant a cet inconnu vous en pourront dire quelque chose et alors se retournant afin de rendre cet office a cet estranger artamene qui s'estoit desja aproche luy demanda ce que ce chevalier luy disoit mais pendant qu'il luy en rendoit conte mon maistre vit venir douze hommes a cheval qui apres avoir regarde cet estranger mirent tous l'espee a la main et s'escrierent en se regardant l'un l'autre c'est luy mes compagnons c'est luy il faut en diligence en envoyer advertir nostre capitaine et en effet un d'eux poussa son cheval a toute bride vers le lieu d'ou ils venoient pendant quoy les onze qui restoient attaquerent ce chevalier inconnu qui s'estant recule de quelques pas a l'abord commanda tout haut a son escuyer d'aller faire tout partir en diligence car luy dit il parlant d'artamene et de nous autres qui avions mis l'espee a la main pour le deffendre au mesme instant que ces gens la voyant l'inegalite du combat ce secours que les dieux m'ont envoye suffit pour faire ferme durant quelque temps en suite dequoy je me degageray facilement et seray bien-tost a vous en effet cet inconnu ne se trompa pas et la generosite d'artamene 
 en epouvant souffrir de voir en sa presence un homme seul attaque par onze n avoit point balance du tout sur ce qu'il avoit a faire et des le premier moment qu'il avoit veu ces chevaliers se mettre en estat d'en attaquer un il avoit mis l'espee a la main et nous avoit commande de faire la mesme chose de sorte que s'avancant entre ces chevaliers et celuy qu'ils vouloient perdre il luy avoit donne le temps de dire a son escuyer ce que je vous ay desja dit artamene ne l'entendit pas mais je l'entendis fort distinctement sans y faire nulle reflexion l'estat ou nous estions n'y estant pas propre cependant cet ordre donne ce chevalier inconnu vint pour degager mon maistre d'entre ses ennemis mais il trouva qu'il s'estoit desja bien degage luy mesme en ayant tue trois de sa main et nous autres ayant aussi seconde sa valeur le mieux qu'il nous avoit este possible de sorte que cet inconnu s'estant joint a nous il nous fut aise de vaincre ceux qui restoient estant certain que c'estoit un des vaillans hommes du monde il combatit donc comme un homme qui vouloit tesmoigner a son liberateur qu'il n'estoit pas indigne de la protection qu'il luy avoit donnee mais comme le dernier de ses ennemis fut tombe mort de la main d'artamene et qu'il voulut s'avancer vers luy pour luy rendre grace le jour s'estant desja fait grand il le reconnut a ce que nous avons pu juger depuis de sorte que changeant tout a coup de dessein il se recula de quelques 
 pas et fut vers ortalque qui regardoit de tous les costez s'il n'y avoit plus d'ennemis a combatte s'estant donc promptement aproche de luy dites il vostre maistre luy dit il avec precipitation que je suis bien fache d'estre si incivil et de paroistre si ingrat mais comme l'y suis contraint par la force de ma destinee j'espere qu'il m'en excusera apres avoir dit ce peu de mots fort a la haste il piqua au travers des arbres s'esloigna d'ortalque en peu de temps et fut prendre la mesme route que ces dames se ceux qui les conduisoient avoient prise ortalque s'estant alors aproche de mon maistre ne manqua pas de luy redire ce que cet inconnu luy mandoit ce procede comme vous pouvez penser surprit infiniment anamene ne pouvant imaginer pourquoy cet inconnu ne luy avoit pas aussi tost fait ce compliment qu'a un des siens puis que quelque presse qu'il peust estre il n'eust gueres tarde davantage a luy parler qu'a parler a un de ses gens il luy sembloit bien avoir entendu en combatant un son de voix qui ne luy estoit pas tout a fait inconnu mais il ne put toutefois se le remettre si bien que pousse d'une forte curiosite de scavoir quelle estoit cette avanture il se mit a regarder parmy ces morts s'il n'y avoit point quelqu'un de ces hommes qui ne le fust pas del' qu'en les considerant il s'en trouva un qu'un grand coup qu'il avoit receu a la main droite avoit mis hors de combat et qu'un autre qu'il avoit receu a 
 la gorge empeschoit de parier et de se pouvoit faire entendre que par des lignes ce chevalier n'eut pas plus tost veu mon maistre qu'a ce que nous pusmes juger par son action il le reconnut quoy que personne de nous ne le connust et a dire la verite cela n'estoit pas fort estrange estant assez ordinaire que les generaux d'armee soient connus d'un nombre infiny de personnes qu'ils ne connoissent point du tout ce blesse ne vit donc pas plustost mon maistre aupres de luy qu'il tesmoigna une extreme joye et un merveilleux empressement de luy faire entendre ce qui c'estoit passe mais plus il faisoit d'effort pour s'expliquer plus il embassarroit artamene car comme il ne pouvoit prononcer une seule parole ny articuler seulement une silabe il n'y avoit pas moyen de tirer nulle conjecture de tous les signes qu'il faisoit tantost il monstroit vers la route que ce chevalier inconnu avoit pris comme disant qu'il faloit aller apres tantost il monstroit vers le coste d'ou il estoit venu comme s'il en eust attendu du secours apres il regardoit et nous faisoit regarder ce pavillon que les gens de l'inconnu avoient laisse s'estant contentez d'emmener les dames qui estoient dedans enfin par ses signes et par ses actions il ne faisoit que redoubler l'inquietude d'artamene qui pour voir s'il ne trouveroit rien dans ce pavillon qui peust l'esclaicir de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir descendit de cheval et entra dedans mais encore qu'il n'y rencontrast rien qui 
 peust luy donner nulle connoissance de ce qu'il cherchoit il ne pouvoit neantmoins se resoudre d'en sortir il y avoit pourtant des momens ou sans scavoir pourquoy il eust presque bien voulu aller apres celuy qu'il avoit secouru si a propos il y en avoit d'autres aussi ou il faisoit dessein d'attendre en ce lieu la s'il n'y viendroit personne qui peust luy donner connoissance de cette avanture et il y en avoit d'autres encore ou il faisant reproche a luy mesme il se blasmoit de perdre inutilement des momens qui luy devoient estre si precieux que fais se disoit il icy a m'interesser dans les affaires des autres au lieu de m'aprocher de ma princesse et comme s'il eust eu honte de cette faute il sortit du pavillon remonta sur son cheval et commanda a un de siens de mettre ce blesse sur un autre et de monter en croupe pour le soutenir jusques a la premiere habitation ou il pourroit estre pense et d'ou l'on pourroit envoyer prendre ces morts qui a leurs armes paroissoient estre capadociens ce qu'il y eut d'avantageux pour nous en cette occasion fut qu'il n'y eut aucun de nous blesse excepte chrisante qui eut une legere egratigneure au bras gauche artamene s'estant toutefois souvenu que des douze chevaliers qui avoient paru d'abord il y en avoit eu un qui estoit retourne sur ses pas comme pour aller querir du secours voulut encore attendre quelque temps pour voir s'il ne viendroit personne malgre tous les conseils de chrisante qui s'y oposoit 
 car enfin il y avoit lieu de croire que s'il venoit des gens ils viendroient en grand nombre et qu'ainsi artamene n'estoit pas en estat de leur resister ce ne fut pour tant pas cette raison qui l'empescha d'attendre davantage mais voyant que ce chevalier blesse souffroit infiniment et que sa gorge par l'agitation qu'il s'estoit donnee en voulant parler s'estoit enflee de telle sorte qu'il en avoit presque perdu la connoissance et qu'il y avoit lieu de craindre que cela ne l'estoussast il marcha en diligence jusques a la premier habitation il n'y fut pas plustost qu'ayant fait appeller un chirurgien et fait sonder la playe que cet homme avoit a la gorge afin de voir si en luy faisant quelques remedes il ne pourroit pas recouvrer l'usage de la voix il se trouva que de plus de crois jours ce chevalier blesse ne seroit en estat de pouvoir parler artamene voyant cela commanda a ce chirurgien d'en avoir soin luy fit donner recompense devant que d'avoir travaille et continua son chemin il s'informa pourtant auparavant de tous ceux qu'il rencontra dans la maison ou nous estions s'ils n'avoient point veu de gens armez et par hazard nous ne trauvasmes personne ny la ny sur nostre route qui nous aprist rien de ce que nous voulions scavoir nous marchasmes donc tout ce jour la et tout le lendemain jusques a six heures du soir sans qu'artamene prononcast seulement une parole tant il estoit possede par une profonde resverie mais estant arrivez au bord du 
 thermodon et a la veue de themiscire ou le roy luy avoit dit qu'il attendroit son retour la joye se renouvella dans son coeur et se retournant vers moy qui estois le plus pres de luy avec un visage assez guay enfin me dit il feraulas je voy le lieu ou est ma princesse et par consequent je puis esperer de la revoir bien tost mais dieux la retrouveray-je telle que je la quittay et pourray-je bien obtenir de la severite de sa vertu le plaisir de luy entendre dire qu'elle s'est souvenue de moy pendant mon absence seigneur luy dis-je quand la princesse ne vous le dira point ne laissez pas de le croire car je suis bien assure qu'il est impossible que la chose ne soit pas ainsi en effet je pouvois bien luy parler de cette sorte car quelques jours auparavant que de partir de themiscire martesie avoit eu la bonte de me confier tous les sentimens avantageux que mandane avoit pour mon maistre mais c' avoit este avec des deffences si expresses d'en parler a artamene que la maistresse l'emportant sur le maistre en cette occasion je n'avois ose le faire m'estant contente de luy donner beaucoup d'esperance d'estre aime sans luy particulariser rien joint qu'a vous dire le vray je le voyois si afflige de l'absence de sa princesse que je ne doutois nullement que s'il eust sceu toutes les petites choses que je vous ay racontees il n'en fust mort de douleur ou de plaisir mais enfin seigneur apres plusieurs semblables discours que mon maistre me tint 
 en aprochant de themiscire et qui marquoient tous la joye que luy donnoit l'esperance de revoir mandane nous arrivasmes a cent pas de la porte de la ville ou nous rencontrasmes un escuyer de la princesse artamene ne l'eut pas plustost reconnu que s'avancant vers luy avec une diligence extreme il luy demanda avec beaucoup d'empressement des nouvelles du roy et de la princesse mandane ha seigneur s'escria cet escuyer que n'estes vous revenu quatre jours plustost a ces mots mon maistre paslit et passant tout d'un coup de l'esperance a la crainte et de la joye a la douleur il chercha dans les yeux de cet escuyer la cause d'un semblable discours mais ne pouvant la deviner quoy luy dit il seroit il arrive quelque accident facheux au roy ou a la princesse ouy seigneur repliqua cet escuyer et le plus grand sans doute qui leur peust jamais advenir car enfin le roy a perdu la princesse sa fille quoy reprit mon maistre tout desespere la princesse est morte non respondit il mais elle est enlevee je pense seigneur qu'il fut a propos qu'artamene eust d'abord tourne son esprit du coste le plus funeste car en effet je suis persuade que si la pensee de la mort de mandane n'eust precede d'un instant celle de son enlevement il en seroit expire de douleur quoy s'ecria t'il mandane est enlevee et quel 
 est celuy qui a pu concevoir un dessein si injuste et si temeraire philidaspe respondit cet escuyer que l'on dit estre prince d'assirie philidaspe reprit artamene ouy seigneur repliqua t'il et le malheur a mesme voulu qu'une partie de ceux que l'on avoit envoyez apres l'ayant rencontre ont este tuez par je ne scay qu'elles gens qui l'ont secouru du moins en vient on d'assurer le roy ha mes amis s'ecria artamene en se tournant vers nous il n'en faut point douter c'est nous qui avons tue les protecteurs de mandane qui avons secouru son ravisseur et qui l'avons enlevee seigneur luy dit alors chrisante ne vaudroit il point mieux entrer dans la ville ou vous aprendriez plus a loisir toutes les circonstances d'un si grand malheur artamene malgre son desespoir ayant connu que chrisante avoit raison se mit a marcher mais dieux qu'il estoit different de ce qu'il estoit un moment auparavant et que la douleur fit un prodigieux changement en luy il avoit quelque chose de si funeste dans le regard et de si terrible tout ensemble que l'on voyoit aisement que la colere se mesloit a la melancolie et que la jalousie agitoit autant son coeur que l'amour comme nous fusmes arrivez chez mon maistre il pressa l'escuyer de la princesse de luy dire comment ce malheur estoit advenu il sceut donc que trois jours auparavant cet accident aribee avoit oblige le roy d'aller a la chasse a cinquante stades de themiscire et que pendant son absense la chose 
 avoit este executee mais luy dit mon maistre comment l'a-t'on pu executer l'on n'a pas eu grand peine repliqua cet escuyer de mandane car les gardes de la princesse estoient gagnez et ce sont eux mesmes qui l'ont enlevee joint qu'il y a aussi une de ses filles que l'on croit qui l'a trahie par une jalousie secrette qu'elle avoit de ce que la princesse luy preseroit martesie vous scavez seigneur adjousta t'il que le thermodon passe sous les fenestres de la princesse mandane et que mesme ces fenestres sont si basses qu'il n'est pas besoin d'avoir une echelle pour en pouvoir descendre or seigneur un des gardes ayant observe l'heure que la princesse avoit accoustume de se retirer alla justement fraper a la porte de l'anti-chambre comme elle estoit preste de se deshabiller cette fille qui estoit de l'intelligence luy ayant ouvert la porte fut dire a la princesse qu'il y avoit un garde qui disoit avoir quelque chose d'important a luy dire la princesse un peu surprise commanda toutefois qu'on le fist entrer madame luy dit il je viens vous advertir que l'on a dessein de vous enlever la nuit prochaine la princesse qui scavoit qu'elleavoit este exposee une autre fois a ce danger en parut fort estonnee neantmoins apres avoir remercie cet homme elle luy demanda comment il le scavoit et comment ce malheur se pouvoit eviter pour adjouster foy a mes paroles luy dit il vous n'avez qu'a vous approcher de ces fenestres dont je vous feray voir les grilles a moitie 
 limees cette sage princesse voulant donc estre esclaircie de ce que cet homme luy disoit auparavant que de faire esclater la chose s'approcha de ces fenestres cette fille qui estoit de l'intelligence ayant pris un flambeau pour luy esclairer mais dieux elle ne fut pas plustost aupres que ce garde secouant fortement les grilles les arracha car elles avoient effectivement este limees auparavant je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle surprise fut celle de la princesse elle commanda a l'instant mesme que l'on fist prendre les armes a tout le monde mais helas elle fut bien estonnee lors qu'elle vit entrer six autres de ses gardes qui la prenant avec violence la mirent entre les mains de son ravisseur qui estoit dans un bateau sous les fenestres de la princesse accompagne de gens armez mandane se deffendit d'abord opiniastrement mais enfin il falut ceder il y a mesme une de ses femmes qui raporte qu'ayant reconnu philidaspe au ton de sa voix car on dit qu'il s'est change le taint pour se deguiser elle luy cria ha philidaspe si artamene eust este icy tu n'aurois pas ose entreprendre une seconde fois ce que tu entreprens mais enfin seigneur philidaspe l'enleva toutes ses femmes criant desesperement ce fut toutefois en vain car ceux des gardes qui n'estoient pas de l'intelligence voulant entrer trouverent que ceux qui avoient trahi avoient ferme les portes par derriere et la confusion estoit si grande que ces femmes de la princesse mandane crioient 
 toutes du coste que l'on avoit enleve leur maistresse et n'alloient point ouvrir a ceux qui ne purent entrer qu'en rompant les portes ce qui demanda assez de temps j'oubliois de vous dire que ces ravisseurs prirent aussi cette fille que l'on croit estre de l'intelligence mais pour martesie ils ne la vouloient pas emmener neantmoins comme cette genereuse fille ne vouloit pas abandonner sa maistresse elle s'attacha si fortement a sa robe qu'ils furent concraints de la prendre aussi joint qu'ils entendirent sans doute que la princesse luy crioit ha martesie ne m'abandonnez pas enfin seigneur ce bateau ayant pris le courant du fleuve et ramant avec beaucoup de force et de diligence fut bien tost a une stade d'icy de l'autre coste de l'eau ou il y avoit autant de chevaux qui les attendoient qu'ils estoient de gens de sorte qu'il ne fut pas possible d'y remedier car auparavant que l'on eust apris ce que c'estoit que le gouverneur de themiscire en fust adverty et que l'on sceust seulement ce que l'on vouloit faire ils estoient desja si loin que la chose n'avoit presque plus de remede neantmoins le capitaine des gardes estant monte a cheval avec deux cens hommes seulement qu'il separa en diverses brigades une de ces troupes qui estoit de douze rencontra philidaspe qu'ils connurent plustost aux armes qu'il portoit que des passans leur avoient designees qu'ils ne le connurent au visage parce 
 que l'on croit que pour demeurer plus seurement en ce pais ou l'on pense qu'il a toujours este cache il s'est change le taint d'une facon qui le rend meconnoissable ces douze hommes l'ayant donc reconnu comme je l'ay dit et veu un grand pavillon tendu ou sans doute estoit la princesse y ayant apparence qu'il campera tousjours jusques a ce qu'il soit fort esloigne un d'entre eux retourna sur ses pas pour en advertir leur capitaine afin qu'il vinst renforcer les siens que des inconnus qui avoient pris le party de philidaspe pouvoient mettre en danger d'estre deffaits mais il fut si malheureux qu'il ne le rencontra point desespere donc qu'il fut de ne le pouvoir trouver il retourna a toute bride au lieu ou il avoit laisse ses compagnons aux mains avec philidaspe et avec ces gens que le hazard avoit fait rencontrer en ce lieu la mais dieux il y trouva dix de ses compagnons morts et n'y trouva point l'onziesme il vit encore le pavillon tendu mais il n'y avoit plus personne dedans et il ne trouva nulles marques qu'il y eust seulement eu un des gens de philidaspe tue ainsi seigneur cet homme est venu advertir le roy qui s'est rendu icy en grande diligence aussi tost qu'il a sceu cet accident l'on a envoye par tous les ports pour empescher philidaspe de passer en cas qu'il ait pris le chemin de la mer mais a vous dire la verite il n'y a pas grande apparence puis qu'on l'a manque cette fois la qu'on le r'atrape une seconde depuis hier adjousta cet 
 homme il court un manifeste dans themiscire par lequel il paroist que philidaspe se dit estre labinet fils de la reine nitocris et seul heritier du royaume d'assirie il dit de plus que la capadoce appartenant de droit a la couronne des assiriens il a creu ne pouvoir la reconquerir par une plus douce voye qu'en faisant la princesse mandane reine d'assirie que l'on ne doit point aporter contre luy la loy qui deffend de marier la princesse a un estranger puis que de droit les capadociens sont ses sujets que s'il n'a pas fait demander la princesse a ciaxare c'est qu'il scait de certitude que tous les medes haissant les assiriens astrage et ciaxare la luy auroient refusee que comme il n'est point estranger pour la princesse de capadoce la princesse de capadoce aussi n'est point estrangere pour luy de sorte qu'il espere que la reine nitocris aprouvera son dessein et recevra la princesse mandane avec joye 
 
 
il y a plusieurs autres choses seigneur adjousta-t'il dans ce manifeste qui seroient trop longues a dire pendant tout le discours de cet escuyer artamene n'avoit pas dit une parole ce n'estoit pas qu'il l'escoutast avec une attention tranquile au contraire l'on voyoit sur son visage tant de marques de passions violentes qu'il en faisoit pitie a ceux qui le regardoient mais c'estoit que sentant bien qu'il ne pourroit parler sans en donner de trop visibles d'une douleur excessive devant un homme qui n'avoit nulle part en sa confidence il n'y put trouver de meilleure invention que de renfermer toute cette excessive douleur dans son ame chrisante remarquant 
 aisement l'inquietude de mon maistre aussi tost que cet escuyer eut acheve son recit le fit sortir avec beaucoup d'adresse cependant artamene ne scachant pas trop bien comment il pourroit souffrir la veue de ciaxare sans luy descouvrir trop ouvertement son desespoir envoya chrisante pour aprendre ce que faisoit le roy afin d'avoir quelque loisir de se preparer a une chose si difficile mon maistre enfin me voyant seul aupres de luy me regarda d'une facon si touchante qu'il eust inspire la pitie a la personne du monde la plus cruelle feraulas me dit-il mandane est enlevee et enlevee par philidaspe philidaspe dis-je que j'ay pu tuer plus d'une fois mais ciel s'escrioit il est il bien possible que cette puissante aversion que j'ay tousjours eue pour luy dans le temps mesme que je ne le croyois pas estre mon rival m'ait permis de mesconnoistre le ravisseur de mandane et ait pu souffrir que mon bras ait assiste mon plus mortel ennemy quoy mandane reprenoit il tout furieux vous estiez dans ce pavillon que j'ay veu et cet inconnu estoit philidaspe quoy je vous ay peut-estre veue a l'entree de cette tente quoy je vous ay pu sauver et je vous ay moy mesme perdue quoy j'ay pu tuer ceux qui vouloient vous secourir et j'ay empesche que l'on n'aittue philidaspe quoy j'ay pu vous delivrer et je ne l'ay pas fait quoy j'ay servy a vostre enlevement et le traistre philidaspe qui m'a reconnu sans doute a bien pu se resoudre d'accepter le secours 
 de son ennemy quoy mandane vous n'estes plus a themiscire et vous estes en la puissance de philidaspe mais ciel n'estoit-ce pas assez reprenoit il que vous y fussiez par sa violence sans que j'y contribuasse et faloit il que ce fust de ma main et par ma valeur que l'injuste philidaspe vous enlevast mais ne pense pas philidaspe adjoustoit il jouir en repos d'une si illustre conqueste en quelque lieu de la terre que tu te retires il faut que l'office que je t'ay rendu ce coute la vie ouy quand tu serois dans babilone la plus grande et la plus forte ville du monde au milieu de tes gardes et jusques sur le throsne de tes peres j'iray te punir de son crime il faut que ton sang l'efface de ma memoire et que ta more soit le chastiment de ta faute o dieux poursuivoit il a quels bizarres malheurs suis-je destine ha thomiris adjoustoit il encore que vostre injuste passion me coustera cher et que je suis rigoureusement puny d'avoir trouble vostre repos mais vous divine princesse reprenoit il que l'on m'a assure avoir prononce mon nom lors que l'on vous a enlevee vous en souviendrez vous en assirie ne vous laisserez vous point toucher par les larmes de philidaspe ne luy pardonnerez vous point son crime la magnificence de babilone n'esblouira t'elle point vos yeux cette grande cour ne charmera-t'elle point vostre esprit n'apellerez vous point la violence de philidaspe un exces d'amour et serez vous aux bords de l'euphrate 
 ce que vous estiez aux bords de l'iris et du thermodon enfin divine princesse artamene sera-t'il tousjours prefere a philidaspe et cyrus au roy d'assirie helas disoit il encore pourquoy fust-ce que les dieux m'advertirent des le premier moment que je connus philidaspe que je ne le devois pas aimer pour ne m'advertir pas que je ne devois point le servir en une occasion si injuste et comment est il possible que mon rival ait pu se deguiser a mes yeux je le connoissois quand je ne le connoissois pas ou du moins quand je ne le devois pas connoistre et je ne l'ay pas connu en un temps ou il m'estoit si important de scavoir que c'estoit philidaspe et qui estoit philidaspe imaginez vous feraulas me disoit il si les dieux eussent permis que j'eusse sceu la verite quelle auroit este ma joye lors qu'apres avoir combattu et vaincu philidaspe j'eusse este dans ce pavillon ou j'eusse trouve ma princesse ou je l'eusse delivree et l'eusseramenee a themiscire mais imaginez vous aussi ma douleur et mon desespoir de voir que c'est moy seul qui suis la cause de sa perte que c'est moy qui l'ay mise entre les mains de philidaspe et qui l'ay presque enlevee car enfin j'ay pu le perdre et je ne l'ay pas fait j'ay pu me joindre a ceux qui l'attaquoient et je les ay attaquez et j'ay pu sauver mandane que j'ay perdue mais il faut reparer cette perte s'il est possible ou du moins nous vanger de celuy qui nous l'a causee accordez moy donc justes dieux assez de constance 
 pour supporter ce terrible accident sans mourir je scay bien que la mort est le secours de tous les malheureux et que ce remede me gueriroit de tous les maux que je souffre mais divine mandane vous faites aujourd'huy en moy ce que les perils les plus effroyables n'ont jamais pu faire ouy ma princesse ce coeur qui n'a point aprehende la mort dans les plus sanglantes batailles a quelque crainte d'en estre surpris par l'accablement de ses desplaisirs je crains ma princesse je crains mais a mon advis cette crainte n'est ny lasche ny foible et puis que je ne crains la mort qu'afin d'exposer ma vie pour vostre liberte vous me le pardonnerez sans doute et ne m'en blasmerez point mais helas qui scait si jamais vous entendrez parler d'artamene et si artamene entendra jamais parler de l'adorable mandane du moins scay-je bien reprenoit-il que je verray philidaspe tout roy d'assirie qu'il doit estre et que je ne seray pas long temps sans troubler sa felicite comme artamene en estoit la chrisante revint qui l'assura qu'il pourroit voir le roy mais en mesme temps son retour ayant este sceu plus de la moitie de la cour fut chez luy et l'accompagna chez ciaxare ce qui ne luy pleut pas beaucoup ne craignant rien davantage que d'avoir tant de tesmoins de sa douleur la veue du chasteau ou il avoit veu sa princesse la derniere fois redoubla encore son desplaisir et la presence du roy pensa exciter un trouble si grand dans son 
 ame et faire esclatter sa douleur si hautement qu'il s'en falut peu qu'a la veue de toute cette grande assemblee il ne parust plus afflige que ciaxare quoy que ciaxare le fust beaucoup ce prince ne vit pas plustost mon maistre que sans se souvenir plus du sujet de son voyage il donna ses premieres pensees a la perte qu'il avoit faite et bien artamene luy dit il philidaspe n'a point este descouvert en sa seconde entreprise comme il le fut en la premiere et les dieux ont enfin souffert qu'il ait enleve ma fille je souhaite seigneur repliqua mon maistre en soupirant que par ma valeur ou par ma bonne fortune je puisse vous la redonner bien tost et que l'injuste philidaspe ne jouisse pas long temps d'un thresor que j'ay pu luy oster avec assez de facilite le roy ne comprenant pas bien ce que mon maistre luy disoit luy en demanda l'explication et artamene qui ne pouvoit s'empescher de parler de la chose du monde qui le touchoit le plus sensiblement raconta au roy comment il avoit rencontre philidaspe comment il avoit veu un pavillon tendu dans la forest comment il avoit tue ceux qui attaquoient le ravisseur de mandane et comment enfin il avoit autant servy a son enlevement que philidaspe cet estrange evenement surprit si fort le roy et augmenta encore de telle sorte son affliction qu'il ne fut plus capable de prendre garde a celle d'artamene qui avoit estrangement paru lors qu'il avoit fait ce recit mais par bonheur ceux 
 qui l'entendirent creurent que la douleur excessive qui paroissoit sur son visage et dans ses paroles n'estoit qu'un simble effet de l'avanture qu'il avoit eue joint aussi que toute la cour estoit si triste elle mesme du malheur de cette princesse qu'il n'y avoit personne assez desinteresse pour prendre garde si exactement a ses actions apres que le recit de ce facheux evenement fut acheve et que chacun en eut parle avec estonnement seigneur dit alors mon maistre parlant a ciaxare ne voulez vous pas me permettre d'aller chercher philidaspe que je ne puis me resoudre d'apeller prince d'assirie me semblant qu'il est assez difficile de croire qu'un fils de la reine nitocris qui est une des plus grandes et des plus sages princesses du monde ait pu concevoir un dessein si injuste bien est il vray adjousta-t'il emporte par sa passion qu'il n'est pas aussi a croire qu'un homme qui ne seroit pas de naissance royalle peust avoir ose entreprendre d'enlever la princesse de capadoce ha artamene s'escria ciaxare que l'aversion que vous avez toujours eue pour philidaspe estoit bien mieux fondee que vous ne pensiez car je ne doute point luy dit il que vous ne vous interessiez infiniment en la perte que j'ay faite n'en doutez nullement seigneur repliqua mon maistre j'y prens part de telle sorte que je vous promets de delivrer la princesse ou de mourir de la main de son ravisseur le roy apres cela entra dans son cabinet ou il fit apeller artamene 
 afin de luy demander s'il estoit vray qu'il fust revenu sans train et sans equipage comme on le luy avoit assure artamene luy dit alors ce que je vous ay desja dit mais comme ce prince avoit l'ame accablee de douleur pour la perte de la princesse il ne sentit presque point le mauvais succes du voyage de mon maistre joint qu'ayant tant de besoin de sa valeur en cette facheuse conjoncture il ne s'amusa pas a chercher exactement si ce qu'il luy disoit paroissoit entierement vray-semblable artamene pressa encore ciaxare de luy permettre d'aller apres philidaspe quoy qu'il y eust peu d'aparence de le trouver neantmoins comme il eust pu arriver que la princesse se seroit trouvee mal et qu'ainsi il n'auroit pu avancer chemin ciaxare accorda a artamene ce qu'il souhaitoit et donna ordre qu'il y eust le lendemain au matin trois cens chevaux prests pour le suivre mon maistre demanda fort a ciaxare s'il n'avoit rien descouvert de cette entreprise et s'il ne pouvoit point soubconner qui avoit assiste philidaspe mais le roy luy dit qu'aribee avoit fait toutes choses possibles pour en pouvoir tirer quelques conjectures que neantmoins jusques a l'heure qu'il parlait il n'en avoit encore rien sceu mon maistre eust bien eu envie de dire au roy qu'aribee n'estoit pas propre a faire cette perquisition a cause de l'estroite amitie qu'il avoit tousjours eue avec philidaspe mais il voulut attendre que les soubcons qu'il avoit fussent fondez sur quelque 
 que aparence plus sensible et plus convainquante il je se para donc du roy et sans pouvoir fermer les yeux de toute la nuit il attendit la premiere pointe du jour avec une impatience extreme cependant seigneur sans m'arrester a vous despaindre toutes les agitations d'esprit qu'il eut et toutes les peines que ce petit voyage nous donna je vous diray seulement qu'en quinze jours que nous employasmes a chercher des nouvelles de la princesse nous n'en sceusmes rien qui peust donner nulle esperance a mon maistre et qu'au contraire nous fusmes advertis qu'apres avoir pris a diverses fois de fausses routes afin d'abuser ceux qui l'eussent pu suivre philidaspe estoit arrive avec la princesse dans une ville de son royaume qui est vers la frontiere de medie et qu'en ce lieu la a moins que d'avoir une armee tres considerable il n'y avoit point d'apparence de la pouvoir delivrer nous sceusmes aussi avec certitude que philidaspe estoit effectivement fils de la reine nitocris et nous retournasmes a themiscir sans avoir fait autre chose que scavoir que mandane estoit entre les mains d'un prince qui pouvoit si la reyne sa mere y vouloir consentir mettre une armee de deux cens mille hommes en campagne cette pensee qui auroit afflige tout autre qu'artamene luy eslevoit le coeur au lieu de le desesperer et la condition de son rival le consoloit en quelque facon de sa disgrace tous ceux qui auparavant nous estoient allez apres le 
 ravisseur de mandane revinrent alors ayant cherche inutilement et nous sceusmes seulement par eux que ce chevalier blesse que nous avions laisse en chemin gueriroit de ses blessures cependant aribee qui comme vous scaurez par la suitte de mon discours n'estoit pas innocent de l'enlevement de la princesse aprehendant que mon maistre n'eust peut-estre trouve philidaspe ou du moins quelqu'un des gardes que l'on croit qu'il avoit subornez pretexta un voyage qu'il voulut venir faire icy et a pterie dont il estoit gouverneur sur ce que quelques grecs anciens habitans de sinope avoient entrepris quelque chose contre le service du roy car seigneur je pense que vous scavez bien que cette ville a este bastie par les milesiens et que cette colonie greque a change de maistre plus d'une fois en effet il seroit difficile de bien definir ce qu'est veritablement sinope tant elle est remplie d'habitans de nations differentes ayant tantost este possedee par les grecs tantost par les galatiens autrefois encore par les paphlagoniens et aujourd'huy par le roy de capadoce aribee se servit donc d'un faux bruit de sedition pour partir de themiscire auparavant qu'artamene y fust revenu et s'en vint a sinope comme je l'ay desja dit de sorte que mon maistre ne le tremuant plus aupres du roy se trouva en paisible possession de l'esprit de ce prince mais dans la certitude du lieu ou estoit la princesse il 
 n'y avoit plus a balancer et il falut songer a la guerre ciaxare envoya pourtant vers la reine nitocris pour luy demander si elle aprouvoit l'action du prince son fils et pour luy redemander la princesse sa fille il envoya aussi vers astiage pour luy aprendre son malheur et pour en avoir du secours pendant quoy il fit lever autant de gens de guerre que ses deux royaumes en pouvoient fournir bien est il vray que les ordres qu'il envoya a aribee de faire des levees dans son gouvernement ne le fortifierent pas beaucoup car ce traistre en avoit affaire pour d'autres desseins il faisoit pourtant semblant d'executer les volontez du roy et faignant de se trouver mal il ne vint point a themiscire cependant nous sceusmes par le retour de celuy que l'on avoit envoye vers la reine nitocris qu'elle desadvouoit faction du prince d'assirie et qu'en effet il n'estoit point alle a babilone en ce mesme temps ceux que nous avions laissez parmy les massagettes revindrent et nous aprirent que gelonide les avoit fait sauver quinze jours apres nostre depart ils apporterent une lettre de cette vertueuse femme a artamene par laquelle elle luy disoit en general que son absence avoit bien cause du trouble a la cour de thomiris que neantmoins elle n'avoit pas eu beaucoup de peine a obtenir la liberte des siens la reine luy ayant dit qu'il n'y avoit que le retour et le repentir d'artamene qui la peust satisfaire ou que sa mort 
 qui la peust vanger mais a peine nous fusmes nous resjouis du retour des nostres que nous aprismes qu'astiage estant desja assez malade lors qu'on luy avoit apris l'enlevement de mandane par le prince d'assirie en avoit este si touche tant pour pinterest du roy de capadoce son fils que pour la haine qu'il portoit aux assiriens que la fievre luy en avoit redouble et qu'il estoit mort quatre jours apres declarant qu'il vouloit que tous ces subjets prissent les armes pour la liberte de la princesse mandane la nouvelle de cette mort pensa faire refondre mon maistre a se descouvrir a ciaxare pour ce qu'il estoit mais quand il venoit a se souvenir de tout ce qu'il luy avoit entendu dire parlant de cyrus la crainte qu'il ne se privast luy mesme de pouvoir delivrer la princesse l'en empeschoit absolument car disoit il si par hazard il n'a point change de sentimens qui scait s'il ne me banniroit point d'aupres de luy et si je ne serois pas contraint de me donner la mort pour me delivrer du deplaisir de n'avoir pu servir ma princesse qui scait s'il ne me seroit point mettre aux fers et si ce bras qui doit agir pour la liberte de mandane ne seroit point charge de chaines cependant il falut que ciaxare le disposast a aller prendre possession du throsne de medie et a s'en aller a ecbatane il fit pourtant preceder son arrivee par le commandement d'y lever des troupes afin de n'y faire pas long sejour les capadociens furent alors bien affligez de se voir 
 en un mesme temps farts roy et sans reine principalement scachant que leur princesse estoit entre les mains du prince d'assirie prevoyant bien que s'ils retournoient sous la domination des assiriens leur royaume ne seroit plus qu'une province cette crainte n'estoit pourtant pas universelle et il y avoit encore plusieurs personnes qui conservoient une affection secrette pour la nation assirienne aribee a ce que l'on croit avoit tousjours eu cette inclination mesme dans le temps qu'il estoit le plus aime de ciaxare aussi y en a t il qui disent que sa maison est originaire d'assirie quoy qu'il en soit quand le roy fut prest a partir ne soubconnant encore aribee d'aucune trahison il luy envoya commander de se rendre aupres de luy le voulant declarer regent du royaume mais n'osant se confier et craignant que cet honneur apparent ne fust un artifice pour s'assurer de luy il manda a ciaxare qu'il estoit malade et que s'il vouloit luy faire la grace de luy remettre la conduite de la capadoce il n'avoit qu'a luy en envoyer l'ordre cependant le roy estant adverty qu'aribee ne se trouvoit point mal comme il disoit commenca d'entrer en soubcon et donna toute l'authorue a un homme de grande condition nomme ariobante ce qui acheva d'irriter aribee et de le faire resoudre a tout ce qu'il a fait depuis artamene envoya ortalque vers artaxe frere d'aribee luy commander de la part de ciaxare de continuer de servir le roy 
 de pont 
 
 
 
 
ciaxare fut donc a ecbatane et mon maistre l'y accompagna le roy de perse envoya en ce mesme temps un ambassadeur au roy de medie car doresnavant nous appellerons ciaxare ainsi pour s'affliger aveque luy et de la mort d'astiage et de l'enlevement de la princesse sa fille et quelques jours apres un autre pour se resjouir de son heureux advenement a la couronne et pour luy offrir un puissant secours afin de faire la guerre au prince d'assirie ce fut alors seigneur que chrisante se trouva fort embarrasse il ne craignoit pas toutefois que mon maistre fust reconnu car il estoit sans doute arrive un assez grand changement en luy aussi bien qu'en moy qui estois a peu pres de mesme age mais il ne pouvoit pas douter qu'estant beaucoup plus avance en age qu'artamene il ne fust connu pour ce qu'il estoit de sorte qu'il falut malgre luy se resoudre a dire un mensonge il dit donc a ces ambassadeurs persans en termes equivoques que desespere de ne pouvoir remener en perse le prince qu'il en avoit emmene il s'estoit resolu d'errer de cour en cour et de province en province que pendant un voyage qu'il avoit fait en grece il s'estoit donne a artamene et s'estoit attache a sa fortune adusius que vous voyez icy qui estoit un de ces ambassadeurs voulut l'obliger a luy raconter les particularitez du naufrage de cyrus et a luy dire s'il avoit retrouve son corps mais chrisante se demesla de cette conversation 
 avec beaucoup d'adresse luy disant que ceux qui echapent d'un naufrage ne scavent guere ce qui advient a ceux qui y perissent au reste chrisante le pria aussi bien que l'autre ambassadeur de ne dire pas a ciaxare qu'il avoit eu l'honneur d'estre au jeune cyrus de peur que la haine qu'il avoit eue pour ce malheureux prince ne retombast en quelque facon sur luy chrisante luy de manda aussi si la perte de cyrus n'avoit pas extraordinairement afflige le roy et la reine de perse et adusius luy respondit qu'ils en avoient este fort touchez et l'estoient encore mais que comme ils estoient fort sages leur douleur l'estoit aussi de sorte qu'elle ne les empescheroit pas d'assister un prince qui s'estoit rejouy de la perte qu'ils avoient faite qu'ils le faisoient et par generosite et par politique joint qu'apres tout ciaxare n'estoit pas tout a fait condamnable pour ce qu'il avoit fait veu les sentimens d'astiage les predictions des mages que les medes reverent beaucoup et les menaces des astres mais enfin seigneur nous aprismes a quelques jours de la que la reine nitocris estoit morte et que le prince son fils estoit alle a babilone et y avoit mene la princesse mandane en triomphe cette nouvelle affligea encore artamene car tant que la reine nitocris eust vescu il eust este bien plus aise de delivrer la princesse r estant a croire que cette excellente reine n'auroit jamais protege une injustice bien qu'elle fust commise par 
 son fils mais voyant que pour delivrer mandane il faloit prendre la premiere ville du monde et renverser toute l'asie il s'en affligea infiniment ce n'est pas que la grandeur de l'entreprise l'estonnast mais c'est qu'il aprehendoit que le long temps qu'il faudroit pour l'execution d'un si grand dessein ne donnait loisir au roy d'assirie d'avoir recours a quelque violente resolution contre la princesse cependant ciaxare ayant accepte l'offre du roy de perse adusius s'en retourna en diligence pour en advertir le roy son maistre et de toutes parts l'on ne songea plus qu'a se preparer a la guerre le roy d'affine qui n'ignoroit pas les apres qui se faisoient parmy les medes commenca d'agir de son coste mazare prince des saces qui comme vous scavez estoit son vassal et qui estoit alors dans babilone luy promit assistance et vous n'ignorez pas seigneur que le roy d'arabie fit ce que vous fistes c'est a dire qu'il prit le party du roy d'assirie aussi est-ce plustost au genereux thrasibule que je parle presentement qu'a toute cette illustre compagnie n'y ayant que luy qui ignore tout ce qui me reste a dire le roy d'hircanie interrompant alors feraulas luy dit qu'en effet c'estoit a thrasibule qu'il devoit d'oresnavant adresser la parole que neantmoins quoy qu'il sceust une bonne partie de ce qu'il avoit encore a raconter il ne laisseroit pas d'estre bien aise de s'en rafraichir la memoire thrasibule remercia le roy d'hircanie de la 
 bonte qu'il avoit pour luy et feraulas reprit son discours de cette sorte le roy d'assirie se preparant donc a la guerre suffi bien que nous fut non seulement assure du secours du roy de lydie de celuy du roy d'hircanie et de celuy du roy d'arabie mais encore du prince des saces de celuy des paphlagoniens et des indiens pour le roy de phrigie il fut aussi puissamment solicite de prendre le party de celuy d'assirie suivant le traitte de paix qu'il avoit fait avec la reine nitocris mais comme il avoit guerre contre cresus et que ce prince devoit assister le roy d'assirie aussi bien que luy il fit dire au ravisseur de mandane qu'il estoit prest de le secourir pourveu que ses troupes ne fussent point meslees avec celles des lydiens ses ennemis ce qu'on luy promit et ce qu'on ne luy tint pas ce prince eust bien voulu ne se trouver pas engage dans le party du roy d'affine mais n'ayant pas ratifie le traite de paix du roy de pont qui l'eust engage en celuy de ciaxare il se resolut a ce qu'il ne pouvoit empescher pour le roy de pont il n'estoit pas en estat de prendre party car il avoit une guerre civile dans son royaume qui l'occupoit estrangement et qui le destruira sans doute si elle ne l'a desja destruit voila donc seigneur bien des rois et bien des princes engagez dans le party le plus injuste de plus aribee voyant le roy d'assirie en possession du throsne de ses peres acheva de se declarer et publiant dans 
 la province dont il estoit gouverneur que la princesse avoit consenty a son enlevement il leva des troupes r'apella artaxe son frere que l'on avoit envoye pour secourir le roy de pont malgre les derniers ordres du roy et acheva peut-estre de destruire ce prince par la ayant donc fait un corps considerable il l'envoya a babilone outre cela le roy d'assirie depescha un ambassadeur a cresus comme je l'ay dit pour le soliciter de se joindre a son armee luy representant que les persans et les medes estoient deux nations qui estant jointes pouvoient aspirer a la domination universelle de toute l'asie que de plus il y avoit tousjours eu alliance entre les rois de lydie et ceux d'affine qu'ainsi luy demandant du secours en une occasion ou il s'agissoit en effet de la cause commune quoy qu'en aparence la guerre ne se fist que pour l'enlevement de la princesse mandane il ne devoit pas le luy refuser qu'au reste la consideration des droits du sang ne le devoit point arrester puis que s'il faisoit la guerre contre ciaxare il la seroit aussi pour mandane qu'il n'avoit enlevee qu'avec intention de luy mettre la couronne d'affine sur la teste enfin tout le monde scait que cresus ce laissa persuader ainsi artamene aprit que son ennemy avoit de son party les saces les hircaniens les arrabes ceux de la basse et haute phrigie les lydiens une partie des capadociens quelques peuples des indiens les paphlagoniens les siriens et les assiriens nous 
 sceusmes encore qu'il avoit voulu engager ceux de la carie dans sa cause et qu'ils l'avoient refuse cependant le roy de perse solicite puissamment par la reine sa femme soeur de ciaxare choisit deux cens homotimes ce sont les plus nobles d'entre les persans et a chacun de ces deux cens hommes il donna permission d'en prendre quatre autres de mesme qualite de sorte que de cette facon ce furent mille homotimes en fuite dequoy cambise ordonna que chacun de ces mille levast parmy le peuple dix rondeliers dix archers et dix jetteurs de fondes si bien que cela faisoit trente mille hommes sans les homotimes mais trente mille hommes choisis qui en valoient bien cinquante mille hidaspe que vous voyez eut la conduite de ce puissant secours et adusius fut son lieutenant general ciaxare comme vous pouvez penser le receut avec beaucoup de joye et artamene en eut une si sensible que je ne vous la scaurois exprimer cependant comme il envoyoit tousjours aux nouvelles l'on sceut de certitude que cresus meneroit dix mille chevaux et quarante mille hommes de pied archers ou rondeliers que le roy de phrigie auroit fix mille chevaux et vingt mille piquiers ou rondeliers qu'aribee envoyoit de capadoce quatre mille chevaux et dix mille hommes d'infanterie que maragdus roy d'arrabie pretendoit avoir cinq mille chevaux dix mille hommes de pied et cent chariots armez les hircaniens devoient avoir aussi cent 
 chariots et quatre mille jetteurs de fonde les cadusiens huit mille hommes de pied les indiens autant et les paphlagoniens quatre mille seulement et outre cela le roy d'assirie avoit vingt mille chevaux et quarante mille hommes de pied de sorte que de cette facon s'estoit quarante cinq mille chevaux et pres de cent cinquante mille hommes d'infanterie sans les chariots de nostre coste nous avions dix mille chevaux et cinquante mille hommes de pied archers ou rondeliers tous sujets naturels de ciaxare sans y comprendre les troupes que fournirent la province des arisantins celle des struchates et deux autres qui toutes quatre ensemble firent encore dix mille chevaux et quinze mille hommes de pied de sorte que si vous joignez a tout cela les trente mille hommes de perse les mille homotimes et cinq mille chevaux et dix mille hommes d'infanterie d'une partie de la capadoce qui n'estoit pas revoltee vous trouverez que nostre armee estoit sans doute assez belle elle n'estoit pourtant pas si forte que celle du roy d'affine puis qu'elle n'estoit que de vingt cinq mille chevaux et de cent mille hommes de pied sans aucuns chariots armez bien est il vray que l'on peut conter pour quelque chose d'avantageux d'avoir trente mille hommes d'infanterie persienne et dix mille de cavalerie medoise aussi mon maistre ne parut il point estonne de cette inesgalite ny de ce grand nombre de rois qu'il avoit a combattre au contraire reprenant 
 un nouveau coeur en une occasion si importante et qui luy pouvoit estre si glorieuse quoy que la captivite de sa princesse l'affligeast infiniment neantmoins l'esperance qu'il avoit de l'aller delivrer ou du moins mourir pour elle faisoit que plus aisement il devenoit maistre de son chagrin en renfermant une partie dans son ame et quoy qu'il ne fust pas encore connu des medes sa reputation sa bonne mine sa douceur sa couttoisie et sa liberalite luy aquirent bien-tost un si grand credit parmy eux qu'il en estoit adore ce fut en ce temps la que commenca l'amitie qu'il eut pour araspe et celle qu'aglatidas eut pour luy mais j'avois oublie de vous dire qu'harpage qui avoit tousjours demeure en perse depuis le depart de cyrus voulant revenir en son pais se servit de cette occasion apres la mort d'astiage qui l'avoit exile et revint en medie avec hidaspe qui fit sa paix aupres de ciaxare a la recommandation de la reine de perse sans qu'il reconnust non plus cyrus que les persans le connurent enfin pour abreger un discours qui sembleroit trop long a tant d'illustres personnes qui ont veu une partie des choses que j'ay encore a dire l'armee de ciaxare marcha artamene estant son lieutenant general et commandant l'avant-garde comme nous fusmes prests d'entrer dans le pais ennemy artamene vit a sa droite une grande aigle qui volant avec rapidite sembla prendre la route de babilone comme si elle eust voulu 
 luy monstrer le chemin qu'il devoit suivre le vol de cet oyseau fut regarde comme une chose d'un heureux presage et ciaxare ayant fait faire alte fit offrir des sacrifices non seulement aux dieux des medes et des persans mais encore a ceux des assiriens afin de le les rendre tous propices et favorables je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire quelle fut la marche de nostre armee ny comment artamene par sa prudence et par sa conduite fit que tout ce grand corps ne souffrit point durant ce voyage je vous diray donc seulement que mon maistre qui mouroit d'impatience de faire quelques prisonniers pour pouvoir aprendre par eux des nouvelles de mandane voyant que des que les coureurs des ennemis paroissoient et qu'il vouloit aller a eux ils laschoient le pied et ne vouloient point combatte s'advisa d'une ruse qui luy reussit ce fut de faire faire le soir grand nombre de feux assez loing derriere l'endroit ou nostre arme estoit campee et de n'en faire point au lieu ou elle estoit de sorte que les coureurs des ennemis venant la nuit pour le reconnoistre ou pour tascher de surprendre quelques uns des nostres se trouverent eux mesmes estrangement surpris lors que venant a rencontrer nos troupes ils trouverent si pres ceux qu'ils croyoient beaucoup plus loing quelques prisonniers ayant donc este faits nous sceusmes que le roy d'assire devoit laisser dans peu de jours la princesse a babilone sous la gaide de mazare et qu'il seroit 
 bien tost a la teste de son annee accompagne des rois d'hircanie de lydie de phrigie et d'arrabie mais quelque impatience qu'eust artamene de se voir aux mains avec le roy d'assirie que nous n'appellerons plus philidaspe il ne put pas aller si viste qu'il pensoit car il trouva que ceux qui avoient fuy devant luy a diverses fois avoient repasse la riviere du ginde qui descendant des montagnes mantianes passe au travers des dardaniens et se va decharger dans le tigre pour s'aller rendre avec luy dans le sein persique or seigneur cette riviere est fort rapide de sorte que les troupes assiriennes ayant rompu le pont sur lequel on la pouvoit passer artamene arrivant au bord de ce fleuve au dela duquel il voyoit des gens de guerre fut au desespoir de voir qu'il estoit impossible deleguayer il ne se laissa pourtant persuader cette verite qu'apres une experience qui luy pensa estre funeste car emporte par son grand coeur et par son amour il poussa son cheval jusques au milieu du fleuve ou la rapidite de l'eau le pensa faire perir comme il fut revenu au bord il y eut un de ces chevaux blancs qui parmy nous sont consacrez au soleil qui fauta brusquement de luy mesme dans la riviere pour la passer mais il y fut englouty si bien qu'artamene ne scachant quelle voye prendre pour passer ce fleuve s'advisa d'un moyen veritablement fort extraordinaire mais aussi fort infaillible qui fut de faire des canaux pour le diviser enfin il proposa la chose et l'executa 
 et en huit jours il fit faire un travail si prodigieux que tous les siecles en parleront avec estonnement car amusant tousjours les ennemis par sa presence au bord de cette riviere il fit faire un grand rampart de terre pour cacher ses pionniers aux assiriens afin qu'ils ne vissent pas ce qu'ils faisoient et ayant fait aprofondir cent soixante canaux qui aboutissoient a ce fleuve il fit cent soixante petits ruisseaux d'une fort grande riviere qu'il traversa apres sans aucune peine suivy de toute son armee ce prodige surprit d'une telle sorte les troupes assiriennes qui estoient de l'autre coste de l'eau qu'elles n'y rendirent aucun combat et s'en allerent en desordre porter le frayeur dans le corps de leur armee leur semblant qu'il n'y avoit que les dieux qui pussent changer le cours des fleuves et ne pouvant pas s'imaginer apres cela qu'il y eust rien d'impossible a artamene en effet je suis persuade qu'il estoit peu de choses qui pussent resister au courage d'un homme comme luy que l'amour animoit d'une ardeur vrayement heroique comme artamene fut paffe de l'autre coste de cette riviere il en eut une extreme joye s'imaginant que puis qu'il n'y avoit plus qu'a combatre pour arriver devant babilone rien ne l'en pouvoit plus empescher nous marchasmes donc droit a l'ennemy qui de son coste s'estoit aussi advance vers nous avec assez de diligence nous estions pourtant encore a deux journees de luy lors que nous vismes arriver un 
 vieillard de fort bonne mine suivy detrois cens chevaux qui demanda a parler a artamene et qui luy ayant apris en peu de mots les justes sujets qu'il avoit de se plaindre du roy d'assine luy dit qu'il venoit demander protection a ciaxare et luy offrir tout ce qui estoit en sa puissance enfin gobrias qui est presentement a sinope offrit a artamene de remettre son estat sous son pouvoir comme en effet il le fit peu de jours apres et la princesse arpasie sa fille qui est une des plus belles personnes du monde receut artamene magnifiquement par le commandement de son pere dans une forte place qui luy apartient et dont artamene le fit pourtant laisser en possession mais seigneur ce n'est pas icy ou je me dois arrester quoy qu'il y eust de belles choses a dire ce fut encore en ce mesme temps que le sage gobrias engagea gadate dans le party de ciaxare neantmoins sans m'arrester a rien qu'a ce qui regarde directement artamene je ne vous diray point non plus comment le roy d'affine ayant donne un juste sujet au vaillant roy d'hircanie et au prince des cadusiens de quitter son party ces deux princes se rangerent de celuy de ciaxare ou plustost de celuy d'artamene estant certain que la reputation de mon maistre fut la plus puissante raison qui obligea tous ces grands princes a se fier en sa parole je ne vous diray point que le roy de chipre luy envoya aussi des troupes sous la conduite de thimocrate et de philocles mais je 
 vous diray donc seulement que les deux armees estant en presence et le jour de bataille estant venu artamene fit tout ce qu'il faloit faire pour preparer ses troupes a vaincre il les loua il les flata et il leur commanda de le suivre d'un air il imperieux et si obligeant tout ensemble qu'il n'y eut pas un soldat qui n'eust envie de luy obeir en effet quand ces deux grandes armees furent hors de leurs retranchemens et que de part et d'autre les chariots armez les rondeliers les archers les tireurs de fondes les piquiers et ceux qui lancent des javelots ou qui se servent de l'espee seule furent rangez en bataille artamene au lieu de leur faire un long discours pour les encourager ne leur dit autre chose sinon qui fera-ce ma compagnons qui me devancera qui d'entre vous me previendra a tuer le premier de nos ennemis et qui sera ce enfin qui surpassera artamene allons mes compagnons leur dit il car je vous profite que je n'auray pas moins de joye de voir que vous me surmontiez en valeur que j'en auray a vaincre les assriens ce peu de paroles prononcees par un homme comme artamene firent un si grand effet dans le coeur des soldats qu'ils firent retentir l'air de voix eclatantes dont le son ressembloit assez a un chant de victoire et de triomphe ce jour la ciaxare par le conseil d'artamene voulut que le mot de la bataille fust jupiter protecteur de sorte que le combat commencant il se fit un si grand bruit de part et 
 d'autre par la confusion des cris par le fracas des armes et des traits et par le hannissement des chevaux qu'il n'est presque rien de plus estonnant mais seigneurs vous le scavez tous a la reserve de thrasibule c'est pourquoy je vous diray donc seulement sans vous particulariser cette grande journee qu'artamene ayant cherche le roy d'assirie avec beaucoup de foin le trouva enfin s'estant fait dire par un prisonnier en quel endroit il devoit combattre le rencontrant donc dans la meslee voyons luy dit il voyons si le roy d'affine est plus vaillant que philidaspe et s'il me fera aussi aise de luy oster la vie qu'il me le fut de la luy conserver dans la forest ou je le trouvay ce prince entendant ce discours se retourna brusquement et reconnoissant mon maistre a la voix artamene luy dit il le roy d'assirie n'est peutestre pas plus vaillant que philidaspe mais il est du moins plus civil puis que tout roy qu'il paroist aujourd'huy il ne laisse pas de vouloir encore mesurer son espee avec la tienne bien que tu ne passes que pour un simple chevalier avance donc luy cria mon maistre qui voyoit que ce prince balancait sur ce qu'il devoit faire et fois assure que le ravisseur de mandane s'est bien plus deshonnore en l'enlevant qu'en se battant contre artamene je ne devrois pas te combattre luy respondit encore ce prince puis que je te dois la vie mais qu'y serois je un sentiment secret qui me pousse a se 
 hair est plus fort que ma generosite a ces mots ils s'approcherent et se batirent l'espee d'artamene fut teinte du sang de ce prince et fila foule et la confusion du combat general ne les eust separez la mort du roy d'assirie eust a mon advis fini la guerre mais enfin estant arrive que le bruit s'epandit dans ses troupes qu'il estait mort ou prisonnier il y eut un desordre qui n'eut jamais de semblable les uns combatoient les autres fuyoient les rois alliez croyant le roy d'assirie mort se retirerent cresus fit partir tous ses gens et les suivit et prenant le chemin des montagnes sauva du moins le reste de ses troupes de la deroute generale le roy de phrigie qui avoit eu sujet de mescontentement parce qu'une partie des siennes avoit este mise en mesme corps que celles du roy de lydie contre ce qu'on luy avoit promis et qui estoit tousjours amoureux de la gloire d'artamene se retira et se retrancha en un lieu fort avantageux pour voir quelle suitte auroit nostre victoire le prince de paphlagonie fut fait prisonnier et presque tout ce qu'il y avoit de personnes considerables en l'armee d'assirie perirent ou changerent de party enfin seigneur poursuivit feraulas parlant tousjours a thrasibule l'on eust dit que les dieux combatoient pour artamene estant certain qu'il ne s'est jamais veu tant de grands princes ensemble opiniastrer si peu la victoire ce n'est pas apres tout qu'elle ne fust tousjours difficile a remporter parce qu'encore que tous 
 n'eust pas bien combatu il y en avoit tousjours eu assez pour donner bien de la peine veu l'inegalite du nombre il est certain que sans flater les persans les homotimes firent des miracles en cette occasion et que la cavalerie medoise aussi bien que celle des hircaniens y fit un merveilleux effet cependant dans ce grand desordre le roy d'assirie qui en toute autre rencontre le seroit peut-estre fait tuer avant que de lascher le pied se retira des qu'il eut perdu l'espoir de vaincre et que maragdus roy d'arrabie eut este tue apres de luy craignant sans doute que si le bruit de sa desfaite eust devance son retour a babilone il n'y fust arrive quelque esmotion qui eust pu faire sauver la princesse cette prompte retraite fut certainement ce qui confirma le bruit de sa mort les troupes capadociennes craignant de tomber sous la puissance de ciaxare c'est a dire sous celle d'un maistre justement irrite furent celles qui se joignirent a une partie des assiriennes pour faire escorte au roy d'assirie et je ne souviens que mon maistre ayant veu fuir ces capadociens se mit a leur crier en les poursuivant pour quoy fuyez vous avec les vaincus et que ne venez vous plustost triompher avec les vainqueurs mais ce fut en vain qu'il leur parla pour les faire revenir a luy la honte et la crainte empeschant leur repentir de vous dire maintenant le nombre des morts celuy des prisonniers l'abondance des armes et des chevaux le grand nombre de chariots de tentes et 
 toute la richesse du butin ce seroit une chose inutile mais je vous diray seulement qu'artamene obligea ciaxare a le donner tout entier aux soldats et qu'en son particulier il ne se reserva que la liberte de pouvoir donner plus ou moins selon qu'il connoissoit que les capitaines en estoient dignes tous les homotimes ny tous les persans ne se chargerent point de butin artamene voulut pourtant que les premiers acoustumez a combatre a pied prissent les plus beaux chevaux des ennemis et de cette sorte il fit la premiere cavalerie persienne qui eust este veue en asie mais enfin quoy que cette deffaite de tant de rois et l'amitie qu'il avoit contractee avec tant de princes qui en sa consideration avoient pris le party du roy de medie deust en quelque sorte le satisfaire neantmoins le roy d'assirie n'estant ny mort ny prisonnier et la princesse estant tousjours dans babilone il luy sembloit certainement qu'il n'avoit encore rien fait aussi ne fut il pas long temps en repos et deux jours apres la bataille on prit le chemin debabilone nous sceusmes en y allant que le roy de lydie s'estoit estectiuement retire et que celuy de phrigie quoy que mescontent du roy des assiriens attendoit pourtant comme je l'ay desja dit de voir comment iroient les choies mais comme mon maistre eust bien voulu oster un si puissant appuy a son ennemy il detacha un corps considerable sous la conduite d'hidaspe pour aller combattre ce prince 
 et en effet la chose reussit si heureusement a hidaspe qu'apres plusieurs combats il forca les retranchemens du roy de phrigie et fit mesme ce prince prisonnier mais comme artamene luy avoit de l'obligation du temps de la guerre de bithinie il obligea ciaxare a le bien traiter il luy laissa le commandement de ce qui luy restoit de troupes apres sa destaite a condition mesme qu'elles ne serviroient point au siege de babilone le roy de phrigie ne pouvant se resoudre disoit il de combatre celuy qu'il estoit venu secourir en effet artamene les envoya en attendant avec autant de troupes de medie s'assurer seulement d'un passage qui estoit egalement advantageux au roy de phrigie s'il vouloit s'en retourner et a ciaxare pour n'estre pas attaque de ce coste la il fit encore rendre la liberte au prince de paphlagonie qui depuis ne l'a point abandonne enfin seigneur nous arrivasmes a veue de la superbe babilone mais quoy que mon maistre j'eust trouvee tres forte lors qu'il y avoit este elle la luy sembla encore davantage a cette seconde fois tant parce qu'il s'y connoissoit mieux que parce qu'il y avoit un interest bien plus puissant d'abord qu'il aperceut ce magnifique palais qui s'esleve au milieu de babilone c'est la me dit il feraulas qu'il faut aller et qu'il faut delivrer mandane d'abord il environna toute la ville avec ses troupes afin d'empescher que personne n'en sortist et de bien 
 reconnoistre par ou il la faudrait attaquer mais a vous dire la verite les murailles en sont si hautes si espaisses et si fortes que les beliers n'y pouvoient rien faire joint que de grands et larges fossez pleins d'eau empeschoient que l'on n'en peust approcher pour se servir de ces machines de plus il sembloit aussi impossible de la pouvoir attaquer par le fleuve a cause de ce merveilleux ouvrage que la reine nicocris avoit fait par lequel elle avoit rendu l'euphrate tournoyant beaucoup au dessus de l'endroit par ou il entre dans la ville pour la traverser afin de rompre l'impetuosite de ce fleuve et de faire que l'on ne peust pas aborder a babilone si facilement car de cette facon l'euphrate serpentant comme il faisoit il eust este impossible a ceux de la ville d'estre surpris par des bateaux chargez de gens de guerre ces detours estant si longs qu'il faloit un jour entier pour arriver a babilone depuis le lieu ou ils commencoient je ne m'arresteray point a vous decrire ce siege exactement a vous dire quel prodigieux travail fut celuy de faire la circonvalation d'une ville si grande combien de tours artamene fit eslever de distance en distance tant pour assurer son campement et pour fortifier ses lignes que pour descouvrir ce que faisoient les ennemis derriere leurs murailles comment ces tours estoient sur des pilotis de bois de palmier d'une hauteur prodigieuse ny toutes les machines qu'il fit preparer pour ce siege je ne vous diray pas 
 non plus combien la valeur de mazare parut aux diverses sorties que firent les assiegez ny combien celle de mon maistre se fit voir a les repousser mais je vous diray en peu de mots que tout ce que l'on peut faire pour attaquer une place fut fait inutilement contre babilone artamene desespere de cela voyant que l'hyver commencoit et que contre l'ordinaire la campagne estoit desja couverte de neige ne scavoit plus quelle resolution prendre car encore qu'il y eust une multitude infinie de gens dans cette ville assiegee l'on scavoit toutefois qu'il y avoit des vivres pour tres longtemps ainsi il n'y avoit presque nul espoir de la prendre ny par la force ny par la faim si ce n'estoit dans un terme si long que la pensee en faisoit frayeur a mon maistre en ce malheureux estat il s'avisa d'une choie qui luy redonna quelque espoir et il ne creut pas que l'euphrateluy resistast plus que le fleuve du ginde de sorte qu'il fit faire avec le consentement du roy deux grandes tranchees qui aboutissoient a l'euphrate mais auparavant que d'achever d'ouvrir ces tranchees et de donner pastage a l'eau du fleuve il fit mettre vingt mille hommes proche de l'endroit par ou l'euphrate entre dans la ville se mettant luy mesme a leur teste et en envoya autant au lieu par ou ce fleuve fort de babilone les choses estant en cet estat il donna alors le signal d'ouvrir les tranchees un peu devant la nuit de sorte qu'en moins de deux heures ce fleuve s'estant 
 rendu gueable il marcha le premier dans l'eau jusques aux genoux malgre l'incommodite de la saison car les chevaux ne font pas propres quand on veut surprendre une ville et animant par son exemple tous ceux qui avoient ordre ce le suivre ils entrerent courageusement et avec impetuosite dans la superbe babilone l'attaque fut faite par les deux bouts de la ville en un mesme instant hidaspe n'ayant pas este moins diligent qu'artamene mon maistre afin de pouvoir agir plus seurement et de pouvoir aller droit au palais ou il avoit sceu par des prisonniers que la princesse avoit toujours loge prit avec luy le prince gadate et un des officiers de gobrias afin de le conduire droit ou il vouloit aller je ne vous representeray point la surprise des habitans l'effroyable desordre de cette nuit les combats qu'il falut rendre en quelques en droits la facilite qu'artamene trouva en d'autres et comme quoy une grande sedition qui estoit dans leur ville aida a leur perte je ne vous diray pas non plus de combien de voix l'air retentissoit la desolation des femmes et l'estonnement universel du peuple mais je vous diray qu'artamene sans songer a rien qu'a mandane se fit conduire en diligence au palais d'abord les gardes firent quelque resistance mais tout d'un coup un d'entre eux ayant crie que le roy estoit sauve ils abandonnerent les portes jetterent leurs armes et laisserent artamene maistre du palais mais o dieux ce fut en vain 
 qu'il appella et qu'il fut chercher mandane il ne vit ny le roy d'assirie ny la princesse et ne put mesme trouver personne qui luy peust dire ce qu'ils estoient devenus pour hidaspe selon le commandement que luy avoit fait artamene il s'estoit assure de toutes les places publiques avoit avance des corps de gardes en divers en droits et s'estoit tenu toute la nuit sous les armes de sorte qu'a la pointe du jour plus de la moitie de l'armee de ciaxarese trouva dans la ville et artamene se vit maistre de babilone a la reserve de deux chasteaux qui se rendirent des le mesme jour mais ny dans le palais des rois ny dans les chasteaux ny dans les temples ny mesme dans les maisons car artamene chercha et fit chercher par tout le roy d'assirie ny la princesse mandane ne se trouverent point et il y eut seulement quelques unes des femmes assiriennes que l'on avoit mises aupres de la princesse et qui ne l'avoient pas suivie qui dirent qu'a l'entree de la nuit le roy accompagne de plusieurs des siens l'estoit venue prendre dans sa chambre avec les deux filles de capadoce qu'elle avoit tousjours avec elle et l'avoit fait descendre par un escalier derobe qui respondoit dans le jardin sans qu'elles pussent dire ce qu'ils estoient devenus de vous representer seigneur le despoir de mon maistre ce seroit une chose impossible quoy disoit il les dieux ont donc resolu de me faire souffrir tous les malheurs les plus insuportables quoy je ne delivreray donc 
 point ma princesse et je ne puniray point mon rival ha feraulas cela n'est pas possible en fin seigneur il fut a propos que ciazare et tant de grands princes qui l'acompagnoient donnassent tous les ordres necessaires pour remettre le calme en cette grande ville car pour mon maistre mandane estoit la seule chose ou il pouvoit penser l'on fut un mois tout entier sans scavoir ce que le roy d'assirie estoit devenu non plus que la princesse mandane pendant le quel artamene souffrit tout ce que l'on peut souffrir helas me disoit il quelquefois a quoy me fert de gagner des batailles de prendre des villes et de renverser des royaumes si je ne puis pas seulement delivrer ma princesse et punir son ravisseur encore si ce n'estoit pas de ma main qu'elle fust en sa puissance je serois moins afflige mais qu'il faille que par ma valeur le roy d'assirie ait enleve ma princesse et que cette mesme valeur ne puisse faire que je le tue ny que je la delivre c'est ce qui vient a bout de toute ma patience car enfin sauver la vie de son ennemy attaque par onze chevaliers et ne la luy pouvoir oster en un jour ou tant d'autres aussi vaillans que luy ont senty la pesanteur de mes coups c'est feraulas c'est ce qui me fait voir que les dieux ont resolu ma perte et que je n'ay qu'a m'y preparer l'oubliois de vous dire que nous trouvasmes dans babilone grand nombre de dames de tres grande condition qui ayant este traitees avec beaucoup de respect parce 
 qu'artamene avant que d'entrer dans la ville avoit commande expressement que l'on ne fist aucune violence aux femmes vinrent le remercier et l'assurer que la princesse mandane luy rendroit grace du bon traitement qu'elles avoient receu de luy a ce nom mon maistre redoubla la civilite qu'il avoit desja eue pour elles et il eut du moins la satisfaction d'entendre dire autant de bien de mandane dans babilone qu'il en eust pu entendre dans themiscire et qu'il en pouvoit penser luy mesme estant certain que cette princesse s'y estoit fait adorer artamene aprit de ces dames que son rival l'avoit tous jours traitee avec beaucoup de respect du moins a ce qu'elles en avoient veu mais elles dirent a mon maistre que depuis le commencement du siege personne n'avoit plus aproche de la princesse nulle dame n'ayant eu la permission d'entrer au palais je ne vous dis point seigneur toutes les diverses reflexions que mon maistre fit sur toutes ces choses car cela feroit trop long le vous diray donc seulement qu'il y avoit des momens ou il ne scavoit pas trop bien s'il avoit plus de douleur d'aprendre que son rival eust eu quelque rigueur pour mandane pendant le siege de babilone que de ce qu'il l'avoit bien traitee auparavant et je pense a dire la verite que ce que ces dames avoient dit pensant dire une chose agreable a tous ceux qui estoient du party de ciaxare ne pleut pas trop a artamene tant il est vray que la jalousie trouble la raison et tant 
 il est vray qu'il est difficile de s'en deffendre mesme aux personnes les plus raisonnables mais enfin seigneur l'on aporta tant de soing a s'informer de ce qu'estoit devenu le roy d'assirie que l'on sceut qu'il s'estoit retire a pterie dont aribee estoit gouverneur que mazare l'avoit escorte qu'aribee son ancien amy l'avoit receu dans cette ville et que la princesse estoit fort estroitement gardee en ce lieu la cependant nous ne sceusmes point alors et nous ne scavons point encore aujourd'huy comment il put sortir de babilone cette nouvelle donna d'abord beaucoup de joye a artamene qui obligea ciaxare a faire decamper son armee qui estoit tousjours a l'entour de cette superbe ville apres y avoir laisse une puissante garnison et donne tous les ordres necessaires pour la conserver nous marchasmes donc en diligence vers pterie et quoy que cette marche fust assez longue nos troupes ne souffrirent pas extremement tant la prudence d'artamene songeoit sagement a toutes choses mais seigneur comme nous fusmes a trois journees de cette ville la joye que mon maistre avoit eue de penser qu'il scavoit du moins ou estoit sa princesse et son rival fut un peu diminuee car nous sceusmes que le roy d'assirie le prince mazare et aribee avoient conduit la princesse a sinope artamene venant donc a considerer que cette ville estoit au bord de la mer a qu'a moins que d'avoir une armee navalle il estoit impossible de l'assieger 
 celuy fut un redoublement de douleur estrange car en fin ciaxare n'en avoit point et mesme n'en pouvoit pas avoir si tost en estat de servir cependant il estoit inutile de venir assieger sinope sans cela puis que lors qu'on auroit presse la ville du coste de terre le roy d'assirie eust tousjours pu se sauver par la mer et emmener la princesse qui estoit la choie du monde qui artamene aprehendoit le plus cette facheuse circonstance qui faisoit qu'avec une armee de plus de cent mille homes il n'osoit assieger sinope luy causoit une douleur que l'on ne scauroit exprimer desespere donc qu'il estoit il proposa a ciaxare de m'envoyer deguise dans sinope afin de tasscher de gagner quelqu'un et d'essayer apres de prendre cette ville par intelligence ciaxare ne pouvant mieux faire y consentit et j'obtins ce que j'avois demande car seigneur ce fut moy qui en fis la premiere proposition a mon maistre le m'en vins donc icy apres m'estre desguise en persan et comme nous avions demeure assez longtemps a sinope j'y avois sans doute beaucoup d'amis mais entre les autres artucas qui est encore presentement icy et qui est parent de martesie m'avoit tousjours assez aime quoy qu'il fust aucunement attache au service d'aribee comme je fus entre dans la ville et que je me fus cache chez un homme qui m'estoit fidelle je sceus qu'il me seroit impossible de faire rien dire a la princesse comme j'en avois eu le dessein si j'apris que l'on tenoit tousjours des 
 galeres en estat de ramer et des vaisseaux tous prests a faire voile en cas que l'on en eust besoin principalement depuis que le roy d'assirie avoit sceu que nous estions si pres de luy l'apris aussi qu'encore qu'artucas fust capitaine d'une des portes de la ville il n'avoit pas fort aprouve la revolte d'aribee et qu'il trouvoit fort estrange que la princesse fust prisonniere dans une ville qui estoit a elle je sceus encore que le prince mazare en avoit tous les soing s possibles et qu'il adoucissoit autant qu'il pouvoit l'humeur violente du roy d'assirie enfin apres m'estre bien consulte sur ce que j'avois a faire je fus un soir chez artucas qui ne fut pas peu surpris de me voir apres les premiers complimens l'ayant entretenu en particulier je luy fis comprendre qu'il estoit engage dans un mauvais party non seulement parce qu'il estoit injuste mais encore parce qu'il estoit destruit en un mot je luy dis tant de choses que je le rendis capable de prendre la resolution de tromper aribee afin d'estre fidelle a son roy nous convinsmes donc qu'il livreroit la porte du coste du temple de mars precisement au jour et a l'heure que je luy marquay de sorte qu'estant sorty de sinope et estant retourne au camp je donnay une joye a mon maistre qui n'eut jamais de semblable vous scavez seigneur poursuivit feraulas adressant la parole au roy d'hircanie que la resolution fut prise qu'artamene viendroit avec quatre mille hommes seulement 
 afin de surprendre sinope et que ciaxare suivroit le lendemain avec toute l'armee mais mon maistre s'estant avance pour executer cette importante entreprise vit au sortir d'un vallon tournoyant que la ville qu'il pensoit venir surprendre estoit toute enflamee et il creut que la princesse y avoit pery vous avez sceu comment au lieu de destruire sinope nous sauvasmes le peu qui en reste comment nous estaignismes le feu comment aribee combatit comment il pensa estre accable et comment estant arrivez au pied de la tour du chasteau le genereux thrasibule que vous voyez en ouvrit la porte et dit a mon maistre qu'il y avoit en ce lieu la une illustre perfonne qui avoit besoing de secours vous n'ignorez pas qu'artamene estant monte en diligence au haut de cette tour croyant que ce fust sa princesse ne trouva que son rival en ce lieu la et vous scavez sans doute aussi comment mon maistre vit une galere dans laquelle le roy d'assirie luy dit que le prince mazare enlevoit mandane 
 
 
 
 
enfin feraulas qui voulut principalement faire connoistre a ces princes que son maistre n'avoit pas eu une intelligence criminelle avec le roy d'assirie apres leur avoir conte toutes les agitations d'esprit de ces deux rivaux pendant qu'ils regardoient cette galere du haut de cette tour et que la tempeste duroit leur raconta fort exactement toute la conversation du roy d'assirie et d'artamene sur le haut de cette 
 mesme tour leur faisant comprendre que la promesse qu'artamene avoit faite n'estoit point contre le service du roy et que l'interest de son amour estoit la seule chose qui luy avoit fait supprimer la lettre du roy d'assirie en suitte il leur repassa legerement la suitte de ce prince a pterie comment il avoit escrit a artamene et la raison pour laquelle artamene avoit cache cette lettre a ciaxare pat quelle voye sa response estoit venue entre les mains du roy comment artamene avoit creu et croyoit presque encore absolument que la princesse avoit pery comment il avoit trouve mazare a demy noye et enfin tout ce qui estoit advenu jusques a l'arrivee de ciaxare et jusques a la prison d'artamene en suitte dequoy il les conjura de regarder ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire pour la conservation d'un homme si illustre car leur dit il seigneurs tout ce que chrisante et moy vous avons raconte n'est que pour vous donner une legere connoissance de sa vertu estant certain qu'elle est beaucoup au dessus de tout ce que l'on en peut dire et mesme de tout ce que l'on peut penser feraulas ayant finy son recit laissa tous ces illustres auditeurs avec tant d'admiration de la merveilleuse vie d'artamene et tant de joye de ne s'estre pas trompez au jugement qu'ils avoient fait de son innocence qu'ils ne pouvoient s'empescher d'en donner des tesmoignages l'avois bien creu disoit le roy d'hircanie 
 qu'artamene ne pouvoit estre criminel fit je n'avois point doute adjoustoit persode qu'il ne fust absolument innocent le mal est reprenoit hidaspe qu'on ne peut le justifier aupres de ciaxare du crime dont il l'accuse qu'en j'accusant d'un autre qui ne l'irritera guere moins et je doute mesme interrompit chrisante s'il n'aimeroit point encore mieux qu'il eust une intelligence secrette avec le roy d'assirie qu'avec la princesse mandane si la princesse estoit morte respondit adusius je ne serois pas de difficulte de justifier artamene en descouvrant son amour mais si par bonheur elle estoit vivante reprit feraulas mon maistre ne pardonneroit jamais a chrisante et a moy d'avoir descouvert sa passion a ciaxare pour moy adjousta thrasibule je trouve qu'il est a propos d'agir avec beaucoup de prudence en cette rencontre et de ne descouvrir l'amour d'artamene que lors que l'on fera resolu de descouvrir sa condition mais la connoissance de sa condition repliqua chrisante est encore une chose assez dangereuse a donner au roy aussi ne suis je pas d'opinion interrompit le roy d'hircanie qu'on le doive faire legerement et le principal est de mettre les choies en estat de ne hazarder rien et de gagner de telle sorte le coeur des capitaines et des soldats auparavant que de rien descouvrir a ciaxare que l'on ne doive plus rien craindre en luy parlant pour artamene tous ces princes aprouvant ce que le roy d'hircanie 
 avoit dit assurerent hidaspe adusius chrisante et feraulas qu'ils periroient plustost que de laisser perir leur maistre et qu'ils n'oublieroient rien de tout ce qui luy pourroit estre utile thrasibule estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir servir que de sa personne et de n'avoir que son propre courage dont il peust respondre comme ils en estoient la gobrias gadate thimocrate et philocles arriverent ils n'avoient pas este presents au discours de chrisante et de feraulas parce qu'aussi tost que ciaxare avoit este arrive a sinope ils estoient retournez au camp et n'avoient pas loge dans la ville mais comme ils n'estoient pas moins affectionnez a leur maistre que tous ces autres princes feraulas dit au roy d'hircanie qu'il faloit les engager dans le party d'artamene a ce nom d'artamene gobrias demanda dequoy il s'agissoit et gadate impatient dit que s'il faloit mourir pour son service il estoit prest de le faire thimocrate et philocles ne parurent pas moins empressez de sorte que le roy d'hircanie reprenant la parole leur fit entendre qu'il ne faloit faire autre chose que se tenir prests de sauver artamene si l'on entreprenoit de le vouloir perdre a ces mots tous ces princes jurerent solemnellement de se joindre et de prendre les armes pour son falut toutes les fois qu'il en seroit besoin ils en estoient en ces termes lors qu'artucas vint chez hidaspe pour luy aprendre qu'on venoit de luy assurer qu'artamene 
 avoit envoye un billet au roy qui luy avoit donne une grande joye sans qu'on luy eust pu dire ce que c'estoit et que comme il scavoit bien qu'il aimoit artamene il avoit voulu l'en advertir en allant au chasteau hidaspe apres avoir remercie artucas de l'advis qu'il luy avoit donne le fit scavoir a toute cette illustre assemblee qui dans l'impatience d'aprendre ce que c'estoit s'en alla en diligence chez le roy mais avec tant d'amitie pour artamene que l'on eust dit qu'ils estoient tous ses parents ou ses subjets tant ils s'interessoient en sa fortune 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ce n'estoit pas sans sujet qu'artucas avoit este advertir hidaspe que le roy des medes avoit eu beaucoup de joye en recevant un billet de la part d'artamene estant certain que l'on n'en peut guere avoir davantage celle d'artamene surpassoit pourtant encore celle du roy si toutefois il est permis de mettre de la difference entre les choses extremes mais pour descouvrir la veritable cause de la satisfaction de deux personnes de qui l'estat present de leur fortune paroissoit estre si dissemblable il faut scavoir que ce jour la mesme precisement a midy un homme qui avoit autrefois servy andramias et qui de puis par diverses advantures avoit este donne a artamene avoit fait le voyage de scithie aveque luy estoit retenu en capadoce avec son dernier 
 maistre et avoit este envoye par luy vers artaxe qui commandoit les troupes que l'on avoit donnees au roy de pont arriva au chasteau de sinope et demanda a parler a son ancien maistre aglatidas se trouvant alors avec andramias ce dernier ne laissa pourtant pas de commander que l'on fist entrer cet homme que d'abord il ne reconnut point mais il ne l'eut pas plus tost entendu parler que le son de sa voix le fit reconnoistre andramias luy tendit la main et luy demanda s'il pouvoit faire quelque chose pour luy ouy seigneur luy respondit il car je ne doute point que si vous me faites la grace de me faire parler au genereux artamene je ne doute point dis-je qu'une nouvelle qu'il pourra donner au roy par mon moyen ne luy fasse obtenir sa liberte andramias ne scachant ce que cet homme pouvoit avoir a dire de si important se mit a le presser de le luy aprendre et de luy dire aussi pourquoy il estoit si affectionne a artamene car andramias eut quelque peur d'estre surpris et craignit que ce ne fust une adresse du roy pour essayer sa fidelite et alors ortalque cet homme se nommoit ainsi luy aprit qu'il avoit servy artamene au voyage des massagettes et luy presenta un morceau de tablettes rompues sur lequel il vit ces paroles escrites sans scavoit ny a qui elles s'adressoient ny qui les avoit tracees dis que je suis vivante que son m'emmene en l'une des deux armenies sans que je scache a laquelle j'iray et que le roy de 
 
 
 
 
apres qu'andramias eut leu ce qu'il y avoit d'escrit sur ce fragment de tablettes il regarda ortalque comme pour luy demander qui estoit la personne qui le luy audit baille mais cet homme sans luy en donner le loisir enfin seigneur luy dit il la princesse mandane est vivante quoy s'ecrierent aglatidas et andramias tout a la fois la princesse mandane est vivante ouy seigneurs respondit ortalque et ce que vous voyez escrit sur ce morceau de tablettes est a mon advis de sa main la curiosite d'andramias n'estant pas pleinement satisfaite il pressa ortalque de luy apprendre tout ce qu'il scavoit de la princesse et cet homme luy dit que s'estant trouve engage dans la guerre de pont et de bithinie lors qu'on l'y avoit envoye il y avoit este fort blesse et estoit demeure fort long temps malade sans pouvoir suivre artaxe qu'aribee avoit r'apelle qu'en suitte voulant s'en revenir il estoit arrive en un lieu qui est au bord du pont euxin a l'endroit ou la riviere d'halis s'y jette et que la estant un matin a se promener il avoit veu un vaisseau a trois ou quatre stades en mer aupres duquel il y avoit un de ces grands bateaux de bois de pin qui resistent extremement a la force des vagues lors qu'il faut remonter les fleuve s et qui servent ordinairement a porter des marchandises dans lequel il avoit veu descendre plusieurs personnes et distingue mesme des femmes en suitte de cela il disoit avoir veu le vaisseau prendre 
 la haute mer et le bateau venir droit a l'emboucheure du fleuve mais comme il est fort rapide en cet endroit disoit il les rameurs furent tres long temps sans le pouvoir faire remonter passer de la mer a la riviere pendant cela je m'estois avance sur le rivage et je pris garde qu'une femme qui estoit dans ce bateau me regarda attentivement qu'en suitte s'estant cachee derriere une autre elle avoit fait quelque chose et je presupose que c'estoit escrire ce qui est dans ce morceau de tablettes apres quoy une autre de ces femmes s'estant tenue a la proue de ce bateau qui rasoit la terre et qui vint passer a trois pas de moy ayant envelope ce morceau de tablettes dans un voile qu'elle s'osta de dessus la teste elle me le jetta seignant que le vent le luy avoit emporte car il en faisoit un fort grand qui souffloit du coste que j'estois il me sembla que je connoissois cette personne mais ce ne fut qu'une heure apres que je me remis que c'estoit asseurement une fille qui est a la princesse qui s'apelle martesie les hommes qui estoient dans ce bateau estoient si occupez a commander aux rameurs de faire effort pour surmonter le courant du fleuve qu'a mon advis ils ne prirent point garde a l'action de cette fille pour moy je relevay en diligence ce que l'on m'avoit jette et m'esloignant un peu du bord je vy ce que je viens de vous donner et j'en fus si surpris que je ne scavois qu'en penser cependant ce bateau ayant passe l'emboucheure du fleuve avancoit 
 beaucoup plus viste et s'esloignoit assez promptement sans que je fusse resolu sur ce que j'avois a faire j'eusse bien voulu suivre ce bateau plustost que de m'en venir a sinope vers laquel le j'avois sceu que l'armee du roy marchoit car enfin comme je ne scavois rien de tout ce qui se passoit icy je ne comprenois pas bien ce que l'on desiroit de moy neantmoins apres avoir assez examine la chose je conclus que je devois m'en venir de sorte que je me suis embarque dans le premier vaisseau que j'ay pu trouver et m'en suis venu icy en descendant au port l'embrazement de cette ville m'ayant donne de la curiosite j'ay sceu tout ce qui s'est passe a sinope et je n'ay plus doute que ce ne soit la princesse mandane qui m'envoye car il me semble mesme que je l'ay entre-veue dans ce bateau de vous dire qui l'enleve je n'en scay rien et tout ce que je scay est qu'assurement elle est vivante andramias et aglatidas apres avoir escoute cet homme ne douterent presque point non plus que luy que la princesse ne fust en vie mais pour s'en esclaircir mieux aglatidas dit a son parent que comme artamene estoit depuis si longtemps a la cour de capadoce il jugeoit qu'il estoit impossible qu'il ne connust pas l'ecriture de mandane qu'ainsi il faloit luy faire voir ce qu'ortalque avoit aporte afin de n'aller pas legerement donner une fausse joye au roy andramias ayant aprouve ce qu'aglatidas luy proposoit ils laisserent ortalque dans la chambre 
 ou ils estoient et entrerent dans celle d'artamene qui estoit alors profondement attache a la cruelle pensee de la mort de sa princesse ou du moins a j'aprehension qu'il en avoit aglatidas s'aprochant de luy apres l'avoir salue seigneur luy dit il il y a homme apelle ortalque qui demande a vous voir et qui a aporte a andramias un billet dont vous connoistrez peutestre l'escriture si je connois aussi bien cette escriture que le nom d'ortalque reprit artamene avec beaucoup de melancolie je n'auray pas grand peine a dire de quelle main elle est car un homme qui s'apelloit ainsi me servit au voyage que je fis aux massagettes en partant de capadoce pour aller a ecbatane je l'envoyay vers artaxe qui servoit le roy de pont sans que j'aye entendu depuis parler de luy en disant cela artamene considera les carracteres de ce billet mais il ne les eut pas plustost veus qu'il changea de couleur et regardant aglatidas et andramias avec une esmotion extreme et qu'il ne put jamais s'empescher d'avoir il n'en faut point douter s'escria-t'il la princesse mandane a escrit ce que vous me monstrez et j'ay veu trop souvent de ses lettres entre les mains du roy pour m'y pouvoir tronper joint que j'ay eu moy mesme l'honneur de luy en rendre une au conmencement que je fus en capadoce ou elle parloit assez avantageusement de moy pour n'en avoir pas perdu le souvenir mais de grace dit il a andramias si vous le pouviez faire sans vous exposer faites 
 que je voye ortalque car je vous advoue que la vertu de cette princesse fait que je m'interesse beaucoup en ce qui la touche et que je seray bien aise d'aprendre ce qu'il en scait andramias qui ne cherchoit qu'a obliger artamene fut luy mesme faire entrer cet homme sans que les cardes en vissent rien mais pendant cela il fut aise a aglatidas de remarquer que la joye et l'agitation de l'esprit d'artamene avoient une cause plus puissante que la simple compassion il regardoit ce billet comme craignant de s'estre trompe il levoit les yeux au ciel comme pour luy rendre grace d'un si grand bonheur il marchoit sans regarder aglatidas et sans luy parler puis revenant tout d'un coup a luy et craignant d'en avoir trop fait si vous scaviez luy dit il quel est le merite de la princesse mandane vous vous estonneriez moins de l'exces de ma joye car encore qu'elle doive estre vostre reine adjousta-t'il comme vous ne l'avez jamais veue je puis vous assurer que je m'interee plus pour elle que la plus part des sujets qu'elle doit un jour avoir en medie il feroit a souhaiter respondit aglatidas que le roy sceust le zele que vous avez pour tout ce qui le regarde et qu'il eust pour vous des sentimens tels que je les ay cependant andramias amena ortalque qu'artamene embrassa avec une tendresse estrange luy semblant quasi que plus il feroit de carresses a cet homme plus il luy diroit de nouvelles de la princesse mandane il luy demanda neantmoint tant 
 choses a la fois qu'ortalque n'y pouvoit respondre mais a la fin il luy aprit ce qu'il en scavoit et ce qui ne satisfit pas entierement artamene neantmoins la certitude de la vie de sa princesse luy donna une si sensible joye que d'abord nulle autre consideration ne put troubler ny diminuer son plaisir c'est a vous disoit il a aglatidas et a andramias a vous resjouir de la resurrection de vostre princesse de vostre princesse dis-je qui effacera sans doute la reputation de toutes celles qui ont este mais luy dit aglatidas en l'interrompant ortalque par le zele qu'il a pour vous a eu une pensee qui me semble assez raisonnable car enfin il a demande a vous voir avec intention que ce soit de vostre main que le roy aprenne la vie de la princesse sa fille s'imaginant avec quelque aparence que cette joye que vous donnerez a ciaxare disposera en quelque sorte son esprit a escouter plus favorablement ce qu'on luy dira en votre faveur joint adjousta andramias qu'il est a croire qu'ayant peut-estre besoin de faire une nouvelle guerre pour delivrer la princesse il songera si je ne me trompe a vous delivrer plustost qu'il n'eust fait cette raison doit estre bien foible reprit modestement artamene ayant tant de braves gens comme il en a aupres de luy si ce n'est que le zele que j'ay pour son service soit conte pour quelque choie d'extraordinaire mais si j'envoye ce billet au roy andramias n'en sera-t'il point en peine et ne l'accusera t'on point de m'avoir 
 donne trop de liberte nullement respondit aglatidas car comme ortalque a este andramias et que depuis il vous a servy ce n'est pas une chose fort estrange qu'il ait este receu en un lieu ou il a deux maistres et qu'ayant reconnu cette escriture vous ayez voulu donner cette agreable nouvelle au roy qu'andramias luy portera de vostre part artamene qui souhaitoit en effet d'estre persuade ne s'opposa point davantage a ce que vouloit aglatidas et se faisant donner dequoy escrire il escrivit au roy en ces termes
 
 
 
artamene au roy son seigneur
 
 
tant que j'ay creu estre a vostre majeste j'ay souffert la pesanttur de mes chaisnes sans impatience nuit l'heureuse nouvelle de la vie de la princesse m'epersuadant que peut-estre ne le ferois-je pas pour la delivrer de captivite j'ose vous supplier tres-humblement de ne me priver pas l'honneur de pouvoir du moins aider a veut rendre ce service protestant solemnellement a vostre majeste devenir me remettre dans vas prisons et reprendre mes fers des le lendemain que cette grande princesse fera en liberte
 
 
artamene
 
 
 
 andramias ayant pris le billet d'artamene aussi bien que celuy de la princesse mandane fut avec ortalque chez le roy ou aglatidas voulut aussi se trouver afin de tascher de rendre office a un prisonnier si illustre joint que dans les soubcons que les actions de mon maistre luy avoient donne de son amour il creut qu'il seroit bien aise d'estre en liberte comme en effet quoy qu'il aimast aglatidas il avoit pour tant quelque impatience de n'estre plus oblige de renfermer sa joye dans son coeur ils ne furent donc pas plustost sortis que ne pouvant plus s'empescher d'esclater quoy ma princesse dit il vous estes vivante et je puis enfin ne craindre plus vostre mort quoy toutes ces images funestes de tombeaux et de cercueils doivent donc s'effacer de ma fantaisie et je puis croire que vous respirez que vous vivez et que peut-estre vous pensez a moy ha qui que vous fuyez d'entre les dieux ou d'entre les hommes qui avez faune ma princesse de la fureur des vagues et d'un peril presque inevitable que ne vous doit point artamene si c'est une diuinite elle merite tous mes voeux et si c'est une personne mortelle elle est digne de tous mes services mais quoy qu'il en soit mandane illustre mandane vous vivez et je puis abandonner mon ame a tous les plaisirs comme je l'avois abandonnee a toutes les douleurs mais helas reprenoit il apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler je ne suis pas si heureux que je pense l'estre car enfin 
 mandane est vivante il est vray mais elle est captive et ce qu'il y a de cruel c'est que je suis dans les fers et par consequent peu en estat de la secourir mais encore adjoustoit il de qui peut elle estre captive quel roy peut estre celuy dont elle veut parler qu'en veut elle dire par son billet et quelle cruelle avanture est la mienne de ne pouvoir gouster en repos la plus grande joye dont un esprit amoureux puisse estre capable toutefois ne fuis-je point criminel reprenoit-il d'avoir la liberte de raisonner sur l'estat present de ma vie en un jour ou je voy ma princesse ressuscitee en un jour ou il m'est mesme permis d'esperer de la revoir car enfin puis que les dieux l'ont bien retiree des abismes de la mer s'il faut ainsi dire peut-estre qu'ils me retireront de ma prison pour la delivrer et pour la mettre sur le throsne mais ma princesse apres tant de malheurs que j'ay soufferts je n'ose plus faire de voeux pour moy je crains que mes interests ne soient contagieux pour les vostres je veux les separer pour l'amour de vous et ne de mander plus rien aux dieux que ce qui vous regarde directement ainsi puissantes divinitez qui gouvernez toute la terre faites seulement que l'on me delivre pour delivrer ma princesse pour pouvoir punir tous ses ravisseurs pour la ramener au roy son pere et pour la laisser avec l'esperance de posseder un jour tant de couronnes que vous m'avez fait deffendre abatte ou conquerir pour le roy des medes enfin 
 dieux justes dieux faites seulement ce que je dis et apres cela souffrez que je meure aux pieds de mandane et qu'elle n'ait jamais d'autre douleur que celle de la perte d'artamene c'estoit de cette sorte que s'entretenoit le plus amoureux prince du monde a ce qu'il a raconte depuis pendant qu'andramias estoit chez le roy avec ortalque et que tous les illustres amis d'artamene estoient chez hidaspe ou ils receurent bientost apres un advis par artucas qui leur donna beaucoup d'impatience et qui les fit bientost partir pour aller au chasteau comme je l'ay desja dit mais pour comprendre comment artucas avoit pu estre adverty si promptement il faut scavoir que lors qu'andramias donna au roy le billet d'artamene ce prince eut une joye que l'on ne scauroit exprimer de sorte que quelques uns de ceux qui se trouverent alors dans sa chambre sans penetrer plus avant dans les choses et sans attendre davantage furent en diligence publier qu'artamene commencoit d'estre mieux aue que le roy et ce fut par eux qu'artucas fut adverty de ce dont il fut advertir hidaspe comme le connoissant fort affectionne a artamene le roy de de phrigie qui se trouva apres de ciaxarare lors qu'il receut ce billet voulant prositer de cette occasion luy dit qu'une si bon ne nouvelle meritoit la liberte de celuy qui la luy avoit envoyee et ciaxare dans les premiers momens de sa joye oublia une partie de sa colere contre artamene et ne fut par mary d'avoir receu 
 de sa main cette nouvelle marque de son affection a son service il s'informa exactement a ortalque de tout ce qu'il scavoit et de tout ce qu'il avoit veu et dit a andramias qu'il assurast artamene qu'il ne tiendroit qu'a luy de sortir bien tost de ses fers pour aller delivrer la princesse sa fille et qu'enfin il ne luy auroit pas plus tost advoue l'intelligence qu'il avoit eue avec le roy d'assirie et ne luy auroit pas plus tost demande pardon qu'il oblieroit le passe et le remettroit au mesme estat qu'il estoit auparavant ha seigneur luy dit alors le roy de phrigie que vostre majeste ne s'arreste point a une formalite inutile car enfin je scay presque de certitude qu'artamene est innocent et que s'il a quelque chose de secret a demesler avec le roy d'assirie ce ne peut estre rien contre le service de vostre majeste comme ils en estoient la le roy d'hircanie le prince des cadusiens gobrias gadate thrasibule hidaspe adusius thimocrate philocles artucas feraulas et chrisante arriverent et un moment apres aglatidas entra suivy d'une multitude estrange de personnes de qualite que cette grande nouvelle attiroit chez le roy tout le monde voulant se resjouir aveque luy d'une chose qui effectivement meritoit bien de causer une alegresse publique le nom de mandane estoit en la bouche de tout le monde ceux qui la connoissoient racontoient a ceux qui la connoissoient pas les rares qualitez de cette princesse 
 ainsi comme la douleur de sa perte avoit fait faire son eloge la certitude de sa vie faisoit redire ses louanges ce n'est pas qu'apres ces premiers momens de satisfaction ciaxare n'eust du desplaisir de ne scavoir point bien precisement qu'elle estoit l'advanture de la princesse ny qui la menoit ny pourquoy on la menoit en armenie il scavoit bien que le roy de ce pais la estoit son tributaire et que le prince tigrane son fils estoit brave et genereux et aimoit extremement artamene mais il scavoit aussi que ce vieux roy estoit capricieux et qu'il n'avoit point envoye de troupes en son armee comme il y estoit oblige ciaxare donc ne goustoit pas cette joye toute pure neantmoins comme il voulut en tesmoigner quelque inquietude seigneur luy dit le roy d'hircanie que la captivite de la princesse mandane ne vous inquiete pas car enfin pour rompre sa prison quelque sorte qu'elle puisse estre vous n'avez qu'a faire ouvrir les portes de celle d'artamene et qu'a le mettre a la teste de tant de rois et de tant de princes qui m'escoutent et soyez assure seigneur que s'il est nostre guide nous le suivrons en armenie et nous y ferons suivre par la victoire quand nous aurons rendu graces aux dieux repliqua le roy des medes nous verrons ce qu'ils nous inspireront la dessus mais pour moy je ne pense pas que pour les remercier de l'equite qu'ils ont eue en sauvant une princesse innocente il faille faire grace a un criminel et a un 
 criminel qui ne veut ny demander pardon ny se repentir ny seulement advouer sa faute bien qu'elle soit toute visible ha seigneur s'ecrierent tout d'une voix tous ces rois tous ces princes tous ces homotimes et tous ces chevaliers artamene est malheureux et ne fut jamais coupable il n'y a pas un de nous qui ne veuille bien entrer dans sa prison et y demeurer pour ostage jusques a ce qu'il vous ait prouve son innocence par de nouveaux services ou pour mieux dire par de nouveaux miracles ciaxare tout surpris de voir une si violente affection dans l'esprit de tant d'illustres personnes ne leur respondit qu'en biaisant mais ce fut neantmoins d'une facon qui leur laissa quelque espoir de sorte qu'ils redoublerent encore leurs raisons et leurs prieres aglatidas n'estoit pas des moins empressez et megabise malgre leurs anciens differens se trouva aveque luy dans la chambre du roy et demanda ce que son ancien ennemy demandoit c'est a dire la liberte d'artamene le roy de phrigie pressoit extremement ciaxare celuy d'hircanie parloit avec une hardiesse estrange thimocrate et philocles employoient tout ce que l'eloquence grece a de puissant thrasibule n'en failoit pas moins hidaspe et adusius comme plus interessez parloient avec une chaleur extreme aussi bien que persode gobrias gadate et cent autres qui ne paroissoient pas moins attachez aux interests d'artamene ciaxare se voyant donc si fort 
 presse scachez dit il aux rois de phrigie et d'hircanie et a tant d'autres princes qui l'environnoient que je voudrois qu'artamene fust innocent ou que du moins il m'eust advoue son crime avec repentir et en avoir donne un de mes royaumes et pour vous faire voir que je fais ce que je puis je vous permets a tous au retour du temple ou je m'en vay de le voir les uns apres les autres afin de luy persuader de m'obeir en cette occasion et de ne me faire pas opiniastrement un secret d'une chose que je veux et que je dois scavoir en disant cela ciaxare sans leur donner loisir de respondre sortit de sa chambre et fut au temple remercier les dieux de la grace qu'ils luy avoient faite et les supplier de vouloir achever de la luy faire toute entiere en redonnant la liberte a la princette sa fille tout le monde le suivit a cette ceremonie et cette heureuse nouvelle ayant bien tost passe de la ville au camp il y eut une resjouissance generale par tout au retour du temple le roy de phrigie qui n'avoit pas oublie ce que ciaxare avoit dit le supplia d'envoyer ordre a andramias de laisser voir artamene a quelques uns de ses amis afin luy disoit il de tascher de descouvrir ce qu'il vouloir scavoir le roy de medie qui en effet en l'estat qu'il voyoit les choses eust este bien aise qu'artamene luy eust demande pardon afin de le luy accorder souffrit que la plus grande partie de ces princes et des personnes de qualite vident artamene les 
 uns apres les autres par petites troupes de sorte que des l'instant mesme que la permission en fut donnee et l'ordre envoye a andramias le roy de phrigie et celuy d'hircanie furent le visiter accompagnez de chrisante et de feraulas biffant tous les autres dans une impatience extreme de pouvoir jouir du mesme bonheur en y allant ils resolurent d'aprendre a artamene qu'ils scavoient qu'il estoit cyrus et qu'ils n'ignoroient pas le reste de ses avantures afin de pouvoir mieux aviser apres a ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire pour sa liberte ce n'est pas que chrisante et feraulas n'apprehendaient qu'il n'en fust fasche mais apres tout la chose estoit faite et elle avoit paru si necessaire qu'ils aimerent mieux s'exposer a quelques reproches que de luy deguiser une verite qu'il faudroit tousjours qu'il sceust d'abord que ces deux rois entrerent artamene en fut extremement surpris aussi bien que de la veue de chrisante et de feraulas car encore qu'aglatidas eust veu artamene pendant sa prison nul de ses domestiques ne l'avoit veu et andramias avoit fait cette grace particuliere a son parent cet illustre prisonnier receut ces princes avec toute la civilite et tout le respect qu'artamene comme artamene devoit a des personnes de cette condition mais apres l'avoir salue et l'avoir oblige d'embrasser chrisante et feraulas sans considerer qu'ils estoient la ils luy dirent en sous-riant qu'ils venoient pour prendre l'ordre de luy et 
 pour scavoit ce qu'il faloit faire pour delivrer artamene et pour le mettre en estat de faire bien tost paroistre cyrus a ces mots artamene regarda chrisante et feraulas mais le roy de phrigie prenant la parole non luy dit il n'accusez pas legerement les deux hommes du mon de que vous devez le plus aimer et ne soyez pas marry que nous scachions tout le secret de vostre vie ils ne nous l'ont pas apris sans necessite c'est pourquoy n'en murmurez pas et soyez assure que ce que nous scavons ne vous causera jamais aucun mal je scay bien seigneur respondit artamene que chrisante et feraulas font tousjours bien intentionnez et que sans doute ils ne pouvoient pas mieux choisir qu'ils ont choisi en vostre personne et en celle du roy d'hircanie mais apres tout seigneur il y a des choses dans mes avantures que j'eusse souhaite qui n'eussent jamais este sceues et que je n'aurois jamais dittes quand mesme il y auroit este de ma vie si nous ne vous eussions pas veu en un danger eminent interrompit chrisante avec beaucoup de respect nous aurions garde un secret inviolable mais nous avons creu que n'ayant rien a dire qui ne vous fust glorieux nous ne devions pas vous laisser perir plustost que d'aprendre vostre innocence aux rois qui m'escoutent artamene quoy que bien marry que l'on sceust ce qu'il vouloit tenir cache fut toutefois contraint de ne le tesmoigner pas si ouvertement de peur de desobliger deux 
 princes qui s'interessoient si fort dans sa fortune ils luy dirent alors le changement qu'il y avoit dans l'esprit du roy et son opiniastrete pourtant a vouloir precisement scavoir quelle avoit este l'intelligence qu'il avoit eue avec le roy d'assirie puis que vous scavez toutes choses reprit artamene vous jugez bien que je ne le dois pas dire ce n'est pas que je me souciasse d'exposer ma vie en irritant le roy contre cyrus mais quand je songe que je deplairois a la princesse mandane et que je l'exposerois peut-estre a la fureur du roy son pere a seigneurs je vous avoue que je n'y scaurois penser sans fremir et que c'est ce que je ne feray jamais j'aime encore mieux que ciaxare me croye perfide que mandane me soubconne d'indiscretion enfin seigneurs vous le diray-je si j'ay quelque douleur que vous scachiez la verite de ma vie ce n'est que pour l'interest de cette illustre princesse ce n'est pas qu'elle ne soit innocente et que sa vertu ne la mette a couvert de toutes sortes de calomnies mais apres tout je voudrois que vous me creussiez aussi criminel que ciaxare me le croit et que vous ne sceussiez pas ce qui me peut justifier ces princes l'entendant parler ainsi ne purent s'empescher de sous-rire et d'admirer en suitte la force de cette respectueuse passion qui luy faisoit preferer l'interest de sa princesse non seulement a sa propre vie mais a sa propre gloire enfin apres une assez longue conversation ou ils ne 
 scavoient pas trop bien que resoudre ils firent dessein de tascher de tirer les choses en longueur et de faire durer quelques jours la permission qu'ils avoient de le voir ils luy dirent que durant cela ils luy conseilloient de parler tousjours de ciaxare comme il faisoit c'est a dire avec beaucoup de respect et d'affection que de leur coste ils diroient au roy de medie qu'ils ne perdoient pas esperance de scavoir quelque chose de ce qu'il desiroit d'aprendre mais qu'il faloit qu'il se donnast un peu de patience que ce pendant ils exciteroient encore tous les capitaines et mesme tous les soldats a demander sa liberte et qu'enfin l'on agiroit apres selon que ciaxare paroistroit plus ou moins irrite contre luy artamene les remercia tres ciuilement de leurs bonnes intentions et fit en cette rencontre ce qu'il n'eust pas creu devoir faire deux jours auparavant qui fut qu'il les solicita ardamment de rompre ses fers car depuis qu'il avoit sceu que la princesse mandane estoit vivante et qu'elle estoit captive sa prison luy estoit devenue insuportable chrisante et feraulas estant demeurez apres ces rois luy dirent le nom de tous ceux qui avoient entendu raconter son histoire et il leur fit encore quelques reproches de l'avoir descouvert a tant de monde mais seigneur luy dirent ils par quelle voye pouviez vous esperer de rompre vos chaisnes pour aller delivrer la princesse si tant d'illustres amis que vous avez n'eussent sceu vostre innocence ha 
 fi ce que vous avez dit peut me faire mettre en liberte leur dit il vous avez eu raison et j'ay sujet de vous remercier en fuite il leur parla dela joye qu'il avoit eue de scavoit que mandane n'avoit pas pery et de l'inquietude ou il estoit d'ignorer absolument entre les mains de qui la fortune l'avoit fait tomber car disoit il le roy d'assirie comme vous le scavez aussi bien que moy est a pterie presentement et l'on vous assura que mazare estoit mort enfin passant d'une choie a une autre et ne parlant toutefois que de ce qui regardoit son amour il retint encore assez long temps aupres de luy chrisante et feraulas ils ne furent pas si tost sortis que persode hidaspe et adusius entrerent a ceux-cy succederent gobrias gadate et megabise et a ceux la encore thrasibule thimocrate philocles et aglatidas enfin de tous ceux qui avoient eu la permission de le voir il n'y en eut aucun qui ne s'en empressast extremement artamene agit avec ceux qui scavoient son histoire comme il avoit agy avec les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie et avec ceux qui ne la scavoient pas de la maniere dont il estoit convenu avec ces princes cependant ciaxare sur la nouvelle qu'il avoit receue depescha vers le roy d'armenie et choisit megabise pour cet effet luy ordonnant de dire a ce roy qu'ayant sceu que la princesse sa fille estoit dans ses estats il le prioit de la luy renvoyer avec un equipage proportionne a sa condition et qu'en cas qu'il la refusast il luy declarast la guerre ce 
 qui fachoit le plus ciaxare c'est qu'en effet le roy d'armenie avoit refuse de payer le tribut qu'il luy devoit et avoit aporte d'assez mauvaises raisons pour s'en exempter il ne songeoit toutefois pas plustost qu'il luy faudroit faire une nouvelle guerre qu'il regrettoit artamene et escoutoit assez favorablement ceux qui au retour de la prison ou ils l'avoient este visiter luy disoient qu'il parloit tousjours de luy avec beaucoup de respect et d'affection et que selon les aparences il estoit certainement innocent mais apres tout il vouloit scavoir ce secret impenetrable qu'on luy faisoit esperer de descouvrir dans l'opinion ou chacun estoit que cependant la necessite ou l'on prevoyoit qu'il alloit estre de faire la guerre en armenie l'obligeroit a la fin a passer par dessus sa premiere resolution durant cela artamene se souvenant de la promesse qu'il avoit faite au roy d'assirie de l'advertir exactement de toutes choses afin de travailler conjoinctement autant qu'ils le pourroient a la liberte de la princesse o dieux disoit il en luy mesme en se remettant en memoire tout ce qu'ils s'estoient promis a quelles bizarres avantures m'exposez vous il semble que je ne sois au monde que pour rendre de bons offices au roy d'assirie je n'apris sa premiere conjuration que pour descouvrir son amour a mandane qu'il n'avoit jamais ose luy dire je ne fus parmy les massagettes que pour faciliter sa seconde entreprise je n'en revins que 
 pour luy sauver la vie et pour aider a l'enlevement de mandane je n'arrivay a sinope que pour le garantir de la rigueur des flames et je n'aprens aujourd'huy que ma princesse est vivante que pour luy donner la satisfaction de le scavoir par mon moyen et pour luy faciliter la voye de la delivrer car enfin puis que je l'ay promis il le faut tenir mais helas disoit il encore quelle aparence y a-t'il que je luy aprenne qu'elle est en armenie pendant que je suis dans les fers tout son royaume n'est pas si absolument destruit qu'il n'ait encore quelques troupes dispersees qu'il peut ramasser une partie de l'affine reconnoist encore sa puissance la moitie de la capadoce est pour luy et il la pourroit peut-estre aussitost delivrer que ciaxare que feray-je donc et que resoudray-je mais que fais-ie adjoustoit-il en se reprenant je confulte sur une chose promife non non ne balancons pas davantage et si nous voulons que l'on nous tienne ce que l'on nous a promis gardons nous bien de manquer a nostre parole et puis le roy d'assirie estant aussi brave qu'il est ne nous donne pas sujet de craindre joint qu'a dire vray nous ne luy aprendrons que ce qu'il ne pourroit manquer de scavoir bien tost n'estant pas possible que la vie et la prison de la princesse mandane puissent estre long temps cachees artamene considera pourtant encore qu'estant accuse par ciaxare d'avoir une intelligence avec le roy d'affine c'estoit s'exposer a se perdre si ce 
 qu'il vouloit faire estoit descouvert mais la crainte du peril ne pouvant jamais estre une bonne raison pour empescher artamene de faire ce qu'il avoit promis il ne fit pas une longue reflexion la dessus ce genereux prince ayant donc resolu d'envoyer a pterie jetta les yeux sur ortalque qu'il scavoit estre tres fidelle et comme chacun avoit alors assez de liberte de le voir cet homme qui estoit a luy n'en perdoit pas l'occasion de sorte qu'il fut facile a artamene d'executer son dessein il envoya donc ortalque au roy d'assirie apres luy avoir fait faire un magnifique present pour l'agreable nouvelle qu'il luy avoit aportee et luy ordonna de dire de sa part a ce prince qu'il l'advertissoit que mandane estoit vivante qu'elle s'en alloit en armenie sans qu'il eust pu scavoir qui l'y menoit et qu'enfin il le prioit de se souvenir de ne manquer pas de parole a un homme qui luy tenoit la sienne exactement en une occasion si delicatte ortalque s'aquita de cette commission avec autant de fidelite que d'adresse et sortant de la ville sur le pretexte de quelque affaire qu'il avoit en son particulier il fut a pterie qui n'est qu'a huit parasanges de sinope c'est-a dire a cent soixante et dix stades ou il trouva que le roy d'assirie estoit prest d'en partir ce prince fut ravy de la generosite d'artamene et eut une joye inconcevable de la certitude de la vie de mandane car par les espions qu'il avoit dans sinope par le moyen d'artaxe frere d'aribee qui avoit tousjours un 
 puissant amy aupres de ciaxare il atioit sceu le naufrage de mazare et la crainte que l'on avoit que la princesse n'eust pery il receut donc ortalque admirablement et lors qu'il le congedia apres luy avoir fait un present magnifique dites a artamene luy dit il que le roy d'assirie est au desespoir de ne pouvoir pas luy promettre d'estre son amy mais du moins puis que la fortune veut qu'ils soient toujours ennemis assurez le qu'il ne fera jamais rien qui choque la generosite et qu'ainsi il luy tiendra exactement sa parole mais pendant qu'ortalque fut a pterie et revint a sinope ou il rendit compte de son voyage a son maistre et luy fit scavoir la genereuse response du roy d'assirie tous ces rois et tous ces princes ne songeoient qu'a observer les sentimens de ciaxare afin de s'en servir avantageusement pour artamene et tous les soldats poussez par leur propre mouvement et excitez encore par leurs chefs ne faisoient autre chose que demander tout haut qu'on leur rendist artamene ou qu'autrement ils n'iroient plus a la guerre pendant dis-je que ciaxare estoit toujours irresolu sur ce qu'il devoit faire et qu'il sembloit mesme pancher un peu vers l'indulgence chrisante et feraulas estoient dans une agitation qui ne leur laissoit aucun repos car tantost ils alloient visiter leur cher maistre tantost ils alloient viviter tous ces princes qui s'interessoient en sa fortune tantost ils alloient chez le roy et tres souvent chez hidaspe et chez 
 adusius de sorte qu'agissant continuellement et vivant entre l'esperance et la crainte leur ame n'estoit guere tranquile ils eurent quelque dessein d'envoyer en perse afin d'advertir cambise et de la vie du prince son fils et du peril ou il estoit mais la distance des lieux les en empescha joint qu'artamene en ayant eu la pensee le leur deffendit expressement ne voulant point leur dit-il que le roy son pere sceust qu'il estoit vivant qu'il ne fust en estat de le luy pouvoir aprendre sans douleur il leur representoit de plus que cela seroit absolument inutile puis qu'aussi bien n'estoit il pas encore a propos de faire scavoir a ciaxare qu'il estoit cyrus un soir donc que chrisante et feraulas estoient ensemble a se promener sur le port de sinope artucas les vint joindre et les prier de vouloir aller chez luy ou il seroit bien aise de les pouvoir entretenir en liberte eux qui connoissoient l'affection d'artucas pour artamene et qui se souvenoient qu'il avoit abandonne aribee pour estre fidelle a son prince eurent cette complaifance pour luy et le fu iuirent ou il les voulut mener sa maison estoit assez eloignee du port et c'estoit la raison pour laquelle elle avoit este des moins bruslees et estoit demeuree en estat d'y pouvoir encore habiter comme ils y furent arrivez artucas les fit entrer dans une chambre et de la dans une autre ou ils trouverent une personne que d'abord ils ne reconnurent pas car il estoit desja assez tard et les flambeaux n'estoient pas encore allumez 
 ils virent bien que c'estoit une femme de bonne mine et qui paroissoit estre belle mais ils ne discernoient pas assez parfaitement tous les traits de son visage pour la reconnoistre cette incertitude ne dura pourtant pas long temps car cette personne ne les eut pas plustost veus que quittant une fille d'artucas qui estoit avec elle et s'avancant vers eux elle commenca de parler et de nommer chrisante et feraulas pour leur tesmoigner la joye qu'elle avoit de les revoir de sorte que le son de sa voix fut a peine parvenu jusques a feraulas que s'avancant avec precipitation jusques aupres de la personne qui parloir ha martesie s'escria-t'il est-ce vous qui parlez et puis-je croire que ce que j'entens soit veritable ouy respondit elle je suis martesie et la mesme que vous laissastes a themiscire aupres de l'illustre mandane a ces mots feraulas tout transporte de joye salua tout de nouveau une personne qui avoit tant de part en son coeur et qui luy en avoit tant donne en sa confidence et chrisante de son coste qui estimoit beaucoup la vertu de cette fille luy fit toute la civilite possible mais comme il n'avoit pas pour elle l'ame si tendre que feraulas il fut le premier a demander a martesie si la princesse n'estoit pas aussi en liberte helas sage chrisante luy respondit elle en souspirant plust aux dieux que la chose fust ainsi ou que du moins vostre illustre maistre ne fust pas en prison comme je l'ay sceu et qu'il fust en estat de la pouvoir delivrer 
 quelque joye qu'eust feraulas de revoir martesie ce qu'elle dit la diminua car il n'avoit point du tout doute en la voyant que la princesse ne fust a sinope aussi bien qu'elle mais comme tout ce qu'il pensoit ne se devoit pas dire devant arnicas ny devant sa fille qui ne scavoient rien de l'amour d'attamene pour la princesse chrisante et feraulas mouroient d'envie de de mander cent choses a martesie qu'ils ne luy demandoient pas et elle de son coste leur respondoit aussi plusieurs choses qu'elle ne leur auroit pas respondues s'ils eussent este seuls du moins disoit chrisante vous nous assurez que la princesse est en vie car bien qu'ortalque nous l'ait dit nous ferons encore incomparablement plus satisfaits de vous l'entendre dire feraulas luy demandoit comment elles avoient echape du naufrage chrisante luy vouloit conter la douleur que l'on avoit eue de la pretendue mort de la princesse et tous ensemble faisant une conversation entre-coupee au lieu de s'instuire de ce qu'ils vouloient scavoir ne faisoient qu'augmenter leur curiosite martesie fit alors saluer a chrisante et a feraulas un fort honneste homme qui estoit venu avec elle et qui se nommoit orsane leur disant qu'il avoit este son guide et son protecteur cette premiere conversation ne fut pas longue a cause qu'il estoit tard mais martesie les pria de revenir le lendemain au matin parce qu'elle seroit bien aise de les pouvoir entretenir auparavant que de voir le roy qui 
 ne scavoit pas encore son retour ayant juge a propos de s'informer un peu des choses devant que de paroistre a la cour et de se montrer a luy que pour cet effet elle estoit arrivee a la premiere pointe du jour a sinope et avoit voulu se loger chez son parent ou elle pouvoit estre avec bien-seance ayant une fille infiniment aimable et vertueuse et qu'ainsi elle les conjuroit de ne dire pas encore qu'elle fust revenue chrisante et feraulas la quitterent donc de cette sorte et ne manquerent pas de se trouver le lendemain a l'heure que martesie leur avoit marquee n'ayant pas voulu faire scavoir son arrivee a artamene qu'ils ne sceussent un peu plus de nouvelles de mandane pour contenter sa curiosite son impatience et son amour martesie estoit une fille de themiscire de fort bonne condition de qui artucas avoit espouse une tante et c'estoit pour cela qu'elle avoit choisi sa maison dans sinope comme elle avoit toujours este aupres de mandane et que la princesse l'avoit tousjours tendrement aimee elle l'aimoit aussi si passionnement qu'elle ne goustoit presque point la liberte dont elle jouissoit sans elle et quoy que peut-estre il y eust une personne a sinope pour qui elle n'avoit pas d'aversion neantmoins elle eust mieux aime estre encore captive avec sa maistresse que d'estre libre et ne la voir pas aussi parut elle fort melancolique a chrisante et a feraulas lors qu'ils la virent le matin et comme elle estoit fort 
 adroite elle avoit fait entendre a artucas qu'elle avoit quelque chose a dire a chrisante qui regardoit la liberte de la princesse qu'elle avoit ordre de ne confier qu'a luy et a feraulas de sorte que sans choquer la bienseance elle les receut en particulier dans sa chambre sans autres tesmoins qu'une fille qu'on luy avoit donnee pour la servir mais qui estoit si esloignee du lieu ou elle fit assoir feraulas et chrisante qu'elle ne put rien entendre de leur conversation comme ils furent donc arrivez que les premiers complimens furent faits et qu'ils eurent pris leurs places helas leur dit elle que je voy de changement depuis le jour que vous partistes de themiscire pour aller aux massagettes et que je suis ignorante de tout ce que vous avez fait depuis si ce n'est que j'ay sceu que l'illustre artamene a gagne des batailles et renverse des royaumes mais dieux quand je suis venue icy et que l'on m'a dit qu'il y estoit dans les fers que j'en ay este surprise et affligee et que la princesse le feroit si elle scavoit ce terrible changement en verite disoit elle quand je repasse dans ma memoire tout ce qui nous est arrive et qu'apres tant d'enlevemens tant de persecutions tant de guerres tant de naufrages et tant de malheurs je songe que mandane est captive en armenie et qu'artamene est prisonnier a sinope j'avoue que mon esprit se confond bien est il vray que j'ay apris a ne desesperer plus de rien puis qu'apres tout 
 je suis vivante je suis a sinope et avec des personnes que je ne suis pas marrie de voir vous estes bien bonne aimable martesie interrompit feraulas de parler de cette sorte et vous la ferez mesme encore davantage adjousta chrisante si vous voulez nous raconter tout ce qui vous est arrive depuis nostre depart de themiscire et si vous voulez enfin nous bien aprendre par quelle voye philidaspe fit reussir son dessein pourquoy estant prince d'assirie il ne paroissoit que philidaspe comment il traita la princesse apres l'avoir enlevee comment mazare en devint amoureux comment ce prince la trompa pour l'enlever comment vous fist es naufrage comment vous en estes echapees et comment la princesse n'est pas libre car je vous advoue que ce dernier evenement est incomprehensible et met toute la cour en trouble tout le monde ne peut imaginer qui peut estre celuy qui n'a sauve la princesse que pour la perdre et personne ne peut concevoir quel est ce roy dont elle parle et que pourtant elle ne nomme point dans le billet que l'on a receu d'elle ainsi aimable martesie je vous conjure par l'illustre nom de la princesse mandane et par celuy d'artamene de nous dire bien exactement tout ce que vous scavez et du roy d'assirie et du prince des saces et de ce roy que nous ne pouvons deviner vous me demandez tant de choses dit elle en me demandant cela que je ne scay pas trop bien si je pourray vous contenter en un 
 seul jour j'abregeray pourtant mon discours le plus que je pourray ce n'est pas ce que nous vouions repliqua feraulas au contraire nous vous demandons en grace de ne nous derober pas un seul des sentimens de la princesse car enfin artamene besoin de consolation et nous ne luy en scaurions donner de plus grande que celle de luy faire scavoir tout ce qui est advenu a la princesse qu'il adore ainsi n'en faites point a deux fois je vous en conjure puis que nous sommes disposez a vous donner une audience aussi paisible et aussi longue que ce que vous avez a nous raconter le demandera mais ne songez vous point dit martesie qu'il est aussi a propos que je scache tout ce qui vous est arrive le m'engage de vous le dire respondit il devant que de partir d'icy pourvu qu'a l'heure mesme vous satisfaciez l'extreme envie que nous avons d'entendre tout ce qui vous est advenu je dis a vous genereuse martesie car comme aramene n'a point d'interest qui ne soit le mien je suis assure que la princesse mandane n'en a point aussi qui ne soit le vostre martesie se voyant alors si pressee tascha de donner quelque ordre dans son esprit aux choses qu'elle avoit a dire et apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler elle reprit la parole de cette sorte 
 
 
 
 
 histoire de mandane
 
 
pour vous esclaircir pleinement de tout ce qui nous est advenu et des raisons pour lesquelles le roy d'assirie n'a paru dans la cour de capadoce que sous le nom de philidaspe quoy que le sien propre soit labinet il faut que je reprenne les choses d'assez loing et que je ne face pas moins l'histoire de la reine nitocris et celle de la princesse istrine fille de gadate que celle de la princesse mandane je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez surpris de m'entendre parler si precisement des affaires d'assirie et des sentimens particuliers de deux princes qui ont le plus de part a cette histoire mais a la fin de mon recit je vous aprendray par quelle voye je n'ay pas ignore ce que je m'en vay vous dire vous scavez sans doute que c'estoit a la reine nitocris qu'apartenoit le royaume d'assirie et que c'estoit par cette raison que le prince son fus ne portoit pas la qualite de roy bien que le roy son pere fust mort cette grande princesse estoit effectivement descendue en droite ligne des premiers rois d'assirie et depuis le grand roy ninus et la fameuse semiramis il n'y a peut-estre pas eu une princesse plus illustre que celle la le roy son pere mourut qu'elle estoit encore fort jeune et elle porta la couronne en 
 un age ou toute autre qu'elle n'auroit pas eu la force de la soutenir cependant tous les assiriens tombent d'accord que l'on n'a jamais veu tant de sagesse et tant de prudence qu'elle en tesmoigna en toutes ses actions neantmoins quoy que sa raison fust fort avancee il y avoit pourtant un conseil compose des plus excellens nommes de la monarchie qui conduisoient les affaires en attendant que l'age peust donner une legitime authorite aux volontez de cette princesse mais comme par les loix fondamentales de l'estat elle ne pouvoit espouser de prince estranger tout ce qu'il y avoit de princes assiriens estoient alors a babilone et j'ay entendu dire que cette cour estoit la plus magnifique chose du monde en ce temps la comme cette princesse estoit fort belle et qu'elle portoit la premiere couronne de toute l'asie elle fit naistre plus d'une passion dans l'ame de tous les princes qui la virent et j'ay entendu assurer que de ce grand nombre qu'il y en avoit qui la servoient il n'y en avoit pas un qui n'eust pour le moins autant d'amour que d'ambition je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire avec quelle sagesse et quelle vertu elle agit en cette rencontre mais je vous diray seulement qu'entre tous les autres il y en avoit deux qui paroissoient plus vray-semblablement pouvoir esperer une heureuse fin a leurs desseins que tout le reste de ces illustres pretendans le premier estoit un prince nomme labinet aussi bien que celuy qui 
 est aujourd'huy roy d'assirie et l'autre estoit gadate qui en ce temps la estoit un miracle en beaute en bonne mine en valeur en esprit en galanterie et en vertu il estoit aussi d'une condition fort relevee et sa race avoit este alliee plus d'une fois a la famille royale mais pour l'autre quoy qu'il ne fust pas si accomply et que ses bonnes qualitez fussent moins esclatantes il avoit cet avantage qu'il se disoit estre sorty d'un des enfans de sardanapale qu'il avoit envoyez en paphlagonie auparavant que d'estre assiege dans ninos et que d'en avoir fait son buscher si toutefois c'est un avantage de sortir d'un si mauvais prince par consequent il pretendoit avoir quelque droit a la couronne quoy qu'en ce temps la il ne fist pas eclater ses pretensions onvertement d'abord comme la reine estoit fort jeune elle ne considera pas cette raison d estat et son ame se portant a preferer ce qui estoit le plus parfait a ce qui l'estoit le moins son inclination pancha vers gadate qui en estoit sans doute le plus digne et par ses rares qualitez et par sa respectueuse passion ayant entendu dire qn'effectivement il aimoit la reine nitocris avec autant de purete que l'on aime les dieux cette innocente passion ayant donc pris naissance dans le coeur de cette jeune princesse qui croyoit ne pouvoir rien faire de plus avantageux pour ses peuples que de leur donner pour roy le plus vertueux prince qu'elle connust elle commenca de recevoir les services 
 de gadate d'une maniere qui fit bien tost connoistre a tous les interessez cette legere preference qu'il avoit par dessus eux il n'en faloit pas davantage pour exciter le trouble a la cour principalement par le prince labinet qui a cause de ses pretentions a la couronne estoit le plus dangereux ce prince n'avoit pas sans doute de deffauts considerables mais il n'avoit pas aussi de ces vertus heroiques qui separent autant les princes du commun des autres hommes pour leur merite qu'ils le font par leur condition neantmoins l'ambition et l'amour eslevant son coeur il ne parla plus que de guerre civile de revolte et de sedition et en effet la chose alla si avant que chacun commenca de prendre party tous les amants mescontents en faisoient un labinet faisoit le sien a part suivy de quelques esprits remuans et gadate seul se trouvoit du coste de la reine cette jeune princesse voyant les choses en cet estat en fut extremement surprise et apres avoir considere que peut-estre elle alloit renverser un grand royaume elle prit d'elle mesme une resolution qui fit bien voir la grandeur de son ame et de sa vertu car ayant fait apeller gadate que sans doute elle aimoit beaucoup plus qu'elle ne luy avoit tesmoigne l'ayant dis-je fait apeller pour luy donner une marque de son affection d'une maniere assez nouvelle et infiniment surprenante gadate luy dit elle j'ay voulu vous parler aujourd'huy pour vous aprendre ce que 
 sans doute vous avez ignore du moins scay-je bien que j'ay aporte quelque soin a vous le cacher scachez donc poursuivit elle que je vous ay assez estime pour vous juger digne de porter la couronne d'assirie ha madame s'escria-t'il elle sied trop bien a la reine nitocris pour la luy oster et celuy qu'elle choisira pour luy faire l'honneur dont elle parle en seroit indigne s'il ne se contentoit d'estre seulement le premir de ses sujets attendez gadate luy dit elle a me remercier que je sois a la fin mon discours car apres vous avoir donne ce puissant tesmoignage de mon estime je pretens vous en demander un de vostre affection s'il ne faut madame repliqua t'il que mourir a vos pieds le suis prest de vous obeir et je ne scache qu'une seule chose que je ne puisse vous accorder aprenez la moy je vous en conjure luy repliqua-t'elle afin que je ne vous demande rien d'impossible gadate qui n'avoit jamais ose parler d'amour a la reine fut un peu surpris neantmoins apres ce qu'elle venoit de luy dire il se remit aisement et la regardant avec autant de respect que d'amour pourveu madame luy dit il que vostre majeste ne me deffende pas de l'adorer je ne luy desobeiray jamais non luy dit elle en soupirant je ne pretends pas que mon authorite s'estende sur les sentimens du coeur et peut-estre mesme quand ma domination iroit jusques la ne voudrois-je pas destruire en vostre ame les sentimens que vous avez pour moy mais ce 
 que je vous veux dire est que la necessite des affaires de mon estat et le bien de mes peuples ne me permettant plus de me choisir un mary j'ay voulu vous faire scavoir que je suis resolue de faire assembler les estats generaux du royaume et d'en recevoir un par le suffrage universel de mes sujets s'ils sont raisonnables vous aurez peut estre leurs voix comme je vous eusse donne la mienne si l'on m'en eust laisse la liberte mais si vous n'estes pas choisi par eux resoluez vous gadate a ne me voir de vostre vie et a vous retirer dans la province qui vous apartient sans venir jamais a la cour je ne m'arresteray point sage chrisante a vous dire tout ce que dit gadate a la reine nitocris ny mesme beaucoup de choses qui suivirent cette conversation quoy que toute cette histoire soit admirablement belle et infiniment touchante mais je vous diray seulement afin de venir le plus tost qu'il me sera possible aux avantures les plus essentielles de mon discours que quoy que gadate peust dire il ne put jamais obtenir autre chose que la liberte de soliciter ses juges en effet la reine assembla les estats generaux de son royaume leur declarant qu'elle estoit resolue de songer au repos de ses peuples et de leur laisser la liberte de se choisir un roy tous ces amans irritez surpris de cette declaration et ravis de la vertu de la reine revindrent a babilone soliciter leurs interests et rendre autant de devoirs a ceux qui formoient l'assemblee qu'ils en avoient 
 du a la reine nitocris mais enfin cette puissante raison d'estat qui veut que l'on oste tout sujet et tout pretexte de guerre civile fit que les estats generaux supplierent la reine de vouloir espouser labinet ce qu'elle fit sans donner aucune marque de repugnance ayant mesme toute sa vie paru estre extremement satisfaite en son mariage et ayant fort bien vescu avec le roy son mary cependant elle voulut que gadare luy obeist et qu'il s'en allast a la province qui estoit a luy pour n'en revenir jamais ce n'est pas que le roy qui sceut la chose et qui connoissoit parfaitement la vertu de cette princesse ne voulust l'obliger plus d'une fois a souffrir que gadate revinst a babilone mais elle ne le voulut jamais endurer quelque temps apres son mariage elle fit mesme commander a gadate de se marier et d'espouser une princesse descendue des anciens rois de bithynie qui estoit extremement riche et infiniment vertueuse ce qu'il fit quoy qu'assurement il conservast tousjours pour la reine une violente passion il vescut pourtant aussi bien avec la princesse sa femme que la reine avec le roy son mary cependant nitocris eut un fils qui est celuy que vous connoissez et que nous avons veu tantost philidaspe et tantost roy d'assirie gadate eut aussi un fils et une fille et aussi tost qu'ils furent hors de la premiere enfance la reine qui estoit demeuree veusve en continuant de deffendre a gadate de revenir a la cour luy fit commander de 
 luy envoyer ses enfans afin que son fils qui se nommoit intapherne fust esleve aupres du prince d'assirie et que la jeune princesse sa fille nommee istrine fust en lieu ou elle peust un jour donner de l'amour au prince son fils a qui elle avoit dessein de la faire espouser tant pour satisfaire a la loy en le mariant a une princesse qui n'estoit pas estrangere que pour rendre ce tesmoignage d'estime a gadate luy semblant qu'elle ne pouvoit mieux ny plus innocemment reconnoistre les services qu'il luy avoit rendus qu'en mettant sa fille sur le throsne d'assirie il sembloit mesme qu'elle ne prenoit pas seulement cette resolution par choix mais encore par necessite car de tous les princes qui avoient pretendu espouser la reine nitocris la plus grande partie n'avoient pu se resoudre a se marier et les autres n'avoient point eu de filles ainsi la princesse istrine estoit presque la seule personne que le prince d'assirie pouvoit espouser mais admirez un peu comment la prudence humaine est bornee cette grande reine qui par tant d'ouvrages publics s'est rendue celebre par tout le monde et qui la sera a toute la posterite se trompa en son raisonnement et ce qu'elle creut devoir faire naistre amour inspira quelque aversion dans le coeur du jeune prince d'assirie la princesse istrine pouvoit avoir dix ans lors qu'elle arriva a babilone intapherne son frere en avoit quinze et le prince d'assirie quatorze mais des ce temps la cette humeur imperieuse 
 que nous avons toujours veue en philidaspe commencoit desja d'esclatter il vivoit avec intapherne d'une maniere qui ne donnoit pas lieu de croire qu'il le regardast comme devant estre un jour son beau-frere et il regardoit la princesse istrine avec une indifference si grande qu'il est a croire que si ce n'eust este la crainte qu'il avoit en cet age la de desplaire a la reine l'aversion qu'il avoit pour elle auroit paru plus visiblement pour intapherne comme c'est un prince admirablement bien nay il vivoit avec le prince d'assirie avec tout le respect qu'il luy devoit quoy qu'il eust un peu de peine a souffrir son humeur altiere neantmoins l'ambition et les conseils de ceux qui avoient soin de sa conduite faisoient qu'il avoit beaucoup de complaisance pour luy la jeune istrine de son coste avoit une douceur et une civilite pour le prince labinet qui ne se peuvent exprimer car encore qu'elle fust fort jeune la couronne d'assirie a laquelle elle croyoit estre destinee brilloit assez a ses yeux pour faire qu'elle n'oubliast rien de tout ce qui pouvoit gagner le coeur du prince qu'elle esperoit espouser la reine de sa part contribuoit tous ses soings pour faire naistre l'amitie en ces jeunes coeurs qu'elle vouloit unir et pour cet effet elle faisoit que ces deux jeunes personnes se voyoient souvent et que les festes et les rejouissances publiques les exposoient ensemble a la veue du peuple qui par ses acclamations ne manquoit jamais d'aprouver le choix de la 
 reine car a ce que j'ay entendu dire il estoit impossible de voir rien de plus beau que la princesse istrine pour le prince d'assirie nous scavons qu'en effet il n'y a gueres d'hommes au monde si bien faits que luy intapherne aussi estoit beau et de bonne mine mais quoy que la reine nitocris peust faire l'aversion du prince son fils augmenta avec l'age et quelques esprits mal intentionnez luy ayant persuade que la princesse istrine estoit un ambitieuse qui n'avoit de la complaisance pour luy que parce qu'elle vouloit estre reine il recevoit toute sa civilite d'une maniere assez desobligeante il haissoit mesme intapherne par cette raison seulement qu'il estoit frere de cette princesse en laquelle toutefois l'on ne remarquoit aucun deffaut estant certain qu'elle a beaucoup d'esprit et que c'est une des plus belles brunes du monde cependant le prince d'assirie ayant atteint sa dix-huistiesme annee et la princesse istrine en ayant quatorze la reine voulut faire proposer au prince son fils de l'espouser mais il la fit supplier de ne le presser encore de se marier et luy fit dire qu'il ne croyoit pas qu'un prince qui n'avoit point encore este a la guerre deust songer si tost a des nopces la reine qui connoissoit l'humeur violente du prince creut qu'il faloit luy donner du temps et principalement parce que selon les aparences il devoit y avoir guerre contre le roy de phrigie qui avoit fait quelque irruption sur les frontieres d'assirie qui touchent ses 
 estats depuis cette proposition le prince qui auparavant ne tesmoignoit avoir que de l'indifference changea sa forme de vie et esvita autant qu'il put de rencontrer la princesse istrine en nulle part et pour cet effet il s'accoustuma d'aller presque tous les jours a la chasse afin de n'estre pas oblige d'aller si souvent chez la reine mais en esvitant la conversation de la soeur il n'esvitoit pas celle du frere et intapherne le suivoit par tout ce qui ne plaisoit guere au prince il arrivoit mesme assez souvent qu'intapherne pensant aquerir son estime augmentoit encore sa haine car comme il n'aime pas a estre surmonte en nulle chose l'adresse extraordinaire qu'avoit intapherne a lancer le javelot et a tirer de l'arc luy donnoit de l'envie a toutes les chasses ou il se trouvoit il y en eut une entre les autres ou le prince ayant tire sur une ourse la manqua et un moment apres intapherne ayant descoche sa fleche la fit tomber morte et le mesme jour encore le prince d'assirie ayant manque un lyon intapherne fit ce qu'il n'avoit pu faire et le tua d'un seul coup le prince fut si fache de cette avanture qu'il ne put jamais obtenir de luy mesme de louer intapherne de son adresse et en s'en retournant il dit quelque chose d'assez piquant a deux pas de ce prince car comme quelqu'un ne pouvoit s'empescher de louer intapherne attendez luy dit il a le louer avec tant d'exces que nous ayons este ensemble a la guerre de phrigie car a mon advis il y a plus de 
 gloire a vaincre des hommes qui se deffendent qu'a tuer des bestes qui fuyent intapherne n'entendit pas ce que le prince d'assirie avoit dit quoy qu'il fust assez proche mais quelqu'un le luy ayant redit apres il en eut l'esprit un peu aigry et de ce petit demesle est venu le faux bruit qui s'est espandu dans les nations estrangeres que le prince l'avoit tue a la chasse ce mesme bruit prenant avec aussi peu de verite le fils de gadate pour le fils de gobrias et la chose se passa purement comme je la dis cependant la reine voyant que les affaires de phrigie tiroient en longueur fit encore presser le prince d'espouser istrine et employa pour le luy persuader mazare prince des saces qui estoit alors a la cour et que le prince d'assirie aimoit cherement mazare s'aquitant de sa commission demanda donc precisement au prince d'assirie d'ou pouvoit venir la repugnance qu'il tesmoignoit avoir au mariage qu'on luy proposoit car enfin luy disoit il la princesse istrine est belle il est vray respondit il mais elle ne l'est pas comme il le faudroit estre pour toucher mon coeur de plus adjoustoit mazare elle a de la douceur et de la complaisance autant que vous en pouvez desirer si elle estoit un peu plus fiere repliquoit le prince d'assirie elle me plairoit davantage mais n'avouez vous pas reprenoit mazare qu'elle a beaucoup d'esprit et mesme beaucoup de vertu je croy le dernier respondit il mais pour l'autre puis qu'elle n'a 
 pas sceu par quelle voye elle pouvoit toucher mon coeur je pense qu'il m'est permis de le mettre en doute apres adjoustoit mazare vous n'estes pas dans la liberte de choisir et la princesse istrine estant la seule personne que selon les loix de l'estat vous pouvez espouser en toute l'estendue de vostre royaume je ne voy pas pourquoy vous ne vous y resoluez point et pourquoy vous ne vous estimez pas heureux de ce que n'y ayant qu'une princesse qui puisse estre vostre femme les dieux vous l'ont du moins donnee belle douce sprituelle et vertueuse ha mazare s'escria le prince d'assirie c'est pour cette fatale necessite que je ne puis souffrir que la princesse istrine m'est insuportable ouy mazare j'avoue puis que vous le voulez scavoir que je connois comme vous que cette princesse a de la beaute de la douceur de l'esprit et de la vertu mais apres tout quoy que je la connoisse aimable je ne la scaurois aimer et je ne l'aimeray jamais non mazare les rois qui sont au dessus de tous les autres hommes ne doivent point estre privez de la liberte de se choisir une femme s'ils ont a en avoir une c'est une loy que mes predecesseurs ont establie et que je ne scaurois observer principalement en une conjoncture ou il n'y a presque point a choisir et ou de necessite si je veux espouser une princesse assirienne il faut que ce soit istrine car encore que gobrias ait une fille les assiriens font quelque distinction de son pais au nost 
 il est plustost mon vassal que mon sujet je ne doute presque point adjoustoit ce prince violent que si la loy de l'estat et les commandements de la reine ne sembloient pas me vouloir forcer a aimer la princesse istrine malgre moy je ne l'aimasse et je ne la cherisse mais je vous confesse que ne la pouvant choisir je ne la scaurois aimer et que le prince d'assirie ne le resoudra jamais a se captiver en la chose du monde qui doit estre la plus libre mais luy disoit mazare les rois ne se marient pas comme les autres hommes et il ne leur importe presque pas d'aimer ou de n'aimer point celles qu'ils espousent les assiriens vous demandent une reine accordez leur ce qu'ils demandent et donnez vostre coeur a qui il vous plaira mon coeur repliqua le prince en sous-riant est une chose que j'estime assez precieuse pour ne la donner qu'a une reine ainsi mazare si par hazard je venois a aimer une personne qui ne le fust pas je veux me reserver la liberte de luy pouvoir donner une couronne c'est pourquoy n'en parlons plus et si vous m'aimez faites seulement que la reine ne s'offence pas de ma desobeissance mazare en effet fit tout ce qu'il luy fit possible pour adoucir l'esptit de nitocris mais il n'y eut pas moyen de luy faire trouver bon que le prince son fils ne luy obeist pas elle que toute la terre regardoit avec estime et qui luy devoit laisser un estat le plus florissant de toute l'asie elle creut mesme qu'il estoit bon 
 d'oster ce pretexte de guerre au prince son fils et de faire la paix avec le roy de phrigie le prince ayant sceu la chose et ne la pouvant empescher jugea bien que cette paix ne seroit pas plustost publiee qu'on luy reparleroit de nopces de sorte que ne scachant plus quel pretexte trouver il s'avisa de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour obliger quelqu'un des jeunes princes qui estoient aupres de luy a estre amoureux de la princesse istrine et entre les autres il en pressa estrangement le prince des saces mon cher mazare luy disoit il faites que je vous aye l'obligation d'aimer istrine pour l'amour de moy vous y avez sans doute disoit il encore beaucoup de disposition car enfin vous m'avez dit qu'elle est belle qu'elle a de l'esprit et de la vertu pourquoy donc ne l'aimez vous pas parce luy respondoit mazare que le moment fatal ou je suis destine d'aimer n'est pas arrive et parce que la reine ne le souffriroit pas et que de plus la princesse istrine ne me regarderoit pas favorablement apres avoir en vain bien tourmente mazare il fut en trouver un autre que l'on dit qui estoit effectivement amoureux d'istrine sans oser le dire et qui n'osa pourtant jamais l'avouer au prince ny accepter les assistances qu'il luy offroit pour le respect qu'il avoit pour la reine nitocris et mesme pour la princesse qu'il aimoit car enfin le prince d'assirie ne leur proposoit pas moins d'enlever istrine pour eux et de la leur donner par les voyes les plus injustes et les plus violentes 
 voyant donc que cette invention qu'il avoit cru fort bonne ne luy reussissoit pas il prit la bizarre resolution de tascher de se faire hair de la princesse istrine et comme il scavoit qu'elle aimoit tendrement son frere il affecta de le traitter avec froideur ne pouvant obtenir de luy de faire directement une incivilite a cette princesse un soir donc que l'on ne faisoit plus qu'attendre celuy qui estoit alle faire signer les articles de paix au roy de phrigie le prince d'assirie s'estant alle promener au bord de l'euphrate intapherne le suivit avec beaucoup d'autres et comme ils estoient en un age ou pour l'ordinaire les dames ont beaucoup de part en la conversation mazare disoit que les beautez blondes touchoient son coeur et intapherne assuroit que les brunes avoient plus de part en son inclination pour moy adjousta le prince d'assirie je n'aime encore ny les blondes ny les brunes mais si j'ay a en aimer quelqu'une un jour je ne pense pas qu'elle soit comme les aime intapherne l'amour seigneur repliqua ce prince ne nous laisse pas le choix de ce que nous devons aimer et peut-estre adjousta-t il que vous esprouverez enfin sa tyrannie l'amour repliqua cet imperieux prince pourra peut estre comme vous dittes devenir mon vainqueur mais du moins si je ne me trompe ne seray-je pas vaincu par des beautez assiriennes il y en a pourtant d'assez grandes a babilone repliqua intapherne qui se trouva alors seul avec 
 le prince a dix ou douze pas de la compagnie ouy luy respondit il avec un sous rire malicieux mais puis que la princesse istrine ne m'a pas vaincu je n'ay rien a craindre et ma liberte est en assurance a babilone ma soeur respondit intapherne avec beaucoup de respect n'a pas eu assez bonne opinion de sa beaute pour pretendre a une si illustre conqueste mais seigneur ce que la mediocrite de ses charmes n'a pu faire ne sera peut-estre pas impossible a beaucoup d'autres qui en ont plus qu'elle et qui outre leur merite ont peut-estre aussi plus de bonheur il est vray repliqua assez fierement le prince d'assirie que la princesse istrine n'est pas heureuse en ses desseins et qu'il y a sujet de la pleindre de n'avoir pu gagner une couronne qu'elle croit avoir bien meritee je ne scay seigneur respondit intapherne un peu aigry pourquoy vous me parlez de cette sorte mais je scay bien que la maison dont je suis a donne plus d'une sois des reines a l'assirie et qu'ainsi quand ma soeur par le commandement de la reine auroit espere un semblable honneur elle n'auroit rien fait de fort deraisonnable la fortune intapherne respondit brusquement ce prince violent n'est pas tousjours aveugle en ses presens elle donne souvent avec choix et je suis bien assure que ce ne sera point par ma main que son caprice donnera des couronnes et qu'elle ne mettra point par moy sur le throsne ceux qui ne doivent le regarder 
 qu'en tremblant dans les autres royaumes respondit intapherne l'on dit que le prince est au dessus des loix mais en assirie les loix ont accoustume d'estre au dessus du prince qui fait gloire de s'y assujettir et par cette raison les sujettes comme ma soeur peuvent tousjours fans choquer la bien-seance ne trembler point en regardant un throsne ou elles peuvent monter quand les sujettes comme vostre soeur repliqua t'il vivront sous le regne d'un prince comme moy on leur aprendra mieux ce qu'elles doivent qu'elle ne le scait et on leur fera voir que la raison est plus forte que la loy que l'on peut enfraindre sans injustice lors que cette loy est injuste apprenez donc intapherne poursuivit il a ne vous fier pas a la loy renoncez a tous les privileges que vous croyez qu'elle vous donne contentez vous des alliances que vous avez eues autrefois avec les rois d'assirie et croyez que si je regne un jour vous n'y en aurez jamais de nouvelles peut estre repliqua intapherne qu'auparavant que la reine nitocris vous ait laisse la couronne vous changerez de sentimens je vous entens bien respondit le prince d'assirie vous croyez parce que je ne regne pas encore que vous estes presque mon egal mais intapherne desabusez vous et pour commencer de vous aprendre qu'il y a quelque difference entre moy et vous je vous commande de vous retirer et de ne me voir jamais si vous ne voulez 
 vous exposer a estre mal traite ha seigneur repliqua intapherne les personnes de ma condition ne le doivent point estre par celles de la vostre je ne scay pas si elles le doivent estre respondit le prince d'assirie mais je scay bien que si imapherne ne m'obeit et mesme sans murmurer j'en donneray un exemple aux princes qui me suivront ouy seigneur respondit intapherne en se retirant je vous obeiray mais ce sera bien plus par le respect que je porte au fils de la reine nitocris que par la crainte d'estre mal traite puis qu'apres tout les princes qui ont le coeur d'imapherne sont bien assurez que personne ne leur fera jamais d'outrages impunement le prince d'assirie par bonne fortune n'entendit pas ces dernieres paroles et il n'y eut que mazare qui les ouit en se r'aprochant du prince mais il ne les redit pas au partie de la intapherne fut demander son conge a la reine qui le luy refusa la princesse istrine de son coste infiniment offensee du mauvais traitement que son frere avoit receu a sa consideration suplia aussi nitocris de la renvoyer chez son pere mais la reine la refusa aussi bien qu'intapherne leur disant tousjours que le prince son fils changeroit d'humeur avec le temps et qu'elle y donneroit ordre cependant elle estoit en une colere extreme contre luy et ne pouvoit s'empescher de le tesmoigner de sorte que le prince l'ayant sceu et celuy qui estoit alle en phrigie ayant raporte 
 les articles de la paix signez il prit la resolution de quitter la cour d'assirie afin de se delivrer de la persecution qu'il disoit souffrir et de s'en aller voyager inconnu jusques a ce que la reine sa mere eust change de sentimens ou que la princesse istrine fust mariee il partit donc le lendemain de la resjouissance publique que l'on fit a babilone pour la paix de phrigie et ne mena aveque luy que trois des siens entre lesquels il y avoit un homme de condition qui estoit de la mesme maison dont on disoit que celle d'aribee estoit sortie du temps que la capadoce estoit sous la puissance des assiriens je ne m'arresteray point maintenant a vous raconter les voyages de ce prince qui en partant de babilone prit le nom de philidaspe et je vous diray seulement qu'apres avoir este en plusieurs cours de l'asie il arriva inconnu a sinope un jour que l'on faisoit un sacrifice au temple de mars pour la mort de cyrus un peu auparavant la guerre de pont et de bithinie quoy interrompit alors chrisante le jour de sacrifice fut donc le premier jour que le prince d'assirie sous le nom de philidaspe vit la princesse mandane ouy repit martesie et ce fut ce jour la qu'il en devint amoureux aussi bien que l'illustre artamene vous jugez bien poursuivit elle que depuis cela jusques au premier dessein de l'enlevement de la princesse mandane dont artamene 
 empescha l'execution j'ay peu de choses a vous aprendre puis que vous avez este les tesmoins de cette jalousie secrette qui les obligeoit a se hair et de ces presentimens qui les advertissoient tous deux de ce qu'ils estoient c'est pourquoy je ne vous entretiendray ny de la violence de la passion de philidaspe ny de sa jalousie ny de tout ce que l'amour produisit en son coeur il faut toutefois que je vous aprenne certaines choses que vous ne pouvez avoir sceues je vous diray donc que cet homme qui accompagnoit philidaspe et qui estoit de mesme maison qu'aribee se fit connoistre a luy et luy presenta philidaspe comme un homme de qualite qui vouloit voyager sans estre connu le priant de les favoriser en toutes choses et de luy faire saluer le roy et la princesse ce fut en effet la premiere raison qui obligea aribee a proteger philidaspe et a le presenter a ciaxare et a mandane quelques jours auparavant que le roy partist de sinope pour s'en aller a la guerre cependant l'amour s'estant puissamment empare du coeur du prince d'assirie et trouvant une occasion de guerre en capadoce il prit la resolution de tarder en cette cour et il y vescut de la maniere que vous scavez mais je voudrois bien scavoir aimable martesie interrompit alors feraulas pourquoy le prince d'assirie ne parla point d'amour a la princesse mandane luy dis-je qui n'avoit pas les raisons qui en empeschoient cyrus 
 il en avoit une partie repliqua-t'elle car enfin l'austere vertu de la princesse le retenoit aussi bien qu'artamene joint qu'il n'ignoroit pas non plus que jamais ciaxare ne consentiroit que sa fille qui devoit estre reine de medie l'espousast car vous n'ignorez pas sans doute que depuis que l'illustre dejoce mit sa patrie en liberte et la delivra de la tirannie des rois assiriens il y a une haine irreconciliable entre ces deux peuples et que toute la medie se seroit revoltee contre alliage s'il eust songe a donner son contentement a cette alliance le prince d'assirie n'osoit donc parler d'amour sans se faire connoistre et n'osoit se faire connoistre pour la crainte qu'il avoit d'estre hai et refuse tant par les raisons que je viens de dire que parce que les loix d'assirie et de capadoce s'oposoient a ce mariage il creut donc qu'il faloit seulement tascher de se mettre assez bien dans l'esprit de la princesse pour obtenir son pardon quand il l'auroit enlevee comme il en avoit le dessein mais pour l'executer il creut qu'il faloit gagner aribee absolument et comme il avoit remarque en plusieurs conversations particulieres qu'il avoit une passion tres forte pour la nation assirienne et qu'il eust presque souhaite que la capadoce eust encore vescu sous ses anciens maistres il se descouvrit a luy et luy fit comprendre qu'en le favorisant dans son entreprise il ne pouvoit jamais trouver une plus innocente voye de remettre la capadoce sous 
 la puissance des rois d'assirie vous pouvez juger par tout ce que vous avez veu faire depuis a aribee qu'il escouta cette proposition qu'il y consentit et qu'il promit a philidaspe de le servir en toutes choses ce prince se descouvrit a luy un peu apres la prise de cerasie et ils resolurent que philidaspe s'assureroit d'une place sorte en assirie pour sa retraite lors qu'il auroit enleve la princesse mandane n'osant pas songer de la mener a la cour de la reine nitocris veu la maniere dont il s'estoit separe d'avec elle et la cause de son exil mais comme il faloit du temps pour cela il falut qu'il se donnast patience et qu'il differast l'execution de son dessein cependant il en esperoit un heureux succes car il croyoit que lors qu'il auroit enleve la princesse mandane la reine nitocris authoriseroit une chose qui joignoit trois royaumes a l'assirie et une chose ou la loy pouvoit mesme recevoir quelque explication favorable disant que la princesse de capadoce n'estoit point estrangere pour luy puis que le royaume ou elle estoit nee luy apartenoit legitimement il envoya donc vers le gouverneur d'une ville qui est a huit journees de babilone qui s'apelle issus et qui est scituee sur une riviere qui porte son nom afin de le suborner et de l'obliger a vouloir luy estre fidelle mais pendant que cela se tramoit vous vistes tout ce qui se passa a l'armee et a la cour entre ces deux illustres rivaux et je n'ay plus rien a vous dire jusques apres les deux batailles 
 qu'artamene gagna en un mesme jour a l'une desquelles comme vous scavez il prit le roy de pont prisonnier et en suite dequoy tout le monde le creut mort mais en cet endroit je vous diray que feraulas devant qui je parle hasta peut-estre de quelques mois l'execution du premier dessein d'enlever la princesse mandane moy aimable martesie interrompit feraulasvous mesme luy respondit elle car lors que vous creustes que vostre maistre estoit mort dans la violence de vostre douleur vous ne pustes vous empescher parlant de la perte d'artamene de vous escrier en presence de philidaspe ha pauvre prince faut il qu'une si belle vie ait si peu dure il m'a dit depuis a babilone qu'alors il vous arresta et vous demanda s'il estoit vray que vostre maistre fust de cette condition et que vous aviez feint que l'exces de vostre desplasir vous avoit fait dire une parole pour une autre mais que cela n'avoit pas empesche qu'il ne luy fust demeure de violons soubcons dans l'esprit que la chose estoit comme vous l'aviez dite sans y penser il est vray repliqua feraulas en rougissant que je me souviens d'avoir fait cette faute et plus vray encore que dans l'extreme douleur ou j'estois alors et dans l'extreme joye que j'eus bien-tost apres pour la resurrection de mon cher maistre j'en avois absolument perdu la 
 memoire feraulas ayant cesse de parler et chrisante l'ayant prie de n'interrompre plus martesie elle reprit ainsi son discours au retour d'artamene et de philidaspe a sinope la jalousie de ce dernier s'augmenta et ayant este assure par le gouverneur de la ville d'issus qu'il le recevroit quand il voudroit il ne songea plus qu'a executer son dessein aussi bien voyoit il qu'il n'en pourroit jamais trouver d'occasion plus favorable car la paix s'allant faire il jugeoit bien qu'il n'auroit plus de troupes qui luy pussent prester main forte au lieu qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses il avoit quatre mille hommes comme vous scavez aux portes de la ville qui dependoient absolument de luy et un chasteau pour luy donner pretexte de n'estre pas a sinope durant qu'aribee seroit la chose enfin vous n'avez pas perdu la memoire comment une lettre que ce prince escrivit tombant entre les mains d'artamene descouvrit la conjuration et l'empescha mais vous ne scavez pas que celuy qui l'avoit perdue estant alle chez aribee et ne l'ayant point trouvee sur luy en estoit demeure fort surpris et luy avoit advoue qu'il craignoit bien qu'un homme contre lequel il s'estoit batu ne l'eust trouvee vous ne scavez pas non plus qu'aribee ayant sceu qu'artamene avoit este chez la princesse et chez le roy et qu'en suite il estoit alle changer les gardes envoya advertir philidaspe qui apres avoir fait disperser en une nuit les quatre mille hommes qu'il avoit au pied 
 de ce chasteau ou il commandoit au lieu de s'enfuir comme tout le monde creut qu'il avoit fait s'en alla a pterie dont aribee estoit gouverneur ou il demeure tousjours cache resolu d'attendre en ce lieu la une occasion plus favorable ce fut donc pour l'amour de luy qu'aribee voulant esloigner artamene de la cour comme estant le plus grand obstacle a ses desseins proposa a ciaxare de l'envoyer vers la reine des massagettes afin d'executer son entreprise pendant son absence il arriva pourtant une chose qui l embarrassa fort qui pensa le desesperer et qui luy fit bien perdre du temps qui fut qu'aussi tost apres qu'artamene fut party philidaspe sceut que ce gouverneur qui luy devoit donner retraite dans la ville d'issus estoit mort si bien qu'il falut chercher un autre azile auparavant que de rien entreprendre ce qui dura si long temps qu'il ne put executer son dessein que lors que l'on ne faisoit plus qu'attendre artamene duquel l'on n'avoit point eu de nouvelles depuis son depart le gouverneur d'une ville qui s'apelle opis et que le fleuve du tigre traverse ayant donc este gagne aribee qui avoit suborne une de mes compagnes nommee arianite et qui de plus avoit gagne presque tous les gardes de la princesse executa son entreprise a themiscire ou philidaspe s'estoit rendu sans danger car outre qu'il n'alloit que de nuit il est encore vray qu'il s'estoit si fort change le taint par une invention qu'on luy avoit donnee 
 qu'il n'estoit pas connoissable 
 
 
 
 
enfin chrisante me voicy arrivee a l'endroit de mon recit ou tout ce que j'ay a vous dire vous est inconnu mais de grace imaginez vous bien quelle fut la surprise et le desespoir de la princesse de se voir enlevee par philidaspe il fut si grand que je creus qu'elle en expireroit de douleur vous avez sceu comment je suivis ma chere maistresse malgre ceux qui l'enleverent car pour arianite philidaspe n'avoit garde de la laisser je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire comment nous quitasmes le bateau dans lequel on nous avoit mises ny comment nous trouvasmes des chevaux a l'autre coste du fleuve ny quelle fut nostre route ny quelle estoit nostre escorte mais je vous diray seulement que jusques a la pointe du jour que nous campasmes dans un bois sous un pavillon que l'on tendoit pour cela la princesse ny moy n'avions pu prononcer une seule parole ny estre capables d'entendre rien de tout ce que philidaspe nous disoit tant l'affliction et l'estonnement s'estoient emparez de son ame et de la mienne et je pense que depuis que la princesse dans les premiers transports de sa douleur eut crie a philidaspe que si artamene eust este a themiscire il n'eust pas entrepris ce qu'il entreprenoit elle ne parla plus du tout mais apres que nous fusmes sous ce pavillon et que la princesse a demy morte se fut assise sur des quarreaux que l'on avoit mis sur un grand tapis de pied qui couvroit tout le parterre de cette tente et que je 
 me fus rangee aupres d'elle aussi bien qu'arianite qui contrefaisoit aimirablement bien l'affligee philidaspe apres avoir pose toutes les sentinelles necesssaires pour sa seurete vint se jetter a ses pieds et la regardant avec autant de soubmission que s'il n'eust pas eu l'audace de l'enlever le scay bien madame luy dit il que non seulement philidaspe est un temeraire mais que mesme le prince d'assirie en vous offrant une des plus illustres couronnes du monde est un audacieux qui merite chastiment ouy divine princesse je mets vostre vertu tellement au dessus de vostre condition que je tombe d'accord que le plus grand roy du monde ne pourroit jamais pretendre a l'honneur d'estre aime de vous sans une temerite criminelle mais madame puis que les dieux vous ont mise au dessus de tous les rois de la terre et que nul ne scauroit pretendre a la gloire de vous posseder sans vous faire injure j'ay creu que je pouvois aussi tost qu'un autre aspirer a estre cet heureux temeraire que les dieux vous ont destine je suis peut- estre moins que les autres par moy mesme mais je suis du moins autant que les autres par la couronne que je dois porter et plus que les autres par la passion que j'ay pour vous ainsi madame quelque injuste que je sois je merite peut-estre quelque compassion principalement si vous connoissez que je n'ay fait que ce que je n'ay pu m'empescher de faire car enfin si l'eusse eu quelque autre voye de pouvoir esperer 
 l'honneur ou je pretens je n'aurois pas pris celle dont je me suis servy mais vous scavez bien madame qu'astiage ny ciaxare quand mesme j'eusse este assez heureux pour n'estre pas meprise de vous n'auroient jamais aprouve la proposition que je leur aurois fait faire que vouliez vous donc que devinst un prince qui vous aimoit qui vous adoroit et qui ne voyoit a son choix que mandane ou la mort la mort reprit la princesse avec beaucoup de colere eust este un choix plus juste et plus judicieux tout ensemble car enfin s'il est vray que vous aimiez mandane elle rendra vostre vie plus cruelle que la mort ne vous l'eust este peut-estre madame repliqua t'il que me voyant eternellement a vos pieds avec une soumission sans egale vous laisserez vous toucher a mes larmes et a mes soupirs non non interrompit la princesse n'attendez rien ny du temps ny de vos larmes ny de vous soupirs ny de tout autre secours quel qu'il puisse estre le coeur de mandane ne se laisse pas gagner par de semblables voyes et vostre crime bien loing d'estre efface par des larmes ne le seroit pas par vostre sang ainsi philidaspe car je ne puis me resoudre de vous donner un nom plus illustre apres vostre mauvaise action preparez vous des icy a voir augmenter a tout les momens la haine que je commencay d'avoir pour vous a sinope voila quel fera le progres que vous ferez dans mon ame et n'en doutez nullement c'est pourquoy s'il vous reste quelque 
 rayon de lumiere dans l'esprit que vostre injuste passion n'ait pas obscurcy songez qu'il vous seroit beaucoup plus avantageux de me remettre en liberte et de vous repentir de vostre faute que de la continuer nous ne sommes pas encore si loing de themiscire que vous ne le puissiez faire facilement et je vous engage ma parole d'obliger le roy mon pere a ne se ressentir pas de l'outrage que vous luy assez fait je vous promets mesme que cette effroyable haine que vous avez fait naistre dans mon coeur des la premiere fois que vous eustes dessein de m'enlever s'en effacera presque toute et que je vous auray mesme quelque obligation de vous estre surmonte pour l'amour de moy je croiray alors que vous m'avez veritablement aimee ou au contraire si mes raisons ne vous persuadent point je croiray que le seul interest vous a fait agir et que n'ayant pas de sujettes qui portent des couronnes vous avez voulu songer a vous marier par ambition plustost que par amour au reste ne fondez pas vostre esperance sur ce que je n'eclate point en injures contre vous ma bouche philidaspe n'en a jamais prononce et je ne scay pas mesme desquels termes il se faut servir en parlant a ceux qui m'outragent parce que jusques a cette heure je n'ay point este outragee mais ce que je scay de certitude c'est que je sens l'injure que vous me faites comme une princesse de grand coeur la doit sentir et que sans m'emporter en une violence inutile je ne 
 laisse pas de vous hair effroyablement et de former un dessein inebranlable de ne me laisser jamais toucher ny par vos respects ny par vos services ny par vos larmes ny mesme par vos menaces car je dois tout craindre de vous ny mesme encore par la veue de la mort quand vous me la feriez voir certaine mais encore une fois philidaspe songez que vous pouvez en quelque facon reparer vostre faute et souvenez vous qu'il n'est rien de plus deraisonnable que de faire un grand crime inutilement pensez de plus en quel estat vous allez mettre toute la capadoce toute la galatie toute la medie et toute l'assirie ou pour mieux dire encore en quel effroyable desordre vous allez reduire toute l'asie car enfin astiage et ciaxare ne souffriront pas cet outrage sans s'en vanger tous les rois leurs alliez s'engageront dans leur party craignez donc philidaspe craignez que vous ne soyez noye dans les funestes ruisseaux de sang que vous voulez respandre car enfin il est des dieux et des dieux vangeurs et equitables des dieux dis-je protecteurs de l'innocence oprimee et ennemis declarez des princes injustes mais philidaspe est il possible que la reine nitocris qui est une princesse si illustre scache quelque chose d'un si estrange dessein et est il possible qu'il y ait quelqu'un au monde qui vous l'ait conseille non madame reprit philidaspe personne ne m'a conseille ce que j'ay fait je n'ay pas mesme voulu consulter ma propre raison et l'amour tout 
 seul a este mon conseil en cette entreprise mais madame il n'est plus temps de parler de repentir a philidaspe et vos beaux yeux tous irritez qu'ils sont s'oposent a toutes vos paroles et me confirment en tous mes desseins ha si cela est dit la princesse je vous deffens de me voir et je ne vous regarderay jamais allez philidaspe allez sortez de cette tente et n'y rentrez pas si vous ne voulez adjouster quelque chose a vostre crime allez dis-je sous ces bois consulter vostre raison si vous en avez encore appellez a vostre secours vostre generosite et n'oubliez pas d'ecouter la gloire dont vous aviez paru estre si amoureux et si jaloux la gloire madame ou j'ay pretendu repliqua ce prince et ou je pretens encore est celle de vous pouvoir mettre sur le throsne d'assirie et de vous pouvoir voir un jour commander dans la plus belle ville du monde c'est pour cela madame que je croiray juste de mettre toute l'asie en armes aussi bien la princesse mandane n'est elle pas d'un merite a devoir estre conquise sans peine peut estre que quand vous me verrez a la teste d'une armee de deux cens mille hommes vous changerez de sentimens et que vous ne vivrez plus avec moy comme vous viviez avec philidaspe que vous n'avez creu qu'un simple chevalier et qui n'a passe dans vostre esprit que pour un homme d'une condition bien inferieure a la vostre mais madame si dans ces occasions la fortune me favorise et me fait vaincre tous 
 ces rois que vous dittes qui prendront vostre querelle je ne descendray alors du char de triomphe que pour mettre a vos pieds toutes les palmes dont elle m'aura couronne ha philidaspe luy dit la princesse j'aimerois mieux vous voir dans le tombeau que dans un char de triomphe apres avoir vaincu le roy mon pere vous pouvez madame repliqua-t'il empescher la guerre et ces yeux ces beaux yeux que vous me cachez avec tant de soing ou que vous me monstrez si irritez n'auront qu'a me regarder favorablement pour me faire tomber les armes des mains je n'aurois jamais fait sage chrisante si je vous redisois tout ce que philidaspe dit mais enfin la princesse perdant patience et voyant qu'elle avoit parle inutilement luy commanda d'une authorite si absolue de sortir de la tente qu'il luy obeit car il faut que je die cela a l'avantage de philidaspe que quoy qu'il soit tres violent et qu'il ait aussi este capable de beaucoup de choses violentes il n'a pourtant jamais entierement perdu le respect qu'il devoit a la princesse apres qu'il fut sorty nous demeurasmes seules philidaspe fit presenter a manger a mandane mais elle n'en voulut point cependant nous n'estions pas en une liberte entiere car quoy que nous ne sceussions pas encore qu'arianite eust trahy il est tousjours vray qu'elle n'avoit nulle part a la confidence de la princesse et qu'en mon particulier elle n'estoit pas de mes amies 
 ainsi ce n'estoit que des yeux que la princesse me faisoit connaistre qu'en ce deplorable estat elle se souvenoit d'artamene elle passa tout ce jour qui estoit devenu la nuit pour nous a se plaindre de son malheur ou a prier les dieux de le vouloir faire cesser comme le soir fut venu l'on nous dit qu'il faloit partir et ce ne fut pas sans peine que je forcay la princesse a prendre quelque chose madame luy dis-je tout bas la valeur d'artamene pourra peut-estre vous retirer des mains d'un prince qu'il est accoustume de vaincre mais il ne pourroit pas vous retirer du tombeau si vous y estiez vous avez raison ma fille me dit elle mais le moyen de vivre au miserable estat ou je fuis c'est aux grandes ames luy dis-je a supporter les grandes infortunes constamment ha martesie s'ecria t'elle que la constance est une vertu difficile elle est mesme une vertu trompeuse qui pour l'ordinaire ne met le calme que dans les yeux et sur le visage sans empescher que le coeur ne soit dechire par de cruelles agitations enfin seigneur je dis tant de choses que je la contraignis de manger et peu de momens apres l'on nous contraignit a partir nous marchasmes de cette sorte trois nuits et campasmes deux jours sans que mandane voulust plus souffrir que philidaspe luy parlast mais a la fin de la troisiesme nuit comme nous ne faisions que d'entrer dans le pavillon et que selon ma coustume j'eus regarde si suivant l'intention de la 
 princesse philidaspe ne s'en estoit pas assez retire pour ne pouvoit pas mesme entendre ce qu'elle disoit nous entendismes un assez grand bruit et au mesme instant un escuyer de philidaspe vint nous faire partir en diligence laissant le pavillon tendu et ne nous donnant pas seulement un moment de loisir comme nous ne voiyons point philidaspe et que nous entendions un assez grand tumulte a trente ou quarante pas loing de nous la princesse s'imagina que peut estre estoit-ce du secours qui nous venoit et par ce sentiment la nous fismes tout ce que nous peusmes et par prieres et par promesses et mesme par violence pour n'aller pas si viste que l'on nous faisoit aller mais il n'y eut pas moyen car comme une partie de ceux qui nous gardoient estoient des criminels qui ne pouvoient esperer de pardon ils obeirent aux ordres qu'ils avoient receus et nous menerent en un lieu ou nous trouvasmes un chariot qui nous attendoit et cinquante chevaux d'escorte nous attendismes la philidaspe qui vint bien tost apres nous en cet endroit chrisante ne put s'empescher de dire a martesie quel avoit este cet obstacle que philidaspe avoit rencontre et de luy raconter comment artamene l'avoit veue sans la connoistre a l'entree de la tente comment il avoit secouru philidaspe comment il avoit tue ceux qui l'attaquoient et facilite l'enlenement de mandane a ce discours martesie fit un grand 
 mais apres avoir bien tesmoigne ton estonnement pour une advanture si extraordinaire elle reprit ainsi la parole je ne m'arresteray point dit elle apres que vous m'avez apris un combat si estrange et que sans doute le roy d'assirie n'a cache a la princesse que pour ne renouveller pas dans son coeur le souvenir d'artamene je ne m'arresteray point dis-je a vous redire nos pleintes pendant un si triste voyage ny avec quelle opiniastrete la princesse mandane ne voulut point souffrir que philidaspe luy parlast mais je vous diray simplement qu'enfin nous arrivasmes a la ville d'opis ou l'on nous fit loger dans un apartement fort magnifique et ou philidaspe n'oublia rien pour rendre du moins nostre prison plus suportable mais a vous dire la verite ses soins estoient bien inutiles et la princesse avoit une douleur si violente que rien ne la pouvoit moderer cependant philidaspe creut que s'il pouvoit obliger la reine sa mere a le proteger et a vouloir recevoir la princesse mandane aupres d'elle ses affaires iroient admirablement car il ne doutoit presque point que si la reine nitocris l'entreprenoit elle ne gagnait le coeur de la princesse et il pensoit aussi que si elle voyoit mandane elle changeroit bien tost je dessein qu'elle avoit eu de le marier a la princesse istrine en celuy de luy permettre d'espouser la princesse de capadoce pour cet effet il envoya un des siens secrettement 
 a babilone vers le prince des saces qui estoit encore en cette cour la reine nitocris l'y ayant toujours arreste depuis l'absence du prince son fils car outre l'estime qu'elle avoit pour luy il estoit encore son neveu la reine tarine sa mere cette excellente et vertueuse princesse que toute l'asie estime estant soeur du feu roy d'assirie son mary il escrivit donc a mazare afin qu'il presentast celuy qu'il envoyoit vers la reine et qu'il appuyast sa demande ce prince par la lettre qu'il escrivoit a cette princesse luy demandoit pardon de la faute qu'il avoit faite de partir de la cour sans son conge la supplioit de l'oublier et la prioit de trouver bon qu'il menast aupres d'elle la princesse de capadoce afin que de son contentement il la peust espouser il luy disoit en suite toutes les raisons qui devoient l'obliger d'y consentir et n'oublioit rien de tout ce qu'il croyoit qui la pouvoit flechir mais le retour de cet homme ne luy donna pas toute la satisfaction qu'il en attendoit car il sceut que le jour mesme qu'il estoit arrive a babilone il y estoit venu un envoye de claxare demander la princesse de capadoce a la reine nitocris et que la reine avoit desadvoue son action et avoit dit qu'elle seroit la premiere a prendre les armes pour tirer la princesse de capadoce de ses mains que comme elle avoit eu leu la lettre que le prince d'assirie luy avoit escrite elle n'avoit pu s'empescher de dire qu'elle vouloit bien qu'il amenast 
 mandane a babilone mais que ce seroit pour la renvoyer a ciaxare ce n'est pas que mazare ne fist tout ce qu'il put pour flechir le coeur de nitocris mais ce fut inutilement et il manda au prince d'assirie qu'il ne luy conseilloit pas d'obeir au commandement que la reine luy faisoit d'amener a babilone la princesse qu'il avoit enlevee parce qu'il scavoit que la reine en renvoyant celuy qui estoit venu de la part de ciaxare avoit promis de ne consentir jamais a ce mariage la et de faire toutes choses possibles pour se mettre en estat de pouvoir renvoyer la princesse de capadoce au roy son pere et en effet si mazare ne l'eust amusee d'esperance en luy persuadant qu'il faloit employer plustost l'artifice que la force pour retirer cette princesse des mains du prince son fils elle auroit arme toute l'assirie contre luy cependant nous estions dans opis traitee comme je l'ay desia dit avec toute la civilite possible quoy que le prince d'assirie le fust de la princesse mandane avec toute la rigueur imaginable car non seulement elle ne luy disoit rien qui luy peust plaire mais mesme elle ne luy vouloit rien dire du tout et quelquefois aussi ne vouloit pas seulement souffrir sa veue philidaspe neantmoins n'oublioit rien pour la flechir et comme il le scavoit qu'elle me faisoit l'honneur de m'aimer que ne fit il point pour me gagner et pour m'obliger a luy promettre assistance mais quoy qu'il peust faire je luy dis tousjours que je ne pouvois rien 
 pour luy et que l'esperance de toutes les grandeurs de la terre ne me seroit pas manquer a ce que je devois a la princesse mais comme je craignois que l'excessive rigueur de mandane n'aigrist l'esprit de ce prince et ne le portast a quelque injuste dessein je souffris quelquefois qu'il me parlast de son amour et de son desespoir et je pense a dire vray que cela ne fut pas absolument inutile pour l'empescher de prendre quelque resolution extreme veu la violence de son amour et de son humeur tantost il me parloit de la passion qu'il avoit pour mandane avec des respects qui ne sont pas concevables tantost comme il est fort violent il s'emportoit a dire des choses qui sembloient devoir faire craindre qu'il ne fust capable de quelque bizarre dessein mais des que je voyois son esprit pancher de ce coste la seigneur luy disois-je prenez garde a ce que vous dites la princesse n'a encore que de la haine pour vous mais si elle descouvroit que vous pussiez seulement avoir quelque pensee de perdre absolument le respect que vous luy devez elle passeroit de la haine au mespris ha martesie s'escrioit il ne luy descouvrez pas mes transports et mes crimes je ne suis pas maistre de mes premiers sentimens la douleur est capable de me faire dire des choses injustes mais le respect que j'ay pour mandane fait que je m'en repens un moment apres ainsi martesie ayez pitie de ma foiblesse et si vous ne me voulez pas servir au moins ne me nuisez point je vous en 
 conjure seigneur luy disois je je n'ay garde de vous nuire ny de vous servir car je n'oserois jamais parler de vous a la princesse mais sage chrisante j'avois beau dire cela au prince d'assirie je pense qu'il ne le croyoit pas et il s'imaginoit sans doute que je redisois tout ce qu'il me disoit a mandane il estoit pourtant bien abuse car tant qu'arianite estoit avec nous nous ne parlions que de nostre douleur en general et quand nous estions seules artamene estoit l'unique sujet de nostre entretien helas disoit quelquefois mandane lors que pour avoir la liberte de parler nous demandions a nous aller promener sur les rives du tigre quel sera le desespoir du malheureux artamene lors qu'arrivant a themiscire il ne m'y trouvera plus et qu'il scaura que philidaspe ce mesme philidaspe qu'il a tant hai m'aura enlevee mais dieux ne soubconnera t'il point ma vertu et pourra t'il croire que l'on ait ose executer un semblable dessein sans mon contentement mais aussi pourroit il penser que mandane en peust estre capable ha non non poursuivoit elle il me croira innocente et il s'estimera malheureux et artamene l'illustre artamene ne croira jamais qu'une personne qui luy a este si severe ait pu estre si favorable a son ennemy c'estoit de cette sorte que nous nous entretenions quand nous estions en liberte mais cela nous arrivoit rarement car outre qu'arianite s'attachoit fort assidument aupres de la princesse il y avoit encore grand nombre de femmes que 
 philidaspe luy avoit donnees pour la servir qui ne la quittoient presque point et certes j'admiray en cette occasion ce que peut la vertu malheureuse quand elle est extraordinaire estant certain qu'en quinze jours la princesse mandane fut adoree de toutes les personnes que l'on avoit mises aupres d'elle cependant nous ne voiyons point de fin a nos maux et philidaspe n'en prevoyoit guere aux siens il ne laissoit pourtant pas de continuer d'escrire a mazare afin qu'il ne se lassast point de soliciter la reine il esrivoit aussi secretrement a aribee afin d'en estre secouru en cas de besoin il envoya mesme vers le roy de lydie pour luy demander son assistance scachant bien qu'il n'estoit amy ny d'astiage ny de ciaxare quoy qu'il y eust de l'alliance entr'eux enfin il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut propre a faire reussir son dessein soit en attirant divers princes dans son party soit en mettant la ville d'opis en estat de soustenir un long siege en cas qu'il en fust besoin pour nous nous ne scavions que faire ny qu'esperer car nous ne scavions pas qu'artamene fust revenu a themiscire c'est pourquoy la princesse qui ne pouvoit souffrir de se voir en la puissance d'un prince amoureux et violent prit la resolution de souffrir qu'il luy parlast un jour afin de luy demander une grace que je m'en vay bien tost vous aprendre je vous laisse a penser quelle fut la joye de philidaspe lorsqu'arianite luy fut dire que la princesse luy vouloit parler vous croyez bien 
 sans doute qu'il obeit a ce commandement avec beaucoup de diligence et comme il fut entre dans la chambre de la princesse est il bien possible madame luy dit il en l'abordant que la princesse mandane veuille parler au malheureux philidaspe si ce n'est pour luy prononcer encore une sois l'arrest de la mort mais quand cela seroit divine princesse je le recevrois a genoux et presque avec joye tant l'honneur que vous m'avez fait de me faire commander de me rendre aupres de vous trouble agreablement ma raison seigneur luy dit elle car elle s'estoit enfin resolue par mes conseils de le traiter de ce qu'il estoit apres vous avoit tant de sois supplie inutilement de me renvoyer a themiscire a sinope a ancire ou a amasie je me suis advisee de vous demander une autre chose que vous ne me devez pas refuser car enfin bien loing de vous plus demander de sortir de vostre empire je vous conjure de me conduire a babilone aupres de la reine nitocris ou je seray avec plus de bien-seance que je ne suis en ce lieu si vous m'accordez cette faveur je vous promets de diminuer quelque chose de la juste haine que vous avez fait naistre en mon ame car enfin je ne puis plus souffrir que toute l'asie scache que je suis en vostre puissance et que je n'aye pour tesmoin de ma vertu que mon plus grand ennemy madame luy repliqua philidaspe un peu surpris si vous me voulez faire l'honneur de me promettre d'aller a babilone avec l'intention d'en estre un jour 
 la reine et de prendre des mains de nitocris un sceptre qu'elle a assez glorieusement porte je vous y conduiray sans doute mais si vous ne voulez aller a babilone que pour aller plustost a themiseire pardonnez moy madame si je suis contraint de vous desobeir et puis a ne vous deguiser pas la verite les choses ne sont pas en terme de cela je suis mal avec la reine par plus d'une raison mais encore plus pour l'amour de vous que pour toute autre chose ainsi madame en me demandant un azile pour vous vous me conduiriez au lieu de mon suplice ce n'est pourtant pas par crainte que je vous refuse et l'amour seulement est ce qui m'y force vous m'avez dit une fois madame qu'il n'est rien de plus deraisonnable que de faire un grand crime inutilement trouvez donc bon que je tasche de ne tomber pas en une pareille faute le crime est commis madame j'ay eu la hardiesse de vous enlever il faut que je tasche d'avoir le bonheur d'obtenir mon pardon et de n'estre pas hai il n'est pas aise reprit brusquement la princesse de se faire aimer par la voye que vous avez prise que scavez vous madame ce qu'il doit arriver reprit ce prince ha je scay bien repliqua-t'elle qu'il n'arrivera jamais que mandane vous aime encore une fois madame respondit il il n'est rien d'absolument impossible en cela qui m'eust dit le premier jour que je fus au temple de mars a sinope vous allez devenir esperdument amoureux je ne l'eusse pas creu et qui m'eust dit le 
 premier moment que je vy artamene en ce mesme lieu et en ce mesme jour vous le hairez mortellement je ne l'eusse pas pense car enfin je ne voyois point encore de femme dans ce temple qui peust me donner de l'amour et je trouvois artamene beau bienfait de bonne mine et fort civil cependant je vous ay aimee et je l'ay hai la princesse rougit au nom d'artamene qu'elle n'avoit pas preveu que philidaspe deust prononcer et ce prince qui la regardoit tousjours s'en aperceut toutefois il n'osa alors en rien dire et ce fut depuis a babilone qu'il m'en parla la princesse voyant que cette conversation ne serviroit de rien la rompit et congedia ce prince malgre qu'il en eust a quelques jours dela nous sceusmes la mort d'astiage quoy que philidaspe empeschast autant qu'il pouvoit que l'on ne dist rien a la princesse mais ayant apris qu'elle la scavoit il prit le deuil et vint luy rendre visite peu de temps en suite nous aprismes que la reine nitocris aupres avoir fait achever son superbe tombeau qui est sur la principale porte de babilone estoit morte en partie de la douleur que la desobeissance et la mauvaise action du prince son fils luy avoit causee ces deux accidens toucherent sensiblement la princesse le premier parce qu'elle estoit trop bien nee pour n'estre pas sensible a la perte d'un roy qui luy estoit si proche quoy que son extreme vieillesse la deust consoler et l'autre parce qu'effectivement la vertu de la reine nitocris luy estoit tousjours un 
 grand appuy car encore qu'elle ne fust pas aupres d'elle il estoit pourtant a croire que philidaspe ne porteroit jamais les choses a une derniere extremite tant qu'elle pourroit luy oster le sceptre nous sceusmes encore par une des femmes que l'on avoit de la princesse que mazare avoit admirablement bien servy le prince d'assirie en cette occasion et que peut-estre sans luy la reine luy auroit elle oste sa couronne nous aprismes aussi que la princesse istrine suivant la derniere volonte de la reine estoit partie de babilone le lendemain de sa mort pour estre conduite en bithinie ou estoit alors le prince intapherne son frere qui estoit alle aider a arsamone a reconquerir son estat sur le roy de pont que l'on disoit estre en termes de perdre ses deux royaumes cependant durant quelques jours nous ne fusmes point persecutees des visites du nouveau roy d'assirie car comme effectivement il a de la generosite et de grandes qualitez il sentit la perte de la reine nitocris assez fortement neantmoins comme l'amour regnoit dans son ame les premiers jours de son deuil estans passez la pensee de pouvoir esperer que la magnificence de babilone pourroit peut-estre toucher le coeur d'une jeune princesse fit qu'il se consola un peu plustost qu'il n'eust fait en une autre saison de la perte d'une reine qui mit un deuil universel en l'ame de tous les sujets cependant mazare escrivit au roy qu'il estoit a propos qu'il allast le plustost 
 qu'il pourroit se faire voir a ses peuples et que le throsne estoit un lieu qu'il ne faloit pas laisser longtemps vuide de peur que quelqu'un neust la tentation de le vouloir remplir neant moins il n'y eut point de raison d'estat assez forte pour l'obliger a quitter la princesse pour aller a babilone au contraire il manda a mazare qu'il preparast a loisir toute la pompe de son entree et qu'il luy envoyast tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour cela et pour y conduire la princesse de medie car depuis la mort d'astiage il ne la fit plus nommer la princesse de capadoce j'oubliois de vous dire sage chrisante qu'apres la mort de la reine nitocris la princesse par mes conseils avoit envoye tesmoigner au nouveau roy qu'elle estoit bien marrie de la mort de la reine sa mere et qu'en suitte il estoit venu la remercier de cette civilite que j'avois bien eu de la peine a obtenir d'elle bien qu'il eust fait ce que je luy conseillois de faire lors qu'astiagesut mort mais pour revenir a ce qui me reste a vous dire le roy d'assirie vint un jour dans la chambre de mandane apres luy en avoir envoye demander la permission et l'ayant saluee avec beaucoup de respect madame luy dit il fort galamment l'euphrate est jaloux de l'honneur que le tigre a receu a son prejudice et il est bien juste que la premiere ville du monde possede a son tour la plus illustre princesse de la terre quand je vous ay demande d'aller a babilone reprit mandane la reine 
 nitocris vivoit et quand je vous y veux conduire repliqua ce prince le throsne d'assirie est en estat de vous recevoir et tout le peuple en disposition de vous reconnoistre pour reine non seigneur luy dit elle n'esperez point que le changement de lieux change mon ame ny que la veue de la superbe babilone touche mon coeur j'aimerois mieux passer ma vie sous une cabane de berger que dans le palais d'un roy qui m'auroit offencee non seigneur encore une fois je ne veux ny vous commander ny vous obeir je ne veux point dis-je occuper la place d'une reine que je ne remplirois pas dignement apres elle et j'aime mieux estre dans vos prisons que sur le throsne d'assirie si j'estois en estat de vous resister pouisuivit elle il est certain que je n'irois pas ou vous me voulez conduire et que je serois bien aise de n'aller pas attirer la guerre vers une ville qui passe pour une des merveilles du monde je voudrois si je le pouvois espargner le sang de tant de personnes innocentes dont elle est remplie mais comme je ne puis pas m'opposer a vostre dessein j'ay seulement a vous dire que je seray a babilone ce que je suis a opis et que le roy d'assirie avec toute sa magnificence ne touchera no plus mon coeur que quand il ne m'a paru estre que philidaspe le temps madame luy repliqua-t'il parce que malgre tout ce qu'elle disoit il luy restoit quelque espoir nous fera voir si comme vous le dites vostre rigueur sera plus forte que ma perseverance 
 du moins poursuivit il vous avez resolu ma mort j'auray un tombeau plus illustre a babilone qu'icy et vous aurez aussi plus de tesmoins de cette cruaute dont vous faites gloire tant y a chrisante que trois jours apres il falut nous resoudre a partir de vous dire quel equipage fut le nostre ce seroit abuser de vostre patience pour une chose qui n'est pas necessaire si ce n'est que vous soyez de l'humeur de ceux qui disent que la veritable mesure de l'amour est la liberalite car si cela est ainsi je ne scaurois mieux vous faire comprendre la grandeur de la passion du roy d'assirie que par la prodigieuse despense qui fut faite a l'entree de la princesse dans babilone le matin que nous partismes d'opis nous vismes dans une grande place sur laquelle respondoient les fenestres de la chambre de la princesse douze chariots magnifiques pour mettre toutes les dames qui la devoient accompagner et un autre incomparablement plus beau que les douze dont j'ay desja parle qui estoit destine pour sa personne nous vismes aussi deux cens chameaux pour le bagage avec des couvertures de pourpre de tir en broderie d'or et quand nous fusmes aux portes de la ville nous vismes dans une plaine quinze mille hommes sous les armes ayant tous un morrion de cuivre dore le corcelet de mesme avec des arcs d'ebene et des fleches a pointes d'or qui se separant en deux corps firent marcher les chariots au milieu car pour les 
 chameaux ils alloient cent pas devant les gens de guerre quant au roy comme il n'y a que douze journees d'opis a babilone une partie de la cour par ses ordres s'estoit rendue aupres de luy et il alloit a cheval a la teste de mille chevaux immediatement apres le chariot de la princesse qui marchoit le dernier de tous nous allasmes de cette sorte jusques a une journee de babilone mais quand nous fusmes la le roy d'assirie voulut que la princesse se reposast un jour a un chasteau ou nous logeasmes pendant quoy l'on acheva de donner les ordres necessaires pour cette magnifique entree je ne doute pas que vous ne trouviez estrange d'ouir tant parler de magnificence si tost apres la mort de la reine nitocris mais c'est que les assiriens non plus que les peuples de capadoce qui leur ont este sousmis ne portent que trois jours le deuil de leurs rois parce disent-ils qu'il y a bien plus de lieu de se resjouir que de s'affliger quand ils ont acheve glorieusement leur regne ainsi les babiloniens qui avoient fait une superbe pompe funebre a leur reine passerent bien tost a une autre de resjouissance pour l'illustre mandane l'on peut assurer qu'elle ne prenoit guere de part a cette feste cependant quoy qu'elle eust resolu de ne se parer point et de paroistre la plus negligee qui luy seroit possible elle ne put en venir a bout car comme toutes les femmes qui la servoient et qui nous servoient arianite et moy dependoient du roy d'assirie 
 et qu'arianite elle mesme estoit d'intelligence aveque luy nous ne trouvasmes le matin que des habillemens tres magnifiques et tous couverts de perles et de diamans pour moy je vous avoue que cet artifice ne me donna pas tant de colere qu'a la princesse qui pensa en desesperer et qui me querella presque de ce que je n'en faisois pas autant qu'elle madame luy dis-je pour m'excuser et parce qu'en effet c'estoit mon opinion le roy d'assirie qui cherche sans doute a justifier l'action qu'il a faite envers ses peuples par vostre extreme beaute veut qu'ils la voyent avec tout son eclat mais il ne songe pas que s'il n'y prend garde vous luy ferez des rebelles de tous ses sujets et si vous m'en croyez luy dis-je vous vous laisserez voir a eux avec tous vos charmes car enfin si ce prince entreprenoit jamais quelque chose contre vous ils se revolteroient peut-estre en vostre faveur vous estes bien ingenieuse me dit elle a excuser vostre faute ou pour mieux dire vostre foiblesse mais martesie toute flateuse que vous estes vous avez tort de n'estre pas plus touchee de mon deplaisir et de me conseiller comme vous faites car de grace dittes moy un peu ce que pensera le malheureux artamene s'il arrive qu'il vienne a scavoit un jour par les espions que sans doute le roy mon pere a dans babilone que l'on m'y aura veue arriver avec un habillement qui ne marque que de la joye et de la satisfaction toutes les autres choses 
 ne peuvent m'estre imputees mais pour celle la s imaginera t'on que je n'y ay pas consenty madame luy dis-je si vous estiez en choix de faire ce qu'il vous plairoit je ne vous conseillerois pas comme je fais mais cela n'estant pas je trouve que d'un mal il en faut tirer un bien et tascher s'il est possible que cette mesme beaute qui vous a fait enlever vous donne des protecteurs si vous en avez besoin et pour ce que vous dites d'artamene adjoustai-je croyez moy madame que si le roy vostre pere a des espions dans babilone qui raportent fidellement ce qu'ils auront veu ils parleront autant de vostre melancolie que de vostre parure et de cette sorte vous n'avez rien a craindre enfin chrisante la princesse n'y pouvant faire autre chose se laissa habiller sans vouloir toutefois que l'on employait aucun art a sa coiffure mais comme vous scavez elle a les cheveux si beaux que la negligence la pare et luy sied bien les habillemens que l'on nous bailla estoient a l'usage de medie et de capadoce c'est a dire de couleurs fort vives et fort eclatantes car pour les femmes de qualite de babilone elles ne portent jamais que du blanc cela n'empesche pas toutefois qu'elles ne soient fort magnifiquement et fort galamment habillees n'y ayant presque point de couleur sur laquelle les diamans les esmeraudes et les rubis facent un plus bel effet nous le connusmes bien tost apres ce jour la car a peine la princesse fut elle en 
 estat d'estre veue que plus de deux cens femmes de condition vinrent luy faire la reverence elle les receut fort civilement mais avec une melancolie si grade qu'elle ne leur donna guere moins de pitie que d'admiration enfin il falut partir et au lieu de douze chariots pleins de dames qu'il y avoit le jour auparavant il y en eut plus de deux cens le roy eut aussi plus de trois mille chevaux a l'accompagner pour la princesse au lieu d'un chariot ordinaire elle fut contrainte de monter dans un superbe char de triomphe dont tous les ornemens estoient d'or il estoit tire par quatre chevaux tigres attelez de front les plus beaux que l'on vit jamais et quatre hommes de la premiere condition portoient sur ce char un dais magnifique fait d'une espece de broderie d'or de perles et de diaroans que les seules sidoniennes scavent faire je ne m'arresteray point a vous particulariser cette pompe et je vous diray seulement que toute cette grande plaine que l'on trouve en arrivant a babilone par le coste que nous y allions et qui comme vous scavez est toute couverte de palmiers d'une beaute admirable et d'une hauteur prodigieuse estoit remplie de troupes mais de troupes armees avec une magnificence estrange de cent pas en cent pas nous trouvions des ares de triomphe eslevez sous lesquels passoit le char de la princesse et sur lesquels il y avoit des inscriptions qui luy estoient glorieuses tous ces arcs estoient superbes et 
 l'on ne voyoit rien qui ne parlast de grandeur et de joye
 
 
 
 
a deux stades de la ville le prince des saces qui estoit admirablement beau et de bonne mine ayant un habillement tres riche et estant monte sur un cheval isabelle a crins noirs vint a la teste de mille chevaux presenter a la princesse de la part du roy de grandes cless d'or dans une corbeille de mesme metal enrichie de topases et d'amethistes madame luy dit il en les presentant le roy m'a commande de vous obeir et de vous offrir de sa part ce que luy seul vous peut donner seigneur respondit la princesse car on l'advertit de la condition de mazare si en me presentant les clefs de babilone vous m'assurez qu'il me sera permis d'en faire des demain ouvrir les portes pour m'en retourner a themiscire ou pour aller a ecbatane je les accepteray sans doute et vous seray eternellement obligee de me les avoir offertes mais si cela ne doit pas estre poursuivit elle avec une melancolie charmante qui ne luy deroboit rien de sa beaute il me semble qu'il y a quelque injustice et mesme quelque inhumanite de vouloir que je garde moy mesme les clefs de ma prison ainsi seigneur jusques a tant que cela soit determine par le roy d'assirie gardez ce que vous m'avez voulu offrir comme ne pouvant estre en de meilleures mains que les vostres mazare surpris et charme de la beaute de l'esprit et de la civilite de la princesse luy dit qu'il ne garderoit ce qu'elle luy faisoit l'honneur de luy 
 confier que pour le remettre en sa disposition quand elle seroit arrivee a la ville et sans la faire tarder davantage il mesla sa troupe qui estoit tres magnifique avec celle du roy d'assirie ce prince marchoit seul immediatement apres le char de la princesse mais si pare si brillant d'or et de pierreries qu'excepte artamene je ne ny jamais d'homme de meilleure mine que luy a l'entree de la ville on fit une harangue a la princesse ou plustost un eloge toutes les maisons estoient tendues de superbes tapisseries toutes les rues estoient semees de fleurs toutes les femmes estoient aux fenestres extraordinairement parees mille trompettes et mille clairons faisoient retentir l'air de toutes parts et tout le peuple estoit si ravy de la beaute de la princesse et il en fit des acclamations si grandes que le roy d'assirie en eut une joye qui ne se peut exprimer enfin chrisante nous fusmes conduites au palais de la reine nitocris comme la princesse descendit du char le roy d'assirie vint luy presenter la main pour la mener a son apartement elle eust bien voulu le refuser mais elle creut que cela paroistroit bizarre et hors de propos ainsi elle luy donna la main sans incivilite mais ce fut pourtant d'une maniere si cruelle pour luy et elle luy fit si bien connoistre que la seule qualite de roy d'assirie exigeoit d'elle cette legere complaisance qu'il n'en fut gueres plus satisfait nous passasmes par plus de six apartemens de plein pied tous plus magnifiquement 
 meublez les uns que les autres et au dernier il luy fit une profonde reverence et luy dit que c'estoit d'oresnavant a elle a commander a toute l'assirie et qu'il n'estoit plus que le premier de ses sujets enfin apres une heure qui fut employee a recevoir les complimens de tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand dans babilone l'on nous laissa en liberte et nous eusmes du moins la consolation de scavoir que toutes les femmes qui avoient servy la reine nitocris furent destinees a servir la princesse mandane et qu'ainsi elle n'auroit aupres d'elle que des personnes vertueuses quelque temps apres que nous fusmes seules arianite estant alle dans une autre chambre la princesse me regarda avec une melancolie extraordinaire ha martesie s'escria-t'elle en quel lieu sommes nous et par quelle voye en sortirons nous n'avez vous point pris garde me dit elle a ces prodigieuses murailles de babilone sur lesquelles plusieurs chariots peuvent aller de front tant elles sont espaisses et fortes n'avez vous point veu ces superbes tours qui l'environnent n'avez vous point remarque combien l'euphrate qui la divise en rendroit ce me semble les aproches difficiles a ceux qui la voudroient assieger n'estes vous point estonnee de ce nombre innombrable de peuple qui la remplit de ces portes d'airain qui la ferment et enfin pouvez vous bien concevoir qu'il soit possible d'esperer que quand toute l'asie s'armeroit pour mon secours l'on peust me retirer de 
 babilone car apres tout quelque vaillant que soit l'illustre artamene il ne scauroit vaincre le roy d'assirie enferme dans les murailles de cette superbe ville voila ma chere fille me dit elle tout ce que l'ay pense durant cette funeste ceremonie et voila toute la part que j'ay prise a la magnifique entree que l'on m'a faite madame luy dis-je les dieux sont tout ce qui leur plaist et la prudence humaine trouve quelquefois de l'impossibilite en des choses ou il n'y en a point pour eux vous avez raison dit elle aussi ne fonday-je plus mon esperance qu'en leur appuy en effet le lendemain la princesse voulut aller au temple et on la conduisit a celuy de lupiter belus qui est une des plus belles choses du monde cependant comme le roy d'assirie vouloit tascher de la gagner par la douceur et qu'il craignoit de l'irriter il ne la voyoit au plus qu'une heure par jour encore estoit ce devant tant de monde que la princesse s'en trouvoit beaucoup moins incommodee le prince mazare la voyoit fort assiduement par les ordres du roy qui l'avoit prie de tascher de luy rendre office aupres d'elle scachant bien qu'il n'y avoit pas de personne au monde qui eust plus d'adresse ny gueres plus de charmes dans la conversation en effet ce prince reussit si admirablement a se faire estimer de la princesse et a gagner son amitie qu'il ne fut pas une petite consolation a ses disgraces il estoit doux civil et respectueux et quoy qu'il parlast tousjours a l'avantage du roy d'assirie 
 quand l'occasion s'en presentoit neantmoins nous voiyons dans ses yeux une melancolie si obligeante parce que nous la croyons un effet de la compassion qu'il avoit de nos malheurs que la princesse ne pouvoit quelquefois se lasser de le louer mais chrisante pour vous faire mieux comprendre toute la suite de mon discours il faut que je vous descouvre en cet endroit de mon recit une chose que nous ne sceusmes que tres long temps apres que ce que je viens de dire nous fut arrive et que nous ne soubconnasmes mesme point du tout tant il est vray que l'infortune mazare deguisa admirablement bien ses sentimens je vous diray donc chrisante que ce prince en presentant les clefs de babilone a la princesse mandane le jour que nous y arrivasmes perdit absolument sa liberte et devint aussi amoureux d'elle que le roy d'assirie l'estoit comme il n'avoit point encore eu d'amour il ne connut pas d'abord cette passion et il s'imagina comme je l'ay sceu par le genereux orsane qui est venu avec moy et qui m'a descouvert tous les secrets sentimens de feu son maistre que l'admiration toute seule jointe a la pitie de voir une si belle personne affligee estoit ce qui troubloit un peu son esprit mais il ne fut pas huit jours a s'apercevoir que ce qu'il sentoit estoit quelque chose de plus il accepta pourtant la commission que le roy d'assirie luy donna de voir souvent la princesse et de luy parler souvent en sa faveur car quelle bonne raison eust il pu 
 dire pour s'en excuser il fit neantmoins quelque legere resistance a la premiere proposition qu'il luy en fit mais apres tout soit qu'il n'eust point d excuse legitime a donner soit qu'un secret mouvement de sa passion fit qu'il ne peut refuser de voir la personne qu'il aimoit malgre luy il promit qu'il la verroit et qu'il serviroit le roy d'assirie et en effet il la vit et il tascha de l'y servir car il faut advouer que mazare estoit naturellement genereux et que l'amour seulement l'a force de faire des choses contre la generosite en effet orsane m'a assure qu'il luy descouvrit son coeur et qu'il n'est point d'efforts qu'il ne fist pour regler son affection et pour la renfermer dans les bornes de l'estime et de l'amitie quel malheureux destin est le mien disoit il un jour a orsane j'ay passe presque toute ma vie dans une cour ou il y a un nombre infiny de belles personnes sans en estre amoureux et je ne voy pas plustost la princesse mandane que je le deviens esperdument ha orsane s'escrioit il que ceux qui disent que l'esperance naist avec l'amour sont abusez car apres tour que puis-je esperer je sens une passion que je dois et que je veux combatre et que si je ne la puis vaincre je suis du moins resolu de cacher eternellement car enfin j'ay promis amitie au roy d'assirie je suis son vassal j'ay l'honneur d'estre son patent et il m'a choisi pour le confident de sa passion comment donc puis-je vaincre tous ces obstacles mais quand ma generosite cederoit a 
 mon amour et que je me resoudrois d'estre lasche et de trahir un prince a qui je dois beaucoup de respect je le serois inutilement n'estant pas a croire qu'une princesse qui mal-traite le roy d'assirie receust favorablement le prince des saces ainsi orsane poursuivoit il je scay bien que je n'espere rien et je scay pourtant bien que j'aime et que j'aime jusques a perdre la raison mais reprenoit il puis que ma passion naist sans esperance il faut esperer qu'elle ne durera pas long temps ou plustost adjoustoit ce prince il faut croire que puis que le desespoir mesme ne la fait pas mourir en naissant elle subsisteta eternellement aimons donc disoit il aimons puis que c'est nostre destinee et aimons mesme sans en faire de scrupule car enfin nous ne sommes pas maistres de nostre affection et c'est bien assez si nous la pouvons cacher et si nous la pouvons obliger a se contenter de l'estime et de mandane bres chrisante mazare ne pouvant arracher de son coeur l'amour qu'il avoit pour la princesse se resolut du moins d'en faire un grand secret et de ne laisser pas mesme de rendre office au roy d'assirie mais chrisante il ne disoit pas une parole en sa faveur qui ne luy donnast mille desplaisirs secrets et la princesse n'en prononcoit pas une a son des avantage qui ne luy causast une joye qu'il avoit bien de la peine a cacher ainsi il estoit fidelle et infidelle tout ensemble sa bouche parloit pour le roy d'assirie et son coeur le trahissoit et quoy qu'il fist et 
 quoy qu'il dist l'on voyoit tousjours dans son ame une si grande crainte de deplaire a la princesse mandane que jamais je n'ay veu plus de respect en personne cependant nous ne soubconnasmes jamais rien de sa passion il paroissoit quelquefois assez melancolique mais il avoit l'adresse de nous faire comprendre sans mesme nous le dire que les malheurs de la princesse le touchoient et qu'il eust bien voulu que le roy d'assirie eust pu vaincre ses propres sentimens et renoncer a tous ses desseins les choses estoient en cet estat lors qu'il nous arriva un surcroist d'infortune qui nous donna bien de la peine ce fut que le roy d'assirie ne voyant nul changement en l'esprit de mandane malgre ses respects ses soumissions et tous les soings de mazare commenca de croire qu'il faloit necessairement que le coeur de la princesse fust preocupe et se souvenant alors de tant de soubcons qu'il avoit eus qu'artamene ne fust amoureux de mandane et se souvenant encore en suitte de ce qu'il avoit entendu de la bouche de feraulas touchant la condition d'artamene et de la rougeur de la princesse qu'il avoit remarquee a opis quand il l'avoit nommee il n'en faut point douter dit il au prince mazare apres luy avoir raconte tout ce qui luy estoit arrive a la cour de capadoce non seulement artamene est prince non seulement artamene aime mandane mais mandane aime artamene je vous laisse a penser quel trouble ce sentiment mit dans l'esprit de 
 jeune roy et quelle inquietude en ressentit mazare il en fut si trouble et si interdit que le roy d'assirie croyant que ce fust pour le seul interest qu'il prenoit au sien l'en remercia tendrement cependant il trouva moyen pour s'esclaircir de ses doutes de parler en particulier a arianite qui malheureusement sans que nous en sceussions rien avoit entendu une conversation que j'avois eue avec la princesse le soir auparavant et ou nous avions presque repasse toutes les choses les plus secrettes de sa vie a la reserve du nom de cyrus que par hazard nous n'avions point prononce mais quoy qu'elle n'eust pas tout entendu elle en avoit pourtant assez ouy pour ne luy laisser pas lieu de douter qu'il y avoit une intelligence entre artamene et mandane de sorte que quand le roy d'assirie parla a cette malicieuse fille il en aprit plus qu'il n'en vouloit scavoir neantmoins comme elle ne luy disoit les choses que fort confusement il se resolut de s'en eclaircir mieux et mesme d'en parler a la princesse comme la jalousie est une passion encore plus violente que l'amour parce qu'elle n'est jamais seule dans un coeur et qu'ainsi elle porte tousjours je trouble avec elle le roy d'assirie me parut tout change des qu'il entra dans la chambre de mandane il n'y avoit alors qu'arianite et moy aupres d'elle il la salua pourtant avec tout le respect qu'il luy devoit et il voulut mesme commencer la conversation par des choses indifferentes mais il paroissoit neantmoins 
 tant d'inquietude dans son esprit que nous nous en aperceusmes madame luy dit il apres plusieurs autres discours interrompus je voudrois bien scavoir de vous une chose qui m'importe infiniment et qui vous importe aussi beaucoup s'il m'est permis de vous la dire repliqua la princesse et que je la scache peut-estre satisferay-je vostre curiosite ouy madame vous la scavez respondit il et pour ne vous tenir pas plus long temps en peine je voudrois que vous m'eussiez fait l'honneur de m'aprendre quel est ce puissant ennemy qui me combat dans vostre coeur et qui m'y surmonte car enfin si cela n'estoit pas je ne scaurois croire que mes soins mes respects et mes soumissions ne fussent venus a bout d'une simple aversion seigneur luy dit la princesse qui ne croyoit pas qu'il sceust rien avec certitude de ce qui regardoit artamene ne vous donnez point s'il vous plaist la peine de chercher de secretes raisons a mon procede aveque vous et scachez que quand mesme je vous aurois aime et tendrement aime si vous m'aviez enlevee sans mon consentement je ne vous aimerois jamais tant il est vray que j'ay une puissante aversion pour ceux qui perdent une fois seulement en toute leur vie le respect qu'ils me doivent quoy madame repliqua ce prince violent presque contre son intention si artamene avoit fait ce qu'a fait philidaspe vous le traiteriez comme vous me traitez artamene respondit la princesse en 
 rougissant est trop sage pour me permettre seulement de supposer qu'il peust jamais avoir commis une semblable faute mais seigneur pourquoy me parlez vous d'artamene en cette occasion je vous en parle madame repliqua-t'il comme d'un homme qui a ce que je voy m'a vaincu plus d'une fois mais beaucoup plus cruellement dans vostre coeur qu'il n'a fait les aimes a la main ouy madame cet artamene que j'ay tousjours hai et que vous m'avez autrefois commande d'aimer est certainement celuy qui s'oppose a ma gloire et a mon bonheur et vous ne me commandiez sans doute que ce que vous faisiez vous mesme comme je n'ay point eu d'injustes sentimens respondit la princesse sans s'emouvoir je ne vous nieray point que je n'aye eu et que je n'aye encore beaucoup d'amitie pour artamene et vous n'ignorez pas que je luy ay assez d'obligation pour ne le pouvoir hair ces obligations repliqua ce prince violent n'auroient jamais porte la princesse mandane a avoir une affection particuliere et secrette pour un simple chevalier si son coeur n'avoit este touche d'une inclination bien forte ce simple chevalier dont vous parlez reprit la princesse en colere paroissoit estre autant que philidaspe en ce temps la et sera peut-estre beaucoup davantage un jour tout roy d'assirie qu'est ce philidaspe il ne faut pas attendre plus long temps respondit il car puisqu'artamene possede vostre affection je le tiens beaucoup au 
 dessus de tous les princes de la terre quand mesme il ne seroit que ce qu'il a paru estre vous avez bien de l'orgueil et bien de l'humilite tout ensemble reprit la princesse mais apres tout seigneur desacoustumez vous s'il vous plaist de me parler imperieusement car je ne le scaurois souffrir le roy d'assirie voyant qu'il avoit extremement irrite la princesse se jetta a ses pieds et passant d'une extreme violence a une extreme soumission quoy madame luy dit il vous voulez que je puisse conserver la raison en aprenant que ce coeur que je croiyois insensible pour toute la terre ne l'est pas pour artamene n'estoit-ce point assez que je sceusse que vous me haissiez fans que j'aprisse qu'un autre estoit aime et un autre encore que j'ay tousjours hai tant que je ne vous ay creue qu'insensible les dieux scavent que dans le fonds de mon coeur je vous ay justifie autant que je l'ay pu j'advouois que vous aviez raison de mepriser tous les rois du monde parce qu'il n'y en avoit point qui fust digne de vous je confessois que mon procede meritoit que vous me fissiez attendre long temps le pardon de ma faute mais madame lorsque j'ay apris avec certitude que le seul homme de toute la terre pour qui j'ay de la haine quoy que j'aye de l'estime pour luy est le seul que vous aimez ha madame je n'ay pu demeurer dans les termes que je m'estois prescrit je me suis plaint je vous ay accusee j'ay perdu le respect en perdant aussi la 
 raison et je pense mesme que si j'eusse pu m'arracher de l'ame la violente passion que vostre beaute y a fait naistre je l'eusse fait avec joye ouy madame je l'advoue j'ay fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour vous hair mais dieux que tous mes efforts ont este inutiles car enfin je vous aime plus que je ne vous aimois ma haine a augmente pour artamene et mon amour s'est accrue pour la princesse mandane je me trouve un interest nouveau a estre aime de vous il faut madame il faut que je chasse artamene de vostre coeur il faut que mes respects mes soings mes larmes et mes soupirs le detruisent et il faut enfin que je meure ou qu'il ne vive plus en vostre memoire la princesse entendant parler le roy d'assirie de cette sorte ne douta point du tout qu'il ne sceust quelque chose de bien particulier de l'affection d'artamene c'est pourquoy elle ne jugea pas qu'il falust faire une finesse d'une amitie innocente joint que dans le trouble ou le discours du roy d'assirie mettoit son ame elle creut que peut- estre a la fin quand il auroit absolument perdu l'esperance d'estre aime la laisseroit il en repos c'est pourquoy prenant la parole seigneur luy dit elle les dieux scavent si je suis capable d'aucun deguisement criminel et l'ingenuite que je m'en vay avoir pour vous vous le doit assez faire connoistre ha madame s'ecria alors le roy d'assirie qu'elle avoit fait relever malgre luy ne soyez pas assez sincere pour me dire tout ce que vous pensez 
 d'advantageux pour artamene cachez moy plustost une partie de sa gloire et ne mettez pas ma patience a une si rigoureuse espreuve je ne scaurois luy respondit la princesse vous rien dire que vous ne scachiez car enfin toute la cour de capadoce a sceu que j'ay beaucoup estime artamene et je vous l'ay dit a vous mesme du temps que vous estiez philidaspe mais toute la capadoce a ignore ce que je voy bien que vous scavez et ce que je m'en vay vous advouer qui est qu'artamene est de condition egale a la vostre et que si le roy mon pere y consentoit l'affection qu'artamene a pour moy auroit toute la recompense qu'elle merite voila seigneur les termes ou en sont les choses et peut-estre en scavez vous plus presentement qu'artamene luy mesme n'en scait voila seigneur encore une fois cette importante verite que vous avez desire scavoir c'est a vous presentement a regler vos desseins et vostre affection pour moy vous avez de l'esprit et de la generosite c'est pourquoy je n'ay plus rien a vous dire la dessus vous pouvez encore prendre un chemin qui m'obligeroit a vous redonner mon estime et qui vous aquerroit encore l'amitie d'artamene ha madame s'ecria ce prince tout hors de luy mesme je ne veux point de vostre estime toute glorieuse qu'elle est sans vostre affection et je ne veux jamais avoir de part en l'amitie d'un homme qui possede toute la vostre et 
 qui seul m'empesche de la posseder non non madame il faut prendre des voyes plus violentes pour decider les differents que nous avons ensemble artamene et moy et il faut que sa mort me console de vostre cruaute ou que la mienne assure son bonheur et le vostre en disant cela il sortit et laissa la princesse en une affliction extreme il fut retrouver mazare et luy raconta tout ce que mandane luy avoit dit ce malheureux prince l'escouta avec une inquietude estrange il y avoit des momens ou il n'avoit pas moins de douleur que le roy d'assirie et il y en avoit d'autres ou il imaginoit quelque douceur a penser qu'il y avoit dans le coeur de la princesse un puissant obstacle pour empescher ce prince d'estre aime et ou il esperoit qu'entre un amant hai et un amant absent il pourroit peut-estre faire quelque progres de sorte qu'il se resolvoit fortement a tascher de gagner l'estime et l'amitie de la princesse il croyoit mesme ne faire presque rien contre la generosite car disoit il ce ne sera pas moy qui empescheray mandane d'aimer le roy d'assirie ce sera artamene mais dieux reprenoit il un moment apres en luy mesme cet artamene qui s'oppose au roy d'assirie s'opposera aussi a mazare mais adjoustoit il mazare ne veut pas vaincre a force ouverte ny a guerre declaree il veut employer la ruse ou la force seroit inutile et avoir recours a l'artifice puis qu'il n'y a point d'autre voye de n'estre pas malheureux cependant comme il 
 voyoit le roy d'assirie fort irrite et en estat de se porter peut estre a quelque extreme resolution il le retint avec toute l'adresse imaginable et luy fit beaucoup esperer de ses soins en effet il vint voir la princesse mais il ne put pas luy parler le premier car comme elle avoit une extreme confiance en luy et qu'elle n'ignoroit pas que le roy d'assirie luy disoit toutes choses elle luy parla d'abord avec tant d'esprit tant de vertu tant de douceur et d'une maniere si touchante que mazare pensa presque former la resolution de n'avoir plus que de l'amitie pour mandane mais dieux que cette genereuse resolution estoit mal affermie quand il ne faisoit qu'escouter la princesse il avoit le coeur attendry la compassion luy faisoit quasi respandre des larmes mais des qu'il levoit les yeux et qu'il rencontroit ceux de mandane une nouvelle flame tarissoit ses pleurs detruisoit ses premiers desseins et r'embrasoit toute son ame la princesse fut toutefois tres satisfaite de luy car comme elle luy tesmoigna apprehender quelque chose de l'humeur violente du roy d'assirie non madame luy dit-il d'une maniere a luy persuader qu'il exprimoit ses veritables sentimens ne craignez rien de la violence du roy je vous engage ma parole d'aporter tous mes soins a luy oster toute pensee criminelle mais si je n'y pouvois pas reussir je vous proteste que de son vassal je deviendrois son ennemy s'il avoit entrepris de vous deplaire et que tant 
 que mazare sera vivant la princesse mandane ne souffrira autre persecution du roy d'assirie que celle de ses prieres de ses larmes et de ses soupirs je vous laisse a penser sage chrisante quels furent les remercimens de la princesse et quels furent les eloges qu'elle luy donna enfin mazare en vint a tel point avec elle qu'elle l'aimoit comme un frere et ce prince se trouva si heureux durant quelques jours qu'il ne se souvenoit ny d'artamene ny de rien qui le peust fascher mais peu de temps apres le roy d'assirie ayant este adverty du retour d'artamene a themiscire de son arrivee a ecbatane avec ciaxare et des grands preparatifs de guerre que l'on faisoit contre luy hasta de son coste l'execution de tous les ordres qu'il avoit donnez car des le lendemain que nous fusmes arrivez a babilone il avoit renvoye en lydie il avoit aussi envoye en phrigie en hircanie en arrabie en paphiagonie et vers un prince indien le prince des saces aussi envoya de son coste supplier le roy son pere de haster les levees qu'il faisoit faire en son royaume cependant nous ne scavions que fort confusement les preparatifs de la guerre car mazare qui ne pouvoit se resoudre de parler d'artamene a mandane luy disoit toujours qu'il n'en scavoit autre chose si non qu'il estoit revenu des massagettes et que l'on se preparoit a la guerre durant cela le roy d'assirie voyoit tousjours la princesse tantost violent tantost tres sousmis tantost ne faisant 
 que la regarder avec une profonde melancolie sans luy parler que fort peu et tantost aussi luy parlant avec une colere extreme sans oser pourtant lever les yeux vers les siens mais apres tout j'ay cent et cent fois admire la bonte des dieux en ce qu'ils ont fait qu'un prince aussi imperieux que celuy-la et d'une humeur aussi altiere soit tousjours demeure dans les termes du respect au commencement que nous fusmes a babilone toutes les dames avoient la permission de voir la princesse et elle en fut si cherement aimee qu'il n'est rien qu'elles n'eussent este capables de faire pour la delivrer n'eust este la passion qu'elles avoient qu'elle peust se resoudre de devenir leur reine de sorte qu'il n'y avoit pas une femme de qualite qui ne taschast par son propre interest de rendre office au roy d'assirie neantmoins depuis que ce prince fut adverty par ses espions que l'on viendroit bien-tost a luy il nous osta cette liberte et a la reserve du prince mazare personne ne voyoit plus la princesse et elle estoit gardee fort estroitement la raison de cela estoit que le menu peuple conmencoit de murmurer un peu de ce que l'on alloit engager toute l'assirie en une guerre injuste nous vivions donc de cette sorte c'est a dire avec beaucoup de melancolie et sans autre consolation que celle de la conversation du prince mazare les femmes qui servoient la princesse nous disoient que tous les jours il arrivoit grand nombre d'estrangers a babilone sans qu'elles sceussent ce 
 que c'estoit car elles n'avoient guere plus de liberte que nous bien est il vray que nous estions en une belle prison si toutefois il peut y en avoir de belles estant certain que le palais des rois d'assirie est la plus belle chose du monde mais sage chrisante je ne songe pas que vous le scavez et que je parle a des personnes qui ont accompagne le vainqueur de babilone a toutes ses conquestes je vous diray donc seulement que l'apartement de la princesse estoit du coste qui regarde cette grande plaine qui s'estend le long de l'euphrate et qui laisse la veue libre jusques a plus de cent cinquante stades de babilone vous scavez combien cette veue est belle et diversifiee soit par le cours du fleuve qui serpente en ce lieu-la soit par cent agreables maisons dont cette plaine est semee et qui sont toutes environnees de palmiers c'estoit donc vers ce coste la que la chambre de la princesse regardoit et de ce coste la encore qu'il y a un balcon qui se jette en dehors sur lequel elle estoit assez accoustumee a resver lors que le temps estoit assez beau pour cela je me souviens qu'un soir elle y fut extraordinairement tard et comme le roy son pere et artamene avoient beaucoup de part a toutes ses resveries imaginez vous me disoit elle martesie quelle seroit ma joye et ma douleur tout ensemble si un matin en faisant ouvrir ces fenestres je voyois paroistre l'armee de medie et de capadoce en verite me dit elle je croy que j'en expirerois et que le plaisir de 
 voir du secours et la crainte qu'il ne fust inutile pour moy et funeste a ceux qui me le voudroient donner troubleroit si fort mon ame que je n'aurois ny assez de force ny assez de constance pour me resoudre a en attendre l'evenement mais helas martesie je ne suis pas en estat d'avoir cette joye ny cette douleur la solitude et le silence qui regnent dans toute cette vaste plaine que nous decouvrons confusemcnt a travers l'obscurite de la nuit me disent assez que mes deffenseurs n'y sont pas et nous n'y voyons enfin a la sombre clarte des estoiles et de la lune que ce grand fleuve et des arbres il y avoit bien alors deux jours que nous n'avions point veu le prince mazare de sorte que mandane s'ennuyant de ne voir point son protecteur car elle le nommoit souvent ainsi il eut beaucoup de part en nostre conversation mais apres que la princesse eut assez resue et se fut assez entretenue elle se coucha dans une chambre qui touchoit celle ou nous estions ou d'ordinaire elle ne faisoit que passer le jour le lendemain au matin a peine fut elle habillee qu'on luy vint dire que le roy d'assirie la supplioit de luy permettre de la voir comme elle luy eut accorde ce qu'il demandoit et qu'il fut entre madame luy dit il apres l'avoir saluee avec beaucoup de respect me voudriez vous faire la grace de passer dans la chambre ou vous avez accoustume d'estre seigneur luy dit elle en nous faisant signe de la suivre a arianite et a moy ce 
 n'est point aux captives a choisir le lieu de leur prison et en disant cela elle suivit ce prince qui luy donna la main et nous la suivismes aussi comme nous fusmes dans cette chambre le roy d'assirie s'aprochant du balcon l'ayant ouvert et tire un grand rideau a houpes d'or qui le cachoit quand on vouloit nous vismes que toute cette grande plaine que le soir auparavant nous avions veue si solitaire estoit entierement couverte de gens de guerre et de la facon dont je vy la multitude des esquadrons des bataillons des enseignes differentes des chevaux et des corps separez il me parut y avoir plus de quatre cens mille hommes en cette campagne je vous laisse a juger sage chrisante quel effet fit un objet si terrible dans le coeur de mandane elle creut toutefois d'abord que c'estoit l'armee de ciaxare mais elle ne fut pas long temps en une si douce erreur car le roy d'assirie s'estant tourne vers elle vous voyez madame luy dit il que le dessein que l'ay de vous conquerir et de vous meriter n'est pas juge si criminel par les dieux que vous le croyez puis qu'ils ne m'abandonnent pas et que tant de rois et tant de princes comme il y en a dans cette armee dont cette grande plaine est couverte n'ont pas fait de difficulte de prendre mes interests et que deux cens mille hommes enfin se trouvent en estat d'exposer leur vie pour l'amour de moy la princesse voyant ses esperances trompees rejetta les yeux sur cette armee comme pour s'en esclaircir 
 et en effet quoy que l'on ne peust pas bien discerner les enseignes a cause de l'esloignement neantmoins il luy sembla qu'il n'y en avoit point de medie c'est pour quoy detournant la teste avec precipitation comme ne pouvant plus souffrir un si espouventable objet ha seigneur s'escria t'elle que me faites vous voir et quelle espece de supplice avez vous invente pour me tourmenter voulez vous que je sente toute seule et tout a la sois toutes les blessures que feront vos soldats a ceux de mon party voulez vous dis-je que je sente les malheurs qui me doivent arriver auparavant qu'ils soient arrivez et que voulez vous enfin de la malheureuse mandane je veux madame luy respondit il que vous connoissiez parfaitement que de vostre seule volonte depend le destin de toute l'asie afin que ce que ma consideration n'a pu faire celle de tant de peuples de tant de provinces et de tant de royaumes vous y porte j'ay sceu madame adjousta t'il que le roy vostre pere secouru par le roy de perte a mis ses troupes en campagne et qu'il est sur les rives du fleuve du ginde pour venir a nous et c'est madame ce qui m'a fait haster de me mettre en estat de me deffendre car comme vous pouvez penser je n'aurois jamais attaque le roy des medes ainsi madame j'ay creu que je devois encore tenter cette derniere voye de flechir vostre coeur songez donc s'il vous plaist que les roys de lydie de phrigie d'arrabie d'hircanie et cent autres princes 
 ces tres vaillans qui sont dans mon armee ne connoissent pas le roy vostre pere et ne sont pas amoureux de vous comme je le suis pour l'espargner comme je feray sans doute enfin considerez je vous en conjure que de deux cens mille hommes il pourroit arriver facilement que quelqu'un vous privast d'une personne si chere ha cruel s'escriat'elle a quel espouvantable supplice m'exposez vous ha impitoyable luy respondit il quelle durete de coeur est la vostre d'aimer mieux que toute l'asie soit en armes que toute l'asie soit noyee de sang que toute l'ane soit destruite et que le roy vostre pere soit engage en une dangereuse guerre que de recevoir l'affection d'un prince qui vous adore qui ne veut vivre que pour vous et qui est prest d'employer cette mesme armee a vous conquester des couronnes si celle qu'il porte ne satisfait pas vostre ambition enfin madame vous voyez deux cens mille hommes prests a marcher et prests a combatte si l'occasion s'en presente cependant quoy que tant de vaillans capitaines et tant de vaillans soldats ayent une sorte impatience de voir l'ennemy et de le vaincre un seul de vos regards peut leur faire tomber les armes des mains ouy divine princesse vos yeux sont les maistres absolus du destin de tant de peuples vous n'avez qu'a regarder favorablement vous n'avez qu'a prononcer une parole a mon avantage vous n'avez qu'a n'estre plus inhumaine vous n'avez qu'a me donner un 
 rayon d'esperance pour faire que toute l'asie soit en paix et que le roy vostre pere soit en seurete parlez donc je vous en conjure ou si vous ne voulez point parler faites du moins que vos yeux me parlent pour vous ne me dites pas mesme si vous ne voulez que vous aimerez un jour le roy d'assirie et promettez moy seulement que vous n'aimerez plus artamene encore une fois madame faut il combatre ou faut il poser les armes mais songez bien auparavant que de respondre a ce que vous avez a dire les dieux seigneur respondit la princesse sont les maistres absolus de tous les hommes et mandane ne doit pas usurper cette supreme authorite sur eux c'est donc a moy a me resoudre a souffrir les malheurs qu'ils m'envoyent et non pas a moy a m'opposer a leurs volontez s'ils n'avoient pas resolu la guerre ils auroient change mon coeur ils auroient change celuy du roy mon pere et l'auroient oblige a vous pardonner ainsi je ne suis point en termes de pouvoir disposer de mes propres volontez il suffit que je scache de vostre bouche que le roy des medes a pris les armes contre vous pour trouver qu'il ne m'est plus permis ny de vous regarder favorablement ny de vous dire une parole avantageuse ny de vous donner un rayon d'esperance puis qu'il vous tient pour son ennemy j'ay un nouveau sujet de vous mal traiter et je n'en ay plus de vous pardonner quand mesme j'aurois eu la foiblesse de le vouloir faire ainsi 
 quand artamene ne seroit point vivant je ne ferois sans doute que ce que je fay de plus quoy que vostre armee soit grande je veux esperer que les dieux combatant pour le party le plus juste feront succomber les ennemis du roy mon pere et luy donneront la victoire ce n'est pas et ces mesmes dieux le scavent que si par la perte de ma vie je pouvois empescher la sienne d'estre exposee je ne le fisse avec une joye incroyable ouy seigneur si vous pouvez vous y resoudre souffrez que je sois la victime qui redonne la paix a toute l'asie j'y consens et tout mon coeur s'il ne faut pour vous satisfaire poursuivit elle qu'oster mandane au malheureux artamene j'y consens encore pourveu que vous luy permettiez d'entrer au tombeau et qu'elle passe des moins du roy d'assirie en celles de la mort qui luy plairont davantage quoy seigneur adjousta la princesse qui vit dans les yeux de ce prince que ses discours estoient inutiles vous ne m'ecoutez pas et vous mesme vous ne vous laissez pas flechir au nom des dieux seigneur faites une action heroique en cette tournee surmontez la passion que vous avez dans le coeur la conqueste de mandane ne vaut pas pas tant d'illustre sang que vous en voulez faire respandre l'amour vous a trompe seigneur la beaute qui vous charme n'est qu'une illusion agreable et quand elle seroit telle que vous vous l'imaginez ce ne seroit apres tout qu'un thresor que le 
 temps derobe infailliblement bien tost a toutes celles qui le possedent revenez donc a vous seigneur et si vous estes raisonnable aimez la gloire et la preferez a mandane elle est plus belle qu'elle et vous en serez mieux traite mandane mesme vous en estimera davantage et ne vous reprochera point l'infidelite que vous luy avez faite songez en effet que cette princesse n'est pas digne d'une amour aussi constante que la vostre elle vous hait elle vous mal-traitte et elle ne vous aimera jamais enfin soit parraison soit par vangeance soit par generosite redonnez la paix a toute l'asie et haissez la princesse mandane qui ne vous fait que du mal je le voudrois madame interrompt le roy d'assirie si je le pouvois mais je ne le puis quoy que je le veuille et je pense qu'il m'est aussi impossible de n'aimer pas la princesse mandane qu'il est impossible a la princesse mandane de n'aimer pas artamene mais madame adjousta ce prince avec un redoublement de colere estrange si vous aimez sa vie laissez vous toucher a mes prieres car scachez que dans tous les combats que nous ferons j'aporteray autant de soing a le chercher et a le vaincre que l'en apporteray a fuir et a espargner le roy vostre pere de plus comme il est brave et qu'il en a la reputation il n'y a pas un vaillant homme en toute mon armee qui n'ait dessein de le rencontrer imaginez vous donc que tous les traits qui partiront des 
 mains de tous ces soldats que vous voyez seront lancez contre artamene que tous les javelots seront tournez contre son coeur que toutes les fleches toutes les fondes toutes les faux toutes les espees et toutes les armes offensives seront employees contre luy et qu'il ne tient qu'a vous de luy oster tant d'ennemis et de ne luy en laisser plus qu'un a combatre ainsi cruelle personne si vous aimez artamene ne me haissez plus et donnez moy quelque legere marque de bien-veillance et de repentir non seigneur luy respondit la princesse en l'interrompant vous ne me connoissez pas encore si j'avois eu a changer de sentimens j'en aurois change au nom du roy mon pere et ce que je n'ay point fait pour luy je ne le feray pas pour artamene ce n'est pas puis que vous me forcez de vous le dire que je n'aye pour ce prince une tendresse infinie et une fidelite inebranlable mais c'est qu'il n'est point de passion assez forte pour me faire manquer a mon devoir et qu'entre un pere et un amant ma volonte ne se porte jamais a rien d'injuste et ne balance pas mesme un instant sur la resolution qu'elle doit prendre enfin madame dit il prenant un ton de voix un peu aigre il faut donc aller combattre et vous l'ordonnez ainsi la princesse voyant qu'effectivement il se preparoit a s'en aller en fut fort esmeue et tout d'un coup cette fermete qu'elle avoit eue en luy parlant l'abandonna et les larmes luy vinrent aux yeux elle se jetta donc a 
 ses pieds et le retenant eh seigneur luy dit elle qu'allez vous faire combatre et vaincre si je le puis madame luy dit il en la relevant avec precipitation mais quand vous aurez vaincu le roy mon pere repliqua la princesse vous n'aurez pas vaincu le coeur de mandane au contraire je vous declare des icy en presence des dieux qui m'escoutent que si pendant cette guerre le roy des medes ou l'illustre artamene meurent vous n'avez qu'a vous preparer a la mort de mandane combatez seigneur tant qu'il vous plaira vous ne jouirez point du fruit de vostre victoire et puis que le prix du combat est entre mes mains vous devez estre assure de ne l'obtenir jamais vous pourrez peut-estre vaincre le roy mon pere vous pourrez peut-estre faire tuer ce mesme artamene qui vous a donne une fois la vie mais vous ne scauriez empescher mandane de mourir ainsi seigneur si vous la reduisez au desespoir elle vous y reduira aussi bien qu'elle encore une fois pensez a vous car enfin si vous estes vaincu vous le serez avec honte veu l'injustice de vostre action et si vous estes vainqueur vous n'aurez pour recompense de tous vos travaux que le cercueil de mandane les dieux madame respondit ce prince ne vous ont pas donnee a la terre pour vous en retirer si tost et je veux esperer que si je reviens vainqueur vous changerez de sentimens pour moy si je vous voy victorieux reprit la princesse le bruit de vostre victoire n'aura pas devance 
 vostre retour car si je la scay devant ma mort devancera le jour de vostre triomphe mais madame que voulez vous que je face adjousta ce prince les choses en sont venues au point que je ne puis vivre sans vous que je ne puis souffrir qu'artamene vive tant que vous l'aimerez et que vous n'aimerez point le roy d'assirie mais madame vous aimez mieux que toute l'asie perisse et ce qui vous y porte est que parmy la crainte qui vous possede il vous reste quelque espoir que je periray avec elle ouy madame je lis dans vostre coeur cette secrette joye qui se mesle a vos douleurs et malgre cela je vous respecte je vous aime et je vous adore jugez madame s'il y a de la comparaison entre l'amour qu'artamene a pour vous et celle que j'ay car enfin il se voit aime de la plus belle personne de toute la terre quelle merveille y a t'il donc qu'il soit fidelle pour une illustre princesse qui meprise tout ce qu'il y a de plus grand au monde pour luy et qu'on luy voye aimer ce qui l'aime si tendrement pour connoistre la difference qu'il y a entre artamene et moy saignez madame de le mepriser comme vous me meprisez traitez le comme vous me traitez et si apres cela il vous aime comme je vous aime j'advoueray qu'il a plus de droit que moy a vostre affection vous scavez madame que je suis maistre dans babilone et ou ainsi j'eusse pu trouver les moyens de m'y faire obeir cependant vous y avez commande 
 absolument et je vous y laisse mesme la liberte de m'outrager et tout cela parce que j'ay une passion pour vous qui n'eut jamais d'egale mais une passion respectueuse qui combat elle mesme les plus violents desirs qu'elle fait naistre dans mon coeur et qui ne me permet rien que de vous adorer enfin madame il faut partir il faut aller porter le fer se la flame dans le camp ennemy il faut aller au devant d'artamene vous le voulez et il vous faut obeir cependant vous prierez icy les dieux pour sa victoire et pour ma perte et je les conjureray seulement de changer vostre coeur j'ay encore a vous dire madame adjousta t'il que quand vous m'aurez veu partir si par hazard l'image de tant de malheurs que vous allez causer vous oblige a vous repentir d'une resolution si injuste vous serez tousjours en estat de faire cesser la guerre vous n'aurez qu'a m'envoyer le moindre des vostres et qu'a m'escrire seulement ce mot esperez et au mesme instant madame quand je recevrois ce glorieux billet au milieu d'une bataille que j'aurois le bras leve pour tuer artamene et que la victoire me seroit presque assuree je vous promets inexorable personne de faire sonner la retraite de fuir devant mes ennemis et de revenir a vos pieds chercher dans vos yeux la confirmation de cette agreable parole pendant que ce prince parloit ainsi mandane estoit si accablee de douleur qu'elle ne l'entendit 
 presque point et elle s trouva mesme si foible qu'elle fat contrainte de s'assoir sur des quarreaux qui estoient aupres du balcon de sorte que le roy d'assirie voyant qu'il ne la pouvoit flechir et qu'elle ne vouloit mesme plus luy parler la quitta apres luy avoir baise la robe sans qu'elle s'en apperceust comme il fut dans une autre chambre il me fit appeller mais je vous advoue que de ma vie je ne vy une personne plus desesperee il me dit encore cent choses pour redire a la princesse et je luy en respondis aussi beaucoup pour le ramener a la raison et comme les menaces que la princesse avoit faites de sa mort luy tenoient l'esprit en peine martesie me dit il vous me respendrez de la vie de mandane ne parlez point pour moy si vous ne voulez mais songez a sa conservation en suitte il dit la mesme chose a arianite et a toutes les autres femmes qu'il avoit mises aupres d'elle et en dit encore davantage au prince mazare qu'il devoit laisser pour commander dans babilone et qui avoit este occupe a la reveue des troupes que le roy son pere luy avoit envoyees pendant ces deux jours que nous ne l'avions point veu de vous dire chrisante tout ce que dit la princesse apres que le roy d'assirie fut party ce seroit m'engager en un long discours elle se releva et voulut regarder encore une fois cette prodigieuse armee mais helas que de funestes pensees l'agiterent quoy me dit elle apres avoir este long temps sans parler je puis consentir que 
 toutes ces troupes que je voy aillent contre le roy mon pere et contre artamene et je puis exposer la vie de deux personnes si cheres a tous les hazards d'une longue et dangereuse guerre quoy je puis consentir moy qui ay tousjours eu une aversion naturelle pour les combats que tant de milliers d'hommes que tant de princes que tant de rois que tant de peuples s'entretuent pour l'amour de moy quoy je puis consentir que tant de personnes innocentes souffrent en ma consideration ha non martesie je pense que j'ay tort et je confesse qu'il y a eu des endroits dans le discours du roy d'assirie ou j'ay du moins doute si j'avois raison cependant je l'advoue je n'ay jamais pu obtenir de mon coeur ny de ma bouche la force de luy dire une parole favorable a peine en ay-je eu forme un leger dessein que j'ay senty un trouble extraordinaire dans mon ame je ne scay si c'est un effet de la haine que j'ay pour le ravisseur de mandane ou un effet de l'amitie que j'ay pour artamene mais enfin je n'ay pu dire tout ce qu'il eust peut-estre falu dire pour le flechir mais que fais-je reprit elle tout d'un coup je perds sans doute la raison et mon coeur et ma bouche ont este plus equitables que mon esprit car enfin la paix ou la guerre ne sont pas mesme en ma disposition quand j'aurois pu vaincre la haine que j'ay pour un prince qui m'a enlevee avec une injustice effroyable quand je n'aurois plus considere artamene et que je me serois resolue d'avoir 
 la laschete de ceder au roy d'assirie j'aurois fait cette laschete inutilement puis que le roy mon pere n'auroit pas laissse de faire la guerre et que l'illustre artamene l'auroit mesme faite encore plus sanglante et plus furieuse pour mandane criminelle qu'il ne la fera pour mandane innocente de plus ne scay-je pas que depuis le fameux dejoce qui remit la medie en liberte et qui la retira de la tyrannie des assiriens il y a une haine irreconciliable entre ces peuples seroit il donc juste qu'une princesse descendue de l'illustre sang du liberateur de sa patrie la remist en seruitude non marresie un sentiment de tendresse et de pitie avoit un peu trouble ma raison car soit que je considere le roy d'assirie comme le rauisseur de mandane comme l'ennemy du roy des medes comme celuy d'artamene ou comme le tiran de mon pais j'ay deu faire ce que j'ay fait apres tout artamene est dans la mesme armee ou est mon pere il luy a desja sauve la vie il fera encore la mesme chose et il faut esperer veu la justice de leurs armes queles dieux les protegeront et les conserveront l'un et l'autre mais chrisante a peine la princesse pensoit elle avoir trouve quelque repos par un raisonnement si juste que la veue de ce grand corps d'armee renouvelloit toutes ses douleurs madame luy disois-je ne regardez plus des troupes qui vous affligent si fort ou si vous les voulez regarder regardez les comme devant 
 servir de matiere a la gloire du roy vostre pere et a celle d'artamene ha ma chere fille s'escria t'elle qui scait si parmy ceux que je regarde je ne voy point le meurtrier de mon pere ou celuy d'artamene 
 
 
 
 
enfin chrisante je l'arrachay par force de la et la fis repasser dans une autre chambre cependant nous sceusmes que le lendemain l'armee partiroit et ce jour la mesme le roy d'assirie aprit que par une invention prodigieuse que vous n'ignorez pas puis que vous y estiez l'armee de medie avoit passe la riviere du ginde et avoit pousse quelques troupes qui estoient de l'autre coste il partit donc en diligence et fit marcher toute son armee le privee mazare par un sentiment d'honneur eust bien voulu l'accompagner a mais le roy d'assirie ne voulut jamais confier la garde de babilone et celle de la princesse qu'a luy de sorte qu'il le conjura de demeurer et je ne scay si malgre le grand coeur de ce prince un sentiment d'amour ne fit pas qu'il en fut bien aise le roy d'assirie voulut mesme que les troupes du prince des saces de meurassent dans babilone afin que si le peuple qui murmuroit fort de j'injustice de cette guerre vouloit remuer en son absence il y eust des troupes estrangeres pour le tenir en son devoir mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que le roy d'assirie auparavant que de quitter le prince mazare le tira a part et l'esprit fort inquiet et fort trouble luy parla a peu pres en ces termes vous voyez mon cher mazare qu'artamene 
 mene est toujours heureux et toujours invincible il a passe un fleuve en huit jours qui le devoit arrester une annee entiere il a fait ce qui n'est permis de faire qu'aux dieux seulement et si je ne me trompe la fortune ne l'aura pas tant favorise pour l'abandonner apres ce n'est pas que je ne scache que mon armee est d'un tiers plus forte que celle du roy des medes mais apres tout je puis pourtant estre vaincu et je puis mesme mourir en cette occasion ainsi pour vous consoler de la douleur que vous avez d'estre contraint par mes prieres de ne vous y trouver pas je veux mon cher mazare vous en faire une autre ou vostre grand coeur trouvera de quoy estre satisfait scachez donc que dans la passion demesuree que j'ay pour la princesse mandane je suis effroyablement persecute de la cruelle pensee qui me vient que si je meurs la paix se faisant artamene jouira en repos de l'affection de mandane promettez moy donc je vous en conjure que si je peris vous combatrez artamene et ne rendrez jamais la princesse au roy son pere que ce trop heureux rival ne soit mort promettez le moy je vous en prie mais promettez le moy avec serment car si vous le faites j'auray l'esprit en quelque repos et seray moins tourmente de la cruelle jalousie qui me persecute ce n'est pas qu'elle n'aille encore plus loing car je vous advoue que si je pensois que qu'elqu'un peust jamais posseder mandane je mourrois desespere mais dans la passion qu'elle a pour artamene 
 j'espere que si vous le tuez elle n'en aura jamais d'autre et ne se mariera mesme point voila luy dit il encore le service que j'attens de vous et que sans doute vous ne me refuserez pas quoy qu'il ne soit pas aise de me le rendre car enfin il le faut advouer vous ne vaincrez pas artamene sans gloire et vous trouverez vostre recompense en me rendant cet office je vous laisse a juger si mazare deust estre surpris d'un semblable discours et je vous laisse a penser s'il ne luy promit pas ce qu'il voulut sans resistance estant certain que depuis que l'on disoit dans babilone qu'artamene aprochoit sa passion estoit devenue plus violente tant y a chrisante que le roy d'assirie s'en alla fort console de la promesse qu'il luy fit de combatre artamene s'il mouroit nous demeurasmes donc sous la conduite de mazare qui redoubla encore ses soings et ses bontez pour nous et si l'effroyable inquietude ou nous estions a tous les momens d'aprendre quelque facheuse nouvelle ne nous eust tourmentee l'on peut dire que nostre captivite n'eust pas este alors fort rigoureuse cependant elle l'estoit beaucoup le prince mazare n'entroit jamais dans la chambre de la princesse qu'elle ne tremblast et ne cherchast dans ses yeux s'il avoit eu des nouvelles de l'armee pour luy il estoit tousjours plus amoureux et je pense qu'il eut besoin de toute sa generosite pour souhaiter que le roy d'assirie emportast la victoire je me souviens d'un jour qu'il voyoit la princesse fort 
 affligee et que selon sa coustume il estoit fort melancolique mandane qui croyoit tousjours que la seule compassion qu'il avoit de ses malheurs en estoit la cause luy dit seigneur je ne vous ay pas peu d'obligation car enfin estant ce que vous estes au roy d'assirie vous ne laissez pas d'avoir la bonte de vous interesser en ce qui me touche il est vray madame respondit ce prince que vous avez fait un changement estrange en mon coeur je vous advoue toutefois que je ne puis souhaiter que le roy soit vaincu mais aussi ay-je quelque peine a desirer qu'il s'emporte la victoire et tout cela madame pour l'amour de vous l'espere neantmoins adjousta t'il que vous ne m'en jugerez pas plus criminel au contraire dit elle je vous ne trouve beaucoup plus innocent car enfin ne se laisser point preoccuper par les sentimens d'un prince qui vous aime et s'attacher aux interests d'une princesse malheureuse que vous ne connoissez presque point c'est veritablement estre genereux ha madame reprit mazare ne dites pas s'il vous plaist que je ne connois point la princesse mandane je la connois si parfaitement que personne ne la connoist mieux en toute la terre et c'est pour cela que je trahis en quelque facon le roy d'assirie et je connois mesme adjousta t'il ses propres malheurs mieux qu'elle ne les connoist je n'en doute point reprit la princesse car comme vous connoissez mieux que moy celuy qui les cause vous voyez mieux aussi les dangereuses 
 suittes qu'ils peuvent avoir c'estoit de cette sorte chrisante que quelquefois mazare disoit des choses qui eussent pu faire soubconner ses sentimens secrets et c'estoit de cette sorte aussi que l'ingenuite de la princesse les luy faisoit expliquer sans y entendre finesse aucune cependant nous estions tousjours en une incertitude extreme le moindre bruit nous troubloit je n'entrois jamais dans la chambre de mandane qu'elle ne cherchast sur mon visage si je n'avois rien apris et plus d'une fois elle creut y voir des marques de la victoire du roy d'assire et de la mort du roy son pere et de celle d'artamene mais enfin quelque temps apres comme nous estions a ce mesme balcon dont je vous ay desja parle nous vismes une grosse nue de poussiere s'eslever bien loing dans la plaine et peu a peu nous discernasmes un gros de cavalerie qui commenca de paroistre cette veue fit paslir la princesse de crainte mais apres avoir considere ces troupes il me sembla qu'elles venoient trop viste et trop en desordre vers babilone pour estre victorieuses madame dis-je a la princesse nous avons vaincu infailliblement et en effet il estoit aise de le connoistre car outre que ces gens de guerre n'estoient pas en grand nonbre ils alloient tellement en confusion qu'il n'estoit pas difficile d'imaginer que des vainqueurs n'iroient pas ainsi mais martesie me disoit la princesse qui craignoit tousjours que scavez vous si ce ne sont point des prisonniers de guerre que l'on ameine et si le 
 le roy mon pere ou artamene ne sont point enchaisnez parmy ceux que je voy mais enfin chrisante nous fusmes bientost esclaircies de nos doutes car quelque temps apres avoir veu entrer ces troupes dans la ville nous etendismes un assez grand bruit dans l'escalier en suitte nous vismes ouvrir la porte de la chambre ou nous estions et nous vismes entrer le roy d'assirie avec des armes toutes rompues taintes de sang en divers endroits une escharpe a demy deschiree et toute sanglante un panache tout poudreux tout rompu et tout sanglant car ce prince avoit este blesse legerement a l'espaule il avoit de plus tant de tristesse dans les yeux et tant de marques de fureur sur le visage que la princesse en perdit toute la crainte qu'elle avoit eue pour le roy son pere et pour artamene joint qu'a peine ce prince desespere fut il entre dans la chambre que prenant la parole vos voeux madame luy dit il sont exaucez artamene a eu l'avantage et je pense que je puis esperer de ne vous desplaire pas une fois en toute ma vie en vous faisant voir a vos pieds celuy que la fortune luy a fait vaincre il n'a pas tenu a moy seigneur luy repliqua la princesse que ce malheur ne vous soit pas arrive et si vous vous fussiez laisse vaincre a mes prieres et a la raison artamene ne vous auroit pas vaincu et la victoire que vous eussiez obtenue sur vous mesme vous eust este plus glorieuse que celle qu'artamene a r'emportee sur vous ne 
 luy est honorable bien qu'elle la soit infiniment quoy madame reprit le roy d'assirie la princesse mandane que j'ay tousjours veue si douce et si pitoyable pour les malheurs des moindres sujets du roy son pere pourra aprendre d'un oeil sec et d'une ame tranquile que pour l'amour d'elle il y a une campagne toute couverte de morts ou de mourans de chariots renversez d'armes rompues de rois qui ont perdu la vie de princes blessez ou prisonniers qu'il y a dis-je un nombre infiny de soldats noyez dans leur sang et qu'enfin pres de quatre cens mille hommes ont combatu pour ses interests elle pourra dis-je encore une fois cette impitoyable personne me voir vaincu et blesse a ses pieds sans un sentiment de compassion moy dis-je qui perds toute ma fureur en la voyant qui ne sens plus mesme la douleur de ma deffaite des que je la regarde et qui m'estimerois encore trop heureux de souffrir tant de disgraces s'il m'estoit permis d'esperer qu'elle eust un jour pitie de mes infortunes ouy cruelle princesse tout vaincu tout blesse et tout malheureux que je suis vous pouvez encore me rendre le plus heureux de tous les hommes mais de grace poursuivit il ne vous obstinez pas a insulter sur un miserable et songez bien auparavant que de prononcer une cruelle parole qu'artamene n'est pas encore dans babilone j'ay mesme a vous dire madame adjousta t'il pour temperer un peu vostre joye qu'il ne loy sera pas si 
 aise d'y entrer qu'il luy a este facile de me vaincre les batailles dependant plus particulierement de la fortune que les sieges c'est pourquoy je puis respondre plus absolument de l'evenement de l'un que de l'autre joint que quand je devrois faire un grand bucher de babilone je m'ensevelirois plustost sous ses ruines que de souffrir qu'artamene vous possedast seigneur interrompit la princesse sans s'esmouvoir la crainte de la mort n'esbranle gueres mon ame et vous m'avez tellement accoustumee a la desirer que ce n'est pas me faire une menace qui m'effraye que de me parler de perir dans les flames ha madame s'escria ce prince en se jettant a genoux pardonnez a un malheureux a qui vous n'avez pas laisse l'usage de la raison je n'ay pas songe a ce que j'ay dit quand j'ay parle de cette sorte mais apres tout que voulez vous que je devienne je vous l'ay dit cent fois adjousta t'il et je vous le dis encore artamene ne vous possedera jamais tant que je seray vivant et artamene ne me vaincra pas sans peril quelque brave et quelque heureux qu'il puisse estre mais seigneur luy dit la princesse est il possible que vous ne conceviez pas que les dieux sont contre vous mais inhumaine princesse reprit il est il possible que vous ne conceviez pas aussi que vous estes la seule cause de la guerre et que vous estes la plus cruelle personne du monde car enfin par quelle voye peut on toucher vostre coeur quand je parlay la derniere fois a vous je disois 
 eu moy mesme pour vous excuser que les ames extremement grandes ne se laissoient pas flechir les armes a la main et que vous parlant presque a la telle de deux cens mille hommes vous aviez trouve quelque chose de beau a me resister mais aujourd'huy que je viens a vous vaincu blesse et malheureux advouez la verite n'y a t'il pas quelque chose d'inhumain de cruel et de barbare de ne me regarder pas du moins avec quelque compassion les dieux scavent seigneur repliqua la princesse si j'aime la guerre et si je ne voudrois pas que la paix fust par toute l'asie mais apres tout je ne puis y contribuer que des voeux et je ne suis point a moy pour en disposer ma volonte depend de celle du roy mon pere et mon affection est une chose que je ne puis oster apres l'avoir donnee ha madame interrompit le roy d'assirie n'en dites pas davantage au nom des dieux ne me desesperez pas absolument car je vous advoue que je crains que la raison ne m'abandonne et que le respect que je veux conserner pour vous jusques a la mort ne me quitte malgre moy ne me parlez donc point quand vous ne me pourrez dire que des choses insuportables cependant dit il en s'en allant puis que mon sang mesle avec mes larmes ne vous touche point et que mesme le roy d'assirie vaincu ne vous est-pas un objet agreable il faut vous laisser en repos de la victoire d'artamene en disant cela il sortit de la chambre de la princesse et fut se mettre 
 au lict apres avoir donne quelques ordres necessaires et pour les troupes qui se sauveroient de la deroute de son armee et pour la conservation de la ville car encore que la blessure qu'il avoit receve ne fust pas considerable neantmoins ayant assez perdu de sang elle l'avoit un peu affoibly quoy qu'il eust este pense la derniere fois a un bourg qui n'est qu'a douze stades de babilone je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelles differentes pensees estoient celles de la princesse et quelle impatience elle avoit de scavoir bien precisement tout ce qui estoit arrive mais il ne nous fut pas possible d'en estre pleinement esclaircies nous sceusmes bien que le roy d'assirie apres avoir este vaincu ayant aprehende qu'il n'y eust quelque sedition dans babilone estoit venu en diligence afin de pouvoir devancer le bruit de sa deffaite mais quelques demandes que nous fissions nous ne peusmes scavoir que fort confusement les particularitez de la bataille cependant l'on nous resserra plus estroitement qu'auparavant l'on nous changea mesme d'apartement voulant sans doute priver la princesse de la consolation qu'elle eust eue de voir arriver l'armee victorieuse du roy son pere je ne vous exagereray point davantage le desespoir du roy d'assirie et quelle irresolution avoit este la sienne en arrivant a babilone de scavoir s'il verroit la princesse ou s'il ne la verroit pas la honte d'estre vaincu pensa l'en empescher mais l'extreme envie de la revoir l'y contraignit joint 
 qu'il imagina que peut-estre la pourroit il toucher par la pitie de son malheur comme il n'estoit gueres blesse il quitta le lict des le lendemain et commenca de se preparer a un siege et de donner tous les ordres necessaires pour le soutenir il s'imaginoit pourtant que comme la campagne estoit presque sur le point de finir le roy des medes ne pourroit pas durant l'hyver prendre babilone et il esperoit qu'il seroit contraint de lever le siege et de remettre la chose au printemps pendant quoy il feroit tousjours ce qu'il pourroit pour gagner l'esprit de mandane soit par la douceur ou parla crainte et se prepareroit a une nouvelle bataille pour nous chrisante nous ne goustions pas une joye toute pure car nous voiyons mazare si triste que cela nous faisoit apprehender qu'il ne descouvrist dans l'esprit du roy d'assirie quelques mauvaises intentions joint qu'il estoit aise de concevoir que le siege de babilone n'estoit pas une chose que l'on peust faire sans peril neantmoins cet heureux commencement nous donnoit tousjours quelques momens ou la joye partageoit nostre ame et en chassoit la moitie de nos douleurs les dieux disoit la princesse sont trop equitables et trop bons pour nous abandonner et je me fie beaucoup plus en leur justice qu'en la force des armes du roy mon pere ny qu'en la valeur d'artamene cependant nous traitions mazare encore plus civilement qu'a l'ordinaire car comme nous ne craignions rien tant que 
 l'humeur violente du roy d'assirie mazare estoit la seule personne de qui nous esperions du se cours contre luy mais nous ne scavions pas tout l'interest qu'il prenoit en la princesse et combien ses sentimens estoient meslez il ne laissoit pas toutefois de tirer beaucoup d'avantage des soins qu'il rendoit a mandane estant certain qu'elle les recevoit avec une bonte une douceur et une confiance sans egale enfin comme vous le scavez mieux que moy le siege fut mis devant babilone et de part et d'autre l'on fit tout ce que des gens de grand coeur peuvent faire et pour attaquer et pour se deffendre ce fut alors sage chrisante que nos craintes furent sans relasche car nous scavions qu'il n'y avoit presque point de jour que les assiegeans ne fissent quelque attaque ou que les assiegez ne fissent quelque sortie ainsi tous les momens de nostre vie se passoient en une continuelle apprehension nous ne craignions pas seulement pour le roy et pour artamene nous craignions mesme pour mazare que nous sceusmes qui estoit tres souvent le chef des sorties que l'on faisoit pour aller desloger les assiegeans de quelques postes avantageux et je me souviens que la princesse ne put s'empescher de s'en pleindre a luy genereux prince luy dit elle un jour qu'elle scavoit qu'il avoit combatu comment vous dois-je nommer et que ne vous determinez vous absolument je vous regarde dans babilone comme l'unique protecteur que j'y 
 puis avoir comme une personne qui m'est infiniment chere et infiniment utile aupres du roy d'assirie et de qui la vertu m'est d'une extreme consolation cependant je scay que des que vous estes hors des murailles de babilone vous devenez un de mes plus dangereux ennemis puis que vous estes un des plus vaillans et l'illustre mazare que mandane appelle son cher protecteur se met en estat de tuer non seulement celuy qu'elle regarde comme son liberateur mais mesme de faire perdre la vie au roy son pere en verite luy dit elle vous estes bien cruel de m'oster la liberte de faire des voeux pour vous car enfin tout ce que je puis en cette rencontre est de souhaiter que vous ne soyez ny vainqueur ny vaincu de ceux que vous attaquez ou qui vous attaquent vous estes bien bonne repliqua mazare en soupirant de me parler comme vous faites mais apres tout madame l'honneur ne me permet pas de demeurer tousjours enferme dans des murailles pendant que tant de braves gens combatent quand je vous laisse dans babilone j'advoue que je vous y laisse avec beaucoup de regret et que ce n'est pas sans peine que je quitte la glorieuse qualite de vostre protecteur pour prendre celle de vostre ennemy mais tant de raisons le veulent qu'il n'y a pas moyen de s'y opposer car enfin outre celle de l'honneur que j'ay desja ditte et beaucoup d'autres que je ne dis pas que 
 penseroit le roy d'assirie si j'en usois autrement je luy deviendrois suspect et il me priveroit peut-estre de l'honneur que j'ay d'avoir la liberte de vous voir encore une fois madame si je suis criminel en quelque chose ce n'est pas en celle la j'advoue neantmoins que je suis infiniment a plaindre et que l'estat ou je me trouve est infiniment malheureux helas disoit la princesse je suis bien marrie d'estre cause de l'inquietude que vous avez du moins adjoustoit elle si je pouvois trouver les voyes de faire scavoir a artamene les obligations que je vous ay je suis bien assuree qu'il ne vous combatroit pas s'il vous connoissoit et qu'au contraire il combatroit plustost ceux de son party s'ils vous attaquoient en sa presence je ne doute pas madame repliqua mazare en rougissant que si artamene me connoissoit par vostre raport il ne m'estimast et ne me servist mais s'il me connoissoit par moy mesme il n'en useroit peut-estre pas ainsi vous estes trop modeste luy disoit la princesse qui ne soubconnoit point qu'il y eust de sens chache en ces paroles et vous m'en donnez de la confufion mais du moins adjoustoit elle souvenez vous de deux choses quand vous allez combattre l'une qu'il y a dans l'armee qui assiege babilone deux princes de qui la vie m'est infiniment precieuse et l'autre qu'en vostre seule personne consiste toute la consolation et tout le support que je puis trouver dans cette ville contre le roy d'assirie comme mazare 
 alloit parler on luy vint dire que le roy le demandoit et certes je pense qu'il fut avantageux pour luy d'estre interrompu car il se trouvoit sans doute fort embarrasse a respondre bien precisement au discours de la princesse sans choquer directement ses propres sentimens qui n'estoient guere tranquiles estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu d'ame plus passionnee que celle de mazare ny guere de plus vertueuse quoy que l'amour ait porte ce prince a des choses fort injustes cependant l'hyver contre la coustume de ce pais la fut fort avance et mesme fort rigoureux ce qui resjouissoit autant le roy d'assirie que cela nous affligeoit par la crainte que nous avions que le roy des medes et artamene ne fussent contraints de lever le siege nous n'avions donc point d'autre recours qu'a prier les dieux et la princesse fit tant que par le moyen du prince mazare elle obtint la permission d'aller tous les jours au temple de jupiter belus qui est le plus superbe et le plus fameux de babilone tant parce que ce dieu est le protecteur des assiriens et celuy qu'ils reclament au commencement des batailles qu'a cause des oracles qui s'y rendent par la bouche d'une femme que jupiter belus choisit pour annoncer ses volontez a ceux qui les veulent scavoir et comme il me semble si ma memoire ne me trompe que vous m'avez dit autrefois que vous n'avez point este au lieu ou se rendent ces oracles bien que vous eussiez 
 tarde quelquetemps a babilone et qu'il n'y a guere d'aparence que vous y ayez este depuis parmy le tumulte et la confusion que vous mistes dans cette ville en la prenant il faut que je vous le represente tel qu'il est en peu de mots apres que l'on est entre dans la superbe enceinte du temple et que l'on a passe les magnifiques portes d'airain qui le ferment l'on trouve la porte de cette prodigieuse tour qui en soutient sept autres au dessus d'elle au haut desquelles l'on va par des degrez tournoyans qui se jettent en dehors avec des balustrades de cuivre au milieu de chaque escalier il y a des lieux propres a se reposer et comme l'on est arrive au sommet de la derniere tour l'on trouve une espece de petit temple fort magnifique ou l'on voit une grande statue d'or massif de jupiter belus une table d'or un throsne de mesme metal et plusieurs grands vases tres riches il y a aussi un autel fort superbe sur lequel les chaldees qui sont ceux qui font les ceremonies de la religion a babilone bruslent tous les ans quand ils font leur grand sacrifice pour plus de cent talents d'encens comme l'on sort de ce lieu la l'on entre dans un autre encore plus petit dans lequel il n'y a qu'un lit de parade tout couvert d'or et une table de mesme metal avec une grande lampe d'or qui est tousjours allumee ce lieu la n'estant ouvert de nulle part que la porte qui estant engagees dans un autre lieu ne l'esclaire point du tout c'est en cet endroit que cette 
 femme dont j'ay parle demeure tout le jour et couche toutes les nuits a l'exemple d'une que l'on dit qui est a thebes en egypte et d'une autre encore qui est dans patare ville de licie c'est donc en ce lieu la que cette prestresse vit separee de tout le reste du monde et rend ses oracles a ceux qui la viennent consulter apres cela chrisante je vous diray que poussee par je ne scay quelle devotion ou par je ne scay quelle curiosite un jour que nous fusmes au temple de jupiter belus c'est a dire au grand temple qui est en bas ou tout le monde va d'ordinaire il prit envie a la princesse de monter au haut de la derniere tour et d'aller visiter cette femme si celebre a babilone pour luy demander son assistance envers les dieux sans avoir pourtant dessein de consulter l'oracle icy chrisante admirez le hazard des choses mazare qui se trouva au temple donna la main a la princesse pour luy aider a monter cet escalier qui est assez difficile mais luy et nous fusmes bien estonnez quand nous fusmes arrivez tout au haut de cette derniere tour de trouver que le roy d'assirie sans suite et sans avoir personne aveque luy que le capitaine de ses gardes estoit alle pour consulter cette femme car certainement si la princesse eust sceu qu'il y eust este elle n'y fust pas allee ce jour la comme il ne faisoit que d'entrer dans ce petit temple et qu'il n'avoit pas encore parle a la prestresse il creut que ce cas fortuit avoit quelque chose d'avantageux pour luy et 
 ne laissa pas de continuer le dessein qu'il avoit eu de s'informer de ce qu'il devoit attendre de sa passion mais devant que de parler a celle qui l'en devoit instruire il s'aprocha de la princesse et luy dit fort civilement vous venez sans doute madame soliciter contre le roy d'assirie mais auparavant que les prieres d'une personne si vertueuse ayent irrite contre luy le dieu qu'on adore icy vous souffrirez s'il vous plaist qu'il le consulte et qu'en vostre presence il scache ses intentions la princesse qui croyoit ne pouvoir rien attendre du ciel qui ne luy fust avantageux veu l'innocence de sa vie et la droiture de ses sentimens luy dit qu'elle se resjouissoit de voir en luy cette marque de piete et consentit a ce qu'il voulut nous entrasmes donc dans le petit lieu destine pour les oracles ou cette femme qui est fort belle et vestue d'une facon assez magnifique quoy que fort particuliere luy demanda de la mesme maniere que s'il eust este le moindre de ses sujets ce qu'il demandoit et ce qu'il vouloit scavoir je veux luy dit il avec beaucoup de soumission que vous suppliez le dieu qui vous revele les secrets des hommes de vouloir m'aprendre par vostre bouche si la princesse mandane sera eternellement inhumaine et si je ne dois jamais trouver de fin aux maux que j'endure a cets mots cette femme ouvrit une grande grille d'or qui est au chevet de son lit et s'estant mise a genoux sur des quarreaux qui estoient devant elle fut un assez long-temps 
 la teste avancee dans l'emboucheure d'une petite voute obscure qui est au dela de cette grille et que l'on a pratiquee dans l'espaisseur de la muraille en suitte dequoy saisie et possedee de l'esprit divin qui l'agitoit les longues tresses de ses cheveux se desnouerent d'elles mesmes et s'esparpillerent sur ses espaules et se levant et se tournant vers le roy d'assirie le visage tout change les yeux plus brillans qu'a l'ordinaire le teint plus vermeil et le son de la voix de beaucoup plus esclatant elle prononca distinctement ces paroles
 
 
 oracle 
 
 
 il l'est permis d'esperer 
 
 
 de la faire souspirer 
 
 
 malgre sa haine 
 
 
 car un jour entre ses bras 
 
 
 tu rencontreras 
 
 
 la fin de ta peine je vous laisse a penser chrisante qu'elle joye fut celle du roy d'assirie quelle douleur fut celle de mandane quel desespoir fut celuy de mazare quoy qu'il n'osast le tesmoigner et quelle surprise fut la mienne en verite je ne scaurois vous exprimer la chose telle qu'elle fut car nous scavions presque de certitude qu'il ne pouvoit y avoir de fourbe en cet oracle puis qu'outre que le roy n'avoit pas pu deviner que la princesse iroit en ce lieu la il est encore certain 
 qui cette femme estoit en une reputation d'un saintete admirable ce qui ne permettoit pas de la pouvoir soubconner d'aucun artifice aussi estoit-ce par cette reputation que la princesse avoit eu la curiosite de la voir mais dieux que cette curiosite luy cousta de larmes elle sortit de ce temple un moment apres sans vouloir parler a cette femme comme elle en avoit eu l'intention et s'en retourna au palais avec une melancolie estrange le roy d'assirie l'y accompagna et ne fut pas plustost dans sa chambre que la regardant avec beaucoup de marques de satisfaction sur le visage et bien madame luy dit il tiendrez vous mesme contre les dieux les dieux luy respondit elle ne sont pas injustes et c'est toute mon esperance ils ne sont pas injustes luy dit il je l'advoue mais advouez aussi qu'ils ne peuvent estre menteurs je le scay bien luy repliqua t'elle mais je scay aussi qu'ils sont incomprehensibles et qu'il y a beaucoup de temerite aux hommes de penser entendre parfaitement leur langage ils se sont expliquez si clairement reprit il que je ne puis plus douter de ma bonne fortune ils se sont expliquez si injustement en aparence respondit elle que je ne puis croire de les avoir bien entendus mais enfin seigneur adjousta la princesse qui vouloit estre seule pour se plaindre en liberte de ce nouveau malheur si les dieux doivent changer mon ame laissez leur en tout le soing et ne vous en meslez plus ils sont assez puissans pour le faire s'ils le 
 veulent et laissez moy du moins quelque repos cruelle personne luy dit il en la quittant vous resistez au ciel comme a la terre mais apres tout c'est a moy a vous obeir et a ne vous resister pas comme il fut party mazare qui nous avoit quittez en sortant du temple arriva mais si triste que je m'estonne que nous ne soubconnasmes quelque chose de la verite cependant nous n'en eusmes pas la moindre pensee il est vray qu'il deguisa sa melancolie du pretexte de celle qu'il voyoit sur le visage de la princesse qui en effet n'estoit pas mediocre vous estes bien genereux luy dit elle de ne partager pas la joye du roy d'assirie ou du moins de me cacher vos sentimens en cette occasion je vous proteste madame luy respondit il que vous ne me devez point avoir d'obligation de ce que je sens plus vostre tristesse que je ne sens la joye du roy puis qu'a dire la verite mon coeur agit fans consulter ma raison et que je ne fais que ce que je ne puis m'empescher de faire en effet orsane m'a dit depuis qu'il ne fut pas moins touche de cet oracle que la princesse comme cette conversation n'estoit pas fort reguliere tantost mandane resvoit tantost mazare s'entretenoit aussi sans parler et le mesme orsane m'a dit que repassant en secret l'estat present de sa fortune il ne pouvoit assez deplorer son malheur helas disoit il en luy mesme que puis-je esperer si mandane parle elle parle d'une facon qu'il y a lieu de croire qu'artamene sera tousjours heureux puis qu'il sera 
 tousjours aime et si j'escoute l'oracle le roy d'assirie doit un jour estre content et artamene ne doit pas estre moins infortune que mazare mais pendant que ce prince s'entretenoit de cette sorte la princesse revenant tout d'un coup de sa resverie quoy dit elle je pourrois croire que mon coeur changeroit de sentimens et que mandane pourroit se resoudre de faire toute la felicite d'un prince qui cause toutes ses infortunes eh le moyen que je puisse comprendre cela il faut donc si ce prodige doit arriver que le roy mon pere meure qu'artamene ne soit plus et que je perde la raison car a moins que de tout cela je ne comprendray pas aisement que mandane puisse jamais estre reine d'assirie comme il faudroit qu'elle la fust pour faire que l'oracle peust estre explique comme le roy d'assirie l'explique je n'aurois jamais fait chrisante si je vous redisois toute la conversation de la princesse de mazare et de moy le lendemain le roy fit faire un magnifique sacrifice pour remercier les dieux de l'oracle qu'il avoit receu mais admirez je vous prie le bizarre destin des choses ce que ce prince fit pour remercier les dieux irrita le peuple qui commenca de dire qu'il faloit plustost faire des sacrifices pour les appaiser que pour leur rendre grace que la guerre que l'on faisoit estoit injuste que la princesse mandane avoit raison que les babiloniens la devoient rendre au roy son pere enfin apres avoir commence de raisonner 
 sur les actions du prince ils en murmurerent du simple murmure ils passerent a l'insolence de l'insolence a la sedition et presque a la revolte declaree cependant l'hyver augmentoit et la canpagne estoit toute couverte de neige cela n'empeschoit pourtant pas les assiegeans de continuer d'attaquer la ville et elle estoit tellement pressee que malgre sa prodigieuse grandeur il n'y entroit presque plus de vivres neantmoins l'oracle consoloit le roy d'assirie de toutes choses mais il se trouva pourtant estrangement embarrasse peu de jours apres car la faim commencant de presser le peuple acheva de luy faire perdre le respect qu'il devoit a son prince quelque injuste qu'il peust estre et en une nuit cette grande ville se trouva avoir beaucoup plus d'hommes en armes dans l'enceinte de ses murailles qu'il n'y en avoit au dehors quoy que l'armee du roy des medes fust comme vous le scavez devenue prodigieusement forte par la deffaite du roy d'assirie a cause des princes qui avoient quitte son party et qui s'estoient rengez de celuy de ciaxare jamais il ne s'est entendu parler d'une pareille confusion a celle de babilone les uns prenoient les armes afin de faire en sorte que le roy d'assirie rendist la princesse au roy des medes les autres la vouloient avoir entre leurs mains pour faire une paix avantageuse quelques uns mesme privez non seulement de toute raison mais de toute humanite parloient de la sacrifier les 
 autres au contraire soustenoient qu'il luy faloit eslever des autels veu sa vertu et sa constance et qu'il ne faloit qu'aller prendre dequoy subsister chez ceux qui en avoient trop les autres sans autre pretexte soustenoient qu'il faloit seulement prendre les armes pour secouer le joug de la royaute et pour se rendre libres puis que la fortune leur en fournissoit une occasion favorable enfin ils dirent tant de choses insolentes et criminelles que je suis persuadee qu'ils contribuerent autant a la prise de leur ville par leur revolte que la force de l'armee de ciaxare y contribua ou pour mieux dire encore je croy que les dieux ayant voulu en un mesme jour proteger l'innocence de la princesse et punir leur rebellion se servirent d'eux mesmes pour cela et les aveuglerent pour les perdre et en effet quoy qu'il semblast que la fureur de ce peuple fust avantageuse a la princesse veu l'estat ou estoient les choses neantmoins au lieu des en resjouir elle s'en affligea estant certain qu'il n'est rien de plus horrible ny rien qui s'attaque plus directement a la souveraine authorite des dieux que cette espece de crime qui s'attaque a la souveraine puissance des rois qui sont leur image cependant comme le roy d'assirie est un prince de grand coeur et que mazare n'en avoit pas moins pour le seconder il ne desesperoit pas d'appaiser ce desordre et se resoluoit de prendre la seule voye par laquelle l'insolence populaire peut estre remise a la raison qui est celle de 
 l'exemple et du chastiment des plus mutins et des plus superbes mais comme la chose ne se pouvoit pas faire sans quelque danger parce que si les assiegeans faisoient une attaque dans le mesme moment que le peuple seroit le plus esmeu il seroit a craindre de succomber le roy d'assirie aprehendoit un peu de ne pouvoir sauver la princesse principalement la nuit qui estoit le temps ou les assiegeans donnoient le plus souvent des alarmes et le temps aussi ou le peuple entreprenoit le plus de choses parce que dans l'oscurite l'on ne pouvoit connoistre ceux qui agissoient avec violence en ces occasions tumultueuses il consulta donc avec mazare la dessus qui luy dit qu'il y avoit tousjours beaucoup de prudence a ceux qui se resoluent a ne fuir point de scavoir du moins comment ils ne pourroient faire si la necessite le vouloit et que l'envie leur en prist vous avez raison luy dit le roy d'assirie car apres tout et babilone et la couronne ne me sont rien en comparaison de mandane joint qu'en cette occasion si je perdois mandane je serois expose a perdre le sceptre aussi bien qu'elle n'estant pas a croire que le peuple en demeurast la ny que l'on peust m'oster la princesse sans m'oster la vie la difficulte estoit de trouver les moyens d'echaper et de sortir de babilone si l'on y estoit contraint car pour un lieu de retraite il n'en estoit pas en peine aribee comme vous scavez tenant la moitie de la capadoce 
 et estant alors dans pterie il ne pouvoit pas choisir un meilleur azile ce traitre avoit mesme eu l'adresse de faire croire a ces peuples que la princesse n'avoit pas d'aversion a un mariage si avantageux et que ce n'estoit que le roy son pere qu'elle craignoit qui la faisoit agir comme on la voyoit agir mais pour aller a pterie il faloit sortir de babilone et c'estoit la difficulte y ayant beaucoup d'obstacles a surmonter dehors et de dans cependant mazare avoit l'ame bien en peine et durant que le roy d'assirie pensoit qu'il resvast seulement a trouver l'invention qu'il cherchoit son esprit estoit estrangement partage comme il estoit bon et genereux il avoit beaucoup de difficulte a se resoudre de contribuer aux malheurs de la princesse mais comme il estoit passionnement amoureux d'elle il luy estoit encore plus difficile de consentir qu'elle tombast en la puissance d'artamene et il aimoit beaucoup mieux pour son interest particulier qu'elle fust entre les mains d'un amant hai qu'en celles d'un amant aime ce n'est pas que l'oracle ne l'espouvantast mais l'aversion de la princesse le r'asseuroit et enfin il voyoit le danger plus proche et plus infaillible du coste d'artamene que de celuy du roy d'assirie un sentiment jaloux s'estant donc empare de son coeur il s'apliqua fortement a chercher l'invention que le roy d'assirie demandoit et il s'y apliqua mesme avec succes quoy que ce ne fust pas une chose aisee a trouver que les 
 moyens de pouvoir sortir de babilone sans estre aperceu mais chrisante je suis persuadee qu'il n'est rien de si difficile dont l'amour et la jalousie jointes ensemble ne viennent a bout ce prince dit donc au roy d'assirie qu'il ne se mist pas en peine et que pourveu qu'il commandast aux femmes qui servoient la princesse de ne luy donner le lendemain au matin et tous les jours suivans qu'un habillement blanc selon l'usage des dames assiriennes ou l'on ne l'avoit point encore voulue assujettir il pourroit entreprendre ce qu'il luy plairoit mais qu'il faloit que cela se fist avec adresse et que l'on nous en donnast aussi a arianite et a moy le roy d'assirie le pressant alors de luy expliquer la chose mazare luy assura qu'elle estoit presque infaillible et en effet il la luy dit et luy fit advouer qu'elle estoit fort ingenieuse cependant le roy d'assirie ne manqua pas a l'instant mesme de donner les ordres necessaires pour cela de sorte que le lendemain au matin arianite et moy fusmes bien surprises de voir que l'on nous avoit oste nos habillemens et que l'on nous en avoit mis de blancs a leur place comme les femmes de qualite de la cour d'assirie en portent j'en demanday la raison et l'on me dit que le roy le vouloit ainsi parce qu'en cas que la sedition augmentast il nous seroit plus aise de mettre la princesse en seurete dans un temple et de passer pour assiriennes comme mandane n'estoit pas encore eveillee 
 nous nous habillasmes arianite et moy sans faire de resistance croyant en effet que cela serviroit a sa conservation mais comme elle eut apelle ses femmes et que voulant l'habiller elle vit qu'on luy presentoit une robe blanche a l'assirienne quelque magnifique qu'elle fust elle y eut une aversion si estrange que je suis persuadee que les dieux l'advertissoient de son malheur enfin elle fit beaucoup de difficulte de la prendre mais celles qui la servoient luy ayant dit les larmes aux yeux qu'il n'estoit pas en leur pouvoir de luy en donner une autre elle se laissa habiller et dit en soupirant que le changement d'habits n'en aporteroit point en son coeur je voulus luy faire comprendre la raison que l'on m'avoit donnee mais elle n'en fut pas satisfaite et ne put se consoler de cette nouvelle espece de contrainte cependant le roy d'assirie et mazare estant fort resolus a punir le peuple ne songeoient qu'a donner les ordres necessaires pour cela et si les babiloniens estoient en armes tous les gens de guerre y estoient aussi le roy en sa propre personne suivy de tout ce qu'il y avoit de princes et de grands dans sa cour estoit prest d'aller aprendre au peuple quel est le respect qu'il doit a ses princes legitimes lots qu'un espion qu'il avoit dans l'armee de ciaxare vint luy donner advis tout effraye que dans trois ou quatre heures au plus tard a l'entree de la nuit il verroit tout d'un coup tarir l'euphrate et entrer quarante 
 mille hommes par les deux bouts de la ville d'abord le roy d'assirie n'en voulut rien croire mais l'autre luy marqua si precisement l'endroit ou il disoit qu'artamene avoit fait creuser deux grandes tranchees pour destourner le fleuve quand il seroit temps qu'il fut contraint d'adjouster foy a ses paroles joint que ce qui estoit desja arrive au fleuve du ginde luy rendoit la chose plus vray-semblable cet espion luy dit encore que sans la neige qui avoit un peu empesche les pionniers la chose auroit desja este executee mais quoy qu'il la circonstantiast fort le roy d'assirie fut toutefois avec mazare sur la plus haute des tours du temple de jupiter belus pour mieux descouvrir de la les travaux de ses ennemis et comme ils y furent cet espion luy fit remarquer quoy que de fort loing la terre que l'on avoit eslevee tant pour se couvrir de peur d'estre aperceus que pour creuser les tranchees qui devoient destourner le fleuve imaginez vous donc sage chrisante en quel estat estoit alors ce prince il voyoit de ce lieu esleve toute une grande ville en armes contre luy il voyoit qu'il alloit estre attaque d'une maniere que quand tout ce peuple l'eust seconde il eust encore bien eu de la peine a resister a ses ennemis car comme l'euphrate est fort large il jugeoit bien qu'ils entreroient par les deux bouts de la ville avec des bataillons tous formez et que l'on auroit pas le temps de faire des retranchemens pour 
 les en empescher mais la chose n'estoit pas seulement en ces termes car il n'ignoroit pas que des que ses ennemis paroistroient le peuple tascheroit de prendre la princesse afin de faire sa composition avec ciaxare et que se trouvant alors dans la necessite de deffendre le palais ou elle estoit contre ce peuple et de repousser le roy des medes tout ensemble il luy seroit impossible de le pouvoir faire enfin desespere de pouvoir conserver babilone et la princesse il ne balanca point entre les deux et l'amour l'emportant sur toute autre consideration il ne songea plus qu'a executer le dessein qu'il avoit fait avec mazare il descendit donc en diligence de cette tour et fit semblant de vouloir appaiser le peuple par la douceur luy faisant esperer quelque accommodement afin de gagner temps pendant quoy mazare agissoit et donnoit ordre que tout fust prest pour executer leur entre prise a l'entree de la nuit s'il en estoit besoing le roy d'assirie voulut pourtant ne songer pas a partir que l'on eust veu effectivement que ses ennemis avoient fait reussir la leur et d'autant moins qu'il s'imagina comme il estoit vray qu'artamene ne doutant point du tout qu'il n'emportast la ville par ces deux endroits ou il la devoit attaquer tout le reste seroit moins garde qu'a l'ordinaire parce que tout l'effort se seroit en ces deux attaques seulement les choses estoient en cet estat sans que nous en sceussions rien mais tout d'un coup nous entendismes 
 un bruit espouvantable et le fleuve ayant tary en un moment et les assiegeans estant entrez ce fut un desordre et une confusion horrible je ne vous la raconteray pourtant pas car outre que la guerre est une chose dont je n'aime guere a parler je m'imagine encore que vous y estiez joint qu'en mon particulier je n'en scay autre chose sinon que de ma vie je n'ay rien entendu de plus estonnant que le bruit que faisoient tant de gens effrayez comme il y en avoit dans les rues de babilone cependant nous estions en une inquietude estrange car encore que la princesse imaginast bien que peut estre c'estoit artamene qui venoit la delivrer neantmoins le peril ou elle pensoit qu'il estoit luy donnoit beaucoup d'aprehension pour luy car pour le roy son pere elle jugeoit bien qu'il ne seroit pas en personne a une semblable occasion
 
 
 
 
comme nous estions donc entre l'esperance et la crainte nous vismes entrer le roy d'assirie le prince mazare qui estoit adroit n'ayant point voulu avoir cet employ et estant demeure dans les jardins du palais avec ceux qui nous devoient servir d'escorte le roy donc entrant tout furieux madame dit il a la princesse afin qu'elle ne fist point de resistance le peuple de babilone est le plus fort et comme il vous croit la cause de la guerre il vous veut avoir en sa puissance c'est pourquoy il saut vous mettre en lieu de seurete seigneur luy dit elle m'estant mise en la garde des dieux 
 je dois attendre ce qu'il leur plaira ordonner de moy et vous me ferez plaisir de me laisser sous leur conduitte mais enfin voyant entrer quatre ou cinq hommes armez jugeant bien qu'elle n'estoit pas en estat de resister et ne scachant pas en effet si ce que le roy d'assirie disoit n'estoit point vray elle marcha et nous la suivismes arianite et moy elle demanda pourtant ou estoit le prince mazare et luy ayant este respondu qu'elle le verroit bien tost elle fut ou on la conduisoit sans y apporter d'obstacle nous fusmes donc menees dans les jardins du palais ou effectivement mazare nous attendoit mandane ne le vit pas plustost que quittant la main du roy d'assirie elle luy presenta la sienne luy semblant qu'elle n'avoit plus rien a craindre puis qu'il estoit aupres d'elle cependant l'on nous mena a une porte de derriere qui touche presque une de celles de la ville que les troupes de mazare gardoient et qui estoient adverties de ce que l'on vouloit faire comme nous fusmes prests a sortir de ces jardins du palais qui sont d'une grandeur prodigieuse nous vismes a la faveur d'un flambeau que nous avions que le roy d'assirie le prince mazare et dix hommes qui devoient estre de la partie prirent de grandes casaques blanches qui les cachoient entierement et qu'ils ce couvrirent mesme la teste de blanc cette avanture commenca de nous faire soubconner que les habillemens que l'on nous avoit baillez 
 estoient destinez a mesme usage que ceux de ces princes et de ces hommes qui les accompagnoient sans pouvoir pourtant imaginer a quoy cela pouvoit estre propre et suite l'on amena douze chevaux blancs dont les selles et les brides l'estoient aussi sur l'un desquels le roy d'assirie estant monte il voulut qu'on luy donnait la princesse mais elle ne le voulut pas et dans la necessite de marcher elle choisit plustost mazare elle fit pourtant encore difficulte d'obeir toutefois le bruit redoubloit de telle sorte quoy que nous fussions assez loing des endroits par ou l'on attaquoit la ville que la crainte de tomber en la puissance d'un peuple insolent fit qu'enfin elle souffrit que mazare eust le soing de sa conduite deux hommes de qualite d'entre les dix qui accompagnoient ces princes nous prirent arianite et moy et le flambeau ayant este esteint la porte des jardins estant ouverte nous marchasmes droit a celle de la ville qui comme je l'ay desja dit estoit tout contre la le roy d'assirie et mazare commanderent tout bas a un capitaine qui estoit a cette porte d'aller en diligence advertir tous les princes et tous les gens de guerre qu'ils ne songeassent plus a rendre de combat puis que la ville estoit perdue et que chacun se servant de l'obscurite de la nuit taschast de se sauver comme eux et de se servir de la commodite de cette porte nous ne fusmes pas a douze pas des murailles que le roy d'assirie qui alloit un peu 
 devant se mit a marcher lentement de peur que les pieds des chevaux ne fissent du bruit craignant bien plus les oreilles que les yeux de ceux que nous pourrions rencontrer car chrisante ce qui rendoit cette entreprise fort ingenieuse c'est que le prince mazare ayant considere que toute la campagne estoit couverte de neige et qu'a cause d'un grand marais qui la borde du coste que nous sortismes il avoit este impossible a artamene d'en faire la circonvalation parfaite il jugea qu'infailliblement il seroit aise de pouvoir passer entre deux corps de garde sans estre aperceus car comme le blanc ne se distingue point la nuit sur la neige et qu'au contraire tout ce qui n'est point blanc y paroist de loing encore mesme que la lune n'esclaire pas par cette invention les chevaux blancs sur lesquels nous estions et les habillemens blancs que nous avions nous rendoient invisibles s'il est permis de parler ainsi a ceux que nous rencontrions ou au contraire ceux qui nous rencontroient ne nous pouvoient surprendre parce que n'estant pas habillez de blanc comme nous estions nous les apercevions de fort loing et les pouvions esviter il n'y avoit donc que le hennissement et le bruit des pieds des chevaux que le roy d'assirie aprehendast pour le premier il avoit falu remettre la chose a la fortune mais pour le bruit le roy d'assirie fut fort aise de remarquer que la neige n'avoit qu'autant de fermete qu'il en faloit pour ne fondre point et qu'elle n'en 
 avoit pas assez pour faire du bruit tant s'en faut comme il y en avoit fort espais l'on en faisoit beaucoup moins que s'il n'y eust pas eu de neige le roy d'assirie ayant remarque cela marcha donc un peu plus viste et en peu de temps nous descouvrismes la garde avancee de l'armee de ciaxare qui estoit de ce coste la de vous dire chrisante ce que pensoit la princesse de se voir en cet equipage de se voir hors de babilone et de se trouver a l'heure qu'il estoit et par le temps qu'il faisoit a cheval avec des hommes habillez de blanc et marchant dans un fort grand silence il faudroit vous dire bien des choses d'abord elle eut quelque joye de se voir eschapee de la fureur d'un peuple assez insolent pour s'estre mutine contre son prince de plus elle pensoit encore qu'en quelque lieu qu'on la menast il seroit incomparablement plus aise a artamene de la retirer de la puissance du roy d'assirie que dans babilone qu'elle croyoit presque imprenable ainsi pensant faire la chose du monde la plus avantageuse pour artamene et pour sa liberte elle se laissoit conduire sans resistance et sans penser a rien qu'aux moyens d'advertir promptement artamene qu'elle n'estoit plus dans babilone mais elle n'eut pas plustost aperceu de loing la garde avancee dont je vous ay desja parle qu'elle changea de sentimens et se voyant si pres d'un secours presque assure si elle crioit elle ne put retenir le premier mouvement qu'elle en eut toutefois s'imaginant qu'elle seroit perir 
 le prince mazare aussi bien que le roy d'assirie elle creut qu'elle ne devoit pas le surprendre et qu'elle devoit plustost le gagner mais pendant qu'elle agitoit la chose en elle mesme le roy d'assirie ayant pris plus a gauche passa heureusement cet endroit et esvita ce premier peril neantmoins comme la princesse jugea bien que nous rencontrerions encore d'autres troupes elle adressa la parole au prince mazare qui d'abord la supplia de ne parler point genereux prince luy dit elle malgre la priere qu'il luy avoit faite et parlant assez bas de peur que le roy d'assirie ne l'entendist s'il est vray que vous ayez une veritable compassion de mes malheurs souffrez que la premiere fois que nous rencontrerons des troupes du roy mon pere je les apelle a mon secours et promettez moy que vous ne vous opposerez point a l'effort qu'elles seront pour me delivrer et que par consequent vous n'exposerez point vostre vie qui m'est infiniment chere vous jugez bien dit elle que j'eusse pu le faire sans vous en parler mais vous ayant les obligations que je vous ay je croy que les dieux me puniroient si j'estois cause de vostre mort madame luy dit il encore plus bas qu'elle n'avoit parle les dieux scavent si je souhaiterois que vous fussiez contente mais madame je ne vous ay promis que d'empescher le roy d'entre prendre rien contre le respect qu'il vous doit et je vous l'ay promis sans scrupule parce que c'est le servir luy mesme que de l'empescher de faire 
 un crime et de ce coste la madame je vous promets encore une fois que tant que je seray vivant vous ne souffrirez nulle violence de luy mais madame pourrois-je avec honneur le trahir de cette sorte le faire tuer et vous remettre entre les mains de ton ennemy toutefois madame si vous le voulez vous le pouvez faire mais je vous proteste devant les dieux qui m'escoutent que quand j'eschaperois a la fureur des vostres je me passerois mon espee au travers du coeur afin de ne me reprocher pas a moy mesme une action que sans doute vous n'avez pas consideree avant que de m'en soliciter de plus madame peut-estre comme il est nuit qu'en me voulant fraper l'on vous fraperoit et que voulant recouvrer la liberte vous trouveriez la mort au nom des dieux madame ne vous exposez pas a un danger dont je ne pourrois peutestre vous garantir la princesse estoit si troublee et mazare luy parloit d'une maniere si touchante qu'elle ne scavoit a quoy se resoudre tantost elle estoit resolue de crier tantost la pitie que luy faisoit mazare la retenoit puis tout d'un coup formant la resolution d'apeller ceux qu'elle rencontreroit les premiers elle trouvoit qu'elle n'en avoit pas la force et qu'elle deliberoit sur une chose qui luy estoit impossible pour moy je scay bien qu'il n'eust pas este en ma puissance de prononcer une parole et de l'heure que je parle chrisante quand je me souvuies de l'estat ou nous estions l'en fremis encore d'estonnement et de frayeur car 
 car enfin nous entre-voiyons dans la campagne des tentes de sentinelles des corps de gardes des gens qui marchoient et d'autres qui estoient arrestez cependant le roy d'assirie qui estoit le guide prenoit tantost a droit tantost a gauche et esvitoit avec beaucoup d'adresse tout ce que la blancheur de la neige luy faisoit descouvrir mais chrisante pour sortir promptement d'un lieu qui me donna tant de peine je vous diray qu'apres avoir esvite cent et cent fois de rencontrer des troupes de ciaxare comme nous n'estions plus qu'a deux stades d'un bois dans lequel le roy d'assirie n'auroit plus rien eu a craindre parce qu'il est fort espais et qu'il en scavoit tous les destours y ayant este souvent a la chasse le cheval sur lequel estoient mazare et la princesse se mit a hennir avec violence justement a quarante pas d'un lieu ou il y avoit une compagnie d'archers a cheval logez qui ayant eu ordre de s'aprocher de babilone quittoient leur quartier pour y aller en diligence quelques uns de ces archers qui estoient desja a cheval ayant entendu ce hennissement d'un coste ou ils scavoient qu'il ne devoit y avoir personne des leurs prirent l'allarme et s'avancerent vers l'endroit ou ils avoient entendu ce bruit mais ne voyant rien ils s'en seroient retournez n'eust este qu'un autre cheval de nostre troupe comme il est assez ordinaire ayant fait la mesme chose que le premier les fit resoudre a s'avancer davantage cependant le roy d'assirie qui 
 nous conduisoit hasta le pas et nous fit aller beaucoup plus ville de sorte que quelquefois nous voiyons ces gens venir droit a nous et d'autres fois s'en esloigner pour eux je pense qu'ils estoient bien faschez d'ouir des chevaux et de ne voir rien mais a la fin estant desesperez d'entendre tousjours de temps en temps tantost d'un coste tantost de l'autre parce que nous changions nostre route des chevaux qu'ils ne voyoient pas ils se mirent a tirer leurs arcs au hazard qui conduisit quelques unes de leurs fleches si juste que mazare fut legerement blesse d'un coup de traict a l'espaule et un autre passa si pres de la teste de mandane que l'exces de la peur qu'elle en eut luy fit recouvrer l'usage de la voix pour crier sans qu'elle en eust l'intention cette voix ayant encore este entendue par ceux qui avoient tire ils galopperent droit ou ils creurent l'avoir ouie cependant le roy d'assirie changea de place et au lieu de marcher devant il marcha derriere et commanda d'aller fort viste mais enfin comme nous n'estions plus qu'a trente pas du bois il fut joint par ceux qui nous suivoient et fut contraint de faire ferme avec les huit qui ne menoient point de femmes jusques a tant qu'il jugea que nous estions dans le bois et lors qu'il creut que cela estoit poussant a toute bride avec les siens il disparut aux yeux de ceux qu'il avoit combatus qui creurent sans doute qu'il y avoit de l'enchantement en cette rencontre nous sceusmes 
 a son retour qu'ils avoient veu tomber deux de ceux qui l'avoient attaque et qu'il y en avoit aussi un de sa troupe un peu blesse comme le bois estoit obscur la mesme blancheur de nos habits et de nos chevaux qui nous avoit rendus invisibles parmy la plaine servit au roy d'assirie a nous descouvrir et a nous pouvoir rejoindre enfin chrisante estant donc arrivez dans ce bois comme je l'ay dit le roy d'assirie nous mena a une petite habitation ou de pauvres gens passent leur vie a tirer d'une espece de terre qui sert a faire ce merveilleux ciment dont les murailles de babilone sont bastiez et la pointe du jour commencant alors de paroistre l'on nous descendit de cheval et nous passasmes toute la journee en cette cabane ou la lassitude nous fit trouver beaucoup plus de repos que la commodite du lieu ne sembloit le permettre mais chrisante pour ne vous tenir pas plus long temps a vous raconter des choses de peu de consideration nous marchasmes encore la nuit prochaine avec assez de fatigue jusque a une petite ville que vostre armee n'avoit pas prise n'ayant pas encore este de ce coste la toutefois comme elle n'estoit pas assez forte pour la deffendre si vous y fussiez venus le roy d'assirie y fit seulement prendre un chariot ou la princesse fut mise et ou arianite et moy eusmes place les princes marchant a cheval pour nous escorter mais sans vous particulariser le chemin que nous tinmes nous arrivasmes 
 en capadoce et peu apres a pterie d'abord la princesse eut quelque joye de s'y revoir neantmoins peu de temps en suite elle s'y trouva beaucoup plus malheureuse qu'elle n'avoit creu et la pensee de se voir captive dans un lieu ou elle avoit este si long temps libre et absolue luy fut un redoublement de douleur estrange de plus la cruelle imagination qu'aribee estoit devenu maistre des sujets du roy son pere luy estoit encore une peine extreme mais le plus facheux de tout ce qui la tourmentoit c'est qu'apres tout elle estoit tousjours en la puissance du roy d'assirie et qu'elle ne pouvoit faire scavoir a artamene le lieu ou elle estoit pendant tout cela mazare estoit tousjours civil obligeant et amoureux et le roy d'assirie tousjours egalement maltraitte a quelques jours de la ayant apris la prise de babilone avec plus de certitude quoy qu'il n'en eust guere doute il consulta aribee sur ce qu'il avoit a faire mais ayant sceu apres la marche de l'armee de ciaxare vers la capadoce l'on nous amena icy a cause de la commodite de la mer que le roy d'assirie jugea qui pourroit tousjours l'empescher de voir retomber la princesse en la puissance d'artamene aribee et luy faisoient ce qu'ils pouvoient pour assembler des troupes mettant le rendez-vous de leurs levees a pterie afin de tascher de ne descouvrir pas qu'ils fussent a sinope mais bientost apres ils furent advertis que vostre armee s'approchoit et qu'il 
 estoit impossible que leurs troupes fussent assez tost prestes pour donner une seconde bataille ce fut lors que le roy d'assirie se trouva en un estrange desespoir il parla diverses fois a la princesse et luy parla mesme avec un peu plus de violence qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors neantmoins toit qu'il fust soumis ou furieux il ne put jamais obliger mandane a luy dire une parole favorable cependant il appella un jour mazare et apres luy avoir bien represente le malheureux estat ou il se trouvoit enfin luy dit il j'en suis arrive aux termes qu'il ne me reste presque plus nulle autre douceur a esperer en la vie que celle de tascher de rendre artamene aussi infortune que moy quoy que ce soit d'une maniere differente l'oracle me fait esperer mais mandane me desespere et la fortune qui se plaist a renverser tous mes desseins me reduit en une extremite qui vient a bout de toute ma patience et de toute ma raison ce que je veux donc faire poursuivit ce prince desespere c'est de tenir ce qu'il y a de galeres et de vaisseaux dans ce port en estat de les mettre en mer afin que des que je verray paroistre l'armee de ciaxare a laquelle je ne scaurois resister je m'embarque avec la princesse et aribee et l'enleve a la veue mesme d'artamene mais que deviendrez vous luy respondit mazare fort afflige je n'en scay rien repliqua le roy d'assirie mais apres tout si tous les princes mes alliez me refusent un azile dans leurs estats je feray plustost pyrate que de 
 rendre jamais la princesse a artamene ouy mazare je periray mille fois plustost et si je me voyois poursuivy en mer par artamene ce qu'il ne scauroit faire presentement n'ayant point de vaisseaux pour cela je briserois plustost celuy ou je serois contre un escueil que de me laisser prendre et de luy redonner la princesse aussi bien faut il que je ne m'esloigne pas de mandane et que j'attende aupres d'elle ce que l'oracle m'a promis pour vous luy dit il mon cher mazare il n'est pas juste que vous vous engagiez davantage dans mon malheur et quand vous le voudriez je ne le souffrirois pas ainsi retirez vous aupres du roy vostre pere et taschez d'estre plus heureux que je ne le suis mazare se trouva alors fort embarrasse il ne pouvoit se resoudre de laisser aller la princesse seule avec le roy d'assirie cependant il voyoit bien veu la maniere dont il luy avoit parle qu'il ne souffriroit pas qu'il l'accompagnast plus longtemps il s'y offrit toutefois mais plus il pressa pour cela et plus l'autre s'obstina a ne le souffrir pas de plus il voyoit que la princesse alloit estre la plus malheureuse personne du monde de sorte que soit qu'il n'escoutast que la pitie ou qu'il escoutast sa passion il estoit infiniment a pleindre enfin emporte par des sentimens que luy mesme ne connoissoit point il vint trouver la princesse et luy descouvrit ingenument le dessein du roy d'assirie je vous laisse a juger en quelle douleur et en quel desespoir elle entra principalement 
 quand il luy dit qu'il ne vouloit absolument point qu'il l'accompagnast ha mazare luy dit elle je mourray si vous m'abandonnez et il n'est point de resolution si violente que je ne sois capable de prendre si je demeure sans protection aupres du roy d'assirie au nom des dieux luy dit elle laissez vous enfin persuader qu'il n'obtiendra jamais nulle part en mon affection et que par consequent vous ne luy rendrez aucun mauvais office quand vous vous laisserez flechir a mes larmes et a mes prieres et que vous songerez a ma liberte au nom des dieux encore une fois mazare imaginez vous un peu quel pitoyable destin sera celuy de la princesse mandane d'aller errer sur la mer avec un prince qu'elle hait et qu'elle haira toujours davantage et qui la fera resoudre a se jetter dans ses abismes des la premiere fois qu'il luy parlera de son injuste passion songez donc bien mazare a ce que vous avez a faire et croyez que les dieux vous demanderont conte de ma vie si vous estes cause de ma mort voulez vous luy disoit elle encore que je ne puisse jamais reconnoistre par aucun service toutes les obligations que je vous ay et que je meure la plus miserable personne du monde ha madame luy respondit mazare avec une melancolie estrange que les sentimens de mon coeur vous sont inconnus et que vous scavez peu ce que je voudrois faire pour vous je scay luy respondit elle que vous estes le plus 
 obligeant prince de la terre et que rien ne s'oppose a ce que je veux de vous qu'un scrupule de generosite mal fondee car enfin mazare je suis persuadee que vous avez de la compassion de mes maux et que mesme vous avez de l'amitie pour moy cependant me pouvant sauver vous me laissez perir et tout cela parce que vous craignez de faire une chose injuste mais scachez trop genereux prince que ce n'est pas estre injuste que d'empescher un autre de faire une horrible injustice en un mot chrisante la princesse dit tant de choses a mazare qu'elle l'obligea a luy demander deux jours a se resoudre mais dieux pendant cela que de cruelles agitations il eut dans son ame orsane m'a dit qu'il en pensa expirer tantost il vouloit estre fidelle au roy d'assirie malgre sa passion tantost il ne vouloit vaincre son amour qu'en faveur de mandane puis tout d'un coup ne pouvant se resoudre ny a l'une ny a l'autre de ces choses il ne songeoit plus qu'aux moyens qu'il pourroit tenir pour profiter des malheurs d'autruy enfin disoit il mandane a quelque estime et quelque amitie pour moy mais reprenoit il un moment apres elle n'aura plus ny estime ny amitie des qu'elle scaura que l'ay de l'amour pour elle toutefois adjoustoit il les sentimens de nostre coeur ne sont pas en nostre disposition et peut-estre que mandane me voudra hair sans le pouvoir faire de plus il y a une notable difference de l'estat 
 ou estoit le roy d'assirie aupres d'elle quand il l'enleva a celuy ou je suis dans son esprit elle avoit de l'aversion pour luy et elle a de l'amitie pour moy et je suis persuade que ce n'est pas estre en une disposition fort esloignee de recevoir quelque legere impression d'amour que d'avoir beaucoup de tendresse et beaucoup d'estime je scay bien pourtant apres tout qu'il y a plus d'apparence que je seray malheureux qu'il n'y en a d'esperer d'estre aime de mandane au prejudice d'artamene mais helas de quel autre coste puis-je trouver plus de repos et plus de douceur si je suis fidelle au roy d'assirie qu'il se mette en mer avec la princesse et que je l'abandonne je suis assure qu'elle me haira d'avoir eu l'inhumanite de l'exposer a un si grand suplice je suis assure de ne la voir plus et je suis assure de souffrir un tourment effroyable par la seule pensee de la scavoir en la puissance du roy d'assirie a qui les dieux ont donne une si grande esperance d'autre part si je me resous a trahir un prince de qui j'ay l'honneur d'estre parent de qui je suis vassal qui m'a choisi pour le confident de sa passion et que je remette la princesse entre les mains d'artamene en seray-je plus heureux j'auray fait un crime mais un crime qui me rendra le plus infortune des hommes n'estant rien de plus insuportable que de voir la personne que l'on aime en la puissance d'un rival aime ha non non mazare ne scauroit estre capable de choisir 
 en une occasion ou il voit de tous les costez le crime ou l'infortune s'il escoute la raison elle luy dira qu'il ne faut jamais trahir ceux qui se fient en nous s'il escoute sa passion elle luy dira au contraire qu'il ne faut jamais ceder ny abandonner la personne aimee et que tout ce que l'on fait pour la posseder est juste de toutes les deux facons dont j'envisage la chose je trahis le roy d'assirie ou la princesse et je me trahis moy mesme puis que je pers toujours ma reputation c'est pourquoy si nous avons a faire un crime faisons du moins un crime qui nous soit utile et qui nous empesche de mourir desesperez enfin chrisante ce prince amoureux malgre toute sa vertu se laissa de telle sorte emporter a la violence de son amour qu'il se resolut non seulement de trahir le roy d'assirie mais de tromper encore la princesse mandane ce qu'il y a de vray est que je ne pense pas que jamais personne se soit puny si severement soy mesme que mazare se punissoit par le remors continuel qu'il avoit dans l'ame car je ne vy de ma vie une melancolie egale a la sienne
 
 
 
 
toutefois apres s'estre fortement determine a ce qu'il vouloit faire il chercha les voyes de s'assurer d'une galere et les trouva facilement parce que dans l'intention qu'avoit le roy d'assirie de se servir de toutes les galeres et de tous les vaisseaux qui estoient dans le port de sinope il avoit desja commence d'oster une partie de ceux qui 
 avoient accoustume de les commander et d'y en mettre qui dependissent plus absolument de luy il y avoit donc encore un de ces capitaines qui scachant de certitude qu'on le traiteroit bientost comme les autres avoit l'esprit fort irrite et ce fut a celuy la que le prince mazare s'adressa et dans l'ame duquel il trouva toute la disposition necessaire pour le dessein qu'il avoit mazare estant donc assure de cette galere ne douta plus qu'il ne peust aisement enlever la princesse car il commandoit bien plus dans le chasteau que le roy d'assirie et comme ce chasteau est au bout du port il y a une porte comme vous scavez par laquelle il n'y avoit pas douze pas a faire pour entrer dans la galere de ce capitaine qui estoit de l'intelligence et cette galere s'estoit trouvee par hazard de ce coste la mais comme c'estoit un homme d'entreprise et accoustume a la guerre il dit a mazare que pour la seurete de son dessein et pour sa vangeance particuliere de luy et de tous ses compagnons il faloit donner ordre que l'on mist le feu aux galeres et aux vaisseaux qui devoient demeurer au port afin qu'on ne les peust suivre et que ces nouveaux capitaines ne jouissent pas long temps de leurs charges ou que du moins ils ne fussent pas en estat d'en faire les fonctions quoy que mazare vist que la chose estoit bien pensee et presque necessaire pour ce qu'il avoit resolu il y eut pourtant de la repugnance non pas a cause des galeres 
 et des vaisseaux ou aparamment peu de monde periroit mais par la crainte de l'embrazement de la ville toutefois ce capitaine pour l'y obliger prit la parole et luy dit seigneur quand sinope bruslera ce n'est qu'une ville rebelle qui merite le feu et le chastiment et pour le roy d'assirie qui vous tient en peine ce feu sera esteint devant qu'il puisse avoir gagne le chasteau enfin ce capitaine dit tant de choses que mazare y consentit et l'autre se chargea de l'execution de cette entreprise ce prince dans l'intention qu'il avoit de tascher de gagner le coeur de mandane fit dessein de la mener en bithinie ou il creut pouvoir trouver un lieu de seurete et en effet il ne pouvoit guere mieux choisir car il estoit parent d'arsamone et arsamone estoit ennemy du roy d'assirie a cause de la princesse istrine avec laquelle mazare avoit tousjours este bien du temps qu'elle estoit a babilone de plus il faisoit la guere a un autre amant de mandane qui estoit le roy de pont et artamene ayant oblige ciaxare a bailler des troupes a son ennemy il croyoit ne pouvoir pas choisir un azile plus assure en ce mesme temps il arriua a sinope un fameux pyrate que l'on dit estre homme de qualite et de grand coeur qui apres avoir este batu de la tempeste venoit faire racommoder ses vaiseaux le roy d'assirie le receut admirablement et dit au prince mazare qu'il estoit ravy de cette heureuse rencontre parce que des que les vaisseaux 
 du pyrate seroient en estat de se remettre a la voile il s'embarqueroit aveque luy suivy de sa flotte et se mettroit sous sa conduite a cause que c'estoit un homme que personne n'avoit jamais pu vaincre et qui scavoit mieux la mer qu'aucun autre mazare entendant la resolution du roy d'assirie hasta l'execution de la sienne et vint trouver la princesse madame luy dit il avec beaucoup de melancolie il y a une puissance souveraine a laquelle je ne puis plus resister qui fait que je me resous enfin a trahir le roy d'assirie et a vous tirer de la sienne il fait dessein de vous emmener bien tost c'est pourquoy il le faut prevenir je vous avois demande du temps pour me resoudre ma resolution est prise et il y a une galere preste a vous recevoir de la prochaine nuit si vous le voulez ha luy dit elle mazare s'il estoit possible ce seroit dans ce mesme moment de vous dire chrisante tout ce que mandane dit a ce prince pour luy rendre grace de la compassion qu'elle croyoit qu'il avoit de ses malheurs ce seroit une chose assez difficile tant elle exagera l'obligation qu'elle luy avoit mazare recevoit ces remercimens avec tant de confusion et tant de trouble d'esprit qu'elle luy en estoit encore plus obligee s'imaginant que la seule peine qu'il avoit a faire une trahison au roy d'assirie le mettoit en cet estat mais mazare luy dit elle ou irons nous aborder pour aller seurement au lieu ou est le roy mon pere madame luy respondit il quand nous serons hors de la puissance 
 de vostre ennemy nous en delibererons mieux qu'icy vous avez raison luy dit elle et aussi tost apres il la quitta mais enfin la nuit estant venue et fort avancee le prince mazare qui avoit gagne non seulement ceux qui gardoient la porte du chasteau qui donnoit vers le port mais aussi tout ce qu'il y avoit de soldats en ce lieu la et un escuyer du roy d'assirie qui luy osta le soir son espee d'aupres de luy sans qu'il s'en aperceust vint prendre la princesse qui se trouva fort embarrassee de ce qu'elle seroit d'arianite en qui elle ne se fioit pas elle creut pourtant qu'il la faloit emmener parce que si on l'eust laisse elle eust pu faire du bruit nous luy dismes donc que le roy d'assirie venoit d'envoyer mazare dire de sa part a la princesse qu'il se faloit embarquer et nous tesmoignasmes d'estre fort affligees d'obeir afin qu'elle ne soubconnast rien car nous commencions de croire qu'elle avoit intelligence avec ce prince j'oubliois aussi de vous dire que mandane qui vouloit autant qu'elle pouvoit faire connoistre au prince mazare qu'elle songeoit a le proteger avoit escrit au roy d'assirie dans ses tablettes mais durant que nous attendions dans l'antichambre l'heure que mazare nous dit qu'il faloit partir la princesse se souvenant qu'elle avoit oublie a les laisser sur sa table le pria de se vouloir donner la peine de les y porter luy disant qu'il les ouvrist et qu'il vist ce qu'elle y disoit de luy de sorte que ce prince les prit et les fut porter dans la chambre de la princesse ou a mon 
 advis il leut ce qui estoit escrit dedans car il tarda un peu a revenir je ne vous dis point ce qu'il y avoit dans ces tablettes car vous pouvez a peu pres l'imaginer tant y a chrisante que nous sortismes du chasteau nous nous embarquasmes et la galere ramant avec violence nous abandonnasmes sinope un moment apres nous vismes le port tout en feu et peu de temps en suitte toute la ville ce qui sur prit et affligea estrangement la princesse car elle n'avoit pas sceu la chose et n'y auroit sans doute pas consenty si elle l'eust sceue tant son ame est tendre et pitoyable neantmoins la joye d'estre hors de la puissance du roy d'assirie la consola aisement d'une douleur que la seule compassion luy donnoit et elle ne songea plus qu'a apeller cent et cent fois mazare son liberateur cependant la mer s'esleva et les mariniers assurerent qu'il alloit y avoir une tempeste assez forte en effet elle commenca bientost apres et le vent que nous avions eu si favorable nous devint contraire et pensa nous repousser malgre nous plus de vingt fois vers le port de sinope de vous representer quelle estoit l'inquietude de la princesse en ces momens la ce seroit vous mettre l'ame a la gesne comme nous y estions et il suffira de vous dire pour le vous faire comprendre qu'elle voulut obliger mazare a luy promettre qu'en cas que la tempeste fust plus forte que l'art du pilote ou que la force des rames il iroit plustost briser sa galere au pied de la tour 
 du chasteau que de prendre l'emboucheure du port enfin le jour estant venu nous eusmes un peu moins de frayeur tant parce que l'obscurite augmente la crainte que parce qu'en effet il y eut un quart d'heure un peu devant que le soleil parust ou le vent ne fut pas si fort la princesse estant donc sur la poupe remarqua qu'il y avoit des gens de guerre dans sinope qui combatirent au milieu des flames au pied de la tour elle n'eut pas plustost veu cela que regardant mazare avec une joye extreme ha genereux prince luy dit elle la tempeste nous aura peut estre este favorable puis que s'il n'en eust point fait je n'aurois pas veu ce que je voy voyez luy dit elle voyez ces troupes qui combatent dans sinope elles sont assurement de l'armee du roy mon pere et peut-estre mesme que l'illustre artamene y est en personne si cela est il luy sera aise de se rendre maistre d'une ville embrazee et de prendre mesme le roy d'assirie c'est pourquoy mon cher liberateur commandez a vos rameurs de n'aller pas si viste faites que l'on mette la chaloupe en mer et envoyez reconnoistre ce que je dis car si cela est nous n'aurons que faire d'aller plus loing puis que nous trouverons du secours si proche mazare entendant parler la princesse de cette sorte changea de couleur et regardant assez long-temps les troupes qu'elle luy avoit monstrees il reconnut beaucoup mieux qu'elle qu'infailliblement c'estoient des troupes de l'armee de ciaxare c'est pourquoy 
 sans respondre a la princesse il commanda de faire ramer avec toute la diligence possible mandane surprise de ce commandement et croyant toutefois encore ou qu'elle avoit mal entendu ou que ce prince s'estoit mal explique mon cher liberateur luy dit elle songez vous bien a ce que je vous ay dit ou pensez vous bien a ce que vous dites ha madame luy dit il en se jettant a genoux devant elle ne me donnez plus un nom dont je ne suis pas digne et suspendez de grace vostre jugement jusques a ce que vous scachiez ce que j'ay fait contre moy auparavant que d'avoir rien fait contre vous ne m'apellez donc ny votre liberateur ny votre ravisseur et ne prononcez pas un arrest injuste contre le plus passionne de tous vos adorateurs quoy luy dit la princesse toute surprise mazare ne seroit pas genereux mazare m'auroit trompee et mandane ne seroit pas en liberte mazare repliqua ce prince avec une douleur sans esgale est nay genereux et a vescu genereux jusques a ce que l'amour qu'il a pour mandane ait force son coeur a ne l'estre plus mais madame vous ne laissez pas d'estre libre pour suivit il et je vous proteste en presence des dieux que j'ay irritez que vous n'aurez jamais sujet de vous plaindre de ma violence je ne veux madame que vous mettre en lieu ou je puisse vous faire connoistre la plus respectueuse passion qui sera jamais vous m'avez tesmoigne avoir quelque amitie pour 
 moy ne passez donc pas en un moment de l'amitie a la haine et donnez moy quelques jours a vous faire comprendre ce que je sens pour la princesse mandane non mazare luy dit elle je ne scaurois vous accorder ce que vous desirez de moy vous estes seul le maistre absolu de ma haine ou de mon amitie et si dans le moment que je parle vous ne vous repentez de vostre faute je vous hairay plus mille fois que je n'ay hai le roy d'assirie et je vous regarderay comme estant incomparablement plue criminel mais comme estant aussi interrompit ce prince incomparablement plus amoureux non non luy dit elle ne vous y trompez pas je n'appelleray jamais amour l'injuste passion qui vous fait agir et je la nommeray frenesie fureur et quelque chose de pis quoy mazare reprit elle toute en pleurs vous pourrez vous resoudre a perdre mon estime et mon amitie vous que je regardois comme mon protecteur a babilone et comme mon liberateur a sinope vous aimerez mieux estre mon ravisseur et mon ennemy vous aimerez mieux me voir expirer de douleur que de me laisser vivre heureuse ne voyez vous pas poursuivit elle en remarquant que la tempeste redevenoit plus force que vous avez irrite les dieux et que si vous ne les appaisez par un prompt repentir ils vont vous punir de vos crimes par un naufrage ha madame s'escria ce malheureux prince s'ils vous peuvent seulement sauver de ce naufrage que je seray heureux 
 de perir et que je l'eusse este si je fusse mort a babilone quand j'estois encore innocent mais madame que vouliez vous que je fisse et le moyen de voir tous les jours la princesse mandane de la voir dis-je douce civile et complaisante et de ne l'aimer pas ceux qui ne vous voyoient qu'irritee ne laissoient pas de vous aimer et je vous aurois pu voir infiniment obligeante et infiniment bonne sans avoir pour vous une sorte passion ha madame cela n'estoit pas possible la princesse voyant alors que mazare demeuroit dans une irresolution qui ne luy permettoit pas de se determiner absolument a rien entra en un si grand desespoir que je ne la vy de ma vie si touchee helas disoit elle en quel pitoyable estat suis-je reduite et quel malheureux effet est celuy du peu de beaute que les dieux m'ont donne de n'inspirer que des sentimens injustes a ceux qui ont de l'affection pour moy mais courage reprenoit elle en regardant la mer qui devenoit plus furieuse que jamais je verray bientost la fin de mes maux en trouvant la fin de ma vie et j'auray du moins cette consolation de perir avec un de mes ennemis mazare voyant la princesse en une si grande colere et en un si grand danger de faire naufrage entra en un desespoir si extreme d'avoir mis la princesse en ce peril et d'avoir fait un crime qu'il jugea alors luy devoir estre inutile qu'il fut tente de se jetter dans la mer et si un sentiment d'interest pour la princesse ne l'eust retenu je pense pour moy qu'il l'eust 
 fait madame luy dit il je suis en une affliction estrange d'avoir expose vostre vie au peril ou je la voy non luy dit elle ce n'est pas la le repentir que je voudrois de vous et je voudrois seulement que vous fissiez changer de route afin que si j'ay a faire naufrage les vagues me pussent porter sur les rives de capadoce mais chrisante le moyen d'entreprendre de vous dire tout ce que la princesse dit et tout ce que mazare luy repliqua ce qu'il y a de vray c'est que tout criminel qu'il estoit il ne laissoit pas de dire des choses si touchantes qu'il en faisoit certainement pitie d'autre part la princesse en disoit aussi de si justes et de si pitoyables qu'elle auroit flechy la cruaute mesme cependant il n'estoit pas aise de choisir la routte que l'on devoit tenir et il falut obeir aux vents et a la tempeste tant qu'elle dura elle nous repoussa plus d'une fois vers le pied de la tour et puis tout d'un coup nostre galere rasant la coste nous nous esloignasmes de sinope enfin nous fusmes ce jour la tout entier et la nuit suivante dans une agitation continuelle tantost nous allions a droict tantost nous allions a gauche et quoy que nous allassions tousjours nous n'avancions presque point les rameurs n'avoient plus de force l'on n'osoit se servir de la voile a cause des tourbillons qui venoient de toutes parts et nous fusmes tout ce temps la avec toutes les apparences d'une mort prochaine a la premiere pointe du jour la tempeste continuant 
 tousjours d'estre plus forte la princesse recommenca de prier mazare de se repentir car tant que la nuit avoit dure il avoit falu demeurer dans la chambre de poupe ou ce prince par respect n'avoit pas entre quoy qu'il sceust bien que mandane ne dormoit pas mais la pointe du jour estant venue la princesse comme je l'ay desja dit recommenca ses pleintes et ses prieres et avec tant de larmes tant de force et tant de violence que mazare sans luy respondre s'en alla lors vers le pilote et soit par ses ordres comme orsane le croit ou par la force du vent nous vismes en effet que le pilote volut tourner la proue de la galere vers sinope que nous ne voiyons plus pour reprendre la route d'ou nous venions mais o dieux un grand coup de mer estant venu et un gros d'eau ayant fait pancher la galere par malheur le timon se rompit et elle toucha en mesme temps contre la pointe d'un escueil de sorte qu'elle tourna tout d'un coup et se brisa en tournant je m'attachay a la princesse arianite me prit par la robbe j'entendis un bruit et un fracas effroyable parmy lequel je discernay la voix de mazare qui s'ecria justes dieux sauvez la princesse 
 
 
 
 
mais depuis cela je ne scay plus ce que nous devinmes et il me souvient seulement qu'au lieu de voir de l'eau il me sembla que je vy un grand feu qui m'esblouit et qui me fit perdre toute connoissance cependant sage chrisante les voeux du malheureux mazare furent exaucez et nous echapasmes d'un si grand peril mais a 
 vous dire la verite ce fut d'une maniere bien estrange et qui vous surprendra peut-estre autant que nous fusmes surprises nous mesmes vous scaurez donc que la premiere chose que je vy apres nostre naufrage fut qu'entr'ouvrant un peu les yeux je vy des gens qui faisoient ce qu'ils pouvoient pour me faire ouvrir la main avec la quellle je tenois la robe de la princesse car comme vous scavez chrisante l'on ne quitte jamais ce que l'on tient en tombant dans l'eau cette veue et le mal qu'ils me faisoient me firent plus revenir que tous les remedes qu'ils m'avoient desja faits de sorte que faisant un peu d'effort que voulez vous leur dis-je et qui estes vous nous tommes me respondirent ils des personnes qui veulent secourir la princesse mandane et vous secourir vous mesme a ces paroles j'ouvris la main je laissay aller la princesse et je leur dis que les dieux les recompenseroient d'un si charitable office en suitte dequoy revenant peu a peu a moy mesme je vy premierement arianite et puis la princesse qui revenoit aussi bien que moy et qui apres avoir entre-ouvert les yeux m'appella sans scavoir presque ce qu'elle disoit j'estois encore si estourdie qu'a peine me pus-je lever de dessus un lict ou l'on m'avoit mise mais enfin sa voix m'ayant redonne de la force je m'aprochay d'elle comme elle regardoit attentive ment un homme qui estoit a genoux aupres de son lict et qui luy tenant le bras taschoit de connoistre par le mouvement du pouls si la force 
 ce luy revenoit comme j'arrivay donc et qu'elle me reconnut martesie me dit elle en retirant son bras d'entre les mains de cet homme avec autant de precipitation que la foiblesse ou elle estoit le luy pouvoit permettre ou sommes nous madame luy repliqua celuy dont j'ay desja parle vous estes en lieu ou vous avez une authorite absolue cette voix m'ayant surprise et ayant surpris la princesse elle se leva a demy pour regarder celuy qui luy avoit respondu et nous reconnusmes toutes deux a la fois que celuy qui nous assistoit estoit le roy de pont le roy de pont interrompirent alors chrisante et feraulas amoureux de la princesse et qu'artamene avoit fait prisonnier eh dieux est il bien possible qu'un cas fortuit si prodigieux puisse estre veritable ouy sage chrisante poursuivit martesie et voicy comment la chose estoit arrivee vous avez peut-estre bien sceu le malheureux succes de la guerre qu'il avoit contre arsamone et comment de tous ses deux royaumes il ne luy restoit presque plus qu'une seule ville maritime dans laquelle il fut assiege mais vous n'allez pas sceu que voyant que cette ville alloit estre forcee il se resolut du moins de derober sa personne a la victoire de ses ennemis et de s'en fuir dans un vaisseau comme il sit ce qu'il y a de plus admirable est que ce prince ne scachant ou trouver un azile et peut-estre 
 presse par sa passion qui ne l'avoit point abandonne dans tous ses malheurs fit dessein de venir offrir sa personne a ciaxare pour luy aider a reconquerir sa fille sur le roy d'assirie car devant que d'estre assiege il avoit sceu l'enlevement de la princesse de sorte que s'embarquant dans cette resolution il venoit le long de la coste de capadoce afin de s'informer de l'estat des choses et il y arriva si justement pour nous sauver la vie que son vaisseau que la tempeste agitoit aussi bien que nostre galere ne se trouva pas fort esloigne de nous lors que nous fismes naufrage quoy que son pilote eust aporte beaucoup de soing a esviter la terre dont nous estions fort proches comme ce prince est effectivement bon et genereux nous ayant veu perir si pres de luy il commanda que l'on secourust autant que l'on pourroit ceux qui paroissoient encore sur l'eau car comme les vaisseaux resistent mieux a la tempeste que les galeres il le pouvoit faire sans grand danger joint aussi que par un de ces changemens subits qui arrivent si souvent a la mer il sembla que nous eussions appaise les flots irritez par nostre naufrage car le vent diminua tout d'un coup et les vagues s'abaisserent en un moment de sorte que le roy de pont ayant fait mettre un esquif en mer les siens sauverent plusieurs hommes entre lesquels fut orsane qui est venu aveque moy comme ils estoient occupez a ce pitoyable office ce prince estant 
 sur la poupe de son vaisseau se trouvant peut estre encore plus malheureux par la perte de ses royaumes que ceux qu'il voyoit noyer ne l'estoient par la perte de leur vie vit entre les ondes des femmes que leurs robes soutenoient sur l'eau cet objet l'ayant fortement touche de compassion a ce que j'ay sceu depuis il commanda avec un empressement estrange qu'on les sauvast quoy qu'il ne creust avoir autre interest en leur conservation que la pitie naturelle qui le faisoit agir mais imaginez vous chrisante quelle surprise fut celle de ce prince quand apres que l'on nous eut prises dans l'eau et aportees dans son navire il reconnut la princesse mandane je n'ay qu'a vous dire pour vous le faire comprendre qu'il en oublia les pertes qu'il avoit faites et qu'il ne songea plus qu'a sauver la vie a celle qui luy avoit fait perdre sa liberte depuis long temps c'estoit donc en de pareils sentimens qu'estoit ce prince lors que comme je j'ay desja dit il assura la princesse qu'elle estoit en lieu ou elle avoit une authorite absolue mandane ayant reconnu sa voix aussi bien que moy seigneur luy dit elle vous voyez que vous n'estes pas seul malheureux mais pour reconnoistre l'office que vous me rendez je souhaite que vous usiez assez bien de l'occasion que les dieux vous presentent d'assister une princesse infortunee pour les obliger a vous secourir vous mesme madame luy dit il je ne me pleins plus de mon destin et je 
 crois estre oblige de remercier le ciel de la perte de mes royaumes puis que si je ne les eusse pas perdus je n'aurois pas eu le bonheur de voue sauver la vie et d'empescher que tout l'univers ne perdist son plus bel ornement mais madame vous n'estes pas en estat que l'on vous puisse parler sans vous incommoder et puis que je voy martesie aupres de vous avec assez e force pour vous secourir le respect que je vous porte fait que je ne dois plus demeurer icy tous mes gens ont ordre d'obeir aux femmes qui sont aupres de vous dit il parlant d'arianite et de moy et elles n'auront qu'a demander ce qu'il leur faudra et qu'a suivre les avis d'un medecin que j'ay icy et qui a desja commence de vous assister en effet il se trouva par bonheur que le medecin de ce prince qui estoit grec l'avoit accompagne dans sa fuitte ce qui nous fut un assez grand avantage estant certain que cet homme est infiniment scavant en l'art qu'il professe comme l'ayant apris sous le fameux hippocrate si celebre par tout le monde ce prince estant donc sorty et ses gens nous ayant donne toutes les choses necessaires nous deshabillasmes la princesse et la mismes au lict en suitte dequoy ayant fait secher nos habillemens arianite et moy et pris d'une liqueur admirable que ce medecin nous donna qui par une venu toute extraordinaire fortifie le coeur et tempere l'agitation du sang nous passasmes le jour et la nuit suivante avec avez 
 de repos car a vous dire la verite la frayeur de la mort que nous avions eue et la lassitude ou nous estions fit que malgre nous le sommeil suspendit toutes nos inquietudes la princesse soupiroit pourtant fort souvent et ne pouvoit assez admirer la prodigieuse rencontre que nous avions faite de sorte qu'apres qu'elle fut esveillee qu'elle s'aperceut que je l'estois et qu'arianite dormoit encore elle m'apella comme l'on nous avoit mises sur un petit lict dans sa chambre selon ses ordres je ne l'entendis pas plustost que je me levay et apres m'estre habillee en diligence je fus aupres d'elle je trouvay que sa sante n'estoit pas mauvaise veu l'accident qui nous estoit arrive mais je ne luy trouvay pas l'esprit tranquile et bien martesie me dit elle que pensez vous de nostre fortune et qu'en esperez vous madame luy dis-je il vous arrive des choses si extraordinaires que je pense qu'il y auroit beaucoup de temerite a vouloir juger de ce qui vous doit advenir car enfin madame puis que le prince mazare m'a trompee je ne me fie plus a rien et je croy que l'on peut se deffier de toutes choses il me semble toutefois que vous estes echapee trop miraculeusement d'un peril qui paroissoit inevitable pour n'esperer pas que les mesmes dieux qui vous ont sauvee vous protegeront pour moy luy dis-je encore je croy que la tempeste ne s'est eslevee que pour punir le malheureux mazare peut-estre me 
 reliqua la princesse n'est il pas mort non plus que nous car enfin quand la galere a este brisee je me souviens qu'il est venu a moy au mesme moment et apres que nous avons este dans l'eau je l'ay encore veu ou du moins je me le suis imagine qui me soustenoit avec l'escharpe que j'avois mais il me semble que ne voulant pas accepter son secours j'ay fait effort pour me degager de luy que cette escharpe s'est destachee et qu'alors j'ay perdu la raison et la connoissance madame luy dis-je il y a apparence que ce que vous dittes n'est pas une simple imagination car en effet vostre escharpe ne se trouve point ainsi il est a croire que ce malheureux prince n'ayant pu vous sauver aura pery et que comme je le dis la tempeste ne se sera eslevee que pour le punir et peut estre aussi adjousta la princesse les dieux ne m'auront ils sauvee que pour me rendre encore plus malheureuse car enfin manesie c'est une estrange chose a s'imaginer que de tout ce qu'il y a d'hommes vivans au monde il n'y a que le roy d'assirie et le roy de pont entre les mains de qui je deusse craindre de tomber et qu'il se trouve qu'un de ces princes que je croyois engage en une facheuse guerre comme l'on nous l'avoit dit a babilone qui n'a peut-estre jamais este sur la mer que cette seule fois que ce prince dis-je perde ses royaumes et que s'enfuyant d'une ville ou il ne se pouvoit plus deffendre comme son medecin me l'a dit qu'il 
 s'embarque qu'il prenne justement la route ou il me peut trouver que son vaisseau qui par raison devoit esviter la terre ne puisse s'en esloigner et qu'enfin il se rencontre si juste au moment de mon naufrage qu'il me sauve et qu'il me tienne en sa puissance ha martesie encore une fois ces rencontres prodigieuses m'espouventent et me font tout craindre mais madame luy dis-je le malheur de ce prince vous doit assurer car que voulez vous qu'entreprenne un roy sans royaume et quel azile trouveroit il apres avoir fait une violence comme seroit celle de vous retenir malgre vous je n'en scay rien ma fille me repliqua t'elle mais je crains beaucoup plus que je n'espere ce n'est pas poursuivit la princesse que je n'aye des raisons bien puissantes pour obliger le roy de pont a agir comme je veux qu'il agisse mais martesie mon destin est de faire perdre la raison a ceux qui m'aprochent je chasse la vertu de l'ame de ceux qui m'aiment je change toutes leurs bonnes inclinations et je tiens comme un miracle qu'artamene soit demeure genereux en m'aimant or chrisante pendant que la princesse s'entretenoit de cette sorte aveque moy le roy de pont qui avoit fait changer sa route et reprendre la pleine mer n'estoit pas non plus en repos et estant passe dans une autre chambre avec un des siens apelle pharnabase qui avoit beaucoup de part a sa confidence il se mit a luy parler de l'estat present de son ame orsane qui est icy et qui n'avoit 
 pas tant souffert que nous de nostre naufrage parce qu'il scavoit nager estoit dans une autre petite tout aupres d'ou il pouvoit entendre tout ce que je m'en vay vous dire et tout ce qu'il nous raconta le lendemain car encore qu'il eust este a mazare il nous avoit tant servies a babilone que nous l'en traitasmes pas plus mal orsane donc estant au lieu que je vous ay designe entendit a travers les planches de sa chambre que le roy de pont dit a celuy auquel il commenca de parler advouez pharnabase que mon dessein est bien particulier et que les dieux me traitent d'une facon bien rigoureuse car si sans considerer les anciens malheurs de ma maison je repasse seulement en mon esprit tout ce qui m'est advenu dans la passion que j'ay pour mandane ne dois-je pas croire que je suis reserve a de bizarres avantures je suis donne en ostage a ciaxare et je deviens amoureux de la princesse sa fille je n'ose le dire ouvertement parce que selon les apparences je ne dois pas estre roy et cependant en sortant de prison je me trouve sur le throsne et au mesme instant je fais demander la princesse mandane a ciaxare qui me la refuse je fais la guerre suis malheureux et jusques au point de perdre la liberte et d'aimer passionnement mon vainqueur je sorts de cette prison par sa generosite mais j'en sorts pour commencer une guerre civile et sans pouvoir rompre les chaines qui m'attachent a mandane que vous diray-je de plus pharnabase vous scavez 
 le reste j'ay este batu poursuivy par ceux que le roy mon pere m'a laisse pour sujets et chasse enfin par mes plus mortels ennemis je suis nay avec deux couronnes sur la teste et je sorts de mes estats avec un seul vaisseau pour azile et pour retraite et reduit en cette extremite adorant pourtant toujours dans mon coeur la divine mandane je la trouve preste a mourir je la sauve et je la tiens en ma puissance ha pharnabase que cette derniere avanture me consoleroit aisement de toutes les autres si je pouvois esperer d'en profiter et que la perte de deux royaumes me seroit peu considerable si je pouvois conquester le coeur de mandane mais helas quelle aparence y a-t'il que les dieux ayent l'intention que je puis faire cette glorieuse conqueste dont je parle s'ils en avoient eu le dessein ils ne m'auroient pas oste des couronnes mais quelle aparence aussi de me faire trouver la princesse en un si deplorable estat de me donner la joye de la voir en ma puissance pour me laisser apres eternellement la douleur d'avoir perdu mes royaumes non non je veux esperer que m'ayant mis en possession d'un thresor qui n'est pas a moy et que je ne merite pas ils me rendront ce qui m'apartient mais dieux je ne suis pas veritablement amoureux de me souvenir du throsne aux pieds de mandane non superbe passion qui te vantes de dominer dans le coeur de tous les hommes tu ne seras pas la plus forte dans le mien et l'amour te surmontera 
 ouy malgre toutes mes pertes toutes mes disgraces et tout mon ambition j'auray de la joye et je m'y abandonneray agreablement dans la seule pensee que mandane est en mon pouvoir mais malheureux prince reprenoit il le pourras tu faire et est il possible qu'un roy despouille de ses estats et qui n'a l'imagination remplie que de throsnes renversez de sceptres rompus et de couronnes brisees puisse estre sensible au plaisir mais aussi seroit il possible de pouvoir voir mandane et mandane ressuscitee et ressuscitee par toy sans en avoir une joye capable de consoler de toutes sortes de douleurs non c'est un privilege de l'amour que l'ambition ne luy scauroit disputer je sens pourtant pharnabase que cette joye n'est pas tousjours tranquile et qu'il y a des momens ou quelque leger souvenir de mes pertes la trouble l'image de mandane ne revient pouvant pas plustost en ma memoire que ces chagrins m'abandonnent que ces tenebres disparoissent et que je ne voy plus que mandane ouy pharnabase quand je m'aplique fortement a cette agreable pensee je ne scay plus si je suis encore surie throsne ou si j'en ay este renverse si je suis sur la mer ou sur la terre et je scay seulement que je ne songe plus ny a reconquerir mes royaumes ny a me vanger de mes ennemis et que je ne pense qu'a vaincre la cruaute de ma princesse mais pharnabase que cette entreprise est difficile et que j'ay de peine a chercher moy mesme 
 des raisons pour pouvoir conserver l'esperance de flechir la rigueur de mandane l'obligation qu'elle vous aura reprit pharnabase est bien capable de toucher son esprit et je pense qu'une personne qui vous doit la vie aura beaucoup d'injustice si elle vous refuse son affection helas pharnabase luy dit ce prince il paroist bien que vous ne connoissez pas mandane scachez que quand pour luy sauver la vie j'aurois mille et mille fois hazarde la mienne elle ne me devroit encore rien c'est une chose que tous ceux qui ont l'honneur de la connoistre sont obligez de faire pour l'amour d'elle seulement et que je ferois tousjours quand mesme j'aurois la certitude d'en estre eternellement hai mais pharnabase dans la joye que j'ay d'avoir en ma disposition un thresor que je prefere a l'empire de toute l'asie il se mesle encore une douleur bien sensible et bien bizarre tout ensemble puis qu'elle fait presque que je m'afflige du malheur d'un rival car enfin j'ay sceu par un de ceux qui sont eschapez de ce naufrage que la princesse a tousjours mal traite le roy d'assirie et que dans la premiere ville du monde il n'a jamais pu la flechir que voulez vous donc que je puisse esperer moy qui ne luy puis plus offrit ny sceptre ny couronne et qui n'ay plus que mon coeur en ma puissance qu'elle a si souvent refuse ha pharnabase j'ay bien entendu dire que l'ambition sert quelquefois a l'amour que des couronnes et des sceptres touchent les coeurs les 
 plus insensibles mais je ne pense pas qu'un prince despouille de ses estats et qui ne peut offrir que le partage de ses malheurs soit en termes de faire de grands progres dans l'esprit de la princesse mandane pour moy adjousta pharnabase il me semble seigneur que vous vous pleignez d'une avanture dont vous devriez vous resjouir puis qu'en l'estat que sont les choses si vous rendez la princesse mandane au roy son pere je suis assure que la mesme armee qu'il avoit destinee a la reprendre dans babilone et que ces gens eschapez du naufrage disent estre presentement en capadoce sera employe a reconquerir vostre estat et je suis assure encore que cet artamene dont vous m'avez tant parle ne vous refusera pas cette espece d'assistance je l'advoue pharnabase repliqua ce prince et je suis persuade qu'il seroit plus beau et plus judicieux d'en user comme vous dites que de la facon dont ma passion me conseille mais pour en user ainsi il faudroit avoir plus d'ambition que d'amour il faudroit aimer la couronne plus que mandane et n'aimer pas comme je fais mandane plus que la couronne car enfin ciaxare apres m'avoir donne une armee ne me donneroit pas sa fille et il faudroit partir d'aupres de luy avec l'incertitude de remonter au throsne et la certitude de ne revoir jamais mandane ha pharnabase dans le choix des deux je ne fais pas de comparaison et j'aime beaucoup mieux ne remonter jamais au throsne pourveu que je puisse tousjours voir 
 mandane mais seigneur luy respondit pharnabase quand tous les sentimens d'ambition seront estains dans vostre coeur vous ne serez pas heureux si vous n'estes pas aime et je doute si vous le serez sans couronne et sans sceptre errant fugitif et malheureux vous qui ne l'avez pu estre sur le throsne paisible et heureux considerez seigneur qu'en rendant cette princesse vous pouvez vous faire un puissant protecteur et trouver un azile et qu'en ne la rendant pas vous vous ostez tout lieu de retraite et vous vous attirez encore sur les bras un ennemy qui a une armee de deux cens mille hommes en estat detourner teste ou il luy plaira je scay respondit ce prince tout ce que vous dites mais je scay encore mieux que j'ay un plus redoutable ennemy dans mon coeur que je ne scaurois vaincre et que je serois mesme bien marry d'avoir vaincu dans les sentimens ou je suis ouy pharnabase la veue de mandane a de telle sorte l'allume ma passion que je ne puis plus escouter que ce qui la peut satisfaire je scay que pouvant faire une belle action j'en feray une mauvaise mais qu'y serois-je l'amour m'y force et je ne tiens pas que ce toit une chose possible d'avoit en sa puissance une personne que l'on aime comme j'aime mandane et de la rendre volontairement au reste elle n'aura pas les mesmes raisons de me hair qu'elle avoit de n'aimer pas le roy d'assirie je ne j'ay pas enlevee comme luy au contraire je luy ay sauve la vie et l'ay 
 retiree d'entre les bras de la mort elle ne pourra donc pas m'apeller son ravisseur sans injustice puis que je ne feray simplement que conserver un thresor que les dieux m'ont fait trouver pour me consoler de toutes mes pertes mais helas reprenoit il tout d'un coup comment conserveray-je ce thresor dans un simple vaisseau sans refuge et sans retraite et pourray je bien me resoudre de rendre infiniment malheureuse la personne du monde de qui je souhaite le plus le bonheur enfin chrisante apres une violente agitation ce prince ne resolut rien et ayant sceu par son medecin que la princesse estoit en estat d'estre veue il luy envoya demander la permission de la visiter qu'elle luy accorda d'abord qu'il aprocha d'elle il luy tesmoigna la joye qu'il avoit de voir sur son visage les marques d'une assez bonne sante veu l'accident qui luy estoit arrive ce n'est pas que la princesse n'eust une melancolie estrange dans les yeux mais c'est qu'en effet elle est toujours belle et que de plus ce prince l'ayant veue le jour auparavant en beaucoup plus mauvais estat qu'elle n'estoit ne s'apercevoit pas de ce que je dis la princesse qui apres tout luy devoit la vie le receut fort civilement et apres l'avoir fait assoir elle luy dit avec autant d'esprit que de douceur vous voyez seigneur un assez merveilleux effet de l'inconstance de la fortune car quand vous me laissastes a sinope j'estois en estat de vous pouvoir faire grace et je suis 
 aujourd'huy en termes d'en recevoir de vous la guerre vous avoit mis dans les fers du roy mon pere et la fortune m'a mise dans les vostres je me console pourtant de cette captivite dans l'opinion ou je suis que celuy qui m'a sauve la vie m'en voudra laisser jouir et qu'il se souviendra peut-estre qu'il sortit de la capadoce sans rancon mais seigneur je ne parle pas de cette sorte pour ne vous payer point la mienne au contraire je suis assuree que le roy mon pere n'en usera pas ainsi et je ne doute nullement que si vous le voulez il ne vous aide a reconquerir le royaume de pont et celuy de bithinie je suis si riche presentement madame repliqua ce prince puis que j'ay l'honneur de vous voir en un lieu ou j'ay quelque pouvoir que je ne songe plus a d'autres conquestes et si vous ne m'aviez fait souvenir de mes malheurs en me parlant de ma prison je pense que j'aurois absolument oublie toutes mes pertes et toutes mes disgraces elles sont pourtant assez considerables reprit elle pour s'en souvenir en tout temps et en tous lieux toutefois genereux prince il faut remedier a vos maux vous le pouvez sans doute interrompit il en soupirant ouy adjousta la princesse mais il faut que ce soit par la valeur d'autruy c'est pourquoy seigneur faites s'il vous plaist que l'on se r'aproche de sinope afin d'envoyer quelqu'un des vostres dans un esquif pour s'informer precisement en quel lieu est le roy mon pere j'avois eu dessein de l'aller trouver 
 repliqua ce prince pour le supplier de souffrir que je luy aydasse a vous tirer de la puissance du roy d'assirie mais presentement le sujet de mon voyage est change vous pouvez continuer ce voyage encore plus agreablement interrompit mandane car enfin m'ayant retiree de la puissance de la mort vous avez fait vous seul ce que vous n'eussiez fait qu'avec deux cens mille hommes quand vous m'eussiez delivree d'entre les mains du roy d'assirie ainsi seigneur vous arriverez au camp de ciaxare comme un prince qui aura fait ce qu'une puissante armee n'a pu faire ouy madame respondit il en se mettant a genoux malgre la resistance qu'y fit la princesse mais scavez vous bien qui je suis et pouvez vous croire si vous le scavez que la perte de deux royaumes m'ait fait changer de sentimens pour vous je croy seigneur repliqua la princesse que si vous m'avez estimee vous m'estimez encore et je croy aussi que vous devez raisonnablement penser que si vous n'avez pas change je n'ay pas non plus deu changer et que je suis la mesme personne que j'estois quoy madame reprit il vous seriez tousjours insensible et tousjours inexorable et les dieux permettroient que je ne vous eusse ressuscitee que pour me faire mourir plus cruellement j'advoue seigneur respondit la princesse en se relevant a demy que je vous dois la vie mais si vous ne me l'avez rendue que pour me persecuter c'est un bien que je vous permets de m'oster 
 quand il vous plaira non madame repliqua t'il vous ne le perdrez jamais par cette voye et vostre vie est une chose que je deffendray toujours au peril de la mienne seigneur respondit elle ne vous imaginez pas qu'il n'y ait que le feu le fer et le poison qui puissent faire entrer au tombeau non vous vous abuseriez si vous le croyez ainsi et il est des genres de mort bien plus cruels que ceux la quoy qu'ils ne paroissent pas si funestes ouy adjousta t'elle je prefererois la mort la plus violente a la servitude et je vous croirois plus innocent de me faire tuer que de me retenir par force et me faire mourir de desespoir mais genereux prince je ne pense pas que vous ayez un semblable dessein et quand je me souviens que le desir de la victoire ne vous a pas empesche de traitter admirablement un homme qui vous l'arrachoit tous les jours d'entre les mains que je me souviens dis-je que vous advertistes artamene de la conjuration que l'on faisoit contre sa vie et que vous deffendistes de l'attaquer a coups de fleches je ne scaurois croire que l'ambition vous ayant laisse l'usage de vostre raison tout entier l'amour si vous en avez vous l'oste iusques au point de ne connoistre pas qu'en l'estat ou sont les choses quand vous ne seriez pas genereux et que vous ne seriez que prudent et interesse il vous seroit tousjours avantageux de me tendre au roy mon pere et tres inutile de me retenir plus long temps je voy 
 bien madame respondit ce prince que tout ce que vous dittes est raisonnable mais pour le pouvoir faire il faudroit avoir encore de la raison et je n'en ay plus ce qui me console en cette rencontre divine princesse c'est qu'il est aise de connoistre que vous n'avez jamais aime et qu'ainsi j'ay du moins l'avantage de ne trouver nul obstacle en vostre coeur que celuy de l'insensibilite car madame si vous connoissiez l'amour vous ne parleriez pas comme vous faites et vous comprendriez parfaitement que toutes les autres passions ne sont rien en comparaison de celle la mais seigneur repliqua t'elle en rougissant je pense du moins que ceux qui aiment veulent estre aimez et que c'est une regle generale que tous les amans ne veulent pas estre hais cela estant de cette sorte songez s'il vous plaist qu'en me rendant au roy mon pere vous aquerrez du moins mon estime et peut-estre mon amitie et qu'en ne m'y rendant pas je vous hairay plus sans comparaison que vous ne voulez que je croye que vous m'aimez vostre estime et vostre amitie respondit ce prince sont deux choses infiniment precieuses et qui doivent satisfaire pleinement ceux qui n'ont pour vous que de l'amitie et de l'estime mais madame l'amour est une passion bien plus tyrannique elle veut des sentimens plus tendres pour la contenter et elle ne se scauroit satisfaire que par elle mesme ne trouvez donc pas estrange si l'esperance que 
 vous me donnez de posseder un si grand bien comme est celuy de vostre amitie ne me peut obliger d'abandonner l'interest de mon amour mais seigneur repliqua t'elle au lieu d'avoir de l'amour j'auray de la haine qui scait madame adjousta t'il si le temps ne changera point vostre coeur et si la pitie ne fera pas ce que toute autre chose n'a pu faire considerez madame que celuy que vous voyez devant vous a dans l'ame la plus violente et la plus respestueuse passion qui sera jamais et si vous la voulez connoistre vous n'avez qu'a considerer deux choses l'une qu'un seul de vos regards pourveu qu'il soit favorable me consolera de la perte de mes royaumes et l'autre que pouvant peut-estre obtenir des forces pour les reconquerir en vous rendant au roy vostre pere j'aime mieux demeurer despouille de mes estats que de vous abandonner et de vous perdre prenez garde seigneur a ce que voua dittes reprit la princesse car en me redonnant la liberte vous ne me perdrez que de veue mais en ne me la redonnant pas vous perdrez mon estime et me verrez infailliblement perdre la vie en peu de jours ou au contraire si vous le voulez vous remonterez sur le throsne avec la satisfaction de m'avoir sensiblement obligee le throsne madame respondit il est peu necessaire a un prince qui ne peut vivre sans vous et s'il ne me fust demeure quelque espoir pendant la guerre que j'ay faite que peut-estre trouverois-je les 
 voyes de toucher enfin vostre coeur par ma perseverance je n'aurois pas si opiniastrement dispute la victoire a ceux qui m'ont vaincu ce n'est pas madame que je ne trouve que vous avez raison de mepriser et de mal-traitter un prince que la fortune a abandonne mais madame c'est une inconstante qui suivra peut-estre un jour celuy qu'elle a fuy si cruellement et l'heureuse rencontre que j'ay faite me persuade que tous mes malheurs sont passez et que calme suivra bien tost la tempeste ouy madame s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi vous me tenez lieu de ces agreables feux qui annoncent la fin de l'orage aux mariniers et qui remettent l'esperance dans l'ame de ceux qui un moment auparavant n'avoient que de fun estes pensees l'espere donc madame que le bonheur me suivra par tout tant que je seray aupres de vous et qu'il n'est point de pais ou je ne trouve un azile quand je vous y conduiray je vous promets toutefois madame de n'employer jamais vous vaincre que mes larmes mes soupirs mes prieres et ma perseverance ne craigne donc partant de vous voir engagee dans ma fortune et croyez que si je ne puis rien obtenir par cette innocente voye vous recouvrerez bien tost la liberte par la fin de ma vie quoy seigneur repliqua la princesse les yeux tous couverts de larmes je ne dois recouvrer la liberte que le jour de vostre mort eh de grace ne me forcez pas a la desirer c'est une chose que je 
 n'ay jamais faite a mes plus mortels ennemis et que je ferois bien aise de ne faire pas pour un prince qui a de fort bonnes qualitez qui m'a sauve la vie et qui n'abandonne sans doute la vertu que pour me persecuter de plus seigneur en quelque lieu de la terre que vous me puissiez conduire le roy mon pere vous y poursuivra et artamene de qui la valeur ne vous est pas inconnue vous fera peut-eestre faire par contrainte ce que vous pouvez faire de bonne grace si je le pouvois madame repliqua ce prince avec une action tres passionnee je le ferois sans doute et j'aurois mesme prevenu vos prieres et vos menaces mais divine princesse je ne le puis et tout ce qui demeure en ma puissance est de vous dire que si vous voulez que je me jette dans la mer ou que je passe mon espee au travers du coeur que je vous ay donne je le feray a l'instant mesme et vous l'aisseray en liberte par ma mort les dieux repliqua la princesse ne voulant pas que l'on empesche un crime par un autre crime je ne vous conseilleray pas de mourir de cette sorte mais seigneur je vous supplieray avec toute l'affection dont je suis capable de ne me rendre pas malheureuse en vous rendant criminel et de ne meriter pas par une injustice efroyable les infortunes qui vous sont arrivees ce prince qui vit que tout ce qu'il pourroit dire ne feroit qu'irriter la princesse se leva et la saluant avec beaucoup de respect nous verrons madame luy dit il si 
 les dieux changeront mon coeur ou si la pitie de mes maux changera le vostre apres cela sans luy donner le loisir de respondre il sortit de sa chambre et un moment apres orsane y entra qui ne scachant pas ce que le roy de pont avoit dit a la princesse venoit nous advertir de ce qu'il avoit entendu mandane l'en remercia et l'assura que le crime de son maistre ne l'empescheroit pas de le servir si elle revenoit en estat de le pouvoir faire mon maistre madame luy dit il avoit pour vous une passion si respectueuse que s'il ne fust pas mort il auroit assurement repare son crime et si je ne me trompe nous n'avons fait naufrage que parce qu'il a voulu vous obeir et faire changer de route a la galere si cela est repliqua la princesse les dieux vous l'auront peut-estre conserve mais quoy qu'il en soit orsane si j'ay besoing de vostre secours je croy que vous ne me le refuserez pas vous pouvez vous en assurer madame respondit il et commander mesme les choses les plus difficiles sans craindre d'estre un homme plus officieux au monde que celuy la ny guere de plus entendu aussi est-ce par son moyen que j'ay este instruite d'une partie des choses que je vous ay racontees orsane estant sorty la princesse se plaignit de ses malheurs et arianite commenca de se repentir de les luy avoir causez mais avec une douleur si sensible qu'elle en perdit presque la raison car cette fille que 
 l'on ne songeoit plus a accuser commenca de s'accuser elle mesme de demander pardon a la princesse et de luy promettre une fidelite inviolable elle luy dit mesme qu'elle avoit creu luy rendre office en contribuant tout ce qu'elle avoit pu pour la faire reine d'assirie et enfin elle parla d'une maniere si touchante et avec tant de remords de sa faute que la princesse la luy pardonna et certes veu ce qui est arrive depuis je suis bien aise de l'avoir laissee en de pareils sentimens cependant le roy de pont estoit en une peine estrange il n'osoit presque voir la princesse il ne pouvoit aussi s'en empescher il eust bien voulu la delivrer il vouloit aussi ne la rendre point et sans scavoir ou aller ny que faire nous errasmes plusieurs jours sur la mer sans que le pilote eust d'autre ordre que celuy d'esviter la terre et la rencontre de tous autres vaisseaux je vous laisse a juger en quelle impatience nous estions je parlay plusieurs fois au roy de pont mais j'y parlay inutilement et les trois derniers jours que nous fusmes sur la mer il ne vint point dans la chambre de la princesse nous voiyons bien que nous allions tousjours sans scavoir ou mais enfin ce prince qui avoit sceu que le roy d'armenie avoit quelque dessein de ne payer plus de tribut au roy des medes depuis la mort d'astiage creut qu'il trouveroit un azile en ce lieu la car il avoit alliance aveque luy de sorte qu'un matin nostre vaisseau se fut mettre a l'anchre vis a vis de l'emboucheure de la 
 riviere d'halis d'ou ce prince envoya dans un esquif s'assurer d'un grand bateau pour remonter ce fleuve a force de rames comme on luy fut venu rendre raison de la chose et l'assurer qu'il en auroit un a l'instant mesme il vint dans la chambre de la princesse et luy presentant la main madame luy dit il avec beaucoup de confusion sur le vigase il n'est pas juste de vous donner davantage l'incommodite de la mer et vous souffrirez moins sur une riviere je souffriray egalement par tout luy respondit elle si vous estes esgalement deraisonnable ce n'est pas l'estre beaucoup madame luy dit il que de vous conduire chez le roy d'armenie comme j'en ay le dessein la princesse eut alors quelque consolation quand elle vit qu'en effet nous abandonnions la mer et elle espera plus de secours par terre ou sur des rivieres que dans un vaisseau au milieu des flots et puis quoy qu'elle sceust que le roy d'armenie avoit un esprit ambitieux et remuant qui seroit bien aise d'avoir un pretexte de guerre neantmoins le prince tigrane son fils qui est si vertueux et qu'elle a autrefois veu a sinope la consoloit un peu elle alla donc sans resistance ou on la vouloit conduire nous descendismes dans ce grand bateau que l'on avoit amene la princesse voulu qu'orsane nous suivist et deux autres encore qui fut tout ce que nous pusmes obtenir de quinze ou vingt qui avoient este sauvez du naufrage le roy de pont prenant seulement trente 
 des siens sans que nous ayons sceu ou il envoya son navire et alors l'on commenca de vouloir faire remonter le bateau a force de rames mais comme la riviere est fort rapide cela dura tres long temps sans que les rameurs en peussent venir a bout de sorte que nous estions presque tousjours tout contre la terre parce que le milieu du fleuve l'estoit encore davantage comme nous regardions ce que je dis la princesse vit ortalque sur le rivage et le reconnut d'abord bien qu'elle ne l'eust guere veu aupres d'artamene mais je pense qu'il n'est pas besoin que je m'arreste beaucoup a vous particulariser toutes ces choses puis que je m'imagine que vous les aurez sceues par luy car artucas m'a apris qu'il est arrive icy elle ne l'eut pas plustost reconnu que tirat des tablettes qu'elle portoit tousjours elle se cacha derriere moy et derriere arianite et en rompant un morceau elle escrivit dessus ce que vous avez sans doute veu ou du moins apris par ortalque mais par malheur le roy de pont qui estoit occupe a faire ramer et a donner les ordres necessaires a cette navigation tourna la teste vers nous comme elle escrivoit si bien que sans avoir le temps d'achever et croyant avoir nomme le roy de pont dans ce qu'elle avoit deja escrit bien que j'aye apris icy que ce nom ne s'y trouve pas elle me le bailla je l'envelopay dans mon voile et le bateau allant raser la terre et presque toucher le rivage sur lequel estoit ortalque je luy jettay ce voile et saignis que 
 le vent me l'avoit emporte sans tesmoigner m'en soucier beaucoup joint qu'il n'estoit pas a craindre que l'on arrestast pour cela car si nous eussions tarde le courant de l'eau nous auroit repoussez dans la mer vous scavez sans doute chrisante que ce fleuve prend sa source d'une montagne d armenie qu'il coule le long de la lydie qu'il se respond a la droite dans la mantiane et a la gauche dans la phrigie qu'en suite il mouille a la droite une partie dela capadoce et a la gauche la paphlagonie de sorte qu'il y a quelques journees a faire ou le roy de pont aprehendoit estrangement d'aborder et ou la princesse le craignoit aussi beaucoup parce que c'estoit de ce coste la que les peuples s'estoient revoltez par les persuasions d'aribee pour prendre le party du roy d'assirie mais aussi tost que nous fusmes hors de la capadoce il souffrit que quelquesfois l'on arrestast la nuit afin de laisser dormir plus commodement la princesse a laquelle l'on avoit fait un retranchement dans le bateau qui la separoit de tous ceux qui y estoient et ou personne que les siens n'entroit a la reserve du roy de pont enfin chrisante comme la necessite est ingenieuse la princesse creut qu'il n'estoit nullement impossible de nous sauver de sorte que je consultay avec orsane et nous resolusmes de tascher de nous eschaper la princesse avoit voulu qu'il y eust tousjours la nuit une lampe allumee dans nostre retranchement mais pour executer nostre dessein 
 nous l'estaignismes et suivant nostre resolution un soir que nous estions abordez proche d'un grand bois orsane qui s'estoit couche tout contre nostre retranchement passa de nostre coste par dessous la tapisserie se mit tout doucement dans la riviere qui n'estoit pas fort profonde en cet endroit et vint avec le moins de bruit qu'il put ou nous estions avec intention de nous prendre les unes apres les autres et de nous porter au bord ou nous pretendions nous enfoncer dans l'espaisseur de ce grand bois que nous avions remarque en abordant comme la nuit estoit fort obscure quoy qu'il n'y eust que deux pas a faire la princesse creut qu'il ne seroit pas a propos qu'elle passast la premiere parce qu'elle seroit un moment seule sur ce rivage si bien que pour l'empescher elle voulut qu'orsane me portast devant elle mais o dieux que je fis mal de luy obeir et que la princesse eut de tort de me faire ce commandement car a peine estions nous sur la rive orsane et moy que le roy de pont s'esveillant et ne voyant plus de lumiere a travers de nostre tente se mit a crier a celuy qui estoit en sentinelle et qui ne nous avoit point aperceus a cause de l'obscurite que l'on prist garde a la princesse de sorte qu'a ce cry les bateliers qui tenoient tousjours une petite lampe cachee l'aporterent et l'on trouva la princesse toute surprise nous voulusmes orsane et moy voyant cela retourner au bateau quelque danger qu'il peust avoir pour nous mais 
 les mariniers ayant rame tout d'un coup avec violence par les ordres du roy de pont nous eusmes beau crier et beau apeller l'on ne nous voulut point reprendre ce prince s'imaginant sans doute que nous avions quelque puissant secours a terre pour l'execution de nostre dessein nous entendismes plusieurs fois la princesse qui crioit tantost martesie et tantost orsane mais enfin nous n'entendismes plus rien et ne vismes plus rien aussi quoy que la lune se levast un moment apres car comme la riviere serpente fort en cet endroit il fut impossible que nous vissions plus le bateau je vous laisse a juger chrisante quelle fut ma douleur et ma crainte la premiere de me voir separee de la princesse et la seconde de me voir seule avec un homme au bord d'un grand fleuve aupres d'un grand bois et au milieu de la nuit nous passasmes ce qui en restoit a suivre le courant de l'eau m'imaginant tousjours que comme la lune esclairoit alors toute la riviere nous pourrions peut-estre du moins descouvrir encore une fois le bateau que nous avions quitte mais enfin estant extremement lasse et ayant trouve une habitation de pescheurs au bord de l'eau nous nous y arrestasmes et trouvasmes sans doute parmy eux tout le secours que nous eussions pu esperer de gens beaucoup plus civilisez qu'ils n'estoient nous leur dismes nostre advanture en leur desguisant les noms et les qualitez des personnes a cause que nous estions en paphlagonie et nous les priasmes 
 de nous dire s'il seroit impossible de rejoindre le bateau dont nous leurs parlions ils nous dirent alors qu'il estoit sans doute impossible de le pouvoir atraper avec un autre veu le nombre des rameurs que nous leur disions qu'il y avoit et le temps que nous avions perdu a le suivre et qu'il ne seroit guere plus aise de le pouvoir faire par terre avec des chevaux parce que le fleuve serpentant beaucoup et le bateau prenant tousjours le milieu de la riviere auroit par consequent moins de chemin a faire que ceux qui le suivroient au bord joint qu'ils n'en avoient pas a leur cabane et qu'il n'y en avoit pas mesme a un hameau qui estoit assez esloigne n'estant habite que de pescheurs que de plus asses pres de la ce fleuve estoit separe en deux et l'estoit durant plus de cinquante stades et qu'ainsi l'on ne pourroit peut-estre scavoir lequel des deux bras de la riviere ils auroient pris enfin chrisante nous ne pusmes rien faire que chercher les voyes de revenir icy ou je m'imaginois bien que je trouverois le roy j'avois par bonheur le portrait de la princesse dans une fort belle boete que je portois depuis long temps qui nous servit en cette occasion car en ayant oste la peinture orsane fut a la plus proche ville la vendre et achepter des chevaux et un chariot et me laissa parmy les femmes de ces pescheurs a son retour nous recompensasmes ces bonnes gens de leur courtoisie et nous partismes avec intention de venir en diligence icy ou nous jugions 
 bien que nous trouverions aussi artamene mais ou nous ne scavions pas que l'illustre artamene fust prisonnier voila sage chrisante quelle a este la fortune de la princesse que j'ay este bien aise de vous raconter auparavant que de voir le roy afin que vous autres estant instruits de nos avantures et moy mieux informee de l'estat des choses je scache plus precisement ce que je dois dire ou ne dire pas 
 
 
 
 
martesie ayant cesse de parler chrisante et feraulas la remercierent de la peine qu'elle avoit eue et se mirent a repasser les merveilleux evenemens qu'elle leur avoit apris ils ne pouvoient assez admirer la constance de la princesse et cette vertu inesbranlable qui la faisoit agir esgalement par tout ils la consideroient enlevee par le plus grand roy de l'asie qu'elle haissoit ils la voyoient en suitte entre les mains d'un prince pour qui elle avoit beaucoup d'amitie et ils la regardoient encore en la puissance d'un roy sans royaume ils voyoient que la grandeur du premier ne l'avoit point obligee d'agir avec moins de fierte aveque luy que l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour le second n'avoit point attendry son coeur et que les malheurs du troisiesme ne l'avoient pas obligee a le traiter moins civilement que s'il eust encore este sur le throsne enfin ils voyoient mandane si digne d'artamene et artamene aussi si digne de mandane que les voyant separez et malheureux leur conversation finit par des soupirs et par des marques 
 de compassion et de crainte la premiere pourtant de malheurs ou la princesse avoit este exposee et la seconde pour cet oracle embarrassant qui menacoit artamene d'une infortune bien plus grande que celle de sa prison feraulas pourtant avoit une consolation fort sensible de revoir martesie et chrisante qui estimoit beaucoup sa vertu estoit aussi bien aise de l'entretenir cependant auparavant que de se separer ils luy raconterent en peu de mots suivant leur promesse tout ce qui estoit arrive a artamene tant a son voyage des massagettes qu'a son retour en capadoce et qu'a la guerre d'assirie ils luy dirent mesme la pitoyable rencontre qu'artamene avoit fait de mazare mourant qui effectivement avoit eu entre ses mains l'escharpe dont elle leur avoit parle et qu'artamene avoit reconnue pour estre la mesme que mandane luy avoit autrefois refusee lors qu'il estoit prest d'aller combattre mais adjousta feraulas il a eu bien plus de douceur en la recevant qu'il n'en eut lors qu'on ne la luy voulut pas donner en verite dit martesie le destin de cette escharpe a quelque chose d'estrange car imaginez bien je vous prie par quelle bizarre voye elle est venue entre les mains d'artamene premierement il faut scavoir que c'est un tissu d'or admirable ou la princesse mesme a quelques fois travaille pour se divertir et c'est la raison pour laquelle elle luy a tousjours este infiniment chere de sorte 
 qu'elle avoit plus d'une raison de la refuser a artamene lors qu'il la luy demanda a anise mais comme si elle luy fust devenue encore plus precieuse depuis qu'artamene en avoit eu envie elle ne la porta plus et me commanda d'en avoir un soing tres particulier en suitte nous revinsmes a sinope ou je l'aportay et quand nous partismes pour aller a amasie et de la a themiscire je la laissay icy avec cent autres choses qui estoient a la princesse si bien que quand nous y revinsmes avec le roy d'assirie je la retrouvay car aribee n'avoit pas souffert que l'on eust fait nul desordre au chasteau et je ne scay comment le jour dont nous partismes le soir cette escharpe me tomba dans les mains sans y penser et a l'instant mesme poussee par je ne scay quel mouvement madame dis-je a la princesse qui en a comme je la tenois voulez vous que cette escharpe que vous aimez tant et que vous refusastes a artamene demeure entre les mains du roy d'assirie mon martesie me dit elle je ne le veux pas car si artamene la luy voyoit un jour en quelque combat il croiroit peut-estre que je la luy aurois donnee enfin feraulas elle la prit et la porta et voila par quelle voye mazare put avoir cette escharpe entre les mains et comment artamene a eu par celles d'un de ses rivaux ce que la princesse luy avoit refuse en suitte feraulas et chrisante resolurent que martesie differeroit encore d'un jour ou deux a se 
 faire voir afin qu'ils eussent le loisir auparavant de raconter ce qu'elle leur avoit dit a leur cher maistre et qu'ils eussent consulte ses amis pour scavoir quand il seroit temps que le roy la vist martesie pria feraulas d'assurer artamene qu'elle s'interessoit tres sensiblement en sa fortune et qu'elle souhaittoit passionnement que cette ombre de liberte qu'on luy laissoit depuis quelques jours fust bien tost suivie d'une veritable liberte qui le mist en estat d'aller delivrer la princesse apres cela chrisante et feraulas la quitterent pour aller chercher les voyes de luy obeir promptement et de donner a artamene la satisfaction d'apprendre la fidelite de mandane 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ces deux fidelles serviteurs d'un illustre maistre ne peurent pourtant satisfaire l'envie qu'ils avoient que le lendemain au matin n'estant presque pas possible de pouvoir trouver artamene seul depuis que ciaxare avoit donne la liberte de le voir a moins que de prendre l'heure de son lever tout le monde vouloit jouir de ce privilege avec empressement et tout le monde pour le faire durer davantage et pour gagner temps disoit a ciaxare qu'artamene commencoit de se laisser vaincre et descouvriroit a la fin ce qu'il vouloit scavoir ce genereux prisonnier de son coste mouroit d'impatience d'estre delivre afin de pouvoir delivrer mandane mais quoy que son amour occupast toute son ame il n'oublia pas qu'araspe estoit dans les fers aussi bien que luy 
 et il envoya plusieurs fois scavoir de ses nouvelles et luy tesmoigner que sa prison augmentoit la rigueur de la sienne il fut pourtant extraordinairement soulage lors que chrisante et feraulas estant allez le trouver qu'il estoit encore au lict luy eurent apris que martesie estoit a sinope je nom de martesie luy fit faire un cry de joye s'imaginant que peut estre le princesse n'en estoit elle pas fore soing et le recit qu'ils luy firent en suite des avantures de mandane et de sa fidelite pour luy fit un renversement si grand dans son ame qu'il n'estoit pas capable de sentir avec tranquilite le transport et le plaisir qu'une si aimable nouvelle luy donnoit car afin de ne le troubler point et de le luy laisser gouster tout pur chrisante et feraulas ne luy dirent pas l'oracle que le roy d'assirie avoit receu a babilone bien est il vray qu'il trouva une autre voye de le moderer par l'inquietude qu'il eut de scavoir que la princesse estoit en la puissance du roy de pont de qui le rare merite luy estoit assez connu n'admirez vous point chrisante disoit il en le regardant le caprice de ma fortune qui fait que j'ay pour rivaux les plus honnestes gens du monde et les plus raisonnables dans leur amour car enfin si mandane estoit aimee par de ces princes de qui la passion est brutale jusques a la fureur et qui ne parlent que de violences de fer de feu et de sang qui se veulent faire aimer par les mesmes voyes que l'on se peut faire hair qui n'ont que des sentimens coupables 
 qui ne pretendent qu'a des faveurs criminelles et qui ne les demandent que le poignard a la main et la fureur dans les yeux je ne devrois pas craindre que l'illustre mandane les preferast a artamene mais chrisante ce que vous venez de me dire m'espouvante aveque raison et de la facon dont vous m'avez raconte la chose les ravisseurs de mandane me sont cent mille fois plus redoutables qu'ils ne me le seroient s'ils estoient moins raisonnables et moins soumis mais seigneur interrompit feraulas le roy d'assirie n'est pas aupres de mandane l'on vous a assure que le prince mazare n'est plus et elle est entre les mains d'un roy sans royaume il est vray reprit il mais ce roy sans couronne en merite cent et c'est ce qui fait mon inquietude neantmoins il y avoit des momens ou il estoit bien aise de scavoir que la princesse estoit en armenie et d'autres aussi ou il en estoit bien fache car si la vertu de tigrane luy donnoit quelque consolation l'humeur violente et ambitieuse du roy d'armenie son pere luy donnoit de la crainte et du chagrin feraulas s'aquita alors de la commission que martesie luy avoit donnee de faire ses compliments a artamene qui les receut si agreablement qu'il renvoya feraulas a l'heure mesme vers elle pour luy tesmoigner le regret qu'il avoit de n'estre pas en estat de luy aller dire luy mesme tout ce qu'il pensoit et combien il se tenoit son 
 oblige de luy avoir fait scavoir par luy tous les sentimens de la princesse il envoya aussi chrisante vers les princes qui s'interessoient en sa liberte a fin de consulter avec eux sur le retour de martesie ils trouverent tous que le plustost qu'elle pourroit voir le roy seroit le meilleur parce que la certitude qu'il auroit de la fortune de la princesse et l'apparence presque infaillible d'une nouvelle guerre le seroient peut-estre plus facilement resoudre a delivrer artamene chrisante donc n'ayant pas manque d'advertir martesie elle parut des le mesme soir et feignit de ne faire que d'arriver a sinope le roy la receut avec une joye extreme et il en jetta des larmes de tendresse car il n'ignoroit pas combien la princesse sa fille l'aimoit elle luy aprit les divers enlevemens de mandane et luy raconta toutes choses a la reserve de ce qui regardoit artamene qu'elle cacha avec beaucoup de soing ne le nommant pas seulement un fois en tout son recit elle ne luy par la pas non plus de l'oracle rendu a babilone de peur d'embarrasser son esprit et de desplaire a artamene et comme le sien estoit adroit elle passa delicatement sur toutes les choses qui pouvoient servir ou nuire ciaxare fut en quelque sorte console de scavoir que c'estoit le roy de pont qui tenoit la princesse en son pouvoir s'imaginant qu'un prince despouille de ses estats ne trouveroit pas tant de protection qu'un autre il creut bien pourtant que le roy d'armenie seroit bien aise d'avoir 
 un nouveau pretexte de guerre et dans cette pensee il soupira et ne put s'empescher de souhaiter en secret qu'artamene le mist bientost en estat de le delivrer en luy advouant ce qu'il vouloit absolument aprendre de luy apres donc que ce prince eut fort entretenu martesie il la voulut faire loger au chasteau mais elle le supplia de souffrir qu'elle s'en retournast chez son parent ou en effet elle s'en alla et ou elle fut visitee de toutes les dames de la ville et de tout ce qu'il y avoit de princes et de personnes de qualite a sinope cependant tous les amis d'artamene parloient continuellement au roy en sa faveur et le roy tesmoignoit effectivement desirer de pouvoir rompre ses chaisnes mais en mesme temps il paroissoit estre opiniastrement resolu a vouloir scavoir precisement l'innocence ou le crime d'artamene il y avoit aussi dans son coeur un sentiment confus qui faisoit qu'il ne scavoit pas luy mesme ce qu'il vouloit car enfin si par le retour de megabise qu'il avoit envoye en armenie il aprenoit qu'on luy rendist sa fille il sentoit bien qu'il auroit moins d'indulgence pour artamene mais si au contraire on la luy refusoit et qu'il falust recommencer une nouvelle guerre il connoissoit bien aussi que la liberte d'artamene seroit necessaire pour celle de mandane ainsi demeurant toujours irresolu les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie et tous ces princes qui luy parloient peut artamene ne pouvoient tirer de ciaxare 
 une parole decisive comme ils estoient un jour a l'entour de luy on vint luy dire qu'il paroissoit des troupes estrangeres dans la plaine qui s'aprochoient de sinope et un moment apres thimocrate et philocles entrerent et dirent au roy que le prince philoxipe favory du roy de chipre leur maistre et ancien amy d'artamene ayant marie la princesse agariste sa soeur au prince de cilicie l'avoit oblige en l'espousant d'envoyer dix mille hommes a artamene afin qu'il les presentast a sa majeste et qu'il leur fist la grace de souffrir qu'ils eussent quelque part a la gloire que toutes ses troupes aquerroient sous la conduite d'un si grand roy et par la valeur d'un homme aussi extraordinaire comme estoit artamene ciaxare rougit a ce discours et eut quelque confusion de voir que celuy qui luy devoit presenter les troupes de cilicie estoit luy mesme en estat d'avoir besoin de la faveur d'autruy ce prince receut pourtant tres civilement ce que thimocrate et philocles luy dirent et leur accorda la permission qu'ils luy demandoient de faire entrer celuy qui commandoit ces gens de guerre qui estoit frere du prince de cilicie ciaxare voulut mesme pour luy faire plus d'honneur aller sur les ramparts de la ville afin de voir arriver ces troupes qui se trouverent estre fort belles composees d'hommes bien faits bien armez et bien aguerris et le prince qui les conduisoit jeune et de fort bonne mine apres donc que le roy eut veu passer les troupes ciliciennes 
 au pied des murailles et qu'il eut ordonne qu'on les fist camper aupres de celles de chipre comme estant en amitie particuliere ensemble le jeune prince qui estoit leur chef apelle artibie fut conduit a ciaxare par thimocrate et par philocles qui luy dirent qu'artamene n'estoit pas en estat de le presenter artibie en aprenant la cause en fut un peu surpris et douta mesme s'il devoit continuer de s'offrir a ciaxare scachant bien que philoxipe n'avoit oblige le prince son frere a envoyer ces troupes que pour favoriser artamene mais thimocrate et philocles qui jugeoient bien qu'en cas de besoing elles pourroient estre utiles a artamene luy dirent qu'il ne faloit pas laisser de les offrir au roy mais qu'en luy parlant il ne faloit pas aussi qu'il manquast de s'aquiter de sa commission et de luy tesmoigner que l'interest d'artamene estoit ce qui faisoit agir philoxipe en effet ce jeune prince ne fut pas plustost devant ciaxare qui l'avoit envoye complimenter par aglatidas et par andramias qu'apres l'avoir salue seigneur luy dit il j'avois espere de vous estre presente par une personne qui vous doit estre si chere et qui s'est rendue si illustre par toute la terre que j'ay eu besoing que thimocrate et philocles ayent aporte tous leurs soings a me consoler de la douleur que j'ay d'estre prive de cet avantage car enfin quoy que le prince de cilicie mon frere et mon seigneur et le prince philoxipe m'ayent envoye pour le 
 service de vostre majeste et que je leur aye obei avec plaisir je vous avoue qu'en mon particulier j'avois eu une joye extreme de pouvoir esperer d'aprendre sous l'illustre artamene un mestier qu'il scait si parfaitement vous trouverez tant d'autres maistres dans cette armee dit le roy en luy monstrant tous ceux qui l'environnoient que quand le bien de mes affaires ne me permettroit pas de delivrer artamene vous n'auriez pas sujet de vous repentir d'estre venu parmy nous seigneur reprit le roy de phrigie nous ne sommes tous que les disciples d'artamene et ce prince a raison de regretter comme il fait la privation d'un avantage infiniment grand comme ce discours ne plaisoit pas a ciaxare il le changea adroitement et s'informa avec grand soing de la sante du roy de chipre de celle de philoxipe et du prince de cilicie mais quoy qu'il peust dire artibie en revenoit tousjours a artamene s'il luy parloit du roy de chipre il luy disoit que ce prince avoit toujours eu grande opinion de sa prudence depuis qu'il avoit sceu qu'il avoit donne la conduite de ses armees a artamene s'il luy demandoit des nouvelles de philoxipe il luy disoit qu'il avoit eu envie de venir luy mesme commander a la place de thimocrate afin de pouvoir revoir artamene et s'il luy parloit du prince de cilicie il luy disoit encore qu'a moins que d'estre amoureux comme il l'estoit de la princesse sa femme qu'il venoit d'espouser il seroit venu 
 luy mesme pour connoistre cet artamene dont il avoit tant entendu parler enfin ciaxare voyant qu'il n'y avoit point de discours si esloigne ou le nom d'artamene ne trouvast sa place en la bouche d'artibie luy dit qu'il estoit juste qu'il s'allast reposer et ordonna qu'on le logeast le mieux qu'on pourroit et que l'on en eust tous les soings possibles mais auparavant que de le quitter artibie luy demanda la permission d'aller du moins voir dans les fers celuy qu'il avoit creu trouver a la teste d'une armee ce que ciaxare luy accorda il fut donc a l'heure mesme conduit par aglatidas et par andramias et accompagne par thimocrate et par philocles a la prison d'artamene qui au seul nom de philoxipe et de la princesse agariste sa soeur carressa extraordinairement artibie ce prince luy presenta un de ses capitaines nomme leontidas qui estoit de chipre qu'artamene avoit connu chez philoxipe dont il estoit amy particulier et que ce prince avoit charge en partant de l'assurer de la continuation de son amitie et de luy rendre une lettre de sa part artamene l'ayant receue avec joye car il estimoit infiniment philoxipe quoy qu'il n'eust pas tarde fort long temps a l'isle de chipre demanda permission a artibie de la lire et ayant obtenue il vit que cette lettre estoit telle 
 
 
 
 philoxipe a artamene 
 
 
 je suis bien aise que la fortune ait este de mon advis et qu'elle vous dit donne ce que je jugeay que vous meritiez des le premier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir je souhaite que comme elle n'a pas este aveugle en vous favorisant elle ne soit pas non plus inconstante et que vous puissiez jouir toute vostre vie d'un bonheur que personne ne vaut scaurait envier sans injustice au reste je n'ay marie la princesse agariste ma soeur qu'a condition que le prince de cilicie son mary vous envoyeroit des troupes j'espere qu'en ma consideration le prince artibie vous sera cher et qu'apres avoir aquis vostre estime par les rares qualitez qu'il possede vous luy accorderez encore vostre amitie mais pour vous dire quelque chose d'agreable afin de vous y obliger davantage scachez que cet homme illustre que vous vintes chercher dans nostre isle par le seul desir de connoistre sa vertu est amoureux de la vostre et que si le bien de sa patrie ne l'eust r'apelle a athenes solon eust fait pour artamene ce qu'artamene fit pour solon si vous vous interessez encore en ma fortune j'ay prie leontidas de vous l'aprendre et de vous assurer que je n'ay guere eu plus de passion pour la beaute de policrite que j'en ay pour la gloire d'artamene 
 
 
 philoxipe 
 
 
 
 apres qu'artamane eut acheve de lire il renouvella les civilitez a artibie et luy monstrant la lettre de philoxipe vous voyez luy dit il que les souhaits de ce prince n'ont pas este exancez et que la fortune dont il parle m'a abandonne mais poursuivit il se tournant vers leontidas c'est de vous qui je dois recevoir beaucoup de consolation a mes maux en m'aprenant du moins ce qui regarde le prince philoxipe car enfin si ma memoire ne me trompe il faut qu'il soit arrive un grand changement en luy s'il est vray qu'il ait aime comme il le paroist par sa lettre puis que dans le temps que je l'ay connu il n'aimoit que les livres la peinture la musique et tous les autres beaux arts et que s'il avoit une maistresse c'estoit sans doute la vertu de solon dont je luy entendois parler continuellement ha seigneur reprit leontidas il est en effet arrive bien des changemens en la vie du prince philoxipe et qui vous surprendront sans doute autant qu'ils ont surpris non seulement toute la cour mais tout le royaume de chipre estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait une personne en toutes les villes de paphos d'amathuse de salamis et de cithere qui n'ait eu de l'estonnement de cette avanture artamene ayant alors tesmoigne une extreme envie d'aprendre la fortune d'un prince si illustre leontidas luy promit de venir le lendemain au matin satisfaire sa curiosite et en effet le reste du jour s'estant passe en 
 civilitez avec artibie ou a donner les ordres necessaires a leurs troupes apres qu'ils surent sortis de la prison d'artamene le jour suivant thimocrate et philocles qui vouloient aussi aprendre ce qui estoit arrive dans la cour de chipre depuis leur depart menerent leontidas a artamene qui pour ne perdre point de temps le fit assoir au milieu d'eux et l'obligea de commencer son discours en cette sorte
 
 
 
 
histoire de philoxipe et de policrite
 
 
comme vous n'avez pas fait un long sejour en nostre isle je pense seigneur qu'il ne sera pas hors de propos de vous dire quelque chose de ses coustumes pour l'intelligence de cette histoire et que vous ne trouverez pas mauvais que je vous die en peu de paroles ce que je trouveray necessaire de vous aprendre afin de vous rendre la suite de mon discours plus agreable vous scaurez donc seigneur que cette belle isle qui pour sa grandeur sa scituation sa fertilite ses belles et grandes villes et ses magnifiques temples passe pour la plus celebre 
 et pour la plus considerable de toutes celles de la mer egee quoy que comme vous ne l'ignorez pas cette mer en soit toute couverte a toujours este consacree a venus et que l'amour qui par tout ailleurs est une passion comme les autres qui n'a nuls privileges particuliers est en cette isle un acte de religion il semble que tous ceux qui y naissent soient obligez d'aimer presque en naissant tous les temples y sont dediez a venus sous divers noms tous les tableaux et toutes les statues n'y representent que cette deesse et que ce qui depend de sa domination les amours et les graces se trouvent representez par tout et ceux qui nous instruisent a la vertu en nostre jeunesse en nous donnant des preceptes pour vaincre l'ambition la colere la haine l'envie et toutes les autres passions nous en donnent au contraire pour nous persuader d'aimer innocemment mais seigneur comme il n'y a rien de si pur qui ne se change et qui ne se corrompe enfin il s'estoit insensiblement glisse un estrange desordre parmy nous durant plusieurs siecles car vous scaurez que le premier temple qui fut consacre a venus fut celuy de venvs uranie que nous disons estre fille du ciel et que nous appelions ainsi par cette raison selon la signification de la langue greque cette venus a ce que nous croyons n'inspire que des sentimens raisonnables et que des partions vertueuses ou au contraire il y a encore quelques temples 
 a l'extremite de l'isle qui regarde le midy qui ont este long temps depuis dediez a venus anadiomene c'est a dire a venus sortant de l'escume de la mer or seigneur ces temples sont bien differents et les sentimens de ceux qui y sacrifient bien dissemblables cependant comme les religions ou le libertinage passe pour une vertu s'establissent facilement la religion de venus anadiomene durant tres long temps la emporte sur celle de venus uranie et nostre isle a veu des choses qui sont encore rougir de confusion ceux qui se souviennent de les avoir entendues raconter a leurs peres mais graces au ciel la vertu d'une grande reine qui vivoit il y a pres d'un siecle restablit tous les temples de venus uranie fit abatre presque tous ceux de venus anadiomene abolit toutes les infames coustumes qui s'estoient introduises en chipre et ne laissa parmy nous que des sentimens tres purs de cette passion qui est l'ame de l'univers et qui seule entretient parmy les hommes la douceur de la societe civile l'on nous aprend donc qu'il faut aimer nostre deesse qu'il faut aimer nos princes qu'il faut aimer nos loix qu'il faut aimer nostre patrie qu'il faut aimer nos citoyens qu'il faut aimer nos peres nos freres nos femmes et nos enfans et apres tout cela qu'il faut nous aimer nous mesmes afin de ne rien faire qui nous soit honteux l'on nous dit encore qu'il faut aimer la gloire les sciences et les 
 beaux arts qu'il faut aimer les plaisirs innocents et qu'il faut aimer la beaute et la vertu preferablement a tout ce que je viens de dire enfin seigneur l'on nous fait comprendre que qui n'aime point ne peut estre raisonnable et que l'insensibilite pour quelqu'une des choses que j'ay nommees est un grand deffaut et mesme presque un grand crime vous pouvez donc bien juger seigneur que cette croyance estant generale parmy nous la vie de la cour de chipre ne doit pas estre desagreable puis que tout le monde y aime les belles choses et les belles personnes bien est il vray que selon les preceptes de venus uranie les amours permises sont des amours si pures si innocentes si detachees des sens et si esloignees du crime qu'il semble qu'elle n'ait permis d'aimer les autres que pour se rendre plus aimable soy mesme par le soing que l'on apporte a meriter la veritable gloire a acquerir la politesse et a tascher d'avoir cet air galant et agreable dans la conversation que l'amour seulement peut inspirer voila donc seigneur quelle est presentement nostre isle tous les plaisirs y sont mais ils y sont innocents l'amour en est la passion dominante et universelle mais c'est une passion qui n'est point incompatible avec la vertu ny avec la modestie et qui n'empesche pas qu'il n'y ait plusieurs amants qui se pleignent de la rigueur de leurs maistresses les festes publiques y sont tres frequentes les conversations assez libres 
 et fort spirituelles les jeux de prix fort ordinaires les bals tres divertissans la musique fort charmante et les femmes en general infiniment belles extremement galantes et parfaitement vertueuses mais entre les autres la princesse de salamis soeur de philoxipe estoit l'astre de la cour auparavant qu'elle s'en fust retiree la princesse agariste qui est aujourd'huy princesse de cilicie et aussi fort agreable et l'illustre aretaphile a sans doute un eclat fort extraordinaire outre celles la il y en a encore une appellee thimoclee et cent autres un peu au dessous de cette condition qui sont admirablement belles et je pense seigneur que vous en vistes une partie quand vous vintes en nostre isle et que je vous importune en vous disant des choses que vous n'ignorez pas pour ne continuer donc point cette faute je me hasteray de vous faire souvenir en peu de mots que le roy qui regne aujourd'huy en chipre n'a pas plus de deux ans plus que le prince philoxipe que vous avez sceu sans doute estre descendu de la race de demophoon fils de thesee qui est en grande veneration parmy nous l'enfance de philoxipe comme vous pouvez juger a este une des plus aimables choses du monde car quoy qu'il ait vint huit ans presentement il est encore si admirablement beau et de si bonne mine qu'il est aise de s'imaginer ce qu'il devoit estre enfant mais il n'est peut-estre pas tant de penser qu'il a este sage des le berceau 
 et scavant des qu'il a sceu parler c'a pourtant este d'une maniere qui ne l'a pas empesche d'avoir dans l'humeur cet agreable enjouement que la jeunesse seule et l'air de la cour peuvent donner et qui fait tout le charme de la conversation parmy les dames enfin l'on peut dire qu'a la reserve d'un article philoxipe satisfaisoit admirablement a tous les preceptes de venus uranie il reveroit la deesse il aimoit son prince il observoit les loix il aimoit sa patrie il aimoit ses citoyens il aimoit ses parents il aimoit la gloire et la fut chercher a quinze ans dans la guerre des milesiens ou il signala son courage il aimoit les sciences et les beaux arts il aimoit les plaisirs innocents et la vertu plus que toutes choses mais pour la beaute il n'avoit que de l'admiration pour elle en general et n'avoit jamais senty dans son coeur nul attachement particulier pour nulle belle personne je vous laisse a juger seigneur combien cette insensibilite sembloit estrange dans une cour ou elle n'avoit point d'exemple et en un homme si propre a se faire aimer il estoit pourtant si aimable qu'il n'en estoit pas moine aime et il estoit si liberal si magnifique si complaisant et si civil qu'il estoit l'admiration de tout le monde aussi quand l'illustre solon partit d'athenes apres y avoir estably ses fameuses loix et que pour n'y changer plus rien il se fut resolu de quitter son pais pour dix ans ce grand homme dis-je 
 venant en nostre cour philoxipe qui n'estoit encore qu'eu sa dixhuictisme annee fut sa passion comme il fut celle de philoxipe qui tant que solon fut en nostre isle abandonna tous ses plaisirs et toutes nos dames pour s'attacher inseparablement a luy pour en jouir mesme avec plus de liberte il le mena a une ville qui est a ce prince et qui s'appelle aepie que demophoon avoit fait bastir en une assiette infiniment forte mais en une scituation scabreuse et de difficile acces tout le pais d'alentour estant aspre sec et extremement sterile solon estant donc arrive en ce lieu la luy fit remarquer que ceux qui avoient pose les fondemens de cette ville eussent pu la rendre la plus agreable chose du monde s'ils l'eussent bastie au bord de la riviere de clarie dans une belle et fertile plaine qui est au pied de la montagne sur laquelle l'on avoit scitue l'autre mais a peine solon eut il dit sa pensee que philoxipe forma le dessein de l'executer et commenca de donner les ordres necessaires pour cela en effet solon fut l'architecte qui conduisit cette grande entreprise aussi philoxipe voulut il luy en donner toute la gloire car il fit nommer cette nouvelle ville soly afin de perpetuer la memoire de l'illustre nom de solon comme ce lieu la n'est pas esloigne de paphos qui est un des sejours le plus ordinaire de nos rois ils estoient fort souvent a la cour ou nos dames se plaignoient quelquefois de solon 
 qui leur enlevant philoxipe en enlevoit le plus bel ornement et pour vous tesmoigner mesme combien l'insensibilite de ce prince estoit grande solon de qui la vertu n'est point austere pour se justifier a celles qui se plaignoient de luy en fit la guerre a philoxipe et luy dit que l'amour estoit une passion qui adoucissoit toutes les autres et qui mesme les surmontoit quelques fois que pour luy il advouoit qu'il ne l'avoit jamais voulue combattre de toutes ses forces dans son coeur et qu'il ne pensoit pas qu'il fust honteux d'en estre vaincu une fois en sa vie philoxipe pour se deffendre disoit qu'il aimoit toutes les belles choses que son ame avoit de la passion pour tous les beaux objets et que personne n'avoit jamais tant aime que luy mais apres tout malgre ses amours universelles il n'y avoit pas une belle en toute la cour qui peust se vanter en son particulier d'avoit embraze son coeur et peut-estre pas une aussi qui n'eust consulte son miroir plus d'une fois pour scavoir par quel innocent artifice cet illustre coeur pouvoit estre pris mais enfin apres un assez long sejour solon partit charme de la vertu de philoxipe il fit mesme des vers a sa louange auparavant que de s'embarquer pour aller en egypte et celuy qui estoit loue de toute la grece loua hautement un prince extremement jeune dit plusieurs fois que la nature avoit apris a philoxipe en dixhuit ans ce que l'art ne pouvoit enseigner en un siecle 
 et que l'on voyoit en luy par un prodige tous les ages de l'homme s'assemblez c'est a dire l'innocence de l'enfance les charmes de la jeunesse la force d'un age plus avance et la prudence de la vieillesse philoxipe apres son depart fut un peu melancolique en suitte de quoy ce leger chagrin s'estant dissipe il donna quelque temps aux voyages et fut voir non seulement toute la grece mais encore la fameuse carthage qui estoit alors en guere avec les massiliens qui habitent en un lieu qu'ils ont rendu fameux en peu de temps par une celebre academie ou l'eloquence et la science greque sont enseignees admirablement je ne vous diray point les belles choses qu'il fit en afrique ny tout ce qu'il luy arriva pendant son voyage qui dura jusques a quelques mois auparavant que vous vinsiez en chipre ou solon fit de nouveau quelque sejour sans vouloir presque estre veu de personne mais je vous diray que philoxipe a son retour a la cour charma encore tout le monde et que le roy luy mesme vint a l'aimer si tendrement que jamais faveur n'a este si grande que la sienne et pourtant si peu enviee aussi ne s'en servoit il que pour la gloire de son maistre et pour faire du bien a tous ceux qui l'aprochoient il ne recevoit nuls bienfaits que pour en enrichir ceux qui en avoient besoin il ne donnoit que de bons conseils il ne rendoit que de bons offices et de cette sorte il estoit 
 en faveur aupres des grands et aupres des peuples comme aupres du prince et il n'y avoit que nos dames qui l'accusoient tousjours d'insensibilite il vivoit donc de cette maniere parmy les plaisirs et dans la plus belle et la plus galante cour du monde sans envie sans amour et sans chagrin cependant le roy ne fut pas si heureux que luy car apres avoir eu diverses passions passageres qui n'avoient pas laisse de luy donner beaucoup de soings et mesme assez d'inquietude il devint fort amoureux de la princesse aretaphile qui certainement a une beaute eclatante et cent bonnes qualitez mais qui parmy tout cela avoit une ambition extreme ce qui faisoit a mon avis qu'elle n'avoit peut-estre pas fait cette illustre conqueste sans en avoir eu le dessein le roy ne s'aperceut pas plus tost de la violence de sa passion qu'il la descouvrit a philoxipe et qu'il le pria de le vouloir servir aupres d'arctaphile qui en ce temps la voyoit tres souvent la princesse agariste soeur de philoxipe vous pouvez juger que ce prince ne luy refusa pas son assistance puis que son affection estoit honneste ce n'est pas que quelquefois il ne demandast pardon au roy de ce qu'il ne le plaignoit pas assez dans ses inquietudes car luy disoit il seigneur comme l'amour est un mal que je ne connois point et que j'ay mesme peine a imaginer aussi grand qu'on le represente je vous advoue que je ne sens pas pour vostre majeste 
 toute la compassion que je devrois peu estre sentir et que peut-estre aussi je n'exagere pas comme il faut toutes vos douleurs lors que je parle a la princesse aretaphile ne craignez pas philoxipe luy disoit le roy que je me pleigne de vostre insensibilite au contraire si vous aviez l'ame plus tendre je ne vous aurois pas choisi pour le confident de ma passion et si se croyois que vous pussiez devenir mon rival je ne vous donnerois pas la commission de parler si souvent a la princesse que j'ayme si j'avois dessein de vous raconter les amours du roy je vous dirois de quelle facon il par la de sa passion a arctaphile la premiere fois comment il en fut receu et combien de festes et de galanteries l'amour de ce prince causa dans toute la cour mais comme je ne vous en parle que parce que cette amour est en quelque sorte inseparable de l'avanture de philoxipe je vous diray seulement qu'encore qu'aretaphile fust ravie de l'amour du roy neantmoins comme elle songeoit a la couronne de chipre elle creut qu'il faloit un peu desguiser ses sentimens et rendre sa conqueste plus malaisee au roy que celle du roy ne luy avoit este difficile de sorte que cette princesse agissoit avec beaucoup d'esprit et de retenue et mefiant tousjours la severite a la douceur le roy eut tres long temps besoin de l'assistance de philoxipe pour lequel aretaphile qui scavoit le credit qu'il avoit aupres de luy avoit toute la complaisance et toute la civilite 
 possible il y avoit pourtant des jours ou philoxipe estoit en un chagrin estrange de la longueur de cette passion et ou pour s'en consoler il s'en alloit a une admirablement belle maison que le fameux solon luy avoit fait bastir aupres de soly et dans laquelle il avoit ramasse tout ce que la grece avoit de plus rare et de plus curieux soit pour la peinture ou pour les statues c'estoit donc en ce lieu la que l'on appelle clarie ou s'estonnant quelque fois de la passion du roy il me faisoit l'honneur de se pleindre a moy assez souvent de l'employ qu'on luy donnoit et il me donnoit luy mesme cent agreables marques de son insensibilite par les plaisantes choses qu'il me disoit contre l'amour cependant quoy que le roy fust fort amoureux d'aretaphile il avoit pourtant quelque peine a se resoudre de l'espouser parce qu'en effet il y avoit plus de raison d'espouser la princesse thimoclee a cause de quelques droits qu'elle pretendoit avoir a la principaute d'amathuse si bien que cette irresolution estant dans l'esprit du roy il n'avoit point encore dit ny fait dire a aretaphile qu'il ne l'aimoit que pour la mettre sur le throsne mais seulement suivant la coustume de chipre il s'estoit assez assujety aupres d'elle et avoit fait pour gagner son estime tout ce qu'un prince bien fait et plein d'esprit conme il est pouvoit faire estant seconde de philoxipe qui quoy qu'insensible estoit pourtant infiniment galant de sorte qu'aretaphile qui s'estoit absolument 
 resolue de ne donner jamais son coeur si on ne luy donnoit une couronne traitoit quelquefois le roy avec assez de rigueur et il y avoit certains temps ou toute la cour estoit en chagrin et ou philoxipe n'avoit point d'autre plaisir que la chasse et sa belle maison de la campagne il y en avoit d'autres aussi ou aretaphile craignant d'esteindre elle mesme le feu qu'elle avoit allume dans le coeur du roy les apelloit par quelque legere complaisance et remettoit la joye dans la cour par celle du prince 
 
 
 
 
ce fut donc en un de ces temps de plaisir que philoxipe pour favoriser le roy obligea la belle princesse de salamis sa soeur et la princesse agariste de faire les honneurs de chez luy un jour qu'il convia le roy et toute la cour d'aller de paphos a claric et de passer une journee entiere dans sa belle solitude qui en effet meritoit bien de recevoir une illustre compagnie jamais assemblee ne fut si galante que celle la toutes les personnes qui la composoient estoient jeunes belles magnifiques de grande condition et de beaucoup d'esprit et l'on eust dit mesme que le hazard avoit voulu favoriser philoxipe et faisant que tout ce qu'il y avoit de personnes de qualite facheuses et incommodes a la cour se fussent trouvees mal ou eussent eu quelque occupation importante ce jour la afin de les empescher de troubler par leur presence importune une compagnie si agreable de quelque coste que l'on tournast les yeux l'on ne voyoit que de beaux 
 objets et quelle que fust la personne aupres de qui l'on se trouvoit l'on estoit tousjours bien partage et l'on ne devoit pas craindre de s'ennuyer philoxipe avoit donne un si merveilleux ordre a toutes choses soit pour les superbes meubles de sa maison soit pour la magnificence du festin ou pour l'excellence de la musique que le roy pour le louer autant qu'il pouvoit dit tout haut que quand philoxipe eust este amoureux et que sa maistresse eust este en cette compagnie il n'eust pu faire que ce qu'il faisoit au contraire seigneur luy dit philoxipe je pense que si je l'avois este toutes choses auroient encore este plus en desordre qu'elles ne font ne me semblant pas possible de perdre la raison et de conserver assez de tranquilite pour de semblables petits soings le roy se mit alors a faire la guerre a philoxipe et a luy dire qu'il connoissoit peu les effets de cette passion mais il la luy fit plus d'une fois tant parce qu'en effet il eust este difficile de trouver un sujet d'entretien plus divertissant que parce qu'en reprochant a philoxipe sonignorance en amour il trouvoit lieu de faire connoistre galamment a la princesse aretaphile qui l'escoutoit que la passion qu'il avoit pour elle l'y avoit rendu tres scavant philoxipe se deffendoit le mieux qu'il luy estoit possible tantost il disoit que la crainte de n'estre point aime l'empeschoit d'aimer tantost qu'il avoit une ame delicate qui fuyoit les plaisirs que l'on ne pouvoit avoir sans peine en suitte que l'amour 
 n'estant pas une chose volontaire il n'estoit pas coupable de ce qu'il n'aimoit point et pour derniere raison il disoit que la difficulte du choix faisoit qu'il ne se determinoit a rien et qu'il ne se pouvoit determiner car seigneur dit il au roy le moyen d'estre assez hardy pour oser preferer quelqu'une de tant de belles personnes que je voy a toutes les autres ha philoxipe luy respondit ce prince plus vous parlez d'amour plus vous me faites de pitie et plus luy dit il en luy parlant bas vous me faites connoistre que mon confident ne sera jamais mon rival apres cela toutes les dames et tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honmes de qualite se mirent a continuer de luy faire la guerre et il y eut des momens ou il les hair presque tous pour la persecution qu'ils luy faisoient de son insensibilite comme ils eurent disne philoxipe fit passer toute cette belle troupe dans une superbe galerie toute peinte de la main d'un excellent peintre nomme mandrocle qui est l'isle de samos et qui apres avoir acheve cet ouvrage quelques jours auparavant cette belle feste s'en estoit retourne en son pais le sujet de ces peintures est l'histoire de venus mais de venus uranie en laquelle les yeux ne peuvent rien voir que de modeste je peintre mesme n'y a pas represente les graces toutes nues suivant la coustume et il les a habillees d'une gaze transparente qui donne beaucoup d'agrement a ses figures en un de ces tableaux l'on voit venus descendre du ciel dans un char 
 tout brillant d'or et tire par des cignes mille amours semblent voiler a l'entour d'elle et descendre les premiers dans l'isle de chipre qui est representee en ce mesme tableau afin d'y preparer toutes choses a la recevoir dans une autre peinture tous ces petits amours luy eslevent un autel de gazon et font des festons de fleurs pour l'orner et pour le preparer a un sacrifice en un autre tableau cette deesse aprend a cupidon a choisir les fleches d'or dont il se doit servir et en un autre encore elle luy met un flambeau a la main et luy monstrant le soleil qui est represente au haut de cette peinture semble luy dire qu'elle veut que les flames dont il embrazera les coeurs soient plus pures que les rayons de ce bel astre enfin seigneur cette deesse est representee en plus de vingt endroits de cette gallerie mais quoy que ce soit en des occupations differentes et que par consequent pour parler en termes de peinture les attitudes ne soient pas semblables c'est pourtant tousjours le mesme visage et le peintre s'y est tellement assujetty qu'il n'y a nulle difference entre toutes ces figures qui representent venus uranie que celle que les diverses scituations de son visage y doivent raisonnablement aporter il est certain qu'encore que tout soit beau en cette galerie cette figure est incomparablement au dessus de tout le reste toutes les autres sont des figures mais celle la semble une personne effective mais une personne divine estant certain que 
 jamais l'on ne peut rien voir de plus beau aussi vous puis-je assurer que toutes les belles dames que philoxipe fit entrer dans cette galerie en eurent de la confusion et advouerent toutes malgre elles que leurs miroirs ne leur faisoient rien voir de semblable toute la compagnie attacha les yeux sur un si beau visage et tomba d'accord en secret que l'imagination du peintre avoit este mille degrez au dessus de tout ce que la nature leur avoit jamais fait voir de plus beau et de plus accomply je dis en secret seigneur car vous jugez bien que le roy et tant de jeunes gens de qualite qui l'accompagnoient estoient trop galans pour dire une pareille chose devant tant de belles personnes ils advouoient pourtant tout haut que l'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus charmant que cette peinture et se contentoient chacun en particulier d'en excepter avec adresse la personne pour qui ils avoient de l'inclination apres que l'on eut bien regarde cette venus pour moy dit la princesse aretaphile je voudrois bien scavoir si le coeur de philoxipe pourroit resister a la beaute d'une personne qui ressembleroit parfaitement cette peinture puis que j'ay pu voir toutes les dames qui font icy respondit il sans oser m'attacher a leur service il est a croire que je serois aussi insensible pour elle ou pour mieux dire aussi respectueux que je l'ay este pour les autres que j'ay veues qui ne sont pas moins belles que cette venus ce n'est pas dit il en sous-riant et sans 
 autre dessein que de dire une simple galanterie pour continuer la conversation que je ne sois bien aise que cette peinture ne soit qu'un effet de l'imagination du fameux mandrocle car je vous advoue qu'il y a je ne scay quel air charmant modester et passionne tout ensemble dans les yeux de cette deesse qui me plairoit peut-estre trop si c'estoit une beaute vivante philoxipe n'eut pas si tost acheve de dire cela avec une grace particuliere que toute la compagnie se mit a rire de cette premiere marque de tendresse que l'on n'avoit jamais veue dans son ame il n'y avoit la personne qui n'eust avec joye anime cette figure s'il eust este possible et qui ne l'eust destachee de quelqu'un de ces tableaux pour en faire une beaute effective afin de voir si philoxipe eust este sensible pour elle et si le coeur si rebelle a l'amour se seroit rendu a des charmes si extraordinaires si cela pouvoit estre disoit la princesse thimoclee je voudrois du moins que cette belle personne eust autant de douceur dans l'ame qu'elle en auroit dans les yeux afin qu'il ne manquast rien au bonheur de philoxipe au contraire respondit la belle princesse de salamis il me semble que pour punir mon frere de son insensibilite il seroit plus juste de desirer qu'elle fust aussi fiere que belle et je doute mesme adjousta aretaphile si pour un plus grand chastiment il ne faudroit point la luy souhaiter stupide et orgueilleuse ou plustost dit la princesse agariste inconstante volage 
 et changeant d'humeur tous les jours et pour le punir mieux encore adjousta le roy en riant qu'elle eust ensemble tout ce que vous venez de dire a ces mots philoxipe leur demanda grace et les supplia tous de le laisser du moins jouir du repos que la liberte donne a ceux qui la possedent mais comme le soleil s'estoit desja assez abaisse il proposa la promenade a cette belle compagnie qui l'accepta sans resistance il la mena dans un grand parterre qui est une isle parce qu'il a fait conduire un bras de la riviere de clarie tout a l'entour de la passant sur un petit pont a balustrade de cuivre il les conduisit dans une allee d'orangers de douze cens pas de long que le soleil ne scauroit jamais penetrer tant ces beaux arbres sont grands et couverts de feuilles et de fleurs cette allee est encore traversee par le milieu d'un grand canal d'eau vive et l'on se trouve enfin en un endroit ou il y a onze allees qui se croisent au bout desquelles l'on trouve par tout la riviere qui semble pour ainsi dire se plaire si fort en ce lieu la qu'elle ne le puisse abandonner toutes ces allees sont ou d'orangers ou de citronniers ou de mirthes ou de lauriers ou de grenadiers ou de palmiers mais apres estre arrivez au bout d'une deces allees que philoxipe leur fit prendre ils se trouverent dans une grande prairie que la riviere r'assemblee en ce lieu la traverse toute droite comme un grand canal et qui pour 
 faire mieux voir la purete de ses ondes et la beaute du gravier sur lequel elle coule n'a sur ses bords ny canes ny loncs ny roseaux ny arbustes et a seulement ses rives bordees d'un gazon fort espais et tout seme de glaieuls de couleurs differentes de narcisses de jonquilles et de toutes les autres fleurs qui aiment la fraischeur et l'humidite cette belle riviere a aussi quantite de cignes qui nagent si gravement que l'on diroit qu'ils ont peur de troubler la belle eau qui les soutient et pour faire qu'il ne manquast rien a cette feste cette aimable riviere par les ordres de philoxipe se trouva toute couverte de petits bateaux faits en forme de galeres qui estoient peints de vives couleurs et conduits par de jeunes garcons en habillement maritime mais pourtant tres propre qui ramant doucement avec des avirons peints de vert et d'incarnat vinrent au bord recevoir cette illustre compagnie a laquelle de jeunes bergers fort galamment vestus qui menoient des troupeaux le long de cette prairie de l'autre coste de l'eau firent entendre une musique champestre fort agreable leurs houlettes estoient garnies de cuivre dore et semees de chiffres et leurs flustes et leurs musettes estoient aussi ornees que leurs moutons qui avoient tous les cornes chargees de fleurs cent agreables bergeres habillees de blanc et couronnees de chapeaux de roses estoient en divers endroits de cette prairie qui 
 pour rendre encore ce lieu la plus agreable mesloient la douceur de leurs voix a la musique champestre dont je vous ay desja parle un si beau lieu ne pouvant sans doute inspirer que de la joye et le plaisir n'estant pas une disposition a la cruaute le roy trouva un peu plus de douceur dans l'esprit d'aretaphile et tout ce qu'il y avoit d'amants en cette compagnie les plus maltraitez eurent du moins quelque trefue a leur suplice et furent malgre eux enchantez d'un si aimable lieu que l'on voit borne tout a l'entour d'une palissade fort haute fort espaisse et fort brune ou dans des niches que l'on a pratiquees de distance en distance font des statues de marbre blanc les plus belles que la grece ait jamais veu faire mais seigneur il paroist bien que je suis moy mesme enchante dans un lieu si plein de charmes puis que je m'y arreste si long temps il faut donc que je me haste d'en faire partir une si belle compagnie que philoxipe reconduisit luy mesme jusques a paphos apres luy avoir encore fait offrir une colation magnifique a quelques jours de la estant revenu chez luy avec intention d'y estre deux journees entieres a s'entretenir luy mesme il employa tout ce temps la fort agreablement mais comme l'humeur de philoxipe est de preferer les beautez universelles ou l'art ne se mefie point a celles ou il entreprend de perfectionner la nature il sortit de son parc et sans vouloir estre accompagne que d'un escuyer il fut au bord de 
 la riviere avec intention de remonter jusques a sa source qui n'est pas fort esloignee de la et qui certainement est une des plus belles choses du monde car seigneur cette merveilleuse source qui forme toute seule une riviere est enfermee entres rochers d'une hauteur excessive au pied du plus grand et du plus esleve est une grotte profonde qui s'estend a perte de veue a droit et a gauche sous ces rochers inaccessibles au fonds de cette grote est une source tranquile qui quelquefois s'esleve jusques a la voute de l'antre qui la contient et quelquefois s'abaisse aussi jusques a n'avoir plus que cinq ou fix pieds d'estendue cette inegalite fait que la riviere de clarie aussi bien que toutes les autres de chipre parte plustost pour un beau torrent que pour un beau fleuve quoy que cela ne soit pas positivement ainsi car elle ne tarit jamais tout a fait comme toutes les autres font depuis cette fameuse source jusques a cinq cens pas de la l'on voit des deux bords et du milieu de son lict sortir mille torrents d'eau d'entre de gros cailloux que le temps le soleil et l'humidite ont peints de couleurs differentes comme le marbre et le laspe quelques uns de ces torrents roulent avec impetuosite les autres jalissent avec violence les uns grondent les autres ne font presque que murmurer et tous ensemble faisant des montagnes d'escume se loignent et se precipitent les uns sur les autres pour aller en diligence 
 former a cent pas de la l'aimable et belle riviere de clarie qui patte a la maison de philoxipe dont je vous ay desja parle l'on diroit seigneur s'il est permis de parler ainsi que ses eaux ont quelque joye d'avoir quitte cet endroit penchant inegal et pierreux qui leur fait faire de si belles cascades naturelles et qu'apres cette agitation tumultueuse elles sont bien aises de couler plus lentement entre les saules et les prairies qui bordent ses rives au commencement de sa course vous jugez bien seigneur que philoxipe ne choisit pas un lieu desagreable pour sa promenade aussi a chaque pas qu'il faisoit il admiroit tousjours davantage la beaute de cette merveilleuse source et sembloit avoir quelque impatience d'y estre arrive afin de s'y reposer car j'avois oublie de vous dire que des qu'il avoit approche des rochers il estoit descendu de cheval et l'avoit laisse a son escuyer avec ordre de l'attendre et de ne le future point 
 
 
 
 
il marchoit donc seul le long de ces beaux torrents de qui la veue et le bruit le faisoient refuser agreablement lors que venant a lever les yeux il vit a quinze ou vingt pas devant luy une femme fort propre quoy qu'avec un habillement fort simple qui estoit assise sur une roche couverte d'une agreable mousse et qui sembloit prendre plaisir a regarder attentivement ces chusses d'eau qui venoient se briser a ses pieds comme pour luy rendre hommage d'abord philoxipe eut quelque dessein de ne 
 troubler pas le plaisir d'une personne qui avoit cette conformite aveque luy d'aimer a refuser au bord de l'eau et de se destourner un peu afin de ne l'interrompre pas mais s'estant aproche un peu plus pres et voyant que son habillement quoy que blanc et propre n'estoit pas celuy d'une personne de qualite il marcha droit vers le lieu ou elle estoit parce que le chemin y estoit beaucoup plus aise que partout ailleurs mais comme il fut fort pres d'elle le bruit qu'il faisoit en marchant ayant fait tourner la teste a cette femme il fut estrangement surpris de voir non seulement la plus belle personne du monde mais de connoistre encore parfaitement que cette admirable venus qu'il avoit dans sa galerie et qu'il avoit tousjours creue n'estre que l'effet d'une belle imagination estoit le veritable portrait de cette belle personne philoxipe estonne et ravy de cette merveilleuse apparition changea de couleur et saluant cette fille avec plus de civilite que sa condition ne sembloit en devoir exiger de luy il s'avanca encore vers elle mais s'estant levee en diligence et luy ayant rendu son salut en rougissant comme ayant quelque confusion d'estre veue seule en ce lieu la elle se hasta de marcher pour aller rejoindre un vieillard et une femme assez avancee en age qui n'estoient qu'a vingt pas de la cependant comme elle craignoit peutestre d'estre suivie elle tourna deux fois la teste vers philoxipe qui fut tousjours plus esblouy 
 de l'esclat de sa beaute et plus confirme en son opinion ce prince surpris de cette rencontre eut une forte curiosite de scavoir qui estoit cette jeune et admirable personne et de scavoir aussi par quelle voye mandrocle avoit pu faire son portrait et pourquoy mandrocle luy avoit tousjours assure que la peinture qu'il avoit faite n'estoit qu'un effet de son imagination cependant il la suivit des yeux autant qu'il le put et marcha mesme sur ses pas mais comme il s'estoit arreste d'abord assez long temps sans scavoir pourquoy il s'arrestoit il la perdit de veue parmy les rochers aussi tost qu'elle eut joint ceux qu'elle estoit alle retrouver et ne put plus les descouvrir philoxipe ne s'y obstina pourtant pas extremement quoy qu'il en eust une forte envie et se r'aprochant du bord de l'eau au lieu de continuer de remonter vers la source il redescendit et soit par hazard ou par dessein car luy mesme dit qu'il n'en scait rien il fut s'assoir sur cette mesme roche couverte de mousse ou il avoit veu cette belle personne qui l'ayant choisie comme un bel endroit faisoit qu'elle estoit fort remarquable philoxipe estant en ce lieu la ne put jamais penser a autre chose qu'a cette belle inconnue et qu'a l'agreable avanture qui luy venoit d'arriver il se souvint alors de la guerre qu'on luy avoit faite dans sa galerie et de ce qu'il avoit dit de cette peinture que l'on avoit tant louee et prenant quelque plaisir a s'entretenir sur ce sujet que 
 la princesse aretaphile disoit il en luy mesme seroit aise si elle scavoit ce qui m'est arrivee et quels reproches me seroit le roy s'il en estoit advert ils diroient sans doute que la deesse a fait un miracle pour me punir en me faisant rencontrer une fille de vilage pour l'objet de mon choix mais disoit il un moment apres cette fille de vilage est plus belle que tout ce qu'il y a de beau a la cour et je me vangeray fort agreablement de toutes nos dames si je puis un jour la retrouver et la leur faire voir il prit donc la resolution de revenir de lendemain en cet endroit et cependant de n'en parler point qu'il ne l'eust retrouvee parce que cela eust paru un mensonge plustost qu'une verite a moins que d'estre en pouvoir de faire voir cette merveille il s'en retourna donc chez luy mais il s'y en retourna assez refueur comme il y fut arrive il fut droit a sa galerie et se confirma si puissamment en la croyance qu'il avoit que sa venus uranie estoit le veritable portrait de cette belle inconnue qu'il n'en douta plus du tout il comparoit tous les traits de cette peinture avec l'image qu'il avoit dans l'esprit sans y trouver nulle difference sinon que l'original estoit encore beaucoup au dessus de tout ce que mandrocle avec tout son art en avoit pu representer dans ses tableaux il luy sembloit avoir remarque sur son visage un air de jeunesse beaucoup plus agreable une modestie beaucoup plus majestueuse et une douceur infiniment plus 
 charmante enfin le prince philoxipe qui avoit plus accoustume d'estre dans son cabinet que dans sa galerie s'apercevant que malgre luy la veue de cette peinture l'y retenoit en sortit avec quelque espece de chagrin de voir qu'une fois en sa vie il n'avoit pas este maistre de ses sentimens il en sortit donc en se faisant quelque violence et passa le reste du jour et toute la nuit sans pouvoir se deffaire de cet agreable phantosme qui le suivit par tout le lendemain il retourna au mesme lieu ou il avoit veu cette belle personne s'imaginant tousjours qu'il auroit un fort grand plaisir de la faire voir au roy et a toute la cour mais quoy qu'il remontast la riviere jusques a sa source il ne la trouva point et il fut tres long temps a chercher inutilement cette avanture le fachant beaucoup il chercha du moins s'il ne verroit point quelque petit sentier vers le lieu ou il avoit veu aller la belle inconnue mais comme c'estoit de la roche toute descouverte les pas n'y faisoient nulle impression et l'on ne descouvroit nulles traces de chemin parmy ces rochers desespere donc qu'il estoit d'avoir nulle connoissance de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir il s'en retourna chez luy resolu absolument de ne revenir plus en ce lieu la cependant il n'y fut pas si tost qu'il eust souhaite d'estre encore au bord de la riviere il s'informa de tous ses officiers si dans les lieux d'alentour ils n'avoient jamais rencontre une personne qui ressemblast cette venus et leur 
 demanda fort soigneusement en quels lieux et en quelles maisons alloit mandrocle quand il peignoit sa galerie ils luy respondirent qu'ils n'avoient jamais veu celle dont il leur parloits et que mandrocle estoit un solitaire qui ne voyoit personne qui passoit toute sa vie a aller dessigner parmy ces rochers et qu'ils luy voyoient presque toujours prendre le chemin de la source de clarie philoxipe n'en pouvant scavoir autre chose fit ce qu'il put pour ne songer plus a cette rencontre mais quoy qu'il eust resolu de partir le lendemain et des en retourner a paphos il demeura a clarie car sa belle maison porte le nom de la riviere qui y passe et quelque dessein qu'il eust fait de ne retourner plus chercher la belle inconnue ses pas malgre qu'il en eust le portoient tousjours vers le lieu ou il l'avoit rencontree ils s'en revint plusieurs fois sans scavoir non plus pourquoy il eust bien voulu n'y aller pas que la raison pour laquelle il y alloit sans en avoir l'intention mais enfin cedant a sa curiosite il retourna parmy ses rochers resolu de se laisser conduire au hazard laissant tousjours son escuyer et son cheval au mesme lieu ou il les avoit laissez la premiere fois il erra donc long temps parmy ces montagnes et se trouvant un peu las il s'assit mais a peine se fut il mis sur une roche d'ou il decouvroit de fort loing qu'il vit une petite habitation entre des rochers en un lieu qui luy paru fort sauvage si bien que se relevant peut- estre 
 dit il en luy mesme est ce en ce lieu la que les dieux ont cache le thresor que je viens chercher en effet il n'eut pas marche trente pas qu'il vit la belle inconnue accompagnee de ce mesme vieillard de cette mesme femme qu'il avoit desja veue une autre fois et de trois ou quatre autres toutes habillees simplement qui sembloient prendre un chemin destourne pour s'en aller a un petit temple qui est vers le coste de la mer et que l'on a basty pour la commodite des estrangers qui viennent trafiquer a l'isle et qui abordent de ce coste la ce temple n'estant pas a plus de six stades de cette petite habitation sauvage ce n'estoit qu'une promenade d'y aller a pied philoxipe ravy de cette rencontre fut vers cette petite troupe et adressant la parole au vieillard apres avoir salue et et regarde la belle inconue avec plus d'admiration que la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit trouvee mon pere luy dit il scavez vous qui habite cette petite maison que je voy parmy ces rochers seigneur luy respondit cet homme ce sont des personnes qui ne meritent pas l'honneur que vous leur faites de leur parler et je ne pensois pas que ma cabane peust donner de la curiosite a un homme de vostre condition pendant que ce vieillard parloit philoxipe avoit les yeux attachez sur la belle inconnue avec une attention si extraordinaire qu'il l'en fit rougir et qu'il l'obligea a destourner ses regards il eust bien voulu luy adresser la parole mais il m'a dit depuis qu'il eut peur de 
 destruire luy mesme un si agreable enchantement et de trouver autant de rudesse dans son esprit qu'elle avoit de douceur dans les yeux joint qu'il la voyait si modeste qu'il s'imagina aisement qu'en presence de ses parens car il vit bien qu'elle agissoit comme estant fille de celuy a qui il parloit elle ne luy seroit pas un long discours il demanda encore a ce bon vieillard s'il alloit souvent a ce temple s'il y avoit long temps qu'il demeuroit la s'il estoit de chipre si c'estoit la toute sa famille et cent autres choses pour faire durer la conversation mais quoy que cet homme luy respondist fort exactement philoxipe n'en entendit presque rien et ils le quiterent apres qu'il les eut congediez tout interdit sans qu'il sceust autre chose sinon qu'il avoit reveu la belle inconnue qu'elle estoit encore beaucoup plus aimable qu'il n'avoit pense qu'il scavoit sa demeure et le temple ou elle alloit quelque fois cependant il la suivit des yeux autant qu'il put il marcha mesme quelque temps apres cette petite troupe mais enfin ayant honte de ce qu'il faisoit et s'en demandant la raison il s'en retourna sur ses pas et s'en alla dans sa galerie n'y ayant plus d'autre lieu en toute sa maison qui luy fust agreable que celuy la comme il y fut entre il se mit a se promener avec une inquietude qu'il n'avoit jamais sentie et bien loing de continuer d'avoir le dessein de faire voir la belle inconnue a toute la cour pour la surprendre agreablement il fit ce qu'il put pour 
 prendre celuy de ne la revoir jamais luy mesme tant cette seconde veue avoit mis de trouble en son coeur pour cet effet il sort de sa galerie avec precipitation monte a cheval et s'en retourne a paphos le roy qui l'aimoit tendrement et qui avoit autant d'amitie pour luy que d'amour pour la princesse aretaphile se pleint de son long sejour a la campagne et luy fait toutes les carresses imaginables il le prie en suite de voir la princesse aretaphile parce qu'ils avoient eu quelque petit demesle ensemble il le luy raconte et luy en parle avec exageration et enfin philoxipe fait ce qu'il veut voit la princesse et les remet bien ensemble mais quoy qu'il face et ou qu'il aille la belle inconnue occupe toutes ses pensees il la conpare a toutes les belles qu'il voit et cependant soit qu'il regarde aretaphile thimoclee agariste ou cent autres il ne voit que la belle princesse de salamis sa soeur qui peust en quelque facon aprocher de sa beaute et encore croit il luy faire une si grande grace de ne mettre la belle inconnue que cent degrez au dessus d'elle qu'il s'en repent un moment apres et soustient en secret dans son coeur qu'elle est mille et mille fois plus belle que tout ce qu'il y a de beau au monde a deux jours de la il s'en retourne a clarie et des le lendemain il s'en va a ce petit temple dont j'ay parle ou ceux qui estoient de l'isle n'alloient presque jamais n'estant simplement basty que pour les estrangers et c'est la raison pourquoy la beaute de la belle inconnue 
 n'avoit fait nul bruit ny dans aepie qui n'en est pas loing ny dans soly qui en est assez proche ny dans clarie qui en est tout contre philoxipe donc malgre luy fut a ce petit temple ou il ne fut pas si tost entre qu'il aperceut cette belle fille tousjours accompagnee des mesmes personnes qui prioit la deesse qu'on y adoroit avec beaucoup de devotion enfin seigneur pour ne vous desguiser pas plus long temps ce que philoxipe eut bien de la peine a s'advouer a luy mesme cette derniere veue acheva de le vaincre car comme le sacrifice fut assez long l'amour eut autant de loisir qu'il en faloit pour l'attacher avec des chaines indissolubles vous pouvez bien juger seigneur qu'il eust este fort aise a philoxipe de parler a cette fille au sortir du temple s'il l'eust voulu et de la suivre chez elle mais quoy que l'amour fust desja le plus fort dans son coeur il n'en avoit pas encore chasse la honte et philoxipe m'a fait l'honneur de me dire depuis qu'il avoit une telle confusion de sa foiblesse et de la bassesse de la condition de cette inconnue qu'il y avoit des momens ou il eust voulu estre mort comme cette petite troupe champestre fut partie et qu'il fut retourne chez luy avec un chagrin estrange quoy dit il en luy mesme philoxipe cet insensible philoxipe que tout ce qu'il y a de belles princesses en chipre n'a pu toucher du moindre sentiment d'amour sera amoureux d'une personne nee sous une cabane nourrie 
 parmy des rochers et eslevee sans doute parmy des sauvages ha non non cela ne scauroit arriver et je m'arracherois plustost le coeur que de souffrir qu'il conservast plus long temps un sentiment si bas et si indigne de luy mais disoit il un moment apres la supreme beaute est quelque chose de divin ou l'on ne scauroit resister et si cette inconuue est plus belle que tout ce qu'il y a de princesses au monde elle merite mieux qu'elles l'amour de l'insensibie philoxipe toutefois disoit il encore je suis bien assure que lors que le sage solon me dit que l'on pouvoit se laisser vaincre sans honte une fois en sa vie a l'amour il n'entendoit pas que ce fust a l'amour d'une bergere comme est sans doute celle que a ces mots n'ayant pas la force d'achever et de dire que j'aime la honte luy ferma la bouche et il fut quelque temps sans parler puis tout d'un coup reprenant la parole non non disoit il solon n'aprouveroit pas la folie qui me possede car enfin aimer une personne tant au dessous de soy une personne de qui l'on n'ose demander le nom une personne a qui je n'ay jamais parle et a laquelle je n'oserois parler de peur de trouver son esprit indigne de sa beaute une personne dis-je qui peut-estre n'entendra pas mon langage qui peut-estre n'a ny bonte ny vertu et que les dieux n'ont fait naistre admirablement belle que pour ma confusion et pour me desesperer non non encore une fois il faut se vaincre en cette occasion il faut 
 remedier de bonne heure a un mal si redoutable et comme il est des venins de qui l'effet ne s'empesche que par eux mesmes il faut que la belle inconnue me guerisse elle mesme du mal qu'elle m'a fait il faut que je la revoye et que je luy parle que je l'entretienne et que les deffauts de son esprit et la rudesse de sa conversation chassent de mon ame l'amour quelles charmes de sa beaute et la douceur de ses yeux y ont fait regner mais dieux reprenoit il est il possible qu'une si belle personne puisse avoir quelques deffauts songe philoxipe disoit il a ce que tu veux entreprendre et crains qu'en cherchant un remede a ton mal tu ne le rendes incurable c'estoit de cette sorte que philoxipe raisonnoit qui en effet prit la resolution d'aller le lendemain a la petite maison ou il scavoit que demeuroit la belle inconnue afin de luy parler et de se guerir s'imaginant que la honte qu'il auroit de se voir dans cette cabane et la grossiere conversation de cette fille le gueriroient infailliblement de sa passion mais il ne scavoit pas encore que c'est un effet ordinaire de l'amour de faire que ceux qui sont amoureux se servent de toutes sortes de pretextes pour s'aprocher de ce qu'ils aiment sans scavoir eux mesmes qu'ils n'y vont pas pour ce qu'ils y pensent aller philoxipe donc ne manqua pas le jour suivant de prendre le chemin des rochers au pied desquels selon sa coustume il laissa ses gens mais en allant il se trouvoit en une 
 inquietude estrange tantost il souhaitoit qu'effectivement cette jeune personne n'euss ny esprit ny douceur et tantost aussi il desiroit de n'y rencontrer rien qui destruisist ce que faisoit sa beaute enfin ne scachant s'il vouloit estre guery ou estre malade s'il vouloit estre libre ou estre captif et ne scachant pas mesme encore quel pretexte donner a cette bizarre visite il marcha et arriva en un petit vallon scitue entre des pointes de rochers desrobe a la veue du monde et tout propre en effet a cacher un thresor infiniment precieux il y a au fond de ce petit vallon une prairie fort agreable et sur le panchant de ces rochers un petit bois de mirthes et de grenadiers sauvages meslez de quelques orangers au pied de ce petit bois est une maison fort basse mais assez bien entretenue philoxipe en s'en aprochant sentit un redoublement d'inquietude estrange et fut presque tente de s'en retourner tant il avoit de confusion de sa foiblesse mais enfin l'amour le poussant par force il entra dans la court de cette maison qui est fermee d'une petite palissade de lauriers a hauteur d'apuy qui sont fort communs en nostre isle en suitte ayant veu une porte ouverte il entra dans une petite chambre aussi propre que simplement meublee dans laquelle il trouva la belle inconnue et deux femmes qui faisoient des festons de fleurs avec intention de les porter le lendemain au temple afin de les donner au sacrificateur qui y demeuroit pour 
 en orner les victimes d'un sacrifice que l'on y devoit faire je vous laisse a juger combien cette jeune perdonne deut estre estonnee de voir entrer dans sa cabane un homme comme philoxipe qui est tousjours admirablement bien vestu et qui comme vous scavez a la mine extremement haute elle ne le vit pas plustost que se levant avec precipitation elle fit tomber toutes les fleurs qu'elle tenoit de sorte que par ce petit accident elle donna lieu a philoxipe de commencer sa conversation par un petit service qu'il luy rendit ne luy estant pas possible de ne luy aider point a ramasser ses fleurs seigneur luy dit elle en l'en voulant empescher ne vous donnez pas cette peine car nos bois et nostre prairie en produisent tant d'autres semblables qu'il me seroit bien aise de reparer cette perte quand elles seroient gastees celles de vos bois et de vos prairies luy respondit philoxipe ne sont pas si precieuses que celles que je vous rends puis qu'elles n'ont pas este cueillies par une belle fille comme vous seigneur luy dit elle en rougissant la deesse a qui j'ay dessein de les offrir regardera bien plus l'intention de mon coeur que mon visage qui n'a rien sans doute qui puisse vous avoir oblige a parler comme vous venez de faire mais seigneur poursuivit elle adroitement sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre afin de changer de discours vous avez peut estre quelque chose a commander a mon pere qui sera bien fache de ne s'estre pas trouve icy pour 
 le grand cyrus avoit la gloire de vous obeir mais il est alle avec ma mere en un lieu d'ou il ne reviendra que ce soir philoxipe entendant parler cette jeune personne avec tant de jugement tant d'adresse et tant de civilite luy qui n'avoit attendu tout au plus que de trouver beaucoup d'innocence et de naifuete en sa conversation n'avoit presque pas la force de luy respondre il la regardoit avec admiration et l'escoutoit avec estonnement il voyoit en son habit une negligence si propre et il trouvoit un charme si inexpliquable au son de sa voix qu'il en estoit ravy son langage n'estoit pas seulement grec mais il avoit encore toute la purete atique et toute la politesse de la cour elle avoit de plus un agrement infiny en son action qui sans avoir rien d'affecte n'avoit aussi rien de rustique il trouvoit en ses regards quelque chose de si modeste et en la nettete de son teint une fraicheur si aimable qu'il n'eut presque pas assez de liberte d'esprit pour luy respondre neantmoins apres avoir fait un effort sur luy mesme il est vray dit il ma belle fille que j'avois quelque chose a dire a vostre pere mais en attendant que je le voye vous voudrez bien que je vous demande pourquoy il a choisi une demeure si solitaire et si sauvage seigneur luy dit elle j'ay tant de respect pour luy que je ne me suis pas informee de ce que vous me demandez et je me suis mesme imaginee que cette demeure n'est pas de son choix et qu'il 
 n'a fait que soumettre son esprit a sa fortune qui ne luy ayant point donne de palais n empesche pas qu'il ne s'estime heureux dans sa cabane mais est il possible luy dit il que cette austere solitude ne vous donne point de melancolie seigneur luy respondit elle en sousriant avec beaucoup de modestie vous m'allez sans doute trouver bien rustique et bien sauvage d'oser vous dire que la seule inquietude que j'ay eue parmy ces rochers depuis que j'y demeure est celle que j'ay presentement de vous voir en un lieu ou je ne voy jamais personne et ou sans doute je ne devrois pas vous voir si j'estois en estat de vous en pouvoir empescher n'estant ce ne me semble pas trop de la bien-seance qu'un homme de vostre condition s'amuse a parler si long temps a une personne de la mienne je serois bien malheureux luy dit il si je vous avois despleu et si je vous importunois mais aimable personne que vous estes dittes moy vostre nom et celuy de vos parents et me dittes encore quel dieu ou quelle deesse vient vous enseigner dans ces bois seigneur luy dit elle l'on m'apelle policrite mon pere se nomme cleanthe et ma mere megisto mais pour ces dieux que vous dittes qui m'enseignent poursuivit elle en sous-riant ils m'ont encore apris si peu de choses que je ne scay pas mesme la civilite et pour vous le tesmoigner je prens la hardiesse de vous dire que puis que les personnes de qui je depends 
 ne font point icy je voudrais bien que vous ne trouvasisez pas mauvais que je vous suppliasse de ne tarder pas davantage en un lieu ou vous auriez plus d'incommodite que de plaisir ce que vous me dittes repliqua philoxipe ne me fera pas changer d'avis et il faut sans doute encore une fois que les dieux vous ayent inspire en un moment ce que les autres ont bien de la peine a apprendre en toute leur vie car que vous soyez la plus belle fille du monde et plus belle sous une cabane que les reines ne font dans leurs palais quoy que cela soit rare il ne paroist pas impossible mais que vivant parmy des bois et des rochers vous agissiez et parliez comme vous faites ha belle policrite c'est ce que je ne puis comprendre et je ne puis m'imaginer que l'isle de chipre vous ait veu naistre parmy ces rochers sauvages il est certain seigneur reprit cette fille que je ne suis pas nee en cette isle mais je suis partie de celle de crete si jeune que je ne m'en souviens presque point bien est il vray que la conversation que j'ay icy ne me peut pas avoir donne l'accent du pais car je ne parle au ce personne qu'avec ceux qui font dans cette maison qui ne font pas de chipre non plus que moy quoy policrite reprit philoxipe vous passez toute vostre vie sans parler et vous parlez comme vous faites encore une fois cette cabane est indigne de vous et il faut chercher les voyes de vous en tirer j'y suis si contente seigneur reprit elle que ce seroit me 
 rendre un mauvais office et je m'imagine que vous n'en avez pas le dessein c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de m'y laisser dans la solitude ou j'estois quand vous y estes arrive caraus si bien ne vous respondrois-je plus guere n'y ayant presque rien au monde dont je puisse parler par ma propre experience philoxipe qui remarqua en effet que cette jeune personne avoit de l'inquietude de le voir si long temps aupres d'elle quoy que ce ne fust pas d'une maniere desobligeante ne voulut pas la facher de sorte que se faisant une violence extreme il voulut s'en aller apres l'avoir saluee avec autant de civilite que si elle eust este sur le throsne mais seigneur luy dit elle fort agreablement vous scavez que je me nomme policrite et je ne pourray pas dire a mon pere le nom de celuy qui luy a fait l'honneur de le demander vous luy direz reprit ce prince tout transporte d'amour que je m'apelle philoxipe ha seigneur respondit policrite je vous demande pardon si je ne vous ay pas traite avec assez de respect quoy repliquat'il mon nom ne vous est il pas inconnu nullement seigneur luy dit elle et j'ay entendu dire des choses de vous a mon pere quoy qu'il ne vous connoisse que sur le rapport d'autruy qui font que je ne doute point qu'il ne soit ravy de joye quand il scaura que vous luy voulez faire la grace de luy commander quelque chose pour vostre service philoxipe tout charme d'entendre parler policrite de cette sorte 
 luy dit encore cent choses obligeantes et passionnecs si elle eust voulu les entendre mais elle y respondit tousjours avec tant d'adresse et tant de modestie que philoxipe en fut encore beaucoup plus amoureux il la quitta donc et s'eloigna de cette cabane avec une douleur inconcevable comme il fut arrive au mesme lieu d'ou il l'avoit aperceue la premiere fois il s'y arresta et regardant d'un coste sa belle et magnifique maison de clarie et de l'autre cette petite habitation champestre ha philoxipe s'ecria t'il qui croiroit qu'en l'estat qu'est ton ame tu pusses preferer cette malheureuse cabane a ce palais enchante et que ton coeur si insensible a l'amour et si remply du desir d'une veritable gloire pust s'abaisser aux pieds de policrite mais aussi reprenoit il seroit il possible que si philoxipe doit aimer quelque chose ce ne doive pas estre la plus belle chose du monde et si cela est policrite doit estre l'objet de ses desirs et de son amour policrite dis-je de qui les regards font sans artifice de qui les paroles font sinceres de qui toutes les pensees ont innocentes qui ne connoist pas mesme le crime de qui le coeur n'est preoccupe d'aucune passion qui n'aime encore que les bois les prez les fleurs et les fontaines qui ne connoist qu'a peine sa propre beaute et qui sans doute a toutes les inclinations vertueuses mais apres tout reprenoit il ayant este quelque temps sans parler l'amour est une foiblesse dont je me suis seulement deffendu jusques 
 icy parce qu'en effet j'ay cru qu'il estoit beau de n'en estre pas capable mais l'amour d'une personne de naissance si inegale est une folie a laquelle je dois resister opiniastrement car enfin de quel front oserois-je paroistre a la cour de quelque beaute que l'adorable policrite soit pourveue je n'oserois montrer les chaisnes qu'elle me fait porter et il faut les rompre avec violence ou les cacher du moins si bien que personne ne les apercoive jamais ce fut en cette resolution que philoxipe s'en retourna chez luy et de la a paphos mais il y parut si melancolique qu'il fut contraint de feindre qu'il se trouvoit un peu mal le roy qui le vit le soir mesme et chez luy et chez la princesse aretaphile s'aperceut de son chagrin et le pressa de luy en descouvrir la cause mais philoxipe luy dit ce qu'il avoit dit aux autres la compagnie estoit grande ce soir la et tout ce qu'il y a de beau a la cour y estoit ce qui fut cause que philoxipe dans ses resveries se demanda cent et cent fois a luy mesme pourquoy puis qu'il devoit aimer ce n'estoit pas quelqu'une deces illustres personnes cependant bien qu'il voulust se faire quelque violence et tascher mesme d'aimer par raison et par force il n'en put jamais venir a bout et l'image de policrite estoit si fortement emprainte dans son coeur que rien ne l'en pouvoit effacer il passa trois jours de cette sorte avec une inquietude extreme et le quatriesme il retourna malgre luy a clarie et 
 de clarie chez cleanthe qu'il rencontra d'abord appuye sur cette petite palissade de lauriers qui fermoit sa court ce sage vieillard ne le vit pas plustost qu'il fut au devant de luy et le receut avec une civilite qui n'avoit rien de rustique seigneur luy dit il j'avois creu que ma fille s'estoit trompee lors qu'elle m'avoit dit vostre nom et c'est ce qui m'a empesche d'aller recevoir vos commandemens a clarie joint qu'un homme de ma fortune et de mon age a quelque peine a s imaginer qu'il puisse servir de quelque chose a un prince comme vous la vertu luy respondit philoxipe se fait des amis de tous ages et de toutes conditions mais cleanthe je ne demande plus qui a apris a parler a policrite apres vous avoir entendu mais je vous demande a vous mesme si c'est par necessite ou par choix que vous habitez cette petite maison car si c'est le premier vous n'y demeurerez pas long temps et si c'est le dernier je viendray quelque fois l'habiter aveque vous seigneur luy repliqua cleanthe en sous riant les petites cabanes ne doivent point estre la demeure des grands princes il est vray reprit philoxipe mais les grandes vertus ne doivent pas non plus habiter dans les petites cabanes et seroient beaucoup mieux dans de grands palais c'est pourquoy je vous offre ma maison de clarie ou vous et toute vostre famille ferez plus commodement qu'icy seigneur respondit cleanthe il est beau a une personne de vostre condition et de vostre vertu de vouloir 
 secourir les malheureux mais il ne seroit pas juste d'abuser de cette bonte qui peut-estre mieux employee en quelque autre occasion car enfin je ne souffre point dans cette cabane mon ame n'estant pas plus grande qu'elle y demeure en repos et trouvant en ce petit coing de terre tout ce qui est necessaire pour n'avoir besoin de personne j'y vy beaucoup plus heureux que ceux qui habitent des palais et qui portent encore leurs desirs plus loing mais sage cleanthe luy dit philoxipe ne me direz vous point quelle fortune vous a amene icy et precisement de quelle condition vous estes seigneur reprit ce vieillard je suis sorty de peres gens de bien et d'une fortune mediocre pour la mienne vous voyez qu'elle est assez basse et je puis vous assurer que ma vertu est assez commune diverses raisons trop longues a dire m'ont oblige a quitter mon pais et a chercher la solitude en cette isle ou il y a desja long temps que je demeure mais reprit philoxique ne craignez vous point que policrite que l'on peut apeller un thresor ne soit pas en assurance en un lieu comme celuy cy quand je tomberois d'accord respondit cleanthe que policrite seroit ce que vous dites j'aurois encore a vous respondre que puis que ce thresor n'est sceu que du prince philoxipe je le tiens en seurete vous avez raison mon pere luy dit il car je vous promets de vous proteger contre tout ce qui voudroit vous nuire apres cela 
 cleanthe luy ayant offert de se reposer il le fit entrer dans sa maison ou il trouva megisto femme de cleanthe qui le receut avec une civilite qui luy fit bien connoistre que toute cette famille n'avoit rien de sauvage ny de rustique elle avoir aupres d'elle la jeune policrite et encore une autre fille assez agreable que policrite nommoit sa soeur et qui s'apelle doride mais dieux que philoxipe retrouva policrite belle ce jour la et qu'elle acheva puissamment de luy gagner le coeur ses cheveux qui luy pendoient negligeamment sur la gorge qu'une gaze assez transparente cachoit a demy estoient ratachez vers le derriere de la teste par une guirlande de fleurs d'orange et de grenadiers mefiees ensemble au dessous de laquelle pendoit un voile fort clair qui luy servoit a se cacher le visage quand elle alloit au soleil et qui donnoit beaucoup d'agrement a sa coeffure le reste de son habillement estoit blanc et d'une forme agreable ses manches qui estoient fort larges estoient retroussees avec des rubans de belles couleurs et quoy que cet habit n'eust rien du tout de magnifique et qu'au lieu de perles et de diamans policrite ne fust paree que de fleurs il y avoit pourtant quelque chose de si galant et de si propre en sa parure que philoxipe ne l'avoit jamais veue si belle plus il la voyoit plus il l'aimoit et plus il l'entendoit plus il l'admiroit et soit qu'il entretinst cleanthe soit qu'il parlast a megisto soit qu'il s'adressast a policrite 
 ou que mesme il dist quelque civilite a doride il estoit tousjours plus surpris que ne fit il point alors pour les obliger a luy dire quelque chose de plus que ce que cleanthe luy avoit dit et pour les persuader de souffrir qu'il les logeast mieux qu'ils n'estoient il voulut mesme offrir des pierreries a cleanthe pour en faire ce qu'il luy plairoit mais quoy qu'il pend faire il ne put ny rien aprendre ny rien obtenir que la seule permission d'aller quelquefois chez eux encore ne la luy donnerent ils que parce qu'ils ne la luy pouvoient refuser je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire avec quelle assiduite philoxipe retourna en ce lieu la pendant douze jours qu'il fut a clarie sans retourner a paphos mais je vous diray qu'enfin cleanthe qui avoit de l'esprit et megisto qui n'en manquoit pas s'apercevant aisement que la beaute de policrite estoit la cause des visites de ce prince luy firent une grande lecon et luy dirent qu'elle songeast bien a elle et qu'elle conciderast que l'amour de philoxipe ne luy pouvoit estre que dommageable et qu'ainsi elle vescust aveque luy comme avec une personne qu'elle ne devoit jamais regarder qu'avec respect sans souffrir qu'il voulust l'engager a nulle affection particuliere cependant philoxipe qui s'aperceut que jamais il n'auroit la liberte de parler a policrite en particulier si le hazard ne la faisoit naistre fut tant de fois en ce lieu la qu'enfin il la rencontra sans autre compagnie que de la jeune 
 doride cette occasion estant trop favorable pour la perdre il s'aprocha d'elle et la regardant avec beaucoup d'amour ne pensez pas policrite luy dit il que j'aye rien de criminel a vous dire encore que j'aye cherche avec soin a vous entretenir seule mais c'est que ne scachant pas comment vous devez recevoir mon affection j'ay este bien aise de n'avoir point de tesmoins de mon infortune ou de mon bonheur seigneur luy dit policrite en rougissant auparavant que de me parler considerez je vous prie en quel lieu vous estes regardez la cabane que j'habite et voyez l'habillement que je porte non policrite luy repliqua l'amoureux philoxipe je ne voy rien que vos yeux et quand vous auriez une couronne de diamants sur la teste je ne m'en apercevrois non plus que je m'apercoy de ce que vous dites tant il est vray que vostre beaute attache fortement mes regards souffrez donc seigneur luy dit alors cette sage et belle fille que je vous aprenne une autre chose que peut-estre vous ne scavez pas et qui vous doit empescher de me dire rien qui soit injuste c'est seigneur que cette mesme policrite que vous voyez en une petite maison champestre qui ne porte que deshabillemens tous simples qui ne connoist que ses bois et ses rochers a pourtant dans l'esprit malgre sa bassesse et sa simplicite un sentiment de gloire si delicat qui pour peu que vous l'offenciez elle sera capable de mourir de douleur et de desplaisir songez 
 donc seigneur a ne rien dire qui puisse faire croire a policrite que vous ne la connoissez pas car enfin elle a une si forte passion pour la vertu qu'elle auroit bien de la peine a ne hair pas ceux qui luy diroient quelque chose qui luy seroit oppose ne craignez pas adorable policrite luy dit il que je vous die rien qui vous fache ou du moins qui vous doive facher car enfin je vous proteste en presence des dieux qui m'escoutent que la passion que vous avez pour les fleurs pour les fontaines et pour l'email de vos prairies n'est pas plus pure ny plus innocente que celle que j'ay pour policrite et s'il y a de la difference c'est que celle que j'ay pour elle est si violente et si forte qu'il n'est rien que je ne sois capable de faire pour la luy tesmoigner vous ne le pouvez mieux faire seigneur reprit policrite qu'en me faisant la grace de ne me dire plus de semblables choses qui ne serviroient qu'a troubler le repos de ma vie puis que si je ne vous croy point j'auray sans doute quelque chagrin de voir que vous aurez voulu vous moquer de ma simplicite et si je vous croy je seray au desespoir d'estre cause qu'un si grand prince ait receu une passion indigne de luy et une passion de laquelle il ne peut jamais tirer nul avantage car enfin policrite se connoissant et vous connoissant aussi ne voudrait pas faire une faute ny vous obliger non plus a en faire une pour l'amour d'elle ainsi ne vous engagez pas seigneur en une au avanture si facheuse laissez moy 
 dit elle en le regardant d'une maniere qui le retenoit plus qu'elle ne le chassoit quoy que ce fust fans artifice laissez moy dis-je parmy nos bois et nos rochers et allez vous en dans vos palais ou vous ferez mieux qu'icy philoxipe surpris d'entendre parler policrite de cette sorte se jettant a ses genoux non luy dit il adorable policrite vous n'estes point ce que vous paroissez estre et quand vous le feriez vostre vertu vous mettroit encore au dessus de toutes les reines du monde seigneur luy dit elle en le relevant ne vous imaginez pas que les flateries me puissent gagner car si je ne connois pas le monde par ma propre experience je le connois par le raport de mes parens ainsi je scay que l'amour est vie dangereuse passion et sans scavoir precisement ce que c'est je scay qu'il la faut esviter et que celle que vous dites avoir me doit estre plus redoutable qu'une autre et pourquoy policrite reprit il la traitez vous de cette sorte cette innocente passion que vous avez fait naistre dans mon coeur c'est parce dit elle qu'elle ne peut estre qu'injurieuse au prince philoxipe ou a policrite mais luy dit il du moins dites moy de grace si policrite estoit princesse ou si philoxipe estoit de la condition de policrite ce qu'elle penseroit de luy le n'en scay rien seigneur luy respondit elle mais je scay tousjours bien que quand je l'estimerois infiniment et que mesme je l'aimerois beaucoup cleanthe et megisto disposeroient tousjours de moy absolument 
 aprenez moy donc luy dit il s'ils m'estoient favorables si vous leur obeiriez sans repugnance seigneur luy dit elle en sous riant l'on m'a tellement dit qu'il ne faut pas se fier legerement a personne que je ne juge pas a propos de vous reveler un si grand secret comme ils en estoient la cleanthe et megisto arriverent et interrompirent leur entretien d'abord philoxipe remarqua aisement que ces deux personnes avoient quelque inquietude de ses visites c'est pourquoy il se resolut de les faire un peu moins frequentes de peur de se priver pour toujours d'un bien dont il pouvoit jouir quelquefois ainsi donc seigneur philoxipe apres une conversation assez courte partit et s'en retourna non seulement a clarie mais a paphos ou aussi bien le roy luy avoit envoye ordonner de se rendre ne pouvant plus souffrir qu'il fust si long temps en solitude toutes les dames et toute la cour se plaignoient de luy et ne pouvoient comprendre ces longues retraites le roy luy donna alors encore de nouvelles marques de son effection en luy donnant le gouvernement de cithere qui vint a vaquer par la mort de celuy qui le possedoit il luy raconta ce qui luy estoit arrive pendant son absence avec la princesse aretaphile et le conjura de luy parler toujours en sa faveur car luy dit ce prince cette personne s'est mis dans l'esprit de vouloir estre assuree de la couronne de chipre avant que de me donner son coeur et je veux qu'elle me donne 
 son coeur auparavant que de luy donner une couronne philoxipe promit au roy de parler a aretaphile mais ce fut avec tant de melancolie que tout le monde s'en aperceut il resvoit presque tousjours il disoit une chose pour une autre il fuyoit la conversation et s'en retournoit a clarie aussitost qu'il le pouvoit cependant philoxipe trouva plus de resistance qu'il n'avoit pense dans le coeur de policrite car comme cette jeune personne craignoit tout elle n'osoit presque regarder ce prince la difference de sa condition qui faisoit que dans son ame elle luy estoit plus obligee estoit pourtant ce qui faisoit qu'elle le traitoit plus mal philoxipe voulut faire des presents a toute cette vertueuse famille mais ils les refuserent tous cependant il estoit tousjours plus malheureux car encore qu'il aimast policrite passionnement et qu'il l'estimast plus que tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand sur la terre apres tout il ne pouvoit ce resoudre a faire jamais scavoir a personne qu'il avoit une passion si basse il eust sans doute este capable d'aller vivre dans une isle deserte avec policrite mais il ne pouvoit imaginer qu'aux yeux de tout le royaume il peust jamais espouser une fille de cette condition cela n'empeschoit pourtant pas qu'il ne l'aimait d'une affection tres respectueuse et de telle sorte qu'il n'eust pas voulu souffrir un desir criminel dans son coeur cette vertu toute pure et sans artifice qu'il voyoit dans celuy de cette fille luy 
 inspiroit un respect plus grand pour elle que si elle eust este sur le throsne il voyoit donc qu'il aimoit et qu'il aimoit sans esperance de trouver jamais de remede a son mal a moins que de se resoudre d'abandonner et la cour et la royaume et de demander policrite a cleanthe avec une si facheuse condition toutefois ce qui l'affligeoit le plus c'estoit de ne scavoir point comment il estoit dans l'esprit de policrite il la trouvoit douce et civile il ne voyoit nulles marques de haine sur son visage mais il y voyoit aussi une si grande retenue et une modestie si exacte qu'il ne pouvoit connoistre ses sentimens il luy sembla mesme que policrite estoit devenue un peu plus melancolique depuis quelque temps et en effet il ne se trompoit pas car comme la beaute la bonne mine l'esprit et la civilite de philoxipe n'estoient pas des choses que l'on peust voir sans estime la jeune policrite ne pouvoit pas se voir aimee d'un prince comme celuy la sans en avoir le coeur un peu touche de reconnoissance neantmoins comme elle se voyoit en une condition si esloignee de la sienne et que par un sentiment de vertu il faloit resister a cette affection naissante elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de s'affliger de la conqueste qu'elle avoit faite et de s'en pleindre avec sa chere doride qui a aussi beaucoup d'esprit ma soeur luy disoit elle un jour que vous estes heureuse en comparaison de moy de pouvoir encore prendre plaisir a la 
 promenade a cueillir des fleurs au chant des oyseaux et au murmure des fontaines et de n'estre pas reduite au point de vous pleindre de trop de bonne fortune car enfin doride je suis assuree que le coeur de philoxipe est une conqueste que de grandes princesses voudroient avoir faite cependant quoy qu'elles pussent s'en rejouir innocemment il faut que je m'en afflige comme d'un grand mal je voudrois bien ne l'avoir jamais veu ou du moins je me l'imagine car apres tout quoy que je souhaitasse passionnement ce me semble qu'il ne m'aimast plus je suis pourtant bien aise de le voir mais luy disoit doride si l'amour est une chose aussi puissante que l'on dit que scavez vous si philoxipe ne vous aimera point assez pour vous espouser ha ma soeur luy respondit elle comme je ne voudrois pas faire une chose contre mon devoir je ne voudrois pas non plus que philoxipe fist rien contre le sien mais luy repliqua doride vous aimez donc philoxipe puis que vous vous interessez en sa gloire contre vous mesme policrite rougit a ce discours et regardant doride toute confuse si vous connoissiez mieux cette passion que moy luy dit elle je vous descouvrirois tous les sentimens de mon ame afin de scavoir ce que j'en dois croire mais je ne pense pourtant pas que cette dangereuse maladie soit dans mon coeur car s'il vous en souvient nous avons entendu dire a cleanthe et nous avons leu plus d'une fois 
 que l'amour fait perdre la raion qu'il donne cent peines et cent inquietudes qu'il fait quelquesfois commettre des crimes et graces au ciel je ne sens encore rien de tout cela dans mon coeur il me semble que ma raison est assez libre et que la melancolie qui me possede est assez douce car enfin je resve bien souvent il est vray mais je resve avec plaisir et quoy que je ne veuille pas aimer philoxipe il y a pourtant des momens ou je suis bien aise qu'il m'aime mais pour des crimes bien soing d'en vouloir commettre je vous proteste ma soeur que quand il n'y auroit nulle autre raison que celle de ne vouloir pas perdre l'estime de philoxipe je mourrois mille fois plustost que de faire rien d'injuste vous jugez donc bien que craignant les dieux qu'aimant la vertu et voulant me rendre digne de l'affection d'un si grand prince je ne seray jamais rien contre la gloire je le crois ainsi respondit doride mais apres tout ma soeur vous vous abusez quand vous ne croyez point aimer philoxipe car enfin vous n'aimez plus ce que vous aimiez avant sa connoissance vous estes mesme un peu plus propre vous consultez plus souvent le cristal de nos fontaines et vous n'estes plus ce que vous estiez ha ma soeur repliqua policrite si ce que vous dittes est vray j'y donneray bon ordre et je ne verray plus philoxipe que pour le mal traiter afin que me haissant je ne puisse pas l'aimer davantage apres que ces deux jeunes 
 personncs se furent entretenues de cette sorte au bord d'un petit ruisseau cleanthe et megisto qui avoient change de sentimens et de resolution y arriverent et donnant une commission a doride pour l'esloigner megisto prenant la parole policrite luy dit elle il y a quelques jours que je vous dis qu'a cause de vostre condition vous ne deviez jamais regarder philoxipe qu'aveque respect mais craignant que par l'inegalite que vous croyez estre entre vous et luy vous ne luy soyez si obligee de son affection qu'enfin vous ne veniez a l'estimer un peu trop cleanthe et moy avons resolu de vous dire qu'a cause de vostre veritable condition vous estes obligee a ne regarder jamais philoxipe qu'avec beaucoup d'indifference car en un mot poursuivit cleanthe pour ne vous deguiser plus la verite des choses vous estes ce que vous ne pensez pas estre et nous femmes aussi ce que vous ne scavez pas et ce que vous ne scaviez mesme point encore parce que les dieux ne nous l'ont pas permis mais pour vous apprendre combien vous estes plus obligee que vous ne pensez a estre vertueuse scachez policrite que vous estes d'un sang si noble qu'il n'y en a point de plus illustre en toute la grece quoy mon pere luy dit policrite en l'interrompant je ne suis ce que j'ay tousjours creu estre non ma fille luy dit il et conter des rois parmy vos ancestres n'est pas la plus glorieuse marque d'honneur dont vous puissiez vous vanter il y a 
 quelque chose de plus grand dans vostre race que ce que je dis c'est pourquoy j'ay creu a propos pour vous eslever le coeur de vous confier cet important secret que je vous dessends de reveler a personne et pour vous faire mieux voir combien vous estes obligee de ne rien faire indigne de la vertu de vos peres et de la condition en laquelle vous estes nee policrite entendant parler cleanthe de cette sorte en eut une joye extreme quoy que ce ne fust pas une joye tranquile car la curiosite de scavoir un peu plus precisement ce qu'on luy disoit luy donna beaucoup de peine mon pere luy dit elle ne me laissez point dans une si cruelle inquietude dites moy je vous prie un peu plus clairement une si agreable verite et ne me laissez plus ignorer ce que je suis les dieux ma fille respondit megisto nous l'ayant dessendu par la bouche d'un de leurs oracles il faut que vous vous contentiez de ce que nous vous avons dit mais servez vous en a dessendre l'entree de vostre coeur a l'amour de philoxipe et bien loing de le regarder comme un prince qui vous fait trop d'honneur regardez le plustost comme un prince a qui vous feriez grace de le souffrir ce n'est pas adjousta cleanthe que philoxipe n'ait toutes les vertus et toutes les qualitez necessaires a un grand prince mais c'est ma fille qu'il y a une espece d'orgueil qui n'est pas inutile dans le coeur d'une jeune personne pour la dessendre contre l'amour quand nous estimons 
 ceux qui nous prient au dessus de nous il est difficile de les refuser ou au contraire quand nous croyons au dessous de nous ceux qui nous demandent ou du moins nos egaux nous leur refusons les choses injustes sans difficulte policrite assura alors cleanthe et megisto que quand elle n'auroit rien sceu de ce qu'ils luy venoient de dire elle n'auroit jamais rien fait contre la bien-seance qu'ils luy avoient enseignee en suitte de quoy ils la quitterent mais dieux que leur dessein reussit mal s'ils vouloient empescher policrite d'aimer philoxipe elle fut quelque temps a n'avoir dans l'esprit que la joye de scavoir qu'elle estoit de naissance illustre et apres cela voulant se servir de cette connoissance pour chasser de son coeur ce commencement d'affection que le merite de philoxipe y avoit desja fait naistre elle trouva que cette connoissance l'y fortissoit car enfin disoit elle la certitude de ce que je suis ne diminue point l'obligation que je luy ay puis qu'il ne scait pas que je sois rien au dessus de ce que je parois estre mais pour moy qui connois aujour d'huy ce que je suis pourquoy ne puis-je pas esperer qu'un jour les dieux permettront que philoxipe scachant ma veritable condition me mette en estat de le pouvoir aimer sans crime et d'estre aimee de luy avec innocence non non policrite adjoustoit elle ne dessendons plus si opiniastrement nostre coeur contentons nous de cacher nos sentimens et de ne rien faire de criminel 
 mais ne rejettons pas aussi comme un grand mal l'affection d'un prince qui devroit estre choisi par le plus grand et le plus sage roy du monde quand mesme je serois sa fille mais poursuivoit elle peut estre que philoxipe se deguise qu'il a des sentimens criminels pour toy et que ta simplicite t'abuse attends donc disoit elle a te determiner et esprouve sa confiance et sa fidelite par une indifference apparente qui ne luy laisse nul espoir c'estoit en cet estat qu'estoient les choses dans le coeur de policrite lors que philoxipe arriva aupres d'elle d'abord qu'elle le vit elle voulut reprendre le chemin de sa petite cabane mais s'estant avance en diligence il l'en empescha neantmoins comme elle n'en estoit qu'a quinze ou vingt pas et qu'il y avoit deux femmes qui la servoient qui travailloient dans un petit pre assez aproche d'eux elle s'arresta et philoxipe prenant la parole quoy policrite luy dit il vous fuyez un prince qui fuit tout le monde pour l'amour de vous et qui ne cherche que vous seigneur luy dit-elle avec je ne scay quel air un peu plus imperieux qu'auparavant bien qu'elle n'en eust pas le dessein je fais ce que vous devriez peut-estre faire car enfin quel avantage pouvez vous esperer de vos visites et de vos soings celuy d'entendre dire de vostre belle bouche reprit il que je ne suis pas hai de vous s'il ne faut que ce la repliqua t'elle pour vous fatisfaire il ne fera pas difficile d'en venir a bout mais n'en de 
 mandez pas davantage si vous ne voulez estre refuse quoy aimable policrite reprit philoxipe vous ne m'aimerez jamais et tout ce que je fais pour meriter vostre affection fera fait inutilement non cela n'est pas possible quand mesme vous feriez aussi insensible que les portraits que j'ay de vous les portraits que vous avez de moy reprit policrite ouy adjousta philoxipe je ne suis pas si malheureux que vous pensez et sans vostre consentement et malgre vous j'ay tous les jours le plaisir de vous voir ha s'ecria policrite je voy bien seigneur que mandrocle m'a trahie et qu'il m'a manque de parole philoxipe luy demanda alors comment elle avoit connu mandrocle et elle luy aprit que ce fameux peintre passant toutes les heures de son loisir a errer parmy ces montagnes pour y designer quelques paisages avoit un jour fortuitement este a leur petite habitation ou l'ayant veue il avoit demande a cleanthe la permission de la peindre que cleanthe la luy avoit voulu refuser mais que voyant son opiniatrete il avoit eu peur qu'il n'allast luy parler d'elle a clarie et que c'estoit pour quoy il le luy avoit permis a condition de ne se servir de ce portrait dans ses tableaux que comme d'une teste faite a plaisir et par imagination luy faisant jurer solemnellement de ne parler jamais a personne sans exception de la connoissance qu'il avoit avec eux que depuis cela tant que mandrocle avoit este a clarie il luy estoit venu 
 aprendre a dessigner et avoit fait son portrait de vingt facons differentes policrite demanda alors a philoxipe si mandrocle luy avoit parle d'elle et il luy aprit la verite de la chose mais luy dit il policrite vous voyez bien que la deesse que vous representez n'a pas dessein que vous soyez tousjours inhumaine puis qu'elle a bien voulu paroistre sous vostre visage seigneur luy dit elle comme je ne suis pas de vostre isle j'ay plus de devotion a diane qu'a venus uranie et ainsi ce n'est pas par cette raison que vous me pouvez persuader joint que cette deesse n'aprouvant que les passions innocentes ne me conseilleroit sans doute jamais de souffrir la vostre la vertu mesme reprit philoxipe vous l'ordonneroit et vous vous le conseilleriez vous mesme si vous connoissiez bien mon coeur il faudroit repliqua t'elle un si long temps pour me le faire connoistre que je ne vous conseille pas de l'entreprendre mais enfin dit il si je l'entreprends et que je vous face voir que jamais personne n'a rien tant aime que je vous aime que penserez vous je penseray dit elle que vous ferez bien malheureux d'avoir si fortement aime une personne qui n'est pas digne de cet honneur mais reprit il m'en aurez vous quelque obligation je vous en plaindray luy dit elle et souhaiteray vostre guerison ou par l'absence ou par l'oubly ha cruelle personne s'escria t'il souhaitez la plus tost par vostre compassion et par vostre pitie et promettez moy seulement 
 ment que vous me donnerez le loisir de vous persuader que je suis le plus amoureux des hommes ce seroit desja estre un peu persuadee luy dit elle que d'en user comme vous dites c'est pourquoy poursuivit elle en marchant vers sa petite cabane je ne veux plus vous escouter 
 
 
 
 
c'estoit de cette sorte que philoxipe passoit sa vie qui parmy beaucoup d'inquietudes n'avoit que quelques momens de plaisir cependant il ne pouvoit durer a paphos et quand il y alloit tout ce qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de voir seulement la princesse aretaphile parce que le roy l'y forcoit mais il paroissoit si melancolique et si change qu'il n'estoit pas connoissable le roy qui l'aimoit tendrement en estoit en une peine extreme il cherchoit avec toute la cour la cause de ce changement et ne la pouvoit trouver il la luy demandoit a luy mesme sans en pouvoir tirer aucune connoissance philoxipe luy disant tousjours que c'estoit une melancolie qui venoit sans doute de son temperamment et de quelque legere indisposition mais luy disoit le roy la solitude ne guerit pas de semblables incommoditez et vous devriez n'aller plus tant a clarie cependant cela continua tousjours ainsi et mesme quand l'hyver fut venu ce qui surprit encore davantage toute la cour l'on scavoit qu'il ne faisoit plus bastir a clarie que les peintres et les sculpteurs qu'il y avoit eus si longtemps n'y estoient plus que la saison n'estoit plus belle que quand il y alloit c'estoit 
 avec peu de train et qu'il s'y promenoit toujours seul l'on voyoit sur son visage une tristesse estrange et un changement fort considerable et tout cela sans qu'il parust aucune cause a son deplaisir le roy l'avoit comble de bien faits et d'honneurs il luy avoit demande cent fois ce qu'il desiroit de luy toute la cour l'aimoit il n'avoit pas un ennemy il estoit extraordinairement riche il ne paroissoit point avoir de mal que l'on peust nommer et que les medecins connussent enfin la melancolie et la retraite de philoxipe estoient des choses inconcevables toute la cour ne parloit que de cela et le roy en estoit en une affliction extreme ne scachant donc plus par quelle voye s'esclaircir de ce que philoxipe avoit dans l'ame il jetta les yeux sur moy pour lequel il scavoit que ce prince avoit assez d'amitie et mesme plus de confiance que pour nulle autre personne un jour donc que philoxipe estoit alle a clarie le roy m'envoya querir et apres l'avoir assure comme il estoit vray que je ne scavois rien de particulier de la melancolie de ce prince il me fit l'honneur de me commander de l'aller trouver et de tascher avec beaucoup d'adresse de descouvrir ce qu'il avoit dans l'esprit car me dit il leontidas j'aime philoxipe a tel point que je ne puis vivre content qu'il ne le soit et s'il faloit luy donner la moitie de mon royaume je le serois sans doute plustost que de ne le satisfaire pas je partis donc avec intention en effet de tascher de contenter la 
 curiosite du roy qui certainement avoit quelque besoin de la presence de philoxipe pour le consoler de la maniere dont la princesse aretaphile le traitoit et je ne pense pas qu'il se soit jamais veu un combat d'ambition et d'amour plus opiniastre je fus donc a clarie ou je trouvay philoxipe dans son chagrin ordinaire que je redoublay encore parce que je l'empeschay d'aller chez cleanthe ce jour la d'abord qu'il me vit il voulut pourtant se contraindre et me faire l'honneur de me tesmoigner quelque joye de me voir mais ce fut d'une facon qui me fit bien connoistre que son coeur dementoit ses paroles et que quelque amitie qu'il eust pour moy il eust souhaite que j'eusse encore este a paphos leontidas me dit il je vous suis bien oblige de me venir visiter en une saison ou la campagne a perdu tous ses ornemens et ou la cour est la plus divertissante et la plus belle seigneur luy dis-je vous vous louez de moy avec bien moins de raison que la cour ne se plaint de vous car enfin quitter paphos pour clarie quand vous y estes c'est quitter la cour pour la cour et mesme pour la plus agreable partie de la cour mais quitter paphos comme vous faites pour ne venir chercher que la solitude a clarie ha seigneur luy dis-je sans le soubconner pourtant d'aucune passion c'est tout ce que pourroit faire un prince amoureux qui seroit mal avec sa maistresse philoxipe rougit a ce discours et me regardant avec un sous-rire qui 
 n'effacoit pas toutefois la melancolie de dessus son visage je voy bien leontidas me dit-il que je ne vous suis pas si oblige que je pensois puis que sans doute vous venez plustost jcy pour me declarer la guerre que pour me visiter j'y viens seigneur luy dis-je pour tascher d'aprendre si je ne pourrois rien pour vostre service dans un temps ou tout le monde croit que quelque chose de grande importance que l'on ne comprend point vous afflige leontidas me dit il je vous suis bien oblige mais je vous le serois bien davantage si vous pouviez empescher toute la cour de vouloir penetrer si avant dans mon coeur car je vous advoue poursuivit-il que je trouve quelque chose de bien cruel a ne pouvoir resuer quand on veut et a n'estre pas maistre de ses propres sentimens seigneur luy dis-je si vous estiez moins aime vous ne souffririez pas cette persecution dont vous vous pleignez cette espece d'amitie reprit il produit pour moy une espece de suplice qui n'est pas petit car que veut on que je face de plus raisonnable que de venir cacher ma melancolie dans la solitude afin de ne troubler pas la joye de ceux qui en ont mais seigneur luy dis-je c'est la cause de cette melancolie que tout le monde cherche et que personne ne trouve et en mon particulier je vous demande pardon si je vous dis que je la cherche comme les autres sans la pouvoir rencontrer car seigneur ce n'est pas l'ambition qui vous tourmente non leontidas me dit il et quand 
 je serois malade de cette espece de maladie le roy m'en gueriroit bientost ce n'est pas aussi la vangeance repris-je car comme vous n'estes hai de personne il est croyable que vous n'avez pas de haine vous avez raison repliqua t'il en soupirant et je pense que je suis mon plus grand ennemy ce n'est pas aussi la passion que vous avez pour les livres poursuivis-je car cette pallion fait des solitaires mais elle ne fait pas de melancoliques au point que vous l'estes et puis il y a long temps que vous l'avez sans qu'elle ait produit un si mauvais effet en vostre esprit les livres me repliqua t'il ne sont sans doute pas mon chagrin et si j'estois raisonnable ils m'en devroient plustost soulager ce n'est pas aussi luy dis-je l'amour qui vous tourmente car vous ne voyez personne qui vous en puisse donner concluez donc me dit il en m'embrassant qu'il n'y a rien a dire sinon que je me hai moy mesme que j'ay perdu la raison et que si mes amis sont bien sages ils me laisseront en repos et attendront du temps la connoissance ou la guerison de mon mal quoy seigneur luy dis-je leontidas qui a pour vous une affection extreme sera traite comme les autres et ne scaura rien davantage de vous que ce qu'en scauroient vos ennemis si vous en aviez ha seigneur luy dis-je encore il faut s'il vous plaist que vous agissiez d'une autre maniere et pour vous tesmoigner que leontidas le merite en quelque sorte scachez seigneur que jusques icy je vous 
 ay parle comme un espion que le roy qui veut scavoir a quelque prix que ce soit ce que vous avez dans l'ame vous a envoye mais apres m'estre aquite de ma commission inutilement ce n'est plus seigneur comme un envoye du roy que je vous parle c'est comme un homme qui est resolu de vous servir de sa vie si vous en avez besoin et de ne vous abandonner point absolument qu'il n'ait sceu la cause de la melancolie qui vous possede car seigneur si cette melancolie n'en a pas et que ce ne soit qu'un dereglement d'humeurs il faut que je demeure icy pour tascher de vous divertir malgre vous et si au contraire elle en a une il faut encore que leontidas vous y serve quand mesme il ne vous en devroit reussir autre bien que celuy de vous aider a la cacher et au roy et a toute la cour si vous ne voulez pas qu'ils la scachent je ne pense pas me dit il en soupirant qu'il y ait une meilleure joye de ne la descouvrir pas que de ne la dire a personne mais seigneur luy dis-je si vous me traitez avec cette indifference quand je seray retourne a paphos et que le roy demandera ce que je crois de vostre chagrin il faudra bien que je luy die quelque chose et que luy direz vous reprit philoxipe je pense seigneur luy dis-je que pour me vanger du peu de confiance que vous aurez eue en moy je luy diray ce que je ne croy point du tout qui est que vous estes amoureux et que la honte de vostre ancienne insensibilite ou de vostre nouvelle 
 foiblesse vous empesche de l'advouer je luy diray mesme peut-estre luy dis-je en riant que cette venus uranie dont on vous a tant fait la guerre depuis la belle feste que vous fistesicy et qui preceda quelques jours vostre humeur melancolique vous a affectivement donne de l'amour enfin seigneur il n'est rien de si bizarre que je ne sois capable de dire pour me vanger du tort que vous faites a la passion que j'ay pour vostre service philoxipe pendant ce discours avoit change vingt fois de couleur et soit par amitie ou par l'importunite que je luy faisois ou parce qu'en estet ceux qui sont amoureux aiment naturellement a parler de leur amour il me prit par la main me fit entrer dans son cabinet et apres m'avoir fait faire des sermens solemnels de ne descouvrir jamais ce qu'il m'alloit dire mais avec autant de ceremonie et d'empressement que s'il eust eu a me descouvrir qu'il avoit conspire contre l'estat ou attente a la personne du roy il m'aprit qu'il estoit amoureux quoy seigneur luy dis-je en riant ces retraites ces melancolies et ce secret impenetrable que tout le monde cherche et que personne ne trouve n'est autre chose sinon que vous estes amoureux ha leontidas me dit-il ne vous jouez point de mon malheur car il est plus grand que vous ne pensez mais seigneur luy dis je j'ay bien de la peine a comprendre que vous puissiez estre aussi infortune que vous dittes parce que je ne comprens point qu'il y ait une 
 princesse en tout le royaume si vous en exceptez l'ambitieuse aretaphile qui veut estre reine qui ne recoive vostre affection favorablement si vous la luy faites connoistre helas me dit il en soupirant l'amour m'a bien traite plus cruellement que vous ne pensez et puis qu'il faut vous descouvrir le secret de mon ame scachez que j'ay trouve une resistance invincible dans le coeur d'une personne qui n'habite que parmy des rochers et qui ne loge que sous une cabane ouy leontidas j'ay trouve une fille ou pour mieux dire j'ay trouve la vertu mesme toute pure et sous le visage de venus uranie qui m'a resiste et qui me resiste encore une fille dis-je que l'ambition ne touche point a qui la beaute ne donne ny affetterie ny orgueil qui a de la simplicite et de l'esprit de la galanterie et de la sincerite et qui dans un lieu sauvage et desert que les dieux seuls m'ont enseigne parle mieux que tout ce qu'il y a de femmes d'esprit a la cour mais apres tout cela elle loge sous une cabane sa condition me paroist fort basse si je regarde tout ce qui l'environne et elle me paroist nee sur le throsne quand je ne regarde qu'elle ou que je ne fais que l'entendre parler ceux qui la conduisent ont de l'esprit et de la vertu mais encore une fois leontidas ils logent dans une cabane et ne la veulent pas mesme abandonner enfin me dit il presque les larmes aux yeux je suis le plus infortune des hommes j'ay une passion que je ne scaurois vaincre 
 et que je ne veux point que l'on scache je respecte trop la vertu de policrite car cette personne dont je vous parle s'apelle ainsi pour concevoir un desir criminel joint que je l'aurois inutilement j'aime aussi trop la gloire pour me resoudre a espouser une fille de cette condition sans une forte repugnance cependant je ne puis vivre sans elle je souffre par tout ailleurs un supplice que je ne puis dire sans pouvoir prevoir de remede a mon mal je le suporte sans m'en pleindre et sans nul espoir que la mort philoxipe me dit cela d'une maniere si touchante que j'en eus le coeur attendry et alors il me conta tout ce qui luy estoit advenu comment il avoit rencontre policrite sa surprise de voir que c'estoit la personne d'apres laquelle mandrocle avoit fait la peinture de sa venus uranie et tout ce que je vous viens de dire quoy que je susse un peu surpris de cette bizarre passion principalement quand je me souvenois de l'insensibilite de philoxipe je taschay pourtant de le consoler seigneur luy dis-je la beaute quand elle est comme celle que vous me representez et comme celle que j'ay veue en la venus de vostre galerie porte quelque excuse avec elle de quelque condition que soient les personnes qui la possedent principalement quand elle ne fait naistre que de ces passions passageres qui troublent l'ame mais qui ne la possedent pas long temps comme je veux esperer que fera celle dont vous vous pleignez non non dit il leontidas 
 ne vous y trompez point j'aimeray policrite jusques au tombeau mais seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience je vous diray que connoissant le mal de philoxipe trop grand pour le pouvoir guerir je le flatay et l'adoucis autant qu'il me fut possible en fuisse il me mena dans sa galerie pour me monstrer son excuse quoy que j'eusse veu ses peintures beaucoup d'autres fois apres nous allasmes nous promner mais comme il ne pouvoit jamais aller que d'un coste nous fusmes parmy ces rochers jusques a un endroit d'ou l'on descouvroit la petite maison de policrite nous ne la vismes pas si tost que rougissant d'amour et de confusion tout ensemble c'est la me dit il mon cher leontidas que demeure la personne que j'adore c'est sous ce petit toict que je presere aux plus superbes palais que philoxipe trouve quelques momens de plaisir et c'est la enfin qu'est renfermee toute ma joye et toute ma felicite seigneur luy dis-je il ne faut pas de meilleures marques de la grande beaute de policrite que la petitesse de sa cabane et quiconque s'imaginera que le prince philoxipe aime en ce lieu la ne doutera mesme point qu'il n'ait dispute son coeur autant qu'il a pu enfin seigneur apres que ce prince m'eut bien exagere toutes les beautez et tous les charmes de policrite sans vouloir souffrir que je la visse tant il avoit peur de la facher il falut songer a revoir paphos car j'avois promis au roy d'y retourner 
 des le soir mesme je demanday donc a philoxipe ce que je luy dirois toutes choses me respondit-il mon cher leontidas plustost que la verite de mon avanture car aux termes ou est mon esprit je pense que je me desespererois si le roy la scavoit je le quittay donc apres qu'il m'eut encore fait jurer cent et cent sois de ne descouvrir pas la moindre chose de son malheur et je fus retrouver le roy qui m'attendoit avec une impatience extreme et qui s'estoit retire expres d'assez bonne heure afin que je pusse l'entretenir avec plus de liberte quand je reviendrois et bien me dit il leontidas que fait nostre solitaire seigneur luy dis-je en le nommant comme vous faites vostre majeste peut aisement deviner ses occupations il resue il se promene il lit il regarde ses peintures et ses statues il va d'un lieu en un autre et cherchant sans doute la sante par tout il ne la trouve en nulle part mais leontidas me dit il vous me parlez comme parle philoxipe et ce n'est pas la ce que j'ay attendu de vous seigneur luy repliquay-je j'ay fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour satisfaire vostre majeste mais je vous advoue que mon voyage n'a pas este si heureux que je le pensois car enfin philoxipe dit seulement qu'il se trouve un peu mal et qu'il a une melancolie qu'il ne scauroit vaincre luy avez vous demande me dit le roy si ce ne seroit point qu'il souhaitast quelque chose que je ne m'aduisasse pas de luy donner parce que je ne scay pas qu'il la desire 
 ha seigneur luy dis-je pensant bien faire l'ambition ne tourmente point philoxipe et il est si satisfait de vostre majeste qu'il ne souhaite rien au de la de ce qu'il possede avez vous donc descouvert reprit il qu'il ait quelque mescontement secret contre quelqu'un de cette cour car si cela est adjousta t'il je feray mon interest du sien et ne vangeray pas moins une injure qu'il aura receue que si je l'avois receue moy mesme seigneur luy dis-je philoxipe paroist si aime de tout le monde qu'il est difficile de croire que quelqu'un l'ait pu facher je ne scay plus qu'imaginer reprit le roy et puis que l'ambition de philoxipe est satisfaite et que la haine et la vangeance ne troublent point son esprit il faut donc qu'il soit amoureux vostre majeste luy dis-je connoist trop l'insensibilite de philoxipe pour le soubconner d'une semblable chose non leontidas me dit il l'insensibilite passee de philoxipe n'est pas une raison assez forte pour me persuader qu'il soit encore insensible et je ne doute presque point que ce ne soit cette passion qui me derobe philoxipe car enfin il a toutes les marques d'un homme amoureux son visage est change sans qu'il ait este malade il est chagrin sans sujet il resue presque tousjours il ne peut durer en nulle part il nous fait un grand secret de sa melancolie il ne peut souffrir qu'on luy en parle il abandonne le soing de ses affaires il ne fait plus de visites que par contrainte et excepte 
 la princesse aretaphile qu'il a voue par mon commandement il n'a pas fait une visite de dames depuis que nous fusmes a clarie seigneur luy dis-je une partie de ce que vous dittes pour prouver que philoxipe est amoureux est ce me semble ce qui fait voir qu'il ne l'est pas car enfin s'il aimoit il chercheroit la personne aimee on le verroit attache aupres d'elle au lieu d'estre melancolique il en seroit plus galant et plus sociable et au lieu de chercher la solitude comme il fait il me semble qu'il augmemeroit plustost les divertissemens de la cour et que la musique le bal la conversation et les promenades seroient ses occupations les plus frequentes ce que vous dittes respondit le roy est bien dit pour les passions ordinaires ou pour les amants heureux mais il est certaines passions bizarres qui naissent parmy le chagrin qui s'y entretiennent et qui fuyent mesme les plaisirs ce qui m'embarrasse un peu poursuivit il c'est qu'enfin je ne puis imaginer de qui philoxipe peut-estre amoureux et en estre mal traite car il n'y a sans doute pas une dame en tout mon royaume qui ne fut gloire d'avoir conqueste son coeur et puis reprenoit il encore je n'ay point remarque qu'il se soit attache a la conversation de pas une en particulier cependant insailliblement philoxipe est amoureux seigneur luy repliquay-je attendez a en parler si determinement que vous en ayez de plus fortes prevues et que vous ayez du moins 
 de quoy conjecturer qui luy peut avoir donne de l'amour le roy se mit alors a repasser toutes les femmes de la cour l'une apres l'autre et de toutes il trouva qu'il n'y avoit point d'apparence de le soubconner d'en estre amoureux il se mit donc a se promener sans rien dire quelque temps apres je le vy rougir et un moment en suitte il me parut fort inquiet leontidas me dit il vous scavez plus que vous ne me dites seigneur luy repliquay-je je n'ay rien dit a vostre majeste qui ne soit veritable car enfin l'ambition de philoxipe est satisfaite il n'a point d'ennemis que je scache et si je ne me trompe les plus belles dames de vostre cour n'ont pas grand pouvoir sur son coeur ha leontidas me dit il vous me deguisez la verite mais sans que vous me la disiez je ne laisse pas de la scavoir ouy leontidas adjousta t'il philoxipe a de l'amour et de l'amour sans doute qui trouble son ame et de l'amour qu'il veut combatre et qu'il veut vaincre et si ce que je pense n'estoit point il ne seroit pas un si grand secret de sa passion mais dieux reprenoit ce prince que je suis malheureux et a quelle estrange extremite me voy-je reduit car enfin leontidas me dit il advouez la verite philoxipe est devenu mon rival malgre luy et le deplaisir qu'il en a est ce qui fait tout son chagrin ha seigneur m'ecriay-je sans avoir loisir de raisonner sur ce que je disois je ne scay point la cause du chagrin de philoxipe mais je scay bien qu'il 
 n'est point amoureux de la princesse aretaphile et qu'il a trop de respect pour vostre majeste pour en avoir souffert la pensee dans son coeur songez bien leontidas reprit il a ce que vous dites vous m'assurez que vous ne scavez point le sujet de la melancolie de philoxipe et vous scavez pourtant bien qu'il n'est point mon rival encore une fois leontidas si vous scavez la chose dites la moy ou si vous ne la scavez pas advouez que mes soubcons sont bien fondez et ne craignez pas que pour cela j'en veuille mal a philoxipe au contraire je luy en auray plus d'obligation le discours du roy me mit en une peine extreme car enfin a moins que de violer tout ce qu'il y a de plus sacre parmy nous je ne pouvois reveler le secret de philoxipe qui m'avoit faitivrer plus de cent fois de n'en parler jamais de consentir aussi que le roy le soubconnast d'estre son rival il me sembloit que cela luy estoit d'une trop grande importance pour le laisser en cette opinion mais plus je luy voulois persuader que cela n'estoit pas plus il le croyoit non me disoit il je suis cause de mon malheur et de celuy de philoxipe c'est moy qui j'ay oblige de voir aretaphile plus souvent qu'une autre c'est de ma propre main qu'il en est enchaine et c'est moy qui fais tout son suplice car poursuivoit il je comprends aisement qu'il ne cherche la solitude que pour se guerir de cette passion j'ay mesme remarque depuis quelque temps qu'il areceu toutes les 
 commissions que je luy ay donnees de parler a aretaphile avec peine qu'il les a esvitees autant qu'il a pu et je ne suis que trop persuade qu'il a dispute son coeur opinastrement et que je suis la seule cause de son suplice dieux disoit il quelle infortune est la mienne il n'y a pas un seul homme en tout mon royaume que je ne haisse s'il estoit mon rival excepte philoxipe et il n'y a pas une femme en toute la cour qui ne l'eust rendu heureux s'il l'eust aimee a la reserve de la princesse aretaphile mais seigneur luy disois-je encore je vous proteste que philoxipe n'en est point amoureux et je vous proteste me respondoit ce prince avec une douleur extreme que philoxipe est mon rival car si cela n'estoit pas il m'auroit descouvert sa passion le respect qu'il a pour vous luy repliquois-je l'en auroit deu empescher quand il seroit vray qu'il auroit aime non non disoit il vous ne m'abuserez pas et je suis esgalement persuade de l'amour de philoxipe de son innocence et de mon malheur car enfin quel homme du monde que j'aime le plus cherement soit devenu amoureux de la seule personne que je puis aimer et que je me voye dans la cruelle necessite d'abandonner aretaphile ou de voir mourir philoxipe c'est une advanture insuportable seigneur luy dis-je je supplie vostre majeste d'attendre qu'elle ait veu encore une fois philoxipe et qu'elle luy ait commande absolument de luy d'escouvrir son coeur auparavant que de se determiner 
 a rien et si vous me le voulez permettre j'iray le faire venir demain au matin non non me dit le roy vous ne sortirez point du palais d'aujourd'huy et vous ne verrez point philoxipe avant moy en effet ce prince me donna en garde a un des siens et me commanda de me retirer a une chambre que l'on me donna dans le palais de vous representer seigneur mon embarras et l'inquietude du roy ce seroit une chose assez difficile puis qu'a vous dire la verite il avoit autant d'amitie pour philoxipe qu'il avoit d'amour pour aretaphile qui vit jamais disoit il car il l'a luy mesme raconte depuis une avanture pareille a la mienne j'ay un rival qu'il faut que j'aime malgre moy et qui me donne un plus grand sujet de l'aimer par l'amour qu'il a pour ma maistresse que par tout ce qu'il a jamais fait pour mon service et que par tous les bons offices qu'il m'a mesme rendus aupres d'elle estant certain que je n'ay qu'a le regarder pour connoistre ce qu'il souffre a ma consideration et que je n'ay qu'a considerer la vie qu'il mene pour voir combien je luy suis oblige je voy dans ses yeux une melancolie qui me fait craindre sa mort et je voy en toutes ses actions des marques visibles de son amour pour aretaphile et de son respect pour moy que feray-je disoit il feindray-je d'ignorer cette passion et laisseray-je mourir philoxipe mais il n'est plus temps de vouloir faire un secret de ce que je pense puis que leontidas le scait leontidas dis-je qui a 
 tant de part en sa confidence et en son amitie diray-je aussi a philoxipe que je scay son amour sans l'en pleindre et quand je l'en pleindray quel foible secours sera celuy la je hasteray peut estre l'heure de sa mort par le desespoir que je luy donneray mais aussi pourrois-je ceder aretaphile et l'amitie seroit elle plus forte que l'amour philoxipe a une passion injuste mais les passions ne sont pas volontaires adjoustoit il et il a fait tout ce qu'il a pu et deu faire puis que ne pouvant s'empescher d'aimer il s'est empesche de le dire et a mieux aime exposer sa vie par son silence respectueux que de la conserver en parlant d'une passion qu'il scait bien qui me doit desplaire ce prince passa la nuit de cette sorte avec une agitation estrange quelquefois il sentoit de la colere et de la haine dans son coeur sans scavoir pourtant ny de qui il devoit se vanger ny qui il devoit hair tantost il accusoit un peu philoxipe de ne luy avoir pas dit d'abord ce qu'il sentoit tantost il s'en prenoit a la beaute d'aretaphile mais a la fin il s'en accusoit luy mesme puis tout d'un coup venant a considerer le pitoyable estat ou il voyoit philoxipe reduit et la malheureuse vie qu'il menoit la compassion attendrissoit son coeur de telle sorte qu'il s'en faloit peu qu'il n'aimast plus son pretendu rival que sa maistresse il se souvenoit alors que toutes les faveurs qu'il en avoit receues avoient este mesnagees et obtenues par le moyen de philoxipe et il comprenoit si 
 parfaitement la peine qu'auroit effectivement souffert philoxipe si la chose eust este comme il la croyoit qu'il en estoit touche d'une pitie extreme le lendemain au matin se passa encore en de pareilles inquietudes et en des irresolutions estranges mais enfin apres avoir disne d'assez bonne heure il partit tres peu accompagne pour aller coucher a clarie sans qu'il m'eust este possible de trouver les moyens de faire donner nul advis a philoxipe parce que celuy a qui l'on m'avoit baille en garde s'estant imagine que c'estoit pour une affaire d'autre nature me traitoit de prisonnier d'estat et ne m'en voulut jamais donner la permission au contraire pour faire valoir son zele et sa fidelite il fut advertir le roy de ce que j'avois voulu faire ce qui le confirma encore plus fortement en son opinion ce prince m'ayant fait commander de le suivre j'arrivay a clarie aveque luy sans qu'il eust parle tant que le chemin avoit dure n'ayant fait que resver sur son avanture mais comme nous y fusmes les gens de philoxipe dirent au roy qu'il n'y estoit pas et que suivant sa coustume il estoit alle se promener seul le roy s'informa tres soigneusement d'un escuyer qu'il y avoit long temps qui estoit a luy s'il ne scavoit rien du sujet de la melancolie de son maistre et comme cet homme aimoit tendrement philoxipe voulant profiter de l'honneur que luy faisoit le roy de luy parler seigneur luy dit il je ne scay point ce qu'a mon maistre mais je scay 
 bien que si vostre majeste n'a la bonte de trouver quelque remede au chagrin qui le possede il mourra infailliblement bientost car enfin il mange peu il ne dort presque point il soupire continuellement il ne peut souffrir qu'on luy parle de ses affaires il erre les journees entieres parmy ces champs et je l'ay mesme entendu lors qu'il ne pensoit pas que je l'ouisse et lors mesme qu'il ne pensoit pas parler tant sa resverie estoit profonde s'escrier dieux que penseroit le roy s'il voyait ma melancolie telle qu'elle est et qu'il luy sera difficile de deviner la cause de ma mort enfin seigneur poursuivit cet homme presque les larmes aux yeux je ne scay que ce que je dis mais je scay bien que vostre majeste perdra le plus fidelle de ses serviteurs si elle perd le prince mon maistre pendant que cet escuyer parloit de cette sorte je souffrois une peine estrange car je voyois que tout ce qu'il disoit confirmoit le roy en son opinion j'avois beau vouloir luy faire signe il ne me regardoit point tant il estoit attentif a ce qu'il disoit le roy de son coste soupiroit et apres qu'il eut quitte cet escuyer et bien leontidas me dit il vous voulez que philoxipe ne soit pas amoureux et qu'il n'aime pas aretaphile seigneur luy dis-je j'adjoue que je le crois encore ainsi et je voudrois bien que vostre majeste peust se resoudre de le croire comme moy ha malheureux philoxipe s'escria le roy sans me respondre quel pitoyable destin est le tien et que je suis infortune 
 moy mesme de ne pouvoir te guerir absolument du mal qui te possede je voulus alors aller chercher philoxipe afin de pouvoir l'advertir des sentimens du roy auparavant qu'il le vist mais il ne voulut pas me le permettre et s'estant fait monstrer le chemin que philoxipe tenoit le plus souvent nous fusmes effectivement vers la source de clarie cependant philoxipe estoit alle chez cleanthe ou les choses avoient un peu change de face estant certain que depuis que policrite avoit sceu que sa condition n'estoit pas telle qu'elle l'avoit tousjours creve le merite de philoxipe avoit fait un plus grand progres dans son coeur et elle n'avoit pu si bien cacher ses sentimens que cleanthe et megisto ne s'en fussent aperceus avec beaucoup de chagrin c'estoit toutefois une chose qui ne rendoit pas philoxipe plus heureux car cette jeune personne s'estant mis dans la fantaisie d'esprouver son affection par une indifference aparente luy cachoit avec beaucoup de soing la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour luy et en effet le jour mesme que le roy fut a clarie et que nous n'y trouvasmes point philoxipe elle luy donna autant d'inquietude qu'elle luy causa d'admiration car estant alle chez elle et l'ayant trouvee au pied d'un arbre ou elle dessignoit sur des tablettes de palmier un petit coing de paisage qui luy plaisoit il se mit a l'entretenir de sa passion et a luy protester qu'elle estoit tousjours plus violente seigneur 
 luy dit elle s'il est permis a policrite de parler ainsi je vous diray que si vous avez dessein d'aquerir mon estime vous ferez mieux de me dire que vostre passion devient tous les jours plus sage et plus moderee car a vous dire la verite je crains un peu ces passions furieuses dont j'ay entendu parler que l'on dit qui dereglent la raison qui font perdre le respect que l'on doit a la vertu encore qu'elle n'habite que sous une cabane et qui font faire enfin cent estranges choses qui donnent de l'horreur a les entendre seulement raconter c'est pourquoy seigneur si vous avez dessein de m'obliger vous vous contenterez de me dire que vous avez assez d'affection pour moy pour souhaiter s'il estoit possible que la fortune m'eust este plus favorable que je fusse nee d'une condition plus relevee que je ne suis ou que du moins cela n'estant pas je puisse demeurer contente dans la mienne sans envier celle d'autruy pour vous aimer avec mediocrite luy respondit philoxipe qui m'a raconte depuis toute cette conversation il faudroit que vostre beaute fust mediocre il faudroit que vostre esprit et vostre vertu le fussent de mesme et il faudroit enfin que ce charme inexpliquable que je trouve en la moindre de vos paroles et de vos actions et aux moins favorables de tous vos regards ne m'enchantast pas comme il fait mais diuine policrite ne craignez rien de la violence de ma passion puis que plus elle sera forte plus je seray respectueux et 
 sousmis a vos volontez seigneur luy dit elle si ce que vous dites est vray ne m'en parlez donc plus s'il vous plaist puis que ne pouvant comprendre qu'il me soit permis de vous donner nulle part a mon affection il me semble que je vous dois prier de ne m'entretenir plus de la vostre mais adorable policrite reprit il pour qui la reservez vous cette glorieuse affection que vous dites cruellement que je ne possederay jamais a ces mots policrite rougit et baissant les yeux avec beaucoup de modestie je la reserveray luy dit elle pour nos bois pour nos prez pour nos rochers et pour nos fontaines dont je pense seigneur poursuivit elle en sous-riant que vous ne serez pas jaloux je n'en seray pas jaloux repliqua t'il mais j'en seray envieux et je ne souffriray pas facilement que vous aimiez a mon prejudice des choses qui ne vous scavroient aimer mais cruelle personne ne me direz vous rien de plus obligeant et quittant la cour comme je fais pour l'amour de vous et renoncant a tout ce qu'il y a au monde excepte a policrite est il possible que je ne puisse vous obliger a me traiter avec un peu moins de severite je ne demande pas que vous m'aimiez mais dites seulement que vous n'estes pas marrie que je vous aime et adjoustez y si vous voulez que si je ne suis point aime c'est que vous ne voulez rien aimer et que vous n'aimerez jamais rien l'advenir respondit malicieusement policrite est une chose seigneur dont je ne dois pas respondre 
 avec tant de certitude et comme vous n'eussiez pas preveu le jour auparavant que j'eusse l'honneur d'estre connue de vous que vous quitteriez souvent vos palais pour venir a la cabane que j'habite que scay-je de mesme si la resolution que je fais de ne recevoir nulle affection en mon coeur y demeurera toujours non seigneur il ne faut pas se fier si absolument en soy mesme et je ne puis respondre que des sentimens presens de mon ame monstrez les moy donc repliqua t'il tels qu'ils sont veritablement afin que je scache ce que je dois faire seigneur luy respondit policrite comme j'ay beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup de respect pour vous je vous advoueray que je ne serois pas bien aise que vous aimassiez long temps une personne qui ne fust pas d'une condition proportionnee a la vostre et que je ne pourrois guere recevoir un plus sensible deplaisir philoxipe qui n'entendoit par le sens cache de ces paroles luy respondit que la supreme beaute estoit quelque chose de divin qui ennoblissoit toutes celles qui la possedoient non luy dit elle encore avec plus de malice ne vous y trompez pas pour faire naistre l'amour il faut a mon advis de la proportion en toutes choses et si j'avois un jour a aimer quelqu'un ce seroit infailliblement une personne de ma condition et je ne me resoudrois jamais d'aimer un homme qui n'en seroit point quoy policrite s'ecria philoxipe bien afflige il y a de la verite en vos paroles ouy seigneur repliqua t'elle et le 
 temps vous le fera connoistre mais policrite reprit il vous ne songez pas que vous estes un miracle et que l'on ne trouve pas parmy des rochers des hommes de vostre condition qui ayent assez de merite pour devoir seulement oser vous regarder je n'aimeray donc rien seigneur respondit elle en se levant parce qu'elle vit paroistre cleanthe et megisto qui ne pouvant plus souffrir les visites du prince sans impatience veu ce qu'ils pensoient avoir remarque dans le coeur de policrite le prierent avec beaucoup de civilite de vouloir ne se donner plus la peine de venir si souvent chez eux mais comme philoxipe avoit l'esprit un peu irrite des cruelles paroles qu'il pensoit avoir entendues de policrite et qui luy estoient pourtant tres avantageuses il ne put recevoir le discours de cleanthe et de megisto avec la moderation qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir au contraire il parut de la colere sur son visage et beaucoup de douleur dans ses yeux cleanthe luy dit il comme je ne viens pas icy pour vous derober le thresor que les dieux vous ont donne ne vous opposez pas a la satisfaction que je trouve a admirer en policrite la vertu que vous luy avez aprise seigneur reprit cleanthe quoy que je connoisse bien la vostre je ne laisse pas de craindre que comme policrite n'a pas encore assez vescu pour connoistre precisement jusques ou doit aller le respect qu'elle vous doit elle ne manque a quelque chose ou contre 
 vous ou contre elle mesme non non luy repliqua brusquement philoxipe ne craignez rien de ce que vous dittes et apprehendez plustost que sa seuerite ou la vostre ne me face perdre la raison enfin cette conversation quoy que respectueuse pour policrite fut toutesois si passionnee que cleanthe et megisto en furent fort affligez et policrite mesme en eut assez d'inquietude et se repentit d'avoir parle si malicieusement a philoxipe mais enfin ce prince se retira fort triste et fort amoureux tout ensemble comme il s'en revenoit avec intention de remonter a cheval a l'endroit ou il avoit accoustume d'en laisser un avec un de ses gens il rencontra le roy qui avoit mis pied a terre et que j'avois l'honneur d'accompagner je vous laisse a penser combien cette veue le surprit je voulus d'abord tascher de luy faire connoistre par quelque signe que j'estois au desespoir de ce que le roy luy allait dire mais ce que je pensois faire pour luy preparer l'esprit a quelque chose de facheux produisit un autre effet et l'embarrassa davantage aussi tost qu'il eut aperceu le roy faisant effort sur luy mesme pour cacher une partie de son chagrin il s'avanca en diligence et prenant la parole le premier apres l'avoir salue segneur luy dit il vostre majeste quitte ce me semble paphos en une saison ou elle n'a guere accoustume de chercher la promenade solitaire vous avez raison respondit il mais il semble pourtant 
 bien moins estrange que je vienne chercher philoxipe a clarie que de trouver philoxipe parmy des rochers comme il faisoit assez beau ce jour la quoy que ce fust en hyver le roy ne pouvant differer davantage a dire a philoxipe ce qu'il avoit sur le coeur s'arresta en un endroit assez agreable apres avoir fait signe au peu de monde qui l'avoit suivy de se retirer et m'avoir commande que je demeurasse comme il n'y eut donc plus que philoxipe et moy aupres de ce prince il se fit un silence qui dura assez long temps et ou sans doute nous pensions tous trois des choses bien differentes le roy voyant philoxipe si change si melancolique et si inquiet taschoit de faire que son amitie fust plus forte que son amour philoxipe vouloit chercher dans les yeux du roy et dans les miens ce qu'il avoit a luy dire et le sujet de son voyage caignant veu les signes que je luy faisois qu'il ne sceust sa passion et en mon particulier j'estois au desespoir de ne pouvoir advertir philoxipe et de n'oser dire au roy ce que je scavois de l'amour de celuy qu'il croyoit estre son rival mais enfin ce cruel silence ou nous nous disions tant de choses a nous mesmes cessa et le roy regardant ce prince d'une maniere tres oblibeante mon cher philoxipe luy dit il en l'emrassant ne soyez point fache que je scache le secret de vostre ame et de ce que je n'ignore pas la passion qui vous tourmente philoxipe surpris du discours du roy me regarda en 
 rougissant et le roy s'imaginant comme il estoit vray que c'estoit pour m'accuser de l'avoir trahi me regarda aussi bien que luy et pour me punir m'a t'il dit depuis de ne luy avoir pas dit la verite sans me donner loisir de parler et sans desabuser philoxipe de l'opinion qu'il avoit de moy encore une fois luy dit il mon cher philoxipe ne vous affligez point de ce que je scay vostre amour et croyez que je ne vous en estime pas moins seigneur luy repliqua philoxipe il me semble que si vostre majeste scait mes veritables sentimens elle devoit avoir la bonte de m'en pleindre sans m'en parler non philoxipe reprit le roy ma bonte va encore plus loing que cela et je suis venu expres icy pour estre le compagnon de vostre solitude car puis que je ne vous puis rendre heureux il faut du moins que je sois malheureux aveque vous ha seigneur s'ecria philoxipe vous me couvrez de confusion non seigneur luy dit il ne prenez pas un semblable dessein laissez moy seul icy porter la peine de ma foiblesse et croyez que je me loueray infiniment de vostre bonte si elle me laisse seulement mourir en repos parmy mes bois et mes rochers le roy touche d'une compassion extreme embrassa encore une fois philoxipe estroitement et le regardant avec une melancolie estrange je vous demande pardon philoxipe luy dit il de ne pouvoir encore vous ceder absolument aretaphile mais je viens icy pour tascher de combatre pour l'amour de vous 
 la passion que j'ay pour elle comme vous combatez depuis long temps pour l'amour de moy celle qu'elle a fait naistre en vostre ame philoxipe surpris du discours de ce prince eut deux mouvemens bien contraires tout a la fois car il eut de la douleur de la bizarre opinion du roy et de la joye aussi de ce que ce prince ne scavoit pas la verite de son amour comme il avoit pense qu'il la scavoit et comme il creut qu'il luy seroit bien aise de le desabuser d'une chose aussi fausse qu'estoit celle la il se resolut de continuer de cacher sa veritable passion le roy n'eut donc pas plustost dit ce que je viens de vous dire que philoxipe se reculant d'un pas quoy seigneur luy dit il vostre majeste me soubconne d'avoir eu l'audace d'estre son rival dittes repliqua le roy que je scay que vous avez eu le malheur de ne pouvoir resister aux charmes d'aretaphile mais philoxipe je ne vous en accuse pas je les ay esprouvez le premier je scay combien ils sont ineuitables vous avez mesme fait plus que je n'eusse fait moy mesme et peut-estre si j'avois este en vostre place aurois-je trahi mon maistre au lieu de me resoudre a mourir d'ennuy et de douleur comme vous avez fait pour l'amour de moy ainsi philoxipe je ne vous veux point de mal de ce que vous aimez aretaphile seigneur repliqua philoxipe pour tesmoigner a vostre majeste que je n'en suis pas amoureux je vous promets de ne la voir de ma vie de n'entrer pas mesme a paphos
 ou du moins de ne parler plus du tout a cette princesse je scay bien luy respondit le roy que vostre generosite vous porte a vous resoudre a la mort plustost que de manquer a vostre devoir mais philoxipe afin que vous ne puissiez pas me reprocher que je n'ay rien fait pour me vaincre je viens demeurer a clarie aussi bien que vous pour tascher de me guerir de cette passion et de vous ceder aretaphile de vostre coste vous ferez la mesme chose et le premier gueri la cedera a celuy qui ne le sera pas mais mon cher philoxipe luy disoit il vous estes encore plus malheureux que vous ne pensez car quand je n'aimerois plus aretaphile vous n'auriez pas gagne son coeur vous scavez que c'est une ambitieuse qui n'a l'ame sensible qu'a la grandeur seulement et quand je vous aurois cede ma maistresse si je ne vous cedois aussi ma couronne vous n'auriez guere de part en son inclination mais enfin poursuivoit ce prince sans donner loisir a philoxipe de l'interrompre si je vous cede aretaphile il me sera apres aise de vous ceder le throsne en un mot je ne veux pas que vostre mort me soit reprochee je veux faire tout ce que je pourray pour me guerir afin de vous guerir vous mesme et si nous ne le pouvons ny l'un ny l'autre nous mourrons du moins ensemble seigneur luy dit alors philoxipe je vous jure par tout ce qui m'est de plus sainet et de plus sacre que je ne pretens rien a la princesse aretaphile quelle est donc 
 reprit le roy qui ne le croyoit pas la cause de vostre retraite et de vostre melancolie l'avoue seigneur que je fus tente cent et cent fois de manquer a la parole que j'avois donnee a philoxipe mais voyant le trouble ou il estoit et qu'enfin il ne pouvoit se resoudre de dire au roy la verite de la chose je me retins et j'entendis que philoxipe luy respondit que ce qu'il luy demandoit ne meritoit pas sa curiosite et qu'il ne pouvoit le luy dire comme il estoit desja tard nous nous en retourvasmes a clarie ou le roy parla tousjours de la mesme facon a philoxipe et ou philoxipe luy parla tousjours aussi de la mesme sorte ayant trouve un petit moment a entretenir philoxipe en particulier je voulus luy persuader de dire la verite au roy mais il ne voulut jamais s'y resoudre me disant qu'il luy feroit assez connoistre qu'il n'estoit point amoureux d'aretaphile en ne la voyant jamais cependant plus le roy voyoit d'obstination et de douleur dans l'esprit de philoxipe plus il en avoit de compassion et plus il faisoit d'effort sur luy mesme pour vaincre son amour et pour cet effet il fut effectivement huit jours a clarie pendant lesquels philoxipe estoit desespere et de l'opinion qu'avoit le roy et plus encore de ne pouvoir aller voir policrite je pense mesme que le roy n'auroit pas si tost quitte cette solitude si l'on ne fust venu l'advertir qu'un ambassadeur d'amasis roy d'egypte estoit arrive a paphos il fut donc contraint d'y 
 retourner mais quoy que peust faire philoxipe il falut qu'il y allast aussi non luy disoit le roy je ne veux point revoir aretaphile que je ne vous voye en mesme temps il faut que la melancolie que je verray dans vos yeux me soit un contrepoison contre les charmes que je verray dans les siens nous fusmes donc a paphos mais dieux que la cour fut peu agreable en ce temps la et que l'ambassadeur d'amasis trouva l'esprit du roy peu tranquille ce prince fut trois jours sans voir la princesse aretaphile chez elle et comme philoxipe souffroit une peine qui n'est pas imaginable tant a cause de l'opinion que le roy avoit de luy que de la privation de la veue de policrite il paroissoit encore plus melancolique et le roy en estoit aussi plus afflige cependant l'ambitieuse aretaphile estoit en une inquietude extreme et du voyage du roy a clarie et de ce qu'il ne la visitoit pas et de ce qu'on luy disoit que ce prince estoit fort chagrin mais a la fin le roy ayant encore voulu se confirmer en sa croyance mena philoxipe malgre luy chez la princesse aretaphile esperant pouvoir mieux observer les sentimens de son coeur en ce lieu la qu'en tout autre philoxipe qui creut qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de mieux detromper le roy qu'en luy faisant voir qu'il ne prenoit nul plaisir a regarder cette princesse en destourna tousjours les yeux avec grand soin mais ce qu'il faisoit pour desabuser ce prince le decevoit 
 davantage car disoit il en luy mesme le malheureux philoxipe ne peut souffrir la veue de ce qu'il aime et de ce qu'il ne veut pas aimer il s'accusoit alors d'estre trop inhumain de l'exposer a un si grand suplice et voyant les cruelles inquietudes qui paroissoient sur le visage de philoxipe sa visite ne fut pas longue cependant comme il avoit pour le moins ce jour la autant regarde son pretendu rival que sa maistresse et qu'il avoit eu l'esprit fort inquiet cette princesse ne fut pas fort satisfaite de sa conversation et ne scavoit a quoy attribuer la cause du changement qu'elle voyoit en luy au sortir de la il dit encore cent choses obligeantes a philoxipe et philoxipe luy fit encore cent protestations son in-de sensibilite pour aretaphile mais enfin pour accourcir mou discours autant que je le pourray philoxipe persecute de l'imagination du roy en colere du discours de cleanthe afflige de celuy de policrite et bien plus encore de ne la voir point et de n'oser retourner a clairie tomba malade et mesme dangereusement malade tous les medecins disoient que si l'on ne trouvoit quelque remede a sa melancolie il mourroit infailliblement la fievre luy dura sept jours tres violente pendant lesquels le roy estoit inconsolable et pendant lesquels j'estois alle faire un petit voyage a amathuse pour quelques affaires que j'y avois car je pense que si j'eusse este a paphos j'eusse bien eu de la peine a ne descouvrir pas au roy le secret de philoxipe 
 toutes les fois que le roy entroit dans sa chambre et qu'il le voyoit en ce pitoyable estat il faisoit une ferme resolution de ne songer plus a aretaphile mais des qu'il en estoit sorty ou qu'il amandoit un peu a philoxipe cette resolution devenoit moins forte et la chose estoit encore douteuse dans son esprit mais enfin la fievre ayant quitte cet illustre malade et les medecins ne laissant pas de dire apres cela qu'il mourroit infailliblement si on ne luy ostoit la cause du chagrin qui faisoit ses maux le roy sembla avoir pris une resolution tres forte de s'arracher de l'ame la passion qui le possedoit il se resolut donc de n'aller plus chez aretaphile qui ne scachant qu'imaginer du changement du roy creut que peut-estre n'avoit il pas trouve bon qu'elle n'eust point encore este voir philoxipe qu'il aimoit si cherement et que presque toutes les femmes de la cour avoient este visiter car durant sa maladie la belle princesse de salamis et la princesse agariste ses soeurs ne l'avoient point abandonne et ainsi les dames y pouvoient aller avec bien-seance neantmoins il se trouva que le jour qu'aretaphile y fut comme philoxipe estoit beaucoup mieux elles estoient sorties de sorte que la princesse aretaphile y allant suivie de quatre ou cinq de ses femmes le trouva seul bien est il vray qu'elle n'y fut pas long temps sans compagnie car le roy arriva un moment apres comme philoxipe le vit entrer il rougit et parut aussi interdit de cette 
 rencontre que si effectivement il eust este amoureux d'aretaphile le roy qui remarqua ce changement de couleur estant puissamment touche de voir philoxipe en danger pour l'amour de luy faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme s'aprocha de la princesse aretaphile qui par respect luy avoit voulu quitter sa place et ou il voulut pourtant qu'elle demeurast et apres l'avoir regardee quelque temps sans parler madame luy dit il en soupirant ne voulez vous point guerir philoxipe seigneur luy repliqua t'elle si sa sante dependoit de moy vostre majeste seroit bien tost consolee de la douleur que sa maladie luy cause philoxipe qui vit une grande alteration sur le visage du roy eut peur qu'il ne dist encore quelque chose qui fist connoistre a aretaphile l'opinion qu'il avoit de luy c'est pourquoy prenant la parole sans donner loisir a ce prince de respondre seigneur luy dit il quoy que je croye que la princesse aretaphile soit capable de faire de grandes choses et de charmer de grandes douleurs je pense pourtant pouvoir dire sans l'offencer que la fin de celles que je sens ne depend pas de sa volonte et qu'il n'y a que les dieux seuls qui puissent me retirer du tombeau philoxipe prononca ces paroles d'une facon si triste que le roy achevant de vaincre ce qui s'opposoit au dessein qu'il avoit de tascher de sauver philoxipe s'aprochant encore un peu plus pres de la princesse aretaphile de peur que ceux qui estoient dans la charobre ne l'entendissent 
 madame luy dit il en faisant signe a philoxipe qu'il ne vouloit pas estre interrompu je m'en vay vous dire une chose qui vous surprendra je vous conjure pourtant de la recevoir favorablement et de me faire la grace de croire qu'a moins que de vouloir sauver la vie philoxipe je ne vous la dirois pas non pas mesme quand il iroit de la mienne ha seigneur s'ecria ce prince malade si vostre majeste acheve de dire ce qu'elle a commence elle hastera ma mort au lieu de la reculer la princesse aretaphile surprise d'entendre ce qu'elle entendoit et ne scachant ce que ce pouvoit estre regardoit tantost le roy et tantost philoxipe mais enfin le roy achevant de se determiner c'est vous madame dit il a la princesse aretaphile qui mettez philoxipe dans le tombeau vos charmes ont este plus forts que sa raison quoy que sa generosite ait este encore plus forte que son amour il vous aime divine aretaphile sans oser vous le dire il ne veut pas mesme encore l'adjouer cependant je scay de certitude que si vous n'avez pitie de luy il mourra infailliblement je ne vous demande donc plus rien pour moy luy dit il avec une melancolie estrange mais traitez le moins rigoureusement que vous ne m'avez traite puis qu'il le merite mieux et si vostre ambition ne peut estre satisfaite sans une souveraine puissance je vous promets divine princesse que si je ne puis mettre philoxipe sur le throsne il en sera tousjours si pres qu'on ne pourra presque discerner sa place 
 ce de la mienne enfin dit il encore si philoxipe meurt je mourray et ainsi je vous perdray pour tousjours mais si vous sauvez philoxipe du moins pourray-je esperer de languir encore quelque temps et d'avoir quelque part en vostre estime n'en pouvant plus pretendre en vostre affection ne pensez pas luy dit il que ce que je fais soit une marque de la soiblesse de mon amour puis qu'au contraire s'en est une de sa violence car enfin si je pouvois me resoudre a vous abandonner et a suivre philoxipe dans le tombeau je ne luy cederois pas la part que je pretendois a vostre affection quoy qu'il en soit plus digne que moy mais ne pouvant le voir mourir a ma consideration sans en expirer de douleur il faut que je vive pour le faire vivre et que je tasche de prolonger de quelque temps le plaisir que j'ay de vous voir aretaphile estoit si estonnee d'entendre parler le roy de cette sorte et philoxipe en estoit si afflige que l'estonnement et la douleur produisant un pareil effet en ces deux personnes elles demeurerent un assez long temps sans pouvoir parler aretaphile avoit bien assez bonne opinion de sa beaute pour se laisser persuader facilement que philoxipe fust amoureux d'elle et elle l'avoit aussi assez bonne de sa generosite pour croire qu'il n'auroit pas ose descouvrir sa passion mais comme tout ce qui n'estoit point roy ne pouvoit toucher son coeur elle avoit un chagrin estrange d'entendre ce qu'elle entendoit et il y 
 avoit des momens ou elle s'imaginoit que c'estoit peut-estre un pretexte que le roy cherchoit pour rompre avec elle philoxipe de son coste jugeant bien qu'a la fin il faudroit dire la verite au roy pour le desabuser en avoit une confusion si grande qu'il n'en pouvoit ouvrir la bouche de sorte que le roy voyat ces deux personnes si surprises et sentant bien que peut-estre son amour le seroit dedire dans un moment de tout ce que son amitie luy avoit fait prononcer se leva et sans attendre ce qu'aretaphile respondroit madame luy dit il le pitoyable estat ou vous voyez philoxipe vous persuade mieux que je ne scaurois faire et il me pardonnera bien sans doute si je ne vous parle pas aussi long temps pour luy qu'il vous a parle autrefois pour moy en disant cela ce prince sortit quoy que philoxipe le suppliast de demeurer l'assurant qu'il alloit le desabuser entierement cependant quoy qu'aretaphile eust beaucoup d'envie de s'en aller comme elle avoit l'esprit aigry et qu'elle vouloit scavoir un peu plus precisement ce que c'estoit que cette bizarre avanture elle demeura un moment apres le roy et regardant philoxipe qui luy paroissoit aussi interdit que s'il eust este amoureux d'elle est-ce vous luy dit elle philoxipe qui avez perdu la raison ou si c'est le roy car je vous adjoue que j'en suis en doute et que je ne vous comprens ny l'un ny l'autre je confesse madame repliqua philoxipe que je ne suis pas maistre de ma raison mais 
 madame c'est un mal dont vous n'estes point coupable et dont je ne vous accuse pas avez vous donc eu dessein luy dit elle de me faire perdre l'amitie du roy ou est-ce que le roy cherche un mauvais pretexte de me l'oster mais philoxipe si cela est il n'est point besoin d'une si bizarre sainte il ne faut que m'en donner le moindre soubcon et je vous assure que je ne regreteray pas long temps la perte d'un coeur aussi partage que le sien car enfin le roy jusques a maintenant a tousjours plus aime sa couronne que la princesse aretaphile et par son discours il me veut encore faire coprendre aujourd'huy qu'il vous aime mieux que moy madame luy dit philoxipe je vous demande en grace de ne condamner pas le roy legerement et de ne blasmer pas en luy la compassion qu'il veut avoir d'un mal dont il vous croit la cause je m'engage madame a le desabuser de l'opinion qu'il a car enfin quoy que vos charmes soient incomparables le respect que j'ay tousjours eu pour vous et celuy que j'auray toute ma vie pour le roy m'ont certainement garanty d'un peril presque inevitable pour ceux qui n'auroient pas eu de si puissantes raisons de resister a vostre beaute ainsi madame ne vous inquietez pas et faites moy l'honneur de me promettre de pardonner au roy l'injustice qu'il a de vouloir que je partage aveque vous un coeur ou vous devez regner seule mais madame auparavant que le roy vous aimast il m'avoit desja donne la place que j'y occupe 
 aujourd'huy c'est pourquoy vous n'en devez pas murmurer non non luy dit l'ambitieuse aretaphile il ne vous sera pas aise de justifier le roy il est genereux je l'adjoue mais il est mauvais amant et quiconque peut ceder la personne aimee ne l'aime sans doute que fort mediocrement en disant cela aretaphile luy dit adieu et laissa philoxipe dans une douleur si grande que son mal en augmenta craignant donc de mourir en laissant le roy dans l'opinion ou il estoit il l'envoya suplier qu'il luy peust parler et ce fut justement comme je revenois d'amathuse je me trouvay donc aupres de ce prince lors qu'il receut ce message et a l'instant mesme il partit pour aller chez philoxipe mais avec tant de chagrin qu'il m'en faisoit piti il s'estoit repenti plus d'une sois de ce qu'il avoit dit a aretaphile et ne scachant si effectivement cette princesse n'auroit point dit quelque parole obligeante a philoxipe apres qu'il les eut laissez ensemble il retournoit chez luy avec une inquietude extreme comme nous y fusmes il s'informa si la princesse aretaphile y avoit encore este long temps apres luy et ayant sceu que non il entra dans la chambre de philoxipe qui me voyant avec le roy en fut fort aise seigneur luy dit il je voy bien qu'il est temps de vous adjouer ma foiblesse et de vous desabuser le roy qui ne pouvoit concilier ces deux choses ne luy respondit qu'en soupirant et s'estant assis aupres de son lict philoxipe reprenant la parole luy 
 demanda pardon de la peine qu'il luy avoit donnee et me pria de raconter au roy ce que je scavois de son avanture le suppliant de ne trouver pas mauvais que je ne luy eusse point dit la verite puis qu'a moins que d'attirer sur moy le courroux du ciel et d'estre parjure je n'eusse pu reveler son secret apres les sermens qu'il m'avoit fait faire je commencay donc de dire au roy tout ce que je scavois de l'amour de philoxipe mais seigneur tout ce que je luy disois luy paroissoit tellement incroyable et parce qu'en effet la chose n'estoit pas trop dans la vray-semblance et parce qu'il craignoit qu'elle ne fust pas vraye qu'il fut un assez long temps a ne pouvoir mesme concevoir qu'elle fust possible enfin il dit a philoxipe qu'a moins que de voir policrite il n'adjousteroit point de soy a mes paroles philoxipe voyant donc l'obstination de ce prince luy dit qu'encore qu'il se trouvast fort mal il ne laisseroit pas de se faire porter a clarie pour peu qu'il se trouvast mieux le lendemain s'imaginant qu'il recouvreroit plustost la sante en s'aprochant de policrite qu'en demeurant a paphos cependant quoy que le roy ne creust pas encore ce que je luy disois il y avoit des momens ou l'on ne laissoit pas de voir des sentimens de joye dans son coeur ha mon cher philoxipe luy disoit il seroit il bien possible que vous ne fussiez point mon rival et que je me fusse trompe si cela est adjoustoit il encore je pense que j'adoreray cette policrite dont vous 
 me parlez au lieu de condamner l'amour que vous dittes avoir pour elle puis que par la je ne seray plus contraint de ceder ce que j'aime plus que ma vie et que mon confident ne sera point mon rival mais admirez seigneur les effets extraordinaires de l'amour philoxipe estoit encore assez malade lors qu'il avoit envoye prier le roy de le venir revoir mais des qu'il eut forme la resolution de retourner a clarie il luy amanda il dormit toute la nuit suivante avec assez de tranquilite et le lendemain il se fit porter en litiere a clarie ou le roy alla coucher le jour d'apres philoxipe quitta le lict et celuy qui suivit malgre sa foiblesse il monta a cheval avecque le roy accompagne de peu de monde et fut jusques au pied des rochers ou il faloit descendre 
 
 
 
 
comme nous y fusmes le roy sans estre suivy que de philoxipe et de moy prit le chemin de la cabane de cleanthe comme nous la descouvrismes philoxipe qui aussi bien avoit besoin de se reposer s'arresta et la monstrant au roy seigneur luy dit il avec une confusion estrange voila le lieu qui m'a fait quitter paphos voila l'endroit de toute la terre qui me plaist le plus et ou vous allez voir une personne qui peut-estre vous fera plustost rival de philoxipe que philoxipe n'est le vostre ce prince dit cela avec un sousris qui marquoit visiblement que la seule esperance de revoir policrite avoit remis la joye dans son coeur ce n'est pas qu'il n'aprehendast 
 de deplaire a cette jeune personne et d'irriter encore cleanthe en menant le roy chez luy mais la chose n'ayant point de remede il s'y estoit resolu et cette crainte n'empeschoit pas que la joye n'eust place en son ame apres que le roy eut assez considere la grandeur de l'amour de philoxipe par la petitesse de la cabane de policrite et qu'il eut pourtant adjoue que ce desert avoit quelque chose de sauvage qui ne deplaisoit pas nous marchasmes et nous arrivasmes enfin a cette petite palissade de lauriers qui fermoit la court de cleanthe nous y entrasmes donc et philoxipe devancant alors le roy fut a la maison dont il trouva la porte fermee il frapa sans que personne respondist ce qui d'abord luy fit croire que peut-estre toute la famille de cleanthe seroit allee a ce petit temple ou il avoit veu une fois policrite neantmoins comme il eust pu estre que quelqu'un eust este dans cette maison qui ne l'eust pas entendu il frapa encore et frapa si fort en effet qu'un jeune esclaue qui seruoit cleanthe leur vint ouvrir qui connoissant bien philoxipe luy dit apres qu'il luy eut demande ou estoit son maistre seigneur je ne puis vous rien dire de ce que vous voulez scavoir et je scay seulement que cleanthe megisto policrite et doride ne sont plus icy et n'y doivent plus revenir ils ont emmene avec eux les femmes qui estoient de leur pais et mon maistre m'a commande d'attendre icy de ses nouvelles 
 sans que je scache ny pourquoy il est party ny pourquoy il m'a laisse philoxipe surpris et afflige de ce discours fut assez long temps sans parler le roy s'imagina d'abord qu'il y avoit de l'artifice et que philoxipe ne m'avoit fait dire ce que j'avois dit que pour l'abuser mais enfin ce jeune esclave estant rentre dans la maison et revenu un moment apres seigneur dit il a philoxipe lors que policrite fut preste a partir d'icy elle me tira a part sans que personne le vist et me donna ce que je remets entre vos mains avec ordre si vous veniez icy de vous le bailler philoxipe prenant a l'instant mesme des tablettes que cet esclave luy presenta les ouvrit pendant que le roy me faisoit l'honneur de me parler a huit ou dix pas de la et il y leut ces paroles
 
 
 policrite a philoxipe 
 
 
 je ne scay seigneur ou l'on mene policrite mais je scay bien que t'est le prince philoxipe qui fait son exil comme je n'auray peut-estre jamais l'honneur de le voir j'ay creu que je pouvois sans crime apprendre par cette lettre mes veritables sentimens que je refusay de luy dire la derniere fois que je luy parlay il scaura donc que d'abord ne me croyant pas digne de son 
 affection par ma naissance je luy ay refuse la mienne autant que j'ay pu mais qu'ayant apris en suitte que je ne suis pas de la condition dont il parois estres et qu'il y a eu des rois dans ma race je luy adjoue que j'ay eu de la joye de ne pouvoir moy mesme reprocher au prince philoxipe qu'il eust une inclination trop disproportionnee a sa qualite et que j'ay creu luy devoir aprendre ce que je suis afin qu'il ne croye pas faire rien indigne de luy en se souvenant quelquefois de policrite qui se souviendra tousjours agreablement de sa vertu soit que la fortune luy fasse passer sa vie dans un palais ou sous une cabane 
 
 
 policrite 
 
 
philoxipe n'eut pas plustost acheve de lire cette lettre qu'il vint retrouver le roy seigneur luy dit il en la luy presentant avec une melancolie estrange vostre majeste verra dans ces tablettes mon innocence et mon malheur apres cela le roy se mit a lire ce que policrite avoit escrit et a le lire tout haut mais dieux que le malheureux philoxipe eut de peine a n'interrompre pas le roy aussi n'eut il pas plustost acheve de lire que regardant ce prince avec une douleur extreme et bien seigneur luy dit il suis-je amoureux de la princesse aretaphile et ne suis-je pas le plus malheureux homme du monde le roy l'embrassant alors luy demanda pardon de ses soubcons et de l'inquietude qu'il luy causoit mais mon cher philoxipe luy dit il j'en feray bien puni et par vostre propre douleur 
 qui sera tousjours la mienne et par la princesse aretaphile qui ne me pardonnera pas aisement mais adjousta t'il encore avez vous de quoy vous consoler puis que vous aprenez deux choses a la fois fort importantes et fort agreables car enfin policrite vous aime et policrite est de naissance illustre en eussiez vous pu demander davantage aux dieux quand ils vous enssent promis de vous accorder tous vos souhaits ha seigneur s'ecria philoxipe ce que vous me dittes pour me consoler est ce qui fait toute la malignite de mon infortune car il est vray que j'aprens que policrite ne me hait pas et que policrite est d'une condition egale a la mienne mais en mesme temps cette aimable et cruelle personne me dit qu'elle ne me verra jamais et qu'elle ne scait ou l'on la mene ha seigneur je serois plus coupable si j'estois amoureux de la princesse aretaphile mais je serois moins miserable j'aurois des raisons pour combattre ma passion mais icy je ne voy rien qui ne la fortifie et qui ne l'augmente enfin apres que philoxipe se fut bien pleint il quitta le roy et fut encore demander cent choses a ce jeune esclave sans qu'il peust tirer nul esclaircissement ny de la naissance de policrite ny du lieu ou cleanthe et megisto estoient allez et il sceut seulement qu'il y avoit plus de quinze jours qu'ils estoient partis ny prieres ny promesses ny menaces ne purent jamais rien faire dire davantage a ce jeune esclave de qui philoxipe 
 tout desespere qu'il estoit ne laissa pas d'estimer la fidelite mais enfin ne pouvant rien scavoir de plus il suivit le roy qui s'en retournoit a clarie pour moy je ne me trouvay de ma vie plus embarrasse car le roy estoit si melancolique et de sa propre douleur et de celle de philoxipe qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre a parler ny pour se pleindre ny pour consoler ce prince afflige qu'il aimoit si tendrement philoxipe de son coste estoit encore plus inquiet il abandonnoit cette cabane a regret quoy que ce qu'il aimoit n'y fust plus tantost il tournoit les yeux pour la regarder encore tantost il regardoit la lettre de policroite que le roy luy avoit rendue en suitte il regardoit vers le ciel apres il attachoit ses regards vers la terre et marchant quelquefois sans rien dire et quelquefois aussi soupirant fort haut il sembloit ne scavoir pas si le roy estoit la ou s'il estoit seul tant sa resuerie estoit profonde enfin nous arrivasmes a clarie mais dieux que la conuersation fut triste le reste du jour du moins philoxipe luy disoit le roy vous avez cet avantage de scavoir que policrite vous a beaucoup d'obligation qu'elle n'a rien a vous reprocher que vous estes innocent envers elle et qu'elle ne pense a vous en quelque lieu qu'elle soit que pour regretter vostre absence ou au contraire j'ay irrite aretaphile de qui l'ame superbe m'accuse sans doute de peu d'affection et qui trouvera fort mauvais que j'aye prefere vostre vie a l'amour 
 que j'ay pour elle mais seigneur reprit l'afflige philoxipe vous scavez ou est la princesse aretaphile vous pouvez luy faire entendre vos raison vous pouvez luy demander pardon de ce crime qu'un exces de generosite vous a fait commettre vous pouvez soupirer aupres d'elle vous pouvez vous plaindre et vous pouvez appaisser sa colere mais pour moy seigneur quand je me plaindray que je soupireray que je respandray des torrents de pleurs parmy mes rochers tout cela me rendra t'il policrite et scauray-je ou elle demeure peut-estre que cleanthe se sera embarque et peut-estre enfin que je ne scauray jamais ny qui est policrite ny ou est policrite ha seigneur s'ecrioit ce prince amoureux et desole si vous scaviez quelle cruelle avanture est la mienne vous connoistriez aisement que je suis de plus malheureux homme du monde car si j'aimois une personne qui me haist le despit me pourroit guerir si j'en aimois une inconstante le mespris que je ferois de sa foiblesse me consoleroit si j'estois jaloux une partie de mon chagrin se passeroit a chercher les voyes de nuire a mes rivaux si l'absente de policrite estoit bornee l'esperance de son retour quelque esloigne qu'il me parust adouciroit mes inquietudes et si la mort mesme avoit mis une personne que j'aimerois dans le tombeau je pense que je souffrirois moins que je ne souffre car enfin ce mal est un si grand mal qu'il assoupit la raison et 
 presque l'ame insensible mais icy l'esloignement de policrite a pour moy toute la rigueur de la mort et quelque chose de plus je ne la dois non plus voir a ce qu'elle dit que si elle n'estoit plus vivante et cependant je scay qu'elle sera peut-estre en lieu ou elle sera veue ou elle sera aimee et ou peut-estre elle aimera sans se souvenir plus de philoxipe et tout cela sans que je puisse prevoir de fin a ma souffrance ny a mes douleurs et mesme sans que je puisse avoir recours a la mort car apres tout quoy que policrite die que je ne la verray plus je la pourrois voir et le hazard pourroit me la faire rencontrer c'estoit de cette sorte que le roy et philoxipe s'entretenoient je taschois de les consoler tous deux mais a vous dire le vray mes raisons estoient fort mal escoutees cepcndant pour philoxipe il n'avoit point de remede a chercher a son mal car comme il avoit sceu par cet esclave qui luy avoit baille la lettre de policrite qu'il y avoit desja avez longtemps qu'elle estoit partie il ne pouvoit songer a aller apres ny ne scavoit pas de quel coste faire chercher tout ce qu'il put faire fut d'ordonner a ses gens de veiller jour et nuit a l'entour de cette cabane avec ordre d'arrester tous ceux qui y viendroient pour tascher d'aprendre par eux ce que ce trop fidelle esclave n'avoit pas voulu dire et de le suivre par tout ou il iroit jugeant bien que cleanthe ne l'avoit pas laisse seul dans cette maison sans quelque raison secrette et sans avoir dessein d'y revenir 
 ou du moins d'y renvoyer quelqu'un de sa part ou que l'esclave luy mesme l'allast trouver ou il seroit pour le roy il n'en estoit pas ainsi et il n'ignoroit pas que c'estoit aux pieds de la princesse aretaphile qu'il faloit aller tascher d'obtenir son pardon il ne voulut pourtant pas obliger si tost son cher philoxipe a retourner a paphos et il tarda encore le jour suivant a clarie mais quoy qu'il n'y eust nulle apparence de retrouver policrite philoxipe supplia le roy de ne laisser pas d'envoyer a tous les ports de l'isle afin de tascher de scavoir si cleanthe se seroit embarque en quelqu'un estant assez aise d'en estre esclaircy a cause de ce nombre de femmes qu'il menoit qui le rendoient remarquable le roy luy dit qu'il feroit ce qu'il voudroit mais qu'il le conjuroit aussi de ne luy refuser pas d'aller a paphos pour luy aider a obtenir sa grace de la princesse aretaphile philoxipe eut un sensible desplasir d'estre force de retourner a la ville mais ayant tant d'obligation au roy et ce prince n'estant mal avec la personne qu'il aimoit que pour l'amour de luy il crut qu'il devoit y aller et en effet il y vint icy seigneur admirez les caprices de l'amour l'exces de la douleur de philoxipe occuppa si fort son esprit qu'il ne se pleignit plus des maux du corps ny de sa foiblesse et ce mesme prince qui trois jours auparavant estoit venu a clarie en lictiere s'en retourna a cheval a paphos comme nous y fusmes le roy alla le soir mesme chez la princesse aretaphile 
 qu'il rencontra sans autre compagnie que celle de ses femmes elle le receut avec toute la civilite qu'elle devoit a sa condition mais aussi avec toute la froideur d'une personne irritee comme elle vit philoxipe avec le roy seigneur luy dit elle avec un sous-rire malicieux je vous avois bien dit que philoxipe gueriroit sans que je m'en meslasse philoxipe madame respondit il est beaucoup plus malade que je ne le croyois mais graces au ciel je ne vous reprocheray point sa mort puis que vous n'estes pas la cause de ses inquietudes eh veuillent les dieux que vous ne mettiez pas philoxipe en estat de vous reprocher la mienne non non seigneur luy dit elle vostre vie n'est point en danger et tant que philoxipe vivra vostre majeste n'aura rien a craindre ha madame s'escria le roy ne me traitez pas si cruellement ha seigneur repliqua t'elle n'entreprenez pas s'il vous plaist de me vouloir persuader des choses si opposecs les unes aux autres en si peu de temps il n'y a que quatre ou cinq jours que vous me fistes l'honneur de me dire chez philoxipe que vous ne me demandiez plus rien pour vous que mon affection estoit un bien ou vous ne vouliez plus avoir de part et vous me priastes encore si j'ay bonne memoire de ne traiter pas philoxipe si rigoureusement que je vous avois traite et peut-estre adjousta t'elle avec une malice extreme que defferant beaucoup a vos prieres en cette occasion je vous eusse accorde ce que vous me demandiez pour philoxipe si mon amitie 
 eust este necessaire pour sauver sa vie mais grace au ciel n'en ayant pas besoin il se contentera s'il luy plaist de mon estime et vostre majeste se satisfera aussi de mon respect qui est la seule chose que je luy puis et que je luy dois rendre car enfin me vouloir faire croire que vous m'aimez apres avoir pu souffrir qu'un autre m'aimast et avoir souhaite que je l'aimasse c'est ce qui n'est pas aise d'entendre sans quelque sentiment de colere croyez moy seigneur adjousta t'elle qu'aimer son rival plus que sa maistresse est une chose qui n'a guere d'exemples et qui me permet a mon aduis de faire connoistre a ceux qui scauront la chose que c'est une excellente voye de se faire un serviteur fidelle et une fort mauvaise invention d'obliger une princesse a aimer celuy qui la traite de cette sorte quoy madame repliqua le roy la compassion que j'ay eue pour philoxipe me destruira dans vostre esprit moy dis-je qui ay souffert un supplice effroyable auparavant que de me resoudre d'avoir de la pitie pour luy moy qui ne vous cedois que parce que je ne pouvois vous abandonner et qui sentois que la mort de philoxipe avancoit la mienne si vous eussiez plus aime aretaphile repliqua cette princesse que vous n'aimiez philoxipe vous vous fussiez pleint de son malheur et du vostre vous eussiez tasche de le guerir par l'absence et par cent autres voyes et tout au plus vous ne l'eussiez pas hai vous eussiez pleure sa mort quand elle fust arrivee et vous vous 
 en seriez console par la seule veue d'aretaphile mais parce que vous aimez plus philoxipe qu'aretaphile vous vous resoluez aisement a sa perte cependant seigneur vous n'avez pu ceder a philoxipe que la part que vous aviez dans son ame qui n'estoit peut-estre pas telle que vous la croiyez ha inhumaine princesse reprit le roy ne me desesperez pas et scachez qu'en vous cedant a philoxipe je m'estois resolu a mourir peut-estre seigneur repliqua t'elle si j'avois la foiblesse de vous escouter favorablement aujourd'huy qu'a la premiere occasion qui s'en presenteroit et qu'au premier soubcon que vous auriez que quelqu'un ne me haist pas vous viendriez encore me conjurer de guerir son mal non non seigneur adjousta t'elle avec un visage plus serieux vous ne m'avez jamais aimee et vous ne scavez point aimer l'amour est quelque chose au dessus de la raison et de la generosite qui a ses reigles a part l'on peut donner sa propre vie a un de ses amis mais pour la personne aimee il seroit bien plus juste et plus ordinaire de donner tous ses amis pour ses interests que de la ceder a un de ses amis enfin poursuivit elle encore vous avez pu imaginer que vous pouviez vivre sans moy car si vous eussiez creu que vous enssiez deu mourir il eust ce me semble este aussi beau de mourir sans ceder aretaphile a philoxipe qu'apres la luy avoir cedee mais seigneur ayant mieux aime donner une marque de generosite extraordinaire 
 qu'une preuve d'amour assez commune je n'ay rien a dire mais aussi n'ay-je rien a faire qu'a conserver mon coeur aussi libre qu'il l'a tousjours este le roy voyant qu'il ne pouvoit appaiser cet esprit altier apella philoxipe a son secours venez luy dit il venez reparer le mal que vous m'avez fait innocemment et si vous voulez conserver ma vie comme j'ay voulu conserver la vostre faites que l'on me remette en l'estat ou j'estois auparavant que d'avoir eu pitie de vous madame dit alors philoxipe parlant a cette princesse si vous jugez de l'amour du roy pour vous par son amitie pour moy que n'en devez vous point attendre puis que pour me sauver la vie il a pu durant quelques momens seulement renoncer a la possession d'un thresor inestimable et ne devez vous pas croire qu'a la moindre occasion qui s'en presenteroit il sacrifieroit pour vostre service non seulement philoxipe mais tous ses sujets et qu'il sa crifieroit mesme sa propre vie non non respondit cette princesse vous n'estes pas si oblige au roy que vous pensez et au lieu que vous me priez de juger de l'amour qu'il a pour moy par l'amitie qu'il a pour vous je vous conseille de ne juger de l'amitie qu'il a pour vous que par l'amour qu'il a pour moy et de croire que puis qu'il a pu me ceder il n'a jamais eu une passion assez violente pour aretaphile pour meriter que philoxipe luy soit fort oblige de ce qu'il a fait pour luy puis qu'il l'eust fait pour tout autre mais 
 cruelle princesse interrompit le roy que voulez vous que je face je pense respondit elle que je ne vous demanderay rien d'injuste quand je vous supplieray tres-humblement de ne vous souvenir plus d'aretaphile et de jouir en repos de la vie de philoxipe qui vous a si peu couste ha s'escria le roy si la vie de philoxipe me coustoit vostre affection je l'aurois achetee plus cher que si j'eusse donne ma couronne adjouez la verite seigneur luy dit cette malicieuse princesse il philoxipe eust este aussi malade d'ambition que vous le croiyez malade d'amour il ne seroit pas encore guery et vous n'eussiez pas si tost cede le sceptre que vous avez cede aretaphile philoxipe qui comprit aisement le sens cache de ces paroles ou le roy ne respondoit pas tant il estoit accable de douleur luy dit madame quand le roy vous adjouera qu'il a failly et qu'il vous en demandera pardon serez vous plus inexorable que les dieux et luy refuserez vous sa grace quand le roy luy dit elle aura fait pour me guerir de quelque maladie d'esprit s'il m'en arrive une chose aussi extraordinaire que ce qu'il a fait pour vous je verray alors en quelle disposition sera mon ame enfin seigneur quoy que le roy et philoxipe pussent dire ils ne purent rien obtenir de cette imperieuse personne comme ils furent sortis de chez elle et qu'ils furent retournez au palais philoxipe qui connoissoit admirablement aretaphile luy dit qu'il scavoit une voye infaillible de le remettre 
 bien avec elle helas luy dit le roy il est peu de choses que je ne face pour cela parlez donc mon cher philoxipe faut il soupirer longtemps faut il verser des larmes en abondance et faut il estre eternellement a ses pieds non seigneur reprit il et il ne faut que luy mettre la couronne sur la teste mais luy respondit ce prince j'eusse bien voulu ne devoir point l'amour d'aretaphile a son ambition et au contraire j'eusse voulu que la couronne de chipre eust este la recompense de son affection pour moy enfin seigneur cinq ou fix jours s'estant passez de cette sorte et philoxipe ne pouvant plus souffrir la cour supplia le roy de luy permettre de s'en retourner a clarie tous ceux que le roy avoit envoyez a tous les ports de mer qui n'estoient pas fort esoignez de paphos revindrent en ce mesme temps et ne raporterent nulles nouvelles de policrite de sorte que le malheureux philoxipe s'en retourna a sa solitude avec un desespoir estrange il avoit pourtant oblige le roy a ne dire point quelle estoit la cause de son chagrin et il n'y avoit que luy la princesse aretaphile et moy qui en sceussions la verite encore cette princesse n'en scavoit elle rien autre chose sinon que philoxipe estoit devenu amoureux d'une personne qu'il ne connoissoit pas de vous representer quelle estoit la vie qu'il menoit cela seroit assez difficile des qu'il faisoit beau il s'en alloit visiter la cabane de policrite et tous les lieux ou il l'avoit veue et ou il 
 luy avoit parle il s'en alloit faire de nouvelles questions a esclave qui y estoit et que l'on avoit tousjours observe sans voir venir personne parler a luy ny sans qu'il eust este parler a personne mais toute l'adresse de ce prince fut une seconde fois inutile contre la genereuse fidelite de cet esclave si digne de ne l'estre point quand philoxipe ne pouvoit se promener il demeuroit dans sa galerie a considerer la peinture de sa belle venus uranie lors qu'il se souvenoit de la douce vie qu'il avoit menee auparavant que d'estre amoureux il souhaitoit presque de n'avoir jamais veu policrite mais des qu'il rapelloit en sa memoire les charmes de sa beaute et de son esprit et les heureux momens dont il avoit jouy aupres d'elle quoy qu'elle luy eust tousjours cache les sentimens d'estime qu'elle avoit pour luy il preferoit toutes les douleurs qu'il souffroit depuis qu'il aimoit a tous les plaisirs qu'il avoit eus pendant qu'il estoit insensible helas disoit il quelquefois en luy mesme en relisant la lettre de policrite que de douces d'agreables et de cruelles choses j'ay aprises en un mesme jour policrite est de naissance illustre policrite se souviendra tousjours de moy et policrite ne me verra jamais ha s'il est ainsi pousuivoit il que n'ay-je recours a la mort et que fais-je d'une vie si malheureuse puis tout d'un coup venant a penser que policrite vivoit et que policrite ne le haissoit pas un rayon d'esperance luy faisoit 
 croire que peut-estre s'informant de luy et aprenant la miserable vie qu'il menoit se resoudroit elle a luy aprendre enfin en quel lieu de la terre elle vivoit ce raisonnement ne luy donnoit pourtant qu'autant d'esperance qu'il en faloit pour l'empescher de mourir et ne luy en donnoit pas assez pour le consoler de ses infortunes philoxipe vivant donc de cette sorte tout le reste de l'hyuer alloit quelques fois voir le roy lors que le roy ne le pouvoit venir visiter et sans nul espoir de remede a ses maux il attendoit la mort ou des nouvelles de policrite car l'une ou l'autre estoient l'objet de toutes ses pensees et le terme de tous ses desirs le printemps mesme qui semble inspirer la joye a toute la nature n'apporta point de changement a son humeur et il regarda rougir les roses de ses jardins avec le mesme chagrin qu'il avoit veu blachir ses parterres de neige durant l'hyuer ceux qui observoient l'esclave de cleanthe luy aprirent un matin qu'il estoit mort subitement cette facheuse nouvelle redoubla encore ses deplaisirs tant parce que tout ce qui apartenoit a policrite luy estoit fort considerable et que cet esclave luy avoit paru digne d'un sort plus heureux que parce qu'il perdoit en le perdant presque toute l'esperance qu'il luy restoit de pouvoir decouvrir ou estoit policrite il ne laissa pas pourtant de faire continuer encore quelque temps de prendre garde s'il ne viendroit personne a cette cabane deserte 
 mais enfin se lassant de lasser ses gens il les dispensa d'une peine si inutile et abandonna absolument sa fortune a la conduitte des dieux 
 
 
 
 
un jour donc comme il estoit en une humeur si sombre solon arriva a clarie un nom qui luy estoit si cher luy donna d'abord beaucoup d'emotion de joye mais venant a considerer combien il estoit change depuis qu'il ne l'avoit veu et quelle confusion il auroit s'il faloit luy adjouer sa foiblesse quoy qu'il sceust bien que l'amour honneste n'estoit pas une passion dont solon fust ennemi declare cette joye en fut un peu moderee il fut pourtant au devant de luy avec beaucoup d'empressement mais comme la tristesse s'estoit puissamment emparee de son coeur et de ses yeux la satisfaction qu'il avoit de revoir l'illustre solon estoit tellement interieure qu'a peine en paroissoit il quelques marques sur son visage solon ne le vit donc pas plustost qu'il remarqua aisement sa melancolie et philoxipe de son coste regardant solon vit qu'au lieu de cette phisionomie tranquile et de cet air ouvert et agreable qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir dans les yeux il y paroissoit beaucoup de douleur apres que les premiers complimens furent faits et que philoxipe eut conduit solon dans sa chambre seigneur luy dit il vous me donneriez une grande consolation d'avoir l'honneur de vous voir si je ne voyois pas quelques signes de tristesse en vous dont je ne puis m'empescher de vous demander 
 la cause genereux prince repliqua solon je devrois vous avoir prevenu et vous avoir demande le sujet de vostre melancolie auparavant que de vous avoir donne loisir de me parler de la mienne mais je vous adjoue que le legislateur d'athenes n'est pas presentement en estat de se donner des loix a luy mesme et que la douleur que je sens est plus forte que ma raison philoxipe l'embrassant alors estroitement le conjura de luy en vouloir dire la cause et le pria de croire qu'il seroit toutes choses possibles pour le soulager mais luy dit il seigneur je pensois que la philosophie vous eust mis a couvert de toutes les infortunes de la vie et que la douleur fust un sentiment inconnu a solon a qui toute la grece donne le nom de sage la philosophie reprit ce fameux athenien est une imperieuse qui se vante de regner en des lieux ou elle n'a pas grand pouvoir elle peut sans doute poursuivit il enseigner la vertu aux hommes leur faire connaistre toute la nature leur faire aprendre l'art de raisonner et leur donner des loix et des preceptes pour la y conduitte des republiques et des estats elle peut mesme assez souvent nous faire vaincre nos passions mais lors qu'il faut surmonter un sentiment equitable que la nature nous donne croyez moy philoxipe que cette mesme philosophie qui nous aura quelque fois fait perdre des couronnes sans changer de visage ou qui nous en aura fait refuser sans repugnance se trouve foible en 
 des occasions moins eclatantes et en mon particulier je puis dire que j'en ay este abandonne trois fois en ma vie quoy que peut-estre j'en aye este secouru en cent autres rencontres assez difficiles mais encore luy dit philoxipe ne scauray-je point ce qui vous afflige il faut bien que je vous le die luy repliqua solon puis que ce n'est que de vous seul que je puis attendre quelque secours je ne vous rediray point luy dit il tant de particularitez qu'autrefois je vous ay racontees de ma fortune car je veux croire que vous ne les avez pas oubliees mais pour vous faire entendre parfaitement la cause de ma douleur il faut toutefois que je reprenne les choses d'assez loin et que je vous dis quelques circonstances de ma vie que vous avez ignorees vous avez bien sceu que je n'ay jamais creu que le mariage fust incompatible avec la philosophie et la parfaite sagesse comme thales cet illustre milesien se l'est imagine et vous n'avez pas ignore non plus que j'espousay une personne de grande vertu et de grand esprit dont j'eus des enfans qui moururent peu apres leur naissance a la reserve d'un fils qui me resta et que j'ay esleve avec beaucoup de soin en intention de le rendre digne de l'illustre sang dont il est descendu il pouvoit avoir quatorze ou quinze ans lors que je fus a milet pour quelques affaires et comme le sage thales estoit fort de mes amis je fus le visiter et suivant nostre coustume il soustint ses opinions 
 et moy les miennes il me reprochoit agreablement ma foiblesse et me disoit que je tesmoignois assez l'indulgence que j'avois pour l'amour par une petite image de cupidon que je consacray un jour a cette dimunite et que je fis placer au parc de l'academie au lieu ou ceux qui courent avec le flambeau sacre ont accustume de s'assembler passant donc insensiblement d'une chose a une autre nous parlasmes des felicitez et des infortunes du mariage et en suitte la conversation s'esloignat toujours de son premier sujet come il arrive assez souvent nous parlasmes de nouvelles et d'autres choses semblables un moment apres thales feignant d'avoir quelque ordre a donner a un des siens pour ses affaires particulieres se leva pour luy parler bas et se vint remettre a sa place en suitte de quoy a quelque temps de la je vys arriver un estranger que je ne connaissois pas qui luy dit qu'il venoit d'athenes et qu'il n'y avoit que dix jours qu'il en estoit parti a l'instant mesme presse par ce desir naturel de curiosite de scavoir s'il n'y avoit eu nulle nouveaute en ma patrie depuis que j'en estois esloigne je luy demanday s'il ne scavoit rien de considerable de ce lieu la non me respondit il si non que le jour que je partise vy faire les funerailles d'un jeune garcon de la premiere qualite ou toutes les personnes de consideration qui sont a la ville estoient et pleignoient extremement la douleur que recevoit le pere de cet enfant qui n'estoit 
 pas alors a athenes j'adjoue philoxipe qu'entendant parler cet homme de cette sorte je changeay de couleur et ne pus m'empescher de craindre pour mon fils mais luy dis-je ne scavez vous point le nom de ce malheureux pere je l'ay oublie me repliqua t'il mais se scay que c'est un homme d'une extreme probite et dont la reputation est grande en ce lieu la je confesse seigneur que comme la philosophie enseigne aussi bien la sincerite que la modestie je creus que je pouvois estre celuy dont parloit cet homme de sorte que voulant m'eclaircir sans choquer la bien-seance il ne s'appelloit sans doute pas solon luy dis-je attendant sa response avec beaucoup d'inquietude pardonnez moy me respondit il et ma memoire m'avoit desja redonne son nom quand vous l'avez prononce que serviroit il de le nier je ne pus entendre une si funeste nouvelle sans douleur mais une douleur si violente que thales en eut pitie et se moquant de ma faiblesse me demanda en riant s'il estoit avantageux au sage de se marier et de se mettre en estat d'avoir estudie la philosophie pour les autres sans s'en pouvoir servir pour soy mesme en suitte de quoy il m'aprit qu'il n'y avoit rien de vray en tout ce que cet homme m'avoit dit qu'il n'avoit pas mesme este a athenes depuis fort long temps et qu'il n'avoit parle ainsi que par ses ordres qu'il luy avoit fait donner lors qu'il m'avoit quitte pour parler bas a un des siens a mon retour a athenes 
 je retrouvay effectivement mon fils en vie mais je trouvay toute la ville en confusion a cause de quelque desordre qui estoit arrive entre les descendans de megacles et les descendants de ceux qui avoient este de la conjuration cylonienne en suitte les megariens surprirent le port de nisacee et reprirent l'isle de salamine qui m'avoit tant donne de peine et pour comble de malheur tout le peuple se trouva saisi d'une crainte superstitieuse qui luy persuada qu'il revenoit des esprits qu'il aparoissoit des spectres et des fantosmes et cette imagination s'empara tellement de la plus grande partie du monde qu'il y eut une consternation universelle ceux qui avoient le soin des choses sacrees disoient mesme qu'ils apercevoient dans les victimes des lignes infaillibles que la ville avoit besoin de purifications et que les dieux estoient irritez par quelque crime secret pour cet effet de l'advis des plus sages l'on envoya en crete vers epimenides le phaestien qui estoit et qui est encore sans doute un homme incomparable un homme dis-je de qui la vie est toute pure toute simple et toute sainte qui ne mange a peine qu'autant qu'il faut pour vivre de qui l'ame est autant destachee des sens qu'elle le peut estre en cette vie qui est tres scavant en la connaissance des choses celestes et qui passe en son pais non seulement pour avoir quelques revelations divines mais mesme les peuples de crete assurent qu'il est fils d'une nimphe nommee 
 balte quoy qu'il en soit seigneur c'est un homme extraordinaire en scavoir et en vertu epimenides donc ne refusant pas la priere qu'on luy fit vint a athenes et me fit la grace de me choisir entre tant de gens illustres dont cette celebre ville est remplie pour le plus particulier de ses amis apres qu'il eut par sa sagesse et par la croyance que le peuple avoit en luy dissipe toutes les fausses imaginations qu'il avoit et qu'il l'eut guery de toutes ses craintes par des sacrifices par des prieres 8c par des ceremonies il voulut encore a ma consideration tarder quelque temps a athenes ou certainement il fit des predictions prodigieuses a cent personnes differentes un jour que venant a parler ensemble de la foiblesse humaine et combien peu il faloit se fier a ses propres forces ny mesme a celles de la philosophie je luy racontay ce qui m'estoit arrive chez thales le milesien et a quel point j'avois este honteux de n'estre pas maistre de mes premiers sentimens solon me dit il est aise a vaincre de ce coste la et toutes les fois que la fortune se servira des sentimens de la nature contre luy elle le vaincra sans doute car il a l'ame aussi tendre en ces rencontres qu'il l'a forte contre l'ambition mais solon dit il que vous estes a pleindre si vous ne vous resoluez a me croire et que ce que vous avez souffert chez thales vostre illustre amy est peu de chose en comparaison de ce que vous souffrirez un jour en la personne d'une fille dont 
 vostre femme est grosse presentement j'ay me dit il encore observe vostre naissance et vostre vie et je trouve que cette fille qui naistra bien-tost doit estre un prodige en beaute et en vertu et doit estre aussi une des plus heureuses personnes du monde si vous croyez mes conseils mais aussi la plus infortunee il vous ne les suivez pas enfin me dit il si vous ne faites ce que je vous diray vous aurez le desplaisir de voir que la beaute de vostre fille desolera vostre patrie et qu'apres avoir refuse la souveraine puissance comme vous la refuserez un jour elle donnera de l'amour a un de vos citoyens qui deviendra le tyran de la republique ce qui la fera resoudre a la mort plustost que de l'espouser j'advoue qu'en rendant parler epimenides de cette sorte j'en fus sensiblement touche car je luy avois entendu predire des choses que j'avois veues arriver si precisement en suite que mon ame en fut esbranlee je le priay donc de me dire ce qu'il faloit faire pour empescher qu'un homme qui sacrifioit toute sa vie a la gloire d'athenes n'eust une fille qui deust donner de l'amour a celuy qui en voudroit estre le tyran il me dit donc que comme l'on ne scavoit pas encore dans athenes que ma femme estoit grosse il faloit cacher sa grossesse l'envoyer a la campagne et quand elle y seroit accouchee faire nourrir cette fille secrettement sans qu'elle sceust de qui elle estoit nee et sans que personne le sceust aussi excepte ceux qui auroient soin de son education 
 que s'il arrivoit que je fusse oblige de quitter ma patrie il faloit que je la laissasse pendant mon exil en quelque isle de la mer egee et que cela estant elle seroit infailliblement heureuse sans que je deusse craindre qu'elle fust aimee du tyran d'athenes enfin seigneur pour accourcir mon discours je creus les conseils d'epimenides et j'envoyay ma femme aux champs ou elle acoucha d'une fille quand le temps en fut venu ce commencement de prediction acomplie me semblant estrange je continuay d'agir selon les conseils d'epimenides qui en s'en allant apres avoir refuse tous les presens qu'on luy offrit n'ayant voulu pour sa recompense qu'un rameau de l'olive sacree me dit que ma fille me donneroit un jour autant de satisfaction par sa vertu et par son bonheur qu'elle me donneroit d'inquietude par sa perte ces paroles obscures me demeurerent dans l'esprit et depuis cela je remis ma fille entre les mains d'une soeur que j'aimois beaucoup qui estoit mariee a corinthe et qui m'estoit venue voir confiant a elle seule et a son mary le secret qu'epimenides m'avoit tant recommande je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire que je perdis bientost apres ma femme et que j'en eus une douleur extreme je ne vous entretiendray pas non plus des desordres d'athenes qui sont trop connus pour estre ignorez de quelqu'un ny des solicitations que l'on me fit d'accepter la souveraine puissance en me faisant souvenir 
 qu'il y avoit eu des rois dans ma race et qu'un homme descendu de l'illustre codrus pouvoit accepter le sceptre sans scrupule ny avec quelle fermete je rejettay ceux qui me faisoient une proportion injuste suivant les predictions d'epimenides je ne vous rediray pas non plus quelles furent les loix que j'establis vous les scavez et n'ignorez pas comment elles furent receues ny la resolution que je pris de quitter ma patrie pour dix ans afin de n'y changer plus rien et de laisser au peuple le loisir de s'y accoustumer mais je vous diray qu'estant prest a me bannir volontairement de la grece et n'ayant pas oublie ce qu'epimenides m'avoit dit j'aborday a corinthe sans estre connu ou je dis a ma soeur que j'estois oblige de laisser ma fille en une isle tant que mon exil dureroit cette vertueuse personne qui ne l'aimoit pas moins qu'une fille qu'elle avoit aussi avoit espouse un homme de qui la vertu estoit extraordinaire et qui depuis longtemps menoit une vie fort retiree de sorte qu'elle luy persuada aisement de n'abandonner point ma fille qui effectivement me parut la plus belle enfant que je vy jamais je consultay mesme les dieux sur le dessein que j'avois qui m'y confirmerent ainsije pris dans mon vaisseau cette petite famille et voulant du moins que le lieu de l'exil de ces personnes qui m'estoient si cheres fust agreable je choisis cette isle pour les y laisser pendant le discours de solon philoxipe qu'il y avoit desja long temps 
 temps qui avoit bien de la peine a ne l'interrompre point ne put plus s'en empescher quoy seigneur lny dit il vous avez laisse une fille en cette isle ouy reprit solon en soupirant et je l'y vy encore le voyage que je fis icy il y a pres de quatre ans sans vouloir estre veu que de vous mais seigneur si j'ose parler de cette sorte je la vy telle qu'epimenides me l'avoit depeinte c'est a dire belle pleine d'esprit et de vertu lors queje quittay la premiere fois ceux qui la conduisoient je les obligeay de se dire de l'isle de crete a ce mot philoxipe changea de couleur se souvenant que c'estoit le lieu d'ou cleanthe luy avoit dit qu'il estoit mais seigneur reprit il comment se nomme cette fille que les dieux vous ont donnee policrite respondit solon policrite s'escria philoxipe quoy seigneur policrite est vostre fille solon surpris du discours de philoxipe changea de couleur a son tour et craignit que ce prince ne sceust quelque chose de policrite qui luy desplust davantage que l'incertitude ou il estoit de sa vie et de son sejour seigneur luy dit il qui vous a fait connoistre ma fille que j'avois sans doute laissee assez pres de vous mais que j'avois aussi logee en un lieu assez sauvage pour croire que vous ne la deviez pas rencontrer et que quand vous la rencontreriez vous ne la connoistriez pas pour ce qu'elle est les dieux respondit philoxipe sont ceux qui me l'ont fait connoistre et les dieux adjousta t'il encore sont ceux qui l'ont enlevee de sa 
 cabane pour me punir sans doute de n'avoir pas connu plus precisement la fille de l'illustre solon en suite il pria ce fameux legislateur de passer dans sa galerie qui avoit este peinte depuis son dernier voyage a clarie et luy monstrant les portraits de policrite sous la figure de venus uranie voila seigneur luy dit il la deesse qui m'a fait connoistre policrite solon surpris de cette veue regarda philoxipe et ne pouvant comprendre qu'il peust avoir ces peintures sans le consentement de policrite seigneur luy dit il epimenides m'assura que policrite seroit vertueuse mais ces portraits me font craindre que pour avoir este eslevee parmy des rochers elle ne soit devenue un peu trop indulgente ha seigneur s'escria philoxipe que policrite est esloignee de ce que vous me dittes mais oseray-je vous aprendre ma hardiesse et oseray-je vous demander auparavant que de vous raconter mon malheur et le vostre pourquoy vous la laissastes en ce lieu la solon qui connoissoit la vertu de megisto et de cleante qui scavoit aussi cobien estoit grade celle de philoxipe condamna ses premiers sentimens et se hasta de luy dire comment lors qu'il arriva en nostre isle il avoit fait debarquer cleanthe et sa famille comme des passagers qui n'estoient pas de sa connoissance qu'en suitte il les avoit logez au bord de la mer mais qu'estant apres a clarie et luy aidant a faire bastir la ville a la quelle il avoit voulu donner son nom s'estant alle promener seul il 
 avoit remarque ce petit desert ou il avoit loge policrite ayant donne a cleanthe dequoy faire bastir sa cabane et dequoy y subsster tres commodement aussi long temps que devoit durer son exil que passant d'affrique en asie pour s'en aller a la cour de cresus il avoit voulu auparavant revenir en chipre afin d'y voir sa chere policrite et qu'il avoit este un mois entier a cette cabane sans que policrite eust sceu son nom ny qu'il estoit son pere et qu'en suitte il l'estoit venu voir a clarie mais qu'il luy advouoit qu'il avoit descouvert en ce voyage la dans l'esprit de cette je une personne des lumieres extraordinaires qui l'obligeoient d'en regretter la perte sensiblement car dit il je n'ay plus trouve personne dans cette cabane et n'ay pu scavoir ny pourquoy ceux qui l'habitoient en sont partis ny la route qu'ils ont prise ny depuis quand ils ne sont plus en cette solitude mais vous adjousta t'il seigneur hastez vous s'il vous plaist de me dire tout ce que vous scavez de ma fille et ne me desguisez rien car je vous advoue que j'ay l'esprit un peu en peine philoxipe apres avoir en effet remarque que solon avoit une extreme impatience de scavoir comment il connoissoit policrite et comment il en avoit tant de portraits luy raconta la chose avec beaucoup de sincerite il le fit ressouvenir de son humeur insensible et qu'il luy avoit dit il y avoit long temps que l'on pouvoit estre vaincu par l'amour une fois en sa vie sans bonte en suite il luy dit la belle et 
 illustre copagnie qu'il avoit eue chez luy combien cette venus avoit este trouvee merveilleuse la guerre qu'on luy en avoit fait la rencontre de policrite aupres de la source de clarie sa surprise de voir que la peinture de sa venus estoit le portrait de cette inconnue son inquietude de ne pouvoir la retrouver l'heureuse rencontre qu'il avoit faite de cleanthe comme il s'en alloit au temple avec sa famille la troisiesme fois qu'il l'avoit veue lors qu'il la trouva dans le temple mesme comment il avoit enfin descouvert sa cabane et ses diverses pensees la dessus la premiere visite qu'il avoit rendue a policrite lors qu'il la trouva faisant des festons de fleurs les conversations qu'il avoit eues avec cleanthe et avec megisto et enfin la violente pavion dont il s'estoit trouve surpris il luy dit encore combien je l'avoit cobatue a cause de la bassesse qu'il croyoit en la condition de policrite quel changement cette passion avoit cause en son esprit quel bruit sa melancolie avoit fait dans la cour la bizarre imagination que le roy en avoit eue ses conversations aveque luy et avec la princesse aretaphile la colere de cette princesse et l'embarras ou il s'estoit trouve de quelle facon mandrocle avoit fait les portraits de policrite et enfin tout ce qui luy estoit advenu mais apres avoir finy son recit sans donner loisir a solon de luy parler ainsi seigneur luy dit il vous voyez que je ne suis plus cet insensible philoxipe que vous avez autrefois connu 
 mais du moins puis-je vous protester qui j'ay aime policrite dans une cabane avec le mesme respect que si elle eust este sur le throsne et je puis mesme vous assurer que la passion que j'ay eue pour elle a este aussi pure que si j'eusse sceu qu'elle eust este vostre fille ne me condamnez donc pas je vous en conjure puis que je n'ay fait autre chose qu'adorer la vertu de solon en la personne de policrite ouy seigneur poursuivit il c'est plus de sa vertu que de sa beaute que je suis amoureux cependant je ne laisse pas de meriter chastiment car sans doute mes visites ont oblige cleanthe a quitter son desert il n'a pas connu philoxipe et s'est imagine qu'il abuseroit de sa condition mais pour vous prouver dit il encore que j'ay vescu aveque respect aupres de policrite et que je n'en ay jamais eu une parole favorable voyez luy dit il seigneur en luy monstrant la lettre qu'il en avoit receue l'innocente et cruelle marque de reconnoissance que cette adorable personne m'a donnee puis qu'en mesme temps qu'elle me dit qu'elle se souviendra de moy elle me dit aussi qu'elle ne me verra jamais neantmoins seigneur adjousta t'il si ma passion vous deplaist je vous proteste que je me resoudray a mourir aussi tost que vous m'en aurez donne la moindre connoissance puis que c'est la seule voye par laquelle je puis l'arracher de mon coeur mais aussi s'il est vray que vous ayez une veritable affection pour moy vous me 
 plaindrez au lieu de m'accuser vous me promettrez de ne m'estre pas contraire si les dieux vous redonnent policrite et que vous souffrirez qu'elle possede la belle ville que j'ay fait bastir par vos ordres je voudrois seigneur pouvoir luy offrir plusieurs couronnes mais je ne pense pas que celuy qui les refuse fasse difficulte de donner sa fille a un prince qui s'estime heureux de n'estre qu'aupres du throsne et d'aider a son roy a soutenir la pesanteur du sceptre apres que l'illustre philoxipe eut cesse de parler et que solon eut acheve de lire la lettre de policrite ma fille luy dit il est encore plus sage que je ne pensois et puis qu'elle a pu resister aux charmes de la grandeur et a la vertu de philoxipe je trouve qu'epimenides avoit raison de parler de celle de policrite comme d'un miracle soyez donc assure luy dit il seigneur que si les dieux me redonnent ma fille je n'aporteray nul autre obstacle a vos desseins que la priere que je vous feray de considerer plus d'une fois si elle est digne de l'honneur que vous luy voulez faire car si vous continuez en vostre resolution et qu'en effet je connoisse que sa vertu merite une partie des graces que vous luy faites je seray tout prest de luy commander de vous considerer comme celuy que les dieux ont choisi pour la rendre heureuse et pour la combler de gloire je ne vous dis point philoxipe que le fameux excestides mon pere qui ne m'a laisse pauvre que 
 par sa magnificence estoit descendu de l'illustre race du roy codrus car ce ne sont pas des choses dont je trouve qu'il faille tirer grand advantage mais je vous assureray que tous ceux de ma maison depuis qu'ils ont quitte la couronne ont este aussi bons citoyens que leurs devanciers avoient este bons rois et qu'en mon particulier j'aimeray tousjours beaucoup mieux m'opposer a la tyrannie qu'estre le tyran enfin luy dit il encore comme ce ne sera point a vostre grandeur que je donneray policrite je pretens aussi que la vertu de policrite luy tienne lieu d'une couronne mais helas interrompit philoxipe comment me la donnerez vous cette adorable policritesi nous ne scavons point ou elle est il faut la demander aux dieux luy repliqua t'il puis que c'est d'eux seuls que nous devons attendre tous les biens qui nous peuvent arriver enfin seigneur philoxipe eut une joye que l'on ne peut dire de trouver en l'esprit de solon des dispositions si favorables pour luy mais aussi eut il une douleur extreme de voir que les bonnes intentions de solon seroient inutiles si l'on ne retrouvoit point policrite toutesfois la veue d'un homme si illustre ne laissoit pas de le consoler en quelque sorte et la conversation d'une personne qui possedoit la sagesse au souverain degre fit que du moins sa douleur parut plus moderee quoy qu'effectivement elle fust tousjours tres forte il m'a dit mesme que quelque afflige qu'il fust 
 il ne laissoit pas de se souvenir de vous et d'en entretenir solon comme d'une personne fort extraordinaire cependant le roy ayant appris l'arrivee de solon et comme quoy policrite estoit sa fille en eut une extreme joye et voulurent qu'ils allassent a la cour philoxipe et luy de sorte que l'amour de ce prince ne fut plus un si grand secret comme l'on s'imagina que cleanthe ne seroit point sorty de l'isle l'on envoya un nouveau commandement par toutes les villes par tous les bourgs et par tous les vilages de rendre conte des estrangers qui habitoient en tous ces divers lieux mais quoy que l'on peust faire il fut un possible d'en rien aprendre cependant la cour redevenoit fort melancolique car la princesse aretaphile ne pouvant se resoudre de pardonner au roy ce prince aussi par un bizarre sentiment d'amour s'obstinoit a vouloir gagner le coeur de cette princesse auparavant que de l'assurer d'estre reine philoxipe de son coste estoit desespere de ne retrouver point policrite et de l'avoir fait perdre a solon et solon aussi estoit fort triste de n'avoir point de nouvelles de sa fille principalement en un temps ou il faloit qu'il s'en retournast a athenes ou il aprit qu'il y avoit d'assez grands desordres et que toutes choses s'y preparoient a la sedition il sceut qu'il y avoit trois partis differens qu'un nomme lieurgue estoit chef des habitans de la plaine qu'un appelle megades fils d'alemeon l'estoit de ceux de la 
 marine et que pisistrate que vous connustes sans doute quand vous passastes a athenes l'estoit de ceux de la montagne de sorte qu'encore qu'effectivement tout ce grand peuple eust garde ses loix depuis son depart les choses estoient pourtant en estat de changer bientost de face solon estant donc presse de partir en peu de jours dit a philoxipe que l'interest de la patrie estoit preferable a tout et que celuy qui avoit bien voulu cacher sa fille plustost que de l'exposer a donner de l'amour a un tyran n'abandonneroit pas son pais pour attendre inutilement des nouvelles d'une personne que les dieux conserveroient sans doute si elle s'en rendoit digne qu'ainsi il n'avoit plus qu'a luy laisser un pouvoir absolu de l'espouser s'il la retrouvoit philoxipe fort afflige et fort content tout ensemble remercia solon de l'honneur qu'il luy faisoit mais comme le vent ne se trouva pas propre pour partir et que son vaisseau n'estoit pas prest il falut qu'il eust patience durant cet intervale solon sceut qu'il y avoit un temple celebre a cent cinquante stades de paphos dedie comme presque tous les autres de l'isle a venus uranie ou l'on disoit que cette deesse se plaisoit plus d'estre honnoree qu'en aucun autre parce que c'estoit la coustume que toutes les ceremonies en estoient faites par des filles de condition qui se vouoient au service de la deesse et qui la servoient trois ans dans son temple avant que d'estre mariees solon qui 
 creut ne pouvoir mieux employer le temps qui luy restoit a demeurer en chipre malgre luy parce que le vent n'estoit pas propre et que son vaisseau comme je l'ay dit n'estoit pas encore en estat de faire voile croyant dis-je ne pouvoir mieux faire que de prier les dieux proposa a philoxipe d'y aller qui y consentit aisement de sorte que montant a cheval des le lendemain au matin suivis de peu de monde ils furent a ce temple qui est scitue en un lieu infiniment agreable je scay bien seigneur que je ne devrois pas m'arrester a vous raconter toutes les ceremonies du sacrifice que l'on offrit pour solon et pour philoxipe en cette occasion neantmoins comme ce qui le suivit l'a rendu celebre parmy nous je ne laisseray pas de vous le dire joint que peut estre n'en avez vous point veu de semblable car c'est un sacrifice qui ne couste point la vie aux victimes que l'on y offre et qui au contraire fait qu'elles recouvrent la liberte ce temple est d'une structure assez belle l'autel en est magnifique au pied de cet autel et droist au milieu l'on mit pour la ceremonie du sacrifice un grand chandelier d'or a douze branches ou pendoient des lampes de cristal que l'on alluma aussi tost apres cinquante filles habillees de gaze d'argent mesle de bleu pour marquer l'origine de la celeste venus qu'elles servent ayant toutes des couronnes de fleurs sur la teste et des branches de mirthe a la main se rangerent des deux costez du temple 
 a la reserve de celle qui devoit faire la ceremonie qui demeura au milieu au pied de ce chandelier d'or estoit une grande cassolette de mesme metal ou il y avoit du feu qu'ils appellent sacre parce qu'il n'est allume que par l'agitation de certaines pierres consacrees a la deesse celle qui offroit le sacrifice au nom de solon et de philoxipe mit dans cette cassolette de l'ambre du thimianie du benioin du labdan et de plusieurs autres parfums en suitte dequoy ayant forme sur l'autel un petit bucher de rameaux de mirthesee elle prit un flambeau compose de cire parfumee avec lequel elle l'alluma et de ce mesme flambeau elle en alluma cinquante autres qui estoient en divers endroits du temple apres cela une de ces filles apporta deux tourterelles liees ensemble avec des filets d'or et de soye bleue et devant celle qui portoit ces oyseaux marchoient quatre autres filles chantant un hymne a la lydienne qui comme vous scavez est la plus parfaite musique du monde si l'on en excepte celle de phrigie apres celles la en vint quatre autres portant deux cignes attachez ensemble avec un cordon de soye bleue meslee de l'or et suivies de quatre autres encore chantant comme les premieres ces filles qui portoient les victimes se mirent a genoux au pied de l'autel en suitte dequoy celle qui faisoit la ceremonie afin de n'irriter pas venus anadiomene qui autrefois avoit este adoree en ce temple par les honneurs que l'on rendoit 
 a venus uranie prit des roses et des coquilles qu'elle sema sur l'autel et prenant une grande conque de nacre pleine de l'eau de la mer puisee au soleil levant en arrosa les victimes l'on prepara mesme le couteau sacre grani d'agathe orientale comme pour les sacrifier mais ces filles qui chantoient tousjours le deffendirent de la part de venus uranie de sorte que celle qui portoit les touterelles et les autres qui portoient les cignes s'estant approchees de celle qui faisoit la ceremonie elle les detacha et ouvrant une des fenestres du temple dans le mesme temps que l'on mit de nouveaux parfums dans la cassolette ils se perdirent dans cette nue parfumee qui s'en esleva et volant avec rapidite vers le ciel semblerent aller porter les voeux de selon et de philoxipe a la deesse a laquelle ils estoient offerts apres cela toutes les filles qui estoient dans ce temple commencerent un cantique de joye qui fit retentir ses voutes agreablement et une d'entr'elles prenant un petit faisceau de mirthe lie avec des filets d'or en ramassa les cendres du petit bucher afin de voir si tout avoit este parfaitement consume car c'est une des marques que le sacrifice a este bien receu l'on fut en suitte visiter le jardin sacre ou l'on nourrit les tourterelles et les cignes destinez au service de la deesse pour voir si ceux qu'on luy avoit offerts n'y estoient pas retournez car alors que cela n'arrive point c'est une marque infaillible 
 que le sacrifice n'a pas este accepte et que la deesse ne trouve plus ces oyseaux assez purs pour luy estre presentez une autre fois mais pour le sacrifice de solon il eut toutes les marques d'un sacrifice heureux le bucher avoit este entierement consume les parfums avoient monte droit vers la voute du temple les oyseaux avoient vole du coste du levant et on les avoit retrouvez dans le jardin sacre en fin ces filles assurerent a solon et a philoxipe que leurs voeux avoient este agreables a la deesse et qu'il y avoit tres long temps qu'elles n'avoient offert de sacrifice qui eust este si bien receu apres avoir donc rendu grace a la divine uranie ces deux illustres affligez partirent pour s'en retourner a paphos solon entretenant phitoxipe si agreablement et luy disant de si belles choses que sans y penser il quitta le chemin par lequel ils estoient venus ceux qui les accompagnoient crurent que philoxipe qui scavoit fort bien ce chemin la avoit dessein d'aller encore en quelque lieu qu'ils ne scavoient pas de sorte qu'ils ne luy dirent rien ainsi continuant de marcher par ce chemin detourne ils s'esloignerent non seulement de la route qu'ils devoient suivre mais mesme ils arriverent enfin en un endroit ou il n'y avoit plus nulle trace de chemin 
 
 
 
 
se trouvant alors au bord de la mer parmy des rochers sauvages et presque inaccessibles cette veue remit encore plus fortement en la memoire de philoxipe le desert ou il avoit trouve la demeure de 
 policrite mais au mesme temps aussi il s'aperceut qu'ils s'estoit esgare et tellement esgare qu'il ne connoissoit point du tout le lieu ou il estoit neantmoins comme il luy parut assez agreable quoy que fort sauvage il dit a solon qu'infalliblemet continuant d'aller le long de la mer ils trouveroient quelque sentier qui leur feroit retrouver leur chemin c'est pourquoy du lieu de retourner sur ses pas il continua d'aller et se mit mesme a marcher devant afin d'estre le guide de ceux qu'il avoit esgarez conme philoxipe fut assez avance il descouvrit cinq ou six petites cabanes de pescheurs basties au bord de la mer il entendit mesme plusieurs voix de femmes qui crioyent et qui se pleignoient de quelque malheur il avanca alors avec precipitation sans scavoir par quel sentiment les voix de ces femmes luy avoient donne tant d'esmotion et estant arrive aupres d'elles il reconnut megisto et doride et les vit le visage tout couvert de larmes acconpagnees de plusieurs autres femes qui pleuroient aussi bi qu'elles et qui sans le regarder regardoient toutes vers la mer il jetta alors les yeux du mesme coste qu'elles regardoient mais helas il vit policrite toute seule dans un petit bateau sans rames et sans gouvernail qui ne scachant que faire s'estoit mise a genoux pour prier les dieux car encore que la mer ne fust pas fort esmue elle l'estoit toutefois un peu joint que conme les rochers repoussoient les vagues avec impetuosite en cet endroit et qu'il faisoit un 
 peu de vent du coste de la terre ce bateau s'esloignoit toujours davantage philoxipe voyant donc policrite en si grand danger et ne voyant point de bateau pour s'en pouvoir servir descendit de cheval en diligence et quittant tout ce qui eust pu rembarrasser il se jetta a l'eau pour aller droit a policrite de sorte seigneur que lors que solon qui venoit un peu derriere arriva sur le bord de la mer il vous est aise de juger que sa surprise fut grande de voir megisto toute en larmes policrite seule dans un bateau que les vagues portoient vers la pleine mer et philoxipe nageant vers policrite mais qui en estoit encore si esloigne qu'il y avoit lieu de croire que le bateau allant tousjours la force luy manqueroit auparavant qu'il le peust joindre et qu'il auroit le desplaisir de voir perir devant luy et sa chere fille et un prince qu'il n'aimoit pas avec moins de tendresse qu'elle de vous dire aussi quel estonnement fut celuy de megisto de voir philoxipe se jetter a l'eau et un moment apres solon arriver ou elle estoit c'est ce qui n'est pas aise a faire de vous depaindre non plus ce que pensa policrite lors qu'elle reconnut philoxipe et qu'elle le vit en un danger si grand pour l'amour d'elle il ne seroit pas non plus bien facile de vous le faire comprendre cette illustre personne nous a pourtant dit depuis qu'elle ne l'eut pas plustost reconnu que ses voeux changerent d'objet et que cessant de songer a son propre salut toutes les prieres furent pour philoxipe 
 cependant solon estoit sur le nuage avec megisto qui n'avoit pas assez de liberte d'esprit pour luy dire alors comment ce malheur estoit arrive et qui ne pouvant destacher ses yeux d'un objet si capable de toucher l'esprit le plus insensible se contentoit de luy dire que policrite estoit perdue et certes a dire vray je pense qu'en cette rencontre la sagesse de solon sur mise a la plus rigoureuse espreuve ou elle sera jamais et qu'il luy a bien este plus aise de refuser une couronne que de voir policrite et philoxipe au danger ou il les voyoit sans donner d'excessives marques de desespoir ce grand homme demeura pourtant dans les justes bornes d'une douleur legitime et sans faire rien indigne de sa vertu il sentit pourtant tout ce qu'une ame tendre et genereuse devoit sentir cependant quoy que philoxipe n'eust qu'un habillement fort leger parce que le printemps est deja fort chaud en nostre isle il ne pouvoit pas nager avec mesme facilite que s'il n'en eust point eu de sorte que le bateau de policrite s'esloignant tousjours il ne pouvoit venir a bout de le joindre l'on voyoit cette je une personne faire quelques legers et inutiles efforts pour tascher de retenir cette petite barque mais il ne luy estoit pas possible et elle faisoit des choses qu'elle connoissoit bien elle mesme qui ne luy pouvoient servir sans pouvoir pourtant s'en empescher l'on voyoit aussi philoxipe faire de grands efforts et quelquefois apres il sembloit que la lassitude commencoit 
 de le prendre mais enfin comme il s'en fut un peu aproche quelquefois l'on voyoit une vague qui repoussoit ce bateau assez pres de luy et une autre aussi tost apres qui le r'emportoit avec elle car selon le vent qu'il faisoit il changeoit de place et de route il estoit si proche de philoxipe qu'il entendoit la voix de policrite sans luy pouvoir respondre tant la violence avec laquelle il nageoit l'avoit mis hors d'haleine seigneur luy disoit elle laissez moy perir retournez vous en au rivage et ne vous obstinez pas a me suivre inutilement je vous laisse a penser si un commandement si obligeant n'obligeoit pas philoxipe a redoubler ses efforts enfin seigneur apres que plus d'une fois solon eut veu des vagues s'eslever assez pour renverser ce bateau et pour engloutir philoxipe qui ne pouvoit presque plus y resister un gros d'eau ayant pousse cette petite barque vers ce prince il fut si heureux qu'il prit un bout de corde avec laquelle elle avoit este attachee au bord de la mer considerez seigneur quelle fut alors la joye de philoxipe celle de policrite de solon de megisto de doride et des autres femmes qui estoient sur le rivage ils en pousserent tous des cris d'allegresse il n'estoit pourtant pas encore temps de se resjouir car bi qu'il ne soit pas difficile de conduire un bateau qui flote neantmoins philoxipe estoit si las qu'il y eut lieu de desesperer qu'il peust achever heureusemet ce qu'il avoit si bien comence et qu'il peust r'amener cet esquif a 
 bord en effet on le vit plonger deux fois malgre luy sans abandonner pourtant jamais la corde qu'il tenoit je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle douleur estoit celle de policrite en ces facheux instans et de combien de larmes elle paya la peine qu'il avoit pour la vouloir sauver l'on voyoit pourtant cet amoureux prince vouloir faire deux choses toutes opposees car il vouloit regarder la rivage afin d'y conduire plustost sa chere policrite et il y avoit aussi des momens ou croyant mourir sans la pouvoir sauver il vouloit du moins la voir en mourant il regardoit donc tantost vers la terre et tantost vers policrite et les choses estoient en cet estat lors que les gens de philoxipe et de solon qui estoient demeurez fort loin derriere a cause de quelque petit accident advenu a un de leurs chevaux arriverent entre lesquels s'estant trouve un escuyer de philoxipe qui scavoit nager il se je tta a l'eau en diligence et fut aider a son cher maistre a conduire policrite au bord ou ce prince ne fut pas si tost que la force luy manquant il tomba esvanouy de vous dire comment il fut secouru de solon de megisto et de tout ce qui se trouva sur le rivage je pense qu'il seroit superflu estant aise a s'imaginer qu'apres une semblable action il en fut bien assiste pour policrite elle estoit si surprise et si affligee de l'estat ou elle voyoit philoxipe qu'elle ne sentoit point la joye d'estre eschapee d'un si grand peril mais enfin apres que l'on eut porte philoxipe dans une de ces cabanes que par les remedes 
 qu'on luy eut faits il fut revenu de sa foiblesse et qu'on luy eut seche ses habillemens il demanda ou estoit policrite que solon fit venir d'une petite chambre ou elle s'estoit retiree quoy qu'elle ne fust pas encore bien remise et de la frayeur qu'elle avoit eue pour elle et de celle qu'elle avoit eue pour philoxipe mais enfin apres que tous ceux qui estoient dans cette cabane se furent retirez a la reserve de megisto de policrite de doride de philoxipe et de solon ce dernier pria megisto de luy dire pourquoy elle avoit quitte la cabane qu'il luy avoit fait bastir pourquoy elle estoit en celle la en quel lieu estoit cleanthe pourquoy ils n'avoient pas laisse ordre de l'advertir du lieu de leur retraite et comment ce dernier malheur estoit arrive a policrite mais luy dit il ma soeur parlez sans deguiser la verite car le prince philoxipe scait que je suis vostre frere que policrite est ma fille et je scay aussi qu'il luy fait l'honneur de l'aimer c'est pourquoy ne deguisez plus rien devant luy car il a presentement plus de part en policrite que je n'y en ay puis que je la luy ay donnee et qu'il vient d'y aquerir encore un nouveau droit en luy sauvant la vie je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle fut la surprise de policrite d'aprendre qu'elle estoit fille de solon qu'elle connoissoit bien pour un grand et excellent homme mais qu'elle ne connoissoit pas pour son pere et d'entendre en mesme temps qu'elle estoit donnee a philoxipe elle en rougit donc avec beaucoup de modestie et regardant megisto 
 comme pour luy demander s'il estoit vray qu'elle fust fille de solon elle la confirma en cette croyance et luy donna lieu de confondre si bien la joye qu'elle avoit de revoir philoxipe avec celle qu'elle avoit aussi de voir qu'elle estoit fille d'un homme si illustre qu'il n'en parut dans ses yeux que ce que luy en devoit causer un si grand honneur philoxipe prenant alors la parole dit des choses a solon aussi obligeantes pour policrite que pour luy et megisto fut quelque temps sans pouvoir contenter la curiosite de son frere mais enfin elle luy aprit comment connoissant l'amour que le prince philoxipe avoit pour policrite elle avoit creu a propos de dire seulement a cette fille qu'elle estoit plus que ce qu'elle pensoit estre afin qu'elle connust qu'elle estoit encore plus obligee de traiter philoxipe avec beaucoup d'indifference et qu'elle luy eust moins d'obligation des sentimens qu'il avoit pour elle que cleanthe et elle ayant ce leur sembloit remarque que cela avoit produit un effet contraire en l'esprit de policrite et le prince philoxipe ayant paru extraordinairement passionne en la derniere visite qu'il avoit faite chez eux elle advouoit que le merite de philoxipe et la jeunesse de policrite luy avoient donne quelque apprehension qu'en suite ayant sceu que le roy estoit a clarie et ayant craint que philoxipe ne luy parlast de la beaute de policrite elle avoit conseille a cleanthe de quitter leur cabane qu'en effet ils l'avoient abandonnee et esloient venus en ce petit hameau maritime 
 ou cleanthe connoissoit un vieux pescheur qui leur avoit preste la sienne estant alle loger avec un fils qu'il avoit qu'ils avoient laisse chez eux un je une esclave aux ordre si solon venoit de luy dire seulement qu'il se trouvast le premier jour de la lune ensuivant a un temple qu'ils luy nommerent ou cleanthe ne devoit pas manquer de se trouver en pareils jours afin de l'y rencontrer quand il reviendroit que depuis quelque temps cleanthe avoit sceu par le sacrificateur de ce petit temple qui est aupres de leur premiere cabane que cet esclave estoit mort si bien que scachant que le terme du retour de solon aprochoit cleanthe avoit pris la resolution d'aller demeurer fsul a paphos scachant bien que lors qu'il reviendroit en chipre il verroit infailliblement le roy et qu'ainsi il ne pouvoit manquer de le trouver de sorte qu'il estoit party ce matin la que policrite qui n'avoit de plus grand divertissement principalement depuis qu'ils avoient quitte leur premiere demeure que de dessigner tousjours quelque chose sur ses tablettes ayant veu partir tous les pescheurs de leur petit hameau sans qu'il restast nul bateau que celuy dans lequel on l'avoit veue et qui n'avoit ny timon ny rames elle y estoit entree s'y estoit assise et sans prendre garde s'il estoit bien attache s'estoit mise a faire un dessein de cette petite flotte rustique qui s'esloignoit d'elle que cependant elle avoit este si attentive a son ouvrage qu'a ce qu'elle disoit elle ne s'estoit 
 point aperceue que le bateau dans lequel elle estoit s'estoit destache avoit abandonne le rivage et flotoit au gre du vent de sorte dit megisto que sortant de nostre cabane pour regarder ou estoit policrite je l'ay veue comme je vous l'ay dit et j'ay fait un si grand cry que je l'ay fait apercevoir du danger ou elle estoit sans que j'y pusse aporter aucun remede n'y ayant pas un homme en ce hameau et tous les bateaux de pescheurs ayant desja double un cap qui les deroboit a nostre veue megisto ayant fini son recit solon admira la providence des dieux en la conduitte des choses du monde car venant a considerer que s'il ne se fussent egarer philoxipe et luy policrite selon les apparences auroit peri il ne pouvoit assez remercier la deesse a laquelle il avoit offert un sacrifice qui paroissoit avoir este si bien receu en effet cette advanture amis ce temple de venus uranie en grande reputation mais seigneur pour n'abuser pas plus longtemps de vostre patience je vous diray seulement qu'au lieu d'aller a paphos philoxipe et solon furent le lendemain a clarie ou ils menerent megisto policrite doride et toutes les femmes qui les servoient apres que philoxipe eut recompense liberalement les femmes de ces pescheurs de l'hospitalite et de la courtoisie dont policrite leur estoit redevable de vous dire maintenant la joye de philoxipe et celle de policriteil ne seroit pas aise et de vous redire en quels termes cet heureux amant 
 exprima sa satisfaction a policrite et avec quelle obligeante modestie elle receut les tesmoignages de son affection et luy donna des marques de la sienne ce seroit entreprendre un discours trop difficile car enfin aprendre en un mesme jour qu'elle estoit fille de l'illustre solon et qu'elle alloit estre femme de philoxipe estoient deux choses qui partageoient bien son ame et qui mettoit un agreable trouble dans son coeur philoxipe ne manqua pas de faire voir a policrite ses portraits dans sa galeries qui certainement quoy que tres beaux l'estoient infiniment moins qu'elle le jour d'apres solon envoya chercher cleanthe a paphos que l'on y trouva et que l'on amena a clarie en suitte ayant donne les ordres necessaires pour cela cleanthe megisto policrite et doride eurent des habillemens proportionnez a leur condition le lendemain la princesse de salamis et la princesse agariste ayant este adverties par philoxipe leur frere de la verite de son advanture ces deux belles princesses dis-je qui l'aimoient cherement qui par cet advis avoient apris l'illustre naissance de policrite et qui reveroient solon comme un dieu furent prendre cette belle personne a clarie pour la mener a paphos mais dieux qu'elles furent surprises de son extreme beaute et la comparant avec ses portraits qu'elles trouverent qu'elle estoit au dessus d'eux mais si elle leur parut belle et charmante elle leur sembla encore plus spirituelle elle avoit je ne scay 
 quelle aimable modestie qui sans avoir rien de sauvage la rendoit encore plus agreable elle avoit sans doute dans l'ame toute l'innocence qu'elle avoit conserve parmy ses rochers mais elle avoit pourtant dans l'humeur et dans l'esprit tous les charmes que la cour peut donner car comme megisto estoit une digne soeur de l'illustre solon elle scavoit aussi bien toutes les choses de bien seance necessaire a celles de son sexe que personne les peust scavoir et les avoit aussi parfaitement aprises a policrite la je une doride parut aussi fort belle et fort aimable a la cour ou le roy receut solon cleanthe megisto philoxipe et policrite avec des honneurs et des joyes que l'on ne scauroit exprimer et d'autant plus encore que s'estant enfin resolu de contenter l'ambition de la princesse aretaphile afin de satisfaire son amour il luy avoit fait dire le jour auparavant qu'il ne tiendroit plus qu'a elle d'estre reine mais seigneur si aretaphile fut reine de chipre policrite fut reine de la beaute et la seule princesse de salamis eust pu luy disputer un peu ce glorieux empire enfin seigneur ce ne furent plus que festes et resjouissances comme solon estoit presse de partir l'on hasta ces illustres nopces le roy voulut qu'il n'y eust qu'une seule ceremonie pour ces deux grands mariages et chipre n'a rien veu de plus superbe que le fut cette belle feste quoy qu'elle fust faite avec precipitation solon ne manqua pas de se souvenir alors des 
 predictions d'epimenides et d'advouer qu'il y avoit quelque chose de divin en ce rare homme cependant comme l'interest de la patrie estoit plus fort en luy que tout autre interest il partit pour s'en retourner a athenes de sorte qu'il y eut quelques larmes de tristesse qui interrompirent un peu la joye de policrite mais pour luy laisser quelque consolation la je une doride demeura aupres d'elle pour quelque temps et cleanthe et megisto s'embarquerent avec l'illustre solon voila seigneur l'estat ou ce grand homme laissa la cour de chipre c'est a dire le roy tres content la reine aretaphile tres satisfaite et philoxipe et policrite si heureux que l'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage peu de jours apres le prince de cicilie ayant envoye demander la princesse agariste soeur de philoxipe il la luy accorda et mit dans les conditions de son mariage qu'il vous envoyeroit des troupes comme le roy de chipre vous en avoit desja envoye et comme ce fut moy qui eus l'honneur de conduire la princesse agariste en cilicie je me resolus d'accepter l'employ que l'on m'offrit pour venir icy et estant retourne en chipre pour faire mon equipage le prince philoxipe me chargea de vous aprendre son advanture et de vous supplier de sa part de ne troubler pas son bonheur en le privant de vostre amitie qui luy est infiniment chere et infiniment precieuse 
 
 
 
 
leontidas ayant cesse de parler artamene l'assura que si la felicite de philoxipe n'estoit 
 jamais troublee que par la perte de son affection il estoit assure d'estre tousjours fort heureux thimocrate et philocles tesmoignerent en suitte avoir une sensible joye de la satisfaction d'un prince qu'ils aimoient infiniment et artamene en receut sans doute tout le plaisir que l'estat present de sa vie luy pouvoit permettre d'avoir il estoit pourtant en termes de ne pouvoir apprendre d'advantures ny bonnes ny mauvaises sans quelque douleur car lors qu'on luy parloit de la felicite de quelqu'un la comparant a son infortune il en soupiroit et si on luy disoit quelque chose de funeste il en soupiroit encore tant il est vray que l'experience des malheurs rend l'ame sensible a la compassion il se resjouit donc du bonheur de philoxipe mais en soupirant et il tesmoigna a leontidas qu'il estoit bien fache de n'estre pas en estat de pouvoir faire voir a philoxipe en la personne du prince artibie et en la sienne combien tout ce qu'il luy recommandoit luy estoit cher mais luy dit il leontidas vous venez servir un si grand roy et si equitable que vostre vertu ne laissera pas d'estre aussi bien recompensee que si j'estois encore en liberte seigneur luy respondit leontidas il seroit bien difficile de persuader a toute l'asie que le roy des medes fust equitable en toutes choses tant que vous serez prisonnier les rois reprit artamene avec une sagesse extreme font quelquefois des injustices innocement parce qu'ils sont 
 persuadez qu'ils ont raison d'agir comme ils agissent et ceux qui souffrent ces especes d'injustices dont je parle seroient eux mesmes bien injustes s'ils ne les enduroient passans les en accuser et sans s'en pleindre thimocrate philocles et leontidas ravis de la prudence d'artamene et de voir qu'il ne scavoit pas moins bien user de la mauvaise fortune que de la bonne le quitterent apres luy avoir fait de nouvelles protestations d'une amitie inviolable mais durant qu'il souffroit avec tant de patience une prison si cruelle tous ses illustres amis n'avoient autre pensee que celle de songer a l'en tirer ariobante que ciaxare avoit lasse regent du royaume vint de themiscire a sinope tant pour luy rendre conte de son administration que pour l'advertir que tous les habitans de themiscire d'amasie et de toute cette partie de la capadoce qui n'estoit pas revoltee disoient hautement qu'il faloit envoyer des deputez au roy pour le supplier de remettre artamene en liberte enfin seigneur dit ariobante a ciaxare toute la galatie dit la mesme chose et vos trois royaumes tous entiers ne peuvent foustrir qu'un homme qu'ils reverent comme un dieu toit dans les fers car ce que je vous dis de galatie et de capadoce je l'ay aussi entendu dire de toute la medie ciaxare escouta ariobante sans luy respondre precisement parce qu'il attendoit la response du roy d'armenie auparavant que de se determiner a rien cependant chrisante et feraulas agissoient continuellement et 
 par leurs soins et par l'affection que tant de rois et tant de princes avoient pour artamene ciaxare n'estoit jamais sans qu'il y eust aupres de luy quelqu'un qui luy parlast pour cet illustre prisonnier le roy de phrigie n'en estoit pas plustost sorti que celuy d'hircanie y entroit a celuy la succedoit persode ou hidaspe a ceux-cy artibie ou adusius enfin soit par agiatidas par thimocrate par philocles par gobrias par gadate par thrafibule par madate ou par artucas le nom d'artamene estoit continuellement prononce si ciaxare alloit au temple les sacrificateurs luy en parloient s'il alloit dans les rues de sinope les habitans je mettoient a genoux pour luy demander sa liberte s'il alloit quelquesfois se promener au camp tous les soldats demandoient leur general et a la reserve de cet ancien amy d'aribee qui avoit tousjours intelligence avec artaxe il n'y avoit pas une personne qui ne servist artamene si bien que cet homme qui se nommoit metrobate estoit sans doute le seul qui avoit dessein de luy nuire martesie en son particulier qui estoit informee par feraulas de tout ce qui se passoit avoit une joye extreme de voir que le rare merite d'artamene estoit si universellement connu et de voir qu'il n'estoit pas comme ces favoris que tout le monde quitte quand la fortune les abandonne puis qu'au contraire l'amitie que l'on avoit pour luy estoit redoublee par son malheur elle recevoit aussi tous les jours par le mesme feraulas des nouvelles d'artamene 
 qui du moins vouloir luy rendre tesmoignage par la regularite des complimens qu'il luy faisoit faire qu'il n'estoit pas change en prison et que puis qu'il avoit conserve la civilite il avoit aussi conserve sa passion toute entiere les choses estant en cet estat megabise revint et arriva chez le roy qu'il y avoit beaucoup de monde a peine fut il entre que chacun se pressa afin d'entendre ce qu'il aprendroit a ciaxare qui ne le vit pas plustost que sans vouloir faire un secret de sa response et bien megabise luy dit il scavrons nous comment l'on a receu ma fille en armenie et le roy d'armenie me la rendra t'il comme il y est oblige seigneur luy repondit megabise mon voyage n'a pas este heureux je ne scay point qui est le roy dont la princesse a parle par son billet le roy d'armenie ne veut point advouer qu'elle soit dans ses estats quoy qu'il y ait grande aparence que la chose soit ainsi et je n'ay point trouve le prince tigrane a la cour du roy son pere mais encore luy dit ciaxare comment ce prince vous a t'il receu seigneur reprit megabise quand je fus arrive a artaxate et que j'eus envoye demander audience au roy il me la fit attendre trois jours et durant cela je fus tousjours soigneusement observe par diverses personnes en suite comme je me fus aquite du commandement que j'avois receu de vostre majeste et que je luy eus dit qu'ayant sceu que la princesse vostre fille estoit dans ses estats vous m'aviez envoye la luy redemander je pensois me dit il assez fierement que vous vinssiez me soliciter encore 
 de payer le tribut que j'ay paye a astiage et que je ne dois plus a ciaxare auquel je n'ay ri promis mais pour la princesse mandane elle n'est pas en ma puissance et quand elle y seroit je ne la rendrois pas sans doute et la garderois pour ostage jusques a ce que par un traite autentique le roy vostre maistre eust advoue que les rois d'armenie ne doivent plus estre des rois tributaires seigneur luy dis-je songez bien a ce que vous dites auparavant que de me donner mon conge car le roy mon maistre scait de certitude que la princesse est dans vos estats je la feray chercher me dit il et on la traitera en personne de sa condition mais si elle y est je vous dis encore une fois que je ne la renvoyeray point au roy des medes qu'il ne se soit departy des pretentions qu'il a sur l'armenie qu'il se contente me dit il encore que la fortune luy a donne un home qui luy fait assez de conquestes pour le consoler de la perte qu'il fait d'un mediocre tribut enfin seigneur luy dis-je si vous ne me dites autre chose j'ay ordre de vous dire que le roy mon maistre viendra luy mesme vous redemander la princesse sa fille avec une armee de cent mille homes allez donc en diligence me dit il luy dire qu'il ce prepare a partir et advertissez le qu'il n'y a point de plus vaillans soldats au monde que ceux qui combattent pour leur liberte et que puis qu'arramene est en prison conme je l'ay sceu le prince tigrane mon fils ne fera pas a mo aduis difficulte de le combatre et peut-estre ne trouvera t'il pas tousjours la victoire disposee a suivre ses pas 
 megabise scavoit bien que ce n'estoit pas estre judicieux que de parler de cette sorte a ciaxare devant tant de monde et de raconter si precisement ce que le roy d'armenie avoit dit d'artamene mais croyant que peut-estre cela ne luy seroit il pas inutile il s'y estoit resolu il acheva son recit en disant encore que depuis qu'il avoit este sorty de chez le roy d'armenie on luy avoit fait commandement de partir d'anaxate des le lendemain et qu'on luy avoit donne des gardes qui ne l'avoient point abandonne qu'il n'eust este a l'extremite des frontieres d'armenie ciaxare entendant la response de ce prince en fut en une colere estrange et se resolut a la guerre contre luy non non dit il je ne doute point que mandane ne soit en armenie elle l'a escrit martesie l'a confirme et la response de ce prince audacieux me le dit assez mais encore dit le roy de phrigie parlant a megabise ne vous estes vous point informe de quelqu'un s'il estoit arrive quelque princesse estrangere en cette cour la ouy dit il seigneur et j'ay effectivement apris qu'il y quelque temps qu'il y arriva des femmes de qui l'on ne connoissoit point la condition que l'on envoya en un chasteau qui est vers le pais des chaldees et qui ne tarderent point a artaxate non non dit ciaxare encore une fois il ne faut point s'en informer davantage mandane est en armenie et il y faut aller porter la guerre et par consequent dit le roy de phrigie avec autant de generosite que de bardiesse il faut aller tirer l'illustre artamene 
 de prison car seigneur si vos soldats ne le voyent point a leur teste et qu'ils le laissent a sinope ils marcheront lentement vers l'armenie et ne combatront peut-estre pas comme ils ont accoustume de combatre aussi bien adjousta le roy d'hircanie ne crois-je point qu'il y ait une meilleure voye de se rendre les dieux propices que de proteger un homme qu'ils ont tant favorise ces deux princes ne furent pas les seuls qui parlerent de cette sorte tout ce qui se trouva alors dans la chambre de ciaxare fit la mesme chose il sembla mesme que la necessite presente l'emportast enfin sur sa resolution passee et qu'il n'eust plus dessein de vouloir si opiniastrement scavoir quelle avoit este l'intelligence d'artamene avec le roy d'assirie de sorte qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'aparence qu'il seroit bien tost delivre le roy des medes souffrit qu'on le louast en sa presence sans tesmoigner d'en estre fache il ne rejetta point les prieres qu'on luy fit et sans les accorder precisement il agit comme un homme qui avoit quelque confusion de changer si tost d'advis et comme un homme qui vouloit se reserver l'avantage de faire la chose par luy mesme sans y estre force par autruy ses sentimens ayant este facilement reconnus par toute cette illustre compagnie on ne luy parla plus d'artamene de peur de nuire a celuy que tout le monde vouloit servir neantmoins ils sortirent de chez le roy avec une si forte esperance de la liberte d'artamene que comme la joye est une chose que beaucoup 
 de personnes ne peuvent cacher et qui fait bien souvent reveler cent secrets qu'il faudroit faire il s'espandit en un moment un bruit general par toute la ville et par tout le camp y qu'artamene alloit estre delivre il en fut luy mesme adverty comme d'une chose certaine ses gardes en pleurerent de joye andramias ne pouvoit se lasser de luy tesmoigner la satisfaction qu'il avoit d'esperer de le revoir bientost au mesme estat qu'il l'avoit veu quelque temps auparavant martesie en estoit si transportee qu'elle ne pouvoit exprimer sa joye et chrisante et feraulas en estoient si aises que l'illustre artamene ne l'estoit guere davamage bien que la consideratron de la princesse luy fist regarder la liberte comme le plus grand bien qui luy peust jamais arriver en l'estat ou estoit sa fortune quoy disoit il en luy mesme je pourrois encore esperer de servir l'illustre mandane et je pourrois croire de me retrouver en termes de delivrer ma princesse ou de mourir du moins pour son service quoy je pourrois encore me flatter de l'agreable pensee de la revoir et d'en estre veu et je pourrois m'imaginer de me retrouver encore une fois aupres d'elle avec la liberte de l'entretenir de ma respectueuse passion ha s'il est ainsi s'escrioit il que je dois peu me plaindre des maux que j'ay soufferts et que je seray pleinement recompente de tant de douleurs que j'ay endurees c'estoit de cette sorte que l'illustre artamene s'entretenoit pendant que toute la ville et tout le campestoient en joye par l'esperance de sa liberte et afin 
 qu'il jouist encore d'un nouveau plaisir feraulas entra dans sa chambre qui luy confirma que la nouvelle qu'on luy avoit donnee n'estoit pas sans fondement de la venant a parler de mandane il se fit presque redire tout ce que martesie avoit dit a chrisante et a luy et tout ce qu'ils luy avoient dit a luy mesme puis tout d'un coup se souvenant qu'ils luy avoient raconte que lors que martesie estoit demeuree au bord de la riviere d'halis parmy des pescheurs elle s'estoit servie d'une boete de portrait pour avoir dequoy revenir a sinope et qu'elle en avoit retenu la peinture qui estoit celle de mandane ha luy dit il feraulas n'y auroit il point moyen que par le credit que je scay que vous avez sur l'esprit de martesie vous pussiez l'obliger a me faire la grace de m'envoyer ce portrait avec promesse de le luy rendre si elle veut le jour que je sortiray de prison seigneur luy dit il je ne pense pas que martesie vous le refuse avec cette condition mais pour vous le donner absolument je pense que la crainte de desplaire a la princesse qui comme vous scavez a une vertu delicate qui fait scrupule des moindres choses l'empescheroit de le faire joint qu'elle a elle mesme tant d'amour pour cette peinture que difficilement se resoudroit elle a s'en priyer pour tousjours mais pour me la confier durant quelque temps adjousta t'il je ne pense pas qu'elle me le refuse artamene embrassa alors feraulas avec beaucoup de tendresse pour l'obliger a faire ses derniers efforts afin de le satisfaire 
 feraulas donc s'estant charge de cette commission le quitta et le laissa avec une joye qu'il y avoit long temps qui n'avoit trouve place dans son coeur ciaxare de son coste sentoit quelque secret plaisir de s'estre vaincu luy mesme et d'estre en quelque facon contraint de delivrer artamene il avoit pourtant encore assez de chagrin de ne pouvoir precisement scavoir quelle avoit este cette intelligence qu'il n'avoit pu descouvrir mais apres tout le rare merite d'artamene les grandes choses qu'il avoit faites les obligations qu'il luy avoit et la necessite presente qu'il avoit de sa valeur l'emporterent sur son esprit et il se resolut en effet a delivrer artamene le jour mesme qu'il seroit marcher son armee pour aller en armenie mais pendant qu'il estoit dans une resolution si avantageuse pour luy si utile pour la princesse sa fille si agreable pour cet illustre prisonnier et si capable de causer une alegresse publique en la plus belle et la plus grande partie de l'asie qui s'interessoit alors en sa fortune metrobate seul cet ennemy cache d'artamene et cet ancien amy d'aribee en avoit une douleur extreme comme cet homme avoit une ame ambitieuse qui ne se soucioit pas par quelle voye il parvinst a la grandeur pourveu qu'il y arrivast il y avoit eu plusieurs choses en sa vie qui avoient oblige artamene a ne l'estimer point durant qu'il estoit dans sa plus grande fortune et par consequent a ne luy faire pas tout le bien qu'il faisoit a d'autres car artamene estoit 
 persuade que c'est faire une notable injustice aux gens d'honneur malheureux que d'accabler de biens ceux qui ne le meritent pas et de laisser les autres dans la misere metrobate de plus s'estant trouve attache a la fortune d'aribee avoit suivy tous ses sentimens et artamene l'ayant fait perir precisement dans le temps que metrobate estoit sur le point de recevoir la recompense de tous les services qu'il luy avoit rendus cet homme en avoit l'esprit si irrite contre artamene qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'eust fait pour le perdre chrisante et feraulas avoient bien este advertis de ses mauvaises intentions mais comme il n'agissoit pas ouvertement contre leur maistre et que de plus ils n'imaginoient point quel nouveau mauvais office il luy pouvoit rendre ils n'avoient pas eu recours a des voyes violentes pour s'en deffaire tant parce qu'ils estoient sages et vertueux que parce que cela auroit pu nuire a artamene ils ne pouvoient plus mesme descouvrir ses desseins car celuy qui les avoit advertis de la mauvaise volonte de metrobate estoit mort de douleur quelque temps apres d'avoir cause la prison d'artamene de plus en l'estat qu'estoient les choses il n'y avoit pas lieu de penser que rien se peust opposer a sa liberte qui estoit demandee par une grande armee et par trois royaumes au contraire il y avoit presque une certitude infaillible que l'on delivreroit bientost un homme que les vaincus et les vainqueurs aimoient esgalement et que personne n'eust ose tesmoigner hair non pas mesme metrobate 
 aussi ne fut-ce pas par cette voye qu'il nuisit a artamene apres que la fortune qui n'estoit pas lasse d'esprouver la vertu luy en eut donne les moyens comme il estoit donc dans ce chagrin secret que la joye universelle que tout le monde avoit de la liberte d'artamene causoit dans son coeur il receut des nouvelles d'artaxe qui commandoit dans pterie et qui avoit sceu qu'ortalque avoit este dire quelque chose au roy d'assirie comme il estoit prest d'en partir il n'avoit pas pu descouvrir precisement ce qu'il avoit dit a ce prince qui luy en avoit fait un secret mais tousjours scavoit il bien que selon les apparences ortalque avoit este envoye par artamene car il le connoissoit pour estre a luy et pour luy avoir porte les ordres du roy lors qu'il estoit en bithinie celuy qu'il envoya a metrobate eut commandement de n'entrer point dans sinope de peur qu'il ne fust arreste et d envoyer seulement quelqu'un avec adresse l'advertir de se rendre au temple de mars ou il l'attendroit metrobate ayant receu cet advis ne manqua donc pas d'y aller mais a peine eut il apris parce confident d'artaxe le voyage d'ortalque a pterie qu'il commenca de concevoir quelque espoir de troubler la joye publique car il scavoit qu'ortalque estoit a sinope et qu'ainsi l'on pourroit s'assurer de luy mais comme il avoit plusieurs choses a dire a cet homme et qu'il craignoit d'estre veu en sa compagnie dans un lieu aussi frequente qu'est un temple ils furent se promener au bord de la mer 
 et justement au mesme lieu ou artamene avoit este quelque temps auparavant lors qu'il avoit trouve des marques du naufrage de la princesse estant arrivez vis a vis de la mesme cabane ou le prince mazare avoit este porte et ou l'on avoit dit depuis a artamene qu'il estoit mort il y fut avec intention de chercher quelque pretexte pour s'y reposer afin de pouvoir escrire a artaxe en ce lieu la ayant des tablettes dans sa poche destinees a cet usage mais comme le hazard fait quelquefois des prodiges les pescheurs qui demeuroient dans cette cabane et qui s'estoient affectionnez a artamene quoy qu'il n'eust este qu'un moment chez eux voyant un homme comme metrobate prirent la liberte de luy demander s'il estoit vray que l'on allast delivrer artamene comme on le leur avoit dit a la ville et comme ils le souhaitoient metrobate surpris d'entendre le nom d'artamene en un lieu ou un il ne croyoit pas qu'il deust y avoir personne qui s'interessast en sa fortune leur demanda s'ils connoissoient celuy qu'ils tesmoignoient aimer et ils luy respondirent qu'ils avoient eu l'honneur de le voir dans leur cabane et luy raconterent comment il avoit trouve mazare mourant mais pour circonstantier mieux la chose ils luy dirent encore en leur maniere comment ce prince luy avoit parle de la princesse mandane luy avoit baille une escharpe et luy avoit dit este ce vous que l'affection d'une grande princesse rendoit le plus heureux des honmes et que j'ay rendu le plus infortune en vous privant d'une 
 personne qui vous aimoit tant ainsi ils ne dirent pas precisement les mesmes paroles que mazare avoit dittes a artamene mais ils y en mirent d'autres plus obligeantes qui rendoient encore la chose plus forte pensant en faire une tres avantageuse pour artamene que de bien exagerer qu'il faloit sans doute que leur princesse l'aimast beaucoup veu ce que ce prince mourant luy avoit dit mais disoient ils encore il faut aussi qu'artamene l'aime bien car il demanda cent choses a celuy qui luy parloit et apres qu'il luy eut dit que selon les aparences elle estoit morte il sortit de cette cabane tout furieux et tout desespere emportant l'escharpe que l'autre luy avoit donnee et s'en allant vers le bord de la mer comme s'il eust voulu se jetter dedans metrobate qui avoit de l'esprit fit sur le raport de ces bonnes gens toutes les reflexions qu'il y faloit faire et soupconna en effet qu'artamene estoit amoureux de mandane et que le secret qui estoit entre le roy d'affirie et luy estoit un secret d'amour et de jalousie tout ensemble ainsi seignant d'estre bien aise de l'affection que le peuple avoit pour artamene et disant a ces pescheurs qu'il seroit bien tost delivre il sortit de cette cabane aussi tost apres avoir escrit et congediant l'amy d'artane il s'en retourna a sinope bien satisfait de son voyage comme il passa devant la maison d'artucas il en vit sortir fortuitement feraulas et chrisante qui venoient de visiter martesie et pour achever de luy donner les moyens de nuire a artamene 
 il se trouva qu'un des domestiques de metrobate estoit frere d'un jeune garcon qui servoit chez artucas de sorte qu'ayant veu sortir feraulas et chrisante de cette maison il voulut scavoir s'ils y alloient souvent et pour cet effet il employa l'adresse de celuy qui le servoit pour descouvrir par le moyen de son frere s'ils y alloient pour artucas ou pour martesie comme ce garcon estoit jeune et que son frere employa la ruse les presens et les menaces pour luy faire descouvrir la verite encore qu'on luy eust deffendu chez son maistre de dire que martesie avoit este deux ou trois jours a sinope auparavant que tout le monde le sceust il le dit a son frere quoy qu'on ne luy demandast pas cela et promit de dire tousjours tout ce qu'il scavroit des visites de feraulas et de chrisante il apprit donc a son frere que pendant que martesie avoit este cachee chez artucas ils n'avoient pas laisse de la voir et que depuis qu'elle estoit arrivee feraulas l'avoit visitee tous les jours et chrisante tres souvent il n'en faloit pas davantage pour esclairer un esprit deffiant comme celuy de metrobate et se ressouvenant de cent choses ou il n'avoit point pris garde auparavant il ne douta plus du tout qu'artamene ne fust amoureux de la princesse et que du moins la princesse ne le sceust et ne le souffrist ayant donc des armes si puissantes pour nuire a artamene il fut au coucher du roy que le traitoit fort bien car ce prince qui scavoit de quelle sorte aribee l'avoit aime croyoit que puis que 
 metrobate ne s'estoit pas engage dans son parti c'estoit une marque infaillible de sa fidelite ne scachant pas que cet homme n'estoit demeure aupres de luy que comme un espion d'aribee metrobate donc estant le soir aupres du roy a une heure ou il n'y avoit plus personne qui peust l'empescher de parler avec liberte pensa faire reussir son dessein neantmoins comme il eust bien voulu ne commencer pas a parler d'artamene il attendit quelque temps pour voir si ce prince qui n'avoit l'esprit rempli que de la guere d'armenie de la captivite de la princesse mandane et de la liberte d'artamene ne diroit point quelque chose qui luy donnait lieu d'executer son entreprise sans qu'il parust nulle affectation en son discours en effect ciaxare ne manqua pas de luy en donner l'occasion telle qu'il la souhaitoit metrobate luy dit il estes vous de l'opinion de ceux qui m'assurent qu'artamene me servira avec autant d'ardeur et autant de fidelite qu'il a fait autrefois et ne craignez vous point que cette grande ame que l'on a tousjours remarquee en luy ne luy permette pas de pouvoir oublier sa prison et ne puisse souffrir qu'il se ressouvienne de mes anciens bienfaits je croy seigneur repliqua metrobate qu'artamene oubliera tout et se souviendra de tout pour delivrer la princesse mandane mais encore luy dit le roy n'y a t'il point moyen de pouvoir deviner quel est le secret que je ne dois plus demander puis que je suis resolu de delivrer celuy qui ne me le veut pas dire seigneur reprit metrobate 
 si j'osois dire a vostre majeste une chose que je pense elle acheveroit peut-estre de se detromper absolument de l'opinion qu'elle a eue qu'artamene ne la servira pas a l'advenir aussi bien qu'il a fait par le passe joint seigneur adjousta-t'il que comme c'est moy qui suis cause de sa prison puisque ce fut de ma main que vous eustes le billet qu'il escrivit au roy d'assirie il me semble que je suis en quel que facon oblige de vous dire aussi bien ce que je scay a son avantage que ce que j'ay sceu a son prejudice le roy l'entendant parler ainsi je pressa alors extremement de s'expliquer et metrobate faisant l'ingenu et le sincere luy raconta comment le hazard l'avoit fait aller dans une cabane de pescheurs pour escrire un billet en faveur d'un de ses amis qu'il avoit rencontre et deguisant encore un peu la chose il dit seulement au roy que ces gens luy avoient dit qu'artamene aimoit passionnement leur princesse et il exagera tellement le desespoir d'artamene lors qu'il avoit d'eu mandane mortes qu'il porta l'esprit du roy intensiblement a la connoissance de ce qu'il vouloit qu'il sceust quoy luy dit il metrobate de la maniere dont vous parlez il semble que vous croiyez qu'artamene soit amoureux de ma fille seigneur luy dit il j'advoue que c'est par la que je pretens servir artamene et que j'ose assurer vostre majeste qu'ayant une si noble passion dans le coeur il oubliera sa prison et sera plus vaillant et plus fidele qu'il n'a jamais este car seigneur luy dit il d'une facon a faire croite 
 qu'il n'avoit nulle mauvaise intention l'amour d'artamene ne fait point de tort a la vertu de la princesse la beaute sur le throsne est comme le soleil dans le ciel tout le monde a la liberte de la regarder et comme cet astre ne prophane pas ses rayons quoy qu'il ne les porte pas tousjours sur des fleurs de mesme la beaute de la princesse n'enchainant pas tousjours des rois ne fait rien qui luy puisse estre reproche cependant ce poison subtil que metrobate avoit mis dans l'esprit du roy operoit de la dans son coeur et y j 'appelloit quelques legers soubcons qu'il avoit eus de l'amour d'artamene quand il l'avoit fait mettre prisonnier il fit alors redire encore a metrobate ce que ces pescheurs luy avoient dit mais l'autre seignant de ne l'avoir pas allez bien retenu ny mesme allez bien escoute pour oser assurer que ce qu'il avoit dit fust positivement vray offrit d'aller le lendemain de grand matin s'en informer plus exactement le roy qui avoit l'esprit fort trouble luy commanda de n'y manquer pas et de tascher de descouvrir tout ce qu'il pourroit d'une chose aussi importante que celle la metrobate seignit d'estre bien marri de l'inquietude qu'il avoit mise dans son esprit et luy dit qu'il seroit tout ce qu'il pourroit pour apprendre quelque chose qui luy peust mettre l'ame en repos cependant ciaxare n'y estoit guere car ce prince se souvenant alors que depuis qu'artamene estoit prisonnier il ne luy avoit jamais fait rien dire pour demander sa liberte jusques a ce 
 qu'il eust sceu que la princesse estoit vivante trouvoit que c'estoit avoir lieu de le soubconner d'estre amoureux d'elle de plus il se ressouvenoit encore de la violente douleur qu'il avoit tesmoignee avoir a son retour a themiscire lors qu'il luy avoit raconte comment il avoit secouru le roy d'assirie et facilite l'enlevement de mandane il rapelloit encore en sa memoire l'excessive affliction qu'il avoit veue dans ses yeux lors qu'il estoit arrive a sinope et qu'il avoit voulu luy apprendre le naufrage de la princesse enfin il soubconnoit et craignoit que ses soubcons ne fussent veritables il passa la nuit en cette inquietude attendant metrobate avec beaucoup d'impatience qui ayant fait semblant d'aller s'informer tout de nouveau de ce que le roy vouloit scavoir revint le trouver le matin dans son cabinet ou il estoit entre aussi tost qu'il avoit este acheve d habiller d'abord que le roy le vit il s'avanca vers luy et bien luy dit il metrobate que m'aprendrez vous artamene sortira t'il de prison ou redoubleray-je ses chaines metrobate paroissant alors fort triste et faisant comme un homme qui scait plusieurs choses qu'il n'ose dire seigneur luy dit il je vous demande pardon de ce qu'il semble que je sois destine a n'aporter jamais que de facheuses nouvelles a vostre majeste cette espece de crime repliqua ciaxare merite plustost recompense que chastiment ny pardon car pour l'ordinaire les rois n'apprennent que de leurs fidelles serviteurs les choses qui ne leur doivent pas plaire 
 metrobate devenu encore plus hardy par ce que le roy luy disoit luy conta alors comment il paroissoit par le discours que mazare avoit fait a artamene que non seulement il aimoit mais que mesme il n'estoit pas hai et il luy redit parole pour parole tout ce que les pescheurs luy avoient dit quoy s'escria ciaxare ma fille scauroit la folle passion d'artamene et la souffriroit ha metrobate si cela est il la faut laisser entre les mains du roy d'armenie car si elle a dans le coeur la bassesse d'une esclave elle ne peut estre mieux que dans les sers de mon ennemy seigneur luy dit-il je supplie vostre majeste de ne s'emporter pas si fort cette affection n'est peut-estre pas si criminelle artamene a de si grandes qualitez qu'encore que sa condition soit aparemment fort basse puis qu'il ne la veut point dire la princesse ne laisseroit pas d'estre excusable quand elle auroit eu quelque legere indulgence pour luy non metrobate adjousta le roy vous ne croyez pas ce que vous dites les personnes de la condition de ma fille ne doivent recevoir de ceux qui sont de celle d'artamene que des tesmoignages de respect et le moindre soubcon d'amour les doit faire bannir pour jamais ce qui m'embarrasse le plus disoit encore ce prince c'est que j'ay fait mettre artamene et araspe prisonniers parce que voyant une intelligence secrette entre le roy d'assirie et artamene j'ay creu que ce dernier avoit sans doute fait sauver l'autre mais si artamene est amoureux est il croyable qu'il ait 
 voulu delivrer son rival et quand ce ne sera point luy en effet qui l'aura delivre quelle peutestre cette intelligence qu'il a aveque luy et qui l'oblige a luy escrire comme il luy a escrit enfin metrobate je perdray la raison si vous ne me trouvez les moyens de developper cet enigme si je regarde le billet du roy d'assirie artamene est un ambitieux qui traite avec mon ennemy si j'escoute le discours de mazare artamene est un temeraire et ma fille a perdu le sens que dois-je donc croire et que dois-je faire mandane est captive en armenie et artamene est dans les fers a sinope je parle de delivrer celuy-cy et je parle encore de faire marcher mon armee pour aller delivrer l'autre cependant si artamene est amoureux et que mandane le scache et le souffre je dois faire perir artamene et je dois abandonner mandane mais pour faire l'un et l'autre il faut deshonnorer ma fille aux yeux de toute l'asie et il faut me deshonnorer moy mesme seigneur reprit alors le meschant metrobate j'espere que votre majeste n'en viendra pas la mais quand il seroit vray ce que je ne pense pourtant pas qu'artamene fust assez criminel pour vous obliger a le faire perir vous ne manqueriez pas d'autres pretextes sans y mesler la princesse mais seigneur adjousta t'il il me semble tousjours que vostre majeste ne sera pas mal de ne delivrer pas si tost artamene de tascher de s'esclaircir un peu mieux des choses de le refferrer un peu plus qu'il n'est presentement car il me semble que ces troupes 
 de cilicie qui sont arrivees comme on ne les attendoit pas et que philoxipe envoye a artamene pour vous les presenter vous doivent estre un peu suspectes y en ayant desja de chipre dans vostre armee y qui n'y sont aussi que par son moyen et en effet s'il vous en souvient le prince artibie parla a votre majeste d'une maniere assez estrange et megabise mesme a son retour d armenie vous a dit des choses qui me sont conjecturer qu'il y a quelque dessein cache qui ne doit peut-estre esclater que lors que l'on aura delivree artamene que scait on seigneur adjousta metrobate si tout ce que l'on dit de la princesse est vray les amis d'anamene la retiennent peut-estre par force en quelque lieu et il y a enfin quelque chose en tout cela qui merite qu'on s'en esclaircisse et si vostre majeste me l'ordonne je seray tous mes efforts pour tascher de descouvrir ce que c'est le roy qui avoit l'ame en une inquietude estrange le luy commanda et pour ne donner nulle marque de son chagrin par les conseils de metrobate qui craignoit que l'on n'empeschast ses desseins il ne voulut voir personne de tout le jour et il fit dire qu'il se trouvoit un peu mal cependant metrobate avoit resolu de revenir le soir dire au roy ce qu'il scavoit du voyage d'ortalque a pterie que martesie avoit este trois jours cache chez artucas avant que de paroistre a la cour et les frequentes visites qu'y faisoient feraulas et chrisante mais il fut bien plus heureux qu'il ne pensoit car ce jeune garcon qui servoit chez artucas 
 fut advertir son frere chez metrobate qu'il n'y avoit pas deux heures que feraulas avoit encore este voir martesie et que s'estant cache dans un cabinet de la chambre ou elle estoit qui avoit une porte degagee il avoit veu qu'apres une assez longue conversation qu'ils avoient eue ensemble ou il avoit entre-ouy plusieurs fois le nom d'artamene et celuy de mandane elle avoit ouvert une cassette et luy avoit donne quelque chose qu'il croyoit estre une lettre que feraulas apres cela estoit sorty et luy avoit dit qu'il alloit a l'instant mesme porter ce qu'elle luy avoit baille a la personne qui l'attendoit avec impatience ce garcon disoit encore qu'il estoit sorty apres feraulas et l'avoit suivy jusques au chasteau et jusques a l'apartement ou artamene estoit retenu metrobate ayant encore sceu cela s'en retourna chez le roy avec autant de melancolie sur le visage qu'il avoit de joye dans le coeur comme il fut aupres de luy ou il n'y avoit personne seigneur luy dit il je suis au desespoir d'estre force de vous aprendre qu'infailliblement il y a quelque chose de considerable qu'il faut descouvrir car enfin dit il j'ay sceu de certitude par un amy que j'ay dans pterie que depuis qu'anamene est prisonnier ortalque qui vous a aporte la nouvelle de la vie de la princesse a este de la part d'artamene vers le roy d'affirie qui est party de ce lieu la sans que l'on scache ou il est presentement et je scay de plus par un domestique d'artucas que martesie a este trois jours cachee chez luy auparavant que de voit vostre 
 majeste elle qui avoit a vous aprendre que la princesse mandane n'estoit pas morte je scay mesme encore qu'elle a envoye aujourd'huy une lettre a artamene et qu'il n'y a point de jour que feraulas ne la voye qui comme votre majeste scait est fort aime d'artamene l'ay de plus remarque adjousta t'il que chrisante et luy vont eternellement d'un lieu a l'autre tantost chez le roy de phrigie tantost chez le roy d'hircanie tantost chez hidaspe chez thimocrate chez gadate chez gobrias et chez tous les autres ortous ces princes seigneur ne se croyent vos sujets que par ce qu'ils sont persuadez que la seule valeur d'artamene vous les a assujetis et comme il s'est adroitement servy de la bonte de vostre majeste pour les faire bien traiterais luy en ont l'obligation toute entiere et tant par reconnoissance que par leur propre interest je les tiens capables de tout entreprendre pour luy mais dit alors ciaxare que dois-le et que puis-je faire pour m'esclaircir encore un peu davantage d'une chose dont je ne doute pourtant presque plus seigneur respondit metrobate je pense que vostre majeste s'instruiroit infailliblement de bien des choses si elle faisoit arrester ortalque pour luy faire rendre compte de son voyage vers le roy d'assirie si elle faisoit chercher dans la cassette d'artamene qui dans la croyance ou il est d'estre delivre n'aura pas fait de difficulte de conserver la lettre que martesie luy a envoyee aujourd'huy et si outre cela elle s'assuroit encore d'artucas de martesie de feraulas et de 
 chrisante de plus adjousta t'il comme assurement la naissance d'artamene est fort basse je voudrois contraindre ses gens a me la dire precisement parce que la chose estant connue telle cette connoissance seroit trois effets car cela rendroit son crime plus grand envers la princesse son ingratitude plus noire envers vous et pourroit mesme guerir l'esprit de mandane s'il est vray comme il y a aparence qu'elle ait receu dans son coeur quelque affection pour artamene ciaxare qui avoit l'esprit fort aigry ne considera pas combien ce dessein estoit dangereux a entreprendre au contraire il creut que s'il faisoit effectivement voir aux yeux de tous ces rois et de tous ces princes qu'artamene estoit un traistre qu'artamene estoit un homme de tres basse naissance et qui avoit absolument perdu le respect qu'il devoit a la princesse sa fille ils abandonneroient sa protection et seroient les premiers a luy conseiller de le perdre ce n'est pas qu'il ne se trouvast un peu embarrasse a choisir ceux qu'il employeroit pour executer ses ordres mais comme metrobate estoit aussi hardy que meschant-il s'offrit pourveu que sa majeste luy en donnast le pouvoir de faire luy mesme tout ce qu'il luy avoit conseille cixare fut pourtant encore long temps a resoudre mais enfin il creut que la premiere chose qu'il faloit faire estoit de voir la cassette d'artamene et pour cet effet il envoya ordre a andramias par metrobate de la luy donner metrobate fut donc demander andramias qui ne se trouva point aupres 
 d'artamene mais comme il y avoit alors grande liberte de voir cet illustre prisonnier arbace lieutenant des gardes sous andramias le laissa entrer avec douze des gardes du roy qui le suivoient car ce prince luy avoit commande de joindre la force ou le simple commandement seroit inutile comme il entra dans la chambre il vit artamene qui resermoit sa cadette en diligence a cause du bruit qu'il avoit entendu seigneur luy dit il en s'avancant le roy m'a commande de luy porter cette cassette que vous venez de refermer et vous me permettrez s'il vous plaist de luy obeir metrobate luy dit artamene en se mettant entre la table et luy ne me persuadera pas aisement que le roy luy aye donne cette commission c'en pourquoy ne croyant pas qu'il agisse par ses ordres je tascheray de l'empescher de satisfaire sa curiosite particuliere seigneur luy dit metrobate en appellant les gardes qui l'avoient suivy et qui estoient demeurez dans l'antichambre je suis en estat de faire obeir le roy c'est pourquoy ne me forcez pas a vous faire quelque violence artamene desespere de cette avanture ne scavoit ce qu'il devoit faire d'entreprendre de resister il n'y avoit point d'aparence de laisser emporter une cassette ou il y avoit une chose importante il ne s'y pouvoit resoudre c'est pourquoy se tournant vers la table ou elle estoit pour l'ouvrir vous souffrirez du moins dit il que j'en oste quelque chose qui n'est pas a moy auparavant que de vous la donner mais au mesme temps metrobate 
 ayant saisi la cassette commandant aux gardes retenir artamene ils penserent n'obeir pas toutefois metrobate leur ayant dit que le roy les seroit punir s'ils n'empeschoient artamene d'arracher cette cassette de ses mains ils obeirent et metrobate sortit et l'emporta ces gardes le suivant un moment apres il fut donc en diligence a la chambre du roy deffendant a arbace de laisser plus entrer personne dans la chambre d'artamene jusques a nouvel ordre il ne fut pourtant pas retrouver ciaxare sans quelque aprehension car enfin il ne scavoit pas precisement ce que martesie avoit envoye a artamene et il craignoit un peu que ce ne fust quelque chose qui ne le rendist pas assez criminel neantmoins comme il ne pouvoit imaginer qu'il peust y avoir une intelligence innocente entre artamene et la princesse mandane il fut retrouver ciaxare avec beaucoup de hardiesse et mesme a la fin avec beaucoup d'esperance luy semblant que la resistance d'artamene marquoit infailliblement qu'il y avoit quelque chose contre luy dans cette cassette il exagera donc fort a ciaxare le desespoir de cet illustre prisonnier et rompant la cassette qui n'estoit pas pleine parce que l'escharpe de mandane estoit demeuree sur la table lors qu'artamene l'avoit refermee a l'arrivee de metrobate ils commencerent de visiter diverses choses qui estoient dedans quelques pierreries des parfums une iliade d'homere dans des tablettes de philire les loix de licurgue et de solon dans d'autres une comedie de thespis 
 quelques vers de sapho et d'erinna quelques enigmes de la princesse cleobuline quelques petites cartes geographiques le plan de babilone la circonvalation et le campement de l'armee de ciaxare devant cette ville quelques chansons du fameux arion et plusieurs autres semblables choses pendant cette curieuse recherche metrobate estoit desespere de ne trouver rien contre artamene et ciaxare en estoit bien aise mais tout d'un coup ayant ouvert un petit coffre d'or esmaille ciaxare qui le prit des mains de metrobate vit que le portrait de mandane estoit de dedans a l'entour duquel il y avoit un devise en capadocien qui disoit je suis mieux dans vostre coeur car ce portrait avoit este fait pour une princesse de capadoce que mandane aimoit beaucoup et de laquelle elle estoit tendrement aimee de sorte que cette princesse estant morte sans avoir eu ce portrait elle l'avoit donne a martesie qui le luy avoit demande mais helas quelle surprise fut celle de ciaxare de trouver cette peinture et quelle joye fut celle de metrobate devoir qu'il estoit bien plus heureux qu'il ne pensoit l'estre 
 
 
 
 
si le roy eust eu l'esprit tranquile il s'en fust aisement aperceu mais ce prince avoit l'ame si troublee qu'il ne scavoit ce qu'il faisoit ny ce qu'il voyoit il leut pourtant cette innocente devise 
 qu'il croyoit si criminelle puis il s'ecria tout d'un coup quoy mandane a pu dire une pareille chose a artamene quoy cette vertu si severe en apparence a pu se resoudre a imaginer une pareille galanterie en faveur d'un simple chevalier qui erre parmi le monde sans estre connu ha si cela est comme il n'est que trop vray mandane a bien pu concevoir d'autres desseins elle est peut-estre disoit il cachee chez artucas ou elle attend qu'artamene soit delivre afin que remettant a la teste de toutes les troupes qui sont de son intelligence il m'oste la couronne et me renverse du throsne non non dit il a metrobate en rejettant ce portrait dans la canette d'ou il l'avoit tire il n'y a point de temps a perdre il faut changer les gardes d'artamene il faut s'assurer de chrisante de feraulas d'artucas d'ortalquede martesieet mesme d'andramias car il m'est devenu suspect seigneur dit metrobate je scay bien que cela est un peu dangereux a executer mais je ne laisse pas de m'y offrir et pourveu que ce soient des gardes de vostre majeste qui me suivent je croy que le respect empeschera tout le monde de s'opposer a vos volontez joint qu'a la reserve d'andramias et d'artucas qui sont gens de qualite et de martesie qui est fille de condition les trois autres ne sont pas considerables car chrisante et feraulas font estrangers et ne sont sans doute pas plus que leur maistre et ortalque n'est pas un honme a devoir craindre de s'en assurer le roy repassant alors encore dans son esprit le discours de mazare a artamene 
 le voyage d'ortalque vers le roy d'assirie le sejour secret de martesie chez artucas les frequentes visites de feraulas et de chrisante le portrait de mandane entre les mains d'artamene et un portrait encore ou il y avoit une devise passionnee et trop galante pour une personne qui faisoit profession d'une vertu si exacte il croyoit qu'il y avoit sans doute quelque grand crime a descouvrir et ne doutoit point du moins qu'artamene ne fust amoureux et que mandane ne le souffrist agreablement enfin emporte de colere il fit prendre cinquante de ses gardes a metrobate pour executer ses volontez auparavant que ce qui c'estoit passe a la chambre d'artamene fust sceu de tout le monde andramias revenant au chasteau comme metrobate en alloit sortir en fut aisement arreste aussi bien qu'ortalque qui l'accompagnoit de la s'en allant prendre artucas qu'il trouva chez luy il y rencontra chrisante qui estoit avec martesie et les arresta tous trois faisant conduire martesie et une femme pour la servir dans un chariot jusques au chasteau et faisant mener chrisante et artucas a pied en suitte il fut chercher feraulas mais il ne le trouva point car par bonheur ayant este adverti que metrobate avoit este a la chambre de son maistre acconpagne de gardes il estoit alle chez hidaspe pour le luy aprendre ou il trouva le roy de phrigie un moment apres qu'il y fut arrive ils sceurent qu'andramias estoit arreste qu'ortalque l'estoit aussi que martesie chrisante et artucas estoient retenus dans le 
 chasteau et qu'artamene estoit garde plus estroitement qu'il n'avoit jamais este de sorte qu'aprenant toutes ces choses en mesme temps et scachant que metrobate avoit este chercher feraulas chez luy le roy de phrigie ne voulant point qu'il sortist de chez hidaspe luy fit comprendre qu'il seroit beaucoup plus utile a son maistre en liberte que s'il estoit en prison ce prince ayant envoye en diligence advertir tous les illustres amis d'artamene ils surent chez le roy avec une precipitation extreme pour scavoir par quelle voye un changement si subit estoit arrive le roy de phrigie celuy d'hircanie persode thrasibule le prince de paphiagonie celuy de licaonie ariobante gadate artibie hidaspe adusius agiatidas gobrias madate artabase leontidas megabise thimocrate philocles et beaucoup d'autres s'y rendirent mais on leur dit qu'on ne voyoit pas le roy toutefois comme ils craignoient quelque resolution violente ils presserent tant qu'enfin il commanda que l'on fist seulement entrer le roy de phrigie et le roy d'hircanie dans son cabinet ou ils le trouverent avec un chagrin extreme seigneur luy dit le roy de phrigie qui ne le vouloir pas irriter davantage nous venons icy pour scavoir si vostre majeste a besoin de nous ouy respondit ce prince en colere et je ne pense pas que vous soyes plus long temps les protecteurs d'un ingrat d'un temeraire et d'un ambitieux comme artamene qui n'est venu dans ma cour que pour me deshonnorer et qui a 
 eu l'audace de lever les yeux jusques a ma fille tous ses ravisseurs poursuivit il sont moins dignes de ma haine que luy qu'enfin en l'enlevant ils ne luy ont rien fait faire indigne d'elle mais cet insolent en luy ravissant le coeur luy a fait un tort irreparable et m'a mortellement offense le roy d'assirie poursuivit il tout estranger qu'il estoit pour elle et tout ennemy des medes qu'il est encore est pourtant tousjours un grand roy le roy de pont quoy qu'il ait perdu deux royaumes n'a pas perdu sa qualite le prince mazare estoit aussi de naissance royale et devoit porter une couronne mais pour artamene il est sans doute nay dans les fers ses peres ont tous este esclaves car si cela n'estoit pas il n'auroit pas cache sa condition comme il a fait seigneur reprit le roy de phrigie artamene a fait des actions a la guerre qui marquent ce me semble assez qu'il est autre chose que ce que vous dites artamene reprit il a fait une action si criminelle en songeant a gagner le coeur de ma fille que je ne la luy pardonneray jamais car enfin il voit que je la refuse au roy de pont qui porte deux couronnes il voit que j'arme plus de cent mille hommes pour la retirer d'entre les mains du plus puissant roy de l'asie et il ne laisse pas de concevoir une affection pour elle qui ne peut estre innocente car s'il ne la veut point espouser il veut donc qu'elle soit infame et s'il songe a estre son mary il songe a mettre un esclave dans le throsne de medie 
 a m'en renverser sans doute et a me priver du jour n'estant pas possible qu'il ait espere que je consentisse a son dessein et il pense enfin a des choses si injustes si estranges et si criminelles que la mort est un trop petit supplice pour luy mais encore seigneur reprit le roy d'hircanie qu'avez vous de nouveau contre artamene vous qui songiez a le delivrer cent choses respondit ciaxare qui sont que je ne songe plus qu'a le perdre seigneur repliqua le roy de phrigie ce n'est pas une resolution que vous deviez prendre en tumulte et quand artamene seroit aussi criminel que je le croy encore innocent il a de telle sorte gagne le coeur des soldats qu'il seroit a craindre que l'on ne vist une estrange confusion dans vostre camp si vous le vouliez faire perir point du tout repartit le roy et quand j'auray sceu precisement la basse naissance d'artamene comme je la scavray sans doute aujourd'huy que je tiens chrisante en mon pouvoir et que par un manifeste je seray scavoir a tout le monde qu'un simple soldat de fortune et peut-estre quelque chose de moins a eu l'audace d'oser lever les yeux a la fille d'un roy qui l'avoit comble de biens et d'honneurs et de songer a luy oster la couronne le ne pense pas qu'il y ait quelqu'un assez injuste pour s'opposer au chastiment que j'en veux faire car enfin c'est une chose inouie qu'un homme comme artamene ait eu l'insolence d'oser seulement regarder ma fille ma fille dis-je qui jusques icy m'avoit paru une personne 
 aussi sage et aussi prudente qu'il y en ait eu au monde mais martesie m'aprendra par quels charmes elle a perdu la raison et par quel enchantement artamene luy a fait oublier ce qu'elle se devoit a elle mesme et ce qu'elle me devoit aussi mais seigneur repliqua le roy de phrigie vous accusiez artamene d'avoir une intelligence avec le roy d'assirie amant de la princesse mandant et vous l'accusez aujourd'huy d'en avoir avec la princesse mesme comment accordez vous ces deux choses qui paroissent si directement opposees je n'en scay rien reprit ciaxare mais la rigueur des supplices et la crainte de la mort feront sans doute confesser a chrisante a ortalque et a artamene luy mesme tout ce que je ne scay pas encore mais seigneur interrompit le roy d'hircanie que scavez vous de si convainquant je scay cent choses vous dis-je repliqua ciaxare qui me sont toutes voir clairement qu'artamene a intelligence avec mon ennemi et avec ma fille et que ma fille ne hait pas artamene il n'en faut pas davantage pour me faire prononcer un arrest de mort contre un homme que j'ay tant aime quoy qu'il fust d'une condition si basse mais seigneur reprit le roy de phrigie s'il estoit fils d'un grand roy il l'auroit dit il y a long temps repliqua ciaxare et il n'est affeurement qu'un temeraire ambitieux que la fortune a favorise et que la foiblesse de ma fille a rendu heureux et criminel tout ensemble enfin leur dit il quand je scray pleinement 
 informe de toutes les circonstances de son crime par sa propre bouche par celle de martesie de chrisante et d'andramias que je soupconne d'estre trop de ses amis que je scavray dis-je par artucas par ortalque par araspe et par feraulas si je le puis faire arrester tout ce que l'amour et l'ambition jointes ensemble ont pu faire entreprendre a cet ennemy cache je vous appelleray tous pour estre les tesmoins de sa condamnation seigneur luy dit le roy de phrigie je supplie tres humblement vostre majeste de ne condamner pas artamene sur des apparences il est peut-estre ce que vous ne pensez pas qu'il soit et l'affection qu'il a pour la princesse et l'intelligence qu'il a eue avec le roy d'assirie ne sont peut-estre pas criminelles comme vous les croyes et puis adjousta le roy d'hircanie j'ose dire a vostre majeste que les services qu'artamene luy a rendus meritent le pardon de beaucoup de crimes vous avez raison reprit ciaxare aussi estois-je enfin resolu de luy pardonner l'intelligence qu'il avoit eue avec mon ennemy mais pour celle qu'un homme comme luy a eue avec ma fille je ne la luy pardoneray jamais ces princes voyant ciaxare si irrite ne voulurent pas s'opiniastrer davantage pour cette lois et le supplierent seulement de bien examiner les choses et de ne le condamner que sur des preuves convainquantes qu'il eust eu une intelligence criminelle avec le roy d'assirie qu'il eust concerte quel que chose d'injuste avec la princesse mandane et qu'il fust 
 comme il le croyoit un vil esclave ou du moins un simple chevalier ils le quitterent en suitte afin d'aller adviser tous ensemble a ce qu'ils avoient a faire au sortir du cabinet du roy tous ceux qui estoient dans la chambre les environnerent aussi tost pour scavoir ce qu'ils avoient apris faisant assez entendre par leurs discours et par leurs actions qu'ils estoient prests de tout entreprendre pour artamene mais ces rois ne voulant pas les instruire en ce lieu la de ce qu'ils avoient sceu s'en allerent chez hidaspe ou ils rirent suivis de toute cette multitude de gens de qualite que ce grand changement avoit amenez chez le roy ils n'y furent pas plustost que feraulas qui les y attendoit ayant supplie le roy de phrigie qu'il luy peust dire un mot en particulier luy aprit que depuis qu'il estoit sorty il avoit sceu que metrobate avoit pris la cassette d'artamene et l'avoit portee au roy il luy dit en suite comme infailliblement il y auroit trouve un portrait de la princesse qui n'avoit pas este fait pour luy que mandane ne luy avoit pas donne comme il seroit aise de le prouver et que martesie n'avoit mesme fait que luy prester ce jour la mais qu'apres tout quoy qu'il fust fort facile de justifier la princesse de ce portrait il ne l'estoit pas de trouver un pretexte au roy autre que l'amour d'artamene pour mandane qui luy fist voir pour quel sujet il avoit desire avoir ce portrait dans sa prison enfin comme tous ceux qui estoient alors chez hidaspe estoient tous amis d'artamene ce 
 prince dit a ceux qui ne scavoient pas son histoire qu'il leur engageoit sa parole qu'artamene estoit le plus fidelle serviteur qu'eust ciaxare qu'ainsi c'estoit servir le roy des medes que de l'empescher de faire une injustice que de plus l'on voyoit que metrobate ancien amy d'aribee avoit este employe en cette derniere occasion et qu'il estoit a craindre que cet homme vindicatif n'imposast beaucoup de choses au roy que cependant il faloit songer a maintenir les soldats en l'opinion qu'ils avoient de l'innocence d'artamene et que pour cela il faloit aller donner promptement tous les ordres necessaires au camp quelques uns d'eux s'y en allerent donc en diligence semer le bruit de la nouvelle injustice que l'on faisoit a cet illustre prisonnier et n'estant enfin demeure que ceux qui scavoient toute la vie d'artamene c'est a dire le roy de phrigie celuy d'hircanie persode thrasibule hidaspe adusius et feraulas ils delibererent sur ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire en une rencontre si facheuse ils jugeoient bien que chrisante ne diroit jamais rien ny de l'amour de son maistre ny de sa naissance quelque tourment qu'on luy peust faire souffrir mais ils jugeoient bien aussi que plus il refuseroit de dire qui estoit artamene plus le roy croiroit que sa condition estoit basse et plus il le croiroit criminel ils craignoient aussi un peu qu'ortalque ne s'estonnast et ne dist quelque chose qui peust nuire car feraulas avoit sceu d'artamene ce que cet honme avoit este faire a ptcrie ils aprehendoient 
 encore que martesie par la frayeur de la mort ne descouvrist plus qu'il ne faloit de l'innocente affection d'artamene pour la princesse et qu'en voulant justifier mandane elle ne dist ce qu'estoit effectivement artamene enfin ils voyoient beaucoup d'apparence de craindre et ne voyoient guere d'esperance qu'en la force ils ne jugeoient pas mesme qu'elle fust une voye assuree de sauver la vie a ce prince puis qu'enfin ciaxare le tenoit dans le chasteau et le pouvoit faire mourir auparavant qu'on fust en estat de le pouvoir delivrer ils resolurent donc de voir encore le lendemain comment iroient les choses et cependant de se tenir tousjours tous prests a employer la violence s'il en estoit besoin feraulas passa la nuit suivante en une agitation continuelle il sortit travesty de la ville et fut au camp de tente en tente et de hute en hute inspirer a tous les capitaines et a tous les soldats un nouveau desir de sauver artamene et revenant a la premiere pointe du jour a sinope il passa encore en quatre ou cinq lieux differens auparavant que de se renfermer chez hidaspe enfin jamais il ne s'est veu un pareil desordre tous les habitans de sinope disoient qu'il ne faloit point souffrir que l'on fist perir un homme comme celuy la les soldats et du camp et de la ville disoient aussi tout haut qu'ils ne l'endureroient pas les propres gardes du roy n'obeissoient qu'a regret et si metrobate n'eust eu une prevoyance extreme il se seroit trouve bien embarrasse mais il n'avoit pas eu plustost les ordres 
 du roy pour arrester tous ceux qu'il avoit mis prisonniers qu'il avoit envoye en diligence vers artaxe afin qu'a l'entree de la nuit il peust avoir mille hommes aux portes de sinope se en mesme temps il avoit dit au roy qu'il faisoit venir une partie de la garnison d'une ville dont il estoit gouverneur de sorte que de la facon dont metrobate en usa il fit entrer cette nuit la dans la ville et dans le chasteau des troupes rebelles si bien que le lendemain au matin les amis d'artamene furent bien estonnez de voir dans l'une et dans l'autre des soldats qu'ils ne connoissoient point cependant chrisante ortalque artucas andramias araspe et martesie estoient bien empeschez a respondre aux questions que leur faisoit metrobate sur trois choses qu'il leur demandoit l'une qui estoit artamene l'autre quelle estoit l'intelligence qu'il avoit avec le roy d'assirie et la derniere quand avoit commence celle qu'il avoit avec mandane chrisante qui craignoit de nuire a son maistre en disant qu'il estoit cyrus et qui aprehendoit en mesme temps de luy nuire encore s'il laissoit croire qu'il fust d'une naissance obscure prenoit un milieu entre ces deux extremitez et disoit qu'il estoit d'une naissance tres illustre mais qu'il ne luy estoit pas permis d'en dire autre chose que quant a ce qui estoit de l'intelligence du roy d'assirie avec artamene elle estoit avantageuse a ciaxare au lieu de luy estre dommageable mais qu'il n'en diroit rien de plus particulier que cela que pour la princesse mandane elle estoit assez obligee a artamene puis 
 qu'elle luy devoit la vie du roy son pere et tant de victoires qu'il avoit remportees pour luy pour ne devoir pas trouver estrange qu'elle l'estimast mais qu'il n'en scavoit pas davantage ortalque de son coste disoit ne scavoir nulles particularitez de ce qu'artamene avoit mande au roy d'assirie sinon qu'il scavoit bien qu'il ne traitoit rien aveque luy qui fust contre le service du roy et qu'enfin ils n'estoient nullement amis andramias ne pouvoit respondre que non a tout ce qu'on luy demandoit non plus qu'artucas et araspe car il estoit vray qu'ils ne scavoient rien du tout et pour martesie elle dit a metrobate avec autant de prudence que de hardiesse que quand sa maistresse auroit un secret elle ne le luy diroit pas et que comme elle avoit este mise aupres d'elle de la main du roy ce n'estoit aussi qu'au roy a qui elle en devoit rendre compte cependant artamene estoit en une inquietude inconcevable quoy disoit il en luy mesme je seray cause que le roy accusera ma princesse et toute sa vertu et toute sa severite ne pourront empescher qu'il ne la soubconne qu'il ne la blasme et que peut-estre il ne la condamne injustement ha imprudent que se suis s'escrioit il desois-je me fier a l'esperance que l'on m'avoit donnee se ne devois-je pas tout craindre du caprice de ma fortune qui ne m'a jamais esleve que pour me precipiter quoy mandane le roy croira que vous m'avez donne le portrait qu'il aura veu et par cette fausse imagination il pensera cent autres choses aussi peu veritables 
 que celle la il y avoit alors des momens ou artamene craignant la fureur de ciaxare pour la princesse aimoit presque mieux qu'elle fust entre les mains d'un rival respectueux conme estoit le roy de pont que d'estre entre celles d'un pere violent et irrite comme l'estoit ciaxare ces momens ne duroient pourtant pas long temps il se repentoit de ses propres souhaits et venant a considerer que l'esperance de sa liberte estoit perdue que celle de la princesse estoit bien esloignee qu'il estoit cause du malheur de tant de personnes innocentes et le peu d'aparence qu'il y avoit de sortir de tant d'infortunes autrement que par la mort il estoit dans un desespoir extreme cette grande ame toutefois faisoit effort pour resister a la douleur et si artamene n'eust este attaque qu'en sa personne il n'auroit pas eu besoin de toute sa confiance tous ses gardes estoient changez et l'on avoit mis aupres de luy de ces soldats qu'artaxe avoit envoyez de sorte qu'il estoit alors sans consolation aucune comme le roy connoissoit sa fermete quoy qu'il eust eu dessein de luy faire faire plusieurs questions a luy mesme et sur sa naissance et sur l'intelligence qu'il avoit avec le roy d'assirie et sur son amour il changea d'advis et se resolut de tirer la verite par les autres personnes qu'il tenoit en son pouvoir pour cet effet on leur promit des recompenses on les menaca de chastimens tres rudes on commenca mesme de les mal traiter mais quoy que metrobate pust faire il ne put jamais faire changer de discours ny a chrisante ny a 
 tesie a ortalque car pour les trois autres ils n'avoient rien du tout a dire artucas advouoir bien que sa parente avoit este trois jours chez luy auparavant que de se monstrer mais il disoit que c'estoit parce qu'elle n'estoit pas en estat d'estre veue que du moins ne luy en avoit elle donne autre raison et quoy qu'en effet martesie luy eust demande a voir chrisante et feraulas il n'en parla point du tout metrobate ne disoit pourtant pas au roy la chose comme elle estoit au contraire il l'assuroit qu'ils commencoient de s'esbranler qu'ils se contredisoient souvent et qu'ils diroient bien-tost toutes choses cependant le roy voulut voir martesie quoy que metrobate s'y opposast de toute sa puissance de sorte que cette courageuse fille fut conduite devant luy par ses gardes apres qu'elle eut salue ce prince avec tout le respect qu'elle luy devoit mais aussi avec toute la hardiesse d'une personne innocente et bien martesie luy dit il vous avez este la confidente de mandane et d'artamene et c'est de vostre bouche que je dois entendre la verite quoy que je la scache par d'autres voyes seigneur luy dit elle comme je ne scay rien qui puisse nuire aux deux illustres personnes que vous nommez je n'auray pas grand peine a me resoudre de vous la dire quoy martesie reprit le roy en colere vous croyez que ce soit une chose advantageuse a mandane que d'aimer artamene comme il faut qu'elle l'aime infalliblement je croy seigneur reprit elle que la princesse seroit une des plus deraisonnables personnes 
 du monde n'elle ne l'estimoit pas et une des plus ingrattes si le croyant aussi innocent qu'il est elle n'avoit pas beaucoup de reconnoissance des services qu'il a rendus a vostre majeste mais seigneur tous les sentimens de la princesse pour artamene sont renfermez en ces deux choses elle l'estime et elle se croit son obligee mais martesie reprit le roy les princesses vertueuses qui n'ont que de l'estime et de la reconnoissance pour un simple chevalier comme artamene ne leur donnent point de portraits ha seigneur s'escria martesie la princesse n'a jamais donne de portrait a artamene et s'il s'en est trouve un entre ses mains il faut que feraulas qui est fort de mes amis et a qui je lay baille comme une tres belle chose le luy ait monstre par un pareil sentiment ce portrait la seigneur n'a pas mesme este fait pour moy bien loin d'avoir este fait pour artamene et si nous estions a themiscire il me seroit bien aise de vous prouver qu'il fut fait autrefois pour la princesse de pterie qui mourut sans l'avoir receu enfin martesie reprit le roy ce portrait se trouve dans la cassette d'artamene et mandane le luy a sans doute envoye par vous afin de le consoler de son absence non seigneur interrompit cette fille je ne scaurois souffrir la calomnie des mechans qui vous ont donne cette croyance et l'appelle tous les dieux que j'adore a tesmoings que la princesse ne scait point qu'artamene ait son portrait et que vous serez le plus injuste prince de la terre si vous accusez d'une pareille 
 chose la plus innocente et la plus vertueuse princesse du monde mais qu'allez vous fait reprit il trois jours chez artucas auparavant que de me voir martesie ne pouvant pas bien respondre a cette demande changea de couleur neantmoins s'estant bien tost r'assuree seigneur luy dit elle n'estant pas alors en estat de paroistre a la cour je ne pus souffrir de vous faire aprendre par un autre ce que j'avois a vous dire principalement scachant que vous n'ignoriez pas que la princesse estoit vivante mais durant ce temps la reprit le roy vous avez tousjours veu chrisante et feraulas ii est vray seigneur dit elle et j'ay tasche de les consoler de leur douleur et de leur faire esperer que vous connoistriez enfin l'innocence de leur maistre contentez vous dit ce prince violent de cacher la foiblesse de vostre maistresse et ne vous meslez pas de vouloir justifier un temeraire et un ingrat qui ne se souvenant plus de la bassesse de sa naissance a ose lever les yeux jusques a ma fille seigneur reprit martesie quand le roy d'assure estoit dans vostre cour sous le nom de philidaspe vous ne le croiyez pas de plus grande condition qu'artamene il est vray repliqua ce prince mais ce beau raisonnement ne suffit pas a me persuader qu'artamene soit autre chose que ce que je dis encore une fois seigneur reprit martesie je croirois plustost artamene fils de roy que fils d'un esclave et de quel roy adjousta ciaxare en colere de celuy de phrigie qui n'en a point du roy d'hircanie 
 qui n'est pas marie de celuy d'armenie qui en deux que tout le monde connoist de celuy d'arrabie qui n'en eut jamais de celuy des saces dont le fils unique a este noye ou de celuy de perte qui n'a pas retrouve le lien comme on le disoit et qui regrette encore la mort de cyrus seigneur interrompit martesie que le nom de cyrus surprit et fit rougir je ne vous diray point de qui artamene est fils mais je vous diray bien encore que je suis persuadee que vostre majeste ne le connoist pas pour ce qu'il est le roy s'emportant alors de colere voyant que martesie ne pouvoit s'empescher de prendre le party de cet illustre prisonnier luy parla avec beaucoup d'aigreur et pour la princesse et pour artucas et pour elle mesme non non luy dit il artamene n'est pas comme philidaspe et je scavray bien faire la difference d'un grand roy a un simple soldat mais je n'en seray point du tout de mandane a la fille d'un esclave ny de martesie a mandane les dieux seigneur reprit elle changeront vostre coeur malgre vous et vous vous repentirez infailliblement un jour de ce que vous dittes maintenant enfin le roy ne pouvant tirer nul esclaircissement par martesie la renvoya et demeura dans une inquietude estrange il connoissoit par les responses de cette fille quoy qu'elle eust tout nie qu'il y avoit un secret dans cette affaire qu'elle ne vouloir pas dire les paroles de mazare et de mazare mourant estoient trop intelligibles ce portrait de mandane luy sembloit une chose convainquante 
 le sejour cache de martesie chez artucas ces frequentes visites de feraulas et de chrisante le voyage d'ortalque a pterie et cent autres choses dont il se souvenoit luy persuadoient tousjours plus fortement qu'artamene estoit tres coupable et l'impossibilite qu'il trouvoit a scavoir sa veritable condition le confirmoit tousjours d'avantage dans la croyance qu'il avoit qu'il estoit d'une naissance tres basse ce n'est pas que le considerant quelquefois malgre luy comme cet homme illustre et extraordinaire a qui il devoit la vie qui avoit tant gagne de batailles qui avoit sousmis tant de rois et qui venoit de renverser un si grand empire il ne s'estonnast un peu de l'obscurite de sa naissance mais enfin ne pouvant comprendre le secret qu'artamene en faisoit luy mesme il concluoit tousjours qu'il falloit infailliblement qu'il fust si peu de chose qu'il n'eust pas la hardiesse de l'advouer de sorte que passant de cette pensee en une autre quoy disoit il mandane sortie de tant d'illustres rois et qui doit elle mesme regner un jour sur tant de peuples et sur tant de royaumes a pu se resoudre de souffrir qu'un inconnu eust l'audace de l'entretenir d'une passion criminelle ha non non il faut punir artamene et de sa temerite et de la foiblesse de mandane tout ensemble en attendant que je la puisse tenir en mes mains pour la punir a son tour de son propre crime et de celuy d'artamene de plus voyant que feraulas ne s'estoit pas laisse prendre il croyoit encore que s'estoit 
 une marque infaillible qu'il scavoit beaucoup de choses car il n'ignoroit pas que feraulas estoit assez courageux pour ne fuir point par un sentiment de crainte pour sa vie enfin faisant du venin de tout il avoit l'esprit tellement irrite qu'il ne put plus souffrir que le roy de phrigie continuait de luy parler pour artamene le roy d'hircanie ne fut pas moins rudement rejette que luy et voyant a l'entour de soy ces deux rois accompagnez de tant de princes et de tant de personnes de qualite comme il y en avoit alors a sinope est il possible leur dit il que vous ne vous lassiez point de me presser pour un homme que vous ne connoissez pas s'il se disoit seulement sujet de quelqu'un de vous autres j'aurois patience de voir que vous interesseriez en sa fortune mais artamene est sans doute de quelque pais si peu considerable que sa nation mesme est honteuse a advouer cependant vous me parlez tous de luy comme si c'estoit le fils d'un grand roy et comme si je devois irriter tous les rois du monde en le punissant non leur dit il fort en colere ne m'en parlez plus ou faites moy connoistre du moins pourquoy vous m'en parlez car enfin je vous le dis pour la derniere fois si dans deux jours artamene ne se resoud a m'advouer tous ces crimes la fin de sa vie me mettra en repos de ce coste la et je n'auray plus qu'a punir en suitte tout a loisir les complices de ses fautes apres avoir dit cela cixare entra dans son cabinet et laissa tous ces rois et tous ces princes fort surpris et fort affligez 
 ils s'en allerent donc chez hidaspe comme estant le plus intereste en la chose et parce que la ils estoient en plus grande liberte qu'ailleurs comme ils y furent le roy de phrigie ayant consulte avec celuy d'hircanie avec hidaspe adusius artabase thrasibule madate et apelle mesme feraulas ils considererent que ciaxare faisant consister le plus grand crime d'artamene a la bassesse de la condition il faloit la luy aprendre telle qu'elle estoit afin de le retenir par cette voye et l'empescher de se porter a quelque extreme resolution ils penserent enfin qu'astiage estant mort peut-estre ciaxare ne seroit il pas aussi trouble des presages des astreset des predictions des mages que le roy son pere l'avoit este qu'apres tout scachant qu'artamene estoit fils d'un roy estoit son parent et avoit dans son armee trente mille persans songeroit il plus d'une fois auparavant que de le perdre et qu'en cas qu'il falust en venir a la force ouverte les soldats mesme se porteroient encore a combattre avec plus d'ardeur pour le fils d'un roy que pour un inconnu cette resolution ne fut pourtant pas prise sans estre fort contestee mais enfin apres l'avoir examinee a fonds ils la prirent et resolurent qu'apres avoir donne tous les ordres necessaires a leurs troupes ils agiroient le lendemain au matin selon qu'ils l'avoient imagine et que cependant il faloit faire en sorte qu'il y eust le plus de gens que l'on pourroit aupres de ciaxare afin que tout d'un coup le bruit de la chose s'epandist et dans la ville et dans 
 le camp apres cette petite conference le roy de phrigie se raprochant de tous ceux qui ne scavoient pas encore la condition d'artamene et qui n'estoient attachez a luy que par sa seule vertu leur dit qu'il les prioit de se trouver le lendemain au lever de cixare d'y amener le plus de leurs amis qu'ils pourroient et qu'il s'agissoit du salut d'artamene il n'en faloit pas davantage pour les obliger a n'y manquer pas et en effet l'on peut dire que jamais la cour n'avoit este si grosse qu'elle fut ce jour la chez ciaxare les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie le prince des cadusiens celuy de licaonie celuy de paphlagonie gobrias gadate thrasibule arribie thimocrate philocles leontidas megabise ariobante hidaspe adusius madate artabase agladitas et cent autres s'y trouverent leur diligence fut toutefois inutile et quoy qu'ils peussent faire il leur fit impossible de pouvoir voir le roy de tout le matin il voulut mesme disner en particulier afin de n'estre pas oblige de souffrir la veue de tant de personnes qui ne luy disoient que des choses contraires a ses desseins mais enfin scachant qu'ils s'opiniastroient a luy vouloir parler et qu'ils estoient tous dans sa chambre il sortit de son cabinet tout en fureur absolument determine a la perte d'artamene un moment apres feraulas suivant ce qui avoit este resolu le jour auparavant entra dans cette chambre et sendant la presse pour arriver jusques aupres du roy il se presenta devant luy avec autant de hardiesse que de respect 
 ciaxare surpris de le voir quoy feraulas luy dit il vous craignez si peu la mort que vous venez vous remettre dans les mains d'un prince qui vous fait chercher comme un criminel il est vray seigneur luy respondit il que la mort n'est pas ce que je crains et que presentement j'ay beaucoup plus de peur que vostre majeste ne face une injustice en la personne de mon maistre c'est pourquoy je viens luy apprendre qu'artamene bien loin d'estre une obscure naissance est fils d'un grand roy et de quelle terre inconnue est roy ce pere d'artamene reprit ciaxare ha mon amy poursuivit il cette seinte est un peu grossiere et a moins qu'il se trouve un prince et mesme plusieurs princes qui m'assurent ce que tu dis je ne le croiray pas facilement s'il ne faut que cela seigneur repliqua feraulas vous croirez bien tost qu'artamene est fils d'un grand roy puis qu'enfin vous avez dans vostre armee plus de trente mille sujets du roy son pere et que tous ces rois et tous ces princes qui m'escoutent vous attesteront que je dis vray enfin seigneur poursuivit feraulas artamene est cyrus fils du roy de perse et hidaspe adusius et tant d'autres illustres persans que vostre majeste voit a l'entour d'elle doivent estre un jour ses sujets artamene est cyrus reprit le roy des medes ha non non cela n'est pas possible seigneur interrompit hidaspe la chose est si veritable que rien ne le peut-estre davantage ouy seigneur poursuivit adusius et nous sommes en pouvoir de vous en eclaircir 
 pleinement le bruit de son naufrage a este faux et cyrus n'a presque jamais este en danger de mourir que pour le service de vostre majeste vous scavez dit le roy de phrigie que ce ne seroit pas une chose a inventer et que si cela n'estoit vray hidaspe ne le diroit pas je scay en effet repliqua ciaxare fort inquiet et fort trouble qu'a moins que de vouloir encore haster sa perte c'est une chose qu'il ne me faloit pas descouvrir car enfin dit il apres avoir este un moment sans parler artamene comme artamene n'est qu'un temeraire un ingrat et un ennemy particulier de ciaxare auquel selon sa clemence ou sa justice il peut remettre sa faute ou faire donner chastiment mais s'il est vray qu'il toit cyrus c'est un ennemy public de toute l'asie qu'il faut exterminer c'est un interest commun que vous avez tous aveque moy dit il en regardant tous ceux qui l'environnoient a la reserve des persans c'est enfin vostre tyran qui est dans les fers c'est cet homme que les mages ont dit qui doit renverser toute l'asie et en estre maistre et si quelque chose me peut persuader qu'artamene soit cyrus c'est en effet les prodigieux advantages qu'il a remportez mais seigneur interrompit le roy d'hircanie ces advantages qu'il a remportez sont a vostre majeste de tant de combats de tant de victoires et de tant de conquestes qu'il a faites il n'en possede aucune chose et n'a que ses fers en partage non repliqua ciaxare parce que graces aux dieux je l'en ay empesche mais poursuivit il 
 en regardant feraulas mandane scait elle la naissance de cyrus seigneur repliqua t'il je ne scay rien de la princesse sinon qu'il n'y a nulle intelligence criminelle entre elle et mon maistre et que la passion qu'il a eue pour elle ne luy a jamais fait perdre le respect ny envers elle ny envers vous la passion qu'a eu vostre maistre reprit brusquement ciaxare n'a este qu'une ambition demesuree et qu'un sentiment de vangeance effroyable il a voulu punir ciaxare de ce qu'astiage avoit entrepris contre luy dans le berceau pour le salut de toute l'asie mais j'acheveray sans scrupule ce qu'il ne commenca sans doute pas sans peine car enfin j'ay bien de plus puissantes raisons a m'y porter et bien de plus puissantes raisons aussi interrompit le roy de phrigie qui vous endoivent empescher cyrus reprit ciaxare n'estoit alors qu'un enfant qui n'estoit pas encore en estat de nuire et le cyrus dont je parle est un criminel heureux capable de tout entreprendre et de tout executer il est vray repliqua le roy d'hircanie mais c'est aussi un homme qui a tout entrepris et tout execute pour vostre gloire et qui vouloit tout entreprendre et tout executer interrompit ciaxare pour ma honte et pour ma perte si je ne l'en eusse empesche de plus adjousta t'il le cyrus qu'astiage vouloit faire perir ne luy avoit encore fait aucun mal il est vray reprit hidaspe mais le cyrus dont nous vous parlons vous a servy et servy utilement dittes plustost repliqua 
 le roy en colere qu'il m'a trahi avec une laschete extreme ii est venu dans ma cour il y est demeure deguise il a seduit l'esprit de ma fille il s'est sans doute descouvert a elle il luy a mis l'ambition dans l'ame elle l'a regarde comme le vainqueur de toute l'asie et sans considerer qu'il ne pouvoit s'en rendre le maistre a moins que de renverser son pere du throsne elle l'a escoute favorablement elle l'a souffert elle l'a aime mais graces au ciel je suis en pouvoir de les punir tous deux a la fois puisque si elle aime artamene comme je n'en doute point elle souffrira la mort en la personne de ce temeraire en attendant qu'elle soit en lieu ou je puisse la luy faire souffrir en la sienne ha seigneur s'escrierent tout d'une voix tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens dans cette chambre nous vous demandons la vie de cyrus ou nous vous demandons la mort quoy reprit ce prince fort estonne mes sujets mes vassaux et mes alliez me demandent de la vie de leur tyran ou du moins de celuy qui le devoit estre un jour nous vous demandons la vie dirent ils tous d'un homme que les dieux ont fait naistre pour estre en effet le maistre legitime de tous les hommes tant ils ont donne de vertus et qui pouvant tour entreprendre pour sortir de prison adjousta hidaspe ne l'a jamais voulu faire un homme dis-je poursuivit gobrias qui n'a vescu que pour vous dittes encore adjousta gadate un homme qui n'a vaincu que pour luy et qui a tousjours vaincu un prince 
 poursuivit trasibule qui s'est fait des adorateurs les plus sages de toute la grece et qui s'est fait les amis adjousta le roy d'hircanie de tous eux mesme dont il a este vainqueur dittes encore poursuivit persode qui s'est fait admirer par ses plus mortels ennemis et adjoustez dit aglatidas a qui ses plus mortels ennemis doivent aux mesmes la vie tant il est vray que le destin d'artamene est glorieux et extraordinaire dites encore interrompit artibie que ceux qui a peine le connoissent ne laissent pas d'estre chargez de sa vertu et d'estre prests a mourir pour luy pour moy adjousta thimocrate je tiendrois ma vie bien employee si elle pouvoit sauver celle d'un prince si illustre en effet reprit philocles vostre fort seroit digne d'envie si vous obteniez cette grace car quelle louange ne meriteroit pas un homme qui auroit conserve un prince si vertueux un prince reprit megabise qui possede la valeur au dernier point qui est aussi liberal que vaillant poursuivit arabase qui n'est pas moins prudent que courageux adjousta le prince de licaonie qui est aussi doux apres la victoire que furieux dans les combats repliqua madate de qui la reputation est connue par tout le monde dit leontidas qui possede toutes les vertus adjousta le prince de paphiagonie et pour tout dire en peu de paroles poursuivit ariobante qui n'a jamais fait aucun mal qu'on luy puisse reprocher quoy interrompit alors ciaxare tout serieux 
 cyrus n'a jamais fait aucun mal et quand il ne m'en auroit point fait d'auroit adjousta t'il que celuy de se rendre si puissant dans l'esprit de mes amis de mes ennemis de mes alliez de mes voisins et de mes sujets que mesme il me semble que je n'oserois le punir n'en seroit-ce pas un assez grand pour le perdre afin d'apprendre aux autres a avoir plus de respect pour moy mais est il possible adjousta t'il qu'il n'y ait personne d'entre vous qui aime la liberte et qui haisse un homme que tant de predictions vous doivent faire regarder comme un tyran cependant puis que vous ne regardez ny mon interest ny le vostre ny celuy de toute l'asie je ne regarderay aussi que le mien et je puniray seulement ce pretendu cyrus comme un homme qui n'est venu dans ma cour que pour me trahir comme ayant conjure avec ma fille contre ma vie comme ayant laisse echaper le roy d'assirie volontairement comme ayant une intelligence criminelle aveque luy et comme un homme enfin qui m'a voulu perdre prenez garde seigneur dit hidaspe a ce que vous dittes car apres tout cyrus n'est pas vostre sujet et le roy mon maistre scavra bien trouver les moyens de se vanger d'une pareille injustice si vous la luy faites au nom des dieux dit le roy de phrigie ne prenez nulle resolution dans les premiers mouvemens de vostre colere au nom des dieux reprit ciaxare ne me parlez plus jamais ny d'artamene ny de cyrus et soyez tous assurez que tenant en une mesme personne mon ennemy 
 particulier le seducteur de ma fille et le tyran de toute l'asie rien ne le scavroit sauver et qu'ainsi sa perte estant indubitable vous n'avez qu'a vous preparer a entendre bientost la nouvelle de sa mort en disant cela ce prince les quitta tout hors de luy mesme et fit emmener feraulas par ses gardes un moment apres le roy de phrigie fut adverty que metrobate avoit donne ordre aux portes de la ville de n'en laisser plus forcir personne pour aller au camp ny entrer aussi personne du camp dans la ville de sorte que le faisant scavoir au roy d'hircanie et a tous ces princes et a tous ces capitaines qui l'environnoient ils douterent mesme s'ils auroient la liberte de sortir du chasteau et si artamene n'estoit point desja mort car metrobate avoit parle une lois bas au roy depuis qu'ils estoient entrez dans sa chambre et qu'il avoit sceu qu'artamene estoit cyrus 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 une si funeste crainte ayant mis la fureur dans l'ame de tant de princes de tant de rois et de tant de personnes genereuses ils penserent plus d'une fois perdre le respect qu'ils devoient a ciaxare mais venant a considerer que les gardes du chasteau dependoient absolument de metrobate ils changerent de pensee et en prirent une plus raisonnable ils furent donc en diligence chez hidaspe afin d'aviser quel remede l'on pouvoit aporter a un mal si pressant et de si grande importance puis qu'il s'agissoit de la vie du plus illustre prince de la 
 terre la crainte qu'ils avoient eue de ne pouvoir sortir du chasteau se trouva mesme mal fondee car metrobate s'etoit contente de faire donner les ordres du roy aux portes de la ville pour faire que personne n'eust la liberte de venir du camp a sinope et que personne aussi ne peust aller de sinope au camp tons ces genereux protecteurs du plus genereux de tous les princes et mesme de tous les hommes ne furent pas plustost chez hidaspe que cet illustre persan leur adressant la parole avec precipitation seigneurs leur dit il soit que vous regardiez cyrus comme artamene ou artamene comme cyrus vous estes tous obligez de le sauver s'il est possible il n'y en a pas un d'entre vous qu'il n'ait oblige et par consequent pas un d'entre vous qui ne luy doive son assistance pour nous autres persans dit il parlant d'adusius d'artabase de madate et de luy nous serions des lasches si nous n'estions pas resolus de mourir tous pour sauver sa vie ou pour vanger sa mort mais seigneurs s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi dans l'ardeur du zele qui m'emporte vous seriez tous injustes pour ne pas dire ingrats si vous ne faisiez la mesme chose que nous pour vous autres adjousta t'il regardant ariobante megabise et aglatidas qui estes nais subjets naturels de ciaxare quand l'interest de cyrus ne vous toucheroit point la gloire du roy vostre maistre vous devroit tousjours toucher et vous devriez faire toutes choses possibles pour l'empescher 
 de respandre un sang qui tout pur qu'il est noirciroit sa vie d'une tache ineffacable soit donc que vous soyez phrigiens hircaniens grecs assiriens medes cadusiens paphlagoniens capadociens ou persans hastez vous de resoudre ce que nous avons a faire en une occasion si pressante ou pour mieux dire encore hastons nous d'agir et ne perdons pas un moment de peur que metrobate ne nous previenne a peine hidaspe eut il acheve de parler que tous ces rois tous ces princes et tous ces gens de qualite qui l'escoutoient tesmoignerent qu'ils estoient resolus d'employer les remedes les plus violens pour un si grand mal et de hazarder mille fois leurs vies pour sauver celle de cyrus ils chercherent donc dans leur esprit toutes les voyez imaginables de faire reussir leur dessein et dans l'ardeur du zele qui les transportoit ils firent cent propositions differentes et mesme quelques unes dont l'execution estoit impossible tant il est vray que cet accident troubloit leur raison et animoit leur courage chacun cherchant seulement en cette rencontre a se signaler par le danger de l'entreprise les uns vouloient que l'on allast a force ouverte au chasteau demander artamene les autres que l'on joignist la ruse a la force les autres que l'on allast tuer metrobate quelques uns que l'on fist souslever le peuple quelques autres que l'on fist avancer l'armee et tous ensemble que l'on agist que l'on travaillast et que l'on sauvast cyrus comme ils regardoient 
 tous ciaxare comme un prince preocupe et qu'ils estoient veritablement genereux ils ne songerent jamais a s'attaquer a la personne mais seulement a tirer de ses mains un heros a qui il devoit toute la gloire de son regne et la conqueste de plusieurs royaumes enfin il fut resolu que l'on tascheroit de faire sortir quelqu'un par dessus les murailles de la ville avec des cordes afin d'aller au camp faire scavoir aux persans que le fils unique de leur roy estoit en danger de mourir s'ils ne le secouroient promptement esperant qu'en suitte toute l'armee viendroit aux portes de sinope et que cela pourroit obliger ciaxare a n'agir pas avec tant de precipitation que cependant ariobante et megabise retourneroient dans le chasteau afin de les advertir s'ils pouvoient de tout ce qui s'y passeroit et de voir encore s'ils ne pourroient point flechir le roy que de leur coste ils assembleroient tout ce qu'ils avoient d'amis dans la ville en attendant que l'armee arrivast pour se tenir prests de tout entreprendre s'ils aprenoient qu'il en fust besoin et pour souslever le peuple s'il ne s'y trouvoit point d'autre remede mais ils connurent bien tost que leurs soins n'estoient pas necessaires pour cela car comme on les avoit veus sortir en tumulte du chasteau et qu'en traversant les rues on les avoit entendu nommer plusieurs fois artamene et parler comme des personnes qui avoient quelque chose de fascheux dans l'esprit en un moment tout le peuple de sinope avoit passe de l'esperance 
 a la crainte et de la joye a la douleur de sorte que l'on voyoit dans toute la ville une emotion si grande qu'il n'y avoit personne qui fist ce qu'il avoit accoustume de faire les artisans ne travailloient plus les femmes parloient en diverses troupes parmi les rues les marchands alloient sur le port raisonner entr'eux sur l'affaire dont il s'agissoit les gens de qualite alloient chercher chez ces rois et chez ces princes a s'eclaircir de ce que l'on faisoit au chasteau et il y avoit une consternation si tumultueuse par toute la ville qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'on la feroit passer facilement a la revolte declaree ce qui augmentoit encore la confusion estoit l'ordre que metrobate avoit donne de ne laisser plus entrer ny sortir personne car ceux qui estoient venus du camp a la ville y voulant retourner et ceux qui estoient allez de la ville au camp y voulant revenir ils ne pouvoient souffrir qu'on les en empeschast les uns voulant faire effort pour rentrer et les autres pour sortir il y avoit un si grand vacarme aux portes que le bruit s'en espandant par toute la ville produisit pourtant un bien car comme tous les soldats que metrobate avoit fait venir de pterie estoient occupez ou aux portes de la ville ou au chasteau il fut plus aise a madate durant l'obscurite de la nuit qui estoit survenue de se jetter dans le fosse par un endroit de la muraille ou l'on ne prenoit point garde il fut donc en diligence au camp faire scavoir a tous les persans qu'artamene estoit cyrus et que 
 leur prince estoit prest de mourir s'ils n'exposoient leurs vies pour sauver la sienne lors qu'il y arriva il trouva desja tout le camp en emotion par le retour de plusieurs capitaines et de grand nombre de soldats que l'on n'avoit point voulu laisser entrer dans la ville et qui disoient qu'assurement l'on faisoit mourir artamene et peut-estre aussi tous leurs chefs et tous leurs princes madate trouva donc dans cette armee toute la disposition necessaire a la souslever s'il rencontroit des capitaines c'est a vous leur disoit il a sauver l'invincible artamene vous qui avez partage sa gloire et qu'il a tant favorisez s'il parloit a de simples soldats c'est a vous mes compagnons adjoustoit il a sauver ce vaillant general qui s'est toujours reserve la plus grande part des plus grands perils et qui n'en a jamais voulu avoir aucune a la magnificence du butin dont il vous a enrichis s'il voyoit des phrigiens il leur disoit que le roy leur maistre leur commandoit d'aller a sinope demander artamene s'il voyoit des hircaniens il leur disoit la mesme chose de la part du leur et ainsi a toutes les diverses nations dont cette grande armee estoit composee de sorte que ce discours trouvant dans le coeur de tous les capitaines et de tous les soldats une violente passion pour cyrus car nous ne le nommerons plus guere d'ores en avant artamene il n'est pas estrange si madate alluma en un instant un grand feu d'une matiere si disposee a l'embrasement ce nom de cyrus 
 fut mesme bi tost sceu de toutes les troupes car les trente mille persans qui l'aprirent en un moment de leurs capitaines a qui madate le dit le firent retentir par tout et comme si ce grand corps n'eust este anime que d'un mesme esprit chacun se rangea sous son enseigne et demanda a estre conduit a sinope le nom d'artamene et de cyrus retentissent de bande en bande et d'escadron en esquadron et plus de cent mille hommes enfin parlent a gissent et marchent pour aller secourir celuy qu'ils regardent comme un dieu et dans la paix et dans la guerre cependant la troupe des rois de phrigie et d'hircanie se grossissoit a tous les momens dans la ville de toutes les personnes de qualite qui estoient a sinope et de tous ceux que l'on ne vouloit pas laisser retourner au camp le peuple aussi apres avoir simplement murmure commencoit de prendre les armes et de s'assembler par compagnies en diverses places de la ville ariobante et megabise de leur coste estoint au chasteau ou le trouble estoit encore plus grand que dans le camp ny dans sinope metrobate faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour obliger ciaxare a prononcer le dernier arrest de mort contre cyrus et ciaxare faisoit luy mesme tout ce qui luy estoit possible pour achever de s'y resoudre ils voyoient pourtant bien l'un et l'autre les dangereuses suites d'un si funeste dessein mais si l'un deguisoit de pareils sentimens l'autre n'osoit se les dire a luy mesme tant la colere preocupoit son esprit joint que le meschant metrobate pour destruire 
 dans l'ame de ciaxare toute la juste crainte qu'il devoit avoir d'un renversement universel en toute l'estendue de son empire par la mort de cyrus n'oublioit rien de tout ce qu'il croyoit capable de luy faire perdre cette apprehension seigneur luy disoit il tous ces rois et tous ces princes qui paroissent si ardans et si zelez pour le salut de cyrus ne le sont que parce qu'ils croyent tousjours qu'il pourra sortir de prison et qu'ils esperent d'en estre un jour recompensez par luy mais des qu'il sera dans le tombeau vous les verrez agir infailliblement d'une autre maniere les courtisans les plus fidelles ne suivent les favoris que jusques au bord du cercueil et si vous voulez faire cesser le tumulte du peuple dissiper la faction des grands et remettre le calme dans vostre armee vous n'avez qu'a faire mourir promptement cyrus et artamene tout ensemble et a faire en sorte que l'un ny l'autre de ces noms ne soit plus jamais prononce c'est une victime necessaire pour appaiser l'orage qui s'est esleve estant certain que cyrus ne sera pas plustost en estat de ne pouvoit donner ny crainte ny esperance que le desordre cessera que vous serez veritablement roy de plusieurs royaumes et paisible possesseur de vos couronnes un discours si violent et si injuste ne laissoit pas d'estre escoute favorablement de ciaxare ce n'est pas que malgre luy il ne se souvinst encore de tous les grands services que luy avoit rendu cyrus sous le glorieux nom d'artamene et de la tendre 
 amitie qu'il avoit eue pour ce prince mais il faisoit effort pour s'opposer a tout ce que la justice et la pitie luy pouvoient inspirer et il n'escoutoit plus que la fureur et la vangeance tous ces prisonniers qui estoient en divers lieux dans le chasteau estoient un peu estonnez de voir que l'on avoit change leurs gardes et qu'on les traitoit beaucoup plus mal qu'a l'ordinaire ils entendoient mesme un fort grand bruit qui leur donnoit de la crainte et de l'esperance martesie n'entendoit jamais ouvrir la porte de sa chambre qu'elle n'eust des pensees de mort et de liberte tout ensemble chrisante de qui l'ame estoit inesbranlable se preparoit a tout d'un visage egal feraulas sans songer a luy ne pensoit qu'a son cher maistre andramias accoustume de commander aux autres souffroit impatiemment d'estre commande araspe portoit ses fers en patience artucas sans se repentit du service qu'il avoit rendu a cyrus souffroit sa prison sans murmurer et ortalque qui estoit un serviteur tres fidelle trouvoit quelque consolation dans son infortune lors qu'il pensoit en luy mesme que c'estoit pour son illustre maistre qu'il souffroit cependant cyrus qui voyoit beaucoup d'aparence que l'espoir qu'on luy avoit donne de sa liberte seroit bien tost suivi d'une mort violente donnoit toutefois toutes ses pensees a sa princesse et sans accuser ciaxare sans murmurer de son injustice il souhaittoit seulement que mandane peust estre heureuse apres sa mort ce 
 souhait n'estoit pourtant pas si tost fait qu'il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne s'en repentist car disoit il en luy mesme tous les services que j'ay rendus toutes les peines que j'ay soufertes ne meritent elles pas quelques soupirs de ma princesse et quelque leger souvenir de la plus respectueuse passion qui sera jamais ouy ouy divine mandane reprenoit il je puis pretendre a la gloire d'estre pleure de vous sans vous offencer puis que vous avez autrefois eu la bonte de m'avouer que la nouvelle de ma mort vous avoit couste quelques larmes mais je serois pourtant injuste si je voulois que ma perte troublast tout le repos de vostre vie vivez donc si je meurs sans perdre absolument le souvenir du trop heureux artamene et du malheureux cyrus mais vivez pourtant en repos et n'abandonnez pas vostre ame a la douleur ce sentiment tendre et passionne n'estoit neantmoins pas long temps dans son coeur sans estre interrompu par un autre et il y avoit des momens ou l'image de mandane toute en pleurs et toute desesperee de sa mort luy donnoit quelque triste consolation et luy faisoit trouver de la douceur dans les horreurs du tombeau mais pendant que cet illustre prisonnier ne donnoit toutes ses pensees qu'a mandane toutes choses estoient en une confusion estrange metrobate receut nouvelle sur nouvelle tant que la nuit dura que toute la ville estoit en armes que toute l'armee marchoit vers sinope que les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie avoient 
 un gros de gens considerable et qu'il y avoit peu d'apparence que le roy peust trouver obeissance aucune ny parmy le peuple ny parmy les soldats ny parmy les capitaines en cette extremite il fit un dernier effort pour obliger ciaxare a faire mourir cyrus et en effet le roy sembla s'y resoudre et n'avoir plus d'autre intention metrobate avoit envoye ordre a artaxe de luy envoyer encore deux mille hommes la prochaine nuit par un chemin destourne qui estoit le long de la mer par ou les troupes de l'armee ne pouvoient pas l'empescher et c'estoit la raison pourquoy il ne precipitoit pas encore si fort la chose neantmoins entendant augmenter de plus en plus un grand bruit recevant continuellement de nouveaux advis de l'augmentation du desordre et la pointe du jour luy faisant voir de ses propres yeux l'estat ou estoient les choses il persuada si bien ciaxare qu'il estoit tout prest de dire qu'on allast faire mourir cyrus lors qu'on vint l'advertir que le sage thiamis l'un des sacrificateurs du temple de mars qui s'estoit fortuitement trouve enferme dans la ville venoit a la teste de tous les mages de sinope et qu'il demandoit a parler a luy metrobate voulut alors empescher ce prince de l'escouter mais un sentiment secret forca ciaxare a ne suivre pas le conseil de ce mechant homme et a vouloir entendre thiamis l'ordre estant donc donne de le faire entrer ce venerable vieillard suivi de plusieurs mages avec les habillemens dont ils 
 se servoient aux temples dans les deuils publics parut devant le roy avec beaucoup de respect et de hardiesse tout ensemble et le regardant avec des yeux ou la melancolie estoit peinte mais dans lesquels il y avoit pourtant je ne scay quelle severe majeste qui inspiroit de la crainte et de la veneration il luy parla en ces termes
 
 
 discours de thiamisa ciaxare 
 
 
 seigneur comme nous devons estre les plus fidelles sujets des rois nos maistres nos devons estre aussi les plus hardis a leur annoncer les veritez importantes au bien de leur estat et de leur personne quand l'occasion s'en presente c'est pourquoy sans craindre de vous depluire et inspire par les dieux je viens supplier vostre majeste de m'entendre mais de m'entendre sans preoccupation il y va seigneur non seulement de vostre gloire mais de vostre empire mais du salut de plusieurs royaumes mais de celuy de toute l'asie mais de vostre propre falut c'est pourquoy je vous conjure encore une fois de m'escouter favorablement et de ne m'interrompre point j'ay sceu seigneur par la voix publique qu'artamene est cyrus c'est a dire ce prince de qui la naissance a este precedee par tant de prodiges et pour qui le ciel et la terre ont interrompu l'ordre de tout l'univers les temples plus fermes et les plus superbes en ont este ebranlez les lumieres de plusieurs lampes se sont confondues et rassemblees miraculeusement en une seule lumiere le soleil 
 mesme s'en est eclipse sa splendeur et sa chaleur s'en sont en suitte redoublees toutes les victimes ont annonce sa grandeur et tous les astres l'ont marquee en caracteres d'or enfin seigneur nous avons veu des choses qui ne nous permettent pas de douter que la personne de cyrus ne soit une personne extraordinaire et une personne de qui la vie ne doit point estre sous la jurisdiction des rois de la terre je scay bien que vous me pouvez dire qu'il semble fort estrange de voir interceder pour sa vie des hommes qui par vos ordres ont offert plus d'une fois des sacrifices pour remercier les dieux de sa mort mais seigneur c'est par la que je pretens vous faire connoistre que la prudence humaine est une aveugle qui nous egare en pensant nous bien conduire et que ce n'est point aux hommes a vouloir penetrer dans les secrets du ciel il est certain seigneur que les mages d'ecbatane voyant que les dieux annoncoient un grand changement en toute l'asie ont creu qu'elle estoit menacee d'un grand mal de sorte que lors qu'il vint nouvelle de la pretendue mort de celuy que l'on croyoit qui le devoit causer l'on en remercia les dieux comme de la mort d'un prince qui devoit ce nous sembloit se servir d'injustes voyes pour vous renverser du trosne et estre le plus grand tiran du monde mais aujourd'huy que nous connoissons qu'artamene est cyrus nous voyons clairement que nous nous sommes abusez et que tant de signes et tant de prodiges ne nous ont este donnez que pour nous faire esperer la naissance du plus grand prince de la terre que pour nous faire attendre un bonheur infiny et non pas pour nous menacer d'une supreme infortune en effet 
 qu'a fait l'illustre artamene de puis le premier jour qu'il aborda a sinope et que j'eus le bonheur de le voir dans nostre temple pour moy en mon particulier je scay bien que sa valeur nous a plus donne de matiere de sacrifices pour remercier les dieux des victoires qu'il a remportees pour vous qu'il n'y en a eu en capadoce en galatie et en medie depuis quatre siecles les dieux seigneur n'ont pas permis qu'il vous ait sauve la vie pour vous rendre maistre de la sienne il n'est pas nay vostre sujet et vous le devez traiter comme vostre egal si l'illustre cyrus n'estoit pas fils de roy et qu'il fust nay dans vos estats vous pourriez disposer absolument de sa fortune et de sa vie sans en rendre compte qu'aux dieux mais il est nay sujet d'un autre prince qui est son pere et vous ne devez pas usurper une authorite qui ne vous apartient point joint qu'apres tout seigneur ces personnes eminentes que les dieux promettent et que les dieux envoyent pour leur propre gloire doivent estre personnes sacrees et inviolables quand nous nous sommes resjouis de la fausse nouvelle de la mort de cyrus nous croiyons qu'il deust estre mechant et nous le croyons mort par un naufrage et par la permission des dieux sans y avoir rien contribue de nostre part mais aujourd'hui que nous scavons que cyrus est le plus vertueux d'entre les hommes et le plus grand prince du monde c'est a nous a le reverer et non pas a le faire mourir enfin seigneur quand je songe a ce qu'il a fait pour vous quand je pense qu'il a sauve la capadoce en vous sauvant la vie qu'il a tant gagne de batailles tant assujetti de rois tant pris de villes et que la superbe babilone qui aspiroit a la monarchie universelle 
 a este soumise par sa valeur j'avoue que je ne puis comprendre par quel mouvement vous agissez vous dis-je seigneur de qui nous avons tousjours admire la prudence et la bonte mais me direz vous pourquoy le songe d'astiage luy a t'il predit que cyrus regneroit en asie pourquoy cette statue qui representoit un amour et qui demeura debout dans ce temple dont les fondemens furent ebranlez marqua t'elle la fermete de sa domination pourquoy ces lumieres r'assemblees signifierent elles que toute puissance seroit reunie en la sienne pourquoy le soleil s'eclipsa t'il pour reparoistre apres avec plus de lumiere et plus de splendeur qu'auparavant sinon pour faire voir que quand il auroit esteint toute autre puissance la sienne seroit infiniment plus grande que toutes les autres ne l'ont este pourquoy me direz vous toutes ces choses sinon pour marquer que c'estoit un prince redoutable dont la perte estoit a desirer non seigneur ne vous y abusez pas les dieux donnent de l'esperance aussi bien que de la crainte ils font des promesses comme des menaces et s'ils ont entendu que cyrus regneroit ils ont entendu que ce seroit par de justes voyes ils ont annonce sa naissance comme celle du plus grand conquerant du monde de qui l'illustre main a plante des lauriers sur tous les fleuves de l'asie comme celle d'un prince qui est l'amour de toutes les nations qui surmonte tout ou par la force ou par la douceur mais qui au milieu de tant de victoires et de tant de conquestes est maistre de son ambition et soumet a vos pieds tous ses triomphes et toute sa gloire de sorte seigneur que pour accomplir la volonte des dieux il faudra que 
 cyrus regne par vostre moyen et je ne scache nulle autre explication a donner a tous ces prodiges sinon que vous ferez un jour regner cyrus en luy donnant la princesse mandane qui est vostre unique heritiere je voy bien que mon discours vous irrite au lieu de vous appaiser cependant je suis oblige de vous dire de la part des dieux que je sers et que j'ay consultez par des sacrifices extraordinaires depuis la prison de ce prince que si vous le faites mourir vous renverserez vostre empire vous rendrez tous vos sujets esclaves de vos ennemis et peut-estre mesme que comme thiamis alloit continuer son discours et que ciaxare irrite de la hardiesse de ses paroles l'alloit interrompre l'on entendit un grand redoublement de cris dans une grande place qui estoit devant la porte du chasteau ariobante et megabise furent a un balcon qui y respondoit et virent que c'estoit une multitude estrange de peuple et de soldats meslez ensemble sans ordre et sans chefs qui demandoient artamene une action si hardie obligea encore thiamis a vouloir dire quelque chose au roy mais il le rebuta tout en colere et parut encore plus irrite de sorte qu'ariobante envoya megabise adroitement advertir le roy de phrigie que rien ne flechissoit ciaxare cependant quoy que thiamis eust este refuse il ne voulut point sortir du chasteau et demeura dans une autre chambre esperant tousjours de trouver quelque moment favorable qui le feroit mieux escouter durant cela metrobate fut adverty que l'armee entiere 
 estoit aux portes de la ville qui vouloit qu'on les luy ouvrist il voulut d'abord cacher cette mauvaise nouvelle au roy mais il falut enfin qu'il la sceust de sorte que ce prince fut en un estat le plus estrange que l'on se puisse imaginer il estoit dans un chasteau avec peu de monde et dans une ville souslevee de qui les portes estoient gardees par des gens qui estoient veritablemen a a luy mis qui estoient attaquez dehors par une armee de cent mille hommes et dedans par une grande partie des habitans cependant dans l'aveuglement ou il estoit il accusoit encore cyrus de tous ces malheurs et ne consideroit pas qu'il n'en estoit que la cause innocente jamais il ne s'est rien veu de pareil ny au dehors ny au dedans d'une ville toute l'armee faisoit retentir l'air du glorieux nom d'artamene et de celuy de cyrus les soldats de metrobate qui deffendoient les murailles n'avoient pas peu d'occupation car on voyoit a la fois cent echelles dressees contre ces murs sur lesquelles des soldats couverts de leurs boucliers et formant cette espece de bataillon que les anciens appelloient tortue se pressoient pour monter et pour gagner le haut malgre la resistance des autres quelques uns tomboient et faisoient tobmer ceux qui les suivoient quelques autres plus fermes et plus heureux renversoient leurs ennemis s'acrochoient aux creneaux et demeuroient apres en estat de combattre sur la muraille pour faciliter l'entree de la ville a leurs compagnons par cet endroit 
 que si la valeur de ceux qui escaladoient les murs estoit grande celle de ceux qui portoient les beliers aux portes ne l'estoit pas moins le nom d'artamene estoit le signal qui regloit le furieux mouvement de ces terribles machines que mille bras animez par des coeurs qui desiroient sauver cyrus poussoient avec une violence extreme ce qui n'empeschoit pas toutefois que le mouvement n'en fust aussi egal et aussi regle que si un seul bras les eust fait agir tant il est vray que lors que des soldats servent par inclination ils servent bien cette force unie et ramassee de tant de personnes zelees pour le salut de cyrus donnoit de si grands coups que non seulement les portes mais toutes les murailles en estoient ebranlees et le son retentissant de ces beliers dont la teste estoit de ce cuivre fin que l'on appelloit or de corinthe avoit quelque chose de si terrible que le bruit du tonnerre ne l'est gueres davantage plus de cent de ces machines de guerre que l'antiquite apelloit des balistes et des catapultes jettoient incessamment sur les murailles et dans la ville une gresle de dards et de pierres en vain l'on tiroit sur les soldats qui montoient aux eschelles et sur ceux qui poussoient les beliers puis qu'il n'y en avoit pas plustost un de mort qu'il y avoit presse a prendre sa place le dedans de la ville n'estoit pas plus tranquile que le dehors et tout le peuple estoit si anime que l'on ne peut rien imaginer de si terrible les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie eussent 
 bien voulu que les affaires n'eussent pas pris une face si estrange et ils estoient au desespoir d'estre contraints de se servir d'un remede si dangereux n'y ayant rien au monde de plus a eviter que la rebellion des peuples mais il faloit bien lors tolerer ce qu'on ne pouvoit empescher ils ne laissoient pas toutes fois de retenir cette populace autant qu'ils pouvoient croyant tousjours qu'il suffisoit pour sauver cyrus de donner quelque sentiment de crainte a ciaxare cependant en fort peu de temps les portes de la ville furent rompues et les murailles abandonnees par ceux qui les deffendoient qui ne scachant ou se retirer furent tuez et par ceux de dehors et par ceux de dedans aussi cette grande armee entrant donc avec violence dans sinope par divers endroits et ne s'arrestant point a piller les maisons le chasteau se trouva en un moment environne de tant de monde que la seule veue en faisoit fremir metrobate n'eust plus songe qu'a la fuite s'il en eust pu trouver les moyens mais le peuple gardoit aussi bien du coste de la mer que du coste de la terre de sorte que ciaxare luy mesme ne pensoit plus qu'a mourir en se deffendant apres avoir fait mourir cyrus c'estoit en vain que thiamis et ariobante vouloient parler car ce prince n'escoutoit plus rien que sa fureur et son desespoir cependant metrobate le plus mechant d'entre les hommes ne scachant plus que faire ny qu'imaginer s'en alla dans la chambre de cyrus et contrefaisant le pitoyable et le genereux 
 il luy dit que s'il vouloit luy donner sa parole de faire deux choses qu'il luy diroit il le mettroit en liberte ce prince n'ayant voulu luy rien promettre qu'il ne sceust auparavant ce qu'il desiroit de luy il fut enfin contraint de luy dire que ce qu'il souhaittoit en cette rencontre estoit qu'il luy donnast le gouvernement de pterie pour sa seurete et qu'il se deffist de ciaxare s'offrant de luy en donner les moyens et d'executer mesme la chose car seigneur luy dit ce mechant homme c'est le seul chemin qui vous reste d'eviter la mort et de vous rendre maistre de toute l'asie une proposition si criminelle donna tant d'horreur a cyrus qu'il chassa metrobate de sa chambre avec injure et par bonheur un des soldats qui gardoient cet illustre prisonnier et qui se trouva genereux entendit toute cette conversation ce traistre voyant donc qu'il ne scavoit que faire ne songea plus qu'a perir et qu'a faire perir avecque luy tout ce qui estoit dans le chasteau neantmoins comme il s'imaginoit tousjours que peut-estre pourroit il arriver quelque chose ou la personne de cyrus luy pourroit servir il ne se hastoit pas de le faire tuer comme il le pouvoit cependant le bruit se redouble c'est en vain que les rois et les princes veulent retenir les soldats car comme la plus grande partie d'entre eux n'estoient pas nais sujets de ciaxare qu'ils estoient de peuples nouvellement assujettis et qu'ils estoient animez par les trente mille persans qui vouloient delivrer leur prince ils n'avoient pas 
 dans le coeur ce profond respect qui doit estre ineffacable de l'ame des sujets quels que puissent estre leurs rois de sorte que tout estoit prest d'aller a l'extreme violence ils apportoient desja des echelles et je pense qu'ils eussent mesme aporte du feu pour embraser le chasteau s'ils n'eussent eu peur de brusler cyrus en bruslant ceux qui le vouloient perdre cent hommes portant un belier estoient desja preparez pour s'avancer vers la porte du chasteau soutenus de deux mille autres pour donner l'assaut quand la breche seroit faite et ceux-cy de plus de cent mille lors que l'on entendit un grand bruit vers la main gauche qui dans la confusion des voix ne laissoit pas de faire connoistre malgre le tumulte que c'estoient des cris d'allegresse un moment apres les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie accompagnez de persode d'artibie d'adusius d'artabase du prince de paphlagonie de thimocrate de philocles et de beaucoup d'autres virent paroistre thrasibule hidaspe aglatidas et le fidele orsane qui conduisoient cyrus qu'ils avoient delivre heureusement par une fenestre de sa chambre qui donnoit dans les fossez du chasteau dont ils avoient arrache les grilles un moment apres que metrobate l'avoit quitte cette veue fit un effet prodigieux et tout ce qu'il y eut d'hommes en ce lieu la prononcerent le nom de cyrus ou celuy d'artamene parce qu'ils luy donnoient encore indifferemment l'un et l'autre cependant ce prince genereux 
 apres avoir veu d'un coup d'oeil les eschelles les beliers et tous les aprests faits pour l'attaque du chasteau sans rien dire de son intention a ses illustres amis comme il fut arrive dans la place l'espee a la main car on luy avoit donne une en le delivrant tout d'un coup se separant de ceux qui l'environnoient et qui le vouloient saluer il s'eslanca vers la porte du chasteau si bien que ciaxare qui s'estoit mis a un balcon pour voir quelle estoit la cause des cris de joye que l'on entendoit vit que cyrus s'estoit separe de ses liberateurs et s'estoit mis comme je l'ay desja dit devant la porte du chasteau en posture de le vouloir deffendre contre ceux qui n'avoient entrepris de l'attaquer que pour sa liberte cette action qui fut veue de cent mille personnes differentes causa une pareille admiration en leur ame et suspendit les actions de tous egalement ciaxare ne scavoit pas trop bien si ce qu'il voyoit estoit veritable luy qui croyoit un moment auparavant que cyrus estoit prisonnier cependant ce genereux prince s'approchant tousjours davantage de cette porte tenant son espee d'une main et faisant signe de l'autre qu'il vouloit parler il se fit en un instant un aussi grand silence que le bruit avoit este tumultueux ne pensez pas mes liberateurs dit il a thrasibule a hidaspe a aglatidas et a orsane que j'aye accepte la liberte pour m'en servir contre le roy non non je n'aime pas si peu la gloire que je ne la prefere a la vie et si je suis sorti de prison c'a 
 este mes compagnons dit il en regardant les soldats pour venir vous aprendre a respecter mieux vostre maistre ne me forcez donc pas a me servir contre vous de cette mesme espee qui vous a quelquefois rendus victorieux obeissez obeissez aveuglement aux commandemens du roy et s'il vous demande ma teste il la luy faut donner sans repugnance quoy adjousta t'il encore en redoublant l'ardeur avec laquelle il parloit vous ay-je apris a vous rebeller contre vostre roy et avez vous veu en quelqu'une de mes actions que je fusse capable d'approuver ce que vous faites non non ne vous y trompez pas je ne scaurois vous estre oblige d'une action si criminelle et qui me rend coupable aussi bien que vous car enfin apres ce que vous avez fait je ne suis plus innocent et je trouve que sans injustice le roy peut faire mourir un homme qui sousleve tous ses sujets contre luy posez donc les armes et si vous me voulez servir que tous les soldats retournent au camp que tous les habitans aillent en leurs maisons et je m'en retourneray prendre mes fers apres avoir demande vostre grace au roy cyrus ayant cesse de parler il se fit un grand bruit dans cette place ceux qui n'avoient pas entendu ce qu'il avoit dit le demandoient aux autres ceux qui l'avoient ouy en poussoient des cris d'admiration et tous ensemble disoient pourtant qu'il faloit mourir mille et mille fois plustost que de le laisser perir voyant donc qu'on ne luy obeissoit pas il se tourna alors 
 vers le chasteau et haussant la voix autant qu'il put en regardant vers le balcon ou estoit ciaxare commandez seigneur luy dit il commandez que l'on me laisse entrer afin que je puisse mourir en vous deffendant contre vos sujets rebelles trasibule hidaspe et aglatidas qui eurent peur qu'en effet on ne le reprist voulurent se ranger aupres de luy mais les regardant avec beaucoup d'emotion non leur dit il trop genereux amis n'aprochez pas davantage si vous ne voulez que ne pouvant me resoudre de tourner la pointe de mon espee contre vous je la tourne contre moy mesme pendant que ces choses se passoient dans cette place avec tant d'agitation il y en avoit encore davantage dans l'ame du roy car au mesme instant qu'il eut veu cyrus en la genereuse posture ou il s'estoit mis un soldat venant se jetter a ses pieds seigneur luy dit il l'illustre prisonnier que mes compagnons et moy gardions s'est echape mais s'il m'est permis de le dire vostre majeste ne doit pas estre en peine car il est trop genereux pour luy vouloir nuire et c'est la fuitte du meschant metrobate adjousta t'il qui vous doit beaucoup plus inquieter le roy estoit si surpris et si trouble et de ce qu'il voyoit et de ce qu'il n'eust peut estre pas eu l'esprit assez libre pour s'informer de ce que cet homme luy vouloit dire si thiamis et ariobante qui s'estoient raprochez de ce prince ne luy en eussent donne la curiosite mais enfin ayant presse ce soldat de parler il dit au roy en peu de 
 mots comment il avoit entendu la proposition que metrobate avoit faite a cyrus de le sauver pourveu qu'il luy donnast le gouvernement de pterie et qu'il voulust faire mourir ciaxare thiamis et ariobante ne perdirent pas une si favorable occasion et exagererent comme il faloit une si horrible mechancete le roy en doutoit pourtant encore lors que ce soldat continuant son discours seigneur adjousta t'il pour vous prouver en quel que facon ce que je dis je n'ay qu'a vous aprendre que metrobate n'a pas plustost sceu la fuitte de cyrus qu'au lieu de vous en advertir il n'a plus songe qu'a la sienne et comme les eschelles estoient encore a la fenestre par laquelle on a delivre cyrus il s'est servy de cette voye pour sortir du chasteau ayant emmene avec luy une partie de mes compagnons pour moy dit il encore je serois venu vous advertir au mesme instant de ce que j'avois entendu si j'en eusse eu le pouvoir mais estant engage dans l'antichambre de cyrus lors que metrobate y est venu je n'en ay pu sortir jusques a ce que par sa fuitte il n'y a plus eu d'obstacle qui m'en ait empesche le roy se trouva alors fort trouble neantmoins ne voulant pas se fier tout a fait au discours de cet homme il envoya chercher par tout dans le chasteau si on ne trouveroit point metrobate ou s'il n'auroit point este tue par ceux qui avoient delivre cyrus mais il sceut que cyrus avoit este delivre sans qu'il y eust eu de resistance parce que l'on ne s'en estoit aperceu 
 qu'apres il sceut mesme que lors que metrobate estoit alle la seconde fois a la chambre de cyrus c'avoit este avec intention de le faire tuer quoy qu'il n'en eust point eu d'ordre et que l'ayant trouve sauve il s'estoit en effet sauve luy mesme de la facon dont le soldat l'avoit dit quoy seigneur reprit thiamis vous resisterez encore au ciel et a la terre et vous ne voudrez pas voir l'innocence de cyrus en voyant le crime de metrobate je scay bien respondit ciaxare tout hors de luy mesme que cyrus est genereux mais je ne voy pas aussi clairement qu'il soit innocent comme il en estoit la il vit entrer martesie chrisante feraulas araspe artucas andramias et ortalque car dans la frayeur qui avoit saisi les soldats depuis que metrobate s'estoit sauve qui seul les avoit mis dans le chasteau ils avoient abandonne le soing de leurs prisonniers ciaxare tout surpris de cette veue et ne scachant s'il estoit en seurete de sa personne parmy tant de gens qu'il avoit mal-traitez se tint pourtant assez ferme et demanda fierement a tous ces gens qui l'environnoient s'il n'estoit plus roy puis qu'ils avoient la hardiesse de perdre le respect qu'ils luy devoient seigneur reprit chrisante voyant que nos gardes nous abandonnoient nous avons bien juge que vostre majeste auroit peut-estre besoin de nous et j'ay creu adjousta martesie qu'il importoit a vostre gloire et a vostre conservation de vous dire encore une fois que cyrus est innocent voyez seigneur luy dit encore 
 thiamis le forcant de regarder la derniere action que cyrus avoit faite en empeschant ses amis d'approcher de luy si vous avez sujet d'apprehender les serviteurs d'un tel maistre luy qui a la generosite de s'opposer a sa propre delivrance et d'estre ennemi de ses liberateurs o dieux s'escria ciaxare que feray-je et que puis-je et que dois-je faire me commander respondit thiamis d'aller vous querir le genereux cyrus avec intention de le bien recevoir et de le traitter comme il merite de l'estre mais il a intelligence avec mon ennemy reprit le roy voyez seigneur par ce que fait ce prince repliqua ariobante s'il y a apparence que cette intelligence soit criminelle veu sa facon d'agir mais il en a du moins une avec ma fille adjousta t'il qui ne peut estre innocente vous le verrez seigneur reprit martesie par le billet que je vous presente et que par bonheur j'ay retrouve icy dans le chambre ou l'on m'a mise qui avoit autrefois este la mienne ce billet n'a jamais este veu que de cyrus qui mesme n'en a point parle ny a chrisante ny a feraulas et la princesse quoy qu'il fust fort innocent ne voulut pourtant pas qu'il demeurait dans ses mains c'est pourquoy il le remit dans les miennes je creus que je l'avois perdu mais le bonheur a fait qu'il s'est trouve dans une cassette que l'on renvoya de themiscire a sinope et je vous l'aporte seigneur afin de vous faire voir si mandane est fort criminelle ciaxare prenant alors ce billet qu'il 
 connut d'abord pour estre escrit de la main de la princesse sa fille y leut ces paroles avec beaucoup d'attention quoy qu'avec beaucoup de trouble
 
 
 la princesse mandane a cyrus 
 
 
 puis que vous desirez que je vous escrive ma derniere volonte je vous diray la mesme chose que je vous ay desja dite qui est que toutes les obligations que je vous ay et tous les services que vous avez rendus au roy mon pere ne scauroient jamais m'obliger a manquer a rien de tout ce que peut exiger de moy la plus rigoureuse et la plus exacte vertu je scay bien que vous n'avez rien desire contre cela c'est pourquoi vous ne devez pas estre surpris si je continue de vous dire que si vous ne trouvez les voyes de vous faire connoistre au roy mon seigneur et de vous en faire agreer dans le temps que je vous ay marque il faut que vous vous en retourniez en perse et que vous ne me voiyez jamais voila tout ce que je puis et peut-estre plus que je ne dois 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
le roy ayant leu cette lettre et ayant encore veu cyrus s'opposer a ses amis et commander aux soldats de mettre bas les armes qu'il vive dit il qu'il vive cet heureux cyrus que sa propre vertu deffend mieux dans mon coeur que les cent mille hommes qui sont armez pour le sauver c'est a vous sage thiamis dit il en le re-gardant a donner cette nouvelle aux soldats et a vous 
 ariobante a donner les ordres necessaires pour la seurete du chasteau ha seigneur s'ecrierent chrisante feraulas andramias et tous ceux qui estoient dans la chambre tant que cyrus vivra vostre majeste n'a rien a redouter cependant thiamis qui voulut executer promtement les ordres du roy et ne luy donner pas loisir de se repentir d'un si favorable arrest descendit a la porte du chasteau suivy de tous les mages qui l'y avoient accompagne d'abord qu'on l'ouvrit cyrus s'en approcha et se mit en mesme temps en estat d'y entrer et en posture d'en vouloir deffendre l'entree aux autres tous ses liberateurs s'avancerent en un moment tous les capitaines et tous les soldats se mirent egalement a crier qu'il ne faloit pas souffrir qu'il entrast et cette multitude de gens armez se pressant et s'avancant comme si elle eust eu de fiers ennemis a combattre il se fit un retentissement d'armes et de voix espouvantables mais enfin la porte du chasteau estant ouverte et ne voyant paroistre que des mages et des sacrificateurs au lieu de soldats ce tumulte s'alentit chacun demeura a sa place et se teut attendant impatiemment ce que thiamis avoit a dire cyrus salua alors ce mage avec beaucoup de respect et baissant son espee et le regardant avec aussi peu d'emotion que s'il ne se fust pas agy de sa vie est-ce de vostre main luy dit il sage thiamis que je dois reprendre mes fers non luy respondit il car les ministres des dieux ne s'abaisseroient 
 pas jusques a executer les injustices des hommes mais genereux prince je viens vous annoncer la liberte que le roy vous accorde la fuite de metrobate a dissipe la preoccupation de son ame et les dieux a qui vous estes cher vous ont tire par vostre propre vertu d'un danger qui paroissoit presque inevitable venez donc triompher venez luy dit il achever par vostre presence de remettre dans l'ame du roy la tendresse qu'il a eue pour vous cyrus faisant alors une profonde reverence a thiamis c'est sans doute plustost luy dit il a vos prieres qu'a ma vertu que je dois l'heureux changement du roy mais sage thiamis me traitte t'il en accuse justifie ou en criminel a qui il fait grace vous le scaurez de sa propre bouche reprit thiamis a peine ce mage eut il acheve de prononcer ces paroles que cyrus se tournant vers ses illustres amis les pria de le laisser entrer seul mais il ne fut de long temps en estat d'ouir leur response car cette heureuse nouvelle ayant passe de bouche en bouche tout le monde en poussa des cris d'allegresse la defiance s'empara pourtant durant quelques momens de beaucoup d'esprits et ils ne pouvoient se resoudre a se fier a rien apres tout ce qui estoit arrive les uns vouloient avoir des ostages les autres demandoient si thiamis de qui la sagesse et la probite estoient connues de tout le monde leur en respondoit de sorte que s'entendant nommer par tant de voix et par tant de personnes differentes non non leur dit le 
 plus haut qu'il put ce sage sacrificateur ne craignez rien en me confiant la personne de cyrus je suis veritablement accoustume a conduire les victimes au pied des autels mais je n'en meine point entre les mains des bourreaux j'appaise les dieux par des sacrifices et je ne sers point a la vangeance des hommes tesmoignez donc vous mesme par vostre obeissance leur dit il encore que vostre zele n'a eu que de bons principes et ne nuisez pas a votre illustre general en le voulant servir pendant cela le roy de phrigie celuy d'hircanie persode thrasibule artibie le prince de paphlagonie hidaspe artabase thimocrate philocles leontidas megabise aglatidas orsane et beaucoup d'autres s'aprocherent et demanderent du moins la permission de suivre cyrus dans le chasteau mais thiamis pour accommoder les choses leur dit qu'il estoit a propos qu'il n'y en eust qu'une partie afin que l'autre tinst les soldats et le peuple dans le devoir de crainte que quelque terreur panique ne les soulevast de nouveau et ne leur fist imaginer que cyrus seroit mal traite que de plus il estoit encore a propos de tascher de prendre metrobate qui estoit sorti du chasteau ainsi apres une assez longue contestation cyrus entra suivi seulement du roy de phrigie d'hidaspe d'artabase d'adusius de thrasibule et d'aglatidas le roy d'hircanie et tous les autres demeurant a donner les ordres necessaires pour empescher une nouvelle emotion 
 cependant thiamis n'avoit pas este plustost parti d'aupres du roy que ce prince estoit entre dans son cabinet ou il avoir fait seulement apeller chrisante et martesie comme ces deux personnes avoient toutes deux beaucoup d'esprit et beaucoup d'adresse elles dirent tant de choses a ciaxare qu'elles rendirent enfin son ame capable d'escouter avec quelque plaisir la justification de cyrus car comme il ne faloit plus faire un secret ny de sa naissance ny de sa passion il leur estoit beaucoup plust aise qu'auparavant de luy faire voir son innocence chrisante avoua alors avec ingenuite de quelle nature estoit l'intelligence qu'avoit eue cyrus avec le roy d'assirie et luy fit si bien comprendre que cette intelligence n'avoit pas este criminelle que le roy luy mesme en soupira de douleur voyant en quel estat ce pretendu crime l'avoit conduit martesie de son coste justifiant aussi sa maistresse luy disoit en peu de paroles avec tant de sincerite comme la chose s'estoit passee que luy mesme ne trouvoit plus avoir sujet de se pleindre il n'y avoit que ce portrait qui avoit este trouve dans la cassette de cyrus qui luy donnoit je ne scay quelle idee d'une affection trop galante pour une princesse d'une aussi grande vertu que mandane car encore que martesie luy eust dit qu'il avoit este fait pour la princesse de pterie il n'en avoit point de preuve mais par bonheur martesie s'estant souvenue d'une chose qui pouvoit entierement l'esclaircir la dessus seigneur luy dit-elle 
 ariobante qui comme vous scavez estoit frere de la princesse de pterie pour qui ce portrait avoit este fait vous pourra assurer que je ne ments pas et le pourra reconnoistre si vostre majeste le luy montre car je me souviens qu'il estoit chez la princesse le jour qu'il fut acheve et que la princesse sa soeur estant tombee malade le lendemain elle envoya ariobante pour le demander comme un remede a son mal mais le peintre l'ayant voulu remporter parce qu'il vouloir retoucher quelque chose a l'habillement elle ne put la satisfaire et cette princesse mourut de cette maladie sans l'avoir receu comme je l'ay desja dit a vostre majeste comme martesie disoit cela ariobante entra qui rendit compte au roy de l'ordre qu'il avoit donne pour la garde du chasteau c'est pourquoy ciaxare ouvrant la cassette de cyrus qui estoit tousjours demeuree dans son cabinet depuis le jour que le mechant metrobate l'y porta il en tira le portrait de mandane et le faisant voir a ariobante il luy demanda s'il se souvenoit de l'avoir veu autrefois ouy seigneur luy respondit il apres l'avoir considere quelque temps je l'ay sans doute veu et mesme plus d'une fois car je le vy lors que la princesse eut la bonte de le faire faire pour ma soeur et je le vy encore porter a martesie quelques jours devant que la princesse fust enlevee par le roy d'assirie je me souviens de plus que je luy voulus persuader qu'ayant este destine pour ma soeur elle jouissoit d'un bien qui m'apartenoit puis que 
 je luy avois succede ha seigneur s'ecria martesie je ne me souvenois plus de cette derniere circonstance qui acheve ce me semble de justifier pleinement la princesse puis que vostre majeste scait bien qu'elle n'a pas veu cyrus depuis ce temps la et qu'ainsi elle ne peut pas luy avoir donne ce portrait les choses estoient en ces termes lors que thiamis fit advertir le roy qu'il luy amenoit cyrus qui pour paroistre avec plus de soumission devant ciaxare avoit en passant dans l'anti-chambre laisse son espee a feraulas qu'il y avoit embrasse avec beaucoup de joye aussi bien qu'andramias artucas et araspe leur demandant pardon des maux qu'ils avoient soufferts pour l'amour de luy or ciaxare en cet instant se souvenant de tout ce qu'il devoit a cyrus du temps qu'il estoit artamene et de ce que ce mesme artamene venoit de faire en sa presence sous le nom de cyrus il calma enfin son esprit et commanda qu'on le fist entrer martesie suivie de la fille qui l'accompagnoit voulut sortir du cabinet du roy mais ciaxare la retenant non non luy dit il martesie il faut que vous ayez vostre part a la paix comme vous l'avez eue a la guerre un moment apres le roy de phrigie entra qui voulut dire quelque chose au roy pour s'excuser mais ciaxare luy prenant la main et la luy serrant ne parlons point d'excuse luy dit il car j'en aurois plus a vous faire de ne vous avoir pas creu que vous ne m'en devez de ne m'avoir pas obei le sage thiamis suivit d'assez pres le 
 roy de phrigie conduisant cyrus qu'il presenta a ciaxare ce prince voulut alors se jetter a ses pieds comme s'il eust este criminel tant le pere de mandane estoit respecte de luy mais le roy l'en empeschant le releva en l'embrassant tendrement et luy demanda si cyrus pourroit bien oublier toutes les injures que l'on avoit faites a artamene artamene n'oubliera jamais vos biens-faits luy repliqua t'il et ne souffrira pas que cyrus soit jamais ingrat mais seigneur poursuivit il je supplie tres humblement vostre majeste aujourd'huy que je puis respondre precisement a tout ce qu'elle me peut demander et sans luy rien deguiser de la verite de me faire l'honneur de me dire s'il luy demeure quelque soubcon de ma fidelite et si elle m'accuse encore d'avoir manque au respect que je luy devois puis que si je ne la satisfais pas pleinement par mes raisons je suis encore tout prest de subir tel chastiment qu'il luy plaira de m'ordonner car seigneur quelques sentimens que l'on vous ait donnez de cyrus je puis vous asseurer qu'il sera toute sa vie soumis a vos volontez mais de telle sorte poursuivit il que vous n'avez pas plus de droit de commander au moindre de vos sujets que ma propre inclination vous en donne sur moy voila seigneur quels sont les veritables sentimens de ce destructeur de l'asie de cet usurpateur qui veut renverser des throsnes et regner par d'injustes voyes vous pouvez bien juger seigneur qu'un prince qui s'est cache a trente 
 mille subjets du roy son pere qui estoient dans vostre armee n'avoit pas de desseins fort ambitieux luy qui par la crainte de vous offencer a pense perdre la vie sans faire scavoir sa condition cessez luy respondit ciaxare en l'embrassant tout de nouveau les larmes aux yeux cessez de vous justifier car plus vous le faites plus vous me noircissez et plus je parois coupable et il est bon pour ma gloire que vous ne paroissiez pas si innocent je suis assez criminel reprit modestement cyrus d'avoir eu le malheur de vous deplaire et d'estre la cause innocente de la rebellion de vos subjets j'ose toutefois vous supplier adjousta cyrus d'une facon fort respectueuse de me vouloir charger seul de leur crime et de les vouloir tous punir en ma personne non luy repliqua le roy avec beaucoup de bonte la veue de cyrus ayant renouvelle dans mon coeur toute la tendresse qu'il avoit eue pour luy je ne feray pas ce que vous dittes au contraire je les recompenseray tous en vostre personne de m'avoir empesche de commettre une effroyable injustice et de priver toute l'asie de sa plus grande gloire et de son principal ornement cependant adjousta le roy pour remettre le peuple et les soldats dans leur devoir allez reprendre vostre charge commandez leur de s'en retourner au camp et preparez les et preparez vous aussi vous mesme a aller dans peu de jours en armenie pour y delivrer mandane de sa captivite ha seigneur repliqua cyrus 
 je n'en demande pas tant il suffit que j'obeisse sans commander et que vous m'accordiez seulement la liberte de combattre au premier rang a la premiere bataille que vous donnerez il n'y auroit personne respondit le roy de phrigie qui osast estre vostre general et il n'y a personne qui ne tienne a gloire que vous soyez le sien les dieux interrompit thiamis estant les autheurs de tous les biens qui nous arrivent il seroit ce me semble a propos de les remercier demain par un sacrifice solemnel vous avez raison mon pere luy dit le roy c'est pourquoy il faut que cyrus face sortir les troupes de sinope afin que nous puissions offrir ce sacrifice avec plus de tranquillite
 
 
 
 
cyrus obeissant donc a ciaxare apres luy avoir encore fait cent protestations d'une fidelite inviolable sortit en effet pour aller donner ordre a toutes choses le roy de phrigie et ariobante demeurerent aupres de ciaxare pour luy tenir tousjours l'esprit en l'assiette ou il l'avoit martesie demanda permission au roy de s'en retourner chez artucas aussi tost que les troupes se seroient retirees ce qu'il luy accorda jugeant qu'elle seroit mieux dans cette maison que dans un lieu ou il avoit point d'autres femmes cependant thiamis ayant accompagne cyrus jusques a la porte du chasteau ou il le quitta apres l'avoir embrasse pour aller donner ordre au sacrifice les soldats ne le virent pas plus tost qu'ils recommencerent leurs cris et donnerent cent marques de joye ne doutant plus 
 du tout que sa paix fust veritablement faite neantmoins il en usa avec une moderation extreme et quand on luy auroit fait grace et qu'on ne luy eust pas seulement rendu justice il n'eust pu faire que ce qu'il faisoit car parlant a tous ceux qui s'aprochoient de luy le roy vous a pardonne leur disoit il c'est pourquoy louez sa bonte et resolvez vous a vous en rendre dignes par quelque belle action a la guerre d'armenie ou il nous menera bien tost cependant le roy d'hircanie et tous ces autres princes qui estoient demeures dans la ville le saluerent et luy tesmoignerent leur joye en suitte de quoy ayant assemble tous les chefs il leur commanda de remener l'armee au camp a l'heure mesme et de ne laisser plus dans la ville que ce qui avoit accoustume d'y estre un moment apres le roy luy envoya ordre de changer les gardes du chasteau car pour ceux des portes de sinope ils avoient tous peri quand la ville avoit este emportee de sorte que remettant andramias en sa charge l'on osta les soldats que metrobate avoit mis dans le chasteau dont le nombre n'estoit plus gueres grand a cause qu'il s'en estoit sauve une partie aveque luy cyrus ordonna aussi qu'on le cherchast avec soin maison le fit inutilement ce prince fut en personne a la principale porte de la ville voir filer toute l'armee afin qu'en voyant toutes les troupes les unes apres les autres il peust mieux leur recommander leur devoir or comme il estoit 
 aime craint et revere de tous les soldats ils luy obeirent sans murmurer et s'en retournerent aussi glorieux que s'ils eussent gagne une bataille et aussi contens que s'ils eussent este chargez de butin en trois heures la ville fut tranquile et toute l'armee en fut dehors a la reserve des troupes necessaires pour la garde des portes et pour celle du chasteau ou il s'en retourna rendre conte a ciaxare de ce qu'il avoit fait dans la ville le roy d'hircanie et tous ceux qui n'avoient pas encore veu ce prince depuis ce qui s'estoit passe luy furent presentez par ariobante et la nuit ayant enfin congedie tout le monde cyrus par les ordres de ciaxare fut remis en son ancien apartement ou il ne fut pas si tost qu'il y eut presse a luy aller tesmoigner la joye que chacun avoit de le revoir en liberte mais apres que tous ces complimens furent receus et rendus et qu'il n'y eut plus que chrisante et feraulas aupres de luy il les embrassa tous deux avec une tendresse extreme et bien mes chers amis leur dit il avons nous fait une veritable paix avec la fortune ou le calme dont nous commencons de jouir ne sera t'il qu'une treve pour nous donner loisir de nous preparer a de nouveaux malheurs les dieux reprit chrisante ont esprouve vostre vertu par tant de differentes voyes qu'il seroit difficile de prevoir ce qui vous doit arriver mais enfin seigneur interrompit feraulas vous estes libre vous estes connu pour estre cyrus ciaxare le scait il n'ignore pas 
 vostre passion pour la princesse et la princesse ne vous hait point il est vray reprit cyrus en soupirant mais la princesse est en armenie et en la puissance d'un rival ouy seigneur reprit feraulas mais c'est un rival a qui la fortune a este si contraire en ambition qu'il n'est pas croyable qu'elle le favorise en amour ce fut avec de semblables discours que chrisante et feraulas entretindrent leur cher maistre jusques a ce qu'il se mist au lict mais il n'y fut pas si tost que tous les prodigieux changemens de sa fortune luy revinrent dans la memoire et que l'image de mandane luy aparoissant l'entretint jusques a plus de la moitie de la nuit car alors le sommeil luy ferma les yeux malgre luy et luy laissa pourtant le plaisir d'avoir l'imagination toute remplie de sa princesse le lendemain au matin ciaxare luy renvoya sa cassette dans laquelle il remit fort soigneusement cette magnifique escharpe de mandane qu'il avoit eue de mazare et qu'il avoit emportee lors qu'il estoit sorti de sa prison mais il n'y trouva plus le portrait de la princesse parce que le roy l'avoit renvoye a martesie qui estoit retournee chez artucas comme je l'ay desja dit il n'osa pourtant en murmurer qu'en secret et sur trouver ce prince qui se preparoit a aller au temple de mars ou le sage thiamis l'attendoit mais afin de faire voir au peuple que cyrus estoit veritablement bien aveque luy il traversa toute la ville en luy parlant tout le monde luy donnant des marques 
 visibles de la joye qu'il avoit de revoir en liberte le plus illustre de tous les hommes tous les rois et tous les princes qui estoient en cette cour ne manquerent pas de se trouver a cette ceremonie et il y avoit une presse si grande depuis la ville jusques au temple de mars qui est assez pres de la mer qu'il ne demeura presque a sinope que ceux qui en gardoient les portes comme le roy eut mis pied a terre a huit ou dix pas du temple car il y estoit alle a cheval cyrus qui estoit aupres de uy vit quatre ou cinq hommes qui luy estoient inconnus et qui aportoient soin a s'en aprocher quoy qu'il n'eust aucun sujet de rien soubconner ny de rien craindre neantmoins inspire par le ciel il attacha fortuitement ses regards sur un de ces hommes de qui la physionomie avoit quelque chose de mauvais mais a peine avoit il fait quelque legere reflexion sur ces gens la qu'il en vit deux tirer des poignards dont l'un voulut en donner un coup a ciaxare et l'autre s'avanca vers luy pour luy en donner autant le genereux cyrus sans perdre temps se mit entre le roy et celuy qui le vouloir fraper et se contenta de parer de la main gauche le coup qu'on luy vouloit porter a luy mesme pendant que de la droite il arracha le poignard des mains de celuy qui en avoit voulu tuer ciaxare et luy en donna un coup dans le corps qui le fit tomber mort a ses pieds au mesme instant huit ou dix autres qui soustenoient les deux qui s'estoient chargez de tuer le roy et cyrus voyant que leurs compagnons avoient 
 manque d'executer leur dessein voulurent dans la surprise ou tout le monde fut en cette rencontre faire ce qu'ils n'avoient pas fait mais cyrus au milieu de ce grand nombre de gens qui mirent l'espee a la main demesla si bien les conspirateurs et les attaqua si furieusement qu'ils perirent presque tous de sa main car apres avoir mis en un moment le roy dans le temple entre les mains du roy de phrigie et de beaucoup d'autres il les poursuivit vers le bord de la mer ou ils s'enfuyoient et ou une barque de pescheurs les attendoit afin qu'ils s'en peussent servir pour se sauver encore qu'il y eust un monde estrange a l'entour de ciaxare toutefois comme la chose avoit fort surpris et que peu de personnes avoient veu la premiere action il falut assez de temps auparavant que l'on sceust ce que c'estoit de sorte que sans cyrus le roy eust infailliblement este tue et peut-estre mesme que ces assassins se fussent sauvez mais cyrus aide principalement de feraulas et d'araspe les poursuivit les tua et en prit un apres l'avoir blesse qui plustost que de se laisser prendre s'alloit jetter dans la mer lors que cyrus l'ayant joint et l'ayant pris par les cheveux non non dit il traistre il faut scavoir qui vous estes et par quel mouvement vous agissez a peine l'eut il arreste que malgre le deguisement de son habit et de son taint et malgre tout le sang dont il estoit couvert il le reconnut pour le mechant metrobate qui fit encore 
 tout ce qu'il luy fut possible ou pour s'echaper ou pour se tuer ou pour se jetter dans la mer mais plusieurs des gardes du roy estant arrivez cyrus le remit entre leurs mains et s'en faisant suivre il fut retrouver ciaxare qui estoit entre chez thiamis de qui la maison touchoit le temple aussi tost que cyrus parut ce prince l'embrassa estroitement et luy devant encore une fois la vie il luy donna cent marques de reconnoissance et cent temoignages de repentir de ce qu'il avoit fait contre luy seigneur luy dit il en faisant aprocher ce perfide qu'il avoit pris je rends graces aux dieux de ce qu'ils vous feront voir la difference qu'il y a de metrobate a moy a peine le roy eut il entendu ce nom et jette les yeux sur cet homme qu'il le reconnut ha mechant luy dit il est-ce toy qui as ose attenter a ma vie et a celle de cyrus car le roy avoit veu toutes les deux actions de ceux qui les avoient voulu tuer c'est moy respondit ce perfide fout furieux qui las de faire des crimes inutilement m'estois determine d'en faire deux qui me fussent utiles a quelque chose et de qui lasche reprit le roy attendois tu recompence d'une pareille action de tant de rois et de tant de princes repliqua-t'il qu'artamene par sa bonne fortune vous a assujettis et qui par ce que j'eusse fait n'eussent plus este tributaires le roy de phrigie prenant lors la parole aussi bien que celuy d'hircanie dirent qu'il faloit l'obliger a parler plus precisement de cette mechante 
 action mais luy sans s'en faire presser davantage et jugeant bien qu'il n'y avoit point d'esperance de vie pour luy quand mesme il pourroit echaper de ses blessures dit qu'il ne faloit point chercher d'autre autheur de la conspiration que luy et que pour ses complices ils estoient tous morts que se voyant perdu lors qu'il avoit apris que cyrus estoit sorti de sa prison il en estoit sorti aussi que comme il n'avoit jamais agi que par ambition il avoit bien juge que sa fortune estoit ruinee puis que cyrus estoit libre et qu'il avoit pense ne pouvoir manquer d'obtenir une grande recompence du roy d'assirie s'il luy ostoit tout a la fois celuy qui possedoit son estat celuy qui l'avoit conquis et celuy qui pouvoit luy disputer la princesse mandane metrobate dit cela avec une ingenuite si insolente que l'on ne douta point que la chose ne fust comme il la disoit car pour ceux qui l'avoient assiste ils furent reconnus pour estre les mesmes soldats qui estoient sortis du chasteau aveque luy et qu'il avoit fait venir de pterie le roy ne pouvant dont plus souffrir la veue d'un si mechant homme qui avoit pense estre cause de la mort injuste de cyrus et qui en suitte venoit d'attenter a leur vie il commanda qu'on allast le mettre en prison jusques a ce que l'on eust resolu de quel suplice on puniroit tous ses crimes mais on ne fut pas en cette peine car ayant este assez long temps sans estre pense il mourut entre les mains du chirurgien qui ne vouloit prolonger sa vie par 
 ses remedes que pour luy faire souffrir une mort plus cruelle cependant le sacrifice fut veritablement un sacrifice d'action de graces et ciaxare se sentit si puissamment inspire par les dieux a renouveller sa tendresse pour cyrus et a l'augmenter s'il estoit possible que son esprit se trouva tout a fait tranquile le sage thiamis qui depuis le premier jour qu'il avoit veu cyrus sous le nom d'artamene l'avoit tousjours cherement aime fit encore un discours au roy extremement fort et extremement beau pour le confirmer d'autant plus dans les bons sentimens ou il le voyoit il faudroit bien luy disoit ciaxare que j'eusse absolument perdu la raison si j'estois capable d'ingratitude pour un homme qui me sauve la vie en hazardant la sienne apres que je l'ay voulu faire mourir car sage thiamis luy disoit il ce genereux prince c'est contente de parer de la main gauche le coup qu'on luy portoit et s'est expose a recevoir celuy qui me devoit traverser le coeur en me couvrant de son corps non non adjousta t'il ne craignez plus ri de moy de ce coste la je conserveray cyrus toute ma vie comme mon protecteur et comme un prince enfin que les dieux ont envoye pour ma gloire et pour ma felicite ce fut en de pareils sentimens que le roy se retira voulant tousjours que le roy se retira voulant tousjours que cyrus fust aupres de luy cette action ayant este sceue non seulement de tout ce qu'il y avoit de monde a sinope mais de tout le camp ce furent des 
 redoublemens d'acclamations estranges et jamais artamene n'avoit este si cherement aime de ciaxare que cyrus l'estoit alors de sorte qu'en moins de trois jours la joye fut remise et dans l'ame du roy et dans celle de toute la cour ciaxare voulut mesme envoyer en perte vers le roy son beau frere et vers la reine sa soeur afin de leur aprendre la vie de cyrus il se souvint lors qu'a la naissance de mandane comme la reine de perte avoit envoye s'en resjouir aveque luy il luy avoit mande par galanterie qu'il souhaittoit que sa fille peust un jour se rendre digne d'estre maistresse de cyrus si bien qu'il chargea madate qu'il y envoya d'en faire un second compliment a la reine sa soeur cyrus de son coste demanda au roy la permission d'y envoyer aussi un des siens et chosit artabase pour cela que chrisante chargea d'une lettre ou pour mieux dire d'un recit qui contenoit une partie des merveilles de la vie de son cher maistre afin de rendre par la son silence excusable taschant de luy faire comprendre que rien ne pouvoit resister a la fatalite et qu'il n'avoit fait que ce qu'il n'avoit pu s'empescher de faire apres cela le roy n'avoit plus rien dans l'esprit que l'absence de la princesse mais comme il attedoit toutes choses de la valeur de cyrus cette inquietude estoit moderee par l'esperance et son ame estoit assez tranquile cependant comme il faloit sans doute encore quelque temps auparavant que de pouvoir marcher vers 
 l'armenie et que cyrus eust bien voulu scavoir un peu plus precisement en quel lieu estoit la princesse il proposa au roy d'envoyer araspe desguise pour tascher de descouvrir ou estoient ces femmes dont on avoit parle a megabise lors qu'il avoit este en ce pais la car comme araspe scavoit admirablement bien la langue armenienne il estoit plus propre qu'un autre a un semblable employ ciaxare ayant approuve l'advis de cyrus il envoya donc araspe en armenie avec ordre de venir retrouver le roy sur la frontiere ou sans doute il seroit bientost mais en le congediant que ne luy dit il point afin de l'obliger d'employer tous ses soings et toute son adresse pour descouvrir en quel lieu estoit mandane il ne luy donnoit pas seulement des instructions necessaires mais cent conseils inutiles et quand araspe eust eu l'esprit aussi stupide qu'il l'avoit adroit et penetrant cyrus n'eust pu luy prescrire un ordre plus exact de tout ce qu'il avoit a faire tant il est vray que ceux qui aiment fortement sont preoccupez et craignent tousjours que l'on ne s'avise pas de faire tout ce qu'il faut pour contenter leur passion aussi araspe qui estoit accoustume de vivre avec beaucoup de liberte aupres de cyrus ne put s'empescher de luy dire en souriant que si megabise eust este aussi bien instruit que luy par ciaxare lors qu'il partit pour aller en armenie il auroit apparemment raporte plus de certitude qu'il n'avoit fait du lieu ou estoit la princesse je vous entens bien 
 luy repliqua cyrus en l'embrassant et en souriant a son tour je vous en dis trop araspe je l'avoue si je considere vostre esprit mais je vous en dis trop peu si je veux vous faire comprendre combien ce voyage m'importe si vous aviez aime quelque chose poursuivit il vous m'excuseriez sans doute mais vous estes un insensible qui serez peut-estre puni un jour par quelque belle personne de la raillerie que vous faites de vos amis apres cela cyrus l'embrassa encore une fois et ne pouvant pourtant se corriger de l'erreur qu'il connoissoit bien luy mesme il r'appella deux fois araspe pour luy redire une partie de ce qu'il luy avoit desja dit aussi tost que ce fidelle espion fut parti scachant que le roy estoit occupe avec le roy de phrigie il fut chercher a s'entretenir de sa chere princesse avec martesie a laquelle seule il en vouloir parler d'abord qu'elle le vit dans sa chambre elle voulut luy rendre grace de l'honneur qu'il luy faisoit mais cyrus ne voulant pas souffrir qu'elle continuast a le remercier non non luy dit il aimable martesie vous n'avez pas sujet aujourd'huy de me faire un compliment la visite que je vous fais est trop interessee pour m'en rendre grace et je trouve tant de plaisir a vostre conversation que vous ne me devez pas estre fort obligee des visites que je vous rends seigneur luy dit elle en abaissant la voix quoy qu'il n'y eust que la fille d'artucas dans sa chambre qui s'estoit avancee vers feraulas aussi tost que cyrus estoit entre 
 je scay bien la part que je dois prendre a un discours si obligeant et pour vous tesmoigner que je l'entens comme je dois il faut seigneur il faut ne vous priver pas plus long temps du plaisir que vous prenez a entendre parler de la princesse et vous demander enfin si vous ne croyez pas qu'elle auroit eu bien de la douleur de vostre prison et bien de la joye de vostre liberte si elle eust este icy je n'oserois martesie reprit ce prince amoureux en soupirant et en changeant de couleur je n'oserois le croire de peur de me tromper et si vous n'avez la bonte de dissiper ma crainte et de fortifier la foiblesse de mon esperance je ne scay ce que je penseray ny ce que je croiray martesie luy ayant alors presente un siege avec beaucoup de respect en ayant aussi pris un et la fille d'artucas nommee erenice s'estant appuyee contre une fenestre pour parler a feraulas seigneur luy dit elle je ne pensois pas que connoissant comme vous faites la grandeur de l'esprit de la princesse et devant connoistre aussi celle de vostre merite et des obligations qu'elle vous a vous pussiez douter que vostre prison ne l'eust affligee et que vostre liberte ne l'eust resjouie comment voulez vous reprit cyrus que je me fie a rien apres l'inhumanite que vous avez eue de ne vouloir simplement que me prester le portrait de mandane n'ay-je pas lieu de croire cruelle fille que vous estes que vous n'avez agi ainsi que par la connoissance parfaite que vous avez des sentimens de nostre incomparable maistresse 
 car si vous ne scaviez pas qu'elle n'a pour moy qu'une simple estime accompagnee au plus de quelque legere tendresse eussiez vous pu me voir prisonnier malheureux absent de ce que j'adore et prive de toute consolation sans me faire un present d'une chose qui pouvoit charmer tous mes ennuis et suspendre toutes mes douleurs advouez la verite martesie vostre cruaute pour moy en cette rencontre n'est elle pas un effet des sentimens secrets que vous scavez qui sont dans le coeur de nostre divine princesse vous estes si ingenieux avons persecuter reprit martesie que je ne scay si je dois et si je pourray destruire la tromperie que vous vous faites a vous mesme toutefois seigneur comme je suis sincere je vous diray ingenument que la cruaute dont vous vous plaignez est toute a moy et que la princesse n'y a point de part ce n'est pas et vous le scavez sans doute que je croye qu'elle eust trouve bon que je vous eusse donne un portrait qu'elle m'a fait l'honneur de me donner mais apres tout ce n'est point par un sentiment qui vous soit desavantageux qu'elle vous est un peu severe elle aimoit la vertu et la gloire avant que de vous connoistre et vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si elle les aime encore apres vous avoir connu mais martesie repliqua cyrus quand vous m'auriez donne le portrait de mandane en seroit elle moins vertueuse non seigneur reprit elle mais je n'en serois pas plus raisonnable quoy adjousta t'il martesie sera 
 plus inhumaine pour moy que la fortune ne l'est pour un roy a qui elle oste des royaumes puis qu'en fin elle luy donne la veue de la princesse qu'il aime et la met mesme en sa puissance quoy cruelle personne poursuivit il vous pouvez scavoir que le roy de pont voit a tous les momens l'incomparable mandane et vous pouvez refuser a cyrus la veue de sa peinture seulement encore une fois martesie vous avez descouvert dans le coeur de nostre princesse quelque secret mouvement qui m'est desavantageux seigneur luy respondit elle en souriant vous aviez raison de me dire que je ne devois pas vous rendre grace de l'honneur que vous me faisiez de me venir voir puis que vous aviez dessein de me quereller vous pouvez faire la paix quand il vous plaira luy dit il en l'interrompant et afin de ne faire que ce que vous avez desja fait prestez moy du moins le portrait de mandane jusques au jour que je l'auray delivree et que je pourray jouir de sa veue car j'ay sceu que le roy vous l'a fait rendre seigneur luy dit elle vous estes bien pressant mais ne songez vous point quel malheur ce portrait a pense causer mais ne songez vous point luy dit il quelle joye vous me donnerez je la comprens bien luy dit elle par celle que cette chere peinture me donne a moy mesme ha martesie s'ecria t'il que vous la comprenez imparfaitement si vous jugez de mes sentimens par les vostres quoy seigneur reprit elle pensez vous que je n'aime pas la princesse 
 autant que je suis capable d'aimer ouy martesie repliqua t'il je croy que vous avez pour elle toute l'amitie imaginable mais ma chere fille luy dit il encore en la regardant malicieusement quoy que je sois persuade que feraulas ait pour moy une affection sans pareille je connois pourtant qu'il scait aimer une personne que vous connoissez bien d'une maniere plus parfaite que celle dont il aime cyrus vous estes bien bon luy dit elle alors en rougissant de souffrir que feraulas aime quelqu'un plus que vous pour moy qui ne suis pas si indulgente je vous avoue que quelque respect que je vous porte j'ay quelque peine a souffrir que vous disiez que vous aimez mieux la princesse que je ne l'aime mais apres tout je voy bien qu'il faut faire la paix aveque vous et pour accommoder les choses dit elle en tirant ce portrait de sa poche je vous le preste jusques a ce que vous partiez pour aller en armenie cyrus ravi de joye et recevant cette peinture avec un respect aussi profond que si la princesse l'eust pu voir la baisa en la recevant et donna tant de marques de satisfaction a martesie qu'elle eut lieu de ne se repentir pas de la complaisance qu'elle avoit en suitte cyrus qui ne l'avoit point entretenue de puis son depart de themiscire luy demanda cent et cent choses differentes il voulut qu'elle luy racontast tout ce qu'il avoit deja sceu c'est a dire enlevement de la princesse par philidaspe de quelle facon elle avoit este conduite a opis comment elle estoit entree a 
 babilone comment elle y avoit vescu de quelle sorte elle y traittoit le roy d'assirie comment elle vivoit avec mazare comment elle estoit sortie de babilone pour venir a sinope comment mazare l'en avoit fait sortir feignant de la vouloir mettre en liberte et comment enfin elle estoit tombee entre les mains du roy de pont apres qu'il avoit perdu ses royaumes martesie satisfit pleinement sa curiosite mais elle ne voulut pas luy parler de l'oracle favorable qu'avoit receu a babilone le roy d'assirie de peur de l'affliger de nouveau par une chose si fascheuse de sorte qu'il y avoit des momens ou il estoit presque heureux car lors que martesie luy exageroit avec quelle fermete mandane avoit resiste a la passion de trois des plus grands princes du monde et les plus honnestes gens il en avoit une joye incomparable et cherchant mesme a l'augmenter et a se faire encore dire quelque chose qui luy fust avantageux mais apres disoit il a martesie en la regardant attentivement comme s'il eust voulu penetrer dans le fonds de son coeur pour y connoistre la verite de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir toute cette noble fierte avec laquelle l'illustre mandane a resiste a mes rivaux n'a sans doute este qu'un pur effet de sa vertu et le malheureux artamene et l'infortune cyrus n'y ont certainement rien contribue voulez vous seigneur reprit malicieusement martesie que j'aye cette complaisance la pour vous de ne vous contredire point je veux luy dit il scavoir la verite 
 toute pure pourveu qu'elle ne me desespere pas non seigneur repliqua t'elle non je ne vous desespereray point quand je vous diray sans le scavoir pourtant de la bouche de la princesse que je ne voy pas par quelle raison elle auroit si opiniastrement rejette l'affection du roy d'assirie qui ne choquoit point sa vertu si l'illustre artamene ne luy eust peut-estre dispute l'entree de son coeur mais luy disoit il alors tout comble de joye la princesse ne vous a pas dit ce que vous me dittes et ce n'est que sur de foibles conjectures que vous fondez vostre croyance et que vous flatez ma passion cependant martesie adjousta t'il je ne murmure point contre mandane j'ay plus de gloire que je n'en merite et quand je serois mal traitte et quand mesme je serois puni de ma temeraire hardiesse je ne m'en pleindrois sans doute pas c'estoit de cette sorte que cyrus s'entretenoit avec martesie toutes les fois qu'il le pouvoit n'ayant lors que trois choses a faire l'une d'aller au camp pour y donner ordre a tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour la guerre d'armenie l'autre de rendre a ciaxare tous les soings et toutes les soumissions imaginables et la derniere d'aller visiter martesie luy semblant que c'estoit en quelque facon voir sa princesse que de voir une fille qu'elle aimoit avec une tendresse extreme et qu'elle estimoit beaucoup en effet martesie estoit une personne excellente en toutes choses elle estoit de fort bonne condition sa beaute n'estoit pas simplement de celles 
 qui ont de l'esclat mais encore de celles qui ont de nouveaux charmes plus on les considere car comme elle avoit beaucoup d'esprit et de l'esprit agreable et solide tout ensemble plus on la voyoit plus on la trouvoit belle et plus on la trouvoit charmante aussi feraulas n'estoit il pas le seul qui la visitoit et durant le sejour que l'on fut contraint de faire a sinope toute la cour estoit chez elle tout ce qu'il y avoit de dames a la ville la voyoient aveque soin et tout ce qu'il y avoit de princes remarquant avec quelle civilite cyrus la traitoit la voyoient aussi avec beaucoup d'assiduite et beaucoup de plaisir estant certain que sa conversation estoit tres agreable non seulement elle avoit naturellement de l'esprit mais de l'esprit cultive entendant une partie des langues les plus celebres de l'europe et de l'asie entre tous ceux qui la voyoient thrasibule et tous ces illustres grecs qui estoient a l'armee c'est a dire thimocrate philocles et leontidas la visitoient tres souvent le prince artibie estoit aussi un de ceux qui la voyoient le plus de sorte que la compagnie estoit tres divertissante chez elle estant composee de personnes qui l'estoient infiniment un jour entre les autres que martesie et erenice sa parente estoient seules le prince artibie accompagne de thimocrate de philocles et de leontidas l'estant venue voir la conversation fut sans doute assez belle estant certain que les grecs de ce temps la pour l'ordinaire avoient une delicatesse 
 d'esprit qui n'estoit pas si comme aux autres nations artibie quoy qu'il ne fust que cilicien estoit un prince tres accomply et qui encore qu'il parust fort melancolique ne laissoit pas d'estre tres sociable thimocrate avoit aussi receu de la nature tous les avantages du corps qu'elle peut donner a une personne de son sexe mais il avoit de plus un esprit adroit et galant qui le rendoit tres agreable philocles n'estoit pas moins parfait en toutes choses et la complaisance de son humeur avoit je ne scay quoy de bien charmant leontidas estoit d'une taille avantageuse et belle tous les traits de son visage estoient nobles et il avoit dans la phisionomie je ne scay quelle melancolie fiere douce et chagrine tout ensemble qui ne deplaisoit pas et quoy qu'il eust quelque inegalite dans l'humeur et quelque bizarrerie dans ses sentimens il avoit pourtant tant d'esprit qu'il ne laissoit pas de plaire infiniment ces quatre personnes s'estant donc trouvees ensemble chez martesie comme l'amour de cyrus n'estoit plus un secret ce fut le sujet de la conversation et apres avoir repasse les plus considerables evenemens de cette amour au moins de ceux qui estoient venus a leur connoissance chacun le pleignit dans ses malheurs selon ses propres sentimens pour moy disoit thimocrate par ou je le trouve le plus a pleindre c'est d'avoir presque tousjours este absent de la personne aimee car tant qu'il a este en capadoce la guerre de bithinie l'a occupe et depuis son retour a themiscire 
 il n'a point veu la princesse qu'il aime ce luy est sans doute un grand malheur reprit philocles que d'estre absent mais puis qu'il peut esperer d'estre aime l'absence n'est pas pour luy sans consolation et il n'a pas esprouve ce que l'amour a de plus rigoureux s'il ne l'a pas esprouve interrompit le prince artibie ny par l'absence ny par la haine de la princesse qu'il aime il l'a sans doute bien senti lors qu'il l'a crue morte comme on me l'a raconte et quand je me l'imagine dans les frayeurs de trouver sa princesse reduitte en cendre par l'embrasement de sinope et que je le voy en suitte dans la cabane d'un pescheur aprendre de la bouche de mazare qu'elle avoit peri dans les flots que je le voy dis-je encore au bord de la mer chercher avec tant de soin le corps de sa chere princesse j'avoue que la compassion que j'ay du mal qu'il a souffert est extreme et je soutiens de plus que de quelques douceurs dont il puisse jouir un jour elles n'egalleront qu'a peine le tourment qu'il a endure il est certain dit leontidas qui n'avoit point encore parle que je concois aisement que l'absence est un grand mal que n'estre point aime est une chose facheuse et que la mort de la personne aimee donne sans doute une aigre douleur mais apres tout si l'illustre cyrus n'a point este fort jaloux comme je ne l'ay pas ouy dire il doit des sucrifices de graces a l'amour de luy avoir espargne un tourment qui surpasse de mille degrez tous les autres quoy leontidas reprit 
 martesie vous pouvez croire que la jalousie est un plus grand mal que la mort de la personne aimee ha leontidas s'ecria t'elle songez bien a ce que vous dites j'y songe bien aussi luy repliqua t'il et je parle d'une passion qui ne m'est pas inconnue pour moy interrompit erenice il me semble que la jalousie est un assez grand mal pour ne trouver pas estrange qu'il soit mis par leontidas entre les plus grands suplices de l'amour mais que thimocrate ait ose parler de l'absence comme de la plus rigoureuse chose du monde il me semble dis-je que l'on peut assurer suil a l'ame un peu delicate il faudroit l'avoir bi insensible reprit il pour ne trouver pas que l'absence comprend en soy tous les autres maux ce n'est qu'a celuy qui n'est point aime reprit philocles qu'il est permis s'il faut ainsi dire de ramasser tous les maux de l'amour en un seul et quiconque n'a point esprouve celuy la ne connoist point du tout quelle est la supreme infortune c'est un mal du moins adjousta thimocrate dont un homme genereux ne doit pas estre long temps tourmente puis qu'il n'est rien de plus juste ny de plus naturel que de cesser d'aimer ce qui ne nous aime point il l'est encore plus repliqua philocles a celuy qui pleure sa maistresse morte de se consoler s'il est sage par l'impossibilite qu'il y a de trouver du remede a son mal a celuy qui est absent de trouver de la douceur dans l'esperance du retour et a celuy qui est jaloux de chercher sa guerison par 
 la connoissance de la vertu de celle qu'il aime ou par celle de son propre merite ou par le depit vous connoissez mal la jalousie respondit fierement leontidas puis que vous croyez qu'elle soit capable de raisonner sagement elle qui pervertit la raison qui trouble les sens et qui renverse tout l'ordre de la nature les autres maux dont on a parle ont du moins cet avantage qu'on ne les voit qu'aussi grands qu'ils sont mais la jalousie est d'une nature si capricieuse si bizarre et si maligne qu'elle agrandit tous les objets comme ces faux miroirs qu'ont invente les mathematiques elle fait non seulement sentir les veritables maux mais elle en suppose elle en invente et en fait souffrir qui n'ont fondement aucun l'avoue dit alors martesie que leontidas nous depeint la jalousie d'une facon si ingenieuse que je ne doute point que s'il a aime cette passion ne l'ait beaucoup tourmente a n'en mentir pas repliqua t'il je parle par ma propre experience et c'est ce qui fait que je dois plustost estre creu lors que je soustiens que la jalousie est le plus effroyable supplice que l'on puisse endurer s'il ne faut qu'aporter une semblable authorite reprit thimocrate pour faire voir que l'absence comprend tres souvent tous les maux que l'amour peut faire souffrir je dois estre creu aussi bien que vous puis que la meilleure partie de ma vie s'est passee esloigne de ce que j'aimois je ne vous cederay pas non plus par cette raison reprit artibie puis que je n'ay que trop esprouve que 
 la mort de ce que l'on aime est la fin de tous les plaisirs et l'abrege de toutes les douleurs quoy qu'il n'y ait pas de vanite adjousta philocles a publier que l'on n'a pu estre aime je suis pourtant contraint d'avouer que c'est par ma propre experience que j'ay compris parfaitement que comme la plus grande felicite de l'amour est d'estre aime la plus grande infortune est de ne l'estre pas pour moy dit martesie je ne m'estonne plus que vous souteniez tous chacun vostre opinion si fortement car enfin il est difficile de ne sentir pas son propre mal plus que celuy d'autruy et de n'estre pas un peu preocupe en sa propre cause c'est pourquoy je ne vous crois pas bons juges d'une question si delicate quoy que vous ayez tous beaucoup d'esprit il faudroit donc que vous le voulussiez estre reprit thimocrate car sans doute vous avez toutes les qualitez necessaires pour cela c'est a dire beaucoup de lumiere et nul interest en toutes ces choses il est vray reprit elle mais je n'y ay aussi nulle experience neantmoins je vous avoue adjousta t'elle en les regardant tous que vous m'avez fait naistre une si grande curiosite de scavoir les advantures qui ont donne des sentimens si differents a des personnes qui ont tant d'egalite en tant d'autres choses que si j'osois j'accepterois l'offre que m'a fait thimocrate et je vous obligerois tous a me les vouloir raconter pour moy interrompit artibie qui ne cherche qu'a me pleindre et a estre pleint je suis tout prest de vous satisfaire en 
 peu de mots et de vous dire en suitte les raisons qui peuvent fortifier ma cause un amant absent reprit thimocrate en souriant qui est accoustume de graver ses malheurs sur les escorces des arbres et d'en parler mesme aux rochers plustost que de n'en parler pas n'a garde de vous refuser de vous conter ses deplaisirs et pour moy dit philocles qui n'ay jamais este escoute favorablement de la personne que j'aime je troueray sans doute quelque douceur a l'estre du moins d'une autre que j'estime infiniment il n'y a donc plus que le jaloux leontidas dit lors martesie en se tournant vers luy qui puisse s'opposer a ma curiosite non non madame luy dit il je ne feray point d'obstacle a vostre satisfaction car je ne suis pas aussi avare de mes paroles et de mes secrets que je suis jaloux de ma maistresse mais aimable martesie il faut qu'apres avoir escoute le recit de nos avantures et en suite nos raisons vous jugiez souverainement lequel est le plus malheureux ou de celuy qui est presque tousjours absent de ce qu'il aime ou de celuy qui n'est point aime ou de celuy qui a veu mourir la personne aimee ou de celuy qui est effroyablement jaloux afin que du moins le plus infortune puisse avoir la consolation d'estre pleint avec plus de tendresse que les autres et que vostre compassion soit le prix de la peine qu'il aura eue de vous dire ses malheurs et ses raisons au hasard de faire une injustice par ignorance respondit martesie l'accepte la glorieuse qualite de 
 vostre juge a condition qu'erenice ma chere parente me conseillera non luy respondit cette agreable fille je ne veux point partager cette qualite aveque vous et je veux me reserver la liberte de pleindre peut-estre le plus celuy que vous pleindrez le moins come ils en estoient la cyrus accompagne seulement d'aglatidas entra et comme il avoit entendu de l'anti-chambre qu'ils parloient tous avec assez de chaleur s'il y a dispute entre vous dit il s'adressant a martesie vous scavez bien que vostre parti sera toujours le mien vous me faites trop d'honneur luy respondit elle mais seigneur bien loin d'avoir querelle avec de si honnestes gens vous scaurez que je suis leur juge il est vray seigneur adjousta t'elle en riant que si je n'avois pas deshonore cette charge depuis quelques momens que je la possede je vous suplierois de la vouloir prendre et de vouloir vous donner la peine de juger un fameux different qui est entre le prince artibie thimocrate philocles et leontidas me preservent les dieux reprit cyrus d'avoir une pensee si injuste que celle de vous deposseder d'un employ si glorieux et je vous prendrois bien plustost pour mon juge si j'avois quelque chose a disputer comme eux que je ne ferois ce que vous voulez que je fasse en suitte de ce compliment comme il estoit le plus civil prince du monde et que de plus il avoit besoin de la valeur ne tous ces capitaines pour delivrer mandane il eut encore en cette rencontre un redoublement 
 de complaisance et de bonte pour gagner leurs coeurs luy semblant que plus il les flattoit plus ils combatroient courageusement pour sa princesse il s'informa donc avec adresse et avec beaucoup de douceur du sujet de la contention et martesie le luy ayant raconte en peu de mots juges luy dit elle seigneur si j'avois tort de croire que vous seriez meilleur juge que moy d'une semblable chose je serois trop preocupe reprit il en soupirant et vous agirez sans doute avec plus d'equite par vostre seule raison que je ne ferois avec toute mon experience en suitte de cela comme cette matiere touchoit en effet son inclination et ne regardoit que des choses qu'il avoit senties ou qu'il sentoit encore il ne fut pas marri d'employer une apresdisnee en un divertissement si proportionne a sa fortune n'ayant nulle autre chose necessaire a faire ce jour la car il avoit este au camp le matin et le roy faisoit quelques depesches pour ecbatane apres donc qu'il eut fait placer martesie au lieu ou elle devoit estre pour bien entendre celuy qui devoit parler qu'il se fut mis aupres d'elle et que tout le monde se fut assis par son ordre il voulut que thimocrate parlast le premier et qu'il adressast la parole a martesie comme a son juge quoy qu'elle s'y opposast de sorte qu'apres un silence de quelques momens pendant lequel cyrus demanda tout bas a martesie si elle ne plaignoit pas un peu un homme qui souffroit tous les maux des quatre amants malheureux qu'elle alloit 
 entendre thimocrate commenca de parler en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoires des amants infortunez
 
 
auparavant que de vous parler de mes malheurs en particulier je trouve qu'il est necessaire que je vous conjure de ne vous laisser point preocuper par la beaute des discours de ceux qui s'opposent a la qualite que je veux prendre du plus malheureux amant du monde car je voy fort bien qu'estans tous moins infortunez que moy ils auront plus de liberte d'esprit que je n'en ay a vous raconter leurs avantures celuy qui n'est point aime voudra vous faire voir que ce n'est pas qu'il ne soit fort aimable et n'oubliera rien pour vous le persuader indirectement celuy qui pleint la mort de sa maistresse voulant estre pleint se pleindra avec eloquence dans une saison ou le temps l'a desja sans doute un peu console et le jaloux leontidas ne manquera pas d'exagerer fortement ses souffrances imaginaires puis qu'il est possede par une passion qui est accoustumee de faire passer pour de grandes choses les plus petites que l'on puisse concevoir martesie voyant que thimocrate attendoit sa response l'assura qu'elle ne s'attacheroit pas tant aux paroles qu'aux avantures effectives et qu'aux raisons c'est pourquoy luy dit elle ne vous fiez pas trop vous mesme a vostre eloquence en 
 feignant de craindre celle d'autruy en suitte de cela martesie luy ayant ordonne de faire le recit de son amour et de ses malheurs il luy obeit et commenca de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
l'amant absent
 
 
premiere histoire
 
 
l'absence dont je me pleins et que je soutiens qui comprend tous les maux que l'amour peut causer est un suplice si grand a une personne qui connoist parfaitement de la delicatesse des sentimens de cette passion que je ne craindray point de dire que celuy qui peut estre absent de ce qu'il aime sans une extreme douleur ne recoit pas grand plaisir de la veue de la personne aimee et ne merite pas de porter la glorieuse qualite d'amant je dis la glorieuse qualite d'amant estant certain qu'il y a je ne scay quoy de beau a estre capable de cette noble foiblesse qui fait faire de si grandes choses aux illustres personnes qui s'en trouvent quelquesfois surprises mais entre tous ceux qui ont jamais ressenti cette espece de malheur dont je parle il est certain que je pense estre celuy de tous qui l'ay le plus rigoureusement esprouve puis qu'il semble que l'amour ne m'ait fait voir la merveilleuse personne que j'adore que pour m'en faire sentir l'absence avec toutes les cruelles suittes qu'elle peut avoir c'est pourquoy-je ne doute nullement que je n'obtienne a la fin de 
 mon recit la seule douceur que peuvent esperer ceux qui se pleignent qui est la compassion et que je n'obtienne encore la victoire en me voyant declare par mon equitable juge le plus malheureux de tous ceux qui me disputent cette funeste qualite comme je suis venu en asie en commandant des troupes du roy de chipre et envoye parle prince philoxipe il peut estre que vous n'aurez pas sceu que je ne suis pas nay en ce royaume la c'est pourquoy il faut que je vous die que delphes si fameuse par toute la terre pour le magnifique temple d'apollon et pour la saintete de ses oracles est le lieu de ma naissance je suis mesme oblige par la verite de vous aprendre que je suis d'une race assez illustre puis que je suis descendu de celuy que les dieux jugerent digne il y a desja plusieurs siecles de le conduire au pied du mont parnasse aupres de la fontaine castalie pour y recevoir le premier oracle qui y fut rendu et de qui la fille fut choisie en suitte pour estre la premiere pithie de toutes celles qui ont depuis annonce tant de veritez importantes aux particuliers aux villes aux provinces aux republiques et aux rois or depuis cela ceux de ma maison ont tousjours tenu un des premiers rangs dans leur pais et pour l'ordinaire le fameux conseil de la grece que nous appellons l'assemblee des amphictions ne s'est jamais gueres tenu qu'il n'y ait eu quelqu'un de ma race esleu pour cela estant donc d'une naissance assez considerable et estant fils 
 d'un homme de qui la vertu estoit encore au dessus de la condition je fus esleve avec assez de soin et quoy que l'on puisse dire que la ville de delphes est un abrege du monde a cause de ce grand nombre de nations differentes dont elle est continuellement remplie et qu'ainsi il semble qu'il ne soit pas necessaire a ses habitans de voyager pour s'instruire des coustumes estrangeres neantmons mon pere voulut que j'allasse faire mes estudes a athenes et que je demeurasse encore apres a corinthe jusques a ma vingtiesme annee ou j'apris en l'un et en l'autre de ces lieux celebres tout ce qu'un homme de ma condition estoit oblige de scavoir tant pour les exercices du corps que pour les choses necessaires a former l'esprit et a s'instruire a la connoissance de tous les beaux arts de sorte que lors que j'eus ordre de retourner a delphes l'on peut dire que je me trouvay estranger en mon propre pais estant certain que je n'y connoissois presque personne je scavois bien encore les noms de toutes les maisons de qualite de la ville je connoissois encore un peu les vieillars et les vieilles femmes mais pour les jeunes gens de ma volee et pour les belles personnes je ne les connoissois point du tout j'arrivay donc a delphes de cette sorte c'est a dire regrettant athenes et corinthe comme ma patrie ou j'avois toutefois vescu sans nul attachement particulier quoy qu'en l'un et en l'autre de ces lieux il y ait de fort belles dames 
 en entrant a delphes j'apris que mon pere avoit eu une affaire importante qui l'avoit oblige de partir pour s'en aller a anticire qui est une autre ville de la phocide et qu'il avoit ordonne en partant que je l'y allasse trouver aussi tost que je serois arrive le soir mesme je fus visite de diverses personnes mais entre les autres un de mes parens nomme melesandre toucha d'abord mon inclination et en effet c'est un garcon plein d'esprit et de bonte et de qui l'humeur agreable m'a este un puissant secours dans mes chagrins comme il me plut infiniment j'eus le bonheur de ne luy deplaire pas et nous liasmes en ce moment une amitie que la seule mort peut rompre apres les premieres civilitez je luy fis scavoir l'ordre que j'avois receu de ne tarder point a delphes et de m'en aller a anticire mais il me dit qu'il faloit du moins differer d'un jour ce depart et qu'il y avoit une trop belle ceremonie a voir le lendemain pour m'en aller sans l'avoir veue je m'informay alors de ce que c'estoit et il m'aprit qu'il y avoit a delphes des ambassadeurs de cresus roy de lydie qui venoient consulter l'oracle et qui aportoient des offrandes si magnifiques qu'il estoit aise de juger qu'elles venoient du plus riche roy de l'asie puis que ces offrandes doivent demeurer au temple luy dis-je je les verray a mon retour il est vray me repliqua t'il mais vous ne verrez pas en un seul jour toutes les belles personnes de la ville assemblees comme elles le seront demain au temple ny une 
 ceremonie aussi grande que celle la car on ne recoit pas les offrandes des particuliers comme celles des rois quant a la ceremonie luy dis-je en riant je pourrois peut-estre m'en consoler mais puis que vous m'assurez que je connoistray tout ce qu'il y a de beau a delphes en une seule occasion je suivray vostre conseil et je ne partiray qu'apres demain nous nous separasmes de cette sorte melesandre et moy et le jour suivant il me vint prendre de fort bon matin afin de me faire voir exactement toute la ceremonie comme si j'eusse este estranger et que nous pussions estre bien placez pour voir tout quelque indifference que je luy eusse tesmoigne avoir pour ces festes il est pourtant certain que je regarday d'abord avec plaisir tout ce que l'on fit en celle la et je fus comme les autres voir le thresor du temple que l'on montra aux ambassadeurs de cresus avant que d'y avoir place leurs offrandes j'y admiray comme eux un collier magnifique que l'on dit avoit este autrefois a la fameuse helene et un autre encore que l'on assure qui estoit a eriphile je vy ce superbe throsne d'or que l'ayeul du roy de phrigie a donne les six vases que giges y envoya du poids de trente talents diverses statues du mesme metal que divers princes y ont donnees des gerbes d'or que ceux de smirne et d'apollonie y ont offertes deux grandes cuves d'or massif d'un ouvrage merveilleux et capables de contenir cent muis d'eau dont on se sert a mettre celle que l'on consacre 
 a une feste que nous appellons theophanie je vis en suitte au milieu de tant de richesses que je ne m'arreste pas a decrire exactement et qui ont este donnees par toutes les republiques de la grece des obelisques d'un ouvrage miraculeux donnees par rhodope cette fameuse personne de laquelle le frere de la scavante sapho a este si amoureux et qui pour faire voir que c'estoit en egipte ou elle avoit passe la plus grande partie de sa vie avoit offert en metal et en petit ces piramides admirables dont on parle par toute la terre enfin apres avoir bien regarde toutes ces rares choses et mille autres dont je ne vous parle point chacun alla prendre sa place et la ceremonie du sacrifice commenca je pense qu'il est a propos que je ne m'arreste pas a vous la decrire tant parce qu'elle est fort longue que parce qu'elle est inutile a mon discours je vous diray donc seulement que l'on fait aller ceux qui doivent consulter l'oracle jusques au pied du parnasse qui est tout contre le temple que l'on les oblige a se purifier au bord de la celebre fontaine castalie que de la ils partent dans le temple des muses qui est basti tout contre ce ruisseau et qui touche celuy d'apollon et qu'en suite la pithie estant sous un dais et sur un throsne recoit les demandes de ceux qui viennent consulter le dieu apres quoy elle va se mettre sur le sacre trepie ou estant inspiree du dieu qui l'agite elle rend les oracles a ceux qui la consultent mais je vous diray apres cela que malgre 
 toute la magnificence des offrandes de cresus qui estoit tres grande car il y avoit une statue de femme de grandeur naturelle d'un or tres fin et d'un travail admirable il y avoit encore trente vases les plus beaux du monde et une lampe d'or cizele la plus riche que l'on se puisse imaginer mais malgre dis-je toutes ces precieuses choses depuis que la compagnie commenca de se former je ne les regarday plus avec tant d'attention et comme si j'eusse attendu quelqu'un par un pre-sentiment de mon malheur j'eus tousjours la teste tournee du coste de la porte du temple pour regarder toutes les dames qui entroient et pour demander leurs noms a melesandre neantmoins comme la presse estoit fort grande je ne pouvois pas les discerner toutes et il en passoit beaucoup que je n'avois pas loisir de considerer j'en vis donc entrer plusieurs extremement belles que je regarday pourtant d'un esprit tranquile et sans que mon coeur en fust esmeu mais comme la ceremonie fut achevee et que pour voir encore mieux toutes les dames melesandre et moy fusmes allez nous mettre assez pres de la porte a parler a deux ou trois de ses amis qui nous vinrent joindre je vy sortir d'entre des colomnes de marbre qui soutiennent la voute du temple une personne que ces colomnes m'avoient sans doute cachee tant que la ceremonie avoit dure mais une personne si admirablement belle que j'en fus esbloui tant elle avoit d'esclat dans les yeux et 
 dans le teint je ne la vy pas plus tost que cessant d'escouter ceux qui parloient je tiray melesandre par le bras et sans cesser de regarder ce merveilleux objet dont mes yeux estoient enchantez melesandre luy dis-je en la luy monstrant aprenez moy le nom de cette miraculeuse personne elle s'apelle telesile me repliqua t'il de qui le nom n'est pas moins celebre pas les charmes de son esprit et par la complaisance de son humeur que par les attraits de son visage au nom de telesile ceux avec qui nous estions interrompirent leur conversation et la regardant passer aupres de nous nous la saluasmes et la suivismes afin de la voir plus long temps comme elle connoissoit fort melesandre et qu'elle l'estimoit mesme beaucoup elle luy rendit son sulut avec un sousrire si agreable et avec un air si aimable et si obligeant que sa beaute en augmentant encore mon admiration s'en augmenta aussi et je sentis dans mon coeur je ne scay quelle joye inquiette et je ne scay quel tumulte interieur dans mon ame que je ne connoissois point du tout ne l'ayant jamais senti jusques alors et certes je suis oblige de dire pour excuser ma foiblesse en cette rencontre que peu de coeurs ont jamais este attaquez avec de plus belles ny de plus fortes armes que celles qui blesserent le mien telesile estoit dans sa dix-septiesme annee elle avoit la taille noble et bien faite le port agreable et quelque chose dans l'action de si libre do si naturel et qui sentoit si fort sa personne de 
 qualite qu'elle ne laissoit pas lieu de douter de sa condition des qu'on la voyoit elle avoit les cheveux du plus beau noir du monde et le teint d'une blancheur si vive et si surprenante que l'on ne pouvoit la voir sans avoir l'imagination toute remplie de neige et de cinabre de lis et de roses tant il est certain que la nature a mis sur son visage de belles et d'eclatantes couleurs de sorte que joignant a ce que je dis yeux doux et brilants tout ensemble une bouche admirable de belles dents et une fort belle gorge il n'y a pas lieu de s'estonner si mon coeur en fut surpris mais helas l'amour qui vouloit sans doute me faire connoistre par la naissance de ma passion quelle en seroit la suitte fit que je ne vy pas plustost telesile que je ne la vy plus car elle sortit du temple un moment apres et le jour suivant je partis de delphes de sorte que je ne fus pas plustost amoureux que je fus absent comme nous fusmes hors du temple et que nous l'eusmes perdue de veue ce qui arriva mesme dans un instant parce que sa maison estoit fort proche de la melesandre et moy estans allez disner ensemble et ses autres amis nous ayant laissez seuls a peine fusmes nous en liberte que le regardant attentivement melesandre luy dis-je si vous n'aimez point telesile il faut conclurre de la que vous avez aime ailleurs avant que de la connoistre ou que vous n'aimerez jamais rien car je ne pense pas qu'il soit possible qu'un coeur sans preocupation ou sans insensibilite puisse resister 
 a une beaute aussi merveilleuse que la sienne si thimocrate me respondit il en riant n'est point amoureux a athenes ou a corinthe je pense qu'il le sera bien tost a delphes s'il ne l'est desja et je loue les dieux adjousta t'il de ce que je ne seray point son rival s'il arrive qu'il aime telesile comme j'y voy quelque apparence je ne scay pas encore bien luy dis-je si je l'aimeray mais je scay bien que j'ay deja beaucoup d'admiration pour elle c'est une grande disposition a l'amour me repliqua t'il mais thimocrate adjousta cet officieux amy en prenant un visage plus serieux ne vous rendez pas sans combattre puis que telesile est une personne de qui la conqueste a plusieurs obstacles je la combatray luy dis-je en la fuyant car vous scavez que je parts demain mais luy dis-je encore quels sont les obstacles qui se trouvent a la conqueste de telesile et est il possible qu'une personne qui a tant de douceur dans les yeux ait plus de rigueur que les autres dames telesile me dit il a sans doute paru jusques icy fort indifferente a tous les services qu'on luy a rendus mais ce n'est pas par cette raison que je vous advertis qu'elle est difficile a conquerir car adjousta t'il flateusement le merite de thimocrate pourroit faire ce que celuy de tous les autres n'auroit point fait mais il y a quelque chose de plus capricieux a sa fortune vous scaurez donc poursuivit il voyant que je l'ecoutois attentivement sans l'interrompre que telesile qui est de fort bonne maison puis qu'elle 
 est fille de diophante dont vous connoissez le nom peut estre fort pauvre et peut estre aussi extraordinairement riche si vous ne m'expliquez m'ieux cet enigme luy dis-je je ne le comprendray pas vous le comprendrez aisement repliqua t'il quand je vous diray que diophante pere de telesile a presentement tres peu de bien parce qu'il se ruina a la guerre de la beoce et qu'ainsi thimocrate si telesile n'a que le bien de son pere elle sera pauvre quoy qu'elle soit fille unique estant certain qu'encore que cette maison subsiste avec quelque esclat c'est pourtant une maison ruinee je voy bien luy dis-je par quelle raison telesile n'est pas riche mais je ne voy pas si bien par ou elle la peut estre vous verrez encore mieux sa richesse que sa pauvrete me repliqua t'il quand je vous diray qu'elle a un oncle appelle crantor qui est desja assez vieux qui n'a jamais este marie qui est le plus riche homme non seulement de delphes mais de toute la phocide et de qui elle heritera s'il ne se marie point et qu'il ne donne pas son bien a un autre comme il le peut selon les loix de sorte que comme crantor est un capricieux avare qui ne veut ny donner ny assurer son bien a sa niece et qui tesmoigne pourtant par ses discours avoir assez d'amitie pour elle telesile demeure dans cette fascheuse incertitude de pouvoir estre la plus riche ou la plus pauvre fille de sa condition de sorte que cette incertitude fait que son pere ne songe point encore a 
 la marier et que cependant il ne rebute aussi personne ne scachant pas encore quel doit estre le destin de sa fille ce que je voy de mieux luy dis-je pour ceux qui en sont amoureux c'est que crantor ne luy scauroit oster sa beaute il est vray me dit il mais comme tous les amans ne sont pas desinteressez il y en a plusieurs qui en regardant les beaux yeux de telesile regardent aussi un peu outre cela les thresors de son oncle si bien que jamais personne n'a eu plus d'amants que cette fille en a car elle a non seulement tous ceux que sa beaute a charmez mais elle a encore tous les avares riches et tous les ambitieux pauvres qui sont a delphes les premiers sans se trop engager attendent ce que fera crantor et les autres taschent de l'espouser pauvre presentement dans l'esperance de l'avenir mais soit par l'indifference de telesile ou par la prudence de diophante tous ces amants esperent et n'avancent rien voila thimocrate quel est le destin de cette belle personne aupres de laquelle je ne vous conseillerois pas de vous engager legerement je remerciay melesandre de l'advis qu'il m'avoit donne et commencant de parler d'autre chose nous disnasmes et passasmes le reste du jour ensemble mais quoy que je pusse faire je ne pus m'oster de l'imagination la beaute que j'avois veue ny mesme m'empescher d'en parler quoy que l'en eusse le dessein quand nous rencontrions quelque homme de qualite dans les rues est ce un des amants avares de 
 telesile disois-je a melesandre et si je voyois quelque dame je ne pouvois non plus m'empescher de dire qu'elle n'estoit pas si belle que telesile enfin malgre moy et quelques fois mesme sans que je m'en aperceusse a ce que m'a depuis dit mon amy je la nommay plus de cent fois ce jour la cependant il falut partir le lendemain pour aller a anticire mais quoy que ce lieu soit en reputation de redonner la raison a ceux qui l'ont perdue il ne me redonna pas la mienne l'y fus pourtant dix ou douze jours avec mon pere car l'amour qui n'avoit pas encore assez fortement imprime dans mon coeur la beaute de telesile pour me faire beaucoup souffrir par cette absence ne voulut pas que je fusse plus long temps esloigne d'elle toutefois je puis dire que si je n'eus pas une grande douleur durant ce voyage l'eus du moins assez de joye de retourner a delphes quoy que je n'y eusse encore aucune habitude qu'avec melesandre mais a vous dire la verite mon coeur avoit desja plus d'intelligence que je ne croyois avec telesile et il fau certainement qu'il y ait quelque puissante simpathie qui nous force a aimer en un moment ce que nous devons aimer toute nostre vie je m'en aperceus bien entrant a delphes car ayant rencontre un charoit plein de dames qui s'en alloient a la campagne a ce qu'il paroissoit par leur equipage je portay curieusement les yeux dedans sans scavoir pourquoy dieux que devins-je et quel agreable trouble sentis-je en mon 
 coeur lors que je vy que telesile estoit a la portiere et mille fois plus belle encore a ce qu'il me sembla que le jour que je l'avois veue au temple le charoit alloit assez doucement a cause de quelque embarras qui estoit dans le chemin qui de luy mesme estoit fort estroit de sorte que j'eus le loisir de la considerer avec plus d'attention que je n'avois fait la promiere fois car comme elle ne faisoit que de sortir de la ville elle n'avoit pas encore abaisse son voile mais helas je me derobay moy mesme quelques momens de sa veue parce qu'apres l'avoir saluee avec un profond respect je la regarday avec tant d'attention et peut-estre encore avec un visage si interdit qu'elle en changea de couleur et en abaissa son voile comme si c'eust este seulement pour se garantir du soleil aussi tost que je fus dans la ville je m'en allay chez melesandre et bien luy dis-je apres les premiers complimens la fortune prend autant de soin de ma conservation que pour me preserver des redoutables attraits de telesile elle part de delphes quand j'y reviens vous estes si precisement informe de ce qu'elle fait me dit il en sous-riant que les plus anciens de ses amants ne le sont pas si bien que vous car elle s'en va a un perit voyage qui vient d'estre resolu d'improviste chez une de mes parentes avec qui j'estois et que personne ne scait encore tant y a luy dis-je je le scay pour l'avoir veue partir mais quoy que je ne pense pas encore estre amoureux d'elle poursuivis-je en riant a 
 mon tour quoy que je parlasse serieusement je ne laisse pas d'estre bien aise d'aprendre que son voyage ne sera pas long il ne sera que de quatre jours me dit il et durant ce temps la il faut que je vous fasse voir tout ce qu'il y de beau a delphes afin s'il est possible de vous faire trouver du contrepoison dans les yeux de quelqu'une de nos dames pour tascher de vous pre-cautionner contre ceux de telesile je ris d'abord de la plaisante invention de melesandre et en effet je consentis a ce qu'il voulut et il me mena pendant les quatre jours de l'absence de telesile chez tout ce qu'il y avoit de belles personnes a delphes mais a vous dire la verite son dessein ne reussit pas et il ne servit qu'a me faire scavoir un peu plustost que je n'eusse fait qu'il n'y avoit rien a delphes qui ne fust mille degrez au dessous de telesile cependant cette belle revint de la campagne et son retour ayant donne un nouveau sujet de la visiter a tous ses amis melesandre y fut et m'y mena malgre qu'il en eust je dis malgre qu'il en eust estant certain qu'il s'en fit presser plusieurs fois me disant tousjours qu'il ne vouloit rien contribuer a la perte de ma liberte mais enfin il ceda a mes prieres je fus presente par luy a la mere de telesile qui me receut fort civilement et je fus presente a telesile elle mesme en qui je trouvay mille et mille charmes que je ne m'estois pas imaginez quoy que je me fusse forme une idee de son esprit aussi accomplie que celle de sa beaute je la vy belle je la vy douce 
 et civile je la vy modeste et galante je luy trouvay l'esprit aise et agreable et entre cent mille perfections je n'aperceus pas un deffaut mais ce qui me plut encore extremement ce fut qu'entre tant d'amants qui l'environnoient je n'en remarquay point de favorise elle agissoit avec eux d'une certaine maniere en laquelle il paroissoit un si grand detachement qu'elle m'en engagea davantage et malgre sa douceur il y avoit je ne scay quel noble orgueil dans son ame qui faisoit qu'elle triomphoit de tous les coeurs sans en faire vanite et sans rien contribuer par ses soings aux conquestes qu'elle faisoit elle conquestoit pourtant tout ce qui la pouvoit voir comme l'amour avoit resolu ma perte il fit qu'elle dit ce jour la sans en avoir le dessein une chose qui me donna quelque espoir dans ma passion naissante car comme je voulois luy faire connoistre que j'avois eu intention de la visiter des le premier jour que j'avois este a delphes vous avez este long temps me dit elle a executer un dessein qui m'estoit si avantageux puis que si je ne me trompe vous estiez desja icy le jour que l'on offrit au temple les presens du roy de lydie du moins il me semble si ma memoire ne m'abuse que je vous vy avec melesandre que je vous regarday comme un estranger qui ne le paroissoit pas et qui meritoit que l'on eust la curiosite de scavoir son nom et en effet adjousta t'elle fort obligeamment je m'en informay a une de mes amies qui ne put me satisfaire un discours 
 qui n'estoit simplement que civil et presque pour entretenir la conversation avec une personne qu'elle ne connoissoit pas fit pourtant un si grand effet en moy que j'en tiray un heureux presage en suitte de cela je luy dis pour justification que j'avois este a ancire que je n'en estois revenu que le jour qu'elle partir de delphes et que je m'estois donne l'honneur de la saluer un peu au dela des portes de la ville il me sembla lors qu'elle s'en souvenoit et qu'elle faisoit seulement semblant de n'y avoir pas pris garde a cause qu'elle ne le pouvoit faire sans tesmoigner en mesme temps s'estre aperceue de l'attention avec laquelle je l'avois regardee et en effet elle a eu depuis la bonte de m'avouer que la chose estoit ainsi mais comme cet innocent mensonge la fit rougir j'en tiray encore un nouveau sujet d'esperer et je partis d'apres d'elle le plus amoureux de tous les hommes et le plus determine de m'attacher a son service je ne m'amusay point comme font beaucoup d'autres a vouloir combattre ma passion au contraire je cherchay dans mon esprit tout ce qui la pouvoit flater je m'imaginay que peut-estre estois-je ce bienheureux pour lequel son ame seroit sensible car disois-je puis que presques tout ce qu'il y a d'hommes a delphes l'ont aimee inutilement je dois estre plus en seurete que si elle n'avoit pas tant d'amants puis que c'est une marque infaillible que son coeur n'a pas trouve encore ce qu'il faut pour le toucher si je la regardois comme devant 
 estre riche je croyois que cela serviroit a mon dessein parce que mon pere ne s'y opposeroit pas et si je la considerois comme devant estre pauvre l'en estois encore bien aise parce que je jugeois que le sien ne me la refuseroit point enfin je trouvois facilite a toutes choses et je craignois mesme tellement que ma raison ne s'opposast a mon amour que je ne la consultay point du tour je voulus aussi faire un secret de ma passion a melesandre mais il n'y eut pas moyen le feu que les beaux yeux de telesile avoient allume dans mon coeur estoit trop bruslant et trop vif pour ne paroistre pas dans les miens et je donnay trop de marques de mon amour pour faire qu'il ne s'en aperceust pas il ne me proposoit aucun divertissement ou je temoignasse prendre plaisir la promenade ne servoit qu'a me faire resver la musique me faisoit joindre les soupirs a la resverie la conversation m'importunoit la veue des autres belles personnes de la ville m'estoit absolument indifferente et la seule veue de telesile estoit ce qui me pouvoit plaire bien est il vray qu'elle recompensoit avec usure la perte que je faisois de tous les autres plaisirs et j'estois si transporte de joye quand je la pouvois voir un moment que ce fut plustost par les marques de la satisfaction que j'avois a la regarder que melesandre connut parfaitement que j'estois amoureux que par mes resveries et par mes chagrins il falut donc le luy avouer et le prier en mesme temps de ne s'opposer point inutilement 
 a une chose qui n'avoit point de remede et de me vouloir servir dans mon dessein je luy dis cela d'une certaine facon qui luy fit bien connoistre que ses conseils ne serviroient de rien c'est pourquoy il me promit son assistance de bonne grace je retournay donc diverses fois chez telesile en qui je trouvay tousjours plus de charmes et plus de civilite la nouvelle conqueste qu'elle avoit faite de mon coeur fut bien tost sceue de toute la ville et mesme de mon pere et de celuy de telesile mais ny l'un ny l'autre n'en furent faschez car le mien dans la croyance qu'elle devoit estre fort riche estoit bien aise que je prisse un dessein qui pouvoit reparer dans sa maison les profusions de sa jeunesse estant certain que sa magnificence et sa liberalite luy ont oste beaucoup de bien et diophante aussi de son coste craignant que sa fille ne demeurast pauvre n'estoit pas marri qu'un homme comme moy en fust amoureux il agissoit pourtant d'une maniere si adroite qu'il ne paroissoit pas qu'il s'en aperceust et il connoissoit si parfaitement la vertu de sa fille qu'il ne craignoit pas qu'elle s'engageast trop en souffrant qu'elle fust aimee de gens mais entre tous ceux qui la servoient il y en avoit un tres riche et beaucoup plus riche que moy quoy qu'il ne fust pas d'une race si considerable qui estoit tres assidu aupres d'elle cet homme qui s'appelloit androclide avoit une soeur qui la voyoit aussi tres souvent et qui estant logee fort pres de crantor en estoit quelquesfois visitee 
 de sorte que je sceus qu'androclide avoit un fort grand advantage car sa soeur n'agissoit pas seulement a ce que l'on m'assuroit aupres de telesile mais encore aupres de son oncle ce qui estoit une chose bien considerable pour luy qui ne regardoit pas moins la richesse de crantor que la beaute de telesile pour moy qui n'estois touche que de ses propres richesses et qui preferois le plaisir de la voir a tous les thresors du monde je taschois seulement a toucher son coeur en luy faisant scavoir quel estoit le suplice du mien car enfin j'en vins en peu de jours aux termes de souffrir tout ce qu'un homme qui aime peut souffrir des que je ne la voyois plus bien loing d'esperer comme j'avois fait je desesperois de tout si je la regardois comme riche je croyois qu'androclide l'obtiendroit de diophante et de crantor a mon prejudice et si je la regardois comme ne l'estant pas je voyois mon pere traverser tous mes desseins mais ce qui affligeoit le plus estoit une chose qui m'avoit resjouy au commencement je veux dire l'indifference avec laquelle elle agissoit car la trouvant pour moy comme pour les autres cette indifference me sembloit aussi rigoureuse en ma personne qu'elle m'avoit semble douce en celle d'autruy toutesfois des que je la voyois tous mes chagrins se dissipoient en effet la veue de la personne aimee est un remede infaillible pour soulager toutes les douleurs et il y a je ne scay quel charme secret dans les yeux de ce que l'on aime 
 qui suspend les maux les plus sensibles aussi ne pouvois-je plus supporter les miens si je n'estois en sa presence et ma passion en vint au point que non seulement j'estois tres malheureux quand je n'estois pas aupres d'elle mais que mesme je n'estois pas tout a fait heureux quand je n'y estois pas seul ou que je n'y estois pas assez bien place ce n'estoit mesme plus assez pour dissiper tous mes ennuis et pour faire ma felicite entiere que de la regarder je voulois encore en estre regarde et ce n'estoit plus enfin que par certains instans bienheureux ou mes yeux rencontroient les siens que je sentois dans mon ame cette joye toute pure qui cause bien souvent par son exces un si agreable desordre dans le coeur de ceux qui scavent veritablement aimer je vescus durant quelque temps de cette sorte sans pouvoir trouver nulle occasion de descouvrir mon amour a telesile autrement que par mes soins mes respects et mes regards car outre que ce grand nombre d'amans qui l'environnoient continuellement m'en ostoit presques toutes les voyes je remarquois encore quoy que je la trouvasse tousjours tres civile qu'elle m'ostoit avec adresse les occasions de luy parler en particulier joint aussi que durant quelque temps la soeur d'androclide l'obsedoit de telle sorte que je ne pouvois jamais l'entretenir que de choses absolument indifferentes j'avois beau prier melesandre qui n'avoit point de passion de feindre d'aimer cette fille qui se nommoit atalie afin que 
 luy parlant plus souvent il l'occupait et me donnast le moyen d'entretenir telesile tout cela ne servoit qu'a faire recevoir cent fascheuses paroles a melesandre sans pouvoir me servir de rien mais pour commencer de me faire esprouver les maux de l'absence comme nous estions en la plus belle saison de l'annee et que diophante avoit une terre au pied du mont himette qui est le plus beau lieu de toute la phocide il y alloit tres souvent et cinq ou six petits voyages qu'il y fit presques sans sujet et sans raison avec toute sa famille me donnerent toute l'inquietude dont un coeur peut estre capable tous les momens me sembloient des jours toutes les heures des annees entieres et tous les jours des siecles mais des siecles fascheux et incommodes ou le chagrin estoit maistre absolu de mon esprit si je scavois que diophante eust mene compagnie aveque luy j'en estois inquiet parce que je craignois qu'il ne se trouvast quelqu'un qui parlast pour mes rivaux quand il n'y alloit personne la solitude de telesile me faisoit pitie et l'ennuy que je m'imaginois qu'elle avoit m'en donnoit beaucoup a moy mesme lors qu'atalie alloit avec elle j'en estois desespere quand elle demeuroit a delphes les conversations frequentes qu'elle y avoit avec crantor m'affligeoient aussi estrangement et je n'avois pas un instant de repos tant que telesile estoit absente delphes me paroissoit un desert toute la ville ce me sembloit changeoit de face par son depart et son 
 retour luy donnoit selon moy un nouveau lustre si je me promenois quelquefois pour fuir le monde c'estoit tousjours du coste ou elle estoit et je m'y engageay un jour de telle sorte en resvant que je fis plustost un voyage qu'une promenade enfin le soleil n'apporte pas un si grand changement en tout l'univers par son absence que celle des beaux yeux de telesile en apportoit dans mon coeur encore disois-je quelquesfois si elle scavoit seulement que je l'aime j'aurois du moins la satisfaction de penser qu'elle songeroit peut-estre a moy et que si j'estois absent de ses yeux je ne le serois pas de son ame mais helas poursuivois-je je suis assurement encore plus esloigne de sa pensee que de sa presence et le malheureux thimocrate n'occupe nulle place ny dans son coeur ny dans sa memoire eh que veux-je adjoustois-je souvent en moy mesme ne vois-je pas telesile en tous lieux elle est dans mon esprit elle est dans mon ame elle est dans mon imagination elle est dans ma memoire et elle m'occupe tout entier il est vray poursuivois-je que telesile est inseparable de thimocrate mais pour estre console pendant une si cruelle absence il faudroit que thimocrate je fust aussi de telesile et pour soulager mes douleurs il faudroit enfin qu'elle soufrist une partie de ce que je souffre et qu'elle peust juger du suplice que j'endure par celuy qu'elle endureroit mais seroit il equitable reprenois-je que la plus aimable et la plus parfaite personne de la terre eust pour 
 moy les mesmes sentimens que j'ay pour elle non non je suis injuste dans mes desirs et je veux sans doute des choses qui ne sont pas raisonnables je voudrois donc seulement adjoustois-je estre assure qu'elle ne se souvinst ou elle est de pas un de mes rivaux qu'androclide en particulier n'eust nulle place en sa memoire et que le malheureux thimocrate en eust un peu en son souvenir l'on me dira peut-estre qu'en me pleignant des malheurs de l'absence je confonds les choses puis qu'il est certain qu'il y a plusieurs sentimens jaloux qui se trouvent meslez parmy les miens mais il est pourtant vray que ces cruels sentimens n'ont jamais este dans mon coeur que pendant l'absence et a dire les choses comme elles sont je ne tiens pas qu'il soit possible d'estre absent de ce que l'on aime sans estre en quelque sorte jaloux et jaloux d'une maniere bien plus cruelle que ceux qui le sont par caprice ou par foiblesse a la veue de la personne qu'ils aiment car enfin je n'ay jamais pu en la presence de telesile avoir un sentiment de cette nature ma jalousie a tousjours este dissipee par ses regards comme une sombre vapeur l'est du soleil et son absence aussi n'a jamais manque de faire sentir a mon ame tous les maux que l'amour peut causer cependant il s'epandit sourdement un assez grand bruit dans toute la ville que crantor visitoit tres souvent atalie qu'elle agissoit puissamment pour son frere et qu'on croyoit que dans peu de jours androclide espouseroit 
 telesile ce bruit ne vint pourtant point jusques a moy car melesandre durant ce temps la estoit alle faire un voyage aux champs et l'absence m'a toujours este si fatable que celle de mon amy m'estoit souvent nuisile aussi bien que celle de ma maistresse mon pere qui sceut la chose qui ne vouloit pas que j'eusse la honte qu'androclide me fust prefere et qui scavoit bien que tant que je serois a delphes il seroit difficile que je cessasse d'aimer telesile ny que j'endurasse qu'androclide l'espousast sans m'y opposer par toutes les voyes qu'un homme de coeur amoureux peut imaginer et prendre s'avisa d'une chose qui me donna une douleur bien sensible quoy qu'en apparence elle me deust resjouir parce qu'elle m'estoit glorieuse nous estions alors justement au temps ou ce fameux conseil de la grece dont j'ay desja parle estoit assemble et quoy que mon pere n'en fust pas cette fois la il y avoit pourtant grand credit si bien que pour me faire esloigner d'un lieu ou il apprehendoit qu'il ne m'arrivast quelque malheur il fit en sorte que je fus choisi par les amphictions pour estre envoye a milet d'ou le prince thrasibule estoit party pour des raisons qui seroient trop longues a dire afin de raporter un recit veritable de ce qui s'estoit passe en cette fameuse ville qui estoit alors divisee en deux factions opposees car encore que les milesiens eussent envoye un depute a l'assemblee qui se tenoit dans le temple d'apollon comme les reconnoissant juges de leurs differens 
 bien que les grecs asiatiques n'eussent pas accoustume de les reconnoistre neantmoins comme il estoit du parti oppose au sage thales milesien les amphictions voulurent en estre informez par une autre voye et je fus nomme pour cela il est certain que jamais homme de mon age n'avoit eu un pareil honneur et qu'en toute autre saison j'en aurois eu beaucoup de joye car enfin estre choisi par les plus grands hommes de toute la grece pour agir dans une affaire d'aussi grande consequence que celle des milesiens estoit une chose capable de flater la vanite de tout autre que d'un homme amoureux comme je l'estois cette absence avoit donc tout ce qui la pouvoit rendre suportable la cause en estoit glorieuse vray-semblablement elle ne devoit pas estre fort longue mes rivaux mesmes en estoient faschez et elle pouvoit donner meilleure opinion de moy a telesile cependant je receus cet honneur avec une douleur estrange et des que je pensois qu'il faloit m'esloigner de ce que j'aimois tout sentiment d'ambition s'esloignoit de mon coeur et l'affliction s'en emparoit de telle sorte qu'il ne restoit nulle place pour nul autre sentiment la chose n'avoit pourtant point de remede je ne pouvois la refuser qu'en me deshonnorant et par consequent qu'en me destruisant dans l'esprit de telesile mon honneur et mon amour voulant donc que je l'acceptasse il falut se resoudre a obeir et mesme a partir trois jours apres je fis tout ce que je pus pour differer au 
 moins mon depart mais il n'y eut pas moyen de sorte qu'il ne me demeura rien a faire que de bien mesnager le peu de temps que je devois encore estre a delphes je laissay donc absolument le soin de ce qui regardoit les preparatifs de mon voyage a mes gens et je ne m'occupay qu'a chercher les voyes de pouvoir parler a telesile en particulier m'estant absolument determine apres une assez longue contestation en moy mesme de l'entretenir de ma passion si je le pouvois mais je fus si malheureux les deux premiers jours que non seulement je ne pus luy parler mais que mesme je ne la pus voir parce qu'elle se trouvoit un peu mal le dernier jour que je devois estre a delphes estant donc arrive j'eus une douleur que je ne scaurois exprimer quoy disois-je je partiray et je partiray peut-estre sans voir telesile et sans qu'elle scache que je parts d'aupres d'elle le plus amoureux de tous les hommes ha non non je ne m'y scaurois refondre et la mort a quelque chose de plus doux qu'un semblable depart je me levay ce jour la de tres grand matin quoy que je sceusse bien que quand je devrois voir telesile ce ne pourroit estre qu'apres midy mais c'est qu'en effet je n'estois pas maistre de mes actions ny de mes pensees je fus dire adieu a diverses personnes mais en quelque quartier de la ville qu'elles demeurassent je passois tousjours par celuy de telesile ou pour y aller ou pour en revenir et souvent mesme en allant et en revenant me semblant que ce m'estoit quelque 
 que espece de consolation de m'aprocher d'elle bien que je ne la deusse point voir je recevois les complimens que l'on me faisoit sur mon voyage avec une froideur qui surprenoit tous ceux qui la remarquoient et j'agissois enfin d'une si bisarre maniere que je m'estonne que quelqu'un ne fust advertir les amphictions qu'ils avoient grand tort d'avoir choisi un si mauvais agent pour une affaire de telle importance la chose n'arriva pourtant pas ainsi et l'apresdisnee estant venue je fus chez diophante le demander pour luy dire adieu il m'embrassa avec beaucoup de civilite mais comme je le trouvay a deux pas de sa porte nostre conversation ne fut pas longue et je luy demanday la permission d'aller prendre conge du reste de sa famille il me dit lors que taxile sa femme n'y estoit pas mais qu'encore que telesile fust seule et un peu malade il vouloit pourtant qu'elle me vist et en effet il ordonna a une de ses femmes de me conduire a son apartement diophante voulut me faire la ceremonie de m'y mener mais je m'y opposay comme un homme qui ne craignoit rien tant qu'un honneur si incommode que celuy la et je pense que s'il eust pris garde aux complimens que je luy faisois pour l'en empescher il eust aisement remarque que je me deffendois de sa civilite avec un empressement et un chagrin quy luy eussent pu faire deviner une partie des mes sentimens enfin il me quitta et je fus par sa permission dire adieu a telesile je la trouvay heureusement sans autre compagnie que 
 celle de deux filles qui la servoient comme son mal n'estoit pas grand elle gardoit la chambre sans garder le lict et un peu de langueur qu'elle avoit dans les yeux ne faisant a ce qu'il me sembloit que la rendre encore plus aimable je la trouvay si belle ce jour la que le deplaisir que j'avois de la quitter en augmenta encore de beaucoup quoy qu'elle eust este advertie que j'allois entrer dans sa chambre elle ne laissa pas de me tesmoigner d'en estre surprise thimocrate me dit elle d'ou vient que vous me visitez quand personne ne me voit c'est madame luy dis-je en la saluant et en m'approchant d'elle avec beaucoup de respect que ne devant bientost plus vous voir quand les autres vous verront diophante a trouve juste de m'accorder lu grace de pouvoir du moins vous dire adieu auparavant que je parte pour aller a milet comme je ne l'avois point veue depuis que j'avois este choisi pour cela elle me tesmoigna avoir beaucoup de joye de l'honneur que l'on me faisoit et m'ayant fait donner un siege elle m'exagera avec beaucoup de civilite la part qu'elle prenoit a une chose qui m'estoit glorieuse si l'adorable telesile m'eust fait voir autant de marques de joye dans ses yeux pour un bonheur qui me fust arrive sans m'esloigner d'elle j'en aurois receu un plaisir extreme et je me serois estime tres heureux mais ma capricieuse passion m'ayant fait trouver quelque chose de cruel a voir qu'elle se resjouissoit de ce qui m'alloit priver de sa presence je respondis 
 a son compliment en soupirant madame luy dis-je vous estes bien bonne de prendre part a une chose qui m'est en quelque facon avantageuse mais je ne scay si vous en prendriez autant en mes malheur que vous tesmoignez en prendre en mon bonheur vous me croyez bien peu genereuse me repliqua t'elle en souriant de penser que je ne m'interesse pour mes amis que dans leur bonne fortune en verite thimocrate adjousta t'elle encore en raillant agreablement vous recevez si mal la part que je prens a vostre joye que je pense que s'il vous arrivoit quelque desplaisir je pourrois sans injustice ne m'en affliger point du tout et je suis presque en chagrin de ce que je ne voy pas qu'il y ait apparence que de long temps je me puisse vanger de vous cette sorte car vous allez en un lieu ou l'on vous recevra avec applaudissement et vous reviendrez apres icy charge de gloire pour vous estre sans doute aquite dignement de l'employ que l'on vous a donne mais puis que je ne pourray me vanger de vous en ne prenant point de part a vos malheurs parce que vous n'en avez point je le feray peut-estre en n'en prenant plus a vostre joye comme la vangeance est douce luy repliquay-je et qu'il me semble remarquer qu'en effet vous voudriez bien me punir je veux vous en donner une ample matiere et vous apprendre que je suis presentement le plus malheureux de tous les hommes le plus malheureux reprit elle malicieusement car elle commenca de s'apercevoir 
 du dessein que j'avois de luy parler de ma passion qu'elle avoit desja remarquee ha thimocrate si cela est ne me dites pas vostre infortune car je ne vous hai pas assez pour m'en resjouir et je ne me porte pas assez bien pour me pouvoir affliger sans hasarder ma sante qui a mon advis estant genereux comme vous estes ne vous doit pas estre indifferente je vous avois bien dit madame luy repliquay-je que vous ne voudriez prendre de part qu'a mon bonheur et que vous n'en voudriez point prendre a mes desplaisirs mais comme je n'ay garde d'avoir la vanite de croire que mes plus violentes douleurs vous en puissent seulement donner de mediocres je ne feray nulle difficulte de vous descouvrir une partie de mes malheurs vous estes bien plus vindicatif que moy reprit elle car je me suis repentie un instant apres du dessein que j'avois de me vanger et vous persistez en celuy de me punir d'une chose ou je n'ay pense qu'un moment je ne cherche pas a me vanger luy dis-je au contraire je cherche a vous donner sujet de vous vanger vous mesme non thimocrate me dit elle je ne veux point que vous commenciez a me faire confidence par une infortune qui vous soit arrivee ny que vous m'apreniez ce que je ne scay pas s'il ne vous est point avantageux vous scavez desja sans doute ce qui fait mon affliction luy dis-je et je vous l'ay dit depuis que je suis aupres de vous vous me l'avez dit reprit elle toute surprise je ne l'ay donc pas entendu pardonnez moy madame 
 luy repliquay-je car vous y avez fait responce je ne m'en souviens donc plus dit elle et il faut que ce ne soit pas un bien grand malheur puis qu'il n'a pas fait une plus forte impression dans ma memoire cela vient madame luy dis-je en l'interrompant de ce que mon depart vous est indifferent c'est ce qui n'a garde d'estre dit elle puis que je vous ay tesmoigne que je m'en resjouissois vous me feriez bien plus de grace de vous en affliger luy dis-je en changeant de couleur et il seroit mesme bien plus equitable que vous pleignissiez le mal que vous faites que de vous resjouir d'un bien apparent que vous ne faites pas ha thimocrate me dit elle je n'ay nulle part ny a vostre joye ny a vostre douleur et je commence de m'appercevoir que vous ne parlez pas serieusement madame luy dis-je tout interdit je ne pense pas que vous puissiez croire sans me faire un sensible outrage que je ne parle pas avec toute la sincerite possible lors que je vous assure que je parts d'aupres de vous avec une douleur de qui l'exces ne peut estre compare qu'a celuy de la passion qui la cause telesile demeura surprise de mon discours mais le voulant encore tourner en raillerie afin de ne me maltraiter pas thimocrate me dit elle en riant je voy bien que vous scavez que je suis presentement a la mode s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi et qu'il y a je ne scay quelle constellation capricieuse qui veut que tout ce qui se trouve de gens de vostre age et de vostre condition a delphes 
 facent semblant une fois en leur vie de ne me hair pas mais scachez je vous suplie que je n'ay jamais rien contribue a cela que je me connois trop bien pour croire de semblables choses facilement et qu'en vostre particulier je vous estime assez pour aporter tous mes soins a ne vous croire pas car thimocrate si je vous croyois je serois obligee d'eviter vostre conversation qui m'est agreable c'est pourquoy ne prenez pas s'il vous plaist la peine de continuer une feinte qui vous seroit nuisible si ma veue vous donne quelque satisfaction je ne continueray pas une feinte luy dis-je mais je continueray de vous dire une verite en vous assurant que j'ay plus d'amour dans l'ame que tout le reste de vos amants ensemble n'en ont comme mon pere reprit telesile en raillant tousjours ne vous a pas donne la permission de me voir pour me dire une pareille chose je pense que je puis sans incivilite vous prier de changer de discours ou de vous haster de me dire adieu c'est une trop cruelle parole luy repliquay-je en soupirant pour me haster de vous la dire et ce sera sans doute le plus tard que je pourray que vous me l'entendrez prononcer si toutes fois il est possible que je le puisse faire sans mourir comme elle m'alloit respondre et qu'elle prenoit un visage plus serieux qui me faisoit desja trembler de crainte atalie soeur d'androclide le plus redoutable de mes rivaux entra ma soeur luy dit elle car elles se nommoient ainsi je pensois estre presques seule 
 a qui vous accordassiez le privilege de vous voir pendant vostre mal et cependant je m'apercoy que thimocrate en jouit aussi bien que moy ne craignez vous point que j'en sois jalouse il y a cette difference entre vous deux luy respondit telesile que vous en jouissez par ma volonte et que thimocrate n'en jouit que par celle de mon pere si cela est reprit atalie je cesse de me pleindre je n'en fais pas de mesme luy repliquay-je tout chagrin et je ne fais au contraire que commencer de dire la peine que je sens en sortant de delphes vous y laissez donc quelque chose reprit atalie que vous preferez a la gloire que je prefere a tout luy repliquay-je il est bien difficile que vous ayez raison de le faire respondit telesile qui n'osoit presques plus me regarder puis qu'il n'est rien qui doive estre si cher comme nous en estions la deux de ses parentes vinrent encore et je fus oblige de m'en aller mais lors que telesile qui n'osoit pas me faire une incivilite devant ces dames me vint conduire jusques a la porte de sa chambre madame luy dis-je assez bas si je ne meurs point de douleur pendant mon voyage vous me verrez revenir avec la mesme passion pour vous que j'emporte dans mon coeur je prie les dieux thimocrate me dit elle en rougissant que vostre voyage soit heureux et poursuivit elle en abaissant la voix aussi bien que moy je souhaite encore que vous reveniez plus sage que vous ne le paroissez estre en partant afin que telesile vous 
 puisse donner toute sa vie des marques de l'estime qu'elle fait de vostre merite elle me die cela d'un air modeste qui sans estre ny serieux ny enjoue ne me laissoit pas lieu de bien raisonner sur ses sentimens joint que dans cet instant de separation je sentis un trouble si grand dans mon coeur que de plusieurs je ne fus en estat de penser a rien
 
 
 
 
mais en fin je partis le lendemain avec un desespoir que je ne scaurois exprimer car m'efluigoant a chaque moment tousjours davantage de telesile je sentois un mal que je ne scaurois faire comprendre a ceux qui ne l'ont point esprouve et certes il me fut advantageux que l'eusse mes instructions par escrit puis que sans doute je me fusse mal acquite de ma commission si l'on se fust confie a ma memoire la seule telesile l'occupoit j'avois laisse dans sa chambre une soeur d'androclide j'avois laisse a delphes un nombre infini de ses amants je les repassois tous dans mon imagination les uns apres les autres et les riches et les pauvres et les honnestes gens et les malfaits et il y avoit des instants ou il n'y en avoit pis un qui me fist peur tant il est vray que l'absence fait voir les choses d'une cruelle maniere quand j'estois a delphes il y avoit plusieurs jours ou mon ame estoit en quel que facon tranquile car lors que j'estois aupres de cette aimable personne je n'estois pas malheureux pour peu qu'elle me regardast et quand je n'y estois pas je scavois du moins ou elle estoit et ce qu'elle faisoit de sorte que pourveu 
 que je sceusse qu'androclide ne la voyoit non plus plus que moy je ne me souciois gueres des autres car il estoit le plus riche et le plus agreable de tous mais lors que je venois a penser qu'il m'estoit absolument impossible de scavoir ce qu'elle faisoit j'avois un chagrin inconcevable le matin n'estoit pas plus tost arrive que je me la figurois au temple environnee de tous mes rivaux l'apres-disnee je la voyois en conversation avec eux ou chez elle ou chez ses amies le soir je croyois qu'elle s'entretenoit de tout ce qu'elle avoit veu tout le jour et en vingt-quatre heures enfin je ne trouvois pas un moment ou je pusse raisonnablement esperer qu'elle se souvinst de moy car je n'avois pas mesme la pensee que ses songes l'en peussent faire souvenir puis que pour l'ordinaire ils ne se forment que des mesmes objets dont l'imagination a este remplie en veillant je vescus de cette sorte sans nulle consolation jusques a ce que je crus que melesandre estoit retourne a delphes car alors l'avoue que j'eus quelques momens de consolation dans la pensee que j'eus que cet officieux amy luy parleroit de moy quelquesfois puis que j'avois laisse une lettre pour luy en partant par laquelle je l'en priois mais si cette pensee avoit quelques instans de douceur elle estoit aussi tost suivie d'une autre qui me donnoit bien de l'inquietude car si j'avois une si prodigieuse envie de scavoir de quelle sorte elle parleroit de moy a melesandre apres luy avoir descouvert ma passion 
 que ce ne m'estoit pas une petite augmentation de chagrin enfin tout ce que je voyois m'emportunoit je ne trouvois rien de beau ny d'agreable j'avois une disposition si forte a la colere que les moindres fautes de mes gens me faschoient plus en cette saison que les plus grandes n'avoient accoustume de faire en une autre je revois presques tousjours et si un sentiment d'amour ne m'eust persuade qu'il faloit m'aquitter avec honneur de l'employ qu'on m'avoit donne je pense que ma negociation se fust passee d'une estrange sorte mais venant a considerer que la gloire que j'en pouvois attendre me pourroit servir aupres de telesile je fis un grand effort sur mon esprit et je ne fus pas plustost arrive a milet que je commencay d'agir et avec le plus d'adresse et avec le plus de diligence qu'il me fut possible je ne m'amuseray point a vous demesler cette grande affaire qui seroit aussi longue a vous dire qu'elle est inutile a mon amour qui est la seule chose dont j'ay a vous parler mais je vous diray seulement que quelque soin que j'y apportasse il falut que je fusse deux mois entiers dans milet sans pouvoir avoir nulles nouvelles de delphes parce que le vent fut tousjours contraire pour cette navigation j'avois creu dans les premiers jours que ma douleur pourroit diminuer par l'habitude mais mon ame ne se trouva pas disposee a cela au contraire plus j'allois en avant plus mon chagrin augmentoit et ceux a qui la longueur de l'absence en diminue la rigueur 
 n'ont assurement qu'une mediocre passion toutes les fois que le sage thales avec lequel j'agissois contre la faction opposee m'aprenoit qu'il y avoit quelque obstacle nouveau a la conclusion de mon affaire j'en paroissois si touche que ce sage homme qui ne penetroit pas dans mon coeur croyoit que j'estois le plus ambitieux de gloire qui fust au monde et le meilleur agent que l'on eust jamais pu choisir mais enfin quand il plut a la fortune j'eus acheve mes affaires heureusement et je sortis de milet pour m'en retourner a delphes apres avoir s'il m'est permis de le dire acquis assez d'honneur dans une negociation si importante le sage thales me fit mesme la grace d'ecrire de moy aux amphictions d'une maniere tres avantageuse et je pouvois sans doute avoir un sujet raisonnable de me resjouir mais mon ame estoit desja si accoustumee au chagrin qu'elle ne put pas gouster une joye toute pure car parmi l'esperance de revoir telesile la crainte de trouver quelque changement en sa fortune qui me fust desavantageux me troubla sans doute beaucoup neantmoins quand je m'imaginois que je la reverrois et que mes yeux pourroient encore quelquefois rencontrer les siens je sentois un plaisir extreme en un mot pour abreger mon discours j'arrivay a delphes mais j'y arrivay si tard que mon pere estoit desja retire de sorte qu'au lieu de coucher chez luy je fus coucher avec melesandre afin de scavoir plustost des nouvelles de telesile comme il ne se 
 retiroit jamais de bonne heure il ne faisoit que d'entrer dans sa chambre quand j'y arrivay une surprise qui luy fut si agreable fit qu'il m'embrassa avec une joye extreme je l'embrassay aussi avec beaucoup de tendresse mais ne scachant encore ce qu'il me devoit aprendre de telesile je n'osois me resjouir et je cherchois dans ses yeux ce qui devoit paroistre dans les yeus apres l'avoir donc prie de faire sortir ses gens et bien luy dis-je melesandre telesile n'est elle pas tousjours telesile c'est a dire la plus belle chose du monde et mon absence n'a t'elle point favorise les desseins de quelqu'un de mes rivaux j'ay tant de choses a vous dire me repliqua t'il que je ne scay par ou commencer et il est arrive tant de changement en vos affaires que vous ne pouvez manquer d'en estre estrangement surpris ha melesandre luy dis-je hastez vous de me dire en gros ce que c'est mais si par malheur telesile est ou morte ou mariee dittes moy seulement il faut mourir afin que mon desespoir ne soit pas long telesile repliqua t'il est vivante et belle et mesme ne sera mariee de long temps a pas un de vos rivaux ce discours ayant remis le calme en mon ame et n'y ayant plus laisse qu'une forte curiosite de scavoir quel estoit ce changement j'apris qu'aussi tost que j'avois este party tous mes rivaux s'estoient resjouis de mon absence quoy que la cause les en affligeast parce qu'en effet je leur estois le plus redoutable mais qu'entre les autres androclide en avoit eu beaucoup 
 de satisfaction neantmoins me disoit melesandre comme il avoit l'esprit partage entre les richesses pretendues de telesile et sa beaute il avoit tousjours prie sa soeur de se contenter de detruire autant qu'elle pourroit tous ses rivaux dans l'esprit de telesile et de l'y mettre bien et sans luy en dire la veritable cause il ne l'avoit jamais priee de pousser la chose aussi loing qu'elle pouvoit aller mais en effet c'estoit qu'encore qu'il fust amoureux de telesile il ne l'aimoit pourtant pas assez pour la vouloir espouser jusques a tant que crantor luy eust assure tout son bien comme il l'esperoit par les soings de sa soeur qui le voyoit toujours tres souvent mais afin de vous faire mieux entendre o mon equitable juge tout ce que melesandre me dit il faut que vous scachiez qu'atalie qui n'aimoit pas moins la richesse que son frere fit semblant de croire qu'androclide ne la prioit d'agir aupres de crantor que par la seule passion qu'il avoit pour telesile si qu'estant aussi passionne qu'il l'estoit il l'epouseroit aussi bien pauvre que riche de sorte qu'ayant remarque que crantor se laissoit insensiblement toucher a sa beaute car certainement cette fille en avoit beaucoup elle n'oublia rien de tout ce qui pouvoit toucher le coeur d'un avare elle ne parloit avec luy que d'oeconomie elle blasmoit les despences superflues et paroissoit si detachee de tous les plaisirs et de tous les divertissemens des personnes de son age que crantor pensa enfin ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il pensast 
 et luy proposa de l'espouser cette fille qui n'estoit pas fort riche parce qu'elle n'estoit soeur d'androclide que du coste de sa mere qui ne l'estoit point du tout escouta cette proposition et comme elle n'avoit plus de proches parens qu'androclide avec lequel elle ne demeuroit pourtant pas car on l'avoit mise chez une parente de son frere qui n'estoit point la sienne elle ne demanda conseil a personne et assurant crantor de son consentement elle envoya un matin prier androclide de l'aller voir parce qu'elle avoit quelque chose a luy dire mon frere luy dit elle aussi tost qu'il entra dans sa chambre s'il est vray que vous aimiez fortement telesile j'ay une grande nouvelle a vous aprendre car enfin je scay une voye infaillible de vous la faire espouser si je le veux ha ma chere soeur luy dit il que ne vous deuray-je point si les longues conversations que vous avez eues avec crantor peuvent l'avoir oblige a faire ce que la raison veut qu'il face je vous demande pardon luy dit il sans luy donner loisir deparler d'estre cause que vous entretenez si souvent un homme d'un autre siecle et de qui l'humeur avare n'est pas fort agreable ny fort divertissante mon frere dit elle je voy bien que vous ne comprenez pas par quelle voye vous pouvez espouser telesile et que vous ne scavez pas encore tout ce qu'il faut que je face pour vous la faire obtenir c'est pourquoy il faut que je vous die poursuivit malicieusement cette fille que ce ne peut estre 
 qu'en me sacrifiant absolument pour vous et qu'en me privant de toute sorte de plaisir je seray bien malheureux reprit androclide si ma felicite vous doit rendre infortunee mais encore luy dit il quelle est cette bizarre voye que je ne puis imaginer c'est dit elle en rougissant et en riant a demy que crantor s'est assurement mis dans la fantaisie que je suis un thresor et c'est sans doute par cette raison qu'il veut que je sois a luy androclide fut si surpris du discours de cette fille qu'il creut ne l'avoir pas bien oui crantor luy dit il en l'interrompant veut que vous soyez a luy et comment l'entend t'il et comment le peut il entendre il entend dit elle sans s'emouvoir de vous donner telesile aussi tost que je l'auray espouse de sorte mon frere adjousta t'elle que c'est de ma seule volonte que depend vostre bonheur presentement car si je me resous de satisfaire la passion qu'il dit avoir pour moy il m'a assure qu'il satisfera la vostre et qu'il obligera diophante a vous donner telesile mais mon frere poursuivit elle espouser un homme de l'age et de l'humeur de crantor n'est pas une chose que je puisse faire sans repugnance neantmoins l'amitie que j'ay pour vous est si forte qu'elle me fera vaincre l'aversion que j'ay pour luy et je vous assure que la felicite dont vous jouirez par la possession de telesile me consolera beaucoup plus que ne feront tous les thresors de crantor pendant qu'atalie parloit de cette sorte androclide estoit si surpris qu'il ne 
 scavoit presques ce qu'il devoit luy respondre car il l'a raconte depuis a d'autres personnes comme il avoit quelque confusion de faire connoistre a sa soeur que l'avarice avoit autant de place en son ame que l'amour il prit un biais qu'il creut bien fin et bien adroit ma chere soeur luy dit-il je n'ay garde de consentir que vous vous rendiez malheureuse toute vostre vie pour l'amour de moy et quoy que j'aime passionnement telesile je ne l'espouseray jamais en vous obligeant d'espouser crantor mon frere luy dit elle s'il y avoit un autre remede a vostre mal je n'aurois pas recours a celuy la mais n'y en ayant point d'autre je suis allez genereuse pour vous obliger malgre vous je scay bien luy dit elle encore que dans le fonds de vostre coeur vous voudriez que je fusse desja femme de crantor afin de vous voir mary de telesile et que ce n'est que par generosite que vous vous opposez a une chose que vous croyez qui ne me plaist pas car je ne pense pas que vous me croiyez l'ame assez basse et assez interessee adjousta t'elle pour trouver plus de satisfaction dans quelque richesse que possede crantor que de chagrin dans son humeur de sorte qu'estant persuadee que vous ne pouvez estre heureux que par mon moyen je scauray bien sans vous obliger a y consentir prendre les voyes de vous satisfaire malgre vous ha ma soeur luy respondit il je ne souffriray jamais une semblable chose et ne considerez vous point l'extreme vieillesse de crantor son 
 humeur avare et chagrine et tous ses deffauts mon frere luy dit elle je ne veux regarder en cette rencontre que la merveilleuse beaute de telesile de qui la possession vous rendra heureux androclide desespere d'entendre parler atalie de cette sorte luy dit que puis que ce n'estoit que son interest qui la faisoit agir il la suplioit de considerer qu'en espousant crantor elle causeroit un sensible desplaisir a telesile puis qu'elle l'empescheroit d'estre la plus riche personne de toute la phocide pour moy luy dit il ma soeur je serois tousjours heureux par la seule beaute de telesile mais je ne scay pas si telesile se la trouveroit sans les thresors de crantor et si elle ne se vangeroit point sur moy du mal que vous luy auriez fait nullement reprit atalie car si telesile n'a pas l'ame avare elle ne se souciera pas tant que vous pensez de cette perte et si elle l'a de cette sorte elle sera ravie de vous espouser en t'estat que sera alors sa fortune ainsi il n'y a rien a hasarder pour vous et tout le mal ne sera que pour moy seule mais adjousta t'elle ce mal ne sera peut-estre pas long androclide repartit encore plusieurs choses et atalie de mesme sans que ny l'un ny l'autre dissent jamais leurs veritables sentimens chacun taschant de se tromper et se deguiser finement si bien qu'ils se separerent de cette sorte androclide conjurant tousjours sa soeur de croire qu'il ne consentiroit jamais a ce mariage et elle luy disant tousjours qu'elle estoit resolue d'y 
 consentir en effet comme elle s'estoit rendue maistresse absolue de l'esprit de crantor elle l'envoya prier de lavoir et elle sceut conduire la chose avec tant d'adresse qu'elle luy persuada qu'il faloit qu'il l'espousast sans ceremonie a cause de diophante et que de plus androclide son frere songeant a espouser telesile sa niece il ne faloit pas non plus luy demander son consentement de sorte que crantor sans differer davantage l'espousa le lendemain en presence de cinq ou six personnes qui dependoient de luy et la mena le jour suivant a la campagne afin de laisser dissiper le grand bruit qu'un semblable mariage devoit causer cependant androclide estoit en une inquietude estrange et les beaux yeux de telesile ne le pouvoient consoler de la perce qu'il craignoit de faire mais quand il sceut que la chose estoit faite il eut un desespoir inconcevable neantmoins comme il ne la creut pas d'abord il fut chez une de ses amies qui voyoit fort telesile pour s'en esclaircir mais il y trouva plus qu'il ne pensoit y trouver car telesile y estoit qui venoit d'y aprendre le mariage de crantor or ce qu'il y eut d'admirable ce fut qu'androclide paroissoit beaucoup plus afflige que telesile de qui l'ame genereuse ne s'ebranla point du tout en cette rencontre et qui eut l'esprit assez libre pour remarquer que la douleur d'androclide n'estoit pas desinteressee il s'aprocha d'elle tout interdit et la suplia de croire qu'il n'ayoit rien contribue au dessein de sa soeur et qu'il 
 voudroit avoir fait toutes choses et que ce malheur ne luy fust pas arrive je le croy luy respondit froidement telesile et je vous connois assez pour n'en douter pas mais androclide adjousta t'elle comme la belle atalie vostre soeur est peut-estre plus aise d'avoir aquis les thresors de crantor que je ne suis affligee de les avoir perdus je trouverois plus juste que vous allassiez vous resjouir avec elle que de vous arrester a vous affliger aveque moy qui n'ay pas mesme besoin de toute la force de ma raison pour supporter un semblable malheur et qui par consequent puis aisement me passer du secours de la vostre c'est sans doute luy respondit androclide que je suis plus sensible a vos propres maux que vous mesme c'est assurement repliqua t'elle que vos inclinations et les miennes sont differentes et que par la nous ne voyons pas les choses de mesme facon cependant telesile ne fit pas sa visite longue et s'en retoua chez elle ou diophante et taxile estoient sensiblement affligez de la nouvelle qu'ils avoient apprise cette sage fille les consola le mieux qu'elle put et quoy qu'elle sentist cette perte elle ne laissa pas de les supplier de n'en avoir pas tant de ressentiment les assurant pour elle que comme elle n'avoit point d'ambition de cette espece elle ne seroit pas long temps affligee pourveu qu'ils se consolassent cependant tous les amans de telesile se trouverent un peu surpris qui n'estoient pas riches n'osoient plus songer a espouser une 
 personne qui ne la devoit plus estre de peur de la rendre malheureuse et de se rendre malheureux eux mesmes joint qu'ils jugeoient bi aussi qu'elle n'y consentiroit pas estant bien moins deraisonnable qu'une fille qui a beaucoup de bien espouse un honneste homme qui en apeu que de voir deux personnes de qualite qui n'en ont presques point du tout se marier en semble mais pour androclide quelque riche qu'il fust il trouvoit un grand changement en telesile depuis qu'il y en avoit en sa fortune neantmoins comme il eust eu honte de faire paroistre d'abord ses sentimens et que de plus il avoit certainement autant d'amour pour telesile qu'il estoit capable d'en avoir il fut chez elle comme a l'ordinaire ou il trouva tous ses rivaux car jamais personne n'a este si bien consolee qu'elle le fut en cette occasion et quand elle auroit perdu tout ce qui luy estoit cher au monde ils n'auroient pas paru plus empressez a prendre part a sa douleur mais a quelques jours de la leurs visites devinrent moins frequentes et entre les autres androclide diminua beaucoup des soins qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir il ne luy parloit plus que de choses indifferentes et cherchant un pretexte a s'eloigner d'elle il luy dit qu'il remarquoit que diophante son pere le saluoit froidement et qu'il avoit mesme sceu qu'il parloit mal d'atalie qui enfin estoit tousjours sa soeur androclide luy dit telesile qui avoit desja remarque ses veritables sentimens il n'est nullement besoin d'un si grand 
 detour aveque moy ny de chercher un pretexte pour ne me voir plus il est permis a chacun de suivre ses inclinations et comme assurement vous ne pourriez jamais aimer la plus belle personne du monde si elle n'estoit pas riche je n'aimerois jamais aussi le plus riche homme de toute la grece s'il n'avoit l'ame encore plus grande que sa fortune ainsi je pense qu'il nous sera egalement avantageux que vous ne vous obstiniez pas par une fausse generosite a rendre quelques devoirs a une personne qui a perdu tout ce qui vous la rendoit aimable androclide surpris de la liberte du discours de telesile voulut luy faire des protestations contraires a ce qu'elle disoit mais ce fut avec un air si contraint et des paroles si ambigues que l'on eust dit qu'il craignoit d'en dire trop et de s'engager plus qu'il ne vouloir telesile le regardant alors avec un sous-rire qui avoit quelque chose de fier non androclide luy dit elle ne vous donnes point la peine de vous deguiser plus long temps et laissez moy jouir en repos d'un thresor que je prefere a ceux qui touchent vostre inclination qui est la liberte de pouvoir resver toute seule androclide prenant comme on dit cette occasion aux cheveux quitta telesile et s'en pleignant a tout le monde il cessa de la voir aussi bien que beaucoup d'autres de sorte qu'en peu de jours la maison de diophante fut aussi solitaire qu'elle avoit este tumultueuse et pleine de monde d'abord telesile s'estonna de la foiblesse des hommes et se 
 regardant quelquefois dans un miroir elle se demandoit a elle mesme si sa beaute estoit changee car j'ay sceu toutes ces choses depuis de sa propre bouche mais se trouvant encore les mesmes yeux le mesme taint et la mesme personne qu'elle avoit tousjours este elle concevoit une si forte aversion contre tous les hommes qu'elle estoit presque bien aise d'estre delivree de leur conversation mais comme ce changement fit un grand bruit dans la ville diophante pour le laisser dissiper s'en alla aux champs si bien que quand j'arrivay a delphes je ne l'y trouvay pas et j'apris de melesandre tout ce que je viens de vous dire cette absence me fut sans doute tres sensible car j'avois tellement espere de revoir telesile que la privation d'un si grand bien fut cause que je fus plusieurs momens sans sentir la joye que je devois avoir d'aprendre que j'estois deffait de tous mes rivaux et de pouvoir esperer que telesile m'auroit quelque obligation des soins que je luy rendrois a l'advenir estant certain que je me resjouis autant de sa pauvrete qu'androclide s'en affligea parce que je la regardois comme un moyen propre a luy faire connoistre la grandeur de ma passion mais quand je venois a penser qu'elle n'estoit point a delphes l'esperance m'abandonnoit et la crainte s'emparoit de mon esprit j'apprehendois que la laschete de quelques hommes ne les luy eust fait tous hair et je ne trouvois repos en nulle part le lendemain je rendis conte de mon voyage et je 
 receus des amphictions toute la louange que j'en pouvois esperer mon pere estant satisfait de moy me donna aussi beaucoup de marques de tendresse tous mes amis me visiterent en cette occasion et si je n'eusse point este amoureux j'eusse sans doute este en estat de me divertir mais l'absence de telesile troubloit alors toute ma joye et l'envie que j'avois de luy temoigner que je n'estois pas de l'humeur de ceux qui l'avoient abandonnee me donnoit une inquietude aussi incommode que s'il me fust arrive quelque grand malheur durant ce temps la je ne pouvois presques sousrir que melesandre parce que je n'avois la liberte de parler de ma passion qu'aveques luy et qu'il avoit la complaisance de m'escouter favorablement ce qui est sans doute une des plus sensibles consolations dont l'on peut jouir pendant l'absence de ce que l'on aime mais enfin apres avoir long temps soupire diophante revint et ramena telesile resolue d'eviter la conversation des hommes autant que la bien seanse le luy permettroit je ne sceus pas plustost qu'elle estoit revenue a delphes que je fus chez diophante qui me receut avec beaucoup de civilite taxile fit la mesme chose aussi bien que son adorable fille avec cette difference toutesfois que la civilite de telesile estoit froide et serieuse neantmoins j'eus une si grande joye de la revoir et de me trouver chez elle sans pas un de mes anciens rivaux que je ne fis reflexion sur ce que je dis qu'apres en estre sorti cette premiere 
 visite ne fut pas fort longue car comme ils estoient arrivez tard la discretion ne me permit pas de demeurer davantage aupres d'eux ce ne fut donc que des yeux que je parlay de ma passion a telesile qui ne voulut ny entendre ny respondre a un langage qu'elle seule m'avoit fait aprendre puis que je n'avois jamais rien aime qu'elle et que je n'aimeray sans doute jamais rien autre chose mais comme je fus retourne dans ma chambre la froideur de telesile me donna de l'inquietude et je creus que peut-estre s'estoit elle trouvee offencee du dernier discours que je luy avois tenu en partant neantmoins je ne lassay pas d'esperer que ma perseverance la toucheroit le lendemain je fis tout ce que j'avois accoustume de faire auparavant que d'aller a milet et je fus au temple ou je scavois qu'elle devoit aller j'y trouvay androclide et la plus grande partie de ceux qui aimoient telesile avant mon depart mais ils avoient tous change de place car au lieu de se mettre vers certaines colomnes de marbre ou telesile se met toujours et ou elle estoit lors que j'entray dans ce temple ils estoient dispersez en plusieurs autres endroits pour moy qui n'avois pas change comme eux je fus me mettre selon ma coustume en lieu ou je pouvois voir telesile et estre veu d'elle d'abord elle n'y prit pas garde parce qu'elle prioit les dieux avec beaucoup d'attention mais ayant tourne les yeux de mon coste je la saluay avec je ne scay quel respect qui fait ce me semble que 
 l'on peut discerner une reverence de simple ceremonie d'avec une qui s'adresse a une personne dont l'on est amoureux telesile me rendit mon salut en rougissant et il me sembla qu'elle chercha des yeux androclide comme pour luy dire qu'elle n'estoit pas encore abandonnee de tout le monde et en effet s'estant assez tournee pour rencontrer ses regards quoy que son action parust estre sans dessein androclide changea de couleur et de place et un moment apres il sortit du temple comme un homme qui avoit honte de sa laschete et qui eust este bien aise que j'eusse este lasche comme luy j'ay sceu depuis que certainement ma constante passion pensa renouveller la sienne se surmonter tous les sentimens avares de son coeur mais a la fin il se contenta de fuir telesile et de me fuir moy mesme ne perdant donc pas une seule occasion de voir la personne que j'aimois il eust este bien difficile qu'elle ne m'eust pas fait la grace de faire quelque distinction de moy a tous les autres qui l'avoient quittee neantmoins elle s'estoit si fort resolue de ne rien aimer qu'elle s'obstina a me traitter avec indifference je vescus donc de cette sorte durant quelque temps sans pouvoir jamais trouver une occasion de luy parler en particulier parce qu'elle me les ostoit toutes mais enfin je la trouvay un jour sur les bords de la riviere de cephise qui passe a delphes ou les dames se promenent souvent a pied laissant leurs chariots au bout d'une grande prairie bordee d'une espece d'alisiers fort egreables 
 elle y estoit avec deux de ses amies seulement et lors qu'apres divers tours de la promenade nous eusmous trouve des hommes de leur connoissance qui leur aiderent a marcher je demeuray estat de rendre ce mesme service a telesile et de luy pouvoir parler sans estre entendu que d'elle car la liberte est beaucoup plus grande a delphes qu'a athenes et mesme encore un peu plus qu'a corinthe a cause de ce grand abord d'estrangers qui y viennent de toutes les parties du monde et qui y font insensiblement couler quelque chose des coustumes de leur pais mais o dieux que je me trouvay embarrasse lors que je voulus commencer la conversation je n'avois pas plustost resolu de luy dire une chose que j'en pensois une toute contraire et nous fusmes assez long temps sans parler ny l'un ny l'autre mais enfin pousse par ma passion je commencay de l'entretenir par un soupir plust aux dieux luy dis-je adorable telesile que vous voulussiez vous epargner la peine d'entendre en des termes mal propres et peu significatifs les sentimens que j'ay pour vous et que vous voulussiez prendre celle de lire dans mon coeur et de deviner mes pensees je puis facilement me dit elle faire ce que vous souhaitez car thimocrate je connois si admirablement le coeur de tous les hommes que je ne scaurois manquer de connoistre le vostre eh madame luy dis-je ne me traittez pas si cruellement et ne confondez pas s'il vous plaist androclide et thimocrate androclide dit elle croit estre 
 fort prudent et thimocrate est fort amoureux luy dis-je thimocrate repliqua t'elle est peut-estre un peu plus dissimule qu'un autre mais apres tout il a sans doute l'ame pleine foiblesse comme les autres hommes dont la plus part commencent d'aimer sans y penser continuent par coustume cessent de le faire par caprice et font presques toutes choses sans raison ha madame luy dis-je vous connoissez mal thimocrate si vous le croyes tel que vous dittes car enfin j'ay commence de vous aimer malgre moy je l'avoue mais j'ay continue par inclination et par raison tout ensemble je suis parti d'aupres de vous le plus amoureux des hommes j'ay passe cette cruelle absence avec toute la douleur imaginable et je suis revenu icy avec une passion qui s'est encore augmentee depuis mon retour quoy que des le premier instant que je vous aimay je ne creusse pas qu'il fust possible qu'elle augmentait thimocrate me dit elle androclide disoit il y a trois mois les mesmes choses que vous dittes a tout ce qu'il y a de gens a delphes lors qu'il leur parloir de moy cependant cette pretendue beaute de telesile a perdu tous ses charmes des que crantor m'a oste l'esperance de ses thresors il est vray luy dis-je mais c'est qu'androclide n'aimoit telesile qu'a cause des richesses d'autruy et que je ne l'adore qu'a cause de ses propres richesses non divine personne luy dis-je ce ne sont que vos yeux ce n'est que vostre esprit que regarde et ce n'est enfin que pour 
 vostre seul merite que je vous aime que je vous sers et que je vous serviray toute ma vie la beaute thimocrate me dit elle quand il seroit vray que j'en aurois est un bien que l'on peut perdre tost encore plus facilement que tous les autres biens il a mesme cela de fascheux que l'on est assure de le perdre infailliblement ainsi quand je croirois que vostre ame ne seroit pas sensible a cette basse et honteuse passion qui s'oppose a toutes les grandes actions et qui fait preferer les richesses a la gloire et a la vertu je ne m'assurerois pas encore en vostre affection et je suis persuadee que vous feriez un jour par foiblesse et par inconstance ce qu'androclide a fait par avarice non divine telesile luy respondis-je vous ne me connoissez pas j'avoue adjoustay-je parce que je suis sincere que la perte de vostre beaute me causeroit une douleur inconcevable mais elle me la causeroit principalement pour l'amour de vous et non pas comme estant absolument necessaire a entretenir la passion qu'elle a fait naistre dans mon coeur vostre esprit charmante personne a des lumieres qui brilleroient encore quand celles de vos yeux seroient esteintes et vostre ame a des beautez qui raviroient tousjours la mienne quand mesme vous ne seriez plus belle mais poursuivis-je telesile la sera tousjours et elle a encore si peu veu de printemps que le sien n'est pas prest de finir c'est par ce peu d'experience repliqua t'elle en sous-riant que je me dois defier 
 de tout et c'est pourquoi thimocrate pour ne vous abuser pas scachez que toute maltraittee de la fortune que je suis je ne laisse pas d'estre glorieuse et que je suis beaucoup plus difficile a persuader que je n'estois auparavant tout m'est devenu suspect et je me la suis a moy mesme c'est pourquoy changez de dessein si vous m'en croyez vous le pouvez faire sans honte a mon avis car quand on se jette parmy la multitude poursuivit elle en riant on cache sa fuitte par celle des autres mais si vous vous estiez obstine a me servir et qu'apres vous vinssiez a changer vous seriez charge de cette inconstance toute entiere allez donc thimocrate allez laissez telesile en paix elle ne veut ny aimer ny estre aimee et elle se trouve si riche de sa propre vertu qu'elle ne veut rien aquerir davantage vous possedez pourtant mon coeur malgre vous luy dis-je et je le connoistray peut-estre aussi malgre vous reprit elle en riant encore et se meslant alors dans la conversation des autres personnes avec qui nous estions le reste de la promenade se passa sans que je luy pusse rien dire de particulier et sans que mesme je pusse parler a propos car j'avois l'esprit si occupe a juger si j'avois lieu de craindre ou d'esperer que je ne scavois pas trop bien ce que l'on disoit mais pour acourcir mon discours je vous diray en peu de paroles que cent mille soins que je rendis toucherent enfin le coeur de telesile qui scavoit bien que son pere approuvoit mon affection 
 et elle trouva quelque chose de si obligeant en mon procede aupres d'elle qu'elle eut peut-estre autant de reconnoissance pour ma respectueuse passion qu'elle avoit de mepris pour ceux qui l'avoient abandonnee en un mot j'en vins au point avec elle qu'elle croyoit que je l'aimois et qu'elle souffroit que je le luy disse cependant androclide ne pouvant plus endurer ny la veue de telesile ny la mienne s'en alla aux champs une partie de ses autres amants firent la mesme chose et j'estois presques heureux car je voyois tous les jours telesile et elle avoit la bonte de me tesmoigner qu'elle me voyoit agreablement elle ne m'avoit pourtant jamais dit precisement qu'elle ne me haissoit pas mais un jour que j'allay chez elle et que je trouvay l'occasion de luy parler elle me dit qu'il venoit d'arriver une nouvelle qui feroit qu'androclide la hairoit encore davantage qui estoit qu'atalie estoit en estat de donner bien tost un successeur a crantor elle dit cela comme il estoit mais elle le dit en me regardant avec assez d'attention afin de voir sur mon visage les mouvemens de mon esprit non non luy dis-je malicieuse telesile vous ne trouverez rien dans mes yeux qui n'exprime les sentimens de mon coeur et vous ne pouvez rien trouver dans mon coeur qui soit indigne de la possession du vostre je le souhaite me dit elle avec precipitation a peine eut elle prononce cette derniere parole qu'elle en rougit comme d'un crime et qu'elle voulut en affoiblir le sens obligeant 
 que j'y pouvois donner mais ce fut avec une si agreable confusion que je mets ce moment la au nombre des plus heureux de toute ma vie bien est il vray qu'il fut suivi d'un assez grand malheur puis que je ne fus pas plustost au logis que mon pere me fit apeller et me dit qu'il avoit besoin de moy en un voyage qu'il commenceroit le lendemain et que je me preparasse a partir je taschay inutilement de m'en excuser sans comprendre la raison pourquoy on me refusoit mais je sceus un moment apres par melesandre que mon pere s'estoit pleine a un de ses amis de l'amour que je continuels d'avoir pour telesile luy disant qu'il l'avoit soufferte quand elle devoit estre riche mais qu'il ne la vouloit plus souffrir aujourd'huy qu'elle ne l'estoit pas ainsi quand l'eus vaincu la rigueur de telesile et que je fus presques assure du contentement de diophante auquel j'avois fait parler par melesandre je vy naistre un obstacle nouveau et il falut recommencer d'esprouver toute la rigueur de l'absence car enfin quitter ce que l'on aime est sans doute un grand suplice mais quitter ce que l'on aime et dont l'on est aime en est un incomparablement plus grand il falut toutesfois s'y resoudre et m'en aller avec mon pere a l'extremite de la phocide du coste de megare je ne scay si je dois dire que l'eus le bonheur de prendre conge de telesile puis que c'est un instant si rigoureux que celuy qui suit le moment ou l'on se separe de la personne aimee que je ne puis pas bien determiner 
 comment on doit parler d'une semblable chose j'eus mesme le malheur pendant ce voyage que la republique donna un employ a mon pere qui augmentoit de beaucoup le bien de sa maison de sorte que je voyois naistre obstacle sur obstacle et j'estois si afflige de ma bonne fortune qu'on ne peut guere l'estre davantage de la mauvaise durant ce temps la mon pere me parla plusieurs fois pour me detourner de cette amour et plusieurs fois aussi je fis ce que je pus afin de luy persuader qu'il devoit preferer la vertu de telesile a toute chose mais venant a m'apercevoir que plus je tesmoignois de fermete plus je reculois mon retour a delphes je taschay de deguiser mes sentimens et de luy faire croire que l'absence m'avoit guery mais helas qu'il fut trompe en son opinion car je ne fus de ma vie si amoureux que je l'estois alors je scavois que telesile ne me haissoit pas j'aprenois par melesandre que mon absence la touchoit et je m'imaginois un si grand plaisir a la revoir que je ne pensois a autre chose cependant je sceus de certitude que mon pere ne retourneroit de tres long temps a delphes s'il ne croyoit absolument que je fusse guery de ma passion je me fis donc violence et commencant de faire plus de visites qu'a l'ordinaire car nous estions dans une ville ou la compagnie est assez grande et assez belle je m'attachay a voir plus souvent que les autres une personne assez aimable mais pour laquelle je n'avois pourtant pas un sentiment qui peust affoiblir la passion que j'avois 
 pour telesile cette fille avoit de l'esprit mais c'estoit un esprit melancolique et doux qui parloit peu qui resvoit souvent et qui par consequent me donnoit lieu de pouvoir plus commodement penser a telesile lors que j'estois aupres d'elle que si j'eusse este avec une personne plus enjouee et plus brillante les visites que je luy rendis firent sans doute l'effet que j'en attendois dans l'esprit de mon pere puis qu'il creut que je n'aimerois plus telesile et que j'aimois pheretime c'est ainsi que cette fille se nommoit mais comme il n'eust guere plus approuve cette seconde passion que la premiere parce que pheretime quoy que noble n'estoit pourtant pas des plus illustres races de son pais il resolut de retourner a delphes cependant si cette innocente fourbe me reussit bien avec mon pere elle me reussit mal avec telesile a laquelle androclide comme je l'ay sceu depuis fit scavoir avec adresse sans qu'elle sceust que ce fust par luy que j'estois fort attache a pheretime de sorte que lors que je retournay a delphes je trouvay son esprit change et j'apris par melesandre qu'il y avoit plus de quinze jours qu'elle n'avoit voulu souffrir qu'il luy parlast de moy comme a l'ordinaire diophante mesme me parut change aussi bien qu'elle car ayant sceu que mon pere avoit tesmoigne une si forte aversion pour son alliance il en avoit l'esprit aigry et je fus quelques jours aussi malheureux qu'on le peut estre en la presence de ce que l'on aime mais enfin ayant trouve 
 telesile un jour chez elle avec assez de liberte pour luy pouvoir parler bas qu'ay-je fait madame luy dis-je l'absence m'a t'elle detruit dans vostre coeur et seriez vous capable de la foiblesse que je vous ay tant entendue condamner thimocrate me dit elle ne me chargez point de vostre crime et contentez vous que telesile ne se pleigne pas sans vous pleindre ce n'est pas qu'elle n'en eust sujet mais c'est qu'elle est trop glorieuse pour le faire ainsi dit elle avec un sous-rire un peu force vous ne devez pas craindre que mes reproches troublent le plaisir que vous avez a vous souvenir de pheretime pheretime luy dis-je tout surpris et comprenant alors le sujet de son changement pour moy ha madame vous ne me connoissez pas vous ne la connoissez point et vous ne vous connoissez pas vous mesme si vous pouvez croire que je puisse penser a elle en vous voyant j'ay tousjours pense a vous madame lors que j'ay este aupres de pheretime mais je ne me suis point souvenu de pheretime depuis que je suis a delphes ha injuste personne que vous estes luy dis-je encore quel est cet ennemy cache qui a fait un crime d'une chose dont je pouvois demander recompense puis que je n'ay veu pheretime qu'afin de venir plustost revoir telesile je luy contay alors sincerement comme la chose s'estoit passee je la supliay en suitte de me dire qui luy avoit apris cette fausse nouvelle et apres avoir bien prie presse conjure et importune telesile 
 elle me nomma la personne qui luy avoit dit la chose qui estoit une amie particuliere d'androclide cependant comme mon coeur estoit fidelle et que toutes mes paroles estoient veritables je fis ma paix avec telesile a laquelle il ne demeura plus nul soubcon de ma confiance elle avoit toutesfois un secret depit contre elle mesme de m'avoir donne quelques legeres marques de jalousie ce qui fut cause qu'il me falut quelque temps auparavant que de retrouver dans son ame la franchise et la quietude avec laquelle elle avoit accoustume de vivre aveque moy mais enfin je me retrouvay heureux et je fis mesme comprendre a diophante que je ne devois pas estre puny de l'obstacle que mon pere aportoit a mon dessein je n'avois donc plus rien qui me faschast sinon qu'il faloit malgre moy ne visiter pas si souvent telesile de peur que mon pere ne m'exilast de nouveau comme il avoit desja fait mais si je ne la voyois pas chez elle je la rencontrois ailleurs et je la voyois tous les jours le voulus alors diverses fois obtenir d'elle la permission de l'epouser sans le contentement de mon pere mais comme elle estoit sage et glorieuse elle ne le voulut jamais et me dit tousjours qu'elle scavoit bien que diophante n'y consentiroit non plus qu'elle et qu'ainsi il faloit attendre en repos que le coeur de mon pere fust change je ne jouis pourtant pas long temps de ce calme pendant lequel j'avois de si doux moments et par un caprice de la fortune nous fusmes presques 
 toujours separez tantost il y avoit un de mes amis qui avoit querelle a qui par un sentiment d'honneur il falloit que je m'attachasse et que je le suivisse hors de delphes une autrefois diophante demeura malade aux champs ou telesile le fut trouver en suitte une feste publique l'y retint et il y eut mesme des absences sans sujet et ou il sembloit que la fortune n'eust autre dessein que de nous persecuter il y en eut de longues de courtes d'impreveues de premeditees je ne revenois pas plustost a delphes qu'elle en partoit elle n'y revenoit pas aussi plustost que j'en partois et je puis dire de plus que je n'ay jamais quitte telesile qu'il ne me soit arrive quelque malheur nous avions tousjours quelque petite querelle que la seule absence nous causoit et je me souviens mesme qu'un jour je fus assez bizarre pour me pleindre de ce que je la trouvois trop belle a mon retour car luy disois-je adorable telesile si mon absence vous avoit touchee comme la vostre m'a afflige je verrois que la fraicheur de vostre teint seroit un peu ternie et je verrois encore dans vos yeux quelque impression de melancolie qui me donneroit une joye estrange ou au contraire j'y voy une joye qui m'inquiete par la crainte que j'ay qu'elle n'y ait tousjours este pendant que je n'estois pas aupres de vous et que ce ne soit pas mon retour seul qui la cause en un mot j'esprouvay l'absence de toutes les facons dont on la peut esprouver et je souffris sans doute tout ce qu'un 
 amant peut souffrir mais soit que je m'esloignasse par une raison qui me fust avantageuse ou par quelque cause qui me deust fascher je puis dire n'avoir jamais eu l'ame sensible ny a la douleur ny a la joye que ces divers sujets me devoient donner et n'avoir jamais senti en ces fascheuses separations nul autre mouvement dan mon coeur que celuy que mon amour y causoit
 
 
 
 
apres donc cent mille douleurs et une absence d'un mois je revins a delphes ou j'apris qu'atalie soeur d'androclide et femme de crantor estoit morte en accouchant d'un fils et que ce fils estoit mort luy mesme peu de jours apres sa mere de sorte que telesile se retrouva avec plus d'apparence que jamais de devoir estre une des plus riches personnes de toute la grece car on scavoit que crantor s'estoit repenti de s'estre marie et n'avoit pas este satisfait d'atalie si bien que mon pere n'ayant plus a me reprocher le peu de bien de telesile il y avoit lieu de croire que je serois bien tost heureux pour moy je ne soubconnay jamais cette admirable fille de changer de sentimens en changeant de fortune mais j'eus un peu de peur que diophante ne se servist pour me nuire du pretexte que mon pere luy avoit donne de sorte que pour haster la chose apres avoir veu telesile je fus en diligence a une terre que mon pere avoit a deux journees de delphes et ou il estoit alors pour le suplier tres humblement de se souvenir qu'il avoit autrefois aprouve ma passion pour telesile mais 
 par malheur je ne l'y trouvay plus et il falut que j'attendisse huit jours auparavant qu'il revinst car les gens qu'il avoit laissez chez luy scavoient seulement qu'il y reviendroit et ne scavoient pas ou il estoit alle a son retour je luy dis ce que j'avois resolu de luy dire et il me respondit ce que j'avois espere si bien que je m'en retournay a delphes le plus satisfait de tous les hommes je sceus mesme en y arrivant que crantor estoit mort subitement depuis un jour de sorte qu'apres avoir este chez moy me mettre en estat de paroistre devant telesile je fus chez elle pour luy faire une visite de ceremonie mais je fus un peu surpris d'y trouver toute la ville et d'y revoir principalement tous mes anciens rivaux et mesme androclide neantmoins comme la bien-seance vouloit que l'on rendist cette civilite a la condition de diophante en une occasion de deuil je fis ce que je pus pour croire que la chose en demeureroit la et que tous ces amans avares qui avoient abandonne telesile quand elle n'estoit plus riche n'auroient pas la hardiesse d'oser jamais luy parler de leur passion apres une semblable laschete mais je fus bien trompe en mes conjectures car aussi tost que les premiers jours du deuil furent passez telesile se vit environnee et de tous ceux qui l'avoient quittee auparavant et tous ceux qui mesme n'avoient pas encore pense a elle j'obligeay alors melesandre a parler a diophante pour luy dire qu'il devoit faire quelque distinction de moy aux autres pretendans de 
 telesile mais soit que se voyant en estat de choisir il ne voulust pas se haster ou qu'il voulust se vanger de mon pere il respondit biaisant sans rien conclurre et me mit au desespoir j'avois pourtant la consolation de ne remarquer nul changement en l'esprit de telesile et de voir avec quel mepris elle traitoit tous ceux que sa richesse plustost que sa beaute avoit rapellez mais pour mon mal heur il revint en ce temps la a delphes un homme de grande qualite apelle menecrate qui en estoit qui avoit este tres long temps a voyager qui devint amoureux de telesile et qui n'ayant point de part au crime des autres me donna aussi plus d'inquietude car comme il est bien fait que sa naissance est illustre et sa maison tres puissante en biens je trouvois lieu de m'en affliger neantmoins telesile agissoit si sagement que sa seule veue dissipoit toutes mes frayeurs et me laissoit quelquesfois assez de liberte d'esprit pour rire des actions contraintes de tous ces lasches amants qui n'osoient presques parler tant la honte les possedoit et abatoit leur esprit toutefois ils suivoient tousjours telesile et la voyoient malgre elle pour androclide il fut plus prudent car il ne songea pas moins a gagner diophante qu'a pouvoir appaiser sa fille et je ne scay de quels moyens se il servit mais je fus adverti qu'il avoit assez de part dans son esprit et que peut-estre seroit il bientost choisi par diophante pour estre le mari de telesile je fus a l'instant mesme chez elle afin de luy aprendre 
 ma crainte et de luy demander quelque nouveau tesmoignage d'affection pour me rassurer mais j'y trouvay androclide qui devenu plus hardi par l'esperance que diophante luy avoit donnee luy avoit parle de sa passion plus ouvertement qu'il n'avoit fait depuis la mort de crantor comme je sceus en bas qu'androclide estoit seul avec elle je montay avec precipitation et arrivant a la porte de la chambre je m'arrestay ne scachant si je devois escouter ce qu'ils disoient ou entrer sans les escouter mais comme la porte estoit ouverte et que la tapisserie qui me cachoit n'empeschoit pas que je n'entendisse ce que l'on disoit dans la chambre j'ouis que telesile luy disoit avec un ton de voix assez fier non androclide ne vous y trompez pas ce n'est point a moy a vous recompenser des soins que vous me rendez ni de ceux que vous m'avez rendus car comme ce n'est point telesile que vous avez aimee ni que vous aimez ce n'est point aussi a elle a vous en avoir obligation j'avoue qu'entendant un discours qui m'estoit si agreable je me resolus de n'entrer pas si tost et c'est la seule fois que j'ay pu comprendre que l'on peust preferer quelque chose a la veue de la personne aimee j'entendis donc qu'androclide reprenant la parole luy dit qu'il n'avoit considere les thresors de crantor que pour l'amour d'elle dittes plustost pour l'amour de vous luy repliqua telesile et scachez que quand vous employeriez toute vostre vie a me vouloir persuader 
 que vous m'aimez je ne le croirois pas non non luy dit elle androclide je ne m'estime pas si peu que je veuille un coeur partage et partage encore pour une chose indigne d'estre balancee avec telesile et qui est l'objet de toutes les ames basses enfin je pardonnerois bien plustost a un inconstant qui m'auroit quittee pour une plus belle que moy qu'a un avare qui m'a abandonnee des que je n'ay plus este riche car avouez la verite luy dit elle si j'avois assez de folie pour vous espouser et que par malheur je vinsse a perdre tout ce qui cause vostre passion qu'il ne me restast ny grandes terres ny pierreries ny mangifiques meubles ny superbes maisons et que telesile demurast seulement avec tous les charmes que vous trouvez en elle depuis qu'elle est riche avouez la verite androclide l'aimeriez vous encore et la trouveriez vous belle en ce temps la je n'en doute nullement luy respondit il tout confondu et je ne le crois point du tout repliqua t'elle mais androclide adjousta telesile je veux vous faire voir que je ne suis pas coupable du crime que je vous reproche et que ce n'est pas l'estat present de ma fortune qui me fait vous parler si fortement scachez donc je confesse que lors que telesile en fut la l'eus un battement de coeur estrange je m'aprochay davantage de la tapisserie et je fis mesme assez de bruyt pour estre entendu si ce n'eust este que telesile estoit en colere et qu'androclide estoit fort interdit mais apres m'estre un peu remis 
 j'entendis que poursuivant son discours scachez donc luy dit elle encore une fois que ce n'est point du tout par le changement avantageux qui est arrive a mes affaires que je vous traitte comme je fais et que quand je ne serois que ce que j'estois il y a un mois je ne vous pardonnerois pas ce que vous avez fait car en fin je ne puis jamais espouser qu'un homme que j'estimeray et je ne puis jamais estimer celuy qui ne m'estime que par des choses que je crois beaucoup au dessous de moy a peine telesile eut elle acheve de parler que craignant qu'androclide ne l'adoucist par des soumissions j'entray promptement dans la chambre et surpris si fort mon rival qu'il ne se remit pas aisement comme j'avois la joye dans le coeur a cause de ce que j'avois entendu ma conversation fut si je l'ose dire plus agreable que celle d'androclide ce n'est pas qu'il sentist avec delicatesse les mepris de telesile puis que ne l'aimant presques que par consideration ses sentimens estoient sans doute plus greffiers et sa douleur estoit moins vive joint qu'il esperoit tousjours en diophante mais aussi la honte de sa mauvaise action l'interdisoit et faisoit qu'il n'avoit pas la liberte de son esprit pour moy il me sembloit que je le menois en triomphe ce jour la un moment apres il vint beaucoup de dames et la conversation generale ne se passa pas sans que je disse plusieurs choses piquantes pour androclide il m'en respondit aussi quelques unes qu'il avoit dessein qui le fussent mais il ne scavoit 
 par ou s'y prendre parce qu'il ne me pouvoit rien reprocher et que j'avois cent choses veritables a luy faire entendre qui ne luy plaisoient nullement telesile prenoit sans doute quelque plaisir a le voir mal traite neantmoins comme elle est fort prudente elle destourna la conversation a diverses fois de peur qu'elle ne devinst trop aigre ce n'est pas que je perdisse le respect que je luy devois et que je voulusse quereller androclide chez elle mais c'est qu'il estoit si aise de le toucher sensiblement a cause qu'il scavoit bien qu'il estoit coupable que la raillerie la plus fine et la plus delicate l'irritoit jusqu'a la fureur et que de plus j'esprouvay ce jour la qu'il est fort difficile de n'insulter pas sur un rival malheureux quand on en trouve l'occasion quelque generosite que l'on puisse avoir au sortir de chez telesile il fut trouver diophante qui se promenoir vers la fontaine castalie si bien que lors que j'en sortis a mon tour j'apris fortuitement par melesandre que mon rival estoit avec le pere de ma maistresse et le lendemain je sceu que diophante considerant plus le grand bien d'androclide que le mepris qu'il avoit fait de telesile et l'excusant peut-estre par une inclination pareille a la sienne avoit effectivement commande a sa fille de mieux vivre qu'elle ne faisoit avec androclide parce qu'enfin il avoit a l'advertir qu'il estoit absolument resolu qu'elle espousast ou luy ou menecrate je sceus cela par une femme qui estoit a elle que melesandre m'avoit 
 aquise et qui avoit oui le discours que diophante avoit fait a sa fille de sorte que desespere de mon malheur je n'avois plus pour ma consolation que la seule telesile que je scavois bien qui meprisoit androclide qui n'aimoit pas menecrate et qui ne me haissoit point mais son extreme vertu me faisoit pourtant craindre qu'elle ne fust pas capable de resister au commandement absolu de son pere car cette mesme femme qui m'avoit adverti de ce que diophante avoit dit ne m'avoit point raporte la response de telesile disant qu'on ne luy avoit pas donne loisir d'en faire me trouvant donc en cet estat je fus un soir chez melesandre afin de refondre aveque luy quel remede je pourrois trouver a un si grand mal ses gens me dirent qu'il se promenoit derriere le temple des muses a une grande place qui y est je m'y en allay donc aussi tost mais au lieu d'y rencontrer mon amy comme je l'esperois j'y trouvay androclide qui s'y promenoit seul les gens de melesandre m'avoient dit si fortement que leur maistre y estoit que comme il estoit desja tard et que j'avois l'esprit preoccupe je creus que c'estoit luy de sorte que m'en aprochant et bien luy dis-je telesile sera tousjours persecutee par l'avare androclide androclide me respondit il m'ayant reconnu a la voix persecutera tousjours telesile quand ce ne seroit que pour persecuter thimocrate et thimocrate luy repliquay-je fort surpris et fort en colere de voir que je m'estois trompe se defera 
 aisement quand il luy plaira des persecuteurs de telesile et des siens en disant cela je portay la main sur la garde de mon espee et androclide sans perdre temps ayant tire la sienne et moy la mienne apres luy il vint fondre sur moy en prononcant quelques paroles peu distinctes dont je n'entendis pas le sens je ne m'arresteray point a vous particulariser un combat qui se passa presques tout entier sans tesmoins et ce sera par l'evenement que vous jugerez de ce que j'y fis androclide estoit sans doute brave et adroit de sorte que si je n'eusse este plus heureux que luy en cette occasion je ne l'eusse pas vaincu sans peine cependant nostre combat ne fut pas long et apres luy avoir donne quatre coups d'espee qui entroient tous dans le corps il lascha le pied et fut en parant tousjours tomber contre une petite porte du temple qui ne servoit que les jours des sacrifices a certaine ceremonie je fus aussi tost a luy pensant qu'il n'estoit que blesse et voulant luy faire avouer mon avantage mais je trouvay qu'il n'avoit plus de mouvement ni d'aparence de vie pendant que par un sentiment de generosite je voulois effectivement m'eclaircir c'il n'estoit plus en estat d'estre secouru menecrate passa suivy de quelques uns de siens et comme la lune s'estoit degagee des quelques nues qui l'obscurcissoient auparavant il vit briller mon espee aupres de la porte de ce temple de sorte que scachant bien que ce n'estoit pas un lieu ou l'on deust voir une pareille chose il vint droit 
 a moy mais ayant aperceu des gens je me retiray en diligence et mesme sans pouvoir estre reconnu quoy que menecrate me fist suivre par quelques uns des siens qui me perdirent bien tost de veue pour luy il estoit occupe aupres d'androclide qu'il reconnut mais quoy qu'il fust son rival il ne laissa pas d'en prendre soin quelques sacrificateurs qui logeoient assez pres de la ayant oui du bruit y accoururent et furent estrangement surpris de cette prophanation car le lieu ou nous nous estions battus estoit de l'enceinte du temple quoy qu'il ne fust ferme que par une balustrade et la porte du temple mesme estoit toute couverte de sang parce qu'en tombant androclide avoit glisse tout du long on porta ce blesse a la maison la plus proche ou il ne fut pas plustost qu'il donna quelques signes de vie de sorte qu'a force de remedes il recouvra la parole et alloua la verite de la chose a menecrate et par consequent mon action fut sceue telle qu'elle estoit par mes deux rivaux c'est a dire par deux tesmoins irreprochables androclide sentant bien qu'il n'avoit plus de part a telesile ne voulut pas se noircir par un mensonge et menecrate m'ayant l'obligation de luy avoir oste un rival que diophante preferoit a beaucoup d'autres voulut aussi m'en recompenser par sa sincerite mais cela n'empescha pas que ce combat ne fist un grand bruit androclide avoit beaucoup de parens le lieu ou il avoit este blesse augmentoit le crime la pithie se plaignoit hautement 
 le peuple de delphes disoit que cela estoit de mauvais presage et des qu'androclide fut mort ce qui arriva le lendemain au soir je sceus qu'il n'y avoit plus de seurete pour moy dans la ville aussi tost apres le combat je m'estois retire chez melesandre et la mesme nuit il m'avoit conduit chez un de ses amis qui n'estoit pas un homme chez lequel aparemment on me deust chercher de vous dire quelle fut ma douleur quand je pus raisonner sans preoccupation sur mon avanture il ne me seroit pas aise car quand je vins a connoistre qu'il faudroit m'esloigner et abandonner telesile en un temps ou diophante la voudroit infailliblement marier bien tost et en un temps ou elle avoit cent mille amants j'eusse voulu pouvoir ressusciter androclide tout mon rival qu'il estoit et quand j'eusse tue le plus cher de mes amis je n'aurois pas paru plus afflige que je l'estois d'avoir tue mon rival telesile de son coste en eut une douleur extreme et par sa bonte naturelle et pour les dangereuses suittes que ce funeste accident pouvoit avoir cependant on me poursuivit on me chercha et ce fut en vain que mon pere employa tous ses soings et tous ses amis pour pouvoir calmer cet orage tout ce qu'il put faire fut de tirer les choses en longueur et d'empescher que l'on ne me condamnast pas si promptement comme le conseil des amphictions estoit fini j'avois moins de protection que s'il eust encore dure j'en eus neantmoins assez pour faire que l'on ne me condamnast 
 pas a la mort et mon arrest portoit que j'estois banni pour trois ans de toute la phocide a peine de perdre la vie si durant ce temps la j'estois trouve en lieu deffendu cet arrest de grace fut pour moy un arrest de mort car quand je venois a penser a la joye qu'en auroient mes rivaux combien j'avois travaille pour eux et comment je m'estois destruit ma raison se troubloit et je n'estois pas maistre de mes sentimens je disois hardiment a melesandre que je ne sortirois point de delphes que j'y voulois demeurer cache et effectivement j'y fus encore plus d'un mois apres ma condamnation je scavois durant ce temps la que mes rivaux voyoient tous les jours telesile sans que j'eusse sujet de me pleindre d'elle parce qu'elle ne le pouvoit pas esviter et quoy que je sceusse par melesandre qu'elle estoit fort touchee de mon malheur que par bonte elle nommoit le sien je ne pouvois souffrir la privation de sa veue cependant je pensay estre pris trois ou quatre fois et il falut changer le lieu de ma retraite plus de six parce que nous estions advertis melesandre et moy que l'on avoit descouvert ou j'estois et certes il n'estoit pas fort estrange ni fort difficile car a mon advis tous mes rivaux estoient les espions de ceux qui me poursuivoient de sorte que telesile ne pouvant plus endurer que je m'exposasse inutilement pour elle m'ecrivit un billet par lequel elle me commandoit absolument de sortir non seulement de delphes et de la phocide mais 
 de m'eloigner mesme le plus qu'il me seroit possible de toute la grece depuis que j'estois cache j'avois escrit tres souvent a telesile sans qu'elle eust voulu me respondre toutesfois aprenant par melesandre que je m'obstinois a ne vouloir point sortir de la ville quoy que mon pere y fist tous ses efforts elle se resolut de le faire comme je viens de le dire apres avoir leu son billet je luy respondis que si elle vouloit que je partisse il faloit du moins qu'elle me permist de la voir et de luy dire adieu melesandre fit tout ce qu'il put pour m'empescher de luy demander une grace qui m'exposeroit beaucoup et que peut-estre telesile ne m'accorderoit pas mais je luy dis que je n'en ferois autre chose et qu'absolument je ne partirois point de delphes que je n'eusse parle a telesile ce fidelle amy fut donc la trouver et luy dire ma derniere resolution elle s'en fascha elle m'en dit presques des injures en parlant a melesandre elle luy dit que mon affection estoit inconsideree que sa gloire ne m'estoit pas chere que je n'avois point de raison que je luy demandois une chose qu'elle ne devoit pas m'accorder et pour conclusion elle protesta qu'elle ne s'y pouvoit resoudre mais luy dit melesandre si on trouve thimocrate et qu'on le face mourir le soufrirez vous mieux ha melesandre luy dit elle vous n'estes gueres moins fascheux que vostre amy de me presser d'une chose que je ne veux pas faire et de me contraindre presques a la vouloir malgre moy enfin apres 
 une assez longue contestation elle luy dit que pourveu qu'il trouvast une voye qui ne m'exposast pas et qui ne luy fist rien faire contre la bien-seance elle se resoudroit a me voir quand ce ne seroit disoit elle que pour me gronder de mon opiniastrete melesandre songeant alors a ce qu'il avoir a luy dire luy proposa de faire une visite chez une de ses parentes qu'elle voyoit quelquesfois qui estoit une personne de merite et de vertu chez laquelle il me meneroit la nuit auparavant qu'elle y deust aller mais luy dit elle que penseroit de moy vostre parente qu'en penseriez vous vous mesme et qu'en penseroit thimocrate non non melesandre je ne scaurois me resoudre a cette innocente assignation et en effet il ne gagna rien sur son esprit de tout ce jour la mais le lendemain ayant encore pense estre pris et ayant este contraint de changer de nouveau le lieu de mon azyle la crainte d'estre cause de ma mort l'y fit resoudre et elle consentit a me voir chez la parente de melesandre pourveu qu'elle et luy fussent presens a nostre conversation de vous representer ma joye lors que je sceus que je verrois telesile il ne me seroit pas aise elle fut si grande que je ne songeay pas seulement que je ne la verrois que pour luy dire adieu mais pour achever promptement de vous apprendre mon malheur je fus donc mene la nuit chez cette parente de melesandre ou l'adorable telesile devoit venir le lendemain suivie seulement de cette mesme femme qui estoit de mes 
 amies et de nostre confidence car c'estoit dans son voisinage de vous depeindre combien cette scrupuleuse vertu dont elle faisoit profession luy donna de repugnance a cette visite il ne seroit pas facile elle entra dans la chambre ou j'estois seul avec melesandre et sa parente comme si elle eust fait un crime effroyable et ne voulant pas en faire une finesse a cette personne que direz vous de moy luy dit elle de venir chez vous avec intention d'y quereller un de vos amis je diray luy respondit elle car nous luy avions dit la verite que vous estes bien inhumaine d'avoir voulu exposer une vie qui vous doit estre aussi chere que celle de thimocrate madame dis-je alors a telesile sans luy donner loisir de respondre pardonnez s'il vous plaist a la violence que je vous ay faite croyez que si j'eusse pu faire autrement je n'aurois pas voulu forcer vostre inclination apres cela nous nous assismes et parlasmes assez long temps du malheur qui m'estoit arrive et de l'opiniastrete de mes ennemis a me poursuivre sans que telesile me donnast lieu de l'entretenir en particulier mais quelqu'un ayant voulu parler a la parente de melesandre pour quelque affaire assez importante elle pria telesile de luy donner la permission d'aller trouver ceux qui la demandoient dans une autre chambre si bien que sans perdre temps madame dis-je a telesile pendant que melesandre fut vers les fenestres entretenir la fille qui l'acompagnoit vous avez donc resolu que je parte que je m'esloigne 
 de vous et que je m'en esloigne mesme sans scavoir s'il demeurera dans vostre memoire quelque leger souvenir de thimocrate mais madame poursuivis-je thimocrate ne partira pas de cette sorte l'affection qu'il a pour vous est trop violente pour souffrir qu'il en use ainsi et si vous n'avez la bonte de luy dire quelque chose d'assez obligeant pour le consoler des maux qu'il endurera en ne vous voyant pas il ne partira point du tout je vous diray pour vous satisfaire me repliqua telesile que je pleins vostre malheur que je suis au desespoir d'en estre cause que vostre absence me sera tres facheuse et que je souhaiteray ardemment vostre retour c'est beaucoup madame luy dis-je avec une action tres respectueuse mais ce n'est pourtant pas assez pour conserver la vie d'un homme qui doit estre un siecle esloigne de vous je ne scay pas dit elle si ce que je vous dis d'obligeant n'est pas assez pour vous mais je suis persuadee thimocrate que c'est un peu trop pour moy neantmoins je ne veux pas me repentir de ce que j'ay dit reprit elle en sous-riant et je vous le rediray mesme encore si vous voulez pour ne vous donner pas la peine luy dis-je madame de faire deux fois un mesme discours accordez moy la grace de dire quelque chose de plus que ce que vous avez desja dit et que voudriez vous dit elle que je disse je voudrois luy repliquay-je que l'adorable telesile m'assurast que l'absence ne me destruira point dans son coeur et que menecrate 
 ni pas un de mes rivaux n'y occuperont jamais nulle place je vous promets le premier sans scrupule repliqua t'elle et je vous permets d'esperer l'autre sans crainte d'estre trompe car thimocrate j'ay si mauvaise opinion de tous les hommes que je ne scay pas comment vous estes si bien avecque moy vous me comblez de gloire et de plaisir luy dis-je en ne me refusant pas ce que je vous ay demande mais madame malgre une grace si douce et si glorieuse que celle que vous venez de m'accorder vostre vertu m'epouvante et je crains que si diophante veut vous obliger a espouser menecrate je crains dis-je que thimocrate absent ne soit pas assez puissant dans vostre coeur pour vous empescher de luy obeir thimocrate me dit elle alors il me semble que vous deviez vous contenter de ce que je vous avois dit sans me forcer comme vous faites a ne vous respondre pas agreablement ha madame luy dis-je tout transporte de douleur je vous entens bien vous ne choisirez pas menecrate mais vous le recevrez il diophante le veut s'il le veut absolument reprit elle il faudra bien s'y resoudre cela estant luy dis-je il ne faut plus songer a me faire partir de delphes j'y demeureray madame j'y demeureray et quoy que vous me puissiez dire je ne m'eloigneray jamais de vous dans une si cruelle incertitude mais thimocrate dit elle vous avez perdu la raison de parler comme vous faites mais inhumaine telesile luy repliquay-je 
 vous avez perdu la bonte de me respondre comme vous me respondez car enfin que voulez vous que devienne un homme qui vous adore et qui s'en allat vous laissera dans la disposition d'espouser sans repugnance celuy de tous ses rivaux qu'il plaira a diophante de vous proposer de quoy voulez vous cruelle personne que je tire quelque consolation pendant une si rigoureuse absence me souviendray-je agreablement de vostre beaute dans la pensee qu'elle fera peut-estre la felicite de menecrate me souviendray-je avec plaisir de la douceur que vous avez eue pour moy en diverses occasions dans la crainte que j'auray que vous ne soyez obligee de m'estre eternellement rigoureuse me souviendray-je avec satisfaction des favorables paroles que je viens d'entendre dans la pensee de ne les entendre peut-estre plus enfin madame pourray-je vivre eloigne de vous dans une incertitude si estrange non je ne le pourrois pas et j'aime mieux mourit devant vos yeux et par les mains de mes ennemis que de m'en aller de cette sorte mais encore dit elle thimocrate que pretendez vous je ne demande pas madame luy dis-je que vous promettiez au malheureux thimocrate de l'espouser mais je demande que vous luy assuriez que tant que son exil durera vous n'espouserez ny menecrate ny pas un de ceux qui vous adorent ou qui vous peuvent adorer vous voulez tellement prendre vos seuretez dit elle en sousriant malgre la melancolie qui paroissoit dans 
 ses yeux que quand ceux avec qui vous traittez vous auroient trompe en quelque chose vous ne pourriez pas faire autrement mais apres tout thimocrate dit elle prenant un visage fort serieux tout ce que je puis est de vous dire que je feray tout ce que la bien-seance me permettra de faire pour rompre tous les desseins que mon pere pourroit avoir de me marier mais de vouloir que je vous promette de me des-honnorer en desobeissant ouvertement a mon pere c'est ce que je ne feray pas et peut-estre me dit elle presques contre son intention que si vous vous en rendez digne par une obeissance aveugle je feray plus que je ne vous promettray mais enfin thimocrate adjousta cette vertueuse personne il ne faut pas meriter nostre infortune par une foiblesse et il ne faut jamais se fier tant en sa prudence que l'on ne laisse quel que chose a la conduitte des dieux qui aussi bien malgre toutes nos resistances nous menent ou ils veulent que nous allions j'avoue que de la facon dont telesile me fit ce discours j'avois quelque sujet d'en estre content cependant je ne le fus pas et je la pressay encore si opiniastrement qu'elle pensa s'en mettre en colere voyant que je ne voulois point partir si elle ne me promettoit tout ce que je voulois elle appella alors melesandre a son secours et sa parente aussi qui revint ou nous estions et quoy que je peusse faire je n'en pus jamais obtenir autre chose elle me commanda donc si absolument de partir et de m'esloigner 
 le plus que je pourrois qu'il falut enfin s'y resoudre melesandre me voulut faire esperer qu'aussi tost que j'aurois obei on travailleroit a faire revoquer mon arrest mais un homme desespere de s'en aller n'estoit pas capable de recevoir nulle consolation cependant telesile me quitta sans que je pusse prononcer une seule parole car des que j'eus remarque par son action qu'elle avoit dessein de se retirer la raison m'abandonna et je ne scay plus ny ce qu'elle me dit ny ce que je fis je scay seulement qu'elle me tendit la main que je luy baisay aveque respect et qu'elle disparut a mes yeux un moment apres de sorte que n'esperant plus de revoir telesile je ne songeay plus qu'a partir j'eusse pourtant bien voulu me battre contre menecrate mais melesandre me fit comprendre que telesile ayant cent amants ce seroit une bizarre chose si j'entreprenois de les vouloir tous tuer enfin je partis deux jours apres cette entre-veue avec leontidas que vous voyez icy present que le roy de chipre avoit envoye a delphes et qui s'en retournoit en ce temps la comme toute terre m'estoit egale ou n'estoit pas telesile je suivis leontidas qui avoit fait amitie avec melesandre et je me resolus d'aller errer par toutes les isles de la mer egee comme j'ay fait tousjours depuis jusques a ce que le roy de chipre et le prince philoxipe m'ayent fait l'honneur de me donner le commandement de leurs troupes avec philocles vous jugez donc bien que cette derniere absence a 
 pour moy tout ce que l'absence peut avoir de rigoureux car elle doit estre encore longue menecrate comme je l'ay sceu et cent autres qui sont venus depuis que je suis parti de delphes sont toujours aupres de telesile diophante la presse continuellement de se resoudre et de choisir un mary menecrate est un fort honneste homme mes ennemis sont tousjours plus animez contre moy et tous mes rivaux sollicitent secretement de peur que l'on n'accourcisse mon exil en revoquant mon arrest car il s'est espandu quelque bruit que je suis la cause de la resistance de telesile et je ne voy enfin rien qui m'assure bien que telesile jusques icy ne soit pas mariee que scay-je ce qui doit arriver elle ne m'a donne que de l'esperance et par consequent elle m'a donne sujet de craindre que soit par vertu ou par foiblesse elle ne me rende malheureux ou en obeissant a son pere ou en se laissant gagner a menecrate voila o mon equitable juge par quelle experience j'ay connu toute la rigueur qu'il y a d'estre esloigne de ce que l'on aime et il ne me sera pas difficile de faire voir par raison aussi bien que par exemple que c'est un mal qui comprend tous les autres maux en effet comme l'amour prend naissance par la veue et qu'elle s'entretient par elle il s'ensuit sans doute que l'absence est ce qui luy est le plus oppose et que comme il n'est rien de plus doux que de voir ce que l'on aime il n'est aussi rien de plus cruel que de ne le voir pas les absences quand elles sont 
 courtes augmentent l'amour quand elles sont longues elles la changent en fureur et en desespoir quand elles ont un terme limite l'impatience fait que l'on n'a point de repos et quand leur duree est incertaine le chagrin trouble toute la douceur de l'esperance enfin soit qu'elles soient longues courtes sans terme ou limitees premeditees ou impreveues je soustiens qu'a quiconque scait aimer elles sont insuportables et bref que l'absence comprend tous les autres maux et est la plus sensible de toutes les douleurs en effet celuy qui soustient que n'estre point aime est le plus grand suplice de l'amour n'a t'il pas tort de mettre sa souffrance en comparaison de la mienne puis qu'a parler de ces choses en general celuy qui voit ses services mesprisez durant un temps considerable doit trouver le remede de son mal dans son propre mal et par un genereux ressentiment se guerit d'une passion si mal reconnue mais a un amant absent et aime que luy reste t'il a faire qu'a souffrir car de s'imaginer que le souvenir des plaisirs passez soit doux c'est une erreur en amour quand on est absent puis qu'au contraire la juste mesure des douleurs en ces rencontres est celle des felicitez dont on a jouy et dont on ne jouit plus celuy qui regrette une maistresse morte est sans doute digne de compassion mais apres tout il y a encore une notable difference de luy a un amant absent de la facon dont je l'imagine j'avoue toutefois qu'a ne considerer que les premiers jours de cette absence 
 eternelle que la mort cause entre les amants qu'elle separe c'est la plus grande douleur de toutes les douleurs mais il faut aussi que l'on m'accorde que le plus grand mal de la mort en ces funestes rencontres est l'absence de l'objet aime apres cela je ne craindray point de dire qu'aussi tost que ce grand coup qui estourdit la raison a fait son premier effet l'ame se trouvant en estat de ne plus rien craindre et de ne plus rien esperer vient peu a peu malgre elle dans un certain calme qui appaise insensiblement le tumulte de ses passions et qui affoiblit insensiblement aussi la douleur de celuy qui la souffre de sorte que tous les momens de sa vie les uns apres les autres emportent ou du moins diminuent quelque chose de son deplaisir mais l'absence ou l'esperance et la crainte et toutes les autres passions agisent est un suplice qui augmente tous les jours et qui n'a point de remede que sa propre fin ou celle de celuy qui la souffre mais me dira t'on la jalousie l'emportera du moins sur l'absence mais respondray-je a ceux qui le diront qui est ce qui a este long temps absent sans estre jaloux et quels effets peut causer la jalousie que l'absence ne cause aussi bien qu'elle il y a toutesfois cette distinction a faire qu'un jaloux qui voit sa maistresse a d'heureux momens et qu'un amant qui ne la voit point n'en scauroit avoir et puis il y a une si grande difference entre une douleur qui quelquesfois n'est fondee que sur un caprice et une que la raison appuye et authorise qu'il ne 
 faut que considerer la chose pour la connoistre un jaloux quand il est aupres de sa maistresse quoy que malheureux a des instants ou il a sans doute quelque plaisir soit a traverser les desseins de son rival soit a premediter sa vangeance et soit mesme a decouvrir quelque intrigue qu'il a voulu scavoir car encore que ces plaisirs ne soient pas plaisirs tranquiles ils sont pourtant tousjours plaisirs mais un amant absent est en un estat si malheureux qu'il ne trouve plaisir a rien ainsi je demande du moins o mon equitable juge que comme j'ay eprouve l'absence de toutes les facons dont on la peut esprouver et que je suis le plus malheureux de tous les amant j'aye aussi le plus de part en vostre compassionthimocrate ayant cesse de parler martesie se tourna vers cyrus comme pour luy demander ce qu'il luy sembloit de son recit et de ses raisons et cyrus respondant a son intention en verite luy dit il en soupirant vous seriez injuste si vous refusiez a thimocrate la compassion qu'il vous demande car son discours m'a si sensiblement touche que je ne scaurois l'exprimer seigneur luy respondit elle thimocrate a obtenu ce qu'il souhaite de moy des le premier de ses malheurs qui est venu a ma connoissance c'estant pas possible de connoistre un aussi honneste homme afflige sans s'interesser dans son deplaisir ne prenez pas tant de part a sa douleur interrompit philocles que vous ne reserviez quelque sentiment de pitie pour la mienne pour moy poursuivit le 
 prince artibie je n'ay que faire de demander que l'on me pleigne puis que mon mal est si grand qu'il ne faut que le scavoir pour m'en pleindre je ne scay adjousta leontidas si je seray pleint mais je scay bien qu'il n'y a point de comparaison des maux que j'ay soufferts a ceux qu'endure thimocrate vous me permettrez d'en douter repliqua cet amant absent pour en juger interrompit erenice il faut entendre vos malheurs et pour les entendre dit aglatidas il faut ne parler plus et les escouter il est vray reprit martesie mais comme thimocrate par ses raisons poursuivit elle a ce me semble parle le premier de philocles qui soustient que n'estre point aime est le plus grand mal de l'amour qu'en suitte il a respondu a ce que pourroit dire le prince artibie qui croit que le plus rigoureux suplice de cette passion est de voir mourir ce que l'on aime et qu'ainsi leontidas qui met la jalousie pour le tourment le plus cruel de tous a este nomme le dernier il me semble seigneur dit elle regardant cyrus qu'il faudroit suivre cet ordre et que philocles devroit parler le premier des trois qui restent cyrus ayant aprouve son opinion et philocles s'estant place vis a vis de luy et de martesie qui le devoit juger il commenca son discours en ces termes 
 
 
 
 
 l'amant non-aime
 
 
seconde histoire
 
 
comme vous scavez la fin de mon avanture auparavant que d'en avoir apris le commencement ny la suitte et que par consequent cette agreable suspension qui fait que l'on escoute mesme quelquesfois les choses fascheuses avec plaisir ne se peut trouver dans mon recit je pense qu'il est a propos de n'abuser pas de vostre patience par une narration extremement estendue je vous diray donc seulement qu'encore que je sois ne sujet du roy de chipre ma maison ne laisse pas d'estre originaire de corinthe et que j'ay l'honneur d'estre allie du sage periandre qui en est aujourd'huy souverain a peine eus-je donc atteint ma dixieme annee que mon pere m'envoya en cette cour la chez un oncle que j'y avois et sous la conduitte d'un gouverneur qu'il me donna en partant avec intention que j'y demeurasse car comme il avoit alors plusieurs enfans il fut bien aise que son nom ne s'esteignist pas en son ancienne patrie comme il alloit faire n'y ayant plus que mon oncle qui le portast et qui estoit desja assez vieux je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire ce qu'est la fameuse corinthe car je parle devant des personnes si intelligentes et si bien instruites de tout ce qu'il y a au monde digne d'estre sceu que ce seroit faire une chose absolument inutile 
 que de les entretenir de la beaute de la magnificence et de la splendeur de corinthe il n'y a donc personne icy qui n'aye sans doute oui parler de cet isthme celebre si connu par toute la mer egee de ce superbe chasteau qui commande cette belle ville et qui la deffend de ce port si grand et si bon qui l'embellit infiniment de ce grand commerce qui la rend si peuplee qui cause sa richesse qui y met l'abondance et les plaisirs et qui ne scache en effet que tout ce qui peut rendre une ville agreable se trouve sans doute en celle la le prince qui la gouverne est un homme de grand esprit la reine sa femme qui s'appelle melisse est encore une tres belle princesse quoy qu'elle ait un fille qui est sans contredit des plus belles et des plus accomplies personnes du monde voila donc l'estat ou estoit la maison royale lors que j'arrivay a corinthe ce n'est pas que periandre n'eust un fils mais il demeuroit a epidaure aupres de son ayeul maternel qui en estoit prince ainsi tout le divertissement de la cour estoit attache a melisse et a la princesse cleobuline sa fille et certes je suis oblige de dire que si je fusse ne avec beaucoup de disposition au bien j'estois en lieu pour profiter extremement car la cour de periandre estoit tousjours remplie des plus grands hommes de toute la grece et il aime tellement a faire honneur aux estrangers que son palais estoit tousjours plein de gens de nations differentes mais comme je n'estois pas alors en un age qui me permist de chercher la conversation 
 des sages et des scavants je m'arrestay bien plus a aprendre ce qui me pouvoit divertir que ce qui me pouvoit instruire le fameux arion de qui l'admirable voix soutenue par les accords ravissans de sa merveilleuse lire l'a rendu celebre par tout le monde fut mon maistre et mon amy tout ensemble et j'eus une si forte passion pour la musique qu'au lieu d'estre mon divertissement elle devint presques mon occupation en effet mon gouverneur me reprit quelquesfois d'une chose tres louable de foy parce que par l'attachement extraordinaire que l'y avois je la pouvois rendre blasmable je commencay donc de partager un peu mon coeur et le celebre thespis estant venu a corinthe je fus charme de sa poesie et de ses belles comedies de sorte que comme j'avois un peu apris a chanter avec arion je devins poete avec thespis y ayant sans doute je ne scay quelle facilite dans mon naturel qui faut que je me change aisement en ce que l'aime la peinture ayant en suitte touche mon inclination j'apris aussi a dessigner et sans estre excellent en pas une de ces choses je puis dire que j'en scavois un peu de toutes ce fut donc de cette sorte que je me divertis jusques a ce qu'il pleust a l'amour de troubler mes plaisirs par les mesmes choses qui les avoient faits durant si long temps et voicy comme ce malheur m'arriva cleobule un de ces fameux sages de grece et prince des lindes avoit envoye vers periandre pour une affaire assez importante 
 mais son agent estant mort a corinthe je fus choisi pour aller vers cleobule car j'avois desja plus de vingt ans et comme ce prince a une fille nommee eumetis que le peuple apelle quelquesfois cleobuline a cause de son pere quoy que ce nom ne soit pas le sien et que ce soit celuy de l'illustre fille de periandre j'avoue que ce voyage me donna quelque plaisir parce que j'avois une si forte envie de connoistre la princesse des lindes que l'on n'en peut pas avoit davantage ayant tant entendu dire de choses de son esprit et de sa vertu que comme je n'avois encore nul attachement a corinthe je fus bien aise d'en partir comme la princesse cleobuline me faisoit l'honneur de m'estimer plus que je ne meritois et qu'elle avoit un commerce tres particulier avec cette excellente personne a cause de la conformite qui se trouvoit en leur esprit et en leur humeur elle me fit la grace de luy escrire une lettre avec intention de me la donner afin que l'en fusse mieux receu et comme cette flateuse et obligeante lettre a este la cause de mon amour je l'ay si bien retenue que je ne pense pas y changer une parole en vous la recitant ce n'est pas que je ne rougisse de confusion d'estre oblige de vous la dire pour vous faire mieux comprendre la naissance de ma passion mais puis qu'elle est le commencement de mon avanture il faut que je vous la die voicy donc comme elle estoit 
 
 
 
 la princesse cleobuline a la princesse eumetis 
 
 
 quelque part que je prenne a la joye que va recevoir philocles en vous voyant et a celle que sa connoissance vous donnera je connois bien que je ne suis ny assez bonne amie ny assez bonne parente pour preferer les interests d'autruy aux miens puis que je ne me resjouis pas assez ce me semble de ce que vous aurez le plaisir de connoistre en la personne de philocles ce que corinthe a de meilleur et de ce qu'il verra en la vostre ce que la grece a de plus illustre ce petit sentiment jaloux ne m'empeschera pourtant pas de vous dire ce que sa modestie luy fera sans doute cacher c'est qu'outre toutes les qualitez essentielles qui ont accoustume de faire toutes seules un honneste homme il possede encore celle de disciple d'apollon et de favory des muses mais j'entens principalement de ces muses galantes qui sont tant de vos amies obligez le donc a vous faire confidence de ce qu'il cache aveque soin a toutes les personnes qui ne vous ressemblent pas et faites qu'il vous montre des vers des crayons et des airs de sa composition je l'ay charge de m'apporter le portrait de vostre visage et de vostre esprit ne le forcez pas s'il vous plaist a vous le derober malgre vous et donnez luy tout le temps qui luy sera necessaire pour s'acquitter dignement d'une si agreable commission faites de plus un echange de ses vers avec ces admirables enigmes que vous faites et qui causent une si grande inquietude a ceux qui les veulent deviner mais 
 apres tout souvenez vous que je ne fais que vous confier le thresor que je vous envoye et que je ne pretens pas vous le donner renvoyez le moy donc genereusement et ne detruisez pas corinthe en retenant philocles aupres de vous comme je vous ay descouvert ce qu'il vous auroit peut-estre cache aprenez moy aussi a son retour quel progres il aura fait dans vostre esprit quelles belles choses il aura escrites aupres de vous et quelles conquestes il aura faites parmy vos dames car il est trop modeste pour croire que je puisse rien apprendre de luy qui luy soit avantageux et trop judicieux aussi pour me parler d'autre chose que de vous quand il remendra je vous en dirois davantage mais je veux vous laisser encore quelques vertus a descouvrir en son ame dont je ne vous parle point quoy qu'elle soit plus belle que son esprit apres cela vous vous souviendrez s'il vous plaist qu'il est mon parent que vous m'avez promis d'estimer tout ce qui m'est cher et que je suis tousjours 
 
 
 cleobuline 
 
 
cette flateuse lettre estant escrite la princesse comme je fus prendre conge d'elle me dit avec autant de galanterie que de civilite qu'elle m'engageoit a bien des choses par la lettre qu'elle escrivoit a l'illustre eumetis mais qu'elle n'en estoit pourtant pas en peine scachant bien que je ne la ferois pas passer pour personne preoccupee madame luy dis-je ce que vous me dittes me fait peur et j'aprehende bien que voulant m'estre favorable vous ne me detruisiez voyez me dit elle en me donnant sa lettre 
 ouverte si vous ne soustiendrez pas dignement ce que je dis de vous je voulus alors m'excuser de la voir toutesfois me l'ayant commande je me mis en estat de luy obeir mais a peine eu- je leu la premiere page que rougissant de honte et n'osant plus continuer de lire ha madame luy dis-je que faites vous et que vous ay-je fait que vous veuilliez me rendre un mauvais office d'une maniere si ingenieuse non madame luy dis-je encore en la luy voulant rendre je ne scaurois me resoudre de porter moy mesme ce qui me doit deshonnorer vous le verrez du moins me dit elle en riant quand ce ne seroit que pour vous aprendre comme vous devez estre si vous ne voulez pas tomber d'acord que vous soyez ce que je dis et comme je m'en deffendis encore elle reprit la lettre et la leut tout haut j'avoue que j'en estois si confondu que je ne pouvois m'empescher de l'interrompre et quoy que la louange soit une douce chose principalement aux jeunes gens j'eus pourtant peur effectivement que je ne pusse soustenir par ma presence le bien que la princesse cleobuline disoit de moy voyant donc ma resistance elle se servit de son pouvoir absolu pour me la faire prendre ainsi apres m'avoir commande de la fermer il falut que je la prisse et que je luy promisse de la rendre je ne pus toutefois m'y resoudre quoy que je ne pusse non plus la suprimer ce n'est pas que je ne sceusse bien qu'elle me pouvoit nuire estant certain que c'est une assez dangereuse chose que les louanges excessives 
 dans les nouvelles connoissances mesme aux personnes les plus accomplies mais c'est enfin qu'il n'est pas aise de resister a la flaterie de sorte que sans scavoir bien precisement ce que je ferois de cette lettre je la portay et je partis avec un homme de qualite appelle antigene de mesme age que moy qui venoit faire le mesme voyage et qui est assurement un aussi agreable homme qu'il y en ait jamais eu a corinthe nous estions amis fort particuliers en ce temps la nous estions de mesme taille a peu pres de mesme air et de mesme mine nous aimions les mesmes choses et il se mesloit aussi bien que moy de vers de peinture et de musique si la princesse cleobuline eust sceu qu'il eust deu faire ce voyage elle auroit sans doute parle de luy dans il lettre car elle l'estimoit assez mais il s'en cacha a tout le monde ne voulant pas que son pere sceust ou il alloit a cause de quelque interest de famille qui seroit oppose a sa curiosite nous nous embarquasmes donc antigene et moy et nous arrivasmes a ialisse qui est la ville ou le prince cleobule fait ordinairement son sejour je luy donnay le paquet que je luy aportois de la part de periandre je luy rendis conte de l'affaire qui estoit entre eux et je luy presentay antigene qu'il receut tres bien et dont il connoissoit le nom mais il se trouva que la princesse sa fille estoit aux champs a deux journees du lieu ou nous estions accompagnee de beaucoup de dames de la ville avec intention de s'y divertir quelques 
 jours trouvant donc cette occasion je m'en voulus servir et faisant connoistre a cleobule que j'avois une lettre pour la princesse eumetis et que estois bien fasche de n'oser partir d'aupres de luy pour la luy aller porter il me respondit selon mon intention qu'il n'estoit pas juste de priver si long temps sa fille du plaisir qu'elle auroit de recevoir des nouvelles d'une princesse qu'elle honoroit beaucoup mais qu'aussi ne seroit il pas a propos me dit il fort civilement qu'il se privast du plaisir qu'il avoit de me voir en me donnant la permission de l'aller porter moy mesme qu'ainsi il donneroit ordre a un des siens de la venir prendre de mes mains afin de la luy rendre et que par cette mesme voye il ordonneroit a la princesse sa fille de revenir voulant que je visse sa cour avec tout son ornement car il estoit veuf depuis quelques annees la chose se passa donc de cette sorte on vint prendre la lettre que j'avois pour cette princesse je la donnay et elle la receut par une autre main que la mienne obligeant celuy qui la luy rendit de luy faire scavoir que l'en usois ainsi par le commandement du prince son pere cependant il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y avoit une famille de corinthe de gens de la premiere qualite habituee en ce lieu la dont le chef se nommoit alasis qui avoit une fille appellee philiste que la princesse des lindes avoit menee avec elle cette personne a sans doute une beaute fort eclatante ce n'est pas que ce soit un visage dont tous les traits 
 soient regulierement beaux mais elle est jeune blonde blanche de belle taille de bonne mine et comme je l'ay desja dit d'un fort grand esclat et d'un abord surprenant cette personne a aussi beaucoup d'esprit et de l'esprit agreable en conversation estant donc aupres d'eumetis lors que celuy qui portoit la lettre de la princesse cleobuline la luy rendit apres qu'elle l'eut veue elle se tourna vers philiste et la luy monstrant voyez luy dit elle ce que la princesse de corinthe me mande d'un de ses parens philiste ayant leu cette lettre en verite dit elle madame si philocles est fait comme il est depeint la princesse cleobuline a raison de l'appeller un thresor et vous le redemander bientost ouy repliqua t'elle en sousriant mais pour le luy pouvoir rendre il faudra que la belle philiste ne le retienne pas par ses charmes comme il y a apparence qu'elle fera s'il est vray que la ressemblance face naistre l'amour ce discours est bien obligeant et bien flateur respondit philiste mais adjousta t'elle madame il n'est pourtant pas tout a fait mal fonde car si philocles avoit autant d'envie de me voir que j'en ay de le connoistre ce seroit desja un assez grand commencement d'amitie je vous assure adjousta t'elle que je prevoy que si vous ne retournez bientost a ialisse cette curiosite me donnera de l'inquietude enfin dit elle en riant car c'est une personne assez gaye si philocles ressemble son portrait il a sans doute tout ce que je luy pourrois souhaitter 
 si je voulois choisir un amy agreable un galant accompli ou un mary tres parfait et philiste reprit la princesse a sans doute aussi tout ce qu'il faut pour conquerir le coeur d'un aussi honneste homme que philocles paroist l'estre par ce que m'en dit la princesse de corinthe mais luy dit elle philiste il ne seroit pas juste qu'estant venu libre il s'en retournast esclave c'est pourquoy j'ay presque envie de n'obeir point au prince mon pere qui m'ordonne de m'en retourner demain ha madame luy dit alors philiste ne me desesperez pas s'il vous plaist car je vous assure que je ne scay pas trop bien si je pourrois demeurer aupres de vous si vous ne vous en retourniez point j'ay une forte impatience de connoistre un homme comme on vous represente celuy la ce fut de cette sorte que ces deux personnes se divertirent en parlant de moy car la princesse des lindes me l'a raconte depuis mais pour demeurer dans les termes que je me suis prescrit au commencement de mon discours je vous diray donc que le reste de ce jour la et celuy qui le suivit je fus le sujet de l'enjouement de philiste qui ne parla que de moy et tant que le chemin dura mon nom entretint toute la compagnie les filles de la princesse faisoient la guerre a philiste et tesmoignoient toutes une si forte envie de me connoistre que je pense que si j'eusse sceu ce qui se passoit je m'en serois retourne a corinthe sans voir la princesse des lindes enfin elle arriva a jalisse il est vray que ce fut si extraordinairement 
 tard a cause de quelque accident qui estoit arrive a ses chariots que passant devant le logis de philiste elle l'y laissa quelque resistance que par respect elle luy peust faire et pour continuer de luy faire encore la guerre philiste luy dit elle en la quittant souvenez vous que je vous ay priee de cacher demain la moitie de vos charmes quand vous viendrez au palais alors sans donner loisir a philiste de respondre le chariot marcha et eumetis fut trouver le prince cleobule dans son cabinet ou il estoit retire il y avoit desja long temps de sorte que je n'estois plus aupres de luy et ce ne fut que le lendemain qu'antigene et moy eusmes l'honneur de la saluer mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que lors que le prince cleobule nous fit la grace de nous presenter a elle le matin comme elle alloit au temple et qu'elle traversa un jardin ou nous estions apres du prince son pere elle trouva tant de conformite entre antigene et moy que n'ayant pas entendu nos noms bien distinctement elle douta lequel des deux estoit celuy dont la princesse cleobuline luy avoit parle dans sa lettre de sorte que nous en faisant un compliment qui nous obligeoit tous deux elle me mit dans la necessite de me faire connoistre en luy disant que j'estois celuy pour qui la princesse cleobuline luy avoit parle conme en ayant seul besoin joint luy dis-je madame qu'elle n'a pas sceu qu'antigene deust venir icy elle redoubla alors sa civilite et antigene ayant fait connoistre parce 
 qu'il luy dit qu'il n'estoit pas une personne ordinaire nous l'accompagnasmes au temple et l'apresdisnee nous fusmes chez elle ou elle me parla tres long temps de la princesse cleobuline avec tous les tesmoignages d'estime et d'amitie qu'il est possible de rendre elle me demanda si elle n'estoit pas tousjours la plus belle chose du monde elle s'informa de ses plasirs et de ses occupations et passant d'un discours a l'autre elle eut la civilite de me dire durant qu'antigene parloit a d'autres dames qu'elle commencoit de me reconnoistre et qu'elle se vouloit un grand mal de ce qu'elle avoit pu douter un moment lequel d'antigene et de moy estoit philocles mais me dit elle pour me punir de cette faute je veux voir si une belle corinthienne que nous avons icy et qui se pique aveque raison d'avoir l'esprit fort esclaire vous connoistra sans qu'on le luy die car si cela arrive je seray punie de mon erreur et s'il n'arrive pas j'en seray du moins consolee je respondis a cela comme je devois mais elle sans m'escouter envoya scavoir de la sante de philiste et luy demander pourquoy elle ne la voyoit pas ce jour la celuy qui eut ordre d'aller faire ce message s'en estant aquite revint luy dire a demy bas mais non pas tant que je ne l'entendisse bien que philiste la remercioit tres humblement de la grace qu'elle luy faisoit que si elle ne se fust pas trouvee un peu mal elle auroit eu l'honneur de la voir mais que son miroir ne luy ayant pas persuade le matin qu'elle fust en 
 estat de faire des conquestes elle ne la verroit point qu'elle n'eust mieux dormi cette princesse se mit a rire de ce message certainement dit elle en parlant a une dame nommee stesilee qui estoit alors aupres d'elle philiste est admirable et abaissant la voix elle luy dit en peu de mots le message qu'on luy venoit de faire de sa part et ce qui l'avoit cause il faudroit madame luy dit stesilee que vous luy fissiez l'honneur de l'aller visiter et que pour la surprendre vous y menassiez ces deux estrangers la princesse qui ne cherchoit qu'a se divertir et qui ne scavoit pas qu'il y avoit un sentiment d'envie entre stesilee et philiste qui faisoit qu'elle souhaittoit qu'elle fust veue negligee y consentit et nous mena antigene et moy chez cette belle corinthienne mais auparavant elle nous dit beaucoup de bien de cette personne et nous n'eusmes alors gueres moins d'envie de la connoistre qu'elle en avoit de me voir pour antigene elle n'avoit point ouy parler qu'il fust a jalisse et ne l'avoit mesme jamais veu car comme je l'ay dit elle n'estoit pas nee a corinthe quoy que son pere en fust et elle estoit nee a jalisse nous suivismes donc le chariot de la princesse dans un autre et comme nous fusmes arrivez a la porte de philiste elle se fit malicieusement donner la main par antigene afin de la mieux tromper et m'obligeant d'aider a marcher a stesilee et de la suivre de bien pres nous trouvasmes que philiste estoit effectivement en habit de personne qui 
 se trouvoit mal quoy qu'elle n'en eust ny le taint ny les yeux et qu'elle fust aussi propre que si elle eust este en sante parfaite cette belle personne estoit seule dans sa chambre fort occupee a accommoder des pierreries comme si elle eust eu dessein de se parer le soir ou le lendemain pour aller au bal quoy philiste luy dit la princesse le croyois vous trouver au lit et je vous trouve sans doute preste d'aller a quelque feste publique pardonnez moy madame luy dit elle en riant aussi bien qu'elle mais vous me trouvez avec le dessein de me preparer a la guerre car vous scavez bien que c'est avec de pareilles armes dit elle en abaissant la voix et en montrant les perles et les diamans qui estoient sur sa table que celles qui ne se fient pas a la beaute de leurs yeux ont recours aux occasions importances en voicy une qui l'est beaucoup luy dit la princesse respondant tout haut car je vous amene deux philocles au lieu d'un en disant cela elle nous fit avancer antigene et moy egalement mais philiste faisant l'estonnee deux philocles madame luy dit elle ha cela n'est pas possible et j'ay bien peine a croire qu'il y en ait seulement un en toute la terre non non luy dit la princesse qui nous avoit deffendu de rien dire qui peust apprendre a philiste lequel estoit veritablement philocles vous n'en serez pas quitte a si bon marche car il faut que je voye si vous qui aimez tant la peinture vous connoissez effectivement en portraits c'est pourquoy dit elle je vous 
 donne deux heures a connoistre lequel de ces deux illustres estrangers ressemble au portrait que je vous ay fait voir dans la lettre de la princesse cleobuline vous scavez qu'il est de bonne main adjousta t'elle et qu'ainsi il ne peut manquer de ressembler parfaitement mais madame luy respondit philiste l'avez vous connu vous qui voulez que je le connoisse vous le scaurez apres repliqua t'elle et s'estant alors assise a la ruelle de philiste elle voulut que cette belle personne fust entre antigene et moy je vous avoue que cette fille me charma d'abord et par le grand eclat de sa beaute et par la maniere dont elle parloit je scavois mesme desja qu'elle souhaitoit de me voir et le message que j'avois entendu me flatta et disposa mon coeur a desirer ardemment qu'elle ne prist pas antigene pour moy il me sembla mesme qu'antigene desiroit au contraire d'estre pris pour ce qu'il n'estoit pas et nous estions tous deux si interdits qu'a parler sincerement nous fusmes quelques momens que luy ny moy ne ressemblions gueres le philocles de la lettre de cleobuline mais encore dit alors la princesse qu'en croyes vous philiste et lequel des deux pensez vous estre cet homme si accompli qui est universellement scavant en toutes les choies agreables et pour lequel vostre curiosite vous a deja donne tant d'inquietude comment voulez vous madame reprit elle que j'ose le nommer apres ce que vous dites et pourquoy voulez vous que je me face un 
 ennemy de celuy que je ne nommeroy pas vous ne songez pas bien a ce que vous dites luy repliqua la princesse car si vous ne dittes rien vous les desobligerez tous deux et de l'autre facon vous en obligerez du moins un pour moy luy dit antigene l'esprit tout esmeu je suis fort assure que quoy que vous disiez je ne seray jamais vostre ennemi car si je suis philocles je scay bien que je ne suis pas celuy de la lettre de la princesse de corinthe et si je ne le suis pas repris-je je scay bien aussi que j'aurois tort de me pleindre de n'estre pas pris pour un autre non non dit la princesse je ne scaurois souffrir que vous parliez davantage je ne veux point que vous aidiez a philiste a vous connoistre elle de qui l'esprit penetrant se vante quelquesfois de descouvrir les sentimens du coeur les plus cachez elle vous voit elle vous a entendu parler il n'en faut pas davantage respondez donc precisement philiste luy dit elle en nous montrant de le main lequel est philocles de ces deux pretendus philocles je ne scay madame luy dit philiste avec le plus agreable chagrin du monde lequel est veritablement philocles mais je scay bien adjousta t'elle en se tournant cruellement pour moy vers antigene que je souhaite que ce soit celuy cy vous faites bien de le souhaitter luy dit la princesse ravie qu'elle n'eust pas devine car vous ne pouvez pas faire qu'il le soit effectivement et tout ce qu'il peut pour vostre satisfaction est qu'en effet il est digne 
 de l'estre pleust aux dieux madame reprit antigene avec beaucoup de joye que ce que vous ditte fust vray et pleust aux dieux repris-je tout confus n'estre point philocles et estre a la place d'antigene jamais il ne s'est veu de sentimens plus meslez que je furent ceux de toutes les personnes de cette compagnie la princesse des lindes estoit bien aise que philiste n'eust pas devine et elle estoit pourtant marrie et voir qu'il avoit paru quelque leger chagrin dans mes yeux philiste de son coste estoit faschee qu'antigene ne se nommast pas philocles et qu'on luy peust reprocher de s'estre trompee stesilee estoit fort satisfaite de ce que philiste n'avoit pas bien devine antigene estoit ravy de joye quoy qu'a ma consideration il n'osast le tesmoigner mais pour moy je n'avois que de la confusion et du despit cependant ces deux sentimens qui ont accoustume de n'estre pas fort propres a contribuer quelque chose a faire naistre et a entretenir l'amour servirent pourtant a ma passion et je creus d'abord que je ne me determinois a faire connoistre a philiste que je n'estois pas tout a fait indigne d'estre philocles que par un sentiment de gloire mais en effet ce fut par un sentiment fort tendre et fort passionne belle philiste luy dis-je avec un serieux qui paroissoit malgre moy sur mon visage vous ne vous estes trompee qu'au nom estant certain qu'antigene a toutes les qualitez du philocles de la princesse de corinthe antigene reprit mon amy qui estoit desja 
 devenu mon rival n'a pas tant d'obligation que vous pensez a cette belle personne et comment l'entendez vous reprit la princesse c'est madame repliqua t'il qu'elle n'a pas dit positivement qu'elle croyoit que je fusse philocles et qu'elle s'est contentee de souhaiter que je le fusse cela est ce me semble encore plus obligeant interrompit stesilee car si elle avoit dit simplement quelle croyoit que vous l'estiez ce n'auroit este qu'une marque de son estime mais ayant fait un souhait qui vous est si avantageux c'en est une de son inclination il n'est pas necessaire interrompit philiste en sous-riant que vous preniez la peine d'expliquer mes sentimens en ma presence car si quelqu'un en doute je les luy expliqueray moy mesme non madame luy dis-je ne vous expliquez pas davantage s'il vous plaist puis que je craindrois qu'antigene ne mourust de joye et moy de douleur si vous luy donniez plus de marques de vostre inclination et si j'en recevois davantage de vostre aversion pour le veritable philocles philiste m'entendant parler ainsi voulut me dire quelque chose de civil pour se racommoder aveque moy mais plus elle vouloit parler et plus elle s'embarrassoit car voyant l'obligation que luy avoit antigene elle ne vouloit pas la diminuer si bien que ne pouvant trouver precisement a s'exprimer dans cette juste mediocrite qu'elle cherchoit la princesse en rioit avec stesilee et prenoit un fort grand plaisir de remarquer son inquietude de sorte 
 que s'en apercevant je voy bien madame luy dit elle que vous vous moquez de moy de ce que je voudrois en obliger deux au lieu d'un mais scachez poursuivit elle toute en colere que puis qu'antigene n'est pas philocles pour tout le reste du monde il le sera pour philiste et je suis bien trompee dit elle si quand il n'auroit pas toutes les qualitez que la princesse de corinthe attribue au veritable philocles ma conversation ne les luy donne en peu de temps j'en ay grand besoin luy dit antigene et ce n'est que par la que je puis pretendre a quelque gloire vous en estes desja si couvert luy dis-je que je ne vous connois plus mais enfin pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience le reste du jour se passa de cette sorte et apres avoir accompagne la princesse jusques a sa chambre nous nous retirasmes ensemble antigene et moy car nos apartemens se touchoient mais nous nous retirasmes tous deux sans nous parler et apres avoir este ainsi quelque temps dans ma chambre ou il estoit entre vous resvez sans doute a vostre gloire luy dis-je antigene je pense me dit il comment je pourray faire pour soutenir le grand nom que la belle philiste m'a donne mais vous poursuivit il en riant ne me plaignez vous pas de me voir si charge et ne voulez vous point m'inspirer pour quelques jours seulement toutes vos bonnes qualitez afin de sauver l'honneur de philiste philiste luy dis-je a tant de gloire d'avoir connu vostre merite comme elle a fait et d'avoir peut estre encore 
 conqueste vostre coeur que je ne la trouve pas fort a pleindre et philocles auroit plus de besoin du secours d'antigene qu'antigene n'a besoin du sien je voulois par ce discours obliger mon amy a me descouvrir ses sentimens mais il ne le voulut pas si bien qu'agissant a son exemple je ne luy parlay plus de philiste
 
 
 
 
cependant admirez un peu je vous prie le caprice de ma fortune comme philiste estoit une personne fort glorieuse et un peu bizarre elle eut un si sensible despit de s'estre trompee qu'elle en eut effectivement de l'aversion pour moy et se resolut tellement de faire valoir les bonnes qualitez d'antigene que quand il eust este de ses plus anciens amis elle ne se fust pas plus interessee a sa gloire qu'elle faisoit joint aussi qu'a mon advis son inclination pancha de ce coste la ce qui causoit son plus grand despit estoit que lors qu'elle avoit nomme antigene elle avoit d'eu effectivement avoir connu par finesse qu'il estoit philocles et c'est pourquoy elle s'estoit hasardee a prononcer si hardiment car comme elle avoit entendu dire que je ne chantois pas mal elle avoit pris soin d'obscurcir le son de sa voix et celuy de la mienne en parlant et ayant trouve plus de douceur en celle d'antigene elle avoit creu qu'il estoit philocles car pour les choses que nous avions dittes l'un et l'autre il y avoit assez d'egalite cependant je remis cette belle personne plusieurs fois et comme toute la cour sceut cette petite avanture tout le monde luy en faisoit la guerre 
 ce qui augmenta tellement sa bizarre resolution qu'elle ne pouvoit plus souffrir qu'on luy dist du bien de moy ce n'est pas qu'elle ne fist semblant qu'elle n'agissoit ainsi que par galanterie mais en effet je suis persuade qu'elle eut de l'aversion pour ma personne et de l'inclination pour antigene des le premier moment qu'elle nous vit nous voila donc tous deux bien occupez luy a faire voir qu'il ressembloit mieux que moy au philocles de la lettre de la princesse de corinthe et moy aussi a montrer que je n'estois pas tout a fait indigne de ses louanges or il est certain que soit a la consideration de la princesse cleobuline ou par mon propre bonheur la princesse des lindes me fit la grace de prendre mon parti et que toute la cour a son exemple fit quelque difference de philocles a antigene mais en recompense aussi la belle philiste en fit natablement d'antigeno a philocles car soit en conversation en promenade ou en bol je voyois tous les jours faite mille choses qui me deplaisoient a la personne du monde qui plaisoit le plus malgre moy je dis malgre moy parce qu'il est certain que je fis tout ce que je pus pour ne l'aimer pas mais il me fut impossible et il y avoit je ne scay quel air galant et enjoue dans son esprit qui faisoit que je ne luy pouvois resister de sorte que je me trouvay tres malheureux des les premiers jours de ma passion et plus malheureux que ceux qui le sont par cent mille accidens qui peuvent arriver en amour estant certain que l'aversion 
 toute simple est une chose que l'on ne scauroit presque jamais vaincre par adresse la cruaute se laisse flechir par des larmes la fierte par des soumissions une humeur imperieuse se gagne par une obeissance aveugle une personne inconstante revient quelquesfois de sa foiblesse par une fermete sans egale et l'on scait au moins ce qu'il faut faire pour se soulager mais lors qu'il s'agit de vaincre une aversion sans sujet toute la prudence humaine n'y scauroit rien faire puis qu'il est vray que c'est une chose qui change tous les objets aussi bien que la jalousie cependant je ne trouvois pas mesme que je pusse avoir la consolation de me pleindre de philiste car disois-je que veux-je qu'elle face elle a un sentiment qui est ne dans son coeur sans son consentement et ou sa raison n'a rien contribue et puis qu'il y a des gens qui haissant les roses que tant d'autres personnes aiment comment puis-je vouloir mal a philiste de la haine secrette qu'elle a pour moy aussi fut-ce par ce raisonnement que je m'obstinay a l'aimer la chose en vint pourtant aux termes que quoy que philiste ne fust pas incivile elle ne put toutesfois estre dissimulee et l'on s'aperceut en mesme temps et de quelque legere inclination qu'elle avoit pour antigene et d'une assez forte aversion qu'elle avoit pour moy pour peu qu'il dist quelque chose d'agreable elle le louoit avec exces et quand j'eusse dit les plus belles choses du monde elle n'en auroit jamais fait apercevoir les autres ny fait semblant de s'en apercevoir 
 elle mesme si elle dancoit dans quelque assemblee avec antigene c'estoit d'un air qui faisoit aisement connoistre qu'elle estoit menee par une main qui luy plaisoit elle en avoit meilleure grace ses yeux en estoient plus brillans et plus guais elle en dancoit plus legerement et plus agreablement elle attiroit les regards de toute la compagnie et leur donnoit autant de plaisir qu'elle me causoit de chagrin et d'admiration tout ensemble mais au contraire lors que je l'allois prendre quelque contrainte qu'elle se fist ce n'estoit plus la mesme personne et je pense que si elle n'eust eu peur qu'antigene l'eust veue mal dancer elle n'eust pas mesme este en cadence tant elle avoit une action languissante et negligee et la chose en fut a tel exces que la princesse luy en parla un jour philiste luy dit elle je vous avois priee de cacher la moitie de vos charmes a philocles mais je n'avois pas entendu que vous luy montrassiez coure vostre incivilite et il me semble vous ne feriez pas mal de partager un peu plus egalement les graces que vous faites a quelques autres mais madame luy respondit elle en riant ne m'avez vous pas dit qu'il ne faloit point que philocles s'en retournast esclave a corinthe ouy repliqua la princesse mais je ne veux pas qu'il s'en aille mal satisfait de jalisse c'est pourquoy si vous me voulez obliger encore une fois philiste soyez un peu plus egale en vos civilitez philiste rougit a ce discours car elle comprit bien que la princesse l'accusoit adroitement 
 de quelque complaisance pour antigene neantmoins faisant semblant de ne s'en apercevoir pas elle luy dit simplement qu'elle apporteroit soing a se corriger et en effet je fus quelques tours que je la trouvay un peu plus civile et comme je ne scavois pas encore le discours que la princesse luy avoit fait j'eus une joye extreme de ce changement et antigene qui n'estoit pas moins amoureux de philiste que moy en eut un desplaisir fort sensible comme il avoit eu plusieurs occasions de luy parler il avoit desja eu quelques conversations particuliers avec elle ou a mon advis il luy avoit fait comprendre une partie de ses sentimens mais pour moy il ne m'avoit pas este possible d'en faire autant pendant cet heureux intervale ou elle fut un peu plus complaisante ayant trouve moyen de l'entretenir a une promenade je me resolus de ne perdre pas un temps si precieux de sorte qu'a la premiere occasion qu'elle me donna de pouvoir changer la conversation indifferente en une un peu plus particuliere est il possible luy dis je belle philiste que vous ne vous soyez pas opposee au bonheur dont je jouis presentement et avez vous pu vous resoudre enfin a connoistre philocles pour ce qu'il est c'est a dire poursuivis-je sans luy donner loisir de m'interrompre pour le plus fidele et le plus passionne de vos serviteurs ha philocles dit elle je vous connois encore bien mieux dans la lettre de la princesse de corinthe que par le discours que vous me faites le portrait 
 dont vous me parlez luy dis-je est un portrait flate et je n'ay pas deu trouver estrange que vous n'ayez pas creu qu'il fust fait pour moy mais le discours que je vous fais est un discours sincere j'en serois bien faschee interrompit elle assez fierement et pour vostre interest et pour le mien vous n'avez donc qu'a vous en affliger luy dis-je car il n'est pas plus vray que vous estes la plus belle personne du monde qu'il est certain que je suis n'achevez pas dit elle philocles de peur de me forcer a vous respondre aigrement et soyez persuade que puis que je ne vous ay pu connoistre quand je le voulois je ne vous connoistray pas non plus quand vous le voudrez vous me connoistrez luy dis-je malgre vous en vous connoissant n'estant pas possible que vous puissiez ignorer l'inevitable force des charmes de vostre beaute et de vostre esprit et de quelle sorte ils m'ont attache a vostre service non philocles me dit elle ne vous y trompez pas je ne scay jamais que ce que je veux scavoir mes yeux ne me montrent que ce qui me plaist et ma raison mesme s'accommode quelquesfois a mes desirs parce qu'ils ne sont pas injustes et code aussi quelque chose a ma volonte il me seroit peut-estre plus avantageux luy dis-je froidement que vostre volonte cedast quelquesfois a vostre raison que voulez vous que j'y face dit elle en riant et que ne prenez vous le conseil que vous me donnez s'il est vray que vous en ayez besoin si ma raison 
 me disoit luy repliquay-je que ce fust un crime de vous aimer je pense que je tascherois de ne le commettre point quoy que ce fust sans doute inutilement et quand la mienne me voudroit persuader reprit elle que philocles seroit le plus aimable de tous les hommes philiste ne l'aimeroit pourtant pas par quel chemin peut on donc aller a vostre coeur luy dis-je je n'en scay rien moy mesme respondit elle et s'il est vray qu'il y ait quelque sentier destourne qui puisse un jour y conduire quelqu'un il faudra que le hazard le luy fasse peut-estre trouver puis que cela est luy respondis-je je me resous a le chercher toute ma vie vous ne le trouverez pas en le cherchant dit elle c'est pourquoy philocles ne vous y obstinez pas plus long temps je luy en eusse dit davantage mais diverses personnes nous ayant joints il falut changer de conversation et depuis cela elle m'osta avec soin toutes les occasions de luy parler en particulier cependant nous vivions antigene et moy avec assez de contrainte car nous ne parlons jamais ensemble que de choses indifferentes et le nom de philiste qui nous estoit si cher a tous deux n'estoit jamais prononce par nous quand nous estions seuls antigene remarquant aisement que la civilite de philiste pour moy n'eut pas de suitte son deplaisir te dissipa bientost de sorte que voyant qu'il n'avoit rien a craindre de mon coste au lieu de me hair comme son rival il me pleignit comme son amy et resolut de me parler un jour sans 
 deguisement en effet estant venu un matin dans ma chambre il me dit qu'il s'estimoit le plus malheureux homme du monde de ce qu'il s'imaginoit que j'estois amoureux de philiste aussi bien que luy qu'il me protestoit que s'il eust eu quelque disposition a souffrir mon amour il se seroit resolu a la mort plustost que de faire obstacle a ma felicite mais qu'ayant veu son esprit si esloigne de tout ce qui me pouvoit estre avantageux il n'avoit pas creu me faire un outrage de ne cesser pas d'aimer une personne que je ne pouvois avoir aimee plustost que luy puis que nous l'avions veue ensemble la premiere fois et que le premier moment de sa veue avoit este le premier de sa passion enfin il me parla avec toute la generosite qu'un amant qui ne veut point quitter sa maistresse peut avoir et je luy respondis aussi avec toute la retenue dont un honme desespere et qui a quelque vertu peut estre capable en parlant a un rival plus heureux que luy et pour lequel il avoit eu beaucoup d'amitie je luy avouay donc ingenument que je n'avois pas un sujet legitime de me pleindre de luy mais je luy dis en fuite qu'encore que cela fust de cette sorte il ne m'estoit pas possible de n'estre pas infiniment fasche de son bonheur que c'estoit une raillerie de penser que deux rivaux pussent jamais estre veritables amis et que tout ce que la generosite et la prudence pouvoient faire en ces rencontres estoit de les empescher d'estre mortels ennemis qu'au reste comme j'estois assez equitable pour 
 ne luy demander pas qu'il abandonnait son dessein je le supliois aussi de ne trouver pas mauvais que je continuasse le mien qu'il pouvoit m'accorder d'autant plustost cette liberte qu'il y avoit peu d'apparence que cela me servist a rien enfin apres une assez longue conversation nous demeurasmes d'accord de ne nous plus parler de philiste de faire de part et d'autre tout ce que nous pourrions pour en estre aimez et que celuy de nous deux qui pourroit obtenir cet honneur obligeroit cette belle personne a prononcer un arrest de mort a celuy qu'elle n'aimeroit pas depuis cela nous vescusmes un peu mieux ensemble antigene et moy parce que nous ne nous cachions plus l'un de l'autre et nous vivions avec assez de civilite pour des gens qui faisoient toutes choses possibles pour s'entre-destruire comme le prince cleobule me retint assez long temps aupres de luy et que de plus je receus de nouveaux ordres de periandre qui m'y arresterent encore davantage j'eus le loisir d'essayer une partie des choses qui ont accoustume d'estre utiles en amour je suivois philiste en tous lieux je parlois d'elle eternellement a toutes les personnes de sa connoissance je ne louois jamais nulle autre beaute devant elle et louois incessamment la sienne quand je le pouvois faire a propos je fis des vers pour sa gloire qui furent trouvez plus supportables de toute la cour que ceux qu'antigene fit quoy que peut-estre ils fussent plus beaux j'adjoustay la musique a la poesie je fis des 
 airs comme des paroles et je les chantay moy mesme avec tout l'art dont j'estois cupable ainsi joignant les charmes de l'harmonie a mes expressions je soupiray en chantant et je taschay d'enchanter son coeur par les oreilles je fis une despense prodigieuse en habillemens en bals en colations et en liberalitez j'aquis l'amitie de tous ses amis et de toutes ses amies alasis son pere m'aimoit beaucoup un frere qu'elle avoit ne me haissoit pas ses femmes et tous ses domestiques furent gagnez par des presens que je leur fis je luy parlay presques tousjours avec un respect qui aprochoit de celuy que l'on rend aux dieux je l'entretins de ma passion en vers et en prose mes larmes luy parlerent aussi fort souvent pour moy la violence de mon amour me mit quelques fois malgre que j'en eusse quelques marques de fureur dans les yeux et de desespoir dans mes discours elle me vit inquiet jaloux le visage change et pour tout dire en peu de paroles le plus malheureux homme du monde sans que je pusse vaincre dans son coeur cette puissante aversion qu'elle avoit pour moy je me souviens mesme qu'une de ses plus particulieres amies qui fut depuis assez des miennes luy demanda un jour s'il estoit possible qu'elle ne m'estimast point puis que j'avois le bonheur d'avoir quelque part en l'estime de tout le monde elle luy avoua lors qu'elle connoissoit bien que je ne meritois pas le mauvais traittement qu'elle me faisoit mais qu'apres tout elle ne pouvoit faire 
 autrement que comme il y avoit des gens qui devenoient amoureux sans scavoir presques par quelle raison ils l'estoient il ne faloit pas trouver estrange s'il y en avoit aussi quelquesfois qui haissoient sans sujet mais luy disoit cette personne ceux qui aiment comme vous dittes combattent pour l'ordinaire leur passion il est vray repliqua t'elle mais c'est parce qu'elle pouvoit les obliger a faire des choses honteuses et n'en faites vous pas d'injustes reprit son amie nullement respondit philiste car je ne suis pas obligee d'aimer tous les honnestes gens qui sont au monde et je m'estime tres heureuse d'avoir un si puissant secours a opposer a un ennemy si redoutable mais luy dit encore cette charitable confidente que ne vous deffendez vous avec les mesmes armes contre antigene que contre philocles si vous ne combatez que pour vostre liberte cruelle amie luy dit elle ne me pressez pas tant je vous en conjure et ne me forcez pas de vous dire ce que je n'oserois penser sans rougir contentez vous que je vous assure seulement que l'amour et la haine sont deux passions tiranniques qui se moquent souvent de la raison et de la prudence et tout ce que je puis vous dire c'est que je ne combatray point l'aversion que j'ay pour philocles parce qu'elle ne me peut causer aucun malheur et que je combatray l'inclination que j'ay pour antigene parce qu'elle pourroit m'estre nuisible voila comme cette conversation se passa que je ne 
 sceus que long temps depuis cependant nous estions tous les jours chez la princesse ou toutes les dames se rendoient mais entre les autres stesilee qui estoit sans doute une fort belle personne y estoit tres assidue cette fille avoit de l'esprit mais un esprit jaloux et envieux qui eust voulu qu'elle eust este seule belle en toute la terre neantmoins j'avois le coeur si remply de philiste que je ne m'apercevois pas des choses les plus visibles de sorte que sans scavoir que cette fille ne pouvoit souffrir la gloire de sa rivale en beaute je luy parlois quelquesfois comme elle est adroite et spirituelle voulant m'oster a philiste ou du moins faire croire au monde qu'elle m'avoit effectivement assujetti elle commenca a me faire la guerre de ma passion en suitte a me pleindre a blasmer l'incivilite de philiste pour moy et son indulgence pour antigene enfin elle conduisit la chose avec tant d'art que sa conversation me devint agreable et necessaire pour me consoler je luy decouvris alors le fonds de mon coeur je luy montray toutes mes foiblesses je la conjuray de me donner part a son amitie je luy demanday des conseils et l'obligeay de souffrir que je luy racontasse mes malheurs la priant d'avoir du moins pour moy quelques sentimens de pitie puis que philiste n'en pouvoit pas avoir elle receut cela comme une bonne personne qui se laissoit toucher a mon mal et me fit valoir avec tant d'art l'obligation que je luy devoit avoir d'endurer 
 que je luy fisse confidence d'une pareille chose que l'en fus abuse et que l'eus effectivement pour elle une amitie tres sincere apres cela je n'avois pas un sentiment jaloux que je ne luy disse a peine philiste m'avoit elle regarde avec indifference ou avec rudesse que je m'en allois pleindre a stesilee de sorte que comme philiste m'ostoit autant qu'elle pouvoit les occasions de luy parler et que stesilee au contraire m'en donnoit toute la liberte possible en peu de jours toute la cour remarqua l'attachement que j'avois a parler en secret avec cette fille et comme on scavoit qu'il y avoit une haine cachee entre ces deux personnes l'on ne s'imagina pas que j'eusse fait ma confidente de l'ennemie de philiste et on creut que j'avois change de sentimens et que les soins que je continuois de rendre a philiste n'estoient plus que pour cacher la nouvelle passion que j'avois pour stesilee antigene en eut une joye extreme et toute la cour estoit bien aise que je me fusse guery d'une passion par une autre stesilee a qui on en faisoit la guerre quand je n'estois pas aupres d'elle se resjouissoit fort de voir que son dessein eust un si heureux evenement et philiste seule par un sentiment glorieux ou je n'avois point de part et qui ne regardoit que stesilee en eut un despit fort sensible ce fier et inflexible esprit ne se porta pourtant pas a s'adoucir pour moy et elle forma seulement le dessein de me faire hair de stesilee si elle pouvoit par quelque voye destournee qu'elle se resolut de 
 chercher mais afin qu'il ne manquast rien a mon malheur et que n'estant pas aime de la seule personne que je pouvois aimer je le fusse encore d'une autre pour laquelle je ne pouvois avoir que de l'amitie il faut que je vous die malgre moy que stesilee trouva quelque chose de si beau de si pur de si grand et de si vertueux dans la passion que je luy disois avoir pour philiste qu'insensiblement elle vint a desirer que j'eusse en effet pour elle ce que je ne pouvois avoir que pour l'autre de sorte qu'agissant en personne interessee elle me donna cent conseils malicieux et adroits que je suivis parce qu'ils paroissoient bons et qui me detruisoient pourtant encore davantage aupres de philiste comme les choses en estoient donc la antigene vint un matin dans ma chambre et venant a moy les bras ouverts mon cher philocles me dit il quel plaisir prenez vous a me cacher vostre bonne fortune et la mienne antigene luy dis-je sans respondre que froidement aux marques de tendresse qu'il me donnoit s'il estoit vray que je fusse heureux vous n'en seriez pas si aise je vous proteste me dit il que vostre contentement m'est aussi cher que le mien et que je n'auray guere plus de joye s'il arrive jamais que la belle philiste m'aime que j'en ay de ce que vous ne l'aimez plus et de ce que vous estes aime de stesilee que vous adorez je n'aime plus philiste luy dis-je tout estonne ha antigene ne vous y trompez pas car c'est un sentiment que je n'abandonneray qu'avec la vie mais me repliqua 
 t'il encore plus estonne que moy toute la cour et philiste mesme vous croyent amoureux de stesilee philiste luy repliquay-je tout surpris me croit amoureux de stesilee ouy respondit il et je l'ay creu comme tout le reste du monde ce discours m'estonna de telle sorte que je ne fus jamais gueres plus afflige que je l'estois par la crainte que l'eus que cela ne m'eust encore mis plus mal avec philiste et par la douleur que j'avois d'estre oblige de me priver de la consolation que je trouvois dans la conversation de stesilee si bien que sans faire un plus long discours a antigene je me separay de luy en luy protestant toutesfois que je n'avois jamais este plus amoureux de philiste que je l'estois et que je donnerois bon ordre a desabuser tout le monde de l'opinion qu'il avoit que je fusse amoureux de stesilee cependant comme j'avois de l'amitie pour cette personne que je croyois luy avoir de l'obligation et que l'en avois este console je crus que je ne devois pas changer ma forme de vivre avec elle sans l'en advertir estant donc alle chez elle par un chemin destourne et apportant soing que l'on ne m'y vist pas entrer je la trouvay seule dans sa chambre avec deux de ses femmes d'abord qu'elle me vit elle remarqua aisement que j'avois quelque nouveau deplaisir qu'allez vous philocles me dit elle philiste vous a t'elle fait quelque nouvelle injustice philiste luy dis-je n'a pas beaucoup contribue au mal qui me fait pleindre presentement et la belle 
 stesilee sans y penser y a plus de part que philiste elle rougit a ce discours n'osant pas y donner un sens aussi obligeant que la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour moy luy eust peut-estre fait desirer il ne m'est pas aise dit elle de deviner quel mal je vous puis avoir fait et je n'en scache qu'un que je fusse capable de souhaitter de vous avoir cause qui est d'oster de vostre coeur la passion qui vous tourmente car je ne doute pas que vous n'appellassiez ainsi le remede qui vous gueriroit mais philocles poursuivit elle ne me laissez pas plus long temps en peine et dittes moy s'il vous plaist comment je puis avoir contribue a la douleur que je voy dans vos yeux vostre beaute luy dis-je est la veritable cause de ce que je soufre philocles dit elle en sous-riant souvenez vous que vous parlez a stesilee je m'en souviens aussi luy dis-je et si elle n'estoit pas si belle qu'elle est toute la cour ne se seroit pas imagine comme elle a fait que l'en suis amoureux philiste qui est assez glorieuse ne l'auroit pas pense et antigene ne l'auroit pas creu mais parce qu'en effet sa beaute est extreme et qu'il est difficile de comprendre qu'on la puisse voir souvent sans luy donner son coeur tout entier on a creu que je l'aimois et on le croit encore toute la cour m'estime heureux d'avoir change de chaines antigene s'en resjouit et philiste en est en colere car je l'avois en effet apris en allant chez stesilee enfin luy dis-je la chose en est venue au point que je suis force de me priver de 
 la seule consolation que j'avois qui estoit sans doute de vous entretenir souvent quoy philocles reprit elle toute surprise parce que l'on dit que vous m'aimez vous me voulez hair je n'ay garde luy dis-je d'estre capable d'un sentiment si injuste car je vous estimeray toute ma vie et mon amitie pour vous ne sera pas moins ferme que mon amour le sera pour philiste mais aimable stesilee comme vous n'avez eu la bonte de souffrir ma confidence que pour mon interest il faut encore que vous enduriez que je me prive de vostre veue par la mesme cause afin de desabuser philiste les dieux scavent luy dis-je quelle peine j'ay a m'y resoudre et les dieux scavent respondit elle en soupirant a demy si vous avez raison de prendre cette resolution mais que pourrois-je faire luy dis-je car enfin si philiste continue de croire que je vous aime ne m'aimera jamais et vostre beaute est si grande que je ne pourrois pas la detromper si j'attendois plus long temps a le faire joint aussi luy dis-je encore aimable stesilee que quand l'interest de ma passion n'y seroit pas le vostre me devroit tousjours obliger a me priver de vostre veue car puis qu'il n'a pas pleu au destin que mon coeur peust estre a vous je n'ay garde de contribuer rien a cette croyance que le monde a prise et j'ay une amitie trop veritable pour vous pour me servir d'une feinte passion qui vous pourroit nuire de sorte que je suis l'homme de toute la terre le plus afflige de voir que de peur de deplaire a une personne 
 qui ne m'aime pas je suis force d'en quitter une autre qui m'a donne cent tesmoignages de bonte et qui a sans doute encore celle de me pleindre de ce dernier malheur je vous en pleins veritablement repliqua telle en rougissant et peut-estre plus que je ne devrois mais je m'en pleins aussi bien que vous poursuivit elle car enfin s'il est vray que la cour croye que vous estes amoureux de moy quels contes n'y fera t'on pas a mon desavantage si vous cessez de me voir ainsi tout d'un coup ne pensera t'on pas que vous avez voulu vous moquer de stesilee ou que nous en usons de cette sorte par finesse non non philocles il ne faut pas que la chose change si promptement ou si vous voulez qu'elle aille ainsi il faut que du moins pour ma gloire il paroisse que je vous aye mal-traitte si cela alloit de cette sorte disois-je je ne me justifierois pas dans l'esprit de philiste puis qu'elle auroit lieu de croire que je ne vous quiterois que parce que vous m'auriez chasse et en effet c'estoit l'intention de stesilee que philiste le creust ainsi mais reprit elle philocles croyez vous que la jalousie soit un mauvais moyen pour se faire aimer pour moy adjousta t'elle je le croy si bon que je suis persuadee que si vous aimiez veritablement quelque autre personne que philiste elle vous en aimeroit plustost ouy luy dis-je mais vous ne songez pas que son affection me seroit alors indifferente si je ne l'aimois plus il est vray repliqua t'elle toute interditte mais 
 si cette autre estoit moins injuste que philiste vous seriez tousjours heureux stesilee prononca ces paroles d'une certaine facon qui me fit connoistre que la tendresse de son amitie estoit d'une nature differente de la mienne et j'en eus une inquietude si grande que le reste de la conversation se passa avec une ambiguite de paroles de part et d'autre qui nous persuada pourtant a mon avis que nous nous entendions bien tous deux mais comme je ne pouvois changer mon coeur et que je ne voulois pas aussi tromper une personne pour qui j'avois une veritable amitie je me separay d'elle en me pleignant et en luy donnant sans doute selon ses sentimens beaucoup de sujet de se pleindre par la cruelle resolution que je prenois de ne luy parler plus en particulier et de ne luy parler mesme que rarement cependant comme cette visite fut sceue d'antigene et qu'elle fut fort longue le changement que j'apportay a ma forme de vivre avec stesilee ne fit pas l'effet que j'en attendois et il courut un bruit que cet esloignement estoit une chose concertee entre elle et moy de sorte que philiste n'en estoit pas desabusee et stesilee se pleignoit aigrement quand elle en trouvoit l'occasion disant que c'estoit une estrange chose que j'eusse eu si peu de soing de sa reputation que je l'eusse voulu sacrifier pour une personne qui ne m'aimoit pas pendant ce temps la philiste d'autre coste faisoit tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour me faire hair stesilee bien qu'elle ne me voulust pas aimer mais 
 quoy qu'elle peust faire je conservay toujours beaucoup d'amitie pour elle il est vray que cela ne servit qu'aine persecuter davantage car j'estois desespere de voir que je luy causois quelque inquietude les choses estoient en ces termes lors que je receus un ordre expres de m'en retourner a corinthe je vous laisse donc a juger en quel estat estoit mon ame je laissois une personne que j'aimois et qui ne m'aimoit point j'en abandonnois une autre qui m'aimoit un peu trop et que je ne doutois pas qui n'achevast de me detruire dans l'esprit de philiste pendant mon absence mais par bonheur pour moy le pere d'antigene ayant sceu ou il estoit luy commanda si absolument par une lettre de s'en retourner qu'il fut contraint de revenir a corinthe ce qui ne me fut pas une petite consolation non plus que la nouvelle que j'apris du retour d'alasis a sa patrie qui devoit estre dans peu de temps et j'en fis un grand secret a antigene car je l'avois sceu par une voye assez detournee le prince cleobule me caressa fort en partant et la princesse sa fille qui est sans doute une admirable personne me donna une lettre pour la princesse de corinthe qui ne m'estoit pas moins advantageuse que celle que je luy avois portee mais lors qu'il falut dire adieu a philiste ce fut une estrange chose et antigene et moy nous donnasmes bien de la peine car nous nous y trouvasmes ensemble et je le contraignis par mon opiniastrete a en partir en mesme temps que moy j'eus 
 donc la satisfaction de l'empescher de dire rien de particulier a philiste mais l'eus aussi le deplaisir de voir une notable difference dans les adieux de cette belle personne toutes les fois qu'elle rencontroit les yeux d'antigene en cette derniere conversation je voyois dans les siens malgre elle je ne scay quel nuage melancolique qui sans en diminuer l'eclat en augmentoit la douceur et quand par hasard elle rencontroit les miens je n'y voyois que de l'indifference ou du chagrin elle me dit adieu presques sans me regarder et suivit ce me sembla des yeux le trop heureux antigene le plus loin qu'il luy fut possible car je me retournay deux fois apres l'avoir quittee de vous dire de quelle facon nous vescusmes durant nostre navigation antigene et moy il seroit superflu estant aise de vous l'imaginer nous resvions presques tousjours et ne parlions jamais de la chose du monde a quoy nous pensions le plus j'avois pourtant une sensible consolation de ce que j'emmenois mon rival pour stesilee je ne pus prendre conge d'elle quoy que j'en cherchasse les occasions et le depit la douleur y et la gloire firent qu'elle ne voulut pas me donner de nouvelles marques de foiblesse enfin nous arrivasmes a corinthe ou periandre et la princesse cleobuline me receurent avecque joye mais il n'y avoit plus de plaisirs pour moy et je fuyois autant la conversation que j'avois accoustume de la chercher le seul arion estoit ce qui me consoloit un peu car comme 
 me il a beaucoup d'esprit et qu'il a l'ame tres passionnee je trouvois dans son entretien et dans ses chansons je ne scay quel charme puissant qui suspendoit mes douleurs et qui m'empeschoit de mourir
 
 
 
 
cependant j'estois desespere de ce qu'antigene ne s'engageoit point a quelque nouvelle passion je vescus donc pres d'un an de cette sorte mais a la fin on sceut qu'alasis pere de philiste venoit avec sa fille car il n'avoit plus de femme habiter a son ancienne patrie dieux que cette nouvelle me causa de joye il est vray qu'elle fut temperee parce que j'apris en mesme temps qu'un frere aisne de philiste avoit espouse stesilee quelques jours auparavant que de partir de jalisse et qu'elle venoit aussi j'eus sans doute quelque douleur de ce mariage neantmoins j'esperay que comme stesilee avoit de la vertu le changement de sa condition en auroit aporte a son ame et qu'au contraire il me seroit avantageux d'avoir une amie si proche parente de philiste antigene de son coste estoit si aise que sa joye paroissoit en toutes ses actions ce qui ne troubla pas peu la mienne mais enfin cette belle compagnie arriva je vous laisse a penser si j'avois prepare l'esprit de periandre celuy de l'illustre melisse et celuy de la princesse cleobuline a bien recevoir une personne qui m'estoit si chere et je fus mesme assez heureux pour n'ignorer pas que philiste sceust que je luy avois rendu cent bons offices mais quoy qu'elle avouast m'en estre obligee elle ne m'en 
 aima pas davantage et elle arriva a corinthe la mesme personne que je l'avois laissee a jalisse c'est a dire belle tres fiere pour moy et assez douce pour antigene quant a stesilee j'y vy un notable changement car sa beaute estoit un peu diminuee et elle avoit une melancolie si profonde sur le visage que je n'osay jamais luy en demander la cause joint aussi que comme je ne cherchay pas a luy parler en particulier elle de mesme l'evita de son coste cependant il n'est rien que je ne fisse pour divertir philiste car elle n'osoit pas refuser ouvertement mes civilitez parce que son pere m'ayant quelque obligation l'auroit trouve fort mauvais je luy fis donc voir tout ce qu'il y a de beau a corinthe et le pauvre arion chanta si souvent aupres d'elle pour l'amour de moy que je suis estonne qu'une voix et qu'une lire qui ont trouve de la compassion parmi les dauphins et parmi les flots ne purent m'adoucir la fierte de son ame insensible cependant elle demeura inebranlable stesilee de son coste quoy que resolue de ne me donner jamais nulle marque d'affection particuliere ne laissoit pas d'estre determinee a entretenir l'aversion de philiste pour moy et en effet cette injuste personne depuis leur alliance luy avoit persuade que j'avois effectivement este amoureux d'elle de sorte que philiste qui estoit glorieuse me mal-traittoit encore un peu plus a corinthe qu'elle n'avoit fait a jalisse je ne pouvois donc jamais aller chez philiste que je ne trouvasse que 
 stesilee estoit dans sa chambre ou que philiste ne fust dans celle de stesilee ce qui me donnoit bien du chagrin car je ne pense pas qu'il y ait rien de plus incommode que de voir tousjours ensemble une personne que l'on aime et de qui l'on n'est point aime et une autre de qui l'on n'est aime et que l'on ne peut aimer et de laquelle encore la personne que l'on aime croit que l'on est amoureux cependant j'esprouvay ce suplice tres long temps sans trouver consolation en nulle part et sans pouvoir obtenir une favorable parole de philiste il me souvient qu'un jour comme j'estois aupres de cette cruelle fille et que quelqu'un fut venu demander stesilee je voulus profiter de cette occasion et la supplier de me dire s'il estoit possible qu'elle peust se souvenir de toutes les peines qu'elle m'avoit fait souffrir a jalisse sans en avoir quelque leger sentiment de repentir et je me mis alors a repasser la naissance de ma passion et cent mil le petites choses qui avoient fait une si forte impression dans mon coeur que je les sentois comme si elles fussent venues d'arriver mais philiste sans presques m'escouter me respondoit hors de propos et d'une facon assez desobligeante pour faire perdre patience a tout autre qu'a moy comme je voulus m'en pleindre aveque respect en verite philocles me dit elle avec un sous-rire malicieux vous me devez pardonner car je ne me souviens point de ce que vous me dittes je scay bien adjousta t'elle que 
 j'ay eu l'honneur de vous voir a jalisse mais de s'imaginer que je me souvienne icy ny de ce que vous m'y distes ny de ce qui s'y passa quand vous y estiez ce seroit s'abuser car je charge ma memoire de fort peu de choses et le passe a l'advenir sont deux temps ou mon esprit ne s'occupe guere a penser quoy luy dis-je injuste personne il ne vous souvient point que je vous ay dit aussi souvent que je l'ay pu que je vous aimois passionnement vous en devez estre bien aise reprit elle car quand je m'en souviendrois vous n'en seriez pas mieux aveque moy et venant alors a luy repasser les endroits ou je l'avois entretenue de ma passion tantost dans un jardin une autrefois chez la princesse des lindes et diverses fois chez elle je vy qu'en effet elle ne se souvenoit pas de la moitie des choses que je luy disois ce qui m'affligea plus que si elle m'eust dit cent paroles fascheuses n'y ayant rien de si offencant ny qui marque davantage le mepris ou l'indifference que l'oubli quoy luy dis-je fort touche et fort afflige je me souviendray de toutes les actions de philiste de toutes ses paroles et mesmes jusques a ses regards et philiste ne se souviendra pas de cent mille tourments qu'elle m'a fait endurer et de cent mille preuves de passion que je luy ay donnees ha cruelle personne m'ecriay-je je suis bien encore plus malheureux que je ne pensois l'estre et que pensiez vous dit elle en riant de ma colere et de mes pleintes je pensois du moins n'estre que hai luy dis-je 
 mais par ce cruel oubli ou vous estes de tout ce qui me regarde je voy bien que je suis encore en un estat plus deplorable que je ne croyois puis qu'assurement je suis mesprise ouy luy dis-je encore vous avez une ame non seulement insensible pour moy mais une ame morte s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi vous me regardez sans doute sans me voir vous m'escoutez sans m'entendre et je ne scay seulement si vous m'oyez a l'heure que je parle ouy me respondit elle et je comprens fort bien que vous me dittes la plus bizarre chose du monde mais je ne vous promets pas de m'en souvenir quand je ne vous verray plus au nom des dieux luy dis-je ne me traittez pas de cette sorte haissez moy si vous ne me pouvez aimer et n'oubliez pas si cruellement tout ce que je fais pour vous ny tout ce que je dis quoy philocles me dit elle vous aimeriez mieux estre hai qu'oublie n'en doutez nullement luy respondis-je mais cependant repliqua t'elle rien n'est plus esloigne de l'amour que la haine pardonnez moy luy dis-je car tous les extremes se touchent et ce cruel oubly dont je me pleins l'est infiniment davantage il y a du moins quelque sentiment dans une ame qui hait et il n'est pas absolument impossible que l'amour naisse parmi le feu de la colere mais d'un esprit froid et insensible qui ne conserve nul souvenir de tout ce que l'on a fait pour l'obliger le moyen d'en esperer de la tendresse et de la reconnoissance et le moyen enfin que vous 
 puissiez aimer ceux a qui vous ne penserez jamais apres tout interrompit elle je ne puis comprendre qu'il ne vaille mieux estre oublie que d'estre hai c'est belle philiste luy dis-je que vous n'avez jamais este ny haie ny oubliee mais pour moy a qui vous avez fait connoistre ces deux sentimens par experience je vous declare que j'aime encore mieux que vous vous souveniez de moy en me haissant que de ne vous en souvenir point du tout la haine est pourtant a mon advis un grand obstacle a l'amour dit elle et l'oubly repliquay-je en est encore un bien plus grand puis qu'enfin il est absolument impossible que l'amour naisse dans l'oubly et qu'elle peut naistre parmy la colere et malgre la haine en un mot je trouve quelque chose de si inhumain poursuivis-je a chasser mesme de son souvenir un amant malheureux que je ne trouverois pas si cruel de le faire mourir effectivement chassez moy donc de vostre coeur si vous ne m'y pouvez souffrir mais laissez moy du moins occuper quelque place en vostre memoire ne vous souvenez de moy si vous voulez que pour en dire du mal que pour vous pleindre de mon opiniastrete a vous aimer malgre vous cherchez mesme les voyes de vous vanger et vangez vous en effet mais de grace ne m'oubliez pas jusques au point de ne vous souvenir mesme plus que mon amour vous importune est-ce trop philiste luy dis-je que ce que je vous demande ouy me repliqua t'elle car la haine est une 
 passion inquiette qui trouble tout le repos de ceux qu'elle possede ou l'oubly au contraire est un certain endormissement d'esprit qui n'a rien de fascheux et qui fait que l'on passe sa vie fort doucement au moins luy dis-je tout irrite et n'estant plus maistre de mon ressentiment oubliez les plaisirs que vous donne la conversation d'antigene aussi bien que les chagrins que vous cause celle de philocles mon secret est bien encore meilleur que cela reprit elle avec une raillerie piquante car je me souviens tousjours de ce qui me plaist et ne me souviens jamais de ce qui me fasche comme je luy allois respondre la princesse cleobuline arriva et je sortis bien tost apres m'estant impossible de pouvoir demeurer davantage aupres d'une personne qui me refusoit toutes choses jusques a sa haine et qui n'avoit que de l'indifference pour moy sans que j'en pusse comprendre la raison il sembloit a cela pres que la fortune me voulust favoriser autant qu'elle pouvoit mais en effet c'estoit pour me faire mieux connoistre l'opiniastrete de mon malheur comme vous le scaures bien tost il arriva donc qu'antigene fut oblige d'aller a thebes pour quelque affaire importante de sorte que pendant son absence j'avois du moins la consolation de ne voir point de rival favorise aupres de philiste et de pouvoir luy parler avec plus de liberte mais plus je l'intretenois plus j'augmentois son aversion et la chose alla a tel exces qu'elle ne me pouvoit plus souffrir cependant je 
 ne laissois pas d'agir conme si je n'eusse point perdu l'esperance je cultivois l'amitie de son frere et celle d'alasis fort soigneusement et je l'aquis de telle sorte qu'ils tesmoignoient l'un et l'autre ouvertement qu'ils eussent este bi aises que l'eusse espouse philiste mon oncle qui souhaittoit cette alliance et qui scavoit que j'estois fort amoureux de cette personne leur en fit parler apres en avoir escrit a mon pere et ne m'en parla a moy qu'apres qu'ils eurent respondu favorablement ainsi je ne voyois nul obstacle a mon bonheur que la seule philiste mais il estoit si grand qu'il en estoit invincible en effet son pere ne luy eut pas plustost commande de me regarder comme celuy qui devoit estre son mary et ne luy eut pas plus tost tesmoigne qu'il vouloit estre obei sans resistance qu'elle entra en un desespoir extreme elle employa stesilee aupres de son frere mais ce fut inutilement et elle sceut enfin que ses larmes ses pleintes et ses prieres seroient inutiles cependant comme il s'epandit un assez grand bruit de ce mariage dans la cour tout le monde s'en resjouissoit pour l'amour de moy et tout le monde fut chez elle pour luy en faire compliment mais pour eviter une semblable persecution elle feignit de se trouver mal durant quelques jours et par cet artifice malicieux elle me priva de sa veue aussi bien que les autres stesilee pendant cela estoit tousjours aupres d'elle ou par un sentiment que l'on ne scauroit exprimer elle me nuisoit autant qu'elle pouvoit et servoit antigene 
 a mon prejudice comme le chagrin de philiste fut tres violent elle devint malade effectivement en feignant de l'estre et elle la fut de telle sorte que les medecins crurent qu'elle en mourroit neantmoins estant enfin eschapee malgre elle s'il faut ainsi dire elle revint en estat de pouvoir souffrir la conversation mais quoy qu'on put pourtant faire elle demeura avec une sante languissante et une melancolie si grande que son humeur n'estoit pas connoissable je la voyois alors comme les autres car elle n'osoit pas m'en empescher mais je la voyois presques sans plaisir par l'opinion que j'avois que j'estoit cause de son mal durant ce temps la diverses personnes luy parlerent en ma faveur et la princesse cleobuline entr'autres voulut scavoir au vray par quel mouvement elle agissoit aveque moy comme elle faisoit mais il luy fut impossible d'en scavoir autre chose sinon qu'elle mesme n'en scavoit rien elle tomboit d'accord avec la princesse que j'estois d'une maison qui honnoroit la sienne par nostre alliance que j'avois plus de bien qu'elle n'en pouvoit esperer que j'avois acquis quelque estime dans le monde que mesme je la meritois et que j'avois sans doute pour elle une affection tres forte puis qu'elle avoit pu resister a tous ses mepris mais apres tout cela elle disoit tousjours qu'il luy estoit impossible de m'aimer jamais qu'il y avoit quelque chose dans son coeur qu'elle ne pouvoit vaincre qui s'opposoit a tout ce qui pouvoit m'estre 
 avantageux et qui le destruisoit mesme entierement mais luy disoit la princesse n'est-ce point que le choix secret que vous avez fait d'antigene est la seule chose qui deffend l'entree de vostre coeur a philocles nullement luy disoit elle et quand je n'aurois aucune complaisance pour antigene et que mon coeur seroit absolument libre j'aurois tousjours la mesme aversion pour philocles car enfin comme je ne hais point par raison et que c'est un sentiment dont moy mesme ne comprens point la cause il n'y en faut point chercher la princesse qui me faisoit l'honneur de m'aimer voyant le caprice de philiste fit ce qu'elle put pour me destacher de son affection mais mon ame estant aussi fortement portee a l'aimer que la sienne l'estoit a me hair elle n'en put venir about j'avouois malgre moy a la princesse qu'il y avoit a corinthe d'aussi belles personnes que philiste d'aussi spirituelles et d'aussi nobles mais je luy disois en mesme temps qu'il n'y en avoit point que je pusse aimer ainsi trouvant autant d'impossibilite a me la faire oublier qu'il y en avoit a l'obliger de ne me hair plus nous estions tous deux malheureux et la seule stesilee dans le fonds de son coeur trouvoit quelque maligne satisfaction a nostre infortune prenant sans doute quelque plaisir a voir un homme qu'elle avoit aime ne l'estre point de ce qu'il aimoit et a voir aussi celle qui selon mon opinion l'avoit empeschee d'estre aimee estre malheureuse par ma passion aussi bien que par la 
 sienne cependant alasis estoit si irrite contre philiste qu'il luy fit dire qu'il ne la verroit plus qu'il n'est sceu qu'elle estoit resolue de m'espouser et de bien vivre aveques moy son frere ne luy estoit pas plus favorable et tout enfin l'affligeant et ne luy laissant nulle esperance elle menoit une vie si melancolique que l'on ne parloit plus d'autre chose dans toute la cour il est vray qu'elle ne souffroit pas seule et que je partageois ses maux d'une facon bien cruelle quelquesfois je me resolvois a ne l'aimer plus et je m'imaginois presques que je le pourrois faire mais helas a peine avois-je pris la resolution de n'aller plus chez elle que mes pas m'y conduisoient malgre moy antigene estoit cependant tousjours absent et je n'avois que la seule philiste pour cause de mes inquietudes un jour que je fus chez elle et que contre sa coustume stesilee n'y estoit pas apres que quelques dames que j'y trouvay s'en furent allees nous fusmes l'un et l'autre quelque temps sans parler philiste revant tres profondement sans me regarder et moy la regardant tousjours sans oser presques commencer de l'entretenir je voyois sur son visage une alteration si grande que j'en estois tout esmeu mais lors qu'elle vint a lever les yeux et que je les vy tous couverts de larmes qu'elle ne pouvoit qu'a peine retenir quoy qu'elle fist tout ce qui luy estoit possible pour cela j'en fus si sensiblement touche que l'on ne peut l'estre davantage madame luy dis-je tout hors de moy oserois-je prendre la liberte 
 da vous demander si ces larmes que je voy ont une cause que je puisse scavoir vous pouvez mesme encore plus dit elle avec une action languissante car vous les pouvez faire tarir moy madame luy dis-je ouy reprit elle et si vous estiez aussi genereux que vous devriez l'estre je serois bien-tost en repos et vous aussi car enfin poursuivit elle pourquoy ne me haissez vous pas mais madame luy repliquay-je pourquoy m'aimez vous point c'est parce que je ne le puis dit elle et c'est par cette mesme raison luy dis-je que je ne scaurois non plus cesser de vous aimer que vous cesser de me hair connoissez du moins dit elle par cette impossibilite que je ne suis pas coupable connoissez aussi par la mesme raison luy respondis-je que je suis bien malheureux puis que je ne puis vivre sans vous et que vous ne pouvez vivre aveque moy je comprens pourtant beaucoup mieux luy dis-je encore par quelle cause je vous aime que je ne comprens par quelle cause vous ne pouvez souffrir ma passion ne cherchez ni raison ni excuse a ce que je fais dit elle car je n'y en cherche pas moy mesme peut estre luy dis-je que le temps et mes services vous changeront non philocles repliqua t'elle ne vous y trompez pas jusques icy j'ay conserve encore quelque bien-seance j'ay invente des pretextes pour differer le mariage que mon pere a resolu de faire de vous et de moy j'ay faint d'estre malade et je la suis devenue en effet mais apres tout s'il ne change et si 
 vous ne changez je me resous a luy desobeir ouvertement et par consequent a estre blasmee de tout le monde cependant je ne scaurois faire autre chose quoy madame luy dis-je vous estes absolument determinee de vous opposer a mon bonheur n'appellez point ainsi dit elle un mariage qui vous seroit desavantageux aussi bien qu'a moy car quelle douceur trouveriez vous a me voir dans une melancolie continuelle et a recevoir cent marques d'indifference non philocles vous ne seriez point heureux et si vous estiez sage vous en useriez autrement je suis mesme assez genereuse dit elle pour ne vouloir pas punir cruellement un homme qui m'aime comme vous m'aimes et vostre interest ne se trouve pas moins que le mien en cette rencontre je scay bien adjousta t'elle que je ne vous espouseray jamais quand toute la terre entreprendroit de m'y faire consentir mais je scay bien aussi qu'aimant la gloire comme je l'aime je vous aurois beaucoup d'obligation si vous ne me reduisiez pas dans la faucheuse necessite de faire une resistance ouverte a mon pere et que de vous mesme vous prissiez la resolution de m'abandonner de vous abandonner madame luy dis-je avec une douleur extreme eh dieux comment vous pourrois-je obeir mais aimerez vous mieux dit elle que je vous regarde comme mon persecuteur que de l'indifference ou je suis pour vous je passe a la fureur contre vous et au desespoir contre moy mesme et qu'enfin vous 
 me rendiez aussi malheureuse que vous estes infortune vous pouvez bien juger me dit elle que si je vous pouvois aimer j'obeirois a mon pere car si cela estoit que manqueroit il a mon bonheur mais ne le pouvant pas quelle justice y a t'il a vouloir de moy des choses qui n'en dependent point y a t'il jamais eu de domination si tirannique que celle que l'on pretend avoir sur mon ame pensez a vous philocles pensez a vous et s'il vous reste quelque raison servez vous en pour adoucir vos malheurs et pour faire cesser les miens quoy madame luy dis-je vous pretendriez que je vous laissasse dans la liberte d'espouser antigene ha non non je vous aime trop pour y consentir si j'estois persuade poursuivis-je que le mespris que vous avez pour moy fust cause par une simple aversion naturelle que vous ne pourriez vaincre j'ay une passion si respectueuse pour vous que je serois capable de me resoudre a mourir en me resolvant de ne vous donner plus jamais aucune marque de mon amour et de ne vous persecuter plus mais injuste personne que vous estes cette aversion que vous avez pour moy est fortifiee par l'inclination que vous avez pour antigene et vous ne voulez bannir philocles que pour luy donner la place qu'on luy destine cependant scachez que c'est ce qui n'arrivera jamais antigene a este mon amy il est vray mais des qu'il a este mon rival il a deu se preparer a voir rompre tous les noeuds de cette amitie j'ay retenu jusques icy mon ressentiment 
 je l'ay veu favorise je l'ay veu aime mais je ne le verray point mary de philiste c'est pourquoy si ce n'est que pour vous donner a antigene que vous voulez vous oster a philocles changez de dessein philiste et pour obliger philocles a n'attaquer pas antigene rendez-le heureux il faudroit que les dieux changeassent mon coeur respondit elle et comme je ne pense pas qu'ils le fassent tout ce que je puis est de vous dire que quand antigene ne seroit plus au monde et que je ne l'aurois jamais connu je serois pour vous ce que je suis mais avouez du moins la verite luy dis-je antigene auroit la gloire d'estre choisi par la belle philiste si alasis y consentoit je suis trop sincere repliqua t'elle pour vous nier ce que vous dittes ha cruelle personne luy dis-je voulez vous me desesperer mais vous mesme philocles dit elle voulez vous me faire perdre la raison quel droit avez vous sur mes volontez vous ay-je donne quelque esperance depuis le temps que je vous connois non luy dis-je mais vous m'avez donne beaucoup d'amour en suis-je coupable reprit elle et ne vous ay-je pas prie mille fois de n'en avoir plus pour moy enfin dit elle encore tout ce que vous me pourriez dire seroit inutile car je ne seray jamais a philocles et je jure par les dieux interrompis-je qu'antigene ne sera jamais possesseur de philiste tant que philocles sera vivant j'aimeray encore mieux ce malheur la que l'autre repliqua t'elle le voulez vous ainsi luy 
 dis-je l'esprit remply de colere de jalousie et d'amour tout ensemble je vous l'ay desja dit respondit elle puis que cela est poursuivis-je scachez que vous pouvez vous delivrer du malheureux philocles il ne vous persecutera plus et ne vous verra mesme plus si vous voulez et par quelle voye dit elle puis-je obtenir un si grand bonheur en rompant avec antigene luy dis-je et en me promettant solemnellement de ne le voir jamais non plus que moy car de s'imaginer que je vous quitte et que je vous laisse en estat de passer cent heureux jours avec mon rival c'est ce qui n'arrivera jamais je scay bien madame que je sors en quelque facon du respect que je vous dois mais quiconque n'a plus de raison n'est plus assubjetti a aucune bien-seance parlez donc madame voulez vous que philocles ne vous voye plus vous le pouvez presentement quand vous seriez mon mary reprit elle que pourriez vous faire davantage que ce que vous faites si je possedois cet honneur luy dis-je je me confierois a vostre vertu mais n'estant que l'objet de vostre aversion je ne me dois fier qu'a moy mesme ainsi madame si vous voulez que je n'oblige pas alasis a vous forcer d'accomplir la parole qu'il m'a donnee escrivez une lettre a antigene qui luy deffende absolument de vous voir a son retour et je vous laisseray en paix a condition toutefois que la promesse que vous me ferez sera sincere et que vous n'espouserez jamais antigene vous me dittes 
 de si estranges choses me respondit elle qui je ne scay comment je les puis endurer vous m'en respondez de si cruelles repliquay-je que je m'estonne comment je les puis entendre sans mourir quoy qu'il en soit luy dis-je antigene ne profitera point de ma disgrace mais puis que je ne puis estre a vous reprit elle que vous importe a qui je sois que m'importe luy dis-je madame ha que vous connoissez mal la passion qui me possede de croire qu'il n'y ait aucune difference entre un rival aime et un autre qui ne l'est pas je scay bien poursuivis-je que perdre la possession de ce que l'on aime est un mal fort grand mais en voir jour un rival et un rival aime en est un incomparablement plus terrible ainsi ne pensez pas que je puisse jamais changer de sentimens donnez moy du moins quelques jours dit elle a raisonner sur une proposition si bizarre je vous les accorde madame luy dis-je en souspirant puis revenant tout d'un coup de mon transport et veuillent les dieux poursuivis-je que pendant ce temps la vous puissiez changer de sentimens pour moy ce fut de cette sorte que je quittay philiste que je laissay dans une inquietude extreme car elle voyoit que je luy avois donne un moyen de se delivrer de mes importunitez mais pour l'accepter il faloit quitter antigene qu'elle ne haissoit pas d'autre part elle craignoit que si elle s'obstinoit davantage la dessus il n'arrivast de deux choses l'une ou que son pere la forcast a m'espouser comme 
 il y avoit grande aparence qu'il feroit ou que je ne tuasse antigene de mon coste je n'estois pas moins en peine qu'elle car je voyois philiste si malade si changee et si melancolique que je craignois d'estre enfin cause de sa mort de plus j'imaginois quelque chose de si fascheux a violenter ses inclinations en l'espousant malgre qu'elle en eust par l'authorite de son pere que je ne m'y pouvois resoudre quelques fois un genereux depit me faisoit avoir honte de ma lasche perseverance mais un moment apres l'amour reprenoit sa premiere place et chassoit aussi tost de mon coeur tout autre sentiment il y avoit des instans ou la colere me transportoit de telle sorte que je ne la voulois espouser que pour la mal traiter apres et pour l'oster a antigene toute autre voye ne me semblant pas si seure que celle la il y en avoit d'autres aussi ou devenant un peu plus tranquile je ne voulois agir que par de simples soumissions mais quoy que je voulusse et que je pensasse je voulois tousjours qu'antigene n'espousast point philiste cependant alasis qui se faschoit du procede de sa fille commenca de vouloir haster nostre mariage et de luy faire dire par son frere qu'il vouloit absolument qu'elle y consentist se voyant donc alors au desespoir elle m'envoya querir et la trouvant toute en larmes philocles me dit elle vous avez vaincu ha madame luy dis-je seroit il bien possible ouy dit elle et pourveu que vous rompiez avec mon pere 
 je vous promets de rompre avec antigene eh dieux madame luy dis-je que cette victoire est funeste et qu'elle me coustera de l'armes mais madame adjoustay-je vous voulez bien faire la moitie de ce qu'il faudroit pour me rendre heureux que n'achevez vous et que ne dittes vous que vous romprez avec antigene pour ne rompre jamais avec philocles demeurez dit elle dans les termes de vostre proposition si vous ne voulez que je me porte a quelque resolution desesperee philiste prononca ces paroles d'une maniere qui me donna de la pitie malgre ma colere de sorte que faisant un grand effort sur moy mesme mais madame luy dis-je qui m'assurera que vous romprez avec antigene cette lettre dit elle que vous luy rendrez ou que vous luy ferez rendre mais de grace adjousta t'elle comme je fais pour vous tout ce que je puis faites pour moy tout ce que vous devez et ne me voyez plus je vous en conjure en disant cela elle me quita et rentra dans son cabinet mais si pasle si changee et avec tant de douleur dans les yeux que je connus aisement malgre la mienne qu'antigene estoit encore mieux avec elle que je ne pensois de vous dire en quel estat estoit alors mon ame il ne seroit pas aise je sortis de sa chambre et m'en allay chez moy ou je ne fus pas si tost qu'ouvrant la lettre de philiste j'y l'eus ces paroles 
 
 
 
 philistea antigene 
 
 
 si philocles cesse de me voir comme il me l'a promis je vous conjure par le pouvoir que vous m'avez donne sur vous de faire la mesme chose c'est par cette seule voye que je puis m'empescher d'estre a luy et c'est seulement par sa volonte que la mienne n'est pas entierement tirannisee par mon pere pour n'espouser pas celuy que je n'aime point il faut me priver de celuy que j'eusse sans doute aime s'il m'eust este permis de le faire mais qu'y ferois-je ma cruelle destinee le veut ainsi cependant souvenez vous que je pretens estre obeie et que je ne veux point du tout ni que vous querelliez philocles ni qu'il vous querelle a ma consideration car comme il se prive de tout ce qu'il aime pour l'amour de moy qui est moy mesme il est juste que vous en fassiez autant que luy pour le repos de 
 
 
 philiste 
 
 
dieux que cette lettre me donna de divers sentimens tanstost j'avois quelque plaisir a penser qu'antigene ne verroit plus philiste et un moment apres j'estois tres afflige de voir combien j'estois mal dans son esprit je pensay cent et cent fois changer de resolution et cent et cent fois aussi je demeuray determine a suivre celle que j'avois prise et en effet j'obligeay un de mes amis d'aller trouver alasis et de le suplier tres humblement de ne vouloir pas forcer philiste et de luy donner du moins quelque temps a 
 se resoudre qu'aussi bien faloit il que je fisse un voyage pour une affaire qui m'estoit survenue qui me forcoit a partir de corinthe dans peu de jours d'abord cet homme soubconna quelque chose de la verite et voulut absolument que sans s'arrester a l'aversion de sa fille je l'espousasse mais a la fin il creut ce que je luy fis dire et je partis sans dire adieu a personne pour m'en aller ou estoit antigene je fis ce voyage comme vous pouvez penser avec une douleur extreme aussi tost que je fus a thebes je m'informay du lieu ou logeoit antigene et je fus l'y chercher mais on me dit qu'il estoit alle dans les jardins qui sont au dela du chasteau de la cadmee m'en estant donc fait montrer le chemin j'y fus et je le trouvay effectivement avec de fort belles personnes qui se promenoit dans de grandes allees dont les palissades estoient fort espaisses comme je le connus d'une allee je passay dans une autre ne voulant pas luy parler devant tant de monde et arrivant vis a vis de l'endroit ou il estoit j'entendis a travers la palissade que la conversation de ces dames et de luy estoit fort galante et fort enjouee et il me sembla que pour un homme amoureux a corinthe il estoit un peu bien guay et bien galant a thebes mais comme je ne l'estois pas tant que luy je ne voulus pas me mesler dans une conversation de personnes ou je ne connoissois que mon rival et je m'en retournay l'attendre a son logis comme il revint fort tard ce soir la il s'en falut peu qu'il ne lassast ma patience 
 j'avois pourtant une si forte envie de luy donner une mauvaise nouvelle que je l'attendis il ne fut pas plustost venu que montant a sa chambre ou ses gens qui me connoissoient m'avoient mis je m'avancay vers luy avec assez de froideur mais je fus fort surpris de voir qu'il s'en vint a moy avec un visage presque aussi ouvert du temps que nous n'estions pas rivaux philocles me dit il est a thebes eh dieux est il bien possible ouy luy respondis-je et il y est seulement pour antigene et par les ordres de philiste estes vous presentement assez bien ensemble me dit il pour vous donner de semblables commissions vous le verrez par sa lettre luy dis-je en la luy donnant antigene rougit en la prenant de ma main et s'aprochant de la table ou il y avoit des flambeaux j'avoue dit il que je ne puis comprendre tout cecy mais apres avoir leu cette lettre sans une aussi grande esmotion que le m'estois imagine qu'il la devoit avoir non non philocles me dit il repassant quelques paroles de la lettre de philiste antigene ne vous querellera point et quand vous le voudriez quereller vous n'en viendriez pas a bout je confesse que le discours d'antigene me surprit mais apres m'avoir embrasse enfin me dit il les dieux m'ont gueri et quoy que je ne puisse l'avouer sans quelque honte il faut pourtant pour vostre repos que je vous avoue ma foiblesse et que je vous die que je suis aussi amoureux a thebes que je l'estois a corinthe quoy luy dis-je 
 antigene aime de philiste est inconstant et philocles hai et mesprise est fidelle cela est ainsi repliqua t'il sans que je puisse en dire d'autre raison sinon que sans doute les dieux n'ont pas voulu que je fusse plus long temps rival d'un de mes plus chers amis je ne crus pourtant pas d'abord aux paroles d'antigene et le lendemain il me fit voir la personne qu'il aimoit alors qui en effet estoit un miracle de beaute je m'en informay encore dans la ville avec adresse et je sceus qu'effectivement depuis qu'il estoit a thebes il en avoit tousjours paru fort amoureux nous renouasmes donc nostre ancienne amitie et je m'en retournay a corinthe avec la permission de faire scavoir son inconstance a philiste esperant que peut estre cela me pourroit servir mais helas cette esperance fut bien mat fondee car ne pouvant se vanger sur antigene de son infidelite elle s'en vangea sur moy et me traitta plus cruellement qu'elle n'avoit encore fait en ce temps la son pere mourut si bien que n'ayant plus nul espoir et elle agissant avec plus d'authorite qu'elle ne faisoit pendant qu'alasis estoit en vie il falut ne la plus voir et pour achever mon malheur cette cruelle fille qui estoit revenue en sante et plus belle que jamais s'en retourna a ialisse chez une tante qu'elle y avoit car sa mere estoit de ce pais la et elle y fut mariee quelque temps apres sans m'avoir jamais donne que des marques d'aversion ou a tout le moins d'indifference et par consequent je pais dire que non 
 seulement j'ay este prive de toutes les douceurs de l'amour mais que l'en ay esprouve tous les suplices n'y en ayant point sans doute qui esgale celuy la aussi ne pus-je plus souffrir le lieu ou je l'avois si long temps endure et malgre tout ce que l'on me put dire je quittay corinthe et je m'en retournay en chipre ou j'ay continue d'adorer comme je fais encore cette rigoureuse personne de sorte que sans pouvoir jamais esperer d'estre aime je voy bien que j'aimeray tousjours et que par consequent je seray tousjours malheureux l'absence est sans doute un mal tres sensible mais estre absolument esloigne du coeur de la personne que l'on aime est une chose bien plus cruelle que de n'estre esloigne que de ses yeux ce mal a cent mille remedes qui le soulagent du moins s'ils ne le guerissent pas le souvenir des choses agreables accompagne de l'esperance du retour donne certainement d'assez douces heures quoy que thimocrate en veuille dire et je ne scay mesme si le plaisir de revoir ce que l'on aime apres en avoir este prive quelques jours n'est pas plus grand que tous les maux que l'absence peut causer mais de s'imaginer que l'on n'est point aime et qu'on ne le sera jamais c'est un suplice que l'on ne peut comprendre a moins que de l'avoir esprouve et par lequel l'absence toute simple ne peut entrer en comparaison de cette grande absence dont je parle elle qui comprend toute sorte d'absences puis que mesme en la presence de ce que l'on aime 
 me on est esloigne de son coeur et de son esprit je confesse sans doute que la mort d'une maistresse est plus rigoureuse que l'absence mais je n'endureray pas que l'on die que celuy qui n'est point aime soit moins malheureux que celuy qui pert ce qu'il aime ce dernier mal est certainement un mal violent toutesfois suivant l'intention de la nature il perd quelque chose sa force des qu'il est arrive a son terme mais celuy que je souffre contre l'ordre de tout l'univers est violent et durable plus il dure plus il s'augmente ou l'autre au contraire deminue en avancant l'impossibilite de pouvoir ressusciter une personne morte fait que l'ame se repose malgre elle dans sa propre douleur elle s'enferme pour ainsi dire dans le tombeau de ce qu'elle aime et s'assoupissant parmi l'espaisseur des tenebres du cercueil elle y languit a la fin plus qu'elle n'y souffre et il y a mesme quelque sorte de consolation a arroser de ses larmes les cendres de sa maistresse mais un amant mesprise qui se voit mort dans le coeur de ce qu'il aime ne jouit d'aucun repos car estant persuade pour son malheur qu'il n'est pas absolument impossible qu'il n'arrive quelque changement en ses affaires il forme cent desseins differens qui ne reussissant point du tout le desesperent tous les jours il espere autant qu'il faut pour estre inquiet et non pas pour estre console ainsi faisant tout ce que les autres ont accoustume de faire pour estre aimez il le fait pourtant inutilement plus il aime plus 
 on le mesprise et sans pouvoir guerir et sans mesme le pouvoir desirer il endure un mal incroyable la jalousie est encore un poison bien dangereux mais il n'a pourtant pas toute sa malignite dans le coeur d'un amant qui a cru quelquefois estre aime et si la jalousie peut tenir rang parmi les grands maux c'est sans doute lors que celuy qui est jaloux est persuade que la personne qu'il aime n'a jamais eu de sentimens avantageux pour luy cependant tout rigoureux qu'est ce suplice il n'aproche point encore de celuy que je sens car enfin je suis persuade que si j'avois cru seulement un jour avoir este aime de philiste le sentiment de cet heureux jour adouciroit tous mes maux et fortifieroit mon esperance pour toute ma vie un homme jaloux peut mesme tousjours s'imaginer que peut-estre ce qu'il pense n'est pas car cette passion pour l'ordinaire n'inspire que des sentimens incertains et mal affermis mais quand par une longue experience on scait de certitude qu'il y a une aversion invincible dans le coeur de la personne que l'on aime que reste t'il a faire qu'a desirer la mort car enfin les soins les services les soupirs les larmes et toutes les autres choses que font les amants les plus fidelles ne vont qu'a tascher d'obtenir le bien d'estre aime c'est la seule recompense de l'amour c'est le seul sentiment qui donne le prix a toutes les faneurs sans celuy la tout le reste n'est rien et c'est pour l'aquerir que l'on souffre des annees entieres faut il donc s'estonner 
 si estant prive de ce qui est le terme et le souhait de tous les amans qui ont aime qui aiment et qui aimeront je soutiens que je souffre plus que personne ne scauroit souffrir et que par consequent ce seroit me faire une injustice extreme que de ne me pleindre pas plus que tous les autres malheureux ce fut de cette sorte que philocles acheva de raconter son histoire et de dire ses raisons qui semblerent si fortes a martesie qu'elle ne put s'empescher de dire tant de choses contre philiste que philocles fut contraint de prendre son parti et de la vouloir encore excuser pour moy dit cyrus quoy que je la blasme je ne laisse pas de la pleindre aussi bien que philocles car il faut que les dieux soient bien irritez contre elle de luy avoir fait regarder comme un malheur ce qui pouvoit la rendre tres heureuse mais puis qu'elle est elle mesme la cause de la perte de son bonheur reprit erenice il me semble seigneur qu'elle a merite de le perdre ainsi philocles interrompit aglatidas en est sans doute plus a pleindre car si la fortune avoit toute seule traverse ses desseins il se consoleroit plus aisement que de voir que philiste les a detruits ce mal est grand reprit thimocrate mais quand je songe a celuy que je souffre il me paroist bien petit je le trouve pourtant plus insupportable que le vostre luy repliqua le prince artibie et neantmoins mille degrez au dessous du mien eh pleust aux dieux que l'adorable personne dont je regrette 
 la perte fust en estat de me le faire endurer ce souhait est bien estrange adjousta leontidas je ne scay toutefois si ceux que j'ay faits souvent dans mes jalousies ne vous le paroistront point davantage ce n'est pas encore a vous a parler interrompit martesie et si vous le trouvez bon seigneur dit elle en regardant cyrus le prince artibie suivant l'ordre que vous avez approuve parlera devant leontidas vous estes leur juge repliqua cyrus et ce n'est qu'a vous qu'ils doivent tous obeir aussi crois-je que le prince artibie s'y dispose en effet apres avoir r'apelle en son esprit toutes les funestes idees de la mort de sa maistresse le visage luy changea ses yeux devinrent encore plus melancoliques qu'auparavant et apres avoir soupire deux ou trois fois il commenca son recit de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
l'amant en deuil
 
 
troisiesme histoire
 
 
le souvenir des malheurs est sans doute assez agreable a ceux qui ne les souffrent plus et qui comme des gens echapez du naufrage racontent les perils qu'ils ont evitez n'estant plus en lieu ny en estat de les pouvoir craindre mais le mal que je souffre estant un mal eternel ou qui du moins ne finira qu'avec ma vie il ne me seroit pas aise d'avoir l'esprit assez libre pour vous pouvoir raconter exactement la naissance et le progres de ma passion joint que quand il seroit possible 
 de trouver quelque douceur a se pleindre de semblables maux il n'y en auroit point a se souvenir des plaisirs passez et dont l'on ne peut plus jamais jouir dispensez moy donc je vous en conjure de m'estendre sur tout ce qui ne sera point funeste et ne trouvez pas mauvais que mon ame accoustumee a ne penser qu'a la mort ne vous entretienne que de choses melancoliques et ne remplisse vostre imagination que d'urnes de cendres et de tombeaux je ne vous diray point par quelles raisons le prince de cilicie mon frere m'envoya a thebes car cela estant inutile a vous faire connoistre quelle a este ma passion il suffit que vous apreniez que j'y fus deux annees entieres mais il sera peut-estre a propos que vous scachiez seulement que la princesse ma mere estoit de la race de cadmus fils d'agenor si illustre parmi les thebains afin que vous ayez moins de peine a croire qu'un cilicien n'ait pas este traite en barbare parmi des grecs je fus donc a thebes avec un equipage digne de ma naissance j'y fus receu avec beaucoup d'honneur et en peu de jours je connus tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand et de beau en ce lieu la celuy qui estoit alors boeorarche c'est a dire capitaine general de la boeoce avoit un fils nomme polimnis a peu pres de mesme age que moy avec qui je fis une amitie tres particuliere et qui me fit voir tout ce qu'il y avoit de dames de qualite dans thebes parmi lesquelles j'en trouvay grand nombre d'admirablement belles mais dans toutes les 
 compagnies ou je me trouvois je n'entendois parler que de la maladie d'une fille de la ville que l'on disoit estre la plus belle chose du monde et comme je demanday a polimnis s'il estoit vray que cette personne que l'on disoit qui estoit en danger de mourir fust plus belle que tout ce que j'avois veu a thebes il m'assura de nouveau qu'elle avoit plus de beaute toute seule que toutes les autres ensemble j'apris en suitte qu'elle estoit sa parente qu'elle estoit descendue d'eteocle neueu de creon et fils d'iocaste qui avoient porte la couronne avec tant d'infortunes et que cette personne avoit toutes les qualitez qui pouvoient la rendre accomplie je commencay donc de m'interesser a sa conservation sans la connoistre et il n'y avoit point de jour que je ne demandasse a polimnis comment se portoit sa belle malade sans en avoir pourtant comme vous pouvez penser une plus grande inquietude que celle que l'amour des belles choses en general peut causer et que la compassion naturelle peut inspirer a un homme qui a l'ame tendre et l'imagination assez vive cependant il estoit aise de connoistre ses amans car ils estoient tous si melancoliques que les plus discrets faisoient voir leur passion par leurs larmes ou a tout le moins par leurs soupirs un jour que polimnis et moy passions devant la porte de leontine car cette belle personne se nommoit ainsi et c'estoit la mesme qui avoit gueri antigene de l'amour de philiste nous y vismes entrer beaucoup 
 de gens avec precipitation et nous en vismes aussi sortir quelques autres le visage tout couvert de pleurs polimnis arrestant une des femmes de leontine qu'il vit estre fort affligee elle luy dit que sa maistresse se mouroit et qu'elle alloit querir une de ses amies qu'elle avoit demandee auparavant qu'elle perdist la parole polimnis qui estoit parent de cette personne et qui l'aimoit fort me demanda la permission d'entrer chez elle mais bien loin de la luy refuser je luy dis que j'irois aussi en effet nous entrasmes dans cette maison ou il n'y avoit plus aucune ceremonie a observer tant le mal de leontine y causoit de desordre toutes les portes estoient ouvertes tous les domestiques estoient en larmes diverses chambres ou nous entrasmes estoient pleines de monde et apres avoir traverse plusieurs apartemens ou nous trouvions tousjours des personnes affligees nous arrivasmes enfin a son antichambre mais polimnis n'y ayant point encore trouve de gens qui pussent luy dire bien precisement en quel estat estoit sa parente il m'y laissa et entra dans sa chambre dont la porte estoit ouverte et qu'il vit toute pleine de gens qui n'y devoient pas plustost entrer que luy car dans la douleur que le mal de leontine causoit tout estoit en confusion apres l'avoir veu entrer je ne scay par quel sentiment je fus pousse mais je scay bien que sans en avoir l'intention je m'approchay de cette porte et que voyant encore entrer d'autres gens j'entray comme 
 eux et me meslant parmi la presse je vy d'abord un grand pavillon de drap d'or retrousse tout a l'entour et sur un lict qui estoit dessous l'incomparable leontine evanouie mais dieux que cet objet me surprit et me toucha et que la veue d'une si grande beaute en un si pitoyable estat causa de trouble en mon ame elle estoit couchee negligeamment sur le coste la teste un peu renversee ses cheveux a demi denouez la gorge un peu descouverte le bras droit pendant hors du lict le gauche nonchalamment estendu sur sa couverture les yeux fermez et la bouche un peu entre-ouverte sans donner nul signe de vie que par une respiration foible et precipitee qu'a peine pouvoit on discerner cependant quoy que la pasleur de la mort fust sur le visage de leontine je puis pourtant dire que jusques alors je n'avois jamais rien veu de si beau estant absolument impossible de trouver une plus grande beaute que la sienne je vous laisse donc a juger si j'eus de la douleur de la voir en cet estat et de remarquer que tous les remedes qu'on luy faisoit ne servoient de rien je la vy durant une heure a ce qu'il me sembloit toute preste a expirer polimnis qui m'aperceut s'estant aproche de moy voulut me faire sortir a diverses fois afin de s'oster devant les yeux un objet si triste mais voyant qu'on ne prenoit pas garde a nous et que nous y pouvions demeurer je l'y retins sans scavoir pourquoy car j'estois si touche de voir leontine en cet estat quoy que je ne l'eusse jamais 
 veue en un autre que je m'en estonnois moy mesme mais enfin conme on perdoit presque tout a fait l'esperance je vis en un moment je ne scay quel lustre incarnat se mesler a la blancheur de son teint et chasser cette paleur mortelle qui s'estoit espandue sur son visage un moment apres elle ouvrit les yeux mais quoy qu'elle les refermast aussi tost je vis pourtant briller quelque chose de si esclattant que j'en fus esblouy en suitte elle soupira et changeant de posture avec assez de vigueur elle donna un signe evident d'un amendement notable de sorte que les medecins reprenant quelque esperance firent sortir tout le monde de sa chambre a la reserve de ceux qui la pouvoient servir afin qu'elle eust plus d'air et qu'ils peussent mieux l'assister de vous dire comment leontine a demy morte fit naistre une passion immortelle dans mon coeur ce me seroit une chose impossible et il suffit o mon equitable juge que vous scachiez que j'aimay leontine toute mourante qu'elle estoit et que la compassion attendrit tellement mon coeur que l'amour le blessa sans resistance depuis cela je fus plus soigneux que polimnis d'envoyer scavoir de ses nouvelles et mesme plus soigneux que tous ses anciens amants cependant il plut aux dieux de la redonner a la terre elle vescut elle guerit et revint en sante parfaite mais si belle si charmante et si merveilleuse en toutes choses que je m'estimay heureux d'estre son esclave polimnis me mena chez elle des qu'elle 
 fut en estat d'estre veue j'en fus receu avec beaucoup de civilite et je trouvay des graces dans son esprit qui n'eussent pas eu mesme besoin de celles de sa beaute pour captiver le mien s'il peust pas desja este a elle je ne vous diray point suivant ce que je me suis propose que je fis toutes les choses qu'une amour naissante a accoustume de produire et que je fis tout ce que je pus pour luy plaire pour la divertir et pour en estre estime mais je vous diray seulement qu'encore que je ne reusisse pas trop mal en ces trois choses je fus pourtant tres long temps sans recevoir nulles marques de complaisance pour la passion que l'avois dans j'ame leontine estoit tres civile mais comme elle l'estoit pour tout le monde mon amour n'estoit gueres satisfaite neantmoins quoy que je creusse fortement qu'elle ne m'aimoit point du tout je ne laissois pas de l'aimer infiniment et en effet je m'en aperceus quelque temps apres sa guerison car estant allee a la compagne avec quelques unes de ses amies il courut un bruit a thebes qu'elles s'estoient noyees au passage du fleuve ismene leur chariot s'estant renverse au milieu de cette riviere l'on racontoit mesme toutes les circonstances de ce funeste accident on disoit que leontine avoit este trouvee morte a cinq ou six stades de l'endroit ou le chariot avoit este rompu et il n'y avoit presque point lieu de douter de cette tragique nouvelle de vous dire comme je la receus il ne me seroit pas facile j'en perdis 
 la parole et j'en pensay perdre la vie je ne scaurois non plus vous raconter bien precisement ce que je dis et ce que je fis car ma raison se troubla de telle sorte que ma douleur aprit a tout le monde ce que j'avois eu bien de la peine a cacher parce que l'humeur de leontine n'estoit pas d'aimer ces adorateurs publics qui font vanite de leur passion comme il y avoit deux journees de thebes jusques au lieu ou l'on disoit que ce malheur estoit arrive il falut quelque temps pour en avoir des nouvelles mais dieux toutes les heures mesurent des siecles car je les passay sans esperance et si polimnis qui scavoit mon amour ne m'en eust empesche j'aurois este moy mesme au lieu ou l'on disoit que leontine s'estoit noyee mais enfin l'impatience m'ayant pris je sortis a cheval de la ville ne scachant ce que je voulois faire si ce n'estoit que je voulois du moins aller le long du chemin par ou l'on devoit raporter le corps de leontine polimnis qui sceut que j'estois sorty me suivit et me voulant consoler il me disoit qu'apres tout j'estois heureux de ce que sa parente ne m'avoit pas este plus favorable puis que si elle m'eust aime j'en eusse este encore plus infortune que je n'estois ha injuste amy luy dis-je vous ne scavez pas aimer quoy poursuivis-je vous croyez qu'il fust possible que je fusse plus afflige que je ne suis non non luy dis-je encore une fois vous ne scavez ce que c'est qu'amour helas disois-je encore sans plus songer que polimnis estoit la leontine n'est 
 plus leontine la plus belle chose du monde a peri miserablement elle ne m'aimoit pas il est vray mais elle m'auroit peut-estre aime et puis quand elle ne l'auroit pas fait et que je pourrois en estre asseure presentement devrois-je cesser de la pleindre et ne suffit il pas que je l'aimois pour la regretter eternellement non non poursuivois-je en me retournant vers polimnis il ne faut pas d'autre raison pour vous prouver que je dois estre inconsolable j'aimois leontine et je l'ay perdue que faut il davantage pour se desesperer nous ne regrettons gueres ceux qui nous aiment quand nous ne les aimons pas et nous ne laissons pas de regretter ceux que nous aimons encore qu'ils ne nous aiment point pleurons donc pleurons eternellement l'incomparable leontine comme j'en estois la je vis que polimnis sans m'escouter s'arrestoit et jettoit les yeux dans une grande plaine ou nous estions car la beoce est un pais extremement plat et fort descouvert je m'arrestay donc comme luy et regardant du mesme coste je vy paroistre un chariot qui estoit escorte par quelques hommes a cheval apres que polimnis et moy eusmes regarde quelque temps pendant quoy ce chariot approchoit tousjours nous le reconnusmes pour estre celuy de la belle personne dont je regrettois la perte ha polimnis luy dis-je tout hors de moy voicy le corps de leontine que l'on raporte en disant cela cette funeste idee s'empara si fort de mon esprit que mon ame se trouva trop 
 foible pour pouvoir suporter une si grande douleur je voulus pourtant pousser mon cheval vers ce chariot qui s'approchoit tousjours mais ne scachant ce que je faisois et perdant absolument la raison je reculois au lieu d'avancer polimnis s'estant aproche de moy m'a dit depuis qu'il me vit le visage tout change les yeux egarez et que luy tendant la main je luy dis en paroles peu distinctes du moins polimnis je la verray morte et qu'apres cela il vit que j'abandonnois la bride de mon cheval et que s'il ne m'eust soustenu je fusse tombe il me prit donc par le bras et un de mes gens qui m'avoit suivi luy ayant aide il me mit a terre fort doucement a deux pas du chemin ou je demeuray euanoui polimnis se trouva alors bien embarrasse de voir son amy mourant et de voir arriver sa parente morte mais comme il estoit fort occupe aupres de moy et que ce chariot commenca d'approcher il fut estrangement surpris d'y en tendre rire des femmes dont il y en avoit mesme une qui chantoit il se leva donc pour regarder ce que ce pouvoit estre et il vit leontine a la portiere du chariot qui l'ayant reconnu le fit arrester pour luy demander ce qu'il faisoit la mais ayant en mesme temps jette les yeux sur moy bons dieux dit elle polimnis n'est-ce pas le prince artibie que je voy ouy luy repliqua t'il c'est luy mesme et qui a grand besoin de secours mais luy dit il comment estes vous ressuscitee vous que l'on croit morte a thebes il n'est pas temps de vous le dire 
 repliqua t'elle et il vaut mieux assister vostre amy en disant cela elle descendit du chariot comme firent aussi toutes ses amies et ordonnant a un de leurs gens d'aller en diligence a la premiere maison querir de l'eau pour me faire revenir de mon evanouissement leontine s'assit charitablement aupres de moy et me porta mesme la main sur le bras a ce que l'on m'a dit depuis pour connoistre mieux en quel estat j'estois cependant celuy qui estoit alle querir de l'eau estant revenu et m'en ayant jette sur le visage je revins a moy peu a peu mais dieux que je fus surpris de me voir en cet estat et de voir l'admirable leontine vivante moy qui pendant ce long sincope n'avois eu l'imagnation remplie que de sa mort comme polimnis vit que je revenois il s'approcha de leontine qui se tournant vers luy se mit a luy demander ce qui pouvoit m'avoir cause cet accident c'est vous inhumaine parente luy dit il et alors il luy conta en peu de mots la fausse nouvelle de sa mort et ma veritable douleur mais quoy qu'elle fist semblant de ne le vouloir pas croire elle m'a pourtant fait la grace de me dire depuis qu'elle en avoit este plainement persuadee principalement par la maniere dont je la regardy quand je fus revenu par la confusion que j'eus de me voir en cet estat et par cent choses que je fis ou dis en cette occasion mais enfin apres que je me fus bien assure que leontine estoit vivante et que je l'eus remerciee du secours qu'elle m'avoit donne elle ne voulut 
 pas que je remontasse a cheval et faisant presser toutes ses amies elle me donna une place dans son chariot que je fus contraint d'accepter car je ne me remis pas aisement de ma foiblesse et de la douleur que j'avois eue en nous en retournant a thebes j'apris que ce qui avoit donne fondement au bruit qui avoit cour de sa mort estoit qu'effectivement elle avoit trouve le fleuve ismene desborde et que l'ayant voulu guayer elle avoit pense y perir mais que par bonne fortune n'ayant pas voulu s'obstiner de le passer elle estoit revenue sur ses pas et avoit este si heureuse que son chariot n'avoit verse que fort pres du bord de sorte qu'elle et ses amies avoient este promptement secourues et en avoient este quittes pour la peur et pour estre un peu mouillees que cependant elles avoient tarde un jour pour se remettre de cette frayeur s'estant resolues de n'achever point leur voyage que le fleuve ne fust abaisse qu'ainsi il estoit a croire que quelqu'un ayant seulement veu le chariot renverse avoit seme ce funeste bruit cependant cet accident me fut favorable et le silence de mon evanouissement persuadent mieux leontine que toutes mes paroles n'avoient pu faire je la trouvay ce me sembla un peu moins rigoureuse qu'a l'accoustume et s'il m estoit permis de me souvenir de choses agreables je pourrois vous dire que je fus deux mois avec toute la douceur que l'esperance d'estre aime peut donner mais comme cela c'est pas je vous diray seulement 
 qu'apres tant d'heureux jours antigene comme vous l'avez sceu par philocles arriva a thebes et y devint amoureux de leontine aussi bien que beaucoup d'autres l'estoient comme il a un esprit agreable adroit et galant il me donna de la jalousie que je ne pus jamais cacher quelque soing que l'y apportasse et je pense mesme que l'en tesmoignay un jour quelque chose a leontine de sorte que comme cette belle personne avoit une vertu delicatte elle s'offenca bien plus de ma jalousie qu'elle ne s'estoit offencee de mon amour lors que je l'en avois entretenue si bien que pour m'en corriger et pour m'en punir tout ensemble elle traita encore antigene plus civilement qu'a l'ordinaire enfin la chose en alla au point que comme leontine scavoit bien qu'elle n'aimoit pas antigene elle croyoit que le monde ne le croiroit pas et ne se soucioit point pour se vanger de moy de le traitter plus favorablement qu'elle n'avoit jamais traitte personne mais comme on ne lisoit pas dans son coeur on creut qu'elle preferoit antigene a tous ses autres amants et tous les amis que j'avois faits a thebes venoient m'en consoler de sorte que j'en conceus une douleur meslee de despit qui me fit resoudre a vaincre ma passion je la combattis donc et je la vainquis ou du moins je creus que je j'avois vaincue car je ne pouvois plus voir leontine sans colere je la fuyois avec soing et effectivement je pense que je la haissois et que je passay d'une extremite a l'autre je priay donc 
 polimnis que nous allassions a la chasse durant quelque temps a une belle terre qu'avoit son pere a cent stades de thebes au dela du mont helicon nous y fusmes donc et mon ame estoit ce me semble assez tranquile et assez destachee de leontine lors qu'il arriva un des amis de polimnis un jour que nous estions en festin et en joye avec diverses personnes de qualite du voisinage j'avois mesme ce jour la injuste que j'estois raille deux ou trois fois de la complaisance de leontine pour antigene sans avoir ce me sembloit senti dans mon coeur d'autre sentiment que le plaisir d'avoir dit une chose malicieuse contre une personne que je haissois ou que je pensois hair apres donc que cet homme fut arrive il s'en vint a moy et pensant m'obliger car mes sentimens estoient devenus assez publics depuis ma jalousie et bien me dit il enfin le prince artibie sera vange et antigene ne possedera point leontine comment luy dis-je est-ce qu'elle l'a quitte pour un autre comme elle m'avoit quitte pour luy non dit il mais c'est qu'elle est morte effectivement cette fois cy leontine est morte luy dis-je ouy repliqua-t'il elle est morte a chalcis ou son pere l'avoit menee en effet je scavois qu'elle estoit en l'isle d'eubee pour quelques jours car comme elle n'est se paree de la beoce que par un tres petit bras de mer toutes les maisons de qualite ont des alliances d'un lieu a l'autre et leontine avoit une tante a chalcis cet homme me dit donc 
 qu'il estoit venu nouvelle certaine a thebes que leontine estoit morte et qu'il y avoit mesme un de ses amis qui luy avoit assure dans le temple d'apollon ismenien qu'il avoit veu faire ses funerailles a chalcis je le regarday alors sans luy rien dire puis le quittant brusquemant je m'esloignay de la compagnie l'esprit fort trouble et sans scavoir moy mesme ce que je sentois je souffris pourtant beaucoup et je fus me perdre dans un bois qui estoit derriere la maison ou j'estois afin que polimnis ne me peust trouver s'il me cherchoit je fus donc plus d'une heure en un estat que je ne vous scaurois representer mon ame estoit affligee mon coeur estoit sensiblement touche et ma raison mesme ne s'oposoit pas au trouble de mon esprit je voulus pourtant me persuader que perdre celle qui m'avoit maltraitte et que je haissois estoit plustost un bonheur qu'une infortune mais helas mon imagination ne me representa pas plustost cette admirable personne dans le tombeau que ma haine finit et que mon amour recommenca je ne la consideray plus ni comme inconstante ni comme injuste et je ne la regarday que comme la plus belle chose du monde et que comme la personne de toute la terre que j'avois le plus aimee je voulus neantmoins faire encore quelques legers offerts pour m'oposer a ma douleur mais il me fut impossible de la vaincre et l'amour revint dans mon ame avec toute la rigueur dont il est capable puis qu'il y revint sans l'esperance des que 
 je m'imaginois que leontine n'estoit plus tout autre sentiment s'esloignoit de mon esprit et le desespoir s'emparoit si fort que je n'estois plus maistre de mes actions je m'apercevois sans m'en pouvoir empescher que je marchois tantost viste tantost lentement je me taisois en m'arrestant je parlois apres fort haut quoy que je fusse seul il y avoit des instans ou je pleurois avec amertume et avec abondance et il y en avoit d'autres ou j'avois le coeur si serre que je ne pouvois pleurer mais enfin polimnis ayant sceu la nouvelle de la mort de leontine par le mesme homme qui me l'avoit aprise m'estant venu chercher m'ayant trouve me vit en un estat si deplorable qu'il m'a dit depuis qu'il n'avoit jamais veu un plus grand changement en sa vie que celuy qu'il remarqua sur son visage quoy me dit il en m'abordant le prince artibie pleure la mort d'une personne qu'il haissoit et est plus afflige que moy qui ay plus de raison de l'estre que luy ma haine luy dis-je en soupirant est morte avec leontine et mon amour est ressuscite pour me punir de l'avoir haie enfin la douleur fit un si prodigieux renversement dans mon ame que je n'avois jamais este plus amoureux que je l'estois ni par consequent plus infortune je fus deux jours de sette sorte au bout desquels la fievre me prit tres violente mais pour mon soulagement je sceu que la nouvelle de la mort de leontine estoit encore fausse qu'il estoit veritablement mort a chalcis une fille admirablement belle qui se 
 nommoit leontine mais qu'elle n'estoit que parente de celle de thebes qui se portoit bi et li'apris ainsi que la seule conformite du nom et de la beaute avoit abuse ceux qui avoient seme la nouvelle de la mort de ma chere leontine polimnis ne sceut pas plustost la chose que venant a moy les bras ouverts courage me dit il en m'embrassant et en sous-riant il faut recommencer de hair leontine puis qu'elle n'est pas morte et alors il me conta le cause cette erreur ce qui me donna une si grande emotion que passant en un moment de la douleur a la joye la fievre m'en redoubla et je pensay mourir la nuit suivante toutesfois les dieux qui n'estoient pas encore las de me persecuter me redonnerent la sante et ramenerent leontine a thebes ou je retournay aussi j'eusse bien voulu recommencer de la hair mais il me fut impossible quoy disois-je quelquesfois pourquoy faut il qu'une fausse nouvelle qui n'a rien change dans le coeur de leontine ait si fort change le mien et pourquoy la haissois-je il y a quelque temps ou pourquoy ne la scaurois-je plus hair cependant il falut ceder malgre moy a cette passion ressuscitee qui s'estoit rendue maistresse de mon esprit j'en avois quelquesfois de la honte et j'en avois aussi quelquesfois de la joye me semblant qu'estre au monde sans aimer leontine estoit la plus injuste chose de la terre cependant comme elle avoit sceu par polimnis que mon mal avoit este cause pour l'amour d'elle comme effectivement elle ne me 
 haissoit pas elle changea sa forme de vivre avec antigene et aveque moy elle me donna ce qu'elle luy ostoit et s'il n'eust este oblige de partir de thebes bien tost apres il eust esprouve a son tour quelle est la douleur d'en voir un autre plus aime que soy je touchay donc le coeur de leontine elle souffrit que je luy parlasse de ma passion et elle m'avoua enfin que si ses parents y consentoient elle prefereroit le sejour de la cilicie a celuy de la grece quoy que ce soient des pais bien differents en beaute je ne fus pourtant pas sans traverses car le pere de leontine ne vouloir point marier sa fille hors de sa patrie et il n'est point de suplice que je n'aye esprouve par cet obstacle qui paroissoit invincible puis que si le pere de leontine ne vouloit pas donner sa fille a un estranger le prince de cilicie mon frere n'eust pas souffert non plus que je fusse demeure simple citoyen de thebes j'eus donc le desplaisir de voir leontine persecutee par ses parens pour l'amour de moy ayant enfin connu que la resistance qu'ils faisoient a mes desseins l'affligeoit sensiblement cependant apres mille et mille traverses polimnis entreprit la chose si ardemment qu'il surmonta cet obstacle et fit resoudre les parens de leontine a me la donner pourveu que le prince de cilicie consentist a mon mariage j'envoyay aussi tost vers luy et par l'entremise de la princesse ma mere qui estoit de thebes l'obtins son consentement me voila donc le plus heureux de tous les hommes 
 jamais leontine n'avoit este si belle qu'elle estoit et comme elle vivoit alors aveque moy avec plus de franchise qu'a l'ordinaire elle me fit voir dans son ame des sentimens qui m'estoient si avantageux que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu de felicite egale a la mienne on ne parloit donc que de festes et de plaisirs tous les preparatifs de nostre mariage estoient faits tant pour le festin qui devoit estre superbe que pour les habillemens qui estoient magnifiques pour les jeux publics qui devoient estre solemnels ou pour le bal qui devoit estre general durant trois jours enfin ce jour que je croyois devoir estre si heureux pour moy arriva et je vy le matin leontine paree admirablement qui toute modeste qu'elle estoit eut pourtant la bonte de me faire voir durant un moment dans ses yeux qu'elle prenoit quelque part a ma joye elle fut conduitte au temple par son pere suivie de toutes les dames de la ville et je l'y attendis suivant la coustume accompagne de tous mes amis mais a peine fut elle arrivee au pied de l'autel qu'elle fut prise a ce qu'elle dit d'un battement de coeur effroyable un moment apres elle s'assit ne pouvant plus demeurer a genoux et se trouvant tres mal elle fut contrainte de se plaindre a celles de ses parentes qui estoient les plus proches d'elle comme je la regardois tousjours je la vy rougir tout d'un coup et je remarquay enfin qu'elle estoit malade mais helas pourquoy m'arrester plus long temps a des circonstances inutiles 
 leontine ne put achever la ceremonie elle eut la bonte de m'en faire excuse on la reporta chez elle dans une chaize ou un grand tremblement l'ayant prise la fievre suivit bien tost et malgre sa jeunesse et tout l'art des medecins et malgre tous mes voeux le septiesme jour elle fut malade a l'extremite vous jugez bien qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses j'eus la liberte de la voir durant son mal a toutes les heures ou la bien-seance le permettoit je la vy donc souffrir avec une patience admirable et ne tesmoigner avoir autre regret a la vie que celuy de m'abandonner elle me cachoit mesme une partie de son mal de peur de m'affliger trop et quoy qu'elle creust tousjours mourir des le premier moment qu'elle tomba malade elle ne me parla de sa mort que le dernier jour de sa vie mais o jour funeste et malheureux que vous fustes long et terrible pour moy je la vy donc souffrir presques sans se pleindre et je receus de sa belle bouche cent assurances d'une affection toute pure et toute innocente elle me demanda la continuation de la mienne apres sa mort et apres avoir invoque les dieux elle me parla autant qu'elle le put m'ordonnant de leur part et de la sienne de me conformer a leur volonte elle me regarda encore quand elle ne put plus parler et ayant mesme perdu la veue elle tendit encore la main du coste qu'elle m'entendoit pleindre et luy donnant la mienne tout desespere elle la serra foiblement puis un moment apres la laissant aller et 
 faisant un grand soupir elle expira sans avoir mesme perdu sa beaute ny fait une action indecente ne me demandez point o mon equitable juge ce que je sentis et ce que je devins vous estant aise de vous imaginer qu'un homme qui l'avoit tant regrettee lors qu'il n'en estoit point aime qui l'avoit mesme tant pleuree lors qu'il la pensoit hair se desespera lors qu'il la vit mourir de ses propres yeux en un temps ou il en estoit aime et tout prest de la posseder aussi en fus-je touche a tel point que sans polimnis je me serois sans doute tue dans les premiers momens de ma douleur mais il prit un soing de moy si grand que je puis presques l'appeller la cause de toutes les douleurs que j'ay souffertes depuis ce temps la et de toutes celles que je souffriray encore a l'avenir il me sembla que tout l'univers changeoit de face je ne voyois plus rien comme j'avois accoustume de le voir ou pour mieux dire je ne voyois plus que leontine morte ou mourante lors que l'on m'eut arrache par force d'aupres de ce beau corps son image me suivoit en tous lieux et tout eveille que j'estois elle m'aparoissoit en cent manieres differentes son tombeau me fut plus sacre que nos temples son beau nom presques aussi saint que celuy de nos dieux et ma douleur me devint si chere que je haissois tous ceux qui vouloient entreprendre de me consoler quoy que la veue des lieux ou je l'avois entretenue autresfois augmentast mon desplaisir je les visitois pourtant tres souvent 
 toutes les personnes qu'elle avoit tendrement aimees estoient les seules que je pouvois endurer car excepte celles la quand j'eusse este seul en tout l'univers je n'eusse pas este plus solitaire enfin quiconque n'a pas eprouve ce que c'est que de voir mourir ce que l'on aime ne connoist sans doute point du tout la supreme infortune j'avoue que l'absence est un grand mal mais quelle absence peut entrer en comparaison avec cette terrible absence qui n'a jamais de retour et qui met la personne aimee en des lieux de tenebres et d'obscurite que l'esprit humain ne peut penetrer en des tristes lieux d'ou l'on ne peut jamais recevoir aucunes nouvelles et qui pour tout dire en peu de paroles fait que la personne aimee n'est plus en l'estre des choses en verite c'est un sentiment si estrange que celuy que j'ay toutes les fois que je pense que leontine toute belle et toute parfaite n'est plus qu'un peu de cendre que je m'estonne qu'il y ait des gens qui osent me disputer le premier rang parmi les infortunez je scay bien encore que n'estre point aime est un fort grand malheur mais perdre une personne qui nous aime et la perdre pour toujours en est un beaucoup plus sensible car enfin celuy qui n'est point aime souhaitte un bien qu'il n'a jamais esprouve et dont il ne connoist pas les douceurs au lieu que voir mourir une personne qui nous a honnorez de son affection c'est perdre un thresor que l'on possede et dont on scait toute la richesse apres tout l'esperance peut encore 
 trouver place dans le coeur de l'amant de toute la terre le plus mal-traitte mais des qu'une maistresse est dans le tombeau il n'y a plus rien a esperer et l'ame se trouvant abandonnee de tout secours demeure dans un desespoir si horrible qu'il est assurement inconcevable a quiconque ne l'a pas souffert je n'ignore pas non plus que la jalousie est un suplice effroyable cependant qui considerera bien ce qui fait le tourment d'un jaloux verra que la seule crainte de perdre ce qu'il aime est ce qui fait sa plus grande inquietude car s'il estoit assure de ne perdre point sa maistresse il seroit plus en repos et il ne se soucieroit pas tant d'avoir des rivaux dans sa passion or est il que la mort va tout d'un coup ou la jalousie ne fait seulement que vous donner quelque crainte d'aller de plus un amant jaloux a cent choses a faire qui en l'occupant le soulagent mais voir ce que l'on aime dans le cercueil est un miserable estat qui vous laisse dans un funeste repos pire cent mille fois que toutes les peines du monde vous ne scavez ou aller ny que faire tout l'univers vous est indifferent plus le passe a este agreable pour vous plus il vous rend le present insupportable et l'advenir en toute sa vaste estendue ne vous donne rien de plus doux a esperer que la mort de plus la jalousie estant de sa nature une passion chancelante et incertaine fait craindre et esperer cent fois en un jour et donne par consequent quelques momens de relasche a l'esprit 
 mais la mort de la personne aimee est un mal tousjours egalement rigoureux a qui le temps ne peut rien oster car enfin leontine seroit morte pour moy dans un siecle si je vivois comme elle l'est aujourd'huy au reste que l'on ne s'imagine pas que l'habitude adoucisse un pareil mal c'est aux mediocres douleurs que l'accoustumance peut quelque chose mais dans les grandes et violentes afflictions plus elles durent plus elles sont insupportables et plus elles redoublent apres cela je diray encore que l'impossibilite de trouver du remede a une semblable douleur n'est un sujet de consolation qu'en la bouche des sages et des philosophes car en l'ame d'un amant c'est le plus effroyable suplice de tous les suplices ouy la cruelle pensee de scavoir que tous les rois de la terre que toute la valeur des heros que toute la prudence humaine ne scauroit ressusciter une amante morte est proprement ce que l'on peut appeller l'abrege de toutes les douleurs que peut causer l'amour declarez donc o mon equitable juge que je suis le plus digne de vos plaintes par la grandeur de mes infortunes et j'avoueray aussi que les malheurs de thimocrate de philocles et de leontidas meritent plus vostre compassion que les miens par la grandeur de leur merite ainsi rendant justice a l'infortune et aux infortunez tout ensemble j'auray autant de sujet de me louer de vostre equite que j'en ay me pleindre de mon destin 
 le prince artibie acheva son discours avec un saisissement de coeur si grand qu'a peine put il en prononcer les dernieres paroles dinstinctement tant le souvenir de la mort de leontine toucha fortement son esprit sa melancolie passa mesme de son ame dans celle de toutes les illustres personnes qui composoient cette compagnie et il fut pleint avec tendresse de ceux mesme qui luy disputoient le premier rang parmi les infortunez ils ne manquerent pas de prendre garde a cet ingenieux et passionne silence par lequel il avoit suprime le reste de ses avantures depuis la mort de la belle personne qu'il aimoit comme ayant voulu dire tacitement qu'apres cette mort il n'avoit plus de part a la vie et qu'il comptoit pour rien tout ce qu'il avoit vescu ou plustost langui depuis ils ne se rendirent pourtant pas et apres que cette humeur sombre qu'un recit si funeste avoit cause dans leur esprit se fut un peu dissipee chacun soustint encore son opinion et la soustint mesme avec chaleur mais cyrus qui voyoit qu'il estoit desja assez tard dit a martesie qu'il estoit temps que leontidas dist ses avantures et ses raisons si elle les vouloit juger ce jour la de sorte que leur imposant silence a tous en qualite de leur juge qu'elle estoit elle ordonna seulement a leontidas de parler ce qu'il fit de cette sorte 
 
 
 
 
 l'amant jaloux
 
 
quatriesme histoire
 
 
comme la douleur agit differemment selon les divers temperamens de ceux qu'elle possede qu'elle est tantost muette et puis tantost eloquente vous ne devez pas vous estonner si elle ne fait point en mon esprit ce qu'elle a fait en celuy du prince artibie qui n'a pu s'estendre dans sa narration par l'exces de ses desplaisirs pour moy qui ne suis pas de ceux que la douleur fait taire et qui au contraire ne parle jamais tant que lors que j'ay sujet de me pleindre je n'en scaurois user de cette sorte et je ne scaurois ce me semble vous persuader en peu de paroles la grandeur de mes souffrances je ne vous diray pourtant rien d'inutile si je le puis c'est pourquoy je vous aprendray en peu de mots que je suis de l'isle de chipre et que j'ay l'honneur d'estre d'une maison assez illustre je vous diray en suitte que je partis si jeune de cette belle isle qui est consacree a la mere des amours que je n'eus pas le temps d'y rien aimer car la guerre qui estoit alors entre ceux de samos de prienne et de milet m'ayant donne envie d'aller aprendre en ce lieu la un mestier que la profonde paix dont on jouissoit en nostre royaume ne me pouvoit enseigner je quittay ma patrie et dans le choix des trois partis la reputation du vaillant polycrate qui s'estoit fait souverain dans 
 l'isle de samos m'attira dans le sien quoy qu'il ne fust peut-estre pas le plus juste si ce n'est que l'on veuille dire que le droit des conquerans soit le plus ancien de tous ainsi c'a donc este dans cette isle fameuse et dans la cour de cet illustre prince que mon amour a pris naissance et que la jalousie m'a si cruellement traite la reputation de l'heureux polycrate est si grande que je n'ay pas besoin de vous former l'idee de ce prince pour vous faire connoistre ce qu'il est et quelle doit estre sa cour je diray toutesfois en peu de mots que la justice a la place de la fortune auroit eu peine a trouver en toute la grece un homme plus accompli que celuy la pour distribuer ses faveurs equitablement et pour le rendre parfaitement heureux sans donner sujet d'en murmurer aussi l'est il de telle sorte que jamais personne ne l'a tant este il estoit nai citoyen de samos et il est devenu souverain sans estre hai il a toute l'authorite des tyrans les plus absolus et il possede pourtant l'amitie de ses peuples comme s'il en estoit le pere tous ses desseins de guerre luy ont reussi il s'est rendu redoutable non seulement sur la mer d'ionie mais sur route la mer egee les plus grands rois font gloire d'estre ses alliez et tous les voisins l'aiment ou le craignent il est beau de bonne mine et de beaucoup d'esprit et d'humeur aussi douce durant la paix qu'il est fier durant la guerre vous jugez donc bien que la cour de polycrate doit estre agreable et galante 
 puis qu'il est certain que pour l'ordinaire tel qu'on voit estre le prince telle est sa cour quand j'arrivay a samos il estoit prest de s'embarquer pour aller combattre le prince des milesiens de sorte qu'apres luy avoir este presente par un homme de condition nomme theanor que j'avois connu a paphos je m'embarquay le lendemain aveque luy sans avoir veu personne a samos que les officiers des galeres avec un desquels nomme timesias j'eus querelle en m'embarquant et deux autres petits demeslez pendant le voyage cette campagne ne fut pas longue mais elle fut heureuse et nous revinsmes apres avoir vaincu tous ceux que nous avions combattus polycrate fut receu a son retour a samos avec beaucoup de magnificence et comme j'avois eu le bonheur d'en estre assez aime pendant nostre navigation j'eus ma part aux plaisirs qu'il vouloit prendre a son retour le soir mesme que j'arrivay a samos apres toute la magnificence de l'entree qu'on avoit faite a polycrate theanor pour lequel j'avois autant d'amitie que d'aversion pour timesias commenca de me vouloir faire voir comme a un estranger toutes les belles choses de sa ville il me mena dans le temple de iunon a qui cette isle est consacree qui est sans doute un des plus grands et des plus beaux du monde et qu'ils estiment d'autant plus a samos que l'architecte qui l'a basti estoit samien de la nous fusmes nous promener vers un superbe aqueduc qui surpasse 
 tout ce que j'ay veu de grand au monde car il a falu percer de part en part une montagne qui a cent toises de hauteur au dessus de laquelle l'on a fait un chemin qui a plus de sept stades de long huit pieds de large et autant de haut et aupres de ce chemin l'on a creuse un canal de vingt coudees de profondeur par lequel on conduit dans la ville l'eau d'une des plus belles et des plus abondantes fontaines du monde apres avoir bien admire le prodigieux travail d'eupaline car l'entrepreneur de cet aqueduc qui estoit de megare se nommoit ainsi nous rentrasmes dans la ville pour aller nous promener sur une levee haute de vingt toises et longue de deux stades et davantage qui s'avance du port dans la mer et qui est bordee des deux costez de deux balustrades de cuivre de corinthe a hauteur d'appuy ce qui fait le plus bel objet du monde quand on aborde a samos comme nous n'estions qu'au commencement de l'automne et que la saison estoit encore fort belle grand nombre de dames vinrent s'y promener vers le soir suivant la coustume du pais il y en vint mesme plus qu'a l'ordinaire car comme nous avions pris quatre galeres aux ennemis c'estoit faire honneur a polycrate que de tesmoigner quelque curiosite de voir les marques de sa victoire tout ce qu'il y avoit presques de dames a samos se vinrent donc promener ou nous estions et tout ce qu'il avoit d'hommes de condition et de ceux qui venoient d'arriver et de ceux qui n'avoient pas este 
 au voyage y vinrent aussi le prince polycrate voulut mesme y faire un tour ou deux et certes je n'ay jamais rien veu de plus beau que le fut cette promenade la mer estoit fort tranquile et quoy que le soleil fust couche il y avoit pourtant encore assez de jour quand nous y arrivasmes theanor et moy pour pouvoir discerner la beaute de toutes les dames comme je n'en connoissois encore aucune je les regardois toutes indifferemment et je me divertissois a voir les unes s'appuyer sur cette superbe balustrade et regarder les galeres gagnees sur les ennemis et les autres moins curieuses et plus solitaires regarder seulement du coste de la pleine mer quelques unes faisoient cent civilitez a quelques capitaines qu'elles n'avoient point encore veus depuis leur retour quelques autres s'attachoient a une conversation plus particuliere quelques unes encore sans avoir autre dessein que de voir et d'estre veues se promenoient par troupes et toutes ensemble n'avoient autre intention que de se divertir et de passer le soir agreablement theanor n'estoit pas peu occupe a me nommer toutes les belles car pour les autres je luy espargnois cette peine en ne m'informant pas qui elles estoient comme ce divertissement m'estoit nouveau et qu'il y avoit long temps que je n'avois veu de dames je ne pouvois me resoudre a me retirer qu'il ne fust fort tard cependant la nuit venant peu a peu a peine se pouvoit on plus connoistre neantmoins il ne laissoit pas d'arriver encore des 
 gens parce que la lune alloit commencer de se lever theanor m'ayant quitte pour parler a quelques dames je me promenay quelque temps seul et apres divers tours marchant derriere deux hommes que je creus ne connoistre pas je vy briller et tomber quelque chose de la poche d'un des deux mon premier sentiment fut de le luy dire mais sans scavoir la raison pourquoy le second fut de relever ce que j'avois veu tomber et puis de le luy rendre quand j'aurois veu ce que c'estoit je me baissay donc en diligence et trouvant a terre ce que j'y cherchois je vy autant que l'obscurite me le pouvoit permettre que c'estoit une boiste de portrait le temps que je fus a la relever a regarder ce que c'estoit et a resoudre moy mesme si je verrois ce qui estoit dedans au clair de la lune auparavant que de la rendre ou si je la rendrois sans la voir fit que celuy qui avoit perdu cette boiste se mesla parmi d'autres personnes si bien qu'au lieu de voir encore deux hommes devant moy j'y vy plusieurs dames et par consequent je me vy dans l'impossibilite de rendre ce que j'avois trouve a celuy qui l'avoit perdu je cherchay apres cela theanor pour luy raconter mon avanture mais l'obscurite nous separa si bien que je ne pus le rejoindre et sans attendre comme beaucoup d'autres firent que la lune qui se levoit esclairast encore davantage je m'en allay en diligence a une maison ou j'avois loge en abordant a samos et ou suivant mes ordres mes gens m'attendoient 
 j'y fus donc fort promptement et avec assez de curiosite de voir ce que j'avois trouve je ne fus pas plustost dans ma chambre que m'apprachant de la table et des flambeaux je me mis a regarder cette boiste que j'avois tiree de ma poche des le haut de l'escalier afin de ne perdre point de temps et je vy qu'elle estoit d'or avec un cercle de rubis et de diamants tout a l'entour que je ne m'arrestay gueres a regarder quoy qu'ils fussent tres beaux mais l'ayant ouverte en diligence je fus bien plus esblouy de l'esclattante beaute que je trouvay dedans que je ne j'avois este des pierreries qui ornoient cette boiste j'y vis donc un portrait d'une jeune et belle personne mais un portrait si vivant que je jugeay bien qu'il estoit impossible que ce fust un portrait flatte il estoit touche hardiment quoy qu'il fust pourtant tres fin et l'on voyoit bien par l'excellence de l'art que le peintre avoit pris plaisir a travailler d'apres un si beau modelle aussi faut il avouer que rien au monde ne peut estre plus beau que ce portrait je le regarday donc avec admiration et r'appellant les idees de tout ce que j'avois veu de belles a la promenade je ne me souvins point d'y avoir veu personne qui ressemblast a cette peinture et en effet cela estoit ainsi j'ouvris et fermay cette boiste plusieurs fois ne pouvant me lasser d'admirer une si belle chose en suitte j'eus quelque compassion de celuy qui l'avoit perdue et il y eut aussi quelques momens ou je luy portay envie 
 car enfin je m'imaginay que ce portrait estoit un portrait donne a ce luy qui l'avoit perdu et je l'estimois si heureux d'estre aime d'une si belle personne que l'en estois presques en chagrin neantmoins apres avoir bien encore des fois ouvert et ferme la boiste et m'estre bien represente quelle inquietude devoit estre celle de celuy qui avoit laisse tomber ce portrait je me couchay et je dormis quoy que ce ne fust pas sans songer a la peinture que j'avois trouvee le lendemain au matin je me levay mais avec une si forte curiosite de scavoir qui estoit cette belle personne qui estoit peinte et qui estoit celuy qui avoit fait une perte si considerable que cela se pouvoit presque desja nommer une curiosite jalouse je m'habillay donc en diligence et je fus chez theanor que je trouvay prest a sortir il me fit alors excuse de ce qu'il m'avoit perdu le soir dans la presse mais sans luy donner loisir de continuer son compliment et sans prendre garde d'abord qu'il estoit fort melancolique je luy dis que nostre separation m'avoit este si heureuse que j'avois plustost sujet de l'en remercier que de m'en pleindre car luy dis-je en luy baillant la boiste du portrait ouverte voyes ce que je trouvay hier au soir et aidez moy je vous en conjure a descouvrir qui est l'heureux amant qui a pourtant eu le malheur de perdre une chose si precieuse et aprenez moy en suitte le nom de cette belle personne si vous le scavez theanor rougit a la veue de ce portrait et apres l'avoir 
 pris il fut aussi long temps a le regarder sans me respondre que s'il n'eust pas connu de qui il estoit mais enfin l'ayant presse de parler pour le nom de cette belle personne me dit il si vous n'estiez estranger a samos vous ne l'ignoreriez pas car la belle alcidamie l'a rendu trop celebre pour faire qu'il ne soit pas connu de tout ce qu'il y a de gens raisonnables dans nostre isle mais pour celuy de cet heureux amant que vous dittes qui l'a perdu je ne le scay point et peut-estre adjousta t'il est-ce une peinture qu'elle a donnee a quelqu'une de ses amies mais luy dis-je c'est un homme qui l'a laissee tomber et non pas une dame cela peut estre encore me repliqua t'il sans que pour cela ce soit une galanterie d'alcidamie car elle a des parens qui pourroient avoir son portrait sans choquer la bien-seance et si vous m'en croyez dit il vous ne montrerez cette peinture a personne de peur de vous faire une ennemie d'une aussi belle pille que celle la ce n'est pas mon dessein luy dis-je de la desobliger mais j'aurois du moins bien envie de scavoir a qui est veritablement ce portrait je m'en informeray me dit il et je vous en rendray compte mais cependant encore une fois n'en parlez pas si vous m'en croyez et si vous vouliez mesme dit il encore me laisser ce portrait je pense qu'il seroit mieux en mes mains qu'aux vostres car je vous voy une curiosite inquiete adjousta t'il en sous-riant a demy qui me fait craindre que vous ne puissiez vous empescher 
 de le montrer a quel qu'un pour n'en parler pas luy dis-je et pour ne le montrer point je vous le promets mais pour la peinture je ne la rendray qu'a celuy qui l'a perdue encore ne sera-ce pas sans peine parce qu'elle me plaist infiniment theanor fit encore tout ce qu'il put pour ne me rendre point ce portrait mais je m'opiniastray de telle sorte a vouloir qu'il me le rendist qu'il fut contraint de le faire en suitte de quoy nous fusmes ensemble au lever de polycrate et de la au temple avequez luy l'apres-disnee ce prince eut la bonte de me presenter a la princesse hersilee sa soeur qui est une personne fort acconplie chez laquelle il y avoit alors beaucoup de dames et entre les autres une personne appellee meneclide dont l'on disoit que polycrate estoit amoureux j'y vy de plus la merveilleuse alcidamie mais si belle que je n'ay jamais rien veu de si aimable la princesse hersilee qui voulut me traitter en nouveau favory du prince son frere me fit mettre aupres de cette belle personne de qui l'esprit seconda si puissamment les charmes de sa beaute que je ne pus conserver ma franchise theanor entrant dans la compagnie et me voyant aupres d'alcidamie comme je viens de le dire m'en parut un peu interdit neantmoins je ne fis pas alors une grande reflexion la dessus car j'avois l'esprit si inquiet qu'alcidamie sans doute n'eut pas lieu de trouver ma conversation fort agreable quel est difois-je en moy mesme en regardant tous les hommes qui avoient 
 suivy polycrate chez la princesse sa soeur cet heureux et malheureux amant qui a perdu le portrait que j'ay trouve apres je venois a penser combien cette fille eust este estonnee si tout d'un coup je luy eusse montre sa peinture que j'avois sur moy en suitte je songeois combien un homme seroit infortune d'aimer une aussi belle personne que celle la de qui le coeur seroit desja engage enfin je pensay cent mille choses differentes en fort peu de temps et l'on peut presques dire que la jalousie quia accoustume de suivre l'amour dans l'ame de tous ceux qui en sont capables la preceda dans la mienne estant certain du moins que je fis tout ce que les jaloux ont accoustume de faire auparavant que j'eusse donne nul tesmoignage d'amour par aucune autre voye je m'informay adroitement qui estoient les amants d'alcidamie esperant par la venir a la connoissance de celuy a qui apartenoit le portrait mais ceux a qui je le demanday me dirent qu'il n'y avoit pas un homme de qualite dans samos qui ne l'eust aimee de sorte que mes conjectures ne trouvant point ou s'apuyer mais leur dis-je n'en a t'elle choisi aucun c'est ce qui n'est pas aise a descouvrir me repliquerent ils car alcidamie a un esprit adroit capable de bien deguiser ses sentimens si elle veut et tout ce que nous vous en pouvons dire c'est que si elle a quelque amant favorise il faut qu'il soit aussi discret qu'elle est habile puis qu'il est certain qu'il n'y 
 en a aucun bruit dans la cour deux ou trois jours se passerent de cette sorte pendant lesquels je voyois tousjours alcidamie ou chez se princesse ou au temple ou a la promenade ou chez elle car je forcay theanor a m'y mener je dis que je l'y forcay estant certain qu'il s'en excusa autant qu'il put cependant je le conjurois continuellement d'apprendre s'il y avoit moyen a qui apartenoit le portrait d'alcidamie et il me respondoit tousjours que cette curiosite inutile devoit du inoins estre bien intentionne et que quand il le scauroit il ne me le diroit jamais si je ne luy promettois auparavant de bien user de cette connoissance et ne desobliger point alcidamie comme je ne pensois pas encore estre fort amoureux je luy promettois tout ce qu'il vouloit de sorte qu'a quelques jours de la il vint un matin dans ma chambre et feignant d'estre bien aise leontidas me dit il j'ay enfin descouvert a qui appartient le portrait que vous avez trouve et il est a une personne de si grande importance que vous devez estre ravi de luy pouvoir donner la joye de le revoir je rougis au discours de theanor qui me voyant changer de couleur en changea aussi et me demanda pourquoy je ne le remerciois pas de s'estre mis en estat de pouvoir satisfaire ma curiosite c'est luy respondis-je theanor que j'ay change de sentimens et que je crains presentement autant de scavoir a qui est cette peinture que je j'ay desire parce que je ne puis plus me resoudre a la rendre 
 je m'y suis pourtant engage respondit theanor tout surpris car je n'ay pas creu que vous voulussiez scavoir a qui elle estoit avec autre dessein que celuy de faire cette action de justice mais luy dis-je encore theanor a qui est cette peinture je ne suis plus en termes de vous le dire repliqua-t'il puis que vous ne la voulez point rendre car la personne qui m'a permis de vous confier son secret ne me l'a permis qu'a condition que vous luy rendissiez ce qui est a elle autrement il n'est pas juste de vous aprendre une chose aussi secrette que celle la mais luy dis-je celuy a qui est cette peinture est il amoureux d'alcidamie esperdument me repliqua t'il et ce portrait luy repliquay-je luy a t'il este donne par cette belle fille quand vous me l'aurez rendu me dit il vous le scaurez mais jusques alors je n'ay ordre de vous rien dire cruel amy luy repliquay-je j'aime encore mieux ce portrait que vostre secret et si j'ay a rendre cette peinture j'aime mieux aussi que ce soit a la personne qui l'a donnee qu'a celle qui l'a perdue ha leontidas me dit theanor ne faites pas ce que vous dittes si vous ne voulez me desobliger sensiblement comme nous en estions la on me vint dire que polycrate me demandoit de sorte que je fus contraint de quitter theanor mais dieux que je passay tout le reste du jour avec chagrin car enfin je ne doutois plus apres ce que theanor m'avoit dit que toutes mes conjectures ne fussent bien fondees et 
 que ce portrait n'eust este donne par alcidamie a celuy qui l'avoit perdu je commencois mesme de sentir que je n'estois plus maistre de ma raison et qu'il faloit me resoudre d'aimer alcidamie malgre moy ne suis-je pas bien inconsidere disois-je de ne m'opposer pas a une passion naissante qui apparemment ne me peut causer que de la douleur je scay qu'alcidamie aime ailleurs que veux-je donc obtenir d'elle leontidas souffrira t'il un rival dans le coeur de cette belle personne ou sera t'il assez fort pour l'en chasser mais quel est ce rival disois-je helas poursuivois-je je n'en scay rien peut estre est-ce un homme indigne de cet honneur peut estre est ce theanor luy mesme et quoy qu'il en soit adjoustois-je c'est un amant peu passionne puis qu'il ne s'est pas fait connoistre par sa mort apres une telle perte cependant theanor n'estoit pas moins en inquietude que moy car pour vous descouvrir la verite il estoit amoureux d'alcidamie et c'estoit veritablement luy qui avoit perdu ce portrait et qui n'avoit ose me l'advouer car comme j'estois avez jeune il n'avoit pu se resoudre a confier d'abord a ma discretion et il avoit creu pouvoir tirer cette peinture de mes mains par adresse et sous le nom d'un autre mais remarquant enfin que je devenois son rival il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre et nous estions tous deux bien embarrassez car theanor scavoit qu'alcidamie le hairoit estrangement si elle aprenoit que ce portrait 
 trait fust a luy et je craignois aussi extremement que la chose ne fust de cette sorte je m'informay alors a diverses personnes si theanor avoit este amoureux d'alcidamie et je sceus pour mon malheur qu'il l'avoit este et qu'il l'estoit encore le vous laisse donc a juger combien j'estois afflige j'aimois theanor par inclination par raison et par devoir estant certain qu'il m'avoit rendu office de fort bonne grace aupres de polycrate et qu'il avoit pris mon parti avec beaucoup de chaleur contre timesias dont je vous ay desja parle de sorte que je connoissois bien que c'estoit choquer la generosite que de ne combattre pas ma passion aussi fis-je tout ce que je pus pour m'y resoudre mais il ne fut pas en mon pouvoir et l'amour s'emparant absolument de mon ame affoiblit tellement l'amitie que j'avois pour theanor qu'il y avoit des momens ou malgre moy j'en avois quelque confusion alcidamie pourtant estoit tousjours la plus forte dans mon coeur et il m'estoit plus aise de me resoudre a perdre mon amy que de quitter ce que j'aimois alors sans comparaison plus que luy je ne cherchay donc plus qu'a colorer cette infidelite pour cet effet je creus que je devois luy dire le premier quelle estoit ma passion feignant d'ignorer la sienne je fus donc le chercher et je le trouvay seul dans sa chambre mais si inquiet que je ne l'estois pas plus que luy car il commencoit de soubconner que j'estois son rival theanor a ce que je voy luy dis-je en l'abordant est aussi melancolique 
 que leontidas quoy qu'il ne soit pas sans doute aussi amoureux comme nous avons presques tousjours este a la guerre depuis que nous nous connoissons me respondit il assez froidement nous ne nous sommes gueres entretenus de choses galantes et je ne scay pas pourquoy vous presupposez que vous estes plus amoureux que moy ou que je ne le puis estre autant que vous c'est luy dis-je un peu interdit car je sentois bien que ce que je faisois n'estoit pas trop genereux que s'il estoit vray que vous aimassiez aussi fortement quel que belle personne qu'il est certain que j'aime esperdument l'incomparable alcidamie vous vous en seriez pleint a moy comme je m'en viens pleindre a vous j'avois bien creu repliqua theanor avec une froideur qui me surprit que vostre coeur n'echaperoit pas a cette belle mais leontidas adjousta t'il apres avoir un peu resve vous n'aimez pas seul cette charmante fille et le portrait que vous avez trouve devoit ce me semble vous avoir gueri de cette passion naissante au contraire luy dis-je c'est luy qui me fait plus malade car quand je ne voy plus alcidamie je le regarde et il conserve si bien le souvenir de sa beaute dans mon ame que je n'ay garde de l'oublier apres cela theanor fut quelque temps sans parler puis prenant un visage fort serieux il me dit que m'aimant comme il faisoit il estoit au desespoir de me voir engage en une affection qui ne pouvoit me donner que de la peine et que s'il luy eust este permis de me 
 nommer le rival a qui estoit la peinture que j'avois il m'auroit fait avouer que je ne devois point continuer d'aimer alcidamie quand vous me l'auriez fait avouer luy dis-je cela seroit inutile parce que presentement nia passion ne depend plus de ma volonte et quand ce seroit vous luy dis-je tout hors de moy qui seriez cet heureux rival dont vous parlez et quand ce seroit mesme polycrate il faudroit que je continuasse d'aimer alcidamie aimez donc alcidamie me respondit il en rougissant mais n'esperez pas d'en estre aime si promptement et ne vous persuadez point qu'elle vous donne si tost son portrait car je puis vous asseurer que celuy que avez n'a pas este obtenu sans peine quoy qu'elle ne haist pas la personne a qui elle le donna cruel amy luy dis-je pourquoy voulez vous que j'aye autant de jalousie que d'amour c'est respondit il que je voudrois vous guerir de votre amour par vostre jalousie non non luy dis-je ce n'est point a ce qui l'entretient a la destruire et plus vous me ferez connoistre qu'alcidamie a favorise cet heureux rival plus j'auray d'envie de troubler sa felicite et plus je m'opiniastreray a aimer alcidamie encore une fois aimez alcidamie me dit il mais encore une fois aussi souffrez que je vous die que vous n'en serez pas aime facilement j'avoue que la froideur de theanor me pensa desesperer car apres avoir bien raisonne je conclus en moy mesme que cette froideur estoit un effet de l'assurance qu'il avoit de l'affection d'alcidamie 
 de sorte que tout d'un coup ne regardant plus theanor comme cet amy officieux avec qui j'avois du moins resolu de garder quelque bien-seance je le regarday comme un rival favorise c'est a dire comme un ennemy mortel si bien que changeant de dessein de visage et de ton de voix au nom de dieux theanor luy dis-je nommez moy celuy a qui est le portrait que j'ay trouve afin que je scache bien precisement qui je dois hair je ne le puis repliqua t'il que vous ne m'ayez rendu la peinture d'alcidamie la peinture d'alcidamie repris-je sans scavoir presques ce que je disois tant la jalousie m'avoit desja troublee le sens non non je ne le scauray point a ce prix la ce funeste secret que je veux aprendre car ne voulant scavoir le nom de mon rival que pour luy oster le coeur d'alcidamie je n'ay garde de luy en rendre le portrait du moins dit theanor me promettrez vous une chose juste qui est de ne montrer cette peinture a personne puis que vous feriez plus de tort a alcidamie qu'a vostre rival qui a mon avis adjousta t'il ne sera point vostre ennemy qu'il ne scache que vous soyez plus favorise que luy j'avoue qu'alors je pensay perdre patience et je ne scay s'il ne fust arrive du monde ce que nous eussions fait theanor et moy mais diverses personnes estant venues nous nous separasmes et je sortis de chez theanor le plus chagrin de tous les hommes infailliblement disois-je ce cruel amy est assure du 
 coeur d'alcidamie qu'il ne craint point de le perdre ou il mesprise si fort leontidas qu'il ne se soucie pas qu'il soit son rival mais peut-estre adjoustois-je est-ce que mes conjectures me trompent et que ceux qui m'ont assure que theanor aime alcidamie se sont trompez eux mesmes enfin concluois-je ou theanor n'aime point alcidamie ou il en est aime et veuillent les dieux que ce soit le premier dans cette incertitude ou j'estois je pris la resolution pour m'en esclaircir d'entretenir cette belle personne et de luy parler de theanor de diverses sortes pour tascher de descouvrir ses veritables sentimens ainsi sans avoir encore pu trouver les voyez de luy faire connoistre ma passion je cherchay seulement celles de luy parler de mon rival je fus donc chez la princesse hersilee ou je sceus qu'elle estoit d'abord je ne pus estre aupres d'elle mais apres que diverses personnes furent entrees et sorties je fis enfin si bien que je me trouvay proche d'alcidamie qui me receut suivant sa coustume avec assez de civilite peu de temps apres polycrate arriva suivy presques de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite a samos a la reserve de theanor de qui la melancolie l'avoit empesche d'y venir comme la conversation generale eut dure quel que temps polycrate qui avoit a entretenir la princesse sa soeur en particulier la tira vers des fenestres qui donnent sur la pleine mer et s'y appuyant l'un et l'autre ils me laisserent dans la liberte d'executer mon 
 dessein il sembla mesme qu'alcidamie contribuast a le faire reussir bien est il vray que ce fut d'une facon qui redoubla mon inquietude comme il y avoit peu que j'estois a samos elle n'avoit lieu de me parler raisonnablement que de choses generales et comme elle avoit remarque que theanor estoit plus de mes amis qu'aucun autre elle devoit aussi plustost m'en parler que de ceux avec qui je n'avois nulle habitude particuliere apres avoir donc este tous deux quelques moments sans rien dire qu'avez vous fait de vostre amy me dit elle et d'ou vient que theanor n'est point icy aujourd'huy que toute la cour y est cette demande que je n'attendois pas me surprit et je ne pus ouir le nom de mon rival de la bouche d'alcidamie sans en changer de couleur car enfin je m'estois bien prepare a luy parler de theanor mais je n'avois pas creu qu'elle m'en deust parler la premiere madame luy dis-je je l'ay laisse si melancolique dans sa chambre que je ne pense pas qu'il soit presentement d'humeur a chercher la conversation vous estes donc un mauvais amy dit elle en sous-riant de l'avoir quitte en cet estat c'est que son humeur estoit si sombre luy dis-je que ma presence l'importunoit et peut-estre mesme plus que celle de beaucoup d'autres n'eust pu faire en verite leontidas vous me mettez en peine repliqua t'elle car theanor est un fort honneste homme et s'il luy estoit arrive quelque grand malheur l'en serois extremement faschee madame luy 
 dis-je tousjours plus inquiet plus curieux et plus jaloux comme il n'y a pas long temps que je suis a samos je n'y scay pas encore bien les nouvelles du monde mais pour vous qui les scavez toutes je m'imagine que vous n'ignorez pas le mal de theanor qui a mon advis vient de quelque passion violente alcidamie qui creut lors que je luy voulois parler pour theanor changea de couleur et me regardant plus serieusement qu'auparavant je n'ay point sceu dit elle que vostre amy fust amoureux et je ne pense pas mesme qu'il le soit mais enfin leontidas s'il n'a point d'autre cause de sa melancolie que celle la je ne le pleins plus tant que je faisois c'est peut estre luy dis-je en le regardant assez attentivement que vous scavez qu'il n'est pas a pleindre et qu'il n'est pas hai de la personne qu'il aime je ne scay me respondit elle s'il est hai ou s'il est aime car je ne suis ny sa maistresse ny sa confidente pleust aux dieux que la moitie de ce que vous dittes fust vray luy dis-je en l'interrompant assez brusquement car leontidas en seroit plus heureux qu'il n'est leontidas dit elle en sous-riant vous estes d'une isle consacree a la mere des amours ou la galanterie est une loy ou l'on ne parle que d'aimer ou l'on n'entretient les dames que de choses flateuses douces et obligeantes mais pour nous qui reverons une autre divinite qui sommes un peu moins galantes qu'elles et mesme si vous le voulez un peu plus fieres j'ay a vous apprendre 
 comme a un estranger qu'il ne faut pas dire de semblables choses a toutes nos dames qui s'en offenceroient peut-estre plus que moy parce qu'elles ne scauroient pas excuser la coustume de vostre pais comme je fais a toutes vos dames repris-je avec precipitation ha divine alcidamie vous ne connoissez pas leontidas si vous croyez qu'il die jamais a nulle autre personne qu'a vous qu'il est esperdument amoureux serieusement me dit elle leontidas corrigez vous de cette mauvaise habitude ou je m'en pleindray a vostre amy et le prieray de vous l'oster s'il est possible il ne le pourroit pas luy respondis-je quand il l'entreprendroit j'eviteray donc vostre conversation reprit elle jusques a ce que vous ayez apris nos coustumes c'est l'usage par tout luy repliquay-je d'adorer les belles comme vous et c'est aussi l'usage general respondit elle excepte en chipre que les belles dont vous entendez parler sont glorieuses et fieres et ne souffrent pas qu'on leur die de semblables choses mais est il possible luy reliquay-je que toutes les belles soient inexorables a samos et n'y en a t'il jamais eu qui ayent souffert d'estre aimees qui ayent permis d'esperer qu'elles aimeroient un jour qui ayent donne leurs portraits et fait plusieurs autres choses tres agreables pour ceux qui les recoivent je n'en connois point dit elle ne scachant pourquoy je luy faisois ce bizarre discours et quand j'en connoistrois leur exemple ne seroit pas suivi par alcidamie 
 mais enfin encore une fois leontidas deffaites vous de cette mauvaise habitude si vous voulez que je vous accorde ma conversation alcidamie dit cela d'une facon qui me fit craindre qu'elle ne me bannist et quoy que ma jalousie me persuadast qu'elle n'estoit fiere envers moy que pour estre fidelle a mon rival le depit ne chassa pourtant pas l'amour de mon coeur de sorte que prenant la parole si ce n'est qu'une mauvaise habitude luy dis-je vous seriez injuste de pretendre me l'oster si tost c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me donner quelques jours alcidamie qui estoit bien aise de tourner la chose en raillerie dit qu'elle m'accordoit la reste du jour mais je pressay tant et dis tant de choses que j'en obtins huit au dela desquels je ne devois plus luy rien dire de trop galant ny de trop passionne me disant tousjours en riant qu'elle s'en pleindroit a theanor si je luy manquois de parole ce fut de cette sorte qu'au lieu de parler de mon rival alcidamie m'en parla et qu'au lieu de bien descouvrir ses sentimens pour luy je declaray mon amour a alcidamie en sortant de chez la princesse je me trouvay assez heureux durant quelques momens d'avoir pu faire scavoir que j'aimois mais venant a repasser tout ce qu'alcidamie m'avoit dit il me sembloit avoir remarque qu'elle n'avoit jamais nomme theanor sans changer de visage et qu'enfin je n'avois pas lieu de douter qu'elle ne l'aimast ce qui me donnoit une inquietude estrange si je n'eusse point eu d'obligation 
 a theanor j'eusse cherche des voyes plus violentes de m'eclaircir avec que luy que celle que je prenois mais luy devant autant que je faisois je ne scavois quelle resolution prendre et j'estois tres malheureux que me sert disois-je d'avoir le portrait d'alcidamie si theanor possede son coeur quittons donc quittons un dessein qui nous fera faire cent laschetez inutilement mais peut-estre disois-je en suitte ce portrait est il derobe mais s'il est derobe adjoustois-je il l'est tousjours par un homme amoureux d'alcidamie et quoy que ce fust un grand bonheur pour moy que la chose fust seulement ainsi ce m'est tousjours un grand malheur d'estre rival d'un homme qui m'a oblige cependant theanor n'avoit pas l'ame moins en peine que moy car il faut que vous vous souveniez que je vous ay desja dit qu'il avoit aime et qu'il aimoit encore passionnement alcidamie de laquelle il n'avoit jamais pu obtenir la moindre chose comme je l'ay sceu depuis ce n'est pas que le portrait que j'avois trouve ne fust a luy mais c'est qu'il ne luy avoit pas este donne par alcidamie qui ne scavoit pas mesme qu'il l'eust car il faut que vous apreniez que cette belle personne avoit fait faire son portrait pour le donner a une de ses amies nommee acaste et qu'elle l'avoit fait faire avec un fort grand soing et en effet elle le luy avoit donne mais a quelque temps de la polycrate devant s'embarquer pour s'en aller a la guerre chacun allant dire adieu a ses connoissances il fut 
 grand nombre de personnes de qualite chez acaste pour prendre conge d'elle et entre les autres theanor y fut comme elle venoit de sortir pour aller faire quelque visite et comme il ne trouva personne en bas il monta dans sa chambre et vit sur sa table le portrait d'alcidamie qu'elle y avoit oublie de sorte qu'aimant passionnement comme il faisoit et estant prest de s'esloigner de samos il fit ce que je pense que j'eusse fait comme luy si j'eusse este a sa place c'est a dire qu'il osta la peinture de la boiste ou elle estoit qui estoit trop riche pour la prendre et sortit si heureusement qu'il ne fut veu de personne un moment apres timesias qui estoit parent d'acaste et qui aimoit aussi alcidamie entra dans la mesme maison sans trouver personne non plus que luy et fut a la chambre de sa parente qu'il trouva au mesme estat que theanor l'avoit laissee je veux dire ouverte et sur la table la boiste de portrait qu'il avoit oublie de refermer de sorte que timesias qui l'avoit veue plusieurs fois entre les mains de sa parente ne put comprendre pourquoy la peinture n'y estoit plus si bien que faisant du bruit pour faire venir quelqu'un a luy des femmes qui estoient dans une garde-robe proche de la sortirent et il leur demanda d'ou venoit que cette boiste de portrait estoit sur la table sans que la peinture fust dedans ces femmes toutes surprises dirent qu'elles n'en scavoient rien qu'il n'y avoit pas un quart d'heure qu'elle y estoit et qu'elles l'avoient 
 mesme veue depuis que leur maistresse estoit sortie en suitte elles accuserent timesias comme amant d'alcidamie de l'avoir prise et se mirent a le prier de la remettre dans sa boiste luy s'en deffendit avec chagrin et pendant cette contestation acaste revint chez elle et aprit la chose d'abord elle creut ce que ses femmes luy dirent et s'imagina que son parent qu'elle scavoit estre tres amoureux d'alcidamie l'avoit effectivement prise et quoy qu'il luy peust dire elle ne voulut jamais le croire de sorte qu'elle s'en fascha extremement contre luy neantmoins comme il luy jura fortement qu'il n'avoit pas pris ce portrait on s'informa qui estoit venu chez acaste mais ses femmes qui vouloient s'excuser de leur negligence jurerent et protesterent aussi bien que les autres domestiques qu'il n'y estoit venu que timesias cependant theanor pour ne laisser nul soubcon de luy retourna chez acaste pour luy dire adieu et sans luy tesmoigner qu'il y estoit desja venu auparavant elle luy fit ses pleintes de la perte qu'elle avoit faite et il luy respondit malicieusement au lieu de la consoler que s'il en eust perdu autant il en seroit mort de douleur enfin il partit avec ce thresor cache et faisant servir a ce portrait une boiste qu'il avoit qui s'y trouva assez juste parce que l'on fait presque tous les petits portraits de mesme grandeur il s'embarqua aussi satisfait que timesias estoit chagrin car il s'imaginoit bien que c'estoit quelqu'un de ses rivaux qui avoit 
 derobe cette peinture cependant alcidamie ayant sceu la chose soubconna d'abord acaste de l'avoir donne a son parent mais enfin elle luy fit bien connoistre que cela n'estoit pas car estant tousjours persuadee qu'il l'avoit prise elle rompit avec luy a son retour alcidamie de son coste qui est fort glorieuse trouva tres mauvais qu'il eust eu la hardiesse de faire ce larcin et le traitta fort mal toutes les fois qu'il luy voulut parler apres qu'il fut revenu comme elle vivoit tres civilement avec theanor quoy qu'elle ne le favorisast pas elle s'en pleignit a luy comme aux autres et luy tesmoigna se tenir tellement offencee de la hardiesse de timesias qu'il n'eut jamais celle de luy dire que c'estoit luy qui avoit fait ce precieux larcin de peur de se charger de la haine qu'il voyoit qu'elle avoit pour son rival qui est le mesme qui devint mon ennemi des le premier jour que j'arrivay a samos voila donc de quelle facon theanor sans estre favorise avoit eu le portrait d'alcidamie car j'ay sceu toutes ces choses bien precisement depuis ce temps la et voila aussi la raison pourquoy il ne pouvoit se resoudre a me dire que ce portrait fust a luy parce qu'il scavoit de certitude qu'alcidamie le hairoit des qu'elle scauroit la chose d'abord ma seule jeunesse l'en empescha mais en suitte apprenant que j'estois amoureux d'alcidamie il creut qu'il estoit bon que je m'imaginasse qu'elle aimoit et qu'elle avoit donne ce portrait a quelqu'un esperant que cela m'obligeroit 
 a me delivrer de cette passion il ne pouvoit pourtant se resoudre a me dire ce mensonge ouvertement et il me le laissoit seulement croire sans m en desabuser de plus il jugeoit bien qu'encore qu'il m'eust advoue qu'il aimoit alcidamie je n'eusse pas cesse de l'aimer apres ce que je luy avois dit si bien que ne voulant pas me donner des armes pour le combattre et pour le destruire dans son esprit en m'avouant que ce portrait estoit celuy qu'il avoit derobe ou en me disant avec mensonge qu'alcidamie le luy avoit donne il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre non plus que moy et nous fusmes quelques jours a nous fuir avec autant de soing que nous avions accoustume de nous chercher durant ce temps la je voyois alcidamie autant qu'il m'estoit possible et me servant du privilege qu'elle m'avoit donne je luy parlois de ma passion et elle feignoit tousjours de croire que ce n'estoit encore que par habitude me priant de nouveau de me souvenir de conter bien les jours qu'elle m'avoit accordez cependant apres avoir este un jour sans la voir je sus me promener seul dans des jardins publics qui sont a la ville et qui sont aussi beaux que ceux du prince polycrate pour y resver avec plus de liberte je pris une allee fort couverte ou quelque temps apres ne pouvant m'empescher de regarder le portrait d'alcidamie je le tiray de ma poche et trouvant un siege de gazon contre une palissade je me mis a le considerer avec beaucoup de plaisir mais a quelques momens de 
 la je le regarday avec beaucoup de chagrin par la cruelle pensee que j'avois qu'il eust este donne a celuy qui l'avoit perdu et je pense mesme que ma jalousie me fit prononcer quelques paroles qui obligerent timesias qui se promenoit sans que l'en sceusse rien dans une allee qui touchoit celle ou j'estois a regarder qui estoit celuy qui parloit car comme je n'avois parle qu'a demy haut et que je n'avois prononce que trois ou quatre mots il ne me connut pas a la voix il s'aprocha donc de la palissade et passant curieusement les yeux a travers l'espaisseur de branchez et des feuilles il vit d'abord que je tenois un portrait et un instant apres il connut que c'estoit celuy d'alcidamie et le mesme qu'elle avoit autrefois donne a acaste et que l'on avoit creu qu'il avoit pris car il scavoit bien qu'alcidamie n'avoit jamais este peinte que cette seule fois la n'ayant plus voulu souffrir de l'estre depuis la perte de cette peinture quoy que son amie l'en eust pressee comme il n'y avoit pas fort long-temps que j'estois a samos et que je n'avois nulle conversation particuliere avec timesias depuis nos dernieres brouilleries il ne s'estoit pas aperceu que je fusse amoureux d'alcidamie de sorte qu'il fut estrangement surpris de voir le portrait de la personne qu'il amoit entre les mains de son ennemy et un portrait encore qui l'avoit fait hair d'alcidamie et que l'on avoit creu qu'il avoit pris ce qui l'embarrassoit le 
 plus c'estoit qu'il scavoit bien que je ne connoissois pas encore acaste ni alcidamie lors qu'il avoit este perdu puis qu'il le fut auparavant que je fusse a samos de sorte qu'il ne pouvoit que penser de cette avanture neantmoins estant resolu de s'en esclaircir il fit le tour de l'allee en diligence et passant dans celle ou j'estois il me trouva encore si attentif a regarder ce portrait que je tenois a la main que tout ce que je pus faire fut de refermer la boiste auparavant qu'il fust pres de moy comme nous estions en civilite quoy que nous ne nous aimassions pas je me levay lors qu'il approcha et apres nous estre saluez assez froidement je me preparois a continuer ma promenade sans m'arrester aveques luy lors que m'abordant le visage assez esmeu leontidas nie dit il quoy que vous ne soyez pas mon amy particulier comme vous estes homme d'honneur j'espere que vous me direz une verite que je veux scavoir de vous et qui m'importe extremement je ne scay pas luy repliquay-je si je vous diray la verite que vous voulez scavoir mais je scay du moins que je ne vous diray pas un mensonge aprenez moy donc respondit il qui vous a donne un portrait d'alcidamie que le hazard vient de me faire voir entre vos mains en me promenant de l'autre coste de cette palissade bien que la curiosite luy dis-je que vous avez de regarder ce que je fais ne meritast peut-estre pas tant de sincerite je vous diray toutesfois que la fortune toute 
 seule me l'a donne et que je n'en ay obligation a personne timesias entendant cette responce creut que je ne voulois pas luy dire ce qu'il vouloit scavoir de sorte que s'en faschant je scay bien me respondit-il que vous le devez tenir de la fortune plustost que de l'incomparable alcidamie qui sans doute ne vous l'a pas donne mais je demande par quelles mains cette aveugle fortune l'a mis entre les vostres comme je ne me suis pas oblige luy respondis-je l'esprit fort irrite parce qu'il me vint un soubcon que timesias estoit mon rival de vous dire toutes les veritez que je scay et qu'en qualite d'homme d'honneur je ne suis seulement engage qu'a ne vous dire pas un mensonge je ne vous diray plus rien du tout et vous en penserez ce qu'il vous plaira vous me direz pourtant repliqua t'il brusquement de qui vous avez eu cette peinture leontidas respondis-je en le regardant fierement n'est guere accoustume de dire ce qu'il ne veut pas que l'on scache principalement a des gens qu'il ne met pas au nombre de ses amis aussi est-ce comme vostre ennemy me repliqua t'il en mettant l'espee a la main que je veux vous faire avouer qui vous a donne ce portrait et mesme vous le faire rendre a peine eut il acheve de parler et eut il fait cette action que sans luy respondre je mis aussi l'espee a la main et que nous commencasmes de nous battre comme il est tres adroit et que je fus fort heureux nous fusmes quelque temps sans nous rien faire mais 
 passant tout d'un coup sur luy apres luy avoir fait une legere egratignure au bras gauche nous disputasmes la victoire opiniastrement et lors que nous eusmes este chacun a nostre tour tantost dessus tantost dessous a la fin comme j'estois prest d'avoir l'avantage tout entier et que je taschois de racourcir mon espee pour faire avouer ma victoire a timesias policrate qui venoit se promener en ce mesme lieu arriva suivi de beaucoup de monde et de theanor mesme qui ne scachant du bout de l'allee qui c'estoit fut le premier de tous a nous venir separer dans la fureur ou j'estois de voir que l'on m'arrachoit d'entre les mains mon ancien ennemy et mon nouveau rival j'en voulus quereller theanor mais polycrate arrivant un moment apres il fallut changer de discours et luy demander pardon de ce que contre ses ordres nous nous estions encore querellez timesias et moy comme il m'aimoit alors plus que mon ennemy que j'estois estranger et que l'autre estoit son subjet ce fut a luy que s'adresserent ses reprochez mais timesias qui vouloit se justifier et arriver a sa fin luy dit seigneur si vous scaviez la cause de nostre querelle vous m'excuseriez sans doute et vous avoueriez que je n'ay fait que ce que j'ay deu faire j'ay peine a croire repliqua polycrate que vous ayez raison de quereller leontidas et c'est pour cela poursuivit il que je veux aprendre toutes les particularitez de ce demesle seigneur luy dis-je tout desespere de ce que l'on alloit 
 scavoir que j'avois cette peinture entre les mains et craignant que policrate ne m'obligeast a la rendre vous perdrez un temps que vous pouvez mieux employer a toute autre chose et il suffira que vous soyez seulement persuade que nous n'avons fait l'un et l'autre que ce que des gens de coeur estoient obligez de faire mais quoy que je pusse dire polycrate sollicite par timesias qui souhaitoit d'estre justifie du larcin de ce portrait voulut estre esclaircy de la chose et se fit dire ce que c'estoit alors timesias le faisant souvenir de la perte du portrait d'alcidamie car toute la cour avoit sceu qu'il avoit este pris le faisant dis-je souvenir qu'il avoit este accuse comme amant d'alcidamie d'avoir fait ce precieux larcin et qu'alcidamie l'en avoit mal traitte il luy dit en suitte qu'il m'avoit veu ce mesme portrait entre les mains et qu'il avoit seulement voulu scavoir de qui je le tenois pour se justifier aupres d'elle scachant bien que ce n'estoit pas moy qui l'avoit pris qu'il n'ignoroit pas que je n'estois pas encore a samos quand il fut derobe a acaste pendant le discours de timesias j'eus des sentimens bien differens car j'eus une joye extreme de connoistre certainement par ce qu'il disoit que ce portrait n'avoit point este donne a celuy qui l'avoit perdu et je fus quelques moments que ma jalousie diminua d'autant que mon amour augmenta mais voyant en suitte avec quelle ardeur parloit mon ennemy et que j'allois servir a sa justification et peut estre a le remettre 
 bien avec alcidamie l'en estois desespere cependant apres qu'il eut cesse de parler comme il sembloit avoir quelque raison polycrate qui a infiniment de l'esprit n'imaginant pas la verite de la chose et croyant seulement que j'avois voulu cacher le nom de celuy qui m'avoit donne le portrait me dit qu'il ne vouloit pas m'obliger a dire devant tout le monde qui il estoit mais seulement a luy en particulier et que si mesme je ne voulois pas de luy dire il suffiroit encore pour la justification de timesias que j'avouasse publiquement que quelqu'un qui vray-semblablement pouvoit l'avoir pris chez acaste me l'avoit donne je vous laisse a penser quelle joye j'eus de ne pouvoir justifier mon rival et mon ennemy tout ensemble de sorte que je commencay alors de conter avec toute l'ingenuite que la verite peut avoir comment j'avois trouve ce portrait en me promenant me gardant bien de faire connoistre les soubcons que j'avois que c'estoit theanor qui l'avoit perdu car outre qu'en effet ce n'estoient que des soubcons je n'avois pas encore bien determine dans mon esprit auquel de ces deux rivaux j'eusse mieux aime nuire d'abord mon discours surprit un peu polycrate de sorte que pour l'apuyer mieux je luy dis que theanor qu'il voyoit aupres de luy scavoit bien que je ne mentois pas puis que je l'estois alle trouver pour luy dire l'avanture que j'avois eue le premier soir que nous estions arrivez a samos que je luy avois montre 
 ce portrait et l'avois mesme prie par un sentiment de curiosite de s'informer qui pouvoit l'avoir perdu et de me nommer mesme la personne pour qui il avoit este fait ainsi theanor fut contraint de me servir de tesmoin et polycrate ne douta point du tout que la chose ne fust comme je la disois de sorte que ne pouvant pas trouver que j'eusse eu tort de ne dire point un mensonge a timesias et trouvant aussi que timesias avoit ea sujet de croire que je ne parlois pas sincerement il nous commanda de nous embrasser mais auparavant timesias supplia polycrate de vouloir que je rendisse a alcidamie le portrait que j'avois trouve vous me ferez croire dis-je alors en riant a timesias que c'est peut-estre vous mesme qui avez perdu ce portrait en vous promenant et que vous repentant d'un larcin qui ne noirciroit pourtant pas vostre reputation quand vous l'auriez fait vous voulez qu'il soit restitue timesias rougit de colere a ce discours sans y respondre et ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que quelques personnes creurent que la chose estoit ainsi et le publierent et a mon advis theanor y contribua tout ce qu'il put pour moy qui fus ravy de voir que polycrate rioit de ce que le disois je luy dis en luy adressant la parole que ce seroit une estrange chose si n'ayant rien pris a personne on m'obligeoit a rendre ce que la fortune toute seule m'avoit donne en que n'ayant point fait de crime je ne devois pas estre puni ny estre traite de la mesme sorte que le pourroit 
 estre le veritable voleur du portrait s'il estoit connu timesias voulut encore dire quelque chose mais polycrate prenant la parole et voulant tourner toute cette querelle en galanterie me dit que pour toute punition de m'estre battu il vouloit que du moins je monstrasse cette peinture seigneur luy dis-je il est si glorieux a alcidamie qu'elle soit veue que je n'en feray pas de difficulte pourveu que vous me fassiez l'honneur de m'assurer de me la rendre et comme il me l'eut promis je la luy monstray mais a peine l'eut il veue que regardant la boiste leontidas me dit il ne vous estonnnez pas du chagrin de timesias car par la magnificence des pierreries dont cette boiste est ornee il s'est sans doute imagine que vous estiez peut-estre son rival quis qu'on ne fait gueres une telle despence pour une personne indifferente seigneur luy repliquay-je j'ay trouve ce portrait dans la boiste ou vous le voyez mais pour montrer que je ne suis pas avare je suis prest de la rendre sans peinture a timesias si c'est luy qui l'a perdue polycrate craignant que ce discours n'aigrist la conversation nous commanda alors absolument de nous embrasser ce que nous fismes sans incivilite quoy que ce fust assez froidement en suitte de quoy me rendant le portrait d'alcidamie apres avoir considere avec autant d'attention que s'il n'eust jamais veu la personne qu'il representoit il me dit en riant qu'un amant d'alcidamie seroit bien heureux d'estre en ma place et d'avoir 
 obtenu de la fortune ce qui ne seroit pas si aise d'obtenir d'elle en suitte il fut chez la princesse sa soeur ou il voulut que j'allasse mais pour timesias il se retira bien fasche que son combat n'eust pas este plus heureux et bien aise toutesfois de s'imaginer que ce qu'il avoit fait pourroit desabuser alcidamie la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi car effectivement cette belle personne s'imagina tousjours que timesias avoit autresfois pris ce portrait et l'avoit perdu depuis en se promenant et que c'estoit seulement pour le recouvrer qu'il s'estoit battu contre moy je vous laisse a juger quel bruit fit cette avanture dans la cour comme nous arrivasmes chez la princesse ou theanor ne vint pas on l'y scavoit desja parce que quelqu'un de la compagnie avoit devance le prince et l'y avoit publiee alcidamie qui s'y trouva par hazard ne me vit pas plustost qu'elle rougit comme si elle eust eu quelque confusion de scavoir que j'avois sa peinture d'abord que polycrate entra il me fit appoecher de la princesse hersilee aupres de laquelle estoit alcidamie et leur racontant ce qu'elles scavoient desja il ne faudroit plus dit il pour achever cette avanture sinon que leontidas fust effectivement amoureux d'alcidamie aussi bien que theanor et timesias le sont dont l'un est son amy et l'autre son ennemy pourvoir un peu comment un homme nai en l'isle de chipre se demesleroit de toutes ces choses seigneur luy dis-je en 
 rougissant et en sous- riant s'il ne faut que cela pour rendre cette avanture belle vous pouvez n'y souhaitter plus rien n'escoutez pas leontidas interrompit alcidamie comme s'il parloit serieusement car seigneur comme vous le scavez c'est la coustume de son pais de traiter de cette sorte toutes les dames il y a desja six jours poursuivit elle que je tasche de l'en corriger et il m'a promis que dans deux au plus tard il ne me parlera plus ainsi quoy dit polycrate parlant a alcidamie il y a six jours que leontidas vous dit de semblables choses de vostre consentement ouy seigneur repliqua t'elle en rougissant mais c'est a condition qu'il ne m'en dira plus jamais nous en croirons ce qu'il vous plaira dit alors la princesse hersilee en sous-riant non feray pas moy reprit polycrate en regardant alcidamie car je suis persuade que puis que leontidas vous a dit une fois qu'il vous aime il vous le dira tousjours mais il me le dira inutilement repliqua alcidamie puis que je ne l'escouteray point cependant seigneur luy dit elle encore il n'est pas temps de railler lors que j'ay a me pleindre d'une injustice que vous m'avez faite car enfin adjousta t'elle vous n'avez pas encore ordonne a leontidas de me rendre men portrait policrate qui imagina quelque plaisir comme je j'ay sceu depuis a me voir en peine luy respondit que c'estoit parce que ce ne devoit pas estre a la priere de timesias mais a la sienne qu'il devoit accorder une chose de cette 
 nature s'il ne faut que cela dit elle je vous supplie tres humblement de luy ordonner donc de me le rendre a l'heure mesme je ne puis dit alors polycrate que l'en prier car je ne suis pas son maistre vous me pouvez commander toutes choses luy dis-je mais pour celle la elle seroit si injuste que je n'apprehende pas que vous me l'ordonniez et quelle injustice y a t'il repliqua alcidamie a me rendre ce qui m'apartient en verite dit la princesse vous y avez moins de part que leontidas car ne l'avez vous pas donne a acaste ouy madame reprit elle mais puis que je l'ay donne a acaste il n'est pas a leontidas pour moy disoit polycrate je trouve qu'alcidamie n'a pas tort et je trouve adjousta la princesse hersilee qu'elle n'a pas grande raison car enfin acaste a si mal conserve son portrait et leontidas l'a si bien deffendu qu'il me semble mieux entre ses mains qu'entre les siennes ha madame luy dis-je que je vous suis oblige et quelles graces ne vous dois-je point rendre durant que je la remerciois et que je luy exagerois mes raisons pour me la rendre encore plus favorable je vy que polycrate parloit bas a alcidamie et qu'il rioit avec elle il me sembla mesme que depuis cela je les vy sous-rire une fois ou deux d'intelligence et en effet polycrate avoit fait la guerre a alcidamie de ce qu'elle avoit avoue que je luy avois parle d'amour et luy avoit dit pour m'obliger qu'il croyoit qu'effectivement je fusse amoureux d'elle mais pour 
 l'esprouver luy dit il obstinez vous tout aujourd'huy a vouloir qu'il vous rende vostre portrait comment luy dit elle seigneur tout aujourd'huy luy parlant tousjours bas ce sera toute ma vie ou du moins jusques a ce qu'il me l'ait rendu cependant comme je n'avois pas ouy ce qu'il avoit dit et que tant que dura encore la conversation je vy polycrate sous-rire a diverses fois en attendant alcidamie qui me pressoit de luy rendre sa peinture j'en eus quelque legere inquietude mais enfin comme la princesse estoit de mon parti et qu'elle estoit ravie que l'amitie que polycrate me tesmoignoit eust diminue celle qu'il avoit eue autresfois pour timesias qu'elle n'aimoit point elle dit qu'absolument elle ne permettroit pas que je rendisse cette peinture car dit elle obligeamment pour moy a alcidamie vous n'y avez plus de droit puis que vous l'avez donnee a acaste elle n'y en a non plus que vous puis qu'elle l'a perdue par sa negligence et leontidas y en a plus que vous deux puis qu'il l'a trouvee par sa bonne fortune qu'il l'a conquise par sa valeur qu'il empeschera bien que celuy qui l'a prise quel qu'il soit ne la possede jamais et que de plus il la merite polycrate qui vouloit encore se divertir dit alors a hersilee qu'il seroit beaucoup plus juste que ce portrait demeurast en ses mains mais sans luy donner loisir d'en dire les raisons l'arrest de la princesse fut suivi alcidamie declarant pourtant tousjours sans perdre le respect qu'elle devoit a 
 hersilee qu'elle n'y consentoit pas enfin le prince se retira et je me retiray aussi des qu'il fut a son apartement
 
 
 
 
ce fut lors qu'apres avoir repasse en ma memoire tout ce qui m'estoit arrive ce jour la je me trouvay plus de malheur que de bonne fortune l'estois veritablement ravi de ce que le portrait que j'avois n'estoit pas un portrait donne et de ce que je pouvois presques dire alors qu'il estoit a moy et le regarder sans en faire plus un si grand secret mais aussi j'estois tres afflige de ne pouvoir plus douter que mon meilleur amy et mon plus mortel ennemy ne fussent mes rivaux car je connoissois bien que theanor ne m'avoit voulu persuader que ce portrait avoit este donne a celuy qui l'avoit perdu que pour me faire changer de dessein et je ne pouvois pas ignorer veu la facon dont timesias avoit agi qu'il ne fust encore tres amoureux d'alcidamie apres venant a me souvenir de l'attention avec laquelle polycrate avoit regarde ce portrait comment au lieu de prendre mon parti en parlant a alcidamie il avoit pris le sien et comment il luy avoit parle bas et ry diverses fois d'intelligence avec elle venant dis-je a me souvenir de toutes ces petites choses je m'imaginay que peut-estre ce prince en estoit il amoureux de sorte que je trouvay a parler sincerement que je n'estois gueres moins jaloux de mon maistre que de mon amy et de mon ennemy j'eusse pourtant eu cette consolation si j'eusse sceu la prendre en ce temps la que je ne croyois 
 pas fortement qu'alcidamie aimast ni polycrate ni theanor ni timesias mais je l'aprehendois de telle sorte que l'on peut dire que la crainte que j'en avois me tourmentoit plus que si j'eusse sceu avec certitude qu'elle en eust aime un tout seul car si la chose eust este ainsi toute ma jalousie n'eust eu au moins qu'un mesme objet au lieu que par ma jalouse prevoyance je souffrois presques tous les maux que j'eusse pu souffrir si alcidamie les eust aimez tous ensemble ou les uns apres les autres de quelque coste qu'elle ait l'ame sensible disois-je j'ay grand sujet de craindre que quelqu'un de ces trois redoutables rivaux ne touche son coeur theanor est un fort honneste homme sage complaisant discret et capable par son esprit de faire toutes les choses que l'amour la plus passionnee peut inspirer mais de les faire sans esclat et de me destruire sans que presques je n'en apercoive de sorte que si alcidamie se plaist a estre aimee de cette maniere j'ay sujet de tout apprehender de ce coste la au contraire poursuivois-je si elle aime le bruit la valeur et la liberalite timesias est un enjoue un brave et un magnifique qui touchera son inclination aisement mais o dieux adjoustois-je si elle est ambitieuse que ne trouvera t'elle point en polycrate si son ame aime la gloire il en est tout couvert si elle aime les richesses comme il est le roy de la mer il peut luy en acquerir de nouvelles si les siennes ne suffisent pas a la contenter et repassant alors 
 en mon esprit toutes les bonnes qualitez de polycrate je souffrois des maux qui ne sont pas imaginables principalement quand je venois a songer au prodigieux bonheur de ce prince qui ne l'avoit jamais abandonne quoy qu'il eust pu entreprendre non non disois-je nous n'avons qu'a nous informer seulement si polycrate aime alcidamie car si cela est il en est aime ou le sera sans doute bientost veu qu'elle est sa bonne fortune apres quand je venois a penser que de ses trois rivaux il n'y avoit que timesias contre lequel je peusse tesmoigner tout mon ressentiment et que des deux autres l'un estoit mon amy et l'autre mon maistre je perdois presques la raison de sorte que je passay la nuit avec beaucoup d'inquietude neantmoins je n'avois pas absolument determine en mon esprit que polycrate fust amoureux d'alcidamie ce n'est pas que je ne sois contraint d'avouer que du simple soubcon dans mes jalousies je ne passe aisement a la croyance de la chose que je soubconne car je commence d'ordinaire a craindre puis a soubconner et peu de temps apres a croire que ce que j'ay craint et que ce que j'ay soubconne est effectivement arrive ou qu'au moins il arrivera bien tost ayant donc passe une nuit tres faucheuse je vy entrer theanor le matin dans ma chambre qui s'estant resolu de ne me dire jamais la verite et de tascher tousjours de me guerir de la passion que j'avois pour alcidamie me vint dire qu'il estoit bien aise de l'avantage 
 que j'avois remporte le jour auparavant sur mon ennemy mais qu'il estoit bien fasche de ce qu'il remarquoit que je m'attachois tousjours de plus en plus a aimer alcidamie que s'il luy eust este permis de me dire les veritables raisons qui m'en devoient empescher il estoit assure que je n'y penserois plus la plus forte de toutes luy dis-je tout hors de moy est que j'entendis hier dire au prince polycrate que vous en estes amoureux aussi bien que timesias mais theanor je n'y scaurois plus que faire il faut malgre moy que je sois vostre rival et puis qu'il est bien permis a timesias d'aimer alcidamie il me semble que vous devez souffrir que leontidas fasse la mesme chose quand l'ay commence de l'aimer poursuivis-je je ne scavois pas que vous l'aimassiez mais aujourd'huy que l'amour est maistre de mon coeur il n'est plus temps de le vouloir combattre theanor voyant que je scavois sa passion ne la voulut pas nier absolument il me dit donc qu'il estoit vray qu'il avoit aime alcidamie comme tout le reste de la court l'avoit aimee mais qu'il estoit vray aussi que par des raisons qu'il souhaittoit que je devinasse il faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour vaincre sa passion enfin il sceut si bien a travers l'obscurite de ses paroles ambigues me faire entendre clairement que la raison pour laquelle il se retiroit de cette amour estoit parce que le prince polycrate en avoit une secrette pour alcidamie que je ne l'entendis que trop ha mon cher theanor 
 luy dis-je en l'embrassant tout mon rival qu'il estoit parce que polycrate m'estoit encore plus redoutable que luy je scay desja ce que vous dittes et plusieurs choses me l'ont apris theanor qui pensoit avoir invente ce qu'il venoit de me dire afin de me destacher du service d'alcidamie fut bien surpris de m'entendre parler ainsi et par un sentiment jaloux craignant a son tour d'avoir dit une verite en pensant dire un mensonge il me pressa de luy aprendre ce que je scavois de cette amour de polycrate qu'il pensoit estre si secrette disoit il que personne du monde ne la sceust que luy mais moy qui n'estois pas moins curieux qu'il l'estoit luy juray qu'il ne scauroit pas ce que je scavois s'il ne me disoit le premier comment il pouvoit expliquer tout ce qu'il m'avoit dit autresfois du portrait d'alcidamie qu'il m'avoit assure avoir este donne a celuy qui l'avoit perdu theanor se voyant alors presse par l'extreme envie qu'il avoit d'estre esclaircy de ce que je luy avois dit scavoir de l'amour de polycrate pour alcidamie et par la honte aussi de m'avouer qu'il m'eust dit un mensonge se resolut d'en dire un autre qui confirmast le premier et qui servist a son dessein il dit me donc apres avoit este quelque temps sans parler comme s'il eust eu peine a se resoudre de me faire cette confidence et apres m'avoir fait jurer solemnellement que je n'en parlerois jamais que polycrate estoit amoureux d'alcidamie il y avoit tres long temps que cette amour estoit mesnagee par une personne de 
 la cour qui se nommoit meneclide que tout le monde croyoit que polycrate aimoit mais qu'elle n'estoit que la confidente de l'autre qu'alcidamie quoy que tres vertueuse respondoit toutesfois a cette passion avec beaucoup de complaisance et qu'en fin le portrait dont il s'agissoit estoit un portrait donne bien qu'il parust estre un portrait derobe et comment dis-je en l'interrompant cela est il possible c'est me dit il que polycrate devant faire un voyage supplia alcidamie de luy donner sa peinture a quoy elle consentit neantmoins comme elle ne vouloit pas se faire peindre en secret de peur que cela estant descouvert ne parust trop misterieux elle fit semblant de vouloir donner son portrait a acaste avec intention d'en faire faire deux a la fois mais le peintre estant tombe malade comme il n'y avoit encore que celuy qui estoit pour acaste qui fust acheve et le depart de polycrate pressant alcidamie donna ce portrait a acaste n'osant pas faire autrement apres le luy avoir promis mais le prince estant alle chez acaste pour luy dire adieu et ayant remarque qu'elle oublioit ce portrait sur la table de sa chambre quoy qu'elle en sortist pour aller chez la princesse hersilee il me commanda d'y aller et de le luy derober ce que je fis car en ce temps la nous estions fort mal alcidamie et moy et je ne me souciois pas que polycrate l'aimast quoy theanor luy dis-je vous estes le voleur du portrait d'alcidamie et vous m'assurez qu'elle avoit promis de le donner 
 a polycrate ouy me repliqua t'il mais luy dis-je encore ce ne fut point polycrate qui le perdit le soir que je le trouvay car il y avoit desja longtemps que ce prince s'estoit retire quand cette avanture m'arriva theanor fut alors assez embarrasse a me respondre toutesfois apres y avoir un peu songe non non me dit il ne vous y trompez pas le prince polycrate est accoustume quelquesfois quand il est nuit et qu'il veut avoir quelque conversation particuliere avec quelqu'un pour quelque intelligence de galanterie de retourner peu accompagne a cette promenade et ce fut infailliblement luy que vous ne connustes pas qui laissa tomber ce portrait ce soir la mais luy dis-je il me souvient que je vous trouvay si melancolique le lendemain au matin qu'aviez vous donc dans l'esprit le desplaisir repliqua t'il de voir que l'absence n'avoit point change le coeur de polycrate car des l'instant qu'il fut descendu de sa galere il envoya scavoir des nouvelles d'alcidamie et que vous importoit cela adjoustai-je puis que vous ne l'aimiez plus et pourquoy vous en affliger si elle vous estoit indifferente je vous ay dit qu'elle me l'estoit quand je m'embarquay la premiere fois me respondit il mais je ne vous ay pas dit qu'elle me le fust encore a nostre second retour je ne m'estonne donc plus dis-je a theanor si polycrate vouloit que je rendisse le portrait d'alcidamie et alors je luy contay pour satisfaire sa curiosite a son tour comment ce prince c'estoit obstine 
 a vouloir que je remisse cette peinture entre les mains d'alcidamie comment il luy avoit parle bas et ry d'intelligence avec elle durant qu'elle me la demandoit opiniastrement enfin je luy dis avec beaucoup d'exactitude toutes les petites observations que j'avois faites qui me paroissoient alors de si grandes preuves de l'amour de polycrate par la preocupation que j'avois dans l'esprit que je n'en doutois point du tout pour theanor qui n'estoit pas si susceptible de jalousie que moy et qui scavoit mieux les choses que je ne les scavois il fut ravi d'aprendre que je ne scavois rien qui le peust inquieter mais luy dis-je theanor a quoy vous resolvez vous a vaincre ma passion me dit il croyant que je suivrois l'exemple qu'il me donnoit car apres tout poursuivit il estre rival de son souverain est une trop estrange chose je suis fort aise de vostre sagesse luy dis-je et je ne m'estimeray pas tout a fait malheureux si mon ami cesse an moins d'estre mon rival estant estranger comme vous estes repliqua t'il vous vous exposez a quelque fascheuse avanture d'aimer en mesme lieu que polycrate a qui vous avez de l'obligation estant son rival comme vous estes luy dis-je a demi en colere vous prenez bien du soin a luy en vouloir oster un et il me semble toutefois poursuivis-je que si vous aviez a servir un amant d'alcidamie ce devoit plus tost estre moy qu'aucun autre si ce n'est que l'ambition puisse plus sur vostre ame que l'amitie 
 theanor souffrit ce discours sans y respondre aigrement tant parce qu'il vouloit ne rompre pas aveque moy que parce qu'il sentoit bien qu'il avoit tort de me vouloir tromper comme il faisoit cependant nous nous separasmes de cette sorte il me laissa un peu moins jaloux de luy mais beaucoup plus de polycrate qui tout aimable qu'il estoit me devint insuporable tant il est vray que la jalousie change les objets apres que theanor fut sorty je fus chez alcidamie ou je trouvay timesias qu'acaste y avoit mene pour tascher de luy persuader qu'elle l'avoit accuse a tort d'avoir derobe sa peinture et quoy qu'alcidamie ne le voulust point croire neantmoins sa parente la pressa tant de souffrir qu'il eust l'honneur de la voir a l'avenir qu'enfin elle le luy permit de sorte que lors que j'arrivay chez elle timesias qui estoit prest d'en sortir la remercioit de la grace qu'elle luy accordoit comme j'ouis les dernieres paroles de son compliment je compris aisement ce que c'estoit et j'en eus un si grand chagrin que toute la compagnie s'en aperceut apres qu'il fut sorti alcidamie se tournant vers moy c'est vous dit elle que timesias devroit remercier de la permission que je luy accorde de me revoir puis que sans vostre querelle j'aurois tousjours creu qu'il avoit pris mon portrait et ne la luy aurois jamais donnee si c'est l'intention luy dis-je qui donne le prix aux bons offices timesias ne doit point me rendre grace de celuy la car je n'ay pas eu dessein 
 de le servir un moment apres polycrate arriva suivi de theanor et de beaucoup d'autres et mesme de timesias qui voulant promptement profiter de la permission qu'il avoit obtenue r'entra dans la chambre d'alcidamie avec le prince polycrate presque aussi tost qu'il en fut sorti me voila donc selon ma pensee au milieu de trois rivaux dont le moindre m'estoit tres redoutable de quel que coste que je me tournasse je ne voyois que des objets fascheux car comme il estoit tres difficile qu'alcidamie ne regardast pas souvent ou polycrate ou theanor ou timesias sans en avoir mesme le dessein je souffrois ce que je ne scaurois exprimer j'eusse voulu fixer ses yeux s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi et les attacher si fort dans les miens qu'ils n'eussent regarde que moy mais helas je n'estois pas assez heureux pour cela car vous scaurez qu'alcidamie est une personne de qui l'egalite d'humeur fait desesperer ceux qui la servent elle a une certaine civilite sans choix comme si elle ne faisoit nul discernement des gens qui la visitent quoy que ce soit le plus delicat esprit du monde mais elle s'est mis dans la fantaisie qu'il faut tout gagner et tout acquerir par cette innocente voye de sorte que par consequent elle est et douce et civile pour tous ceux qui l'aprochent et sans estre coquette l'on ne peut pas avoir une complaisance plus universelle que celle qu'elle a il ne paroist jamais qu'elle s'ennuye avec les personnes qui l'importunent le plus et 
 elle est si fort maistresse d'elle mesme qu'elle se change comme il luy plaist et scait varier sa conversation comme bon luy semble je vous laisse donc a penser ce que je souffris ce jour la quand polycrate l'entretenoit je ne pouvois l'endurer et il me sembloit que la joye qu'elle en avoit la faisoit paroistre plus belle si elle regardoit timesias je croyois que c'estoit pour le r'engager plus fort qu'auparavant et si elle se tournoit vers theanor je craignois que ses regards ne l'empeschassent de guerir de son amour comme il m'avoit dit en avoir le dessein quand polycrate parloit a meneclide qui estoit chez alcidamie je croyois que c'estoit par finesse et comme a la confidente de sa passion et si alcidamie me vouloit faire quelque civilite et m'engager dans la conversation generale je la regardois comme une personne qui me vouloit tromper et je luy respondois avec chagrin enfin je vous le confesse j'eusse voulu qu'alcidamie n'eust paru belle qu'a mes yeux ou qu'elle eust este invisible a tout le reste de la terre je voulois pourtant qu'on l'estimast et sa gloire ne m'estoit pas indifferente mais apres tout je ne voulois point qu'on l'aimast et je pense que j'eusse mesme plustost souffert qu'on l'eust haie la conversation fut tout ce jour la fort agreable pour toute la compagnie excepte pour moy le prince polycrate me raillant de mon chagrin dit que j'estois sans doute tres propre a estre un amant discret puis qu'il n'eust pas este aise de deviner a me voir 
 si melancolique que j'avois le portrait d'une des plus belles personnes du monde c'est seigneur luy dis je avec precipitation que ce n'est pas estre fort heureux que de ne tenir le portrait de la belle alcidamie que des mains de la fortune et si je l'avois receu des siennes cette peinture me sembleroit plus achevee et me seroit encore plus precieuse qu'elle n'est quoy qu'elle me le soit beaucoup pour la pouvoir un jour recevoir de ses mains dit polycrate en sous-riant il faudroit qu'elle sortist des vostres et qu'elle rentrast dans les siennes ainsi il eust falu la luy rendre hier comme je le disois et vous pouvez encore me la rendre aujourd'huy dit alcidamie si j'estois assure que vous me la donnassiez demain luy repliquay-je je vous la rendrois sans doute mais je suis trop malheureux pour me priver d'un bien que je possede par l'esperance d'un plus grand que peut-estre vous ne m'accorderiez pas en suitte meneclide tesmoigna avoir de la jalousie de ce que j'avois un portrait d'alcidamie et de ce qu'elle n'en avoit point et mesme de ce qu'elle n'en pouvoit pas avoir si tost car le seul peintre qui faisoit bien des portraits a samos estoit alle a ephese cette agreable contestation alla si avant entre ces deux belles personnes qu'alcidamie pour appaiser meneclide luy donna un cachet d'emeraude admirablement beau ou le chiffre de son nom estoit grave qu'elle portoit ce jour la attache au bras avec un ruban de couleur de feu le present estoit si magnifique 
 pour la beaute de l'esmeraude et pour celle du travail qui estoit du fameux theodore que meneclide ne le voulut point recevoir qu'a condition qu'elle prendroit un bracelet qu'elle portoit alors dont les fermoirs estoient de rubis avec un tres beau diamant au milieu ainsi cet eschange s'estant fait en ma presence j'eus encore la hardiesse de dire que je preferois la peinture d'alcidamie a l'un et a l'autre de ces presens magnifiques ce n'est pas que theanor pour continuer sa feinte ne me fist signe que je ne devois pas me declarer si fort devant polycrate mais je n'estois pas maistre de ma passion et il faloit que du moins ma jalousie fust soulagee par les marques d'amour que je donnois devant mes rivaux cependant je vous diray pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience que le huictiesme jour estant arrive auquel alcidamie ne devoit plus souffrir que je luy parlasse comme estant amoureux d'elle je luy en parlay si long temps et si serieusement qu'elle connut bien qu'elle n'avoit qu'a se preparer a une longue persecution tout ce que je luy avois dit jusques la pouvoit estre explique a simple galanterie mais il n'en alla pas ainsi de cette conversation car il me fut impossible de ne luy paroistre pas jaloux des que je luy parus amoureux et je pense mesme que je songeay bien plus a la conjurer de n'aimer point mes rivaux qu'a la prier de souffrir que je l'aimasse depuis cela je vescus tousjours avec un chagrin qui avoit quelquesfois des redoublemens 
 estranges ce n'est pas si je l'ose dire que je ne trouvasse quelque apparence de bonte pour moy dans le coeur d'alcidamie mais je ne m'y pouvois fier et je pense qu'a moins que de demeurer seul avec elle dans une isle inhabitee et ou n'abordast mesme jamais aucun vaisseau je n'aurois pas creu estre en seurete de mes rivaux j'estois dons tres malheureux car il faloit malgre moy que je visse polycrate tous les jours que je souffrisse la veue des visites de theanor qui ne put a la fin si bien cacher ses sentimens que je ne connusse qu'il estoit tousjours plus amoureux d'alcidamie et il faloit aussi que pour n'estre pas contraint de quitter samos je souffrisse encore timesias qui estoit mon ennemy mortel a dire le vray quiconque n'a pas esprouve ces trois sortes de jalousies ne connoist pas ce qu'est veritablement la jalousie la mienne n'en demeura pourtant pas encore la car vous scaurez qu'il y avoit alors dans la cour un homme d'assez basse condition qui avoit mesme este esclave chez le philosophe xanthus du temps que le fameux esope l'estoit aussi et qui fut affranchi le jour que cet illustre autheur de ces belles fables qui sont si celebres le fut par leur commun maistre l'humeur agreable et divertissante de cet homme l'avoit introduit dans la cour et luy avoit acquis la liberte de railler impunement de tout le monde comme je vous ay dit qu'alcidamie souffroit mesme ceux qui l'importunoient il vous est aise de penser qu'elle ne chassoit pas ceux qui la 
 divertissoient de sorte que cet ancien amy d'esope qui se nommoit hiparche estoit continuellement chez elle or comme il scavoit les nouvelles de toute la cour et qu'il les contoit agreablement il avoit tousjours quelque chose a luy dire en secret et elle avoit aussi tousjours quelque chose a luy demander en particulier si bien qu'il n'y avoit point de jour que je ne les visse parler bas ensemble et rire bien souvent sans que je pusse jamais scavoir de quoy c'estoit tant y a que je vis tant de fois ce que je dis que malgre ma jalousie pour theanor pour timesias et pour polycrate je fus encore jaloux d'hiparche qui estoit autant au dessous de moy que le prince polycrate estoit alors au dessus cette espece de jalousie m'incommoda mesme plus que les autres parce qu'elle me portoit quelquesfois jusques a avoir du mepris pour alcidamie pour moy je scay bien que depuis ce temps la hiparche ne me fit point rite quelques plaisantes choses qu'il dit et je connus certainement qu'il n'est pas possible d'estre jamais bon bouffon pour son rival
 
 
 
 
je vivois donc de cette sorte lors que polycrate qui effectivement estoit amoureux de meneclide quoy qu'il ne le tesmoignast pas ouvertement par quelque raison d'estat qui vouloit qu'il le dissimulast pour un temps fit un dessein d'aller faire une promenade sur la mer ou plustost une belle pesche ou toutes les dames se devoient trouver la princesse hersilee les en convia toutes et quoy que la feste fust sans doute 
 faite pour la belle meneclide je creus neantmoins qu'elle estoit pour alcidamie avec qui elle avoit une amitie tres particuliere en ce temps la car depuis l'avanture du portrait acaste qui avoit este autrefois sa principale amie ne l'estoit plus tant et meneclide avoit la premiere place dans son coeur toutes choses estant donc preparees pour cette pesche et le jour en estant pris on fut contraint de la differer parce qu'il arriva un ambassadeur d'amasis roy d'egipte qui aimant fort polycrate luy envoyoit dire que sa bonne fortune luy donnoit de l'inquietude et qu'un tres scavant homme luy ayant assure qu'il estoit impossible qu'il peust tousjours estre heureux il luy conseilloit de se preparer au malheur par quelque perte volontaire afin que s'il luy devoit arriver quelque chose de fascheux son ame n'en fust pas si surprise polycrate receut cet avis avec beaucoup de tesmoignages de reconnoissance des soins qu'un si grand roy prenoit de luy je n'en usa pourtant pas comme on l'a publie en asie car j'ay sceu que l'on a dit qu'il monta sur une galere avec cet ambassadeur d'egipte et qu'estant bien avant dans la mer il y jetta de dessein premedite un cachet d'un prix inestimable afin de se causer a luy mesme un sujet d'affliction mais la chose n'alla pas ainsi et voicy positivement ce qui a donne fondement a cette nouvelle qui s'est espandue non seulement en asie mais par tout le monde le lendemain que cet ambassadeur fut arrive et qu'on 
 l'eut traite avec toute la magnificence possible polycrate voulut que la belle pesche se fist pour luy donner sa part de ce divertissement comme c'estoit a la fin de l'automne qui est ordinairement tres belle a samos la mer estoit aussi calme qu'il le failoit pour s'y promener agreablement mais non pas aussi de telle sorte qu'il n'y eust lieu d'esperer que l'on ne jetteroit pas les filets inutilement dans la mer car le trop grand calme n'est pas fort bon a la pesche douze galeottes peintes et dorees furent destinees pour cette belle et grande compagnie elles avoient toutes des tentes magnifiques sur la poupe et mille banderoles ondoyantes de diverses couleurs les environnoient de toutes parts mais entre les autres celle qui fut destinee a porter le prince polycrate la princesse hersilee l'ambassadeur d'egypte la belle meneclide l'incomparable alcidamie et les principales dames de la cour estoit la plus belle et la plus galante chose du monde pour moy qui croyois que toute cette magnificence estoit un effet de l'amour de polycrate pour alcidamie je la remarquay mieux qu'aucun autre mais elle ne me donna pas mesme plaisir je fus pourtant dans la mesme galeotte ou estoit alcidamie plus belle ce jour la que l'on ne peint galathee thetis ny venus tous les filets qui devoient servir a cette pesche estoient de soye tous le pescheurs estoient habillez en tritons et toutes les dames en nereides et pour leur faire avoit le plaisir de pescher 
 de leur propre main comme nous fusmes a un endroit ou la mer est extraordinairement poissonneuse polycrate leur fit presenter a toutes des lignes dont le baston estoit d'ebene avec un fil de soye bleue et des hamecons d'or ce prince qui est naturellement tres civil mais qui de plus cachoit autant qu'il pouvoit la passion qu'il avoit pour meneclide prit une de ces lignes et il donna a alcidamie auparavant que d'en donner a cette autre belle personne ce qui comme vous pouvez penser m'affligea extremement de sorte que pendant que tout le monde ne songeoit qu'a se divertir j'estois tres inquiet et tres jaloux theanor et timesias qui n'avoient pu estre dans cette mesme galeotte estoient dans une autre mais si attachez a regarder celle ou estoit alcidamie qu'ils ne sceurent guere a mon advis si la pesche avoit este bonne dans la leur pour moy je n'avois qu'une occupation qui estoit de regarder ce que faisoit polycrate et pour mon malheur je n'estois gueres moins inquiet quand il parloit a meneclide que quand il entretenoit alcidamie parce que je m'imaginois que c'estoit la confidente de son amour je vy donc que pendant que l'ambassadeur d'egipte entretenoit la princesse hersilee sous la tente et que beaucoup de dames par des divertissemens differents estoient toutes occupees les unes a regarder pescher les autres a pescher elles mesmes avec leurs lignes et les autres a s'entretenir ou entre elles ou aveque des gens de la cour ou avec quelques 
 uns de ceux qui avoient accompagne l'ambassadeur je vy dis-je que polycrate apres avoir presente une ligne a alcidamie comme je l'ay desja dit en donna une autre a meneclide et j'ay sceu depuis qu'il luy avoit dit fort galamment en la luy donnant que si elle estoit aussi heureuse a prendre des poissons qu'elle estoit adroit a prendre des coeurs la pesche ne pourroit manquer d'estre bonne or je ne scay comment meneclide prenant cette ligne l'embarrassa dans le ruban ou elle portoit attache au bras droit le cachet que la belle alcidamie luy avoit donne mais je scay bien que se denouant tout d'un coup elle fit un grand cry et que si polycrate ne se fust baisse en diligence et ne l'eust repris il fust tombe dans la mer comme il l'eut encre les mains il en tesmoigna beaucoup de joye aussi bien que meneclide qui l'aimoit infiniment et pour sa beaute et pour la main qui le luy avoit donne mais pour luy qui le consideroit seulement parce qu'il avoit este attache au bras de meneclide il luy dit au lieu de le luy rendre qu'il le luy conserveroit jusques a la fin de la pesche de peur qu'elle ne le perdist et m'apellant alors n'est il pas vray leontidas me dit il que j'ay plus de droit a ce cachet que vous n'en avez au portrait d'alcidamie et que si je voulois je pourrois ne le rendre point a la belle meneclide car enfin vous avez trouve cette peinture en un lieu ou elle n'eust pas este perdue quand vous ne l'eussiez pas prise mais si je n'eusse heureusement 
 pris ce cachet il estoit assurement perdu pour toujours et toute ma bonne fortune qui fait tant de bruit a la cour d'egipte ne l'auroit pas fait retrouver seigneur luy dis-je tout irrite parce que je croyois qu'il n'aimoit ce cachet qu'a cause qu'il avoit este a alcidamie vous me fustes si contraire lors qu'il s'agit du portrait dont vous parlez que j'aura y bien de la peine malgre le respect que je vous dois a vous estre favorable il faut donc dit il que ce soit la belle alcidamie qui m'assiste et qui persuade meneclide de me laisser jouir de ce qu'elle a pense perdre seigneur reprit elle cruellement pour moy je ne m'opposeray jamais a tout ce qui vous sera avantageux et je trouve en effet que meneclide a rendu le cachet que je luy ay donne si precieux qu'elle l'a porte que vous avez raison de le vouloir conserver si le prince interrompit meneclide est de mon advis il ne le considerera que de la mesme facon que je le considere c'est a dire parce qu'il vient de vous enfin apres avoir bi conteste meneclide conf stit a demy que polycrate portast le reste du jour son chachet de sorte que se l'attachant au bras il sembloit estre aussi glorieux que s'il eust fait une grande conqueste en effet il en estoit aussi aise que j'en estois afflige car de la facon dont je croyois voir la chose il me sembloit que ce cachet n'avoit este donne a meneclide qu'afin qu'il fust donne a policrate je creus mesme que meneclide l'avoit detache et laisse tomber expres et je m'imaginay 
 alors tout ce qui me pouvoit affliger apres que l'on eut pris tout le plaisir que la pesche peut donner que l'on eut veu a diverses fois tirer les filets si chargez de poissons bondissans qu'ils en rompoient et redonne la liberte a ces beaux prisonniers que l'on ne prenoit que pour le seul divertissement de les prendre et pour voir leurs bonds et leurs belles escailles d'argent que l'on eut dis-je veu plusieurs dorades se prendre aux lignes que tenoient les dames il y eut en chaque galeotte une colation magnifique et une musique agreable en suitte de quoy le soleil ne pouvant plus incommoder les dames on leva les tentes et cette illustre compagnie jouit avec satisfaction du plus beau soir qui fut jamais toutes les dames avoient leve leurs voiles leur beaute estoit en son plus grand esclat et la conversation succedant aux autres plaisirs quoy que celuy de la musique durast toujours chacun parloit par diverses troupes et j'estois sans doute le seul qui ne m'entretenois avec personne qu'avec moy mesme je vis alors polycrate parlant tantost a l'une tantost a l'autre s'arrester enfin entre alcidamie et meneclide qui voyant aprocher la fin du jour luy redemanda son cachet et comme il fit difficulte de le luy rendre elle l'en pressa encore mais ce prince s'en deffendant tousjours luy faisoit entendre qu'il avoit bien de la peine a resoudre de se deffaire si tost d'une chose qu'elle avoit portee seigneur luy dit elle en sous-riant a ce que j'ay sceu depuis 
 car je ne voyois alors que leurs actions et n'entendois pas leurs paroles ce cachet est si beau et d'un travail si admirable qu'il n'y a que le prince polycrate au monde qui peust le demander comme une faveur et que l'on ne soubconnast d'une passion un peu moins galante que l'amour pour vous monstrer dit il que je ne suis pas avare je vous rendray le cachet a condition que vous me donnerez seulement le ruban qui l'attache en disant cela il le desnoua quoy qu'elle y resistast et il voulut luy rendre le cachet tout seul comme elle s'en deffendoit et qu'elle disoit pour s'en excuser qu'elle ne pourroit comment l'attacher si elle n'avoit pas ce ruban le cachet echape des mains de polycrate et tombe en un instant dans la mer sans qu'il fust en son pouvoir de l'empescher car ils estoient appuyez sur une petite balustrade peinte et doree qui est tout a l'entour de la poupe des galeres et des galeottes polycrate estoit desespere de cet accident meneclide en estoit tres faschee et quand il fut sceu tout le monde prit part au deplaisir que le prince avoit d'avoir cause cette perte a meneclide ainsi je fus le seul qui m'en resjouis et qui fus ravi qu'il ne jouist pas d'une chose qui avoit este a alcidamie car je n'avois point compris qu'il le voulust rendre lors qu'il l'avoit laisse tomber voila disoit il cet heureux polycrate qui commence d'esprouver la mauvaise fortune d'une maniere assez estrange puis qu'enfin poursuivit il le premier malheur qui m'arrive 
 est un malheur sans remede mais plus il paroissoit afflige plus il m'affligeoit et plus la jalousie s'augmentoit dans mon ame l'ambassadeur d'egipte pour le consoler souhaitoit qu'il ne luy arrivast jamais de plus grandes infortunes et tant que le reste du jour dura soit dans la galeotte soit dans le palais apres nostre retour l'on ne parla d'autre chose le lendemain au matin je sceus par theanor qui me le dit malicieusement pour m'affliger que polycrate pour reparer la perte que meneclide avoit faite avoit envoye des le soir deux autres cachets de diamants a alcidamie les plus beaux du monde la suppliant d'en vouloir garder un et de donner l'autre a meneclide afin que du moins elle peust avoir en celuy la ce qu'elle estimoit le plus en celuy qu'il luy avoit perdu c'est a dire quelque chose qui eust eu l'honneur d'estre a elle cette galanterie pensa encore me desesperer et quoy que j'aprisse presques en mesme temps par un autre que par theanor qu'alcidamie avoit fait grande difficulte d'accepter ce qu'on luy avoit envoye et qu'il avoit falu que polycrate employast l'authorite de la princesse sa soeur pour le luy faire prendre je n'en estois pas moins jaloux car enfin je voyois qu'alcidamie avoit un cachet qui venoit de polycrate et je croyois assurement que celuy qu'elle devoit donner a meneclide n'estoit que pour cacher la verite de la chose et pour la recompenser en quel que sorte des services qu'elle leur rendoit de plus ce ruban qui estoit demeure 
 entre les mains de polycrate et que je scavois qu'il conservoit soigneusement augmentoit encore mes soubcons et je n'avois pas un moment de repos il arriva mesme encore le lendemain une chose qui m'affligea extraordinairement et dont toute la terre a entendu parler comme du plus merveilleux cas fortuit et de la plus grande marque de bonheur que l'on ait jamais veu arriver a personne polycrate deux jours apres cette belle feste s'estant leve assez matin avec intention d'aller a la chasse estoit sur un grand perron de marbre qui est au milieu du chasteau tout prest de monter a cheval lors qu'un vieux pescheur s'aprochant de luy avec un profond respect luy presenta un poisson qu'il avoit pris d'une grandeur prodigieuse que deux autres pescheurs portoient sur une claye de joncs marins comme ce poisson estoit admirablement beau et extraordinairement grand polycrate le regarda avec plaisir et faisant magnifiquement recompenser celuy qui le luy avoit offert il monta a cheval et fut a la chasse comme il en avoit eu le dessein mais a son retour un de ses officiers prenant la liberte de s'aprocher de luy comme il vouloit rentrer dans le chasteau luy presenta le cachet de meneclide qu'il avoit laisse tomber dans la mer le jour de la pesche et quel on avoit retrouve en accommodant ce merveilleux poisson dont on luy avoit fait present qui sans doute l'avoit englouty a l'instant qu'il estoit tombe dans l'eau j'estois alors assez pres de polycrate de sorte 
 que je pus remarquer aisement quelle agreable surprise fut la sienne d'apprendre une avanture si prodigieuse et de revoir en sa puissance une chose qu'il avoit crue absolument perdue en effet ce bonheur estoit si extraordinaire que quand polycrate n'eust point este amoureux il en auroit tousjours eu de la joye mais comme il l'estoit infiniment de meneclide et qu'il fut ravy de luy pouvoir rendre une chose qui luy estoit tres chere il tesmoigna la sienne avec tant d'exces que j'en fus plus jaloux que je n'avois encore este m'imaginant tousjours que tout ce que je luy voyois faire estoit fait pour alcidamie il fit donner a cet officier qui luy avoit rendu le cachet de quoy l'enrichir pour toute sa vie il redoubla encore sa liberalite au pescheur qui luy avoit presente le poisson et me choisissant malheureusement pour moy entre les autres croyant me faire grace il m'ordonna d'aller porter cette agreable nouvelle a alcidamie et a meneclide en attendant qu'il peust les voir cependant toute la cour admiroit cette merveilleuse advanture et ne pouvoit se lasser d'en parler apres cela disoit l'ambassadeur d'egipte parlant a polycrate vous pouvez deffier la fortune car enfin que vous ayez laisse tomber dans la mer un cachet que le plus beau de ses poissons ait pris que ce mesme poisson se soit laisse prendre a un pescheur assez raisonnable pour vous en faire un present et qu'en suitte il se soit trouve un officier assez fidelle pour vous rendre une chose si precieuse est un 
 bonheur si grand qu'il en est presque incroyable et qu'il vous doit persuader que vous serez tousjours heureux si cela est ainsi respondit civilement polycrate vous devez vous en resjouir comme d'une chose qui vous marque la prosperite du roy vostre maistre puis que je ne m'estimerois pas heureux s'il ne l'estoit point cependant je fus m'aquitter de ma commission malgre moy mais ce fut d'une facon qui fit bien connoistre a alcidamie et a meneclide que je trouvay ensemble que j'avois l'esprit fort trouble je trouvay encore pour m'affliger davantage qu'hiparche qui n'avoit pas este a la chasse estoit avec elles et que timesias et theanor qui nous avoient quittez des la porte de la ville y estoient desja je leur fis donc ce recit d'une maniere qui donna un juste sujet a la raillerie d'hiparche car voyant avec quelle melancolie je leur aportois une nouvelle de joye et de plaisir il leur dit cent choses malicieuses pour moy et plaisantes pour elles et si meneclide n'eust adroitement destourne la conversation mon chagrin auroit peut-estre esclatte plus que je n'eusse voulu apres cela il falut aller rendre conte a polycrate de ce que ces dames m'avoient dit mais quoy qu'elles m'eussent charge l'une et l'autre de cent civilitez pour luy je les passay toutes legerement et je luy dis seulement en peu de mots que meneclide estoit fort aise de pouvoir esperer qu'elle auroit bientost son cachet polycrate estoit alors entre dans son cabinet sans y estre suivy de personne 
 de sorte qu'y estant seul aveques luy apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler il me demanda tout de nouvau avec une curiosite extreme ce qu'avoient precisement dit meneclide et alcidamie et quoy que je ne luy repondisse pas trop a propos il me faisoit tousjours demandes sur demandes et mettoit mon ame tellement a la gehenne que je fus tous prest de perdre le respect a diverses fois mais enfin ce prince remarquant le trouble de mon esprit me demanda ce que j'avois et comme je ne luy respondis qu'en biaisant il se mit a rever et en suitte me regardant attentivement leontidas me dit il vous estes amoureux ou je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes mais si cela est poursuivit ce prince je voudrois bien pour vostre repos que ce ne fust pas d'alcidamie car c'est une personne de qui l'humeur indifferente vous donnera bien de la peine pour moy entendant parler polycrate ainsi je creus qu'il vouloit seulement scavoit mes veritables sentimens et je fus si interdit que je ne pouvois luy respondre ce prince voyant le desordre ou j'estois en sous-rit et m'embrassant avec beaucoup de bonte leontidas me dit il ne craignez pas de me descouvrir vostre foiblesse puis que je suis resolu de vous aprendre la mienne et pour vous y obliger adjousta t'il scachez que ce polycrate que l'on croit si heureux a un tourment secret qui trouble bien souvent toute sa bonne fortune seigneur luy dis-je alors tout transporte il me semble qu'alcidamie 
 ne vous est pas fort contraire alcidamie en effet me dit il m'espargne quelquesfois quelques rigueurs de meneclide mais apres tout elle ne fait rien pour moy que d'empescher que son amie ne me mal-traite et elle ne l'oblige pas a m'estre absolument favorable j'avoue que lors que j'entendis parler polycrate de cette sorte je creus d'abord que c'estoit pour me tromper toutefois ce prince s'estant a la fin aperceu de ma defiance et ayant mesme devine une partie de mes sentimens il eut la bonte de me commander de les luy dire et j'eus la hardiesse de luy obeir apres avoir neantmoins en quelque facon connu malgre toute ma preocupation que je m'estois abuse polycrate aprenant donc mon erreur la dissipa de telle sorte qu'il ne demeura nul soubcon dans mon ame et je connus enfin que tout ce que theanor m'avoit dit estoit faux ce qui me mit en une colere si estrange contre luy que je n'estois pas maistre de mon ressentiment je ne dis pourtant pas a polycrate tout ce que je scavois et je creus qu'il seroit plus noble de me vanger par moy mesme que de le faire par l'authorite de ce prince comme il m'aimoit veritablement afin de me bien guerir de ma jalousie il me fit le confident de sa passion pour meneclide et pour achever de m'obliger il m'offrit son credit aupres d'alcidamie en effet il luy parla pour moy si avantageusement lors qu'il fut le lendemain reporter le cachet de meneclide que cela obligea cette belle personne a me considerer 
 davantage cependant estant alle chercher theanor afin de luy tesmoigner mon ressentiment j'appris qu'il estoit alle aux champs pour quelques jours et je sceus mesme encore que timesias s'estoit trouve mal aussi tost qu'il avoit este chez luy et qu'il ne sortoit point si bien que me voila sans jalousie pour polycrate et deffait de deux rivaux pour quelques jours pendant lesquels estant favorise du prince je liay une amitie assez estroite avec alcidamie et je fus pres d'une semaine assez heureux mais helas le commencement de ma bonne fortune fut celuy de mon plus grand suplice car tant que je n'avois point creu estre aime d'alcidamie ma jalousie quoy que grande n'avoit pourtant rien este en comparaison de ce qu'elle devint depuis qu'elle m'eut fait la grace de souffrir mon affection et de me permettre d'esperer un jour quelques tesmoignages de la sienne car la regardant alors comme une chose ou j'avois quelque droit j'estois beaucoup plus tourmente il falut que j'augmentasse mon train afin d'avoir plus d'espions a observer ce qu'elle faisoit et ce que faisoient mes rivaux quand theanor fut revenu je le querellay nous voulusmes nous battre et le prince polycrate nous accommoda j'eus encore plusieurs demeslez avec timesias et plusieurs soubcons d'hiparche enfin j'en vins aux termes que j'eusse voulu qu'alcidamie n'eust veu personne je la suivois en tous lieux ou la faisois suivre j'estois tousjours chagrin et tousjours resveur 
 car encore qu'alcidamie eust eu la bonte de me donner quelque esperance elle ne laissoit pas de conserver l'egalite de son humeur pour tout le monde et d'avoir une civilite universelle qui me faisoit desesperer et qui faisoit aussi que je la persecutois estrangement en effet il m'estoit absolument impossible de ne luy donner pas eternellement des marques de mes soubcons quand mesme je n'en avois pas le dessein si elle eust eu l'indulgence de m'en vouloir guerir peut-estre l'auroit elle fait mais comme au contraire ma jalousie l'irrita elle fit tout ce qu'il faloit faire pour la rendre incurable c'est a dire qu'elle ne se priva pas un moment de la conversation de pas un de mes rivaux qu'elle ne perdit jamais nulle occasion de promenade ny de divertissement et qu'elle vescut enfin comme bon luy sembla et comme si je n'eusse point este jaloux ce n'est pas que je ne connusse quelques fois qu'elle ne faisoit rien de mal a propos et que toutes les autres personnes de sa condition ne fissent mais je pensois qu'elle devoit avoir pitie de ma foiblesse donner quelque chose a mon caprice et se contraindre un peu davantage cependant cette inhumaine fille vint a me regarder comme son persecutur et a me traitter si cruellement que je sceus qu'elle avoit raille de mes soubcons et de mes soins avec polycrate et mesme avec hiparche ce qui renouvella toutes mes jalousies jusques a celle du prince de sorte que l'esprit tout aigri je fus la visiter un jour que je la trouvay 
 seule neantmoins quand j'estois aupres d'elle la moitie de ma feureur me quittoit et je luy parlois presques tousjours avec beaucoup de respect cette conversation commenca donc d'abord par des choses indifferentes quoy que ce ne fust pas ma coustume de l'en entretenir quand j'estois seul avec elle mais ne scachant pas ou commencer a me pleindre de crainte de l'irriter trop je gagnois temps en parlant quelquesfois hors de propos dont alcidamie ne put s'empescher de rire comme je le remarquay j'en rougis de colere et ne pouvant plus cacher mes sentimens vous devriez luy dis-je madame m'estre bien obligee de vous donner si souvent matiere de divertir le prince polycrate et de railler avec hiparche ces deux personnes sont si differentes dit elle que j'ay peine a croire qu'une mesme chose les puisse divertir egalement et j'ay bien plus de peine luy dis-je a comprendre comment ils peuvent estre tous deux dans un mesme coeur ils y peuvent estre respondit elle fierement et mesme avec beaucoup d'autres encore car enfin leontidas il y a quelquesfois dans un mesme coeur de l'amour de la haine du mepris de l'amitie de l'indifference et de l'aversion je le scay bien luy dis-je et je scay aussi quelle part je dois pretendre a toutes ces choses comme vous n'ignorez pas sans doute reprit elle avec un son de voix malicieux le prix des services que vous rendez il vous est aise de le deviner je le devine bien mieux repliquay-je par le caprice d'autruy 
 que par moy mesme et vous le devineriez encore plus precisement repliqua t'elle par vostre propre caprice que par nulle autre chose s'il estoit possible que vous le pussiez connoistre appellez vous caprice luy dis-je madame de vous adorer seule en tout l'univers de ne regarder que vous et de ne souhaiter rien que d'en estre aime je scay bien dit elle que ne regardez que moy et peut estre si vous me regardiez un peu moins en seriez vous regarde plus favorablement quoy madame repliquay-je vous croyez qu'il soit possible d'aimer parfaitement et de ne chercher pas autant que l'on peut la veue de la personne aimee je croy dit elle que pour se faire aimer il faut plaire et non pas s'occuper tousjours a destruire tous plaisirs de la personne que l'on aime mais si la personne que l'on aime aimoit respondis-je elle ne trouveroit point de plaisir a persecuter celuy qu'elle auroit juge digne de son affection et elle en trouveroit beaucoup a avoir pitie de sa foiblesse et a la vouloir guerir pour moy dit elle je ne suis pas si bonne car je ne scaurois avoir compassion des maux que l'on se fait soy mesme volontairement ha madame luy dis-je que vous connoissez peu celuy dont vous voulez parler si vous croyez qu'il soit volontaire non non ne vous y trompez pas s'il vous plaist la jalousie est une passion tirannique aussi bien que l'amour qui naist malgre nous dans nostre coeur qui s'y augmente de la mesme sorte et qui nous destruit enfin sans 
 que nous y puissions que faire puis que c'est un mal incurable dit elle et il ne faut penser qu'a le cacher si bien que personne ne s'en apercoive je voudrois le pouvoir faire luy dis-je mais le moyen de vous voir eternellement environnee de personnes qui vous sont agreables sans en tesmoigner du chagrin quoy dit elle vous voudriez que je ne visse jamais que des personnes incommodes que je fusse toujours en des lieux fascheux et peu divertissans que je haisse la musique que je n'aimasse point la promenade que la conversation me depleust et que je passasse enfin toute ma vie en solitude je n'en souhaitterois pas tant luy dis-je mais je vous avoue que je voudrois bien s'il estoit possible que le prince polycrate theanor timesias et mesme hiparche ne fussent pas si bien aveques vous que leontidas alcidamie rougit a ce discours et apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler elle commenca de me dire qu'elle trouvoit qu'il estoit a propos de me faire voir quel rang toutes ces personnes la tenoient dans son coeur et alors elle me dit qu'elle estimoit polycrate comme un grand prince qui de plus aimoit passionnement meneclide son amie que pour theanor elle n'avoit pour luy ni haine ni amitie que pour timesias elle avoit plus de disposition a le hair qu'a l'aimer et que pour hiparche elle aimeroit tousjours sa conversation et n'aimeroit jamais sa personne quand j'entendis parler alcidamie de cette sorte j'en fus transporte de joye 
 et je voulus l'en remercier mais elle m'en empeschant non non me dit elle ne vous hastez pas leontidas je ne vous dis pas cela pour vous satisfaire mais pour me satisfaire moy mesme c'est donc pour ma propre gloire adjousta t'elle que je vous asseure que toutes les personnes que vous m'avez nommees n'ont nulle place particuliere dans mon coeur mais c'est pour vostre repos que je veux vous dire par bonte toute pure afin que vous ne soyez pas abuse que vous n'y en aurez jamais non plus qu'eux quoy madame luy dis-je vous n'aimerez jamais leontidas non pas du moins repliqua t'elle tant qu'il sera jaloux et comme je ne pense pas qu'il puisse jamais cesser de l'estre je ne pense pas aussi pouvoir jamais avoir nulle effection particuliere pour luy mais songez luy dis-je cruelle personne que cette jalousie n'est qu'un effet d'amour si vous m'aimiez donc un peu moins repartit elle je vous aimerois davantage car enfin leontidas adjousta t'elle encore je vous declare que j'aimerois incomparablement mieux espouser un homme qui me hairoit qu'un autre qui m'aimeroit avec jalousie c'est pourquoy ne vous obstinez pas plus longtemps a me servir puis que ce seroit inutilement mais luy dis-je si vous m'aviez assure que je serois choisi par vous pour estre ce bien heureux dont vous parlez ma jalousie cesseroit nullement dit elle et je n'ay garde de m'exposer a un semblable peril il est plusieurs amants qui ne sont point du tout jaloux 
 qui le deviennent quand ils sont maris mais je ne pense pas que ceux qui le sont quand ils n'ont encore aucun droit a la personne qu'ils aiment cessent de l'estre quand ils l'espousent ainsi leontidas vous avez mis un obstacle invicible a vos pretensions pour moy et quelque estime que je puisse avoir pour vous je vous la dis encore une fois je ne vous espouseray jamais entendant parler alcidamie de cette sorte je voulus luy protester que je ne serois plus jaloux mais en luy parlant ainsi j'avoue que malgre moy je voulois encore avoir certaines precautions qui faisoient aisement connoistre que je n'estois pas encore en estat d'estre absolument gueri du mal qui me tourmentoit cependant je ne pus faire changer de resolution a alcidamie et depuis cela je n'en pus tirer autre chose je voulus durant quelques ours faire effort sur moy mesme pour ne paroistre point jaloux je faisois semblant d'estre gay autant que je le pouvois je parlois a theanor je saluois timesias plus civilement qu'a l'ordinaire je voulus mesme railler une fois ou deux avec hiparche mais a vous parler sincerement ce fut d'une maniere qui fit effectivement plus rire alcidamie que si j'eusse dit de fort plaisantes choses cela me mit tellement en colere que je luy en fis des reproches tout bas que voulez vous que j'y face me respondit elle vous estes si mal deguise qu'il n'est pas possible que je n'en rie cette facon d'agir m'offenca extremement neantmoins elle vivoit tousjours 
 selon sa coustume c'est a dire qu'elle estoit douce civile et complaisante pour tout le monde et je vescus aussi comme j'avois accoustume l'esprit fort inquiet et tres malheureux ne scachant donc plus que faire et scachant bien qu'effectivement alcidamie avoit pris la resolution qu'elle m'avoit ditte je fus consulter le philosophe xanthus que je connoissois fort et le conjurer de me dire par quelle voye on pouvoit cesser d'estre jaloux que scachant a quel point il connoissoit toutes choses je me doutois pas qu'il ne peust m'enseigner ce que je voulois scavoir puis qu'il y avoit aparence qu'un homme qui passoit toute sa vie a connoistre la nature des passions me pourroit donner les moyens de vaincre ma jalousie le mal dont vous vous plaignez me respondit il n'est pas si aise a guerir que vous vous l'imaginez et je ne scache qu'un remede pour cela bien est il vray qu'il est infaillible pour ceux qui s'en peuvent servir hastez vous donc luy dis-je de me l'apprendre car quelque difficile qu'il soit je me resoudray a le faire vous n'avez qu'a cesser d'aimer repliqua t'il puis que sans ce que je dis ceux qui ont une fois l'ame fortement atteinte et faifie de cette dangereuse passion ne s'en peuvent jamais absolument delivrer mais luy repliquay-je tout en colere il faudroit donc m'enseigner en mesme temps comment on peut cesser d'aimer en cessant de voir ce que l'on aime respondit il vos remedes sont bien fascheux luy dis-je les maux 
 que vous avez sont bien grands reprit il et dans les maladies de l'esprit aussi bien que dans les maladies du corps quand elles sont extremes il faut avoir recours aux extremes remedes est il possible luy dis-je que la jalousie ne se puisse guerir par nulle autre voye non pas quand elle est violente reprit il et qu'elle est plus forte que l'amour qui la fait naistre car enfin cette passion deregle tellement la raison et l'affoiblit de telle sorte qu'elle ne peut jamais juger de rien equitablement un homme jaloux avec exces est comme un malade a qui la nature ne preste plus nul secours et a qui les remedes sont inutiles dans les autres passions la raison recoit quelquesfois les choses qu'on luy dit comme il les faut recevoir mais un jaloux ne trouve nul secours de ce coste la parce que n'estant accoustumee qu'a le tromper elle ne peut luy faire discerner la verite tant y a qu'apres une fort longue conversation ou xanthus me dit tousjours que pour cesser d'estre jaloux il faloit cesser d'aimer et que pour cesser d'aimer il faloit cesser de voir ce que l'on aimoit je le quittay et je fus me promener seul fort occupe a determiner ce que je voulois aire je n'en vins pourtant pas a bout ce jour la et je pense que si l'impitoyable alcidamie n'eust encore augmente ma jalousie par son procede j'eusse encore este long temps irresolu mais la grande feste de iunon estant arrivee ou toute l'isle de samos est en resjouissance elle me donna tant de nouveaux sujets de 
 me pleindre en toutes les assemblees ou je la vy et elle me persuada si bien que tant que je serois jaloux je serois tousjours hai que je me resolus enfin ne pouvant cesser de l'estre a cesser d'aimer si je le pouvois et a m'esloigner de samos j'inventay donc un pretexte pour en sortir et ne disant la verite qu'au prince polycrate de qui j'estois le moins jaloux je quittay son isle malgre toute la resistance qu'il y fit et je la quittay mesme sans y dire adieu a personne mais afin qu'il ne manquast rien a mon malheur en passant devant le logis d'alcidamie j'y vy entrer timesias et hiparche et je connus par le train de theanor qu'il y estoit desja devant les autres je m'imaginay alors si bien la joye qu'auroient mes rivaux de mon absence que je pensay ne partir pas neantmoins faisant un grand effort sur mon esprit je m'embarquay et je m'en retournay en chipre un peu auparavant que le prince philoxipe fust amoureux de la belle polycrite depuis cela j'ay mene une vie tres inquiette et tres malheureuse car enfin l'absence ne m'a point gueri et je suis toujours amoureux et tousjours jaloux et par consequent le plus infortune de tous les amans depuis mesme que je suis esloigne d'alcidamie je ne suis pas seulement jaloux de mon maistre de mon amy de mon ennemy et d'un autre homme de qui la condition est fort au dessous de la mienne je le suis encore de tous ceux que je m'imagine qui la peuvent voir et quand vous me voyez quelquefois resveur 
 et melancolique c'est que je les repasse tous les uns apres les autres dans ma memoire et que je m'imagine qu'alcidamie les traite mieux qu'elle ne m'a traitte que thimocrate ne pretende donc pas que l'absence toute seule aproche de la rigueur de la jalousie puis qu'il n'y a nulle comparaison de l'une a l'autre le souvenir du passe et l'esperance de l'advenir comme l'a fort bien remarque le prince artibie donnent cent consolations a un amant absent quand il est aime mais un amant jaloux ne trouve rien ny dans le passe ny dans l'advenir qui ne luy donne de l'inquietude un amant absent ne souhaite jamais que des choses agreables et dont l'esperance est douce comme la veue de sa maistresse sa conversation et plusieurs semblables avantages au lieu que la jalousie fait souvent desirer de ne la voir jamais tant il est vray qu'elle deregle la raison je scay bien encore que n'estre point aime est un grand mal mais c'en est encore un plus grand de croire non seulement n'estre point aime mais de s'imaginer que la personne que l'on aime en aime cent mille autres au lieu d'un la mort mesme toute effroyable qu'elle est en la personne aimee ne tourmente pas tant que la jalousie un amant qui pleure sa maistresse morte a du moins la triste consolation d'estre pleint de tout le monde il donne de la compassion a ses plus mortels ennemis ou au contraire un amant jaloux ne donne pas le moindre sentiment de pitie a ses plus chers amis tout ce que peuvent faire les 
 plus discrets est de n'en parler pas mais pour l'ordinaire tout le monde en raille ouvertement cependant quoy qu'il s'en apercoive il ne scauroit y remedier de plus cette espece de douleur qui est causee par la mort a des bornes il n'arrive plus jamais rien de nouveau a celuy qui la ressent mais un amant jaloux souffre tous les jours cent mille suplices qu'il n'a pas preveus quoy que bien souvent il les invente luy mesme et qu'il soit son propre bourreau quand la mort a ravi ce que l'on a de plus cher il y a du moins encore cet avantage que toutes les passions d'une ame a la reserve de l'amour demeurent en paix et que l'on pleure avec quelque espece de tranquilite mais dans un coeur que la jalousie possede elles y sont eternellement en trouble et en confusion la haine en dispute l'empire a l'amour la crainte chasse l'esperance la fureur prend la place de la tendresse le desespoir la suit bien souvent on se reprent cent fois en un jour de ses propres souhaits on desire la mort non seulement a soy mesme mais a sa maistresse on ne voit plus les choses comme elles sont car au lieu que dans l'ordre de la nature les sens seduisent quelquefois l'imagination icy au contraire l'imagination seduit les sens et force bien souvent les oreilles et les yeux a criore s'il faut ainsi dire qu'elles entendent et qu'ils voyent ce qu'effectivement ils ne voyent ny n'entendent cependant la connoissance de ces erreurs ne guerit pas l'esprit de ceux qui en sont capables et 
 la jalousie enfin a quelque chose qui tient bien plus du sortilege de l'enchantement et de la magie que d'une simple passion prononcez donc en ma faveur o mon equitable juge et ne refusez pas vostre pitie au plus malheureux amant du monde
 
 
 
 
leontidas ayant cesse de parler martesie voulut encore suplier cyrus de prononcer l'arrest de ces quatre illustres amants mais s'en estant deffendu avec une civilite tres obligeante et luy ayant mesme refuse de la conseiller elle fut contrainte d'agir par ses propres sentimens apres donc qu'elle eut un peu resve comme pour repasser dans son esprit ce qu'elle venoit d'entendre elle parla avec beaucoup de grace en ces termes quoy que ce ne fust pas sans rougir
 
 
 jugement de martesie 
 
 
 je scay bien que la curiosite de scavoir les avantures de quatre illustres personnes m'a fait accepter la qualite de leur juge avec injustice mais je scay bien aussi que vous m'avez tous si admirablement bien dit vos raisons et si parfaitement bien depeint vos souffrances qu'il n'est presque pas possible que je m'abuse dans mon opinion 
 
 
 je declare donc hardiment que thimocrate tout absent qu'il est puis qu'il est aime est le moins malheureux des quatre que philocles quoy que non-aime n'est pourtant pas le plus infortune de tous puis qu'apres tout ce qui fait son mal pourra peut-estre 
 causer un jour sa guerison et pour leontidas je soustiens qu'il est le moins a pleindre bien que je sois persuadee qu'il souffre plus que tous les autres ensemble et je declare enfin que le prince artibie en pleurant sa maistresse morte est le plus digne de compassion et celuy de tous pour qui j'ay le plus de pitie quoy que je sente aussi les malheurs des autres a la reserve du jaloux leontidas pour qui j'ay beaucoup d'estime et point du tout de compassion 
 
 
a peine martesie eut elle acheve de prononcer son arrest que leontidas prenant la parole ne vous ay-je pas dit luy repliqua t'il que c'est un de mes malheurs de n'estre pleint de personne quoy qu'il en soit reprit cyrus je trouve que martesie a este fort equitable en son jugement le respect que j'ay pour elle dit thimocrate m'empeschera de m'en pleindre je ne suis pas si raisonnable que vous poursuivit philocles puis que je vous advoue que je m'en pleins un peu je vay bien plus loing encore adjousta leontidas car je m'en pleins infiniment et pour moy dit artibie je m'en loue beaucoup puis qu'il est vray que la pitie que cette illustre personne a de mes maux est la premiere consolation que j'ay esprouvee depuis la perte que j'ay faite comme il estoit desja fort tard cyrus se leva et apres qu'il eut encore fort loue martesie qu'aglatidas et erenice eurent fait la mesme chose et qu'il eut encore un peu parle bas de sa chere princesse avec cette excellente fille il sortit suivi de tous ces illustres malheureux et fut retrouver ciaxaxare 
 l'esprit tout rempli de sa propre passion et de l'image de mandane que rien ne pouvoit esloigner de son coeur 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 comme cyrus ne songeoit a rien qu'a delivrer sa princesse il ne s'entretint avec ciaxare qu'il trouva dans son cabinet que des preparatifs de la guerre d'armenie ce qui les embarrassoit pourtant un peu l'un et l'autre estoit que la ville de pterie estant encore entre les mains d'artaxe il n'y avoit pas d'apparence de s'esloigner sans l'avoir reprise mais de s'engager aussi a un siege dans l'impatience ou ils estoient de delivrer mandane estoit une chose ou ils avoient bien de la peine a se resoudre neantmoins comme ils estoient bien advertis qu'il n'y avoit pas alors dans 
 cette place de troupes assez considerables pour la garder s'estant toutes dissipees depuis le depart du roy d'assirie et scachant mesme que les deux mille hommes que metrobate y avoit envoye querir la derniere fois s'estoient aussi dispersez en chemin sans y retourner des qu'ils avoient sceu que l'armee de ciaxare avoit emporte sinope par escalade ils resolurent que cyrus iroit avec une partie des troupes pour la reprendre ils ne furent toutefois pas en cette peine la car le lendemain au matin l'on eut nouvelle que les habitans de pterie ayant sceu qu'artamene estoit delivre et estoit cyrus avoient trame secrettement entre eux de retourner le plustost qu'ils pourroient sous l'obeissance de leur prince legitime et de prevenir le chastiment qu'ils meritoient par un repentir genereux de sorte que s'y estans fortement resolus et ayant bien concerte la chose on sceut qu'ils avoient tue artaxe et tous les soldats de la garnison qu'ils avoient repris le chasteau et qu'ils s'estoient rendus maistres de leur ville dont ils envoyoient les clefs a cyrus par six de leurs principaux habitans afin qu'il les presentast au roy cette nouvelle rejouit extremement ces deux princes qui receurent avec beaucoup de bonte ces rebelles repentans leur pardonnant aussi genereusement que genereusement ils avoient execute leur entreprise on ne songea donc plus qu'a bastir la marche de l'armee pour l'armenie et en effet apres avoir fait une reveue generale 
 de toutes les troupes qui la composoient on resolut que l'avant-garde commenceroit de filer dans six jours et s'avanceroit jusques sur la frontiere ou tout le reste la suivroit bientost apres cyrus avoit alors l'esprit tout rempli d'esperance car voyant une si grande et si belle armee et tant de princes et tant de rois engagez dans son party il avoit lieu de croire que la victoire luy estoit presque assuree et que si le roy d'armenie ne rendoit pas la princesse et n'avouoit pas mesme qu'elle fust dans ses estats c'estoit qu'il vouloit qu'on luy offrist de le decharger du tribut qu'il devoit aux rois de medie ce n'est pas que cyrus ne fust un peu embarrasse a concevoir ce qu'estoit devenu le roy de pont dont megabise ne parloit point et dont il n'avoit point entendu parler a anaxate et qu'il n'eust beaucoup de peine a s'imaginer ce qui avoit pu le separer de la princesse ou obliger le roy d'armenie a le retenir aussi bien qu'elle puis que sa prison ou sa liberte ne faisoient rien a ce tribut dont il se vouloit decharger et pour lequel apparemment il n'avoit point voulu rendre mandane ny advouer qu'elle fust dans ses estats mais esperant estre bientost esclaircy de ses doutes en la delivrant il estoit aussi guay que le peut estre un amant absent qui espere de revoir bientost sa maistresse et de vaincre ses ennemis jamais il n'avoit este plus civil ny plus liberal envers les capitaines et les soldats il estoit continuellement occupe a demander quelque chose pour 
 eux a ciaxare qui ayant renouvelle dans son coeur toute la tendresse qu'il avoit eue autresfois pour luy lors qu'il ne le croyoit estre qu'artamene ne se lassoit non plus de luy accorder tout ce qu'il luy demandoit que cyrus d'obliger ceux qui luy faisoient quel que priere aglatidas qui n'estoit pas un de ceux qu'il consideroit le moins fut un matin le conjurer de vouloit demander pour otane le gouvernement de la province des arisantins qui estoit vacant par la mort de celuy qui le possedoit pour otane luy dit cyrus avec beaucoup d'estonnement ouy seigneur adjousta t'il c'est pour otane que je vous demande cette grace ou pour mieux dire c'est pour la belle amestris car vous scaurez que je suis adverti par artabane qui me l'escrit qu'un homme qui estoit ennemi mortel d'artambare son pere a dessein de l'obtenir de ciaxare c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous supplie de vouloir empescher que l'incomparable amestris que l'on m'assure estre tousjours tres melancolique et tres solitaire ne recoive pas ce desplaisir la car comme tout son bien est dans la province des arisantins ce luy seroit une fascheuse avanture que celle de voir l'ennemi de sa maison en estre gouverneur vous avez raison respondit cyrus mais ne seroit il pas plus juste que je demandasse la chose pour vous que pour otane puis que de cette sorte le roy en seroit mieux servi et les terres d'amestris n'en seroient pas moins protegees vous estes trop bon repliqua aglatidas 
 de me parler comme vous faites neantmoins seigneur si vous voulez m'obliger vous ne songerez jamais a faire rien pour un homme de qui l'ambition est surmontee par l'amour et qui ne cherche plus que la mort pour finir les peines qu'il souffre c'est pourquoy ne pouvant accepter ce gouvernement je vous conjure encore une fois de la demander pour otane je le feray luy dit cyrus mais a condition que vous ferez qu'amestris scache que vous luy avez rendu ce bon office aglatidas s'opposa encore a ce que cyrus vouloit de luy et il fut contraint de luy accorder ce qu'il souhaittoit sans nulles conditions comme ciaxare n'estoit plus en termes de rien refuser a celuy a qui il devoit tout il ne luy eut pas plustost demande ce gouvernement qu'il le luy accorda envoyant a l'heure mesme les expeditions a ecbatane il s'estonna toutesfois par quelle raison il luy faisoit cette priere scachant qu'otane n'estoit pas connu de cyrus et que quand il l'auroit connu il ne l'auroit pas fort aime comme cela fit quelque bruit dans la cour tout le monde chercha par quel motif cyrus avoit fait la chose et megabise qui scavoit quel estoit l'interest d'amestris en cela fut celuy qui en devina le sujet et qui s'imagina que cyrus n'avoit agi qu'a la priere d'aglatidas de sorte que tout le monde le sceut bientost apres et admira sa generosite ce mesme jour la il vint un envoye du roy d'assirie qui ayant sceu par la voix publique au lieu ou il s'estoit retire apres 
 son depart de pterie que la principale raison pourquoy on retenoit cyrus prisonnier estoit parce qu'on l'accusoit de l'avoir fait delivrer et d'avoir intelligence aveque luy avoit resolu de luy rendre une partie de ce qu'il devoit a sa generosite en le justifiant de cette accusation cyrus ne sceut pas plustost que cet envoye estoit arrive a sinope qu'il se rendit aupres de ciaxare luy disant qu'il ne vouloit voir qu'en sa presence celuy que le roy d'assirie luy envoyoit ciaxare luy dit alors fort obligeamment que c'estoit luy faire un reproche injurieux que de le faire souvenir de ses erreurs passees mais enfin cyrus l'emporta et l'envoye du roy d'assirie fut conduit devant ciaxare apres qu'il eut presente la lettre dont il estoit charge qui ne se trouva estre que de creance et que ciaxare se fut dispose a l'entendre seigneur luy dit il j'avois ordre du roy mon maistre de vous dire pour la justification d'artamene que j'ay sceu estre cyrus en arrivant icy que ce n'estoit point luy qui l'avoit fait echaper de sa prison et qu'il n'a jamais eu aucune intelligence aveques luy contre le service qu'il vous doit mais puis que je le voy en liberte il n'est pas necessaire a mon avis que je m'arreste comme j'en avois ordre a exagerer son innocence de ce coste la il m'avoit aussi charge si vous le delivriez comme je devois vous en supplier de sa part de vous declarer en suitte qu'il n'a plus nulle intention de faire la guerre presentement qu'a ceux qui protegent le 
 ravisseur de la princesse mandane qu'ainsi il vous offre toutes les troupes qu'il va lever dans la petite partie de ses estats que le bonheur de vos armes luy a laisse il vous offre mesme sa personne si vous luy en accordez la seurete et vous assure enfin qu'il n'entre prendra plus rien contre vous il m'avoit encore commande adjousta t'il de faire scavoir s'il estoit possible a l'illustre artamene qu'il croyoit qu'artaxe estoit celuy qui avoit envoye sa lettre a metrobate parce que c'avoit este de la main d'artaxe qu'il en avoit receu une coppie qu'il avoit voulu faire passer pour original et que pour marque de cela il apportoit celle qu'artaxe avoit donne au roy son naistre comme estant d'artamene en effet se trouva estre escrite de la propre main d'artaxe qui n'avoit ose dire au roy d'assirie la fourbe qu'il avoit faite pour perdre cyrus ciaxare trouvant un raport si juste des choses que chrisante luy avoit dittes pour justifier son maistre le jour qu'il fut delivre a celles que je luy disoit cet envoye en eut beaucoup de joye de sorte que le traitant fort civilement il luy dit qu'il auroit sa responce le lendemain ne voulant pas la luy rendre a l'heure mesme parce qu'il vouloit faire la grace a cyrus de luy demander son advis apres donc que cet envoye se fut retire et qu'ils furent en liberte de parler ciaxare se fit encore redire precisement par cyrus ce qu'il avoit promis au roy d'assirie sur le haut de la tour de sinope 
 lors que le prince mazare enlevoit la princesse mandane si bien que comme cyrus n'estoit plus en estat de luy rien deguiser il luy dit ingenument qu'il luy avoit engage sa parole que quand la fortune luy seroit assez favorable pour luy faire delivrer la princesse et pour vaincre tous les obstacles qui pourroient s'opposer a son bonheur il ne l'espouseroit jamais sans s'estre batu contre luy mais pourquoy luy dit ciaxare luy fistes vous cette injuste promesse ce fut seigneur repliqua t'il parce que le roy d'assirie ayant eu l'injustice de me demander que je le remise en liberte et moy ayant eu la fidelite pour vous de ne le vouloir pas faire je creus que ce prince pourroit me soubconner de ne le retenir que pour mon interest particulier et comme estant bien aise de m'espargner la peine de vaincre un ennemi redoutable de sorte que pour luy faire voir que je ne le retenois pas par un sentiment si lasche je luy promis d'en user ainsi aussi bien seigneur a vous parler sincerement quand je ne la luy aurois pas promis je ne lairrois pas de le faire et il ne seroit pas aise que je peusse vivre heureux que je n'eusse fait avouer au roy d'assirie que si la fortune me favorise en quelque chose ce n'est pas tout a fait comme une aveugle qui depart toutes ses faveurs sans choix c'est pourquoy je vous conjure si mes prieres vous sont cheres de me permettre de demeurer dans les termes de nos conditions puis qu'aussi bien ne pourrois-je pas obtenir de moy de les 
 rompre ciaxare ne se rendit pas d'abord mais enfin apres avoir considere cette affaire de tous les biais qu'il la pouvoit regarder il resolut de suivre luy mesme les conditions de cyrus luy semblant que c'estoit assurer les conquestes qu'il luy avoit faites que de voir dans son armee le roy d'assirie vaincu car il scavoit bien que ce qu'il pourroit amener de troupes ne seroit pas fort considerable ny en pouvoir de rien entreprendre contre luy il dit donc le lendemain a l'envoye de ce prince que comme presentement les interests de cyrus estoient les siens il tiendroit tout ce qu'il luy avoit promis et qu'ainsi il pouvoit assurer le roy son maistre que sa personne et ses troupes seroient en seurete dans son armee quand il y voudroit venir sans que le souvenir du premier enlevement de mandane l'obligeast a le maltraiter et que cyrus enfin luy tiendroit exactement la parole qu'il luy avoit donnee ce qui obligeoit principalement ciaxare a en user de cette facon estoit qu'il croyoit pouvoir plustost empescher ce combat de cyrus et du roy d'assirie quand ce prince seroit dans son armee que s'il fust demeure dans la sienne son ennemy declare joint encore que de cette sorte il estoit hors de la crainte que la princesse mandane ne retombast une seconde fois sous la puissance du roy d'assirie et n'estoit point oblige a diviser ses forces pour luy faire teste et pour aller en armenie il consideroit mesme encore que quand le malheur voudroit que cyrus 
 se batist contre ce prince et en fust vaincu il ne seroit pas force pour cela de luy donner la princesse sa fille cyrus ne s'estant engage qu'a ce qui dependoit de luy et non pas a la luy faire espouser cependant toutes choses estant prestes pour partir cyrus demanda la permission de commander l'avant-garde et demanda de plus qu'une partie des troupes de perse le suivissent comme ciaxare ne luy pouvoit plus rien refuser il obtint tout ce qu'il voulut et il fut resolu qu'il partiroit avec vingt mille hommes seulement que tous les volontaires le suivroient que le roy marcheroit aussi bien tost avec le corps de la bataille et que l'arriere-garde seroit commandee par le roy d'hircanie le roy de phrigie demeurant aussi avec ciaxare jamais il ne s'est veu une plus grande joye que celle des troupes qui furent choisies pour cette avant-garde ny une plus sensible douleur que celle que receurent les chefs et les soldats qui ne furent point commandez et l'on eust dit qu'ils apprehendoient que cyrus ne vainquist sans eux et qu'ils ne trouvassent plus rien a faire quand ils le joindroient or pendant que tout se preparoit a partir cet illustre heros s'estant souvenu qu'il avoit promis aux habitans de sinope de faire rebastir leur ville il supplia ciaxare de vouloir qu'il s'aquitast de sa parole et de souffrir qu'il employast a cela une partie de ses bienfaits mais ciaxare voulut que ce fust des deniers publics que cette ville fust rebastie et ordonna a ariobante qui 
 demeura en capadoce pour y tenir toutes choses en devoir de faire venir des architectes de grece pour reparer les desordres de l'embrasement de sinope voulant de plus que comme il y avoit une statue de ce fameux milesien qui l'avoit fondee qui se nommoit autolicus il y en eust aussi une de cyrus comme en estant le second fondateur ce qui fut execute cependant cet illustre prince fut dire adieu a martesie qui ne le vit pas partir sans douleur elle voulut alors l'obliger a luy rendre la peinture de mandane qu'elle luy avoit prestee a condition de la remettre en ses mains quand il partiroit pour la guerre d'armenie mais ce prince la regardant attentivement cruelle personne luy dit il comment voudriez vous que je pusse vaincre si vous m'ostiez ce qui me doit rendre invincible vous avez tant remporte de victoires sans ce secours repliqua t'elle qu'il n'y a pas d'apparence que vous en ayez besoin cyrus entendant parler martesie de cette sorte creut qu'effectivement elle vouloit qu'il luy rendist ce portrait ce qui luy donna une douleur si sensible que le visage luy changea et ses yeux en devindrent si melancoliques que martesie en ayant compassion luy dit seigneur je change le terme que je vous avois donne et je ne veux vous obliger a me rendre la peinture de la princesse que quand vous l'aurez delivree cyrus la remercia alors avec une joye extreme et apres luy avoir demande s'il ne pouvoit rien pour son service elle luy dit 
 qu'ayant dessein de s'approcher un peu plus pres de mandane afin de la revoir plustost quand il l'auroit remise en liberte elle avoit intention d'aller avec une de ses parentes qui devoit partir dans trois jours pour s'en retourner vers les frontiers d'armenie ou elle demeuroit et qu'elle le supplioit de luy faire donner escorte pour cela feraulas qui entendit la chose fit ce qu'il put pour avoir cette commission mais cyrus la luy voulant refuser obligeamment parce qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre d'esloigner de luy le seul homme avec qui il pouvoit le plus librement s'entretenir de son amour luy dit qu'il ne seroit pas juste qu'il fust heureux aupres de martesie durant qu'il estoit infortune esloigne de mandane et en effet ortalque avec deux cens chevaux eut ordre d'accompager ces dames en leur voyage martesie le supplia encore de vouloir accorder a orsane la permission de s'en retourner vers le roy et la reine des saces luy semblant qu'apres qu'ils luy avoient fait l'honneur de luy confier la personne du prince mazare leur fils il estoit juste qu'il allast du moins leur apprendre les particularitez de sa perte cyrus se souvenant alors des obligations que luy avoit sa chere princesse des soins qu'il avoit eus de martesie et de ce qu'il avoit mesme este un de ceux qui avoient aide a le delivrer il voulut le voir et luy dire luy mesme qu'il pouvoit s'assurer tousjours en luy un prince fort reconnoissant en suitte luy ayant fait recevoir malgre qu'il en eust de magnifiques 
 presens il le congedia et dit encore une fois luy mesme le dernier adieu a martesie il demanda aussi au prince thrasibule s'il vouloit qu'il luy fist redonner des vaisseaux au lieu de ceux qu'il avoit perdus mais ce prince genereux luy respondit qu'il auroit honte de les accepter en une pareille saison et qu'il vouloit s'aller rendre digne a la guerre d'armenie de la glorieuse protection qu'il luy avoit promise cyrus n'ayant donc plus rien a faire a sinope fut prendre conge de ciaxare qui l'embrassa avec une tendresse sans pareille ceux des chess qui n'alloient pas aveques luy furent aussi luy dire adieu et luy tesmoigner de nouveau la douleur qu'ils avoient de ce qu'ils ne feroient que le suivre cyrus avoit ce jour la dans les yeux je ne scay quelle noble fierte qui sembloit estre d'un heureux presage et a dire vray il eust este difficile de s'imaginer en le voyant qu'il eust pu estre vaincu tant sa phisionomie estoit grande et heureuse ce prince estoit d'une taille tres avantageuse et tres bien faite il avoit la teste tres belle et tout l'art que les medes aportent a leurs cheveux n'approchoit point de ce que la nature toute seule faisoit aux siens qui estant du plus beau brun du monde faisoient cent mille boucles agreablement negligees qui luy pendoient jusques sur les espaules son taint estoit vif ses yeux noirs pleins d'esprit de douceur et de majeste il avoit la bouche agreable et sous-riante le nez un peu aquilin le tour du visage admirable et l'action 
 si noble et la mine si haute que l'on peut dire assurement qu'il n'y eut jamais d'homme mieux rait au monde que l'estoit cyrus de sorte qu'il ne se faut pas estonner si le jour qu'il partit de sinope estant monte sur un des plus fiers et des plus beaux chouaux que l'on vit jamais ayant un habit de guerre le plus superbe que l'on se puisse imaginer et ayant mis aussi pour ce jour la seulement la magnifique escharpe de la princesse mandane tout le peuple le suivit jusques hors de la ville le chargeant de benedictions luy souhaittant la victoire et le voyant partir avec des larmes il estoit suivi de tous les principaux chefs et de tous les volontaires de sorte que ce gros de gens de qualite tous magnifiquement vestus et admirablement bien montez faisoit un des plus beaux objets du monde le prince thrasibule le prince artibie hidaspe gobrias gadate chrisante aglatidas megabise adusius thimocrate leontidas philocles feraulas et mille autres estoient de ce nombre cependant au milieu du tumulte et malgre tous les soings qu'avoit cyrus mandane estoit tousjours dans son coeur et tant que cette marche dura sans manquer a rien de tout ce qu'il devoit faire comme general d'armee il ne manqua non plus a rien de ce qu'il devoit comme amant fidelle et il donnoit tousjours toutes les heures qu'il pouvoit derober a ses occupations au souvenir de sa chere princesse cela n'empeschoit pas neantmoins qu'il n'agist avec une prevoyance 
 admirable et par l'ordre qu'il apportoit tousjours aux marches des armees qu'il commandoit il ne ruinoit point les lieux de son passage et ne laissoit pourtant pas souffrir ses soldats ils avoient donc desja marche plusieurs jours et estoient desja arrivez a cent stades pres du fleuve licus qui separe la petite armenie de la capadoce lors que quelques coureurs de l'armee amenerent a gyrus qui faisoit repaistre ses chevaux et reposer ses gens dans une forest un homme qu'ils disoient estre un espion et qui avoit toutefois demande a parler a luy mais cyrus fut bien agreablement surpris de voir que c'estoit araspe deguise en marchand armenien que des ciliciens qui l'avoient pris n'avoient pas connu il l'embrassa alors avec joye et le tirant a part a l'heure mesme et bien mon cher araspe luy dit il avez vous este plus heureux que megabise et scavez vous plus de nouvelles de la princesse et du roy de pont qu'il n'en apporta je scay seigneur luy respondit il presques tout ce que je pouvois scavoir excepte que je n'ay pas bien veu la princesse mandane et que l'on ne m'a pas dit son nom mais enfin pour vous raconter ce que j'ay apris je vous diray qu'avec l'habit que vous me voyez et scachant assez bien la langue armenienne j'ay tousjours este pris pour un veritable armenien mesme dans artaxate ou la cour est presentement la je me suis mesle avec diverses personnes et j'ay sceu que le roy d'armenie dit tousjours que la 
 princesse mandane n'est point dans ses estats et qu'il publie qu'on ne la luy demande que pour avoir encore un plus grand pretexte de luy faire la guerre a cause du tribut qu'il n'a pas voulu payer le peuple mesme a ce que j'ay appris l'a creu long temps ainsi mais depuis quelques jours ce mesme peuple a change d'avis et tout le monde croit qu'effectivement la princesse mandane est presentement dans un chasteau qui n'est qu'a cinquante stades d'artaxate du coste qui regarde vers les chaldees et qui est basti sur le bord d'une petite riviere laquelle se jette en ce lieu la dans l'araxe qui passe dans artaxate ce qui fait qu'ils ont cette croyance est qu'ils scavent que dans le mesme temps qu'ils ont apris que l'on disoit que la princesse mandane y doit estre il est arrive deux dames que quelques hommes conduisoient que l'on a mises dans ce chasteau que l'on y garde tres soigneusement et que l'on sert avec beaucoup de respect quelques uns de ceux qui les ont veues ont dit de plus qu'il y en a une admirablement belle et qui paroist fort melancolique je me suis informe aussi exactement que je j'ay pu sans me mettre au hazard d'estre descouvert quelle sorte de beaute est celle de cette dame et j'ay trouve par tout ce que l'on m'en a dit que ce doit estre la princesse car on m'a assure qu'elle est blonde blanche de belle taille et qu'elle a l'air fort modeste outre cela j'ay encore remarque moy mesme que le jeune prince phraarte frere du prince tigrane qui 
 est demeure malade a la haute armenie y va tous les jours peu accompagne de sorte qu'il est aise de s'imaginer qu'il faut qu'il y ait quelque personne d'importance en ce lieu la de plus je vous diray qu'estant un jour alle a ce chasteau avec un marchand d'artaxate de qui j'avois gagne l'amitie par quelques petits presens afin qu'il trouvast les moyens de m'y faire entrer sur le pretexte de le voir par curiosite j'entray effectivement jusques dans la premiere court et j'eusse assurement veu tout ce chasteau et tous les jardins et par consequent bien veu la princesse si par malheur le prince phraarte ne fust arrive dans ce temps la mais a peine sceut on qu'il venoit qu'on nous fit cacher parce qu'il y a deffence expresse de laisser entrer personne comme il fut entre dans le chasteau on nous fit sortir en diligence neantmoins en repassant par un endroit de la basse court je vy ce mesme prince a un balcon qui entretenoit une dame qui me parut estre la princesse mandane du moins a ce que j'en pus juger en un moment et d'assez loing ne luy voyant qu'un coste de la teste et ne pouvant bien voir distinctement que la couleur de ses cheveux et sa taille voila seigneur tout ce que j'ay appris de la princesse et tout ce que j'en ay pu apprendre car depuis cela on n'a plus voulu me laisser entrer au chasteau ou elle est et je n'ay pu rien apprendre du roy de pont il n'en faut point douter dit cyrus c'est assurement la princesse mandane que vous avez veue 
 et les visites du prince phraarte en sont une preuve infaillible mais poursuivit il araspe ce prince est il aussi bien fait que le prince tigrane son frere je n'en scay rien seigneur repliqua t'il en sous-riant comme estant accoustume de vivre avec beaucoup de liberte aupres de cyrus car je n'ay jamais eu l'honneur de voir le prince tigrane mais je scay bien que phraarte n'est pas si bien fait que l'illustre artamene cyrus sousrit du discours d'araspe et l'embrassant encore une fois j'ay tort je l'avoue luy dit il de vous demander ce que je vous demande et je merite la raillerie que vous me faites pour ne vous avoir pas demande d'abord si ce chasteau est bien fortifie si le passage de cette riviere est garde et si selon les apparences la victoire nous coustera cher mais araspe l'amour est une passion si imperieuse que son interest va tousjours devant toute autre chose c'est pourquoy vous me devez excuser en suitte de cela araspe luy dit que ce chasteau estoit dans un bourg si grand qu'il en estoit foible que la scituation en estoit inegale et irreguliere a tel point par son excessive longueur qu'a moins que d'y avoir six mille hommes bien resolus a le garder il ne seroit pas impossible de le prendre que la difficulte de cette entreprise estoit qu'il n'y avoit que cinquante stades de ce bourg a artaxate qui estoit la plus grande ville de toutes les deux armenies et dans les faux-bourgs de laquelle estoit alors tout ce que le roy d'armenie 
 avoit de troupes que de plus comme ce royaume la n'avoit pas grand nombre de villes petites ny mediocres a cause de l'abondance des pasturages qui font que toute la campagne est fort habitee celle la estoit si prodigieusement peuplee que quand ses habitans ne feroient simplement que se monstrer rangez en bataille ils feroient peur a regarder qu'ainsi il le supplioit de ne trouver pas mauvais s'il luy disoit que selon son sens il ne devoit rien entreprendre que toute l'armee ne fust venue et qu'il se devoit contenter de se saisir du passage de la riviere qui estoit assez foiblement garde parce que quelques advis que receust le roy d'armenie de la marche de l'armee de ciaxare il ne croyoit pourtant pas encore qu'on luy allast faire la guerre tout de bon et s'imaginoit tousjours que ce n'estoit seulement que pour l'obliger par la crainte a payer le tribut qu'il devoit cyrus remercia alors araspe de toute la peine qu'il avoit eue et du danger ou il s'estoit mis a sa consideration et luy faisant quitter son habillement de marchand et prendre un autre cheval que le sien il poursuivit sa marche apres avoir tenu conseil de guerre sur l'attaque du passage de la riviere pour faire seulement honneur aux chefs qui estoient aveque luy car dans tous les conseils qui se tenoient ses advis en faisoient tousjours toutes les resolutions il depescha aussi vers ciaxare pour l'advertir de tout ce qu'araspe avoit apris et l'envie de vaincre se renouvellant dans 
 son coeur il fit haster la marche de ses troupes et se prepara a forcer a l'heure mesme le passage de la riviere n'oubliant rien de tout ce qu'un capitaine prudent et courageux peut faire en une pareille rencontre aussi vint il aisement a bout de son dessein et le retranchement que les armeniens avoient fait ayant este force en un quart d'heure il se vit dans le pais ennemy et maistre de la riviere sans avoir perdu que quinze ou vingt soldats en une occasion ou tout ce qui fit resistance fut taille en pieces et entierement deffait lors qu'il estoit party de sinope il avoit eu intention d'attendre toute l'armee en ce lieu la apres s'en estre assure mais comme le pouvoir qu'il avoit estoit absolu il changea de dessein et il prit celuy de delivrer mandane s'il estoit possible auparavant que le roy fust arrive luy semblant que moins il auroit de gens a partager le peril qu'il y avoit en cette entreprise plus cette princesse luy en seroit obligee et plus cette action en seroit glorieuse ce qui le confirma encore en cette resolution fut la nouvelle qu'il receut que ciaxare s'estant trouve mal son depart avoit este differe de trois jours et qu'a cause de cet accident sa marche seroit plus lente mais ce qui le poussa plus fortement que tout cela a cette dangereuse entreprise fut qu'il scavoit que le roy d'assirie devoit venir et qu'il ne put se resoudre a endurer que son rival partageast aveques luy la gloire de delivrer sa princesse ne pouvant donc plus souffrir ce retardement il laissa 
 deux mille hommes a garder le passage de la riviere et fut droit vers la grande ville d'artaxate qui estoit scituee dans une plaine tres fertile au bord de l'araxe et a peu pres au mesme lieu ou par les conseils d'hanibal un autre roy d'armenie fit longtemps depuis rebastir la nouvelle artaxate cette ville n'estoit commandee que de fort peu d'endroits mais ses murailles estoient si foibles et mesmes en quelques lieux si detruites que sa force ne consistoit qu'en la multitude de ses habitans bien est il vray qu'elle estoit se prodigieusement grande que tout autre coeur que celuy de cyrus n'auroit pas entrepris ce qu'il entreprit comme il fut donc arrive assez pres d'artaxate ou le roy d'armenie estoit avec tous les grands de son royaume attendant que son armee qui estoit desja de dix mille hommes fust assez forte pour se mettre en campagne il fut reconnoistre en personne la scituation de ce bourg ou estoit le chasteau qu'il vouloit prendre et apres avoir remarque tous les lieux d'alentour sans que les ennemis osassent se monstrer que de loin quoy que chrisante et ses plus fidelles serviteurs luy pussent dire il voulut tout hazarder pour delivrer sa princesse il fit donc filer toute la nuit vers ce lieu la douze mille hommes qui luy restoient car il avoit falu en laisser six mille en divers postes pour assurer sa retraitte s'il la faloit faire et pour garder un passage sur l'araxe outre les deux mille qu'il avoit laissez pour garder celuy de cette autre riviere 
 qui separe l'armenie de la capadoce apres avoir donc assemble ses troupes proche d'un petit bois et chosi celles qu'il destinoit a l'attaque du bourg et du chasteau quoy qu'il fust adverty que toute la ville d'artaxate estoit en armes et que tous les bourgeois se preparoient a sortir contre luy ce grand coeur ne s'ebranla point au contraire prenant de nouvelles forces par la grandeur du peril il choisit une petite eminence qui estoit entre la ville et ce chasteau et apres avoir range huit mille hommes en bataille sur cette hauteur et y avoir place six de ces terribles machines qui servoient a lancer des boulets de pierre pour s'opposer au secours que le roy d'armenie vouloit y donner il fut avec les quatre mille autres attaquer le bourg dans le quel l'on avoit jette trois mille soldats qui s'estoient retranchez quelques tours auparavant que cyrus arrivast a la veue d'artaxate cette attaque se fit par trois endroits a la fois apres que quatre beliers eurent abatu la barricade et la muraille mais avec tant de vigueur que les ennemis en furent d'abord espouvantez l'on eust dit a voir agir cyrus qu'il estoit invulnerable veu comme il s'exposoit a la gresle des traits des ennemis la premiere attaque estoit commandee par le prince thrasibule la seconde par hidaspe et la troisiesme par aglatidas car pour cyrus il voulut se reserver la liberte d'aller combattre ceux de la ville s'ils avoient la hardiesse de vouloir venir secourir ce chasteau d'abord la 
 premiere barricade fut emportee du coste qu'estoit cyrus et ceux qui la defendoient fuyant avec precipitation jusques a la seconde y furent tuez et servirent encore a faire forcer les autres par l'effroy que leur deffaite leur donna pendant cela non seulement l'attaque de thrasibule reussit de mesme et celle d'aglatidas aussi mais les soldats encore animez par l'exemple de leur vaillant chef planterent des echelles contre les murs dont les beliers avoient desja abatu une partie de sorte que tout d'un coup les soldats et les habitans de ce lieu la se virent envelopez de toutes parts et contraints de fuir pour sauver leur vie les uns jettent leurs armes et se rendent les autres fuyent en tumulte et en desordre quelques uns pour esviter l'espee de l'ennemy qui les poursuit trouvant le pont trop estroit et trop embarrasse pour tant de monde se jettent dans la riviere qui passe en ce lieu la et s'y noyent miserablement quelques uns taschent de se deffendre encore a ce pont mais comme la valeur de cyrus ne s'arrestoit jamais qu'apres la victoire il les poursuit il les force il tue tout ce qui luy resiste et pardonne a tout ce qui luy cede celuy qui commandoit les gens de guerre qui estoient en ce lieu la et qui estoit un homme de coeur y fut tue de divers coups n'ayant pas voulu demander quartier et des trois mille hommes que l'on avoit mis dans ce bourg il en echapa fort peu qui ne fussent ou blessez ou prisonniers bien est il vray que du coste de cyrus le 
 prince artibie qui ce jour la combatoit comme volontaire y receut deux blessures mortelles ce qui affligea extraordinairement cyrus cependant ceux du chasteau ne voyant pas qu'ils fussent en estat de tenir contre de si vaillans ennemis et la princesse qui estoit dedans leur pro mettant de grandes recompenses s'ils se rendoient a cet invincible conquerant ils firent signe qu'ils vouloient parlementer ce qui donna une joye si grande a ce prince par l'esperance de revoir bien tost sa chere mandane qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu de plus sensible il s'estonnoit toutesfois estrangement de voir que le roy de pont qu'il scavoit estre si vaillant et se brave ne paroissoit point d'ou vient disoit il en luy mesme qu'en une occasion comme celle cy je ne le voy pas les armes a la main s'il souvient de quelques bons offices que je luy ay rendus que ne me rend t'il ma princesse et s'il ne s'en veut pas souvenir que ne me vient il combattre assurement disoit il encore il faut ou qu'il soit mort ou que quelque bizarre politique que je ne comprens point fasse que le roy d'armenie le tienne prisonnier dans ce chasteau toutes ces reflexions n'agiterent pourtant pas longtemps son esprit et l'esperance presque certaine qu'il avoit de delivrer mandane fit qu'il abandonna son ame a la joye il parlemente donc avec le capitaine du chasteau il luy promet tout ce qu'il veut pourveu qu'il luy rende promptement la princesse qu'il garde et ce capitaine luy obeissant et se 
 fiant a la parole d'un prince qui la gardoit inviolablement a ses plus mortels ennemis ouvre les portes et laisse entrer cyrus dans le chasteau suivy d'autant de monde qu'il voulut faisant poser les armes au peu de garnison qu'il y avoit d'abord que cyrus fut dans la basse court de ce chasteau ou est la princesse dit il a ce capitaine la voicy seigneur repliqua t'il en luy monstrant a sa droite un perron ou en effet il vit deux femmes qui venoient vers luy la premiere estant soustenue par un escuyer qui luy aidoit a marcher son imagination n'estant remplie que de mandane il fut vers cette dame avec precipitation pour luy espargner quelques pas mais en s'en aprochant cette personne ayant leve son voile et s'estant arrestee un moment comme estant fort surprise de la veue de cyrus il vit sans doute un des plus beaux objets du monde mais le plus desagreable pour luy en cet instant puis qu'il connut que cette personne n'estoit pas sa princesse il se tourna donc vers ce capitaine comme pour l'accuser de l'avoir trompe mais cette belle personne s'estant aprochee le visage un peu esmeu seigneur luy dit elle le roy de pont mon frere fut si bien traitte de vous lors qu'il fut vostre prisonnier que j'ay lieu d'esperer de l'estre aussi favorablement que luy puis que vous estes trop genereux pour ne proteger pas la plus malheureuse princesse de la terre cyrus estoit se afflige de voir qu'il n'avoit pas delivre mandane et se surpris d'apprendre que cette 
 cesse que luy parloit estoit soeur du roy de pont qu'il fut un moment sans pouvoir presques luy respondre neantmoins faisant un grand effort sur son esprit vous ne vous trompez pas madame luy dit il fort civilement quand vous croyez que je vous traiteray avec tout le respect que l'on doit a une personne de vostre condition car encore que le roy vostre frere soit celuy que je viens chercher en armenie je ne laisseray pas de vous assurer que je vous rendray tousjours tous les services qui seront en ma puissance comme cet te belle princesse alloit respondre on vint advertir cyrus qu'il sortoit d'anaxate une multitude de monde si prodigieuse que sa presence estoit necessaire a son armee souffrez donc madame luy dit il en luy presentant la main que je vous remene dans vostre apartement et que je vous laisse maistresse de ce chasteau jusques a ce que j'aye acheve d'assurer cette petite conqueste en disant cela il la conduisit dans sa chambre ou apres luy avoir fait encore un compliment avec assez de precipitation et avoir commande a chrisante qu'il y laissa de la servir en tout ce qu'il pourroit il descendit dans la court ou il rencontra quelques soldats et quelques capitaines qui portoient dans ce chasteau le prince artibie blesse afin de l'y faire penser plus commodement comme cyrus le vit en cet estat et qu'il remarqua que ceux qui le soutenoient trop foibles et l'incommodoient en le portant quel que presse qu'il fust et quelque douleur qu'il 
 eust en l'ame il aida de sa propre main a porter cet illustre blesse jusques a une chambre basse ou il fut mis sur un lict mais ce prince afflige en recevant civilement les bons offices de cyrus le faisoit bien plustost par sa propre consideration que parcelle de la vie qu'il vouloit perdre et que cyrus luy vouloit conserver en ordonnant comme il fit a ceux qu'il laissa aupres de luy d'en avoir tous les soings imaginables apres cela cy rus monta a cheval et voyant qu'il ne pouvoit encore satisfaire son amour par la liberte de sa princesse il voulut du moins satisfaire sa gloire faisant la plus hardie action du monde a chaque pas qu'il faisoit il recevoit advis sur advis des troupes qui sortoient d'artaxate mais quelque grand qu'on luy representast ce peril il fut toutesfois se mettre a la teste des siennes resolu de combattre quand mesme il seroit attaque par cent mille hommes en effet si le roy d'arme nie l'eust entrepris il n'y en eust eu gueres moins car depuis une petite vallee qui s'abaisse presques imperceptiblement et qui est au dessous de l'eminence ou cyrus s'estoit poste jusques a artaxate toute la campagne estoit couverte de troupes ennemies qui firent mesme semblant d'avoir intention de combattre car le roy d'armenie tint conseil de guerre pour cela hors des murailles de la ville et s'avanca jusques a un vilage ou il fit alte qui est fort proche de ce petit vallon qui separoit les deux armees cependant le grand cyrus demeura ferme en son poste 
 regardant tousjours fierement cette multitude innombrable d'ennemis qui n'osoient pourtant l'attaquer il conduisit mesme cette grande action avec tant d'heur et tant de prudence qu'il y avoit plus de six heures que ce chasteau estoit pris que ceux d'artaxate ne le scavoient pas encore en fin apres avoir bien consulte le roy d'armenie conclut qu'il ne faloit point attaquer un prince accoustume de combattre comme un lion et de vaincre tout ce qui luy resistoit le prince phraarte qui estoit assez brave vouloit bazarder la chose a quelque prix que ce fust mais son advis n'estant pas suivy parce qu'un chef experimente soutint qu'il n'y avoit nulle aparence d'aller choquer avec des troupes nouvelles et des bourgeois des troupes aguerries et le plus grand capitaine du monde poste avec quelque avantage cyrus eut la satisfaction d'avoir pris ce qu'il vouloit prendre a la veue de ses ennemis et de leur avoir presente la bataille depuis le matin jusques a la nuit sans qu'ils eussent ose l'accepter quoy qu'ils fussent vingt fois plus que luy la nuit tombant tout d'un coup cacha une partie de la honte qu'avoient tous les habitans d'artaxate de rentrer dans leur vil le apres avoir seulement veu prendre un chasteau qui leur estoit tres considerable a cause de l'araxe qui y passe cependant cyrus n'avoit pas l'ame tranquile et cette grande action ne luy donnoit que de la douleur car il avoit se fortement espere de delivrer la princesse 
 mandane qu'il ne pouvoit se consoler de ne l'avoir pas fait aussi tost qu'il eut donc veu que toutes les troupes estoient rentrees dans la ville et qu'il eut pose des gardes avancees de ce coste la il fut passer le reste de la nuit au chasteau qu'il avoit pris apres s'estre informe de la sante du prince artibie qu'on luy dit estre fort mauvaise et avoir sceu que la princesse de pont estoit retire il demeura seul dans sa chambre avec feraulas et bien luy dit il avec une melancolie extreme que dittes vous de ma fortune et ne faut il pas avouer que je suis le plus malheureux prince du monde le pensois seigneur repliqua feraulas que c'estoit aux vaincus a se plaindre et aux vainqueurs a se resjouir non non dit il feraulas la gloire n'est plus la plus forte dans mon coeur et quand j'aurois defait cette multitude d'ennemis que je n'ay fait que regarder je serois aussi melancolique que je le suis je ne cherche presentement ny a faire des conquestes ny a aquerir de la reputation je cherche mandane seulement et puis que je ne la trouve point je suis plus malheureux que se j'avois este vaincu araspe ne mentoit pas poursuivit il quand il disoit qu'il y avoit une personne de qualite en ce chasteau qu'elle estoit belle blonde blanche et de bonne mine mais helas que cette princesse toute admirablement belle qu'elle est me donne peu de satisfaction par sa veue je trouve pourtant seigneur interrompit feraulas que c'est toujours quel que chose que d'avoir en vos 
 mains une soeur du roy de pont et une personne de laquelle j'ay ouy dire beaucoup de bien quand nous estions a la guerre de bithinie de sorte qu'il y a apparence que cela tiendra ce prince en quelque crainte ha feraulas respondit il en soupirant quelque chere que luy puisse estre la princesse de pont mandane la luy sera tousjours davantage et entre une soeur et une maistresse il n'y a pas grande peine a se refondre s'il tenoit en son pouvoir un frere se je l'avois et mesme le roy mon pere cela pourroit servir a quelque chose mais pour mandane a rien du tout joint que me connoissant comme il me connoist il ne craindra pas que je mal-traitte la princesse sa soeur quoy qu'il ne me rende pas mandane et il scait trop que je ne suis pas capable de faire jamais une action se lasche se injuste et se cruelle ainsi sans rien hazarder il gardera ma princesse mais seigneur dit feraulas estes vous bien assure que cette belle personne soit la princesse de pont ouy repliqua t'il et presentement que je rapelle en ma memoire un portrait que la femme d'arsamone m'en fit monstrer par la princesse sa fille afin de connoistre si j'estois spitridate ou se je ne l'estois pas je voy bien que c'est effectivement elle car cette peinture luy ressembloit extremement mais se cela est reprit feraulas je m'estonne qu'elle ne vous a aussi bien pris pour spitridate que ces autres princesses de bithinie c'est sans doute repliqua cyrus que le roy son frere luy aura parie de cette prodigieuse 
 ressemblance que l'on dit estre entre luy et moy quoy qu'il en soit feraulas ce n'est pas de semblables choses que je me dois entretenir et que vous me devez parler et mandane la seule mandane doit estre l'objet de toutes mes pensees et le sujet de toutes mes conversations encore se je scavois precisement ou elle est j'aurois l'ame en quelque repos car quand elle seroit dans artaxate sans attendre l'arrivee de ciaxare j'entreprendrois de la delivrer vous le pour riez sans doute repliqua feraulas car apres ce que nous venons de voir l'on peut dire que si vous ne forcez pas cette ville c'est que vous ne l'aurez pas voulu forcer et ses habitans devroient vous rendre grace de tous les maux que vous ne leur ferez pas parce que vous les leur aurez pu faire apres avoir encore parle quelque temps cyrus se jetta sur un lict plus pour se reposer que pour dormir aussi bien n'en eust il pas eu le loisir car on luy vint dire que le prince artibie estoit a l'extremite et qu'il demandoit a le voir a l'instant mesme il se leve et le va trouver et il le trouve en effet prest a mourir mais avec un esprit se libre et une ame se tranquile que cyrus en fut surpris je suis au desespoir luy dit il en s'en approchant d'estre en partie cause du deplorable estat ou vous estes au contraire luy respondit genereusement ce prince mourant vous devez vous en resjouir pour l'amour de moy qui depuis la per te de leontine n'ay cherche la guerre que pour 
 y trouver la mort je n'eusse pu sans doute la rencontrer en nul autre lieu si glorieuse qu'aupres de vous aussi ne regretay je plus rien en la vie et je mourray avec une douceur que je ne vous puis ex primer se vous me prommettez de faire enfermer mes cendres dans le tombeau de leontine en prononcant ce nom qui luy estoit se cher il per dit la parole et peu de temps apres la veue et la vie et il expira sans violence a cause de la grande perte de sang qu'il avoit faite il eut pourtant la satisfaction d'entendre que cyrus luy promit ce qu'il vouloir car il luy serra faiblement la main et leva les yeux vers luy comme pour l'en remercier mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cet te funeste advanture fut que la mort n'effaca point de dessus son visage quelques legeres marques du plaisir qu'il avoit eu a mourir puis que sa maistresse estoit morte cyrus eut le coeur extremement attendri de la perte de ce jeune prince qui avoit sans doute toutes les qualitez necessaires pour meriter son estime et son amitie aussi donna t'il des tesmoignages de douleur fort glorieux pour le prince artibie et quand son tombeau eust este couvert de despouilles d'ennemis vaincus et de trophees d'armes brisees il n'eust pas este plus honore que de voir ses cendres arrosees des larmes du plus grand prince du monde et d'un prince encore qui avoit une douleur se sensible dans le coeur qu'elle le pouvoit presques raisonnablement dispenser d'avoir de la sensibilite pour nulle autre chose cependant la 
 pointe du jour paroissant il fut adverti que l'espouvante estoit se grande dans artaxate et qu'il y avoit une consternation se universelle que le roy d'armenie en estoit sorti avec toute sa cour et une partie de ses troupes pour se retirer sur le haut de certaines montagnes inaccessibles ou il y avoit mesme des chasteaux assez bien fortifiez et qui estoient du coste oppose a celuy ou il estoit alors il sceut encore que ce roy avoit emmene la reine sa femme et les princesses ses filles et il s'imagina que peut estre mandane y estoit elle aussi il eust bien voulu a l'instant mesme aller apres mais on luy assura qu'auparavant qu'il fust seulement en estat de partir le roy d'armenie seroit arrive au lieu de son azile ou il n'auroit plus rien a craindre que la faim neantmoins comme cyrus ne voulut pas se fier a ce qu'on luy en disoit il monta a cheval apres avoir commande a un chirurgien egyptien qui estoit dans les troupes de chipre d'embaumer le corps du prince artibie de cette excellente maniere que l'on pratique en son pais et qui rend les morts incorruptibles voulant luy tenir sa parole il laissa ordre aussi de faire un compliment a la princesse de pont de ce qu'il ne la verroit qu'a son retour et ces ordres estant donnez il fut avec deux cens chevaux seulement se faire monstrer ces montagnes et il connut en effet qu'il estoit impossible qu'il peust y arriver a temps il prit donc alors la resolution d'aller occuper quelque poste entre ces montagnes et l'a 
 ville afin d'en empescher la communication mais a peine les troupes qu'il commanda pour ce la sous la conduite d'hidaspe eurent elles marche que les habitans d'artaxate redoublant encore leur frayeur apres avoir tenu un conseil tumultueux trouverent plus de seurete a se rendre a un vainqueur comme cyrus que d'entre prendre de resister plus long temps a un prince tousjours invincible ils envoyerent donc des deputez vers luy pour luy demander grace mais avec de termes aussi soumis que s'il eust eu desja son armee toute entiere a leurs portes comme il estoit le plus doux prince de la terre a tout ce qui ne luy resistoit point il ne voulut d'eux qu'un simple serment de fidelite il ne jugea pas mesme a propos avec se peu de troupes qu'il avoit de s'engager dans cette ville et il se contenta d'occuper les deux bouts de l'araxe et quelques chasteaux mediocrement forts qui estoient en divers endroits d'artaxate afin que par la il ostast tout secours au roy d'armenie et toute communication entre la ville et le lieu ou il s'estoit retire il continua donc le dessein d'envoyer hidaspe vers le pied de ces montagnes avec douze cens hommes seulement pour empescher ceux de la campagne d'y porter des vivres en suitte de quoy il se resolut d'attendre que ciaxare fust arrive auparavant que de plus rien entreprendre et apres avoir donne tous les ordres necessaires il s'en retourna au chasteau d'ou il estoit parti avec assez d'impatience d'entretenir la princesse 
 de pont s'imaginant que peut-estre pourroit elle scavoir ou estoit le roy son frere et par consequent ou estoit aussi la princesse mandene s'estant donc un peu repose et s'estant mis en estat de paroistre avec bien-seance devant elle il luy fit demander s'il pourroit avoir l'honneur de la voir comme elle ne le desiroit pas moins qu'il le souhaitoit quoy que ce fust par des raisons disse rentes elle luy fit dire qu'elle recevroit sa visite fort agreablement de sorte qu'allant la trouver a l'heure mesme il en fut receu en effet avec toute la civilite possible et il luy rendit aussi toute la soumission et tout le respect qu'il luy eust pu rendre quand elle eust encore este dans heraclee apres les premiers complimens passez seigneur luy dit elle si la fortune eust este aussi favorable au roy mon frere que vous le luy fustes en le faisant delivrer il n'eust pas perdu comme il a fait les royaumes qu'on luy a veu posseder je ne scay madame repliqua cyrus se le roy de pont n'a point plus gagne en perdant ses royaumes qu'il n'eust pu faire en les conservant mais du moins scay-je bien que je prefere ce que la fortune luy a donne apres les avoir perdus a tout ce qu'elle luy avoit oste auparavant et pleust aux dieux qu'il voulust remonter au throsne qui luy appartient en rendant ce qui ne luy appartient du tout ce discours est se obscur pour moy dit la princesse de pont que je n'y puis respondre a propos car enfin je scay bien que le roy mon frere a perdu le royaume de 
 pont et celuy de bithinie qu'il a este contraint a de partir de la derniere ville qui luy restoit et de s'enfuir dans un vaisseau pour aller mettre sa personne en seurete aupres de vous mais je n'ay point sceu que cette fortune qui l'a renverse du throsne luy ait rien fait gagner depuis j'ay sceu mesme en suite qu'il n'estoit point ou vous estiez et l'on m'a dit enfin sans m'en pouvoir pourtant donner nulle certitude qu'il estoit en armenie ou je suis venue le chercher et ou je ne l'ay pas trouve quoy ma dame luy dit cyrus le roy de pont et la princesse mandane ne sont point icy je ne croy pas respondit elle que le roy mon frere y soit et je ne comprens point du tout comment quand il y seroit la princesse mandane y pourroit estre cy rus voyant avec quelle ingenuite cette princesse luy parloit luy conta alors comment le roy de pont avoit sauve la princesse mandane d'un naufrage et comment il avoit quitte son navire et s'estoit mis dans un bateau pour remonter la riviere d'halis et pour venir en armenie de sorte poursuivit il madame que je ne voy pas comment il est possible qu'il n'y soit pas et comment vous ne le scavez point j'ay eu se peu de liberte dit elle depuis que je suis en armenie qu'il ne seroit pas impossible qu'il y fust quoy que je ne le sceusse pas mais seigneur comment peut il estre vray que luy qui m'a parle de vous comme de l'homme du monde pour qui il avoit le plus d'estime et le plus d'amitie quoy qu'il ne 
 sceust pas vostre condition puisse vous avoir desoblige luy dis-je que vous avez tant oblige luy qui vous doit la vie et la liberte luy qui aussi a eu intention de vous conserver dans un temps ou vous luy arrachiez la victoire d'entre les mains il n'a pas eu intention de me nuire repli qua cyrus mais il m'a pourtant cruellement outrage ha seigneur dit elle il ne m'a pas de peint artamene assez injuste pour se tenir outrage d'une chose faite sans dessein et je ne pense pas qu'il soit change depuis qu'il est cyrus il n'est pas change reprit il car il aime la princesse mandane comme il l'aimoit en ce temps la quoy que le roy de pont ne le sceust pas de sorte madame qu'il vous est aise de juger qu'en enlevant cette princesse et en la retenant apres contre sa volonte il ne m'a pas oblige je ne vous parlerois pas ainsi poursuivit il si la passion que j'ay pour elle n'estoit aujourd'huy sceue de toute l'asie et se je n'estois force de me justifier dans l'esprit d'une aussi excellente personne que vous seigneur luy dit elle je n'ay plus rien a vous dire et des que l'amour se mesle dans une avanture je n'en suis plus surprise quelque bizarre qu'elle soit cependant je puis vous dire pour vostre consolation que le roy mon frere a un si profond respect pour la princesse mandane que vous ne devez rien craindre pour elle et si je scavois ou il est je vous supplierois de me permettre d'aller essayer d'obtenir de luy qu'il la rendist au roy son pere cyrus remercia cette princesse avec 
 beaucoup d'affection et leur conversation fut se obligeante de part et d'autre que cyrus estoit estonne de se trouver tant de disposition a vouloir servir une soeur de son rival il est vray qu'elle estoit se aimable et se parfaite qu'il n'eust pas este possible de ne l'estimer pas infiniment et de n'avoir pas du moins beaucoup d'amitie pour elle quand on n'estoit plus en termes de pouvoir avoir de l'amour de plus comme elle trouvoit en la veue de cyrus la ressemblance d'une personne qui luy estoit infiniment chere elle avoit pour luy et mesme sans s'en appercevoir une civilite plus obligeante qu'elle ne pensoit de sorte que durant trois ou quatre jours pendant lesquels cyrus la voyoit a toutes les heures ou il n'estoit pas occupe a visiter les divers postes qu'il faisoit garder il se lia une assez grande amitie entr'eux car enfin cyrus apres avoir satisfait la curiosite de cette princesse en luy racontant sa fortune en peu de paroles comme il l'assuroit que se le roy son frere vouloit rendre la princesse mandane il luy feroit recouvrer ses royaumes elle ne trouvoit pas qu'il eust tort et elle croyoit mesme que quand le roy de pont scauroit qu'artamene estoit cyrus et que cyrus aimoit mandane et en estoit aime il changeroit de dessein si bien que ne trouvant pas qu'elle deust regarder ce prince comme l'ennemy du roy son frere elle le regardoit seule ment comme son protecteur et comme un prince qui pourroit peutestre trouver les voyes d'estre 
 le mediateur entre le roy de pont et le nouveau roy de bithinie de sorte qu'elle jouissoit avec quelque douceur de la veue et de la conversation de cyrus ce prince fut un peu embarrasse durant quelques jours de remarquer que cette princesse ne le voyoit point sans changer de couleur et qu'elle le regardoit quelquesfois en soupirant mais enfin s'estant encore souvenu de ce portrait qu'on luy monstra en bithinie il comprit qu'il faloit que non seulement spitridate auquel il ressembloit en fust amoureux mais qu'il faloit encore qu'il en fust aime et comme il espera extremement de la negociation de cette princesse aupres du roy son frere quand il scauroit ou il estoit et qu'il scavoit qu'il ny a rien de se engageant que d'estre dans la confidence d'une personne qui a une passion dans l'ame il sceut si bien conduire la chose que sans choquer la bien-seance ny la presser trop il l'obligea a consentir qu'il sceust tous les malheurs de sa vie afin de voir apres par quels moyens il l'en pourroit soulager comme elle estoit resolue de faire aussi cesser les siens s'il estoit possible un matin que cyrus aprit que ciaxare arriveroit dans trois jours et que le roy d'armenie n'avoit pas de vivres pour longtemps ayant l'esprit un peu plus tranquile par l'esperance d'estre bien tost en pouvoir de s'esclaircir par le roy d'armenie luy mesme du lieu ou estoit ce qu'il cherchoit il fut trouver la princesse de pont et la sommer de luy tenir la parole qu'elle luy avoit donnee mais 
 quoy qu'elle voulust le contenter pour son propre interest elle ne put obtenir d'elle mesme la force de raconter ses avantures de sa propre bouche et elle le supplia de trouver bon qu'une personne qui estoit a elle et qui scavoit jusques a la moindre de ses pensees les luy aprist cyrus consentant a ce qu'elle vouloit se retire a l'heure mesme et aussi tost qu'elle eut disne il retourna dans sa chambre ou il trouva celle qui luy devoit apprendre les malheurs de la princesse de pont qui s'estoit retiree dans un cabinet avec quelques femmes d'armenie que l'on avoit mises aupres d'elle pour la servir cette personne qui se nommoit hesionide estoit ne fille de qualite originaire de bithinie de qui la mere avoit este gouvernante de la princesse et qui l'avoit presque este elle mesme parce qu'ayant six ou sept ans plus qu'araminte sa mere qui estoit fort avancee en age et fort mal saine luy en avoit souvent donne la conduite de sorte qu'elle scavoit fort exactement tout ce qui s'estoit passe en cette cour la et comme c'estoit le plus charmant esprit du monde le plus doux et le plus complaisant dans les choses justes elle s'estoit fait adorer de la princesse de pont cyrus qui avoit sceu la condition d'hesionide par un des gens de cette princesse a qui il l'avoit fait de mander la traitta tres civilement et apres quelques complimens aussi respectueusement receus qu'ils estoient obligeamment faits apres avoir dis-je pris leur place sur une estrade 
 couverte de ces estoffes admirables que l'on fait en armenie hesionide commenca de parler en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire de la princesse araminte et de spitridate
 
 
l'ordre que j'ay receu de la princesse de vous raconter exactement ses malheurs de mande seigneur que vous vous prepariez a une assez grande patience car ils sont en se grand nombre qu'il n'est pas possible de vous les dire en peu de paroles il faut mesme pour vous les faire connoistre plus particulierement ne vous dire pas seulement ceux de la princesse de araminte mais il faut encore vous apprendre une partie de ceux de ses peres car c'est ainsi que sa generosite luy fait appeller l'usurpation qu'ils ont faite du royaume de bithinie qui est la veritable cause de tous les maux qu'elle souffre et de tous ceux qu'elle souffrira vous scavez seigneur vous qui avez tant gagne de batailles en ce lieu la que le royaume de pont et celuy de bithinie ne sont separez que d'une riviere de sorte qu'il n'est pas estrange qu'un roy de pont ambitieux ait voulu porter ses bornes au de la mais je pense que les voyes dont il se servit vous le sembleront de telle sorte qu'a peine pourrez vous en souffrir le simple recit vous scaurez donc seigneur que l'ayeul de la princesse araminte estoit un prince violent jaloux de son 
 authorite et le plus entreprenant du monde aussi toute sa vie se passa t'elle en guerre contre ses voisins tantost contre le roy de phrigie tan tost contre le roy de capadoce et de galatie et tantost contre le prince des paphiagoniens mais en toutes ces guerres il fut toujours puissamment assiste du roy de bithinie qui regnoit alors pere d'arsamone qui vient de la reconquerir neantmoins il luy voulut mal dans le fond de son coeur de ce qu'il s'opposa une fois a une nouvelle guerre qu'il vouloit entreprendre contre la capadoce sans sujet et sans raison car comme la bithinie separe le pont de la galatie il ne le pouvoit faire sans que ce prince luy donnast du moins passage par ses estats et il le luy refusa depuis cela il regarda donc toujours la bithinie comme un obstacle a ses ambitieux desseins mais seigneur il faut que je passe cet en droit legerement car comme je suis originaire de bithinie il seroit difficile que l'amour de ma patrie ne me fist dire plus que je ne dois veu le respect que je suis obligee de rendre aux rois dont la princesse que je sers est descendue je ne puis toutesfois vous faire un secret d'un crime qui a este sceu de plusieurs royaumes puis que c'est le fondement de tout ce que j'ay a vous dire vous scaurez donc en peu de mots que le roy de pont ayant prie celuy de bithinie qu'il peust conferer aveques luy de quelque affaire importante qu'il disoit qui les regardoit l'un et l'autre ce prince luy ayant accorde la chose ces deux rois se trouverent 
 sur leurs frontieres et comme la riviere de sangar les borne egalement ils choisirent une isle tres agreable et ou il y a une assez belle maison pour leur entre-veue qui se fit avec toute la magnificence possible neantmoins comme l'isle apartenoit pourtant au roy de pont ce fut luy qui fit la despence des festins qui furent faits durant trois jours avec toute la magnificence et toute la splendeur imaginable mais le dernier des trois le roy de bithinie fut pris d'un mal si violent qu'il fut abandonne des medecins des le second jour estant impossible de le transporter hors de cette isle ou le roy de pont demeura tousjours aupres de luy donnant de se grandes marques de douleur que tout le monde en fut trompe et le roy de bithinie plus que tous les autres ce prince donc qui n'avoit qu'un fils age de six ans et qui avoit perdu la reine sa femme il y en avoit desja deux se voyant en cet te extremite creut que pour empescher le roy de pont dont il connoissoit fort bien l'humeur ambitieuse d'usurper la bithinie il faloit le declarer tuteur du prince son fils de sorte qu'en ce deplorable estat ou tout son royaume a creu qu'il avoit este reduit par un poison que le roy de pont luy avoit fait donner il assemble tous les grands de bithinie qui l'avoient suivy a cette entre-veue et leur declare comme quoy il entend que le roy de pont pendant la minorite du roy son fils ait la conduitte de ses estats et qu'il y dispose de toutes choses l'assujetissant toutefois 
 a ne donner les charges et les gouvernemens qu'a des bithiniens le roy de pont fit semblant de ne vouloir pas accepter ce qu'on luy offroit mais ce malheureux prince l'en pressant tousjours davantage il luy promit enfin qu'il conserveroit la couronne de bithinie comme la sienne propre il luy parla avec tant de generosite en aparence qu'il le fit du moins mourir assez doucement quoy que ce fust d'une mort violente encore que tous les grands de bithinie eussent tesmoigne approuver cette resolution n'osant pas resister a leur roy mourant neantmoins apres qu'il fut mort s'estant espandu quelque bruit de poison ils s'y opposerent et commencerent de vouloir se servir des gardes du feu roy pour s'assurer de la personne de leur jeune prince qui n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades de la dans un chasteau ou les rois de bithinie faisoient eslever leurs enfans jusques a ce qu'on les ostast d'entre les mains des femmes mais le roy de pont les prevenant avoit fait redoubler secretement les garnisons de toutes les villes qu'il avoit le long de la riviere de sorte que les en tirant il en forma promptement un petit corps d'armee avec lequel il s'assura de la personne du jeune prince et se rendit maistre de la bithinie favorise de quelques grands du royaume qu'il gagna par de l'argent en suitte de quoy il retourna a heraclee ou il fit eslever le jeune prince arsamone au commencement il luy fit rendre tous les honneurs qui estoient deus a un roy de bithinie afin de tromper 
 perles bithiniens et de les accoustumer a recevoir ses ordres mais apres qu'il se fut bien estably il supposa une declaration par laquelle il paroissoit que le feu roy de bithinie advouoit que son royaume avoit este autrefois usurpe sur les rois de pont et par laquelle il disoit vouloir que son fils ne fust que sujet de celuy qui regnoit alors en fin seigneur la force l'emporta sur la justice arsamone fut tousjours traite en prince mais non pas en roy et ce ne fut plus qu'un esclave a qui l'on donna des fers dorez tres pesans et tres fascheux il les a pourtant portez avec une patience et une dissimulation sans exemple ceux qui se melent de raisonner sur les choses n'ont jamais bien pu comprendre pourquoy le roy de pont faisant mourir le pere espargna la vie du fils mais soit qu'il craignist de forcer les bithiniens a luy declarer la guerre et a se souslever contre luy ou soit qu'il en fust empesche par une puissance absolue des dieux il ne le fit pas arsamone vescut donc comme son sujet et mesme se maria a une princesse bithinienne qu'on luy permit d'espouser parce qu'elle n'estoit pas riche il est vray qu'en recompense elle estoit tres belle en ce temps la et qu'elle est encore tres vertueuse en celuy-cy vous le scavez seigneur puis que ce fut chez elle que vous fustes pris pour le prince spitridate il souffrit aussi qu'une soeur du roy qu'il avoit empoisonne espousast le prince gadate ce ne fut toutefois que parce que nitocris reine d'assirie l'en pria cependant 
 le roy de pont qui n'avoit qu'un fils qui estoit desja marie mourut et arsamone changea de maistre sans changer de condition car enfin seigneur ce nouveau roy de pont et de bithinie pere de la princesse araminte quoy qu'il n'eust pas este capable de faire un crime comme celuy du roy son pere neantmoins se trouvant en possession de deux royaumes il les garda et ne voulut jamais entendre a nulle restitution de sorte qu'il falut qu'arsamone dissimulast encore comme il avoit desja dissimule faisant semblant d'estre content de sa fortune parce qu'il ne se voyoit pas en estat de pouvoir rien faire pour la rendre meilleure le roy de pont estant alors bien avec tous les rois voisins et arsamone n'ayant ny troupes ny argent pour en lever cependant seigneur le roy de pont avoit deux fils et une fille et le prince arsamone eut aussi une fille et deux fils l'aisne desquels se nomme spitridate qui est celuy qui vous ressemble si fort comme la reine de pont mourut fort jeune la princesse araminte n'avoit que cinq ans quand elle la perdit et comme feue ma mere avoit l'honeur d'estre fort aimee de cette grande reine elle luy fit la grace d'obliger le roy son mary a luy en donner la conduite mais pour vous monstrer que cette princesse avoit beaucoup de piete je n'ay qu'a vous dire qu'elle luy ordonna en secret d'entretenir autant qu'elle pourroit beaucoup d'amitie entre ses enfans et ceux du prince arsamone souhaitant ardemment qu'il 
 s'en peust trouver un assez genereux pour restituer un jour le royaume de bithinie a ceux a qui il appartenoit vous pouvez bien juger seigneur qu'elle ne manqua pas d'obeir a un commandement se juste car puis que je vous ay dit qu'elle avoit l'honneur d'estre estimee d'une si excellente princesse je vous ay ce me semble assez fait connoistre qu'elle n'y pouvoit pas manquer et certes il n'estoit pas difficile de porter a aimer ce qui estoit se aimable car il faut advouer que jamais l'on ne peut rien voir de plus joly que l'estoit cette petite cour de jeunes princes et de jeunes princesses mais entre les autres spitridate fils aisne d'arsamone et la princesse araminte estoient admirables pour le premier seigneur vous n'avez qu'a vous souvenir de vostre enfance pour vous l'imaginer estant cetain qu'il y a une ressemblance prodigieuse encre vous et luy et pour la princesse de pont vous n'avez ce me semble qu'a la regarder pour juger qu'il faut qu'elle ait este belle des le berceau la soeur de spitridate nommee aristee est aussi une tres belle personne comme vous le scavez et le prince sinnesis frere aisne d'aryande qui est aujourd'huy roy de pont estoit beau et de bonne mine aussi bien que son frere que vous connoissez et le plus jeune des fils d'arsamone nomme euriclide estoit encore un fort beau prince voila donc seigneur quelle estoit alors la cour de pont de sorte que comme la paix sembloit estre en ce temps la assez solidement establie on ne 
 songeoit qu'a bien eslever ces jeunes princes et ces jeunes princesses et qu'a leur donner tous les honnestes plaisirs dont leur age estoit capable le roy de pont mesme commanda a ma mere par politique de faire la mesme chose que la reine sa femme luy avoit ordonne par vertu car il s'imagina que se son fils aisne espousoit la fille du prince arsamone ce seroit assurer encore davantage la possession du royaume de bithinie a sa maison la chose estant en ces termes tous les divertissement que l'on donnoit a ces jeunes enfans on les leur donnoit ensemble les promenades les chasses les bals et les musiques faisoient qu'ils se voyoient tous les jours et j'ose dire que par le soin que l'on prit a les eslever ils cesserent d'estre enfans beaucoup plustost que leur age ne sembloit le devoir permettre on voyoit bien en leur conversation la grace la naivete et l'enjouement ordinaire de l'enfance mais ils n'en avoient ny la sotte honte ny la trop grande hardiesse ny la simplicite ny l'ignorance cependant quoy qu'on les eust obligez a vivre avec une egale civilite leur inclination y mit de la difference et je m'aperceus enfin que spitridate avoit pour la princesse araminte beau coup plus de respect que le prince euriclide son frere je remarquay aussi presque en mesme temps que le prince sinnesis rendoit beaucoup de soings a la princesse aristee que le roy de pont d'aujourd'huy ne luy rendoit pas et comme je scavois alors les intentions du roy parce que 
 ma mere me les avoit aprises aussi bien que celles de la feue reine de pont afin que j'y servisse autant que je le pourrois je fus ravie de voir un si heureux commencement a son dessein et je creus mesme que le prince arsamone et la princesse arbiane sa femme le trouveroient fort bon je vy donc naistre l'amour en ces jeunes coeurs sans m'y opposer et je fus assez long temps a m'apercevoir qu'ils aimoient sans qu'ils le sceussent eux mesmes estant certain que sinnesis et spitridate avoient desja rendu mille petits services aux princesses qu'ils adoroient sans s'estre aperceus qu'ils estoient amoureux et sans qu'elles s'en fussent aperceues non plus que ces jeunes princes mais enfin la princesse araminte estant dans sa quatorziesme annee et le prince spitridate en ayant seize il commenca de s'apercevoir de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame cette joye qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir lors qu'il voyoit la princesse devint plus moderee et quoy qu'elle eust toujours pour luy la mesme civilite qu'elle avoit accoustume d'avoir il n'estoit pour tant plus se satisfait et son coeur formoit des desirs malgre luy qu'il ne connoissoit pas luy mesme de sorte que sans scavoir bien precisement ce qui manquoit a son bonheur il devint fort melancolique comme la princesse araminte j'estimoit beaucoup et qu'il luy plaisoit plus que tout ce qu'elle voyoit a la cour elle s'en aperceut la premiere et me demanda se je ne scavois point d'ou venoit le changement d'humeur du prince 
 spitridate et comme je luy eus respondu que non elle me dit qu'elle en estoit en peine et qu'elle vouloir donc le luy demander a luy mesme madame luy dis-je en sous-riant il n'est pas tousjours a propos d'estre si curieuse que scavez vous se le prince spitridate veut que l'on scache la cause de sa melancolie et pourquoy la voudroit il cacher me respondit elle a une personne qui ne la veut aprendre que pour le pleindre du moins se elle ne le peut servir il la cache peut-estre luy dis-je en riant parce que luy mesme ne la scait pas ha hesionide me dit elle spitridate est trop raisonnable pour estre chagrin sans sujet et si je pensois que cela fust je luy en ferois bien la guerre mais je ne le crois point du tout comme j'allois luy respondre la princesse aristee arriva et peu apres le vaillant pharnace qui eut la gloire de vous resister le dernier au combat des deux cens et au mesme instant encore le lasche artane qui accompagna spitridate en ce lieu-la apres que la conversation eut assez dure le prince sinnesis vint proposer la promenade a la princesse sa soeur qui eut cette complaisance pour luy sans peine ce prince pouvoit alors avoir dix-sept ans et la princesse aristee quinze et a mon advis il luy avoit desja donne quelques petites marques de sa passion qu'elle avoit connues sans les agreer et sans les rejetter suffi des qu'ils furent dans les jardins le prince sinnesis apres avoir parle quelque temps a la princesse sa soeur donna la main a la princesse 
 aristee et spitridate aida aussi a marcher a la princesse araminte de sorte que pharnace et artane voyant que la seule place qu'ils pouvoient occuper agreablement estoit desja prise par spitridate s'en allerent par un sentiment jaloux ce pendant le peu d'experience de cette jeune personne me faisant craindre qu'elle ne demandast avec trop d'empressement a spitridate ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur je la suivis tousjours d'assez pres et sans perdre le respect que je luy devois je destournois la conversation avec adresse car comme ma mere estoit fort mal saine ainsi que je vous l'ay desja dit et de plus fort agee et que j'avois six ou sept ans plus que la princesse j'agissois presques comme une sous-gouvernante le roy le voulant de cette sorte et la princesse en estant bien aise parce qu'elle me faisoit l'honneur de m'aimer mais seigneur pour revenir a mon discours la princesse arbiane estant venue dans ces mesmes jardins et s'estant mise a me parler de quelque affaire assez importante apres avoir salue le prince et la princesse je fus contrainte de l'entretenir et par consequent de donner lieu a spitridate d'une conversation particuliere avec la princesse araminte qui dura assez long temps car le prince sinnesis n'avoit garde de l'interrompre estant assez occupe luy mesme a entretenir la princesse aristee comme nous marchions dix ou douze pas derriere eux je ne pouvois juger que de leurs actions et je ne pouvois pas entendre leurs paroles mais enfin je vis 
 tout d'un coup que la princesse araminte nous rejoignit disant qu'elle estoit lasse de se promener et qu'elle se vouloit reposer ne pouvant marcher davantage de sorte que quittant spitridate elle s'assit sur des sieges de gazon comme je les observois tousjours exactement je vy que spitridate quittant la main de la princesse et luy faisant la reverence changea de couleur et qu'elle la luy faisant sans le regarder rougit aussi et fit semblant de racommoder quelque chose a sa coiffure pour cacher ce petit change ment de son visage il me sembla mesme qu'elle avoit regarde si je ne m'en estois point aperceue en suitte de quoy apres avoir encore este quelque temps en conversation elle se retira et la princesse arbiane apres l'avoir remenee jusqu'a son chariot s'en retourna emmenant la belle aristee avec elle tout le reste du jour la princesse me parut inquiete quoy qu'elle aportast soing a ne la paroistre pas et comme elle entra dans son cabinet sans apeller pas une de ses filles comme elle faisoit souvent j'y entray un peu apres qu'elle y fut et je la trouvay appuyee sur une fenestre qui resvoit profondement madame luy dis-je en riant puis que vous ne trouviez pas tantost que ce fust choquer la bien-seance que de vouloir demander au prince spitridate le sujet de sa melancolie je pense que vous ne trouverez pas mauvais que je vous demande ce qui vous fait tant resver aujourd'huy d'abord elle voulut me persuader qu'elle n'estoit point plus resveuse qu'a 
 l'ordinaire toutefois voyant qu'elle n'en pouvoit venir a bout mais hesionide me dit elle ne m'avez vous pas dit qu'il ne faloit pas estre trop curieuse ouy madame luy repliquay-je mais je ne suis pas la princesse araminte et vous n'estes pas le prince spitridate ainsi je puis aveque raison vous demander ce qui vous inquiete sans craindre de vous offenser puis que je ne le fais au contraire que pour vous soulager s'il est en mon pouvoir en verite hesionide me dit elle je n'ay rien dans l'esprit qui me fache en verite repris-je madame vous y avez quelque chose qui vous occupe et se vous ne me faites l'honneur de me le dire je croiray que le prince spitridate vous a descouvert le sujet de sa melancolie et que cette melancolie est devenue contagieuse pour vous m'en preservent les dieux me dit elle avec precipitation vous scavez donc presentement ce que c'est luy dis-je la princesse rougit voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit le nier et s'approchant alors de moy avec une bonte extreme et une ingenuite la plus grande du monde il est vray dit elle que je le scay et se vous scaviez le despit et la honte que j'en ay vous m'en pleindriez sans doute extremement mais aussi hesionide reprit elle que ne me disiez vous un peu plus fortement que vous n'avez fait qu'il ne faloit point que je demandasse a spitridate quel estoit son chagrin car je m'imagine que vous le scaviez ou que du moins vous en soubconniez quelque chose je vous advoue que l'embarras 
 de cette jeune princesse et la colere que je luy voyois me donnerent quelque envie de rire que je retins neantmoins de peur de l'irriter et apres l'avoir suppliee de me dire quelle avoit este leur conversation et qu'elle s'en fut excusee plusieurs fois enfin m'accordant ce que je voulois imaginez vous dit elle que la princesse arbiane n'a pas plustost commence de parler aveques vous qu'impatiente de scavoir ce qui affligeoit spitridate vous estes si change luy ay-je dit depuis quelque temps que tous vos amis en sont en peine et ne peuvent imaginer la cause de vostre chagrin je ne pretens pas aussi qu'ils la devinent m'a t'il respondu et il n'y a personne au monde a qui je la veuille dire quoy luy ay-je replique vous avez un desplaisir que vous ne voulez point que l'on scache vous ne voules donc pas que l'on vous en pleigne ny que l'on vous en soulage je voudrois bi le premier m'a t'il respondu mais je n'ose vouloir le second et le moyen luy ay-je dit que ny l'un ny l'autre puisse estre si l'on ne scait point que vous souffrez ne me dittes vous pas m'a t'il respondu que tous mes amis sont en peine de ma melancolie et se cela est ne peuvent ils pas me pleindre sans scavoir la cause de mon mal non pas moy luy ay-je dit car peut estre vous estimeriez vous malheureux de certaines choses dont je ne vous pleindrois point du tout et quels seroient ces maux m'a t'il demande en soupirant pour lesquels la princesse araminte n'auroit point de compassion si vous estiez envieux de la gloire 
 d'autruy luy ay-je dit et que cela vous tourmentast je ne vous en pleindrois pas mais si j'en estois amoureux m'a t'il respondu m'en pleindriez vous au contraire adjoustay-je je vous en estimerois plus puis que tout le monde doit aimer la gloire mais enfin spitridate luy ai-je dit puis que vous ne voulez point que je scache ce qui vous tourmente je ne vous en pleindray pas et je croiray que vous ne me tenez pas assez discrette pour cacher ce qui ne doit pas estre sceu ha madame m'a t'il replique je ne craindrois pas que vous publiassiez ce que je vous dirois et que craindriez vous donc luy ay-je respondu avec une simplicite qui me fait presentement desesperer je craindrois m'a t'il dit que vous ne me haissiez et pourquoy vous hairois-je luy ay-je encore respondu pour m'avoir confie vostre secret vous me hairiez peut-estre m'a t'il dit se vous scaviez que spitridate n'est malheureux que parce qu'il aime plus qu'il ne doit la belle princesse de pont a peine a t'il eu acheve de prononcer ces paroles que tout d'un coup ma chere hesionide j'ay veu cent mille choses que je ne voyois pas auparavant et j'ay eu une si grande confusion de ma simplicite et de mon innocence que je n'ay plus ose le regarder neantmoins apres avoir fait un grand effort sur moy mesme vous avez raison spitridate luy ay-je dit toute en colere et toute honteuse de croire que la princesse de pont vous hairoit se vous l'aimiez trop et je vous conseille comme vostre amie de cacher 
 si bien ce secret que personne ne le scache jamais je vous obeiray madame m'a t'il dit et vous serez tousjours la seule personne de toute la terre a qui je le reveleray je n'ay pourtant fait qu'entre-ouir ces derniers mots car dans la confusion ou j'estois je me suis approchee de vous sans luy respondre apres que la princesse eut acheve son recit avec beaucoup de marques de despit et de honte sur le visage elle me de manda ce qu'elle devoit faire et je luy conseillay d'eviter adroitement la conversation particuliere de spitridate sans luy faire pourtant aucune incivilite et de vivre enfin aveque luy comme avec un prince que peut-estre elle pourroit un jour espouser et peut estre aussi ne l'espouser pas de sorte qu'il faloit agir d'une maniere qui fist qu'il l'estimast beaucoup et que pour obtenir cette estime il faloit n'estre ny trop indulgente ny trop meprisante que comme elle estoit fort jeune je la supliois de ne me faire point un secret de ce que luy diroit spitridate et de ce qu'elle luy respondroit parce que c'estoit une chose assez dangereuse de se fier en soy mesme en une matiere se delicate et un age se peu avance que le sien cette jeune et sage princesse me promit tout ce que je voulus et en effet elle me tint sa parole tres exactement et fit tousjours tout ce que je souhaitay qu'elle fist comme spitridate est un des plus sages princes du monde et des plus respectueux il se contenta durant quelques jours d'avoir descouvert sa passion a la 
 princesse araminte sans la persecuter davantage de peur d'en estre mal-traitte de sorte que le voyant vivre avec une se grande discretion et une se grande retenue je m'imaginay que peutestre cette jeune princesse n'avoit elle pu faire la distinction d'une simple galanterie a une veritable declaration d'amour puis que bien souvent a ce que j'ay ouy dire on se sert des mesmes paroles pour l'une et pour l'autre et qu'il n'y a que le son de la voix et la maniere de les prononcer qui en face la difference de sorte que je creus que la chose estoit ainsi et je voulus le faire croire a la princesse qui en effet fit semblant par modestie d'adjouster foy a ce que je luy disois quoy que dans le fonds de son coeur elle ne me creust pas cependant le prince sinnesis qui estoit d'un esprit plus entreprenant que spitridate et qui dans l'estat present des choses ne devoit pas tant de respect a la princesse aristee que spitridate en devoit a la princesse araminte se mit a l'entretenir ouvertement de sa passion mais quoy qu'il peust faire il ne put jamais obtenir un regard favorable de cette belle personne elle vivoit aveque luy tres civilement c'estoit bien plus toutesfois comme estant fils du roy de pont et comme estant frere de la princesse araminte avec qui elle avoit une amitie tres particuliere que comme estant son amant tout le monde dans la cour cherchoit la cause de cet te froideur sans la pouvoir trouver car on n'ignoroit pas que se aristee n'espousoit point le prince 
 sinnesis elle ne seroit jamais reine pour moy je m'imaginay que cette jeune princesse le traitoit ainsi dans l'incertitude ou elle estoit de son dessein et je creus que des que le roy en auroit parle a arsamone elle changeroit de facon d'agir mais seigneur en ce mesme temps comme la princesse araminte effacoit tout ce qu'il y avoit de beau et dans la cour et dans heraclee par le merveilleux esclat de sa beaute et qu'il n'y avoit que la seule aristee qui peust ne paroistre pas laide en sa presence elle conquesta mille coeurs et enchaina mille esclaves sans en avoir le dessein mais entres les autres le vaillant pharnace et le lasche artane devinrent telle ment amoureux d'elle qu'ils ne purent cacher leur passion a toute la cour quoy qu'ils en voulussent faire un secret ce n'est pas qu'ils ne fussent tous deux de la premiere condition du royaume et que hors que la princesse espousast un roy estranger ou spitridate ils ne peussent lever les yeux jusques a elle mais c'est que de sa nature l'amour est misterieux et que de plus l'air dont cette jeune princesse vivoit leur donnoit quelque crainte de se descouvrir ils estoient donc tres assidus aupres d'elle toutesfois ils y estoient se respectueux qu'elle ne pouvoit trouver rien a dire a leur procede comme en ce temps la artane estoit encore fort jeune sa laschete n'estoit pas encore descouverte et comme il avoit de l'esprit et qu'il n'estoit pas mal fait on l'estimoit assez et on le recevoit dans les 
 compagnies comme un homme de sa condition devoit l'estre pour pharnace seigneur je ne vous diray point qu'il estoit brave puis que la derniere action de sa vie vous l'a assez fait connoistre mais je vous diray que c'estoit un de ces veritables braves qui gardent toute leur fierte pour leurs ennemis et qui n'en ont jamais dans leur conversation ordinaire il estoit sage et modeste et quoy qu'il parlast peu il avoit pourtant l'esprit agreable parce que ce qu'il disoit estoit se juste et se bien pense qu'il ne laissoit pas donner beau coup de plaisir a ceux qu'il entretenoit aussi estoit il fort estime et des princes et des princesses mais entre les autres le roy de pont d'aujourd'huy qui n'estoit en ce temps la que le prince aryande l'aimoit tendrement
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur ou en estoient les choses la princesse araminte estoit aimee de spitridate de pharnace et d'artane le prince sinnesis aimoit la princesse aristee et aimoit aussi fort spitridate et le prince aryande sans estre amoureux de personne non plus que le prince euriclide avoit une amitie tres particuliere pour pharnace dans toutes les festes publiques aux courses de chevaux aux bals et aux promenades tous ces amants paroissoient selon leurs divers desseins et la cour de pont fut durant quelque temps la plus divertissante cour de l'asie comme la phrigie et la lydie sont fort proches on avoit fait venir des musiciens de ces deux royaumes qui augmentoient de beaucoup les plaisirs et 
 comme heraclee est certainement une des plus belles villes que les grecs ayent jamais fondee et de qui le paisage est le plus beau a cause qu'elle a non seulement la mer qui la borde d'un coste mais un grand et beau fleuve qui passe un peu au dela de ses murailles on peut dire que tous les divertissemens innocens regnoient alors dans la cour de pont car le roy qui comme je l'ay desja dit souhaitoit par politique que sinnesis espousast la fille d'arsamone et que spitridate espousast la princesse araminte estoit bien aise de voir la galanterie de ces jeunes amants qui cependant ne pardoient pas une occasion de plaire a leurs princesses mais entre les autres spitridate estoit incomparable en toutes choses il ne faisoit pas une action qui ne pleust il ne disoit pas une parole qui ne charmast et son silence mesme estoit quelquesfois si eloquent et se agreable que j'advoue que je regarday alors ce jeune prince comme le seul digne d'espouser la princesse araminte de sorte que sans m'opposer a sa passion je songeois seulement a empescher que la princesse ne la receust trop favorablement mais je n'avois que faire de m'en mettre en peine car encore qu'elle eust pour luy beaucoup d'estime et mesme beaucoup d'inclination comme elle est nee tres modeste et que de plus elle aime la veritable gloire preferablement a toutes choses elle ne luy donna gueres moins de peine que si elle eust eu de l'aversion pour luy si bien que lors qu'il voulut luy reparler de 
 son amour elle le luy deffendit si cruellement qu'il en devint encore plus melancolique comme je m'aperceus du changement de spitridate madame luy dis-je un matin qu'elle estoit seule vous souvient il du jour que vous me demandiez si je scavois la cause du chagrin du prince spitridate et ne trouverez vous point mauvais que je m'informe a mon tour de ce qu'il a aujourd'huy dans l'esprit qui l'inquiette hesionide me dit elle si vous le voulez scavoir absolument je vous le diray mais vous me ferez plaisir de m'espargner la peine de vous raconter la folie de ce prince et puis adjousta t'elle en riant je ne juge pas que sa melancolie vous doive donner beaucoup de curiosite et si vous le voiyez fort satisfait je pense qu'il seroit plus juste que vous en eussiez en verite luy dis-je madame j'estime si fort spitridate que sa douleur me touche sensiblement c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien en scavoir la cause enfin je la pressay tant que je l'obligeay a m'advouer que comme spitridate luy avoit encore voulu parler de sa passion elle le luy avoit deffendu se absolument qu'elle ne pensoit pas qu'il eust la hardiesse de luy desobeir mais luy dis-je pour esprouver son esprit apres avoir toutesfois loue ce qu'elle avoit fait pourveu qu'elle l'eust fait sans donner nulle marque de mepris a ce prince si spitridate vous obeit exactement et qu'il ne vous donne plus jamais aucune marque d'estime particuliere pour vous luy en serez vous bien obligee pensez vous me dit 
 elle en rougissant que je commande des choses que je ne veuille point que l'on fasse mais ma dame luy dis-je encore au lien de me faire une nouvelle question respondez s'il vous plaist un peu plus precisement a la mienne et me dittes de grace si le prince spitridate ne vous parle plus qu'il ne vous accompagne plus ny au temple ny a la promenade qu'il ne songe plus a vous divertir qu'il ne s'attache plus a vous rendre mille petits soings et mille petits services que vous en recevez tous les jours et qu'il ne vous regarde mesme plus qu'avec indifference qu'en penserez vous mais reprit elle en riant je ne luy ay deffendu que de parler et je ne luy ay pas commande de ne faire plus ce que la seule civilite veut qu'il face je vous entens bien madame luy dis-je en riant a demy vous voulez que spitridate vous aime sans vous le dire nullement reprit elle toute interdite et vous n'expliquez pas bien mes paroles je les explique comme je dois luy dis-je et il ne vous est pas mesme deffendu poursuivis-je encore de souffrir d'estre aimee d'un prince que selon les apparences vous devez espouser mais madame souvenez vous s'il vous plaist de vivre tousjours aveques luy de telle sorte que quand ce bonheur luy sera arrive s'il luy arrive vous ne vous repentiez jamais de luy avoir dit une seule parole ny trop aigre ny trop douce c'est par cette seule pensee que je vous conjure de regler vostre facon d'agir avec spitridate estant bien assuree que se vous faites reflexion 
 sur ce que je dis vous ne luy direz jamais rien dont vous puissiez vous repentir elle me le promit et nostre conversation en demeura la cependant spitridate ne fut pas le seul melancolique des amans de la princesse car comme artane estoit aussi hardi a dire ce qu'il pensoit qu'il l'estoit peu dans les combats apres avoir vescu quelque temps d'une maniere tres respectueuse il commenca de suivre son inclination naturelle qui l'eust porte sans doute a estre toujours fort insolent se la timidite de son courage ne l'eust quelquesfois retenu mais comme cette occasion n'estoit pas dangereuse pour sa vie il fut aussi hardi qu'on peut l'estre car enfin un jour que spitridate estoit aupres de la princesse et qu'artane y arriva ce prince qui avoit receu ordre de sinnesis de l'aller trouver pour aller a la chasse avecques luy en partit aussi tost qu'il fut entre de sorte que demeurant seul aupres de la princesse araminte en suitte de quelques discours indifferens elle luy demanda pourquoy il n'estoit pas de la chasse du prince son frere et il luy respondit que ce divertissement n'estoit plus sa passion dominante quand vous n'iriez pas par inclination reprit elle vous y pourriez aller par complaisance je le ferois aussi repliqua t'il si vous y alliez je vous suis bien obligee respondit la princesse mais je ne trouve pourtant pas trop raisonnable que vous soyez se peu complaisant pour le prince mon frere ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je puisse vous blasmer extremement 
 de ce que vous n'aimez pas avec une passion demesuree un plaisir qui du moins doit estre un simple divertissement et non pas une occupation de toute la vie car je le crois plus propre a conserver la sante du corps par l'exercice qu'a polir l'esprit de ceux qui le prennent avec exces et qui n'en ont jamais d'autre il est vray repliqua artane que je suis de vostre sentiment et je trouve principalement que les grands rois ne doivent s'amuser qu'a donner la chasse a leurs ennemis et qu'a prendre des royaumes et que les belles princesses aussi adjousta t'il avec une hardiesse extreme ne doivent songer qu'a prendre des coeurs mais je voudrois que ce ne fust pas comme a la chasse ou l'on prend tout ce que l'on rencontre et je souhaiterois que ce fust avec choix qu'elles agissent en ces occasions si cela estoit reprit la princesse il y en a peut estre beaucoup qui sont pris qui seroient libres vous pourriez bien madame se vous vouliez luy repliqua t'il insolemment m'eclaircir de beaucoup de choses a la fois sur ce sujet car vous pourriez m'apprendre quel seroit le destin du prince spitridate de pharnace et d'artane si cette espece de chasse estoit en usage il prononca ce dernier nom se bas que la princesse pensa ne l'entendre point toutesfois l'ayant entendu a demy et voyant bien par le desordre du visage d'artane qu'elle ne se trompoit point elle luy respondit brusquement de cette sorte si le destin des trois personnes que vous m'avez 
 nommees luy dit elle despendoit de moy il y en auroit assurement deux heureuses et la troisiesme interrompit il et la troisiesme poursuivit elle auroit ce qu'elle merite sans doute c'est a dire beaucoup de part au mepris et a l'aversion de la princesse araminte le suis donc bien aise respondit il que cette espece de chasse ne soit point a la mode et je suis bien marrie dit elle que vous l'ayez se mal inventee mais quoy qu'il en soit artane mais quoy qu'il en soit madame interrompit il vous ne scauriez faire que vous ne soyez eternellement adoree de l'homme du monde qui connoist le plus ce que vous valez celuy que vous dittes repliqua la princesse fera mieux de connoistre le respect qu'il me doit et pour commencer de le luy aprendre adjousta t'elle en se levant je luy defens de me parler jamais comme ils en estoient la j'entray dans la chambre et artane se retira et je vy tant de colere sur le visage de la princesse que j'en fus en peine mais elle m'en osta bien tost en m'aprenant la hardiesse d'artane qu'elle m'exagera avec toute la chaleur que peut avoir une personne glorieuse et qui a de la haine pour celle qui l'a outragee je la consolay de cette petite disgrace le mieux qu'il me fut possible et je la confirmay sans doute dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de faire connoistre a artane qu'il ne scavoit pas de quelle sorte il devoit vivre avec elle mais afin qu'elle n'ignorast pas une de ses conquestes le malheureux pharnace amena la 
 princesse aristee chez elle ou la conversation estant selon la coustume fort inegale et fort diversifiee insensiblement ils vinrent a parler d'amans de passion de galanterie et de declaration d'amour et comme la princesse araminte avoit encore l'esprit fort irrite de celle qu'artane luy avoit faite pour moy dit elle je ne trouve rien de plus inconsidere que d'aller dire a une personne qui n'a nulle obligation a celuy qui luy parle et qu'elle n'aime point que l'on en est fort amoureux et se l'on avoit une fois perdu le respect pour moy de cette sorte adjousta t'elle il ne seroit pas aise de reparer cette faute a celuy qui l'auroit commise si bien madame reprit pharnace en soupirant malgre luy que pour agir raisonnablement selon vos sentimens il faut ai mer longtemps sans le dire il faut mesme ne le dire point du tout reprit la princesse se on n'est du moins bien assure de n'estre pas hai et a quoy le peut on connoistre repliqua t'il a cent choses dit la princesse aristee mais pharnace adjousta t'elle avez vous quelqu'un de vos amis qui ait besoin de cet esclaircissement ouy ma dame dit il et se la princesse araminte poursuivit il encore en changeant de couleur et en la regardant n'eust dit ce qu'elle vient de dire une des plus belles personnes du monde auroit eu cette importunite dans peu de jours et un des plus fideles amans de la terre auroit sans doute este mal receu peut-estre adjousta la princesse que cette belle dont vous parlez n'est pas de la 
 mesme humeur que je serois si j'estois d'une condition a estre exposee a de semblables avantures pardonnez moy madame repliqua t'il et si je vous l'avois nommee vous en tomberiez d'accord la princesse araminte qui s'estoit desja aperceue a cent choses de la passion que pharnace avoit pour elle entendit aisement ce qu'il vouloit qu'elle entendit mais quoy qu'il agist plus sagement qu'artane elle ne laissa pas de s'en fascher et elle fut tout le reste du jour de mauvaise humeur le soir au retour de la chasse le prince sinnesis qui estoit desespere de la rigueur de la princesse aristee vint voir araminte et l'entretenant en particulier il se resolut d'avoir recours a ses soins aupres d'aristee et au pouvoir qu'il scavoit bien qu'elle avoit sur spitridate ma soeur luy dit il ne voulez vous point avoir pitie de moy et ne serez vous pas assez bonne pour me rendre office aupres de l'impitoyable aristee si j'avois pour elle une passion qui ne fust pas innocente je ne vous demanderois par vostre protection mais n'aimant aristee qu'avec des sentimens tres purs et scachant bien que le roy consentira que je l'espouse je pense que sans vous offencer je puis vous conjurer comme je fais d'employer toute vostre adresse a me la rendre favorable je trouve luy repliqua la princesse vostre choix se juste et se raisonnable que je n'ay garde de le condamner et s'il ne tient qu'a parler en vostre faveur a la princesse aristee que vous ne soyez satisfait je le feray aveque joye 
 quoy qu'a mon advis ce que vous appellez rigueur en elle ne soit qu'un pur effet de sa modestie et de ce que peut-estre elle ne croit pas que vous ayez effectivement dessein de l'espouser ne regardant vostre passion que comme une simple galanterie pardonnez moy ma soeur luy dit il cette belle personne scait tous mes sentimens tels qu'ils sont et sa froideur vient sans doute de quel que cause cachee que je ne puis comprendre je feray tout ce qui me sera possible pour la descouvrir repliqua la princesse et je l'iray voir des demain afin de l'entretenir avec plus de liberte chez elle que je ne ferois icy vous avez une autre voye de me rendre office respondit il bien plus aisee et bien plus puissante que celle la c'est donc a vous a me la dire reprit la princesse puis que vous ne la devinez pas repliqua t'il ou du moins que vous ne la voulez pas deviner j'ay peur que vous ne la veuilliez pas prendre mais croyez vous seigneur luy respondit elle en riant que l'on devine ce que l'on veut et pouvez vous me soubconner de ne vous vouloir pas servir puis que vous m'assurez que ma crainte est mal fondee reprit il faites donc ma chere soeur que la princesse aristee n'ait point de sujet de se vanger sur moy des suplices que vostre froideur fait souffrir au prince spitridate et soyez luy enfin aussi favorable que vous voulez qu'elle me la soit la princesse rougit au discours du prince sinnesis et ne scachant s'il parloit sincerement ou si ce n'estoit que pour descouvrir ses sentimens en verite 
 dit elle vous m'avez si fort surprise que je ne scay presques que vous respondre car je suis si peu persuadee de la souffrance de spitridate que si vostre mal n'est pas plus grand que le sien je ne juge pas qu'il ait besoin d'un remede si extraordinaire que celuy que vous me proposez non non ma soeur luy dit il vous ne croyez pas ce que vous dites et vous ne le devez en effet pas croire spitridate vous aime jusques a l'adoration car je le luy ay fait advouer aujourd'huy a la chasse mal gre qu'il en ait eu spitridate reprit elle toute confuse ne pouvoit pas choisir un meilleur confident je l'advoue reprit le prince sinnesis sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre car il est vray que si vous me voulez obliger vous le traiterez mieux que vous n'avez fait jusques icy mais seigneur dit elle puis que vous estes en si grande societe avec spitridate il n'est pas besoin que je me mesle de vos affaires et vous les ferez bien sans moy cruelle personne luy dit il pourquoy me parlez vous de cette sorte et ne scavez vous pas bien qu'un seul de vos regards persuadera plus puissamment spitridate que ne feroient toutes mes paroles enfin si vous ne voulez me desobliger vous souffrirez a passion d'un prince qui vous merite mieux qu'aucun autre et qui a sans doute toutes les qualitez necessaires pour estre choisi de vous et pour l'estre mesme du roy et puis adjousta t'il en sous-riant je ne me connois pas si peu en phisionomie que je ne voye bien que malgre toute vostre fierte et toute vostre sagesse 
 spitridate n'est pas hai et alors sans luy donner loisir de luy respondre l appella ce prince qui me parloit a l'autre bout de la chambre la princesse demeura si estonnee qu'elle ne pouvoit que faire et ne scavoit a quoy se resoudre en verite seigneur luy dit elle vous avez perdu la raison a la chasse et je ne pense pas que vous aprouviez demain ce que vous faites aujourd'huy cependant spitridate ayant obei au prince sinnesis et s'en estant aproche je vous ay tenu ma parole luy dit le prince et je vous ay rendu le mesme service que je vous ay demande seigneur reprit spitridate ce que vous souhaitez de moy est si peu de chose en comparaison de la glorieuse protection que vous m'avez offerte que l'en rougis de confusion c'est a moy dit la princesse a rougir de honte de voir a quelle estrange avanture le prince mon frere m'expose quoy qu'il en soit luy dit il en luy prenant la main il y va de la vie de spitridate et de celle de sinnesis tout ensemble et je vous declare en presence des dieux qui m'escoutent que si vous maltraittez spitridate je deviendray vostre ennemy apres cela sans luy donner loisir de respondre haussant la voix afin que ceux qui l'avoient suivy l'entendissent je vous laisse spitridate luy dit il qui a ordre de vous raconter toute l'affaire dont il s'agit et il sortit aussi tost apres laissant la princesse si interdite qu'elle ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre car elle n'ignoroit pas la violente passion de sinnesis pour aristee ny son humeur 
 imperieuse cependant quoy qu'elle estimast beaucoup spitridate elle estoit pourtant en quel que sorte faschee de voir qu'elle ne pouvoit plus eviter qu'il ne luy parlast de sa passion si bien que dans cet embarras d'esprit elle fut quelque temps sans parler et sans que spitridate osast aussi ouvrir la bouche neantmoins comme il craignit qu'elle ne l'accusast d'avoir eu quelque inconsideration en avouant au prince son frere l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle il parla enfin le premier je ne scay madame luy dit il si je ne seray point assez malheureux pour estre soubconne de temerite et d'imprudence mais quand vous scaurez que le prince apres avoir eu la bonte de m'aprendre l'honneur qu'il veut faire a ma soeur a encore eu celle de me dire qu'il connoissoit la passion que j'avois pour vous et qu'il m'y vouloit servir que vous scaurez dis-je que d'abord je l'ay voulu nier et que je ne l'ay avoue qu'apres qu'il m'a eu presse vingt fois de luy dire ce qu'il scavoit desja je pense que vous trouverez qu'il eust este bien difficile a un homme qui vous aime avec une passion demesuree de refuser une protection si puissante aupres de vous en ayant au tant de besoin que j'en ay car enfin madame je n'ay pas veu une seule de vos actions qui raisonnablement ait deu me faire esperer apres que spitridate eut acheve de dire ce qu'il voulut pour sa justification la princesse relevant les yeux qu'elle avoit tousjours tenu bas tant qu'il avoit parle je suis bien aise luy dit elle que la chose 
 se soit du moins passee comme vous le dittes et de ce que je voy que cette avanture n'est fondee que sur l'imagination du prince sinnesis qui pour vous obliger a le servir vous a voulu persuader que vous m'aimiez plus que vous ne faites mais spitridate adjousta t'elle en sous-riant cela ne vous engage a rien et je vous proteste que je n'en crois que ce j'en croyois auparavant que le prince mon frere m'en eust parle c'est pourquoy demeurons s'il vous plaist vous et moy dans les termes ou nous en estions et songeons seulement a le servir aupres de la belle aristee que je seray ravie de voir bien tost au rang ou son merite veut qu'elle soit ha madame s'ecria spitridate ne me traitez pas si cruellement et ne rendez pas inutiles les promesses que le prince sinnesis m'a faites et que vous a t'il promis repliqua t'elle il m'a fait esperer respondit il que vous m'escouteriez favorablement s'il est encore demain de cette opinion reprit elle je verray ce que j'auray a faire cependant il est tard et je vous conseille de vous retirer avec le dessein de servir le prince mon frere aupres de l'aimable aristee sans autre interest que celuy de luy rendre office en disant cela elle se leva et spitridate fut contraint de la quitter sans luy respondre apres que ce prince fut party elle m'apella mais quoy qu'elle me parust resveuse il ne me sembla pourtant pas qu'elle fust fort melancolique et a dire les choses comme elles sont je croy qu'estimant beaucoup spitridate 
 elle ne fut pas faschee apres y avoir bien pense de pouvoir avec bienseance et sans choquer la modestie souffrir qu'il luy donnast quelques marques de son amour comme elle le pouvoit apres ce que le prince sinnesis luy avoit dit j'advoue aussi que lors que la princesse m'eut appris ce qui luy estoit arrive je fus ravie de voir un si heureux commencement au dessein que ma mere avoit d'executer les dernieres volontez de la reine de pont qui luy avoit tant recommande en mourant de faire naistre autant d'amitie qu'elle pourroit entres ces jeunes personnes cependant le prince spitridate s'en retournant chez luy fut a l'apartement d'aristee afin de rendre au prince sinnesis l'office qu'il en avoit receu et croyant dire la meilleure nouvelle du monde a une jeune et belle princesse ma soeur luy dit il en riant et en parlant bas de peur d'estre entendu de ses femmes il faut me recevoir avec plus de ceremonie qu'a l'ordinaire car je vous aporte une couronne qui n'est pas indigne de vous si elle estoit en vostre disposition luy respondit elle en riant aussi bien que luy je pense que vous seriez assez ambitieux pour la garder pour vous mesme sans me l'offrir ne scavez vous pas luy dit il en soupirant qu'une violente passion en chasse une autre et que depuis que je suis amoureux de la princesse araminte j'ay plus d'ambition que celle de luy pouvoir plaire et de pouvoir la conquerir enfin luy dit il ma soeur le prince sinnesis vous veut espouser et 
 je me suis charge de vous le dire et de vous obliger a le recevoir comme il merite de l'estre je suis bien marrie mon frere reprit elle que vous ayez pris une commission comme celle la car en fin le prince arsamone m'a deffendu absolument de donner aucune esperance au prince sinnesis que je n'oserois en avoir seulement la pensee mais c'est assurement dit spitridate qu'il ne croit pas que son dessein soit tel qu'il est effectivement pardonnez moy luy respondit elle car je luy ay dit ingenument ce que j'en scavois et ne vous en a t'il point dit de raison reprit spitridate non repliqua aristee et la princesse ma mere l'en a mesme fort presse inutilement a ce que j'ay sceu par une de ses filles qui l'a entendu comme ils en estoient la on leur vint dire que le prince arsamone venoit dans la chambre de la princesse aristee et en effet un moment apres il y entra aussi tost qu'il y fut il en fit sortir tout le monde a la reserve du prince son fils et de la princesse sa fille qui n'estoient pas tous deux sans inquietude apres qu'il les eut regardez quelque temps sans parler je scay bien spitridate luy dit il que vous estes en un age ou vostre peu d'experience a besoin de conseil et qu'encore que vous soyez ne avec de grandes inclinations vous pouvez toutesfois estre capable de certaines foiblesses qui ne sont pas tousjours honteuses mais qui quelquesfois aussi sont fort nuisibles a ceux qui ne les surmontent point j'ay donc voulu vous dire et a vous et a vostre soeur 
 a qui j'en ay desja parle que pour des raisons qui vous importent plus qu'a moy je ne veux jamais avoir aucune alliance avec les usurpateurs du royaume de mes peres comme je suis ne sur le throsne qu'ils occupent injustement je sens sans doute des choses que vous ne pouvez pas sentir en l'age ou vous estes principalement estant ne dans l'infortune mais comme je vous crois tous deux genereux et dignes d'estre sortis des anciens rois de bithinie vos predecesseurs et les miens je vous ordonne a vous spitridate de deffendre opiniastrement vostre coeur contre les charmes de la princesse araminte qui l'ont desja un peu engage et je vous commande a vous aristee de refuser le vostre au prince sinnesis car enfin il vous seroit aussi honteux de remonter au throsne par cette lasche voye qu'il le seroit a spitridate d'y renoncer comme il feroit s'il s'engageoit trop en l'affection de la princesse araminte ceux qui ont perdu des couronnes adjousta t'il ne doivent point avoir d'autre passion que celle de les reconquerir et de perdre ceux qui les ont usurpees c'est pourquoy comme je ne suis pas lasche je ne veux point avoir d'alliance avec des gens que je veux et que je dois perdre a la premiere occasion qui s'en presentera la dissimulation est permise aux foibles oppressez mais non pas jusques a ce point la et si j'ay quelque jour a faire tomber mes ennemis de ce throsne d'ou ils m'ont renverse je n'y veux pas ensevelir nies propres enfans avec eux vivez 
 donc avec une civilite apparente mais ne vous engagez a rien si vous ne voulez estre indignes de vostre naissance et de mon affection je scay bien que c'est en quelque facon manquer de prudence que de parler de cette sorte a des personnes de vostre age mais je scay bien aussi qu'estant sortis de tant de rois vous devez estre genereux et avoir l'ame sensible a l'ambition c'est pourquoy je ne doute pas que vous ne scachiez celer ce que je viens de vous dire et que vous ne m'obeissiez aveuglement apres qu'arsamone leur eut parle de cette sorte il se retira sans autre response que d'une profonde reverence que luy firent spitridate et aristee car ce prince se faisoit respecter de telle sorte par ses enfans qu'a peine osoient ils le regarder comme il fut sorty spitridate s'affligea si demesurement que la princesse aristee qui n'estoit gueres moins triste que luy fut pourtant obligee de le consoler mon frere luy dit elle comme vous avez et plus d'esprit et plus de generosite que moy je pense que je ne puis de bonne grace vous dire qu'il ne faut pas vous desesperer pour un semblable accident toutesfois l'excessive douleur que je voy dans vos yeux me fait prendre la liberte de vous supplier de ne vous y abandonner pas si fort ha ma chere soeur luy dit il que vostre insensibilite pour le prince sinnesis vous est une chose avantageuse et qu'il est bien plus aise de souffrir qu'arsamone vous oste une couronne qu'il ne m'est facile d'endurer qu'il m'oste la princesse araminte 
 ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que je sois ne sans ambition mais c'est que l'amour est encore plus forte dans mon ame et qu'il m'est bien plus aise de laisser vivre en paix les usurpateurs du royaume de bithinie que de vivre sans la princesse que j'aime il y a d'autres couronnes en l'univers reprenoit il que la fortune et mon espee me peuvent donner mais il n'y a qu'une seule princesse araminte au inonde ouy ma chere soeur elle est seule en toute la terre que je puis adorer sans elle toutes choses me sont in differentes et je ne fais nulle distinction entre l'esclavage et la royaute cependant selon ce que je puis juger des ordres du prince arsamone il pretend sans doute que je garde dans mon coeur le dessein de poignarder le roy de pont qui est pere d'araminte de tuer les princes ses freres et de l'accabler elle mesme sous les ruines de sa maison si l'occasion s'en presente ha non non je ne veux point remonter au throsne par une si sanglante voye je scay bien que l'ayeul d'araminte estoit un usurpateur je scay bien encore que le roy son pere possede un royaume qui me devoit apartenir mais je scay de plus que puis qu'araminte a usurpe l'empire de mon coeur elle a rendu legitime a ceux de sa maison la possession du royaume de bithinie je n'y pretens plus rien ma soeur puis que je ne le pourrois sans perdre ma princesse qui ne me regarderoit sans doute qu'avec horreur si j'avois trempe mes mains dans le sang de son pere et de ses freres 
 les dieux scavent que ce n'est pas par foiblesse que l'ambition cede a l'amour dans mon ame et je suis si satisfait du tesmoignage secret de mon courage que je ne me soucie pas de ce que l'on en pensera mais vous ma chere soeur qui n'avez pas l'ame sensible a cette tendre passion ne l'aurez vous point un peu plus ambitieuse que moy et vous resoudrez vous a perdre deux couronnes ne le faites pas je vous en conjure escoutez le prince sinnesis et n'escoutez pas le prince arsamone car aussi bien par quelle voye peut il esperer de venir a bout de ce grand dessein il y a vingt cinq ans qu'il la cherche sans la pouvoir trouver il m'a esleve comme devant estre sujet et il veut presentement vous empescher d'estre reine sans estre en pouvoir de me faire roy car ou sont ses intelligences ou sont ses armees et ou est le lieu de sa retraitte pour sa seurete il ne peut donc avoir nul dessein que celuy de faire une conspiration contre la personne de ces princes mais il l'executera sans moy ou pour mieux dire il se perdra sans moy puis que ce qu'il veut tenter est impossible resolvez vous donc ma soeur a recevoir l'affection du prince sinnesis car enfin si une fois vous estes reine de pont et de bithinie le prince arsamone ne voudra pas quoy qu'il puisse dire renverser un throsne sur lequel vous serez il vous a permis de dissimuler et a moy aussi dissimulons donc poursuivit il mais faisons que cette dissimulation soit pour luy je ne veux et les dieux 
 le scavent bien faire jamais rien contre le respect que je luy dois en toutes les choses ou mon amour n'aura point d'interest mais quand il s'agira d'araminte je ne luy scaurois obeir cependant mon frere luy dit aristee vous hazardez beaucoup en luy desobeissant je hazarderois bien davantage repliqua t'il en ne luy desobeissant pas et quoy ma soeur vous pretendez donc luy obeir aveuglement je suis d'un sexe respondit elle qui ne me permet pas d'en user d'une autre sorte quoy luy dit il encore vous mal-traitterez le prince sinnesis luy qui vous offre deux couronnes luy qui m'a rendu office aupres de la princesse araminte luy qui me la peut faire donner luy qui vous a donne toutes ses affections et luy enfin qui vous adore je ne le mal traiteray pas dit elle mais je ne l'epouseray point si le prince mon pere n'y consent vous voulez donc que je meure luy respondit il vous voulez donc que je me deshonnore luy repliqua t'elle je veux que vous montiez au throsne pour me sauver la vie et pour me rendre heureux respondit ce prince afflige les dieux scavent dit la princesse aristee je ne ferois pas pour vous les choses du monde les plus difficiles mais de me marier sans le consentement d'arsamone c'est ce que je ne dois pas faire et mesme ce que je ne puis pas faire car je ne crois pas que le roy de pont ny le prince sinnesis le voulussent s'ils scavoient qu'arsamone ne le voulust pas de sorte dit elle que la prudence veut que l'on n'avance 
 pas les choses au point que ces princes croyent que mon pere ne veut pas de leur alliance puis qu'il leur seroit aise d'en soubconner la raison et il vaut bien mieux que tout retombe sur moy et que se passe pour une capricieuse qui a une aversion secrette pour le prince sinnesis vous estes trop prudente ma soeur interrompit spitridate et il paroist bien que vostre raison est toute libre mais puis que cela est ainsi considerez bien je vous prie a quel desespoir vous me reduirez si vous me refusez du moins la grace de tesmoigner au prince sinnesis que j'ay fait aupres de vous tout ce que je pouvois et que mesme je ne vous ay pas parle inutilement pour luy per mettez luy d'esperer durant quelque temps pendant le quel le prince arsamone changera peutestre de dessein enfin seigneur spitridate pria si tendrement la princesse aristee qu'elle luy accorda cette derniere grace mais il se retira pourtant avec une inquietude inconcevable comme il avoit l'ame grande il ne pouvoit pas faire qu'il ne trouvast aussi quelque chose de grand au dessein qu'avoit le prince son pere de refuser une couronne pour la princesse sa fille dans l'esperance de la reconquerir un jour pour luy mais apres tout l'amour affacoit bien tost cette pensee de son ame et il luy estoit plus aise de se resoudre a estre tousjours sujet que de perdre l'espoir de pouvoir un jour regner dans le coeur de la princesse araminte cependant le prince aryande qui n'avoit point aime spitridate quoy qu'il 
 ne le tesmoignast pas depuis une course de chevaux qui s'estoit faite ou ce prince avoit emporte le prix et ou il s'estoit imagine que spitridate n'avoit pas agi comme il devoit aveque luy s'apercevant qu'il avoit la protection du prince sinnesis aupres de la princesse araminte se mit en fantaisie de proteger aussi pharnace et en effet il luy en parla tres avantageusement mais prenant les choses d'un autre biais que sinnesis il luy dit qu'il n'avoit point d'interest que le sien en cette occasion que pour luy il ne trouvoit point qu'elle deust jamais consentir a epouser spitridate qui apres tout estoit d'une maison que tous les rois de pont en bonne politique estoient obligez d'abaisser autant qu'ils pourroient de sorte que cela estant ainsi il estoit aise de voir que pharnace seul estoit celuy sur qui elle devoit jetter les yeux la princesse le remercia tres civilement de ce qu'il luy disoit et luy respondit qu'elle vivroit egalement avec tous ceux de la condition de pharnace qui l'approchoient et que sans s'en mesler ny peu ny point elle laisseroit tousjours la conduite de sa vie au roy son pere cependant la princesse araminte pour tenir sa parole au prince sinnesis vit la princesse aristee qui agit de la facon qu'elle l'avoit pro mis a spitridate de sorte que sinnesis la trouvant en effet un peu plus douce qu'a l'ordinaire en remercia si tendrement ce prince et parla si officieusement pour luy a la princesse sa soeur qu'il l'obligea enfin a agir envers spitridate avec beaucoup 
 coup de franchise et de bonte le prince sinnesis mesme me fit la grace de m'en parler et de me prier de porter la princesse sa soeur a bien traitter ce prince voila donc spitridate en aparence le plus heureux du monde car il estoit hautement protege du frere de sa princesse il avoit la liberte de parler de sa passion a celle qui l'avoit fait naistre sans qu'elle s'en offencast et comme il estoit tousjours tres respectueux il avoit aussi le plaisir de remarquer par diverses petites choses qu'il n'estoit pas mal dans sou coeur cependant je m'estonnois quelquesfois de voir dans ses yeux quelques marques de melancolie et de l'entendre soupirer assez souvent neantmoins comme j'avois tousjours ouy depeindre l'amour une passion fort bizarre je regarday cela comme un de ses effets ordinaires qui approchent de la folie dans l'ame de personnes les plus sages et je n'y fis pas grande reflexion mais la princesse n'estoit pas peu occupee car sinnesis avoit toujours quelque chose a luy dire ou pour aristee ou pour spitridate aryande l'entretenoit souvent aussi contre spitridate et pour pharnace spitridate luy parloit le plus qu'il pouvoit pour luy mesme et pharnace sans oser luy parler de luy ne laissoit pas de l'entretenir de choses indifferentes autant qu'il luy estoit possible afin de l'empescher du moins de parler aux autres il n'y avoit donc qu'artane qui durant quelques jours n'osoit mesme la regarder mais enfin apres avoir accompagne le roy deux ou trois fois chez 
 la princesse il y revint en suitte avec d'autres gens et affecta d'avoir un si grand respect pour elle qu'elle creut qu'il s'estoit repenty de sa hardiesse et se resolut d'oublier son crime qui apres tout seigneur n'est pas le moins remissible que l'on puisse commettre parmy les belles et jeunes personnes elle souffrit donc qu'il la revist bien est il vray qu'elle le traitta tousjours tres froide ment comme les choses estoient en cet estat il y eut quelque remuement sur les frontieres de phrigie de sorte qu'il falut lever des troupes et faire une armee que le prince sinnesis commanda spitridate estant son lieutenant general ce qui fascha extremement le prince aryande qui demeura aupres du roy parce qu'il vouloit que ce fust pharnace je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire les adieux de toutes ces illustres personnes mais je vous diray seulement que cette separation lia estroitement l'amitie du prince spitridate et de la princesse araminte et que sinnesis aussi s'en alla avec satisfaction parce que la princesse aristee eut assez de complaisance pour son frere pour ne le maltraitter pas en le voyant partir le ne m'amuseray point non plus a vous raconter cette guerre qui ne dura que six mois et qui se termina en suitte par une heureuse paix mais je vous diray seulement que spitridate s'y signala de telle sorte que le bruit de sa valeur estouffa celuy que fit celle des autres quoy que le prince sinnesis et pharnace y fissent aussi des miracles en effet 
 l'on ne parloit que de luy et dans l'armee et dans la cour vous pouvez donc juger aisement que revenant tout charge de gloire il fut bien receu de la princesse j'oubliois de vous di re qu'artane ne fut point a cette guerre ce n'est pas que lors que l'on en parla il ne fist plus l'empresse que les plus braves ne le faisoient et qu'il ne fist faire un equipage le plus superbe du mon de je me souviens mesme que l'on ne parloit que de la magnificence de ses tentes que nous fusmes voir que de la richesse de ses armes et que de la beaute de ses habillemens toutefois quand il falut partir il tomba malade a point nomme et ne partit pas quoy que tout son train fust desja party l'on ne soubconna toutesfois encore rien de sa laschete en ce temps la car il fit tellement le desespere en parlant a ceux qui luy alloient dire adieu qu'il les obligea a le pleindre et non pas a l'accuser cependant il guerit peu de jours apres et agit si adroitement que sans parler jamais de sa passion a la princesse et sans rien faire qui luy peust donner un juste sujet de pleinte il luy donna pourtant sujet de croire que c'estoit seulement pour l'amour d'elle qu'il n'alloit point a l'armee et qu'il se mettoit en danger d'estre deshonnore en effet son dessein reussit et nous le creusmes ainsi neantmoins quand ces princes revinrent il parut si honteux durant quelques jours qu'a peine osoit il se monstrer et il se fit alors quelque raillerie dans la cour de ce magnifique equipage qui n'avoit point servy et que 
 l'on ramena a heraclee qui eust fait faire plus d'une combat a tout autre qu'a luy il joua pour tant si bien qu'il ne se decria pas encore absolument agissant avec tant d'art qu'il eut cinq ou six querelles sans se battre comme la paix avoit este fort avantageuse la cour fut en joye durant assez longtemps jamais la princesse araminte n'avoit este si belle ny la princesse aristee plus aimable et par consequent jamais le prince sinnesis spitridate pharnace et artane n'avoient este plus amoureux le roy de pont qui n'avoit pas change le dessein qu'il avoit prit alors la resolution de l'executer et de faire le mariage du prince sinnesis et de la princesse aristee et celuy du prince spitridate avec la princesse araminte neantmoins quoy qu'il creust bien qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses arsamone devoit recevoir cet honneur aveque joye toutefois comme il estoit prudent et qu'il connoissoit l'humeur de ce prince un peu imperieuse il voulut pre- sentir son intention et il jetta les yeux sur moy pour cela scachant bien que la princesse arbiane me faisoit l'honneur de m'aimer assez il me commanda donc en partant pour un petit voyage de huit jours de luy descouvrir le dessein qu'il avoit afin qu'elle preparast l'esprit du prince son mary a recevoir cet honneur comme il devoit le recevoir je vous laisse a juger seigneur si j'acceptay cette commission avec plaisir et en effet la satisfaction que j'en eus fut si grande que je ne la pus renfermer dans mon coeur je la fis scavoir 
 au prince sinnesis a la princesse araminte et mesme a spitridate mais j'advoue que je fus un peu surprise de voir que ce prince n'en eut pas toute la joye que je croyois qu'il en deust avoir et sans me bien expliquer ses sentimens il me sembloit qu'il eust bien voulu m'empescher de parler a la princesse sa mere toutesfois comme l'ordre que j'avois receu estoit pressant je le laissay dans la chambre de la princesse araminte et ayant trouve en bas un chariot tout prest je fus chez la princesse arbiane que j'eus le bon heur de trouver seule dans son cabinet mais si j'avois este surprise de la melancolie de spitridate je confesse que je le fus bien davantage de l'embarras que je remarquay dans l'esprit d'arbiane comme j'avois beaucoup d'amitie pour elle et qu'elle en avoit aussi assez pour moy je la suppliay de vouloir s'expliquer un peu plus clairement qu'elle ne faisoit cependant quoy qu'elle sceust qu'estant originaire de bithinie comme j'estois les interests de sa maison me fussent tres chers neantmoins elle ne voulut pas s'ouvrir a moy et elle me dit seulement avec assez de froideur qu'elle ne manqueroit point de parler au prince son mary et qu'elle me rendroit response douant le retour du roy qui estoit alle a une ville de pont nommee cabira sans y mener ny les princes ny la princesse sa fille nous avons sceu depuis que je n'eus pas plustost quitte arbiane qu'elle fut trouver arsamone pour luy dire que le roy souhaitoit de faire une double 
 alliance aveques luy et qu'il faloit qu'il se preparast a respondre a cette proposition devant le retour du roy aussi feray-je luy dit il sans s'expliquer plus precisement cependant ne m'en parlez plus car je scay bien ce que j'ay resolu de faire arbiane voulut alors le conjurer de luy dire un peu mieux ce qu'elle en devoit attendre mais il la supplia de ne l'en presser pas plus long temps et de croire qu'il n'avoit dans le coeur que des sentimens tres avantageux pour ses enfans comme arsamone est d'humeur violente arbiane fut contrainte de luy ceder de se taire et de se retirer dans sa chambre sans avoir pu penetrer dans le fond de sa pensee au sortir de l'apartement d'arsamone elle trouva spitridate qui apres l'avoir menee au sien la conjura avec tant de tendresse de luy vouloir estre favorable que cette sage princesse en fut esmeue de compassion et luy promit de faire tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour le satisfaire joint aussi que comme elle ne voyoit aucune aparence qu'il fust possible a arsamone de remonter au throsne de ses peres elle eust bien souhaite que ces deux mariages se fussent faits cependant je fus quatre ou cinq jours sans autre chagrin que celuy de l'incertitude ou j'estois de la response d'arsamone ce n'est pas que je craignisse qu'elle fust absolument mauvaise mais la melancolie de spitridate et le trouble d'arbiane joint a quelque tristesse que je voyois dans les yeuu d'aristee me faisoient craindre quelque chose que je ne comprenois 
 pourtant pas pour spitridate il estoit en une in quietude inconcevable et quelque soin qu'il apportast a la cacher la princesse s'en apercevoit il eut toutesfois l'adresse de luy faire comprendre que l'esperance d'un grand bien ne laisse pas de porter tousjours avec elle quelque espece de melancolie inquiete le prince sinnesis au contraire estoit tres content car encore qu'il vist bien qu'aristee n'estoit pas fort gaye il apelloit modestie une veritable tristesse et ne s'entretenoit que de pensees agreables comme le prince aryande pharnace et artane ne scavoient pas le secret des choses chacun songeoit tousjours a faire reussir son dessein et ne songeoit pas a celuy des autres le cinquiesme jour apres le depart du roy estant arrive et ce prince devant revenir dans trois ou quatre je me souviens que la princesse aristee s'entretint longtemps avec la princesse araminte et que sans scavoir la raison pourquoy il leur prit un redoublement d'amitie l'une pour l'autre dentelles mesmes ne comprenoient pas la cause la princesse araminte donna un petit portrait qu'elle avoit d'elle a aristee et qui est le mesme qu'elle vous monstra en bithinie pour connoistre si vous estiez spitridate ou si vous ne l'estiez pas a ce qu'elle manda depuis a la princesse et en echange aristee donna une bague a la princesse araminte qu'elle portoit ce jour la qui estoit la plus jolie chose du monde apres qu'aristee eut quitte la princesse spitridate la vint voir et comme il la trouva l'ame encore 
 toute attendrie de tant de choses flatteuses et douces que ces deux belles personnes s'estoient dittes il en fut mieux traitte qu'il ne l'avoit encore este en toute sa vie car elle eut pour luy ce jour la je ne scay quelle sincerite obligeante qui luy permit de voir dans son coeur la veritable estime qu'elle faisoit de sa vertu comme ce prince a certainement autant d'esprit que l'on en peut avoir et que jamais personne n'a sceu mieux aimer que luy il luy dit aussi des choses si tendres si respectueuses et pourtant si passionnees qu'il acheva d'engager l'ame de la princesse araminte cette conversation fut longue bien qu'elle leur parust courte parce qu'elle estoit agreable et il estoit desja assez tard quand spitridate sortit de chez la princesse il fut souper apres cela chez le prince sinnesis et il ne se retira qu'a my-nuit mais a peine estoit il dans sa chambre qu'on luy vint dire que le prince arsamone luy ordonnoit de l'aller trouver
 
 
 
 
en allant de son apartement au sien pour luy obeir il remarqua bien qu'il y avoit quelque empressement extraordinaire parmy les officiers de la maison du prince son pere toutesfois comme il n'avoit l'imagination remplie que de la princesse araminte il creut seulement qu'arsamone luy vouloit simplement dire qu'il n'y faloit plus songer et il ne fit pas grande reflexion sur ce qu'il voyoit lors qu'il entra dans la chambre d'arsamone il y trouva la princesse arbiane le jeune prince euriclide son frere et la princesse aristee mais cette veue augmenta 
 d'autant plus sa crainte qu'il vit beaucoup de melancolie sur le visage de ces deux princesses comme il fut arrive jusques aupres du prince son pere spitridate luy dit arsamone nous devons estre las de porter des fers et le temps est venu qu'il les faut rompre c'est pourquoy donnez la main a la princesse vostre mere et suivez moy sans repugnance et sans murmurer car il y va de la grandeur de ma maison de ma propre gloire et de la vostre et de plus de ma propre vie puis que je vous dois la mienne repliqua spitridate tres afflige je ne suis pas en droit ny en volonte de vous desobeir mais seigneur oseray-je vous demander quel est vostre dessein vous le scaurez bientost repliqua brusquement arsamone et cependant faites ce que je vous dis sans resistance puis que je suis en pouvoir de me faire obeir par force spitridate entendant parler le prince son pere de cette sorte et voyant en effet que quand il eust voulu n'obeir pas on l'y eust contraint ne voyant pas un de ses gens aupres de luy il donna la main a la sage arbiane qui le conjura tout bas de n'eclater point et qui luy protesta comme il estoit vray qu'elle ne scavoit rien des desseins d'arsamone cependant apres avoir donne les ordres necessaires a toutes choses ce prince accompagne de ceux des siens qu'il avoit choisis pour cela descendit par un escalier derobe dans les jardins de son palais suivy d'arbiane de spitridate d'aristee toute en larmes aussi bien que la princesse sa mere et du 
 jeune prince euriclide au sortir du jardin qui respondoit tout contre une des portes de la ville qui donnoit vers la mer et dont il avoit gagne le portier ils trouverent une chaloupe ou il fit entrer tout son monde et dans laquelle il entra le dernier apres y avoir pousse spitridate de sa propre main qui fut un instant arreste sur le bord comme s'il eust delibere en luy mesme s'il enteroit ou s'il n'entreroit pas quoy qu'il tinst la princesse arbiane a peine fut il dedans qu'arsamone commanda que l'on ramast en diligence jusques a ce que l'on eust double le cap de la peninsule nommee acherusiade comme il avoit fait payer magnifiquement les mariniers ils fendirent les vagues avec tant de vitesse qu'en moins d'une heure il arriva a une cale ou l'on dit qu'hercule descendit pour combatre ce terrible monstre dont la deffaite luy acquit une si grande reputation en ce pais la je vous laisse a juger seigneur en quel estat estoit alors spitridate qui sans rien scavoir des desseins du prince son pere scavoit tousjours bien qu'ils ne pouvoient estre que tres contraires a son amour apres estre arrivez a l'en droit que j'ay marque il falut encore sortir de la chaloupe et entrer dans un vaisseau de bithinie qu'ils y trouverent escorte de trois autres que les chalcedoniens avoient envoyez a arsamone tous les mariniers de cette chaloupe n'osant retourner a heraclee l'abandonnerent sur ce rivage au gre du vent et des ondes et suivirent ce prince qui leur promit d'avoir soin de 
 leur fortune cependant l'ambitieux arsamone ne fut pas plustost dans ce vaisseau qu'apres avoir commande que l'on prist la route de bithinie il entra suivy d'euriclide dans la chambre de poupe ou la princesse arbiane estoit avec aristee et spitridate comme il fut entre enfin leur dit il avec un visage ou il paroissoit de la fierte et de la joye je ne suis pas encore reconnu pour roy mais du moins je ne sais plus esclave et ce n'est pas peu a celuy qui veut reconquerir une couronne que d'avoir rompu les chaines qui l'empeschoient de le pouvoir faire allons donc au throsne spitridate luy dit il et pour vous y faire aller avec joye je vous diray que je ne m'oppose point a vostre mariage avec la princesse araminte au contraire je pretens vous mettre bientost a la teste d'une armee afin que vous l'alliez conquester et que vous ne la teniez pas des mains de mes plus cruels ennemis quand vous serez fils de roy et en estat de devoir estre roy vous mesme vous serez plus digne de sa vertu que vous n'estes et vous luy faisiez tort sans doute de luy vouloir faire espouser le fils d'un esclave et un esclave luy mesme il y a vingt ans adjousta ce prince que je trame le dessein que je commence d'executer aujourd'huy la ville de chalcedoine est a moy aussi bien que celle de chrisopolis et j'espere que dans peu de jours le roy de pont sera en termes d'envoyer des ambassadeurs a ma cour afin de me demander aristee pour le prince son 
 fils s'il la veut avoir mais quoy qu'il en arrive je rends tousjours graces aux dieux de ce qu'ils m'ont mis en estat de mourir libre si je ne puis vivre comme roy spitridate tout preoccupe qu'il estoit de sa passion ne laissoit pas de voir qu'il y avoit quelque chose de grand et d'heroique dans le dessein de son pere mais quelque ambitieuse que fust son ame l'amour en fut tousjours le maistre et il ne put concevoir que l'esperance d'estre roy le deust consoler de la perte de sa princesse aussi respondit il a arsamone d'une maniere qui ne luy plut pas et il se vit contraint de se taire et de renfermer autant qu'il put toute sa melancolie dans son ame je vous laisse a juger seigneur quels furent ses sentimens pendant cette navigation il furent tels que quand il me les a racontez depuis il m'en a presques fait pleurer la pensee non seulement de quitter sa princesse mais de la perdre de luy declarer la guerre et de paroistre comme son ennemi apres s'estre veu prest a l'espouser estoit une chose si cruelle qu'il pensa se jetter dans la mer a diverses fois et sans la princesse aristee il se seroit desespere c'estoit en vain que l'ambition vouloit affoiblir l'amour dans son ame non non luy disoit il en luy mesme esclatante et imperieuse passion tu ne chasseras pas ma princesse de mon coeur elle y regnera malgre toy et le desir du throsne n'estoufera point dans mon ame celuy de la posseder mais helas disoit il encore que pensera t'elle de moy cette 
 divine princesse et pourra t'elle croire que je n'ay rien sceu du dessein du prince arsamone ne nous flatons pas adjoustoit il quelques preuves d'amour que nous luy ayons rendues elle croira que je prefere la couronne de bithinie a sa personne le prince sinnesis au lieu d'estre mon protecteur comme il estoit va devenir mon ennemi mortel il m'accusera de luy avoir enleve aristee et il parlera autant contre moy qu'il a parle a mon advantage enfin araminte la genereuse araminte me haira peut-estre autant qu'elle m'a aime en effet disoit il je trouve qu'elle aura raison car puis que je n'estois pas maistre de mes actions pourquoy luy ay-je decouvert mon amour et que n'ay-je tousjours agy comme son ennemy declare mais apres tout adjoustoit il ma princesse je suis malheureux et je ne suis pas criminel l'ambition agite mon esprit je l'advoue mais l'amour le possede absolument ainsi sans scavoir ce qu'il devoit ce qu'il vouloit ny ce qu'il pouvoit faire l'infortune spitridate s'abandonnoit a la douleur et donnoit tous les momens de sa triste vie au souvenir de sa chere princesse cependant seigneur il faut que je vous die quel fut nostre estonnement le lendemain lors que nous sceusmes le depart d'arsamone car a la verite il fut si grand que je ne m'en puis encore souvenir sans esmotion la princesse estoit encore endormie quand le prince sinnesis vint a sa chambre ou contre sa coustume il commanda qu'on l'eveillast ce qui ne fut pas si tost fait que 
 s'aprochant d'elle ma soeur luy dit il arsamone m'a enleve aristee et vous enleve spitridate il est parti cette nuit avec toute sa maison et s'est embarque si secrettement que l'on ne s'en est aperceu que par des placards affichez en divers endroits de la ville comme celuy que je vous apporte en disant cela il luy donna un escrit qui estoit conceu en ces termes
 
 
 le prince arsamone mande au roy de pont que ce seroit faire une alliance indigne de luy que de marier le prince son fils et la princesse sa fille aux enfans d'un esclave c'est pourquoy pour agir justement et genereusement il faut qu'il luy rende le royaume de bithinie auparavant que de traiter d'alliance aveques luy autrement il luy declare la guerre comme a l'usurpateur de ses estats et comme a son ennemy mortel 
 
 
vous pouvez penser seigneur quelle surprise fut celle de la princesse neantmoins comme elle est fort sage elle n'eclatta pas devant le prince son frere et elle s'informa avec beaucoup de retenue de tout ce qu'il scavoit de la chose mais pour luy qui estoit d'un temperamment violent il dit tout ce que l'amour la colere la fureur et le desespoir peuvent faire dire tantost toute sa rage ne s'adressoit qu'a arsamone un moment apres il soubconnoit spitridate d'avoir sceu ce dessein et un instant en suitte confondant dans son esprit et les innocents et les coupables ou pour mieux dire ne les pouvant discerner il parloit et contre spitridate et contre arbiane et 
 contre euriclide et mesme contre aristee pendant un si violent mouvement la princesse ne parloit point elle eust bien voulu luy demander s'il avoit envoye advertir le roy de cet accident s'il avoit fait suivre arsamone et quel ordre il avoit donne a toutes choses mais ne scachant elle mesme que souhaitter que l'on fist elle se taisoit et souffroit son mal sans se pleindre toutesfois sa curiosite fut bien tost satisfaite sans qu'elle eust la peine de rien demander car ce prince luy apprit de luy mesme qu'il avoit envoye vers le roy commande deux vaisseaux pour suivre arsamone dans un desquels pharnace s'estoit embarque cette nouvelle fit rougir la princesse parce qu'elle creut bien que si ces vaisseaux pouvoient joindre arsamone il y auroit combat puis que pharnace y estoit neantmoins dissimulant le mieux qu'elle put elle dit seulement au prince sinnesis que selon son sens arsamone tout seul avoit conduit et execute ce dessein en suite de quoy ce prince emporte par son in quietude et ne scachant pas trop bi ni pourquoy il quittoit la princesse ni ou il vouloit aller sortit de sa chambre et la laissa dans la liberte de se pleindre et bien hesionide me dit elle lors que j'aprochay de son lit que pensez vous de spitridate et que croyez vous que j'en doive penser madame luy dis-je j'ay une si forte disposition a expliquer toutes choses a l'avantage de ce prince que je m'imagine qu'il n'a fait ce qu'il n'a pu s'empescher de faire si cela est dit la princesse en soupirant 
 il est bien malheureux mais si cela n'est pas il est bien coupable car s'il avoit quelque dessein cache et que les justes pretensions que le prince son pere a sur la bithinie ne pussent pas souffrir qu'il peust estre content de sa fortune pourquoy me tesmoigner une affection particuliere et pourquoy engager mon coeur malgre moy a l'estimer plus que tout le reste du mon de s'il en avoit use ainsi luy dis je c'auroit este pour mieux tromper toute la cour et pour mieux cacher ses desseins mais madame je ne le crois point et quoy que certaine melancolie que j'ay remarquee depuis quelques jours dans son esprit embarrasse un peu le mien je suis pourtant fortement persuadee qu'il vous aime veritablement si cela est repliqua t'elle pour quoy s'en va t'il et comment peut il esperer que je luy conserve mon affection s'il entreprend de faire la guerre au roy mon pere croyez hesionide adjousta t'elle en essuyant quelques larmes qui tomboient malgre elle de ses beaux y eux que quelque soin que je prenne de justifier spitridate je ne trouve pas lieu de le faire il aura peut-estre creu adjousta t'elle qu'il n'y avoit point de laschete a tromper la fille d'un prince qui luy retient un royaume et que pour remonter au throsne il estoit permis de faire cent mil le faux serments et cent mille protestations mensongeres mais non spitridate reprenoit elle vous vous estes abuse la vertu heroique est plus difficile a pratiquer que vous ne pensez et il n'est 
 jamais premis de faire des crimes mesme pour gagner des couronnes ne vous hastes pas tant luy dis-je madame de condamner un prince qui vous a toujours paru si vertueux ha hesionide me dit elle si vous scaviez tout ce qu'il me dit hier au soir vous seriez espouvantee d'apprendre qu'il ait pu m'abandonner aujourd'huy et qu'il ait pu se resoudre a declarer la guerre au roy mon pere car enfin il scait bien qu'on ne luy rendra pas le royaume de bithinie sans combattre et il doit s'imaginer que s'il combat contre le roy de pont a qui je dois la vie je me combatray moy mesme pour le chasser de mon coeur cependant comme elle ne trouvoit point tout a fait lieu de le convaincre ny aussi de le justifier elle ne pouvoit regler ses propres desirs elle eust bien souhaite pour pouvoir revoir spitridate que pharnace l'eust pris et l'eust ramene a heraclee mais ne scachant pas comment il y seroit traite il y avoit des momens ou elle faisoit des voeux pour la fuitte de ce prince et ou elle desiroit qu'il ne peust estre repris et qu'il vainquist plustost pharnace que d'estre vaincu par luy car enfin me disoit elle que spitridate soit innocent ou coupable je souhaite de tout mon coeur qu'il ne retombe pas entre les mains du roy mon pere elle me donna alors commission de m'informer si spitridate avoit me ne tout son train et je sceus qu'il n'y avoit pas un de ses gens aveques luy et que le prince sinnesis et le prince aryande avoient fait arrester 
 les plus considerables d'entre eux qui disoient tous ne scavoir rien du dessein d'arsamone et qui assuroient mesme que leur maistre n'en avoit rien sceu parce qu'effectivement il avoit appelle ses gens pour se mettre au lit lors qu'arsamone l'avoit envoye querir neantmoins quoy que cela fust une conjecture assez forte pour le justifier dans l'esprit de la princesse comme le prince sinnesis et le prince aryande estoient preoccupez ils luy dirent tant qu'assurement spitridate scavoit la chose que si elle ne le creut du moins son ame demeura t'elle incertaine entre ce qu'ils luy disoient et ce qu'elle souhaitoit qui fust vray cependant le roy revint a heraclee mais si irrite contre arsamone qu'on ne le peut davantage et quand il venoit a penser que ce prince avoit agy de cette sorte dans un temps ou il vouloit mettre sa fille sur le throsne et donner la sienne au prince son fils il ne trouvoit point d'excuse pour luy dans son esprit et sans se souvenir qu'il luy retenoit un royaume il estoit aussi irrite contre luy que si arsamone eust este un sujet rebelle en ce mesme temps pharnace revint sans avoir pu joindre arsamone ayant seulement sceu par quelques vaisseaux marchands qui l'avoient rencontre qu'il prenoit la route de bithinie ou l'on sceut quelques jours apres qu'il avoit pense faire naufrage en entrant au port mais qu'estant echape de ce peril il avoit este receu comme roy par les habitans de chalcedoine et par ceux de chrisopolis qui avoient 
 fait main basse sur les garnisons que le roy de pont y avoit mises j'advoue seigneur qu'en cette occasion l'amour de la patrie l'emporta sur toute autre chose dans mon coeur et que j'eus quelque joye de pouvoir esperer de revoir un roy en bithinie car comme cela se fit tout a la fin de l'automne je creus que durant l'hiver peut-estre les choses s'acommoderoient et que la princesse araminte pourroit espouser spitridate et estre un jour reine du pais d'ou je tirois mon origine ainsi les interests de ma patrie s'acommodant avec ceux de ma maistresse je fis tout ce que je pus pour luy faire concevoir quelque esperance mais elle me dit tousjours que certainement le roy son pere ne consenteroit jamais a perdre un royaume si la force ne l'y contraignoit et en effet quoy que ce ne fust pas une saison a commencer la guerre neantmoins on ne laissa pas de donner plusieurs commissions pour lever de nouveau des troupes au lieu de celles que l'on venoit de licencier apres la guerre de phrigie durant ce temps la pharnace et artane ravis de l'absence de spitridate se mirent a voir la princesse avec une si grande assiduite qu'elle en estoit importunee principalement d'artane de qui l'insolence recommenca a diverses fois car pour pharnace il est certain qu'il estoit si discret et si sage qu'il ne luy donnoit nul sujet legitime de pleinte et s'il l'incommodoit souvent c'est que dans les sentimens ou estoit la princesse la solitude estoit sa plus grande consolation 
 si elle se promenoit c'estoit tousjours la moins accompagnee qu'il luy estoit possible et pour mieux cacher les maux de son esprit elle feignoit souvent d'estre un peu malade et de ne pouvoir voir personne un jour donc qu'on ne la voyoit point il vint une nouvelle de bithinie qui surprit fort toute la cour qui fut qu'arsamone avoit fait mettre spitridate prisonnier dans le chasteau de chalcedoine ou il estoit garde tres soigneusement une semblable chose qui en toute autre rencontre auroit extremement afflige la princesse luy donna une joye bien sensible parce qu'elle regarda la prison de spitridate comme une preuve de son innocence qui le justifioit pleinement dans son esprit de plus comme elle ne craignoit pas qu'arsamone entreprist rien sur sa vie puis qu'il estoit son fils elle trouvoit encore quelque consolation a penser que si la guerre duroit il ne combatroit ny contre le roy son pere ny contre les princes ses freres et qu'ainsi si la paix se faisoit un jour elle n'auroit rien a luy reprocher il y avoit pourtant quelques instans ou elle estoit affligee de la peine qu'il enduroit mais apres tout en l'estat qu'estoient les choses elle n'eust pas voulu qu'il eust este libre ne vous avois-je pas bien dit madame luy disois-je alors que spitridate n'estoit point coupable envers vous ouy hesionide reprenoit elle mais je la suis bien envers luy de l'avoir soubconne avec tant d'injustice cependant la princesse voulut aller le lendemain a un temple extremement 
 fameux a heraclee qui est celuy de la deesse adrastie ou autrement de la fatale destinee afin de la conjurer d'avoir soin de la fortune de spitridate et de vouloir pacifier les choses entre le roy son pere et arsamone mais admirez icy seigneur ce que fait quelquesfois le hasard nous trouvasmes dans le temple de la fatalite un estranger qui ne faisoit que d'arriver a heraclee et qui voyant entrer la princesse dans ce temple y entra aussi je pris garde quand nous y fusmes qu'il demanda la quelle de toutes les femmes qui suivoient la princesse se nommoit hesionide comme j'estois fort proche d'un officier d'araminte a qui il parloit je l'entendis et je luy dis que je m'appellois ainsi puis que cela est repliqua t'il accordez moy la liberte de vous dire un mot en particulier je vous en conjure adjousta t'il en abaissant la voix par le prince spitridate entendant un nom qui m'estoit si cher mais qu'il estoit pourtant si dangereux d'en tendre dire a heraclee en l'estat qu'estoient les choses je luy dis qu'il se retirast et qu'au sortir du temple il demeurast a la porte jusques a ce que je l'envoyasse querir par un esclave de la princesse que je luy monstray afin qu'il le reconnust et en effet en sortant du temple j'apellay cet esclave qui estoit adroit et fidelle je luy monstray cet estranger et luy ordonnay de l'amener dans les jardins du palais par une porte de derriere et de le conduire en suitte a ma chambre par un escalier derobe qui y respondoit comme 
 nous fusmes arrive je ne voulus rien aprendre de ce qui m'estoit advenu a la princesse que je ne sceusse precisement ce que cet homme avoit a me dire si bien qu'apres l'avoir conduitte a son apartement je m'en allay en diligence au mien ou je ne fus pas longtemps sans y voir arriver celuy que j'y attendois je fis demeurer l'esclave dans l'anti-chambre afin qu'il remenast celuy qu'il avoit amene quand je l'aurois entretenu et entrant dans un cabinet ou il n'y avoit personne de grace dis-je a cet estranger que je ne connoissois point apprenez moy promptement ce que vous avez a me dire de spitridate madame me dit il j'ay ordre de vous conjurer de me faire parler a la princesse araminte et de vous assurer en vostre particulier que vous estes une des personnes du monde qu'il honnore le plus et dont il a le plus du besoin apres avoir receu comme je devois le compliment du prince spitridate et remarque par la facon dont me parloit cet estranger que c'estoit assurement un homme d'esprit et de quelque condition je le priay de se donner un moment de patience et je sortis pour aller apprendre a la princesse ce que je luy avois cache et pour luy aller demander cette audience je la surpris de telle sorte qu'elle me retint plus long temps que je ne voulois mais comme il n'y avoit personne aupres d'elle quelque difficulte qu'elle fist de voir cet homme je la forcay d'y consentir elle m'envoya pourtant luy demander s'il avoit des lettres et comme il eut respondu qu'il 
 en avoit elle voulut qu'il me les donnast mais il ne le voulut jamais et elle fut contrainte de souffrir que je l'allasse querir disant tout haut en passant dans l'anti-chambre ou estoient ses filles que c'estoit un homme qui venoit prier la princesse de le proteger aupres du roy ou il avoit quelque affaire mais enfin cet envoye de spitridate estant entre dans le cabinet de la princesse ou je demeuray seule aveques luy madame luy dit il apres luy avoir fait une profonde reverence je vous demande pardon si je n'ay pas voulu donner la lettre que je vous presente a hesionide qui me l'a demandee de vostre part car comme le prince spitridate ne scavoit pas si vous luy feriez la grace de luy respondre il m'a commande si expressement d'estre present quand vous la liriez s'il estoit possible que je n'y ay ose manquer esperant par la madame aprendre du moins une partie de vos sentimens la princesse estoit si interdite qu'elle ne scavoit pas trop bien que luy respondre mais enfin prenant la lettre comme mes sentimens sont tousjours tels qu'ils doivent estre repliqua t'elle je ne trouveray point mauvais que mon visage vous les descouvre c'est pourquoy je ne feray point de difficulte de contenter spitridate et de lire sa lettre devant vous en disant cela elle en rompit le cachet et y leur a peu pres ces paroles
 
 
 
 spitridate a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 je suis si malheureux que quelque innocent que je sois je ne laisse pas d'avoir lieu de craindre que vous ne m'ayez soubconne d'avoir plus d'ambition que d'amour et d'apprehender encore que vous ne m'ayez condamne sans m'entendre celuy qui vous rendra ma lettre a ordre de vous raconter la verite toute pure afin que la connoissant vous ne me faciez pas une injustice la prison ou je suis me sera bien douce si elle me justifie aupres de vous et bien insuportable si j'aprens que vous continuyez de m'accuser puis qu'elle m'empeschera d'aller vous dire moy mesme que je quitterois toutes les couronnes de l'univers pour la seule gloire d'estre regarde favorablement de vous ne me soubconnez donc pas s'il vous plaist d'en avoir voulu reconquerir une en vous perdant et croyez au contraire que je prefereray tousjours la glorieuse qualite de vostre esclave a celle de roy de toute l'asie 
 
 
 spitridate 
 
 
apres que la princesse eut acheve de lire cette lettre en soupirant malgre qu'elle en eust elle pria celuy qui la luy avoit rendue de s'aquiter de sa commission de sorte qu'il luy raconta ce que je vous ay desja dit c'est a dire de quelle facon arsamone avoit envoye querir spitridate comment il luy avoit parle dans sa chambre comment il s'estoit embarque et ce qu'il luy avoit dit lors qu'il avoit este dans le vaisseau qui l'attendoit il 
 luy aprit en suitte que sa navigation avoir este tres heureuse jusques a chalcedoine mais il luy dit qu'en arrivant en ce lieu la le pilote n'ayant pas bien pris ses mesures avoit este pousse par la violence des vagues contre la pointe d'un rocher qui est assez pres de l'emboucheure du port que son vaisseau n'avoit pourtant fait que s'entre-ouvrir mais que comme spitridate estoit sur la proue lors qu'il avoit heurte il n'avoit pu se retenir et estoit tombe dans la mer justement au mesme temps qu'un autre des vaisseaux d'arsamone s'estoit brise un peu plus bas il luy dit de plus que tout le rivage estant plein de monde il y avoit eu de marchands de persepolis qui avoient tesmoigne une si grande compassion de cet accident et un si grand empressement a vouloir sauver spitridate qu'il y en avoit eu deux qui s'estoient jettez dans la mer pour l'assister et qui avoient este noyez sans le pouvoir faire que ce pendant la mer l'avoit emporte malgre luy bien loing de la sans que l'on s'en aperceust dans le vaisseau d'arsamone ou l'on estoit assez occupe parce que l'eau y entroit que lors que spitridate eut un peu repris ses esprits apres sa chutte dans la mer comme il scavoit bien nager il avoit voulu aborder mais que les rochers repoussant les vagues en ce lieu la il luy avoit este impossible de sorte qu'il avoit este contraint de se laisser emporter a ces vagues un peu plus loing que comme elles estoient assez hautes ce marchands persans qui s'interessoient tant en sa perte 
 l'avoient perdu de veue et avoient creu qu'il avoit peri que cependant le rivage devenant un peu moins raboteux apres avoir eu bien de la peine spitridate estoit venu a bord en un en droit ou un vieux pescheur sechoit ses filets sur le sable environ a quatre ou cinq stades de chalcedoine que comme il estoit fort las il avoit este contraint de se coucher sur le rivage pour se reposer et que ce vieux pescheur ayant eu compassion de voir un homme si beau si bien fait et si magnifiquement habille en un si pitoyable estat luy avoit offert de le conduire a sa petite maison qui estoit assez proche de la que spitridate avoit accepte cette offre et que sans scavoir encore bien precisement la raison pourquoy il pria ce charitable pescheur de ne dire a personne qu'il fust chez luy mais seigneur quand cet envoye de spitridate vint a raconter a la princesse les inquietudes de ce prince en ce lieu la j'advoue qu'il m'en fit compassion en effet il est aise de s'imaginer que se voyant maistre de ses actions et pouvant retourner a heraclee ou aller a chalcedoine son ame se trouva en de pitoyables termes si je retourne a heraclee disoit il je satisferay sans doute mon amour et ma princesse mais je me deshonoray aux yeux de toute l'asie car enfin feray-je la guerre a mon pere pour un prince qui luy retient un royaume que je devois un jour posseder mais aussi reprenoit il si je vay a chalcedoine pourray-je me resoudre d'aller les armes a la main contre le 
 pere et contre les freres de la princesse araminte et laisseray-je croire a cette illustre personne que je l'ay trompee que je l'ay trahie et que je ne luy ay tesmoigne de l'affection que pour cacher le dessein que j'avois de remonter au throsne de bithinie ha non non je n'y scaurois consentir mais que feray-je donc disoit il je n'en scay rien se respondoit il a luy mesme et je pense que la seule mort est ce qui me peut mettre en estat de ne faire rien ny contre mon honneur ny contre mon amour ny contre ma propre inclination cependant il faut se resoudre il faut aller a heraclee ou a chalcedoine si je vay a la premiere je me perds d'honneur mais je satisfais mon amour et si je vais a la derniere je satisfais mon ambition et la nature mais je me detruits dans l'esprit de ma princesse que je prefere a toutes choses et mesme a ma propre vie enfin cet estranger nous dit qu'apres une agitation tres violente l'amour avoit este la plus forte dans son coeur que neantmoins voulant prendre un milieu entre ces deux extremitez il avoit considere qu'en la saison ou l'on estoit la guerre ne pouvoit se commencer de plus de quatre mois si bien qu'il avoit fait dessein de se deguiser de revenir a heraclee secrettement sans voir le roy ny les princes et de tascher de voir la princesse par mon moyen pour se justifier aupres d'elle pour luy promettre de ne combattre jamais en personne le roy son pere et pour luy demander seulement la permission 
 d'aller deffendre le sien que ne doutant pas que la princesse ne luy accordast ce qu'il vouloit la connoissant fort equitable et fort genereuse il avoit resolu de s'en retourner a chalcedoine apres cela afin de tascher d'y pacifier les choses et de satisfaire s'il estoit possible et son honneur et son amour qu'ainsi pour executer son entreprise il s'estoit aquis ce vieux pescheur par une tres belle bague qu'il avoit sur luy de sorte qu'il l'avoit envoye a la ville avec quelque argent que ce prince avoit pour luy acheter les choses necessaires a se deguiser et pour faire son voyage comme pour s'informer aussi s'il n'estoit arrive nul accident au roy de qui il se disoit seulement officier que cet homme ayant aporte les choses dont il avoit besoin luy avoit apris que le roy et la reine de bithinie le prince euriclide et la princesse leur fille estoient echapez du naufrage mais qu'ils estoient bien affligez de ce qu'ils craignoient que leur fils aisne n'eust peri et que tout le rivage de la mer estoit plein de gens que le roy envoyoit chercher le prince vivant ou mort qu'on luy avoit demande a cent pas de la s'il n'en scavoit point de nouvelles et qu'il avoit dit que non qu'en suitte spitridate craignant d'estre trouve s'estoit deguise promptement qu'aussi tost que la nuit avoit este venue il estoit monte sur un cheval que ce pescheur luy avoit achete et qu'apres luy avoir bien recommande de cacher ses habillemens et de ne les monstrer point qu'il n'y eust du moins plusieurs jours qu'il 
 fust parti il s'estoit mis en chemin j'oubliois pourtant de vous dire qu'il laissa un billet a ce pescheur avec ordre d'aller dans huit jours le porter a quelque officier de la maison d'arsamone ou il avoit escrit ces paroles
 
 
 assurez le roy mon pere que spitridate n'est pas mort et que n'estant pas capable de rien faire contre son honneur il se rendra aupres de luy dans le temps ou il peut avoir besoin de son courage 
 
 
apres donc que spitridate fut parti ce bon pescheur se mettant a raisonner avec sa femme sur l'heureuse rencontre qu'ils avoient eue ils y passerent une grande partie de la nuit cherchant en quel lieu ils pourroient cacher les magnifiques habillemens de spitridate mais par malheur douze ou quinze de ceux qu'arsamone avoit envoyez le long du rivage s'estant egarez vinrent a cette maison et entrerent si inopinement que ces bonnes gens ne purent si bien cacher les habits da prince qu'a travers des filets qu'ils avoient jettez dessus un de ces hommes ne vist quelque chose de brillant qui luy donna la curiosite de regarder ce que c'estoit mais il n'eut pas plustost veu ces habillemens a la clarte d'une lampe qu'il les reconnut car c'estoit un officier d'arsamone de sorte que croyant que ce pescheur l'auroit peut-estre trouve a demy mort au bord de la mer et l'auroit tue pour avoir ses habits il se mit a le menacer s'il ne disoit la verite et a luy dire qu'il vouloir voir le corps du prince spitridate ce bon pescheur se voyant donc accuse injustement 
 et la frayeur s'emparant de son esprit il leur dit la chose comme elle s'estoit passee et leur monstra mesme le biliet que spitridate luy avoit laisse si bien que ne doutant point apres cela qu'il ne fust en vie et s'imaginant aisement qu'il auroit pris la route d'heraclee ils partirent en diligence et envoyerent un d'entre eux advertir arsamone de ce qu'ils avoient apris et luy porter mesme le billet de spitridate comme ils scavoient bien qu'ils rendroient un grand service a arsamone de luy remener le prince son fils ils firent une si grande diligence qu'ils le trouverent au passage d'une petite riviere ou il faloit de necessite qu'il allast et ce qui facilita encore la recherche qu'ils firent fut qu'ils avoient fait dire par force a ce pescheur quel habit et quel cheval avoit spitridate comme ils l'eurent joint ils j'aborderent avec respect mais pourtant comme des gens qui ne vouloient pas qu'il leur echapast car ils l'environnerent de tous costez ce prince qui estoit assez mal monte vit bien qu'il ne luy seroit pas possible d'esviter d'estre pris de sorte qu'il voulut employer d'abord les prieres et les promesses en suitte voyant qu'il ne les gagnoit pas parce qu'en effet ils croyoient rendre office a spitridate aussi bien qu'a arsamone de l'empescher de retourner a heraclee il les menaca il voulut mesme se mettre en estat de les forcer mais apres tout voyant que ses efforts seroient inutiles contre tant de gens il ceda et se laissa conduire a 
 chalcedoine ou arsamone le receut avec toutes les marques d'indignation qu'un pere irrite et qu'un prince violent peut donner il luy dit qu'il avoit raison de ne pretendre pas a la couronne de bithinie puis qu'il n'en estoit pas digne mais que pour luy monstrer qu'il la conserveroit bien sans luy il l'alloit mettre en lieu d'ou il ne sortiroit point qu'il n'eust surmonte dans son ame la honteuse passion qui s'opposoit a sa gloire spitridate voulut s'excuser mais comme il ne pouvoit obtenir de luy de dire au roy qu'il n'aimeroit plus la princesse araminte il s'en irrita davantage et l'envoya prisonnier dans une des tours du chasteau sans permettre a personne de le visiter qu'a la princesse aristee encore ne fut-ce pas sans difficulte qu'elle obtint la permission de le voir deux fois la semaine en suitte cet agent de spitridate conta encore a la princesse qu'ayant eu l'honneur d'y conduire aristee a trois ou quatre de ses visites pendant lesquelles ils ne s'entretenoient que d'elle il avoit este choisi pour la venir trouver et pour luy rendre conte de la vie de ce prince depuis son depart d'heraclee l'assurant de plus que la princesse aristee avoit pour elle une affection que rien ne pourroit changer la princesse araminte escouta ce recit avec beaucoup d'attention et comme elle trouva avoir sujet d'estre pleinement satisfaite du prince spitridate elle tesmoigna estre sensiblement touchee des maux qu'il enduroit a sa consideration le pense toutefois qu'elle 
 auroit eu quelque peine a se resoudre de luy escrire si je ne l'en eusse extremement pressee mais enfin elle ceda a mes prieres et en la presence mesme de celuy qui devoit porter sa lettre elle escrivit en ces termes
 
 
 la princesse araminte a spitridate 
 
 
 je voudrais que vous peuviez estre innocent et heureux tout ensemble toutefois puis que la malignite de mon destin veut que vous ne soyez justifie dans mon esprit que par des souffrances je vous advoue en rougissant que j'aime encore mieux que vous ne soyez point coupable et que vous soyez malheureux que si vous estiez criminel et que vous n'eussiez point d'in fortune neantmoins je sens pourtant vostre prison comme je dois et je ne scay mesme si la douleur que j'en ay demeure dans les justes bornes que la raison luy doit prescrire cependant comme je ne demande rien de vous contre vostre gloire n'attendez rien de moy contre la mienne afin du moins que si nous avons a estre tousjours infortunes nous facions advouer a tout le monde que nous meritons d'estre plus heureux 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
apres que la princesse m'eut montre et ferme sa lettre elle la donna a celuy qui la devoit porter elle escrivit aussi un billet a la princesse aristee et apres avoir fait beaucoup de civilite a ce fidelle agent de spitridate elle le congedia et l'esclave qui l'avoit amene le reconduisit jusques 
 hors de la ville ou il logeoit vous pouvez juger quelle fut la conversation de la princesse et de moy et combien de fois nous releusmes la lettre de spitridate cependant sa prison n'agit pas seulement dans le coeur de la princesse araminte mais encore dans celuy du prince sinnesis qui ne croyant plus qu'il eust sceu le dessein d'arsamone ne le soubconna plus aussi de l'avoir trompe non plus que la princesse aristee de sorte que l'amour reprenant sa place dans son esprit il changea sa facon d'agir il vint voir la princesse sa soeur pour en parler avec elle et comme il estoit important a araminte que le prince sinnesis aimast tousjours spitridate elle le confirma en son opinion si bien que sa passion redevenant plus forte il cessa d'aigrir l'esprit du roy son pere comme il faisoit auparavant et il voulut mesme a diverses fois l'appaiser mais comme ce prince en soubconna aisement la cause il s'en fascha extraordinairement et luy en donna mesme des marques
 
 
 
 
a quelques jours de la il apprit que ciaxare qui n'estoit en ce temps la comme vous le scavez que roy de capadoce et de galatie assistoit sous main arsamone de sorte que voyant cette affaire d'une plus dangereuse suitte qu'il n'avoit preveu d'abord il souhaita que les choses se pussent pacifier auparavant que son ennemi fust en estat de luy nuire il envoya donc vers ciaxare pour luy demander secours faignant de ne scavoir pas que ce prince aidoit secrettement a arsamone celuy qui fut envoye 
 vers luy s'aquita avec tant d'adresse de sa commission qu'il l'empescha de se declarer ouvertement pour arsamone neantmoins ne voulant pas non plus se declarer pour le roy de pont il s'offrit d'estre le mediateur entre ces princes ce qui affligea sensiblement arsamone qui par cette voye ne demeura pas en estat de pouvoir soutenir la guerre car comme le prince de paphlagonie et celuy des cadusiens n'avoient traite aveques luy qu'a condition que le roy de capadoce se declareroit ils commencerent de se vouloir retirer de cette entreprise de plus les habitans de chalcedoine et ceux de chrisopolis avoient este tellement ruinez sous la domination des rois de pont qu'ils ne pouvoient pas fournir aux frais de la guerre si bien qu'arsamone voyant qu'il s'estoit engage un peu legerement en son dessein se resolut d'entendre a quelque traite de paix mais comme il ne pouvoit se resoudre a s'assurer en la parole de ses ennemis apres ce qu'ils avoient fait au roy son pere il declara a celuy que ciaxare envoya vers luy qu'il ne vouloit point traiter si le roy de pont ne donnoit des ostages comme il s'offroit d'en donner ciaxare scachant bien que le roy de pont auroit eu autant de peine a se fier a arsamone qu'arsamone en avoit a de fier au roy de pont proposa que de part et d'autre on donnast des ostages qui demeurassent en ses mains ce qui fut accepte egalement de tous les deux partis de sorte que le roy de pont envoya le prince aryande a la cour de ciaxare et arsamone 
 y envoya aussi le prince euriclide ce traite dura six mois entiers a la fin desquels la paix fut conclue et il fut arreste qu'arsamone ne prendroit plus la qualite de roy qu'il remettroit chalcedoine au roy de pont qu'on luy laisseroit la ville de chrisopolis et tout le pais d'alentour pour en jouir comme vassal de ce prince et qu'il ne seroit point oblige ny de demeurer ny d'aller a heraclee ny d'y envoyer mesmes les princes ses enfans avant ce traite le prince sinnesis avoit fait toutes choses possibles pour obliger le roy son pere a souffrir que les mariages qu'il avoit eu dessein de faire s'achevassent mais il n'y voulut jamais entendre ce qui affligea si extraordinairement le prince sinnesis qu'il n'en estoit pas connoissable cependant nous aprenions tousjours que spitridate estoit en prison et mesme plus rigoureuse qu'a l'ordinaire car depuis le retour de celuy qui portoit la lettre de la princesse araminte dont arsamone avoit eu quelque soubcon la princesse aristee ne le voyoit plus ce qui ne donnoit pas un petit redoublement d'inquietude ny au prince sinnesis ny a la princesse araminte qui n'avoient point d'autre consolation que celle de se pleindre ensemble pharnace qui n'avoit pas son protecteur a heraclee ne parloit pas souvent a la princesse et artane mesme avec toute son insolence et toute son adresse ne trouvoit gueres souvent l'occasion de l'entretenir neantmoins comme pharnace estoit en chagrin de son malheur quoy 
 qu'artane ne luy fust pas un rival redoutable il ne laissa pas de le mal-traiter a diverses fois dans les premieres ce lasche agit encore si adroite ment qu'il ne sembloit pas qu'il manquast de coeur mais aux dernieres injures qu'il receut de pharnace ayant este contraint malgre qu'il en eust de mettre l'espee a la main contre luy il se deshonnora beaucoup plus en se batant qu'il n'avoit fait en ne se batant pas et l'aversion de la princesse eut alors un si juste fondement que personne ne trouvoit plus estrange qu'elle le traitast avec une extreme froideur cependant la nouvelle de la conclusion du traite de paix pour le quel le prine aryande estoit en ostage estant arrivee a heraclee et le prince sinnesis scachant de certitude qu'il n'espouseroit point la princesse aristee en fut si sensiblement afflige que la fievre luy en prit et en quatre jours il fut a l'extremite le roy son pere aprenant la grandeur de son mal et n'en ignorant pas la cause en conceut une douleur meslee de despit si excessive qu'il en mourut subitement sept jours apres le prince sinnesis quitta la couronne dont il ne gousta pas les douceurs et il mourut en priant la princesse sa soeur d'aimer tousjours spitridate et de proteger aristee le vous laisse a juger en quel deplorable estat demeura la princesse araminte qui avoit sans doute pour le roy son pere toute la tendresse qu'une personne bien nee doit avoir mais qui avoit encore pour le prince sinnesis son frere une amitie la plus force du monde 
 car outre qu'elle estoit sa soeur il estoit aimable quoy qu'il fust d'un naturel un peu violent de plus il l'aimoit beaucoup et avoit une affection tres tendre pour spitridate de sorte qu'elle perdoit en la personne de ce prince un frere un amy et un protecteur de son amant aussi sentit elle cette perte d'une estrange facon la douleur l'accabla si fort qu'elle fut plus de trois jours sans se pouvoir plaindre tant le saisissement de sou coeur estoit grand pharnace n'en estoit pas si afflige car scachant l'amitie que le prince aryande avoit tousjours eue pour luy il s'imaginoit qu'estant roy il luy seroit plus aise d'obliger la princesse araminte a ce qu'il voudroit pour artane comme il n'y perdoit que parce que pharnace y gagnoit cela ne fit pas un grand changement en son esprit je ne me trouvay pas mesme en estat de consoler la princesse car ma mere mourut en ce temps la et par un sentiment d'amour pour sa patrie et par un desir ardent que les intentions de la reine sa maistresse fussent accomplies elle me commanda si absolument de servir tousjours autant que je le pourrois toute la maison d'arsamone et en particulier spitridate que je m'y trouvay encore plus engagee qu'auparavant ce que je pus faire d'autant plus facilement que l'on ne donna point d'autre gouvernante a la princesse cependant le nouveau roy de pont qui regne aujourd'huy ou pour mieux dire qui ne regne plus estoit en chemin pour revenir a heraclee ou l'on avoit rendu aux deux princes 
 morts tous les honneurs qui estoient deus a leur condition et ce fut pendant ce voyage qu'il apprit la mort du roy son pere et celle du prince sinnesis en ce temps la nous sceusmes que le traite de paix avoit este execute qu'arsamone estoit sorti de chalcedoine et estoit alle a chrisopolis et qu'ainsi spitridate avoit change de prison quinze ou vingt jours se passerent de cette sorte pendant quoy les habitans d'heraclee se preparoient a recevoir leur nouveau roy le plus magnifiquement qu'ils pouvoient mais il vint un ordre de luy par lequel il defendoit qu'on luy fist aucune ceremonie ne voulant pas si tost mesler la joye a la douleur la princesse estant donc dans une melancolie estrange et ne faisant autre chose que prier les dieux et se pleindre en secret aussi souvent qu'elle le pouvoit faire je l'obligeay malgre qu'elle en eust a descendre un soir dans les jardins du palais afin d'y prendre l'air car je voyois un si grand changement en son taint que j'avois peur qu'elle ne tombast malade comme nous y fusmes elle choisit une allee sombre et estroite qui estant palissadee des deux costez entre les grands arbres qui la couvrent fait que c'est la plus melancolique et pourtant la plus agreable chose du monde car il y a deux fontaines aux deux bouts et une an milieu de qui le murmure excite encore a la resverie la princesse ayant donc choisi cette allee pour se promener elle n'y voulut estre accompagnee que de moy pour qui elle n'avoit jamais eu cette crainte que 
 les jeunes personnes ont accoustume d'avoir pour celles qui prennent en quelque facon garde a leurs actions parce que comme je n'estois d'un age assez avance pour luy donner de l'aversion et que je l'avois tousjours plustost conseillee avec respect et soumission qu'avec orgueil et suffisance elle vivoir aveques moy dans une sincerite et dans une confiance tres obligeante apres avoir donc repasse tous ses malheurs et donne beau coup de larmes a la memoire de sinnesis elle donna quelques unes de ses pensees au malheureux spitridate n'est il pas vray hesionide me dit elle que ce prince est bien infortune de perdre un royaume en perdant mesme la personne pour qui il s'estoit resolu de le perdre car enfin le roy mon frere quand mesme arsamone l'auroit delivre ne consentiroit jamais a sou bonheur tant par ce qu'il ne l'aime pas que parce qu'il aime pharnace ainsi je me voy exposee a une persecution estrange des qu'il sera arrive encore disoit elle si spitridate scavoit la justice que je rends a son merite et combien j'obeis exactemement au prince sinnesis mon frere j'aurois quelque consolation de ce qu'il seroit console mais il ne plaist pas a la fortune et je n'ay qu'a me preparer a tous les malheurs imaginables madame luy dis-je il ne faut jamais s'affliger avec exces des maux qui ne sont pas encore arrivez parce que peut-estre ils n'arriveront jamais et puis adjoustay-je croyez vous estre aussi obligee de suivre les volontez du roy vostre frere que celles 
 les du feu roy vostre pere si je n'estois que sa soeur repliqua t'elle je pense que cela ne seroit pas egal mais estant sa sujette aussi bien que je suis sa soeur je suis aussi obligee de luy obeir que je l'estois au feu roy mon pere apres plusieurs semblables discours remarquant que la nuit s'approchoit car comme nous n'estions encore qu'au printemps les jours n'estoient pas extreme ment longs je voulus luy persuader de se retirer mais voyant que la lune esclairoit elle en creut pas mon conseil et elle voulut au contraire s'aller asseoir a un des bouts de l'allee aupres d'une de ces fontaines a peine y eut elle este un demy quart d'heure que je vy approcher un homme que je creus estre un officier de la princesse qui venoit luy dire quelque chose mais je fus estrangement surprise lors que cet homme que je ne pouvois connoistre en un lieu qui n'estoit esclaire que de rayons de la lune qui traversant l'espoisseur des arbres ne donnoient qu'une assez sombre lumiere s'aprochant davantage de nous madame dit il a la princesse en la saluant avec beaucoup de respect souffrirez vous que le mal heureux spitridate vienne mesler ses larmes avec les vostres et vienne vous aider a pleindre vos malheurs en pleignant aussi les siens vous pouvez penser seigneur quelle fut la surprise de la princesse et de moy d'entendre une voix que nous ne pouvions mesconnoistre elle fat si grande que la princesse en fit un cry si haut que quelques unes de ses filles vinrent dans l'allee 
 ou nous estions croyant qu'elle les appelloit mais m'estant promptement avancee je leur dis qu'elle ne vouloit rien et que c'estoit seulement un redoublement de douleur qui luy avoit pris en parlant a un homme qui luy venoit demander une grace aupres du nouveau roy en suite de cela m'estant raproche de la princesse j'entendis que spitridate voyant qu'elle ne luy respondoit presques que par des larmes continuoit de luy parler je suis au desespoir madame luy disoit il de renouveller toutes vos douleurs et de voir que ma presence au lieu de vous consoler vous afflige je vous demande pardon luy dit elle de vous recevoir si mal mais spitridate ma foiblesse a une cause si legitime que vous la de uez excuser le prince sinnesis mon frere vous aimoit avec tant de tendresse que je n'ay pu vous voir sans un renouvellement de douleur que je n'ay pu empescher de paroistre et tant de choses differentes m'ont passe dans l'esprit en un moment qu'il n'est pas estrange que ma raison en soit un peu en desordre car enfin le souvenir du passe la crainte de l'advenir et la surprise de voir aupres de moy une personne que je croyois en prison sont ce me semble d'assez legitimes causes du trouble qu'on voit en mon ame j'avois espere madame luy dit spitridate que cette derniere advanture vous surprendroit sans vous affliger aussi a t'elle fait respondit elle mais elle ne me resjouit pas autant qu'elle feroit si le prince mon frere estoit encore vivant cependant 
 dittes moy je vous en conjure par quelle voye la colere d'arsamone a este appaise elle ne l'a point este madame repliqua t'il et je l'auray sans doute encore extremement irrite par ma fuite quoy luy dit elle ce n'est pas de son consentement que vous estes sorty de prison nullement reprit il et la princesse aristee ma soeur est celle a qui j'ay l'obligation de ma liberte car apres que l'on m'eut mene de chalcedoine a chrisopolis elle remarqua que le lieu ou l'on me mit n'estoit pas si inaccessible que celuy ou j'avois este auparavant de sorte que des les premiers jours que j'y fus ne voulant pas donner loisir au prince mon pere de s'en apercevoir elle gagna trois de mes gardes qui par une fenestre qui n'estoit point grille et qui donnoit dans le fosse du chasteau me firent sauver et me menerent deguise dans une maison de la ville ou je fus trois jours en suitte de quoy comme nous ne scavions encore que la nouvelle de la mort du roy vostre pere qui comme vous scavez a precede celle du prince sinnesis ma soeur me conseilla elle mesme de venir trouver ce prince qu'elle croyoit alors estre roy et elle eut la bonte de me donner la plus grande partie de ses pierreries pour la commodite de mon voyage en chemin j'ay apris la seconde perte que vous avez faite et que j'ay faite aussi bien que vous mais quoy que j'aye bien juge qu'il ne seroit pas trop seur pour moy de venir icy puis que le prince aryande est roy et y doit bien tost estre je n'ay pu toutesfois me 
 resoudre a me priver de la consolation de venir a vos pieds madame vous demander ce qu'il vous plaist que je fasse et quelle doit estre ma vie pleust aux dieux repliqua la princesse en souspirant que je pusse la rendre heureuse mais spitridate la fortune est plus puissante que moy et j'ay bien peur qu'elle n'y veuille pas consentir pourveu que vous y consentiez respondit il je ne pense pas qu'elle puisse m'empescher d'estre heureux je souhaitte repliqua t'elle que ce que vous dittes soit vray mais ma raison ne me montre pas les choses comme vous les voyez cependant spitridate quoy que je ne puisse nier que je ne recoive quelque consolation a pleurer aveques vous neantmoins je tremble de vous voir a heraclee car enfin le roy mon frere doit arriver icy dans peu de jours et s'il vient a scavoir que vous y ayez este deguise que ne pensera t'il point et que ne devra t'il point penser quoy madame inter rompit spitridate a vous entendre parler il semble que vous veuilliez desja me chasser d'aupres de vous puisque vous dittes que le roy viendra bientost et qu'il scaura peut-estre que j'auray este icy ha madame ne me traitez pas si cruellement je suis loge en un lieu tres seur et comme je n'ay rien a faire a heraclee qu'a vous voir il n'est pas aise que je sois descouvert il l'est encore bien moins respondit elle que je puisse exposer ma reputation et vostre vie par des entreveues qui quoy que tres innocentes pourroient 
 estre creues tres criminelles il est mesme desja si tard reprit elle qu'il n'est pas possible que l'on ne trouve quelque chose d'estrange a voir qu'une personne affligee se promene si long temps c'est pourquoy spitridate dit elle en se levant il faut vous quitter ce ne sera pas du moins madame luy respondit ce prince sans me faire l'honneur de me promettre de me donner une autre occasion de vous entretenir je ne puis vous accorder ce que vous me demandez repliqua t'elle mais hesionide vous verra encore une fois en quelque lieu ce me sera tousjours une grande grace respondit il neantmoins madame la passion que j'ay pour vous ne s'en contentera pas et il importe tellement au bonheur de toute ma vie que je vous entretienne avec quel que loisir que je vous declare madame que je ne sortiray point d'heraclee que vous n'avez accorde a ma respectueuse passion la grace que je vous demande je ne vous la de man de pas madame par mon propre merite je vous la demande au nom du prince sinnesis qui vous a tant de fois parle en ma faveur cet te conjuration est bien pressante reprit elle mais tout ce que je puis est de vous promettre que je feray tout ce que je pourray pour me resoudre a vous voir encore une fois je seray tous les jours a pareille heure dans cette allee reprit il ou je pourray recevoir vos ordres seurement parce que le jardinier du palais est absolument a moy comme ayant long temps servi chez le 
 prince mon pere et c'a este luy qui m'est venu advertir que vous estiez icy je ne consens pas que vous vous exposiez tous les jours a estre veu respondit elle mais dites seulement a hesionide ou vous logez et elle se chargera du soing de vous advertir de ma volonte apres cela la princesse le quitta et spitridate m'ayant dit ou il logeoit il se trouva que c'estoit chez une personne de ma connoissance et en qui je me pouvois fier de toutes choses comme la princesse fut retournee a son apartement elle parut plus resveuse et plus melancolique qu'auparavant que d'avoir veu spitridate en effet quand elle songeoit que ce prince auroit ancore irrite arsamone par sa fuitte et qu'il irriteroit encore estrangement le roy de pont s'il venoit a scavoir qu'il fust deguise dans heraclee elle trouvoit avoir lieu de s'affliger de sorte que pour esviter ce malheur elle voyoit qu'il faloit obliger spitridate a en sortir bientost sans scavoir en quel lieu de la terre ce prince infortune pourroit trouver un azile cependant la chose n'avoit point de remede car elle ne pouvoit ignorer que le roy de pont n'aimant pas spitridate et aimant pharnace comme il faisoit ne voulust l'obliger a l'espouser elle scavoit aussi que ce prince n'avoit jamais aprouve la politique de feu roy son pere qui avoit voulu faire une double alliance avec arsamone et qu'au contraire il avoit souvent dit qu'il estoit bien plus certain de s'assurer la possession du royaume de bithinie en destruisant ceux qui y pretendoient 
 qu'en les elevant et en les flattant ainsi elle ne voyoit de tous les costez que des malheurs pour spitridate c'estoit en vain que je luy disois que quand il plaisoit aux dieux ils changeoient le coeur de tous les hommes car quelque confiance qu'elle eust en eux elle n'en pouvoit attendre une chose ou il y avoit si peu d'apparence le lendemain au matin il vint nouvelle que le roy ne vouloit pas que l'on sceust precisement le jour qu'il arriveroit mais qu'enfin il estoit assure qu'au plus tard ce seroit dans quatre ou cinq jours la princesse voyant donc qu'il y avoit si peu de temps a se determiner et qu'il seroit tres dangeureux d'attendre a revoir spitridate que ce prince fust revenu m'ordonna de luy parler et de tascher de le faire resoudre a partir sans la voir mais il ne me fut pas possible joint qu'a dire la verite je ne m'opiniastray pas extremement a vouloir combatre son dessein parce que je creus que je le ferois inutilement et parce qu'en effet il me sembla que ce prince avoit raison peut-estre que l'amour de ma patrie m'abusa mais quoy qu'il en soit je dis a la princesse ce que spitridate m'avoit dit qui estoit qu'absolument il la vouloit revoir ou mourir la princesse aprenant donc son obstination et voyant que plus elle attendoit plus il y auroit de danger pour spitridate et pour elle se resolut enfin a souffrir qu'il luy parlast encore une fois nous fusmes long temps a resoudre si ce seroit dans les jardins du palais ou dans sa chambre et nous creusmes apres y avoir bien 
 pense que les jardins estoient le plus a propos parce que depuis la mort du roy on rendoit ce respect a la princesse de n'y aller pas avec la mesme liberte que l'on faisoit auparavant joint que si par malheur l'on venoit a descouvrir la chose elle pourroit aussi tost passer pour une surprise faite a la princesse que pour une entreveue ou elle auroit consenti ce qui ne pourroit pas estre si elle voyoit spitridate dans sa chambre j'advertis donc ce malheureux prince de se rendre vers le soir dans les jardins du palais et dans la mesme allee ou il avoit desja veu la princesse qui pensa plus de vingt fois manquer a la parole qu'elle m'avoit fait donner l'on eust dit qu'elle alloit faire un crime effroyable tant elle y avoit de repugnance et si je ne l'eusse presque forcee a descendre dans ces jardins je pense qu'elle n'en auroit rien fait elle y fut donc sans y mener personne que ses filles qui suivant leur coustume ne la suivirent pas dans cette allee solitaire ou elles n'alloient jamais si elle ne les y apelloit de sorte que j'y fus seule avec elle comme nous y allasmes d'assez bonne heure afin que cette promenade ne parust pas extraordinaire spitridate n'y estoit pas encore arrive car il faloit qu'il attendist qu'il fust presques nuit ce n'est pas qu'il ne fust admirablement bien deguise et qu'il ne fust loge si pres d'une des portes du jardin qu'il eust pu y venir presques sans danger neantmoins je luy avois si fort recommande de ne venir pas trop tost qu'il m'obeit et il s'en faloit peu 
 qu'il ne fust nuit quand il arriva mais comme la lune esclairoit il n'estoit pas fort estrange que la princesse se promenast tard principale ment y estant si accoustumee je ne m'amuseray point a vous redire les remercimens que spitridate fit a araminte de la seule faveur qu'elle luy avoit jamais accordee car ils furent si respectueux et si pleins de reconnoissance et de passion que toutes mes expressions seroient trop foibles pour vous faire comprendre les veritables sentimens de ce prince la princesse l'escouta presques sans luy respondre pendant plus d'un quart d'heure mais enfin apres avoir fait un grand soupir spitridate a quelque raison luy dit elle de m'estre obligee de faire ce que je fais pour luy toutefois il a bien plus de sujet de se pleindre de la fortune de ce qu'elle l'a engage en l'affection d'une personne qui ne peut que le rendre malheureux la fortune madame reprit il n'a point de part a la passion que j'ay pour vous et elle est sans doute un pur effet de vostre beaute de vostre vertu de mon inclination et de ma raison tout ensemble et je suis mesme persuade adjousta t'il que si vous le voulez toute la malignite de cette capricieuse fortune qui persecute aussi souvent l'innocence qu'elle protege le vice ne pourra m'empescher d'estre heureux ouy divine princesse si le malheureux spitridate trouve quelque place en vostre coeur et que vous ayez la bonte de l'assurer de la luy conserver tousjours il ne se pleindra jamais d'aucun malheur 
 qui luy arrive toutes les disgraces de sa maison seront effacees de sa memoire toutes les siennes particulieres ne l'affligeront plus avec exces et la seule pensee d'estre dans le coeur de l'adorable araminte enchantera toutes ses douleurs et luy en ostera le sentiment j'ay sceu madame depuis que je suis icy adjousta t'il que le prince sinnesis vous a priee en mourant et priee devant tout le monde d'avoir quelque affection pour moy c'est madame ce qui me fait plus hardy et ce qui m'oblige a vous conjurer de ne refuser pas cette grace a un prince qui ne vous auroit jamais rien refuse ainsi madame ne me dites point s'il vous plaist que le roy qui regne aujourd'huy ne m'aimant pas vous ne devez point souffrir que je vous aime je suis pourtant sa soeur et sa sujette interrompit la princesse vous estiez aussi l'une et l'autre du prince sinnesis quand il est mort reprit il et le roy qui va regner n'ayant pris la couronne que de sa main ne doit pas s'il est juste vous obliger a manquer de suivre ses derniers volontez puis qu'en fin il estoit son roy comme il est a present le vostre ha spitridate s'ecria t'elle que les intentions d'un roy mort son mal executees en comparaison des commandemens d'un roy vivant un regne de sept jours reprit elle et de sept jours encore ou la mort regnoit desja sur ce prince ne sera pas conte par son successeur pourveu qu'il le soit par vous respondit spitridate ce sera tousjours beaucoup ouy repliqua t'elle en soupirant 
 vous pouvez vous assurer que les dernieres paroles du prince sinnesis confirmant dans mon coeur tous les sentimens que vostre vertu y a inspirez je seray toute ma vie pour vous ce que je suis presentement mais spitridate vous n'en serez gueres plus heureux et l'en seray beaucoup plus infortunee car enfin je prevoy que peut-estre est-ce icy la derniere fois que je vous parleray la derniere fois madame interrompit il ha si cela doit estre il faut donc que ce soit icy le dernier jour de ma vie de grace madame ne m'ostez pas l'esperance si vous ne voulez me permettre d'avoir recours a la mort esperez donc si vous le pouvez luy dit elle et jouissez d'un soulagement que je ne scaurois prendre pour moy mesme c'est sans doute luy dit ce prince afflige que vous connoissez bien que vous ne ferez pas tout ce que vous pourriez faire pour mon bon heur je ne feray pas peut-estre reprit elle tout ce que je pourrois faire mais je vous promets de faire du moins tout ce que je dois si je ne fais pas tout ce que je puis car apres tout dit elle qu'imaginez vous en l'estat ou sont les choses que je puisse faire pour vostre satisfaction je n'oserois le dire madame respondit spitridate parce que puis que vous ne l'imaginez pas de vous mesme c'est une preuve indubitable que vous ne voulez rien faire pour moy je veux faire reprit elle tout ce qui ne sera point contre la vertu et contre la prudence ne pouvez vous donc pas madame interrompit il m'assurer que toute la 
 puissance du roy ne vous obligera point a epouser pharnace et si ce n'est pas trop vous demander ne pouvez vous pas encore me permettre d'esperer que s'il arrive quelque changement avantageux en ma fortune elle sera inseparable de la vostre je scay bien madame qu'estant sans couronne et sans royaume il y a de la temerite de parler ainsi mais puis que je ne suis en ce malheureux estat que pour n'avoir pas voulu remonter au throsne de bithinie que le roy vostre frere occupe injustement il me semble que je n'en dois pas estre mesprise de la princesse araminte vous avez raison luy dit elle et je vous estime bien plus de ce que vous meritez des couronnes que je ne fais ceux qui les portent sans les meriter mais apres tout spitridate quand je vous auray promis de n'espouser point pharnace comme peut-estre je le puis sans crime vous n'en serez pas plus heureux car enfin vous jugez bien que je ne vous espouseray pas contre la volonte du roy il est une bienseance que les personnes de ma condition doivent tousjours garder et puis quand mesme je ne le voudrois pas faire que deviendrions nous vous estes mal avec le prince arsamone pour l'amour de moy vous n'oseriez demeurer dans cette cour les rois voisins ne vous recevront pas estant fils d'un prince mal heureux et foible de peur d'irriter un jeune roy qui leur pourroit declarer la guerre ainsi spitridate quand je n'escouterois ny la raison ny la prudence et que vous n'escouteriez que la seule 
 affection que vous avez pour moy vous n'y consentiriez pas et vous ne voudriez pas sans doute mener une princesse errante et deguisee par toute l'asie non spitridate non vous ne le voudriez pas et je suis asseuree que vous aimez araminte d'une maniere plus noble et plus desinteressee ne pensez pourtant pas que le plus grand obstacle fust la peine qu'il y auroit a suivre vostre fortune ce n'est point cela je vous le proteste mais c'est la honte qu'il y auroit a prendre une semblable resolution l'amour spitridate peutestre une passion innocente je l'advoue pourveu que tous les effets en soient innocens se qu'elle ne deregle jamais la raison c'est pourquoy pour justifier l'indulgence que j'ay eue pour la vostre il faut ne rien faire que de raisonnable dittes donc madame ce que vous voulez que je face interrompit il vous assurant que pourveu que vous ne me deffendiez pas de vous aimer ny d'esperer d'estre aime de vous je vous obeiray exactement vous m'embarrassez d'une estrange sorte reprit elle car que puis-je vous conseiller le mieux toutesfois que vous puissiez faire est ce me semble d'aller inconnu dans quelque pais estranger jusques a ce que la princesse arbiane et la princesse aristee ayent fait vostre paix avec arsamone je voy bien madame respondit spitridate que ce que vous dites est bon pour me remettre sous le sujetion du roy vostre frere comme le prince mon pere y est mais je ne voy pas que cela soit fort propre a me donner la possession 
 de la princesse araminte puis que je scay de certitude que quand arsamone ne possederoit qu'une malheureuse cabane de tout le royaume qui luy appartient il ne consentiroit jamais a nulle alliance aveques le roy de pont non plus que le roy de pont n'en voudroit jamais avoir avec arsamone ainsi madame puis que l'affection que vous me faites l'honneur d'avoir pour moy n'est pas assez forte pour aller un peu au de la des justes bornes de la prudence ordinaire il faut me resoudre a la mort et je voy bien en effet que les prieres d'un roy mourant sont bien foibles puis qu'elles ne peuvent rien obtenir de la meilleure princesse du monde pour tous ceux qui ne l'adorent point et de la plus rigoureuse pour l'homme de toute la terre qui la revere le plus mais spitridate de qui vous pleignez vous interrompit elle de vous madame repliqua t'il qui voulez me persuader que vous ne me haissez point et qui me refusez pourtant toute sorte de secours car enfin si vous m'aimiez vous diriez absolument que vous n'espouserez jamais pharnace et que si les dieux le permettent comme spitridate alloit continuer son discours artane vint advertir la princesse que le roy alloit arriver par bonne fortune j'en tendis sa voix a travers de la palissade de sorte que nous fismes retirer ce prince en diligence cela ne put toutesfois estre si promptement fait qu'artane n'entre-vist quelqu'un lors qu'il entra dans l'allee mais apres avoir donne cet advis a 
 la princesse elle luy donna la main afin qu'il ne demeurast pas dans ce jardin a peine fusmes nous a son apartement que le roy arriva ainsi artane ayant un pretexte de la quitter le fit en diligence et au lieu d'aller saluer ce prince il retourna dans le jardin pour voir s'il ne pourroit tirer nulle connoissance de ce qu'il avoit veu par malheur spitridate n'en avoit encore pu sortir parce qu'il avoit trouve la porte la plus proche de son logis fermee artane l'apercevant donc le suivit et voyant que c'estoit un homme qui ne vouloir pas estre veu il creut bien que c'estoit celuy qui avoit parle a la princesse il s'imagina mesme que peut-estre c'estoit pharnace mais spitridate ayant este contraint de quitter les allees couvertes et de traverser un parterre quoy qu'il fust deguise neantmoins au clair de la lune il le reconnut a la taille et au marcher ou du moins il soubconna que ce pouvoit estre spitridate et il le soubconna d'autant plustost qu'il avoit appris ce jour la par des gens de bithinie qui estoient venus a heraclee que ce prince estoit eschape de la prison ou arsamone le tenoit de sorte que ce soubcon ne fut pas plustost dans son coeur que sa curiosite redoubla il suivit donc spitridate comme je l'ay dit non seulement jusques a la porte du jardin mais mesme dans les rues et jusques a la maison ou il logeoit ce qui acheva de le confirmer dans son opinion car il scavoit bi que ceux qui l'habitoient estoient des gens en qui spitridate se pouvoit fier je vous laisse a juger 
 combien cette veue affligea artane neantmoins apres y avoir bien pense il ne fut pas marry de cette rencontre et il prit la resolution pour obliger le roy et pour se deffaire d'un rival d'aller luy dire qu'assurement spitridate tramoit quelque nouvelle conjuration contre l'estat car il ne voulut pas engager la princesse de peur de l'irriter trop et il fit semblant de croire qu'elle n'y avoit nul interest scachant bien que celuy de l'estat suffiroit il estoit pourtant tres fasche que pharnace ne partageast pas la douleur qu'il avoit d'avoir apris que spitridate estoit assez bien avec la princesse pour souffrir qu'il fust deguise dans heraclee pour l'amour d'elle si bien qu'il prit la resolution de luy faire scavoir la chose indirectement et de n'aprendre au roy que ce qui pouvoit le regarder en particulier artane fut donc saluer ce prince qu'il n'avoit point encore veu et le priant tout bas qu'il luy peust parler en secret d'une affaire tres importante et qui pressoit extremement le roy sortit de la chambre de la princesse ou il n'avoit presques point tarde et le prenant par la main il le mena dans la sienne ou artane luy dit ce qu'il avoit resolu de luy dire le roy n'eut pas plustost entendu que spitridate estoit deguise dans heraclee qu'il crut en effet qu'il y avoit une conjuration tramee contre luy si bien que sans perdre temps il commanda secrettement au capitaine de ses gardes d'aller avec main forte a la maison ou artane avoit veu entrer spitridate d'y chercher soigneusement 
 par tout et de s'assurer de la personne de ce prince s'il y estoit comme il en avoit este adverty en fin seigneur que vous diray-je le roy de pont fut obei et spitridate qui estoit seul et hors de pouvoir de se deffendre fut pris par cent des gardes du roy sans qu'artane se monstra a luy et mene dans une tour ou l'on mettoit les prisonniers d'estat qui estoient gens de haute qualite je vous laisse a juger quelle surprise fut celle de la princesse d'aprendre a une heure de la que spitridate estoit arreste d'abord elle creut que le roy de pont scavoit que ce n'estoit que pour elle qu'il estoit deguise mais n'entendant parler que de conjuration contre l'estat si elle fut en repos du coste de sa reputation elle n'y fut pas pour la vie de spitridate imaginez vous donc seigneur qu'elle nuit elle passa pour moy j'en puis respondre exactement car ayant dit a ses femmes qu'elle se trouvoit mal elle se mit au lict et je leur dis que je ne la quitterois point afin qu'elles ne l'importunassent pas comme en effet je demeuray aupres d'elle pour tascher de la consoler je ne pus toutefois en venir a bout parce que de quelque facon qu'elle envisageast la chose elle la trouvoit tres dangereuse pour spitridate qui n'estoit gueres plus en repos que la princesse comme on ne luy avoit rien dit en le prenant il ne scavoit point si cette entre-veue avoit este descouverte ou si l'on n'avoit fait simplement que scavoir qu'il estoit deguise dans heraclee mais le lendemain au matin il fut esclaircy de ses doutes 
 car le roy luy envoya demander ce qu'il y estoit venu faire quel dessein il avoit eu et quels estoient les complices de sa conjuration ce prince voyant que l'on ne luy parloit point de la princesse en eut une joye extreme et respondit qu'estant sorty de la prison ou le prince son pere le retenoit et ayant apris dans chrisopolis que le prince sinnesis estoit roy il estoit venu a heraclee avec intention de chercher un azile aupres de luy qu'en y arrivant il avoit este bien surpris d'aprendre que son regne n'avoit dure que sept jours et qu'il en avoit este si afflige qu'il n'avoit pas eu assez de liberte d'esprit pour resoudre d'abord precisement ce qu'il avoit a faire que neantmoins il avoit enfin conclu en luy mesme de demander au roy qui regnoit alors la mesme protection qu'il avoit attendue du feu roy son frere mais qu'il n'avoit pas en loisir d'executer son dessein puis qu'il avoit este pris une heure apres son arrivee ceux qui luy parloient luy dirent que pour venir demander un azyle au prince sinnesis dont il estoit fort aime il n'estoit pas besoin de se deguiser il respondit a cela qu'aussi ne s'estoit il pas deguise pour venir a heraclee mais seulement pour pouvoir sortir de bithinie et pour faire le reste du voyage avec plus de seurete sans train et sans equipage que s'il eust este en habit d'un homme de sa condition quoy que ses responses fussent raisonnables elles ne satisfirent pourtant pas le roy et il ne douta point du tout qu'il n'y eust un dessein cache car 
 encore qu'il n'ignorast pas la passion de spitridate pour la princesse araminte il connoissoit toutesfois si parfaitement sa vertu qu'il ne luy vint aucun soubcon qu'elle eust contribue a ce deguisement comme en effet la chose n'estoit pas ainsi et il creut enfin que la seule ambition estoit la cause de cette avanture pharnace et artane servirent beaucoup a le confirmer en cette pensee le premier comme croyant aisement ce qu'il souhaitoit et l'autre faisant semblant de le croire afin de perdre plustost spitridate neantmoins comme il vouloit que la jalousie tourmentast pharnace aussi bien que luy il luy fit scavoir adroitement que l'amour avoit sa part au deguisement de ce prince il s'imagina mesme que peut estre pourroit il detruire encore pharnace dans l'esprit de la princesse araminte par cette voye jugeant bien que pharnace voulant nuire a son rival donneroit ce nouveau soubcon au roy et que si la princesse le scavoit elle en seroit extremement irritee contre luy en effet la chose reussit d'abord comme l'avoit pensee artane car pharnace fut bien plus malheureux d'aprendre que spitridate avoit veu la princesse que de croire qu'il eust voulu renverser l'estat la jalousie mesme s'emparant alors de son coeur le porta tout genereux qu'il estoit a insulter sur un infortune et a dire au roy tout ce qu'on luy avoit dit la princesse qui le sceut en eut une colere estrange de sorte qu'artane trouva par la les voyes de nuire a deux de ses rivaux tout ensemble 
 et de les rendre aussi malheureux qu'il l'estoit luy mesme il est vray que pour luy il estoit digne de l'estre mais il n'en estoit pas ainsi des autres principalement de spitridate qui ne meritoit pas ses infortunes cependant on s'informe par tout si ce prince n'a point eu d'intelligence avec quelqu'un ceux chez qui il avoit este loge estant arrestez on les interroge mais quoy que l'on puisse faire on ne trouve rien ny qui le justifie ny qui le convainque de sorte que dans cette incertitude il estoit garde tres estroitement
 
 
 
 
ce qui contribua encore beaucoup a son malheur fut que le roy de pont estoit si melancolique et si chagrin que l'on ne le connoissoit plus tant il paroissoit change d'abord on creut que la mort du roy son pere et celle du prince son frere en estoient la veritable cause mais nous sceumes bien tost apres que son inquietude estoit causee par l'amour qu'il avoit pour la princesse mandane car durant qu'il estoit en ostage aupres de ciaxare comme vous l'aurez sans doute sceu il en devint si amoureux que jamais personne ne l'a tant este si bien que comme son ame estoit chagrine par l'absence de ce qu'il aimoit il en estoit plus aise a irriter et moins capable de connoistre l'innocence de spitridate toutesfois comme ce prince est assurement un fort honneste homme il vivoit bien avec la princesse sa soeur et quoy que pharnace luy eust parle de l'entre-veue de spitridate et d'elle il ne luy en parla pourtant pas avec beaucoup d'aigreur au 
 contraire l'estant venue voir un jour apres luy avoir dit auparavant sans colere tout ce qu'un prince sage et adroit pouvoit dire en une pareil le rencontre pour descouvrir ses veritables sentimens il luy dit encore qu'il estoit bien fasche de luy avoir peut-estre cause quelque desplaisir en faisant arrester spitridate pour qui il scavoit bien qu'elle avoit conceu beaucoup d'estime par les commandemens du feu roy son pere et en suitte du feu roy son frere mais qu'apres tout comme il y alloit de son estat et du repos de tous ses peuples il l'avoit necessairement falu faire qu'au reste il ne la soubconnoit point d'avoir aucune part a la conjuration de spitridate qui assurement l'avoit trompee la premiere et luy avoit voulu persuader que l'amour toute seule faisoit son desguisement quoy qu'en effet ce fust son ambition seigneur luy dit elle si l'affection que spitridate a tesmoigne avoir pour moy n'avoit pas este authorisee comme vous dittes par le feu roy mon pere et par le prince sinnesis mon frere je ne vous parlerois pas comme je m'en vay vous parler mais puis que cela est ainsi je vous suplieray seigneur de croire que ce prince n'a jamais eu dessein de remonter au throsne en vous en renversant car s'il eust este capable d'une pareille chose il n'eust pas este si longtemps prisonnier du prince son pere ainsi j'advoue sans scrupule que je l'ay veu parce que ce n'est pas par mes ordres qu'il est venu a heraclee et que de plus je scay avec certitude 
 qu'il n'y est pas entre avec intention de conjurer ny contre vostre personne ny contre vostre estat car si je l'en pouvois seulement soubconner je l'accuserois au lieu de le deffendre et ne vous en parlerois jamais que pour vous obliger a la punir ma soeur luy dit le roy en l'interrompant je ne cherche pas la justification de spitridate mais je veux seulement vous faire connoistre que je songe a la vostre autant que je le puis au reste comme vous estes raisonnable et genereuse je ne croy pas que vous aimiez plus spitridate que la gloire de la maison dont vous estes c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas que vous trouviez estrange si ce prince estant criminel n'est pas traitte avec la mesme indulgence que j'aurois peut-estre pour un autre car enfin il est d'une race qu'il faut abaisser si on ne veut qu'elle opprime ceux dont elle se pleint d'avoir este opprimee ainsi ma soeur le moins que je doive faire est de tenir spitridate en une prison perpetuelle si je le croyois innocent poursuivit il toute ma politique ne pourroit pas m'obliger a cette rigueur mais puis qu'il paroist criminel il faut que la chose aille ainsi toutesfois pour vous consoler adjousta t'il de la per te d'un prince qui a sans doute de bonnes qualitez je vous conjure de vouloir espouser pharnace ha seigneur luy dit elle ne me parlez s'il vous plaist point de nopces si tost apres les funerailles du roy mon pere et ne me forcez pas a desobeir au commandement que m'a fait en 
 mourant le feu roy mon frere et que vous a t'il commande repliqua t'il il m'a ordonne dit elle en rougissant de ne changer point les sentimens qu'il avoit voulu que j'eusse pour spitridate quand il vous parla de cette sorte reprit le roy il ne prevoyoit pas que spitridate seroit criminel d'estat ha seigneur dit elle spitridate est tres innocent mais sans m'opiniastrer a vouloir que vous executiez les dernieres volontez du prince sinnesis ne me contraignez pas aussi a vous desobeir en me commandant d'espouser pharnace ce n'est pas qu'il ne soit digne de toutes choses mais c'est qu'il doit ce me semble suffire que je me prive de ce que l'on m'avoit ordonne d'aimer sans me vouloir contraindre de souffrir l'affection d'un homme que je n'aime pas et pour qui j'auray tousjours beaucoup d'estime et pourtant beaucoup d'indifference la princesse croyoit que le roy luy parleroit fort aigrement apres une declaration si ingenue mais la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame luy ayant sans doute apris a excuser en autruy la foiblesse qu'il sentoit en luy mesme fit qu'il la quitta sans luy dire rien de fascheux demeurant pourtant toujours dans les termes de souhaitter qu'elle espousast pharnace et luy disant qu'elle changeroit d'avis avec le temps l'amour de mandane occupant l'ame de ce prince fut cause qu'il ne songea pas tant a spitridate car il ne pensa durant quelques jours qu'a envoyer demander la princesse mandane a ciaxare et qu'a donner les ordres necessaires 
 afin que cette ambassade fust magnifique ce pendant la princesse prevoyant bien que spitridate ne sortiroit jamais de prison que par la force ou par l'adresse se resolut de le delivrer et elle s'y porta d'autant plustost que celuy qui commandoit dans la tour ou il estoit m'avoit une obligation extreme car durant le regne du feu roy j'avois sauve la vie a un de ses enfans qui s'estoit engage dans quelque crime ce prince luy ayant pardonne a ma consideration je fus donc employee a negocier cette affaire importante que je conduisis si heureusement durant quinze jours que j'obligeay enfin cet homme par le souvenir de ce qu'il me devoit par des bienfaits presens et par de grandes esperances de l'avenir a se re foudre de chercher les voyes de delivrer spitridate sans en estre soubconne comme cette tour donne sur la mer et qu'il y a une terrasse qui y est attachee dont le bout est battu des vagues il fit demander au nom de ce prisonnier la permission de s'y promener une heure ou deux tous les jours ce qui luy fut accorde de sorte que gagnant deux gardes qui l'y accompagnoient ils attacherent au haut de cette terrasse une eschelle de corde comme si spitridate se fust sauve par cet endroit et sans que personne s'en aperceust le capitaine de cette tour enferma ce prince et les deux gardes subornez en un lieu fort secret feignant apres cela de faire bien l'empresse il de mande ou est spitridate on luy dit qu'il est sur la terrasse il y va avec plusieurs soldats et ne 
 l'y trouvant point il trouve l'eschelle qu'il y avoit fait mettre luy mesme il la monstre a ceux qui le suivoient dit qu'assurement leurs compagnons ont trahy et qu'il est sans doute venu un esquif les prendre au pied de cette eschelle de plus grands vaisseaux n'en pouvant pas approcher il menace mesme ceux qui sont en sa presence les accuse aussi bien que les autres qui se sont sauvez et tout transporte de fureur en aparence il va trouver le roy pour l'advertir de ce qui est arrive il luy dit que certainement on reprendra spitridate si l'on envoye promptement apres luy qu'il y a lieu de croire qu'il n'aura pas mis pied a terre proche d'heraclee et qu'ainsi infailliblement si l'on met plusieurs dans une chaloupe on reprendra ce prisonnier et ses complices enfin il joua si bien que le roy mesme fut trompe et commanda non seulement que l'on mist plusieurs barques en mer mais il ordonna encore que l'on prist garde aux portes de la ville pour voir si spitridate n'y rentreroit point deguise ne jugeant pas qu'il peust entreprendre de se mettre en pleine mer dans un esquif et nul vaisseau considerable ne manquant au port ou il en fit faire recherche de plus comme pharnace et artane scavoient bien quelle estoit sa passion pour la princesse ils persuaderent encore au roy qu'asseurement il seroit rentre dans heraclee en habit de pescheur ou de quelque autre facon que ne fit on donc point pour le reprendre on redoubla les gardes des portes on mit des soldats 
 dans toutes les rues on chercha dans toutes les maisons suspectes et on n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'on pouvoit faire qui vray-semblablement deust servir a le trouver le roy eut quelque leger soubcon que la princesse avoit aide a faire eschaper spitridate et mesme il luy en dit quelque chose mais comme il n'en avoit nulle preuve et que ce prince n'avoit jamais sceu l'obligation que m'avoit ce capitaine de la tour parce que c'avoit este par le moyen du prince sinnesis que j'avois obtenu la vie de son fils du feu roy son pere ces soubcons se dissiperent aisement cependant spitridate estoit dans la prison ou l'on ne s'avisa point d'aller chercher et ou il falut qu'il fast quelque temps auparavant que d'oser entre prendre de s'esloigner comme le capitaine de la tour luy eut dit que c'estoit par ma negociation qu'il estoit en prison sans estre prisonnier il s'imagina bien que la princesse scavoit la chose de sorte qu'il me fit demander la grace de me voir auparavant qu'il partist ce que je luy accorday sans en parler a la princesse me semblant que je ne pouvois refuser cette faveur au fils du veritable roy de bithinie mais apres luy avoir fait esperer ce qu'il souhaitoit la difficulte fut de l'executer neantmoins comme la femme du capitaine de la tour estoit de l'intelligence je me resolus d'y aller avec une fille seulement et d'entrer par une petite porte desrobee qui donne vers les ramparts de la ville de vous dire seigneur avec quels tesmoignages de reconnoissance 
 pour araminte et pour moy spitridate me parla il me seroit impossible enfin hesionide me dit il ne m'aurez vous delivre que pour m'exiler pour tousjours et n'aurez vous fait que changer mon suplice en un plus cruel seigneur luy repliquay-je c'est plustost la fortune que la princesse qui vous bannit mais comme cette fortune est une inconstante il faut esperer que sa legerete vous sera favorable et qu'apres avoir tant change a vostre desavantage elle changera enfin en vostre faveur je le souhaite repliqua t'il bien que je ne l'espere pas cependant hesionide ce me sera une cruelle chose s'il faut que je parte sans dire adieu a ma princesse et sans scavoir sa derniere volonte pour ce qui est d'aprendre ses intentions luy dis-je je le puis faire aisement puis qu'elle me fait la grace de me confier ses plus secrettes pensees mais pour la voir il n'est pas seulement permis d'y songer laissez vous donc conduire seigneur a la providence des dieux qui peut-estre feront plus pour vous pendant vostre exil que vous ne pensez et quoy hesionide me dit il en soupirant croyez vous qu'un prince malheureux et absent puisse raisonnablement esperer que la divine araminte luy conserve son affection toute entiere ouy seigneur luy repliquay-je vous le pouvez et mesme sans craindre d'estre trompe car comme vous n'estes malheureux que pour l'amour d'elle il faudroit qu'elle fust fort injuste si vostre malheur vous detruisoit dans son ame allez donc seigneur 
 chercher quelque azile jusques a ce qu'il soit arrive quelque changement dans le coeur du roy de pont et dans celuy du veritable roy de bithinie la princesse scait bien que si vous aviez voulu remonter au throne vous l'auriez pu faire et elle vous est si sensiblement obligee d'avoir prefere ses chaines a une couronne qu'elle n'en perdra jamais le souvenir en fin seigneur apres une longue conversation je fis resoudre ce prince a partir comme il avoit encore toutes les pierreries que la prince aristee luy avoit donnees en partant de chrisopolis il ne voulut rien prendre de tout ce que je luy offris de la part de la princesse car je scavois bien qu'elle avoit intention de le faire il me pria alors de luy donner un billet qu'il escrivit en ma presence et qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes si ma memoire ne me trompe
 
 
 spitridate a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 je parts madame puis que vous le voulez mais je parts le plus malheureux de tous les hommes je ne scay ou je vay ny quand je reviendray ny mesme si vous voudrez que je revienne et cependant on me dit qu'il faut que je vive et que j'espere je ne scaurois pourtant faire ny l'un ny l'autre si vous ne me l'ordonnez par deux lignes de vostre main je vous les demande donc divine princesse au nom d'une illustre personne qui n'est plus et qui vivra neantmoins eternellement dans la memoire de 
 
 
 pitridate 
 
 
 
 apres m'avoir donne ce billet ce prince me dit encore cent choses pour dire a la princesse que je fus retrouver et luy aprendre le secret que je luy avois fait de cette entre-veue d'abord elle s'en voulut pleindre mais apres elle n'en fut pas marrie et je la pressay mesme si fort que je la contraignis de respondre de cette sorte au billet de ce prince afflige
 
 
 araminte a spitridate 
 
 
 vivez tant qu'il plaira aux dieux de vous laisser vivre et esperez tant qu'araminte vivra elle vous en prie et mesme si vous le voulez elle vous l'ordonne 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
le capitaine de la tour estant venu prendre ce billet m'assura que spitridate partiroit la nuit suivante avec les deux gardes qui avoient aide a le sauver et qu'il prenoit pour le servir ayant donne ordre auparavant a tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour ce depart il me dit de plus que spitridate luy avoit demande la permission de luy donner quelquesfois de ses nouvelles afin qu'il m'en dist et qu'il luy peust aprendre des miennes de sorte que le soir estant venu nous ne doutasmes point que ce prince ne fust prest a par tir ce qui nous donna tant d'inquietude que je m'estonne que l'on ne s'aperceut que la princesse avoit quelque chose d'extraordinaire dans l'esprit mais enfin nous aprismes le lendemain que spitridate estoit sorty heureusement d'heraclee par 
 le mesme endroit par ou il avoit faint de s'estre evade ce capitaine y ayant fait venir la nuit un esquif pour le conduire a une barque qui l'attendoit et s'estant servy de la mesme eschelle de corde par ou l'on avoit creu que ce prince s'estoit sauve quoy que la princesse deust bien estre accoustumee a ne voir pas spitridate et que par raison elle deust estre plus aise qu'il s'esloignast que d'estre encore dans la prison d'ou nous l'avions tire neantmoins il luy estoit impossible de ne sentir pas un renouvellement de douleur dans son ame quand elle venoit a penser que peut-estre ne le verroit elle plus jamais elle aprehendoit pourtant un moment apres qu'il ne fust repris et je suis assuree qu'elle desira plus d'une fois des choses toutes contraires les unes aux autres mais enfin il se falut accoustumer a cette longue et rigoureuse absence pendant laquelle il arriva tant d'evenemens remarquables car comme vous le scavez seigneur ciaxare refusa la princesse mandane au roy de pont ce qui luy fit bi oublier la fuitte de spitridate en estant si sensiblement touche qu'il se resolut a declarer la guerre a ciaxare sur le pretexte des villes d'anise et de cerasie vous scavez seigneur bien mieux que moy ce qui s'y passa et vous y aquistes trop de gloire pour pouvoir mesme souffrir que je vous en renouvelle le souvenir exactement je ne vous en diray donc que ce qu'il est necessaire de vous en dire pour vous apprendre toute la vie de la princesse aussi tost apres que le roy de pont eut receu 
 la nouvelle qu'il estoit refuse par ciaxare il ne songea plus qu'a se preparer a la guerre croyant que peut-estre cela obligeroit ce prince a luy donner la princesse mandane il envoya donc demander secours au roy de phrigie qui luy pro mit de joindre ses interests aux siens suivant le dernier traitte qui avoit este fait entre le feu roy de pont et luy et de venir mesme commander ses troupes en personne comme le roy de pont avoit besoin de tout en cette occasion il convia aussi le prince arsamone et euriclide son second fils de venir servir dans son armee ce qu'arsamone n'osa refuser nous sceusmes en mesme temps que ce prince avoit este si irrite d'avoir apris que spitridate estoit venu deguise dans heraclee qu'il avoit proteste que s'il pouvoit revenir en sa puissance il ne le traitteroit pas comme son fils mais en sujet rebelle et en criminel qui a rompu sa prison de sorte que lors que spitridate qui s'en alla droit en paphlagonie m'escrivit aussi bien qu'a la princesse pour scavoir si elle vouloit qu'il s'allast hardiment offrir au roy son frere lors qu'il seroit a la teste de son armee elle le luy deffendit principale ment a cause d'arsamone qui y devoit estre et d'autant plus qu'elle avoit eu des nouvelles de la princesse aristee qui luy aprenoient precisement les veritables sentimens d'arsamone mais pendant que les preparatifs de guerre se font pharnace et artane ne perdent point de temps aupres de la princesse araminte et font tout ce qu'ils 
 peuvent pour s'en faire aimer bien est il vray que leurs soins furent fort inutiles car comme il n'y arien qui lie plus estroitement l'amitie entre les personnes veritablement genereuses que l'infortune spitridate estoit infiniment mieux dans le coeur de la princesse depuis qu'il estoit malheureux pour l'amour d'elle qu'il n'y avoit este auparavant de plus ayant sceu enfin qu'artane avoit este cause de sa derniere prison et que c'avoit este pharnace qui avoit adverty le roy de pont de leur entre-veue elle en estoit si irritee qu'elle ne les pouvoit plus souffrir cependant apres que les troupes de phrigie furent arrivees au rendez-vous general et eurent joint celles de pont le roy se disposa a partir si bien qu'encore qu'artane n'eust pas trop d'envie d'aller a la guerre il n'osa pourtant faire comme il avoit fait a celle de phrigie et il falut qu'il allast ou tous les autres alloient comme il n'estoit pas favorise du roy dans le dessein qu'il avoit pour la princesse il ne put luy dire adieu qu'en public mais pour pharnace il n'en alla pas ainsi parce que le roy de pont venant prendre conge d'araminte peu accompagne y amena pharnace et l'y laissa pour faire ses adieux a part j'estois alors dans la chambre de la princesse et j'advoue que comme pharnace avoit beaucoup de merite j'eus quelque compassion de voir une si profonde melancolie sur son visage et je souhaitay pour son repos qu'il n'aimast plus la princesse puis qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle peust le rendre heureux 
 apres que le roy fut sorty comme c'estoit sa derniere visite elle ne luy fut pas aussi severe qu'elle avoit este depuis quelque temps et elle souffrit qu'il luy parlast madame luy dit il je viens prendre les ordres de vous auparavant que d'aller a la guerre et je viens enfin vous de mander si je dois y combattre pour vaincre ou pour mourir si je dois dis-je mesnager ma vie ou l'abandonner car c'est de vostre seule volonte que depend absolument mon destin ouy ma dame si vous me permettez d'esperer il pourra estre que je vivray que je vaincray et que je reviendray aupres de vous mais si vous continuez de me dire que l'esperance est un bien ou je ne dois point avoir de part preparez vous au moins madame a me dire aujourd'huy le dernier adieu sans aigreur puis que les dieux vous aiment trop sans doute pour conserver ce que vous aurez voulu perdre et pour me retirer des perils ou le m'exposeray parlez donc madame au nom des dieux mais parlez avec sincerite si vous ne le pouvez faire avec douceur et souvenez vous de grace que celuy que vous vouliez rendre heureux ne le peut jamais estre et qu'ainsi vous avez ce me semble moins de droit de me maltraitter si le prince spitridate adjousta t'il pouvoit un jour jouir en repos de vostre affection je vous proteste devant les dieux qui n'escoutent que sans traverser vostre felicite je mourrois mesme sans me pleindre mais puis que la fortune a mis un obstacle invincible a son bonheur pourquoy ne 
 voulez vous pas que je sois heureux et pourquoy divine princesse vous opposez vous a ma gloire je ne demande pas que vous m'aimiez je demande seulement que vous ne me haissiez point et que vous ayez quelque complaisance pour la volonte du roy peust aux dieux pharnace repli qua la princesse que vostre repos dependist de moy comme vous le croyez mais pour vous montrer que le sujet de pleinte que j'ay creu avoir de vous depuis quelque temps n'a pas destruit dans mon ame la veritable estime que tout le monde doit faire de vostre merite je veux bien contribuer a vostre liberte autant qu'il sera en mon pouvoir et vous obliger par ma sincerite a faire un grand effort sur vostre esprit pour vous mettre en repos et pour m'y laisser scachez donc pharnace qu'ayant este obligee de souffrir l'affection de spitridate par le commandement du feu roy mon pere et de l'illustre sinnesis mon frere je ne puis jamais manquer a leur obeir et les commandemens les plus absolus d'un roy vivant ne me feront point faillir a executer ceux de deux rois morts je n'espouseray pas spitridate sans le consentement du roy mon frere mais je n'espouseray du moins jamais nul autre que luy ainsi pharnace reglez vos desseins sur ce que je dis et servez vous de ce grand courage que les dieux vous ont donne a vaincre un malheur qui n'a ce me semble pas besoin de toute la force de vostre esprit pour estre surmonte vivez donc pharnace vivez mais vivez en liberte afin de pouvoir 
 vivre heureux cependant conme la perte que le roy feroit de vous seroit une perte irreparable je vous prie autant que je le puis de conserver vostre vie qui ne sera pas mesme inutile a la satisfaction de la mienne si vous pouvez obtenir de vous de n'avoir plus que de l'estime pour moy mais si je ne le puis madame reprit il ne trouverez vous pas plus raisonnable que la mort me delivre de ma servitude qui vous deplaist que de me voir eternellement languir a vos pieds et vous deplaire la mort luy dit elle est une chose si terrible qu'elle ne me plaist pas mesme en la personne de mes ennemis c'est pour quoy je n'ay garde de vous conseiller de prendre un remede si effrange que celuy la mais enfin madame luy dit il avec une douleur extreme vous n'aimerez jamais le malheureux pharnace et vous n'abandonnerez jamais le trop heureux spitridate je l'avoue luy dit elle avec beau coup d'ingenuite parce que je le puis avec beau coup d'innocence cela suffit madame repli qua t'il avec une tristesse effrange cependant faites moy la grace de croire que voicy la derniere fois de ma vie que je vous importuneray et veuillent les dieux que la nouvelle de ma mort vous fasse du moins connoistre que je pouvois disputer a spitridate la gloire de vous aimer parfaitement apres cela il quitta la princesse mais d'une maniere si touchante que l'on peut dire qu'il avoit desja dans les yeux toutes les horreurs du tombeau tant il est vray que le visage luy 
 changea en luy disant adieu aussi la princesse en eut elle quelque sentiment de pitie cependant nous demeurasmes a heraclee a prier les dieux contre vous seigneur car nous avons sceu que vous fustes a cette guerre des la premiere occasion qui se presenta et qu'il parut bien que nous n'avions pas grand credit au ciel car vous sauvastes la vie de ciaxare vous vainquites vous triomphastes et vous fistes des choses si merveilleuses qu'encore qu'elles fussent a nostre desavantage nous ne laissions pas de les admirer lors qu'on nous les recitoit je passe donc legerement tout le commencement de cette guerre pour vous dire en peu de mots que quand l'on eut resolu le combat des deux cents contre deux cents et qu'il fut question d'en faire le choix il y eut une grande contestation parmi tous les braves de nostre armees et quoy qu'artane ne le fust pas il fit pourtant semblant de desirer d'estre du nombre de ceux qui seroient choisis mais ne pouvant s'accommoder entr'eux il fut resolu que l'on tireroit au sort et que l'on mettroit tous les noms de ceux qui aspiroient a cette gloire dans des billets que l'on seroit tirer par le capitaine des gardes du roy pharnace qui estoit des plus vaillants et qui ne cherchoit plus que la mort puis qu'il ne pouvoit estre aime ne voulut pas se fier a la fortune de sorte que scachant qui estoit celuy qui devoit tirer ces billets il le fut trouver et apres luy avoir fait mille protestations d'amitie et mille prieres de ne luy refuser pas ce qu'il 
 luy vouloit demander il luy donna un billet dans lequel estoit son nom afin que lors qu'il tireroit il le mist adroitement entre ses doigts et fist semblant de le tirer des premiers ce capitaine soufrit a cette proposition et ne put s'empescher de luy dire que tous ceux qui luy avoient aporte des billets n'estoient pas si empressez que luy pour estre de ce combat comme il vint alors un soubcon a pharnace que peut-estre ce capitaine vouloit il parler d'artane qu'il scavoit qui l'avoit veu il luy dit pour s'en esclaircir qu'il ne pensoit pas qu'il peust y avoir personne qui ne desirast de se signaler en une occasion si extraordinaire non pas mesme artane luy dit il pour l'obliger a parler a ce nom ce capitaine rit encore davantage de sorte que pharnace ne doutant plus que ce qu'il pensoit ne fust vray le pressa si fort qu'il luy dit qu'en effet artane l'estoit venu trouver pour luy dire que ce combat se devant faire a pied il estoit au desespoir de n'en pouvoir estre parce que son cheval s'estant abatu sous luy il y avoit quelques jours il luy en demeuroit encore une assez grande foiblesse a une jambe que neantmoins ne voulant pas se servir de cette excuse en public de peur qu'elle ne fust pas interpretee par ses ennemis il le conjuroit de vouloir avec adresse retirer le billet ou estoit son nom et qu'en echange de cette courtoisie il luy offroit toutes choses le supliant de luy garder fidelite pharnace aprenant la laschete de son rival se resolut pour l'en punir de 
 prier ce capitaine de luy manquer de parole et de vouloir au contraire tirer le billet d'artane sans le mesler devant ou apres le sien ce que l'autre luy promit de faire tant pour obliger un homme si genereux que pour en punir un si lasche cependant l'heure de cette ceremonie estant arrivee tous les billets que l'on avoit portez a ce capitaine furent mis dans un vase et tous les pretendans demeurerent a l'entour de cet officier comme artane croyoit que son billet n'estoit plus parmi les autres il estoit des plus empressez mais il fut bien estonne d'ouir lire son nom des le troisiesme billet que l'on de plia et il en parut si surpris que tout le monde s'en aperceut pharnace qui estoit aupres de luy tesmoigna luy porter envie et luy dit certains mots de raillerie malicieux et ambigus que l'autre entendit pourtant fort bien mais dans le billet d'apres le nom de pharnace fut entendu a son tour et tous les autres ayant este tirez en suite il falut se preparer a ce combat pour artane il est certain que s'il n'eust point este amoureux de la princesse araminte il ne s'y fust pas trouve mais cette laschete eust este d'un si grand esclat qu'il n'osa la faire ny se pleindre du capitaine qui l'avoit trompe et il se resolut en fin d'aller du moins jusques au champ de bataille pour pharnace il y fut avec des sentimens bien differents car il y fut avec l'esperance d'y perir et d'y voir mourir son rival mais auparavant que de partir pour aller combatre il escrivit ces mots a la princesse 
 
 
 
 pharnace a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 si la fortune seconde mes desseins je vay en un lieu ou je vaincray en mourant et ou je feray connoistre par mon genereux desespoir que si je n'ay pu meriter vostre affection par mes services je ne me seray du moins pas rendu indigne de vostre compassion par ma mort 
 
 
 pharnace 
 
 
en effet seigneur vous scavez qu'il combatit en homme extraordinaire et qu'il mourut en heros pour artane vous n'ignorez pas a mon advis que ce qui le fit tenir cache pendant que pharnace seul vous resistoit fut l'esperance qu'il eut que vous le defferiez du seul rival qui l'importunoit car il ne contoit plus spitridate et qu'ainsi l'amour agissant diversement fit que pharnace fut encore plus vaillant qu'il n'avoit jamais este et artane plus lasche qu'on ne peut se l'imaginer aussi quand nous sceusmes la mort de pharnace et que quelque temps apres nous apprismes la mauvaise action d'artane nous pleignismes la perte du premier et detestasmes la laschete de l'autre mais de telle sorte que de puis le combat que vous fistes apres contre luy pour luy faire avouer son mensonge il n'osa plus se montrer ny a l'armee ny a la princesse ny a heraclee et il s'alla cacher durant quelque temps a la campagne ou il conserva une haine estrange pour vous non seulement parce que 
 vous l'aviez couvert de honte mais encore parce qu'il avoit remarque en vous voyant que spitridate vous ressembloit la lettre du malheureux pharnace fit sans doute plus d'effet dans le coeur de la princesse lors qu'elle la receut qu'il n'en avoit attendu car comme elle a l'ame tendre et pitoyable elle ne la put lire sans avoir les larmes aux yeux et de la facon dont je la vy durant un quart d'heure je pense que si cet illustre mort l'eust pu voir il en seroit ressuscite et que si spitridate l'eust veue il en seroit mort de jalousie quoy qu'elle eust este mal fondee cependant nous ne recevions plus de nouvelles de ce prince exile et tout ce que la princesse pouvoit faire pour se consoler estoit d'entretenir un commerce secret avec la princesse aristee et de luy rendre tous les bons offices qu'elle pouvoit le roy fut si sensiblement touche de la mort de pharnace qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage neantmoins comme l'amour de la princesse mandane estoit plus forte que toutes choses dans son coeur il s'en consola et cette pretendue paix que vostre victoire avoit aparemment establie estant rompue la guerre comme vous le scavez recommenca plus qu'auparavant je suis obligee seigneur de vous dire que l'on ne peut pas avoir plus d'admiration pour personne que nous en avions pour vous et lors que l'on nous racontoit toutes vos merveilleuses actions nous trouvions avoir sujet de croire que les dieux favorisoient extremement ciaxare de luy avoir envoye un 
 tel deffenseur enfin on ne peut pas avoir plus d'estime pour un ennemy que nous en avions pour l'illustre artamene aussi quand la princesse sceut qu'artane avoit conjure contre vostre vie et suborne quatre chevaliers pour vous perdre elle conceut une nouvelle aversion contre luy mais si forte que son nom seulement luy faisoit horreur car comme elle avoit desja sceu que vous aviez sauve la vie du roy son frere elle s'interessoit beaucoup a vostre conservation et quand vous renvoyastes artane apres luy avoir pardonne elle murmura un peu en vous admirant toutesfois contre cette excessive generosite qui vous obligea a demander au roy de pont qu'il ne le punist pas mais du moins fit elle en sorte aupres de luy qu'il fut exile du royaume avec deffence d'y paroistre jamais depuis cela seigneur jusques a cette fameuse journee ou vous fistes le roy de pont prisonnier et ou l'on vous creut mort je n'ay plus rien a vous dire si je ne voulois vous entretenir de la douleur qu'eut la princesse pour la disgrace du roy son frere et des pleintes qu'elle faisoit du long silence de spitridate mais comme ce seroit abuser de vostre loisir et qu'il vous est aise de vous imaginer combien impatiemment elle le suportoit je vous diray seulement que le lendemain que vous arrivastes blesse a ce chasteau d'ou la princesse arbiane et la princesse aristee n'avoient pu partir tant vostre prompte arrivee avoit surpris toute la bithinie il vint un envoye du roy de pont qui 
 mandoit par luy a la princesse sa soeur qu'il estoit aussi afflige de la mort de celuy qui l'avoit vaincu que de la perte de sa liberte comme cet homme n'avoit fait que passer et n'avoit point arreste a ce chasteau ou estoit arbiane la princesse aristee qui vous croyoit estre spitridate escrivit seulement ces paroles dans un billet
 
 
 la princesse aristee a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 je n'ose presques vous dire que spitridate est icy parce qu'il est blesse mais je n'ay pourtant pu me resoudre de vous faire un secret d'une chose qui vous doit donner quelque joye si vous estes tousjours ce que vous avez este 
 
 
 aristee 
 
 
vous pouvez juger seigneur de combien de divers sentimens l'ame de la princesse fut rem plie en recevant cet escrit et en aprenant par cet homme que le roy son frere avoit perdu deux batailles qu'il estoit prisonnier et que vous estiez mort vous dis-je de qui elle scavoit que le roy de pont eust espere toutes choses aussi sa douleur fut si grande qu'elle ne sentit que tres imparfaitement la joye du pretendu retour de spitridate ou elle prenoit d'autant moins de part qu'en apprenant qu'il estoit revenu elle apprenoit aussi qu'il estoit blesse toutefois comme l'amour a ce que l'on dit est une passion imperieuse qui est tousjours la plus forte 
 dans tous les coeurs qu'elle possede il y avoit pourtant quelques instants ou si elle n'avoit de la joye elle avoit du moins de la consolation d'esperer de revoir spitridate mais deux jours apres elle en fut privee car elle aprit par la mesme princesse aristee qui luy escrivit une seconde fois qu'elle s'estoit abusee par une ressemblance prodigieuse elle luy mandoit mesme par sa lettre qu'elle s'estoit detrompee par son portrait qu'elle avoit monstre a celuy qu'elle avoit pris pour son frere et qu'en fin spitridate n'estoit point revenu ce fut donc alors que sans aucune consolation elle sentit les malheurs du roy de pont elle eut neantmoins bien tost apres quelque soulagement a sa douleur lors qu'elle sceut que vous estiez ressuscite s'il faut ainsi dire et que c'avoit este vous qui aviez este pris pour spitridate chez la princesse arbiane elle espera seigneur qu'estant le plus genereux de tous les hommes vous traiteriez bien le roy son frere et elle l'espera mesme avec d'autant plus de plaisir que spitridate a ce que la princesse aristee luy manda vous ressembloit parfaitement cependant comme cette princesse a assurement un esprit capable de toutes choses elle commenca de vouloir prendre le soing des affaires de l'estat mais elle trouva qu'elles estoient en un estrange desordre le roy de phrigie qui s'estoit retire apres la perte de ces deux batailles a l'extremite de la bithinie et qui avoit repasse la riviere de sangar receut nouvelles que cresus roy de lydie 
 estoit entre dans ses estats avec une puissante armee de sorte qu'il fut contraint d'aller songer a sa propre deffence au lieu de songer a celle des autres joint que ses troupes estoient extreme ment affoiblies neantmoins comme la princesse jugeoit bien que ciaxare tenant le roy de pont prisonnier ne s'amuseroit pas a rien entreprendre de nouveau puis que sans hasarder ses troupes il pouvoit faire la paix a telles conditions qu'il voudroit elle estoit en quelque repos mais a peu de jours de la elle fut bien surprise d'aprendre que tout ce qui s'estoit r'allie de gens de guerre apres la prise du roy s'estoient declarez pour arsamone que toute la bithinie s'estoit souslevee en sa faveur et estoit resolue de retourner sous son ancien maistre et que de plus artane qui estoit de la plus haute condition estoit revenu dans le royaume avoit aussi fait souslever une partie de celuy de pont et s'estoit empare d'une ville considerable nommee cabira en subornant le gouverneur par de l'argent je vous laisse donc a penser en quel estat se trouva cette jeune princesse de voir que le roy son frere estoit prisonnier et qu'arsamone pere de spitridate non seulement estoit maistre de la bithinie mais qu'il estoit encore a la teste d'une armee pour venir conquerir le royaume de pont et qu'ainsi il faloit qu'elle s'y opposast au tant qu'elle pourroit et qu'elle fist la guerre contre le pere d'un prince dont elle estoit adoree et qu'elle ne haissoit pas elle scavoit encore que 
 celuy de tous les hommes pour qui elle avoit le plus de mepris et le plus d'aversion formoit un party considerable quelque peu d'estime qu'il eust elle n'avoit ny troupes ny argent pour en lever elle ne scavoit mesme a qui se fier tant toutes choses estoient brouillees et en ce pitoyable estat elle ne scavoit non plus si elle devoit estre bien aise ou bien affligee de l'absence de spitridate car elle jugeoit bien qu'il n'eust pas deu combatre pour elle contre son pere et elle n'eust pas voulu aussi qu'il eust combatu pour son pere contre elle ainsi ne scachant ny que souhaiter n'y que faire elle prioit les dieux de la delivrer de tant de malheurs qui l'accabloient mais enfin seigneur vostre generosite n'ayant pas trompe son esperance et vous ayant fait delivrer le roy de pont a qui vous fistes mesme donner des troupes sous la conduite d'artaxe nous en receusmes la nouvelle avec une extreme joye et en effet il sembla que le peuple d'heraclee reprit quelque coeur en aprenant que son prince estoit delivre d'une facon si genereuse l'on en fit une resjouissance publique et le glorieux nom d'artamene fut aussi celebre dans heraclee qu'il l'estoit a sinope ou a themiscire la princesse scachant donc que le roy approchoit voulut aller au devant de luy et comme nous scavions bien que du coste qu'il venoit il n'y avoit point de troupes d'arsamone nous fusmes deux journees au devant de ce prince mais pour nostre mal heur nous trouvasmes une embuscade si bien 
 dressee dans une forest que nous tombasmes presque sans resistance entre les mains de ceux qui nous attendoient et l'on nous mena par une route destournee que nous ne connoissions pas nous ne scavions donc si l'on nous menoit a arsamone ou a artane et dans le choix des deux la princesse ne scavoit que souhaitter car si c'estoit a arsamone elle y esperoit plus de douceur a cause de la princesse arbiane et de la princesse aristee mais elle s'imaginoit aussi que le roy son frere qui n'ignoroit pas l'affection qu'elle avoit pour spitridate pourroit peut-estre la soubconner de s'estre fait prendre volontairement aux troupes d'arsamone quoy qu'il ne pust ignorer que ce prince ne haissoit son fils que pour l'amour d'elle toutesfois le nom d'artane luy donnoit tant d'aversion qu'au hazard d'estre maltraitee d'arsamone et soubconnee mesme du roy elle eust mieux aime estre menee en bithinie que d'aller a cabira sous la puissance d'un tel homme cependant la chose ne fat pas a son choix et vers le soir nous trouvasmes artane qui tout amoureux qu'il estoit n'avoit ose se trouver a cette entreprise et en avoit donne la conduitte a un soldat determine qui avoit autresfois este un de ceux qui avoient conjure contre vous de vous dire ce que devint la princesse quand elle vit artane a la teste de deux cens chevaux qui la venoit recevoir il ne seroit pas aise car encore qu'il fust connu pour un lasche neantmoins comme il ne faut presques qu'estre mutin et rebelle 
 pour pouvoir former un party le sien n'estoit pas petit et nous fusmes bien affligees de voir qu'il y avoit tant de braves gens qui obeissoient a un tel capitaine il falut pourtant ceder a la fortune et se laisser conduire dans cabira ou il estoit le maistre et dans laquelle il y avoit un chasteau extremement fort ou l'on nous logea le ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous dire toutes les insolences d'artane car il suffit que vous scachiez qu'il estoit lasche pour vous imaginer qu'il perdoit le respect qu'il devoit avoir des qu'il estoit le plus fort puis que c'est l'ordinaire de ceux qui manquent de coeur de n'estre soumis que quand ils sont foibles mais il trouva en la princesse une ame si grande et un esprit si ferme que malgre toute son impudence elle le reduisit aux termes de m'oser presques entrer dans sa chambre ny la voir ce pendant le roy de pont a ce que nous sceusmes depuis arriva a heraclee bien fasche de l'enlevement de la princesse sa soeur car en j'estat qu'estoient les choses il ne voyoit pas qu'il eust assez de forces pour diviser son armee et il scavoit que celle d'arsamone estoit si puissante qu'elle ne luy pouvoit pas permettre de s'engager a un siege joint que s'agissant de delivrer une soeur ou de sauver deux couronnes je pense que la politique ordinaire veut que l'on songe plustost a l'autre comme les choses en estoient la artane eut la hardiesse d'envoyer offrir ses troupes au roy de pont pourveu qu'il voulust consentir qu'il espousast la princesse araminte mais le roy ne 
 voulut jamais escouter une semblable proposition et respondit que s'il eust voulu vaincre ses ennemis sans peine il leur eust souhaite un secours pareil a celuy qu'il luy offroit luy mandant encore qu'il songeast bien comme il vivroit avec la princesse sa soeur parce qu'aussi tost qu'il auroit finy la guerre de bithinie il luy feroit rendre compte de tous ses crimes a la fois vous pouvez donc juger en quel estat estoit la princesse qui par un de ses gardes que nous gagnasmes scavoit tout ce qui se passoit car lors qu'elle venoit a penser que peut-estre arsamone tueroit le roy son frere ou que le roy son frere tueroit le pere de spitridate sa raison n'estoit plus a elle cependant le roy de pont apres avoir rassemble le plus de troupes qu'il put se mit en campagne pour s'opposer a arsamone qui estoit desja maistre d'une partie du royaume de pont et a la premiere rencontre le prince euriclide fut tue ce qui affligea fort arsamone mais seigneur pourquoy m'amuser a vous dire les particularitez d'une guerre qui a este sceue de toute l'asie et ne suffit il pas de vous aprendre que ce prince tout brave qu'il est fut presques tousjours bat tu bien est il vray que ce qui acheva de le perdre fut qu'aribee qui avoit este gouverneur de sinope rapella artane son frere avec ses troupes et quoy que le roy de pont n'y voulust pas consentir parce qu'il ne voyoit point d'ordre de ciaxare ny de vous artaxe le fit toutesfois d'authorite absolue de sorte que ce prince se 
 trouvant fort affoibly et scachant que vous estiez engage a la guerre d'assirie fut contraint de se retirer dans heraclee en attendant qu'il eust leve de nouvelles troupes pour se pouvoir remettre en campagne mais seigneur il n'en eut pas le temps car arsamone aupres de qui le prince intapherne fils de gadate estoit arrive ne voulant pas perdre une occasion si favorable s'avanca avec son armee et l'assiegea enfin dans la capitale de son royaume qui estoit la seule ville qui demeuroit sous son obeissance car ce qui n'estoit pas encore assubjetti a arsamone tenoit le party d'artane j'ay sceu par diverses personnes pendant que nous estions a cabira que ce prince fit des choses si prodigieuses durant ce siege que l'on peut dire qu'il merita cent couronnes en perdant la sienne mais enfin voyant que ses ennemis avoient emporte non seulement tous les dehors de la ville mais que mesme ils s'estoient rendus maistres d'une des portes et qu'ils n'avoient plus rien a faire pour le tenir en leur puissance qu'a le forcer dans le dernier retranchement qu'il avoit fait et ne pouvant de resoudre a tomber vivant entre les mains d'arsamone il prit la resolution de s'enfuir dans un vaisseau et d'aller offrir son espee a ciaxare pour delivrer la princesse mandane de qui il avoit apris l'enlevement avec une douleur inconcevable esperant qu'apres cela vous luy aide riez a recouvrer son estat et en effet ce mal heureux prince executa une partie de son dessein car il sortit d'heraclee ne luy demeurant 
 plus rien de deux beaux royaumes que la seule qualite de roy que la fortune ne luy pouvoit oster quand la princesse receut cette triste nouvelle elle en eut une douleur estrange et elle l'aprit mesme d'une maniere si cruelle qu'on ne peut rien imaginer de plus insupportable car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que l'insolent artane prenant une nouvelle hardiesse par ce nouveau malheur la vint trouver avec une incivilite que nous ne luy avions point encore veue madame luy dit il comme il m'a tousjours semble qu'une des plus fortes raisons qui vous a obligee a me traiter aussi imperieusement que vous avez fait estoit parce que j'estois sujet du roy vostre frere j'ay creu qu'il estoit a propos de vous faire scavoir qu'il ne peut plus jamais estre mon maistre puis que la fortune luy a oste la couronne et que de deux royaumes qu'il possedoit il ne luy reste plus qu'un seul vaisseau avec lequel il s'est desrobe a ses ennemis c'est pourquoy madame cessant aujourd'huy d'estre soeur de roy ne regardez s'il vous plaist plus ma condition comme estant inferieure a la vostre et agissez autrement d'oresnavant que vous n'avez agy par le passe comme vous n'avez que le coeur d'un esclave reprit la princesse je vous ferois encore trop d'honneur de vous considerer comme un simple sujet du roy mon frere c'est pourquoy quand il sera vray que la fortune luy aura oste la couronne comme elle ne scauroit faire que sa naissance ne soit tousjours 
 beaucoup au dessus de la vostre elle ne fera pas aussi que je change de sentimens pour vous et quand vous auriez encore plus de couronnes que le roy mon frere n'en a perdu je vous mespriserois sur le throsne comme je fais et a moins que de changer absolument vostre ame ce qui ne vous est pas possible vous ne me verrez jamais changer c'est pourquoy artane songez mieux a ce que vous dittes et souvenez vous a tous les moments que mes peres ont tousjours este les maistres des vostres que j'ay eu l'honneur d'estre fille ou soeur de trois princes de qui je vous ay veu sujet et que vous estes nay enfin avec une indispensable obligation de me respecter toute vostre vie la princesse prononca ces paroles avec une colere si majestueuse qu'elle luy fit changer de couleur et le forca mesme de luy faire quelque mauvaise excuse de son insolence et de la laisser en liberte de pleindre la disgrace du roy son frere que nous aprismes plus particulierement par ce garde qui nous estoit si fidelle helas disoit elle hesionide quel deplorable destin est le mien et a quelle cruelle advanture suis-je exposee je suis nee sur le throsne et je suis esclave et esclave encore du plus indigne d'entre tous les hommes si je regarde les malheurs du roy mon frere je n'ay pas assez de larmes pour pleurer ses infortunes et si je considere mes propres malheurs je les trouve si grands que je ne voy que la seule mort qui les puisse faire finir encore jusques icy adjoustoit 
 elle j'avois pu aimer spitridate innocemment le feu roy mon pere l'avoit desire le prince sinnesis mon frere me l'avoit ordonne mais aujourd'huy hesionide qu'il est fils de l'usurpateur du royaume de mon frere et du destructeur de ma maison quelle aparence y a t'il que je le puisse faire sans crime mais madame luy dis-je spitridate n'a pas este a cette guerre il est vray dit elle mais il ne laisse pas d'estre fils de l'usurpateur du royaume de pont si bien que quand la raison m'obligeroit a ne l'accuser pas la bienseance du moins voudroit tousjours que je ne l'aimasse plus ainsi hesionide innocent ou coupable je ne dois plus voir spitridate quand mesme il seroit en lieu ou je le pourrois et puis adjousta t'elle en quel lieu de la terre peut il estre qu'il n'ait point entendu parler de la guerre de pont et de bithinie et comment est il possible que scachant l'estat des choses je ne recoive aucune nouvelle de luy s'il a plus d'ambition que d'amour que ne paroist il a la teste de l'armee de son pere et s'il a plus d'amour que d'ambition que ne cherche t'il a me delivrer des mains d'artane et que ne me fait il scavoir qu'il n'aprouve pas dans son coeur tout ce que fait arsamone j'avoue luy dis-je madame que le long silence de spitridate m'est absolument incomprehensible il me l'est de telle sorte repliqua la princesse en souspirant que je ne voy rien que raisonnablement j'en puisse imaginer que sa mort mais veuillent les dieux 
 adjousta t'elle qu'il ne soit jamais justifie dans mon esprit par une si funeste voye si je voulois vous redire seigneur toutes les pleintes et toutes les reflexions que faisoit la princesse sur les malheurs du roy son frere sur l'inconstance des choses du monde et sur l'innocente passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame j'abuserois de vostre patience c'est pourquoy il faut que je les passe legerement et que je vous die qu'artane voyant qu'il alloit avoir sur les bras une armee victorieuse et conduite par un prince qui venoit de conquerir deux royaumes n'estoit pas sans inquietude car encore qu'il y eust de braves gens dans son party il n'en estoit pas devenu plus vaillant si bien que quelque amour qu'il eust pour la princesse je pense qu'il se repentit plus d'une fois de s'estre engage a ce qu'il avoit fait aussi envoya t'il vers arsamone pour luy proposer quelques articles de paix entre eux mais comme il vouloit que cabira luy demeurast pour sa seurete et qu'il vouloit aussi que la princesse araminte fust tousjours en sa puissance ce prince qui la vouloit absolument avoir en la sienne n'y voulut jamais entendre et ne receut pas trop bien ceux qui le furent trouver de sa part de sorte qu'apres ce refus artane fut encore plus inquiet qu'auparavant bien est il vray qu'il eut quelques jours de repos parce qu'arsamone tombant malade fit retarder la marche de son armee qui venoit desja contre luy
 
 
 
 
comme les choses estoient en cet estat il arriva un chevalier a heraclee ou estoit alors 
 la reine arbiane car il est bien juste de luy donner une qualite qu'elle devoit tousjours avoir portee il arriva dis-je un chevalier qui portoit un bouclier ou l'on voyoit un esclave represente qui semblant avoir a choisir de chaines ou de couronnes rompoit les dernieres et prenoit les autres avec ces mots plus pesantes mais plus glorieuses comme il estoit assez tard lors qu'il arriva il ne fut pas connu en entrant dans la ville et ce que je viens de vous dire ne fut pas remarque ce soir la mais a peine fut il descendu de cheval dans une maison de sa connoissance qu'il fut au palais ou estoit la reine et la princesse sa fille car pour arsamone il estoit demeure malade au camp ou ces princesses devoient aller le lendemain accompagnees de la princesse istrine soeur d'intapherne qui estoit alors en cette cour apres que ce chevalier se fut fait montrer l'apartement d'aristee il y fut tout droit sans faire rien dire jusques a ce qu'il arriva a l'anti-chambre ou il trouva un officier de cette princesse qu'il pria de luy dire qu'il y avoit un estranger qui demandoit a luy parler en particulier pour quelque affaire importante cet officier luy dit que la reine estant avec elle dans son cabinet il n'oseroit y aller mais il le pressa si fort de dire la mesme chose a l'une et a l'autre qu'enfin croyant que 
 c'estoit quelque affaire considerable il y fut et revint un moment apres le faire entrer mais seigneur a peine eut il fait un pas dans ce cabinet que la reine se levant en parut surprise je suis bien aise luy dit elle de vous voir un peu en meilleur estat que vous n'estiez lors que je vous vis en bithinie et que je pris l'illustre artamene pour le malheureux spitridate vous me donnez un nom trop glorieux repliqua le veritable spitridate car c'estoit luy effectivement que la reine arbiane prenoit pour vous et je ne comprens pas madame luy dit il pourquoy vous ne me voulez pas connoistre la princesse aristee ayant pris elle mesme un flambeau et luy semblant enfin qu'elle voyoit quelque chose dans les yeux de celuy qu'elle regardoit qui estoit veritablement de spitridate madame dit elle a la reine il n'en faut point douter celuy que vous voyez est le prince mon frere et n'est point du tout artamene spitridate a qui il estoit arrive plus d'une fois d'estre pris pour un autre en divers endroits de ses voyages en fut un peu moins surpris que si cela ne luy fust pas desja advenu c'est pourquoy prenant la parole et disant plusieurs choses a ces princesses que nul autre que luy ne leur eust pu dire elles acheverent de le connoistre et elles luy donnerent toutes les marques de tendresses que l'on peut donner en revoyant une personne infiniment chere et qu'elles avoient presque creu ne devoir jamais revoir comme la reine sa mere l'avoit tousjours beaucoup 
 ayme elle avoit fait toutes choses possibles pour appaiser l'esprit irrite d'arsamone mais elle n'en avoit pourtant pu venir a bout neantmoins ne voulant pas affliger ce prince des leur premiere entre-veue elle ne luy parla de rien en particulier et apres une conversation de deux heures elle luy dit seulement que pour rendre plus de respect au roy il ne faloit pas que l'on sceust dans heraclee qu'il estoit revenu jusques a ce qu'elle eust parle a luy en suite de quoy estant retournee a son apartement apres qu'ils eurent donne quelques larmes au souvenir du prince euriclide il demeura avec la princesse aristee qu'il n'avoit point veue depuis la perte du prince sinnesis a la memoire duquels ils donnerent encore quelques soupirs l'un et l'autre mais auparavant que de luy parler de toute autre chose il luy parla de la princesse araminte la remerciant de ce qu'elle luy avoit rendu ce respect de n'avoir pas pris son apartement car en effet elle ne l'avoit pas voulu faire au reste seigneur je ne scaurois vous exprimer la douleur qu'eut spitridate de se voir dans le mesme palais ou il avoit commence d'aimer la princesse et ou il en avoit este aime ny le redoublement d'affliction qu'il sentit en son coeur lors qu'il vint a songer en suitte que c'estoit le roy son pere qui estoit cause qu'elle n'y estoit plus de plus quand il pensoit qu'elle estoit entre les mains d'artane il perdoit presques la raison et il fut tres long temps sans pouvoir satisfaire l'envie 
 qu'avoit la princesse sa soeur d'aprendre ce qu'il avoit fait de puis qu'elle ne l'avoit veu mais enfin apres beaucoup de pleintes il luy dit a ce que nous avons sceu par luy mesme qu'estant deguise en paphlagonie il avoit escrit a la princesse araminte pour luy demander si elle vouloit qu'il s'allast offrir au roy son frere qui alloit commencer la guerre de capadoce et qu'au lieu de recevoir une response telle qu'il avoit lieu de l'attendre il avoit receu une lettre de la princesse la plus cruelle du monde et une de moy la plus surprenante qui fut jamais et comme la princesse aristee luy dit qu'assurement il y avoit quelque fourbe cachee la dessous il tira ces deux lettres qu'il n'avoit point abandonnees depuis qu'il les avoit receues et les luy montrant elle vit qu'elles estoient telles
 
 
 araminte a spitridate 
 
 
 ne vous allez point offrir au roy mon frere puis que ce seroit inutilement et allez plustost chercher un azile en quelque lieu de la terre si esloigne de moy que vous en puissiez mesme oublier le nom 
 
 
 d'araminte 
 
 
ha mon frere s'escria la princesse aristee mes yeux me disent que la princesse araminte a escrit cette lettre mais ma raison m'assure qu'elle n'y a jamais pense puis sans attendre la response de spitridate elle ouvrit l'autre et y leut ces paroles
 
 
 
 hesionide au princes pitridate 
 
 
 je suis bien marrie d'estre obligee de vous dire que la gloire est plus puissante que toutes choses dans le coeur de la princesse et qu'elle s'est si fortement resolue d'obeir au roy de vaincre l'affection qu'elle avoit pour vous et de l'oublier que rien ne la scauroit changer conformez donc vostre esprit a vostre fortune si vous le pouvez et puis que vous estes genereux oubliez une personne qui a absolument pris le dessein de ne se souvenir plus de vous 
 
 
 hesionide 
 
 
je vous laisse a penser dit le prince spitridate aussi tost que la princesse sa soeur eut acheve de lire ces deux lettres ce que je devins apres avoir veu ce que vous venez de voir je le comprens aisement dit elle puis qu'encore que je sois assuree que c'est une fourbe que l'on vous a faite je ne laisse pas d'en estre surprise car enfin adjousta t'elle tant que la guerre de capadoce a dure j'ay tousjours receu des nouvelles de la princesse araminte comme a l'ordinaire et elle s'est tousjours informee des vostres avec un extreme soing elle nous a rendu de plus cent bons offices en secret et jusques a ce qu'elle ait este enlevee par artane nous avons tousjours eu intelligence ensemble mesme depuis la guerre que le roy mon pere a commencee contre le roy de pont de plus lors que l'illustre artamene 
 vint en bithinie et que nous creusmes que c'estoit vous qui estiez revenu elle tesmoigna en avoir une extreme joye quand je le luy escrivis et je sceus qu'elle avoit aussi eu une extreme douleur lors qu'elle avoit apris que nous nous estions abusees enfin seigneur adjousta t'elle il faut que je confronte cette pretendue lettre de la princesse araminte avec celles que j'en ay en disant cela elle ouvrit une cassette qui estoit sur la table de son cabinet et en prenant plusieurs elle se mit a les regarder attentivement mais a peine eut elle aporte quelque attention a les considerer qu'elle vit beaucoup de difference en plusieurs caracteres il est pourtant certain qu'a l'abord tout le monde y auroit pu estre trompe mais personne ne l'y pouvoit estre en regardant cette fausse lettre aupres d'une veritable spitridate eut une si grande joye de pouvoir esperer qu'il avoit este abuse qu'il y avoit plus d'un quart d'heure qu'il estoit persuade en secret que cette lettre estoit une fourbe qu'il faisoit encore semblant d'en douter afin de s'en faire assurer davantage par la princesse aristee et d'avoir un pretexte de regarder plus long temps la grande difference qu'il y avoit de certaines lettres aux autres mais comment disoit spitridate cela aura t'il pu estre pharnace n'estoit point un homme a faire une pareille chose non dit la princesse mais artane est fort propre a faire une semblable mechancete et en effet seigneur nous avons sceu depuis que c'estoit luy qui ayant descouvert 
 que spitridate avoit envoye a heraclee a ce capitaine de la tour ou il avoit este prisonnier avoit fait suivre cet homme qui estoit charge de la veritable response de la princesse et de la mienne et l'ayant arreste apres luy avoir pris les lettres il les avoit fait imiter par un homme qui demeuroit a heraclee qui contrefaisoit admirablement toutes sortes d'escritures mais comme celle de la princesse estoit fort courte et qu'il n'en avoit point d'autres toutes les lettres necessaires a escrire celle que je viens de vous dire la derniere ne s'y trouvoient pas et c'estoit la cause de la notable difference qu'il y avoit de quelques uns de ces caracteres a ceux de la princesse il se trouva mesme pour favoriser sa fourbe que celuy qui estoit charge de nos lettres avoit este esleve dans la maison du pere d'artane sans que spitridate ny nous en sceussions rien de sorte que reconnoissant le fils de son ancien maistre il s'en fit connoistre aussi de peur d'estre maltraite et s'en laissa suborner si bien que ce fut par ce mesme homme que spitridate avoit envoye qu'il receut les fausses lettres qu'artane supposa ce qui ne servit pas peu a l'empescher de soubconner rien de la tromperie qu'on luy faisoit ce qui avoit oblige artane a cela estoit que connoissant le grand coeur de pharnace il avoit espere qu'il pourroit estre tue a cette guerre de sorte qu'esloignant encore plus spitridate il demeureroit seul en tout le royaume qui fust de condition a pouvoir pretendre a la princesse apres 
 donc que spitridate se fut bien confirme dans la croyance qu'il avoit este trompe il raconta avec un peu plus de tranquilite qu'auparavant le desespoir qu'il avoit eu et comment il avoit pris la resolution d'aller en effet mourir si loing de la princesse araminte qu'elle ne peust pas mesme scavoir des nouvelles de sa mort que dans ce funeste dessein il estoit alle au port de mer le plus proche du lieu ou il estoit s'embarquer dans le premier vaisseau qui fit voile sans demander seulement ou il alloit que par hazard il s'en estoit trouve un de marchands de tenedos qui l'avoit receu que de la il avoit este a ephese parce que l'on disoit que cresus l'alloit attaquer qu'en effet il avoit veu toute cette guerre sans y pouvoir perir quoy qu'il s'y fust assez expose que se souvenant que s'il eust voulu suivre l'ambition d'arsamone plus tost que l'amour de la princesse il auroit este roy et qu'ainsi il avoit prefere les chaisnes d'araminte a la couronne de bithinie il avoit fait peindre sur son bouclier cet esclave qui brisoit des couronnes et qui choisissoit des fers dont je vous ay desja parle qu'en ce lieu la apres la fin de la guerre il s'estoit embarque de nouveau pour aller en chipre luy semblant qu'une isle consacree a la mere des amours luy seroit plus favorable qu'une autre mais qu'en ayant trouve le sejour trop plaisant pour un malheureux il avoit passe en cilicie qu'en suitte ne pouvant demeurer en un lieu il avoit voulu se remettre en mer mais qu'un estranger 
 qui se trouva estre un mage de perse l'estant venu aborder luy avoit rendu tous les honneurs imaginables luy disant cent choses en une langue qu'il n'entendoit pas qu'enfin un truchement qu'il avoit pris aveques luy pour la commodite de ses voyages luy avoit dit que cet homme estoit persan et qu'il le prenoit pour estre fils de son roy que des marchands avoient pourtant assure avoir veu noyer a chalcedoine spitridate entendant cela luy fit dire par ce mesme interprete qu'il n'estoit point persan qu'il estoit vray qu'il avoit pense estre noye a chalcedoine mais que pourtant assurement il s'abusoit et qu'il n'estoit point ce qu'il pensoit qu'il fust mais plus il faisoit parler ce truchement plus ce persan s'imaginoit que c'estoit une feinte et qu'il ne laissoit pas d'entendre ce qu'il disoit en fin seigneur il pressa et pria si instamment spitridate de luy avouer une verite qu'il ne scavoit pas que s'en trouvant importune il le laissa mais cet homme estant alle trouver les magistrats de la ville ou ils estoient il leur dit que le roy son maistre avoit perdu l'unique heritier de ses estats qui par quelques raisons cachees ne vouloit point sans doute retourner en son pais qu'il l'avoit rencontre par hasard qu'il estoit dans leur ville et prest a se rembarquer qu'il les conjuroit donc de l'arrester et de le renvoyer au roy son pere de sorte que ces magistrats voyant un homme dont la phisionomie estoit fort sage et qui de plus avoit fait connoissance avec 
 les plus scavans de leur ville envoyerent ordre en effet d'arrester spitridate comme estant fils du roy de perse et de le traitter pourtant avec tout le respect qu'on devoit a une personne de cette condition je vous laisse a penser si ce prince fut surpris il fit tout ce qu'il put pour desabuser ces gens la mais plus il parloit plus le mage persan s'obstinoit a soutenir qu'il estoit cyrus enfin ces magistrats envoyerent a leur prince et spitridate et le mage et ce prince apres les avoir entendus tous deux resolut de peur de faire une faute de les envoyer l'un et l'autre au roy de perse neantmoins dans le doute ou il estoit il ne fit pas la mesme despense qu'il eust faite s'il eust creu qu'effectivement spitridate eust este cyrus tant y a seigneur qu'il choisit un homme d'esprit et de qualite dans sa cour pour luy donner cette commission et il les fit partir de cette sorte avec un assez bon nombre de soldats quoy que spitridate peust dire je ne m'amuseray point a vous raconter ses chagrins pendant un si long chemin ou on le gardoit fort soigneusement mais je vous diray seulement que durant ce voyage le mage mourut et qu'estant enfin arrivez en perse cet ambassadeur apprenant que tout le monde croyoit cyrus mort et que des marchands l'avoient veu noyer commenca de croire spitridate ne trouvant pas de raison qu'il ne voulust point estre connu pour fils d'un grand roy s'il estoit vray qu'il le fust si bien que jugeant que puis que ce 
 mage estoit mort ce seroit peut-estre paroistre a persepolis d'une assez bizarre maniere il fut quelque temps a deliberer sur ce qu'il feroit pendant quoy estant tombe malade comme le mage il mourut aussi bien que luy de sorte que spitridate se voyant un peu plus libre se deroba des gens de cet ambassadeur durant les premiers jours de leur affliction et ne continua point son voyage il pensa toutesfois estre arreste par diverses personnes qui le prenoient pour vous mais comme il se resolut de se r'aprocher un peu des lieux ou nous estions pour entendre du moins quelquesfois le nom du royaume ou demeuroit sa princesse il passa de perse en medie ou il fut suivy aussi en diverses rencontres sans qu'il en comprist la raison en suitte estant arrive sur les frontieres de galatie il y aprit le souslevement de la bithinie et la guerre que le roy son pere avoit declaree au roy de pont et il dit depuis a la princesse aristee que cette nouvelle l'avoit si cruellement afflige qu'il en estoit tombe malade mais avec un tel exces et une telle violence que jamais personne ne l'avoit tant este parce qu'aprenant tous les jours les victoires du roy son pere et apres encore la mort du prince euriclide il jugeoit bi que c'estoit un mauvais chemin pour remettre la princesse araminte dans les premiers sentimens qu'elle avoit eus pour luy ce n'est pas qu'il souhaitast que le roy son pere fust vaincu mais c'est qu'il ne pouvoit ny scavoit que souhaitter enfin dit il apres avoir 
 bien exagere ses deplaisirs a la princesse aristee me voicy ma chere soeur assez bien guery malgre moy qui viens vous demander conseil de ce que je dois faire car quand mesme ma princesse seroit infidelle je la voudrois tousjours delivrer d'entre les mains d'artane ou j'ay sceu qu'elle est il ne vous sera pas aise luy dit elle si ce n'est avec les troupes du roy mais pour pouvoir l'obliger a vous revoir il ne faut pas que vous tesmoigniez aimer encore la princesse araminte ha ma soeur dit il je ne scay point feindre et je ne scaurois devoir ma bonne fortune a un mensonge mais helas disoit il que pense et que doit penser de mon silence cette princesse pendant de si grands changemens elle croit peut-estre que j'attens en repos que la guerre soit finie afin de venir jouir apres paisiblement des fruits de la victoire mais divine princesse adjoustoit il que vous estes injuste si vous le croyez ainsi tant y a seigneur qu'apres plusieurs semblables pleintes spitridate se retira au lieu ou il avoit resolu de se loger aristee luy aprit pourtant encore auparavant qu'il la quitast que le prince intapherne fils de gadate qui est aujourd'huy dans l'armee de ciaxare avoit rendu de grands services au roy son pere et que la princesse istrine sa soeur estoit venue aupres de la reine arbiane aussi tost apres la mort de la reine nitocris qui l'avoit ainsi voulu en suitte de ce discours spitridate s'en alla comme je l'ay desja dit le lendemain au matin la reine et la 
 princesse luy manderent qu'il demeurast cache jusques a ce qu'il eust de leurs nouvelles et qu'elles s'en alloient au camp ou arsamone estoit demeure malade comme l'armee n'estoit qu'a une journee d'heraclee elles y arriverent le soir mesme mais comme arsamone estoit assez mal ce ne fut que le lendemain au matin qu'il fut mieux qu'elles luy firent scavoir qu'elles avoient eu des nouvelles de spitridate car pour ne l'exposer pas elles ne dirent point qu'il fust arrive la surprise d'arsamone fut grande au discours d'arbiane et la princesse aristee remarqua de l'estonnement et de la colere sur son visage il luy sembla pourtant que malgre des sentimens si tumultueux elle y vit aussi quelques legeres marques de joye en effet comme arsamone n'avoit plus d'autre fils quand il n'auroit eu autre sentiment que celuy de la haine qu'il avoit pour le roy de pont il eust tousjours deu estre bien aise de se voir un successeur c'est pourquoy apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler si spitridate dit il a la reine sa femme revient avec le coeur d'un esclave tel qu'il l'avoit lors qu'il eschapa de sa prison il faut luy redonner ses chaines mais s'il revient avec celuy d'un roy il faut le traitter en prince qui le sera un jour c'est pourquoy madame dit il a la reine faites luy s'il vous plaist scavoir qu'il est luy mesme l'arbitre de son destin que s'il veut achever cette guerre que j'ay si heureusement commencee et mettre la princesse araminte 
 entre mes mains comme ma prisonniere j'y consents et je luy donneray le commandement de mon armee mais s'il pense n'estre revenu que pour continuer d'aimer une personne qu'il ne doit regarder que comme la fille et la soeur de nos tirans je luy feray bien voir que je suis maistre des deux couronnes que j'ay conquises puis que j'en disposeray en faveur de qui il me plaira il a este assez longtemps absent adjousta t'il pour estre guery d'une semblable passion c'est pourquoy dit il regardant la princesse aristee je vous donne la commission descouvrir dans le fonds de son coeur ses veritables sentimens car je m'apercoy bien que vous en scavez plus que vous ne m'en dittes et que peut-estre spitridate est il desja a heraclee arbiane voulut alors le nier mais ce fut d'une facon qui le fit davantage croire au roy de sorte que reprenant la parole non non luy dit il ne craignez rien pour spitridate s'il est sage c'est pourquoy s'il est arrive comme je le croy retournez a heraclee dit il a la princesse sa fille car s'il est tel que je dis je consens que vous me l'ameniez et s'il ne l'est pas je permets qu'il s'en retourne en exil que si pour ma bonne fortune et pour la sienne il l'est devenu faites le venir icy en diligence parce que me trouvant mal comme je fais je seray bien aise de ne donner pas loisir a artane de se fortifier dans cabira la reine entendant parler le roy de cette sorte luy advoua la verite et le lendemain la princesse retourna a heraclee 
 avec un ordre secret de la reine de prier spitridate de dissimuler et de luy representer que quand araminte seroit sous la puissance d'arsamone elles empescheroient bien qu'elle ne fust mal-traitee que de plus le rare merite de cette princesse toucheroit peut-estre a la fin le coeur de ce prince et qu'en un mot il faloit necessairement se contraindre et se deguiser pour un temps la princesse aristee s'aquita de sa commission admirablement car des qu'elle fut arrive au palais elle envoya querir spitridate et luy dit tout ce que l'on pouvoit dire sur un semblable sujet mais comme il ne pouvoit se resoudre a feindre que pensez vous donc faire luy dit elle la princesse araminte est dans les mains d'artane durant que vous deliberez ou je ne croy pas qu'elle soit mieux qu'en celles du roy mon pere et que dans heraclee ou je la pourray servir ha ma chere soeur dit il mon ame est balancee entre de grandes extremitez je scay bien qu'il faut retirer araminte de la puissance d'artane mais je scay bien aussi que je ne la dois pas delivrer pour la remettre en prison on peut choisir les malheurs comme les plaisirs reprit cette princesse et je ne voy point de comparaison a faire entre ceux dont il s'agit spitridate fut alors assez longtemps sans parler cherchant en luy mesme s'il n'y avoit point de milieu a prendre mais plus il y pensoit moins il en pouvoit trouver il eust voulu ne manquer point de respect au roy son pere il eust souhaite ne se trouver pas dans la fascheuse 
 necessite de deguiser ses veritables sentimens il eust desire ardemment pouvoir rendre le royaume de pont a celuy qui l'avoit perdu et ne gardant que celuy de bithinie qui appartenoit au roy son pere espouser la princesse araminte et la mettre un jour sur le throsne mais il scavoit bien qu'arsamone ne consentiroit pas a une semblable chose ainsi ne scachant que faire il souffroit des maux que l'on ne peut exprimer neantmoins venant a s'imaginer tout d'un coup qu'artane estoit en pouvoir de persecuter sa princesse c'est trop ma chere soeur luy dit il c'est trop demeurer dans l'incertitude de ce que je feray puis qu'il suffit de scavoir qu'araminte est en la puissance de mon rival pour ne deliberer pas un moment allons allons donc trouver le roy disons luy s'il le veut que nous n'aimons plus agissons comme un ennemy afin d'agir apres comme un veritable amant et ne craignons pas de nous des honnorer par un mensonge innocent et par un deguisement que je ne fais que pour remettre en liberte la plus admirable princesse du monde enfin apres plusieurs semblables discours spitridate promit a la princesse aristee d'agir comme elle voudroit aupres du roy son pere de sorte que sans differer davantage elle partit des le lendemain aveques luy qui ne voulut pas estre dans heraclee jusques a ce qu'il eust veu le roy comme ils arriverent au camp ils y aprirent que cette nouvelle ayant fort esmeu arsamone il s'estoit encore trouve 
 plus mal et que depuis le depart de la princesse il avoit tesmoigne avoir une grande impatience de revoir spitridate il ne fut donc pas plustost venu que pour le contenter on le luy dit de sorte que voulant qu'il entrast a l'heure mesme il le receut malgre son mal avec quelques tesmoignages de tendresse mais apres ce premier mouvement dont il ne fut pas le maistre reprenant un visage plus serieux et plus severe spitridate luy dit il je suis bien aise de vous pouvoir dire auparavant qu'il m'empire davantage que si les dieux disposoient de moy je n'entens pas que vous faciez jamais nul traitte ny nulle alliance avec ceux de qui nous avons este esclaves et que je dispense tous mes sujets de vous reconnoistre pour leur prince si vous le faites seigneur luy dit spitridate en biaisant les dieux vous laisseront sans doute jouir si longtemps de vos conquestes que j'auray loisir d'aprendre plus precisement vos intentions c'est pourquoy il suffit que vous me faciez la grace de me dire ce qu'il vous plaist que je face presentement comme vostre sujet que je suis sans me parler de ce que je devrois faire comme roy que je ne suis pas je veux luy respondit il si mon mal dure que vous commandiez mon armee que vous alliez contre artane et que vous remettiez araminte en ma puissance spitridate chercha alors quelques paroles a double sens pour satisfaire la delicatesse de son amour et par lesquelles arsamone qui estoit malade et qui n'avoit pas la liberte d'y prendre garde 
 de si pres peust croire qu'il vouloit luy obeir punctuellement et en effet il les imagina si justes que le roy estant satisfait de sa response le fit approcher et l'embrassa en suitte de quoy s'estant retire a une magnifique tente qu'on luy avoit preparee il y fut visite du prince intapherne et de tous les officiers de l'armee car nous avons sceu depuis toutes ces choses par spitridate mesme cependant a trois jours de la les medecins dirent a arsamone que son mal estoit sans peril mais qu'il seroit assez long de sorte que ne voulant pas perdre temps il donna ordre a spitridate de se preparer a partir pour aller assieger artane ordonnant toutesfois a un de ses lieutenans generaux d'observer ce prince d'assez pres ainsi arsamone fut reporte a heraclee ou la reine et la princesse sa fille l'accompagnerent car pour la prince istrine elle y estoit demeuree pour quelque incommodite et spitridate partit et prit la route de cabira le prince intapherne estant son premier lieutenant general avec lequel il lia une amitie fort estroite je vous laisse donc a penser quelle surprise fut la nostre lors que nous sceusmes par nostre fidelle garde qu'il estoit arrive un chevalier a heraclee avec l'escu dont je vous ay parle que nous aprismes en suitte que ce chevalier estoit spitridate et que ce prince avoit este si bien receu du roy son pere qu'il l'avoit fait general de son armee elle fut si grande seigneur que nous fusmes tres longtemps sans pouvoir tesmoigner nostre estonnement 
 par des paroles la joye de scavoir que spitridate n'estoit pas mort et l'incertitude du dessein qu'il avoit en venant contre artane occupoient si fort l'ame de la princesse araminte et la partageoient de telle sorte qu'elle ne pouvoit se determiner ny a s'affliger ny a se rejouir quoy qu'il en soit madame luy dis-je lors qu'elle commenca de se pleindre je ne puis que je ne sois bien aise de scavoir que spitridate est vivant je suis dans les mesmes sentimens reprit elle mais cela n'empesche pas que mon ame ne soit en inquietude car enfin arsamone n'aura pas change les siens et il semble presques indubitable que puis que spitridate paroist estre bien aveques luy il faut qu'il ne soit plus ce qu'il estoit ha madame luy dis-je il ne faut pas le condamner sans l'entendre il y a pourtant bien de l'apparence me respondit elle que je ne me trompe pas une aussi longue absence qu'a este la sienne peut aisement l'avoir guery de la passion qu'il avoit pour moy et la possession de deux royaumes peut estre facilement preferee a celle d'une princesse qu'il y a si long temps que l'on n'a veue et qui n'a que l'infortune en partage enfin hesionide si spitridate est fidelle c'est un miracle et s'il ne l'est pas c'est sans doute le plus grand malheur qui me puisse arriver ainsi ne scachant si je dois faire des voeux pour luy ou contre luy ne scachant dis-je s'il vient me delivrer ou me faire sa prisonniere j'ay l'ame en une inquietude que je ne puis vous faire concevoir je fis alors 
 tout ce qui me fut possible pour diminuer sa crainte et pour fortifier son esperance mais a vous dire le vray je pense qu'elles regnerent successivement dans son coeur durant plusieurs jours et qu'elle ne demeura pas bien d'accord avec elle mesme cependant artane estoit bien empesche le nom de spitridate de qui il sceut le retour augmenta sa frayeur et toute la force de son amour ne l'en put jamais garantir conme il avoit de braves gens aveques luy ils l'obligerent malgre qu'il en eust a aller au devant de leur ennemy et a se resoudre de hazarder une bataille il s'y opposa quelque temps mais enfin craignant sans doute que s'il descouvroit toute sa laschete ils ne l'abandonnassent il y consentit et se resolut mesme d'y estre de sorte que toutes les troupes estant arrivees devant les murailles de la ville ou nous estions il en fit la reveue et partit sans dire adieu a la princesse la laissant sous la garde d'un capitaine qui estoit absolument a luy je ne vous diray point seigneur tout ce que l'on fit a ce reste de guerre mais je vous diray seulement que spitridate vainquit et que le lasche artane ayant este engage malgre luy a combatre fut mortellement blesse de la propre main de spitridate qui le fit son prisonnier ce perfide vivant seulement autant qu'il falut pour luy avouer la supposition qu'il avoit faite de la lettre de la princesse et de la mienne je debris de cette armee defaite se sauva dans la ville ou nous estions si bien que tout ce qui estoit demeure de chefs s'assemblerent 
 et resolurent de prendre les ordres de la princesse esperant par la faire un traite plus avantageux avec spitridate tous ces capitaines vinrent donc en corps la trouver dans sa chambre ou nous ne scavions rien de ce qui estoit arrive parce qu'artane avoit mene aveques luy le garde qui nous advertissoit de toutes choses et qu'il avoit peri a la bataille d'abord qu'elle les vit elle ne scavoit que penser de cette visite mais un d'eux prenant la parole madame luy dit il nous venons vous demander pardon de nostre rebellion passee nous venons vous aprendre qu'artane a perdu la bataille et la vie car ils avoient sceu sa mort et nous venons enfin prendre les ordres de vous comme de la fille et de la soeur de nos rois c'est donc a vous madame a nous dire ce qu'il vous plaist que nous fassions si vous voudrez vous rendre ou si vous voulez que nous vous deffendions contre le prince spitridate puis que lequel que vous choissiez des deux nous sommes prests de vous obeir vous m'aprenez tant de choses surprenantes a la fois dit elle que je ne puis pas vous respondre d'improviste si precisement ce qu'il y a pourtant de certain c'est que je n'ay point d'autre parti a prendre que celuy du roy mon frere que ses ennemis sont les miens et que s'ils ne veulent pas nous faire justice il sera plus beau de mourir en se deffendant que de se rendre laschement cependant adjousta t'elle encore puis que de sujets rebelles vous estes devenus mes protecteurs je vous conjure 
 de vouloir donner tous les ordres necessaires pour la conservation de la ville et de n'entreprendre rien que je ne le scache aussi bien ne jugeay-je pas que vous puissiez faire autre chose presentement que vous deffendre si on nous attaque voila donc seigneur un grand changement en nostre fortune nos gardes devinrent presques nos esclaves et celle que l'on tenoit en prison commanda a ceux qui la tenoient captive mais pendant cela spitridate n'estoit pas sans inquietude au milieu de la joye que luy donnoit la victoire puis qu'il n'estoit pas si absolument maistre de son armee qu'il peust en faire ce qu'il vouloit ainsi il falut en aparence qu'il agist comme un ennemi contre la princesse et en effet comme un homme qui preferoit son amour a toutes choses il envoya donc sommer la ville de se rendre a discretion apres l'avoir investie de toutes parts car il ne put faire autrement parce que ce lieutenant general qu'arsamone luy avoit donne estoit un esprit severe et opiniastre de sorte que lors que la princesse sceut ce que spitridate avoit mande luy qui ne scavoit pas que ceux entre les mains de qui elle estoit la reconnoissoient alors pour leur princesse elle fit venir ce heraut en sa presence et l'esprit irrite comme elle l'avoit dites a vostre maistre luy dit elle que les princesses de pont n'ont point accoustume de recevoir des commandemens des princes de bithinie mais plustost de leur en faire depuis long temps et que je n'usse jamais creu 
 que la soeur du prince sinnesis eust deu estre traitee de cette sorte par le prince spitridate que neantmoins puis qu'il agit si injustement il peut s'assurer qu'il trouvera peut-estre plus de difficulte a vaincre la princesse araminte qu'il n'en a trouve a surmonter artane apres cette responce le heraut se retira et la princesse demeurant en liberte de se pleindre aveques moy et bien hesionide me dit elle que dittes vous de spitridate je dis qu'il vient vous delivrer madame luy respondis-je car je n'ay garde de le soubconner de ne vouloir vous avoir en sa puissance que pour vous remettre en celle d'arsamone la servitude n'est pourtant gueres le chemin de la liberte repliqua t'elle et peu d'amants ont delivre les personnes qu'ils ont aimees par une voye si extrordinaire mais madame repris-je que voudriez vous que fist spitridate en l'estat ou sont les choses je n'en scay rien me respondit elle en souspirant mais du moins scay-je bien que je ne voudrois par que ce fust de sa main que je fusse mise en la puissance du destructeur de ma maison toutesfois hesionide adjousta t'elle j'ay tort de me pleindre de la fortune en cette rencontre puis qu'au contraire je dois luy rendre grace de ce que du moins elle fait ce qu'elle peut pour me donner sujet d'oster de mon coeur l'injuste tendresse que j'y conservois pour spitridate quoy que fils de l'ennemy declare du roy mon frere je n'en suis pourtant pas encore la je l'advoue aveques honte poursuivit elle si bien 
 que tout ce que je puis faire pour vous est de connoistre seulement que je le dois je n'aurois jamais fait seigneur si je vous redisois tout ce que dit cette princesse en cette rencontre non plus que tout ce que pensa spitridate au retour de ce heraut qu'il avoit envoye car comme il n'avoit ose luy faire rien dire d'obligeant de peur de se rendre suspect il connut bien par sa response qu'il s'estoit trompe lors qu'il avoit creu que cette princesse le devoit assez bien connoistre pour croire qu'il feignoit lors qu'il agissoit avec elle comme un ennemy il eut pourtant quelque consolation d'aprendre que ceux qui estoient demeurez chefs des troupes d'artane luy obeissoient et de ce que c'estoit directement avec elle qu'il faloit traiter de sorte que changeant de sentimens il tint conseil de guerre le lendemain ou il declara qu'il ne trouvoit pas glorieux d'entreprendre de forcer une ville qui n'estoit deffendue que par une princesse sans avoir du moins fait tout ce qui seroit possible pour l'obliger a se rendre avant que d'en venir a la force si bien que pour espagner disoit il les troupes du roy son pere et pour garder quelque bien-seance avec une grande princesse il estoit resolu de luy envoyer demander la grace de luy parler la plus grande partie des chefs de qui spitridate commencoit d'estre fort aime et principalement d'intapherne approuverent son advis et il n'y eut presques que ce lieutenant general dont je vous ay desja parle qui s'y opposa bien est il 
 vray que ce fut avec beaucoup de violence comme nous l'avons sceu depuis mais quoy qu'il peust faire comme les resolutions des conseils de guerre passent a la pluralite des voix et que celle du general y peut beaucoup il falut qu'il cedast et que spitridate fist ce qu'il vouloit il envoya donc une seconde fois vers la princesse mais il y envoya un homme d'esprit et qui luy estoit fidelle avec ordre de la supplier tres humblement qu'il peust avoir l'honneur de luy parler auparavant que d'estre force de rien entreprendre contre elle il luy fit dire qu'il la conjuroit par la glorieuse memoire du prince sinnesis de ne le refuser pas et de croire qu'il estoit tousjours le mesme spitridate qu'elle avoit connu cet envoye eut cet ordre en particulier car devant tous ses capitaines ce prince luy commanda de parler d'une facon moins tendre et moins obligeante s'il eust suivi les mouvemens de sa passion il n'eust pas songe a sa seurete et seroit entre dans cabira sans mesme obliger la princesse a luy engager sa parole mais n'estant pas maistre absolu de luy mesme et n'estant pas a propos de se rendre suspect aux siens il souffrit qu'on la suppliast en son nom de se donner la peine de venir sur une platte-forme avancee qui est a un coste de la ville et qui n'estant pas fort haute luy permettroit de luy pouvoir parler sans qu'elle en eust beaucoup d'incommodite voila donc seigneur l'ordre que receut cet envoye de spitridate de qui l'arrivee me donna une grande 
 de consolation aussi bien qu'a la princesse qui commenca alors d'esperer qu'elle s'estoit abusee au jugement qu'elle avoit fait de ce prince neantmoins elle fut si surprise qu'elle demanda deux heures a celuy qui venoit de sa part pour luy respondre et en effet pour pretexter la chose elle fit assembler tous les chefs pour tenir conseil mais en les attendant ce fut veritablement aveques moy qu'elle prit la resolution qu'elle vouloit suivre je voyois bien dans ses yeux qu'elle avoit de la joye de ce qu'elle pouvoit esperer que ce prince n'estoit pas aussi coupable qu'elle l'avoit creu et j'apercevois qu'elle advit aussi de l'inquietude pour resoudre si elle le verroit ou si elle ne le verroit pas la voyant donc en cette peine je luy dis que je trouvois qu'elle avoit tort de mettre la chose en doute ha hesionide me repliqua t'elle vous avez grand tort vous mesme de croire qu'elle soit si aisee a determiner car si spitridate est devenu un prince ambitieux qui prefere la possession de deux couronnes a mon amitie je ne le dois point voir puis que je le verrois inutilement mais si au contraire il est encore tel que je l'ay veu autrefois je ne le dois point voir non plus puis qu'il me seroit impossible de n'estre pas aussi pour luy la mesme que j'estois en ce temps la cependant les choses n'estant plus aux mesmes termes je dois changer de sentimens c'est pourquoy hesionide je pense qu'a conclurre raisonnablement il faudroit ne voir point spitridate toutesfois je sens bien que 
 si on me conseille de le voir je le verray et que si je le voy innocent je ne le pourray pas hair s'il est innocent madame luy dis-je vous seriez injuste de luy oster vostre affection et je trouve de quelque coste que je regarde la chose que vous le devez tousjours voir car quand mesme il seroit vostre ennemy en l'estat ou vous estes reduite il faudroit necessairement avoir recours a sa clemence et s'il est toujours vostre amant il faut tout attendre de sa generosite et de son amour enfin seigneur il ne me fut pas fort difficile de persuader a la princesse de voir spitridate mais comme j'attendois beaucoup de cette entre-veue pourveu qu'elle se fist en lieu ou ils peussent parler aveque liberte je m'avisay de dire a la princesse qu'il seroit beaucoup mieux qu'elle vist spitridate au milieu d'un pont qui traverse une riviere qui passe au pied des murailles de la ville et en effet apres que la princesse eut tenu conseil et que tous ces capitaines qui ne prevoyoient aucune fin heureuse a ce siege que par une capitulation avantageuse et qui ne voyoient nulle esperance de secours luy eurent conseille de voir spitridate elle fit venir celuy que ce prince luy avoit envoye pour luy dire qu'elle accordoit a son maistre ce qu'il luy avoit demande commandant a un de ses capitaines de l'instruire du lieu ou elle souhaitoit que se fist cette entre-veue le lendemain au matin et de l'ordre qui y devoit estre garde pendant quoy il y auroit tresve entre l'armee de spitridate et les 
 gens de guerre de la ville apres que cet envoye eut veu ce pont et qu'il fut retourne vers son maistre qui approuva ce changement de lieu et qui le fit scavoir a la princesse le reste du jour et la nuit suivante furent employez a preparer l'endroit ou se devoit faire cette entre-veue qui fut une des plus belles choses du monde
 
 
 
 
comme la riviere est large le pont que l'on y a basti est fort grand et fort superbe si bien qu'il contribuoit encore beaucoup a la magnificence de cette action car justement sur l'arcade du milieu on dressa une barriere qui le traversoit en sa largeur que l'on couvrit de riches tapis de sidon et droit au dessus on tendit un grand et riche pavillon retrousse des deux costez avec des cordons a houpes d'or pour garantir la princesse des rayons du soleil de sorte que le lendemain au matin spitridate qui avoit receu aveque joye la permission de voir la princesse ne manqua pas aupres avoir range ses troupes en bataille a la veue de la ville et avoir fait avancer cinq cens hommes de pied jusques au bout de ce pont suivant ce qui avoit este convenu de s'avancer luy mesme suivy de deux cens chevaux seulement la princesse d'autre coste commanda que toutes les murailles de la ville fussent bordees de gens de guerre et que pareil nombre d'infanterie et de cavalerie occupast l'autre bout du pont elle ne sceut pas plustost que spitridate estoit arrive qu'elle partit pour y aller mais si belle que j'estois estonnee de voir ensemble 
 tant de beaute et tant de melancolie comme j'avois apprehende qu'en allant depuis le bout de ce pont jusques au milieu le soleil ne l'incommodast j'avois oblige ses femmes de la coiffer comme lors qu'elle alloit a la chasse du temps qu'elle estoit a heraclee c'est a dire avec quantite de plumes volantes et un peu eslevees tout a l'entour de la teste afin de porter ombre sur son visage la princesse estant donc plus paree qu'elle ne pensoit l'estre tant son esprit estoit occupe de diverses choses fut au bout du pont suivie de toutes ses femmes et accompagnee de tous les chefs de ses troupes aussi tost qu'elle parut spitridate s'avanca a pied suivy a peu pres d'autant de gens qu'en avoit la princesse mais les uns et les autres s'arresterent des deux costez a dix ou douze pas de la barriere et du pavillon sous lequel la princesse alla et ou nous fusmes aussi toutesfois un peu derriere elle spitridate avoit un habillement de guerre le plus beau du monde et malgre sa melancolie il avoit la mine si haute et l'air si agreable ce jour la que je ne j'avois jamais veu mieux des qu'il aperceut la princesse il la salua d'assez loing avec beaucoup de respect et s'approchant tous deux de la barriere en mesme temps les gens des deux partis demeurant sur les armes comme je l'ay dit spitridate fit encore une profonde reverence a la princesse qu'elle luy rendit fort civilement en suitte de quoy prenant la parole ce n'est pas madame luy dit il pour venir capituler 
 aveque vous que j'ay demande d'avoir l'honneur de vous parler mais pour venir prendre vos ordres et pour venir vous rendre conte de mon exil de mon retour et de ce que je fais presentement enfin divine princesse si ce que le roy mon pere a fait ne m'a pas rendu indigne d'estre escoute de vous je viens vous aprendre toute ma vie passee afin d'aprendre en suite de vostre bouche quelle elle doit estre a l'advenir lors que je vous entens parler ainsi respondit la princesse il me semble en effet que vous estes ce mesme spitridate choisi par le feu roy mon pere pour entrer dans son alliance si tendrement aime du prince sinnesis et si parfaitement estime de la malheureuse araminte il me semble dis-je que vous estes ce spitridate qui a souffert deux prisons pour l'amour de moy avec une generosite extreme et qui m'a donne cent marques d'une affection tres constante mais des que je ne vous escoute plus et que je regarde cette barriere et tous ces gens de guerre qui vous environnent j'advoue que vous ne paroissez plus a mes yeux ce mesme spitridate que je dis et que je ne voy plus en vostre personne que le fils d'arsamone c'est a dire de l'ennemy mortel du roy mon frere ha madame s'ecria ce prince escoutez moy donc s'il vous plaist si vous me voulez connoistre pour ce que je suis et ne regardez plus ce qui pourroit seduire vostre raison et me faire passer dans vostre esprit pour ce que je ne suis point du tout j'advoue madame poursuivit il que si 
 je n'avois pas violente passion pour vous j'aurois peine a ne trouver pas que le roy mon pere a quelque raison de vouloir rentrer en possession d'une couronne qu'on luy avoit arrachee par force de dessus la teste mais puis qu'il ne l'a pu faire qu'en detruisant vostre maison je le regarde malgre tous les sentimens de l'ambition et de la nature comme un usurpateur de son propre royaume tant il est vray que mon amour pour vous est violente dans mon coeur vous scavez luy dit la princesse qu'arsamone n'en est pas demeure la et que le royaume de pont n'est pas moins sous sa puissance que celuy de bithinie de sorte que s'il a fait une guerre juste pour reprendre l'un il en a fait une tres injuste pour conquester l'autre je l'advoue madame luy dit il mais s'il estoit permis a un amant de dire quelque chose pour excuser son pere je dirois que l'ambition et la vangeance n'estans guere accoustumees de s'enfermer dans les borne que la raisons et la justice leur prescrivent il ne faut pas s'estonner si un prince outrage et ambitieux n'a pas fait tout ce que justement il devoit faire selon l'equite naturelle mais madame je ne veux point aprouver une chose que je n'aurois jamais faite vous aimant comme je vous aime ainsi j'advoue donc que le roy mon pere a tort qu'il merite le nom de cruel ennemy et que je suis fils d'un usurpateur mais madame souvenez vous s'il vous plaist que lors que je commencay de vous adorer vous estiez si je l'ose dire ce 
 que je suis et que j'estois ce que vous estes puis que si le roy mon pere a oste le royaume de pont a vostre maison le vostre retenoit celuy de bithinie qui apartenoit a la mienne cependant je vous aimay je vous adoray et toute fille d'usurpateur que vous estiez si je puis parler ainsi sans perdre le respect que je vous dois je m'attachay pour tousjours a vostre service eh pleust aux dieux que les choses en fussent encore aux rnesmes termes qu'elles estoient pleust aux dieux dis-je que je fusse encore sujet du roy vostre frere et qu'il me fust encore permis d'esperer ce que j'esperois en ce temps la une aussi longue absence que la vostre reprit la princesse vous aura sans doute bien fait changer de sentimens car si cela n'eust pas este vostre exil malgre ma deffence auroit este moins long spitridate entendant ce reproche luy raconta alors en peu de mots la cause de son depart de paphlagonie la fourbe d'artane son desespoir lors qu'il la croyoit infidelle ses voyages son retour et sa douleur d'aprendre tant de victoires obtenues par le roy son pere et de scavoir en mesme temps qu'elle estoit entre les mains de son rival voila donc madame luy dit il a la fin de ce petit recit quelle a este la vie du malheureux spitridate il vous a aimee lors que le roy vostre pere retenoit un royaume ou il pouvoit pretendre quelque part il vous a adoree lors qu'il vous a creue infidelle il a pleure pour les victoires du roy son pere il s'est afflige de la 
 conqueste de deux royaumes il a prefere la qualite de vostre esclave a celle de roy et il vous adore encore toute injuste et toute irritee que vous estes contre luy mais jusques a tel point qu'il n'est presques rien qu'il ne soit capable de faire ouy madame pourveu que vous ne m'ordonniez pas de tourner mes armes contre le roy mon pere je feray tout ce que vous me commanderez et je ne scay mesme si vous aviez l'injustice de le vouloir absolument si j'aurois assez de vertu pour vous resister longtemps apres cela madame suis coupable je prens les armes il est vray mais c'est pour tuer artane et pour vous tirer de ses mains je les porte encore je l'advoue mais comment eussay-je pu vous parler pour scavoir vostre volonte si je n'eusse paru estre votre ennemy ainsi madame estant tres malheureux et n'estant point du tout coupable vous seriez tres injuste si vous changiez de sentimens pour moy quand vous m'aurez persuade vostre innocence repliqua la princesse en souspirant vous n'en serez gueres plus heureux car enfin spitridate la veritable generosite ne peut souffrir que je conserve une affection comme celle que j'ay pour vous pour le fils de l'ennemy declare du roy mon frere car de grace jugez un peu je vous prie en quel deplorable estat est ce prince luy qui de deux royaumes qu'il avoit n'a plus qu'un seul vaisseau sous sa puissance et qui est mesme encore sans doute plus sous celle des vents et des vagues que sous la sienne et 
 vous voudriez spitridate que je me rendisse sans conditions et que je vous permisse d'esperer de me voir un jour si arsamone y pouvoit consentir monter sur le throsne de mes peres qui ne m'apartient pas pendant que le roy mon frere a qui il apartient languiroit miserable et exile ha non non je n'en suis point capable et si vous l'avez pense vous m'estimez trop peu et vous ne me connoissez point du tout je vous ay estime je l'advoue et je vous estime encore et si ce mot est mesme trop foible pour exprimer mes sentimens pensez en un plus tendre et plus obligeant pour vous satisfaire j'y consens mais apres tout quoy que mon coeur soit pour vous ce qu'il estoit a heraclee je ne puis plus agir aveques vous que comme avec le fils de mon ennemy c'est pourquoy spitridate il faut faire necessairement de deux choses l'une ou obliger le roy vostre pere a se contenter du royaume de bithinie et a rendre celuy de pont ou vous resoudre a n'avoir cette place que par la force ou du moins par une capitulation qui me permette d'aller ou est le roy mon frere quand je le scauray car enfin je vous le declare je ne veux point du tout que vous me mettiez entre les mains d'arsamone et il n'est rien que je ne face plustost que de m'y resoudre je scay bien adjousta t'elle que la reine arbiane et la princesse aristee me protegeroient mais je scay bien aussi que toute l'asie me pourroit soubconner d'une laschete ou d'une foiblesse dont je ne suis 
 point capable c'est pourquoy spitridate il ne faut point songer a me faire changer de sentimens puis que ce seroit inutilement et s'il vous reste quelque souvenir du prince sinnesis qui vous a tant aime promettez moy que vous ne me remettrez pas sous la puissance d'arsamone en cas que la fortune me reduise sous la vostre je vous promets toutes choses madame reprit il pourveu que vous me promettiez de ne hair point spitridate s'il ne peut pas faire tout ce que vous desirerez de luy les dieux scavent si j'estois maistre absolu des deux royaumes dont il s'agit si vous n'en seriez pas l'arbitre et si vous n'en disposeriez pas absolument je croy mesme adjousta t'il que si vous pouviez vous passer de couronne je consentirois sans murmurer que celle de bithinie me fust ostee une seconde fois plustost que de vous desplaire mais madame les choses n'en sont pas la le roy mon pere les possede et tout ce que je puis est de luy faire parler par la reine ma mere et par la princesse ma soeur car pour moy si je quittois l'armee je craindrois qu'il ne me permist pas d'y revenir et qu'ainsi je ne pusse plus estre en estat de m'attacher inseparablement a vostre fortune comme j'en ay le dessein joint aussi que je n'y ay pas grand credit mais madame oserois-je vous dire que si le malheureux spitridate estoit dans vostre coeur comme il y pourroit estre vous n'agiriez pas comme vous faites vous laisseriez aux dieux le soing de la conduite des choses vous 
 attendriez du temps le restablissement du roy vostre frere et vous ne refuseriez pas a un prince qui a souffert pour vous la prison l'exil et tous les suplices imaginables la consolation de vous voir en un lieu ou il pourroit vous servir et ou il pourroit peut estre un jour vous faire passer de la prison sur le throsne et vous mettre en estat de redonner une couronne au roy de pont ce n'est pas madame que je ne sois resolu de vous obeir exactement mais c'est que comme je prevoy bien que je ne gagneray rien aupres du roy mon pere je prevoy bien aussi a quelle estrange extremite je me trouveray reduit comme je ne veux pas vous obliger aux choses impossibles interrompit la princesse l'esprit un peu aigri si vous n'obtenez rien je vous rendray la ville ou je suis a condition que l'on me conduira ou je voudray aller car si on ne le fait pas on m'ensevelira sans doute sous les ruines de ses ramparts cependant pour jouir en repos des conquestes du roy vostre pere vous oublierez la princesse araminte et faisant succeder l'ambition a l'amour vous vivrez aussi heureux qu'elle sera infortunee ha cruelle personne luy dit il je vous feray bien voir que je ne suis pas capable de faire ce que vous dittes non non madame vous ne verrez point spitridate heureux tant que vous serez infortunee et vous ne le verrez jamais roy que vous ne soyez en estat de souffrir que vous puissiez estre reine je vous le proteste devant les dieux qui m'escoutent 
 mais du moins madame promettez moy que quand j'auray tout abandonne pour vous vous me permettrez de suivre vostre destin et de ne vous quitter jamais la princesse estant touchee de ce que spitridate luy disoit et se repentant de l'avoir afflige je veux croire luy dit elle que tous vos sentimens sont genereux et je veux bien mesme vous promettre de ne vous soubconner jamais legerement mais accordez moy la mesme grace et soyez persuade qu'encore que j'agisse comme vostre ennemie en plusieurs choses vous serez pourtant tousjours dans mon coeur comme vous y avez este dans le temps ou vous ne vous pleigniez pas de moy neantmoins quoy que cela soit ainsi je ne laisse pas de vous dire que selon les aparences nous ne nous reverrons jamais ha madame dit spitridate ce que vous me dittes est si cruel qu'il s'en faut peu que pour vous monstrer que je ne vous abandonneray de ma vie je ne passe de vostre coste et ne tourne mes armes contre ceux que je commande je n'ay pas l'esprit si violent que vous l'avez reprit elle et comme je ne pretens pas faire rien indigne de moy je ne voudrois pas aussi que vous fissiez rien indigne de vous c'est pourquoy sans nous pleindre plus long temps inutilement adjousta t'elle en soupirant retirez vous spitridate envoyez vers arsamone pour tascher de l'amener a la raison representez luy par ceux qui luy parleront que pour conserver en paix le royaume de bithinie qui luy apartient il doit rendre 
 celuy de pont qui ne luy apartient pas et faites enfin tout ce que vous pourrez pour votre satisfaction et pour la mienne mais si vous ne pouvez flechir arsamone souvenez vous du moins de me conserver la liberte si vous me voulez conserver la vie spitridate estoit si touche des paroles de la princesse qu'il ne pouvoit presques luy respondre quoy madame dit il vous voulez desja m'abandonner la bien-seance le veut respondit elle et il luy faut obeir mais encore une fois spitridate je veux mourir libre et encore une fois madame interrompit il je veux mourir vostre esclave ce n'est point aux heureux reprit elle a desirer la mort ce n'est point en effet aux infortunez repliqua t'il a desirer la vie c'est pourquoy madame si je ne gagne rien ny sur l'esprit du roy mon pere ny sur le vostre quand je vous auray remise en liberte je ne regarderay plus que le tombeau comme vostre vie m'est et me sera tousjours chere respondit elle je veux que vous la conserviez mais encore une fois spitridate retirez vous et dittes a vos capitaines ce que je diray aux miens je veux dire que vous ne pouvez respondre aux propositions que je vous faits sans avoir envoye vers le roy vostre pere vous avez l'esprit si libre madame interrompit il qu'il est aise de voir que vostre coeur n'est guere engage vous avez l'ame si grande respondit elle que ce reproche n'est pas digne de vous mais spitridate je vous le pardonne et je veux bien mesme que vous ne croiyez 
 pas de moy ce que vous faites semblant d'en croire en disant cela elle luy fit la reverence et le forca de se retirer apres avoir arreste ensemble que la tresve dureroit jusques a la response d'arsamone pour moy je ne vy jamais rien de plus touchant que cette separation spitridate devint pasle comme s'il eust deu mourir et la princesse malgre son grand coeur parut si melancolique en cet instant qu'elle eust pu consoler ce prince s'il eust este capable de bien remarquer les mouvemens de son visage il la suivit des yeux le plus loing qu'il put mais il estoit si interdit qu'il ne scavoit sans doute ce qu'il voyoit conme la princesse eut fait trois ou quatre pas je m'approchay de la barriere sans qu'il y prist garde jusques a ce que luy parlant il me reconnut seigneur luy dis-je la fortune offre une grande matiere d'exercice a vostre generosite et cette mesme fortne respondit il en donne une bien ample a la bon te d'hesionide qui me peut utilement proteger aupres de la divine araminte je le feray seigneur luy dis-je en me retirant mais faites aussi tout ce que vous devez cela fut dit si bas et si viste qu'a peine quelqu'une des filles de la princesse s'en put elle apercevoir et un moment apres me remettant a suivre les autres nous retournasmes a la ville ou nous ne fusmes pas si tost entrees que spitridate ne pouvant plus voir la princesse remonta a cheval et se retira vers les siens il dit a ses capitaines ce qu'elle luy avoit ordonne de leur dire et sans perdre temps il en choisit un 
 appelle democlide pour l'envoyer vers arsamone comme cet homme a assurement beaucoup d'esprit et qu'il avoit une amitie tres grande pour ce prince il ne pouvoit pas mieux choisir il luy raconta donc toute sa vie afin de l'obliger a entrer mieux dans ses sentimens il le chargea d'une lettre pour la reine sa mere et d'une autre pour la princesse sa soeur il escrivit mesme au roy son pere avec toute la soumission imaginable et il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut capable de le porter a se contenter d'avoir reconquis son royaume sans vouloir usurper celuy d'un autre tout ce que la politique a de plus fin et de plus adroits luy passa dans l'esprit pour en instruite democlide afin de persuader a arsamone qu'il valoit mieux posseder un royaume en paix que d'en avoir deux en guerre mais durant que spitridate depeschoit ce capitaine la prince s'affligeoit au lieu de se consoler et elle eust presques bien souhaite pour son repos qu'il ne luy eust pas parle si obligeamment qu'il avoit fait il y avoit pourtant des instans ou elle estoit bien aise de ne s'estre pas trompee en son choix et de n'estre pas obligee de se repentir d'avoir aime spitridate ces moments de consolation estoient neantmoins bien rares car quand elle venoit a considerer l'estat present de sa fortune et qu'elle jettoit les yeux sur l'advenir elle n'y voyoit que des choses si fascheuses que l'esperance n'avoit gueres de part en son ame non plus qu'en celle de ce prince qui depuis 
 le depart de democlide demeura dans une inquietude inconcevable et dans une crainte continuelle de n'obtenir rien d'arsamone en effet son aprehension n'estoit pas sans fondement car quoy que la reine et la princesse aristee pussent dire au nouveau roy de bithinie que se portoit beaucoup mieux elles ne purent le flechir ces excellentes personnes luy firent parler en suitte par tous ceux en qui elles scavoient qu'il avoit quelque creance mais ce fut encore inutilement democlide employa toute son eloquence a luy faire valoir la politique dont spitridate l'avoit instruit sans rien obtenir non plus que les autres la princesse aristee se servit mesme de ses larmes sans aucun effet et arsamone dit tousjours a ceux qui luy proposerent de rendre genereusement le royaume de pont a celuy a qui il apartenoit quand moy et les miens aurons possede cette couronne aussi long temps que le pere et l'ayeul du roy de pont ont possede celle de bithinie il y aura peut-estre quelque justice a ceux qui vivront alors d'en demander la restitution bien que je l'aye aquise par des voyes plus legitimes et plus honnorables que l'ayeul de ce prince n'avoit usurpe la nostre mais presentement il est juste que ceux qui ont fait si long temps porter des chaines aux autres en portent aussi a leur tour afin d'aprendre par leur propre experience quel malheur est la servitude c'est pourquoy je veux que spitridate m'aide a prendre la ville ou est la princesse araminte autrement je luy feray 
 connoistre que celuy qui n'a pas le coeur d'un roy ne sera jamais mon successeur et le traitant en esclave je luy donneray mesme prison qu'a cette princesse qu'il aime plus que sa propre gloire democlide qui en avoit eu ordre de spitridate le fit souvenir que lors qu'il avoit parle au prince son fils dans son vaisseau au sortir d'heraclee il luy avoit dit qu'il ne s'opposeroit point a son mariage avec cette princesse je m'en souviens bien dit il mais lors que je luy dis cela c'estoit a condition qu'il iroit a la teste d'une armee m'espargner la peine de conquerir deux royaumes mais puis qu'il ne l'a pas fait dittes luy que comme en ce temps la il eust este honteux a la princesse araminte d'espouser le fils d'un esclave il seroit aujourd'huy honteux au prince spitridate d'espouser la soeur d'un usurpateur vaincu et l'esclave d'arsamone comme elle la sera bien tost c'est pourquoy dittes luy de ma part que dans peu de jours je seray au camp et que pour luy espargner la douleur d'enchainer de sa main celle qu'il prefere a deux couronnes il n'entreprenne rien contre cabira que je n'y sois dittes luy enfin qu'il songe a se vaincre soy mesme ou qu'autrement il connoistra a ses despens quelle difference il y a d'un sceptre a des fers je vous laisse a juger seigneur avec quelle douleur democlide se chargea de cette response la reine escrivit au prince son fils pour le consoler et la princesse aristee fit la mesme chose mais dieux que ces consolations furent inutiles et qu'il sentit vivement 
 cette affliction democlide sceut en partant d'heraclee qu'arsamone avoit envoye order a ce lieutenant general de spitridate auquel il se fioit de l'observer soigneusement et j'ay sceu depuis par ce mesme democlide que le desespoir de spitridate fut si grand lors qu'il aprit la cruelle response du roy son pere qu'il pensa en expirer de douleur il voulut pourtant la scavoir precisement telle qu'elle estoit et quoy que democlide eust bien voulu l'adoucir il n'osa pourtant le faire parce que le roy luy avoit parle devant tant de monde que spitridate ne pouvant manquer de la scavoir par ailleurs il eust eu sujet de se pleindre s'il ne luy eust pas dit la verite puis que c'estoit precisement sur cette response qu'il devoit former toutes ses resolutions quoy dit il apres avoir tout entendu le roy mon pere pretend que la princesse araminte soit son esclave et qu'une personne illustre qui merite cent couronnes porte des fers ha non non spitridate n'y consentira pas du moins n'oubliera t'il rien pour tascher de delivrer cette incomparable et malheureuse princesse n'admirez vous pas democlide adjoustoit il l'estrange aveuglement des hommes le roy mon pere a passe toute sa vie a se pleindre d'un usurpateur et il le devient luy mesme seulement pour me rendre malheureux il ne veut avoir plusieurs couronnes que pour me mettre en estat de n'en point avoir enfin il n'est roy qu'afin que je ne le sois pas luy qui pourroit s'il vouloit acquerir une 
 gloire immortelle et me rendre le plus heureux d'entre les hommes au lieu qu'il me va rendre le plus infortune car democlide avoir conquis deux royaumes ne garder que celuy qui luy appartient rendre l'autre genereusement et donner la princesse araminte seroit une chose dont tous les siecles parleroient avec admiration cependant il ne le veut pas et il me force enfin d'abandonner ses interests bien qu'il soit mon pere et mon roy de luy desobeir ouvertement et de passer le reste de ma vie comme le plus malheureux prince du monde mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut de merveilleux dans les pleintes de spitridate a ce que me dit depuis democlide fut que l'ambition n'esbranla jamais son amour et que l'amour aussi ne le fit jamais emporter avec exces contre le roy son pere de sorte que conservant la raison malgre la violence de sa douleur il songea promptement a chercher les voyes de delivrer la princesse puis qu'il ne pouvoit faire autre chose et d'autant plus que le lendemain il eut un nouvel advis de la princesse aristee sa soeur qui luy apprenoit que dans peu de jours le roy partiroit pour se rendre dans son armee il s'aperceut mesme que l'ordre qu'avoit receu ce lieutenant general de prendre garde a luy estoit observe soigneusement mais quoy qu'il peust faire comme spitridate estoit adore des chefs et des soldats il ne laissa pas de venir a bout de son dessein pour ne perdre point de temps spitridate envoya dire publiquement a 
 la princesse que le roy son pere n'avoit point encore respondu a ses propositions et que dans peu de jours il viendroit luy mesme luy faire scavoir sa response cependant apres avoir instruit democlide de ce qu'il avoit a faire et advise ensemble par quelle voye il pourroit delivrer la princesse il luy commanda d'entrer dans la ville deguise en paisan comme la tresve duroit encore il ne luy fut pas difficile de le faire et des qu'il y fut il vint au chateau demander a parler a moy ce qui luy fut accorde il me donna un billet de spitridate qui me disoit seulement que je creusse tout ce que democlide me diroit si bien que luy donnant une audience particuliere il m'aprit le peu de succes de son voyage le desespoir de spitridate la resolution qu'il avoit prise de delivrer la princesse et l'ordre qu'il avoit donne pour cela il me dit donc que les troupes qu'il commandoit en son particulier avoient leur quartier tout le long du courant du fleuve qu'ainsi il faloit que nous sortissions de la ville la nuit dans un bateau et que nous allassions aborder a l'endroit ou estoient ses troupes qui nous escorteroient jusques a la mer qui n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades de la et qu'il avoit donne ordre au port le plus proche de s'assurer d'un vaisseau il me dit encore que pour obliger la princesse a se confier en luy spitridate vouloit le premier luy faire voir qu'il se confioit en elle c'est pourquoy me dit il la princesse envoyera s'il luy plaist justement a my-nuit a une porte de la ville qu'il 
 me nomma avec ordre de le laisser entrer car je scay qu'il s'y doit rendre avec un escuyer seulement je vous laisse a penser seigneur si je fus en diligence trouver la princesse et luy mener democlide quoy que tout ce que je luy disois luy donnast matiere d'estonnement et de douleur neantmoins il ne se falut pas amuser a faire des pleintes et il falut resoudre a partir des la nuit prochaine comme toutes les femmes qui estoient avec elle luy avoient este donnees par artane nous ne songeasmes point a les mener et comme tous ces capitaines avoient este du mauvais parti elle estoit un peu en peine de scavoir si elle devoit s'y confier neantmoins comme ils luy avoient tesmoigne beaucoup d'affection depuis la mort d'artane elle avoit quelque regret de les abandonner a la victoire de ses ennemis toutefois l'ayant priee de considerer qu'elle ne les pouvoit pas mener avec elle et que demeurat maistres de cabira ils estoient tousjours en estat de faire une capitulation honorable il fut resolu qu'elle ne se confieroit qu'a ceux qui seroient necessaires pour executer la chose c'est a dire pour faire entrer spitridate et pour nous laisser sortir
 
 
 
 
mais seigneur il a desja si longtemps que j'abuse de vostre bonte par la longueur de mon recit qu'il faut vous dire en peu de mots que j'eus ordre de parler a deux de ces capitaines que je trouvay si disposez a servir la princesse aveuglement en toutes choses que tout ce que nous avions a faire s'executa sans peine 
 justement a my-nuit democlide avec un de ceux que je dis fut faire entrer spitridate qui n'avoit pas manque de se derober de tout le monde dans son armee et de se trouver a la porte de la ville apres avoir laisse une lettre pour arsamone et une autre pour la princesse aristee des que democlide me l'eut amene je le conduisis dans la chambre de la princesse ou il ne fut pas si tost que se jettant a genoux madame luy dit il serez vous bien assez genereuse pour souffrir a vos pieds le fils de vostre ennemy et pour vouloir recevoir la liberte de la main d'un prince de qui le pere vous veut faire esclave la liberte luy dit elle en le relevant est un si grand bien qu'on le doit prendre de ses plus mortels ennemis mais spitridate adjousta t'elle il n'est pas juste de perdre la sienne pour celle des autres et ce sera bien assez que vous enduriez que j'echape a la victoire du roy vostre pere sans que vous partagiez encore ma mauvaise fortune c'est pourquoy ne vous chargez point de ma fuitte faites semblant de vous en affliger retournez a vostre camp et demeurez en repos durant que j'iray en quelque lieu du monde cacher mes larmes et mes malheurs quoy madame luy dit il vous pouvez donner un semblable conseil a un homme a qui vous avez promis de conserver vostre estime et comment madame le pourriez vous faire s'il faisoit une laschete comme cella la non non divine princesse vous n'avez pas songe a ce que vous avez dit ou vous 
 l'avez dit seulement pour esprouver ma constance cependant comme il n'y a point de temps a perdre partons s'il vous plaist madame et quand nous serons arrivez a la mer et que vous serez dans un vaisseau vous direz apres quelle routte vous voudrez que nous prenions car pour moy il n'y a point de lieu en toute la terre ou je n'aille aveques vous la princesse resista encore quelque temps a spitridate et quoy qu'elle fust bien aise qu'il ne luy accordast pas ce qu'elle luy demandoit elle ne laissa pourtant pas d'insister avec assez d'opiniastrete en apparence mais enfin estant inrervenue dans leur dispute madame luy dis-je il n'est plus temps de deliberer l'heure presse spitridate seroit peut-estre plus en danger aupres du roy son pere qu'aupres de vous et democlide vient de m'advertir que toutes choses sont prestes pour vostre depart enfin seigneur spitridate donna la main a la princesse nous sortismes heureusement du chasteau et de la ville accompagnees seulement de ce prince de l'escuyer qu'il avoit amene de democlide et des deux capitaines qui estoient de l'intelligence et nous entrasmes dans le bateau qui nous attendoit jamais fuitte ne fut plus heureuse que celle la car nous ne trouvasmes aucun obstacle les troupes de democlide quand nous fusmes arrivez ou elles estoient costoyerent tousjours le rivage jusques a la mer et spitridate ayant fait rompre un pont la mesme nuit qui faisoit la communication des autres quartiers avec celuy de 
 democlide nous fusmes presques en seurete des que nous fusmes dans le bateau ce capitaine n'exposant pas mesme ses troupes a la colere d'arsamone car il conduisit la chose en facon qu'elles croyoient agir pour son service et par ses ordres joint que ce n'estoit pas a ces soldats a examiner les commandemens de leur capitaine estans tenus de luy obeir et ainsi ils ne couroient aucune risque enfin seigneur nous trouvasmes le vaisseau qui nous attendoit et nous nous embarquasmes sans scavoir encore ou nous voulions aller n'ayant songe dans le pressant danger ou nous estions qu'a ne tomber pas sous la puissance d'arsamone comme nous fusmes en pleine mer spitridate venant dans la chambre de poupe ou estoit la princesse madame luy dit il vous estes libre et il n'y a personne icy qui ne soit en estat et en volonte de vous obeir ou vous plaist il donc aller cette demande fit venir les larmes aux yeux de la princesse car n'ayant pas un lieu en toute la terre ou elle eust quelque pouvoir elle ne put retenir ce premier sentiment de douleur toutesfois apres avoir un peu raffermy son esprit elle luy dit qu'ayant apris a cabira que le roy son frere en quittant heraclee avoit eu dessein d'aller en capadoce offrir sa personne a ciaxare pour delivrer la princesse sa fille et vous demander secours elle trouvoit qu'elle ne pouvoit avec bienseance chercher un autre azile que celuy la mais spitridate luy dit que le jour auparavant il avoit apris d'un soldat 
 qui venoit de cette armee que la princesse mandane avoit fait naufrage et estoit morte et qu'assurement le roy de pont n'estoit point aupres de ciaxare parce qu'il eust este impossible que ce soldat qui estoit d'heraclee et qui s'en estoit alle avec les troupes d'artaxe ne l'eust pas sceu la princesse ne scachant donc que dire ny que faire resolut enfin qu'il faloit s'esloigner de pont et de bithinie s'aprocher de capadoce et s'esclaircir de ce que ce soldat avoit dit nous tinsmes donc toute la nuit et tout le lendemain cette route mais vers le soir il se leva une tempeste furieuse qui dura toute la nuit suivante apres laquelle le vent nous jetta contre un banc de sable ou par bonne fortune nous ne fismes qu'eschouer sans que le vaisseau se brisast en ce lieu la nous vismes toute la mer couverte des debris d'un naufrage et sur des pointes de rochers assez pres de nous quelques gens morts et quelques autres mourans nous fusmes pourtant assez long temps sans pouvoir mettre l'esquif en mer pour aller voir s'il n'y avoit quelqu'un de ces miserables en estat d'estre secouru parce que la tempeste duroit encore mais comme les flots furent un peu calmez on y fut et on trouva qu'il y en avoit encore deux qui respiroient on les aporta dans nostre vaissau ou ils ne furent pas si tost qu'estant allee par charite donner quelque conseil a ceux qui les assistoient je reconnus un de ces hommes pour estre un esclave du roy de pont je ne l'eus pas plustost veu que je fis un grand cry et que 
 l'apellant par son nom il tourna les yeux de mon coste et fit effort pour me respondre sans le pouvoir faire il paroissoit pourtant bien qu'il me connoissoit car il levoit les mains au ciel comme pour deplorer l'infortune du roy son maistre et pour tesmoigner l'estonnement qu'il avoit de me voir mais durant que je faisois redoubler les soins que la seule humanite faisoit prendre de luy quelqu'un fut inconsiderement advertir la princesse de cette rencontre qui voulut elle mesme voir ce malheureux comme elle l'avoit autrefois donne au roy son frere il connoissoit fort le son de sa voix si bien qu'elle n'eut pas plustost parle a luy qu'il fit un plus grand effort pour luy respondre qu'il n'avoit point encore fait et il fit tant enfin qu'il prononca assez distinctement ces paroles ha madame est-ce vous ouy luy repliqua t'elle mais ou est le roy presentement en armenie luy dit il et il m'avoit envoye pour vous aller porter en achevant ces mots il retomba en foiblesse et peu de temps apres il entra dans l'agonie et mourut sans pouvoir achever de dire ce qu'il avoit commence l'autre homme que l'on avoit encore aporte dans nostre vaisseau mourut aussi sans parler ainsi nous n'en pusmes scavoir davantage on fit chercher dans les habillemens de cet esclave s'il n'auroit point de lettres et en effet il s'y en trouva une mais par malheur l'eau en avoit afface tous les carracteres a la reserve de deux ou trois que la princesse reconnut estre de la main 
 du roy son frere cette rencontre renouvella toutes ses douleurs et durant que l'on travailla a remettre le vaisseau en estat de flotter et a le degager de ce banc de sable elle ne s'occupa qu'a considerer l'opiniastrete de la fertune a l'affliger car disoit elle ce n'est parce que ce malheureux esclave a este a moy et que parce qu'il avoit quelque chose a me dire qu'il est mort cependant on travailla si heureusement que nous nous remismes en mer apres que l'on eut ensevely dans ce mesme sable et ce pauvre esclave et tous ces autres morts qui estoient sur les pointes de ces rochers et par les ordres de la princesse qui en pria spitridate nous prismes la resolution d'aller aborder a une plage qui n'est pas extremement esloignee de l'endroit ou la basse armenie du coste du pont confine avec une petite province qui estoit autrefois au roy de vous dire seigneur les entretiens de spitridate et de la princesse araminte pendant cette navigation il ne seroit pas aise car tout ce que l'amour et la vertu peuvent faire dire a deux personnes malheureuses ils se le dirent l'un a l'autre mais enfin apres estre arrivez a cette plage nous y quittasmes nostre vaisseau et democlide a qui spitridate avoit fait prendre autant d'argent qu'il en faloit pour un long voyage lors que nous avions passe a son quartier fut a la ville la plus proche nous acheter des chevaux pour aller gagner l'euphrate sur lequel nous nous mismes car comme vous scavez ce fleuve separe les deux 
 armenies comme il fut question de scavoir ce que deviendroit spitridate ce fut la plus pitoyable chose du monde principalement quand nous fusmes arrivez en armenie et que la princesse luy dit qu'il faloit l'abandonner j'advoue luy dit elle que je me fie point assez a la generosite du roy mon frere quoy qu'il soit tres genereux pour remettre en ses mains un prince qu'il n'a jamais fort aime qui est fils de son ennemy et d'un ennemy encore qui luy a oste deux royaumes ainsi spitridate comme vous avez eu assez de vertu pour m'empescher de tomber entre les mains du roy vostre pere il faut que j'en aye aussi assez pour ne vous remettre pas entre celles du roy mon frere ha madame dit il s'il n'y a que mon interest qui vous tienne en peine ne m'empeschez pas de vous suivre car quand le roy vostre frere me mal-traiteroit je l'endurerois pour l'amour de vous je n'en doute pas luy dit elle mais il faut endurer l'absence pour l'amour de moy puis que je ne pourrois pas vous voir et vivre mal aveque vous et que je ne juge pas non plus que le roy mon frere trouvast bon que j'y vescusse bien parce qu'il croiroit peut-estre que l'esperance de jouir de deux couronnes feroit toute ma douceur pour spitridate mais madame luy dit il que voulez vous que je devienne allez luy dit elle en quelque lieu seur pour vostre personne attendre que la fortune se lasse de nous persecuter et que le coeur du roy vostre pere se change mais madame reprit il 
 puis que j'abandonne tout pour vous ne pourriez vous point abandonner pour un peu de temps quelque petite partie de cette rigoureuse bienseance que vous voulez garder en toutes choses car si vous m'aimiez veritablement et qu'il vous souvinst de la naissance de ma passion du respect que j'ay eu pour vous des peines que j'ay souffertes des prisons que j'ay endurees de la rigueur de mon exil et de ce que l'abandonne presentement pour vostre seul interest il me semble dis-je que vous pourriez vous resoudre a m'accorder la permission de vivre deguise aupres de vous ou de nous en aller ensemble en quelque lieu esloigne de toute connoissance attendre que par la volonte des dieux je pusse un jour rendre un couronne au roy vostre frere et vous en donner une autre ce que vous dittes repliqua la princesse ne seroit ny juste ny glorieux j'rriterois l'esprit du roy mon frere vous irriteriez encore davantage celuy d'arsamone et nous nous exposerions a mille malheurs inutilement souffrez donc dit il que sans me deguiser et sans vous bannir j'aille aveques vous aupres du roy de pont quand il seroit capable de vous bien recevoir respondit elle ce ne seroit assurement qu'a condition que vous porteriez les armes contre le roy vostre pere ce que vous ne feriez pas sans doute et ce que je ne vous conseillerois pas de faire ainsi spitridate il faut me quitter il faut vous quitter madame reprit il avec une douleur extreme ouy adjousta t'elle et si la raison ne 
 suffit pas pour vous y obliger j'y joindray mes prieres et mesme mes commandemens car en fin ma gloire le veut et vostre propre interest le demande vous avez cet avantage poursuivit elle qu'en l'estat qu'est ma fortune vous n'aurez gueres de rivaux ha madame s'ecria spitridate en vous ostant des couronnes on ne vous a pas oste une beaute sans egale un esprit incomparable et une venu sans seconde ainsi madame je dois tousjours tout aprehender principalement scachant que le roy vostre frere vous parlera continuellement contre moy ne regardez pourtant jamais spitridate comme le fils d'un usurpateur mais regardez le tousjours comme un prince qui ne sera jamais roy qu'il ne remette aussi tost une couronne dans vostre maison et qu'il ne vous en donne une autre je vous l'ay desja dit et je vous le redis encore vous regnerez madame ou je ne regneray point c'est pourquoy ayez s'il vous plaist l'equite de donner du moins quelque assurance d'affection a un homme qui vous consacre tous les momens de sa vie ne me bannissez pas d'aupres de vous sans m'assurer que je demeureray dans vostre coeur et que rien ne m'en pourra chasser car sans cela madame je ne scaurois vous obeir je vous promets luy dit elle de faire valoir vostre generosite aupres du roy mon frere le plus qu'il me sera possible et de me souvenir eternellement du commandement que me fit en mourant le prince sinnesis de conserver pour vous toute ma vie une affection 
 toute entiere le puis-je esperer madame interrompit ce prince afflige je serois bien injuste et bien ingratte repliqua t'elle si j'y manquois tant que vous agirez comme vous faites et puis cette affection est si pure et si innocente qu'il y auroit plus de crime a la combatre qu'a la conserver je ne scay madame adjousta t'il si j'oserois vous dire que je la trouve un peu foible je ne scay spitridate interrompit elle si j'oserois vous advouer qu'elle me semble un peu trop forte et qu'ainsi vous avez tort de vous pleindre mais madame reprit il que faites vous pour moy et que ne fais-je pas pour vous vous faites toutes choses respondit elle je ne le scaurois nier mais puis qu'en ne faisant rien pour vous je fais pourtant tout ce que je puis et mesme peut-estre plus que je ne dois vous devez estre satisfait eh bons dieux divine princesse adjousta t'il encore une fois que faites vous que je puisse expliquer a mon advantage je vous monstre ma douleur respondit elle que je vous pourrois cacher je vous permets de lire dans mes yeux les sentimens de mon ame et je souffre enfin que vous croiyez que je vous prefereray toute ma vie dans mon coeur a tout le reste du monde tant que vous serez ce que vous estes jugez apres cela si spitridate en peut desirer davantage et si la princesse araminte peut faire plus pour le fils d'arsamone cependant spitridate prenez garde que l'ambition ne change vostre ame durant l'absence elle dis-je qui a accoustume de changer celle 
 de tous les hommes pour vous en assurer reprit il ne me bannissez point je voudrois le pouvoir faire respondit elle mais cela ne se peut pas et il faut absolument que vous partiez enfin seigneur je serois trop longue si je voulois vous redire toute cette triste conversation qui en verite devint si tendre et si genereuse de tous les deux costez que j'en pleuray en l'entendant car je fus tousjours presente a cet entretien la princesse l'ayant ainsi voulu ce fut en vain que spitridate fit encore quelques efforts pour demeurer aupres d'elle puisque des que nous fusmes un peu avant en armenie ou elle ne pouvoit plus craindre arsamone elle voulut qu'il la quittast et elle le fit resoudre a s'en aller ou en cilicie ou en paphlagonie attendre quelque changement en leurs fortunes il vouloit differer a partir qu'elle sceust precisement ou estoit le roy son frere et qu'elle fust a artaxate d'ou nous estions encore assez loin mais elle ne le voulut pas craignant estrangement que spitridate ne tombast entre les mains du roy son frere en l'estat qu'estoient les choses ainsi il falut qu'il luy obeist mais seigneur il ne sera jamais rien de plus triste que cette separation il voulut que democlide qui le vouloit suivre demeurast avec la princesse aussi bien que ces deux capitaines qui estoient aveques nous et il ne mena que son escuyer je ne vous diray point toutes les particularitez de cet adieu car en verite je ne le pourrois pas sans respandre encore des larmes et sans vous donner 
 des marques de foiblesse que vous condamneriez peut-estre tant y a seigneur que spitridate partit le plus afflige de tous les hommes et que la princesse demeura la plus melancolique personne du monde cependant il falut continuer nostre voyage quitter l'euphrate prendre un chariot et nous aprocher d'artaxate comme la princesse ne scavoit pas les intentions du roy son frere elle ne voulut pas estre connue pour ce qu'elle estoit jusques a ce qu'elle l'eust veu si bien que nous marchions sans luy rendre les honneurs qu'on luy devoit comme nous fusmes arrivez a artaxate ou l'on se peut cacher aisement a cause de sa grandeur nous nous informasmes s'il n'estoit pas vray que le roy de pont y fust arrive mais tous ceux a qui nous en parlasmes nous dirent tousjours qu'il n'y estoit pas la princesse qui ne pouvoit se l'imaginer creut d'abord que peut-estre n'y avoit il que les gens d'une plus haute condition qui sceussent la chose et que pour des raisons qu'elle ne comprenoit pas le roy son frere n'auroit pas voulu estre receu avec ceremonie enfin elle ordonna tant de fois a democlide et a ces deux capitaines qui estoient aveques nous de s'informer de ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir qu'ils devinrent suspects de quelque dessein cachee a ceux a qui ils s'adresserent de plus le prince phraarte frere de l'illustre tigrane et second fils du roy d'armenie ayant veu fortuitement la princesse araminte entrer dans un petit temple escarte ou nous allions de 
 fort grand matin la trouva si belle qu'il eut la curiosite de scavoir qui estoit cette estrangere car quoy que nous nous fussions habillees en armeniennes il presupposa bien que la princesse n'estoit pas d'artaxate puis qu'il n'avoit point ouy parler de sa beaute de sorte que voulant scavoir qui elle estoit et ou elle demeuroit il la fit suivre par un des siens celuy a qui il donna cet employ s'en estant aquite adroitement et s'estant informe de nous luy raporta que nous avions quelque dessein cache qu'assurement la princesse estoit une personne de grande qualite quoy que nous ne le dissions pas et par ce discours il donna une forte envie a ce prince de scavoir qui estoit effectivement la princesse dans ce mesme temps un officier du roy d'armenie qui logeoit aupres de nous ayant este dire a ce prince qu'il y avoit des gens deguisez dans artaxate qui avoient quelque mauvais dessein comme presques toute l'asie estoit en armes et qu'il scavoit bien qu'il avoit irrite le roy des medes en luy refusant le tribut qu'il payoit a astiage pour ne rien negliger il envoya nous demander qui nous estions d'abord nous deguisasmes la verite mais comme nous ne fusmes point creues et que la princesse eut peur de se trouver exposee a quelque fascheuse avanture elle se resolut a dire les choses comme elles estoient et demanda pour cela a parler au roy ce prince se trouvant un peu mal donna commission au prince phraarte qui se rencontra aupres de 
 luy de s'eclaircir de la chose il vint donc voir la princesse de qui la beaute avoit fait une si forte impression dans son ame enfin seigneur il vint comme je le dis voir araminte elle luy dit sa condition il la creut sans difficulte et luy assura que le roy son frere n'estoit point venu en cette cour il fit mille civilitez a la princesse en suitte de quoy il fut en diligence retrouver le roy son pere avec intention de l'obliger a la bien traiter et a la recevoir selon sa qualite mais ce prince qui est soubconneux et un peu avare prit une resolution differente de celle du prince son fils car il ne voulut point la reconnoistre de peur d'estre oblige de faire de la despense et de peur aussi d'irriter un prince heureux comme l'est presentement arsamone en donnant un azile a la soeur de son ennemy ainsi malgre les alliances que les rois de pont avoient tousjours eues avec les rois d'armenie il fit semblant de croire que c'estoit une supposition et commanda que l'on s'assurast de la princesse et de tous ceux qui l'accompagnoient car je l'ay sceu depuis par un confident de phraarte ce jeune prince s'opposa autant qu'il put au dessein du roy son pere qui ne voulant pas que la chose eclatast luy deffendit de rien dire de ce que la princesse luy avoit dit voulant sans doute la garder pour s'en servir selon les occurrences soit en la rendant au roy de pont soit en la remettant entre les mains d'arsamone phraarte desespere de cette resolution fit du moins en sorte que l'on 
 nous mit dans ce chasteau ou nous fusmes conduites avec ces deux capitaines qui sont encore icy car pour democlide la princesse le conjura de vouloir aller chercher des nouvelles du roy son frere de sorte que lors que l'on nous vint prendre il se cacha et ne put estre pris comme nous vous pouvez juger quelle douleur eut la princesse de voir que son azile devenoit sa prison et de ne pouvoir esperer d'en sortir que par une assistance des dieux toute extraordinaire depuis cela seigneur nous avons tousjours este en ce mesme lieu sans autre consolation que celle du prince phraarte qui a visite tres souvent la princesse bien est il vray que lors que vous avez pris ce chasteau ses frequentes visites commencoient de l'affliger et de me donner de l'inquietude car malgre les ordres du roy qui ne la vouloit pas reconnoistre pour ce qu'elle est on la traitoit avec un respect si grand qu'il estoit aise de s'apercevoir de la cause qui le faisoit desobeir au roy son pere et que l'amour commencoit d'estre un peu trop forte en son ame cependant nous n'avons eu aucunes nouvelles ny du roy du pont ny de spitridate ny de democlide et nous n'avons pas mesmes ouy parler du roy de bithinie voila seigneur quelle est la fortune de la princesse araminte que nous irons trouver quand il vous plaira dans son cabinet n'ayant plus rien a vous dire ny rien a faire qu'a vous conjurer de la vouloir proteger
 
 
 
 
il n'est pas besoin repliqua cyrus sage et 
 discrette hesionide que vous me priyez d'une chose que tant de raisons m'obligent de faire la beaute la vertu la condition et les malheurs de cette princesse y pourroient forcer les plus insensibles c'est pourquoy allons puis que vous le trouvez a propos l'assurer qu'elle n'a pas plus d'infortune que j'ay de desir de la servir car encore qu'elle soit soeur d'un prince qui est mon rival et qui tient en sa puissance tout ce qui m'est le plus cher au monde je seray aussi equitable qu'elle qui sans accuser le prince spitridate de l'ambition du roy son pere scait faire un juste discernement de toutes choses sans preoccupation en suitte de cela cyrus remercia hesionide de la peine qu'elle avoit eue de luy raconter les malheurs de la princesse araminte et passant de la chambre ou ils estoient dans le cabinet ou elle estoit apres l'en avoir fait advertir il la salua avec un redoublement de civilite extresme madame luy dit il en l'abordant quand je vous ay visitee je ne connoissois encore que vostre condition vostre beaute et une partie de vostre esprit mais presentement que l'en voy toute l'estendue et que je connois de plus la grandeur de vostre ame de vostre vertu et de vos infortunes je vous regarde avec plus de respect et plus d'admiration qu'auparavant cette derniere chose dont vous parlez respondit elle et qui est la seule ou je puis prendre part n'a guerre accoustume d'augmenter le respect dans l'ame des hommes mais aussi n'estes vous pas une 
 personne ordinaire et je ne dois attendre de vous que des miracles vous devez attendre de tout le monde raisonnable respondit il de la soumission et des services et alors pour luy faire connoistre qu'il avoit escoute le recit de ses malheurs avec attention il luy en repassa succinctement les endroits les plus considerables pour l'en pleindre il luy loua mesme extremement spitridate scachant assez qu'il n'est rien de plus obligeant ny de plus sensible que d'entendre dire du bien de ce que l'on aime enfin il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut propre a consoler cette grande princesse de laquelle il attendoit aussi a son tour quelque soulagement a ses maux quand elle pourroit parler au roy son frere apres s'estre donc fait l'un a l'autre mille protestations d'une amitie reciproque il la quitta et s'en alla donner les ordres necessaires pour les choses de la guerre il sceut qu'artaxate estoit toujours paisible que les passages estoient bien gardez et qu'hidaspe qui estoit poste vers le pied des montagnes ou le roy d'armenie s'estoit retire avoit pris plusieurs petits convois de vivres et de munitions que les paisans armez y vouloient conduire en suitte de quoy estant retourne a son apartement il donna le reste du soir au souvenir de sa chere princesse il s'ennuyoit de voir que ciaxare n'arrivoit pas il estoit fasche de n'aprendre point ou estoit le roy d'assirie il s'affligeoit de ne scavoir pas ou estoit mandane et faisant comparaison des malheurs de la princesse araminte 
 a ceux qu'il souffroit quelques grands qu'ils fussent il trouvoit encore les siens plus insuportables il se souvint alors de ce qu'hesionide luy avoit raconte de certains marchands persans qui avoient veu faire naufrage a spitridate au port de chalcedoine et il jugea bien que cet accident avoit este la cause de la nouvelle de sa mort par la ressemblance parfaite que l'on disoit estre entre luy et ce prince et qu'en suitte le mesme spitridate en perse et depuis encore en medie avoit aussi cause le bruit de sa resurrection enfin passant insensiblement d'une chose a une autre sans abandonner pourtant jamais l'agreable souvenir de sa chere princesse il passa presques toute la nuit sans dormir ne croyant pas qu'il luy fust permis de donner un seul moment de sa vie a aucune autre chose qu'a l'innocente passion qui regnoit dans son coeur 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a peine le soleil commencoit il de monstrer ses premiers rayons que cyrus fut adverty qu'il paroissoit des troupes tout a l'extremite de la plaine a la droite d'artaxate comme ce n'estoit pas le coste par ou ciaxare devoit venir et que de plus il n'en avoit point eu de nouvelles il s'imagina que s'estoit peut-estre quelque secours qui venoit au roy d'armenie de sorte que montant a cheval il fut luy mesme reconnoistre ce que c'estoit il envoya aussi tost ses ordres par tous les quartiers afin que ceux 
 qui y commandoient ne peussent estre surpris et que tout se rendist au champ de bataille et apres avoir forme un gros des troupes les plus proches de luy et les avoir postees avantageusement il fut luy mesme observer la marche de celles qui paroissoient et que l'on ne connoissoit point il ne fut pas plustost arrive sur une petite eminence d'ou l'on descouvroit toute la plaine d'artaxate depuis le pied des montagnes des chaldees jusques a celles ou le roy d'armenie s'estoit retire qu'il vit en effet a sa droite mais encore fort loing des troupes qui sembloient faire alte pendant qu'un gros environ de cinquante chevaux seulement s'en estoit detache prenant droit le chemin du lieu ou cyrus estoit il n'eut pas plustost remarque cela que detachant aussi pareil nombre des siens sous la conduite d'aglatidas il envoya reconnoistre ce que c'estoit demeurant avec assez d'impatience a observer ce qui se passoit et voulant s'il estoit possible deviner quelles pouvoient estre ces troupes cependant comme aglatidas en l'estat qu'estoit son ame ne cherchoit rien avec tant de soin que les occasions de se perdre il obeit a cyrus aveques joye et apres avoir exhorte a bien faire ceux qui le suivoient s'il faloit combatre il s'avanca la javeline haute a la main vers ceux qui venoient a luy comme ils furent arrivez assez pres les uns des autres et presques a la portee d'un traict aglatidas qui se preparoit desja a charger ceux qu'il regardoit et qu'il croyoit des ennemis vit 
 que celuy qui commandoit ces cinquante chevaux qui venoient a luy abaissa sa javeline en signe de paix et fit faire la mesme chose a tous ceux qui le suivoient aglatidas surpris de cette action fit faire ferme aux siens et s'avanca luy troisiesme pour voir ce que c'estoit et en mesme temps le chef de ces pretendus ennemis s'avanca seul au devant de luy la javeline basse et en action d'un homme qui cherche a parler et qui ne veut pas combatre aglatidas voyant cela fit arrester les deux qui le suivoient et baissant aussi sa javeline il s'aprocha de celuy qui sembloit le chercher et vit que c'estoit un homme de la meilleure mine du monde couvert des plus belles armes qu'il fust possible de voir et monte sur un cheval merveilleusement beau ils se saluerent l'un et l'autre avec beaucoup de civilite et cet inconnu prenant la parole comme je ne viens pas presentement dit il a aglatidas pour vous combatre faites moy la grace de me conduire a vostre general et si vous trouvez que ces cinquante chevaux soient trop pour mon escorte j'iray seul sur vostre foy la generosite que vous avez reprit aglatidas de vous fier a un homme que vous ne connoissez point me fait assez connoistre que l'on ne doit rien craindre de vous et doit m'empescher d'avoir le moindre sentiment de deffiance c'est pourquoy vous n'avez s'il vous plaist qu'a commander a vos gens de suivre les miens apres cela aglatidas marchant a coste de cet estranger le fit passer adroitement a la teste des 
 siens mettant de cette sorte ses gens entre cet inconnu et ceux qu'il avoit amenez cependant cyrus estoit fort estonne de remarquer ce qui se passoit dans cette plaine et il ne pouvoit comprendre quelle pouvoit estre cette avanture il en fut si inquiete que ne pouvant demeurer plus long temps a la place ou il estoit il s'avanca quarante ou cinquante pas suivy de quelques uns des chefs et d'une partie des volontaires mais avec une curiosite si grande que luy mesme en estoit estonne il connut d'assez loing par l'action de cet estranger que c'estoit un homme bien fait mais enfin estant arrive assez pres pour pouvoir discerner les traits de son visage il fut estrangement surpris de voir que c'estoit le roy d'assirie cette veue le fit changer de couleur et donna un nouveau lustre a son taint qui le fit encore paroistre de meilleure mine et le roy d'assirie de son coste ne vit pas plustost cyrus qu'il en parut fort esmeu neantmoins comme ils estoient tous deux infiniment genereux apres qu'aglatidas se fut avance pour dire a cyrus que cet estranger qu'il ne connoissoit point car il n'avoit fait que l'entre-voir un moment sur le haut de la tour de sinope avoit voulu estre conduit aupres de luy ils se saluerent fort civilement et descendant de cheval en mesme temps cyrus comme n'estant que fils de roy et comme estant le plus civil de tous les hommes rendit a ce prince tous les honneurs qu'il eust pu attendre s'il eust encore este maistre de babilone et paisible possesseur de tout 
 le royaume d'assirie le roy d'assirie de son coste eut aussi pour cyrus toute la civilite qu'il estoit oblige d'avoir pour un prince qui meritoit l'empire de toute la terre et qui de plus estoit son liberateur et son vainqueur tout ensemble il y avoit pourtant quelque chose de si grand dans les civilitez qu'ils se faisoient l'un a l'autre qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'ils estoient tous deux de condition a en recevoir de tout le monde et il estoit mesme assez facile de remarquer a ceux qui scavoient leurs interests que leur esprit n'estoit pas tranquile il y avoit je ne scay quelle fierte dans leurs yeux qui descouvroit malgre eux l'agitation de leur ame et je ne scay quelle contrainte en leurs civilitez qui les faisoit connoistre pour rivaux et pour ennemis cependant apres qu'ils furent descendus de cheval et que par respect tout le monde se fut retire a dix ou douze pas loing d'eux comme je n'ay pas change de sentimens dit le roy d'assirie en quitant le nom de philidaspe je veux croire que vous n'aurez pas aussi change de resolution en cessant d'estre artamene et que je trouveray en cyrus le mesme prince avec qui je fis des conditions sur le haut de la tour de sinope j'espere dis-je que nous chercherons nostre princesse ensemble que nous combatrons pour elle que nous la delivrerons et que jusques alors nous vivrons ensemble comme si nous n'avions rien a demesler enfin j'attens en suitte de vostre grand coeur la derniere satisfaction que vous m'avez promise et 
 que tout vaincu que je suis par la force de vos armes vous ne refuserez pas de disputer cette illustre et derniere victoire aveques moy vous avez raison luy repliqua cyrus de croire que je ne manqueray jamais a la parole que je vous ay donnee c'est pourquoy vous devez vous tenir autant en seurete dans l'armee du roy des medes que si vous estiez a la teste de la vostre car je suis assure que ce prince ne manquera non plus que moy a la promesse qu'il vous a faite je scay bien reprit le roy d'assirie que le vainqueur de babilone doit trouver quelque chose d'estrange de voir que ce mesme prince qu'il a vaincu en combat particulier et depuis en bataille rangee qui de plus luy doit la vie et qui n'a aucune place dans le coeur de la princesse mandane veuille encore luy disputer un prix qu'il merite qu'il a conquis et qu'elle luy a donne mais apres tout l'amour est ma seule raison j'aime et vous aimez il n'en faut pas davantage et comme nous n'avons pas fait la guerre par ambition mais par amour seulement avoir conqueste des provinces et des royaumes n'est pas absolument avoir vaincu ainsi ce n'est que par ma mort que vous pouvez jour de la victoire et vous acquerir un repos que rien apres ne scauroit troubler il est certain repliqua cyrus que je n'ay pas fait la guerre par ambition et pleust aux dieux que la fortune vous eust laisse maistre de babilone et qu'elle ne m'eust pas enleve la princesse mandane je voudrois adjousta t'il 
 que cette capricieuse fortune ne m'eust pas mis dans la necessite de ne pouvoir estre heureux que par l'infortune d'un aussi grand prince que vous mais puis que la chose est en ces termes il n'y faut plus penser et il ne nous reste rien a faire qu'a songer seulement l'un et l'autre a mettre nostre princesse en estat de bien recevoir le vainqueur et de donner quelques larmes au vaincu faisons dis-je de si grandes choses pour la delivrer que nous nous rendions dignes de son estime et de sa compassion car connoissant vostre valeur adjousta cyrus avec un modestie extreme je dois plustost songer a pouvoir meriter ses larmes qu'a posseder son affection apres vostre deffaitte mais poursuivit il nous n'en sommes pas encore la puis que mesme nous ne scavons pas ou est la princesse mandane le roy d'assirie s'affligea alors avec cyrus de cette cruelle avanture et luy rendant conte de ce qu'il avoit fait il luy apprit qu'en partant de pterie il estoit alle en une province de ses estats qui n'avoit pas este assujettie par luy qui est le long de l'euphrate et qui confine a l'armenie que la il avoit ramasse quelques unes de ses troupes qui avec quelques nouvelles levees qu'il avoit faites faisoient a peu pres douze mille hommes en suitte cyrus avec une generosite extreme et se contraignant admirablement luy rendit conte en peu de mots de l'estat des choses apres quoy le roy d'assirie luy dit qu'il disposast de ses troupes comme 
 me il le trouveroit a propos cyrus s'en deffendit quelque temps mais enfin il donna les ordres necessaires pour leur campement jusques a ce que l'on eust advise avec plus de loisir quels quartiers on leur donneroit apres cela ces deux illustres rivaux remontant a cheval et prenant le chemin du chasteau ou estoit la princesse araminte l'on eust dit qu'ils estoient amis et qu'ils n'avoient rien a demesler ensemble en allant cyrus fit voir son armee en bataille au roy d'assirie luy monstra ses divers quartiers les montagnes ou le roy d'armenie s'estoit retire et les divers postes qu'il avoit fait occuper mais de temps en temps ils soupiroient tous deux et l'amour la haine et la douleur agitoient si fort leur esprit qu'ils avoient besoin de toute la grandeur de leur ame pour pouvoir demeurer dans les termes de civilite qu'ils s'estoient prescrits le roy d'assirie dit a cyrus qu'il avoit sceu que cresus roy de lydie armoit sans qu'il en eust sceu la raison scachant bien du moins que ce n'estoit ny pour ciaxare ny pour luy ainsi s'entretenant de diverses choses mais principalement de l'esperance qu'ils avoient de scavoir des nouvelles de la princesse mandane par la prise du roy d'armenie ils arriverent au chasteau ou cyrus ayant fait donner un fort bel apartement au roy d'assirie le laissa pour aller songer aux choses necessaires a leur dessein joint aussi que la veue de ce rival luy remit si fortement dans l'esprit tous les demeslez qu'il avoit eus aveques luy 
 ors qu'il n'estoit que philidaspe qu'il fut bien aise ce pouvoir prendre un quart d heure pour s'entretenir dans sa chambre ou il ne voulut estre suivy que de feraulas ce n'estoit donc pas assez dit il a ce cher confident de sa passion d'estre esloigne de ce que j'aime plus que ma vie sans estre encore oblige de voir ce que je dois hair jusques a la mort cependant la generosite veut que je suspende tous mes ressentimens et que j'agisse civilement avec mon plus grand ennemy mais au moins si j'estois assure que la divine mandane me recompensast un jour de la violence que je me fais je serois en quelque sorte console pour moy interrompit feraulas je croy que vous devez plustost attendre des pleintes de la princesse que des remercimens lors qu'elle scaura que vous avez promis au roy d'assirie de vous battre contre luy quand vous l'aurez delivree eh pleust aux dieux reprit l'afflige cyrus avec precipitation pleust aux dieux dis-je qu'elle fust en estat de me faire des reproches et que je fusse en termes de tenir ma parole au roy d'assirie non fortune poursuivit il je ne te demande autre grace que celle de me faire delivrer ma princesse et de me voir l'espee a la main contre ce redoutable rival apres cela laisse faire le reste a ma valeur et a mon amour car quelque brave qu'il soit je ne desespere pas de la victoire mais helas adjoustoit il pendant que la fureur me possede et que la veue de l'ancien philidaspe resveille toutes mes jalousies et toute ma haine le roy 
 de pont ce prince qui m'a tant aime sans me bien connoistre et sans scavoir que j'estois son rival triomphe de toutes mes peines peut-estre dis-je qu'il n'est pas seulement en pouvoir de jouir de la veue de ma princesse mais peut-estre qu'il a gagne son coeur et obtenu son pardon joint que ne l'ayant pas enlevee comme philidaspe et n'ayant presques fait que la sauver d'un naufrage elle ne peut quasi le regarder comme son ravisseur cependant il n'en est pas moins coupable a mes yeux et de quelque coste que je me tourne je ne voy que des ravisseurs de mandane a punir mais helas je ne les voy encore que de loing s'il faut ainsi dire puis qu'il ne m'est pas permis d'attaquer le roy d'assirie presentement et que je ne scay pas ou est le roy de pont comme il en estoit la aglatidas vint luy amener artabane qui depuis leur depart de sinope estoit alle joindre ciaxare et venoit assurer cyrus que dans deux jours toute l'armee arriveroit devant artaxate ce prince le receut aveque joye et parce que ce qu'il luy disoit luy estoit agreable et parce qu'il estoit amy d'aglatidas il s'informa aveque soing de la sante de ciaxare de celle des rois de phrigie et d'hircanie de tous les autres princes qui estoient dans cette armee et de l'estat ou elle estoit en suitte de quoy jugeant a propos d'aller aprendre cette nouvelle au roy d'assirie et a la princesse araminte il dit fort obligeamment a aglatidas qu'il prist soing de son amy mais adjousta t'il adressant la parole a 
 artabane ne luy dittes rien d'amestris qui l'afflige car sa propre passion le tourmente assez sans y joindre peut-estre quelque nouveau malheur je suis bien marri seigneur repliqua artabane de ne vous pouvoir obeir mais en venant icy j'ay desja dit en peu de mots a aglatidas que cette belle personne n'est pas heureuse et je luy ay apris aussi qu'otane n'a pas voulu recevoir le gouvernement de la province des arisantins que vous luy aviez fait donner otane reprit cyrus fort surpris n'a pas voulu accepter une chose si advantageuse pour luy et par quel sentiment en a t'il use ainsi je n'en scay rien seigneur respondit il mais je scay bien qu'il a quitte ecbatane et que l'on disoit quand j'en suis parti qu'il s'estoit venu jetter dans artaxate de sorte que si cela est vray il est assurement sur ces montagnes ou le roy d'armenie s'est retire si cela est dit cyrus a aglatidas il pourra estre que nous delivrerons amestris plustost que mandane car il est a croire qu'otane ayant fait une si lasche action que celle de se jetter parmi les ennemis de son prince et de son prince encore qui luy donnoit un gouvernement tant au dela de son merite il y perira et y mourra et si cela est adjousta t'il en sous-riant a demy malgre sa melancolie il faudra qu'aglatidas aille consoler amestris je ne scay reprit cet amant afflige si je seray jamais en estat de pouvoir consoler les autres mais je scay bien qu'il y a longtemps que j'ay besoin de consolation en suitte il remercia 
 cyrus des tesmoignages de tendresse qu'il luy donnoit et apres l'avoir acconpagne jusques a l'apartement de la princesse araminte il s'en alla entretenir son cher artabane avec plus de liberte et plus de loisir qu'il n'en avoit eu afin d'apprendre plus particulierement de luy tout ce qu'il scavoit d'amestris cependant apres que cyrus eut apris a la princesse araminte l'arrivee du roy d'assirie et la nouvelle qu'il venoit de recevoir de ciaxare il passa a l'apartement de son rival de qui les sentimens n'estoient guere plus tranquiles que ceux de cyrus qui du moins pouvoit vray-semblablement esperer d'estre aime et d'estre heureux des qu'il auroit delivre mandane et vaincu le roy d'assirie mais pour luy il ne pouvoit qu'en se flattant sur l'esperance de l'oracle pretendre jamais a autre satisfaction qu'a celle de se vanger de cyrus s'il le surmontoit ce n'est pas que comme l'esperance est inseparable de l'amour il ne creust quelques-fois que si cet illustre rival n'estoit plus il ne peust occuper sa place mais ces momens la passoient bien viste et il croyoit bien plus souvent malgre cette assurance qu'il pensoit avoir receue du ciel que quand mesme il auroit tue cyrus il en seroit encore plus hai qu'il ne croyoit en devoir estre plus aime c'estoit donc en de pareils sentimens que ce prince s'entretenoit lors que cyrus entra dans sa chambre pour luy dire ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre par artabane apres luy avoir parle un quart d'heure pour resoudre quel quartier 
 on donneroit le lendemain aux troupes qu'il avoit amenees il le quitta pour aller songer a tant d'autres choses qu'il avoit a faire pendant quoy le roy d'assirie fut visiter la princesse araminte apres luy en avoir envoye demander la permission qu'elle luy accorda mais durant que cette conversation se fit cyrus envoya advertir ceux qui commandoient aux divers postes qu'il occupoit afin qu'ils ne fussent pas surpris lors qu'ils verroient arriver les troupes de ciaxare il envoya mesme dans artaxate ordonner que l'on preparast le palais du roy d'armenie et pour ciaxare et pour la princesse araminte car comme toute l'armee alloit estre jointe il creut a propos de s'assurer du dedans de la ville conme il s'estoit assure du dehors il sceut encore ce soir la par araspe qu'hidaspe et chrisante avoient deffait quelques troupes que le prince phraarte vouloit faire descendre de la montagne par un chemin destourne pour aller querir des vivres dans la plaine en suitte de quoy il se retira et passa la nuit selon sa coustume c'est a dire presques sans dormir et tousjours fort inquiete le lendemain il fut luy mesme au quartier d'hidaspe et a quelques autres et le jour suivant qui estoit celuy ou ciaxare devoit arriver il voulut aller au devant de luy et y mener le roy d'assirie ces deux princes monterent donc a cheval suivis seulement de thrasibule des volontaires et de deux cens chevaux et apres avoir fait avancer les troupes assiriennes et les avoir rangees en 
 bataille aveques les autres pour recevoir ciaxare avec plus de ceremonie cyrus envoya araspe devant afin de le preparer a la veue du roy d'assirie ce n'est pas qu'il ne sceust bien que puis qu'il avoit donne sa parole il la tiendroit mais c'est qu'il vouloit toujours faire toutes choses dans l'ordre comme ils eurent marche environ trois heures ils commencerent de descouvrir ces espais tourbillons de poussiere qui precedent la marche des armees quand il fait sec comme il faisoit alors en suitte de quoy ce grand corps aprochant tousjours et eux avancant de leur coste ils eurent bien tost joint les premieres troupes et de la penetre jusques ou estoit ciaxare avec le roy de phrigie des que les gens de guerre virent cyrus ce furent des cris de joye et des acclamations si grandes qu'on eust dit qu'ils avoient oublie que ciaxare estoit la cyrus leur fit signe de la main avec une modestie extreme qu'ils se teussent qu'ils marchassent et qu'ils gardassent leurs rangs il avoit pourtant dans les yeux je ne scay quel sous-rire si obligeant qu'il refusoit les honneurs qu'ils luy vouloient faire sans les fascher cependant le roy d'assirie escoutoit ces acclamations avec chagrin quoy qu'il ne voulust pas le tesmoigner mais enfin ils joignirent ciaxare en un lieu ou il estoit descendu de cheval pour se rafraichir un peu et pour regarder filer les troupes qu'il vouloit qui le precedassent en aprochant d'artaxate cyrus ne le vit pas plustost de loing sous des arbres 
 qu'il en advertit le roy d'assirie si bien que descendant a vingt pas pres du lieu ou il estoit ils furent le trouver a l'instant nostre invincible heros s'avanca trois pas devant son illustre rival comme pour le presenter mais quoy qu'il peust faire ciaxare l'embrassa le premier en suitte de quoy il salua le roy d'assirie assez civilement luy disant qu'encore qu'il fust la cause de tous ses desplaisirs il estoit juste de reparer en quelque sorte les incivilitez que l'on avoit faites autrefois a philidaspe par le respect que l'on rendroit au roy d'assirie seigneur luy repliqua ce prince si j'ay failli envers vous la fortune m'en a bien puni ce n'est pas que je croye que la perte de ma couronne vaille la perte de la princesse mandane aussi est-ce avec intention de vous redonner la derniere sans vous redemander l'autre que je viens dans vostre annee hazarder ma vie pour vostre service si le bonheur de vos armes adjousta t'il m'avoit laisse un plus grand nombre de sujets je vous aurois amene un plus grand secours mais puis qu'ils sont devenus les vostres j'espere que vous regarderez les douze mille hommes que je vous amene comme s'il y en avoit cent mille puis que c'est tout ce que je puis ciaxare luy respondit encore fort civilement en suite de quoy thrasibule et les autres personnes de qualite qui venoient du camp saluerent ciaxare et donnerent le temps a cyrus de faire compliment au roy de phrigie que le roy d'assirie ne put s'empescher de regarder un peu fierement 
 se souvenant qu'il avoit change de parti et abandonne le sien ciaxare les fit pourtant entre-saluer puis apres tirant cyrus a part pendant que le roy d'assirie parloit a thrasibule il le loua de ce qu'il avoit fait s'affligeant pourtant aveques luy de ce qu'il n'avoit pas encore trouve la princesse mandane cyrus de son coste luy rendit conte en peu de mots de ce qui s'estoit passe en armenie depuis qu'il y estoit arrive et de l'estat present des choses apres quoy montant a cheval et ciaxare donnant la droite au roy d'assirie comme au plus grand prince du monde ils furent dans la grande ville d'artaxate aupres de laquelle cyrus par les ordres de ciaxare rangea toute son armee en bataille afin que le peuple demeurast plus facilement dans l'obeissance apres l'avoir veue et que le roy d'armenie la descouvrant de dessus ses montagnes se resolust aussi plustost a se rendre cependant cyrus commanda quelques unes des troupes qu'il avoit amenees les premieres pour aller entrer en garde devant le palais que ciaxare devoit occuper il en envoya d'autres aux places publiques a toutes les portes et a tous les lieux de deffence et quand les choses furent en cet estat ciaxare suivy de tous ceux qui devoient loger dans artaxate y alla laissant tout le reste de son armee campe aux bords de l'araxe qui traverse cette plaine le lendemain cyrus obligea ciaxare a souffrir que l'on allast querir la princesse araminte au chasteau ou elle estoit et qu'on l'amenast 
 a artaxate le faisant aussi resoudre a la bi traiter quoy qu'elle fust soeur du troisiesme ravisseur de mandane ce prince voulut luy mesme luy rendre cette civilite de sorte qu'il fut la querir au chasteau ou elle estoit et il la conduisit dans la ville ou ciaxare la visita et a la priere de cyrus il luy rendit tout l'honneur qui estoit deu a sa condition on la logea dans un palais separe qui estoit au prince tigrane cyrus changeant le dessein qu'il avoit eu parce qu'il jugea qu'elle seroit mieux en celuy la a cause qu'elle y seroit plus libre les deux capitaines qui estoient avec elle furent aussi fort bien traitez par ce prince qui n'oublioit jamais rien a faire de tout ce que la generosite la raison ou la seule civilite demandoient de luy le roy de phrigie visita aussi cette princesse se souvenant encore de l'amitie qu'il avoit eue aveque le roy son frere bien qu'ils ne fussent plus de mesme parti et la confirma tousjours davantage dans l'estime qu'elle avoit desja conceue pour cyrus le jour d'apres l'arriere garde arriva que conduisoit le roy d'hircanie et on la fit camper dans cette mesme plaine d'artaxate ce prince ne voulant pas loger dans la ville non plus que cyrus qui depuis que l'armee fut arrivee coucha tousjours au camp aussi bien que le roy d'assirie qui suivant son ancienne coustume ne put souffrir que son rival fist plus que luy cependant on tint conseil de guerre pour resoudre si on se contenteroit de continuer d'empescher seulement le passage 
 des vivres a l'ennemi ou si on forceroit le roy d'armenie sur ces montagnes qui paroissoient si inaccessibles le roy d'assirie tout vaincu et tout ennemi qu'il estoit luy mesme eut sa voix en cette deliberation mais quoy que cyrus et luy eussent tous deux dans leur coeur des sentimens de jalousie qui ne pouvoient estre sans haine et sans une secrette inclination a se contredire en toutes choses ils furent pourtant tous deux d'un advis et furent mesme les seuls qui conclurent a forcer le roy d'armenie sur ces montagnes ce n'est pas qu'assurement ils ne connussent la raison mais c'est que s'agissant de mandane et donnant leurs advis a la presence l'un de l'autre ils vouloient tous deux aller aux choses les plus difficiles et les plus hasardeuses pour eux c'estoit en vain qu'hidaspe leur disoit que quelques soldats armeniens qu'on avoit faits prisonniers assuroient que leur prince n'avoit plus de vivres que pour fort peu de jours car ils respondoient a cela qu'il ne faloit pas se fier a ce raport parce que c'est l'ordinaire aux vaincus de cette condition de vouloir flater leurs vainqueurs par quelque nouvelle avantageuse a leur party esperant en estre mieux traitez si on leur representoit combien ces montagnes estoient inaccessibles et si on leur faisoit voir qu'avec des pierres seulement et en faisant rouler du haut en bas de gros cailloux et des morceaux de roche six mille hommes les pouvoient deffendre contre deux cens mille n'osant pas dementir leurs propres yeux ny contredire 
 directement ce qu'on leur objectoit ils disoient qu'ils advouoient bien qu'il y auroit des gens a perdre mais qu'il ne faloit pas balancer cela avec la honte qu'il y auroit d'avoir une si puissante armee au pied de ces montagnes sans rien entreprendre qu'il estoit necessaire d'estre bien tost esclaircis du lieu ou estoit la princesse mandane et que pour l'estre il faloit prendre le roy d'armenie le plus promptement que l'on pourroit et non pas s'amuser a vouloir simplement attendre que la faim le fist sortir de son azile que peut-estre pendant qu'ils seroient occupez a garder seulement les passages et les advenues de ces montagnes tous les peuples des deux armenies s'unissant et se sous-levant tout d'un coup leur donneroient apres bien de la peine et qu'enfin leur advis estoit de forcer les ennemis mais quoy que les advis de cyrus eussent accoustume d'estre tousjours suivis il n'en fut pas de mesme cette fois la car tout d'une voix il fut resolu que scachant presques de certitude que le roy d'armenie avoit tres peu de vivres et que scachant aussi qu'a moins que de vouloir faire perir trente mille hommes on ne pourroit venir a bout de ce dessein il fut dis je resolu que l'on garderoit seulement les passages que l'on repousseroit vigoureusement tous ceux qui voudroient descendre des montagnes et que pour les lasser on feroit quelques fois semblant de les attaquer par divers endroits n'estant pas juste de faire perir tant de monde par une simple impatience 
 principalement n'ayant alors aucune certitude que la princesse mandane fust en ce lieu la cet advis general ayant donc este suivy on ne songea plus qu'a faire une garde tres exacte a l'entour de ces montagnes et a en reconnoistre bien tous les destours le lendemain ciaxare voulut voir en bataille les troupes du roy d'assirie que l'on confondit alors avec toutes les autres comme estant presentement de mesme party cependant cette espece de siege sans ville ne fut pas aussi oisif que cyrus l'avoit pense car comme le prince phraarte estoit brave et que de plus l'amour le faisoit agir il commenca de donner quelque occupation ne l'ayant pu faire durant les premiers jours parce qu'il avoit este malade de douleur de voir le mauvais succes des affaires du roy son pere et la princesse araminte au pouvoir de ses ennemis comme il scavoit admirablement tous les destours de ces montagnes il faisoit quelquesfois pleuvoir en un moment une gresle de traits de dessus leurs plus bas coupeaux puis disparoissant en un instant on ne pouvoit mesme imaginer ce qu'il estoit devenu une autrefois il venoit la nuit jusques au pied des montagnes par des chemins tournoyans dans les rochers ou les seuls armeniens peuvent aller afin de donner une alarme a tout le camp et comme il avoit d'assez bons espions dans l'armee de ciaxare il descendoit tousjours du coste que cyrus n'estoit pas car la valeur de ce prince estoit redoutable aux armeniens mais comme 
 cyrus n'estoit pas accoustume d'estre surpris et de ne surprendre pas les autres il se resolut d'estre plusieurs nuits a tournoyer par tous les divers quartiers afin de pouvoir rencontrer cet ennemy presque invisible qui ne se trouvoit jamais de son coste et qu'il avoit sceu estre le prince phraarte par quelques prisonniers qu'il avoit faits en une occasion comme celle la le roy d'assirie n'avoit garde de manquer d'y estre non plus que tous les amis particuliers de cyrus thrasibule aglatidas araspe persode gadate gobrias megabise hidaspe thimocrate leontidas philocles adusius chrisante feraulas et beaucoup d'autres estoient tousjours aveques luy apres avoir passe diverses nuits a cheval inutilement enfin il en vint une ou phraarte n'ayant pu estre adverty du lieu ou estoit cyrus et ayant dessein de faire passer seurement un capitaine en paisan qu'il vouloit envoyer vers le prince tigrane son frere descendit enfin du coste ou cyrus estoit en embuscade avec six cens honmes seulement qu'il avoit choisis luy mesme pour le servir en cette occasion neantmoins il n'estoit pas encore si bien place que phraarte prenant un petit sentier peu plus a gauche ne peust s'avancer mesme jusques au dela du pied des montagnes mais ce qui le fascha d'abord quand il s'en aperceut fut ce qui luy fut avantageux car au mesme instant que phraarte avec la moitie de ses gens eut abandonne le pied des montagnes cyrus fut en diligence luy couper chemin toutefois trouvant qu'il y avoit encore 
 du monde parmy les rochers aussi bien que dans la plaine il ne scavoit plus de quel coste estoit le prince phraarte de sorte que pour ne le manquer pas il partagea aussi ses gens et fit attaquer ceux de la montagne par une partie pendant que l'autre suivit ceux qui s'en estoient esloignez et qui se voyant le chemin de la retraite coupe voulurent en gagner un autre mais cyrus les poursuivant ardemment pendant que le roy d'assirie demeura a combatre ceux des montagnes comme les estoiles esclairoient assez parce que le ciel estoit fort serein et fort decouvert ce combat de nuit fut pourtant aspre et sanglant thrasibule et aglatidas firent des merveilles a seconder la valeur de cyrus qui ne trouva pas une petite resistance a ceux qu'il combatoit car le prince phraarte qui s'y trouva se deffendit en homme desespere et fit des choses dignes de memoire neantmoins ayant este blesse au bras droit et a la main gauche en facon qu'il ne pouvoit plus tenir son espee il ne songea plus qu'a tascher de se sauver il recula donc suivy de quinze ou vingt des siens pendant que les autres faisoient encore ferme et sans que cyrus ny ses gens s'en aperceussent il gagna un petit valon ou tombe un torrent du haut des montagnes et la il se tint cache esperant que quand le combat seroit finy les troupes de cyrus se retireroient et qu'il pourroit peut-estre apres regagner le chemin des rochers cependant le reste de ses gens ayant este taille en pieces et cyrus ne trouvant 
 plus rien qui luy resistast fut voir ce que le roy d'assirie auroit fait il le trouva encore aux mains avec les ennemis qui ne fuyoient pas selon leur coustume parce qu'ils scavoient que le prince phraarte estoit engage neantmoins esperant a la fin qu'il auroit regagne quelque autre endroit de la montagne et l'arrivee de cyrus renforcant estrangement le roy d'assirie ils se retirerent jusques a un passage au dela duquel on ne pouvoit plus les poursuivre parce qu'il estoit si estroit que deux hommes suffisoient pour y faire teste a cent mille apres avoir donc fait tout ce qu'ils croyoient pouvoir faire et comme ils ne songeoient plus qu'a se ressembler pour se retirer cyrus s'informant de tous ses amis qu'il ne pouvoit bien discerner dans l'obscurite de la nuit aglatidas qui le touchoit luy dit qu'il avoit entendu nommer otane pendant ce combat j'ay encore entendu plus que vous luy dit cyrus car j'ay ouy quelqu'un qui a crie otane est mort comme aglatidas alloit respondre on vint advertir cyrus qu'il y avoit quelques ennemis qui se ralioient dans un petit vallon de sorte qu'a l'instant mesme il y fut suivy de tout ce qu'il avoit de gens mais phraarte car c'estoit veritablement luy dont on vouloit parler estant adverty de la chose par un soldat qu'il avoit fait mettre en sentinelle sur l'advenue de cette petite vallee se voyant hors de pouvoir de combattre de sa personne voyant de plus le petit nombre de gens qu'il avoit et qu'ils estoient la plus part blessez 
 aussi bien que luy leur commanda de quitter leur armes et de le suivre aimant mieux dit il se fier en la generosite de son ennemy qu'en une foible deffense qui ne pouvoit plus de rien servir joint que luy ne pouvant plus combatre il trouvoit moins de honte a se rendre a un ennemy genereux que de fuir ou de se laisser tuer sans resistance comme il eut donc este obei par les siens il marcha vers l'endroit d'ou il entendoit venir ses ennemis et comme par les rayons de la lune qui s'estoit levee il faisoit alors assez clair pour pouvoir discerner les objets cyrus ne fut pas plus tost en veue qu'un des gens de phraarte qui le connoissoit parce qu'il avoit este avec tigrane a sinope du temps que cyrus estoit artamene le luy ayant monstre ce prince s'ecria par une genereuse hardiesse des qu'il creut en pouvoir estre entendu ou vas tu cyrus ne scais tu pas qu'il n'est pas glorieux de vaincre tousjours laisse toy vaincre quelquesfois et crois certainement qu'estant vaincu de cette sorte tu vaincras mieux qu'estant vainqueur et en cette rencontre tu conteras avec plus d'honneur entre tes victoires les triomphes de ta clemence que ceux de ta force et de son courage cyrus qui s'estoit arreste des qu'il avoit remarque qu'il faloit escouter au lieu de combattre dit en sous-riant et en se tournant vers chrisante qui le touchoit rien n'est plus ingenieux que la mauvaise fortune ny rien plus adroit que la necessite eh qu'il est bien vray de dire que nous parlons beaucoup plus sagement 
 et plus eloquemment quand nous sommes vaincus que quand nous sommes vainqueurs apres cela tendant la main a cet ennemy desarme qu'il ne connoissoit pas encore assure toy luy dit il que tu n'auras mal aucun et que qui que tu sois il n'est point de service que je ne te veuille rendre mesme jusques a la liberte car je suis accoustume de tenir pour ennemis non pas ceux qui se sont deffendus mais ceux qui sont encore en pouvoir de se deffendre phraarte estant charme de la generosite de cyrus je ne m'estonne pas luy dit il si les dieux donnent si souvent la victoire a un prince qui en scait si bien user et je m'estonne encore moins de la violente amitie que le prince tigrane mon frere a eue pour l'illustre artamene a ces mots cyrus connoissant que c'estoit le prince phraarte et araspe qui le connoissoit l'en ayant encore assure il l'embrassa fort civilement et remarquant qu'il estoit blesse il donna ordre que l'on allast en diligence querir leurs chevaux qu'ils avoient laissez a deux cens pas de l'endroit ou ils estoient afin de mener promptement le prince phraarte en lieu ou il peust estre pense car genereux prince luy dit il le chemin de vos montagnes en l'estat que vous estes vous pourroit peut-estre incommoder ces chevaux estant venus cyrus commanda que l'on aidast au prince phraarte et que deux soldats conduisissent son cheval parce qu'il ne pouvoit en tenir la bride a cause de ses blessures mais comme ils vinrent a partir cyrus ne voyant 
 point thrasibule en demanda des nouvelles et on luy dit qu'il y avoit eu un des ennemis blesse qui s'estoit rendu a luy aupres de qui il s'estoit arreste feraulas adjousta que voyant le combat finy il avoit fait porter ce prisonnier vers le camp par des soldats suivant ceux qui le portoient comme ce coste la n'estoit pas fort esloigne de l'endroit ou logeoit le plus ordinairement cyrus ils furent bien tost a ses tentes ou il fit mettre le prince phraarte dans un des pavillons le plus magnifique faisant appeller promptement les chirurgiens qui estoient a la tente de thrasibule et voulant mesme le voir penser pendant quoy il envoya feraulas porter a ciaxare la nouvelle de ce qui c'estoit passe les blessures du prince phraarte se trouvant estre plus incommodes que dangereuses les chirurgiens assurerent qu'il ne couroit aucun hazard pourveu que la fievre ne le prist pas mais que pour l'empescher il faloit le laisser en repos le reste de la nuit et une bonne partie du matin cyrus se retira donc aussi bien que le roy d'assirie quoy que ce ne fust pas sans peine de n'oser en l'estat qu'estoit phraarte luy demander ce qu'il scavoit de la princesse mandane neantmoins la raison l'emporta cette fois la sur l'amour et cyrus se resolut de differer de quelques heures a satisfaire son envie cependant comme le prince thrasibule ne paroissoit point et qu'il avoit sceu que ses chirurgiens venoient de sa tente il leur demanda qui ils y avoient pense ils luy respondirent 
 que c'estoit un homme de fort bonne mine qui estoit en grand danger de mourir et qui disoit cent choses obligeantes a thrasibule qui paroissoit estre aussi fort touche et qu'assurement c'estoit un homme de condition comme cyrus alloit envoyer luy demander qui c'estoit thrasibule ayant laisse son prisonnier blesse en repos suivant les ordres des chirurgiens vint luy rendre conte de son avanture cyrus ne l'aperceut pas plus tost que voyant beaucoup de melancolie sur son visage qu'avez vous genereux prince luy dit il fort obligeament et seriez vous bien assez malheureux pour avoir blesse un amy de thrasibule en pensant seulement blesser un de nos ennemis seigneur luy dit il pour vous faire connoistre mon avanture d'aujourd'huy il faudroit vous dire toute ma vie estant impossible que vous puissiez comprendre autrement la bizarrerie de mon destin car seigneur quand je vous auray dit que celuy qui est vostre prisonnier et qui est blesse dans ma tente est fils du sage pittacus prince de mytilene et qu'il s'appelle tisandre vous scaurez sans doute qu'il est fils d'un des premiers hommes de toute la grece mais vous ne scaurez pas pour cela qu'il y a tant de sentimens differens dans mon coeur pour luy que je ne suis pas bien d'accord avec moy mesme pour ce qui le regarde il y a longtemps luy dit cyrus que j'ay une envie extreme de scavoir la vie d'un prince qui m'a apris a vaincre en me surmontant car il est vray que je dois a l'amour que 
 j'eus pour vostre valeur une bonne partie de la mienne mais illustre thrasibule j'ay tousjours este si occupe de mes propres malheurs depuis que je vous retrouvay a sinope que je n'ay pas eu loisir de vous demander le recit des vostres cependant preparez vous a me les apprendre bien tost car je ne les puis pas ignorer davantage apres ce que vous me venez de dire c'est pourquoy allez vous reposer et prendre soing de vostre blesse que je ne scay encore si je dois aimer ou hair pour l'amour de vous et si la conversation que je dois avoir avec le prince phraarte touchant la princesse mandane ne me desespere pas trop et ne m'oste point la raison en m'ostant l'esperance je tascheray de mesnager une heure ou je puisse vous entretenir en particulier thrasibule remercia cyrus de sa bonte et se retira laissant ce prince dans la liberte de se coucher deux ou trois heures sur son lict pour se remettre de a fatigue qu'il venoit d'avoir son dormir ne fut pas fort tranquile car l'impatience de pouvoir parler a phraarte le tourmentoit de telle sorte qu'il ne pouvoit trouver aucun repos il envoya vingt fois scavoir s'il estoit esveille et comment il se trouvoit de ses blessures mais on luy raportoit tousjours qu'il dormoit encore enfin s'ennuyant extremement et voulant le voir auparavant que le roy d'assirie y peust estre il fut luy mesme apprendre l'estat ou il estoit et il arriva justement comme il venoit de s'eveiller et entra dans sa chambre comme les medecins et 
 les chirurgiens y entroient ils le trouverent assez bien de sorte qu'apres l'avoir pense sans luy deffendre de parler comme ils avoient fait le soir ils le laisserent dans la liberte de faire compliment a cyrus des soins qu'il avoit de luy seigneur luy dit il si vous traittez vos ennemis de cette sorte comment agissez vous avec vos amis vous le scaurez par vostre propre experience luy dit il si vous le voulez car vous n'avez qu'a me dire sincerement ou est la princesse mandane pour m'obliger a n'estre plus vostre ennemy je voudrois luy dit ce prince pouvoir satisfaire vostre curiosite je le ferois avec une extreme joye mais je vous proteste par tous les dieux que nous adorons que je n'en scay rien du tout et pour vous monstrer que je suis sincere je ne vous dis pas avec la mesme fermete que le roy mon pere ne le scait point parce que comme c'est un prince qui ne donne connoissance a personne des affaires de son estat il pourroit estre qu'il le scauroit sans que je le sceusse mais seigneur si vous pouvez estre capable de vous fier a la parole d'un ennemy souffrez que j'aille des que je le pourray parler au roy mon pere et employer toute mon adresse pour descouvrir la verite que je viendray apres vous redire sincerement genereux prince luy repliqua cyrus vous n'avez point de parole a donner vous estes libre et vous pourrez faire ce qu'il vous plaira car je sers un roy accoustume a tenir les promesses que je fais ainsi quand vous voudrez retourner trouver le roy vostre pere 
 vous le pourrez mais s'il est vray que les prieres d'un ennemy puissent quelque chose sur vostre esprit je vous conjureray de vouloir obliger le roy d'armenie a dire ce qu'il scait de la princesse mandane et a ne vouloir pas forcer ciaxare a le destruire malgre qu'il en ait vous pouvez avoir veu de dessus vos montagnes quelle est son armee de sorte que par raison et par generosite ne me refusez pas ce que je vous demande phraarte luy fit encore cent protestations de sincerite et de franchise et luy dit que si ses chirurgiens jugeoient qu'on le peust transporter des le lendemain il iroit trouver le roy son pere sans vouloir pourtant jouir de la grace qu'il luy vouloit faire de le delivrer absolument mais luy dit il pour vous obliger a vous fier en mes paroles je veux vous confier un secret qui m'importe de la vie c'est seigneur que vous tenez en vos mains une princesse qui possede dans le coeur de phraarte la mesme place que l'illustre mandane tient dans celuy du genereux cyrus ainsi tenant en vostre puissance un gage qui m'est si cher et si precieux vous devez attendre de moy une fidelite que peu d'ennemis ont pour ceux qui leur font la guerre comme ils estoient la on vint advertir cyrus que ciaxare et le roy de phrigie qui logeoit dans artaxate aussi bien que luy arrivoient au camp il quitta donc phraarte pour les aller recevoir justement comme le roy d'assirie entroit pousse de la mesme curiosite que luy de scavoir des nouvelles de mandane mais 
 cyrus luy ayant dit en peu de mots et en rougissant la response de phraarte ils furent ensemble au devant de ciaxare qui les loua tous deux extremement mais qui flata pourtant si obligeamment cyrus qu'il estoit aise de voir la difference qu'il faisoit de l'un a l'autre cyrus luy rendit conte de la conversation qu'il venoit d'avoir avec phraarte et le supplia de trouver bon qu'il en usast comme il luy avoit promis ce qu'il obtint aisement s'imaginant en effet qu'il seroit plus aise de scavoir la verite par l'adresse de ce prince que par toute autre voye de sorte que ciaxare ayant donne plein pouvoir a cyrus d'agir en cette rencontre et en toutes les autres comme il le jugeroit a propos mesme sans le consulter il s'en retourna a artaxate apres avoir fait l'honneur a phraarte et a tisandre de les visiter cependant aglatidas qui croyoit avoir ouy le nom d'otane dans ce combat de nuit et a qui cyrus avoit assure avoir entendu crier en combatant qu'otane estoit mort fut voir le prince phraarte et le supplier de luy aprendre s'il estoit vray qu'il fust engage dans son party et qu'il eust este la nuit derniere du combat qui s'estoit fait phraarte luy dit que l'une et l'autre de ces choses estoient vrayes et qu'il croyoit mesme qu'il avoit pery en cette occasion parce qu'il avoit entendu un des siens qui durant la chaleur du combat avoit crie qu'otane estoit mort aglatidas scachant cela pria artabane qui le connoissoit fort d'aller tascher d'en aprendre des nouvelles plus 
 certaines durant les deux heures de treve que l'on avoit accordees aux ennemis pour retirer leurs morts et qui les avoient demandees principalement pour voir si le prince phraarte ne s'y trouveroit point artabane fut donc avec ceux que cyrus envoya pour retirer aussi les corps de dix ou douze soldats des siens qu'il avoit perdus en cette occasion et il y fut feignant de chercher quelque officier qui ne paroissoit point et qu'il disoit estre de ses amis il chercha donc soigneusement parmy tous ces soldats qui avoient pery en cette occasion mais quoy qu'il n'y trouvast pas le corps d'otane il ne laissa pourtant pas d'aporter presques la nouvelle assuree de sa mort car il vit parmy les armeniens qui remportoient ceux des leurs qui avoient este tuez un escuyer d'otane qu'il connoissoit de veue et qui cherchat son maistre fut au bord du torrent qui tombe dans ce petit valon ou le prince phraarte s'estoit retire mais a peine y fut il qu'il fit un grand cry artabane s'aprocha alors de luy et vit entre des rochers que la chutte du torrent couvroit a demy de gros bouillons d'escume un homme mort dont on ne voyoit pas le visage sur lequel ces bouillons d'eau tumultueux et blanchissans se precipitoient continuellement les uns sur les autres et ne donnoient pas loisir de le pouvoir bien discerner neantmoins par le reste du corps que l'on apercevoit mieux cet escuyer d'otane ne douta point que ce ne fust son maistre qu'il voyoit en cet estat la car il en connoissoit l'habillement 
 et les armes qui estoient fort remarquables il voyoit mesme par une espaule qu'il avoit toute hors de l'eau qu'il avoit este extremement blesse parce qu'elle etroit toute sanglante cependant comme ce torrent estoit fort large et fort rapide et assez profond on ne pouvoit pas aller facilement ou estoit ce mort ils envoyerent querir quelques lances pour le retirer mais elles se trouverent trop courtes de sorte qu'il falut imaginer quelque autre invention car un homme n'y pouvoit aller de pied ferme ny entreprendre d'y nager mais durant qu'ils cherchoient quelque nouveau moyen de retirer ce corps une grande chutte d'eau le destacha des pointes de rocher qui l'avoient arreste et le roula avec precipitation parmy ses flots jusques a trente pas de la sans qu'on le peust empescher ou par son impetuosite le torrent le poussa dans un abysme ou il se perdoit luy mesme et s'engloutissoit sous la terre de sorte qu'artabane n'ayant plus rien a attendre en ce lieu la s'en retourna au camp porter la nouvelle assuree de la perte d'otane comme l'ayant veu mort de ses propres yeux estant a croire que fuyant comme les autres avoient fait dans ce petit vallon et estant blesse il estoit tombe dans ce torrent et y avoit pery du moins fut-ce tout ce qu'artabane en put imaginer car pour les autres gens ils en penserent cent choses toutes contraires les unes aux autres tous ceux qui scavoient l'interest qu'aglatidas avoit a la vie ou a 
 la mort de cet homme s'en rejouissoient mais pour luy il estoit trop sage et trop accoustume a la douleur pour passer si tost de la melancolie a la joye et il disoit seulement a tous ceux qui luy en parloient qu'il n'estoit pas marry qu'amestris fust delivree de son tiran cependant megabise qui devoit aussi en estre bien aise par la mesme raison s'en affligea parce qu'il creut qu'aglatidas pourroit peut-estre enfin estre heureux de sorte que luy qui pensoit n'aimer plus amestris s'aperceut qu'il l'aimoit encore par le renouvellement de la haine secrette qu'il eut en cet instant pour aglatidas il n'osa pourtant la tesmoigner car cyrus l'aimoit si tendrement que c'eust este un crime capital que d'estre son ennemy declare cependant thrasibule estoit aupres de tisandre que les chirurgiens apres avoir leve le premier appareil trouverent un peu mieux le prince phraarte aussi passa le jour fort doucement si bien que le lendemain il pria cyrus de souffrir qu'il allast vers le roy son pere parce que n'estant blesse qu'au bras et a la main il ne laisseroit pas de s'aquiter de sa commission mais cyrus voulut du moins qu'on le portast dans une chaise ce qu'il fut contraint de vouloir aussi de sorte que le jour suivant des le matin justement comme le roy d'armenie envoyoit demander des nouvelles du prince son fils il partit avec une escorte de deux cens soldats seulement et quelques officiers pour le conduire jusques a la premiere garde avancee du roy d'armenie 
 auquel cyrus accorda une nouvelle treve jusques a ce que le prince phraarte eust rendu sa response pendant ce petit intervale ou cyrus avoit du moins la consolation de pouvoir esperer d'estre bien tost esclaircy de la verite de ce qu'il vouloit aprendre il songea a rendre a tout le monde toute la civilite qu'il croyoit devoir il fut a artaxate voir ciaxare il y visita la princesse araminte et luy dit precisement tout ce que le prince phraarte luy avoit dit d'elle et tout ce qui s'estoit passe entre eux ce qu'elle n'entendit pas sans rougir elle remercia cyrus de la liberte qu'il avoit donnee a ce prince mais ce fut d'une maniere qui luy fit bien connoistre que c'estoit plustost pour l'avoir delivree des nouvelles marques d'affection qu'il luy auroit rendues s'il fust demeure son prisonnier que non pas pour l'amour de luy quoy qu'elle l'estimast assez apres cela cyrus s'en retourna au camp resvant tousjours a sa chere mandane ou s'en entretenant tousjours avec aglatidas avec chrisante ou avec feraulas en qui il avoit beaucoup de confiance il aimoit aussi fort araspe mais comme il n'avoit jamais rien aime il ne luy parloit aussi jamais de sa passion comme il fut arrive au camp il alla droit a la tente de thrasibule ou il voulut passer le reste du jour et tout le soir afin d'aprendre ce qu'il y avoit si longtemps qu'il avoit envie de scavoir aussi tost qu'il y fut ayant tesmoigne vouloir estre seul avec thrasibule tout le monde les laissa en liberte de s'entretenir de 
 sorte qu'ils ne furent pas plustost seuls que cyrus le regardant luy dit fort obligeamment et bien mon ancien vainqueur vous laisserez vous vaincre aujourd'huy et m'aprendrez vous toutes les circonstances d'une vie de qui tout ce que l'en connois est glorieux vous ne parlerez pas ainsi du reste quand vous le scaurez repliqua thrasibule en soupirant car seigneur vous n'y trouverez que deux choses beaucoup de foiblesse et beaucoup d'infortune neantmoins puis que vous le voulez ainsi et qu'en effet il m'importe presentement en l'estat ou sont mes affaires que vous les scachiez telles qu'elles sont je vous obeiray exactement mais seigneur pourrez vous bien souffrir que je vous entretienne de tant de petites choses qui vous doivent estre indifferentes et qui paroissent en effet tres peu considerables a ceux qui ne connoissent pas l'amour il n'en est point de petites reprit cyrus quand elles touchent nos amis et puis mon cher thrasibule dit il en soupirant aussi bien que luy je ne suis pas ignorant du mal dont je m'imagine que vous vous plaignez parlez donc je vous en conjure et ne craignez pas de me derober un temps que je pourrois employer a quelque autre chose car puis que nous avons tresve avec le roy d'armenie nous aurons tout le reste du jour tout le soir et mesme si vous le voulez toute la nuit a nous entretenir ii y a desja longtemps poursuivit il que les nuits ne sont plus pour moy ce qu'elles sont pour tous les autres hommes et que 
 je n'ay plus guere de part au repos ny au sommeil thrasibule voyant donc qu'il luy faloit obeir et scachant en effet qu'il luy importoit de tout que cyrus sceust ses avantures passees et l'estat present de sa fortune apres que ce prince se fut assis et que par ses ordres il eut aussi pris sa place vis a vis de luy sur un siege qu'il choisit pourtant un peu plus bas il commenca de luy parler en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire de thrasibule et d'alcionide
 
 
si j'avois eu l'ame aussi sensible a l'ambition qu'a l'amour je ne pense pas qu'il eust este possible que j'eusse pu suporter les malheurs qui me sont arrivez mais il est vray qu'ayant tousjours plus tost fait consister la veritable gloire a meriter les couronnes qu'a les posseder je n'ay pas eu besoin de toute ma constance tant que je n'ay este tourmente que par cette superbe passion qui fait et qui destruit toutes les monarchies et toutes les republiques qui sont au monde ce n'est pas que je n'aye senti la perte de la souverainete qui m'apartenoit mais c'est enfin que je ne me suis abandonne a la douleur et au desespoir que lors que cette perte a este un obstacle a mon amour ainsi on peut presques dire que je n'ay senti l'ambition que quand j'ay este amoureux mais seigneur pour vous aprendre la persecution que j'ay soufferte et par la fortune et par l'amour 
 il faut que je vous die que je suis fils de thrasibule prince de milet du quel je porte le nom qui tant qu'il a vescu a este amy particulier de periandre roy de corinthe et de qui le nom a este assez connu durant sa vie par la guerre qu'il eut onze ans durant contre sadiatte petit fils de gyges et contre aliatte pere de cresus qu'il finit avec assez de bonheur d'adresse et de gloire pour vous la raconter en peu de mots puis que ce qui suivit bien tost apres est le fondement de tous mes malheurs cette guerre seigneur estoit d'autant plus considerable qu'elle avoit commence durant le regne de giges lors qu'il usurpa la couronne sur les heraclides car depuis cela ardis qui luy succeda la fit encore durer comme fit en suitte sadiatte son fils et apres luy comme je l'ay desja dit aliatte fit la mesme chose le prince mon pere estant donc assez occupe au commencement de son regne pour affermir dans sa maison la souveraine authorite qui effectivement luy appartenoit quoy que ses ennemis en ayent voulu dire il ne put pas durant les premieres annees qu'il soutint cette guerre contre sadiatte s'y opposer avec toute la force qu'il eust pu s'il n'eust point eu d'ennemis au dedans de sa ville mais ne voulant pas en sortir de peur que son absence ne donnast lieu aux seditieux de remuer sadiatte estoit maistre de la campagne et il fit cette guerre pendant six ans d'une assez estrange maniere car sans rien entreprendre contre la ville il mettoit 
 seulement toutes les annees a la saison de la recolte une grande et puissante armee sur pied qu'il menoit dans les terres des milesiens et la sans brusler les maisons ny detruire pas un village il faisoit seulement enlever tous les bleds et tous les fruits et puis il s'en retournoit sans s'arrester dans leur pais comme mon pere estoit le plus fort sur la mer il scavoit bien qu'il luy eust este inutile de venir attaquer milet par terre seulement puis qu'il ne pourroit l'affamer mais il esperoit que les milesiens estant forcez d'acheter des bleds des estrangers s'espuiseroient d'argent et se revolteroient en suitte contre leur prince il n'en alla pourtant pas ainsi car jusques a ce que mon pere se fust rendu maistre absolu de son peuple par une fermete un peu severe il ne quitta point la ville disant a ceux qui luy en parloient que la mer luy pouvoit redonner des bleds mais que rien ne luy pourroit rendre milet s'il l'avoit perdu enfin apres qu'il eut oblige le peuple par la crainte a se soumettre absolument il se mit en campagne aussi tost apres la mort de sadiatte de sorte que comme le nouveau roy de lydie avoit intention de se signaler ils firent la guerre d'une autre facon le prince mon pere sans estre secouru d'aucun peuple des ioniens excepte de ceux de l'isle de chio qui se souvinrent du secours qu'il leur avoit donne quand ceux d'erithree leur faisoient la guerre se vit en estat donner la celebre bataille de limenie et celle qu'il donna en suitte sur les bords de la 
 riviere de meandre ou il tua de sa main le fils du prince de phocee car encore que ces deux batailles fussent sanglantes de part et d'autre et que la victoire en fust mesme un peu douteuse elles arresterent pourtant les progres d'aliatte qui desespere de n'avoir pas pleinement vaincu comme il l'esperoit fit mettre le feu en s'en retournant a toute une grande campagne couverte de bleds et non seulement ces bleds perirent parmi la flame mais comme le vent estoit grand ils mirent au temple de minerve surnommee assesienne qui fut entierement consume cet accident affligea alors plus le peuple de milet que le roy de lydie mais a quelque temps de la ce prince estant tombe tres malade et ayant envoye consulter l'oracle de delphes la pithie dit aux lydiens qu'elle ne leur respondroit point qu'ils n'eussent fait rebastir le temple de minerve qu'ils avoient brusle periandre qui sceut cette response en envoya advertir le prince mon pere afin qu'il profitast de cet advis de sorte qu'ayant sceu quelque temps apres que des ambassadeurs de lydie devoient venir luy demander la permission de faire rebastir ce temple il fit commandement a tous les habitans de milet de porter tout ce qu'ils avoient de provisions de bleds aux places publiques destinees a le vendre par lesquelles il vouloit faire passer ces ambassadeurs de lydie et en effet la chose ayant este executee ainsi et ces ambassadeurs ayant fait leur raport a leur maistre de ce qu'ils avoient veu il 
 desespera de pouvoir jamais vaincre le prince mon pere et se resolut enfin d'entendre a une paix qui fut bien glorieuse aux milesiens puis qu'elle fit voir qu'ils avoient pu soustenir la guerre eux seuls contre quatre rois aliatte fit donc bastir deux temples au lieu d'un aupres d'assise et ayant en suitte recouvre la sante il fut apres cela amy particulier du prince mon pere qui depuis cet accord fut tres paisible possesseur de son estat malgre toutes les diverses factions qu'il scavoit estre en secret parmi ses sujets car il avoit une politique ferme et hardie qui le faisoit craindre de tout le monde et qui destruisoit toutes les conjurations que l'on faisoit contre luy les choses estant en ces termes il vescut avec assez de tranquilite durant long temps et milet fut assurement la plus magnifique ville de toute la carie je pouvois avoir alors treize ou quatorze ans et un fils naturel du prince mon pere nomme alexidesme dix sept ou dix huit comme il l'avoit eu d'une esclave dont il avoit este fort amoureux il l'aimoit beaucoup et le faisoit eslever presque avec les mesmes soins que moy comme j'avois perdu fort jeune la princesse ma mere et qu'il avoit depuis affranchi et espouse celle d'alexidesme ce prince illegitime avoit un puissant appuy dont j'estois prive car cette femme est une personne d'un esprit artificieux et adroit capable de toutes choses en ce temps-la le sage thales si connu et si celebre revint d'un long voyage qu'il avoit fait en egipte durant que 
 solon y estoit et il conceut une si grande amitie pour moy que je puis dire sans mensonge que je dois a ses preceptes et a ses conseils le peu de vertu que j'ay si j'en eusse pourtant profite autant que je le devois je ne serois pas sans doute aussi malheureux que je le suis car il m'avoit tousjours tant parle contre l'amour et mesme contre le mariage que si j'eusse suivi ses avis je n'aurois du moins eu qu'une partie de mes malheurs la regle principale qu'il donnoit pour la conduite de la vie estoit de ne faire jamais ce que l'on blasmoit en autruy neantmoins quoy qu'il m'eust dit cela plus de cent fois je n'en suis pas demeure en ces termes et apres avoir tant blasme moy mesme ceux qui avoient la foiblesse de se laisser vaincre a la beaute jusques a en perdre le repos je suis en suitte venu a aimer jusques a en perdre la raison mais comme les malheurs de ma fortune ont precede ceux de mon amour il faut que je vous die aussi auparavant que melasie c'est ainsi que se nomme la mere d'alexidesme que mon pere avoit espousee comme je vous l'ay dit depuis que la veritable princesse de milet ma mere estoit morte se mit dans la fantaisie que son fils se mariast avec une fille de milet qui estoit extremement riche et de la plus haute qualite d'abord cela parut estrange a tout le monde car on avoit cru que vray-semblablement t'y devois songer mais voyant que le prince mon pere l'aprouvoit personne n'osa plus en murmurer et alexidesme continua sa 
 recherche sans aucun obstacle car quoy que cette fille qui se nommoit leonce de qui le pere estoit mort et qui estoit demeuree sous la conduite de sa mere eust de l'aversion pour alexidesme elle la cachoit par le commandement de ses parens en effet s'il m'est permis de parler sincerement d'un homme qui a fait tous les malheurs de ma vie il est certain qu'alexidesme estoit peu aimable il avoit sans doute l'humeur violente de feu mon pere mais il n'en avoit ny la capacite ny la fermete ny cent autres bonnes qualitez qu'il possedoit au contraire il estoit colere cruel ambitieux foible et entreprenant tout ensemble pour sa personne elle estoit bien faite et il y avoit une notable difference de son corps a son esprit cependant parce que melasie pouvoit alors toutes choses sur le coeur du prince son mary il ne voyoit point les deffauts de son fils ou du moins il agissoit comme s'il ne les eust point connus le flattant le caressant et ne faisant presque aucune distinction en aparence de moy a alexidesme quoy que si je l'ose dire je n'eusse pas les vices qui le noircissoient et qui le noircissent encore la mere de leonce estoit soeur du prince de phocee de qui mon pere comme je vous l'ay dit avoit tue le fils a la derniere bataille qu'il avoit donnee contre le roy de lydie de sorte que dans le fonds de son ame elle haissoit toute nostre maison neantmoins comme le prince de phocee estoit ambitieux il luy manda 
 que si elle croyoit pouvoir trouver les voyes de faire regner alexidesme a mon prejudice elle consentist a ce mariage mais qu'a moins que de cela il seroit son ennemy si elle y songeoit seulement cette femme donc qui estoit ambitieuse aussi bien que son frere et qui avoit grande amitie avec melasie luy parla avec tant d'adresse que comme deux personnes possedees d'une mesme passion s'entendent facilement et devinent presque sans peine leurs pensees les plus secrettes ces deux femmes que l'ambition seule faisoit agir connurent bien tost qu'elles souhaitoient la mesme chose de sorte que ne se cachant plus leurs sentimens elles consulterent entre elles et resolurent ensemble de faire regner alexidesme quand mesme il faudroit faire plusieurs crimes pour cela pendant que ces choses se passoient ainsi le prince mon pere faisoit achever cette belle et forte citadelle qui est a milet et je m'occupois continuellement ou a mes exercices ou a la conversation de thales ou a me divertir aux aures choses ou un prince de mon age pouvoit raisonnablement prendre plaisir je vivois sans doute civilement avec melasie et avec alexidesme mais j'avoue pourtant que j'avois naturellement une si forte aversion pour l'un et pour l'autre que j'avois bien de la peine a la cacher cependant le mariage de leonce ne s'achevoit point car conme le prince de phocee vouloit voir quelque apparence a ce qu'il souhaitoit avant que d'y consentir sa soeur nommee philodice 
 differoit la chose avec adresse elle ne pouvoit pas mesme s'achever si tost parce que ceux de prienne ayant este forcez de declarer la guerre a polycrate prince de samos qui vouloit estre roy de la mer et qui combatoit tout ce qu'il y rencontroit mon pere creut que par politique il faloit s'oposer a cette nouvelle puissance puis qu'il y en avoit un pretexte ainsi il fit une armee navale dont il fut contraint de me donner la conduitte ne pouvant avec bien-seance ne le faire pas puis qu'il ne vouloit point aller en personne a cette guerre ce n'est pas que je ne fusse fort jeune pour cet employ car je n'avois encore que quinze ans mais comme mon lieutenant general estoit un homme experimente je n'en avois que l'honneur encore ne scay-je si je l'eusse eu seul n'eust este qu'alexidesme tomba malade et qu'il ne put venir a ce voyage le prince philoxipe qui estoit alors de mesme age que moy et le prince tisandre poussez d'un mesme desir de gloire vinrent se jetter dans nostre parti et firent des choses prodigieuses en cette guerre qui ne fut pourtant pas trop heureuse pour nous car le bonheur de polycrate est si grand que rien ne luy peut resister je diray neantmoins sans mensonge que si nous fusmes quelquesfois vaincus nous ne le fusmes pas sans gloire et que si nous ne vainquisimes point nous monstrasmes du moins a nos ennemis que nous meritions de vaincre la paix se rit alors par l'entremise du sage bias qui pour cet effet fut de 
 prienne a samos bien est il vray qu'elle ne fut pas de longue duree estant impossible de pouvoir empescher polycrate de faire des courses sur la mer et d'y attaquer presques tout ce qu'il y rencontre a mon retour a milet je trouvay le mariage d'alexidesme et de leonce prest d'estre acheve car durant mon absence melasie et philodice avoient caballe dans toute la ville et principalement avec le chef de la faction opposee au sage thales qui bien qu'il aimast la liberte de son pais n'eust pas voulu la recouvrer par des voyes violentes disant quelques fois qu'un tiran qui gouverne ses sujets en paix vaut mieux que la liberte que l'on ne peut recouvrer sans faire la guerre mais ceux de l'autre parti agirent bien d'une autre sorte et penserent les choses d'une facon qui n'est pas commune car enfin s'estant imaginez que le prince mon pere avoit usurpe une authorite qui ne luy apartenoit pas et voulant remettre le gouvernement populaire dans la ville et empescher que ses successeurs ne regnassent apres luy voicy comme ils raisonnerent entre eux sans que melasie et philodice en sceussent rien quoy qu'elles fussent pourtant de leur intelligence ils penserent donc que tant que le prince mon pere vivroit il ne faloit point songer a recouvrer leur liberte et qu'il faloit regarder seulement comment les choses pourroient aller quand il mourroit or ces gens avoient pris garde que le peuple de milet m'aimoit extremement et que veu les inclinations que l'on remarquoit en 
 moy mon regne seroit assez doux et assez heureux de sorte qu'il seroit assez difficile de porter ce peuple a secouer le joug de l'obeissance mais au contraire prevoyant presque avec certitude que si alexidesme regnoit ce seroit le plus cruel le plus violent et le plus tirannique prince du monde ils creurent qu'il seroit alors aise d'obliger le peuple a se revolter et a se deffaire d'un maistre foible et mechant tout ensemble ainsi dans l'esperance de pouvoir destruire par cette voye la puissance souveraine ils promirent a melasie et a philodice que quand il en seroit temps ils feroient regner alexidesme si bien que ces deux femmes qui ne scavoient pas par quel mouvement ils agissorent furent ravies de voir que leur dessein sembloit reussir comme elles le souhaitoient de sorte que sans plus differer le mariage de leonce et d'alexidesme on fit une celebre feste dans milet ou le prince de phocee faisant semblant d'oublier la mort de son fils se trouva et durant un mois ce ne furent que divertissement et resjouissances publiques pour tous ceux qui n'estoient pas de cette faction cachee on trouvoit pourtant estrange que le prince mon pere eust songe a marier alexidesme devant moy puis que ce ne devoit pas estre de luy qu'il devoit attendre un successeur mais comme on n'estoit pas accoustume de murmurer de ce qu'il faisoit toute la ville paroissoit estre en joye pour moy qui prevoyois bien ou les choses pouvoient aller j'en consultois avec le sage thales qui me disoit tousjours que ce que les dieux 
 avoient ordonne ne pouvoit manquer d'arriver et qu'ainsi il faloit s'abandonner a leur providence comme les affaires estoient en ces termes et que le prince mon pere croyoit estre le plus heureux du monde periandre roy de corinthe qui ne trouvoit pas en ce temps la une obeissance fort exacte parmi ses sujets luy envoya demander ce qu'il faloit que fist un roy mal obei pour estre paisible dans ses estats le prince mon pere qui estoit naturellement soubconneux et de qui une des principales maximes estoit qu'il faloit tousjours ne confier son secret qu'au moins de gens qu'il estoit possible et ne donner jamais rien au hazard au lieu d'escrire a periandre ou de faire sa response a son envoye il le mena promener dans une grande plaine et la mettant pied a terre et marchant dans cette campagne toute couverte de bleds prests a moissonner car c'estoit a la saison de la recolte il luy dit vous raporterez au roy vostre maistre ce que vous me verrez faire dans cette plaine et vous luy direz que je n'ay point d'autre response a luy donner cet envoye qui n'avoit pas sceu ce que contenoit la lettre qu'il avoit aportee se mit donc a observer soigneusement ce que faisoit ce prince qui en se promenant le long de ces bleds comme si c'eust este en resvant rompoit tous les espics qui s'eslevoient au dessus des autres et ne rompoit point ceux qui par leur pesanteur se panchoient vers la terre mais quoy que cet envoye peust raisonner sur cette action il 
 n'y comprit rien et il se resolut seulement de la dire au roy son maistre celle qu'il l'avoit veue neantmoins conme cela luy sembla bizarre et mesme de peu de consequence apres que le prince mon pere fut rentre dans la ville et que cet envoye fut alle a son logis il ne put s'empescher de dire la chose a un homme de milet qu'il croyoit estre fort de ses amis et qui luy promit de n'en point parler mats a peine fut il parti que cet homme le dit a un autre et cet autre encore a un amy et cet amy encore au chef de la conspiration qui se tramoit contre moy comme c'estoit un homme d'esprit qui scavoit l'estat des affaires de corinthe et qui de plus avoit sceu par melasie que periandre avoit envoye demander conseil de quelque affaire importante au prince mon pere il entendit la chose et comprit aisement qu'en rompant les espics les plus eslevez il avoit voulu dire qu'il faloit abaisser tous les grands d'un estat des qu'ils pensoient aller un peu au dela de leur condition de sorte que cette maxime que l'on conseilloit a periandre ne s'executast sur luy mesme si le prince de milet venoit a descouvrir ce qu'il tramoit dans la ville il dit a ceux de son parti qu'il faloit aller plus loing et agir plus promptement qu'ils n'en avoient eu dessein il leur falut pourtant du temps auparavant que de pouvoir faire reussir la resolution qu'ils prirent si bien que j'eus encore le loisir d'aller a cette guerre ou leontidas servit polycrate et dont il vous parla dans son recit a sinope mais durant 
 mon absence anthemius ce chef des conjurez se nommoit ainsi mena la chose avec tant d'adresse qu'il porta l'esprit de melasie a trouver mesme la vie du prince mon pere trop longue car comme les vices d'alexidesme augmentoient tous les jours ce prince commencoit de faire quelque difference de luy a moy si bien que philodice qui voyoit que sa fille estoit tres malheureuse quant a la personne de son mary et qu'elle ne pouvoit trouver de soulagement que par l'ambition pressoit tous les jours melasie de faire declarer le prince mon pere en faveur d'alexidesme l'assurant qu'il estoit aise de le faire et luy disant qu'il ne faloit que dire publiquement qu'elle avoit tousjours este sa femme legitime que la princesse ma mere ne l'avoit jamais este qu'alexidesme estant plus age que moy devoit regner le premier et qu'enfin il faloit assurer la chose de son vivant melasie promit d'en parler et en parla mais le prince mon pere ne voulut jamais luy respondre precisement de sorte qu'ayant l'esprit fort aigri elle en confera avec anthemius le prince de phocee revint aussi dans milet pour consulter de nouveau avec anthemius et avec melasie et ils resolurent tous ensemble qu'il faloit empoisonner le prince mon pere durant mon absence et faire reconnoistre alexidesme pour souverain le prince de phocee adjousta a ce que j'ay sceu qu'il ne doutoit pas que je n'eusse des amis mais que moy n'estant pas dans la ville ils n'agiroient 
 sans doute pas trop fortement joint que le prince de phocee dit qu'il feroit entrer du monde secrettement dans milet anthemius eust bien voulu que cela n'eust pas este afin de pouvoir peut-estre aller a la liberte tout d'un coup mais il n'osa neantmoins s'y opposer ouvertement de peur de se rendre suspect et de descouvrir la seconde conspiration qu'il meditoit dans son coeur le sage thales quoy que fort occupe a ses estudes fut pourtant adverty que l'on tramoit quelque chose de sorte que scachant qu'il partoit un vaisseau que le prince mon pere m'envoyoit charge de munitions il m'escrivit un billet de peu de mots ou il me faisoit scavoir que ma presence estoit necessaire a milet neantmoins comme il ne pouvoit pas soubconner jusques ou alloit la mechancete de melasie de philodice du prince de phocee et d'anthemius il en demeura la croyant tousjours que j'arriverois assez a temps pour destruire toutes ces factions cependant ces quatre personnes qui avoient presques tous des motifs differents agissoient pour tant egalement car le prince de phocee cherchoit principalement a se vanger melasie et philodice songeoient a satisfaire leur ambition et anthemius croyoit travailler pour la liberte de sa patrie mais seigneur pourquoy differer plus long temps a vous dire les malheurs de ma maison l'ingratte melasie empoisonna le prince mon pere et supposa une declaration par laquelle il paroissoit reconnoistre alexidesme pour 
 son successeur le prince de phocee se trouva en personne a milet avec des forces anthemius aida a faire reconnoistre alexidesme pour prince mes amis voulurent prendre les armes et le peuple murmura mais a la fin le parti d'anthemius fut le plus fort et lors que je vins pour rentrer dans le port de milet je trouvay les choses en ces termes et l'on m'en empescha l'entree comme mon armee avoit este batue de la tempeste je me vy au plus pitoyable estat ou jamais prince se soit veu je ne scavois pourtant pas encore ce qui faisoit que l'on me traitoit en ennemy car on ne me le disoit point mais a deux heures de la ayant envoye dans un esquif demander la raison de ce qu'on faisoit alexidesme m'envoya cette fausse declaration dont je vous ay parle qu'il avoit faite au nom du roy mon pere et le sage thales quand la nuit fut venue me fit scavoir par un pescheur la verite de toutes choses j'apris donc en un mesme jour la mort de mon pere la perte de mon estat la trahison de mon frere et de mes sujets et tout cela sans y pouvoir trouver de remede comme la plus grande partie de mes vaisseaux estoient brisez j'estois absolument hors de pouvoir de rien faire ny de rien entreprendre n'ayant pas assez de soldats pour faire une descente et pour attaquer milet du coste de la terre ny rien de tout ce qu'il faut avoir pour un siege et je ne scavois pas mesme trop bien comment m'esloigner de la ville veu le desordre ou l'orage avoit mis toute ma 
 flotte le sage thales me manda encore qu'il me conjuroit de ne vouloir pas destruire ma patrie pour mon interest particulier et d'attendre mon restablissement et ma vangeance du temps de mes amis de la mechancete d'alexidesme et des dieux qui estoient trop equitables pour ne punir pas mes ennemis et pour ne recompenser pas ma vertu si je scavois bien user de cette infortune j'admiray ce conseil quand je l'eus receu mais j'avoue que je ne le suivis pas sans peine et que ce fut plustost par necessite que par choix que j'agis selon les intentions de thales cependant la mer estant devenue assez calme quoy que mes vaisseaux fussent en mauvais estat je taschay de gagner une des isles la plus proche dont toute cette mer est semee afin de les y faire racommoder j'envoyay toutesfois secrettement porter un manifeste a milet par lequel je faisois scavoir a tous mes sujets que la pretendue declaration du prince mon pere estoit fausse et qu'alexidesme estoit non seulement un rebelle et un usurpateur mais que melasie sa mere avoit empoisonne son mary afin de faire regner son fils comme ce crime estoit fort noir il ne fut creu pas de tout le monde et on s'imagina que je ne disois cela que pour les rendre plus odieux cependant le sage thales qui me l'avoit mande l'avoit sceu avec assez de certitude pour n'en douter pas mais comme ses malheurs viennent ordinairement en foule je ne fus pas plustost en pleine mer que le calme cessa et que la tempeste revint 
 et une tempeste si forte qu'en deux heures tonte ma flotte fut dispersee le vent repoussa mesme malgre eux quelques uns de mes vaisseaux jusques au port de milet les autres se briserent contre des rochers quelques uns tournerent tout d'un coup et furent engloutis dans les abismes de la mer et je demeuray avec trois seulement a lutter contre les vents et contre les vagues je crus cent et cent fois que j'allois perir et cent et cent fois je rendis graces aux dieux dans l'esperance que j'avois de ne survivre point a mes infortunes mais a la fin malgre moy il falut vivre et apres un jour et une nuit de tempeste espouventable je fus jette a l'isle de chio ou j'aborday et ou je fus receu pour racommoder seulement mes vaisseaux car comme ceux de cette isle scavoient desja le changement arrive a milet ils craignirent que s'ils me souffroient plus long temps a leurs ports ce ne fust donner un pretexte de guerre contre eux aux milesiens enfin seigneur je connus en cette rencontre que ceux qui ont le plus de besoin de retraite sont ceux a qui l'on en offre le moins et que les malheureux ne trouvent gueres d'aziles chez ceux qui ne le sont pas ce fut en vain que j'attendis pour voir si quelques autres de mes vaisseaux ne me viendroient point rejoindre car soit qu'ils eussent tous peri que la tempeste les eust jettez trop loing ou qu'ils m'eussent voulu abandonner pour s'en retourner a milet je n'en apris aucunes nouvelles des trois qui me restoient il n'y en eut mesme 
 que deux que l'on peust remettre en mer qui ne furent pas plustost en estat que je me resolus d'aller a lesbos pour voir si l'amitie que j'avois contractee avec tisandre fils du sage pittacus prince de mytilene ne subsisteroit pas encore malgre mes malheurs je fus donc avec deux vaisseaux seulement chercher ce genereux amy qui me receut avec une bonte extreme et qui me fit recevoir du prince son pere avec les mesmes honneurs que si je n'eusse pas este depossede de mes estats je fus donc quelque temps en cette cour la pendant quoy j'envoyay vers periandre roy de corinthe luy demander secours mais il estoit alors si occupe chez luy par quelques factions qui partageoient tous les grands de son royaume qu'il ne se trouva pas estre en termes de me pouvoir assister le prince polycrate fit aussi la paix avec alexidesme comme firent ceux de prienne et le prince de phocee qui estoit de ce parti et qui le soustenoit ardemment engagea tous ceux avec qui il avoit alliance a le soustenir comme luy de sorte que je ne vy apparence aucune de rien entreprendre avec le secours seul du prince de mytilene joint que par l'intelligence que je conservay tousjours avec le sage thales je sceu qu'il avoit decouvert qu'anthemius qui avoit paru si zele pour alexisdeme animoit sourdement le peuple contre cet usurpateur si bien qu'il y avoit lieu de croire qu'il y auroit bientost quelque nouveau changement a milet qu'ainsi le mieux que je pouvois faire estoit de n'irriter 
 point les peuples en leur allant faire la guerre et de me tenir tousjours tout prest a me jetter dans cette ville s'il s'en presentoit quelque occasion favorable me voila donc contraint d'attendre en repos le succes de ma fortune mais je vous advoue que c'estoit avec un chagrin si grand que rien ne pouvoit me divertir ce qui le redoubloit encore c'estoit que le prince tisandre estoit aussi malheureux que moy bien que ce fust par une cause differente car vous scaurez seigneur qu'il y avoit plus de deux ans qu'il aimoit esperdument cette celebre fille que vous vistes a lesbos quand nous y passasmes ensemble sans pouvoir en estre regarde favorablement quoy qu'il eust fait toutes choses possibles pour s'en faire aimer comme l'admirable sapho dont je vous parle est assurement un miracle d'esprit et que de plus elle a beaucoup de beaute et d'agreement je ne pouvois pas trouver qu'il eust tort de l'estimer plus que tout le reste du monde mais comme je n'avois encore jamais rien aime je le blasmois estrangement de ce qu'il paroissoit aussi melancolique que moy mais seigneur comme ce n'est pas l'histoire de ce prince que je veux vous raconter je ne vous en diray rien autre chose sinon qu'estant absolument desespere de pouvoir jamais toucher le coeur de cette belle lesbienne il me pria de vouloir estre le compagnon de son exil et de vouloir aller errer aveques luy sur toutes les mers qui n'estoient pas fort esloignees de milet pour voir si l'absence le pourroit guerir je luy 
 accorday aisement ce qu'il voulut tout lieu m'estant indifferent dans ma disgrace ainsi pretextant nostre depart le mieux que nous pusmes nous quittasmes lesbos et nous nous abandonnasmes a la fortune toutes nos conversations n'estoient pour l'ordinaire que des disputes de l'ambition et de l'amour chacun de nous soustenant son opinion selon les sentimens qu'il avoit alors dans le coeur nous avions deux vaisseaux outre celuy ou nous estions mais nous n'eusmes bien tost plus que le nostre car ayant rencontre le prince polycrate beaucoup plus fort que nous il nous prit les deux autres et tout ce que nous peusmes faire fut d'echaper a sa victoire il est certain que cette avanture me fascha et me fit devenir pirate s'il faut ainsi dire car il me prit une si forte envie de regagner ce que j'avois perdu que nous fismes dessein d'attaquer tout ce qui ne se rendroit point ne jugeant pas qu'il fust plus permis a polycrate qu'a nous de faire des prises continuelles sur toutes les mers ou il navigeoit en moins d'un mois nous fismes plus de vingt combats et j'aquis bientost le nom de pirate car pour le prince tisandre durant tout ce voyage il ne voulue point estre connu aux lien ou nous abordasmes je puis toutesfois dire sans mensonge que j'ay este pirate sans estre pirate s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi car comme je n'avois dessein que de me faire une petite flote par mon courage je ne retenois que des vaisseaux et les hommes qui vouloient servir sous moy et justement 
 ce qu'il faloit pour leur subsistance nous prismes trois navires du prince de phocee mon ennemy ce qui me donna une joye inconcevable et a la premiere isle que nous trouvasmes l'en mis les gens a terre et en pris d'autres me semblant que je devois tout esperer puis que j'avois commence de vaincre par mes ennemis j'apris de ces mariniers de phocee que ce prince se devoit bientost embarquer pour aller de part de cresus au pont euxin et a la ville d'apollonie de sorte que resolu de luy aller couper chemin je retournay d'ou je venois et ce fut alors seigneur que je vous rencontray comme vous vouliez aller de corinthe a ephese comme j'avois dans l'esprit le dessein de combattre le prince de phocee que l'on m'avoit dit qui devoit avoir six vaisseaux je me resolus d'attaquer le vostre pour le gagner si je pouvois toutesfois a dire vray cette victoire me fut disputee si courageusement par vous que l'on peut dire que vous fustes vaincu par le nombre seulement et que je le fus par vostre valeur mais seigneur oseray-je vous dire que ce vaillant homme contre qui vous combatistes dans la mer apres que vous y fustes tombez l'un et l'autre et que j'envoyay querir aussi bien que vous dans un esquif estoit ce mesme tisandre qui est presentement dans ma tente qui ne voulut jamais que je vous le fisse connoistre tant que vous fustes dans mon vaisseau quoy genereux thrasibule interrompit cyrus celuy que je combatis et qui m'auroit sans 
 doute vaincu sans vous est icy ha si cela est poursuivit il redoublez vos soings pour sa conservation a ma priere estant certain que je ne croy pas qu'il y ait un plus vaillant homme au monde que luy mais de grace achevez de me raconter une vie ou je ne prens gueres moins d'interest qu'en la mienne thrasibule apres avoir admire la haute generosite de cyrus de s'interesser comme il faitoit a la conservation d'un homme qui luy avoit si opiniastrement dispute la victoire reprit son discours de cette sorte je ne vous feray donc point souvenir de ce qui se passa en cette occasion quis que vostre modestie ne le pourroit souffrir mais je vous diray seulement que lors que je pris terre a lesbos ce fut pour y laisser malgre luy le prince tisandre a qui vous aviez fait deux blessures moins grandes en apparence que celles que vous aviez receues de luy mais qui par le chagrin qu'il avoit furent plus longues et plus difficiles a guerir que les vostres en suitte seigneur suivant mon dessein je vous menay au pont euxin ou l'eus le bonheur de rencontrer ce que je cherchois c'est a dire le prince de phocee car ce fut veritablement contre luy que vous combatistes et luy que vous vainquistes estant certain que sans vous j'eusse peut-estre eu le malheur d'estre vaincu mais seigneur la fortune ne voulut pas que dans les trois vaisseaux que nous prismes le prince de phocee s'y trouvast et il echapa par un bonheur inconcevable
 
 
 
 
cependant apres que vous eustes 
 refuse les deux vaisseaux que je voulois vous forcer de prendre parce qu'ils vous apartenoient plus qu'a moy et apres que vous en eustes seulement accepte un cette mesme tempeste qui s'esleva un demy jour apres que nous nous fusmes separez et qui vous jetta deux jours en suitte au port de sinope a ce que j'ay sceu depuis par un de ces prodiges qui arrivent si souvent a la mer et qui font que des vents tous contraires agitent les vagues d'un cap a l'autre la tempeste me poussa dans l'helespont et en suitte me faisant passer entre lemnos et lesbos elle me forca encore malgre moy d'aller plus a gauche raser l'isle de chio et echouer enfin contre les costes de gnide si connues par cet isthme qui s'avance si fort dans la mer que cette pointe de terre semble estre entierement detachee du continent jusques icy seigneur vous pouvez regarder le commencement de ma vie comme le plus heureux temps que j'aye jamais passe car parmi mes malheurs j'avois tousjours eu quelque bonheur soit par l'amitie du sage thales soit par celle du prince tisandre et soit en dernier lieu par la vostre mais depuis le jour que j'arrivay a guide il n'y eut plus pour moy que de l'infortune elle se deguisa pourtant d'abord et je rendis graces aux dieux de m'avoir conduit en un lieu ou je trouvay tant de civilite car vous scaurez que justement a la pointe de cet isthme ou la tempeste me jetta seul mes autres vaisseaux ayant este dispersez par l'orage il y a un chasteau 
 extremement fort et qui fait toute la deffence de cette presque-isle du coste de la mer ou commandoit lors que j'y arrivay un homme de condition nomme euphranor qui estoit chef du conseil des soixante qui gouvernent cette republique cet homme pour mon bonheur a ce que je crus en ce temps la vit du haut d'une terrasse ou il estoit avec quelle impetuosite les vents m'avoient pousse vers le pied de ses murailles de sorte qu'a l'heure mesme par un sentiment d'humanite il envoya ordre a tous les mariniers de ce port de m'assister et il prit un soing particulier de scavoir en quel estat estoit mon vaisseau et qui estoit celuy qui le commandoit car il connut bien que c'estoit un vaisseau de guerre et mesme un des plus beaux et des plus grands qui eust jamais elle este sur toutes nos mers se en effet c'estoit encore le mesme sur lequel j'avois commande l'armee contre polycrate et sur lequel aussi j'avois eu l'honneur de vous voir euphranor ayant donc envoye s'informer qui j'estois quelques mariniers de gnide qui reconnurent mon vaisseau luy dirent que c'estoit celuy de ce fameux pirate qui couroit la mer depuis quelque temps qui ne prenoit ny argent ny marchandise et qui ne vouloit que des hommes et des navires l'assurant qu'ils me connoissoient bien et qu'ils m'avoient une fois veu attaquer un vaisseau pendant quoy ils s'estoient sauvez mais en mesme temps ayant sceu par d'autres qui venoient de me voir que je n'avois pas trop la 
 mine d'un pirate et que mon navire estoit si fracasse que je ne serois de longtemps en estat de pouvoir partir de gnide il envoya ordre et par curiosite et pour la seurete de la forteresse de me conduire vers luy comme je scavois que c'estoit la coustume des lieux ou il y a des places de guerre d'en user ainsi et que de plus je ne voulois pas me faire connoistre pour ce que j'estois j'obeis sans murmurer et sans estre suivi que d'un homme de qualit de milet nomme leosthene qui ne m'avoir point abandonne et de trois ou quatre de mes gens je fus trouver euphranor qui me receut dans une grande galerie ou diverses personnes se promenoient aveques luy il me parla avec beaucoup d'adresse et de civilite il s'informa qui j'estois d'ou je venois ou j'avois dessein d'aller et il me fit enfin plusieurs questions pour tascher de descouvrir la verite de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir je respondis pourtant a toutes ces choses sans le satisfaire entierement car je luy dis que mon nom quand je le luy dirois ne luy seroit pas connu que je venois du pont euxin ou une affaire importante m'avoir apelle et que je ne scavois pas moy mesme ou j'allois lors que la tempeste m'avoit pousse en cette coste que cependant je pouvois seulement l'assurer avec certitude qu'il trouveroit en moy beaucoup de reconnoissance d'avoir eu la generosite d'envoyer ses gens aider aux miens a sauver mon vaisseau en effet s'ils ne fussent venus nous n'eussions jamais pu anchrer en ce lieu la et la tempeste eust 
 acheve de nous faire perir durant que je parlois a euphranor je remarquay que tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens dans cette galerie s'aprocherent preocupez de la pensee qu'ils alloient entendre parler un pirate comme il n'y a que quatre langues parmy tous les ioniens et qu'elles se ressemblent si fort que quiconque en entend une entend toutes les autres j'entendois et estois entendu sans peine y ayant mesme si peu de difference de celle de milet a celle de gnide que ce n'est presques que le seul accent qui les change puis qu'en fin l'une et l'autre sont greques mais seigneur parmi toutes ces personnes qui s'aprocherent je vy quatre ou cinq dames de bonne mine entre lesquelles la fille d'euphranor me parut la plus belle chose que l'eusse jamais veue et comme elle se trouva estre la plus curieuse de la troupe de voir un pirate dont j'ay sceu qu'elle disoit n'avoir jamais veu elle s'aprocha plus que les autres et je la saluay aussi avec plus de soumission que tout le reste de la compagnie qui n'eut qu'une reverence ou deux en general mais pour alcionide car cette belle personne se nomme ainsi je luy en fis une en particulier avec le mesme respect que si une divinite m'eust aparu il me sembla mesme que pendant que je continuois de parler a euphranor elle dit a une de ses compagnes que je n'avois point l'air d'un pirate selon qu'on les luy avoit depeints de sorte que pour la confirmer en cette bonne opinion je taschay de respondre a euphranor le plus 
 a propos qu'il me fut possible en effet il fut si content de moy que sans s'arrester a cette pretendue qualite de pirate qui ne donne gueres l'entree des ports a ceux qui la portent il m'offrit son assistance de fort bonne grace et m'assura que je pouvois tarder a gnide autant de temps que je voudrois pour faire racommoder mon vaisseau apres cela je me retiray faisant pourtant encore durer la conversation autant que je le pus afin de voir plus longtemps l'admirable alcionide mais enfin je sortis de cette galerie et je m'en retournay a mon navire neantmoins comme il faisoit eau de toutes parts je fus contraint d'aller loger a la ville a un bout de laquelle ce chasteau est basti ayant tousjours dans l'esprit l'image de cette belle personne que j'avois veue le lendemain au matin je fus a ce celebre temple qui porte le nom de venus gnidienne ou je trouvay desja la divine alcionide mais si charmante et si aimable que je changeay de couleur aussi tost que je l'aperceus comme j'avois pris ce jour la un habit fort magnifique elle pensa ne me connoistre pas toutesfois s'estant remis un moment apres mon visage en la memoire elle me rendit le salut que je luy fis avec assez de civilite comme elle estoit avec sa mere et que je ne passois que pour un pirate dans leur esprit je n'osay les aborder et je creus qu'il faloit demander la permission de les voir auparavant que de l'entreprendre je creus mesme qu'il faloit aller remercier euphranor et luy 
 faire une visite de ceremonie de sorte que je fus chez luy ce matin la et je l'entretins selon son advis si agreablement qu'il me tesmoigna estre bien aise de ma connoissance apres l'avoir quitte comme je scay que pour l'ordinaire les presens sont autant envers les hommes que les sacrifices et les offrandes envers les dieux je luy envoyay une espee admirablement belle dont la garde estoit garnie d'or et de pierreries avec un travail merveilleux car elle estoit de la main du pere de ce grand amy du silence de ce philosophe si celebre par tout le monde de ce rare artisan dis-je qui est sans pareil pour l'orphevrerie euphranor fut surpris de la magnificence de mon present qu'il receut aveque joye cependant j'estois si charme de la veue d'alcionide que je ne me souvenois pas de donner les ordres necessaires pour racommoder mon vaisseau aussi en laissay-je absolument le soin a leosthene et je demeuray seul dans la chambre j'estois alors sans pouvoir penser a nulle autre chose qu'a cette belle personne je fus pres d'une heure a resver fort agreablement et a me souvenir avec plaisir de la douceur de ses yeux de la blancheur de son teint des justes proportions de tous les traits de son visage de l'agrement que l'on y voyoit de la modestie qui paroissoit en son action de l'aisance de sa taille et de l'esprit que l'on remarquoit en sa phisionomie mais apres avoir bien resve tout d'un coup je m'estonnay de me surprendre en une pareille occupation moy dis-je 
 qui depuis la perte de mon pere et de mon estat n'avois jamais este un moment seul sans avoir l'esprit remply de pensees de haine et de vangeance et qui ne songeois enfin a autre chose qu'aux moyens de regagner ce que j'avois perdu j'advoue que ce changement m'estonna et que j'eus mesme quelque honte de cette premiere foiblesse en effet je pensay changer le dessein que j'avois d'envoyer demander la permission de voir la femme d'euphranor qui se nommoit phedime car enfin disois-je que veux-je faire de m'exposer a un si grand peril comme est celuy de revoir une si redoutable personne je ne l'ay encore veue quelques momens et cependant je ne songe presques desja plus a mes ennemis que sera-ce donc quand je luy auray parle et que je luy auray donne loisir d'assujettir mon coeur neantmoins je me moquay moy mesme de ma crainte un instant apres et je creus encore que je n'avois qu'a ne vouloir point aimer alcionide pour ne l'aimer pas les autres disois-je qui sont surpris par cette passion le sont sans doute parce qu'ils ne songent pas a y resister des le commencement mais pour moy il n'en sera pas ainsi car je veux aller voir alcionide avec une ferme resolution de n'avoir jamais que de l'admiration pour elle et de n'avoir jamais d'amour ainsi seigneur pensant m'estre bien fortifie contre les charmes de cette rare personne j'envoyay demander l'apres-disnee a sa mere la permission de la visiter qu'elle m'accorda j'y fus 
 donc avec leosthene mais j'y fus sans luy parler tant que ce chemin dura seigneur me dit il en riant vous me semblez bien resveur pour faire une premiere visite de dames je sous-ris de la remarque de leosthene et sans luy respondre parce que je ne scavois pas une bonne raison a luy dire de ma resverie je fis semblant de ne l'avoir pas entendu et j'entray dans le chasteau dont nous estions alors fort proches phedime me receut tres civilement et l'admirable alcionide eut aussi pour moy une douceur si charmante que j'eus tous les sujets possibles de me louer d'elle comme il y avoit beaucoup de dames lors que j'arrivay apres les premiers complimens phedime continua de parler a celles qu'elle entretenoit auparavant que j'entrasse et comme j'eus le bonheur de me trouver place aupres d'alcionide j'eus le loisir des cette premiere visite de remarquer qu'elle avoit l'esprit aussi beau que le visage en effet je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une personne dont la conversation ait este plus charmante que la sienne car en fin elle agit de sorte qu'elle dit toujours precisement tout ce qu'il faut dire pour divertir ceux qu'elle entretient elle parle egalement bien de toutes choses et demeure pourtant si admirablement dans les justes bornes que la coustume et la bien-seance prescrivent aux dames pour ne paroistre point trop scavantes que l'on diroit a l'entendre parler des choses les plus relevees que ce n'est que par le simple sens commun qu'elle en a quelque connoissance 
 son eloquence est forte mais naturelle et quoy que ce soit une des personnes du monde qui parle le plus facilement c'est pourtant une des femmes de toute la terre qui se taist avec le moins de peine et qui escoute le plus paisiblement ceux mesme qui parlent le plus mal a propos tant il est vray qu'elle est complaisante sage et judicieuse estant telle que je la depeins vous pouvez bien juger qu'elle souffrit que je luy parlasse et qu'elle eut la bonte de me respondre apres quelques discours indifferents ou celles qui estoient aupres d'elle se meslerent elle me dit fort obligeamment que je luy devois avoir quelque obligation des sentimens qu'elle avoit eus pour moy avant mesme que de me connoistre car imaginez vous me dit elle que comme c'est un de mes divertissemens quand la mer est irritee de voir ces montagnes d'escume qui bondissent contre nos rochers j'estois aux fenestres de mon cabinet lors que vostre vaisseau pousse par les vents vint eschouer contre le pied de ce chasteau de sorte que comme je creus que tout ce qui estoit dedans alloit perir j'advoue que le coeur m'en batit et que je demanday aux dieux qu'ils vous conservassent ainsi le premier sentiment que j'ay eu pour vous ayant este de pitie il me semble que vous devez en avoir quelque legere reconnoissance quoy madame luy dis-je c'est a vos voeux que je dois mon salut et c'est donc veritablement vous que l'en dois remercier c'est aux dieux repliqua t'elle et 
 non pas a moy que vous devez rendre grace et vous ne me devez au plus qu'un peu de louange de la pitie que j'ay eue de vous sans scavoir qui vous estiez aussi adjousta t'elle vous ay-je veu ce matin au temple ou vous remerciyez sans doute la deesse qu'on y adore de vous avoir conserve il est vray luy dis-je que j'y suis alle pour cela car je ne scavois encore que c'estoit a vous et non pas a moy qu'elle avoit accorde mon salut mais presentement adjoustay-je je ne m'estonne plus que la deesse de la beaute ait accorde a la plus belle personne du monde une chose qu'elle a souhaitee toutesfois madame poursuivis-je peut-estre vous repentirez vous du bien que vous m'avez fait sans me connoistre des que vous me connoistrez je ne le pense pas dit elle ou les aparences sont bien trompeuses et puis quand mesme vous ne seriez pas ce que je croy que vous estes je ne me repentirois pas encore d'avoir eu de la pitie puis que tous les malheureux en doivent donner a tout le monde et principalement a celles du sexe dont le suis ha madame luy dis-je ne changez jamais de sentimens je vous conjure il semble dit elle a vous entendre parler que vous ayez beaucoup d'interest au party des infortunez plus que tous les hommes du monde luy repliquay-je non seulement par les malheurs qui me sont desja advenus mais par ceux encore que raisonnablement je dois prevoir qui m'arriveront c'est estre trop ingenieux a se persecuter dit elle que de s'affliger 
 de ce qui peut-estre n'arrivera point et pour moy je vous avoue que je condamne presque egalement ceux qui se croyent heureux par la seule esperance de l'estre et ceux aussi qui se font malheureux seulement par la crainte de le devenir il y a pourtant d'une espece de gens au monde luy dis-je en sous-riant dont pour l'ordinaire tous les plaisirs et toutes les peines consistent a esperer et a craindre j'en ay ouy parler quelquesfois reprit alcionide en sous-riant aussi bien que moy mais je ne croy pas de ces gens la tout ce que l'on en dit joint que pour vous adjousta t'elle vous ne pouvez connoistre cette espece d'infortune dont vous voulez parler puisque passant toute vostre vie sur la mer vous ne pouvez esperer que le calme et ne pouvez craindre aussi que la tempeste les pirates luy repliquay-je d'un ton de voix a luy faire croire que je ne l'estois pas ne sont pas sortis de la mer comme vostre deesse ils naissent sur la terre ainsi que les autres hommes et ils y abordent quelques fois en effet madame adjoustay-je en rougissant mon naufrage vous doit aprendre que les pirates ne sont pas tousjours parmi les flots vous vous donnez la un nom die elle qui convient si peu avec vostre conversation que je ne pense pas qu'il vous apartienne j'advoue luy dis-je que je ne l'ay pas tousjours porte et que mesme je ne l'ay pas pris mais puis que les peuples me l'ont donne je le garderay jusques a ce qu'il plaise a la fortune de me l'oster c'estoit de cette sorte que j'entretenois 
 la belle alcionide lors que toutes ces dames qui estoient chez elle s'en allant me firent apercevoir que ma premiere visite avoit este assez longue si bien qu'apres avoir fait un grand compliment a phedime et avoir obtenu d'elle la permission de la voir tant que je tarderois a gnide je m'en retournay a mon logis mais si esperdument amoureux qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage leosthene qui s'estoit trouve aupres d'une personne assez stupide se pleignit en raillant de la longueur de ma visite mais j'avois l'esprit si occupe de ma nouvelle passion que je n'entendis pas trop bien ce qu'il me disoit et que je n'y respondis pas aussi trop a propos jugeant donc par mes actions que je voulois estre seul il me quitta et fut s'informer sur le port si l'on songeoit a tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour racommoder mon vaisseau ou il y avoit a travailler pour plus de trois semaines je ne fus pas plustost en liberte que me souvenant de la forte resolution que j'avois prise en allant chez alcionide de ne l'aimer point je voulus me demander a moy mesme si j'estois libre ou esclave je consultay donc mon coeur et ma raison la dessus mais dieux je trouvay le premier desja si engage et l'autre si preocupee que je n'en fus pas peu estonne j'apellay l'ambition a mon secours comme ayant toujours ouy dire que de toutes les passions c'estoit la seule qui pouvoit quelquesfois resister a l'amour mais quoy que je pusse faire elle combatit inutilement et il falut qu'elle cedast a l'autre 
 elle ne sortit pourtant pas de mon coeur au contraire toute vaincue qu'elle fut par l'amour elle redoubla encore sa violence et je m'estimay cent et cent fois plus malheureux d'avoir perdu mon estat apres avoir connu alcionide que je ne faisois auparavant parce que je regardois alors les malheurs de ma fortune comme un obstacle invincible a l'heureux succes de ma nouvelle passion si j'estois maistre absolu dans milet disois-je la possession de cette belle personne me seroit presque assuree mais estant exile comme je suis et passant pour un pirate comme je fais je ne puis pretendre ny a la possession de son coeur ny a celle de sa personne et je n'ay qu'a me preparer de souffrir tous les suplices que l'amour et l'ambition jointes ensemble peuvent faire endurer mais adjoustois-je que dira de moy le sage thales qu'en pourra dire le roy de corinthe qu'en pensera le prince de mytilene et qu'en croiront enfin tous les princes et tous les peuples de l'ionie en particulier et de toute la grece en general s'ils viennent a scavoir qu'un prince chasse de ses estats avec injustice mal-traitte de ses ennemis trahy par ses sujets et depossede par un fils naturel du prince son pere qu'un prince dis-je qui ne doit songer qu'a la vangeance et a la gloire se soit laisse vaincre sans resistance par les beaux yeux d'alcionide resistons donc reprenois-je tout d'un coup et ne nous rendons pas sans combatre mais dieux adjoustois-je un moment apres de quelles armes me puis-je servir 
 contre elle que feray-je que penseray-je pour ne l'aimer point trouveray-je quelque manquement en sa beaute remarqueray-je quelque deffaut en son esprit et pourray-je seulement soubconner que son ame ne soit pas aussi genereuse que son visage est beau et que son esprit est charmant c'est pourtant adjoustois-je par ce coste la qu'il faut chercher quelque remede a mon mal voyons donc alcionide avec assiduite informons nous en avec soing scachons mesme si cette belle personne qui sans doute est aimee de tous ceux qui la connoissent n'aime point et n'oublions rien enfin de tout ce qui pourroit nous guerir du mal qui commence de nous tourmenter ce fut de cette sorte seigneur que je raisonnay et je creus en effet qu'il n'y avoit point d'autre voye de me delivrer que celle de trouver quelques deffauts en cette incomparable personne ou d'apprendre du moins que son coeur seroit engage le lendemain je ne manquay donc de m'informer avec adresse de ce que je voulois scavoir or il me fut d'autant plus aise de le faire qu'au mesme lieu ou je logeois il y avoit un homme de qualite estranger aussi bien que moy qu'il y avoit desja assez long temps qui estoit a gnide pour en scavoir toutes les nouvelles et comme il se lie facilement amitie entre ceux qui ne sont pas du pais ou ils se rencontrent l'estois desja assez bien avec celuy la pour m'informer de luy de tout ce que je voulois aprendre je sceus donc qu'alcionide auoit este aimee de 
 raisonnables qui l'eussent veue mais aimee inutilement sans avoir jamais pu toucher son coeur et il me dit en fin tant de choses a son avantage que ne pouvant douter que son ame ne fust aussi belle que son corps et aussi grande que son esprit il y eut des moments ou je me trouvay encore avez de raison pour estre au desespoir de ne trouver pas en elle les deffauts que j'y cherchois et il y en eut plusieurs autres aussi ou malgre moy mon coeur avoit une joye inconcevable de scavoir que celle qu'il adoroit estoit toute parfaite et toute admirable il falut donc ceder seigneur et se resoudre a aimer alcionide je ne cessay pourtant pas de hair le prince de phocee non plus qu'alexidesme melasie philodice et anthemius au contraire je leur voulus encore plus de mal qu'auparavant parce que le malheureux estat ou ils m'avoient reduit estoit presques le seul obstacle que je voyois a mon amour de sorte que sans abandonner le soing des affaires de milet je commencay de prendre celuy de plaire a alcionide si je le pouvois si bien que je n'estois pas peu occupe comme euphranor eut quelque soubcon que je n'estois pas de la condition dont on me disoit il me traita tousjours fort civilement et ne trouva point mauvais que j'allasse tous les jours chez luy mais seigneur plus je voyois alcionide plus je la trouvois charmante et il me sembla mesme qu'elle ne me regardoit point comme un pirate je n'en estois pourtant pas plus heureux parce que je connoissois bien qu'elle ne me 
 regardoit pas aussi comme son amant j'eusse bien voulu quelquesfois luy donner sujet de deviner mes pensees mais un moment apres je me repentois de mon dessein et la crainte d'estre maltraitte faisoit que j'aimois mieux jouir en repos de la civilite qu'elle avoit pour moy que de m'exposer a sa colere car disois-je en moy mesme si je luy fais connoistre ma passion sans luy faire connoistre ma naissance elle me traitera comme un pirate et si je luy apprens aussi ce que je suis quelle apparence y a t'il qu'un prince malheureux et exille puisse estre bien receu d'elle en fin je concluois que pour agir raisonnablement il eust falu qu'elle eust creu que j'estois amoureux d'elle et qu'elle eust creu encore que je n'estois pas de la condition dont je paroissois estre sans scavoir pourtant precisement que je fusse un prince depossede de ses estats mais il estoit si difficile de trouver les voyes de n'en dire ny trop ny trop peu pour luy donner cette connoissance que je regardois presques cela comme une chose impossible et je vivois dans une contrainte qui n'estoit pas imaginable cependant leosthene qui a un esprit hardi et entreprenant fit amitie avec une parente d'alcionide qui demeuroit chez elle mais une amitie si estroite que j'en estois espouvente car cette fille luy donnoit cent marques de confiance il est vray qu'il luy avoit fait plusieurs petits presents de choses qu'il achetoit en secret a gnide et qu'il disoit avoir aportees de fort loing comme des essences des poudres 
 des parfums et autres semblables galanteries de sorte que comme cette fille avoit l'esprit assez libre elle disoit presques tout ce qu'elle pensoit a leosthene un jour donc en parlant aveques luy elle le pressa et le conjura de luy dire precisement qui j'estois et comme il s'imagina que peut-estre cette curiosite n'estoit elle pas d'elle seule il la pressa a son tour de luy dire pourquoy elle avoit une si grande envie de le scavoir si bien que suivant son ingenuite ordinaire elle luy dit apres luy en avoir fait un mistere fort secret que c'estoit parce qu'alcionide avoit un desir extreme d'aprendre ma veritable qualite a cause qu'elle ne pouvoit s'imaginer que je fusse effectivement un pirate par bonheur leosthene respondit comme je luy eusse ordonne de respondre si je l'eusse sceu car il se mit a railler avec cette personne d'une maniere si adroite que sans luy dire ny ouy ny non il luy donna lieu de croire qu'alcionide ne se trompoit pas comme leosthene avoit aisement remarque que j'estois amoureux d'alcionide il crut bien qu'il me feroit quelque plaisir de me dire qu'elle avoit la curiosite de scavoir qui j'estois et en effet il me donna tant de joye en me racontant ce qui luy estoit arrive que ne pouvant plus luy cacher ma passion je luy descouvris tous mes sentimens et en fis mon confident ce n'est pas qu'il fust fort propre pour cela car il a l'esprit un peu trop fier mais je n'avois pas a choisir et je ne pouvois plus renfermer dans mon coeur la violente passion 
 qui me possedoit dieux que d'heureux moments me donna cette curiosite d'alcionide et que de crainte aussi j'eus quelquesfois qu'elle ne vinst a scavoir qui j'estois par l'apprehension que j'avois que la connoissance de mes malheurs ne fust un obstacle au dessein que j'avois forme de tascher d'obtenir quelque place dans son coeur cependant je la voyois tous les jours et tous les jours je l'aimois avec plus de tendresse et avec plus de violence ce qui me charmoit le plus d'alcionide estoit que je ne surprenois jamais son esprit dans aucun sentiment qui ne fust droit et que tout ce qui a accoustume d'estre la foiblesse de toutes les jeunes personnes estoit beau coup au dessous d'elle cette merveilleuse fil le ne faisoit jamais une affaire de ce qui ne devoit estre qu'un simple divertissement ses habillemens la paroient sans l'occuper la moitie de sa vie comme de pareilles choses occupent ordinairement celle de la plus grande partie des femmes sa conversation sans estre tousjours de bagatelles inutiles estoit pourtant fort aisee de plus tout l'or et tous les diamans de l'orient n'eussent jamais pu esblouir son esprit elle discernoit un honneste homme sans magnificence aucune d'avec le plus magnifique stupide de la terre des la premiere visite et malgre toute sa parure elle rendoit tellement justice au veritable merite que je ne doute nullement qu'elle n'eust mieux traite un pirate effectif s'il eust eu de bonnes qualitez qu'un prince qui en auroit eu de mauvaises connoissant 
 donc tant de vertu en cette admirable fille le moyen de ne l'aimer pas aussi l'aimay-je de telle sorte que personne n'a jamais tant aime il me souvient mesme qu'un jour estant aupres d'elle appuye sur une fenestre qui est au bout d'une galerie qui regarde vers la mer pendant que plusieurs autres dames se promenoient derriere nous voila me dit elle en me monstrant le lieu ou mon vaisseau auoit echoue l'endroit ou vous avez pense faire naufrage pardonnez moy madame luy dis-je precipitamment sans avoir loisir de raisonner sur ce que je disois ce n'est point la le lieu ou j'ay pense perir bien est il vray adjoustay-je qu'il n'en est pas fort esloigne en verite me dit elle sans entendre le sens cache de mes paroles vous ne scavez pas si bien que moy ou vostre vaisseau echoua car je le vy de mes propres yeux mais pour vous je m'assure que vous estiez si occupe a donner les ordres que vous ne le remarquastes pas je scay bien madame luy dis-je que mon naufrage s'est fait en vostre presence mais cela n'empesche pas que je ne croye que celuy qui perit scait beaucoup mieux ou il perit que ceux qui ne font que le regarder pour moy adjousta t'elle encore en riant si je ne vous croyois pas l'ame extremement ferme je croirois que la peur auroit un peu trouble vostre raison en cet instant car je vous assure que ce fut au pied de ce grand rocher que vous fustes en peril et je vous assure madame luy dis-je que malgre tout le respect que je vous dois il 
 faut que je soustienne que ce fut veritablement assez pres de ce rocher que je fis naufrage mais que ce ne fut point du tout ou vous dittes alcionide qui n'avoit pas accoustume de me trouver si peu complaisant soubconna en fin qu'il y avoit quelque sens cache a mes paroles et rougissant tout d'un coup l'ay tort me dit elle de vouloir disputer contre vous pour une chose de nulle importance car puis que vous estes eschape de ce peril c'est assez et je ne dois plus en parler mais en verite dit elle en riant encore ceux qui disent qu'un sage pilotte ne doit jamais faire deux fois naufrage contre un mesme escueil ne scavent pas la difficulte qu'il y a a s'en empescher puis que vous qui estes si sage en apparence ne connoissez deja plus celuy qui vous pensa faire perir quoy qu'il en soit n'en parlons plus adjousta t'elle et pour vous entretenir de quelque chose qui vous plaise davantage dittes moy je vous prie si vostre vaisseau sera bien tost en estat de vous permettre de partir car je m'imagine que vous souhaitez autant vostre depart que tous ceux qui vous connoissent icy le craignent je me trouvay alors fort embarrasse parce qu'encore que les paroles d'alcionide semblassent me donner lieu de luy decouvrir une partie de mes sentimens elle avoit pourtant dans les yeux une severite si grande malgre leur douceur que je ne l'osay jamais faire je luy dis donc seulement que je ne croyois pas qu'il fust possible d'estre fort presse de partir d'un lieu ou elle seroit 
 mais comme la seule civilite pouvoit faire dire ce que je luy disois elle y respondit civilement et tout le reste de la conversation se passa de cette sorte l'en eus plusieurs autres avec elle sans pouvoir jamais me resoudre a m'exposer a sa colere en luy parlant ouvertement de mon amour je sceus mesme par leosthene que depuis ce premier jour la alcionide ne parla plus de moy a sa parente cependant je faisois durer le travail de ceux qui racommodoient mon vaisseau le plus long temps qu'il m'estoit possible et peu s'en falut que je ne fisse encore rompre ce qui n'estoit point rompu afin de le faire refaire d un bout a l'autre de sorte que je fus six semaines au lieu de trois au port de gnide mais enfin le sage thales que j'avois envoye advertir secretement du lieu ou j'estois me manda qu'il y avoit quelque aparence de sedition dans milet et qu'il me conseilloit de m'en aprocher me voila donc force a partir mesme par l'interest de mon amour de plus comme le peuple de gnide s'estoit aperceu de la longueur affectee des ouvriers qui racommodoient mon vaisseau il s'estoit espandu quel que bruit que j'avois quelque dessein cache et euphranor luy mesme en soubconna quelque chose a ce que sceut leosthene par cette fille qui estoit de ses amies l'assurant de plus qu'aussi tost qu'il seroit revenu d'un petit voyage de huit jours qu'il devoit faire dans deux ou trois il me forceroit a m'expliquer toutes choses voulant donc que je partisse et mon vaisseau estant prest quand 
 euphranor vint a partir je pris conge de luy l'assurant qu'il ne me trouveroit plus a son retour et le conjurant de croire que si je ne mourois pas a une occasion ou j'allois j'aurois l'honneur de le revoir et de me faire un peu mieux connoistre a luy apres son despart je sus encore quatre jours a gnide pendant lesquels alcionide qui n'avoit jamais entre dans aucun vaisseau de guerre non plus que trois ou quatre de ses amies tesmoigna avoir une si forte envie de voir le mien que je la suppliay de la vouloir satisfaire et d'y venir passer la derniere apres-disnee que je devois estre a ce port m'ayant donc accorde avec la permission de phedime ce que je luy demandois je me preparay a la recevoir en ce lieu la avec toute la magnificence possible mais pourtant avec toute la melancolie dont un coeur puisse estre capable en effet quand je venois a penser que dans quatre jours je ne verrois plus alcionide la douleur m'accabloit de telle sorte que je n'estois gueres capable de tous les petits soins necessaires pour bien ordonner une belle feste aussi fut-ce sur la diligence de leosthene que je m'en reposay qui s'en acquita sans doute admirablement car encore que le temps fust extremement court a s'y preparer neantmoins mon vaisseau ne laissa pas d'estre orne de cent banderoles volantes de diverses couleurs ou les chiffres du nom d'alcionide avec des devises estoient en or et en argent il y avoit sur le tillac une musique marine telle qu'on peut s'imaginer 
 celle des tritons et des nereides et outre celle la des voix admirables pour imiter apres celles des sirenes tous les soldats avoient les plus belles armes qui fussent dans mon navire et leosthene me fit mesme faire une javeline ou le chiffre du nom d'alcionide estoit peint sur le bois et grave sur le fer en divers endroits que je portay tout ce jour la a la main pour faire les honneurs de mon vaisseau le jour et l'heure estans venus ou je devois recevoir la grace de voir alcionide dans un lieu ou j'avois quelque puissance je sus la prendre chez elle accompagnee d'une tante qu'elle avoit et de dix ou douze de ses amies car pour phedime quelque legere incommodite l'empescha d'y pouvoir venir mais j'y fus tout couvert d'or et de plumes de diverses couleurs et avec le plus magnifique habit de guerre que j'eusse jamais porte suivy de leosthene et des principaux officiers de mon navire la conduisant donc dans ce vaisseau pare comme je viens de vous le despeindre la musique commenca des que nous aprochasmes et en suitte la faisant passer dans la chambre de poupe elle fut si surprise de sa grandeur de la beaute de ses peintures et de la magnificence qu'elle y vit quelle ne pouvoit presques croire qu'elle fust dans un navire apres qu'elle l'eut bien consideree je luy fis voir tout le reste de cette merveilleuse machine qui contient tant de choses en si peu d'espace les mariniers pour la divertir 
 firent en sa presence tout ce qu'ils ont accoustume de faire et pendant le calme et pendant la tempeste c'est a dire hausser et abaisser les voiles les tourner tout d'un coup ou peu a peu remuer tout ce grand nombre de cordages en un instant et bref toutes ces autres operations maritimes si surprenantes pour ceux qui ne les ont point veues mais durant qu'alcionide estoit occupee a voir toutes ces choses on servit la colation dans la mesme chambre ou elle avoit este d'abord si bien que lors qu'elle y rentra elle en fut assez agreablement surprise parce qu'en effet les soings de leosthene avoient admirablement bien reussi elle commenca donc de me louer et de me remercier en se pleignant toutesfois de ma magnificence et en disant avec en sous-rire tres obligeant que si tous les pirates estoient comme moy ils feroient honte a tout ce que la grece avoit de plus poly et de plus liberal je respondis d'abord a ce compliment avec beaucoup de joye estant fort aise de remarquer qu'alcionide estoit satisfaite mais tout d'un coup venant a penser qu'il faloit partir la nuit prochaine car le vent estoit alors fort bon je ne pus plus souffrir les regards d'alcionide sans une douleur extreme quoy disois-je en moy mesme durant qu'elle faisoit colation avec ses amies et en la regardant attentivement sans qu'elle y prist garde je ne verray peut-estre jamais plus alcionide et certaine ment demain a la mesme heure ou je parle non seulement je ne la verray plus mais mesme je 
 ne verray pas seulement le chasteau ou elle de meure chaque instant poursuivois-je m'esloigenera d'elle et m'en esloignera peut-estre pour toujours et tu pourrois vivre thrasibule adjoustois-je et tu pourrois luy dire adieu ha non non mourons plus tost mille et mille fois que d'esprouver toutes les rigueurs d'une absence si incertaine en sa duree si certaine en sa cruaute et si insuportable pour toy ces pensees seigneur firent une si forte impression en mon ame que je changeay de couleur vingt fois en un quart d'heure de sorte que leosthene s'apercevant de cette profonde melancolie me tira a part durant que ces dames mangeoient car j'estois demeure debout pour servir moy mesme alcionide et suivant son humeur libre et hardie qu'avez vous seigneur me dit il et estes vous seul en tout l'univers que la veue de la personne aimee ne satisface point mais leosthene luy dis-je que me sert de la voir aujord huy cette admirable personne que j'adore puis que je ne la dois plus voir demain s'il n'y a que cela qui cause vostre douleur me dit il que ne la voyez vous toute vostre vie et comment le pourrois-je luy dis-je en me permettant repliqua t'il brusquement de couper le cable qui tient ce vaisseau a l'anchre de faire hausser les voiles de prendre la haute mer comme si ce n'estoit que pour donner le plaisir de la promenade a ces dames et de les emmener ou vous voudrez a condition de ne retenir apres que la belle alcionide et son aimable 
 parente et de mettre toutes les autres a terre a quelques stades d'icy euphranor poursuivit il n'est point a gnide et nous serons desja bien loing quand on s'apercevra de nostre fuitte enfin adjousta t'il encore soit que vous agissiez comme pirate ou comme amant c'est une prise digne de vous d'abord je creus que leosthene me disoit cela par galanterie mais un moment apres je connus qu'il parloit serieusement et qu'il me conseilloit en interesse ma premiere pensee fut sans doute d'avoir de la repugnance pour cette action mais l'amour un instant apres seduisant ma raison et ma generosite fit que je dis a leosthene sans scavoir presques ce que je disois il le faloit faire sans me le dire cruel amy et me rendre heureux sans que je fusse criminel au lieu de me faire une proposition agreable que l'honneur me deffend d'accepter il est aise de reparer cette faute me dit il et les heureux ne passent jamais gueres pour coupables c'est pourquoy sans perdre icy le temps en discours inutiles allez entretenir ces dames et les amuser pendant que je donneray les ordres necessaires pour executer un si beau dessein ha leosthene luy dis-je je n'oserois consentir a une proposition si injuste mais pourtant si agreable songez toutesfois me respondit il que vous ne verrez plus alcionide si vous escoutez cette exacte justice dont vous parlez et que vous la verrez tousjours si vous suivez mes conseils mais elle me haira luy repliquay-je mais vous la 
 perdrez de veue dans une heure respondit il regardez adjousta encore cet injuste amy en me la monstrant de la main le thresor que vous voulez perdre enfin seigneur que vous diray-je pour mon excuse l'amour troubla ma raison leosthene seduisit ma volonte et sans scavoir presques ce que je disois je consentis a demy a tout ce qu'il desiroit sans doute plus pour son interest que pour le mien a cause de la parente d'alcionide qu'il aimoit et je commencay de faire ce qu'il vouloit que le fisse c'est a dire d'aller vers ces dames pour les amuser pendant qu'il couperoit le cable qu'il feroit hausser les voiles et prendre la haute mer comme elles avoient acheve de faire colation lors que je rentray dans la chambre elles se leverent et alcionide s'en vint a moy avec une civilite si obligeante et avec tant de marques de satisfaction et de reconnoissance sur le visage qu'a peine eus-je rencontre ses yeux que ses regards remettant le respect dans mon ame je fus si remply de confusion d'avoir consenty au criminel dessein que leosthene m'avoit propose que non seulement j'en paslis et en rougis presques en un mesme instant mais mon esprit se troublant et respondant moy mesme tout haut a mes propres pensees non madame m'ecriay-je tout d'un coup je n'y consentiray jamais et j'aime cent fois mieux mourir alors luy presentant la main sortez madame luy dis-je tout transporte sortez d'un lieu indigne de vous 
 et ne vous fiez jamais a des pirates mais madame sortez promptement je vous en conjure de peur qu'un repentir si raisonnable comme est celuy que j'ay maintenant dans le coeur ne soit suivy d'un autre plus criminel alcionide fut si estonnee et si surprise de mon procede qu'elle ne scavoit que penser neantmoins elle voyoit tant de trouble sur mon visage qu'elle s'en troubla un peu elle mesme ne scachant presques ce qu'elle me devoit respondre aussi n'attendis-je pas ce qu'elle diroit et voyant que l'on commencoit d'obeir a leosthene et qu'il avoit desja l'espee a la main et le bras leve pour couper le cable qui nous retenoit a l'anchre je le luy deffendis absolument puis me tournant encore vers alcionide accordez moy ce que je vous demande luy dis-je quoy que ce que je vous demande me doive couster la vie mais me dit elle en me donnant la main et en se disposant a sortir ne me direz vous point quelle avanture est celle-cy quand vous serez sur le rivage luy repliquay-je et que je ne craindray plus moy mesme vous le devinerez peut-estre de vous representer seigneur le desordre de mon ame l'estonnement d'alcionide celuy de sa tante et de ses amies le despit de leosthene et mon desespoir ce seroit une chose impossible mais enfin emporte par mon amour par mon respect et par mon repentir je remis alcionide a terre et de la dans son chariot et sans me pouvoir souvenir ny de ce que je luy dis ny mesme si je luy dis quelque chose je scay seulement que 
 je la quittay que je me rembarquay et que quoy que je ne deusse partir que la prochaine nuit je fis lever les anchres hausser les voiles et que je m'esloignay enfin malgre leosthene et malgre moy mesme s'il faut ainsi dire du rivage de gnide ou tout ce que j'aimois demeuroit leosthene voulut me dire quelque chose mais je ne pus souffrir sa veue ny recevoir ses excuses et il falut qu'il donnast quelque temps a ma douleur auparavant que je luy pardonnasse son mauvais conseil je n'eus pas fait une heure de chemin que je commanday que l'on abaissast les voiles et que l'on jettast les anchres en un lieu ou l'on pouvoit encore le faire et quoy que ce commandement parust fort bizarre je ne laissay pas d'estre obei cependant sans scavoir ce que je voulois j'estois dans une douleur extreme il y avoit des momens ou la seule absence d'alcionide m'affligeoit il y en avoit d'autres ou j'estois au desespoir d'avoir consenty a un dessein si injuste et il y en eut d'autres encore ou si je l'ose dire je me repentis de m'estre repenty ces derniers furent pourtant si courts que je pense qu'il m'est permis de croire que je n'en fus gueres plus criminel et que ce fut plustost un effet de la violence de ma passion que du dereglement de mon ame cependant ne pouvant ny me raprocher du rivage ny m'en esloigner et scachant pourtant qu'il faloit absolument faire le dernier et par honneur et par necessite je ne pus toutefois m'y refondre sans estre assure que du moins alcionide scauroit que 
 je l'aimois ainsi je pris le dessein de luy escrire et de luy faire porter ma lettre par un des miens que j'envoyerois dans un esquif j'escrivis donc mais dieux que de peine j'eus a escrire toutesfois j'en vins enfin a bout et si je ne me trompe cette lettre estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 a la belle alcionide 
 
 
 j'ay tant de choses a vous dire que je ne suis pas peu occupe a leur donner quelque ordre dans mon esprit car enfin divine alcionide je voudrais que vous pussiez scavoir en mesme temps que la passion que j'ay pour vous est extreme que ma condition n'est pas telle qu'elle vous paroist que la douleur que j'ay de vous quitter est inconcevable que le repentir que j'ay d'avoir pu consentir un moment a vous desplaire me rendra malheureux toute ma vie et qu'encore que je ne vous l'aye ose dire je suis pourtant plus amoureux de vous que personne ne scauroit estre vous ne pouvez ce me semble juger par le dereglement de mon ame vous dis-je qui avez tant d'esprit et tant de lumiere au nom des dieux madame ne refusez pas a mes prieres la grace de vous souvenir quelques fois d'un prince qui n'ose vous dire que sa qualite sans vous aprendre precisement ses malheurs souvenez vous donc qu'il part d'aupres de vous avec le dessein d'y revenir mais d'y revenir en estat d'estre advoue de vous pour le plus passionne et le plus fidelle amant du monde ne vous souvenez pas s'il vous plaist que j'ay este un moment 
 vostre ravisseur sans vous souvenir en mesme temps que l'ay este vostre liberateur enfin madame si vous ne vous souvenez pas de moy avec tendresse ne vous en souvenez pas avec mepris puis que vous seriez injuste d'en avoir pour un homme qui vous a adoree sans vous le dire qui part d'aupres de vous presques sans esperance et qui vous aimer a toute sa vie quand mesme vous le hairiez 
 
 
apres avoir bien leu et releu cette lettre ou je ne mis pas mon nom je fus enfin contraint de me servir de leosthene pour la porter tant parce qu'il m'en pressa extremement apres que je luy eus pardonne son mauvais conseil que parce qu'il estoit fort adroit il fut donc a guide des que la nuit fut venue et comme il avoit intelligence avec la personne qu'il aimoit et dont il n'estoit pas hai il la vit et elle luy fit voir alcionide malgre elle sans que phedime en sceust rien et elle le fit mesme entrer dans sa chambre sans luy en parler lors que leosthene luy donna ma lettre elle fit quelque difficulte de la lire mais apres l'avoir leue elle en fit beaucoup plus d'y respondre tesmoignant mesme assez de colere contre sa parente cependant comme leosthene est hardy il luy dit sans perdre pourtant le respect qu'il ne sortiroit point de sa chambre si elle ne me respondoit de sorte que pour se delivrer de son importunite elle m'escrivit seulement ces paroles 
 
 
 
 alcionide a l'illustre pirate 
 
 
 si je croyois tout ce que vous me dittes par vostre lettre je ny devrois pas respondre ou si j'y respondois ce ne seroit pas agreablement pour vous c'est pourquoy je vous declare que de tout ce que vous m'avez escrit je n'en crois rien qu'une seule chose qui est que vous n'estes point de la condition dont le peuple vous croit et qu'ainsi je suis obligee de vous demander pardon de toutes les incivilitez que je vous ay faites pendant que vous avez este icy je m'imagine que vous serez assez equitable pour ne me le refuser pas et que vous ne trouverez point mauvais qu'une personne qui aime passionement la verite ne refonde pas a tant de choses incroyables dont vostre lettre est remplie cependant soyez persuade qu'il vous est advantageux que je ne les croye point et que sans l'opiniastrete de leosthene vous ne verriez pas escrit de ma main le nom 
 
 
 d'alcionide 
 
 
mais seigneur pour me haster de vous dire des choses plus considerables leosthene revint et m'aporta la lettre que je viens de vous reciter qui toute indifferente qu'elle estoit me donna une si grande joye que je ne pense pas que j'eusse pu me refondre a m'esloigner de gnide sans escrire 
 encore une fois a alcionide si une tempeste ne se fust levee qui me forca de souffrir qu'on levast les anchres et que l'on prist la pleine mer
 
 
 
 
cependant je fus vers milet suivant les advis du sage thales et en y allant j'eus le bonheur de rencontrer deux des vaisseaux que l'avois perdus mais en eschange j'eus le malheur bien tost apres d'apprendre que le prince de phocee estoit revenu a milet aussi tost que thimocrate en avoit este party pour aller rendre conte aux amphictions de ce qui s'y estoit passe que ce prince avoit destruit tout ce que thimocrate y avoit avance en ma faveur qu'il avoit raffermy l'authorite d'alexidesme et puny presques tous ceux qui avoient voulu se sous-lever ou qui avoient simplement tesmoigne quelque zele pour mon party si bien que desespere de ma mauvaise fortune je fus contraint de me retirer et d'aller errant sur toutes nos mers sans scavoir precisement ce que je voulois faire j'envoyay pourtant encore une fois secretement a gnide m'informer de ce qu'euphranor auroit dit a son retour de mon depart bizarre et inopinee car comme il y avoit plusieurs dames avec alcionide lors que je l'avois quittee avec tant de precipitation je m'imaginois bien que la chose seroit sceue et en effet j'appris qu'euphranor avoit este fort en peine d'en deviner la cause et que les choses n'estoient pas en estat que je pusse retourner a gnide joint que n'ayant presques plus d'esperance de voir jamais changer de face a ma miserable fortune je ne 
 jugeois pas que je pusse rien gagner ny sur l'esprit d'alcionide ny sur celuy de son pere j'estois mesme si abandonne a ma douleur que passant devant lesbos je n'y voulus pas aborder me contentant d'envoyer simplement demander des nouvelles de la sante du prince tisandre que je sceus qui se portoit bien et de luy escrire une lettre que mes gens laisserent aux premiers mariniers qu'ils trouverent sur je port n'ayant pas voulu qu'ils parlassent a luy de peur qu'il ne me vinst voir je luy disois en general dans cette lettre sans luy nommer alcionide que je luy demandois pardon d'avoir autrefois condamne la passion qui le possedoit et que je luy aprenois que j'en estois presentement incomparablement plus tourmente que luy apres cela je passay outre jusques bien avant dans l'helespont en suitte je revins et je fus a delphes avec intention d'y consulter l'oracle mais quand j'y fus arrive je ne pus jamais m'y resoudre tant j'avois de crainte de trouver ce que je ne cherchois pas cependant j'y tombay malade et avec tant de violence que je ne pus estre en estat de partir de la de plus de quatre mois mais enfin quand il pleut aux dieux je gueris je dis quand il pleut aux dieux parce qu'il est certain que je cessay d'estre malade sans leur avoir demande la sante trouvant trop peu de bien en la vie pour regarder la mort comme un mal aussi tost apres je me rembarquay et voulant du moins passer aupres de gnide si je n'y abordois pas je 
 pris cette route la le vent me fut pourtant si contraire que je fus force de laisser chio a la main droite au lieu que j'avois eu dessein de passer entre cette isle et l'isthme de gnide et emporte parles vents je fus contraint de passer outre et de croiser malgre moy quatre vaisseaux qui se trouverent sur ma route comme tout le monde m'estoit devenu ennemy et que j'estois acoustume a faire mettre du moins le pavillon bas a tous ceux que je rencontrois je voulus faire la mesme chose a ceux cy qui ne le voulurent pas je regarday la baniere de ces vaisseaux mais je ne la connus point et je m'imaginay mesme que c'estoit peut-estre le prince de phocee qui se deguisoit apres qu'ils eurent donc refuse d'abaisser leur pavillon le les attaquay et tournant d'abord la proue vers le plus grand des quatre je luy donnay la chasse durant plus d'une heure comme il ne vouloit point combatre il voulut se servir de la force des voiles mais comme les vaisseaux que j'avois estoient encore plus legers que luy quoy que celuy que je montois fust fort grand je le joignis je l'acrochay je le combatis et si ardemment qu'en une demie heure je m'en rendis maistre ce qui m'eslevoit d'autant plus le coeur estoit que j'avois veu que les trois autres vaisseaux qui estoient a moy avoient brusle un de ceux des ennemis coule l'autre a fonds et pris le dernier de sorte que je voyois ma victoire entiere et certaine malgre la resistance de ceux que je combatois 
 tout ce qui estoit donc dans le navire que j'avois attaque s'estant rendu j'y entray l'espee a la main ne m'estant point demeure d'autres armes car j'avois non seulement lance plusieurs javelines mais mesme celle qui portoit le nom d'alcionide que j'avois tousjours gardee de puis le jour que cette belle personne estoit venue dans mon vaisseau j'y entray donc apres avoir deffendu a mes soldats de faire aucun desordre mais a peine fus-je sur le tillac qu'allant a la chambre de poupe ou j'entendis des voix de femmes je vy sur un lict l'admirable alcionide avec une pas leur mortelle sur le visage le bras gauche estendu descouvert et tout sanglant parce qu'une javeline le traversoit de part en part et je vis aussi dix ou douze femmes qui pleuroient aupres d'elle sans oser seulement entre prendre de tirer cette funeste javeline de sa blessure je vous laisse a juger seigneur ce que cet objet fit en mon ame je m'aprochay encore davantage criant de toute ma force que celuy qui avoit lance cette fatale javeline mourroit si je le pouvois connoistre je me mis a genoux aupres de son lit je commanday qu'on fist venir mes chirurgiens et je pris le bras de cette belle esvanouie pendant que toutes ses femmes me reconnoissant pousserent des cris d'estonnement parmi ceux de douleur qu'elles jettoient je pris dis-je le bras d'alcionide afin de voir si je ne pourrois point la soulager mais o dieux a peine l'eus je pris que je reconnus 
 cette fatale javeline pour estre celle qui portoit son illustre nom et que j'avois lancee la premiere en accrochant ce vaisseau jugez donc seigneur de mon desespoir lors que je connus avec certitude que c'estoit de ma main qu'alcionide estoit blessee il fut si grand que sans scavoir ce que je faisois je laissay tomber le bras de cette belle personne si rudement que son propre poids fit presque entierement sortir cette javeline qui le traversoit la douleur qu'elle en sentit la fit revenir a elle et luy fit entr'ouvrir les yeux justement comme les chirurgiens arriverent pour moy sans pouvoir parler je leur fis signe qu'ils la secourussent et cherchant mon espee afin de m'en percer le coeur je vy que leosthene la tenoit et je m'aperceus que je l'avois laisse tomber lors que j'avois veu alcionide en cet estat je voulus la luy arracher des mains mais il ne me la voulut jamais rendre et il me dit que je ferois mieux de secourir alcionide que de me desesperer je me reprochay donc de son lict et voyant que depuis que les chirurgiens avoient acheve de luy tirer cette funeste javeline elle estoit entierement revenue a soy je me mis a genoux aupres d'elle et la regardant sans pouvoir pleurer tant ma douleur estoit forte car ce sont les mediocres douleurs qui s'expriment par des larmes au nom des dieux madame luy dis je or donnez moy le suplice dont vous voulez que je chastie la sacrilege main qui vous a blessee et ne croyez pas si je respire encore que ce soit pour 
 vivre longtemps non madame je veux seule ment vous voir en estat de guerir afin que vous me puissiez voir perdre la vie pour expier du moins eu quelque facon l'horrible faute que j'ay commise puis qu'a parler raisonnablement je ne scaurois estre innocent apres avoir respandu un aussi beau sang que le vostre alcionide estoit si surprise de me voir et de m'entendre parler de cette sorte que quand elle n'eust pas este aussi foible qu'elle estoit elle n'eust pu faire un long discours c'est pourquoy ne respondant pas a tout ce que je luy disois si je meurs me dit elle je vous pardonne de bon coeur et je prie mesme le prince tisandre s'il est encore vivant de vous pardonner aussi bien que moy le prince tisandre madame dis-je tout surpris eh bons dieux est il icy comme elle vouloir me respondre les chirurgiens l'en empescherent et me dirent que je la ferois mourir si je luy parlois davantage de sorte que me retirant avec precipitation et la laissant avec ses femmes je pris seulement sa parente par la main que je menay a la porte de la chambre pour luy demander ce qu'alcionide m'avoit voulu dire mais en mesme temps quelques uns de mes soldats m'amenerent en effet le prince tisandre qu'ils avoient pris d'abord et mene dans mon vaisseau ou ayant sceu que c'estoit moy qui l'avois combatu sans le connoistre il avoit demande a me parler comme il avoit apris en entrant dans son navire qu'alcionide estoit blessee il estoit dans 
 un desespoir qui n'estoit gueres different du mien cruel amy me dit il en m'abordant qu'elle avanture est la nostre laissez moy dire plustost luy respondis-je quelle avanture est la mienne ha s'ecria t'il vous n'estes pas si a pleindre que moy car enfin les sentimens de l'amitie ne sont pas si tendres que ceux de l'amour vous m'aimez sans doute et vous devez estre afflige de m'avoir combatu et d'estre peut-estre cause de la mort d'une personne que j'adore et que je viens d'espouser mais vous venez dis-je en l'interrompant d'espouser cette belle personne ouy cruel amy me respondit il et jugez apres cela de la douleur de mon ame mais de grace souffrez au moins que je voye encore une fois cette belle et malheureuse personne en disant cela il fut dans la chambre ou elle estoit et j'y rentray aveques luy mais il n'y fut pas si tost que luy prenant la main la luy baisant et la mouillant de ses larmes il luy donna cent marques de douleur et d'amour que je n'osois pas luy rendre en cet estat ses yeux rencontrerent les miens et elle y vit sans doute si parfaitement une partie de la douleur que je souffrois qu'elle destourna les siens en rougissant tisandre l'ayant remarque et craignant de luy nuire encore s'eloigna d'elle n'imaginant point d'autre cause au changement de son visage que celle du mal qu'elle souffroit nous demandasmes aux chirurgiens ce qu'ils en pensoient mais ils nous dirent qu'ils n'en pouvoient 
 parler precisement jusques au second appareil n'ayant pas bien pu connoistre si les nerfs n'estoient point offencez et s'il n'y auoit point de vaines coupees cependant j'apris en peu de mots que tisandre s'estant guery de la passion qu'il avoit eue pour la belle et scavante sapho avoit consenty au mariage que le prince son pere avoit fait de luy et d'alcionide sans la connoistre mais qu'il ne l'avoit pas plus toit veue qu'il avoit eu plus d'amour pour elle qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu pour sa premiere maistresse je compris en suite qu'il n'avoit pu reconnoistre mon vaisseau parce qu'il avoit este raccommode a gnide et que depuis que j'en estois party le pavillon et les banderolles que leosthene avoit fait faire pour y recevoir alcionide y estoient demeurees qui n'estoient pas celles que tisandre pouvoit connoistre je ne pouvois pas non plus avoir connu son navire parce qu'a cause de son mariage ses banderolles estoient aussi toutes couvertes de devises galantes et de chiffres au lieu des autres marques qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir comme ce prince est veritablement genereux voyant que je ne parlois point il me demanda pardon s'il m'avoit dit quelque chose de fascheux dans les premiers transports de sa douleur mais j'avois l'esprit si peu a moy que je ne scavois ce que je luy respondois je scay pourtant bien que pour ne parler point d'alcionide dont je n'eusse pu parler sans luy aprendre malgre moy ce qu'il ne scavoit point je commanday que 
 l'on remist en liberte tous les gens du prince tisandre et qu'on les traitast comme les miens cependant quoy que la veue de ce prince me fust devenue insuportable depuis que je scavois qu'il estoit mary d'alcionide toutesfois je ne pouvois me resoudre a sortir de son vaisseau parce que c'estoit m'esloigner d'elle neantmoins n'estant pas en liberte de me pouvoir pleindre en sa presence je repassay dans le mien sur le pretexte d'y aller donner quelques ordres et je fus dans ma chambre l'esprit si accable de douleur que je fus tente cent et cent fois de me jetter dans la mer pour finir toutes mes infortunes mais je ne scay quelle chaisne secrette qui m'attachoit a alcionide me retint et m'empescha de mourir comme je fus seul avec leosthene en estat de pouvoir faire reflexion sur une si estrange avanture apres avoir fait cent imprecations contre moy mesme ayant l'esprit un peu plus tranquille advouez leosthene luy dis-je que je suis nay sous une constellation bien bizarre et bien maligne car si vous regardez l'estat present de ma fortune vous y trouverez assez de malheurs pour faire cinq ou six infortunez au lieu d'un en effet quand je n'aurois point d'autre desplaisir que celuy d'avoir combatu mon amy et blesse une personne qu'il aime je serois digne de compassion quand aussi je n'aurois point d'autre douleur que celle de voir que mon amy est mon rival je serois encore extremement a pleindre quand je n'aurois 
 non plus que celle de voir une maistresse en la possession d'un autre je serois tres digne de pitie et quand je n'aurois enfin autre affliction que celle d'avoir blesse de ma propre main et peut-estre blesse mortellement la seule personne pour qui je veux vivre je n'aurois pas assez de larmes pour pleindre mes infortunes mais ayant en un mesme jour combatu mon amy blesse un personne qu'il aime connu qu'il est mon rival apris que ma maistresse est mariee et ne pouvoir douter que ce ne soit de ma main qu'elle ait eu le bras perce d'une javeline qui la met en danger de mourir ha leosthene c'est estre si charge ou plustost si accable de malheurs qu'il y a de la laschete a vivre comme de l'impossibilite car enfin que puis-je faire il ne m'est pas mesme permis de hair mon rival puis qu'il est mon amy et mon bien-faicteur il ne me le sera jamais d'oser parler de ma passion a la personne qui la cause l'esperance ne peut plus avoir de place en mon ame mon amour mesme ne scauroit plus estre innocente je n'oserois d'oresnavant me pleindre qu'en secret je n'ay point lieu d'accuser tisandre je n'ay pas la force de luy advouer ma passion joint que je la luy advouerois inutilement puis qu'il est mary d'alcionide en un mot je suis au plus deplorable estat ou jamais un amant puisse estre mais helas reprenois-je tout d'un coup que dis-je et que fais-je je parle comme si alcionide n'estoit point blessee et blessee de ma propre 
 main et peut-estre en danger de mourir comme je l'ay deja dit ha cruel poursuivois-je pourras tu souffrir que cette main sacrilege soit jamais occupee a autre chose qu'a t'enfoncer un poignard dans le coeur mais me disoit leosthene vous n'estes point coupable et le hazard tout seul a fait la blessure d'alcionide apres cela je fus quelque temps sans parler ayant l'esprit remply de tant de pensees differentes que je n'estois pas maistre de moy mesme si elle meurt disois-je il la faut suivre au tombeau et si elle eschape adjoustois-je il faut encore mourir car elle n'echapera que pour tisandre tisandre reprenois je qui est deja son mary et qui le sera tousjours tisandre qui peut-estre un jour ne l'aimera plus comme il n'aime plus la belle sapho tisandre a qui j'ay de l'obligation tisandre que je n'oserois hair et que je ne puis plus aimer tisandre enfin poursuivois-je qui detruit toutes mes esperances et qui me va rendre le plus mal heureux prince de la terre c'est une grande douleur adjoustois-je que de voir une personne que l'on aime cherement en danger de mourir mais la voir en cet estat de sa propre main est une douleur qui surpasse toutes les douleurs et qui ne doit point trouver de remede qu'en la mort apres cela je fus quelque temps sans parler puis m'imaginant tout d'un coup que peut-estre seroit il empire a alcionide l'impatience me prit et je ne pus plus durer dans mon vaisseau ce n'est pas que la veue de tisandre ne me contraignist 
 estrangement et ne m'affligeast beaucoup m'estant impossible de le regarder comme mon amy et ne pouvant m'empescher de le regarder seulement comme le mary d'alcionide et comme le destructeur de tous mes plaisirs mais apres tout ne pouvant voir alcionide sans voir tisandre je me resolus a souffrir une douleur si sensible pour jouir d'une consolation qui m'estoit si necessaire je repassay donc dans l'autre vaisseau et comme alcionide dormoit je fus contraint de voir tisandre sans la voir la tristesse qu'il remarqua dans mes yeux le touchant parce qu'il la croyoit causee seulement pour l'amour de luy il eut la generosite de me dire qu'il ne m'accusoit point de l'accident qui luy estoit arrive qu'il en estoit seul coupable puis qu'il luy estoit plus aise de s'imaginer que c'estoit moy qu'il avoit rencontre qu'il ne me l'estoit de croire que ce fust luy que j'avois trouve qu'il regardoit donc ce malheur comme une chose ou je n'avois point de part car il n'avoit pas veu la javeline ou le nom d'alcionide estoit grave et qu'en fin il voyoit bien que les dieux seuls avoient voulu que la chose arrivast ainsi cependant me disoit-il je ne puis me conformer a leur volonte et si alcionide meurt je mourray indubitablement si vous scaviez adjoustoit il quel est son esprit sa bonte et sa vertu vous excuseriez ma foiblesse car enfin poursuivoit il sans que je pusse avoir la force d'ouvrir la bouche pour l'interrompre lors que je l'ay espousee 
 elle ne me connoissoit presques point et je suis assure qu'elle ne pouvoit avoir pour moy que quel que legere estime j'ay mesme sceu qu'elle s'estoit opposee a nostre mariage parce qu'elle disoit ne se vouloir point marier cependant de puis six semaines qu'il y a que j'estois a gnide elle a vescu avec la mesme complaisance que si elle m'avoit choisi et que ce n'eust pas este par une simple obeissance qu'elle m'eust espouse pour moy des que je la vy j'en fus amoureux jusques a perdre la raison ainsi mon cher thrasibule excusez s'il vous plaist mes transports dans l'exces de ma douleur et ne prenez pas garde je vous en conjure a tout ce que j'ay dit et a tout ce qu'elle me fera peut-estre dire je scay bien que ce n'est pas l'ordinaire qu'un amant qui possede aime avec tant de violence aussi puis-je presques dire que je ne possede pas encore alcionide puis que je n'ay pas eu loisir de gagner absolument son coeur par cent mille marques d'amour je suis veritablement possesseur de sa beaute mais je ne le suis pas encore de son esprit au point que je le veux estre ainsi tout mary que je suis de l'incomparable alcionide mon amour a encore des desirs et de l'in quietude et par consequent de la violence et du desreglement vous voyez mon cher trasibule que je vous descouvre le fond de mon coeur comme a l'homme du monde que j'aime le plus et pour lequel je ne puis jamais avoir rien de cache j'advoue que tant que tisandre 
 parla je souffris tout ce qu'on peut souffrir il y eut pourtant un endroit dans son discours qui me donna un instant de joye et un moment apres un grand redoublement de douleur car je m'imaginay peut-estre avois-je eu quelque part a la resistance qu'alcionide avoit faite a son mariage mais helas s'il est ainsi disois-je en moy mesme durant que tisandre parloit que te suis mal heureux et que ce discours me coustera de larmes comme ce prince estoit sensiblement afflige il ne songeoit pas si je luy respondois ou non de sorte qu'apres luy avoir dit trois ou quatre paroles assez mal rangees nous fusmes scavoir si alcionide estoit esveillee et nous sceusmes qu'elle l'estoit mais elle fut si mal tout ce soir la et toute la nuit que nous creusmes qu'elle mouroit imaginez vous donc en quel estat nous estions tisandre et moy et principale ment en quel estat j'estois de souffrir cent fois plus que ne pouvoit souffrir tisandre et d'estre pourtant contraint de cacher une partie des mes sentimens mais enfin le lendemain au matin estant venu et les chirurgiens ayant leve le premier apareil de la blessure d'alcionide ils nous dirent que l'inquietude qu'elle avoit eue la nuit avoit este causee par la douleur que luy avoit fait un petit morceau du bois de la javeline qui luy estoit demeure dans le bras mais qu'apres avoir sonde de nouveau sa playe ils nous assuroient que si un peu de fievre que la douleur luy avoit donnee n'augmentoit pas ils 
 nous respondoient de sa vie je vous laisse a penser quelle consolation cette bonne nouvelle me donna et combien de joye en eut tisandre neantmoins ils nous dirent qu'il ne luy faloit point parler de tout le jour et qu'absolument il faloit la laisser en repos jusques a ce qu'elle n'eust plus de fievre tisandre voulut pourtant la voir un moment quoy que pour l'en empescher je luy disse que plus les personnes estoient cheres moins il les faloit voir en cet estat la il y entra donc malgre moy et ne m'y voulut point laisser entrer bien est il vray qu'il n'y tarda pas et qu'il revint un moment apres mais avec tant de marques de joye dans les yeux que j'eus beau coup de confusion dans mon coeur de ne la pouvoir tout a fait partager aveques luy graces aux diex me dit il je l'ay trouvee en assez bon estat et son visage est tellement remis depuis hier que vous ne la reconnoistrez pas quand vous la verrez tant il luy est visiblement amende je ne pouvois pas que je n'eusse de la joye de scavoir qu'alcionide estoit mieux mais je ne pouvois pas non plus que je n'eusse de la douleur quand je pensois qu'elle ne ressuscitoit que pour tisandre et qu'elle seroit toujours morte pour thrasibule vous estes si fort accoustume a la melancolie me dit tisandre que la joye a mon advis ne fait gueres d'impression en vostre coeur vous avez raison luy dis-je ce n'est pas que l'amendement d'alcionide ne me donne plus de satisfaction que vous ne pouvez 
 vous l'imaginer mais c'est que la longue habitude que j'ay contractee avec la douleur fait que je ne puis passer d'un sentiment a l'autre en un moment ny sentir de la joye avec exces apres avoir senty une affliction excessive mais me dit il mon cher vainqueur qu'elle route tenons nous je n'en scay rien y luy dis-je et la victoire que j'ay remportee m'a couste si cher que vous me ferez plaisir de ne me dire jamais rien qui m'en race souvenir en effet seigneur tisandre avoit este si desespere et je l'estois de telle sorte que ny luy ny moy n'avions point donne d'ordre pour cela et nous allions comme il plaisoit a leosthene qui profitant de nos malheurs entretenoit la parente d'alcionide de sorte que suivant nostre coustume il avoit commande au pilote pour jouir plus long temps de la veue de la personne qu'il aimoit d'errer seulement sur la mer sans tenir de route assuree si bien que nous nous esloignions plustost de lesbos que nous ne nous en aprochions j'avoue que je me trouvay fort embarrasse a respondre a ce que tisandre me dit neantmoins faisant un grand effort sur mon esprit je luy dis qu'il faloit aller a mytilene et en effet on en prit la route mais si lentement parce que je l'ordonnay ainsi en secret afin de voir un peu plus long temps l'admirable alcionide que j'eus le loisir d'esprouver tout ce que l'amour a de plus rigoureux j'avois pourtant la joye d'apprendre de moment en moment que sa fievre diminuoit 
 mais de moment en moment j'avois aussi le desplaisir de remarquer la satisfaction qu'en avoit tisandre que je ne pouvois endurer je connoissois bien que j'avois un sentiment fort injuste mais je n'y pouvois que faire et quand je songeois a son bonheur je n'estois pas maistre de mon esprit comme il en remarqua aisement le trouble il eut la generosite de me demander s'il m'estoit arrive quelque nouveau malheur et je luy respondis avec tant de desordre que j'augmentay sans doute plustost sa curiosite que je ne la diminuay un instant apres on nous vint dire qu'alcionide n'avoit plus de fievre mais que pourtant il ne faloit point la voir que le lendemain voila donc tisandre absolument dans la joye pour moy j'en avois aussi beaucoup neantmoins je ne pus jamais la gouster toute pure de sorte que mou amy s'estonnant tousjours davantage de me voir aussi inquiet qu'il me voyoit luy qui m'avoit veu tousjours l'esprit assez tranquile mesme apres avoir perdu mes estats se mit a me faire cent questions differentes a une desquelles sans y penser respondant a ce qu'il me demandoit je luy dis que ce qu'il vouloit scavoir de moy m'estoit advenu aussi tost apres mon depart de gnide de gnide reprit il au mesme instant et y avez vous quelquefois aborde ouy luy dis je tout surpris et ne pouvant plus le nier la tempeste m'y jetta un jour et j'y fis racommoder mon vaisseau tisandre rougit a ce discours et me regardant attentivement vous y 
 vistes donc alcionide me dit il il est vray luy repliquay-je et c'est une des raisons qui a fait que l'ay encore este plus afflige quand j'ay veu qu'elle estoit blessee mais pourquoy ne me l'avez vous point dit d'abord repliqua t'il je n'en scay ri luy respondis-je si ce n'est que cet accident m'a si fort trouble que je ne scavois pas trop bien ce que je faisois et puis adjoustay-je je ne sus connu en ce lieu la que pour un pirate et je n'y passay pas pour ce que je suis comme je me contraignois extremement tisandre ne put tirer une forte conjecture do ma response de sorte que ne me disant plus rien le reste du soir se passa de cet te facon je ne pus mesme aller cette nuit la dans mon vaisseau parce que le vents s'estant leve assez violent on n'osoit aprocher les deux navirez de peur de choquer ny mettre l'esquif en mer si bien que nous couchasmes en mesme chambre tisandre et moy comme l'amendement d'alcionide luy avoit mis l'esprit en repos il s'endormit aisement mais malgre que j'en eusse mes souspirs et mes inquietudes le reveillerent et l'empescherent de dormir le reste de la nuit sans que je voulusse luy en aprendre la veritable cause quoy qu'il me la demandast plus d'une fois le lendemain au matin alcionide estant tousjours assez bien nous voulusmes aller dans sa chambre mais en y allant nous rencontrasmes les chirurgiens qui pour s'esclaircir s'ils avoient bien oste tout le bois de la javeline froissee qui pouvoit estre dans la blessure d'alcionide la regardoient de 
 tous les costez de sorte que tisandre s'y estant arreste et la regardant comme les autres aperceut le nom d'alcionide qui estoit peint et grave dessus je voulus la luy oster des mains feignant de la vouloir aussi voir par curiosite mais il avoit desja veu ce que je craignois qu'il ne vist si bien que rougissant extremement cette javeline est si remarquable dit il que je ne doute pas que vous ne connoissiez celuy a qui elle est comme elle fut faite a gnide repliquay-je par une simple galanterie je scay en effet quelle est la main qui s'en est servie en cette malheureuse occasion mais puis que le mal qu'elle a fait sera bien tost repare il en faut perdre la memoire apres cela nous entrasmes dans la chambre d'alcionide qui avoit desja sceu par sa parente qui l'avoit apris de leosthene que j'estois prince de milet et amy de tisandre mais comme elle ne scavoit pas si je dirois a son mary que j'avois este a gnide ou si je ne le dirois point elle se trouvoit un peu embarrassee a ce que dit depuis sa parente a leosthene neantmoins trouvant plus seur de n'en faire pas un secret nous ne fusmes pas plustost aupres d'elle que prevenant tisandre qui luy vouloit parler elle le pria de m'obliger a luy pardonner toutes les incivilitez qu'elle m'avoit faites a gnide lors que j'y avois aborde conme n'estant qu'un pirate en me faisant ce compliment elle rougit de telle sorte et j'en demeuray si interdit que quand tisandre n'eust pas este amoureux d'alcionide comme il l'estoit il auroit 
 tousjours connu que je l'estois par le desordre de mon ame qui se fit voir dans mes yeux et il se seroit aussi aperceu qu'elle ne l'ignoroit pas cet te conversation se passa toute en discours qui n'avoient point de suitte elle finissoit a tous les moments et il se faisoit entre nous un certain silence embarrassant que personne n'osoit rompre alcionide destournoit autant ses regards que je les cherchois et tisandre nous observant tous deux descouvroit malgre moy dans mon coeur le secret que j'y voulois enfermer mais enfin quand nous eusmes este une heure aupres d'alcionide tisandre impatient de s'esclaircir de ses soubcons me dit avec les termes les plus civils qu'ils put choisir qu'il la faloit encore laisser ce jour la en repos et il m'obligea de sortir avecques luy et de m'en aller dans sa chambre je n'y fus pas plus tost que voyant qu'il n'y avoit personne me promettes vous pas me dit il mon cher thrasibule de me dire une verite que je veux scavoir de vous comme je tarday un moment a luy respondre et qu'il connut bien que je le voulois faire en biaisant ne cherchez point me dit il encore a me deguiser cette verite car peut-estre n'ay-je pas besoin de vostre secours pour l'aprendre si cela est luy dis-je pourquoy voulez vous scavoir de moy ce que vous scavez desja c'est parce me repliqua t'il que je ne scay pas encore avec une certitude infaillible si je suis assez malheureux pour estre la cause de cette profonde melancolie que je voy dans vostre esprit parlez 
 donc mon cher thrabule la conformite de vostre humeur a la mienne n'a t'elle point fait que nous ayons aime une mesme personne et ne suis-je point assez malheureux pour vous avoir oste alcionide je confesse que quelque resolution que j'eusse prise de n'advouer jamais la cause de ma passion a tisandre il me fut impossible de la luy pouvoir deguiser je fus si esmeu du discours de ce prince et mes yeux en furent si troublez que mon visage descouvrit de telle sorte les sentimens de mon coeur que n'en pouvant plus douter il s'ecria avec une generosite extreme et une douleur tres sensible quoy mon cher thrasibule ma felicite fait vostre infortune et parce que j'ay aime ce que vous aimiez et que vous aimez encore ce que l'aime nous serons peut-estre tous deux malheureux le reste de nostre vie il ne seroit pas juste luy dis-je en soupirant et ayant le coeur attendry du discours obligeant qu'il venoit de faire c'est pourquoy ne me de mandez rien davantage croyez si vous pouvez que l'ambition fait tout le suplice de mon ame imaginez vous pour estre heureux que je suis encore cet insensible thrasibule qui condamnoit l'amour que vous aviez pour la belle sapho et jouissez enfin en repos de la felicite que vous cause la possession de la devine alcionide j'advoue poursuivis-je emporte par l'exces de ma douleur que quelque amitie que je vous aye promise je ne puis plus prendre de part a vostre satisfaction et tout ce que la raison et le souvenir de 
 cette amitie peuvent faire est de m'obliger a ne la troubler pas je vous en demande pardon genereux tisandre mais souvenez vous pour m'excuser que j'ay aime alcionide devant que vous l'ayez aimee et qu'il n est pas en mon pouvoir de ne l'aimer point le reste de ma vie peut-estre encore plus que vous car enfin comme elle est ma premiere passion elle sera dans doute la derniere au reste que cet adueu ne vous irrite pas puis que l'amour que j'ay eu pour elle et que j'ay encore est si innocente et si pure qu'elle n'offence ny sa vertu ny nostre amitie ny les dieux elle est pourtant si violente que je ne puis plus souffrir ny sa veue ny la vostre ny mesme la vie adjoustay-je tant il est vray que je m'estime malheureux de ne pouvoir plus esperer d'estre aime d'alcionide si vostre passion est aussi pure que vous le dittes et que je la croy me respondit il je vous promets de vous donner une si grande part en l'amitie d'alcionide que si vous n'en estez heureux vous en serez du moins soulage car outre qu'il est impossible que vous ayant connu elle ne vous ait pas estime je puis encore esperer qu'elle vous aimera pour l'amour de moy ainsi mon cher thrasibule puis que vous ne pouvez estre absolument heureux ne vous rendez pas du moins absolument miserable et ne troublez pas mon bonheur par vostre infortune j'advoue encore une fois luy dis-je que la flame que les beaux yeux d'alcionide ont allumee dans mon ame est plus pure que les rayons du soleil mais trop 
 genereux tisandre malgre cette purete vous scavez bien si vous scavez aimer que quand on ne songeroit jamais a la possession de la beaute de la personne aimee on voudroit du moins avoir absolument la possession toute entiere de son coeur et de son esprit de sorte que ne pouvant plus desirer un si grand bien sans vous faire outrage et ne pouvant mesme plus le desirer avec esperance il ne me reste rien a faire qu'a mourir et qu'a vous laisser vivre heureux je ne le scaurois estre si vous ne l'estes point me repliqua t'il nous serons donc tous deux infortunez luy dis-je le temps adjousta tisandre vous soulagera peut-estre malgre vous comme ses remedes sont ordinairement fort lents luy dis-je je ne pense pas que je puisse en attendre l'effet et la mort viendra bien plus tost a mon secours que le temps cependant adjoustay-je faites moy la grace de croire que si vous ne m'eussiez force a vous descouvrir mon mal vous ne l'auriez jamais sceu je devois cela a nostre amitie mais puis que vous avez veu malgre moy ce que je vous voulois cacher il est juste de vous delivrer promptement de la fascheuse veue d'un rival qui s'afflige de vostre bonheur et qui s'en affligera tousjours parce qu'il ne peut faire autrement lors que j'aimois sapho repliqua t'il je ne croyois pas pouvoir jamais guerir du mal qui me possedoit cependant sa rigueur pour moy sa douceur pour un autre et les charmes d'alcionide ont fait qu'elle m'est absolument indifferente il n'en sera pas 
 ainsi de moy luy dis-je car encore que je croye qu'alcionide vous aime et que je scache de certitude qu'elle ne m'aimera jamais je ne la scaurois bannir de mon coeur mais pour vous adjoustay-je l'esprit fort irrite peut-estre que comme vous avez quitte sapho pour alcionide vous quitterez encore alcionide pour quelque autre et que j'auray le desplaisir de scavoir que ce qui feroit toute ma felicite ne fera peut-estre plus la vostre mais volage et injuste amy adjoustay-je si vous cessez jamais d'adorer cette admirable personne vous serez le plus criminel de tous les hommes je ne luy eus pas plustost dit cela que je m'en repentis et que je trouvay au contraire qu'il y eust eu quelque douceur pour moy a aprendre qu'il ne l'eust plus aimee mais je connus bien par la response qu'il me fit que je n'aurois pas cette bizarre consolation et que selon les aparences il aimeroit alcionide jusques a la mort cependant il continua de me dire des choses si touchantes et si genereuses qu'il vint enfin a bout d'une partie de ma fierte pour luy je fus pourtant bien aise quand la nuit nous separa et que je pus du moins estre maistre de mes propres pensees tisandre s'informa plus exactement de quelque autre du temps que j'avois este a gnide et il sceut par une des femmes d'alcionide comment je l'avois fait sortir de mon vaisseau avec precipitation lors qu'elle y estoit venue cependant nous nous trouvasmes le lendemain bien embarrassez tous deux je n'osois presques 
 plus demander comment se portoit alcionide et je ne m'en pouvois pourtant empescher je n'osois non plus l'aller voir et tisandre a mon advis tout genereux qu'il estoit eut des sentimens bien differents en un mesme jour neantmoins comme il estoit heureux et qu'il connoissoit bien la vertu d'alcionide il luy estoit beaucoup plus aise qu'a moy d'agir raisonnablement aussi eut il la generosite de ne prendre pas garde a cent choses bizarres que je dis et de me parler tousjours avec beaucoup de tendresse mais afin qu'il ne manquast rien a mon malheur il arriva qu'estant dans une chambre de son vaisseau qui touchoit celle ou estoit alcionide il fut la voir sans qu'il sceust que j'estois en ce lieu la et sans songer que toutes les separations des diverses chambres d'un navire n'estant faites que de planches on peut aisement entendre d'un lieu a l'autre tout ce qu'on y dit comme alcionide se portoit beau coup mieux il creut a propos de luy dire quelque chose de mon desespoir afin qu'elle ne s'en trouvast pas surprise et peut-estre aussi pour descouvrir ses veritables sentimens j'entendis donc qu'il luy demanda combien j'avois este a gnide ce qu'elle avoit pense de moy si elle avoit creu effectivement que je fusse un pirate et enfin craignant a mon advis qu'elle n'expliquast mal toutes ces demandes tout d'un coup il luy dit tout ce qu'il scavoit de ma passion ce qui la surprit de telle sorte qu'a peine put elle y respondre neantmoins comme elle vit que tisandre 
 en scavoit plus qu'elle mesme elle luy dit avec sincerite tout ce qu'elle avoit creu de ma naissance et une partie de ce qu'elle avoit connu de mon amour il la pria alors de luy dire si elle ne m'avoit pas estime et elle luy respondit si obligeamment pour moy que j'en fus beaucoup plus malheureux en suitte il la conjura de vouloir souffrir ma veue comme celle de l'homme du monde qu'il aimoit le plus ce que vous desirez luy dit elle me semble un peu dangereux a vous accorder ce n'est pas que je ne me fie bien a moy mesme mais je ne me fie pas a vous tisandre luy protesta alors qu'il n'auroit jamais de jalousie neantmoins quoy qu'il peust dire elle luy dit tousjours qu'elle n'auroit cette complaisance pour luy que jusques a mytilene car enfin luy dit elle si le prince thrasibule ne m'aime pas il se passera aisement de ma veue et s'il m'aime il y auroit de l'inhumanite a entretenir sa passion ainsi seigneur je vous conjure de n'en desirer pas davantage de moy comme il fut sorty j'entendis encore qu'alcionide apellant une de ses filles qu'elle aimoit cherement et se faisant donner sa cassette l'ouvrit et en tira plusieurs tablettes car je trouvay une jointure entr'ouverte entre les planches peintes et dorees de cette chambre par ou je vy ce que je dis apres avoir cherche quelque temps parmy toutes ces diverses tablettes elle en tira celles ou estoit la lettre que je luy avois escrite que je reconnus fort bien et luy commanda de les rompre et de les jetter dans la 
 mer sans qu'on s'en aperceust quand la nuit seroit venue et pourquoy madame luy dit cette fille qui vivoit avec beaucoup de liberte avec elle est il plus criminel de garder cette lettre aujourd'huy que hier c'est parce repliqua t'elle qu'il faut absolument bannir de mon coeur le souvenir de la passion d'un prince dont j'avois pense pouvoir conserver la memoire sans crime dans la croyance ou j'estois que je ne pourrois plus jamais le voir mais presentement qu'il est aupres de moy je ne le dois pas faire et il ne m'est plus permis de le regarder comme un amant d'alcionide mais seulement comme un amy de tisandre que la fortune adjousta t'elle fait de bizarres avantures car enfin pourquoy a t'elle fait que thrasibule soit venu a gnide seulement pour estre malheureux et pour me donner de l'inquietude ce n'est pas que je ne m'estime heureuse d'avoir espouse le prince tisandre mais j'avoue que je voudrois bien que le prince thrasibule n'en fust pas infortune cependant dit elle s'ils scavoient tous deux le secret de mon coeur tisandre en seroit sans doute moins satisfait et thrasibule en seroit plus miserable car enfin adjousta t'elle vous scavez bien ma chere fille que je ne m'opposay au mariage de tisandre avec toute la fermete que j'eus en cette occasion que parce que j'avois espere que thrasibule reviendroit a gnide en homme de la qua lite dont il se disoit estre et que je pourrois alors suivre innocemment cette puissance inclination 
 qui me portoit a ne le hair pas toutesfois il a falu la combattre et il la faut vaincre dit elle en soupirant si haut que je l'entendis c'est pourquoy ne manquez pas de faire exactement ce que je vous ay dit afin que je conserve si je le puis mon coeur si entier au prince tisandre que je ne me souvienne pas mesme de thrasibule quand il ne sera plus aveques nous je vous laisse a juger seigneur quelle joye et quelle douleur je sentis pendant le discours d'alcionide la douleur l'emporta pour tant sur la joye et je fus si touche de la cruelle resolution qu'elle prenoit de m'oublier que je fis du bruit malgre moy si bien que comme je touchois presques la ruelle de son lict elle m'entendit sans doute car elle se teut et fut assurement bien marrie d'avoir parle si haut quoy qu'elle ne s'imaginast pas que je fusse en ce lieu la je pense mesme que j'eusse eu beaucoup de peine a m'empescher de luy dire quelque chose a travers ces planches qui nous separoient si je n'eusse ouy qu'il entroit quelqu'un dans sa chambre de sorte que desespere de scavoir que te n'estois pas hai et que pourtant je serois tousjours malheureux je souffris plus que je n'avois encore souffert ce pendant tisandre qui m'aimoit veritablement me vint chercher et me mena dans la chambre d'alcionide me priant et me conjurant tousjours de faire effort pour me contenter de son amitie j'y fus donc et l'entendis en y entrant qu'elle dit tout haut a la mesme fille a qui elle avoit donne ma lettre qu'elle ne manquast pas 
 de faire ce qu'elle luy avoit ordonne ce discours fit que je changeay de couleur et que je regarday si attentivement alcionide qu'elle en abaissa les yeux je ne vous diray point seigneur quelle fut cette conversation car je ne pense pas que jamais trois personnes se soient tant aimees et tant ennuyes ensemble que nous fismes ce jour la tisandre aimoit passionnement alcionide et m'aimoit aussi beaucoup mais parce que j'aimois ce qu'il aimoit je voyois bien que soit par la compassion qu'il avoit de moy ou par quelque autre sentiment qui s'y mesloit il ne se divertissoit guere en ma compagnie alcionide aimoit sans doute tisandre et ne me haissoit point mais parce que ma passion ne pouvoit plus luy paroistre innocente et que de plus tisandre ne l'ignoroit pas elle en avoit l'esprit tres inquiet pour moy j'avois eu autant d'amitie pour tisandre que l'estois capable d'en avoir et j'avois plus d'amour pour alcionide que personne n'en a jamais eu pour qui que ce soit mais parce que mon amy estoit possesseur d'un thresor si rare qu'outre cela il scavoit que j'estois amoureux d'alcionide et que se scavois aussi qu'alcionide estoit resolue de m'oublier absolument je ne pouvois presques ny commencer de parler ny respondre et je sortis enfin de cette chambre avec quelque espece de consolation quoy que ce ne soit pas l'ordinaire de quitter ce que l'on aime sans beaucoup de douleur mais seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience je vous diray que nous arrivasmes 
 a lesbos et a mytilene ou la feste fut un peu troublee par la nouvelle de l'accident advenu a la belle alcionide qui avoit este blessee parce qu'ayant discerne la voix du prince son mary dans le combat elle n'avoit pu retenir son zele et avoit paru sur le tillac ou cet accident luy arriva neantmoins comme elle estoit alors absolument hors de danger la magnificence de son entree ne fut differee que de quelques jours le sage prince de mytilene pere de tisandre receut sa belle fille aveque joye mais pour moy lors que je la vy sortir du vaisseau ou j'estois je sentis ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer il arriva mesme une chose que j'oubliois de vous dire qui redoubla de beaucoup ma douleur qui fut que tisandre pour donner ordre a tout et pour recevoir alcionide au port aveque ceremonie passa de son navire dans un des miens qui estoit admirablement bon voilier afin d'arriver a lesbos une heure plustost que nous me disant en m'embrassant qu'il me laissoit la garde et la conduitte de son thresor des qu'il fut party il me prit une si forte envie de pouvoir encore une fois entretenir alcionide en particulier que sans luy en envoyer demander la permission j'entray dans sa chambre me semblat que puis que j'avois entendu de sa propre bouche qu'elle ne me haissoit pas quoy qu'elle me voulust oublier je pouvois avoir cette hardiesse je la trouvay assise sur son lict magnifiquement paree quoy qu'elle fust en deshabiller et qu'elle eust le bras en escharpe je vous demande pardon 
 luy dis-je en l'abordant de la liberte que je prens mais madame je suis si malheureux en toute autre chose que vous ne me devez pas refuser la consolation de vous pouvoir parler encore une fois en ma vie le prince tisandre vous aime si cherement repliqua t'elle en rougissant que je me mettrois fort mal dans son esprit si je vous refusois une chose que la civilite toute seule veut que je vous accorde au nom des dieux madame luy dis-je voyant qu'il n'y avoit aupres d'elle que cette mesme fille que je scavois estre de sa confidence souffrez que le vous conjure de m'accorder l'honneur de vous entretenir seulement pour l'amour de moy sans vouloir que je sois redevable de cette faveur a un prince a qui je ne dois desja que trop et qui m'accable de generosite ne craignez pas madame poursuivis-je que le veuille vous dire rien qui vous offence ny qui puisse offencer le prince tisandre non madame ma passion toute violente qu'elle est pour vous ne me donne point de pensees criminelles mais devant bien tost vous perdre pour toujours il est ce me semble bien juste que vous ne me refusiez pas une faveur innocente puis que c'est la seule que je vous demanderay jamais comme amy du prince mon mary reprit elle vous devez tout esperer de moy mais comme amant d'alcionide vous n'en devez rien attendre c'est pourtant en cette derniere qualite luy dis-je que je pretens obtenir de vous ce que j'en souhaite ne me demandez donc rien dit elle 
 puis qu'infailliblement vous serez refuse et refuse mesme avec beaucoup de colere quand le prince tisandre adjousta t'elle ne seroit pas vostre amy comme il est le seul respect que vous devez avoir pour moy vous devroit empescher de me parler comme vous faites quoy madame luy dis-je vous ne scavez pas encore ce que je vous veux demander et vous me querellez cruellement ce que vous m'avez deja dit reprit elle suffit pour me donner sujet de me pleindre de vous je ne scay pas luy dis-je si je me suis mal explique mais je scay bien que ce que je pense n'est pas fort criminel car enfin divine alcionide je ne veux autre chose de vous presentement sinon que vous revoquiez en ma presence cet injuste et cruel arrest que vous avez prononce contre moy au mesme lieu ou vous estes lors qu'en donnant a cette fille que je voy la lettre que j'avois eu l'audace de vous escrire avec ordre de la jetter dans la mer vous avez dit de plus que vous estiez resolue de m'oublier absolument je l'ay entendu madame cet injuste arrest et j'en espere la revocation alcionide fut si sur prise de m'entendre parler de cette sorte et de se ressouvenir qu'elle avoit effectivement ouy certain bruit qui luy faisoit comprendre que je l'avois escoutee qu'elle n'osoit presques me regarder quoy me dit elle vous avez entendu ce que j'ay dit ouy repliquay-je madame je l'ay entendu et estant plus equitable que vous je n'en perdray jamais la memoire je ne demande 
 plus dit elle toute interdite d'ou vient vostre hardiesse toutesfois il me semble que si vous avez bien pese le sens de toutes mes paroles vous avez deu juger que vostre procede me desobligeroit je n'ay pas ma raison assez libre luy dis-je pour agir avec tant de prudence mais j'ay tousjours assez d'amour pour desirer du moins que vous me laissiez occuper quelque place en vostre souvenir il me semble madame que ce n'est pas trop vous demander pour une personne qui vous a consacre tous les momens de sa vie apres qu'alcionide se fut un peu remise seigneur me dit elle avec beaucoup de douleur dans les yeux la curiosite que vous avez eue de descouvrir mes sentimens vous coustera un peu cher si vous m'aimez car enfin je vous le declare je ne scaurois plus souffrir vostre veue apres ce que vous scavez de moy peut-estre si vous eussiez ignore ce que j'ay dans le coeur pour vous eussay-je accorde an prince tisandre la liberte de vous voir comme son amy ainsi qu'il me le demandoit mais apres ce que vous venez de me dire il m'est absolument impossible je ne vous pourrois plus voir sans rougir et dans les termes ou est mon ame je vous hairois peut-estre par la seule crainte de vous trop aimer et de n'avoir pas assez d'indifference pour vous mais madame m'escriay-je quelle justice y a t'il de me parler comme vous faites mais injuste prince reprit elle quelle raison avez vous de me dire tant de choses que je ne puis escouter sans crime et que je n'escouteray 
 jamais qu'aujourd'huy je n'en veux pas davantage luy dis-je car si je ne trompe ma vie ne sera guere plus longue ayez donc du moins la bonte de me dire a moy mesme que vous ne m'eussiez point hai si la fortune eust fait pour moy ce qu'elle a fait pour tisandre alcionide est si modeste seigneur qu'elle eut beaucoup de peine a m'accorder ce que je desirois d'elle mais a la fin touchee par mes souspirs j'advoue me dit elle que de toutes les personnes que j'ay connues vous estes celle que j'ay eu le plus de disposition a estimer et que si les dieux l'eussent voulu je me fusse creue fort heureuse de contribuer quelque chose a vostre felicite mais cela pas et estant n'estant aujourd'huy femme d'un prince qui merite sans doute mon affection toute entiere scachez qu'il n'est point d'efforts que je ne face pour arracher de mon coeur ce reste de tendresse que j'ay pour vous et qui y demeure encore malgre moy au nom des dieux madame luy dis-je en l'interrompant ne le faites pas je vous promets de ne vous importuner de ma vie et de ne vous voir mesme plus mais promettez moy aussi que vous souffrirez que j'occupe encore quelque petite place en vostre memoire songez s'il vous plaist que tisandre vous possede toute entiere que toute vostre beaute est a luy et que vous luy donnez mesme vostre coeur reservez moy donc du moins quelques unes de ces pensees secrettes et solitaires qui donnent quelquefois de si doux chagrins a ceux qui s'y abandonnent 
 et qui s'en laissent entretenir pensez dis-je quelquesfois o divine personne dans les temps ou tisandre s'estimera le plus heureux que le malheureux trasibule souffre autant de suplices que ce fortune mary gouste de felicitez enfin madame est-ce trop vous demander que trois ou quatre momens tous les jours a vous souvenir d'un homme qui comme je vous l'ay desja dit vous donne tous ceux de sa vie ouy repliqua t'elle c'est trop pour ma gloire que ces trois ou quatre moments que vous demandez et vous devez estre assure que si je le puis je vous banniray de mon souvenir comme de mon coeur mais adjousta t'elle malgre qu'elle en eust on ne dispose pas de sa memoire comme on veut et il arrivera peut-estre poursuivit elle en rougissant que vous m'oublierez sans en avoir le dessein et que je me souviendray de vous sans le vouloir faire alcionide prononca ces dernieres paroles avec une confusion sur le visage si charmante pour moy que je me jettay a genoux pour luy en rendre grace mais elle se repentant de ce qu'elle avoit dit me releva et me deffendit si absolument de luy parler jamais de ma passion et de la voir jamais en particulier que je connus bien qu'en effet elle le vouloit ainsi j'obtins pourtant encore un quart d'heure d'audience pendant lequel je ne pus presques l'obliger a me respondre et pendant lequel je ne fis que souspirer que la regarder et que la conjurer de ne m'oublier pas j'eus neantmoins la consolation 
 de voir quelques marques de douleur et de tendresse dans ses beaux yeux et de pouvoir esperer que malgre elle je demeurerois dans son souvenir cependant nous estions desja si pres du port que tout ce que je pus faire fut de remettre un peu mon esprit auparavant que d'estre oblige de me trouver aveque des gens qui ne parloient que de joye je ne vous diray point seigneur comment cette ceremonie se passa car je ne pris gueres de part a l'allegresse publique je troublay mesme celle de tisandre qui effectivement sentit mon chagrin et partagea mes desplaisirs principalement lors qu'il me vit fortement resolu de m'esloigner de lesbos et ne n'y tarder point du tout il obligea le prince son pere a faire tout ce qu'il put pour me forcer a demeurer a mytilene en attendant qu'il pleust aux dieux de me donner les moyens de reconquerir mon estat mais ce fut inutilement et je partis sans scavoir ou je voulois aller aussi tost que mes vaisseaux furent munis de toutes le choses qui m'estoient necessaires et que deux autres que tisandre me forca de recevoir furent en estat de se mettre en mer comme mes propres malheurs m'avoient apris a avoir compassion de ceux des autres je ne voulus plus que leosthene suivist ma fortune et je le laissay aupres de la parente d'alcionide de qui il estoit amoureux le recommandant au prince tisandre comme estant homme de grande qualite et de beaucoup de merite je ne vous diray point comment je me separay de ce genereux rival qui 
 pleuroit aveques moy quoy que je ne fusse afflige que de son bonheur car il me seroit impossible de ne rougir pas de honte en vous racontant la durete de coeur que j'eus pour luy et combien je me sentis peu oblige de cent mille choses obligeantes qu'il me dit je ne vous diray pas non plus quel fut l'adieu que je dis a alcionide n'ayant pas eu seulement la consolation de voir ses beaux yeux en prenant conge d'elle parce qu'elle gardoit le lict ce jour la et qu'il y avoit tant de monde dans sa chambre que je ne la vy qu'un moment et fort en tumulte ainsi je partis sans cette triste satisfaction et je m'embarquay avec un desespoir qui n'eut jamais de semblable le sentiment qui me tourmentoit le plus estoit de ce qu'alcionide estoit possedee par un homme que j'estois oblige d'aimer et il me sembloit que si elle eust espouse mon plus mortel ennemy j'en eusse este beaucoup moins malheureux puis que j'eusse pu esperer de m'en vanger en suitte le merite du prince tisandre m'affligeoit encore parce que je ne croyois pas possible qu'alcionide ne l'aimast point et j'eusse souhaite qu'elle eust du moins espouse un homme qu'elle eust hai enfin il n'est point de sentimens bizarres delicats violents et extraordinaires que l'amour n'ait inspirez dans mon coeur bien est il vray que depuis cela l'ambition ne m'a gueres tourmente car ne me souciant pas mesme de vivre je ne me suis pas soucie de regner de sorte que sans songer a rien qu'a mon malheur et a la belle alcionide 
 j'ay erre sur toutes les mers qui nous sont connues jusques a ce qu'enfin ayant este battu de la tempeste je fus a sinope lors que le roy d'assirie y estoit avec la princesse mandane et qu'en suitte vous y vinstes et me trouvastes dans le parti de vostre ennemi sans que j'en eusse eu le dessein
 
 
 
 
depuis cela seigneur vous scavez quelle a este ma vie puis qu'elle n'a rien eu de plus remarquable que la bonte que vous avez eue de me donner cent marques d'affection dont je suis indigne mais seigneur dans le combat que nous fismes avant hier au pied de ces montagnes j'arrivay en un endroit ou un homme ne se vouloit point rendre a dix ou douze soldats qui le pressoient se deffendant courageusement a peine me fus-je approche d'eux pour les empescher de le tuer que me reconnoissant il cria que tisandre ne se rendroit qu'au prince thrasibule je vous laisse a penser seigneur si ce nom me surprit je ne l'eus pourtant pas plustost ouy que deffendant a ces soldats de le combattre davantage je fus a luy mais je le trouvay si blesse qu'un moment apres il tomba et que je me vy dans la necessite de le soustenir un autre prisonnier que d'autres soldats avoient fait se fit aussi connoistre a moy pour leosthene que j'avois laisse a lesbos et qui n'estoit point blesse de sorte que promettant aux soldats de leur payer la rancon de ces prisonniers que je leur ostois je fis apporter le prince tisandre icy qui me dit des choses si touchantes que je serois indigne de vivre 
 si je ne luy en estois pas oblige cependant j'ay sceu par leosthene qu'ayant couru bruit que cresus roy de lydie vouloit attaquer les insulaires le prince de mytilene estoit alle le trouver pour tascher de le detourner de ce dessein comme il a fait si bien que pittacus s'estant lie a son party laissa le prince son fils et leosthene a sardis ou l'on fait des preparatifs de guerre comme si cresus vouloit conquester toute l'asie sans que l'on scache pourtant quel est son dessein j'ay sceu aussi que ce prince a voulu engager les milesiens dans son party mais que le sage thales s'y est oppose leosthene m'a dit encore que le prince tisandre scachant que cresus vouloit envoyer vers le roy d'armenie briga cet employ et l'obtint aimant mieux voyager puis qu'il faloit qu'il fust esloigne d'alcionide que de demeurer en une cour aussi galante que celle la de sorte qu'estant arrive a artaxate justement dans le temps que vous y estes venu il s'y est trouve enferme et s'est en suitte trouve force de suivre le roy d'armenie sur ses montagnes s'imaginant qu'il se sauveroit plus aisement de la que d'artaxate s'il y demeuroit et en effet il avoit eu dessein de s'echaper en cette occasion ou il a este si dangereusement blesse afin d'aller rendre conte de sa negociation au roy de lydie leosthene m'a dit de plus que les affaires sont bien changees a milet parce qu'anthemius qui n'avoit esleve alexidesme que pour le detruire en est enfin venu a bout ayant fait souslever 
 tout le peuple contre luy de sorte qu'il a este contraint de se retirer a phocee avec sa mere sa femme et philodice si bien que presentement milet est comme une ville libre ou le gouvernement populaire commence de s'establir neantmoins thales et tous mes amis resistent encore un peu a ce nouveau changement mais leosthene dit qu'il est a craindre que si le peuple s'accoustume a la liberte il ne veuille plus recevoir de maistre et que cependant le prince de phocee fait ligue avec tous les estats voisins contre ceux de milet pour les interests d'alexidesme mais seigneur oseray-je vous dire apres cela que leosthene qui a espouse la personne qu'il aimoit m'a dit qu'alcionide ne fut jamais si belle qu'elle est presentement et pourrez vous excuser ma foiblesse de vous parler plus tost de ce qui regarde mon amour que de ce qui regarde mes affaires cyrus voyant que thrasibule n'avoit plus rien a luy aprendre luy tesmoigna estre tres afflige de ses malheurs mais aussi tres resolu d'y aporter tous les remedes necessaires principalement a ceux de l'ambition car pour ceux de l'amour luy dit il vous scavez mon cher thrasibule qu'il faut que la mesme main qui blesse guerisse cependant tout vostre rival qu'est le prince tisandre je le trouve si digne d'estre assiste que je vous loue infiniment des soins que vous avez de luy comme cyrus alloit continuer et dire a thrasibule les voyes qu'il imaginoit de le pouvoir 
 faire rentrer en possession de son estat leosthene entra dans la tente ou ils estoient tout effraye seigneur dit il a cyrus qui entendoit toutes les langues je vous demande pardon si j'ay la hardiesse de vous interrompre mais le prince tisandre estant a l'extremite j'ay creu que je le devois faire pour en advertir le prince thrasibule a l'extremite reprit cyrus ouy seigneur repliqua leosthene car ayant voulu escrire malgre tout ce que je luy ay pu dire pour l'en empescher comme il a eu acheve sa lettre toutes ses blessures se sont r'ouvertes et la perte du sang l'a fait tomber en une foiblesse dont il n'est pas encore revenu thrasibule demanda alors la permission a cyrus d'aller secourir ce fidele ami qu'il ne pouvoit pourtant aimer comme il faisoit auparavant qu'il eust espouse alcionide et d'aller assister ce cher rival qu'il ne pouvoit et ne devoit pas hair mais cyrus se souvenant de la prodigieuse valeur de ce prince y voulut aussi aller comme ils entrerent dans la tente ou il estoit les chirurgiens l'avoient desja fait revenir toutesfois avec si peu d'esperance de vie qu'ils dirent a cyrus qui s'informa d'eux ce qu'ils en pensoient qu'ils ne croyoient pas qu'il peust passer le jour cependant comme il avoit l'esprit fort libre et l'ame fort grande il ne parut point esbranle par les aproches de la mort et il agit veritablement en digne fils d'un prince repute un des plus sages d'entre les grecs il soumit d'abord sa volonte a celle des dieux et sans demander ni 
 la mort ni la vie il se prepara a la premiere avec une tranquilite admirable et se resolut a quitter la seconde avec une fermete sans egale il reconnut cyrus des qu'il entra si bien que luy adressant la parole seigneur luy dit il vous voyez que les dieux m'ont puni d'avoir eu l'audace d'attaquer autrefois une vie aussi illustre que la vostre puis qu'il m'eust este plus glorieux de mourir de la main de l'invincible artamene que de celle des soldats du grand cyrus et il eust mesme este plus avantageux adjousta t'il au prince thrasibule que la chose fust arrivee ainsi puis qu'il n'auroit pas este si malheureux qu'il est cyrus luy respondit avec beaucoup de civilite et voulut mesme luy donner quelque esperance d'eschaper de ses blessures malgre ce que les chirurgiens luy en avoient dit mais tisandre l'interrompant non non seigneur luy dit il je n'ay plus de part a la vie c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de souffrir que j'employe les derniers momens de la mienne au souvenir d'une personne qui en faisant tout mon bonheur a fait aussi toute l'infortune du plus cher de mes amis en disant cela il tourna la teste du coste de thrasibule et luy donnant cette mesme lettre qui l'avoit fait tomber en foiblesse apres l'avoir escrite et qu'il s'estoit fait rendre depuis qu'il estoit revenu a luy tenez luy dit il mon cher thrasibule je vous fais depositaire de mes dernieres volontez rendez s'il vous plaist cette lettre a nostre chere alcionide et comme je n'ay point murmure 
 lors que je me suis aperceu qu'elle a donne quelques soupirs au souvenir de vos infortunes ne murmurez pas aussi quand elle donnera quelques larmes au souvenir de ma mort comme je ne feray plus d'obstacle a vostre bonheur redonnez moy vostre amitie toute entiere et ne me regardez plus comme vostre rival puis que je ne le seray plus j'advoue que vous meritez mieux alcionide que moy aussi fais-je ce que la fortune n'avoit pas voulu faire et plus equitable qu'elle je vous la laisse et si j'ose y pretendre quelque part je vous la donne en prononcant ces dernieres paroles tisandre rougit et les larmes luy vinrent aux yeux de sorte que thrasibule fut tellement touche de la generosite de son amy que ne pouvant retenir sa douleur il s'aprocha de luy et luy prenant la main vivez genereux prince luy dit il et soyez assure que je ne vous envieray plus jamais si je le puis la possession de l'incomparable alcionide je l'aimeray tousjours sans doute mais je l'aimeray comme je l'ay aimee depuis qu'elle est a vous c'est a dire sans y rien pretendre non luy repliqua foiblement tisandre les choses ne sont plus en termes de cela vous vivrez et je vay mourir c'est pourquoy toute la grace que je vous demande est de parler quelquesfois du malheureux tisandre avec sa chere alcionide souffrez mon cher thrasibule luy dit il en luy serrat la main que j'aye encore cette derniere satisfaction de la dire a moy le dernier jour de ma vie aussi bien ne pourrois-je 
 pas vous la donner comme je fais si elle n'y estoit point au reste je vous laisse un thresor en la personne d'alcionide dont vous ne connoissez pas tout le prix car son ame a cent mille beautez plus esclatantes que celles de son visage mais pour me recompenser d'un si precieux present promettez moy devant l'illustre cyrus qui m'ecoute que vous luy direz que je n'ay eu aucun regret ni a la vie ni a la grandeur ni a mes parens ni a toute les choses du monde et qu'enfin je n'ay trouve aucune amertume en la mort que le seul deplaisir de l'abandonner apres cela possedez la en paix tout le reste de vostre vie et vivez plus longtemps heureux que je n'ay vescu thrasibule estoit si afflige de voir son amy en cet estat que l'amour accoustumee a vaincre tout autre sentiment fut contrainte de ceder a la douleur et de demeurer cahee dans le fonds du coeur de ce prince sans oser plus se monstrer a descouvert en cette funeste occasion il promit donc a tisandre tout ce qu'il voulut mais il le luy promit avec des paroles si touchantes et il luy donna de veritables marques de tendresse qu'il eust este difficile de connoistre alors que tisandre estoit rival de thrasibule cependant ce malheureux prince s'affoiblissant tout d'un coup mourut en voulant encore dire quelque chose d'alcionide dont il prononca le nom et laissa tous ceux qui le virent mourir charmez de sa constance et si attendris des discours qu'ils avoient entendus que quand il auroit 
 este l'amy particulier de tous ceux qui le virent ils ne l'auroient pas plus sensiblement regrette aussi tost que le prince tisandre eut pousse le dernier soupir et qu'on ne vit plus en luy nul signe de vie cyrus emmena thrasibule hors de cette tente malgre luy et laissa leosthene pour avoir soing de faire preparer les choses necessaires pour les funerailles de tisandre que cyrus voulut qui fussent tres magnifiques ayant donc mene thrasibule a son pavillon il prit la lettre qui s'adressoit a alcionide qui estoit ouverte et l'ayant regardee avec le consentement de thrasibule il y leut ces paroles
 
 
 tisandre mourant a sa chere alcionide 
 
 
 je suis si pres de la mort qu'il ne m'est pas possible de vous entretenir long temps souffrez donc que je vous conjure en peu de mots de croire que je vous ay aimee autant que j'estois capable d'aimer et que je meurs avec une passion pour vous qui n'eut jamais de semblable si ce n'est celle du prince thrasibule vous scavez que c'est un autre moy mesme recevez le donc comme tel je luy cede toute la part que j'avois en vostre coeur il la merite ne la luy refusez pas je vous en prie aimez le pour l'amour de moy et forcez le a aimer ma memoire pour l'amour de vous et s'il est possible aimez tous deux dans le tombeau un prince qui n'a aime que vous deux durant sa vie et qui ne songe qu'a vous seule en mourant 
 
 
 tisandre 
 
 
 
 comme cyrus avoit l'ame tres sensible il eut le coeur fort attendry par lecture de cette lettre et thrasibule luy mesme malgre toute l'esperance qu'il devoit concevoir par la mort de son amy en fut veritablement afflige aussi prit il un soing fort particulier de luy faire rendre les derniers honneurs de la sepulture avec toute la ceremonie que meritoit un homme de cette condition le lendemain au matin la chose se fit et cyrus aussi bien que les rois d'assirie de phrigie d'hircanie et tous les autres princes qui estoient en cette armee y assista et donna toutes les marques qu'il pouvoit donner de l'estime qu'il faisoit du prince tisandre en suitte de cela cyrus dit a thrasibule que les affaires de son estat et celles de son amour demandant qu'il s'en retournast bien tost a milet et a lesbos il alloit y donner ordre dans peu de temps cependant le prince phraarte qui s'en estoit retourne vers le roy son pere avoit trouve les choses en de pitoyables termes parce qu'il n'y avoit plus de vivres que pour deux jours quoy que le roy d'armenie eust tousjours fait semblant jusques alors de peur d'oster le coeur a ses soldats qu'il y en avoit pour plus d'un mois esperant toujours que ciaxare se lasseroit et decamperoit enfin d'aupres d'artaxate phraarte aprenant donc ce qu'il ne scavoit pas dit au roy son pere qu'en l'estat qu'il voyoit les choses il faloit necessairement avoir recours a la clemence des vainqueurs puis que la force estoit inutile 
 mais que pour la meriter il faloit selon son sens avoir de l'ingenuite et dire effectivement a ciaxare si la princesse mandane et le roy de pont estoient dans ses estats ou s'ils n'y estoient point que pour le tribut qu'on luy demandoit quoy qu'il fust tousjours juste de payer ce que l'on avoit promis il scavoit toutesfois que la principale cause de cette guerre estoit la princesse mandane de sorte que s'il l'avoit en ses mains il pouvoit aisement se delivrer de ce tribut en la rendant au roy son pere que s'il ne l'avoit pas aussi il faloit le faire voir si clairement que ciaxare ny cyrus n'en peussent douter ce prince protesta alors a phraarte qu'il n'avoit eu aucune connoissance que le roy de pont ny la princesse mandane fussent en armenie et qu'assurement le sejour de la princesse araminte dans ses estats avoit donne fondement a l'opinion que l'on avoit eue que la princesse mandane y estoit phraarte dit donc au roy son pere qu'il faloit qu'il retournast dire cette verite a cyrus a qui il l'avoit promis mais tout d'un coup les soldats s'estant mutinez et demandant a voir les magasins des vivres auparavant que le prince phraarte redescendist il se mit un tel desordre parmy eux qu'ils abandonnerent leurs postes et si le genereux cyrus eust este capable de manquer de foy il avoit une belle occasion de s'emparer de ces montagnes et de tuer tous ceux qui s'en estoient fait un azile car on voyoit du bas de la plaine qu'ils quittoient 
 leurs postes comme je l'ay desja dit et qu'ils alloient par ces montagnes dispersez sans ordre et mesme quelques uns sans armes mais comme il observoit toujours inviolablement ce qu'il promettoit il regardoit ce desordre sans en vouloir profiter et sans en scavoir la veritable cause mais enfin le roy d'armenie force par la necessite se resolut de se confier en la generosite de cyrus et de se remettre entre ses mains il envoya pourtant devant le prince phraarte apres qu'il eut appaise les soldats en les assurant qu'il alloit pour faire la paix ce prince estant donc revenu au camp et ayant este conduit a la tente de cyrus ou estoient le roy d'assirie celuy d'hircanie le prince des cadusiens celuy de paphlagonie thrasibule hidaspe aglatidas et beaucoup d'autres il luy dit qu'il estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir luy aprendre des nouvelles de la princesse mandane dont assurement le roy son pere n'avoit aucune connoissance car seigneur dit il a cyrus pour vous monstrer qu'il parle aveque sincerite je n'ay qu'a vous dire que se confiant absolument a la bonte du roy des medes et a vostre generosite je l'ay laisse qu'il commencoit de descendre de ces montagnes avec la reine ma mere les princesses mes soeurs et la princesse onesile femme du prince tigrane mon frere que vous avez autresfois honnore de vostre amitie vous pouvez donc bien juger seigneur luy dit il que s'il avoit la princesse mandane en sa puissance il n'en useroit pas de 
 cette sorte cyrus fut tres sensiblement afflige de perdre l'esperance de retrouver mandane aussi tost qu'il l'avoit pense le roy d'assirie ne le fut gueres moins que luy toutesfois s'imaginant que peut-estre ne laissoit elle pas d'estre en armenie encore que ce prince ne le sceust point ils songerent d'abord a faire une recherche aussi exacte qu'ils avoient resolu auparavant de faire une guerre sanglante cependant cyrus envoya en diligence vers ciaxare pour luy aprendre ce que le prince phraarte avoit dit et pour luy demander s'il vouloit qu'on luy menast le roy d'armenie mais s'estant trouve mal ce jour la il luy manda qu'il agist absolument comme il le trouveroit a propos cyrus ayant donc eu cette response receut le roy d'armenie et toute la famille royale dans sa tente et gardant une certaine mediocrite en la civilite qu'il luy fit il parut en ses discours et en ses actions toute la douceur d'un prince clement et pourtant toute la majeste d'un vainqueur le roy d'armenie de son coste parut un plus grand prince dans sa misere qu'il ne l'avoit paru dans une meilleure fortune estant certain qu'il parla avec beaucoup de hardiesse et de generosite en cette occasion car comme cyrus avoit l'esprit chagrin de la mauvaise nouvelle qu'il venoit de recevoir il ne put s'empescher de luy tesmoigner d'estre fasche de ce qu'il l'avoit engage a faire cette guerre et a perdre un temps qu'il eust peut-estre plus utilement employe a chercher mandane d'une 
 autre facon comme les choses en estoient la le prince tigrane qui estoit guery de sa maladie et qui avoit resolu scachant le mauvais estat des affaires du roy son pere de se confier absolument a la generosite de cyrus arriva dans cette tente ou il ne put voir sans douleur le roy son pere la reine sa mere le prince son frere les princesses ses soeurs et l'admirable onesile sa femme de qui la beaute charmoit tous ceux qui la regardoient il ne parut pas plustost que cyrus le receut avec beaucoup de bonte neantmoins comme il s'agissoit d'une affaire importante il ne luy donna pas lieu de luy faire un long discours et suivant son premier dessein pourquoy dit il au roy d'armenie n'avez vous parle plus clairement quand le roy que je sers vous a envoye demander la princesse sa fille et pourquoy avez vous respondu d'une maniere a faire croire qu'elle le estoit en vostre pouvoir c'est parce que j'ay creu repliqua t'il que ne l'on croyoit pas que cette princesse fust en mes mains et que ce n'estoit qu'un pretexte pour animer davantage les peuples et les soldats a la guerre qu'on me vouloit faire seulement pour m'obliger a payer encore a ciaxare le mesme tribut que j'avois paye a astiage mais ce tribut repliqua cyrus n'estoit il pas deu et ne deviez vous pas le payer ouy respondit il mais le desir de la liberte et celuy de laisser mes enfans absolument libres m'a fait resoudre a faire une injustice qui eust este glorieuse 
 si elle eust bien succede et si vous estiez a la place du roy des medes interrompit cyrus et qu'un prince vostre vassal eust fait ce que vous venez de faire qu'en feriez vous si j'agissois selon les maximes de la politique reprit ce prince sans s'esmouvoir je luy osterois de telle sorte le pouvoir de me nuire qu'il ne pourroit jamais en avoir au plus que la volonte seulement mais si je voulois meriter la reputation que possede cyrus aujourd'huy ou la soutenir si je l'avois aquise je pardonnerois a ce prince et d'un vassal rebelle j'en ferois un amy reconnoissant soyez donc celuy du roy des medes reprit cyrus mais soyez le veritablement si vous ne voulez esprouver toute la rigueur d'un prince puissant et justement irrite le roy d'armenie fut si surpris d'entendre parler cyrus de cette sorte qu'il craignit de n'avoir pas bien entendu c'est pourquoy cyrus eut le loisir de se tourner vers tigrane et de luy demander en souriant fort obligeamment malgre sa melancolie quelle rancon il vouloit donner pour delivrer la princesse onesile sa femme ma propre vie seigneur respondit tigrane avec precipation car comme il n'est rien au monde qui me soit si cher que cette personne je ne dois pas vous offrir moins que ce que je vous offre cependant le roy d'armenie ayant connu par les acclamations de tout le monde qu'il avoit bien entendu commenca de tesmoigner sa reconnoissance a cyrus qui pour luy faire voir qu'il estoit libre commenca aussi de traitter toutes 
 ces princesses avec une civilite extreme ordonnant qu'on leur fist venir des chariots pour les conduire a artaxate seigneur luy dit le roy d'armenie apres ce que vous venez de faire je ne veux plus simplement estre vassal et je veux devenir sujet mais sujet si fidelle que vous pourrez non seulement disposer de tous mes thresors qui sont sur le haut de ces montagnes mais de ma liberte et de ma vie cyrus respondit au discours de ce prince fort genereusement et l'assura que ciaxare ne vouloit autre chose de luy sinon qu'il demeurast dans les mesmes termes ou ses peres avoient vescu et qu'il joignist ses troupes aux siennes nous les conduirons seigneur respondirent tout d'une voix tigrane et phraarte et nous mourrons pour vostre service aveque joye si l'occasion s'en presente cyrus repartit encore tres civilement a ces deux princes et les chariots estant arrivez la reine d'armenie et les princesses ses filles furent conduites a artaxate dans le mesme palais ou estoit la princesse araminte a cause qu'il estoit moins occupe que celuy ou estoit loge ciaxare ainsi celle qui avoit este prisonniere en armenie receut la reine d'armenie comme si elle eust este dans les estats du roy son frere car cyrus envoya chrisante donner ordre a cette entreveue qui se passa avec beaucoup de civilite de part et d'autre et d'autant plus que le prince tigrane et phraarte accompagnerent la reine leur mere jusques a ce palais en y allant ils ne parlerent que des 
 vertus de cyrus phraarte louoit sa valeur la reine d'armenie sa generosite les princesses ses filles son esprit et sa clemence et tigrane qui le connoissoit encore mieux qu'ils ne le pouvoient connoistre leur en disoit encore cent choses avantageuses mais ayant remarque que la princesse onesile sa femme ne parloit point et luy semblant que cyrus n'estoit pas assez dignement loue s'il ne l'estoit aussi de la personne de toute la terre qu'il aimoit le plus n'est il pas vray luy dit il qu'il n'y a jamais eu d'homme au monde de qui la mine soit plus haute et plus noble que celle de cyrus en verite luy repliqua t'elle je ne puis parler que de sa magnanimite et point du tout de sa bonne mine car je ne l'ay point regarde et qui donc luy demanda t'il a pu occuper les regards d'onesile pendant cette genereuse conversation celuy qui a offert sa vie pour la delivrer respondit elle et quelle prefere a tout le reste de l'univers une response si obligeante et si tendre engagea encore tigrane apres qu'il l'en eut remerciee a continuer l'eloge de cyrus afin disoit il de luy faire le portraict de celuy qu'elle n'avoit point regarde et qui estoit si digne de l'estre une heure apres cyrus mena le roy d'armenie a ciaxare qui depuis le matin se trouvoit mieux mais en arrivant dans artaxate jamais on n'a donne tant de louanges a cyrus qu'il en receut en cette occasion et tous les conquerants qui ont mene en triomphe les rois qu'ils avoient vaincus n'ont 
 jamais eu tant de gloire en les menant chargez de chainez comme des esclavez que cyrus en receut et en merita en remettant le roy d'armenie sur le throsne et en le faisant rentrer dans artaxate apres l'avoir vaincu comme si ce roy vassal n'eust pas este rebelle et que luy n'eust pas este son vainqueur ciaxare le receut aussi fort bien a la priere de cyrus de sorte qu'en moins d'un jour il n'y eut plus de guerre en armenie les vaincus et les vainqueurs furent d'un mesme party et si la princesse mandane s'y fust trouvee il n'y auroit plus eu rien a souhaiter mais comme on ne la trouvoit pas la joye n'estoit que pour les armeniens et ciaxare cyrus le roy d'assirie et tous ceux qui s'interessoient en cette merveilleusse princesse n'en estoient pas plus heureux on songea alors a faire une recherche generale par toutes les deux armeniez car comme cet esclave du roy de pont avoit dit en mourant a la princesse araminte que le roy son maistre alloit en armenie et que de plus la princesse mandane l'avoit escrit de sa main on ne pouvoit croire qu'elle n'y fust pas inconnue en quelque endroit que l'on ne scavoit point cependant harpage arriva d'ecbatane qui venoit advertir ciaxare qu'il y avoit une si grande disposition a la revolte parmy ces peuples la a cause de sa longue absence qu'il estoit necessaire d'y envoyer une personne qui eust presques l'authorite absolue en attendant qu'il y peust aller cyrus receut harpage 
 avec beaucoup de bonte se souvenant qu'il estoit en quelque facon cause et de sa passion et de la gloire qu'il avoit aquise puis que s'il n'eust point este en perse et qu'il ne luy eust point donne le conseil qu'il luy donna peut-estre n'en seroit il jamais parti mais l'affaire qui l'amenoit ayant este mise en deliberation cyrus qui vouloit obliger aglatidas proposa de l'envoyer a ecbatane et de le forcer a prendre le gouvernement de la province des arisantins qu'otane n'avoit pas voulu accepter s'imaginant bien mesme que comme il pouvoit alors esperer la possession d'amestris puis que son mary estoit mort il ne refuseroit plus une chose qu'il n'avoit refusee que parce qu'il ne vouloit plus vivre il fut donc resolu qu'aglatidas partiroit des le lendemain pour s'en aller a ecbatane qu'il meneroit artabane aveques luy et qu'il assureroit aux peuples de medie que ciaxare s'en retourneroit bientost au sortir du conseil cyrus envoya querir aglatidas pour luy dire cette bonne nouvelle qu'il receut sans doute avec autant de joye que megabise en eut de douleur il remercia cyrus avec des paroles si propres a exprimer sa reconnoissance qu'il estoit aise de voir que la passion qui le possedoit n'estoit pas petite il luy tesmoigna pourtant avoir du desplaisir de le quitter et en effet il en avoit sans doute autant qu'un amant qui va revoir sa maistresse en peut avoir cyrus l'assura qu'il auroit ses depesches des le soir et l'embrassant estroitement 
 souhaitez luy dit il mon cher aglatidas que je sois bien tost en estat de ne porter plus d'envie a la satisfaction que vous allez avoir de revoir vostre chere amestris je desire de tout mon coeur que vous la trouviez telle qu'elle doit estre c'est a dire aussi fidelle que vous me l'avez representee aimable et parfaite artabane fut aussi prendre conge de cyrus et le lendemain ces deux amis s'en allerent ensemble a ecbatane mais pour consoler megabise cyrus luy fit donner une des principales charges de la maison du roy qui n'avoit pas encore este remplie depuis qu'elle estoit vacante cette consolation fut pourtant foible dans son esprit en comparaison de l'inquietude qu'il avoit de ce qu'aglatidas reverroit bientost amestris mais n'y scachant que faire il falut qu'il eust patience ce jour la il vint encore nouvelle que cresus armoit puissamment et qu'il solicitoit tous les peuples de l'ionie de se ranger de son parti de sorte que cyrus voyant une occasion si favorable de secourir le prince thrasibule ne la voulut pas perdre et le jour suivant il proposa a ciaxare qu'en cas que le roy de lydie eust quelque dessein qui regardast ses estats comme il y avoit beaucoup d'apparence il estoit tousjours avantageux de faire diversion et d'occuper les troupes lydiennes en plus d'un lieu ainsi il fut resolu que le prince thrasibule accompagne d'harpage qui avoit de l'experience ayant suivi le feu roy des medes a toutes les 
 guerres qu'il avoit faites s'en iroit avec dix mille hommes passer en capadoce ou ariobante feroit faire de nouvelles levees pour joindre a quelques troupes que ciaxare luy avoit laissees en partant de sinope pour tenir ce royaume la en paix que cette armee estant sur pied thrasibule en seroit general harpage commandant sous luy et que sans avoir besoin de nouveaux ordres il pourroit au nom du roy et a celuy de cyrus punir ou pardonner selon qu'il le trouveroit a propos cependant comme cyrus avoit une inquietude dans l'esprit qui luy persuadoit que mandane pouvoit estre partout et que de par tout il en pouvoit venir des nouvelles l'amour qui est tousjours ingenieux luy fit inventer la poste qu'il establit par toute l'estendue des conquestes qu'il avoit faites afin de pouvoir estre adverti en moins de temps de tout ce que l'on pourroit aprendre de mandane apres que thrasibule eut pris conge de ciaxare la separation de ce prince et de cyrus fut extremement tendre et touchante car depuis le premier jour qu'ils avoient combatu l'un contre l'autre ils avoient conceu tous deux une si haute estime de leur vertu qu'il n'estoit pas possible que l'amitie que cette estime avoit fait naistre ne fust extraordinairement forte les noms de mandane et d'alcionide furent prononcez plus d'une fois a cette separation qui se fit en particulier thrasibule demanda pardon a cyrus de ce qu'il le quittoit auparavant qu'il eust eu des 
 nouvelles de sa princesse et il l'assura que s'il eust veu qu'il eust encore eu des ennemis a combattre il auroit eu bien de la peine a s'y resoudre cyrus de son coste le pria tres civilement de l'excuser s'il n'alloit pas en personne le remettre en possession de son estat et persuader alcionide d'obeir au prince tisandre cependant comme il creut que des grecx assisteroient volontiers un grec thimocrate philocles et leontidas furent choisis pour cela et priez par cyrus de vouloir le servir en la personne de thrasibule ils estoient trop braves pour refuser une occasion de guerre mais ils ne purent toutesfois se resoudre a partir d'aupres de cyrus sans en avoir beaucoup de douleur thimocrate luy dit en s'en separant qu'il voyoit bien que son destin n'avoit point change et que l'absence feroit tousjours les plus grands suplices de sa vie estant certain qu'il ne s'esloignoit de luy qu'avec un regret extreme philocles se pleignit encore fort obligeamment de n'estre non plus aime de cyrus que de sa maistresse puis que s'il l'eust este il l'eust retenu aupres de luy et leontidas faisant son compliment selon son humeur comme ses amis faisoient le leur selon jeur fortune luy dit qu'il ne regardoit avec gueres moins de jalousie tous ceux qui demeuroient aupres de sa personne qu'il avoit autresfois regarde les amants d'alcidamie apres ces premieres civilitez ou la galanterie avoit sa part ils donnerent cent tesmoignages effectifs de la 
 passion qu'ils avoient de servir cyrus en la personne du prince thrasibule qui s'estoit fait si fort aimer de tous les rois et de tous les princes qui estoient dans cette armee qu'il n'y en eut pas un qui ne luy dist adieu avec douleur il fut aussi prendre conge du roy et de la reine d'armenie des princesses ses filles de la princesse onesile de la princesse araminte et des princes tigrane et phraarte en suitte de quoy il partit avec les troupes qu'harpage devoit commander sous luy qui furent jointes a celles de chipre et a une partie des troupes ciliciennes que commandoit leontidas depuis la mort du prince artibie de qui le corps fut renvoye au prince son frere avec tous les honneurs que l'on pouvoit rendre a un homme de sa condition mais avec priere de souffrir que cyrus luy tinst sa parole et qu'il le fist porter a thebes au mesme tombeau de sa chere leontine cyrus chargea aussi celuy des siens qui fut conduire ce corps d'une lettre pour le prince de cilicie et d'une autre pour le prince philoxipe avec ordre de passer en chipre pour l'assurer de la continuation de son amitie en allant ou en revenant de conduire a thebes le corps du prince artibie cependant toutes les recherches que l'on faisoit de mandane tout le long de la riviere d'halis estoient inutiles on aprenoit bien de quelques pescheurs qu'ils avoient veu un bateau dans le temps qu'on leur marquoit plein de soldats et ou il y avoit des femmes mais ils n'en scavoient pas d'avantage 
 de sorte que cyrus et le roy d'assirie souffroient tout ce que deux coeurs veritablement amoureux peuvent souffrir toutes les victoires de cyrus ne le consoloient point de cette cruelle absence de mandane et toutes les pertes qu'avoit faites le roy d'assirie ne partageoient point non plus son esprit qui n'estoit sensible que pour mandane seulement ils estoient donc fort occupez a cette inutile recherche pendant laquelle les chaldees voisins des armeniens et leurs ennemis qui descendant de leurs montagnes les incommodoient tres souvent furent soumis par cyrus qui en quatre jours les assujetit et les rendit heureux en les reconciliant avec les armeniens de qui ils avoient autant de besoin que les armeniens en avoient d'eux de sorte que de toutes parts il sembloit que la fortune voulust favoriser cyrus car de toutes parts les peuples luy obeissoient sans peine et soit par sa valeur ou par sa clemence il estoit vainqueur de tout le monde mais il ne le pouvoit estre de sa propre douleur qui ne luy donnoit point de repos il alloit quelquesfois chercher a se pleindre et a estre pleint aupres de la princesse araminte qui de son coste se pleignoit aussi non seulement de ses anciens malheurs mais de la nouvelle passion de phraarte qui devenoit tous les jours plus violente le supliant de ne la laisser pas en armenie quand il en partiroit ciaxare s'affligeoit aussi avec exces de la perte de sa fille ainsi on peut dire que jamais vainqueurs n'ont 
 vaincu avec moins de joye que ceux la cyrus mesme s'estonnoit quelquesfois de ce qu'ortalque qui estoit alle conduire martesie et sa parente ne l'estoit pas venu retrouver et il craignoit qu'il ne fust arrive quelque malheur a cette aimable personne neantmoins mandane occupoit presques toutes ses pensees il estoit tousjours doux civil et obligeant mais il estoit pourtant tousjours sombre resveur et melancolique le roy d'assirie ayant l'humeur plus violente n'estoit pas seulement triste il estoit chagrin et si ces deux princes n'eussent eu encore quelque espoir de retrouver mandane ils eussent sans doute vuide les differens qu'ils avoient ensemble sans attendre davantage car il est certain qu'il y avoit des moments ou quand cyrus pensoit que le roy d'assirie estoit cause de tous ses malheurs il ne pouvoit presques se retenir et il y en avoit aussi ou quand le roy d'assirie songeoit que peut-estre mandane ne l'auroit point hai si cyrus ne l'eust point aimee il renouvelloit dans son coeur toute cette effroyable haine qu'il avoit eue pour luy quand il ne le croyoit estre qu'artamene et qu'il n'estoit luy mesme que philidaspe
 
 
 
 
cependant toutes les intelligences qu'ils avoient l'un et l'autre en divers lieux ne leur aprenoient rien de ce qu'ils vouloient scavoir et ce peu d'esperance qu'ils avoient conservee estoit presque entierement perdue lors que le roy d'assirie fut adverti par un agent secret qu'il avoit dans suse qu'abradate 
 roy de la susiane en estoit parti avec des troupes sans que l'on sceust ou il alloit qu'il menoit aveques luy la reine sa femme avec une princesse estrangere et un prince que l'on ne connoissoit point et qu'ils prenoient le chemin des matenes qui touchent l'armenie et la cilicie ce prince n'eut pas plustost sceu cette nouvelle que comme l'on croit aisement ce que l'on desire il ne douta presques point que cette princesse que l'on ne connoissoit pas ne fust mandane et que ce prince inconnu ne fust aussi le roy de pont de sorte qu'allant en diligence pour en advertir ciaxare il rencontra cyrus qui luy voyant tant de marques de joye dans les yeux ne put s'empescher de luy en demander la cause si bien qu'encore que le roy d'assirie fust en quelque facon fache de dire une bonne nouvelle a son rival il luy aprit pourtant ce qu'il croyoit scavoir de la princesse mandane ce qui donna d'abord une si grande joye a cyrus qu'il pensa embrasser son plus mortel ennemy pour luy en rendre grace mais un moment apres un sentiment de douleur se mesla a la satisfaction qu'il avoit voyant que ciaxare entendroit parler de mandane par son rival plustost que par luy car il ne douta point que ce ne fust elle tant a cause qu'il jugeoit que le roy de pont auroit bi creu trouver un azile aupres d'abradate qui avoit tousjours hai les medes que parce que la riviere d'halis sur laquelle on scavoit bien que mandane avoit este traverse en effect la mantiane et l'on scavoit de plus que 
 les matenes estoient alliez d'abradate ainsi croyant ce que le roy d'assirie croyoit il luy dit qu'il faloit en diligence advertir ciaxare de la chose et monter a cheval a l'heure mesme afin d'aller vers les frontieres d'armenie qui confinent avec la mantiane pour s'informer de la marche d'abradate pour le suivre et pour le combatre ils furent donc ensemble chez ciaxare qui aussi impatient qu'eux leur dit apres les avoir escoutez qu'ils allassent promptement delivrer la princesse mandane de sorte que sans perdre temps on commanda deux mille chevaux de la cavalerie medoise qui estoit la meilleure de toutes mille de celle du roy d'assirie et mille homotimes qui estoient les meilleures troupes d'entre les persans comme ils scavoient par l'advis qu'on avoit receu qu'abradate ne menoit que deux mille chevaux ils n'en prirent que quatre mille afin de le pouvoir plus tost joindre scachant bien que la marche des grands corps est tousjours fort lente ils n'en auroient pas mesme tant pris n'eust este qu'ils eurent peur d'estre contraints de se separer afin de trouver plustost ce qu'ils alloient chercher l'un et l'autre tous les princes et tous les volontaires qui estoient a cette armee furent a cette occasion a la reserve des rois de phrigie et d'hircanie qui demeurerent aupres de ciaxare tigrane et phraarte n'y manquerent pas et jamais il ne s'est veu de gens de guerre partir avec un plus violent desir de vaincre cyrus et le roy d'assirie avoient 
 dans les yeux une fierte extraordinaire et l'on eust dit qu'ils se tenoient si assurez de delivrer mandane qu'ils recommencoient desja de se regarder comme ennemis ils agirent pourtant avec sincerite de part et d'autre et mesme fort civilement mais malgre eux leurs regards descouvroient une partie des sentimens de leur ame enfin ils prirent conge de ciaxare et chargez des voeux et des acclamations de tout le peuple d'artaxate pour l'heureux succes de leur entreprise ils furent avec une diligence incroyable vers les frontieres d'armenie et jusques dans le pais des matenes qui avoient alliance aveques tous leurs voisins et qui estoient demeurez en paix malgre tout la guerre d'asie comme ils y furent arrivez ils aprirent qu'abradate avoit desja passe et qu'il alloit vers un coing de la cilicie ils sceurent mesme qu'il y avoit plusieurs chariots pleins de dames que ces troupes conduisoient de sorte que leur ardeur se renouvellant encore par ces nouveaux advis ils songerent comment ils feroient car par la route que tenoit abradate il y avoit une riviere le long de laquelle il faloit qu'il allast assez long temps mais comme ils ne pouvoient pas scavoir de quel coste seroit mandane parce qu'ils scavoient que les troupes d'abradate s'estoient separees que les unes avoient passe un pont et pris la droite de la riviere et que les autres estoient demeurees a la gauche ils resolurent de se separer comme eux si bien que cyrus donnant 
 genereusement la moitie de ses gens a son rival et partageant mesme les volontaires malgre qu'ils en eussent ils tirerent au sort pour voir quel coste ils prendroient et cyrus eut celuy qui estoit le plus loing de l'armenie et le roy d'assirie eut l'autre mais auparavant que de se separer ils renouvellerent tous deux les promesses qu'ils s'estoient faites de delivrer leur princesse sans vouloir tirer aucun avantage de cette liberte qu'ils ne se fussent batus ensemble ainsi apres s'estre promis tout de nouveau une fidelite mutuelle tous ennemis qu'ils estoient ils se separerent et se suivant des yeux durant quelque temps chacun souhaitoit dans son coeur de pouvoir estre plus heureux que son rival cyrus impatient de retrouver sa chere mandane alloit a la teste des siens et les devancoit mesme bien souvent d'assez loing s'informant de sa propre bouche a tous ceux qu'il rencontroit s'ils n'avoient point veu passer de la cavalerie et des chariots les uns luy disoient que ouy les autres que non et selon leurs differentes responses l'ame de cyrus avoit de la douleur ou de la joye il envoyoit aussi a la gauche car il avoit la riviere a sa droite tantost araspe tantost feraulas avec quelques cavaliers pour s'informer par les villages de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir et par tous leurs divers raports il estoit tousjours assure qu'il avoit passe de la cavalerie par ce lieu la mais pour ces chariots pleins de dames les uns disoient toujours qu'il y en avoit et les autres 
 qu'il n'y en avoit pas il fut mesme advery en un certain endroit ou il passa que cette cavalerie qu'il suivoit avoit quitte la riviere et avoit pris plus a gauche de sorte qu'il fut alors en diligence par la route qu'on luy enseignoit et en effet il arriva en un lieu ou comme tous les chemins estoient couverts de sable en voyoit encore les traces des chevaux toutes fraiches il avanca donc aveque joye apres avoir marche dix heures jusques a ce que retrouvant la riviere qu'il avoit quittee il arriva au bout d'un pont ou il s'arresta ne scachant si en cet endroit les troupes qu'il suivoit avoient repasse de l'autre coste de l'eau ou si celles de l'autre coste avoient passe de eluy ou il estoit ou si celles marchoient encore separement car comme il y avoit desja huit ou dix stades que le chemin n'estoit plus sable et qu'il estoit tout couvert de cailloux on ne pouvoit plus remarquer la piste des chevaux estant en cette peine il passa de l'autre coste du pont il envoya encore de ses gens en divers lieux et tousjours inutilement car on trouva bien quelques maisons mais il n'y avoit personne dedans si bien qu'il ne scavoit a quoy se resoudre neantmoins il jugea qu'il valoit mieux n'estre pas du mesme coste qu'estoit de roy d'assirie de sorte que repassant de nouveau ce pont il continua de marcher le long de l'autre bord de la riviere mais a peine eut il fait trente stades que feraulas qui alloit assez loing devant trouva un 
 homme qui venoit vers luy qui luy dit qu'il avoit veu faire un grand combat a travers l'eau il n'y avoit pas plus d'une heure environ a vingt stades de l'endroit ou ils estoient cyrus ayant sceu la chose l'esprit tout irrite que le roy d'assirie eust este plus heureux que luy retourna promptement sur ses pas repassa sur ce mesme pont ou il avoit desja este et allant vers le lieu ou ce paisan disoit avoir veu faire ce combat il n'eut pas fait quinze stades qu'il trouva quelques cavaliers morts et avancant encore davantage il vit comme un petit champ de bataille tout couvert d'hommes et de chevaux morts ou mourants et un chariot renverse et rompu cet objet luy donna une esmotion si grande que l'on n'en peut jamais avoir davantage il cherche il regarde et trouve enfin un persan parmy ces blessez qui le reconnoist et qui se trouvant en estat de pouvoir parler ne le vit pas plustost que l'apellant seigneur luy dit il le roy d'assirie a delivre la princesse et fait fuir ceux des ennemis qui n'ont pas este taillez en pieces le roy d'assirie a delivre la princesse dit cyrus estrangement surpris eh mon amy scais tu bien ce que tu me dis ouy seigneur reprit il et il l'emmene dans son chariot car celuy que vous voyez en est un autre qui s'est rompu et l'on a mis les femmes qui estoient dedans dans celuy de la princesse comme je n'ay este blesse qu'apres que le combat a este finy et que s'a este par un de mes compagnons qui vouloit avoir un cheval 
 que j'avois gagne j'ay fort bien veu que le roy d'assirie a fait grand honneur a cette princesse lors qu'il a aproche de son chariot et c'est ce qui est cause qu'il n'a pas pris le chef de ces gens de guerre parce qu'il n'a pas plus tost eu ce chariot en sa puissance qu'il ne s'est plus soucie du reste cyrus aprenant cette nouvelle eut en mesme temps la plus grande joye dont un coeur puisse estre capable et la plus grande douleur qu'un veritable amant puisse sentir il aprenoit que sa chere mandane estoit delivree mais scachant que c'estoit par son rival il en avoit une affliction extreme de plus il scavoit que le roy de pont estoit echape ainsi il eust bien voulu aller apres pour le combatre neantmoins il ne pouvoit pas scavoir que mandane fust en la puissance du roy d'assirie sans y aller en diligence si bien qu'abandonnant le dessein de poursuivre un rival infortune il prit celuy de suivre un rival heureux il retourna donc encore une fois sur ses pas apres avoir commande que quelques uns des siens eussent soin de ces blessez et de la sepulture de ces morts et arrivant au bout de ce mesme pont qu'il avoit desja passe et repasse il n'hesita pas beaucoup car il ne creut pas que le roy d'assirie eust quitte le coste de le riviere qu'il avoit pris de sorte qu'il alla tout droit vers le rendez-vous qu'ils s'estoient donnez en se separant mais il y fut l'esprit si agite et si inquiet qu'il n'estoit pas maistre de ses propres pensees la nuit venant 
 tout d'un coup augmenta encore son chagrin parce qu'il ne pouvoit plus aller si viste il fut mesme contraint de s'arrester a cause qu'ayant abandonne le fil de l'eau afin d'aller par un chemin plus court ses guides s'egarerent dans une forest de cypres vers le milieu de la nuit qui estoit fort obscure de sorte que craignant de s'esloigner de mandane au lieu de s'en aprocher il se resolut d'attendre en ce lieu la la premiere pointe du jour aussi bien ses chevaux n'en pouvoient plus ayant marche si longtemps sans repaistre il fit donc faire alte a ses gens et descendant de cheval il s'assit au pied d'un arbre feignant de vouloir reposer mais en effet c'estoit pour se persecuter luy mesme par les cruelles agitations que son esprit luy donnoit il y avoit des instants ou la joye en estoit pourtant la maistresse absolue car disoit il en son coeur mandane est delivree elle est en lieu ou je la verray bien tost et son liberateur poursuivoit il ne jouira pas longtemps de cette glorieuse qualite si mon courage ne trahit mon amour et ne m'abandonne en cette derniere occasion mais o dieux reprenoit il pourquoy faut il que mon rival ait delivre ma princesse et pourquoy faut il que vous me mettiez dans la necessite de hair son liberateur et de m'affliger de la liberte de mandane que je desirois si ardemment cependant je ne scaurois gouster la joye de sa delivrance toute pure car enfin ce redoutable rival luy a sans doute desja parle de sa passion elle l'a remercie 
 de ce qu'il a fait pour elle et peut-estre que ce dernier office qu'il luy a rendu qui ne luy a pourtant aparemment pas couste une goute de sang sera plus puissant dans son coeur que tant de combats que j'ay faits que tant de batailles que j'ay donnees et gagnees pour elle et que tant de blessures que j'ay receues ha divine princesse s'ecrioit il soyez un peu plus equitable et regardez plustost le service que le roy d'assirie vous a rendu comme un simple effet de son bonheur que comme une preuve fort extraordinaire de son affection mais apres tout il l'a delivree reprenoit il et je voy ce me semble cette princesse luy donner mille marques de reconnoissance encore si j'estois assure que cette admirable personne eust souhaite dans son coeur que c'eust este moy qui luy eusse rendu ce bon office j'en aurois quelque consolation mais la liberte est un si grand bien qu'il est tres difficile de n'aimer pas la main qui nous la donne o fortune rigoureuse fortune s'ecrioit il pourquoy n'as tu pas voulu que j'eusse la gloire de rompre les chaines de ma princesse il semble adjoustoit il en luy mesme que je sois le plus heureux prince de la terre je gagne des batailles je conqueste des royaumes rien ne me resiste tout m'obeit et le roy d'assirie luy mesme est renverse du throsne et contraint de ceder a la force de mon destin cependant ce prince infortune est presentement mille et mille fois plus heureux que cyrus qui passe pour le 
 plus favorise des dieux d'entre tous les hommes comment oseray-je reprenoit il paroistre devant ma princesse et comment pourray-je avoir assez de respect pour elle pour ne tesmoigner pas au roy d'assirie l'impatience que j'ay de me voir aux mains aveques luy quand il estoit dans babilone il m'estoit moins redoutable qu'il ne me l'est presentement car enfin mandane ne le pouvoit regarder en ce temps la que comme son ravisseur mais aujourd'huy il a bien change de termes dans son esprit il est son liberateur et tout ce que j'ay fait pour elle ne luy a jamais este si avantageux que ce qu'il a fait aujourd'huy toutesfois adjoustoit il je suis criminel d'avoir de la douleur en un jour ou ma princesse a de la joye mais je serois insense reprenoit cet amoureux prince un moment apres si la gloire de mon rival m'estoit indifferente peut-estre adjoustoit il encore que je m'abuse et que l'adorable mandane estant toute juste et toute equitable se souviendra que si je ne la delivray pas en revenant des massagettes lors que je sauvay la vie a son ravisseur ce fut parce que je ne la connoissois point que si depuis je ne l'ay pas encore delivree en prenant babilone c'est parce que le roy d'assirie l'enleva une seconde fois et que si je ne le fis pas non plus a sinope ce fut aussi parce que le prince mazare la trompa pour son malheur et pour le mien ainsi considerant que le roy d'assirie a este son ravisseur des annees entieres pendant lesquelles je 
 n'ay jamais songe qu'a la delivrer il pourra estre que cette derniere avanture ne fera pas un si grand effet sur son coeur non non adjoustoit il a l'instant ne nous flattons point les services passez sont bien peu de chose en comparaison des services que l'on recoit presentement et mille bonnes intentions inutiles ne sont rien a l'egal d'un bon office effectif quoy qu'il n'aye pas couste beaucoup de peine a celuy qui l'a rendu ainsi malheureux que je suis je dois craindre aveques raison que le roy d'assirie n'ait plus gagne aujoud'huy dans le coeur de mandane que cyrus n'a fait en toute sa vie apres quand il venoit a considerer qu'en tirant au sort pour scavoir de quel coste de la riviere il iroit il avoit aussi tost pu aller du coste qu'il estoit alors que de l'autre il en estoit desespere et toute sa sagesse et toute sa piete ne pouvoient l'empescher de murmurer contre le ciel qu'ay-je fait justes dieux disoit il pour avoir merite cette infortune n'ay je pas conserve vos temples et vos autels pendant les guerres que j'ay faites ne vous ay-je pas offert des voeux et des sacrifices ay-je este injuste cruel et sanguinaire j'ay aime mandane il est vray mais je l'ay aimee avec une purete sans egale je l'ay aimee passionnement je l'avoue mais l'ayant faite si accomplie et me l'ayant fait connoistre suis-je criminel de l'avoir aimee de cette sorte et la peut on aimer autrement cependant vous me punissez du plus rigoureux suplice dont le plus coupable de tous 
 les hommes pourroit estre puny je voudrois bien n'en murmurer pas mais je ne puis m'en empescher la fureur s'empare de mon esprit la jalousie que je ne connoissois presques point trouble ma raison et je ne puis souffrir enfin que mon plus redoutable rival et mon plus mortel ennemy soit le liberateur de mandane apres cela impatient qu'il estoit de voir que le jour ne paroissoit pas encore il se leva et remontant a cheval malgre tout ce qu'on luy put dire il voulut que l'on marchast mais pour en monstrer l'exemple aux autres il s'enfonca le premier dans l'espoisseur des tenebres portant dans l'esprit un chagrin plus noir que ne l'estoit l'obscurite de cette sombre nuit qui regnoit alors et qui estoit cause que l'on ne pouvoit discerner aucuns objets dans cette grande forest 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 apres avoir marche assez longtemps peu a peu la forest s'eclaircissant et le jour commencant de paroistre cyrus retrouva le bord de la riviere et ses guides se reconnoissant reprirent le chemin du lieu ou ce prince vouloit aller enfin il arriva en un endroit d'ou il desouvrit des chariots et des gens de guerre qui alloient assez loing 
 devant luy cette veue le troubla estrangement et confondit de telle sorte dans son coeur la joye la douleur l'amour la jalousie l'esperance et la crainte qu'il ne scavoit luy mesme ce qu'il sentoit il prononca pourtant le nom de mandane en regardant feraulas et doublant le pas en luy monstrant ces chariots allons luy dit-il allons jouir de la veue de nostre princesse et troubler du moins la joye de nostre rival commencant donc d'aller assez viste il joignit quelques cavaliers qui estoient demeurez deux cents pas derriere les chariots et les troupes et les reconnoissant d'abord pour estre medes le roy d'assirie leur dit-il n'est il pas aupres de la princesse mandane nous n'en scavons rien seigneur reprirent ils car aussi tost apres le combat que nous fismes hier contre abradate comme il vit qu'au lieu de delivrer la princesse il n'avoit fait que prendre la reine de la susiane il parut tout furieux et prit une autre route avec une partie de ses gens quoy s'escria cyrus mandane n'est pas dans ces chariots que je voy non seigneur repliquerent ils et l'on donna advis au roy d'assirie qu'elle estoit de vostre coste si bien que voulant vous aller joindre et avoir part a sa delivrance il prit un sentier destourne que ses guides luy enseignerent par lequel il devoit aller couper chemin au roy de pont apres avoir passe la riviere a un lieu dont nous avons oublie le nom esperant mesme retrouver peut-estre abradate et vous rejoindre mais puis que vous estes icy sans luy nous ne scavons plus ou il est ny ou est la princesse mandane y ayant aparence que vous n'en avez pas apris de nouvelles puis que nous vous revoyons sans la revoir cyrus fut si surpris et si afflige d'aprendre que mandane n'etoit 
 point delivree de scavoir que s'il eust tousjours suivy le chemin qu'il tenoit d'abord il l'auroit pu delivrer et de ce que son rival avoit peut-estre la gloire de combatre pour elle a l'heure mesme qu'il parloit que sans tarder davantage en ce lieu la et sans aller jusques aux chariots ou estoit panthee il retourna sur ses pas en diligence envoyant seulement araspe qui se trouva aupres de luy pour avoir soing de cette reine il retourna donc jusques au premier lieu ou il pouvoit passer la riviere et marchant presque aussi viste que s'il eust este seul il sentoit des transports de colere contre luy mesme qu'il n'avoit pas peu de peine a retenir il souhaitoit que le roy d'assirie eust trouve mandane il desiroit qu'il ne l'eust pas encore rencontree quand il le joindroit et ne pouvant enfin demeurer d'accord avec luy mesme de ses propres desirs il souffroit une peine incroyable principalement quand il pensoit que selon les aparences le roy d'assirie auroit desja delivre mandane quand il y arriveroit ou ce qui estoit encore le pire que ny l'un ny l'autre ne la pourroient peut estre delivrer apres avoir marche tres long temps sans rien aprendre il rencontra des cavaliers que le roy d'assirie qui avoit sceu qu'il avoit repasse la riviere luy envoyoit pour luy dire qu'il suivoit tousjours le roy de pont avec esperance de le pouvoir bien-tost joindre mais qu'il l'advertissoit qu'il venoit d'aprendre qu'il avoit laisse la riviere a sa gauche et qu'il avancoit tant qu'il pouvoit vers une autre qu'il faloit qu'il traversast auparavant que d'estre en cilicie cyrus a cet advis redoublant encore sa diligence quoy que les chevaux des siens fussent tres las fit tant qu'en fin il joignit le roy d'assirie et par un bizarre sentiment d'amour et 
 de jalousie tout ensemble il n'eut gueres moins de joye que de douleur de voir qu'il n'avoit pas delivre mandane ces deux illustres rivaux se rendirent conte de tout ce qu'ils avoient fait et forcez par la necessite ils donnerent un quart d'heure a leurs gens pour faire un leger repas et pour faire repaistre leurs chevaux au village ou ils se rencontrerent apres quoy ils furent ensemble avec plus de diligence qu'auparavant suivant tousjours la route du roy de pont qui estoit contraint d'aller lentement a cause du chariot ou estoit mandane enfin apres avoir marche jusques au soleil couchant ils decouvrirent cette autre riviere dont on leur avoit parle mais ce qui les surprit extremement c'est qu'ils aperceurent qu'un grand pont de bois par ou ils esperoient la passer venoit d'estre rompu et que jettant les yeux de l'autre coste de l'eau ils virent dans une grande prairie a quatre on cinq cens pas du bord environ cinquante chevaux seulement et un chariot qu'ils creurent bien estre celuy ou estoit la princesse qu'ils cherchoient car ce pont presque entierement rompu le faisoit assez connoistre ils estoient pourtant un peu embarrassez a comprendre pourquoy il n'y avoit que cinquante chevaux et ce qu'estoient devenus les autres mais enfin ils ne doutoient point du tout que ce ne fust la princesse mandane comme ce fleuve est fort profond et fort rapide et que de plus il estoit extremement deborde il n'y avoit point de possibilite de le passer cyrus et le roy d'assirie le voulurent toutesfois essayer mais ce fut inutilement et ils penserent estre noyez l'un et l'autre outre cela il faloit faire pres d'une journee auparavant que de trouver un autre pont et retourner d'autant 
 en arriere n'y en ayant plus depuis le lieu ou ils estoient jusques a la mer ou ce fleuve se jette ils ne pouvoient pas mesme passer dans des bateaux car il n'y en avoit point ou ils estoient et il n'y en avoit mesme gueres sur toute cette riviere qui n'est pas navigable a cause de son impetuosite et qui n'estant pas non plus poissonneuse fait qu'il n'y a que fort peu de barques de pescheurs ainsi ne scachant que faire la veue de ce chariot qui s'eloignoit tousjours mettoit l'ame de ces deux princes a la gehenne le pont estoit si absolument rompu qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen d'imaginer aucune voye de faire un faux pont de planches quand mesme ils en auroient eu ainsi sans scavoir ny pouvoir que faire ils regardoient ce chariot qui peu a peu s'eloignoit d'eux si bien que le soleil s'estant couche et ce chariot estant entre dans un bois de cedres qui est sur une montagne au dela de la prairie ils le perdirent de veue et perdirent presques la vie en perdant l'esperance de pouvoir delivrer mandane car quand ils venoient a penser qu'ils estoient si pres de cettte princesse sans pouvoir pourtant s'en aprocher davantage et qu'au contraire elle s'eloignoit tousjours plus ils ne pouvoient supporter leur douleur sans en donner des marques bien visibles mais quoy qu'ils souffrissent tous deux le mesme mal ils n'avoient pourtant pas la consolation qu'ont les mal-heureux de se pleindre ensemble au contraire la conformite de leur affliction en redoubloit encore la violence et s'ils n'eussent pas eu tous deux une generosite qui n'estoit pas moins grande que leur passion il leur eust este absolument impossible d'agir ensemble comme ils agissoient 
 toutesfois cyrus estoit encore plus afflige que le roy d'assirie qui se fiant tousjours un peu au favorable oracle qu'il avoit receu a babylone ne desesperoit jamais de rien mais pour cyrus qui n'avoit pas ce secours dans ses mal-heurs il craignoit tout et n'esperoit presque aucune chose le prince tigrane le prince phraarte et toutes les autres personnes de qualite faisoient ce qu'ils pouvoient pour les consoler tous deux principalement cyrus qui avoit l'amour de tout le monde mais c'estoit inutilement comme ces princes jugeoient que les troupes que devoit avoir laissees le roy de pont au deca de la riviere ne pouvoient pas estre fort esloignees ils se tinrent sur leurs gardes et marcherent en bon ordre en retournant sur leurs pas pour aller vers cet autre pont ou l'on pouvoit passer ce fleuve cependant l'amour qui ne fait faire que des actions heroiques aux coeurs qui en sont possedez fit que cyrus et le roy d'assirie ne pouvant se resoudre a marcher si lentement avec tant de monde prirent seulement cent chevaux cyrus commandant absolument au reste de ses gens d'attendre de ses nouvelles en ce lieu la et de garder le pont de peur qu'abradate ne s'en saisist s'il aprenoit qu'ils fussent allez apres mandane tous ces autres princes le suivirent en cette occasion et furent aussi bien que luy avec le plus de diligence qu'ils purent vers l'endroit ou l'on pouvoit passer la riviere ils furent pourtant contraints de laisser reposer une heure ou deux leurs chevaux apres quoy ils reprirent leur chemin et le lendemain a la pointe du jour ils passerent ce fleuve et eurent au moins la consolation de penser que rien ne les separoit plus de mandane cyrus crut a propos d'envoyer 
 feraulas a tarse vers le prince de cilicie pour luy dire la chose et pour le prier de faire deffendre par tous les ports des son pais que l'on ne laissast embarquer nuls estrangers apres quoy il continua de s'informer de ce qu'il cherchoit et de suivre la route qu'il s'imaginoit que le roy de pont auroit pu tenir mais comme la nuit les surprit ils s'arresterent a la premiere habitation et des la pointe du jour ils remonterent a cheval et marcherent non seulement jusques au soir sans rien aprendre de ce qu'ils vouloient scavoir mais jusques au lendemain a midy comme la cilicie en cet endroit n'est pas extremement large ils estoient desja assez pres de la mer lors qu'ils virent venir vers eux deux hommes a cheval qu'ils ne pouvoient pas connoistre estant encore fort esloignez mais en aprochant davantage cyrus reconnut le cheval de feraulas si bien que sans en rien dire au roy d'assirie qui le suivit pourtant un moment apres emporte par sa passion il piqua droit vers feraulas et il demeura fort surpris de voir que cet autre qui estoit aveques luy estoit ortalque ce mesme homme qui avoit eu ordre d'aller escorter martesie et qui avoit tant tarde a revenir une rencontre si inopinee le surprit extremement neantmoins comme il croyoit qu'ortalque ne luy pouvoit dire de nouvelles que de martesie et qu'il pensoit que c'estoit a feraulas a luy en aprendre de mandane quelque estime qu'il eust pour cette sage fille il ne s'en informa point d'abord et regardant feraulas comme pour deviner ce qu'il avoit a luy dire et bien luy dit-il feraulas scaurons nous ou est ma princesse et le prince de cilicie a t'il pu faire ce que j'ay souhaite de luy seigneur luy repliqua-t'il 
 je suis au desespoir d'estre oblige de vous dire que quelque diligence que j'aye pu faire je suis arrive quatre heures trop tard avec les ordres du prince de cilicie au port ou le roy de pont et la princesse mandane se sont embarquez quoy feraulas reprit cyrus mandane n'est plus en cilicie non seigneur luy repondit-il et elle s'embarqua des hier a midy ce qui a cause ce malheur adjousta-t'il c'est que le prince de cilicie estoit alle a la chasse quand j'arrivay a tarse ainsi il falut que je l'y allasse trouver ce qui emporta beaucoup de temps car il estoit assez loing comme je l'eus rencontre et que je luy eus dit precisement l'endroit ou nous avions veu le chariot de la princesse il jugea qu'infailliblement le roy de pont alloit s'embarquer a un port ou il m'envoya a l'heure mesme avec son capitaine des gardes et avec ordre aux magistrats de la ville de retenir tous les estrangers qui voudroient se mettre en mer envoyant aussi plusieurs autres personnes en divers autres lieux avec le mesme commandement enfin seigneur que vous diray-je j'arrivay quatre heures plus tard qu'il ne faloit mais par bonheur j'ay trouve ortalque qui a eu ordre de la princesse mandane de vous venir trouver de la princesse mandane reprit cyrus et comment est il possible qu'il en scache quelque chose seigneur repliqua ortalque vous serez sans doute bien surpris quand je vous diray qu'ayant eu l'honneur par vos commandemens d'escorter les dames avec qui martesie partit de sinope je les conduisis heureusement jusques au bord de la riviere d'halis sur laquelle elles se mirent afin de se delasser envoyant leur chariot en un lieu ou elles le devoient rejoindre ainsi me faisant mettre 
 dans leur bateau les deux cens chevaux que je commandois marcherent sous la conduite de mon lieutenant le long du rivage nous n'eusmes pas fait une journee sur ce grand fleuve que la parente de martesie tomba malade mais avec tant de violence que l'on fut contraint de s'arrester a un chasteau qui est basty sur le bord de cette riviere estant donc abordez en ce lieu la ou il n'y a point de village qui ne soit a plus de vingt stades du bord de l'eau je fus demander a parler a celuy qui y commandoit mais comme il voyoit des gens de guerre il fit grande difficulte de m'accorder ce que je voulois de luy il voulut scavoir qui j'estois ou j'allois et qui estoient ces dames mais comme nous estions en paphlagonie ou je scavois qu'il y avoit de la division entre les peuples je desguisay le nom des dames et le mien et je dis seulement que j'estois leur parent et que je n'avois autre dessein que de les escorter il eut pourtant encore beaucoup de peine a se resoudre a ce que je souhaitois toutesfois a la fin luy disant qu'il n'entreroit que des dames dans son chasteau et qu'il y auroit de l'inhumanite a n'assister pas une personne malade le pouvant faire sans danger il consentit a la recevoir et a l'assister a la priere de sa femme qui l'en pressa fort et qui me parut estre une personne bien faite je fus donc retrouver martesie et faisant porter sa parente dans une chaize que le capitaine de ce chasteau nous envoya je conduisis ces dames jusques a la porte m'en allant apres donner ordre au logement de mes gens au village le plus proche de la ce capitaine voulut toutesfois m'obliger le lendemain a loger aussi chez luy mais je ne le voulus pas et je me contentay d'avoir 
 la permission d'y entrer pour scavoir des nouvelles de martesie et de sa parente qui fut admirablement bien assistee par un medecin et par un chirurgien qui estoient dans ce chasteau et qui n'en sortoient point depuis longtemps a ce que quelques gens du lieu ou je fus loger me dirent comme martesie est infiniment aimable elle fut bien tost aimee de la femme de ce capitaine de sorte que parlant un jour ensemble elle luy dit qu'ils estoient heureux a trouver occasion d'assister les dames malades et comme martesie scavoit que sa chere maistresse avoit passe sur ce mesme fleuve elle luy demanda si elle en avoit eu quelque autre occasion que celle que sa parente luy en avoit donnee elle luy respondit qu'il y avoit desja plus de trois mois que la plus belle personne du monde estoit malade chez eux mais que se trouvant beaucoup mieux presentement elle en partiroit bien tost martesie devenue encore plus curieuse par ce discours s'informa de sa condition et de son nom et la pria de la luy faire voir mais cette dame luy dit qu'elle ne scavoit ny son nom ny sa condition et que si son mary descouvroit qu'elle luy eust dit qu'elle estoit dans ce chasteau il luy en voudroit sans doute mal elle luy aprit de plus que la difficulte qu'il avoit faite de les laisser entrer estoit parce que cette dame estoit chez luy que cependant elle estoit en un apartement du chasteau assez esloigne de celuy ou on les avoit mises et ou personne n'entroit que les gens qui la servoient et une fille qu'elle avoit amenee avec elle qui ne la quittoit jamais qu'il y avoit aussi un homme fort bien fait et qui avoit pense mourir de douleur pendant la violence du mal de cette belle personne apres cela martesie 
 la pria de luy depeindre la beaute de cette dame et la mine de cet homme dont elle parloit et par la response que cette femme luy fit elle creut que la princesse mandane et le roy de pont estoient certainement dans ce chasteau comme elle estoit appuyee sur une fenestre qui donnoit sur la riviere elle vit un grand bateau si semblable a celuy dans lequel elle avoit este avec la princesse qu'elle demanda a cette femme si ce n'etoit point celuy qui avoit amene chez eux cette belle malade et l'autre luy ayant dit qu'ouy martesie ne douta presques plus du tout que ce qu'elle pensoit ne fust vray elle dissimula pourtant sa joye jusques a ce qu'elle m'eust dit ses soupcons ce qu'elle fit le mesme jour nous resolusmes donc ensemble qu'elle tascheroit de gagner par des caresses et par des presens cette femme qui luy avoit descouvert la chose afin qu'elle luy fist voir la personne dont elle luy avoit parle car comme elle estoit fort jeune elle estoit fort propre a se laisser persuader de cette sorte enfin seigneur martesie le fit avec tant d'adresse que le lendemain sans que le mary s'en aperceust cette femme la mena par un escalier derobe a une chambre qui donnoit vis a vis de celle de cette belle inconnue et comme les fenestres en estoient ouvertes elle n'y fut pas longtemps qu'elle ne vist la princesse mandane et arianite qui s'apuyant contre une des croisees parloient ensemble avec beaucoup de melancolie ha ortalque s'escria cyrus en l'interrompant comment n'avez-vous point delivre cette princesse vous le scaurez seigneur repliqua t'il en vous donnant un peu de patience martesie ayant donc bien reconnu la princesse mandane en fut 
 si surprise que sans raisonner sur ce qu'elle faisoit elle s'avanca a moitie hors de la fenestre et fit un si grand cry que la princesse tournant la teste et jettant les yeux de son coste la reconnut d'abord et ne fut gueres moins surprise de sa veue que martesie l'estoit de la sienne cette rencontre fut si surprenante qu'il leur fut absolument impossible de ne tesmoigner pas qu'elles se connoissoient mais par bonheur le roy de pont n'estoit point alors dans la chambre de la princesse et la seule femme du capitaine du chasteau s'aperceut de l'agreable surprise de ces deux personnes bien est il vray qu'elle en fut elle mesme si estonnee qu'elle ne put se resoudre de laisser longtemps martesie jouir de ce plaisir la joint qu'arianite entendant ouvrir la porte de la chambre de la princesse fit signe a martesie qu'elle se retirast enfin seigneur estant bien assurez que mandane estoit dans ce chasteau je fis resoudre martesie a me permettre d'entreprendre de le forcer elle voulut toutesfois essayer de parler a la princesse mais ce fut inutilement car cette femme qu'elle avoit gagne n'avoit point de credit sur ceux qui gardoient mandane ainsi nous estant resolus a tout hazarder pour delivrer la princesse je trouvay moyen d'avoir des eschelles je fis tenir nostre bateau tout prest a ramer et par un endroit de la muraille qui n'estoit pas hors d'escalade je fis dessein de tenter la chose la nuit suivante mais par malheur le roy de pont qui depuis le temps que la princesse estoit demeuree malade en ce lieu la avoit envoye vers abradate pour luy demander retraite dans sa cour et escorte pour y aller par les matenes que la riviere d'halis traverse par 
 malheur dis-je il advint que ce prince vit arriver quatre cens chevaux de la susiane qui venoient pour querir la princesse de sorte que le roy de pont ne les vit pas plustost qu'il resolut de partie des le lendemain ce qu'ayant este sceu par martesie elle m'en advertit et je me resolus aussi quoy que la partie ne fust pas egale a ne laisser pas d'attaquer le roy de pont des qu'il marcheroit ne pouvant plus entreprendre de forcer ce chasteau ou il y avoit tant de monde cependant martesie qui vouloit du moins suivre sa chere maistresse si elle ne la pouvoit pas delivrer fit si bien que s'en allant hardiment par cet escalier derobe a la chambre qui estoit vis a vis de celle de la princesse elle apella arianite de toute sa force et luy dit que si leur maistresse n'obtenoit pour elle la permission de luy parler elle se desespereroit cette fille luy fit signe qu'elle eust patience et en effet nous sceusmes depuis que justement dans le temps que martesie luy parloit la princesse aprenoit au roy de pont qu'elle estoit retrouvee et qu'elle vouloit absolument l'avoir aupres d'elle ce que ce prince luy accorda ne scachant pas que je fusse a vous et croyant que par quelques bizarres avantures elle seroit demeuree le long de ce fleuve comme mandane elle mesme y estoit depuis demeuree malade enfin seigneur martesie et sa parente qui se portoit beaucoup mieux aussi bien que ces autres femmes furent mises aupres de la princesse qui les receut avec une joye extreme cependant il falut qu'elle se resolust a partir et a s'embarquer pour aller jusques a la mantiane ou des chariots la devoient attendre mais seigneur pourquoy differer a vous dire que le lendemain j'attaquay les gens qui escortoient 
 le roy de pont que comme le nombre n'estoit pas esgal presque tous mes compagnons y perirent et que l'y fus blesse en quatre endroits sans pouvoir empescher que ce prince qui d'abord s'estoit jette a terre l'espee a la main et qui fit des choses prodigieuses n'emmenast la princesse qui eut du moins la consolation d'avoir martesie avec elle mais pour sa parente comme c'estoit une personne qui estoit mariee martesie obtint du roy de pont la permission de la renvoyer chez elle ce qu'il fit priant ce capitaine du chasteau de la faire conduire au lieu ou son chariot l'estoit alle attendre pour moy seigneur quoy que je fusse tres blesse je ne laissois pas encore d'aller apres quelques cavaliers et de les suivre l'espee a la main lors qu'il en vint deux qui par les ordres de la princesse empescherent qu'on ne me tuast et me faisant prisonnier ils me remenerent tous ensemble a ce chasteau avec priere a ce capitaine de me bien traiter et de me faire penser aveques soing ce qu'il fit tres civilement pendant que je fus chez luy j'apris qu'il estoit nay sujet du roy de pont et que par diverses avantures il s'estoit marie en ce pais la et y estoit devenu gouverneur de ce chasteau qui est scitue en paphlagonie et ou le roy de pont s'estoit veu contraint d'aborder le lendemain que martesie et orsane furent laissez le long du rivage parce que la princesse s'en affligea si fort qu'elle en tomba malade a l'extremite cependant seigneur je n'ay pas plustost este guery que je suis alle a suse ou ce capitaine avec qui je fis assez grande amitie durant que je fus chez luy m'assura que je trouverois la princesse j'y fus donc et je la trouvay en effet et comme le roy 
 de pont ne pouvoit pas craindre un homme seul et que la princesse a un si grand empire sur luy que hors sa liberte il ne luy peut rien refuser j'eus la permission d'estre a elle parce qu'il creut que j'y estois auparavant et qu'il ne songea point que je fusse a vous quelques jours apres je sceus que cresus roy de lydie avoit envoye vers abradate et qu'il se tramoit quelque grand dessein cependant le roy de pont craignant que si vous apreniez en armenie ou il scavoit bien que vous estiez qu'il estoit a suse vous ne tournassiez teste de ce coste-la et qu'abradate ne peust vous resister il fit dessein d'en partir mais comme il y a asseurement quelque grande ligue entre plusieurs princes qui lie l'amitie de ces deux-la abradate ne voulut pas le laisser aller seul la reine panthee aimant aussi fort mandane et ayant aussi bien dessein d'aller visiter un fameux temple de diane qui est dans le pais des matenes la voulut conduire jusques vers les frontieres de la cilicie esperant faire sa devotion a son retour mais comme ils arriverent au fleuve aupres duquel elle a este prise afin de marcher plus commodement et plus seurement aussi pour le roy de pont ils se separerent ce dernier conduisant mandane du coste le plus esloigne de l'armenie et abradate demeurant de l'autre avec la reine de la susiane qui se separa d'elle au passage de ce fleuve et qui continua encore de marcher du mesme coste ou elle a este prise par vos troupes parce que c'estoit le chemin du lieu ou elle vouloit aller pour nous autres nous marchasmes tousjours aveques tant de diligence qu'il vous eust este difficile de nous voir encore comme vous nous vistes sans doute a travers de la 
 riviere si ce n'eust este qu'abradate apres avoir este deffait vint nous rejoindre quelque temps devant que nous y fussions suivi seulement de quinze ou vingt des siens cette veue affligea sensiblement le roy de pont car il connut bien qu'abradate avoit este attaque et vaincu mais lors qu'il l'eut joint et qu'il luy eut apris que panthee estoit prisonniere il en eut une douleur extresme j'estois alors derriere ces princes de sorte que comme ils estoient tous deux fort affligez ils ne prirent pas garde a moy et j'entendis qu'abradate dit au roy de pont qu'il le conjuroit de luy redonner ses troupes afin d'aller apres les ravisseurs de panthee comme le roy de pont n'avoit que mille chevaux qu'abradate n'en avoit plus que quinze ou vingt des mille qu'il avoit eus et que le roy de pont avoit sceu en marchant qu'il estoit suivi il fit comprendre a abradate que ce seroit exposer mandane et s'exposer luy mesme inutilement que d'aller peut-estre attaquer toute vostre cavallerie avec si peu de gens au reste luy dit il ne craignez rien pour la reine vostre femme car cyrus est le plus genereux prince du monde et pour ce qui est de ciaxare tant que nous aurons la princesse mandane en nos mains il ne mal-traitera pas panthee c'est pourquoy luy dit il laissez moy aller jusques au pont que je dois rompre apres l'avoir passe et retournez vous en apres executer promptement et genereusement ce que vous avez promis a cresus et attendez la liberte de panthee par la mesme voye qui la donnera a toute l'asie enfin seigneur apres plusieurs autres discours ou l'on voyoit bien qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'incertitude en leurs esprits et que je ne pouvois pourtant pas tous entendre 
 nous allasmes au pont ou abradate quitta ce prince et dit adieu a mandane qui ayant sceu la prise de panthee l'asseura que si elle estoit en vos mains elle y estoit seurement le conjurant d'obliger le roy de pont a la rendre a ciaxare a condition de luy faire rendre panthee abradate estoit si occupe de sa propre douleur qu'il n'entendit pas bien cette proposition de sorte que le roy de pont craignant que mandane ne redist encore la mesme chose et qu'abradate n'y fist quelque reflexion il commanda que le chariot marchast apres avoir pris cinquante chevaux seulement comme nous eusmes passe la riviere les gens d'abradate de leur coste et ceux du roy avec qui j'estois du leur rompirent ce pont de bois et chacun d'eux prit son chemin c'est a dire abradate celuy de suse parle haut des montagnes et le roy de pont celuy de la mer de cilicie mais lors que la princesse mandane aupres du chariot de laquelle je me trouvay eut aperceu toute vostre cavalerie a travers de la riviere durant que nous estions dans la prairie je n'ay jamais veu une personne plus affligee qu'elle me le parut elle vous regarda seigneur autant qu'elle vous put voir car elle s'imagina bien que vous estiez en ce lieu la en personne et nous estions desja bien avant dans le bois ou nous entrasmes qu'elle regardoit encore comme si elle eust pu vous apercevoir enfin seigneur nous arrivasmes trop heureusement au port ou le roy de pont vouloit s'embarquer il y trouva mesme un vaisseau prest a faire voile pour ephese ou il fut receu et il s'embarqua le lendemain a midy qui fut hier mais deux heures devant que de partir martesie me tira a part et me dit que je m'echapasse comme j'ay fait et 
 que je vous donnasse cette lettre que je venois vous aporter lors que j'ay rencontre feraulas qui sortoit de la ville aussi bien que moy en disant cela ortalque en presenta une de la princesse mandane a cyrus qui la prit avec autant de joye que le roy d'assirie en eut de douleur il eust bien voulu ne la lire pas devant luy mais ne pouvant differer a voir ce que sa princesse luy mandoit et trouvant mesme un moment apres quelque douceur a l'ouvrir devant son rival il la decacheta et y leut ces paroles
 
 
 la princesse mandane a cyrus 
 
 
 comme je ne scay pas si le roy mon pere est encore a son armee et que je ne doute point que vous n'y soyez c'est a vous que je m'adresse pour vous prier de faire en sorte que la reine de la susiane soit bien traittee c'est par elle que j'ay sceu qu'il est maintenant permis a l'illustre artamene d'estre cyrus et elle a pris tant de soin d'adoucir ma captivite que je suis obligee de tascher de rendre la sienne la moins rigoureuse qu'il 
 me sera possible je ne vous dis point que je suis la plus malheureuse personne du monde car vous ne pouvez pas l'ignorer mais pour reconnoistre autant que je le puis la generosite que vous avez d'exposer tous les jours vostre vie pour ma liberte je n'ay qu'a vous dire que je ne souhaite avec gueres moins d'ardeur la continuation de vostre gloire et de vostre bon heur que la fin des malheurs de 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
cette princesse avoit encore adjouste en apostille apres vous avoir mande a faux que j'allois en armenie je n'ose presque plus vous dire que je crois que l'on me mene a ephese lors que cyrus eut acheve de lire cette lettre il ne put s'empescher de regarder le roy d'assirie de qui il rencontra les yeux dans les siens mais avec tant de chagrin et tant de marques de douleur que la joye de cyrus en augmenta encore de la moitie toutesfois pour demeurer dans les termes de leurs conditions et pour n'avoir point de secret pour toutes les choses ou la princesse mandane avoit interest cyrus leut tout haut la lettre de la princesse ce qui ne fut pas un petit redoublement de douleur pour le roy d'assirie car quoy que cette lettre ne fust presques qu'une lettre de civilite neantmoins il y avoit certaines paroles si cruelles pour luy 
 principalement vers la fin qu'il eut beaucoup de peine a n'esclatter pas et a ne donner point de marques trop violentes de sa jalousie et de son desespoir il changea de couleur diverses fois il fit mesme quelque action de la teste et de la main qui faisoit voir son inquietude et levant les yeux vers le ciel et les attachant apres fixement dans ceux de cyrus allons trop heureux prince dit-il en soupirant allons a artaxate afin d'aller promptement en lydie pour voir ce que les dieux ont resolu de nostre destin apres cela le roy d'assirie marcha le premier et sans attendre que cyrus luy respondist il se mit a s'entretenir luy mesme si profondement qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'il souffroit beaucoup cependant cyrus qui ne vouloit pas perdre de temps ny aller a tarse y envoya un des siens remercier le prince de cilicie qui s'estoit desja dispose a le recevoir et reprenant le mesme chemin par ou ils estoient venus ils joignirent ceux de leurs gens qu'ils avoient laissez a ce pont et furent rejoindre panthee dans un chasteau qui estoit sur les frontieres d'armenie ou araspe l'avoit conduite comme elle avoit este recommandee de bonne main a cyrus il ne vit pas plustost araspe qu'il luy ordonna de la faire servir avec tout le respect deu a sa condition et quelque resolution qu'il eust prise de ne la voir point par le chagrin qu'il avoit eu d'aprendre que mandane n'estoit pas delivree et que c'estoit seulement elle qui estoit prisonniere il changea de dessein et voulut la voir bien est il vray qu'il fit presque un secret de cette visite parce qu'il souhaita que le roy d'assirie n'en fust pas afin de pouvoir parler de sa chere princesse avec plus de liberte ainsi 
 des qu'il fut dans ce chasteau il fut a l'apartement d'araspe ou feignant d'avoir a faire avecques luy il demeura presques seul comme il estoit assez pres de celuy de la reine de la susiane il y fut sans estre suivi que d'araspe et de feraulas et sans estre veu et c'est ce qui fit dire a tout le monde que cyrus avoit este si fidelle a mandane qu'il n'avoit pas mesme voulu regarder cette reine parce qu'on la disoit estre une des plus belles personnes de la terre cependant il est certain qu'il la vit mais il la vit pour l'amour de mandane et comme il sceut par araspe qu'elle estoit fort en peine d'abradate il luy fit dire ce qu'il en scavoit en luy envoyant demander la permission de la voir de sorte que lors qu'il entra dans sa chambre cette belle et sage reine le receut avec beaucoup de civilite et sans donner aucune marque de foiblesse pour sa prison seigneur luy dit elle la princesse mandane avoit raison de me dire que vous estiez le prince du monde qui scavoit le mieux user de la victoire puis que toute captive que je suis vous me faites la grace de me voir et de m'envoyer assurer de la vie et de la sante du roy mon seigneur je ne veux point luy dit-il madame que vous me soyez obligee d'une chose si peu considerable mais je veux qu'en vous donnant la peine de lire cette lettre adjousta t'il en luy monstrant celle de mandane vous connoissiez que je ne dois point avoir de part a tous les services que j'ay dessein de vous rendre car apres ce que la princesse de medie m'a escrit je ne suis plus maistre de mes volontez et je ne puis que suivre les siennes je veux bien seigneur repliqua panthee apres avoir leu la lettre de la princesse mandane et la luy avoir rendue partager cette obligation 
 entre vous d'eux estant bien certaine que vous le souffrirez l'un et l'autre sans en murmurer en suite cyrus s'informa soigneusement de la sante de sa chere princesse et apres luy avoir demande pardon de la liberte qu'il alloit prendre il la conjura de luy vouloir dire comment le roy de pont vivoit avec elle n'osant pas luy demander comment elle vivoit aveque luy seigneur reprit panthee pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos je vous diray que le roy de pont est tellement esclave des volontez de la princesse mandane que c'est une chose inconcevable de voir qu'il ait la force de la retenir comme il fait car excepte sa liberte il n'est rien qu'il ne soit capable de luy accorder ainsi je puis vous assurer qu'il ne luy donne aucun sujet de pleinte que celuy de ne la vouloir point abandonner et de ne la vouloir point rendre pour moy j'ay fait toutes choses possibles pour l'y obliger mais il m'a tousjours respondu qu'il ne le peut et que quand il n'auroit autre satisfaction en toute sa vie que celle d'empescher qu'un rival ne la possede il fuiroit tousjours par toute la terre jusques a ce qu'il eust trouve un azile assure pour sa retraite et un protecteur assez puissant pour le deffendre ha madame s'ecria cyrus les dieux n'en scauroient donner au ravisseur d'une princesse si innocente et si accomplie en effet reprit panthee il paroist assez que nous sommes desja punis de luy avoir donne protection cyrus luy fit alors beaucoup de civilite et luy dit que s'il n'eust pas despendu de ciaxare et s'il ne se fust pas agy de mandane il luy auroit redonne la liberte mais qu'ayant apris qu'il se formoit une ligue dont le roy son mary estoit il faloit voir auparavant ce que 
 ce pouvoit estre et que cependant il l'assuroit qu'elle seroit servie avec tout le respect qui luy estoit deu panthee le remercia fort civilement et ils se separerent tres satisfaits l'un de l'autre en effet il eust este difficile que deux personnes si accomplies n'eussent pas eu beaucoup d'estime l'un pour l'autre en se connoissant car si cyrus estoit admirable en toutes choses panthee estoit une princesse tres parfaite sa beaute estoit une des plus esclatantes du monde et de celles qui surprennent le plus les yeux et qui inspirent le plus d'amour elle avoit une majeste si douce et une modestie si charmante qu'on ne la pouvoit voir sans s'interesser en ses malheurs cependant cyrus ordonna a araspe de la conduire a artaxate luy laissant cinq cens chevaux pour cela apres quoy remontant a cheval avec le roy d'assirie il fit une si grande diligence qu'en trois jours il arriva aupres de ciaxare auquel il rendit conte de son voyage de la il fut chez la princesse araminte ou le prince phraarte estoit desja il luy demanda pardon d'estre party sans luy dire adieu l'assurant qu'a sa consideration il n'avoit eu dessein que de delivrer sa princesse et qu'il n'avoit point eu celuy de perdre le roy son frere elle luy aprit aussi les inquietudes qu'elle avoit eues par la crainte de recevoir quelque funeste nouvelle de son entreprise comme il estoit chez cette princesse on le vint querir parce qu'il estoit arrive un courrier d'ecbatane qui pressoit encore ciaxare d'y aller il en vint aussi un autre ce mesme jour d'ariobante qui mandoit qu'il estoit adverty qu'il y avoit desja quelque temps que cresus avoit envoye consulter divers oracles sur une entreprise importante qu'il vouloit 
 faire et qu'il avoit fait partir en un mesme jour des gens d'esprit et de probite pour aller a delphes a dodone mesme au temple d'amphiaraus a l'antre de trophonius aux branchides qui estoient sur la frontiere des milesiens et en affrique au temple de jupiter ammon afin que par la reponse de tous ces oracles il peust estre confirme ou dissuade d'executer son dessein que cependant il armoit puissamment et solicitoit tous ses alliez d'armer comme luy les choses estant donc en ces termes il fut resolu veu mesme la mauvaise sante de ciaxare qu'il s'en retourneroit a ecbatane pour appaiser les troubles qui s'y estoient elevez et que cyrus avec toute son armee marcheroit vers la lydie tant pour songer a la liberte de mandane que l'on menoit a ephese que cresus avoit conquestee que pour s'opposer aux desseins de ce prince quels qu'ils pussent estre ainsi l'ambition et l'amour demandant une mesme chose de cyrus il s'y porta avec toute l'ardeur que deux passions si violentes peuvent inspirer a un coeur heroique et amoureux comme estoit le sien on resolut aussi que pour tenir abradate en devoir il faloit retenir panthee et la conduire en capadoce vers les frontieres de lydie car on avoit sceu par un prisonnier que ce prince avoit assurement fait ligue avec cresus ce qui confirmoit puissamment ce qu'ortalque en avoit dit comme la princesse araminte ne souhaitoit pas de demeurer en armenie a cause du prince phraarte et que de plus cyrus esperoit quelque chose de sa negociation aupres du roy son frere il fut bien aise qu'elle prist la resolution d'aller avec la reine panthee qui arriva a artaxate comme toutes ces resolutions se prenoient et qui y fut 
 traittee selon l'intention de mandane c'est a dire avec tous les honneurs possibles pour cet effet araspe eut encore un nouvel ordre de cyrus d'en avoir un soin tout particulier ce prince luy disant avec un sous-ris qui n'effacoit pourtant pas la melancolie de ses yeux qu'il ne croyoit pas pouvoir plus seurement confier la plus belle reine du monde qu'au plus insensible homme de la terre enfin deux ou trois jours apres cette grande separation se fit car des ce jour la ciaxare avec dix mille hommes entre lesquels estoit megabise se prepara a s'en retourner a ecbatane et cyrus accompagne des rois d'assirie de phrigie d'hircanie et de tous les autres princes qui estoient dans cette armee commenca de decamper et de la faire marcher vers la lydie apres avoir assujetty de nouveau un royaume a ciaxare et dompte en suite les chaldees le prince tigrane par l'amitie qu'il avoit pour cyrus et par la reconnoissance de ce qu'il avoit si genereusement laisse la couronne au roy son pere le voulut suivre a cette guerre et phraarte par sa propre generosite et plus encore par l'amour qu'il avoit pour araminte ne le voulut pas abandonner de sorte que la prevoyance de cette princesse se trouva inutile cependant pour faire conduire la reine de la susiane et la princesse de pont plus commodement araspe avec cinq cens chevaux prit un chemin un peu detourne de celuy de l'armee et partit mesme un jour auparant ce qui fut cause qu'un envoye d'abradate ne trouva plus la reine sa femme a artaxate ou il estoit venu pour la redemander mais on luy repondit qu'un prince allie des rois de medie qui donnoit protection au ravisseur de la 
 princesse mandane ne devoit rien obtenir a moins que de l'obliger a la rendre auparavant que de partir cyrus fut dire adieu a la reine d'armenie et prendre part a la douleur que la princesse onesile avoit de l'esloignement de son cher tigrane en suite dequoy charge des voeux du roy d'armenie et des acclamations de tout le peuple d'artaxate il en partit pour aller conduire ciaxare jusques a trente stades loing de la route qu'il devoit prendre cette separation fut tendre et touchante de part et d'autre ciaxare luy parla de la princesse mandane en des termes qui luy faisoient connoistre qu'il y avoit autant de part que luy et il luy donna un pouvoir si absolu par toute l'estendue de son empire qu'il ne l'eust pu avoir plus grand mesme apres sa mort le roy d'armenie paya volontairement le tribut qu'il devoit et en offrit encore quatre fois autant pour les frais de cette guerre ce que cyrus refusa se contentant de ce qui estoit legitimement deu cependant le souvenir de mandane fut toute son occupation et toute celle du roy d'assirie durant cette marche et lors qu'ils estoient contraints d'estre ensemble et qu'ils se surprenoient tous deux en cette resverie dont ils s'imaginoient aisement le sujet ils en avoient du chagrin et ils eussent bien voulu chacun en particulier estre seuls a penser a cette princesse ils sceurent en aprochant de capadoce que le prince thrasibule non plus qu'harpage ne s'y estoit point arreste et qu'ariobante luy ayant seulement donne les troupes qu'il avoit pour joindre a celles qu'on luy avoit desja donnees il estoit party en diligence pour aller vers la basse asie l'amour et l'ambition ne luy permettant pas d'attendre que l'on eust fait de nouvelles levees 
 comme cyrus n'avoit que mandane dans le coeur et qu'elle luy avoit ecrit qu'elle s'en alloit a ephese pour en estre pleinement eclaircy il resolut d'y envoyer feraulas deguise scachant bien qu'il ne pouvoit choisir personne qui peust agir avec plus d'adresse plus d'esprit et plus d'affection que luy joint que puis que martesie estoit avecque mandane il y avoit un redoublement d'obligation pour luy a travailler a la liberte de cette princesse il accepta donc cette commission avecques joye et pendant que cyrus tarda en capadoce pour laisser un peu reposer ses troupes et pour s'informer un peu mieux des desseins de cresus il prit le chemin d'ephese apres s'estre travesti sans estre accompagne que d'un esclave seulement le roy d'assirie de son coste y envoya aussi un homme tres fidelle et tres entendu en toutes choses cependant cyrus recevoit des advis de toutes parts des grands preparatifs de guerre que l'on faisoit a sardis mais quoy qu'on luy dist et quoy qu'on luy mandast on ne parloit point de mandane et on ne disoit point mesme avec certitude ce que cresus vouloit faire durant qu'il estoit en cette peine on luy vint dire que le roy de phrigie venoit le trouver en diligence parce qu'il estoit arrive le matin a sa tente trois estrangers que l'on ne connoissoit pas qui luy avoient apris quelque grande nouvelle du moins a ce que l'on en pouvoit juger par l'emotion qu'il avoit eue en leur parlant un moment apres ce prince entra comme un homme qui avoit en effet de grandes choses dans l'esprit seigneur dit-il a cyrus il est bien juste que je vous parle de vos interests avant que de vous entretenir des miens et que je vous die que je vous amene un 
 homme qui a veu aborder la princesse mandane a ephese et qui vous peut du moins assurer qu'elle n'a pas fait n'aufrage cyrus tout transporte de joye d'entendre le nom de mandane et de scavoir du moins avec certitude ou elle estoit demanda avec empressement au roy de phrigie ou estoit celuy qui luy avoit aporte cette nouvelle de sorte que ce prince le faisant aprocher car il l'avoit amene aveques luy le presenta a cyrus qui le receut avec une douceur qui n'estoit pas moins une marque de son amour pour mandane que de sa civilite naturelle cet homme qui estoit grec et qui se nommoit sosicle estant de fort bonne condition et ayant beaucoup d'esprit respondit a cyrus avec beaucoup de respect et luy aprit fort exactement tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir de luy il luy dit donc qu'estant a ephese il avoit veu aborder un vaisseau cilicien et qu'il avoit sceu apres au port que le roy de pont estoit dedans qu'en effet il l'en avoit veu descendre et en suitte la princesse mandane que le gouverneur d'ephese avoit logee magnifiquement il luy dit encore que cette princesse estant allee au temple de diane pour faire ses devotions s'estoit mise parmi les vierges voilees qui y demeurent que le roy de pont l'ayant sceu avoit voulu faire effort pour l'en retirer mais que le peuple s'estoit esmeu et ne l'avoit pas voulu souffrir de sorte qu'il avoit falu qu'il se contentast que le gouverneur d'ephese fist faire une garde fort exacte aux portes de la ville et a l'entour de ce temple jusques a ce que l'on eust eu ordre de cresus vers lequel il avoit aussi tost envoye et que les choses estoient en cet estat lors qu'il estoit parti d'ephese cyrus fit encore 
 cent questions a sosicle apres quoy le remerciant de l'avoir tire de la peine ou il estoit il se mit a parler au roy de phrigie en particulier se rejouissant de ce que feraulas pourroit peut-estre luy donner quelque advis favorable puis qu'il ne pouvoit manquer de trouver la princesse comme elle estoit en un lieu maritime cyrus ne jugeoit pas qu'il falust tourner teste de ce coste la se souvenant toujours de l'advanture de sinope et il pensoit qu'il valoit mieux attendre qu'elle fust a sardis y ayant beaucoup d'aparence qu'on l'y conduiroit neantmoins l'impatience qu'il avoit de s'aprocher tousjours davantage d'elle pensa luy faire changer de dessein et prendre celuy de partir a l'heure mesme mais le roy de phrigie luy dit qu'il scavoit encore quelque chose qui l'en devoit empescher et l'obliger d'avoir seulement trois ou quatre jours de patience en effet s'estant mis a luy parler bas il parut bien par le visage de cyrus que ce que ce prince luy disoit le surprenoit extremement et luy donnoit mesme de la joye et de l'esperance le roy d'assirie estant arrive cyrus force par sa generosite et par sa parole luy aprit ce qu'il scavoit de mandane et luy dit fidellement l'estat des choses le roy d'assirie en fut aussi agreablement surpris que luy mais enfin ayant trouve que le roy de phrigie avoit raison et qu'il faloit attendre l'advis qu'il devoit recevoir auparavant que de rien entreprendre cyrus dit en suitte a ce prince qu'il vouloit scavoir plus au long la merveilleuse avanture dont il ne luy parloit qu'en passant n'estant pas juste qu'il ne s'interessast pas autant aux choses qui le touchoient en particulier qu'il faisoit a celles qui le regardoient 
 le roy de phrigie luy dit que sosicle le satisferoit la dessus quand il l'auroit agreable et luy feroit mieux comprendre la cause de l'entreprise dont il faloit attendre l'effet apres cela araspe vint trouver cyrus pour l'advertir que la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte estoient arrivees le soir auparavant a une petite ville qui n'estoit qu'a quarante stades du camp de sorte que cyrus ne le sceut pas plustost qu'il leur envoya faire compliment et le lendemain il y fut luy mesme suivi seulement d'hidaspe et de quelques autres ne voulant pas y mener le prince phraarte de qui la passion affligeoit araminte mais comme panthee s'estoit trouve mal la derniere nuit il ne vit que la princesse araminte a qui il rendit conte de l'estat des choses scachant bien qu'elle auroit de la joye d'aprendre que peut-estre sans combatre le roy son frere pourroit on finir cette guerre mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas comprendre parfaitement tous les divers interests de ceux qui tramoient la chose a moins que de scavoir toute la vie de deux personnes fort illustres qui en faisoient tout le fondement elle tesmoigna avoir une si forte envie de l'aprendre que cyrus pour la satisfaire luy promit qu'il ne la scauroit luy mesme exactement qu'en sa presence et en effet ayant envoye prier le roy de phrigie de luy envoyer sosicle il le fit au mesme instant de sorte que comme il y avoit encore assez de temps pour luy donner audience parce que cyrus estoit alle de fort bonne heure visiter cette princesse sosicle ne fut pas plustost arrive que le faisant aprocher et le presentant a araminte voila luy dit-il madame celuy qui doit contenter vostre curiosite et la mienne et 
 vous aprendre des choses qui ne sont pas sans doute ordinaires du moins ce que j'en scay desja me semble t'il fort merveilleux je pretens toutefois adjousta cyrus que sosicle vous parle comme si je ne scavois rien du tout de ce qu'il vous doit dire et qu'il n'oublie aucune circonstance de la vie d'une princesse de qui le nom est aussi celebre par sa beaute et par sa vertu que celuy de son amant l'est par son courage et par son esprit apres que la princesse araminte eut joint ses prieres a celles de cyrus sosicle scachant bien qu'il importoit extremement aux personnes a qui il prenoit interest que ce prince s'affectionnast a elles et les protegeast luy obeir avec joye et commenca son discours de cette sorte adressant la parole a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 
 
 histoire de la princesse palmiset de cleandre
 
 
vous serez peut-estre etonnee madame de voir qu'un grec scache si precisement tous les interests de la cour du roy de lydie mais quand je vous auray dit que j'y fus mene a l'age de dix ans et que j'ay eu l'honneur d'estre eleve dans la maison de cresus aupres des princes ses enfans vostre etonnement cessera et je vous seray mesme plus croyable cependant pour vous faire mieux comprendre toutes les choses que j'ay a vous dire il faut que je vous aprenne que mon pere est de l'isle de delos si fameuse par le celebre temple d'apollon quoy que ses predecesseurs fussent originaires de sardis et d'une des premieres familles de cette ville mais enfin diverses avantures qui ne font rien a mon sujet ayant change leur fortune et leur ayant donne un establissement considerable a delos ils y ont tousjours demeure depuis et mon pere y vivoit assez heureusement lors que le desir de voir la patrie de ses peres le fit aller a sardis 
 vous trouverez sans doute encore estrange que je commence mon recit par des choses qui vous semblent prerentement inutiles aux avantures d'une grande princesse mais je vous diray toutesfois que si mon pere ne fust point alle a sardis rien de tout ce que j'ay a vous aprendre ne seroit arrive et que par consequent il faut que vous scachiez et tout ce que je vous ay desja dit et tout ce que j'ay encore a vous dire un matin donc du temps qu'il estoit encore a delos se promenant le long de la mer sur une terrasse qu'il avoit fait faire a un jardin qu'il avoit derriere sa maison et prenant plaisir a regarder toutes ces isles qui environnent celle de delos et qui a cause de leur scituation s'apellent en effet les isles cyclades il vit une barque qui flottoit lentement au gre des vagues ou il ne paroissoit personne dedans qu'une femme qui taschoit de la conduire et qui ne pouvoit pourtant en venir a bout car mon pere voyoit bien que cette barque alloit d'un coste quoy qu'elle fut sous ses efforts pour la faire aller de l'autre estant donc pousse de quelque curiosite et de quelque compassion de voir cette femme si occupee inutilement il obligea quelques mariniers qui estoient assez pres de la d'aller dans un esquif voir ce que c'estoit et en effet ils y furent et trouverent qu'il n'y avoit dans cette barque que cette mesme femme que mon pere voyoit et a ses pieds sur un quarreau de drap d'or un enfant de trois ans admirablement beau et qui sans se soucier du pitoyable estat de sa fortune se mit a sous-rire a ces mariniers des qu'ils aprocherent de la barque ou il estoit la prodigieuse beaute de cet enfant et son action agreable et enjouee firent que tous grossiers qu'ils 
 estoient ils se resolurent de conduire cette barque ou celle qui la guidoit la vouloit mener c'est pourquoy regardant cette femme qui en tenoit le timon ils luy demanderent d'ou venoit qu'elle estoit seule et ou elle vouloit aller mais ils furent estrangement surpris de voir que cette femme estoit muette et ne pouvoit faire autre chose que de leur monstrer delos de la main comme leur voulant dire que c'estoit la qu'elle vouloit qu'ils la menassent neantmoins comme c'estoit mon pere qui les avoit envoyez au lieu de la mener droit au port ils la firent aborder au pied de la terrasse ou il se promenoit et ou il y avoit un escalier par ou l'on pouvoit aller jusques a la mer cette femme qui estoit fort agee s'affligea d'abord de voir qu'ils ne faisoient pas precisement ce qu'elle vouloit mais enfin comme elle fut plus pres voyant bien a la mine de mon pere que ce n'estoit pas un homme a faire outrage a l'enfant qu'elle conduisoit elle se r'assura un peu et par cent signes qu'il n'entendit pas elle luy voulut dire beaucoup de choses tantost elle monstroit cet enfant tantost elle levoit les mains et les yeux au ciel et sans se pouvoir mieux faire entendre et sans entendre ce qu'on luy disoit elle donnoit une compassion extreme elle monstra a mon pere des tablettes de cedre garnies d'or dans lesquelles il y avoit ecrit en grec en assez mauvais caractere et d'une ortographe peu exacte cet enfant est recommande au dieu que l'on adore a delos mon pere voyant donc cet enfant si beau si 
 aimable et si jeune et voyant cette femme si affligee et sans avoir autre dessein a ce que l'on pouvoit juger par ses signes que de se remettre a la providence des dieux n'ayant pour tous biens qu'un petit tableau dont la bordure estoit d'or et d'un travail admirable mais qui ne pouvoit pas quand mesme on l'eust vendue ce qu'elle valoit suffire pour la subsistance de cet enfant et d'elle durant un fort long temps il se resolut d'avoit pitie de l'un et de l'autre et de prendre soin de tous les deux la peinture qui estoit dans cette riche bordure et qui y est encore represente une jeune personne mais belle admirablement habillee comme on peint quelquesfois venus couchee sur un lict de roses avec cette difference pourtant qu'il y a une draperie merveilleuse qui la couvre presques toute et qui ne luy laisse qu'une partie de la gorge descouverte aupres d'elle l'amour est represente sans bandeau qui se joue avec son carquois et ses fleches et au bas de ce tableau il y a deux vers grecs qui disent l'arc et les traits du fils que tout craint et revereblesseront moins de coeurs que les yeux de la mere cette femme muette en monstrant ce tableau a mon pere luy fit comprendre par ses signes qu'il le faloit garder soigneusement mais il n'eut pas plustost jette les yeux dessus qu'il remarqua que le cupidon qu'on y voyoit represente estoit le portrait de ce jeune enfant que l'on avoit trouve dans la barque ainsi il ne douta point apres avoir leu cette inscription que le visage de cette venus ne fust celuy de la mere et que ce tableau n'eust este fait de cette sorte par galanterie 
 si bien que trouvant quelque chose de fort extraordinaire en cette avanture et la compassion comme je vous l'ay desja dit attendrissant son coeur il fit entendre par des signes a cette femme que si elle vouloit demeurer dans sa maison avec l'enfant qu'elle conduisoit il en prendroit soin et en seroit bien aise comme elle ne pouvoit pas mieux faire elle y consentit et comme mon pere estoit veuf et qu'il n'avoit que moy d'enfans il ne fut mesme pas marri de me donnee cette nouvelle compagnie proportionnee a mon age car je n'avois que cinq ans en ce temps la il fit donc entrer cette femme et cet enfant dans sa maison et congedia ces mariniers qui eurent la barque de la muette pour leur peine cependant mon pere durant quelques jours ne faisoit autre chose que de tascher de s'eclaircir de ce que c'estoit que cette avanture sans le pouvoir faire car plus cette femme luy faisoit de signes moins il en comprenoit le sens il serra soigneusement le petit tableau et les tablettes qu'elle luy confia et il fit mesme mettre le quarreau de drap d'or sur lequel estoit cet enfant dans la barque en lieu ou il peust estre conserve il luy fit aussi donner d'autres habillemens afin de pouvoir garder les tiens dans la pensee qu'il eut que toutes ces choses pourroient peut estre quelque jour servir a sa reconnoissance il observa aveque soing le begayement de cet enfant qui prononcoit desja quelques paroles mais il n'y put rien discerner assez nettement pour en pouvoir tirer la connoissance de sa patrie car il y en avoit quelques unes greques et quelques autres qui ne l'estoient pas a quelques jours dela cette femme muette mourut recommandant de telle sorte cet enfant a 
 mon pere par des signes et par des larmes qu'il se resolut en effet d'avoir mesme soing de luy que de moy comme il s'imagina bien que la barque dans laquelle cet enfant avoit este trouve veu comme elle estoit faite ne pouvoit estre venue que de quelqu'une des isles cyclades il eust bien voulu les visiter toutes pour tascher de descouvrir a qui il apartenoit mais comme il y en a tant il n'eust pas este aise d'en faire une recherche exacte il ne laissa pas toutesfois d'envoyer expres a quelques unes et de se faire informer a la plus grande partie des autres par des marchands de delos qui y avoient commerce si l'on n'y scavoit rien de cette avanture mais ce fut inutilement cependant ne scachant pas le veritable nom de cet enfant il luy donna celuy de cleandre qu'il aimoit a cause d'un fils qu'il avoit eu qui l'avoit porte et qui estoit mort depuis peu de temps je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire les soings que mon pere eut du jeune cleandre pour qui il conceut une amitie qui n'estoit gueres differente de celle qu'il avoit pour moy mais je vous diray seulement que comme cet enfant inconnu estoit recommande au dieu que l'on adore a delos qui est celuy de toutes les sciences mon pere luy fit en effet apprendre tous les choses qu'apollon luy-mesme eust pu enseigner ainsi on peut assurer sans mensonge que cet enfant fut un prodige et que des sa cinquiesme annee il ne venoit point d'estrangers a delos qui n'eussent la curiosite de voir le jeune cleandre car outre qu'il avoit une beaute admirable il avoit desja un esprit si merveilleux et une memoire si extraordinaire que cela le faisoit passer pour un miracle nous vivions ensemble durant ce temps la comme si nous eussions 
 este freres mon pere ainsi que je vous l'ay dit ne faisant presques aucune difference de luy a moy disant a ceux qui luy en parloient et qui y trouvoient quelque chose d'estrange que nous luy avions tous deux este donnez par les dieux et qu'ainsi il ne devoit point faire de distinction entre nous cleandre pouvoit donc avoir huit ans et moy dix lors que l'on trouva dans la terre une vieille lame de cuivre ou estoit gravee une ancienne prediction qui disoit en faisant parler jupiter j'ebranleray delos immobile qu'elle est or madame vous scavez sans doute que tout le monde croit que cette isle a este long-temps flottante et que l'on croit aussi qu'elle n'est devenue ferme que depuis que latone y accoucha d'apollon et de diane de sorte que cette prediction fit croire a tout le peuple que cette isle redeviendroit flottante comme autrefois si bien que l'epouvante prit d'une telle facon a tous ceux qui l'habitoient qu'elle pensa devenir deserte mon pere fit tout ce qu'il put pour r'assurer les esprits car il estoit des plus considerables de l'isle mais il ne luy fut pas possible et il falut plus d'une annee entiere auparavant que cette frayeur fust dissipee cependant comme en ce temps la il vint a delos un ambassadeur de cresus qui venoit aporter des offrandes au temple d'apollon et que par quelques gens de sa suitte mon pere qui se nomme timocreon receut des lettres de quelques-uns de ses parents qui demeurent a sardis il se resolut de s'y en aller avec cet ambassadeur tant pour future le violent desir qu'il 
 avoit de voir l'ancienne patrie de ses peres que pour laisser dissiper la frayeur que les habitans de delos avoient dans l'ame et qui les avoit presques tous dispersez dans toutes les isles cyclades mais comme mon pere ne pouvoit se resoudre d'abandonner ny cleandre ny moy il nous mena avecques luy et ayant demande passage a cet ambassadeur de cresus qui s'apelle menecee nous nous embarquasmes dans son vaisseau pendant cette navigation il se fit une amitie assez estroite entre mon pere et cet ambassadeur car s'il m'est permis de parler si advantageusement de celuy qui m'a donne la vie il est certain que timocreon n'est pas un homme ordinaire mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que menecee trouva tant de charmes en la personne du jeune cleandre qu'il ne pouvoit durer sans le voir et il fut tout le divertissement du voyage d'abord menecee creut que nous estions freres mais mon pere l'ayant detrompe et luy ayant apris de quelle facon il avoit trouve cleandre cela redoubla son admiration ne pouvant assez s'etonner de la conduite des dieux en de certaines rencontres et comme naturellement l'esprit des hommes aime les choses extraordinaires et qui ont de la nouveaute menecee aima encore plus cleandre qu'il ne faisoit auparant qu'il sceust la maniere dont il estoit venu a delos comme nous fusmes abordez a une ville d'ionie ou cet ambassadeur avoit a faire nous fusmes apres par terre a sardis ou mon pere fut receu de tous ceux a qui il avoit l'honneur d'apartenir avec toute sorte de civilite et de temoignages de joye cependant des le lendemain qu'il fut arrive menecee luy envoya dire que le roy le vouloit voir et qu'il vouloit 
 mesme qu'il luy menast cleandre et qu'il m'y menast aussi mais madame auparavant que de m'engager davantage dans mon recit il faut que je vous die en quel estat estoit la cour de lydie en ce temps la et que vous scachiez que cresus avoit deux freres dont l'un se nommoit antaleon et l'autre mexaris qui estoit encore fort jeune de plus ce prince avoit deux fils et une fille l'aine de ses enfans qui se nommoit atys pouvoit avoit alors onze ou douze ans et le second qui est muet et qui se nomme myrsile en avoit bien neuf ou dix la princesse palmis sa fille n'en avoit que cinq ou six mais toutesfois des ce temps la elle estoit desja un miracle de beaute comme la cour ne faisoit que de quitter le deuil de la reine de lydie quand nous arrivasmes a sardis il y avoit desja longtemps que l'on n'y avoit eu de divertissemens publics jusques a une course de chevaux que l'on faisoit le jour mesme que menecee presenta mon pere au roy et m'y mena aussi avec cleandre puis que vous n'ignorez pas sans doute la prodigieuse richesse de cresus ny sa magnificence je ne vous representeray point la somptuosite de son palais mais je vous diray seulement que cleandre et moy qui estions alors en un age ou tout ce qui brille aux yeux plaist a l'esprit fusmes charmez de la veue de tant d'or et de tant de richesse que nous vismes dans toutes les chambres ou nous passasmes d'abord cresus fut ravy de la beaute de cleandre de sa grace et de sa hardiesse mais plus encore de cent reponses agreables qu'il luy fit lors qu'il se mit a luy parler car comme il luy demanda ce qu'il luy sembloit de son palais ce hardy enfant luy repondit qu'il le trouveroit assez beau pour un temple et qu'il le trouvoit trop beau pour un 
 palais ne luy semblant pas juste qu'apollon que son adoroit a delos n'eust pas tant d'or que luy qui n'estoit qu'un homme si ce n'estoit adjousta t'il qu'il eust encore plus de vertus et plus de pouvoir qu'appollon cette reponse sur prenant cresus il le fit aprocher de luy et le mena dans une galerie d'ou il devoit voir la course de chevaux que l'on devoit faire devant luy dans une grande place qui est au dessous de cette galerie dans laquelle estoit toute la cour avec les jeunes princes et la petite princesse palmis que cleandre regarda fort attentivement cependant cresus qui se divertissoit aux choses que disoit cleandre luy fit encore cent questions et entre les autres luy demandant s'il ne prenoit pas plaisir a voir ces courses de chevaux il luy repondit qu'il en prendroit bien davantage a les faire luy mesme qu'a les regarder mais luy dit cresus que feriez-vous du prix que l'on donne si vous l'aviez remporte et que feriez-vous au contraire si vous ne le remportiez pas si je ne le remportois pas dit-il tans hesiter j'en mourrois de depit et si je le remportois je viendrois l'offrir a la princesse vostre fille que je voy aupres de vous enfin madame que vous diray-je cleandre satisfit si fort le roy qu'il voulut que luy et moy fussions mis aupres des princes ses enfans et connoissant mesme la capacite de mon pere il voulut aussi qu'il s'attachait a leur service ainsi il falut qu'il donnast ordre de faire transporter de delos a sardis tout ce qui estoit de nature a l'estre et qu'il se resolust a demeurer en lydie de m'amuser a vous dire madame toutes les premieres annees de la vie de cleandre ce seroit abuser de vostre patience et perdre un temps que je pourray mieux employer a vous raconter les 
 actions heroiques qu'il a faites qu'a vous depeindre l'agrement de son enfance je vous diray toutes fois en general que jamais personne n'a mieux reussi que luy en tous les exercices du corps ny plus parfaitement apris tout ce qu'on luy a enseigne pour luy former l'esprit et le jugement le prince atys au service duquel il fut particulierement attache et qui estoit assurement un des plus beaux princes du monde l'aima avec une tendresse qui n'eut jamais de semblable et le prince myrsile tout muet qu'il est luy a tousjours tant donne de marques d'affection qu'il n'en pouvoit pas souhaiter davantage car madame ce prince muet ne l'est pas comme les autres muets le sont parce que l'impossibilite qu'il a de parler ne luy vient pas de ce qu'il est sourd mais de quelque empeschement qu'il a a la langue ainsi entendant tout ce que l'on dit il comprend aussi bien les choses que s'il parloit de sorte que tout muet qu'il est il y a peu de gens au monde qui ayent plus d'esprit qu'il en a et cela estant de cette facon il n'eust pas este possible qu'il n'eust point aime cleandre mais quoy qu'atys et myrsile fussent admirablement bien faits si faut-il pourtant advouer que cleandre avoit encore quelque chose de plus grand qu'eux dans l'air du visage et que quoy qu'il parust bien au dessous d'eux par sa condition il estoit beaucoup au dessus par sa mine il eut donc fort peu de temps l'amour du peuple l'admiration des honnestes gens l'inclination de toutes les dames et la faveur des princes de la jeune princesse et du roy mais ce qu'il y eut de plus admirable fut que l'on remarqua toujours en cleandre que quoy que la fortune fist pour luy il paroissoit encore estre infiniment au dessus 
 de ses plus grandes faveurs ce n'en pas qu'il les meprisast mais c'est qu'il en usoit bien et que sans les chercher par des voyes lasches et basses il les possedoit sans orgueil et sans vanite et en faisoit part a tous ceux qui le meritoient avec autant de liberalite que s'il eust este roy comme celuy dont il recevoit ces graces dans les commencemens de nostre illustre servitude toutes les fois que cleandre alloit de la part des princes faire quelques compliments a la jeune princesse leur soeur cette admirable petite personne luy demandoit tousjours cent choses tantost s'il ne s'ennuyoit point a sardis une autrefois si le temple de delos estoit plus magnifique que ceux qu'il voyoit en lydie et luy faisant cent autres semblables questions on remarquoit aisement que cleandre plaisoit a cette jeune princesse car lors que les princes luy envoyoient quelques autres de ceux qui estoient nourris aupres d'eux elle se contentoit de repondre a ce qu'ils luy disoient de la part de leurs maistres sans faire une plus longue conversation il est vray que cela n'arrivoit gueres souvent car cleandre estoit si soigneux de se monstrer aux princes quand il jugeoit qu'ils auroient quelque chose a mander a la princesse leur soeur qu'il estoit presques le seul qui y alloit et de cette sorte il n'y avoit presques point de jour qu'il ne luy parlast la grande disproportion qu'il y avoit de cleandre a la princesse palmis fit que sa gouvernante ne trouva point mauvais qu'elle parlast plus a luy qu'aux autres ainsi tant que son enfance dura il fut le plus heureux du monde a toutes choses puis que rien ne s'opposoit a tout ce qui luy pouvoit plaire nous vecusmes donc de cette sorte jusques a sa quinziesme annee que 
 quelques subjets de cresus se rebellerent si bien qu'il falut aller a la guerre contre eux ou cleandre fit des choses si surprenantes qu'elles paroistroient incroyables a tout autre qu'a l'illustre cyrus qui ne peut sans doute pas croire qu'il y a t de l'impossibilite a estre jeune et extraordinairement brave tout ensemble apres les grandes actions qu'il a faites aussi cleandre le parut il de telle sorte aux yeux de toute l'armee que l'on commenca a ne parler pas moins de son courage que jusques alors on avoit parle de sa beaute de son esprit et de son adresse il receut mesme une blessure favorable au bras gauche en voulant s'opposer a un des ennemis qui vouloit fraper le prince ce qui redoubla encore sa faveur aupres de cresus si bien que lors que nous retournasmes a sardis apres avoir sousmis ces peuples rebelles on commenca de ne regarder plus cleandre comme un agreable enfant mais comme un fort honneste homme car encore qu'il fust tres jeune comme il avoit autant de sagesse de jugement et de discretion que l'age et la raison en peuvent donner a qui que ce soit et que l'on ne voyoit en luy de la jeunesse que ce qui la rend aimable sans en avoir pas un des deffauts on ne vescut plus aussi aveques luy comme l'on a accoustume de vivre avec les autres jeunes gens durant les premieres annees qu'ils voyent le monde et qu'ils sont de la conversation au contraire au retour de cette campagne on traita tout a fait le jeune cleandre en homme tres raisonnable la princesse mesme qui avoit alors treize ans commenca de parler a luy avec un peu moins de liberte et a le traiter moins familierement quoy que ce fust toujours avec les mesmes bontez en ce temps-la le 
 prince atys qui avoit dix-neuf ans devint amoureux d'une personne qui estoit a la cour qui se nomme anaxilee et comme cleandre estoit son plus cher favory il le fit confident de sa passion et luy descouvrit le fonds de son coeur cette personne est assurement fort belle mais elle estoit d'une condition si disproportionnee a la qualite du prince de lydie qu'il jugeoit bien que cresus n'approuveroit pas qu'il en fist l'amoureux ouvertement et qu'il s'y attachast aux yeux de toute la cour c'est pourquoy il taschoit de deguiser ses sentimens et de paroistre fort civil et fort galant aupres de toutes les dames en general afin de cacher sa veritable inclination au roy son pere cleandre ne fut donc pas peu occupe durant quelque temps il est vray que ce n'estoit pas son plus grand tourment car madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'au retour du roy a sardis la princesse de lydie parut si admirablement belle a cleandre qu'elle eut pour luy toutes les graces de la nouveaute estant certain que quand il ne l'eust jamais veue il n'en eust pas este plus surpris et certes il avoit raison puis que pendant les dix mois que la guerre avoit dure elle estoit encore si prodigieusement embellie que tout le monde estoit contraint d'advouer que l'on n'avoit jamais rien veu de si beau de sorte que comme elle n'avoit pas moins d'esprit que de beaute il ne faut pas s'estonner si l'ame de cleandre ne put resister a une passion dont la cause estoit si puissante la sienne eut cela d'extraordinaire qu'il commenca d'aimer sans esperance et l'amour s'empara de son coeur malgre luy sans qu'il luy fust possible de luy resister il y avoit alors a sardis un prince nomme artesilas qui devint aussi fort 
 amoureux de la princesse palmis mais qui dans sa passion avoit aussi quelques sentimens ambitieux ainsi on eust dit que l'amour avoit pris naissance a la guerre car au retour de celle que nous avions faite la cour changea de face entierement et ce ne furent plus que des festes et des parties de galanterie qui durant quelque temps rendirent le sejour de sardis fort agreable mais vers la fin de l'hyver on reparla de guerre contre les misiens et en effet le printemps ne fut pas plustost venu que cresus se remit en campagne et l'este tout entier fut employe a faire deux sieges et a donner deux batailles ou cleandre se signala encore de telle sorte qu'estant party de sardis simple volontaire il y revint lieutenant general sous le prince atys qui commanda l'armee vers la fin de la campagne en l'absence de cresus que quelque incommodite avoit oblige d'en partir j'ay sceu depuis par une personne qui est a la princesse et qui est ma parente qu'elle eut une joye extresme de la bonne fortune de cleandre disant a tout le monde qu'elle avoit tousjours bien preveu que ce ne seroit pas un homme ordinaire apres avoir donc vaincu les misiens les chalibes et les mariandins qui s'estoient joints a eux nous revinsmes encore a sardis ou cleandre commenca d'estre considere d'une autre sorte car bien qu'il fust le mesme qu'il estoit auparavant neantmoins suivant la foiblesse ordinaire presque de tous les hommes qui font une grande difference entre la vertu malheureuse et la vertu en prosperite non seulement tout le peuple mais mesme tous les plus honnestes gens vescurent avecques luy d'une autre maniere et il vescut luy mesme d'une autre sorte car comme il devenoit tous les jours plus 
 amoureux parce que la princesse devenoit en effet tous les jours plus belle et plus aimable il estoit aussi plus chagrin comme je m'aperceus aisement de cette melancolie et que je n'en voyois point de cause raisonnable je le suppliay de vouloir m'en dire le sujet et je pris cette liberte parce que je changement de sa fortune n'en ayant point aporte dans son coeur il m'aimoit encore autant qu'il m'avoit jamais aime toutesfois il ne m'acorda pas d'abord ce que je luy demandois et il falut qu'il fust estrangement presse par sa douleur pour se resoudre a m'advouer qu'il aimoit et qu'il aimoit la princesse palmis il est certain que je le pleignis extremement d'avoir une passion dans l'esprit qui ne luy pouvoit raisonnablement permettre d'esperer veu l'ignorance ou il estoit de ce qu'il estoit ne je fis donc tout ce que je pus pour tascher de le guerir d'un mal qui luy plaisoit quoy qu'il en fust fort tourmente et je luy representay cent fois que pouvant estre fort heureux c'estoit une estrange chose que de se rendre soy mesme volontairement infortune mais quoy qu'il advouast que j'avois raison il ne pouvoit pourtant faire autrement au lieu de combattre son amour aveques violence il l'entretenoit aveques soing car il voyoit la princesse le plus souvent qu'il pouvoit il luy parloit toutes les fois qu'il en trouvoit l'occasion il luy rendoit tous les services dont il se pouvoit adviser et s'enchaisnant luy mesme s'il faut ainsi dire il gemissoit sous la pesanteur de ses fers sans oser se plaindre ouvertement et tout heureux qu'il estoit en apparence il estoit pourtant fort malheureux en effet car quand il venoit a penser qu'il ne scavoit point ce qu'il estoit et qu'il y avoit lieu de croire 
 qu'il ne le scauroit jamais son chagrin devenoit insuportable qu'il n'estoit pas maistre de son esprit et il me disoit des choses si touchantes que je n'estois gueres moins afflige que luy cependant le prince atys de qui la condition n'estoit guere moins considerable a la belle anaxilee que son merite et son affection en fut si favorablement traite qu'il lia une amitie assez estroite avec elle quoy que fort innocente et jusques au point qu'il ne songeoit plus qu'a bien cacher cette secrette intelligence qui estoit entre eux non seulement aux yeux de cresus mais a ceux de toute la cour si bien que ce prince qui croyoit aveque beaucoup d'aparence avoir un pouvoir absolu sur l'esprit de cleandre pensa que le mieux qu'il pouvoit faire pour tromper tout le monde estoit de l'obliger a feindre d'estre amoureux d'anaxilee de sorte que l'envoyant querir un matin et l'entretenant en particulier mon cher cleandre luy dit-il je ne scaurois estre heureux sans vous et si vous ne m'aidez a couvrir ma veritable passion en faisant semblant d'en avoir pour anaxilee je me pourray cacher mon bonheur que vous scavez bien qui sera destruit des qu'il sera descouvert c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de vouloir agir avec elle comme si vous l'aimiez esperdument afin que toute la cour le croye car si vous le faites luy dit-il en l'embrassant je seray le plus heureux de tous les hommes puis que non seulement toute la cour croira sans peine que je ne songe point a elle mais que le roy et la princesse ma soeur croiront encore que vous en serez aime ainsi vous demandant un office qui vous donnera de la gloire j'espere que vous ne me le refuserez pas si vous aimiez quelque chose luy dit-il je n'aurois 
 garde de vous faire cette priere mais n'ayant pas remarque que vous ayez aucun attachement a la cour je ne mets pas mon bonheur en doute seigneur luy repliqua cleandre fort surpris et fort afflige de ce que le prince luy disoit je scay si peu deguiser mes sentimens que je craindrois de descouvrir les vostres en les voulant cacher et puis adjousta-t'il esperant de pouvoir tourner la chose en raillerie comment croyez vous qu'un homme que vous dites vous mesme qui n'a jamais rien aime peust persuader aisement qu'il aimeroit croyez moy seigneur dit-il en sous-riant pour pouvoir faire croire que l'on est amoureux il faut avoir tesmoigne l'estre en quelque autre rencontre et je ne pense pas qu'il y ait un homme au monde si peu propre que moy a l'employ que vous me voulez donner vous avez tant d'esprit et tant d'adresse luy repliqua le prince de lydie que vous vous en aquiterez admirablement car enfin il ne faut que parler tres souvent a anaxilee et principalement quand il y aura bien du monde et que la princesse ma soeur y sera comme sa conversation est agreable et que vous luy parlerez de moy que vous ne haissez pas j'espere qu'il ne vous ennuyera point avec elle mais mon cher cleandre je vous prie afin que la chose face plus viste un grand esclat et vienne plus promptement a la connoissance du roy que vous faciez en sorte que la princesse ma soeur s'apercoive le plustost qu'il vous sera possible des soings que vous rendrez a anaxilee cleandre rougit au discours du prince et parlant plus serieusement qu'il n'avoit fait vous n'ignorez pas seigneur luy dit-il que je mourrois avec joye pour vostre service si 
 l'occasion s'en presentoit mais si je puis le dire sans crime et sans vous fascher je ne pense pas que je puisse faire ce que vous souhaitez de moy quoy cleandre reprit le prince un peu etonne vous ne pouvez parler souvent a une des plus belles personnes du monde pour l'amour de moy est-ce que vous craignez d'en devenir amoureux nullement seigneur repondit-il et je scay trop le respect que je vous dois mais j'ay une aversion si sorte au deguisement que je suis persuade que je ferois fort mal ce que vous m'ordonnez si je l'entreprenois entreprenez-le du moins reprit le prince si vous ne voulez me desobliger ou dites moy ingenument ce qui vous en empesche car estant persuade comme je le suis que vous avez beaucoup d'affection pour moy et scachant de certitude que vous n'avez pas l'esprit bizarre il faut bien de necessite qu'il y ait quelque raison cachee qui face vostre resistance en verite seigneur repliqua cleandre je ne scaurois vous dire d'autre excuse que celle que je vous ay desja dite ne seroit ce point adjousta le prince que je me serois trompe lors que j'ay creu que vous n'aimiez rien et ne seroit-il point vray que vous aimeriez quelque belle personne a qui vous craindriez de donner de la jalousie si cela est poursuivit-il advouez le moy sincerement parce que si vous estes assez bien avec elle pour luy confier un secret je consentiray que vous luy disiez le mien et de cette sorte vous cacherez vostre passion aussi bien que la mienne car je ne doute pas si vous aimez que ce ne soit une personne fort raisonnable que si vous n'estes pas encore en ces termes la aupres de celle qui vous a assujetty dites encore la chose avec la mesme sincerite et je 
 vous laisseray en repos cleandre se trouva alors estrangement embarrasse et s'il ne fust arrive du monde qui rompit cette fascheuse conversation je ne scay comment il eust pu repondre a un discours si prenant sans donner beaucoup de marques de l'agitation de son ame au prince de lydie mais artesilas luy estant venu faire une visite cleandre eut le temps de songer avec un peu plus de loisir aux choses qu'il avoit a dire puis que de tout ce jour la atys ne put avoir la liberte de renouer cette conversation de sorte que cleandre me cherchant et me menant promener dans les jardins du palais il me raconta ce qui luy estoit arrive mais avec des termes si expressifs pour me depeindre l'inquietude ou il avoit este pendant le discours du prince de lydie que j'en avois moy mesme l'ame a la gehenne car imaginez-vous bien me disoit-il la bizarrerie de cette avanture qui fait que j'aime passionnement une personne a qui je n'en ose donner aucune marque et qui fait en suite que l'on mordonne de donner cent mille preuves d'affection a une autre que je n'aimeray jamais et ce qui est le plus estrange c'est que l'on veut que j'en use ainsi principalement afin que la personne que j'adore croye que je suis amoureux d'une fille que je n'aime point que je ne scaurois aimer et que mesme on ne voudroit pas que j'aimasse ha fortune s'ecrioit-il c'est bien assez que j'aye le malheur d'aimer une princesse a qui je n'oserois le dire sans que j'aille encore moy mesme luy persuader que je suis amoureux d'une autre mais puis que vous ne luy oseriez dire vostre passion repris-je et que selon les apparences vous ne la luy direz jamais je ne trouve pas qu'il vous doive beaucoup importer 
 de ce qu'elle pensera de vous ha socicle s'ecria t'il encore vous ne scavez sans doute point aimer car si cela estoit vous comprendriez que quand un esclave charge de fers et le plus respectueux du monde aimeroit une reine il l'aimeroit pourtant avec cet innocent desir qu'elle peut deviner sa passion et puis qu'il vous faut decouvrir le fonds de mon coeur me dit-il voila mon cher sosicle l'unique terme de tous mes desirs je scay bien adjousta l'afflige cleandre qu'a moins que de perdre absolument la raison je ne dois jamais songer a entretenir palmis de l'amour que j'ay pour elle mais je scay bien aussi qu'a moins qu'elle cesse de me voir il faudra dans la suite du temps qu'elle devine une partie des sentimens que j'ay pour elle que si cela estoit il me semble mon cher sosicle que je serois heureux cependant on veut que je mette moy mesme un obstacle invincible a la seule felicite que je me suis proposee car comment la princesse pourroit-elle deviner que je suis amoureux d'elle si elle me le croyoit d'anaxilee ha non non je ne me scaurois resoudre a obeir au prince et quand je le luy promettrois je ne luy pourrois pas tenir ma parole mais luy dis-je si vous l'irritez ne songez-vous point qu'il est frere de palmis et que sans luy dire le veritable sujet de pleinte qu'il aura contre vous il luy parlera peut-estre a vostre desadvantage que voulez-vous que j'y face me repondit-il je voudrois du moins luy dis-je advouer au prince que je serois amoureux sans luy nommer la personne qui m'auroit assujetty mais repliqua-t'il ne jugez-vous pas que je dois autant craindre qu'atys decouvre ma passion que je dois desirer que la princesse palmis la devine ne disant point 
 le nom de celle que vous aimez luy dis-je il me semble que vous ne hazardez rien le hazarderois tout repliqua-t'il car de la facon dont j'adore cette admirable personne je n'aurois pas plustost advoue au prince que j'aime que la confusion que j'en aurois luy decouvriroit mon secret et luy feroit voir malgre moy l'image de l'adorable palmis dans le fonds de mon coeur ou je la cache ce n'est pas que je ne scache bien a mon grand regret qu'il y a si peu d'apparence a la chose qu'elle n'est peut-estre pas si aisee a soupconner que je me l'imagine mais puis que ce prince scait par sa propre experience que l'on peut aimer une personne beaucoup au dessous de soy il pourroit aussi aisement croire que l'on en peut aimer une beaucoup au dessus et puis ne s'offenceroit-il pas que je luy fisse un secret de la cause de mon amour luy qui me decouvre si confidemment la sienne en un mot parce que je scay la chose il me semble qu'il la scauroit et cette confidence que je ne ferois qu'a demy me semble trop dangereuse je luy en ferois donc une fausse luy dis-je encore et je luy nommerois quelque autre personne de la cour mais sosicle me repondit-il le moyen que le prince croye que je suis amoureux de cette personne s'il voit que je ne luy parle pas souvent et si je luy parle souvent le moyen que la princesse ne s'imagine pas que je l'aime enfin apres avoir bien raisonne sur cette bizarre avanture nous nous separasmes sans rien resoudre et le lendemain au matin cleandre se trouva aussi embarrasse a repondre au prince que s'il n'eust point eu de temps a s'y preparer de sorte qu'atys ne pouvant penetrer dans le fonds du coeur de cleandre eut l'esprit un peu irrite 
 de voir qu'il ne pouvoit l'obliger a ce qu'il souhaitoit de luy ce n'est pas qu'en le luy refusant cleandre ne luy dist les choses du monde les plus tendres mais comme il ne luy disoit point de raison et qu'il estoit amoureux il sentoit tres vivement le refus qu'il luy faisoit et sentoit beaucoup moins les temoignages d'affection qu'il luy rendoit par ses paroles atys cessant donc de presser cleandre garda pourtant dans son coeur un petit ressentiment qui fit que durant quelques jours il le traita avec plus de froideur qu'a l'ordinaire si bien qu'il y en eut un assez grand bruit dans la cour comme la princesse palmis estimoit fort cleandre elle demanda au prince son frere d'ou venoit ce changement la mais il luy repondit si ambigument qu'elle n'y put rien comprendre de sorte que cleandre estant alle chez elle une heure apres elle se mit a le presser si fort de luy aprendre ce qu'il y avoit entre le prince et luy qu'il ne fut gueres moins embarrasse a repondre a la princesse palmis qu'il l'avoit este a repondre au prince de lydie il avoit beau luy dire qu'il ne scavoit point la cause de sa disgrace et qu'il se contentoit de scavoir qu'il n'avoit jamais manque au respect qu'il devoit au prince elle n'en estoit pas satisfaite la chose alla mesme si loing que cresus en entendit parler et demanda au prince son fils par quelle raison il ne vivoit plus avecque cleandre comme auparavant a quoy ne pouvant pas bien respondre parce qu'il n'avoit garde de luy en oser dire la cause cresus luy fit une grande lecon contre l'inconstance de ceux qui changent de sentimens sans sujet luy commandant de n'agir plus de cette sorte cependant il arriva que le prince atys et anaxilee eurent un demesle 
 ensemble de si grande importance que ce prince qui estoit violent de son naturel rompit avec elle assez brusquement et prit la resolution de la quitter pour toujours or comme le secret en amour n'est jamais bien exactement observe que tant que la passion qui l'a fait naistre dure le prince atys qui n'avoit rien plus aprehende au monde pendant qu'il avoit aime anaxilee sinon que la princesse palmis sceust sa passion n'eut pas plutost rompu avec cette fille qu'il eut une envie extreme de raconter son avanture a la princesse sa soeur et d'autant plus qu'il ne scavoit pas trop bien a qui en parler parce qu'il n'avoit jamais ouvert son coeur qu'a cleandre a qui il ne parloit pas encore avecque sa franchise ordinaire de sorte qu'estant un jour seul avec la princesse palmis et venant insensiblement a reparler avec elle de son changement pour luy ce prince commenca de luy raconter sa foiblesse pour anaxilee et la cause de sa froideur pour cleandre et s'etonnant luy mesme de se trouver si change en peu de temps imaginez-vous luy disoit-il que lors que cleandre me refusa de feindre d'aimer anaxilee et qu'il m'en donna de si mauvaises excuses j'en eus un si sensible depit et je comprenois si peu me devoir jamais trouver en termes d'avoir la liberte de vous parler d'une chose que je voulois vous cacher avec tant de soing en ce temps la que je n'eusse jamais creu vous devoir un jour entretenir de mes folies cependant j'avoue que vous me faites aujourd'huy grand plaisir de souffrir que je vous les raconte car encore que je n'aye plus dans l'esprit la mesme aigreur que j'avois alors pour cleandre et qu'au contraire je sente bien que je l'aime encore cherement 
 neantmoins comme je ne voy pas bien precisement par quelle raison il m'a resiste avec une opiniastrete si grande je vous advoue que j'ay quelque peine a me resoudre de parler avecques luy de la mesme chose qui nous avoit mis mal ensemble ainsi ma chere soeur je ne vous suis pas peu oblige de ce que vous m'ecoutez favorablement ce n'est pas repondit la princesse sans soupconner que cleandre fust amoureux d'elle pour me decharger de vostre confidence que je vay vous dire que vous ne devez a mon advis point vouloir de mal a cleandre de ce qu'il vous a refuse mais c'est parce qu'en effet je croy qu'il n'est pas si coupable que vous pensez et qu'il ne vous resista que parce qu'il est amoureux car enfin je scay qu'il a une passion pour vostre service la plus grande que l'on puisse avoir ainsi il faut necessairement conclurre qu'il ne s'est oppose aux volontez de son maistre que pour ne nommer point sa maistresse mais puis que je luy nommois la mienne reprit le prince pourquoy me faire un secret de son affection c'est parce repliqua-t'elle en riant que peut-estre cleandre est plus discret amant que vous et puis a vous dire la verite il est plus ordinaire et plus seur que le prince confie son secret a son favory qu'il ne l'est au favory de confier le sien a son maistre mais ma soeur luy repondit-il si cleandre estoit amoureux le moyen que l'on ne s'en aperceust pas comme je scay adjousta la princesse qu'il a grande impatience de se revoir avecques vous aux mesmes termes ou il estoit auparavant sa disgrace il faut que je luy propose de faire sa paix a condition qu'il nous dira confidemment qui il aime ou du moins qu'il nous advoue precisement 
 s'il est vray qu'il aime quelque chose comme la princesse disoit cela et qu'en effet poussee par un sentiment dont elle ne scavoit pas elle mesme la cause elle souhaitoit passionnement de scavoir si cleandre aimoit et qui il aimoit il entra dans sa chambre de sorte que voulant se divertir contenter sa curiosite et remettre cleandre tout a fait bien avecque le prince elle l'appella et comme il se fut aproche cleandre luy dit elle j'ay trouve le prince mon frere si dispose a vous redonner son amitie toute entiere que j'ay este bien aise de vous dire promptement une nouvelle que j'ay creu qui vous seroit agreable mais j'ay mis une condition a cet accommodement que je m'imagine que vous ne ferez pas difficulte d'observer je n'appelleray jamais madame repliqua-til d'un arrest que vous aurez prononce et je m'estime si criminel d'avoir despleu a un prince pour qui je voudrois mourir qu'il n'est point de punition que je ne souffre sans en murmurer ce que je veux de vous presentement dit elle en rougissant malgre qu'elle en eust est que vous advouiez au prince mon frere et a moy s'il n'est pas vray que ce qui vous obligea a luy refuser de feindre d'aimer anaxilee fut que vous craignistes de donner de la jalousie a quelque belle personne que nous ne pouvons deviner quoy madame repondit cleandre fort surpris vous scavez aujourd'huy ce que le prince vouloit vous cacher avec tant de soing dans le temps que j'eus le malheur d'estre contraint de luy refuser ce qu'il souhaittoit de moy ouy interrompit atys elle le scait et c'est ce qui vous doit assurer que je ne reveleray vostre secret a personne car puis que je le luy ay dit c'est une marque que 
 je n'aime plus anaxilee et cela estant vous devez estre assure qu'il n'y a que la princesse ma soeur en toute la terre a qui je voulusse confier une chose de cette nature seigneur repliqua cleandre apres s'estre un peu remis je suis bien aise que le discours que je viens d'entendre de la bouche de la princesse me mette dans les termes de pouvoir respondre sincerement et de pouvoir vous assurer que je n'ay point eu de peur de donner de la jalousie a personne en feignant d'aimer anaxilee ce que vous dites repartit la princesse est a mon advis plus modeste que sincere c'est pourquoy dites nous du moins un peu plus precisement si vous aimez si vous ne voulez pas nous dire qui vous aimez mais madame reprit cleandre ne suffit il pas pour me justifier dans l'esprit du prince que je luy proteste douant vous que je ne luy ay desobei que parce qu'il m'estoit absolument impossible de luy obeir non respondit elle cela ne suffit pas car si les choses en demeuroient la il faudroit vous faire grace pour vous pardonner et vous traitter en coupable ou au contraire si vous faites ce que je veux on dira qu'on vous fait justice et on vous traittera en innocent justifie mais madame repliqua t'il quand je n'aimerois rien le moyen d'oser advouer d'estre insensible a sardis ou tout ce qu'il y a de plus beau au monde se trouve et si j'aime quelque chose le moyen aussi de se resoudre de dire a deux personnes a la fois ce que je n'ay peut-estre jamais dit a celle qui cause ma passion suppose qu'il soit vray que j'en aye et ce que je ne luy diray peut estre jamais sil n'y a que le nombre de conscients qui vous empesche de parler reprit le prince en sous-riant je consens que vous 
 ne disiez vostre secret qu'a ma soeur non non interrompit la princesse je ne suis pas si indulgente que vous et je pretens que cleandre vous advoue aussi bien qu'a moy qu'il est amoureux autrement je le declare criminel et envers vous et envers moy pleust aux dieux madame repondit cleandre avec beaucoup de confusion sur le visage et la regardant pourtant malgre luy d'une maniere tres passionnee quoy que tres respectueuse que vous pussiez voir dans mon coeur mes plus secrettes pensees puis que si cela estoit vous verriez bien que je ne dis que ce que je dois dire en verite ma soeur interrompit le prince de lydie cleandre me fait pitie et je vous prie de ne le presser pas davantage car quand je me souviens quel depit estoit le mien lors que je croyois que l'on soupconnoit quelque chose de ce que je voulois cacher je sens la peine qu'il souffre vous estes trop bon repliqua cleandre et la princesse n'est pas si indulgente que vous je l'advoue dit-elle en sous-riant et ce qui fait ma severite en cette rencontre est que je trouve quelque chose d'offencant a voir que vous ne me croyez pas assez discrette pour me dire un mediocre secret et en effet advouer simplement que vous estes amoureux n'est pas dire toute vostre advanture et bien madame interrompit cleandre tout hors de luy mesme s'il ne faut que cela pour vous satisfaire je l'advoue mais de grace ne me demandez plus rien car je mourrois mille fois plustost que d'en dire jamais davantage quand vous serez mal avecque vostre maistresse reprit la princesse en riant comme le prince mon frere l'est avec anaxilee nous scaurons toute vostre galanterie comme je scay presentement 
 la sienne je ne pense pas madame repondit froidement cleandre que j'y sois jamais assez bien pour y pouvoir estre mal le temps nous en eclaircira adjousta-t'elle cependant je vous declare innocent et je prie le prince mon frere de vous recevoir comme tel je ne scay ma soeur reprit atys fort agreablement si apres que vous nous aurez accommodez cleandre et moy ce ne sera point en suite a cleandre a nous accorder a son tour car vous venez de railler de ma foiblesse si cruellement que je ne scay pas comment je le pourray souffrir vostre raison est aujourd'huy trop libre repondit la princesse pour craindre que vous vous fachiez sans sujet mais pour cleandre puis qu'il est amoureux il faut bien songer comme on luy parle car j'ay entendu dire que les amans sont fort chagrins et fort aisez a mettre en colere c'est sans doute par cette remarque peu advantageuse interrompit le prince atys que vous avez connu la passion qu'artesilas que je voy entrer a pour vous vous estes bien vindicatif reprit la princesse en se levant de me dire une raillerie si facheuse en reponse d'une si douce atys ne put pas repartir a ce discours parce qu'artesilas estoit si pres qu'il eust pu entendre ce qu'il eust dit mais comme resprit et la conversation de ce prince ne luy plaisoient pas et que sa visite avoit este assez longue il s'en alla et emmena cleandre avecque luy qui estoit bien fache de laisser son rival aupres de la princesse le reste du jour il fut tousjours aupres du prince de lydie qui recommenca de le traiter selon sa coustume c'est a dire avec beaucoup de franchise mais le soir estant venu et estant dans la liberte de s'entretenir avecques moy de ce qui luy estoit arrive je 
 commencay de connoistre qu'il avoit un mal dont il ne guerirait jamais que par la mort ne suis-je pas bien malheureux disoit-il je ne refuse au prince atys de feindre d'aimer anaxilee que de peur que la princesse que j'adore ne croye que j'en sois effectivement amoureux et qu'ainsi elle ne puisse deviner que je l'aime et je voy aujourd'huy que cette mesme resistance que j'ay faite au prince a persuade a l'incomparable palmis que je le suis et m'a mis dans la necessite de le luy advouer malgre moy d'une maniere qui luy fait croire sans doute que j'aime quelque personne qu'elle s'amuse a chercher dans la cour et dans la ville et qu'elle ne peut trouver qu'en elle mesme car si cela n'estoit point elle n'auroit pas raille comme elle a fait estant certain que si elle avoit eu le moindre soupcon de la vente j'aurois veu quelques marques de colere dans ses yeux mais luy dis-je de la facon dont je vous entends parler il semble que vous vous tiendriez heureux de l'avoir irritee cleandre s'arresta alors un moment puis reprenant la parole je pense en effet me dit-il que plustost que de mourir sans qu'elle sceust l'amour que j'ay pour elle je consentirois a la voir en colere c'est la une espece de faveur repliquay-je en sous riant que vous pouvez tousjours obtenir facilement ha cruel amy me dit-il je vous trouve tousjours plus ignorant en amour mais puis qu'il faut que je vous en aprenne tous les secrets scachez que je souhaite presque en un mesme instant des choses toutes contraires les unes aux autres que je ne suis jamais d'accord avec moy mesme et que je n'ay pas plustost eu dit que je voudrois la voir irritee pourveu qu'elle sceust mon 
 amour que je m'en repens et que l'aime mieux mourir que de luy deplaire mais comment repris-je avez vous donc eu la force de pouvoit dire en sa presence que vous aimiez je n'en scay rien repliqua t'il mais je scay bien que je ne l'ay pas plustost eu advoue que j'eusse voulu ne l'avoir pas dit car je me luis imagine qu'elle alloit d'abord connoistre mes veritables sentimens et que j'allois voir dans ses yeux beaucoup de marques d'indignation toutesfois un moment apres j'ay connu avec beaucoup de douleur qu'elle me croyoit amoureux mais qu'elle ne soupconnoit pas que ce fust d'elle de sorte que j'ay souffert tout ce que l'on peut souffrir ne me demandez donc point sosicle ce que j'ay voulu qu'elle creust quand je luy ay advoue que j'aymois car je n'en scay rien moy-mesme mais je scay bien qu'a moins que d'estre roy il y a de la folie a s'obstiner d'aymer l'incomparable palmis cependant quoy que je ne scache pas seulement si je suis fils d'un homme libre je l'aime et je l'aimeray eternellement et je ne puis mesme souffrir que le prince artesilas en soit amoureux comme les choses estoient en cet estat il arriva a sardis une augmentation de belle et agreable compagnie car le prince abradate second fils du roy de la susiane qui regnoit alors et fils d'une soeur de cresus que ce roy avoit epousee y vint et en mesme temps la belle panthee fille du prince de clasomene vassal de cresus vint aussi demeurer a la cour de lydie avec le prince son pere de sorte que l'on renouvella tous les divertissemens a leur arrivee en ce mesme temps encore on vit venir a sardis un frere du roy de phrigie nomme adraste qui disoit 
 avoir tue sans y penser un autre frere qu'il avoit eu et qui demandoit a estre purge de ce crime selon les loix du pais qui sont a peu pres egales entre les lydiens et les grecs comme ce prince estoit admirablement bien fait de beaucoup d'esprit et que la cause de son bannissement paroissoit plustost un malheur qu'un crime cresus le receut fort bien et suivant l'usage de lydie on le purifia dans le temple de jupiter expiateur et apres cela il parut a la cour comme un prince estranger a qui l'on faisoit beaucoup d'honneur cresus luy donnant dequoy subsister selon sa qualite et luy promettant mesme de tascher de faire sa paix avec le roy de phrigie son frere il faut dire a la louange de cresus qu'il a fait une chose que jamais prince que luy n'a faite qui est d'assembler plus de thresors que personne n'en aura jamais et d'estre pourtant le plus magnifique prince de la terre estant en cela fort oppose au jeune prince mexaris son frere qui n'estoit gueres moins riche que luy mais qui a tousjours este aussi avare qu'antaleon son autre frere a este ambitieux et que cresus estoit liberal la cour estant donc aussi grosse que je vous la depeins esope si connu par ces ingenieuses fables qui cachent une morale si solide et si serieuse sous des inventions naives et enjouees y vint aussi et malgre la laideur de son visage et la difformite de sa taille la beaute de son esprit et la grandeur de son ame parurent avec tant d'eclat a sardis qu'il y fut admirablement bien receu et afin qu'il y eust de toute sorte de gens a cette celebre ville solon si fameux partes loix y vint encore qui d'abord fut receu de cresus avec tous les honneurs imaginables ainsi on peut dire que jamais sardis 
 n'avoit este si remply de personnes illustres qu'il l'estoit alors puis qu'en ce mesme temps tout ce qu'il y avoit d'hommes excellents pour les arts en toute la grece venoient souvent en lydie ou y envoyoient de leurs ouvrages de sorte que quoy que l'on y vist et quoy que l'on y entendist il y avoit tousjours dequoy aprendre et dequoy se divertir mais bien que cette cour fust la plus belle chose du monde cleandre y estoit pourtant le plus malheureux amant de toute la terre parce qu'encore qu'il fust adore de toute la cour comme la princesse palmis ne scavoit point qu'il l'aimoit et qu'il n'osoit mesme le luy dire il vivoit avec un chagrin extreme et durant que le prince atys antaleon mexaris abradate adraste artesilas et tous les autres de mesme vollee se divertissoient cleandre seul soupiroit en secret ne pouvant toutesfois s'empescher de faire voir quelques marques de melancolie dans ses yeux le prince myrsile a cause du seul deffaut qu'il a estoit aussi tousjours assez resveur et mesme assez solitaire cependant la conversation estoit fort agreable chez la princesse qui sans soupconner rien de la passion que cleandre avoit pour elle avoit seulement une forte curiosite de pouvoir aprendre de qui il estoit amoureux mais une curiosite si extraordinaire a ce que j'ay sceu par ma parente qui me l'a dit depuis que sans en pouvoir dire la raison elle ne craignoit gueres moins en effet de scavoir qui aimoit cleandre qu'elle le souhaitoit en aparence car cette fille m'a dit que luy parlant un jour de cette pretendue passion et luy donnant commission de s'en informer elle s'estoit mise a vouloir deviner qui pouvoit en estre la cause 
 et comme cette personne luy nomma presque toutes les belles de la cour elle n'en trouva pas une qu'elle eust aprouve que cleandre eust aimee et la chose alla si loing que cette fille qui s'appelle cylenise et qui est fort bien avec la princesse se mettant a rire mais madame luy dit elle vous ne voulez donc pas que cleandre soit amoureux ou vous voulez qu'il le soit beaucoup au dessus ou beaucoup au dessous de luy car je vous ay nomme toutes les personnes vers lesquelles raisonnablement en l'estat qu'est sa fortune presentement il peut tourner les yeux vous avez raison luy dit la princesse palmis en rougissant mais c'est que je ne cherche pas une maistresse de cleandre proportionnee a sa condition puis qu'il ne la scait pas luy mesme ny a sa fortune qui n'est encore que mediocre mais a sa vertu qui est fort extraordinaire et c'est ce qui fait sans doute que je ne devine point qui il aime parce que je ne trouve rien digne de son affection parmy toutes celles que vous m'avez nommees et qu'ainsi je concluds qu'il faut qu'il aime au dessous de luy voila madame quels estoient les sentimens de la princesse de lydie pour cleandre qui se trouva encore diverses fois fort embarrasse a luy repondre car se souvenant qu'elle luy avoit dit qu'il decouvriroit de qui il estoit amoureux lors qu'il seroit brouille avec la personne qu'il aimoit elle luy demandoit tousjours en riant quand l'occasion s'en presenteroit s'il n'estoit point encore mal avec sa maistresse et s'il ne seroit point bien tost en termes de reveler son secret si je vous l'aurois revele luy dit-il un jour j'y serois sans doute fort mal mais tant que je ne vous le diray pas je ne 
 dois point redouter sa colere quoy cleandre prit la princesse si je scavois vostre passion vous seriez bien mal avec elle et ne pourriez-vous pas me la dire sans quelle le sceust non madame repondit-il et je ne vous aurois pas plustost advoue ce que vous voulez scavoir que la personne que j'aime scauroit mon crime par la confusion qu'elle verroit dans mes yeux et qu'elle m'en puniroit cruellement attendons donc luy dit-elle en riant que vous ayez querelle ensemble et que vous ne soyez plus dans la crainte de l'irriter c'estoit de cette sorte que la princesse sans y penser donnoit lieu a cleandre de luy decouvrir sa passion s'il en eust eu la hardiesse cependant il pensa estre disgracie de cresus par une raison assez estrange je vous ay desja dit ce me semble que solon avoit este bien receu de ce prince a son arrivee a sardis mais comme c'est la coustume des magnifiques d'aimer que l'on loue leur magnificence cresus ayant fait monstrer tous ses thresors a solon et luy ayant fait voir toutes ces prodigieuses richesses dont son palais est remply il luy demanda s'il avoit veu quelqu'un plus heureux que luy pendant ses voyages et conme ce grand homme ne fait pas consister la felicite en de pareilles choses il parla admirablement en sage mais il ne parla pas en bon courtisan ny en flateur au contraire il luy dit qu'il en avoit connu plusieurs et entre les autres il luy nomma tellus qui estoit mort pour sa patrie et en gagnant une bataille disant enfin que nul n'estoit heureux avant sa mort cresus sceut mesme que solon avoit dit qu'il preferoit la vertu de cleandre avec qui il fit amitie a toutes les richesses du roy de lydie et que ce prince possedoit en luy un thresor 
 cache qu'il ne connoissoit pas parfaitement et qui valoit beaucoup mieux que celuy qu'il monstroit avec tant de soing comme il n'est rien qui irrite plus l'esprit de tous les hommes mais principalement des rois que de mepriser ce qu'ils estiment cresus ne put souffrir la sincerite peu flateuse de solon et l'humeur enjouee et complaisante d'esope luy plut beaucoup davantage de sorte que ce grand homme partit assez mal satisfait de luy comme cleandre a sans doute l'ame tres genereuse il voulut reparer ce manquement autant qu'il put et mesme par les ordres de la princesse il eut un soin tres particulier de ce fameux legislateur d'athenes et il le conduisit jusques a trente stades de sardis ce qui irrita fort cresus ne pouvant souffrir que cleandre eust eu la hardiesse de redoubler ses bons offices pour un homme de qui il croyoit avoir este meprise si bien que cette petite chose pensa apporter un grand changement en la fortune de cleandre toutesfois le prince atys et la princesse de lydie agirent si puissamment aupres de cresus qu'ils rirent enfin sa paix cependant adraste devint si eperdument amoureux de la princesse palmis qu'artesilas et cleandre ne l'etoient pas davantage atys renoua aussi amitie avec anaxilee malgre tout ce qu'il avoit resolu mais de telle sorte que ce ne fut plus un secret et quoy que cresus ne l'aprouvast point il ne laissa pas de donner cent marques publiques de sa passion le pense aussi que des ce temps la abradate et mexaris devinrent amoureux de panthee neantmoins comme cette avanture ne tient pas a celle de la princesse palmis je ne m'eloigneray point de mon sujet et je vous diray seulement 
 que ce fut alors que cleandre fut le plus malheureux il eut pourtant la consolation de remarquer que la princesse de lydie avoit une forte aversion pour ce nouveau rival mais il sceut aussi que le prince atys n'estoit pas marry qu'adraste songeast a la princesse sa soeur car comme le roy de phrigie n'avoit point d'enfans et que l'on disoit qu'il ne se remarieroit jamais il y avoit apparence qu'adraste devoit estre roy de sorte que croyant que ce mariage seroit avantageux a la princesse il faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour servir ce prince aupres d'elle et pour le faire agreer a cresus il la pressa mesme si instamment a diverses fois de vouloir estre favorable au prince adraste que ne scachant plus quelles raisons luy dire pour l'empescher de prendre part a la froideur qu'elle avoit pour luy elle s'avisa d'employer le credit qu'avoit cleandre sur l'esprit du prince son frere ignorant l'interest qu'il y avoit et n'ayant pas sceu qu'il avoit desja fait avec adresse tout ce qu'il avoit pu pour cela elle envoya donc querir cleandre et le faisant entrer dans son cabinet apres qu'elle luy eut fait un compliment pour preparer son esprit a luy accorder ce qu'elle souhaitoit de luy et qu'il l'eut assuree qu'elle pouvoit mesme disposer de sa vie ce que je veux de vous luy dit-elle n'est peut-estre pas si aise que vous vous l'imaginez puis que pour me rendre l'office que je desire il faut que vous combatiez de toute vostre force les volontez d'un prince que vous aimez beaucoup et qui vous aime aussi infiniment enfin dit-elle il faut persuader au prince mon frere qu'il ne doit point s'obstiner a proteger adraste aupres de moy et que c'est bien assez qu'il 
 ait trouve un azile dans cette cour sans vouloir que j'en sois importunee ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je ne connoisse que l'aversion que j'ay pour luy n'est pas absolument raisonnable puis que je n'ignore pas qu'il est d'une naissance fort illustre que selon les apparences il sera roy que sa personne est bien faite qu'il a de l'esprit qu'il temoigne avoir beaucoup d'affection pour moy que le roy ne desaprouve pas son dessein que le prince atys l'authorise et que mon ame n'est point engagee ailleurs mais cependant j'ay une si forte aversion pour luy que ne pouvant pas esperer de la vaincre jamais et ne voulant pas mesme l'essayer je vous conjure par tout ce qui vous est cher d'employer tout le pouvoir que je scay que vous avez sur l'esprit du prince mon frere pour l'obliger a ne me persecuter pas davantage comme je ne m'oppose point a la passion qu'il a pour anaxilee quoy qu'elle ne soit pas fort juste faites aussi qu'il ne s'opose pas si fort a l'aversion que j'ay pour adraste quoy qu'elle ne soit pas bien fondee le vous laisse a penser madame quelle joye eut cleandre d'entendre de la bouche de palmis la haine qu'elle avoit pour un de ses rivaux mais comme il eust bien voulu luy entendre dire la mesme chose de l'autre madame luy dit il avec beaucoup d'adresse je trouve le prince adraste st malheureux d'estre hai de vous que c'est estre en quelque sorte cruel que de n'en avoir pas de pitie neantmoins je m'interesse tellement a tout ce qui vous touche que je vous dis sans exception qu'il n'est rien que je ne face pour vous delivrer de l'importunite que vous en recevez mais madame s'il m'est permis apres la bonte que vous 
 avez de me commander quelque chose pour vostre service de vous parler sincerement je vous diray que selon mon sens une des choses qui porte le plus le prince a proteger adraste est qu'il hait artesilas et qu'il ne croit pas luy pouvoir causer un plus sensible deplaisir que celuy de faire en sorte que vous luy preferiez ce prince phrigien c'est pourquoy madame si ce n'est point perdre le respect que je vous dois que de parler en ces termes c'est a vous a regarder si durant que j'agiray avec le prince vous pourrez aussi agir avec artesilas de la facon qu'il faut pour faire que ce ne me soit pas un obstacle a obtenir ce que vous souhaitez je vous ay desja dit repliqua la princesse que mon ame n'a aucun engagement si bien qu'encore que je n'aye pas une aussi forte aversion pour artesilas que pour adraste comme j'ay du moins beaucoup d'indifference pour luy il me sera fort aise de contenter le prince mon frere en cette occasion et pourveu qu'il me laisse la liberte de mal traiter adraste artesilas n'aura pas grand sujet de se louer de moy cleandre entendant parler la princesse de cette sorte en fut si transporte de plaisir que je m'etonne qu'elle ne connut son amour par la joye qui parut dans ses yeux il est vray qu'elle n'y fut pas longtemps car venant a penser que la princesse ne soupconnoit rien de sa passion et que selon les aparences il n'obtiendroit pas du prince de lydie ce qu'elle en souhaitoit la melancolie succeda a cette joye neantmoins la certitude qu'il venoit d'avoir que ses rivaux n'estoient point aimez estoit pour luy une cause si essentielle de satisfaction que la joye l'emporta enfin sur la douleur et il partit 
 d'aupres de la princesse assez content d'avoir pu penetrer dans le fonds de son ame il y avoit toutesfois des momens ou quand il venoit a songer que toute cette joye n'estoit fondee que sur ce que sa princesse n'aimoit rien o dieux s'ecrioit-il n'ay-je pas perdu la raison de me rejouir de ce qui me devroit faire pleurer car peut on jamais estre heureux et n'estre point aime et peut-on estre aime quand la personne aimee ne scait pas seulement que l'on aime mais apres tout reprenoit-il je suis assure que ce coeur dont je desire la possession n'est a personne ouy adjoustoit-il mais je suis aussi presques certain qu'il ne sera jamais a moy ainsi de quelque coste que je regarde la chose je ne puis jamais esperer d'estre content et la plus grande felicite que je puisse attendre est de faire que mes rivaux soient malheureux comme je le suis cependant il commenca d'obeir a la princesse et comme le prince atys luy devoit la vie du temps qu'il estoit a la guerre des misiens et que de plus il scavoit que son esprit luy plaisoit extremement il employa toute sa faveur et toute son adresse une seconde fois pour luy faire abandonner la protection d'adraste mais il ne luy fut pas possible d'en venir a bout car outre qu'en effet le prince avoit quelque aversion pour artesilas il y avoit encore une raison plus puissante que celle la qui le faisoit agir et que cleandre decouvrit enfin qui estoit qu'adraste estoit celuy qui avoit remis anaxilee bien avec atys de sorte que cette fille voulant reconnoistre ce bon office le protegeoit si puissamment aupres de luy que toute l'adresse de cleandre et tout son credit ne se trouverent point assez forts pour luy faire changer 
 de resolution il voulut mesme tascher de gagner anaxilee mais il luy fut impossible a cause qu'elle avoit un secret depit dans le coeur de ce qu'il avoit refuse de feindre de l'aimer tant parce que par la il avoit depose sa fortune que parce qu'il luy sembloit qu'il y avoit eu quelque chose de meprisant pour elle dans ce refus cleandre se voyant donc desespere de rien obtenir de l'un ny de l'autre fut tente cent et cent fois de quereller adraste et d'en deffaire la princesse palmis par une voye plus violente que celle qu'elle souhaittoit mais scachant bien qu'elle n'approuveroit pas cette action et qu'apres cela il faudroit la perdre pour tousjours il retenoit sa jalousie et sa colere et souffroit un mal incroyable ce qui le faisoit encore desesperer estoit que durant qu'il agissoit pour cette affaire la princesse suivant ce qu'ils avoient resolu ensemble mal-traittoit si fort artesilas que cleandre n'en auroit pas este peu console si le mauvais succes de sa negociation n'eust trouble toute sa joye cependant il falut qu'il allait luy en rendre conte il y fut donc un matin mais il y fut avec tant de marques de douleur dans les yeux qu'elle connut des qu'il entra dans sa chambre la reponce qu'il avoit a luy faire je vous entens bien cleandre luy dit-elle lors qu'il fut assez pres pour luy pouvoir parler sans estre entendue de ses femmes le prince mon frere prefere adraste a mon repos et a vos prieres et ne veut point changer d'avis je suis au desespoir madame repliqua-t'il d'estre force de vous avouer que j'ay agy inutilement et alors il luy raconta exactement tout ce qu'il avoit fait et tout ce qu'il avoit dit pour faire reussir son dessein mais madame luy dit-il adraste a 
 peut estre quelque ennemy cache dans cette cour qui vous en defferoit aisement s'il estoit assure de ne vous deplaire pas ha non cleandre die la princesse je ne veux point que la vengeance d'autruy se mesle avecques la mienne et on me desobligeroit extremement d'entreprendre aucune action violente contre ce prince je trouveray peut-estre bien les voyes de le punir de son opiniastrete a m'importuner sans avoir besoin du secours de personne et si ce que vous m'avez dit est vray que le prince mon frere hait si fort artesilas que cela est cause qu'il en protege plus puissamment adraste je me vangeray de tous les deux en traittant si bien le rival de l'un et l'ennemy de l'autre que peut estre partageront ils a leur tour l'inquietude qu'ils me donnent ha madame s'ecria cleandre estrangement surpris de ce discours seroit-il bien possible que la plus sage princesse du monde voulust se vanger sur elle mesme en se voulant vanger d'autruy car madame adjousta-t'il avec un redoublement de melancolie extreme ne me fistes vous pas l'honneur de me dire l'autre jour qu'artesilas vous estoit fort indifferent ouy luy dit- elle mais entre l'indifference et la haine il y a encore bien a choisir au nom des dieux madame luy dit cleandre ne prenez point un dessein qui si je l'ose dire vous feroit peut estre passer pour bizarre car enfin vous venez de mal traitter artesilas aux yeux de toute la cour que dira t'on de vous voir changer si promptement il y a sans doute quelque raison a ce que vous dites repliqua t'elle mais j'aime encore mieux estre creue un peu inegale que d'estre persecutee impunement et par le prince mon frere et par adraste enfin 
 cleandre luy dit-elle encore je scay bien que cette vangeance est capricieuse et que je ne me feray gueres moins de mal que j'en feray aux autres mais je n'y scaurois que faire madame interrompit-il ne pouvant consentir qu'elle prist la resolution de bien traitter artesilas donnez moy encore quelques jours pour voir si je n'imagineray point quelque nouvelle voye de vous servir non non luy dit-elle vous ne me tromperez pas je me suis aperceue il y a desja longtemps poursuivit la princesse en sous-riant que vous n'aimez pas trop artesilas non plus qu'adraste ainsi il peut-estre que pour vous vanger en vostre particulier vous ne voulez pas que je me vange de la facon que je l'entends mais cleandre estant genereux comme vous estes il ne faut pas que la chose aille de cette sorte et il faut au contraire en cette rencontre que mes interests l'emportent sur les vostres vos interests madame repliqua-t'il me seront tousjours mille fois plus chefs que les miens mais en cette occasion j'ose vous dire que si vous scaviez tout le mal que vous ferez en favorisant artesilas peut-estre dis-je ne le feriez vous point cleandre prononca ces paroles avec tant d'emotion sur le visage que la princesse en fut surprise et comme elle n'en comprenoit pas le sens je ne scay point luy dit-elle deviner les enigmes et mesme je ne m'en veux pas donner la peine c'est pourquoy parlez plus clairement si vous voulez estre entendu ou ne parlez point du tout si vous jugez qu'il toit a propos que je ne vous entende pas je pense que c'est le dernier que je dois faire madame repliqua-t'il en soupirant et que sans vous expliquer ce que je vous 
 ay dit malgre moy je dois remercier les dieux de ce que vous ne m'avez pas entendu la princesse rougit a ce discours et par le trouble qui parut dans ses yeux elle luy fit connoistre qu'elle commencoit de l'entendre mais comme il craignit qu'elle ne le mal-traitast s'il luy donnoit loisir de faire reflexion sur ses paroles enfin madame luy dit-il encore que vous plaist-il que je face pour vostre satisfaction que vous ne me disiez plus rien que je n'entende et que je ne doive entendre repliqua-t'elle et que cependant vous demeuriez simplement dans les termes que je vous ay prescrits de me rendre office aupres du prince mon frere quand l'occasion s'en presentera je le feray madame repondit-il en la saluant avec un profond respect et alors il luy fit voir sur son visage des signes si certains de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame qu'a moins que de n'avoir point d'yeux il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle ne s'en aperceust aussi la vit-elle si clairement en cet instant qu'elle ne pouvoit assez s'etonner de ne s'en estre pas aperceue plustost car lors qu'elle se souvenoit de toutes les actions de cleandre elle s'accusoit de stupidite de n'avoir pas soupconne qu'il n'avoit refuse au prince atys de feindre d'aimer anaxilee que parce qu'il l'aimoit elle mesme en suitte quand elle repassoit en sa memoire avec quelle joye il avoit accepte la commission de nuire a adraste et avec quelle douleur il avoit entendu qu'elle vouloit mieux traiter artesilas qu'elle n'avoit accoustume elle estoit si fortement persuadee de la verite que cleandre n'eust gueres pu souhaiter qu'elle l'eust este davantage apres quand elle rapelloit en son souvenir combien elle l'avoit presse inutilement de luy vouloir 
 dire s'il aimoit et qui il aimoit elle s'accusoit encore de simplicite de n'avoir pas compris la cause du secret que faisoit cleandre de sa passion neantmoins il y avoit des momens ou la grande disproportion qu'il y avoit de luy a elle faisoit qu'elle en vouloit douter car disoit-elle en elle mesme a ce qu'elle raconta apres a cylenise ma parente qui me l'a redit depuis si je le croy amoureux de moy il faut que je m'en offence et il faudra que je me prive de sa veue et de sa conversation qui me plaisent infiniment ne le croyons donc pas adjoustoit elle mais un instant apres cent mille choses luy revenant en la memoire elle ne pouvoit pas ne le croire point et elle se resoluoit d'aprendre de telle sorte a cleandre le respect qu'il luy devoit qu'il ne le pourroit plus jamais oublier toutesfois venant a penser qu'apres tout cleandre ne luy avoit rien dit qui deust effectivement fort l'irriter elle creut que mesme par un sentiment de gloire il ne faloit pas luy faire connoistre qu'elle soupconnast rien de sa passion si bien qu'elle prit le dessein de vivre avecques luy comme auparavant et la chose fut ainsi pendant quelques jours durant lesquels elle avoit assez de douceur pour artesilas suivant ce qu'elle avoit resolu mais afin qu'elle ne peust plus douter de l'amour de cleandre cylenise la fut trouver un soir dans son cabinet ou elle s'estoit retiree pour mieux cacher la melancolie qu'elle avoit dans l'ame et comme elle vit autant d'enjouement dans les yeux de cette fille qu'elle avoit de disposition au chagrin qu'avez vous cylenise luy dit-elle qui vous donne tant de joye madame luy dit cette fille c'est qu'il m'est arrive une si bizarre avanture aujourd'huy que si je ne craignois 
 de vous fascher je vous la raconterois mais est il possible luy dit la princesse que cette avanture bizarre qui me pourroit fascher vous puisse divertir vous en jugerez madame luy dit-elle quand vous la scaurez la princesse qui estoit effectivement accoustumee d'avoir la boute de souffrir quelquefois que cylenise luy racontast une partie des nouvelles qu'elle avoit aprises se resolut de l'ecouter plustost par coustume et par indulgence que par curiosite parlez donc dit-elle a cette fille car je voy que vous en avez tant d'envie que par pitie je ne veux pas vous en empescher puis que vous m'en donnez la permission madame reprit elle je vous diray qu'une de mes compagnes se trouvant mal et ayant aujourd'huy garde la chambre j'ay passe une partie de l'apresdisnee aupres d'elle ou diverses personnes sont venues et entre les autres esope lors qu'il est arrive vous estiez le sujet de nostre conversation car comme vous ne l'ignorez pas l'amour du prince adraste et celle d'artesilas font un assez grand bruit dans le monde et comme ces deux princes ont chacun leurs partisans il se fait cent mille contestations tous les jours pour cela principalement depuis que l'on s'apercoit que vous traittez artesilas avec un peu moins de severite qu'a l'ordinaire si bien que comme la conversation n'a pas change pour l'arrivee d'esope les uns ont dit que la protection du prince atys l'emporteroit sur artesilas et les autres ont dit au contraire que vostre choix seul feroit le destin de ces deux amants les uns ont adjouste que la qualite d'estranger estoit un obstacle a adraste les autres que celle de subjet de cresus en estoit un plus puissant a 
 artesilas enfin chacun soustenoit son opinion et vouloit deviner quel sera le succez des desseins de ces deux princes durant toute cette longue dispute esope qui s'estoit appuye sur la table aupres de laquelle j'estois aussi ne parloit point et se contentoit decouter ce que l'on disoit ayant toutesfois un certain sous-rire malicieux sur le visage qui m'a fait croire qu'il ne disoit pas tout ce qu'il pensoit de sorte que me tournant vers luy et quoy luy ai-je dit en riant esope qui fait si bien parler les bestes les plus sauvages ne voudra point parler en cette rencontre luy dis-je qui est le plus sociable et le plus agreable de tous les hommes cette flatterie cylenise m'a-t'il repondu a demy bas merite que je vous die a ma mode une vente sur le sujet de la conversation d'aujourd'huy car si je ne me trompe tout ce que j'ay entendu dire n'est pas ce qu'il faut penser en cette occasion en disant cela il a pris sur la table ou il estoit appuye des tablettes que je vous aporte que le hazard y a fait trouver et apres avoir resve un moment il y a ecrit quelque chose et m'a donne ce que vous pouvez lire vous mesme la princesse prenant alors ces tablettes que cylenise luy presentoit y lent ces paroles 
 
 
 
 
 
 fable d'esope deux 
 
 
 chasseurs furent advertis qu'il y avoit une biche blanche dans un bois ils furent pour la prendre avec des toiles des chiens des cors des espieux et des dards mais faisant un trop grand bruit ils l'epouvanterent de loin et la forcerent de fuir or en fuyant elle rencontra sous ses pieds un jeune berger endormy qu'elle blessa sans y penser le berger s'eveilla en surfaut et la poursuivit comme le s autres avec sa houlette et mieux que les autres car ce fut par des sentiers plus couverts nous scaurons quelque jour s'il l'aura prise mais pour moy cylenise je le souhaite et je j'espere 
 
 
apres avoir acheve de lire la princesse rougit et regardant cylenise et bien luy dit-elle qu'avez-vous enfin entendu par cette fable et que vous a fait entendre celuy qui l'a composee madame repliqua-t'elle il n'a pas eu plustost acheve d'ecrire que toute la compagnie a voulu voir ce que c'estoit avec cet empressement que l'en a accoustume d'avoir pour toutes les choses qui partent d'esope mais il a die que ce n'estoit que pour moy seulement qu'il avoit ecrit de sorte que voyant qu'en effet il estoit absolument 
 resolu a ne le monstrer pas on nous a laissez en repos et je me suis mise a lire ce que vous venez de voir apres l'avoir leu j'avoue luy ay-je dit que le commencement de cette fable est le plus joly du monde et le plus facile a entendre car enfin qui ne comprendroit pas que cette biche blanche est la princesse que ces deux chasseurs sont adraste et artesilas que ces toiles ces chiens ces cors ces espieux ces dards et tout ce grand bruit marquent en effet tout ce que font ces deux princes et par adresse et par force et par magnificence pour obtenir ce qu'ils souhaitent auroit sans doute beaucoup de stupidite l'entends bien encore ay-je adjouste que la biche qui suit marque precisement qu'elle ne vent pas estre prise par ces deux chasseurs qui la suivent mais pour ce jeune berger endormy qu'elle blesse sans y penser et qui la poursuit comme les autres et a ce que vous dites mieux que les autres j'advoue que je ne le connois pas vous le connoissez pourtant bien m'a t'il dit en sous-riant comme nous en estions la le prince myrsile est arrive esope ne l'a pas plustost veu qu'il m'a voulu oster les tablettes que je tenois mais pour moy qui m'estois resolue de vous les monstrer je m'en suis opiniastrement deffendue joint que le respect qu'il doit au prince myrsile l'ayant empesche de s'obstiner davantage a vouloir que je luy rendisse ce qu'il m'avoit donne il a este contraint de me le laisser le prince myrsile qui avoit remarque l'action d'esope et qui s'est bien imagine que c'estoit quelque nouvelle production de l'on esprit s est aproche de moy et se faisant entendre avec son adresse ordinaire il m'a temoigne une si grande curiosite de voir ce que je tenois 
 que malgre tout ce qu'esope a pu dire n'y entendant point de finesse je l'ay donne au prince qui l'a leu en sous riant vers la fin et temoignant par une certaine action de teste que c'etoit ce qu'il en trouvoit le plus joly et quoy seigneur luy ay-je dit il semble que vous entendiez aussi bien la fin de cette fable que j'en entends le commencement si cela est ay-je adjouste encore je vous suplie d'aider a ma stupidite et de me le vouloir expliquer je n'ay pas plustost eu dit cela que le prince myrsile qui comme vous scavez porte tousjours un crayon pour se faire entendre a ceux qui ne sont pas accoustumez au langage de ses yeux et de ses mains seulement a pris ce qu'etape avoit escrit et justement a l'endroit ou il y a mais en fuyant elle rencontra sous ses pieds un jeune berger endormy il a ecrit sous ces dernieres paroles nomme cleandre et aussi tost apres me l'avoir monstre il l'a efface comme vous le pourrez encore remarquer si vous voulez vous en donner la peine j'advoue madame que je suis demeuree fort surprise de voir qu'esope qui est estranger et qu'un prince qui ne parle point m'aprenoient les nouvelles de la cour car enfin adjousta cylenise en riant si je ne suis trompee cette fable cache cette verite a ce que je voy luy dit la princesse vous n'estes pas difficile a persuader puis qu'un homme qui fait profession ne ne dire que des mensonges et un autre qui ne peut pas estre fort bien instruit des nouvelles vous ont en si peu de temps persuade une chose que vous ne croyiez pas seulement vray-semblable il n'y a qu'un jour la princesse palmis dit cela si froidement que cylenise connut quelle avoit quelque fascheuse 
 pensee qui l'occupoit et comme elle avoit toujours este fort aimee de la princesse madame luy dit-elle je pense que j'ay fait une faute de venir vous entretenir de folies et de bagatelles dans un temps ou vous avez peut-estre quelque chose de plus grande importance dans l'esprit mais l'honneur que vous m'avez fait a diverses fois de me confier vos plus secrettes pensees m'avoit fait croire que vous n'aviez point de chagrin extraordinaire puis que je ne le scavois pas la princesse qui estoit si accablee d'inquietude qu'elle ne pouvoit plus en effet la renfermer dans son coeur se resolut d'avoir une confiance entiere en cylenise de sorte qu'elle luy aprit ce qu'elle croyoit de la passion de cleandre cependant dit-elle comme je l'estime beaucoup et que je croyois qu'il y alloit de ma gloire qu'il ne creust pas que je connoissois sa folie j'avois resolu de vivre avecques luy comme a l'ordinaire et j'avois desja commence mais cylenise apres ce que vous venez de me dire il n'y a plus moyen d'y songer car enfin puis que les estrangers et les muets s'en apercoivent beaucoup d'autres s'en apercevroient bien tost c'est pourquoy il faut commencer de bonne heure d'agir de facon que l'on ne puisse pas me soupconner d'avoir rien contribue a l'extravagance de cleandre si elle vient a estre sceue madame luy dit cylenise apres y avoir un peu pense je m'estonne moins que je ne faisois de ce que le prince myrsile et esope voyent plus clair que les autres gens car outre qu'ils ont tous deux plus d'esprit que tous les autres n'en ont ils ont encore plus de loisir d'observer les actions d'autruy l'un comme un estranger qui n'a rien a faire au lieu ou il est et l'autre comme n'ayant qu'a ecouter 
 et qu'a regarder quoy qu'il en soit cylenise dit la princesse ils le scavent etils peuvent le faire scavoir aux autres que scay-je mesme adjousta-t'elle si esope n'a point fait cette fable parles ordres de cleandre que je scay qui luy a fait tant de presens cela ne peut pas estre madame repliqua cylenise car il ne pouvoit pas deviner quand il est venu visiter ma compagnie que l'on parleroit des choses qui luy ont donne sujet de la faire et puis poursuivit-elle madame vous voyez bien que toute cette fable n'est pas historique puis qu'il parle vers la fin comme s'il connoissoit parfaitement que peut-estre un jour cleandre pourroit toucher vostre coeur au prejudice d'adraste et d'artesilas c'est ce qui m'epouvente cylenise interrompit la princesse et ce qui m'offence tout ensemble car enfin je trouve esope bien hardy d'oser penser cela d'un homme de qui la condition n'est point connue mais je le trouve aussi adjousta-t'elle en rougissant encore plus incomprehensible de voir qu'il ayt pu penetrer si avant dans le fonds de mon coeur et jusques au point de connoistre qu'en effet si cleandre estoit de la condition d'adraste et d'artesilas il seroit peut-estre en estat de rendre sa fable aussi juste a la fin qu'elle l'est au commencement mais comme cela n'est pas il faut detromper esope faire changer d'opinion au prince myrsile et guerir cleandre s'il est possible cette derniere chose sera la plus difficile reprit cylenise le ne le pense pas dit la princesse puis qu'apres tout cleandre a de la raison il ne seroit pas amoureux s'il en avoit encore reprit cylenise mais d'ou vient luy dit la princesse que vous estes si fort persuadee de 
 la grandeur de sa passion vous qui ne la soupconniez pas il n'y a qu'un jour c'est madame repondit-elle que je n'y avois aporte aucune aplication d'esprit mais presentement que je me souviens de cent choses qu'il m'a dites et de cent autres que je luy ay veu faire je connois bien que j'estois aveugle de n'en connoistre pas la cause je me souviens qu'un soir que nous avions oblige esope mes compagnes se moy a nous raconter son amour pour cette belle esclave qui se nomme rhodope et qui servoit chez le philosophe xanthus du temps qu'il y demeuroit aussi cleandre qui estoit present a cet agreable recit apres qu'il fut acheve et que tout le monde le louoit pour moy luy dit-il je vous crois si heureux d'avoir porte mesmes chaisnes que la belle rhodope que je trouve lieu de vous en porter envie car enfin poursuivit il c'est assurement un grand malheur a ceux qui aiment quand il faut qu'ils baissent ou qu'ils levent les yeux pour regarder ceux qu'ils adorent et c'est sans doute une assez grande douceur de les rencontrer justement dans les siens avec egalite et d'estre en estat de faire valoir les soumissions que l'on rend a la personne que l'on aime j'avoue que j'ecoutay alors ce discours sans y faire aucune reflexion mais je connois bien presentement que je m'abusois de n'y chercher point de sens cache le me souviens encor du jour ou la princesse de clasomene arriva a sardis d'un jour dis-je ou vous estiez extraordinairement paree et auquel toute la cour vous trouva si admirablement bien car cleandre venant a s'entretenir avec mes compagnes et avecques moy qui parlions de vostre beaute nous nous mesmes a luy 
 dire que c'estoit un grand bonheur pour tous les gens de sa voilee et pour toutes les belles qui pretendoient a faire des conquestes que vous ne fussiez pas d'une condition a les en empescher en assujettissant tous leurs amants et en leur faisant rompre leurs fers pour prendre les vostres et quoy me dit-il cylenise vous croyez qu'il n'y ait que les rois et les princes qui ayent des yeux pour admirer ce qui est beau et des coeurs pour l'aimer ce n'est pas ce que je dis luy repliquay-je mais c'est que les filles de rois ne pouvant recevoir d'autres coeurs personne ne s'advise de leur en offrir la beaute dit- il se fait des sujets de toutes conditions et comme la belle anaxilee s'est fait un esclave du fils de son souverain les reines peuvent se faire aussi des adorateurs de leurs sujets l'advoue que j'ecoutay alors ce que disoit cleandre comme une chose qui fournissoit simplement a la conversation mais aujourd'huy que je me remets en la memoire l'air dont il me parla je voy sa passion non seulement dans ses yeux mais dans son coeur l'en suis bien faschee dit la princesse elle dit cela d'une facon qui fit en effet connoistre a cylenise que si elle eust este seule qui s'en fust aperceue et que cleandre n'eust pas soupconne qu'elle en eust eu connoissance peut-estre n'auroit-elle pas este irritee contre luy mais parce que le prince myrsile esope et cylenise la scavoient elle ne la pouvoit plus souffrir et elle prit la resolution de traiter cleandre fort rigoureusement quoy qu'elle l'estimast beaucoup et qu'elle l'aimast sans doute desja un peu plus qu'elle ne le croyoit elle mesme cependant cleandre qui ne scavoit pas ce que la princesse 
 palmis premeditoit contre luy quoy que tres afflige de voir qu'artesilas n'estoit pas si mal receu qu'a l'acoustumee avoit pourtant quelques instants de consolation de voir qu'apres ce qu'il avoit eu la hardiesse de dire a la princesse il n'estoit pas en apparence plus mal avec elle qu'a l'ordinaire car encore qu'elle eust feint de n'entendre pas l'ambiguite de les paroles elle ne l'avoit pas absolument desceu et il y avoit plusieurs heures au jour ou il croyoit avoir descouvert dans les yeux de la princesse qu'elle l'avoit entendu mais il ne jouit pas long temps de cette consolation parce que depuis qu'elle sceut ce que le prince myrsile et esope en pensoient elle changea de facon d'agir et elle vescut avec cleandre avec beaucoup plus de froideur et plus de retenue qu'auparavant elle ne put toutesfois jamais obtenir d'elle d'avoir pour luy toute cette rigueur qu'elle s'estoit proposee d'avoir mais pour peu qu'elle en eust cleandre la sentit de telle sorte qu'il pensa en mourir de douleur cependant adraste estant tousjours protege par le prince atys et ayant mesme gagne cresus on parloit presque du mariage de la princesse et de luy comme d'une chose assuree on ne le disoit pas ouvertement mais chacun se le disoit a l'oreille enfin on peut quasi dire que c'estoit un de ces secrets publics que l'on fait si souvent a la cour dont tout le monde fait mistere et que personne n'ignore si bien que cleandre et artesilas n'estoient pas en une petite peine non plus que la princesse qui ne pouvoit absolument se resoudre a ce mariage durant ce temps la cylenise demanda diverses fois a esope en raillant aveques luy s'il croyoit tousjours que le berger prendroit la biche je ne scay pas encore 
 bien s'il la prendra respondoit il mais je scay bien que les chasseurs ne la prendront pas comme les choses estoient en ces termes et que cresus mesme qui aimoit passionnement le prince atys ne s'opposoit plus si fort au dessein qu'il avoit d'espouser anaxilee il y eut plusieurs signes prodigieux par lesquels il paroissoit que ce jeune prince estoit menace de mourir d'un coup de dard cresus fit aussi un songe qui passa pour une aparition parmi les gens qui se meslent de connoistre de pareilles choses et qui luy fit voie le corps de son fils mort et traverse d'une espece de javeline avec tant d'autres objets funestes a l'entour de luy affreux et surprenans que ce prince tout grand et sage qu'il est en fut estonne de sorte que d'abord toute la cour en fut en trouble le prince atys n'en eut pourtant pas l'ame ebranlee et n'interrompit pas sa galanterie tout le monde estoit assez occupe a deviner par quelle voye ce malheur pouvoit arriver car la paix estoit par tout le royaume et ce prince n'estoit point hai ceux qui connoissoient l'humeur ambitieuse d'antaleon frere de cresus apprehendoient qu'il n'y eust quelque conjuration cachee et durant quelques jours on ne faisoit autre chose que parler de cette facheuse prediction cresus fit oster de tous les lieux ou il y avoit des armes pendues dans son palais tous les dards et toutes les javelines et selon l'ordinaire foiblesse des hommes qui croyent pouvoir empescher par leur prudence ce que les dieux ont determine de faire il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut propre a conserver le prince son fils qu'il regardoit comme l'unique successeur de ses estats ne contant presque pas le prince myrsile a cause 
 de son in commodite cpendant quelque temps s'estant passe sans qu'il arrivast aucun malheur an prince atys les esprits commencerent de se r'assurer a la reserve de celuy de cresus qui absolument preocupe de la crainte qu'il avoit voulut songer a le marier promptement mais la difficulte estoit de luy choisir une femme car il ne vouloit qu'anaxilee et cresus eust bien voulu qu'il en eust choisi une autre le prince adraste toutefois commenca d'ebranler un peu son esprit mon pere y servit aussi extremement a la priere de cleandre qui creut qu'il luy estoit tousjours advantageux de donner un exemple d'une alliance inegale de diminuer le prix des soings d'adraste en les partageant avecques luy et de satisfaire le prince atys qui neantmois parut estre plus oblige du contentement du roy son pere au prince adraste qu'a cleandre ny a timocreon enfin madame ce mariage se fit avec beaucoup de magnificence mais a la reserve des deux amants et d'adraste ce ne fut pas avec beaucoup de joye cresus n'y avoit consenti qu'avecques peine la princesse palmis n'estoit pas fort satisfaite de voir au dessus d'elle une fille nee si fort au dessous antaleon et mexaris qui n'eussent pas este trop aises que ce prince se fust marie a une reine ne pouvoient pas l'estre qu'il espousast sa sujette artesilas et cleandre qui croyoient aussi que quoy qu'ils eussent pu faire ce mariage authorisoit encore adraste en estoient bien faschez car cleandre n'y avoit servi que par adresse et que parce qu'il ne le pouvoit empescher le prince myrsile avoit tousjours tant de melancolie pour son propre malheur qu'une alliance beaucoup plus illustre que celle la ne l'auroit guere resjoui et le seul abradate et la 
 princesse de clasomene estoient absolument des interessez et n'y prenoient de part qu'a cause de la princesse palmis qu'ils aimoient beaucoup mais le plus fascheux estoit pour cleandre que l'on disoit tout haut que le mariage d'adraste se feroit bien tost cependant quatre ou cinq jours apres les nopces d'anaxilee les misiens envoyerent advertir cresus que l'on voyoit en leur pais aux environs du mont olimpe un sanglier d'une grandeur extraordinaire et prodigieuse qui gastoit tous les bleds et qui desoloit toute la campagne supliant le roy de vouloir envoyer quelques gens courageux avec tout son equipage de chasse pour les delivrer de ce terrible animal qui passoit plustost pour un monstre que pour un sanglier cresus leur dit qu'il leur accordoit ce qu'ils souhaitoient mais comme il parloit a ces deputez le prince atys qui scavoit la chose arriva suivi d'adraste d'artesilas d'abradate de cleandre et de beaucoup d'autres qui dit au roy son pere qu'il vouloit estre de cette chasse cresus qui avoit toujours dans l'esprit la mesme crainte qu'il avoit eue s'opposa a ce dessein avec beaucoup d'opiniastrete mais comme le prince ne pouvoit souffrir de passer dans l'esprit de tous les peuples pour un prince qui ne s'exposoit jamais a aucun peril il s'obstina d'y vouloir aller neantmoins il ne l'auroit pas emporte s'il ne se fust advise de representer a cresus une chose qui le convainquit vous dites seigneur luy dit il que je suis menace d'un coup de dard mais je ne vay pas en lieu ou l'on en doive lancer contre moy si l'on vous avoit predit adjouta t'il que je dois estre dechire par une beste sauvage vous auriez raison de m'empescher 
 d'aller a cette chasse mais cela n'estant pas quel sujet d'aprehension avez vous le prince adraste dit il en riant ne me tuera pas artesilas abradate et cleandre ne le feront pas non plus que luy ainsi n'ayant a combattre qu'une beste qui ne lance point de dards et qui n'a point d'autres armes que celles que la nature luy a donnees il me semble que vous devez ne me faire pas un commandement ou j'aurois beaucoup de peine a obeir car seigneur que diront vos subjets s'ils voyent que je n'ose seulement aller a la chasse et pourroient-ils croire que je pusse donner des batailles et les gagner si je n'osois pas mesme combattre un animal assez ordinaire enfin madame cresus luy permit ce qu'il vouloit et tout le monde se prepara pour cette grande chasse mais quand le prince vint a partir le roy tira adraste a part et luy dit que comme le prince son fils estoit son protecteur il vouloit qu'il fust aussi le sien en cette occasion seigneur luy dit adraste avec une joye extreme de la confiance que cresus avoit en luy si je ne vous ramene le prince atys victorieux du monstre qu'il va combatre refusez moy toutes les graces que je vous ay demandees et que vous m'avez fait esperer apres cela madame on partit pour cette chasse dont l'equipage fut la plus magnifique chose que l'on eust jamais veue en lydie cleandre fut prendre conge de la princesse palmis mais ce fut avec tant de monde que cet adieu n'eut rien de particulier ny de remarquable le prince myrsile et mexaris furent aussi de cette chasse et comme esope les vit tous partir cylenise luy demanda encore si le berger estoit parmy ces chasseurs ouy luy dit-il mais ils 
 ne le connoissent pas pour le chasseur de la biche quoy qu'il le soit beaucoup meilleur qu'eux lors que cette troupe de princes et de grands seigneurs qui deserta toute la cour fut arrivee aupres du mont olimpe ils se mirent en queste du sanglier et quand ils eurent decouvert sa bauge ils firent leur enceinte de tous costez et chacun voulant avoir l'avantage d'avoir frappe le premier ce terrible animal qui par sa seule grandeur effrayoit tous ceux qui le regardoient ils s'en aprocherent et luy lancerent tous leurs dards celuy du prince manqua la beste aussi bien que ceux d'adraste de mexaris d'abradate et des autres mais celuy de cleandre l'atteignit et la blessa mortellement cependant durant qu'il s'avancoit l'espee a la main contre ce fier animal adraste envieux de la gloire de cleandre perdant le jugement en cette occasion lanca un second dard qui comme toute l'asie l'a sceu alla traverser le coeur du prince atys qui avoit change deplace depuis qu'adraste ne l'avoit regarde la chutte de ce prince fit faire un grand cry a tous ceux qui la virent de sorte que cleandre qui venoit de joindre le sanglier et de luy donner un si grand coup dans le corps qu'il en estoit tombe tourna la teste croyant que l'on ne crioit que pour se rejouir de sa victoire mais discernant mieux le son lugubre de ces tristes voix il quitta le fier ennemy qu'il venoit de vaincre et qui se roulant dans son sang se debatoit inutilement a terre pour aller ou tous les autres estoient mais il fut estrangement epouvante de voir le prince atys mort et adraste si furieux et si desespere que jamais on n'a entendu parler d'une telle douleur que la sienne cleandre emporte 
 par le veritable deplaisir qu'il avoit de la mort de ce prince aprenant que c'estoit adraste qui l'avoit tue s'avanca vers luy l'espee haute mais enfin voyant que tous ces princes qui estoient plus interessez que luy en cette perte ne faisoient que se pleindre il ne fit que le pleindre comme eux joint qu'a dire les choses comme elles font adraste estoit plus en estat de donner de la compassion que de la colere car je n'ay jamais rien veu de si pitoyable il avoit sur le visage une douleur si furieuse et il y avoit en toutes ses paroles tant de marques de desespoir que l'on ne peut s'imaginer la chose comme elle estoit enfin madame il essaya diverses fois de se tuer et on fut contraint de luy oster son espee et de le faire garder l'on envoya advertir cresus de cet accident et nous suivismes tous le chariot dans lequel on remporta le corps du prince de lydie jamais retour de chasse n'a este si triste que celuy-la et jamais accident n'a este si funeste ny si surprenant aussi cresus en fut si afflige que l'on ne peut l'estre davantage il appella a son secours jupiter l'expiateur il l'invoqua comme estant le dieu de l'amitie et de l'hospitalite qu'adraste avoit violee comme au dieu de l'hospitalite il se pleignit a luy d'avoir receu dans sa cour le meurtrier du prince son fils en pensant y recevoir un hoste reconnoissant et comme au dieu de l'amitie parce qu'il rencontroit son plus mortel ennemy en celuy a qui il avoit confie son fils et a qui il vouloit donner sa fille la princesse anaxilee et la princesse palmis estoient aussi dans une douleur extreme cependant nous conduisismes le corps du prince de lydie a sardis et lors que cresus le vit arriver dans la cour de son palais 
 suivy de son meurtrier qui ne le voulut jamais perdre de veue il sentit ce que l'on ne scauroit dire et ce que l'on ne peut mesme imaginer cleandre et adraste estoient alors en estat bien different car le premier avoit tue le sanglier qui estoit le sujet de la chasse et qui desoloit toute une province et adraste avoit tue le successeur d'un grand roy le fils de son protecteur et son protecteur luy mesme et ce qui estoit encore le plus estrange le frere de la princesse qu'il aimoit et qu'il croyoit devoir bientost epouser aussi avoit il dans les yeux tant de douleur tant de rage et tant de fureurs differentes que jamais on n'a entendu parler de rien de semblable l'on eut beau le vouloir empescher de voir cresus il s'echapa de ceux qui le vouloient retenir et fut se presenter a ce prince mais avec des paroles si touchantes qu'il en attendrit mesme le coeur de ses rivaux il demandoit quel suplice on luy vouloit ordonner il prioit qu'on le chastiast rigoureusement il conjuroit qu'on se hastast de le punir et il disoit enfin tout ce qu'un homme qui vouloit effectivement mourir pouvoit dire il mesloit le nom de la princesse a toutes ses pleintes et sans avoir dessein de vivre il disoit pourtant tout ce qu'il faloit pour obliger cresus a luy pardonner un crime qui n'estoit pas en effet un crime mais un malheur tres funeste et tres digne de pitie aussi cresus luy mesme en fut-il emeu de compassion et agissant en grand prince il luy pardonna genereusement se contentant de le prier de le laisser pleindre son malheur en liberte adraste se retira donc et se laissa conduire a son logis ou on le garda mais le lendemain ayant sceu que l'on avoit porte le corps du prince atys 
 dans le superbe tombeau qu'aliatte avoit fait bastir sur les bords d'un estang que l'on appelle l'estang de giges il se deroba de ses gardes la nuit suivante et fut comme un furieux a cette magnifique sepulture ou il ne tut pas plustost arrive qu'il monta jusques sur le haut du grand tombeau mais a peine y fut il qu'entre des colomnes et des statues qui y sont il se laissa tomber les bras ouverts sur la pointe de son espee qu'il avoit reprise et se tua a la veue de ceux qui l'avoient suivy et qui le joignirent au point du jour ainsi se punissant luy mesme il merita par sa mort des pleintes de ceux qui avoient le plus de sujet de l'accuser de leurs malheurs cresus considerant donc sa naissance royale son repentir marque par son sang et sa fortune toute extraordinaire fit mettre son corps aupres de celuy du prince atys dans le superbe tombeau de ses peres avec une inscription qui contenoit toute cette estrange avanture depuis ce funeste accident la faveur de cleandre augmenta encore aupres de cresus et il le regarda comme le seul homme qui pouvoit affermir le sceptre apres sa mort entre ses mains du prince myrsile menecee qui le luy avoit autrefois presente l'entretenoit dans ces sentimens la quoy qu'antaleon s'y opposast car cet ambitieux prince pretendoit a la couronne au prejudice de son neveu cependant comme il n'est point de douleurs que le temps ne guerisse ou du moins qu'il ne soulage on commenca de se consoler de la mort d'atys et cleandre ne se trouvant plus qu'un rival en estoit un peu moins malheureux et d'autant plus que la princesse palmis n'ayant plus a se vanger du prince son frere ny a faire 
 despit a adraste recommenca de traiter artesilas comme auparavant c'est a dire avec beaucoup de rigueur mais comme elle avoit aussi une extreme froideur pour cleandre il ne scavoit qu'en penser et ne pouvoit par ou trouver les voyes de se remettre au point ou il avoit este il la voyoit aussi souvent qu'il le pouvoit il avoit pour elle un respect que la seule condition des plus grandes reines du monde ne pourroit donner et toute la severite de cette princesse ne pouvoit trouver rien a redire a toutes ses actions il y avoit bien quelques uns de les regards qu'elle eust voulu ne rencontrer pas comme elle faisoit quelquesfois mais elle voyoit si clairement qu'il eust voulu luy mesme pouvoir la regarder sans qu'elle s'en fust aperceue qu'elle ne pouvoit l'accuser avecques justice aussi ay-je bien sceu par cylenise qu'elle ne le condamnoit pas rigoureusement et que parmi les souhaits qu'elle faisoit pour sa liberte elle n'y m'estoit rien de desobligeant pour cleandre cependant divers interests de cresus luy faisant naistre divers sujets de guerre contre les ephesiens on refit une puissante armee dont cleandre fut lieutenant general car comme abradate ne pouvoit pas s'engager ne scachant quand le roy son pere le r'appelleroit si que l'incommodite du prince myrsile ne souffroit pas qu'il le fust l'illustre cleandre eut cet honneur le roy pour diverses raisons cachees n'en voulant gratifier ny antaleon ny mexaris ny artesilas qui en murmurerent estrangement mais quelque grand que fust cet honneur cleandre le sentoit bien imparfaitement quand il venoit a songer que la princesse ne scavoit point qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle ou que si elle en soupconnoit 
 quelque chose elle ne l'aprouvoit pas et mesme ne le pouvoit pas aprouver il ne scavoit donc s'il devoit prendre la hardiesse de luy descouvrir un peu pins precisement ses sentimens et il estoit estrangement irresolu lors qu'esope qui l'aimoit avec une passion extreme fut le voir pour luy monstrer en particulier devant qu'il partist toute l'histoire de la cour qu'il avoit faite en fables aussi bien qu'il a compote une morale de cette espece car encore que cette histoire soit un chef-d'oeuvre elle a este veue de peu de personnes parce que comme elle contient tous les intrigues et toute la galanterie de la cour il n'avoit pas juge a propos d'en rendre la lecture publique esope estant donc alle faire voir a cleandre cet agreable travail comme estimant plus son approbation que celle de toute la cour apres avoir leu plusieurs de ces ingenieuses fables qui faisoient de si agreables tableaux des avantures de tout le monde cleandre trouva celle qu'esope avoit faite pour luy dans les tablettes de cylenise et comme il ne l'entendit pas et qu'il luy en demanda l'explication seigneur luy dit esope je ne pensois pas qu'elle suit si mauvaise car des personnes qui n'ont pas tant d'esprit que vous et qui n'ont pas tant de connoissance de la chose qu'elle represente ont entendu parfaitement ce qu'elle vouloit dire cleandre devenu plus curieux par le discours d'etape le pressa de telle sorte de la luy vouloir expliquer qu'enfin il l'obligea a luy dire la verite mais il ne l'eut pas plutost sceue que ne pouvant d'abord deguiser ses sentimens ha esope qu'avez vous fait s'escria cleandre j'ay fait seigneur luy repliqua t'il ce que vous n'auriez peut-estre jamais ose faire je 
 l'advoue reprit cleandre qui voulut cacher ses sentimens apres s'estre un peu remis car je ne scay pas deguiser la verite agreablement comme vous et c'est pourquoy je n'aurois pas voulu dire un mensonge cependant esope adjousta t'il si cylenise vous avoit creu et qu'elle eust en suitte persuade vostre erreur a la princesse en quel estat m'auriez vous reduit mais seigneur reprit esope si par hasard aussi il estoit vray que vous fussiez amoureux de la princesse palmis que vous ne le luy eussiez jamais dit et que vous ne le luy dissiez jamais ou en seriez vous et ne seriez vous pas bienheureux qu'esope eust eu la hardiesse de luy descouvrir ce que vous ne luy auriez jamais descouvert nullement luy repliqua cleandre car un homme inconnu comme je suis et qui tient tout son eclat des seules mains de la fortune doit tousjours presupposer que la princesse palmis croiroit qu'il ne la pourroit pas aimer sans luy faire un sensible outrage croyez seigneur luy dit esope que l'on n'outrage jamais gueres une belle personne en l'aimant de quelque condition qu'elle soit et de quelque qualite que puisse estre celuy qui l'adore pourveu qu'il se contente d'aimer mais luy respondit cleandre esope de sa propre confession n'a aime qu'une esclave mais luy repliqua t'il cleandre en aimant une princesse aime une belle princesse et qui dit belle seigneur adjousta t'il dit assurement une personne qui fait consister son plus grand plaisir a estre creue telle et respectee comme telle ouy poursuivit il je soutiens qu'une belle reine preferera tousjours un esclave de sa beaute a tous les subjets que sa naissance luy aura donnez et qu'une conqueste de ses yeux 
 luy fera plus chere mille et mille fois que toutes celles qu'elle pourroit faire avec des armees de cent mille hommes c'est pourquoy seigneur adjouta t'il quand j'aurois fait croire a cylenise que vous estes amoureux de la princesse de lydie et qu'en suitte elle le luy auroit persuade vous n'en seriez pas plus mal avec elle le m'apercoy pourtant dit cleandre qu'environ depuis le temps que vous dites avoir compote cette fable la princesse me traite beaucoup plus froidement qu'elle n'avoit jamais fait c'est signe respondit esope que vous estes beaucoup mieux dans son coeur que vous ne croyez car si elle ne vous craignoit pas et si elle ne se craignoit pas elle mesme elle ne fuiroit pas un homme qu'elle estime extremement enfin seigneur dit-il en riant croyez je vous prie que m'estat donne la peine de connoistre avec tant de soing jusques au naturel des renards des tigres des ours et des lions je ne suis pas absolument ignorant en la phisionomie des belles personnes qui sont plus agreables a regarder que toutes ces belles sauvages c'est pourquoy soyez assure que vous n'estes point hai et que ma fable sera quelque jour aussi juste a la fin qu'au commencement quoy que cleandre sceust bien qu'esope estoit aussi sage que spirituel neantmoins il n'eut jamais la force de luy advouer qu'il aimoit la princesse il le pria donc seulement de ne monstrer cette fable a personne et de ne dire plus rien de ses erreurs de peur de les persuader aux autres comme ils en estoient la j'arrivay et apres qu'esope fut parti cleandre me raconta leur conversation et me dit qu'assurement il estoit la cause de la froideur que la princesse avoit pour luy il eust 
 pourtant bien voulu le scavoir avec certitude car encore que cette froideur luy fust insuportable s'il eust este assure que palmis eust sceu sa passion il en eust este console parce qu'enfin il ne remarquoit pas qu'elle fust accompagnee d'incivilite ny de mepris ainsi apres avoir bien raisonne sur la chose il se resolut d'aller prendre conge de la princesse lors qu'il y auroit peu de monde chez elle et de tascher de s'esclaircir de la verite il fut donc si soigneux de s'informer de l'heure ou il la pourroit voir en particulier et il prit si bien son temps qu'en effet il la trouva seule apres les premiers complimens qui ne regardoient que son voyage et apres que la princesse luy eut recommande la personne du roy et celle du prince myrsile madame luy dit-il vous me trouverez sans doute bien hardy d'oser vous suplier tres humblement comme je fais de me faire l'honneur de me dire si j'ay fait quelque faute contre le respect que je vous dois qui vous ait portee a diminuer quelque chose de cette bonte sincere et obligeante dont vous m'honnoriez autrefois il paroist bien repliqua t'elle que je me confie extremement en vous puis que je vous recommande les deux personnes du monde qui me sont les plus cheres je vous en suis sans doute bien redevable repondit-il mais madame comme je suis persuade que celuy qui perdroit un thresor sans s'en apercevoir et sans s'en pleindre temoigneroit ne l'estimer pas assez je pense que vous ne pourrez pas vous offencer avec raison si je me pleins un peu du changement que je remarque en mon bon-heur mais en m'en pleignant je ne vous accuse toutesfois pas d'injustice et je me contente de vous supplier tres humblement 
 de m'aprendre par quel crime j'ay merite ce malheur cleandre a tant d'esprit repliqu'a t'elle en sous-riant a demy quoy que ce ne peust estre sans rougir que s'il avoit fait un crime il l'auroit sans doute voulu faire et par consequent il ne seroit pas aise qu'il s'en repentist ny mesme gueres necessaire de l'en accuser puis qu'infailliblement il s'en accuseroit le premier mais adjousta t'elle avec un visage plus serieux je n'ay point sceu que vous m'ayez rendu de mauvais offices et si vous remarquez quelque changement en mon humeur c'est que depuis la mort du prince mon frere je ne me suis plus trouvee avec la mesme disposition a la joye que j'avois auparavant madame repondit cleandre mon malheur a precede celuy de cet infortune prince c'est donc peut-estre repliqua t'elle que j'ay un defaut plus que je ne pensois et qu'a tant d'autres que j'ay on peut encore joindre celuy d'estre d'humeur inegale me preservent les dieux interrompit-il d'accuser la plus accomplie princesse du monde de la plus petite imperfection non madame vous ne m'entendez pas ou vous ne voulez pas m'entendre car enfin je ne vous accuse point mais si vous me croyez coupable je vous conjure de m'accuser afin que je me corrige et que je vous demande pardon en verite cleandre reprit-elle je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu personne que vous qui ait voulu paroistre criminel avec tant d'empressement mais scachez je vous prie une chose pour vous obliger a me laisser en repos et a vous y mettre qui est que ce que je ne dis point la premiere fois qu'on me le demande on me le demande apres inutilement parce que je ne le dis jamais de sorte 
 madame repondit-il que je ne scauray donc jamais dequoy vous m'accusez non pas mesme si je vous accuse dit elle c'est pourquoy cleandre cherchez dans vostre coeur vostre satisfaction et non pas dans mes paroles si vous estes innocent vivez en repos car je ne fais jamais d'injustice et si vous ne l'estes pas repentez vous et vous corrigez mais quoy qu'il en toit n'en parlons plus et soyez seulement assure qu'innocent ou coupable je souhaite que vous me rameniez le roy victorieux de ses ennemis et que vostre gloire s'augmente de jour en jour comme je n'en auray jamais repliqua-t'il qui me toit si chere que celle de vous obeir commandez moy donc quelque chose pour vostre service c'est assez que je vous aye prie luy repondit-elle de prendre soin du roy mon pere et du prince mon frere si ce n'est que je vous conjure encore de n'exposer pas trop une personne qui leur est si chere que la vostre la princesse se leva apres ces paroles et cleandre fut contraint de la quitter sans avoir eu la force de luy parler plus ouvertement de son amour neantmoins il avoit eu la consolation en cette derniere visite d'avoir connu qu'elle scavoit sa passion et de l'avoir pourtant trouvee un peu moins froide qu'a l'ordinaire il partit donc avec un si violent desir de meriter par ses grandes actions l'estime de cette princesse et de rendre sa vie aussi eclatante que sa naissance estoit obscure qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner des belles choses qu'il fit a la guerre d'ephese je ne vous diray point madame tout ce qui s'y passa car toute l'asie a sceu qu'il y eut plusieurs combats dont cleandre emporta toute la gloire qu'en suitte il alla assieger ephese et qu'encore 
 que les habitans creussent se mettre en seurete en attachant par une ceremonie superstitieuse un cordeau qui alloit de la vieille ville au temple de diane comme se remettant tout de nouveau sous sa protection ils ne laisserent pas d'estre contraints de se rendre malgre toute la resistance qu'un courageux estranger qui se trouva dans la ville y apporta mais certes a dire les choses comme elles font la prise d'ephese fut si particulierement deue a cleandre que cresus n'eut guere de part a l'honneur de cette conqueste car estant tombe malade ce fut cleandre seul qui agit pendant ce siege qui fut un des plus memorables dont on ait entendu parler artesilas n'eut pas mesme le bonheur d'y estre parce qu'ayant este blesse a la premiere rencontre qu'ils avoient faite des ennemis cleandre jouit tout seul de la gloire de cette conqueste dont cresus luy mesme envoya advertir la princesse sa fille d'une facon tres advantageuse pour luy mais comme la fin de la campagne aprochoit et qu'il esperoit de retourner bien tost a sardis pour chercher le plus doux fruit de sa victoire dans les regards favorables de sa princesse les misiens les doriens et les pamphiliens se joignirent et l'on parla d'une ligue contre cresus qui se resolut de les prevenir il envoya alors solliciter le roy de phrigie de luy donner du secours mais comme il estoit engage en ce temps la avecques le roy de pont il le refusa de sorte qu'il falut qu'il agist seulement avec ses propres forces mais madame la valeur de cleandre estoit devenue si redoutable a tous ces peuples qu'il termina cette guerre aussi heureusement que l'autre la faisant mesme malgre l'hyver cependant 
 comme cresus vit que la fortune luy estoit favorable il ne voulut pas en demeurer la et durant que le roy de phrigie estoit occupe avec le roy de pont il entra au commencement du printemps dans les estats de ce prince justement apres que ces deux rois eurent perdu deux batailles en un mesme jour de sorte que le roy de phrigie avec le debris de ses troupes fut contraint de revenir pour deffendre son propre royaume et d'abandonner celuy de son allie comme ce prince est brave cresus trouva beaucoup plus de resistance qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors et la valeur de cleandre trouva sans doute dequoy s'occuper encore plus glorieusement comme la phrigie n'est pas fort nombreuse en villes presques toute cette guerre se passa en batailles et en rencontres mais elles furent si frequentes et si glorieuses pour cleandre que cresus ne pouvoit se lasser d'admirer combien il estoit obligee a menecee et a mon pere de luy avoir donne un homme d'un courage si heroique en diverses occasions le roy de phrigie combatit en personne contre cleandre qui pensa le tuer une fois mais comme il avoit desja le bras leve un sentiment dont il ne put estre le maistre le fit changer d'avis et destournant le coup sur un autre qui touchoit le roy de phrigie il le tua d'un revers disant en luy mesme peut estre que je suis nay subjet de ce prince enfin madame apres avoir contraint le roy de phrigie de se retirer dans apamee et la saison commencant d'estre fort fascheuse cleandre apres avoir mis ses troupes en leurs quartiers d'hyver s'en retourna a sardis ou il y avoit plus d'un an qu'il n'avoit este bien est il vray que la renommee avoit parle si avantageusement 
 de luy a la princesse palmis qu'elle ne pouvoit pas l'avoir oublie mais je ne scay si encore qu'elle ne voulust pas souffrir la passion de cleandre elle ne craignit pas toutesfois un peu que l'absence n'eust change son coeur cresus fut receu avec une magnificence extreme et cleandre fut effectivement regarde comme le vainqueur de plusieurs nations et en la posture ou il revint a sardis il n'y avoit plus personne avec qui il ne peust aller du pair et qui ne s'estimast heureux d'en estre regarde favorablement mais madame au milieu de tous ses triomphes l'amour triomphoit tousjours de son coeur et le jour qu'il devoit revoir la princesse il se trouva beaucoup plus emeu qu'il ne l'estoit sur le point de donner des batailles aussi alloit-il aux combats avec l'esperance de vaincre et il n'alloit s'exposer aux regards de cette princesse qu'avec la certitude d'en estre tousjours vaincu et avec l'incertitude d'en estre jamais bien traite cette premiere entre veue se fit en presence du roy qui voulant favoriser cleandre dit a la princesse sa fille qu'elle le regardast comme le seul victorieux et comme le plus ferme appuy de son empire cleandre repondit a ce discours avec une modestie extreme et la princesse le continua avec une civilite fort obligeante mais le lendemain cleandre la fut voir chez elle ou elle le receut de fort bonne grace sans toutesfois qu'il retrouvast encore en elle son ancienne franchise mais aussi n'y remarqu'a-t'il pas sa derniere froideur comme elle estoit encore devenue plus belle il devint encore plus amoureux et comme la victoire eleve l'esprit et donne je ne scay quel air hardy qui sied bien a ceux qui conservent aussi quelque modestie 
 cleandre estoit encore incomparablement plus aimable qu'il n'avoit jamais este au contraire artesilas l'estoit beaucoup moins car le chagrin qu'il avoit de la gloire de cleandre le rendoit de si mauvaise humeur que tout le monde le fuyoit de sorte qu'estant venu chez la princesse comme cleandre l'entretenoit elle vit si parfaitement la difference qu'il y avoit de l'un a l'autre qu'elle ne put s'empescher le soir en parlant a cylenise de souhaiter que cleandre fust de la naissance d'artesilas ou qu'artesilas eust toutes les bonnes qualitez de cleandre cependant quoy qu'il se vist tout couvert de gloire que cresus l'estimast infiniment que le prince myrsile l'aimast avec une tendresse extreme et qu'il fust adore de tout le monde il s'estimoit tousjours tres malheureux car toutes les fois qu'il venoit a penser qu'il ne scavoit qui il estoit et que selon toutes les aparences l'incertitude de sa naissance seroit tousjours un obstacle invincible a l'heureux succes de sa passion il n'estoit pas consolable et tout ce que je luy pouvois dire irritoit plustost sa douleur que de la diminuer mais madame sa grande faveur faisant ombre a antaleon ce prince ambitieux qui vouloit s'emparer de la couronne traita en secret avec artesilas a qui il promit de faire espouser la princesse palmis sa niece s'il vouloit luy aider a se deffaire de cresus et du prince myrsile cette conjuration fut si noire que je ne puis me resoudre de vous en aprendre les particularitez et quand je songe qu'un frere vouloit faire perir son frere et son neveu et qu'un amant vouloit tremper ses mains dans le sang du pere de sa maistresse pour la posseder j'en concoy tant d'horreur qu'il 
 faut que je passe sur cet endroit legerement et que je vous die qu'esope qui estoit encore a sardis ayant apris quelque chose de cette conspiration en advertit cleandre qui agit avec tant de prudence que non seulement il la decouvrit mais qu'il la detruisit et qu'antaleon fut contraint de s'enfuir avec intention de se refugier chez le roy de phrigie il n'acheva pourtant pas son dessein parce qu'en y allant il tomba dans un precipice et se blessa de telle sorte qu'il mourut quelques jours apres les dieux ne voulant pas differer plus long-temps la punition d'un crime si noir que le sien mais pour artesilas il fut impossible en ce temps la de rien prouver contre luy et quoy que nous ayons bien sceu depuis qu'il estoit de cette conjuration il demeura dans la cour comme s'il eust este innocent bien est-il vray qu'il n'osoit pourtant plus agir ouvertement comme amant de la princesse et si elle eust pu ecouter sans colere une declaration d'amour cleandre eust este presque heureux car cresus luy estoit tellement oblige du dernier service qu'il luy venoit de rendre qu'il ne croyoit pas que tous ses thresors eussent pu l'en recompenser dignement le prince myrsile de son coste luy devant la vie croyoit luy devoir toutes choses ainsi quoy qu'il connust bien qu'il estoit amoureux de la princesse sa soeur il ne tesmoigna jamais s'en apercevoir cependant cleandre ne pouvant plus vivre sans avoir la liberte de parler ouvertement de son amour a celle qui l'avoit fait naistre menoit une vie tres melancolique et la princesse ne pouvant plus aussi s'empescher d'estimer un peu trop cleandre en avoit un chagrin extreme car disoit elle un jour a 
 cylenise quand cette estime ne me feroit jamais autre mal que de m'empescher de pouvoir aimer celuy que le roy voudra que j'epouse ne seroit-il pas tousjours assez grand et ne devrois je pas souhaiter de ne l'avoir jamais veu il me semble disoit cylenise que ce souhait seroit fort injuste et que peut-estre cleandre auroit il plus de raison que vous de desirer de n'avoir jamais veu vostre beaute vous scavez madame que le roy luy doit plusieurs victoires et que vous luy devez la vie de deux princes qui vous sont fort chers mais pour luy je ne voy pas qu'il vous ait beaucoup d'obligation car enfin vous le traitez avec une extreme froideur parce que vous croyez qu'il vous ayme et vous voudriez ne l'avoir jamais connu parce qu'il est fort aimable je pense luy dit la princesse en sous-riant que veu la facon dont vous parlez esope vous a subornee afin de rendre sa fable juste comme cylenise alloit repondre le capitaine des gardes de cresus qui avoit tousjours eu beaucoup d'amitie pour antaleon sans qu'on s'en fust aperceu et qui par consequent n'en pouvoit pas avoir beaucoup pour cleandre vint la trouver pour luy dire une nouvelle dont il creut devoir estre bien recompense quoy qu'il ne la creust pas agreable madame luy dit il je vous demande pardon d'estre oblige de vous aprendre une chose qui sans doute vous affligera sensiblement mais comme vous y pouvez remedier en la scachant de bonne heure je ne l'ay pas plustost aprise que je suis venu vous en advertir la princesse croyant que c'estoit quelque nouvelle conjuration le remercia du zele qu'il temoignoit avoir pour son service et le pressa de vouloir luy apprendre 
 ce qu'il scavoit madame repliqua-t'il c'est une chose si estrange que je n'oserois presques vous la dire car enfin je suis adverty par un des officiers de la maison du roy qui l'a entendu que ce prince a dessein a ce qu'il a dit aujourd'huy en fort grand secret a un de ses plus anciens serviteurs de vous faire epouser cleandre afin dit-il d'aider au prince myrsile a soustenir la pesanteur du sceptre qu'il doit porter apres sa mort il a temoigne poursuivit ce capitaine des gardes craindre extremement que vous n'y veuilliez pas consentir a cause que la naissance de cleandre n'est pas connue et il a mesme adjoute que cela le faschoit fort et que de plus il ne voudroit pas vous y forcer c'est pourquoy madame jugeant que vous pouvez empescher un si grand malheur par une resistance courageuse je suis venu en diligence vous dire tout ce que je scay de cet estrange dessein car connoissant vostre grand coeur comme je le connoy j'ay bien creu que vous ne voudriez pas consentir a une chose qui vous seroit si honteuse la princesse palmis extremement surprise du discours de cet homme et ne scachant ce qu'elle en devoit penser le remercia de son zele et luy dit qu'elle l'en recompenseroit mais qu'elle le conjuroit toutesfois de deux choses l'une de ne parler a qui que ce fust de ce qu'il venoit de luy dire et l'autre de n'accoustumer point ceux qui estoient sous sa charge a vouloir penetrer dans les secrets du roy et moins encore a les decouvrir que cependant il pouvoit croire qu'elle agiroit en cette rencontre comme la raison et la vertu vouloient qu'elle agist mais admirez madame le caprice de l'amour mesme dans l'esprit des plus sages personnes 
 la princesse palmis estimoit infiniment cleandre et l'aymoit peut-estre desja avec assez de tendresse cependant des qu'elle eut apris que cresus vouloit qu'elle l'epousast l'obscurite de sa naissance troubla si fort son esprit qu'elle ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre elle n'eust pas voulu que cleandre ne l'eust point aimee elle ne vouloit pas toutefois qu'il luy dist qu'il l'aimoit et elle ne pouvoit non plus consentir a epouser un inconnu mais sa vertu est si eclatante et si visible disoit cette princesse mais sa naissance est si obscure et si cachee adjoustoit-elle un moment apres que luy-mesme ne la scait pas mais madame luy disoit cylenise vous scavez du moins qu'il est digne de toutes choses qu'il a toutes les vertus que les plus grands rois pourroient souhaitter d'avoir que sa valeur l'a mis au dessus de tous les princes qui font subjets du roy vostre pere et que si ses conquestes estoient aussi effectivement a luy comme effectivement il en a toute la gloire il seroit desja un des plus puissans princes d'asie les premiers rois madame adjousta cylenise n'estoient peut-estre pas de si bonne maison que cleandre car enfin comme je l'ay entendu dire il fut trouve sur un carreau de drap d'or et le portraict de sa mere et le sien ont une bordure si magnifique qu'il ne semble pas que sa naissance doive estre basse il pourroit estre nay de parens assez riches reprit la princesse que ce ne seroit pas encore assez pour me satisfaire ce n'est pas cylenise que je ne scache bien que la naissance et la mort sont egales entre les rois et les subjets et qu'en quelque facon la vanite que l'on tire seulement de ses predecesseurs n'est pas trop bien fondee mais apres tout cette illustre chimere qui flatte si doucement 
 le coeur de tous les hommes est trop universellement establie par toute la terre pour ne s'y arrester pas il faut pourtant advouer madame dit cylenise que la naissance toute seule n'est pas une chose fort considerable en effet adjousta-t'elle si le fils du plus grand roy du monde estoit amoureux de vous et qu'il eut tous les deffauts imaginables et pas une bonne qualite n'est-il pas vray que vous ne l'aimeriez point et que toute la grandeur de ses illustres ayeuls ny mesme toutes leurs vertus ne luy acquerroient jamais vostre estime tant s'en faut dit la princesse je le mepriserois plus qu'un autre qui auroit les mesmes imperfections et le hairois davantage neantmoins je pourrois pourtant l'epouser sans honte et par raison d'estat seulement mais au contraire cleandre estant aussi accomply qu'il est merite sans doute toute mon estime et cependant n'estant pas prince et ne scachant pas seulement s'il est d'une race noble je ne puis certainement selon les maximes ordinaires du monde que luy donner quelque place en mon amitie sans songer jamais a l'epouser je scay bien adjousta cylenise que tout le monde pense ce que vous dites mais vous madame qui avez l'ame au dessus du vulgaire qui voyez les choses comme elles sont et non pas comme la multitude les voit qu'en pensez-vous et croyez-vous que la vertu de cleandre et le commandement du roy n'empeschent pas que l'on ne vous puisse blasmer quand vous luy obeirez sans resistance ha cylenise luy dit-elle que me demandez vous et comment pensez-vous que je vous puisse repondre mon coeur et ma raison sont si peu d'accord adjousta-t'elle qu'il me faut quelque temps pour scavoir 
 lequel des deux je dois satisfaire c'est pourquoy je ne puis presentement vous dire ce que je veux ny ce que je feray car en verite cylenise je ne le scay pas moy mesme ce fut de cette sorte que cette conversation se passa car bien que cette fille de la princesse qui est ma parente ne fust pas encore en confidence des interests de sa maistresse avecques moy neantmoins comme nous avions assez d'amitie ensemble elle ne laissoit pas d'avoir une affection particuliere pour cleandre a ma consideration parce qu'elle scavoit bien que ma fortune et celle de timocreon estoient inseparablement attachees a la sienne qu'il rendoit commune entre nous par sa liberalite et par ses bons offices aussi cleandre sans en rien scavoir avoit en elle un puissant appuy aupres de la princesse palmis cependant l'advis qu'elle avoit receu fit un effet tres avantageux pour cleandre puis qu'insensiblement elle diminua une partie de cette froideur qui redoubloit ses suplices de sorte que flatte par cet heureux changement dont il ignoroit la cause l'esperance commenca de le consoler et peu apres le rendant plus hardy il rendit ses soins et ses soumissions a la princesse avec un peu moins de circonspection quoy que ce fust tousjours avec un egal respect mais enfin il la regardoit un peu plus souvent il la visitoit davantage et l'entretenoit avec un peu moins de crainte toutesfois je ne pense pas qu'il eust jamais eu la hardiesse de se declarer ouvertement si l'illustre cyrus qui n'estoit en ce temps-la qu'artamene ne luy en eust fourny le sujet et voicy comme la chose arriva
 
 
 
 
cresus avant sceu tout ce qui s'estoit passe a la guerre de pont et de bithinie et toutes les merveilleuses actions que le fameux 
 artamene y avoit faites avoit eu soing de s'informer de quelle nation estoit un homme d'une valeur si extraordinaire de sorte que ceux a qui il avoit donne cette commission luy aprirent que l'on ne le scavoit pas et luy dirent en suitte comment il avoit fait delivrer le roy de pont et comment la princesse mandane avoit pense estre enlevee par un autre estranger nomme philidaspe que l'on ne connoissoit non plus qu'artamene et qui estoit aussi extremement brave adjoustant toutesfois a cela que ce philidaspe s'estoit dit estre fils de la reine d'assirie par une lettre qu'il avoit ecrite a un homme de son intelligence et que l'on avoit interceptee cresus sans y penser raconta tout ce que je viens de dire a la princesse palmis comme une nouvelle agreable luy parlant avecque beaucoup d'admiration de toutes les grandes choses qu'il avoit entendu dire de l'illustre artamene aussi tost apres qu'il fut sorty de chez la princesse cleandre y arriva et comme elle n'avoit l'esprit remply que de ce que le roy luy venoit de dire elle en parla avecques luy et luy demanda plusieurs particularitez qu'elle n'avoit pas demandees au roy jugeant bien qu'il avoit este present lors que l'on avoit raconte cette merveilleuse advanture a cresus pour moy disoit-elle j'aurois une extreme envie que ce philidaspe tout fils de roy qu'il se dit estre fust puny de la violence qu'il a voulu faire et je voudrois aussi qu'artamene tout inconnu qu'il est fust recompense de sa vertu il me semble madame dit cleandre que je vous dois rendre grace pour luy car outre que je suis amoureux de sa gloire estant inconnu comme il l'est il me semble dis-je que cette conformite me 
 doit interesser en ce qui le touche sa condition dit la princesse n'est pourtant pas egale avec la vostre car il scait bien ce qu'il est nay a ce qu'il m'a paru par le recit que m'a fait le roy et vous ne scavez pas ny d'ou vous estes ny qui vous estes cleandre soupira a ce discours de la princesse qui craignant de l'avoir irrite se hasta de reprendre la parole en ces termes non non cleandre dit-elle ne vous affligez pas tant de vostre malheur car si vous ne scavez pas de quelle condition vous estes tout le monde scait qu'il n'y en a point de si haute dont vous ne puissiez soustenir l'eclat et pleust aux dieux adjousta t'elle que pour la grandeur de nostre maison vous pussiez devenir mon frere puis que comme je connois le prince myrsile et qu'il vous connoist je suis asseuree qu'il ne s'offenceroit pas du souhait que je fais il est bien glorieux et bien obligeant pour moy madame reprit-il mais apres tout poursuivit cleandre emporte par sa passion je ne voudrois pas qu'il peust vous estre accorde et j'ayme encore mieux estre ce que je suis que d'etre frere de l'adorable palmis songez vous bien a ce que vous dites repliqua t'elle et ne craignez vous point de m'offencer ouy madame je le crains et je le crains d'autant plus adjousta t'il que je scay que vous avez raison de le faire mais enfin comme je suis ingenu il faut que je vous advoue que j'aime incomparablement mieux estre toute ma vie l'esclave de la divine palmis que d'estre son frere et que de devoir estre roy ouy madame poursuivit il sans luy donner loisir de parler je trouve les chaines que je porte si douces et si glorieuses toutes pesantes qu'elles sont que je ne les voudrois pas changer avec les 
 plus magnifiques couronnes de l'univers cleandre luy dit la princesse je pense que vous ne me connoissez pas mieux que vous vous connoissez vous mesme car si vous scaviez encore qui je suis vous ne me parleriez pas comme vous faites pardonnez moy madame reprit-il je scay que vous estes fille d'un grand roy que vous estes la plus belle princesse du monde et la plus vertueuse mais je scay aussi que je suis le plus malheureux homme de la terre seulement parce que je suis le plus amoureux si je ne croyois pas luy dit-elle que vous avez perdu la raison je vous traiterois bien d'une autre sorte non madame dit-il ne vous y abusez point l'amour que j'ay pour vous m'a laisse la raison toute entiere et je connois parfaitement que je ne dois rien esperer aussi ne vous demanday je rien qu'un peu de compassion encore n'ay-je pas l'audace de vous demander de celle qui fait que l'on aporte quelque remede aux maux que l'on pleint mais de celle qui les fait seulement pleindre sans les soulager le roy mon pere luy dit la princesse palmis en l'interrompant vous doit tant de choses et je vous dois tant moy-mesme que je suis resolue de ne m'emporter pas contre vous autant que raisonnablement je le devrois faire c'est pourquoy je vous dis avec le moins de colere que je puis que si ce que vous dites n'est pas vray quoy que vostre hardiesse merite que je vous defende de me parler jamais je ne laisseray pas d'oublier vostre crime et de vous le pardonner mais si pour vostre malheur il y a de la verite en vos paroles vous ne serez pas traite si favorablement quoy madame reprit-il vous me puniriez moins rigoureusement de vous avoir dit un mensonge 
 insolent qu'une verite tres-respectueuse le se rois bien davantage respondit elle car je me punirois moy-mesme de vostre crime quoy que je n'y eusse rien contribue helas madame repliqua t'il si je suis coupable vous me l'avez rendu mais au nom des dieux ne me condamnez pas si legerement vous avez autrefois eu luy dit il une si forte envie de scavoir si j'aimois et qui j'aimois lors que le prince atys vous aprit que je n'avois pas voulu feindre d'aimer anaxilee que je n'ay pas deu croire vous faire un si sensible outrage de vous dire cette verite une seule fois en ma vie considerez madame que je ne puis estre accuse avec justice que de ce que je viens de vous descouvrir puis que vouloir m'accuser de ce que je vous aime ce seroit choquer l'equite directement car madame peut on me soupconner de ne m'estre pas oppose a cette passion et peut on me dire criminel d'avoir este vaincu par une personne capable de vaincre toute la terre il faloit du moins cacher vostre deffaite reprit la princesse je la cache aussi a tout le monde repliqua t'il scachant bien que mon malheur est si grand qu'elle est mesme honteuse a mon illustre vainqueur mais pour vous madame j'advoue que je n'ay pu me resoudre a ne vous la descouvrir jamais et a me priver du merite que j'auray a ne vous parler plus de ma passion car madame si vous pouvez obtenir de vostre bonte de me pardonner ce premier crime je vous promets de regler ma vie a l'advenir comme il vous plaira et de renfermer dans mon coeur toute la violence de mon amour faites le donc luy dit elle mais de telle sorte que pas une de vos actions de vos paroles 
 ny mesme de vos regards ne puisse jamais rapeller dans mon souvenir la faute que vous avez faite aujourd'huy et que je me resous d'oublier si vous agissez comme je le veux et comme je vous l'ordonne je feray tout ce que je pourray pour vous obeir madame repliqua-t'il mais au nom des dieux ne me traitez jamais en innocent et traitez-moy tousjours en criminel a qui vous faites grace la princesse ne pouvant souffrir que cette conversation durast plus long-temps congedia cleandre n'estant gueres moins irritee contre elle mesme que contre luy parce qu'elle ne trouvoit pas qu'elle luy eust parle avec assez de fierte comme il ne scait pas disoit-elle ce que le roy a dessein de faire a son avantage que pensera-t'il de moy de l'avoir ecoute avec si peu de marques de colere et ne dois-je point craindre d'avoir detruit par mon indulgence toute l'estime qu'il en peut avoir toutesfois reprenoit-elle luy devant la vie du roy mon pere et celle du prince mon frere eust il este juste d'agir avec toute la severite que sa hardiesse meritoit mais enfin disoit elle encore cleandre de qui le pere est peut-estre de telle condition qu'il me feroit rougir de confusion et de honte si je le scavois a eu la hardiesse de m'avouer qu'il m'aimoit et je ne l'ay pas banny pour tousjours ha mon coeur s'ecrioit-elle vous m'avez trahie j'aime assurement cleandre plus que je ne pense et mesme plus que je ne dois mais si cela est je dois comprendre par ma propre experience que cleandre n'est pas si criminel car puis que je ne le puis hair quand je le veux il est excusable de ne pouvoir pas cesser de m'aimer quand je le souhaite qu'il m'aime donc adjoustoit-elle pourveu qu'il 
 m'aime en secret et qu'il ne me le die plus jamais elle n'estoit pourtant pas tout a fait d'accord avec elle mesme sur cet article et elle eut l'ingenuite de l'advouer a cylenise lors qu'elle fut seule aupres d'elle et qu'elle luy raconta tout ce qu'elle avoit pense mais enfin madame l'illustre cleandre agit si judicieusement et avec tant de respect et de discretion pour la princesse durant tout l'hyver qu'elle fut a la fin contrainte d'abandonner son coeur a l'innocente passion qui s'en vouloit emparer elle ne la fit toutesfois paroistre a cleandre que sous les apparences d'une amitie solide et sincere et luy disant tousjours qu'il faloit qu'il reglast la sienne de cette sorte parce qu'il y avoit un obstacle invincible qui s'opposoit a son bon-heur car luy dit-elle un jour apres qu'il eut obtenu d'elle la revocation de ce cruel arrest qui luy deffendoit de l'entretenir quelquesfois de son amour si vous ne rencontriez de difficulte a vostre bon-heur que parce que je ne vous estimerois pas que parce que j'en estimerois un autre plus que vous ou que parce que je serois insensible le temps pourroit changer toutes ces choses mais je vous avoue ingenument que je trouve en vostre personne et en vostre esprit tout ce qui est necessaire pour acquerir mon estime vous m'avez rendu cent mille services en la personne du roy et en la mienne je suis persuadee que vous m'aimez mon inclination me porte a ne vous hair pas et toutes choses enfin a la reserve d'une seule contribuent a lier nostre amitie mais cleandre apres toutes ces choses toute l'asie scait que vous ne scavez qui vous estes et comme vous ne le scaurez peut-estre jamais et qu'il faudroit un miracle pour faire que quand mesme 
 vous le scauriez ce fust d'une maniere qui me pleust il faut ne s'engager pas davantage et demeurer dans les simples termes de l'amitie ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je vous en estime moins et que je ne croye mesme que vostre naissance doit estre illustre mais je vous advoue ma foiblesse comme tout le monde n'est pas persuade de ce que je pense je ne puis guerir mon esprit de la crainte d'estre blamee si l'on venoit a scavoir que j'eusse donne une place si particuliere dans mon coeur a un inconnu ainsi cleandre pour ma propre gloire contentez vous de mon amitie aimez moy dans le fond de vostre coeur de la maniere que vous voudrez luy dit-elle en rougissant mais n'attendez jamais de palmis que des offices d'une veritable amie je trouve tant de raison en vos paroles luy repliqua-t'il et pourtant si peu de satisfaction pour moy que je n'y scaurois repondre car pour ce qui est de ma naissance madame adjousta-t'il je n'en ay qu'un indice que je croy tres puissant pour me persuader qu'elle n'est pas basse c'est madame que j'ay la hardiesse de vous aimer et de vous aimer mesme sans scrupule ouy divine princesse je sens dans mon ame je ne scay quel noble orgueil qui me persuade que je puis vous adorer sans vous faire outrage cependant comme cette preuve n'est convainquante que pour moy je ne vous demande que ce qu'il vous plaist de m'accorder et tant que vous ne me deffendrez point de vous aimer je ne me pleindray jamais car madame l'estime que j'ay conceue de vostre merite est si grande que quand je serois fils d'un grand roy je ne croirois pas mesme qu'il me fust permis de vous demander vostre affection qu'a genoux et je penserois 
 encore que vous me la pourriez refuser sans que j'eusse sujet de m'en pleindre les choses estant en ces termes quoy que la princesse agist envers cleandre avec une retenue extreme neantmoins luy parlant un peu plus souvent en particulier qu'a l'ordinaire et l'amour estant d'une nature a ne pouvoir estre long temps cachee principalement entre personnes inegales artesilas commenca de s'apercevoir qu'il y avoit quelque changement entre eux et a quelques jours de la il ne douta point que du moins cleandre ne fust amoureux dela princesse palmis comme il estoit mal traitte la jalousie agit dans son coeur d'une maniere plus violente elle n'eclatta pourtant pas d'abord parce qu'il voulut auparavant s'eclaircir de ses soupcons mais apres avoir observe jusques aux regards de cleandre ne doutant plus du tout qu'il ne fust assurement son rival et craignant mesme qu'il ne fust la cause des mepris que la princesse avoit pour luy il commenca de sentir une aversion pour cleandre la plus forte qu'il estoit possible d'avoir et d'avoir mesme le dessein forme de luy faire un outrage et de le quereller a la premiere occasion qu'il en pourroit trouver et ce qui l'y obligeoit encore davantage estoit qu'il scavoit que cleandre partiroit bien tost pour aller commander l'armee et finir la guerre de phrigie mais quelque envie qu'il eust de le quereller il fut pourtant quelques jours sans le pouvoir faire parce que cleandre n'alloit gueres que chez le roy ou chez la princesse si ce n'estoit quelquefois chez la princesse de clasomene aussi fut-ce au sortir de chez elle qu'artesilas l'ayant rencontre l'aborda et luy adressant la parole assez froidement il y a desja quelques 
 jours que je vous cherche luy dit-il mais il n'y a pas moyen de vous rencontrer si ce n'est chez le roy on chez la princesse ou vous estes eternellement si j'avois sceu vos intentions repliqua cleandre avec la mesme froideur quoy qu'avec assez de civilite j'aurois este chez vous pour aprendre ce que vous aviez a me dire peut-estre que si vous l'aviez preveu repondit artesilas bien loin de venir chez moy vous ne seriez pas venu chez la princesse de clasomene comme je ne suis guere accoustume de fuir mes amis ny mes ennemis repondit cleandre je ne scay pas pourquoy vous me parlez de cette sorte je scay encore moins repliqua artesilas pourquoy vous agistez comme vous faites depuis quelque temps comme j'ay tousjours suivy la raison repondit cleandre je n'ay pas agy de maniere differente depuis que je la connois quand vous arrivastes a sardis reprit artesilas il n'eust pourtant pas este aise de prevoir que vos frequentes visites chez la princesse m'importuneroient un jour et qu'un homme de vostre naissance auroit la hardiesse de s'opposer a un homme de la mienne ma naissance repliqua cleandre fort irrite m'est a la verite inconnue mais j'aime toutefois mieux estre receu chez la princesse par ma propre vertu que de n'y estre souffert que par ma condition seulement vous ferez pourtant bien de vous souvenir tousjours de la vostre repliqua artesilas car si vous ne le faites je chercheray les voyes de vous empescher de l'oublier c'est pourquoy agissez de facon que je ne vous trouve plus chez la princesse que comme vous y estiez autrefois du temps que le prince atys vous y envoyoit autrement ha seigneur s'ecria cleandre en l'interrompant 
 ne me forcez pas a perdre le respect que je dois peut-estre a vostre seule qualite et souvenez-vous que les gens de coeur ne peuvent souffrir les menaces que des dieux seulement vous souffrirez pourtant repliqua artesilas celles d'un homme qui les fera peut estre suivre par des effets qui ne vous plairont pas si vous ne vous corrigez pourveu que nos espees soient egales repliqua fierement cleandre l'inegalite de nos conditions ne m'empeschera peut-estre point de vous en empescher mais seigneur ne prophanez point le nom de la princesse en une occasion ou il ne doit pas estre mesle et si vous avez quelque haine secrette pour moy vangez vous genereusement et faites moy l'honneur de m'aprendre l'espee a la main si c'est la nature ou la fortune qui met de la difference entre nous vous le scaurez dans un moment repliqua artesilas en mettant effectivement l'espee a la main aussi bien qu'un escuyer qui le suivoit de sorte que cleandre n'ayant aussi qu'un des siens avecques luy ce combat se fit avec egalite pour le nombre mais avec beaucoup d'inegalite pour le succes car cleandre anime pour son amour par sa jalousie et par le ressentiment des choses fascheuses qu'artesilas luy venoit de dire se batit avec tant d'ardeur que ce prince quoy que brave se trouva estrangement embarrasse a luy resister comme cleandre craignoit qu'il ne vinst du monde pour les separer il ne se menagea point et portant coup sur coup a son ennemy sans s'amuser a parer il le pressa de telle sorte qu'il en perdit le jugement et qu'il ne scavoit plus prendre son temps ny pour se deffendre ny pour attaquer ce n'est pas qu'artesilas n'eust du coeur mais la prodigieuse 
 valeur de cleandre le surprit et le mit en desordre d'abord il fut blesse en deux endroits sans avoir pu toucher cleandre qui apres luy avoir encore fait deux autres blessures passa sur luy le jetta a terre luy osta son espee et apres l'avoir desarme n'avouerez-vous pas luy dit-il qu'il y a lieu de croire que ma naissance n'est pas inferieure a la vostre et ne direz-vous pas du moins que s'il y a de la difference entre nous ce n'est que la fortune qui la fait artesilas estoit si blesse et si honteux de sa deffaite qu'il n'eut pas la force de repondre joint qu'en mesme temps des femmes de chez la princesse de clasomene qui estoient a des fenestres et qui avoient crie des le commencement de ce combat qu'elles avoient veu avoient enfin envoye des gens pour les separer mais ils n'arriverent que comme c'estoit desja fait l'escuyer de cleandre ayant aussi blesse celuy d'artesilas de qui l'espee estoit rompue abradate arriva encore qui fit porter le prince artesilas chez luy et qui mena cleandre a son logis ne voulant pas qu'il allast au sien qu'il n'eust sceu la cause de ce combat et comment le roy en recevroit la nouvelle comme cresus aimoit fort cleandre et qu'il n'aimoit guere artesilas on n'eut point de peine a luy persuader que ce prince avoit este l'agresseur de sorte qu'il temoigna estre fort irrite contre luy de ce qu'il avoit voulu outrager une personne qui luy estoit si chere les amis d'artesilas adoucirent pourtant la chose et dirent au roy que les reponses que cleandre luy avoit faites l'avoient aigri et comme pas un de ces deux rivaux ne nomma la princesse cette querelle passa pour n'avoir point en d'autre fondement que quelques paroles piquantes 
 qu'artesilas avoit dites sur la naissance de cleandre cependant toute la cour fut le visiter a la reserve des parens de son ennemy encore y en eut-il quelques-uns qui l'abandonnerent et qui se furent offrir a cleandre que la princesse envoya aussi visiter en secret pour se rejouir de ce qu'il n'estoit point blesse ne scachant pas encore quelle estoit la cause de ce combat tout le monde croyant que ce n'estoit comme je l'ay dit que parce qu'artesilas l'avoit voulu traitter en inconnu on ne parloit donc d'autre chose et ceux qui avoient ouy raconter cent fois comment il avoit este trouve se le firent redire et le raconterent a leur tour la princesse mesme se fit encore reciter exactement par mon pere comment il avoit veu floter cette barque qu'une femme ne pouvoit conduire comment il avoit envoye des mariniers pour la secourir comment il avoit veu ce jeune enfant sur un carreau de drap d'or comment celle qui le conduisoit estoit muette comment elle luy avoit remis entre les mains un petit tableau ou cet enfant estoit represente comme on peint l'amour et avec luy une belle personne qui paroissoit estre sa mere par les vers qui estoient ecrits au bas et enfin comment cette femme estoit morte la princesse qui n'avoit jamais ose demander a voir cette peinture surmonta alors dans son coeur les sentimens qui s'estoient opposez a sa curiosite et pria timocreon de la luy envoyer ce qu'il fit et ce fut moy qui la luy portay sans que cleandre en sceust rien car il estoit encore chez abradate jusques a ce que l'on sceust si artesilas echaperoit de ses blessures y en ayant une assez dangereuse cette princesse rougit en prenant cette 
 peinture lors que je la luy presentay ne pouvant sans doute recevoir sans confusion le portrait d'un homme qui l'aimoit quoy que ce ne fust que celuy d'un enfant et d'un enfant encore represente comme un dieu comme elle se connoist a toutes les belles choses elle admira l'art du peintre qui en effet est merveilleux et remarqua mesme que cleandre conservoit encore une assez grande ressemblance de ce qu'il avoit este mais elle fut charmee de la beaute de la mere qu'elle louoit avec moins de scrupule que celle du fils quoy qu'elle ne peust louer l'une sans louer l'autre parce qu'ils se ressembloient parfaitement elle trouva l'invention de la peinture et des vers jolie et je remarquay qu'elle regarda la bordure magnifique de ce petit tableau avec plaisir parce que c'estoit une marque comme infaillible que la naissance de cleandre n'estoit pas fort basse enfin louant tousjours extremement le peintre qui avoit fait cette peinture elle me demanda si timocreon ne voudroit pas bien la luy confier pour quelques jours pour la faire voir a quelques unes de ses amies vous pouvez juger madame que je ne luy resistay pas et que je ne fus pas long temps sans advertir cleandre que la princesse avoit voulu garder son portrait mais il me repondit qu'il se croiroit bien plus heureux si elle luy avoit donne le sien puis que l'un n'estoit qu'un simple effet de sa curiosite et que l'autre en seroit un de son affection comme les choses estoient en ces termes l'on eut nouvelles que le roy de phrigie se preparoit a se mettre en campagne de sorte que cresus commanda a cleandre de se preparer aussi a partir ce qu'il fit a l'heure mesme envoyant aussi tost son train devant le 
 roy les accommodant le lendemain artesilas et luy d'authorite absolue en ce mesme temps encore un homme de qualite de phrigie qui en estoit exile vint a sardis pour y traitter de la rancon d'un prisonnier de guerre et comme son nom estoit connu et que c'estoit un homme d'esprit cresus le receut fort bien et l'assura que s'il faisoit jamais la paix avec le roy de phrigie il feroit la sienne particuliere avec ce prince thimettes car ce phrigien se nomme ainsi ne fut pas long-temps a sardis sans rendre ses devoirs a la princesse si bien qu'allant chez elle un jour qu'elle estoit dans son cabinet pendant qu'on la fut advertir qu'il demandoit a la voir il vit sur la table de sa chambre le tableau de cette venus et de cet amour dont je vous ay desja parle mais a peine l'eut-il veu que le prenant il en parut fort surpris il en leut les vers il en regarda la bordure il l'observa soigneusement et sans le pouvoir quitter il demanda a cylenise qui estoit dans cette chambre qui avoit donne ce tableau a la princesse cette fille qui scavoit bien que ce n'estoit pas une chose dont il falust faire un secret luy en dit la verite en peu de mots dont il parut fort emeu neantmois cylenise croyant seulement que sa surprise n'estoit causee que par la nouveaute de cette advanture elle n'y fit pas grande reflexion thimettes se contentant aussi de luy dire que cette peinture meritoit bien d'estre conservee soigneusement comme on le fut venu advertir qu'il pouvoit entrer il fut en effet voir la princesse mais sa visite ne fut pas longue et des qu'il fut sorty de chez elle il eut intention d'aller chez cleandre qui estoit retourne chez 
 luy depuis qu'artesilas se portoit mieux et qu'on les avoit accommodez il n'y put toutefois pas aller si tost a cause d'un homme qu'il rencontra qui luy aprit de grandes choses comme nous le sceusmes en suitte mais enfin apres avoir entretenu cet homme assez long temps il fut chez cleandre qui s'imagina que thimettes le venoit voir comme le favory du prince et comme on luy eut dit qu'il demandoit a l'entretenir en particulier il creut encore que ce n'estoit que pour luy parler de ses interests avec le roy de phrigie scachant qu'il devoit partir dans un jour pour s'en aller a l'armee toutesfois luy ayant accorde ce qu'il souhaittoit de luy il ne fut pas plustost seul que thimettes prenant la parole seigneur luy dit-il j'ay une nouvelle si surprenante a vous dire que je ne scay si je seray creu d'abord quand je vous assureray que l'illustre cleandre tout inconnu qu'il est a tout le monde et qu'il se l'est a luy mesme est pourtant fils d'un grand roy thimettes luy dit cleandre fort surpris et n'osant croire ce qu'on luy disoit si j'en croy mon coeur je dois adjouster foy a vos paroles mais si j'en croy aux apparences je doy douter de ce que vous dites il est pourtant aussi certain repliqua thimettes que vous estes fils du roy de phrigie qu'il est certain que je suis son subjet quoy s'ecria cleandre je suis fils du roy de phrigie que j'ay combatu et que j'ay ordre d'aller encore combattre ouy seigneur repondit-il vous l'estes et vous l'estes si certainement que vous n'en douterez pas vous mesme des que vous vous serez donne la peine de m'ecouter parlez donc thimettes repliqua cleandre avec precipitation car vous me dites tant de choses agreables et fascheuses 
 tout a la fois que je ne puis scavoir trop tost cette verite afin de me determiner a la joye ou a la douleur seigneur reprit thimettes je ne puis pas vous dire de si grandes choses en peu de paroles et la couronne que je vous aporte merite bien que vous me donniez un quart d'heure de patience vous scaurez donc seigneur que le roy vostre pere qui regne aujourd'huy et qui du vivant du feu roy se nommoit le prince artamas estant devenu eperduement amoureux d'une fille nommee elsimene qui estoit d'un sang assez noble et qui n'estoit pourtant pas princesse il fit tout ce qu'il put pour l'engager a son affection mais comme cette personne se trouva estre aussi vertueuse que belle quoy qu'elle fust la plus belle personne de la haute et basse phrigie elle resista avec beaucoup de fermete a la passion du prince luy disant tousjours que tant que son amour seroit criminelle il la trouveroit rigoureuse je ne vous diray point seigneur toutes les particularitez de cette amour mais je vous diray seulement que le prince tydee frere du roy vostre pere et du prince adraste qui a pery en cette cour et qui n'estoit qu'un enfant en ce temps-la fut son rival et qu'ils se donnerent beaucoup de peine l'un a l'autre cette fille agissant toutesfois avec tant de prudence envers tous les deux que sa conduite estoit admiree de tout le monde j'avois alors l'honneur d'estre fort aime du prince artamas et d'estre confident de sa passion et je me trouvay mesme un jour chez elsimene qui estoit d'apamee lors que ces deux illustres rivaux y estoient et lors que sans leur deguiser ses sentimens elle leur dit que celuy qui seroit prefere seroit sans doute celuy qui commenceroit 
 de luy donner de veritables marques d'une passion vertueuse ce n'est pas que l'un et l'autre ne voulussent luy persuader que celle qu'ils avoient pour elle l'estoit mais c'est qu'ils luy disoient tous deux qu'ils ne la pouvoient pas epouser du vivant du roy leur pere cependant comme elle aimoit mieux le prince artamas que le prince tydee elle fit voeu d'envoyer des offrandes a delos s'il plaisoit au dieu qu'on y adore de luy inspirer le dessein de l'epouser de sorte que soit par ce voeu qu'elle fit ou soit que le prince artamas fast le plus amoureux il prit enfin la resolution de l'epouser secrettement et je fus temoin de la chose avec quatre autres personnes de qualite qui vivent encore ce mariage fut mesme fait dans le mesme temple ou l'on garde le noeud gordien semblant a cet amoureux prince que cette union en seroit plus indissoluble la chose fut pourtant si secrette parce que le sacrificateur estoit absolument gagne qu'il ne s'en epandit aucun bruit d'abord elsimene continuant de traitter le prince son mary devant le monde comme s'il n'eust encore este que son amant mais pour se delivrer de la persecution du prince tydee et pour pouvoir jouir avecques plus de liberte de la conversation du prince artamas qui en devint encore plus amoureux apres l'avoir epousee qu'il ne l'estoit auparavant elle alla demeurer avec sa mere a un chasteau sur le bord de la mer ou ce prince alloit tres souvent sans qu'or le sceust feignant divers petits voyages ou diverses parties de chasse ou je l'accompagnois tousjours jamais passion ne fut si violente que la sienne ny si bien fondee estant certain qu'elsimene estoit un prodige de beaute d'esprit et de 
 vertu mais enfin seigneur cette princesse devint grosse et elle vous donna la vie heureusement le prince artamas ayant une si grande joye de se voir un fils que l'on n'en peut pas avoir davantage il s'epandit alors quelque bruit dans le monde de son mariage pendant ses couches et le prince tydee eut deux ou trois demeslez avec le prince son frere pour ce sujet car il fit en sorte que le roy en entendit parler qui deffendit si absolument au prince artamas de voir elsimene qu'il ne le pouvoit plus qu'avec beaucoup de difficulte parce qu'on l'observoit si soigneusement qu'il n'estoit plus maistre de ses actions cependant seigneur vous viviez et vous eustes l'avantage de ressembler si admirablement a la princesse vostre mere que jamais on n'a veu une ressemblance si parfaite entre deux personnes de sexe different et d'age si eloigne comme le prince artamas ne pouvoit donc plus voir elsimene que tres rarement il m'ordonna de chercher les voyes de luy en faire avoir le portrait de sorte que menant un excellent peintre au lieu ou elle estoit alors elle voulut luy envoyer le portrait de son fils aussi bien que le sien et comme elle eut dit son intention au peintre il imagina le dessein d'un petit tableau ou il la peignit en venus et vous en amour tel que je l'ay veu chez la princesse de lydie la chose plut tellement a la princesse qu'elle en fit faire deux tous semblables avec intention d'en garder un les envoyant toutesfois l'un et l'autre au prince afin qu'il choisist mais comme il estoit tousjours amant quoy qu'il fust mary il fit ecrire les vers que vous avez veus au dessous de tous les deux tableaux ce qui rendit celuy que je reportay encore plus cher 
 qu'auparavant a la princesse elsimene par cette nouvelle marque d'amour qu'elle recevoit d'un prince qu'elle aimoit si cherement il eut mesme cette complaisance pour elle de vouloir que ces vers fussent en grec parce que cette princesse aprenoit alors cette langue qui est fort en usage parmy toutes les dames de qualite d'apamee qui ont quelque reputation d'esprit cependant le roy de phrigie mourut et le prince artamas comme estant aisne du prince tydee et du prince adraste monta au throsne et se vit enfin en estat de couronner bien-tost elsimene aussi des que les funerailles du feu roy furent faites il publia son mariage et fit faire des preparatifs magnifiques pour recevoir cette princesse a apamee pour la faire reconnoistre comme reine de tous ses peuples et pour vous declarer par consequent pour son legitime et unique successeur cette grande feste estoit si proche que l'on avoit desja mene a la reine le superbe chariot dans lequel elle devoit faire son entree et je luy avois mesme fait porter jusques a un carreau de drap d'or sur lequel vous deviez estre assis aux pieds de la reine vostre mere le jour de cette grande ceremonie mais seigneur elle fut bien troublee car deux jours auparavant qu'elle se deust faire comme toutes choses estoient prestes pour cette superbe entree et que le roy vostre pere avoit une joye que l'on ne scauroit exprimer estant alle de sa part vers cette princesse pour luy tesmoigner tout de nouveau la satisfaction qu'il avoit de luy pouvoir bien tost donner la derniere marque d'amour qu'il luy pouvoit rendre et pour l'assurer que le jour suivant il luy envoyeroit des gardes je 
 rencontray en chemin des gens qui venoient advertir le roy que la nuit auparavant on avoit surpris le chasteau enleve la reine vostre mere et vous et tout ce qu'il y avoit de precieux en ce lieu la qui n'estoit pas une chose peu considerable car toutes les pierreries de la courony estoient artamas les ayant envoyees a sa chere elsimene des qu'il avoit este roy je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle surprise fut la mienne comme je n'estois pas fort loing de ce chasteau je fus encore jusques la et je sceus par la mere d'elsimene qui mourut de douleur peu de jours apres que des gens armez que l'on ne connoissoit pas l'avoient surpris et avoient mis cette princesse et vous avec tout ce riche butin qu'ils avoient fait dans un vaisseau sans que l'on sceust quelle route ces ravisseurs avoient tenu parce qu'il estoit nuit ayant emporte si absolument tout ce qu'il y avoit dans ce chasteu qu'il n'y demeuroit presques plus rien ce qu'il y eut de plus cruel en cette avanture fut que si ces ravisseurs eussent encore attendu un jour ils n'eussent pu executer leur detestable entreprise parce que comme je l'ay desja dit l'on devoit envoyer le lendemain des gardes a la reine joint que de plus une bonne partie de la cour se devoit aussi rendre aupres d'elle cependant il falut aller porter en diligence cette triste nouvelle au roy qui la receut avec un desespoir si grand que je creus qu'il en perdroit la vie ou la raison il fit faire une recherche la plus exacte du monde pour tascher de descouvrir qui pouvoit avoir execute la chose mais ce fut inutilement il envoya divers vaisseaux a l'advanture chercher ce qu'ils ne trouverent point il soupconna fort 
 le prince tydee et comme son rival et comme un ambitieux de luy avoir voulu oster en un mesme jour un successeur et une personne qu'il aimoit aussi bien que luy mais n'ayant aucunes preuves contre ce prince qui n'avoit point party de la cour non pas mesme seulement aucunes conjectures effectives il n'y eut pas moyen de trouver les voyes de l'accuser ce prince feignit mesme d'estre fort touche de cette perte et le roy votre pere fut enfin contraint de souffrir son malheur sans avoir eu la consolation de scavoir de qui il se devoit vanger ny seulement de qui il se devoit pleindre depuis cela il a continuellement fait rechercher et continuellement regrette sa chere elsimene n'ayant jamais voulu ecouter ceux qui luy ont propose de prendre une seconde femme et n'ayant eu autre consolation que celle de conserver soigneusement le portrait de la chere personne qu'il avoit perdue cependant depuis ce temps la il ne put toutesfois se resoudre d'avoir jamais aucune confiance au prince tydee qui de luy mesme s'eloigna de la cour fit plusieurs voyages et fut enfin demeurer a l'extremite de la basse phrigie je ne vous diray point seigneur que peu de temps apres son retour le prince adraste son frere qui estoit devenu grand l'estant alle visiter eut le malheur en essayant des arcs et des fleches dans son parc de le tuer sans en avoir le dessein car vous ne l'ignorez pas la justice des dieux qui voyoit son crime que les hommes ne voyoient point l'en ayant puny par une voye si extra ordinaire mais je vous diray qu'aussi tost apres sa mort quelques ennemis que j'ay m'ayant brouille aupres du roy avec beaucoup d'injustice j'ay este 
 contraint de m'eloigner pour quelque temps et je ne suis venu en cette cour qu'afin de tascher d'obtenir la liberte d'un neveu que j'ay que vous fistes prisonnier a la derniere bataille et non pas pour porter les armes contre le roy mon maistre cependant seigneur je ne vous vy pas plustost aupres du roy de lydie que je remarquay quelque chose sur vostre visage qui me remit si fort en l'imagination la reine vostre mere que je ne scay comment je ne vous reconnus point neantmoins la longueur du temps et le peu d'apparence de la chose furent cause que je n'y fis aucune reflexion car j'avois bien ouy dire que vous estiez un homme que la fortune avoit eleve mais je n'avois pas sceu particulierement que vous ne scaviez pas vous mesme qui vous estiez en suitte seigneur estant alle chez la princesse j'y ay veu ce mesme tableau que je fis faire et que cette femme muette donna a timocreon ce qui m'a si extraordinairement surpris que je ne scay pas trop bien ce que cette princesse pensera de ma conversation tant il est vray que j'avois l'esprit distrait en l'entretenant au sortir de chez elle comme si ce jour estoit un jour de prodiges j'ay rencontre un vieillard qui m'a reconnu et que je ne le connoissois pas d'abord qui m'a prie qu'il me peust parler en particulier d'une affaire de consequence apres l'avoir regarde attentivement il m'est souvenu de l'avoir veu autrefois aupres du prince tydee de sorte qu'estant assez surpris de le voir a sardis je luy ay donne audience il m'a donc dit seigneur qu'estant sur le bord de son tombeau et prest d'aller rendre conte aux dieux de tous ses crimes il vouloit tascher d'en 
 meriter le pardon par une confession ingenue qu'il men vouloit faire il m'a descouvert en suitte que le feu prince tydee son maistre estoit celuy qui avoit fait enlever la princesse elsimene et vous par un sentiment de jalousie de rage et d'ambition trouvant quelque douceur a priver son rival de la seule personne qu'il aimoit et en trouvant encore plus a luy oster un successeur et par ce moyen a s'assurer la couronne ou du moins a se rendre tousjours plus considerable dans le royaume puis qu'il y seroit regarde comme devant estre roy car il croyoit bien que le roy son frere ne pourroit jamais oublier elsimene ny se resoudre a se remarier cet homme m'a donc dit qu'il fut le chef de cette entreprise que le prince tydee luy ordonna d'aller habiter a la moins peuplee des isles cyclades et d'empescher elsimene d'y parler a qui que ce soit ne voulant point la faire mourir ny vous aussi parce qu'il croyoit que si par hasard son crime estoit descouvert il auroit tousjours une voye assuree de sauver sa vie estant maistre de la vostre et de celle de la reine vostre mere cet homme qui s'appelle acrate m'a donc dit qu'obeissant a son maistre il enleva la malheureuse elsimene avecques vous et qu'il prit toutes les richesses de ce chasteau mais qu'afin de ne pouvoir estre descouvert il ne prit pas une des femmes de la reine pour la servir et qu'il ne mit aupres d'elle qu'une esclave muette qu'il avoit chez luy qui par consequent ne pouvoit pas reveler son secret il adjouste que comme il fut arrive a une des isles cyclades avec cette deplorable princesse il vendit le vaisseau dans lequel il l'avoit amenee et qu'il demeura possesseur de toutes les richesses 
 qu'elle avoit avec trois de ses complices il m'a proteste qu'il ne la traitta pourtant pas rigoureusement mais que la douleur qu'elle eut la changea si fort qu'elle n'estoit pas connoissable que cependant le prince tydee voyant qu'il n'estoit point accuse de son crime et que selon les apparences le roy son frere ne le scauroit pas avoit change d'avis et avoit resolu de faire mourir et la princesse elsimene et vous de crainte que dans la suitte du temps ce qu'il avoit pense le devoir sauver ne le perdist de sorte qu'il envoya ordre a acrate de vous faire perir tous deux luy donnant tous les thresors qu'il avoit pour sa recompense et a luy et a trois complices de son crime car pour les soldats et les mariniers dont il s'estoit servy a vous enlever l'un et l'autre ils estoient tous estrangers et n'avoient pas sceu precisement a quoy on les employoit les soldats estant une espece de bandits et les mariniers estant des pirates tous gens qui se portent facilement aux mauvaises actions sans examiner si elles sont telles ainsi ces mechants qui avoient fait main basse sur tout ce qui avoit voulu resister dans ce chasteau ou ils vous prirent apres vous avoir menez a cette isle se disperserent avec la recompense qu'on leur avoit donnee avant que de commettre ce crime et ne laisserent aupres d'elsimene que l'esclave muette et ces quatre hommes acrate assure donc qu'ayant receu cet ordre il resista a ses compagnons autant qu'il put mais qu'estant seul contre trois il ne put faire autre chose que d'advertir secrettement elsimene qu'ils avoient commandement de la faire mourir elle et son fils et que ces gens malgre sa resistance l'executeroient sans doute bien tost 
 il adjouste que cette malheureuse reine estant malade n'avoit pu songer a se sauver de sorte qu'elle n'avoit pense qu'a vous conserver la vie qu'en effet elle vous avoit pris entre ses bras et qu'apres vous avoir baise le visage tout couvert de larmes elle vous avoit remis entre les mains de l'esclave muette luy faisant signe qu'elle allast a delos si elle le pouvoit car elsimene estant logee au bord de la mer on voyoit cette isle de ses fenestres que de plus comme on luy avoit laisse sa cassette elle en avoit tire le petit tableau ou vous estiez peints ensemble et qu'escrivant quelques lignes dans des tablettes avec precipitation elle les avoit encore baillees a cette esclave il dit que cette muette trouvant ce mesme carreau de drap d'or sur lequel vous deviez estre porte le jour du couronnement de la reine vostre mere vous y mit dessus et que sortant en diligence a l'entree de la nuit suivie de loing par acrate elle estoit allee trouver un vieux pescheur le conjurant par des signes de la passer a delos et luy presentant pour sa recompense quelque bague qu'elle avoit que cependant l'infortunee elsimene avoit este si touchee de son malheur qu'il n'avoit point este necessaire a ses compagnons d'employer le fer ny le poison pour luy faire perdre la vie estant tombee en une pasmoison dont elle n'estoit point revenue et que les funerailles de cette deplorable princesse furent faites le lendemain sans aucune ceremonie acrate dit de plus que l'absence de cet enfant les avoit fort inquietez et que s'estant informez ou il pouvoit estre ils n'en avoient pu aprendre autre chose sinon que cette esclave muette s'estoit mise dans une barque ou il n'y avoit qu'un 
 vieux pescheur pour la conduire et qu'estant desja assez loing du rivage sur lequel la femme de ce pescheur estoit qui avoit mesme persuade a son mary de mener cette femme et cet enfant ce vieux marinier voulant racommoder quelque chose au gouvernail estoit tombe dans la mer et s'estoit noye a cause qu'il estoit trop vieux et trop foible pour pouvoir nager de sorte que cette bar que s'en estoit allee au gre des vents et des vagues qui repousserent le corps de ce pauvre pescheur a terre acrate raconte encore que lors que ses compagnons revinrent a cette maison et qu'ils n'y trouverent plus l'enfant ny l'esclave ils penserent le soupconner d'avoir servi a cette fuitte mais il dit qu'il se deguisa si bien qu'ils changerent enfin d'avis joint que se flattant dans leur crime ils creurent que cet enfant auroit peri dans cette barque sans conduite de sorte qu'apres cela ils partagerent les thresors qu'ils avoient mandant au prince tydee que la mere et l'enfant estoient morts en fuite dequoy se separant chacun prit une route differente pour acrate il vint a sardis ou il dit qu'il a toujours mene une vie fort inquiete et fort solitaire malgre sa richesse il adjouste encore que depuis le combat d'artesilas et de vous ayant fort ouy parler de vostre obscure naissance et ayant entendu dire de quelle facon timocreon vous avoit trouve il n'avoit point doute que vous ne fussiez fils du roy de phrigie mais il dit qu'il n'avoit pu se resoudre d'abord a vous confesser son crime que toutefois m'ayant veu il ne luy avoit pas este possible de s'empescher de me le descouvrir afin de redonner un successeur au roy de phrigie qui n'en a plus de sa maison si bien 
 seigneur reprit thimettes qu'il ne me reste plus qu'a vous prier de me faire la grace de me faire voir les tablettes dans lesquelles cette princesse escrivit car j'ay sceu chez la princesse de lydie que timocreon les a encore cleandre estoit si surpris d'entendre tout ce que thimettes luy racontoit qu'il ne put presques luy respondre neantmoins a la fin ayant envoye querir mon pere et luy ayant mande qu'il apportast les tablettes que l'esclave muette luy avoit autrefois donnees il vint a l'instant et les donna a cleandre qui les bailla a thimettes mais il ne les vit pas plustost que s'escriant en frapant des mains ha seigneur luy dit il je n'ay que faire de les ouvrir pour connoistre qu'elles ont este a la princesse elsimene car je connois assez les fermoirs que j'y voy en disant cela il les ouvrit et y lisant ces paroles cet enfant est recommande au dieu que l'on adore a delos il s'ecria une seconde fois n'en doutez point seigneur n'en doutez point vous estes fils du roy de phrigie et ces caracteres font si veritablement de la main de la princesse elsimene qu'il n'y a rien au monde de plus certain puis que je connois non seulement son ecriture mais son orthographe car je pense avoir porte cent lettres de cette princesse au roy vostre pere qui avoit mesme la bonte de me les monstrer tres souvent pour avoir le plaisir de me voir admirer l'esprit d'elsimene qui ecrivoit si bien en une langue estrangere de plus seigneur je vay peut estre vous faire voir une chose bien surprenante vous scaurez donc que quelque temps auparavant que de l'espouser comme il voulut luy en donner par escrit les premieres assurances il se servit pour luy escrire plus seurement 
 d'une espece de tablettes dont je luy donnay l'invention qui n'est pas commune car seigneur apres que l'on a ecrit ce que l'on veut on couvre ces caracteres d'une certaine composition qui remet les tablettes comme s'il n'y avoit point d'ecriture cependant quand on le veut on oste facilement ce qui la cache et on la recouvre de mesme l'ors que l'on en a la volonte de sorte que si ma memoire ne s'abuse ce fut dans ces mesmes tablettes que je portay a la malheureuse elsimene la premiere assurance que le prince artamas luy donnoit de l'epouser comme c'estoit sa coustume de recouvrir toutes les lettres que le prince luy ecrivoit apres les avoir leues afin de les pouvoir garder plus seurement il faut que je voye si je ne me trompe point et alors s'etant aproche du feu il osta effectivement ce qui cachoit une lettre du roy de phrigie a cette aimable personne et y leut tout haut ces paroles 
 
 
 
 le prince artamas a l'incomparable elsimene 
 
 
 enfin mon amour a vaincu cette cruelle raison d'estat qui s'opposoit a mon bon heur et quand je serois assure que pour vous avoir epousee je perdrois la couronne que je dois un jour posseder je ne laisserois pas de m'y resoudre ne faisant point de comparaison entre vous et cette couronne mais ii faut pourtant esperer que les dieux me la conserveront pour vous la donner un jour cependant thimettes a ordre de demander a la personne qui vous a donne la vie et qui dispose de vous quand elle veut que je sois heureux le sacrificateur du temple d'apollon m'a promis d'estre secret et fidelle et je vous assure ma chere elsimene que ce noeud si serre que l'on y conserve est moins indissoluble que celuy qui attache mon coeur a vostre service 
 
 
 artamas 
 
 
 apres que thimettes eut leu cette lettre voyez seigneur dit-il a cleandre s'il reste quelque chose a souhaiter a vostre reconnoissance car enfin voila l'escriture du roy vostre pere et celle de la reine vostre mere qui oste tout sujet de douter de plus dit il encore en regardant ces tablettes de plus pres j'apercoy quelques traits mal formez de la mesme main de la reine qui se sont decouverts en les approchant du feu et qui ont sans doute este cachez sans dessein par cette composition subtile qui par hazard aura coule dessus echauffee par la chaleur du soleil lors que l'esclave avoit ces tablettes dans la barque et en effet ayant regarde cet endroit ou il y avoit cet enfant est recommande au dieu que l'on adore a delos ils virent qu'il y avoit encore en fuite qui sans doute le rendra du roy de phrigie son pere timocreon estoit si aise cleandre estoit si estonne et thimettes s'estimoit si heureux d'avoir pu decouvrir une chose si importante qu'ils ne pouvoient tous trois s'exprimer mon pere fit encore apporter le carreau de drap dor sur lequel cet enfant avoit este trouve dans la barque avec ses habillemens qu'il avoit tousjours conservez mais thimettes auparavant que de les voir marqua precisement la facon du drap d'or dont estoit le carreau et celle de l'habillement qui estoit d'une couleur fort remarquable si bien que toutes ces choses se trouvant telles qu'il les disoit il ne demeuroit plus aucun scrupule a avoir ny aucune objection a faire et toutes les fois que thimettes regardoit la ressemblance de cleandre et d'elsimene il ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de n'avoir pas creu d'abord qu'il estoit effectivement fils du roy de phrigie mais 
 seigneur luy dit il apres vous avoir apris quelle est vostre qualite il faut que je vous die encore vostre premier nom et que je vous aprenne que le roy vostre pere vous fit donner celuy qu'il portoit en ce temps la et qu'ainsi il vous faudra un jour changer le fameux nom de cleandre en celuy d'artamas qui est le vostre en fuite de cela cleandre voulut voir acrate et entendre de sa bouche le recit de son crime assurant thimettes et l'assurant luy mesme qu'il le luy pardonnoit cependant comme il y avoit guerre entre le roy de phrigie et cresus on ne jugea pas a propos de divulguer la chose et cleandre qui avoit des desseins secrets que timocreon ne scavoit pas apres l'avoir embrasse et luy avoir dit qu'il ne luy devoit pas moins la vie qu'au roy son pere apres dis je avoir donne cent marques de reconnoissance a thimettes il les pria de le laisser dans la liberte de s'entretenir ne voulant pas encore traiter le dernier en subjet du roy son pere ny cesser de regarder timocreon avecques le mesme respect qu'il avoit toujours eu pour luy comme je ne scavois pas ce qui se passoit j'entray dans sa chambre lors que ces trois personnes en sortoient et comme il m'avoit confie tous ses secrets et descouvert tous ses malheurs il voulut aussi me faire part de sa bonne fortune et des inquietudes qu'elle luy donnoit de sorte que m'ayant retenu aupres de luy apres m'avoir raconte en peu de mots tout ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre comme je voulus me resjouir de le voir fils d'un grand roy ha sosicle me dit-il que cette couronne me semble desja pesante quoy que je ne la porte pas encore car enfin je voy beaucoup de choses fascheuses parmy celles qui sont agreables 
 je trouve pourtant luy repliquay-je que puis que la princesse palmis ne pouvoit rien desirer en vous qu'une naissance illustre vous avez lieu d'estre satisfait et d'esperer d'estre heureux vous ne songez donc pas sosicle me dit-il que des que le luy declareray que je suis fils de roy il faudra que je luy die en mesme temps que je suis fils d'un prince ennemy du roy son pere de plus ne considerez vous point que cresus croit que je dois partir dans deux jours au plus tard pour aller combattre le roy de phrigie et comment voulez vous sosicle que j'aille luy aprendre que je ne le puis ny ne le dois apres cela ne dois-je pas encore aprehender qu'il ne me regarde comme neveu du meurtrier du prince son fils et enfin sosicle n'y a t'il pas plus de sujet de craindre que ce bonheur apparent ne me cause un malheur effectif que d'esperer que je sois a la fin de mes infortunes si je vay aupres du roy mon pere que j'ay combatu que j'ay vaincu et que j'ay pense tuer de ma propre main n'y a t'il pas lieu de croire qu'il voudra du moins que cette mesme valeur qui luy a este si fatale luy redonne ce qu'elle luy a oste cependant puis-je seulement penser a combatre mon bien-faicteur et ce qui est encore plus le pere de la princesse palmis mais aussi scachant comme je fais que je suis fils du roy de phrigie demeureray-je plus long temps dans le party de cresus et meriterois-je d'estre advoue par le roy mon pere et reconnu par luy pour son fils si je continuois de combattre non seulement pour ses ennemis mais contre luy toutesfois sosicle je me voy en cette fascheuse extremite eh veuillent les dieux du moins que ma princesse qui ne m'a pas hai 
 tout inconnu que j'estois ne me haisse point quand elle me connoistra mais sosicle adjousta t'il je vous le declare si cette princesse ne peut trouver les voyes de concilier tant de choses contraires et qu'estre son amant et fils de son ennemy soient deux qualitez incompatibles je pense que je renonceray au trosne et que sans prendre jamais le nom du prince artamas je seray eternellement cleandre mais seigneur luy dis-je tant que vous serez cleandre il faudra aller combattre contre le roy vostre pere ha sosicle s'ecria t'il j'ay tant d'horreur des combats que j'ay faits contre luy que quand je le voudrois ma main ne m'obeiroit sans doute pas ne vous avois-je pas bien dit adjousta t'il que je n'estois pas si heureux que vous me le croyez o fortune cruelle fortune disoit il encore ne pouvois tu me faire de presents sans les empoisonner car sosicle admirez mon malheur adjoustoit-il le roy de phrigie et celuy de lydie n'ont jamais eu de guerres ensemble que depuis un an de sorte que si en tout autre temps que celuy cy ma naissance eust este descouverte j'estois absolument heureux de plus ne considerez vous point encore que mon destin m'ayant fait naistre fils de roy a justement voulu que ce fust du seul a qui cresus a declare la guerre apres cela ne faut il pas advouer qu'il y a quelque chose de bien bizarre a mon avanture et qu'il n'est pas aise de prevoir quelle en doit estre la fin mais quoy qu'il en arrive j'aimeray toujours ma princesse et je ne feray jamais consister mon bonheur qu'en la possession de son coeur comme cleandre en estoit la on luy vint dire que cresus le demandoit et qu'il venoit de recevoir 
 nouvelles que le roy de phrigie estoit entre dans ses estats je vous laisse a juger madame quel redoublement d'inquietude il en eut cependant il falut aller trouver ce prince et il y fut en effet mais il se trouva si embarrasse a luy respondre que cresus s'aperceut qu'il avoit quelque chose en l'esprit et luy demanda ce que c'estoit cleandre ne le luy aprit pourtant pas car comme il n'avoit point veu sa princesse il ne scavoit pas encore ce qu'elle voudroit qu'il fist il respondit donc avec des paroles obscures toutesfois comme la guerre de phrigie occupoit fort l'esprit de cresus il n'y prit pas garde et il luy dit qu'il faloit qu'il partist dans un jour pour aller achever de surmonter cet ennemy qui sembloit avoir dessein de vaincre son vainqueur mais cleandre luy dit-il il faut se souvenir que ce ne font que les dernieres victoires qui donnent le prix a toutes les autres et qu'en vostre particulier vous avez tant d'honneur et tant de gloire a conserver que vous n'estes pas moins interesse que moy au bon ou au mauvais succez de cette guerre en suitte apres avoir parle des moyens donc il estoit resolu de se servir pour la subsistance de ses troupes il le congedia et luy dit qu'il allast faire ses adieux cleandre bien aise d'estre delivre d'une conversation ou il avoit tant de peine a tenir sa place fut au sortir de la chez la princesse qui croyant en effet qu'il alloit luy dire adieu ne le vit pas plustost entrer dans son cabinet ou elle estoit seule avec cylenise que luy adressant la parole quoy que je ne doute pas luy dit elle que vous n'alliez vaincre nos ennemis puis que vous allez les combatre comme vous ne le pouvez faire sans exposer vostre vie et sans me 
 quitter je ne puis sans doute vous voir partir sans douleur madame luy respondit-il en soupirant la victoire est une chose ou je ne dois plus songer et quand vous scaurez ce que j'ay apris depuis que je n'ay eu l'honneur de vous voir je m'assure que vous serez de mon advis et quoy luy dit elle cleandre avez vous offert quelque sacrifice qui n'ait pas este bien receu et les dieux vous ont ils adverty par quelques sinistres presages de quelque funeste accident les dieux madame repliqua t'il m'ont en apparence fait scavoir la plus agreable nouvelle du monde puis qu'enfin ils m'ont apris par une rencontre merveilleuse de quelle qualite je suis et qu'ils ont mesme fait que c'est par vostre moyen que je scay ce que je dis mais au nom de ces mesmes dieux madame promettez moy que vous ne me hairez pas quand vous scaurez ma condition la princesse fort surprise du discours de cleandre ne scavoit ce qu'elle y devoit respondre neantmoins n'imaginant autre chose sinon qu'il n'estoit pas d'une aussi haute naissance qu'il l'avoit desire elle luy respondit en ces termes quoy qu'avec beaucoup d'inquietude et d'impatience comme vostre vertu sera tousjours egalement estimable de quelque condition que vous soyez je vous assure qu'elle sera aussi tousjours egalement estimee de moy et que si la connoissance que j'auray de ce que vous estes me fait changer ma forme de vivre avecques vous elle ne changera du moins pas mon coeur apres cela madame luy dit-il je ne craindray plus de vous dire que je suis fils du roy ha cleandre luy dit elle en l'interrompant quel plaisir avez vous pris a me mettre en peine et pourquoy avez vous voulu me faire 
 acheter une si agreable nouvelle par une grande inquietude vous verrez bien madame repliqua t'il que la chose n'est pas comme vous la pensez quand vous m'aurez donne loisir de vous aprendre que ce prince a qui je dois le jour est ce mesme roy de phrigie que vous m'ordonnez d'aller vaincre et qu'il ne m'est plus permis de combattre et alors il luy raconta avec le moins de paroles qu'il put comment thimettes avoit veu ce petit tableau de venus sur la table de sa chambre comment cylenise luy avoit dit de quelle facon il avoit este trouve et en suitte la rencontre que thimettes avoit fait d'acrate et tout ce qu'il luy avoit apris sans oublier pas une circonstance de toutes celles qui pouvoient justifier sa condition a la princesse qui l'ecouta avec une attention extreme et une joye qui n'estoit pas mediocre quoy qu'elle fust meslee de beaucoup d'inquietude apres qu'il eut acheve de parler quelque redoutable ennemy que vous soyez luy dit-elle je vous estime si fort que je ne voudrois pas que vous fussiez encore l'inconnu cleandre et j'aime beaucoup mieux que vous soyez le prince artamas ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je ne prevoye bien les facheuses suittes que peut avoir cette glorieuse qualite que vous devez porter mais enfin le roy de phrigie et le roy mon pere peuvent faire la paix et vous ne pourriez pas devenir fils de roy si vous ne l'estiez pas nay mais poursuivit-elle qu'avez vous dessein de faire car je ne juge pas qu'il soit bien aise que les sentimens du prince artamas puissent s'accorder avec ceux de l'inconnu cleandre ceux de cleandre ne sont pourtant pas changez luy dit-il depuis qu'il scait qu'il est le 
 prince artamas mais je ne scay si ceux de la princesse de lydie ne changeront point ils changeront sans doute repondit-elle car j'auray plus de civilite pour le prince artamas que je n'en ay eu pour cleandre ce n'est pas ce que je demande luy dit-il mais je veux seulement madame que vous me conserviez toute la bonte que vous avez eue pour moy et que vous me conseilliez ce que je dois faire puis qu'en verite j'en ay grand besoin il faudroit estre plus prudente et plus des-interessee que je ne suis repondit-elle pour vous pouvoir bien conseiller commandez moy donc absolument luy dit-il ce que vous voulez que je fasse ne doutant pas que vous ne songiez a ma gloire en me commandant c'est pourquoy divine princesse je ne vous prescrits rien et je m'abandonne a vostre conduitte parlez donc madame je vous en conjure que vous plaist il que je devienne et comment puis je n'obeir point a cresus qui veut que je parte que je combate et que je vainque le roy de phrigie et comment puis-je aussi le faire puis que j'ay l'honneur d'estre fils de ce prince me preservent les dieux repliqua-t'elle de vous donner un semblable conseil je n'avois pas moins attendu de vostre vertu luy dit-il mais je ne laisse pas de vous rendre grace de n'avoir pas mis la mienne a une si dangereuse epreuve et de ne m'avoir pas force a vous desobeir ou a estre le plus criminel de tous les hommes aussi madame comme vous contentez que je ne combate pas contre le roy mon pere je ne me resoudray pas non plus a conbattre contre le vostre je vous en conjure luy dit elle par l'affection que vous m'avez promise il n'est pas besoin d'une conjuration si forte repondit-il 
 car je ne vous promets que ce que je ferois sans doute quand je ne vous l'aurois pas promis mais madame adjousta-t'il je voy donc bien ce que je dois ne faire pas mais je ne voy pas encore ce que je dois faire cependant il faut faire quelque chose et se resoudre mesme promptement car le roy veut que je parte dans un jour ou deux tous mes gens sont desja sur la route de l'armee les troupes que je dois commander font peut-estre desja aux mains avec le roy de phrigie et le moindre retardement me pourroit estre funeste parlez donc madame voulez vous que j'aille me decouvrir au roy vostre pere voulez vous que j'aille me faire reconnoistre par le roy de phrigie et que je tasche de l'obliger a faire la paix pendant que vous agirez aupres de cresus enfin prononcez mon arrest mais quel qu'il puisse estre ne me bannissez pas de vostre coeur et ne m'exilez mesme pas pour long-temps il faut donc luy dit elle en soupirant scavoir faire des miracles puis qu'a moins que de cela il n'est pas possible de vous contenter car enfin poursuivit elle puis que la condition dont vous estes me permet avec plus de bien-seance de vous ouvrir mon coeur j'ay une chose a vous dire qui vous surprendra et qui vous affligera tout ensemble qui est que si vous fussiez demeure dans l'incertitude de vostre naissance au retour de cette campagne le roy mon pere qui veut que celuy que je dois epouser aide au prince myrsile a regner apres sa mort et soutienne le sceptre entre ses mains avoit resolu si je le puis dire sans rougir de vous choisir pour cela et de vous y engager par son alliance ha madame interrompit cleandre je n'ay que faire d'estre fils de roy 
 si cela est puis que je n'ay souhaitte de l'estre que pour obtenir cet honneur non luy dit la princesse la chose n'est plus en ces termes et quand on pourroit trouver les voyes de vous empescher d'aller combattre le roy vostre pere on ne pourroit pas trouver celles de cacher vostre illustre naissance et thimettes timocreon sosicle et acrate ne voudroient pas garder un secret qui vous osteroit une couronne joint que je ne le voudrois pas moy mesme mais ce qui m'a obligee a vous dire cela est pour vous faire voir que vous vous decouvririez inutilement au roy mon pere car j'ay sceu ce matin par la mesme personne qui m'avoit donne ce premier advis que divers princes estrangers ont fait pressentir de luy s'il voudroit me marier et qu'il a repondu qu'il estoit absolument resolu de ne me donner qu'a un homme qui comme je l'ay deja dit aide un jour a regner au prince mon frere quoy madame s'ecria cleandre la qualite de fils de roy que j'ay tant souhaittee principalement parce que je croyois qu'elle estoit absolument necessaire a obtenir un bon-heur que je n'osois esperer fera donc un obstacle invincible a ma felicite ha madame encore une fois si cela est je ne veux point de couronne et j'aime beaucoup mieux n'estre que cleandre que d'estre le prince artamas je ne vous dis pas si precisement luy repliqua-t'elle que cet obstacle soit invincible mais je vous dis qu'il est grand de plus adjousta-t'elle s'il m'est permis de vous decouvrir ma foiblesse il faut que je vous confesse encore qu'il ne me seroit pas aise de me resoudre a epouser un homme que toute l'asie croiroit d'une naissance mediocre c'est pourquoy agissons 
 comme nous devons et laissons le reste a la providence des dieux cette resignation absolue reprit cleandre en soupirant marque assez madame que toute mon affection tous mes soings et tous mes services n'ont tout au plus obtenu autre chose de vous sinon que vous souffrez que je vous aime sans me hair car si vous aviez un peu plus de tendresse pour moy vous trouveriez madame qu'il n'est pas si aise de faire ce que l'on doit ny mesme de connoistre son devoir je pense pourtant reprit-elle que pourveu que vous ne combattiez point ny contre le roy votre pere ny contre le mien vous ne pourrez pas estre blame mais madame repondit-il je ne voy pas que je le puisse faire qu'en me decouvrant au roy et qu'en me contentant d'envoyer de son consentement vers le roy de phrigie il seroit difficile repartit-elle que le roy vostre pere vous reconnust pour son fils sans vous voir et vous scachant tousjours dans le party de ses ennemis de plus adjousta-t'elle pensez-vous que le roy mon pere peust se resoudre a perdre en un mesme jour le conquerant et les conquestes et ne croyez-vous pas qu'il y a plus d'aparence qu'il ecouteroit la politique que la generosite en cette rencontre non poursuivit-elle je ne vous conseilleray pas de cette sorte que me conseillez vous donc madame reprit-il puis que timocreon repliqua la princesse scait l'estat de vostre fortune decouvrez-luy encore vostre affection pour moy je scay qu'il est sage et genereux et qu'il ne voudroit pas vous conseiller rien ny contre le service du roy son maistre ny contre vous enfin apres plusieurs autres discours semblables cleandre envoya querir mon 
 pere il fit mesmes voir secrettement thimettes et acrate a la princesse et luy monstra les tablettes dans lesquelles estoit la lettre du roy de phrigie et le billet de la reine la femme apres avoir donc bien consulte sur ce qu'ils devoient faire il fut resolu que cleandre partiroit sans rien dire a cresus que mon pere et moy l'accompagnerions que thimettes et acrate seroient du voyage qu'a une journee de sardis cleandre envoyeroit un des siens a menecee avec une lettre pour luy et une autre pour le roy qu'il luy presenteroit par laquelle il luy decouvriroit sa naissance et l'assureroit de ne faire jamais rien contre son service et de n'oublier jamais ses bienfaits qu'il ecriroit aussi au prince myrsile a mexaris et a abradate afin qu'ils le servissent aupres du roy que cependant il s'arresteroit sur les frontieres de phrigie et envoyeroit timocreon vers le roy son pere pour luy aprendre toutes choses et pour luy demander la grace de s'en vouloir eclaircir avec thimettes et avec acrate qui fut aussi genereux dans son repentir qu'il avoit este foible a commettre un crime par le commandement de son maistre que cependant cleandre quand il seroit reconnu tacheroit d'obliger le roy son pere a la paix et que la princesse aussi bien que menecee y porteroient de leur coste le roy de lydie autant qu'ils pourroient apres cette resolution prise elle remit le petit tableau qu'elle avoit entre les mains de timocreon qui n'aimant pas moins cleandre que s'il eust este son fils voulut tousjours estre depositaire de tout ce qui pouvoit servir a sa reconnoissance comme toutes ces entre-veues ne purent estre faites sans que les espions que le 
 prince artesilas avoit continuellement chez la princesse s'en aperceussent il en fut bien tost adverty de plus comme cleandre n'avoit pas encore dit le dernier adieu a la princesse palmis il fit tant qu'il l'obligea a luy accorder encore une fois la permission de l'entretenir en particulier et en effet le lendemain au retour du temple cleandre fut chez elle et luy parla pres de deux heures luy disant des choses si passionnees et elle luy en respondant de si genereuses et de si obligeantes tout ensemble que sans rien relascher de cette exacte vertu dont elle faisoit profession cleandre tout amoureux qu'il estoit ne put jamais avoir la hardiesse de se pleindre ny trouver qu'il en eust sujet quoy qu'elle ne fist rien pour luy et qu'elle ne s'engageast absolument qu'a l'estimer toute sa vie cette separation fut si tendre et si touchante de part et d'autre qu'il ne fut pas possible que cleandre peust effacer de ses yeux en sortant de chez la princesse la profonde melancolie qu'il y avoit de sorte que ceux qui l'observoient par les ordres d'artesilas luy aprirent ce qu'ils avoient veu si bien que scachant toutes ces entre-veues secrettes de timocreon de thimettes d'acrate de cleandre de la princesse et de moy il creut bien qu'il y avoit quelque chose de cache la dessous
 
 
 
 
il employa donc toutes les inventions dont il se put aviser pour descouvrir ce que c'estoit il fit suborner un des domestiques de mon pere par de l'argent et par luy il sceut qu'il se preparoit a un voyage et qu'il faisoit oster de chez luy ce qu'il y avoit de plus precieux il sceut mesme que cleandre avoit envoye en diligence contre mander ses gens qui estoient partis pour l'armee et il aprit encore que 
 l'on avoit envoye des chevaux de relais pour cinq ou six personnes en un lieu qui n'estoit pas sur la route du camp enfin il en sceut tant qu'il en sceut assez pour faire persuader au roy par va de ses amis que cleandre le vouloit trahir que mon pere et moy faisions la mesme chose et que cette conjuration avoit este tramee par thimettes qui faisoit semblant disoit cet amy d'artesilas d'estre mal avec le roy de phrigie afin de n'estre point suspect dans cette cour et de n'y estre venu que pour y traiter de la rancon de fou neveu que de plus acrate phrigien en estoit aussi et qu'il paroissoit assez qu'il y avoit quelque grand dessein cache puis que thimettes qui estoit venu a sardis a ce qu'il disoit pour delivrer son parent s'en alloit auparavant que d'avoir fait la chose et que timocreon ne tenoit pas ses meubles en seurete chez luy pendant son absence neantmoins artesilas ne fit rien dire contre la princesse et il ne fit advertir le roy que de ce qui s'estoit passe chez mon pere mais enfin madame la chose fut conduitte avecques tant de finesse que bastissant sur ces fondemens veritables une conjuration tres apparente le lendemain au matin cleandre estant prest d'aller prendre conge du roy et ayant desja dit adieu au prince myrsile a mexaris a abradate et mesme a artesilas comme il embrassoit esope qui estoit alle recevoir ses commandemens et que timocreon acrate et moy estions dans sa chambre ce mesme capitaine des gardes qui avoit autrefois adverty la princesse du dessein que cresus avoit vint suivy de ses compagnons non seulement arrester cleandre de la part de cresus mais encore thimettes timocreon acrate et moy 
 je vous laisse a juger de nostre surprise cleandre demanda a estre conduit au roy mais on le luy refusa et on nous mena aveques luy dans la citadelle de sardis nous logeant toutesfois en des apartemens differens dans ce grand desordre mon pere fut si prudent et si heureux qu'il trouva lieu d'ordonner sans que l'on s'en aperceust a celuy des siens qui devoit porter toutes les choses qui pouvoient servir a la reconnoissance de cleandre de les remettre secrettement entre les mains de la princesse cependant la prison de cleandre fut un remede merveilleux pour la guerison d'artesilas qui commenca de sortir peu de jours apres je ne m'arresteray point a vous exagerer la surprise de la princesse non plus que celle de cleandre je ne vous diray pas aussi celle de cresus d'estre oblige de croire qu'un homme si genereux et qui luy avoit de l'obligation l'eust trahi car il vous est assez aise de vous imaginer les divers sentimens qu'un semblable accident luy pouvoit donner mais je vous aprendray que cleandre s'informant a ceux que l'on avoit mis aupres de luy de quel crime on l'accusoit sceut que le bruit estoit dans sardis qu'il avoit voulu trahir cresus abandonner son parti et s'aller jetter dans celuy du roy de phrigie scachant donc quel estoit le crime qu'on luy imputoit et scachant que son innocence ne pouvoit estre connue qu'en avouant la verite puis qu'il ne pouvoit pas nier une grande partie des choses qu'on luy disoit pour le convaincre d'avoir eu un dessein cache il s'y resolut et fit dire au roy par celuy qui commandoit dans la citadelle qu'il le conjuroit de luy envoyer une personne a laquelle il peust confier une chose fort importante cresus 
 qui creut en effet qu'il luy importoit beaucoup que cleandre se repentant de son crime voulust le luy confesser luy envoya menecee s'imaginant qu'il luy diroit encore plus franchement qu'a un autre toutes les particularitez de son dessein comme menecee avoit tousjours fort aime cleandre et que malgre toutes les apparences dont artesilas et son amy coloroient la chose il ne croyoit point qu'il fust coupable il luy fut aise de luy persuader son innocence et de luy faire croire la verite il la luy dit donc telle qu'elle estoit en luy descouvrant sa veritable naissance et luy aprenant toutes les marques qu'il en avoit sans luy dire rien de la princesse et comme menecee luy demanda qui avoit ce petit tableau ces tablettes et toutes les autres choses qui pouvoient justifier ce qu'il disoit il luy a prit qu'il faloit le demander a timocreon qui en avoit tousjours eu le soing apres cela menecee fut retrouver cresus et luy dit tout ce que cleandre luy avoit raconte mais comme ce prince avoit l'esprit preoccupe il n'adjousta pas beaucoup de foy aux paroles de cleandre neantmoins a la solicitation de menecee il luy ordonna de voir timocreon afin d'avoir principalement les tablettes dont il luy parloit parce qu'il avoit veu autrefois deux lettres escrites de la main du roy de phrigie et que de cette sorte s'il y avoit de a verite a ce qu'on luy disoit il pourroit reconnoistre cette escriture menecee fut donc trouver timocreon qui fut alors contraint de luy confier que la princesse scavoit quelque chose du dessein de cleandre car croyant que celuy a qui il avoit commande de porter a cette princesse tout ce qu'il luy avoit donne en garde n'y auroit pas manque il fut force pour 
 pouvoir justifier la naissance de cleandre a cresus de prier menecee d'aller trouver la princesse palmis pour luy demander toutes ces choses et de dire seulement a cresus que c'estoit un des domestiques de timocreon qui les luy avoit donnees en effet menecee qui aimoit et qui aime encore mon pere avec une tendresse extresme luy tint sa parole et fit exactement ce qu'il luy avoit dit mais il fut estrangement surpris d'apprendre que la princesse qu'il fut trouver n'avoit point veu ce domestique de mon pere et que par consequent elle n'avoit point receu ce qu'il croyoit qu'elle deust avoir menecee fit chercher cet homme aveques soing mais ce fut inutilement et on ne sceut point alors ce qu'il estoit devenu de sorte que ne pouvant faire rien voir a cresus de tout ce qu'on luy avoit promis il ne voulut plus souffrir qu'on luy parlast de cleandre comme estant fils du roy de phrigie et il traitta cela de fourbe et de mensonge deffendant expressement a menecee d'en parler a personne si bien qu'il ne s'en espandit aucun bruit a la cour je vous laisse donc a juger quel fut le desespoir de mon pere de voir qu'il avoit perdu non seulement ce qui pouvoit justifier cleandre aupres de cresus mais encore ce qui pouvoit le faire reconnoistre au roy de phrigie lors que cleandre le sceut il en fut tres afflige et la princesse en fut si touchee qu'il ne luy fut pas possible de cacher sa melancolie cependant artesilas estant entierement gueri de ses blessures triomphoit du malheur de son rival le prince myrsile et abradate croyoient bien que cleandre n'estoit pas coupable mais il y avoit toutesfois tant d'obscurite en sa justification qu'ils ne pouvoient pas persuader a cresus 
 qu'il fust innocent pour le prince mexaris quoy qu'il ne le creust pas criminel non plus que les autres l'on a neantmoins pense qu'il ne fut pas trop marri de sa disgrace par un sentiment d'ambition qui luy fit croire que cleandre n'estant plus en credit quand cresus mourroit car il y avoit une grande difference d'age entre ces deux freres il pourroit plus aisement venir a bout d'exclurre le prince myrsile du throsne et de s'emparer de la couronne il n'y avoit donc presques que menecee qui agist ouvertement pour cleandre et pour nous la princesse ne l'osant faire qu'en secret et par des voyes detournees il en faut toutesfois excepter esope qui parla tousjours avec une hardiesse digne de beaucoup de louange ainsi voila le malheureux cleandre criminel en aparence et en effet le plus innocent et le plus infortune d'entre les hommes mais quelque douleur qu'il eust de voir qu'il n'avoit presques plus d'esperance de se faire reconnoistre au roy son pere ny mesme de sortir de prison l'absence de sa chere princesse le tourmentoit beaucoup davantage et quand il songeoit qu'il en estoit si proche et qu'il y avoit neantmoins tant d'impossibilite a la voir il ne pouvoit suporter son malheur aveque patience cependant artesilas qui vouloit que la punition suivist la prison et qui estoit de l'humeur de ceux qui craignent encore les lions enchainez faisoit tous les jours imposture sur imposture pour faire perir cleandre et il en couroit de si fascheux bruits dans la cour que la princesse en fut estrangement allarmee elle croyoit bien que si elle eust pu avoir la hardiesse de dire au roy qu'elle avoit veu tout ce qui justifioit la naissance de cleandre cela auroit peut-estre servi de quelque 
 chose mais comme elle ne le pouvoit faire sans descouvrir en quelque sorte l'innocente intelligence qui estoit entre eux elle ne s'y pouvoit resoudre neantmoins aprenant que ses ennemis n'estoient pas satisfaits de sa prison et qu'ils en vouloient encore a sa vie elle tascha de se vaincre et celle se vainquit en effet mais la difficulte fut de pouvoir advertir cleandre de la resolution qu'elle prenoit de parler au roy en cas qu'elle aprist avec certitude qu'il vouloit porter les choses a la derniere extremite car elle craignoit que s'il n'estoit pas adverti il ne contredist ce qu'elle diroit et qu'il ne fist luy mesme obstacle a sa justification de sorte que consultant avec cylenise sur ce sujet cette fille qui voyoit sa maistresse dans une inquietude assez bien fondee apres y avoir un peu pense luy aprit ingenument qu'il y avoit desja assez long-temps que le fils de celuy qui commandoit dans la citadelle de sardis faisoit semblant de ne la hair pas et qu'ainsi elle croyoit que si elle luy demandoit quelque office elle le trouveroit dispose a le luy rendre quelque dangereux qu'il peust estre la princesse fit d'abord quelque difficulte de se confier a un homme jeune et amoureux mais enfin ne pouvant trouver d'autre expedient elle consentit que cylenise l'employast elle imagina pourtant une chose qui la mettoit un peu a couvert car comme cylenise estoit ma parente elle fit que je fus le pretexte du service qu'elle devoit demander a son amant comme je ne pouvois estre justifie sans que cleandre le fust et que tout le monde scavoit bien que ses interests estoient les miens elle pensa que tegee car l'amant de cylenise se nomme ainsi ne trouveroit pas estrange qu'elle 
 demandast a luy parler enfin madame cette fille sceut si bien mesnager l'esprit de tegee que quelque difficulte qu'il y eust a trouver les voyes de parler a cleandre il luy promit de les chercher et en effet il luy tint sa parole et il fut un matin luy dire que si elle vouloit elle pourroit luy parler la nuit prochaine la chose ne se pouvant pas a une autre heure d'abord cylenise ne s'y pouvoit resoudre mais enfin tegee luy fit comprendre que cela n'estoit pas si difficile qu'elle se l'imaginoit parce que les jardins du palais donnent presques jusques sur la contr'escarpe des fossez de la citadelle y en ayant mesme une porte de derriere de ce coste la et justement a l'endroit par ou il faloit aller pour pouvoir parler a cleandre par une fenestre grillee et fort basse qui y donnoit et a la quelle il le feroit venir a l'heure qu'ils concerteroient ensemble faisant abaisser un petit pont qui estoit sous cette fenestre et d'ou elle pourrroit l'entretenir assez commodement sans qu'on s'en apperceust parce que ce seroit luy qui seroit en garde de ce coste la tegee luy ayant donc bien fait voir la possibilite de la chose cylenise demeura d'accord aveques luy qu'elle s'iroit promener un soir fort tard dans les jardins avec une de ses compagnes ce qu'elle pouvoit faire d'autant plus aisement qu'il y avoit un escalier derobe assez pres de la chambre des filles qui respondoit dans ces jardins que quand il seroit precisement l'heure dont ils convinrent elles iroient jusques au bout de ce petit pont et que pour marquer que ce seroit elles cylenise descouvriroit deux ou trois fois une petite lampe qu'il dit qu'il luy envoyeroit qui estoit faite de facon qu'on en pouvoit cacher la lumiere en 
 tournant un ressort qu'il y avoit la chose estant donc ainsi resolue elle fut retrouver la princesse pour luy dire ce qu'elle avoit fait mais voyant ce dessein si avance elle pensa s'en repentir toutesfois le peril ou elle voyoit cleandre la pensee qu'elle eut que quand elle voudroit apres luy faire scavoir ses intentions elle ne le pourroit peut estre plus puis que l'ordre de la garde que faisoit tegee pouvoit changer firent qu'elle se resolut enfin d'envoyer cylenise aprendre a cleandre ce qu'elle avoit dessein de faire pour luy afin qu'il ne la contredist pas mais quand elle vint a considerer que cylenise ne pouvoit pas aller seule en ce lieu la elle changea presques de sentiment parce qu'elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a se confier a pas une autre de ses filles enfin apres avoir bien cherche mais madame luy dit cylenise la crainte et la recompense font que l'on peut aisement trouver des gens fidelles c'est pourquoy souffrez que je gagne une de mes compagnes et que je suborne aussi le portier des jardins du coste de la citadelle afin qu'apres nous estre promenees assez tard elle et moy nous allions avec cette lampe que tegee me doit envoyer par cette grande allee de cypres qui donne jusques a la porte qui est vis a vis du bout de ce pont sur lequel je dois parler a cleandre ha cylenise s'ecria la princesse que vostre expedient est fascheux il n'y en a pourtant point d'autre madame reprit - elle si vous ne voulez escrire et confier vostre lettre a tegee il me semble toutesfois qu'estant parente de sosicle il y a moins de danger que je parle a cleandre qu'il n'y en a que vous luy ecriviez la princesse s'affligea alors extremement et 
 sans pouvoir se resoudre a ce que cylenise luy proposoit elle ne resoluoit rien mais madame luy dit elle il y va de la vie de cleandre mais cylenise adjousta la princesse il y va de mon honneur il n'y va pas du moins de vostre vertu repondit cette fille et je ne scay si la generosite veut que l'on s'empesche de faire une bonne action par la seule crainte d'estre soupconne d'en avoir fait une mauvaise et puis madame cette action quand mesme elle seroit sceue passeroit bien plustost pour une action de charite que pour une de galanterie apres tout madame puis que vous estes resolue de parler au roy que de plus vous scavez que ce prince vous a voulu faire espouser cleandre et que vous pouvez mesme luy faire connoistre que vous le scavez je ne voy pas qu'il y ait tant a hasarder la princesse pensa toutefois se contenter d'escrire et de faire donner la lettre a tegee pour la rendre a cleandre mais quand elle venoit a penser au grand nombre de choses qu'il faloit dire et que si par malheur cette lettre estoit perdue elle pourroit nuire egalement et a elle et a cleandre elle changeoit encore de dessein et elle ne vouloit plus ny que cylenise allast a cette assignation ny escrire et elle demeuroit infiniment affligee mais esope l'estant venu voir et luy ayant dit que l'on parloit si mal de l'affaire de cleandre qu'il avoit creu a propos de prendre la liberte de la venir suplier de vouloir proteger un homme aussi illustre que celuy la apres qu'il fut parti fort satisfait de la response de la princesse elle acheva de se resoudre et elle dit enfin a cylenise qu'elle consentoit qu'elle allast parler a cleandre et qu'elle luy laissoit le soin de choisir celle de toutes ses compagnes qu'elle croiroit 
 la plus discrette mais pour abreger mon discours autant que je le pourray puis qu'il n'est desja que trop long je vous diray que tegee envoya la lampe qu'il avoit promise que cylenise choisit celle qui la devoit accompagner et qu'apres avoir este instruite exactement de ce qu'elle devoit dire elles demeurerent seules dans les jardins avec cette lampe obscure qui n'esclairoit que quand on vouloit elles furent donc par l'allee de cypres jusques a la porte du jardin qui donne vers le petit pont dont tegee avoit parle a cylenise mais a ce qu'elle m'a dit depuis elles y furent en tremblant et penserent vingt et vingt fois s'en retourner neantmoins elle acheverent leur voyage comme je l'ay desja dit et estant arrivees au bout du pont apres que le jardinier qui estoit gagne leur eut ouvert sa porte cylenise ayant descouvert et cache deux ou trois fois la lampe qu'elle portoit comme elle en estoit convenue avec tegee car elles avoient traverse le jardin et passe la porte a la seule clarte des estoiles un moment apres le pont s'abaissa la fenestre grillee fut ouverte et cleandre y parut ou pour mieux dire s'y fit entendre car aussi tost que cylenise fut a l'endroit ou elle devoit parler elle tourna sa lampe et en fit de nouveau tourner le ressort de peur d'estre descouverte comme la fenestre estoit fort basse cleandre prenant la parole sans hausser la voix est-il possible luy dit-il que je puisse encore avoir la satisfaction de vous parler et n'est-ce point un songe agreable que je fais parlez donc cylenise adjousta t'il afin que je vous connoisse et dites moy qui est la personne que j'entre-voy aveques vous seigneur luy dit elle vous pouvez juger que puis qu'elle est icy 
 c'est une personne fidelle ainsi pour ne perdre pas des moments si precieux il faut que je me haste de vous dire que la princesse est resolue pour conserver vostre vie de dire au roy ce qu'elle scait de vostre naissance elle a voulu seigneur vous en advertir de peur que vous ne contre-disiez ce qu'elle dira et alors cylenise commenca de luy faire scavoir tout au long toutes les choses que la princesse luy avoit ordonnees soit de ce qu'elle devoit dire au roy son pere soit de ce que cleandre devoit respondre quoy cylenise luy dit-il apres l'avoir escoutee avec beaucoup d'attention cette admirable personne prend soin de ma vie et veut bien se resoudre pour la conserver de faire une chose si facheuse pour elle et si difficile ha cylenise je ne puis presques me l'imaginer mais si elle ne me la peut conserver qu'en le faisant une si grande violence dites luy je vous en conjure que j'aime mieux mourir que de luy causer cette peine mais seigneur dit-elle croyez vous que vostre mort luy fust agreable non repliqua t'il je la croy trop bonne pour cela mais ma vie luy est si inutile et luy donne tant de deplaisirs qu'il me semble en quelque sorte juste de ne la conserver pas par une voye ou elle s'expose sans doute a entendre du moins beaucoup de choses fascheuses du roy son pere assurez la donc luy dit il qu'elle peut me laisser mourir sans que j'en murmure dites luy cylenise que je ne sens mon malheur que pour l'amour d'elle que je ne trouve ma prison rude que parce que je ne la voy plus et que pourveu que je ne perde point son amitie je me consoleray sans peine de la perte d'une couronne et mesme de celle de ma vie comme ils en estoient la un soldat 
 qui avoit discerne la voix d'une femme et qui n'estoit pas de ceux qui estoient gagnez en fut advertir le gouverneur qui se louant aussi tost fit mettre tous ses gens en armes ut a la chambre de cleandre fit ouvrir la porte de ce pont et fit sortir quelques uns de ses soldats pour s'eclaircir de ce qu'on luy avoit dit tegee s'y voulut opposer mais il n'estoit pas le plus fort et son pere le fit prendre luy mesme cependant cylenise et sa compagne oyant ce bruit et entendant ouvrir la porte voulurent fuir et regagner celle du jardin mais il leur fut impossible et cleandre voyant prendre une fille de la princesse devant luy et pour l'amour de luy sans la pouvoir secourir disoit et faisoit des choses capables de descouvrir ce qu'il avoit si long temps cache comme cylenise vit venir ces soldats a elle et qu'il n'y avoit point de moyen d'echaper elle fit tourner le ressort de la lampe et se faisant connoistre a eux ils en furent si surpris qu'ils changerent leur violence en civilite n'y ayant pas un de ces soldats qui ne l'eust veue cent fois aupres de la princesse quand elle alloit se promener a la citadelle cette fille qui a sans doute beaucoup d'esprit leur dit que le danger ou j'estois pour l'amour de cleandre estant la cause de ce qu'elle faisoit on ne devoit pas trouver estrange qu'elle voulust sauver la vie a un de ses parents en concertant avec celuy qui l'avoit mis en peine par quelle voye on pourroit faire connoistre son innocence ces soldats l'escouterent paisiblement et mesme ils ne la contredirent point toutesfois ils la menerent avec sa compagne au gouverneur de la citadelle qu'elle voulut persuader de la rendre a la princesse sans faire scavoir au 
 roy ce qui s'estoit passe mais elle n'en put venir a bout au contraire comme il estoit fort exact apres avoir fait mettre ces deux filles dans une chambre avec beaucoup de civilite et donne ordre que l'on gardast soigneusement les prisonniers et mesme son fils il envoya advertir le roy de ce qui s'estoit passe et envoya aussi vers la princesse luy demander pardon de ce qu'il retenoit deux filles qui estoient a elle presupposant disoit il qu'elle ne les voudroit plus advouer apres la hardie et criminelle action qu'elles avoient faite comme vous pouvez aisement vous imaginer les divers sentimens de toutes ces personnes je ne m'arresteray pas a vous les dire car je m'assure que vous comprenez facilement quelle fut la surprise de la princesse et son affliction le desespoir de cleandre celuy du pauvre tegee qui craignoit que cylenise qu'il aimoit ne le punist de la violence de son pere ou ne le soupconnast de l'avoir trahie l'embarras de cette fille aussi bien que de sa compagne et enfin l'estonnement de cresus d'aprendre l'action de cylenise il fut si grand que pour scavoir precisement ce que c'estoit il envoya ordre au gouverneur de la citadelle nomme pactias de la luy amener a l'heure mesme avec celle qui l'avoit accompagnee et en effet la chose fut executee comme il le vouloit quand cylenise fut en sa presence est il possible luy dit il que ma fille puisse avoir nourri aupres d'elle une personne capable de faire une action si esloignee de la modestie de son sexe seigneur luy dit-elle les aparences sont quelquesfois bien trompeuses et cette hardiesse qui vous paroist si criminelle vous paroistroit peut estre fort louable si vous estiez persuade des veritez 
 que je vay vous dire car enfin seigneur je suis parente de sosicle il est vray interrompit le roy mais c'estoit a cleandre que vous parliez je l'advoue encore repliqua t'elle car puis que c'est par luy que sosicle peut estre justifie il a bien falu parler a celuy qui peut faire connoistre son innocence quoy qu'il en soit cylenise dit-il croyez vous que ma fille trouve bon que vous sortiez de chez elle au milieu de la nuit et croyez vous que je me laisse persuader que vous ne parliez a cleandre que pour les interests de sosicle parlez cylenise parlez et decouvrez moy ingenument qui vous fait agir comme les choses en estoient la pactias s'aprocha de l'oreille du roy et luy dit tout bas a ce que l'on a sceu depuis que le soldat qui l'avoit adverti qu'il y avoit des gens sur le pont de la citadelle l'avoit assure avoir entendu le nom de la princesse en la bouche de cleandre et en celle de cylenise mais qu'il n'osoit pas luy respondre que cela fust vray et qu'il ne le luy disoit qu'afin qu'il interrogeast mieux cette fille le roy parut fort trouble de ce que pactias luy avoit dit car se souvenant tout d'un coup de la douleur que la princesse avoit temoigne avoir de la prison de cleandre et des soings qu'elle avoit pris a le vouloir justifier il creut qu'il y avoit sans doute quelque chose de cache que cylenise ne disoit pas de sorte que changeant sa facon d'agir avec elle il luy parla avec plus de rudesse qu'il n'avoit fait neantmoins quoy qu'il peust dire et quoy qu'il peust faire il ne put jamais l'obliger a dire rien contre la princesse mais la fille qui estoit avec elle n'estant ny si adroite ny si hardie ny mesme si affectionnee qu'elle et le roy s'estant advise de les faire 
 separer il l'obligea par promesses et par menaces a dire ce qu'elle scavoit elle dit donc ingenument que la princesse scavoit la chose mais croyant qu'elle la justifioit fort elle protestoit qu'assurement ce n'estoit que par la compassion qu'elle avoit de ces prisonniers qu'elle avoit envoye cylenise leur parler le roy voulut luy faire dire ce qu'elle avoit entendu pendant cette conversation de nuit mais elle ne put luy obeir car elle luy avoua qu'elle avoit eu tant de frayeur de se voir seule avec cylenise au lieu ou elles estoient et a l'heure qu'il estoit qu'elle n'avoit ouy leur conversation que fort confusement advouant toutesfois que le nom de la princesse y avoit este fort mesle il n'en falut pas davantage pour exciter un grand trouble dans l'ame du roy qui ne douta plus du tout qu'il n'y eust une intelligence secrette entre cleandre et la princesse sa fille il revit encore une fois cylenise mais il la vit avec tant de colere dans les yeux et tant de marques de fureur dans ses paroles qu'elle eut besoin de toute sa constance pour n'en estre pas ebranlee cependant on les remena a la citadelle et le roy envoya chez la princesse car il estoit desja jour pour luy ordonner de le venir trouver ce qu'elle fit a l'heure mesme il ne la vit pas plustost qu'il commanda qu'on le laissast seul avec elle et on ne luy eut pas plustost obei que la regardant avec beaucoup de fierte le n'eusse jamais creu luy dit-il que vous eussiez eu le coeur si bas que de vouloir lier une affection particuliere avec un homme inconnu avec un homme dis-je qui est assurement d'une naissance fort mauvaise puis qu'il a la laschete de faire une imposture pour sauver sa vie en se disant fils de roy un homme enfin 
 qui apres tant de bien-faits qu'il a receus de moy m'a trahy et a voulu renverser mon estat la princesse entendant parler le roy de cette sorte creut que cylenise luy avoit tout advoue si bien que ne voulant pas nier une verite fort innocente et se rendre effectivement criminelle par un mensonge elle se resolut de ne luy deguiser rien seigneur luy dit elle je voy bien que je vous parois fort coupable mais graces aux dieux j'ay la satisfaction de scavoir que je ne la suis pas autant que vous le croyez quoy interrompit il vous ne l'estes pas infiniment d'avoir une intelligence secrette avec un criminel d'estat si le moindre de mes subjets adjousta t'il en avoit fait autant que vous il perdroit la vie infailliblement jugez donc si vostre crime n'est pas plus grand que ne seroit le sien vous qui estes ma fille qui estes interessee en la gloire de mon regne et au bien de mes peuples et qui ne devez enfin avoir autre interest que le mien seigneur luy dit elle si j'en avois eu d'autre je me croirois sans doute fort coupable mais cela n'estant pas je vous supplie tres humblement de me donner un quart d'heure d'audience pour me justifier le roy faisant alors un grand effort sur luy mesme se teut et la laissa parler cette sage princesse commenca son discours adroitement par l'amitie que le roy avoit eue pour cleandre dans son enfance par celle des princes ses freres par l'estime qu'elle en avoit fait repassant aussi en peu de mots et avec beaucoup d'art tous les services qu'il avoit rendus au roy ses victoires ses conquestes et toutes les grandes choses qu'il avoit faites disant pourtant tout cela de facon qu'il ne sembloit pas qu'elle l'affectast et paroissant au contraire qu'elle ne le disoit 
 que parce que sa justification vouloit qu'elle le dist cependant seigneur luy dit elle apres avoir rappelle malgre luy dans sa memoire tout ce qu'il devoit a cleandre cet homme si illustre en toutes choses a qui le prince atys devoit la vie et a qui je dois la vostre n'auroit jamais obtenu aucune place particuliere dans mon coeur sans deux considerations tres puissantes l'une que j'ay sceu que vous aviez dessein de me commander de l'espouser au retour de cette campagne l'autre que j'ay apris qu'il est d'une naissance egale a la mienne joint qu'outre ces deux raisons je scay de certitude qu'il ne vous a point voulu trahir et qu'il n'a point de passion plus violente que celle de pouvoir reconnoistre vos bienfaits le roy surpris et en colere de voir que la princesse sa fille scavoit le dessein qu'il avoit eu touchant son mariage luy dit en l'interrompant vous deviez du moins attendre que je vous eusse commande d'espouser cleandre a luy donner des marques de vostre affection mais puis que vous estes si obeissante a mes volontez que vous l'eussiez espouse si je l'eusse voulu haissez-le aussi quand je le veux et regardez la punition que je veux faire de son crime sans y prendre autre interest que le mien s'il estoit criminel je le ferois luy repliqua t'elle mais estant innocent et fils d'un grand roy je croy seigneur que c'est vous servir que de vous empescher d'attirer sur vous la colere des dieux en perdant un prince qui ne vous a point offense car enfin timocreon thimettes et acrate ne disent point un mensonge quand ils assurent que cleandre est fils du roy de phrigie j'ay veu moy mesme toutes les choses qui justifient sa naissance et je 
 scay de plus qu'il n'alloit pas se jetter dans le parti de vostre ennemi pour vous combattre vous en scavez trop luy dit cresus en l'interrompant et quand vous n'auriez point fait d'autre crime que celuy d'estre informee si particulierement a ce que vous dites des pensees les plus secrettes d'un homme comme cleandre inconnu et criminel vous seriez assez coupable pour estre indigne de pardon mais seigneur luy dit-elle puis que je ne puis me justifier envers vous qu'en justifiant cleandre et qu'en vous faisant voir sa veritable condition pourquoy ne voulez vous pas vous en donner a vous mesme la patience quoy luy dit-il vous voulez que je croye a vos paroles parce que vous avez peut estre creu a celles de cleandre avec beaucoup de legerete encore ne scay je adjousta t'il si vous n'estes point complice de cette imposture grossiere qui fait qu'il se dit fils de roy justement lors qu'il est accuse d'un crime qui met sa vie en danger enfin ou font toutes ces marques convainquantes vous dites les avoir veues mais vous ne les pouvez faire voir car pour ce tableau que toute la cour a veu et que j'ay veu comme les autres cela ne conclut rien non plus que toutes ces autres choses a la reserve de la lettre du roy de phrigie pour celle la j'advoue que comme je connois son caractere elle auroit este de quelque consideration mais on s'est contente de vous la monstrer a vous qui ne la pouviez connoistre et on ne me l'a pas monstree a moy parce que l'en aurois descouvert la faussete en un mot cleandre est un inconnu vous ne l'avez deu regarder que comme tel vous n'avez pas mesme deu croire que je vous deusse commander de 
 l'espouser que je ne vous l'eusse dit moy mesme et je ne scay encore si par quelque bizarre raison d'estat je vous l'avois commande si vous eussiez deu m'obeir sans repugnance de plus quand cleandre seroit fils de roy vous n'auriez pas deu encore avoir une intelligence secrette aveques luy outre cela se disant estre fils de mon ennemy estoit il juste de ne me le faire pas scavoir a l'heure mesme et ne deviez vous pas presupposer que cette seule qualite suffisoit pour m'empescher de souffrir jamais qu'il entrast dans mon alliance concluons donc que de quelque facon que je considere ce que vous avez fait je vous voy si criminelle que je ne vous scaurois plus voir c'est pourquoy retirez vous a vostre apartement et attendez y mes ordres sans vous mesler plus de la justification de cleandre puis que la mienne est inseparablement attachee a celle de ce malheureux prince repliqua t'elle il me semble seigneur que c'est me faire un commandement fort injuste allez luy dit-il allez ne me repondez pas davantage et sans songer a vostre pretendue innocence pensez seulement a prier les dieux qu'ils vous pardonnent car pour moy je ne vous scaurois pardonner la princesse palmis voulut encore luy repliquer quelque chose mais il l'en empescha et commanda au lieutenant de ses gardes qui se trouva aupres de luy de la remener a sa chambre et de luy respondre de sa personne cette princesse voyant donc qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de flechir le roy son pere luy obeit les larmes aux yeux et s'en retourna chez elle sans avoir mesme la consolation d'avoir sa chere cylenise a se pleindre de ses malheurs sa chambre estant devenue sa prison 
 personne n'eut plus la liberte de la voir non pas mesme le prince myrsile parce qu'il avoit toujours paru fort affectionne a cleandre la princesse de clasomene la demanda mais ce fut inutilement abradate s'empressa aussi beaucoup pour luy rendre quelque service et toutesfois il n'en put venir a bout le prince mexaris quoy que peut-estre bien aise de tous ces desordres en parut neantmoins fasche la princesse anaxilee veusve du prince atys se souvenant de l'obstacle que la princesse avoit autrefois aporte a son mariage n'en usa pas trop genereusement mais pour esope il agit tousjours egalement bien et quoy qu'il sceust la cour admirablement sa philosophie enjouee et divertissante eut pourtant toute la solidite imaginable car il parla tousjours au roy avec beaucoup de hardiesse et pour palmis et pour cleandre menecee fut aussi tres genereux et il parla si hautement que le roy s'en fascha et ne l'employa plus dans ses conseils luy deffendant absolument de publier que cleandre se disoit fils de roy pour artesilas tout amant qu'il estoit de la princesse palmis il ne s'affligea pas de sa prison avec exces parce qu'il espera que cette facheuse avanture l'obligeroit peut-estre a se repentir de l'affection qu'elle avoit pour pour cleandre et il espera mesme agir avec tant d'adresse qu'aveques le temps il pourroit faire en sorte qu'elle croiroit luy devoir sa liberte cependant cleandre ayant sceu le lendemain par quelqu'un de ses gardes que la princesse estoit prisonniere sentit un redoublement de douleur si grand que tontes celles qu'il avoit souffertes en toute sa vie n'estoient rien en comparaison aussi voyoit il sa fortune en un pitoyable estat il 
 scavoit de certitude qu'il estoit fils de roy sans avoir plus en sa puissance ce qui le pouvoit justifier et le faire scavoir aux autres il paroissoit ingrat et criminel envers cresus sans pouvoir luy donner de preuves convainquantes du contraire il n'ignoroit pas qu'il estoit aime de la princesse qu'il armoit mais il voyoit que selon les apparences il ne la verroit plus jamais en estat de luy pouvoir donner de nouvelles marques d'affection et il aprenoit qu'elle estoit prisonniere pour l'amour de luy cette derniere consideration estoit si forte dans son esprit qu'il ne songeoit plus a toutes les autres choses qui le devoient affliger jusques la il avoit porte ses fers sans les vouloir rompre mais des qu'il sceut que la princesse estoit en prison il ne songea plus qu'a sa liberte afin de l'aller delivrer il prioit ses gardes d'aller dire au roy qu'on le fist mourir pourveu qu'on delivrast la princesse et il donna enfin de si grandes marques d'amour et d'une maniere si touchante qu'un de ses gardes en effet s'offrit a faire du moins tout ce qu'il pourroit pour sa consolation s'il ne faisoit rien pour sa liberte cleandre acceptant son offre le conjura d'aller au palais et de s'informer bien exactement quel ordre il y avoit a garder la princesse afin de pouvoir apres juger s'il y auroit impossibilite de luy faire tenir un billet cet homme officieux fit ce que cleandre luy dit et fut effectivement au palais mais comme il n'estoit pas aussi adroit que bien intentionne quelques uns de ces gens qui s'empressent ordinairement tant aupres des rois lors qu'il s'agit de rendre de mauvais offices scachant que ce soldat estoit des gardes de cleandre en advertit cresus qui le fit prendre aussi tost et 
 comme il ne dit pas une bonne raison de ce qu'il estoit alle faire au palais et que quelques uns de ceux a qui il avoit parle dirent qu'il leur avoit demande quel ordre on observoit a garder la princesse on le mit en prison et le roy creut que l'on vouloit songer a la delivrer si bien que pour la mettre en un lieu qu'il croyoit inviolable et pour l'esloigner de cleandre qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre de faire mourir quelque irrite qu'il fust contre luy il fit conduire le lendemain cette princesse a ephese dans le temple de diane ordonnant a celle qui commande les cent vierges voilees qui y font de ne la laisser parler a qui que ce fust faisant delivrer la compagne de cylenise et faisant mettre aussi en liberte le fils de pactias a cause de la fidelite de son pere cette sage princesse demanda a prendre conge du roy mais il luy refusa cette grace en suitte elle pria que du moins on luy rendist cylenise et qu'on luy donnast mesme prison qu'a elle ce qu'on luy refusa encore de sorte que le jour suivant sans que personne eust la liberte de la voir elle partit de sardis escortee par cinq cens chevaux pour s'en aller a ephese qui n'en est qu'a trois journees seulement mais madame comme pour y aller il faloit de necessite passer par derriere les jardins du palais et devant la citadelle justement vis a vis de la fenestre par ou cleandre avoit parle a cylenise il arriva que ce malheureux prince se promenant dans sa chambre et s'entretenant tousjours de ses infortunes vit passer cette princesse et la reconnut et qu'elle aussi levant les yeux pour regarder cette mesme fenestre en passant y vit cleandre de vous dire madame ce que ces deux illustres personnes 
 sentirent en cet instant et de vous exagerer tout ce que cette veue eut de douloureux et pour l'un et pour l'autre il ne seroit pas aise cleandre eust bien voulu pouvoir rompre ses grilles la princesse eust du moins souhaite pouvoir faire aller son chariot un peu plus lentement mais enfin marchant tousjours ils se virent assez pour redoubler toutes leurs douleurs et ils ne se virent pas autant qu'il faloit pour en pouvoir tirer quelque consolation la princesse luy fit toutesfois un signe de teste et de main qui luy fit comprendre qu'elle le pleignoit dans ses infortunes et il luy fit connoistre aussi par une action tumultueuse et violente quoy que pleine de respect quel estoit le trouble de son ame cependant le chariot marchant tousjours ils ne se virent bientost plus mais la princesse regarda pourtant encore long temps le lieu de la prison de cleandre a ce que m'a dit un de ceux qui l'accompagnerent depuis cela madame la cour de lydie fut aussi melancolique qu'elle avoit este agreable et divertissante le mariage d'abradate et de la princesse de clasomene ne laissa pas toutesfois de se faire cependant artesilas ne vint pas a bout de tous ses desseins car il ne put obliger cresus a faire mourir cleandre ny a rapeller la princesse palmis joint que cresus qui scavoit que le roy de phrigie estoit entre dans les estats fut contraint d'aller en personne a l'armee et ce fut une des raisons qui l'obligerent d'envoyer la princesse sa fille a ephese ne voulant pas qu'elle demeurast au mesme lieu ou cleandre estoit prisonnier les affaires generales changerent pourtant de face car comme vous le scavez le roy d'affine qui avoit en 
 leve la princesse mandane envoya solliciter ces deux rois qui estoient ses alliez d'entrer dans son parti ce qu'ils firent l'un et l'autre par politique faisant une tresve entre eux pendant qu'ils iroient secourir le roy d'assirie et s'opposer a la puissance des medes qu'ils redoutoient ou plustost a la valeur de l'illustre cyrus sous le nom d'artamene si redoutable par toute l'asie le roy de phrigie demanda toutesfois malgre la tresve que ses troupes ne fussent pas meslees aux troupes lydiennes enfin madame vous scavez trop bien tout ce qui s'est passe en asie depuis ce temps la pour vous en entretenir joint que cleandre n'y ayant aucune part puis qu'il a tousjours este en prison je n'ay rien a vous en dire car apres la premiere deffaite du roy d'assirie cresus ayant eu quelque mescontentement de luy se retira et retourna a sardis sans changer rien ny a nostre prison ny a celle de la princesse cependant artesilas n'estoit pas non plus trop heureux puis que ne pouvant faire absolument perir son rival ny voir sa maistresse on peut dire qu'il s'estoit puny luy mesme d'une partie de ses crimes pour cleandre comme il est soit aimable il se fit aimer de ses gardes et jusques au point qu'ils luy laissoient la liberte d'escrire et de recevoir des lettres malgre les deffences de pactias de sorte qu'il escrivit a esope afin qu'il luy donnast moyen de pouvoir donner de ses nouvelles a la princesse ce qu'esope luy accorda sans que j'aye pu descouvrir encore par quelle voye il le put faire cependant cleandre thimettes timocreon acrate et moy vivions dans une melancolie estrange et nous vescusmes tousjours ainsi jusques a ce que cresus estant en 
 inquietude d'aprendre les prodigieuses victoires de l'illustre cyrus envoya par tous les celebres oracles qui sont au monde sans que j'aye pourtant sceu ce qu'il leur a fait demander car on n'en estoit pas encore revenu quand je suis party de sardis mais pendant le voyage de tous ces ambassadeurs qu'il a envoyez consulter les dieux il ne laissa pas de faire de grandes levees il envoya diverses personnes chez divers princes et il estoit enfin si occupe de quelque grand dessein qu'il avoit et qu'il a encore assurement dans l'esprit qu'il songeoit beaucoup moins a cleandre or madame pour accourcir mon recit il faut que je me haste de vous dire que cresus estant alle faire la reveue de ses troupes tegee fils de pactias et amant de cylenise trama avec menecee et trouva les voyes de nous delivrer l'amour l'emportant dans son coeur sur toute autre consideration il eust peut-estre bien voulu ne delivrer que cylenise mais menecee dont il avoit besoin ne voulant l'assister que pour delivrer cleandre thimettes timocreon acrate et moy il falut qu'il s'y resolust de sorte qu'une nuit que je ne songeois pas seulement a la liberte tegee qui avoit suborne la plus grande partie des gardes de cleandre et de la garnison de pactias entra dans la citadelle car il n'y avoit plus loge depuis l'avanture de cylenise et allant a la chambre de cleandre il luy dit qu'il estoit libre et en suitte passant a celles ou nous estions tous nous nous trouvasmes en liberte quand nous n'y pensions point du tout et mesme le garde qui avoit voulu servir cleandre ce qui facilita la chose fut que pactias estoit alle pour deux jours seulement hors de sardis et qu'artesilas estoit avecques 
 le roy de plus menecee qui avoit conduit l'entreprise avoit cinquante chevaux tous prests pour nous faire escorte si bien que sans combat et sans grand tumulte nous sortismes de la citadelle par cette mesme porte par ou la pauvre cylenise y estoit entree j'oubliois toutesfois de vous dire que tegee ne fut a la chambre de cleandre pour le delivrer qu'apres avoir este a celle de cylenise pour laquelle il y eut un chariot tout prest au sortir de la citadelle cependant comme menecee a beaucoup d'amis dans ephese que de plus c'est un lieu ou il est plus facile de se cacher qu'en tout autre a cause de ce grand abord d'etrangers que le fameux temple de diane y attire et qu'outre cela il est aussi plus aise d'y fuir quand on le veut parce que la mer y donne il fut resolu que ce seroit la qu'on se retireroit et d'autant plus que cleandre ne vouloit point aller ailleurs a cause de la princesse palmis et que personne ne le voulut abandonner joint aussi que le gouverneur d'ephese estoit amy si particulier de menecee que quand il l'auroit reconnu il ne craignoit pas qu'il l'eust voulu perdre ny ses amis non plus que luy enfin madame quand nous fusmes a une journee de sardis nous nous deguisasmes tous le mieux que nous peusmes et cylenise avec une fille qu'on luy avoit donnee pour la servir et qui ne la quitta point firent aussi la mesme chose de sorte que nous arrivasmes a ephese comme des estrangers qui alloient visiter le temple de diane menecee fit mesme entrer par diverses portes tous ces cavaliers qui nous avoient escortez resolu d'avoir tousjours de quoy se deffendre en cas qu'il en fust besoin la premiere chose 
 que fit cleandre fut de passer devant le temple de diane voulant du moins voir le lieu ou demeuroit sa princesse puis qu'il ne la pouvoit pas voir elle mesme cependant madame il arriva une chose assez extraordinaire pour la consolation de ces illustres amants qui fut que celle qui commande les vierges voilees et qui se nomme agesistrate se trouva estre soeur d'une dame d'ephese dont menecee dans sa jeunesse avoit este fort amoureux et qu'il auroit espousee si ses parents ne s'y fussent pas opposez si bien que cette dame luy ayant cette obligation il estoit tousjours demeure une grande amitie entre eux quoy qu'il y eust long-temps qu'ils ne se fussent veus menecee luy ayant mesme rendu des services considerables aupres de cresus en la personne du mary qu'elle avoit espouse et qui estoit mort depuis ce temps la enfin menecee se confiant a elle luy representant l'injustice de cresus de ne vouloir pas souffrir que cleandre se justifiast et que la princesse sa fille fist voir son innocence il fit si bien qu'elle obtint de sa soeur que cylenise entreroit dans l'enclos du temple et seroit mise aupres de la princesse n'osant pas encore luy demander la permission de la faire parler a cleandre de peur d'estre refuse et de luy nuire au lieu de le servir il vous est aise de vous imaginer quelle joye fut celle de la princesse palmis de revoir sa chere cylenise et d'aprendre par elle que cleandre estoit hors de prison et qu'il estoit mesme a ephese ce n'est pas qu'elle n'eust beaucoup d'inquietude par la crainte qu'elle avoit qu'il ne fust reconnu et qu'il ne fust repris mais enfin cylenise luy ayant dit qu'il sortoit peu si ce n'estoit vers le soir ou 
 le matin pour aller au temple et que de plus il estoit fort bien desguise elle se consola et se r'assura mesme un peu il est vray que la liberte de cleandre resserra la prison de la princesse s'il est permis de nommer ainsi un lieu si sacre que celuy la car des que cresus sceut que cleandre estoit delivre il vint de nouveaux ordres a agesistrate de prendre encore garde de plus pres a la princesse palmis mais comme l'amie de menecee estoit pour nous le redoublement des gardes ne servit de rien il arriva mesme un cas fortuit fort estrange qui fut que cleandre retrouva dans la maison ou il estoit loge tout ce qui pouvoit servir a sa reconnoissance et voicy comme la chose estoit arrivee nous sceusmes donc que ce domestique de mon pere qui estoit charge de toutes ces choses et de beaucoup d'autres encore voyant son maistre prisonnier s'estoit resolu de derober tout ce qu'il avoit a luy et qu'il s'estoit alle embarquer a ephese que connoissant un serviteur de cette maison il luy avoit laisse beaucoup de choses a garder et entre les autres tout ce qui pouvoit servir a la reconnoissance de cleandre luy declarant que s'il mouroit il luy donnoit tout ce qu'il luy laissoit entre les mains et luy disant qu'il n'oseroit revenir que son maistre ne fust hors de peine mais en effet il est a croire qu'il pensoit que cresus feroit mourir mon pere et qu'apres il pourroit revenir a ephese et y jouir en repos de son larcin cependant comme il s'embarqua dans un vaisseau de la ville et qu'il n'alla qu'a l'isle de chio son amy avoit souvent de ses nouvelles mais il aprit enfin qu'il estoit mort lors que cleandre estoit loge chez son maistre qui estoit amy particulier 
 lier de menecee de sorte que voulant voir ce qu'on luy avoit donne il visita toutes les choses que ce domestique de mon pere luy avoit laissees et y trouva toutes celles dont je vous ay desja parle si bien que ne pouvant cacher sa richesse dans la joye qu'il avoit de la posseder il fit voir ce petit tableau a la femme de son maistre qui trouvant quelque legere ressemblance de cet amour que vous scavez qui y est represente avec cleandre le luy fit voir comme un cas fortuit tort extraordinaire si bien madame que par la nous recouvrasmes tout ce qui avoit este perdu en recompensant celuy a qui on l'avoit donne je vous laisse a juger de la joye de cleandre de voir qu'il retrouvoit une couronne lors qu'il n'avoit plus d'esperance de la posseder il fit donc scavoir a la princesse palmis cette prodigieuse rencontre mais quoy que menecee peust faire il luy fut impossible d'obtenir pour cleandre la permission de voir la princesse et tout ce que nous peusmes fut que par l'adresse de cylenise il eut la liberte de luy ecrire et qu'elle eut la bonte de luy repondre cependant nous ne scavions pas trop bien que faire parce que cleandre ne pouvoit se refondre de s'en aller se faire reconnoistre au roy son pere et laisser la princesse palmis a ephese il n'osoit aussi songer a l'enlever de la quand mesme elle y auroit consenty ne scachant pas s'il trouveroit un azile assure pour elle et s'il seroit reconnu pour ce qu'il estoit il n'osoit non plus songer a faire scavoir a cresus qu'il avoit retrouve tout ce qui pouvoit servir a la reconnoissance ayant sceu par une lettre de la princesse que la qualite de fils du roy de phrigie ne luy seroit pas avantageuse dans l'esprit du 
 roy son pere estant donc fort incertain de ce qu'il feroit il sceut deux choses en un mesme jour qui luy firent prendre la resolution que je vous diray la premiere fut que je luy dis que j'avois veu aborder un vaisseau cilicien dans lequel estoit le roy de pont et la princesse mandane et l'autre fut qu'il estoit venu un ordre absolu de cresus de faire prendre l'habit des vierges voilees a la princesse sa fille et de la disposer a faire les derniers voeux quand il en seroit temps je vous laisse a juger combien cette rigueur de cresus toucha cleandre et combien la princesse palmis en fut affligee car outre qu'elle n'avoit point cette intention cleandre ne luy estoit pas assez indifferent pour pouvoir obeir au roy son pere sans beaucoup de peine agesistrate protesta mesme a la princesse qu'elle ne la recevroit pas quand elle le voudroit parce que cette volonte seroit forcee cela estant absolument oppose a leurs coustumes les choses estant en ces termes la princesse mandane se deroba de ceux qui l'observoient et se jetta dans le temple de diane comme a un azile et en effet le roy de pont ne put l'en retirer parce que le peuple voulut se souslever contre luy lors qu'il voulut l'entreprendre mais madame elle n'y fut pas plustost que cleandre creut avoir trouve un moyen infaillible d'obtenir un azile inviolable pour sa princesse s'il pouvoit enlever mandane en enlevant la princesse palmis afin de l'oster au roy de pont et de la rendre a ciaxare ou en son absence a l'illustre cyrus car disoit-il si ce dessein reussit quand mesme le roy mon pere qui est aupres de luy ne me voudroit pas reconnoistre le service que j'auray rendu a une princesse si considerable 
 et a un si grand prince meritera du moins que j'obtienne de cyrus qu'il protege la princesse palmis et il est mesme a croire adjoutoit-il que le ciel favorisera un dessein qui n'a rien que de juste puis que pour delivrer une princesse innocente j'en arracheray une autre des mains de son ravisseur pour la redonner au roy son pere enfin cette pensee sembla si raisonnable pourveu qu'on la peust executer qu'elle ne fut point contestee luy par thimettes ny par menecee ny par tegee ny par mon pere ny par moy nous cherchasmes donc promptement les voyes de faire ce que cleandre avoit imagine nous avions bien quelques gens a nous mais nous n'en avions pas assez pour avoir recours a la force ouverte il falut donc agir avec adresse et menecee employa si utilement le pouvoir qu'il avoit sur l'esprit de son ancienne maistresse qu'elle le fit parler a sa soeur qui est une personne de beaucoup de vertu et de beaucoup d'esprit et de qui l'ame est grande et hardie il la vit donc et luy representa de telle sorte l'injustice de cresus et celle du roy de pont qui la forca d'avouer que quiconque pourroit mettre en lieu seur la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis feroit une action agreable aux dieux elle ne luy eut pas plustost dit cela que la prenant par ses propres paroles il luy dit que c'estoit donc a elle a faire une action si genereuse il ne put toutesfois l'obliger de remettre ces deux princesses entre ses mains mais elle luy aprit qu'il y avoit une regle parmy elles qui portoit qu'il n'estoit pas permis de refuser de laisser sortir une fois celles qui devoient prendre l'habit des vierges voilees afin qu'il parust qu'elles le venoient demander sans contrainte 
 que de cette sorte si la princesse palmis vouloit elle pouvoit demander cette grace et faire sortir en mesme temps qu'elle la princesse mandane qu'elle donneroit ordre que la chose se fist un jour que le roy de pont ne le scauroit point et par une porte ou l'on ne faisoit pas une garde fort exacte parce que l'on ne l'ouvroit jamais et qu'alors si elles y consentoient elles pourroient se confier a cleandre apres cela ayant obtenu la permission de parler a cylenise et cylenise ayant menage l'esprit de la princesse palmis et celuy de la princesse mandane qui ont fait une grande amitie ensemble en peu de jours il a este resolu que la princesse palmis feindra de vouloir obeir au roy son pere et qu'un jour suivant la coustume elle demandera a sortir et sortira en effet accompagnee de la princesse mandane avec leurs femmes et qu'a trois pas du temple il y aura un chariot pour mettre ces princesses que cleandre menecee timocreon tegee et leurs gens les escorteront jusques au bord de la mer qui est fort proche ou une barque les attendra pour les mener en phrigie et de la ils viendront par terre icy de sorte que quand je suis party la barque estoit desja retenue et toutes choses estoient si bien disposees pour executer cette entreprise que selon les aparences elle ne peut avoir manque ce qui la facilite encore est que le roy de pont s'est un peu blesse a une jambe un cheval s'estant abatu sous luy en allant de la vieille ville a la ville neusve ou est le temple de diane et qu'ainsi quand la chose feroit quelque bruit il n'y pourroit pas aller car enfin il garde le lit avec assez de douleur et sans qu'il puisse marcher la princesse palmis a pourtant 
 voulu que cleandre luy promist par une lettre qu'il la laissera tousjours aupres de la princesse mandane jusques a ce qu'il ait fait sa paix avec cresus et qu'il le soit fait reconnoistre par le roy de phrigie cependant pour agir plus seurement menecee fit resoudre cleandre a envoyer thimettes acrate et moy vers le roy son pere avec toutes les choses qui pouvoient servir a la reconnoissance du prince son fils afin de luy preparer l'esprit a le mieux recevoir et afin aussi d'advertir t'illustre cyrus de l'office que le genereux cleandre luy veut rendre pour meriter sa protection j'oubliois de vous dire que pendant que nous avons este a ephese thimettes a sceu fortuitement que ses amis avoient fait sa paix avec le roy son maistre de sorte que s'estant presente a luy sans rien craindre ce prince ne l'a pas plustost veu qu'il luy a donne beaucoup de marques de tendresse mais quand apres cela il luy a eu apris tout ce que je viens de vous dire qu'il luy a eu monstre ce petit tableau ces tablettes et toutes les autres choses dont il estoit charge que ce prince a eu leu sa lettre et le billet de sa chere elsimene dont il a reconnu d'abord l'escriture il en a eu tant de joye et tant de douleur tout ensemble qu'il n'a jamais pense pouvoir se determiner a laquelle des deux il devoit abandonner son ame comme j'ay este celuy qui ay eu l'honneur de luy raconter toute cette histoire qu'il a escoutee avec une attention extreme j'ay aussi este le tesmoing de cette agreable irresolution mais enfin le plaisir d'avoir un fils et un fils si illustre l'ayant un peu console de la perte de sa chere elsimene il a voulu voir acrate qui par son repentir a obtenu son pardon facilement 
 ce prince a aussi voulu confronter ce tableau avec celuy qu'il garde tousjours et qui fut fait en mesme temps que l'autre et ne pouvant se laisser de regarder le billet d'elsimene dont il reconnoissoit si bien l'escriture que comme je l'ay dit il ne pouvoit pas douter que ce n'en fust il a donne cent marques de gratitude et de reconnoissance et a thimettes et a moy et tout impatient d'apprendre cette agreable nouvelle a l'illustre cyrus il l'est alle trouver a l'heure mesme et m'a commande de le suivre laissant thimettes et acrate dans la liberte de se reposer car nous sommes venus avec une diligence extreme ainsi madame j'espere que dans d'eux ou trois jours on aura nouvelle assuree que cette entreprise importante aura heureusement reussi
 
 
 
 
sosicle ayant finy son recit la princesse araminte le remercia de la peine qu'il avoit eue de parler si long temps et le loua fort d'avoir sceu demesler si nettement une histoire dont les evenemens estoient si extraordinaires et si embrouillez cyrus de son coste luy dit cent choses tres obligeantes apres quoy sosicle s'estant retire seigneur dit la princesse araminte a cyrus n'aurez vous pas la generosite de me promettre que quand les dieux vous auront rendu la princesse mandane vous ne regarderez plus le roy mon frere comme vostre rival je vous promets bien plus que cela luy repliqua t'il puis que je vous promets de le servir malgre luy comme son amy que je veux estre et de luy redonner la couronne de pont car pour celle de bithinie luy dit il en sous-riant il la faut laisser entre les mains d'arsamone afin que le prince spitridate vous la puisse donner un jour comme ils en estoient-la le roy 
 de phrigie arriva a qui la princesse araminte tesmoigna la joye qu'elle avoit d'avoir apris qu'il avoit un fils si illustre et repassant alors les plus considerables evenemens de sa vie ils ne pouvoient assez admirer la merveilleuse conduite des dieux en toutes choses pour moy disoit le roy de phrigie toutes les fois que je me souviens de la sorte repugnance que j'avois a la guerre que je faisois contre cresus je ne puis pas douter que les dieux ne m'advertissent que je ne la devois pas faire cependant adjoustoit-il si je puis avoir la joye de voir que mon fils rende la princesse mandane a l'illustre cyrus je ne demande plus rien aux dieux ce bonheur est trop grand interrompit ce prince en souspirant et quoy que je face je ne le puis presque esperer vous le devez pourtant repliqua la princesse araminte puis que de la facon dont sosicle a raconte la chose elle paroist indubitable quand je fus a sinope reprit cyrus qui m'eust dit que je ne delivrerois pas mandane je ne l'eusse pas creu et quand nous prismes babilone je n'aurois pas non plus pense qu'elle en eust pu sortir enfin apres s'estre encore entretenus quelque temps de cette sorte comme il estoit desja tard cyrus prit conge de la princesse araminte et s'en retourna au camp suivi du roy de phrigie l'esprit partage de crainte et d'esperance et absolument occupe par sa chere princesse ordonnant toutesfois auparavant a araspe de faire scavoir a la reine de la susiane qu'il estoit bien marri de son mal et luy commandant tout de nouveau d'en avoir tout le soing imaginable 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 jamais l'esperance n'a donne de plus doux moments aux malheureux qu'elle a flatez et jamais la crainte n'a aussi donne de plus cruelles inquietudes a ceux qu'on luy a veu tourmenter que ces deux sentimens contraires en donnerent et a cyrus et au roy d'assirie mandane delivree ou bien mandane captive occupoit tousjours leur esprit 
 et selon que cette image se presentoit a eux ils avoient de la douleur ou de la joye quoy qu'ils eussent pourtant tousjours l'un et l'autre quelque deplaisir parmy leur satisfaction de penser que si mandane estoit en liberte elle n'y estoit pas par leur assistance neantmoins comme elle devoit recevoir cet office par un prince qui n'estoit point leur rival ce sentiment ne diminuoit pas beaucoup leur plaisir dans les moments ou ils en avoient et il y avoit des instants ou ne doutant point du tout qu'ils ne vissent bien-tost leur princesse ils songeoient desja chacun en particulier comment ils se pourroient vaincre l'un l'autre au combat qu'ils devoient faire trois jours se passerent de cette sorte pendant lesquels cyrus parla encore plusieurs fois a sosicle parce qu'il avoit veu sa princesse a ephese et pendant lesquels aussi le roy de phrigie entretint encore thimettes et acrate avec beaucoup de satisfaction par l'esperance qu'ils luy donnoient qu'il reverroit sur le visage de cleandre une ressemblance si parfaite de sa chere elsimene qu'il ne pourroit douter qu'il ne fust son fils la princesse araminte avoit aussi de la joye et de l'esperance croyant que si une fois le roy son frere n'avoit plus la princesse mandane en son pouvoir il se resoudroit a estre amy d'un prince qui luy offroit de le remettre sur le throsne et qu'ainsi elle pourroit un jour se voir en un estat plus heureux que celuy ou elle estoit pourveu que spitridate revinst la reine de la susiane quoy que captive et un peu malade avoit toutesfois la consolation d'estre servie avec le mesme respect que si elle eust este a suse car araspe executoit les ordres de cyrus avec beaucoup de joye et d'exactitude 
 et mesme avec tant d'assiduite aupres de cette belle et sage reine que cyrus qui l'aimoit se pleignit obligeamment de ce qu'il ne le voyoit presque plus enfin apres avoir passe trois jours de cette facon comme je l'ay desja dit timocreon arriva et fut trouver sosicle son fils pour apprendre de luy comment le roy de phrigie avoit receu les choses que thimettes acrate et luy avoient racontees a ce prince ayant donc apris la verite de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir il fut a la tente du roy de phrigie dans la quelle cyrus entra un moment apres que thimettes qui avoit joint timocreon le luy eut presente de sorte que ce prince qui n'avoit point de secret pour luy principalement en une occasion ou il avoit autant d'interest qu'il y en pouvoit avoir ne le vit pas plustost que luy adressant la parole seigneur luy dit-il voila ce mesme timocreon qui m'a conserve mon fils et qui vient vous aporter des nouvelles de la chose que vous avez tant d'envie de scavoir mais je ne scay point encore si elles sont bonnes ou mauvaises parce qu'il ne fait que d'arriver elles sont du moins mauvaises pour moy infailliblement reprit cyrus et je ne suis pas assez heureux pour aprendre aujourd'huy la liberte de la princesse mandane il est vray seigneur qu'elle n'est pas libre repartit timocreon mais il n'a pas tenu a l'illustre cleandre qu'elle ne le soit puis qu'il a fait des choses tres difficiles pour cela et sans un malheur que l'on ne pouvoit prevoir la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis seroient sans doute en liberte racontez-nous du moins reprit l'afflige cyrus de quels moyens la fortune s'est servie pour m'empescher d'estre heureux seigneur repondit 
 timocreon comme j'ay apris pat thimettes que vous scavez toutes choses jusques a son depart d'ephese je ne vous rediray point ce que l'on vous a desja dit mais je vous assureray que jamais entreprise n'a este mieux conduite que celle-la car des qu'agesistrate eut adverty menecee du jour que la princesse palmis devoit sortir qui devoit estre suivie de la princesse mandane de deux filles qui la servent et d'une qui est a la princesse de lydie menecee fit tenir la barque preste dont il s'estoit assure les cinquante hommes que nous avions dans la ville se tenant en embuscade sur toutes les advenues par ou l'on eust pu venir a la porte du temple par laquelle les princesses devoient sortir outre cela plus de trente amis de menecee se joignirent encore avec cleandre qui se mit a la teste de douze ou quinze seulement car on s'estoit ainsi partage par petites troupes afin que cela ne fist rien soupconner a ceux qui passoient il se placa mesme le plus pres qu'il put de la porte du temple y ayant un chariot a six pas de la pour conduire les princesses jusques a la mer qui en est assez proche et ou la barque les attendoit comme il n'y avoit que des sentinelles en ce lieu la parce que c'est une porte par ou l'on ne sort que rarement cela ne pouvoit faire aucun obstacle a cette entreprise et sans mesme les tuer il estoit aise de s'assurer d'eux sans que le corps de garde le plus proche s'en aperceust enfin seigneur toutes choses estant disposees pour executer nostre dessein la barque comme je l'ay desja dit estant preste le chariot estant venu et tous nos gens estant placez sur toutes les avenues du temple cleandre ne faisoit plus qu'attendre que la porte s'ouvrist et la 
 chose alla jusques au point qu'en effet elle s'ouvrit et je vy la princesse palmis qui vouloit faire passer devant elle une personne d'une beaute admirable que je crois estre la princesse mandane et que je ne fis qu'entre-voir car comme ces princesses alloient sortir que nous avancions deja pour les recevoir et que le chariot recula un pas afin qu'elles marchassent moins pour y entrer il sortit d'une maison qui est seule en cet endroit-la plus de deux cens hommes armez a la teste desquels estoit le prince artesilas je vous laisse donc a penser quelle surprise fut celle de cleandre qui n'avoit songe qu'a se precautionner contre les efforts que pourroient faire les gens du roy de pont lors qu'il se vit en teste le prince artesilas qu'il croyoit estre aupres de cresus mais si la surprise de cleandre fut grande celle d'artesilas ne fut pas petite de voir cleandre l'epee a la main qui se mit des qu'il l'aperceut entre luy et la porte du temple cependant aussi-tost que la princesse palmis vit artesilas elle recula et fit r'entrer la princesse mandane comme elle la porte de ce temple fut a l'instant refermee de sorte que cleandre ne pouvant plus delivrer sa princesse et artesilas ne la pouvant plus enlever comme il en avoit eu le dessein ces deux rivaux furent l'un contre l'autre avec une fureur aussi grande que la passion qui les faisoit agir estoit violente ils se dirent quelque chose l'un a l'autre mais a mon advis ils ne s'entendirent gueres cependant tous nos gens dispersez par diverses troupes se rassemblant autour de cleandre nous nous trouvasmes en estat non seulement de resister a artesilas mais mesme de le vaincre et en effet cleandre combatit avec tant de 
 courage qu'il tua son rival de sa propre main et plusieurs autres encore de sorte qu'apres la mort de ce prince ce qui restoit des siens se dispersa et disparut en un moment si bien que si a l'heure mesme on eust r'ouvert la porte du temple nous pouvions encore delivrer les princesses mais nous eusmes beau fraper a cette porte car a mon advis la frayeur estoit si grande parmy ces filles qu'elles n'oserent ouvrir joint qu'en mesme temps tous les gens du roy de pont et tous ceux du gouverneur d'ephese vinrent a nous et nous nous trouvasmes si accablez par la multitude que c'est un miracle de voir que nous en soyons echapez car cleandre ne pouvant se resoudre de se sauver dans la barque qui nous attendoit vouloit tousjours estre aupres de la porte de ce temple mais enfin voyant qu'il estoit absolument impossible de resister a tous ceux que nous avions alors sur les bras et sentant aussi qu'il estoit blesse a la main droite il se resolut de se retirer en combatant comme nous fismes jusques dans nostre barque ou nous entrasmes malgre ceux qui nous poursuivoient et nous nous eloignasmes du bord en diligence ils nous tirerent encore plusieurs traits et nous lancerent plusieurs javelines cependant quand nous fusmes assez loing pour ne craindre plus leurs fleches nous regardasmes si la blessure de cleandre estoit considerable et nous vismes qu'elle estoit plus incommode que dangereuse en suitte nous voulusmes voir si nous avions tous nos gens et a la reserve de dix ou douze des soldats que nous avions amenez a ephese et de ceux qui estans d'ephese mesme ne voulurent pas s'embarquer avecque nous nous trouvasmes que nous 
 n'avions perdu personne mais en faisant cette recherche je trouvay parmy nous un escuyer d'artesilas qui dans ce tumulte avoit encore mieux aime entrer dans nostre barque que de se laisser tuer ou de tomber vivant entre les mains du gouverneur d'ephese a peine eut il veu que je le reconnoissois et que je le monstrois a cleandre que se jettant a ses pieds seigneur luy dit-il je vous demande pardon d'avoit eu la hardiesse de chercher un azile aupres de vous mon amy luy dit cleandre la haine que j'avois pour ton maistre est morte avecque luy et ne s'estendra pas jusques a toy mais luy dit-il apprens nous du moins par quelle rencontre prodigieuse nous nous sommes trouvez aujourd'huy seigneur reprit cet escuyer personne ne vous peut mieux dire que moy quel estoit le dessein du prince que je servois car je n'ay que trop eu de connoissance de ses secrets depuis la fuitte du prince antaleon et alors comme s'il eust creu meriter beaucoup aupres de cleandre en noircissant son maistre au lieu de repondre precisement a ce qu'on luy demandoit il dit encore ce qu'on ne luy demandoit pas et nous raconta comment le prince artesilas avoit este de la conjuration criminelle du prince antaleon ce n'est pas que nous ne l'eussions desja sceu en allant de sadrdis a ephese mais il nous le dit plus exactement en suitte il nous apprit que ce prince ayant sceu l'ordre que cresus avoit envoye a agesistrate par lequel il vouloit que la princesse sa fille prist l'habit des vierges voilees il avoit este si desespere de voir que par la il auroit fait tant de crimes inutilement qu'il s'estoit enfin resolu d'en faire encore un qui luy fust utile 
 de sorte qu'il avoit forme le dessein d'enlever la princesse que pour cet effet il avoit quitte le roy sur quelque pretexte qu'il s'estoit deguise qu'il avoit fait entrer des soldats dans ephese deguisez aussi en paisans et les avoit enfermez dans cette maison d'ou nous les avions veu sortir et dont le maistre avoit autrefois este a luy il nous dit de plus qu'artesilas avoit resolu d'attendre durant quelques jours que l'on ouvrist la porte de ce temple pour s'en saisir et pour aller prendre la princesse palmis et l'emmener dans un vaisseau dont il estoit asseure avec intention si cette porte du temple ne s'ouvroit point durant trois jours de la forcer pendant une nuit et d'executer son entreprise comme il avoit voulu faire lors qu'il nous avoit rencontrez et que nous l'en avions empesche si bien que nous a prismes par le discours de cet escuyer que du moins cleandre avoit fait que la princesse n'avoit point este enlevee par artesilas et que les dieux s'estoient voulu servir de sa main pour le punir d'avoir eu part a une conjuration si noire comme avoit este celle du prince antaleon cependant la nuit estant venue nous fusmes mouiller a une petite ville ou nous fismes penser cleandre et trois ou quatre soldats qui estoient plus blessez que luy et que nous y laissasmes avec des gens pour en avoir soing en suitte quittant la mer et prenant des chevaux qui nous attendoient a cette ville et que nous y avions envoyez en cas que nostre entreprise manquast et que nous voulussions nous sauver par terre nous sommes venus icy nous nous sommes pourtant arrestez deux jours en chemin pour envoyer scavoir des nouvelles de la princesse 
 et nous avons sceu par un homme que menecee a envoye a la personne qui l'a si bien servy en cette occasion que la garde est presentement si exacte a l'entour du temple qu'il n'y a plus moyen d'y rien entreprendre joint qu'agesistrate mesme ne peut plus se resoudre a favoriser la sortie de ces princesses luy semblant que ce funeste accident luy marque clairement que les dieux n'ont pas approuve le consentement qu'elle y avoit donne mais en mesme temps nous avons sceu que la princesse palmis est absolument resolue de ne faire point ce que le roy son pere veut qu'elle face et que ce sera agesistrate qui mandera au roy qu'elle ne la peut recevoir nous avons aussi apris que la princesse mandane et elle se seront promis de ne se quitter point que leur fortune ne soit plus heureuse enfin seigneur apres avoir sceu cela menecee et moy avons amene cleandre qui arrivera sans doute bien-tost et que j'ay voulu devancer de quelques heures seulement pour advertir le roy de ce qui s'estoit passe apres que timocreon eut acheve de parler cyrus tout afflige qu'il estoit ne laissa pas de temoigner au roy de phrigie qu'il estoit bien oblige au prince son fils de ce qu'il avoit voulu faire pour mandane luy demandant pardon avec beaucoup de bonte de ce que son ame n'estoit pas aussi sensible a la joye qu'il alloit avoir de voir le prince son fils qu'elle l'auroit este en un autre temps ce n'est pas dit-il que je ne m'interesse fort en ce qui vous regarde mais c'est que tant que la princesse mandane sera captive je ne scaurois estre capable de plaisir comme il vouloit sortir le roy d'assirie arriva qui venoit pour scavoir quelles nouvelles avoit 
 aportees timocreon car il avoit sceu qu'il estoit arrive mais a peine cyrus le vit-il qu'ayant impatience qu'il fust aussi afflige que luy vostre esperance luy dit-il est trompee aussi bien que la mienne et nostre princesse est plus captive qu'elle n'estoit comme vous le pouvez scavoir par timocreon le roy d'assirie s'aprochant alors de luy se fit redire tout ce qu'il avoit dit a cyrus qui s'en alla a sa tente se pleindre de ses infortunes avec un peu plus de liberte il ordonna toutes-fois que l'on allast au devant de cleandre l'asseurer de sa part qu'il trouveroit un azyle inviolable aupres de luy et il voulut mesme qu'on le luy amenast afin qu'il le presentast au roy son pere en effet apres qu'il eut employe pres de deux heures a considerer l'opiniastrete de son malheur et qu'il eut envoye advertir la princesse araminte de ce fascheux succez elle qu'il scavoit bien estre en peine de la chose pour plus d'une raison on luy vint dire que cleandre menecee et tegee estoient arrivez faisant donc tresve avec sa douleur pour un moment ou pour mieux dire en renfermant une partie dans son coeur pour carreffer un prince de qui la reputation estoit si grande il commanda qu'on le fist entrer et s'avanca pour le recevoir cette premiere entreveue se fit de fort bonne grace de part et d'autre et comme cleandre estoit affleurement un des hommes du monde le mieux fait et de la meilleure mine cyrus en fut charme d'abord et l'on vit sur le visage de ces deux princes au premier instant qu'ils se virent que quoy qu'ils eussent entendu dire l'un de l'autre tout ce que l'on peut dire de deux personnes fort extraordinaires ils ne laisserent pas d'estre surpris et ils se regarderent 
 avec tant de marques d'admiration dans les yeux qu'il leur fut aise de prevoir qu'ils s'aimeroient un jour avec beaucoup de tendresse je suis bien malheureux luy dit cleandre qui avoit encore le bras en echarpe de la blessure qu'il avoit receue a ephese d'estre contraint de paroistre devant vous sans vous avoir rendu le service que j'avois eu dessein de vous rendre c'est plustost a moy a me pleindre repliqua cyrus de voir que peut-estre mon malheur a cause le vostre en devenant contagieux pour vous j'ay bien plus de sujet repondit cleandre d'aprehender que ma mauvaise fortune ne m'ait suivy jusques dans votre armee je ne scay pas reprit cyrus si votre mauvaise fortune vous y aura suivy mais je scay bien que la renommee vous y a devance et qu'il y a desja long-temps que le nom de l'illustre cleandre m'est connu et que sa gloire m'a donne de l'amour mais de l'amour toute pure adjousta-t'il c'est a dire sans envie et sans jalousie les amans heureux repliqua cleandre en sous riant ne sont jamais gueres jaloux et ceux qui possedent la gloire et qui meritent de la posseder comme l'illustre cyrus souffrent alternent que les autres en soient seulement amoureux mais seigneur adjousta-t'il je n'en veux presentement point d'autre que celle que je trouveray a vous servir vous estes si couvert de gloire repondit cyrus que vous avez raison de n'en souhaiter pas davantage que vous en avez mais pour celle que vous semblez desirer souffrez que je m'y oppose et que puis que je vous suis desja assez oblige je tasche du moins de rendre au prince artamas une partie de ce que je dois a l'illustre cleandre je merite si peu de porter ce 
 premier nom repliqua-t'il que je n'oseray presques le prendre quand mesme le roy mon pere me l'ordonnera il faut donc l'aller obliger de vous le commander d'authorite absolue reprit cyrus et en effet ce prince se preparoit a mener cleandre a la tente du roy son pere lors qu'il entra dans celle ou ils estoient a peine y fut-il que cyrus le luy presentant recevez aveque joye luy dit-il un prince digne d'estre vostre fils et digne de plus de couronnes que la fortune toute prodigue qu'elle est quelquesfois n'en scauroit donner le roy de phrigie eust bien voulu garder le respect qu'il avoit accoustume de rendre a cyrus mais ce prince voulant qu'il embrassast cleandre et les sentimens de la nature estant plus forts que toutes les regles de la civilite il l'embrassa en effet avec une tendresse extreme et un plaisir inconcevable car des qu'il aperceut cleandre il vit une ressemblance si grande de luy a sa chere elsimene qu'il en changea de couleur de sorte que son coeur ne luy disant pas moins fortement que ses yeux et sa raison que cleandre estoit veritablement son fils il le receut avec toutes les marques d'affection qu'un pere genereux pouvoit donner seigneur luy dit cleandre me pourrez-vous bien reconnoistre apres ce que j'ay eu le malheur de faire contre vous ouy luy repliqua le roy de phrigie en sous-riant et il m'est mesme advantageux de vous advouer pour mon fils puis que si cela n'estoit pas il faudroit que je vous reconnusse pour mon vainqueur si vous m'avez pardonne ce crime respondit-il ne m'en faites plus souvenir c'est un crime si glorieux interrompit cyrus que je doute si le roy votre pere voudroit que vous ne l'eussiez pas commis 
 joint qu'a ce qu'il m'a dit luy-mesme si vous luy devez la vie vous la luy avez conservee durant cette guerre toutesfois si vous voulez desadvouer cleandre de ce qu'il a fait contre le roy de phrigie je l'obligeray a ne se souvenir que de ce que fera le prince artamas pour luy a l'advenir je vous en conjure seigneur repliqua-t'il et je vous commande interrompit le roy de phrigie si toutefois il m'est permis de vous commander en la presence d'un prince a qui j'obeiray tousjours que vous regardiez preferablement a vos interests ceux de l'illustre cyrus ce commandement est si injuste reprit l'invincible prince de perse que je ne veux pas donner loisir au prince artamas d'y repondre et je veux luy declarer devant vous que je ne desire de luy que ce que je luy veux rendre le premier c'est a dire beaucoup d'amitie afin que dans mes malheurs j'aye du moins la consolation d'avoir aquis un illustre amy le mesme jour que les dieux vous ont redonne un illustre fils le roy de phrigie et le prince artamas que nous ne nommerons plus cleandre repondirent a cyrus avec toute la civilite possible et apres que cette conversation eut encore dure quelque temps le roy de phrigie impatient d'entretenir le prince son fils en particulier se retira et fut en effet suivy par luy il le mena toutesfois en passant chez le roy d'assirie et chez le roy d'hircanie qui le receurent fort civilement le premier n'osant pas temoigner le mecontentement secret qu'il avoit toujours contre le roy de phrigie cependant tout ce qu'il y avoit de princes et de gens de qualite dans l'armee furent visiter le prince artamas qui se fut sans doute estime tres heureux si l'amour qu'il avoit pour la 
 princesse palmis ne l'eust cruellement tourmente cyrus ne voyant donc plus d'espoir de delivrer mandane que par la force tint conseil de guerre le jour suivant ou le prince artamas tint sa place avec beaucoup d'honneur parlant de toutes les choses que l'on y proposa avec autant d'esprit et de jugement que si une plus longue experience eust fortifie sa raison et il parut bien enfin que ceux qui aprennent a vaincre de bonne heure scavent les choses parfaitement quand les autres les ignorent encore et qu'il n'est pas impossible qu'un jeune conquerant soit plus habile qu'un vieux capitaine qui n'aura pas tant veu que luy quoy qu'il ait vecu davantage la resolution de ce conseil fut que comme la saison estoit fort avancee et que cresus n'avoit encore rien entrepris il faloit luy envoyer demander la princesse mandane auparavant que de luy declarer la guerre le prince artamas insista le plus a faire prendre cette resolution ne pouvant oublier les obligations qu'il avoit a cresus malgre tous les mauvais traitemens qu'il en avoit receus depuis de sorte qu'il n'oublia rien pour persuader a cyrus de tenter toutes les voyes de la douceur auparavant que d'avoir recours a la force cyrus eut pourtant bien de la peine a s'y resoudre alleguant pour raison qu'il s'estoit si mal trouve d'avoir envoye en armenie qu'il avoit sujet de s'en repentir mais on luy dit que la chose n'estoit pas egale puis que le roy de lydie ne pouvoit pas nier que la princesse mandane ne fust dans ses estats et qu'ainsi il faudroit qu'il repondist precisement de plus on luy representa qu'il n'estoit pas possible d'assieger ephese en la saison ou l'on estoit quand mesme il auroit eu une armee navale 
 qu'il n'avoit pas de sorte qu'il sembloit plus raisonnable d'en user ainsi parce que si cresus vouloit proteger le ravisseur de mandane il y auroit un sujet de guerre plus apparent aux yeux des peuples cyrus eust bien voulu du moins que feraulas eust este revenu auparavant que d'envoyer vers cresus mais craignant qu'il ne tardast trop longtemps il resolut qu'hidaspe partiroit dans deux ou trois jours pour y aller que cependant toute l'armee ne laisseroit pas tousjours d'avancer et de traverser une partie de la phrigie pour entrer apres en lydie par cet endroit si la reponse de cresus n'estoit pas favorable durant ce temps la il sceut qu'abradate estoit alle se jetter dans sardis et le fit scavoir a la reine sa femme qui temoigna en estre fachee il ne laissa pourtant pas de l'aller visiter et de luy dire fort obligeamment qu'il estoit marry que le roy de la susiane n'eust pas plustost voulu la delivrer en devenant son amy qu'en essayant peut estre inutilement de le faire en se declarant son ennemy que neantmoins il l'assuroit qu'elle seroit tousjours traittee avec un egal respect cette grande reine le remercia avec une civilite digue de la generosite qu'il avoit pour elle et se louant extremement d'araspe elle donna sujet a cyrus de luy temoigner au sortir de sa chambre qu'il estoit satisfait de luy puis que panthee en estoit satisfaite de la il passa chez la princesse araminte qui le conjura de faire en sorte qu'elle peust parler au roy son frere si bien qu'il fut resolu qu'elle avanceroit vers les frontieres de lydie et que la reine de la susiane qui se portoit mieux seroit aussi de ce voyage ces deux princesses ayant lie une fort grande amitie 
 ensemble joint que peut-estre cette reine a ce qu'ils creurent pourroit elle servir a quelque chose puis que le roy son mary estoit dans le party ennemy cette resolution estant prise et approuvee par le roy d'assirie qui s'y trouva cyrus s'en retourna au camp ou il ne fut pas si tost que feraulas y arriva aussi bien que celuy que le roy d'assirie avoit envoye a ephese mais ils raporterent tous deux qu'il leur avoit este impossible d'imaginer les voyes de faire tenir une lettre a la princesse mandane ils voulurent alors raconter tout ce qui s'y estoit passe comme y estans arrivez le lendemain mais aprenant qu'on scavoit tout ce qu'ils vouloient dire ils se contenterent d'aprendre a ceux qui les ecoutoient de quelle facon on gardoit presentement et le temple et la ville ils dirent donc que non seulement tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de guerre estoient tousjours sous les armes mais qu'une partie des bourgeois y estoient aussi que l'on avoit envoye de nouveau a cresus pour recevoir ses ordres que le roy de pont se portoit mieux qu'il couroit dans ephese une prediction de la sibile helespontique qui y faisoit un grand bruit et que personne ne pouvoit pourtant entendre parce qu'elle se pouvoit expliquer de deux facons que comme cette femme estoit une personne admirable en ses propheties et qui ne s'y trompoit jamais toute la ville d'ephese ne scavoit si elle devoit se rejouir ou s'affliger a cause que cette prediction luy promettoit un grand bonheur ou la menacoit d'une grande infortune feraulas et cet autre homme dirent qu'ils avoient fait l'un et l'autre tout ce qu'ils avoient pu pour avoir cette prediction mais qu'estant estrangers on n'avoit pas 
 voulu la leur donner voyant qu'ils la demandoient avec empressement en fin leur voyage n'ayant servy qu'a augmenter l'inquietude de leurs maistres ils en estoient si fachez qu'ils n'osoient presques les regarder cyrus n'en traita pourtant pas moins bien feraulas mais pour le roy d'assirie comme il estoit plus violent il ne pouvoit croire qu'il n'y eust de la faute de celuy qu'il avoit envoye de n'avoir pu trouver les voyes de luy aporter des nouvelles plus assurees de la princesse mandane cyrus voyant donc que le retour de feraulas ne luy avoit rien apris de bon estoit prest a faire partir hidaspe lors qu'il sceut qu'enfin cresus au retour de tous ces ambassadeurs qu'il avoit envoye consulter tous ces oracles s'estoit declare et avoit fait le premier acte d'hostilite contre ciaxare cette nouvelle fit rompre le voyage d'hidaspe et haster la marche de l'armee qui des le lendemain commenca de decamper la princesse araminte qui craignoit que les premieres occasions de cette guerre ne fussent funestes au roy son frere obligea la reine de la susiane a partir afin de pouvoir estre sur la frontiere pour parler au roy de pont auparavant qu'il fust venu aux mains avec cyrus de sorte qu'araspe en ayant eu le commandement de ce prince les mena avec escorte par un chemin destourne a une ville de phrigie tirant vers la lydie et justement en un lieu que l'armee de cyrus devoit couvrir et ou par consequent elles seroient en seurete cyrus depescha a ciaxare pour j'advertir de la chose et receut des nouvelles de thrasibule qui l'assuroient seulement en general qu'il esperoit estre heureux et en guerre et en amour en suite dequoy marchant avec autant de diligence 
 qu'une armee de plus de cent mille hommes peut marcher il avanca a grandes journees vers ses ennemis bien est il vray que comme la saison estoit desja tres facheuse sa marche fut aussi fort longue et lors qu'il arriva sur la frontiere il n'estoit plus temps de faire des sieges ny de donner des batailles joint que cresus qui n'avoit voulu qu'avoir la gloire d'avoir attaque le premier se posta si avantageusement apres cela qu'il ne fut pas possible de l'attaquer d'abord ny de l'empescher de mettre en fuite ses troupes en leurs quartiers d'hiver si bien que tout ce que l'on pouvoit faire estoit seulement de faire des courses dans le pais ennemy et d'aller a la petite guerre ce qui affligeoit si sensiblement cyrus qu'il avoit besoin de toute sa constance pour supporter une douleur si excessive il ne pouvoit assez s'estonner du procede de cresus qui avoit commence la guerre quand on ne la pouvoit faire et il croyoit enfin qu'un si grand prince n'avoit este force de suivre une politique militaire si opposee a la raison que par son mauvais destin qui le vouloit perdre il y avoit des jours ou il estoit tente de se deguiser et d'aller luy mesme a ephese voir s'il estoit aussi difficile de rien entreprendre pour delivrer sa princesse comme on le luy disoit tantost il vouloit malgre la saison aller forcer les lydiens dans leurs quartiers retranchez les uns apres les autres mais lors qu'il venoit a penser que quand cela seroit fait il n'auroit pas delivre mandane que le roy de pont pourroit encore enlever d'ephese il se retenoit et ecoutoit la raison et se resolvoit d'attendre que l'on pust faire la guerre avec apparence d'un bon succes cependant ennvie de l'incertitude de sa fortune 
 quoy qu'il n'eust jamais eu d'envie de s'informer de l'advenir tout d'un coup entendant parler de la sibille helespontique avec tant d'eloges il se determina d'y envoyer et y envoya en effet ortalque avec ordre de luy demander quand il devoit esperer quelque repos et de luy en raporter la reponse ecrite de sa main en ce mesme temps la princesse araminte le somma de luy tenir sa parole et luy mesme souhaittant extremement ce qu'elle desiroit il depescha adusius vers le roy de pont qui estoit tousjours a ephese pour le supplier de vouloir obtenir de cresus la liberte de parler a la princesse araminte qui vouloit l'entretenir de quelque chose qui luy importoit beaucoup ce prince receut adusius fort civilement et le faisant attendre il envoya a sardis demander a cresus la permission de parler a la princesse sa soeur ce que le roy de lydie luy accorda ils convinrent donc ensemble le roy de pont et adusius que cette entre-veue se feroit a un temple qui est a une petite journee d'ephese ayant seulement chacun cinq cens chenaux pour escorte adusius avoit eu ordre de s'informer de la sante de la princesse mandane et par les intelligences de menecee il sceut qu'elle se portoit bien mais il ne put jamais luy parler ny luy faire rien dire estant donc revenu au camp et le jour ayant este pris ou l'entre veue du roy de pont et de la princesse sa soeur se devoit faire le mesme adusius qui l'avoit negociee escorta cette princesse araspe s'en estant excuse et araminte n'ayant pas voulu que le prince phraarte l'accompagnast comme il le vouloit auparavant qu'elle partist cyrus et le roy d'assirie la visiterent et luy dirent tout ce que l'interest qu'ils avoient en 
 cette negociation importante devoit leur inspirer comme cyrus y avoit este le premier il avoit eu loisir de dire a la princesse araminte qu'il luy engageoit son honneur qu'elle pouvoit assurer le roy de pont qu'il se souvenoit encore de toutes les obligations qu'il luy avoit et qu'il luy promettoit de luy redonner une couronne s'il vouloit rendre mandane de plus ce prince par certaines paroles adroites fit si bien comprendre a cette princesse qu'elle l'engageroit encore plus fortement a estre le protecteur de spitridate si elle agissoit bien en cette occasion que comme elle l'entendit d'abord elle interrompit cyrus et l'arrestant par ce discours seigneur luy dit-elle ne confondez point s'il vous plaist mon interest avec le vostre et laissez moy du moins la gloire de n'avoir regarde que celuy de l'illustre cyrus et celuy du roy mon frere en cette rencontre ce prince alloit luy repondre lors que le roy d'assirie entra dans la chambre d'araminte et joignant ses prieres a celles de son rival il la conjura par d'autres raisons de faire la mesme chose ces deux princes la furent conduire jusques a deux cens stades du camp apres qu'elle eut este dire adieu a la reine de la susiane qui ne la vit pas partir sans douleur quoy que cette absence ne deust pas estre longue le roy de pont qui estoit adverty du jour de cette entreveue partit aussi d'ephese et se rendit a ce temple suivant ce qui avoit este arreste entre luy et adusius et il y arriva mesme deux heures devant la princesse sa soeur comme ils ne s'estoient point veus depuis la perte de ses estats cette entre-veue de part et d'autre renouvella dans leur esprit le souvenir de toutes leurs infortunes lors que la 
 princesse araminte arriva on la fit entrer dans une grande sale voutee ou l'on faisoit les festins des sacrifices extraordinaires et qui par la beaute de sa structure et par la magnificence de ses meubles estoit bien digne de servir a l'entre-veue de deux personnes si illustres le roy de pont fut au devant de la princesse sa soeur jusques a un grand et superbe vestibule par ou les sacrificateurs qui l'avoient receue la firent passer pour aller a la sale ou ils se devoient entretenir apres que ce prince l'eut saluee avec beaucoup de temoignages de tendresse et qu'il l'eut fait assoir tout le monde s'estant retire est-il possible seigneur luy dit-elle qu'apres tant de disgraces la fortune ait pu consentir que j'eusse la consolation de vous revoir l'estat ou vous me revoyez luy repondit-il est si malheureux que je doute si cette veue ne vous affligera pas plutost qu'elle ne vous consolera et si ce que vous prenez pour une indulgence de la fortune n'est point un artifice dont elle se sert pour nous rendre encore plus miserables en effet ma chere soeur a quoy nous peut servir cette entre-veue sinon a faire que vous sentiez encore plus mes malheurs quand je vous les auray apris comme je sentiray tous les vostres quand vous me les aurez contez il vous est aise de juger par ce que je dis poursuivit-il que je ne suis plus ce mesme prince qui ne pouvoit excuser en vous cette innocente affection que vous avez eue et que je croy que vous avez encore pour le prince spitridate sa vertu et ma propre passion m'ont apris a ne condamner pas l'amour si severement en effet luy dit-il encore vous voyez bien que j'avois grand tort de blamer en autruy ce qui fait en moy des choses si extraordinaires 
 car enfin depuis que je ne vous ay veue j'ay perdu des batailles j'ay perdu la liberte j'ay perdu des couronnes et malgre tout cela devant que de me pleindre de ma fortune je me pleins de mon amour seigneur luy dit-elle c'est par la aussi que vous estes veritablement a pleindre puis qu'il est vray que si vous pouviez vaincre en vous cette passion vous pourriez encore estre heureux ha ma soeur s'ecria-t'il je ne scaurois point aimer si je pouvois imaginer seulement qu'il puisse y avoir d'autre bon-heur au monde que celuy d'estre aime de la princesse mandane mais cependant adjousta-t'il dites-moy je vous prie par quel sentiment vous avez desire de me voir est-ce seulement par bonte et par tendresse est-ce pour me pleindre ou pour vous pleindre vous-mesme est-ce pour l'interest de spitridate pour celuy de cyrus pour le vostre ou pour le mien enfin dites-moy je vous prie vostre veritable dessein afin que je scache precisement de quelle facon je vous dois parler seigneur luy dit-elle quoy que toutes les choses que vous venez de me dire pussent avoir part au dessein que j'ay fait de vous voir il est pourtant certain qu'a parler sincerement vostre seul interest est ce qui m'y a le plus puissamment portee car apres tout seigneur j'ay creu que je devois vous dire qu'il ne tiens qu'a vous d'estre heureux et de faire une action la plus heroique que personne ait jamais faite j'aime sans doute fort la gloire reprit ce prince et pourveu qu'il ne faille point quitter la princesse mandane je feray certainement tout ce que vous me proposerez pour en acquerir seigneur luy dit la princesse araminte mandane ne vous aime pas et ne vous aimera jamais il est 
 vray repondit- il mais du moins tant qu'elle fera en mon pouvoir son affection ne rendra pas mes rivaux heureux et quoy seigneur interrompit elle ne songez-vous point qu'en faisant l'infortune de vos rivaux vous faites encore celle de la personne que vous aimez et que vous augmentez la vostre car enfin je me suis chargee de vous dire que si vous pouvez vous resoudre d'avoir l'equite de rendre a cyrus a qui vous devez la liberte une princesse de qui il possede l'affection toute entiere il vous redonnera une couronne ou selon les apparences vous n'aurez jamais gueres de part sans luy puis qu'il n'est pas ordinaire de trouver des protecteurs qui conquestent des royaumes pour les rendre a ceux qu'ils ont protegez ma soeur luy dit ce prince en soupirant je croy aisement que cyrus feroit ce qu'il dit car je connois sa generosite mieux que vous et devant vous mais quoy que j'estime malgre-moy cet illustre rival autant et plus que je ne l'ay jamais estime que je sois au desespoir de luy devoir la vie et la liberte comme je fais que je sente encore malgre mon amour les obligations que vous luy avez de vous avoir si bien traitee depuis que vous estes en sa puissance apres tout cyrus n'est plus pour le roy de pont ce qu'estoit artamene mais seigneur interrompit cette princesse cet artamene que vous aimiez avec tant de tendresse non seulement estoit dans le party de vos ennemis mais il vous arrachoit ta victoire d'entre les mains et s'opposoit mesme a vostre amour en vous surmontant cependant quoy qu'il vous disputast la gloire et qu'il vous fist perdre des batailles vous l'aimiez jusques a l'envoyer advertir des conjurations que l'on faisoit contre 
 sa vie et jusques a commander que l'on ne tirast point contre luy quand on le connoistroit depuis cela seigneur il vous a redonne la liberte il vous a rendu ce qu'il avoit conqueste dans vos estats il vous a fait donner des troupes pour vous opposer a ceux qui s'estoient sous levez contre vous et il vous offre un royaume presentement pourveu que vous luy rendiez la princesse mandane dont vous ne serez jamais aime tout ce que vous dites la ma soeur repliqua-t'il paroist sans doute raisonnable et il j'avois plus d'ambition que d'amour ou pour mieux dire encore si mon amour n'estoit pas plus sorte que ma raison il est certain que je devrois et par generosite et par politique et par ambition ecouter la proposition que vous me faites mais en l'estat ou est mon ame il ne m'est pas possible d'y songer seulement et je m'estonne comment la princesse araminte peut s'imaginer que l'on puisse quitter si facilement ce que l'on aime elle dis-je qui a eu l'equite d'aimer un prince de qui le pere estoit devenu ennemy declare de sa maison seigneur reprit elle en rougissant spitridate aimoit araminte et mandane n'aime pas le roy de pont si j'aimois cette princesse parce qu'elle m'aimeroit repliqua-t'il je devrois changer pour elle des qu'elle ne m'aimeroit plus mais l'aimant parce qu'elle est la plus aimable personne de la terre je l'aimeray eternellement quand mesme elle ne m'aimera jamais si j'eusse sceu adjousta-t'il lors que la fortune fit que j'eus le bonheur de sauver la vie a cette princesse en la retirant des abismes de la mer s'il faut ainsi dire qu'artamene estoit cyrus et que cyrus estoit mon rival peut-estre qu'en l'estat 
 qu'estoit mon esprit je me serois resolu a la luy rendre j'estois encore si pres du throsne d'ou l'on m'avoit renverse que je ne croyois pas qu'un roy peust vivre sans couronne mais aujourd'huy que les charmes de la princesse mandane ont acheve d'enchanter mon coeur et que je me suis desacoustume de la royaute l'amour a presque estousse l'ambition dans mon ame et si je pouvois passer ma vie dans quelque isle deserte avec cette incomparable personne sans avoir ny maistre ny sujets je m'estimerois tres heureux ne venez donc point accroistre mes malheurs en reveillant une passion qu'une autre plus sorte qu'elle a surmontee et qui ne l'est toutesfois pas de telle sorte qu'elle ne pust encore augmenter mon suplice par de semblables propositions mais enfin seigneur que pouvez vous esperer reprit la princesse de pont si je pouvois esperer quelque chose respondit-il je ne serois pas si malheureux que je le suis et je vous declare que je n'espere rien et que j'attens tous les jours infortunes sur infortunes cependant vous pouvez assurer cyrus pour repondre autant que je le puis a sa generosite que lors que j'apris que j'estois son rival je n'eus guere moins de douleur que j'en avois eu d'avoir perdu deux couronnes mais comme il y auroit de l'injustice a desirer les choses impossibles obligez le a ne m'accuser point d'ingratitude si je ne luy rends pas la princesse mandane je l'ay aimee devant qu'il la connust et je l'aimeray jusques a la mort si j'avois quelque chose en mon pouvoir adjousta ce prince en soupirant que je pusse luy offrir pour vostre rancon je le ferois avecque joye mais ma chere soeur la fortune m'ayant tout oste et n'ayant plus que mandane en ma puissance vous me pardonnerez 
 donnerez s'il vous plaist si je ne rachette pas vostre liberte par sa perte joint que vous estes entre les mains d'un vainqueur si genereux que je ne dois pas craindre qu'il se vange sur vous de l'injustice que je luy fais vous n'avez apres tout pour excuser ce que je fais aujourd'huy luy dit-il encore qu'a considerer ce que l'amour fait faire a spitridate car pour vostre seul interest il quitte son pere il renonce a des couronnes il erre inconnu par le monde et il fait plus encore pour vous que je ne fais pour mandane c'est pourquoy ma chere soeur pleignez-moy et n'entreprenez plus de me persuader ce que je ne scaurois faire mais seigneur luy dit-elle je ne haissois pas spitridate comme mandane vous hait de plus si je voyois qu'il y eust aparence que vous pussiez conserver cette princesse je vous pleindrois seulement pour les malheurs qu'elle vous causeroit et je ne m'opposerois plus a vostre dessein mais de la facon dont je voy les choses je suis persuadee que toute la puissance de cresus succombera et que vous succomberez avec elle car enfin remettez-vous un peu dans la memoire toutes les prodigieuses choses qu'a fait artamene et qu'a fait cyrus le nombre de ses victoires et de ses conquestes est si grand que l'on ne s'en peut souvenir sans estonnement croyez-vous donc que les dieux ne l'ayent eleve si haut que pour le precipiter la fortune l'aura-t'elle suivy si constamment contre sa coustume pour apres l'abandonner luy qui devient tous les jours plus puissant et qui semble tenir entre ses mains le destin de toute l'asie ainsi prevoyant presques de certitude que vous perdrez un jour la princesse mandane ne vaudroit-il pas mieux la rendre genereusement 
 et gagner un royaume en la perdant que de vous perdre vous mesme en pensant la conserver ouy si je le pouvois repliqua-t'il mais ne le pouvant pas il n'y faut absolument plus songer c'est pourquoy ma soeur n'en parlons plus s'il vous plaist car si quelqu'un m'avoit pu persuader de rendre mandane c'auroit este mandane elle mesme et puis que j'ay resiste a ses larmes et a ses prieres je resisteray aisement a la proposition que vous me faites et il me sera bien plus facile de refuser une couronne qu'il ne me l'a este de refuser la liberte a une personne que j'adore cette admirable princesse poursuivit-il m'a mesme offert quelque chose de plus precieux encore qu'une couronne puis qu'elle m'a dit plus de cent fois que si je luy donnois la liberte elle me donneroit son amitie toute entiere jugez apres cela si je puis ecouter ce que vous me dites de la part de cyrus mais ma soeur adjousta-t'il faites moy la grace de ne donner pas a mon rival la joye de luy aprendre si precisement la constance de la princesse mandane je vous j'ay dit sans en avoir le dessein mais ayez s'il vous plaist la bonte de ne luy en parler point il en est sans doute persuade pour n'avoir pas besoin que je luy confirme moy-mesme une verite si advantageuse et ne faites pas servir mes propres paroles a la felicite d'un prince que je devrois hair encore plus que je ne le hay car il est vray que j'estime de telle sorte celuy-la qu'il y a des instants ou je veux mal a la fortune de m'avoir force d'estre son ennemy comme je luy dois la vie vous pouvez l'assurer de ma part que s'il n'y avoit a disputer entre nous qu'une couronne je la luy cederois et mesme la gloire qui 
 est quelque chose de plus precieux mais que pour mandane cela ne se peut absolument au reste luy dit-il le party de cresus n'est pas si foible que vous pensez celuy du roy d'assirie interrompit araminte estoit bien puissant et il n'a pas laisse d'estre detruit celuy de cresus est plus fort reprit-il car il est plus uny et comme il s'agit d'empescher cyrus d'estre maistre de toute l'asie nos soldats combattant pour la patrie et pour la liberte ne seront gueres moins animez que moy qui combatray pour mandane la princesse araminte voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit rien gagner sur l'esprit du roy son frere ne put s'empescher de repandre quelques larmes et de joindre les prieres aux raisons mais les unes et les autres furent inutiles et elle fut contrainte de se separer de ce prince sans en avoir pu rien obtenir elle voyoit bien qu'en effet il avoit quel que confusion d'estre injuste et ingrat envers cyrus a qui il devoit tant de choses et pour qui il avoit tant d'estime l'amour toutesfois estoit plus sorte que la raison dans son ame qui n'estoit plus sensible qu'a cette seule passion les sacrificateurs de ce temple presenterent une magnifique colation a la princesse araminte car cette entre-veue s'estoit faite apres disner mais elle la vit et la loua sans vouloir manger tant elle estoit affligee et elle repartit de la pour aller coucher a un chasteau qui n'en estoit qu'a cinquante stades la separation du roy de pont et d'elle fut fort tendre car cette princesse s'imaginant qu'elle ne reverroit peut-estre jamais le roy son frere ou que si elle le revoyoit elle le verroit peut-estre vaincu et prisonnier ne put retenir ses larmes hesionide qui entroit dans tous ses sentimens pleuroit aussi bien qu'elle et le 
 roy de pont luy mesme en fut si attendry qu'il detourna ses regards aussi-tost qu'il l'eut remise dans son chariot et se tournant vers adusius dites a vostre illustre maistre luy dit-il qu'il n'a pas tenu a la princesse araminte que je ne l'aye satisfait et je puis mesme dire adjousta t'il qu'il n'a pas tenu a ma propre raison puis qu'elle m'a assez fait voir que je le devois ainsi genereux adusius c'est seulement la princesse mandane qu'il faut accuser de mon crime asseurez le cependant que je tacheray de la disputer contre luy avec tant de courage que si je suis vaincu je le seray du moins sans honte afin que ma mort ou ma deffaite ne soit pas indigne de ma princesse et de mon vainqueur adusius luy ayant asseure qu'il luy obeiroit le chariot marcha et le roy de pont montant a cheval un moment apres la princesse reprit le chemin du camp et le roy son frere celuy d'ephese ayant l'un et l'autre l'esprit remply de pensees fort differentes mais toutes tres melancoliques cyrus et le roy d'assirie durant l'absence d'araminte n'estoient pas sans inquietude ce n'est pas qu'ils eussent fortement espere que cette entre-veue deust produire la liberte de mandane puis que quand le roy de pont l eust voulu cresus n'y auroit peut-estre pas consenty mais comme c'est l'ordinaire de l'amour de donner de la crainte et de l'esperance a tous ceux qui en sont possedez ils craignirent et ils espererent successivement et le jour qu'ils scavoient que la princesse araminte devoit revenir ils furent au devant d'elle suivis de grand nombre de personnes de qualite et de phraarte entre les autres ces deux illustres rivaux marchant seuls eloignez de quelques pas de tout le reste apres 
 avoir este quelque temps sans parler se mirent enfin emportez par leur passion a s'entretenir presques malgre qu'ils en eussent croyez vous dit le roy d'assirie a cyrus que nostre rival ait seulement ecoute la princesse araminte comme je scay qu'il est doux et civil reprit cyrus je suis assure qu'il luy aura donne audience mais comme je suis assure qu'il est amoureux interrompit le roy d'assirie je suis certain qu'il aura refuse la proposition que vous luy avez fait faire du moins scay je bien que quand on m'offriroit de me rendre babilone et tous mes estats qui sont plus considerables que ceux du roy de pont et que je serois assure d'estre encore vaincu par vous au combat que nous devons faire si nous delivrons nostre princesse j'aimerois encore mieux mourir en disputant mandane que de remonter au throsne en vous la cedant ce sentiment la est si digne de vous et de la princesse que nous aimons repliqua cyrus et marque si parfaitement une affection violente qu'il faut bien conclurre apres cela que ceux qui disent que pour estre aime il ne faut qu'aimer se trompent puis que si cela estoit la princesse mandane devroit avoir le coeur bien partage estant si fortement aimee du roy d'assirie du roy de pont et du malheureux cyrus car seigneur adjousta-t'il en regardant son rival si vous estes capable de refuser une couronne plustost que de ceder mandane je le suis d'en perdre cent si je les possedois et de porter mesme autant de chaines que j'aurois quitte de sceptres plutost que de changer de sentimens pour elle comme ils s'entretenoient de cette sorte ils aperceurent de la cavalerie et peu de temps apres le chariot de la princesse 
 araminte si bien que doublant le pas et s'avancant devant tous les autres ils furent a sa rencontre et le chariot s'arrestant ils descendirent de cheval et s'aprocherent d'elle avec un battement de coeur effrange mais a peine eut-elle leve son voile qu'ils virent dans ses yeux que sa negotiation n'avoit pas reussi et connurent par les premieres paroles qu'elle leur dit qu'ils avoient eu plus de raison de craindre que d'esperer ils la remercierent toutesfois tres civilement l'un et l'autre principalement cyrus qui ne voulant pas luy donner l'incommodite de tarder davantage en ce lieu la luy dit qu'ils scauroient chez elle avec plus de loisir toute l'obligation qu'ils luy avoient elle eust bien voulu leur faire prendre place dans son chariot mais ayant plusieurs femmes avec elle la chose ne se put pas et ces princes apres estre remontez a cheval lors que le chariot eut commence de marcher furent en effet jusques chez elle ou la reine de la susiane vint aussi-tost conduite par araspe qui ne l'abandonnoit presques point comme ils y furent cette sage princesse leur dit effectivement ce qu'elle ne leur pouvoit cacher qui estoit que le roy son frere ne pouvoit se resoudre a tendre la princesse mandane mais elle le fit avec tant de prudence et choisit si bien tous les termes avec lesquels elle leur aprit une chose si facheuse qu'elle diminua plustost leur ressentiment contre le roy de pont qu'elle ne l'augmenta adusius avoit aussi apris a cyrus lors qu'il estoit descendu de cheval ce que ce prince l'avoit charge de luy dire si bien que sans s'emporter contre luy pat le respect qu'il vouloit rendre a la princesse araminte je suis au desespoir luy dit-il qu'il faille que je 
 sois contraint d'estre ennemy d'un si grand prince je vous promets toutesfois madame adjousta-t'il encore si le sort des armes m'est favorable de ne me servir jamais contre luy du droit des conquerans et des vainqueurs que pour le seul interest dela princesse mandane je vous declare de plus aujourd'huy qu'il ne portera jamais d'autres fers que ceux que cette belle personne luy a donnez et que la mesme main qui luy a offert une couronne ne luy donnera point de chaisnes le roy d'assirie plus impatient de son naturel eut bien de la peine a se retenir et quelque respect qu'il eust pour araminte il ne put s'empescher de laisser aller quelques paroles piquantes qui tenoient beaucoup de la colere et des menaces apres cela cyrus se retirant ce prince fit la mesme chose et le seul phraarte demeura lors que tout le monde fut party pour faire sa visite a part cependant depuis le retour de cette princesse cyrus agit d'une autre sorte et quoy que l'hiver ne fust pas encore finy il commenca tout de bon de donner beaucoup de peine a ses ennemis il ne se passoit point de jour qu'il n'envoyast des parties a la guerre et peu qu'il n'y allast luy mesme il recevoit advis sur advis de par tout et il employoit tout son temps a s'informer de ce que faisoit mandane quelles estoient les forces de cresus quels pouvoient estre ses desseins par ou il les pourroit traverser et par quels moyens il pourroit delivrer sa princesse il donnoit ordre a toutes les machines necessaires pour un grand siege ne scachant pas s'il n'en faudroit point faire un il depescha vers thrasibule afin que par ses intelligences il pust avoir des vaisseaux de guerre en cas qu'il falust assieger ephese 
 mais comme le commencement du printemps aprochoit il sceut une nouvelle qui le rejouit fort qui fut que cresus ayant apris par la renommee qu'artamas qu'il ne connoissoit que sous le nom de cleandre estoit dans l'armee de cyrus qu'il estoit effectivement fils du roy de phrigie et qu'il avoit este reconnu de luy avoit dessein de rapeller dans peu de temps la princesse sa fille a sardis comme l'y croyant plus seurement et d'y faire aussi conduire la princesse mandane cette nouvelle donna beaucoup de joye a cyrus tant parce que mandane ne seroit plus en un lieu maritime que parce qu'il espera la pouvoir delivrer pendant le chemin qu'elle auroit a faire comme le prince artamas connoissoit admirablement ce pais la il luy dit que selon les aparences il scavoit une voye infaillible de dresser une embuscade dans un bois par ou il faloit de necessite passer pour aller d'ephese a sardis que leurs ennemis ne pourroient eviter et qui leur donneroit lieu de delivrer leurs princesses de sorte que ne s'agissant plus que d'estre bien adverty du temps qu'elles partiroient d'ephese et du nombre des troupes qu'on leur donneroit pour leur escorte feraulas y fut renvoye avec des lettres de menecee aux amis qu'il y avoit timocreon envoya aussi a sardis et tegee y envoya comme luy afin qu'estant advertis de divers endroits ils ne peussent estre trompez cette nouvelle esperance remit dans les yeux de cyrus je ne scay quelle legere impression de joye qui fit qu'il n'avoit jamais paru plus aimable qu'il je paroissoit alors sa conversation estant moins melancolique charmoit une partie des ennuis de la reine de la susiane et de ceux de la princesse araminte qui n'estoient pas mediocres car pour 
 la derniere l'estat ou estoit le roy de pont l'eloignement de spitridate et l'amour du prince phraarte luy donnoient de facheuses heures panthee avoit aussi ses chagrins et ses douleurs mais la civilite de cyrus son adresse et son esprit les suspendoient quelquesfois cherchant avec une bonte extreme a rendre leur captivite la moins rude qu'il luy estoit possible durant que les choses estoient en cet estat c'est a dire durant que toute l'asie estoit en armes et ne faisoit plus qu'attendre que le soleil eust seche le champ de bataille s'il est permis de parler ainsi et donne un nouveau vert aux palmes qui devoient couronner les vainqueurs cyrus estant dans une impatience qui n'avoit pourtant rien de chagrin parce qu'il esperoit delivrer bien-tost mandane et aquerir une nouvelle gloire vit arriver artabane que ciaxare luy envoyoit qui luy aprit que toute la medie estoit paisible que ce prince estoit en sante et qu'il luy renvoyoit aglatidas avec des nouvelles troupes au nom d'aglatidas cyrus embrassa encore artabane et le conjura instamment de luy dire s'il estoit heureux seigneur luy dit-il j'ay ordre de luy de vous aprendre la fuite de son histoire qui n'est pas moins surprenante que ce que vous en scavez desja est extraordinaire c'aura donc este megabise repliqua cyrus qui aura trouble son bonheur c'est en vain seigneur reprit-il que vous voulez deviner ses avantures car elles sont si bizarres que cela n'est pas possible cependant comme artabane paroissoit extremement las cyrus ne voulut pas le retenir plus longtemps et l'envoyant reposer il remit la chose au lendemain en effet il menagea si bien son temps qu'apres avoir donne tous les ordres 
 necessaires il trouva celuy d'ecouter artabane comme il fut seul avec cyrus il rapella en la memoire de ce prince la fourbe d'arbate la jalousie d'aglatidas apres avoir veu megabise et amestris dans un jardin en conversation particuliere son desespoir et son exil la feinte qu'il fit a son retour d'aimer anatise la douleur qu'eut amestris de cette feinte passion qu'elle croyoit veritable comment elle sceut qu'aglatidas estoit jaloux sans scavoir de qui il l'estoit la bizarre resolution qu'elle prit de se justifier dans son esprit en epousant otane dont elle scavoit de certitude qu'il n'estoit pas jaloux et qu'il ne le pouvoit pas estre son mariage son desespoir et celuy de son amant lors qu'ils sceurent leur innocence reciproque et enfin leur derniere separation apres avoir donc repasse succintement toutes ces choses cyrus se tournant vers artabane je m'en souviens assez luy dit-il et les malheurs de mes amis ne s'effacent pas si aisement de ma memoire contentez donc la curiosite que j'ay de scavoir tout ce qui regarde aglatidas et n'en oubliez rien je vous en conjure artabane obeissant a l'ordre qu'il recevoit apres avoir un peu songe a ce qu'il avoit a dire commenca son recit par ces paroles 
 
 
 
 
 suitte de l'histoire d'aglatidas et d'amestris
 
 
pour vous bien faire entendre tout ce qui est arrive a aglatidas depuis son retour en medie il faut seigneur que je vous aprenne aussi tout ce qui est advenu a amestris depuis son mariage avec otane et depuis cette cruelle separation d'aglatidas et d'elle qui se fit en la presence de menaste ou l'amour et la vertu parurent egalement et regnerent toutes deux a la fois dans le coeur d'amestris mais pour vous faire mieux voir ses souffrances il est a propos que je vous depeigne un peu plus particulierement la personne l'humeur et l'esprit d'otane car comme je scay que ce fut aglatidas qui vous en parla a sinope et que je n'ignore pas qu'il est le plus sage et le plus retenu de tous les hommes il ne se sera pas sans doute arreste a vous exagerer ses deffauts il faut donc s'imaginer otane d'une assez grande taille mais peu agreable d'une phisionomie sombre fiere et fine d'une action contrainte et deplaisante d'une humeur inegale et soupconneuse d'une conversation pesante et 
 incommode et parmy tout cela il faut pourtant concevoir qu'on ne peut gueres avoir plus d'esprit ny plus de coeur que luy de sorte que si l'on eust pu trouver l'art de separer les bonnes et les mauvaises qualitez d'otane il y auroit eu en sa personne dequoy faire un assez honneste homme et un monstre tout ensemble cependant comme ce qu'il avoit d'esprit estoit un esprit inquiet il eust mieux valu et pour luy et pour amestris qu'il eust este fort stupide comme vous l'allez scavoir car enfin si cela eust este ainsi il ne se seroit pas tourmente comme il a fait et n'auroit pas tant persecute amestris vous vous souvenez bien seigneur avec quelle precipitation il se trouva heureux par le bizarre dessein de cette belle personne ce bon-heur fut pourtant si grand pour luy que sans songer d'abord a autre chose sinon qu'il alloit posseder ce qu'il aimoit il abandonna son coeur a la joye et de telle sorte que je pense qu'il ne remarqua pas la melancolie qu'avoit amestris le jour de ses nopces et que ce ne fut que quelque temps apres qu'il essaya de se souvenir si elle avoit este gaye on chagrine en effet son bon-heur paroissoit estre alors le plus grand du monde car il epousoit de son consentement la plus belle et la plus riche personne d'ecbatane qui toute belle et toute riche qu'elle estoit le choisissoit preferablement a tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens a la cour outre cela les deux plus redoutables de ses rivaux estoient eloignez c'est a dire aglatidas et megabise de sorte qu'a regarder sa felicite de ce coste la on n'en pouvoit pas imaginer une plus grande aussi la sentit il durant quelques jours avec un tel exces qu'il ne parloit d'autre chose et pendant 
 qu'amestris pleuroit en secret avec sa chere menaste otane publioit sa joye a tout le monde cette sage personne avoit mesme la prudence de cacher l'a melancolie a son mary mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas se resoudre d'estre en une perpetuelle contrainte elle fuyoit les compagnies autant qu'elle pouvoit et ne se contraignoit que pour otane seulement elle preferoit donc la solitude a la conversation ainsi otane se voyoit en aparence bien esloigne de devoir jamais estre jaloux mais enfin apres que les premiers transports de sa joye furent passez et que son humeur ordinaire luy fut revenue venant un jour a penser dans ses resveries melancoliques et sombres par quelle raison amestris l'avoit si long temps et si rigoureusement mal-traitte pour changer apres tout d'un coup pour luy et pour le rendre heureux il prit la resolution de luy demander la cause d'un changement si subit et en effet il la pressa fort de luy bien demesler par quelles raisons elle l'avoit hai et par quelles raisons elle l'avoit aime car luy disoit-il je ne suis pas change depuis le temps que vous me connoissez et il faut que ce soit vostre coeur qui le soit cette question ou amestris ne s'attendoit pas la surprit si fort qu'elle en rougit et n'y respondit pas trop bien elle luy dit toutesfois que tant que son pere avoit vescu elle n'avoit pas dispose d'elle mesme et que depuis sa mort elle avoit voulu esprouver son affection mais elle luy dit cela avec tant d'esmotion sur le visage que celuy d'otane en changea de couleur a son tour et la laissant sans la presser plus long temps il fut se promener seul a ce qu'il a dit depuis a un de mes amis qui estoit 
 des siens et qui m'a revele tous ses secrets mais dieux que de bizarres pensees l'entretinrent durant cette promenade et qu'il se punit rigoureusement luy mesme de son propre caprice il rapella alors dans son esprit toutes les rigueurs qu'amestris avoit eues pour luy il se souvint de toutes les marques de mespris qu'elle luy avoit donnees de la difference qu'elle faisoit de luy a aglatidas et a megabise et il n'oublia rien de tout ce que cette belle personne avoit fait a son desavantage ou a l'avantage de ses rivaux cependant disoit il apres s'estre bien souvenu de toutes ces choses je suis possesseur d'amestris et tous ces rivaux autrefois plus heureux que moy en apparence sont malheureux en effet que veux je donc disoit il et que peut il manquer a mon bonheur il se promenoit alors avec un peu plus de tranquilite et croyant avoir bien estably son repos il vouloit detacher son esprit de toutes ces choses et il pensoit estre en estat de prendre plaisir a la diversite des fleurs dont le parterre du jardin ou il se promenoit estoit peint en cette saison il quitta donc une sombre allee qu'il avoit choisie d'abord et fut en un lieu plus descouvert mais malgre l'esmail du parterre a peine eut il change de place que le comparant luy mesme a tous les rivaux qu'il avoit eus il ne pouvoit trouver la raison pourquoy amestris l'avoit choisi et bien que ce soit la coustume que tout le monde se flatte et ne se face pas justice quand il s'agit de juger de soy mesme otane en cette occasion se la rendit avec autant de severite que qui que ce soit la luy eust pu rendre il conclut donc en luy mesme qu'amestris ne l'avoit pas deu choisir 
 n'estant preoccupee d'aucune affection pour luy comme il scavoit bien qu'elle ne l'avoit pas este car disoit-il le jour qui preceda mon bon-heur elle avoit eu une fierte insuportable pour moy je ne l'avois jamais trouvee ny plus cruelle ny mesme plus incivile et le lendemain elle se refond a m'epouser et elle m'epouse en effet sans que je puisse concevoir par quelle raison ce bon-heur m'est arrive mais qu'importe reprenoit-il un moment apres par quelle voye les biens nous arrivent pourveu que nous les possedions amestris est a moy et tous mes rivaux ne jouissent seulement pas de sa veue puis qu'ils sont absens et il n'y a pas mesme aparence qu'ils ayent aucune part a son coeur puis qu'elle ne les a pas choisis comme elle le pouvoit faire et qu'elle leur a prefere un homme qu'ils n'aimoient pas mais apres tout disoit il amestris ne m'aimoit point deux jours auparavant que je l'epousasse je n'ay employe ny charmes ny enchantemens pour changer son coeur je ne demandois mesme presques plus cette grace au ciel tant je trouvois peu d'aparence de l'obtenir cependant tout d'un coup je suis heureux et il s'arresta alors un moment sans achever puis se repentant de ce qu'il avoit dit et de ce qu'il avoit pense dire mais scay-je bien que je suis heureux reprit il et ne seroit il point vray que je n'aurois fait que changer d'infortune enfin otane a ce qu'il dit depuis a un de mes amis nomme artemon dont je vous ay desja parle apres avoir bien examine la chose et s'estre bien tourmente ne put jamais determiner en luy mesme s'il estoit heureux ou malheureux et il s'en retourna chez luy assez resveur et assez melancolique il eut pourtant 
 dessein de tascher de vaincre dans son esprit ce qui vouloit troubler sa bonne fortune et en effet il fut quelques jours durant lesquels il essayoit de se persuader qu'il devoit estre content pour amestris elle estoit dans des sentimens qui n'etoient pas douteux comme ceux d'otane et elle scavoit bien qu'elle estoit la plus malheureuse persone de la terre principalement depuis qu'elle avoit connu l'innocence d'aglatidas car auparavant quoy qu'elle eust pour otane une aversion extreme neantmoins elle avoit quelque consolation a esperer qu'elle desabuseroit aglatidas de l'opinion qu'il avoit eue d'elle et que s'il estoit une fois desabuse elle se vangeroit cruellement de luy mais en l'estat qu'estoient les choses scachant que si elle n'eust point espouse otane elle eust este heureuse et qu'aglatidas eust este content elle souffroit une peine qui ne se peut concevoir elle ne pouvoit pas pour se consoler en accuser celuy qui la luy faisoit souffrir et elle ne pouvoit s'en prendre qu'a elle mesme cependant aglatidas en partant ayant envoye une lettre a menaste pour la donner a amestris cette personne s'aquita de sa commission et la luy rendit ce ne fut pourtant pas sans peine qu'elle la fit resoudre a la recevoir car comme amestris est aussi vertueuse que belle elle trouvoit que c'estoit faire quelque chose contre la vertu que de souffrir qu'aglatidas luy donnast encore de nouvelles marques d'amour toutefois elle la leut apres que menaste luy eut promis que ce seroit la derniere dont elle se chargeroit et comme elle n'estoit pas longue je pense que voicy a peu pres ce qu'elle contenoit 
 
 
 
 le malheureux aglatidas a l'infortunee amestris 
 
 
 je ne scaurois consentir de m'eloigner de vous sans vous demander pardon de la douleur que je vous cause je voudrais bien pouvoir soubaitter pour vostre repos que vous m'oubliassiez absolument mais je vous advoue ma foiblesse je ne scaurois estre assez genereux pour cela et je desire au contraire que je ne fois pas innocent des maux que vous souffrirez et que le souvenir de ma constante passion soit le plus rigoureux tourment de vostre vie pour la mienne je vous promets quelle sera si malheureuse qu'a moins que d'estre la plus inhumaine personne du monde vous aurez la bonte de me faire scavoir que vous me pleignez afin que je ne meure pas desespere 
 
 
 aglatidas apres qu'amestris eut leu cette lettre les larmes aux yeux quoy qu'elle l'eust voulu refuser 
 neantmoins elle la garda et ne la rendit pas a menaste en suitte venant a repasser ensemble la bizarrerie de toutes ses advantures mais enfin luy dit menaste les choses passees n'ayant point de retour il faut faire effort sur vous mesme afin de vous consoler ha menaste s'ecria amestris que ce conseil est difficile a pratiquer et qu'il est malaise de trouver de la consolation lors que l'on est contraint de voir a tous les momens ce que l'on hait et de ne voir jamais ce que l'on aime tout a bon luy disoit elle depuis le moment qu'aglatidas a este justifie dans mon esprit l'aversion que j'avois tousjours eue pour otane s'est si fort augmentee que je ne scaurois dire si je souffre plus de ne voir point aglatidas que de voir eternellement otane car encore quand je ne voy point otane je n'ay que la moitie de mes malheurs parce que bien souvent je pense a aglatidas sans me souvenir d'otane mais pour otane j'advoue ma chere menaste avec confusion que je ne le scaurois voir sans penser a aglatidas et sans le regarder en mesme temps comme le destructeur de ma felicite et de la sienne je fais tout ce que je puis pour n'en user pas ainsi mais je ne scaurois m'en empescher otane ne fait pas une action ny ne dit pas une parole qui ne me deplaise et qui ne me fane souvenir qu'aglatidas m'en a dit autrefois cent mille fort agreables cependant ne pouvant estre maistresse des secrets mouvemens de mon coeur je tasche toutesfois de l'estre de ceux de mon visage en sa presence et scachant enfin qu'il est mon mary que les dieux la vertu et la bien seance veulent que je luy obeisse et que j'aye de la complaisance pour luy je le fais mais c'est avec une repugnance 
 si horrible et en me faisant une violence si grande que je m'estonne que je n'en pers la vie ou la raison mais luy dit menaste le moyen de trouver quelque repos seroit de tascher de vous divertir et de voir le monde comme vous faisiez autrefois car enfin pendant qu'il y aura grande compagnie chez vous que vous vous promenerez et que vous ferez en conversation avec des gens qui ne vous parleront que de choses divertissantes vous ne verrez point otane et vous songerez mesme moins a aglatidas puisqu'apres tout le tumulte du monde occupe du moins l'esprit s'il ne le divertit pas la diversite des gens que l'on voit les nouvelles les promenades la musique et la conversation font qu'insensiblement on se desacoustume de s'entretenir soy mesme et que peu a peu on vient a prendre plaisir a entretenir les autres ceux qui font ce que vous dites repliqua amestris n'ont assurement que de mediocres douleurs car pour ceux qui souffrent ce que je sens scachez menaste que toutes les choses que vous me proposez comme un remede l'ont un redoublement d'affliction en effet le moyen que je pusse prendre soing de me parer comme j'avois accoustume moy qui ne veux plaire a qui que ce soit et a qui tout le monde deplaist le moyen que je pusse souffrir d'estre eternellement en conversation de gens qui m'importuneroient et qui m'affligeroient encore davantage au lieu de me consoler vous scavez bien que tous ceux que je pourrois voir sont ou amis ou ennemis d'aglatidas ainsi ce que vous pensez qui me le feroit oublier m'en renouvelleroit encore le souvenir si j'allois au bal je ne pense pas que dans l'humeur ou je suis je pusse 
 seulement dancer en cadence bien loing de m'y divertir la musique mesme ne feroit qu'entretenir la melancolie dans mon coeur au lieu de l'enchasser et pour les nouvelles comme vous le scavez elles ne divertissent fort que certaines gens qui s'interessent en toutes les affaires qui ne sont pas les leurs et par consequent elles ne me divertiroient pas moy dis je qui ne songe qu'a ce qui me touche et qui ne me soucie gueres du reste concluons donc menaste que la promenade solitaire est le seul divertissement que je puis prendre car pour celle que vous entendez qui fait que l'on ne va sur les bords de l'oronte que pour voir et pour estre veue elle n'est pas presentement a mon usage je n'y verrois sans doute rien qui me pleust je ne suis pas en estat de plaire et je n'en ay pas le dessein et peut-estre mesme adjousta t'elle encore que pour augmenter mes malheurs si toutefois cela est possible otane deviendroit il jaloux si je vivois comme vous me le conseillez mais comment pretendez vous donc vivre luy demanda menaste je pretens luy repliqua t'elle vivre comme une personne qui veut bien tost mourir cette resolution est trop funeste et trop violente reprit menaste mais du moins ne me bannissez pas comme les autres vous m'estes trop chere luy dit amestris pour en avoir la pensee toutesfois comme vous ne pourriez me voir souvent qu'en vous banissant de tout le reste du monde je dois mesme me priver de la seule consolation que je puis recevoir qui est celle de vostre entretien menaste luy fit alors de nouvelles protestations d'amitie et elles se separerent de cette sorte cependant amestris ne manqua pas de faire ce qu'elle avoit dit 
 et quoy que ce soit la coustume que les nouvelles mariees soient plus magnifiques et fartent plus de despence qu'en aucun autre temps de leur vie elle au contraire ne pouvant cesser d'estre propre cessa du moins d'estre magnifique et ne parut plus jamais qu'avec une negligence qui faisoit assez voir qu'elle n'avoit pas dessein de plaire quoy qu'elle plust tousjours infiniment elle feignit mesme d'estre un peu malade pour s'empescher d'aller a tous les lieux de divertissement ou elle avoit accoustume de se trouver elle ne faisoit plus que les visites d'une obligation absolue et faisant tousjours dire chez elle qu'on ne la voyoit pas ou qu'elle n'y droit point insensiblement on vit la personne de toute la cour la plus visitee devenir la plus solitaire elle alloit mesme si matin au temple que non seulement toutes les dames mais tous les galans d'ecbatane dormoient encore quand elle en revenoit de sorte que jamais mary n'a deu estre plus en repos qu'otane et de la facon dont vivoit amestris elle eust sans doute guery le plus jaloux amant du monde cependant seigneur toutes ces choses qui domine je viens de vous le dire auroient deu chasser la jalousie du coeur d'orade si elle y eust este l'y firent naistre mais avec tant de violence que jamais on n'a entendu parler d'une pareille avanture d'abord toutesfois il fut presques bien aise de ce qui le tourmenta tant apres et il trouvoit enfin qu'avoir une belle femme que personne ne voyoit que luy n'estoit pas un petit advantage mais comme la retraite d'amestris faisoit grand bruit dans le monde on ne parloit d'autre chose et comme on n'avoit pas sceu qu'elle et aglatidas s'estoient veus et s'estoient 
 bien ensemble on n'en comprenoit point du tout la veritable cause et on croyoit qu'amestris vivoit ainsi parce qu'otane estoit jaloux et qu'il le luy avoit ordonne si bien que l'on faisoit cent imprecations contre luy d'estre cause qu'une si belle personne menast une si malheureuse vie et comme il n'est rien si propre a faire inventer cent mille contes extravagants qu'un mary jaloux on se mit a dire cent choses bizarres d'otane et en moins de huit jours on faisoit de longues histoires de ses jalousies que mille circonstances rendoient croyables de sorte qu'artemon dont je vous ay desja parle qui estoit son amy et un peu son parent se resolut enfin de l'advertir de ce que l'on disoit de luy croyant par la rendre office et a otane et a amestris aussi il fut donc le trouver un jour ce ne fut toutefois pas sans repugnance car outre qu'il scavoit bien qu'otane avoit l'esprit bizarre la chose d'elle-mesme estoit assez difficile a dire neantmoins il s'y resolut apres avoir donc parle quelque temps de choses indifferentes il luy demanda des nouvelles d'amestris et comme il luy eut repondu qu'elle se portoit bien il luy dit que toutes ses amies se pleignoient d'elle de ce qu'on ne la voyoit plus ou pour vous parler plus sincerement luy dit-il elles se pleignent de vous car elles s'imaginent qu'elle ne les abandone que par vos ordres et lors il luy dit en effet une partie des choses que l'on disoit de luy en adoucissant neantmoins les endroits les plus desavantageux et les plus rudes otane surpris du discours d'artemon luy protesta comme il estoit vray qu'il n'avoit point temoigne a amestris souhaiter qu'elle se retirast des compagnies et que sa retraite estoit volontaire non 
 non luy dit artemon vous ne me persuaderez pas et estant autant vostre amy que je le suis vous me devriez confesser vostre foiblesse ingenument je diray apres ce qu'il vous plaira a tout le monde mais de vouloir me faire croire qu'amestris qui a passe toute sa vie dans la conversation de tous les honnestes gens et dans tous les plaisirs change tout d'un coup le lendemain de ses nopces sans que vous le veuilliez ou du moins sans qu'elle ait connu qu'elle vous plairoit si elle vivoit de cette sorte c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire je vous proteste luy dit otane que je n'ay aucune part au changement d'amestris et je vous proteste repliqua artemon que je ne vous croiray pas cependant luy dit-il pour vous parler sincerement croyez otane qu'amestris est trop jeune pour vouloir exiger d'elle une chose ou elle est si peu accoustumee et j'ay ouy dire a diverses personnes qu'un mary jaloux sans sujet se met quelquefois en termes de l'estre un jour avecques raison je scay bien adjousta-t'il que la vertu d'amestris est si grande que vous n'estes pas expose a ce malheur mais apres tout il n'y a pas grand plaisir d'estre l'entretien de tout le monde et plus une femme est vertueuse plus le mary paroist bizarre et plus on en fait de contes quand il est jaloux c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous ne le ferez plus ou si vous ne pouvez vous en empescher du moins vous le cacherez un amant adjousta-t'il peut estre jaloux sans deshonneur et il ne seroit presques pas dans la bien-seance d'estre long-temps amoureux sans avoir un peu de jalousie mais pour un mary il ne scauroit temoigner d'en avoir sans s'exposer a se faire mocquer de luy je scay bien qu'il y a quelque 
 injustice d'excuser l'un et condamner l'autre mais puisque c'est le sentiment universel vous ne le ferez pas changer c'est pourquoy changez-vous vous mesme si vous pouvez otane voyant qu'il ne pouvoit persuader artemon et ayant l'esprit irrite d'aprendre que l'on faisoit des contes de luy le mena malgre qu'il en eust a la chambre d'amestris afin de luy demander devant luy s'il n'estoit pas vray que jamais il ne luy avoit dit qu'il souhaittoit qu'elle vist moins de monde qu'a l'ordinaire toutesfois artemon croyant qu'enfin amestris luy scauroit gre de contribuer quelque chose a luy faire changer de vie y fut sans s'en faire presser davantage aussi-tost qu'ils furent entrez voyant qu'elle estoit seule dans son cabinet ou ils la trouverent n'est-il pas vray madame luy dit otane que je ne vous ay point priee de ne faire plus de visites de n'aller plus a la promenade ny au bal de ne vous parer plus de ne recevoir plus compagnie chez vous et d'aller au temple a la pointe du jour comme on le dit dans ecbatane seigneur repondit amestris en rougissant je ne pense pas qu'il y ait personne qui ait assez mauvaise opinion de vous et de moy pour dire une semblable chose voila pourtant artemon repliqua-t'il qui vous dira que parce que vous estes plus solitaire que vous n'estiez autrefois on dit que je suis jaloux j'aime encore mieux repondit amestris que l'on die que vous avez de la jalousie et que j'ay de l'obeissance que si on disoit que j'allasse au bal et a la promenade contre vos ordres mais puis qu'il faut que je vous justifie scachez artemon dit-elle en se tournant vers luy que le changement que l'on voit 
 en mon humeur n'est pas proprement un changement puis que c'a tousjours este mon inclination que j'ay contrainte tant qu'artambare et hermaniste ont vescu parce qu'ils n'avoient pas mesme indulgence pour moy qu'otane qui me laissant maistresse de ma volonte m'a mise en estat de ne me contraindre plus il faut advouer reprit artemon en sous-riant que vous vous deguisiez admirablement si vous forciez vostre inclination lors que le monde vous voyoit quoy qu'il en soit dit-il encore croyant qu'il obligeoit fort amestris pour qui il avoit beaucoup d'estime puis que vous vous estes bien contrainte autrefois pour obeir a un pere qui vouloir que vous fussiez visible vous le ferez encore sans doute pour sauver l'honneur d'un mary que l'on accuse d'une fort grande injustice je ne pense pas dit amestris fort embarrassee qu'otane se laisse persuader une chose si mal fondee que celle la car puis que je n'ay veu personne depuis que je suis mariee de qui pourroit-il estre jaloux aussi c'est par cette raison que j'espere que malgre tout ce que vous luy direz il me lassera dans la liberte de preferer le repos de mon cabinet au tumulte de la cour dont je suis lasse du moins dit artemon qui croyoit tousjours qu'amestris ne parloit ainsi que pour plaire a otane dites moy donc ce que vous voulez que je die que vous faites a ceux qui me le demanderont vous leur direz repliqua-t'elle que je lis quelquesfois que je fais des ouvrages d'or et d'argent que je crayonne que je resve et que pour aimer encore plus la solitude et me souviens de toutes les folies que j'ay souvent entendu dire a des gens qui se croyoient fort sages et qui ne l'estoient pas trop 
 cependant qu'amestris parloit otane se promenoit sans rien dire et remarquant en effet qu'elle avoit quelque colere de ce qu'artemon luy disoit madame luy dit-il je pense que vous ne devez pas me refuser de me justifier dans l'esprit du monde c'est pourquoy revoyez-le je vous en conjure car j'aurois quelque peine a souffrir que l'on m'accusast plus long temps de vous tenir captive seigneur luy dit-elle si vous faites consister vostre felicite en l'opinion d'autruy je la tiens mal assuree et je ne scay si ces mesmes gens qui vous font injustice ne me la feroient point a moy si je les revoyois et si apres vous avoir fait passer pour jaloux ils ne me feroient point aussi passer pour estre un peu trop galante c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux ne m'exposer pas a ce malheur quelqu'un estant alors venu demander otane il ne put repondre au discours d'amestris et artemon sortant avecques luy elle demeura seule et fort surprise de cette avanture menaste arriva un moment apres et la trouvant encore avec quelque agitation sur le visage qu'avez-vous luy dit-elle depuis hier que je vous quittay j'ay une si grande colere reprit amestris que j'auray quelque peine a vous en dire la cause sans m'emporter car enfin menaste excepte vous je n'avois plus qu'une seule consolation en ma vie qui estoit la solitude dont je pensois jouir paisiblement jusques a la mort et cependant on veut que je m'en prive et alors elle luy raconta tout ce qui luy venoit d'arriver mais menaste luy dit elle encore est il vray que le monde dit qu'otane est jaloux il est certain luy repliqua-t'elle que c'est un bruit epandu par toute la ville et plus certain encore que je n'ay pas aporte soing a en desabuser 
 ceux qui m'en ont parle parce que j'ay eu peur que si on croyoit que vous vecussiez comme vous faites de vostre propre mouvement on n'en cherchast la cause et qu'enfin on ne la trouvast et pourquoy dit amestris ne m'avez vous point advertie de toutes ces choses c'est repondit menaste que je vous ay tousjours veue si triste que j'ay fait beaucoup de scrupule de vous aller encore dire une nouvelle si peu agreable cependant luy dit-elle puis que vous scavez ce que l'on dit je souhaite que cela serve a vous redonner a vos amies on non luy repondit amestris ne vous y trompez pas je ne scaurois faire ce que vous dites et quand je n'aurois autre raison de fuir le monde que celle d'avoir un mary comme otane je ne le verrois assurement gueres mais menaste j'ay bien d'autres sujets de ne l'aimer pas et quoy qu'on face on ne m'obligera point a m'y remettre pour moy dit menaste je ne croy pas qu'otane vous en presse si fort que vous pensez et il a parle comme il a fait parce qu'artemon estoit present cependant luy dit-elle il faut que je vous die pour vous divertir qu'anatise ayant sceu vostre mariage avec otane a la campagne ou elle estoit en eut une joye inconcevable et ne douta point que le sien ne se deust bien-tost faire avec aglatidas quand elle seroit revenue a ecbatane mais ayant apris en fuite qu'il a disparu et qu'il a donne ordre a les affaires comme un homme qui ne songe pas a revenir elle en a une douleur aussi excessive que sa joye avoit este grande et comme vous scavez que les coquettes ne sont jamais gueres aimees ny de celles qui le sont comme elles ny des autres qui ne le sont pas tout le monde dit cent 
 choses desavantageuses d'anatise qui en effet cache si peu la passion qu'elle a eue pour aglatidas et la colere qu'elle a presentement contre luy que je ne pense pas que cette personne face jamais de grandes conquestes quoy que depuis son retour elle tache pourtant de reparer la perte qu'elle croit avoir faire par quelque autre victoire amestris ecouta menaste avec quelque plaisir parce que la colere d'anatise luy estoit encore une preuve assuree de la fidelite d'aglatidas car bien qu'elle eust resolu de ne le voir jamais elle avoit pourtant fait dessein de l'aimer en secret dans le fond de son coeur tout le reste de sa vie cependant apres que ceux qui avoient demande otane furent partis et qu'artemon s'en fut aussi alle il demeura seul a entretenir ses pensees et rapellant dans son esprit toutes les choses qui l'avoient desja tourmente il se retrouva l'ame plus en inquietude qu'auparavant et ce qui d'abord luy avoit donne quelque repos fut ce qui l'embarrassa le plus en effet disoit il en luy mesme a ce qu'il a raconte depuis d'ou peut venu ce changement d'humeur d'amestris et par quelle raison a t'elle cesse tout d'un coup de me hair et par quelle raison a t'elle commence de n'aimer plus le monde quelle bizarre avanture est celle la et par quelles voyes puis-je en scavoir la veritable cause enfin apres avoir bien raisonne sans pouvoir trouver de repos il se mit pourtant dans la fantaisie principalement parce qu'il avoit remarque qu'amestris y avoit de l'aversion de vouloir qu'elle vist plus le monde qu'elle ne le voyoit depuis son mariage il y avoit neantmoins des instants ou il craignoit de se repentir de ce qu'il vouloit qu'elle fist mais toutesfois ce qu'artemon 
 luy avoit assure que l'on disoit de luy estant le plus fort il dit le soir a amestris qu'il la conjuroit de ne se negliger plus tant et de faire quelques visites mais comme elle y resista quoy que ce fust avec beaucoup de respect son esprit s'aigrit estrangement et il luy parla avec autant de rudesse pour l'obliger a se parer a aller a la promenade et au bal qu'un mary jaloux et facheux eust pu faire pour empescher sa femme d'aller ou otane vouloit que la sienne allast de sorte que cessant de luy resister elle luy dit qu'elle feroit ce qu'elle pourroit pour luy obeir et en effet des le lendemain elle se coissa avec un peu plus de soing qu'a l'ordinaire et elle fut au temple a l'heure que les autres dames y vont mais ce fut avec une si grande melancolie dans les yeux qu'elle n'inspira point de joye a ceux de ses amis qui la virent et par malheur deux ou trois personnes l'ayant veue si triste et ayant apres rencontre otane luy dirent qu'ils ne demandoient plus pourquoy on avoit este si long temps sans voir amestris puis qu'il paroissoit assez a son visage qu'elle avoit este malade si bien qu'otane qui scavoit qu'elle ne l'avoit point este concluoit qu'elle avoit quelque chose dans l'esprit qu'elle luy cachoit et qu'il ne pouvoit decouvrir amestris vecut donc durant trois ou quatre jours un peu moins solitaire mais ce fut avec tant de contrainte qu'elle ne la put souffrir davantage car si elle voyoit des amis d'aglatidas son ame estoit a la gehenne si c'estoient des gens indifferents ils luy donnoient quelque attaque de la pretendue jalousie d'otane qui ne luy plaisoit pas ou s'ils estoient plus discrets ils l'entretenoient du moins de choses si opposees a son humeur presente 
 qu'ils l'ennuyoient infiniment si on louoit quelque honneste homme l'image d'aglatidas luy aparoissoit si on blasmoit quelqu'un le souvenir d'otane luy faisoit baisser les yeux de confusion et il n'estoit point de conversation ou elle ne trouvast quelque chose de facheux il luy sembloit mesme que tous ceux qui la regardoient la blamoient d'avoir epouse otane si bien que ayant vecu trois ou quatre jours de cette sorte et ne pouvant se resoudre de continuer davantage elle feignit de se trouver mal afin de ne sortir plus et de ne recevoir plus de visites mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas tromper otane si aisement que le reste du monde qui ne la voyoit pas ses inquietudes redoublerent encore et sans scavoir ce qu'il avoit il souffroit pourtant tous les suplices d'un jaloux et plus mesme qu'un jaloux ordinaire ne peut souffrir car du moins ceux qui ont de la jalousie scavent sur quoy ils la fondent au lieu qu'il ne pouvoit mesme seulement imaginer par quelle raison il estoit si tourmente il se resolut pourtant a la fin de tacher de s'en eclaircir et ne pouvant mesme renfermer toute son inquietude dans son coeur il decouvrit toutes ses plus secrettes pensees a artemon qui apres avoir bien observe ses transports et bien ecoute ses pleintes et ses raisons se trouvoit bien empesche a determiner quel estoit le mal de son parent car luy disoit-il on ne peut pas dire que vous soyez jaloux puis que vostre inquietude n'a point de cause qui puisse la faire nommer ainsi amestris ne voit et ne veut voir personne amestris estant libre vous a choisi et vous a epouse que voulez vous davantage je veux luy dit-il scavoir precisement pourquoy tout d'un coup 
 elle a bien voulu m'epouser et pourquoy tout d'un coup elle n'a plus voulu voir le monde j'advoue luy dit artemon que cette derniere chose m'embarrasse un peu puis que vous m'assurez serieusement n'y avoir point de part mais apres tout c'est a nous qui la perdons a nous en pleindre et non pas a vous puis que sa retraite fait que vous la pouvez voir plus souvent et l'entretenir avec plus de liberte point du tout reprit otane car elle est aussi adroite a me persuader qu'il faut que je vive comme j'avois accoustume qu'elle l'est a me faire aprouver son changement je scay bien disoit-il qu'autresfois elle n'a pas hai aglatidas neantmoins ils ont elle si mal ensemble depuis que je ne scaurois faire grand fondement la dessus mais luy disoit artemon dequoy vous tourmentez vous puisque vostre femme ne voit non plus aglatidas qu'un autre et que mesme elle ne le peut plus voir puis qu'il est absent c'est peut-estre reprit-il tout d'un coup apres avoir un peu resve parce qu'il est absent qu'elle vit ainsi et pourquoy luy repliqua artemon vous auroit elle epouse si elle eust encore aime aglatidas c'est ce que je ne scay pas luy dit-il et c'est ce que je voudrois bien scavoir aglatidas repliqua artemon est un fort honneste homme mais il est si inconstant que je ne pense pas qu'il ait plus aucune part dans l'esprit d'amestris et il ne faut qu'entendre toutes les pleintes qu'anatise qui est revenue des champs fait de luy pour estre instruit de son inconstance quoy interrompit otane aglatidas et anatise ne sont plus bien ensemble au contraire repondit-il ils y sont fort mal ha artemon adjouta otane ce que vous me dites la m'embarrasse 
 encore bien davantage je ne voy pas que vous en avez sujet luy repliqua-t'il car enfin qu'imaginez vous en cela ou vous puissiez avoir interest aglatidas quand vous avez epouse amestris aimoit anatise a ce que tout le monde croyoit depuis ce temps la il rompt avec elle et s'en va que vous importe et que vous peuvent importer toutes ces choses je ne vous puis pas bien demesler tout ce que je pense repondit-il mais je voudrois pourtant bien qu'aglatidas fust encore amoureux d'anatise elle le voir droit bien aussi reprit artemon en riant car il estoit bien aise d'avoir un pretexte de le pouvoir faire sans qu'otane s'en pust offencer et en effet l'embarras ou il luy voyoit l'esprit luy en donnoit une si sorte envie qu'il ne pouvoit s'en empescher de sorte que voulant du moins railler avecques luy en facon qu'il ne s'en fachast pas enfin luy dit-il otane determinez vous un peu estes vous jaloux ou bizarre je ne scay pas bien ce que je suis reprit-il mais je scay tousjours que je suis fort inquiet et que je sens a peu pres tout ce que la jalousie peut faire sentir c'est pourtant la premiere fois repondit artemon qu'une femme a donne de la jalousie a son mary en se negligeant en ne sortant point en ne voyant personne et en cachant sa beaute avec autant de soing que les autres monstrent la leur c'est par ou je suis le plus a pleindre repartit otane car je ne voy point de remede a mes maux si amestris alloit au bal et que je ne le trouvasse pas bon je n'aurois qu'a l'empescher d'y aller mais de la facon qu'est la chose je ne scay pas trop bien quel remede y chercher si vous m'en croyez luy dit artemon vous n'y en chercherez point 
 estant certain que les petits maux augmentent quelquesfois par les remedes celuy que je sens reprit-il n'est pas de ceux que l'on peut apeller petits je ne voy pourtant pas repliqua artemon par ou vous le pouvez nommer grand peut on avoir un plus grand mal reprit otane que de voir que ce qui devroit faire ma felicite fait mon infortune mais pourquoy n'estes vous pas heureux interrompit artemon amestris n'est elle pas une des plus belles femmes du monde n'est elle pas encore une des plus riches personnes de sa condition n'a t'elle pas autant d'esprit que de richesses et de beaute et plus encore de vertu que de beaute d'esprit et de richesses tout ensemble n'est elle pas douce et complaisante pour vous que vous faut il davantage je voudrois voir repliqua t'il jusques dans le fond de son coeur et si elle n'y a rien que ce qu'elle vous dit repondit artemon que voulez vous qu'elle vous die le veux du moins repartit il a demy en colere qu'elle me die un mensonge vray semblable plustost que de ne me dire rien artemon voyant qu'otane se fachoit ne voulut pas l'irriter davantage de crainte de s'oster les moyens de pouvoir servir amestris car encore qu'il fust son parent il n'estoit pourtant son amy que par consideration et par generosite et entre amestris et luy il n'auroit pas balence a prendre party scachant bien que celuy de la raison ne pouvoit jamais estre celuy d'otane cependant jugeant qu'il estoit a propos d'avoir quelque complaisance pour luy il luy demanda s'il vouloit qu'il parlast a amestris mais l'eloge qu'il venoit de luy en faire fit qu'il ne voulut pas luy en donner la commission car otane estoit d'humeur a 
 ne pouvoir ouir sans chagrin les louanges de sa femme et je pense toutesfois qu'il n'auroit pu souffrir que l'on eust parle a son desavantage artemon ne pouvant donc rien gagner sur son esprit se retira et le laissa entretenir son humeur sombre et chagrine mais a peine fut-il party qu'otane changeant d'avis suivant la coutume des gens inquiets et jaloux luy ecrivit un billet pour le prier de voir amestris le lendemain afin de tacher de decouvrir tes veritables sentimens ce billet se contredisoit toutesfois en deux ou trois endroits et il estoit aise de remarquer que celuy qui l'avoit ecrit n'avoit pas l'esprit en repos artemon ne manqua pas de faire ce qu'otane devroit de luy qui cependant avoit donne ordre que l'on le laissast entrer quoy qu'amestris eust dit qu'elle se trouvoit mal et qu'elle ne vouloit voir personne comme il fut donc aupres d'elle il luy demanda pardon d'interrompre sa solitude et voulant effectivement la servir de bonne grace il ne luy fit point un secret de la conversation qu'il avoit eue avec otane au contraire il luy dit le veritable estat ou estoit l'esprit de son mary afin qu'elle cherchast les voyes de le guerir de son chagrin de peur que son inquietude ne retombast sur elle puis qu'otane veut bien luy dit-il que vous luy disiez un mensonge vray semblable plustost que de ne luy rien dire inventez en un je vous prie qui le mette en repos et qui vous y laisse s'il est vray qu'il y ait quelque verite dans vostre coeur que vous ne veuilliez pas qu'il scache je vous suis bien obligee repliqua amestris de la sincerite que vous avez pour moy neantmoins genereux artemon je n'ay rien a dire que ce que j'ay dit 
 mon humeur a change pour toutes choses sans que j'en puisse dire la raison mais puis qu'en changeant de sentimens j'ay change advantageusement pour otane dequoy se pleint-il ne cherchons point de raison a ses pleintes reprit artemon car nous n'y en trouverions point ce n'est pas madame luy dit-il que je ne sois contraint d'avouer que vostre retraite est surprenante et qu'il n'est pas absolument estrange qu'otane soit estonne de ce qui estonne toute la cour et toute une grande ville cependant n'estant pas aussi curieux que luy et ayant pour vous un respect extreme je veux croire que tout ce que vous faites est bien fait et je ne veux point penetrer dans le secret de vostre coeur mais au nom des dieux madame si vous le pouvez dites quelque chose a otane qui le satisface et s'il est possible n'affectez point tant la solitude je ne puis faire que la moitie de ce que vous me demandez luy dit-elle qui est de voir un peu plus de monde que je n'en voy car pour dire des mensonges a otane je ne le scaurois faire et je les inventerois si mal qu'il ne les pourroit jamais croire mais artemon luy dit-elle encore croyez qu'en suivant vostre conseil je m'expose a bien des malheurs estant a croire que puis qu'otane est jaloux sans scavoir de qui et dans un temps ou mon cabinet est ma prison et ou je ne voy personne il sera bien difficile si je voy compagnie qu'il ne le soit d'une autre maniere toutesfois apres tout puis qu'il a plu aux dieux qu'il fust mon mary je dois suivre ses volontez et contraindre toutes les miennes vous pouvez donc l'assurer luy dit-elle que je verray qui il luy plaira pourveu qu'il me promette que des qu'il se repentira 
 repentira d'avoir souhaite que je revoye le monde il me fera la grace de me le dire car je ne doute pas que cela n'arrive bien-tost artemon apres avoir assure amestris qu'il la serviroit en toutes choses fut porter cette nouvelle a otane qui eut quelque satisfaction de la deference qu'elle avoit pour luy il ne fut toutesfois pas entierement content parce que cela ne luy aprenoit point ny pourquoy elle l'avoit epouse si brusquement ny pourquoy elle avoit tout d'un coup aime la solitude mais enfin trouvant beaucoup d'obeissance dans le coeur d'amestris il ne pouvoit pas avec toute sa bizarrerie trouver un pretexte raisonnable de s'en pleindre
 
 
 
 
voila donc amestris quoy qu'avec une repugnance extreme qui souffre de nouveau d'etre veue et en moins de quatre jours le bruit s'estant epandu qu'elle estoit visible toute la cour et toute la ville fut chez elle et quoy qu'elle fust beaucoup plus melancolique qu'elle n'estoit autresfois comme elle ne pouvoit pas faire qu'elle ne fust toujours tres belle et tres spirituelle et que de plus elle estoit tousjours douce et civile il y eut une joye universelle dans ecbatane d'avoir retrouve un thresor que l'on croyoit perdu il n'y avoit point d'honneste homme qui ne luy proposast quelque divertissement et qui ne s'empressast a luy donner des marques d'estime et de complaisance on eust dit que c'estoit une personne nouvellement venue et qui par ce charme secret qui suit ordinairement la nouveaute attiroit tout a elle estant certain que toutes les autres maisons estoient desertes et solitaires en comparaison de la sienne ceux qui avoient dessein de luy plaire n'arrivoient pourtant pas a leur fin car elle se 
 trouvoit si malheureuse de vivre dans une si grande contrainte qu'elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de s'en pleindre a sa chere menaste anatise comme les autres fut aussi visiter amestris avec d'autres dames et comme il y a tousjours dans le monde des gens indiscrets et qui prennent autant de plaisir a dire des choses facheuses que d'autres en ont a en dire d'agreables il y eut un homme qui voulant embarrasser ces deux personnes commenca de parler devant elles d'aglatidas et de son absence demandant tout haut si quelqu'un en scavoit la cause amestris et anatise rougirent toutes deux l'une de colere et l'autre par modestie et comme la parole de celuy qui avoit parle si mal a propos s'estoit plutost adressee a amestris qu'aux autres elle repondit qu'il y avoit desja si long temps qu'aglatidas ne luy faisoit plus de visites quand il estoit party d'ecbatane qu'il n'y avoit pas d'apparence qu'elle pust estre bien informee de ses desseins et il y en a beaucoup davantage dit-elle en se tournant malicieusement vers anatise que cette belle personne en scache quelque chose je ne scay mesme adjousta-t'elle si ce n'est point sa cruaute que l'on doit accuser de la perte qu'ecbatane a faite d'un si honneste homme estant a croire qu'elle aura eu tant de rigueur pour luy qu'il se sera banny luy mesme de desespoir anatise irritee de la malicieuse raillerie d'amestris luy repondit avec un ton de voix un peu aigre et qui fit assez connoistre qu'elle scavoit bien que sa cruaute n'estoit pas la cause de l'absence d'aglatidas comme elle est fiere et qu'elle n'ignoroit pas que tout le monde scavoit qu'aglatidas l'avoit quittee lors qu'elle ne s'y attendoit point 
 elle n'en fit pas un secret et regardant amestris quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle vous me devez avoir quelque obligation de vous avoir autrefois oste le coeur d'aglatidas car puis qu'il est si inconstant vous devriez en effet ce me semble me scavoir aujourd'huy autant de gre que vous me voulustes de mal lors qu'il eut l'injustice de quitter vos chaines pour prendre les miennes comme je ne vous hays point en ce temps la repliqua amestris souffrez que je ne vous remercie pas en celuy cy car aussi bien puis que ce n'est que l'intention qui donne le prix aux bons offices je suis assuree que je ne dois pas vous faire beaucoup de complimens pour celuy-la j'advoue dit anatise que je n'avois pas dessein de vous obliger et advouez aussi repliqua amestris que vous n'aviez pas sujet de faire tant de vanite d'une conqueste que vous avez si peu gardee cependant adjousta-t'elle comme aglatidas ne songe peut-estre gueres plus a vous qu'a moy il me semble que c'est luy faire trop de grace de parler si longtemps de luy amestris dit cela d'une certaine maniere qui surprit un peu anatise et il luy sembla qu'elle avoit trop peu d'aigreur pour aglatidas veu celle qu'elle scavoit qu'elle avoit eue autrefois car elle ne pouvoit croire qu'otane pust l'avoit consolee de cette perte si bien qu'elle s'en retourna chez elle l'esprit un peu inquiet amestris vescut donc quelque temps de cette sorte mais enfin otane voyant ce grand nombre de monde qui la visitoit et remarquant qu'il y avoit mesme plusieurs personnes qui affectoient d'avoir plus de complaisance pour luy qu'a l'accoustumee il jugea par ces soings extraordinaires que l'on avoit de luy plaire et de le divertir que c'estoit plutost 
 comme au mary d'amestris qu'on les luy rendoit que pour l'amour de luy seulement de sorte que son chagrin recommenca d'estre plus fort qu'auparavant il n'avoit pourtant pas dessein de le temoigner ouvertement mais quoy qu'il peust faire on s'en aperceut bien-tost il recevoit les civilitez qu'on luy faisoit d'une facon si contraire il les rendoit si froidement et il estoit si assidu chez luy contre sa coustume qu'en fort peu de jours sa jalousie fut connue de tout le monde et mesme plus connue que lors qu'amestris ne voyoit personne puis qu'en ce temps la on ne faisoit que le soupconner d'estre jaloux et qu'en celuy-cy on ne pouvoit pas en douter ses regards ses paroles ses actions et toutes ses inquietudes estant des preuves convainquantes des plus secrets mouvemens de son coeur et comme les domestiques sont pour l'ordinaire des espions qui revelent le secret de leurs maistres a tout le monde on sceut par ceux d'otane qu'il ne rentroit jamais chez luy qu'il ne fist demander a son portier qui estoit venu voir amestris qui y estoit encore si quelqu'un qu'il faisoit nommer y avoit este longtemps s'il y avoit este seul s'il ne venoit que d'en sortir et cent autres choses semblables qui firent que l'on reparla de sa jalousie plus que devant il commenca mesme aussi de donner de nouvelles marques de son chagrin a amestris qui s'en pleignit a artemon qui luy temoignoit tousjours beaucoup d'amitie je priant de vouloir scavoir ce qu'otane avoit dans le coeur et l'assurant que si c'estoit qu'il eut change d'avis et qu'il ne trouvast plus bon qu'elle vist le monde elle luy obeiroit avec beaucoup plus de joye qu'elle n'avoit fait en le revoyant artemon 
 luy promit en effet de scavoir ce qu'otane avoit dans l'esprit mais comme il ne pouvoit consentir de voir renfermer amestris il voulut prendre un autre chemin et se souvenant qu'otane pour empescher qu'on ne dist qu'il estoit jaloux s'estoit resolu de souffrir que sa femme vist tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens a ecbatane il creut encore que luy aprenant de nouveau que sa facon d'agir l'exposoit au mesme malheur il s'en corrigeroit peut estre une seconde fois mais il n'en alla pas ainsi car des qu'artemon luy eut dit que son assiduite aupres de sa femme ses soings extraordinaires de scavoir ce qu'on luy disoit et qui la voyoit quand il n'y estoit pas luy redonnoient desja la mesme reputation qu'il avoit eue lors qu'amestris ne voyoit personne puis que cela est luy dit il l'esprit fort irrite jaloux pour jaloux il faut du moins que je le sois seurement et puis que soit qu'amestris voye le monde ou qu'elle ne le voye pas je dois tousjours estre regarde comme ayant de la jalousie j'aime encore mieux ne voir pas eternellement ma maison remplie d'oisifs et de faineants qui passent toute leur vie a dire des bagatelles et des choses inutiles artemon fut si surpris d'ouir parler otane de cette sorte qu'il eut deux sentimens fort opposez presques en un mesme instant car il ne put s'empescher d'avoir une envie de rire estrange de voir la bizarrerie d'otane et un moment apres d'avoir aussi une tres sensible douleur de voir a quelle persecution amestris estoit exposee il fit donc tout ce qu'il put pour remettre la raison dans le coeur d'otane mais il luy fut impossible et des le soir mesme sans attendre davantage madame dit-il a 
 amestris je suis satisfait de la complaisance que vous avez eue pour moy en quittant la solitude comme vous avez fait a ma priere mais comme vous avez passe d'une extremite a l'autre s'il est vray que vous vous contraigniez en voyant le monde vous m'obligerez de suivre vostre inclination et de ne le voir plus seigneur luy dit-elle avec beaucoup de joye sur le visage vous me faites un plaisir signale de me delivrer de la peine que j'avois a vous obeir mais afin que la chose se face avec plus de bien-seance je crois que ce ne seroit pas mal fait de faire un voyage a la campagne afin qu'a mon retour je reprenne ma solitude sur le pretexte de m'y estre accoustumee aux champs otane surpris de voir le peu de repugnance qu'avoit amestris a se priver de la conversation de tant d'honnestes gens qui la voyoient au lieu de luy en scavoir gre en devint plus resveur et plus inquiet et il pensa encore changer d'avis neantmoins il la prit au mot et sans differer davantage il luy dit qu'il faloit partir dans deux jours et en effet ils partirent amestris menant avec elle sa chere menaste pour la consoler dans ses deplaisirs artemon ayant sceu le dessein d'otane le fut trouver pour l'en divertir mais il ne luy fut pas possible et deux jours apres sans qu'amestris allast dire adieu a personne elle s'en alla aux champs avec intention si elle le pouvoit de n'en revenir de tres longtemps tant pour jouir en repos de la solitude que pour cacher autant qu'elle pourroit la bizarrerie de son mary elle partit donc avec quelque espece de joye mais pour otane le changement de lieux ne changea point sa mauvaise humeur car encore qu'il remarquast qu'amestris avoit 
 pour luy non seulement toute la complaisance qu'une femme vertueuse est obligee d'avoir pour son mary mais encore toute l'obeissance d'une esclave comme elle ne pouvoit pas avoir toute la tendresse qu'elle eust eue si elle l'eust estime et aime puis qu'au contraire elle avoit une aversion extreme pour luy il n'estoit pas satisfait d'elle et le respect qu'elle luy rendoit l'irritoit plustost que de l'appaiser ce voyage se fit donc avec beaucoup de melancolie toutefois comme ils furent arrivez au lieu ou ils vouloient aller amestris eut un peu plus de repos parce qu'otane alloit ordinairement passer ses chagrins a se promener dans un grand bois qui est derriere sa maison de sorte que durant cela amestris avoit la liberte de parler avec sa chere menaste et de s'entretenir quelquesfois d'aglatidas elle en faisoit pourtant bien souvent quelque scrupule et faisoit presques dessein de n'en parler de sa vie mais apres tout venant a penser combien cette affection estoit innocente et combien elle la seroit toujours puis qu'elle avoit resolu de ne le voir jamais elle se resolvoit en fin de garder dans son souvenir toutes les marques qu'elle avoit receues de la passion d'une personne qu'elle ne pouvoit oublier se determinant neantmoins malgre la tendresse qu'elle avoit encore pour aglatidas a bruler toutes les lettres qu'elle avoit de luy estant donc un jour menaste et elle a parler ensemble sur ce sujet et amestris voulant revoir pour la derniere fois toutes ces lettres auparavant que de les jetter au feu elle ouvrit sa cassette pour les prendre mais elle n'y trouva point un petit coffre d'orsevrerie dans lequel elles estoient et elle fut si surprise de cet accident qu'elle ne pouvoir le dire a menaste cependant elle chercha dans cette cassette 
 et chercha inutilement elle demanda a une fille qui la servoit et qui luy estoit fidelle si otane ne l'avoit point ouverte et elle luy repondit que non elle luy demanda en fuite si elle ne scavoit point ce qu'estoit devenu un petit coffre qu'elle croyoit y avoir mis le jour qu'elles estoient parties d'ecbatane et elle luy repondit encore qu'elle le vit bien sur la table de son cabinet mais qu'elle ne scavoit pas ce qu'elle en avoit fait enfin amestris rapellant alors en sa memoire tout ce qu'elle avoit fait devant que de partir se ressouvint confusement qu'elle avoit eu dessein de le mettre dans sa cassette mais qu'otane estant entre elle l'avoit couvert d'un voile qui s'estoit trouve sur la table avec intention de le serrer quand il seroit sorty et elle concluoit de la qu'elle l'avoit oublie sous ce voile et sur cette table neantmoins comme otane estoit au mesme lieu ou elle estoit son inquietude diminua apres y avoir bien pense parce que ses femmes avoient la clef de son cabinet et ce qui estoit cause qu'elle ne s'estoit pas aperceue plustost de ce malheur estoit qu'elle n'avoit encore ose ouvrir cette cassette depuis qu'elle estoit arrivee otane n'ayant pas este se promener assez loing pour ne craindre pas d'estre surprise cependant le soir estant venu il dit a amestris qu'il faloit qu'il allast faire un tour a ecbatane pour quelque affaire qui luy estoit survenue elle rougit a ce discours et regarda menaste le voy bien luy dit ce facheux mary avec une raillerie contrainte et piquante que vous me portez envie pardonnez-moy seigneur luy dit-elle et j'aime beaucoup mieux demeurer icy que d'aller a ecbatane quoy qu'il en soit luy repondit-il je m'apercoy ce me semble que mon voyage 
 ne vous est pas indifferent mais vostre rongeur ne m'a pas bien explique si vous en avez de la douleur ou de la joye c'est assurement dit menaste en riant afin de rompre cet entretien qu'amestris s'est imaginee que vous voudriez qu'elle retournast avecques vous a la ville et qu'elle a eu peur de quitter si-tost un lieu ou elle se plaist infiniment otane ne dit plus rien apres cela que quelques paroles que l'on n'entendit pas et se retira fort chagrin car encore qu'il laissast sa femme en une maison tres solitaire neantmoins il ne laissoit pas d'estre inquiet et d'estre fort empesche a expliquer la rougeur d'amestris et pour quel sujet elle avoit regarde menaste qui depuis ce jour la luy devint suspecte sans scavoir pourquoy cependant amestris n'estoit pas en une petite peine de voir qu'otane s'en alloit en un lieu ou il y avoit une chose qu'elle craignoit tant qu'il ne vist elle ne scavoit donc quelle resolution prendre car comme tous les domestiques estoient tes espions et qu'il enduroit cent impertinences d'eux parce qu'il les employoit a observer ce qu'elle faisoit elle n'osoit pas entreprendre d'en gagner un pour luy donner la clef de son cabinet et pour l'obliger a luy aporter ce petit coffre qui luy donnoit tant d'inquietude elle apprehendoit aussi estrangement qu'otane ne s'allast adviser de faire ouvrir ce cabinet toutesfois ne trouvant pas grande aparence qu'il le deust faire puis qu'il n'y en avoit point qu'elle deust y avoir rien laisse de pareille nature elle se resolut de laisser aller la chose au hazard menaste luy proposa pourtant de dire a son mary qu'elle seroit bien aise d'aller pour deux ou trois jours a ecbatane et qu'elle le prioit de l'y remener mais des qu'elle en pensa 
 ouvrir la bouche otane luy dit que l'affaire pour laquelle il alloit estoit pressee qu'il ne pouvoit pas aller en chariot et qu'ainsi ce seroit pour une autre fois de sorte qu'il falut le laisser partir et qu'amestris demeurast en une inquietude estrange et certes ce n'estoit pas sans sujet car a peine otane fut il arrive chez luy qu'il se mit dans la fantaisie de visiter tout l'apartement d'amestris fort exactement le concierge le luy ouvrit donc tout entier a la reserve du cabinet dont il luy dit qu'il n'avoit pas la clef et quoy que cela ne fust pas fort extraordinaire neantmoins sans tarder davantage feignant d'avoir besoing de quelque chose qu'il disoit avoir donne a garder a amestris il en fit enfoncer la porte et il y entra y demeurant seul avec un escuyer qu'il avoit qui se nommoit dinocrate et qui avoit part a tous ses secrets il chercha d'abord dans les tiroirs de deux grands cabinets qui y estoient et dont il fit rompre les serrures il ouvrit plusieurs boittes qu'il y trouva il regarda sur toutes les tablettes dans des vases qui estoient dessus il leva mesme les tableaux et la tapisserie et il estoit tout prest de ressortir bien satisfait de n'avoir rien trouve de ce qu'il cherchoit lors que dinocrate voyant un voile de gaze sur la table ou il paroissoit y avoir quelque chose dessous le tira et descouvrit ce petit coffre d'orsevrerie ou estoient les lettres d'aglatidas dinocrate fit alors un grand cry comme s'il eust trouve un grand thresor et otane se raprochant en diligence avec un battement de coeur estrange le prit et sans considerer que l'ouvrage en estoit admirable il le rompit avec une violence extreme mais o dieux des qu'il l'eut ouvert et que tirant les 
 lettres qui estoient dedans il y vit les noms d'amestris et d'aglatidas il entra en une telle fureur qu'il fut plus d'une heure sans les pouvoir lire il les ouvroit pourtant et mesme les regardoit toutes mais il estoit si transporte qu'il ne scavoit ce qu'il lisoit a l'instant mesme il envoya querir artemon qui venant aussi tost voyez luy dit il voyez si j'avois tort d'estre chagrin et alors il luy raconta comme si cela eust este bien necessaire a scavoir comment il avoit fait ouvrir ce cabinet comment il avoit cherche par tout et bref il luy dit jusques a la moindre circonstance des choses que je viens de vous dire en suitte dequoy il luy bailla une des lettres qu'il avoit trouvees artemon la prenant et connoissant par ce qu'elle contenoit qu'elle avoit este escrite du temps qu'artambare pere d'amestris vivoit et que l'on croyoit qu'aglatidas la devoit espouser luy dit qu'il ne voyoit pas qu'il y eust rien la de fort criminel quoy repliqua otane vous croyez qu'amestris soit innocente de garder des lettres de galanterie apres estre mariee non artemon luy dit-il elle ne le scauroit estre et puis qu'amestris conserve les lettres d'aglatidas elle en conserve sans doute l'affection dans le fond de son coeur et alors repassant toutes ces lettres il vint enfin a trouver celle qu'aglatidas avoit escrite en partant ha c'en est fait s'ecria-t'il je suis le plus malheureux homme du monde et je ne voy que trop la cause de la retraite d'amestris artemon prenant cette lettre et voyant en effet qu'elle avoit este ecrite depuis le mariage d'otane et qu'il falloit de necessite qu'ils se fussent remis bien ensemble sans que l'on en eust rien sceu fut quelque temps sans parler pendant quoy otane dit plus 
 de choses qu'un homme qui ne seroit point jaloux n'en pourroit penser en un jour mais enfin artemon arrestant ce torrent de paroles inutiles est-ce la luy dit-il tout le crime d'amestris si cela est adjousta artemon vous n'estes pas si malheureux que vous le dites car ne voyez-vous pas par cette lettre que puis qu'aglatidas se prepare a estre tousjours infortune il faut que ce soit qu'amestris l'ait banny de plus ne voyez-vous pas encore que personne ne scait la cause de son depart ainsi je croy plustost que si vous scaviez la chose comme elle est vous trouveriez que la vertu d'amestris merite beaucoup de louange je ne trouveray jamais cela repliqua-t'il car enfin amestris n'a point deu recevoir cette lettre depuis qu'elle est ma femme et moins encore l'avoir conservee artemon eut beau vouloir excuser amestris il n'y eut pas moyen d'appaiser otane qui sans se soucier plus des affaires qui l'avoient amene a la ville s'en retourna aux champs des le lendemain bien est-il vray qu'artemon ne le voulut point abandonner et fut malgre qu'il en eust aveques luy cependant amestris vivoit dans une crainte extreme mais des qu'elle vit arriver son mary sans qu'il pust avoir eu le temps de faire les choses qui avoient cause son voyage le coeur luy battit et peu s'en falut qu'elle ne s'evanouist aussi-tost qu'otane fut descendu de chenal quoy qu'artemon l'en voulust empescher il fut droit a la chambre d'amestris et s'approchant d'elle avec une fierte incivile madame luy dit-il vous me devez avoir quelque obligation de vous rapporter si promptement ce que vous avez sans doute oublie a ecbatane et en disant cela il luy jetta sur la table aupres de laquelle elle estoit toutes les 
 lettres d'aglatidas je vous laisse a penser ce que cette veue fit dans le coeur d'amestris neantmoins comme elle scavoit bien qu'elle n'estoit pas aussi coupable qu'otane la croyoit elle rapella toute sa confiance et sans s'emouvoir extremement seigneur luy dit-elle il me semble que vous avez si bien sceu que feu mon pere m'avoit commande de regarder aglatidas comme devant estre mon mary que vous ne devez pas trouver estrange que j'en aye receu des lettres mais la derniere de toutes reprit-il ne souffre pas cette excuse joint que si vous n'avez pas failly en recevant les premieres vous avez du moins fait une faute irreparable en les conservant j'advoue dit-elle que l'ay failly contre la prudence de ne les bruler pas des que je me resolus a vous epouser mais cette faute n'est pas si grande que vous le croyez et pour cette derniere lettre que j'ay receue il ne m'a pas este possible de ne la recevoir point mais je puis vous asseurer que je n'y ay pas respondu et que s'il eust este en mon pouvoir je l'eusse renvoyee a aglatidas elle est pourtant conceue en des termes repliqua-t'il ou il ne paroist pas qu'il fust fort mal avecques vous seigneur dit-elle je n'ay que deux choses a vous dire pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos l'une que je ne verray jamais aglatidas l'autre que je ne recevray jamais de ses lettres ny qu'il ne recevra jamais des miennes il me semble dit artemon qui estoit present a cette conversation fascheuse qu'amestris va au dela de la raison car enfin connoissant sa vertu comme vous la devez connoistre quand elle verroit un honme qui auroit este amoureux d'elle vous n'en devriez pas estre en peine mais qui m'asseurera dit otane a amestris sans 
 ecouter artemon de ce que vous dites seigneur luy repliqua-t'elle vous pouvez me laisser icy et faire que je n'aille jamais a ecbatane ou peut-estre aglatidas pourroit revenir quelque jour la solitude reprit-il en branlant la teste est fort propre pour des entreveues secretes remenez moy donc a la ville respondit-elle sans s'emouvoir afin que toute la terre soit tesmoin de mes actions et afin que toute la terre scache repliqua-t'il tout en fureur vostre crime et mon infortune mais apres tout dit-il qui vous a donne cette derniere lettre une personne que je ne connois pas repondit-elle ne voulant pas luy nommer menaste et ou est aglatidas presentement luy demanda otane je n'en scay rien repliqua-t'elle et je n'ay pas assez d'intelligence avecques luy pour estre informee de ses desseins et pourquoy luy dit il m'avez-vous epouse puis que vous aimiez aglatidas je pensois respondit amestris veu la facon dont vous aviez agy vous avoir assez oblige en vous preferant a beaucoup d'autres pour vous obliger aussi a ne me traiter pas comme vous faites et je pensois dit-il que quand vous ne m'eussiez pas aime vous auriez assez aime la gloire pour ne rien faire indigne de vous mais enfin dit artemon pourquoy n'estes-vous pas content de ce qu'amestris vous promet elle vous dit qu'elle ne verra jamais aglatidas qu'elle ne recevra point de ses lettres ny ne luy fera point recevoir des siennes que voulez vous davantage je voudrois qu'elle n'eust pas receu cette derniere reprit-il et qu'elle n'eust pas garde toutes les autres car enfin c'est une marque asseuree adjousta-t'il qu'elle ne hait pas aglatidas qu'elle ne m'aime gueres et que par consequent je dois tout craindre 
 seigneur reprit amestris scachez s'il vous plaist une chose qui est que quand je vous hairois effroyablement et que j'aimerois aglatidas plus que moy-mesme je ne luy parlerois jamais et que plus j'aurois de tendresse pour luy plus j'apporterois de soin a eviter sa rencontre ainsi mettez-vous l'esprit en repos de ce coste la et s'il est possible laissez y moy il n'est pas aise reprit-il qu'un homme que vous alles rendre malheureux le reste de ses jours puisse vous y laisser mais apres tout interrompit artemon que voulez-vous je n'en scay rien repliqua-t'il brusquement c'est pourquoy en attendant que j'aye bien resolu ce que je veux j'entens tousjours que menaste qui est parente d'aglatidas et qui en est sans doute la confidente s'en retourne a ecbatane et qu'amestris ne la voye jamais seigneur interrompit-elle faites-moy s'il vous plaist la grace de ne faire pas une outrage a une personne de la condition et de la vertu de menaste augmentez vos reproches contre moy s'il est possible mais ne perdez pas la civilite pour elle que si toutefois vous voulez que je ne la voye plus je feray en sorte qu'elle s'en retournera dans quelques jours a ecbatane sous quelqu'autre pretexte je vous entens bien luy dit-il vous voulez auparavant qu'elle parte avoir loisir de concerter avec elle par quelle voye vous recevrez des nouvelles d'aglatidas mais seigneur reprit-elle si aglatidas estoit en termes avecques moy de pouvoir me donner de ses nouvelles et de recevoir des miennes pourquoy seroit-il si eloigne d'icy que voulez-vous que je vous die repliqua-t'il tout en colere sinon que vous me ferez perdre la raison et la vie artemon voyant que tout ce qu'amestris luy disoit l'aigrissoit plutost 
 que de l'appaiser le fit sortir de sa chambre presque par force cependant pousse par un sentiment jaloux qu'il ne put retenir il ne voulut pas laisser les lettres d'aglatidas a amestris et il ne voulut pas non plus les bruler s'imaginant qu'il la tiendroit mieux en son devoir scachant qu'il les auroit en ses mains il les reprit donc toutes avec autant de soin que si c'eust este une chose qui luy eust este fort chere et regardant amestris avec une fierte insupportable vous souffrirez bien madame luy dit il que je les conserve a mon tour je souffriray tout avec patience dit-elle car il n'est point de mal-heur ou je n'aye prepare mon esprit apres qu'il fut sorty il voulut aller trouver menaste a sa chambre qui s'estoit trouvee un peu mal et qui gardoit le lit ce jour la mais artemon l'en empescha et luy dit tant de choses qu'il le fit resoudre a souffrir que cette personne ne s'en allast que dans quelques jours ne pouvant jamais obtenir qu'il la laissast plus long-temps avec amestris il voulut encore quoy qu'artemon luy pust dire changer toutes ses femmes et tous ceux qui estoient destinez a la servir si bien que tout ce qu'artemon put faire fut d'empescher qu'otane ne la maltraitast et ne se portast a quelque estrange resolution cependant il se trouvoit bien embarrasse a choisir le lieu ou il vouloit demeurer car a la campagne pourveu qu'il y fust il luy sembloit en effet plus aise de prendre garde aux actions d'amestris mais comme il n'y pouvoit pas tousjours estre il croyoit aussi bien plus facile qu'aglatidas la pust voir et la pust mesme enlever estant de ceux qui ne se servent de la prevoyance que pour le tourmenter inutilement de plus 
 il estoit persuade avecques raison qu'amestris estoit belle aux yeux de tous ceux qui la voyoient ainsi il ne craignoit pas seulement aglatidas et il en vint au point que ses plus proches parens et ses meilleurs amis luy donnerent de la jalousie artemon mesme ne fut pas privilegie et s'il y eut quelque difference de luy aux autres ce fut qu'otane luy tesmoigna sa jalousie avecque moins d'aigreur et qu'artemon la souffrit avec plus de patience et moins de malice que beaucoup d'autres qui estoient bien aises de le persecuter mais enfin il falut que menaste s'en retournast a ecbatane et qu'artemon l'y remenast la separation de ces deux amies fut d'autant plus fascheuse qu'elles ne purent se parler qu'un quart d'heure en particulier encore falut-il qu'artemon employast toute son adresse pour leur faire avoir cette legere consolation ce genereux amy fit promettre en partant a otane qu'il ne parleroit plus jamais d'aglatidas a amestris et qu'il vivroit bien avec elle parce qu'autrement il se pleindroit de luy en son particulier de plus comme il jugeoit qu'amestris seroit encore mieux a ecbatane quoy qu'elle n'y vist personne que d'estre a la campagne ou elle verroit eternellement son mary il luy fit un discours adroit ou justifiant toujours amestris il luy donnoit pourtant lieu de craindre qu'aglatidas n'entreprist plustost de la voir aux champs qu'a la ville ce n'est pas luy disoit-il que je soupconne amestris d'estre capable d'y rien contribuer mais apres tout vous scavez bien qu'aglatidas l'a aimee avec une passion extreme et selon les apparences il ne la hait pas encore de sorte que desespere qu'il est que vous soyez plus heureux que luy il pourroit sans doute 
 du moins chercher les voyes de faire scavoir sa souffrance a amestris c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous la ramenerez a ecbatane d'abord otane trouva ce qu'artemon luy disoit fort raisonnable mais un moment apres il le desaprouva et artemon partit avec menaste sans scavoir si otane demeureroit tousjours aux champs ou s'il retourneroit a la ville et sans qu'otane luy mesme sceust ce qu'il vouloit faire cependant comme le prompt retour de menaste fit quelque bruit et que par les domestiques des maisons on scait tout ce qui s'y passe la jalousie d'otane fit une nouvelle rumeur dans le monde de plus anatise ayant une fille aupres d'elle qui estoit soeur de dinocrate escuyer d'otane et son confident elle sceut par luy que l'on avoit trouve des lettres d'aglatidas entre les mains d'amestris de sorte qu'anatise entrant en une nouvelle fureur contre elle dit cent choses malicieuses qui ne firent pourtant nul effet et qui retournerent toutes contre elle mesme car il estoit si ais de voir qu'elle parloit avec animosite que si elle eust pu dire vray et parler mal d'amestris on ne l'eust non plus creue que lors qu'elle disoit des mensonges pendant cela otane n'estoit pas peu occupe a garder les advenues de sa maison s'il voyoit de loing un paisan un peu propre traverser un bois qu'il avoit il croyoit que c'estoit peut-estre aglatidas deguise s'il voyoit parler les femmes d'amestris a quelques gens qu'il ne connoissoit point il vouloit scavoir ce qu'on leur disoit et s'imaginoit qu'on leur avoit donne des lettres d'aglatidas pour leur maistresse afin qu'elle ne pust gagner par des presens celles qu'il mettoit aupres d'elle il fit faire un rolle fort exact 
 de toutes ses pierreries et le garda tousjours luy-mesme les revoyant de temps en temps pour voir si tout y estoit il cherchoit soigneusement par tous les lieux ou il pouvoit s'imaginer qu'elle pouvoit cacher des lettres et l'on peut dire que quelque persecution qu'il luy fist souffrir il estoit encore plus malheureux qu'elle il la regardoit avec des yeux ou l'on voyoit si clairement sa jalousie et son inquietude qu'elle ne pouvoit pas douter des sentimens qu'il avoit dans l'ame cependant ayant este force de retourner a ecbatane pour une affaire importante il l'y remena ne voulant pas la laisser seule en ce lieu la car conme il ne scavoit point avec certitude ou estoit aglatidas il s'imaginoit tousjours qu'il estoit cache en quelque lieu proche en attendant qu'il quittast amestris pour la venir visiter mais en retournant a la ville il luy prescrivit les personnes qu'elle y devoit voir et luy dit que principalement il ne vouloit pas qu'elle vist beaucoup de ces gens qui n'ayant rien a faire sont les galants de profession et passent toute leur vie de ruelle en ruelle et de conversation en conversation a dire a peu pres les mesmes choses amestris qui s'estoit resolue a une patience sans egale fit ce qu'il voulut sans en murmurer et ne vit mesme menaste qu'en secret par le moyen d'artemon mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas faire que tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens raisonnables a ecbatane ne prissent plaisir a la voir on la cherchoit aux temples on la suivoit dans les rues et on alloit mesme la trouver chez trois ou quatre personnes qu'il luy avoit permis de visiter de plus comme il y a tousjours des gens qui aiment a se divertir eux mesmes sans songer s'ils nuisent a autruy il y eut un 
 homme entre les autres nomme tharpis qui pour punir otane de sa jalousie se resolut de l'augmenter autant qu'il pourroit si bien qu'amestris ne sortoit jamais qu'il n'y eust de ses gens a observer ou elle alloit pour l'y suivre toutes les fois qu'otane entroit ou sortoit il voyoit tousjours quelque officier de tharpis en garde a quelque coing de rue proche de chez luy ainsi je puis assurer sans mensonge qu'en fort peu de temps il ne fut gueres moins jaloux de tharpis que d'aglatidas ou pour parler encore plus raisonnablement il le fut presques esgalement de tout le monde quand amestris estoit malade elle l'estoit toujours de telle sorte et avec tant de violence a ce que l'on disoit a la porte de son logis que l'on ne la pouvoit voir et quand otane l'estoit il faisoit dire aussi qu'il l'estoit si fort qu'amestris ne le pouvoit pas quitter de facon qu'ils ne se trouvoient jamais mal ny l'un ny l'autre que l'on n'agist chez eux comme s'ils eussent este a l'extremite si quel qu'un parloit bas a amestris a qui il n'osast pas demander tout haut ce qu'il luy disoit il le leur demandoit apres a tous deux separement et se servoit pour cela de pretextes si bizarres qu'il estoit impossible de n'en rire pas voila donc a peu pres de quelle facon vescut amestris jusques a la mort d'astiage qui comme vous l'avez sceu mourut en partie de douleur par la nouvelle qu'il receut de l'enlevement de la princesse mandane mais quelques jours en fuite scachant que ciaxare devoit venir a ecbatane prendre possession de la couronne de medie et que la cour seroit fort grosse otane s'imaginant mesme qu'aglatidas pourroit revenir de ses voyages pour voir le nouveau roy il remena 
 amestris aux champs quoy que de la condition dont il estoit il eust deu revenir des champs a la ville s'il y eust este mais comme ses resolutions estoient ordinairement contraires a la raison et a la bien-seance il sortit d'ecbatane quand tout le monde y revenoit de sorte que quand vous y passastes avec ciaxare elle n'y estoit pas mais quand vous en fustes partis pour aller commencer la guerre d'assirie il revint avec elles ce ne fut toutesfois pas pour la mieux traiter qu'a l'ordinaire et elle vescut encore de la mesme facon que je vous ay dit jusques a ce que l'on sceut qu'aglatidas avoit este joindre l'armee sur sa route sans que l'on dist d'ou il venoit et que l'on aprit en suite qu'il estoit fort bien aupres de vous et par consequent fort considere de ciaxare cette nouvelle luy donna deux sentimens fort contraires car il fut bien aise de scavoir de certitude qu'aglatidas estoit loing d'ecbatane mais il ne fut pas si satisfait d'aprendre l'honneur que le roy et vous luy faisiez si bien que comme toutes les nouvelles qui venoient de l'armee parloient advantageusement de sa valeur amestris n'osoit plus s'informer des affaires generales ny de la guerre parce qu'il s'imaginoit qu'elle ne demandoit toutes ces choses qu'afin qu'on luy parlast d'aglatidas mais enfin seigneur le gouverneur de la province des arisantins estant mort il eut une envie estrange d'employer ses amis a demander ce gouvernement la pour luy a ciaxare a cause que tout le bien d'amestris qui est fort grand est scitue dans cette province neantmoins comme il sceut que l'on n'obtenoit plus rien du roy que par vostre moyen il ne voulut pas avoir recours a une personne qu'aglatidas 
 aimoit et dont il estoit aime joint qu'apres avoir manque a ce que devoit un honme de sa condition en ne voyant point ciaxare a son avenement a la couronne et apres que sa jalousie l'avoit en suitte empesche de le suivre a la guerre comme sa naissance l'y obligeoit il ne voyoit nulle apparence de luy demander cette grace et moins encore de l'obtenir quand il la luy eust demandee ce qui l'affligeoit le plus en cette rencontre estoit qu'il scavoit que l'ennemy declare de la maison d'amestris l'avoit envoye demander sans qu'il peust imaginer par ou il pourroit traverser son dessein mais a quelque temps de la il receut un paquet qui le surprit fort car il trouva dedans les expeditions de ce gouvernement que vous luy envoyastes au nom de ciaxare d'abord il eut une joye extreme de la chose et quoy qu'il ne sceust pas bien precisement d'ou ce bon-heur luy venoit neantmoins il ne devina point la verite et il creut qu'elle s'estoit faite par le seul mouvement du roy de sorte qu'il la publia avec plaisir exagerant comment il avoit eu ce gouvernement sans qu'il s'en fust mesle et sans qu'il eust employe personne pour luy toute la ville fut donc luy faire compliment et il souffrit mesme qu'amestris receust visite de tous ceux qui luy en voulurent rendre mais trois jours apres qu'il eut receu cette premiere nouvelle il en aprit une seconde qui luy fut aussi facheuse que l'autre luy avoit este agreable qui fut qu'un vieil officier de la maison de ciaxare qui estoit fort de sa connoissance et qui ne scavoit pas les sentimens d'otane pour amestris parce que depuis son mariage il n'avoit pas tarde en medie luy manda qu'il jugeoit a propos de l'advertir qu'il devoit 
 remercier aglatidas du gouvernement qu'on luy donnoit puis que sans luy il ne l'auroit pas obtenu luy exagerant en suitte avec quelle ardeur vous aviez demande la chose a la priere d'aglatidas quand otane receut cette lettre il estoit dans la chambre d'amestris ou il y avoit avez grande compagnie et comme on sceut qu'elle venoit de l'armee chacun le pressa de la lire afin de scavoir des nouvelles ce qu'il fit pour les contenter mais en lisant tout bas ce que je viens de vous dire il changea vingt fois de couleur et tout le monde creut ou que ciaxare estoit mort ou qu'on luy ostoit le gouvernement qu'on luy avoit donne on luy demanda donc avec beaucoup d'empressement ce qu'on luy aprenoit quelques uns mesme luy demanderent quelle mauvaise nouvelle on luy avoit escrite jugeant de la lettre qu'il avoit receue par son visage mais il leur respondit qu'on luy rendoit conte d'une affaire particuliere qui ne luy plaisoit pas et certes il estoit aise de s'en apercevoir car il parut un si grand chagrin dans ses yeux qu'amestris qui le connoissoit admirablement ne douta pas que la jalousie n'eust sa part a son inquietude elle n'en devina pourtant pas la cause et elle creut que peut-estre luy mandoit-on qu'aglatidas devoit faire quelque voyage a ecbatane cependant il tesmoigna si ouvertement a toute la compagnie qu'on l'importunoit qu'elle se retira il vint mesme des gens qui ne luy avoient point encore fait compliment sur le gouvernement quon luy avoit donne mais il les receut si mal qu'ils creurent qu'il leur vouloit faire un outrage et s'il n'eust pas este connu pour jaloux et par consequent pour bizarre ces gens la l'auroient querelle veu l'extravagante 
 maniere dont il les receut mais s'estant contentez de faire leur visite courte ils le laisserent dans la liberte de s'entretenir luy mesme par bon heur pourtant artemon arriva auparavant qu'il eust reveu amestris estant alle accompagner ceux qui sortoient car sans cela peut-estre se seroit-il emporte a quelque extreme violence contre elle d'abord qu'il le vit voyez luy dit-il en luy donnant la lettre qu'il venoit de recevoir si j'avois tort de croire qu'aglatidas et amestris estoient tousjours bien ensemble artemon la prit donc et la leut mais n'y trouvant pas un mot de ce qu'otane disoit et n'y voyant autre chose sinon qu'aglatidas luy avoit fait donner le gouvernement de la province des arisantins qu'il avoit tant souhaitte comment est-il possible luy dit-il que vous raisonniez d'une facon si opposee a la mienne et quoy respondit otane ne paroit-il pas clairement qu'amestris a escrit en secret a aglatidas que je desirois fort ce gouvernement et que ce seroit peut-estre une bonne voye pour nous remettre bien ensemble et pour leur donner la liberte de se voir s'il pouvoit me le faire obtenir point du tout interrompit artemon et je soustiens au contraire qu'amestris vous connoissant comme elle fait n'aura jamais este capable de croire qu'une couronne si aglatidas vous la pouvoit donner vous pust obliger a souffrir qu'il la vist ny qu'il vous visitast ainsi je conclus qu'amestris n'a point de part a la chose et que si aglatidas l'a faite il l'a faite par generosite toute pure et parce qu'il ne vous hait pas comme vous le haissez vous avez une si grande disposition a excuser tousjours amestris luy dit-il fort en colere que je pense 
 qu'il est peu de crimes dont vous ne la voulussiez absoudre sans punition si elle les avoit commis il est vray reprit artemon que je suis fort persuade de sa vertu et tres vray encore que je crois que c'est entreprendre sur l'authorite des dieux que de vouloir punir des crimes qui se passent dans le fond du coeur suppose mesme qu'ils y soient et que par consequent eux seuls peuvent bien cognoistre quoy qu'il en soit dit otane je ne veux point accepter une chose qu'un homme que je voudrois avoir poignarde m'a fait donner comment interrompit artemon extremement surpris apres avoir receu les complimens de toute une grande ville qui s'est venu rejouir avecques vous vous refuserez ce gouvernement que vous avez accepte ouy dit-il je le refuseray et je rens graces aux dieux de ce que je ne devois escrire que demain a ciaxare pour le remercier de ce beau present mais que direz vous a tous ceux qui vous sont venus voir quand vous leur rendrez leur visite interrompit artemon je ne leur en rendray point dit-il et si quelqu'un me rencontre et me presse de luy dire mes raisons je luy aprendray que je ne puis pas souffrir qu'amestris aime encore aglatidas et ait une intelligence avecques luy que je suis trop genereux pour recevoir un bien-fait de mon ennemy et pour endurer qu'il triomphe du coeur d'amestris qui ne doit estre qu'a moy mais luy dit artemon ne craignez vous point que ciaxare et cyrus ne s'offencent de voir que vous refuserez une chose comme celle la je ne crains rien tant luy respondit-il que d'estre oblige par aglatidas mais que dis-je oblige reprit-il disons plustost outrage en effet quelle injure plus grande pouvoit il me faire que celle 
 la s'il avoit encore escrit a amestris qu'il luy eust donne des pierreries et qu'elle de son coste luy eust respondu et luy eust envoye son portrait du moins n'y auroit-il qu'un petit nombre de personnes qui scauroient la chose mais en l'affaire dont il s'agit tout un grand royaume scaura qu'aglatidas qui n'a point de gouvernement au lieu de demander celuy la pour luy l'a demande pour un homme qu'il hait il y a longtemps et qui a espouse une personne qu'il aimoit et qu'il aime encore ne faut-il donc pas conclurre apres cela qu'il a voulu faire dire a tout le monde qu'il recompense le mary des faveurs qu'il recoit de la femme mais je donneray bien ordre que l'on ne me puisse pas accuser de preferer l'ambition a l'honneur croyez moy luy dit artemon que vous hazarderez bien plus vostre reputation en refusant ce gouvernement qu'en l'acceptant quand cela seroit reprit-il avec une fureur extreme j'aimerois encore mieux perdre mon honneur que de recevoir un bien-fait d'aglatidas lors que les presens de nos ennemis respondit artemon peuvent nous empoisonner je croy qu'il est bon de ne les accepter pas et qu'il est mesme genereux d'aimer plustost a obliger son ennemy que d'en estre oblige mais comme le bien-fait d'aglatidas n'est pas de cette nature et que vous ne pouvez le refuser de la main du roy sans vous ruiner aupres de luy et sans forcer tout le monde a se moquer de vous je pense dis-je qu'il ne faut pas escouter la passion qui vous possede et qu'il la faut vaincre pardonnez moy otane si je vous parle si franchement mais je remarque un si grand dereglement en vostre raison 
 que je crois y estre oblige si ce n'estoit que je voy que vous n'estes pas jaloux d'aglatidas repliqua otane avec un sous-rire force je vous croirois amoureux d'amestris quand vous le croiriez reprit artemon je n'en serois pas si estonne que de ce que vous voulez faire car je vous advoue que je ne comprens pas vostre dessein je veux luy dit-il me mettre en estat de faire cognoistre a toute la medie que je ne contribue rien a la folie d'amestris ha otane s'ecria artemon ne craignez pas que l'on vous soupconne jamais d'une pareille chose vous y avez donne si bon ordre que ce malheur n'a garde de vous arriver je l'y donneray bien encore meilleur reprit-il il ne sera pas aise repliqua artemon vous le scaurez pourtant bien-tost repondit otane et devant qu'il soit peu vous advouerez que l'honneur m'est plus cher que toutes choses artemon craignant qu'il n'eust quelque mauvais dessein cache contre amestris luy parla moins fortement qu'il n'avoit fait mais otane ne voulut plus luy rien dire et il fut contraint de le quitter parce qu'il estoit fort tard a peine fut-il sorty qu'otane fut trouver amestris a qui il dit tout ce que la jalousie la rage et la fureur peuvent faire dire sans qu'elle luy respondist une seule parole avec aigreur et sans qu'elle sceust mesme la cause de sa colere car comme il estoit persuade qu'elle scavoit bien qu'aglatidas luy avoit fait donner ce gouvernement il luy parloit en des termes si obscurs et si embrouillez qu'elle ne comprenoit rien ny a ses injures ny a ses reproches apres avoir employe tout le soir a persecuter amestris il sortit de son apartement et passa au sien ou il ne voulut estre suivy par 
 aucun de ses gens que par dinocrate de qui la lasche complaisance l'avoit admirablement bien mis dans son esprit il n'y fut pas plustost qu'il l'envoya donner ordre que l'on tinst ses chevaux prests a partir a la pointe du jour et en effet apres avoir passe la nuict dans des agitations inconcevables a ce qu'il a conte depuis des que le jour parut il monta a cheval sans revoir amestris et s'en alla a la campagne pour esviter la rencontre du monde n'estant pas encore bien resolu de ce qu'il vouloit dire car pour ce qu'il vouloit faire cela n'estoit pas douteux et il auroit plustost choisi la mort que d'accepter ce qu'aglatidas avoit obtenu pour luy cependant l'absence d'otane donnant un peu plus de liberte a amestris parce que tous ses espions ne luy estoient pas fidelles elle vit menaste pour se consoler et elle vit aussi artemon qui luy apprit la cause de la fureur de son mary mais lors qu'elle fut seule avec sa chere menaste elle luy advoua que quoy que la colere d'otane j'affligeast extremement et qu'elle fust au desespoir d'apprendre la bizarre resolution qu'il prenoit de refuser ce gouvernement que tout le monde scavoit qu'il avoit tant souhaite neantmoins elle avoit quelque plaisir a penser qu'aglatidas l'aimoit encore assez pour avoir este capable a sa consideration de servir otane qu'il avoit tousjours hai pour moy disoit menaste je ne puis que je n'admire cette diversite d'evenemens qu'une mesme passion cause car enfin c'est parce qu'aglatidas vous aime qu'il oblige otane qu'il n'aime pas et c'est aussi parce qu'otane vous aime qu'il ne peut souffrir qu'aglatidas le serve ha menaste s'ecria 
 amestris les sentimens qu'otane a pour moy ne se peuvent nommer amour et je suis persuadee que l'on s'abuse lors que l'on dit que l'amour et la jalousie sont inseparables je croy qu'elles se suivent mais je ne pense pas qu'elles puissent regner ensemble dans un coeur cependant disoit-elle encore n'admirez vous point mon malheur aglatidas croit sans doute m'avoir sensiblement obligee et s'imagine a mon avis qu'otane estant satisfait il en sera moins chagrin pour moy et tout au contraire il redouble ma persecution sans y penser de plus peut-on estre plus innocente que je le suis vous scavez menaste que depuis la lettre que je receus par vous et ou je ne respondis point l'en et y refuse plusieurs autres et que si je me suis souvenue d'aglatidas c'a este malgre moy et seulement en parlant avecques vous ou en m'entretenant moy mesme toutefois on diroit que les dieux me veulent punir de quelque grand crime vous n'estes pas aussi autant innocente que vous le croyez estre reprit menaste car enfin pourquoy avez vous epouse otane et estoit il juste que vous employassiez ce grand et merveilleux esprit que les dieux vous ont donne a inventer une si bizarre maniere de punir aglatidas et de vous justifier aupres de luy ne parlons plus du passe respondit elle en soupirant et songeons seulement au present et a l'advenir j'y voy tant de choses fascheuses pour vous reprit menaste que vous me devez pardonner si je vous parle plustost de ce qui n'est plus que de ce qui est ou de ce qui peut estre car pour moy j'avoue que je ne concoy point du tout ny ce qu'otane fera ny ce que vous ferez en mon particulier 
 dit amestris je ne scay point d'autre resolution a prendre que de me remettre absolument a la conduite des dieux sans murmurer contre leur volonte et de me preparer a une persecution eternelle car de vouloir entreprendre de chasser la jalousie du coeur d'otane il y auroit de la folie d'y penser puisque tout ce que j'ay fait severe icy ne l'a pu faire voila donc seigneur ce que disoit amestris durant que toute la ville estoit en peine du prompt depart d'otane et en cherchoit la raison sans la pouvoir trouver mais peu de jours apres la chose ne fut que trop divulguee parce que comme la nouvelle qu'il estoit gouverneur de la province des arisantins estoit allee aussi promptement en ce pais-la qu'elle estoit venue a ecbatane il y vint des deputez des principales villes de son gouvernement croyant l'y trouver qui aprenant qu'il estoit aux champs y furent pour s'aquiter de leur commission mais il ne les voulut pas recevoir leur faisant dire qu'il n'acceptoit pas ce qu'on luy avoit donne diverses personnes de qualite de cette mesme province luy escrivirent aussi sans qu'il leur fist response de sorte que ces deputez estrangement surpris de ce procede repassant par ecbatane s'en pleignirent et en demanderent la cause sans que personne la leur pust dire neantmoins on la sceut bien-tost car dinocrate l'ayant fait scavoir a anatise anatise apres l'apprit a toute la ville adjoustant malicieusement beaucoup de choses a la verite afin de faire croire qu'amestris n'estoit pas aussi innocente qu'on la disoit neantmoins quoy qu'elle pust dire on ne la creut pas cependant otane qui jusques la n'avoit passe que pour un jaloux fort bizarre commenca d'estre regarde 
 comme un homme qui avoit absolument perdu la raison et s'il eust este permis de voir amestris tout le monde eust este s'affliger avec elle ou luy conseiller d'abandonner otane mais ceux a qui il avoit confie la porte de sa maison n'y laissoient entrer qui que ce fust non seulement parce qu'il le vouloit ainsi mais encore parce qu'amestris le souhaitoit se contentant d'avoir la liberte de voir artemou et menaste cette derniere entrant par une porte du jardin sans qu'on le sceust pour otane il estoit dans un chagrin inconcevable car comme il avoit de l'esprit il jugeoit bien malgre toute sa jalousie et toute sa fureur que ce qu'il faisoit paroistroit fort estrange a tout le monde et qu'il ne pouvoit s'en justifier qu'en disant des mensonges contre amestris il ne pouvoit durer dans la solitude ou il estoit il ne pouvoit non plus se resoudre a retourner a ecbatane ne scachant pas trop bien ce qu'il pourroit dire a tous ceux qui s'estoient alle rejouir avecques luy et dont il avoit receu les complimens il estoit donc accable de toutes parts mais parmy tant de pensees differentes l'image d'aglatidas ne l'abandonnoit point et quand il s'imaginoit qu'amestris luy avoit sans doute de l'obligation de ce qu'il avoit fait pour luy il en estoit enrage du moins temoigna t'il avoir tous ces sentimens en parlant a artemon qui le fut voir pour tascher de le ramener a la raison cependant tharpis qui croyoit effectivement qu'il y avoit quelque justice a tourmenter un homme qui tourmentoit injustement une des plus vertueuses et des plus belles personnes de la terre et qui d'ailleurs comme je l'ay desja dit ne haissoit pas a se divertir aux despens d'autruy fit semblant d'avoit 
 receu une lettre de l'armee par laquelle on luy mandoit que ciaxare et vous estiez si irritez de ce qu'otane avoit refuse le gouvernement qu'on luy avoit voulu donner que l'on ne croyoit pas qu'il pust faire sa paix aisement or comme les nouvelles facheuses a quelqu'un s'epandent toujours plus promptement que les autres toute la ville en vingt-quatre heures ne fut remplie que de celle-la que l'on disoit avoir este confirmee par quatre ou cinq lettres quoy qu'il n'en fust venu aucune si bien que par les espions qu'otane avoit dans la ville il en fut bien-tost adverty ce qui augmenta ses inquietudes a tel point qu'il n'estoit pas maistre de luy mesme car comme on scavoit alors a ecbatane vostre veritable condition la faveur d'aglatidas aupres de vous luy devint plus redoutable et redoubla son chagrin en ce mesme temps on sceut avec certitude que les affaires d'armenie ne s'accommodoient pas et qu'asseurement ciaxare alloit porter la guerre en ce pais la de sorte que pousse par un sentiment de rage de desespoir de vangeance et de jalousie tout ensemble il forma le dessein de s'aller jetter dans le party du roy d'armenie quoy qu'il vist assez que c'estoit asseurement perdre tout son bien se flattant de l'esperance de pouvoir rencontrer aglatidas en quelque occasion scachant assez qu'il estoit aise de le trouver a la guerre pourveu qu'on le cherchast aux endroits les plus dangereux ce dessein estant pris sans le communiquer a personne il envoya querir amestris qui contre l'advis de menaste luy obeit artemon qui estoit revenu a ecbatane scachant la chose ne voulut du moins pas la laisser aller seule et l'accompagna malgre qu'elle en eust 
 comme ils approcherent du lieu ou ils alloient ils aperceurent dinocrate qui estoit arreste a cheval au pied d'un arbre qui des qu'il les eut veus s'en alla a toute bride vers le chasteau ou estoit son maistre ce bizarre procede surprit un peu amestris et artemon qui ne pouvoient deviner ce que cela vouloit dire mais ils furent bien plus estonnez lors qu'estant arrivez a ce chasteau ils apprirent que dinocrate n'avoit pas eu plutost adverty otane qu'amestris alloit arriver qu'il estoit monte a chenal suivy de trois ou quatre des siens et qu'il estoit sorty par une porte opposee a celle par ou amestris devoit entrer laissant seulement une lettre entre les mains du capitaine de ce chasteau pour luy rendre il ne la luy eut pas plustost donnee que l'ouvrant elle y leut ces paroles
 
 
 otane a l'indigne amestris 
 
 
 je parts pour aller cacher la honte dont vous m'avez couvert et c'est pour cela que je vais parmy des gens qui ne me connoissent pas et qui ne vous connoissent point mats je parts principalement pour aller tuer aglatidas si 
 je le puis rencontrer comme je l'espere si j'aprens que vous ayez receu la nouvelle de sa mort sans larmes je reviendray et je vous pardonneray peut-estre l'amour que vous aurez eu pour luy durant sa vie pourveu que sa mort vous ait este indifferente cependant demeurez dans ce chasteau obeissez a celuy qui y commande en mon absence et n'y voyez qui que ce soit si vous ne voulez que je revienne pour vous punir en vostre propre personne de tous les maux que vous m'avez faits et de tous ceux que vous me faites 
 
 
 otane 
 
 
je vous laisse a juger combien cette lettre affligea amestris qui l'ayant fait lire a artemon le conjura d'aller apres otane et en effet quoy que ce capitaine du chasteau pust dire artemon y fut a l'instant mesme mais soit qu'otane qui avoit pres d'une heure d'avantage fust desja trop loing pour le pouvoir rejoindre ou qu'il prist une route differente de la sienne il ne le rencontra pas et il revint aupres d'amestris qu'il trouva toute en larmes elle ne scavoit si effectivement otane estoit party elle ne scavoit s'il estoit alle pour tuer aglatidas comme il je disoit dans sa lettre ou s'il ne s'estoit point seulement cache pour voir comment elle agiroit en son absence mais apres a noir receu cette lettre ils comprirent bien par le commencement qu'il n'alloit pas a l'armee de ciaxare puis qu'il n'auroit pas este en ce lieu-la parmy des personnes inconnues de sorte qu'apres y avoir bien resve l'un et l'autre ils trouverent la 
 verite et artemon creut qu'otane s'en alloit en armenie se jetter parmy les ennemis du roy cependant amestris luy dit que pour commencer d'obeir a son mary il faloit qu'il s'en retournast il fit tout ce qu'il put pour l'obliger a souffrir qu'il la remenast a ecbatane mais outre que elle ne le voulut pas il est encore vray qu'il ne l'eust pas pu faire car celuy qu'otane avoit mis dans ce chasteau estoit un homme opiniastre et absolu qui ne l'eust pas endure neantmoins la douceur d'amestris obtint enfin de luy comme une grace singuliere que menaste la pourroit venir voir ainsi voyla amestris apres qu'artemon fut party dans une solitude affreuse principalement parce qu'elle n'avoit point de terme limite ses parens luy firent offrir a diverses fois de l'enlever de la malgre la resistance de celuy qui la gardoit si elle y vouloit consentir mais elle ne le voulut jamais non pas tant a mon advis pour obeir a otane a qui elle ne devoit pas sans doute une pareille obeissance que pour suivre son humeur qui faisoit qu'elle ne pouvoit plus souffrir le monde sans se contraindre extremement a quelque temps de la elle fut fort consolee d'aprendre de certitude qu'otane estoit en armenie car de cette facon elle craignit moins pour la vie d'aglatidas s'imaginant qu'il ne luy seroit pas si aise qu'il pensoit de trouver au milieu d'un combat celuy qu'il alloit chercher dans une armee de cent mille hommes
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur de quelle sorte vescut amestris pendant la guerre d'armenie et jusques a la nouvelle qui s'espandit en medie qu'otane estoit mort elle y fut mandee avec tant de circonstances que personne n'eut peur de s'en resjouir ouvertement 
 car en mon particulier ayant escrit a plusieurs de mes amis que je l'avois veu mort de mes propres yeux tout le monde en tesmoigna de la joye pour l'amour d'amestris mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que la personne de toute la terre qui devoit estre la plus aise de la mort d'otane fut celle qui l'aprit avec le plus de retenue car on ne vit jamais sur le visage d'amestris un mouvement que l'on pust croire estre une marque d'une grande joye interieure comme elle ne pouvoit pas estre fort affligee elle ne le paroissoit pas aussi mais sans estre ny fort gaye ny fort triste elle faisoit voir par sa moderation la sagesse de son esprit et la generosite de son ame et quand menaste luy demandoit d'ou venoit qu'elle ne sentoit pas avec plus de plaisir la liberte dont elle alloit jouir elle disoit que c'estoit parce qu'il luy demeuroit quelque scrupule en l'esprit et qu'elle craignoit que les mauvais traitemens qu'otane luy avoit faits ne fussent la cause pour laquelle les dieux avoient accourcy sa vie a quelques jours de la les gens d'otane revinrent a la reserve de dinocrate qu'ils dirent qui estoit demeure malade en armenie et qui confirmerent la nouvelle de sa perte cependant le capitaine du chasteau ou estoit amestris au lieu de luy commander comme il faisoit auparavant luy obeit des qu'il sceut la mort d'otane et comme il n'avoit pas use envers elle de beaucoup de severite elle le traita aussi avec beaucoup de douceur peu de jours apres tous ses parens et toutes ses amies furent la requerir et la ramenerent a ecbatane ou elle vescut avec toute la retenue qu'elle eust pu avoir quand otane n'eust pas este bizarre et extravagant comme 
 il l'avoit este neantmoins comme le deuil n'est pas long en medie et qu'amestris n'avoit jamais este plus belle qu'elle estoit alors et qu'elle est encore il y eut plusieurs personnes de qui les sentimens passionnez se descouvrirent bientost pour elle par les soings qu'ils luy rendirent et tharpis entre les autres qui durant qu'otane estoit jaloux croyoit n'avoir aporte soing a voir amestris et a la suivre en tous lieux que pour augmenter sa jalousie se trouva estre effectivement amoureux d'elle artemon de son coste qui avoit tousjours creu que la compassion qu'il avoit des malheurs d'amestris estoit la seule cause de l'empressement qu'il apportoit a la voir et a la servir s'aperceut aussi qu'il l'aimoit d'une amitie un peu plus tendre qu'il ne croyoit de sorte qu'amestris en perdant un mary gagna plusieurs amants et ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette advanture fut qu'anatise toute seule fut sensiblement affligee de la mort d'otane mais si affligee que tout le monde s'en aperceut comme on le dit a amestris et qu'elle en parloit avec sa chere menaste cette fille apres y avoir bien pense en imagina la veritable cause qui estoit qu'elle craignoit que la mort d'otane ne renouast l'amitie d'amestris et d'aglatidas s'il revenoit a ecbatane elle rougit a ce discours et cherchant a mon advis a faire que son amie la contredist l'ambition et l'absence reprit elle auront sans doute si bien guery aglatidas de la passion qu'il avoit pour moy que l'inquietude d'anatise se trouvera fort mal fondee joint que quand mesme cela ne seroit pas je trouve la liberte si douce que j'aurois quelque peine a me resoudre de la perdre si vous parliez ainsi a quelque amie d'anatise reprit 
 menaste en riant je trouverois que ce seroit parler avec beaucoup de prudence mais parlant a moy me dire que l'absence et l'ambition auront guery aglatidas luy qui pouvant demander des gouvernemens pour luy mesme les a demandez pour les donner a celuy que vous aviez epouse et luy enfin qui vous a aimee lors qu'il vous devoit hait qu'il vous croyoit infidelle et qu'il estoit eloigne de vous ha non amestris je ne le scaurois souffrir et moins encore que vous adjoustiez que quand cela ne seroit pas vous auriez peine a le preferer a la liberte parlez amestris parlez pensez vous ce que vous dites ou ne le pensez vous pas et dites moy ingenument si vous seriez bien aise qu'aglatidas revenant icy allast servir anatise devant vos yeux ha pour anatise reprit amestris j'advoue que j'aurois beaucoup de peine a le souffrir et de qui donc l'endureriez vous luy dit menaste en sous-riant mauvaise personne luy repliqua amestris pour quoy me persecutez vous si cruellement et pour quoy me forcez vous a vous dire en rougissant qu'il n'y a que la gloire que je puisse souffrir qu'aglatidas aime plus que moy encore ne scay-je adjousta menaste si vous ne voulez pas qu'il l'aime en partie pour l'amour de vous cependant vous parlez avec autant d'indifference que si aglatidas estoit otane ne parlons plus d'otane luy dit amestris et laissons le jouir apres sa mort du repos qu'il n'a pu trouver durant sa vie et puis adjousta t'elle en sous-riant a demy ne songez vous point que non seulement la jalousie d'otane a fait mon plus grand suplice mais encore que celle d'aglatidas m'a estrangement tourmentee et qu'ainsi il y auroit beaucoup de prudence a ne s'exposer point une seconde fois a un semblable 
 malheur vous l'eviterez bien plus aisement repliqua malicieusement menaste en ne souffrant plus que megabise vous entretienne s'il revient jamais icy et en ne gardant plus dans vostre coeur les sujets de pleinte que vous penserez avoir l'un contre l'autre car je vous aprens qu'en amour un despit cache quelque petit qu'il puisse estre en son commencement est capable de faire a la fin une grande querelle c'est pourquoy preparez vous a croire mon conseil et sans aprehender la jalousie d'aglatidas songez seulement a recevoir son amour sans ingratitude car je suis assuree que sa fidelite l'en a rendu digne voila donc seigneur l'estat ou estoient les choses tharpis et artemon estoient amoureux d'amestris et anatise en estoit jalouse car effectivement depuis la nouvelle de la mort d'otane elle eut tousjours des espions pour observer ce que faisoit amestris afin de descouvrir si elle avoit encore quelque intelligence avec aglatidas mais y ayant eu alors quelque remuement en medie dont mon frere porta la nouvelle a ciaxare vous eustes la bonte comme vous le scavez de choisir plustost aglatidas qu'un autre pour y envoyer et vous obtinstes la chose du roy de vous depeindre seigneur les impatiences d'aglatidas pendant ce voyage il ne me seroit pas aise je suis pourtant oblige de vous dire que quoy qu'il allast revoir amestris et amestris en liberte il ne laissa pas de me tesmoigner cent et cent fois qu'il partageoit avecques moy le desplaisir que j'avois de m'esloigner de vous et le glorieux nom de cyrus enfin et celuy d'amestris furent les seuls qu'il prononca pendant tout le chemin que nous fismes par bon-heur pour 
 luy les choses s'estoient un peu calmees a ecbatane quelques jours devant que nous y arrivassions de plus comme il y estoit alle avec un pouvoir absolu on ne sceut pas plustost qu'il devoit arriver que l'on vint au devant de luy et que l'on se resolut d'obeir de sorte qu'il entra dans ecbatane comme en triomphe cependant artemon tharpis et anatise estoient bien fachez de son retour mais pour amestris elle en fut si esmue qu'elle ne put bien determiner quels estoient les mouvemens de son coeur des qu'aglatidas fut arrive ne pouvant pas se degager de ceux qui l'environnoient et qui l'entretenoient des affaires publiques il me pria d'aller chez menaste la suplier de prendre les ordres d'amestris et de scavoir d'elle comment elle vouloit qu'il vescust lors que l'embarras ou il estoit luy permettroit d'avoir quelques momens dont il pust disposer mais menaste qui connoissoit l'humeur modeste de son amie me dit qu'aglatidas devoit luy faire sa premiere visite simplement comme a une personne de sa condition sans s'en empresser que si toutefois il vouloit l'advertir du jour qu'il iroit chez amestris elle feroit en sorte pourveu qu'il y allast de bonne heure que la chose seroit conduitte avec tant d'adresse qu'il y auroit peu de monde quand il y arriveroit ce temps parut si long a aglatidas qu'il ne put jamais s'empescher d'escrire ce jour la deux billets a menaste malgre toutes ses affaires et de l'aller voit le soir car comme elle estoit sa parente il vivoit avec plus de liberte avec elle qu'avec une autre jamais il ne pensa la quitter tant il prenoit de plaisir a l'entretenir de sa chere amestris mais enfin apres avoir donne deux jours tours entiers au service du 
 roy ayant une impatience estrange de revoir cette belle personne il fut a un temple ou il avoit sceu par menaste qu'elle alloit d'ordinaire toutesfois amestris n'y fut point ce jour la n'osant pas se fier assez a elle mesme pour vouloir que la premiere entre-veue d'aglatidas et d'elle se fist devant tant de monde n'ignorant pas que veu les choses passees on l'observeroit estrangement si bien qu'aglatidas estant trompe de l'esperance qu'il avoit eue au lieu d'y voir amestris y vit anatise qui y avoit este expres afin de scavoir si amestris et aglatidas se trouveroient en ce lieu la cette rencontre luy donna de la confusion scachant bien qu'en quelque sorte il avoit offence cette personne mais comme sa veue luy avoit este funeste la derniere fois puis qu'elle avoit este cause de la jalousie d'amestris et de la bizarre resolution qu'elle avoit prise en suitte il sortit de ce temple faisant semblant de ne l'avoir pas connue ce qui la pensa desesperer cependant l'heure ou il devoit aller chez amestris estant arrivee il y fut mais avec un battement de coeur estrange comme le deuil des veusves n'est que de quarante jours a ecbatane amestris ne le portoit desja plus quand nous y arrivasmes neantmoins quoy qu'elle eust bien voulu n'estre pas negligee en renvoyant aglatidas elle ne voulut toutesfois pas se parer en cette rencontre et elle prit un milieu entre les deux ou sans derober rien a sa beaute elle estoit pourtant avec autant de modestie en son habillement qu'elle en avoit dans l'humeur menaste estoit seule aupres d'elle lors qu'aglatidas et moy y fusmes car elle avoit voulu que j'y fusse de peur qu'amestris ne la grondast si elle aprenoit qu'elle luy eust conseille d'y aller sans 
 compagnie mais comme amestris scavoit bien que je n'ignorois pas tout ce qui s'estoit passe entre eux ma presence n'eust rien change a cette entre-veue s'il ne s'y fust trouve que moy cependant seigneur elle se fit d'une maniere si extraordinaire a mon gre que l'en fus surpris car au lieu de ces grands tesmoignages de joye que l'on voit sur le visage de ceux qui s'aiment et qui apres de grands malheurs et une longue absence ont le plaisir de se revoir comme amestris vouloit cacher une partie de sa satisfaction a aglatidas elle luy parut d'abord si serieuse que toute la sienne disparut de ses yeux et son coeur se troubla de telle facon qu'il ne put qu'a peine luy dire quelques paroles de simple civilite ce qui l'embarrassoit le plus estoit qu'en entrant chez elle nous avions trouve une dame qui y venoit comme nous si bien qu'aglatidas ne scavoit quel compliment faire a amestris et amestris non plus ne scavoit pas trop bien que luy respondre de luy dire qu'il prenoit part a la perte qu'elle avoit faite elle estoit si petite qu'il n'y avoit point d'aparence de l'en consoler et la chose eust sans doute semble ridicule de luy dire aussi qu'il s'en resjouissoit elle s'en seroit offencee de ne luy rien dire du tout cela eust este hors de bien-seance ainsi aglatidas ne fut pas en une petite peine et je ne scay pas trop bien comment il se tira de ce premier compliment parce que durant qu'il le fit je me mis a parler a menaste pour luy dire qu'elle n'avoit pas este aussi adroite qu'elle nous l'avoit promis puis que cette dame estoit venue nous importuner en effet tant qu'elle y fut la conversation fut estrangement contrainte aglatidas espera toutefois que quand elle seroit sortie la froideur d'amestris 
 se dissiperoit mais apres que sa visite fut achevee et que nous fusmes en liberte voyant qu'elle demeuroit encore dans les mesmes termes et qu'il ne trouvoit point sur son visage je ne scay quel air ouvert et obligeant qu'il avoit espere d'y rencontrer madame luy dit-il lors qu'elle fut revenue de conduire cette personne qui venoit de sortir et qu'il se fut assis aupres d'elle est-il possible que vous ayez eu autrefois la bonte de me faire voir une douleur si obligeante dans vos yeux lors que je vous quittay et que vous me refusiez presentement la consolation de m'y faire voir aussi quelques sentimens de joye pour mon retour cette douleur que je vous monstray malgre moy reprit amestris en sous-riant me parut si criminelle lors que j'y pus songer avec quelque tranquillite que j'ay voulu reparer cette faute aujourd'huy dites plustost madame interrompit-il que vous avez voulu de dessein premedite en faire une contre l'amitie que vous me devez car enfin puis que vous me fistes l'honneur de me commander de n'aimer jamais rien que vous lors que je m'en separay je pense qu'il m'est permis de parler ainsi puis que je vous ay obei exactement ouy madame je vous ay aimee et je n'ay aime que vous et je vous ay si uniquement aimee que je n'ay pas mesme aime la gloire qu'autant qu'il la faloit aimer pour mourir sans vous faire honte si la fortune l'eust voulu car pour la vie je vous proteste qu'elle m'a este insuportable tant que je n'ay pas este aupres de vous cependant apres avoir souffert des maux infinis apres dis-je avoir senty toutes vos douleurs et toutes les miennes apres vous avoir conserve une amour violente sans espoir et avoir endure mille et mille 
 suplices seulement parce que je vous aime lors que vous me voyez revenir vous me faites voir une indifference dans vos yeux qui met mon ame a la gehenne et qui me donne lieu de craindre qu'elle ne soit dans vostre coeur ne croyez pas mes yeux aglatidas luy dit-elle s'ils vous disent que vous me soyez indifferent purs qu'il est vray que j'ay tousjours pour vous toute l'estime que je suis obligee d'avoir si vous eussiez dit toute l'affection reprit aglatidas au lieu de dire toute l'estime vous m'auriez rendu plus heureux mais cruelle personne je pense que vous pretendez ne me tenir point conte de tous mes services et de toutes mes souffrances et que vous voulez que je regarde vostre coeur comme une nouvelle conqueste que je dois faire aprenez moy du moins si c'est ainsi que vous voulez que j'en use car je vous advoue que je ne me suis point prepare a vous dire que je vous aime et que je n'ay songe qu'a vous demander si vous m'aimez encore mais si je me suis abuse je veux madame tout ce que vous voulez et pourveu que vous m'apreniez vostre volonte vous serez obeie avec beaucoup d'exactitude pendant qu'aglatidas parloit et qu'amestris l'escoutoit attentivement cette legere froideur qu'elle avoit affecte d'avoir par modestie se dissipa sans qu'elle s'en aperceust de sorte que les veritables sentimens de son coeur se faisant voir dans ses yeux aglatidas eut la satisfaction d'y remarquer cette agreable joye qu'il y desiroit amestris mesme connoissant parfaitement qu'aglatidas n'estoit point change recommenca d'avoir pour luy cette obligeante confiance qui fait toute la douceur de l'amour ils se dirent donc toutes leurs douleurs et toutes leurs inquietudes 
 depuis qu'ils ne s'estoient veus et cette conversation qui avoit commence par une petite querelle finit par un renouement d'amitie tres sincere comme il arriva du monde elle fut interrompue mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que tharpis estant venu chez amestris comme nous y estions encore il n'y eut pas este un quart d'heure qu'aglatidas connut qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle et en parla a menaste qui s'estonnant de ce prodige luy dit en raillant qu'il prist bien garde de n'en estre pas jaloux comme il l'avoit este de megabise mauvaise parente luy respondit-il pourquoy raillez-vous d'une chose qui a fait tout le suplice de ma vie c'est pour vous empescher d'y retomber luy dit-elle cependant nostre visite n'estant desja que trop longue je fis signe a aglatidas qu'il faloit sortir et nous sortismes en effet mais comme il en avoit une d'obligation a faire chez une de ses tantes il me laissa et fut s'acquiter de ce devoir pour son malheur il y trouva anatise ce qui le fascha si fort qu'il pensa sortir de la chambre toutesfois ayant desja este veu et devant beaucoup de respect a la personne qu'il alloit visiter et qui s'estoit desja levee pour le saluer il s'advanca et fit son compliment en des termes qui se sentoient un peu du desordre de son ame il salua pourtant anatise fort civilement mais avec tant de marques de confusion sur le visage qu'il n'osoit presques la regarder car outre qu'il se trouvoit un peu embarrasse de se voir si pres d'une personne qui pouvoit luy faire quelques reproches avecques raison il estoit encore dans l'apprehension qu'amestris si elle scavoit cette rencontre n'allast s'imaginer qu'il eust cherche a voir anatise de sorte que se resolvant 
 a faire sa visite fort courte il dit d'abord a la personne chez qui il estoit que cette visite ne se devoit pas conter que ce n'estoit que pour venir simplement scavoir de sa sante qu'il venoit la voir ce jour la et pour luy rendre ses premiers devoirs mais justement comme il achevoit ces paroles quelqu'un estant venu demander a parler a sa tante pour une affaire d'importance mon neveu luy dit elle vous n'estes pas si presse que vous ne me faciez bien la grace d'entretenir un quart d'heure cette belle personne dit-elle en luy monstrant anatise durant que j'entreray dans mon cabinet pour y achever une affaire que je ne puis remettre a une autre fois anatise qui fut ravie de cette occasion n'offrit point de s'en aller au contraire elle pria cette dame de ne se haster pas et d'achever a loisir toutes tes affaires aglatidas desespere de cette facheuse avanture et n'ayant toutesfois pas la force de faire une incivilite ouvertement voulut dire quelques mauvaises raisons ou pour obliger anatise a s'en aller ou pour s'en aller luy mesme mais la maistresse du logis sans y respondre le laissa avec anatise sans autre compagnie que celle d'une fille qui la servoit et qui estoit a l'autre coste de la chambre il vous est aise de juger seigneur combien aglatidas se trouva alors embarrasse aussi fut-il quelque temps sans parler non plus qu'anatise qui voulut voir ce qu'il luy diroit auparavant qu'elle luy parlast toutesfois aglatidas ayant creu qu'il luy seroit avantageux de n'irriter pas davantage l'esprit de cette fille par une incivile trop grande il se resolut de luy faire quelques excuses et de la preparer a ne trouver pas estrange s'il la fuyoit en tous lieux et s'il ne l'entretenoit 
 plus mais comme il fut un peu long a se determiner anatise enfin rompit le silence la premiere advouez la verite aglatidas luy dit-elle vous ne scaviez pas que je fusse icy quand vous y estes entre il eut certain luy respondit-il que si je l'eusse sceu j'aurois eu ce respect pour vous de ne vous forcer pas a voir un homme que raisonnablement vous devez hair quoy qu'a parler avecques verite il n'ait jamais eu dessein de vous outrager pour pouvoir bien juger de vostre crime luy repartit-elle il faudroit que vous eussiez la sincerite de me l'advouer tel qu'il est sans deguisement aucun car il est certain que je n'ay pas encore bien pu determiner dans mon esprit quels doivent estre les sentimens que je dois avoir pour vous parlez donc je vous en conjure luy dit-elle mais parlez sincerement quand vous vous attachastes a me voir plus qu'aucune autre et que par vos soins et par vostre assiduite vous me persuadastes que vous m'aimiez m'aimiez-vous effectivement ou n'estoit-ce qu'une feinte pour cacher l'amour que vous aviez tousjours pour amestris car il pourroit estre que vous l'auriez quittee en ce temps la pour moy et qu'en celuy-cy vous me quitteriez pour elle mais il pourroit estre aussi que vous auriez tousjours este a amestris bien que je ne comprenne pas par quelle raison vous luy auriez laisse espouser otane quoy qu'il en soit aprenez-moy la verite toute pure parce que selon cela je regleray mes sentimens pour vous aglatidas se trouvant fort embarrasse a respondre craignant qu'anatise ne cachast quelque malice sous cette curiosite fut un instant sans parler mais cette artificieuse fille le pressant tousjours davantage non non luy dit- elle n'essayez point de deguiser la verite il 
 faut que je scache si vous estes un inconstant ou un fourbe de peur que je ne vous fasse une injustice en vous haissant trop ou trop peu car je fais une notable difference entre ces deux especes de crimes que vous pouvez avoir commis aglatidas tousjours plus embarrasse a luy obeir creut pourtant qu'il y avoit moins de danger pour luy a luy dire la verite toute pure pour ce qui regardoit simplement ses sentimens madame luy dit-il donc puis que vous voulez que je vous parle sincerement je vous advoueray que je ne fus jamais inconstant et que j'ay tousjours aime amestris plus que moy mesme de grace adjousta-t'il voyant qu'anatise rougissoit de colere faites que cette verite ne vous irrite pas davantage contre moy car je suis asseure qu'elle n'a rien d'offencant pour vous et je m'assure mesme que vous l'advouerez si vous voulez vous donner la peine de m'entendre je ne pense pas qu'il vous soit si aise de faire ce que vous dites repliqua-t'elle puis qu'il est vray que si vous n'estiez qu'inconstant je croirois avoir beaucoup moins de sujet de me pleindre de vous que je n'en ay je ne vous aurois pourtant pas donne respondit-il une si grande marque d'estime que celle que vous avez receue de moy car enfin madame aimant amestris avec une passion demesuree et l'estimant plus que tout le reste de la terre croyant dis-je avoit sujet de me pleindre de sa rigueur et voulant me guerir s'il estoit possible d'une passion si mal reconnue je vous ay assez estimee pour vous croire capable de pouvoir effacer de mon coeur l'image d'amestris et pour croire encore que tout le monde se pourroit persuader que je vous aimois jugez madame si un homme amoureux 
 un homme dis-je qui croit la personne qu'il aime la plus accomplie de toute la terre peut donner une plus grande marque d'estime que celle que je vous ay rendue en cette occasion et je doute poursuivit-il si je vous en aurois autant donne en estant effectivement amoureux de vous qu'en feignant seulement de l'estre et en taschant comme j'ay fait de le devenir que si malgre tous mes efforts je n'ay pu passer de l'estime a l'amour ce n'est ny le deffaut de vostre beaute ny celuy de vostre esprit qui en est cause et c'est seulement que je ne me connoissois pas encore assez bien et que je ne scavois pas que rien ne pouvoit effacer de mon coeur les premiers sentimens qu'il avoit receus ainsi madame a parler raisonnablement j'outrageois plus amestris que vous lors que je m'attachois a vous servir puis que je taschois de disposer d'un coeur qui n'estoit plus en ma puissance et qui estoit absolument en la sienne advouez encore la verite reprit anatise vous cherchiez moins a avoir de l'amour pour moy qu'a donner de la jalousie a amestris et vous croiriez apres cela malgre toute la subtilite de vostre esprit que je ne me tiendray pas plus outragee de vous de scavoir que vous ne m'avez jamais aimee que s'il estoit vray que vous ne m'eussiez quittee que par inconstance ha aglatidas que vous vous estes trompe si vous l'avez creu il est des inconstants adjousta-t'elle dont le souvenir est cher et a qui on seroit bien aise de pardonner mais a un fourbe mais a un homme qui nous trompe il n'est point de vengeance si violente qui ne soit trop douce pour le punir si je vous avois proteste mille et mille fois interrompit aglatidas que je mourois d'amour pour vous et que vous 
 m'eussiez fait quelques faveurs considerables je pense que vous auriez raison de dire ce que vous dites mais madame je n'ay simplement fait que vous voir et vous entretenir plus qu'une autre et je ne doute pas mesme que si j'eusse eusse eu la hardiesse de vous parler d'amour vous ne m'eussiez mal traite ainsi n'estant point honteux a toutes les belles d'estre aimees je ne voy pas que je vous aye fait un si grand outrage d'avoir donne lieu de croire par quelques souspirs que j'ay poussez que je vous aimois du moins m'en avez vous fait un bien sensible repartit-elle en donnant lieu de penser que vous ne m'avez jamais aimee quoy qu'il en soit aglatidas je m'en vangeray et je m'en vangeray sur amestris afin de m'en vanger mieux sur vous mesme et comme vous avez a ce que vous dites essaye de m aimer je veux essayer de vous hair et si je ne me trompe je reussiray mieux dans mon dessein que vous n'avez fait dans le vostre car j'y voy desja une grande disposition preparez-vous donc a estre puny de vostre crime et mesme par amestris qui ne vous donnera peut estre guere moins de jalousie qu'a otane car enfin aglatidas vous n'estes pas seul qui avez des yeux d'autres la trouvent belle aussi bien que vous et apres le choix qu'elle avoit fait d'otrane je tiens peu d'amans en seurete dans son coeur quelques honnestes gens qu'ils puissent estre cependant puis que vous me parlez sincerement je veux vous dire aussi avec la mesme sincerite que sans attendre davantage je vous hais desja plus que vous n'aimiez amestris et que je ne seray jamais satisfaite que je ne vous voye tous deux malheureux je n'esclateray pourtant pas devant le monde adjousta-t'elle et je me vangeray 
 d'une maniere plus adroite et plus fine vous en ferez comme il vous plaira respondit froidement aglatidas car comme j'ay beaucoup de respect pour toutes les dames en general et que j'ay eu beaucoup d'estime pour vous en particulier je seray effectivement si respectueux que je n'expliqueray pas mesme vostre haine ny vostre colere a mon advantage et si je respons aux injures que vous m'avez dites ce sera par des complimens comme anatise alloit encore luy repartir la tante d'aglatidas revint de sorte que faisant fort l'empresse il prit conge d'elle et laissa anatise si irritee contre luy que l'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage mais ce qu'il y eut encore de facheux a cette visite fut que tharpis entra dans la chambre un moment auparavant que la tante d'aglatidas sortist de son cabinet si bien qu'il put voir la conversation particuliere qu'il avoit avec anatise et il remarqua aisement l'emotion qui paroissoit sur le visage de cette fille de sorte qu'aglatidas craignant que cette importune rencontre ne luy nuisist encore aupres d'amestris fut attendre menaste chez elle afin de luy raconter ce qui luy estoit arrive et en effet sa prevoyance ne luy fut pas inutile car tharpis fit si bien qu'il trouva moyen de faire dire le lendemain chez amestris qu'aglatidas et anatise avoient eu une grande conversation ensemble le jour auparavant chez la tante d'aglatidas ce qui tesmoignoit encore plus que cette rencontre estoit concertee mais comme amestris la scavoit desja cet artifice ne reussit pas a celuy qui s'en servit et cette entre-veue ne brouilla point amestris et aglatidas cependant artemon et tharpis n'etoient pas en une petite inquietude de remarquer 
 qu'ils n'estoient pas mal ensemble et comme artemon ne s'estoit point declare quoy qu'il fust aise de s'apercevoir qu'il estoit amoureux d'amestris il creut avoir trouve une assez bonne voye de nuire a aglatidas de sorte que se resolvant de ne parler pas encore comme amant il forma le dessein de destruire son plus redoutable rival en n'agissant en aparence que comme amy d'amestris et en effet si elle ne se fust pas desja aperceue a cent choses qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle son dessein eust pu reussir car il le conduisit fort adroitement comme je m'en vay vous le dire quelque temps apres qu'aglatidas fut arrive et qu'il eut fait plusieurs visites a amestris ou il estoit aise de voir qu'il l'aimoit tousjours et qu'il n'en estoit pas hai artemon envoya demander un matin audience a cette belle personne qui la luy accorda car elle luy avoit beaucoup d'obligation d'avoir tousjours porte ses interests contre otane comme il fut aupres d'elle et en liberte de l'entretenir en particulier madame luy dit-il je ne scay si mon zele sera bien receu mais je scay bien toujours que si vous pouviez voir mon coeur vous advoueriez que je suis oblige de faire ce que je fais puis qu'il est certain que je suis persuade que je le dois artemon luy respondit-elle j'ay tant receu de marques de vostre amitie et vous m'avez rendu tant de bons offices qu'il ne seroit pas aise que je m'imaginasse que vous me deussiez dire quelque chose que je ne deusse pas bien recevoir c'est pourquoy parlez je vous en conjure madame luy repliqua-t'il en changeant de couleur car il m'a raconte de pus cette conversation fort exactement comme je vous le diray dans la suite de mon discours je scay bien que la 
 jalousie d'otane a tousjours este mal fondee et que vostre vertu est si grande qu'elle ne peut estre bleflee par la calomnie mais ayant tousjours remarque que vous aimez la gloire avec une passion violente et que non seulement vous voulez estre vertueuse mais que vous la voulez paroistre aux yeux mesme de vos ennemis j'ay creu que je devois vous supplier de faire quelque reflexion sur toutes les choses qu'otane a dites dans le monde de l'intelligence d'aglatidas et de vous ce n'est pas encore une fois madame que je ne scache bien que son injustice estoit assez connue toutesfois apres tout il me semble qu'aglatidas ayant effectivement fait donner ce gouvernement qui a fourny de pretexte a la derniere fureur d'otane contre vous vous osteriez peut-estre un assez grand sujet de mefdire a celles qui portent envie a vostre beaute et a vostre merite si vous voyiez un peu moins aglatidas ce n'est pas madame adjousta-t'il que nous ayons jamais rien eu a demesler ensemble et vous scaucz bien vous mesme que vous m'avez ouy dire beaucoup de bien de luy en diverses occasions c'est pourquoy je vous suplie tres-humblement de croire que je ne parle comme je fais que par la seule passion que j'ay pour vostre service je vous en suis bien obligee luy respondit amestris qui comprit parfaitement par quel motif il parloit de cette sorte et je vous assure artemon que je prens ce que vous me dites comme je le dois prendre je vous diray neantmoins avec la mesme liberte que je vous ay toujours parle de mes malheurs que je ne crois pas estre obligee de ressusciter la jalousie d'otane apres sa mort car si cela n'estoit pas comme je le pense il ne faudroit pas seulement me priver de la 
 veue et de la conversation d'aglatidas mais de celle de tout le monde en general et de la votre en particulier puis que vous m'avez dit vous mesme que vous aviez eu beaucoup de part aux chagrins et aux inquietudes d'otane il est vray dit artemon mais toute la ville a fait plus de bruit d'aglatidas que de tous les autres qui luy ont donne de la jalousie ce n'est pas luy dit-il que je voulusse vous conseiller de ne le voir plus absolument mais si seulement durant quelque temps vous le voyiez un peu moins je pense que vous eviteriez beaucoup de discours peu agreables qu'anatise fera peut-estre contre vous au contraire luy dit amestris cela paroistroit une mauvaise finesse qui feroit penser beaucoup de choses a mon prejudice c'est pourquoy j'aime mieux ne cacher point mes sentimens car comme graces aux dieux je n'en ay point de criminels il m'est avantageux que tout le monde les scache du moins madame luy dit il me ferez vous bien la grace de ne me vouloir pas de mal de la liberte que j'ay prise je vous le promets luy respondit-elle mais artemon poursuivit amestris en riant vous me dites cela avec tant de chagrin que j'ay peur que vous ne me veuilliez mal a moy mesme de ce que je ne suy pas vostre conseil il est vray madame que j'aurois este bien aise que vous l'eussiez suivy repliqua-t'il et mesme par plus d'une raison mais je voy bien que vous n'estes pas en estat de le suivre je l'advoue luy dit-elle car j'ay vescu si long temps en contrainte que je veux jouir de la liberte autant que la bien-seance me le permettra mais madame luy dit artemon vous souvient il du temps que vous me disiez que quand vous aviez veu le monde vous l'aviez veu en contraignant 
 vostre inclination disiez vous vray en ce temps la madame ou bien est-ce que vous avez change d'humeur mais vous artemon luy dit-elle qui disiez tant a otane qu'une personne de mon age et de ma condition devoit voir beaucoup de monde disiez vous ce que vous pensiez alors ou ne le dites vous point aujourd'huy vous qui me proposez de bannir de chez moy la premiere personne que j'ay connue a ecbatane madame luy dit-il tout d'un coup emporte par sa passion pour vous parler sincerement je n'ay voulu vous proposer de voir un peu moins aglatidas qu'afin de descouvrir quels estoient vos sentimens pour luy et quels devoient estre les miens pour vous je ne voy pas luy dit amestris en prenant un visage fort serieux quel raport il peut y avoir entre toutes ces choses vous le verrez aisement luy respondit-il si vous voulez vous donner la peine de considerer que l'on ne vous peut voir sans vous aimer un peu trop et sans desirer pour soy mesme un bien que l'en craint que vous ne donniez a autruy je confesse luy dit amestris que vostre discours me surprend et que je n'eusse jamais creu devoir avoir sujet de me pleindre de vous ny que vous eussiez deu commencer de me donner quelques marques d'affection par un sentiment de jalousie mais artemon pour vous temoigner que je n'ay pas perdu le souvenir des obligations que je vous ay je veux vous conseiller a mon tour et vous dire avec sincerite que vous seriez le plus mal heureux de tous les hommes si vous vous mettiez dans la fantaisie de me persuader que vous avez de l'amour pour moy contentez-vous je vous prie que je croye que vous avez beaucoup d'amitie et soyez assure que si vous en demeurez 
 dans ces termes la j'en auray aussi beaucoup pour vous mais si au contraire apres la declaration ingenue que je vous fais aujourd'huy que vous m'aimeriez inutilement si vous m'aimiez d'une autre sorte vous alliez vous obstiner a me persecuter je vous persecuterois aussi et je ne vous donnerois pas peu de peine mais madame luy dit-il advouez moy du moins qu'aglatidas est sans doute ce qui fait l'impossibilite absolue de pouvoir toucher vostre coeur a ceux qui auroient la hardiesse de l'entreprendre quand vous ne serez plus que mon amy luy dit-elle en sous-riant je vous promets de vous descouvrir le fond de mon coeur ha madame s'escria-t'il c'est un honneur dont je ne jouiray donc jamais car je ne croy pas possible de vous aimer d'une autre sorte que je vous aime mais quand otane vivoit luy dit-elle vous n'estiez ny inquiet ny jaloux j'estois la mesme personne que je suis et vous me voyiez comme vous faites est-ce que vous ne m'aimiez point en ce temps la je vous aimois sans doute luy dit-il mais je ne pensois pas vous aimer et j'apellois estime amitie et compassion ce qui estoit pourtant deja une passion tres violente pour moy dit amestris en sous-riant de nouveau je ne voy pas qui vous aura pu faire descouvrir que vostre amitie n'estoit pas amitie et que vostre estime estoit accompagnee d'amour le retour d'aglatidas reprit-il est ce qui m'en a fait apercevoir je vous entens bien artemon luy dit-elle vous avez senty de la jalousie devant que de scavoir que vous fussiez amoureux croyez que vous ne pouviez dire rien de plus propre a vous rendre redoutable a amestris je scay bien madame reprit-il que c'est estre en effet digne parent d'otane que de vous 
 parler de cette sorte mais c'est pour vous faire voir ma sincerite que je le fais et pour vous mieux faire connoistre mon malheur vous seriez mieux adjousta-t'elle de me faire paroistre vostre sagesse en redevenant de mes amis comme vous en avez este car par cette voye vous conserveriez mon estime et mon amitie et par l'autre vous me forcerez a vous hair et a fuir vostre rencontre voila donc seigneur comment le panure artemon qui estoit alle voir amestris croyant l'obliger finement a bannir aglatidas pensa estre banny luy mesme il luy dit pourtant apres tant de choses obligeantes et luy protesta si solemnellement qu'il ne luy diroit plus rien qui la peust fascher qu'il ne le fut point et qu'il eut permission de la voir encore chez elle mais non pas jamais en particulier cependant anatise qui vouloit se vanger d'aglatidas lia une amitie fort estroite avec tharpis et entra en une confidence si grande avecques luy que je crois qu'ils se disoient leurs plus secretes pensees ils tinrent donc plusieurs conseils pour adviser a ce qu'ils avoient a faite et cette malicieuse fille le forca de ne parler point encore ouvertement de sa passion a amestris de peur qu'elle ne le mal-traitast et ne le bannist car comme il couroit bruit que ciaxare devoit bien-tost arriver a ecbatane et que l'on disoit que megabise y pourroit aussi revenir elle croyoit que quand cela seroit trois rivaux embarrasseroient fort aglatidas et que pourveu qu'ils eussent tous la liberte de se trouver chez amestris en ce temps la il seroit difficile qu'il n'arrivast quelque brouillerie entr'eux qui pourroit peut-estre encore l'exiler elle conseilla donc seulement a tharpis afin d'avoir va espion fidelle 
 d'estre eternellement chez amestris sans luy parler jamais de rien qui le pust faire mal-traiter ny luy donner pretexte de le bannir de chez elle et pour colorer la chose aupres de tharpis elle luy disoit qu'on luy avoit escrit en secret de l'armee qu'aussi tost que ciaxare seroit arrive a ecbatane vous rapelleriez aglatidas si bien qu'elle luy faisoit voir qu'il luy seroit bien plus advantageux d'attendre a se declarer pendant son absence luy disant en suitte que toute l'importance de la chose estoit d'empescher autant qu'on le pourroit qu'amestris et aglatidas n'eussent de longues conversations particulieres ensemble durant le sejour qu'il seroit a ecbatane de sorte que tharpis devint si assidu chez amestris qu'il estoit impossible d'y aller sans l'y voir aglatidas voulut a diverses fois chercher a le quereller mais amestris le luy deffendit absolument car encore qu'il l'importunast fort elle ne vouloit pourtant point qu'on le querellast sans autre raison que celle de ses facheuses visites elle n'osoit pas aussi luy faire dire qu'elle n'y estoit point et laisser entrer d'autre monde si bien que pour avoir le plaisir de voir aglatidas il faloit qu'elle eust l'incommodite de voir tharpis ce n'est pas qu'il ne soit assez agreable mais c'est qu'il nous contraignoit tellement amestris menaste aglatidas et moy que quand il arrivoit qu'il n'y avoit que luy avecques nous nous ne scavions dequoy parler tout le monde se taisoit afin qu'il s'ennuyait mais cela ne servoit a rien car quoy que l'on pust dire ou ne dire pas il estoit tousjours la et ne s'en alloit qu'avecques les autres et mesme apres les autres ainsi ce n'estoit plus que quelques fois chez menaste qu'aglatidas pouvoit 
 parler un moment en particulier a amestris encore estoit-ce rarement qu'il se rencontroit qu'il n'y eust personne que nous aglatidas avoit pourtant une telle certitude d'estre aime d'amestris quoy qu'elle ne luy en donnast que de simples assurances qu'il n'estoit malheureux que parce qu'elle ne vouloit pas encore l'espouser luy semblant qu'il y avoit trop peu de temps qu'otane estoit mort pour pouvoir avec bien-seance se remarier si tost les choses estoient donc en ces termes lors que ciaxare arriva a ecbatane ou megabise comme vous le scavez le suivit mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que cet homme qui avoit creu que le temps l'absence et la raison l'avoient guery de la passion qu'il avoit pour amestris avoit commence d'en redevenir amoureux des qu'il avoit apris la nouvelle de la mort d'otane et qu'il avoit preveu que peut-estre aglatidas pourroit-il estre heureux mais lors qu'il arriva a ecbatane et qu'il sceut en effet qu'il ne s'estoit pas trompe en ses conjectures et qu'aglatidas n'estoit pas mal aupres d'amestris il y eut un trouble si grand en son coeur a ce qu'il a dit a plusieurs de tes amis qu'il ne put discerner si la haine qu'il avoit pour son rival avoit reveille l'amour qu'il avoit eue pour amestris ou si l'amour qu'il avoit encore pour amestris avoit renouvelle la haine qu'il avoit eue pour son rival quoy qu'il en soit ces deux passions opposees reprirent de nouvelles forces dans son coeur de sorte qu'en un mesme jour il aima et hait avec exces et fut presques egalement tourmente de toutes ces deux passions car s'il n'osoit tesmoigner a amestris qu'il l'aimoit encore parce qu'il luy avoit promis de ne luy parler jamais de son amour il n'osoit 
 non plus faire paroistre a aglatidas qu'il le haissoit plus qu'a l'ordinaire a cause de ciaxare et de vous ainsi il souffroit des maux incroyables mais enfin l'amour estant la plus sorte dans son coeur il creut apres y avoir bien pense que quand on ne desobeissoit a une personne que l'on aimoit qu'en luy disant que l'on estoit tousjours amoureux d'elle ce n'estoit pas un crime irremissible si bien qu'il se resolut de le commettre et d'aller voir amestris cette visite la surprit et l'affligea car elle s'imagina bien que puis que megabise commencoit de manquer a la promesse qu'il luy avoit faite autrefois de ne la voir plus il y manqueroit d'un bout a l'autre et quoy qu'a parler raisonnablement on pust dire qu'il n'avoit este que la cause innocente de la jalousie d'aglatidas neantmoins comme apres tout amestris n'eust jamais espouse otane si megabise ne luy eust pas parle dans ce jardin ou aglatidas en devint jaloux elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de luy en vouloir mal de sorte que par cette raison et par plusieurs autres elle le receut assez froidement n'osant pas toutesfois luy faire reproche ouvertement de ce qu'il manquoit a sa parole a cause que tharpis y estoit qui depuis que megabise fut a ecbatane ne rendit gueres moins de bons offices a aglatidas qu'a anatise par son assiduite qui estoit un obstacle eternel a megabise ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette rencontre fut qu'amestris estant ravie qu'il y eust tousjours quelqu'un qui le pust empescher de luy parler en particulier pria un jour aglatidas en riant de n'estre pas jaloux si elle traictoit un peu mieux le pauvre tharpis afin qu'il ne se lassast pas de cette assiduite aupres d'elle tant que megabise seroit a la 
 cour anatise qui est fine et malicieuse eust bien voulu que tharpis n'eust este chez amestris que lors qu'aglatidas y estoit et qu'il n'eust pas empesche megabise et artemon de luy parler car elle ne se soucioit pas qui osteroit le coeur d'amestris a aglatidas pourveu qu'il le perdist de sorte qu'afin de luy nuire presques tousjours il falut qu'elle endurast qu'il luy servist quelquesfois n'osant pas dire ses veritables sentimens a tharpis mais seigneur aglatidas fut si respectueux envers amestris que quoy que les visites de megabise luy donnassent une douleur bien sensible il se resolut de ne luy en parler jamais neantmoins quoy qu'il pust faire ses yeux trahirent le secret de son coeur et luy descouvrirent une partie de l'inquietude qu'il en avoit mais comme elle s'estoit resolue de vivre avecques luy avec une confiance entiere elle luy en fit un jour la guerre chez menaste d'une maniere si obligeante qu'elle adoucit du moins le mal qu'il souffroit si elle ne le guerit pas cependant megabise aporta tant de soing a chercher les occasions de luy parler en particulier qu'il en inventa une dont je pense que personne ne s'est jamais advise que luy qui fut de suborner le portier d'amestris par une liberalite fort considerable quand il luy eut donc promis de faire ce qu'il voudroit il choisit un jour qu'il sceut que menaste ne pouvoit estre chez amestris et advertissant ce portier il l'obligea a dire ce jour la a tous ceux qui demanderoient sa maistresse qu'elle n'y estoit pas excepte a luy de sorte que cet homme luy obeissant et megabise renvoyant ses gens des qu'il fut entre chez amestris de peur que ceux qui y viendroient ne connussent qu'elle estoit 
 chez elle il monta a sa chambre et la trouva sans autre compagnie que celle de ses femmes d'abord qu'elle le vit elle en fut surprise neantmoins s'imaginant qu'il viendroit bien tost du monde et que du moins tharpis ne luy manqueroit pas et ne seroit pas long temps a la delivrer de la persecution de megabise elle se resolut pour gagner ce peu de temps qu'elle croyoit devoir estre fort court de parler presques tousjours afin d'oster a megabise le moyen de luy rien dire qui l'importunast elle creut mesme qu'il faloit agir comme si elle eust perdu la memoire de toutes les choses passees et qu'elle ne se fust point du tout souvenue qu'il avoit este amoureux d'elle si bien que des qu'il fut assis prenant la parole et croyant ne pouvoir trouver un plus ample sujet pour faire une longue conversation que de luy parler de vous puis que nous sommes en liberte luy dit elle dites moy un peu je vous prie s'il est vray que cyrus soit effectivement tel que la renommee me l'a depeint je ne vous demande pas poursuivit elle que vous me faciez le recit de toutes ses conquestes mais je veux que vous me disiez sans deguisement s'il est vray qu'il possede toutes les vertus et qu'il n'ait pas un defaut car comme je n'estois pas a ecbatane lors qu'il y passa je ne le vy point et je voudrois bien scavoir si tous ceux a qui j'en entens parler ne le flatent pas ce prince est si accomply en toutes choses repliqua megabise qu'on ne le scauroit flater non plus que vostre beaute quelques louanges qu'on luy donne mais madame luy dit-il si aglatidas ne vous l'a pas depeint tel qu'il est il n'est pas assez reconnoissant des graces qu'on luy fait et vous devez craindre ce me 
 semble qu'il n'abuse tout de mesme de celles qu'il recoit de vous aglatidas reprit elle en rougissant m'en a parle avec des eloges si excessifs que c'est pour cela que je vous en demande des nouvelles ne pouvant pas croire qu'il soit possible qu'il ne soit pas un peu preoccupe et qu'un seul prince ait toutes les vertus de tous les hommes ensemble c'est pourquoy poursuivit elle malicieusement quand je serois de condition et d'humeur a faire des graces a aglatidas je ne devrois pas craindre par cette raison qu'il fust ingrat mais megabise adjousta t'elle il y a si loing de la fortune de cyrus a la mienne que nous ne devons pas entrer en comparaison ensemble pour quoy que ce soit de sorte que sans parler de moy parlons seulement de luy je vous en conjure j'en parle tousjours avec plaisir luy dit il mais pour aujourd'huy madame vous m'en dispenserez s'il vous plaist et vous souffrirez que j'employe les momens que j'ay a estre seul aupres de vous a vous demander pardon si je ne puis demeurer dans les termes que vous m'avez autresfois prescrits j'ay mesme creu madame adjousta t'il que puis que vous avez bien souffert que je vous visse vous pourriez encore endurer que je vous parlasse et quelque froideur que j'aye remarquee dans vos yeux je n'ay pas laisse de former le dessein de vous assurer que la flame qu'ils ont autrefois allumee dans mon coeur y est plus vive qu'elle n'a jamais este amestris voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit plus esviter de parler de ce qu'elle avoit tant apprehende et voyant que c'estoit en vain qu'elle tournoit la teste du coste de la porte de sa chambre pour voir s'il ne venoit personne a son secours se resolut du moins de respondre precisement et 
 promptement de peur qu'il ne vinst quelqu'un auparavant qu'elle eust respondu car elle ne pouvoit pas comprendre qu'il ne deust venir personne de sorte qu'arrestant megabise tout court je voy bien luy dit-elle que l'usage des vertus demande mesme de la prudence et qu'il est quelquesfois a propos de ne faire pas paroistre toute sa bonte car en fin megabise celle que j'ay eue pour vous de faire semblant d'avoir oublie que je vous avois prie de ne me voir plus et que vous me l'aviez promis est cause aujourd'huy que vous me parlez comme vous faites aprenez toutesfois que comme je ne vous avois deffendu de me voir que pour vous empescher de m'entretenir d'une passion ou je ne pouvois respondre j'avois creu que cette passion n'estant plus dans vostre ame vous pouviez encore estre de mes amis mais puis que vous voulez me persuader qu'elle y est tousjours demeurons donc s'il vous plaist dans les termes dont nous estions convenus j'advoue madame reprit-il en sous-riant que je promis ce que vous dites a la belle amestris fille d'artambare qui avoit dispose de son coeur en faveur d'aglatidas mais je n'ay rien promis ny a la femme ny a la veusve d'otane qui estant maistresse absolue de ses volontez doit aujourd'huy faire des loix plus equitables que celle-la si elle veut qu'on leur puisse obeir cette amestris dont vous parlez dit-elle en changeant de condition n'a point change de sentimens pour vous plust aux dieux du moins repliqua-t'il qu'elle en eust change pour aglatidas et qu'il ne fust pas seul heureux entre tant de miserables quoy qu'il en soit repliqua-t'elle je pretens estre obeie et puis que vous n'avez pu me voir 
 sans me deplaire vous ne me verrez plus jamais ou si je ne puis absolument l'esviter vous ne me verrez qu'en chagrin et qu'en colere mais madame luy dit-il est il possible que vous ayez pu vous refondre a espouser otane et a quiter aglatidas pour lequel seul vous me bannissiez et que vous ne veuilliez pas seulement escouter aujourd'huy les pleintes d'un malheureux que vous eustes la bonte de flater de quelques douces paroles en le bannissant vous luy dites qu'il pouvoit pretendre a vostre estime et a vostre amitie et que si vous n'eussiez pas este engagee par les commandemens d'un pere et par vostre inclination a preferer aglatidas a tout le reste du monde il n'auroit pas este mesprise depuis ce que je dis madame aglatidas a paru avoir rompu vos chaines il a porte celles d'anatise devant tout le monde et vous avez pu espouser otane dites moy de grace apres cela si je n'ay pas quelque droit de vous demander une place dans vostre esprit qu'otane a occupee indignement s'il est vray qu'il l'ait occupee et dont aglatidas s'est assurement rendu indigne par son inconstance de plus madame quand mesme j'imaginerois qu'il n'auroit pas este effectivement amoureux d'anatise et qu'il auroit eu ordre de vous de feindre de l'estre je soutiendrois encore qu'il ne vous auroit pas assez aimee puis qu'il l'auroit pu faire du moins scay-je bien que je ne pourrois pas vous obeir si vous me faisiez un semblable commandement obeissez seulement repliqua t'elle a celuy que je vous fais de ne me parler plus de vostre pretendue passion et de ne me visiter mesme plus et je ne vous en feray pas de plus difficiles si je ne vous avois point veu changer de sentimens reprit il je vous 
 obeirois sans doute comme je vous obeis autrefois mais apres avoir veu qu'otane a este choisi par vous au prejudice de tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens en medie il n'est pas possible madame que je perde tout a fait l'esperance quelque rigoureuse que vous me soyez comme je la perdis quand je vous obeis si ponctuellement car enfin je puis dire sans vanite qu'il n'y a pas si loing de moy a aglatidas que d'aglatidas a otane amestris entendant parler megabise de cette sorte et son discours luy remettant dans l'esprit le souvenir de tous tes malheurs dont il avois este cause elle souffroit une peine effrange et ne pouvant assez s'estonner de ce qu'il ne venoit personne elle ne pouvoit toujours s'empescher de tourner la teste du coste de la porte de sa chambre an moindre bruit que tes femmes faisoient mais elle eut beau regarder elle regarda inutilement de sorte que megabise quoy qu'elle pull luy dire se quoy mesme qu'elle peust faire passa la plus grande partie de l'apres-disnee aupres d'elle cependant pour respondre a la derniere chose qu'il luy avoit dite elle luy dit en general que ton mariage avec otane droit un secret que personne n'avoit jamais pu penetrer et qu'elle ne diroit jamais ne pouvant luy en descouvrir autre chose sinon qu'il y avoit beaucoup contribue moy madame s'escria t'il fort estonne ouy vous luy repliqua-t'elle c'est pourquoy vous regardant aujourd'huy comme la cause de tous les malheurs de ma vie jugez si je puis escouter ce que vous me voulez dire je comprens si peu le crime dont vous m'accusez luy dit-il que je ne m'en scaurois justifier quoy qu'il en toit respondit amestris vous ne changerez jamais mon coeur c'est pourquoy 
 s'il est possible changez le vostre et soyez assure que voicy la derniere fois de toute vostre vie que vous me parlerez en particulier megabise voulut encore luy respondre mais elle se leva ennuyee de voir que personne ne venoit a son secours ordonnant que l'on preparast son chariot disant qu'elle vouloit aller chez menaste vous voyez luy dit-elle apres avoir fait ce commandement combien il est dangereux de monstrer mauvais exemple car si vous n'aviez pas perdu le respect que vous me devez je ne perdrois pas sans doute la civilite que je vous dois apres cela sans ecouter sa response elle prit son voile et s'aprochant d'un miroir pour le mettre elle contraignit megabise de sortir il falut toutesfois qu'elle souffrist qu'il la mist dans son chariot mais comme le portier suborne l'entendit descendre il se cacha afin d'avoir un pretexte a luy donner quand elle reviendroit en cas qu'elle sceust que plus de la moitie de la ville estoit venue ce jour la pour la voir et il le fit avec intention de luy dire a son retour si elle luy en parloir qu'il avoit creu qu'elle estoit sortie a pied par la porte de son jardin et de luy dire aussi qu'une partie de ceux qui l'avoient demandee estoient venus depuis qu'elle estoit sortie pour aller chez menaste cependant aglatidas ne passa pas ce jour la sans inquietude car vous scaurez seigneur que nous fusmes cette apres-disnee la de fort bonne heure chez amestris ou le portier suborne nous dit qu'elle n'y estoit pas et comme nous voyions son chariot dans la cour nous luy demandasmes s'il ne scavoit point si quelqu'une de ses amies l'estoient venue prendre ou si elle estoit sortie a pied etil nous respondit qu'elle estoit sortie par la porte de son jardin nous 
 cherchasmes alors a imaginer chez qui elle pouvoit estre dans son voisinage et nous y fusmes mais ce fut inutilement apres avoir fait deux ou trois visites fort courtes nous retournasmes encore chez amestris demander si elle n'estoit point revenue mais ce portier nous dit que non or comme aglatidas avoit a luy rendre conte d'un office qu'elle avoit desire qu'il rendist a une de les amies aupres de ciaxare il mouroit d'envie de la rencontrer afin de luy faire voir qu'il luy avoit obei promptement de sorte que nous fusmes la chercher par tous les lieux ou nous croyions la pouvoir trouver nous ne nous contentasmes pas d'avoir este nous mesmes en divers endroits nous r'envoyasmes encore scavoir seulement aux portes des maisons ou elle avoit accoustume d'aller si elle y estoit et pour le pouvoir faire avec bien-seance nous y envoyions au nom de menaste chez qui nous scavions bien qu'elle n'estoit pas car c'estoit une des premieres maisons ou nous avions este durant que nous allions ainsi de quartier en quartier de rue en rue et de porte en porte dans toutes ces sept villes qui composent celle d'ecbatane nous trouvasmes tharpis et artemon separement diverses fois qui la cherchoient aussi bien que nous et nous fismes tant de tours que nous rencontrasmes assurement une grande partie de tout ce qu'il y avoit alors de gens de qualite a la cour mais parmy tout cela nous ne vismes point megabise de sorte que raillant avec aglatidas du moins luy dis-je en riant la fortune en vous privant aujourd'huy de la veue de vostre maistresse vous a delivre de celle de votre rival car nous ne l'avons point rencontre aglatidas rougit de ce que je luy disois neantmoins 
 riant aussi bien que moy si une pareille chose dit-il me fust arrivee autrefois j'en aurois este bien en peine et je n'aurois pas doute que megabise n'eust este avec amestris mais enfin seigneur apres avoir este plus d'une fois par tous les quartiers d'ecbatane nous resolusmes de repasser encore chez elle et si elle n'y estoit pas d'aller du moins nous pleindre de nostre malheur chez menaste mais un moment apres que l'on nous eut dit tout de nouveau qu'amestris n'estoit pas encore revenue nous estant arrestez a dix ou douze pas de la pour envoyer a une maison que nous avions oubliee nous vismes sortir amestris de chez elle dans son chariot et un instant apres megabise a pied sans pas un de ses gens aveques luy qui traversant seulement la rue fut faire une visite a une maison qui estoit devant celle d'amestris je vous laisse a penser ce que cette veue fit dans le coeur d'aglatidas d'abord il me regarda et puis retournant la teste avec precipitation pour voir quel chemin prenoit megabise et quelle route prenoit amestris il ne les vit plus ny l'un ny l'autre parce que le chariot avoit tourne a une rue qui estoit fort proche de la et que megabise estoit entre comme je l'ay dit dans la maison d'un de ses amis et certes il fut advantageux qu'il ne le vist plus car dans les sentimens ou il estoit je pense que sans s'eclaircir davantage de la chose il l'auroit querelle a l'heure mesme mais ne le voyant plus il fut contraint de differer son ressentiment et bien me dit-il en se tournant vers moy que dites vous de ce que vous venez de voir cela est sans doute fort embarrassant luy dis-je neantmoins apres ce qui vous est arrive une autre fois je ne vous conseille pas de juger sur 
 des aparences quoy me dit-il vous voulez que le puisse douter de mon malheur lors que je voy que l'on me refuse la porte chez amestris que l'on dit a tout le monde qu'elle n'y est pas et que pendant cela megabise est seul avec elle et comment artabane voudriez-vous que je pusse expliquer la chose a mon avantage mais quand vous vistes megabise luy repliquay je sur le bord de la fontaine de gazon avec amestris que de vos propres yeux vous luy vistes baiser deux fois la main de cette belle personne ne pensiez-vous pas avoir raison et cependant l'evenement vous a fait connoistre que vous aviez tort et qu'amestis estoit tres innocente et tres fidelle je l'advoue dit-il mais ce que je viens de voir est bien encore plus considerable et plus incomprehensible car enfin artabane qu'imaginez-vous je ne scay pas trop bien qu'imaginer luy respondis-je toutefois je vous conseille de voir amestris et de vous en eclaircir avec elle d'abord aglatidas ne s'y pouvoit resoudre et tous ses sentimens alloient a se vanger de megabise mais je le pressay si fort que jugeant qu'amestris estoit allee chez menaste veu le chemin que son chariot avoit pris je le forcay d'y aller aussi et nous y fusmes en effet mais de mi vie je n'a y veu un si grand changement que celuy qui estoit alors sur le visage d'aglatidas en entrant dans la chambre de menaste ou il y avoit beaucoup de monde il ne regarda presques point celle a qui il devoit le premier falut et cherchant des yeux amestris il la vit si resveuse et si interdite qu'il prit encore cela pour une marque de son crime madame luy dit-il tout haut en s'approchant d'elle il n'a pas tenu a moy que le n'aye eu l'honneur de vous voir chez vous 
 aujourd'huy car j'y ay este trois fois apres disner ce n'a pas aussi este ma faute poursuivit tharpis qui estoit assis aupres d'elle si je n'ay eu le mesme honneur car j'y ay este autant de fois qu'aglatidas ce n'est pas pour vous accabler adjousta artemon que je vous dis que j'y ay aussi este deux fois mais seulement pour vous aprendre que je ne manque pas a mon devoir pour moy interrompit menaste je ne scay pas ce qu'amestris a fait aujourd'huy car tous ceux qui me sont venus voir m'ont dit qu'ils ont este chez elle et par toute la ville sans la pouvoir trouver en nulle part plusieurs autres personnes qui estoient la ayant encore dit la mesme chose amestris en estoit si estonnee qu'elle ne respondoit point cherchant en elle mesme comment il pouvoit estre que n'ayant point sorty tant de monde eust este chez elle et que personne ne l'eust veue menaste s'ennuyant de son silence et ne pouvant pas soupconner qu'il y eust de mistere cache a cette avanture pressant amestris de respondre mais encore luy dit-elle apprenez nous ce que vous avez fait si vous ne voulez poursuivit-elle en abaissant la voix que je croye que l'ombre d'otane vous a paru pour vous ordonner de vivre un jour en retraite afin d'appaiser ses manes irritez en verite respondit tout haut amestris je suis si surprise de ce que j'entens que je ne puis pas le comprendre car enfin je n'ay point sorty d'aujourd'huy que pour venir icy et megabise poursuivit-elle en rougissant sans s'en pouvoir empescher a passe toute l'apres-disnee avecques moy aglatidas croyant qu'elle ne disoit la chose que parce qu'elle avoit peut-estre remarque que nous l'avions veue sortir ne put jamais s'empescher de 
 luy donner quelques marques d'inquietude par ses regards mais amestris voulant se justifier devant tout le monde demanda a tous ceux qui disoient avoir este chez elle a qui ils avoient parle et comme elle vint a aglatidas et qu'il luy eut dit toute la perquisition que nous avions faite a son portier j'advoue dit elle tout haut qu'apres ce que je viens d'entendre on pourroit ce me semble me soupconner de galanterie avec megabise mais je puis pourtant assurer sans mensonge que soit que je fusse de mauvaise humeur ou qu'il en fust nous ne nous sommes gueres bien divertis aujourd'huy sa visite a pourtant este bien longue reprit aglatidas malgre luy je l'ay en effet trouvee telle repliqua amestris il me semble neantmoins dit artemon que la conversation de ceux qui viennent d'un long voyage a accoustume d'estre assez divertissante ouy sans doute reprit malicieusement tharpis mais c'est peut estre que megabise n'aura pas creu qu'il deust entretenir amestris des superbes murailles de babilone du cours de l'euphrate de la grandeur d'artaxate et de la largeur de l'araxe et qu'ainsi il ne luy aura dit que ce qu'il luy auroit tousjours pu dire quand il n'eust point party d'ecbatane quoy qu'il en soit interrompit elle il faut que je scache a mon retour comment cette disgrace m'est arrivee depuis cela aglatidas ne parla plus et comme amestris ne pouvoit pas s'empescher de vouloir chercher dans ses yeux ce qu'il pensoit de cette rencontre elle le regardoit souvent mais plus elle luy faisoit cette grace plus il la soupconnoit d'infidelite comme il estoit desja tard la compagnie fut contrainte de se retirer et tharpis mesme s'en alla parce qu'amestris 
 fit connoistre qu'elle souperoit chez menaste aglatidas voulut aussi sortir sans qu'il se souvinst de rendre conte a amestris de la priere qu'elle luy avoit faite mais elle se servant de ce pretexte pour le retenir apres les autres aglatidas luy dit-elle il me semble que vous devez avoir quelque chose a me dire et cependant vous vous en allez comme sont tous ceux avec qui je n'ay point d'affaire madame luy dit-il je pensois que vous n'estiez pas fort pressee de le scavoir pure que vous me faisiez dire que voua n'estiez pas chez vous le jour mesme que je vous en devois rendre conte vous croyez donc luy dit-elle voyant qu'il n'y avoit plus que menaste et moy dans la chambre que c'est par mes ordres que vous n'estes pas entre madame dit-il je pense qu'il y a lieu de croire que vous estes obeie chez vous et vous croyez sans doute en fuite adjousta-t'elle que megabise a este excepte par mon commandement respondez aglatidas luy dit-elle voyant qu'il ne le faisoit point qu'en croyez vous je n'oserois le dire madame repliqua-t'il en souspirant tant je vous respecte encore vous le dites assez en ne me le disant pas respondit amestris mais comme j'advoue que les apparences sont contre moy je veux avoir la bonte de ne vous condamner pas legerement et de me justifier a vous en presence de menaste et d'artabane mais apres cela aglatidas je veux estre obeie en toutes choses sans exception comme il luy eut donc promis de le faire amestris nous raconta toute la conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec megabise ses inquietudes et ses chagrins de voir qu'il ne venoit personne chez elle et en fuite le soupcon qu'elle avoit qu'il n'y eust de la fourbe a ce qui luy estoit arrive de 
 sorte que pour s'en esclaircir elle envoya querir son portier quand il fut venu elle luy demanda pourquoy il avoit dit a tout le monde ce jour la qu'elle n'estoit point chez elle puis qu'il scavoit bien qu'elle y estoit pardonnez moy madame luy dit-il la faute que j'ay faite sans y penser en croyant que vous estiez sortie par la porte du jardin mais si vous eussiez creu ce que vous dites repliqua-t'elle vous n'eussiez pas laisse entrer megabise magabise madame repartit-il faisant l'estonne je ne l'ay point laisse entrer et il faut donc qu'il soit venu de fort bonne heure durant que j'estois alle faire un tour a la ville aussi tost apres disner ne croyant pas qu'il deust encore venir personne mais ayant tarde un peu plus que je ne pensois j'ay demande a mon retour a un garcon qui sortoit de chez vous s'il ne scavoit point si vous estiez sortie il m'a dit que vous ne faisiez que de paner par la porte de derriere et il faut qu'il ait pris quelqu'une de vos femmes pour vous cependant je puis vous assurer que je n'ay point veu de gens de megabise a la porte car s'il y en eust eu j'aurois bien connu qu'il y estoit mais n'y en ayant pas je ne pouvois pas deviner qu'il y fust ne l'ayant jamais veu aller seul et d'ou vient luy dit amestris que vous n'estiez point encore a la porte quand je suis partie c'est que j'estois alle a celle du jardin reprit-il pensant y avoir entendu fraper et puis madame adjousta t'il s'il vous faut tout dire comme j'avois compris par l'ordre que vous aviez donne de preparer vostre chariot que vous n'aviez point sorty j'estois bien aise de ne vous voir pas si tost apres la faute que j'avois faite car pour faire que ceux qui sont venus pour vous voir n'eussent 
 pas perdu leur peine je vous eusse dit ce soir a vostre retour le nom des personnes qui vous ont demandee alors contre-faisant tousjours admirablement l'innocent et l'ingenu il se mit a luy vouloir faire le denombrement de ceux qui avoient este chez elle ce jour la commencant par aglatidas et par moy et voulant continuer par tharpis et par artemon mais amestris l'interrompant toute en colere de voir que les responces de cet homme ne la justifioient pas pleinement le renvoya et luy fit connoistre par certaines paroles menacantes qu'il n'avoit qu'a se preparer a changer de maistresse
 
 
 
 
quand il fut party amestris regardant aglatidas connut bien dans ses yeux qu'il n'estoit pas satisfait et que quelque effort qu'il fist pour cacher son chagrin on voyoit qu'il en avoit pourtant beaucoup je voy bien luy dit-elle que les responses de mon portier ne m'ont gueres justifiee dans vostre esprit il est vray madame repliqua t'il que ce n'est pas de luy que je dois attendre le repos dont j'ay besoin c'est pourtant luy qui vous a refuse la porte repliqua-t'elle et qui a este cause que megabise est entre quand mesme la chose se sera passee comme il le dit je l'advoue reprit aglatidas toutesfois pourveu que megabise n'ait point este prefere par vos ordres il m'importe beaucoup moins qu'il vous ait veue mais pour scavoir cela madame il faut que ce soit de vostre bouche que je l'aprenne si vous voulez bien vous fier a ma parole luy dit-elle vous serez bien-tost en repos car je vous proteste aglatidas que je n'ay donne nul ordre aujourd'huy ny d'ouvrir ny de refuser la porte a qui que ce soit et que si j'avois eu a faire exception de quelqu'un ce n'auroit pas este de megabise 
 madame luy dit-il ce que vous me dires est bien obligeant mais quand je songe que megabise a este tout le jour aupres de vous que je l'ay veu sortir seul un moment apres que vous avez este sortie je conclus madame malgre moy si je le puis dire sans vous offencer ou que vous n'estes pas sincere on que vostre portier vous trompe et vous trahit les gens de cette condition sont si grossiers interrompit menaste qu'il n'y a nul fondement a faire sur les impertinences qu'ils font ou qu'ils disent celuy-la repris-je ne me l'a pas assez paru pour avoir fait une semblable faute sans dessein quoy artabane me dit amestris vous estes aussi contre moy pardonnez-moy luy dis-je madame car il me semble que plus je soupconne vostre portier plus je vous justifie mais encore dit-elle aglatidas dites un peu de grace ce que je dois faire non seulement pour vous bien persuader que je n'ay pas donne volontairement cette audience particuliere a megabise mais encore pour le faire croire a toute la ville j'en scay une voye infaillible reprit aglatidas en souspirant mais madame vous ne la voudriez pas suivre elle est donc bien difficile repliqua-t'elle car je vous assure que j'ay un si grand chagrin de l'avanture qui m'est arrivee aujourd'huy qu'il est peu de choses que je ne fisse pour desabuser pleinement tous ceux qui pourroient croire que j'ay veu de mon consentement megabise trois ou quatre heures en particulier parlez donc aglatidas que faut-il faire pour me justifier dans vostre esprit et dans celuy de tous ceux qui me pourront accuser comme vous il faut achever de me rendre heureux madame luy dit-il puis qu'aussi bien les peines que je souffre 
 deviennent si insupportables qu'il n'y va pas moins de ma vie que de la preuve de vostre innocence c'est pourquoy madame resolvez vous s'il vous plaist a ne chercher point d'autre voye de vous justifier mais aglatidas dit elle je voy bien que par ce que vous me dites je me justifierois peut estre aupres de vous mais dans l'esprit du monde je ne voy pas que cela fust je suis pourtant asseure madame respondit-il que vostre vertu est si generalement connue que si l'on scavoit que vous eussiez absolument resolu de me preferer a tous ceux qui ont de l'amour pour vous on ne vous soupconneroit pas d'avoir une galanterie particuliere avec megabise aussi bien madame faut-il que je vous advoue que la passion que j'ay dans l'ame ne scauroit plus souffrir que je vous voye eternellement sans vous voir s'il est permis de parler ainsi estant certain que je n'apelle pas vous avoir veue quand j'ay passe une apresdinee chez vous au milieu de mes ennemis car madame poursuivit-il c'est ainsi que les amans qui sont sinceres apellent tousjours leurs rivaux ne croyez donc pas s'il vous plaist que je die cela par une jalousie capricieuse non madame c'est par un pur sentiment d'amour puis qu'encore que la presence de mes rivaux m'importune beaucoup plus que celle des autres gens il est pourtant vray que quand on aime avec violence et avec tendresse on ne trouve jamais avoir entierement jouy de la conversation de la personne que l'on adore lors qu'on la partage avec quelqu'un menaste mesme luy dit-il m'importune quelquesfois quoy que je ne vous dise rien en particulier que je ne pusse vous dire en sa presence mais c'est madame que l'amour 
 aime le secret et que les sentimens qui passent d'un coeur a l'autre sans estre communiquez a personne ont je ne scay quoy de plus pur de plus passionne et de plus doux que les autres mettez moy donc madame en cet estat bien heureux ou sans menaste mesme je pourray vous dire que je vous aime avec une passion sans egale et que je vous adore avec un respect beaucoup plus grand que vous ne pouvez vous l'imaginer vous m'avez permis madame poursuivit-il de l'esperer et vous n'avez oppose a ma bonne fortune qu'une bien-seance imaginaire il me semble pourtant dit amestris que parce qu'otane m'a mal-traitee je dois faire plus que les autres ne font et qu'encore que j'aye pane le terme ou celles de ma condition qui veulent se remarier s'y resolvent sans choquer cette bien-seance neantmoins je vous advoue que comme on m'observe plus qu'une autre je trouve que je ne scaurois agir avec trop de circonspection joint aglatidas poursuivit-elle que s'agissant de vostre bon-heur et du mien il faut auparavant que de s'engager estre bien asseurez que nous nous trouverons heureux ensemble ha madame s'ecria-t'il si vous pouvez douter de mon bon-heur je ne scaurois faire le vostre quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle je ne vous puis respondre precisement aujourd'huy vous ne voulez donc pas vous justifier respondit-il je veux repliqua-t'elle que vous vous fiyez a ma parole durant cela je parlois bas a menaste quoy que nous entendissions bien ce qu'ils disoient pour luy dire que je craignois qu'aglatidas et megabise ne se querellassent de sorte qu'en cet endroit menaste cessant de me parler et se meslant dans leur conversation en 
 verite dit-elle a amestris je ne vous comprens pas car enfin n'est-il pas vray que dans le fond de vostre coeur vous avez dessein d'espouser aglatidas que voulez vous donc attendre voulez vous qu'il se batte encore deux ou trois fois pour vous qu'il tue encore quelqu'un qu'il s'en aille en exil qu'il revienne deguise qu'il vous retrouve dans quelque jardin avec quelqu'un de vos amants que vous voudrez bannir qu'il devienne jaloux qu'il feigne de nouveau d'aimer anatise et qu'en fuite vous espousiez quelqu'autre otane pour vous justifier et pour le punir croyez-moy amestris si vous faites encore tout cela deux ou trois fois vous ne vous marierez pas trop tost avec aglatidas et vous passerez vostre vie fort agreablement menaste dit tout ce que je viens de vous dire avec un emportement si agreable qu'il fut impossible a amestris de n'en sourire pas quelque surprise qu'elle en fust et pour aglatidas il l'en remercia avec des termes qui luy firent assez voir combien il luy estoit oblige pour moy joignant mes prieres aux raisons de menaste nous pressasmes si fort amestris qu'elle ne pouvoit presques que nous respondre car des qu'elle vouloit s'opposer a ce que nous luy disions et demander du temps menaste luy disoit que cependant elle conseilloit a aglatidas de croire qu'elle avoit veu de son consentement megabise en particulier mais quoy que nous pussions faire elle obtint pourtant deux jours a se resoudre et a donner sa response precise en fuite de quoy menaste luy ayant dit tout bas ce que je luy avois dit amestris commanda si absolument a aglatidas de ne songer point a quereller megabise qu'il fut contraint de luy promettre ce qu'elle vouloit pourveu que sa response 
 luy fust favorable ainsi seigneur cette audience particuliere que megabise avoit eue si finement pensant qu'elle luy deust servir fut ce qui avanca la resolution favorable qu'amestris devoit prendre pour aglatidas apres cela nous nous retirasmes mais quoy qu'amestris eust pu dire il est pourtant certain qu'aglatidas fut tres inquiet et que ce qu'il avoit veu luy tint tellement en l'esprit que de tout le soir je ne pus l'obliger a parler d'autre chose cependant apres que nous fusmes partis menaste acheva de faire resoudre amestris a se declarer ouvertement a tout le monde pour aglatidas scachant bien que quand cela seroit il n'y auroit personne assez hardy en la posture ou il estoit aupres de ciaxare pour oser entreprendre de troubler ton bonheur mais comme elle eust este bien aise de descouvrir si la chose estoit comme son portier la luy avoit dite ou s'il y avoit eu de la fourbe quand elle fut retournee chez elle et qu'elle fut dans sa chambre elle apella une de ses femmes qui estoit fine et adroite pour luy donner la commission de s'informer bien precisement si cet homme n'avoit point eu quelque intelligence avec les gens de megabise madame luy respondit-elle je ne scay pas s'il en a avec ses gens mais je scay bien qu'il y a deux jours qu'en revenant du temple assez matin je vis megabise a un coin de rue destourne qui parloit a luy neantmoins comme je creus qu'il luy demandoit seulement si vous estiez desja au temple ou si vous iriez bientost je ne m'arrestay pas davantage a les regarder et je passay outre sans qu'ils y prissent garde cette fille n'eut pas plustost dit cela a amestris que sans tarder plus long temps elle envoya une 
 seconde fois querir ce portier pour luy demander ce que megabise luy disoit au jour a l'heure et a l'endroit qu'elle luy marqua cet homme fort surpris de cette nouvelle question luy qui pensoit avoir admirablement respondu chez menaste s'esbranla et respondit fort mal a propos de sorte qu'amestris sans luy donner loisir de se r'asseurer et de trouver un nouveau mensonge le menaca si fort s'il ne disoit la verite et luy promit si bien de luy pardonner s'il l'advouoit qu'apres plusieurs responses qui seroient trop longues a dire il confessa enfin a amestris que megabise l'avoit envoye querir par un de ses gens luy avoit donne de l'argent pour le gagner et que le jour qu'on l'avoit veu parler a luy il l'avoit instruit comment il faudroit qu'il fist lors qu'il voudroit entrer seul si bien que ce matin la il n'avoit fait que luy envoyer dire simplement qu'il fist ce qu'il luy avoit ordonne amestris apres cela voyant jusqu'ou megabise se portoit commenca de craindre effectivement qu'il n'arrivast quelque nouveau malheur et prit en effet la resolution d'espouser aglatidas cependant tharpis et artemon avoient leurs inquietudes aussi bien que les autres le premier mesme n'avoit pas seulement la consolation de se pouvoir pleindre avec anatise de l'avanture qu'il avoit eue chez amestris car elle estoit allee a la campagne toutefois comme elle n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades d'ecbatane il la luy escrivit pour artemon comme il estoit plus sage quelque amoureux qu'il fust d'amestris voyant de quelle facon elle luy avoit parle d'aglatidas et de quelle sorte elle vivoit avecques luy il n'osoit plus l'entretenir de son amour neantmoins comme l'esperance ne quitte les amants qu'a 
 l'extremite il voulut auparavant que de faire un grand effort sur luy mesme pour arracher de son coeur l'image d'amestris s'esclaircir encore un peu plus precisement de l'estat ou estoit aglatidas avec cette belle personne si bien que comme il estoit assez mon amy et'qu'il scavoit que j'estois fort celuy d'aglatidas il me vint trouver le lendemain de cette avanture qui l'inquietoit comme les autres pour me prier de luy dire seulement en general si effectivement le coeur d'amestris estoit assez engage pour oster toute esperance a ceux qui avoient de la passion pour elle je scay bien me dit-il que vous ne me devez pas reveler un secret que l'on vous aura confie mais je scay bien aussi qu'estant vostre amy comme je le suis vous ne devez pas me refuser de me conseiller en une chose d'ou depend toute l'infortune ou tout le repos de ma vie je vous declare donc que j'aime amestris avec beaucoup de passion mais apres tout si j'estois asseure que son ame fust engagee ailleurs je tascherois de degager la mienne c'est pourquoy dites moy de grace ce que je dois faire artemon me dit cela avec tant d'ingenuite que je creus en effet estre oblige de le conseiller sincerement et de servir trois personnes a la fois amestris en la delivrant de cette importunite aglatidas en luy ostant un rival et artemon en le guerissant d'une passion qui ne pouvoit jamais estre reconnue neantmoins comme il faut tousjours se defier de la sincerite d'un homme amoureux je ne luy dis rien de ce que je scavois d'aglatidas et d'amestris mais je luy conseillay si fortement d'essayer de se guerir du mal qu'il avoit qu'il comprit sans doute bien que je scavois qu'amestris ne l'en voudroit 
 pas soulager je pretextay pourtant mon conseil par d'autres raisons je luy dis que megabise et aglatidas y songeant il n'y devoit pas penser que ces deux hommes la estoient trop aimez de ciaxare qu'ils avoient tous deux este amoureux d'amestris devant qu'elle eust espouse otane qu'il y avoit aparence que si elle se remarioit un de ces deux la seroit choisi qu'en tout cas je luy conseillois d'attendre encore quelque temps a se determiner parce que si amestris ne se declaroit point pour un de ces deux vray-semblablement elle ne se declareroit pour personne artemon me remercia du conseil que je luy donnois quoy qu'il s'en affligeast extremement cependant amestris qui avoit envoye querir menaste pour luy aprendre la fourbe que megabise luy avoit faite resolut enfin avec elle de ne differer pas davantage a se declarer ouvertement pour aglatidas a qui elle envoya dire ce qu'elle avoit descouvert amestris creut toutefois que comme megabise avoit tousjours eu beaucoup de respect dans sa passion il ne seroit pas hors de propos que menaste cherchast quelque occasion de luy parler afin de tascher d'esviter un malheur mais il n'en fut pourtant pas besoin car des qu'aglatidas eut demande a ciaxare la permission d'espouser amestris ce prince qui scavoit bien les pretentions de megabise luy commanda si absolument de ne s'opposer point au bonheur d'aglatidas qu'il n'osa en effet troubler sa satisfaction de sorte que comme la chose fit assez de bruit artemon fut bien aise dans son malheur d'avoir suivy mon conseil ettharpis scachant que megabise mesme n'osoit se pleindre du bonheur de son rival a cause du respect qu'il devoit an roy fut contraint 
 de suivre son exemple et de cacher aussi sa douleur ainsi voila aglatidas le plus heureux de tous les hommes car amestris luy avoit fait voir la fourbe de megabise si clairement qu'il ne demeuroit plus aucun soupcon dans son esprit tous les parents d'amestris approuvoient son choix ceux d'aglatidas louoient le sien tous ses rivaux n'osoient plus paroistre megabise fuyoit egalement son rival et sa maistresse artemon ne se pleignoit qu'a moy seul et soulageoit sa douleur a me raconter la vertu d'amestris pendant la vie d'orane telle que je vous l'ay depeinte et tharpis estoit presques tousjours chez anatise a la campagne qui estoit dans une affliction qui tenoit bien plus de la rage que de la tristesse ordinaire enfin rien ne s opposant plus au bonheur d'aglatidas il n'avoit plus d'autres tourments que ceux que l'impatience qui ne quitte pas mesme les amants qui sont assurez d'estre heureux luy faisoit souffrir toute la cour et toute la ville estoient en joye de ce mariage pour la solemnite duquel on preparoit mille divertissemens publics le jour qu'il se devoit faire fut mesme pris par le roy qui vouloit honnorer cette belle feste de sa presence toutes nos dames ne songeoient qu'a trouver les inventions de quelque parure particuliere pour ce jour la et amestris et aglatidas s'entretenant lors avec un peu plus de liberte que auparavant connurent si parfaitement la veritable estime qu'ils faisoient l'un de l'autre qu'ils s'en aimerent beaucoup davantage et par consequent en furent beaucoup plus heureux estant certain que la veritable mesure des felicitez des amants ne consiste pas moins en l'opinion reciproque qu'ils ont de la grandeur de leur merite 
 qu'en celle de leur passion les choses estant donc en ces termes et n'y ayant plus que trois tours jusques a celuy de leur mariage il en arriva une qui troubla estrangement la joye d'aglatidas et d'amestris mais seigneur pour ne vous tenir pas j'esprit en suspens comme je le pourrois faire il faut que je vous face voir d'abord ce qui causa tant d'inquietudes a deux personnes qui n'en avoient plus et qui croyoient n'en avoir plus jamais je vous ay ce me semble desja fait connoistre qu'anatise estoit a cinquante stades d'ecbatane et que tharpis l'y alloit souvent visiter corne ils estoient donc un jour ensemble a se promener dans une grande route qui aboutit au grand chemin qui conduit a ecbatane lors que l'on vient du coste des montagnes des aspires estant dis-je fort occupez a chercher par quelle voye ils pourroient troubler la felicite d'aglatidas et d'amestris ils virent venir un homme a cheval qui au lieu de continuer de suivre le chemin d'ecbatane prenoit celuy de la route ou ils estoient anatise qui n'estoit pas en humeur de recevoir visite eust bien voulu esviter celle la neantmoins s'imaginant que c'estoit peut-estre quelqu'un qui venoit voir une tante chez qui elle demeuroit elle destourna sa promenade feignant de n'avoir pas pris garde a celuy qui venoit vers elle mais une fille qui la suivoit l'ayant reconnu pour estre son frere escuyer d'otane elle fit un grand cry et quittant sa maistresse elle fut vers luy les bras ouverts pour l'embrasser car il estoit descendu de cheval au bout de la route et l'avoit donne a tenir a un homme qui le suivoit anatise au cry de cette fille qui avoit creu son frere mort tourna la teste et reconnut dinocrate qui luy 
 avoit autrefois tant servy a entretenir la jalousie d'otane et a faire persecuter amestris de sorte qu'en consideration des offices qu'il luy avoit rendus et qui luy avoient este si agreables elle s'arresta et souffrit qu'il luy vinst faire la reverence elle s'informa alors comment il avoit perdu son maistre et pourquoy il avoit tant tarde a revenir et il luy raconta sans deguisement de quelle sorte otane avoit pery au pied des montagnes d'artaxate ou le roy d'armenie s'estoit retire comment il avoit en fuite veu son corps dans un torrent et comment il avoit este englouty dans un abisme luy disant encore qu'il n'avoit pu revenir plustost parce que s'estant arreste a une ville en chemin il y estoit tombe malade qu'apres cela s'estant donne a un autre maistre il s'y estoit attache quelque temps mais que ne s'y trouvant pas bien il estoit enfin revenu et n'avoit pas voulu passer si pres d'un lieu ou il scavoit qu'elle alloit souvent sans demander du moins si elle y seroit mais luy dit elle dinocrate car nous avons sceu depuis toute cette conversation comme vous le scaurez tantost dites moy un peu si otane lors qu'il mourut haissoit encore bien aglatidas il le haissoit de telle sorte respondit-il que je crois que cela fut cause de sa mort car il s'estoit si bien mis dans la fantaisie de chercher aglatidas dans tous les combats ou il se trouveroit que je crois qu'il ne s'engagea trop avant parmy les ennemis que pour tascher de le tuer pour moy adjousta-t'il comme ce combat fut fait de nuit je ne puis bien dire comment ce malheur arriva mais quoy qu'il en soit je l'ay veu mort de mes propres yeux et beaucoup d'autres l'ont veu aussi bien que moy et alors il me nomma 
 pendant qu'il parloit ainsi et que tharpis se mesloit aussi a la conversation anatise jettant fortuitement les yeux sur la garde de l'espee de dinocrate qui estoit beaucoup plus belle et plus riche qu'un homme de cette condition ne la devoit avoir n'eut pas plustost fait quelque legere reflexion la dessus et attache ses regards a la considerer qu'elle la reconnut pour avoir este a aglatidas ceux qui n'ont pas bien sceu la puissance de l'amour se sont estonnez qu'anatise ait pu reconnoistre si precisement cette espee mais pour moy je ne l'ay pas trouve si estrange car je suis persuade que tout ce qui regarde la personne aimee ne s'efface jamais de la memoire joint aussi que cette garde d'espee estoit fort magnifique fort particuliere et par consequent fort remarquable et de plus elle l'avoit veue deux cens fois anatise ne l'eut donc pas plustost reconnue qu'elle demanda a dinocrate qui luy avoit donne cette espee et il luy dit que quelques jours apres la mort de son maistre comme il estoit a artaxate il l'avoit achetee d'un soldat persan qui n'en connoissoit pas la valeur et qui disoit l'avoir tiree du corps d'un armenien mort au pied des montagnes ou ils avoient combatu apres cela anatise connut aisement qu'aglatidas comme il arrive quelquesfois n'avoit sans doute pu retirer son espee du corps de celuy qu'il avoit tue et sans rien dire davantage elle laissa dinocrate entretenir sa soeur et continua de se promener avec tharpis mais si resveuse et si attachee a ses propres pensees qu'il ne put s'empescher de luy demander ce qui luy occupoit l'esprit encore plus qu'a l'ordinaire je resve luy dit-elle aux moyens de vous rendre heureux si je le puis ou du moins a trouver les 
 voyes de troubler la felicite de vostre rival elle est trop bien establie reprit tharpis pour le pouvoir esperer elle ne l'est pourtant pas de telle sorte respondit anatise que si dinocrate veut m'estre fidelle comme il me l'a este autrefois je ne le puisse faire aisement tharpis impatient de scavoit ce qu'elle vouloit dire l'assura que s'il ne faloit que donner la moitie de son bien pour le suborner il le seroit fort volontiers et enfin il la pressa de telle facon qu'elle luy dit la fourbe qu'elle imaginoit que tharpis aprouva de telle sorte qu'il pensa se mettre a genoux pour la remercier d'avoir trouve une invention si merveilleuse en suite sans differer davantage anatise appelle dinocrate le flatte et luy promet de faire bientost sa fortune tharpis l'assurant qu'il ne veut pas mesme qu'il commence de faire la chose qu'ils souhaitent de luy qu'il ne l'ait enrichy par quelque present magnifique et enfin apres que dinocrate qui n'estoit naturellement que trop dispose a faire des fourbes leur eut promis de leur obeir aveuglement ils luy dirent ce qu'ils desiroient de luy apres dis-je avoir bien concerte la chose entr'eux apres l'avoir examinee avecques soing et avoir instruit dinocrate de tour ce qu'il auroit a faire et a dire ils trouverent qu'il ne faloit pas que l'on sceust qu'il eust veu anatise de sorte qu'ils l'envoyerent loger a un vilage proche de la apres avoir expressement deffendu a sa soeur de parler de son retour a personne le lendemain le revoyant encore au mesme lieu tharpis commenca de luy tenir sa parole en luy faisant un present d'importance en suite dequoy ils luy donnerent ses dernieres instructions et le congedierent luy ordonnant sur toutes 
 choses qu'il ne vist point amestris qu'il n'y eust compagnie chez elle une apres-disnee donc et justement trois jours auparavant qu'aglatidas se deust marier estant alle chez elle pendant qu'il estoit chez le roy j'y trouvay menaste et trois ou quatre dames et mesme deux parentes d'otane qui aymant cherement amestris la visitoient fort souvent comme nous estions donc en une conversation qui n'avoit rien que d'agreable et qui panchoit mesme plustost vers l'enjouement que vers le serieux dinocrate qui avoit espie l'occasion arriva et monta droit a la chambre d'amestris d'abord qu'elle le vit entrer elle changea de couleur et sa veue luy renouvella de telle sorte le souvenir de la persecution d'otane et celuy des mauvais offices qu'en son particulier il luy avoit rendus qu'elle en fut un peu troublee neantmoins croyant qu'il estoit plus genereux et plus beau de dissimuler son ressentiment contre dinocrate et de le considerer seulement comme un homme que son mary avoit fort aime elle se remit un moment apres et luy parlant assez doucement d'ou vient luy dit-elle dinocrate que vous avez este si long-temps a revenir apres la perte de vostre maistre madame repliqua t'il en soupirant je fus si touche de cet accident que j'en tombay malade d'affliction et ce n'est que depuis quelques jours que j'ay recouvre assez de sante pour pouvoir venir vous rendre conte du malheur de mon maistre je vous vy luy dis-je en l'interrompant lors que vous en cherchiez le corps et que vous le decouvristes au milieu d'un torrent il est vray seigneur reprit-il et vous fustes tesmoin d'une partie de la douleur que j'eus de ne pouvoir l'en retirer estiez-vous au combat 
 ou il fut tue luy dit amestris ouy madame repliqua-t'il et je le touchois lors qu'aglatidas que je reconnus d'abord a la voix luy passa son espee au travers du corps qu'il ne put jamais retirer vostre maistre repris je fort estonne et guere moins surpris qu'amestris a este tue par aglatidas songez-vous bien dinocrate a ce que vous dites car comment voudriez-vous l'avoir pu connoistre dans le tumulte d'un combat de nuit qui se faisoit a la seule clarte des estoiles je vous ay desja dit seigneur respondit dinocrate sans s'esmouvoir que je le reconnus d'abord a la voix car lors qu'il attaqua mon maistre qui estoit a la teste d'un gros qui faisoit ferme il dit quelque chose a ceux qui le suivoient pour les encourager a bien faire de sorte que mon maistre qui connoissoit encore mieux la voix d'aglatidas que je ne la connoissois ne l'eut pas plustost ouy que se tournant vers moy ha dinocrate me dit-il voicy cet aglatidas que je cherche ne m'abandonne pas je ne puis pas bien dire adjousta-t'il si aglatidas connut mon maistre a la voix comme il en avoit este connu mais je scay bien qu'ils se chargerent rudement et qu'aglatidas plus heureux qu'otane luy enfonca son espee jusques aux gardes a travers le corps qui tombant du coup qu'il avoit receu fit sans doute que l'espee d'aglatidas luy eschapa des mains et qu'il ne la put retirer en cet estat voyant tomber mon maistre je ne sceus lequel je devois le plustost faire ou d'attaquer son meurtrier ou de tascher de le tirer de dessous les pieds de ceux qui combatoient mais le tumulte du combat les ayant fait esloigner de quelques pas je me jettay sur le corps de mon maistre pour voir s'il n'auroit plus de vie j'arrachay 
 l'espee qui le traversoit de part en part et tentant bien qu'il ne respiroit plus j'advoue qu'au lieu de demeurer aupres de luy je songeay a me deffendre car ce mesme aglatidas revenant au mesme endroit avec une autre espee et le reconnoissant encor mieux je fis tout ce que je pus pour vanger la mort de mon maistre mais nostre party estant le plus foible nous fusmes vaincus et dispersez sans que je pusse retourner chercher le corps d'otane jusques a ce que l'on fit tresve et lors que j'en eus la liberte je ne le trouvay plus au lieu ou je l'avois laisse mais je le vy un moment apres au milieu du torrent comme artabane l'a dit sans que je scache qui l'y avoit jette pendant le discours de dinocrate amestris souffroit des maux incroyables qu'elle n'osoit faire voir les dames qui estoient la et qui scavoient en quel estat estoient les choses estoient bien fachees d'entendre ce qu'elles entendoient et pour moy j'en estois si en colere que je ne pouvois presques interrompre dinocrate qui faisant semblant de ne scavoir point qu'amestris alloit espouser aglatidas continua de dire que ce qui luy avoit fait le mieux reconnoistre que c'estoit effectivement luy qui avoit tue otane estoit que l'espee qu'il avoit retiree du corps de son maistre estoit assurement a aglatidas ne pouvant pas s'y tromper estant aussi remarquable qu'elle estoit et la luy ayant veue si souvent ce n'est pas dit-il contrefaisant l'ingenu que je veuille dire qu'aglatidas soit coupable car enfin poursuivit il quand on est a la guerre on ne doit espargner personne du party ennemy mais ou est cette espee repris-je seigneur respondit il presques les larmes aux yeux comme elle a oste la vie a mon maistre je n'oserois pas 
 la faire voir en presence de madame car je ne scay pas moy mesme comment je la puis regarder ny par quelle raison je l'ay gardee comme il disoit cela aglatidas qui ne scavoit pas que dinocrate fust revenu entra dans la chambre d'amestris avec une joye dans les yeux telle que la devoit avoir un homme qui croyoit ne devoir plus estre trouble dans son bon-heur mais a peine eut-il fait deux pas dans cette chambre que voyant une profonde tristesse dans ceux d'amestris apercevant dinocrate et remarquant beaucoup d'estonnement sur mon visage et sur celuy de ces dames qui estoient la presentes il s'arresta un instant voulant deviner quel malheur estoit arrive mais prenant la parole aglatidas luy dis-je venez vous mesme vous justifier car dinocrate que vous voyez la dit que vous tuastes otane la nuit que nous combatismes au pied des montagnes d'artaxate moy repliqua aglatidas estrangement surpris et comment cela pourroit-il estre puis que l'illustre cyrus me dit qu'il avoit ouy crier otane est mort en un lieu ou je n'estois pas joint que moy mesme l'entendis nommer otane assez loin de l'endroit ou je combatois seigneur reprit dinocrate avec une impudence extreme je suis bien fasche d'avoir dit sans y penser et seulement pour dire la verite une chose que je voy qui vous trouble si fort toutesfois comme je l'ay desja dit on ne recherche personne pour avoir tue quelqu'un a la guerre mais seigneur dit une des parentes d'otane qui croyoit pouvoir justifier aglatidas par ce qu'elle luy alloit demander perdistes-vous vostre espee a ce combat la ouy madame respondit-il et je ne pus jamais la retirer du corps d'un armenien de sorte que je 
 fus contraint de l'y laisser et d'en arracher une des mains d'une autre des ennemis dont j'eus le bon-heur de me saisir un moment apres ha aglatidas dit amestris que m'aprenez-vous comme il ne scavoit pas pourquoy amestris parloit ainsi ny pourquoy cette autre dame luy avoit parle de cette espee qu'il avoit perdue ny comment elle avoit sceu qu'il l'avoit perdue il se tourna vers moy et je luy dis que dinocrate assuroit qu'il avoit son espee et qu'il l'avoit retiree du corps de son maistre elle est si connoissable dit aglatidas que l'on ne s'y scauroit tromper car je pense qu'il n'y a pas un de mes amis qui ne la connoisse mais ou est elle adjousta-t'il seigneur repliqua dinocrate s'il vous plaist je vous l'envoyeray querir et vous la feray voir dans cette antichambre aglatidas l'en ayant presse il sortit pendant quoy regardant amestris qui n'osoit presques plus le regarder madame luy dit-il je voy bien que si dinocrate me fait voir mon espee et qu'il persiste a dire qu'il l'a tiree du corps de son maistre je ne pourray pas vous faire voir bien clairement que je n'ay pas tue otane puis que j'ay advoue avec ingenuite que j'avois laisse mon espee dans le corps d'un homme qui estoit du mesme party dont otane estoit et qu'ainsi il semble que cela soit fort mais apres tout madame je ne laisse pas de croire que tout ce que dinocrate dit est faux il vous a tousjours este contraire en toutes choses il est frere d'une fille qui sert chez anatise et tout ce qui part de sa bouche doit estre suspect mais enfin aglatidas dit amestris par vostre propre confession vous avez laisse vostre espee dans le corps d'un homme mort dinocrate dit que cet homme estoit otane et 
 vous n'avez autre chose a luy opposer s'il est vray qu'il vous monstre effectivement vostre espee sinon que vous ne croyez pas que celuy que vous avez tue fust otane c'est trop peu aglatidas poursuivit-elle c'est trop peu contre une deposition si forte et si precite c'est pourquoy souffrez que je vous conjure du moins que jusques a ce que la chose toit plus esclaircie je ne vous voye plus ha madame s'escria t'il que me dites-vous comme amestris alloit respondre on vint nous advertir que dinocrate estoit dans l'anti-chambre qui aportoit cette espee aglatidas y fut donc et toutes ces dames aussi a la reserve de menaste qui demeura aupres d'amestris mais a peine aglatidas et moy eusmes nous veu cette espee que nous la reconnusmes effectivement pour estre a luy aglatidas regarda alors fixement dinocrate et ne scachant que dire pour se justifier il cherchoit a connoistre dans ses yeux s'il estoit innocent ou coupable mais il se deguisoit si finement qu'il estoit impossible de s'apercevoir de sa malice il y eut alors des instants ou je vy tant de fureur sur le visage d'aglatidas que j'eus quelque crainte qu'il ne tuast dinocrate je pense mesme que s'il n'eust pas eu peur de se faire croire encore plus criminel par cette violence il l'auroit du moins outrage mais enfin ne scachant que dire et ne pouvant effectivement assurer luy mesme avec sincerite qu'il n'avoit pas tue otane il se preparoit pourtant a rentrer dans la chambre d'amestris pour s'aller jetter a ses pieds sans scavoir bien precisement ce qu'il luy vouloit dire lors que menaste par l'ordre absolu d'amestris vint luy ordonner de ne rentrer pas et d'avoir ce respect la pour elle de ne la voir point que son innocence 
 ne fust mieux connue aglatidas ne pouvoit se resoudre a luy obeir mais menaste luy dit tellement qu'il le faloit qu'elle le forca de le faire nous sortismes donc luy et moy apres avoir encore demande cent choses a dinocrate avec intention de le faire contre-dire en quelqu'une mais il n'y eut pas moyen et il redit tousjours ce qu'il avoit dit avec tant d'uniformite jusques aux moindres circonstances que les juges les plus exacts auroient este satisfaits de ses reponses et auroient condamne aglatidas apres que nous fusmes sortis ces dames furent encore quelque temps avec amestris en fuite dequoy elles s'en allerent a la reserve de menaste qui demeura seul avec elle comme j'estois seul avec aglatidas dinocrate estant descendu en bas pour raconter toute cette histoire aux domestiques afin que le bruit s'en espandist plustost mais il n'avoit que faire de s'en mettre en peine car quatre heures apres qu'il eut parle a amestris on ne parloit d'autre chose dans ecbatane que de cette estrange advanture cependant j'ay sceu par menaste qu'elle ne fut pas plustost seule avec amestris que cette belle personne la regardant avec des yeux ou la melancolie faisoit voir le trouble de son ame en verite luy dit-elle il faut advouer que mon malheur est bien opiniastre et que j'ay eu grand tort d'esperer de pouvoir jouir de quelque repos apres de si cruelles et de si longues inquietudes du moins en suis-je arrivee aujourd'huy aux termes que l'esperance n'aura plus de part en mon coeur et qu'ainsi elle n'augmentera plus mes tourments puis que je ne souffriray plus de maux que je n'aye preveus et que je n'attendray plus aucun bien j'advoue luy dit 
 menaste que cette rencontre est tout a faite estrange mais poursuivit-elle puis qu'aglatidas assure qu'il ne croit point avoir tue otane et qu'il n'y a que le seul raport de dinocrate qui toit contre luy pourquoy voudriez vous vous rendre malheureuse toute vostre vie parce repliqua-t'elle que je ne pourrois pas estre contente sans gloire et que malheur pour malheur il faut du moins choisir celuy ou on ne pourra pas m'accuser d'avoir fait une chose contre la bien seance et contre la vertu comme elle disoit cela dinocrate rentra dans sa chambre qui feignant de venir d'aprendre qu'aglatidas estoit prest a l'espouser et croyant par la se mettre a couvert de la haine d'amestris et de luy sans destruire le dessein d'anatise madame luy dit il je viens vous demander tres humblement pardon de la faute que j'ay faite sans y penser car comme je suis venu droit icy sans parler a personne dans la ville je ne scavois pas les termes ou vous en estiez avec aglatidas de sorte que j'ay sans doute dit une verite que je n'eusse pas dite si je l'eusse sceu car enfin les choses passees n'ayant point de retour et croyant qu'en effet il peut estre qu'aglatidas a tue mon maistre sans l'avoir connu je me serois bien garde de dire ce que j'ay dit non seulement devant tant de monde mais mesme a vous en particulier cependant voyez s'il vous plaist madame poursuivit il si vous voulez que je me dedise ou bien qu'aglatidas assure qu'il s'est trompe et que ce n'est point son espee que je luy ay fait voir car si vous le desirez je ne la monstreray plus a personne afin qu'elle ne soit pas connue dinocrate dit cela avec une ingenuite si bien contrefaite qu'encore qu'amestris eust cent marques de sa 
 malice elle y fut trompee et elle creut certainement qu'il parloit avec sincerite elle n'accepta pourtant pas son offre au contraire elle luy dit que quand elle seroit seule en toute la terre qui scauroit la chose elle agiroit comme elle alloit faire en fuite dequoy le congediant elle l'assura mesme qu'elle feroit prier aglatidas de ne se vanger point sur luy de son malheur vous pretendez donc de ne le voir plus luy dit menaste apres que dinocrate fut party il n'en faut pas douter respondit elle car enfin quelle bien-seance me peut permettre de voir un homme que l'on assure qui a tue mon mary mais luy dit menaste il n'en tombe pas d'accord cela ne suffit pas repliqua amestris puis que quand mesme je scaurois d'une certitude infaillible que la chose ne seroit point je ne laisserois pas de faire ce que je fais seulement parce que le monde le croiroit et que je pourrois estre soupconnee de l'avoir sceu ce n'est pas que je puisse accuser aglatidas d'avoir connu otane en le tuant s'il est vray qu'il l'ait tue mais apres tout puis que l'on peut croire qu'il est mort de sa main il n'en faut pas davantage pour m'obliger a ne le voir jamais et pour me rendre la plus malheureuse personne du monde pendant qu'amestris et menaste parloient de cette sorte je n'estois pas peu occupe a consoler aglatidas qui ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de voir par quelle voye la fortune traversoit son bon heur car disoit il comment puis-je me justifier puis qu'il est certain que je ne puis moy-mesme assurer si ce que dinocrate dit est vray ou faux le scay bien sans doute que je n'ay point connu la voix d'otane et que je l'entendis nommer assez loing de moy mais apres tout je scay que l'espee que l'on me 
 montre m'apartient que je ne la pus retirer du corps d'un des ennemis qui tomba mort a mes pieds et qu'enfin ce pourroit avoir este otane puis qu'il estoit de ce combat mais luy dis-je que ne desadvouyez-vous vostre espee car je croy que l'amour permet quelquesfois certains mensonges innocens qui ne sont mal a personne je me serois noircy au lieu de me justifier en la desavouant respondit aglatidas puis que tous les gens de qualite qui sont en la cour connoissent cette espee et megabise entre les autres auroit bien pu dire que je mentois car il l'a cent fois maniee du temps que nous n'estions pas mal ensemble de sorte qu'amestris m'auroit pu soupconner d'avoir connu otane en le tuant joint aussi que je ne pense pas que la generosite permette de mentir pour se rendre heureux mais croyez-vous luy dis-je que quand amestris ne vous soupconnera point de l'avoir connu vous en soyez gueres moins infortune je croy dit-il que veu comme amestris a pris la chose et de la maniere dont je connois son esprit qu'elle poussera mon malheur jusques au bout et qu'elle me forcera a mourir desespere car enfin artabane je ne scaurois souffrir cette infortune comme j'ay souffert toutes les autres et il paroist si clairement que les dieux me veulent perdre que ce sera assurement suivre leur volonte que de me perdre moy-mesme je veux pourtant revoir amestris me dit- il c'est pourquoy je vous conjure d'aller attendre menaste chez elle afin de la prier d'obtenir cette grace pour moy car enfin il ne seroit pas juste que je fusse condamne sans avoir dit mes raisons je m'en allay donc effectivement pour luy rendre cet office mais menaste quand elle revint de chez amestris me 
 dit qu'elle croyoit qu'il ne seroit pas aise d'obtenir d'elle qu'elle vist aglatidas que neantmoins elle y feroit ce qu'elle pourroit nous fusmes apres cela assez long temps a admirer cette bizarre rencontre et a nous en affliger pour l'interest des personnes que nous aimions cependant anatise qui vouloit jouir pleinement de sa fourbe revint a ecbatane et y fit courir le bruit qu'aglatidas avoit bien sceu qu'il avoit tue otane adjoustant mesme qu'amestris ne l'avoit pas ignore cette derniere chose ne fut pourtant crue de personne mais comme amestris aporta soin a s'informer de ce que l'on disoit par la ville scachant toutes ces impostures elle se confirma si puissamment dans la resolution de n'espouser point aglatidas et de ne le voir jamais que menaste ne put mesme obtenir d'elle qu'il allast luy dire ses raisons de sorte qu'il falut songer a la tromper et a tascher de le luy faire voir sans qu'elle en eust le dessein ce n'est pas qu'elle ne l'aimast tousjours avec une tendresse extreme mais c'est que la gloire estoit la plus sorte dans son coeur cependant durant qu'aglatidas et amestris estoient si malheureux anatise et tharpis se resjouissoient de leurs infortunes megabise et artemon en estoient aussi bien aises et afin de porter la finesse aussi loing qu'elle pouvoit aller anatise fit dire a amestris par une voye fort destournee qu'on la louoit infiniment de la resolution qu'elle sembloit prendre de n'espouser point aglatidas et mesme de ne le voir plus de sorte que cette belle personne parla si determinement a menaste qu'elle n'espera plus du tout de la pouvoir jamais vaincre trois ou quatre jours se passerent de cette sorte mais enfin menaste feignant de se trouver assez mal pour obliger 
 amestris a l'aller voir son artifice reussit et comme aglatidas et moy sceusmes qu'elle y estoit nous y fusmes renvoyant nos gens apres que nous fusmes entrez menaste avoit ordonne que l'on dist chez elle a tout autre qu'a nous qu'on ne la voyoit pas car pour amestris estant amies comme elles l'estoient la chose ne tiroit pas a consequence et personne ne pouvoit s'offencer de n'entrer pas quoy que l'on vist son chariot a la porte lors que nous entrasmes dans la chambre amestris estoit assise sur le lict de menaste de for te qu'aglatidas fut a genoux devant elle auparavant qu'elle eust pu voir qu'il estoit entre madame luy dit-il en l'empeschant de se lever souffrez que je vienne vous dire mes raisons de peur que vous ne fussiez accusee d'une injustice effroyable si vous m'aviez condamne sans m'entendre amestris sans respondre a aglatidas regarda menaste comme l'accusant de l'avoir trompee et en effet elle seroit sortie si son amie prenant la parole et la retenant par sa robe ne l'en eust empeschee mais menaste luy dit-elle que pensera-t'on de moy si on scait que j'aye veu aglatidas mais madame repris-je que pourrions-nous dire de vous si vous ne vouliez pas seulement escouter les pleintes d'un homme que vous voulez rendre malheureux s'il se pouvoit justifier repliqua-t'elle je l'escouterois avec un plaisir extreme mais cela n'estant pas pourquoy voulez-vous que je m'expose a mettre une tache a ma reputation que rien ne scauroit effacer je ne scay madame si j'ay raison interrompit aglatidas en croyant comme je fais qu'il suffit en certaines occasions de scavoir que l'on n'est point coupable sans se foncier si fort de ce que les autres en pensent 
 car enfin madame apres avoir surmonte tant d'obstacles vaincu tant de malheurs et apres que vous m'avez promis de me rendre heureux pour tousjours quelle justice y a t'il que le raport d'un homme qui a dit autrefois cent mensonges contre vous soit creu lors qu'il parle contre moy je scay bien que son discours est appuye de conjectures assez sortes mais apres tout madame je vous asseure avec toute la sincerite possible et je vous jure par tous les dieux que nous adorons que je ne crois point avoir tue otane et que je ne j'ay seulement pas remarque pendant te combat je vous jure mesme encore que quelque haine que j'eusse pu avoir pour luy si je l'eusse reconnu parmy les ennemis j'eusse esvite sa rencontre pour l'amour de vous scachant assez jusques ou va vostre vertu ainsi madame quand il seroit vray que j'aurois tue otane ce que je ne crois point du tout je l'aurois tue sans estre coupable puis que je ne l'aurois point connu cependant sur la simple deposition d'un de vos persecuteurs qui m'accuse d'avoir tue a la guerre un tyran qui vous a fait souffrir cent suplices vous voulez me rendre le plus malheureux homme du monde vous voulez mesme avoir cette rigueur pour moy de n'entendre pas mes pleintes au nom des dieux madame ne me condamnez pas si legerement ou du moins ne me condamnez pas si tost plust aux dieux que vous invoquez interrompit amestris que je ne vous condamnasse jamais et que vostre innocence ne fust pas douteuse mais aglatidas la chose n'est pas en ces termes la car enfin a vous parler sincerement quand je serois asseuree d'une certitude infaillible que ce que dinocrate dit seroit faux ne pouvant pas empescher le monde de 
 croire ce qu'il croit j'agirois tousjours comme j'agis et je ne vous espouserois jamais vostre amitie est sans doute un peu foible reprit aglatidas puis qu'elle ne pourroit vaincre une consideration comme celle la croyez s'il vous plaist madame que la veritable vertu n'est point fondee sur l'opinion d'autruy et qu'ainsi quand on a le tesmoignage secret de sa conscience on se doit mettre en repos et ne se rendre pas malheureux soy mesme pour satisfaire les autres mais madame adjousta-t'il en souspirant c'est sans doute que ma perte ne vous est pas sensible non aglatidas reprit amestris ne vous y trompez point j'ay pour vous une estime et si je l'ose dire une affection que je ne scaurois jamais perdre parce que je ne vous puis jamais soupconner d'aucun crime je croy tout ce que vous me dites et ainsi je ne doute point que si vous avez tue otane vous ne l'ayez fait sans le connoistre mais apres tout si je vous espousois on croiroit peut-estre que vous n'auriez fait que ce que je vous aurois ordonne de faire de sorte que cette pensee me blesse si fort l'imagination qu'il faut absolument que je fasse tout ce que je pourray pour ne laisser pas lieu de douter de mon innocence a mes plus grands ennemis c'est pourquoy aglatidas non seulement je ne vous espouseray point mais je veux encore ne vous voir jamais et si j'ay quelque pouvoir sur vostre ame vous trouverez mesme quelque pretexte pour partir d'ecbatane cependant pour vous consoler je vous asseure parce que je crois le pouvoir faire sans crime que je me fais une violence si grande en me separant de vous pour jamais que j'auray sans doute moins de peine a mourir que je n'en ay a vous quitter de grace madame 
 interrompit aglatidas avec une douleur extreme soyez-moy toute rigoureuse ou toute favorable contentez-vous de l'innocence de mon coeur et me laissez posseder le vostre ou montrez-moy tant de marques d'indifference d'inhumanite ou de mespris que je puisse mourir d'affliction a vos pieds car madame quel plaisir prenez-vous a me dire des choses qui en prolongeant ma vie augmentent mes suplices comment voulez-vous que je puisse avoir recours a la mort tant que je croiray estre encore aime de la divine amestris et comment pensez-vous que je puisse souffrir la vie avec la certitude qu'elle ne sera jamais a moy et si j'ose tout dire avec la crainte qu'elle ne soit un jour a quelque autre ne craignez pas ce dernier malheur interrompit amestris et croyez au contraire que le coeur que je vous avois donne et que je retire malgre-moy d'entre vos mains ne sera jamais en la puissance de qui que ce soit ce que vous me dites est bien obligeant repliqua aglatidas mais madame le mal que je souffre est si grand que je sens bien imparfaitement la joye que des paroles si avantageuses me devroient donner car enfin vous voulez que je n'espere jamais rien ny du temps ny de vostre affection ny de ma fidelite qui m'eust dit adjoustoit-il quand otane vivoit que je serois un jour encore plus malheureux que je ne l'estois alors je ne l'aurois sans doute pas creu cependant il n'y a nulle comparaison de ce que je souffrois a ce que j'endure et otane dans le tombeau me persecute bien plus cruellement qu'il n'a fait durant sa vie ouy madame je vous avoue avec ingenuite que sans avoir jamais eu la pensee d'avancer sa mort depuis que je m'esloignay de vous je pensois 
 du moins quelquefois qu'il n'estoit pas impossible qu'il mourust devant moy mais la raison pour laquelle vous destruisez aujourd'huy tout mon bon-heur est une raison qui subsistera tousjours si les dieux ne font un miracle pour rendre mon innocence visible a tout le monde de sorte que je ne voy point d'autre fin a mes maux que la mort ne vous opposez donc pas au seul secours que je puis recevoir en me faisant entendre quelques paroles flateuses et inutiles qui ne sont peut-estre que de simples marques de pitie et qui ne le font pas d'une affection telle que vous me l'aviez promise car apres tout madame j'en reviens toujours la puis que mon coeur est de certitude innocent et que le crime de ma main est si douteux dans mon esprit c'est faire une injustice effroyable que de rompre les chaisnes qui nous doivent attacher eternellement pour moy madame je scay bien que je porteray tousjours les miennes et que je ne trouveray de liberte qu'en mourant pendant qu'aglatidas parloit ainsi a amestris j'estois patte de l'autre coste du lict de menaste a qui je parlois quelquesfois bas quoy que nous entendissions pourtant distinctement tout ce que disoient ces deux illustres personnes sur le visage desquelles on voyoit une melancolie si profonde que je n'ay jamais rien veu de si touchant amestris ne pouvoit presques parler parce qu'il luy sembloit que tout ce qu'elle disoit d'obligeant estoit un crime son silence estoit neantmoins si eloquent et tellement significatif qu'aglatidas ne pouvoit pas douter qu'il ne fust tendrement aime de sa chere amestris toutesfois faisant a la fin quelque scrupule de la longueur de cette triste conversation elle voulut s'en aller mais 
 aglatidas la retenant quoy madame luy dit-il vous voulez mesme ne me dire pas precisement ce qu'il vous plaist que je fasse je veux que vous viviez repliqua-t'elle mais que vous viviez esloigne de moy ha madame interrompit-il ne me commandez point des choses impossibles ou du moins si difficiles a faire que la mort mesme est beaucoup plus douce que l'execution de ce rigoureux commandement je veux pourtant encore davantage reprit-elle car je veux que vous ne me donniez point de vos nouvelles et que vous n'esperiez jamais des miennes c'est trop madame c'est trop interrompit aglatidas je ne scaurois vous obeir si vous ne m'aprenez a vous oublier et a ne vous aimer plus au contraire dit-elle je suis si fort persuadee de l'innocence de vos sentimens que je ne fais pas de scrupule de desirer que vous m'aimiez jusques a la mort cependant aglatidas souffrez que je m'en aille car quand je songe que toute la ville croit que vous avez tue otane et que je vous voy a mes pieds j'en rougis de confusion et j'apprehende si fort qu'on ne le scache que je n'ay jamais rien fait de si obligeant pour vous que de vous y souffrir si long-temps mais madame dit aglatidas ne songez vous point qu'en me bannissant je laisse megabise artemon et tharpis aupres de vous il est vray reprit elle malgre qu'elle en eust mais puis que je ne vous puis chasser de mon coeur vous ne leur devez pas porter envie quoy madame dit aglatidas vous essayez donc de m'en bannir je le devrois du moins dit-elle et si je ne l'entreprens pas c'est sans doute parce que je connois bien que je l'entreprendrois inutilement apres ces favorables paroles amestris se leva comme estant presques 
 honteuse de les avoir prononcees et aglatidas voyant qu'en effet elle estoit absolument resolue de s'en aller ou qu'il s'en allast se leva aussi et la regardant avec des yeux que son excessive douleur empeschoit d'estre mouillez de larmes madame luy dit il en poussant encore un grand souspir j'aime mieux vous quitter que si vous me quittiez puis qu'il pourra estre que menaste ne laissera pas de vous parler encore un peu de moy quand je seray party d'icy je vous le promets dit cette charitable parente et je vous le deffends interrompit amestris si vous ne voulez redoubler toutes mes inquietudes mais madame dit aglatidas est il bien vray que ma perte vous touche mais reprenoit-il un moment apres sans luy donner loisir de respondre peut-il estre vray que je vous doive perdre pour tousjours et que ce soit icy la derniere fois que je vous verray non non madame je ne puis pas m'imaginer cela poursuivit-il vous me reverrez sans doute et je vous reverray car quand mesme je pourrois vouloir vous obeir je sens bien que je ne vous obeirois pas je reviendray madame asseurement et malgre vous et malgre moy s'il faut ainsi dire et quand je ne devrois mesme voir que le haut du palais que vous habitez je pense que je reviendrois errer sur ces montagnes qui font au de la de l'oronte pour avoir au moins ce foible plaisir aglatidas dit toutes ces choses avec un si grand transport d'amour qu'amestris en fut sensiblement touchee et de telle sorte que ne pouvant plus retenir ses larmes elle abaissa a demy son voile et luy faisant signe qu'il s'en allast sans luy pouvoir parler il luy prit la main pour la baiser mais elle la retira avec assez de precipitation luy semblant que 
 celle d'aglatidas estant accusee d'un meurtre quoy qu'innocent ne devoit pas toucher la sienne mon coeur est si pur madame luy dit-il alors que je ne pensois pas que ma main pust prophaner la vostre cependant puis que vous ne le croyez pas ainsi souffrez du moins que je vous baise la robe en disant cela il se baissa et la luy prit en effet mais amestris y portant la main pour s'en deffendre aglatidas ne put s'empescher la voyant si pres de sa bouche de la baiser sans qu'amestris eust la force de s'en fascher quoy qu'elle en eust quelque envie a ce qu'il parut sur son visage apres qu'il se fut releve vous voulez donc que je parte luy dit-il je voudrois bien luy respondit-elle que vous pussiez ne partir jamais d'ecbatane mais puis que la fortune en a autrement dispose je voudrois amestris s'arresta a ces paroles et sans pouvoir dire ce qu'elle vouloit elle luy fit encore signe de la main qu'il sortist et il sortit en effet mais si afflige que jamais on n'a veu de douleur esgale a la sienne amestris de son coste n'estoit gueres moins triste que luy et j'ay sceu par menaste qu'a peine fusmes nous sortis qu'elle fut se rassoir sur son lict ou elle respandit avec abondance toutes les larmes qu'elle avoit retenues tant que nous y avions este apres plusieurs discours les plus obligeants du monde pour aglatidas amestris pria menaste de vouloir faire un petit voyage avec elle a la campagne ne luy estant pas possible de pouvoir esperer d'avoir la force de cacher la douleur qu'elle avoit de la perte d'aglatidas de sorte que sans differer davantage elles resolurent de partir des le lendemain menaste se chargeant d'ordonner de la part a aglatidas de n'aller pas en ce lieu-la qui n'estoit 
 qu'a une journee d'ecbatane en effet lors qu'amestris fut partie elle luy envoya un billet par lequel elle luy commandoit si absolument d'obeir a amestris que si aglatidas eust eu moins d'amour et un peu plus de raison il luy auroit sans doute obei cependant voyant enfin qu'il ne feroit pas changer de resolution a la seule personne qui le pouvoit rendre heureux et ne pouvant plus souffrir le monde il resolut de venir du moins mourir pour vostre service de sorte que sans tarder plus longtemps il pressa si instamment ciaxare de le renvoyer aupres de vous qu'il obtint ce qu'il demandoit avant que de partir il forma plusieurs desseins que j'eus bien de la peine a destruire car il y avoit des instants ou il vouloit mourir et se tuer luy mesme il y en avoit d'autres ou il vouloit se battre contre megabise contre artemon et contre tharpis disant par ses raisons qu'il ne pouvoit manquer d'en tuer quelqu'un ou d'estre tue par eux et qu'ainsi lequel que ce fust il luy seroit plus advantageux que de s'en aller seulement pour obeir a amestris mais enfin je m'opposay si fortement a toutes ses funestes resolutions que je le contraignis a se contenter de partir sans se porter a toutes ces violences et j'employay tant de fois vostre nom qu'a la fin il prefera la gloire de venir mourir en vous servant a tout autre genre de mort mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette occasion fut qu'encore qu'aglatidas sortist d'ecbatane par une porte directement opposee a celle par ou il faloit sortir pour aller ou estoit amestris et qu'il eust en effet intention de luy obeir il ne put toutesfois en venir a bout et il n'eut pas fait cinquante stades qu'envoyant tous ses gens l'attendre a 
 deux journees d'ecbatane il fut avec un escuyer seulement au lieu ou estoit amestris cependant son depart donna une joye incroyable a megabise a tharpis et a artemon il en donna aussi a anatise mais non pas tant qu'aux autres car elle avoit pretendu rompre seulement le mariage d'amestris et non pas exiler aglatidas neantmoins ayant eu le plaisir de detruire la felicite d'un homme qui troubloit la sienne et celle d'une redoutable rivale elle jouissoit avec assez de tranquilite du fruit de sa fourbe et dinocrate possedoit aussi avec beaucoup de satisfaction les presents que tharpis luy avoit faits mais seigneur pour en revenir a aglatidas il fut donc ou estoit amestris pour luy dire le dernier adieu elle en fut si surprise et d'abord sa en colere que menaste m'a assure qu'il pensa remonter a cheval sans luy avoir pu dire quatre paroles mais qu'enfin il obtint par ses persuasions la liberte d'estre encore une heure aupres d'amestris pendant laquelle il ne put pourtant jamais luy faire changer de resolution cette derniere separation fut encore plus tendre que l'autre et aglatidas partit si desespere et amestris demeura si affligee qu'on ne peut s'imaginer rien de plus pitoyable
 
 
 
 
quand aglatidas fut party amestris qui ne pouvoit parler que de son affliction se mit a repasser tous les malheurs de sa vie et les comparant a celuy qui luy venoit d'arriver elle trouvoit qu'il estoit infiniment plus grand que tous les autres de sorte que s'abandonnant a la douleur elle avoit le visage tout couvert de larmes qui tomboient avec une telle abondance que non seulement elles couloient de ses veux sur ses joues mais encore de ses joues sur sa gorge 
 estant donc a demy couchee sur des carreaux et menaste estant assise aupres d'elle sans oser luy dire qu'elle devoit moderer son affliction tant elle la voyoit excessive elles entendirent quelque bruit dans la court en fuite dans l'escalier et un moment apres oyant ouvrir la porte de la chambre avec assez d'impetuosite amestris vit entrer otane avec cette mesme fierte qu'il avoit eue autresfois quand il l'avoit tant persecutee otane interrompit cyrus fort estonne et comment seroit-il possible qu'amestris eust pu voir entrer otane puis que vous l'avez veu mort au milieu d'un torrent et que vous le vistes en fuite engloutir dans un abisme vous le scaurez seigneur respondit artabane en vous donnant un peu de patience cependant souffrez s'il vous plaist que je continue mon discours afin de vous tirer plustost d'inquietude otane estant donc entre de la maniere que je vous ay dit poursuivit artabane cette veue fit faire un grand cry a menaste qui pensa que c'estoit une aparition et surprit si fort amestris qu'elle ne pouvoit ny parler ny se lever bien est-il vray qu'elles ne furent pas long-temps sans connoistre avec certitude qu'otane estoit effectivement otane et que ce n'estoit pas son ombre car regardant amestris toute en larmes avec des yeux estincelants de rage et de fureur et prenant la parole d'un ton a porter la frayeur dans l'ame de la personne du monde la plus innocente et la plus hardie vous avez raison luy dit-il en la menacant de la main de vous troubler de ma veue et de mon retour car je ne viens que pour vous punir de tous vos crimes a la fois amestris alors reconnoissant bien otane et s'estant un peu remise se leva et 
 le saluant avec beaucoup de respect seigneur luy dit-elle vous m'avez autresfois si bien accoustumee a souffrir d'injustes reproches que je n'en ay pas encore perdu l'habitude infame luy dit-il appelles tu d'injustes reproches ceux que je te faits presentement d'avoir creu ma mort des qu'on te l'a dite de ne l'avoir pas pleuree etde te trouver comme je fais le visage couvert de larmes pour l'absence de ton amant car scaches qu'il y a desja six jours que je suis cache dans ecbatane en un lieu ou j'ay sceu ton pretendu mariage et toutes tes mauvaises actions j'estois venu icy pour tuer aglatidas devant tes yeux me doutant bien qu'il y viendroit mais estant arrive trop tard a ce que j'ay apris en entrant je ne trouve plus que toy sur qui je me puisse vanger seigneur reprit amestris puis que vous dites scavoir tout ce que j'ay fait vous scavez donc bien que des que dinocrate m'a eu dit qu'aglatidas sans y penser vous avoit tue a la guerre j'ay rompu avecques luy ouy devant le monde repliqua le furieux otane mais non pas en particulier car si cela estoit autrement tu ne l'aurois pas reveu icy je vous assure dit menaste qu'aglatidas s'en va avec un ordre expres d'amestris de ne la revoir jamais et je vous assure respondit otane que je viens avecques le dessein d'empescher en effet qu'il ne la revoye pas et qu'elle ne vous voye non plus que luy de vous dire seigneur tout ce que dit otane ce seroit abuser de vostre patience mais je vous diray seulement que tout ce que la jalousie la rage et le desespoir peuvent faire dire il le dit en cette occasion et contre amestris et contre aglatidas et contre menaste en suite dequoy faisant atteler un chariot il la contraignit de s'en 
 retourner a ecbatane et fit enfermer amestris dans une chambre avec une femme seulement pour la servir la menacant de toutes les rigueurs imaginables ce qui estonna encore amestris fut qu'elle vit par ses fenestres une heure apres qu'otane fut arrive que dinocrate estoit la et que son maistre l'entretenoit comme autresfois mais seigneur comme je ne doute pas que vous n'ayez envie de scavoir comment otane estoit ressuscite vous dis-je qui aviez entendu crier pendant le combat des montagnes d'artaxate qu'otane estoit mort il faut que je vous die ce que nous en avons apris depuis tant par ce qu'il en a dit a diverses personnes qui me l'ont redit apres que par ce qu'un soldat qui est d'ecbatane m'en a raporte vous scaurez donc qu'en effet otane fut a ce combat de nuit que nous fismes et qu'en combatant proche d'un armenien avec qui il avoit fait amitie il rencontra sous ses pieds un monceau de pierres qui le fit tomber de sorte que cet armenien qui le touchoit croyant que sa chutte estoit causee par quelque coup d'espee ou de javeline cria comme je l'ay dit qu'otane estoit mort quoy qu'il ne le fust pas bien est il vray qu'il ne put se relever qu'avec beaucoup de peine parce que le combat fut fort opiniastre en cet endroit et qu'on le fit retomber plusieurs fois en fuite comme vous le scavez tous les armeniens furent vaincus leur estant mesme impossible de pouvoir regagner leurs montagnes vous scavez de plus seigneur que phraarte se retira dans un petit vallon ou vous fustes le trouver de sorte qu'otane s'y sauva comme les autres mais comme il ne craignoit rien tant que de tomber entre les mains de ciaxare non seulement 
 comme traistre a sa patrie qu'il estoit mais principalement parce qu'aglatidas estoit dans son armee au lieu de demeurer avec phraarte il se resolut de se derober et en effet a la faveur de la nuit il se mit derriere quelques roches eslevees qui sont en quelques endroits au bord du torrent mais comme les armes qu'il avoit estoient fort belles et par consequent fort remarquables il jugeoit bien qu'il ne luy seroit pas aise de se cacher ny de traverser le camp lors qu'il seroit jour sans estre arreste apres donc qu'il eut remarque qu'il n'y avoit plus personne dans ce petit vallon ou phraarte s'estoit retire et d'ou vous le menastes a vostre tente il fut chercher parmy les morts dequoy se travestir et quittant les magnifiques armes qu'il avoit il prit un simple habillement de soldat et il fut en effet si adroit et si heureux qu'il traversa route nostre aimee sans estre arreste parce qu'il paroissoit estre de nostre party car l'habit qu'il avoit pris estoit d'un des soldats que vous aviez perdus a cette occasion de sorte que cela facilita sa fuitte estant cependant contraint d'aller a pied jusques a la premiere ville ou il tomba malade mais seigneur pour achever de vous esclaircir comment dinocrate et moy avions pu voir les armes d'otane sur le corps d'un homme mort que nous prismes effectivement pour le sien au milieu de ce torrent il faut scavoir qu'apres qu'otane les eut quittees un soldat cilicien allant chercher a deshabiller quelque mort les trouva a la clarte de la lune qui s'estoit levee et tout ravy d'une si heureuse rencontre il quitta les siennes et mit celles la un moment apres deux autres soldats qui estoient d'ecbatane arriverent qui voyant la 
 magnificence des armes que ce soldat avoit prises les voulurent partager avecques luy mais il s'y opposa autant qu'il put disant a ce que l'on en peut conjecturer qu'elles luy apartenoient puis qu'il les avoit trouvees neantmoins comme ils n'entendoient pas son langage et que luy aussi n'entendoit pas le leur ils se querellerent et se battirent de sorte que cette dispute se faisant aupres du torrent ce pauvre malheureux estant blesse recula si mal a propos et pour luy et pour ses ennemis qui n'avoient envie de vaincre qu'afin d'avoir les belles armes qu'il portoit qu'il tomba dans ce torrent qui acheva de luy faire perdre la vie en le roulant parmy ces rochers jusques a l'endroit ou dinocrate et moy le vismes le lendemain or seigneur comme la fortune n'a jamais fait que des choses fort bizarres en toutes les avantures d'aglatidas un de ces deux soldats qui se battirent contre celuy qui avoit les armes d'otane se trouvant le lendemain au bord de ce torrent comme dinocrate disoit que c'estoit le corps de son maistre qu'il voyoit mort au milieu de cette eau tumultueuse il n'osa dire ce qu'il en scavoit mais ce soldat s'estant ennuye de la guerre et estant revenu a ecbatane s'est mis a mon service de sorte qu'apres que le retour d'otane fut divulgue m'entendant dire quelquesfois car il me sert a la chambre que je ne comprenois point comment les armes d'otane avoient este a cet homme que nous avions veu mort il me confessa la verite telle que je viens de vous la dire mais seigneur pour retourner a otane que je vous ay dit qui demeura malade a une ville ou il fut a pied vous scaurez qu'il le fut avec tant de violence et si long temps qu'il 
 pensa vingt fois mourir toutesfois les dieux n'estant pas encore las d'esprouver la constance d'amestris le guerirent en fuite de quoy achetant un cheval car il s'estoit trouve deux bagues de grand prix qu'il avoit fait vendre pour avoir toutes les choses dont il avoit eu besoin il partit des qu'il le put ne scachant pas que la nouvelle de sa mort avoit este portee a ecbatane avec tant de circonstances vray-semblables et croyant qu'il trouveroit encore amestris au mesme chasteau ou il l'avoit laissee il y fut n'osant pas encore aller a ecbatane si ce n'estoit deguise a eau se qu'il avoit porte les armes contre ciaxare mais il fut bien estonne d'y aprendre qu'on le croyoit mort et qu'aglatidas estoit non seulement a ecbatane mais qu'il alloit espouser amestris pour vous faire concevoir quels furent les sentimens d'otane en cette occasion je n'ay qu'a vous dire que tout criminel d'estat qu'il estoit il prit la resolution d'aller deguise a ecbatane non seulement pour mettre par ce deguisement sa personne en seurete mais pour pouvoir estre cache en quelque lieu ou il pust scavoir precisement ce que faisoient amestris et aglatidas afin de pouvoir troubler leur felicite quand il le voudroit il y fut donc en habit de marchand et n'y arrivant mesme que de nuit il fut loger chez un homme qui avoit autrefois este son gouverneur luy deffendant expressement de descouvrir a personne qu'il n'estoit pas mort il s'informa plus particulierement de l'estat des choses et il aprit que sans qu'il s'en meslast le bonheur d'aglatidas estoit bien trouble par le retour de dinocrate car otane arriva justement deux jours apres que cet escuyer fut revenu cette nouvelle le surprit fort agreablement 
 ne polluant toutefois comprendre pourquoy dinocrate disoit tant de mensonges cependant voyant les choses en cette conjoncture il se resolut d'attendre a se monstrer qu'il sceust bien precisement ce que seroit amestris mais comme il avoit tousjours fort aime dinocrate il donna ordre qu'on le fist venir dans cette maison ou il estoit cache il voulut pourtant que ce fust sans luy dire qu'il y estoit ainsi dinocrate sans rien soupconner de ce qu'on luy pouvoit vouloir entra dans la chambre ou estoit otane qui le receut avec mille carresses car encore qu'il ne comprist pas pourquoy il avoit menty neantmoins puis que son mensonge avoit trouble la felicite d'aglatidas et d'amestris en empeschant leur mariage il luy en estoit fort oblige cependant dinocrate estant revenu de son estonnement et connoissant bien qu'il parloit effectivement a son maistre comme il avoit l'esprit prompt et artificieux seigneur luy dit il je loue les dieux de m'avoir si bien inspire car sans moy vous eussiez trouve amestris entre les bras d'aglatidas alors otane luy demandant pourquoy il avoit desguise la verite comme il avoit fait seigneur repliqua-t'il hardiment ayant apris en entrant dans ecbatane qu'amestris devoit espouser dans trois jours un homme que je scavois que vous aviez tant hai j'eus une si grande horreur de voir qu'elle estoit si peu sensible a sa propre gloire que d'espouser aglatidas dont vous aviez eu tant de sujets de jalousie que me trouvant entre les mains une espee que je scavois bien qui avoit este a luy je m'advisay de dire a amestris qu'aglatidas vous avoit tue scachant bien qu'a moins que de n'avoir plus aucun sentiment 
 d'honneur elle ne pourroit plus l'espouser apres cela ou que si elle l'espousoit j'aurois la satisfaction de voir toutes ces jalousies que l'on vous a reprochees avec tant d'injustice estre pleinement justifiees je vous laisse a penser combien otane caressa dinocrate et s'il ne luy promit pas de le recompenser d'une chose dont il avoit desja este si bien paye par tharpis cependant il sceut encore par luy qu'amestris avoit veu aglatidas chez menaste si bien qu'auparavant que de se monstrer a aucun des siens otane voulut encore observer durant quelques jours si effectivement amestris avoit rompu avec aglatidas ou si ce n'estoit qu'une feinte deffendant expressement a dinocrate de dire a qui que ce soit qu'il fust vivant et en effet il luy obeit et n'en parla pas mesme a anatise ny a tharpis ne voulant pas donner une si mauvaise nouvelle a ce dernier qui l'avoit si bien recompense d'un service qui luy devenoit inutile par le retour d'otane mais enfin dinocrate ayant este apprendre a son maistre qu'amestris et menaste s'en alloient aux champs et qu'aglatidas devoit aussi partir otane creut que c'estoit une chose concertee et qu'ils se marieroient peut-estre en secret de sorte que se preparant aussi-tost a partir aussi bien qu'aglatidas il fut l'attendre a un bois par ou il croyoit qu'il devoit passer avec intention toutefois de ne l'attaquer pas en chemin de le suivre de loing et de ne se monstrer que lors qu'il seroit arrive aupres d'amestris mais comme aglatidas estoit sorty par une autre porte et qu'il n'avoit pris le chemin du lieu ou estoit amestris qu'estant desja assez nuance dans un autre otane attendit inutilement et mesme si long temps qu'a la fin s'impatientant 
 et craignant avecques raison qu'aglatidas n'eust este par un autre coste il s'en alla droit ou il croyoit infailliblement le trouver mais comme il avoit beaucoup attendu il n'y arriva qu'une heure apres qu'il en fut sorty en entrant dans la basse court il s'informa de quelques gens qui ne le connurent pas qui estoit avec amestris et ils luy respondirent qu'il y avoit plus personne et qu'il y avoit une heure qu'aglatidas estoit party si bien qu'entrant avec fureur comme je l'ay desja dit il fit enfermer amestris il renvoya menaste et de lus donna ordre a dinocrate de luy trouver des soldats afin de se pouvoir deffendre si le roy le vouloit faire arrester je ne me suis point amuse a vous depeindre l'excessive douleur d'amestris et de menaste a leur separation mais je vous diray que quelque haine qu'eust amestris pour otane et quelque persecution qu'elle en deust attendre elle nous a dit depuis qu'elle eut quelque secrette consolation de voir avec certitude qu'aglatidas luy avoit dit la verite et qu'ainsi elle pouvoit sans scrupule luy conserver quelque place en son amitie cependant menaste ne fut pas plustost arrivee a ecbatane qu'elle m'envoya querir pour me dire qu'otane estoit vivant qu'otane estoit revenu et qu'amestris estoit prisonniere et peut-estre en danger de sa vie d'abord je ne voulois point la croire mais a la fin je vis une si veritable douleur sur son visage que je connus bien qu'il ne faloit pas douter de la verite de ses paroles je m'affligeay alors avec elle et je desiray du moins pour l'interest d'amestris qu'aglatidas ne fust pas si bien justifie nous nous estonnasmes de l'artifice de dinocrate dont nous soupconnames pourtant la cause nous 
 cherchasmes enfin a imaginer par quelle voye on pourroit delivrer amestris de la persecution qu'elle souffroit apres y avoir bien pense je m'avisay que conme otane estoit criminel d'estat il faloit advertir ciaxare qu'il estoit vivant et du lieu ou il estoit afin qu'en le faisant mettre en prison on rompist celle d'amestris je n'eus pas plustost dit ce que je pensois que menaste l'approuvant me dit qu'il faloit donc se haster d'executer la chose parce qu'elle craignoit qu'otane ne tuast ou n'empoisonnast amestris si bien que la quittant a l'heure mesme je fus trouver le roy et connoissant sa bonte pour aglatidas je ne fis pas de difficulte de luy dire apres luy avoir apris qu'otane vivoit et qu'il n'estoit qu'a une journee de luy qu'en punissant un criminel de leze majeste il sauveroit peut-estre la vie a la personne du monde qu'aglatidas aimoit le plus et qui meritoit aussi le plus d'estre estimee et protegee ciaxare n'eut pas plustost entendu l'advis que je luy donnois et la priere que je luy faisois qu'il commanda au lieutenant de ses gardes d'aller avec la force a la main s'assurer de la personne d'otane et delivrer amestris en la faisant conduire a la ville cependant menaste ayant publie le retour d'otane et la nouvelle persecution d'amestris tout le monde en fut si estonne qu'on ne la pouvoit presques croire anatise en eut de la joye tharpis en fut desespere megabise parmy le desplaisir qu'il en eut comme les autres eut pourtant quelque consolation de voir que tous ses rivaux ne pouvoient plus rien pretendre a la personne qu'il aimoit non plus que luy et pour artemon tout irrite qu'il devoit estre d'avoir este si mal receu d'amestris il ne sceut pas plustost le mauvais traitement qu'otane luy faisoit qu'il partit 
 pour aller voir son persecuteur s'imaginant qu'il pourroit en quelque facon l'adoucir mais il se trompa bien car comme otane avoit sceu non seulement qu'aglatidas avoit pense espouser la femme mais encore que megabise tharpis et artemon en avoient este amoureux il le receut si mal que s'il n'eust este accoustume a souffrir beaucoup de choses fascheuses de luy ils se seroient querellez bien est il vray qu'ils n'en eussent pas eu le loisir car a peine artemon fut il arrive que le lieutenant des gardes de ciaxare arriva aussi avec cent de ses compagnons de sorte qu'otane ne se trouva pas peu embarrasse scachant quel estoit son crime et voyant qu'il estoit trop foible pour pouvoir resister a un si grand nombre d'ennemis dinocrate qui estoit alle luy chercher des soldats n'estoit pas encore revenu si bien que n'ayant que tres peu de gens en ce lieu la et des gens encore qui ne luy estoient pas fort affectionnez il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre il eust bien voulu s'enfuir et peut estre mesme poignarder amestris mais aprenant que ce lieutenant des gardes s'estoit saisi de toutes les advenues il parut estre si furieux et si enrage qu'artemon creut a ce qu'il m'a dit depuis qu'il se tueroit de sa propre main cependant celuy qui demandoit a entrer voyant qu'on ne luy respondoit pas precisement fit enfoncer la porte et entra suivy d'une partie des siens otane entendant ce bruit fut droit a ce lieutenant l'espee a la main et artemon tirant aussi la sienne et voyant qu'otane n'estoit pas en estat de se deffendre se mit entre luy et ce lieutenant des gardes luy disant qu'il pardonnast a un furieux mais otane pour prouver qu'il ne mentoit pas et qu'il l'estoit en effet voyant qu'il ne pouvoit 
 joindre celuy qui le vouloit prendre voulut frapper artemon par derriere et il l'eust frappe effectivement si trois de ceux qui venoient pour s'asseurer de sa personne ne se fussent jettez sur luy et ne luy eussent saisi son espee en le saisissant luy mesme otane se voyant desarme et pris fit des imprecations si horribles qu'on ne peut rien s'imaginer de semblable cependant on le fit entrer dans une chambre jusques a ce que l'on eust donne ordre a faire partir amestris artemon qui se trouva estre amy de ce lieutenant des gardes fut avecques luy a son apartement ou elle estoit enfermee et le devancant de quelques pas madame luy dit-il puis que vous m'avez permis de vous donner quelques marques d'amitie souffrez que j'ayde aujourd'huy a vous delivrer amestris estoit si surprise du grand bruit qu'elle avoit entendu et de ce qu'artemon luy disoit qu'elle ne scavoit que luy repondre mais le lieutenant des gardes s'estant approche et luy ayant dit qu'il avoit ordre du roy de la conduire a ecbatane elle s'informa alors d'ou venoit sa liberte et quand elle sceut que c'estoit par la prison de son mary cette admirable personne receut cette nouvelle sans aucun tesmoignage de joye cependant elle fut mise dans un chariot avec ses femmes et escortee par artemon accompagne de douze cavaliers et pour otane il fut mene a cheval et conduit dans une tour ou l'on met les criminels d'estat a ecbatane jamais rien n'a tant fait de bruit que le retour d'amestris et la prison de son mary je depeschay un de mes gens pour aller apres aglatidas sur la route de l'armee et je fus en diligence chez menaste afin de la conduire chez amestris nous resolusmes en y allant de ne luy dire pas que 
 nous l'avions delivree car connoissant sa scrupuleuse vertu nous craignismes qu'elle ne nous en querellast au lieu de nous en remercier cependant anatise qui faisoit tousjours du poison de toutes choses contre amestris sema dans le monde un bruit assez fascheux car elle fit dire qu'amestris avoit fait mettre son mary prisonnier qu'aglatidas estoit cache en quelque lieu qu'elle scavoit bien d'ou il avoit fait agir le roy et plusieurs autres semblables choses cette imposture ne tarda pourtant pas long-temps a estre destruite quoy qu'amestris ne la sceust pas car voulant porter la generosite au de la mesme de ce qu'elle devoit aller elle nous dit a menaste et a moy des qu'elle nous vit entrer dans sa chambre qu'elle vouloit solliciter pour la liberte de son mary quand elle nous dit cela nous fismes un grand cry cause par l'exces de nostre estonnement et nous voulusmes l'en empescher mais ce fut en vain que nous la conseillasmes la dessus car croyant que cette action seroit belle et glorieuse rien ne l'en put destourner elle assembla donc quelques parents de son mary qui par interest de famille plus que par amitie souhaitoient qu'il sortist de prison et se mettant a leur teste conduite par le principal d'entr'eux elle fut se jetter aux pieds de ciaxare et luy demander grace pour otane cette generosite parut en effet si grande que le roy en fut charme il luy dit pourtant d'abord que pour reconnoistre sa vertu il faloit la refuser estant certain qu'otane s'estoit rendu indigne d'estre son mary par les mauvais traitemens qu'il luy avoit faits elle parla en suite avec tant d'esprit et si pressamment que ciaxare luy dit qu'il luy promettoit la vie d'otane mais que pour sa liberte il ne la luy accorderoit 
 jamais qu'il n'eust promis solemnellement de ne faire plus sortir d'ecbatane et de ne la maltraiter plus amestris remercia le roy des soings qu'il avoit d'elle et voulut toutefois encore l'obliger a delivrer otane sans conditions mais il ne le voulut pas cependant comme otane estoit fort hai si amestris sollicitoit pour luy beaucoup sollicitoient contre et entre les autres un ancien ennemy de sa maison le faisoit si ouvertement devant tout le monde qu'otane mesme en fut adverty mais le roy a quelques jours de la fit venir otane en sa presence et apres luy avoir reproche sa perfidie envers luy et son injustice envers amestris il luy aprit que malgre toutes ses cruautez pour elle cette vertueuse personne n'avoit pas laisse de venir luy demander sa vie et sa liberte il luy dit en suite qu'il avoit accorde la premiere a ses persuasions et qu'il luy avoit refuse l'autre si ce n'estoit qu'il promist solemnellement de ne mener plus amestris aux champs et de ne la maltraiter jamais otane entendant parler ciaxare de cette sorte au lieu de le remercier et d'accepter promptement ce qu'il luy offroit eut l'insolence de luy demander si toutes ces precautions estoient du consentement d'amestris le roy surpris de ce prodigieux effet de jalousie luy respondit avec une bonte extreme qu'au contraire amestris s'y estoit opposee mais quoy que ce prince pust dire otane ne put toutesfois se resoudre precisement et il demanda trois jours pour cela pendant lesquels il souffrit sans doute tout ce que l'on peut souffrir car il jugeoit bien qu'a moins que de vouloir se perdre il faudroit qu'il tinst sa parole a ciaxare et il sentoit si bien en luy mesme qu'il ne le pourroit jamais 
 qu'il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre neantmoins comme les maux presens sont tousjours ceux ou l'on cherche les plus prompts remedes otane souffrant un tourment insuportable de ne scavoir pas ce que faisoit amestris fit enfin dire au roy qu'il promettroit tout ce qu'il voudroit pourveu qu'il sortist de prison on luy fit donc faire cette promesse avec toutes les ceremonies qui la pouvoient rendre inviolable et apres cela on le delivra malgre les solicitations secrettes des amants et des amis d'amestris et malgre celles de l'ennemy declare d'otane qui s'y opposa autant qu'il put mais admirez seigneur la conduite des dieux en cette rencontre a peine otane fut-il hors de prison et a peine eut-il este remercier ciaxare que rencontrant cet ennemy qu'il scavoit avoir solicite contre luy il l'aborda et luy parla si fierement que l'autre mettant l'espee a la main obligea otane a l'y mettre aussi qui tout vaillant qu'il estoit fut contraint de succomber sous les coups de celuy qui l'avoit attaque et qui estant desespere d'avoir encore irrite la haine d'otane inutilement se resolut de s'en deffaire s'il pouvoit de sorte que ne deffendant pas a un escuyer qu'il avoit de l'attaquer aussi bien que luy otane en ayant deux sur les bras car ses gens estoient encore dans la basse cour du palais du roy il fut perce de plusieurs coups et laisse mort sur la place auparavant qu'on y peust estre pour les separer bien est-il vray que son ennemy ne fut pas en gueres meilleur estat que luy car il mourut en prison trois jours apres des blessures qu'il avoit receues amestris tousjours genereuse l'ayant fait chercher et fait prendre pour vanger la mort 
 de son mary tout son persecuteur qu'il avoit este comme otane avoit este creu mort sans l'estre il y eut une curiosite si grande de scavoir s'il l'estoit effectivement que tout le peuple le voulut voir et a parler avec sincerite tous les honnestes gens s'en resjouirent il en faut toutesfois excepter anatise tharpis megabise et artemon car encore que ce soit une chose assez naturelle a un amant de ne s'affliger pas de la mort de celuy qui possede sa maistresse neantmoins comme ces trois rivaux scavoient de certitude qu'aglatidas seroit infailliblement choisi a leur prejudice puis qu'il ne pouvoit plus y avoir d'obstacle a son bon-heur ils eussent encore mieux aime qu'amestris fust demeuree femme d'otane que de la devenir d'aglatidas cependant amestris agit en cette occasion avec sa modestie et sa sagesse ordinaire mais afin que dinocrate fust puny de toutes ses fourbes a la fois il arriva qu'estant venu de nuit a ecbatane pour prendre tout ce qu'il y avoit avec intention de changer de demeure car il avoit sceu la prison de son maistre lors qu'il estoit revenu avec les soldats qu'il estoit alle lever secrettement il rencontra le soir mesme dont otane avoit este tue le matin un escuyer d'aglatidas qu'il avoit laisse pour quelque affaire qui l'avant reconnu a la clarte d'un flambeau qui passa fortuitement fut a luy et l'attaqua mais avec tant de vigueur que dinocrate fuyant sans scavoir ce qu'il faisoit vint se sauver a mon logis ou il tomba blesse de trois coups justement comme je ne faisois que d'y r'entrer mais encore que je le reconnusse bien je ne laissay pas de souffrir que ma maison luy 
 servist d'azile et que mes gens eussent soin de luy de sorte que j'arrestay moy mesme l'escuyer d'aglatidas qui le poursuivoit et qui par le respect qu'il me voulut rendre se retira sans s'obstiner davantage a vouloir achever de tuer dinocrate on ne put toutefois luy sauver la vie et il mourut six jours apres ce ne fut pas neantmoins sans m'avoir esclaircy de beaucoup de choses que j'eus la curiosite de scavoir de sa bouche et que je n'eusse pu vous raconter comme j'ay fait s'il ne me les eust aprises car sans luy nous n'eussions jamais sceu la fourbe d'anatise et de tharpis cependant j'estois au desespoir de n'avoir point de nouvelles d'aglatidas dont je n'osois parler a amestris et dont je parlois tous les jours avec menaste mais enfin je sceus par le retour de celuy que je luy avois envoye et qui ne l'avoit pu trouver d'abord parce qu'aglatidas dans sa douleur n'avoit pas suivy le droit chemin je sceus dis-je qu'il estoit tombe malade d'affliction a trois journees d'ecbatane de sorte que sans differer davantage je partis et fus le trouver or seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience je vous diray que la nouvelle de la mort d'otane fut un si grand remede pour guerir aglatidas qu'en huit jours il fut en en estat de pouvoir monter a cheval il voulut pourtant auparavant que de rentrer dans ecbatane m'envoyer vers le roy pour luy demander la permission d'y revenir mais avec autant d'instance qu'il avoit demande celle de s'en esloigner m'ordonnant de dire a ciaxare la veritable cause de son depart et de son retour afin de l'obliger a l'excuser je fus donc trouver le roy qui voulut tout ce qui pouvoit estre advantageux 
 a aglatidas et qui m'assura qu'il feroit en sorte qu'amestris ne s'arresteroit pas si exactement au deuil d'otane qu'elle avoit desja porte il ne fut toutesfois pas possible de gagner cela sur elle et les prieres de ciaxare non plus que celles de menaste d'aglatidas et de moy n'y servirent de rien et il falut laisser passer son deuil selon la coustume d'ecbatane cependant le roy voulant empescher quelque nouveau malheur commanda si absolument aux rivaux d'aglatidas de ne songer jamais a amestris qu'ils furent contraints d'obeir je ne vous dis point seigneur apres cela quelle fut la joye d'aglatidas et d'amestris en cette occasion la douleur des trois amants mal-traitez et la fureur d'anatise car je n'aurois pas allez de jour pour vous bien depeindre toutes ces choses mais je vous diray que lors qu'amestris eut quitte le deuil que le jour des nopces fut pris et que toute la ville fut en feste tous ces amants infortunez s'absenterent aussi bien qu'anatise et nous laisserent la liberte toute entiere de gouster la joye toute pure de nos bien-heureux amants qui sans se souvenir plus des malheurs passez bannirent absolument de leur coeur l'inquietude la crainte et mesme l'esperance qui apres tout ne donne que des plaisirs imparfaits pour recevoir a sa place toute la felicite que l'amour raisonnable peut donner enfin aglatidas espousa amestris dans le plus fameux de nos temples en presence du roy de toute la cour et de toute la ville apres cela seigneur je n'ay plus rien a vous dire si ce n'est qu'encore qu'aglatidas aime beaucoup plus amestris qu'il ne faisoit auparavant qu'elle fust a luy neantmoins l'amour de la gloire et plus 
 encore l'honneur de vous servir a eu tant de force sur son coeur qu'il a accepte sans murmurer l'employ que ciaxare luy a donne de vous amener dix mille hommes ce n'est pas seigneur qu'il ait pu quitter amestris sans douleur puis que je vous assure que lors que nous fusmes conduire cette belle personne a une journee d'ecbatane car elle a voulu aller passer tout le temps que doit durer l'absence d'aglatidas a la province des arisantins je les vy tous deux aussi affligez que s'ils n'eussent point este heureux ainsi seigneur je puis vous assurer que vous reverrez aglatidas amant et mary tout ensemble et par consequent a son ordinaire encore un peu inquiet et resveur
 
 
 
 
je rends graces aux dieux repliqua cyrus voyant qu'artabane avoit cesse de parler de ce qu'aglatidas n'a plus d'autres tourments que ceux que la seule absence peut donner et je souhaite adjousta-t'il en souspirant que tous ceux dont il est aime et qu'il aime se puissent un jour trouver en mesme estat que luy apres cela cyrus remercia artabane de la peine qu'il avoit eue a luy raconter les advantures de son illustre amy desquelles il ne se pouvoit lasser d'admirer la bizarrerie et la nouveaute il falut pourtant qu'il changeast bien-tost de conversation parce qu'il fut adverty que les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie avoient quelque chose a luy communiquer de sorte qu'embrassant encore artabane il sortit du lieu ou il l'avoit escoute et passa dans celuy ou ces princes l'attendoient accompagnez de tigrane de phraarte d'artamas de persode et de beaucoup d'autres mais ce fut avec tant de majeste qu'il n'eust pas este 
 aise de s'imaginer que ce prince qui avoit quelque chose de si grand sur le visage qu'il inspiroit le respect a tous ceux qui le voyoient venoit d'avoir la bonte d'escouter une longue advanture amoureuse ou il n'avoit point d'autre interest que celuy d'un homme qu'il aimoit et dont il estoit aime si ce n'estoit celuy de comparer tous les suplices que souffroient tous les autres amants a ceux qu'il enduroit pour mandane 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 apres que cyrus eut joint ces princes qui l'attendoient le roy de phrigie luy dit qu'il avoit sceu que les lacedemoniens avoient accepte l'alliance de cresus qui la leur avoit offerte et qu'il avoit creu a propos de l'en advertir le roy d'hircanie de son coste luy aprit que les thraces et les egyptiens armoient pour le roy de lydie quant aux lacedemoniens reprit cyrus je ne m'estonne pas de 
 ce qu'ils font puis qu'il ne seroit pas juste qu'ils refusassent de recourir un prince qui leur donna si liberalement tout l'or dont ils avoient besoin pour faire la merveilleuse statue d'apollon que j'ay veue pendant mes voyages aupres du mont thornax en laconie mais pour le roy d'egipte je ne voy pas quelle alliance il peut avoir avec cresus ny quel interest a demesler avec ciaxare quoy qu'il en soit adjousta-t'il plus nous aurons d'ennemis a combattre plus nous aurons de gloire a vaincre cet amas de troupes estrangeres ne servira qu'a mettre la division parmy eux et le desordre dans leur armee n'estant pas possible que des gens qui combatent de manieres si differentes puissent en si peu de temps se soumettre a une mesme discipline en fuite cyrus leur aprit le nouveau secours que ciaxare luy envoyoit par aglatidas de sorte que leur eslevant le coeur par la grandeur de son courage il fit que ce mesme esprit qu'il leur inspira passa de ces rois aux capitaines et des capitaines aux soldats si bien que le bruit qui s'epandit parmy eux du nouveau secours qui se preparoit pour cresus ne les estonna point et ne les empescha pas d'esperer la victoire tant que l'illustre cyrus les commanderoit l'impatience qu'ils avoient de combattre faisoit qu'encore que le printemps approchast fort ils le trouvoient pourtant trop long a venir tous les persans prioient le soleil qu'ils adoroient d'advancer sa carriere en leur faveur les medes n'estoient gueres moins pressants aux prieres qu'ils faisoient a leurs dieux et chaque nation en son particulier offroit des voeux au ciel pour le mesme dessein de combatre tant ils avoient d'envie de voir leur illustre general a la fin de tous ses travaux par la 
 deffaite de cresus et par la liberte de mandane pour artamas il avoit une impatience extreme de voir la princesse palmis hors de captivite il eust pourtant bien desire tout brave qu'il estoit que ce n'eust point este par le gain d'une bataille ne pouvant se resoudre a souhaitter la deffaite de cresus quoy qu'il en eust este mal-traite cependant le prince phraarte alloit tres souvent visiter la princesse araminte qui voyoit tousjours avec beaucoup de deplaisir qu'il s'opiniastroit a l'aimer quoy qu'elle luy dist tout ce qu'une personne vertueuse et spirituelle peut dire en une pareille rencontre pour l'obliger a ne le faire pas a quelques tours de la aglatidas arriva au camp avec les troupes qu'il conduisoit cyrus le receut avec tant de marques d'amitie qu'aglatidas pour luy tesmoigner combien il les sentoit le supplia fort obligeamment de ne l'en accabler pas davantage de crainte que son coeur ne fust pas capable de supporter une si excessive joye mais cyrus qui ne pouvoit craindre qu'un homme peust mourir de plaisir esloigne de ce qu'il aimoit luy dit encore cent choses tres obligeantes il l'assura qu'amestris n'avoit pas eu plus de douleur de le voir partir qu'il avoit de satisfaction a l'embrasser en fuite dequoy voulant voir les troupes qu'il avoit amenees et qu'aglatidas avoit laissees rangees en bataille a douze stades du camp cyrus suivy de grand nombre de gens de qualite fut ou elles estoient et les faisant filer devant luy apres s'estre place sur une petite eminence qui estoit dans la plaine il les trouva tres belles et tres bien armees de sorte qu'en estant tres satisfait il leur assigna leurs quartiers et s'en retourna a sa tente entretenir aglatidas non seulement de ciaxare dont il luy 
 avoit aporte des lettres mais encore de ses malheurs passez et de ses malheurs presens deux jours apres qu'aglatidas fut arrive artabase que cyrus avoit envoye en perse vers le roy son pere et vers la reine sa mere revint aupres de luy madate s'estant arreste aupres de ciaxare il le receut avec toute la joye dont son aine pouvoit estre capable en l'estat qu'estoit mandane voyant qu'il luy apportoit des lettres de deux personnes pour qui il avoit un respect extresme il les leut avec d'autant plus de plaisir qu'il y trouva le pardon qu'il leur avoit demande conceu en des termes si obligeants et si tendres qu'il luy fut aise de connoistre que la renommee leur avoit parle pour luy artabase luy dit encore beaucoup de choses de leur part qui luy firent bien voir que ces deux illustres personnes avoient l'ame grande et heroique il estoit mesme charge de presens magnifiques pour cyrus et il l'assura de plus que cambise faisoit faire de nouvelles levees pour luy envoyer si bien que ce prince faisant respandre ce bruit dans son armee tous les soldats en prirent encore un nouveau coeur artabase apporta aussi a chrisante une lettre de la reine de perse qui au lieu de le quereller de luy avoir si long temps cache que le prince son fils vivoit luy rendoit grace de l'avoir si bien esleve quelques jours apres timocreon et tegee sceurent par ceux qu'ils avoient envoyez a sardis qu'infailliblement on y conduiroit la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis que l'on preparoit dans la citadelle un apartement pour la princesse de lydie et un autre dans le palais du roy pour la princesse mandane qu'a ce que l'on pouvoit juger on les y meneroit dans quinze ou vingt jours 
 et que cresus avoit dessein de les faire aller par un chemin qui mettroit presques tousjours la riviere d'hermes entre elles et l'armee de cyrus cette nouvelle fut confirmee le mesme jour par le retour de feraulas qui raporta que les amis de menecee luy avoient assure que dans quinze ou vingt jours le roy de pont meneroit ces deux princesses a sardis quoy qu'il aportast soin a faire publier dans ephese qu'on ne les y conduiroit que lors que toute l'armee de cresus seroit assemblee dont le rendez vous estoit aux bords du pactole feraulas ayant este plus heureux que l'autrefois avoit enfin trouve les moyens par l'adresse de l'amie de menecee soeur d'agesistrate de faire donner un billet a martesie et d'en avoir la response qu'il monstra a son cher maistre car comme il n'avoit escrit que pour luy il y avoit presques plus de part que luy mesme de sorte qu'apres luy avoir rendu conte de tout ce qu'il avoit a luy dire il luy fit voie ce billet qui estoit conceu en ces termes
 
 
 
 martesie a feraulas 
 
 
 la personne dont vous me parlez estant tousjours ce quelle a accoustume d'estre c'est a dire la plus sage et la plus equitable du monde vous pouvez assurer vostre illustre maistre que de ce coste la il n'a rien a craindre et qu'il peut raisonnablement tout esperer eh plust aux dieux due la fortune ne mist point d'autre obstacle a son bonheur pour ce qui est du vostre comme je suis persuadee qu'il depend du sien c'est assez que je vous die que j'y contribue autant qu'il est en mon pouvoir puis que je prie tous les jours les dieux qu'il triomphe bien tost de ses ennemis 
 
 
 martesie cette lecture donna une joye si sensible a l'illustre cyrus qu'il ne la pouvoit exprimer ce n'est pas qu'il ne murmurast un peu de ce que sa princesse n'avoit pas seulement escrit un mot 
 de sa main dans ce billet mais apres tout scachant a quel point estoit sa retenue il s'en pleignit sans colere et s'estima si heureux d'aprendre ses sentimens par martesie que tout autre amant que luy n'eust pas eu plus de joye de la possession de sa maistresse que l'amoureux cyrus en avoit de la simple assurance qu'on luy donnoit qu'on ne luy feroit point d'injustice aussi est-ce la marque d'une veritable et grande passion que d'estre tres sensible aux plus petites faveurs de sorte que comme celle de cyrus estoit la plus violente et la plus tendre qui sera jamais il sentoit avec transport les graces les moins considerables que mandane luy pouvoit faire et s'imaginant bien que martesie n'avoit pas escrit ce billet sans que sa princesse l'eust sceu il luy estoit presques aussi cher que si elle l'eust escrit elle mesme cependant pour ne perdre pas le temps en exagerations inutiles et pour songer a la liberte de sa princesse il assembla le roy d'assirie celuy de phrigie et celuy d'hircanie le prince artamas tigrane phraarte et quelques autres afin d'adviser avec eux quelle voye il faloit tenir pour cela artamas qui jusques alors avoit conserve un respect extreme pour cresus aprenant qu'il se preparoit a faire durer la prison de la princesse palmis puis que c'estoit dans la citadelle qu'on la devoit loger et non pas dans le palais du roy son pere eut un si violent desir d'empescher qu'elle n'allast habiter la prison dont il estoit sorty que prenant d'abord la parole il dit a cyrus qu'il luy demandoit pardon s'il disoit le premier son advis mais qu'estant persuade que personne ne pouvoit rien proposer de si utile que ce qu'il avoit a dire il pensoit estre excusable de la liberte qu'il prenoit 
 cyrus et le roy d'assirie l'entendant parler de cette sorte l'assurerent l'un et l'autre avec precipitation qu'ils estoient prests de l'escouter avec plaisir si bien que reprenant la parole il leur dit que le roy de pont devant conduire ces princesses le long de la riviere d'hermes il esperoit de pouvoir la passer sans combatre parce que le gouverneur d'un chasteau qui estoit au bout d'un pont qui la traversoit et qui portoit le nom de cette riviere estoit si absolument a luy qu'il ne croyoit pas qu'il luy pust rien refuser et d'autant moins qu'il scavoit bien qu'il estoit mescontent du roy de lydie qui avoit mesme eu dessein de luy oster son gouvernement de sorte leur dit-il que comme le bois dont je vous ay desja parle n'est qu'a trente stades de la il nous sera aise d'y estre a temps des que nous serons advertis du passage des princesses cyrus trouvant qu'artamas avoit raison il fut resolu que sans tarder davantage il envoyeroit s'assurer de ce gouverneur et qu'apres cela quand on auroit receu l'advis que les amis de menecee devoient donner du jour prefix du depart des princesses et de l'escorte qu'elles auroient ils partiroient a l'heure mesme avec des troupes esgales en nombre ou plus sortes que celles du roy de pont pour aller executer une si glorieuse entreprise car ils le pouvoient faire d'autant plus facilement qu'ils estoient plus pres d'une journee de l'endroit ou ils devoient passer la riviere d'hermes que d'ephese la chose estant donc ainsi resolue on creut en effet que le prince artamas envoyeroit quelqu'un des siens vers ce gouverneur comme il l'avoit dit mais l'amour qu'il avoit dans l'ame estoit trop sorte pour se fier a un autre d'une negociation 
 d'ou dependoit la liberte de la princesse palmis de sorte que sans rien dire de son dessein qu'a sosicle il se desguisa la nuit suivante et fut luy mesme faire ce qu'il avoit propose laissant un billet pour le roy son pere par lequel il le prioit de luy pardonner s'il ne luy avoit pas demande permission de faire le voyage qu'il entreprenoit mais que craignant qu'il ne la luy eust pas accordee il n'avoit pas voulu s'exposer a luy desobeir ou a destruire un grand dessein d'ou le bonheur de cyrus et le sien despendoient absolument d'abord le roy de phrigie fut un peu irrite contre son fils mais cyrus loua tant cette action que s'agissant en effet de son service il n'osa pas s'en pleindre ouvertement cependant ceux qui commandoient aux quartiers advancez vers la lydie faisoient tousjours quelques courses sur les ennemis et il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il ne se fist quelques petits combats qui entretenoient le desir de vaincre dans le coeur des gens de guerre par le butin qu'ils faisoient cyrus ne reservant jamais pour luy que la gloire et les prisonniers afin de les pouvoir delivrer encore recompensoit il si magnifiquement ceux qui les avoient faits si c'estoient des personnes de quelque consideration qu'ils eussent pris qu'ils ne l'auroient pas este si bien par ces prisonniers mesme quelque rancon qu'ils eussent offerte chrisante qui commandoit a un des quartiers les plus advancez ayant sceu par les espions qu'il avoit que deux cents chevaux des ennemis escortoient un chariot plein de dames qui tenoient le chemin qui conduisoit au chasteau d'hermes afin d'aller passer la riviere en cet endroit il commanda quatre cens chevaux pour aller faire 
 cette prise sans qu'il luy en coustast rien jugeant bien que la grande inegalite du nombre feroit reussir la chose comme il la pensoit en effet elle succeda ainsi ce n'est pas que celuy qui commandoit ces deux cens chenaux ne se mist en devoir de se deffendre et ne se deffendist tres genereusement de sa personne mais estant abandonne des siens qui prirent l'espouvante il fut contraint de ceder et de se rendre demandant d'abord a chrisante lors qu'on le luy eut presente qu'on luy fist la faveur de luy permettre de faire scavoir au prince artamas qu'il estoit prisonnier de cyrus afin de pouvoir seulement obtenir de luy que ces dames qu'il conduisoit fussent mites aupres de la reine de la susiane chrisante estoit trop honneste homme pour traicter mal un ennemy aussi bien fait que l'estoit celuy qui luy demandoit cette grace et qu'il avoit sceu par les siens avoir tesmoigne tant de coeur a sa prise il luy dit donc que suivant la coustume de la guerre il faloit qu'il fust mene a cyrus mais qu'il luy promettoit de luy demander pour luy ce qu'il desiroit obtenir cependant chrisante fit loger pour ce soir la tres commodement toutes les dames qui avoient este prises entre lesquelles il y en avoit une d'une beaute admirable le lendemain il conduisit luy mesme le prisonnier et les prisonnieres a cyrus mais comme en y allant il faloit traverser la petite ville ou estoit la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte ils passerent devant le temple qui y estoit justement comme ces princesses en sortoient chrisante par respect fit faire alte et le chariot ou estoient les dames captives s'arresta de sorte qu'une de ces prisonnieres reconnoissant 
 panthee fit un si grand cry que cette princesse tournant la teste la vit et la reconnut et comme elle connoissoit bien chrisante elle l'envoya prier de trouver bon qu'elle parlast a ces dames qu'il conduisoit si bien que comme il n'ignoroit pas quel respect cyrus voulait que l'on rendist a cette reine il fut luy mesme luy dire qu'il meneroit ces dames chez elle aussi tost qu'elle y seroit et en effet il commencoit desja de donner les ordres pour cela lors que l'on dit que cyrus arrivoit qui venoit voir panthee et araminte si bien que chrisante voyant que ce n'estoit plus a luy a disposer de rien puis que son maistre estoit present il quitta cette reine qui estoit montee dans son chariot et fut dire a cyrus ce qu'elle avoit souhaite ce prince passant donc aupres de ces dames prisonnieres il les salua avec la mesme civilite qu'il eust pu avoir si elles n'eussent pas este captives et allant droit a la reine de la susiane aupres de qui estoit araminte madame luy dit-il en la saluant et en se baissant jusques sur l'arcon vous serez plus commodement chez vous qu'icy et plus commodement encore vous pourrez entretenir ces dames qui font de vostre connoissance panthee commandant donc qu'on obeist a cyrus s'en alla chez elle et le chariot des dames captives suivit le sien cependant chrisante presentant son prisonnier a son maistre seigneur luy dit-il cet ennemy que vous voyez est sans doute digne de vostre protection puis qu'il m'a assure que le prince artamas luy donne part a son amitie si cela est dit cyrus en l'embrassant car ils estoient descendus de cheval dans la court du chasteau ou logeoit alors la reine de la 
 susiane il est bien assure d'avoir grande part a la mienne puis que j'aime certainement tout ce que le prince artamas aime cet honneur reprit ce prisonnier seroit trop grand pour moy et ce sera bien allez adjousta-t'il si a sa consideration vous traitez favorablement les dames que je conduisois celle de la reine de la susiane suffit repliqua cyrus pour me les rendre tres considerables et je pense mesme adjousta-t'il encore que vous n'aurez pas besoin de celle du prince artamas et que vostre propre merite m'obligera assez a vous servir sans que ce prince s'en mesle car voyant sur vostre visage toutes les marques d'un homme de qualite et d'un homme d'esprit et aprenant de plus par le raport de chrisante que vous avez autant de coeur qu'on en peut avoir il n'en faut pas davantage pour estre bien traitte de cyrus et pour commencer de vous le faire voir luy dit-il en attendant que je scache plus precisement qui vous estes venez voir avecques moy ce que font vos dames aupres de la reine de la susiane en disant cela cyrus entra dans le chasteau et fut a la chambre de panthee qu'il trouva fort agreablement occupee a donner cent marques d'amitie a une de ces prisonnieres ma chere cleonice luy disoit-elle est-il possible que je vous revoye et faut-il que j'aye l'inhumanite de ne m'affliger point de vostre prison parce qu'elle rendra la mienne plus douce madame luy repliqua cleonice la perte de ma liberte me seroit bien agreable si elle pouvoit soulager vos desplaisirs du moins luy dit la reine de la susiane en voyant entrer cyrus dans sa chambre ne tient-il pas a vostre illustre vainqueur que ma captivite n'ait tout ce qui me la peut rendre 
 douce cyrus respondit au discours de panthee avec sa generosite ordinaire en suite dequoy cette princesse luy a prit que le pere de cette belle prisonniere estoit nay sujet du sien puis qu'il estoit de clasomene quoy qu'il eust este demeurer a ephese qu'ainsi il y avoit long-temps qu'elle connoissoit cleonice et qu'elle avoit beaucoup d'amitie pour elle luy disant encore qu'elle estoit de tres bonne condition et le conjurant de vouloir la laisser aupres d'elle avec toutes les dames de sa compagnie quoy quelle ne les connust pas cyrus luy accorda tout ce qu'elle voulut luy disant mesme qu'il luy offriroit leur liberte s'il ne croyoit que leur presence luy seroit agreable et la pourroit divertir en suite cyrus demanda a celle de ces dames qui se nommoit cleonice si elle estoit des amies du prince artamas jugeant impossible qu'elle ne l'eust pas connu sous le fameux nom de cleandre seigneur luy respondit elle en rougissant je dois l'honneur que j'ay d'en estre connue au genereux ligdamis que vous voyez dit elle en luy monstrant de la main le prisonnier que chrisante avoit fait et je ne doute pas que des qu'il scaura que nous sommes dans vos chaines il ne vous prie de nous les rendre les plus legeres que les loix de la guerre le peuvent permettre l'illustre cyrus interrompit araminte n'en fait point porter de pesantes et il suit bien plus exactement les loix de la generosite que celles de la guerre dont vous parlez pendant qu'araminte parloit ainsi panthee regardoit ligdamis et sembloit chercher dans sa memoire a se resouvenir du nom qu'elle venoit d'entendre puis tout d'un coup luy adressant la parole je vous prie de me dire luy dit-elle en sous-riant si vous estes d'ephese 
 si vostre pere et gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes et si vous estes ce mesme ligdamis que j'ay ouy dire qui faisoit autrefois profession d'estre ennemy declare de l'amour et presques de tous ceux qui en avoient madame je suis sans doute celuy que vous dites repliqua-t'il quoy que je ne sois plus ce que j'estois cleonice rougit au discours de ligdamis mais pour le changer adroitement elle dit sans qu'on le luy demandast qu'estant demeuree malade a la campagne chez une de ses parentes elle n'avoit pu se rerirer plustost a ephese ou elle demeuroit et qu'elle n'auroit mesme ose s'y hasarder si ligdamis ne luy eust offert de l'escorter en mesme temps qu'une soeur qu'il a qu'elle monstra a panthee et qui estoit une fort belle personne cyrus aprenant par cette conversation le nom et la qualite de ce prisonnier le traitta encore plus civilement qu'il n'avoit fait s'imaginant que cela ne seroit pas inutile au dessein qu'avoit le prince artamas de sorte qu'apres avoir fait sa visite de longueur raisonnable il laissa ces belles prisonnieres aupres de panthee ordonnant a araspe de les traitter avec toute la douceur et toute la courtoisie possible mais pour ligdamis il le mena avecques luy assurant ces dames qu'il en auroit autant de soin que panthee en auroit d'elles en effet en s'en retournant au camp il luy parla tousjours et luy dit que pour luy tesmoigner combien les amis du prince artamas luy estoient chers il le laisseroit sur sa foy et qu'il n'auroit point d'autres gardes que sa propre generosite ligdamis respondit a ce discours avec toute la soumission et toute la reconnoissance imaginable et fit si bien paroistre la grandeur de son esprit par ses judicieuses responses que cyrus dit 
 alors a sa gloire qu'il n'avoit jamais tant estime personne en si peu de temps lors qu'il fut arrive a sa tente il donna ordre a feraulas d'avoir soing de ce prisonnier comme d'un homme de qui il vouloit gagner l'amitie cependant comme il avoit remarque certaines paroles que ligdamis avoit dites et que cleonice avoit rougy deux fois en parlant de luy il s'imagina qu'il en estoit amoureux ou pour mieux dire il le connut toutesfois pour s'en esclaircir il ordonna a chrisante qui s'en retournoit a son quartier de dire a araspe en passant qu'il fist tout ce qu'il pourroit pour scavoir si ligdamis n'estoit point amoureux de cleonice parce qu'il luy importoit de toutes choses de le scavoir precisement il luy ordonna mesme de luy dire encore que s'il ne pouvoit l'aprendre par une autre voye il allast trouver la reine de la susiane de sa part pour la supplier de vouloir luy dire ce qu'elle en scavoit et pour l'assurer qu'il pourroit arriver que pat cette connoissance la guerre de lydie finiroit sans combatre et que ainsi elle auroit la satisfaction de ne voir point son cher abradate en peril mais qu'il la conjurast de luy pardonner ce manquement de respect puis qu'il croyoit que c'estoit le seul qu'il avoit eu pour elle depuis sa prison chrisante obeissant donc a cyrus fut en effet trouver araspe a qui il dit ce que leur maistre vouloit qu'il fist mais quelque volonte qu'il eust de luy obeir il se trouva toutesfois un peu embarrasse a s'esclaircir de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir n'estant pas trop dans l'ordre d'aller demander une semblable chose a des prisonnieres joint qu'il estoit a croire que quand il le demanderoit elles ne le diroient pas de sorte qu'il creut que le mieux estoit de tascher de scavoir la chose 
 par la reine de la susiane il fut donc a sa chambre des qu'il fut permis d'y entrer ou il trouva desja cleonice mais quoy qu'il taschast de tourner la conversation du coste qu'il la vouloit il ne put rien descouvrir si bien qu'il fut a la fin contraint de dire tout bas a panthee l'ordre qu'il avoit receu de cyrus luy faisant comprendre qu'il luy importoit extremement de scavoir quel interest ligdamis prenoit a cleonice et luy disant precisement tour ce que cyrus avoit ordonne qu'on luy dist la reine de la susiane l'entendant parler ainsi luy dit qu'elle ne scavoit autre chose de ligdamis sinon que devant qu'elle allast a suse il estoit si ennemy de l'amour qu'il n'estoit pas croyable qu'il fust devenu amant que neantmoins comme elle jugeoit bien que cette curiosite que cyrus avoit ne pouvoit manquer d'avoir une juste cause quoy qu'elle ne la comprist pas elle luy promettoit de s'en informer mais luy dit elle pour le pouvoir faire il faut que je sois seule avec cleonice c'est pourquoy retirez vous et donnez ordre que personne ne nous interrompe araspe obeissant a panthee sortit comme si elle l'eust envoye en quelque lieu en fuite dequoy cette princesse apres quelques autres discours demanda a cleonice si ligdamis estoit tousjours de la mesme humeur qu'il estoit autrefois il est sans doute tousjours de fort agreable conversation repliqua cleonice ce n'est pas ce que je vous demande luy respondit panthee mais je veux scavoir s'il est toujours ennemy de l'amour et des amants cleonice rougit a ce discours et sous-riant a demy comme je n'estois pas la confidente de ligdamis reprit-elle lors que j'avois l'honneur de vous voir je ne scay madame pour quoy vous me demandez 
 une pareille chose je vous la demande luy respondit la reine de la susiane parce qu'il me semble que si ligdamis a deu aimer ce ne peut avoir este que vous vous avez mauvaise opinion de son jugement repartit cleonice au contraire je l'ay fort bonne repliqua panthee et c'est pour cela que je parle comme je fais mais apres tout cleonice je veux absolument scavoir vostre vie depuis que je ne vous ay veue vous avez sans doute repliqua t'elle toute sorte de pouvoir sur moy mais madame j'auray pourtant bien de la peine a vous obeir estant certain que je ne pense pas que je puisse me resoudre a vous dire tout ce qui m'est arrive si vous avez avecques vous reprit panthee quelqu'une de vos amies qui le scache bien je contents de vous espargner cette peine vous m'obligeriez beaucoup davantage repondit-elle si vous voulez m'en dispenser absolument la reine de la susiane voyant qu'elle luy resistoit la pressa encore plus fort qu'auparavant et cleonice jugeant par le credit que cette sage reine avoit aupres de cyrus qu'il seroit advantageux a ligdamis qu'elle sceust l'interest qu'elle prenoit en sa personne se resolut enfin de luy obeir mais comme elle ne pouvoit obtenir de sa modestie assez de hardiesse pour raconter elle mesme son histoire madame dit-elle a panthee je pourrois bien vous dire ce que j'ay pense mais je ne pourrois pas si bien vous aprendre tous les sentimens de ligdamis c'est pourquoy si vous avez la bonte de le souffrir une de ses amies et des miennes vous dira tout ce que vous voulez scavoir panthee connoissant en effet que la retenue de cleonice seroit cause qu'elle reciteroit fort mal ses advantures quoy qu'elle eust pourtant beaucoup d'esprit 
 elle consentit a ce qu'elle vouloit si bien que cleonice ayant fait venir cette amie de ligdamis qui estoit aussi la sienne et qui se nommoit ismenie elle la conjura de satisfaire la curiosite de panthee apres quoy le retirant toute confuse elle fut retrouver ses autres amies pendant qu'ismenie commenca son recit en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire de ligdamis et de cleonice
 
 
comme je scay que cleonice a l'advantage d'estre connue de vostre majeste je n'ay rien a vous dire de sa condition mais madame comme je scay encore qu'elle partit de clasomene extremement jeune pour venir demeurer a ephese et que depuis cela elle n'a eu l'honneur de vous voir qu'a quelques petits voyages qu'elle a faits a sardis pendant que vous y estiez je pense qu'il ne sera pas hors de propos que je vous die de quelle humeur elle nous parut estre lors qu'elle arriva dans nostre ville vous vous souvenez sans doute bien madame qu'en ce temps la ephese estoit la plus agreable ville d'asie car quand vous y vintes visiter le temple de diane je scay que vous en parlastes en ces termes-la bien que vous n'y tardassiez que quatre ou cinq jours 
 en effet conme celuy qui en est gouverneur est un fort honneste home et que polixenide sa femme est une personne de beaucoup d'esprit ils contribuoient extremement aux divertissemens de tout le monde et cette petite cour quoy que moins tumultueuse que celle de sardis n'estoit pourtant pas desagreable vous scavez madame que lors que le pere de cleonice quitta clasomene pour venir demeurer a ephese elle n'avoit pas plus de quinze ans et vous n'avez pas sans doute perdu le souvenir que stenobee sa mere estoit une personne galante qui avoit este tres belle qui l'estoit encore assez et qui ne pouvoit se resoudre a ne l'estre plus si bien que lors qu'elle arriva a ephese elle chercha autant le monde que le monde chercha cleonice qui en effet apparut comme un nouvel astre qui eclipsa tous les autres vous pouvez donc bien juger qu'estant admirablement belle comme elle est et ayant outre cela la grace de la nouveaute elle plut infiniment de sorte que comme stenobee ne chassoit pas la compagnie de chez elle on l'y vit bien tost fort grande et plus grande qu'on nulle autre maison d'ephese son admirable fille attiroit tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens en ce lieu la tout le monde voulant avoir la gloire d'estre de ses premiers amis et de luy avoir rendu les premiers services ce qui surprenoit d'autant plus tous ceux qui la voyoient estoit de remarquer qu'elle connoissoit sa beaute sans avoir de l'orgueil ny de l'affetterie et qu'encore qu'elle fust une des plus propres et des plus civiles personnes de la terre on ne laissoit pas de connoistre qu'elle estoit propre et civile par inclination et non pas avec un dessein forme de plaire a ceux qui l'aprochoient elle prenoit les divertissemens mais elle ne les cherchoit pas avec 
 empressement etquoy qu'elle ait comme vous le scavez le plus charmant esprit du monde pour ceux a qui elle en veut monstrer toutes les richesses elle affectoit plustost d'en cacher une partie que de les faire toutes voir et je ne connus jamais une personne qui sceust parler si agreablement ny se taire avec moins de peine quand elle le veut voila donc madame quelle fut cleonice a son arrivee a ephese sa mere y chercha tous les plaisirs et tous les plaisirs y chercherent son incomparable fille cependant il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y avoit alors a ephese une fille nommee artelinde de fort bonne condition et de qui la beaute estoit et est encore tres grande car a dire les choses conme elles sont elle a tant de charmes en toute sa personne et tant d'agrement en toutes ses actions qu'il n'est pas aise de se deffendre de l'aimer des qu'on la voit estant certain qu'il y a dans ses yeux je ne scay quel enjouement obligeant et passionne qui esmeut le coeur de tous ceux qui la voyent et qui le prend devant qu'on ait eu loisir de se reconnoistre et de consulter sa raison du moins ce grand nombre d'amants qu'elle a eus en ont ils parle de cette sorte quand ils ont voulu justifier leur passion mais madame pour achever de vous depeindre artelinde qui a assez de part a cette histoire pour m'obliger a vous la bien faire connoistre il faut que vous scachiez qu'il n'a jamais este une personne plus coquette que celle la car non seulement elle vouloit gagner des amants par sa beaute et par son esprit mais encore par ses soings par sa complaisance et par sa civilite et quand ses particuliers amis luy en faisoient la guerre elle s'en moquoit et leur disoit en riant que comme les ambitieux soustenoient que l'on ne pouvoit jamais 
 acheter une couronne trop cher elle disoit aussi que l'on ne pouvoit jamais avoir trop de peine a gagner un coeur et que comme les conquerans contoient leurs victoires et ne contoient pas leurs travaux elle de mesme ne contoit que les coeurs qu'elle avoit gagnez et ne se souvenoit plus des soings qu'elle avoit employer pour cela en effet on peut dire qu'artelinde n'avoit point d'autres chagrins que ceux qu'elle ressentoit quelquesfois quand elle avoit passe un jour sans faire quelque nouvelle conqueste cependant vous scaurez madame que cette personne avoit une mere appellee anaxipe la plus sage qui fut jamais une mere dis je dont la vertu estoit un peu trop severe qui condamnoit presques tous les divertissemens innocents et qui avoit esleve sa fille dans une contrainte si grande qu'on n'a jamais ouy parler d'une pareille chose enfin si stenobee eust este mere d'artelinde et qu'anaxipe l'eust este de cleonice la chose eust este bien plus commode pour ces quatre personnes car l'humeur galante de stenobee donnoit de fascheuses heures a cleonice stenobee de son coste se pleignoit que l'humeur serieuse de sa fille luy reprochoit tacitement que la sienne estoit trop enjouee anaxipe ne pouvoit souffrir la galanterie d'artelinde et artelinde ne pouvoit endurer la severite d'anaxipe celle-ci vouloit tousjours estre au temple pour prier les dieux et l'autre n'y vouloit presque aller que pour voir et pour estre veue cependant le hazard ayant fait qu'artelinde se trouvast voisine de cleonice elles se virent d'abord et cette contrariete qui se rencontra en toutes choses entre ces deux personnes et qui selon les aparences devoit les empescher de se voir fut ce qui fut 
 cause qu'elles se virent plus que les autres ne se voyoient car comme artelinde voyoit bien plus de monde chez stenobee que chez sa mere elle y alloit tres souvent et comme cleonice en trouvoit moins chez anaxipe que chez elle elle y alloit aussi autant qu'elle le pouvoit de sorte que ces deux belles personnes d'humeur si opposee estoient pourtant eternellement ensemble stenobee estant bien aise que cleonice vist artelinde esperant qu'elle luy osteroit une partie de son humeur serieuse et anaxipe estant encore plus satisfaite de la conversation que sa fille avoit avec cleonice croyant que son exemple la corrigeroit de l'inclination qu'elle avoit a la galanterie ainsi on voyoit cleonice chercher la solitude chez anaxipe et artelinde chercher ses amants chez stenobee ce n'est pas que la beaute de cleonice ne fist ombre a artelinde mais si ses yeux luy faisoient craindre son humeur la rassuroit de sorte qu'en ce temps la elle paroissoit estre sa meilleure amie comme cleonice est douce et qu'en effet artelinde est fort charmante elle eut effectivement de l'amitie pour elle et jusques au point qu'elle prit la resolution de tascher de la guerir de la foiblesse qu'elle avoit de ne faire consister sa felicite qu'a entasser victoire sur victoire et qu'a conquerir des coeurs sans nombre et sans choix et mesme sans autre dessein s'il faut ainsi dire que d'en eslever des trophees a la fausse gloire dont elle se piquoit d'avoir donne de l'amour a tous ceux qui l'avoient veue il en faloit pourtant excepter ligdamis qu'elle ne put jamais assujettir quelque soing qu'elle y peust prendre il est vray qu'elle disoit pour sa consolation qu'il ne l'avoit jamais este par personne et en effet ligdamis n'avoit 
 jamais rien aime et mesme selon les aparences il ne devoit jamais rien aimer ce n'est pas qu'il ne fust tres honneste homme mais il sembloit estre si determine a s'opposer a cette passion la que non seulement il disoit qu'il ne pouvoit rien aimer mais il n'aimoit pas seulement ceux qui aimoient et il avoit mesme rompu d'amitie avec un de ses amis nomme phocylide parce qu'il estoit galant de la mesme maniere qu'artelinde estoit galante estant certain qu'il n'avoit pas moins porte de chaines differentes qu'elle en avoit fait porter voila donc madame quelles estoient les quatre personnes de qui on parloit le plus a ephese ligdamis comme le plus honneste homme estoit estime de tout le monde quoy qu'il ne donnast son amitie a qui que ce fust phocylide aimoit tout ce qu'il y avoit de beau dans la ville ou du moins en faisoit semblant artelinde estoit aimee de plusieurs et vouloit l'estre de tous et cleonice sans avoir dessein de faire des conquestes en faisoit pourtant beaucoup en effet si cette belle personne eust voulu retenir dans ses fers tous ceux qui les prirent l'empire d'artelinde eust bien-tost este detruit mais elle agit avec tant d'adresse que sans estre ny rude ny severe ny sauvage elle se delivra de l'importunite que donne la multitude des amants a celles qui ne font pas de l'humeur d'artelinde et elle fit si bien connoistre que son coeur estoit une conqueste tres difficile a faire qu'il n'y eut presques plus personne qui osast avoir assez bonne opinion de foy pour l'entreprendre grand nombre d'amans soupirerent mais ils soupirerent en secret il en faut toutefois excepter un qui s'appelloit hermodore qui quitta absolument les chaines d'artelinde et 
 qui s'obstina a porter celles de cleonice neantmoins conme elle n'avoit aucune inclination pour luy et que comme je vous l'ay dit l'humeur galante de sa mere luy avoit donne de l'aversion pour tout ce qui se pouvoit nommer galanterie elle ne respondit point du tout a cette passion et elle vescut avec une indifference si grande a ephese qu'on ne luy pouvoit rien comparer que celle de lygdamis qui la voyoit quelques fois cependant comme il est bien difficile que l'amitie puisse durer long-temps entre deux personnes de sentimens tres contraires cleonice voulut comme je l'ay defia dit tascher de changer artelinde luy faisant la guerre de sa facon d'agir et voulant mesme luy persuader qu'elle faisoit tort a sa beaute de souffrir que tant de gens esperassent de pouvoir posseder son coeur car enfin luy disoit cleonice un jour qu'elles estoient seules vous ne me ferez point croire que cette multitude d'amants qui vous suivent et qui vous obsedent eternellement et aux temples et dans les rues et aux promenades et aux maisons ou vous allez vous suivent sans esperer et vous ne me ferez pas croire non plus qu'ils pussent tous esperer si vous n'y contribuyez rien car a vous parler sincerement je voy des gens si mal faits parmy vos adorateurs que je ne pense pas qu'ils pussent jamais se flatter assez pour pouvoir concevoir de l'esperance si vous ne les flattiez vous mesme et si vous ne la faisiez naistre dans le fond de leur coeur j'avoue franchement luy dit artelinde en riant que je fais tout ce que vous dites et j'advoue de plus qu'un de mes plus grands plaisirs est de tromper l'esprit de ces gens la par des bagatelles qui leur donnent lieu de croire qu'on ne les 
 hait pas mais reprit cleonice pouvez vous appeller bagatelles des choses qui font croire qu'ils ont grande part en vostre esprit qu'ils possederont un jour vostre coeur tout entier et peut-estre vostre personne ha cleonice s'escria artelinde vous allez trop loing et tout ce que je fais pour mes amants les plus favorisez ne scauroit leur donner une si criminelle pensee croyez luy repliqua cleonice que je me trompe moins que vous car puis qu'il s'est trouve des amants qui ont espere au milieu des rigueurs et des suplices qu'on leur faisoit endurer par une cruaute extreme comment voulez-vous que des gens que vous accablez de faveurs n'esperent pas tout ce qu'on peut esperer non non reprit artelinde ne vous y trompez point je partage trop mes faveurs pour en pouvoir accabler personne et si je n'avois pas peur que vous me derobassiez mon secret et qu'il ne vous prist envie de vous en servir je vous descouvrirois le fond de mon coeur afin de me justifier dans vostre esprit mais ma chere cleonice adjousta-t'elle flatteusement je crains que si je vous descouvre tout ce que je pense je ne detruise moy-mesme mon empire car enfin s'il vous prenoit envie de joindre un peu d'adresse aux charmes de vostre beaute je serois absolument perdue puis qu'infailliblement tous mes amants seroient les vostres vous estes si accoustumee a les flatter reprit cleonice que vous flattez mesme vos amies sans y penser mais artelinde ce n'est pas la ce que je veux cependant pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos je vous declare que je ne me serviray jamais de vostre secret c'est pourquoy ne craignez pas de me dire vos raisons si vous en avez qui puissent me faire voir qu'il y ait un fort grand plaisir a 
 estre eternellement obsedee de cent personnes que vous n'estimez point et que vous n'aimez pas car il n'est pas croyable que vous puissiez aimer en mesme temps des hommes blonds noirs grands petits serieux enjouez incommodes agreables spirituels et stupides n'estant pas mesme possible que tant de gens pussent estre ensemble dans vostre coeur vous avez raison reprit artelinde en fiant aussi vous puis-je asseurer qu'ils ne sont pas pressez en ce lieu la car je ne les y laisse point entrer mais pourquoy donc reprit cleonice si vous ne les aimez point agissez vous comme vous faites pour avoir le plaisir d'estre aimee repliqua-t'elle car enfin cleonice adjousta artelinde a quoy sert la beaute si ce n'est a conquester des coeurs et a s'establir un empire ou sans sceptre sans throsne et sans couronne on a pourtant des subjets et des esclaves mais des esclaves interrompit cleonice qui ne servent que pour regner et des esclaves encore dont vous prenez la peine de dorer les fers pour moy dit-elle si je me meslois d'en donner mon plaisir seroit de les donner si pelants et si rudes que je ne pusse douter de la fidelite de ceux qui les porteroient si je les voulois un jour recompenser dit artelinde j'en userois comme vous dites mais ne voulant que m'en divertir il est juste que je ne les accable pas cependant artelinde reprit cleonice vous faites cent choses fort dangereuses et que fais-je de si criminel repliqua-t'elle vous recevez des lettres et vous en escrivez respondit cleonice vous vous laissez tromper de dessein premedite vous voulez qu'on vous regarde et vous regardez les autres vous donnez quelques assignations ou vous ne manquez pas de vous 
 trouver et quoy que je scache bien que tout cela aboutit a dire trois ou quatre paroles en secret et a faire un grand mistere de peu de chose apres tout c'est une assignation c'est un secret c'est un mistere et par consequent c'est un crime puis qu'a parler raisonnablement on ne se cache point pour une chose innocente de plus vous prenez de petits presents et vous en faites vous laissez derober vostre portrait et vous le donnez et pour des rubans adjousta-t'elle il n'y a point de couleur dont vous n'en ayez donne depuis le blanc jusques au noir vous dites de petits secrets a l'un vous raillez des autres avec quelqu'un d'eux et quoy que vous vous moquiez de tons je trouve pourtant que vous avez lieu de craindre qu'a la fin tous ces gens la ne se moquent aussi de vous car enfin s'il prenoit un jour fantaisie a tous ces amans favorisez de s'entredire tout ce que vous avez fait pour eux ou en seriez vous je ne serois pas si mal que vous pensez dit-elle pais qu'apres tout il n'y a pas un homme au monde qui puisse se vanter que je luy aye jamais accorde la plus legere faveur de celles que raisonnablement on peut appeller criminelles car pour tout ce que vous venez de dire je vous assure que je ne le nomme pas ainsi et que je ne voy pas qu'il y ait plus de crime a cela qu'a me parer et qu'a faire des boucles a mes cheveux puis que l'on ne se pare que pour se faire aimer et que je ne fais aussi tout ce que vous me reprochez que pour retenir certains coeurs legers que la seule beaute ne retiendroit pas mais qu'en voulez-vous faire luy dit cleonice ce que j'en fais reprit-elle je veux troubler toute la galanterie des autres faire des femmes et des maistresses jalouses estre aimee de tout ce qui me voit 
 donner de la crainte et de l'esperance quand il me plaist avoir cent divertissemens a choisir estre cause que l'on fasse des vers a ma louange que l'on ne parle que de mes conquestes que l'on me suive en tous lieux que rien n'eschape de ma puissance et apres tout cela je veux n'engager jamais davantage mon coeur que ce qu'il faut qu'il le soit pour trouver quelque douceur a entendre soupirer aupres de moy et pour tout dire enfin je veux aimer la galanterie et n'aimer pas un galant cela est un peu dangereux repliqua cleonice car le moyen qu'a la fin il ne s'en trouve pas quelqu'un qui malgre vous embarrasse un peu vostre esprit vous autres froides et serieuses reprit artelinde en riant estes beaucoup plus exposees a cette facheuse advanture que je ne le suis moy dis je qui suis si accoustumee aux larmes et aux soupirs que mon coeur n'en est plus esmeu mais pour vous autres severes quand vous vous estes deffendues tres long-temps et que vous avez bien fait les fieres et les cruelles s'il se trouve quelque amant hardy qui s'attache opiniastrement a vous servir et qui vous force enfin a l'escouter deux ou trois larmes amollissent vostre coeur ou pour mieux dire encore une estincelle l'embrase et vous aimez enfin pour le moins autant qu'on vous aime et mesme un peu plus vostre temperament est si esloigne de celuy de ces fieres dont vous parlez reprit cleonice qu'il est bien mal-aise que vous puissiez scavoir ce qu'elles sont capables de faire mais encore une fois dit artelinde dites-moy un peu cleonice ce que vous faites des plus beaux yeux du monde que les dieux vous ont donnes j'en regarde avec estonnement reprit elle si toutesfois j'ose tomber d'accord 
 qu'ils ne soient pas laids toute la peine que vous prenez a conduire les vostres avec tant d'art qu'ils puissent obliger tous ceux qui font a l'entour de vous et donner quelquesfois de l'amour sans donner de la jalousie mais apres tout artelinde ce n'est jamais gueres parmy cent mille amants de cette espece que l'on peut trouver un mary c'est bien encore moins dans la solitude repliqua-t'elle joint que ce n'est pas trop ce que je cherche car a parler sincerement je crains si fort d'en rencontrer quelqu'un de l'humeur de ma mere que je suis presques resolue de n'en avoir jamais ne songez vous point adjousta cleonice que la jeunesse ne dure pas tousjours et que la vieillesse et la galanterie ont une anthipatie si grande qu'il n'est rien de plus oppose comment serez-vous donc un jour quand tous vos galants vous abandonneront ne soyons pas si prevoyante respondit-elle car pour moy je me trouve si bien de ne songer pas a tant de choses que je ne veux pas croire vostre conseil ny devenir trop prudente de peur d'estre malheureuse il me suffit quand je suis a la saison des roses de regarder dans mon miroir si le peu de beaute que j'ay ne durera pas encore jusques aux premieres viollettes et quand je m'en suis assuree je me mets l'esprit en repos si tous ceux qui ont este a la guerre poursuivit-elle avoient tousjours raisonne si sagement et voulut se mettre a couvert de tous les perils qu'on y peut courir nous n'aurions jamais eu ny vainqueurs ny conquerants mais reprit cleonice vos yeux n'ont part qu'a la premiere de ces deux qualitez puis qu'enfin je trouve leurs conquestes si mal assurees que je ne pense pas qu'on les doive nommer conquerants 
 qui dit conquerir respondit-elle ne dit pas conserver et quand il seroit vray que je devrois perdre une partie des coeurs que l'ay assujettis je n'en meriterois pas moins de gloire serieusement interrompit cleonice ne vous changerez vous point sincerement reprit artelinde ne trouvez-vous point ma vie plus divertissante que la vostre et ne vous repentez-vous point d'avoir pris un air si severe nullement repliqua-t'elle et je ne voudrois pas estre de vostre humeur ny moy de la vostre reprit artelinde c'est pourquoy demeurons s'il vous plaist dans nos sentimens aussi bien nous en aimerons nous mieux adjousta t'elle car si vous estiez des miens je vous hairois peut-estre estrangement et si j'estois des vostres nous nous ennuyerons sans doute beaucoup ensemble quoy que vous m'en puissiez dire cleonice voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit rien gagner sur l'esprit d'artelinde changea de discours et peu apres elle la quitta mais comme elle estoit preste a sortir elle la r'appella pour la prier en riant de luy renvoyer cet esclave fugitif qu'elle luy avoit desrobe voulant parler d'hermodore il ne tiendra pas a moy repliqua cleonice qu'il ne vienne reprendre ses premieres chaines ce n'est pas encore assez adjousta-t'elle et il faut de plus que vous n'alliez pas toucher le coeur de l'insensible ligdamis car je vous advoue que je ne le scaurois endurer vous estes si peu sage luy dit cleonice que je ne vous veux plus respondre et vous l'estes avec tant d'exces repliqua artelinde que ma folie vaut mieux que vostre sagesse ce fut de cette sorte que ces deux belles personnes se separerent cleonice s'en retournant chez elle dans son cabinet pour y 
 resver et artelinde entrant dans le sien pour escrire a quelqu'un de ses galants estant certain qu'elle n'avoit autre chose a faire en toute sa vie qu'a songer a entretenir ses intrigues au reste madame cette personne a pourtant malgre toute sa galanterie une modestie charmante sur le visage et il y a tant d'art en toutes ses actions que quiconque ne la connoistra pas croira quelques fois qu'elle se trouve importunee de cette multitude d'amants qu'elle enchaine de sa propre main et qu'elle conserve si soigneusement pour cleonice ses occupations estoient differentes car elle aimoit beaucoup mieux resver dans son cabinet ou s'y entretenir avec un livre que d'estre accablee de tous les amis de sa mere ou de tous les galants d'artelinde ou des pleintes d'hermodore ce n'est pas qu'elle n'aimast fort la conversation mais elle la vouloit de gens choisis et raisonnables et comme elle n'estoit pas maistresse de ses actions puis qu'elle despendoit d'une mere de qui les inclinations estoient opposees aux siennes il faloit qu'elle se contraignist de sorte qu'elle vint insensiblement non seulement a hair horriblement la galanterie et les galants mais encore a condamner l'amour en general comme la plus dangereuse de toutes les passions il faloit pourtant voir tousjours artelinde et voir aussi tousjours la chambre de sa mere toute pleine de cette espece de gens qui font profession ouverte de n'aller jamais souvent en un lieu sans avoir quelque dessein cache de ces gens dis-je qui sont tousjours empressez et qui n'ont pourtant jamais d'autre affaire que de donner sujet de croire qu'ils aiment ou qu'ils sont aimez et qui aportent mesme bien plus de soing 
 a persuader le dernier que l'autre cleonice vivois donc de cette sorte malgre qu'elle en eust mais il est vray qu'elle n'y vivoit pas avec plaisir je commencay en ce temps la d'estre assez de ses amies mon humeur n'estant pas si esloignee de la sienne que celle d'artelinde et comme ligdamis est mon patent et que je le connoissois fort apres que nous fusmes entrees en quelque sorte de confiance je luy en parlois souvent et luy disois que la conformite qui estoit entre eux estoit si grande que je m'estonnois pourquoy ils ne se voyoient pas davantage quand je rencontrois aussi ligdamis je luy parlois de la mesme sorte ainsi leur aprenant a chacun en particulier quelle estoit leur humeur ils se connurent mieux par mon recit qu'ils ne se connoissoient par eux mesmes car quand ils se voyoient quelquesfois en conversation c'estoit une conversation si generale et si tumultueuse a cause du grand monde qui visitoit stenobee qu'ils ne se parloient que rarement neantmoins apres ce que j'eus dit de cleonice a ligdamis il s'accoustuma a la voir un peu plus qu'il ne faisoit et comme j'y allois aussi presques tous les jours nous nous y trouvasmes souvent ensemble de sorte que nous nous divertissions un peu mieux que nous n'avions accoustume car durant que stenobee entretenoit une partie de la compagnie qu'artelinde estoit occupee a conquerir de nouveaux amants ou a conserver les anciens et que phocylide qui comme je vous l'ay dit estoit aussi fourbe qu'artelinde estoit galante faisoit le languissant pour plusieurs dames a la fois et en mesme lieu ligdamis cleonice et moy nous divertissions a leurs despens estant certain que je ne pense pas 
 qu'il y ait rien de si plaisant que de regarder sans interest cette espece de galanterie universelle et que d'escouter ceux qui la font car enfin pour l'ordinaire toutes leurs actions et toutes leurs paroles ont quelque chose de si oppose a la raison et a la sagesse qu'il y a sans doute beaucoup de plaisir a les observer au commencement cleonice faisoit grande difficulte d'avoir assez de confiance en ligdamis pour railler innocemment devant luy de tout ce que nous voyions et un jour que nous estions seules dans sa chambre et que je luy disois qu'elle avoit tort de vouloir passer toute sa vie sans avoir jamais aucune societe particuliere avec personne j'avoue ismenie me dit-elle que je suis encore bien plus a pleindre que vous ne pensez car il est certain que de l'humeur dont je suis si j'estois maistresse de mes actions je ne ferois consister la douceur de la vie qu'en l'amitie et en la conversation d'un petit nombre de personnes choisies et raisonnables qui connussent la veritable gloire et qui l'aimassent et qui sans estre capables d'illusions vissent les choses comme il les faut voir et ne fissent pas consister leur felicite en des badineries ridicules mais ismenie ou les prendra t'on ces personnes raisonnables premierement toutes les femmes que je connois excepte vous sont de trois ou quatre especes les unes sont coquettes les autres sont sages mais stupides quelques-unes ont de la vertu et de l'esprit mais un esprit mal tourne et peu agreable quelques autres encore sont artificieuses et meschantes les belles pour l'ordinaire sont envieuses et jalouses les spirituelles ont bien souvent de la suffisance et de l'orgueil les sottes sont insuportables et les trop galantes me sont 
 en horreur avec qui voulez-vous donc que je fasse societe il est certain repliquay-je que les femmes d'ephese presentement sont presques toutes comme vous venez de les despeindre mais il y a des hommes fort bonnestes gens dont on pourroit faire ses amis ha ismenie me dit-elle il n'est gueres plus aise de trouver ce que je cherche parmy les hommes que parmy les femmes ce n'est pas que je ne sois contrainte d'avouer que s'il estoit possible de rencontrer un fort honneste homme qui ne fust point je ne dis pas seulement amoureux de cent personnes a la fois comme phocylide mais amoureux constant et de ceux qu'on estime le plus parmy les gens qui ne condamnent pas absolument cette passion comme je fais il n'y eust beaucoup de douceur dans sa conversation et mesme dans son amitie car enfin un fort honneste homme scait pour l'ordinaire plus de choses qu'une fort honneste femme son esprit est plus remply son entretien eu plus divertissant il a plus de complaisance pour une dame que les dames n'en ont les unes pour les autres et pour tout dire en un mot il y a je ne scay quelle disposition dont j'ignore la cause qui fait que cette espece d'amitie a quelque chose de plus tendre et de plus solide mais ma chere ismenie pour estre comme je le dis il faut que cet homme ne soit point amoureux car je vous confesse que je ne me confierois jamais a un homme qui le seroit comme nous en estions la ligdamis entra dans la chambre qui scachant que stenobee n'y estoit pas avoit demande a voir cleonice je ne le vy pas plustost entrer que prenant la parole venez luy dis-je ligdamis venez car si vous ne me faites trouver ce que cleonice cherche 
 je ne le trouveray jamais en verite ismenie me dit-elle je ne trouverois pas bon que vous allassiez dire a ligdamis tout ce que nous avons dit aujourd'huy vous le trouverez mauvais si vous voulez luy dis-je en riant mais je ne scaurois m'empescher de luy aprendre la merveilleuse simpathie qui est entre vous et alors je luy redis une partie de ce que nous avions dit apres cela poursuivis-je ne faut-il pas advouer qu'il y a une estrange conformite entre vous et cleonice car enfin vous avez rompu avec phocylide parce qu'il estoit trop galant et elle veut presques rompre avec artelinde parce qu'elle a trop d'amants quoy interrompit cleonice ligdamis a rompu avec phocylide parce qu'il estoit amoureux ouy madame repliqua-t'il et j'ay mesme resolu en rompant avecques luy de ne me confier plus jamais a un homme possede de cette passion c'est a dire poursuivit-il de ne me fier jamais a personne car ceux qui ne le font pas le peuvent devenir et c'est pourquoy je renferme tous mes secrets dans mon coeur mais madame adjousta-t'il ismenie m'a force a vous dire la une chose qui me destruira peut-estre dans vostre esprit puis qu'enfin estant aussi belle que vous estes et ayant donne autant d'amour que vous en avez donne c'est estre peu judicieux de vous dire que je hay ce que vous faites naistre si souvent ah ligdamis s'escria cleonice que j'ay de joye de voir un aussi honneste homme que vous de mon advis car il est vray que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait rien de si incommode au monde que d'avoir un amy amoureux pour moy dit-il je m'en suis si mal trouve que je n'ay garde de condamner ce que vous dites de grace dit cleonice faites moy la 
 faveur de me dire tout le mal que l'amour vous a cause afin que je me confirme tousjours de plus en plus dans la haine que j'ay pour cette passion graces aux dieux reprit-il elle ne m'en a point fait en moy mesme quoy qu'elle m'en ait beaucoup fait en la personne de mes amis mais madame sans vous ennuyer par un long recit je vous diray seulement qu'estant alle eu grece pour y voir tout ce qu'elle a d'excellent j'y rencontray phocylide avec qui je fis une amitie tres particuliere de sorte qu'estant trois mois ensemble a changer tous les jours de lieu j'en vins au point avecques luy de luy confier tout ce que j'avois dans le coeur en ce temps la et mesme tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus particulier en ma vie mais a peine fusmes nous revenus a ephese qu'il partagea tous mes secrets entre toutes ses mastresses de sorte que comme la plus part d'entre elles ne se trouverent pas fort discrettes ce que j'avois de plus cache dans l'esprit fut sceu de toute la ville artelinde en son particulier fit un autre secret a quelqu'un de ses galants de celuy que phocylide luy avoit confie bien qu'il ne fust pas a luy ainsi j'esprouvay fort cruellement en cette rencontre le danger qu'il y a a faire confidence a un homme amoureux mais ligdamis luy dis-je tous les hommes ne sont pas aussi indiscrets que phocylide je vous assure interrompit cleonice qu'il ne faut plus en effet regarder un homme amoureux comme un autre et qu'il y a une notable difference a faire car enfin dit-elle l'amour est une chose qui change absolument tous ceux qui en sont possedez et je me souviens adjousta-t'elle qu'un peu devant que je partisse de clasomene il y avoit un homme nomme cleanor 
 qui avoit une amitie la plus grande du monde pour moy il estoit eternellement au logis il ne pouvoit durer sans me voir et sans me parler il me contoit toutes les nouvelles il me disoit mesme tous ses secrets je ne le voyois jamais inquiet ny resveur il avoit un soing continuel de me plaire et tout cela sans estre amoureux mais je fus fort estonnee lors que je le vy changer tout d'un coup il parloit a contretemps il resvoit presques continuellement et je vous advoue que durant quelques jours je craignis qu'il ne m'aimast un peu trop cependant je fus bien tost desabusee car en fort peu de temps je connus ce qu'il avoit dans l'esprit ses plus longues visites ne duroient pas plus d'une demy heure il ne scavoit plus jamais aucune nouvelle tout ce qui avoit accoustume de le divertir chez nous l'ennuyoit et il devint un homme si different de celuy qu'il estoit devant que d'estre amoureux que je ne le connoissois plus et comme je luy en fis la guerre il voulut pour s'excuser m'advouer la verite mais apres cela il eust voulu ne me parler plus jamais d'autre chose que de la personne qu'il aimoit de sorte qu'il me devint si insuportable que je ne le pouvois plus souffrir or madame comme j'estois bien aise que cleonice et ligdamis se connussent parfaitement je me mis afin de leur donner sujet de parler a prendre un tiers party et pour cet effet prenant la parole en verite cleonice luy dis-je vous allez trop loing car enfin il faut faire difference de la coquetterie a l'amour il faut dis-je condamner la premiere absolument et faire quelque exception de l'autre point du tout dit cleonice car je vous assure qu'un amant opiniastre n'est gueres moins incommode 
 a l'avoir pour amy qu'un de ces amants universels qui pour aimer en trop de lieux n'aiment rien et je ne scay mesme si ces derniers ne sont pas encore plus divertissants que l'autre en effet dit ligdamis la belle cleonice a raison puis que du moins ceux cy n'ayant pas l'esprit trop engage ont tousjours la conversation enjouee ils ne parlent que de musiques de bals de promenades de festes et de plaisirs ou les autres peuvent prendre part mais ces amants effectifs plus ils sont amoureux et fidelles plus ils sont renfermez en eux mesmes et plus ils sont propres a troubler la joye des autres gens mais tout a bon ligdamis dit cleonice ne vous desguisez vous point et pensez vous effectivement ce que vous dites mais vous mesme madame reprit-il dites vous la verite et seroit-il bien possible qu'il se pust trouver une fille admirablement belle infiniment aimee et infiniment aimable qui eust assez de grandeur d'ame pour ne se laisser pas toucher a tant de petites choses qui font pour l'ordinaire la felicite des belles personnes ha madame si cela est les hommes ne doivent sans doute pas avoir de l'amour pour vous mais ils doivent vous adorer estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait rien de plus rare que de voir une tres belle personne ne se foncier pas que ses yeux embrasent ceux qu'ils esclairent car madame tous les beaux yeux pour l'ordinaire sont des astres mal-faisants dont les influences ne font que du mal aux hommes estant tres vray que les belles a parler en general ne se contentent pas qu'on leur rende des hommages et qu'on leur offre de l'encens elles veulent des sacrifices plus funestes mille coeurs reduits en 
 cendre ne les appaisent pas encore une prompte mort ne satisferoit pas leur cruaute elles veulent causer de longs suplices et de violentes douleurs et elles font enfin consister tous leurs plaisirs a faire des miserables apres cela madame comment puis-je croire que vous qui avez plus de beaute que toutes celles que je connois et qui avez este eslevee comme elles puissiez renoncer absolument a toutes les douceurs de cet empire imaginaire qu'elles pretendent avoir sur tous les coeurs vous dis-je qui pourriez l'establir bien plus solidement qu'elles je ne tombe pas d'accord interrompit cleonice que j'aye assez de beaute pour conquerir ny pour regner mais il est vray que quand l'en aurois autant qu'il en faudroit avoir pour cela l'exemple des autres m'auroit bien guerie de cette foiblesse estant certain que je ne trouve rien de si terrible que de vouloir faire perdre la raison a ceux qui nous aprochent et de nous mettre en hazard de la perdre nous mesmes car quoy que l'on m'en die adjousta-t'elle en riant je croy que l'amour est une maladie contagieuse personne ne vous l'a pourtant encore pu donner repris-je en la regardant bien que j'aye veu souvent aupres de vous des gens qui en estoient bien malades vous ne considerez pas repliqua t'elle qu'il n'est pas de cette maladie la comme d'une autre puis que comme vous scavez on ne peut prendre que les maux que l'on n'a point mais icy on ne prend gueres souvent que les maux que l'on a donnez et comme c'est une chose qui ne m'est pas arrivee que de donner de l'amour je ne me suis pas veue en ce danger joint que quand par hasard ce malheur m'arriveroit j'ay des preservatifs si admirables 
 pour cela que je ne craindrois pas de perdre la sante dont je jouis mais madame reprit ligdamis en ne voulant point que l'on ait de l'amour pour vous et ne pouvant jamais en avoir pour personne vous ne vous faschez pas que l'on ait de l'amitie et vous ne deffendez pas d'esperer de pouvoir obtenir quelque place en la vostre car si vous en usiez autrement apres vous avoir louee je vous blasmerois le choix des amis et des amies repliqua-t'elle est si difficile a faire que je ne scay s'il n'y auroit point beaucoup de prudence a n'avoir que de la civilite de la bonte et de la generosite pour les gens que l'on voit mais pour de la confiance et de l'amitie je pense qu'il faudroit n'en avoir du moins que mediocrement car enfin comme je le disois a ismenie quand vous estes arrive je ne veux point d'amis amoureux et je ne veux point d'amie qui soit engagee dans un intrigue ny obsedee de mille galants ny stupide ny orgueilleuse ny toute renfermee dans l'oeconomie de sa maison en un mot si je choisissois un amy je voudrois qu'il eust toutes les graces de l'esprit et toutes les bonnes qualitez de l'ame que je le pusse aimer avec la mesme tendresse que j'aimerois un frere si je l'avois sans qu'il pust jamais tourner son esprit du coste de la galanterie je voudrois luy pouvoir confier toutes mes pensees qu'il me confiast aussi toutes les siennes et que par consequent il n'en eust jamais que de raisonnables car vous pouvez bien juger que je ne voudrois pas qu'en eschange de mes secrets qui n'auroient rien que de pur et d'innocent il m'en vinst reveler qui ne le fussent pas et je voudrois principalement comme je l'ay desja dit plusieurs fois 
 qu'il ne fust point amoureux et qu'il trouvast mesme quelque seurete a me donner de ne le devenir jamais ligdamis et moy nous mismes a rire du discours de cleonice qui le faisoit pourtant selon ses veritables sentimens en fuite de quoy prenant la parole mais luy dis-je que ne choisissez vous ligdamis pour estre cet amy particulier que vous cherchez je n'ay pas toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'elle y desire repliqua-t'il et cleonice aussi adjousta t'il en riant a trop de beaute pour pouvoir m'assurer en son amitie n'estant pas croyable que de cent mille amants qu'elle aura il ne soit bien difficile qu'il ne s'en trouve quelqu'un de qui le mal qu'elle luy aura cause ne soit plus fort que le preservatif qu'elle dit avoir je voy bien ligdamis luy dit cleonice que vous craignez que l'on ne vous engage trop mais n'aprehendez pas cela puis que de l'humeur dont je suis je ne donne sans doute pas mon amitie si promptement vous avez raison luy dit-il car c'est une chose trop precieuse pour ne la faire pas esperer long-temps cependant madame adjousta-t'il vous souffrirez s'il vous plaist que je vous donne toute mon estime en attendant que vous ayez resolu si vous voudrez recevoir toute mon amitie comme cleonice alloit respondre artelinde acompagnee de deux de ses amants et suivie un moment apres de plusieurs autres arriva qui fit changer la conversation ligdamis demeura pourtant et ne changea mesme pas de place de sorte qu'il fut le reste du jour entre cleonice et moy un peu apres qu'artelinde fut arrivee cinq ou six autres belles personnes vinrent encore et un moment apres phocylide et hermodore qui ne pouvant estre 
 place aupres de cleonice en parut si melancolique et si inquiet qu'il m'en fit rire cependant lorsque la conversation generale eut dure quelque temps que l'on eut un peu parle de nouvelles d'une course de chevaux qui s'estoit faite d'habillements et d'autres semblables choses artelinde suivant sa coustume pour ne mescontenter personne se mit a parler bas les uns apres les autres a tous ses amants de sorte que pendant qu'elle en entretenoit un c'estoit une si plaisante chose pour nous qui n'allions point d'affaire de regarder les inquietudes des autres que je n'ay jamais passe une apres disnee plus agreablement que je passay celle la quelquefois quand cleonice demandoit malicieusement quelque chose a quelqu'un d'eux il luy respondoit en deux mots et presques sans la regarder voulant tousjours voir artelinde afin de pouvoir deviner par les mouvements de son visage ce qu'elle disoit a son rival que s'il arrivoit qu'elle sous-rist nous voyions froncer le sourcil a trois ou quatre a la fois si bien qu'il estoit impossible de n'en rire pas un moment apres artelinde quittant celuy a qui elle avoit parle parloit a un autre pour l'appaiser et durant qu'elle l'entretenoit a son tour elle vouloit quelquesfois regarder si les autres en estoient jaloux et s'ils ne se consoloient point de leur malheur a regarder cleonice d'autre coste phocylide n'estoit pas moins occupe qu'artelinde car voulant faire croire a cleonice et a trois ou quatre autres qu'il les aimoit ses regards ton coeur et son esprit estoient si partagez qu'il en paroissoit un peu fou car il n'avoit pas plutost parle a l'une qu'il trouvoit lieu de louer l'autre il regardoit celle a qui il ne parloit point il 
 parloit a celle qu'il ne regardoit pas il chantoit pour l'une il souspiroit pour l'autre et il estoit enfin si occupe qu'il nous en faisoit pitie cependant le pauvre hermodore ne disoit pas un mot et tout chagrin qu'il estoit de ne pouvoir parler en particulier a cleonice ce n'estoit pas un des moins divertissans a observer car quand on le forcoit a parler il avoit une si grande disposition a disputer sur toutes choses que je pense qu'en l'humeur ou je le vy tout ce qu'il eust pu faire eust este de ne contredire pas si l'on eust loue la beaute de cleonice mais afin qu'il ne manquast rien a ce qui pouvoit augmenter l'aversion de cleonice et de ligdamis pour l'amour le hazard fit encore qu'un fort honneste homme de la ville et une des plus aimables personnes de la terre qui s'aimoient depuis long-temps vinrent separement chez cleonice et comme cette affection estoit sceue de tout le monde on les observoit assez de sorte que quand cet amant entra ce fut encore une rare chose a voir que de remarquer avec quel soing il chercha a se mettre aupres de la personne qu'il aimoit en entrant dans la chambre il regarda bien moins ou estoit cleonice pour la saluer qu'ou estoit sa maistresse pour se placer aupres d'elle s'il pouvoit il n'y fut pourtant pas d'abord parce que cleonice malicieusement luy fit donner un siege en un autre lieu mais a la fin il fit toutefois si bien qu'apres avoir feint d'avoir quelque nouvelle a dire a l'oreille a phocylide il se mit en fuite aupres de la personne qu'il aimoit au commencement ils parlerent haut et cette dame luy fit signe qu'il songeast a ne l'entretenir pas si tost en particulier mais insensiblement ces deux 
 personnes qui ont neantmoins assurement un tres grand esprit se mirent a parler bas et peu a peu oublierent tellement qu'ils estoient en une grande compagnie qu'ils s'entretindrent comme s'ils eussent este seuls ne cachant plus les mouvemens de leur visage et donnant si clairement a connoistre leur passion que j'en avois honte pour eux et bien ismenie me dit cleonice tout bas trouvez vous qu'il faille faire exception de l'amour constante et n'est-il pas vray qu'il faut condamner tout ce qui s'appelle amour ou galanterie ligdamis voulant estre de ce petit secret qu'il comprenoit aisement s'aprocha mais cleonice le repoussant civilement non non luy dit-elle nous n'en sommes pas encore la quoy madame luy dit-il vous me traitez comme si j'estois un galant moy qui renonce a cette qualite pour toute ma vie vous estes si propre a retire si vous vouliez luy respondit cleonice que je ne voy pas qu'il y ait aparence de se fier legerement a vos paroles cependant le soir aprochant la compagnie se separa artelinde embrassant mille fois cleonice et se pleignant de ne l'avoir point entretenue comme s'il eust bien tenu a elle apres que tout le monde fut party cleonice dit cent choses agreables et fit une satire si plaisante et si divertissante des galants et de la galanterie que de ma vie je ne l'avois veue en si agreable humeur ligdamis me vint voir le lendemain pour me parler de cleonice dont il estoit si charme qu'il ne pouvoit assez l'admirer me conjurant de faire ce que je pourrois pour luy en faire avoir l'amitie ce que je luy promis sans resistance ne l'assurant pas toutesfois de luy faire obtenir ce qu'il souhaitoit il commenca donc de 
 chercher a voir cleonice plus qu'il n'avoit accoustume mais comme il y avoit tousjours trop de monde chez stenobee il l'alloit quelquesfois trouver chez anaxipe ou elle alloit souvent principalement quand artelinde n'y estoit pas preferant sans doute la conversation de sa mere a la sienne quoy que sa vertu fut un peu severe mais en tous les lieux ou il la rencontroit il aportoit tousjours grand soing a luy faire connoistre combien il estoit ennemy de l'amour disant sur cela tout ce qu'un homme d'esprit qui exprimoit ses fentimens pouvoit dire de sorte qu'il vint en effet a estre fort estime de cleonice les choses estoient donc en ces termes lors que ligdamis la trouvant un jour seule chez elle parce qu'elle n'avoit pas voulu aller a une promenade ou stenobee estoit avec la moitie de la ville il se mit a la presser de nouveau de luy donner son amitie et a luy protester afin de l'obtenir plustost qu'il n'estoit point amoureux je le croy luy dit-elle mais ligdamis qui m'assurera que vous ne le deviendrez pas quelque jour moy madame luy respondit-il estant infaillible que puis que je ne le suis point de vous je ne le seray jamais de personne car enfin madame je vous trouve la plus belle chose que l'aye jamais veue je vous trouve plus d'esprit qu'a qui que ce soit que je connoisse ny parmy les femmes ny parmy les hommes vostre vertu me ravit vostre conversation me charme et malgre tout cela je ne trouve dans mon coeur que des sentimens de respect et de veneration pour vous j'y sens encore une amitie fort tendre je l'advoue mais elle est sans desirs et sans inquietude ainsi madame puis que tant de beaute tant d'esprit tant de vertu tant d'estime et tant de disposition a vous 
 aimer n'ont pas fait naistre l'amour dans mon coeur vous estes en seurete et vous ne devez pas refuser mon amitie ny me priver de la vostre aimez moy donc madame luy dit-il de la mesme sorte que vous aimez ismenie pourveu que ce soit un peu plus car il me semble que me resolvant a n'aimer que vous seule en toute la terre vous ne me devez pas refuser de m'aimer un peu plus qu'un autre vous m'exprimez vostre amitie en des termes si forts reprit cleonice en rougissant qu'elle doit ce me semble m'estre un peu suspecte mais ligdamis ne vous y abusez point je veux que l'on soit sincere ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je ne scache bien que vous n'estes point amoureux de moy mais ce qui me fait vous parler ainsi est que je crains que vous ne croyiez que je sois peut-estre de celles qui ne font que changer le nom de la chose et qui souffrent effectivement un amant en l'appellant simplement un amy prenez donc bien garde a ce que vous souhaitez de moy et souvenez vous que l'amitie que je puis accepter et celle que je puis donner est une amitie effective qui a de la tendresse et de la fermete mais qui n'a point de foiblesse ny de follie je veux dit-elle que vous m'aimiez si vous avez a m'aimer comme un honneste homme en peut aimer un autre et je vous aimeray aussi de la mesme facon que j'aimerois une honneste fille si l'en connoissois une assez aimable pour luy donner mon affection toute entiere je n'en demande pas davantage respondit ligdamis je veux encore adjousta-t'elle que vous me promettiez avec ferment que si par malheur vous sentez malgre vous que vous deveniez amoureux de quelque belle personne vous me le direz a l'heure mesme afin que je vous 
 assiste de mes conseils que je fortifie vostre raison et qu'en cas que vous ne puissiez demeurer libre je me detache de vostre amitie car enfin je vous le declare des que vous serez amoureux je ne seray plus vostre amie s'il n'y a que cela qui ma mette mal avecques vous reprit-il vous la serez donc tousjours estant certain comme je vous l'ay desja dit que puis que je n'ay que de la veneration pour la belle cleonice je n'auray jamais d'amour pour personne mais madame adjousta-t'il en riant si je devenois amoureux de vous comment faudroit-il que j'en usasse voudriez vous que je vous en advertisse comme d'une autre des que je m'en apercevrois nullement luy dit-elle et je ne le trouverois pas bon que faudroit-il donc que je fisse repliqua-t'il il faudroit respondit-elle combatre cette passion et la vaincre sans m'en rien dire et si vous ne le pouviez pas me la cacher du moins si bien que je ne m'en aperceusse jamais mais respondit-il tout le monde dit que l'amour ne se peut cacher il faudroit donc vous cacher vous mesme repliqua-t'elle et ne me voir plus du tout cependant adjousta-t'elle en riant j'espere que cela n'arrivera pas car enfin le printemps ne semera plus de roses sur mon teint j'ay assurement toute la beaute que je suis capable d'avoir et puis qu'avec toutes mes forces je ne vous ay pas vaincu vous estes assure de ne l'estre pas et qu'ainsi nostre amitie sera eternelle j'arrivay comme ils en estoient la et ligdamis m'apellant a son secours ils me dirent les termes ou ils en estoient et les conditions de leur amitie mais adjousta ligdamis en vous promettant de n'estre point amoureux et en vous assurant que si par malheur je le deviens je vous en advertiray ne dois-je 
 point vous demander quelque assurance contre hermodore et contre tant d'autres qui vous aiment car madame luy dit-il l'amitie veut encore plus d'esgalite que l'amour pour moy dis je en l'interrompant je condamne cleonice a vous promettre ce que vous luy promettez je n'en fais point de difficulte reprit-elle estant si assuree de n'aimer jamais rien que je ne m'engage pas a beaucoup de chose en vous accordant ce que vous voulez que je vous accorde enfin madame apres beaucoup d'autres semblables discours l'amitie de ligdamis et de cleonice fut liee et pour la confirmer absolument ils dirent encore chacun cent mille choses contre l'amour et contre les amants depuis ce jour la ligdamis s'estima si heureux qu'il disoit qu'il n'avoit commence a vivre que depuis qu'il connoissoit cleonice et elle estoit aussi tellement satisfaite de ligdamis qu'elle me remercioit tous les jours d'avoir contribue quelque chose a leur amitie ils vescurent donc avec une confiance entiere ligdamis ne formoit pas un dessein qu'il ne communiquast a cleonice s'il faisoit un voyage a la cour c'estoit par ses conseils et par ses ordres et elle gouvernoit sa vie si absolument qu'elle regla mesme ses connoissances elle luy osta quelques amis et luy en donna quelques autres mais tout cela sans empire et sans tirannie ligdamis de son coste avoit part a ses plus secrettes pensees elle luy confioit mille petits deplaisirs domestiques que l'humeur de stenobee luy causoit elle luy disoit sincerement ce qu'elle pensoit de toutes les personnes qu'elle voyoit et de toutes les choses qui arrivoient et elle luy monstroit les sentimens de son ame les plus cachez si ouvertement qu'il ne la connoissoit 
 gueres moins qu'il se connoissoit luy mesme comme cleonice a non seulement l'esprit grand et fort esclaire mais qu'elle la encore cultiue avec assez de soing et- qu'elle scait cent choses dont elle fait un secret par modestie elle avoit cette bonte pour ligdamis qui scait beaucoup plus que les hommes de sa qualite n'ont accoustume de scavoir de luy monstrer quelquesfois toutes ses richesses quand il estoit a l'armee avec le prince artamas il luy escrivoit et elle avoit aussi la bonte de luy escrire mais si galamment et si bien que ses lettres ne le rendoient gueres moins heureux que sa presence au retour d'une de ces campagnes stenobee fut a sardis et y mena sa fille mais comme ligdamis creut qu'il l'y pourroit servit il y fut a l'heure mesme pour luy rendre office et en effet il luy en rendit de fort considerables pendant ce voyage car comme il s'estoit extremement signale a la guerre le prince artamas qui comme vous le scavez s'apelloit cleandre en ce temps la l'aimoit cherement de sorte qu'il la servit a sa consideration aureste si ligdamis scavoit quelque chose d'agreable il n'avoit point de repos qu'il ne l'eust dit a cleonice qui de son coste avoit aussi la mesme complaisance pour luy enfin ils faisoient un eschange si juste de secrets et de confiance qu'ils n'avoient rien a se reprocher il y eut pourtant une chose qui pensa leur faire une petite querelle qui fut qu'hermodore continuant d'aimer cleonice malgre qu'elle en eust l'importuna un jour de telle sorte qu'elle se resolut de luy parler si fierement et si sincerement tout ensemble qu'il fust contraint de la laisser en repos en effet elle luy dit des choses si rudes que je m'estonne qu'il ne s'en rebuta 
 car comme il la pressoit fort de luy dire pour quelle raison il ne devoit rien esperer puis que vous le voulez scavoir luy dit elle c'est pour deux raisons invincibles l'une parce que je suis absolument determinee a n'aimer jamais rien et a ne soufrir pas d'estre aimee et l'autre que quand je voudrois aimer quelqu'un ce ne seroit jamais hermodore ainsi vous n'avez qu'a regler vostre vie sur mes paroles qui partent effectivement de mon coeur sans aucun desguisement apres que cleonice eut prononce ce cruel arrest a ce malheureux amant elle nous le dit a ligdamis et a moy et nous l'en remerciasmes tous deux parce qu'il troubloit fort souvent nostre conversation mais apres que cleonice eut fait cette confidence a ligdamis nous sceumes qu'artelinde qui s'estoit mis dans la fantaisie d'assujettir ce coeur qui paroissoit estre si rebelle a l'amour avoit fait cent petites choses pour luy qu'il ne nous avoit pas dites ce qui irrita si fort cleonice que j'eus quelque peine a l'appaiser neantmoins en ayant adverty ligdamis il fut a l'heure mesme la trouver et il luy fit si bien connoistre que c'avoit este par modestie qu'il avoit cache la folie d'artelinde que ce renouement d'amitie devint encore plus estroit qu'il n'estoit auparavant et je pense pouvoir dire que cette affection avoit presques toute la delicatesse et toute la tendresse de l'amour sans en avoir le dereglement ny l'inquietude estant certain qu'ils avoient autant de plaisir a se voir et a s'entretenir que si cette passion les eust possedez quoy qu'ils n'eussent pas toutes les impatiences qui la suivent ils en vinrent pourtant au point qu'ils avoient de la jalousie sans avoir de l'amour estant tres vray que cleonice craignoit continuellement que ligdamis 
 ne devinst amoureux et que ligdamis aussi apprehendoit estrangement que quelque amant ne luy ostast l'affection de cleonice car ils estoient tous deux persuadez esgalement et peut-estre avecques raison qu'il n'est pas possible qu'une grande amour et une grande amitie puissent estre ensemble dans un mesme coeur cette espece de jalousie n'avoit pourtant rien de fascheux et ne produisoit rien de funeste au contraire elle ne faisoit que fournir a la conversation et que la rendre plus obligeante et plus agreable ces deux personnes s'estimoient donc si heureuses et cleonice en son particulier estoit si contente qu'elle en embellit encore cependant elle se destachoit autant qu'elle pouvoit d'artelinde de qui l'humeur luy devint a la fin insupportable par la connoissance qu'elle eut que cette image de fausse gloire qu'elle s'estoit mis dans l'esprit ne s'en effaceroit jamais en effet comme nous scavions tout ce qu'elle faisoit par phocylide qui croyoit obliger fort cleonice de le luy redire nous estions espouvantees de voir qu'une personne eslevee par une mere si vertueuse et si sage fust capable d'une si grande foiblesse car enfin son coeur ne se guerissoit point de l'envie de faire tousjours conquestes sur conquestes sans distinction et sans choix or comme le temple de diane attire une quantite de monde effrange a ephese il ne venoit pas un homme de qualite en ce lieu-la qu'elle ne voulust qu'il portast ses chaisnes ou du moins qu'il n'en fist semblant et certes elle en vint a bout estant certain que tout le monde la suivoit et comme nous cherchions un jour cleonice ligdamis et moy la raison pourquoy une mesme beaute pouvoit plaire a tant d'humeurs differentes et a 
 des gens de nations si esloignees nous conclusmes que l'esperance qui asseurement est tousjours avecques l'amour non seulement naist avec elle et la nourrit mais que mesme elle la precede quelquesfois et la fait nature estant mesme vray qu'il est assez difficile a parler en general de voir une belle et jeune personne qui donne lieu de croire que sa conqueste n'est pas impossible sans s'y attacher durant quelque temps quand ce ne seroit que par curiosite joint aussi que l'on pouvoit presques dire qu'un homme eust este deshonnore s'il n'eust pas eu quelque petite faveur d'artelinde et il l'eust encore este davantage s'il s'y fust attache long-temps mais si nous nous estonnions de voir comment artelinde en pouvoit tant enchainer nous estions encore espouventez comment phocylide en pouvoit tant tromper comme il en tronpoit nous scavions toutesfois qu'il y avoit trois ou quatre personnes dans ephese qui croyoient toutes en estre passionnement aimees et nous tombions d'accord apres cela que nous avions beaucoup d'obligation aux dieux de nous avoir donne des sentimens plus raisonnables cependant les frequentes visites de ligdamis a cleonice commencerent de faire quelque bruit et de blesser l'esprit d'artelinde qui ne pouvoit croire suivant la coustume des dames galantes qu'il pust y avoir de societe entre un homme et une femme sans galanterie et comme elle avoit un despit estrange d'avoir fait tant de choses inutilement sans pouvoir gagner le coeur de ligdamis elle vint a les hair tous deux phocylide en mesme temps desespere de n'avoir jamais pu persuader cleonice et venant a soupconner que c'estoit peut estre parce que ligdamis n'estoit pas mal avec elle 
 vint a les hair aussi de sorte que chacun de leur coste songeant a leur nuire ils prirent des chemins differens pour y parvenir car artelinde entreprit de donner de la jalousie a cleonice et phocylide d'en donner a ligdamis se resolvant toutesfois de tascher auparavant de s'esclaircir un peu mieux de ses soupcons artelinde voyoit sans doute beaucoup moins cleonice qu'a l'ordinaire mais elles se voyoient pourtant encore quelquesfois de sorte qu'un jour qu'elles estoient ensemble et seules artelinde suivant son dessein fit venir a propos de parler de toutes les reprimandes qu'elle luy avoit faites de sa galanterie et comme c'est une des plus adroites personnes de la terre et la plus flateuse apres luy avoir dit cent choses obligeantes et tendres n'est-il pas vray luy dit-elle ma chere cleonice que vous ne vous retirez insensiblement de mon amitie que parce que vous avez creu que tout ce que je vous disois un jour que nous estions seules estoit en effet mes veritables sentimens il est vray reprit cleonice qu'il y a un si grand raport de vos paroles a vos actions que je n'ay pas creu en devoir douter et a vous parler sincerement je ne pense pas que j'aye eu tort de vous croire si cette croyance respondit-elle ne me coustoit pas vostre affection je ne m'en soucierois pas beaucoup car pour le monde en general il y a desja long-temps que je me suis mis l'esprit au dessus de tout ce qu'il peut dire et penser mais pour vous ma chere cleonice adjousta-t'elle avec une dissimulation estrange il n'en est pas ainsi puis que je ne puis souffrir que vous m'ostiez la place que vous m'aviez donnee dans vostre coeur c'est pourquoy je vous prie d'avoir la sincerite de me dire si vous ne 
 me pouvez aimer telle que le vous parois estre cleonice qui creut qu'artelinde luy parloit sincerement veu la maniere dont elle s'exprimoit luy advoua ingenument qu'elle ne pouvoit donner son amitie sans son estime et qu'il luy estoit absolument impossible d'estimer une personne qui avoit la foiblesse de sacrifier sa veritable gloire pour une gloire imaginaire et chimerique comme estoit celle d'avoir tousjours a l'entour de soy mille faux adorateurs comme ceux qui l'environnoient car enfin adjoustoit-elle ne vous y trompez point tous ces gens la ne vous aiment pas tant que vous le croyez et pour en faire l'espreuve ostez leur l'esperance pour un mois et vous verrez combien il vous en demeurera ce n'est pas poursuivit-elle voyant qu'artelinde vouloit l'interrompre que je doute du pouvoir de vostre beaute et que je ne scache bien que vous avez cent belles qualitez qui vous rendroient tres recommandable si vous ne les destruisiez pas par vostre procede mais c'est que je connois un peu mieux que vous ceux que vous abusez et qui vous abusent et que je voy avec des yeux plus desinteressez et avec un jugement plus libre le precipice ou vous vous exposez a tomber au reste comment voulez-vous que je croye que vous pensez a moy lors que vous avez l'esprit remply de cent personnes que vous voulez qui pensent a vous et comment me puis-je fier en l'affection d'une fille qui passe toute sa vie a tromper ceux qui l'approchent et a desguiser ses sentimens et de qui le coeur est partage entre mille gens que je n'estime pas voyez apres cela si j'ay tort de ne vouloir pas vous aimer encore adjousta-t'elle si vous n'aviez qu'une violente passion je vous pleindrois et ne 
 pouvant avoir de confiance en vostre amitie j'aurois du moins de la pitie pour vous et je pourrois mesme esperer que si vous en guerissiez je vous pourrois encore aimer quelque jour mais la maladie que vous avez estant une maladie incurable je pense que j'ay eu raison de me detacher de vous autant que la bien-seance me l'a pu permettre ha ma chere cleonice luy dit-elle que vous me connoissez mal mais c'est trop differer adjousta cette artificieuse fille a me mettre en estat d'obtenir vostre compassion si je ne puis obtenir vostre amitie advouons donc dit-elle advouons en rougissant ce que nous avons si long-temps cache et ne trompons pas du moins la personne de toute la terre que nous aimons le plus apres artelinde s'arresta a ces paroles et portant la main sur son visage comme pour cacher sa confusion elle fut un moment sans parler puis feignant de s'estre un peu remise pardonnez-moy ma chere cleonice luy dit-elle le desordre de mon discours et de mon esprit mais estant sur le point de vous advouer ce que je n'ay jamais dit a personne je ne suis pas bien d'accord avec moy mesme et quoy que ma volonte me porte a vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur je sens pourtant bien que ma bouche ne vous dira pas aujourd'huy le nom de celuy qui me fait vivre comme je fais cleonice ne scachant ce qu'artelinde luy vouloit dire et ayant en effet quelque curiosite de le scavoir je vous entends si peu luy dit-elle que je ne vous scaurois respondre vous m'entendrez bien tost repliqua artelinde en soupirant scachez donc ma chere cleonice adjousta-t'elle que bien loin d'estre cette personne indifferente qui aime la galanterie universelle 
 et qui n'attache son esprit a aucun objet particulier je suis la plus malheureuse fille de la terre parce que je suis engagee dans un attachement le plus fort et le plus constant qui sera jamais quoy interrompit cleonice artelinde aimeroit quelque chose fortement et constamment ha si cela pouvoit estre adjousta-t'elle en riant je pense qu'encore que je condamne l'amour en toute autre je luy pardonnerois presques d'en avoir pardonnez-le moy donc dit-elle car il est vray que tout ce que vous blasmez en ma conduite vient de ce qu'il y a une personne au monde que j'aime mille fois plus que moy-mesme et qui regle toute ma vie et cet amant heureux interrompit cleonice veut que vous en favorisiez mille autres il le veut sans doute repliqua-t'elle afin de mieux cacher la veritable passion qu'il a dans le coeur et que j'ay dans l'ame estant certain que si on scavoit nostre affection nostre hon-heur seroit detruit pour tousjours il est vray adjousta-t'elle que nostre artifice a si bien reussi qu'il n'y a personne a ephese qui soupconne rien de l'innocente intelligence que nous avons ensemble c'est pourtant un homme de la premiere qualite et un des plus estimez parmy les honnestes gens je le trouve du moins un peu bizarre dit cleonice de vouloir vous faire passer dans la croyance de tout le monde pour ce que vous n'estes pas mais quand on ne peut estre heureux par nulle autre voye repliqua-t'elle il faut bien enfin s'y resoudre n'a-t'il jamais este jaloux de ceux mesmes qu'il a voulu que vous favorisassiez luy demanda cleonice tres souvent repliqu'a-t'elle et c'est ce qui est cause que quelquefois je rompts avec ceux qu'il semble que j'aime le mieux ainsi ma 
 chere cleonice quand vous croyez que je suis si gaye et si contente lors que mille adorateurs m'environnent c'est lors que je suis le plus a pleindre car enfin je voy tousjours tout ce que je n'aime pas et je ne voy pas trop souvent tout ce que j'aime jugez donc ma chere cleonice si vous n'estes pas bien cruelle de vouloir m'oster vostre amitie et de vouloir m'accabler de toutes sortes de malheurs je vous demande pardon adjousta-t'elle de ne vous nommer pas aujourd'huy la personne qui engage mon coeur mais je n'en ay pas la force et je voudrois s'il estoit possible que vous l'eussiez devine je ne veux pas seulement l'essayer repliqua cleonice n'estant pas d'humeur a vouloir scavoir les secrets d'autruy principalement quand ils font de cette nature cependant artelinde croyez que je vous pleins plus que je ne faisois quoy que je ne vous blasme gueres moins mais apres tout quel que puisse estre vostre amant je le condamne d'une estrange sorte de sacrifier vostre gloire a son caprice si je vous l'avois nomme reprit-elle vous cesseriez peut estre de le condamner car il n'y a pas au monde un homme plus sage que luy voila madame de quelle facon cette conversation se passa qui embarrassa extremement cleonice parce qu'elle ne voyoit gueres d'apparence a ce que luy disoit artelinde mais elle en voyoit encore moins que ce fust une fourbe ainsi ne scachant que penser la dessus elle y pensoit pourtant avec assez d'attention neantmoins comme elle scavoit bien que l'on n'est pas maistre des secrets d'autruy elle renferma celuy la dans son coeur et n'en dit rien a ligdamis ny a moy quelques jours se passerent de cette sorte en 
 suite de quoy estant alle rendre la visite a artelinde cette artificieuse fille qui l'attendoit avec impatience et qui s'estoit preparee a la recevoir en particulier en faisant semblant de se trouver un peu mal et en faisant dire qu'elle n'y estoit pas excepte a elle ne sceut pas plustost qu'elle la demandoit qu'elle mit sur sa table un tiroir ouvert ou il y avoit diverses choses et entre plusieurs tablettes il y avoit droit au dessus une lettre ou il y avoit a la subscription ligdamis a la belle artelinde 
 
 
 
 
cependant cette malicieuse personne s'estoit retiree dans son cabinet s'imaginant avec beaucoup de vray-semblance que cleonice reconnoistroit cette escriture et prendoit peut-estre cette lettre et en effet elle ne se trompa pas car cleonice ne fut pas plustost dans la chambre que voyant ce tiroir sur la table elle s'en aprocha croyant y aller trouver beaucoup de choses qui la divertiroient mais elle n'eut pas plustost jette les yeux dessus qu'elle reconnut le caractere de ligdamis elle ne l'eut pas plustost reconnu qu'elle prit la lettre et elle ne l'eut pas plustost prise qu'entendant venir artelinde qui l'avoit regardee faire par la porte de son cabinet elle la cacha et fit semblant de brouiller tout ce qui estoit dans ce tiroir disant qu'elle cherchoit seulement des vers ne voulant pas voir ses lettres artelinde ravie de remarquer ce petit desguisement de cleonice osta ce tiroir d'entre ses mains avec beaucoup d'empressement car enfin luy dit-elle insensible cleonice vous receustes si 
 mal la confidence que je vous fis l'autre jour de ma foiblesse que je suis resolue a ne vous en dire jamais davantage que ce que je vous en ay dit et je ne scache presque rien que je ne fisse plustost que vous descouvrir qui est la personne que j'aime cleonice qui depuis un moment mourroit d'envie de scavoir s'il estoit possible que ligdamis fust amoureux d'artelinde se mit a la presser de luy dire qui c'estoit mais ce fut inutilement de sorte que n'en pouvant venir a bout et l'impatience de lire la lettre qu'elle avoit prise la pressant trop elle fit sa visite fort courte et s'en retourna chez elle elle n'y fut pas si tost qu'allant droit a sa chambre sans entrer a celle de sa mere ou il y avoit beaucoup de monde elle ouvrit cette lettre et y leut ces paroles
 
 
 ligdamis a la belle artelinde 
 
 
 j'advoue que vous estes la plus admirable personne de la terre continuez de grace ces aimables tromperies qui font tant d'heureux et de malheureux tous les jours et ne craignez pas que cela vous puisse destruire dans 
 mon esprit vous y estes en termes que rien ne scauroit y apporter de changement plus vous conquesterez de coeurs plus vous me plairez et plus vous aurez de part a mon admiration je ne vous dis point celle que vous avez en mon ame il suffit que vous vous souveniez de ce que je vous du le dernier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous parler en particulier car je n'oserois vous l'escrire c'est bien assez que j'aye eu la hardiesse de vous le dire une fois et que je vous proteste seulement icy que les sentimens que je vous dis que j'avois pour vous ne changeront jamais et qu'ainsi je seray jusques a la mort ce que j'estois il y a trois jours 
 
 
 ligdamis 
 
 
apres avoir leu cette lettre cleonice demeura si surprise qu'elle ne scavoit que penser car comme elle avoit desja sceu quelques autres petites choses qui s'estoient passees entre artelinde et ligdamis elle ne doutoit point qu'il n'y eust quelque espece d'intrigue entre ces deux personnes et elle estoit si irritee de voir que ligdamis fust capable de cette foiblesse qu'elle ne pouvoit s'imaginer qu'elle pust le voir sans luy tesmoigner sa colere car disoit-elle s'il est amoureux d'artelinde je le mespriseray estrangement et s'il ne l'est pas je rompray du moins avecques luy ne pouvant non plus souffrir qu'il soit fourbe que je puis endurer qu'il soit amant cependant adjoustoit-elle il scait tout le secret de mon coeur j'ay raille cent fois avecques luy d'artelinde je luy ay dit tout ce que je pensois et selon les aparences 
 il en entretenoit cette personne toutesfois poursuivoit-elle s'il luy avoit dit l'amitie que nous avons contractee ensemble elle ne m'auroit pas parle comme elle a fait mais comment puis-je raisonner juste la dessus puis que ceux qui sont sinceres ne devinent pas aisement ce que pensent ceux qui ne le sont point ce qu'il y a de constant c'est qu'il faut rompre avec ligdamis et ne nous exposer jamais plus a estre trompee il faut ne se fier a personne il faut n'aimer qui que ce soit et il faut vivre enfin avec autant de precaution parmy ceux qui se disent nos amis qu'avec ceux qui se declarent estre nos ennemis elle resolut pourtant de ne dire pas encore a ligdamis ce qu'elle croyoit scavoir de luy ne scachant pas mesme encore bien si elle luy feroit seulement la grace de l'accuser de son crime et de le luy reprocher comme elle estoit donc en cet estat ligdamis entra dans sa chambre qui venoit de la part de stenobee la querir pour aller a son apartement d'abord qu'elle le vit elle prit en diligence la lettre qui causoit son inquietude et la cacha avec beaucoup de precipitation paroissant si interdite que quand ligdamis eust este son mary et que cette lettre eust este d'un galant elle ne l'eust pas paru davantage cleonice ne put toutesfois serrer cette lettre si promptement qu'il ne l'eust entre-veue et elle ne se deguisa pas si bien qu'il ne connust qu'elle avoit quelque chose de facheux dans l'esprit et que sa presence l'importunoit de sorte que s'arrestant a deux pas d'elle madame luy dit-il j'avois pris avecques joye la commission que stenobee m'a donnee de vous venir querir parce que j'estois persuade que je ne vous pouvois jamais contraindre mais 
 je voy bien madame qu'il ne se faut pis assurer a sa bonne fortune car enfin vous cachez une lettre que vous ne voulez sans doute pas que je voye et vous me faites voir si clairement dans vos yeux que je vous incommode que je n'en scaurois douter vous scavez ligdamis luy dit-elle que nous ne sommes pas maistres des secrets d'autruy c'est pourquoy comme je n'ay aucun interest a tout ce que contient cette lettre je ne vous la montre pas cependant adjousta-t'elle il faut obeir a l'ordre que vous m'avez aporte et en disant cela elle se mit en effet en estat de sortir de sa chambre et d'aller a celle de stenobee ligdamis voulut l'en empescher et la conjurer de luy dire auparavant ce qu'elle avoit dans le coeur mais elle ne luy respondit point et le forca d'aller avec elle dans la compagnie ou ils parurent tous deux fort resveurs s'observant avec un si grand soin qu'ils remarquerent et firent remarquer aisement leur chagrin pour ligdamis il ne scavoit ce qu'il avoit car il n'osoit rien determiner dans son coeur contre cleonice mais pour elle il n'en estoit pas ainsi car plus elle voyoit d'inquietude dans les yeux de ligdamis plus elle l'accusoit s'imaginant que la connoissance qu'il avoit de sa foiblesse luy donnoit de la confusion et estoit la veritable cause du desordre qui paroissoit dans son esprit durant cela phocylide qui vouloit scavoir precisement si ligdamis estoit amoureux feignit de l'estre pendant quelques jours suivant sa coustume de la soeur de ligdamis qui est icy avecque nous et comme cette personne a beaucoup d'ingenuite il ne luy fut pas difficile de scavoir d'elle ce qu'il en vouloit aprendre sans qu'elle crust mesme luy rien dire d'important 
 mais il estoit bien embarrasse de scavoir que ligdamis n'estoit jamais fort inquiet ny fort empresse qu'il ne faisoit point un secret des lettres de cleonice et qu'au contraire comme elles estoient admirablement belles il prenoit plaisir a les monstrer et qu'enfin il ne paroissoit amoureux que par ses frequentes visites et par les louanges qu'il donnoit continuellement a cleonice quand il le pouvoit faire a propos il trouvoit mesme que cette derniere chose n'estoit pas absolument une marque d'amour et il ne scavoit comment raisonner ny que croire comme il n'estoit pas d'humeur a aimer fortement il n'estoit pas fort inquiet car pour l'ordinaire la jalousie des hommes de cette sorte se peut plustost nommer curiosite que jalousie pour artelinde elle triomphoit en secret d'avoir connu qu'elle avoit donne de l'inquietude a cleonice cette joye n'estoit pourtant pas tout a fait tranquille parce qu'elle avoit un sensible depit d'estre contrainte de ne douter point qu'il n'y eust quelque affection secrete entre ligdamis et cleonice car si cela n'estoit pas disoit-elle jamais elle ne se seroit advisee de prendre cette lettre et de la cacher et si elle ne prenoit pas un interest bien particulier en ligdamis dont elle a assurement reconnu l'escriture elle n'auroit pas fait une visite si courte et elle auroit eu moins d'impatience voila de quelle sorte raisonnoit artelinde de qui nous avons sceu tous les sentimens depuis ce temps la n'estant pas d'humeur a en faire jamais un grand secret cependant ligdamis ne pouvant deviner de qui estoit cette lettre que cleonice avoit cachee si promptement ny d'ou pouvoit venir l'inquietude qu'il avoit 
 remarquee dans son esprit ne pouvoit penser a autre chose et lors qu'il fut retourne chez luy il ne luy fut pas possible de pouvoir souffrir la conversation de qui que ce fust il s'estonna toutefois de se sentir si inquiet et il se facha contre luy mesme de n'estre pas maistre de son esprit luy semblant que l'amitie toute seule ne devoit point estre capable de donner de si facheuses heures et croyant en effet qu'il n'avoit point d'amour pour cleonice il ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de sentir que la veue de cette lettre qu'elle avoit cachee luy eust cause une si sensible douleur neantmoins disoit-il puisque l'amitie peut estre tendre elle peut estre inquiete on peut craindre de perdre une amie aussi bien qu'une maistresse et je ne suis pas raisonnable de m'estonner d'avoir de l'inquietude de ce que je ne puis scavoir d'ou peut venir que cleonice m'a traitte aujourd'huy d'une maniere si estrange trouvant donc qu'il avoit raison d'estre en peine il attendit le lendemain avec beaucoup d'impatience afin de tascher de s'esclaircir de ses doutes il ne put toutefois pas le faire si tost parce qu'encore qu'il allast de fort bonne heure chez cleonice il trouva qu'elle estoit desja sortie mais madame ce qui avoit cause sa diligence estoit qu'elle s'estoit mis dans la fantaisie de faire dire a artelinde tout ce qui s'estoit passe entre ligdamis et elle afin de le pouvoir mieux convaincre d'estre amoureux ce n'est pas qu'elle ne crust absolument qu'il l'estoit car outre sa lettre elle scavoit encore que le pere de ligdamis estoit resolu de ne souffrir jamais que son fils se mariast si ce n'estoit a une personne qu'il luy avoit propose vingt fois pour estre sa femme de sorte qu'elle expliquoit tout ce qu'artelinde 
 luy avoit dit de la facon que cette artificieuse fille le vouloit qui avoit basty toute sa fourbe sur cela et sur la lettre de ligdamis pour achever donc de s'esclaircir tout a tait cleonice fut trouver artelinde dans sa chambre ou elle ne fut pas plustost qu'elle la conjura de vouloir luy descouvrir entierement son coeur et de luy vouloir nommer cet amant bizarre qui vouloit qu'elle en eust cent mille cleonice luy dit artelinde il faloit estre plus pitoyable que vous ne fustes l'autre jour quand je vous racontay mon malheur mais presentement vous ne le scaurez jamais car non seulement vous eustes trop de cruaute mais j'ay encore a vous dire pour vous oster l'envie de m'en presser davantage que celuy dont vous voulez que je vous die le nom ayant sceu que nous avions eu une conversation particuliere il luy a pris une telle frayeur que je ne vous descouvrisse quelque chose de nostre intelligence que depuis hier il m'a escrit trois fois pour me dire qu'il rompra absolument avecque moy s'il aprend que je vous fasse confidence de l'affection que nous avons liee ensemble c'est pourquoy cleonice je ne puis plus vous rien dire ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que ce procede ne m'estonne parce que je ne cromprends point par quelle raison il craint si fort que vous ne scachiez nostre secret n'ignorant pas qu'il vous estime beaucoup enfin adjousta cette malicieuse personne je vous advoue que si vous estiez un peu moins severe que vous n'estes j'aurois lieu de croire que cet homme la vous dit aussi bien qu'a moy qu'il vous aime et qu'ainsi il nous trompe toutes deux c'est pourquoy cleonice poursuivit-elle avec une finesse extreme s'il y a par 
 hazard quelqu'un qui malgre vostre fierte vous die quelquesfois de ces agreables mensonges qui ne desplaisent pas mesme a celles qui ne les croyent point advouez-le je vous en conjure et nommez moy la personne qui vous les dit vous promettant que si vous nommez celuy que je n'ose nommer je vous l'advoueray a l'heure mesme car adjousta-t'elle j'ay depuis un moment l'esprit en tel estat que j'ay plus d'envie de vous dire son nom que vous n'en avez de le scavoir parlez donc cleonice parlez afin que joignant nos interests et nos ressentimens nous haissions ensemble celuy qui aura eu la hardiesse de vouloir partager son coeur entre nous deux pour moy dit cleonice assez interdite de ce qu'elle trouvoit avoir sujet de se confirmer en l'opinion qu'elle avoit conceue de ligdamis comme personne ne me dit de galanteries je ne puis satisfaire ny vostre curiosite ny la mienne ha cleonice dit artelinde vous dites cela trop generalement pour estre creue car comment voulez-vous que les hommes qui vous voyent ne vous disent pas du moins qu'ils vous trouvent belle puisque moy mesme qui ne puis pas avoir de l'amour pour vous ne m'en scaurois empescher cependant adjousta-t'elle vous devriez me parler avec plus de sincerite puis que je me suis confiee en vous de choses plus importantes je ne veux pas cleonice vous obliger a me dire que vous aimez mais advouez-moy seulement qu'on vous aime et qui vous aime je voy bien poursuivit elle que vous ne le voulez pas faire puis que vous ne nommez pas seulement hermodore je ne le nomme pas en effet reprit cleonice tant parce qu'il ne me parle plus gueres que parce que je scay bien que ce n'est pas celuy 
 avec qui vous avez une intelligence secrette comme elles en estoient la ligdamis qui avoit enfin apris ou estoit cleonice et qui l'y estoit venue chercher entra dans la chambre des qu'il parut cleonice rougit et artelinde contrefaisant l'interdite retira un peu son siege de cleonice comme si elle eust eu peur que ligdamis eust remarque qu'elle luy parloit bas cette conversation ne fut pas fort agreable excepte pour artelinde qui avoit quelque maligne joye malgre son depit de remarquer l'inquietude de cleonice qui ne pouvant plus souffrir d'estre seule avec une personne de l'humeur d'artelinde et avec un amy peu sincere tel qu'elle croyoit ligdamis se leva pour s'en aller mais luy se levant aussi luy presenta la main pour luy aider a marcher quoy que sa visite fust si courte que c'estoit presques faire une civilite a artelinde que d'en user de cette sorte cependant cleonice s'imaginant que ce n'estoit que pour mieux feindre que ligdamis vouloit sortir avec elle ne vouloit pas qu'il la conduisist si bien que pour l'en empescher elle luy dit qu'elle n'alloit pas chez elle adjoustant avec un sous-rire force qu'elle ne vouloit pas se faire hair de deux si honnestes personnes a la fois en les separant si-tost artelinde repliqua a cela avec sa finesse ordinaire et ligdamis y respondit sans scavoir pourquoy cleonice parloit ainsi car elle avoit un serieux sur le visage qui ne luy permettoit pas de croire que ce fust un compliment fait sans dessein si bien qu'il s'obstina a la vouloir du moins conduire jusques a son chariot et en effet il l'y conduisit il ne put mesme se resoudre a r'entrer chez artelinde quelque courte qu'eust este sa visite et il voulut voir si cleonice avoit 
 dit vray lors qu'elle l'avoit assure qu'elle n'alloit pas chez elle de sorte qu'il la suivit de loing et comme cleonice qui avoit eu quelque curiosite de voir s'il r'entreroit chez artelinde vit qu'il la suivoit elle creut que c'estoit pour la mieux tromper si bien qu'elle ne se soucia pas encore qu'elle luy eust dit qu'elle n'alloit pas chez elle de s'y en aller aussi bien le despit qu'elle avoit dans l'ame ne luy eust-il pas permis de faire des visites et de passer le reste du jour a parler de choses indifferentes en ayant une qui luy tenoit tant au coeur ligdamis apres l'avoir veue r'entrer dans sa maison ne douta plus qu'il ne fust fort mal avec elle il creut mesme que ce malheur ne luy estoit arrive que parce que quelqu'un y estoit fort bien et il s'imagina enfin que la lettre qu'il avoit veue aussi bien que tout ce que cleonice luy avoit dit estoit une preuve convainquante d'un attachement particulier elle n'ose disoit-il m'advouer sa foiblesse et elle aime mieux avoir l'injustice de manquer a tout ce qu'elle m'a promis que de confesser qu'elle n'a pu demeurer libre cependant disoit-il encore c'est estre peu equitable toutesfois adjoustoit-il car il nous a depuis raconte tous ses sentimens j'ay tort de trouver si mauvais qu'elle n'ose dire ce que j'aurois bien de la peine a dire moy mesme si un semblable malheur m'estoit arrive quoy que la bien-seance ne soit pas egale entre nous mais du moins a-t'elle tort de ne rompre pas d'amitie avecque moy un peu plus civilement voila donc madame de quelle sorte ligdamis raisonnoit qui voulant s'esclaircir absolument fut a l'heure mesme chez cleonice et comme il fut assez heureux pour trouver la porte 
 ouverte il entra sans estre aperceu de ceux a qui cleonice avoit ordonne en rentrant chez elle de dire qu'elle n'y estoit pas si bien que montant droit a sa chambre il la surprit extremement madame luy dit-il apres l'avoir saluee je ne pensois pas que les petits mensonges fussent permis entre des personnes qui se sont promis une amitie sincere cependant si j'osois vous accuser je me pleindrois avecque raison de ce que vous m'avez dit que vous ne veniez pas chez vous je n'avois pas dessein d'y venir reprit-elle quand je vous l'ay dit et j'ay change d'avis depuis cela ha madame s'escria ligdamis n'adjoustez pas crime sur crime et s'il est vray que vous ne me jugiez plus digne de vostre amitie ou que vous ne la puissiez plus conserver pour moy rompez du moins de bonne grace je ne demande pas mesme qui est ce bien-heureux de qui les lettres vous sont si cheres et de qui vous conservez si bien les secrets ce bien-heureux dont vous parlez reprit-elle aigrement est plus de vostre connoissance que de la mienne je ne connois pourtant point de gens repliqua-t'il qui puissent meriter les graces que vous luy faites je tombe d'accord avecque vous reprit-elle qu'il n'a jamais merite celles que je luy ay accordees pourquoy donc luy dit il sans entendre pourtant ce qu'elle luy disoit en avez vous fait vostre amy ou vostre amant car je ne scay laquelle de ces deux qualitez il possede pour cette derniere repliqua-t'elle laissons-la a artelinde et pour l'autre j'espere qu'il ne la possedera pas long-temps artelinde a tant d'amants reprit ligdamis tousjours plus embarrasse qu'il n'est pas aise que je devine de qui vous voulez parler ii est vray dit-elle assez fierement 
 mais cleonice a si peu d'amis que vous l'amiez desja devine si vous l'aviez voulu mais ligdamis une fausse honte vous ferme la bouche a moy madame reprit-il fort surpris dites plustost qu'un veritable respect m'impose silence et m'empesche de vous accuser vous porteriez la hardiesse trop loin adjousta-t'elle d'estre si coupable et de vous vouloir pleindre je le fais toutesfois reprit-il mais je le fais avecque respect c'est pourquoy sans me pleindre aigrement je vous suplie seulement madame d'avoir la generosite de me dire sincerement s'il n'est pas a propos que je n'aye plus d'amitie pour vous car bien que l'amitie non plus que l'amour ne soit pas une chose volontaire neantmoins je vous delivreray de la peine que ma presence vous donne et je ne troubleray plus la joye de cet heureux inconnu dont les lettres vous sont si cheres je vous assure luy dit-elle que celuy qui a escrit la lettre qui vous tient tant au coeur est une personne que je ne verray plus des que je vous auray perdu de veue ligdamis fort espouvente de ce que cleonice luy disoit se mit a la presser de luy parler plus clairement et alors s'estant determinee a rompre absolument ce jour la avecque luy elle tira de sa poche la lettre qu'elle avoit prise chez artelinde et la luy monstrant voyez luy dit-elle voyez foible et dissimule que vous estes si celuy qui a escrit cette lettre est mon amant ou mon amy ou plustost s'il n'est pas le plus fourbe de tous les hommes ha madame s'escria-t'il que les aparences vous trompent si vous croyez que cette lettre soit une marque d'amour pour artelinde ha ligdamis s'escria-t'elle a son tour que vous estes trompe vous mesme si vous croyez 
 qu'il ne faille que de la hardiesse a nier vostre crime pour vous justifier non non adjousta-t'elle luy imposant silence de la main et parlant tousjours on ne m'abuse pas si aisement et des que je ne me confie plus les plus fins ont bien de la peine a me tromper cependant ligdamis estoit bien moins afflige de voir qu'elle se pleignoit de luy qu'il ne l'estoit lors qu'il pensoit avoir sujet de se pleindre d'elle parce qu'il scavoit bien qu'il n'estoit pas coupable mais des qu'il vouloit parler pour dire ses raisons elle l'en empeschoit et luy disoit qu'elle vouloit dire toutes les siennes auparavant mais madame luy disoit-il malgre elle vous n'en avez point de bonnes quoy reprenoit-elle vous ne trouvez pas que j'aye sujet de vous croire le plus fourbe de tous les hommes de feindre comme vous faites de condamner l'amour d'affecter d'en faire une satire continuelle et de rompre en aparence avec tout le monde par une sagesse extreme pendant que vous avez la foiblesse d'aimer artelinde et que vous avez la folie de vouloir qu'elle soit environnee de galants pour cacher vostre galanterie mais croyez moy ligdamis elle feint trop bien et ce coeur que vous croyez peut-estre si absolument a vous n'y est gueres cependant j'ay a vous dire que je ne veux plus de vostre amitie et que ne vous ayant promis la mienne qu'a condition que vous ne seriez point amoureux je suis quitte envers vous de tout ce que je vous avois promis quoy madame reprit ligdamis vous pouvez croire que j'aime artelinde quoy ligdamis adjousta-t'elle j'en pourrois douter apres avoir leu la lettre que je tiens et apres ce qu'artelinde m'a dit artelinde 
 reprit-il est une artificieuse dont toutes les paroles doivent estre suspectes mais madame pour la lettre dont il s'agit si vous en compreniez le veritable sens vous verriez qu'elle est bien esloignee d'estre une marque d'amour j'advoue madame adjousta-t'il que j'ay fait une faute de vous faire un secret de l'extravagance d'artelinde mais apres tout ce n'est pas un crime irremissible au contraire vous devriez m'en avoir quelque obligation car si j'ay cache sa foiblesse c'a este par le respect que je porte a vostre sexe seulement pour l'amour de vous ainsi vous seriez bien cruelle et bien injuste si vous m'en vouliez punir je vous proteste luy dit-il que je ne suis point amoureux d'artelinde que je ne l'ay jamais este et que je ne le seray jamais que si apres cela vous n'estes pas encore satisfaite et que vous veuilliez que je vous die ce qui m'est arrive avec cette personne il faut que je vous suplie auparavant pour ma propre satisfaction de ne tesmoigner jamais scavoir rien de ce que je m'en vay vous decouvrir car enfin artelinde est si peu sage qu'elle m'en fait pitie ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que cette personne soit capable de ces especes de crimes dont la seule pensee vous feroit rougir estant certain que jamais pas un de ses amants les plus favorisez n'a rien obtenu d'elle qui pust blesser directement la vertu on peut dire toutesfois que cette vertu qui fait les autres plus retenues est ce qui la fait plus hardie car parce qu'elle scait bien que ceux qui la servent ne peuvent accuser la sienne d'aucun deffaut elle ne fait point de difficulte de dire d'escrire et de faire cent mille choses fort esloignees de la bien seance 
 voila bien de la precaution interrompit cleonice pour excuser une personne que l'on n'aime pas ligdamis voyant donc par l'air dont cleonice luy parloit qu'il faloit en effet qu'il s'expliquast nettement quelque repugnance qu'il y eust il fut contraint de luy advouer que s'estant trouve un jour aupres d'artelinde elle l'avoit engage avec tant d'art et tant de hardiesse tout ensemble en une conversation de galanterie qu'il ne s'estoit jamais trouve plus embarrasse mais encore luy dit cleonice qui avoit beaucoup d'envie de scavoir comment cela c'estoit passe que vous pouvoit elle dire car je ne comprends pas qu'il soit possible qu'une personne comme artelinde puisse parler la premiere d'une pareille chose et j'ay bien assez de peine a concevoir comment on peut seulement l'escouter comme elle scait repliqua ligdamis qu'elle n'aime pas elle ne se soucie point de dire des choses flateuses je voudrois pourtant bien reprit cleonice que vous m'eussiez raconte tout ce qu'elle vous dit car encore une fois je ne comprends pas de quelle facon on peut dire des choses obligeantes a ceux qui n'en disent point ligdamis voyant enfin qu'il ne pouvoit se justifier qu'en obeissant a cleonice se mit a luy raconter ce qu'elle desiroit d'aprendre estant assez resveur aupres d'artelinde luy dit-il elle me demanda la cause de ma resverie que je ne luy dis point du tout parce que je n'en avois point d'autre que celle d'estre engage en conversation particuliere avec une personne d'humeur si opposee a la mienne je luy respondis donc avec assez d'ambiguite de sorte que comme elle est fort enjouee elle me dit en soufriant qu'elle 
 avoit eu plus d'un amant en sa vie qui avoient agy comme j'agissois lors qu'ils l'aimoient sans oser le luy dire je vous proteste luy dis je en riant aussi que ce n'est point pour cette raison que je resve car enfin si j'avois le malheur d'estre amoureux de vous je ne vous en ferois pas un secret vous voulez dire me respondit elle que je ne fais pas tant de difficulte d'entendre de pareilles choses que vous deussiez craindre de me descouvrir vostre passion scachant bien ce que tout le monde me reproche mais apres tout si vous m'aimez quelque jour vous ne me le direz pas si aisement que vous pensez car vous vous estes si mal a propos engage a vous declarer ennemy de cet te passion que vous auriez honte de vous en desdire cependant adjousta-t'elle en riant peut estre m'aimez vous desja un peu et ce qui me le fait presques croire c'est que je remarque que vous me fuyez et que je vous suis redoutable voila une marque d'amour bien extraordinaire luy dis je toute extraordinaire qu'elle est adjousta t'elle en raillant tousjours il faut bien que cela soit ainsi car enfin mon miroir me die que mon visage ne fait point de peur ma conversation n'est pas si chagrine que l'on me doive fuir et assez de gens la cherchent pour n'en douter pas de sorte qu'il faut conclurre que vous me fuyez parce que vous craignez que je ne vous surmonte et que vous ayant vaincu je ne vous enchaine la captivite est en effet un si grand malheur luy dis je que quand je vous ferois par cette raison je ne serois pas coupable mais madame adjoustay-je comme je suis sincere il faut que je vous die que ce n'est point pour cela que j'esvite vostre conversation et que c'est seulement parce qu'en 
 effet je ne scay de quoy vous entretenir comme je n'ay que de l'admiration pour vostre beaute je ne puis pas vous aller dire ce que je ne sens point de vous conter des nouvelles de la guerre qui est presques par toute l'asie vous ne les aimez guere de cette espece de parler contre la galanterie ce seroit chercher a disputer contre vous de louez la liberte a une personne qui fait tous les jours cent esclaves ce seroit estre peu judicieux de dire tousjours que l'on n'aime rien et que l'on ne vent rien aimer avecque passion on passeroit pour rustique eu pour barbare aupres de vous de sorte que ne scachant que vous dire je vous suis autant que la bien-seance me le permet du moins me dit-elle puis que vous estes d'humeur a me parler si franchement aujourd'huy dites moy un peu precisement quels sont les sentimens que vous avez pour moy avez vous de l'indifference de l'aversion de la haine du mespris de l'estime de l'amitie ou de l'amour je vous proteste luy dis-je en riant qu'excepte ces deux derniers sentimens j'ay un peu de tous les autres car j'ay beaucoup d'indifference pour les conquestes que vous faites j'ay de l'aversion pour la multitude de gens que vous favorisez j'ay de la haine et du mespris pour quelques uns de vos galants et je fais beaucoup d'estime de la grandeur et de la vivacite de vostre esprit mais encore dit elle que resulte-t'il de tous ces divers sentimens que vous avez et a parler en general comment me regardez vous je regarde luy dis-je comme une des plus belles personnes du monde mais la moins aimable parce qu'elle est trop aimee encore me dit-elle n'est-ce pas avoir fait peu de chose de tirer une louange de l'ennemy 
 declare de la galanterie car enfin ligdamis vous en scavez allez pour n'ignorer pas que c'est la premiere marque d'amour que l'on donne quoy qu'il en soit adjousta-t'elle en raillant tousjours si par hazard je vous blesse malgre que vous en ayez comme je scay que vous n'aimez pas la presse je vous promets de rompre les chaines de plus de six de mes esclaves pour l'amour de vous ils s'estiment si heureux luy dis-je de porter vos chaines qu'il vaut mieux les laisser dans vos fers que de m'en accabler je ne vous verray pourtant jamais en particulier me dit-elle que je ne m'informe de vous quel progrez j'auray fait dans vostre coeur voila donc madame poursuivit ligdamis quelle fut la conversation d'artelinde et de moy a trois jours de la l'ayant rencontree en un lieu ou elle monstra des vers de la fameuse sapho qu'on luy avoit envoyez de mytilene je la priay de me les prester mais elle ne le voulut pas me disant seulement qu'elle me les envoyeroit et en effet elle me les envoya le soir avec une lettre dont celle que vous tenez est la responce il faudroit ce me semble dit cleonice apres avoir paisiblement escoute ligdamis que je visse cette lettre pour pouvoir croire ce que vous dites il ne sera pas difficile adjousta-t'il car je pense avoir dessigne quelque chose sur le coste qui n'est point escrit pour la fortification d'ephese dont l'illustre cleandre m'a charge vous ne voulez pas dire reprit cleonice que vous l'avez conservee par affection je ne le veux pas en effet dit il car je me tiendrois deshonnore si j'avois la moindre tendresse pour artelinde bien loin d'avoir de l'amour cependant ligdamis sans perdre temps 
 envoya un des siens qui estoit fort intelligent chercher ce qu'il vouloit avoir et on le luy aporta en effet mais quoy que cette lettre fust rompue en quelques endroits cleonice y leut pourtant ces paroles apres avoir toutesfois regarde derriere si ligdamis avoit dit la verite et avoir connu qu'il ne mentoit pas
 
 
 artelinde a ligdamis 
 
 
 pour sous tesmoigner combien j'ay profite de vostre derniere conversation vous scaurez qu'il y a trois jours que je n'ay voulu enchainer personne tant il est vray que j'ay dessein de vous plaire mandez moy de grace quel progrez je suis faire dans vostre coeur par cette voye afin que je ne m'y engage pas trop s'il estoit vray que je n'y pusse rien advancer mais consultez et vous plus d'une fois auparavant que de me respondre 
 
 
 
 
 artelinde 
 
 
 
 apres que cleonice eut leu cette lettre et qu'elle l'eut regardee attentivement elle dit a ligdamis qu'elle en avoit beaucoup d'artelinde et que ce n'estoit point la son escriture il en vray luy dit il mais c'est qu'elle en a plusieurs et qu'elle n'escrit pas a ses amis du mesme carractere qu'elle escrit a ses amants et en effet luy dit-il si vous voulez obliger phocylide a vous en monstrer vous verrez que ce que je dis est vray tant y a madame que ligdamis parla si bien qu'il disposa cleonice a le croire il luy fit remarquer que la lettre d'artelinde estoit une prenne infaillible de la conversation qu'il disoit avoir eue avec elle deferre que la confrontant avec la response qu'il y avoit faire il ne pouvoit plus y avoir lieu de le soupconner outre cela cleonice se souvenant qu'artelinde luy avoit dit que ce pretendu amant qu'elle disoit aimer vouloit qu'elle vescust comme elle vivoit il paroissoit clairement que c'estoit un mensonge ou que du moins ce n'estoit pas ligdamis puis qu'elle luy escrivoit que pour luy plaire il y avoit trois jours qu'elle n'avoit en chaine personne comme cleonice estoit donc fort occupee a examiner toutes ces choses j'entray dans sa chambre et m'ayant dit leur brouillerie j'achevay de les accommoder et de justifier ligdamis car je n'allois voir cleonice ce jour la que pour luy monstrer une lettre qu'artelinde avoit escrite a un de ses adorateurs qui estoit mon parent et comme elle se trouva estre du mesme carractere que celle que ligdamis monstroit cleonice luy fit des excuses de ce qu'elle l'avoit accuse en fuite dequoy ils se firent de nouvel les protestations d'amitie et recommencerent de vivre comme auparavant c'est a dire avec beaucoup 
 de douceur et de confiance sans que les artifices d'artelinde ny de phocylide pussent les troubler il est vray que ces deux personnes ne s'attachoient pas absolument a leur nuire parce que elles avoient tant d'occupations differentes qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'elles pussent donner tout leur temps a une mesme chose pour hermodore comme il n'aimoit que cleonice il ne faisoit rien que l'observer mais quoy que les frequentes visites de ligdamis luy donnassent de fascheuses heures il cachoit sa douleur autant qu'il pouvoit car comme cleonice luy avoit deffendu de luy donner nulle marque d'amour il n'osoit pas en donner de jalousie et souffroit ses maux en secret pour nous on peut dire que nous menions une vie fort douce cleonice ne sentoit presques plus les chagrins que l'humeur de stenobee luy donnoit des qu'elle les avoit dits a ligdamis qui de son coste sentoit diminuer tous ses desplaisirs et redoubler toutes ses joyes par la part que cleonice y prenoit et pour moy celle que j'avois en l'estime de ces deux personnes faisoit que je me trouvois fort heureuse j'estois celle qui leur aprenois les nouvelles de la ville et principalement celles d'artelinde il me souvient mesme qu'un jour ayant sceu qu'un de ses amants estant alle a un voyage et ayant laisse un frere qu'il avoit aupres d'elle pour estre son agent il en estoit devenu amoureux et qu'elle n'avoit pas laisse de souffrir qu'il l'entretinst de son amour je leur racontay toute cette histoire qui avoit cent circonstances estranges pus apres en avoir bien parle pour moy dit cleonice je ne comprens pas trop bien comment on peut devenir amoureux d'une personne apres qu'il y a si longtemps qu'on la voit sans l'aimer car enfin 
 de la maniere dont je m'imagine cette passion il me semble qu'elle doit surprendre l'esprit tout d'un coup et non pas venir peu a peu comme l'amitie au contraire luy dis je je trouve bien moins estrange que l'on vienne a aimer une personne en la connoissant plus parfaitement que devoir des gens qui aiment avec exces des le premier instant qu'ils voyent ce qu'ils doivent aimer s'il est vray interrompit ligdamis que l'amour soit un effet d'une puissante simpathie plustost que d'une connoissance parfaite il est certain qu'il y a moins de sujet de s'estonner de voir que l'on ai me des le premier instant ce que l'on est force d'aimer malgre soy que de remarquer qu'il y ait des gens qui n'aiment que long-temps apres avoir veu les personnes pour qui ils ont cette inclination secrette quoy que j'aye ouy dire que cela est arrive quelquesfois du moins adjousta cleonice suis je persuadee que l'on ne passe pas de l'amitie a l'amour et qu'il seroit plus aise d'aimer une personne pour qui l'on n'auroit que de l'indifference qu'une pour qui on auroit une amitie fort tendre pour moy luy dis-je il ne me semble pas que vous ayez raison car enfin quoy que vous m'en puissiez dire c'est estre dans une disposition plus grande a avoir de l'amour lors que l'on estime que l'on aime que l'on cherche et que l'on se plaist en la conversation d'une personne que lors qu'on ne la connoist point ou qu'en la connoissant on n'a que des sentimens fort indifferents pour elle ainsi je pense ne me tromper pas en disant qu'entre une violente amitie et une amour mediocre il y auroit bien autant de chaleur dans le coeur de ceux qui n'auroient que de l'amitie que dans celuy de ceux qui auroient de l'amour 
 comme je viens de le dire ha ismenie s'ecria cleonice vous me faites la plus grande frayeur du monde de parler comme vous faites car si vous me persuadez vous me ferez hair ligdamis vous seriez bien injuste interrompit-il ce n'est pas qu'assurement ismenie n'ait raison en une chose quoy qu'elle ait tort en tout le reste estant certain que je croy avec elle qu'une violente amitie a bien autant de chaleur qu'une mediocre amour mais madame il y a mesme difference entre ces deux choses qu'entre la chaleur du soleil et celle du feu car enfin le premier eschauffe sans brusler et l'autre brusle infailliblement pour peu que l'on en soit touche et c'est ce qui fait que l'on ne peut avoir d'amour sans douleur et sans inquietude et qu'au contraire on peut avoir une violente amitie sans peine et sans impatience ce que vous dites luy repliqua cleonice me r'assure un peu contre l'opinion d'ismenie vous en direz ce qu'il vous plaira luy dis-je pour la faire disputer mais apres tout vous ne me ferez point croire qu'une petite estincelle soit plus in commode que tous les rayons du soleil a la saison qu'il jaunit les bleds et qu'il grille toutes les herbes pour moy me dit cleonice en riant vous me ferez a la fin soupconner que vous avez quelque espece d'affection incommode a qui vous ne donnez pas le nom qui luy convient et vous me persuaderez luy dis-je que vous n'avez que de l'estime pour ligdamis et point du tout d'amitie j'aimerois encore mieux qu'il crust ce que vous dites adjousta-t'elle que s'il pouvoit penser que l'en eusse une pour luy qui peust devenir amour je n'auray jamais assez bonne opinion de moy reprit-il ny assez mauvaise de 
 vous pour m'imaginer une pareille chose ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il en riant que si la belle cleonice devoit estre capable de cette espece d'affection je ne desirasse que ce fust a mon advantage ha ligdamis s'escria-t'elle ce souhait-la m'offence estrangement si je souhaitois simplement que vous me fissiez l'honneur de m'aimer d'une autre maniere que vous ne faites reprit-il je serois sans doute criminel et je violerois les promenes que je vous ay faites mais disant seulement que si de necessite vous douiez aimer quelqu'un d'amour je voudrois plustost que ce fust moy qu'un autre je ne pense pas vous offencer mais si vous ne m'aimez que de la facon dont je veux l'estre respondit elle pourquoy souhaitez vous ce que vous dites car n'est il pas vray qu'il n'y a rien au monde de plus ridicule ny de plus extravagant que de voir une personne de mon sexe aimer sans estre aimee enfin ligdamis luy dit-elle je n'aime point que l'on face pour moy des suppositions bizarres comme celle-la mais luy dis je en l'interrompant et prenant plaisir a sa colere dites nous un peu si vous estes de l'humeur de ligdamis et si en cas qu'il eust a devenir amoureux vous aimeriez mieux que ce suit de vous que d'une autre en verite me dit cleonice je pense que vous avez tous deux perdu la raison ligdamis en faisant un souhait fort injurieux pour moy et vous en me faisant une demande fort bizarre respondez y seule ment luy dis-je et je vous pardonneray les injures que vous me dites il vous est aise de penser repliqua-t'elle en rougissant qu'il n'y a personne au monde de qui je ne souffrisse plustost qu'il fust amoureux que de moy il n'y a pourtant personne au monde interrompit-il qui pust 
 rendre cette foiblesse plus excusable que vous mais encore dites un peu cleonice luy dis-je pour quoy vous parlez de cette sorte je parle ainsi dit elle et pour son interest et pour le mien car il est certain que qui que ce fust qu'il pust aimer il luy seroit tousjours moins impossible d'en estre aime que de moy qui me suis determinee a n'aimer la mais rien joint que ligdamis en aimant une autre ne me donneroit qu'une simple marque de foiblesse mais en m'aimant il me feroit une injure puisque nous avons conclu ensemble que l'on ne peut aimer sans esperer et qu'il ne pourroit esperer sans me faire outrage mais vous dit-elle a ligdamis qui avez eu la hardiesse de dire que vous aimeriez mieux estre l'objet de ma foiblesse qu'aucun autre quelle bonne raison avez vous a en donner quand je n'en aurois point de plus sorte respondit-il que celle de scavoir que je ne la publierois pas et que je cache rois mieux que qui que ce fust l'affection que vous auriez pour moy ne la seroit-elle pas assez quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle a demy en colere n'en parlons plus car insensiblement je voy que nous parlons plus souvent de cette passion que si nous n'en estions pas ennemis declarez le chagrin de cleonice me fit rire aussi bien que ligdamis de sorte que pour la persecuter nous continuasmes de luy faire cent questions bizarres ou quelques fois elle respondoit en raillant et quelques fois aussi en se faschant mais a la fin de la conversation nous nous trouvasmes tous d'un mesme sentiment ainsi nous nous separasmes en amitie cependant artelinde pensa desesperer de s'apercevoir que sa fourbe n'avoit pas aussi bien reussi qu'elle l'avoit creu mais comme elle 
 estoit d'humeur a ne s'affliger pas longtemps elle trouva sa consolation dans la multitude de ses amants phocylide ne scachant aussi par quelle voye troubler ligdamis et cleonice ne s'y obstina pas davantage et continua de vivre selon sa coutume aussi bien qu'hermodore a quelque temps de la l'illustre cleandre fit donner le gouverne ment du chasteau d'hermes au pere de ligdamis de sorte qu'il falut qu'il allast a la cour le remercier il prit donc conge de cleonice qui avoit beaucoup de joye du bien qui arrivoit a sa mai son mais en se separant d'elle quoy que ce fust pour peu de jours il se sentit plus triste qu'il n'avoit accoustume d'estre quand il la quitoit quoy qu'il s'en fust separe en des occasions moins agreables car quand il alloit a la guerre ses voyages estoient plus longs et la cause en estoit plus fascheuse il ne fit pourtant pas une grande reflexion la dessus a l'heure mesme et il fut a sardis croyant tousjours estre amy de cleonice ne soupconnant seulement pas qu'il deust jamais estre son amant comme cleandre l'aimoit il le retint aupres de luy plus qu'il ne pensoit mais quoy que la cour fust alors la plus belle du monde comme vous le scavez mieux que moy il s'y ennuya estrangement et il sentit une si sorte impatience de revenir a ephese qu'en effet il y revint plustost que cleandre ne le vouloit mais il y revint avec tant de marques de joye sur le visage que cleonice quand il la fut visiter creut qu'il luy estoit encore arrive quelque nouveau bonheur quoy qu'il n'en eut effectivement point d'autre que celuy de la revoir cependant ligdamis se trouva fort surpris de sentir que peu a peu sa tranquilite estoit troublee sans en voir de cause aparente sa fortune 
 estoit en meilleur estat qu'elle n'avoit jamais este sa sante n'estoit point mauvaise il ne pouvoit pas estre mieux avec cleonice qu'il y estoit et il ne luy manquoit rien pour estre heureux que de se le croire comme il faisoit quelque temps auparavant sa raison luy disoit encore quelques fois qu'il l'estoit mais il ne se le trouvoit pourtant plus sans pouvoir dire ce qui l'en empeschoit quand il ne voyoit point cleonice il ne pouvoit duree quand il la voyoit il n'estoit pas encore tout a fait content il la regardoit davantage et luy parloit moins et il devint enfin si inquiet qu'il commenca de soupconner que ses sentimens estoient changez et qu'il estoit amoureux la premiere pensee qu'il en eut excita un si grand trouble en son ame qu'il fut quelque temps sans pouvoir raisonner sur ce qu'il sentoit mais a la fin examinant son coeur et comparant l'estat ou il le trouvoit a celuy ou il estoit autrefois il s'aperceut qu'il n'en estoit plus le maistre et que l'amour en estoit vainqueur pour le mieux connoistre encore il se demandoit a luy mesme ce qu'il vouloit et ce qu'il souhaitoit du coste de la for tune disoit-il je suis satisfait parce que mon ambition est reglee de celuy de cleonice j'ay sujet de l'estre mais il n'avoit pas plustost dit cela qu'il sentoit qu'il ne l'estoit pas et par je ne scay quels desirs inquiets qui n'avoient pourtant point d'objet determine il sentoit un trouble si grand en son coeur qu'il ne pouvoit plus douter qu'il n'aimast et qu'il n'aimast avec que violence il se souvint alors qu'il y avoit plus de quinze jours qu'il n'avoit pu parler a propos contre l'amour et que toutes les fois qu'il l'avoit voulu faire il avoit senty quelque legere repugnance qu'il n'avoit pas 
 accoustume d'avoir apres s'estre donc bien observe il connut avec certitude qu'il estoit amoureux il ne creut pourtant pas que le mal qu'il avoit fust incurable et il pensa au contraire qu'il n'auroit presques qu'a ne vouloir plus estre amoureux pour ne l'estre plus mais lors qu'il voulut consulter sa volonte il trouva qu'il n'estoit mesme plus en termes de vouloir guerir il ne laissa pas toutesfois de se resoudre a tascher de combatre sa passion et en effet durant quelques jours il fit tout ce qu'il put pour trouver des raisons qui la pussent vaincre mais ce fut inutilement voyant donc qu'il ne la pouvoit surmonter il prit du moins la resolution de la cacher tant parce qu'il avoit encore quelque honte de sa foiblesse que parce qu'il n'ignoroit pas que des que cleonice s'en apercevroit elle le mal-traiteroit et luy osteroit son amitie il y avoit mesme des moments ou il se damandoit encore s'il estoit bien vray qu'il suit amoureux quoy disoit-il en luy mesme cet insensible ligdamis qui blasmoit l'amour avecques tant d'ardeur a pu s'en laisser vaincre ha non non je ne le scaurois penser cependant adjoustoit-il je sens que mon coeur n'est plus a moy que mon ame est inquiete que l'amitie de cleonice ne me satisfait plus que ce qui me contentoit m'afflige que j'ay des resveries sans sujet et que je ne puis trouver de repos ny en l'absence de cleonice ny en sa presence quand je ne la voy point je meurs d'impatience de la voir et je croy que des que je la verray je seray heureux cependant je ne suis pas plustost aupres d'elle que je trouve que la joye que j'ay de la voir n'est pas une joye tranquile je voudrois luy dire ce que je ne luy dis point et ce que je ne luy diray jamais car le 
 moyen apres avoir tant dit de choses contre l'amour apres avoir lie amitie avec elle parce que j'estois ennemy de cette passion de luy aller dire que je l'aime ha non non je ne le scaurois faire mais reprenoit-il pourray-je bien m'en empescher et sera-t'il bien possible que je puisse vivre avec tant d'inquietude sans m'en pleindre cependant cleonice m'a engage si j'avois le malheur de devenir amoureux d'elle de tascher de vaincre ma passion si je ne le pouvois d'essayer du moins de la cacher et si je ne le pouvois encore de cesser de la voir en me bannissant moy mesme de chez elle j'ay desja esprouve adjoustoit-il que cette premiere chose m'est impossible et il s'en faut peu que je ne sente desja que je ne pourray pas la seconde que je suis malheureux poursuivoit ligdamis car enfin tous les autres amants quand ils commencent d'aimer peuvent raisonnablement esperer que leurs pleintes seront escoutees on ne leur deffend de parler de leur passion que lors qu'ils en parlent de sorte que quand ils n'auroient dit qu'une seule parole ils sont tousjours asseurez que l'on scait leur amour mais mon destin est bien plus bizarre car on m'a deffendu de parler d'amour devant que je fusse amoureux les autres dis-je en descouvrant leur affection ne sont du moins pas en hazard de rien perdre et ils peuvent avoir autant de droit d'esperer que de craindre mais pour moy je suis presques assure qu'en descouvrant la mienne cleonice m'ostera son amitie aussi bien disoit-il un moment apres ne scaurois je plus me contenter de cette sorte d'affection mais reprenoit-il encore je ne suis pas en pouvoir de luy en donner une antre ligdamis n'est pas pour cleonice ce que cleonice est pour ligdamis 
 toutesfois puis que mon coeur a pu changer pourquoy le sien ne changeroit-il pas esperons esperons disoit-il puis un instant apres abandonnant son ame a la crainte il perdoit l'esperance et peu s'en faloit qu'il ne perdist la raison cependant comme il ne pouvoit faire autre chose il fit dessein de tascher de desguiser ses sentimens ne pouvant se resoudre ny a dire qu'il aimoit ny a se priver de la veue de cleonice suivant ce qu'il luy avoit promis il la voyoit donc comme a l'ordinaire mais il la voyoit presques sans plaisir par la contrainte ou il vivoit il vouloir la regarder sans attachement comme il faisoit autresfois mais il luy estoit impossible et il sentoit si bien que malgre luy ses yeux trahissoient le secret de son coeur qu'il en avoit un sensible despit il eust pourtant bien voulu qu'elle eust devine ce qu'il avoit dans l'ame de sorte qu'il en vint aux ter mes qu'il cachoit avec beaucoup de soin ce qu'il mouroit d'envie qu'elle sceust et ce qu'il n'osoit pourtant luy dire comme cleonice ne soupconnoit rien de la verite elle ne prenoit pas garde au commencement au changement qui estoit arrive en ligdamis neantmoins il devint si inquiet et si resveur qu'a la fin elle s'en aperceut et luy demanda ce qu'il avoit avec une ingenuite qui luy fit bien connoistre qu'elle ne scavoit pas quelle en estoit la cause de sorte que n'ayant pas la hardiesse de luy dire une verite si surprenante pour elle il luy respondit que sa resverie estoit causee par une legere indisposition et par une de ces melancolies sans sujet qui viennent de temperament si bien que cleonice le croyant fit ce qu'elle put pour le divertir et par cent soins obligeans qu'elle eut de luy elle serra si estoitement 
 sans y penser les liens qui l'attachoient a son service qu'il connut bien qu'il ne les pourroit jamais desnouer je me souviens qu'en ce temps la artelinde fit plusieurs choses qui nous donnerent un ample sujet de parler contre l'amour car madame un de ses amants s'en allant a un voyage et laissant aupres d'elle un frere qu'il avoit pour donner ses lettres a artelinde et pour prendre ses responces elle fit son captif de celuy qui ne pensoit estre qu'agent et favorisa mesme bien plus le confident que celuy pour qui il agissoit phocylide de son coste ne nous donna pas moins de sujet de conversation en persuadant en mesme temps comme il fit a deux ennemies mortelles qu'il les aimoit faisant croire a chacune separement qu'il se mocquoit de celle qu'elle haissoit ces deux nouvelles avantures nous ayant este racontees en un mesme jour cleonice ligdamis et moy estant ensemble cleonice se mit suivant sa coustume a exagerer les bizarres effets de l'amour ligdamis apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler luy dit qu'elle confondoit les choses puis qu'il estoit vray que ces especes d'extravagances estoient plustost causees par la folie de ceux qui les faisoient que par l'amour qui effectivement n'avoit point de place en leur ame car enfin dit-il artelinde et phocylide n'aiment point s'il n'y avoit pourtant point d'amour au monde reprit cleonice ils ne feroient rien de ce qu'ils font mais ligdamis luy dit-elle en riant d'ou vient que vous voulez oster a l'amour toutes les folies d'artelinde et toutes celles de phocylide c'est repliqua-t'il froide ment que j'ay tant d'autres choses a luy reprocher que je n'ay pas voulu l'accuser avec injustice 
 pour moy reprit-elle je ne suis pas si indulgente que vous car si je pouvois je l'accuserois de tous les maux qui sont au monde vous voudriez donc bien luy dit-il scavoir du moins tous ceux qu'il a faits pour les luy reprocher il n'en faut pas douter repliqua-t'elle et s'il m'avoit fait perdre la raison reprit-il seriez-vous aussi bien aise de l'aprendre nullement dit-elle car je vous aime encore plus que je ne hais l'amour c'est pourquoy je puis vous asseurer que j'en aurois une douleur bien sensible mais je suis si asseuree de vostre sagesse que je ne crains pas que cette disgrace m'arrive on dit pourtant repris-je qu'il faut aimer une fois en sa vie je ne pense pas que cette regle soit generale repliqua cleonice et je pense mesme estre en seurete adjousta-t'elle en riant car enfin ligdamis connoist tout ce qu'il y a de beau a ephese toutes nos beautez naissantes n'effaceront a mon advis jamais celles qui brillent aujourd'huy ainsi pourveu que les voyages qu'il fait a sardis ne l'expoterst point a ce danger il possedera tousjours mon amitie et par consequent il ne sera jamais amoureux je vous pro mets luy dit-il que les belles de sardis ne m'empescheront point d'estre aime de vous mais vous ne dites rien de celles d'ephese reprit-elle en riant encore puis que vous ne les craignez pas repliqua-t'il en rougissant il n'est pas necessaire que je vous en parle cleonice ayant pris garde au changement de visage de ligdamis se mit a luy en faire la guerre et tout en raillant elle se mit aussi a luy repasser toutes les conditions de leur amitie souvenez-vous luy dit-elle que je ne vous ay promis mon affection que tant que vous ne serez point amoureux et que de vostre 
 coste vous m'avez promis que si vous le deveniez vous m'en advertiriez a l'heure mesme je ne scay madame reprit-il avec un sous rire un peu force si vous fistes cette regle generale et je ne me souviens pas bien ce que vous me dites que je fisse en cas que je le devinsse de vous quoy que cela ne soit pas fort necessaire a redire repli qua t'elle je ne veux pas laisser de vous faire souvenir que je vous dis que je ne voudrois pas que vous me le dissiez que je voudrois que vous fissiez ce que vous pourriez pour vaincre cette passion que si vous ne le pouviez il la faudroit ca cher et que si vous ne le pouviez encore il faudroit vous cacher vous mesme et ne me voir jamais depuis cela madame reprit-il vous n'avez donc pas change de sentimens nullement repliqua-t'elle mais ligdamis vous ne serez sans doute pas en peine de m'obeir de cette sorte et pourveu que quelque autre ne vous enchaine pas vous serez tousjours libre et je seray tousjours vostre amie ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que depuis quelques jours que je vous voy si resveur et si melancolique vous ne me fassiez la plus grande frayeur du monde car je m'imagine tousjours des que vous vous approchez de moy que vous me venez descouvrir vostre foiblesse et me dire que vous estes amoureux ou d'artelinde ou de quel que autre ligdamis rougit a ce discours et comme je luy en demanday la cause il me dit que c'estoit la coustume de ceux que l'on soupconnoit avec injustice d'avoir de la confusion voila donc madame comment cette conversation te passa qui redoubla encore tous les maux de ligdamis et ils devinrent en effet si insuportables qu'il ne les pouvoit plus souffrir il 
 fut tente cent et cent fois de dire qu'il aimoit et cent et cent fois aussi le respect luy ferma la bouche il se resolut donc de descouvrir son amour a cleonice en luy obeissant c'est a dire en cessant de la voir s'imaginant qu'il ne pouvoit trouver une voye plus seure de luy faire connoistre sa passion sans l'irriter cette declaration d'amour estoit pourtant bien difficile a faire de cette sorte mais luy estant impossible de parler il falut avoir recours au silence encore s'estimoit-il bien heureux dans son malheur de ce qu'il esperoit qu'il seroit entendu apres avoir donc fait une longue visite a cleonice sans avoir pu luy parler un moment en particulier parce qu'il y avoit eu beaucoup de monde chez elle ce jour la comme il vint a sortir avec la compagnie qui se separa presques en un mesme instant ne vous verray-je point demain luy dit-t'elle non madame repliqu'a-t'il et pourquoy luy demanda cleonice sans y entendre de finesse me priverez-vous de cet honneur c'est parce respondit-il en sortant et n'osant presques la regarder que je suis resolu de vous obeir cleonice r'appellant alors dans sa memoire tout ce qu'elle avoit dit ce jour la a ligdamis ne se souvint point qu'elle luy eust donne aucune commission pour le lendemain elle creut pourtant qu'il faloit que sa memoire la trompast et elle ne soupconna point du tout la verite le jour suivant elle me demanda si je n'avois point veu ligdamis et le demanda encore a plusieurs personnes qui luy dirent que non aussi bien que moy et en effet il n'avoit point sorty de chez luy ou il attendoit avec autant de crainte que d'impatience que cleonice luy donnast quelques marques de l'avoir entendu il m'a dit depuis que 
 jamais il n'a tant souffert qu'il souffrit en cette occasion car disoit-il si elle ne m'entend point je me prive inutilement du plaisir de la voir et si elle m'entend j'excite peut - estre la colere dans son coeur je destruis l'estime qu'elle a pour moy et peut-estre encore que sans me faire mesme la grace de me vouloir donner quelques marques de son indignation elle me laissera dans mon exil il n'estoit pourtant pas expose a ce malheur car il est certain que cleonice ne soupconnoit rien de sa passion le premier jour se passa donc de cet te sorte le second elle s'estonna un peu davantage et le troisiesme l'estant allee voir mais me dit-elle qu'avons nous fait a ligdamis et que peut-il faire que nous ne le voyons point et que mesme personne ne le voit je dirois qu'il seroit malade repris-je si ce n'estoit que j'ay veu ce matin sa soeur au temple qui m'a dit qu'il ne l'est pas mais qu'il est fort melancholique je ne puis donc pas deviner ce qu'il a reprit-elle et il faut attendre qu'il soit d'humeur a me le venir dire le lendemain qui estoit un jour consacre a diane nous fusmes au temple ensemble cleonice et moy en y entrant je vy ligdamis a un coing que je monstray a cleonice mais a peine eut-il rencontre ses yeux qu'apres l'avoir saluee il sortit du temple ce qui nous surprit estrangement car il avoit accoustume quand il y trouvoit cleonice de regler sa devotion sur la tienne et de n'en sortit qu'avec elle le jour suivant y estant encore allees ensemble nous le trouvasmes qui en revenoit mais comme artelinde et trois ou quatre au tres nous joignirent cleonice ne put presques luy rien dire lors qu'il fut contraint de passer aupres de nous neantmoins comme il passa de son 
 coste elle se pancha un peu vers luy et luy adressant la parole fort obligeamment de grace ligdamis luy dit elle aprenez moy un peu ce que vous faites je vous obeis madame luy repliqua t'il tout bas enrougissant et sans tarder davantage il s'en alla et laissa cleonice si estonnee qu'elle ne scavoit que penser des qu'elle fut retournee chez elle elle prit la resolution de s'esclaircir de ce que ligdamis vouloit dire de sorte qu'elle luy escrivit en ces termes
 
 
 cleonice a ligdamis 
 
 
 comme je n'ay jamais pu me souvenir que je vous aye fait aucune priere qui me deust priver du plaisir de vous voir faites-moy la grace de m'escrire ce que j'en dois croire afin que si cela est je me reproche a moy mesme mon peu de memoire et que je vous scache gre de vostre obeissance 
 
 
 cleonice apres avoir escrit ce billet elle l'envoya a ligdamis par un je une esclave qu'elle aimoit beaucoup 
 et qui fut a l'heure mesme s'acquiter de sa commission je vous laisse a juger quel trouble fut celuy de ligdamis et quelle incertitude fut la sienne il commenca vingt fois de respondre a ce billet et vingt fois il effaca ce qu'il avoit escrit tantost il trouvoit qu'il en disoit trop un moment apres qu'il en disoit trop peu mais enfin se determinant par necessite il y respondit de cette sorte si ma memoire ne me trompe
 
 
 ligdamis a cleonice 
 
 
 plust aux dieux madame qu'en vous faisant souvenir du commande ment que vous m'avez fait de ne vous voir plus je pusse esperer que mon obeissance me fera obtenir le pardon du crime qui l'a precedee mais comme cela n'est pas je n'auray jamais la hardiesse de vous dire ce que j'ay la temerite de penser si vous avez la bonte de me le permettre ou plustost de me l'ordonner encore une fois 
 
 
 
 
 ligdamis 
 
 
apres avoir escrit ce billet et l'avoir leu et releu 
 ligdamis le donna a l'esclave qui luy avoir aporte celuy de cleonice luy ordonnant de le rendre en main propre a sa maistresse et de ne le laisser voir qu'a elle en fuite de cela il demeura dans une inquietude qu'il n'a jamais pu m'exprimer qu'en me disant qu'il luy estoit impossible de me la despeindre cependant le hazard fit qu'estant arrive chez cleonice un moment apres qu'elle eut envoye chez ligdamis je me trou nay aupres d'elle lors qu'elle receut la responce des que l'esclave qui la luy aporta parut elle s'avanca vers luy pour prendre ce que ligdamis luy escrivoit et s'en revenant vers moy apres l'avoir renvoye voyons un peu me dit elle s'il est vray que j'aye perdu la memoire et s'il est possible que j'aye prie ligdamis de ne me voir plus sans qu'il m'en souvienne apres cela elle se mit a lire ce billet tout haut mais des les premieres lignes je la vy rougir la voix mesme luy changea et elle en prononca les dernieres paroles si peu distinctement que je ne les entendis pas de sorte que prenant ce billet a mon tour et le lisant haut aussi bien que cleonice vostre curiosite est-elle satisfaite luy dis-je apres avoir acheve de lire nullement repliqua-t'elle car je ne voy pas encore bien precisement si ligdamis raille ou si ligdamis a perdu la raison je ne comprends que trop presentement adjousta-t'elle que ce commandement qu'il dit que je luy ay fait est fonde sur ce qu'il me demanda un jour en vostre presence ce qu'il faudroit qu'il fist s'il devenoit amoureux de moy et je m'apercoy enfin qu'il me veut faire croire qu'il l'est devenu j'advoue luy dis je que cette declaration d'amour est la plus respectueuse qui sera jamais faite et la plus particuliere 
 me preservent les dieux dit-elle de croire que ligdamis soit amoureux de moy non ismenie je ne le croy point du tout et je me repens du simple soupcon que j'en ay eu c'est sans doute adjousta-t'elle qu'il s'est trouve d'humeur a se vouloir divertir et qu'il se veut vanger de l'inquietude que je luy donnay quand je l'accusay d'estre amoureux d'artelinde tousjous faut-il advouer luy dis je que quand il seroit amoureux effectivement il ne pourroit pas agir avec plus de respect ny plus galamment s'il l'estoit repliqua t'elle il n'agiroit sans doute pas ainsi car je croy que les amants perdent la raison des qu'ils commencent de l'estre j'ay pourtant ouy dire repris-je qu'il y a des gens a qui l'amour donne de l'esprit je pense en effet dit elle que comme il renverse toutes choses il peut estre qu'il en donne quelques fois a ceux qui n'en ont point mais je croy aussi par la mesme raison qu'il le fait perdre a ceux qui en ont c'est pourquoy je me confirme en l'opinion que j'ay que ligdamis s'est voulu divertir n'estant pas croyable qu'il eust pu conserver tant de juge ment en une occasion ou tout le monde n'en a point apres tout luy dis-je il a trouve l'invention de vous faire lire une declaration d'amour sans colere je l'advoue dit elle mais c'est parce que je ne croy pas qu'il pense ce qu'il me veut faire penser j'ay mesme tant de peur adjousta t'elle en riant qu'il n'aille s'imaginer que je prenne cela serieuse ment et que je ne luy donne lieu de me railler toute sa vie que je m'en vay l'envoyer prier de venir icy toute a l'heure afin que je luy fasse voir d'a bord par le bon accueil que je luy feray que je ne me suis pas laissee tromper mais luy dis je si vous vous trompiez en effet qu'en diriez vous je dirois 
 repliqua t'elle que je serois la plus malheureuse personne de la terre j'ay pourtant tort poursuivit cleonice de m'amuser a vous respondre comme je fais car enfin ismenie ay-je d'autres yeux que je n'avois lors que ligdamis devint de mes amis suis-je plus charmante ay-je plus d'esprit et que m'est il arrive qui m'ait rendue plus redoutable pour luy non non adjousta t'elle encore l'esprit de ligdamis est libre et si libre que vous voyez bien qu'il a mieux invente une declaration d'amour que tous les amants d'artelinde n'ont jamais pu faire mais d'ou vient luy dis-je que vous avez rougy en lisant son billet et que vous aviez la voix si foible et si basse qu'a peine vous entendiez vous vous mesme c'est repliqua t'elle que tout ce qui porte le caractere de galanterie m'effraye d'abord mais un moment apres je me suis remise cependant adjousta t'elle vous me faites perdre un temps qui me doit estre fort cher car il me semble que je voy ligdamis qui a un plaisir extreme de s'imaginer qu'il m'a pu mettre en colere apres cela sans vouloir plus m'escouter elle apella une de ses femmes a qui elle ordonna de faire venir ce je une esclave qui avoit desja este chez ligdamis quand il fut venu elle luy commanda d'y retourner de luy faire un compliment de sa part et de luy dire qu'elle le prioit de venir a l'heure mesme la trouver si par hazard luy dit elle encore il te demande avec qui je suis tu luy nommeras ismenie et s'il s'informe aussi si je suis gaye ou melancolique tu luy diras la verite qui est que je ne suis pas triste cleonice avoit toutes ces precautions parce qu'elle scavoit bien que ligdamis estoit accoustume a demander cent choses a ce jeune esclave qui avoit assez d'esprit et la raison pourquoy 
 elle vouloit qu'il parlast de cette sorte estoit afin que ligdamis connust par la que son billet n'avoit pas este receu comme une chose escrite serieusement tant il est vray qu'elle avoit peur que ligdamis ne la soupconnast un moment de croire qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi comme je m'en vay vous le dire ce jeune esclave estant donc alle chez ligdamis il ne le vit pas plustost qu'il creut qu'il luy aportoit son arrest de mort signe de la main de cleonice et il se preparoit desja a lire des reproches et des injures lors que voyant cet esclave de plus pres il le vit avec un air enjoue comme a son ordinaire qui luy faisoit un compliment tres civil et qu'il luy ordonnoit d'aller trouver cleonice ligdamis fort surpris de ce qu'il entendoit demanda a cet esclave si elle avoit leu sa lettre et il luy respondit qu'il croyoit qu'elle l'avoit leue plus d'une fois car luy dit il elle en a bien eu le loisir depuis que je l'ay laissee seule avec ismenie et quand on m'a rapelle elle la tenoit encore en suite ligdamis ne manqua pas feignant de s'informer de la sante de sa maistresse de luy demander si elle estoit gaye ou triste si bien que l'esclave respondant suivant l'intention de cleonice ligdamis demeura si surpris qu'il ne pouvoit que penser il dit donc a l'esclave qu'il viendroit bien tost nous trouver mais il ne tint pas sa parole estant certain qu'il fut plus d'une heure a raisonner sur le message qu'il venoit de recevoir et sur la joye de cleonice auparavant que de pouvoir sortir de chez luy que dois je penser disoit il cleonice m'a t'elle entendu ou ne m'entend elle point seroit il possible que l'amour en blessant mon coeur eust touche 
 le sien ou seroit il possible encore qu'elle ne comprist pas ce que je luy ay voulu dire cependant il y a grande aparence qu'il faut que la chose soit ainsi mais reprenoit il cleonice a tant d'esprit et elle m'a tant de fois dit qu'elle vouloit que je ne la visse plus s'il arrivoit que je devinsse amoureux d'elle et que je ne pusse ny vaincre ny desguiser ma passion qu'il n'est pas croyable qu'elle en ait perdu la memoire elle scait donc ce que je veux qu'elle scache et elle le scait sans en avoir de la colere puis qu'elle m'ordonne de l'aller trouver allons y donc mais allons y avec esperance toutesfois adjoustoit il je pense qu'il est plus raisonnable de craindre car enfin le moyen de concevoir que cette puissante adversion que cleonice a tousjours eue pour l'amour se soit changee en un moment mais puis que je suis change reprenoit il pourquoy ne peut elle pas changer aussi bien que moy la raison n'est pourtant pas esgale entre nous adjoustoit il un moment apres et il est bien moins estrange que la beaute l'esprit et le merite de cleonice m'ayent fait changer de resolution que si elle venoit a changer la tendresse de son amitie en une affection un peu plus passionnee apres tout disoit-il encore s'il ne faut qu'ai mer pour estre aime j'ay tout ce qu'il faut pour l'estre de cleonice puis qu'il est vray que je l'ai me plus que personne n'a jamais aime esperons donc esperons et allons recevoir nostre arrest de grace de la seule personne qui nous la peut faire apres cela ligdamis s'estant fortement determine vint chez cleonice qui ne le vit pas plustost qu'elle se mit a rire afin de luy faire voir qu'il ne l'avoit pas trompee et que sa 
 fourbe avoit mal reussi mais madame la joye de cleonice ne fut pas contagieuse pour ligdamis au contraire connoissant par l'air enjoue de son visage qu'elle ne l'avoit pas entendu comme il vouloit l'estre il nous parut si serieux et si interdit qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage neantmoins cleonice ne laissa pas de prendre la parole suivant son premier dessein et de luy faire la guerre de ne l'avoir pu tromper mais comme ligdamis alloit respondre et que j'allois me joindre a cleonice pour le tourmenter on me vint querir pour une affaire qui m'apelloit de necessite chez moy de sorte que je les quittay tous deux et les laissay fort embarrassez j'ay pourtant sceu bien exactement ce qu'ils se dirent car ils me le raconterent separement des le soir mesme je ne fus donc pas plustost partie que cleonice continuant de railler tout a bon ligdamis luy dit-elle je trouve cela fort honteux pour vous que vous ayez pu imaginer une declaration d'amour aussi galante comme est celle que vous avez inventee pour vous divertir et je trouve mesme fort mauvais que vous ayez pu croire que je pusse prendre la chose serieusement pour moy adjousta-t'elle je pense que vous avez eu quelque curiosite de voir ce que la colere fait en mon esprit mais ligdamis j'ay este plus fine que vous puisque j'ay fort bien connu que c'estoit une raillerie plust aux dieux madame luy dit-il que ce que vous dites fust vray serieusement ligdamis interrompit cleonice je ne scaurois souffrir que vous parliez comme vous faites sincere ment madame luy dit-il je ne puis parler autre ment si je ne dis un mensonge cleonice regardant alors ligdamis et voyant en effet sur son 
 visage un trouble qui luy faisoit voir qu'il ne men toit pas en fut si surprise et si irritee qu'elle fut un moment sans pouvoir parler de sorte que ligdamis prenant la parole madame luy dit il ne me condamnez pas s'il vous plaist sans m en tendre vous scavez bien luy dit elle que cela n'est pas de nos conditions et que je ne dois plus rien escouter des que vous vous serez rendu indigne de mon amitie par une foiblesse dont je ne vous croyois pas capable et dont je ne veux pas mesme encore vous accuser cependant comme je croy que vous avez perdu la raison par quelque autre accident allez ligdamis attendre chez vous qu'elle vous revienne et ne me voyez point que cela ne soit au nom de nostre amitie madame luy dit-il ne me bannissez pas si cruellement cette conjuration peut tout obtenir de moy repliqua cleonice si vostre amitie subsiste encore mais si cela n'est pas elle est inutile et je vous dois tout refuser je vous proteste madame luy dit-il que je n'ay aucun sentiment dans le coeur qui vous doive offencer et s'il y a quelque changement dans mon ame il n'est desavantageux que pour moy je suis plus inquiet et plus malheureux que je n'estois je l'avoue mais pour ce qui vous regarde madame la difference que j'y voy c'est que je vous respecte beaucoup plus que je ne faisois que je vous crains davantage et que je vous aime avec plus d'ardeur enfin divine cleonice tout le changement qu'il y a c'est que je vous aimois autre fois et que je vous adore presentement durant que ligdamis parloit ainsi cleonice le regardoit avec une froideur capable de le mettre au desespoir puis tout d'un coup prenant la parole 
 cessez ligdamis luy dit-elle de commettre crime sur crime contentez vous de perdre mon amitie et ne me forcez pas a vous hair seroit-il juste madame luy dit-il de me hair seulement parce que je vous aime trop au reste ne pensez pas que je ne vous aye point resiste je vous ay obei ponctuellement j'ay combatu ma passion autant que je l'ay pu apres voyant que je ne la pouvois vaincre j'ay voulu du moins la cacher mais sentant bien que je ne le pourrois pas j'ay voulu me bannir moy mesme que ne cherchiez vous un pretexte pour le faire luy dit-elle sans m'a prendre vostre folie quoy madame luy dit-il vous eussiez voulu m'avoir oste la liberte et la raison avoir mis le trouble en mon ame change toutes mes inclinations et destruit tout le repos de ma vie et vous eussiez voulu dis-je ignorer tousjours le mal que vous m'avez cause et me priver mesme de la consolation d'esperer que vous me scaurez quelque gre de l'obeissance que je vous rends obeissez moy donc luy dit elle en ne me voyant jamais ligdamis voulut encore luy dire quelque chose mais elle ne le voulut pas escouter et voyant qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre a sortir de sa chambre elle en sortit la premiere et le contraignit d'en sortir aussi je vous laisse a penser madame quelle douleur fut la sienne il est vray que celle de cleonice ne fut guere moindre bien que ce fust par des sentimens differends car si ligdamis estoit afflige parce qu'il craignoit de ne pouvoir flechir cleonice par sa perseverance cleonice l'estoit parce qu'elle estoit au desespoir de croire qu'elle estoit obligee de rompre avec ligdamis et de se priver de l'amitie d'une personne qui luy estoit si chere 
 ne pouvant donc renfermer toute sa douleur dans son ame elle m'envoya prier que je la visse et je fus en effet la trouver vers le soir des qu'elle me vit ma chere ismenie me dit-elle ne suis-je pas bien malheureuse et ne faut-il pas advouer que j'ay bien de la bonte de ne vous hair pas de m'avoir donne la connoissance de ligdamis quoy luy dis-je depuis que je vous ay laissez ensemble vous avez eu querelle ouy me respondit cleonice et si grande que vous ne pourrez jamais nous accorder alors elle me raconta tout ce qu'ils s'estoient dit mais avec des sentimens si differents et si contraires qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle souffroit beaucoup car je voyois clairement qu'elle avoit une amitie tres sorte pour ligdamis et je voyois pourtant que elle faisoit tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour prendre la resolution de ne le voir jamais il me semble luy dis-je l'entendant parler ainsi que vous allez un peu bien viste ne songez vous point adjoustay je que si vous rompez brusquement avecque luy tout le monde en cherchera la cause mais ne songez vous point vous mesme in terrompit-elle que si je n'y rompois pas ligda mis pourroit penser que sa pretendue passion ne me desplairoit point ce dernier mal luy dis-je n'a pas de si facheuses consequences que l'autre je les trouve bien plus dangereuses dit-elle mais luy dis-je encore en riant si ligdamis s'est deffendu et qu'il vous aime malgre luy que voulez vous qu'il y face je veux qu'il ne me voye plus me repliqua-t'elle et je le veux si determinement que quand je sentirois que mon coeur ne seroit pas d'accord avec ma volonte je ne laisserois pas de le vouloir encore enfin madame je ne 
 pus rien obtenir de cleonice et je m'en retour nay persuadee qu'il faudroit absolument que ligdamis ne la vist jamais en r'entrant dans ma chambre je trouvay ce malheureux amant qui m'y attendoit et qui venoit me demander assistance je luy dis ingenument que cleonice estoit fort irritee neantmoins je ne voulus pas precisement luy dire tout ce que j'en croyois parce que je le vy trop afflige mais luy dis-je ligdamis dequoy vous estes vous advise d'aller devenir amoureux et de cleonice encore et de qui donc me dit-il brusquement l'eussay-je pu estre puis que j'avois a le devenir si ce n'estoit de la personne du monde la plus accomplie scachant son humeur repliquay-je il me semble que vous n'y deviez pas songer ha ismenie me dit-il que je suis devenu scavant en amour en peu de jours et que vous y estes ignorante j'eusse sans doute parle comme vous faites il y a quelque temps mais aujourd'huy je connois par mon experience que l'amour est une chose plus sorte que la raison et que rien ne le scauroit vaincre ainsi puis que ce n'est pas un sentiment volontaire il y a beaucoup d'injustice a vouloir condamner ceux qui en sont capables vous avez donc fait bien des injustices luy dis-je en riant je l'advoue me repliqua-t'il mais aussi en suis-je rigoureusement puny cependant il ne laisse pas d'estre equitable de pleindre du moins les amants malheureux lors qu'on ne les veut pas soulager autrement et c'est ismenie toute la grace que je demande a cleonice elle m'a fait autrefois l'honneur de me dire que si je devenois amoureux pourveu que ce ne suit point d'elle qu'elle vouloit bien que je luy descouvrisse 
 ma foiblesse afin qu'elle m'assistast de ses conseils et qu'elle fist ce qu'elle pourroit pour me guerir du mal qui me tourmenteroit obtenez donc seulement de sa bonte qu'elle ne face point cette exception faites qu'elle souffre que je luy die une fois l'estat ou elle a mis mon ame comme si ce n'estoit point elle de qui je fusse amoureux et je luy promettray de suivre ses advis et d'essayer tous les remedes qu'elle me conseillera pour ma guerison si j'estois amoureux d'une autre elle ne seroit pas si obligee qu'elle est a soulager mes maux agissez donc ismenie aupres de cette admirable personne et disposez la a vouloir seulement estre la confidente de la passion que j'ay pour elle je n'aurois jamais fait madame si je vous redisois tout ce que ligdamis me dit car je ne pense pas que l'amour ait jamais inspire de sentimens plus delicats ny plus respectueux que ceux qu'il avoit aussi me fit il pitie et de telle sorte que je luy promis que du moins je ferois ce que je pourrois pour obliger cleonice a ne le hair pas je trouvay pourtant beaucoup de dif ficulte a obtenir d'elle qu'il la revist car durant plusieurs jours elle me dit determinement qu'elle ne le vouloit plus voir mais comme a travers toute sa colere je m'apercevois qu'elle ne pouvoit venir a bout de se deffaire de l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour ligdamis je m'advisay de ne l'en presser plus et de ne luy en parler mesme plus pour voir comment elle agiroit et ce que cette amitie toute seule seroit dans son ame pendant ce la ligdamis ne voyoit personne et feignant de se trouver mal pour avoir un pretexte de ne sortir gueres il menoit la plus malheureuse vie du monde car quand il se souvenoit combien 
 il estoit heureux lors qu'il n'avoit que de l'amitie pour cleonice et combien il estoit infortune seulement parce qu'il avoit de l'amour pour elle il souffroit des maux incroyables principalement voyant que je ne luy en oyois rien dire quatre ou cinq jours se passerent de cette sorte durant lesquels j'apportay soin a ne le nommer pas seule ment devant cleonice et durant lesquels je la voyois fort melancolique toutes les fois que nous estions seules je connoissois dans ses yeux qu'elle attendoit que je luy parlasse de ligdamis et il y eut mesme quelques instants ou il me sembla qu'elle le desiroit neantmoins je demeuray ferme dans ma resolution et je ne luy en dis pas une parole diverses personnes en ma presence luy demanderent si elle ne scavoit point ce qui causoit la retraite de ligdamis artelinde mesme luy en parla phocylide luy en dit aussi quelque chose et il ne fut pas jusques a hermodore qui ne taschast de scavoir d'elle d'ou venoit qu'il ne la voyoit plus quelques autres luy disoient qu'il estoit malade d'autres encore qu'il estoit seule ment afflige et tous ensemble concluoient qu'il mourroit bien tost si les maux de son corps ou de son esprit ne diminuoient apres que toute cette compagnie fut partie qui avoit tant parle de ligdamis a cleonice elle se tourna vers moy et me regardant avec un peu de chagrin sur le visage le destin de ligdamis est bien bizarre dit-elle car tous les gens qui ne l'aiment point m'en parlent et vous qui l'aimez tant ne m'en parlez pas il est vray luy dis-je mais c'est que je vous aime encore plus que je ne l'aime et que la crainte de vous fascher m'impose silence je vous suis bien obligee de ce sentiment la repliqua t'elle 
 mais je vous la serois encore infiniment si vous pouviez remettre la raison dans l'ame de ligdamis pour qui j'ay eu assez d'estime et allez d'amitie pour souhaiter de le voir aussi raisonnable qu'il l'estoit autrefois c'est a vous luy dis-je a faire ce miracle et alors je luy apris que ligdamis m'avoit demande pour toute grace qu'elle voulust agir avecque luy comme elle luy avoit promis de faire s'il eust este amoureux d'une autre au commencement cleonice rejetta cette proposition mais a la fin croyant peut estre qu'elle pourroit persuader par raison a ligdamis de n'avoir plus d'amour pour elle apres une longue resistance elle me promit qu'elle je verroit une fois en particulier pour adviser de quels remedes il se pourroit servir pour guerir du mal qu'il avoit des que je me fus separee de cleonice j'envoyay querir ligdamis qui receut avec une joye in croyable la nouvelle que je luy donnay qu'il la verroit mais luy dis-je ce ne sera que pour vous conseiller de n'avoir plus d'amour pour elle n'importe me dit-il pourquoy que ce soit que je la voye puis que je la verray il suffit et je ne puis manquer d'en estre soulage il se trouva mesme qu'il n'attendit pas longtemps ce plaisir la parce que le lendemain stenobee estant alle faire des visites ou cleonice n'alla pas j'en advertis ligdamis il me fut pourtant impossible de me trouver a cette entre-veue dont il me vint rendre conte le jour fumant des qu'il fut aupres de cleonice auparavant qu'il pust parler elle prit la parole et le regardant avec un serieux sur le visage capable de chasser l'esperance de son coeur quand il en eust este tout remply ligdamis luy dit elle ne pensez pas tirer advantage 
 de la bonte que j'ay pour vous et n'allez pas vous flatter jusques au point que de croire que peut estre je ne suis pas aussi irritee que je vous l'ay paru je me suis resolue a faire ce que je fais aujourd'huy parce que j'ay creu que nostre amitie passee m'obligeoit a tascher de vous secourir si je le pouvois et a essayer de faire un dernier effort pour remettre la raison dans vostre ame par quelque motif que vous souffriez que j'aye l'honneur de vous revoir respondit-il je vous en suis tousjours tres oblige et plus oblige que de toutes les bontez que vous avez eues pour moy tant que nostre amitie a dure estant certain que je n'ay jamais souhaite d'avoir cet honneur avec une passion si aredente que depuis que je nie suis prive de vostre veue je suis pourtant la mesme que j'estois reprit froidement cleonice il est vray madame repliqua-t'il mais je ne suis plus le mesme que j'ay este j'en suis bien fachee interrompit-elle et il est peu de choies que je ne fisse pour retrouver en vous cet amy agreable et fidele qui sans avoir toute la severite de l'extreme sagesse en avoit pourtant toute la solidite cet amy dis-je qui voyoit si clairement les choses comme elles devoient estre et de qui la conversation et l'amitie faisoient toute la douceur de ma vie mais ligdamis adjousta t'elle est il bien vray aussi que vous ne soyez plus celuy dont je parle et que vous me veuilliez forcer a vous hair ou du moins a ne vous voir plus bien loin d'avoir une volonte si deraisonnable dit-il si j'osois je vous dirois que je borne tous mes desirs a vous voir et a estre aime de vous si vous n'aviez pretendu que ces deux choses reprit-elle vous n'auriez point change de sentimens car enfin on ne peut 
 pas avoir une amitie plus tendre que celle que je vous avois donnee et vous ne pouviez pas me voir plus souvent que vous faisiez il est vray madame luy dit-il mais c'est que cette affection que vous aviez pour moy et ces visites que je vous rendois n'avoient pas je ne scay quoy que je ne scay pas seulement encore exprimer et qui est pointant absolument necessaire pour satisfaire un homme amoureux quoy ligdamis inter rompit cleonice il est bien vray que l'entends ce terrible mot de vostre bouche vous dis-je qui m'avez fait cent satires agreables contre l'amour qui me l'avez depeinte comme la plus dangereuse des passions qui m'avez dit qu'elle ne surmontoit que les foibles et les oysifs qui m'avez promis mille fois de ne vous en laisser jamais vaincre qui m'avez raconte mille effets funestes qu'elle a causez qui m'avez appris cent extravagances qu'elle a fait faire et qui n'avez dit enfin qu'elle faisoit perdre la raison qu'elle faisoit souvent oublier la vertu et qu'elle rendoit du moins miserables tous ceux qui en estoient possedez vous adjoustiez a cela que cette dangereuse passion faisoit des fourbes des amis les plus fideles et qu'un amant devoit tousjours estre regarde comme un homme incapable de respondre de luy mesme et comme un homme en estat de commettre tous les crimes qui pourroient servir a son amour voulez vous apres cela ligdamis que je vous considere comme estant amoureux et que selon vos propres maximes je vous regarde avec mespris avec meffiance et avec hayne parlez ligdamis je vous en conjure mais parlez comme je le veux et que voulez vous que je vous die repliqua-t'il je veux 
 que vous m'asseuriez reprit-elle que vous estes tousjours de mes amis et que vous ne serez jamais mon amant je ne scaurois madame respondit-il et quand je forcerois mesme ma bouche a vous dire ce mensonge mes yeux contre diroient mes paroles et mon visage descouvriroit le secret de mon coeur quoy ligdamis adjousta-t'elle vous pouvez vous resoudre a perdre mon amitie quoy madame respondit-il je pour rois consentir a vous aimer moins que je ne fais mais ligdamis luy dit-elle vous ne respondez point a tout ce que je vous ay dit parlez donc je vous en prie et dites moy si tout ce que vous m'avez dit contre l'amour est hors de vostre me moire nullement repliqua-t'il mais il est hors de mon coeur estant certain que je voy les choses d'une autre sorte que je ne les voyois pour moy interrompit-elle qui les vois tousjours comme je les ay veues je ne puis pas comprendre que cela soit ainsi cela est pourtant si vray repliqua-t'il que je ne vous voy plus vous mesme comme je vous ay veue tant que je n'ay eu que de l'amitie pour vous je vous trouve cent fois plus belle que je ne faisois vous avez selon moy sans comparaison plus d'esprit que vous n'aviez vous estes infiniment plus charmante vostre humeur me semble plus agreable la moindre de vos paroles me donne plus d'admiration que ne faisoient vos plus beaux discours un seul de vos regards me fait battre le coeur et vous me paroissez tellement au dessus de ce que vous me sembliez estre que je me fais la plus grande confusion du monde de n'avoir pas plustost veu tant de choses admirables que je descouvre en vostre personne depuis que j'en suis amoureux 
 ouy madame adjousta-t'il le feu qui me brusle ne m'embrase pas seulement il m'esclaire encore et me fait apercevoir cent choies que je n'avois jamais veues et vous pouvez voir luy dit-elle que l'amour n'est point ce que vous disiez autrefois je le voy sans doute reprit-il et je le voy de telle sorte que je ne puis comprendre comment il est possible que j'aye si mal raisonne j'advoue toutesfois madame qu'il est une espece de passion terrestre grossiere et brutale qui usurpe le nom d'amour et qui ne l'est pourtant pas qui merite d'avoir l'aversion de toutes les personnes raisonnables je dis encore qu'il y a une espece de galanterie universelle indigne d'une personne d'esprit mais je dis en mesme temps qu'une amour confiante et espuree telle que je la sens dans mon coeur est la plus belle et la plus louable chose un monde c'est par cette sorte de passion que l'ame s'esleve au dessus d'elle mesme et qu'elle est capable de faire des actions heroiques en effet madame commandez moy aujourd'huy les choses les plus difficiles et les plus dangereuses a executer je les entre prendray sans hesiter un moment si vous eussiez peut-estre ordonne quelque chose de cette nature a ce ligdamis dont vous regrettez tant l'amitie il vous auroit represente la grandeur du peril il eust examine la difficulte qu'il y avoit a vous obeir et selon les apparences il ne l'eust pas fait mais ce ligdamis qui vous aime aujourd'huy n'est plus en estat de deliberer sur vos commandemens et il est prest de tout entreprendre pour vous obeir cessez donc de m'aimer de la maniere que vous faites interrompit cleonice s'il est vray que vostre obeissance n'ait point de bornes l'impossibilite 
 reprit-il madame en donne a toutes choses c'est pourquoy je ne puis pas faire ce que vous voulez n'estant pas en ma puissance de ne vous aimer plus et scachant que j'ay essaye vainement de m'arracher de l'ame une passion que je scavois bien qui vous desplairoit je n'ay pourtant consenty de vous voir reprit elle que pour tascher de trouver les moyens de vous guerir de cette folie quoy que j'aye un mal repliqua t'il dont l'aime mieux mourir que d'en souhait ter seulement la guerison je ne laisse pas de vous demander madame ce que vous jugez qui soit propre a faire ce que vous dites je voudrois reprit-elle que vous vous souvinssiez de tout ce que vous me disiez autrefois je m'en souviens aussi repliqua-t'il mais je le trouve si injuste que vous n'avez garde de trouver le remede que vous cherchez pour moy par cette voye consultez donc mieux vostre raison que vous ne faites reprit-elle et je m'assure que vous changerez de sentimens elle est si troublee repliqua-t'il que bien loin de me conseiller elle est soumise a la passion qui me possede ne me voyez donc plus dit-elle afin que l'absence vous guerisse depuis cinq ou six jours que je ne vous ay veue repliqua-t'il mon amour a augmente de la moitie songez donc adjousta-t'elle qu'en m'aimant je vous hairay et qu'en ne m'aimant point vous conserverez mon estime et mon amitie ha madame quelle injustice est la vostre s'escria-t'il de vouloir aimer qui ne vous aimeroit pas et de vouloir hair qui vous aime quoy qu'il en soit ligdamis reprit elle comme mes sentimens ne sont pas changez comme les vostres je voy tousjours l'amour comme je la 
 voyois et je vous voy vous mesme si desraisonnable bien qu'il n'y ait pas longtemps que vostre coeur en soit touche que je ne scay comment je vous puis souffrir vostre visage est change vos actions le sont aussi je voy une inquietude continuelle dans vos yeux vous parlez avec plus de precipitation que vous ne faisiez tout ce que vous dites est injuste vous vous taisez a contretemps vous respondes mal a propos et tout cela se fait en vous sans que l'en voye la raison car enfin vous vous estimiez heureux autrefois je vous offre encore la mesme chose c'est a dire ma conversation mon estime mon amitie et ma confiance et vous n'estes pas content pour moy ligdamis vous m'en direz ce qu'il vous plaira mais je n'ay jamais trouve l'amour si bizarre en qui que ce soit qu'en vous c'est que cette passion reprit-il n'a jamais este si violente en qui que ce soit mais tousjours madame adjousta t'il ne m'estimay-je pas tout a fait malheureux puis que je m'apercoy que mon amour ne vous est pas inconnue ne vous y abusez point repliqua t'elle plus je verray dereglement en vostre ame moins j'auray de disposition a vous aimer cela ne scauroit estre ma dame interrompit-il et il n'est pas plus vray qu'il faut que le feu brusle ceux qu'il touche et que le soleil esclaire ceux qui le voyent qu'il est vray qu'une sorte et constante passion doit a la fin toucher je coeur de la personne que l'on aime vous esperez donc d'estre aime de moy reprit cleonice avec une froideur qui pensa desesperer ligdamis je le souhaite du moins repliqua-t'il mais madame je n'oserois dire que je l'espere vous faites bien dit-elle car vous ne me scauriez faire un plus sensible outrage que de me 
 persuader que vous auriez dans l'esprit que je vous devrois aimer un jour et faire pour vous ce que j'ay tant blasme et ce que je blasme tant encore aux autres quoy ligdamis adjousta-t'elle je pourrois m'imaginer que vous espereriez que je ferois pour vous routes les folies que nous avons tant condamnees ensemble que j'aurois quelque plaisir a vous scavoir malheureux pour l'amour de moy a vous entendre soupirer et a vous voir faire enfin toutes les grimaces que l'amour inspire a tous ceux qu'il possede ha non non ligdamis je ne le scaurois souffrir et si je ne puis regler vostre affection faites du moins en sorte que je borne vostre esperance pour cet effet adjousta-t'elle je vous assure des aujourd'huy que mille ans de langueurs de soupirs de larmes de transports et de services n'obtiendront jamais rien de moy du moins madame reprit il si vous ne pouvez estre sensible ne soyez pas injuste et considerez le vous suplie que c'est vous qui avez trouble le repos dont je jouissois et qu'ainsi vous estes obligee d'avoir quelque compassion de moy soyez donc seulement luy dit il comme je l'ay desja dit a ismenie la confidente de la passion que j'ay pour vous aimez moy comme vous avez accoustume et souffrez seulement que je vous aime comme je fais car puis que vous estes si asseuree de ne m'ai mer jamais autrement ne seriez vous pas injuste de me rendre tout a fait malheureux sans sujet je le seray bien assez de ne pouvoir toucher vostre coeur sans que vous veuilliez encore tourmenter le mien si cruellement je scay bien madame que par nos conditions vous ne voulez point d'amis qui soient amoureux mais ce luy qui fait les loix les peut changer je me 
 souviens mesme que vous disiez un jour que la principale raison pourquoy vous ne vouliez point d'amis qui fussent amants estoit parce que vous aviez eu un amy qui des qu'il fut amoureux s'ennuya aupres de vous qui ne vous fit plus que de courtes visites qui ne vous entretint que de la personne qu'il aimoit et que vous n'aimiez pas et qu'enfin il n'y avoit plus moyen de se confier a luy parce qu'un homme amoureux n'a point de secret qu'il ne puisse reveler a sa maistresse mais madame tous ces inconveniens ne vous scauroient arriver en cette occasion car premierement je vous proteste que je n'auray jamais de joye qu'aupres de vous que mes visites deviendront plus longues qu'elles n'ont jamais este et que je ne vous entretiendray jamais de personnes indifferentes puis que si vous le voulez souffrir je ne vous parleray que de vous au reste madame adjousta-t'il vous jugez bien qu'en revelant les secrets que vous m'avez confiez a la personne que l'adore ils n'en seront pas moins secrets pour cela puis qu'ils ne seront encore sceus que de vous et de moy pourquoy donc ne voulez vous pas souffrir que j'aye l'honneur de vous voir aimez moy madame comme il vous plaira mais souffrez aussi que je vous aime de la maniere que je le puis peut estre adjousta-t'il que votre insensibilite me guerira plus en vous voyant que ne feroit l'absence si vous m'y condamniez car madame si je ne vous voyois pas je m'imaginerois tousjours que si je vous voyois je toucherois vostre coeur de sorte qu'esperant toujours de vous voir j'espererois toujours d'estre aime et par consequent je vous aimerois toujours mais si vous souffrez que je vous voye adjousta 
 t'il peut estre que vous me ferez perdre l'esperance par vostre inhumanite et peut-estre en fuite l'amour ce remede repliqua cleonice est aussi nouveau et aussi bizarre que la passion qui vous possede c'est pourtant le seul reprit-il que raisonnablement vous pouvez m'ordonner nous essayerons pourtant l'absence auparavant dit-elle car pour celuy la je pense qu'il est un peu dangereux je scay bien madame repliqua t'il que je vous ay ouy dire autrefois que le mal qui me tourmente estoit un mal contagieux mais je me souviens aussi qu'ismenie vous respondit que personne ne vous l'avoit jamais pu donner et certes madame il m'en aise de connoistre qu'il est bien difficile que vous le preniez car il y a desja quelque temps que j'en suis fort malade aupres de vous sans que je m'apercoive que vostre coeur en soit atteint me preservent les dieux d'un semblable malheur interrompit- elle cependant ligdamis puis que je ne voy pas qu'il soit possible de remettre presentement la raison dans vostre ame tout ce que je puis faire pour vous est de vous assurer que je suis au desespoir de la perte de vostre amitie que vous me trouverez tousjours toute preste a vous redonner la mienne des que vous n'aurez plus d'amour et qu'en attendant que vous soyez en termes de me la redemander je pretends que vous alliez faire un voyage pour voir si l'absence ne fera point plus que mes raisons si j'avois respondit ligdamis une passion criminelle si mes pretensions estoient injustes je trouverois que vous n'auriez pas tort de me bannir mais je vous dis que je ne vous demande rien sinon que vous enduriez que je vous aime comme je vous puis aimer que 
 vous importe donc adjousta t'il ce qui se passe dans mon coeur et depuis plus d'un mois que le me suis aperceu que je vous aimois d'amour cet te passion vous a t'elle fait beaucoup souffrir nullement reprit cleonice mais c'est que je ne scavois pas qu'elle fust dans vostre ame vous voyez donc bien repliqua t'il que ce que vous dites n'a point de fondement solide et que cette passion n'est pas incommode pour vous en elle mesme mais seulement par l'imagination que vous en avez car enfin madame lors quelle ne vous incommodoit point ces tours passez elle estoit dans mon ame comme elle y est pour quoy donc n'agirez vous pas comme vous faisiez je vous proteste que je prendray plus de part a tous vos maux que je ne faisois et que s'il se peut je seray encore plus secret et plus fidelle que je ne l'ay jamais este quand tout ce que vous dites seroit vray reprit cleonice il y a encore une autre chose a vous dire ou vous ne pouvez respondre qui est que puisque vostre coeur est capable de cette passion il la peut avoir pour une autre personne et des que cela seroit ma confiance seroit peu en seurete au contraire madame adjousta t'il quand je n'aimois rien vous deviez bien plus craindre ce que vous dites parce que si j'avois a devenir amoureux il n'estoit pas impossible que je le fusse d'une autre que de vous mais aujourd'huy que je vous ai me il y a une impossibilite si absolue que je puisse jamais aimer nulle autre personne qu'il ne faut pas seulement mettre en doute que vous ne soyez ma premiere et ma derniere passion on peut quelques fois adjousta t'il passer de l'in difference a l'amour d'une personne mediocrement 
 accomplie mais quiter la plus belle et la plus parfaite personne de la terre pour en aimer une autre c'est ce qui n'est jamais arrive depuis que l'amour regne dans le coeur des hommes pour moy dit cleonice je suis si espouvantee de vous entendre parler comme vous faites que je ne scay presques ce que je dois dire si ce n'en qu'il ne se faut fier a personne et se deffier mesme de sa propre raison c'est pourquoy ligdamis luy dit elle il faut que je vous refuse ce que vous voulez et que je vous prie de ne me voir plus ou du moins de ne me voir de tres long temps vous voulez donc que je meure repliqua t'il nullement dit elle mais je voudrois que vous devinssiez sage donnez moy seulement encore huit jours a vous voir interrompit il je vous en conjure par l'amitie que vous m'avez promise je le veux bien dit elle quoy que vous vous soyez rendu indigne de toute grace ce sera pourtant a condition que vous ne me direz rien de vostre pretendue amour ligdamis remercia alors cleonice comme si elle luy eust accorde son affection toute entiere et il me vint trouver au sortir de chez elle avec une joye qui me fit bien connoistre que son coeur estoit veritablement amoureux il me pria d'agir pour luy avec des paroles si touchantes qu'il me persuada en effet de luy rendre office il ne me fut pourtant pas fort aise car je trouvay cleonice dans un chagrin qui faisoit qu'elle ne pouvoit presques souffrir personne qu'en se faisant une extreme violence l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour ligdamis n'estoit pas une des moindres causes de son suplice et l'adversion qu'elle avoit pour l'amour estoit ce qui achevoit de la tourmenter cependant 
 ligdamis la vit durant les huit jours qu'elle luy avoit accordez mais quelque violence qu'il se voulust faire il luy estoit impossible de ne donner pas quelques marques de sa passion ou par ses regards ou par ses soupirs ou par ses resveries ou mesme par quelques paroles qui luy eschapoient sans dessein de plus comme cleonice avoit alors l'esprit dispose a expliquer toutes ses actions de cette sorte elle songeoit a esviter la rencontre de ses yeux elle rougissoit des qu'elle le voyoit aprocher d'elle elle aportoit soin a ne se trouver pas assise aupres de luy elle ne luy adressoit jamais la parole et ils vivoient enfin tous deux en une contrainte si grande que je ne pouvois assez m'estonner de voir le changement qui estoit arrive en ces deux personnes quand je demandois a cleonice pourquoy elle ne vouloit pas agir comme si elle n'eust point sceu la passion de ligdamis elle me disoit qu'il luy estoit impossible et qu'il faloit absolument qu'il s'en allast car me disoit elle le dernier jour qu'il la devoit voir s'il ne s'en va pas et qu'il s'obstine a m'aimer comme il fait je le hairay infailliblement mais s'il vous obeit luy dis-je et que l'absence ne le guerisse point que voudrez vous qu'il y face et trouverez vous fort juste qu'il soit eternellement banny de son pais seulement parce qu'il vous aime un peu trop si ligdamis adjoustay-je estoit un homme que vous n'estimassiez point et que bien loin de l'estimer et de l'aimer comme vous faites vous eussiez une aversion estrange pour sa personne et qu'en effet il la meritast que pourriez vous faire davantage je ferois beaucoup moins me dit-elle le n'en comprends pourtant pas la raison luy repliquay-je toutesfois 
 je ne laisse pas de vous croire car ne voyons nous pas que vous laissez vivre hermodore a ephese quoy qu'il y ait longtemps qu'il soit amoureux de vous hermodore reprit elle n'est pas un homme a qui je voulusse faire la grace de commander quelque chose cette grace que vous voulez faire a ligdamis repris je en sous-riant pourroit ne se nommer pas ainsi sans injustice elle est pourtant grace repliqua-t'elle puis qu'il est vray que je suis resolue de faire tout ce que je pourray pour luy conserver mon amitie comme elle disoit cela ligdamis entra qui venoit avec intention de prolonger le terme qu'elle luy avoit donne je ne le vy pas plustost que prenant la parole malgre cleonice venez luy dis-je ligdamis venez aprendre la favorable cause de vostre bannissement il est donc bien vray que je dois estre banny reprit-il ouy respondit cleonice si j'ay quelque pouvoir sur vous vous l'y avez absolu respondit-il en soupirant mais c'est a ceux qui regnent a ne faire pas tout ce qu'ils peuvent et a ne faire que ce qu'ils doivent je dois aussi respondit-elle travailler autant que je pourray a restablir la raison dans vostre ame afin de pouvoir conserver dans la mienne l'amitie que j'ay pour vous vous ne me haissez donc pas encore interrompit ligdamis je l'advoue dit-elle mais je vous hairois infailliblement si vous ne m'obeissiez pas quand vous aurez esprouve l'absence poursuivit-elle que j'ay tousjours ouy dire estre le seul remede contre l'amour et que je verray qu'en effet vous aurez fait toutes choses possibles pour redevenir sage j'auray peut-estre la bonte de ne vous oster pas mon amitie et de souffrir que vous conserviez dans vostre ame une passion que 
 vous n'en aurez pu chasser sans mentir cleonice interrompis-je en riant vous estes admirable de vouloir faire passer pour une grande faveur que vous endurerez ce que vous ne scauriez empescher et depuis quand veut-on obliger les gens aux choses impossibles quand vous m'auriez persuade que j'aurois tort repliqua t'elle je ne m'en repentirois pas et vous ne m'en devriez pas blasmer par la mesme raison que vous venez de dire estant certain que s'il est impossible a ligdamis de ne m'aimer plus il ne me l'est pas moins de pouvoir me resoudre a souffrir qu'il me donne des marques d'amour c'est pourquoy je vous conjure luy dit elle que sans vous arrester a ce que dit ismenie vous essayez deux choses l'une l'absence et l'autre l'ambition vous scavez luy dit elle encore que cleandre vous aime cherement allez donc six mois a la cour et taschez de chasser une passion par une autre mais de grace ne me resistez plus si vous ne voulez que je vous haisse je scay bien madame repliqua t'il que quand je vous obeiray cela sera inutile puis qu'en quelque lieu que je sois vous serez toujours presente a mon esprit et qu'enfin je suis incapable de toute autre ambition que de celle d'estre aime de vous apres cela cleonice parla si fortement a ligdamis que je connus en effet qu'elle vouloit estre obeie de sorte que prenant la parole je luy conseillay de la contenter car luy dis-je si l'absence vous guerit vous aurez lieu de vous estimer heureux et si elle ne vous guerit pas vous aurez rendu a cleonice la plus grande marque d'amour et d'obeissance que vous luy puissiez jamais rendre du moins luy dit il madame promettez moy donc que si je 
 vous obeis vous m'en scaurez quelque gre et que vous ne me condamnerez plus jamais d'arracher de mon coeur une passion qui y sera sans doute tant que je vivray je vous le promets luy dit elle ce n'est pas encore assez reprit il pour empescher un amant exile de mourir c'est pour quoy madame ayez encore la bonte de m'assurer qu'en cas que je ne meure point de douleur et que je revienne aupres de vous vous voudrez bien estre ce que je vous ay desja suplie que vous fussiez je veux dire la confidente de ma passion non ligdamis luy dit elle je ne vous promets point cela mais je vous assure du moins de ne vous hair point si vous m'obeissez accordez moy donc la grace reprit il de me tenir conte de toutes les marques d'amitie que je vous donneray comme de simples preuves d'amitie je le veux encore luy dit elle pourveu que vous m'obeissiez promptement enfin madame sans abuser de vostre patience par un long recit de choses peu importantes je vous diray qu'il falust que ligdamis obeist il ne luy fut pas difficile de pretexter son voyage estant certain qu'il y avoit plus de raison de s'estonner de ce qu'il n'alloit pas plus souvent a sardis qu'il n'y en avoit de l'y voir aller je fis ce que je pus pour obliger cleonice a souffrir qu'il prist conge d'elle mais il n'y eut pas moyen d'obtenir cela il est vray que je remarquay malgre qu'elle en eust que la cause de cette cruaute n'estoit pas desavantageuse a ligdamis estant certain qu'elle ne luy refusa cette grace que parce qu'elle sentoit bien qu'il luy seroit impossible de luy dire adieu sans donner de trop visibles marques de l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour luy il partit donc avec 
 intention de s'en aller a sardis mais en y allant il apprit que cresus avoit fait arrester cleandre de sorte que ne pouvant se resoudre d'aller a la cour apres cet accident qui mettoit une consternation universelle par toute la lydie il fut au gouvernement de son pere passer le temps de son exil et pleindre dans cette solitude ses propres malheurs et ceux de l'illustre cleandre qui apres tant de victoires et tant de services rendus a toute la lydie estoit prisonnier sans avoir commis aucun crime cette nouvelle ayant este apportee a ephese tout le monde en eut une douleur extreme parce qu'en effet c'estoit le plus grand malheur qui pust arriver a tout le royaume mais outre l'interest publie qui affligeoit cleonice comme les autres l'interest particulier de ligdamis qui s'y trouvoit engage redoubla sans doute beaucoup la douleur qu'elle en eut elle fut visiter la soeur de ligdamis en cette occasion mais elle ne voulue pas luy escrire quoy que je luy voulusse persuader qu'elle le devoit pour luy il m'escrivit plusieurs fois sans que cleonice le sceust car j'avois oublie de vous dire que cette cruelle personne luy avoit encore fait promettre qu'il ne luy donneroit point de ses nouvelles et que mesme s'il m'escrivoit je ne luy en dirois rien de sorte que je n'osois luy aprendre que je scavois que l'absence ne guerissoit point ligdamis cependant cleonice devint si chagrine et si solitaire qu'artelinde et phocylide la trouvant trop melancolique ne la voyoient presques plus stenobee apres luy avoir fait cent reproches de ce qu'elle n'estoit pas assez gaye fut enfin contrainte de la laisser en repos si bien que cleonice gardant tres souvent la chambre 
 je me trouvois aussi fort souvent seule avec elle au commencement quand je luy voulois parler de ligdamis elle s'en faschoit mais peu a peu elle vint a souffrir non seulement que je luy en parlasse mais mesme elle m'en parloit quelquesfois la premiere un jour donc que nous estions seules du moins me dit-elle apres plusieurs au tres discours suis-je assuree qu'au lieu ou est ligdamis il ne trouve personne a qui il puisse parler de moy ainsi je puis esperer que sa folie en passera plustost car j'ay ce me semble ouy dire que ce n'est pas estre tout a fait absent quand on s'entre tient souvent de ce que l'on aime mais luy dis je en la regardant fixement est-il possible que vous souhaitiez autant que vous le dites que ligdamis n'ait que de l'indifference pour vous ce n'est pas ce que je dis respondit elle et que dites vous donc luy repliquay-je a demy en colere je dis respondit-elle que je souhaite que ligdamis n'ait plus d'amour pour moy car pour l'amitie je vous advoue que je serois bien aise qu'il en eust tousjours mais comment pensez vous que cela soit possible luy dis-je et ne considerez vous point que si l'absence le guerit d'une violente amour ce ne peut-estre qu'en faisant qu'il vous oublie et qu'en se desaccoustumant de telle sorte de vous voir que vous ne soyez plus necessaire a la douceur de sa vie de plus luy dis-je encore je pense que vous ne considerez pas que ligdamis n'a plus d'amitie pour vous que cette affection a change de nature et qu'a parler raisonnablement si le remede que vous luy avez ordonne fait ce que vous avez pretendu qu'il fist il n'aura plus ny amour ny amitie encore ne scay-je s'il demeurera dans une simple indifference 
 car ce n'est guere la coustume de cette passion ismenie me dit elle que vous estes uns cruelle personne de me faire examiner de si pres une chose qui ne me plaist pas mais apres tout adjousta t'elle pourquoy n est il pas possible que l'amitie de ligdamis qui est devenue amour redevienne encore amitie je n'en scay pas bien la raison luy dis-je mais du moins suis-je assuree que cela n'a guere d'exemple je serois pour tant bien faschee reprit-elle de perdre tout a fait ligdamis vous vous y elles pourtant exposee luy dis-je mais comme je la vy d'humeur un peu moins severe de grace cleonice adjoustay-je dites moy un peu lequel vous aimeriez le mieux ou que ligdamis guerist de sa passion en n'ayant plus que de l'indifference pour vous ou qu'il devinst amoureux d'une autre personne comme j'ay tousjours beaucoup d'amitie pour ligdamis me dit elle en rougissant je ne puis pas desirer qu'il guerisse d'un mal par un autre mal et j'aimerois mieux sans doute perdre son affection et qu'il n'aimast jamais rien que de le voir encore charge de chaines mais s'il faloit adjoustay-je que de necessite il fust amoureux ou de vous ou d'une autre lequel choisiriez vous il y a longtemps que je vous ay dit ce que je pensois la dessus repliqua t'elle il est vray luy dis-je mais je vous demande presente ment ce que vous en pensez je ne veux pas me donner la peine d'y songer dit elle cependant poursuivit cleonice si par hazard ligdamis pouvoit guerir de sa folie j'aurois un plaisir estange a luy faire voir le peu de solidite qu'il y a dans le coeur de ceux qui aiment de cette sorte car je vous proteste ismenie que je me souviens 
 aussi souvent de ligdamis que lors qu'il estoit a ephese pourquoy voulez-vous donc qu'il vous oublie luy dis-je en riant cleonice ayant tarde un moment a respondre mais repris-je estes vous bien assuree que vous le voulez songez-y cleonice et songez-y plus d'une fois car ce seroit une rare chose si ligdamis vous oublioit et que vous ne le pussiez oublier vous me dites tant de folies reprit-elle que je n'y veux plus respondre vous seriez mieux de m'advouer repliquay-je que vous ne le pouvez faire sincerement sans vous contredire car n'est il pas vray que vous n'avez pas plustost souhaite que ligdamis ne se souvienne plus de vous que vous sentez je ne scay quoy dans vostre coeur qui vous resiste et qui vous force a desirer qu'il s'en souvienne eternellement vous estes si pressante me dit-elle que l'on n'a pas loisir de raisonner sur ce que vous demandez vous estes si peu sincere luy respondis-je que ce n'est pas estre judicieuse que de vous demander quel que chose puis que l'on est presques assure que vous n'y respondrez pas precisement je pense repliqua-t'elle en souriant que vous voulez me faire perdre une amie comme j'ay perdu un amy et que vous cherchez a me quereller je ne scay luy respondis je en riant aussi si je cherche a vous faire une querelle mais je scay bien que vous cherchez a ne me respondre pas en verite ismenie me dit-elle je vous ay dit tout ce que je pense et je vous assure de plus que quoy que vous me puissiez demander je vous y respondray sans mensonge advouez moy donc luy dis-je que vous ne voulez pas que ligdamis vous oublie je l'advoue dit-elle en rougissant 
 que vous seriez bien faschee qu'il fust amoureux d'une autre adjoustay-je je l'advoue encore repliqua t'elle en baissant les yeux quoy que ce ne fust que pour son interest et que ce ne fust pas par jalousie que vous aimeriez mieux qu'il eust tousjours de l'amour pour vous que de la haine luy dis-je ha ismenie interrompit- elle vous me demandez la des choses si estranges que je n'y scaurois respondre je pense pourtant adjousta t'elle que je serois esgalement faschee de l'amour et de la haine de ligdamis je ne le pense pas luy dis-je mais puis que vous ne voulez pas vous expliquer plus nettement je ne vous demanderay plus rien et je souhaiteray seule ment pour me vanger de vous que ligdamis vous oublie qu'a son retour il devienne amoureux d'une autre et que vous ne le puissiez oublier vous estes bien vindicative me dit elle mais ce qui me console est que je scay bien que tout ce que vous dites ne scauroit arriver car si ligdamis m'oublie je l'oublieray de telle sorte moy mesme qu'il ne m'inquietera point du tout vous luy avez donc fait un commandement luy dis je ou vous ne voulez pas qu'il obeisse puisque s'il vous obeit vous le punirez cleonice voulut apres cela me dire qu'elle ne luy avoit or donne que de chasser l'amour de son coeur mais je ne la voulus pas plus entendre et je la quittay sans luy vouloir plus respondre me semblant qu'a travers tout ce qu'elle m'avoit dit l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour ligdamis estoit devenue un peu plus tendre depuis qu'il estoit party et en effet je voyois clairement qu'elle apprehendoit qu'il ne l'oubliast je n'osois pourtant luy dire que j'avois quelques fois de ses lettres mais un jour 
 que j'estois aupres d'elle l'en laissay tomber une sans y penser qu'elle releva aussi tost sans s'imaginer toutesfois qu'elle fust de ligdamis a peine l'eut elle entre les mains qu'elle en reconnut l'escriture et elle ne l'eut pas plustost reconnue qu'elle rougit d'une effrange sorte je vy mesme que son premier sentiment fut de la lire mais une seconde pensee ayant destruit la premiere elle me la voulut rendre sans la voir vous n'estes gueres curieuse luy dis-je en ne la voulant pas prendre il est vray dit elle que je ne la suis pas trop principalement quand je crains d'aprendre quelque chose qui ne me plaise pas tout a bon luy dis-je cleonice que voulez vous qui soit dans cette lettre si vous la pouviez rendre telle qu'il vous plairoit repliqua t'elle je vous dirais ce que je voudrois qui y fust mais comme tous mes desirs ne la pourroient changer j'aime mieux vous la rendre sans la voir alors la prenant de ses mains ou elle estoit et voulant luy faire une malice pour descouvrir mieux ses veritables sentimens je luy dis que je voulois luy lire cette lettre tout haut puis qu'elle ne la vouloit pas lire cleonice prenant la parole me dit qu'elle ne la vouloit point entendre mais apres m'avoir dit cela elle se teut et pour mieux cacher les divers mouvemens de son esprit elle se mit a travailler a un tissu d'or et de soye qui estoit sur sa table
 
 
 
 
en fuite dequoy m'estant levee d'aupres d'elle et m'estant mise vis a vis de peur qu'elle ne leust ce qui estoit effectivement dans cette lettre de ligdamis je feignis d'y lire ces paroles
 
 
 enfin ismenie la solitude a fait ce que n'avoit 
 pu faire la raison et la belle cleonice ne sera plus importunee de mon amour l'absence toute seule n'a pourtant pas cause ma guerison et j'ay eu besoin d'un remede plus puissant j'ay donc trouve dans nos bois une personne moins belle je l'adveue mais plus sensible qui m'a rendu capable d'obeir au commandement que l'on avoit fait 
 
 
ha ismenie interrompit cleonice en jettant son ouvrage sur la table en se levant et en voulant lire elle mesme ce que vous dites la n'est point dans la lettre de ligdamis c'est asseurement luy dis-je en la cachant que vous ne voulez pas que cela y soit mais dites moy de grace ce que vous voulez que j'y lise je ne veux point que vous y lifiez rien dit elle car je la veux lire moy mesme quoy qu'il y puisse avoir voyant alors la curiosite de cleonice apres luy avoir encore resiste quelque temps afin de luy donner plus d'envie de voir cette lettre et luy avoir encore parle comme si ce que j'avois feint d'y lire y eust effectivement este je la luy donnay de sorte que l'ouvrant a l'heure mesme elle y leut ces paroles 
 
 
 
 ligdamis a ismenie 
 
 
 si l'adorable cleonice scavoit que plus je suis sans la voir plus j'ay d'amour pour elle je ne doute nullement qu'elle ne me rapellast quand ce ne seroit que pour empescher ma passion d'augmenter comme elle fait c'est pourquoy je vous conjure si vous le trouvez a propos de luy faire scavoir que je seray a la fin du terme quelle a prescrit a mon bannissement sans comparaison plus amoureux d'elle que le jour qu'il commenca ne faisant autre chose dans ma solitude que me souvenir de sa beaute et de son esprit et que desirer de la revoir voila ismenie y quelles sont mes occupations trop heureux encore dans mon malheur si je pouvois esperer de n'estre ny hai ny oublie 
 
 
 ligdamis 
 
 
durant que cleonice lisoit je la regardois attentivement et je remarquay ce me semble plus de confusion que de colere sur son visage je 
 vy mesme qu'en lisant la fin de cette lettre ou ligdamis disoit qu'il s'estimeroit heureux de n'estre ny hai ny oublie elle sourit a demy en fui te dequoy me la rendant et n'osant presques me regarder vous donnez si bon ordre me dit elle que ce dernier malheur n'arrive a ligdamis qu'il a grand tort de le craindre mais cruelle personne adjousta t'elle en prenant un visage plus serieux quel plaisir prenez vous a me tourmenter le scay bien que ligdamis est vostre parent et qu'ainsi j'aurois tort de vouloir qu'il ne vous donnast point de ses nouvelles mais pourquoy faut-il que je sois le sujet de ses lettres et des vostres pour moy luy dis-je comme je n'ay jamais fait que respondre a ligdamis c'est luy que vous devez accuser de ce que nous parlons de vous car en mon particulier je ne pense pas que la civilite me permist lors qu'il me parle de cleonice de luy aller parler d'artelinde ou de quel que autre et de respondre a les lettres sans respondre a ce qu'il m'y dit mais que luy respondrez vous repliqua t'elle je respondray ce qu'il vous plaira a celle-ci luy dis-je car je ne dois escrire que demain du moins me dit elle ne luy mandez pas que j'ay veu sa lettre je ne vous de mande pas luy repliquay-je ce que je dois n'escrire point mais ce que je dois escrire vous ne le feriez pas quand je vous le dirois respondit elle cependant si vous me vouliez obliger vous luy persuaderiez fortement de se deffaire d'une passion qui ne luy donnera que de la peine voila donc madame quels estoient les sentimens de cleonice pendant l'exil de ligdamis qui ne man qua pas de revenir a ephese des que le temps de son bannissement fut expire sans en demander une 
 nouvelle permission a cleonice ce qui l'obligea d'en user ainsi fut qu'il craignit qu'il ne fust plus aise a cette cruelle personne de luy faire scavoir par moy qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'il revinst que de luy dire elle mesme qu'elle vouloit qu'il s'en retournast aussi tost qu'il fut arrive il me vint voir pour m'assurer qu'il n'avoit point change de sentimens et pour me demander conseil de ce qu'il devoit faire pour moy qui connoissois admirablement cleonice je fus d'advis qu'il ne luy fist rien dire auparavant que d'aller chez elle et qu'il allast visiter stenobee comme il avoit accoustume de faire au retour de ses voyages de sorte qu'ayant creu ce que je luy disois il y fut le mesme jour et je m'y trouvay aussi voulant avoir le plaisir de voir comment cette premiere visite se passeroit mais par malheur pour ligdamis il y avoit ce jour la tant de monde chez stenobee qu'il ne put parler a cleonice un moment en particulier artelinde et phocylide y vinrent aussi et comme il y avoit longtemps que l'on n'avoit veu ligdamis il fut presques tousjours le sujet de la conversation les uns luy faisoient compliment sur la douleur qu'il avoit eue de la prison de cleandre les autres l'assuroient que son voyage leur avoit semble bien long et artelinde suivant son humeur luy dit qu'elle ne pouvoit pas comprendre comment il avoit pu vivre dans une aussi grande solitude que celle ou il avoit este se mettant apres cela a faire une satire de la campagne extremement agreable soustenant qu'il faloit estre stupide chagrin ou insensible pour pouvoir y demeurer huit jours sans s'ennuyer et concluant que puisque ligdamis y avoit este six mois ayant autant d'esprit 
 qu'il en avoit il falloit qu'il eust quelque grande melancolie dans le coeur ou qu'il fust tousjours in sensible pendant qu'artelinde parloit ainsi ligdamis estoit si embarrasse qu'il ne pouvoit quasi que repondre et cleonice estoit si interdite qu'elle eut peu de part a la conversation ce jour la il est vray que le lendemain elle y en eut davantage car ligdamis la trouva chez moy ou elle estoit venue avec intention de me prier de la delivrer de cet amant opiniastre bien qu'elle ne le voulust pas perdre lors qu'elle le vit entrer elle creut que je l'avois envoye querir quoy que cela ne fust pas vray mais apres m'en avoir fait un petit reproche sans colere elle ne laissa pas de demeurer de sorte que comme nous n'estions que nous trois dans ma chambre des que nous fusmes assis ligdamis se tournant vers cleonice et la regardant d'une facon a luy faire comprendre que son ame n'avoit pas change de sentimens enfin madame luy dit-il me voicy a la fin de mon bannissement mais c'est a vous a me dire si je suis a la fin de mes peines et si vous souffrirez que cet homme qui ne peut plus avoir d'amitie pour vous ny cesser d'avoir de l'amour vous raconte toutes les inquietudes que l'absence luy a causees j'aimerois mieux luy dit-elle que vous me dissiez de quels moyens vous vous estes servy pour vaincre cette injuste passion eh madame reprit-il comment eussay-je pu esperer de la vaincre puis qu'il ne m'a pas seulement este possible d'obtenir de moy de la vouloir combattre je ne vous avois pourtant exile que pour cela reprit-elle je le scay bien madame respondit-il mais quand j'ay seulement voulu en avoir la moindre pensee mon coeur mon esprit et 
 mesme ma raison se sont revoltez contre moy et je n'ay pu faire autre chose que me repentir promptement d'avoir voulu essayer de vouloir m'opposer a une passion si bien fondee a une paf fion dis-je si noble si pure et si belle que la plus austere vertu ne la scauroit condamner quoy qu'il en soit madame adjousta-t'il je vous aime et je vous aimeray toute ma vie de sorte que si mon amour vous est insuportable il n'y a point d'autre voye de vous en delivrer que de m'ordonner de mourir si vous le voulez madame je m'y resoudray sans peine car des que je verray que la divine cleonice sera capable de souffrir plustost ma mort que ma passion le desespoir s'emparera si puissamment de mon ame que je ne seray pas longtemps a luy obeir parlez donc madame luy dit- il voulez vous que ligdamis vive ou qu'il meure vous estes maistresse absolue de son destin et vous le pouvez rendre tel qu'il vous plaira si cela estoit respondit cleonice je serois tousjours amie de ligdamis et ligdamis ne seroit jamais mon amant mais madame luy dit-il ne scauriez vous vous accoustumer a souffrir que je vous aime un peu plus fort que je ne faisois autrefois et a endurer que je vous raconte mes souffrances vous me le promistes ou peu s'en falut lors que je m'esloignay de vous et vous me dites encore que vous recouriez du moins tous les services que je vous rendrois comme vous aviez receu des marques de mon amitie du temps que j'en avois pour vous cela estant madame que ne me devez vous pas puisque je viens de vous obeir de la plus cruelle maniere du monde j'ay passe six mois a souffrir tous les jours mille suplices et au lieu de m'en scavoir gre suivant 
 vos promesses vous m'en preparez encore de nouveaux il ne seroit pas juste interrompis je et si cleonice m'en croit elle ne le fera pas mais ismenie me dit elle comment pouvez vous me parler comme vous faites et toute preoccupee que vous estes par l'amitie que vous avez pour ligdamis pourriez vous me conseiller d'avoir une galanterie avecque luy ce mot la luy dis-je est un peu terrible mais je vous advoue que je ne puis comprendre que vous deviez traiter ligdamis comme on est oblige de traitter ceux avec qui on n'a point eu d'amitie particuliere car enfin n'est il pas vray que nous sommes obligez de servir nos amis dans tous les malheurs qui leur arrivent je l'advoue dit-elle et ceux qui font autrement sont de ces faux amis de prosperite qui ne meritent pas de porter ce glorieux nom d'amy n'est-il pas vray encore luy dis-je que si ligdamis avoit perdu la raison par quelque maladie ou par quelque accident estrange et que vous sceussiez de certitude qu'il n'en pourroit guerir vous chercheriez du moins a rendre sa fo lie moins malheureuse et que vous auriez beau coup de compassion de son infortune ce que vous dites est encore vray repliqua-t'elle que n'agissez vous donc ainsi luy dis-je en riant car ne voyez vous pas que ligdamis n'est plus maistre de sa rai son ne luy accordez pas toutesfois adjoustay-je autant d'affection que sa folie luy en fera souhaiter de vous mais souffrez la sienne avec quel que douceur puis que ce ne seroit pas estre veritablement amie que de l'abandonner dans un aussi grand malheur comme est celuy d'aimer une personne insensible et pour moy si vous en usiez ainsi vous me feriez croire que vous ne voulez 
 des amis qu'afin qu'ils vous servent et qu'ils vous divertissent puis que vous ne pouvez endurer qu'ils vous importunent une fois en toute leur vie cleonice m'entendant parler ainsi se mit a sous tire et ligdamis m'en remercia en fuite dequoy il joignit des paroles si persuasives aux miennes qu'enfin apres plus de deux heures de conversation j'obtins d'elle que ligdamis demeureroit a ephese et qu'il la verroit mais a condition qu'il ne luy parleroit point de son amour la chose alla donc ainsi durant quelques jours neantmoins comme il n'estoit pas possible a ligdamis de renfermer si bien sa passion dans son coeur qu'elle ne parust a quelqu'une de ses actions ou de ses paroles il n'y avoit point de jour que cleonice et luy n'eussent deux ou trois querelles mais insensiblement sans que je puisse dire comment cela se fit cleonice s'accoustuma a respondre a ligdamis et quoy que ce fust tous jours pour s'opposer a luy neantmoins ce luy estoit une grande consolation que de pouvoir parler de ce qui occupoit toute son ame et la chose alla effectivement de telle sorte que cleonice devint en effet la confidente de la passion que ligdamis avoit pour elle ne pouvant jamais souffrir qu'il luy en parlast autrement cependant quoy qu'elle luy conseillast tousjours de n'esperer jamais rien qu'elle continuast de luy parler contre l'amour et qu'elle luy commandast tres souvent de cesser de l'aimer de cette maniere je pense qu'a la fin elle n'eust pas voulu estre obeie il y avoit pourtant des jours ou elle estoit si chagrine que tout le monde luy en faisoit la guerre d'abord cela me surprit un peu parce que je n'avois pas accoustume de luy voir l'humeur 
 inesgale mais apres avoir aporte soin a descouvrir la cause de cette bizarre melancolie qui la prenoit et la qui toit si souvent je trouvay qu'elle ne manquoit jamais de luy prendre lors que contre son dessein elle avoit parle un peu plus doucement a ligdamis qu'elle ne vouloit estant certain que lors que sa memoire luy reprochoit de luy avoir dit quelque chose qui ne luy sembloit pas assez rude elle s'en vouloit mal a elle mesme et en faisoit souffrir tous ceux qui l'aprochoient le reste du jour au contraire quand elle avoit eu la force de mal-traiter ligdamis elle en paroissoit plus gaye et elle estoit si satisfaite de sa fierte que l'on en voyoit des marques de joye dans ses yeux jusques a ce qu'elle luy eust dit quelque chose de favorable ainsi on ne les pouvoit jamais voir tous deux en leur belle humeur en mesme temps car quand ligdamis estoit ravy de joye de quelque favorable parole que cleonice luy avoit dite elle en estoit fort melancolique et quand ligdamis estoit afflige de ce qu'elle luy avoit parle rudement elle en avoit un plaisir extreme tant il est vray qu'elle eut de peine a se resoudre de luy donner quelques preuves de n'estre point insensible cependant il est certain qu'elle ne le haissoit pas et quoy qu'elle n'aye jamais voulu appeller qu'amitie l'affection qu'elle a eue pour ligdamis je pense pourtant qu'elle changea assez pour luy donner un autre nom car enfin cleonice faisoit cent petites choses sans qu'elle y prist garde qui tesmoignoient fortement ce que je dis parce qu'elle ne les faisoit point du temps que ligdamis n'avoit que de l'amitie pour elle et qu'elle en avoit aussi pour luy je me souviens mesme que pendant qu'il n'estoit que son amy 
 elle ne se soucioit point en quel estat il la voyoit et je l'ay veu dans sa chambre en des jours ou elle estoit si negligee que toute autre beaute que la sienne en eust beaucoup perdu de son esclat elle ne s'en mettoit pourtant point en peine et je puis assurer sans mensonge qu'elle n'avoit jamais consulte son miroir une seule fois pour luy plaire mais depuis son retour elle n'en usa plus ainsi estant certain que ligdamis ne la pouvoit plus voit quand elle n'estoit pas habillee et mesme quand elle n'estoit pas propre elle feignoit toutesfois que c'estoit pour luy oster peu a peu la familiarite qu'il avoit eue avec elle mais en effet c'estoit qu'elle n'estoit pas trop fachee quelque facon qu'elle en fist que ligdamis la trouvast belle je vous demande pardon madame de vous dire si exactement tant de petites choses toutesfois puis que vous me l'avez ordonne je pense que je ne puis faillir en vous obeissant je vous diray donc que comme l'amour ne se peut cacher longtemps hermodore artelinde et phocylide connurent bien tost avec certitude que ligdamis estoit amoureux et amoureux de cleonice de sorte que la passion d'hermodore en augmenta que celle de phocylide s'en reveilla et que la haine d'artelinde se renouvella et en devint plus sorte car elle eut un si grand despit de voir que le coeur de ligdamis avoit resiste a ses charmes et qu'il estoit devenu sensible pour ceux de cleonice qu'elle donna cent marques du desplaisir qu'elle en avoit de plus comme c'est la coustume des dames qui sont un peu trop galantes de croire qu'elles se justifient en accusant les autres elle publia en deux jours par toute la ville que ligdamis estoit amant de 
 cleonice adjoustant a cela avec une malice extreme qu'elle n'estoit pas si fiere qu'elle avoit este disant avec une raillerie peu obligeante que l'amour avoit blesse deux coeurs d'un eut coup de trait ce bruit fut si grand en peu de temps que non seulement il vint jusques a moy mais qu'il fut encore jusques a cleonice qui receut cette nouvelle avec une douleur que je ne vous scaurois exprimer car parmy le desplaisir qu'elle avoit j'y voyois des sentimens de colere qu'elle ne m'expliquoit point et sans scavoir si c'estoit contre ligdamis contre artelinde ou contre elle mesme elle me disoit des choses qui m'embarrassoient tousjours plus ce fut pourrant alors que je connus avec certitude que ligdamis estoit mieux dans son coeur qu'il n'y croyoit estre puis que quoy qu'elle dist ou contre luy ou contre artelinde ou contre ses propres sentimens elle ne disoit pas bien fortement qu'elle ne vouloit plus que ligdamis la vist au contraire se reprenant elle mesme des qu'elle l'avoit dit elle adjoustoit que ce seroit faire croire au monde qu'artelinde auroit dit vray si elle changeoit sa forme de vivre en suite elle disoit que pourveu qu'il n'y eust qu'elle qui le creust elle voudroit pour luy faire despit qu'elle ne pust jamais douter que ligdamis ne fust amoureux d'elle mais a la fin quand elle eut bien dit des choses contraires les unes aux autres la douleur qu'elle avoit de scavoir que toute sa severite passee ne pourroit empescher que l'on ne dist que ligdamis l'aimoit estant la plus sorte ne suis je pas bien malheureuse dit elle qu'il faille qu'apres avoir passe toute ma vie en repos et avec que gloire je fois aujourd'huy exposee a souffrir la raillerie d'artelinde mais 
 luy dis-je ce n'est pas un si grand crime que d'avoir donne de l'amour au plus honneste homme d'ephese car enfin excepte artelinde personne ne s'advise de dire que vous aimiez ligdamis si j'avois vescu comme les autres me respondit-elle vous auriez raison mais apres avoir affecte une severite si grande croyez ismenie que ce m'est une sensible douleur d'aprendre que l'on dit de moy une pareille chose cleonice me dit cela avec tant de marques d'un veritable desplaisir sur le visage qu'elle me toucha de sorte que voulant avoir quelque complaisance pour elle mais luy dis-je si cela vous inquiete et vous tourmente si fort quelque amitie que j'aye pour ligdamis je vous l'abandonne et je vous per mets de le bannir une seconde fois ha ismenie s'escria telle en rougissant si je le pouvois je l'aurois desja fait mais pour mon malheur ligdamis est plus fort que moy dans mon ame ce n'est pourtant pas dit elle en se reprenant et ne voulant pas advouer la verite que ce que je sens pour luy se puisse nommer amour mais il est vray que c'est une amitie si tendre et si sorte que je ne puis me resoudre a me priver de la veue et de la conversation de ligdamis nous nommerons cette affection comme il vous plaira luy dis je cependant puisque la chose est ainsi je ne trouve pas qu'il y ait a balancer et malheur pour malheur il vaut mieux choisir celuy ou vous aurez quelques heures de consolation que de vous resoudre a en souffrir un ou vous n'en auriez point du tout je ne conseille rois jamais poursuivis-je de se porter a une action contre la bienseance pour se satisfaire mais je ne conseillerois pas non plus d'aller regler 
 toutes ses actions sur les opinions differentes de tous les gens d'une grande ville il suffit de ne rien faire qui choque cet usage receu universellement par les honnestes personnes ny qui puisse blesser la vertu et apres cela il faut se mettre l'esprit en repos et n'aller pas troubler toute la douceur de sa vie par le caprice d'autruy mais me dit cleonice je ne scay pas trop bien si la maniere dont je vy avec ligdamis quoy que tres innocente n'est point un peu contraire a cette exacte bien seance dont vous parlez car enfin je scay qu'il est amoureux et je le voy tous les jours et je sens mesme que j'ay assez d'amitie pour luy pour ne l'en pouvoir plus hair pour moy luy dis-je il ne me semble pas que cela soit fort criminel principalement si vous considerez que vostre condition et celle de ligdamis sont esgales et qu'ainsi vous pourriez l'espouser et cela estant je ne voy pas que la vertu veuille que des gens qui se doivent marier ensemble se doivent hair toutes les passions poursuivis-je ne sont assurement pas criminelles quoy que vous en ayez dit autre fois il est des amours permises et innocentes c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas vous inquieter l'esprit si legerement vous scavez bien me dit-elle que le pere de ligdamis est resolu qu'il ne se ma rie jamais s'il n'espouse cette personne qu'il luy a tant de fois proposee il est vray luy repliquay-je mais vous jugez bien aussi que puis que ligdamis ne luy a pas obei lors qu'il n'aimoit rien il ne luy obeira pas aujourd'huy qu'il vous aime ainsi sans trouver si mauvais que l'on die que ligdamis est amoureux de vous et que vous ne le haissez pas je vous conseille de vivre comme vous avez accoustume ce bruit 
 qui s'est espandu s'esteindra bien tost car comme vous le scavez artelinde donne si souvent de nouvelles matieres de conversation que je suis assuree que dans trois jours on ne parlera plus de l'amour de ligdamis je vous conjure du moins me dit-elle de ne luy aller pas dire que je vous ay advoue que je ne le pouvois bannir mais luy dis-je en riant puisque l'affection que vous avez pour luy n'est qu'amitie pourquoy voulez vous luy en cacher la grandeur croyez moy cleonice ce que vous voulez faire est contre l'usage et personne ne s'est jamais advise de faire un secret de l'amitie au contraire il se trouve bien plus de gens qui la disent plus grande qu'elle n'est dans leur coeur qu'il ne s'en trouve qui la cachent mauvaise personne repliqua-t'elle je vous entends bien mais quand ce que vous pensez seroit vray faudroit-il me forcer a vous dire une chose que je serois au desespoir de sentir dans mon ame ouy luy dis-je si vous aimiez la sincerite mais puisque cela n'est pas j'auray assez de complaisance pour nommer toutes choses comme il vous plaira et pour appeller mesme haine si vous voulez l'amour que ligdamis a pour vous depuis cela madame il est certain que cleonice eut l'esprit un peu plus tranquile et que ligdamis en fut plus heureux le bruit mesme qui s'estoit espandu se dissipa bien tost par la voye que je l'avois predit estant certain qu'artelinde donna tant de nouveaux sujets de parler d'elle qu'on ne parla plus d'autre chose car non seulement elle continua d'avoir cette multitude d'amants qui l'environnoient mais il luy arriva encore une advanture rare qui fut qu'escrivant un matin a trois ou quatre 
 de ses amants a qui elle donnoit diverses assignations et escrivant en mesme temps a cleonice faisant semblant de se vouloir justifier de ce qu'elle avoit dit contre elle apres que toutes ces lettres furent escrites comme il n'y avoit point de nom au dessus de pas une celuy a qui elle les donna pour les porter quoy que fort adroit et fort accoustume a de semblables choses se trompa ce jour la en les distribuant toutes a ceux a qui elles ne s'adressoient pas de sorte qu'un de ces amants a qui elle donnoit assignation au temple de diane par une de ses lettres en receut une autre qui n'estoit pas pour luy qui luy ordonnoit d'aller ce jour la en visite chez une femme qu'il ne voyoit jamais et qui estoit sa plue mortelle ennemie celle qui donnoit assignation au temple de diane fut portee a un homme de qualite estranger qui estoit a ephese depuis longtemps mais qui par la religion de son pais qui ne veut point que l'on adore les dieux dans des temples battis par les mains des hommes n'y entroit jamais de sorte que cette lettre le surprit estrangement artelinde en avoit encore escrit une autre a un de ses amants qui devoit partir ce jour la a midy afin qu'il se trouvast sur sa route lors qu'elle iroit au temple pour luy pouvoir dire adieu mais au lieu de cette lettre il en receut une qui s'adressoit a un autre qu'elle prioit de ne manquer pas de se trouver le soir a la promenade au bord de la mer et celle qui apartenoit a celuy la fut aportee a cleonice et celle aussi qui devoit estre pour cleonice par laquelle artelinde la prioit de l'attendre chez elle l'apres-disnee fut encore donnee a un autre de sorte que ce renversement d'assignations fit la plus plaisante chose du monde 
 lors que l'on aporta a cleonice la lettre qui n'estoit pas destinee pour elle nous estions ensemble et je vy l'estonnement qu'elle eut de scavoir qu'artelinde avec qui elle n'estoit pas trop bien luy escrivoit elle ouvrit donc cette lettre avec precipitation mais des qu'elle en regarda le carractere elle connut que c'estoit le mesme dont elle avoit accoustume de se servit pour escrire a ses amants et qu'elle n'estoit point de celuy dont elle ecrivoit a ses amies en suite cleonice et moy nous mettant a lire nous n'y vismes que ces paroles qui ne luy convenoient point du tout
 
 
 si vous vous trouvez dans la rue qui conduit au temple de diane a l'heure que j'ay accoustume d'y aller j'aprendray de vostre bouche quels sentimens vous avez en me quittant et vous aprendrez aussi de la mienne combien vostre absence me touche 
 
 
 
 
apres avoir leu ce billet nous connusmes bien que celuy qui l'avoit rendu s'estoit trompe mais par malice je conseillay a celle qui l'avoit receu de ne luy en rien tesmoigner de sorte qu'elle se contenta de dire a cet agent d'artelinde qu'elle feroit ce que sa maistresse luy escrivoit et en effet nous ne fusmes pas moins soigneuses de nous rendre au lieu de l'assignation que l'eust pu estre l'amant pour qui elle estoit donnee cleonice donna donc ordre qu'on nous advertist quand artelinde sortiroit de chez elle afin de la suivre ce qui se pouvoit faire aisement puis qu'elle estoit sa voisine nous ne sceusmes donc pas plustost qu'elle estoit sortie que nous fusmes par une porte de derriere luy couper chemin et la rencontrer 
 dans la mesme rue ou elle avoit donne assignation a cet amant qui devoit s'en aller scachant bien que nous la trouverions a pied par ce que c'est la coustume d'ephese de n'aller jamais au temple de diane en chariot des que nous la decouvrismes nous commencasmes de marcher lentement pour voir ce qu'elle feroit et nous vismes que sans nous avoir aperceues elle regardoit du coste que nous n'estions pas qui estoit celuy par ou elle croyoit que cet amant devoit venir et nous remarquasmes que ne le voyant pas elle marchoit doucement esperant tousjours qu'il viendroit n'ayant avec elle qu'une fille qui scavoit tous ses secrets mais enfin ayant tourne la teste de nostre coste nous nous aprochasmes d'elle et la joignismes de sorte que craignant que nous ne nous arrestassions longtemps a luy parler et que pendant cela celuy qu'elle attendoit ne vinst elle ne vit pas plustost cleonice qu'elle croyoit avoir receu la lettre par ou elle la prioit de l'attendre l'apres-disnee chez elle pour y recevoir ses justifications que prenant la parole allez cleonice allez luy dit-elle ce n'est pas icy ou je dois me justifier estant bien juste comme je vous l'ay escrit que j'aille chez vous vous dire mes raisons c'est pourquoy ce sera s'il vous plaist apres disner que j'auray l'honneur de vous entretenir en fuite de ce discours elle nous voulut quitter mais cleonice la retenant malicieusement et contrefaisant l'ingenue vous avez donc change d'advis luy dit-elle car vous m'avez ecrit que je me trouvasse icy et j'ay creu mesme que vous alliez en quelque voyage par certaines choses qui sont dans vostre billet artelinde rougit a ce discours et comprenant bien que celuy qui avoit porte ses 
 lettres se seroit trompe et auroit donne une lettre pour l'autre elle en eut un sensible despit neantmoins comme elle est hardie et artificieuse ce premier sentiment estant passe elle se mit a rire et demandant a voir cette lettre afin de la pouvoir retirer des mains de cleonice elle luy dit qu'elle l'escrivoit a un de ses parons qui s'en alloit aux champs et qui n'estoit pas bien avec sa mere mais cleonice qui ne la luy vouloit pas rendre luy dit qu'elle l'avoit laissee chez elle cependant comme artelinde scavoit qu'elle en avoit escrit plusieurs autres ou le mesme malheur pourroit estre arrive elle avoit l'esprit bien en peine elle n'osa toutesfois retourner sur ses pas et ne venir pas au temple avec que nous de sorte que nous y fusmes ensemble esperant aussi que peut-estre celuy a qui elle y avoit donne assignation auroit receu la veritable lettre qui estoit pour luy et s'y trouveroit mais ne l'y voyant pas elle ne douta plus que le desordre de ses lettres ne fust universel si bien que l'impatience la prenant des qu'elle y eut un peu este elle nous quitta et s'en retourna chez elle ou elle trouva toutes les responses de ses amants qui la confirmerent dans l'opinion qu'elle avoit eue celuy qui devoit partir a midy et qui avoit receu l'assignation du soir au bord de la mer se plaignoit de la cruelle raillerie qu'elle luy avoit faite et sembloit partir d'ephese l'esprit fort irrite contre elle celuy qui n'entroit jamais dans les temples et qui avoit receu la lettre qui ordonnoit a celuy a qui elle estoit escrite effectivement de se trouver au temple de diane luy disoit que c'estoit trop vouloir exiger de luy que de vouloir qu'il l'aimast jusques a changer de religion et que c'estoit 
 bien assez qu'il adorast ses yeux sans le vouloir forcer a faire une prophanation qui les deshonnoreroit dans son pais si on l'y scavoit celuy qui avoit receu la lettre qui devoit estre pour cleonice par ou elle la prioit de l'attendre chez elle afin qu'elle y allast se justifier luy escrivoit qu'il ne pouvoit pas comprendre qu'elle voulust luy faire la grace d'aller chez luy et de le vouloir satisfaire de quelques pleintes qu'il luy avoit effectivement faites le jour auparavant adjoustant toutesfois a cela qu'il luy obeiroit car vous scaurez madame que cette lettre estoit escrite de facon qu'elle convenoit aussi bien a un homme qu'a une femme de plus celuy qui avoit receu la lettre qui luy donnoit assignation chez une dame qu'il ne voyoit point et qui estoit son ennemie declaree croyant qu'artelinde se moquoit de luy y respondit fort en colere de sorte qu'artelinde ayant voulu favoriser quatre amants elle les desobligea tous et donna une si ample matiere de vangeance a cleonice qu'on ne la pouvoit pas avoir plus grande elle ne voulut pourtant pas publier cette advanture la premiere mais pour moy qui ne suis pas si bonne qu'elle je la dis a un de mes amis qui la dit a tout le monde si bien que tous ces amants ayant ouy parler de ce qui estoit arrive a cleonice quelques-uns de ceux a qui elle avoit donne ces assignations qui leur avoient semble si bizarres creurent que la mesme chose leur seroit aussi arrivee outre cela artelinde querella si fort celuy qui avoit si mal distribue ses lettres qu'il le dit a diverses personnes et en peu de jours la chose fut si universellement sceue que tous ces amants a la reserve de celuy qui estoit absent se rendirent entre eux les 
 lettres qui leur apartenoient et firent tant de railleries d'artelinde que cleonice en fut pleinement vangee elle en tira mesme un autre bien qui fut que l'on ne parla non plus apres cela de la passion que ligdamis avoit pour elle que s'il ne l'eust point aimee si bien qu'ils jouirent tous deux durant quelques jours de toutes les douceurs qu'une amour innocente peut donner cleonice donnoit pourtant quelques facheuses heures a ligdamis parce qu'elle ne pouvoit encore croire que l'amour pust estre durable ainsi quand elle luy avoit accorde qu'elle ne doutoit point que son affection ne fust tres grande elle luy disoit en suite qu'elle craignoit qu'elle ne la fust pas long temps de sorte que l'on peut dire qu'elle se faisoit elle mesme des sujets d'inquietude dans le temps ou la fortune ne luy en donnoit point elle empescha mesme diverses fois ligdamis de tascher de faire persuader a son pere de changer le dessein qu'il avoit de le marier et de luy permettre de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour obtenir cleonice de stenobee disant tousjours qu'il ne faloit point precipiter les choses que peut-estre ne l'aimeroit-il pas tousjours et qu'enfin elle vouloit une plus longue espreuve de sa passion si bien qu'encore que ligdamis ne demeurast pas d'accord que cette espreuve fust necessaire toutesfois il avoit un si grand respect pour elle qu'il n'osoit la presser de la chose du monde qu'il souhaitoit le plus et d'autant moins qu'en ce temps la il n'avoit aucune des inquietudes de l'amour que la seule impatience car encore qu'hermodore fust tousjours amoureux de cleonice que phocylide le parust aussi estre assez souvent et que beaucoup d'autres la trouvant digne de leur 
 choix songeassent a l'espouser s'ils pouvoient il n'avoit pourtant point de jalousie et il estoit aussi heureux qu'un amant qui ne possede point sa maistresse peut l'estre lors que la fortune trouble ses plaisirs vous scavez sans doute madame que la princesse de lydie fut amenee a ephese aussi tost apres la prison de cleandre si bien que lors que ligdamis y fut revenu il chercha les moyens de luy rendre office autant qu'il put et ce fut en effet par luy qu'esope qui estoit a sardis fit tenir plusieurs lettres de cet illustre prisonnier a cette princesse et que cette princesse aussi y fit responce quoy que la chose fust alors tres secrette et qu'il n'y ait jamais eu qu'esope qui l'ait bien sceue neantmoins comme on scavoit que cleandre avoit fort aime ligdamis hermodore ayant sceu confusement long temps apres qu'il avoit receu quelques lettres de cet te princesse sans scavoir pourtant a qui elles s'adressoient fit secrettement advertir cresus que ligdamis tramoit quelque chose avec la princesse sa fille si bien que cresus n'osant le faire arrester parce qu'il scavoit que son pere estoit a son gouvernement il voulut tascher de le luy oster auparavant que de le faire prendre pour cet effet il manda ce gouverneur sur quelque pretexte avec intention de le retenir et de faire arrester son fils a ephese le mesme jour qu'il arriveroit a sardis mais comme il avoit beau coup d'amis a la cour il fut adverty du dessein de cresus qui s'en estoit ouvert a quelqu'un qui ne luy garda pas fidelite si bien que feignant d'estre malade il fit faire ses excuses au roy et envoya en mesme temps querir ligdamis luy faisant dire la chose et luy mandant mesme 
 plus precisement qu'il ne le scavoit qu'on le devoit arrester a ephese s'il n'en partoit en diligence je vous laisse a juger combien cette nouvelle affligea deux personnes qui s'estimoient malheureuses des qu'elles avoient passe un jour sans se voir cependant il falut que ligdamis partist et il partit en effet mais si afflige qu'on ne peut l'estre davantage il offrit vingt fois a cleonice dans les transports de sa passion de n'obeir pas a son pere mais quand elle songeoit qu'elle seroit peut estre cause qu'on le mettroit en prison elle hastoit elle mesme son depart et le prioit de partir avec autant d'empressement que si ce voyage luy eust deu causer un fort grand plaisir ce fut alors qu'elle recommenca de blasmer l'amour et sans pouvoir pourtant souhaitter que ligdamis n'en eust plus pour elle elle ne laissoit pas de dire que cette passion ne faisoit que des malheureux mais comme si ce n'eust pas este astez d'estre affligee de l'absence et du malheur de ligdamis il falut encore qu'elle souffrist la persecution d'hermodore qui n'avoit cherche les voyes de faire exiler ou prendre son rival que pour profiter de sa disgrace et en effet il demanda cleonice en mariage a stenobee qui la luy promit s'il pouvoit obtenir le contentement de sa fille phocylide de son coste l'importuna encore plus qu'il n'avoit fait et comme il luy fut impossible de cacher toute sa melancolie artelinde en expliqua la cause a tous ceux qui ne l'auroient peut-estre pas devinee sans elle si bien que cleonice se trouva accablee de toutes sortes de deplaisirs a la fois la soeur de ligdamis qui avoit espouse il y avoit fort peu de temps un homme 
 de qualite qui a son bien au deca de la riviere d'hermes y vint avecques son mary et il ne demeura personne a ephese avec qui elle pust parler de ligdamis excepte moy cependant cresus voyant que son dessein n'avoit pas reussi et ne jugeant pas a propos de commencer une guerre civile dans son estat lors qu'il estoit prest d'en avoir une estrangere il dissimula son ressentiment faisant semblant de se contenter de l'excuse du pere de ligdamis sans tesmoigner en estre mescontent mais il ne laissoit pas d'avoir dessein des que ligdamis ou son pere sortiroient de cette place de s'assurer de leurs personnes si bien qu'estant advertis de cette verite par des gens qui la scavoient avec certitude on peut dire qu'ils estoient prisonniers par la seule crainte de l'estre estant certain qu'ils ne sortoient point du chasteau d'hermes ligdamis obtint pourtant une fois de son pere la permission de venir desguise a ephese sur le pretexte de descouvrir une chose qui paroissoit fort importante dont il s'estoit fait donner luy mesme un faux advis afin de pouvoir venir voir cleonice je vous laisse donc a penser quelle surprise fut la mienne de le voir arriver un soir dans ma chambre avec un habillement a la phrigienne qui pensa me le faire mesconnoistre mais il n'eut pas plustost par le pour me prier de ne tesmoigner point que je le connoissois si ce n'estoit devant une de mes femmes qui me l'amena qui estoit la seule qui l'avoit veu et qu'il scavoit bien m'estre fidelle que je le reconnus en effet si bien que sans songer que son voyage estoit cause par cleonice eh bons dieux ligdamis luy dis-je que vous est-il arrive et quel dessein vous peut amener icy ha 
 ismenie s'escria-t'il je suis assurement bien plus malheureux que je ne pensois l'estre car puis que vous ne devinez pas d'abord que je ne puis venir que pour voir cleonice c'est une marque qu'elle ne croit pas que ma passion soit aussi for te qu'elle est elle la croit bien sorte repliquay-je mais je ne pense pas qu'elle croye que vous soyez si mauvais mesnager d'une vie qui luy est chere comme la vostre que de la hasarder comme vous faites car enfin si on vous prenoit en ha bit desguise dans ephese vous fourniriez a vos ennemis un pretexte le plus grand du monde de vous nuire n'importe me dit-il pourveu que je voye cleonice c'est pourquoy ne differez pas davantage a me faire avoir ce plaisir entendant donc parler ligdamis avec tant d'ardeur et jugeant bien que plustost il verroit cleonice plustost il s'en retourneroit et se mettroit en seurete j'envoyay prier stenobee de luy permettre devenir me guerir d'un mal qui ne pouvoit estre soulage que par sa conversation ne voulant pas faire dire un pretexte plus divertissant de peur que stenobee qui cherchoit tous les plaisirs n'en voulust estre mon artifice ne reussit pourtant pas comme je l'avois espere car stenobee s'imaginant comme elle faisoit souvent que l'on ne desiroit que sa fille creut encore qu'il devoit y avoir quelque musique ou quelque autre divertissement chez moy qu'on ne luy disoit pas si bien qu'ayant cette imagination elle me manda qu'elle me l'ameneroit elle mesme et en effet elle vint une heure apres je vous laisse a penser combien ligdamis murmura de cette avanture dans la croyance qu'il ont qu'il ne pourroit parler a sa chere cleonice de tout ce soir la cependant 
 la chose n'ayant point de remede je le fis entre dans mon cabinet et je me mis sur mon lict pour attendre stenobee qui vint bien tost apres avec l'esperance de trouver quelque divertisse ment considerable ce qu'il y eut encore de rare a cette avanture fut que depuis le message qu'elle avoit receu de moy elle avoit dit a tous ceux qui estoient chez elle qu'il y avoit assemblee a mon logis si bien qu'en moins de trois quarts d'heure je vy la moitie de la ville dans ma chambre ce qui m'estonna extremement et d'autant plus que je voyois par le procede de tous ceux qui estoient la qu'ils avoient attendu quelque chose qu'ils n'y trouvoient pas cependant quoy que je sceusse bien qu'il n'y avoit personne dans cette compagnie qui osast entrer dans mon cabinet je ne laissois pas d'estre en une inquietude estrange de ne scavoir comment je pourrois la faire sortir de ma chambre car pour stenobee comme elle ne cherchoit que le monde et qu'il y en avoit beaucoup elle ne se pleignoit point de ce qu'elle s'estoit trompee et ne pouvoit mesme souffrir que les autres s'en pleignissent mais a la fin perdant patience je me pleignis tant et je dis si clairement que je n'avois eu dessein de voir ce soir la que cleonice toute seule que cette aimable fille croyant en effet que le bruit me faisoit mal suplia sa mere de s'en aller afin de monstrer exemple aux autres de sorte que stenobee se levant la premiere emmena tout le reste et ne me laissa que cleonice des que toute cette multitude de gens fut partie qui m'avoit tant importunee et qui avoit tant afflige ligdamis je me relevay de dessus mon lict en riant de l'avanture qui me venoit d'arriver si bien que cleonico 
 me regardant faire et ne me voyant pas le visage d'une personne qui se seroit trouvee mal quoy ismenie me dit-elle il n'est pas vray que vous soyez effectivement un peu malade et toutes vos pleintes n'ont este que pour chasser cette compagnie du moins dites moy donc adjousta-t'elle que vous l'avez fait pour m'obliger car il est vray qu'elle m'importunoit extremement mon principal dessein luy dis-je n'a pas este ce luy de vous plaire et vous scaurez bien-tost qu'en cette rencontre j'ay encore plus regarde l'interest d'un autre que de vous en disant cela j'ouvris la porte de mon cabinet et l'y faisant entrer en la poussant doucement de la main j'entray vistement apres elle afin d'en refermer la porte mais a peine eut-elle fait un pas que voyant ce pretendu phrigien elle s'arresta toute surprise elle la fut pour tant encore plus lorsque se jettant a ses pieds et luy prenant la main enfin madame luy dit-il je ne pouvois plus vivre sans vous voir cleonice reconnoissant des la premiere parole la voix d'une personne qui luy estoit si chere ne put s'empescher d'avoir un premier sentiment de joye et de me pardonner la tromperie que je luy avois faite de sorte que le relevant tres civilement elle repondit au compliment qu'il luy avoit fait d'une maniere aussi spirituelle qu'obligeante mais un moment apres considerant que si on scavoit que ligdamis fust desguise dans ephese on l'arresteroit et que peut-estre on feroit un crime d'estat de ce qui n'estoit qu'un effet d'amour une partie de sa joye diminua et ce qui augmenta encore son inquietude fut qu'elle creut que si cette entre-veue estoit sceue cela seroit tort a sa reputation si bien que se repentant presques des paroles obligeantes 
 qu'elle venoit de dire et des marques de joye qu'elle avoit donnees en verite ligdamis dit-elle apres que nous fusmes assis ceux qui disent que les premiers sentimens des femmes sont les meilleurs ne disent pas tousjours vray puis que je n'ay pu m'empescher d'avoir un plaisir extreme de vous revoir et cependant je connois par une seconde pensee que la premiere estoit injuste et que je vous dois presques quereller car enfin a parler raisonnablement pourquoy exposer vostre liberte et vostre vie et pourquoy m'exposer moy mesme a pouvoir estre soupconnee d'avoir sceu un voyage qui pourroit estre explique d'une maniere peu advantageuse pour moy je l'ay fait madame repliqua-t'il parce que je ne pouvois faire autrement ainsi j'ay plustost agy pour conserver ma vie que pour l'exposer comme vous dites et pour vostre gloire madame adjousta-t'il je ne pense pas qu'on la puisse diminuer car outre que vostre vertu est au dessus de la calomnie je suis si malheureux que l'on n'a garde ce me semble de s'imaginer que j'aye assez de part en vostre coeur pour avoir obtenu de vous la liberte de vous venir voir desguise laissez moy donc madame jouir en repos du plaisir que j'ay a vous entretenir et ayez s'il vous plaist la bon te de me dire si ma disgrace et mon exil n'ont point aporte de changement en vostre ame et si ligdamis hai de cresus est aussi bien avecque vous que lors qu'il estoit considere de tout le monde parce qu'il avoit l'honneur d'estre aime de l'illustre cleandre vous me faites tort luy repliqua-t'elle de me soupconner d'une laschete comme celle la et si ce n'estoit que je veux vous prouver fortement que je n'en suis pas capable 
 j'aurois bien de la peine a ne vous donner pas des marques du ressentiment que j'ay de l'outrage que vous me faites mais comme vous pourriez peut-estre croire que je ne chercherois qu'un pretexte a vous faire une querelle j'aime mieux oublier cette injure et vous assurer que vostre infortune m'a rendu l'amitie que j'ay pour vous beaucoup plus sensible qu'auparavant carie ne veux pas dire adjousta-t'elle que vostre mal heur l'ait augmentee puis que ce seroit faire tort a vostre merite et a l'affection que vous avez pour moy si ces deux choses n'avoient pas fait naistre dans mon coeur toute l'amitie dont il est capable comme ce discours estoit assez obligeant ligdamis en fut transporte de joye et il y respondit avec des paroles si passionnees qu'il estoit aise de voir que son ame estoit remplie d'une amour tres violente cette conversation fut donc fort agreable et fort tendre de part et d'autre ligdamis raconta a cleonice toutes ses souffrances et toutes ses inquietudes depuis qu'il estoit party mais comme elle ne vouloit pas luy dire les sien nes ce fut moy qui malgre elle luy en apris une partie ce qui luy donna tant de joye qu'il ne pensa jamais se lasser de me remercier de luy avoir apris une chose qui luy estoit si glorieuse nous passasmes donc tout le soir ensemble cleonice luy faisant promettre qu'il partiroit le lendemain a la pointe du jour ne voulant pas l'ex poser plus long temps au danger d'estre descouvert il luy resista pourtant autant qu'il put voulant qu'elle luy accordast la grace de la voir encore une fois mais il ne put rien gagner si bien qu'il falut qu'il se contentast d'estre aussi tard avec que nous que la bien-seance le pouvoit permettre 
 je ne vous diray point madame tout ce que se dirent ces d'eux personnes ny pendant le reste de la conversation ny lors que stenobee en noyant querir cleonice il falut se reparer car je ne pourrois pas retrouver dans ma memoire tout ce que l'amour leur inspira ce n'est pas que la chose fust esgale entre eux au contraire cleonice aporta autant de soin a cacher l'exces de sa douleur en cette separation que ligdamis en aporta a luy monstrer toute la sienne mais quoy qu'elle fist elle parut dans ses yeux malgre elle et ils me parurent si touchez l'un et l'autre que j'eus grande part a leur affliction apres que cleonice fut partie ligdamis fut encore assez long-temps avecque moy a me parler tousjours d'elle et a me prier de continuer a luy rendre office mais en fin estant extraordinairement tard il me quitta avec intention d'aller passer le reste de la nuit chez un homme qui estoit a luy il y avoit environ un an et d'en partir des qu'il commenceroit de faire jour comme il croyoit que ce domestique estoit le plus fidelle serviteur du monde et que depuis qu'il estoit a son service il n'avoit pas fait la moindre faute et c'estoit a luy qu'il s'estoit confie de son voyage mais madame il faut que vous scachiez que cet homme si fidelle en aparence estoit un espion d'hermodore d'hermore dis je qui sans en tesmoigner rien ouverte ment ne laissoit pas de faire toutes choses possibles pour destruire ligdamis et pour espouser cleonice de sorte qu'ayant este adverty par son agent que ligdamis estoit a ephese desguise qu'il estoit dans sa maison et qu'il avoit este chez moy avec cleonice hermodore apres avoir bien examine ce qu'il avoit a faire envoya six hommes 
 qu'il gagna par de l'argent pour se saisir de la personne de ligdamis luy oster son espee et le garder dans la chambre ou ils le trouveroient donnant ordre aux gens qu'il employa pour cela de dire a ligdamis qu'ils l'arrestoient par le commandement du gouverneur d'ephese la chose ayant donc este resolue ainsi elle fut executee sans peine parce que celuy chez qui ligdamis estoit loge ouvrit luy mesme la porte a ceux qui le devoient arrester comme un criminel d'estat si bien que ligdamis qui ne faisoit que de s'en dormir se trouva estre prisonnier en se resveillant et hors de pouvoir de s'opposer a la violence qu'on luy faisoit cependant hermodore bien aise de tenir son rival en son pouvoir attendit avec une impatience extreme l'heure ou il pourroit voir cleonice mais comme il n'avoit pas la liberte de la visiter le matin il falut qu'il attendist jusques apres disner il est vray qu'il y fut de si bon ne heure qu'il la trouva seule dans sa chambre apres luy avoir fait la reverence qu'elle luy rendit avec assez de froideur madame luy dit-il je suis bien fache d'estre oblige d'augmenter la me lancolie que je voy sur vostre visage mais j'ay pourtant creu que je devois vous advertir que ligdamis est arreste ligdamis reprit cleonice infiniment estonnee est arreste on aura donc surpris le chasteau d'hermes adjousta-t'elle ne voulant pas faire paroistre qu'elle scavoit que ligdamis estoit ou avoit este a ephese nullement madame repliqua-t'il mais il a luy mesme este surpris desguise dans la ville par un homme de ma connoissance qui esperant une grande recompense de cresus s'il remet entre ses mains un criminel d'estat qu'il a tant d'envie 
 d'y avoir s'en est assure secretement et m'est venu prier de luy prester une maison que j'ay sur le chemin de sardis pour l'y faire coucher plus seurement lors qu'on l'y conduira mais madame scachant a quel poinct la vie de ligdamis vous est chere j'ay imagine la voye de le delivrer si vous le voulez je voy bien madame adjousta-t'il par les mouvemens de vostre visage que vous doutez de la verite de mes paroles mais pour vous persuader je n'ay qu'a vous dire que ligdamis est venu a ephese desguise en phrigien et qu'il vous a veue chez ismenie cleonice ne pouvant plus douter apres cela de ce que luy disoit hermodore changea de visage et de discours et le regardant comme un homme qui pouvoit de livrer ligdamis hermodore luy dit-elle je n'ay garde de nier que le malheur de celuy dont vous me parlez ne me touche sensiblement car outre qu'il est parent d'ismenie que j'aime beaucoup il est vray que je suis fort de ses amies et a tel point qu'il est peu de choses que je ne fisse pour le delivrer c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de le vouloir faire a ma consideration s'il est vray que vous le puissiez je le puis sans doute repliqua-t'il mais madame je ne scay si vous voudrez vous mesme ce qu'il est pourtant necessaire que vous veuilliez pour obtenir sa liberte il faudroit que ce fust une chose criminelle ou impossible reprit-elle si je ne la voulois pas car pour les choses simplement difficiles adjousta cleonice je me resoudrois aisement a les faire pour sauver la vie a un malheureux que je ne connoistrois point a plus sorte raison a un de mes amis que j'estime infiniment resoluez vous donc luy dit-il madame a sauver non seulement celle 
 de ligdamis mais aussi celle d'hermodore ouy madame poursuivit-il vous les pouvez sauver toutes deux en prononcant quelques paroles et vous n'aurez pas plustost dit que vous consentez que je fois heureux que ligdamis sera delivre cleonice estrangement surpris du discours d'hermodore le regardoit sans pouvoir presques luy respondre et soupconnant quelque chose de la verite mais hermodore luy dit-elle ne seriez vous point assez meschant pour avoir arreste ligdamis je suis assez amoureux pour tout entre prendre luy dit-il mais enfin madame sans vous informer plus precisement ny du lieu ou il est ny qui l'a pris respondez seulement a ce que je vous ay dit aussi bien adjousta-t'il ligdamis est un homme disgracie qui ne se verroit jamais en estat de vous tesmoigner sa passion a ephese ligdamis reprit-elle fierement est un homme illustre que je prefere tout disgracie qu'il est a tous ceux qui ne le sont pas au reste hermodore vous m'en avez trop dit et puisque vous estes en pouvoir de delivrer ligdamis il le faut faire ou vous resoudre a estre hai de moy jusques au point de n'avoir jamais de repos que je ne me sois vangee de vous ou au contraire adjousta-t'elle fine ment si vous avez la generosite de le delivrer sans conditions je vous en seray si obligee que je n'auray asseurement plus la force de vous traiter comme j'ay fait mais de vouloir m'engager tiranniquement a vous promettre devons espouser c'est que je ne scaurois souffrir que vous me demandiez ny ce que je ne feray jamais quand mesme ma vie seroit aussi exposee que l'est celle de ligdamis mais vous madame adjousta-t'il voudriez vous que j'allasse delivrer mon rival afin 
 qu'il vinst tout de nouveau troubler mon repos et m'oster la vie apres que l'aurais conserve la sien ne songez-y madame songez-y et ne prononcez pas l'arrest de mort de ligdamis legerement ha cruel s'escria-t'elle emportee par l'exces de la douleur qu'elle avoit dans l'ame seriez vous capable d'une laschete si horrible madame repliqua-t'il vous scavez bien que s'il tombe entre les mains de cresus il est fort expose cependant je n'empescheray sans doute pas sa perte si vous n'empeschez la mienne vous n'avez donc plus luy dit-elle aucun sentiment de generosite la generosite reprit-il ne veut point que l'on se rende malheureux pour delivrer son rival et c'est mesme bien assez aux plus genereux de ne leur nuire point quand ils le peuvent mais adjousta-t'elle ce rival que vous delivreriez ne seroit pas plustost libre qu'il faudroit qu'il s'enfuist et qu'il s'esloignast d'ephese il est vray repliqua-t'il mais en s'enfuyant il demeureroit dans vostre coeur c'est pourquoy je vous le demande auparavant que de rompre les chaines qui le retiennent mon coeur reprit-elle n'est pas si aise a acquerir que vous pensez vous ne voulez donc pas delivrer ligdamis repliqua-t'il vous ne voulez pas vous mesme meriter mon estime respondit elle puisque vous ne voulez pas faire a ma priere une chose que vous devriez faire pour vostre seul interest si vous aimiez la gloire la gloire reprit brusquement hermodore est sans doute une belle chose mais un amant faisant confiner la sienne a posseder ce qu'il ai me ne trouvez pas estrange si je ne mets point d'autre prix a la liberte de ligdamis que cleonice cependant madame vous y songerez et 
 demain au matin je viendray recevoir vostre responce cleonice voyant qu'hermodore se preparoit a la quitter le retint encore et se faisant une violence extreme elle le flatta apres elle le pria de luy vouloir dire precisement ou estoit ligdamis mais il n'en voulut rien faire de sorte que passant tout d'un coup des prieres aux menaces elle luy dit tout ce que la colere et la douleur peuvent faire dire a une personne qui aime puis un moment apres craignant que cela ne hastast la perte de ligdamis elle passoit encore des injures aux supplications mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas dire a hermodore qu'elle l'espouseroit il la quitta sans changer de sentimens luy disant tousjours qu'il scauroit sa response le lendemain et qu'il luy donnoit ce temps la a se resoudre afin qu'elle ne se mist pas en estat de se repentir si elle se resolvoit en tumulte en fuite de quoy hermodore sortit et laissa cleonice dans une douleur inconcevable elle m'envoya querir a l'heure mesme pour me dire le pitoyable estat ou elle se trouvoit de sorte qu'estant allee chez elle au mesme instant elle me raconta ce qui luy estoit avenu en des termes propres a exciter la compassion dans l'ame la plus dure et la plus insensible apres avoir donc pris part a sa douleur comme j'y estois obligee et avoir assez long temps raisonne sur cette estrange advanture nous envoyasmes a la maison de ce domestique chez qui ligdamis nous avoit dit qu'il devoit loger et ou il estoit encore pour scavoir si on ne descouvriroit point comment il avoit este pris mais la femme de ce meschant homme instruite par son mary dit qu'il estoit party a la pointe du jour aussi-tost que les portes de la ville 
 avoient este ouvertes et qu'elle n'en scavoit autre chose imaginez vous donc madame de quelle facon cleonice passa cette journee pour moy je puis respondre de ses sentimens car je ne la quittay point je n'estois pourtant pas trop en estat de la consoler estant certain que le malheur de ligdamis m'affligeoit sensiblement cependant nous ne pouvions qu'imaginer pour empescher les funestes fuites de cette bizarre avanture car de faire advertir le gouverneur d'ephese que des gens qui n'avoient aucune authorite de faire arrester ligdamis le retenoient et que selon les apparences hermodore estoit celuy qui avoit fait cette violence cela ne delivroit ligdamis d'entre les mains d'hermodore que pour le remettre entre celles de cresus tout le monde scachant bien que ce gouverneur avoit ordre de l'arrester s'il venoit a ephese ainsi quand il l'eust retire de la puissance de son rival ce n'eust este que pour l'envoyer au roy de lydie de sorte que nous ne voyions guere plus de seurete de ce coste la que de l'autre neantmoins comme cleonice n'imaginoit rien de si insuportable ny mesme de si dangereux pour ligdamis que d'estre en la disposition de son rival il s'en faloit peu qu'elle ne fust resolue si elle ne pouvoit rien gagner sur hermodore quand il reviendroit de faire advertir ce gouverneur de ce qui s'estoit passe du moins disoit-elle si je ne delivre ligdamis je puniray hermodore et ce ne sera pas de sa main que cet infortune mourra il est vray luy dis-je mais sa moit vous sera-t'elle plus douce d'une autre que de la sienne et ne songez vous point que par la vous ferez que tout le monde scaura que ligdamis vous a veue chez moy et 
 croira peut-estre que vous l'y avez fait venir n'estant pas croyable qu'hermodore ne le die pour vous nuire mais par quelle voye repliqua-t'elle puis-je cacher une chose qui paroist si criminelle et que vous scavez pourtant qui est si innocente espouseray-je hermodore pour delivrer ligdamis ha ismenie il trouveroit sans doute luy mesme que sa liberte me cousteroit trop cher cependant je ne voy point d'autre moyen de le tirer des mains de son ennemy qu'en m'y remettant moy mesme mourons donc disoit-elle mourons car aussi bien quand je pourrois avoir la force de vaincre la puissante aversion que j'ay pour hermodore et que je pourrois me resoudre a je satisfaire peut estre ne delivreroit-il pas ligdamis de la revenant encore aux choses que l'on diroit d'elle lors qu'on scauroit que ligdamis l'avoit veue en secret et pendant un soir ou tant de gens avoient pu remarquer que c'estoit elle qui avoit oblige stenobee a s'en aller et a emmener toute la compagnie elle ne scavoit a quoy se resoudre ainsi craignant tantost la perte de la vie de ligdamis et tantost celle de la reputation elle estoit si affligee qu'on ne pouvoit l'estre davantage mais a la fin apres avoir imagine cent choses differentes je m'advisay de luy proposer d'avertir un parent de ligdamis qui estoit a ephese de ce qui s'estoit passe afin que lors qu'hermodore seroit le lendemain chez elle il y vinst la force a la main et qu'il se faillit de sa personne luy disant qu'il avoit sceu que ligdamis estoit en sa puissance et qu'enfin pour estre delivre il faloit le delivrer d'abord nous n'imaginasmes aucun obstacle a la chose suivant la constume de ceux qui croyent tousjours beaucoup de facilite 
 a l'execution de ce qu'ils souhaitent ardemment mais apres y avoir bien pense nous trouvasmes que stenobee estoit un empeschement considerable parce qu'elle ne haissoit pas hermodore et qu'ainsi elle ne souffriroit pas qu'on luy fist une violence chez elle toutesfois un moment apres cleonice se souvint que la mere partoit le lendemain de grand matin pour aller coucher a cent cinquante stades d'ephese et qu'elle n'en reviendroit que le jour suivant cet obstacle estant donc oste nous trouvasmes cet expedient assez bon et le seul que nous pouvions prendre je laissay donc cleonice afin d'aller chez moy ou je ne fus pas plustost que j'envoyay querir ce parent de ligdamis qui estoit un homme de coeur et capable d'une resolution comme celle la des qu'on l'eut trouve et qu'il fut venu je luy racontay la chose et le fis resoudre a ce que je souhaitois si bien que sans perdre temps il fut s'assurer des gens qui luy estoient necessaires pour executer ce que nous avions resolu je vous laisse donc a penser avec quelle impatience cleonice et moy attendions le lendemain ligdamis de son coste estoit bien en peine de raisonner sur son advanture car il se voyoit arreste au nom du gouverneur d'ephese et il connoissoit pourtant bien que ceux qui l'arrestoient n'estoient pas de ses soldats de plus il voyoit encore qu'on le laissoit dans la maison d'un homme qui estoit a luy et qu'il ne voyoit pourtant pas paroistre car ce traistre n'avoit pas eu la hardiesse de se trouver dans la chambre ou il estoit lors qu'on l'avoit arreste mais enfin sans pouvoir deviner la verite de son avanture il nous a dit depuis qu'il songea bien plus a la douleur qu'auroit cleonice de son 
 infortune qu'au peril ou il estoit expose pour hermodore je m'imagine qu'il estoit encore plus inquiete que ligdamis et que cleonice n'estant pas possible a mon advis de commettre une mauvaise action avec tranquilite cependant madame le matin que nous attendions avec tant d'impatience estant arrive stenobee estant partie et m'estant rendue aupres de cleonice le parent de ligdamis estant dans sa maison avec ceux qui le devoient assister attendant que je l'envoyasse advertir des qu'hermodore serait entre nous ne laissasmes pas de nous trouver cleonice et moy en un estat encore plus facheux que celuy ou nous estions auparavant que d'avoir rien resolu car encore que nous desirassions la liberte de ligdamis passionnement estant sur le point de l'execution de nostre dessein nous y avions de la repugnance et nous estions si peu accoustumees au tumulte et au bruit que nous aprehendions par foiblesse ce que nous souhaitions par raison et par affection tout ensemble cependant les moments nous sembloient des heures et les heures nous sembloient des jours nous fusmes pourtant jusques a pres de midy sans entendre parler d'hermodore qui soit qu'il eust sceu que j'avois veu un parent de ligdamis ou que par sa finesse toute seule il eust preveu l'accident qui luy pourroit arriver se determina a ne venir pas chez cleonice et a luy escrire seulement comme nous commencions donc de perdre patience nous vismes arriver un homme qui n'estoit pourtant pas a luy et qui donna une lettre de sa part a cleonice dont voicy a peu pres le sens 
 
 
 
 
 
 hermodore a cleonice 
 comme c'est de vostre resolution que depend la mienne j'envoye scavoir si vous pauez prise mais souvenez vous s'il vous plaist que si elle n'est favorable a la personne du monde qui vous aime le plus elle sera funeste a celle de toute la terre que vous aimez le mieux respondez donc mais respondez precisement de peur de vous repentir de ne l'avoir pas fait a temps 
 hermodore apres que cleonice eut leu cette lettre elle me parut si desesperee que je creus qu'elle expireroit de douleur je demanday a celuy qui l'avoit aportee ou estoit hermodore et il me dit qu'il n'en scavoit autre chose sinon qu'il n'estoit pas chez luy et que c'avoit este un de ses gens qui l'avoit charge de cette lettre et a qui il en devoit rendre la responce cependant 
 cleonice ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre mais apres y avoir bien pense elle escrivit pour tant ces paroles cleonice a hermodore 
 a resolution que j'ay prise n'est pas de si peu d'importance que je la puisse confier a un inconnu qui ma aporte vostre lettre c'est pour quoy si vous la voulez scavoir venez y vous mesme car je ne la scaurois escrire 
 cleonice j'oubliois de vous dire que durant que cleonice escrivoit j'envoyay advertir le parent de ligdamis afin qu'il fist future celuy qui portoit la responce de cleonice esperant par la venir a scavoir ou pouvoit estre hermodore celuy qu'il y employa ne fut pourtant pas assez adroit pour cela et il le perdit de veue dans la presse du port d'ephese par ou ils passerent de sorte que nous 
 fusmes encore plus malheureuses que nous n'avions este parce que nous fusmes absolument sans esperance estant certain que nous ne creusmes pas qu'hermodore deust venir pour la lettre de cleonice ainsi ne pouvant qu'imaginer ny que croire nous estions en une inquietude horrible le parent de ligdamis s'informoit au tant qu'il pouvoit en quel lieu estoit hermodore mais il n'en pouvoit rien aprendre avec certitude on resolut pourtant qu'on mettroit des espions la nuit prochaine a l'entour de sa maison pour voir s'il n'en sortiroit point et s'il ne seroit pas possible de l'arrester cependant la lettre de cleonice embarrassant fort cet amant opiniastre qui pour venir a bout de ses desseins ne se soucioit pas de commettre toutes sortes de violences il n'osoit croire que ce qu'elle luy vouloit dire luy fust favorable il ne pouvoit penser aussi qu'elle pust consentir a la perte de ligdamis neantmoins n'osant retourner chez elle en l'absence de stenobee parce qu'il avoit peut-estre sceu comme j'ay desja dit que le parent de ligdamis estoit venu chez moy il resolut d'attendre son retour pour aller aprendre de la bouche de cleonice ce qu'elle avoit resolu se de terminant toutesfois apres cela si elle ne respondoit pas comme il vouloit a remettre ligdamis entre les mains de cresus mais en attendant il demeuroit chez luy faisant dire qu'il n'y estoit pas a ceux qui le demandoient toutesfois comme les dieux sont trop justes pour laisser perir les innocens et pour proteger les coupables il arriva qu'hermodore ne se tenant pas assez assure de ceux qu'il avoit mis a la garde de ligdamis voulut aller luy mesme passer la nuit dans 
 la maison ou on le gardoit si bien que sortant de chez luy avec deux de ses gens seulement a l'heure que tout le monde se retire il fut aperceu par le parent de ligdamis et par ceux qu'il avoit mis en garde pour cela mais ne voulant pas l'attaquer si pres de sa maison de peur qu'il ne fust secouru par les siens ils le suivirent d'assez loin pour n'estre pas descouverts par luy devant qu'ils le voulussent estre et d'assez pres aussi pour le pouvoir joindre quand ils voudroient mais ils furent estrangement estonnez apres l'avoir suivy quelque temps de voir qu'il s'arrestoit a la porte d'un domestique de ligdamis et de celuy chez qui cleonice et moy avions dit a son parent qu'il avoit couche de sorte que sans avoir loisir de raisonner sur cela et ne voulant pas luy donner le temps d'entrer dans cette maison il l'attaqua courageusement mais taschant plutost a le prendre qu'a le tuer il luy saisit d'abord un bras afin de l'esloigner de cette porte et en effet il le tira si fortement qu'il l'en esloigna de quatre pas neantmoins ne pouvant pas le retenir il fut contraint de lascher prise et de songer a se deffendre d'hermodore et de ses gens qui mirent l'espee a la main contre luy toutes fois le parent de ligdamis estant beaucoup mieux accompagne l'auroit aisement tue s'il ne l'eust pas voulu prendre vivant et l'auroit mesme facilement pris si hermodore apellant ce domestique de ligdamis par son nom pour l'obliger de venir a son secours n'eust effectivement este secouru par luy et par quatre des gardes de ligdamis mais ce renfort estant venu a hermodore le combat fut plus sanglant et plus opiniastre cependant les deux gardes 
 qui estoient demeurez seuls aupres de ligdamis qui n'ignoroient pas qu'ils faisoient une chose fort injuste et qui avoient lien de croire veu le bruit qu'ils entendoient que l'on viendroit bien tost a eux et qu'il seroit aise de les prendre trouverent plus de seurete a songer de se mettre a couvert de l'orage dont ils estoient menacez en obligeant ligdamis et en le delivrant c'est pour quoy apres avoir tenu ce petit conseil entre eux ils offrirent a ligdamis qu'ils scavoient estre soit riche et fort liberal de le faire sauver et luy advouerent que c'estoit hermodore qui l'avoit fait prendre mais pour n'oster point le merite de leur action ils ne dirent pas que leurs compagnons fussent allez secourir hermodore au contraire feignant que c'estoit une querelle de gens inconnus ils luy dirent qu'ils se servoient de cet te occasion pour le delivrer et le delivrant en effet ils le firent sortir par la porte sans y chercher d'autre fineste car comme ceux qui combatoient s'en estoient esloignez et avoient mesme tourne un coin de rue qui estoit fort proche il leur fut aise de le faire mais comme on ne pouvoit pas sortir d'ephese a l'heure qu'il estoit ligdamis creut ne pouvoir trouver d'azile plus seur que ma maison si bien que venant fraper a ma porte et ayant prie qu'on me vinst dire afin qu'on la luy ouvrist que c'estoit un phrigien qui demandoit a me parler mes gens firent ce qu'il souhaitoit je vous laisse a penser quelle surprise fut la mienne lors qu'apres qu'on luy eut ouvert je le vy entrer dans ma chambre avec ses deux gardes et ses deux liberateurs tout en semble comme j'estois revenue de chez cleonice extraordinairement tard et que j'avois eu plusieurs 
 plusieurs lettres a escrire a mon retour je n'estois pas encore couchee ce qui ne fut pas un petit bonheur car si je l'eusse este peut-estre que ligdamis n'eust pas este sauve parce qu'on ne luy eust pas ouvert des que je le vy je luy fis cent questions a la fois estant certain que j'eusse voulu qu'il m'eust pu faire entendre par une seule parole comment on l'avoit pris et comment on l'avoit delivre il falut pourtant avoir la patience d'aprendre ces deux dernieres choses par ordre j'eusse bien voulu espargner a cleonice la mauvaise nuit qu'elle alloit avoir mais craignant de donner connoissance de ce qui estoit si necessaire qui fust cache je creus qu'il valoit mieux attendre au lendemain au matin a luy donner cette agreable nouvelle cependant comme il ne faut jamais se fier trop a des liberateurs qui ont fait une meschante action je fis donner une chambre a ces deux soldats ordonnant a mes gens de ne se coucher point et de prendre garde a eux nous leur fismes pourtant dire auparavant tout ce qu'ils scavoient d'hermodore pour moy je me garday bien de dire a ligdamis que son parent devoit passer la nuit a suivre hermodore et que je croyois que c'estoit luy qui l'avoit attaque car j'eus peur connoissant l'on grand cou rage qu'il n'eust voulu aller voir en quel estat estoit la chose et se faire peut-estre reprendre je le fis mesme d'autant plustost que je jugeois bien qu'il sortiroit inutilement puis que ce combat devoit estre finy mais lors que je luy racontay la proposition qu'hermodore avoit faite a cleonice le desespoir de cette aimable fille et les responses qu'elle luy avoit faites il tesmoigna tant de haine pour son rival et tant d'amour 
 pour sa maistresse que je ne pense pas que l'on puisse jamais donner plus de marques de sentir fortement l'une et l'autre que ligdamis m'en donna par ses paroles j'eusse bien voulu qu'il fust party des cette mesme nuit mais il ne le voulut jamais joint que je croyois qu'il estoit a propos de scavoir auparavant ce qui seroit arrive d'hermodore et de ne laisser pas mesme aller ligdamis tout seul en la compagnie de ceux qui l'avoient delivre et a qui il avoit promis un azile mais a vous dire la verite il me fut impossible de pouvoir l'obliger a vouloir dormir et il me fut impossible a moy mesme de pouvoir fermer les yeux quoy que je le forcasse d'aller dans une chambre qu'on luy avoit preparee et quoy que je demeurasse en repos dans la mienne des que le jour parut je fus chez cleonice que je trouvay desja en estat de m'escouter car outre qu'elle n'avoit point dormy de toute la nuit le parent de ligdamis venoit de la quitter qui luy avoit apris ce qui s'estoit passe le soir entre hermodore et luy mais comme il ne scavoit pas ce qui estoit arrive a ligdamis il presuposoit que ses gardes qui estoient demeurez avecque luy n'auroient fait que le changer de lieu et ne l'auroient pas delivre si bien qu'elle estoit encore dans une douleur estrange dont je la retiray bien-tost en luy aprenant que ligdamis estoit en lieu de seurete la joye qu'elle en eut fut si excessive qu'elle ne pensa jamais parler d'autre chose ny se resoudre a me raconter ce qu'estoit devenu hermodore mais apres l'en avoir pressee plus d'une fois elle m'aprit que ce domestique de ligdamis avoit este tue avec trois de ses gardes qu'hermodore y avoit este fort blesse que le parent de ligdamis y avoit 
 perdu deux de ses gens et qu'a la fin estant demeure seul avec les siens dans la rue il estoit alle a cette maison pour scavoir s'il n'aprendroit point ce qu'hermodore y alloit faire et s'il ne scauroit rien de ligdamis que n'y ayant trouve qu'une femme il l'avoit contrainte de parler et de luy dire qu'il estoit vray que ligdamis avoit este pris chez elle mais qu'il venoit d'en sortir avec deux de ses gardes cleonice me dit encore que ce parent de ligdamis estoit alle se refugier chez un ennemy d'hermodore jusques a ce que l'on sceust ce qui arriveroit de ses blessures cependant nous commencasmes de craindre puis qu'il n'estoit pas mort que ligdamis ne suit pas en assurance chez moy de sorte que nous jugeasmes a propos d'advertir promptement son parent au lieu ou il estoit afin de donner ordre qu'il sortist d'ephese des le soir mesme et en effet la chose fut resolue et executee ainsi cleonice ne voulut pas mesme donner la consolation a ce mal heureux amant de la voir encore une fois de peur que la visite qu'elle m'eust rendue n'eust fait descouvrir qu'il estoit dans ma maison car vous scaurez madame que comme la rage et le desespoir mirent hermodore hors de luy mesme il dit tant de choses a ceux qui le visiterent ce matin la qu'encore qu'il ne les dist pas precisement comme elles estoient on ne laissa pas de dire confusement par toute la ville que ligdamis avoit este desguise a ephese qu'il avoit veu cleonice chez moy qu'hermodore et luy s'estoient batus et cent autres choses inventees sur ce premier fondement de verite tous ces bruits n'inquieterent pourtant pas d'abord extremement cleonice parce qu'elle ne songeoit a autre 
 chose qu'a scavoir si ligdamis seroit en lien seur mais quand elle sceut que son parent et luy estoient sortis heureusement de la ville avec des gens pour leur faire escorte elle commenca de s'affliger des choses que l'on disoit de cette advanture qui fit en effet un si grand bruit que le gouverneur d'ephese en fit une perquisition assez exacte comme c'est un fort honneste homme et que polixinide sa femme me fait l'honneur de m'estimer assez elle me fit la grace de m'envoyer querir pour me demander precisement ce que j'en scavois lors que je receus cet ordre j'estois chez cleonice si bien que devant que d'en partir nous consultasmes ensemble sur ce que je dirois car d'un coste n'advouant pas que l'amour estoit la veritable cause du desguisement de ligdamis c'estoit donner lieu de le soupconner d'un crime d'estat et de quelque entreprise sur ephese mais aussi en advouant que ligdamis s'estoit si fort expose pour un interest d'amour il y avoit aparence de craindre que l'on ne creust pas tout a fait la chose comme elle estoit enfin s'agissant de justifier ligdamis ou de je justifier soy mesme cleonice estoit bien embarrassee pour faire le premier il ne faloit que dire la verite et pour faire l'autre il faloit dire un mensonge estant certain que les apparences estoient contre nous et qu'il n'estoit pas aise de s'imaginer que ligdamis fust venu desguise a ephese sans le consentement de cleonice apres avoir donc bien examine la chose l'amour l'emporta et elle consentit plustost d'estre soupconnee que de donner lieu d'accuser ligdamis elle me dit toutesfois qu'il faloit dire la verite et en effet je la dis si ingenuement a polixenide qu'elle 
 me creut et desabusa son mary de l'opinion qu'il avoit que ligdamis eust voulu tramer quel que chose contre le service du roy de sorte qu'il promit mesme a polixenide qu'il en escriroit a cresus en faveur de ligdamis cela n'empescha pourtant pas qu'artelinde phocylide et toute la ville ne dislent cent choses fascheu ses sur cette advanture mais pour hermodore il n'en parla pas longtemps car il mourut de ses blessures le septiesme jour si bien que toutes les informations qu'il avoit fait faire comme pretendant avoir este assassine demeurerent sans aucune suite parce que ses parents qui sont gens d'honneur trouverent son action si lasche qu'ils ne voulurent pas songer a vanger sa mort dont la cause estoit si juste cependant tous ces bruits donnoient un si grand chagrin a cleonice qu'elle ne les pouvoit endurer si bien que sa tante que vous voyez icy avecque nous qui a une tres belle terre au deca de la riviere d'hermes et assez pres d'une maison que j'ay en ce mesme quartier estant presse a partir pour y aller elle la pria de la demander a stenobee et de la mener avec elle ce qu'elle fit me faisant promettre que j'irois passer l'automne dans son voisinage n'ignorant pas que j'estois dans une condition a pouvoir absolument disposer de mes actions cleonice qui ne quittoit ephese qu'a cause de tant de choses fascheuses que l'on y disoit ne voulut pas donner lieu de les augmenter de sorte qu'elle pria sa tante de ne passer pas la riviere au chasteau d'hermes ou ligdamis et son parent soient arrivez heureusement et d'aller chercher un passage beaucoup plus esloigne afin qu'on ne dist pas qu'elle eust voulu voir ligdamis elle 
 se trouva pourtant en lieu ou il la voyoit quelquesfois car encore qu'il ne sortist guere du chasteau d'hermes neantmoins depuis que cleonice fut aux champs comme elle estoit fort proche de sa soeur il prenoit ce pretexte pour la voir tantost desguise et tantost avec une escorte considerable cependant pour tenir ma parole a cleonice je fus a la campagne je ne fis toutefois pas comme elle car je passay la riviere au chasteau d'hermes ou je vy ligdamis que je trouvay tousjours fort amoureux mais qui me sembla pourtant assez melancolique sans m'en vouloir dire la raison me priant seulement de luy rendre office et de prendre tousjours son party lors que je fus aupres de cleonice je luy rendis conte des changements qui estoient arrivez a ephese depuis son depart et je luy apris que phocylide ne trouvant plus personne a notre ville qu'il pust tromper estoit alle demeurer a sardis et qu'anaxipe ne pouvant plus souffrir la forme de vivre de sa fille l'avoit enfin forcee de se marier a un homme qui des le lendemain de ses nopces l'avoit menee a la campagne ou elle ne voyoit personne et ou elle faisoit une penitence fort rigoureuse de toutes ses galante ries passees cette nouvelle qui auroit autrefois fort resjoui cleonice ne la fit qu'un peu sourire encore fut-ce d'une maniere si contrainte que je connus qu'elle avoit quelque chose en j'esprit si bien qu'apres avoir autant entretenu sa tante que la civilite le vouloit a la premiere occasion qui s'en presenta je luy parlay en particulier et la menant dans une allee qui est assez pres de la maison ou nous estions qu'avez vous cleonice luy dis-je et d'ou vient cette 
 profonde melancolie d'abord elle me dit que c'estoit un effet de la campagne et de la solitude mais je la connoissois trop pour m'y tromper de sorte que la prenant davantage mais enfin luy dis-je que pouvez vous avoir qui vous tourmente tous les faux bruits qui vous ont affligee sont cessez ligdamis est aussi honneste homme qu'il estoit autrefois et il vous aime autant qu'il a jamais fait ha ismenie s'escria-t'elle ce que vous dites la n'est pas vray et quelles prennes en avez vous luy dis-je cent repliqua-t'elle si bien que je vous puis assurer que vous vous trompiez quand vous disiez un jour que l'amour ne pouvoit devenir amitie estant certain que les sentimens que ligdamis a pour moy presentement ne sont tout au plus que ce que je dis sans mentir luy dis je cleonice vous estes une admirable personne de parler comme vous faites mais seroit-il bien possible adjoustay-je qu'apres avoir tant aprehende autrefois que l'amitie de ligdamis ne devinst amour vous craignissiez aujourd'huy que son amour ne devinst amitie je ne le crains pas dit-elle mais je le croy et sur quoy fondez vous cette opinion luy dis-je sur mille petites observations que j'ay faites et que je ne vous puis dire repliqua-t'elle et sur une certaine melancolie froide que ligdamis a depuis quelque temps cependant adjousta-t'elle en se desguisant je n'en murmure point et je ne luy en ay rien dit mais il ne faut pourtant pas qu'il s'imagine poursuivit-elle en rougissant qu'encore que son pere a ce qu'on m'a dit pust estre capable de changer d'advis et de luy permettre de m'espouser que j'y contente jamais ce n'est pas dit-elle encore sans oser toutesfois me 
 regarder que je ne fois bien aise que ligdamis n'ait plus d'amour pour moy mais de m'engager a passer ma vie avec un homme qui change de sentimens si souvent c'est ce que je ne feray pas car enfin j'aurois lieu de craindre qu'apres avoir passe de l'indifference a l'amitie de l'amitie a l'amour et de l'amour a l'amitie il ne retournast encore de l'amitie a l'indifference et qu'il ne passast en fuite de l'indifference a la haine et au mespris cleonice dit cela avec une certaine impetuosite qui me fit rire et d'autant plus que je ne doutois nullement qu'elle n'eust tort apres ce que ligdamis m'avoit dit en passant mais luy dis-je en la regardant attentivement ne scauray-je point quelqu'un des crimes de ligdamis la tiedeur reprit-elle est un crime qui n'est sensible qu'a ceux pour qui on en a mais il est pourtant si grand et si irremissible qu'il n'y a pas moyen de le pardonner je ne pense pourtant pas luy dis-je que ligdamis en soit capable pour vous comme nous en estions la on nous vint dire qu'il arrivoit elle ne l'eut pas plustost sceu qu'elle se mit a me prier de ne luy rien dire de ce qu'elle m'avoit dit et de ne luy en faire aucun reproche mais comme il me sembla qu'elle vouloit bien que je ne luy accordasse pas ce qu'elle me demandoit aussi tost que la bien-seance me le permit j'entretins ligdamis en particulier et luy racontay tout ce que cleonice m'avoit dit dont il demeura fort surpris il s'estoit bien aperceu qu'elle estoit un peu plus serieuse qu'a l'ordinaire mais comme elle luy avoit tousjours dit que cela venoit de quelques nouvelles qu'elle recevoit d'ephese qui ne luy plaisoient pas il n'y avoit pas fait grande reflexion scachant bien qu'il ne luy avoit donne aucun sujet de se pleindre 
 de luy joint aussi qu'il avoit luy mesme quel que chose dans le coeur qui l'affligeoit sensible ment et qu'il ne luy avoit pas voulu dire pour luy espargner quelques sentimens de tristesse je ne scay pas me dit il apres avoir escoute tout ce que je luy racontois des pleintes que cleonice faisoit de son changement si elle aura appelle ma melancolie tiedeur mais je scay bien que je ne l'ay jamais aimee plus ardemment que je l'aime comme nous fismes cette conversation dans la mesme allee ou j'avois entretenu cleonice estant arrivez au bout nous la vismes qui se pro menoit seule dans une autre de sorte qu'allant droit a elle injuste personne luy dit-il vous pouvez donc m'accuser de n'avoir plus que de l'amitie pour vous au contraire interrompit-elle je vous en loue et c'est pour cela que j'en ay par le a ismenie mais encore luy dit-il qu'ay-je fait qu'ay je dit quay-je pense pour vous obliger a le croire vous avez eu une melancolie estrange reprit-elle qui a ce que je m'imagine ne vient que de ce que vous vous estes engage a me dire que vous avez de l'amour pour moy et de ce que vous sentez que vous n'en avez plus je voyois bien me dit-il que ma melancolie estoit le fondement de mou crime mais madame puis qu'il faut vous en descouvrir la cause que je ne vous avois cachee que parce que je vous voulois empescher de partager ma douleur scachez que nous sommes en termes d'estre peut-estre separez pour long temps car enfin selon la disposition des choses il y a grande apparence que toute la lydie va estre en desolation et que nostre monarchie sera renversee je scay madame que vostre ame est une ame heroique qui s'intereste dans le 
 bien public et qui a l'amour de la patrie fortement imprime dans le coeur c'est pourquoy je ne craindray point de luy dire que je n'ay pu apprendre sans quelque diminution de la joye que me donne l'honneur que vous me faites de me souffrir que nous sommes sur le point de voir toute la lydie en armes et toute la lydie conquise par un prince estranger car enfin madame mon pere et moy avons eu un advis certain de la cour que cresus veut declarer la guerre a cet invincible conquerant a qui la moitie de l'asie est desja sujette et a qui rien n'a encore pu resister et cela dans un temps ou il retient en prison l'illustre cleandre qui seul pouvoit soustenir une semblable guerre pour moy adjousta-t'il je ne scay quelle politique est la sienne mais je scay bien que pour vaincre il faut avoir des generaux qui scachent esgalement combattre et commander ainsi on diroit que quand il voudroit luy mesme faciliter la victoire de cyrus il ne pourroit faire que ce qu'il fait cependant il ne veut point entendre parler de la liberte de cleandre au contraire a mesure qu'il se confirme dans le dessein de forcer le plus puissant prince du monde a luy faire la guerre il augmente les gardes et resserre les chaines du seul homme qu'il luy pourroit opposer et veuillent les dieux que l'injustice de cresus pour cleandre n'attire pas le courroux du ciel sur toute la monarchie j'ay sceu encore adjousta-t'il qu'il a envoye consulter divers oracles pour cela et qu'il n'attend que leur response pour commencer la guerre il court mesme quelque bruit sourdement qu'il doit donner retraite au roy de pont qui a enleve la princesse de medie de sorte que cyrus joignant dans son coeur un 
 interest d'amour au desir d'aquerir une nouvelle gloire renversera selon toutes les apparences toute la grandeur de cresus principalement ne delivrant pas l'illustre cleandre voila madame luy dit-il la cause de ma melancolie et ce que vous appeliez tiedeur et deffaut d'amour mais pour esprouver ma passion et ne vous fier pas a mes paroles commandez-moy les choses du monde les plus difficiles et si je ne vous obeis croyez que je n'ay plus que de l'amitie pour vous et n'ayez plus que de la haine pour moy ligdamis prononca ces paroles d'une maniere si esloignee de la tiedeur dont cleonice l'avoit accuse que je la condamnay a luy en demander par don devant qu'elle eust loisir de parler et en effet apres qu'elle eut encore un peu resiste elle luy fit des excuses de la croyance qu'elle avoit eue de luy en paroissant mesme si honteuse qu'elle ne vouloit plus qu'il luy dist rien pour s'en justifier davantage en fuite dequoy nous partageasmes la melancolie de ligdamis et trouvasmes qu'il avoit grande raison de craindre ce qu'il craignoit depuis cela madame ces deux personnes n'eurent plus de querelle ensemble mais ils ne furent pourtant pas sans affliction car ligdamis tomba malade peu de jours apres et si dangereusement qu'on creut qu'il mourroit mais a la fin les medecins respondant de sa vie dirent qu'il seroit tres long temps a guerir et en effet il a tousjours este tres mal jusques a ce que l'on ait delivre cleandre cleonice eut aussi une fievre tres violente qui fut cause qu'elle ne put regagner ephese lors que les troupes de cyrus s'a procherent de la lydie pour moy je ne la voulus pas quitter et comme la maison de la soeur de 
 ligdamis estoit la plus sorte de toutes celles de ce pais la nous nous y mismes toutes en attendant que nous pussions trouver les voyes de retourner a ephese devant que l'on commencast la guerre si bien que la liberte de cleandre et la nouvelle qu'il estoit reconnu pour estre le prince artamas fils du roy de phrigie ayant acheve de guerir ligdamis et la guerison de ligdamis ayant avance celle de cleonice nous prismes la resolution de tascher de regagner ephese scachant que l'on devoit bien-tost commencer de faire la guerre de sorte que ligdamis estant venu pour nous escorter avec deux cens chenaux nous nous mismes en chemin pour aller paner la riviere au chasteau d'hermes mais madame le destin qui dispose de toutes choses a fait comme vous le scavez que nous avons rencontre des troupes de cyrus et que nous sommes ses prisonnieres bien heureuses encore d'avoir trouve une protection aussi puissante que la vostre et un vainqueur aussi genereux que cyrus
 
 
 
 
ismenie ayant cesse de parler laissa panthee avec beaucoup de satisfaction de son esprit cette sage reine disant fort obligeamment apres l'avoir remerciee de la peine qu'elle avoit eue a luy aprendre ce qui estoit arrive a cleonice qu'elle estoit aussi digne d'estre son amie que ligdamis l'estoit d'estre son amant en fuite dequoy panthee ayant fait apeller araspe durant qu'ismenie fut requerir cleonice elle luy donna ordre d'assurer cyrus que lygdamis n'estoit guere moins amoureux de cleonice qu'il l'estoit de mandane de sorte que s'il ne faut que cela pour trouver les moyens de terminer la guerre sans combattre luy dit-elle l'illustre cyrus peut me 
 donner bien-tost la satisfaction de voir la paix par toute l'asie cependant adjousta-t'elle sans vouloir penetrer trop avant dans ses secrets suppliez-le seulement de ma part de considerer ligdamis et cleonice comme deux personnes de qui les interests me sont fort chers araspe l'ayant assuree qu'il ne manqueroit pas a luy obeir la quitta apres l'avoir saluee avec ce profond respect qu'il avoit accoustume de luy rendre qui n'avoit pas moins son fondement dans l'estime extraordinaire qu'il faisoit des rares qualitez de cette princesse que dans sa condition en fuite de quoy montant a chenal a l'heure mesme il fut rendre conte a cyrus de la commission que chrisante luy avoit donnee panthee demeurant avec cleonice qu'elle renvoya querir afin de pouvoir parler avec elles de toutes les choses qu'ismenie luy avoit apprises qui fut aussi de cette conversation mais pendant qu'elles s'entrenoient ainsi araspe obeissant a panthee fut au camp et allant droit a la tente de cyrus il n'y fut pas plustost entre que ce prince s'imaginant bien qu'il auroit execute ses commandemens luy donna lieu de luy parler en particulier et bien luy dit-il en souriant insensible araspe quelle nouvelle m'aportez-vous de ligdamis seigneur luy repliqua-t'il en changeant de couleur celuy dont vous parlez est certainement amoureux de cleonice a ce que m'a assure la reine de la susiane cyrus fut bien aise d'avoir appris cette nouvelle esperant par la faire bien mieux reussir le dessein du prince artamas de sorte qu'apres apres avoir renvoye araspe avec ordre de remercier tres civilement panthee il envoya chercher ligdamis qui estoit avec feraulas dans la tente de 
 timocreon qui avoit este ravy de le voir il ne fut pas plustost aupres de luy que le tirant a part il le conjura de luy vouloir dire une chose qu'il vouloit scavoir de sa bouche quoy qu'il la sceust par une autre voye seigneur luy dit-il si elfe est de ma connoissance vous la scaurez infailliblement je vous conjure donc adjousta l'invincible prince de perse de m'aprendre si vous n'estes pas plus captif de la belle cleonice que vous ne l'estes de cyrus seigneur repliqua ligdamis un peu surpris de cette demande comme cette captivite m'est glorieuse je ne feray point de difficulte de vous advouer que les chaines de cleonice me chargent plus que les vostres mais seigneur par quelle raison s'il m'est permis de vous le demander avez vous voulu scavoir cette verite de moy c'est afin repliqua cyrus que je scache en fuite si le mal que vous a cause cette passion ne vous aprendra point a avoir pitie de celuy des autres seigneur respondit ligdamis tousjours plus embarrasse a deviner l'intention de cyrus ceux qui font en l'estat ou je me trouve ne pouvant avoir qu'une compassion inutile des maux d'autruy sont sans doute bien malheureux de ne pouvoir servir leurs semblables mais du moins s'ils ne peuvent rendre de service ne doivent ils pas refuser leur pitie vous n'en estes pas en ces termes la dit cyrus car vous pouvez rendre au prince artamas le plus signale service que personne luy ait jamais rendu ha seigneur si cela est repliqua ligdamis faites-moy l'honneur de me dire promptement ce que je puis faire vous scavez luy dit-il son amour pour la princesse de lydie vous n'ignorez pas sa prison et vous scavez sans doute aussi 
 qu'on la doit mener du temple de diane dans la citadelle de sardis je scay toutes ces choses reprit ligdamis mais j'advoue que je ne scay pas si bien par ou je pourrois servir un prince qui m'a tant oblige en diverses occasions vous le pouvez respondit cyrus en luy donnant moyen de delivrer la princesse qu'il aime si je le puis interrompit ligdamis sans trahir le roy mon maistre et sans faire une laschete je le feray sans doute avecque joye puisque je vous ay dit que vous le pouvez reprit cyrus vous devez estre assure que je n'entends pas vous obliger a faire une mauvaise action apres cela cyrus luy aprit que le prince artamas estoit alle au chasteau d'hermes pour tascher de persuader a son pere de luy donner passage pour aller delivrer la princesse mandane et la princesse de lydie lors qu'on les conduiroit a sardis d'a bord ligdamis parut un peu surpris de ce discours mais cyrus reprenant la parole ne pensez pas luy dit-il genereux ligdamis que nous demandions passage pour toute nostre armee afin d'aller surprendre cresus le vaincre et renverser son empire nous ne voulons seulement que de livrer nos princesses et qu'obtenir la permission de faire passer autant de gens de guerre qu'il en faudra pour combatre l'escorte qu'on leur aura donnee ainsi vous ne contribuerez rien a la ruine de vostre patrie tant s'en faut vous l'empescherez puisque je vous engage ma parole que si nous retirons par vostre moyen la princesse man dane et la princesse palmis de la puissance de ceux qui les persecutent j'obligeray ciaxare a offrir des conditions de paix si avantageuses a cresus qu'il ne les pourra refuser ou au 
 contraire si nous ne les delivrons pas par cette voye toute la lydie est infailliblement destruite au reste ce n'est pas encore pour espargner nostre sang et pour nous empescher de combatre en forcant un passage de la riviere que nous avons recours a vostre assistance mais c'est que si nous le forcions cresus ne seroit pas conduite les princesses a sardis qu'il n'y fust avec toute son armee ainsi elles demeureroient jusques alors a ephese d'ou on pourroit nous les enlever par mer et d'ou nous ne les pourrions du moins retirer qu'apres plusieurs batailles et plusieurs sieges c'est pourquoy genereux ligdamis s'il est vray que la belle cleonice ait touche vostre coeur sensiblement et vous ait rendu capable de vous imaginer quel supplice peut estre celuy devoir la personne que l'on aime malheureuse pour l'amour de soy agissez je vous en conjure en amy du prince artamas et en amy qui connoist toutes les douleurs d'un amant je ne vous dis point que la belle cleonice est en ma puissance car je vous declare des icy que quand vous me refuserez ce que je ne vous demande qu'au nom du prince de phrigie elle n'en sera pas moins favorablement traittee ha seigneur interrompit ligdamis c'en est trop et mon silence est criminel ouy seigneur j'ay toit de vous avoir lasse parler si long temps et j'ay deu croire sans doute que tout ce que vous me proposiez estoit juste sans l'examiner comme j'ay fait mais enfin seigneur me voila resolu d'aider autant que je le pourray a delivrer la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis c'est pourquoy il faut que je vous die qu'a mon advis le prince artamas n'aura rien gagne aupres de mon 
 pere de sorte que si vous pouvez vous fier a ma parole il sera a propos que je parte a l'heure mesme pour luy aller aprendre qu'une soeur que j'ay avec cleonice est dans vos chaines aussi bien que moy ne doutant pas que cette consideration ne serve beaucoup a l'obliger de faire ce que vous souhaitez mais seigneur adjousta ligdamis souvenez-vous que vous me pro mettez de donner la paix a ma patrie si je vous rends la princesse mandane je vous le promets si solemnellement repliqua cyrus que vous ne devez pas craindre que j'y puisse jamais manquer moy dis-je qui tiendrois ma parole a mon plus mortel ennemy quand il y auroit cent couronnes a perdre je pense seigneur luy dit ligdamis que vous laissant ma maistresse et ma soeur vous pouvez vous fier a moy sans craindre que je manque a revenir si je ne m'y estois pas voulu fier respondit-il je ne vous aurois pas parle comme j'ay fait apres cela ligdamis le supplia de luy vouloir donner quelqu'un des siens de peur qu'il ne fust arreste dans les quartiers ou il passeroit et afin aussi qu'il pust luy tesmoigner comme il agiroit aupres de son pere si par hazard le prince artamas avoit este refuse et qu'il fust party du chasteau d'hermes quand il y arriveroit cyrus ayant desja conceu une grande estime pour ligdamis ne luy eust assurement donne personne pour faire ce voyage que des gens pour le servir s'il n'y eust eu que cette derniere raison mais la premiere estant plus sorte il luy donna feraulas si bien que sans differer davantage ils se preparerent a partir pour aller au chasteau d'hermes ligdamis escrivant toutesfois un billet a sa chere cleonice avec la permission 
 de cyrus afin qu'elle ne fust pas en peine de luy ce prince voulut aussi suivant ses promesses faire scavoir au roy d'assirie ce que ligdamis alloit faire mais comme il ne pouvoit manquer d'aprouver tout ce qui pouvoit servira delivrer la princesse mandane ligdamis receut cent carresses de luy aussi bien que de cyrus qui luy engagea encore une fois sa parole qu'en delivrant les princesses il delivreroit sa patrie cependant quoy qu'il y eust apparence que par cette voye on pourroit esviter une longue guerre cyrus ne laissoit pas d'agir toujours comme s'il eust este assure qu'elle devoit durer tres long temps il s'informoit par les prisonniers des passages des rivieres des lieux propres a camper des postes avantageux de la fortification de leurs places et de plusieurs au tres choses et tout scavant qu'il estoit en l'art de vaincre et de conquerir il ne croyoit pas encore en scavoir assez de sorte qu'il consultoit sans orgueil les vieux capitaines de son armee et ne rejettoit pas mesme quelquesfois les advis d'un simple soldat quoy qu'a parler raisonnablement il instruisist bien plustost ceux a qui il demandoit conseil qu'il n'estoit instruit par eux ces soins militaires ne l'empeschoient pourtant pas de donner quelques unes de ses pensees a la civilite qu'il vouloit avoir pour les princesses captives et pour tant de rois et de princes qui estoient dans son armee mais malgre tant de soins differents et d'occupations diverses mandane estoit la maistresse absolue de son coeur et l'objet de tous ses desirs il n'y avoit point d'heure ou il ne se flatast de l'esperance de la voir bien-tost delivree et il n'y en avoit point 
 aussi ou il ne craignist de ne la delivrer jamais si bien que passant continuellement de la crainte a l'esperance et de l'esperance a la crainte son ame estoit dans une agitation continuelle qui ne luy donnoit qu'autant de repos qu'il luy en faloit pour recommencer de souffrir le portrait qu'il avoit de mandane et la magnifique escharpe qu'il avoit eue de mazare mourant estoient ses plus douces consolations il conservoit ces deux choses avec un soin si particulier qu'il estoit aise de voir combien la personne qui les luy rendoit cheres la luy estoit elle mesme la veue du roy d'assirie luy donnoit pour tant quelques fascheuses heures ne pouvant pas tousjours estre si bien maistre de son esprit qu'il n'eust quelque peine a cacher ses veritables sentimens et a vivre tousjours avec une esgale civilite avec que luy jusques a ce que par la liberte de mandane il se vist en estat de le vaincre ou d'en estre vaincu il avoit neantmoins la consolation de l'avoir renverse du throsne de scavoir qu'il n'estoit pas aime et qu'enfin il estoit encore plus malheureux que luy au contraire le roy d'assirie a parler raisonnablement ne devoit pas avoir une pensee qui le deust consoler si ce n'eust este l'oracle qu'il avoit receu a babilone car il voyoit son rival couvert de gloire aime de sa princesse et sans autre malheur que ce luy d'en estre eloigne et de la scavoir captive mais pour luy il se voyoit sans couronne et sans esperance de regner jamais ny dans l'assirie ny dans le coeur de mandane du moins a juger par les aparences toutesfois il y avoit bien des heures ou cet oracle favorable le consoloit de tous ses desplaisirs et dissipoit toutes ses craintes 
 en luy faisant croire que par des moyens qu'il ne comprenoit pas il seroit quelque jour plus heureux qu'il n'estoit alors infortune aussi n'estoit-il jamais sans l'avoir sur luy ce n'est pas qu'il ne l'eust dans sa memoire mais il luy sembloit tant l'amour fait faire de petites choses inutiles aux plus grands hommes du monde que ce n'estoit pas encore assez si bien qu'il le portoit tousjours escrit dans des tablettes de cedre voila donc comment raisonnoient ces deux grands princes et ces deux illustres amants pendant le voyage d'artamas qui trouva beaucoup plus de difficulte qu'il n'avoit pense a persuader le gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes car il n'avoit pas preveu que ligdamis n'y seroit point il le receut pourtant fort civilement et comme celuy par la faveur duquel il commandoit dans la place ou il estoit mais s'agissant de donner paf sage a des troupes estrangeres il avoit bien de la peine a s'y resoudre quoy que le prince artamas luy dist que ce n'estoit que pour delivrer une princesse qui estoit la principale cause de la guerre et pour delivrer aussi la fille de son roy que l'on persecutoit avec beaucoup d'injustice bien est-il vray qu'il avoit l'esprit si inquiet de n'avoir point de nouvelles de son fils qu'il luy dit estre alle escorter une soeur qu'il avoit et quelques autres dames qu'il luy advoua qu'il ne luy estoit pas possible de luy respondre precisement qu'il ne sceust ce qu'il estoit devenu mais lors que par le retour de quelques cavaliers il aprit une heure apres que ligdamis estoit prisonnier et que la fille estoit aussi captive il en eut une douleur que l'on ne scauroit exprimer le prince artamas ayant sceu la chose 
 luy donna pourtant quelque consolation car il luy assura si fortement qu'il seroit bien traitte de cyrus qu'il diminua une partie de son desplaisir il luy offrit mesme d'envoyer sosicle en scavoir des nouvelles et en effet il l'envoya jugeant bien que jusques a ce qu'il sceust avec certitude ou estoit son fils il ne concluroit rien avecque luy mais par bon-heur sosicle ayant rencontre ligdamis et feraulas son voyage fut accourcy apres avoir embrasse ligdamis dont la rencontre le surprit agreablement car ils s'estoient tousjours fort aimez s'estant rendu conte de ce qu'ils alloient faire ils s'en retournerent tous trois au chasteau d'hermes ou ils furent receus avec une joye extreme estant mesme assez difficile de dire qui avoit plus de satisfaction de voir ligdamis ou de son pere ou du prince artamas depuis cela l'affaire dont il s'agissoit n'eut plus de difficulte parce que des que ligdamis eut raconte a son pere de quelle facon cyrus l'avoit traitte et de quelle maniere sa soeur et les dames qui estoient avec elle estoient servies son coeur se trouva tout change principalement quand ligdamis adjousta que cyrus ne demandoit passage que pour autant de troupes qu'il en faloit pour delivrer les deux princesses captives et qu'il luy avoit engage sa parole de donner la paix a la lydie s'il les delivroit par son moyen apres cela ce gouverneur n'ayant pas la force de s'opposer au prince artamas a ligdamis et au bien de sa patrie il accorda ce qu'on souhaitoit de luy de sorte que le prince de phrigie s'en retourna tres satisfait il voulut obliger ligdamis a demeurer aupres de son pere afin de l'entretenir dans les sentimens ou il l'avoit mis mais il 
 ne le voulut pas disant qu'il seroit indigne du traitement qu'il avoit receu de cyrus s'il ne retournoit pas vers luy artamas voulut encore luy resister toutesfois la generosite de ligdamis estant fortifiee par un sentiment d'amour il l'emporta et fit ce qu'il avoit resolu ils retournerent donc vers cyrus qui les receut avec une extreme joye aprenant d'eux l'heureux succes de leur negotiation artamas remercia ce prince du favorable traitement que ligdamis en avoit receu et ligdamis voulant recommencer de s'en louer tout de nouveau forca la modestie de cyrus a luy imposer silence mais pour le faire de meilleure grace il ne les empescha de parler de luy qu'en parlant luy mesme des obligations qu'il leur avoit d'avoir mis les choses en estat de pouvoir esperer de delivrer bien tost mandane artamas qui n'estoit pas moins interesse que luy en cette rencontre ne pouvoit souffrir qu'il luy rendist grace de ce qu'il avoit fait et ligdamis trou liant qu'il estoit luy mesme tres oblige et a l'un et a l'autre de ces princes ne pouvoit non plus se resoudre a recevoir les remercimens qu'ils luy faisoient durant cette contestation de civilite le roy d'assirie ayant sceu leur retour vint chez cyrus comme il estoit prest d'envoyer vers luy pour luy aprendre comment leur negociation avoit reussi de sorte que partageant la joye de son illustre rival et esperant aussi bien que luy de voir mandane delivree il donna aussi mille marques de gratitude aux negociateurs de cet te entreprise n'ayant presques plus les uns et les autres d'autre inquietude que l'impatience de recevoir les advis que les amis de menecee devoient donner du depart des princesses et de 
 l'escorte qu'elles auroient artamas qui n'estoit pas moins amoureux qu'eux n'avoit pas aussi moins de satisfaction et il avoit mesme tant de joye d'esperer de delivrer sa chere palmis sans combattre le roy son pere qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit dans le coeur l'esperance qu'il donnoit aux autres ligdamis de son coste esperant plustost la possession de cleonice si la paix se faisoit que durant une longue guerre partageoit le plaisir de ces princes avec plus de sensibilite cependant le prince artamas ayant demande la permission d'aller rendre conte au roy son pere de ce qu'il avoit fait et le roy d'assirie voulant jouir hors de la presence de son rival de toute la douceur que l'esperance de voir bien tost mandane en liberte luy donnoit s'en alla aussi de sorte que comme ligdamis et sosicle suivirent le prince de phrigie feraulas demeura seul avec cyrus il est vray que c'estoit la plus agreable compagnie qu'il pust avoir puis que c'estoit luy seul qui avoit tousjours eu le secret de sa passion car encore que chrisante n'eust pas ignore tout ce qui luy estoit advenu ce n'avoit pourtant este qu'a feraulas a qui il avoit descouvert tous les sentimens de son ame comme estant d'un age et d'une humeur a excuser tous ses transports et toutes ses foiblesses aglatidas estant alors arrive ne changea pourtant pas la conversation car il avoit toutes les qualitez que cyrus vouloit a un confident de son amour il avoit de l'esprit son ame estoit tendre et il connoissoit cette passion par sa propre experience si bien que cyrus s'entretenant avecque luy et avec feraulas de l'estat ou il voyoit les choses il y employa deux heures fort agreablement 
 cette conversation auroit mesme dure plus long temps si le roy de phrigie ne l'eust interrompue par une visite qu'il voulut rendre a cyrus pour luy tesmoigner la joye qu'il avoit de scavoir que le voyage de son fils avoit si bien reussi le reste du jour se passa donc de cette sorte et le lendemain cyrus resolut avec le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas quelles seroient les troupes qu'ils choisiroient pour cette expedition secret te quand il en seroit temps apres quoy cyrus qui estoit le plus obligeant prince de la terre ayant fait apeller ligdamis qui s'estoit contente d'escrire a cleonice et qui n'avoit ose demander si tost la permission de l'aller voir il luy dit tout bas en souriant qu'il l'advertissoit qu'il n'estoit plus son prisonnier de sorte luy dit-il que ce n'est pas estre bon esclave de cleonice que de ne l'aller pas visiter ligdamis respondit a cela que ces deux captivitez n'estant pas incompatibles il le supplioit de croire qu'il ne songeoit non plus a sortir de ses chaines que de celles de cet te belle personne mais que puis qu'il luy en donnoit la permission il iroit la voir et en effet il y fut le jour suivant cyrus accompagne de phraarte qui ne manquoit jamais guere une semblable occasion fut aussi visiter la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte il trouva la premiere un peu moins triste par l'esperance qu'araspe luy avoit donnee mais il trouva araminte dans une melancolie extraordinaire dont elle ne pouvoit trouver d'autre cause que la continuation des mesmes malheurs qu'elle supportoit quelque fois plus constamment cyrus fit ce qu'il put pour la consoler mais il estoit fort difficile que n'ayant point de nouvelles de spitridate elle pust 
 estre capable de satisfaction la veue mesme de cyrus toute agreable qu'elle luy devoit estre par cette prodigieuse ressemblance qui estoit entre ce prince et spitridate augmentoit plustost son chagrin en l'humeur ou elle estoit ce jour la qu'elle ne le diminuoit car quand elle venoit a penser que ce prince si admirablement bien fait si honneste homme et si genereux estoit mort prisonnier ou infidelle elle estoit contrainte de faire un grand effort sur elle mesme pour detacher son esprit d'une si fascheuse pensee de peur de donner des marques trop visibles de sa foiblesse elle aimoit toutesfois bien mieux que la presence de cyrus remist dans son ame tant de tristes pensees que de ne voir que phraarte aupres d'elle qui par la passion qu'il avoit dans le coeur luy donnoit mille inquietudes par la seule pensee qu'elle avoit que ses yeux auroient fait un ennemy a spitridate en assujettissant phraarte de for te que l'amour de ce prince luy estoit encore plus insupportable par la haine qu'elle prevoyoit qu'il auroit un jour pour son illustre rival que par elle mesme apres que cyrus eut fait sa visite de longueur raisonnable il quitta araminte et pour obliger ligdamis il fut a l'apartement ou l'on avoit loge les prisonnieres d'ephese a qui il fit cent civilitez mais principalement a la soeur et a la maistresse de ligdamis en sortant de la il apella araspe qu'il avoit remarque estre fort triste et comme il s'imagina que peut-estre cette melancolie venoit de ce que l'employ qu'il luy avoit donne ne luy plaisoit pas et l'ennuyoit comme il l'aimoit fort il eut la bonte de luy demander s'il estoit las d'estre prisonnier luy mesme en gardant des prisonnieres parce que si cela estoit 
 il mettroit quelque autre a sa place araspe sur pris du discours de cyrus au lieu de luy en rendre grace luy demanda avec empressement si la reine de la susiane ou la princesse araminte s'estoient pleintes de luy et s'il seroit assez malheureux pour leur avoir despleu en quelque chose mais cyrus luy ayant respondu que non et qu'au contraire elles s'en louoient il le suplia donc de luy laisser cet employ et le remercia alors de la bonte qu'il avoit pour luy en cette rencontre ce fut toutesfois d'une maniere qui fit croire a cyrus qu'araspe avoit quelque desplaisir secret qu'il ne vouloit pas luy dire si bien que sans y faire une plus grande reflexion il monta a cheval et s'en retourna au camp en y allant il aperceut dans un chemin de traverse deux hommes a cheval qui venoient vers le lieu ou il estoit et comme ils marchoient beaucoup plus viste que luy et qu'ils estoient assez proche ils l'eurent bien-tost joint mais a peine un de ces deux estrangers eut il jette les yeux sur cyrus que voyant l'honneur qu'on luy rendoit il demanda a quelqu'un de ceux qui le suivoient qui il estoit et comme on luy eut respondu que c'estoit cyrus cet estranger surpris de ce qu'on luy disoit s'arreste descend de cheval et se presente a cyrus comme ne doutant pas d'en devoir estre connu de sorte que luy adressant la parole seigneur luy dit-il souffrez que je vous demande pardon de ne vous avoir pas rendu l'honneur que je vous devois en une occasion ou je vous rendis du moins tout le service que je vous pouvois rendre cyrus regardant cet estranger qu'il vit estre admirablement bien fait fit ce qu'il put pour rapeller dans sa me moire l'idee de son visage mais bien loin de se 
 souvenir de l'avoir veu la physionomie de ce jeune cavalier fut si nouvelle a ses yeux qu'il conclut en luy mesme avec certitude qu'il le trompoit si bien que luy respondant tres civilement il luy dit qu'il ne se souvenoit point de l'avoir veu et que par consequent il croyoit qu'il se meprenoit luy mesme puis que ce n'estoit guere sa coustume d'oublier des gens qui avoient sur le visage un carractere de grandeur comme il le voyoit sur le sien en fuite dequoy le faisant remonter a cheval et le priant de luy dire quand et en quel lieu il croyoit l'avoir veu cet agreable estranger luy dit en mesme langage qu'il avoit desja passe qui estoit grec un peu corrompu qu'il avoit eu le bonheur de le rencontrer dans un bois qui estoit en paphlagonie n'ayant qu'un escuyer avecque luy et estant attaque par six hommes de la violence desquels il avoit tasche de le deffendre je ne scay luy dit cyrus si je ne devrois point vous laisser en l'erreur ou vous estes de peur d'estre soupconne de ne vouloir pas reconnoistre un bien fait neantmoins pour vous detromper et m'empescher en mesme temps d'estre accuse d'ingratitude scachez genereux estranger que je m'engage a vous recompenser autant que je le pourray du service que vous avez rendu a celuy pour qui vous me prenez mais apres cela je vous aprendray qu'il y a un prince au monde a qui je ressemble de telle sorte qu'en divers lieux de la terre nous avons este pris l'un pour l'autre c'est pour quoy comme je ne doute pas que ce ne soit luy que vous avez secouru et que je m'interesse extremement en sa vie et en sa fortune faites moy la grace de me dire ce que vous en scavez 
 et en quel lieu et en quel estat vous l'avez laisse
 
 
 
 
pendant que cyrus parloit ainsi cet estranger le regardant plus attentivement remarqua en effet quelque difference de l'air de son visage a ce luy de la personne a qui il avoit sauve la vie si bien que ne doutant point du tout de la verite des paroles de cyrus de qui la reputation luy estoit mesme trop connue pour luy permettre de le soupconner d'un mensonge si lasche seigneur luy dit-il je vous demande pardon d'avoir plustost creu mes yeux que ma raison qui me disoit en secret que le vainqueur de la plus grande partie de l'asie ne pouvoit pas s'estre trouve en estat de devoir la vie a un malheureux estranger comme moy celuy a qui vous l'avez sauvee reprit-il est si brave que je vous tiens plus glorieux de la luy avoir conservee que si je vous la devois puis qu'a parler sincerement ce que j'ay au dessus de luy est plustost un present de la fortune qu'un effet de ma valeur ce pendant contentez de grace ma curiosite et me dites precisement tout ce que vous scavez de luy mais pour me le dire plus agreablement adjousta cyrus d'une maniere tres obligeante aprenez moy le nom et la qualite de son liberateur afin que je ne manque pas a luy rendre ce qui luy est deu seigneur luy dit cet inconnu mon nom est anaxaris mais pour ma condition je vous suplie de ne vouloir pas m'obligera vous la dire precisement je pourrois si je voulois vous la desguiser en vous disant un mensonge avantageux ou desavantageux pour moy mais comme je ne veux recevoir de vous que l'estime dont je me rendray digne par mes actions et par mes services je ne veux ny m'abaisser ny m'eslever 
 en vous donnant une idee de ma qualite trop basse ou trop haute c'est pourquoy sans vous parler davantage de ce que je suis je vous diray que le bruit de vostre nom m'ayant fait quiter ma patrie pour venir estre moy mesme le tesmoin de tant de miracles que la renommee y a publiez de vous en passant un soir dans un bois qui est en paphlagonie je vy un homme assis au pied d'un arbre qui parloit avec un autre qui n'estoit qu'a deux pas de luy et qui sembloit regarder si deux chevaux qui estoient a eux ne se destachoient point du tronc d'un pin ou ils estoient en effet attachez comme l'air du visage de celuy qui paroissoit estre le maistre de l'autre me sembla extremement grand je le regarday si attentivement que je creus estre oblige de le saluer comme je fis cet estranger qui me parut estre fort triste me rendant mon falut tres civilement fit une si sorte impression dans mon esprit que je me retournay trois fois pour le regarder encore mais a la derniere je vis sortir six hommes de divers endroits du bois qui s'eslancant tout d'un coup sur luy ne luy donnerent qu'a peine le loisir de se lever d'aller a son cheval et de mettre l'espee a la main ce qu'il fit pourtant si promptement et si courageusement que vous ne devez pas vous estonner seigneur si lors qu'on m'a dit que vous estiez cyrus je n'ay pas encore cesse de croire que c'estoit vous que j'avois eu le bon-heur de servir car il est vray que je n'ay jamais veu tant de coeur en personne qu'en cet illustre inconnu je n'eus donc pas plustost veu qu'on l'attaquoit avec avantage que je fus a luy en luy criant que je mourrois pour sa deffence et en effet je me resolus 
 si determinement a seconder sa valeur que je fis sans doute des choses que je n'aurois pas faites si son exemple ne m'y eust porte tant y a seigneur qu'apres un combat assez long nous nous desgageasmes de ces assassins il en demeura quatre fut la place et deux s'enfuirent il est vray que ce vaillant inconnu que j'avois assiste le trouva estre blesse en deux endroits par deux coups qu'il avoit receus durant qu'il montoit a cheval de sorte que voyant qu'il avoit besoin d'estre secouru je luy demanday en quel lieu il vouloir estre conduit comme il est aussi civil que vaillant il me remercia de l'assistance que je luy avois rendue en des termes qui faisoient aisement remarquer la fermete de son esprit il voulut mesme me dispenser de celle que je luy voulois encore rendre me disant que sa vie dont je voulois prendre tant de soin n'estoit pas assez heureuse pour me donner tant de peine a la luy vouloir conserver je ne laissay pourtant pas de m'obstiner a ne le vouloir point abandonner et en effet je le conduisis jusques a la premiere habitation qui n'estoit qu'a quatre ou cinq stades du lieu ou nous estions par bon heur il y avoit un vilage qui n'en estoit pas fort esloigne ou son escuyer fut querir un chirurgien qu'il scavoit qui y demeuroit car je compris qu'il y avoit desja quelque temps que cet illustre blesse estoit en ce lieu la sans en pouvoir descouvrir la raison tant parce qu'il estoit trop melancolique pour oser luy demander une chose qu'aparemment il n'auroit pas dite a un inconnu que parce que je ne fus aupres de luy que jusques a ce que ce chirurgien qu'on estoit alle querir l'eust pense je luy offris pourtant d'y demeurer plus longtemps 
 mais il ne le voulut pas joint que voyant que les gens de cette maison en avoient beaucoup de soin je me resolus avec moins de peine a luy obeir il voulut scavoir mon nom et je luy dis comme a vous que je m'apellois anaxaris mais comme il estoit desja tard je fus contraint de passer la nuit en ce lieu la et je fus mis dans une chambre qui touchoit la sienne le chirurgien me dit que tes blessures n'estoient pas mortelles mais qu'il voyoit une si profonde melancolie sur son visage qu'il craignoit que la fievre ne luy prist et qu'une maladie se joignant a ses blessures ne luy donnast beaucoup de peine a le guerir comme je couchay a une chambre qui touchoit la sienne ainsi que je l'ay desja dit et que la separation n'en estoit que de planches l'entendis qu'il passa la nuit sans dormir il parla mesme diverses fois fort haut sans que je pusse presque entendre rien si non qu'il prononcoit fort souvent un certain nom d'araminte je compris pourtant qu'il se pleignoit de quelque belle personne qui s'apelle ainsi car il s'escria plusieurs fois araminte infidelle araminte pourquoy ne puis-je t'oublier ces pleintes m'ayant donne une nouvel le curiosite de scavoir qui estoit celuy que j'avois servy je m'en informay a son escuyer devant que de partir mais il me tesmoigna qu'il avoit un ordre si expres de son maistre de ne le dire a personne que je ne l'en pressay plus et je partis enfin sans scavoir autre chose de luy que ce que je viens de vous en dire m'estant cependant demeure une si grande estime pour ce vaillant homme que croyant l'avoir trouve lors que le vous ay aborde j'en ay eu une joye extreme 
 mais seigneur adjousta cet agreable estranger j'ay pourtant en beaucoup de satisfaction de m'estre trompe et l'aime encore mieux avoir eu l'honneur d'estre connu de vous que d'avoir eu le plaisir de trouver celuy pour qui je vous ay pris le prince spitridate repliqua cyrus est d'un merite si rare que je ne me fascherois pas quand vous me le prefereriez puisque vous ne se riez en cela que ce que la raison voudroit ce pendant pour vous tenir ma parole genereux anaxaris je vous declare que je vous suis aussi oblige de la vie que vous avez conservee a spitridate que si vous aviez deffendu la mienne c'est pourquoy je vous dis en presence de tous ceux qui me peuvent entendre que vous serez en droit de m'accuser d'ingratitude si je ne vous rends pas tous les offices que l'on a lieu d'attendre d'un prince que l'on a oblige anaxaris respondit a un discours si civil avec une soumission extreme mais qui n'avoit pourtant rien de bas au contraire il parut par sa responce quoy que tres respectueuse qu'il estoit accoustume a faire plustost des graces qu'a en recevoir de sorte que cyrus en concevant une grande opinion forma le dessein d'avoir un soin particulier de luy et en effet il donna ordre qu'on le mit a une de ses tentes et qu'il fust traite comme un homme de haute condition tel qu'il paroissoit estre mais si cyrus estoit bien satisfait d'anaxaris phaarte ne l'estoit pas tant car comme il estoit persuade que si spitridate eust este mort il auroit peut-estre trouve araminte plus favorable tout brave qu'il estoit il eut l'injustice d'avoir quelque secrette aversion pour anaxaris des qu'il sceut qu'il avoit sauve la vie de son 
 rival cyrus estant arrive au camp eut envie d'envoyer dire a la princesse araminte une partie de ce qu'il avoit sceu de spitridate luy desguisant un peu l'autre et le faisant encore moins blesse qu'il ne l'avoit este en effet mais comme ce recit avoit este fait devant plusieurs personnes il ne jugea pas qu'il fust aise de le pouvoir neantmoins croyant qu'elle auroit encore plus de consolation de scavoir que spitridate estoit blesse et qu'il l'aimoit tousjours que de le croire mort ou infidelle comme elle faisoit quelquesfois il envoya enfin feraulas pour luy aprendre qu'il y avoit environ un mois qu'un estranger qui estoit arrive au camp avoit rencontre spitridate car anaxaris avoit dit qu'il y avoit justement ce temps la qu'il avoit secouru ce prince feraulas obeissant a son maistre fut aussi-tost trouver araminte qui d'abord eut une joye extreme de scavoir que l'on avoit veu spitridate mais ne se contentant pas de ce que feraulas luy disoit et voulant elle mesme voir celuy qui l'avoit veu comme elle remarqua qu'il ne luy accordoit pas positivement ce qu'elle vouloit elle s'imagina des choses si funestes de spitridate que feraulas luy promit de suplier cyrus de sa part de luy faire voir celuy qui avoit aporte cette nouvelle et en effet estant retourne au camp et s'estant aquite de sa commission cyrus pria anaxaris le lendemain de vouloir faire une visite a l'illustre princesse araminte de qui le prince spitridate se pleignoit avec tant d'injustice le conjurant toutesfois de vouloir le faire un peu moins blesse qu'il ne l'avoit este effectivement la precaution de cyrus fut neantmoins inutile car comme phraarte estoit bien aise qu'elle creust 
 spitridate mort il avoit desja fait dire chez elle par une femme d'armenie qu'il avoit mite aupres de cette princesse du temps qu'elle estoit a artaxate et qui estoit absolument a luy que spitridate avoit este laisse comme mort et hors de pouvoir d'eschaper de sorte qu'araminte ne pensa jamais croire anaxaris lors mesme qu'il luy dit la verite toute pure cyrus aprenant son desespoir fut la consoler et l'assurer qu'anaxaris ne luy avoit parle de spitridate que comme il luy en parloit a elle mais pour luy tesmoigner encore combien son repos luy estoit cher apres s'estre bien fait marquer l'endroit ou anaxaris avoit laisse spitridate il fit venir le prince de paphlagonie et le pria de vouloir envoyer quelqu'un des siens pour scavoir precisement ce qu'estoit devenu cet illustre prince araminte remercia cyrus avec toute la civilite que sa douleur luy pouvoit permettre la reine de la susiane eut un soin tout particulier d'elle en cette occasion cleonice et toutes ses amies ne l'abandonnerent pas non plus et a la reserve de phraarte tout le monde partageoit son desplaisir il est vray que s'il n'en eut point de l'accident arrive a spitridate il en eut assez de la civilite qu'araminte eut tousjours pour anaxaris depuis qu'elle sceut qu'il avoit elle le liberateur de son amant joint aussi qu'elle commenca de le traiter encore plus mal qu'a l'ordinaire s'imaginant que ce ne pouvoit estre que pour luy que spitridate l'avoit nommee infidelle ainsi la maligne joye que phraarte avoit eue du malheur de son rival ne luy dura pas long-temps et il souffrit alors tout ce que l'amour et la jalousie peuvent faire endurer cependant cy rus le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas 
 commencant de s'impatienter de ne recevoir point les advis que les amis de menecee et ceux de timocreon leur devoient donner d'ephese et de sardis ne parloient plus d'autre chose mais a la fin ceux qu'ils attendoient estant arrivez ils sceurent que le depart des princesses estoit assurement differe de huit jours marquant precisement le jour et l'heure qu'elles devoient sortir d'ephese nommant les chefs des troupes qui les devoient escorter et disant enfin toutes choses si particulierement que ces princes eurent lieu de prendre leurs mesures si justes qu'ils pouvoient croire que leur entreprise ne pouvoit manquer il y eut pourtant quelque dispute entre eux pour l'execution de la chose car le prince artamas qui connoissoit tres bien le pais disoit qu'il faudroit partager leurs troupes en mettre une partie dans le bois par ou les princesses devoient passer et cacher le reste derriere un tertre assez esleve qui estoit couvert d'arbres et qui estoit a la gauche au milieu de la plaine que le grand chemin d'ephese a sardis traversoit afin que lors que les chariots des princesses seroient juste ment entre le bois et ce tertre et presques vis a vis du chasteau d'hermes ou l'on auroit aussi laisse des gens ils pussent enveloper le roy de pont en luy coupant chemin de toutes parts et faire passer la riviere a ces princesses presques auparavant que leurs ennemis eussent eu le temps de se reconnoistre cyrus comprenant mieux l'assiette du lieu que le roy d'assirie ne la comprenoit tomba d'accord de ce que proposoit le prince artamas mais pour luy il dit que ce n'estoit point la son advis qu'au contraire en se separant c'estoit le moyen d'estre vaincus 
 les uns apres les autres qu'ainsi il valoit bien mieux faire un grand effort tout d'un coup que d'avoir recours a la ruse le prince artamas soutint encore son opinion et cyrus l'appuya aussi de plu sieurs raisons mais ce prince violent ne se voulant pas rendre il y eut une contestation assez forte entr'eux ligdamis fut mesme apelle a ce conseil et comme connoissant mieux le pais qu'aucun autre et comme estant fort entendu a la guerre mais comme il s'agissoit d'une chose ou il alloit du bonheur ou de l'infortune des trois plus grands princes du monde il avoit quelque peine a se resoudre de donner un conseil qui pourroit n'estre pas heureux de sorte que ne parlant pas precisement quoy qu'il panchast du coste de cyrus et d'artamas le roy d'assirie ne laissa pas d'en prendre de nouvelles forces et de s'obstiner plus que devant si bien qu'il sur resolu que l'on envoyeroit chrisante au dela de la riviere luy qui connoinssoit admirablement tous les avantages ou les desavantages des postes qu'il faloit occuper afin qu'il donnast encore son advis apres les avoir reconnus mais a peine cette resolution fut-elle prise que le roy d'assirie n'en estant pas encore satisfait dit que pour luy il ne se fieroit qu'a ses propres yeux d'une chose d'ou dependoit la liberte de mandane et qu'ainsi il iroit avec que chrisante et ligdamis qui devoit estre son guide afin de voir s'il avoit tort ou s'il avoit raison le roy d'assirie n'eut pas plustost dit cela que le grand coeur de cyrus ne pouvant souffrir que son rival luy pust reprocher qu'il se fust expose plus que luy pour la liberte de mandane fit qu'il ne contesta plus quoy qu'il n'ignorast pas que ce qu'il alloit faire estoit contre les regles de la prudence et 
 estoit mesme inutile estant certain que le prince artamas scavoit assez bien la guerre pour se confier a luy d'une semblable chose et qu'il luy faisoit si bien comprendre c'est pourquoy il dit au roy d'assirie qu'il iroit aussi bien que luy le prince artamas voulant aussi estre de la partie afin de leur faire voir precisement comment il entendoit la chose il fut donc resolu qu'ils partiroient le soir mesme avec des habillemens et des armes peu remarquables qu'ils ne meneroient pas plus de deux cens chevaux qu'ils laisseroient aupres du chasteau d'hermes n'en faisant passer que cinquante seulement pour aller reconnoistre les divers postes ou le prince artamas avoit soutenu qu'il falloit mettre leurs gens cette resolution estant prise cyrus fit appeller le roy de phrigie pour luy laisser ordre de prendre soin de toutes choses disant seulement a tous ses capitaines qu'il estoit alle visiter les divers quartiers de son armee cependant la chose ne put se faire si secretement que quelques-uns ne soupconnassent qu'il y avoit quelque autre dessein que l'on ne disoit pas de sorte que tigrane et phraarte se rangeant aupres de cyrus et ne l'abandonnant point il fut contraint de leur faire part de son secret leur disant que si c'eust este pour combatre il n'auroit pas voulu se passer de leur assistance mais que ne s'agissant que d'aller seule ment reconnoistre le lieu du combat il avoit voulu leur espargner une peine ou il n'y avoit point de gloire a aquerir neantmoins ils ne purent se resoudre a faire ce qu'il voulait et il falut qu'il consentist qu'ils fussent de la partie aglatidas adusius feraulas ligdamis chrisante sosicle tegee et artabase en furent aussi et il ne fut 
 pas mesme jusques a l'inconnu anaxaris qui scachant que cyrus partoit ne luy demandast la permission de le suivre qu'il ne put luy refuser tant il la luy demanda de bonne grace cyrus le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas partirent donc des que la nuit fut venue voulant sortir du camp a cette heure la afin que les espions que cresus pouvoit avoir dans l'armee ne pussent pas l'advertir de quel coste cyrus estoit alle ligdamis accompagne de sosicle seulement prit le devant pour aller preparer son pere a donner passage aux cinquante chevaux qui devoient passer de l'autre coste de la riviere et en effet ces princes reglerent si bien leur marche qu'ils arriverent a quatre stades du chaste au d'hermes le lendemain a deux heures de nuit ou ils firent al te suivant ce qu'ils estoient convenus avec ligdamis qui les joignit un quart d'heure apres et qui dit a cyrus que les choses estoient disposees a le recevoir mais que comme il faloit de necessite qu'il fust jour pour pouvoir faire ce qu'il vouloit il jugeoit a propos qu'il se reposast dans le chasteau jusques a ce que la nuit fust passee et en effet le conseil de ligdamis fut suivy cyrus et tous les princes qui l'accompagnoient furent donc au chasteau d'hermes ou ils furent receus sans ceremonie de peur de donner connoissance de la chose aux soldats a qui on disoit que c'estoient des gens de cresus desguisez qui ayant passe par un endroit de la riviere venoient de reconnoistre quelqu'un des quartiers de cyrus et repasser ce fleuve en ce lieu la ce n'est pas que les soldats ne fussent fort affectionnez a leur gouverneur mais on ne vouloit pas bazarder la chose de sorte que cyrus passa la nuit dans le 
 chasteau comme s'il eust este un des capitaines de cresus cependant comme personne ne se coucha des que les premiers rayons du soleil commencerent de blanchir les nues du coste de l'orient cyrus montant a cheval le premier suivy du roy d'assirie du prince artamas de tigrane de phraarte d'aglatidas d'anaxaris de feraulas d'artabase de ligdamis de chrisante d'adusius de sosicle de tegee et des cinquante cavaliers qui luy faisoient escorte paf sa le pont du chasteau d'hermes pour aller voir le lieu ou il esperoit devoir bien-tost delivrer sa chere mandane le prince artamas pour faire voir au roy d'assirie qu'il avoit eu raison mar chant entre cyrus et luy leur monstra de la main des qu'ils furent au bout du pont le tertre couvert d'arbres qui s'eslevoit dans la plaine au dela du grand chemin le bois qui estoit a la droite et le chemin d'ephese qui alloit en baissant vers la gauche leur faisant voir alors si clairement que ce qu'il avoit propose estoit bien imagine que si le roy d'assirie ne se rendit pas encore ce fut plustost par opiniastrete que par raison chrisante fort entendu en de semblables choses dit pour fortifier l'advis d'artamas que l'entreprise ne se pouvoit executer autrement parce que si les premieres troupes qui conduiroient les princesses apercevoient d'abord un gros si considerable comme seroit le leur si tous leurs gens estoient joints elles ne manqueroient pas d'en advertir le roy de pont en un instant en faisant passer la parole de rang en rang jusques a luy et qu'ainsi comme il ne s'agissoit pas de gagner une bataille mais de conserver la princesse qu'il aimoit il estoit a croire 
 que ce roy la feroit retourner sur ses pas pendant qu'il feroit ferme avec toutes ses troupes si bien que hors de faire une embuscade de la maniere dont le prince artamas l'avoit propose il n'y avoit point lieu d'esperer un bon succes de cette entreprise neantmoins le roy d'assirie ne se voulant pas encore rendre dit qu'il estoit persuade que ceux qui viendroient du coste d'ephese pourroient descouvrir les gens de guerre qui seroient derriere le tertre et quoy qu'on luy fist remarquer que le chemin baissoit de ce coste la et que ce tertre faisant un demy rond il n'estoit pas possible qu'ils pussent estre aperceus neantmoins il voulut y aller et ils y furent tous aussi bien que luy apres qu'artamas luy eut fait remarquer qu'il s'estoit trompe ils furent encore reconnoistre le tertre et ils observerent mesme si la plaine a l'endroit qu'il la faudroit traverser pour aller attaquer ceux qui seroient dans le chemin n'avoit point quelque defile capable d'empescher la cavalerie d'aller viste comme il faudroit qu'elle fist pour surprendre les ennemis et pour esviter les coups de trait le plustost qu'ils pourroient en suite ils furent tous dans le bois et s'y enfoncerent mesme assez avant pour en reconnoistre toutes les advenues et toutes les sorties chutante leur disant qu'il ne faloit pas moins songer a ce qu'ils feroient s'ils estoient vaincus qu'a ce qu'il faloit faire pour vaincre ils n'entrent pourtant pas tant tarde dans ce bois si ce n'eust este que pour cette raison mais le prince artamas ayant propose qu'il faudroit que le pere de ligdamis fist tenir un bateau en un endroit ou ce bois s'estend jusques au fleuve afin que si par hazard les ennemis se rendoient maistres du pont 
 cela ne les empeschast pas de pouvoir faire passer leurs princesses pendant que pour les en chasser ils seroient passer de nouvelles troupes par le chasteau d'hermes qui en cas que la chose allast ainsi se declareroit ne pouvant pas faire autrement la proposition d'artamas ayant semble bonne ils furent donc reconnoistre le lieu ou il faudroit aller chercher ce bateau qui estoit assez loin parce que la riviere serpente en cet endroit en y allant le roy d'assirie dit que du moins il faudroit donc avoir plusieurs bateaux mais ligdamis repliqua a cela que depuis que cresus s'estoit resolu a la guerre on n'en avoit laisse aucun sur cette riviere excepte un a chacun des gouverneurs qui en gardoient les passages mais pendant qu'ils raisonnoient sur une entreprise dont ils croyoient que l'execution estoit retardee de plusieurs jours et que cyrus s'entretenoit de l'agreable pensee d'estre bien-tost le liberateur de mandane le gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes qui pour la seurete de tant de personnes illustres avoit fait mettre une sentinelle sur la plus haute de ses tours fut adverty qu'il paroissoit un gros de cavalerie qui venoit du coste d'ephese il n'eut pas plustost sceu la chose qu'apres s'en estre esclaircy luy mesme il depescha un des siens pour aller dans le bois donner advis a ces princes de ce qu'il voyoit donnant ordre a celuy qu'il envoya dedire a ligdamis qu'il les menast dans le fort du bois du coste de la riviere ou ils pourroient demeurer en seurete jusques a ce que ces troupes fussent passees qui a ce qu'il croyoit s'en alloient au bord du pactole ou se faisoit l'assemblee generale de toutes celles de cresus cet homme 
 montant donc a cheval en diligence et obeissant a son maistre fut dans ce bois pour y chercher cyrus mais soit que la frayeur l'eust saisi ou qu'il n'en sceust pas bien les routes au lieu d'aller ou aparemment il le devoit trouver il s'engagea dans un chemin qui l'en esloigna si soit qu'en effet il ne le trouva point si bien que ce prince suivy de tous ceux qui l'accompagnoient sans scavoir rien de ce qui se passoit apres avoir resolu tout ce qu'il avoit a resoudre et avoir fait consentir le roy d'assirie a ce que le prince artamas avoit propose commenca de reprendre le chemin qui le pouvoit conduire dans la plaine et de la au chasteau d'hermes mais il fut estrangement surpris lors qu'apres avoir presque traverse tout le bois il commenca d'entendre ce bruit sourd que font les pieds des chevaux d'un gros de cavalerie qui marche de sorte que suivant le mouvement de son grand coeur au lieu de s'arrester comme il eust peut-estre este a propos il s'advanca devant les autres et ne fut pas plustost au bord de la plaine qu'il vit un escadron de cavalerie a cinquante pas de luy et en mesme temps il vit des gens de guerre vis a vis du pont du chasteau d'hermes et toute la campagne couverte de divers corps de cavalerie et d'infanterie cette ame intrepide ne put toutesfois s'esbranler a la veue d'un objet si surprenant et d'un peril si inesvitable si bien qu'au lieu de se renfoncer dans le bois en diligence et de fuir la premiere action de cyrus fut de s'arrester la seconde de tourner la teste pour regarder s'il estoit suivy et je ne scay si la troisiesme n'eust pas este de s'avancer pour aller chercher la mort en desespere si tout d'une voix le prince artamas 
 tigrane et phraarte qui avoient aussi veu un instant apres luy ce qu'il avoit veu le premier ne l'eussent force de prendre une route du bois que ligdamis leur enseigna ils ne purent pourtant pas s'y enfoncer trop avant car comme ils avoient este aperceus par les troupes de lydie celuy qui estoit a leur teste apres avoir fait faire alte au gros qu'il commandoit fut luy mesme les reconnoistre avec cent chevaux ne pouvant toutesfois s'imaginer que ce fussent des troupes ennemies a cause qu'il croyoit que cyrus n'alloit point de passage sur la riviere d'hermes neantmoins pour ne rien negliger il y fut mais a peine eut-il fait vingt pas dans le bois qui estoit fort clair en cet endroit qu'il connut distinctement que ce n'estoient pas des lydiens et il remarqua de plus qu'ils n'estoient pas en grand nombre de sorte qu'allant apres eux et envoyant commander a ceux qu'il avoit laissez dans la plaine qu'ils vinssent le joindre afin de vaincre sans peine et sans peril il en fut bien-tost assez proche pour les attaquer et d'autant plus que cyrus marchant le dernier comme ayant encore plus de repugnance a fuir que tous les autres ne put entendre si pres de luy des gens qui l'apelloient au combat sans tourner teste et sans mettre l'espee a la main esperant mesme par cette action de courage faciliter la retraite de ses amis et la sienne cyrus se tournant donc brusquement vers ce capitaine lydien qui marchoit a la teste des siens il poussa son cheval vers luy avec tant de vigueur et l'attaqua le premier avec un action si menacante et si fiere qu'il le contraignit de parer en pliant et de le reculer de quelques pas tous les siens mesme s'en arresterent un 
 instant mais cyrus ayant redouble un second coup que ce capitaine ne put parer et qui fit voir un ruisseau de son sang a tous ceux qui le suivoient comme ce prince voulut aller apres ses amis et prendre le mesme chemin qu'eux il se vit environne de toutes parts et sans aucun espoir d'eschaper il en tua pourtant un d'abord mais la multitude l'auroit assurement accable si feraulas qui pair bon heur avoit tourne la teste et avoit entreveu cyrus en ce peril n'y fust alle en appellant chrisante a son secours qui y fut en diligence aussi bien que le prince tigrane phraarte anaxaris aglatidas ligdamis et plusieurs autres car pour le roy d'assirie qui marchoit assez loin devant avec le prince artamas et le reste ils furent attaquez par un autre gros d'ennemis que l'on avoit envoye pour leur couper chemin jamais il ne s'est entendu parler d'une pareille chose a celle qui qui se passa dans ce bois car cyrus scachant que la liberte de mandane estoit attachee a la sienne et a sa vie deffendit l'une et l'autre avec une valeur qui n'eut jamais d'esgale ceux qui l'attaquerent perirent presques tous de sa main et peu de ceux qu'il attaqua purent estre assez diligents a fuir ou assez adroits a parer ou assez vaillants pour luy faire resistance de sorte que de tous ceux qui l'environnerent d'abord il y en eut tres peu qui ne sentissent la pesanteur de son bras la valeur de tigrane se signala aussi en cette occasion aussi bien que celle de phraarte et l'inconnu anaxaris fit des choses si admirables qu'elles le firent connoistre a cyrus pour un des plus vaillants hommes du monde aglatidas ligdamis chrisante et feraulas donnerent aussi des marques 
 de courage prodigieuses pour sauver leur illustre maistre qui de son coste ne combattoit pas moins pour leur deffence que pour la sienne plus le nombre des ennemis croissoit plus sa valeur devenoit redoutable il se demestoit d'entre les arbres avec une adresse merveilleuse et son cheval obeissant a sa main secondoit si bien ses intentions que diverses fois s'il eust pu se resoudre de laisser ses amis engagez il eust pu se sauver mais comme son grand coeur n'y pouvoit consentir il combatoit opiniastrement quoy que ce fust sans espoir de vaincre en moins d'un quart d'heure il se fit un rampart de corps morts tous les troncs des arbres furent ensenglantez toute l'herbe fut couverte de sang et toute la terre en fut mouillee tous les cavaliers qui se trouverent aupres de luy perirent en cette occasion et il y auroit assurement pery luy mesme si les dieux ne l'eussent voulu sauver de puissance absolue apres avoir donc combatu tres long temps ne voyant plus aupres de luy que tigrane phraarte aglatidas chrisante ligdamis anaxaris et feraulas et jugeant que les coups des ennemis n'en pourroient plus fraper aucun qu'ils ne le touchassent sensiblement sa valeur redoubla encore et il fit sans doute ce que luy mesme ne croyoit pas estre capable de faire mais a la fin le nombre des ennemis croissant tousjours et un d'entre eux s'estant advise de tuer son cheval s'il pouvoit et l'ayant en effet blesse mortellement d'un grand coup d'espee qu'il luy enfonca dans les flancs ce fut en vain que l'illustre prince qui le montoit voulut le retenir car ce fier animal se sentant blesse et la nature faisant en luy un dernier effort il emporta son maistre malgre qu'il en 
 eust a travers l'espaisseur des arbres et la multitude des ennemis jusques a vingt pas de la ou tombant mort tout d'un coup cyrus n'eut pas peu de peine a se desgager de dessous luy il en vint pour tant enfin a bout mais en se relouant il trouva qu'il n'avoit plus a la main qu'un troncon de son espee qui avoit este rompue par un tronc d'arbre lors que son cheval l'avoit emporte si impetueusement de sorte que se voyant un instant apres environne et de plusieurs qui l'avoient suivy et de plus de cent autres qui arrivoient encore tous frais il ne put empescher que le vainqueur de tant de nations ne fust vaincu une fois il voulut pourtant encore se deffendre mais ce fut inutile ment car cinq ou six s'estant jettez sur luy en un mesme instant le saisirent et le firent prisonnier sans qu'il eust receu aucune blessure tigrane phraarte chrisante aglatidas anaxaris et feraulas voyant que cyrus estoit pris et qu'il leur estoit absolument impossible de songer a le delivrer commencerent de ne songer plus qu'a se sauver eux mesmes s'ils pouvoient a la reserve de feraulas qui se laissa prendre afin d'estre compagnon de la disgrace de son maistre pour les autres ne faisant plus que parer en reculant vers l'espaisseur du bois ils furent si heureux quoy qu'une partie d'entre eux fussent blessez que lors qu'ils y furent ceux qui les suivoient ayant ouy un grand bruit qui se faisoit a l'endroit ou le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas combatoient firent alte de peur de tomber en quelque embuscade pendant quoy s'enfoncant dans le plus espais du bois en tirant du coste de la riviere ils s'y cacherent et s'y tindrent jusques a la nuit a la reserve d'anaxaris de qui le cheval broncha et le fit prendre cependant le 
 roy d'assirie et le prince artamas artabase adusius sosicle tegee et ce qu'ils avoient de cavaliers avec eux avoient aussi fait une resistance prodigieuse et avoient tant tue de lydiens que leur propre valeur leur fut nuisible parce que ceux contre qui ils combatoient voyant a quelles gens ils avoient a faire avoient envoye demander du secours si bien que voyant de toutes parts ennemis sur ennemis et que plus il en tuoient plus ils en avoient a combatre ils agirent comme des gens qui vouloient vanger leur mort devant qu'elle fust arrivee principalement artamas car outre l'interest general qu'ils avoient tous a ne se laisser pas prendre s'ils pouvoient il en avoit un particulier a ne tomber pas sous la puissance de cresus sosicle et tegee le devoient aussi aprehender mais non pas tant que le prince artamas cependant il ne put esviter cette fatale destinee et apres avoir este blesse au bras droit et en trois autres lieux il falut ceder a la force et se rendre le roy d'assirie estant prive d'un si puissant secours se vit encore envelope de tant de gens qu'il fut aussi fait prisonnier en fuite de quoy sosicle et tegee le furent de mesme artabase et adusius se sauverent presque seuls de cette dangereuse occasion ces deux combats estant donc finis et tous les lydiens qui avoient combatu s'estant joints et ayant mis ensemble les prisonniers qu'ils avoient faits cyrus anaxaris et feraulas furent bien surpris lors qu'ils virent amener avec eux le roy d'assirie sosicle tegee et quelques cavaliers car pour le prince artamas il estoit si blesse qu'on estoit contraint de le porter cependant ces deux illustres rivaux voyant l'esgalite de leur fortune 
 en eurent de la joye et de la douleur la premiere parce qu'il est tousjours allez doux que son rival ne soit pas plus heureux que soy et la seconde parce qu'ils voyoient mandane sans protecteur principalement le prince artamas estant pris et bleue ils furent mesme fort affligez de voir qu'il fut reconnu par deux capitaines lydiens que quoy qu'ils eussent bien voulu le sauver n'oserent pourtant l'entreprendre parce qu'en effet ils ne le pouvoient veu l'estat ou il estoit ils ordonnerent donc qu'on le gardast au pied d'un arbre jusques a ce que l'on eust adverty celuy qui commandoit les troupes mais pour donner quelques marques de leur victoire ils firent conduire avec eux les prisonniers qu'ils avoient faits c'est a dire cyrus le roy d'assirie anaxaris tegee sosicle feraulas et quelques cavaliers au sortir du bois cyrus et le roy d'assirie virent que toutes les troupes avoient fait alte dans la plaine en attendant l'evenement du combat qui s'estoit fait et en allant ces deux rivaux remarquant bien par l'air dont on les traitoit qu'on ne les connoissoit pas se promirent une fidelite mutuelle a ne se decouvrir point l'un l'autre en cas qu'ils pussent trouver les voyes de se sauver et trouvant mesme lieu de faire entendre leur intention a feraulas comme il estoit fort adroit il la fit scavoir aux autres prisonniers esperant qu'en n'estant pas connus on les garderoit moins exactement et qu'ainsi ils pourroient peut-estre recourer leur liberte cyrus craignoit pourtant estrangement d'estre mene au roy de pont et quand il se souvenoit combien de fois il l'avoit vaincu et de quelle facon ce prince avoit este son prisonnier l'estat present de sa fortune luy estoit insuportable 
 il ne faloit pas pourtant laisser de marcher tousjours sans scavoir ou on le conduisoit le roy d'assirie s'advisa toutesfois a la fin de le demander a un soldat lydien qui luy respondit qu'on les menoit a andramite qui commandoit les troupes en l'absence du roy de pont comme ce prince alloit s'informer plus precisement des choses un officier rompit cette conversation s'imaginant que le roy d'assirie ne parloit a ce soldat que pour le suborner afin de luy aider a s'eschaper ils marcherent donc depuis cela sans parler non pas mesme entre eux chacun s'entretenant de sa propre infortune cyrus eut mesme la generosite de ne reprocher pas au roy d'assirie qu'il estoit la cause de leur malheur puisque sans luy ils ne seroient pas venus au lieu ou ils avoient este pris qu'en un estat qui n'auroit pas permis qu'on les eust vaincus de cet te sorte cependant ils avancent tousjours et arrivent enfin au lieu ou estoit andramite qui ne les vit pas plustost qu'il reconnut tegee et sosicle de sorte que sans s'amuser beaucoup aux autres je suis bien malheureux leur dit-il car il estoit assez de leurs amis que vous soyez tombez en mes mains mais comme vous scavez a quoy l'honneur m'oblige j'espere que vous ne trouverez pas estrange que je vous parle comme a des prisonniers de guerre que vous elles et non pas comme a mes amis c'est pourquoy dites moy ce que vous faisiez dans ce bois quel nombre de gens il y avoit precisement et ce que vouloit faire le prince artamas que j'ay sceu estre blesse et prisonnier nous ne pouvons pas respondit sosicle fort prudemment vous dire quel dessein avoit le prince artamas que 
 nous avons suivy sans nous en informer mais nous pouvons tousjours bien vous asseurer qu'il ne pouvoit pas estre fort dangereux puis qu'il n'avoit que cinquante chevaux et selon mon opinion c'estoit plustost un voyage fait pour moyenner la paix que pour faire la guerre mais ou avez vous passe la riviere adjousta andramite comme je serois tort au prince que je sers presentement repliqua sosicle qui ne voulut pas s'engager mal a propos si je vous descouvrois par quel lieu de la riviere nous avons passe vous me dispenserez de vous le dire mais ou estoit cyrus demanda encore andramite je le vy au camp le jour que nous en partismes reprit tegee voyant que sosicle ne respondoit pas assez viste apres cela andramite leur ayant encore fait un compliment les donna en garde a un capitaine qui estoit d'ephese en suite dequoy venant a jetter les yeux sur les autres prisonniers il vit quelque chose de si grand sur le visage de cyrus du roy d'assirie et d'anaxaris quoy que leurs armes et leurs habillemens n'eussent rien de remarquable qu'il r'appella tegee pour luy demander de quelle condition estoient ces prisonniers et comme il luy eut respondu qu'ils n'estoient que simples cavaliers si tous ceux de vostre armee luy dit-il sont de cette sorte cresus perdra infailliblement la premiere bataille qu'il donnera car j'advoue que les siens ne sont pas faits ainsi en fuite de cela andramite commanda qu'un chirurgien qui suivoit ses troupes allast aupres du prince artamas en attendant qu'il eust resolu ou on le feroit porter car comme il scavoit que le gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes estoit suspect a cresus 
 a cause de luy il n'osoit l'y faire aller de peur de se rendre suspect luy mesme de sorte que prenant la resolution de le faire porter en un autre lieu plus pres de sardis et se resolvant aussi a continuer sa marche aprenant qu'il m'y avoit aucun danger il commanda en effet que les troupes commencassent de marcher ce qu'elles firent andramite attendant a donner les ordres necessaires pour faire porter artamas qu'il passast au lieu ou il estoit et qu'il sceust du chirurgien qui auroit visite ses blessures s'il seroit en effet en estat d'estre transporte plus loing toutes les troupes commencant donc d'avancer ces prisonniers estant encore la parce qu'il falloit leur donner des chevaux les leurs ayant este ou tuez ou pris par des soldats qui ne paroissoient plus ils virent apres plusieurs troupes qu'andramite regardoit filer paroistre plusieurs chariots ou ils entre-virent de loin des femmes cette veue fit battre le coeur a cyrus et au roy d'assirie si bien que s'advancant nous deux a la fois jusques au bord du chemin ou ces chariots devoient passer ils virent que des que le premier aprocha andramite fut au devant et que marchant a la portiere qui n'estoit pas du coste de cyrus il parloit avec beaucoup de respect a celles qui estoient de dans mais lors que ce chariot qui alloit fort lentement fut vis a vis de cyrus et du roy d'assirie et qu'ils virent que mandane y estoit que ne sentirent-ils point leur ame en fut si troublee leur coeur en fut si esmeu qu'ils penfetent se descouvrir pour ce qu'ils estoient et si la honte de paroistre devant mandane en un estat si indigne d'eux ne les eust retenus ils eussent 
 assurement arreste ce chariot et fait quelque action aussi hardie que leur amour estoit violente mais ce qui acheva de mettre leur raison tout a fait en desordre fut que durant que la princesse palmis aupres de qui estoit mandane parloit a andramite de l'autre coste de la portiere elle jetta les yeux sur ces prisonniers de sorte que reconnoissant cyrus et le roy d'assirie il luy fut impossible de s'empescher de faire un grand cry qui venant jusques aux oreilles de ces deux rivaux y produisit des effets differents quoy que tres douloureux l'un et l'autre
 
 
 
 
jamais amants absens ne se sont reveus d'une maniere si surprenante que celle la car dans ce premier instant ou les yeux de mandane captive rencontrerent ceux de cyrus prisonnier leurs coeurs sentirent ce que l'on ne scauroit exprimer qu'imparfaitement cependant la princesse palmis ayant tourne la teste au cry que mandane avoit fait et luy ayant demande ce qu'elle avoit veu qui l'eust fait crier cette prudente princesse jugeant bien malgre le trouble de son ame que cyrus n'estoit pas connu veu l'estat ou elle le voyoit luy demanda pardon d'en avoir vie ainsi mais luy dit-elle il m'a este impossible de voir parmy les prisonniers que je voy que l'on garde poursuivit-elle en les monstrant de la main un homme que j'ay veu si long temps au service du roy mon pere en une saison plus heureuse pour moy que celle-ci sans estre extraordinairement esmeue de cette rencontre cependant mandane voyant que leur chariot s'esloignoit tousjours pria la princesse palmis d'obliger andramite a luy accorder la liberte de ce cavalier n'osant pas dire la verite a cette princesse de peur d'estre entendue 
 et n'ayant pas mesme le temps de raisonner si elle la luy devoit confier palmis qui ne cherchoit qu'a obliger mandane ayant prie andramite de faire arrester son chariot et ce lieutenant general n'ayant pas manque de luy obeir elle se mit a le conjurer de vouloir luy faire la grace de luy donner un cavalier que mandane venoit de voir parmy les prisonniers que l'on avoit faits madame luy dit-il vous scavez bien que je ne le dois pas je scay luy dit-elle qu'a observer les ordres de la guerre exactement vous estes oblige de me refuser mais je scay aussi qu'estant ce que je suis vous devez m'accorder tout ce qui ne peut pas nuire au roy et vous scavez bien andramite qu'un cavalier de plus ou de moins ne fait pas gagner ou perdre une bataille quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle je vous le demande et je m'engage a vous en faire recompenser par le prince myrsile puis qu'en l'estat ou je suis presentement je ne le scaurois faire par moy mesme durant que cette princesse parloit a andramite mandane penchant languissamment la teste de l'autre coste taschoit de voir encore l'illustre cyrus qui s'estant avance de quelques pas la voyoit et luy donnoit moyen de le voir le roy d'assirie avoit beau s'empresser il ne pouvoit rencontrer les yeux de mandane de sorte que ne pouvant ny bien voir ce qu'il aimoit ny s'en aprocher il faisoit du moins ce qu'il pouvoit pour destourner son rival tantost en luy disant quelque chose et tantost en se mettant devant luy faisant semblant de n'y songer pas cependant la princesse palmis solicitee par mandane pressa si instamment andramite de donner la liberte a ce cavalier que 
 commencant de ceder et demandant du moins qu'on luy dist lequel c'estoit mandane le luy representant par les paroles et le luy monstrent de la main parla avec tant d'art et tant d'adresse qu'enfin andramite ne pouvant refuser a la bille de l'on roy une grace qui paroissoit de si peu d'importance sembla s'y vouloir resoudre neantmoins se souvenant des choses prodigieuses que ses gens luy avoient racontees de la valeur de ce pretendu cavalier il hesitoit encore et disoit a la princesse palmis pour s'en excuser que de la facon dont on luy avoit parle du courage de cet homme cyrus dont la renommee disoit tant de miracles ne pouvoit pas faire davantage mais a la fin pensant que cette princesse si cresus mouroir se pourroit vanger de luy ayant autant de credit qu'elle en avoit sur le prince myrsile il le resolut a la contenter de sorte que faisant aprocher cyrus sans qu'on luy dist pourquoy on le demandoit il le fit passer du coste ou estoit mandane et luy adressant la parole vaillant homme luy dit-il rendez grace a cette princesse de la liberte qu'elle vous fait obtenir cyrus fut si surpris du discours d'andramite qu'il n'y pensa lamais respondre car se voyant si pres de mandane sans oser luy dire ses veritables sentimens ny presque la regarder il n'avoit pas l'esprit assez libre pour agir comme il eust fait en un autre temps neantmoins faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme il salua la princesse avec un profond respect et la remerciant selon le conseil qu'andramite luy en avoit donne madame luy dit-il je ne scay pas de quels termes je dois user pour vous rendre grace et si vous n'avez 
 la bonte de ne juger pas de mon ressentiment par mes paroles vous aurez lieu de me croire ingrat vous avez tousjours servy il fidellement le roy mon pere reprit mandane que je dois cure plus en peine de ne pouvoir reconnoistre vos services en l'estat ou je suis que vous ne le devez estre de reconnoistre mes bien-faits cependant adjousta-t'elle mourant d'envie qu'il s'en allast de peur qu'il ne fust reconnu et ne pouvant toutesfois se resoudre a le perdre de veue si promptement ne manquez pas aussitost que vous serez retourne au camp de faire scavoir au roy mon pere par le premier courrier qui ira a ecbatane que je suis tousjours ce que je dois estre et que je ne feray jamais rien indigne de l'honneur que j'ay d'estre sa fille je n'y manqueray pas madame repliqua-t'il mais il me semble adjousta-t'il en la regardant que comme je ne puis vous obeir que par le courrier de cyrus si vous ne me dites rien pour luy il aura lieu de ne me croire pas assurez-le de ma part luy dit-elle que je suis au desespoir d'estre cause qu'il s'expose aussi souvuent qu'il fait et je pense poursuivit-elle en rougissant qu'andramite souffrira bien que je prie cet illustre prince de ne le faire plus tant puis qu'en l'obligeant d'espargner sa vie il espargnera aussi celle de quelques subjets du roy son maistre je voudrois bien madame interrompit andramite en sous - riant que ce cavalier pust persuader ce que vous dites a cyrus qui a mon advis aura bien de la peine a vous obeir mais madame adjousta-t'il il est temps de marcher si vous ne voulez avoir l'incommodite d'aller de nuit cependant ce cavalier pourra 
 aller passer la riviere ou il luy plaira car je m'en vay ordonner qu'on luy donne un cheval et un passe-port la princesse remerciant andramite de sa civilite se tourna encore vers cyrus de qui l'esprit estoit si trouble qu'il ne scavoit presques si ce qu'il voyoit estoit veritable mais pendant qu'andramite parloit a un des siens vous ne voulez donc plus me commander rien pour vostre service dit-il a mandane je veux luy repliqua-t'elle que vous conserviez la liberte que je vous donne je le feray autant que je le pourray respondit-il mais pour ma vie madame je n'en seray pas si bon mesnager estant bien resolu de la perdre pour vostre service si les dieux ne vous delivrent bien-tost apres cela andramite se raprochant et disant encore une fois aux princesses qu'il faloit marcher elles marcherent en effet mandane regardant cyrus autant qu'elle put avec des yeux mouillez de larmes et cyrus regardant le chariot ou estoit mandane aussi long-temps qu'il le put voir en suite dequoy se raprochant du roy d'assirie il le trouva dans une agitation d'esprit qui n'eut jamais de semblable car depuis que cyrus s'estoit aproche du chariot des princesses par les ordres d'andramite il avoit souffert des maux incroyables vingt fois il avoit pense nommer cyrus et si un sentiment d'honneur et mesme un sentiment d'amour ne l'en eussent empesche il l'auroit fait infailliblement il avoit aussi voulu s'avancer mais ceux qui le gardoient l'avoient arreste et feraulas encore l'avoit retenu avec adresse mais lors que cyrus se raprochant avec le cheval qu'andramite luy avoit fait donner et le passe-port qu'on luy avoit baille 
 luy aprit qu'il estoit libre il sentit une douleur si excessive qu'il en perdit la parole c'est donc la princesse mandane luy dit-il fort bas apres qu'il fut revenu de son estonnement qui a obtenu vostre liberte c'est du moins a sa priere que la princesse palmis a oblige andramite a me la donner repliqua cyrus o dieux s'escria le roy d'assirie en levant les yeux au ciel est-ce par l'esclavage que vous me devez tenir vos promesses et me rendre heureux cyrus qui n'entendoit pas le sens de ces paroles parce qu'il ne scavoit point l'oracle que ce prince avoit receu a babilone se tourna vers anaxaris pour luy dire qu'il estoit bien marry que la premiere occasion ou ils estoient trouvez ensemble leur eust este si malheureuse mais qu'il l'assuroit de songer a le remettre en liberte par toutes les voyes qu'il en pourroit imaginer en fuite il dit quelque civilite a sosicle et a tegee puis tirant feraulas un moment a part il le conjura de tascher du moins dans sa captivite de se faire voir a mandane afin que sa veue la pust faire souvenir de luy feraulas luy ayant promis de n'y manquer pas et ceux qui devoient conduire ces prisonniers leur disant qu'il faloit partir cyrus se raprochant encore du roy d'assirie luy dit avec une generosite extreme qu'il ne songeroit pas moins a sa liberte que s'il estoit le plus cher de ses amis et qu'enfin il luy tiendroit sa parole exactement mais aussi luy dit-il ne manquez pas a la vostre et comment voudriez vous reprit-il qu'un homme enchaine y pust manquer apres tout luy dit cyrus vous demeurez aupres de mandane et je ne scay s'il ne vous est point plus avantageux d'estre captif de cette sorte qu'il ne me l'est 
 d'estre libre en m'en esloignant en disant cela ces deux illustres rivaux se separerent cyrus prenant le chemin du chasteau d hermes avec son passe port comme s'il en eust bien eu besoin et ces prisonniers prenant celuy de sardis sur des chevaux qu'on leur donna le roy d'assirie a la separation de cyrus sentit je ne scay quelle joye qui tint son esprit en une assiette assez tranquile durant quelques instants car enfin quand il regardoit devant luy il voyoit encore le chariot ou estoit mandane et quand il regardoit a sa droite il voyoit son rival qui s'esloignoit d'elle et qui alloit repasser une riviere qui l'en separeroit du moins pour long-temps de sorte que tout prisonnier qu'il estoit il aimoit mieux suivre mandane que de s'en esloigner comme faisoit cyrus il ne fut pourtant guere dans ce sentiment la au contraire passant en un moment d'une extremite a l'autre il se considera comme le plus infortune de tous les hommes et regarda cyrus comme le plus heureux qui vit jamais disoit-il en luy mesme une advanture si cruelle que la mienne je n'ay pas seulement le desplaisir d'estre prisonnier j'ay encore celuy de voir delivrer mon rival et delivrer mesme par une personne qui me rend sa liberte insuportable ne semble t'il pas adjoustoit-il que la fortune ne l'a fait captif que pour luy faire recevoir la plus grande preuve d'affection que mandane luy ait encore rendue et que pour me faire recevoir aussi la plus horrible marque d'aversion qu'elle m'ait jamais donnee car enfin disoit-il encore en luy mesme j'ay connu qu'elle m'avoit veu aussi bien que cyrus mais je l'ay connu principalement par le soin qu'elle aportoit a ne 
 me voir plus peut-on voir adjoustoit-il une inhumanite pareille a celle la elle me voit prisonnier comme luy et pour son service cependant au lieu de demander la liberte de tous les deux elle delivre seulement mon rival et me laisse accable de chaines quand elle n'auroit pas voulu me considerer pour l'amour de moy elle le devoit faire pour l'amour d'elle mesme puis qu'apres tout ma valeur n'eust pas este inutile a cyrus pour la delivrer mais l'inhumaine qu'elle est a voulu par cette cruelle action me forcer de croire que rien ne la scauroit vaincre toutesfois poursuivoit-il les dieux m'ont promis que je l'entendray soupirer et que je seray en repos que faut-il donc faire pour en venir la et par quels moyens y pourray-je arriver pendant que ce prince s'entretenoit ainsi anaxaris suportoit son malheur assez constamment disant a tegee qu'apres avoir veu mandane il ne s'estonnoit plus que sa beaute fust la cause d'une si grande et si longue guerre feraulas quoy que tres fache de n'avoir pu estre veu de martesie parce qu'elle n'estoit pas de son coste songeoit desja par quelle voye il pourroit luy faire scavoir des nouvelles de cyrus et des siennes tegee qui avoit veu cylenise et qui en avoit aussi este connu pensoit plus a cet objet agreable qu'au peril ou il estoit mais pour sosicle il ne s'occupoit qu'a penser au prince artamas dont il ne scavoit pas la pitoyable advanture cependant mandane n'avoit pas plutost eu perdu de veue le malheureux cyrus que se tournant vers la princesse palmis oserois-je vous dire luy dit-elle tout bas que vous venez de redonner la liberte a l'illustre prince qui fait 
 tous les malheurs de ma vie et qui seul en peut faire toute la felicite quoy interrompit palmis en parlant bas aussi bien qu'elle j'aurois eu le bonheur de delivrer l'invincible cyrus ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que j'aye peine a vous croire car je vous puis assurer que je n'ay pas este si credule qu'andramite ayant fort bien connu que ce prisonnier n'estoit pas un simple cavalier tel que vous le disiez estre mais veuillent les dieux que le prince artamas n'ait pas eu un pareil destin au sien comme elle achevoit de dire ces paroles andramite se raprocha de ces princesses dont il s'estoit esloigne pour parler a un homme qui luy venoit dire que le prince artamas ne pouvoit estre porte que dans un chariot de sorte que ne pouvant ou en prendre en ce lieu la et estant desja fort pres du bois a l'entree du quel estoit le prince artamas il suplia ces princesses de vouloir que leurs femmes se pressassent un peu dans deux chariots qui suivoient le leur afin de pouvoir mettre dans un des deux un prisonnier de qualite qui avoit este blesse a cette occasion andramite n'eut pas plustost dit cela que la princesse palmis changeant de couleur luy demanda le nom de ce prisonnier et comme il ne respondit pas precisement et qu'il parut qu'en effet il ne vouloir pas luy dire qui il estoit elle s'imagina la chose d'elle mesme et ne douta point que ce ne fust le prince artamas si bien qu'avancant la teste hors de la portiere justement comme son chariot entroit dans le bois elle vit ce qu'elle cherchoit et ce qu'elle eust pourtant bien voulu ne rencontrer pas c'est a dire le prince artamas couche au pied d'un arbre la teste appuyee sur un bouclier et son 
 escharpe sanglante en divers lieux qui soutenoit son bras droit dont le chirurgien qu'on luy avoit envoye avoit visite et pense les blessures il avoit mesme le teint si passe a cause de la perte du sang que comme il avoit les yeux fermez elle le creut mort ha andramite s'escria-t'elle faisant signe de la main que l'on fist arrester son chariot comment osez vous me regarder apres que vos gens ont tue le plus illustre prince du monde la princesse palmis dit cela si haut que sa voix estant arrivee jusques au prince artamas qui la reconnut d'abord non seulement il ouvrit les yeux mais il sousleva la teste et s'apuyant sur le bras gauche il fit mesme effort pour se lever tout a fait cherchant des yeux avec empressement la personne de qui il avoit entendu la voix si bien que comme le chariot des princesses s'estoit effectivement arreste et que palmis en estoit sortie avec precipitation il la vit aupres de luy un instant apres qu'il eut ouy sa voix et qu'il eut ouvert les yeux mais helas que cette entreveue fut triste et touchante je vous demande pardon madame luy dit ce prince blesse des qu'il la vit assez pres de luy pour l'entendre de ne pouvoir vous rendre ce que je vous dois et d'avoir si mal deffendu une vie qui pouvoit n'estre pas inutile a vostre liberte je vous demande pardon moy mesme luy repliqua-t'elle d'estre cause des malheurs qui vous arrivent et des blessures que vous avez presentement ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je n'aye prie les dieux de vous conserver mais c'est sans doute que ne trouvant pas lieu de me rendre assez malheureuse en ma propre personne ils me veulent punir plus rigoureusement en la vostre ce que vous me dites madame 
 repliqua-t'il me rend si heureux que s'il est vray que vous preniez part a tous mes sentimens vous ne devez plus avoir que de la joye estant certain qu'apres ce que je viens d'entendre je mourray presques sans douleur il vaut mieux que vous songiez a vivre qu'a mourir reprit-elle quand ce ne seroit que pour l'amour de moy qui ne pourrois vivre sans vous palmis profera ces favorables paroles par un emportement d'affection qui la fit rougir des qu'elle les eut prononcees et qui l'obligea de tourner la teste pour voir si personne ne les auroit entendues de sorte que voyant derriere elle la princesse mandane et toutes les femmes qui les acconpagnoient elle luy demanda pardon d'oublier la civilite qu'elle luy devoit artamas connoissant par la que ce devoit estre mandane luy fit un compliment qui fit bien connoistre a cette princesse qu'il scavoit que la passion de cyrus estoit tres violente mais comme il ne scavoit pas l'advanture de ce prince il en alloit parler comme le croyant prison nier si palmis ne luy eust fait signe qu'il se teust et ne l'eust interrompu pour luy demander comment il se trouvoit et s'il pourroit bien souffrir l'agitation du chariot cependant andramite s'ennuyant et craignant mesme que l'indulgence qu'il avoit ne luy fust reprochee par cresus s'il venoit a la scavoir suplia la princesse adroitement pour ne l'irriter pas de souffrir que l'on prist un de ses chariots pour le prince artamas  qui avoit besoin d'estre en lieu ou il se pust reposer quoy que cette princesse connust bien que ce qu'il disoit n'estoit pas la veritable raison qui le faisoit parler elle ne laissa pas de faire ce qu'il vouloit c'est a dire de se separer d'artamas 
 je prie les dieux madame luy dit-il en prenant le bord de sa robe qu'il baisa avec beaucoup de respect et de marque d'amour que s'ils ont resolu ma mort elle serve du moins a vous remettre en liberte et je les prie adjousta-t'elle en luy tendant la main que je verse plustost toute ma vie des larmes pour mes propres malheurs que d'en respandre pour vostre perte vivez donc si vous voulez que je vive et ne negligez rien de tout ce qui pourra servir a vostre conservation artamas prenant alors respestueusement la main qu'elle luy avoit presentee la luy serra doucement et la regardant d'une maniere qui sembloit demander a cette princesse la permission de baiser cette belle et chere main qu'elle luy avoit tendue si obligeamment il vit qu'elle en rougissoit et que la retirant sans violence toutesfois il devoit se contenter de la grace qu'elle luy avoit voulu faire de sorte que la saluant de la teste avec le plus de respect que ses blessures le luy purent permettre et la suivant des yeux il la vie partir le visage couvert de larmes qu'elle ne put cacher qu'en abaissant ton voile elle ne voulut pourtant pas que son chariot marchast qu'elle n'eust sceu que le prince artamas estoit dans celuy qui le devoit conduire jusques a une petite ville qui n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades de la andramite ne voulant pas le faire mener au chasteau d'hermes a cause de l'amitie que ligdamis avoit pour ce prince apres cela la princefsc mandane et la princesse palmis se mirent a desplorer leur infortune et a s'entretenir de leurs plus secrettes pensees cependant ligdamis qui avoit mene tigrane phraarte et chrisante en un endroit du bois ou on ne les eust pas trouvez aisement 
 attendoit la nuit avec impatience pour voir s'il ne trouveroit point les voyes de les conduire au chasteau d'hermes afin d'adviser en diligence ce qu'on pourroit faire pour l'illustre cyrus de qui la prison leur donnoit tant d'inquietude durant qu'ils estoient en cet estat ils entendirent quelque bruit et ils creurent mesme qu'ils alloient estre descouverts mais par bonheur il se trouva que c'estoit artabase et adusius qui cherchant a se cacher les rencontrerent la joye qu'ils curent de se revoir fut pourtant bien traversee lors que de part et d'autre ils se rendirent conte de ce qui estoit arrive a l'endroit ou ils avoient combatu car ligdamis aprenant a artabase que cyrus avoit este pris le desespera estrangement et adusius aprenant en fuite a tigrane que le roy d'assirie l'estoit aussi et a ligdamis que le prince artamas estoit blesse et prisonnier tout ensemble ils n'eurent plus rien a faire qu'a mesler toutes leurs douleurs mais enfin la nuit estant venue et ligdamis qui scavoit tous les detours du bois estant alle descouvrir s'il estoit seur pour eux de s'en retourner trouva en effet qu'il n'y avoit plus personne et que toutes les troupes estoient passees si bien que sans perdre temps il fut querir ses amies et les remena heureusement au chasteau d'hermes ou ils eurent la consolation de trouver l'illustre cyrus qui s'y estoit arreste pour y passer la nuit bien est-il vray qu'ils le trouverent si triste qu'ils furent obligez de cacher une partie de la joye qu'ils avoient de l'avoir retrouve la veue de mandane captive avoit de telle sorte esmeu son coeur qu'il n'avoit pas senty le plaisir que la liberte donne a tous ceux qui la recouvrent au contraire lors 
 qu'il s'estoit separe de ton rival il y avoit eu de la repugnance parce qu'il ne le pouvoit sans s'esloigner de mandane mais des qu'il fut arrive au chasteau d'hermes regardant son advanture plus exactement il se trouva si malheureux qu'il porta envie a son plus grand ennemy il y avoit pourtant des moments ou il ne tomboit pas d'accord avec luy mesme de ses propres pensees il n'avoit pas plustost imagine une chose qu'il la destruisoit par une autre mais a la fin il determinoit pourtant tousjours qu'il estoit le plus malheureux de tous les hommes et plus malheureux mesme que son rival tout prisonnier qu'il estoit quoy disoit-il il est donc bien vray que tant de batailles gagnees tant de villes prises tant de provinces assujetties et tant de rois vaincus ne m'auront donne qu'un peu de bruit dans le monde et ne m'auront point fait delivrer mandane pour laquelle seule je fais la guerre le trouve la gloire que je ne cherche point et je ne trouve point mandane que je cherche ou si je la trouve c'est pour luy devoir ma liberte et non pas pour luy redonner la sienne cyrus malheureux cyrus s'escrioit-il comment n'es tu point mort de confusion de paroistre devant ta princesse en un si honteux estat que celuy ou elle t'a veu et n'as tu point lieu de craindre qu'elle ne t'ait delivre que pour oster de devant ses yeux un objet indigne de ses regards et si digne de ton mespris comment t'a t'elle pu reconnoistre et comment as tu pu souffrir qu'elle te delivrast toy qui aspires a la gloire d'estre ton liberateur il faloit mourir adjoustoit ce prince des qu'elle t'a eu reconnu et par va exces d'amour et de confusion tout ensemble 
 il faloit plustost recevoir la liberte de la mort que de mandane mais le moyen adjoutoit il en se reprenant de pouvoir mourir en revoyant une personne que l'on a tant desire de voir et la revoyant encore admirablement belle et infiniment genereuse jusques icy poursuivoit-il je ne devois a l'illustre mandane que quelques bonnes intentions et quelques favorables paroles mais en cette rencontre elle m'a donne la chose du monde la plus precieuse qui est la liberte elle m'a charge d'une obligation que mille services ne scauroient payer quand je hazarderois mille et mille fois ma vie pour les luy rendre elle m'a empesche de tomber sous la puissance de mon rival et de mon ennemy et elle m'a mis en estat de pouvoir esperer de rompre ses chaines que veux-je davantage et ne dois-je pas estre satisfait de cette journee il est vray que j'ay d'illustres amis prisonniers mais du moins pour ma consolation mon plus redoutable rival l'est aussi et je seray delivre de la veue d'un prince que je seray bien aise de ne voir plus jusques au jour ou apres avoir tire mandane de captivite je le verray l'espee a la main mais que dis-je reprenoit-il la douleur me trouble sans doute la raison de me resjouir d'une chose dont je me devrois affliger estant certain qu'il me seroit bien plus avantageux que le roy d'assirie fust libre dans mon armee que d'estre prisonnier avec mandane et qu'il me seroit bien moins insuportable de le voir tousjours que de scavoir qu'il la verra eternellement car enfin le roy d'assirie sera reconnu des qu'il sera a sardis et des qu'il le sera cresus le traittera comme un prince de sa qualite doit l'estre quoy qu'en puifle dire le 
 roy de pont ainsi ce trop heureux captif verra l'illustre mandane et durant que je travailleray pour la liberte de tous les deux tout charge de chaines qu'il sera il emportera peut-estre le coeur de ma princesse et m'ostera eternellement le fruit de toutes mes conquestes que me servira si ce malheur m'arrive d'avoir donne et gagne des batailles et quand la fortune me fera vaincre cresus et prendre sardis si je ne delivre que mandane inconstante seray-je heureux et si j'ay a combatre un rival aime pourray-je avoir la force de vaincre et pourray-je seulement desirer la victoire avec la certitude de n'avoir plus de part a l'affection de mandane ouy ouy adjousta-t'il je la desirerois encore quand cette cruelle advanture m'arriveroit et je ne croirois pas mourir tout a fait malheureux si je mourois apres mon ennemy mais pourquoy poursuivoit ce prince afflige veux-je me tourmenter de malheurs imaginaires moy qui en ay tant d'effectifs dont je me puis pleindre avecque raison n'est-ce pas assez que j'aye perdu l'esperance de delivrer mandane aussi promptement que je l'avois pense sans m'aller persecuter moy mesme le voudrois pourtant bien scavoir adjoustoit-il si mandane qui a assurement reconnu le roy d'assirie s'est empeschee de demander sa liberte pour l'amour de moy ou pour l'amour de luy et je voudrois encore estre bien assure qu'elle ne m'a pas delivre pour m'esloigner d'elle il me semble pourtant reprenoit-il qu'elle m'a dit assez de choses obligeantes pour ne douter point de ses sentimens et que ses regards mesme m'ont este assez favorables pour m'obliger a croire que je suis encore dans son ame comme j'y estois a 
 sinope et a themiscire toutesfois sa beaute est si peu changee que j'ay grand sujet de craindre que son coeur ne soit change pour moy car enfin s'il estoit vray qu'elle m'aimast un peu seroit-il possible qu'elle n'eust pas un sensible desplaisir de scavoir que je suis si malheureux et seroit-il possible qu'elle eust conserve tant de beaute avec tant de sujets d'affliction si elle n'avoit pas quelque consolation que je ne conprens point alors la jalousie de cyrus changeant d'objet les rares qualitez du roy de pont luy donnoient de l'inquietude puis un moment apres le roy d'assirie luy revenoit encore en l'imagination mais quoy que son esprit changeast de sentimens sa douleur demeuroit tousjours confiante et il ne pouvoit se consoler qu'au lieu de delivrer mandane mandane l'eust delivre cyrus passa donc tout le reste de la nuit en de pareilles agitations il estoit encore bien embarrasse a comprendre d'ou pouvoit venir que le roy de pont n'avoit pas luy mesme conduit ces princesses et d'ou pouvoit venir aussi que les amis de menecee et ceux de timocreon avoient donne de faux advis touchant le despart de palmis et de mandane mais il sceut par le gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes qui l'avoit apris d'un capitaine de ses amis que cresus avoit fait publier que leur depart estoit differe afin d'abuser ceux avec qui le prince artamas pouvoit avoir intelligence et que ce qui avoit empesche le roy de pont de les escorter luy mesme estoit que s'estant fait une entre-veue de cresus et de luy a cinquante stades de sardis afin de resoudre toutes choses entre eux auparavant que mandane partist d'ephese il estoit arrive que pour haster d'autant plus 
 leur despart cresus avoit donne ordre a andramite de les conduire jusques a la moitie du chemin d'ephese a sardis ou le roy de pont iroit les recevoir avec des troupes que cresus luy donneroit pour cela s'imaginant mesme que ce prince n'estant pas a ephese il seroit plus aise de tromper ceux qui pourroient avoir forme quelque entreprise pour delivrer les princesses pendant le trajet qu'elles devoient faire n'estant pas vray-semblable qu'il ne voulust pas les escorter luy mesme et comme le lieu ou il les devoit joindre estoit a plus de cinquante stades du chasteau d'hermes il ne s'estoit pas trouve au combat qui s'estoit fait cyrus aprenant donc toutes les circonstances de cette avanture en fut encore plus afflige car il voyoit que s'il eust este bien adverty mandane eust assurement este delivree il recommenca donc ses pleintes avec plus de violence qu'auparavant qui furent toutesfois interrompues par artabase qui luy dit qu'un des cavaliers qui avoient passe la riviere d'hermes avec eux et qui s'estoit sauve a pied venoit de luy donner des tablettes qu'il disoit avoir veu tomber de la poche du roy d'assirie pendant qu'il combatoit et les avoit ramassees depuis en repassant au mesme lieu apres le combat finy il adjousta qu'ayant veu quelque chose d'escrit dedans en une langue qu'il n'entendoit point et que scachant les interests qu'ils avoient a demesler ensemble il avoit creu de son devoir de les retirer des mains de ce cavalier et de les luy aporter n'ignorant pas qu'il n'y avoit point de langue qu'il ne sceust cyrus prenant ces tablettes et ne pouvant pas n avoir point de curiosite pour tout ce qui venoit de son rival vit qu'elles estoient de 
 cedre et assez magnifiquement ornees apres quoy les ouvrant en diligence il y leut tout haut ces paroles en assirien
 
 
 oracle rendu au temple de jupiter belus 
 
 
 il t'est permis d'esperer 
 
 
 de la faire soupirer 
 
 
 malgre sa haine 
 
 
 car un jour entre ses bras 
 
 
 tu rencontreras 
 
 
 la fin de ta peine 
 
 
pendant que cyrus lisoit cet oracle chrisante estant encre et en ayant entendu quelque chose le reconnut aussi tost pour estre le mesme qu'il avoit sceu par martesie avoir este rendu au roy d'assirie a babilone de sorte que regardant artabase d'une facon a luy faire comprendre qu'il estoit en peine de scavoir qui pouvoit avoir baille ces tablettes a cyrus et artabase luy faisant connoistre que c'avoit este luy chrisante en murmura si fort que cyrus achevant de lire entendit ce qu'il disoit si bien que se tournant vers luy vous scavez donc luy dit-il quel est cet oracle et quand il a este rendu chrisante un peu surpris du discours de son illustre maistre chercha a y respondre en biaisant 
 mais il n'y eut pas moyen et il falut qu'il advouast la verite il luy dit donc de qui il avoit sceu la chose et comment martesie feraulas et luy avoient resolu de ne luy en parler point afin de luy espargner la douleur qu'il en avoit presentement durant que chrisante s'excusoit envers cyrus ce prince sans donner son esprit tout entier a escouter ce qu'il luy disoit relisoit cet oracle puis estant arrive a la fin mais sera t'il bien possible justes dieux s'escria-t'il qu'un prince que depuis si longtemps vous avez accable de tant de malheurs soit assez favorise de vous pour faire que mandane soupire pour luy et qu'il trouve la fin de toutes ses peines entre les bras de ma princesse pourquoy si je puis vous le demander sans crime l'avez vous fait hair de mandane et m'en avez vous fait aimer s'il estoit digne de vostre protection que ne l'empeschiez vous d'estre renverse du throsne et si j'estois indigne d'estre favorise de vous que n'a t'il este mon vainqueur et que ne suis-je mort a la premiere bataille que j'ay donnee seigneur interrompit chrisante comme ce n'est point aux hommes a regler les volontez des dieux ce n'est point aussi a eux a se mesler d'expliquer precisement leurs paroles je le scay bien chrisante repliqua-t'il mais cet oracle est si clair qu'il n'est pas necessaire d'attendre que les choses soyent arrivees pour l'entendre pour moy adjousta chrisante je le trouve si clair qu'il m'en paroist plus obscur n'ayant jamais ouy dire que les dieux ayent parle de cette sorte des choses a venir aussi n'avez vous jamais ouy dire repliqua-t'il qu'il y ait eu un prince si infortune que cyrus ne voyez vous pas que la 
 fortune ne m'a este favorable que pour m'estre plus inhumaine puis qu'elle ne m'a esleve que pour me precipiter ou au contraire nous verrons qu'elle n'a afflige mon rival que pour luy faire mieux sentir la joye et qu'elle ne l'aura abaisse que pour l'eslever plus haut en effet ne remarquez vous pas desja que le malheur commence de luy estre avantageux et de luy produire un bien et qu'au contraire la bonne fortune me cause un mal tres sensible car enfin la prison j'aproche de ce qu'il aime et la liberte m'esloigne de ce que j'adore il y a desja si longtemps reprit chrisante que cet oracle a este rendu sans qu'il soit arrive de fort grand bonheur a ce prince qu'il ne me semble pas qu'il faille faire un si grand fondement la dessus ha chrisante s'escria cyrus c'est que vous ne connoissez pas la passion qui me possede ou que peut-estre vous desguisez vos sentimens pour me consoler le moyen adjousta-t'il de ne se croire pas perdu apres une opiniastrete de malheurs si espouvantable et apres que les dieux ont resolu ma perte hastez vous du moins justes dieux dit-il en levant les yeux au ciel et ne me forcez pas malgre moy a perdre le respect que je vous ay tousjours rendu comme il en estoit la on luy vint dire qu'artabase arrivoit qui venoit de la part du roy de phrigie helas dit cyrus en soupirant ce prince ne scait pas que mon malheur est contagieux pour luy et que son illustre fils est blesse et prisonnier apres cela ayant commande qu'on fist entrer artabase et luy ayant demande ce qu'il venoit faire il luy dit que le roy de phrigie l'avoit envoye en diligence pour luy dire que les amis de 
 menecee et ceux de timocreon qui estoient a ephese et a sardis avoient mande qu'on les avoit abusez et que le depart' des princesses bien loin d'estre differe comme ils l'avoient escrit estoit avance de plusieurs jours de sorte luy dit-il que le roy de phrigie veut scavoir de vous ce qu'il vous plaist qu'il face il n'y a plus rien a faire qu'a mourir repliqua cyrus il a creu aussi adjousta artabase qu'il devoit vous aprendre qu'on luy mande de sardis que cresus s'assure si fort sur l'orale qu'on luy a rendu a delphes qu'il ne doute presque point de la victoire a t'on envoye cet oracle a timocreon demanda cyrus ouy seigneur respondit artabase et le roy de phrigie vous l'envoye en disant cela il le presenta en effet a ce prince qui apres l'avoir pris vit qu'il estoit tel
 
 
 oracle 
 
 
 si tu fais cette guerre ou ton desir aspire 
 
 
 tu destruiras un grand empire 
 
 
eh plust aux dieux s'escria cyrus apres avoir leu cet oracle que je ne deusse perdre que des couronnes car si cela estoit ainsi j'en serois bien-tost console mais la chose n'est pas en ces termes et ces mesmes dieux dont je parle promettant mandane au roy d'assirie et l'empire a cresus que me peut-il rester je ne scay mesme s'ils me laissront un tombeau et s'ils m'accorderont la grace de mourir aussi glorieusement que j'ay vescu du moins ne suis-je pas resolu de ceder sans resistance et si j'ay a perdre 
 mandane et a estre vaincu par ceux dont j'ay este vainqueur il faut que ce soit d'une maniere qui fasse connoistre a toute la terre que je n'ay pas merite mon infortune mais adjousta-t'il apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler quand il seroit vray que je serois hai du ciel qu'a fait ciaxare luy qui tient l'empire luy dis-je qui jouit du fruit de mes victoires luy auray-je fait un present empoisonne en luy donnant toutes mes conquestes et faudra-t'il qu'il perisse parce que les dieux me voudront perdre du moins seroit-il juste de ne confondre pas les choses cependant en promettant a cresus qu'il destruira un grand empire c'est vouloir dire assurement que celuy de ciaxare sera destruit il faudra pourtant s'escria-t'il que je meure bien-tost ou que la victoire couste un peu cher a mes rivaux et a mes ennemis jusques icy j'ay combatu en mesnageant quelquesfois ma vie parce qu'il m'estoit permis d'esperer de la voie un jour heureuse mais puis que je ne dois plus rien attendre que de l'infortune il faut que j'agisse d'une autre sorte et que je ne songe qu'a perdre le plus de mes ennemis que je pourray en me perdant moy mesme afin qu'il y ait moins de gens a se resjouir de ma mort mais divine mandane adjoustoit-il que deviendront tant de favorables paroles que vous m'avez dites si celles des dieux sont veritable dois-je penser que vous ne disiez pas la verite ou dois-je croire que vostre coeur changera helas adjoustoit il encore je serois bien moins malheureux que je ne suis si je pouvois deviner precisement mes malheurs en disant cela il tourna fortuitement les yeux sur madate et sur ortalque qu'il n'avoit 
 point aperceus et qui estoient venus avec artabane mais voyant l'agitation de son esprit ils n'avoient ose se presenter a luy il s'arresta vis a vis d'eux aussi-tost qu'il les eut veus car il se promenoit dans la chambre ou il estoit il y avoit desja quelque temps et s'adressant a madate qu'il scavoit estre demeure a ecbatane et par consequent devoir luy aprendre des nouvelles de ciaxare ne me direz-vous point du moins pour ma consolation luy dit-il que le roy se porte bien je vous assureray sans doute de sa sante repliqua madate mais je l'ay laisse assez en peine parce qu'il a eu advis que thomiris arme puissamment et qu'elle pretend a ce que disent ses sujets ne faire pas moins de progres en medie que les veritables scithes y en firent sous le regne du premier ciaxare aussi est-ce principalement pour vous communiquer cet advis que le roy m'envoye vers vous il seroit mieux repliqua-t'il avec une violence extreme de me declarer la guerre que de me demander conseil car veu l'estat ou je voy les choses je pense que pour estre heureux il ne faut qu'estre mon persecuteur mais vous ortalque luy dit-il en se tournant vers luy qui venez de consulter pour moy cette femme si celebre et si veritable a ce que disent tous ceux qui l'ont veue donnez-moy promptement sa response et dites-moy si vous vous estes bien souvenu de ce que je vous avois ordonne de luy demander de ma part ouy seigneur repliqua-t'il et je luy ay demande precisement suivant vos intentions en quel temps vous pouviez esperer quelque repos je n'ay pas mesme manque de luy dire que vous souhaitiez d'avoir sa response escrite 
 de sa main de sorte que m'ayant donne ces tablettes cachettees de la facon que je vous les presente dit-il en les luy donnant je ne puis vous dire si je vous aporte de bonnes ou de mauvaises nouvelles du moins me direz-vous bien respondit cyrus pendant qu'il les ouvroit si cette femme est aussi celebre en son pais qu'aux autres elle l'est de telle facon repliqua ortalque que l'on ne fait nulle comparaison de la sibille helespontique a toutes celles qui l'ont precedee et l'on asseure enfin qu'elle n'a jamais dit un mensonge a ceux qui l'ont este consulter voyons donc dit cyrus en ouvrant ces tablettes quelle verite elle m'annonce et alors te mettant a lire ce que la sibille y avoit escrit il y vit ces paroles
 
 
 response de la sibille helespontique 
 
 
 je la voy je la voy cette amante ennemieresveiller sa haine endormieet plonger dans le sang la teste d'un heros rien ne peut empescher sa mort infortuneevoila quelle est sa destineeet par la seulement tu dois estre en repos 
 
 
 apres que cyrus eut acheve de lire il fut quelque temps sans parler en suite dequoy il fit signe de la main qu'il vouloit que tout le monde se retirast a la reserve de chrisante comme on luy eut obei il relent encore ce qu'il avoit desja leu et le fit aussi lire a chrisante qui ne luy eut pas plustost rendu les tablettes qui contenoient une si funeste response que le regardant et bien chrisante luy dit-il comment expliquerez-vous a mon avantage ce que vous venez de voir seigneur repliqua-t'il je voy bien qu'il n'est pas aise de luy donner un sens favorable mais je ne voy pas aussi par quelle voye le malheur dont on vous menace vous doit arriver car enfin cette amante ennemie ne peut pas estre mandane et il faut assurement que ce soit thomiris de sorte qu'en l'estat ou sont les choses je ne voy pas dis-je que vous soyez en terme de mourir de sa main elle arme pourtant puissamment repliqua cyrus et on diroit que ciaxare ne m'a envoye madate que pour m'expliquer la responce de la sibille qu'ortalque m'a aportee je ne comprends pourtant pas adjousta chrisante que vous puissiez quitter la guerre de lydie ou est mandane pour aller en celle des massagettes ou est thomiris ny qu'apres avoir vaincu tant de vaillants rois vous puissiez estre surmonte par une femme je ne le comprends pas aussi reprit-il mais je comprends bien que ma perte est inevitable car enfin chrisante et les dieux des grecs et ceux des assiriens ne me presagent que des avantures funestes l'oracle de babilone donne mandane au roy d'assirie celuy de delphes promet l'empire a cresus s'il me fait la guerre et la sibille promet ma teste a la reine 
 des massagettes cette derniere menace n'est pourtant pas celle qui m'espouvante le plus et mon ame est bien plus troublee de la perte de mandane que de la perte de ma vie j'ay vescu d'une maniere jusques icy qui me peut raisonnablement faire esperer que je ne puis mourir sans gloire ainsi je n'apprehende point la vangeance de thomiris qu'elle me haisse tant qu'il luy plaira qu'elle fasse armer contre moy toutes les deux scithies si elle le peut je n'en auray pas l'ame esbranlee mais que mandane l'illustre mandane cesse de m'aimer apres m'avoir donne lieu d'esperer d'elle une fidelite inviolable c'est ce que je ne scaurois souffrir et toute ma confiance et toute ma raison ne scauroient m'empescher de donner des marques de foiblesse si j'estois assure du coeur de mandane je ne me soucierois guere des malheurs dont je suis menace la perte de tant de couronnes qui selon les aparences devoient tomber sur ma teste ne me donneroit qu'une mediocre douleur et tout prest de mourir par les mains de l'implacable thomiris je sentirois encore de la joye par la seule esperance d'estre pleure des beaux yeux de ma princesse mais helas le moyen apres tout ce qui m'est arrive en un jour de croire qu'il y ait jamais un moment de repos pour moy car enfin il paroist si clairement par la multitude des choses facheuses qui me sont advenues en cette journee que les dieux me veulent accabler d'infortunes qu'il y auroit de la folie a conserver un rayon d'esperance je viens par le caprice de mon rival reconnoistre l'endroit ou je suis persuade que dans peu de jours je delivreray l'illustre mandane et au lieu de cela je suis prisonnier moy mesme et le prince artamas de qui 
 j'attendois un si puissant secours pendant cette guerre est pris et blesse en fuite je voy la divine mandane assez pour renouveller dans mon imagination toutes les merveilleuses beautez qu'elle possede et trop peu pour ma consolation puis qu'il ne m'a pas seulement este permis de luy demander si elle m'aimoit tousjours et de l'assurer que ma passion n'a jamais este si violente qu'elle est apres elle me delivre mais elle retient mon rival je ne suis pas plustost en lieu d'assurance que l'oracle de babilone m'est aporte par ou j'aprends que les dieux doivent rendre ce rival heureux a un instant de la je recoy celuy de delphes qui me precipite du faiste de la gloire dans l'abisme du malheur a peine ay-je respire que madate m'aprend qu'il se forme un nouvel orage contre moy et a peine encore ay-je entendu ce que madate me dit qu'ortalque me donne mon arrest de mort prononce par la sibille jugez chrisante apres cela s'il est possible de conserver de l'esperance cependant il ne faut pourtant pas meriter nostre infortune il faut combattre pour la liberte de mandane avec la mesme ardeur que si les dieux ne l'avoient pas promise a mon rival il faut encore s'opposer a cresus avec le mesme courage que si l'oracle ne luy avoit pas promis l'empire et il faut enfin agir avec la mesme tranquillite que si je ne devois pas estre la victime de thomiris voila chrisante adjousta ce prince afflige ce que je dois faire et ce que je veux faire mais je ne scay pas si je le pourray mon ame est sans doute au dessus de l'ambition et mesme au dessus de la crainte de la mort mais l'amour la possede si absolument que je scay de certitude que je ne pourray 
 suporter la perte de mandane si elle m'arrive ainsi superbe thomiris a qui les dieux promettent ma teste si mandane devient infidelle vous ne triompherez point de moy car je suis si assure de mourir de la douleur que me donnera ton inconstance que je ne scaurois craindre de perir pas vos mains apres cela cyrus voulant commencer de mettre en pratique la courageuse resolution qu'il avoit prise commanda a chrisante de ne dire point quelle avoit este la responce qu'ortalque avoit aportee de peur que les soldats n'en fussent espouventez et ne perdissent cette confiance qui fait faire les grandes choses a la guerre en suite il fit venir tigrane phraarte et le gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes avec qui il confera de quelque chose qui regardoit la guerre et le prince artamas et a l'heure mesme montant a cheval suivy de ces deux princes de chrisante de sosicle de tegee d'artabase d'adusius de madate d'artabase d'ortalque et de ligdamis qui voulut aller avecque luy il reprit les cent cinquante chevaux qu'il avoit laissez aupres du chasteau d'hermes et s'en retourna an camp l'ame si accablee de douleur qu'il luy fut impossible tant que ce chemin dura de destacher son esprit pour un instant seulement de toutes les funestes pensees que la multitude de tant d'evenements facheux luy donnoient de sorte que mandane captive mandane infidelle et le roy d'assirie heureux furent les seuls entretiens de cyrus depuis le chasteau d'hermes jusques a sa tente 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cyrus ne fut pas plustost arrive au camp qu'il songea a donner au roy de phrigie toute la consolation qu'il pouvoit luy faire recevoir apres la prison du prince artamas de sorte que sans tarder a sa tente il fut a celle de ce pere afflige pour luy aprendre les particularitez du mauvais succes de son entreprise et pour l'assurer qu'il n'oublieroit rien de tout ce qui pourroit redonner la liberte a son illustre fils seigneur interrompit ce genereux prince lors que cyrus luy tint ce discours s'il l'avoit 
 perdue en delivrant la princesse mandane je ne me pleindrois pas de mon malheur mais je vous advoue que j'ay besoin de consolation devoir qu'il est inutile pour vostre service et que bien loin de vous rendre une partie de ce qu'il vous doit il est en estat de perir si vous n'estes son liberateur je ne pense pas repliqua cyrus que nos armes soient si peu redoutables au roy de lydie qu'il ose se porter a faire une violence a un prince qui est engage dans nostre parti et a un prince encore a qui il doit tant de victoires n'estant pas croyable qu'il ignore que les rois sont obligez d'estre reconnoissans comme les autres hommes et que l'ingratitude est d'autant plus noire en ceux qui s'en trouvent capables que leur rang est esleve au dessus de celuy de leurs sujets ainsi ne craignez rien pour le prince artamas du coste de cresus de plus le roy de la susiane et le roy de pont seront sans doute ses protecteurs car estant genereux comme ils sont ils voudront assurement obliger cresus a n'estre pas plus rigoureux envers les prisonniers qu'il a faits que je le suis a la reine panthee et a la princesse araminte cependant comme il ne faut jamais se confier trop a la generosite de ses ennemis j'envoyeray demain un des miens vers cresus afin de luy aprendre quel interest je prens en la personne du prince vostre fils j'obligeray mesme les deux princesses que je viens de nommer d'ecrire en sa faveur et je vous feray connoistre 
 enfin par mes soins combien j'estime sa personne et combien vos interests me sont chers le roy de phrigie remercia cyrus avec beaucoup d'affection de la bonte qu'il avoit pour luy et ce prince souffrit l'accident qui luy estoit arrive avec beaucoup de constance cyrus ne voulut pas luy dire qu'il avoit remarque que le prince artamas estoit fort blesse tant parce qu'il ne voulut pas l accabler de tant de douleur a la fois que parce qu'il espera en avoir peut-estre des nouvelles plus favorables il se retira donc a sa tente ou il fut contraint par civilite de donner une heure a tous les chess de son armee qui le vouloient voir et en suitte encore une autre aux ordres necessaires pour les choses de la guerre apres quoy se retirant en particulier avec chrisante seulement il passa le reste du soir a considerer la grandeur de ses infortunes et la multitude de ses malheurs cette consideration en l'affligeant sensiblement ne luy abbatoit pas neantmoins le courage au contraire plus il se croyoit malheureux plus son ame se confirmoit dans le dessein de s'opposer constamment a la mauvaise fortune et quoy qu'il eust le coeur fort sensible il ne laissoit pourtant pas de l'avoir ferme et inebranlable il avoit mesme cet advantage qu'il ne sentoit que les malheurs que l'amour luy faisoit endurer car pour les autres son esprit estoit tellement au dessus de tour ce qui luy pouvoit arriver qu'il n'en pouvoit estre touche que foiblement 
 il s'estoit veu prisonnier d'estat et tombe du faiste du bonheur dans un abisme de misere mais parce qu'il l'avoit este sans crime il n'avoit pas eu besoin de toute sa constance pour suporter une si fascheuse avanture la mort mesme toute effroyable qu'elle est n'avoit jamais esbranle son ame quoy qu'il l'eust veue cent et cent fois si pres de luy qu'il avoit eu lieu de croire qu'il estoit prest de tomber sous sa puissance mais si son ame estoit assez ferme pour souffrir toutes les rigeurs de la fortune elle estoit aussi assez sensible pour ne pouvoir endurer sans une douleur inconcevable tous les suplices que l'amour luy faisoit souffrir ce prince qui eust sans doute pu perdre des couronnes sans changer de visage ne pouvoit craindre de perdre mandane sans un trouble dans son coeur dont sa raison ne pouvoit estre maistresse il passa donc une partie de la nuit a s'entretenir avec chrisante mais a la fin songeant plustost a donner quelque repos a un homme qui luy estoit si considerable qu'a en prendre pour luy mesme il le congedia et demeura seul a se pleindre de ses malheurs jusques a ce que la lassitude l'assoupist insensiblement malgre luy et donnast quelque treve a ses ennuis bien est il vray que cette treve ne fut pas fort longue car il s'eveilla a la pointe du jour aussi malheureux qu'il s'estoit endormy il n'oublia pourtant pas la promesse qu'il avoit faite au roy de phrigie de sorte que jettant les yeux sur aglatidas pour 
 l'envoyer vers cresus il le fit apeller et luy donnant un heraut pour le conduire a sardis il luy ordonna de le suivre auparavant au lieu ou estoient la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte afin de luy donner ses derniers ordres lors qu'il auroit obtenu d'elles ce qu'il en desiroit il monta donc a cheval suivy de peu de monde parce qu'il le voulut ainsi et arrivant bien tost apres ou il vouloit aller il fut d'abord chez la reine de la susiane qu'araspe luy dit estre en estat d'estre veue en effet cette princesse estoit desja revenue du temple ou elle alloit tousjours assez matin parce que ses ennuis ne luy permettoient pas de pouvoir dormir longtemps et comme elle avoit sceu ce qui estoit arrive a cyrus elle l'en pleignit extremement et s'en pleignit elle mesme car enfin seigneur luy dit elle si les dieux eussent permis que vous eussiez delivre la princesse mandane vous eussiez assurement tenu vostre parole et la guerre cessant j'eusse pu esperer de revoir mon cher abradate et de le revoir mesme vostre amy puis que le connoissant genereux comme il est je suis assuree qu'il ne scaura pas plustost la maniere dont vous me traittez qu'il en sera sensiblement touche vous pouvez du moins madame repliqua t'il me rendre un bon office en attendant qu'il plaise a la fortune d'estre lasse de me persecuter helas seigneur interrompit panthee seroit il bien possible qu'en l'estat ou je suis 
 je pusse faire quelque chose qui peust vous resmoigner le ressentiment que j'ay de toute vos bontez vous le pouvez sans doute respondit il en vous donnant la peine d'escrire un mot au vaillant abradate afin de le prier d'obliger cresus a ne maltraitter pas le prince artamas et a bien traitter aussi cous les autres prisonniers qui ont este faits en cette funeste occasion ou la victoire luy a si peu couste et luy a este si peu glorieuse ne doutant nullement qu'il ne vous accorde ce que vous luy demanderez je ne vous dis pas madame que selon ce qu'il fera vous serez plus ou moins bien traitee au contraire pour vous porter a escrire plus obligeamment je vous declare que quand il vous refusera je ne perdray jamais le respect que je dois a vostre condition et a vostre vertu et que de mon consentement vous ne recevrez jamais aucun deplaisir ce que vous me dittes est si genereux repliqua t'elle que je serois indigne de vostre protection si je ne faisois pas tout ce qui est en ma puissance pour vous satisfaire principalement ne me demandant que des choses que l'equite toute seule devroit tousjours obtenir de moy apres quelques remercimens que cyrus luy fit il luy dit que pour luy laisser la liberte d'escrire il alloit faire la mesme priere a la princesse araminte pour le roy son frere et en effet il y fut il ne la trouva pas moins disposee que panthee a luy accorder une lettre pour le roy de pont comme l'autre luy en avoit accorde 
 une pour celuy de la susiane au contraire il parut qu'elle y avoit mesme quelque interest en effet la personne d'anaxaris luy estoit devenue si chere depuis qu'elle avoit sceu qu'il avoit sauve la vie a spitridate qu'elle assura cyrus qu'il ne devoit point luy avoir d'obligation de la recommandation qu'elle alloit faire en faveur des prisonniers dont il luy parloit puis qu'il y en avoit un a qui elle estoit si redevable lors que cyrus eut donc este aussi long temps avec elle qu'il creut qu'il y faloit estre pour faire que panthee eust acheve d'escrire il quitta araminte pour luy donner loisir de faire la mesme chose et retourna a l'apartement de la reine de la susiane qui voulut qu'il vist la lettre qu'elle escrivoit au roy son mary il s'en deffendit quelque temps voulant luy tesmoigner une confiance absolue mais elle voulant qu'il vist ce qu'elle escrivoit se mit a la lire tout haut et elle estoit telle
 
 
 panthee a son cherabradate 
 
 
 quand je vous diray que de tous les malheurs de la captivite je n'en ay aucun que la privation de vostre veut je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez afflige d'estre ennemy d'un prince qui scait bien user de la victoire 
 et qui me fait rendre autant de respect dans son camp que j'en recevrois a suse si j'y estois ne trouvez donc pas estrange si je vous suplie de vouloir proteger aupres de cresus tous les prisonniers qu'il a faits et tous ceux qu'il pourra faire a l'avenir mais entre les autres le prince artamas qui est infiniment cher a l'illustre cyrus je ne vous dis point qu'en la personne de la princesse mandane vous pouvez luy rendre mille agreables offices car vous pouvez juger par ceux que je recois de luy combien il sentira ceux que vous luy rendrez je dis ceux que vous luy rendrez parce que je ne doute point que vous ne veuilliez m'aquiter de ce que je dois a ce genereux vainqueur cependant je puis vous assurer que tous ses soins et toutes ses bontez n'empeschent pas que je ne me tienne la plus malheureuse personne du monde d'estre esloignee de mon cher abradate 
 
 
 panthee 
 
 
cette princesse n'eut pas plustost acheve de lire cette lettre que cyrus luy en rendit mille graces et comme il estoit prest de la quitter la princesse araminte vint luy aporter la sienne qui n'estoit pas moins obligeante que l'autre aussi voulut elle qu'elle fust veue de luy auparavant qu'elle fust fermee de sorte qu'apres en avoir demande permission a la reine de la susiane il y leut ces paroles 
 
 
 
 la princesse araminte au roy de pont 
 
 
 scachant quels sont vos sentimens pour l'invincible cyrus je pense que vous serez bien aise de scavoir que vous pouvez l'obliger sensiblement en la personne du prince artamas que je vous prie de proteger puissamment aupres du roy de lydie car je ne doute pas qu'en toutes les choses qui ne regarderont point vostre amour vous ne fassiez pour luy tout ce qu'il vous sera possible j'ay creu que je devois vous donner cet advis et vous conjurer en mon particulier d'avoir soin d'un prisonnier nomme anaxaris a qui je dois la vie du prince spitridate je pense mesme qu'il est a propos de vous dire que depuis nostre entreveue ou je ne pus rien obtenir de vous l'illustre cyrus n'a rien change en sa facon d'agir aveque moy et que le mauvais succes de ma negociation ne l'a pas rendu plus rigoureux soyez donc s'il vous plaist le protecteur de tous les prisonniers que l'on a faits et particulierement de ceux que je vous ay nommez si vous me voulez temoigner que mes prieres vous sont cheres et que vous avez encore quelque amitie pour la malheureuse 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
pleust aux dieux s'ecria cyrus apres la lecture de cette lettre qu'il me fust permis de 
 vous redonner la liberte toute entiere pour reconnoistre la bonte que vous avez l'une et l'autre pour moy dit il en regardant panthee et araminte mais il faut esperer que je ne mourray pas sans avoir du moins eu cette satisfaction cependant adjousta t'il comme il faut ne perdre pas de temps vous souffrirez que j'aille depescher aglatidas et en effet apres que ces princesses eurent respondu a sa civilite il sortit ce fut toutesfois sans prendre conge d'elles parce qu'il fit dessein de disner en ce lieu la il donna donc tous les ordres necessaires a aglatidas tant pour parler en faveur des prisonniers que pour tascher de scavoir des nouvelles de mandane il luy recommanda aussi tendrement d'avoir soin de feraulas et allant a la chambre d'araspe qui luy parut tousjours fort melancolique il escrivit a cresus en ces termes
 
 
 cyrus au roy de lydie 
 
 
 quoy que je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez assez genereux pour bien traiter ceux que le sort des armes met entre vos mains je ne laisse pas de vous escrire en faveur des prisonniers qu'un de vos lieutenans generaux a faits aupres de la riviere d'hermes mais principalement pour le prince artamas souvenez vous s'il vous 
 plaist qu'il ne doit plus estre traite en prisonnier d'estat mais seulement en prisonnier de guerre a qui vous devez faire selon les loix de la generosite et mesme de la justice un traitement fort doux et fort civil sa condition sa vertu et les services qu'il vous a rendu vous y doivent obliger que si cela ne suffit pas j'adjousteray que jusques icy u n'ay pas este si malheureux que je n'aye lieu d'esperer que devant que cette guerre soit finie je trouveray les moyens de vous rendre civilite pour civilite agissez donc plus justement four mes amis que vous n'agissez equitablemem pour la princesse mandane qui finira la guerre quand il vous plaira de la rendre au roy son pere vous asseurant que si vous le faites je seray aussi ardent a combatre pour vos interests que je le suis presentement a combatre pour les siens 
 
 
 cyrus 
 
 
apres avoir escrit cette lettre cyrus la donna a aglatidas il luy recommanda aussi de s'informer si le roy d'assirie avoit veu mandane et de ne manquer pas a parler en sa faveur comme en celle des autres prisonniers ce n'est pas luy dit il que ce ne soit une dure chose que de servir son rival mais puis que ma parole m'y engage et que la generosite le veut il le faut faire il luy parla aussi de l'inconnu anaxaris de sosicle et de tegee et il estoit tout prest de le congedier lors que ligdamis qui avoit suivy cyrus afin de voir sa chere cleonice s'avanca pour luy dire qu'ayant sceu qu'aglatidas s'en alloit a sardis il avoit creu de son devoir de l'advertir 
 qu'il pouvoit luy donner en ce lieu la quelques connoissances qui ne luy seroient pas inutiles cyrus le remerciant l'embrassa et luy dit qu'il n'apartenoit qu'a un homme parfaitement amoureux d'avoir pitie d'un amant et alors le conjurant de faire ce qu'il disoit afin qu'aglatidas peust luy raporter quelques nouvelles un peu plus precises de mandane ligdamis luy obeissant donna un billet a aglatidas pour rendre a un amy qu'il avoit a la cour de cresus de qui il pouvoit disposer absolument principalement ne s'agissant que de rendre un office ou il n'alloit point de l'interest du roy de lydie apres donc que cyrus eut veu ce billet qu'aglatidas s'en fut charge et qu'il luy eut encore une fois redit les choses les plus importantes qu'il avoit a faire il luy ordonna aussi de tascher de voir le prince artamas en suitte dequoy il le congedia et demeura encore quelque temps dans la chambre d'araspe sans autre compagnie que celle de ligdamis de qui la conversation luy plaisoit infiniment ce n'est pas qu'il n'y ait une notable difference entre un amant heureux et un amant infortune mais comme ligdamis avoit l'ame tendre et complaisance il scavoit si admirablement entrer dans tous les sentimens de cyrus que son entretien luy estoit d'une assez grande consolation aussi ce prince avoit il principalement fait dessein de passer une partie de ce jour la dans le chasteau ou il estoit parce qu'il n'estoit presques remply que de personnes qui 
 estoient possedees de mesme passion que celle qui regnoit dans son coeur il scavoit que panthee aimoit abradate qu'araminte aimoit spitridate et que ligdamis et cleonice s'aimoient tendrement de sorte que trouvant quelque douceur a se pleindre avec des personnes qui n'ignoroient pas la rigueur du mal qu'il souffroit il resolut non seulement de disner en ce lieu la mais d'y passer le reste du jour cependant pour ne perdre point de temps il envoya chrisante qui l'avoit suivy porter divers ordres dans son armee et visiter les machines qu'il faisoit faire a un quartier qui n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades de la aussi tost que cyrus sceut que les princesses estoient en estat d'estre veues il fut les voir car pour luy il avoit mange en particulier dans la chambre d'araspe sans autre compagnie que celle de ligdamis qu'il mena seul a cette visite de sorte que la conversation se trouva estre composee de la reine de la susiane de la princesse araminte de cleonice d'ismenie de cyrus de ligdamis et d'araspe a peine chacun eut il pris sa place que cyrus se tournant vers la reine de la susiane la suplia de luy pardonner s'il venoit chercher aupres d'elle quelque consolation a ses malheurs seigneur luy respondit cette sage princesse s'il est vray que mes disgraces vous puissent donner quelque soulagement je les souffriray encore avec plus de patience que je n'ay fait jusques icy non madame interrompit il 
 ce n'est point par ce sentiment la que je cherche a vous voir mais seulement parce que je vous crois bonne et pitoyable la pluspart des gens que je voy adjousta t'il veulent que parce que je n'ay pas este malheureux a la guerre je ne le puis estre en nulle autre chose et ils pensent enfin que l'amour est une passion imaginaire qui ne regne qu'en aparence et qui ne trouble pas la raison ils croyent que quoy que je die la perte d'une bataille m'affligeroit plus que la perte de mandane cependant il est certain que la perte de cent batailles et celle de cent couronnes ne me toucheroit point a legal d'un simple estoignement de cette princesse jugez madame quelle peine c'est de se voir eternellement environne de gens qui ne connoissent pas par ou je suis sensible et jugez en mesme temps quelle douceur je trouve a ne voir icy que des personnes pleines de compassion et de tendresse il en faut toutesfois adjousta t'il excepter araspe de qui l'ame m'a tousjours paru fort insensible mais puis que ligdamis a pu cesser de l'estre je ne veux pas desesperer de luy au contraire je suis persuade connoissant la tendresse de l'amitie qu'il a pour moy qu'il n'est pas impossible qu'il ne puisse un jour avoir beaucoup d'amour pour quelque belle personne araspe rougit a ce discours neantmoins cyrus ne faisant pas une grande reflection sur le changement de son visage la conversation continua et la princesse araminte prenant 
 la parole pour moy dit elle a cyrus je suis de vostre opinion mais pour la reine si elle ne vous contredit point c'est assurement par complaisance car enfin elle m'a desja dit plusieurs fois qu'elle ne trouve pas grande consolation a se pleindre ny a estre pleinte et en effet elle renferme si soigneusement toute sa douleur dans son coeur qu'elle n'en parle jamais la premiere pour moy qui ne suis pas de son humeur je luy ay raconte toutes mes infortunes et il ne se passe point de jour que je ne l'en entretienne il est vray interrompit panthee que je n'aime pas trop a parler de ce qui me touche je ne pense pas mesme aux choses passees et l'avenir est ce qui occupe toute mon ame il me semble adjousta t'elle que j'ay si peu de part a tout ce qui m'est arrive il y a trois ou quatre ans que je fais beaucoup mieux de songer seulement a ce qui me peut arriver l'advenir est si obscur reprit la princesse araminte que bien loin d'y songer j'en destache ma pensee de peur de me faire moy mesme des maux dont peut estre la fortune ne s'avisera point je voudrois bien repliqua cyrus pouvoir faire ce que vous dittes mais il ne m'est pas possible pour moy poursuivit panthee comme la crainte et l'esperance font deux sentimens qui partagent toute mon ame et qu'aux choses passees je ne trouve plus rien ny a craindre ny a esperer je n'y scaurois arrester mon esprit encore est-ce beaucoup que d'avoir 
 le coeur partage entre l'esperance et la crainte reprit cyrus car j'en connois qui craignent presque tout et qui n'esperent presques rien vostre vertu est si grande repliqua panthee que comme les dieux ne sont pas injustes vous avez tort de desesperer de vostre bonheur puis que vous n'estes pas heureuse respondit cyrus et que la princesse araminte est infortunee j'aurois tort de m'assurer sur le peu de vertu que j'ay et puis madame il est aise de voir qu'il y a certaines choses qui paroissent justes devant les hommes qui ne le sont point devant les dieux car enfin il faut advouer que le roy d'assirie le roy de pont et le prince mazare qui mourut aupres de sinope sont trois princes en qui on n'a remarque aucun crime que celuy d'avoir trop aime mandane cependant on voit que cette princesse qui est la vertu mesme a fait tout le malheur de leur vie et de la mienne mazare en a perdu le jour le roy de pont la liberte et le throsne et le roy d'assirie la couronne et la liberte aussi apres cela madame que doit on penser de l'avenir et ne faut il pas conclurre que qui pourroit n'y penser point seroit assurement fort sage toutefois j'avoue a ma confusion que je ne fais autre chose que d'avancer par ma prevoyance les malheurs qui me doivent arriver il vaudroit donc bien mieux reprit la princesse araminte se souvenir des choses passees quand elles sont agreables repliqua panthee 
 le souvenir en afflige lors qu'on ne les possede plus et quand elles sont facheuses reprit araminte elles consolent parce qu'on s'en voit delivre car pour moy quand je me souviens de l'estat ou j'estois dans capira lors que le lasche artane m'y retenoit il me semble que puis que je suis sortie d'une si rude captivite il ne me doit pas estre deffendu d'esperer de sortir d'une plus douce et pour moy adjousta panthee quand je songe combien j'estois heureuse a suse apres avoir vaincu tous les obstacles qui s'estoient opposez a mon bonheur je ne croy pas possible de me revoir jamais comme je me suis veue c'est pourquoy je fais ce que je puis pour ne me souvenir plus de ce qui m'affligeroit encore davantage vous m'avez du moins promis repliqua araminte que je scauray toutes les douceurs et toutes les infortunes de vostre vie comme vous scavez toutes celles de la mienne il est vray que j'ay consenty respondit elle que pherenice vous les aprenne ainsi vostre curiosite sera satisfaite sans remettre dans ma memoire tant de choses que je voudrois en pouvoir effacer entierement pourquoy donc interrompit cyrus regardant la princesse araminte ne vous estes vous point fait tenir parole seigneur reliqua t'elle je n'en ay pas encore eu le temps car ce n'a este que ce matin au retour du temple que la reine m'a fait cette promesse il faut donc que je m'en aille reprit il de peur de differer l'effet d'une 
 chose que vous desirez car pour moy adjousta cyrus je n'oserois demander la mesme grace ce n'est pas que de la facon dont j'ay ouy parler de la passion de l'illustre abradate je n'eusse une forte envie d'en scavoir les particularitez afin de la comparer a la mienne mais je scay trop bien le respect que je dois a une grande princesse principalement estant un peu avare de ses secrets il est vray reprit panthee en souriant avec modestie que je n'en suis pas fort liberale mais seigneur cela n'empesche pas que je ne consente sans repugnance que vous scachiez toute ma vie aussi bien m'importe t'il en quelque sorte que vous n'ignoriez pas l'innocente passion qui regne encore dans le coeur d'abradate et dans le mien ainsi quand vous aurez quelques heures de loisir la mesme personne qui a ordre de contenter la curiosite de la princesse araminte satisfera la vostre il me semble madame reprit cette princesse que sans differer davantage au lieu de faire une conversation de choses indifferentes il vaudroit mieux employer le temps que l'illustre cyrus doit estre icy a contenter sa curiosite et la mienne puis que je me suis resolue a faire ce qu'il vous plaira respondit panthee vous pouvez en user comme vous voudrez a condition que je n'y seray pas alors la princesse araminte se levant dit qu'elle meneroit cyrus a son apartement qui sans aporter de difficulte a son dessein luy donna la main pour la conduire panthee rougit 
 en les saluant comme s'ils eussent du aprendre qu'elle auroit commis quelque crime mais a la fin croyant en effect qu'il luy seroit avantageux que cyrus connust un peu mieux la vertu d'abradate elle envoya avec la princesse araminte celle de ses femmes qui devoit luy raconter sa vie qui estoit une personne de qualite et d'esprit et qui avoit tousjours eu part a tous ses secrets cependant cleonice et ismenie demeurerent aupres de panthee ou araspe et ligdamis revindrent aussi apres avoir accompagne cyrus jusques a l'apartement d'araminte qui estant conduite par ce prince et suivie de pherenice et d'hesionide ne fut pas plustost dans sa chambre qu'apres avoir fait assoir cyrus et fait mettre pherenice sur un siege vis a vis d'eux elle la pria de commencer sa narration et de ne leur derober pas s'il estoit possible la moindre pensee de panthee et d'abradate comme en effet cette agreable personne leur ayant fait un compliment pour leur demander pardon du peu d'art qu'elle apporteroit au recit qu'elle leur alloit faire le commenca de cette sorte 
 
 
 
 
 histoire d'abradate et de panthee
 
 
l'honneur que j'ay eu d'estre eslevee aupres de la reine de la susiane et le bonheur que j'ay d'en estre aimee et de l'avoir toujours este font qu'il ne m'est pas difficile de vous faire scavoir toutes les particularitez de sa vie dont les commencement ont este bien esloignez des fascheuses avantures qui se sont trouvees dans la suitte je ne vous diray point madame quelle est la grandeur de sa naissance car vous n'ignorez pas que le prince de clasomene son pere est d'un sang si illustre que celuy de cresus ne l'est pas plus la princesse sa mere estoit aussi d'une tres grande maison mais elle la perdit si jeune qu'elle ne se souvient pas de l'avoir veue il est vray que cette princesse trouva aupres d'une soeur du prince son pere qui demeuroit chez luy toute la conduite qu'elle eust pu esperer de la princesse sa mere basiline car la soeur du prince de clasomene se nommoit ainsi estoit une personne de grand esprit et de grande vertu qui apres avoir perdu son mary fort jeune ne s'estoit jamais voulu remarier elle avoit este belle et galante et quoy qu'elle eust toute la vertu 
 dont une femme de sa condition peut estre capable ce n'estoit pas une vertu austere elle disoit qu'il faloit estre jeune une fois en sa vie et qu'il valoit bien mieux avoir l'esprit jeune a quinze ans qu'a cinquante de sorte que le prince son frere se remettant absolument a elle de la conduitte de sa fille elle l'esleva avec une honneste liberte qui sans avoir rien de severe luy forma l'esprit beaucoup plustost que celles de son age que l'on nourrit d'une autre sorte n'ont accoustume de l'avoir si bien qu'a douze ans la princesse de clasomene agissoit avec autant d'esprit et de jugement que si elle en eust eu vingt pour sa beaute je ne vous diray pas quelle elle estoit puis que vous pouvez juger par ce qu'elle est de ce qu'elle a tousjours este je vous diray toutesfois qu'elle a eu cela de particulier qu'elle a esclatte tout d'un coup estant certain que cette princesse a este parfaitement belle des le berceau son humeur quoy que serieuse n'a pas laisse d'estre tousjours fort agreable parce qu'elle l'a tousjours eue fort complaisante et fort douce de sorte que joignant beaucoup de bonte a un des plus beaux esprits de la terre et a la plus grande beaute de toute la lydie il est aise de comprendre que la princesse de clasomene attira l'admiration de tout le monde il sembla mesme qu'une partie de sa beaute et de son esprit se communiquast a toute la ville estant certain que lors qu'elle passa de l'enfance a un age plus raisonnable le 
 soin de luy plaire rendit toutes les femmes plus propres et plus aimables et tous les hommes plus honnestes gens comme elle estoit bienfaisante et liberale elle fut adoree de tous ceux qui l'approcherent et mesme de ceux qui ne faisoient qu'entendre raconter les excellentes qualitez qu'elle possedoit si bien que la reputation de cette princesse s'estendit en fort peu de temps dans toutes les provinces qui touchent celle dont le prince son pere est souverain cleonice que vous voyez icy vous peut faire juger qu'elle n'estoit pas seule aimable a clasomene et certes a dire vray il y avoit alors tant de personnes accomplies en ce lieu la qu'il n'y avoit point d'estranger qui ne s'y arrestast avec plaisir et qui n'avouast qu'il n'estoit pas aise de trouver autant d'esprit et autant de politesse en nulle autre ville d'asie qu'il y en avoit en celle la le sejour de clasomene devint mesme encore plus agreable quelque temps apres que cleonice fut allee demeurer a ephese parce que plusieurs estrangers de grande qualite y vinrent et y furent assez long temps parmy lesquels il s'en trouva de fort honnestes gens qui fournissoient a la conversation et qui osterent de clasomene le deffaut qui se trouve a toutes les provinces et mesme a toutes les petites cours comme estoit celle la qui est que l'on se connoist trop et que l'on ne voit tous les jours que les mesmes personnes il y avoit encore une autre chose qui faschoit quelquefois 
 la princesse basiline qui estoit qu'il n'y avoit pas un homme en toute la principaute de son frere qui peust espouser la princesse sa niece si bien que tous ceux qui la voyoient estoient des personnes qui n'osoient avoir que de l'admiration pour elle ou du moins qui n'osoient tesmoigner avoir d'autres sentimens entre tant d'honnestes gens qui estoient a clasomene il y avoit un homme nomme perinthe ayant cinq ou six ans plus que la princesse panthee qui s'attacha aupres du prince et qui aquit de telle sorte son amitie qu'il le vouloit tousjours avoir aupres de luy son pere avoit passe toute sa vie dans cette maison et estoit mesme mort pour le service de son maistre en une occasion de guerre qui s'estoit presentee durant le feu prince de clasomene il faut toutesfois avouer que perinthe n'avoit pas besoin d'une recommandation estrangere pour estre aime car sa personne estoit si aimable et son esprit si charmant qu'il n'estoit pas possible de luy refuser son estime il avoit pourtant une chose fort surprenante pour un fort honneste homme c'est qu'il ne faisoit amitie particuliere avec personne il estoit bien avec tout le monde mais il n'ouvroit son coeur a qui que ce soit et il disoit quelquesfois quand on luy faisoit la guerre de cette facon d'agir que c'estoit par un sentiment de gloire qu'il cachoit ses plus secrettes pensees et qu'il se deguisoit a ses amis cependant il ne laissoit pas d'estre fort 
 aime ceux qui le voyoient souvent ne laissoient pas non plus de luy confier leurs affaires les plus importantes tant parce qu'il estoit capable tour je une qu'il estoit de donner de bons conseils que parce qu'il avoit une probite exacte et une fidelite incorruptible ainsi sans descouvrir son coeur a qui que ce soit il voyoit dans celuy de beaucoup de gens perinthe estoit bien fait et de bonne mine d'une conversation agreable qui sans avoir rien de trop enjoue ny de trop serieux plaisoit egalement a toutes sortes d'humeurs et a toutes sortes de personnes de quelque condition qu'elles fussent en effet file prince de clasomene l'aimoit cherement la princesse basiline ne l'aimoit pas moins panthee avoit aussi pour luy toute l'estime qu'il en pouvoit desirer toutes mes compagnes l'aimoient avec tendresse toutes les dames de la ville n'en faisoient pas moins qu'elles et perinthe enfin eust este le plus heureux homme de sa condition s'il n eust pas eu dans le coeur un ennemy cache qui troubloit quelquesfois tous ses plaisirs et qui le rendoit aussi infortune qu'il paroissoit heureux a tous ceux qui le voyoient car madame il faut que vous scachiez afin de bien entendre toute la suitte de cette histoire que perinthe commenca d'avoir de l'amour pour la princesse de clasomene des que son coeur en put estre capable mais une amour si respectueuse si sage et si violente tout ensemble que l'on n'a jamais entendu 
 parler d'une semblable passion il m'a raconte depuis lors que par la suitte des choses qui sont arrivees il a este force de m'avouer la verite que des qu'il sentit dans son ame une passion dont il ne pouvoit estre le maistre et de laquelle il ne luy estoit pas permis d'esperer la moindre satisfaction il fit un dessein premedite de ne faire amitie particuliere ny avec pas un homme ny avec pas une dame de peur que s'il en faisoit avec quelqu'un il n'eust la foiblesse de luy descouvrir ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur et ce qu'il vouloit tenir cache a tout le monde il m'a dit aussi qu'il connut si parfaitement la folie qu'il y avoit a estre amoureux d'une personne d'une qualite si disproportionnee a la sienne qu'il n'eut jamais l'audace de penser seulement qu'elle pourroit un jour scavoir sa passion car comme la vertu de panthee a commence de paroistre avec eclat des que ses yeux ont commence de briller il m'a iure cent fois qu'en plusieurs annees de service et d'amour il n'a jamais eu un seul moment d'esperance cependant il combatit peu cette passion et sans scavoir ny pourquoy il ne s'y opposoit pas plus fortement ny quelle fin il se proposoit il aima la princesse mais il l'aima avec un si grand secret et d'une maniere si respectueuse que non seulement tant que nous fusmes a clasomene personne ne s'en aperceut mais la princesse mesme n'en subconna jamais rien et certes a dire vray encore que perinthe 
 fust d'une race fort noble il y avoit si loin de luy a elle qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si on ne s'apercent point d'une semblable chose il luy devoit tain de respect par sa naissance qu'il estoit aise qu'il cachast les veritables sentimens en luy rendant tous les jours mille agreables services comme il faisoit cependant jugeant bien qu'il ne pouvoit jamais pretendre a son affection ny seulement a luy faire scavoir la sienne il borna tous ses desirs a aquerir son estime de sorte que voulant se signaler a la guerre il fut a celle que l'illustre cleandre qui est aujourd'huy le prince artamas faisoit en mysie ou il fit des choies si admirables que s'il n'eust pas eu un attachement secret qui l'attiroit a clasomene il eust pu faire une grande fortune aupres de ce genereux favory mais enfin il revint charge d'honneur aupres du prince son maistre qui le carressa fort a son retour les princesses le recevrent aussi fort bien et perinthe eut sans doute sujet d'estre console dans son malheur d'estre au moins arrive au point ou il avoit desire d'estre voila donc madame quel estoit perinthe c'est a dire le plus discret et le plus malheureux amant du monde et voila quelle estoit sa passion lors que le prince de clasomene prit la resolution d'aller demeurer a sardis et d'y mener la princesse sa fille avec intention de n'en revenir point qu'il ne l'eust mariee comme il est vassal de cresus et qu'il y avoit un traite 
 par lequel les princes de clasomene estoient obligez de demeurer la moitie de l'annee a sardis apres avoir este tres long temps sans y aller sur divers pretextes dont il s'estoit servy pour s'en dispenser il se resolut enfin de satisfaire a son devoir et il le fit d'autant plustost que voyant a quel point la valeur de cleandre avoit porte l'authorite royale il eut peur que s'il'obeissoit de bonne grace on n'entreprist de le faire obeir de force et qu'ainsi il n'attirast la guerre dans son pais comme sardis estoit alors en son plus beau lustre tous ceux de la maison du prince et de la princesse eurent quelque joye d'y aller a la reserve de perinthe qui s'en affligea en secret par un sentiment que son amour luy donna jusques alors il avoit eu cet avantage de ne voir personne entreprendre de servir panthee parce que comme je l'ay desja dit il n'y avoit point d'homme en toute la principaute de clasomene qui peust pretendre a l'espouser mais aprenant qu'elle alloit a sardis ou tous les gens de sa condition demeuroient il ne douta point qu'elle n'y fust aimee de plusieurs de sorte que la seule crainte d'avoir des rivaux le rendit presques aussi miserable que le sont les autres qui en ont de plus favorivez qu'eux je me souviens mesme que m'estant aperceue malgre son deguisement qu'il n'avoit pas autant de joye d'aller a sardis que tous ceux qui devoient estre de ce voyage temoignoient en avoir je luy en demanday sa cause mais il 
 me respondit avec autant de civilite que de finesse que c'estoit parce qu'il voyoit qu'il ne jouiroit plus tant ny de la veue ny de la conversation de toutes les personnes qui luy estoient cheres car adjousta t'il pour deguiser encore davantage la chose tout ce que le prince mene d'honnestes gens aveque luy deviendront amoureux a la cour et en suitte poursuivit il voulant que je prisse quelque part a son discours je prevoy que ce qu'il y a de plus honnestes gens ou nous allons deviendront aussi amoureux de tout ce que la princesse mene d'agreables personnes avec elle mon maistre mesme sera si occupe a faire sa cour que je ne luy pourray plus faire la mienne et pour la princesse je pense qu'elle ne manquera pas non plus d'occupation ainsi prevoyant que je seray sans maistre sans maistresse sans amis et sans amies il ne faut pas s'estonner si je ne suis pas aussi gay que vous pour moy luy dis-je en riant il s'en faut peu a entendre les dernieres choses que vous venez de dire que je ne croye que nous allons dans les deserts de lybie plustost que d'aller a sardis perinthe sourit de m'entendre parler ainsi et sans continuer ce discours nous nous separasmes et chacun se prepara a partir la princesse basiline ne put estre du voyage parce qu'elle eut de grandes affaires a demesler avec les parens de feu son mary de sorte que panthee ne fut a sardis qu'avec le prince son pere je ne vous diray point madame 
 comment elle y fut receue de cresus du prince atys du prince myrsille de la princesse palmis d'antaleon de mexaris d'artesilas et de l'illustre cleandre car j'employerois trop de temps a vous dire des choses peu necessaires a mon recit il suffit donc que je vous die en general qu'on rendit au pere et a la fille tous les honneurs qu'on devoit a leur condition et a leur merite la princesse palmis et la princesse de clasomene lierent d'abord une fort grande amitie et quoy qu'elles fussent toutes deux assez belles pour faire naistre l'envie dans leur coeur elles n'en eurent point du tout leur ame estant sans doute trop haute pour estre capable d'un sentiment si bas elles s'aimerent donc avec sincerite quoy qu'a dire les choses comme elles sont elles n'ayent jamais entre en nulle confiance l'une pour l'autre de ce qui leur a tenu lieu de secret dans leur vie ce n'est pas qu'elles ne s'estimassent assez pour cela mais apres tout je pense que comme cilenise avoit toute la confidence de la princesse palmis j'avois aussi le bonheur d'avoir toute celle de la princesse panthee il est vray qu'en ce temps la ses secrets estoient de peu d'importance je ne laissois pourtant pas de luy estre bien obligee de voir qu'elle me disoit ses veritables sentimens de toutes choses ce qu'elle ne faisoit point du tout devant toutes mes compagnes je ne doute pas madame que vous n'ayez sceu la diversite d'humeur qui estoit entre le roy de 
 lydie et les princes ses freres c'est pourquoy je ne vous feray pas souvenir que le prince antaleon estoit un ambitieux qui vouloit tout destruire pour regner et que mexaris estoit aussi avare que cresus est liberal quoy que mexaris n'eust gueres moins de richesses que luy et certes a dire vray je ne pense pas que ce vice la aye jamais paru plus estrange qu'en ce prince comme vous le verrez par la suitte de ce discours cependant il ne laissa pas de se trouver capable d'une passion de qui un des plus nobles effets est de produire la liberalite il est vray que je suis persuadee que mexaris creut que pour estre amoureux il suffisoit de donner son coeur et qu'ainsi il ne s'opposa point a l'amour que la beaute de panthee fit naistre dans son ame car je ne doute pas que s'il eust ouy dire que la veritable mesure de l'amour se doit regler sur ce que l'on est capable de donner pour la personne aimee il n'eust combatu la sienne de toute sa force mais comme il songea seulement a aquerir l'affection de la princesse il ne s'alla pas adviser de s'opposer a cette passion naissante et il l'aima enfin autant qu'il estoit capable d'aimer ce feu demeura pourtant quelque temps cache pendant quoy la princesse fut visitee de tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand ou d'illustre a sardis entre tant de personnes qui la virent il y eut une fille d'assez bonne qualite nommee doralise qui luy plut infiniment et en effet on peut dire que ce n'est pas une personne 
 ordinaire car outre qu'elle a une beaute charmante elle a un esprit admirablement divertissant elle pense les choses d'une maniere si particuliere mais pourtant si raisonnable qu'elle amene tout le monde dans son sens elle a une raillerie fine et adroite dont il n'est pas aise de se deffendre quand elle le veut et ce qui est un peu rare pour une personne qui a un semblable talent c'est qu'elle ne laisse pas d'avoir de la bonte et de la douceur aussi ne s'en sert elle qu'en certaines occasions ou elle donne plus de plaisir a ceux qui l'escoutent qu'elle ne fait de mal a ceux qu'elle attaque elle ne laissoit pourtant pas de s'estre rendue redoutable a plusieurs personnes quand nous arrivasmes a sardis mais pour moy l'avoue que je l'aimay sans la craindre et que je fis tout ce que je pus pour confirmer la princesse en l'opinion avantageuse qu'elle avoit d'elle et certes il me fut aise de le faire car son inclination pancha si fort de ce coste la qu'elle l'aima tendrement doralise respondit aussi avec tant de respect et tant de reconnoissance aux boutez que la princesse avoit pour elle qu'en fort peu de jours la princesse de clasomene vescut avec elle comme si elle l'eust connue toute sa vie elle sceut par diverses personnes et en suitte par elle mesme que comme elle n'avoit ny pere ny mere et qu'elle demeuroit chez une tante qui ne la vouloit pas contraindre elle avoit desja refuse vint fois de se marier quoy qu'elle fust encore jeune 
 car doralise n'avoit pas plus de dixhuit ans quand nous fusmes a sardis cependant ce n'estoit pas que sa vertu parust austere ny sauvage au contraire elle avoit quelque chose de galant dans l'esprit elle aimoit la conversation et les plaisirs et il n'y en avoit aucun dans la cour dont elle ne fust de sorte que ne paroissant pas qu'elle eust dessein de se mettre parmy les vierges voilees a ephese on la pressoit quelquesfois de dire la raison pourquoy elle avoit refuse tant d'honnestes gens qui avoient songe a l'espouser mais elle respondoit tousjours en riant que c'estoit parce qu'elle n'avoit pas encore trouve un certain homme qu'elle cherchoit et qu'elle s'estoit imagine estre seul capable de faire son bonheur ainsi tournant la chose en raillerie sans que l'on pust entendre ce qu'elle vouloit dire on croyoit que doralise avoit aversion a se marier et qu'il n'y avoit point d'autre cause a sa facon d'agir la princesse ayant donc sceu ce que je viens de dire un jour qu'elle se trouvoit un peu mal et qu'elle avoit envoye querir doralise pour la divertir elle se mit a luy dire qu'elle eust bien voulu scavoir quel estoit cet homme qu'elle disoit chercher et qu'elle ne trouvoit point apres qu'elle s'en fut deffendue quelque temps puis que vous le voulez madame luy dit elle en riant il faut que vous scachiez que je me suis mis dans la fantaisie de n'espouser jamais qu'un homme qui m'aime et que je puisse aimer la premiere de ces 
 deux choses interrompit la princesse est ce me semble assez aisee a trouver elle ne l'est pas trop reprit elle mais a dire la verite la seconde est encore un peu plus difficile ou pour mieux dire elle est impossible il me semble dit la princesse que vous faites grand tort a sardis et a toute la cour de croire qu'il n'y ait pas un homme assez accomply pour vous obliger par ses services a recevoir son affection madame luy dit elle il y a cent honnestes gens mais il n'y en a pas un qui n'ait aime quelque chose et c'est ce que je ne veux point du tout car enfin si je pouvois souffrir d'estre aimee et me resoudre a aimer je voudrois que la nature toute seule sans le secours de l'amour eust fait un fort honneste honme et qu'en cet estat adjousta t'elle en riant quoy que ce fussent ses veritables sentimens il me vinst offrir un coeur tout neuf qu'il n'eust jamais receu que mon image ny brusle d'autres flames que de celles que mes yeux y auroient allumees mais madame ou le trouvera t'on cet honneste homme que je recherche du moins scay-je bien qu'entre cent mille que j'ay veus je ne l'ay pas encore rencontre la nature toute seule adjousta t'elle les fait quelquesfois beaux mais ils ne sont pas mesme de fort bonne mine s'ils n'ont aime quelque chose et pour l'esprit un homme ne peut jamais l'avoir agreable s'il n'a eu une fois en sa vie le soin de plaire a quelqu'un la princesse se mit a rire du discours de doralise mais enfin luy dit elle l'amour ne donne 
 point d'esprit a ceux qui n'en ont pas je vous assure madame repliqua doralise que s'il n'en donne pas a ceux qui n'en ont point il l'augmente et il le polit merveilleusement a ceux qui en ont je croy bien poursuivit elle qu'un honneste homme tel que le definiroit un de ces sept sages de grece dont on parle aujourd'huy tant pat le monde se pourroit trouver sans qu'il eust rien aime car ces gens la n'y veulent autre chose sinon qu'il scache bien s'aquitter des affaires dont il se mesle qu'il ait du scavoir de la probite du courage et de la venu mais un honneste homme tel que je le veux outre les choses absolument necessaires doit encore avoir les agreables et c'est ce qu'il est absolument impossible de trouver en un homme qui n'a jamais rien aime en effet madame poursuivit doralise remettez vous un peu en la memoire tous les jeunes gens que vous voyez entrer dans le monde et cherchez un peu la raison pourquoy il y en a tant dont la conversation est pesante et incommode et vous trouverez que c'est parce qu'il leur manque je ne scay quelle hardiesse respectueuse et je ne scay quelle civilite spirituelle et galante que l'amour seulement peut donner vous les voyez plus beaux que ceux qui sont plus avancez en age qu'eux ils ont mesme de l'esprit ils n'ont encore rien oublie de tout ce que leurs maistres leur ont apris cependant il manque je ne scay quoy a leurs discours et a leurs actions qui fait qu'ils 
 ne plaisent point et pour moy adjousta t'elle en riant j'aimerois beaucoup mieux la conversation d'un de ces vieillards qui ont este galands en leur jeunesse que celle d'un de ces jeunes indifferents qui songent plus aux rubans qu'ils portent qu'aux dames a qui ils parlent il est vray dit la princesse en riant a son tour que je suis contrainte d'advouer que j'en ay veu beaucoup de tels que vous me les representez mais je n'attribuois pas cela a ce que vous dittes et je croyois seulement que le peu d'experience qu'ils avoient du monde estoit la veritable cause du peu d'agrement que je trouvois en leur entretien pour vous monstrer adjousta doralise que cela n'est pas il ne faut que regarder que ceux qui vieillissent sans rien aimer et a qui l'experience du monde ne manque point ont toujours quelque chose de sauvage et de rude dans l'esprit qui n'est point du tout aimable vous trouverez dis-je que ce seront ou de ces hommes de fer et de sang qui passent toute leur vie a la guerre ou de ces chasseurs determinez qui sont tousjours dans des forests ou des solitaires sombres qui sont tousjours dans leur cabinet avec des livres ou dans des grottes a la campagne a s'entretenir eux mesmes de sorte qu'il faut confesser que l'amour seul fait les veritables honnestes gens tels que je les cherche mais luy dit la princesse si l'amour a le pouvoir que vous dittes en souffrant d'estre aimee ceux qui ne le sont point le deviendront ha madame 
 s'escria t'elle si je n'estime celuy que je dois espouser des le premier instant que je le verray je ne l'aimeray jamais c'est pourquoy il faudroit que je le trouvasse tout accomply des que je le connoistrois choisissez en donc un luy dit elle de ceux qui se seront rendus honnestes gens en aimant quelque autre et qui ne l'aimeront plus je vous ay desja dit madame reprit doralise que je veux un coeur tout neuf et des flames toutes pures et toutes vives et non pas de ces coeurs tous noircis tels que je me represente ceux qui ont brusle des annees entieres enfin comme on n'offre a une divinite que des offrandes qui n'ont point este sur l'autel d'une autre je voudrois aussi une affection qui n'eust este a personne qu'a moy si bien que ne pouvant aimer un homme qui aura desja aime et n'estant presques pas possible d'en trouver un fort accomply qui n'ait aime quelque chose je me resous et mesme sans peine a n'aimer jamais rien cette regle n'est pourtant pas si generale que vous la croyez reprit la princesse car enfin perinthe que vous connoissez est un fort honneste homme et n'a jamais este amoureux ha madame s'escria t'elle cela n'est pas pas possible perinthe aime infailliblement ou du moins a aime et l'on ne scauroit estre comme il est sans avoir eu de l'amour la princesse m'apellant alors n'est il pas vray pherenice me dit elle que perinthe n'a point eu d'amour a clasomene il est vray madame 
 luy dis-je que je n'ay point sceu qu'il en ait eu et que mesme on ne l'en a jamais soubconne c'est assurement qu'il est fin et adroit repliqua doralise car encore une fois on ne scauroit estre ce qu'est perinthe sans avoir este amoureux comme elle disoit cela il entra de sorte que la princesse prenant la parole et ne scachant pas la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame elle luy dit qu'elle estoit bien aise de le voir afin qu'il luy aidast a guerir doralise d'une erreur ou elle estoit mais adjousta la princesse en regardant cette agreable fille je veux que ce soit vous qui l'interrogiez afin que vous ne croiyez pas qu'il n'osast me dire la verite je vous advoue madame respondit doralise que la chose dont il s'agit me donne tant de curiosite qu'encore que ce soit en quelque sorte manquer a la bien-seance que de vous obeir si promptement je ne laisseray pas de le faire c'est pourquoy perinthe luy dit elle en se tournant vers luy je vous prie de me dire si vous n'avez laisse personne a clasomene que vous regrettiez a sardis perinthe fort surpris du discours de doralise en changea de couleur et ne scavoit comment y respondre si bien que cette fille se tournant vers la princesse tout a bon madame luy dit elle je suis bien trompee si vous ne vous abusez et si la rougeur de perinthe ne marque que je ne me trompe point mais luy dit panthee vous ne donnez pas loisir a perinthe de vous respondre et vous voulez desja me condamner sans l'avoir entendu cependant adjousta 
 la princesse scachez perinthe qu'il s'agit de persuader a doralise que l'on peut estre aussi honneste homme que vous estes sans estre amoureux on sans l'avoir este et c'est pour cela qu'il faut que vous luy disiez s'il y a quelque belle personne a clasomene que vous regrettiez a sardis puis que je suis oblige de respondre precisement repliqua perinthe apres s'estre un peu remis je vous protesteray sans mensonge que depuis que je suis a sardis je n'ay point songe a clasomene mais c'est peut-estre adjousta doralise parlant a la princesse que perinthe est amoureux de quelqu'une de vos filles et qu'ainsi sans dire un mensonge il ne laisse pas d'aimer perinthe rougit une seconde fois du discours de doralise ce que voyant la princesse et croyant que le changement de son visage n'estoit cause que parce qu'il avoit quelque confusion d'estre oblige d'avouer qu'il n'aimoit rien en verite luy dit elle perinthe vous estes admirable d'avoir honte de confesser une chose dont vous devriez faire gloire car enfin je tiens qu'il est tousjours beau de n'avoir jamais este vaincu il est des vainqueurs si illustres reprit il froidement que je pense que l'on pourroit advouer sa deffaite sans des honneur mais enfin dit doralise aimez vous ou n'aimez vous pas car c'est cela qu'il m importe de scavoir si j'aime reprit il il faut croire qu'il m'importe de ne le pas descouvrir puis que personne ne le scait et si je n'aime point il m'importe encore de ne vous l'avouer 
 pas puis que croyant a ce que je puis comprendre par le discours de la princesse que l'on ne peut estre en quelque sorte honneste homme sans estre amoureux je ne dois pas vous preocuper a mon desavantage quoy qu'il en soit dit doralise encore que vous ne veuilliez pas parler plus precisement je ne laisseray pas de le scavoir avec certitude devant qu'il soit peu car si vous l'estes a clasomene vos inquietudes et vos chagrins me le tesmoigneront allez et si vous l'estes a sardis je le scauray encore plus infailliblement mais s'il ne l'est en nulle part comme je le croy dit la princesse il ne manqueroit donc rien a perinthe de tout ce que vous desirez il luy manqueroit encore une chose aussi necessaire que toutes les autres reprit elle c'est qu'il m'aimast autant qu'il pourroit aimer mais de cela madame ne luy en demandez rien je vous en conjure puis que je suis assure qu'il ne m'aime pas et si je l'estois aussi parfaitement qu'il n'aime rien je le regarderois comme un miracle comme perinthe alloit respondre un officier de la princesse palmis interrompit la conversation car il vint scavoir de la sante de la princesse et luy demander si elle croyoit estre en estat de pouvoir se trouver le lendemain a une partie de chasse qu'elles avoient resolue il y avoit desja quelques jours ou si elle vouloit qu'on remist ce divertissement a une autrefois la princesse qui n'avoir pas un mal considerable et qui jugea bien qu'elle en seroit delivree le 
 jour suivant luy manda que bien loin de vouloir differer un plaisir qu'elle devoit recevoir elle chercheroit tousjours a luy en donner et qu'ainsi elle croyoit la pouvoir assurer qu'elle auroit l'honneur de la suivre a la chasse le lendemain un moment apres le prince mexaris entra de sorte que la conversation de perinthe et de doralise ne se renoua point de ce jour la
 
 
 
 
cependant le pauvre perinthe souffrit des maux incroyables d'avoir entendu de la bouche de la princesse qu'elle ne croyoit pas qu'il fust amoureux car encore qu'il pensast bien qu'elle ne soubconnoit rien de sa passion il ne laissa pas de sentir une douleur extreme d'ouir prononcer ces cruelles paroles par la seule personne qu'il aimoit et qu'il pouvoit aimer et a laquelle il scavoit bien qu'il n'oseroit jamais descouvrir son amour ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust borne tous ses desirs a ce qu'il luy sembloit a estre estime de cette princesse mais il y avoit pourtant plusieurs instants au jour ou sa passion malgre qu'il en eust luy faisoit faire des souhaits que luy mesme condamnoit un moment apres cependant comme il estoit propre a toutes choses la princesse luy donna la commission de voir si les escuyers du prince son pere auroient bien prepare tout ce qui luy estoit necessaire pour la chasse et si le cheval qui la devoit porter estoit tel qu'il le luy faloit perinthe qui estoit ravi de rendre service a la princesse quoy que ce ne fust mesme qu'en de petites choses luy obeit si exactement 
 qu'en effet il se trouva que le lendemain la princesse palmis ne fut pas mieux que la princesse de clasomene et certes a dire vray je ne pense pas que l'on puisse jamais rien voir de plus beau ny de plus galant que le fut cette chasse toutes les dames qui en devoient estre estoient habillees comme on peint diane sinon qu'ayant un peu plus de soin de leur beaute que cette deesse qui mesprise la sienne elles avoient sur la teste une espece de capeline environnee de plumes de diverses couleurs qui les garantissoit du soleil au dessous de laquelle pendoit un voile flottant au gre du vent dont elles te pouvoient couvrir le visage quand elles vouloient leurs cheveux bouclez quoy que negligeamment espars et rattachez avec des rubans leur tomboient jusques sur la gorge elles avoient toutes une magnifique escharpe ou pendoit un arc et un carquoys d'une main elles tenoient la bride de leurs chevaux dont la housse estoit toute couverte d'or et tous les crins renouez de cordons d'or et d'argent et de l'autre elles tenoient une javeline d'ebene garnie d'orfevrerie les mors et les brides des chevaux estoient aussi d'or ou d'argent les habillemens des dames estoient tous couvers de pierreries de sorte que l'on ne peut rien voir de plus magnifique ny de plus beau car comme tous ces habillemens estoient de couleurs differentes et que les housses de leurs chevaux l'estoient aussi cela faisoit parmy les bois et les grandes routes du parc le 
 plus bel objet du monde chaque dame avoit un chasseur destine pour la conduire qui devoit marcher aupres d'elle et deux escuyers a pied qui devoient aussi aller des deux costez chacune des princesses devoit encore avoir deux filles avec elles habillees de mesme facon qui les devoient tousjours suivre de sorte que la princesse pria doralise d'en vouloir estre et me fit la grace de me choisir entre toutes mes compagnes elle voulut aussi que perinthe fust le chasseur de doralise car pour le sien ce fut le prince mexaris le prince atys le fut d'une fille nommee anaxilee dont il estoit amoureux pour la princesse palmis ce fut le prince artesilas mais comme cela ne serviroit de rien a mon discours de vous nommer tous ceux qui furent de cette chasse je vous diray seulement que tous les hommes n'estant pas moins galamment ny moins magnifiquement habillez que les dames tout le monde se rendit dans des chariots au bord de l'estang de gyges ou estoit l'equipage de chasse et ou tous les chevaux attendoient doralise et moy estions dans le chariot de la princesse parce que nous le devions suivre et comme c'estoit au prince mexaris qui estoit son chasseur a venir luy aider a descendre de son chariot il n'y manqua pas mais a peine commenca t'il de paroistre que doralise remarqua qu'au lieu d'avoir un habillement fait expres pour cette belle feste comme en avoient le prince atys le prince myrsille artesilas cleandre 
 et tous les autres jusques a perinthe il en avoit un qui a ce qu'elle me dit luy avoit servy a une course de chariots il y avoit plus de deux ans de sorte que ne pouvant s'empescher de rire tout a bon me dit elle si haut que la princesse l'entendit je voy bien que ce que l'on m'a dit du prince mexaris n'est pas vray et que vous en a t'on dit luy dis je on m'a assure repliqua t'elle qu'il est amoureux de la princesse mais puis qu'il est encore avare je ne croy point qu'il soit amoureux mexaris se trouva alors si proche du chariot de la princesse qu'elle n'y moy ne pusmes rien dire a doralise et certes ce fut bien tout ce que nous pusmes faire que de nous empescher d'eclatter de rire ce n'est pas que mexaris ne fust de fort bonne mine et fort bien fait et que mesme son habillement et la housse de son cheval ne fussent assez magnifiques mais comme l'or en estoit un peu terny en comparaison de ce lustre eclatant qui paroist a tout ce qui est neuf et que l'on voyoit en l habillement de tous les autres il est vray qu'il n'estoit pas possible de n'avoir point envie de rire du discours de doralise joint qu'il est certains jours qui semblent estre consacrez a la joye et ou la moindre chose fait pancher l'esprit a la raillerie et donne du divertissement cleandre qui estoit celuy qui donnoit le plaisir de la chasse ce jour la et qui ne pouvoit pas estre le chasseur de la princesse palmis quoy qu'il fust desja son amant comme nous l'avons sceu depuis ne le voulut 
 estre de personne pretextant la chose de ce qu'il vouloit donner ordre a tout de sorte qu'il alloit tantost a l'une et tantost a l'autre cette chasse se fit dans un grand parc que l'on peut presques nommer une petite forest tant il est vray qu'il est d'une vaste estendue que ses arbres sont espais et que ses routes sont grandes et larges ce parc est pourtant traverse par un chemin assez libre parce qu'autrement ceux qui veulent aller a sardis par ce coste la feroient un fort grand detour si bien qu'il y a deux portes aux deux bouts du parc destinees a donner passage a ceux qui vont et viennent je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous decrire cette chasse ny a vous dire si les chiens chasserent bien si le cerf rusa si le son des cors estoit agreable si les veneurs furent tousjours a veue de la chasse et mille autres semblables choses car outre que je ne m'exprimerois pas en termes propres ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit joint qu'a dire la verite les dames qui vont a de semblables lieux y vont a mon advis autant pour y paroistre belles que pour courre le cerf aussi la chasse estoit disposee de facon qu'on ne leur donnoit pas un exercice si violent et on se contentoit de les faire aller assez lentement en des lieux ou par l'adresse des veneurs le cerf devoit passer de sorte que c'estoit une chasse assez tranquile pour les dames au commencement les princesses et leurs chasseurs marcherent assez pres les uns des autres mais insensiblement cette belle et 
 magnifique troupe se prepara par petites bandes les uns prenant une grande route et les autres une petite si bien que sans y songer la princesse se trouva dans le plus espais du bois sans autre compagnie que celle du prince mexaris doralise perinthe ses deux escuyers et moy mais a peine s'en fut elle aperceue que nous entendismes par le son des cors et par celuy des voix que la chasse estoit proche et en effet le cerf passa si pres de nous que ce fut l'instant ou elle nous donna le plus de plaisir cependant comme il n'est rien de plus difficile a un homme qui a quelque passion pour la chasse que de ne la suivre pas quand il la voit passer le prince mexaris quelque amoureux qu'il fust de la princesse apres luy avoir demande permission de se trouver a la mort du cerf et luy avoir dit qu'il la rejoindroit bientost piqua a travers l'espaisseur du bois et donna une si forte envie de rire a doralise qu'elle se communiqua facilement a perinthe et a moy et alla mesme jusques a la princesse tout a bon me dit cette agreable fille il faut avouer que si ce prince n'est pas liberal il est du moins bien judicieux aujourd'huy d'avoir sceu prendre une occasion si favorable pour cacher en mesme temps la passion qu'il a pour la princesse et sa vieille broderie en s'eloignant comme il a fait perinthe qui par un sentiment jaloux estoit ravy de la malice de doralise la continua avec adresse la princesse faisant semblant de ne 
 nous entendre point parce que comme elle est infiniment sage elle ne vouloit pas railler du prince mexaris mais comme nous voiyons qu'elle sourioit nous ne nous taisions pas cependant comme elle n'avoit pas resolu d'attendre mexaris en ce lieu la elle demanda a perinthe par ou il jugeoit qu'elle peust aller rejoindre la princesse palmis mais comme il ne le pouvoit pas scavoir precisement il m'a dit depuis qu'il songea seulement a l'eloigner autant qu'il pourroit de mexaris et pour cet effet il luy fit prendre une route toute opposee a celle que la chasse avoit prise en commencant donc de marcher et entendant tousjours moins la voix des chiens et le son des cors la princesse se tourna vers perinthe et luy dit avec une bonte extreme qu'elle estoit bien marrie de le priver du plaisir de la chasse perinthe respondit a ce discours qui le surprit d'une maniere qui fit si bien voir a la princesse qu'il s'estimoit plus heureux d'estre ou il estoit que d'estre a la mort du cerf qu'appellant doralise malicieuse fille luy dit elle qui connoissez que mexaris n'est pas amoureux de moy parce qu'il a mieux aime suivre le cerf que de demeurer aveque nous n'advouerez vous pas que puis que perinthe est demeure si volontiers aupres de vous ce doit estre parce qu'il vous aime ha point du tout madame respondit elle et je m'en vay le luy faire advouer tout a l'heure en effet elle avoit desja ouvert la 
 bouche pour luy parler lors qu'estant arrivez a ce grand chemin qui traverse tout le parc nous aperceusmes a la gauche que nous prismes cinq ou six hommes a cheval qui venoient vers nous d'abord comme ils estoient encore assez loin nous creusmes que c'estoient des gens de la chasse mais aprochant plus pres nous connusmes que nous ne les connoissions point celuy qui marchoit a la teste des autres estoit un homme jeune admirablement beau et de bonne mine et de qui l'habillement quoy que de campagne estoit tres magnifique et paroissoit mesme neuf doralise ne l'eut pas plustost veu que continuant sa raillerie cet estranger dit elle a la princesse quel qu'il puisse estre est sans doute plus liberal que mexaris car puis qu'il est si magnifique en voyageant il le seroit assurement en une belle feste comme celle cy il a si bonne mine repliqua la princesse que je n'auray pas trop de peine a me laisser persuader qu'il possede une vertu aussi heroique que celle la et qui touche si fort mon inclination cependant comme la beaute de la princesse n'estoit pas moins esclatante que la mine de cet estranger estoit haute et que l'habit ou elle estoit contribuoit encore quelque chose a rendre son abord surprenant il en parut en effet fort surpris et s'imagina que ce pouvoit estre la princesse de lydie neantmoins comme il ne pouvoit et s'en esclaircir entierement il fut quelque 
 temps irresolu sur ce qu'il devoit faire mais a la fin craignant de faire une faute en se faisant connoistre a une personne qu'il ne connoissoit pas et ne voulant pas aussi manquer de respect pour la princesse de qui la beaute l'air et l'habit luy persuadoient qu'elle estoit de tres grande qualite il luy quitta le chemin et s'arrestant pour la laisser passer en la saluant avec un profond respect il la suivir des yeux sans marcher tant qu'il la put voir la princesse de son coste tourna la teste pour le regarder mais leurs yeux s'estant rencontrez elle ne le regarda plus cependant cet estranger l'ayant perdue de veue marcha encore quelques pas vers sardis puis tout d'un coup la curiosite qu'il avoit de scavoir qui estoit l'admirable personne qu'il venoit de rencontrer augmentant encore et ayant remarque que nous avions quitte le grand chemin et pris une route a droit il en prit une par ou il jugea qu'il pourroit peut-estre nous rencontrer de nouveau et avoir du moins le plaisir de voir encore une fois la princesse et en effet son dessein reussit et mesme mieux qu'il n'avoit pense car vous scaurez madame que la princesse estant arrivee en un lieu du bois ou il y a une fontaine elle s'y arresta avec plaisir parce qu'elle y trouva quelque fraischeur plus grande qu'ailleurs et voulut mesme s'y reposer un moment de sorte que s'estant fait descendre de cheval et nous autres aussi elle s'assit sur le gazon dont cette fontaine 
 estoit bordee mais elle n'y fut pas plutost qu'elle s'aperceut qu'elle avoit perdu un portrait que la princesse palmis luy avoit donne d'elle et qui estoit dans une boiste de diamans la plus riche qu'il estoit possible de voir ce n'estoit pourtant pas ce qu'elle en regrettoit le plus mais il luy sembloit que la princesse palmis pourroit luy reprocher qu'elle n'auroit pas eu assez de soin d'une chose qu'elle luy avoit donnee comme une marque tres sensible de son amitie si bien que s'affligeant extremement de cette perte elle commanda aux deux escuyers qui la suivoient d'attacher tous nos chevaux a des arbres et d'aller du moins aux derniers lieux ou nous avions passe pour voir si par bonheur ils n'y retrouveroient point cette peinture ce n'est pas qu'apres tant de tours que nous avions fait dans le bois elle eust beaucoup d'espoir de la recouvrer neantmoins comme il luy souvenoit confusement de l'avoir encore veue lors qu'elle avoit rencontre cet estranger de bonne mine et que de plus c'est la coustume de ceux qui perdent quelque chose de le chercher mesme en des lieux ou il ne peut estre plustost que de ne le chercher point elle envoya ces deux escuyers avec ordre d'aller jusques ou elle avoit rencontre cet estranger perinthe leur envia cette commission et voulut y aller seul luy semblant qu'il trouveroit bien mieux qu'un autre ce que la princesse avoit perdu mais elle voulut qu'il demeurast aupres 
 d'elle cependant comme ces deux escuyers n'avoient jamais este dans ce parc que je jour la ils se tromperent et prenant une route pour une autre pensant estre a celle par ou ils avoient passe ils chercherent inutilement et chercherent si long temps que la princesse estoit absolument hors d'esperance de recouvrer ce qu'elle avoit perdu voyant qu'ils ne revenoient point lors que tout d'un coup cet aimable estranger parut qui plus heureux qu'eux avoit trouve ce portrait de sorte que ne cherchant qu'une occasion de parler a la princesse et ne doutant pas que cette boiste ne fust a elle puis qu'il l'avoit trouvee en un lieu ou elle avoit passe il descendit de cheval des qu'il l'aperceut au bord de cette fontaine et s'aprochant d'elle de fort bonne grace et avec beaucoup de respect madame luy dit il en lydien et en luy presentant la boiste qu'elle regrettoit je voudrois bien avoir le bonheur que vous eussiez perdu aujourd'huy ce que je remets entre vos mains afin d'avoir l'avantage de vous avoir rendu une chose qui vous devroit sans doute estre chere la princesse qui s'estoit levee des qu'elle avoit veu cet estranger s'aprocher d'elle reconnut sa boiste d'abord qu'elle la vit si bien que la prenant aveque joye genereux inconnu luy dit elle si ce que vous me rendez ne m'avoit pas este donne par la princesse de lydie et que vous n'eussiez pas l'air qui paroist sur vostre visage je devrois du moins vous offrir la boiste et ne recevoir 
 que la peinture mais ne pouvant faire une liberalite de celle d'une si grande princesse principalement a un homme fait comme vous recevez du moins ma reconnoissance jusques a ce que j'aye trouve les moyens de vous la tesmogner par quelque service aussi important que celuy que vous me rendez m'est agreable madame luy respondit il c'est un si grand plaisir que celuy d'en causer a une personne faite comme vous que je me tiens pleinement recompense de celuy que je viens de vous donner en vous rendant une chose qui vous est chere pendant que la princesse et cet estranger parloient ainsi perinthe s'estant aproche d'un des siens et luy ayant demande qui il estoit il luy aprit que c'estoit le second fils du roy de la susiane nomme abradate et fils d'une soeur de cresus qui s'en alloit a sardis de sorte que perinthe me l'ayant dit j'en advertis la princesse a qui je le dis tout bas pendant quoy celuy des gens d'abradate a qui perinthe avoit parle et qui avoit sceu par luy qui estoit la princesse le dit a son maistre durant que je luy disois a elle qui il estoit si bien que se connoissant tous deux pour ce qu'ils estoient il en parut beaucoup de joye dans leurs yeux abradate redoubla son respect et la princesse sa civilite je m'estime bienheureux luy dit il d'avoit pu plaire un instant de ma vie a une si belle princesse et je m'estime tres heureuse repliqua t'elle d'estre obligee le reste de la mienne a un si grand prince 
 et de qui la renommee m'a desja tant dit de choses comme ils en estoient la on entendit un assez grand bruit de chevaux et un instant apres la princesse palmis anaxilee le prince atys artesilas mexaris myrsile et cleandre arriverent qui sans songer d'abord a abradate se mirent apres estre descendus de cheval a faire la guerre a la princesse d'avoir prefere la solitude a la chasse et de ne s'estre pas voulu trouver a la mort du cerf la chasse que j'ay faite leur repliqua t'elle en sousriant a este plus heureuse que la vostre et je m'assure adjousta t'elle en presentant abradate au prince atys et a la princesse palmis que vous en tomberez d'accord quand vous scaurez que j'ay arreste icy le prince de la susiane dont on vous a tant dit de choses avantageuses dans ce mesme temps un escuyer du prince atys qui avoit este a suse s'avanca vers son maistre pour luy confirmer cette verite si bien que recevant abradate avec une joye extreme tout le monde luy fit en suitte mille caresses et mille civilitez j'advoue dit la princesse palmis a panthee que vostre chasse a este plus heureuse que la nostre et que vous en meritez tout l'honneur l'en ay du moins eu tout l'avantage reprit abradate puis que cela est cause que je vous ay este presente par une main si belle et si illustre vous n'aviez pas besoin d'un si puissant secours repliqua la princesse palmis pour vous rendre considerable pour moy dit panthee j'avois bien besoin du sien car sans 
 luy j'eusse fait aujourd'huy une perte dont je ne me fusse jamais consolee et alors elle raconta l'avanture du portrait a la princesse palmis comme le lieu ou elles estoient estoit fort agreable elles y furent pres d'une heure mais enfin cleandre les faisant apercevoir qu'il estoit temps de s'aller reposer a un chasteau qui est a l'extremite du parc au bord de l'estang de gyges a l'opposite du tombeau d'alliatte ces princesses et ces princes prirent tous ensemble le chemin de ce chasteau ou une superbe colation et une excellente musique les attendoit en y allant mexaris marcha tousjours aupres de panthee mais il n'y fut pas en estat de l'entretenir avec liberte parce que le prince abradate fut aussi tousjours aupres d'elle cependant le pauvre perinthe alloit derriere eux bien afflige de remarquer que la beaute de panthee se faisoit des admirateurs de tous ceux qui la voyoient il avoit pourtant a ce qu'il m'a dit cette bizarre consolation de penser que tres rarement les personnes de sa qualite sont elles mariees a des princes qui les aiment et de pouvoir esperer que si quelqu'un la possedoit un jour ce seroit peut-estre quelque prince qu'elle espouseroit par raison d'estat et non pas par effection mais durant qu'il s'entretenoit ainsi doralise et moy remarquasmes qu'abradate regarda tousjours panthee avec unes attention extraordinaire non seulement pendant le chemin que nous fismes pour aller jusques a ce chasteau mais mesme 
 durant la colation et la musique on eust dit qu'elle estoit seule belle en cette compagnie ce n'est pas qu'il fust incivil et qu'il ne rendist tout le respect qu'il devoit a la princesse de lydie mais apres tout il estoit aise de discerner par ses regards que la beaute de la princesse de clasomene touchoit plus son coeur que celle des autres mexaris s'en aperceut aussi bien que nous et perinthe encore mieux et je pense mesme que panthee connut des ce premier jour une partie du prodigieux effet que sa beaute avoit cause dans le coeur d'abradate car vous scaviez madame qu'il en devint si esperdument amoureux des cette premiere entreveue qu'il m'a jure cent fois depuis que sa passion n'avoit point augmente cependant apres avoir passe toute cette journee le plus agreablement du monde toutes les dames s'en retournerent a sardis dans des chariots tous les princes marchant a cheval aupres de ceux ou leur inclination les attiroit c'est a dire artesilas et cleandre aupres de celuy de la princesse palmis le prince atys aupres de celuy d'anaxilee et mexaris abradate et mesme perinthe aupres de celuy de la princesse de clasomene comme nous fusmes a sardis tous les princes menerent les dames jusques a l'apartement de la princesse palmis en suitte dequoy le prince atys mena abradate a celuy de cresus a qui il le presenta et qui le receut avec beaucoup de temoignages d'affection et de joye car ayant tousjours fort 
 aime la reine de la susiane sa soeur de qui il avoit receu une lettre il y avoit desja quelque temps qui l'advertissoit du voyage de ce prince il fut ravi de le voir dans sa cour et de le trouver de si bonne mine et si plein d'esprit comme la reine sa mere avoit eu soin de luy faire aprendre la langue lydienne il la parloit si juste et avoit mesme si peu d'accent estranger que tout le monde en estoit surpris nous sceusmes quelques jours apres qu'abradate devoit sejourner assez long temps en cette cour parce qu'il n'estoit pas bien avec le roy son pere a cause qu'il avoit porte les interests de la reine sa mere avec trop d'ardeur contre un frere aisne qu'il avoit qui n'avoit pas tant de vertu que luy et qui devoit pourtant estre roy de sorte que je roy de la susiane l'ayant menace avec beaucoup d'injustice de le faire mettre en prison la reine sa mere avoit demande un azile au roy de lydie son frere pour ce cher fils qui n'estoit mal avec le roy son pere que pour l'amour d'elle la cause de l'exil d'abradate luy estant donc si favorable aupres de cresus il en fut fort caresse comme je l'ay desja dit et a son exemple toute la cour fit la mesme chose et certes on peut dire que l'on ne faisoit que luy rendre justice estant certain que l'on ne peut pas voir un prince plus accomply qu'abradate aussi apres que panthee fut retournee chez elle le jour de la chasse elle en parla tout le soir ce qui ne donna pas grand plaisir a perinthe qui se trouva 
 present lors qu'elle raconta au prince son pere l'agreable avanture qu'elle avoit eue le lendemain abradate ne manqua pas de faire une visite de ceremonie a la princesse palmis ou la princesse de clasomene se trouva aussi bien que toute la cour et le mesme jour vers le soir il vint aussi chez panthee des qu'il sceut qu'elle estoit revenue du palais du roy quelques jours se passerent sans que l'on s'aperceust de l'amour d'abradate a la reserve de mexaris de perinthe de doralise et de moy mais apres cela il fut bien facile de voir qu'en effet ce prince en estoit amoureux car il ne parloit que de sa beaute que de son esprit et il ne perdoit pas une seule occasion de la voir comme l'amour de mexaris n'estoit pas encore fort publique abradate ne s'oposa point a cette passion naissante et ne creut pas que ce prince eust nul interest en la princesse panthee si bien que s'abandonnant sans resistance aux charmes de cette admirable personne il ne fit point un secret de sa passion cependant mexaris qui en avoit une aussi forte dans le coeur qu'un avare en peut avoir pour tout ce qui n'est point or commenca de faire esclatter la sienne il est vray que ce fut d'une maniere bien differente de celle de son rival aussi peut on dire que jamais deux princes n'ont este plus opposez en toutes choses que ces deux la l'estoient car madame en l'estat qu'estoit alors la fortune d'abradate il y avoit grande aparence qu'il seroit contraint de passer toute sa vie exile sans autre 
 bien que sa propre vertu n'ayant alors autre subsistance que celle que la reine sa mere luy donnoit secrettement ou celle que luy pouvoit donner cresus pour mexaris il n'en estoit pas de mesme car il avoit une richesse qui ne ce doit presques pas a celle du roy son frere mais si leurs fortunes estoient differentes leurs inclinations l'estoient encore plus parce que l'avarice estoit celle qui regloit toutes les actions de mexaris et que la liberalite estoit la vertu dominante de l'ame d'abradate en effet je ne pense pas que ce prince soit plus brave qu'il est liberal quoy qu'il le soit autant qu'on le peut estre mexaris au contraire estoit avare en toutes choses s'il faisoit bastir il y avoit tousjours quelque espargne peu judicieuse qui gastoit tout le reste de la despence qu'il avoit faite s'il donnoit c'estoit tard c'estoit peu et c'estoit encore de mauvaise grace et avec chagrin son train estoit assez grand mais mal entretenu sa table estoit petite et mauvaise pour un si grand prince et desguisant son avarice d'un foible pretexte il n'avoit presques jamais que des habillemens tous simples disant qu'il y avoit de la folie a se faire considerer par cette sorte de despense s'il jouoit il jouoit seulement pour gagner et non pas pour son divertissement et de la facon dont il s'affligeoit quand il avoit perdu on voyoit que c'estoit plustost un conmerce qu'un jeu enfin il paroissoit en toutes ses actions et mesme quelquefois en toutes ses paroles qu'il y avoit si peu de 
 magnificence dans son coeur que ce qu'il avoit de bon d'ailleurs estoit presques conte pour rien il avoit beau estre adroit et avoir de l'esprit cette basse inclination faisoit qu'on ne le pouvoit aimer au contraire abradate dans son exil paroissoit estre si liberal que tout le monde l'adoroit et luy souhaitoit les thresors de l'autre la maniere dont il faisoit des presens quelques petits qu'ils pussent estre les faisoit considerer comme grands il donnoit non seulement tost mais avec joye mais avec empressement et l'on eust dit qu'on ne pouvoit l'obliger plus sensiblement qu'en recevant ses bienfaits son train estoit propre et magnifique sa table estoit ouverte et bonne il estoit tousjours galamment et mesme superbement habille s'il perdoit au jeu c'estoit sans esmotion et sans chagrin il cherchoit les occasions de donner comme mexaris les fuyoit et il agissoit enfin de telle sorte que non seulement il avoit sa gloire de tout le bien qu'il faisoit effectivement mais encore de tout celuy qu'il ne faisoit pas et qu'il eust pu faire s'il eust este plus riche qu'il n'estoit estant certain qu'il n'y avoit pas un honneste homme malheureux dans la cour de lydie qui ne creust qu'il ne l'eust plus este si abradate eust este aussi riche que mexaris apres cela madame il vous est aise de juger que l'amour produisit des effets biens differens en l'ame de ces deux princes aussi leurs desseins eurent ils un succes fort inegal ils agirent 
 pourtant esgalement en quelques rencontres car comme mexaris en toutes les choses ou il n'y avoit point de despense a faire n'estoit pas moins soigneux et moins complaisant qu'abradate scachant combien panthee aimoit doralise et estimoit perinthe il tascha de s'en faire aimer aussi bien que luy de sorte que cet amant secret de la princesse eut une persecution que personne que luy n'a peut estre jamais esprouvee qui fut de recevoir cent mille civilitez de ses rivaux qu'il estoit oblige de leur rendre il avoit pourtant quelque consolation de voir que selon les aparences panthee n'aimeroit jamais mexaris a cause de la bassesse de ses inclinations et qu'elle n'espouseroit aussi jamais abradate a cause de sa mauvaise fortune de sorte que faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme il rendoit a ces deux princes tout le respect qu'il leur devoit et en parloit le moins qu'il luy estoit possible car comme il estoit trop sage pour dire ouvertement le mal qu'il pensoit de mexaris et trop amoureux aussi pour prendre plaisir a louer abradate il evitoit l'un et l'autre autant qu'il pouvoit et estant tousjours tres bien avec la princesse et avec ses rivaux il menoit une vie ou s'il avoit quelques doux momens il avoit aussi de fascheuses heures cependant ces deux princes quoy qu'amoureux de panthee n'avoient pas encore eu la hardiesse de luy descouvrir leur passion lors qu'adraste frere du roy de phrigie vint en cette cour pour se faire purger 
 d'un crime qu'il avoit commis innocemment cette ceremonie s'estant faite dans le temple de jupiter l'expiateur il arriva qu'abradate s'estant trouve mal ce matin la n'y fut point si bien qu'estant venu chez la princesse l'apres-disnee et l'ayant trouvee seule elle luy demanda la cause pourquoy il ne s'estoit pas trouve a cette ceremonie c'est parce madame luy repliqua t'il que je n'avois pas besoin de m'instruire comment il la faut faire puis qu'a parler veritablement si j'ay commis quelque crime ce n'est point a jupiter a me le pardonner c'est pourtant le plus grand des dieux repliqua t'elle il est vray dit il mais comme il est juste il laisse aux autres divinitez dont il est le maistre le pouvoir de remettre les crimes que l'on commet contre elles pour moy dit panthee je croy que vous n'en avez offence aucune et que vous n'estes pas venu en cette cour pour le mesme sujet qu'adraste il est vray madame repliqua abradate que son destin et le mien sont bien differents car il y est arrive criminel et je l'y suis devenu si cela est dit elle on vous justifiera comme on l'a justifie faites le donc madame luy respondit il en me pardonnant la hardiesse que j'ay de vous aimer plus que tout le reste de la terre panthee extremement surprise du discours d'abradate quoy qu'elle n'ignorast pas la passion qu'il avoit pour elle le regarda en rougissant et prenant la parole avec assez de severite dans les yeux je scay bien luy dit elle que l'usage 
 le plus ordinaire du monde est de recevoir un semblable discours comme une simple civilite et de tascher de destourner la chose comme une galanterie ditte sans dessein mais outre que je suis persuadee que celles qui en usent ainsi veulent peut-estre qu'on leur redie une seconde fois ce qu'elles sont semblant de ne vouloir pas croire la premiere je croy encore que vous ayant eu de l'obligation des le premier instant de nostre connoissance et vous estimant infiniment je dois avoir la sincerite de vous dire que soit que vous disiez la verite ou que vous ne la disiez pas cette hardiesse me desplaist c'est pourquoy plus il sera vray que je ne vous seray pas indifferente plus il vous sera avantageux de ne me parler jamais comme vous venez de faire et de ne perdre jamais le respect que l'on doit a une personne je ne dis pas de ma qualite mais de la vertu dont je fais profession de sorte madame repliqua t'il que moins je vous parleray de ma passion plus vous la croirez violente le ne dis pas cela respondit elle en sous riant malgre quelle en eust mais je vous dis adjousta t'elle en prenant un visage plus serieux que si vous me disiez encore une fois ce que vous m'avez dit aujourd'huy je croirois toute ma vie que vous ne m'estimez point et par consequent je ne vous aurois pas grande obligation quoy madame s'ecriat il c'est vous donner une marque de peu d'estime que de vous dire qu'on vous adore ha si cela est madame je ne vous le diray 
 plus mais expliquez du moins mon silence comme il doit l'estre en cette occasion souvenez vous toutes les fois que vous me verrez seul aupres de vous sans parler que je pense dans mon coeur que vous estes la plus belle personne de la terre que je vous revere avec un respect sans esgal et que je vous aimeray jusques a la mort comme panthee alloit respondre mexaris et doralise entrerent dans la chambre de la princesse et l'en empescherent il est vray que quelques uns de ses regards respondirent pour elle si cruellement au pauvre abradate que s'il eust pu se resoudre a laisser son rival aupres de panthee il seroit sorty a l'heure mesme mais n'ayant pas cette force sur luy il demeura et fut de la conversation le reste du jour qui fut assez divertissante car il y vint beaucoup de monde un quart d'heure apres d'abord elle ne fut que de la ceremonie qui s'estoit faite le matin dont la princesse panthee ne parla point parce que cela avoit donne sujet a abradate de luy descouvrir son amour de sorte que voulant la destourner elle se mit a parler a doralise de choses fort esloignees mais insensiblement passant d'un discours a un autre quelqu'un se mit a faire la guerre a doralise de l'injustice qu'elle avoit de vouloir que la nature fist un miracle en sa faveur en faisant un homme fort accomply sans le secours de l'amour quelques uns luy demanderent si elle n'avoit point change d'humeur et si c'estoit un si grand crime 
 que d'avoir aime devant mesme qu'on la connust comme mexaris avoit autrefois este amoureux d'une autre que de la princesse il se mit a disputer contre doralise comme soutenant sa propre cause et comme abradate ne l'avoit jamais este il apuyoit ses raisons lors qu'elle disoit qu'elle ne recevroit jamais de coeur qui eust brusle d'autres flames que des siennes perinthe qui estoit mesle parmy la presse escoutoit ce que disoient ses rivaux et taschoit de deviner ce que pensoit la princesse mais encore disoit mexaris a doralise quelle bonne raison avez vous a donner d'avoir mesprise tant d'honnestes gens seulement parce qu'ils avoient aime quelque autre devant vous j'en ay un si grand nombre repliqua t'elle que je ne scay quel ordre y donner pour vous les dire et c'est sans doute la seule difficulte que j'ay a vous respondre je ne pense pourtant pas reprit mexaris qu'il vous soit aise quelque esprit que vous ayez de bien soutenir vostre erreur car enfin que vous importe tout ce qui s'est passe quand on ne vous connoissoit point c'est par le passe reprit elle que je juge de l'advenir car puis qu'on en quitte une autre pour moy j'ay lieu de craindre qu'on ne me quitte apres pour une autre que cet amant ne connoist pas encore et qu'il connoistra peut- estre quelque jour mais estes vous plus assuree de la fidelite d'un homme qui n'aura jamais aime que vous repliqua mexaris il n'aura du moins pas donne un si mauvais 
 exemple reprit abradate et il y aura plus de lieu d'esperer que sa premiere passion sera constante qu'il n'y en aura de croire qu'un autre qui en aura eu plusieurs deviendra constant il n'en faut pas douter poursuivit doralise mais le mal est pour moy que je n'ay point encore trouve d'homme de ma condition qui fust tel que je le veux sans avoir aime et qui m'aimast car pour ces gens qui usent autant de chaines que d'habillemens et qui font deux ou trois sacrifices d'une mesme victime en offrant un mesme coeur a deux ou trois personnes l'une apres l'autre je ne les scaurois souffrir et je les mal traitteray toute ma vie je les trouve fort honnestes gens adjousta t'elle pour estre mes amis mais je n'en voudrois point pour estre mes amants quand mesme je serois d'humeur a en vouloir car en fin je ne scaurois croire qu'estant capable de passer de l'amour de la blonde a la brune et de celle de la brune a la blonde il puisse y avoir de fermete dans un coeur mais luy dit mexaris quand on rencontre une fierte que rien ne peut adoucir il faut bien tascher de se guerir du mal que l'on souffre et s'il arrive que l'on guerisse et que l'on aime une autre personne pourquoy est ce une raison de soubconner d'inconstance un homme qui n'auroit point change si on l'eust traitte plus favorablement si ce n'en est pas une repliqua doralise de le soubconner d'inconstance ce n'en est pas aussi une de le favoriser estant certain que je n'aimerois 
 pas a estre moins rigoureuse qu'une autre et a accepter ce que cette autre auroit refuse et si elle avoit este rigoureuse par caprice et par extravagance reprit mexaris pourquoy faudroit il en traiter mal ce malheureux amant parce repliqua doralise en riant qu'un homme qui aura este amoureux d'une capricieuse et d'une extravagante comme vous le dittes ne me sera pas grand honneur de porter mes fers enfin poursuivit elle sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre soit qu'il ait aime une personne rigoureuse ou douce qu'il ait este bien ou mal receu qu'il ait trahi celle qu'il aimoit ou qu'on l'ait abandonne je trouve que de quelque facon que je regarde la chose il ne faut point aimer celuy qui a desja aime s'il a este mal-traitte c'est un exemple qu'il faut suivre et le mal-traitter aussi s'il a este favorise il faut croire que puis que les faveurs d'une autre ne l'ont pu retenir les nostres ne le retiendroient pas s'il a trahi sa maistresse il ne s'y faut pas fier si c'est elle qui l'ait abandonne il est a croire qu'il s'en est rendu digne par quelque crime secret que nous ne scavons pas ou que du moins il est a craindre qu'il ne se confiast jamais et qu'il ne fust ou bizarre ou jaloux de plus si celle qu'il a aimee est belle il ne s'y faut pas assurer puis qu'il la quitte et si elle ne l'est point il faut croire qu'il a le goust si mauvais que nous devions craindre qu'il ne nous quitte aussi pour une autre qui ne nous vaudra pas c'est pourquoy 
 je trouve que s'il faut souffrir d'estre aimee il faut que ce soit d'un coeur tout entier et non pas de ces coeurs que mille flesches ont traversez il faut dis-je que ce soit d'un coeur qui sente la moindre blessure qu'on luy face et qui ne le soit pas endurcy aux rigueurs d'une autre enfin il faut que la grace de la nouveaute se trouve a l'amour comme a toutes les autres choses et que si quelqu'un doit pretendre estre bien receu de moy il me persuade que je suis et seray tousjours sa premiere et sa derniere passion j'advoue dit abradate que je trouve le sentiment de doralise fort juste il l'est d'autant plus reprit panthee qu'en prenant cette resolution on prend sans doute celle de n'aimer jamais rien estant certain que c'est desirer une chose impossible il s'en faut bien que je ne fois de vostre opinion repliqua abradate je n'en suis pas aussi reprit doralise car enfin je ne tiens pas impossible que l'on puisse estre capable de n'avoir qu'une passion en sa vie et la grande difficulte est de trouver tout ensemble un honneste homme qui n'ait rien aime et qui n'aime rien que moy la princesse adjousta t'elle regardant abrabate m'avoit voulu persuader que perinthe n'avoit jamais este amoureux mais outre que je ne le croy pas trop je ne voy pas que je face grand progres dans son coeur c'est pourquoy je ne songe plus a faire de conquestes la mienne vous seroit si peu glorieuse reprit perinthe un peu interdit que vous n'estes sans 
 doute pas marrie de ne l'avoir point faite en verite perinthe interrompit la princesse je vous trouve un peu trop sincere et doralise me persuadera a la fin que vous estes amoureux car si vous ne craigniez pas que celle que peut estre vous aimez sceust ce que vous auriez respondu a doralise vous luy auriez sans doute parle un peu plus civilement vous en croirez ce qu'il vous plaira madame reprit il mais je ne pensois pas que ce fust incivilite que de dire ce que j'ay dit et je pensois au contraire que cela se devoit plustost apeller respect il est un certain respect si froid et si indifferent repliqua doralise qu'il n'y a quelques fois pas lieu de s'en tenir oblige mais quoy qu'il en soit perinthe adjousta t'elle je suis plus indulgente que vous ne pensez car je ne me pleins pas du vostre toutesfois pour chercher la cause de l'incivilite que la princesse vous a reprochee je continueray de vous observer comme j'ay fait depuis quelques jours afin de m'esclaircir pleinement s'il est bien vray que vous soyez aussi honneste homme que vous estes sans avoir este amoureux mais comme je ne puis pas vous voir tousjours il faut que je prie tous vos amis et toutes vos amies de vous observer comme moy et de me rendre conte de vos visites de vos regards de vos paroles de vos resveries de vos chagrins et s'il est possible de vos fondes pour moy dit la princesse je m'engage la premiere a vous dire tout ce que je scauray de perinthe 
 vous en scaures tousjours tout ce qu'il vous plaira d'en scavoir madame reprit il non non adjousta t'elle ce n'est point par vos paroles mais c'est par cent choses ou vous ne songerez pas que je veux scavoir si je n'ay point eu raison d'assurer a doralise que vous n'aimiez rien je trouve perinthe bien heureux madame interrompit mexaris que vous veuilliez luy faire l'honneur d'observer ses actions car pour moy j'en connois qui borneroient presques leur ambition a une pareille chose ce que je fais pour perinthe repliqua t'elle ne seroit pas avantageux a tout le monde car enfin je veux chercher a lire dans son coeur parce que je croy qu'il n'y a rien de secret ou du moins rien ou je puisse avoit interest vous avez donc plus de curiosite pour ce qui ne vous touche point reprit abradate que pour ce qui vous touche ouy en certaines rencontres repliqua t'elle mais cependant afin de satisfaire doralise poursuivit cette princesse voulant destourner la conversation je prie tout ce qu'il y a de monde icy de luy aider a descouvrir la verite de ce qu'elle veut scavoir et d'observer perinthe soigneusement quand l'occasion s'en presentera mais madame repliqua perinthe si je n'ay point de passion dans l'ame vous donnez une peine bien inutile a tant d'illustres personnes et si j'y en ay une vous exposez a un rigoureux suplice un homme qui vous a voue un service eternel quoy qu'il en soit 
 perinthe repliqua t'elle il faut que la chose aille ainsi et alors elle fit promette en particulier a tous ceux qui se trouverent la de dire a doralise tout ce qu'ils scauroient de perinthe de sorte que mexaris et abradate le promirent comme les autres et le pauvre perinthe eut le malheur de voir ses rivaux estre ses espions ils n'avoient pourtant garde de trouver ce qu'ils cherchoient car leur pensee ne se tournoit pas du coste ou ce malheureux amant tournoit toutes les siennes voila donc madame comment se passa le premier jour ou abradate parla de sa passion a la princesse panthee qui depuis cela luy osta autant qu'elle put les occasions de l'entretenir seule ce n'est pas qu'elle n'eust beaucoup d'estime pour luy et mesme peut-estre beaucoup d'inclination mais ne jugeant pas que sa fortune fust en estat qu'elle le deust espouser elle ne vouloit rien contribuer a l'amour qu'elle voyoit bien qu'il avoit pour elle c'est pourquoy elle affecta de vivre un peu plus froidement aveque luy qu'a l'ordinaire mais comme c'estoit tousjours avec beaucoup de civilite cette froideur augmenta plus tost le feu qui brustoit le coeur de ce prince qu'elle ne le diminua si bien que plus panthee agissoit avec retenue plus abradate tesmoignoit d'empressement a voir et a la suivre en tous lieux ses foins ne s'attachoient pas mesme seulement a sa personne mais a celle du prince son pere mais encore 
 a se faire aimer de perinthe de doralise de moy et de tous les domestiques jusques aux moindres et a dire vray il y reussit admirablement car a la reserve de perinthe qui ne le pouvoit aimer parce qu'il aimoit la princesse tout le monde estoit a luy il gagnoit les uns par des presens les autres par des caresses et tous ensemble par un certain air de visage ouvert et civil qui faisoit qu'on ne luy pouvoit resister de plus comme tous les siens l'adoroient ils faisoient continuellement des eloges de leur maistre aux officiers et aux femmes de la princesse et au contraire tous ceux de la maison de mexaris faisoient des pleintes continuelles de son avarice et du peu d'avantage qu'il y avoit a le servir si bien que de par tout on n'entendoit chez panthee que des louanges d'abradate et des satires de son rival cependant comme mexaris croyoit que l'ame des autres estoit comme la sienne il creut que pour toucher le coeur de cette princesse et luy faire recevoir favorablement les premieres protestations de son amour il estoit a propos de luy faire voir auparavant la magnificence de ses thresors qui comme je l'ay desja dit estoient presque aussi riches que ceux de cresus il chercha donc a trouver invention de la faire aller chez luy sur quelque pretexte qui ne luy fust pas de despence et apres y avoir bien songe il imagina de luy donner la musique du roy qui ne luy cousteroit rien dans 
 une grande salle voutee extremement propre pour les concerts d'instrumens de sorte qu'ayant fait proposer la chose par la princesse palmis qu'il en pria cette partie se fit et s'acheva peu de jours apres quand doralise et moy sceusmes que le prince mexaris donnoit la musique chez luy aux princesses nous creusmes qu'enfin son amour alloit esclatter tout de bon et que nous verrions qu'il n'estoit point de mauvaise habitude que cette passion ne pust corriger nous attendismes donc cette journee avec beaucoup plus d'impatience que n'en avoient abradate et perinthe car ce premier commenca de s'apercevoir que son oncle estoit son rival et pour l'autre il s'en estoit aperceu des le premier instant que la chose avoit este cependant comme l'amour d'abradate n'estoit plus en termes de pouvoir estre surmontee par la raison il se prepara a souffrir tout ce qu'il luy en pouvoit arriver mexaris de son coste ne douta point que la veue de tant de richesses n'agist autant contre abradate que pour luy quand il les feroit voir a panthee si bien qu'il pressa autant qu'il put le jour et l'heure de l'assemblee qui se devoit faire chez luy donnant un tel ordre a toutes choses qu'il n'y avoit pas un seul apartement en tout son palais ou il n'y eust des marques de la richesse et de la magnificence du dernier roy de lydie son pere qui aimant cherement mexaris luy avoit donne 
 la moitie de ses thresors en effet je ne pense pas que l'on puisse jamais rien imaginer de plus superbe que ce que l'on fit voir a la princesse dans ce palais car outre que toutes les salles et toutes les chambres estoient meublees tres magnifiquement il y avoit encore une galerie et trois cabinets tous pleins de choses rares riches et precieuses ce n'estoit toutesfois pas seulement des statues ou des tableaux que l'on y voyoit mais c'estoit une abondance prodigieuse de tables de cabinets et de vases d'or et d'argent garnis de pierreries d'un prix inestimable il y avoit aussi de grandes figures d'or des vases d'agathe et d'albastre orientale enrichis de diamants enfin je pense pouvoir dire que tous les chef-doeuvres du soleil et de la nature se voyoient en ce lieu la tant j'y vis de perles d'esmeraudes de rubis et de toutes sortes de pierreries apres avoir donc veu toutes ces choses mexaris en fit encore voir une plus merveilleuse a la princesse panthee et qu'il luy monstra principalement a mon advis parce qu'il vouloit que cela servist a luy donner sujet de luy dire quelque chose de sa passion je ne doute point madame que vous n'ayez ouy parler de cette fameuse bague de gyges qui comme vous le scavez usurpa la couronne sur les heraclides et qui fut le premier roy de lydie de la race de cresus vous n'ignorez pas dis-je que ce fut par le moyen de cette bague qu'il monta au throsne 
 puis que ce fut par sa vertu miraculeuse qu'il se rendit invisible au roy candaule a qui il osta la vie depuis cela madame vous pouvez juger qu'elle a este fort chere a ceux dans la maison desquels elle avoit mis une couronne et en effet alliate aimant mieux mexaris que cresus la fit mettre dans la part qu'il luy donnoit a ses thresors de sorte qu'apres avoir veu toutes les richesses dont je vous ay parle ce prince faisant aprocher panthee d'une table d'or marquetee de lapis sur laquelle il y avoit un petit coffre d'agathe il en tira cette admirable bague et prenant la parole madame luy dit il apres vous avoir offert tout ce que vous venez de voir en vous offrant le coeur de celuy qui le possede je n'ay garde de remettre cette bague entre vos mains de peur que pour me punir de la hardiesse que j'ay vous ne me derrobassiez la veue de la plus belle personne du monde c'est pourquoy il faut que vous en voiyez l'espreuve par le moyen d'une autre quoy que la princesse eust allez entendu parler de la merveilleuse qualite de la pierre qui causoit un effet si admirable elle ne laissa pas d'en estre surprise lors que mexaris ayant fait aprocher un des siens qui scavoit comment il faloit tenir cette bague pour en faire voir la vertu elle remarqua que des qu'il en eut tourne la pierre vers luy il disparut absolument aux yeux de toute la compagnie comme aux siens de sorte que sans respondre 
 au prince mexaris elle dit que cela n'estoit pas possible sans enchantement toutes les personnes qui ne l'avoient jamais veue non plus qu'elle n'en furent pas moins estonnees et certes a dire vray la chose est si surprenante qu'encore qu'on l'ait veue plus de cent fois on en est tousjours surpris car tant que l'on tient cette pierre que l'ou appelle heliotrope et qui se trouve en ethiope on disparoist absolument
 
 
 
 
mais est il bien possible interrompit la princesse araminte que la chose soit comme vous la dittes il n'en faut pas douter madame repliqua pherenice pour moy adjousta cyrus il y a long temps que je me suis informe a diverses personnes s'il y avoit de la verite a ce que j'entendois raconter de la vertu de l'heliotrope et je l'ose dire sans faire une incivilite a pherenice je luy advoueray qu'encore que cent personnes m'ayent assure que la chose est ainsi je ne laisse pas d'avoir peine a croire que cela soit vray ce n'est pas adjousta t'il qu'apres avoir veu la merveilleuse qualite de l'aimant qui attire le fer avec tant de violence qu'il semble prendre vie pour se remuer et pour le suivre il ne faille tomber d'accord qu'on ne doit plus s'estonner de rien joint que la veue estant celuy de tous les sens le plus aise a tromper il n'est pas assurement impossible qu'il ne puisse sortir de cette pierre je ne scay quel esclat qui esblouit ou qui forme une espece de nuage qui derrobe 
 la personne qui la porte aux yeux de ceux qui sont aupres d'elle de plus adjousta cyrus cette autre pierre nommee amianthos que tout le monde connoist et sur laquelle le feu ne fait aucune impression n'est guere moins merveilleuse que l'heliotrope si on la considere bien joint aussi que puis que le basilic tue par ses regards l'esclat d'une pierre peut bien oster la veue ou du moins en suspendre l'usage araminte estant demeuree d'accord de ce que cyrus disoit pherenice reprit ainsi son discours lors que l'on eut donc bien admire ce miracle de la nature de qui la cause est si cachee la princesse panthee voulut prendre cette bague quelque resistance qu'y fist mexaris luy disant qu'il ne pouvoit pas souffrir qu'elle se rendist invisible a l'homme du monde qui prenoit le plus de plaisir a la voir mais il n'y eut pas moyen de l'en empescher et il falut la contenter apres que cet anneau eut fait son effet entre ses mains doralise le prit et apres qu'elle l'eut elles s'en servit pour aller dire a la princesse qu'elle voudroit que mexaris le portast toujours pour moy luy respondit panthee tout bas je ne le voudrois pas pour l'amour de vous car il pourroit souvent entendre tout le mai que vous dittes de luy cependant mexaris qui imagina un instant de plaisir a oster la veue de son rival a panthee dit a doralise que peut estre abradate seroit bien aise de faire cette espreuve aussi bien qu'elle et en effet ce prince ayant pris 
 cette bague et s'estant aproche de la princesse il luy dit si bas que personne ne l'entendit que si mexaris ne s'en estoit pas servi a luy aller dire souvent sans estre veu qu'il mouroit d'amour pour elle il estoit aussi mal adroit qu'autre comme la princesse ne put s'empescher en soufrire de ce qu'abradate luy disoit mexaris connut par la que cet invisible se servoit de sa bague autrement qu'il n'avoit pense de sorte qu'estant en colere que son dessein eust si mal reussi il ne put s'empescher d'en tesmoigner avoir quelque douleur mais comme abradate prenoit plaisir au despit de son rival et que panthee mesme s'en mit a rire il luy dit encore plusieurs choses tout bas ou elle ne pouvoit respondre tant elle rioit de bon coeur du chagrin de mexaris elle pretextoit toutesfois la chose et disoit qu'il luy estoit impossible de ne trouver pas fort plaisant d'entendre qu'on luy parloit sans voir personne aupres d'elle mais a la fin craignant que cette raillerie n'eust quelque facheuse fuite elle pria abradate de luy rendre la bague ce qu'il fit apres quoy elle la donna a perinthe et perinthe a un autre si bien qu'il n'y eut personne dans la compagnie qui ne voulust la regarder et s'en servir mais enfin on la rendit a mexaris qui la serra soigneusement apres quoy la musique commenca qui fut suivre d'une colation digne de l'avarice de celuy qui la donnoit et bien indigne des personnes a qui elle estoit 
 offerte elle fut pourtant servie en vingt-quatre bassins les plus beaux du monde mais avec tant d'oeconomie par ses officiers que le moindre baffin valoit plus tout seul que n'eussent couste trente colations comme celle la je vous laisse a penser si abradate perinthe et doralise s'en divertirent pour moy me disoit cette malicieuse fille il me semble que mexaris ne devoit quitter sa bague qu'apres la colation afin de cacher la honte qu'il doit avoir de la voir si mauvaise et il me semble aussi adjoustoit perinthe que pour faire encore mieux il devoit rendre cette colation invisible aussi bien que luy la princesse qui devinoit aisement ce que nous disions quand elle tournoit la teste de nostre coste en estoit en quelque inquietude parce qu'elle craignoit que mexaris ne s'en aperceust de sorte que pour l'en empescher elle fit un assez mauvais repas par complaisance luy disant hardiment que cela estoit admirablement bien on voyoit pourtant aisement qu'il ne le croyoit pas trop mais aussi ne pensoit il pas que cela fust fort mal ainsi payant de hardiesse qu'il ne luy coustoit rien le reste du jour se passa de cette facon mexaris ne doutant point du tout qu'apres la veue de tant de belles choses il ne deust trouver panthee tres favorable la premiere fois qu'il luy parleroit de sa passion cependant abradate qui ne pouvoit 
 souffrir sans luy porter envie que son rival eust eu l'avantage de donner un jour de divertissement a panthee imagina une voye de pouvoir obtenir le mesme bonheur en effet il se trouva pour favoriser son dessein qu'il y avoit alors a sardis grand nombre de musiciens de phrigie et comme vous scavez que la musique lydienne et la phrigienne passent pour les plus admirables de toute l'asie et mesme de toute la terre ceux qui avoient entendu les uns etles autres avoient des sentimens differens selon la conformite qu'il y avoit de leurs inclinations a ces diverses harmonies ceux qui estoient melancoliques ou qui avoient l'ame passionnee donnoient le prix aux lydiens et ceux de qui le temperanment estoit plus guay le donnoient aux phrigiens les uns et les autres tombant toutesfois d'accord qu'ils meritoient tous beaucoup de louange abradate se servant donc de cette contestation pour faire reussir son dessein fit si bien que le lendemain que nous avions este chez mexaris la conversation ne fut d'autre chose chez la princesse de clasomene qui sans se declarer en faveur ny des uns ny des autres dit seulement qu'elle croyoit que pour en parler si affirmativement il faloit les avoir entendus en un mesme jour et avec un dessein premedite de les observer et qu'il faloit mesme que ceux qui se mesloient de juger d'une semblable chose eussent quelque connoissance de la musique et fussent incapables de preocupation il faudroit 
 encore dit abradate que pour mettre les musiciens egalement en bonne humeur on leur proposast un prix afin que l'emulation qu'ils auroient leur fist faire leurs derniers efforts en suitte de cela on imagina en quel lieu il les faudroit entendre et on nomma pour cet effet une maison du roy qui n'est qu'a trente stades de la ville enfin quoy que toute la compagnie creust ne faire qu'une proposition qui ne seroit point suivie chacun se mesla de regler la chose seulement pour faite durer la conversation cependant abradate qui n'avoit pas conduit si adroitement son dessein pour le laisser imparfait dit qu'il ne manquoit plus rien a trouver que la personne qui devoit juger il me semble dit mexaris qui se rencontra alors chez la princesse que cela n'est pas le plus difficile et qu'il l'est encore plus de trouver celuy qui devroit donner le prix et faire les honneurs de la feste quand la personne qui doit juger reprit abradate en sous-riant sera nommee il ne sera peut-estre pas si difficile de trouver l'autre car il me semble beaucoup plus aise de trouver de l'or et des pierreries que de trouver quelqu'un qui ait toutes les qualitez necessaires pour prononcer equitablement sur deux choses aussi admirables comme sont celles dont il s'agit toutesfois adjousta t'il en regardant la princesse si madame veut s'en donner la peine je suis assure qu'elle ne fera point d'injustice car outre qu'elle scait la musique et qu'elle l'aime je suis encore 
 persuade qu'en une pareille chose elle sera fort equitable mexaris ne pouvant s'opposer a ce que disoit abradate l'approuva et tout le monde tomba d'accord qu'il avoit raison la princesse s'en deffendit extremement et s'en seroit mesme tousjours deffendue si la princesse palmis ne fust arrivee qui ayant sceu la contestation condamna sa modestie et luy dit que pour elle si elle eust sceu la musique comme elle la scavoit elle n'auroit fait aucune difficulte de faire ce qu'on desiroit d'elle mais que ne s'y connoissant que parce qu'elle l'aimoit passionnement ce n'estoit pas a elle a juger d'une chose si difficile a ceux mesme qui s'y connoissoient le mieux enfin madame apres plusieurs autres petites difficultez que la princesse aporta abradate lia la partie et il fut resolu que trois jours apres on iroit a ce chasteau dont je vous ay parle et que ce prince qui avoit fait cette proposition auroit soin d'y faire trouver les musiciens sans que l'on imaginast qu'il deust y avoir nulle autre chose cependant madame cet amant de qui l'ame estoit tres liberale n'en usa pas ainsi et l'on peut dire qu'il ne s'est jamais fait une feste plus galante que celle la pour avoir un peu plus de temps a s'y preparer abradate obligea les musiciens a demander huit jours pour se concerter mieux qu'ils n'estoient de sorte que sans croire que c'estoit par les ordres de ce prince on attendit ces huit jours 
 apres quoy on fut au lieu ou l'on devoit entendre la musique je ne vous diray point en particulier qui y estoit car j'auray plustost fait de vous dire que toute la cour s'y trouva je ne m'arresteray pas non plus a vous depeindre exactement la magnificence d'abradate car elle fut telle que je ne le pourrois pas je diray donc seulement qu'il donna une colation admirable et par la politesse avec laquelle elle fut ordonnee et servie et par l'abondance de tout ce que la saison avoit de plus rare et de plus delicieux il remit aussi grand nombre de medailles d'or entre les mains de la princesse ou il avoit fait graver son image avec une devise galante dont il ne me souvient pas afin de les donner aux musiciens qu'elle en jugeroit dignes de plus pour avoir un pretexte de faire quelques presens a toutes les dames il y eut une quantite fort grande de diverses sortes de choses belles bonnes et agreables comme des parfums des eaux des poudres et tout cela mis dans de petites vases de quelque matiere precieuse avec des billets pour pretexter sa liberalite qui les adressoient ou a celles qui auroient garde le silence durant la musique ou a celles qui auroient le plus loue les musiciens et ainsi sur plusieurs autres pretextes ou il y avoit de la galanterie et de l'esprit il n'y eut pas une dame qui ne remportast dequoy se souvenir de cette feste la princesse mesme fut contrainte 
 comme les autres d'avoir part a la liberalite d'abradate et les musiciens en faveur desquels panthee ne se declara point ne laisserent pas non plus d'avoir des presens magnifiques la princesse ayant sceu la chose luy demanda quelle difference il y avoit donc des vaincus aux vainqueurs mais il luy respondit que l'or qui portoit son image et qui avoit passe par ses mains estoit bien d'un autre prix que celuy qui n'avoit passe que par les siennes et qui ne representoit pas sa beaute et puis madame adjousta t'il c'est un si grand malheur que de n'avoir pas vostre aprobation que j'ay creu qu'il faloit tascher de donner quelque legere consolation a ceux qui ne l ont pas obtenue cependant mexaris estoit au desespoir de voir la magnificence d'abradate et combien toutes les dames luy donnoient de louanges perinthe dans le fonds de son coeur n'en estoit pas moins afflige car ayant borne tous ses desirs a pouvoir faire en sorte que panthee n'aimast jamais rien il avoit une douleur extreme de voir qu'abradate estoit si aimable et entreprenoit si hautement de se faire aimer si bien que quelque violence qu'il se pust faire il fut si melancolique tout ce jour la que doralise s'en aperceut et en fit mesme apercevoir la princesse qui luy en faisant la guerre le mit dans la necessite de luy respondre il luy dit donc pour pretexter son chagrin que la musique faisoit toujours cet effet la en luy sans qu'il en peust dire la raison pour moy dit doralise 
 il me semble que ce que vous dittes la est encore une marque assuree que vous n'estes pas ce que vous dittes estre car enfin les gens qui ont l'ame dure ne sont point sensibles a la musique et il faut assurement que vous aimiez ou que vous ayez aime pour estre capable d'attacher si fort vostre esprit a l'harmonie qu'elle vous en rende melancolique mais c'est peut-estre adjousta la princesse que bien loin de l'aimer perinthe la hait et s'ennuye de l'entendre si long-temps ha madame s'escria t'il j'aimerois encore mieux que doralise creust que je ne suis pas cet homme qu'elle cherche et qu'on me soubconnast d'estre amoureux que de croire que je pusse estre assez stupide pour n'aimer pas la musique et il me semble madame adjousta t'il que l'aimant comme vous faites c'est me donner une assez forte conjecture de la mauvaise opinion que vous avez de moy que de croire que je la hais point du tout reprit elle car n'est il pas vray que l'on voit cent personnes raisonnables qui ne l'aiment pas et qui ne peuvent mesme l'escouter il est certain repliqua perinthe que l'on voit ce que vous dittes mais il est vray que selon mon sens ces gens la ont une surdite d'esprit s'il m'est permis de parler ainsi qui doit estre regardee comme un deffaut mais luy dit le prince atys qui se trouva a cette conversation trouvez vous que ce fort un plus grand deffaut d'avoir des oreilles sans aimer la musique que d'avoir des yeux 
 comme vous en avez sans aimer la beaute perinthe rougit a ce discours et auroit mesme este fort embarasse a y respondre lors que par bonheur pour luy doralise prenant la parole non non seigneur adjousta t'elle ne vous y trompez pas je ne croy point que perinthe soit insensible et je ne vy de ma vie de gens faits comme luy qui le fussent il aime assurement quoy qu'il die et quoy qu'il fasse pour moy dit abradate afin de s'aquiter de la commission que la princesse luy avoit donnee d'observer perinthe je commence d'estre de l'opinion de doralise car je l'ay veu tout aujourd'huy si resveur que je ne pense pas qu'une autre passion que l'amour ait pu changer si fort son humeur mexaris adjousta qu'il luy avoit veu prononcer quelques paroles tout bas et tout seul un autre qu'il ne luy avoit point respondu une fois qu'il luy avoit parle un autre encore qu'il avoit rencontre trois ou quatre fois ses y eux sans qu'assurement il l'eust veu quelques signes qu'il luy eust faits enfin il n'y eut personne dans la conpagnie qui pour luy faire la guerre soit qu'il fust vray ou faux ne raportast quelque chose contre luy qui donnoit lieu de croire qu'il estoit amoureux si bien que perinthe vit ses rivaux employer tout leur esprit pour le persuader a la princesse qu'il aimoit il n'en estoit pourtant pas plus heureux au contraire cette conversation luy donna un si grand chagrin qu'il m'a dit depuis qu'il s'est estonne cent et cent fois comment il 
 ne donna point quelques marques convainquantes de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame il se deffendit neantmoins a la fin avec assez d'adresse et le reste du jour sa passa de cette sorte mais apres que nous fusmes retournez a sardis ces trois amans de panthee eurent des sentimens bien differens les uns des autres car abradate avoit quelque joye de voir que la princesse sembloit avoir pris quelque plaisir a tout ce qu'il avoit fait mexaris estoit au desespoir de la liberalite d'abradate et de voir malgre qu'il en eust qu'il s'estoit mieux aquite que luy de ce qu'il avoit entrepris mais pour le pauvre perinthe il estoit dans une douleur inconcevable de voir qu'abradate estoit aussi honneste homme qu'il le trouvoit il y avoit pourtant tousjours quelques instants ou il esperoit que l'estat de sa fortune empescheroit le prince de clasomene de luy donner la princesse sa fille mais que scay- je disoit il en luy mesme si cela empeschera la princesse de luy donner son coeur toutesfois reprenoit il puis qu'il ne peut jamais estre a moy que je n'ay pas mesme l'audace de le demander que m'importe qu'il soit a abradate au contraire ne dois-je pas souhaiter que panthee soit heureuse en toutes choses et ne dois-je pas desirer que si elle a a espouser quelqu'un ce soit un prince qui l'aime et qu'elle puisse aimer ouy sans doute je le dois si je me considere comme ayant l'honneur d'estre au prince son 
 pere et comme l'honnorant infiniment mais si je me regarde comme ce malheureux perinthe qui l'a aimee des le berceau et qui l'aimera jusques a la mort je ne puis m'empescher de souhaiter que du moins elle n'aime jamais rien opposons nous donc disoit il a tous les desseins d'abradate et favorisons ceux de mexaris que je scay bien qu'elle n'aimera jamais employons tout le credit que nous avons aupres du prince son pere pour cela et n'oublions rien de tout ce qui nous peut empescher d'avoir le desplaisir de voir un rival dans le coeur de panthee mais reprenoit il scay-je bien que je veux ce que je dis non adjoustoit il un moment apres je ne le scay pas encore et je sens dans mon ame tant de mouvemens differens que je ne scay plus discerner ce que ma passion m'inspire de ce que ma raison me conseille helas poursuivoit il encore car il m'a raconte jusques a ses moindres pensees puis-je croire que j'ay de la raison moy dis - ie qui n'ay pu bannir de mon coeur la plus temeraire passion que jamais personne ait eue et qui bien loin de m'opposer a elle l'ay nourrie l'ay flattee et l'ay accreue autant qu'il m'a este possible cependant j'ay fait toutes ces choses sans avoir aucune esperance et sans scavoir precisement quelle fin je me proposois j'ay tousjours bien sceu que je ne serois pas aime mais j'advoue que j'ay aussi tousjours espere que personne ne le seroit toutesfois je 
 voy abradate si aimable que j'ay grand sujet de craindre qu'il ne soit enfin aime et que je ne meure de desespoir voila donc madame ce que pensoient ces trois amans de panthee qui de son coste ne put pas s'empescher de longer a abradate car outre que je suis persuadee qu'elle s'en souvenoit par elle mesme il est encore vray que doralise et moy fusmes plus de trois jours a ne luy parler d'autre chose et a exagerer esgalement l'avarice de mexaris et la liberalite d'abradate pour moy disoit doralise une apresdisnee qu'elle estoit chez la princesse ou il n'y avoit encore personne je scay bien que si ce prince n'estoit point amoureux il seroit un peu moins liberal mais luy dis-je quoy que vous donniez tout a l amour il faut pourtant advouer que cette passion ne produit pas un si bon effet en mexaris ainsi il faut conclurre que l'amour ne donne pas aux hommes les vertus qu'ils n'ont point il est vray dit doralise mais selon mon sens l'amour fait dans l'ame de tous ceux qu'il possede ce que le soleil fait en tous les lieux qu'il eschausse car enfin le soleil ne plante pas les rosiers mais il fait esclorre les roses ainsi l'amour ne donne pas ces premieres inclinations mais il les fortifie et les fait paroistre et je ne doute pas mesme que si mexaris n'estoit point amoureux il ne fust encore plus avare que nous ne le voyons il l'est a un si haut point reprit la princesse que si je juge de sa passion par sa liralite 
 je ne la croiray pas fort grande si la peine que l'on a a faire les choses en redouble le prix et l'obligation reprit doralise en sous-riant vous devez encore plus a mexaris qu'a abradate estant certain que je suis persuadee que le peu qu'il a fait pour vous luy a plus donne d'inquietude que tout ce qu'a fait son rival je n'en doute pas repliqua la princesse mais ce n'est pas de cette sorte de peine que l'on doit scavoir gre a ceux qui la prennent puis qu'elle n'a point d'autre cause que la bassesse de leur ame apres tout dit doralise qui estoit ravie que la princesse la contrariast parce qu'elle estimoit fort abradate je pense qu'il ne seroit pas trop difficile de soustenir que celuy qui donne peu contre son inclination oblige plus que celuy qui donne beaucoup en suivant la sienne vous avez bien de l'esprit reprit la princesse mais doralise il ne nous seroit pourtant pas si aise que vous pensez de soustenir le party d'un avare et si nous avions un juge je ne serois pas marrie de soustenir aussi contre vous que l'avarice bien loin de donner un nouveau prix a quoy que ce soit l'oste entierement a tout ce que fait celuy qui est possede de cette lasche passion estant certain que celuy qui donne peu et de bonne grace oblige plus que celuy qui donne beaucoup et qui donne avec chagrin si vous voulez reconnoistre perinthe pour nostre juge dit doralise en le voyant entrer dans 
 la chambre de la princesse j'auray la hardiesse pour vous obeir de disputer quelque chose une fois en ma vie contre vous je le veux bien repliqua panthee mais a condition que perinthe dira ce qu'il pensera et n'aura aucune complaisance pour moy il sera un peu difficile repliqua perinthe sans scavoir pourtant ce que l'on desiroit de luy parce qu'il n'avoit entendu que les dernieres paroles de la princesse mais apres que doralise luy eut dit le sujet de la contestation il jugea bien que la liberalite d'abradate et l'avarice de mexaris avoient cause cette dispute de sorte qu'il fit tout ce qu'il put pour n'estre pas juge d'un different ou il avoit un interest cache qu'il craignoit de descouvrir mais quoy qu'il pust dire la princesse voulut estre obeie et il falut qu'il promist qu'il jugeroit sans complaisance aucune en cette occasion et certes il ne tint pas mal sa parole comme vous le scaurez bien tost apres avoir donc arreste leurs conditions la princesse dit a doralise que c'estoit a elle a dire toutes ses raisons ce sera bien assez madame repliqua t'elle que je die seulement une partie des plus fortes que vous pourrez me disputer si bon vous semble et mesme m'interrompre quand vous voudrez car je pese que c'est une merveilleuse commodite que d'estre souvent interrompu quand on ne parle pas facilement quoy que vous n'ayez pas besoin de ce secours reprit perinthe vous l'allez desja recevoir car il me semble que je voy le prince 
 mexaris et si je ne me trompe le prince abradate et en effet ils entrerent l'un et l'autre mais quoy que la princesse fist signe a doralise qu'il faloit changer de conversation cette malicieuse fille fit semblant d'entendre au contraire qu'il faloit qu'elle la continuast de sorte qu'a peine mexaris et abradate furent ils entrez que doralise avec son enjouement ordinaire se plaignit de ce qu'ils l'avoient empeschee d'avoir la gloire de vaincre la princesse et pour moy adjousta t'elle je ne scay pas comment perinthe ne murmure pas comme je fais de ce que vous le privez du plus grand honneur qu'il ait jamais eu en sa vie j'en estois si peu digne repliqua t'il et je me serois si mal aquitte de la charge que j'avois prise que je ne suis marry de ne l'avoir plus quelque inclination que j'aye a vous souhaiter toute sorte de gloire reprit abradate a qui doralise avoit adresse la parole j'advoue toutesfois que je serois bien aise d'avoir empesche que vous n'eussiez pas vaincu la princesse qui ce me semble doit toujours vaincre mais je vous advoue en mesme temps que je serois au desespoir d'avoir oste quelque avantage a perinthe c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne nous tenir pas davantage en inquietude et de nous aprendre ce que vous voulez dire en mon particulier adjousta mexaris je joints mes prieres a celles d'abradate afin que scachant le mal que j'ay cause je tasche d'y remedier comme la princesse jugea bien que doralise pousseroit la 
 chose jusques au bout elle pensa qu'il valoit mieux n'en faire pas une finesse qui pourroit plus nuire que servir si bien que disant ingenument le sujet de la dispute sans dire comme vous pouvez penser ce qui l'avoit fait naistre ces deux princes dirent qu'ils seroient au desespoir s'ils rompoient une si agreable conversation il est vray que mexaris dit cela d'une facon plus contrainte qu'abradate ce n'est pourtant pas qu'il creust estre avare mais je pense du moins qu'il scavoit bien qu'il n'estoit pas prodigue cependant perinthe qui par tant de sentimens secrets qu'il avoit dans l'ame estoit au desespoir d'estre en ce lieu la fit encore tout ce qu'il put pour se deffendre de prononcer sur une matiere si delicate mais doralise sans escouter plus ce qu'il disoit voyant que la princesse luy donnoit permission de parler n'est il pas vray madame luy dit elle que quand nos amis ne font pour nous que ce qu'ils feroient tousjours quand mesme nous n'y aurions nul interest nous ne douons pas conter cela pour le plus grand service qu'ils nous puissent rendre et qu'au contraire quand nous les obligeons de faire des choses qui choquent toutes leurs inclinations nous leur devons scavoir plus de gre lors qu'ils s'y portent que non pas a ceux qui ne font que des choses qui leur plaisent cela estant ainsi ne m'advouerez vous pas qu'un avare qui donne peu comme je l'ay desja dit oblige plus qu'un liberal qui donne beaucoup puis qu'il a autant de peine 
 a donner que l'autre y trouve de plaisir en verite doralise dit la princesse puis que vous voulez bien estre interrompue je ne scaurois m'en empescher car le moyen de souffrir que vous veuilliez que parce que celuy qui est mon amy aura un vice effroyable je luy scache plus de gre du peu qu'il donne que je n'en scauray a celuy qui possede une vertu heroique non non doralise ne vous y trompez pas cela ne seroit point equitable mais madame repliqua t'elle que deviendra la recompence que vous devrez a ce pauvre avare de toutes les peines qu'il endure a faire ce peu qu'il fait je ne soutiens pas disoit elle que celuy qui donne avec beaucoup de difficulte soit plus louable que l'autre car je n'ay pas perdu la raison mais je soutiens que celuy qui regrette ce qu'il donne qui ne le peut donner sans se dechirer le coeur donne une plus grande preuve d'affection que celuy qui par sa propre generosite seulement est capable de faire mesme des presens a ses ennemis je vous advoueray dit la princesse qu'en certaines occasions ce que vous dittes peut estre et qu'il n'est pas impossible qu'il se trouve quelque avare qui en donnant peu aimera mieux qu'un autre qui donnera beaucoup mais quand mesme cela sera vray je soutiens que celuy qui donne avec peine oste tellement toute la grace de son present qu'il n'est pas possible qu'on luy en soit oblige je scay bien madame interrompit 
 malicieusement doralise qu'en cas d'amour celuy qui n'est pas capable de donner tout ce qu'il possede n'aime qu'imparfaitement mais pour les amis ordinaires il me semble que je n'ay pas tort de dire qu'il est juste de tenir conte a un avare de toute la peine qu'il a se resoudre de faire quelque despense pour nous non non repartit la princesse ne separez point l'amour de l'amitie en cette rencontre car celuy qui est un amant avare ne sera jamais un amy liberal mais interrompit mexaris malgre qu'il en eust s'il n'est pas beau a un amant de n'aimer point a donner est il beau a une dame d'aimer qu'on luy donne nullement reprit la princesse et je condamne esgallement tous les deux et mesme encore beaucoup plus la dame que l'amant je suis du sentiment de la princesse reprit doralise du moins adjousta abradate faut il que celuy qui aime soit capable de tout donner mais si cela est reprit mexaris ou mettrez vous les bornes de la prodigalite je les mettray repliqua abradate a donner sans choix et sans jugement ce qui ne sera pas si je donne a une personne que j'auray jugee digue de mon affection car enfin qui donne son coeur doit donner facilement tout le reste qui n'est pas si precieux ce n'est pas la nostre dispute dit doralise et je ne pretends autre chose en faveur de ce pauvre avare que je deffends sinon que tout ce qu'il souffre lors qu'il donne quelque chose suplee a la petitesse 
 de son present quand je vous accorderois ce que vous voulez reprit la princesse et que j'advouerois qu'il faudroit luy tenir conte de toutes les peines qu'il endure je ne pourrois du moins pas empescher que dans le mesme temps que je me resoudrois a luy en scavoir quelque gre je n'eusse une estrange aversion pour luy mais le moyen madame repliqua doralise d'accorder la reconnoissance et l'aversion dans un mesme coeur il n'est nullement impossible respondit panthee car on peut reconnoistre le bien-fait et mespriser le bien-faicteur ces deux choses son pourtant bien meslees ensmble repliqua t'elle et je ne comprends pas comment on les peur separer cependant il n'est pas juste adjousta cette malicieuse fille que celuy qui aime ses thresors plus que sa vie les aille despenser pour une ingrate il est vray reprit la princesse mais ils ne le seroit pas non plus que j'eusse beaucoup d'amitie pour une personne qui me prefere dans son coeur tant de choses indignes d'estre aimees aveque passion et a parler raisonnablement cettte peine et ces souffrances dont vous voulez que je tienne conte a cet avare sont une raison tres forte de ne considerer pas ce qu'il donne au contraire il faut regarder ses presens comme un eschange qu'il veut faire et le considerer enfin comme un homme qui a un dessein cache et qui ne donne que pour recevoir de grace madame interrompit doralise n'allons pas si avant 
 dans le coeur d'un avare car nous n'y trouverions rien de beau mais accordez moy seulement que la peine qu'il a en donnant est une preuve plus forte de l'amour ou de l'amitie qu'il a dans le coeur puis qu'il se peut resoudre a donner que la facilite que celuy qui est liberal a a faire des presens ne le peut-estre je ne scaurois vous accorder ce que vous dittes repliqua la princesse parce qu'a parler raisonnablement je suis persuadee qu'un avare n'aime rien que ses thresors et qu'ainsi je ne luy puis jamais estre obligee prononcez donc dit doralise parlant a perinthe car pour moy je suis si lasse de soustenir une mauvaise cause que j'aime mieux la perdre que de dire plus long temps de mauvaises raisons puis que par ce que vous dittes il paroist que vous estes de mesme sentiment que la princesse respondit perinthe il n'y a point d'arrest a prononcer ne laissez pas de le faire repliqua panthee car j'aimeray mieux devoir le gain de ma cause a l'equite de mon juge qu'a la foiblesse de ma partie si vous me l'ordonnez luy dit il pour favoriser mexaris je vous condamneray toutes deux doralise pour avoir mal deffendu une bonne cause et vous madame de ce que vous voulez qu'un homme qui fait tout ce qu'il peut perde absolument le merite du peu qu'il donne et qn'il luy couste plus que ce que donne le liberal je declare donc que pour agir justement on peut quelquefois juger favorablement de la 
 grandeur de l'affection de celuy qui donne peu et que tres souvent aussi il n'est pas a propos de proportionner sa reconnoissance a la richesse du present qu'on recoit puis que si celuy de qui nous le recevons ne le fait que pour sa propre gloire nous ne luy en devons pas scavoir autant de gre qu'a celuy qui ne donne assurement que pour l'amour de nous et qui se combat luy mesme pour nous donner l'advoue perinthe dit la princesse apres qu'il eut cesse de parler que je ne croyois pas que vous me deussiez condamner si vous ne m'aviez pas commande repliqua t'il de n'avoir point de complaisance je n'en aurois pas use ainsi et j'aurois parle comme vous eussiez voulu dittes plus tost repliqua t'elle que vous avez creu qu'il y avoit plus d'esprit a soustenir un mauvais party qu'un bon quoy qu'il en soit comme je suis persuadee que vous ne croyez pas ce que vous dittes je vous le pardonne mais madame interrompit mexaris avez vous autant de haine pour la prodigalite que pour l'avarice je scay bien respondit elle que c'est un vice aussi bien que l'avarice mais je vous advoue que je n'ay pas tant d'aversion pour un prodigue que pour un avare et si ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que j'aime que l'on me donne car le mesme temperamment qui fait que l'on aime a donner et que l'on estime ceux qui donnent fait que l'on hait a recevoir de sorte dit doralise que par cette raison il seroit 
 fort commode a un amant avare d'avoir une maistresse liberale je scay du moins reprit mexaris qu'a parler en general s'il vaut mieux estre maistresse d'un homme prodigue que d'un avare il vaut mieux aussi estre femme d'un avare que d'un prodigue je suis pourtant persuade reprit froidement abradate qu'un prodigue mesme a la fin de sa prodigalite n'est pas encore si pauvre qu'un avare au milieu de toutes ses richesses car que servent les thresors ou l'on n'ose toucher ils servent reprit mexaris a scavoir qu'on les possede ou plustost reprit doralise a en estre possede de sorte reprit mexaris qui vouloit destourner la conversation que si cet honneste homme que la belle doralise cherche n'estoit pas liberal encore quil n'eust rien aime il ne toucheroit jamais son coeur il n'en faut pas douter reprit elle cependant cette vertu est assurement une de celles qui est la plus difficile a trouer parmy ceux qui n'ont rien aime estant certain que l'amour inspire plus la liberalite en un quart d'heure que l'estude de la philosophie ne pourroit faire en dix ans je ne m'estonne pas dit abradate que vous qui croyez que l'amour enseigne toutes choses pensiez ce que vous dittes mais je voudrois vous suplier de me dire pourquoy il se trouve tant de dames accomplies qui n'ont jamais aime et pourquoy il est plus necessaire que les honmes aiment pour estre honnestes gens c'est seigneur repliqua t'elle que le soin de plaire 
 polit l'esprit a tous les hommes et que ce mesme soin ne sied nullement bien aux dames qui doivent presuposer que la nature les a faites assez aimables sans qu'elles s'empressent pour cela s'il ne faloit reprit ce prince qu'avoir dessein de plaire a qu'elqu'un pour estre parfaitement honneste homme j'en connois un qui le seroit plus que personne ne l'a jamais este et cependant je scay bien qu'il ne l'est pas a ce point la abradate en disant cela regarda panthee qui rencontrant ses yeux dans ceux de ce prince ne put s'empecher de rougir et de luy faire connoistre par la qu'elle faisoit l'aplication de ce qu'il venoit de dire de la facon qu'il l'avoit desire le changement de son visage ne fut pas seulement veu d'abradate il fut encore remarque de mexaris et de perinthe le premier en rougit de colere et l'autre en paslit de douleur et cette petite chose quoy que de peu de consideration occupa si fort l'esprit de ces quatre personnes que le reste de la conversation ne fut point du tout suivy et ne fut plus que de choses destachees les unes des autres panthee avoit un sensible depit d'avoir rougy parce qu'elle avoit fort bien connu qu'abradate y avoit pris garde ce prince de son coste cherchoit a expliquer cette rougeur favorablement pour luy mexaris au contraire l'interpretoit a son desavantage et perinthe sans douter quel sens il devoit donner a la chose croyoit si fortement que panthee avoit quelque legere inclination 
 pour abradate qu'il en devint plus malheureux qu'il n'estoit auparavant car encore que la rougeur soit quelquesfois aussi tost une marque de colere que d'amour les yeux d'un amant sont trop fins pour ne faire pas cette difference et pour s'y pouvoir tromper aussi perinthe avoit il fort bien remarque que celle de panthee n'avoit fait que l'embellir et n'avoit pas excite un certain trouble sur son visage qui est inseparable de la colere et qui fait qu'il y a une notable difference de la rougeur qu'elle cause a celle qui vient de modestie seulement ou de je ne scay qu'elle foiblesse que je n'ose nommer amour puis que celles qui s'en trouvent capables ne l'appellent pas ainsi cependant la compagnie se separa de cette sorte chacun emportant dans son coeur le mal qui le tourmentoit il en faut toutesfois excepter doralise de qui l'humeur enjouee ne luy permettoit pas de se faire de grands malheurs de petites choses et qui s'en alla aussi gaye chez elle que mexaris et perinthe s'en allerent melancoliques ce n'est pas que mexaris ne creust que s'il vouloit demander panthee au prince de clasomene il ne l'obtinst aisement mais il croyoit que par raison d'estat cresus ne souhaitoit pas ce mariage de peur que mettant la principaute de clasomene entre les mains du plus riche prince de lydie il ne pust un jour faire une guerre civile apres sa mort de sorte qu'il aprehendoit estrangement qu'il ne trouvast un obstacle 
 invincible de ce coste la et c'est pourquoy il ne vouloit pas en parler ouvertement jusques a ce qu'il eust mis la chose en termes de pouvoir l'executer quand mesme cresus ne le voudroit pas mais pour le pouvoir faire il faloit avoir gagne le coeur de panthee et s'estre absolument aquis le prince son pere afin d'avoir une retraite a clasomene quand il en auroit besoin c'est pourquoy il n'oublia rien pour cela abradate de son coste qui scavoit que cresus n'approuveroit pas que mexaris espousast panthee concevoit quelque esperance quoy que d'ailleurs il craignit pourtant beaucoup que le prince de clasomene ne luy fust contraire toutesfois il aprehendoit encore bien davantage que panthee ne luy fust pas favorable il connoissoit bien par cent choses qu'elle l'estimoit plus que mexaris mais il voyoit d'ailleurs une si grande retenue en son humeur et tant de severite en sa facon d'agir aveque luy depuis le jour qu'il luy avoit parle de sa passion qu'il souffroit beaucoup quoy qu'il souffrist moins que perinthe qui de quelque coste qu'il regardast la chose se voyoit tousjours infortune aussi cette triste pensee s'empara t'elle si fort de son esprit qu'il devint tres melancolique et a tel point que par cent choses qui seroient trop longues a dire doralise connut qu'il estoit amoureux et comme elle estoit ravie de pouvoir encore soustenir qu'elle n'avoir jamais connu d'honneste homme qui n'eust 
 rien aime elle le dit non seulement a la princesse mais a tout le monde et en effet la chose alla de telle sorte qu'il n'y eut personne qui ne creust connoistre par soy mesme que perinthe avoit de l'amour la difficulte estoit de scavoir pour qui quant a la princesse elle creut que c'estoit de quelque belle personne qui estoit a clasomene et que la melancolie que l'on voyoit dans son esprit n'avoit point d'autre cause que l'absence mais pour doralise qui pour se divertir l'observoit plus soigneusement elle soutint tousjours que ce n'estoit point a clasomene qu'il aimoit et en effet il fut aise de le connoistre avec certitude car le prince de clasomene ayant voulu l'y envoyer pour une affaire tres importante nous sceusmes qu'il s'en estoit excuse avec empressement et qu'enfin il n'y avoit point voulu aller si bien qu'il fut aise de juger apres cela que si perinthe aimoit il faloit que ce fust a sardis ce qui embarrassoit toutesfois la princesse estoit qu'il ne paroissoit avoir attachement aucun pour personne il voyoit doralise tres souvent mais quoy qu'il eust beaucoup de respect pour elle nous n'y voiyons point de marques de passion ainsi perinthe cessa de passer pour insensible sans que l'on soubconnast pourtant rien de la veritable cause de son amour
 
 
 
 
en ce temps la le prince atys espousa anaxilee dont je pense vous avoir dit qu'il estoit amoureux si bien que les festes et les resjouissances recommencerent 
 dans la cour neantmoins quoy que mexaris eust entendu de la bouche de la princesse qu'il aimoit qu'elle avoit aversion pour les avares il n'en fut guere plus magnifique il fit pourtant quelque chose de plus qu'il n'avoit accoustume mais ce fut de si peu qu'a peine s'en aperceut on le prince atys artesilas adraste cleandre et abradate firent aussi cent choses par emulation ou ils tascherent de se vaincre mais pour mexaris il ne se soucia pas d'estre tousjours vaincu en magnificence et de voir tousjours son rival vainqueur en effet si mexaris donnoit le bal on estoit assure que la salle estoit mal esclairee que la colation estoit mediocre et que l'harmonie mesme n'estoit pas trop bonne car comme ceux qui la faisoient n'estoient pas excitez par la liberalite de celuy qui les devoit payer a peine pouvoit on dancer en cadence chez mexaris au contraire quand abradate donnoit ce divertissement la a toute la cour ou pour mieux dire a la princesse panthee ces mesmes gens qui avoient fait si mal dancer pour mexaris jouoient avec une justesse admirable pour abradate et il y avoit je ne scay quel son esclattant et harmonieux qui inspiroit la joye dans le coeur quand abradate donnoit le bal que l'on n'entendoit point du tout quand c'estoit mexaris les dames mesmes paroissoient plus belles tant parce qu'elles estoient plus gayes que parce que la salle estoit tousjours admirablement esclairee enfin toutes choses y 
 estoient assurement incomparablement mieux non seulement que chez mexaris mais mesme que par tout ailleurs estant certain qu'abradate a un air si propre a faire les honneurs d'une assemblee que sa presence seulement inspire de la joye et donne du plaisir il vous est aise de juger que la princesse ayant autant d'esprit quelle en avoit ne put pas refuser son estime a abradate et qu'en tant de lieux ou il trouva la liberte de l'entretenir un moment quoy qu'elle l'esvitast il fut bien assez adroit pour trouver les biais de luy donner des marques de son amour sans perdre le respect qu'il luy devoit car outre la belle chasse dont je vous ay parle la musique et le bal qu'il donna plus d'une fois a sa consideration il y eut encore une course de chariots qui fut la plus magnifique chose du monde et la plus divertissante a voir car enfin il faut s'imaginer de voir de front cent petits chars de triomphe aussi brillans qu'on nous peint celuy du soleil il faut dis-je se les imaginer tirez par les plus beaux chevaux du monde et se representer dans chacun un homme magnifiquement habille qui tienne d'une mains les resnes de ses chevaux qui sont d'un tissu d'or et de l'autre une longue javeline ornee de pierreries et qui excitant ses chevaux de la voix en mesme temps que mille instruments de guerre font retentir l'air des sons esclatans part comme tous les autres du bord d'une grande pelouse qui est destinee pour cela pour arriver au 
 bout de la carriere ou sont les eschaffaux pour les dames sous des tentes magnifiques et ou le prix de la victoire leur est donne par celle que celuy qui fait la feste a choisie pour cela voila madame quelle est la course de chariots a sardis mais il est vray que nous y eusmes un jour un plaisir particulier non seulement parce qu'abradate et cleandre emporterent le prix esgalement mais encore parce que le chariot du pauvre mexaris qui assurement n'avoit este que repeint et redore rompit au milieu de la carriere cet accident fut mesme cause que le malheureux perinthe en fut encore plus miserable car comme il n'avoit pas este de cette course de chariots il estoit sur l'eschaffaut de la princesse et il remarqua si bien la joye qu'elle eut de la disgrace de mexaris et celle que luy causa la victoire d'abradate qu'il ne douta plus que ce prince n'eust desja quelque part en son coeur ainsi au milieu de l'allegresse publique perinthe avoit une douleur tres sensible il est vray qu'il falut bien tost apres passer de la joye a la tristesse par la funeste mort du prince atys qui affligea toute la cour mais principalement abradate car outre qu'il le regretta comme un prince qui avoit d'excellentes qualitez et de qui il esperoit beaucoup de protection il considera encore que cette mort aprochant mexaris du throsne pourroit peut-estre le reculer du coeur de panthee et faire un puissant obstacle au dessein qu'il avoit ce 
 n'est pas que le prince antaleon ne vescust encore mais enfin il luy sembloit que c'estoit tousjours un grand avantage a son rival que d'estre plus pres du throsne qu'il n'estoit auparavant et en effet je pense que cette consideration servit beaucoup a consoler mexaris de la perte du prince son neveu quelque temps apres il arriva un nouveau malheur a abradate qui fut que cresus ayant resolu d'aller assieger ephese ne voulut point ny qu'antaleon ny que mexaris ny qu'artesilas fussent ses lieutenants generaux de sorte qu'il choisit cleandre pour cela disant a abradate qu'il n'auroit pas manque de luy offrir cet employ si la reine de la susiane ne luy eust pas mande qu'elle commencoit d'esperer de pouvoir bien tost faire sa paix ainsi abradate estant sans pretexte de faire le mescontent au lieu que mexaris en avoit un eut le desplaisir de voir qu'il allast a la guerre en un temps ou son rival n'y alloit point et demeuroit aupres de panthee perinthe estoit aussi bien afflige de s'esloigner de la seule personne qu'il aimoit mais quoy qu'il laissast mexaris aupres d'elle puis qu'abradate n'y demeuroit pas il en avoit quelque consolation cependant abradate ne pouvant se resoudre a partir sans scavoir un peu plus precisement en quel estat il estoit dans le coeur de panthee chercha les voyes de luy pouvoir parler en particulier toutesfois comme elle les esvitoit avec foin et que perinthe 
 pour son interest y faisoit autant d'obstacle qu'il pouvoit il ne luy estoit pas aise de les trouver car madame vous scaurez que cet amant cache de la princesse avoit une adresse admirable pour faire qu'elle ne fust presques jamais seule aux heures ou abradate la pouvoit voir et voicy par ou il en venoit a bout premierement il ne cessoit de dire en particulier a trois ou quatre dames de qualite que la princesse estimoit effectivement qu'elle les aimoit avec une tendresse extreme et qu'ils luy faisoient un fort grand plaisir de la visiter souvent en suite pour faire l'officieux il se chargeoit de les advertir quand ils ne l'incommoderoient point et quand il n'y auroit pas tant de monde et en effet il faisoit si bien qu'il y en avoit tousjours quelqu'une de si bonne heure que le malheureux abradate ne pouvoit trouver aucune occasion d'entretenir la princesse il n'accusoit pourtant de ce malheur que sa mauvaise fortune et ne scavoit pas qu'il luy estoit cause par un rival encore plus miserable que luy mais a la fin ayant trouve panthee a la promenade dans les jardins du palais du roy elle ne put esviter sa conversation par bonheur pour luy mexaris ne s'y trouva pas et par malheur pour perinthe il s'y rencontra car il menoit doralise qui avoit este a cette promenade avec la princesse neantmoins quoy qu'il y fust il n'y avoit pas moyen de troubler la conversation de deux personnes 
 de cette qualite la doralise m'a dit depuis que lors qu'abradate donna la main a la princesse perinthe laissa aller la sienne pour un instant toutesfois s'estant un peu remis il la reprit mais si hors de luy qu'il ne scavoit pas trop bien ce qu'il luy disoit quand elle le forcoit de parler il y eut mesme des temps ou selon les sentimens qui luy passoient dans l'esprit sur quelque action qu'il voyoit faire a abradate qui luy persuadoit qu'il parloit de son amour a panthee il serroit si fort la main a doralise de depit et de rage de ne le pouvoir empescher qu'il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne la blessast comme elle a beaucoup d'esprit et qu'elle avoit toute sa vie veu perinthe le plus sage homme du monde et le plus regulierement civil elle fut fort surprise de ce procede de sorte que le regardant pour chercher a s'esclairir dans ses yeux il connut que sa passion estoit plus forte que luy et qu'il en avoit donne quelques marques si bien que ne scachant que faire pour desguiser ses sentimens il prit le premier pretexte que son esprit luy fournit ne suis-je pas bien malheureux luy dit il qu'abradate soit venu troubler le plaisir que j'avois a cette promenade car comme je n'ay pu le voir sans me souvenir que nous partons dans deux jours je me suis souvenu en mesme temps d'un ordre que le prince de clasomene m'a donne pour une affaire importante et qui me force a vous quitter incivilement malgre moy il me semble 
 luy dit doralise qu'au lieu de vous pleindre d'abradate vous devriez estre bien aise qu'il soit venu pour vous faire souvenir d'une chose que vous auriez oubliee sans luy et il me semble luy dit il en la quittant au premier bout d'allee qu'il rencontra que j'ay tousjours sujet de l'accuser puis qu'il est cause que je vous laisse pour une chose peu agreable quoy que ce que perinthe dit a doralise ne la satis fist pas trop neantmoins il y avoit si peu de raison de croire que les mouvemens qu'elle avoit veus dans son esprit fussent causez par une passion que la princesse luy eust donnee qu'elle ne le creut pas encore elle prit pourtant la resolution de tascher de descouvrir s'il estoit vray que perinthe apres l'avoir quittee eust este effectivement occupe a quelque affaire importante cependant comme l'enjouement de son humeur ne l'empesche pas d'estre tres prudente elle ne me dit rien de ce qui luy venoit d'arriver quoy que je la joignisse un instant apres que perinthe se fut retire durant que cela se passoit ainsi abradate pour ne perdre point des momens si precieux n'avoit pas plustost este aupres de la princesse que prenant la parole madame luy dit il j'ay une grace a vous demander que je voudrois bien que vous ne me refusassiez pas comme je ne doute point que ce que vous voulez de moy ne soit juste reprit la princesse je pense que vous ne devez pas craindre d'estre refuse je ne laisse pourtant pas de l'aprehender 
 luy dit il et je croy mesme que si j'examinois bien mes sentimens je trouverois que je n'aprehendre gueres moins que vous m'accordiez ce que je desire que je crains que vous me le refusiez il me semble repliqua panthee qu'il est assez aise de ne demander point ce que l'on aprehende d'obtenir ce que je dis ne laisse pourtant pas d'estre veritable repliqua t'il car enfin madame estant sur le point de partir j'ay une passion si forte de scavoir precisement en quels termes je suis dans vostre esprit que je ne puis me resoudre a prendre conge de vous si vous ne me faites la faveur de me l'aprendre mais aussi connoissant le peu que je vaux je crains avec tant de raison que si vous m'accordez ce que je veux vous ne me mettiez au desespoir que je n'ose presques vous regarder de peur de voir desja dans vos yeux les sentimens de vostre coeur cependant madame poursuivit il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre j'ay a vous faire scavoir auparavant que vous parliez que quoy que vous me puissiez dire je vous adoreray tousjours avec une passion sans esgale et que comme je vous ay aimee des le premier instant que je vous ay veue je vous aimeray jusques a la mort ainsi ne pensez pas s'il vous plaist qu'en m'estant rigoureuse vous puissiez chasser de mon coeur une passion que les plus beaux yeux de la terre y ont fait naistre 
 non madame la chose n'est plus en ces termes et toute vostre puissance ne s'estend pas jusques la vous pouvez sans doute me rendre le plus heureux ou le plus infortune de tous les hommes mais vous ne pouvez plus m'empescher d'estre eternellement a vous et plus a vous qu'a moy mesme parlez donc madame luy dit il comment suis-je dans vostre esprit et me peut il estre permis d'esperer de n'y estre pas plus mal que mexaris mexaris reprit elle est un grand prince que je regarde aveque le respect que l'on doit a sa qualite mais pour abradate adjousta t'elle s'il ne s'estoit pas advise de destruire luy mesme ce que son propre merite avoit estably dans mon coeur je l'estimerois infiniment il est vray toutesfois que de l'humeur dont je suis il a mis un grand obstacle a l'amitie que j'estois capable d'avoir pour luy en me parlant comme il a fait quoy madame interrompit abradate je pourrois croire que je ne serois pas mal dans vostre coeur si je ne vous avois point donne de marques de mon amour ha si cela est je suis le plus heureux homme de la terre et je n'ay plus rien a vous demander ne vous abusez pas abradate reprit la princesse et croyez s'il vous plaist que ce que je vous dis ne vous est pas aussi favorable que vous pensez car enfin je suis persuadee que puis que vous avez eu la hardiesse de me parler comme vous avez fait vous ne m'estimez pas assez je ne scay si je ne vous ay point desja dit cela une 
 autrefois mais quand je vous l'aurois dit cent ce ne seroit pas encore trop pour vous persuader que bien que j'estime infiniment toutes les excellentes qualitez qui sont en vous puis que vous ne m'estimez pas autant que je veux l'estre je ne vous scaurois estre obligee de l'affection que vous dittes avoir pour moy mais madame reprit abradate quelle plus grande marque d estime peut on donner a une personne que de luy donner son coeur tout entier que de la faire maistresse absolue de son destin et que de ne vouloir vivre et mourir que pour elle voila madame l'estat ou je parois devant vous et apres cela vous pouvez dire que je ne vous estime pas avez si vous m'aviez donne quelques marques par vos regards seulement que vous auriez entendu les miens j'aurois sans doute eu ce respect la pour vous que de ne vous parler pas de mon amour et je me serois accommode a cette severite qui paroist en vostre humeur mais vous scavez madame que vos yeux ne m'ont jamais rien dit de favorable que vouliez vous donc que je fisse estant prest de m'eloigner et laissant a sardis un prince tel que mexaris du moins madame poursuivit il si vous ne voulez pas que je scache comment je suis dans vostre esprit aprenez moy donc seulement comment y est mon rival car pourveu qu'il y soit un peu plus mal que moy je vous proteste que je partiray sans murmurer et sans vous demander nulle autre 
 grace vous n'avez donc reprit la princesse en sous-riant qu'a me laisser en repos et qu'a vous y mettre s'il ne faut que cette ingenue declaration pour vous satisfaire cependant abradate poursuivit elle en prenant un visage plus serieux scachez que comme les personnes de ma condition et de ma vertu ne disposent jamais gueres d'elles mesmes il faut qu'elles tiennent tousjours leur esprit en estat de pouvoir s'accommoder a leur fortune c'est pourquoy quand il seroit vray que j'aurois pour vous une forte disposition a souffrir que vous m'aimassiez je ne le ferois pourtant jamais que je ne visse les choses en termes de me faire croire que je le pourrois innocemment et sans imprudence apres cela je n'ay plus rien a vous dire si ce n'est que je vous seray fort obligee si vous ne me contraignez pas a fuir vostre conversation comme abradate alloit respondre la princesse palmis arriva qui rompit cet entretien mais comme nous estions alors dans une grande allee de cypres qui sont plantez si proche les uns des autres qu'ils font une palissade assez espaisse il arriva que sans y penser je tournay les yeux en un endroit ou je vy remuer les branches et ou j'aperceus perinthe qui regardoit a travers je ne l'eus pas plustost veu que je le montray a doralise qui fut a luy toute estonnee pour luy faire la guerre de ce qu'il l'avoit quittee sans avoir rien a faire perinthe fort interdit l'assura qu'il avoit rencontre en 
 sortant du jardin celuy a qui il avoit a parler et qu'en suitte il y estoit rentre quoy qu'en effet il n'en eust point sorty adjoustant a cela que s'estant engage sans y penser de l'autre coste de l'allee il avoit voulu voir si personne n'avoit pris sa place aupres d'elle devant que d'y rentrer je vous entends bien perinthe luy dit elle vous voulez m'imposer silence par une civilite mais il faudra bien autre chose pour cela perinthe craignant effectivement que doralise n'allast dire a la princesse ou a quelque autre le trouble qu'elle avoit remarque dans son esprit la pria qu'elle trouvast bon qu'il luy redonnast la main et alors pliant les branches des cypres et passant du coste ou nous estions il se mit a conjurer doralise tout bas de ne dire a qui que ce soit le desordre qu'elle avoit remarque dans son ame je le veux bien luy dit elle pourveu que vous m'en apreniez la veritable cause ou pour mieux dire que vous me l'advouyez car a vous parler avec sincerite adjousta t'elle en le regardant fixement je vous crois amoureux de la princesse ha doralise s'escria t'il je pense que vous avez perdu la raison ha perinthe repliqua t'elle la vostre si je ne me trompe est plus esgaree que la mienne je voy bien luy dit il finement qu'apres cela il faut que je me confie a vostre discretion mais au nom des dieux doralise ne me descouvrez pas je vous en conjure je vous le promets luy dit elle pourveu que vous soyez sincere scachez donc 
 poursuivit perinthe que le prince de clasomene ayant sceu comme toute la cour que le prince mexaris et abradate estoient tous deux amoureux de panthee a eu beaucoup de joye du premier et beaucoup de douleur du second et c'est pour cela qu'il m'a commande absolument de descouvrir si je pouvois les veritables sentimens de la princesse sa fille et d'empescher s'il estoit possible qu'abradate ne luy parlast en particulier devant son depart cependant adjousta t'il je puis vous jurer que je n'ay pas dit la moindre chose de la princesse au prince son pere car l'honnorant au point que je fais je n'ay garde de vouloir estre son espion mais il est vray que lors qu'abradate est arrive je n'ay pu m'empescher d'en estre fasche neantmoins comme je ne pouvois remedier a la chose j'ay creu qu'il faloit que je me retirasse de peur que si le prince fust arrive il ne se fust imagine que bien loin de l'en advertir je l'eusse voulu cacher si bien que je me suis oste des lieux ou l'on se promene ordinairement afin de ne le rencontrer pas mais luy dit doralise si vous n'avez point dessein de nuire a la princesse que faisiez vous derriere ces cypres a l'observer si soigneusement je taschois repliqua t'il a m'instruire en effet de la verite afin de scavoir comment je me dois conduire entre abradate et mexaris leur merite est si different repliqua doralise que sans me donner la peine de regarder les actions de panthee je 
 devinerois bien ce qu'elle pense il est vray repliqua perinthe mais leur fortune presente est si esloignee l'une de l'autre que je trouve qu'il y a beaucoup a balancer et puis adjousta t'il encore il me semble que la belle doralise doit souhaitter pour son interest que la princesse demeure a la cour de lydie et non pas a celle de suse cependant poursuivit il je vous conjure de ne me descouvrir pas et de croire que je ne diray ny ne feray jamais rien qui soit contre le respect que je dois a la princesse doralise escouta tout ce que luy dit perinthe sans scavoir si elle le devoit croire car si elle se souvenoit du trouble qu'elle avoit remarque dans son esprit lors qu'abradate estoit arrive elle ne doutoit point qu'il n'aimast panthee mais si elle consideroit le peu d'aparence qu'il y avoit qu'un homme comme luy osast conserver dans son coeur une passion comme celle la elle adjoustoit foy a ces paroles sa croyance n'estoit pourtant pas si affermie qu'il n'y eust plusieurs instans ou elle changeoit d'opinion elle resolut pourtant quoy qu'il en pust estre de ne rien dire de tout ce qui luy estoit arrive car disoit elle si perinthe aime panthee il est bien assez malheureux sans que j'aille encore l'accabler en disant inconsiderement a la princesse ce qu'il ne luy dira peut-estre jamais et si la chose est comme il me l'a ditte je ne veux point non plus en parler puis que selon les aparences en ne disant pas une chose agreable a la princesse je ne 
 laisserois pas de nuire a abradate que j'estime infiniment perinthe de son coste estoit fort satisfait du mensonge qu'il avoit invente et en effet pour l'avoir trouve avec tant de precipitation il estoit assez adroit car si doralise luy gardoit fidelite et n'en parloit pas il estoit en repos et si elle en disoit quelque chose a la princesse il esperoit que croyant que le prince son pere desaprouvoit l'amour d'abradate elle l'esloigneroit peut estre avec adresse ainsi le reste de la promenade se fit sans chagrin car a parler sincerement la princesse dans le fonds de son coeur n'estoit pas marrie qu'abradate l'aimast ce prince de son coste pensoit avoir obtenu une tres grande faveur que d'entendre de la bouche de panthee que mexaris n'estoit pas si bien dans son esprit que luy perinthe croyoit aussi estre eschape d'un danger effroyable d'avoir pu cacher son amour qu'il avoit descouverte si imprudemment de sorte qu'il n'y avoit que doralise qui eust quelque legere inquietude de ne pouvoir se determiner sur ce qu'elle devoit croire de perinthe depuis cela abradate ne put plus parler en particulier a panthee et il falut qu'il se contentast de luy dire adieu devant tant de monde qu'a peine osa t'il luy faire voir dans ses yeux une partie de la douleur qu'il avoit en la quittant pour perinthe comme il estoit de la maison il vit la princesse avec toute la liberte qu'il eust pu desirer mais c'estoit une liberte qui luy estoit inutile puis qu' 
 n'osoit s'en servir a la luy temoigner la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame et qu'au contraire il estoit force d'aporter tous ses foins a la cacher il ne put toutesfois empescher que sa melancolie ne parust mais comme l'amitie en peut causer aussi bien que l'amour la princesse luy scavoit gre d'une chose dont elle se seroit estrangement offencee si elle en eust sceu la cause par bonheur pour luy doralise ne se trouva pas aupres d'elle lors qu'il s'en separa car comme elle avoit desja quelque soubcon de la verite elle se seroit sans doute apperceue que la douleur de perinthe estoit causee par une affection plus tendre que l'amitie comme il estoit desja sorty de la chambre de la princesse elle le rapella afin de luy ordonner de luy escrire aussi souvent qu'il le pourroit pour luy mander les nouvelles de l'armee et en eschange luy dit elle j'obligeray doralise a vous respondre quand je ne le feray pas et a vous mander les nouvelles de sardis d'abord perinthe fut ravi de ce commandement mais quand il vint a songer que cette faveur ne luy estoit accordee que parce qu'on ne croyoit pas qu'elle luy fust aussi chere qu'elle luy estoit sa joye en diminua de la moitie neantmoins venant a penser qu'il auroit un avantage qu'assurement ses rivaux tous grands princes qu'ils estoient n'avoient jamais obtenu il en sentoit quelque consolation et en partit moins afflige de plus comme le rival qu'il craignoit davantage s'esloignoit aussi bien que 
 luy il en estoit moins inquiet aussi fut il dire adieu a doralise avec l'esprit assez libre pour un amant qui estoit prest a partir il est vray qu'il aporta un soin extreme a desguiser ses sentimens en cette occasion ou il eut en effet besoin de toute son adresse car doralise luy dit cent choses de dessein premedite ou un moins fin que luy auroit eu bien de la peine a respondre il s'en tira pourtant avec tant d'esprit qu'elle ne trouva pas dequoy fortifier ses doutes cependant je pense que la reine de la susiane ne trouveroit pas mauvais quand mesme elle m'entendroit que je disse que la princesse de clasomene fut un peu melancolique du depart d'abradate mais en eschange mexaris en fut si aise qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage il ne s'en trouva pourtant pas mieux aupres de panthee au contraire luy semblant qu'elle pouvoit avec plus de bienseance vivre froidement aveque luy en l'absence d'abradate que lors qu'il y estoit elle le traitta avec une certaine indifference qui pensa le faire desesperer et qui le porta enfin a faire cent choses qui donnerent bien de l'inquietude a panthee car voyant que plus il luy rendoit de services moins il la trouvoit favorable il prit la resolution d'agir secrettement avec le prince son pere qui a cause de quelque incommodite n'avoit point este a l'armee il ne laissoit pas toutesfois de la voir avec une assiduite sans esgale ce n'est pas que doralise ne dist tous les 
 jours cent choses malicieuses devant luy par les ordres de la princesse qui devoient ne luy estre pas fort agreables disant continuellement que sardis n'estoit plus qu'un desert depuis le commencement de la campagne et qu'il eust beaucoup mieux valu estre aux champs que d'y demeurer quand la cour n'y estoit pas mais quoy qu'elle pust dire il ne se rebutoit point et il nous persecutoit tousjours il avoit pourtant de l'esprit mais cette basse inclination qui regnoit dans son coeur et qui faisoit qu'il ne donnoit jamais rien qu'avec chagrin et qu'il croyoit perdre le peu qu'il donnoit estoit cause que l'on ne le pouvoit estimer de plus l'amitie que l'on avoit pour abradate augmentoit encore l'aversion que l'on avoit pour mexaris si bien qu'il n'estoit pas fort estrange que la princesse n'aimast point un prince que personne n'aimoit et au contraire on eust eu raison de s'estonner si elle eust hai ou oublie abradate dont tout le monde luy parloit avec estime et qu'elle scavoit bien avoir pour elle une passion extreme aussi vous puis-je assurer qu'il ne fut ny hai ny oublie pendant toute la guerre d'ephese et toute celle de mysie et de phrygie il est vray que la renommee luy parla si avantageusement de sa valeur durant cette absence que l'on peut dire qu'il ne fut pas moins oblige de cette faveur a son propre courage qu'a l'inclination que la princesse avoit pour luy tant que cette guerre dura perinthe ne manqua 
 pas d'escrire a la princesse bien est il vray que comme il estoit genereux il se trouva un peu embarrasse a luy obeir car le moyen de luy parler de tout ce qui se passoit a l'armee sans luy rien dire de tant de belles actions qu'abradate y faisoit aussi bien que cleandre qui s'y signala hautement et le moyen aussi de louer luy mesme son rival et de luy aider a conquerir le coeur de panthee la voye qu'il prit fut pour l'ordinaire de dire les choses en general sans particulariser les actions de personne se contentant de dire que les ennemis avoient este battus et de narrer seulement les avantages de l'armee comme presuposant que la princesse ne vouloit scavoir les nouvelles que par l'interest qu'elle avoit au bien de l'estat de sorte qu'en tant de relations que la princesse receut de perinthe le nom d'abradate ne s'y trouva jamais qu'une seule fois encore fut-ce malgre luy et voicy comment la chose arriva deux ou trois jours apres la prise d'ephese perinthe achevant d'escrire a panthee vit entrer abradate dans sa chambre et un moment apres cleandre y entra aussi qui scachant que c'estoit luy qui mandoit toutes les nouvelles de l'armee a la princesse luy dit que celuy qui devoit porter ses paquets a sardis partiroit dans deux heures perinthe respondit a cela qu'il n'avoit plus que deux mots a escrire mais comme il estoit connu de tout le monde pour escrire fort agreablement abradate qui n'avoit jamais veu de 
 lettre de luy et qui ne le soubconnoit pas d'estre son rival luy dit que s'il n'y avoit rien dans celle qu'il escrivoit que le recit du siege il estoit ravy de la voir ne doutant pas qu'il ne fust aussi beau dans sa relation qu'il l'avoit este effectivement cleandre prenant la parole pour perinthe qui tarda un moment a respondre luy dit que l'on ne pouvoit jamais mieux escrire que perinthe escrivoit et qu'ainsi sa curiosite estoit juste d'abord perinthe s'en deffendit avec modestie mais voyant que cleandre s'obstinoit a vouloir qu'il leur monstrast ce qu'il venoit d'escrire il craignit que s'il ne le faisoit pas il ne creust qu'il n'avoit pas assez bien parle de luy de sorte que cedant aux prieres de cleandre abradare prit la lettre de perinthe qui n'estoit pas achevee et y leut a peu pres ces paroles perinthe a la princesse de clasomene 
 
 
 quand vous commanderiez a la victoire vos souhaits ne pouvient pas estre plus heureusement accomplu elle fuit les armes du roy en tous lieux et rien ne leur peut resister la prise d'ephese merite bien que la plus illustre princesse du monde rende graces aux dieux d'une des plus illustres conquestes que l'on ait jamais 
 faite et que je ne croy pas moins un effet de ses voeux que de la valeur de nos troupes les ennemis ont autant resiste qu'il le faloit pour couvrir leurs vainqueurs de gloire mais non pas autant qu'il eust falu pour les empescher d'estre vaincus la fortune a mesme voulu que les lauriers dont la victoire a couronne les victorieux ne fussent pas fort sanglants n'estant mort personne de consideration en cette derniere attaque je ne vous dis point 
 
 
j'allois adjouster dit perinthe apres qu'abradate eut acheve de lire les actions paiticulieres de l'illustre cleandre et celles de beaucoup d'autres lors que j'ay este interrompu vous aviez sans doute raison repliqua abradate et il ne scauroit jamais estre loue par une personne qui le scache mieux faire que vous mais comme vostre modestie luy dit il d'une maniere tres adroite afin de l'obliger a parler dignement de luy vous empescheroit sans doute de dire vos propres actions a la princesse et que je n'oserois luy escrire de mon chef n'en ayant pas eu la permission comme vous souffrez que j'adjouste quelque chose a vostre lettre et alors sans attendre la responce de perinthe qui s'y opposa autant qu'il le put sans choquer la civilite il y escrivit ce que je m'en vay vous dire
 
 
 l'agreable relation de perinthe seroit trop imparfaite si vous n'y trouviez pas une partie des louanges qu'il mente pour s'estre signale comme il a fait en toutes les occasions qui se sont presentees c'est pourquoy je vous conjure pour vostre satisfaction pour sa gloire et pour 
 la mienne de souffrir que je sois son historien et que je vous die qu'a la reserve de l'illustre cleandre il merite toute la gloire qu'il donne aux autres voila madame ce qu'a creu vous devoir dire un homme qui n'en pretend point d'autre que celle d'estre creu le plus respectueux des adorateurs de la plus belle princesse de la terre 
 
 
apres qu'abradate eut escrit ce que je viens de dire et que cleandre l'eut leu tout haut perinthe se trouva le coeur bien partage car estre loue si hautement par un prince comme celuy la estoit une chose qu'il croyoit luy devoir estre avantageuse aupres de la princesse mais aussi envoyer luy mesme une lettre d'un aussi redoutable rival a la personne qu'il aimoit luy estoit une chose insuportable de sorte que prenant un brais adroit pour s'en empescher s'il luy estoit possible il dit qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre a envoyer luy mesme son eloge que c'estoit le couvrir de confusion au lieu de le couvrir de gloire que de plus il ne scavoit pas si la princesse ne trouveroit point estrange qu'il eust la hardresse de luy faire recevoir un billet d'un prince comme abradate car adjousta t'il finement celle que j'ay de me donner l'honneur de luy escrire ne tire pas a consequence ce n'est pas que ce soit mon interest qui me fasse parler adjousta t'il mais je serois au desespoir dit il se tournant vers abradate si parce que vous me voulez mettre bien avec la princesse j'estois cause que vous y fussiez mal scachant 
 combien elle vous estime repliqua ce prince qui vouloit que son billet allast entre les mains de panthee je ne dois pas craindre qu'elle s'offence que je luy die une vente qui vous est avantageuse non non interrompit cleandre je vous respons que la princesse ne s'offencera point de cette galanterie car encore qu'elle fort un peu severe elle est raisonnable et scait prendre les choses comme il faut mais pour bien faire adjousta t'il il faut que perinthe acheve sa lettre et qu'il rende autant d'encens qu'on luy en a donne abradate par civilite s'y voulut opposer et perinthe voulut aussi dire encore qu'il n'estoit pas capable de louer en si peu de temps deux personnes si illustres mais enfin cleandre apres luy avoir dit qu'il le dispensoit de la moitie de cette peine et qu'il le conjuroit de ne parler point de luy le forca d'achever sa lettre afin de favoriser abradate de qui il n'ignoroit pas l'amour si bien que perinthe reprenant par force l'endroit ou il l'avoit laissee la finit de cette sorte quoy que ce n'eust pas este sa premiere intention
 
 
 je ne vous du point madame que le prince abradate s'est signale par mille belles actions car il me semble qu'apres ce qu'il a voulu dire de moy les louanges que je luy donnerais seroient suspectes de flatterie aussi vous puis je assurer que je suis au desespoir qu'il m'ait oblige par sa civilite a changer la fin de ma lettre et a vous dire les choses d'une autre maniere que je ne m'estois propose je ne vous dis pas non plus que l'illustre 
 cleandre a fait des miracles car la renommee vous l'aura apris quand vous recevrez celle cy mais je vous diray sans affecter de paroistre modeste que de ma vie je n'ay rien fait avec tant de repugnance que de vous envoyer moy mesme mon eloge quoy qu'il soit escrie de la main d'un grand prince et qu'il semble m'estre advantageux qu'il soit leu de la plus par faite princesse du monde 
 
 
 
 
 perinthe 
 
 
lors que perinthe eut acheve d'escrire il espera que peut-estre abradate et cleandre s'en iroient et qu'apres cela il pourroit obliger celuy qui devoit porter cette lettre a dire qu'il l'avoit perdue mais a peine avoient ils acheve de la lire et fait chacun un compliment pour s'opposer aux louanges qu'il leur donnoit que cet envoye de cleandre vint le trouver chez perinthe pour recevoir ses derniers ordres si bien qu'il falut que le panure perinthe malgre qu'il en eust fermast sa lettre devant eux qui le voulurent ainsi et qu'il la donnast a celuy qui la devoit porter et qui la porta en effet cependant perinthe m'a dit depuis qu'il eut une douleur si sensible de cette advanture qu'il en pensa desesperer ne suis-je pas bien malheureux disoit il qu'il faille que ce soit par mon moyen qu'abradate escrive la premiere fois a la princesse que l'aime que scay-je encore adjoustoit il si elle ne s'imaginera point que je luy ay rendu cet office volontairement et que je suis le confident de la passion d'abradate au nom 
 des dieux adorable panthee s'escrioit il comme si elle l'eust pu entendre ne me faites pas cette injustice de croire que je serve jamais ce prince aupres de vous c'est bien assez que vous ne croiyez pas que je vous ayme sans croire encore que je veux que vous en aimiez un autre mais perinthe reprenoit il tout d'un coup n'as tu pas resolu de te contenter de l'estime de ta princesse n'as tu pas fait dessein de ne luy descouvrir jamais ton amour et ne scais tu pas bien que tu ne peux jamais avoir de pan a son affection pourquoy donc n'es tu pas satisfait des louanges qu'abradate te donne puis que du moins elles peuvent servir a augmenter l'estime qu'elle fait de toy si les louanges des ennemis sont glorieuses et cheres pourquoy celles d'un grand prince ne te le seroient elles pas mais helas ce grand prince reprenoit il est mon rival et un rival encore qui selon les apparences sera aime de ma princesse ne nous estonnons donc plus de la colere que nous avons d'avoir este contraints de le louer et de recevoir ses louanges apres quand il venoit a penser que la princesse respondroit dans sa lettre a ce qu'abradate luy avoit escrit et qu'il seroit contraint de donner cette joye a son rival de luy faire voir les civilitez de panthee il ne s'y pouvoit resoudre et il prenoit la resolution si cette lettre estoit trop obligeante pour abradate de la suprimer il attendit donc cette responce avec autant d'impatience que s'il eust envoye 
 une declaration d'amour a panthee quoy que tout ce qui faisoit sa curiosite ne fust que de voir ce que la princesse luy diroit d'abradate qui de son coste attendoit aussi cette responce avec une esgale impatience quoy que ce ne fust pas avec une esgale inquietude comme il n'y a que trois journees ordinaires d'ephese a sardis la lettre de perinthe y arriva en deux jours parce que celuy qui aportoit la nouvelle de la prise d'ephese fit beaucoup de diligence doralise qui ne quittoit gueres panthee se trouva aupres d'elle aussi bien que moy lors qu'elle receut cette lettre qu'elle se mit d'abord a lire tout haut car comme elle scavoit que perinthe ne luy mandoit jamais que des nouvelles elle ne creut pas y devoir trouver autre chose mais lors qu'elle vint a l'endroit qu'abradate avoit escrit et qu'elle entrevit son nom devant mesme que d'avoir commence de lire ce qu'elle voyoit estre d'une autre escriture que de celle de perinthe elle baissa la voix et en changea de couleur et achevant de lire bas doralise et moy creusmes deux choses bien differentes car doralise dans les soupcons qu'elle avoit quelquesfois de la passion de perinthe s'imagina qu'il avoit peut-estre eu la hardiesse de luy en escrire quelque chose et pour moy qui n'en soupconnois rien je creus que c'estoit quelque affaire qu'elle ne vouloit pas que nous sceussions mais apres que la princesse eut acheve de lire et que l'esmotion que le nom d'abradate avoit excitee 
 dans son ame fut apaisee elle donna cette lettre a lire a doralise et a moy et voulant pretexter la tendresse de son coeur en cette occasion elle nous dit que lors qu'elle avoit veu ce changement d'escriture et le nom d'abradate elle avoit eu peur qu'il ne se fust servy de cette occasion pour luy dire des choses qui luy eussent donne lieu de se pleindre en mesme temps de perinthe et de luy cependant adjousta t'elle apres que doralise eut acheve de lire vous voyez bien que perinthe sans estre amoureux ne laisse pas d'estre vaillant et qu'il suffit du moins pour estre brave d'estre amoureux de la gloire car encore que j'aye fait semblant de croire conme les autres que perinthe aimoit je vous assure que je ne le crois point du tout et je vous assure madame reprit doralise que je ne puis estre de vostre advis on peut sans doute adjousta t'elle estre vaillant sans estre amoureux mais je soustiens qu'un brave qui n'aura jamais eu d'amour sera du moins brave et brutal tout ensemble et conme perinthe ne l'est point du tout il faut conclurre qu'il aime ou qu'il a aime quoy qu'il en soit dit la princesse quelque amitie que j'aye pour perinthe et quelque joye que j'aye de voir ses louanges escrites de la main d'un prince si illustre je ne laisse pas d'estre presque en colere contre luy car enfin il faut respondre quelque chose a abradate mais madame luy dit doralise il ne me semble pas qu'il y ait grande difficulte a respondre a ce qu'il vous dit par son billet il est vray dit elle en rougissant aussi ne fais-je 
 pas consister la difficulte de luy respondre sur ce qu'il m'escrit mais sur ce qu'il me dit en partant et alors elle eut la bonte de nous raconter la conversation qu'elle avoit eue aveques luy toutesfois apres avoir bien raisonne la dessus elle se determina a la fin d'escrire de la facon que je vous le diray bien tost cependant abradate et perinthe qui attendoient impatiemment la responce de la princesse surent si soigneux et si exacts a s'informer du jour que celuy qui devoit l'aporter arriveroit a ephese qu'ils le sceurent precisement et firent si bien qu'ils le virent des qu'il eut rendu conte de son voyage a cleandre mais le mal fut pour perinthe que cleandre qui aimoit abradate et qui n'ignoroit pas sa passion pour la princesse de clasomeme ayant impatience de scavoir ce qu'elle respondoit fut a l'instant mesme chercher abradate qu'on luy dit estre dans le jardin du palais ou il estoit loge et en effet il l'y trouva et perinthe aveque luy qui en sa presence venoit de recevoir la responce de la princesse je vous laisse a penser quels estoient les sentimans de perinthe en ouvrant la lettre de panthee dans la crainte qu'il avoit de la trouver trop obligeante pour abradate et conme ce prince s'apercent de quelque changement au visage de perinthe il s'imagina qu'il craignoit simplement que la princesse n'eust trouve mauvais qu'il lui eust envoye son billet de sorte qu'il lui en fit un conpliment ou perinthe respondit avec le plus de paroles qu'il put luy semblant quasi qu'il y avoit quelque advantage pour luy a n'ouvrir pas si 
 tost cette lettre mais a la fin abradate et cleandre l'en ayant presse il fut contraint de l'ouvrir et d'y lire tout haut ces paroles
 
 
 panthee a perinthe 
 
 
 il paroist assez par ce que vous me dittes du prince abradate et de l'illustre cleandre et par ce que la renommee m'en aprend que la victoire est bien plus un effet de leur courage que de mes voeux je ne laisseray pourtant pas d'en faire pour l'augmentation de leur gloire qui n'ira jamais si loin que je le desire pour la vostre perinthe je la trouvue a un si haut point qu'il ne me semble pas possible de vous en souhaiter davantage car enfin estre loue par un prince qui merite tant de louanges luy mesme est un honneur si grand que je croy que toute vostre ambition en doit estre satisfaite cependant comme vostre modestie vous auroit empesche de me dire de vous mesme ce qu'abradate m'en a dit je luy suis bien obligee de me l'avoir apris quoy que d'ailleurs je sois bien marrie de la peine qu'il en a eue assurez le que comme il a augmente l'estime que je faisois de vous vous avez du moins confirme puissamment celle que je faisois desja de luy apres cela n'attendez pas que je vous rende nouvelles pour nouvelles si ce n'est que je vous aprenne que doralise vous accuse tousjours et veut absolument que les belles choses que vous faites soient plustost attribuees a la passion secrette qu'elle croit que 
 vous avez dans le coeur qu'a vostre propre courage pour moy qui suis plus equitable je soustiens vostre party autant que je puis adieu assurez abradate et cleandre que la victoire les suivra par tout si la fortune fuit mes intentions 
 
 
 panthee 
 
 
perinthe leut si mal toute cette lettre mais principalement la fin qu'abradate la luy demandant civilement fut contraint de la relire pour l'entendre luy disant en riant qu'il n'auroit jamais pense qu'un homme qui escrivoit si bien eust pu lire de cette sorte mais dieux que ne souffrit point le pauvre perinthe en voyant la joye qu'avoit abradate en relisant cette lettre car encore que ce qu'il y voyoit pour luy ne fust qu'une simple civilite il ne laissoit pas d'en avoir une satisfaction extreme le plaisir de voir seulement son nom escrit de la main de panthee luy donnoit un transport de joye estrange aussi apres l'avoir leue haut il la relisoit bas d'un bout a l'autre en suitte il en revoyoit seulement quelques endroits mais quoy qu'il pust faire il ne la rendoit point a perinthe de qui le chagrin estoit encore plus excessif que la joye d'abradate n'estoit grande non seulement il estoit au desespoir que la princesse eust respondu si civilement pour ce qui regardoit abradate mais il craignoit encore que doralise ne fust retonbee dans les soubcons qu'elle avoit eus de son amour et qu'a la fin elle n'en descouvrist 
 quelque chose il jugeoit pourtant bien qu'elle n'en avoit encore rien dit a panthee estant assez fortement persuade que si elle eust sceu son amour elle ne luy en auroit pas escrit ainsi ayant l'esprit remply de cent pensees differentes sans qu'il y en eust une seule d'agreable il paroieeoit sans doute assez inquiet tout ce que la princesse luy disoit d'obligeant dans sa lettre ne le satisfaisoit point du tout parce que les louanges qu'elle donnoit a abradate luy ostoient toute la douceur qu'il eust trouvee a la civilite qu'elle avoit pour luy cependant comme cleandre vouloit obliger abradate et qu'il n'avoit garde de soubconner que perinthe fust amoureux de panthee il luy dit qu'il faloit pour sa satisfaction qu'il luy laissast la lettre de la princesse en effet luy dit il perinthe il est aise de voir qu'ele est autant pour abradate que pour vous eh de grace adjousta ce prince amoureux en embrassant perinthe accordez moy ce que cleandre vous demande en ma faveur et ce que je n'osois vous demander seigneur repliqua perinthe fort surpris et fort embarrasse puis que vous dittes vous mesme que vous n'osiez me demander ce que vous desirez il est a croire que vous connoissez bien que je ne dois pas vous l'accorder en effet poursuivit il que diroit la princesse si je faisois ce que vous voulez car seigneur plus vous estes digne d'avoir cette lettre entre vos mains plus le dois craindre d'offencer panthee en l'y remettant 
 si elle avoit eu intention que vous eussiez une lettre d'elle elle vous auroit escrit separement mais cela n'estant pas vous ne trouverez point mauvais que je vous suplie de souffrir que je vous refuse et que je ne me mette pas mal aupres d'elle mais luy dit cleandre la princesse ne le scaura pas et par consequent cela ne vous nuira point puis que je le scaurois reprit il je serois tousjours assez tourmente d'avoir fait une chose contre mon devoir mais perinthe luy dit abradate vous en faites une contre l'amitie de me refuser cette lettre du moins souffrez que je la garde quelques jours avec promesse de vous la rendre tout a bon dit cleandre en regardant perinthe vous estes un peu trop exact pour ne pas dire trop rigoureux car enfin adjousta t'il quelque respect que vous ayes pour la princesse je ne voy pas que vous luy fissiez un grand tort de laisser sa lettre entre les mains d'un prince qui la conserveroit avec un soin bien different sans doute de celuy que vous en aurez quoy qu'il en soit dit perinthe tout esmeu je seray tres aise de faire ce que je dois du moins dit abradate suis-je fortement resolu de ne vous la rendre point que je n'en aye une copie ha perinthe s'escria cleandre sans luy donner loisir de parler il ne faut pas seulement mettre la chose en doute a moins que de vouloir de dessein premedite desobliger tout a la fois le prince abradate et moy je suis bien malheureux reprit 
 il de me trouver en une si facheuse conjoncture enfin dit cleandre il faut obeir a vos amis et pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos je me charge de dire a la princesse si elle vient a scavoir la chose que vous vous y estes oppose avec autant d'ardeur que si vous aviez este amoureux et qu'un de vos rivaux vous eust demande copie d'une lettre de vostre maistresse apres cela cleandre sans attendre la responce de perinthe commanda a un des siens d'aller querir tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour escrire perinthe se deffendit encore tres longtemps mais a la fin craignant que la veritable cause de son opiniastrete ne fust devinee par abradate ou par cleandre il consentit a laisser prendre une copie de cette lettre a abradate de sorte qu'entrant dans un cabinet de verdure au milieu duquel il y avoit une table de jaspe abradate se mit a escrire pendant quoy cleandre se mit a entretenir perinthe et a luy vouloir persuader de servir abradate aupres du prince de clasomene et aupres de la princesse sa fille mais il estoit si inquiet et si chagrin qu'a peine respondoit il a propos et il eut de si violents transports pendant cette conversation qu'il fut tente cent et cent fois d'arracher la lettre de la princesse des mains d'abradate et de luy faire mettre l'espee a la main toutesfois la presence de cleandre et de beaucoup d'autres qui se promenoient dans le jardin ou ils estoient ayant 
 retenu ces premiers mouvements la raison reprit sa place dans son ame et il se deguisa le mieux qu'il put il pensa pour calmer le trouble de son esprit qu'apres tout cette lettre n'estoit qu'une lettre de civilite et qu'ainsi il ne devoit pas s'en affliger avec tant d'exces de sorte que respondant aux prieres que luy faisoit cleandre de servir abradate il luy dit qu'il estoit vray qu'il avoit l'honneur d'estre bien avec le prince de clasomene et de n'estre pas mal avec la princesse mais que sa maxime estoit de ne parler jamais a ses maistres des affaires dont ils ne luy parloient pas et puis seigneur luy dit il abradate a tant de merite qu'il n'est pas necessaire que personne le serve ny aupres de l'un ny aupres de l'autre ils dirent encore plusieurs autres choses a la fin desquelles abradate ayant acheve d'escrire les rejoignit mais auparavant que de rendre la lettre de panthee il fit encore quelque effort pour obliger perinthe a se contenter de la copie a luy laisser l'original il n'y eut toutesfois pas moyen d'en venir a bout et il falut que la chose allast autrement de sorte que tous les deux n'estoient pas contents car abradate estoit bien afflige de n'avoir pas la lettre effective de panthee et perinthe estoit au desespoir que ce prince en eust seulement la copie il eut pourtant encore une plus aigre douleur quelques jours apres car il sceut qu'abradate estant devenu plus hardy par la civilite de la princesse avoit escrit 
 cent choses a doralise pour luy dire et qu'en suitte partant d'ephese pour aller a la guerre de phrigie qui suivit celle qu'on venoit d'achever il luy avoit escrit a elle mesme il sceut bien que toutes ces lettres n'avoient pas este des lettres ecrites en secret mais comme apres tout il n'ignoroit pas que celuy qui les escrivoit estoit amoureux il en avoit une douleur extreme et souhaitoit bien souvent que mexaris profitast de l'absence d'abradate et obligeast le prince de clasomene a luy donner sa fille mais durant qu'abradate et perinthe estoient a la guerre mexaris persecutoit estrangement la princesse car non seulement il l'obsedoit eternellement mais ayant sceu qu'abradate luy avoit escrit et qu'elle luy avoit respondu il en entra en une colere si furieuse qu'il perdit un jour une partie du respect qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir pour elle et voicy comment cela arriva doralise qui scavoir bien que la princesse avoit aversion pour ce prince prenoit le plus grand plaisir du monde a dire cent choses devant luy qui ne luy plaisoient pas trop de sorte qu'elle ne le voyoit jamais guerre qu'elle ne louast en general la liberte et souvent aussi abradate un jour donc qu'il estoit chez la princesse et qu'elle connut qu'il l'importunoit estrangement elle tourna la conversation avec tant d'adresse qu'insensiblement mexaris luy mesme vint parler de prodigalite et peu a peu elle poussa la chose si loin qu'il soutint que ce vice la estoit le 
 plus grand de tous les vices pour moy luy dit elle je ne suis pas de vostre opinion ne m'estant pas possible de croire qu'un vice qui ressemble a la vertu la plus heroique de toutes ne soit pas moindre que l'avarice quoy interrompit mexaris vous mettriez la liberalite dans l'ame d'un prince devant la valeur et la prudence et vous voudriez qu'il fust plustost liberal que sage et courageux je ne scay pas luy dit elle si je voudrois qu'il fust plustost liberal que vaillant et prudent mais je scay bien que je ne voudrois pas qu'il fust prince s'il estoit avare il y a des gens dit alors mexaris qui n'aiment la liberalite en autruy que parce qu'ils ont l'ame mercenaire il est vray interrompit la princesse que cela se rencontre quelque fois mais il est certain aussi que cela n'arrive pas tousjours et que cela n'est pas en doralise qui assurement est nee fort genereuse la liberalite et la generosite reprit il ne sont pas une mesme chose j'en tombe d'accord dit doralise car je n'ignore pas qu'il y a des gens qui ont de la liberalite qui ne sont pas esgalement genereux en toutes les autres actions de leur vie mais je soutiens du moins que qui n'est point liberal n'est point genereux je dis bien encore d'avantage adjousta t'elle l'esprit un peu aigry de ce que mexaris avoit dit car je soustiens qu'un prince qui ne possede point cette vertu n'en peut presques posseder pas une en effet adjousta t'elle est- ce avoir de la bonte que de voir cent honnestes gens maltraitez 
 de la fortune sans les assister est-ce estre prudent que de se faire hair au lieu de s'aquerir mille serviteurs par des bienfaits est-ce estre grand politique que de ne s'aquerir pas des creatures mesmes chez ses ennemis est-ce aimer la gloire que d'aimer demesurement ce que tant de sages ont trouve glorieux de mespriser est-ce estre bon amy que d'estre toujours en estat de refuser tout ce qu'on demande est-ce estre bon maistre que de ne recompencer pas ceux qui servent est-ce estre galant que de n'estre pas toujours prest a tout donner et est-ce enfin estre veritablement prince que d'estre avare eux dis je a qui il ne reste que cette seule vertu ne qui l'usage les puisse mettre au dessus des autres hommes car enfin adjousta t'elle sans donner loisit a mexaris de l'interrompre je ne voy que cette venu toute seule par ou les grands puissent raisonablement s'eslever au dessus des autres la valeur est quelquefois aussi heroique dans l'ame d'un simple soldat que dans celle d'un roy la bonte peut estre le partage de tous les hommes et mesme plus des sujets que des souverains la prudence ne leur est pas non plus particuliere on peut avoir de la sagesse et la mettre en pratique aussi bien qu'eux mais pour la liberalite c'est aux grands seulement que la gloire en est toute reservee c'est en vain poursuivit elle que ceux qui n'ont rien a donner la possedent puis qu'ils ne peuvent la faire paroistre avec esclat mais aussi 
 c'est en vain que les grands ont la puissance de donner s'il n'en ont pas la volonte j'ay pourtant peine a croire reprit mexaris que ce soit l'intention des dieux que les hommes a qui ils font la grace de donner de grands biens au dessus des autres les mesprisent en les jettant comme vous le voulez il paroist pourtant assez clairement repliqua doralise que les dieux veulent que ce qu'ils donnent serve a la societe publique et non pas simplement a l'avarice d'un particulier en effet adjousta la princesse nous en avons un exemple en mille belles choses de l'univers le soleil donne tous ses rayons et toute sa lumiere au mon de la mer donne toutes ses eaux aux fontaines et les rois mesmes a qui les dieux ont donne tant d'authorite sont obligez de donner tous leurs foins a la conduitte de leurs estats et a la deffence de leurs sujets ha pour des foins interrompit doralise en riant j'en connois qui n'en sont pas avares quoy que d'ailleurs ils ne soient pas liberaux il me semble dit mexaris que pour aimer tant la liberalite en autruy nous n'avons jamais guere entendu parler des liberalitez de doralise je vous ay desja dit seigneur reprit elle qu'il n'appartient qu'aux princes de pratiquer cette vertu joint que peut-estre ay je plus donne que vous ne pensez pour des foins dit il voulant parler des offices qu'elle rendoit a abradate je scay bien que vous n'en estes pas avare car vous en avez beaucoup de 
 servir vos amis absens quoy seigneur luy dit la princesse qui vouloit destourner la conversation vous reprochez cela a doraliser comme si c'estoit un crime et je trouve que c'est une fort bonne qualite que de n'oublier pas ses amis je voy bien madame reprit il emporte de colere et d'amour tout ensemble que doralise vous a inspire toutes ses inclinations et qu'elle vous aura fait si liberale que non seulement vous donnerez jusques a vostre coeur mais que vous refuserez mesme celuy des autres excepte mexaris s'arresta a ces paroles peut-estre bien fache d'en avoir plus dit qu'il ne vouloit mais il n'estoit plus temps car de l'air dont il avoit prononce ces derniers mots la princesse s'en offenca de telle sorte qu'elle ne put s'empeschor de luy en donner des marques il est vray repliqua panthee a l'insolent discours de mexaris qu'il y a peu de coeurs que je voulusse accepter quand on me les offriroit et plus vray encore que si je donne jamais le mien ce sera a une personne si illustre que cette liberalite ne me fera pas passer pour prodigue quoy madame reprit mexaris qui vouloit racommoder la chose je pourrois esperer que vostre coeur ne seroit pas encore donne ce mot d'esperer luy dit elle n'est pas en son lieu car soit que mon coeur soit donne ou qu'il ne le soit pas ceux qui m'outragent n'y doivent point pretendre de part je ne scay pas qui sont ceux qui selon vous vous outragent reprit il mais je scay bien que selon 
 moy ce sont ceux qui vous aiment sans en estre dignes j'en tombe d'accord luy dit elle et c'est comme cela que je l'entends nous ne nous entendons pourtant point reprit il car vous voulez parler de mexaris et je veux parler d'abradate qui tout exile qu'il est ose lever les yeux vers vous abradate a l'honneur de vous estre si proche repliqua t'elle que vous ne pouvez l'offencer sans vous offencer vous mesme c'est pourquoy je ne le deffends pas cependant seigneur je vous suplie de ne trouver pas mauvais si je vous dis franchement que si je puis disposer de moy je ne recevray plus de visites de vous je le veux bien luy dit il en se levant mais en eschange j'en rendray au prince vostre pere qui me seront peut-estre plus avantageuses apres cela mexaris sortit de chez la princesse qui demeura avec une colere contre luy que je ne vous scaurois exprimer je pense mesme qu'il rendit un bon office a abradate car il me sembla que depuis ce jour la il parut encore plus d'estime pour luy dans tous les discours de panthee cependant mexaris pour ne perdre point de temps fut un jour trouver le prince de clasomene et apres plusieurs discours indifferens il luy dit qu'il avoit un advis a luy donner dont il le prioit de faire son profit en suitte dequoy il adjousta que l'honnorant comme il faisoit il croyoit a propos de luy dire qu'il estoit de sa prudence de donner ordre qu'au retour de la cour le prince abradate fust prie par 
 la princesse sa fille de n'agir plus comme son amant qu'il scavoit que c'estoit une alliance que cresus n'aprouveroit pas que de plus il ne seroit point avantageux a panthee d'espouser un prince exile et qui n'auroit pour toutes choses que les bien faits du roy des que la reine sa mere seroit morte joint luy dit il encore apres cela que de la facon dont elle agira en cette occasion despend la resolution d'un prince qui peut la mettre en un rang plus considerable qu'abradate le prince de clasomene remercia mexaris de l'advis qu'il luy donnoit et comme il n'ignoroit pas l'amour qu'il avoit pour sa fille et que depuis la mort du prince atys il souhaitoit plustost qu'elle l'espousast qu'abradate il luy promit d'agir selon ses conscils avec tant de defference que mexaris voulant pousser la chose plus loin luy descouvrit la passion qu'il avoit pour sa fille et voulut mesme l'obliger a luy faire espouser devant le retour du roy toutesfois quelques favorables paroles que luy donnast le pere de la princesse il ne put se resoudre a faire ce qu'il vouloit et a donner un si grand sujet de pleinte a cresus et qui peut estre mesme pourroit causer une guerre civile de sorte que se contentant de l'assurer qu'il esloigneroit abradate de ses pretentions autant qu'il pourroit et qu'il approuvoit et authorisoit les siennes il luy refusa de luy faire espouser sa fille sans la permission du roy ou du moins sans qu'il l'eust refusee mexaris creut pourtant avoir beaucoup 
 obtenu que d'estre assure que son rival n'obtiendroit rien a son prejudice et en effet des le soir mesme le prince de clasomene par la a panthee et luy tesmoigna qu'elle luy desplairoit si au retour d'abradate elle ne l'obligeoit a ne songer plus a elle et si au contraire elle ne recevoit avec beaucoup de civilite les visites de mexaris la princesse fort surprise et fort affligee d'un semblable discours ne laissa pourtant pas d'y respondre avec beaucoup de sagesse et de generosite tout ensemble car apres avoir assure le prince son pere qu'elle luy obeiroit toute sa vie elle le suplia de ne l'obliger pourtant pas a faire une chose indigne d'elle et de luy pour abradate luy dit elle quoy que je l'honnore extremement il me sera neantmoins fort aise de faire ce que vous voulez que je face mais pour mexaris qui m'a outrage sensiblement et pour qui j'ay une aversion invincible je vous conjure de ne me commander pas absolument de vivre aveque luy comme si je l'estimois et comme si je luy avois de l'obligation car outre qu'il ne seroit pas juste je craindrois encore que je ne pusse pas vous obeir de bonne grace le prince de clasomene voulut alors scavoir dequoy elle se plaignoit mais bien qu'elle exagerast la chose en la luy racontant il ne prit pas cela comme elle vouloit qu'il le prist au contraire il luy dit que tout ce qu'elle luy racontoit n'estoit qu'un effet de la passion que ce prince avoit pour elle et qu'enfin il vouloit estre obei jusques 
 a ce jour la madame il est certain que panthee avoit creu n'avoir qu'une simple estime pour abradate et elle l'avoit si bien creu qu'elle pensa mesme encore qu'il luy seroit fort aise de le traitter plus froidement a son retour qu'elle n'avoit accoustume ce n'est pas qu'elle prist la resolution de mieux vivre avec mexaris en vivant plus mal avec abradate mais elle croyoit qu'accordant au prince son pere la moitie de ce qu'il souhaitoit d'elle elle seroit plus en droit de luy refuser le reste de sorte qu'afin de maltraitter mexaris elle se resolvoit a ne traitter pas trop bien abradate mais madame a la fin de la campagne l'illustre cleandre le ramenant a sardis et y rentrant comme en triomphe apres tant de victoires obtenues la princesse commenca de s'apercevoir qu'il luy seroit plus difficile de faire ce qu'elle avoit resolu qu'elle ne se l'estoit imagine car comme tous ceux qui arriverent les premiers ne parloient que de la valeur d'abradate son coeur en eut une joye si sensible qu'elle connut bien qu'elle n'estoit pas maistresse absolue de tous ses mouvemens cependant comme elle n'avoit pas eu la force de resister opiniastrement au prince son pere mexaris apres luy avoir demande pardon la revoyoit et quoy qu'elle vescust aueque luy avec une froideur extreme il ne laissoit pas de la suivre en tous lieux le jour de ce petit triomphe estant donc venu toutes les dames se tinrent aux fenestres dans toutes les rues 
 ou il devoit passer de sorte que la princesse y estant comme les autres mexaris qui avoit este saluer le roy a une journee de sardis et qui par plus d'une raison n'avoit pas voulu y r'entrer aveque luy vint ou la princesse estoit et plusieurs autres dames avec elle d'abord qu'elle le vit elle en eut un depit extreme et si grand qu'elle ne put s'empescher de dire a doralise ce qu'elle en pensoit du moins madame luy respondit elle ne souffrez pas que le prince abradate qui revient tout couvert de lauriers ait la douleur de voir son rival aupres de vous quand il passera et qu'il ait sujet de craindre que ce rival ne l'ait vaincu dans vostre coeur je voudrois bien esloigner mexaris pour l'amour de moy mesme reprit la princesse sans considerer abradate mais je ne voy pas que je le puisse il faut luy dit doralise que je le face tousjours disputer sur quelque chose ainsi il pourra estre que lors qu'abradate passera il ne regardera point a la fenestre la princesse sourit de l'invention de doralise qui ne reussit pourtant pas car comme mexaris s'estoit resolu de voir de quelle facon la princesse ragarderoit abradate quand il passeroit devant elle et de donner mesme un sentiment de douleur a son rival de le voir aupres de panthee il ne la quitta point du tout quoy qu'elle nait pas l'action inquiette comme tant d'autres personnes l'ont elle changea pourtant vingt fois de place et vingt fois il en changea aussi bien qu'elle tantost elle se mettoit a une fenestre et faisoit mettre 
 doralise aupres d'elle mais un instant apres il partageoit incivilement la mesme fenestre ou estoit doralise afin qu'abradate le vist tousjours aupres de panthee ainsi quoy qu'elle pust faire il estoit tousjours aupres d'elle je ne vous diray point madame combien ce petit triomphe fut beau et magnifique car ce seroit perdre le temps inutilement mais je vous diray qu'apres avoir veu passer les prisonniers les drapeaux et tout le butin fait sur les ennemis nous vismes enfin paroistre apres avoir veu auparavant plus de dix mille hommes a cheval le roy et aupres de luy abradate et cleandre comme ceux qui avoient en effet merite toute la gloire du triomphe pour moy qui observois soigneusement tout ce qui se passoit je m'aperceus que des qu'abradate parut il connut la princesse et vit mexaris aupres d'elle car depuis que je le vy il eut tousjours les yeux levez vers la fenestre ou elle estoit ce prince avoit ce jour la si bonne mine et estoit si magnifiquement habille que je ne l'avois jamais veu mieux mexaris ne l'eut pas plustost aperceu qu'il regarda si la princesse le voyoit et il fut en effet si heureux ou pour mieux dire si malheureux qu'il fut tesmoin du premier sentiment que la veue d'abradate luy donna car encore qu'elle se fust preparee autant qu'elle avoit pu a cette premiere veue elle rougit des qu'elle aperceut abradate et rougit mesme d'une certaine facon qui fit que mexaris remarqua de la joye dans ses yeux quelque 
 douleur qu'il en eust il demeura pourtant constamment a sa place mais quoy qu'il pust dire a la princesse avec intention de la forcer a luy parler quand abradate passeroit devant leurs fenestres il ne put l'obliger a luy respondre de sorte que doralise s'en apercevant seigneur luy dit elle afin de l'occuper ne vous estonnez pas du silence de la princesse car l'ay remarque il y a long temps que j'ay cette conformite avec elle de ne pouvoir regarder escouter et parler en mesme temps aussi ne voudrois je pas qu'elle le fist reprit il car je voudrois qu'elle ne regardast point abradate qu'elle m'escoutast et qu'en suitte elle me respondist cependant comme le roy avancoit tousjours et par consequent abradate mexaris eut la douleur de voir que ce prince la salua avec un respect si profond et d'une maniere si galante que toutes les dames qui estoient aupres de panthee le louerent extremement mais pour achever son malheur la princesse quoy qu'elle eust resolu de ne le saluer qu'avec une civilite un peu froide ne le fit point du tout au contraire elle se pancha obligeamment hors de la fenestre et par je ne scay quel air ouvert et agreable qui parut sur son visage elle fit si bien connoistre qu'elle estoit ravie de le voir qu'abradate en fut a moitie console de la douleur qu'il avoit de voir son rival aupres d'elle en eschange mexaris en eut un depit si sensible que ne pouvant plus durer a la fenestre qu'il avoit gardee si opiniastrement il s'en 
 retira et se mit a se promener a grands pas dans la chambre durat que la princesse regardoit encore abradate qui tourna diverses fois la teste de son coste jusques a ce qu'ayant pris dans une rue a gauche il ne la put plus voir le pauvre perinthe qui par la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame avoit aussi eu quelque curiosite de voir cette premiere entre-veue de panthee et d'abradate avoit suivi ce prince d'assez pres et avoit aussi fort bi remarque que la princesse l'avoit saluee fort obligeamment il estoit mesme demeure derriere feignant d'attendre quelqu'un afin de pouvoir rencontrer les yeux de la princesse pour avoir du moins la consolation d'en estre veu mais comme panthee avoit l'esprit distrait il la salua plus d'une fois sans qu'elle s'en aperceust quoy qu'elle eust les yeux tournez de son coste et je pense mesme qu'il eust encore bi fait des reverences inutiles si mexaris quittat sa promenade et revenant a la fenestre ne l'eust aperceu et n'en eust fait apercevoir la princesse madame luy dit il je pense que l'on pourroit dire sans mensonge que vous voyez encore ce que vous ne voyez plus et que vous ne voyez pas ce que vous regardez car il me semble que perinthe est un assez honneste homme pour croire que si vous scaviez qu'il vous salue vous luy rendriez son falut la princesse fort surprise du discours de mexaris ou elle ne voulut pas respondre vit en effet perinthe sous ses fenestres a qui elle fit cent signes obligeans conme luy faisant excuse de ne l'avoir point veu plus tost elle apella 
 mesme doralise a qui elle le monstra ainsi mexaris sans le scavoir fit recevoir cent caresses a un de ses rivaux il est vray que perinthe n'en estoit guere plus heureux par la cruelle pensee qu'il avoit qu'il n'estoit bi avec la princesse que parce qu'elle ne scavoit pas la passion qu'il avoit pour elle cependant conme il faloit que mexaris s'en allast au palais du roy et que la princesse luy dit qu'elle passeroit le reste du jour dans la maison ou elle estoit dont la maistresse estoit de ses amies il fut contraint de la quitter un quart d'heure apres qu'il fut party perinthe arriva a qui la princesse donna cent tesmoignages d'amitie doralise suivant sa coustume luy fit tousjours la guerre de la passion secrette dont elle l'accusoit cherchant aveque soin a s'eclaircir de ses soubcons conme si elle eust eu un interest particulier en perinthe ce n'est pas qu'en effet elle y en prist car cette personne estoit trop glorieuse et avoit l'ame trop bien faite pour aimer sans estre aimee mais je pense pourtant pouvoir dire que doralise n'eust pas este marrie que perinthe eust eu l'ame assez libre pour estre capable d'engager a l'aimer ainsi sans avoir un dessein forme de l'assujettir elle faisoit du moins tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour descouvrir s'il estoit vray qu'il fust desja assujetty conme elle en avoit souvent des soubcons c'est pourquoy elle ne le voyoit sans luy dire cent choses qui l' batrassoient estrangement apres plusieurs discours de l'heureux succes de cette guerre conme il n'est pas aise de s'empescher de parler de ce 
 qui nous tient au coeur la princesse demanda a perinthe s'il n'avoit pas fait grande amitie avec le prince abradate durant ce voyage car poursuivit elle je vous trouve tous propre a estre fort de ses amis l'amitie madame repliqua t'il n'est pas comme l'amour qui peut estre fort souvent entre personnes inesgales puis qu'au contraire il faut pour faire que l'amitie soit parfaite qu'elle se fasse entre deux personnes dont l'age l'humeur et la condition ayent assez d'egalite ainsi comme je suis tres esloignee du prince abradate presques en toutes choses je n'ay pas la temerite de pretendre a la gloire d'estre son amy pour moy dit la princesse si ce n'estoit que je croy que vous parlez ainsi par modestie je m'estonnerois de voir dans vostre esprit une opinion si opposee a la mienne car enfin je suis persuadee que pour l'amour elle doit absolument estre entre personnes esgales mais pour l'amitie cela n'est nullement necessaire et je trouverois le destin des princes bien malheureux s'ils ne pouvoient jamais avoir d'autres amis que ceux de leur condition qui ne se trouvent pas tousjours fort honnestes gens et qui sont du moins en petit nombre comme vostre raison est beaucoup plus esclairee que la mienne reprit perinthe il peut estre que je me trompe mais il est vray que j'avois toujours cru que les princes ne pouvoient avoir que des creatures et des serviteurs et peu souvent des amis et que j'avois pense au contraire 
 que la puissance de l'amour n'estoit pas renferme dans des bornes si estroites que celles que vous luy prescrivez ha pour cette derniere chose dit la princesse je la tiens d'une absolue necessite je ne tiens pas adjousta t'elle qu'il soit impossible qu'un homme de qualite s'abaisse jusques a aimer au dessous de luy mais je dis que la disproportion en amour est la plus extravagante chose du monde mais madame dit doralise en riant et voulant faire parler perinthe vous ne songez pas que cette passion est dans le coeur des hommes devant que la force eust mis de la difference entre eux et eust fait des princes et des souverains ainsi selon l'intention des dieux l'esgalite necessaire a faire que l'amour soit raisonnable est l'esgalite du merite et de la personne et non pas de la condition qui est une chose estrangere et qui ne sert quelquesfois qu'a rendre ceux qui la possedent la plus haute plus mesprisables et plus mesprisez quand ils ne s'en trouvent pas dignes il me semble madame reprit perinthe que doralise parle avec beaucoup de raison il me semble du moins repliqua la princesse qu'elle parle avec beaucoup d'esprit mais je ne laisse pas de soutenir qu'il y a une certaine bienseance universelle que l'usage a establie qui doit tenir lieu de raison et de loy et qui veut sans doute que la qualite des personnes qui ont a s'aimer de cette sorte ne soit pas disproportionnee si l'amour dit perinthe estoit une 
 chose volontaire je pense que ce que vous dittes seroit equitablement dit mais cela n'estant pas je suis persuade qu'il est fort injuste de sorte interrompit doralise en riant que selon ce que dit perinthe de qui je ne combats pourtant pas les sentimens on peut conclurre que s'il aime il aime au dessus ou au dessous de luy et des la adjousta t'elle je n'ay que faire de me flatter de la pensee que peut- estre j'ay assujetty son coeur puis qu'estans tous deux a peu pres de mesme qualite je n'ay rien a y pretendre perinthe interrompit la princesse ne parle de cela qu'en general et ne s'en fait pas l'aplication particuliere et certes a dire vray adjousta t'elle j'aime assez perinthe pour ne le vouloir pas soubconner d'une pareille chose car il me semble assez sage pour n'aller pas entreprendre un dessein impossible et assez glorieux aussi pour n'aimer pas une personne de basse condition perinthe se trouva alors estrangement embarrasse car d'advouer a la princesse qu'elle avoit raison son amour n'y pouvoit consentir de luy dire qu'elle se trompoit c'estoit s'exposer ou a descouvrir son secret ou a estre soubconne d'une passion indigne de luy de sorte que biaisant sa responce adroitement il fit si bien que la princesse ny doralise ne trouverent rien a ce qu'il dit sur quoy elles pussent faire un fondement raisonnable cependant dit la princesse mous faisons le plus grand tort du 
 monde a tant d'illustres guerriers qui n'ont prodigue leur sang et hazarde leurs vies qu'afin que l'on parle d'eux car enfin au lieu de parler des grandes actions qu'ils ont faites a la guerre nous nous amusons a parler d'amour et d'une amour encore adjousta t'elle pleine d'extravagance et de folie apres cela comme il estoit desja tard elle se leva et se retira chez elle ou abradate estoit desja alle visiter le prince son pere qui le receut assez froidement mais comme il vit par un balcon aupres duquel il estoit aveques luy que la princesse estoit arrivee il le quitta bien-tost apres et fut ou sa passion et son devoir l'apelloient
 
 
 
 
panthee le receut avec beaucoup de civilite mais avec un peu moins de franchise qu'il n'en avoit veu dans ses yeux lors qu'il l'avoit saluee en passant toutesfois il estoit si aise de se voir aupres d'elle qu'il ne fit pas d'abord une grande reflection la dessus et d'autant moins qu'estant seul a l'entretenir il s'imagina qu'elle en usoit seulement ainsi pour luy oster la hardiesse de luy parler de son amour il ne perdit pourtant pas une occasion si favorable car a peine les premiers complimens surent ils faits qu'il se mit a luy exagerer la douleur qu'il avoit eue d'estre esloigne d'elle la joye qu'il avoit de la voir et de la voir plus belle qu'elle n'avoit jamais este si bien luy dit il madame que s'il plaisoit aux mesmes dieux qui vous ont encore 
 embellie de vous avoir rendue un peu plus douce je serois le plus heureux homme de la terre j'oublierois toutes les peines que j'ay souffertes et je ne songerois plus qu'a vous adorer avec tant de plaifir que de respct la princesse entendant parler abradate de cette sorte et connoissant bien par l'air dont il luy parloit qu'il avoit en effet dans le coeur la mesme passion qu'il exprimoit par ses paroles se trouva l'esprit bien partage d'un coste elle n'estoit pas marrie qu'abradate l'aimast et de l'autre scachant ce que le prince son pere luy avoit dit elle croyoit qu'il ne luy estoit pas permis de souffrir la passion de ce prince cependant sans se pouvoir determiner elle prit un milieu et sans estre ny douce ny inhumaine elle mesnagea si bien cette conversation qu'abradate ne put trouver en tout ce qu'elle luy dit ny dequoy se desesperer ny dequoy s'assurer aussi il remarqua bien sans doute qu'elle n'avoit pas l'esprit aussi libre qu'elle avoit accoustume de l'avoir mais il n'en put penetrer la cause au sortir de chez elle il fut chez doralise qu'il estimoit fort et que de plus il regardoit comme estant fort aimee de la princesse afin de s'informer avec adresse si mexaris n'avoit point profite de son absence et en effet doralise n'eut pas plustost descouvert ce qu'il vouloit scavoir que comme elle estoit bien aise de le favoriser elle luy fit entendre avec la mesme adresse qu'il luy demandoit la chose que mexaris estoit encore 
 plus mal dans l'esprit de panthec qu'il n'avoit jamais este de plus luy dit elle je pense aussi que ce prince n'est pas plus amoureux qu'il estoit quand vous partistes car il n'est pas plus liberal aussi ay-je fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour persuader a la princesse qu'il demeuroit plustost icy pour garder ses thresors que pour l'amour d'elle ou par raison d'estat comme il l'a voulu faire croire ha doralise s'escria abradate vous me dittes si precisement ce que j'ay souhaitte que vous me dussiez que je crains que vous ne parliez ainsi que pour me faire plaisir et que tout ce que vous me dittes ne soit invente du moins m'advouerez vous reprit doralise en riant qu'il n'y a rien de plus vray semblable que de dire que le prince abradate est plus estime que mexaris je ne scay s'il est vray-semblable ou non reprit il mais je voudrois tousjours bien qu'il fust vray s'il ne manque que cela pour vous rendre heureux repliqua t'elle vous devez vous le trouver puis que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait personne a la cour qui ne vous estime plus que mexaris sans l'en excepter luy mesme car enfin vous luy estes si redoutable que je ne puis croire qu'il ne connoisse bien par quelle raison il vous doit craindre vous me respondez si favorablement aujourd'huy luy dit il que j'ay presques dessein de vous demander encore beaucoup de choses que je meurs n'envie de scavoir comme je ne les scauray peut estre pas si bien repliqua t'elle que celles que je vous 
 ay dittes il pourra estre aussi que mes responces ne vous seront pas si agreables ou ne seront pas si assurees ha doralise s'ecria t'il vous scavez bien precisement en quels termes je suis dans l'esprit de la princesse que j'adore ne vous ay-je pas desja dit reprit elle qu'elle vous estime plus que mexaris ouy repliqua t'il mais apres avoir examine ce discours qui m'a d'abord donne tant de joye je trouve qu'estre un peu plus estime d'elle qu'un prince qu'elle n'estime gueres n'est pas une grande faneur c'est pourquoy doralise puis que je me suis engage a vous en tant dire et que la violence de mon amour m'a force a vous parler de ce qui occupe toutes mes pensees ayez de grace la generosite de me dire si je dois mourir desespere ou s'il m'est permis de vivre avec quelque esperance seigneur luy dit elle vous m'en demandez plus que je n'en scay et par consequent plus que je ne vous en puis dire si je juge de la chose par vostre merite et par l'esprit de la princesse qui est tres capable de faire un juste discernement des honnestes gens je trouve que vous avez lieu de croire que vous serez choisi par elle mais si j'en juge par le caprice de la fortune qui fait que ceux qui meritent le plus d'estre heureux sont les plus miserables je trouve aussi que vous avez sujet de craindre que plusieurs choses ne s'oposent a vos intentions la fortune reprit il peut faire sans doute que je ne possede pas panthee mais cette fortune 
 ne doit rien changer dans son coeur et dans ses sentimens qui est ce que je veux scavoir comme je ne luy ay pas demande precisement ce qu'elle pensoit de vous repliqua doralise je ne pourrois pas vous dire rien avec certitude et tout ce que je puis est de vous assurer que connoissant panthee aussi judicieuse qu'elle est j'ay sujet de croire que si vous ne reussissez pas dans vostre dessein ce sera plustost par le caprice d'autruy que par aversion qu'elle ait pour vous abradate connut bien que doralise ne vouloit pas s'ouvrir davantage mais il ne laissa pas de juger qu'elle scavoit qu'il seroit traverse dans son amour cependant cette fille ne manqua pas le lendemain au matin de venir chez la princesse pour luy dire tout ce que ce prince luy avoit dit et pour scavoir d'elle ce qu'elle vouloit qu'elle luy dist car elle prevoyoit bien qu'apres cette conversation elle en auroit d'autres aveque luy sur ce mesme sujet vous luy direz tousjours reprit la princesse que vous ne scavez point mes sentimens et vous ne vous chargerez d'aucune chose pour me dire de sa part mais madame reprit doralise je puis dire ce que vous voulez que je die d'un air si different que je serois bien aise que vous me fissiez l'honneur de m'expliquer un peu mieux vos intentions ha pour le son de vostre voix repliqua panthee en sous-riant je pense qu'il n'est pas necessaire que je le regle puis que je ne croy pas qu'il y ait une personne au 
 monde qui possede plus parfaitement que vous l'art de dire des choses facheuses sans dire de paroles rudes ny qui s'exprime aussi plus flatteusement sans dire mesme de grandes flatteries vous ne voulez pas du moins madame reprit doralise qu'en disant au prince abradate que je ne scay point vos sentimens je luy die cela comme si en effet je scavois que vous eussiez de l'aversion pour luy et quil vous fist un outrage irreparable d'avoir pour vous une passion tres respectueuse nullement repliqua la princesse mais je ne veux pas aussi que vous luy parliez d'un air a luy faire comprendre que si vous ne luy dittes pas ce que je pense de luy ce soit parce que mes sentimens luy sont trop avantageux que voulez vous donc bien precisement que je luy fasse entendre interrompit doralise je voudrois respondit panthee que sans qu'abradate pust soubconner qu'il y eust de finesse en vos paroles il creust en effet que vous n'avez ose me parler de luy que vous ne scavez point du tout le secret de mon coeur pour ce qui le regarde et que sans luy persuader que j'aye de l'adversion pour sa personne vous luy fissiez entendre que ce qu'il entreprend est fort difficile afin que sans me hair sans m'accuser de son malheur et sans me soubconnner de foiblesse je pusse conserver son estime et demeurer pourtant en repos ha madame s'escria doralise en riant si le son de ma voix seulement doit expliquer tout ce que 
 vous venez de dire il faut sans doute assembler tous ces musiciens de phrigie et de lydie qui estoient chez le prince abradate pour les obliger de m'aprendre a la conduire en parlant comme ils aprennent a chanter et a exprimer toutes les passions mesme sans paroles serieusement madame adjousta doralise je ne scaurois faire ce que vous voulez et je scay bien que je donneray infailliblement de l'esperance ou de la crainte a abradate choisissez donc la derniere reprit la princesse en souspirant doralise qui jusques alors avoit raille avec elle suivant la liberte qu'elle luy en donnoit s'apercevant qu'elle avoit soupire prit un visage plus serieux de sorte que panthee luy ayant apris ce que le prince son pere luy avoit dit elle connut qu'en effet il faloit aporter beaucoup de circonspection a parler a abradate car elle jugeoit bien qu'il n'estoit pas a propos de luy faire connoistre que mexaris estoit celuy qui traversoit son dessein secrettement de peur des facheuses suittes que la chose pourroit avoir et elle connoissoit aussi que la princesse n'eust pas voulu que ce prince eust creu qu'elle l'eust meprise si bien que doralise se chargeant de la conduitte de cette petite negociation s'en aquita avec une adresse admirable estant certain que durant quelques jours elle suspendit de telle sorte l'esprit d'abradate qu'il ne scavoit que penser cependant perinthe qui avoit ouy de la bouche de la princesse qu'elle ne 
 trouvoit rien de plus extravagant que l'amour entre personnes mesgales en eut une douleur si forte qu'il falut plusieurs jours pour dissiper la melancolie que ces paroles dittes sans dessein avoient mise dans son ame en effet son chagrin fut si excessif que tout le monde s'aperceut du changement de son humeur la princesse mesme y prit garde et comme il estoit un matin chez elle et que doralise y estoit aussi panthee luy demanda si dans l'opinion qu'elle avoit que l'amour seul faisoit les honnestes gens elle croyoit encore que quand lis cessoient d'aimer ils perdissent quelque chose de ce qu'ils avoient d'aimable car si cela est dit la princesse il faut conclurre que depuis quelques jours perinthe n'aime plus puis qu'il est vray que sa conversation n'est plus ce qu'elle a accoustume d'estre non non madame dit doralise la chose n'est pas comme vous pensez estant certain qu'un honneste homme que l'amour a fait le demeure toute sa vie il est vray pourtant que cette mesme passion qui luy aura donne cent bonnes qualitez qu'il n'auroit jamais eues s'il n'eust jamais este amoureux pourra bien quelquesfois si elle devient un peu trop forte faire qu'il y ait des jours ou sa conversation ne sera pas agreable et ou il ne paroistra point du tout ce qu'il est ainsi madame adjousta t'elle bien loin de croire comme vous que perinthe n'est moins sociable que parce qu'il cesse d'aimer je suis persuadee au 
 contraire que c'est parce qu'il aime encore plus qu'il ne faisoit ou que peut-estre on l'aime moins car pour l'ordinaire c'est plus par les sentimens d'autruy que par les siens propres que l'on est malheureux lors que l'on est possede de cette passion mais en fin doralise adjousta la princesse vous n'avez pas encore descouvert ce que vous vous estiez vantee de descouvrir si promptement il est vray madame repliqua t'elle que je ne suis pas encore assuree si quelques soubcons que j'ay eus sont bien ou mal fondez je vous prie du moins dit la princesse de me dire ce que vous avez soubconne ha doralise s'ecria perinthe qui craignit qu'elle n'allast dire a panthee ce qu'elle luy avoit autrefois dit a luy mesme devant que d'aller au siege d'ephese vous avez trop d'esprit pour ignorer qu'il est certaines choses dont il n'est jamais permis de railler et trop de bonte aussi pour vouloir me desobliger si cruellement en me donnant part a une chose que vous avez imaginee sans aucune aparence le soin que vous aportez a m'empescher de parler dit doralise pourroit pourtant estre une marque que je ne me trompe pas mais quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'elle je m'imposeray silence la princesse se mit alors a presser doralise de luy dire ce qu'elle avoit soubconne neantmoins elle eut beau la tourmenter elle n'en put venir a bout elle donna pourtant mille aprehensions a perinthe toutesfois il aprehendoit sans sujet 
 car la raison principale qui empescha doralise de dire a la princesse ce qu'elle avoit pense fut qu'elle craignit qu'elle ne trouvast pas bon qu'elle eust pu soubconner qu'un homme comme perinthe eust ose lever les yeux vers elle cette conversation se passa donc de cette sorte pendant laquelle doralise vit tant d'agitation dans les yeux de perinthe que quelqu'un estant venu parler a la princesse elle s'aprocha de luy pour continuer de luy dire qu'il avoit fortifie tous ses soubcons quoy doralise luy dit il vous eussiez voulu que je vous eusse laisse dire une chose comme celle la a la princesse du monde la plus severe et qui eust peut-estre pu s'imaginer que je vous aurois donne sujet de penser ce que vous me dittes sans doute sans le croire en verite adjousta t'il avec beaucoup de finesse vous m'avez cause un battement de coeur aussi fort que si vous eussiez este preste de me mettre mal avec la personne que vous dittes que j'aime perinthe qui avoit eu loisir de se remettre dit cela avec un esprit si libre en aparence qu'il en embarrassa doralise et luy persuada en effet qu'elle s'abusoit voila donc madame le point ou en estoient les choses en ce temps la abradate craignoit plus qu'il n'esperoit mexaris au contraire esperoit tout et ne craignoit presques rien et perinthe sans avoir ny crainte ny esperance s'estimoit le plus infortune de tous les hommes par la certitude infaillible ou il estoit d'estre toujours malheureux 
 quoy qu'il pust arriver pour la princesse elle avoit une aussi forte aversion pour mexaris qu'elle avoit une puissante inclination pour abradate et n'avoit guere moins d'amitie pour perinthe que pour doralise et pour moy mais durant que mexaris songeoit par quelle voye il pourroit obtenir du roy la permission d'espouser panthee et qu'abradate pensoit a s'apuyer de l'amitie de cleandre la conjuration d'antaleon fut d'escouverte qui a fait assez de bruit pour croire que vous ne l'ignorez pas de sorte que sans m'y arrester je vous diray que toute la cour estant brouillee pour cela on fut contraint de ne parler d'autre chose durant quelque temps mais madame pour vous faire connoistre la difference qu'il y avoit de l'ame de mexaris a celle d'abradate je vous diray que ce premier fit tout ce qu'il put secrettement pour trouver les voyes de faire croire a cresus que ce prince avoit sceu quelque chose de la conjuration mais quoy qu'il pust faire le roy n'en eut pas seulement le moindre soubcon pour abradate il en usa d'une autre sorte car s'estant trouve deux hommes qui avoient este au service de mexaris et qui n'avoient receu aucune recompence de luy ils resolurent scachant la liberalite d'abradate et n'ignorant pas qu'il estoit rival de leur maistre de luy aller dire que s'il vouloir ils l'accuseroient et le contraindroient par consequent de s'esloigner de la cour et en effet ces deux 
 hommes de qui l'ame estoit aussi meschante que celle de mexaris estoit avare surent luy faire cette proposition abradate l'escouta avec horreur et la rejetta hautement mais apres cela comme je croy leur dit il que vous ne vous estes portez a vouloir une si lasche action que parce que l'avarice de vostre maistre est cause que vous estes pauvres je veux vous mettre en estat d'avoir loisir d'en chercher un meilleur que luy sans estre contraints de faire des crimes pour subsister et alors il fit donner plus qu'ils n'eussent ose pretendre quand il les eust voulu obliger a faire ce qu'ils luy avoient propose aussi surent ils si surpris de cette generosite et si confus de leur perfidie qu'ils ne penserent jamais se resoudre a accepter ce qu'abradate leur donnoit ils le firent toutesfois a la fin mais quelque belle que fust cette action on ne l'auroit pourtant jamais sceue n'eust este que ces deux hommes s'estant querellez au sortir de chez abradate sur le partage de ce qu'il leur avoit donne il y en eut un qui tua l'autre de sorte qu'estant pris et mis entre les mains de la justice presse par le remors de sa conscience il advoua la veritable cause de son crime et par ce moyen cette action heroique d'abradate fut sceue de tout le monde et de mexaris mesme qui ne luy en fit toutesfois qu'un compliment assez froid pour la princesse elle en eut une joye extreme et si grande qu'elle ne put s'empescher de la 
 tesmoigner mesme a abradate en le louant de sa generosite mais madame luy dit il je ne voy pas qu'il y ait lieu de me louer tant car selon moy ce n'est pas estre excessivement vertueux que de ne vouloir pas faire une mauvaise action il est vray pourtant luy dit il encore que si vous regardez la chose d'un autre biais vous trouverez en effet que s'agissant d'esloigner un rival il a falu quelque fermete a ne s'y resoudre pas et je ne scay si j'aurois eu assez de vertu pour cela et si l'amour auroit respecte la nature si ce n'eust este que je scay des voyes plus nobles de me deffaire de mes ennemis quand ils m'y forceront ha abradate luy dit elle ne m'obligez pas a vous faire des lecons au lieu de vous donner des louanges assurez moy du moins repliqua t'il que la joye que vous avez de ce que j'ay fait n'est pas causee de ce qu'en agissant comme l'ay agy je n'ay pas esloigne le prince mexaris je vous en assure respondit elle et sans pretendre mesme que vous m'en ayez de l'obligation mais aussi faites moy la grace de me promettre que vous esviterez autant qu'il vous sera possible d'avoir rien a demesler avec ce prince pour le pouvoir faire madame repliqua t'il il faudroit que je fusse assure que la princesse de clasomene me fust favorable car sans cela j'auoue que je ne puis pas respondre que le desespoir ne me porte a me vanger sur mon rival de toutes les rigueurs de ma maistresse ce seroit 
 estre fort injuste repliqua t'elle de punir celuy qui n'auroit point failly c'est pourquoy il vaudroit mieux adjousta t'elle en rougissant abandonner cette severe personne ouy si je le pouvois sans perdre la vie interrompit abradate mais madame je ne vous aime pas si peu que je puisse seulement desirer de vous aimer moins au contraire quoy que je vous aime autant que je le puis il me semble que je ne vous aime pas encore assez je vous serois pourtant bien obligee reprit elle si vous me voiyez avec un peu plus d'indifference croyez madame repliqua t'il que vous ne me remercierez jamais de vous avoir donne cette satisfaction mais inhumaine personne que vous estes adjousta ce prince afflige est il possible que la plus pure et la plus respectueuse passion qui sera jamais vous puisse offencer si elle ne m'offence pas repliqua t'elle il faut du moins advouer qu'elle m'inquiette et qu'ainsi je serois bien aise que vous n'eussiez que de l'estime pour moy vous devriez encore adjouster respondit il que vous souhaitteriez que j'eusse perdu la veue et la raison car sans cela madame vous desirez une chose impossible puis que tant que j'auray des yeux je vous trouveray la plus belle personne du monde et que tant que j'auray l'esprit libre je vous admireray comme la plus merveilleuse princesse de la terre je pense mesme adjousta cet amoureux prince que sans yeux et sans raison je ne laisserois pas 
 encore de vous adorer ouy madame mon coeur est si absolument a vous et si accoustume a n'aimer rien que vous que je pense que si mes larmes m'aveugloient et que ma douleur me fist perdre l'esprit mes pas me meneroient encore vers vous et ma folie mesme ne m'entretien droit que de vous iuges apres cela madame si voyant presentement dans vos yeux plus de charmes que personne n'en a jamais eu et si descouvrant dans vostre esprit autant de beautez que vostre visage m'en montre je pourrois n'avoir que de l'estime non non madame la chose n'est plus en ces termes la et je ne scay mesme si des le premier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir dans le bois et au bord de la fontaine j'eusse seulement pu obtenir de moy assez de force pour m'opposer a la puissance de vos charmes songez donc je vous en conjure a ne trouver point mauvais que je continue de vous aimer jusques a la fin de ma vie et que s'il est vray que vous aprehendiez quelques effets violents de la violente passion que j'ay pour vous il vous sera aise de vous mettre l'esprit en repos de ce coste la si vous le voulez car enfin si vous pouvez vous resoudre a me donner quelques marques d'une affection particuliere je vous promets de vous ouvrir mon coeur de n'avoir aucuns desseins que ceux que vous m'inspirerez et de n'agir avec le prince mexaris que comme il vous plaira mais si au contraire vous continuez de me traitter avec 
 la mesme severite que vous avez eue jusques icy il sera difficile quelque respect que je doive au frere de cresus et de la reine de la susiane que pour m'empescher d'estre encore plus malheureux que je ne suis je ne cherche les voyes de me vanger de celuy que je croiray estre en partie cause de mes disgraces il semble dit alors la princesse que vous assurant comme je fais que mexaris n'est pas fort bien aveque moy c'est vous oster tout sujet de vous attaquer a luy et il me semble madame repliqua t'il que puis que c'est a sa consideration que le prince vostre pere me traitte plus froidement qu'il ne faisoit autrefois il n'est pas besoin d'une autre raison pour me porter a luy nuire si j'ay pourtant quelque pouvoir sur vous adjousta panthee vous n'entre prendrez jamais rien contre luy du moins madame adjousta t'il en me commandant de respecter mon rival pour l'amour de vous dittes quelque chose d'obligeant pour l'amour de moy je diray respondit panthee en sous-riant que je vous pardonne tout ce que vous m'avez dit aujourd'huy pourveu que vous m'obeissiez exactement je vous obeiray madame respondit il mais ce sera s'il vous plaist a condition que vous souffrirez que je prenne souvent de nouveaux ordres de vostre bouche car autrement je craindrois de manquer a ma parole comme panthee alloit respondre cleandre arriva et fit changer de discours a la princesse qui depuis ce jour la s'accoustuma 
 peu a peu a souffrir que le prince abradate se pleignist des maux qu'elle luy causoit elle voulut mesme bien que doralise et moy prissions quelque soin de le consoler de tant de petits chagtins que le prince mexaris luy donnoit car quoy que la princesse luy eust enfin advoue qu'elle avoit plus d'estime pour luy que pour tout le reste du monde elle luy avoit pourtant tousjours constamment dit qu'elle ne pourroit jamais se resoudre a desobeir a son pere et qu'ainsi tout ce qu'elle pouvoit faire pour luy estoit de luy promettre de luy resister autant que la bien seance le permettroit il ne laissoit pourtant pas d'avoir quelque esperance que mexaris ne reussiroit pas dans son dessein parce que cleandre l'assuroit que cresus par raison d'estat devoit sans doute s'oposer a cette alliance et que pour l'amour de luy il le confirmeroit si puissamment dans ce dessein que mexaris n'en pourroit jamais venir a bout de sorte qu'il ne craignoit pas tant qu'il avoit fait autrefois come il scavoit que perinthe estoit fort bi aupres du prince de clasomene il luy faisoit cent caresses la princesse de son coste qui eust este fort aise que perinthe eust aime abradate luy disoit souvent qu'il parloit avantageusement de luy afin de l'y obliger mais plus elle luy donnoit de marques de l'estime de ce prince plus il sentoit dans son coeur de desirs violents de luy nuire parce qu'il croyoit que la princesse ne luy disoit toutes ces choses que pour avoir le plaisir de parler de luy 
 ce n'est pas que comme il estoit genereux il n'eust quelquesfois honte de sa propre foiblesse et de l'injustice de ses sentimens mais l'amour estant pourtant tousjours la plus forte il ne pouvoit s'empescher d'estre plus afflige de la passion qu'abradate avoit pour la princesse que de celle de mexaris cependant depuis que panthee et abradate surent assez bien ensemble pour pouvoir parler de leurs interests elle voulut qu'il fust un peu moins assidu chez elle afin qu'elle peust persuader au prince son pere qu'elle luy avoit obei pour ce qui regardoit abradate et qu'elle eust plus de raison de luy resister en cas qu'il voulust la presser de consentir au mariage de mexaris et d'elle il ne laissoit pourtant pas de la voir tous les jours car si ce n'estoit chez elle c'estoit chez la princesse de lydie et mesme quelquesfois chez doralise les choses surent donc ainsi jusques a ce que le prince abradate perdit un grand apuy en la personne de cleandre qui comme vous ne l'ignorez pas fut arreste prisonnier cet accident aporta un desordre si grand dans la cour que je ne vous le scaurois extrimer car a la reserve de mexaris qui le regardant comme le protecteur de son rival fut bien aise de sa disgrace il n'y eut assurement personne qui n'en jettast des larmes et qui n'accusast cresus de beaucoup de precipitation et d'injustice de s'estre laisse porter a soubconner si legerement un homme a qui il devoit tant de victoires mais a peine nos larmes 
 mes estoient elles essuyees pour cleandre qu'il en falut verser d'autres pour la princesse palmis que l'on arresta aussi et que l'on mena a ephese parmy les vierges voilees depuis cela mexaris parla avec plus d'authorite qu'il n'avoit accoustume et cresus connut bien tost que cleandre qu'il ne vouloit pas rcconnoistre pour estre le prince artamas n'estoit pas inutile pour le faire obeir aveuglement et respectueusement par tous les grands de son estat en effet mexaris commenca de parler de son mariage avec panthee comme d'une chose presques resolue et comme on ne pouvoit croire qu'il parlast ainsi sans avoir quelque assurance de cresus ceux qui advertirent abradate de la chose la luy dirent comme n'en doutant pas de sorte que tout desespere il fut chez doralise qui se trouvoit mal et que la princesse estoit allee voir de vous dire madame tout ce qu'abradate dit ce jour la a la princesse il ne me seroit pas possible car il luy dit tant de choses qu'a peine pouvoit elle luy respondre tantost il se pleignoit de l'indifference qu'elle avoit pour luy tantost il la conjuroit de l'assister un moment apres il ne luy demandoit pour toute grace que de luy abandonner mexaris ainsi passant d'un discours a l'autre sans changer pourtant de sujet toute l'apres-disnee se fust passee sans rien resoudre si doralise n'eust enfin pris la parole mais madame dit elle a panthee pourquoy n'employez vous pas perinthe aupres 
 du prince vostre pere vous scavez qu'il y est tout puissant il est vray dit panthee mais c'est que je ne puis me resoudre qu'a l'extremite a descouvrir mon coeur a tant de gens je promets pourtant dit elle si la chose est aussi avancee que le prince abradate la croit de faire cet effort sur moy mesme et de parler a perinthe afin qu'il parle au prince mon pere contre mexaris et vous ne luy parlerez point interrompit ce prince pour l'obliger a parler pour abradate je ne le pourrois pas luy repliqua t'elle et je vous tromperois si je vous le promettois cependant perinthe aprenant comme les autres que mexaris parloit comme devant bien tost espouser panthee et scachant de plus par le prince de clasomene qu'en effet mexaris l'assuroit qu'il n'estoit plus en termes de craindre que cresus ne voulust choquer comme il eust fait du prince atys ou devant la prison de cleandre il se trouva l'ame en une assiette mal affermie tant qu'il ne s'estoit agy que d'esloigner un amant aime il luy avoit semble qu'il luy estoit tres avantageux que mexaris fust prefere a abradate mais il ne regarda pas plustost mexaris comme devant bien tost espouser panthee qu'il eut autant d'envie de destruire son dessein qu'il en avoit eu de l'avancer apres venant a considerer quel malheur seroit celuy de la princesse d'espouser un prince pour qui il scavoit qu'elle avoit une aversion invincible il se repentoit de tout ce 
 qu'il avoit fait il sentoit pourtant bien que s'il eust encore eu a recommencer afin de traverser abradate dans ses intentions il auroit encore fait la mesme chose c'est a dire qu'il auroit entretenu comme il avoit fait depuis son retour de l'armee le prince de clasomene dans le dessein de faire espouser sa fille a mexaris mais alors croyant que la chose estoit preste de reussir il en entra en un desespoir etrange et il m'a dit qu'il fut tente cent et cent fois d'aller confesser tous ses crimes a la princesse et de se tuer a ses pieds en effet disoit il que me reste t'il a faire qu'a mourir puis que je ne puis jamais estre heureux et que je ne puis mesme vivre miserable sans traverser le bonheur de la seule personne que j'ayme mais disoit il quelquesfois pourquoy donc ne scaurois-je consentir qu'elle espouse mexaris car puis que je scay de certitude que je n'y puis jamais rien pretendre je ne scaurois trouver une meilleure voye de l'oster pour tousjours a abradate que de la donner pour tousjours a mexaris mais reprenoit il un moment apres ce mexaris n'est il pas mon rival aussi bien que l'autre et peut-on imaginer que l'on puisse avoir de l'amour et souffrir que quelqu'un possede la personne que l'on aime ha non non disoit il je me suis trompe et je n'ay jamais eu dessein que panthee fust femme de mexaris je l'ay voulue oster a abradate et je ne l'ay jamais voulue donner a son rival et au 
 mien et puis adjoustoit il encore seroit-il juste que pour diminuer quelque chose de mon malheur je rendisse la princesse que j'adore la plus infortunee personne de la terre elle dis-je qui m'adonne cent marques d'estime et d'amitie a qui je n'ay jamais descouvert ma passion et a qui je ne l'oserois descouvrir elle dis-je encore de qui je ne pourrois mesme me pleindre quand elle me banniroit pour tousjours si j'avois eu l'audace de luy dire que je l'aime et elle enfin qui me pourroit hair sans injustice si elle scavoit ce que j'ay fait contre elle cependant je ne puis me resondre a la voir femme d'abradate et il me semble que puis que je me resous a ne posseder jamais ce que j'aime il y a quelque justice que celle qui a mis dans mon coeur une si cruelle passion esprouve une partie de mon malheur en n'espousant pas abradate apres avoir donc bien raisonne sur son amour et sur l'estat present des choses il imagina une voye par laquelle il creut pouvoir esgalement empescher mexaris et abradate d'espouser panthee et voicy comment il fit son projet depuis la prison de cleandre andramite qui est le mesme qui vient de conduire la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis d'ephese a sardis s'estoit mis assez bien aupres de cresus et estoit amy particulier de perinthe qu'il voyoit tous les jours tant parce qu'ils se rencontroient souvent chez cresus que parce qu'andramite estant fort amoureux 
 de doralise la suivoit en tous lieux et estoit par consequent tres souvent chez la princesse de clasomene ou perinthe estoit tousjours cet amant cache imagina donc de continuer de nuire a abradate dans l'esprit du pere de la princesse et de nuire aussi a mexaris par l'entremise d'andramite qu'il fit dessein de faire parler a cresus en effet sans differer davantage a executer ce qu'il avoit resolu il fut trouver son amy et pour pretexter la chose il luy fit une fausse confidence de laquelle il pretendoit qu'il luy deust estre fort oblige il luy dit que la princesse panthee ayant une aversion invincible pour le prince mexaris elle l'avoit charge de chercher les voyes de rendre inutiles les desseins qu'il avoit pour elle et qu'ainsi il faloit qu'il eust recours a luy n'ignorant pas qu'il luy seroit aise de faire que cresus ne se relaschast point de la resolution qu'il avoit tesmoigne avoir de n'aprouver jamais ce mariage andramite qui aimoit perinthe qui de plus en attendoit office aupres de doralise et de la princesse et qui outre cela scavoit qu'en effet cresus avoit raison de ne vouloir pas que mexaris espousast panthee luy promit d'agir si puissamment que sans que mexaris peust soubconner d'ou la chose viendroit il l'empescheroit absolument d'espouser la princesse du consentement de cresus scachant assez le peu d'inclination que ce prince avoit pour cette alliance perinthe le remercia avec joye et n'attendit 
 pas long temps ce qu'il luy avoit fait esperer car deux jours apres cresus deffendit a mexaris de songer a espouser panthee luy proposant mesme un autre mariage comme mexaris s'estoit resolu a agir plus hautement qu'il n'avoit accoustume il receut ce discours assez fierement mais cresus emporte de colere d'ouir une responce si peu respectueuse luy parla avec tant d'authorite qu'il fut contraint de ceder de se taire et de se retirer et je ne scay mesme s'il ne seroit point sorty de sardis si l'amour qu'il avoit pour panthee ne l'en eust empesche cependant comme il craignit que la chose esclattant comme elle alloit faire infailliblement le prince de clasomene ne se refroidist il fut la luy dire luy mesme l'assurant qu'il vaincroit l'obslination du roy et le conjurant de ne changer pas de dessein et en effet le prince de clasomene croyoit voir mexaris si pres du throne qu'il luy promit tout ce qu'il voulut je vous laisse a penser madame quelle joye fut celle de panthee quand elle sceut ce qui s'estoit passe entre cresus et mexaris et quel transport fut celuy d'abradate d'aprendre le malheur de son rival comme ils ne scavoient pas d'ou leur venoit ce bonheur ils l'attribuoient seulement a cresus qui par raison d'estat s'opposoit a ce mariage si bien qu'a la premiere conversation particuliere qu'abradate eut avec doralise et aveque moy nous fusmes plus de deux heures a ne parler d'autre chose 
 et a nous en resjouir cependant perinthe ne laissoit pas dans le mesme temps qu'andramite agissoit contre mexaris d'agir en secret pour luy aupres du prince de clasomene afin d'agir contre abradate ainsi voyant quelque lieu d'esperer d'empescher ces deux princes de posseder la personne qu'il aimoit il en parut plus gay et redevint plus sociable qu'il n'estoit quelques jours auparavant mexaris de son coste apres avoir eu loisir de raisonner sur ce qu'il avoit a faire fit tant qu'il se racommoda avec le roy luy faisant esperer qu'il se defferoit avec le temps de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame quoy qu'il eust pourtant tousjours le dessein d'espouser panthee et qu'il en assurast le prince son pere en secret mais durant que les choses se passoient ainsi andramite qui estoit fort amoureux de doralise et qui l'avoit mesme este devant que d'estre marie a une belle personne qui estoit morte il y avoit plus d'un an pria perinthe a son tour de luy rendre office aupres de doralise ce qu'il luy promit luy disant que si ses soins ne luy estoient pas utiles il prieroit mesme la princesse de favoriser son dessein voila donc en effet perinthe fort resolu a tascher de servir andramite a qui il avoit tant d'obligation de sorte que non seulement il se mit a parler avantageusement de luy a doralise mais il me pria aussi de luy en dire quelque chose ce que je fis a la premiere occasion que j'en trouvay bien est il vray que 
 je luy dis que c'estoit a la priere de perinthe je pense madame vous avoir dit que doralise estimoit perinthe et que si elle eust peut-estre este en pouvoir d'inspirer dans son coeur tous les sentimens qu'elle eust voulu il en auroit eu d'assez tendres pour elle vous pouvez donc aisement juger apres cela que le voyant si empresse a parler pour andramite bien loin de le servir comme il le souhaitoit il luy nuisit plustost elle ne luy respondit pourtant pas incivilement mais ce fut toutesfois d'une maniere qui luy fit voir qu'il ne rendroit pas grand office a son amy or madame pour achever d'embarrasser perinthe il arriva que la princesse qui commencoit d'esperer que peut-estre espouseroit elle un jour le prince abradate et qui prevoyoit qu'elle quitteroit sardis se mit dans la fantaisie pour ne perdre point doralise de luy faire espouser perinthe comme elle scavoit bien que cette fille l'estimoit beaucoup elle ne douta pas que s'il pouvoit se resoudre a luy tesmoigner quelque affection elle ne se resolust a la recevoir favorablement joint qu'elle ne croyoit point du tout que perinthe fust amoureux comme doralise l'assuroit en raillant de sorte que justement au sortir de chez doralise d'ou si venoit de luy parler d'andramite il receut ordre d'aller parler a la princesse il ne fut pas plus tost aupres d'elle qu'elle luy dit qu'elle vouloit luy donner une marque de son amitie l'en ay desja tant receu 
 luy dit il madame que je ne dois pas estre surpris de vous voir agir avec tant de bonte mais je dois sans doute aprehender de mourir ingrat vous vous aquiterez bien tost de tout ce que vous croyez me devoir repliqua t'elle si vous le voulez dittes moy donc s'il vous plaist madame luy dit il avec precipitation ce qu'il faut que je face pour cela il faut luy dit elle que vous vous attachiez un peu plus aupres de doralise que vous ne faites ce n'est pas que je ne voye que vous estes souvent avec elle mais perinthe si vous voulez m'obliger vous y serez comme avec une personne que je vous prie d'espouser afin que je ne la perde point et que vous attachant tous deux a mon service nous soyons toute nostre vie inseparables je scay adjousta t'elle sans luy donner loisir de parler que quoy que doralise en die elle ne vous croit point amoureux non plus que moy c'est pourquoy scachant combien vous l'estimez et quel est le merite et le bien de cette personne je ne pense pas vous faire une proposition injuste ny que vous me douiez refuser panthee ayant cesse de parler et perinthe estant revenu de l'estonnement ou le discours de la princesse l'avoit mis luy respondit a la fin avec autant de finesse que de civilite quoy que ce fust avec une douleur fort sensible je suis bien malheureux luy dit il madame que vous souhaittez de moy une chose injuste et 
 impossible et une chose encore que vous croyez fort equitable et fort aisee et qui n'est pourtant ny l'un ny l'autre quoy interrompit panthee il n'y a pas quelque justice qu'un des hommes du monde le plus accomply et de qui l'ame n'est point engagee espouse une des plus aimables filles la terre et qui voulant un coeur qui n'ait jamais rien aime le trouvera en vous mais madame reprit il quand je serois ce que vous dittes que je suis ce ne seroit pas encore assez car doralise veut estre aimee et je ne la scaurois aimer que comme ma soeur faites en du moins semblant repliqua t'elle et croyez que je vous en seray tres obligee puis qu'encore que vous ne l'aimiez que comme vostre soeur il pourra estre qu'avec le temps vous viendrez l'aimer comme vostre femme je ne suis plus en termes de cela reprit il car madame ne pouvant pas deviner le dessein que vous aviez je viens presentement de luy parler avec une ardeur estrange en faveur d'andramite qui meurt d'amour pour cette personne et qui est non seulement plus honneste homme que moy mais de qui la fortune est aussi plus considerable que la mienne ainsi madame quand je pourrois me resoudre a feindre je feindrois inutilement apres ce que je luy ay dit de plus que pourroit penser andramite de mon procede et qu'en penseriez vous vous mesme quand vous y auriez songe ha perinthe interrompit la princesse si vous ne pouvez m'obeir 
 du moins ne servez pas andramite car je ne veux point s'il est possible que doralise soit mariee a sardis mais luy dit perinthe si le prince mexaris vous espouse vous ne la perdriez pas quand elle se marieroit a andramite vous avez raison dit elle mais c'est que graces aux dieux je n'espouseray jamais mexaris et qu'ainsi j'ay lieu de croire que je quitteray bien tost sardis pour m'en retourner a clasomene si le prince abradate adjousta t'il pour descouvrir ses sentimens estoit plus heureux que mexaris il ne vous mencroit pas a suse car ses affaires n'y sont pas en termes de cela et je ne scay si cresus souffriroit qu'il allast demeurer a clasomene quoy qu'il en soit dit la princesse en rougissant je ne veux point qu'andramite espouse doralise et je voudrois que perinthe la voulust espouser je ne la scaurois trahir madame luy dit il en souspirant pour moy reprit la princesse je ne puis pas comprendre qu'estimant doralise comme vous faites l'aimant mesme dittes vous comme vostre soeur vous ne pussiez si vous vouliez m'obeir facilement car pour andramite adjousta t'elle je me chargerois de le satisfaire comme elle disoit cela doralise entra qui trouvant perinthe seul aupres d'elle et s'imaginant qu'il l'estoit allee prier de parler pour andramite au nom des dieux madame dit elle a panthee faites moy la grace de me dire si je n'ay point de part a vostre conversation vous y en 
 avez tellement repliqua la princesse que nous n'avons parle que de vous je m'imagine reprit doralise que perinthe pour vous prouver aussi bien qu'a moy que je n'ay pas une trop grande part a son coeur vous prie peut- estre de me commander de considerer plus andramite que je n'ay fait jusques icy mais madame si cela est je vous suplie de le refuser car je ne scache pas un homme au monde que je n'espousasse plustost qu'andramite c'est pourtant un fort honneste homme reprit perinthe il est vray dit elle mais comme il l'estoit sans doute devenu aimant la personne qu'il avoit espousee qui en effet estoit tres belle et tres aimable il ne m'est nullement propre puis que j'en veux un qui n'ait jamais rien aime que moy comme elle achevoit de prononcer ce dernier mot andramite arriva qui s'aperceut aisement que les soins de perinthe ne luy estoient pas favorables car doralise qui avoit l'esprit irrite sans pouvoir bien precisement dire pourquoy le railla cruellement ce jour la et d'autant plus qu'elle vit que la princesse y prenoit plaisir
 
 
 
 
quelque temps apres estant arrive du monde et andramite l'entretenant tout bas elle le reduisit aux termes de luy protester qu'il n'avoit jamais aime qu'elle non pas mesme la femme qu'il avoit espousee ha andramite s'escria t'elle comment me pourriez vous donc aimer moy dis-je qui ne suis ny si belle ny si aimable qu'elle estoit il voulut alors luy 
 dire que c'estoit parce qu'il l'avoit aimee des ce temps la et qu'il ne s'estoit marie que par le commandement de son pere mais cela ne servit a rien car trouvant quelque chose de plaisant de l'avoir oblige a luy dire qu'il n'avoit jamais aime la personne qu'il avoit espousee des qu'il n'y eut plus que perinthe et andramite chez la princesse elle se mit a luy dire en riant tout ce que ce malheureux amant luy venoit de dire et comme en effet c'estoit d'abord une assez bizarre chose a imaginer que de vouloir persuader a une personne que l'on veut espouser que l'on n'a jamais aime sa femme la princesse ne put s'empescher d'en rire andramite avoit beau dire que c'estoit parce qu'il l'avoit tousjours aimee il parloit inutilement perinthe aussi qui malgre ce que la princesse luy avoit dit vouloit du moins tesmoigner a son amy qu'il faisoit pour luy tout ce qu'il pouvoit soutenoit que doralise luy devoit scavoir gre de ce qu'il n'avoit pas aime sa femme puis que c'avoit este pour l'amour d'elle mais quoy qu'ils pussent dire tous deux doralise ne s'adoucit point perinthe se trouvoit pourtant fort embarrasse car il n'osoit parler aussi fortement pour andramite qu'il eust fait si la princesse ne luy eust pas parle comme elle venoit de luy parler il n'osoit pas non plus ne dire rien en sa faneur de peur de l'irriter apres l'obligation qu'il luy avoit de sorte qu'il estoit dans une contrainte estrange et 
 qui ne finit que vers le soir depuis cela la princesse par la encore plusieurs fois a perinthe pour l'obliger a changer de dessein mais elle le trouva toujours dans une obstination invincible elle ne disoit pourtant pas a doralise l'intention qu'elle avoit et j'estois la seule qui la scavois et a qui elle en parloir car esperant tousjours qu'il changeroit enfin d'humeur elle ne vouloit pas aprendre a doralise la resistance qu'elle avoit trouvee dans son esprit cependant perinthe n'osoit presques plus regarder la princesse ny doralise et il redevint tres melancolique pour abradate comme sa liberalite luy avoit aquis tous les domestiques du prince de clasomene il fut adverty par quelqu'un deux qui avoit entendu parler perinthe a son maistre qu'il servoit le prince mexaris autant qu'il pouvoit de sorte que s'en allant tout a l'heure chez doralise pour luy demander conseil s'il devoit le dire a la princesse ou en parler a perinthe il la trouva qui venoit de scavoir par andramite que c'avoit este perinthe qui l'avoit porte a parler a cresus afin d'empescher le mariage de mexaris car encore que doralise l'eust fort mal traite il y avoit pourtant des jours ou elle luy faisoit dire tout ce qu'elle vouloit de sorce que des qu'abradate luy eut dit ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre elle luy dit en suitte ce qu'elle venoit de scavoir et comme ces deux choses estoient contraires et paroissoient pourtant toutes deux 
 certaines cela les embarrana esrangement ils resolurent donc de ne rien croire et de ne rien determiner qu'apres avoir sceu de la princesse ce qu'elle en pensoit doralise vint donc a l'heure mesme la trouver et luy dire ce que le prince abradate avoit sceu et de qui il l'avoit sceu en suitte dequoy elle luy dit qu'andramite croyant sans doute rendre office a perinthe et s'en rendre a luy mesme luy avoit dit en confidence que c'estoit par son moyen que mexaris avoit este mal receu de cresus de sorte reprit la princesse apres avoir escoute doralise que si andramite dit vray je suis fort obligee a perinthe et que si ce que l'on a die au prince abradate est veritable j'ay sujet de me pleindre estrangement de luy puis qu'enfin il n'ignore pas que j'ay de l'aversion pour mexaris ce qui m'embarrasse le plus adjousta la princesse est que celuy qui a raporte a abradate que perinthe favorise mexaris n'est pas un homme a dire un mensonge ainsi je croirois que ce seroit plustost andramite qui ne diroit pas la verite ha madame s'escria doralise je vous responds qu'andramite n'a point invente ce qu'il m'a dit il faut donc repliqua la princesse que je m'en esclaircisse avec perinthe mesme car je l'ay tousjours connu si sincere et si homme d honneur que je suis persuadee qu'il m'advouera la verite de quelque facon que soit la chose ainsi sans differer davancage la princesse envoya querir perinthe et doralise estant 
 venue dans ma chambre laissa panthee dans la liberte de faire dire a perinthe ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir de luy il ne fut donc pas plus tost aupres d'elle que le regardant avec assez d'attention dittes moy je vous prie perinthe luy dit la princesse vous dois-je faire des reproches ou des remercimens je pense madame repliqua t'il que vous ne me devez faire ny remercimens ny reproches puis que je ne me souviens pas de vous avoir rendu aucun service considerable et que je scay de certitude que je n'ay jamais eu dessein de vous desplaire cependant dit la princesse je suis advertie par une personne que vous m'avez rendu un grand service et par une autre que vous m'avez fait une grande infidelite parlez donc perinthe m'avez vous servie ou m'avez vous desobligee si j'en croy mon coeur luy dit elle je croiray je premier et je le sens desja tout dispose a reconnoistre importamment le service que vous m'avez rendu mais si l'en crois la personne qui a depose contre vous je seray obligee de m'en pleindre je vous promets pourtant de vous pardonner si vous m'advouez vostre crime dittes donc perinthe que faut il que je pense de vous madame luy dit il quand je scauray dequoy on m'accuse je verray si je me pourray justifier pour vous montrer luy dit elle que je cherche plustost a me louer de vous qu'a vous accuser dittes moy s'il est vray que ce soit a vous que j'aye l'obligation d'avoir este cause que cresus 
 a parle si fortement a mexaris il est vray madame reprit il que ne croyant pas que ce prince la fust digne de vous et ayant assez remarque que vous aviez beaucoup d'aversion pour luy j'obligeay andramite a parler a cresus pour destourner un mariage qui ne vous plaisoit pas jusques la interrompit panthee je vous ay beaucoup d'obligation mais pourquoy donc en parlant au prince mon pere n'agissez vous pas dans les mesmes sentimens et pourquoy estes vous aupres de luy le protecteur de mexaris perinthe changea de couleur entendant parler la princesse de cette sorte qui voyant l'alteration qui paroissoit dans ses yeux connut qu'en effet il y avoit quelque verite a ce qu'on luy avoit dit toutesfois comme l'amour fait trouver des excuses a tous les crimes qu'il fait commettre perinthe n'en manqua pas si bien qu'apres avoir surmonte la premiere honte qu'il eut de sa foiblesse il se remit assez pour luy respondre j'advoue madame luy dit il que vos espions sont assez fidelles et qu'en certaines occasions ou le prince vostre pere m'a tesmoigne estre fortement resolu de vous faire espouser le prince mexaris je ne me suis pas oppose directement a ses intentions et je l'ay fait d'autant plustost que je scavois bien qu'il ne les pourroit pas executer je me suis donc contente de luy persuader autant que je l'ay pu qu'il ne devoit pas songer a souffrir que ce prince vous espousast sans le consentement de 
 cresus que je scay qui ne le donnera jamais ainsi sans rien hazarder je suis quelquesfois tombe d'accord en luy parlant que mexaris est un grand prince qui selon les aparences pourra un jour estre maistre de toute la lydie de sorte madame que sans prejudicier a vos interests j'ay seulement voulu un peu mesnager les bonnes graces de mon maistre et ne m'oster pas les moyens de vous rendre service aupres de luy si l'occasion s'en presentoit ce que vous me dittes repliqua la princesse est plein d'esprit et paroist mesme vray-semblable puis qu'il est certain que je ne voy aparence aucune que vous ayez pu vouloir deux choses contraires tout a la fois mais comme enfin il y a pourtant je ne scay quoy en vostre procede qui n'est pas de la maniere dont vous avez accoustume d'agir il faut reparer ce manquement la par une sincerite tres exacte que je demande de vous c'est pourquoy si vous voulez me persuader que vos intentions ont este telles que vous le dittes vous me rendrez un conte tres fidelle de tout ce que le prince mon pere vous dira de moy car comme je ne veux rien entreprendre contre son service que je ne cherche qu'a n'estre pas malheureuse je ne pense pas vous demander rien d'injuste je vous promets madame luy dit il malicieusement de vous dire tout ce qu'il me dira du prince mexaris ne changez point mes paroles reprit la princesse et engagez vous a me dire tout 
 ce qu'il vous dira de moy perinthe qui connut bien que la princesse ne luy parloit ainsi que parce qu'elle vouloir aussi scavoir ce que le prince son pere luy diroit d'abradate en fut si interdit qu'il fut quelque temps sans luy respondre mais a la fin comme elle l'en pressa je crains si fort luy dit il d'estre oblige de vous dire quelquesfois des choses peu agreables que je ne m'engage qu'avec peine a faire ce que vous desirez la princesse eust bien voulu pouvoir obtenir d'elle assez de hardiesse pour luy faire scavoir qu'elle ne luy seroit pas moins obligee de parler pour abradate que de parler contre mexaris mais il n'y eut pas moyen aussi croisie que si elle luy eust fait cette priere il en seroit mort de douleur ou luy auroit du moins donne de si visibles marques de sa passion qu'elle s'en seroit a la fin aperceue cette conversation s'estant donc passee ainsi panthee creut effectivement que perinthe n'avoit eu autre intention que de mesnager sa fortune en la servant et le fit croire au prince abradate mais pour doralise elle ne se laissa pas persuader si facilement au contraire tous ses soubcons qu'elle avoit eus autrefois de la passion de perinthe se renouvellerent dans son esprit neantmoins comme elle l'estimoit effectivement elle n'en dit rien a la princesse de peur de luy nuire mais elle ne put s'empescher de m'en dire quelque chose apres m'avoir fait promettre de n'en parler point d'abord je creus 
 qu'elle ne parloit pas serieusement mais un moment apres mes soubcons surent plus forts que les siens car non seulement je pensay tout ce qu'elle pensoit mais encore cent autres choses dont je me souvins et sur lesquelles je n'avois pas arreste mon esprit lors qu'elles estoient arrivees je tombay pourtant dans le sens de doralise et je me resolus aussi bien qu'elle a n'aller pas nuire a un aussi honneste homme que perinthe sur un soubcon qui apres tout pouvoit estre mal fonde puis qu'il ne l'estoit que sur des conjectures qui sont bien souvent trompeuses c'est pourquoy je fis une resolution constante de ne rien dire a la princesse toutesfois comme cela pouvoit avoir de facheuses suittes nous nous resolusmes de l'observer soigneusement et de nous dire l'une a l'autre tout ce que nous descouvririons j'advoue madame que je fis une legerete en cette occasion qui fut de dire a doralise la proposition que la princesse avoit faite a perinthe touchant son mariage mais il me sembloit que cela estoit une preuve si forte de la passion dont nous le soubconnions que je ne pus m'en empescher je ne l'eus pourtant pas plustost dit que j'eusse voulu ne l'avoir pas fait mais il n'estoit plus temps ce n'est pas que je ne disse la chose de facon que doralise ne pouvoit pas avoir un juste sujet de se pleindre mais apres tout je m'aperceus bien que ce que je luy dis la toucha car elle en rougit de depit 
 je vous laisse a penser luy dis-je alors pour l'adoucir si perinthe vous estimant autant qu'il vous estime et tesmoignant avoir tant d'amitie pour vostre personne n'auroit par receu aveque joye la proposition que la princesse luy a faite quand mesme il n'auroit point eu du tout d'amour pour vous ainsi il faut conclurre qu'il en a pour quelque autre et que cette autre est assurement panthee s'il aime panthee reprit doralise je luy pardonne de bon coeur et je luy pardonne d'autant plustost qu'il sera assez puny de cette folle passion par la mesme passion qui le possede mais si c'est quelque autre je me vangeray sur luy et de son refus et de l'injure que la princesse m'a faite de m'aller offrir sans m'en rien dire doralise malgre sa colere connoissoit pourtant bien que le sentiment de la princesse avoit este obligeant pour elle mais c'est qu'elle ne vouloit pas se pleindre autant de perinthe que de panthee depuis cela cet amant cache ne se put presques plus cacher a nous il ne faisoit pas une action ny ne disoit pas une parole ou nous ne creussions voir des marques de son amour aussi l'observions nous si soigneusement qu'il s'en aperceut et nous en demanda mesme la cause comme il craignoit que la princesse n'eust dit a doralise quelque chose de ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux et qu'il craignoit aussi qu'elle ne luy en voulust mal il redoubla sa civilite pour elle n'osant plus luy parler d'andramite 
 que doralise a la priere de la princesse traita un peu moins severement depuis qu'elle eut sceu que c'avoit este par son moyen que mexaris avoit este traverse dans son dessein cependant ce prince s'assurant tousjours sur la parole du pere de la princesse attendoit quelque occasion favorable ou de faire changer d'avis a cresus ou d'espouser panthee malgre luy s'il ne le pouvoit autrement de sorte qu'il vivoit sans beaucoup d'inquietude dans la certitude ou il pensoit estre de l'heureux succes de son dessein abradate estoit pourtant plus heureux que luy car estant assure du coeur de panthee il avoit d'assez douces heures malgre tant d'obstacles qui s'oposoient a son bonheur mais pour le malheureux perinthe il n'estoit jamais sans affliction il trouvoit pourtant quelque espece de repos a penser que panthee n'espousant ny mexaris ny abradate ne se marieroit peut-estre point il m'a dit depuis que lors qu'il trouvoit lieu de croire que cela pourroit arriver il avoit presque autant de joye qu'en peut avoir un amant qui est a la veille de posseder sa maistresse les choses surent donc quelque temps de cette sorte pendant quoy l'amour d'andramite pour doralise estoit ce qui servoit a rendre la conversation plus agreable estant certain que l'on ne peut rien imaginer de plus bizarre ny de plus galant que tout ce que cette fille luy disoit car comme il vouloit tousjours soutenir qu'il n'avoit jamais aime qu'elle 
 elle aussi luy disoit aussi tousjours que s'il avoit aime la femme qu'il avoit perdue il ne luy estoit point propre et que s'il ne l'avoit point aimee il avoit este fort injuste puis qu'elle avoit este fort aimable et que par consequent elle n'espouseroit jamais un homme qui auroit este mauvais mary un jour donc que mexaris et abradate se trouverent chez la princesse quoy que ce dernier y allast un peu moins souvent par les ordres de panthee doralise se trouvant en un de ces jours ou elle estoit la plus redoutable se mit a leur demander comme ils luy parloient d'andramite si elle n'avoit pas raison de resister aux persuasions d'un homme qui n'avoit point pleure la mort de sa femme mais luy die abradate s'il l'a veue mourir sans douleur seulement parce qu'il la regardoit comme un obstacle au dessein qu'il avoit d'estre aime de vous bien loin de l'accuser d'insensibilite vous le devriez louer de constance et l'en recompenser il est vray dit doralise qu'a regarder la chose de ce coste la je luy ay quelque obligation mais pourquoy l'espousoit il s'il m'aimoit et s'il ne m'aimoit pas pourquoy ne l'a t'il point regrettee et pourquoy ne la regrette t'il point encore mais s'il la regrettoit dit la princesse il ne vous aimeroit pas j'en tombe d'accord repliqua t'elle mais aussi en seroit il plus heureux son bonheur seroit mediocre reprit mexaris de pleindre eternellement 
 la mort d'une personne qu'il auroit aimee je vous assure respondit doralise en sous-riant qu'une maistresse vivante un peu capricieuse est bien aussi incommode qu'une femme morte quand elle auroit elle la meilleure du monde il semble par ce que vos dittes reprit mexaris que vous vous acculiez vous mesme il est certains caprices adjousta abradate dont les belles sont vanite et qui ne laissent pas de donner beaucoup de peine a ceux qui les aiment il en est aussi repliqua froidement mexaris qui sont fort avantageux a quelques uns et qui les font quelquesfois preferer sans raison a d'autres qu'ils ne valent pas ce que vous dittes peut sans doute arriver reprit abradate mais pour moy qui ay beaucoup de respect pour les dames et qui n'ay pas moins bonne opinion de leur jugement que de leur esprit je suis persuade que pour l'ordinaire les amants heureux meritent de l'estre vous avez sans doute raison dit doralise et tous ces amants pleintifs qui ne parlent jamais qu'en accusant la personne qu'ils aiment de caprice ou de peu de jugement sont assurement et capricieux et peu judicieux tout ensemble ce sont dis-je de ces gens qui s'offencent de peu de choie et qui s'estimant beaucoup plus qu'ils ne meritent de l'estre croyent qu'on leur fait une injustice extreme de ne les choisir pas et de ne les estimer pas autant qu'ils s'estiment eux mesmes il est vray dit 
 la princesse sans s'en pouvoir empescher que j'en connois qui font ce que vous dittes j'en connois aussi reprit malicieusement doralise et peutestre sont-ce les mesmes dont vous entendez parler mais quoy qu'il en toit adjousta t'elle comme l'amour est aveugle aussi bien que la justice il faut qu'il agisse dans le coeur des dames comme elle doit agir dans le coeur des luges c'est a dire que sans se soucier de la grandeur dela qualite des menaces et des pleintes des pretendans il faut juger equitablement du merite et du service de ceux qui se donnent a nous que ne jugez vous donc en faveur d'andramite reprit abradate je ne trouve pas que je le puisse repliqua t'elle et toute la grace que je luy puis faire est de ne le juger encore mais puis que vous croyez dit mexaris que l'amour fait tous les honnettes gens qui font au monde comment pouvez vous ne trouver pas andramite fore accomply puis qu'il assure qu'il vous aime infiniment je n'ay jamais dit repliqua t'elle que tous ceux qui aiment fussent honnestes gens mais bien que l'on ne peur estre parfaitement honneste homme sans avoir aime joint que ce n'est pas par par cette raison que je refuse andramite de qui le merite est grand mais seulement parce que s'il a aime sa femme je ne le scaurois souffrir puis que je veux un coeur qui n'ait rien aime et que s'il ne l'a point aimee je ne dois pas non plus le choisir puis que 
 selon mon sens il la devoit aimer cette regle generale reprit abradate qui dit que pour estre aime il faut aimer ne se trouve donc pas bien fondee puis qu'andramite ne peut toucher vostre coeur elle n'est sans doute pas generale comme vous le dittes repliqua t'elle et je serois mesme bien marrie qu'elle le fust mais ce qui fait que ce discours qui est sceu de toutes les nations est quelquesfois troue faux c'est assurement que l'on n'entre pas dans le veritable sens de ceux qui l'ont dit la premiere fois et qui en ont fait une regle universelle car enfin ils n'ont jamais entendu que pour aimer on deust infailliblement estre aime mais c'est qu'ils croyoient sans doute aussi bien que moy qu'a force d'aimer on devient aimable de sorte qu'en disant a un homme si tu veux estre aime aime c'est luy donner le plus court moyen de faire paroistre ce qu'il a de bon dans le coeur et quelquesfois aussi ce ce qu'il a de plus mauvais adjousta la princesse en effet combien y a t'il de gens qui n'auroient jamais commis de grands crimes s'ils n'avoient point eu de passion violente il n'en faut pourtant pas accuser l'amour reprit doralise qui ne donne assurement jamais de mauvaises inclinations et comme on ne se pleint pas du soleil que je compare tousjours avec l'amour de ce qu'il fait naistre mille bestes venimeuses dans le mesme temps qu'il blanchit des lis ou qu'il colore des roses de mesme il ne faut pas accuser 
 l'amour des bassesses de quelques lasches amans qui sont au monde puis qu'il inspire cent actions heroiques et qu'il fait pratiquer toutes les vertus a mille autres qui ne seroient peut-estre que des hommes ordinaires sans cette passion la princesse se mit a rire de la pensee de doralise aussi bien qu'abradate mais pour mexaris il demeura assez interdit et d'autant plus que doralise continuant de parler dit encore cent choses ou il pouvoit prendre part il remarqua mesme une fois que les regards d'abradate et ceux de doralise s estant rencontrez ils avoient sous-ry d'intelligence et qu'abradate par une action de teste avoit semble la remercier de toutes les choses piquantes qu'elle luy avoit dittes si bien qu'ayant l'esprit fort aigry il ne parla plus le reste du jour qu'a mots interrompus et dit mesmes plusieurs choses assez dures a abradate qui y respondit avec autant de fermete que le respect qu'il vouloit rendre a la princesse et a la qualite de son rival le luy permettoit comme elle s'aperceut aisement du chagrin de mexaris elle fit ce qu'elle put pour destourner la conversation et en effet la colere de ce prince se calmant un peu en aparence elle creut que la chose n'auroit point de facheuse suitte ils sortirent donc de chez elle en mesme temps car lors que mexaris vit qu'abradate s'en alloit il prit aussi conge de la princesse quoy qu'elle le voulust retenir comme ils surent au pied de l'escalier mexaris 
 parla bas a un des siens en suitte dequoy il demanda a abradate s'il ne voudroit pas bien s'aller promener dans les jardins du palais qui estoient fort proche et comme il luy eut respondu qu'il luy suivroit ils y surent mexaris estant accompagne de huit ou dix des siens et abradate d'un pareil nombre aussi tost qu'ils surent dans ces jardins mexaris mena abradate dans une grande allee ou il n'y avoit personne et apres avoir fait signe qu'il ne vouloit pas estre suivy il s'arresta et regardant abradate d'un air assez imperieux il y a long temps luy dit il que j'ay eu dessein de vous parler mais l'esperance que j'avois que de vous mesme vous vous porteriez a faire ce que mille raisons veulent que vous fassiez m'a oblige de differer jusques a cette heure a vous advertir que vous n'agissez nullement comme estant fils de la reine de la susiane ma soeur car encore que mon age ne soit pas fort different du vostre je ne laisse pas d'estre en droit d'exiger de vous quelque espece de defference et comme estant mon neveu et comme estant refugie dans une cour ou je dois estre plus considere que vous seigneur repliqua abradate avec une civilite hardie je ne scache pas avoir manque au respect que je vous dois ny comme estant fils de la reine de la susiane ny comme estant refugie en un lieu ou vous estes en effet tres considerable c'est pourquoy je pense pouvoir dire que la pleinte que vous faites de moy est injuste et que 
 la maniere dont vous vous en pleignez est un peu outrageante ce que vous faites tous les jours reprit mexaris m'est bien plus injurieux car enfin vous n'avez pas ignore que l'estois amoureux de la princesse de clasomene et cependant vous n'avez pas laisse de vous engager a la servir et vous ne laissez pas encore de vous y obstiner quoy que la maniere dont vous me parlez reprit abradate deust peut-estre me dispenser de vous rendre raison de mes actions et de mes desseins le respect que je vous dois comme estant frere de la reine ma mere et d'un roy qui m'a donne azile dans sa cour m'oblige a vous dire qu'ayant aime la princesse de clasomene des le premier instant que je l'ay veue je n'ay sceu la passion que vous aviez pour elle que lors que je n'estois plus en estat d'estre maistre de la mienne joint qu'ayant tousjours sceu que cresus n'aprouveroit jamais que vous songeassiez a l'espouser j'ay pense que je ne vous ferois pas un grand outrage si je faisois ce que je pourrois pour aquerir un bien que vous ne pourriez jamais posseder mais croyez vous interrompit mexaris que cette mesme raison d'estat qui ne veut pas que le roy consente que j'espouse une fille qui me rendroit trop puissant dans son royaume veuille que vous qui estes estranger l'espousiez ha non non abradate deffaites vous de cette imagination et soyez persuade que cresus ne voudra pas que vous pensiez a cette alliance croyez encore si vous estes sage 
 que le prince de clasomene ne donnera point sa fille a un prince exile et ne pensez jamais s'il vous reste quelque raison a faire une seule action qui me puisse persuader que vous y songez encore jusques icy reprit abradate je vous ay parle comme fils de la reine de la susiane comme prince refugie en lydie et comme neveu du prince mexaris mais apres ce que je viens d'entendre il faut que je parle en amant de panthee c'est a dire en homme qui ne la scauroit ceder a personne et qui l'aimera et la servira jusques a la fin de sa vie veritablement adjousta t'il si la princesse de clasomene vous choisit je n'ay rien a faire qu'a mourir et j'ay assez de respect pour elle quand je n'en aurois pas pour vous pour mourir mesme sans me pleinde mais si cela n'est pas scachez s'il vous plaist que je ne changeray point ma facon d'agir quand vous seriez a suse repliqua mexaris et que j'y serois refugie comme vous l'estes en lydie vous ne parleriez pas avec plus de hardiesse que vous parlez je parlerois mesme aveque plus de retenue reprit abradate parce que je scay bien qu'il n'est pas beau d'insulter sur les malheureux il ne l'est guere davantage respondit mexaris de perdre le respect que l'on doit a ses protecteurs aussi ne perdray-je jamais celuy que je dois au roy de lydie repliqua abradate et je suis mesme au desespoir que l'amour me force a faire ce que je fais contre un prince qui luy est si 
 proche vous ferez encore plus reprit fierement mexaris car si vous ne renoncez absolument a panthee il faut que je vous voye l'espee a la main je feray tousjours tout ce que je pourray repliqua abradate pour ne faire ny l'un ny l'autre il faut pourtant vous determiner luy respondit mexaris et resoudre promptement ce que vous voulez faire et lequel vous voulez choisir puis que vous me forcez a vous le dire reprit abradate je veux conserver panthee deffendre ma vie et n'attaquer la vostre qu'a l'extremite voila seigneur tout ce que l'amour et le respect peuvent exiger de moy je voudrois vous pouvoir ceder la princesse mais apres tout je ne vous la cederay point et quoy que je sois resolu de ne faire rien contre le respect que je vous dois je ne feray pourtant rien contre mon amour comme abradate disoit cela il vit que mexaris s'avanca vers une palissade sorte espaisse vis a vis d'une fontaine jalissante qui estoit au milieu de l'allee et qu'il y prit deux espees dont il luy en presenta une luy disant que puis qu'il ne pouvoit luy ceder panthee il la luy disputast jusques a la mort d'abord abradate ne la prit que pour parer simplement les coups de mexaris sur le visage duquel il voyoit une fureur qui luy pouvoit faire croire qu'il estoit capable de tout entreprendre mais comme il vit que plus il luy parloit civilement et que plus il reculoit plus il l'attaquoit avec fureur et plus sa colere augmentoit l'amour 
 et la jalousie estant a la fin plus fortes que le respect qu'il devoit a mexaris il fit ferme et se batit alors comme un homme qui vouloit vaincre cependant comme je ne doute pas que vous ne soyez en peine de scavoir comment mexaris put trouver ces deux espees dans cette pallissade vous vous souviendrez s'il vous plaist que je vous ay dit qu'au sortir de chez la princesse ce prince avoit parle bas a un des siens apres quoy je vous diray qu'il luy avoit commande absolument d'aller porter ces deux espees au lieu qu'il luy avoit prescrit et qui estoit fort remarquable a cause de la fontaine qui y est mais apres luy avoir fait ce commandement il luy en avoit encore fait un autre afin de l'esloigner de ce lieu la et luy avoit ordonne de luy aller querir un homme de qualite qui demeuroit a l'autre bout de sardis luy deffendant de parler a qui que ce soit de ces deux espees de sorte que des que ces princes avoient este dans le jardin et que mexaris eut deffendu qu'on les suivist il avoit este executer son ordre avec une diligence extreme mais comme il fut sorty du jardin pour aller chercher cet homme dont mexaris n'avoit pas besoin il rencontra un officier de la princesse devant sa porte qui estoit son amy particulier a qui il fit confidence de ce qu'il venoit de faire luy demandant mesme conseil car la pensee de cet officier de mexaris estoit que son maistre se vouloit battre contre celuy 
 qu'il luy envoyoit querir mais comme cet officier de la princesse avoit plus d'esprit que l'autre scachant que mexaris et abradate estoient ensemble il creignit qu'il n'arrivast quelque malheur et apres luy avoir conseille de retourner plustost au jardin que d'achever son voyage et de dire a son maistre qu'il avoit sceu que celuy qu'il luy envoyoit chercher n'estoit pas chez luy il entra en diligence chez la princesse qu'il trouva en conversation avec perinthe devant qui il ne laissa pas de luy dire ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre a peine eut il dit cela que la princesse fit un grand cry et changea si fort de couleur que perinthe ne put pas douter qu'elle ne prist un interest bien particulier en la vie d'abradate car il scavoit bien qu'elle n'en pouvoit avoir d'autre en celle de mexaris que celuy que la pitie toute seule luy pouvoit faire prendre je vous laisse donc a juger en quel estat il se trouva lors regardant la princesse il vit quelques larmes tomber de ses yeux par la seule crainte de la mort d'abradate cependant comme elle scavoit qu'en ces occasions les momens sont precieux elle s'aprocha de perinthe et le priant avec une tendresse extreme mon cher perinthe luy dit elle faites que je vous aye l'obligation d'avoir empesche qu'il n'arrive quelque malheur de cette querelle et scachez pour vous obliger a estre plus diligent que vous ne pouvez jamais me rendre un service plus considerable que celuy que je vous 
 demande allez donc je vous en prie car je seray bien aise de ne devoir cet office la qu'a vous seul il vous est aise de juger madame combien perinthe estoit surpris et afflige de la commission que la princesse luy donnoit il voulut deux ou trois fois luy dire quelque chose mais la princesse sans l'escouter luy disoit tousjours qu'il allast promptement de sorte que le pauvre perinthe malgre luy fut pour separer deux hommes qu'il eust voulu combatre tous deux s'il eust ose il est vray qu'il n'y fut pas des premieres car le bruit des espees ayant este entendu par ceux qui estoient dans les autres allees de ce jardin ils y surent en diligence mais ils y surent pourtant trop tard car le combat de ces princes estoit desja finy quand ils arriverent aupres d'eux je ne vous diray point madame comment il se passa et ce sera assez que je vous aprenne que mexaris fut blesse et desarme et qu'abradate vainquit sans avoir receu aucune blessure mexaris disant luy mesme que ce prince avoit une valeur incomparable mais de grace madame imaginez vous un peu quels sentimens estoient ceux de perinthe lors que dans l'incertitude de l'evenement de ce combat il alloit chercher ces deux princes il m'a advoue depuis qu'il ne put jamais demeurer d'accord avec luy mesme de ses propres souhaits tantost il eust voulu que tons les deux se fussent tuez quelquefois il desiroit au moins qu'abradate fust vaincu et quelques fois 
 aussi trouvant beaucoup d'injustice et mesme de laschete a ses souhaits il se souhaittoit la mort a luy mesme principalement lors qu'il faisoit reflexion sur la douleur que panthee avoit tesmoigne avoir par la seule crainte qu'elle avoit eue qu'il n'arrivast quelque malheur a abradate de plus il eut encore le desplaisir de rencontrer cet illustre vainqueur de mexaris que quelques uns de ses amis que le hazard avoit amenez dans ce jardin conduisoient chez luy et pour l'accabler davantage il ne le vit pas plustost qu'abradate l'abordant sans attendre ce qu'il luy diroit si je puis sans incivilite luy dit il vous conjurer de dire a la princesse de clasomene que c'est par elle seule que la valeur du prince mexaris ne m'a pas vaincu je vous prieray de le faire et de l'assurer que l'attribue a la passion que j'ay pour elle l'heureux succes de mon combat perinthe estoit si interdit qu'il escouta ce discours sans y respondre que par une profonde reverence mais abradate prenant son silence pour un consentement a ce qu'il desiroit de luy le quitta et fut attendre avec assez d'inquietude ce que cresus penseroit de son action cependant tous ses amis agirent puissamment envers ce prince et entre les autres andramite qui pensant bien servir perinthe qu'il scavoit l'avoir prie d'empescher que cresus ne consentist au mariage de mexaris et de panthee si tout ce qu'il put pour apaiser le roy qui en effet estant informe de la chose donna tout le tort au 
 prince son frere de qui les blessures n'estoient pas dangereuses et excusa abradate autant qu'il put il voulut mesme qu'ils s'embrassassent des que mexaris fut guery mais ce qu'il y eut de de cruel pour abradate fut que perinthe scachant que cresus n'avoit guere plus d'envie que panthee l'espousast que mexaris persuada a andramite qu'il devoit obliger le roy pour oster absolument tout sujet de querelle a deux si grands princes de leur deffendre esgalement de songer au mariage de cette princesse et en effet andramite agissant a la priere de perinthe qui luy disoit pour colorer la chose que c'estoit que la princesse de clasomene estoit en une aprehension estrange d'estre cause de la mort de quelqu'un de ces princes il fit que cresus les accommodant leur dit a tous deux qu'il ne vouloit point qu'ils pensassent a panthee bien est il vray qu'il parla d'une maniere diffetente a ces deux rivaux car il commanda absolument la chose a mexaris et se contenta d'en prier abradate traitant l'un comme son sujet et l'autre comme prince estranger ils ne purent toutesfois se resoudre a luy promettre ce qu'il vouloit disant tousjours que l'amour estoit une passion que l'on ne surmontoit pas facilement et de laquelle ils ne croyoient pas se pouvoir deffaire ils disoient pourtant cela avec tant de respect pour cresus de peur de l'irriter et de peur qu'ils ne les esloignast de sardis que leur resistance ne l'offenca point et il creut mesme 
 qu'ils ne laisseroient pas de luy obeir quoy qu'ils luy protestassent qu'ils ne pensoient pas le pouvoir faire ainsi il se trouva que le vainqueur ne fut plus pas heureux que le vaincu et que ce fut effectivement perinthe qui recueillit tout le sruitde la victoire d'abradate par la joye qu'il eut de pouvoir esperer que la princesse ne l'espouseroit non plus que mexaris mais madame j'oubliois de vous dire que ce fut une rare chose que de voir revenir perinthe rendre conte a la princesse du combat de mexaris et d'abradate car encore qu'elle l'eust desja sceu par d'autres neantmoins comme l'on est bien aise d'ouir dire plus d'une fois une chose qui plaist et ou l'on s'interesse perinthe ne fut pas plustost aupres d'elle ou il n'y avoit alors que doralise et moy que luy adressant la parole et bien perinthe luy dit elle avec beaucoup de joye dans les yeux graces aux dieux le prince abradate et le prince mexaris ne sont point morts non madame repliqua t'il mais le dernier est blesse il est vray dit elle mais comme on m'a dit que ses blessures sont legeres cela n'empesche pas que je ne sois ravie que ce combat n'ait pas este plus funeste je m'imagine madame reprit il que qui trouveroit le juste sens de vus paroles trouveroit abradate plus glorieux de ce que vous dittes que d'avoir desarme mexaris quoy qu'il en soit dit la princesse en rougissant aprenez moy precisement toutes les particularitez 
 de ce combat perinthe se trouvant alors bien embarrasse et ne pouvant se resoudre a exagerer luy mesme la gloire d'un rival qu'il voyoit estre si bien dans le coeur de panthee luy dit qu'il ne les avoit pas sceues que les amis de mexaris les disoient d'une facon et ceux d'abradate d'une autre et qu'enfin il luy sembloit que c'estoit le principal qu'elle sceust qu'abrate n'estoit point blesse et que mexaris avoit este desarme sans mentir luy dit doralise en riant qui connut aussi bien que moy la veritable cause qui empeschoit perinthe de satisfaire la curiosite de la princesse il faut advouer que pour un brave vous estes mal informe de ce combat et qu'il n'est pas tousjours vray de dire que chacun parle bien de son mestier pour moy adjousta t'elle malicieusement pour descouvrir toujours plus ses sentimens si j'avois este a un bal et que la princesse me demandast precisement ce qui s'y seroit passe je luy dirois sans doute toutes choses jusques aux moindres circonstances elle scauroit si la salle auroit este bien ou mal esclairee qui auroit le plus dance quelles des dames auroient este les plus parees ou les plus belles qui des hommes auroit paru le plus galant je luy dirois encore celle cy a este la mieux habillee celuy la a parle long temps a une telle et un tel a une autre et luy demeslant tous les petits intrigues de l'assemblee je ferois qu'elle scauroit si exactement tout ce qui s'y seroit passe qu'elle n'ignoreroit 
 pas mesme qui auroient este celles que l'abondance des lumieres auroit fait rougir avec tant d'exces qu'elles en auroient perdu une partie de leur beaute cependant vous qui estes brave venez raconter un combat comme je le raconterois et au lieu d'en dire toutes les circonstances exactement vous dittes seulement a la princesse qui les veut scavoir mexaris est blesse et abradate est vainqueur il est vray dit panthee en riant de ce que doralise disoit que je trouve que vous avez raison et que perinthe a tort je pensois madame repliqua t'il qu'il ne fust pas trop judicieux de narrer un combat a des dames de la mesme facon qu'on le raconte a des hommes il ne seroit sans doute pas beau reprit doralise que vous vinssiez tousjours parler de guerre et de batailles ou conter vos propres victoires mais pour un combat singulier et un combat encore ou vous n'avez point eu de part et qui s'est fait entre deux personnes si remarquables il faloit le dire fort exactement je m'en informeray donc mieux une autre fois reprit il et je profiteray de vos enseignemens une autre fois interrompit la princesse ha veuillent les dieux que vous n'en soyez pas en la peine panthee dit cela d'un air qui fit si bien voir a perinthe ce qu'elle pensoit qu'il en perdit la parole durant un quart d'heure pendant lequel doralise continuant de luy parler comme elle avoit commence pensa le faire desesperer mais pour en 
 revenir ou l'en estois je vous diray madame qu'abradate fut si afflige de voir qu'en vainquant mexaris il avoit vaincu inutilement qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust quelque consolation de voir qu'il estoit du moins en seurete de son rival mais cela n'empeschoit pas qu'il ne s'estimast tres malheureux quand la princesse sceut la chose elle en fut aussi fort touchee quoy qu'elle aportast soin a ne le tesmoigner pas si bien que la premiere fois qu'abradate rencontra la princesse chez doralise il se fit une conversation entre eux qui acheva de lier leur amitie la princesse demeurant pourtant tousjours dans les termes qu'elle s'estoit prescrits de n'espouser jamais abradate sans le consentement du prince son pere mais de n'espouser jamais aussi mexaris quelque violence qu'on luy voulust faire pour cela ainsi ce qui s'opposoit en aparence a leur affection la rendit plus forte et perinthe sans y penser servit plus abradate en luy voulant nuire qu'il n'eust fait en le voulant servir cet amant secret ne laissoit pas de se croire plus heureux qu'il n'estoit auparavant le combat de ses rivaux car encore qu'il connust bien que le coeur de panthee estoit engage il ne laissoit pas d'esperer que voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit espouser abradate elle feroit effort pour le chasser de son ame de sorte que nous le voiyons plus gay qu'il n'avoit accoustume de l'estre 
 pour mexaris il estoit si melancolique qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre plus qu'il l'estoit ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust tousjours de bonnes paroles du prince de clasomene mais comme elles n'estoient pas decisives et que perinthe l'empeschoit de se resoudre a luy donner sa fille sans le consentement du roy il n'en estoit guere moins inquiet cependant abradate et luy vivoient ensemble avec une civilite froide qui sembloit toujours estre une disposition a une nouvelle querelle comme le roy ne leur avoit pas deffendu de voir panthee mais seulement de songer a l'espouser ils la voyoient l'un et l'autre quelquesfois chez elle mais beaucoup plus souvent ailleurs de peur d'irriter cresus ainsi ils menoient une vie fort contrainte et peu agreable abradate estoit pourtant beaucoup moins malheureux que son rival puis que non seulement il scavoit qu'il n'estoit pas hai mais qu'il avoit encore l'avantage que la princesse n'alloit en aucun lieu qu'il n'en fust adverty a l'heure mesme car comme il estoit liberal ses espions estoient tres exacts et tres fidelles et je pense pouvoir dire qu'il n'y avoit pas un homme de quelque condition qu'il fust ny chez le prince de clasomene ny chez la princesse sa fille qui ne fust absolument a luy a la reserve de perinthe au contraire l'avarice de mexaris faisoit qu'il estoit mesme mal servy et mal adverty pis ses propres gens et 
 qu'ainsi il ne scavoit jamais que ce que personne n'ignoroit apres avoir donc vescu quelque temps de cette sorte il prit enfin une resolution fort injuste et fort violente qui fut d'enlever panthee s'il ne pouvoit obliger le prince de clasomene a luy faire secrettement espouser sa fille d'authorite absolue comme il estoit dans ces sentimens il arriva nouvelle que la princesse basiline tante de panthee estoit attaquee d'une maladie mortelle si bien que cette princesse qui l'aimoit tendrement suplia son pere de luy permettre d'aller rendre les derniers devoirs a une personne qui luy estoit si chere comme cette priere estoit juste panthee obtint facilement ce qu'elle demandoit et le prince de clasomene luy mesme eust fait ce voyage s'il n'eust pas este adverty qu'il en demanderoit inutilement la permission a cresus il fut donc resolu que panthee iroit seule et que perinthe la conduiroit qui comme vous pouvez penser receut cette commission agreablement il fut pourtant fache de laisser mexaris aupres du prince son maistre sans qu'il y fust neantmoins la satisfaction qu'il avoit de voir qu'il alloit estre quelque temps aupres de la princesse sans y voir ses rivaux l'emporta sur toute autre consideration cependant panthee jugeant bien qu'elle auroit besoin de consolation durant ce voyage dont la cause estoit si facheuse pria la tante de doralise chez qui elle demeuroit de luy donner sa niece ce 
 qu'elle luy accorda d'autant plustost que doralise tesmoigna le souhaiter ardamment de sorte que des le lendemain nous partismes pour aller a clasomene abradate sentit cette separation avec une douleur estrange et ce qui la luy rendit encore plus rude fut que comme ce voyage fut fort precipite il ne put dire adieu en particulier a la princesse si bien que ce ne fut que moy qu'il sceut qu'elle vouloit qu'il la pleignist dans son affliction et qu'il se souvinst d'elle durant son absence je ne vous diray point madame avec quelle melancolie la princesse fit ce voyage ny quelle douleur fut la sienne lors qu'arrivant a clasomene nous trouvasmes que la princesse basiline estoit si mal qu'il n'y avoit plus nulle esperance de guerison pour elle car cela seroit et trop long et trop ennuyeux mais je vous diray que quatre jours apres nostre arrivee nous eusmes le desplaisir de voir mourir cette excellente princesse dont panthee sentit la mort avec tant d'amertume qu'elle en tomba malade elle mesme de sorte qu'elle ne put pas retourner si tost a sardis car encore que son mal ne fust pas violent il estoit tousjours assez grand pour l'empescher de se pouvoir mettre en chemin et par ce moyen perinthe eut plus longtemps qu'il n'avoit pense le plaisir de ne voir point ses rivaux et de voir tousjours la princesse en effet il luy devint si agreable et quasi si necessaire pendant le sejour qu'elle fit a clasomene 
 qu'elle ne pouvoit souffrir que sa conversation celle de doralise et si je l'ose dire la mienne si bien que l'on peut assurer que comme les roses naissent parmy les espines les plaisirs de perinthe naissoient parmy les douleurs il est vray qu'ils ne surent pas mesme durables non plus qu'elles car outre que l'amour est une passion ennemie du calme et du repos il receut une lettre d'andramite qui redoubla son inquietude parce qu'elle luy aprit que mexaris estoit eternellement avec le prince de clasomene neantmoins comme il scavoit bien que tant que la princesse ne seroit pas aupres d'eux ils ne pourroient executer les resolutions qu'ils pouvoient prendre il esperoit que des qu'il verroit le prince de clasomene il le feroit changer de dessein s'il en avoit un contraire a ses intentions ainsi ce desplaisir ne fut pas le plus grand de ceux qui troublerent la satisfaction qu'il avoit d'estre esloigne de ses rivaux et d'estre aupres de la princesse car vous scaurez madame que le prince abradate ne pouvant vivre sans avoir des nouvelles de panthee escrivit regulierement deux fois toutes les semaines a doralise ou a moy tant que nous fusmes esloignees ou pour mieux dire a la princesse estant certain que tout ce qu'il nous disoit n'estoit que des choses qui la regardoient d'abord il tesmoigna souhaiter ardamment d'obtenir la liberte de luy escrire a elle mesme mais elle ne le voulut pas de peur qu'il n'y 
 eust quelques lettres perdues car pour celles que nous recevions doralise et moy elles estoient escrites d'une certaine facon qu'elles pouvoient recevoir plusieurs explications ainsi la princesse entendoit parler d'abradate presques sans danger et abradate aprenoit aussi par nous tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir mais afin de mieux embrouiller les choses que nous escrivions nous avions une fois mande a abradate par une voye tres seure que nous luy voudrions dire quelque chose de la princesse ce seroit sous le nom de perinthe ainsi vous pouvez juger que le nom de perinthe estoit dans toutes nos lettres il arriva donc une fois par malheur que perinthe fut dans la chambre de doralise comme elle escrivoit a abradate et quoy qu'elle eust accoustume quand elle luy faisoit responce d'ordonner a une fille qui la servoit de ne laisser entrer personne sans l'en advertir elle ne luy obeit pas fort exactement ce jour la au contraire ayant eu besoin d'aller querir quelque chose dans une autre chambre elle sortit de celle de sa maistresse sans qu'elle s'en aperceust et laissant la porte entr'ouverte elle fut ou elle avoit a faire esperant estre revenue devant qu'il pust venir personne mais ayant trouve quelqu'une des femmes de la princesse avec qui elle s'arresta a parler perinthe arriva qui n'entendant aucun bruit dans le chambre de doralise creut ou qu'elle n'y estoit pas ou 
 qu'elle estoit malade si bien que pour s'en esclaircir il porta les yeux a l'ouverture de la porte par laquelle il vit qu'elle escrivoit sur une petite table vis a vis d'un grand miroir et qu'elle avoit le dos tourne vers luy comme doralise songeoit attentivement a ce qu'elle vouloit dire on eust peu mesme faire assez de bruit qu'elle ne l'auroit pas entendu c'est pourquoy il n'est pas estrange si elle n'ouit point entrer perinthe qui ayant quelque curiosite devoir ce qu'elle escrivoit afin d'avoir lieu de luy fai- la guerre de quelque chose comme elle la luy faisoit tousjours se mit a ouvrir la porte tout doucement et marchant comme on marche quand on a peur d'esveiller quelqu'un il fut enfin se mettre derriere doralise ou il ne fut pas si tost que panchant la teste par dessus son espaule il se mit a lire ce qu'elle escrivoit a abradate il ne put toutesfois pas connoistre a qui cette lettre s'adressoit mais il fut bien surpris de voir que le premier mot qu'il y leut estoit son nom sa curiosite redoublant donc encore il leut tout ce qu'il y avoit d'escrit qui si je ne me trompe estoit a peu pres conceu en ces termes
 
 
 perinthe me parla hier de vous d'une maniere si obligeante que je voudrois que vous pussiez avoir entendu tout ce que nous dismes a vostre avantage vostre derniere lettre luy a semble la plus jolie du monde et si jolie enfin que je lu luy ay veu lire trois fois vous 
 scavez que cette personne s'y connoist assez pour n'oser apres cela vous donner des louanges aussi bien ay-je beaucoup d'autres choses a vous dire qui vous sont plus 
 
 
 
 
comme doralise escrivoit ce dernier mot et que perinthe le lisoit avec une impatience extreme d'en voir la suite afin d'en entendre le commencement ou il ne comprenoit rien scachant bien que doralise ne luy avoit point monstre de lettre elle leva les yeux et regardant dans le miroir qui estoit sur la table elle y vit perinthe qui lisoit sa lettre par dessus son espaule elle ne l'eut pas plustost veu qu'elle fit un grand cry et depuis quand perinthe s'escria t'elle en se levant et en cachant sa lettre avez vous oublie le respect que l'on doit aux personnes de mon sexe et depuis quand luy dit il en sous-riant belle doralise avez vous apris a me faire dire des choses ou je n'ay jamais pense du moins adjousta t'il faites moy voir cette lettre que vous dittes que je troune si jolie et si jolie que je l'ay leue jusques a trois sois doralise voyant alors qu'il avoit leu tout ce qu'elle avoit escrit creut qu'il valoit mieux en railler aveque luy que de parler plus long temps serieusement croyant que plus elle s'en facheroit plus il y croiroit de mistere joint que comme les personnes enjouees ne peuvent prendre la liberte qu'elles prennent sans en donner un peu aux autres elle jugea bien qu'elle ne devoit 
 pas se facher legerement contre perinthe a qui elle avoit fait cent malices innocentes en sa vie de sorte que changeant de visage et se mettant a rire elle se mit alors a relire sa lettre afin d'avoir le temps d'y chercher une explication pendant quoy perinthe la relisant aussi bien qu'elle qui ne s'en deffendit point il la repassa parole pour parole mais encore luy dit il pourquoy dittes vous ce mensonge et a qui le dittes vous car vous scavez bien que tout hier je ne vous parlay point et je venois aujourd'huy pour me recompenser de ce malheur cependant vous dittes a la personne a qui vous escrivez que je vous ay parle d'elle d'une maniere fort obligeante vous adjoustez que sa derniere lettre m'a semble fort jolie et vous dittes enfin tous ces mensonges avec une si grande hardiesse que j'en suis espouvente quoy qu'il en soit dit doralise il me semble que je ne vous rends pas un mauvais office car en disant tout ce que je dis je ne dis rien a vostre desavantage au contraire je dis que vous vous connoissez bien en jolies lettres et que je n'ose donner de louanges a ce que vous avez loue mais de grace luy dit il doralise monstrez moy ce que vous dittes que je loue autrement vous me mettrez au desespoir en verite luy respondit elle si j'estois mauvaise amie je vous le monstrerois et pour vous faire voir que je suis bonne scachez adjousta t'elle pour luy faire une fausse confidence qu'une dame de sardis que pour son 
 honneur je ne vous veux point nommer m'a escrit une lettre ou elle se pique si fort de bel esprit qu'elle est toute composee de grands mots et de paroles choisies qui ne veulent pourtant rien dire de sorte que connoissant bien par son stile qu'elle veut qu'on la loue je l'ay sans doute louee le plus que je la pouvois louer puis que je luy ay dit qu'elle avoit eu beaucoup de part a vos louanges je vous croiray repliqua t'il si vous me monstrez cette lettre comme vous en connoistriez peut-estre l'escriture respondit elle je ne vous la monstreray pas cependant perinthe adjousta doralise le vous prie de me laisser la liberte d'achever la mienne en effet dit il je pense que c'est une affaire pressee car l'endroit ou vous l'avez quittee monstre que vous avez d'autres choses a dire que des complimens il est vray repliqua doralise en riant et c'est pour cela que je vous prie de me quitter je ne le scaurois luy dit il car a vous parler franchement je ne croy rien de ce que vous venez de me dire et que croyez vous donc luy dit elle je ne scay encore ce que j'en dois croire reprit il mais je suis pourtant le plus trompe de tous les hommes si cette lettre ne cache quelque secret si vous le croyez ainsi interrompit doralise vous n'estes pas ce me semble raisonnable de me presser de vous le descouvrir puis que vous scavez bien que c'est une chose que nos amis nous doivent dire d'eux mesmes et que nous ne devons 
 jamais leur demander si je ne voyois pas mon nom dans vostre lettre reprit il je serois sans doute plus discret mais apres avoir dit trois ou quatre mensonges de moy je pense estre en droit devons demander la verite que je veux scavoir de vous et que voulez vous precisement que je vous die repliqua doralise je veux dit il que vous m'apreniez a qui s'adresse cette lettre le vous ay desja dit reprit elle que je ne vous le diray point et tout ce que je puis pour vostre satisfaction est de vous protester que vous ne devez prendre nul interest a tout ce que j'ay dit et tout ce que je dois dire a la personne qui j'escris au nom des dieux s'escria perinthe ne me traittez point de cette sorte car si vous me refusez je diray ce qui me vient d'arriver non seulement a tout le monde qui est icy mais encore a toute la cour quand nous serons retournez a sardis perinthe est si discret reprit doralise que je n'ay garde de craindre qu'il me veuille facher doralise est quelquefois si malicieuse repliqua t'il que perinthe ne sera pas fort coupable de s'en vanger une fois en sa vie mais quand vous direz reprit elle tout ce que vous pretendez dire que m'en arrivera t'il il arrivera sans doute respondit perinthe que l'on scaura que vous avez une intelligence cachee avec quelqu'un on scait assez reprit elle en sous-riant que je ne trouve point cet honneste homme que je cherche qui sans avoir rien aime soit en estat de se faire aimer 
 c'est pourquoy ma reputation ne sera point blessee quoy que vous puissiez dire contre moy peut-estre dit alors perinthe en la regardant fixement agissez vous pour quelque autre et peut-estre encore que vous allez moins d'interest que moy au secret de cette lettre je n'eusse jamais creu reprit doralise qu'un homme qui ne veut dire son secret a personne eust este si puissant a vouloir scavoir celuy des autres quoy qu'il en soit dit il j'ay une telle envie que vous me disiez precisement ce que je demande ou que vous me l'advouyez si je le devine qu'il n'est rien que je ne fisse pour vous y obliger dittes moy seulement dit elle ce que vous en pensez et puis apres je verray ce que j'auray a vous respondre comme ils en estoient la j'arrivay sans scavoir la contestation qui estoit entre eux et comme la princesse craignoit tousjours que doralise n'escrivist trop obligeamment a abradate je venois luy dire qu'elle ne fermast pas la lettre qu'elle escrivoit sans la luy monstrer pour m'aquiter donc de ma commission je luy dis tout bas l'ordre que j'avois mais quoy que je creusse qu'a peine m'avoit elle ouye perinthe m'entendit aussi bien qu'elle de sorte que joignant ce que je disois a la lettre qu'il avoit leue il creut bien que scelle que la princesse vouloit voir estoit la mesme ou son nom estoit mesle malgre luy et il ne douta plus du tout que cette lettre misterieuse ne regardast la princesse et abradate doralise 
 voulut alors me raconter leur demesle mais il n'entendit plus raillerie et se levant pour s'en aller je ne vous demande plus luy dit il ce que je vous demandois il n'y a qu'un moment car je le scay presentement sans que vous vous donniez la peine de me le dire doralise voyant un si grand changement en son visage craignit qu'il n'allast dire quelque chose qui pust nuire a la princesse c'est pourquoy elle le retint et me contant en trois mots le sujet de leur querelle afin de me faire comprendre ce que je devois luy dire et afin aussi de luy persuader qu'il n'y avoit point de mistere en cette lettre je fis en effet ce que je pus pour luy faire croire que tout cela n'estoit qu'un de ces agreables jeux d'esprit de doralise qui estoient quelquesfois si divertissans mais je connus bien qu'il ne me croyoit pas et il nous quitta certainement sans nous croire a peine fut il sorty de la chambre que doralise et moy le rapellasmes apres avoir consulte ensemble un moment et conclu qu'il valoit beaucoup mieux que perinthe seul soubconnast quelque chose que s'il alloit dire ce qui luy venoit d'arriver a des gens qui le feroient scavoir a mille autres qui en tireroient de facheuses consequences perinthe estant donc rentre dans la chambre de doralise nous le priasmes serieusement de ne dire rien de ce qui c'estoit passe entre luy et elle luy disant afin qu'il ne nous refusast pas et afin de le tromper que nous luy dirions une autrefois la verite 
 de cette petite avanture non non repliqua perinthe avec une civilite un peu froide je ne reveleray pas le secret qui vous est si cher et je respecte trop la personne qui y a le principal interest pour en avoir la pensee nous voulus mes encore luy dire quelque chose doralise et moy mais il s'en alla sans nous respondre cependant nous resolusmes qu'il ne faloit point parler a la princesse de ce qui nous estoit arrive de peur de luy donner de l'inquietude mais qu'il faloit flatter perinthe et tascher mesme de luy faire dire precisement tout ce qu'il pensoit nous ne peusmes pourtant pas en trouver l'occasion bien promptement car personne de chez la princesse ne vit perinthe de tout ce jour la ce n'est pas qu'il fust alle s'enfermer seul pour cacher seulement son chagrin mais c'est qu'il estoit alle chercher les voyes de descouvrir s'il n'y avoit point quelqu'un des gens d'abradate a clasomene et en effet sa perquisition ne fut pas inutile car il sceut par un hazard estrange qu'il y avoit un homme loge chez le capitaine du chasteau qui ne vouloit pas estre veu si bien qu'estant alle pour s'informer luy mesme de ce que c'estoit il aprit par un domestique de ce capitaine qui est mon parent que cet estranger partiroit le lendemain au matin qu'il n'estoit arrive que le jour auparavant qu'il estoit venu du coste de sardis et que je luy avois parle dans une allee du jardin je vous laisse a penser madame apres cela si un homme 
 aussi amoureux que perinthe et aussi plein d'esprit pouvoit douter qu'il n'y eust pas une intelligence secrette entre panthee et abradate il imagina donc la verite telle qu'elle estoit et il comprit fort bien que son nom qu'il avoit veu dans la lettre de doralise ne servoit qu'a cacher celuy de panthee de vous dire madame quel fut le desespoir de perinthe ce seroit une chose impossible quoy disoit il ce n'est pas assez que je ne puisse jamais oser seulement dire que l'aime a la personne que j'adore il faut encore pour me persecuter qu'il y ait cent circonstances facheuses qui donnent une nouvelle amertume a toutes mes douleurs et il faut que mon nom serve a cacher les faveurs que la princesse que j'adore fait a mon rival ha non non je ne le scaurois endurer en effet cette petite chose quoy que peu importante a la bien considerer le choquoit d'une telle maniere qu'il ne la pouvoit souffrir et il luy sembloit tant l'amour inspire de foiblesse et de folie dans l'esprit des plus honnestes gens qu'il n'eust pas este si afflige quand la princesse auroit fait dire les mesmes choses a abradate sous un autre nom que sous le sien cette bizarre pensee luy tint de telle sorte au coeur qu'il fit dessein de me prier serieusement d'obliger doralise a n'employer plus son nom dans ses lettres et pour cet effet il vint le lendemain chez la princesse mais il y vint si melancolique et si change que panthee croyant qu'il se trouvast mal s'informa 
 de sa sante avec une bonte extreme luy disant qu'elle ne trouveroit nullement bon que dans le temps qu'elle recouvroit la sienne il allast tomber malade et qu'elle pretendoit que comme il l'avoit amenee de sardis a clasomene il la remenast aussi de clasomene a sardis perinthe receut toutes ces marques d'amitie de la princesse fort respectieusement mais avec tant de tristesse sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit quelque desplaisir secret dans l'ame cependant comme nous nous cherchions tous deux ce jour la nous nous trouvasmes bien tost l'un aupres de l'autre il arriva mesme que la princesse estant entree dans son cabinet avec doralise et quelques dames de clasomene nous demeurasmes seuls perinthe et moy apuyez sur des fenestres qui donnoient sur une terrasse balustree qui estoit a plein pied de cet apartement mais nous y demeurasmes quelque temps sans parler cherchant tous deux ce que nous avions a nous dire a la fin voyant perinthe si occupe de ses propres pensees qu'a peine voyoit il ce qu'il regardoit je luy parlay la premiere et je luy demanday s'il n'avoit pas envie que je luy tinsse ma parole et que je luy disse ce qu'il avoit tant eu de curiosite de scavoir non pherenice me dit il en souspirant car je ne le scay que trop mais l'ay une grace a vous demander que je vous prie de ne me refuser pas si ce que vous voulez est juste et possible luy dis-je vous estes assure de l'obtenir 
 faites donc je vous en conjure reprit il que doralise ne se serve plus de mon nom en escrivant a la personne a qui elle escrivoit quand je la surpris si mal a propos et pour elle et pour moy puis qu'a mon advis il n'est pas meilleur qu'un autre a cacher celuy qu'elle ne veut pas que l'on scache et que cela me peut plus nuire qu'elle ne pense je l'en aurois priee elle mesme adjousta t'il mais de l'humeur qu'est doralise elle ne m'auroit escoute qu'en raillant c'est pourquoy je me suis adresse a vous qui ayant l'esprit moins enjoue avez sans doute l'ame plus tendre et plus capable de vous laisser toucher aux prieres de vos amis perinthe me tint ce discours d'une maniere qui me fit si bien voir qu'il avoit un desplaisir tres sensible dans le coeur que le mien en fut esmeu de quelque compassion de sorte que luy respondant fort doucement afin de l'obliger a prendre quelque confiance en moy perinthe luy dis-je il ne me sera pas difficile d'obtenir de doralise qu'elle fasse ce que vous desirez et porveu que vous ne luy deffendiez pas de dire de vous tout le bien qu'elle en pense quand l'occasion s'en presentera je vous assure qu'elle n'aura point de peine a ne se servir plus de vostre nom lors qu'elle escrira a son amie et qu'elle voudra luy donner des louanges car je scay qu'elle vous estime infiniment et qu'elle ne voudroit pour rien vous facher mais encore adjoustay-je pourquoy estes vous si 
 irrite de ce qu'elle a pris vostre nom en une occasion ou elle n'en pouvoit prendre un autre qui y convinst mieux pherenice me dit il si vous me voulez promettre fidelite je vous diray une partie de ce que je pense je vous la promets luy dis-je pourveu que vous ne me cachiez rien comme vous ne me direz jamais tout repliqua t'il je ne dois pas non plus vous descouvrir tout ce que je scay c'est pourquoy il suffit que vous me juriez que vous ne direz rien de ce que je vous diray je creus apres cela que perinthe m'alloit advouer qu'il aimoit la princesse et comme il y avoit long temps que j'eusse voulu luy pouvoir parler de sa passion afin de tascher de l'en guerir je luy promis tout ce qu'il voulut apres quoy me regardant fixement n'est il pas vray pherenice me dit il avec une douleur dans les yeux a donner de la compassion a l'ame la plus dure et la plus insensible que la lettre qu'escrivoit doralise estoit pour abradate et que le nom du malheureux perinthe estoit employe pour cacher celuy de l'adorable panthee mais luy dis-je en l'interrompant vous ne demeurez pas dans les termes de nos conditions car je vous ay promis de ne reveler point le secret que vous m'aurez confie et cependant je voy parle commencement de vostre discours que bien loin de vous confier en moy vous voudriez que je me confiasse en vous presupose que ce que vous voulez scavoir fust vray et que je vous l'avouasse songez 
 bien perinthe a ce que vous dittes et ne commencez pas vostre discours par des questions si vous voulez que je vous responde joint qu'a vous dire la verite je ne comprends pas trop bien quand tout ce que vous pensez seroit vray ce qui n'est pas quel mal vous seroit vostre nom quand il seroit mis a la place de celuy de panthee si le prince de clasomene repliqua t'il froidement trouvoit quelqu'une de ces lettres ne pourroit il pas croire que je serois de l'intelligence que je le trahirois moy dis-je adjousta t'il a qui il a dit plus de cent fois qu'il ne veut pas que la princesse espouse jamais abradate ha perinthe m'escriay-je vous n'estes pas assez interesse pour songer de si loin a conserver vostre fortune et vous tesmoignez assez estre attache au service de la princesse pour servir abradate si vous croyez qu'elle le regardast favorablement si ce n'estoit quelque autre raison que je comprends avec assez de facilite et que je voudrois pour vostre repos qui ne fust pas vraye ouy perinthe adjoustay-je vous aimez panthee un sentiment jaloux vous a fait imaginer qu'elle aimoit abradate et vous a fait trouver si mauvais que vostre nom fust employe dans une lettre que vous avez creu estre pour ce prince il y a long temps perinthe poursuivis-je que je m'apercois de la passion que vous avez pour elle cependant je ne trouve pas que vous ayez raison de ne vous confier a personne et de cacher un feu qui vous consume 
 une petite estincelle s'estaint en la couvrant mais un feu bien vif se conserve et ne meurt point quand on le couvre c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous m'advouerez ingenument ce que je scay ou si vous ne le faites pas je seray obligee de dire a la princesse toutes les choses dont je me suis aperceue si vous vous confiez en moy adjoustay-je je vous promets une fidelite inviolable et si vous ne vous y confiez pas je vous proteste que le jour ne se pasera point que je ne die a la princesse que je croy que vous l'aimiez et que je ne luy en donne tant de marques qu'elle vous deffendra peut-estre de la voir jamais perinthe m'entendant parler ainsi me regardoit attentivement sans rien dire et cherchoit lequel luy estoit le plus avantageux de m'advouer qu'il aimoit ou de ne me l'advouer pas me voyant si determinee a faire ce que je luy disois si je l'advoue disoit il peut- estre qu'elle le dira et si elle le dit je suis perdu mais si je ne luy advoue point reprenoit il un moment apres elle le dira encore plustost et ma perte sera encore plus indubitable que seray-je done poursuivoit ce malheureux amant en luy mesme puis tout d'un coup s'imaginat que je ne voudrois pas le presser si fort de scavoir une chose que je condamnerois absolument il se flatta de je ne scay quelle esperance mal fondee et me respondit en biaisant conme je vy son ame esbranlee je le pressay encore davantage et luy dis si fortement que je ferois scavoir a 
 la princesse qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle s'il ne me l'advouoit qu'a la fin apres m'avoir fait jurer solemnellement que je ne dirois jamais rien de ce qu'il me diroit ny a doralise ny a la princesse ny a qui que ce soit il me promit qu'il me descouvriroit la verite de toutes choses je luy declaray toutesfois auparavant que je ne m'engageois qu'a luy estre fidelle et qu'a le consoler et non pas a le servir dans sa passion peut-estre madame me demanderez vous pourquoy je voulois obliger perinthe a m'advouer son amour mais je vous respondray a cela que je creus rendre un grand service a la princesse si je pouvois avoir quelque credit sur l'esprit d'un homme qui pouvoit tout sur celuy du prince son pere et d'estre en estat de l'empescher de nuire a abradate que je connoissois bien qu'il n'aimoit pas joint que j'esperay mesme que mes conseils pourroient peut-estre le guerir du mal qui le tourmentoit ainsi ce fut plustost pour le service de la princesse et pour le repos de perinthe que par curiosite que je voulus scavoir le secret de son coeur pour luy il ne m'a jamais bien pu dire pourquoy il me l'advoua n'ayant jamais pu bien determiner si c'avoit este afin que je le disse a la princesse ou afin de m'obliger a ne luy dire pas quoy qu'il en soit perinthe m'advoua sa passion me raconta tous ses transports et me dit tous les sentimens qu'il avoit eus tels que je vous les ay dits en divers endroits de mon recit 
 de sorte qu'apres m'avoir exagere la grandeur de son amour sa purete et sa constance jugez pherenice me dit il si je n'ay pas eu raison de vous prier que mon nom ne serve point a rendre abradate heureux perinthe luy dis-je avec beaucoup de douceur afin d'aquerir quelque credit sur son esprit je vous suis bien obligee de m'avoir advoue une chose que j'avois envie de scavoir de vostre bouche aussi vous puis-je assurer que je cacheray aussi soigneusement que vous le secret que vous m'avez confie ha pherenice s'escria t'il vous le chacherez peut-estre trop bien et je ne scay si dans le temps que je vous ay priee de ne le reveler pas je n'ay point desire que vous le dissiez a la a ce mot perinthe s'arresta ne pouvant achever de dire la princesse puis tout d'un coup se reprenant non non pherenice me dit il n'escoutez pas mes transports et escoutez tousjours la raison qui veut que je meure pour l'adorable panthee sans qu'elle scache mesme que je meurs pour elle c'est pourquoy soyez moy aussi fidelle que vous me l'avez promis et souffrez seulement que j'aye la consolation de pouvoir dire quelquesfois a une personne qu'elle aime les tourmens que ma passion me fait endurer cependant dit il comme je ne veux pas vous prier de me rendre office aupres de panthee ne me priez jamais aussi de servir abradate la chose repris-je n'est pas esgalle entre nous car si j'entre prenois de vous servir 
 aupres de panthee je vous y detruirois absolument et ainsi vous me demanderiez une chose impossible mais si je vous priois de servir abradate aupres du prince de clasomene je vous demanderois une chose que vous pouvez faire facilement facilement reprit perinthe avec precipitation ha pherenice vous ne connoissez pas combien il est difficile de rendre office a un rival et a un rival aime mesme dans les choses qui ne regardent point sa passion mais perinthe repris-je a mon tour voulez vous que la princesse espouse un homme qu'elle haisse je voudrois qu'elle fust contente repliqua t'il mais pour estre soulage dans mes maux je voudrois qu'elle n'espousast personne comme nous en estions la la princesse sortit de son cabinet pour aller prendre l'air dans le jardin ou je la suivis et ou perinthe ne la suivit pas car il se retira si plein de confusion que l'on eust dit qu'il craignoit que la princesse ne devinast en le regardant tout ce qu'il venoit de me dire doralise qui avoit bien remarque la conversation que nous avions eue ensemble me demanda ce que nous avions tant dit mais quoy que nous nous fussions promis elle et moy de nous rendre cote de tout ce que nous descouvririons de perinthe je ne creus pas estre obligee de luy dire ce qu'il m'avoit fait promettre de ne dire pas et je ne luy apris enfin que ce que j'avois sceu devant qu'il m'eust rien advoue depuis cela perinthe me parla plus souvent qu'il n'avoit 
 accoustume quoy qu'il eust tousjours este fort de mes amis c'est a dire autant que le pouvoit estre un homme qui ne monstroit son coeur a qui que ce soit mais quelque soin qu'il aportast a vouloir scavoir de moy en quels termes abradate estoit avec panthee je ne luy dis pas une parole et comme il m'en pressoit un jour cessez perinthe luy dis-je de me demander une chose que je ne vous dirois pas quand je la scaurois et soyez persuade que comme je ne vous trahiray point je ne trahiray pas non plus la princesse a qui je dois encore une plus grande fidelite qu'a vous et en effet depuis ce temps la il n'osa plus m'en parler quelques jours apres il receut une lettre d'andramite qui luy aprit que mexaris avoit eu quelque petit demesle avec le prince de clasomene et qu'il estoit alle a une maison qu'il avoit a deux journees de sardis de sorte que perinthe ne scavoit s'il s'en devoit affliger ou s'en resjouir car lors qu'il regardoit mexaris comme devant posseder panthee il estoit bien aise qu'il fust mal avec le prince de clasomene mais aussi quand il le consideroit comme un obstacle aux desseins d'abradate il estoit fache qu'il n'y fust plus bien toutesfois l'esperance qu'il avoit que cresus ne consentiroit jamais au mariage de panthee ny avec l'un ny avec l'autre de ces princes luy donnoit quelque consolation on peut pourtant dire qu'il n'avoit gueres de bonnes heures onn 
 seulement parce qu'il avoit plusieurs maux effectifs mais parce encore qu'il faisoit du poison de toutes choses en effet lors que la princesse vint a se mieux porter au lieu de s'en resjouir il s'en affligea prevoyant bien que le retour de sa sante la feroit bien tost retourner a sardis pherenice me disoit il un jour qu'elle avoit beaucoup meilleur visage qu'elle ne l'avoit eu depuis qu'elle estoit tombee malade ne suis-je pas bien malheureux de voir que le mal qu'a eu la princesse n'a fait que l'embellir peut estre disoit il que si elle eust este un peu changee abradate auroit eu moins d'amour pour elle et que si elle s'en fust aperceue elle auroit eu aussi moins de bien-veillance pour luy mais je suis trop infortune pour cela et je commence de voir qu'elle arrivera a sardis plus belle encore qu'elle n'estoit quand nous en partismes il vous est aise de juger madame par ce que je dis de ce que souffroit un homme qui s'affligeoit de la sante et de la beaute de la personne qu'il aimoit cependant quelques jours apres il falut partir et nous partismes effectivement mais a vous dire la verite perinthe parut si melancolique que si je n'eusse pas sceu le secret de son coeur j'aurois creu qu'il laissoit a sardis l'objet de toutes ses affections aussi doralise luy en fit elle une guerre estrange le premier jour que nous marchasmes et ce la servit sans doute a nous le faire passer plus agreablement car toutes les fois que perinthe qui estoit a cheval aprochoit du chariot 
 de la princesse dont il ne s'esloignoit guere elle luy disoit cent agreables choses ou il respondit avec un chagrin plein de depit le plus plaisant du monde le premier jour de nostre voyage s'estant donc passe de cette sorte nous le continuasimes le lendemain mais helas nous ne le passasmes pas si agreablement car vous scaurez madame qu'estant arrivez dans une forest fort obscure en un endroit ou il y a un grand estang que l'on laisse a la main droite et qui s'epanchant parmy l'ombre qui regne dans l'espaisseur du bois fait un obiet qui a quelque chose de beau et d'affreux tout ensemble vous scaurez dis-je qu'estans arrivez en ce lieu la nous vismes sortir a nostre gauche par diverses routes de la forest quarante ou cinquante hommes a cheval l'espee a la main un desquels je reconnus aussi tost malgre la frayeur que j'eus pour estre le prince mexaris qui commanda a celuy qui conduisoit le chariot de la princesse de s'arrester ce qu'il fit ne jugeant pas qu'il peust faire autre chose car madame il faut que vous scachiez que la princesse n'avoit en ce voyage qu'un chariot de suitte plein de femmes quinze hommes de cheval et quelques gens a pied mais en petit nombre bien est il vray qu'il ne faut pas conter perinthe pour un homme seul veu les choses prodigieuses qu'il fit ce jour la a peine eut il veu venir mexaris l'espee a la mains suivy de tous les siens qui en sortant du bois s'estoient rangez aupres de luy qu'il se mit en estat 
 de nous deffendre et appellant tous les gens de la princesse il se mit entre le chariot ou elle estoit et le prince mexaris qui n'eut pas plustost commande que ce charoit s'arrestast que perinthe s'avancant vers luy l'espee haute mexaris recula d'un pas et voulant tascher d'enlever la princesse sans respandre de sang ou peut estre sans s'exposer perinthe luy dit il ne me forcez pas a vous perdre et ne faites pas une resistance inutile a un homme qui est en estat de vous faire obeir par force non non seigneur repliqua perinthe je n'ay point de vie a mesnager et vous n'enleverez jamais la princesse tant que perinthe sera vivant pendant que mexaris amusoit perinthe a parler il vit que quatre des siens s'avancoient vers le chariot de sorte que sans s'arrester davantage il attaqua mexaris apres luy avoir crie qu'il luy seroit peut-estre plus aise de le vaincre qu'il ne luy seroit facile a luy d'enlever panthee tant qu'il vivroit en effet il l'attaqua avec tant de fierte que mexaris eut besoin d'estre secouru parlessiens comme nous l'avons sceu depuis par les gens de la princesse car pour nous madame nous estions tellement espouventees que nous ne scavions ce que nous voiyons pour moy je scay seulement que j'entendois un grand bruit et que je voyois une confusion estrange parmy tous ces gens qui se battoient a quinze ou vint pas du chariot de panthee ce qu'il y eut d'avantageux pour nous fut que ceux a qui mexaris avoit 
 commande de se saisir de la princesse durant qu'il combattoit voyant leur maistre si engage dans un combat dont ils ne scavoient pas l'evenement quelque inesgal qu'il fust par le nombre ne le firent point et se resolurent d'attendre que la victoire leur fust un peu plus assuree se contentant d'empescher que les chariots ne marchassent mais plus ils attendoient plus ils voyoient leur party s'affoiblir car perinthe combatoit avec une valeur si extraordinaire que j'ay ouy assurer qu'il tua de sa main plus de six des gens de mexaris l'ayant blesse luy mesme en plus d'un endroit ceux qui le secondoient firent aussi fort bien en cette occasion neantmoins comme des quinze hommes qu'il avoit il y en avoit trois de luez et quatre hors de combat il n'avoit presques plus d'autre espoir que celuy d'avoir la gloire de mourir en deffendant la princesse si bien que combatant en desespere il fit des choses que l'on ne scauroit vous representer comme le pauvre perinthe en estoit donc la il vit paroistre des cavaliers qui venoient a toute bride vers l'endroit ou il combatoit et comme il ne douta point que ce ne fussent encore des gens de mexaris il se creut absolument perdu toutesfois voulant vendre sa vie cherement et tascher de tuer ce prince auparavant que d'estre tue luy mesme il s'eslanca vers luy malgre quelques uns des siens qui le couvroient et s'engagea d'une telle sorte parmy ces ravisseurs que si abradate qui estoit 
 a la teste de ces cavaliers que perinthe avoit cru estre des gens de mexaris ne fust venu et ne les eust ecartez le panure perinthe estoit mort mais a peine ce prince fut il arrive avec vint chevaux que les choses changerent bien de face car des qu'il aprocha voyant perinthe au danger ou il estoit il fut tout droit a luy et le degagea entierement de vous representer madame l'estonnement de mexaris de perinthe et de nous de voir arriver abradate en ce lieu la c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire mexaris creut alors que les dieux le vouloient perdre panthee espera qu'ils la vouloient conserver et perinthe m'a dit depuis que lors qu'il vit abradate luy sauver la vie il eut une douleur si sensible qu'il fut tente de le combattre aussi bien que mexaris qui depuis l'arrivee du prince de la susiane ne songea plus qu'a se retirer car outre qu'il estoit desja assez blesse des qu'il le joignit il luy donna encore un coup au bras droit qui l'ayant mis hors de combat fit qu'il ne pensa plus qu'a se mettre en seurete n'estant plus en estat ny d'enlever sa maistresse ny de combatre son rival il fut pourtant poursuivy ardemment toutesfois comme le principal dessein d'abradate et de perinthe n'estoit que de sauver la princesse ils n'oserent s'enfoncer dans l'espaisseur de la forest de sorte que revenant vers elle apres avoir tue on fait fuir tout ce qui restoit de gens a mexaris elle ne les vit pas plustost que les apellant ses liberateurs elle leur rendit mille graces du service 
 qu'ils luy avoient rendu or comme elle avoit fort bien remarque qu'abradate par son arrivee avoit sauve la vie a perinthe elle ne le remercia pas moins de la luy avoir conservee que de ce qu'il estoit cause qu'elle n'estoit pas tombee sous le pouvoir de mexaris et comme elle sentoit avec beaucoup de tendresse tout ce que perinthe venoit de faire pour elle elle luy exagera la chose avec une reconnoissance extreme d'autre part perinthe regardant abradate comme celuy qui venoit recueillir le fruit de ses travaux il se repentoit presques de ce qu'il avoit fait et il eust peut-estre mieux aime que mexaris eust enleve la princesse que de voir qu'abradate partageoit aveque luy la gloire de l'avoir deffendue et de ce qu'en son particulier il luy devoit la vie comme ce n'estoit pas un lieu fort agreable pour nous a demeurer que celuy la ou nous ne voiyons que des morts ou des mourants apres tous ces complimens faits en tumulte apres que la princesse eut demande a abradate comment il s'estoit trouve la si a propos et apres qu'il luy eut apris que c'estoit parce qu'il avoit este adverty du dessein de mexaris par un de ses domestiqucs et qu'au mesme instant il estoit monte a cheval pour s'opposer a sa violence les chariots marcherent abradate laissant quelques uns des siens pour avoir soin de ceux qui n'estoient pas encore morts tant amis qu'ennemis afin de secourir les uns et de s'assurer des autres mais comme en marchant 
 la princesse s'aperceut que perinthe estoit blesse a la main gauche et qu'il perdoit assez de sang pour l'affoiblir elle fit arrester son chariot et l'y faisant mettre malgre la resistance qu'il y fit je luy donnay un voile que je tenois pour luy bander la main ain si le premier liberateur de panthee estoit dans le chariot et celuy de perinthe et de panthee tout ensemble marchoit aupres et ne pouvoit se lasser de rendre grace a cet amant cache d'avoir si bien deffendu sa princesse mais helas que le pauvre perinthe respondoit froidement a toutes les civilitez d'abradate la seule consolation qu'il avoit estoit de me regarder quelquesfois et de me faire voir dans ses yeux une partie des sentimens de son coeur au premier lieu habite ou nous passasmes la princesse fit arrester pour faire penser la main de perinthe de qui le sang ne s'estanchoit pas tout a fait en suitte dequoy nous continuasmes nostre voyage j'avois oublie de vous dire madame qu'apres le combat finy on avoit trouve un des gens de mexaris demonte dont on s'estoit saisi et qu'abradate fit conduire a sardis afin que cresus peust estre mieux instruit de ce qui c'estoit passe je ne vous diray point madame combien ce prince fut irrite contre mexalis quand il sceut qu'il avoit voulu enlever panthee ny combien le prince de clasomene en fut surpris afflige et en colere mais je vous diray que ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que perinthe 
 qui avoit fait tout ce qu'il avoit pu pour tuer mexaris fit apres toutes choses possibles par le moyen d'andramite pour apaiser cresus sans autre motif que celuy de faire obstacle a abradate en servant son rival ainsi le malheureux perinthe tout genereux qu'il estoit se voyoit force par sa passion de servir celuy a qui il avoit voulu oster la vie et de nuire a un prince a qui il devoit la sienne il ne put toutesfois faire ny l'un ny l'autre car outre que cresus estoit effectivement fort irrite contre mexaris qui contre sa volonte avoit voulu non seulement espouser panthee mais l'enlever il arriva encore que la princesse craignant que mexaris ne fist sa paix et ne revinst a sardis pria si instamment doralise de traitter un peu mieux andramite et de le prier d'entretenir le roy dans les sentimens de colere ou il estoit contre mexaris qu'en effet andramite fut un matin dire a perinthe qu'il ne pouvoit plus faire ce qu'il avoit souhaite de luy parce que doralise luy demandoit une chose toute opposee luy disant qu'entre sa maistresse et son amy il pensoit n'estre pas fort injuste de donner la preference a doralise je vous laisse a juger madame combien perinthe fut afflige de cette nouvelle car il comprit bien que doralise n'eust pas fait cette priere a andramite sans le consentement de la princesse voyant donc qu'il ne pouvoit obliger son amy a ce qu'il desiroit il obtint du moins de luy qu'il entretiendroit tousjours 
 cresus dans le dessein de ne consentir pas qu'abradate espousast panthee et en effet andramite luy promit la chose pourveu que doralise ne luy fist pas une priere opposee a la sienne ce n'est pas que perinthe n'eust une repugnance horrible a nuire a un prince a qui il estoit oblige mais quand il songeoit qu'il s'agissoit de l'empescher de posseder la princesse il passoit par dessus toute consideration il ne me disoit pourtant pas alors ce qu'il faisoit mais seulement les maux qu'il enduroit et ce ne fut que quelque temps depuis qu'il m'advoua tout ce que je viens de dire cependant le dangereux poison qu'il avoit dans l'ame envenima si fort sa blessure qu'il n'en pouvoit guerir et son corps vint a n'estre guere plus sain que son esprit il estoit foible pasle et languissant ayant une fievre lente qui ne l'abandonnoit pas un moment mais durant qu'il souffroit tant de maux secrets abradate estoit beaucoup plus heureux qu'il n'avoit este car le prince de clasomene scachant ce qu'il avoit fait pour la princesse sa fille le traitoit incomparablement mieux qu'a l'ordinaire et ne pouvoit pas avec bien-seance luy deffendre d'aller visiter panthee aupres de laquelle ne trouvant plus mexaris il avoit de plus douces heures on sceut mesme que ce prince qui s'estoit retire dans une ville dont le gouverneur estoit a sa disposition estoit assez dangereusement blesse si bien que sans avoir seulement la crainte de le voir revenir 
 il jouissoit d'autant de plaisirs que perinthe avoit d'infortunes il avoit pourtant tousjours l'inquietude de scavoir que cresus n'estoit pas plus dispose qu'a l'ordinaire a consentir qu'il espousast panthee ainsi au milieu de ses plus heureux jours il avoit de facheuses heures apres avoir vescu quelque temps de cette sorte il sceut que cresus ayant confere avec le prince de clasomene avoit enfin resolu qu'il s'en retournast et qu'il menast la princesse si fille aveque luy afin que l'absence guerist abradate de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame perinthe comme vous pouvez penser ne s'opposa pas a ce dessein au contraire il l'appuya si fortement aupres de son maistre et le fit apuyer si puissamment par andramite aupres de cresus que lors que l'on commenca de parler de ce voyage on en parla comme d'une chose resolue et indubitable si bien que lors qu'abradate se croyoit le plus heureux il se trouva le plus infortune la princesse fut aussi sensiblement touchee de cette resolution et si fort qu'elle prit enfin le dessein de souffrir que doralise qui l'en pressoit extremement priast encore andramite de tascher de rompre ce voyage en mon particulier sans en rien dire a la princesse ny a doralise j'en parlay aussi a perinthe que je ne trouvay pas dispose a m'accorder ce que je souhaittois de luy il me dit d'abord que scachant que cresus ny le prince de clasomene par diverses raisons ne souffriroient jamais que panthee 
 espousast abradate il croyoit que c'estoit le servir que d'esloigner cette princesse de luy et que c'estoit aussi servir la princesse que d'empescher qu'une plus longue conversation avec ce prince n'engageast un peu trop son coeur que de plus le prince son maistre n'avoit garde de perdre une occasion si favorable de retourner dans son estat et de sortir d'un lieu d'ou il n'auroit pas la liberte de se retirer sans cette raison enfin il me dit tant de choses que tout autre que moy auroit creu que l'amour n'avoit point de part a tout ce que faisoit perinthe mais a la fin n'ayant pas voulu recevoir tout ce qu'il me disoit il m'advoua ingenument que le seul dessein de separer abradate et panthee estoit ce qui l'avoit oblige a faire tout ce qu'il avoit fait mais il me dit cela avec des transports d'amour si grands que quelque en colere que je fusse contre luy je ne pus le quereller comme j'avois creu le pouvoir faire cependant doralise ayant agy aupres d'andramite et ayant employe tout le pouvoir qu'elle avoit sur luy pour le porter a dire tout ce qu'elle voudroit et a faire rompre le voyage de clasomene luy disant que c'estoit pour son interest seulement et parce qu'elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a perdre la princesse andramite luy dit que la chose n'estoit plus en termes de cela je que ce voyage estoit si absolumemt resolu qu'il estoit impossible de le rompre voila donc abradate dans une douleur estrange panthee ne fut pas aussi sans affliction 
 car elle voyoit bien que le dessein de ceux qui l'esloignoient de ce prince estoit qu'il ne la revist jamais neantmoins comme elle a l'ame grande et ferme elle cacha de telle sorte la douleur qu'elle avoit que celle d'abradate en augmenta encore de la moitie luy semblant que l'amour qu'il avoit tesmoigne avoir pour la princesse meritoit bien que du moins elle luy fist voir quelque melancolie sur son visage et peut-estre mesme quelques larmes dans ses yeux il se pleignit donc de son insensibilite avec tant d'emportement que la princesse fut obligee de souffrir pour l'apaiser qu'il la vist chez doralise de crainte qu'il ne prist quelque resolution trop violente car comme la princesse devoit partir dans deux jours il n'y avoit point de temps a perdre il la vit donc chez doralise et il l'y vit si triste ce jour la qu'il eut lieu d'estre aussi satisfait de la tendresse de son affection qu'il l'estoit peu de sa mauvaise fortune toute cette conversation fut la plus douloureuse du monde aussi cette separation avoit elle tout ce qui la pouvoit rendre insuportable puis que non seulement abradate estoit cause que panthee quittoit sardis mais ce qui estoit le plus facheux estoit que cette absence n'avoit point de bornes et que la princesse ne pouvant jamais rien vouloir contre son devoir disoit toujours a abradate qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'il l'allast voir desguise comme il l'en pressoit enfin madame apres s'estre dit toutes 
 les choses que se peuvent dire deux personnes qui ont resolu de s'aimer tousjours et qui craignent de ne se revoir jamais ils se separerent car encore qu'abradate deust faire une visite de ceremonie a la princesse pour luy aller dire adieu il contoit cela pour rien puis qu'il scavoit bien qu'il ne luy pourroit rien dire de particulier de sorte que lors qu'elle le laissa chez doralise il la regarda presques comme ne la devant plus voir et sentit autant de douleur que l'on en peut sentir aussi tost qu'elle fut partie les gens d'abradate luy surent dire que cresus le faisoit chercher par tout mais comme il avoit l'esprit irrite contre ce prince il leur dit qu'ils dissent a ceux qui le cherchoient qu'ils ne l'avoient pas trouve et en effet il fut encore plus de deux heures avec doralise a parler de la princesse et du malheureux estat ou il se trouvoit apres quoy il s'en alla trouver cresus qui l'ayant fait entrer dans son cabinet avec une civilite extraordinaire luy aprit que sa fortune avoit change de face et qu'il venoit de recevoir une lettre de la reine de la susiane qui luy aprenoit que le prince son frere et le roy son pere estoient tous deux morts et qu'ainsi il estoit roy cette nouvelle surprit extremement abradate et luy donna mesme beaucoup de douleur car encore que ces deux princes l'eussent fort injustement et soit rigoureusement exile la nature ne laissa pas de faire en luy ce qu'elle fait tousjours en toutes les personnes genereuses ainsi il aprit avec deplaisir 
 qu'il estoit roy de la susiane il est vray que ce ne fut pas un deplaisir inconsolable et sa douleur quoy que grande ne fut pas plus forte que sa raison cresus luy dit que celuy qui luy avoit aporte cette nouvelle avoit une lettre pour luy de la reine sa mere qui luy mandoit a luy en particulier qu'elle trouvoit qu'il estoit a propos qu'il tardast encore a sardis jusques a ce que quatre des plus grands seigneurs de son royaume qui devoient partir dans trois jours fussent venus le prier au nom de tous ses peuples d'aller prendre le sceptre que le roy son pere luy avoit laisse et qui dans les derniers momens de sa vie avoit tesmoigne se repentir de l'avoir exile et l'avoit declare son legitime successeur estant mort trois jours apres son fils aisne qui seul avoit cause leur mauvaise intelligence apres avoir donc sceu toutes ces choses abradate se retira chez luy l'esprit remply de tant de pensees differentes qu'il ne pouvoit dire luy mesme ce qu'il pensoit comme il estoit fort tard cette nouvelle ne fut sceue que de peu de monde ce soir la mais le lendemain au matin il n'y eut personne qui ne sceust qu'abradate estoit roy de la susiane et qui ne s'en resjouist perinthe mesme en fut bien aise parce qu'il s'imagina pour se flatter qu'abradate seroit contraint de partir tout a l'heure et que peut estre l'absence et l'ambition le gueriroient elles de l'amour qu'il avoit pour la princesse ainsi je pense pouvoir dire qu'elle eut moins de joye que 
 perinthe du bonheur d'abradate parce qu'elle craignit que le changement de la condition de ce prince n'en aportast en son coeur cependant quoy que tout le monde se resjouist de scavoir qu'il estoit roy il ne falut pas laisser de luy aller faire une visite de deuil et de s'affliger aveque luy de la mesme chose dont on se resjouissoit hors de sa presence le prince de clasomene y fut et perinthe aussi esperant tousjours qu'abradate en montant au throsne s'esloigneroit de panthee la princesse de son coste l'envoya visiter par un des siens et luy tesmoigner la part qu'elle prenoit a tout ce qui luy estoit arrive en attendant qu'elle y allast elle mesme avec la princesse de lydie mais comme ce compliment estoit une chose que la seule ceremonie avoit exigee d'elle abradate n'en fut pas pleinement satisfait et il creut qu'elle eust pu le luy envoyer faire par une personne qui luy eust este plus confidente et qui luy eust dit quelque chose de plus particulier cependant comme la princesse devoit partir dans un jour il avoit l'ame a la gehenne car outre que la bien-seance ne souffroit pas qu'il allast si tost chez elle n'y chez doralise il trouvoit encore que d'aller parler de mariage devant mesme que les deputez de la susiane fussent venus et si tost apres avoir sceu la mort de deux princes qui luy estoient si proches estoit une chose hors de raison cependant l'amour qu'il avoit pour panthee estoit si forte qu'il 
 n'avoit pas delibere un moment sur ce qu'il avoit a faire et des qu'il s'estoit veu roy il avoit resolu de la faire reine et de n'accepter la couronne que pour la luy mettre sur la teste d'autre part perinthe pressoit autant qu'il pouvoit le prince de clasomene de partir de sardis mais par bonheur ce prince s'estant trouve mal ce voyage fut differe ce qui donna beaucoup de joye a abradate qui vit que par la les choses se feraient avec moins de precipitation mais madame comme c'est la coustume du monde de juger legerement d'autruy deux jours apres qu'il eut receu cette nouvelle on disoit desja que ce prince ne songeroit plus a panthee et ce bruit flatta si doucement perinthe qu'il en eut effectivement de la joye durant que cette esperance l'entretenoit les deputez de suse arriverent qui apres avoir assure abradate de la fidelite de tous ses sujets remercierent cresus de la part de la reine de l'asyle qu'il luy avoit donne pendant son exil et l'assurerent qu'elle conserveroit tousjours le souvenir d'une obligation si sensible apres cela abradate qui n'avoit rien voulu mander a panthee ny a doralise ny a moy jusques a ce qu'il eust amene la chose au point ou il la vouloit fut trouver cresus un matin pour luy dire que croyant qu'il ne s'estoit oppose au mariage de panthee et de luy que parce qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'un prince estranger s'establist dans ses estats il venoit luy declarer qu'il estoit 
 prest de renoncer a tous les droits que cette princesse avoit a la principaute de clasomene si elle y vouloit consentir pourveu qu'il agreast son mariage avec elle cresus entendant une proposition si avantageuse pour luy l'escouta avec plaisir et promit de la faire au prince de clasomene apres quoy abradate l'ayant remercie en le conjurant de luy tenir bien tost ce qu'il luy promettoit ce prince fut des le jour mesme chez le prince de clasomene luy demander panthee en mariage pour le roy de la susiane car encore qu'il n'eust pas le consentement de la reine sa mere il ne laissoit pas de croire qu'elle approuveroit un choix authorise par cresus qui ne demandoit mesme cette princesse qu'a condition que cette reine donneroit son consentement dont abradate ne doutoit point du tout joint que les deputez de suse a qui il avoit dit son dessein l'assurerent si fortement qu'il ne trouveroit point d'obstacle dans l'esprit de la reine sa mere qu'il ne craignit pas de l'irriter et d'autant moins qu'ils luy dirent que tous ses subjets ne trouvant point de princesse ny dans son royaume ny dans les estats voisins qu'il pust espouser auroient beaucoup de satisfaction qu'il leur donnast une reine si illustre en toutes choses cela estant ainsi cresus fut donc chez le prince de clasomene pour luy faire cette proposition qui luy sembla si avantageuse qu'il l'accepta sans peine de sorte que sans perdre temps cresus envoya querir 
 abradate afin que toutes choses estant arrestees entre eux on depeschast en diligence vers la reine de la susiane comme cela ne se put pas faire sans qu'il s'en espandist quelque bruit un officier de la princesse me vint dire avec beaucoup d'empressement qu'elle alloit estre reine de la susiane quoy que je l'eusse espere j'advoue que je ne laissay pas d'en estre surprise de sorte que dans le premier transport de ma joye apres m'estre fait dire comment il scavoit la chose j'escrivis promptement un billet a doralise qui estoit chez elle avec perinthe afin de la luy raire scavoir et comme il estoit fort court je pense que je m'en souviendray bien et qu'il estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 pherenice a doralise 
 
 
 s'il est vray comme vous le dittes souvent que celuy qui donne beaucoup aime beaucoup il faut conclure que le roy de la susiane aime plus la princesse que personne ne l'a jamais aimee puis qu'en luy donnant la couronne qu'il vient de recevoir il luy donne plus que personne ne luy a jamais donne si vous estes raisonnable vous viendrez aider a ce prince a la luy mettre sur la teste et partager la joye de 
 
 
 pherenice 
 
 
 
 
 a peine doralise eut elle leu ce billet que sans songer a l'opinion qu'elle avoit que perinthe fust amoureux de panthee elle le luy donna a lire voyez luy dit elle perinthe ce que pherenice me mande et venez en diligence aveque moy car je serois au desespoir si quelqu'un m'avoit devancee a me rejouir avec la princesse perinthe se mit donc a lire ce billet mais il le leut avec un trouble si grand dans l'esprit et tant d'emotion sur le visage que doralise revenant dans ses premiers sentimens qu'avez vous perinthe luy dit elle qui vous trouble si fort et seroit il possible que la joye fist en vous les mesmes effets de la douleur et de la colere car enfin adjousta doralise je voy que vous avez tout a la fois du chagrin du depit et du desespoir mais je n'en voy point la cause si ce n'est que mes soubcons soient veritables et qu'il y ait autant d'amour dans vostre coeur qu'il paroist de melancolie dans vos yeux ha doralise s'escria t'il que ne suis je mort en combatant contre mexaris plustost que de me trouver au malheureux estat ou je me voy je voudrois poursuivit il vous pouvoir cacher ma folie comme je l'ay cachee jusques icy toutesfois puis que je n'ay pu m'empescher de vous donner des marques de ma passion en m'affligeant du bonheur de la princesse panthee j'aime mieux vous advouer mon crime et avoir recours a vostre discretion que de vous nier une verite qui ne vous est que trop connue l'advoue donc doralise que j'aime la princesse et 
 que je l'ay aimee des que j'ay este capable d'aimer mais aimee avec tant de violence que je m'estonne que je n'en suis mort mille et mille fois mais aimee aussi avec tant de purete que je n'ay jamais rien espere ny presque rien souhaite si ce n'est qu'elle n'espousast point abradate cependant c'est abradate qui la va espouser c'est luy qui la va faire reine et' c'est luy enfin qui me va pousser au tombeau bienheureux encore adjousta t'il si j'y puis entrer devant le funeste jour destine a cette grande feste perinthe prononca toutes ces paroles avec tant de vehemence et d'une maniere si touchante que doralise qui l'estimoit infiniment en eut le coeur attendry et voulut tascher de le consoler je m'estois tousjours bien imaginee luy dit elle que vous aviez de la passion pour la princesse mais je vous avoue que je ne pensois pas que ce fust une passion si forte eh dieux interrompit perinthe comment avez vous pu penser que l'on pust aimer la princesse avec mediocrite et comment avez vous pu scavoir comme je scay que vous l'avez sceu que je ne respondois pas a la proposition qu'elle me faisoit d'entreprendre de vous servir sans croire que je devois avoir une passion bien violente et que panthee seulement pouvoit empescher perinthe d'aimer doralise en effet adjousta t'il je ne doute nullement qu'ayant pour vous toute l'estime dont je suis capable je n'eusse eu aussi beaucoup d'amour si mon coeur n'eust pas este engage 
 c'est pourquoy sans m'accuser d'insensibilite pour vous pleignez moy je vous en conjure et m'aidez a cacher pour quelques jours qui me restent a vivre ce que l'ay cache avec tant de soin toute ma vie mais est il possible interrompit doralise que vous ne puissiez sousmettre vostre esprit a vostre fortune et vouloir enfin ce que vous ne scauriez empescher n'avez vous pas tousjours sceu adjousta t'elle que vous ne polluiez jamais rien pretendre a la princesse non pas mesme de l'obliger a souffrir vostre passion ouy repliqua l'afflige perinthe en soupirant pourquoy donc reprit elle estes vous si desespere c'est parce respondit il que le seul homme que je ne voulois pas qui fust heureux le va estre ce que vous dittes reprit doralise paroist plustost une marque de haine pour abradate qu'une prenne d'amour pour panthee ha doralise s'ecria t'il que vous este peu scavante aux effets de l'amour si vous croyez ce que vous dittes car enfin si je n'aimois point panthee j'aimerois sans doute abradate ouy doralise tout preocupe que je suis de ma passion je ne laisse pas de connoistre qu'il a cent bonnes qualitez mais plus je connois qu'il en a plus j'envie sa bonne fortune et plus il me rend infortune le temps repliqua t'elle vous guerira malgre vous ouy si je vivois assez pour attendre son secours respondit il mais ce n'est pas mon opinion ny mesme mon dessein cependant comme je ne veux pas que mon desespoit 
 esclatte et que je sens qu'il m'est absolument impossible de cacher ma douleur et que je ne pourrois pas mesme aller chez la princesse sans y donner des marques de mon amour il faut que le me retire comme il y a longs temps que ma sante est mauvaise il me sera peut estre aise de faire croire que les maux du corps causent ceux de l'esprit et de cacher le sujet de ma melancolie au peu de gens que je verray doralise entendant parler perinthe de cette sorte fit ce qu'elle put pour l'obliger a faire un grand effort sur luy mesme et pour l'empescher de s'aller enfermer chez luy mais il n'y eut pas moyen de le divertir du dessein qu'il avoit fait et il falut qu'elle le laissast aller il ne la pria point en la quittant de ne dire rien de sa passion a la princesse et je ne scay mesme s'il ne desira point qu'elle luy en dist quelque chose elle n'eut pourtant garde de luy en parler scachant bien qu'elle n'eust pu aprendre l'amour que perinthe avoit pour elle et le pitoyable estat ou il estoit reduit sans en avoir de la colere ou de la douleur ou peut-estre l'une et l'autre ensemble de sorte que ne voulant pas troubler sa joye elle ne luy en dit rien mais elle m'en parla en particulier si bien que comme je vy qu'elle en scavoit autant que moy je luy racontay tout ce que j'en scavois et nous eusmes toutes deux tant de compassion de voir un aussi honneste homme que perinthe estre aussi malheureux qu'il l'estoit que nous en sentismes avec un peu moins de satisfaction 
 le bonheur de la princesse toutefois comme nous esperasmes que le temps le consoleroit ce desplaisir ne nous empescha pas de paroistre fort gayes en effet doralise dit cent jolies choses a la princesse en se souvenant de l'avarice du prince mexaris et en considerant la generosite d'abradate mais apres luy avoir dit qu'elle estoit bien plus heureuse qu'elle d'avoir trouve en si peu de jours ce qu'elle cherchoit inutilement depuis si longtemps c'est a dire un homme accomply et qui n'eust jamais aime qu'elle seulement elle la pria de ne luy commander plus de favoriser andramite puis qu'elle n'avoit plus besoin de luy aupres de cresus comme andramite repliqua la princesse est amy de perinthe j'auray bien de la peine a l'abandonner doralise alloit luy respondre lors que la princesse l'en empescha et se mit a luy demander si elle ne scavoit point ou il estoit ne polluant comprendre qu'il ne fust pas des premiers a luy faire un compliment doralise ne voulut pas dire a la princesse qu'elle venoit de le quitter de sorte que disant un petit mensonge elle die qu'elle ne scavoit ou il pouvoit estre et comme un moment apres le prince de clasomene envoya querir panthee pour luy dire ce qu'il avoit resolu le reste du jour se passa sans qu'elle songeast plus a perinthe mais le lendemain apres que le prince abradate eut este faire une visite a la princesse comme a une personne qu'il duvoit espouser et qu'elle se souvint le 
 soir qu'elle n'avoit point veu perinthe ny entendu parler de luy elle commenca de s'en estonner et de me demander si je ne scavois point ce qu'il estoit devenu comme je luy eus dit que non elle envoya un des siens chez luy pour luy dire qu'elle ne touvoit nullement bon qu'il ne vinst point prendre part a sa joye et qu'a moins que d'aprendre qu'il fust a l'extremite elle auroit bien de la peine a luy pardonner cette negligence apres que celuy que la princesse envoyoit a perinthe luy eut fait ce message vous direz a la princesse repliqua t'il que puis que je puis obtenir mon pardon en mourant je puis esperer de mourir bien tost en ses bonnes graces estant certain que je ne croy pas vivre longtemps perinthe adjousta a cela quelques paroles d'un compliment ordinaire mais avec une voix si tremblante a ce que raporta a la princesse celuy qui luy avoit parle qu'elle creut en effet qu'il estoit tres malade et le creut si bien que ne doutant pas que les medecins du prince son pere qui avoient accoustume de le traitter ne l'eussent veu elle en envoya querir un pour luy demander ce qu'avoit perinthe pour qui elle avoit beaucoup d'amitie mais elle fut bien surprise lors qu'il luy dit qu'il ne l'avoit point veu depuis quelques jours doralise qui se trouva presente a ce que ce medecin disoit a panthee luy dit pour desguiser la chose que peut-estre perinthe s'estant ennuye de voir qu'il ne guerissoit point parfaitement auroit il apelle quelque autre medecin mais 
 comme celuy qui estoit la creut que doralise l'attaquoit en son honneur il assura fort la princesse que cela ne pouvoit estre de sorte que pour s'eclaircir mieux de l'estat ou estoit perinthe elle luy ordonna de l'aller voir de sa part le lendemain au matin et de luy en rendre conte cependant abradate estoit si satifait de pouvoir esperer raisonnablement que rien ne troubleroit plus ses plaisirs qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage il luy sembla pourtant que son bonheur n'estoit pas accomply parce qu'il n'avoit point rencontre perinthe pour luy en parler et il fit en effet dessein de l'entretenir de sa joye le jour suivant mais helas ce malheureux amant ne songeoit guere a recevoir sa visite non plus que celle du medecin que la princesse luy envoya qui voulant s'aquiter exactement de sa commission fut le voir si matin qu'a peine le soleil estoit il leve il ne le trouva pourtant pas endormy car ses ennuis ne luy permettoient pas de reposer un moment et des qu'il entra dans sa chambre il luy vit le visage si change qu'il ne douta pas qu'il ne fust plus malade qu'a l'ordinaire il luy dit donc qu'il s'estonnoit qu'il ne l'eust pas envoye querir et luy aprit en suitte l'ordre qu'il avoit receu de la princesse de luy rendre conte de sa sante au nom de la princesse perinthe tressaillit car il n'avoit pas preveu que cet homme luy deust rien dire de sa part puis s'estant remis un moment apres il dit a ce medecin qu'il estoit infiniment 
 oblige a la princesse des soins qu'elle prenoit de luy et qu'il luy estoit aussi tres redevable de ceux qu'il vouloir prendre de le guerir mais qu'il le suplioit de ne s'en donner pas la peine qu'il luy advouoit qu'il estoit las de faire des remedes inutilement et qu'il estoit resolu d'essayer si la nature toute seule ne le gueriroit pas plustost que tout l'art de la medecine pendant que perinthe parloit ainsi cet homme luy porta la main sur le bras quoy qu'il s'en voulust deffendre et trouva que son pouls estoit tantost foible et inegal et tantost viste et esleve de sorte que ne pouvant croire qu'il n'eust pas besoin de remedes il s'obstina longtemps a luy vouloir persuader d'en faire et si longtemps que perinthe s'en fust fache si ce medecin accoustume a avoir quelque indulgence pour les malades qu'il traittoit n'eust fait semblant de ceder a sa volonte avec intention toutesfois d'advertir la princesse de l'estat ou estoit perinthe et du besoin qu'il avoit que l'on songeast a luy il le quitta donc apres que perinthe l'eut charge de remercier la princesse du soin qu'elle avoit de luy le conjurant de luy dire qu'il s'estimoit le plus malheureux homme du monde de ne pouvoir prendre part a la joye qu'elle avoit et d'estre contraint de se pleindre quand tour le monde ne jettoit que des cris d'allegresse pour son mariage cet homme estant venu au louer de la princesse elle ne le vit pas plustost que luy adressant la parole et bien 
 luy dit elle en quel estat est perinthe car je vous advoue que comme il a tousjours este malade depuis la blessure qu'il receut en combattant pour moy j'ay beaucoup d'impatience de le scavoir madame reprit il la sante de perinthe est assez mauvaise et ce qu'il y a de pire est qu'il ne veut ny dire ce qu'il souffre ny faire de remedes pour guerir et que veut il donc faire repliqua la princesse il dit qu'il veut que la nature le guerisse sans le secours de nostre art respondit ce medecin mais pour moy adjousta t'il je dis peut estre plus raisonnablement que luy que tous les deux ensemble auront bien assez de peine a en venir a bout la princesse fort surprise d'entendre ce qu'on luy disoit se fit redire fort exactement par cet homme tout ce qu'il avoit remarque du mal de perinthe qui en effet au sortir de chez doralise avoit este contraint de se mettre au lict tant l'agitation de son esprit avoit augmente la fievre lente qu'il avoit depuis sa blessure avoit trouble toutes ses humeurs et altere son temperamment comme la princesse estoit donc fort occupee a s'informer de la sante de perinthe abradate envoya scavoir des nouvelles de la sienne de sorte qu'apres avoir fait un compliment pour respondre a celuy de ce prince elle luy manda qu'elle se porteroit bien si ce n'estoit l'affliction qu'elle avoit de venir d aprendre que perinthe estoit malade et ne vouloit point guerir et suitte dequoy elle acheva de s'habiller et fut au temple comme a 
 l'ordinaire ou abradate se trouva pour luy donner la main lors qu'elle descendit de son chariot conme la princesse aimoit perinthe elle parla de son mal a abradate au sortir du temple et conme il luy dit qu'il avoit desja fait dessein de l'aller voir elle luy tesmoigna qu'elle luy en seroit obligee et le pria de tascher de luy persuader de faire quelques remedes et de descouvrir la raison pourquoy il sembloit estre resolu de n'en faire pas luy disant que le respect qu'il avoit pour luy le porteroit peut-estre a faire ce qu'il ne feroit pas pour un autre abradate qui ne cherchoit qu'a plaire a la princesse et qui d'ailleurs regardoit perinthe conme un honme qui avoit empesche panthee d'estre enlevee par mexaris ne fut pas plus tost hors d'aveque nous qu'il fut chez cet amant infortune qui ne passoit que pour malade vous pouvez juger combien la veue de ce prince luy donna d'emotion et combien il eut de peine a deguiser ses sentimens aussi tost qu'abradate fut assis au chevet de son lict et que le premier conplimont fut fait est il possible luy dit il fort obligeanment que lors que la fortune cesse de me presecuter et que je suis sur le point d'estre heureux perinthe veuille troubler ma joye en me donnant la douleur d'aprendre qu'il refuse de faire des remedes qui le mettroient bi tost en estat de la partager aveque moy seigneur reprit tristement perinthe je voy bi que la bonte qu'a la princesse de s'interresser en la vie du plus fidelle de ses serviteurs vous oblige a parler conme vous faites et vous preocupe 
 a mon avantage estant certain qu'a considerer ce que je suis veritablement je suis fore indigne de l'honneur que je recois de vous et si indigne enfin que si j'osois je vous suplierois de ne m'en faire plus tant vous estes trop modeste repliqua abradate car quand vous ne seriez pas aussi honneste homme que vous le paroissez estre a ceux qui se connoissent le mieux en honnestes gens et que vous ne seriez que le liberateur de panthee vostre vie me devroit tousjours estre tres chere mais estant tout ensemble un homme tres accomply le liberateur de ma princesse et fort de mes amis je dois sans doute vous forcer a faire tout ce qu'il faut pour vivre et pour vivre heureux a ces mots perinthe fit un grand souspir et levant les yeux au ciel il tourna la teste a demy de l'autre coste pour cacher le changement de son visage abradate remarquant l'action de perinthe commenca de soubconner que son esprit pouvoit estre aussi malade que son corps neantmoins n'en imaginant pas la veritable cause il creut que peutestre n'avoit il point d'autre desplaisir que celuy de voir que le prince de clasomene n'avoit encore rien fait pour luy et que la princesse s'esloignant il perdroit le plus grand suport qu'il eust de sorte que voulant descouvrir si ses soubcons estoient bien ou mal sondez apres quelques autres discours ou perinthe respondit peu il luy dit que c'estoit une estrange chose de voir qu'il voulust renoncer a la vie dans un temps ou elle 
 alloit commencer d'estre plus douce pour luy qu'elle n'avoit jamais este ha seigneur s'ecria t'il vous jugez cette fois la d'autruy par vous mesme mais il ya une notable difference de vous a moy et si grande que je suis assure que ce qui fait bien souvent vos plaisirs fait aussi bien souvent mes douleurs tant il est vray que vostre sort et le mien sont opposez l'un a l'autre quoy qu'il en soit perinthe reprit abradate je suis assure que si vous vivez comme je le souhaite vous serez plus heureux que vous n'avez jamais este car soit que vous veuilliez venir a suse ou demeurer a clasomene ou a sardis je vous engage ma parole de mettre vostre fortune en estat que du coste de l'ambition vous n'aurez rien a desirer si j'estois raisonnable reprit perinthe je devrois vous rendre mille graces de la generosite que vous avez de parler comme vous faites a un homme qui vous doit desja la vie mais seigneur il y a presentement en moy une si noire melancolie espandue qui trouble si fort ma raison et qui me rend si dissemblable a moy mesme que je ne puis avoir un plus sensible deplaisir que d'ouir parler de choses agreables tout ce qui n'est point funeste m'irrite et me met en colere c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me laisser ou guerir ou mourir en repos mais comment guerirez vous repliqua abradate sans vouloir guerir si je ne gueris pas je mourray respondit il brusquement malgre qu'il en eust mais si vous mouriez 
 reprit abradate la princesse panthee et moy en serions inconsolables c'est pourquoy vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si je veux vous persuader de vivre c'est de la part de cette princesse adjousta t'il que je vous ordonne de vouloir souffrir qu'on prenne soin de vous et de ne vous obstiner pas a ne vouloir point estre secouru la princesse respondit perinthe en calmant un peu l'agitation de son esprit me fait trop de grace de songer a moy en un temps ou je croyois qu'elle ne s'en devoit pas souvenir mais seigneur on n'est pas tousjours en pouvoir de vivre quand on le voudroit et on n'est pas mesme tousjours en puissance de le vouloir j'advoue que ceux qui ont de grandes afflictions reprit abradate ne sont quelquesfois pas maistres de leurs propres desirs mais pour vous perinthe qu'avez vous qui vous puisse porter dans le desespoir tout le monde fait cas de vostre vertu le prince de clasomene vous aime la princesse sa fille vous estime autant qu'il est possible et je vous promets ma protection toute entiere apres cela je croiray si vostre douleur continue que doralise a eu raison de penser que vous estiez amoureux mais quand cela seroit perinthe encore ne faudroit il pas se desesperer car enfin peut on estre plus malheureux que je le me suis veu ny plus esloigne de la possession de panthee cependant vous voyez l'heureux changement qui est arrive eu ma fortune je voy en effet interrompit 
 perinthe en soupirant mais je ne voy pas par ou je pourrois estre moins malheureux que je ne le suis quoy qu'il en soit seigneur poursuivit il avec un chagrin estrange jouissez en repos de vostre felicite et laissez moy s'il vous plaist souffrir les maux qui m'accablent sans y chercher de remede car je sens bien que vous y en chercheriez inutilement abradate voyant que plus il parloit a perinthe plus il l'irritoit se leva pour s'en aller luy disant qu'il estoit bien marry d'estre contraint d'aller porter une si facheuse nouvelle a la princesse perinthe jugeant donc par le discours de ce prince que des qu'il seroit hors d'aupres de luy il iroit aupres de panthee changea de dessein tout d'un coup car apres avoir fait tout ce qu'il avoit pu pour l'obliger a s'en aller il fit alors tout ce qu'il put pour le retenir encore quelque temps luy semblant que c'estoit un grand avantage pour luy que de differer de quelques instants le plaisir que devoit avoir abradate de voir panthee il est vray que ce qu'il dit a ce prince fut si mal lie et fut quelquesfois si peu a propos qu'il commenca de soubconner quelque chose de la veritable cause du desespoir de perinthe de sorte qu'apres avoir encore respondu deux ou trois fois aux questions que luy fit ce malheureux amant pour le retenir davantage aupres de luy il le quitta et vint chez la princesse qu'il ne trouva pas mais m'ayant demandee et ayant sceu que je ne l'avois 
 pas suivie il ne laissa pas d'entrer en attendant qu'elle revinst comme le soubcon qu'il avoit de l'amour de perinthe le mettoit en inquietude il me parut assez resveur si bien que prenant la liberte de luy demander d'our pouvoit venir cette resverie dans un temps si heureux pour luy il me dit que le mal de perinthe l'affligeoit en suitte dequoy m'ayant represente toutes les inquietudes qu'il avoit remarquees dans son esprit il vit bien que je scavois peut-estre quelchose de ce qui les causoit ce n'est pas que je luy disse rien qui deust le luy faire juger mais c'est que j'ay ce malheur de ne pouvoir pas empescher mes yeux de descouvrir souvent le secret de mon coeur abradate ne pouvoit toutesfois se resoudre a me dire ce qu'il pensoit et nous parlasmes durant quelque temps d'une maniere assez rare car nous ne disions pas ce que nous pensions et nous nous entendions pourtant parfaitement mais apres que cela eut dure quelque temps tout d'un coup abradate se mit a me prier de ne parler point a la princesse de ce qu'il m'alloit dire me jurant qu'il ne me diroit rien que je fusse obligee de luy reveler en suitte dequoy il me demanda si je ne croyois pas que perinthe fust amoureux de panthee et si je ne pensois pas aussi bien que luy que son mariage estoit la cause de son mal je ne scay pas seigneur luy dis-je si ce que vous dittes est vray mais je scay bien tousjours que si cela est la princesse ne le scait pas non non me dit il pherenice je ne 
 vous dis pas cela par un sentiment de jalousie mais par un sentiment de pitie l'estime que j'ay conceue de la vertu de panthee est si solidement establie que mille amans a ses pieds ne m'obligeroient pas aujourd'huy a craindre qu'elle fust capable de la moindre foiblesse c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire jegenument si vous ne trouvez pas que j'aye raison de croire ce que je croy car si vous me confirmez dans mon sentiment je chercheray apres les voyes de soulager du moins le pauvre perinthe puis qu'il a un mal dont il ne scauroit guerir mais seigneur luy dis-je il n'est point besoin de croire que perinthe soit amoureux de panthee pour vous obliger a luy ordonner de faire ce qu'il pourra pour guerir puis que vous l'estimez assez pour cela je voy bien pherenice me dit il que vous n'estes pas sincere cependant je vous advertis que perinthe mourra si on n'y prend garde et je vous advoue que luy douant le salut de panthee je seray sensiblement touche de sa perte si elle arrive mais quand tout ce que vous dittes seroit vray luy dis-je quel remede y auroit il celuy de faire que la princesse luy commandast absolument de ne se desperer point repliqua abradate comme il disoit cela panthee entra dans sa chambre car abradate m'y avoit trouvee mais a peine le vit elle qu'elle luy demanda ce que perinthe luy avoit dit et ce qu'il luy sembloit de son mal madame luy dit il perinthe m'a tant dit de choses et avec si peu de suitte 
 que je crois que son esprit n'est pas moins malade que son corps et pour moy je pense qu'il a plus besoin de consolation que de remedes il me semble pourtant dit elle qu'il ne luy est arrive aucun malheur il est certain dit il qu'il ne paroist pas mais il est peut- estre arrive quelque bonheur a quelqu'un dont il est afflige perinthe reprit la princesse n'est point envieux et n'a mesme point d'ennemis si ce n'est mexaris de qui le bonheur n'est pas assez grand pour estre envie quoy qu'il en soit madame adjousta t'il je crains que perinthe ne meure si vous ne prenez soin de sa vie abradate dit cela d'une facon qui fit connoistre a la princesse qu'il y avoit un sens cache a ses paroles de sorte que ne scachant qu'en penser elle changea de discours le reste du jour elle songea continuellement a ce qu'abradate luy avoit dit neantmoins n'osant ny nous dire ce qu'elle pensoit apres qu'il sut party ny abandonner le soin qu'elle avoit commence d'avoir de perinthe a qui elle devoit tant elle pria doralise de luy vouloir faire une visite et m'ordonna de l'y accompagner esperant d'estre mieux instruite a nostre retour qu'elle ne l'avoit este a celuy d'abradate doralise et moy fusmes bien aises de la commission que la princesse nous donnoit c'est pourquoy nous nous en aquitasmes en diligence et mesme aveque joye croyant effectivement que nous aurions assez de pouvoir sur l'esprit de perinthe pour l'obliger a se consoler et pour 
 le faire resoudre a faire ce qu'il pourroit pour vivre mais madame nous nous trouvasmes estrangement deceues car la visite qu'abradate luy avoit faite avoit de telle sorte irrite sa douleur et redouble son mal que nous ne pusmes le voir sans une compassion extreme il eut pourtant quelque satisfaction de nous pouvoir entretenir en effet il commanda a ses gens de sortir de sa chambre afin de le faire aveque plus de liberte mais des que nous voulusmes luy parler pour luy faire reproche de ce qu'il ne vouloit pas guerir non non nous dit il je ne dois plus songer a la vie et pourveu que je puisse mourir devant que le roy de la susiane ait espouse la princesse je ne m'estimeray pas tout a fait malheureux il elt vray que depuis une heure j'ay beaucoup d'aprehension que je ne puisse esviter ce malheur il y a si loin de sardis rerepliquay-je que j'espere que vous serez entierement guery et des maux de l'esprit et de ceux du corps auparavant que l'on en soit revenu vous ne scavez donc pas encore reprit il que depuis une heure il est arrive un envoye de la reine de la susiane qui ayant sceu l'amour que le prince son fils a pour la princesse de clasomene luy vient dire de sa part que s'il continue de l'aimer aujourd'huy qu'il est roy elle consent qu'il l'espouse de sorte qu'abradate n'ayant plus d'obstacle a son dessein sera infailliblement bien tost en estat de me faire mourir desespere si la mort se haste 
 de venir me delivrer doralise et moy fusmes estonnees de voir que perinthe en l'estat ou il estoit sceust pins de nouvelles que nous mais comme nous nous estions arrestees en chemin nous jugeasmes bien qu'il n'estoit pas impossible que ce que perinthe disoit fuit vray et d'autant plus que nous sceusmes qu'il scavoit la chose par andramite qui estoit assez bien informe pour ne douter pas de ce qu'il disoit apres cela nous dit il je m'assure que vous n'aurez pas l'inhumanite de vouloir que je vive davantage mais si la princesse vous le commandoit luy dismes nous ne luy obeiriez vous pas si la princesse dit il scavoit ma passion et qu'apres cela elle eust la bonte ou la cruaute car je ne scay lequel de ces deux mots convient le mieux a ce que je dis de vouloir que je fisse ce que je pourrois pour vivre peut-estre aurois-je la force de luy obeir et de faire quelques efforts inutiles pour ne mourir point mais vous scavez bien qu'elle ne scait pas que je l'aime je n'ose mesme desirer qu'elle le scache toutefois adjousta t'il si vous croyez que quand je seray mort elle le puisse aprendre sans hair ma memoire je vous conjure de le luy dire et de luy demander pardon de ce que je n'auray pu me resjouir de son bonheur mais comme j'avois borne toutes mes esperances a tascher de faire en sorte qu'elle n'aimast jamais rien et que je les voy toutes renversees ne trouvez pas estrange si je vous dis que je ne scaurois souffrir la vie je dis 
 mesme plus adjousta t'il car je pense qu'il n'est guere moins necessaire que je meure pour le repos de panthee que pour le mien que scay-je si je serois tousjours maistre de mes transports et de ma passion je l'ay sans doute este jusques icy mais je ne voyois pas abradate heureux et je ne voyois pas la princesse en sa possession il vaut donc bien mieux que je meure que de troubler la felicite d'une personne qui seulement en n'aimant rien eust pu faire toute la mienne qui vit jamais nous disoit il un plus pitoyable destin je ne voulois autre chose pour estre content sinon que pas un de mes rivaux ne le fust et cependant je n'ay pu obtenir cet avantage de la fortune je m'estois resolu a cacher toute ma vie ma passion j'avois obtenu de moy de ne desirer mesme pas d'estre aime et de me satisfaire de la seule estime de panthee mais quoy que je me fusse renferme dans des bornes si estroites que jamais nul autre amant n'a este capable de faire une pareille chose il se trouve pourtant que j'ay encore trop desire et qu'abradate enfin va estre aussi heureux que je suis miserable du moins luy dis-je avez vous cette consolation de voir que vous ne pouvez vous pleindre ny de vostre rival ny de la personne que vous aimez ha pherenice s'escria t'il ce que vous croyez qui me doit consoler est ce qui fait mon plus grand desespoir estant certain que je serois bien moins a pleindre si je me pleignois avec justice de quelque autre que de moy mais puis 
 que vous connoissez encore la raison reprit doralise pour-quoy ne la suivez vous pas c'est parce repliqua t'il que je suis esclave sans estre aveugle je voy sans doute bien le chemin qu'il faudroit prendre pour recouvrer ma liberte mais les chaines qui m'attachent sont trop fortes pour les pouvoir rompre il n'y a que la mort seulement qui le puisse faire c'est pourquoy si vous estes autant de mes amies que je vous le croy vous ne m'accuserez plus et ne me parlerez plus de vivre j'ay pourtant une grace a vous demander mous dit il d'une maniere a attendrir le coeur le plus dur que le vous conjure de ne me refuser pas c'est de trouver s'il est possible quelque pretexte pour faire en sorte que l'adorable panthee n'espouse du moins abradate que le lendemain de ma mort le terme adjousta t'il ne sera pas bien long car si je ne me trompe je ne vivray pas encore quatre jours l'eusse aussi fort souhaite poursuivit il pouvoir encore une fois jouir de la veue de nostre princesse mais ce seroit en demander trop pour un malheureux je vous advoue madame qu'entendant parler perinthe de cette sorte doralise et moy en fusmes si touchees qu'il nous fut impossible de retenir nos larmes nous plurasmes donc aveque luy voyant que nous n'y pouvions rien gagner et nous le quitasmes avec promesse de le revenir voir nous fismes pourtant tout ce que nous pusmes pour le consoler auparavant que de partir mais ce fut inutilement 
 nous allasmes donc retrouver la princesse avec une melancolie estrange en nous en retournant nous songeasmes a ce que nous avions a dire sans pouvoir toutesfois resoudre si nous apprendrions a panthee qu'elle estoit cause de la mort de perinthe ou si nous ne le luy dirions pas il est vray que nous n'avions que faire de nous en mettre en peine estant certain que depuis ce qu'abradate luy avoit dit elle se l'estoit dit a elle mesme si bien que comme nous fusmes auprss d'elle et que nous luy eusmes raporte le pitoyable estat ou estoit perinthe je connus qu'elle nous entendoit mieux que nous n'avions creu qu'elle nous devoit entendre car comme je luy dis que je croyois qu'elle devoit assez a perinthe pour se donner elle mesme la peine de luy commander de vivre je scay bien me dit elle en rougissant que je luy dois assez pour prendre soin de sa vie mais je scay bien aussi que si perinthe a quelque sensible douleur dans l'ame il ne m'obeira pas il n'obeira donc a personne repliqua doralise mais du moins madame poursuivis-je ne vous reprocherez vous pas a vous mesme la mort de perinthe si elle arrive quand vous aurez fait tout ce que vous aurez pu pour l'empescher apres cela panthee fit qu'il luy fut possible pour s'excuser de voit perinthe sans en dire la veritable raison sa modestie ne luy permettant pas de nous dire ce qu'elle pensoit mais a la fin doralise se servant de la liberte qu'elle 
 avoit accoustume d'avoir avec la princesse luy dit la chose telle que nous la scavions et la dit avec tant d'art et si obligeamment pour perinthe que la princesse n'eut assurement guere moins de douleur que de colere d'aprendre la passion qu'il avoit pour elle panthee voulut pourtant d'abord nous cacher la moitie de ses sentimens mais a la fin elle nous advoua que la mort de perinthe l'affligeoit et luy sembloit estre de si mauvais augure pour le reste de sa vie qu'elle n'osoit plus esperer de le passer heureusement elle nous fit alors cent reproches de n'avoir pas guery perinthe de son amour luy semblant qu'il n'y avoit qu'a dire des raisons pour guerir d'une pareille maladie en suitte comme nous voulusmes la suplier de vouloir faire une visite a ce malheureux elle rejetta fort loin la proposition que nous luy en fismes mais madame luy dis-je il ne scaura pas que nous vous ayons descouvert son secret et vous ne ferez que ce que vous eussiez sans doute fait si vous n'eussiez rien soubconne de son amour il suffit que je le scache dit elle pour m'empescher de voir perinthe ce n'est pas que je ne sois au desespoir de la mort d'un homme a qui j'ay une obligation si considerable comme est celle de m'avoir empeschee de tomber en la puissance de mexaris toutesfois je ne puis me resoudre a ce que vous desirez de moy joint aussi que s'il m'aime ma veue avanceroit plustost sa mort qu'elle ne la reculeroit estant certain qu'il ne 
 me pourroit voir sans douleur puis quil le desire luy dis-je il me semble qu'il y a de l'inhumauite a luy refuser cette grace ne songez vous point reprit elle a ce que diroit abradate s'il venoit a scavoir que perinthe eust eu de l'amour pour moy et que je l'eusse este voir s'il ne tient repliquay-je qu'a vous en faire prier par ce prince il me sera bien aise car je voy qu'il entre a propos pour cela et en effet doralise suivant ma pensee ne vit pas plus tost abradate aupres de la princesse que luy adressant la parole n'est il pas vray seigneur luy dit elle que la princesse est obligee de faire une visite au paure perinthe il n'en faut pas douter repliqua t'il et s'il ne faut que joindre mes prieres aux vostres pour l'y obliger je le feray volontiers car je suis persuade que s'il ne se resout a vivre a sa consideration il mourra dans peu de jours comme la princesse ne vouloit pas dire douant abradate la veritable raison qui l'en empeschoit elle en disoit de si foibles qu'il luy estoit aise de les destruire de sorte qu'il la pressoit estrangement mais a la fin nous parlasmes tant que nous nous entendismes tous esgallement bien ce ne fut toutesfois pas sans que la princesse en rougist elle se remit pourtant un moment apres voyant comment abradate prenoit la chose estant certain que l'on ne peut pas agir plus genereusement qu'il agit en cette occasion car comme il estoit bien assure du coeur de panthee et de sa vertu il fit tout ce qu'il put pour luy 
 persuader de sauver la vie a perinthe en luy rendant une visite il ne put pourtant l'y obliger qu'a une condition qui auroit avance la mort du pauvre perinthe s'il l'eust sceue qui fut que s'il eschapoit elle ne le verroit jamais apres cela elle vouloit encore qu'abradate fust present a cette entre-veue mais il ne voulut point de sorte qu'il fut resolu pour la contenter que du moins toutes ses femmes iroient avec elle aussi bien que nous de vous representer madame comment cette visite se passa il me seroit impossible et il suffit que je vous die que perinthe pensa mourir vint fois durant qu'elle y fut tantost on luy voyoit une douleur excessive un moment apres quelques mouvemens de joye paroissoient dans ses yeux tous mourans qu'ils estoient un instant en suitte le desespoir s'emparoit de son esprit de sorte qu'il n'entendoit presques plus ce qu'on luy disoit mais apres tout il demeura pourtant tousjours dans un profond respect il remercia la princesse de l'honneur qu'elle luy faisoit luy disant qu'il n'avoit plus rien a faire qu'a mourir puis qu'il avoit eu l'honneur de la voir et comme elle luy commanda absolument de souffrir qu'on luy fist quelques remedes il fut quelque temps sans parler puis tout d'un coup levant foiblement les yeux vers elle madame luy dit il si vous scaviez ce que vous souhaitez pour moy quand vous desirez que je vive vous ne le desireriez pas car enfin madame adjousta t'il avec 
 une voix languissante quand doralise a cru que j'estois amoureux elle ne se trompoit point j'aimois madame et je ne meurs assurement que parce que j'ay aime c'est pourquoy comme vous ne scavez pas tous mes malheurs vous estes excusable de souhaitter que je vive parce que vous croyez que je puis encore vivre heureux voila madame tout ce que le respect que j'ay pour vous me permet de vous dire de mes infortunes perinthe prononca ces dernieres paroles si foiblement que l'on eut peur qu'il n'expirast car la douleur le suffoqua de telle sorte qu'il en perdit la parole durant un demy quart d'heure mais conme il ne perdit ny la veue ny le jugement il eut la consolation de voir tomber quelques larmes des beaux yeux de la princesse elle les cacha pourtant autant qu'elle put cependant ne pouvant pas demeurer plus longtemps en ce lieu la elle en sortit apres avoir ordonne que l'on fist venir non seulement les medecins ordinaires de perinthe mais encore ceux de cresus qui tous ensemble dirent qu'il estoit impossible de le sauver et qu'il mourroit infailliblement bientost en effet sa vie ne fut plus guere longue je pense mesme que la veue de la princesse que nous luy avions procuree conme un remede acheva de le tuer car il mourut la nuit suivante si universellement regrette de tout le monde que jamais personne ne le fut plus la princesse en fut si touchee qu'elle n'eut pas peu de peine a cacher une partie de sa douleur dans la crainte qu'elle 
 eut qu'abradate ne s'imaginast qu'elle eust sceu quelque chose de la passion de perinthe plustost qu'elle ne le luy avoit dit mais ce prince la connoissoit trop bien pour avoir une si injuste pensee c'est pourquoy il n'avoit garde de trouver estrange qu'elle regardast un homme a qui elle avoit une obligation si sensible et qu'il regrettoit luy mesme ainsi le pauvre perinthe eut l'avantage d'estre pleure de sa maistresse et d'estre pleint de son rival aussi bien que de son maistre qui le portant mieux l'avoit este visiter durant son mal et en avoit eu tous les soins imaginables sa mort mesme differa de quelque temps le mariage d'abradate car comme elle avoit sensiblement touche panthee elle se trouva assez mal huits jour durant pendant lesquels on sceut que le prince mexaris estoit mort de ses blessures et de ses chagrins de sorte que nous prismes le deuil aussi bien que toute la cour quoy que nous n'y deussions plus guere tarder et quoy que cette mort ne nous affligeast guere neantmoins tant de choses funestes arrivees en si peu de temps ne laisserent pas d'inquieter la princesse toutesfois comme les sujets de joye qu'elle avoit estoient assez grand pour la pouvoir consoler a quinze jour de la le mariage d'abradate et d'elle fut accomply sans ceremonie a cause de la mort de mexaris la magnificence en estant remise a suse ou nous nous acheminasmes quelque temps apres avec un equipage proportionne a la condition et a la 
 liberalite d'abradate la princesse eut mesme la consolation de pouvoir mener doralise avec elle malgre la resistance qu'y fit andramite et celle qu'y aporta le prince myrsile sans que nous ayons sceu pourquoy de sorte que depuis cela cette agreable fille ne l'a point abandonnee n'ayant non plus trouve a suse qu'a sardis cet homme accompli qu'elle cherche depuis long temps je ne vous diray point madame comment la princesse fut receue par la reine sa belle mere ny comment abradate a vescu avec elle depuis qu'il l'a espousee jusques au jour que la fortune les a separez et que le sort des armes l'a mise sous la puissance de l'illustre cyrus car je ne serois peut-estre pas creue du moins pour ce qui regarde la passion du roy de la susiane qui assurement n'a jamais este plus violente qu'elle est c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux que je me taise apres vous avoir tres humblement supliee de me pardonner si je vous ay raconte avec des paroles si conmunes les avantures de deux personnes de qui la vertu est si extraordinaire
 
 
 
 
il est aise repliqua araminte a pherenice de vous accorder le pardon que vous demandez et plus juste encore adjousta cyrus de luy refuser puis qu'elle n'en a pas besoin pherenice respondit au compliment de cyrus avec beaucoup de civilite en suitte de quoy araminte et luy se mirent a parler de la vertu de panthee de la liberate d'abradate du malheur de perinthe et de l'agreable humeur de doralise mais conme il estoit 
 desja tard cyrus prit conge de cette princesse et fut a l'apartement de panthee pour luy dire aussi adieu et pour la remercier de ce qu'elle avoit bien voulu qu'il eust sceu toutes ses avantures il l'assura que pherenice les avoit racontees avec beaucoup de grace et il luy demanda pardon d'estre force par les loix de la guerre par la fidelite qu'il devoit a ciaxare et par l'interest de mandane a ne la rendre pas encore au roy son mary la supliant de croire que c'estoit avec une douleur extreme qu'il separoit pour si longtemps deux personnes si illustres en suitte dequoy passant aupres de doralise a qui araspe parloit il luy fit aussi un compliment luy disant qu'il eust souhaite pour la gloire d'araspe qu'il eust pu estre cet honneste homme qu'elle cherchoit du moins adjousta t'il vous puis-je assurer qu'il n'a rien aime je vous assure seigneur luy dit elle en riant que si vous croyez ce que vous dittes vous ne le connoissez pas si bien que moy car je ne voyois pas tant de marques d'amour en perinthe au commencement que je le connus que j'en remarque dans le procede d'araspe depuis quelques jours araspe rougit du discours de doralise et s'en deffendit assez mal mais comme cyrus avoit bien d'autres choses dans l'esprit il ne s'y arresta pas et s'en alla suivy de ligdamis et de tous ceux qui l'avoient accompagne a cette visite chrisante l'estant mesme venu rejoindre et luy rendre conte des machines de guerre que 
 l'on faisoit par ses ordres et comme il l'assura que l'on travailloit diligemment il eut quelque satisfaction d'aprendre que toutes choses s'avancoient et qu'il se verroit bien tost en estat ou de vaincre ses ennemis ou de mourir pour mandane 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cyrus ne fut pas plustost au camp qu'il envoya dire au roy de phrigie que la reine de la susiane et la princesse de pont avoient escrit si avantageusement pour le prince artamas qu'il esperoit que le voyage d'aglatidas seroit heureux le jour suivant il depescha vers ciaxare pour luy donner advis de tout ce qui s'estoit passe et pour le suplier de ne luy envoyer plus de troupes afin que si thomiris entreprenoit quelque chose il fust en estat de luy resister jusques a ce qu'il eust finy la guerre ou il estoit engage et delivre la princesse mandane 
 apres quoy il ne songea plus qu'a commencer la campagne et qu'a reparer par quelque exploit memorable le malheur qui luy estoit arrive pour cet effet il ne s'occupa durant quelques jours qu'a aller voir luy mesme les machines qu'il faisoit faire qu'a aller de quartier en quartier faire une reveue de toutes ses troupes en particulier jusques a ce qu'il en fist une generale attendant impatiemment le jour bien heureux ou il conmenceroit d'entrer plus avant dans le pais ennemy comme il avoit promis a ligdamis de ne l'engager a rien qui choquast la generosite il ne voulut point luy proposer d'obliger son pere a luy donner passage par le chasteau d'hermes il ne voulut pas mesme songer a sa consideration a s'en rendre maistre par la force et il resolut d'aller passer la riviere plus pres de sardis en un lieu ou il y avoit un pont et une petite ville assez bien fortifiee qu'il faloit prendre auparavant que d'estre assure du passage de la riviere cependant il recevoit tous les jours nouvelles que l'armee de de cresus grossissoit il sceut que les egiptiens qu'amasis luy avoit promis et luy avoit envoyez par mer estoient arrivez que les thraces l'estoient aussi et que cette armee enfin estoit si nombreuse qu'a peine le plus abondant pais de toute l'asie pouvoit il suffire pour sa subsistance il aprit encore par ses espions que dans peu de jours cette armee qui s'estoit assemblee aux bords du pactole devoit s'avancer jusques a 
 un lieu nomme thybarra ou tous les sujets de cresus avoient ordre de conduire des vivres pour la commodite du camp chaque ville et chaque village estant taxe a une quantite precise des choses qu'ils pouvoient fournir cyrus aprenant donc que ses ennemis viendroient bien tost a luy s'il n'alloit promptement a eux ne songea plus rien qu'a les prevenir pour cet effet apres avoir fait une reveue generale de son armee qui se trouva alors estre composee de plus de cent quarante mille hommes il tint conseil de guerre afin de resoudre comment se feroit l'attaque de la ville de nysomolis par ou il devoit s'assurer du passage de la riviere le roy de phrigie celuy d'hircanie le prince tigrane phraarte persode gobrias gadate hidaspe adusius chrisante artabase et plusieurs autres surent de ce conseil ou il sur resolu que l'on ne s'amuseroit pas a faire un siege regulier pour s'emparer de nysomolis et qu'il valoit bien mieux perdre quelques soldats en le prenant par assaut que de donner loisir aux ennemis de le venir secourir avec toute leur armee la chose ne fut pas plustost resolue que cyrus songea a l'executer de sorte que des le jour suivant ses troupes commencerent de filer il fit pourtant faire une fausse marche durant un jour afin d'abuser les ennemis et en effet ils y surent si bien trompez que ne doutant nullement que cyrus n'eust dessein de passer la riviere au chasteau d'hermes ce fut la 
 qu'ils envoyerent le plus de troupes se contentant de tenir seulement la garnison de nysomolis extremement forte comme cyrus ne manquoit jamais a rien de ce qu'il devoit il fut prendre conge de la reine de la susiane et de la princesse araminthe la plus part des princes qui l'accompagnoient firent la mesme chose et entre les autres phraarte de qui la passion augmentoit de jour en jour quoy que la froideur d'araminte la deust plus tost diminuer la conversation de cyrus avec ces deux princesses eut quelque chose de fort touchant ce prince les consola pourtant autant qu'il put les assurant tousjours qu'il ne vouloit que delivrer mandane et que si le sort des armes luy estoit favorable il se souviendroit a leur consideration des personnes qui leur estoient cheres parmy les ennernis et ne les traiteroit pas comme estant les siens apres quoy montant a cheval il poursuivit son voyage cependant bien que le souvenir de tant d'oracles facheux et de predictions funestes deust abatre le coeur a cyrus il cacha si bien sa douleur que tous ses soldats qui ne les scavoient point ne laisserent pas de marcher conme ils avoient accoustume de faire lors qu'ils alloient a une victoire assuree on ne laissoit pas non plus de voir sur le visage de cyrus cette noble fierte qui paroissoit dans ses yeux des qu'il avoit pris les armes et qu'il estoit a cheval en effet ce prince estoit si dissemblable a luy mesme des qu'il s'agissoit de combatre 
 ou de donner seulement des ordres miliaires qu'il n'arrivoit pas un plus grand changement au visage de la pithie lors qu'elle rendoit des oracles que celuy que l'on voyoit en cyrus des qu'il avoit les armes a la main on eust dit qu'un nouvel esprit l'animoit et qu'il devenoit luy mesme le dieu de la guerre son taint en devenoit plus vif ses yeux plus brillants sa mine plus haute et plus fiere son action plus libre sa voix plus esclatante et toute sa personne plus majestueuse de sorte qu'au moindre commandement qu'il faisoit il portoit la terreur dans l'ame de tous ceux qui l'environnoient il paroissoit pourtant toujours de la tranquilite dans son ame malgre cette agitation heroique qui faisoit qu'il changeoit continuellement de lieu afin d'estre par tout et de donner ordre a tout et certes il le faisoit avec tant de prudence que jamais on n'a pu luy reprocher qu'il eust fait un commandement mal a propos aussi estoit il obei avec une diligence extreme et une obeissance aveugle des qu'il parloit on commencoit de se disposer a faire ce qu'il vouloit qu'on fist et sa presence enfin avoit quelque chose de si divin et de si terrible tout ensemble que l'on peut dire que quand il estoit a la teste de son armee seulement avec le baston de general a la main il ne faisoit pas moins trembler ses amis que ses ennemis il est vray que ce sentiment faisoit des effets bien differents dans le coeur des uns et des autres car les derniers par la crainte 
 qu'ils avoient de luy en prenoient bien sousouvent la suitte et les premiers par celle qu'ils avoient de luy desplaire en estoient incomparablement plus vaillants estant certain que le feu divin qui eschauffoit son coeur et qui brilloit dans ses yeux se communiquoit a toute son armee et luy donnoit effectivement une ardeur de combattre qui n'estoit pas une des moindres causes de ces victoires voila donc quel estoit cyrus lors qu'il avoit les armes a la main et voila quel il parut a la teste de son armee lors qu'il fut attaquer la ville de nysomolis comme il luy importoit extremement de l'emporter en peu de temps quelque resistance que les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie y fissent il voulut estre en personne a la premiere attaque qu'on y fit et beaucoup mesme ont assure qu'il posa la premiere eschelle et qu'il fut aussi le premier qui parut sur le rampart ennemy ce qu'il y a de constamment vray est que sans luy cette petite ville eust pu tenir plus de huit jours toutefois par son incomparable valeur il la prit en vintquatre heures sans y avoir mesme perdu que tres peu de gens plus de la moitie de la garnison ayant este taillee en pieces et le reste ayant pris party dans l'armee de cyrus ainsi le roy de lydie perdit en mesme temps un passage tres considerable sur la riviere d'hermes et trois mille de ses meilleurs soldats ce premier succes donna tant de joye a toute l'armee de cyrus et porta tant de terreur dans tout le pais qui 
 est le long de la riviere d'hermes que l'on eust dit que ce conquerant estoit desja vainqueur de toute la lydie cependant apres avoir repare quelque desordre qui s'estoit fait en prenant cette ville et y avoir mis garnison cyrus fit passer toutes ses troupes sur le pont de nysomolis de sorte qu'en un jour et demy toute cette grande armee inonda s'il faut ainsi dire toute la campagne voisine portant avec elle une terreur si espouventable que depuis les bords de la riviere d'hermes jusques a ceux du pactole il n'y eut personne qui n'en tremblast et que la peur ne saisist l'armee mesme de cresus en fut estonnee neantmoins comme elle estoit beaucoup plus nombreuse que celle de cyrus elle se rassura bien tost mais comme il y avoit encore quelques troupes qui n'estoient pas arrivees cresus ne voulut pas si tost descamper joint qu'il creut qu'il estoit a propos de laisser un peu allentir la surie de ce torrent qui faisoit un si grand bruit croyant en effet que l'armee de cyrus se dissiperoit durant que la sienne se grossiroit encore il envoya pourtant vint mille hommes sous la conduite d'andramite pour arrester un peu les coureurs de l'armee de cyrus en attendant qu'il marchast se fiant d'ailleurs tellement a l'oracle qu'il avoit receu a delphes que quand son armee eust este aussi foible qu'elle estoit forte il n'eust pas laisse d'esperer la victoire et de croire qu'il devoit destruire l'empire qui sembloit devoir 
 estre un jour a cyrus cependant comme ce prince vouloit s'assurer de tous les passages se rendre maistre de la campagne et ne laisser point de villes derriere luy qui pussent l'incommoder il prit toutes celles qui se rencontrerent sur sa route il est vray que cela ne l'arresta pas longtemps car l'espouvante estoit si grande par tout que la plus part se rendirent des que les troupes aprocherent ce qui les y obligea encore davantage sut que cyrus traitta avec beaucoup de douceur toutes celles qui ne luy resisterent point ne souffrant pas que ses soldats y fissent le moindre desordre mais en eschange celles qui surent assez hardies pour s'opposer au dessein qu'il avoit d'aller diligemment a sardis pour y delivrer sa chere mandane sentirent sans doute la pesanteur de son bras et s'aperceurent trop tard qu'il y a beaucoup d'imprudence d'entreprendre plus qu'on ne peut et par consequent plus qu'on ne doit apres s'estre donc assure de tout ce qui luy pouvoit nuire il se posta avantageusement a une journee et demie de sardis tant pour donner quelque repos a ses troupes si rafraichir son armee que pour aprendre des nouvelles des ennemis et attendre le retour d'aglatidas il ne se passoit pourtant point de jour qu'il n'y eust quelque combat car comme les vint mille hommes que commandoit andramite pour cresus s'estoient postez au bord d'un petit ruisseau qui n'estoit qu'a trois cens stades de la ou l'un ne pouvoit aller 
 que par un defile assez long ils estoient tous les jours en de continuelles escarmouches dont le succes n'estoit pas tousjours esgal car quelques fois ceux de cresus avoient quelque avantage mais pour l'ordinaire ils estoient pourtant batus de sorte qu'il n'y avoit point de jour que l'on n'amenast des prisonniers a cyrus qui vouloit tousjours les interroger luy mesme non seulement pour s'instruire de tout ce qui luy pouvoit estre avantageux mais encore pour demander s'ils ne scavoient rien de la princesse mandane car comme il y avoit quelquesfois des officiers il avoit tousjours la consolation d'aprendre diverses choses qu'il avoit envie de scavoir il ne s'informoit pas seulement de mandane mais encore de ses rivaux il sceut aussi par la mesme voye qu'il y avoit un estranger admirablement bien fait qui s'estoit jette depuis quelque temps dans le party de cresus et qui estant alors avec andramite s'estoit signale dans les petits combats qui s'estoient faits ces prisonniers ne purent toutesfois luy dire sa condition luy disant seulement qu'il se faisoit nommer telephane en effet toutes les parties qui surent a la guerre durant quelques jours s'aperceurent bien qu'il y avoit un homme d'une valeur extraordinaire parmy les lydiens par la resistance qu'ils trouverent a remporter l'avantage de sorte que le nom de telephane se rendit bientost celebre aux amis et aux ennemis quoy que cyrus fust absolument incapable 
 d'un sentiment envieux la gloire de ce telephane luy donna une si forte envie de le rencontrer qu'il fut luy mesme a cette petite guerre plus d'une fois mais il ne le rencontra pourtant pas si bien que se reprochant ce sentiment la comme une foiblesse et comme une injustice luy semblant qu'il ne devoit devoit alors desirer de combattre que ses rivaux il ne ongea plus a ce telephane dont on luy avoit tant parle et ne pensa plus qu'a haster sa victoire ou sa deffaite ne pouvant pas apres tant de facheuses predictions ne mettre point la chose en doute cependant il sceut le jour suivant que le roy de pont estoit arrive au camp ennemy et que ce seroit luy qui commanderoit l'avant garde cyrus ne sceut pas plustost que ce ravisseur de sa princesse estoit si proche de luy qu'il eut une nouvelle ardeur de combatre ce qui l'obligea a vouloir tenter quelque chose auparavant que d'en venir a une bataille generale comme il jugeoit bien qu'il la faudroit donner n'ignorant pas que tous ces petits avantages qu'il remportoit tous les jours n'estoient pas decisifs et qu'a moins que deffaire entierement cette grande armee il ne delivreroit pas mandane il croyoit pourtant que s'il pouvoit ou tuer ou prendre le roy de pont ce seroit un grand acheminement a sa victoire et a la libette de cette princesse de sorte que pour pouvoit faire l'un ou l'autre il entreprit le jour suivant de forcer les ennemis et de leur faire quitter le poste 
 ou ils estoient retranchez mais il estoit si avantageux que quand ils n'eussent eu que dix mille hommes il auroit este tres difficile de les en chasser il n'auroit pourtant pas este impossible a cyrus a la valeur duquel rien ne pouvoit resister si la nuit n'eust fait cesser le combat deux heures plustost qu'il ne faloit pour les vaincre il est vray que ses ennemis perdirent tant de monde a cette attaque qu'il eut lieu d'estre console de ce qu'il n'avoit pu rencontrer pendant ce combat ny le roy de pont ny telephane qu'on luy avoit dit porter une mort peinte a son escu avec cette devise je la merite cyrus fut pourtant inconsolable de ce qu'il n'avoit pas rencontre son rival et il songeoit desja par quelles voyes il pourroit forcer le lendemain les retranchemens des ennemis lors qu'il vit revenir aglatidas a peine fut il entre dans sa tente ou il estoit presques seul tout le monde s'estant retire pour le laisser reposer une heure ou deux qu'il fut a luy les bras ouverts et bien mon cher aglatidas luy dit il scavez vous comment se porte la princesse et comment on la traite a sardis seigneur repliqua t'il on la garde si soigneusement qu'il ne m'a pas este possible de scavoir particulierement de ses nouvelles je scay toutesfois qu'elle est en sante et qu'on la sert avec beaucoup de respect mais comme elle est dans la citadelle aussi bien que la princesse palmis que l'on ne garde pas moins exactement que la princesse mandane il 
 n'a pas mesme este au pouvoir de feraulas tout adroit qu'il est de trouver les moyens de faire rien dire a martesie ce n'est pas que je n'aye veu la princesse quoy interrompit cyrus vous avez veu mandane et comment l'avez vous pu voir sans luy parler je l'ay veue seigneur reprit il sur le haut d'une des tours de la citadelle ou elle va tous les soirs se promener avec la princesse de lydie mais les tossez sont si larges et cette tour est si haute que je l'ay presque veue sans la voir puis que je n'ay pu luy parler ny peut-estre en estre veu il me semble pourtant adjousta t'il qu'une des femmes qui la suivoient me fit quelque signe mais je n'en voudrois pas respondre quoy qu'il en soit dit il feraulas la voit tous les jours de cette sorte car le lieu ou l'on a loge les prisonniers de guerre est vis a vis de cette tour si bien que le roy d'assirie reprit cyrus avec precipitation voit ma princesse comme les autres et plus que les autres dit aglatidas car il est continuellement a une fenestre de sa chambre qui donne de ce coste la ha aglatidas s'ecria cyrus que me dittes vous seigneur reprit il ne soyez pas en peine de ce que je vous dis estant certain que ce prince n'en est guere plus heureux car par les ordres du roy de pont qui a grand credit aupres de cresus il est garde si exactement qu'il ne peut pas avoir la liberte de donner de ses nouvelles a la princesse mandane cyrus ayant calme l'agitation de son esprit en aprenant une 
 chose qui luy estoit si agreable commanda alors a aglatidas qu'il luy rendist conte de son voyage regulierement s'informant toutesfois encore auparavant de la sante du prince artamas comme de celle de tous les autres prisonniers et de feraulas en particulier apres qu'aglatidas luy eut donc apris que le prince artamas estoit hors de danger et que l'inconnu anaxaris feraulas sosicle et tegee se portoient bien il luy dit qu'il avoit trouve cresus a sardis dont il avoit este traite fort civilement qu'apres avoir leu sa lettre il luy avoit dit que sa recommandation luy seroit tousjours fort chere excepte pour le prince artamas l'assurant qu'il luy donneroit sa responce le lendemain qu'en suitte luy ayant demande permission de donner une lettre au roy de pont de la part de la princesse sa soeur et une de la reine de la susiane au roy son mary il la luy avoit accordee l'ayant fait conduire vers ces deux princes par les gardes qu'on luy avoit donnez pour l'observer tant qu'il seroit a sardis mais luy dit cyrus le roy de pont et abradate n'estoient il pas au camp non pas alors reprit aglatidas car comme il est fort proche de la ville ils y estoient venus pour tenir conseil de guerre et en effet le roy de pont est pany de la pour venir commander l'avantgarde de vous dire seigneur adjousta t'il comment abradate m'a receu il ne me seroit pas possible mais ce que je vous puis assurer est que ce prince aime certainement 
 la reine panthee avec une passion estrange en effet il n'eut pas plustost leu sa lettre qu'il m'assura qu'il seroit le protecteur de tous les prisonniers que l'on feroit durant cette guerre aussi bien que de ceux qui estoient desja a sardis me disant cent choses genereuses et obligeantes en suitte dequoy voulant executer a l'heure mesme les ordres de panthee il fut trouver cresus comme je vous le diray apres que je vous auray fait scavoir comment le roy de pont me traita je m'assure reprit cyrus que j'auray le desplaisir d'aprendre qu'il n'a pas cesse d'estre genereux il est certain repliqua aglatidas que j'ay este surpris de voir de quelle facon ce prince a agy car seigneur vous n'avez rien fait pour luy dont il ne se toit souvenu il vous apella son protecteur et son liberateur il protesta qu'il estoit au desespoir d'estre ingrat et me jura que c'estoit bien moins a la consideration de la princesse sa soeur qu'a la vostre qu'il vouloir proteger le prince artamas et tous les autres prisonniers en suitte dequoy m'ayant ramene chez cresus je fus tesmoin de tout ce que le roy de la susiane et luy dirent en faveur d'artamas et des autres cresus demeurant tousjours ferme a dire que le prince de phrigie ne devoit point estre traite en prisonnier de guerre mais en criminel d'estat et les deux autres soutenant au contraire avec ardeur qu'il n'avoit aucun droit sur ce prince que celuy que la guerre luy donnait cependant la chose ne put estre resolue ce 
 jour la ny mesme le lendemain quoy que cresus m'eust promis de me depescher durant cela je visitay avec la permission du roy tous les prisonniers sans pouvoir leur rien dire en particulier je sceu toutesfois par feraulas que le roy d'assirie avoit este reconnu douant mesme que d'arriver a sardis et que depuis sa prison il avoit toujours eu une melancolie estrange ne pouvant se consoler de ce qu'il n'auroit pas la gloire de vous aider a delivrer la princesse mandane et de ce qu'au contraire il faudroit encore qu'il vous deust sa liberte en effet ce prince me chargea de vous tesmoigner le deplaisir qu'il avoit de ne partager pas les perils que vous aurez a courre durant cette guerre m'ordonnant de vous faire souvenir de vos promesses pour le prince artamas seigneur il m'a dit cent choses obligeantes pour vous dire aussi bien qu'anaxaris sosicle et tegee mais durant que j'estois avec ces prisonniers qui comme je vous l'ay dit sont logez a un palais qui est vis a vis de la citadelle dans laquelle on ne les a point mis parce que cresus ne veut point que le prince artamas soit en mesme lieu que la princesse de lydie et que le roy de pont n'a pas aussi voulu que le roy d'assirie fust avec la princesse mandane durant dis-je que j'estois avec ces illustres captifs abradate et le roy de pont voyant que cresus ne se rendoit point luy representerent qu'ils avoient deux personnes si proches et si cheres en vostre puissance qu'ils avoient 
 lieu de craindre pour elles s'il ne traittoit pas artamas en prisonnier de guerre mais il respondit a cela que tant que mandane seroit en la sienne ils n'auroient pas lieu de rien aprehender pour la reine de la susiane ny pour la princesse araminthe comme abradate est plus violent que le roy de pont il parla plus ferme a cresus luy disant qu'il voyoit bien qu'il s'estoit abuse ayant creu que s'il luy de mandoit le prince artamas afin de vous proposer d'en faire un eschange avec la reine sa femme il ne luy refuseroit point et que bien loin de cela il ne vouloit pas seulement demeurer dans les loix ordinaires de la guerre adjoustant encore beaucoup d'autres choses ausquelles cresus respondit si durement que je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes si abradate n'a quelque aigreur dans le coeur contre luy car lors que je fus prendre sa responce je luy entendis raconter la chose parlant a de my bas a un de ses amis d'une maniere qui me le fit assez connoistre cependant le roy de pont et luy firent pourtant a la fin resoudre cresus a ce qu'ils souhaitoient de sorte que j'eus ma responce telle que je la pouvois desirer en prenant conge d'abradate il me chargea d'une lettre pour la reine sa femme et m'ordonna de vous dire que s'il eust este maistre absolu de la chose il n'auroit pas seulement protege artamas mais qu'il l'auroit delivre adjoustant a cela une chaine d'or avec une medaille ou est le portrait de panthee qu'il me pria de 
 prendre afin disoit il de me pouvoir souvenir de vous dire qu'il y avoit un homme parmy vos ennemis qui mouroit d'envie de pouvoir avec honneur estre vostre amy seigneur luy dis-je alors vous me dispenserez s'il vous plaist de recevoir un present si magnifique qu'il pourroit me rendre suspect au prince que je sers comme son merite reprit il a des chaines plus fortes a vous attacher a luy que celle que je vous donne n'est precieuse il ne soubconnera sans doute pas un homme comme vous de s'estre laisse suborner enfin il falut ceder a la liberalite d'abradate en l'acceptant en suitte je fus chez le roy de pont qui me donna sa responce pour la princesse sa soeur et qui me chergea tout de nouveau de vous assurer que vous pouviez tousjours attendre de luy tout ce qui ne prejudiceroit point a son amour apres cela aglatidas ayant remis la lettre du roy de lydie entre les mains de cyrus il y leut ces paroles
 
 
 cresus a cyrus 
 
 
 quelque sujet que j'aye de traitter le prince artamas en criminel d'estat je ne laisse pas de vous assurer qu'a vostre consideration et a la priere de deux princes qui ont seconde la vostre je le traitteray en prisonnier de guerre et mesme avec beaucoup de douceur 
 je souhaite que je sois souvent en estat de vous rendre de pareils offices et que je ne me trouve jamais dans la necessite d'en recevoir de semblables de vous 
 
 
 cresvs 
 
 
 
 
la fortune m'abandonnera donc bien tost dit cyrus en respondant a sa pensee et a la lettre du roy de lydie apres quoy embrassant aglatidas il luy demanda s'il n'avoit point ouy parler a sardis d'un estranger de grande reputation nomme telephane ha seigneur s'escria aglatidas j'avois bien oublie de vous dire que l'on n'y parle d'autre chose que de sa bonne mine et de sa valdur personne ne scait pourtant qui il est cependant adjousta t'il encore si on en croit les lydiens leur armee est si grande et si forte que la victoire leur est assuree il faudra du moins la leur disputer repliqua cyrus en suitte dequoy ayant envoye aglatidas chez le roy de phrigie pour luy dire le succes de son voyage il passa le peu de temps qu'il avoit destine pour se reposer a s'entretenir de l'estat present de sa fortune et a songer par quels moyens il pourroit avancer la liberte de sa princesse il avoit sans doute quelque consolation de scavoir que le roy de pont estoit a l'armee et d'aprendre que le roy d'assirie ne voyoit pas la princesse mandane du moins disoit il ne sont ils pas tout a fait heureux puis qu'ils ne la voyent point et je ne suis pas aussi tout a fait infortune puis que ma princesse est en lieu ou elle 
 peut songer a moy avec liberte mais que scay-je adjoustoit il si elle s'en sourient favorablement en effet n'ay-je pas sujet de craindre qu'elle ne me regarde comme la cause de tous ses malheurs et qu'elle ne s'en souvienne avec horreur au lieu de s'en souvenir avec tendresse que scay je encore si ces mesmes dieux qui ont promis au roy d'assirie qu'il verroit la fin de ses malheurs et qu'il auroit la gloire d'entendre soupirer ma princesse ne l'ont point fait prisonnier pour haster sa bonne fortune peut-estre que scachant sa prison elle le pleint durant qu'elle m'accuse et qu'a l'heure que je parle il a plus de part que moy a ses pensees et a son affection mais injuste que je suis reprenoit il j'accuse d'inconstance la plus parfaite personne de la terre et une personne encore qui m'a donne cent marques obligeantes d'une fermete inesbranlable elle a veu ce mesme roy d'assirie a ses pieds possesseur d'un grand royaume et en estat de commander une armee de deux cens mille hommes sans se laisser toucher a ses larmes pourquoy donc croiray-je qu'aujourd'huy qu'il est sans royaume et charge de fers et que mesme il ne luy parle point il puisse la faire changer de sentimens toutesfois disoit il la pitie est une chose bien puissante elle amollit les coeurs les plus durs elle flechit les ames les plus fieres principalement quand ceux pour qui on en est capable ne souffrent que pour l'amour de nous mais apres tout adjoustoit il 
 ma princesse me delivra mais apres tout reprenoit il elle retint le roy d'assirie en suitte venant a penser que les dieux avoient promis la victoire a cresus et considerant toutesfois que depuis qu'il estoit entre en lydie il n'avoit eu que d'heureux succes il ne scavoit que penser tantost il croyoit que les dieux ne l'eslevoient que pour le precipiter un moment apres il pensoit que peut-estre ne les entendoit il pas de sorte qu'un rayon d'esperance ranimant son coeur il ne songeoit plus qu'a combatre et qu'a vaincre ses rivaux apres avoir donc trouve quelque douceur dans cette derniere pensee il dormit quelque temps avec plus de tranquilite qu'il n'avoit accoustume d'en avoir son sommeil ne fut toutesfois pas long puis qu'il se resveilla a la pointe du jour il ne le fut pas plustost que le roy de phrigie vint luy rendre grace et luy tesmoigner la joye qu'il avoit de scavoir que le prince son fils n'estoit plus expose a la fureur de cresus en suitte ce prince a qui aglatidas avoit apris quelle estoit la passion d'abradate pour la reine sa femme luy conseilla de la faire aprocher de l'armee luy disant que telle occasion se pourroit il presenter que sa presence et celle de la princesse araminte pourroient beaucoup servir a une negociation si la chose en venoit la d'abord cyrus n'apuya pas extremement sur ce que luy disoit le roy de phrigie luy semblant qu'il ne faloit employer que son courage pour la liberte de mandane 
 joint que se souvenant du peu d'effet qu'avoit eu l'entreveue de la princesse araminte avec le roy son frere il ne croyoit que cela peust beaucoup servir neantmoins voyant que le roy de phrigie chrisante aglatidas et ligdamis qui se trouverent alors aupres de luy n'estoient pas de son advis il leur ceda sans resister davantage il depescha donc a l'heure mesme aglatidas vers ces deux princesses pou leur porter les lettres qu'il avoit pour elles et pour les suplier de venir a une des villes qu'il avoit prises qui estoit tout contre le lieu ou il estoit campe mais pour faire la chose avec plus de civilite il leur escrivit a l'une et a l'autre il voulut aussi pour obliger ligdamis qu'il allast avec aglatidas afin d'escorter les princesses aupres desquelles estoit sa chere cleonice donnant un ordre a aglatidas pour araspe afin qu'il prist des troupes a nysomolis et a un autre lieu encore jusques a ce qu'il eust trouve celles qu'il envoyeroit au devant de ces princesses et en effet la chose s'executa ainsi cependant cyrus qui n'estoit pas accoustume a ne vaincre point tout ce qui s'opposoit a luy se determina absolument a forcer les ennemis et a les chasser du poste qu'ils occupoient auparavant que toute leur armee fust jointe si bien que prenant cette resolution il fit dessein de les faire attaquer par tant d'endroits tout a la fois qu'estant contraints de diviser leurs forces il luy fut facile de les vaincre ce ne put neantmoins estre le 
 lendemain a cause qu'il jugea a propos de faire commencer l'attaque devant le jour pour espargner ses troupes et les garantir des coups de trait que ceux qui gardoient les retranchemens auroient pu tirer plus juste s'il n'eust pas este nuit d'autre part le roy de pont ne voulant rien hazarder ne vouloir pas combattre que toute l'armee de cresus ne fust arrivee et vouloit mesme que la bataille se donnast plus pres de sardis afin que si cresus la perdoit il peust plus promptement se jetter dans cette ville pour y deffendre sa princesse de sorte qu'il se resolut a decamper la nuit suivante pour cet effet le jour ne fut pas plustost finy que faisant allumer grand nombre de feux comme a l'ordinaire il fit marcher promptement toutes ses troupes vers la grande plaine de sardis en laissant seulement quelques unes aux bords du ruisseau jusques a ce que tout le reste eust desja marche quelque temps celles cy suivant les autres apres avec beaucoup de precipitation aussi tost que l'heure qu'on leur avoit prescrite fut arrivee cyrus fut donc estrangement surpris lors qu'estant alle pour attaquer les ennemis il ne les trouva plus il destacha un gros de cavalerie pour les suivre et se mettant a la teste il les poursuivit tres long temps mais ils avoient fait une telle diligence qu'il ne les put joindre si bien que ne jugeant pas a propos de s'engager plus avant il retourna sur ses pas et occupa des le mesme jour le poste que les lydiens avoient 
 quitte il eut pourtant une douleur tres sensible de scavoir par les blessez et parles malades que les ennemis avoient laissez dans leur camp que le roy de pont s'estoit alle poster au dela de la riviere d'helle qui coule le long de la plaine de sardis a l'opposite du pactole qui la borne de l'autre coste car jugeant par la que les ennemis cherchoient a faire durer la guerre il en entra en un desespoir si grand qu'on ne peut se l'imaginer tel qu'il estoit de sorte que sans en rien communiquer a personne qu'a celuy qu'il envoya il depescha artabase vers le roy de pont pour luy dire que n'estant pas juste que la princesse mandane fust si longtemps captive il le conjuroit d'obtenir de cresus la permission de faire un combat singulier entre eux qui terminast les differents qu'ils avoient ensemble touchant la princesse offrant mesme s'il estoit vainqueur de ne laisser pas de rendre la reine de la susiane et pla rincesse araminte pourveu qu'on rendist la princesse mandane a ciaxare adjoustant a cela que si cresus vouloit continuer la guerre il ne laisseroit pas de le faire cependant comme cresus et abradate avoient avance dans le mesme temps que le roy de pont s'estoit retire ces princes s'estoient joints a la riviere d'helle si bien que lors qu'artabase arriva au camp ennemy on le mena droit a cresus en presence duquel il falut qu'il s'aquittast de sa commission d'abord le roy de pont en parut surpris ce n'est pas que ce prince 
 ne fust un des plus vaillants hommes du monde mais quand il se souvenoit qu'il devoit la liberte et la vie a cyrus et qu'apres cela il luy retenoit injustement la princesse mandane il avoit une confusion estrange et toute son amour et toute sa valeur ne pouvoient luy faire accepter ce combat sans une repugnance extreme il est vray qu'il n'en fut pas a la peine car artabase n'eut pas plustost acheve de parler que cresus luy dit qu'il ne souffriroit point que le roy de pont se batist contre cyrus pour la liberte de mandane et que pour luy en oster la pensee il n'avoit qu'a dire a son maistre qu'auparavant que de delivrer cette princesse il faloit l'avoir vaincu en bataille rangee avoir pris sardis l'avoir renverse du throsne et avoir destruit son empire le roy de pont ravy de voir qu'il n'avoit point de responce a faire a artabase voyant avec quelle fermete cresus avoit parle touchant cette proposition le suplia du moins de luy accorder la permission de voir a cyrus car seigneur luy dit il tout mon rival qu'il est je souhaitte encore son estime et je serois au desespoir s'il croyoit que ce fust par manque de coeur que je ne me bats point contre luy je seray mesme bien aise adjousta t'il de luy demander pardon de ce que je suis force d'estre ingrat et de luy dire moy mesme une partie de mes sentimens d'abord cresus fit difficulte de le permettre mais abradate luy ayant represente que cela ne 
 luy pouvoit nuire artabase fut renvoye avec un heraut du roy de lydie afin de scavoir de cyrus s'il consentoit a cette entreveue comme ce prince attendoit impatiemment artabase parce qu'il esperoit obtenir ce qu'il avoit demande il est aise de juger que son retour luy donna une aigre douleur voyant que la liberte de sa princesse estoit encore si esloignee il contenue toutefois a voir le roy de pont esperant peutestre le persuader ou a luy rendre mandane ou a le combatre le jour de cette entreveue estant donc pris il fut resolu de part et d'autre que cyrus iroit a la teste de mille chevaux a un lieu ou il y a un petit ruisseau assez profond mais qui n'a que trois pas de large et que le roy de pont avec pareil nonbre de gens se trouveroit a l'autre bord de cette petite riviere que ces deux princes s'engageroient par serment solemnel de ne s'attaquer point et de se contenter de se parler seulement la chose ayant donc este ainsi resolue le jour estant pris et l'heure estant arrivee chacun de son coste se prepara a se trouver au lieu de l'assignation mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que l'envie de connoistre cyrus fut si grande dans le coeur de tous les chess de l'armee ennemie qu'ils supplierent instamment cresus de leur permettre d'accompagner le roy de pont si bien qu'au lieu d'avoir de simples cavaliers aveque luy on fut contraint de souffrir de peur d'une esmotion que ce fussent des volontaires je des capitaines vous pouvez 
 juger apres cela que si cyrus eust eu l'esprit soubconneux et aise a espouventer il eust sans doute este surpris de voir quels estoient les mille hommes qui accompagnoient le roy de pont et il eust eu lieu de croire qu'on luy vouloit manquer de foy car pour ce prince a la reserve de trente ou quarante hommes de qualite il n'avoit que de simples cavaliers aveque luy parce qu'il l'avoit voulu ainsi mais pour le roy de pont il n'en estoit pas de mesme puis que mesme abradate y voulut estre ayant demande permission a cresus de remercier cyrus de la generosite qu'il avoit de traiter si bien la reine sa femme cependant cyrus souhaittoit sans scavoir pourquoy il avoit cette curiosite que ce telephane dont on luy avoit parle s'y pust trouver ces deux gros de cavalerie paroissant donc en une esgale distance de cette petite riviere s'avancerent lentement jusques a huit ou dix pas de ses bords ou ils firent alte pendant quoy cyrus et le roy de pont se destachant en mesme temps de leur troupe vinrent aussi pres l'un de l'autre que le ruisseau le put permettre et sans descendre de cheval ils se saluerent avec une esgale civilite ayant toutesfois tant d'esmotion sur le visage et tant de differens sentimens dans le coeur qu'ils surent un instant arrestez sans se pouvoir rien dire en effet cyrus ne pouvoit pas voir le roy de pont sans se souvenir qu'autrefois il avoit eu soin de sa conservation lors qu'il l'avoit envoye advertir 
 de la conjuration que l'on faisoit contre luy et sans se souvenir encore qu'il avoit saillie la vie a sa princesse mais il ne pouvoit pas non plus ne se souvenir point en mesme temps que c'estoit le ravisseur de mandane et le destructeur de toute sa felicite le roy de pont ne pouvoit pas non plus voir cyrus sans se souvenir qu'il luy devoit la vie et la liberte et qu'il luy avoit mesme offert de le faire remonter au throne de sorte que s'estimant infiniment tous deux et se devant aussi beaucoup ils agirent d'une facon qui faisoit assez connoistre la grandeur de leur ame puis que malgre leur amour et leur haine ils eurent de la civilite l'un pour l'autre apres donc que tant de sentimens tumultueux se surent un peu apaisez dans leur coeur et que leur raison eut fait un grand effort pour les y renfermer je suis au desespoir dit le roy de pont a cyrus que la fortune ait voulu que je vous sois si oblige et que l'amour n'ait pu consentir que je ne fusse pas ingrat ce n'est point pour les obligations que vous dittes que vous m'avez reprit cyrus que je vous accuse mais seulement parce que vous faites une injustice effroyable de retenir une princesse a laquelle ny la nature ny la fortune ny l'amour ne vous ont donne aucun droit car pour ce qui me regarde en particulier je vous suis le premier oblige et tout ce que j'ay fait pour vous ny mesme tout ce que j'ay voulu faire ne doit estre considere que comme un effet de ma reconnoissance 
 mais de vouloir obtenir par la force ce qu'on doit aquerir par service et par soumission est une chose effroyable encore si la captivite de la princesse mandane avoit des bornes l'esperance de la liberte pourroit rendre sa prison plus douce mais de vouloir qu'elle ne soit delivree qu'apres que j'auray deffait une puissante armee conduitte par trois grands princes et conqueste un grand empire est un injustice estrange et dont je ne vous croyois pas capable au contraire je pensois que vous aimeriez mieux devoir ma deffaite a vostre propre valeur qu'a celle de ces deux cens mille hommes qui sont dans l'armee de cresus c'est pourquoy j'avois espere que sous accepteriez je combat que je vous avois envoye offrir qu'importe mesme au roy de lydie que nous terminions nos differens devant que la guerre soit terminee puis qu'encore que j'eusse le bonheur de vous vaincre je ne demande la princesse mandane qu'en rendant la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte au nom des dieux adjousta cyrus remettez la raison dans l'ame de ce prince et aidez moy a delivrer la princesse que nous adorons quoy que ce soit vous qui la teniez captive plust a ces mesmes dieux au nom desquels vous me conjurez reprit le roy de pont que je fusse en estat de faire tout ce que la raison voudroit que je fisse car si cela estoit je combatrois ma passion et la vaincrois je remettrois la princesse mandane en liberte et acceptat tant d'offres 
 genereuses que vous m'avez faites je ferois succeder l'ambition a l'amour et ne songerois plus qu'a remonter au throsne par vostre valeur que si je ne pouvois vaincre ma passion du moins ferois-je ce que je pourrois pour surmonter la repugnance que j'ay a combatre mon liberateur afin que me battant contre vous je pusse trouver la fin de mes malheurs par une victoire glorieuse ou par une mort honnorable mais a vous parler sincerement je ne suis pas en termes de cela puis qu'a vous dire la verite je ne suis plus maistre ny de ma personne ny de celle de mandane quand je suis venu me jetter dans le party de cresus apres avoir perdu mes royaumes je ne luy ay point amene de troupes et tout l'avantage que j'ay pu offrir a ce prince en l'obligeant a me proteger a este de remettre la princesse mandane en sa puissance de sorte que n'estant plus en la mienne je ne suis mesme pas en droit de la luy redemander c'est un ostage si precieux que l'on peut dire que cette princesse met presque son empire et sa personne en seurete jugez donc apres cela ce que je puis quand mesme je pourrois oublier ce que je luy dois et ce que je me dois a moy mesme vous avez este mon liberateur je l'advoue et comme tel je vous dois toutes choses mais aussi ne puis-je pas nier que cresus ne soit mon protecteur et que par cette qualite je ne luy doive aussi beaucoup ne considerez point dit cyrus ce que vous devez 
 au roy de lydie ny ce que vous me devez mais seulement ce que vous devez a la princesse mandane est il juste que les dieux l'ayant destinee a porter les premieres couronnes de l'asie vous la fassiez mourir en prison vostre amour y peut elle consentir et croyez vous que ce soit veritablement aimer mandane que de la rendre la plus malheureuse princesse de son siecle revenez a vous genereux rival escoutez la raison qui vous parle et faites ce que vous pourrez ou pour vous vaincre vous mesme ou pour me vaincre je vous donne le choix des deux si vous faites le premier et qu'en suitte vous obligiez cresus a faire la paix pour vous montrer que je ne la cherche pas afin de m'epargner la peine de faire la guerre je vous engage ma parole de la faire encore pour vous remettre dans de throne de vos peres et de la faire mesme pour cresus s'il a besoin de mon assistance mais si vous choisissez le dernier persuadez luy du moins qu'il luy sera peut estre avantageux que vous m'ayez ou vaincu ou lasse devant que de donner la bataille car enfin je ne puis plus souffrir que la princesse mandane soit captive et je ne scay comment vous le pouvez endurer je ne le scay pas moy mesme reprit le roy de pont et je suis si peu d'accord de mes propres sentimens qu'il n'y a point de jour que je ne vous aime et ne vous haisse et ou je ne sois aussi mon plus grand ennemy mais comme il n'y a point d'instant en ma vie ou je 
 n'aime esperdument la princesse mandane je ne puis prendre nulle resolution raisonnable et je demeure tousjours injuste et malheureux tout ensemble non non s'escria cyrus ce que vous dittes n'est point vray-semblable et si vous voiyez tousjours mandane irritee ou mandane les larmes aux yeux vostre coeur s'attendriroit ou se desespereroit c'est pourquoy il y a grande aparence que je suis plus infortune que je ne le croyois estre et que vous ne l'estes pas tant que je le pensois du moins adjousta t'il ayes la sincerite de me dire si je me trompe je vous en conjure par tout ce que j'ay fait pour vous partout ce que je ferois encore si vous n'estiez plus mon rival et mesme par mandane de grace ne me refusez pas toutes choses et puis que vous ne voulez ny delivrer vostre maistresse ny combattre vostre rival parlez du moins ingenument a un prince qui seroit encore vostre amy si vous le vouliez ha seigneur s'escria le roy de pont vostre rigueur est trop grande de vouloir que je vous aprenne moy mesme que vous estes aussi bien avec la princesse mandane que j'y suis mal contentez vous que je vous asseure seulement que si je ne la rends point ce n'est pas que j'aye l'esperance d'en estre aime et qu'esperez vous donc luy dit cyrus mourir devant que vous la possediez repliqua le roy de pont ce n'est pas le moyen de m'empescher de la posseder reprit cyrus que de ne me vouloir pas combatre je ne le 
 veux aussi que trop quelquefois repliqua le roy de pont et il y a des instants ou quand je vous regarde comme mon rival et comme un rival aime je ne me souviens plus de ce que je vous dois oubliez le pour tousjours reprit cyrus puis qu'en vous en souvenant vous ne rendez pas la princesse que j'adore du moins adjousta encore ce prince faites que cresus ne tire pas la guerre en longueur et qu'il se resolue promptement a donner une bataille decisive qui fasse pancher la victoire d'un party ou d'autre je vous le promets luy repliqua le roy de pont bien fasche de ne pouvoir accorder davantage non seulement a mon liberateur mais encore au protecteur de la princesse araminte ne prenez point de part repliqua cyrus au respect que je rends a cette illustre personne puis que je le fais et pour l'amour d'elle et pour l'amour de moy seulement apres cela ces deux princes se dirent encore plusieurs choses ou il y avoit tantost de la generosite et tantost de la colere mais ou il paroissoit tousjours de l'amour en fuitte dequoy estant prests de se separer abradate s'avanca et le roy de pont le nommant a cyrus ce prince le salua avec un respect qui luy fit alternent connoistre celuy qu'il rendoit a panthee ce premier compliment estant passe ou abradate luy rendit grace de la generosite qu'il avoit de traiter si bien la reine sa femme cyrus prenant la parole et regardant le roy de pont n'avez vous point 
 pitie du roy de la susiane luy dit il et ne voulez vous pas me mettre en estat de luy rendre la seule personne qui le peut faire heureux eh de grace donnez moy la joye de pouvoir rompre les chaines de deux grandes princesses en rompant celles de mandane quelque interesse que je fois repliqua abradate je n'ay pas la force de joindre mes prieres aux vostres parce que je connois trop bien quelle peine il y a a se priver de ce que l'on aime c'est pourquoy seigneur sans insulter sur un grand prince malheureux je souffre mes infortunes sans l'en accuser bien heureux encore d'avoir trouve un ennemy aussi genereux que vous durant qu'abradate parloit ainsi le nom de telephane estant revenu dans l'esprit de cyrus malgre luy il se mit a chercher des yeux parmy ce gros de cavalerie lydienne qui estoit fort proche s'il ne le pourroit point connoistre a l'escu qu'on luy avoit assure qu'il pourroit toujours car encore que l'on sceust bien qu'il ne s'agissoit pas de combatre ce jour la tous ces cavaliers ne laissoient pas d'estre armez cyrus regardant donc soigneusement parmy eux durant qu'abradate parloit il vit au premier rang un homme de belle taille et bien monte qui ayant alors la teste tournee pour parler a un autre qui estoit au second rang ne luy permit pas d'abord de luy voir le visage mais qui par cette action detournee luy monstroit aussi beaucoup mieux son escu qu'il vit estre le mesme qu'on luy avoit 
 assure que telephane portoit tousjours de sorte qu'impatient qu'il estoit qu'il detournast la teste il escouta abradate sans le regarder et par un sentiment dont il ignoroit la cause il sentit dans son ame une esmotion extraordinaire elle augmenta bien encore davantage lors que ce pretendu telephane se retournant il vit que c'estoit le prince mazare ou son phantome car comme il avoit veu ce prince plusieurs fois a babilone devant que de l'avoir veu mourant aupres de sinope et que l'idee d'un rival ne s'efface jamais de la memoire il le reconnut d'abord neantmoins comme il avoit creu avec certitude qu'il ne vivoit plus cette veue le surprit d'une telle sorte qu'il ne put s'empescher d'interrompre abradate et de grace luy dit il en montrant celuy dont il vouloit parler depuis quand ce cavalier est il parmy vous et pourquoy se fait il nommer telephane le roy de pont prenant la parole bien aise d'esperer de pouvoir scavoir qui estoit un homme qui avoit desja fait de si belles actions depuis qu'il estoit en lydie luy dit qu'il estoit arrive a sardis quelque temps auparavant que la princesse mandane y fust mais que pour le nom qu'il portoit il ne scavoit pas si c'estoit le sien non non luy dit cyrus si mes yeux ne me trompent telephane n'est pas telephane mais ouy bien le prince mazare un des ravisseurs de ma princesse que les dieux auront sans doute ressuscite pour me tourmenter davantage mazare s'entendant 
 nommer par cyrus car c'estoit effectivement luy s'avanca jusques au bord du ruisseau et le regardant avec plus de melancolie que de fierte puis que vous avez descouvert mon veritable nom luy dit il je ne le veux pas cacher davantage j'advoue donc que je suis mazare le plus criminel et le plus malheureux homme du monde mais seigneur comme je ne suis ressuscite que pour mourir une seconde fois ne vous repentez pas de m'avoir laisse la vie je vous la laissay reprit cyrus avec un ton de voix ou il paroissoit clairement qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'agitation dans son esprit parce que je ne pouvois alors vous l'oster aveque gloire mais aujourd'huy que je vous voy en estat d'en faire aquerir a celuy qui entreprendra de vous la faire perdre je ne suis pas resolu de faire la mesme chose nous nous rencontrerons peut-estre devant que la guerre finisse reprit froidement mazare du moins vous chercheray-je aveque foin repliqua cyrus et si je ne scavois que le droit des gens est inviolable nous terminerions nos differens a l'heure mesme abradate craignant que mazare ne repliquast quelque chose qui portast cyrus a n'estre pas maistre de son ressentiment rompit cette conversation leur disant a tous deux qu'il ne leur estoit pas permis de se parler puis que cyrus n'avoit accorde cette permission qu'au roy de pont et a luy mazare ne laissa pourtant pas de respondre d'une facon qui fit esgallement paroistre son courage 
 et sa sagesse cependant le roy de pont qui tant qu'il l'avoit regarde comme telephane l'avoit fort aime ne scavoit alors comment il le devoit considerer neantmoins venant a penser que si mazare n'eust point enleve mandane elle ne seroit pas en lydie il n'avoit pas pour luy les mesmes sentimens que cyrus avoit au contraire venant encore a considerer que sans luy mandane eust este en la puissance du roy d'assirie ou en celle de cyrus il ne trouvoit pas qu'il pust avoir pour luy toute la haine que l'on a ordinairement pour un rival il estoit pourtant si occupe a determiner ce qu'il devoit penser de mazare et comment il devoit agir aveque luy qu'il ne se mesla point dans cette conversation qui finit par la prudence d'abradate chacun se retirant de son coste avec des sentimens bien differents cyrus partit pourtant le dernier tant il avoit de peine a s'esloigner de deux hommes qu'il eust voulu combattre tous deux ensemble plustost que de ne les combatre point il estoit au desespoir de ne scavoir pas un peu mieux comment il pouvoit estre que mazare ne fust point mort que mazare fust dans le party du roy de pont qui estoit son rival et qu'il eust voulu cacher son nom cependant il falut s'en retourner au camp sans le scavoir mais il s'y en retourna avec tant de pensees furieuses dans l'esprit qu'il ne 
 s'estoit jamais senty si pres de n'estre point maistre de luy mesme que cette fois la comme il y fut arrive et qu'il eut donne les ordres necessaires il eut impatience d'estre seul avec chrirante afin de pouvoir raisonner avec liberte sur une si estrange rencontre apres avoir donc congedie tout le monde et bien luy dit il cher tesmoin de toutes mes disgraces que dittes vous de ce que vous venez de voir car chrisante avoit accompagne cyrus a cette entreveue je dis seigneur repliqua t'il que comme la fortune fait des prodiges pour vous tourmenter elle fera en suitte des miracles pour vous mettre en repos pour moy reprit cyrus je ne suis pas de vostre opinion au contraire il me semble qu'apres ce qui me vient d'arriver je dois encore craindre qu'astiage ne ressuscite aussi bien que mazare pour me persecuter que tant de millions d'hommes qui ont perdu la vie dans les armees de mes ennemis en tant de batailles que l'ay gagnees ne ressuscitent aussi pour venir fortifier celle de cresus et qu'en fin ceux que j'ay vaincus tant de fois ne soient mes vainqueurs en effet le moyen de ne croire pas toutes choses possibles apres ce que je voy ne vis-je pas mazare mourant dans la cabane d'un pescheur ou plustost ne le vis-je pas mort de mes propres yeux a peine entendis-je les tristes paroles qu'il me dit lors qu'il me donna l'escharpe de ma princesse qui luy estoit demeuree entre les mains en faisant n'aufrage avec elle tant 
 il avoit la voix foible et basse il ne put mesme parler davantage il perdit la parole devant que je le quittasse et on m'assura le lendemain qu'il estoit mort toutesfois mazare est vivant mazare est en mesme lieu que mandane et combat pour un de ses rivaux qui vit jamais une pareille avanture encore si le roy d'assirie qu'il a trahi scavoit qu'il est a sardis il pourroit peut- estre trouver les voyes de scavoir ce qu'il y fait et de me l'aprendre un jour mais les dieux ont sans doute resolu de m'accabler de toutes sortes de malheurs j'avois du moins creu qu'il ne m'en pouvoit plus arriver dont ils ne m'eussent adverty et que j'aurois l'avantage de n'estre point surpris en effet n'avois-je pas lieu de le croire ainsi par l'oracle du roy d'assirie ils luy ont assurement fait esperer la possession de mandane par celuy de cresus ils luy ont affirmativement promis la ruine de l'empire que selon les aparences je dois un jour posseder et par la responce de la sibille ils m'ont annonce la fin de ma vie cependant ils m'ont encore cache une partie de mes malheurs puis qu'ils ne m'ont pas adverty que mazare n'estoit point mort mais seigneur luy dit chrisante ce n'est presentement point mazare qui tient mandane captive ce n'est mesme pas trop le roy de pont et cresus est assurement celuy qui la tient prisonniere il est vray interrompit cyrus mais ce sont mes rivaux qui l'ont mise en sa puissance le roy d'assirie 
 a commence mes infortune en l'enlevant de themiscire mazare les a augmentees en la faisant partir de sinope que j'estois prest de prendre et en la faisant sortir de babilone dont j'allois estre le maistre mais le roy de pont les a achevees en ne la sauvant d'un n'aufrage que pour la precipiter dans un abysme de misere il est vray que sans m'en prendre a autruy je dois m'en accuser le premier car enfin si artamene eust connu philidaspe lors qu'il le rencontra dans ce bois ou il luy sauva la vie mandane seroit en liberte le roy de pont seroit encore sur le throsne mazare ne seroit point criminel et je serois le plus heureux de tous les hommes quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'il comme le passe ne se peut revoquer il faut ne songer qu'au present et a l'avenir et tascher d'avoir du moins la satisfaction d'immoler quelqu'un de mes rivaux a ma fureur et a ma vangeance auparavant que tous les malheurs dont je suis menace me soient arrivez ce prince ne put toutesfois si tost executer son dessein parce que les ennemis estant au de la d'une assez grande riviere il ne pouvoit pas aller a eux facilement joint que faisant faire encore quelques chariots de guerre qui n'estoient par achevez il falut attendre quelque temps devant que de rien entreprendre de considerable il ne se passoit pourtant point de jour qu'il n'y eust quelques rencontres qui de part et d'autre entretenoient les soldats dans un violent desir 
 de vaincre car comme cresus gardoit un pont qui traversoit la riviere d'helle il envoyoit continuellement des parties a la guerre cependant comme aglatidas et ligdamis s'estoient aquitez exactement des ordres de cyrus la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte arriverent a la ville ou ce prince vouloit qu'elles demeurassent jusques apres la bataille qu'il esperoit bien tost donner mais elles n'y furent pas plustost que panthee envoya suplier cyrus par ligdamis qu'elle peust avoir la liberte de le venir trouver pour luy parler d'une chose qui luy importoit extremement cyrus demanda donc alors a lygdamis s'il ne scavoit point ce que ce pouvoit estre il luy respondit que non mais qu'il avoit trouve panthee si triste et si changee qu'il estoit persuade qu'il faloit qu'elle eust un sensible deplaisir ce prince qui naturellement estoit porte a soulager tous les malheureux sans differer davantage et sans vouloir donner la peine a panthee de le venir trouver fut aussi tost apres disner au lieu ou elle estoit qui n'estoit qu'a trente stades de son quartier comme il arriva dans le chasteau ou on l'avoit logee il demanda tres particulierement a araspe qu'il vit fort melancolique comment s'estoit portee la reine de la susiane depuis qu'il ne l'avoit veue et s'il ne scavoit point qu'il luy fust arrive quelque nouveau desplaisir araspe rougit au discours de cyrus et respondit d'une maniere qui fit croire a ce prince 
 ce qu'il avoit promis fidelite a panthee et qu'il ne luy vouloit pas advouer ce qu'il en scavoit de sorte que louant sa discretion au lieu de le blasmer il entra dans la chambre de la reine de la susiane araspe y voulut entrer aussi comme il avoit accoustume quand cyrus y alloit mais ce prince l'en empescha apres quoy estant entre il aperceut panthee qui n'avoit que cleonice aupres d'elle mais il la vit si triste qu'il en fut surpris seigneur luy dit elle je vous demande pardon de la peine que je vous donne c'est plustost a moy a vous le demander repliqua t'il de la melancolie que vous avez quoy que je n'en scache pas la cause car madame il me semble que je suis responsable de tous les maux qui vous arriveront tant que je seray assez malheureux pour estre oblige a ne vous delivrer pas seigneur luy respondit elle je ne suis pas assez injuste pour vous charger des fautes d'autruy j'ay mesme assez de respect pour vous pour ne vouloir pas exagerer le crime d'une personne que vous honnorez de vostre affection c'est pourquoy sans vous dire precisement dequoy je me pleins je vous suplieray seulement non non madame interrompit cyrus il ne faut point cacher ny le crime ny le criminel quel qu'il puisse estre vous protestant que s'il y a quelqu'un qui vous ait donne le moindre sujet de pleinte de le punir avec une severite si grande que vous connoistrez aisement que je suis plus sensible aux injures que 
 l'on fait aux personnes que j'honnore qu'a celles qu'on me pourroit faire a moy mesme j'ay bien creu seigneur reliqua panthee que vous seriez assez genereux pour en user comme vous faites c'est pourquoy encore que ce ne soit pas la coustume que des captives choisissent leurs gardes je ne feray point de difficulte de vous suplier tres humblement de deffendre a araspe de me voir jamais et de mettre apres cela qui il vous plaira des vostres a sa place vous serez obeie exactement madame reprit cyrus mais si araspe a eu l'audace de vous desplaire en quelque chose ce n'est pas assez que de le bannir de vostre presence il faut encore le bannir de la societe des hommes ou comme un barbare ou comme un meschant c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire un peu plus precisement quel est le crime qu'il a commis il suffit seigneur luy dit elle en rougissant que je vous die qu'araspe est plus propre a mettre a la teste d'une armee le jour d'une bataille qu'a garder une personne de ma condition et de ma vertu apres cela seigneur ne m'en demandez pas davantage car c'est tout ce que la modestie me permet de vous dire c'en est assez madame c'en est assez reprit cyrus et sans vous donner la peine de me raconter un crime qui ne peut estre petit puis qu'il s'adresse a vous je le feray bien confesser au criminel afin que je puisse proportionner le chastiment a la faute qu'il a faite cependant madame adjousta cyrus pour vous 
 tesmoigner que ce n'est pas mon intention de vous exposer a recevoir aucun desplaisir par ceux qui sont aupres de vous choisissez qui vous voudrez pour vous servir et non pas pour vous garder ne voulant a l'advenir autre seurete que vostre parole et vous donnant l'authorite toute entiere de chasser qui il vous plaira de ceux qui sont destinez a vostre service ha seigneur s'ecria t'elle vostre generosite va trop loin non non madame repliqua t'il ne me resistez pas s'il vous plaist et souffrez que par l'impatience que j'ay de punir celuy qui vous a offencee le vous quitte plustost que je n'en avois eu le dessein panthee rauie de la magnanimite de cyrus luy rendit mille graces de la bonte qu'il avoit pour elle et luy demanda mesme pardon de luy causer un nouveau desplaisir mais seigneur adjousta t'elle comme il est des crimes que la vertu ne permet pas de tolerer j'espere que vous m'excuserez cyrus respondit encore a ce discours avec une generosite sans esgalle apres quoy il se retira mais ayant rencontre doralise avec pherenice dans l'antichambre il s'arresta un moment avec elles afin de tascher de scavoir precisement quel estoit le crime d'araspe n'ignorant pas qu'elles scavoient toutes deux tous les secrets de panthee ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust bien compris a peu pres par le discours de cette princesse quelle pouvoit estre la faute d'araspe toutefois pour en pouvoir dire plus assure il ne vit pas plustost ces 
 deux filles que les tirant a part ne me direz vous point leur demanda t'il ce qu'a fait araspe qui ait donne sujet a la reine de se pleindre de luy apres s'en estre tant louee car je voudrois bien auparavant que de le punir scavoir un peu mieux que je ne le scay en quoy il a failly seigneur respondit doralise en sous-riant je ne scay s'il vous souvient que je vous dis un jour qu'araspe n'estoit pas si insensible que vous le croiyez et que du moins vous pouvois-je assurer que perinthe l'avoit autrefois paru plus que luy dans un temps ou il ne l'estoit pourtant pas je m'en souviens fort bien reprit il mais seroit il possible qu'araspe eust este assez temeraire pour lever les yeux jusques a panthee et assez insolent pour luy donner quelques marques de sa passion il a sans doute este assez hardy pour l'aimer reprit pherenice et assez malheureux pour faire que la reine s'en soit aperceue voila seigneur quel est le crime d'araspe qui est sans doute assez grand pour vous obliger a donner la satisfaction a la reine de l'esloigner d'elle je pense neantmoins estre obligee de vous dire qu'une vertu moins scrupuleuse que la sienne auroit pu dissimuler quelque temps la faute d'araspe qui apres tout l'a servie avec un respect sans esgal il est pourtant certain que depuis quelques jours il eust falu avoir perdu la raison pour ne s'apercevoir pas qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle mais ce qu'il y a de constamment vray est que 
 l'on voyoit aisement qu'il ne monstroit pas sa passion avec dessein qu'on la connust cependant malgre toute sa discretion la reine est de telle sorte indignee contre luy qu'elle ne peut souffrir sa presence elle n'en sera jamais importunee reprit cyrus et je la satisferay si pleinement qu'elle aura autant de sujet de se louer de moy qu'elle en a de se pleindre d'araspe apres cela cyrus sortit de cette antichambre et fut faire une petite visite a la princesse araminte durant que l'on cherchoit araspe que l'on ne trouvoit en aucun lieu de ce chasteau car comme il avoit sceu que panthee avoit fait demander a cyrus la permission de l'aller trouver il avoit bien creu que cette princesse se pleindroit de luy scachant mieux le crime qu'il avoit commis que doralise et pherenice ne le scavoient parce que par grandeur d'ame et par modestie panthee le leur avoit cache araspe estoit donc en une peine extreme toutesfois ne jugeant pas qu'il pust long temps esviter la veue de ce prince il se determina et se resolut de luy advouer sa faute et d'avoir recours a sa bonte il se presenta donc a luy mais avec tant de confusion sur le visage qu'il n'estoit presque pas connoissable cyrus estoit alors dans une grande gallerie qui respondoit a la chambre d'araminthe d'ou il venoit de sortir mais araspe n'y fut pas plustost entre que cyrus faisant signe qu'il vouloit estre seul aveque luy chacun se retira et luy laissa la liberte toute entiere de l'accuser 
 comme ce prince aimoit araspe qu'il avoit beaucoup de disposition a excuser les fautes que l'amour fait commettre et que de plus doralise et pherenice luy avoient parle d'une facon qui ne l'aigrissoit pas contre luy il ne luy parla pas d'abord avec beaucoup de colere de sorte qu'araspe qui ne doutoit nullement que cyrus ne sceust precisement quel estoit son crime prit quelque assurance et se resolut de luy advouer tout ce qu'il luy demanderoit n'est-ce pas assez araspe luy dit il que je sois persecute par mes ennemis sans qu'il faille encore que mes amis m'accablent et que vous que j'ay toujours si cherement aime contribuyez quelque chose a mes desplaisirs ne deviez vous pas juger par le respect que je rendois a la reine de la susiane quel devoit estre celuy que je voulois que vous luy rendissiez je vous avois choisi comme un homme sage et comme un insensible que vous faisiez vanite d'estre et cependant vous avez eu l'inconsideration d'aller donner des marques d'amour a une grande reine qui est encore plus illustre par sa vertu que par sa condition il est vray seigneur que je suis coupable reprit araspe si c'est estre coupable que d'avoir fait ce que je n'ay pu m'empescher de faire du moins luy dit cyrus avouez moy la chose comme elle est et dittes moy un peu comment vous ne vous estes point esloigne de panthee des que vous vous estes senty amoureux d'elle vous scavez que vous ayant veu une fois assez triste 
 et croyant que l'employ que je vous avois donne ne vous plaisoit pas je vous offris de le donner a un autre et de vous r'apeller aupres de moy pourquoy donc n'acceptiez vous pas cette offre si vous vous sentiez quelque disposition a une passion si peu raisonnable il est vray seigneur reprit il que je devois faire ce que vous dites mais il est encore plus vray que je n'ay jamais pu obtenir de cette imperieuse passion assez de pouvoir sur moy mesme pour me resoudre a m'esloigner de panthee et j'esperois seulement que je l'aimerois sans qu'elle s'en aperceust que n'en avez vous du moins use ainsi reprit cyrus car tant qu'elle auroit ignore vostre amour je ne l'aurois jamais sceue ou si je m'en estois aperceu je vous aurois pleint au lieu de vous accuser ha seigneur s'escria araspe le hazard seul a fait mon crime estant certain que je m'estois repenty du dessein que j'avois eu de luy descouvrir ma passion et que la lettre qu'elle a veue elle l'a veue malgre moy cyrus jugeant alors qu'il faloit qu'il y eust quelque chose que la reine de la susiane ne luy avoit point dit et que doralise et pherenice ne scavoient pas ou avoient fait semblant d'ignorer il le pressa de luy dire tout ce qui c'estoit passe entre elle etluy il luy aprit donc qu'il l'avoit aimee des qu'il l'avoit veue qu'il avoit combatu sa passion autant qu'il avoit pu qu'en suitte ne la pouvant vaincre il l'avoit cachee avec beaucoup de foin mais qu'apres tout depuis quelques jours il luy 
 avoit este impossible de ne la descouvrir pas par cent actions qu'il avoit faites malgre luy qu'il luy confessoit encore qu'il avoit eu intention d'en dire ou d'en escrire quelque chose a panthee mais que dans le choix des deux il avoit mieux aime escrire que parler quoy araspe interrompit cyrus vous avez escrit une lettre d'amour a panthee ouy seigneur repliqua t'il mais m'en estant repenty je fis dessein de ne la luy pas faire voir neantmoins comme il me sembloit qu'elle expliquoit assez bien mes sentimens je la gardois sans scavoir pourquoy et je portois les tablettes dans lesquelles je l'avois escrite la relisant tres souvent comme si j'eusse trouve quelque soulagement a me dire a moy mesme ce que je n'osois dire a panthee cela estant ainsi il y a quelques jours que cette belle reine ayant la curiosite de voir l'oracle que cresus a receu a delphes et qu'elle avoit sceu que j'avois elle me l'envoya demander par un esclave un soir qu'elle estoit desja retiree de sorte qu'impatient de luy obeir et croyant bien connoistre les tablettes dans lesquelles je l'avois escrit je me trompay malheureusement et au lieu de celles la j'envoyay celles dans quoy estoit la lettre que je m'estois repenty d'avoir escrite et que je m'estois resolu de ne faire point voir a panthee a peine celuy a qui je la donnay fut il sorty que je m'aperceus de mon erreur d'abord j'en fus au desespoir et je commanday a mes gens de le rapeller s'ils 
 pouvoient mais un instant en suitte l'amour seduisant ma raison je leur fis un commandement contraire ainsi leur disant jusques a quatre fois qu'ils rapellassent cet esclave et puis qu'ils ne le rapellassent point a la fin quand j'eus determine de le faire rapeller tout de bon il n'estoit plus temps car il estoit de-ja dans la chambre de la reine de vous representer seigneur comment je passay ce fou la et toute la nuit il me seroit impossible estant certain qu'on ne peut pas avoir plus d'inquietude que j'en eus mais encore quelle estoit cette lettre reprit cyrus il ne me sera pas difficile de vous la reciter repliqua araspe car je pense l'avoir leue plus de cent fois de sorte que je puis vous assurer qu'elle estoit elle que je vous la vay dire
 
 
 le malheureux araspe a la plus belle reine du monde 
 
 
 ce n'est ny pour vous demander pardon de la hardiesse que l'ay de vous aimer ny four vous en demander recompense que je vous aprens que l'amour m'a plus rendu vostre captif que la guerre ne vous a rendue captive mais seulement parce que je trouve juste que vous n'ignoriez pas que mesme dans les fers et dans l'esclavage vous regnez absolument sur mon coeur si je ne vous demande point pardon de ma temerite c'est plus parce que je suis sincere que parce que je suis presomptueux 
 estant certain que je ne puis me repentir de vous aimer et si je vous demande point recompense c'est que je scay bien que je merite plustost chastiment ainsi madame ne pretendant autre chose dans ma respectueuse passion que de mourir en portant vos chaines ayez s'il vous plaist seulement la bonte de ne m'en accabler pas en me les donnant si pesantes que je ne les puisse porter voila madame ce qu'il y a longtemps qu'avoit envie de vous dire un homme qui se tiendra assez favorise malgre la violente passion qu'il a pour vous si vous pouvez aprendre sans le hair qu'il vous aime plus que personne n'a jamais aime 
 
 
 araspe 
 
 
 
 
cette lettre reprit cyrus apres l'avoir escoutee eust este raisonnable si elle eust este escrite a doralise ou a pherenice mais parler ainsi a une reine et a une reine malheureuse est une hardiesse si peu excusable et si offencante pour moy que je ne vous puis exprimer combien vous m'avez sensiblement desoblige j'en fus bien cruellement puny le lendemain repliqua araspe car lors que je voulus aller dans la chambre de panthee suivant ma coustume afin de la conduire au temple elle me fit dire qu'elle n'y vouloit pas aller ce jour la mais ce qu'il y eut de plus cruel pour moy fut que vers le soir elle m'envoya querir et me faisant entrer dans son cabinet araspe me dit elle avec une majeste qui me fit trembler comme il y va de ma gloire de ne publier pas moy mesme qu'il y ait 
 un homme au monde qui ait pu perdre le respect qu'on me doit jusques au point que vous l'avez perdu je ne feray point esclater mon ressentiment contre vous jusques a ce que l'illustre cyrus soit en lieu ou je le puisse suplier de vous oster d'aupres de moy cependant comme je ne puis souffrir que vous me voiyez apres la hardiesse que vous avez eue n'entrez plus dans ma chambre si vous ne voulez me porter a quelque extreme resolution je voulus alors luy protester que j'estois au desespoir de ce que j'avois fait et je voulus mesme luy dire que je m'estois repenty de luy avoir escrit et qu'elle avoit receu ma lettre contre mon intention mais elle ne voulut jamais m'escouter et elle me fit voir tant de colere et tant d'aversion sur son visage que je me retiray avec une douleur qui n'eut jamais de semblable depuis cela je n'ay pas eu ma raison bien libre en estet je vous ay veu arriver sans vous prevenir tant je me suis trouve incapable de songer a ce que je devois faire voila seigneur quel est mon crime c'est a vous a faire de moy ce qu'il vous plaira il me semble toutefois adjousta t'il qu'un prince qui connoist si parfaitement la puissance de l'amour doit avoir quelque indulgence pour un homme qui n'est coupable que parce qu'il est amoureux j'en ay aussi beaucoup pour vous reprit cyrus car je vous pleins infiniment et il est peu de choses que je ne fisse pour revoquer le passe s'il estoit possible et pour faire que 
 vous n'eussiez pas offence panthee mais puis que cela est araspe il la faut satisfaire il y va de mon honneur aussi bien que de sa gloire c'est pourquoy il faut quelque amitie que j'aye pour vous que je vous esloigne mon seulement d'elle mais encore de moy quoy seigneur interrompit araspe ce ne fera pas assez pour me punir que de me separer pour tousjours d'une personne que j'adore et vous voudrez encore me priver d'avoir la satisfaction de mourir pour vous a la teste de vostre armee le jour de la bataille songez seigneur que panthee sera bien mieux vangee par ma mort que par mon exil il n'en est pas de mesme de moy reprit cyrus car j'aime mieux vostre exil que vostre mort mais enfin araspe ne me resistez plus retirez vous sans parler davantage ou en medie ou en capadoce ou en quelque autre lieu qu'il vous plaira jusques a ce que la reine de la susiane ne soit plus en ma puissance araspe voulut encore dire quelque chose mais cyrus se fachant de sa resistance luy parla d'une maniere a luy faire connoistre qu'il vouloit estre obei et en effet araspe partit a l'heure mesme aussi bien que cyrus qui ne se fit pas une petite violence de se priver de la presence d'un homme qui luy estoit si agreable il envoya alors dire a panthee qu'il avoit exile araspe et que si elle le trouvoit bon artabase la serviroit au lieu de luy panthee ravie de la generosite de cyrus l'envoya remercier et non contente de cela 
 elle depescha un esclave qu'elle avoit qui estoit venu de suse avec elle et qui luy estoit fort affectionne vers son cher abradate le chargeant d'une lettre pour luy qui luy aprenoit l'obligation qu'elle avoit a cyrus et ordonnant a cet esclave de tascher de se rendre au camp des lydiens et de la rendre au roy son mary pour araspe devant que de s'esloigner davantage de cyrus il luy escrivit un billet qui luy fut rendu par un soldat mais ce prince ne le monstra point alors et ce ne fut que quelque temps apres que l'on sceut ce qu'il luy avoit escrit la disgrace d'araspe fit un grand bruit dans l'armee la cause mesme en fut bien tost sceue et il n'y eut personne qui ne louast cyrus et qui ne pleignist pourtant araspe cependant cet illustre conquerant qui estoit persuade que ceux qui cherchent leurs ennemis sont plus forts que ceux qui se contentent de les attendre quoy qu'ils soient esgaux ou mesme inferieurs en nombre quitta le poste ou il estoit et fut en prendre un si pres de l'armee de cresus que si la riviere d'helle ne les eust separez il eust sans doute force ce prince a donner bataille il n'y avoit point de jour que cyrus ne sceust par ses espions ce que faisoient les ennemis mais ce qui l'affigeoit estoit qu'il ne comprenoit pas parfaitement ce qu'ils pretendoient faire il sceut mesme qu'a cause de ce grand nombre d'egiptiens qui estoient dans leur camp ils devoient changer l'ordre qu'ils avoient accoustume de garder 
 a ranger leurs troupes en bataille de sorte qu'il eut une envie extreme de pouvoir scavoir precisement quel il devoit estre mais il ne jugeoit pas qu'il fust possible i envoyoit pourtant tous les jours de nouveaux espions et faisoit aussi tous les jours de nouveaux prisonniers il sceut par eux que cresus s'estoit trouve un peu mal et estoit retourne a sardis dont ils n'estoient pas fort esloignez et qu'il n'y avoit point de jour que le roy de pont n y allast comme if s'imagina que c'estoit bien plus pour voir mandane que pour voir cresus il en eut une douleur extreme se resolut plustost a perdre beaucoup d'hommes a forcer le passage de la riviere d'helle que d'attendre plus longtemps neantmoins les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie aussi bien que gobrias gadate le prince tigrane et phraarte luy ayant fortement represente qu'il valoit mieux attendre quelques jours la victoire que de la bazarder le firent resoudre a avoir encore un peu de patience il estoit pourtant tout le jour a cheval tantost a empescher qu'il ne passast des vivres aux ennemis tantost a les aller reconnoistre et tantost a combatre les parties qu'ils envoyoient a la guerre mais quoy qu'il fist et ou qu'il fust il pensoit tousjours a mandane ou a ses rivaux principalement a mazare de qui l'avanture luy sembloit tousjours plus surprenante quelques jours s'estant passez de cette sorte il aprit que cresus se portoit bien et qu'enfin il estoit resolu a donner 
 bataille mais que ce qui la pourroit encore retarder estoit qu'il craignoit qu'il n'attaquast ses troupes a demy passees ce prince scachant cela et bruslant d'impatience d'accourcir cette guerre et de se voir aux mains avec ses ennemis prit la resolution d'envoyer dire a cresus par un heraut que s'il vouloit il se retireroit de la riviere autant qu'il faloit pour luy donner un juste espace afin de faire passer son armee et la ranger en bataille pourveu qu'il se resolust a ne reculer plus de combatre comme il avoit fait jusques alors cyrus n'eut pas plustost fait ce dessein qu'il fut execute et cresus n'eut pas aussi plustost ouy cette proposition qu'il l'accepta et renvoya le heraut que cyrus luy avoit envoye avec promesse que dans quatre jours il seroit aux mains avec le prince son maistre depuis cela cyrus reprit une nouvelle vigueur et il espera mesme de vaincre malgre tous les funestes oracles qu'il avoit receus cette esperance passa en suitte de son coeur dans celuy de tous ses soldats qui agissoient en ces occasions comme agissent tous les matelots qui sont conduits par un fameux pilote qui ne s'estonnent de la fureur des vagues que lors qu'ils le voyent estonne de mesme les troupes de cyrus sans s'informer de rien ne consultoient que le visage de ce prince pour bien augurer de la victoire de sorte qu'y voyant tousjours de la tranquilite mesme au milieu des plus grands perils ils combatoient comme des soldats qui croyoient 
 que leur general ne pouvoit ny faire de faute ny estre vaincu mais durant que ce grand prince se preparoit a combatre et ne songeoit qu'a cela il arriva beaucoup de choses qui reculerent de quelque temps la gloire qu'il en attendoit et qui embarrasserent estrangement cresus lors que ce prince avoit donne responce au heraut que cyrus luy avoit envoye il estoit a sardis et le roy de pont et abradate estoient au camp de sorte que ces deux princes ayant sceu la chose trouverent un peu estrange que le roy de lydie eust si absolument determine le jour de la bataille sans leur en parler puis que c'estoit principalement eux qui devoient respondre du bon ou du mauvais succes de cette journee le prince myrsile ne pouvant a cause de son incommodite servir que de sa personne et le prince mazare quoy que connu pour ce qu'il estoit n'ayant pas non plus assez d'authorite pour faite autre chose que servir par son courage ces deux princes estant donc assez irritez se pleignirent hautement de cresus mais principalement abradate qui en ce mesme temps receut la lettre que panthee luy avoit escrite par l'esclave qu'elle luy avoit envoye et par la quelle cette princesse se l'ouoit si fort de cyrus sans luy particulariser toutesfois la derniere obligation qu'elle luy avoit que cela le disposa encore davantage a se pleindre du roy de lydie joint que venant a considerer qu'il luy seroit bien plus 
 difficile de retirer panthee des mains de cyrus apres la bataille quel qu'en peust estre le succes que non pas auparavant il se resolut de prier cresus de vouloir proposer un eschange du prince artamas afin de delivrer panthee s'il estoit possible mais pour faire mieux reussir ce qu'il souhaitoit il le communiqua a andramite qu'il scavoit estre tousjours amoureux de doralise qui estoit avec la reine de la susiane de sorte que l'interressant dans son dessein il luy promit de se trouver aupres de cresus lois qu'il luy en parleroit quant au roy de pont il ne s'y opposa point car comme abradate ne demandoit pas qu'on rendist la princesse mandane pour delivrer panthee mais seulement le prince artamas il n'eust pas ose tesmoigner qu'il n'aprouvoit pas trop la chose abradate fut donc un matin au lever de cresus ou apres luy avoir fait connoistre qu'il avoit quelque mescontentement de ce qu'il avoit resolu le jour de la bataille sans qu'il le sceust il le suplia de vouloir auparavant que de la donner tascher de faire un eschange du prince artamas avec la reine sa femme si nous gagnons la bataille reprit cresus nous la delivrerons bien plus glorieusement que par une negociation vous la pourriez gagner repliqua t'il que je ne laisserois pas de perdre panthee estant certain que plus un party est foible plus les prisonniers y son soigneusement gardez enfin seigneur adjousta t'il comme je ne fais pas la 
 guerre pour conquerir des provinces mais principalement pour delivrer panthee et pour m'opposer a la trop grande puissance de cyrus je ne voy pas que je doive me mettre en estat de perdre pour tousjours une personne qui m'est si chere a faute de faire une proposition raisonnable c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne trouver point mauvais si je vous suplie instamment de vouloir faire faire cette proposition a cyrus les negociations de cette nature repliqua ce prince ne se font pas en aussi peu de temps qu'il nous en reste j'espere tant de la generosite de cyrus respondit abradate que je croy qu'il ne refusera pas de faire une tresve de quelques jours si vous la luy demandez je n'ay pas seulement accoustume de l'accorder a mes ennemis respondit brusquement cresus c'est pourquoy je ne scay pas comment je la demanderois joint adjousta t'il que je ne voy pas que cet eschange soit fort juste ny fort a propos sur le point de donner une bataille car enfin vous voulez mettre une princesse dans sardis et dans le mesme temps envoyer dans le camp ennemy un des plus vaillants hommes de la terre non non abradate poursuivit cresus je ne m'y scaurois resoudre qui peut craindre un homme respondit le roy de la susiane estant a la teste d'une armee de deux cens mille ne se fie guere a la valeur de ses troupes quoy qu'il en soit dit fierement cresus comme artamas quoy que prisonnier de guerre 
 est pourtant criminel d'estat il ne sera pas eschange contre la reine vostre femme vous combatrez donc sans moy reprit abradate seigneur interrompit andramite parlant a cresus ne refusez point ce qu'on vous demande je refuse toujours ce qui n'est point juste respondit il c'est pourquoy ne me pressez pas davantage andramite adjousta encore beaucoup de choses pour le persuader mais il n'y eut pas moyen et abradate se retira tres mal satisfait de cresus et absolument resolu a ne combatre point qu'auparavant on n'eust propose a cyrus de faire cet eschange andramite hors de sa presence parla encore au roy de lydie qui s'en offenca estrangement le roy de pont qui craignoit que ce desordre ne mist de la division parmy les soldats fit en mesme temps tout ce qu'il put pour persuader cresus a accorder au roy de la susiane ce qu'il demandoit et pour obliger aussi abradate a ne s'obstiner point a vouloir la chose si cresus ne s'y resolvoit pas maiz quoy qu'il pust faire il n'avanca rien ny envers l'un ny envers l'autre dans ce mesme temps le pere de panthee vint de clasomene a sardis ou il estoit alle lever quelques troupes de sorte que trouvant les choses en ces termes il se joignit a abradate et a andramite et pressa cresus aussi bien qu'eux et mesme plus qu'eux car comme il avoit une grande province en sa puissance ses prieres embarrasserent plus cresus que n'avoient fait celles des autres pas 
 la crainte qu'il eut d'aller causer une guerre civile dans son estat au mesme temps qu'il en avoit une estrangere de si grande consideration d'autre part le prince myrsile sans que l'on en sceust la veritable cause protegeoit abradate autant qu'il pouvoit tesmoignant qu'il souhaitoit ardamment que l'on taschast de delivrer la reine de la susiane par un traite si bien qu'il faisoit connoistre a toutes ses creatures qu'ils ne pouvoient l'obliger plus sensiblement qu'en faisant que le roy son pere y consentist les choses se brouillerent donc de telle sorte et a sardis et au camp que quand cresus eust voulu donner la bataille le jour qu'il s'y estoit engage il n'eust pas este en son pouvoir cependant il ne pouvoit se resoudre a delivrer le prince artamas c'est pourquoy se voyant presse fortement il proposa de delivrer le roy d'assirie pour retirer panthee des mains de cyrus mais abradate repliqua qu'il ne consentiroit jamais que cette proposition fust faite parce que ce seroit plustost irriter cyrus que le porter a ce qu'il desiroit puis qu'apres tour il luy sembleroit fort estrange qu'on luy allast proposer de delivrer son rival et son ennemy de plus le roy de pont aimoit encore mieux que ce fust le prince artamas que le roy d'assirie ainsi cette contestation estant fort grande et craignant quelque revolte considerable dans une armee composee de tant de nations differentes cresus se resolut a faire 
 demander treve pour quelques jours afin de traitter de la liberte de quelques prisonniers ne faisant pas dire precisement qu'els ils estoient parce qu'en effet il n'avoit pas encore bien determine ce qu'il devoit faire il depescha donc vers cyrus qui fut fort surpris de cette demande et qui l'auroit infailliblement refusee si ayant mis la chose en deliberation elle n'eust este resolue autrement et d'autant plustost que l'on ne pouvoit pas sans perdre beaucoup de monde forcer les ennemis a combatre cyrus accorda donc la treve pour huit jours a condition que ceux des siens qui voudroient aller dans sardis le pourroient avec autant de seurete que ses ennemis pourroient venir dans son camp ce prince ayant voulu que cette circonstance fust specifiee parce que tout l'avantage qu'il esperoit de cette treve estoit de scavoir des nouvelles de mandane de ses rivaux et de ses amis prisonniers joint que scachant la division qui estoit entre tous ces princes il espera encore l'augmenter de sorte que cette treve ayant este resolue on la publia des le lendemain dans toutes les deux armees et dans sardis si bien qu'apres cela il se fit une grande confusion d'amis et d'ennemis en tous ces trois lieux que l'on ne pouvoit plus faire de distinction de party en regardant les gens que l'on y voyoit toutes les rues de sardis aussi bien que le camp de cresus estoient pleines de persans de medes d'armeniens d'assiriens 
 et d'hircaniens et le camp de cyrus estoit aussi tout remply de lydiens de mysiens de grecs de thraces et d'egiptiens cependant la treve ne fut pas plustost publiee que cyrus envoya ortalque a sardis afin de luy raporter au vray s'il n'y auroit point moyen qu'il pust voir sa chere mandane lygdamis mesme se deguisa pour cela ne voulant pas se monstrer publiquement dans cette ville parce qu'il y estoit trop connu mais par tous les deux il sceut qu'il estoit absolument impossible et que depuis la treve la princesse mandane n'alloit mesme plus se promener sur le haut de la tour comme elle avoit accoustume de sorte que quand il fust alle a sardis comme il en avoit envie il n'auroit pu voir que les murailles dans lesquelles elle estoit enfermee ce prince eut pourtant beaucoup de peine a s'en empescher et je ne scay s'il l'auroit pu si ses amis qui aprehendoient qu'il n'y allast ne fussent devenus ses gardes en l'observant si soigneusement qu'il ne fut pas maistre de ses actions pendant tout ce temps la ce n est pas qu'ils craignissent que cresus voulust violer la foy publique mais ils aprehenderent la rencontre de mazare et celle du roy de pont et qu'il ne se fist un combat particulier entre eux qui pourroit causer un desordre general cependant abradate en attendant que cresus eust bien resolu ce qu'il vouloit proposer envoya demander a cyrus la permission de voir panthee en presence 
 de qui il luy plairoit afin qu'il ne pust pas croire que ce fust pour luy parler des affaires de la guerre et scavoir par elle les nouvelles de son camp cyrus qui scavoit par son experience combien il est doux de voir ce que l'on aime et qui espera mesme d'abord que peut-estre abradate luy pourroit il faire recevoir la satisfaction de voir mandane luy accorda de bonne grace ce qu'il demandoit si bien que donnant ordre a cette entreveue qui se fit le mesme jour abradate fat conduit a cyrus qui le receut avec une civilite extreme en suitte dequoy il le conduisit luy mesme a la petite ville ou estoit panthee qu'il voulut surprendre agreablement il le mena donc dans la chambre de cette princesse avec laquelle cleonise doralise et pherenice estoient alors mais il n'y fut pas plustost que prenant la parole madame dit il a panthee je pense que vous me pardonnerez aisement tous les maux que vous avez endurez durant l'absence de l'illustre abradate puis que c'est par mon moyen que vous le revoyez adjourd'huy mais afin que durant vostre conversation adjousta t'il la veue d'un prince qui a le malheur d'estre oblige de vous tenir captive ne la trouble pas je m'en vay vous laisser en liberte de raconter toutes vos douleurs a celuy qui les a causees panthee demeura si surprise de la veue de son cher abradate qu'elle n'entendit pas la moitie de ce que cyrus luy dit elle ne laissa pourtant pas apres qu'elle 
 eut salue son illustre mary avec autant d'affection que de respect de suplier ce prince d'estre le tesmoin de leur entretien mais quoy qu'elle pust dire il les laissa pour aller faire une visite a la princesse araminte a laquelle il aprit qu'il venoit de laisser le roy de la susiane avec panthee cette princesse ne le sceut pas plustost qu'elle eut une extreme envie de le connoistre elle ne voulut pourtant pas interrompre si promptement un entretien si doux de sorte qu'elle receut la visite de cyrus qui pour la consoler voulut luy persuader qu'elle auroit un jour la joye de revoir spitridate comme panthee revoyoit le roy de la susiane mais durant qu'ils s'entretenoient ainsi ces deux autres illustres personnes faisoient un eschange de toutes leurs douleurs passees et de tous leurs plaisirs presens toutesfois comme ils scavoient qu'ils ne seroient pas longs ils en estoient moins sensibles cependant cette grande princesse qui vouloit en quelque sorte reconnoistre la generosite de cyrus en la publiant apres qu'ils se furent dits abradate et elle tout ce qu'une veritable affection peut faire dire a deux personnes d'esprit et d'esprit passionne elle se mit a luy exagerer les bontez de cyrus apellant a tesmoin de ce qu'elle disoit cleonice doralise et pherenice qui estoient dans sa chambre s'affligeant aveque luy de ce qu'il estoit engage dans un party si injuste comme estoit celuy de cresus et au service d'un prince si peu reconnoissant qu'il luy 
 refusoit un prisonnier pour luy faire obtenir sa liberte enfin panthee parla avec tant d'eloquence qu'elle porta abradate a desirer ardamment que cresus achevast de le desobliger et de luy donner un juste pretexte de changer de party elle luy exagera encore l'obligation qu'elle luy avoit d'avoir exite araspe a ce nom d'araspe abradate l'arresta luy aprenant que celuy qu'elle nommoit s'estoit presente au roy de lydie comme se pleignant de cyrus et comme voulant le servir et qu'en effet il en avoit este bien receu cela estant dit panthee j'oste un vaillant homme a cyrus et le donne a son ennemy c'est pourquoy je vous conjure si vous en trouvez l'occasion de vouloir persuadcr au prince mon pere de porter cresus a la paix ou du moins de ne se mesler plus de cette guerre abradate aimoit trop panthee pour luy pouvoir rien refuser il luy dit toutesfois que si l'eschange du prince artamas et d'elle se faisoit il ne pourroit pas abandonner cresus mais que s'il ne se faisoit pas par quelque obstacle que ce prince y aportast il luy engageoit sa parole qu'il seroit bientost aupres d'elle comme ils en estoient la cyrus amena la princesse araminte chez panthee afin de voir abradate qui luy rendit grace de l'honneur qu'elle luy faisoit d'une maniere qui luy fit aisement connoistre que panthee l'avoit aime sans preocupation et qu'il n'avoit pas moins d'esprit que de courage la conversation que 
 ces quatre illustres personnes eurent ensemble augmenta encore l'estime qu'elles faisoient l'un de l'autre principalement entre cyrus et abradate car encore qu'ils ne se fussent jamais veus que ce jour la il n'y eut pourtant entre eux ny complimens ny ceremonie incommode et ils se parlerent avec une civilite pleine de franchise qui faisoit assez voir que la renommee leur avoit apris ce qu'ils estoient mais pendant qu'araminte tesmoignoit a panthee la joye qu'elle avoit de la sienne cyrus demanda a abradate s'il ne pourroit point obtenir de cresus la grace de voir mandane durant la treve je ne desespererois pas luy dit il de vous faire recevoir cette satisfaction si ce n'estoit le roy de pont et peut- estre le prince mazare qui s'y opposeront du moins vous puis- je promettre que je feray tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir pour les persuader tous a souffrir que vous la voryez s'ils craignent que je ne luy die quelque chose qui leur nuise adjousta cyrus je consens de la voir sans luy parler cependant poursuivit il je vous suplie de croire que si mandane n'estoit pas la cause de la guerre vous ne vous en retourneriez pas seul a sardis estant certain que je donnerois la liberte toute entiere a la reine de la susiane mais puis que c'est pour elle que je suis en lydie vous ne devez pas trouver mauvais que je mesnage jusques aux moindres avantages et que par consequent j'en conserve un si considerable je vous proteste toutesfois 
 que je le faits avec un regret extreme et que je voy avec une douleur bien sensible le desplaisir que je vous cause je ne vous fais point souvenir adjousta t'il que vous vous l'estes attire en donnant retraite au ravisseur de mandane et en vous engageant dans le party de cresus car outre que je ne veux pas faire de reproches a un si genereux ennemy je dois encore croire que les dieux l'ont ainsi voulu pour me faire acheter la victoire bien cher estant certain que si vous eussiez elle dans nostre party celuy de cresus ne m'auroit pas resiste long temps mais puis que le destin en a autrement dispose je vous conjure de ne me refuser pas la grace que je vous demande puis qu'elle ne contrevient point a ce que vous devez au roy de lydie je vous le promets luy dit abradate bien fache de ne pouvoir vous assurer du succes de ma priere et suitte de cela ils se dirent encore beaucoup de choses et la conversation ayant recommence entre ces princes et ces princesses ils furent pres d'une heure ensemble a parler de leurs malheurs passez et de leurs maux presens mais a la fin il falut se separer cyrus en remenant abradate jusques a la garde avancee de son camp luy fit voir une partie de ses troupes rangees en bataille et comme elles estoient les plus belles du monde abradate luy dit qu'il estoit aise de voir que sous un tel capitaine il ne pouvoit y avoir que de bons soldats en effet luy dit il vostre presence inspire ce me 
 semble je ne scay quoy d'heroique et je ne doute nullement que je ne m'en retourne plus vaillant a sardis que je n'estois quand je suis arrive aupres de vous il n'en est pas de mesme de moy reprit cyrus en sous-riant puis que tout vaillant que vous estes vous m'avez donne de la repuguance a vous combatre depuis que je vous connois abradate respondit a un discours si obligeant avec autant de civilite que d'esprit apres quoy ces deux grands princes se separerent extremement satisfaits l'un de l'autre cependant abradate pour ne manquer pas a sa parole suplia le roy de lydie d'accorder a cyrus la liberte de voir mandane comme cyrus luy avoit accorde celle de voir panthee d'abord ce prince n'en fit pas grande difficulte il y mit toutesfois une condition qui rendit la chose impossible qui fut qu'il souffriroit cette entreveue pourveu que le roy de pont y consentist abradate fut donc a l'heure mesme le trouver pour tascher de luy persuader de ne refuser pas cette grace a un prince a qui il confessoit estre si redevable car enfin luy dit il quel mal vous peut il arriver de le satisfaire vous scavez qu'il n'ignore pas qu'il est aussi bien avec mandane qu'il peut desirer d'y estre et qu'ainsi quand cette princesse luy diroit quelque chose d'obligeant cela ne luy aprendroit rien de nouveau du moins adjoustoit abradate scaura t'il par elle que vous ne perdez pas le respect que vous luy devez de sorte que le 
 reste de la guerre se fera avec moins d'animosite si je ne jugeois reprit le roy de pont que vous ne parlez comme vous faites que parce que vous voulez obliger un prince qui peut obliger une personne que vous aimez je dirois que vous estes le plus injuste de tous les hommes de souhaiter de moy une pareille chose car enfin puis qu'il faut vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur scachez que mon malheur est arrive aux termes que je ne fais plus la guerre pour la possession de mandane j'ay pleure et soupire mille fois a ses pieds mais c'a este inutilement je l'ay amenee au point de m'advouer qu'elle croyoit que je l'aimois autant que je pouvois aimer et elle m'a mesme dit quelquefois que si je n'estois pas son amant elle ne me refuseroit pas son estime mais apres tout cela elle m'a si fortement et si constamment dit qu'elle ne m'aimeroit jamais et m'a si bien fait entendre sans me le dire qu'elle aimeroit tousjours cyrus que je ne doute nullement que mandane ne soit toujours inexorable pour moy et tousjours fidelle pour mon rival c'est pourquoy je ne songe plus a aquerir son coeur ny a la posseder mais je veux s'il est possible la voir eternellement la derober a la veue de tous mes rivaux et les voir perir si je puis les uns apres les autres dans une longue guerre ou y perir moy mesme plustost que de rendre cette princesse je scay bien que je suis injuste que ce que je fais choque esgalement la generosite 
 et la raison et je ne suis pas si preocupe de mon amour que je ne connoisse que je dois estre blasme de tout le monde mais apres tout je ne scaurois me vaincre moy mesme il faut que je cede a ma malheureuse destinee et que je ne songe pas seulement a luy resister cessez donc je vous en conjure de me mettre dans la cruelle necessite de refuser quelque chose a un prince qui m'a accorde si genereusement azile dans sa cour et pensez que je n'ay point d'autre douceur en la vie que celle de scavoir que mes rivaux ne voyent point ma princesse encore pour le roy d'assirie et pour le prince mazare adjousta t'il comme ils ne la pourroient voir qu'irritee je ne m'en soucierois pas tant mais pour cyrus qui ne verroit dans ses yeux que marques de tendresse et d'affection c'est ce que je ne scaurois souffrir abradate entendant parler le roy de pont de cette sorte creut bien qu'il n'obtiendroit pas ce qu'il souhaitoit neantmoins l'obligation qu'il avoit a cyrus fit qu'il n'en demeura pas la et qu'il le pressa beaucoup davantage je voy bien luy dit il que je vous demande une chose un peu difficile a faire mais si vous considerez que j'ay perdu pour l'amour de vous l'objet de toutes mes affections que panthee n'est captive que parce que je vous ay receu dans ma cour et que si vous me refusez cyrus sera en droit de se vanger sur elle par la rigueur que vous luy tiendrez je pense que vous trouverez que j'ay un juste 
 sujet de vous conjurer de m'accorder ce que je vous demande cyrus est si genereux reprit le roy de pont que vous ne devez rien craindre pour panthee que ne vous determinez vous a estre encore plus genereux que luy s'il est possible reprit abradate il suffit que je songe a le surpasser en amour et non pas en generosite repliqua le roy de pont puis que le n'en puis avoir qui ne soit contraire a ma passion je n'ignore pas qu'estant cause de la captivite de panthee je vous dois tout accorder mais dieux il s'en faut bien que je ne sois en estat de faire ce que je dois c'est pourquoy pleignez moy et ne m'accusez pas d'ingratitude quoy que je vous refuse tout puis que je ne fais pas ce que je veux mais seulement ce que veut la passion qui me possede abradate voyant qu'il ne pouvoit persuader le roy de pont le quitta avec assez de froideur luy semblant que puis qu'il avoit perdu panthee pour l'amour de luy seulement il eust deu ne luy refuser pas une chose qui n'ostoit point mandane de sa puissance il escrivit donc a cyrus pour luy faire excuse de ce qu'il ne pouvoit obtenir ce qu'il desiroit mais auparavant que d'envoyer sa lettre il fut sommer cresus de sa parole et le suplier d'envoyer du moins proposer a cyrus d'eschanger le prince artamas pour la reine de la susiane d'abord cresus luy dit qu'il y envoyeroit andramite mais qu'il vouloit que ce prince ne fust delivre qu'a condition qu'il promettroit devant que de 
 sortir de sardis qu'il ne songeroit jamais a la princesse sa fille cette proposition sembla si estrange a abradate qu'il ne douta pas que cresus ne la fist pour acrocher la chose et pour la rompre car quelle aparence y avoit il que le prince artamas pour recouvrer la liberte allast s'engager de ne penser plus a une princesse qu'il aimoit depuis un si longtemps qu'il estoit resolu daimer toute sa vie et dont il estoit aime c'est pourquoy prenant la parole assez fierement en presence du prince myrsile et d'andramite qui estoient dans ses interests seigneur luy dit'il lors que vous m'avez promis de faire proposer un eschange c'a este suivant les loix ordinaires de la guerre et non pas en cherchant des biais de rendre cette proposition inutile quand vous delivrerez le prince artamas ce sera comme vostre ennemy et non pas comme amant de la princesse palmis l'amour n'a point de part a cette negociation et je ne consentiray pas que l'on propose une pareille chose a cyrus que vous importe reprit cresus qui on delivre et comment on le delivre pourveu que panthee soit libre il ne m'importe pas sans doute reprit abradate mais ce qui est de considerable pour moy est que l'on ne face pas une proposition qui ne serve qu'a irriter celuy a qui on la doit faire c'est pourquoy scachant que le prince artamas est tres considerable a cyrus je trouve plus seur que ce soit luy qu'un autre que l'on propose d'eschanger car pour le 
 roy d'assirie vous jugez bien que quelque genereux que soit cyrus il ne peut pas autant souhaiter sa liberte que celle du prince artamas et pour les autres prisonniers ils ne sont pas d'un rang a estre eschangez contre panthee anaxaris est inconnu sosicle et tegee sont vos sujets et feraulas est domestique de cyrus apres cela seigneur que me reste t'il a proposer pour delivrer panthee si ce n'est de delivrer le prince artamas la treve n'a este demandee que pour cela et cependant il me semble que vous deliberiez encore je delibere en effet reprit il et mesme avec raison car enfin excepte cyrus il n'y a pas un homme en toute son armee qui me soit si important d'avoir en ma puissance que le prince artamas et vous voulez que je le rende pour vos interests seulement quoy qu'il en soit dit abradate avec une froideur qui marquoit assez qu'il estoit mal satisfait de cresus je vous suplie de me dire precisement ce que vous avez resolu et pourquoy vous avez fait la treve si vous ne vouliez pas m'accorder ce que je vous ay demande le l'ay faite reprit il pour tascher de delivrer panthee en rendant le roy d'assirie ou tous les autres prisonniers ou en rendant le prince artamas de la facon que je l'ay dit apres cela abradate se retira aussi bien que le prince myrsile et andramite mais au lieu de s'en aller chez luy il fut droit a son quartier andramite fit la mesme chose et le prince de clasomene fut aussi avec abradate de sorte que 
 cresus craignant que ces trois personnes ne fissent quelque soulevement dans l'armee se resolut enfin a faire faire la proposition d'eschanger le prince artamas si bien qu'il envoya en diligence vers abradate pour l'advertir de ses intentions qui cependant avoit desja envoye sa lettre a cyrus pour s'excuser de ce qu'il n'avoit pu obtenir se qu'il demandoit il le fit mesme avec des termes si expressifs que cyrus creut qu'il y avoit agy sincerement et ainsi il se pleignit de son malheur sans se pleindre d'abradate cependant cresus ne manqua pas d'envoyer vers cyrus il voulut mesme que ce fust andramite qui y allast mais quoy qu'il pust mander a abradate pour l'obliger d'aller a sardis durant cette negociation il ne le voulut jamais faire et il demeura tousjours au camp ou en effet il estoit plus redoutable a cresus qu'il n'eust este a sardis non pas tant parce qu'il avoit un corps de quatre mille hommes les meilleurs de toute l'armee duquel il estoit maistre absolu que parce qu'il estoit fort considere de tous les gens de guerre en general andramite agissant en cette occasion comme amant de doralise et par consequent comme estant fort interesse en la liberte de panthee avec qui elle estoit n'oublia rien de tout ce qui pouvoit rendre sa negociation heureuse car non seulement il parla a cyrus avec beaucoup d'eloquence et beaucoup d'adresse mais il prit mesme si bien son temps que le roy de phrigie estoit avec ce prince lors qu'il luy 
 proposa de la part du roy son maistre de delivrer la reine de la susiane en luy rendant le prince artamas de sorte qu'encore que cyrus eust eu quelque pretexte de vouloir retenir cette princesse jusques a ce que mandane fust delivree il n'auroit ose s'en servir de peur de desobliger un grand roy et de faire une action peu genereuse en pensant en faire une fort prudente joint que la reine de la susiane n'interessant pas de ses rivaux cyrus creut qu'en effet il luy estoit bien plus avantageux de rendre panthee a abradate qui ne laisseroit pas de s'en tenir oblige et de delivrer le prince artamas qui estant un des plus vaillans hommes du monde ne pouvoit pas manquer de luy estre tres utile durant la suitte de cette guerre il ne put toutesfois se resoudre a faire cet eschange sans tascher d'en tirer quelque satisfaction pour son amour de sorte qu'il dit a andramite en presence du roy de phrigie qu'encore qu'il luy eust este tres avantageux pour beaucoup de raisons d'avoir la reine de la susiane en sa puissance jusques a la fin de la guerre que neantmoins il honnoroit si fort le roy de phrigie il aimoit tant le prince artamas il estmoit de telle sorte abradate et respectoit panthee d'une maniere si peu commune qu'il consentoit a ce que cresus souhaitoit de luy avec une condition seulement qui estoit que durant la treve on luy permist de voir mandane andramite l'entendant parler 
 ainsi le suplia de ne vouloir pas insister sur cela parce que le roy de pont avoit si fortement refuse abradate lors qu'il luy avoit demande cette permission qu'il ne croyoit pas possible de l'y faire consentir comme cresus est maistre dans ces estats reprit cyrus il doit s'y faire obeir c'est pourquoy il ne juge pas que le consentement du roy de pont soit absolument necessaire a ce que je le veux il ne l'est pas sans doute repliqua andramite mais je suis pourtant persuade par plus d'une raison qu'il ne voudra pas agir d'authorite absolue en cette rencontre et qu'il rompra plustost le traite je consens qu'il le rompe interrompit genereusement le roy de phrigie plustost que de souffrir que l'on refuse cette satisfaction a un prince a qui je suis si redevable non non reprit cyrus il ne faut pas croire que le roy de lydie soit si mauvais mesnager de ses interrests qu'il ne concoive bien qu'il luy est plus dangereux de desobliger abradate que le roy de pont puis que l'un a des troupes et un royaume d'ou il en peut encore tirer et que l'autre n'a pas une de ces deux choses c'est pourquoy andramite dittes s'il vous plaist au roy vostre maistre ce que je vous ay dit et me faites scavoir sa resolution cependant adjousta cyrus qui estoit bien aise que les flames d'andramite se ralumassent pour doralise afin qu'il agist encore plus fortement aupres de cresus il ne tiendra qu'a vous que vous ne 
 portiez des nouvelles de panthee a l'illustre abradate car si vous le voulez je vous feray conduire vers cette princesse andramite entendant parler cyrus de cette sorte ne put refuser de voir une personne qu'il aimoit depuis qu'il avoit este capable d'aimer si bien qu'acceptant l'offre qu'on luy faisoit il se laissa conduire par lygdamis estant ravy de joye de pouvoir aller dire a doralise qu'il travailloit pour sa liberte aussi bien que pour celle de panthee aupres de qui elle estoit andramite fut receu de cette princesse avec beaucoup de civilite et mesme avec beaucoup de satisfaction car comme elle ne scavoit point que cresus ne cherchoit qu'un pretexte pour faire que ce traite ne s'achevast pas elle ne douta point du tout qu'elle ne fust bientost en estat de revoir son cher abradate doralise de son coste ne fut pas incivile pour andramite il la retrouva pourtant telle qu'il l'avoit veue autre fois c'est a dire fort belle infiniment aimable et un peu malicieuse en effet au lieu de le remercier des foins qu'il prenoit pour la liberte d'une princesse qui devoit causer la sienne elle luy dit en riant qu'elle ne trouvoit pas que ce qu'il proposoit fust une chose qui valust la peine de sortir de prison pour y devoir si tost rentrer car enfin luy dit elle pendant que panthee escrivoit a abradate a vous dire la verite je trouve que nous sommes bien plus seurement dans le camp de cyrus que nous ne serions dans sardis puis qu'il 
 sera selon toutes les aparences bien tost pris par ce prince qui ayant la justice de son coste et la fortune sera infailliblement victorieux de tous ses ennemis mais que deviendroit l'oracle que cresus a receu a delphes repliqua t'il si ce que vous dittes arrivoit en verite andramite luy dit elle il y a bien de la temerite a croire que l'on entend le langage des dieux puis que bien souvent on n'entend pas seulement celuy des hommes l'advoue luy dit il que quelques fois vous ne l'avez pas entendu mais je pense a vous dire la verite que c'est parce que vous ne l'avez pas voulu entendre et je ne scay adjousta t'il si vous m'entendrez encore aujourd'huy quand je vous assureray que je n'ay jamais rien aime que vous et que je n'aimeray jamais autre chose je l'entendray encore bien moins qu'autrefois reprit elle car andramite il faut que vous scachiez que comme je n'entends tous les jour parler que des persans des hircaniens des assiriens des armeniens et des medes je ne scay presques plus la langue lydienne c'est pourquoy auparavant que vous me parliez de rien qui vous importe il est a propos que j'aprenne a parler et que j'aye pour le moins este un an ou deux en lydie conme andramite alloit repartir a doralise et la conjurer de luy vouloir respondre un peu plus serieusement panthee qui avoit acheve son billet le luy donna si bien que comme il estoit temps de partir pour s'en retourner il ne put tirer 
 autre satisfaction de doralise que celle de l'avoir veue aussi aimable qu'elle avoit jamais este son amour ne laissa pourtant pas d'en augmenter encore et il s'en retourna fortement resolu de faire toutes choses possibles pour obliger le roy de lydie a faire en sorte que cyrus vist mandane pour cet effet repassant au camp devant que d'aller a sardis il conseilla au prince de clasomene et a abradate de n'en partir point quoy que cresus pust leur mander jusques a ce que le traite fust acheve et de le laisser agir avec le prince myrsile qu'il scavoit souhaiter fort que ce traite s'achevast il croyoit toutesfois que ce prince n'avoit autre interest en la chose que celuy de satisfaire abradate et de delivrer le prince artamas qu'il avoit tousjours souhaite que la princesse sa soeur espousast ces deux princes croyant donc le conseil d'andramite le laisserent aller seul a sardis ou il ne fut pas si tost qu'il fut rendre conte de son voyage a cresus mais des qu'il eut cesse de parler ce prince luy dit que cyrus luy demandoit une chose qui ne dependoit pas de sa volonte parce qu'il ne se resoudroit jamais a violenter celle du roy de pont il sera donc impossible de conclure ce traite reprit andramite car cyrus est si absolument resolu d'obtenir ce qu'il demande et le roy de phrigie est aussi si determine a souhaiter que ce prince soit satisfait que je pense mesme que quand cyrus voudroit se relascher il s'opposeroit a son dessein 
 quand ce traite sera rompu reprit cresus je m'en consoleray facilement il est pourtant assez dangereux repliqua andramite d'irriter le roy de la susiane et le prince de clasomene cresus prenant le discours d'andramite qu'il scavoit estre leur amy pour une menace s'en offenca et sans luy respondre precisement il luy dit qu'il envoyeroit sa responce a cyrus devant qu'il fust peu andramite s'estant donc retire de cette sorte le roy de pont arriva qui suplia si instamment cresus de n'accorder pas la veue de mandane a son rival qu'il le confirma puissamment dans le dessein qu'il en avoit et dans celuy de se servir de ce pretexte pour rendre la negociation d'andramite inutile le roy de pont estoit pourtant bien fache de desobliger abradate a qui il estoit tres redevable mais cette passion tirannique et dominante qui regnoit dans son coeur faisoit qu'il ne pouvoir pas estre maistre de ses propres sentimens cependant abradate et le prince de clasomene scachant la resistance de cresus et du roy de pont parloient comme des princes qui n'estoient pas resolus de souffrir qu'on les tratast de cette sorte andramite et le prince myrsile cabaloient aussi dans sardis et publioient que l'on vouloit porter les choses a la derniere extremite estant a croire qu'apres ce qu'on refusoit a cyrus il seroit en droit s'il estoit vainqueur d'estre aussi rigoureux aux vaincus qu'on estoit injuste envers luy si bien 
 que dans camp et dans la ville tout estoit en une esmotion estrange car comme il est tousjours assez aise de faire croire peuples les choses les plus esloignee de vray-semblance sur ce fondement veritable diverses personnes affectionnees au prince artamas qui pour ses grandes vertu et par son extreme valeur s'estoit acquis mille serviteurs secrets qui agissoient sourdement pour luy firent que l'on disoit fort haut que cresus ne vouloit point la paix et qu'il ne se soucioit pas de la desolation de tous ses peuples pourveu que son ambition fust satisfaite le souvenir de toutes les victoires d'artamas revenant alors dans la memoire des habitans de sardis ils murmuroient hautement et se disoient les uns aux autres que s'il n'eust jamais este prisonnier ils ne se fussent pas souciez d'avoir une guerre estrangere mais que de voir une armee de plus de cent mille hommes a leurs portes et n'avoir point le prince artamas pour les deffendre estoit ce qu'ils ne pouvoient souffrir sans murmurer en fin la chose alla si avant qu'ils creurent qu'il leur seroit encore plus avantageux que le prince artamas fust dans le party de cyrus que d'estre toujours en prison car outre qu'ils scavoient bien qu'estant amoureux de leur princesse il ne voudroit pas destruire cresus et qu'il porteroit toujours les choses a la douceur ils pensoient encore que l'injustice que l'on avoit eue pour luy en l'arrestant la premiere fois ne pouvoit estre reparee qu'en le delivrant 
 la seconde de sorte que tout estoit en division et dans le camp et dans sardis cyrus scachant donc ce qui se passoit en avoit une extreme joye car disoit il s'ils font ce que je veux je verray ma chere princesse et ses regards favorables m'inspireront une nouvelle ardeur dans l'ame et me donneront peut-estre la force de vaincre tout ce qui pourroit m'empescher de la delivrer malgre tant de funestes predictions que si au contraire ils ne le veulent point j'auray du moins la satisfaction d'avoir mis le desordre dans leurs troupes et de me trouver en estat de remporter la victoire avec moins de peine il estoit pourtant un peu estonne de n'entendre point dire que mazare se mesla de cette affaire et tous ceux qui revenoient de sardis disoient seulement que ce prince a ce que l'on assuroit gardoit la chambre pour quelque legere incommodite mais il aprenoit de moment en moment que le desordre et la division augmentoit et entre les princes et entre les peuples et entre les soldats cependant comme la treve avoit un jour limite et que cyrus n'estoit pas capable de manquer a sa parole il estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir profiter de ce desordre et il attendoit avec une impatience estrange la derniere responce de cresus il alloit pourtant quelques fois visiter panthee et comme c'est la coustume mesme des plus sages mais principalement de ceux qui ont de l'amour d'aimer a prevoir par leurs raisonnemens tout ce qui leur 
 doit arriver cyrus ne parloit d'autre chose que de l'affaire dont il s'agissoit ny a panthee ny a la princesse araminte tantost il demandoit a la premiere si elle croyoit qu'abradate soufrist l'injustice de cresus une autrefois il prioit araminte de luy dire si elle pensoit que le roy son frere s'obstinast jusques a la fin a ne soufrir pas qu'il vist mandane mais quoy qu'il leur pust dire il leur parloit tousjours de ce qui luy tenoit au coeur il assura toutesfois a la reine de la susiane que si cresus ne vouloit pas luy accorder ce qu'il souhaitoit il ne laisseroit pas de la delivrer la conjurant de luy pardonner s'il differoit de conclure de traitte jusques a la derniere heure de la treve afin de tascher d'obtenir ce qu'il demandoit mais il luy dit cela avec des termes si obligeants que panthee le pria elle mesme de reculer sa liberte autant qu'il pourroit comme il estoit donc avec ces deux princesses ortalque luy fut dire qu'orsane venoit d'arriver au camp qui disoit avoir une chose si importante a luy aprendre qu'il le luy avoit amene a l'heure mesme le nom d'orsane fit changer de couleur a cyrus ne luy estant pas possible de l'ouir nommer sans songer aussi tost a mazare et sans croire qu'il luy estoit peut-estre envoye par luy quoy qu'il en conprist pas trop bien comment orsane qui estoit party de sinope pour s'en retourner en son pais se pouvoit trouver en lydie l'esmotion du visage de cyrus ayant donne beaucoup de curiosite 
 a ces deux princesses elles luy en demanderent la cause il ne voulut pourtant pas alors la leur dire ne scachant pas ce qu'orsane luy vouloit de sorte que ne leur respondant pas precisement il les quita pour aller parler a luy souhaitant ardamment dans son coeur qu'il luy dist que mazare le vouloit voir l'espee a la main comme il avoit beaucoup d'obligation a orsane pour les services qu'il avoit autrefois rendus a mandane et a martesie il ne confondit pas l'innocent avec le coupable et malgre l'obligation de son esprit et la haine qu'il avoit pour mazare il receut orsane avec civilite en suitte dequoy luy adressant la parole apres vous avoir receu comme amy de martesie luy dit il il faut en suitte que je vous escoute comme envoye d'un de mes plus mortels ennemis seigneur reprit orsane auparavant que de determiner quel nom vous devez donner au prince mon maistre il faut que vous me faciez la grace de m'accorder une heure d'audiance et que vous me la donniez mesme le plustost que vous le pourrez car si je vous aprenois d'abord ce que je vous diray a la fin de mon recit vous en seriez peut-estre si surpris que vous auriez peine a me croire c'est pourquoy il importe extremement que je dispose vostre esprit peu a peu a se laisser persuader plusieurs choses fort surprenantes cyrus entendant parler orsane de cette sorte chercha a deviner ce qu'il luy vouloit dire mais ne scachant 
 qu'imaginer il se resolut de luy donner audiance si bien que luy commandant de le suivre il passa d'un grand vestibule ou il estoit dans une grande sale afin de l'escouter en ce lieu la mais comme la reine de la susiane et la princesse araminte avoient este adverties que celuy qui avoit demande a parler a cyrus estoit au prince mazare elles eurent peur que ce ne fust pour engager ce prince en quelque combat particulier et craignirent mesme que le roy de pont et abradate n'en fussent de sorte qu'elles se resolurent d'envoyer suplier cyrus de vouloir bien qu'elles luy pussent dire un mot comme ce prince les respectoit extremement quelque impatience qu'il eust de scavoir ce qu'orsane luy vouloit dire il fut trouver ces princesses qui luy tesmoignerent si obligeamment linquietude ou elles estoient d'avoir apris qu'orsane estoit a mazare qu'elles le forcerent pour les rassurer de leur offrir de n'aprendre qu'en leur presence ce qu'orsane avoit a luy dire ayant bien juge veu comme il luy avoit parle qu'il ne venoit pas luy proposer un combat ces princesses acceptant donc ce qu'il leur offroit il envoya querir orsane a qui il dit qu'il pouvoit parler avec autant de liberte devant ces deux princesses que s'il eust este seul en suitte dequoy cyrus ayant pris place aupres d'elles et n'estant demeure personne dans la chambre orsane commenca son discours en ces termes 
 
 
 
 
 histoire de mazare
 
 
si je n'avois a parler de mon maistre qu'a j'illustre cyrus mon recit seroit sans doute beaucoup plus court qu'il ne sera mais devant en entretenir deux grandes princesses de qui il n'a pas l honneur d'estre connu que comme les personnes de cette condition se connoissent ordinairement c'est a dire sans se voir je pense que je seray oblige de leur aprendre en peu de mots le commencement de sa vie afin qu'elles en puissent mieux entendre la suitte il n'est nullement necessaire interrompit la princesse araminte que vous preniez la peine de nous dire tout ce qui est advenu au prince mazare depuis qu'il arriva a babilone jusques a ce qu'il fut laisse pour mort aupres de sinope dans la cabane d'un pescheur car nous scavons qu'il ne put devenir amoureux de la princesse istrine quoyque le prince d'assirie l'en priast et qu'il le devint malgre luy de la princesse mandane le jour qu'elle entra en triomphe dans cette grande ville nous n'ignorons pas no plus qu'il la servit importamment tant qu'elle y fut nous scavons que par un sentiment d'amour plus fort que sa raison et que sa generosite ce fut luy qui voyant qu'elle alloit estre delivree par la prise de babilone trouva l'invention 
 de la faire sortir sur la neige avec un habillement blanc et qu'en suitte estant a sinope cette mesme passion fit que tout genereux qu'il estoit il la trompa pour l'enlever esgalement et au roy d'assirie et a cyrus et que pour le punir de cette action les dieux permirent qu'il fist naufrage quand vous scaurez ce que j'ay a vous dire reprit orsane je ne scay madame si l'intention des dieux vous sera aussi bien connue que vous le croyez presentement puis que dans l'instant qu'ils le mirent en estat de perir c'estoit lors que par les sentimens qu'il avoit dans le coeur ils le devoient plustost sauver mais auparavant que de vous expliquer cet enigme il faut que je vous die que le plus grand et le plus merveilleux effet de la beaute de la princesse mandane est sans doute d'avoir si fort trouble la raison de ce prince qu'il ait pu estre capable de faire quelques actions injustes estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu d'homme de sa condition de qui la naissance ait este plus heureuse ny de qui l'education ait este meilleure au reste les inclinations qu'il a pu tirer de ses parens n'ont pu aussi estre que tres bonnes puis qu'il est vray qu'on ne peut pas trouver un prince plus vertueux que le roy des saces ny une princesse plus heroique que la reine tarine mere de mon maistre mais comme sa reputation est espandue par toute l'asie je ne m'arresteray pas a en parler davantage 
 et je diray seulement que le prince mazare estant leur fils il n'est pas estrange qu'il ait autant de vertus qu'il en a pour reprendre donc les choses au point que vous les scavez et vous en dire pourtant que vous ne pouvez scavoir il faut que je vous aprenne que la nuit qui preceda le naufrage que fit la princesse mandane et pendant la quelle le prince mazare ne la vit point n'ayant pas par respect voulu entrer dans la chambre ou elle estoit il sentit tout ce qu'un coeur genereux et passionne peut sentir en effet je pense pouvoir dire a l'illustre cyrus qui m'escoute que s'il avoit entendu exagerer a mon maistre la douleur qu'il souffrit en cette occasion il le pleindroit sans doute dans son malheur et ne l'accuseroit pas cent fois il se repentit de son crime sans pouvoir se repentir de sa passion et cent fois aussi il se determina de l'achever mais la pointe du jour estant venue et la princesse mandane ayant recommence ses pleintes et ses prieres il m'a dit que des qu'il la vit et qu'il remarqua le changement que la douleur avoit fait en son visage en si peu de temps le remords saisit son coeur de telle sorte et il se determina si absolument a reparer le mal qu'il luy avoit fait que sans luy parler il fut en diligence vers le pilote de crainte qu'il avoit de changer d'avis et luy commanda de reprendre la route de sinope afin de remettre la princesse ou entre les mains de ciaxare ou en celles de l'illustre artamene 
 mais dieux que ce commandement tout equitable qu'il estoit pensa estre funeste a celuy qui le fit et a celle en faveur de qui il estoit fait car a peine le pilote l'eut il receu que voulant obeir au prince mazare et remener mandane a sinope dont l'invincible artamene par son incomparable valeur s'estoit rendu maistre il voulut tourner la proue mais la galere tourna toute entiere et nous mit en estat de perir apres cela il ne me semble pas qu'il soit permis de juger de l'intention des dieux lors qu'ils font du bien ou du mal aux hommes et qu'il vaut beaucoup mieux admirer leur conduitte sans la vouloir penetrer en effet qui ne croiroit a parler raisonnablement qu'un prince amoureux qui tient la personne qu'il aime en sa puissance et qui a pourtant assez de vertu pour se repentir de l'avoir enlevee et pour se resoudre a la remettre en liberte ne deust pas estre plustost recompense que puny cependant le prince mazare fit naufrage il creut avoir cause la mort de la princesse qu'il adoroit et il souffrit enfin plus que personne n'a jamais souffert aussi pensa t'il bien plustost mourir par la violence de son desespoir que par le naufrage qu'il avoit fait et il n'est nullement douteux qu'il seroit mort effectivement si les dieux par une rencontre prodigieuse ne luy eussent envoye du secours vous scaurez donc madame que le maistre de la cabane ou l'illustre artamene vit mazare mourant et ou il receut de sa main une magnifique 
 escharpe qui estoit a la princesse mandane estant alle pescher un peu auparavant que la tempeste se fust levee en avoit este accueilly si inopinement qu'il n'avoit pu regagner le bord de sorte qu'il avoit este contraint de laisser presques aller sa barque au gre du vent qui enfin l'avoit poussee au pied d'un rocher qui s'esleve dans la mer et ou un grand vaisseau se seroit brise mais ou sa barque qui estoit legere aborda heureusement si bien que se jettant sur ce rocher et arrestant sa barque avec un chable il se resolut de laisser passer l'orage en ce lieu la et en effet il y demeura jusques a ce que la tempeste commencant de calmer il vit un vieillard qui tenoit une planche et qui s'en servant pour se soutenir sur l'eau taschoit de gagner ce rocher mais il paroissoit si foible et il en estoit encore si loin qu'il y avoit aparence qu'il periroit s'il n'alloit le secourir la pitie agissant donc dans l'ame de ce pescheur et le portant a l'assister il se remit dans sa barque et fut au devant de cet homme apelle tiburte grec de nation et qui estoit aupres du prince mazare pour luy aprendre les sciences proportionnees a sa qualite a peine fut il aupres de luy que luy tendant la main il le fit monter dans sa barque ou il ne fut pas plus tost qu'il pensa s'esvanouir tant il le trouva foible toutesfois estant revenu il luy aprit comment il avoit fait naufrage sans luy dire que c'eust este en enlevant la princesse mandane 
 de peur de luy oster une partie de l'ardeur qu'il avoit a le servir de sorte que ce pescheur le consolant a sa mode luy offrit sa cabane pour retraite ce que tiburte accepta afin de tascher d'aprendre le long du rivage s'il ne seroit eschape que luy de tant de personnes qui estoient dans la galere ou il avoit fait naufrage et si son maistre avoit pery comme les autres ce pescheur reprenant donc sa route quand la mer fut tout a fait apaisee il commenca de ramer mais comme il avoit perdu une de ses rames il fut longtemps a regagner le bord et si longtemps enfin qu'il n'arriva a sa cabane qu'une heure apres que l'illustre artamene en fut sorty je vous laisse a penser madame quelle surprise fut celle de tiburte de voir le prince mazare comme il le vit car il n'estoit pas encore revenu de l'esvanouissement ou l'illustre artamene l'avoit laisse d'abord qu'il l'aperceut il en eut de la joye mais ayant considere le pitoyable estat ou il le voyoit il s'en afligea extremement cependant comme cet homme est universellement scavant en toutes choses et que la medecine mesme ne luy est pas entierement inconnue il commenca de tascher de s'esclaircir si ce prince estoit encore vivant et s'il n'y avoit nul moyen de le secourir de sorte qu'apres l'avoir observe soigneusement il connut que son coeur palpitoit encore si bien que sans perdre temps il luy fit tous les remedes que la pauvrete du lieu ou il 
 estoit luy pouvoit permettre de faire et il les fit si utilement que mazare revint de sa foiblesse mais il en revint l'esprit si peu a luy que voyant tiburte au chevet du lict sur lequel on l'avoit mis il luy demanda ou estoit mandane en suitte il prononca quatre ou cinq fois le nom d'artamene et confondant ainsi toutes choses durant plus d'une heure on voyoit clairement que la douleur troubloit si fort sa raison qu'il ne scavoit si artamene estoit son rival si mandane estoit vivante ou morte et s'il estoit vivant luy mesme mais a la fin tiburte luy ayant parle pour tascher de remettre peu a peu son esprit en son assiette ordinaire il commenca de voir les choses comme elles estoient et par consequent de rentrer dans son premier desespoir il avoit pourtant quelque consolation de voir tiburte aupres de luy qu'il avoit tousjours fort aime et qui s'estoit embarque sans scavoir precisement le dessein du prince mazare qui n'avoit ose le luy dire il espera mesme en le voyant que peut - estre mandane auroit elle pu se sauver du naufrage aussi bi que luy mais il espera si foiblement que l'on peut dire qu'il n'espera qu'autant qu'il faloit pour l'obliger a souffrir que l'on eust soin de luy et pour le forcer a prendre quelque chose cependant tiburte ne jugeant pas qu'il fust seurement si pres de sinope et en un lieu encore ou l'illustre artamene estoit venu et ou il pourroit l'envoyer querir il tira le maistre de cette cabane a 
 part et le conjura apres luy avoir sauve la vie de luy vouloir encore rendre un autre office sans lequel le premier qu'il luy avoit rendu demeureroit inutile mais afin que sa priere ne la fust pas il luy donna une grande medaille d'or pendue a une chaine de mesme metal que la reine nitocris luy avoit autrefois donnee a babilone quand il y accompagna le prince son maistre la veue d'un present qui parut si riche aux yeux d'un pauvre pescheur fit que cet homme luy promit absolument de faire tout ce qu'il voudroit quand mesme il faudroit hazarder sa vie pour le servir de sorte que tiburte sans perdre temps fit porter la nuit prochaine le prince mazare dans la barque qu'il fit couvrir de peur qu'en l'estat ou il estoit le grand air ne luy fist mal le prince mazare fit d'abord quelque difficulte de consentir a ce que tiburte souhaitoit ne voulant point disoit il abandonner le rivage ou la princesse mandane avoit pery et aimant mieux mourir en ce lieu la qu'en un autre mais tiburte luy ayant promis qu'il ne l'en esloigneroit pas beaucoup que ce ne seroit mesme que jusques a ce que l'on eust sceu si l'on n'avoit point eu de nouvelles de la princesse qu'il regrettoit et qu'il ne l'obligeoit a en partir que parce qu'il seroit tres facheux qu'il tombast entre les mains de ciaxare il commenca de ceder a sa volonte ce ne fut toutesfois pas tout d'un coup car tiburte luy disoit il puis que je ne cherche 
 qu'a mourir que m'importe que le roy des medes ou artamene me donnent la mort s'il n'importe pas pour vous luy dit tiburte il m'importe du moins pour le roy vostre pere et pour la reine vostre mere et il importe mesme a tous les peuples sur lesquels vous estes destine a regner c'est pourquoy ne me resistez pas s'il vous plaist et laissez vous persuader a la raison qui vous parle par ma bouche ha tiburte s'escria t'il un homme qui ne veut plus vivre n'a garde de songer a regner du moins repliqua tiburte si vous ne pretendez plus rien a la vie ne donnez pas ce desplaisir a tous ceux qui s'interressent en ce qui vous touche de vous voir entre les mains d'un prince qui vous traiteroit en criminel je le suis de telle sorte reprit il que l'on ne me scauroit faire injustice quelque rigoureux qu'on me pust estre mais tuburte ne laissez pas de faire de moy ce qu'il vous plaira apres cela mazare fut mis dans la barque et tous ceux de la cabane eurent ordre de dire si on venoit demander ce prince qu'il estoit mort aussi tost apres que l'illustre artamene l'avoit eu quitte cependant le pitoyable estat ou estoit le prince mazare fit que tiburte ne put pas songer a le mener fort loin joint que les provisions qu'il avoit dans la barque estoient si petites que leur voyage ne pouvoit tout au plus durer que deux ou trois jours comme ce sage vieillard n'estoit pas de ce pais la et qu'il n'y avoit pas mesme demeure 
 longtemps il n'y avoit nulle habitude et ne scavoit pas trop bien qu'elle resolution prendre et comme il estoit extremement esloigne du sien car vous scavez qu'il y a un grand chemin a faire de sinope au pais des saces qui touchent la scithie asiatique il ne pouvoit trouver de secours fort proche il avoit mesme peu de chose pour subsister ne luy estant demeure du naufrage que la chaine d'or qu'il avoit donnee au pescheur et une bague d'un prix assez considerable il est vray que le prince mazare se trouva fortuitement avoir des tablettes extremement magnifiques de sorte qu'avec ces deux choses il creut bien pouvoir trouver les voyes de subsfister quelque temps mais la difficulte estoit d'aborder en un lieu seur ne scachant donc quel conseil prendre ils s'esloignerent de sinope sans scavoir precisement quelle route ils devoient tenir a la fin neantmoins ce pescheur voyant l'inquietude de tiburte luy dit que s'il vouloit se fier a luy il le meneroit en un lieu ou on ne le trouveroit point et en effet luy ayant apris qu'il n'estoit pas nay ou il demeuroit presentement et qu'il estoit d'une petite isle qui n'estoit habitee que par des pescheurs parmy lesquels il avoit plusieur parens il consentit qu'il les y menast ce pescheur promettant a mon maistre de luy aller dire en ce lieu la si on auroit eu quelques nouvelles de la princesse mandane ou si on auroit retrouve son corps ne pouvant donc 
 faire autre chose ils furent aborder a cette petite isle qui n'est presque qu'un grand rocher et qui n'est qu'a une journee et demie de sinope celuy qui les conduisoit les logea chez une soeur qu'il avoit dont le mary estoit pescheur comme luy et qui les receut fort humainement des que son beau- frere luy eut apris de quelle facon tiburte l'avoit recompense cependant comme les dieux avoient sans doute resolu de conserver le prince mazare malgre luy il vescut quoy qu'il n'en eust point d'envie et quoy qu'il creust la princesse mandane morte il est vray que ce fut d'une maniere si pitoyable que la mort luy eust sans doute este plus douce que la vie qu'il menoit ne luy estoit agreable le peu d'esperance qu'il avoit eue que peut-estre la princesse seroit elle eschapee ne luy dura mesme plus guere car le pescheur suivant sa promesse fut huit jours apres qu'il fut a cette isle luy dire que l'on n'avoit eu aucune nouvelle d'elle et que l'on n'avoit pas mesme trouve son corps neantmoins cette derniere chose luy laissant encore quelque loger espoir qui faisoit qu'il ne vouloit point songer a partir de ce lieu sauvage tiburte pria le mesme pescheur de luy venir dire une autrefois que le corps de mandane avoit este trouve car comme tiburte croyoit bien que cette princesse estoit morte et que quand mesme elle eust este vivante il eust tousjours este bon de tascher d'en oster la memoire au prince mazare il creut 
 qu'il estoit a propos de ne le laisser pas plus long temps dans une esperance incertaine qui ne faisoit qu'aigrir ses douleurs et augmenter ses inquietudes de sorte que le pescheur qu'il avoit prie de luy dire ce mensonge n'y ayant pas manque le prince mazare en eut une affliction si sensible qu'il fut aise de voir la difference qu'il y a d'un mal indubitable a un autre ou il reste encore un peu d'incertitude quand les premiers transports de son desespoir furent apaisez il dit a tiburte qu'il vouloir aller mourir sur le tombeau de mandane et cette pensee luy tint en l'esprit pendant plusieurs jours mais a la fin les prieres de tiburte l'en empescherent et le firent changer d'advis il ne put pas faire la mesme chose lors qu'il luy voulut persuader de retourner vers je roy son pere non non tiburte luy dit il vous n'obtiendrez pas de moy ce que vous desirez je ne me resoudray jamais a vivre conme vous je souhaitez c est bi assez que je vous accorde de ne me tuer point de ne me precipiter pas et de ne prendre point de poison sans vouloir que j'aille montrer mon crime et mon malheur a toute l'asie le veux vivre tiburte puis que vous ne voulez pas que je meure mais je veux vivre pour souffrir et pour pleurer eternellement la princesse a qui j'ay fait perdre la vie o malheureux prince s'escrioit il si tu avois a trahir quelqu'un que ne trahissois tu le roy d'assirie en faveur de ta princesse et que ne la delivrois tu effectivement que ne la remettois 
 tu entre les mains de l'invincible artamene qui seul estoit digne d'elle du moins elle t'auroit conserve son estime et son amitie et quand mesme tu eusses deu estre toute ta vie le plus infortune de tous les hommes il le valoit beaucoup mieux que d'estre son ravisseur insense que j'estois adjoustoit il comment pouvois-je esperer d'estre aime en faisant une chose si propre a me faire hair il faloit bien sans doute que j'eusse perdu la raison pour pouvoir croire qu'en enlevant mandane j'en serois aime n'avois-je pas un exemple illustre en la personne du plus grand roy de toute l'asie qui l'avoit enlevee inutilement et qui n'avoit tire autre avantage de cette violence que celuy d'avoir aquis la haine de cette princesse cependant je n'ay pas laisse de l'enlever mais aussi les dieux m'en ont ils assez rigoureusement puny si ma mort adjoustoit il eust pu satisfaire leur justice j'aurois assurement pery au lieu d'elle mais comme ils ont bien connu que la sienne me puniroit beaucoup plus severement ils ont voulu me faire esprouver le plus rigoureux suplice de la terre voila donc madame comment raisonnoit le prince mazare c'estoit en vain que tiburte luy representoit qu'il faloit sousmettre son esprit aux volontez des dieux car il luy demandoit une chose qu'il ne pouvoit pas faire tant sa douleur estoit forte c'estoit aussi inutilement qu'il taschoit de le faire souvenir du temps qu'il avoit tant aime la 
 gloire et de ce qu'il se devoit a luy mesme l'ambition estoit morte dans son coeur et il ne trouvoit pas qu'il pust faire rien de plus glorieux apres ce qui luy estoit arrive que de pleurer eternellement la mort de mandane tiburte ne se rebutoit pourtant pas et quoy que le prince mazare luy pust dire il luy parloit continuellement de retourner vers le roy son pere enfin il luy en parla tant que ce malheureux prince jugeant bien qu'il ne pourroit jamais persuader tiburte ny l'obliger a le laisser passer sa vie inconnu se resolut de se derober de luy et de s'en aller seul pleindre ses malheurs pour cet effet il gagna n jeune pescheur et l'obligea de le passer une nuit dans sa barque jusques au bord du rivage oppose qui n'estoit qu'a cinquante stades de l'isse luy laissant une lettre pour tiburte qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 l'infortune mazare au sage tiburte 
 
 
 comme cest en vain que vostre prudence veut remettre lu raison dans mon ame qui ne connoist plus rien que la douleur qui la possede j'ay creu que je devois me separer de vous de crainte que mon malheur ne vous devinst contagieux mais afin que vous puissiez vous justifier envers le roy et aupres de la reine vous leur ferez voir par cette lettre que ne me jugeant plus digne d'estre leur fils ny mesme de leur escrire je renonce 
 a la societe civile pour tousjours assurez les toutesfois que l'amour seulement m'a rendu criminel et que si je n'eusse jamais aime la divine et malheureuse mandane je n'aurois rien fait indigne d'eux ny de vous qui m'avez donne cent bons conseils que celle passion seulement m'a empesche de suivre 
 
 
 mazare 
 
 
 
 
ce prince ayant donc donne cette lettre au jeune pescheur qui le mena au rivage prochain et qui luy avoit achete un cheval et fait faire un habillement fort simple a une petite ville ou il alloit vendre son poisson il prit le premier chemin qu'il trouva sa douleur ne luy permettant pas de songer seulement ou il vouloit aller cependant le je une pescheur estant retourne a l'isle donna a tiburte la lettre que ce prince infortune luy escrivoit et se mit dans un desespoir si grand que jamais on n'a entendu parler d'une douleur plus excessive ce fut en vain qu'il voulut se pleindre a luy de ce qu'il l'avoit mene ou il avoit voulu aller car outre que ce pescheur n'en avoit point eu de deffence c'estoit encore se pleindre inutilement de sorte que pour ne perdre point de temps et pour tascher de retrouver son cher maistre il quitta cette isle et fut a la ville la plus proche acheter un cheval et prendre le chemin que le jeune pescheur luy avoit dit qu'il avoit pris mais comme il y avoit eu un temps assez considerable de puis l'heure ou ce prince estoit party jusques 
 a celle ou tiburte commenca de le suivre il ne le put joindre il marcha pourtant un jour et demy pendant quoy il eut la consolation de scavoir deux ou trois fois qu'il marchoit par les mesmes lieux ou il avoit passe mais ce qui l'affligeoit estrangement estoit de voir par le raport de ceux qui luy disoient l'avoir veu aux signes qu'il leur en donnoit qu'il ne tenoit point de routte assuree et qu'il quittoit tous les grands chemins comme tiburte estoit fort vieux il ne put pas voyager longtemps avec tant d'affliction sans tomber malade de sorte qu'il fut contraint de s'arrester douze ou quinze jours apres que le prince mazare se fut separe de luy par bonheur il trouva un petit temple dedie a ceres basti au milieu d'une campagne sans autre habitation que c'elle du sacrificateur qui demeure tout contre si bien que se sentant fort mal il s'arresta en ce lieu la et demanda du secours en effet la sacrificateur qu'il y trouva en eut un soin fort particulier car comme tiburte estoit un homme de beaucoup d'esprit il fit bientost connoistre a cet hoste charitable qu'il meritoit d'estre secouru aussi le fut il admirablement il ne put toutesfois recouvrer la sante et tout ce qu'il put faire fut seulement de faire durer ses maux et de prolonger sa vie jusques a ce que le hazard qui fait quelquesfois des prodiges m'eust conduit au mesme lieu ou il estoit comme je vay vous le dire vous scaurez seigneur dit orsane a cyrus que lors que vous 
 partistes de sinope pour aller en armenie je vous demanday la permission de retourner vers le roy mon maistre quoy que j'eusse une assez grande douleur d'estre contraint de le revoir sans luy remener le prince mazare de sorte qu'estant party d'aupres de vous charge de presens ravy d'admiration et charme de vostre vertu je pris le chemin qui me pouvoit conduire le plus seurement ou je voulois aller mais le troisiesme jour de mon voyage m'estant esgare je me trouvay dans une grande plaine au milieu de la quelle je vy un petit temple et une assez agreable maison comme il estoit desja assez tard je fis dessein non seulement d'aller demander le chemin en ce lieu la mais encore la grace d'y estre receu pour y passer la nuit et en effet j'y fus sans deliberer davantage et j'y fus receu avec autant d humanite que je l'avois attendu et que je le pouvois desirer le sacrificateur me fit toutesfois quelque excuse de ce que je ne serois pas aussi commodement chez luy que j'y eusse pu estre en autre temps me disant que le peu de gens qu'il avoit estoient si occupez aupres d'un estranger qui estoit demeure malade dan sa maison et qui estoit a l'extremite qu'il craignoit qu'ils ne pussent pas me servit aussi bien qu'il l'eust souhaite comme il me parloit ainsi on vint l'advertir que cet estranger estoit plus mal et qu'il demandoit a parler a luy pour luy reveler un secret qui luy importoit extremement apres avoir entendu cela je le supliay de 
 satisfaire celuy qui l'envoyoit querir neantmoins sans scavoir bien precisement pourquoy je le voulus mener jusques a la porte de la chambre de ce malade mais dieux que je fus estrangement surpris lors qu'estant prest d'y laisser entrer ce sacrificateur je vy que celuy qu'il alloit visiter estoit tiburte que je croyois avoir este noye avec le prince nostre maistre j'en fus si estonne que je fus quelque temps sans pouvoir mesme tesmoigner mon estonnement mais apres m'estre un peu remis j'entray dans la chambre et m'aprochant du lict de tiburte ma veue ne le surprit guere moins que la sienne m'avoit surpris je pense mesme que le sacrificateur voyant par nostre action que nous nous connoissions extremement et que nous avions beaucoup de joye de nous revoir en demeura aussi avez estonne tiburte me tendant la main me dit qu'il rendoit graces aux dieux de ce qu'il me pouvoit embrasser auparavant que de mourir je taschay alors de luy persuader qu'il n'estoit pas aussi mal qu'il croyoit estre mais je vy bien qu'il connoissoit mieux la grandeur de sa maladie que je ne la connoissois car prenant la parole en m'interrompant non non orsane me dit il ne nous flattons pas les dieux ne font pas tous les jours des miracles et nous nous en rendons si peu souvent dignes que nous ne devons pas mesme murmurer lors qu'ils n'en font point je sens bien que les remedes me sont inutiles et que la fin de mes 
 jours est proche c'est pourquoy j'avois envoye suplier ce sage et charitable sacrificateur de vouloir bien estre depositaire d'un secret qu'il est important qui ne soit pas ensevely dans mon tombeau mais puis que les dieux vous ont amene si a propos icy je veux le decharger d'une chose qui ne luy importe pas de scavoir et vous la dire en peu de mots le sacrificateur entendant parler tiburte de cette sorte se retira afin de le laisser en liberte de me dire ce qu'il voudroit tiburte l'assurant auparavant que s'il changeoit le dessein de luy reveler ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur ce n'estoit pas qu'il ne l'estimast autant qu'il pouvoit l'estimer mais seulement parce qu'il s'agissoit d'une personne que je connoissois et qu'il ne connoissoit point apres donc que ce sacrificateur se fut retire je voulus commencer de me pleindre aveque luy la mort de nostre maistre mais tiburte m'arrestant tout court m'aprit tout ce que je viens de vous dire apres cela poursuivit il vous devez bien connoistre que les dieux en vous amenant au lieu ou vous estes ont eu dessein que je vous aprisse que le prince mazare n'est point mort afin que faisant ce que j'avois resolu de faire vous l'alliez chercher toute vostre vie jusques a ce que vous l'ayez trouve voila orsane quel estoit mon dessein et voila quel doit estre le vostre s'il est vray que vous ayez tousjours pour ce prince l'affection que vous avez eue autrefois si vous ne fussiez pas arrive j'eusse engage par serment 
 le sacrificateur que j'avois envoye querir a me promettre de faire advertir le roy des saces que le prince son fils n'est pas mort mais puis que vous estes icy je ne juge pas a propos de faire scavoir qu'il est vivant a un sujet du roy des medes car enfin en enlevant la princesse mandane il s'est fait de si redoutables ennemis en la personne de ciaxare du roy d'assirie et de l'invincible artamene qu'il est bon presentement que la chose ne soit sceue que de vous tiburte ayant cesse de parler et luy ayant promis si les dieux disposoient de luy de chercher nostre illustre maistre par toute l'asie il parut estre un peu mieux de sorte que nous fusmes pres de deux heures a parler du prince mazare comme il avoit sceu depuis qu'il estoit en ce lieu la que la princesse mandane n'estoit point morte et qu'elle estoit en la puissance du roy de pont que l'on croyoit l'avoir menee en armenie il me conseilla apres avoir encore erre quelque temps en capadoce de m'y en aller aussi estant a croire que ce prince ou qu'il fust entendroit parler d'une chose qui estoit sceue de toute la terre et qu'il se resoudroit peut-estre a prendre party ou du moins a se raprocher de la princesse qu'il aimoit mais madame pourquoy m'amuser davantage a vous parler de tiburte qui sembla n'avoir languy si longtemps que pour attendre que je l'eusse veu car le jour suivant il luy empira considerablement et il mourut le lendemain 
 je sentis sans doute cette perte avec beaucoup de desplaisir de sorte que je ne jouis pas avec tranquilite de la joye que j'avois de scavoir que le prince mon maistre n'estoit pas mort comme je l'avois creu cependant apres avoir rendu les derniers devoirs a tiburte et avoir remercie le mieux qu'il me fut possible celuy qui l'avoit assiste sans l'avoit pu obliger a accepter nulle marque de ma reconnoissance je partis pour m'en aller errant sans scavoir precisement ou j'allois je creus pourtant que le mieux que je pouvois faire estoit de m'aprocher de mandane estant a croire qu'un prince qui estoit esperdument amoureux d'elle et qui l'avoit creue morte voudroit chercher les occasions de la voir ressuscitee enfin concluant que s'il n'avoit plus d'amour il s'en retourneroit aupres du roy son pere et que s'il en avoit encore il suivroit cette princesse je me resolus a faire deux choses l'une d'envoyer un esclave qui me servoit et qui estoit fidelle et plein d'esprit vers la reine des saces afin de la tirer de l'inquietude ou elle estoit luy mandant toutesfois que je pensois qu'il estoit a propos de ne publier pas que le prince mazare fust vivant jusques a ce qu'on l'eust retrouve et l'autre apres avoir erre encore quelques jours a l'entour de sinope ou je craignois qu'il ne fust demeure malade de m'en aller en armenie ou l'on disoit alors qu'estoit la princesse mandane en effet je fis ce que j'avois resolu j'envoyay 
 l'esclave et je cherchay avec un soin tres exact a tascher d'aprendre quelque chose de mazare sans en pouvoir rien scavoit en capadoce apres quoy je fus a artaxate pendant que l'armee de ciaxare croyoit que mandane estoit enfermee dans un chasteau au bord de l'araxe et comme je le croyois aussi bien que les autres et que je m'imaginois que si le prince mazare vivoit il estoit a artaxate aussi bien que moy je passois les journees entieres a aller de temple en temple et par toutes les places publiques pour voir si je ne le trouverois point apres quand on faisoit quelques reveues de troupes j'allois encore regarder soldat a soldat pour voir si je ne le trouverois point car je croyois l'amour de ce prince capable de luy faire toutes choses il me vint en suitte dans la fantaisie voyant que je ne le rencontrois en nulle part que peut-estre auroit il este assez adroit pour trouver les voyes d'entrer dans ce chasteau ou l'on croyoit qu'estoit la princesse mandane et ou estoit alors la princesse de pont devant qui je parle de sorte que je me resolus d'attendre en ce lieu la qu'el seroit l'evenement de cette guerre n'y ayant pas aparence que je pusse trouver ailleurs le prince que je cherchois en effet seigneur dit orsane adressant la parole a cyrus j'y fus jusques a ce que par vostre incomparable valeur vous eustes pris ce chasteau avec fort peu de troupes a la veue d'une des plus grandes villes du monde et d'une 
 multitude innombrable de gens armez de vous dire la douleur que j'eus de scavoir que la princesse mandane n'estoit point dans ce chasteau il ne me seroit pas aise estant certain que je pense vous pouvoir assurer sans mensonge avec tout le respect que je vous dois que vous ne fustes gueres plus afflige de n'avoir pas delivre la princesse mandane que je le fus de n'avoir pas trouve mon maistre et de ce que je ne pouvois plus ou le chercher ne scachant pas en quel lieu estoit cette princesse que je cherchois seulement afin de trouver plustost le prince mazare cependant il falut prendre patience et tascher de se consoler d'avoir perdu tant de temps inutilement comme je n'ignorois pas que vous aportiez tous les foins imaginables a descouvrir ce qu'estoit devenue la princesse mandane je me resolus de suivre tousjours la route que vous prendriez mais comme je ne voulois pas estre connu de vous encore que j'en eusse este si favorablement traite a sinope parce que je ne voulois ny vous aprendre la veritable cause qui me retenoit en armenie ny aussi vous la deguiser j'esvitay vostre rencontre avec tant de foin qu'en effet je ne fus point veu de vous je demeuray donc cache a artaxate jusques a ce que scachant que vous croiyez que la princesse mandane estoit a suse et qu'elle devoit aller traverser le pais des matenes qui touche l'armenie et la cilicie je pris le dessein de 
 prendre cette route la et en effet ayant trouve un guide qui scavoit admirablement les chemins il me conduisit par un si court que je joignis abradate et le roy de pont qui conduisoient cette princesse devant qu'ils se fussent separez et par consequent devant que vous eussiez combatu le roy de la susiane il est vray que je ne jugeay pas a propos de me monstrer a la princesse mandane et je me contentay de regarder passer toutes les troupes qui l'escortoient et tout le train qui la suivoit mais n'y ayant pas trouve ce que je cherchois je pensay que peut-estre le prince mazare se contentoit il de tenir la mesme route sans la suivre de si pres c'est pourquoy ayant sceu que cette princesse alloit s'embarquer a un port de cilicie qu'on me nomma pour faire voile a ephese je gagnay le devant et fus en ce lieu la m'informant a toutes les maisons ou les estrangers logeoient si celuy que je cherchois n'y seroit point je fus aussi a tous les vaisseaux qui devoient bientost faire voile afin de scavoir s'il n'y avoit point quelques passagers qui deussent s'embarquer mais quoy que je pusse faire ny devant que la princesse mandane fust arrivee en ce lieu la ny apres qu'elle y fut ny depuis qu'elle en fut partie je n'apris nulles nouvelles de ce que je cherchois de sorte que je demeuray sur le rivage avec une douleur si grande apres avoir veu embarquer la princesse mandane que l'on peut dire que le prince mazare mourut encore une fois 
 pour moy ce jour la en effet je ne doutay point du tout qu'il ne se fust porte a quelque extreme resolution ou que du moins il ne fust mort de melancolie en quelque lieu ou il ne se seroit pas mesme fait connoistre en mourant car comme je scavois par diverses personnes que j'avois veues a l'armee d'armenie que le prince mazare n'estoit point retourne aupres du roy son pere et que je ne le trouvois point aupres de la princesse qu'il adoroit je ne pouvois m'imaginer autre chose sinon qu'il estoit mort estant donc dans un desplaisir si grand et ne pouvant plus conserver nulle esperance je me resolus de m'en retourner en mon pais car encore que j'eusse promis a triburte d'errer toute ma vie jusques a ce que l'eusse trouve mon cher maistre je ne creus pas qu'il falust executer si scrupuleusement cette promesse et je pensay que n'esperant plus du tout de trouver le prince mazare il y auroit de la folie a continuer de le chercher me voila donc resolu de m'en retourner et pour cet effet je me fis enseigner le chemin le plus seur et le plus aise a tenir je sceus donc que le plus court et le meilleur estoit d'aller le long de la riviere de cydne et de laisser cette grande montagne de cilicie que l'on apelle le mont noir a main gauche peu de gens osant se hasarder de la traverser qu'en suitte il faloit aller passer en armenie et gagner le fleuve d'araxe ou je n'aurois plus besoin de guide scachant fort bien le chemin depuis la 
 jusques en mon pais mais comme les dieux se plaisent quelquesfois a faire que la tempeste pousse des vaisseaux au port au lieu de les briser ils firent que je m'esgaray heureusement et qu'au lieu de prendre le chemin qui me pouvoit conduire a la riviere de cydne l'en pris un autre qui m'engagea si avant dans les detours de cette grande et prodigieuse montagne dont je vous ay parle que je ne pus jamais trouver les moyens de m'en retirer neantmoins comme il faisoit encore alors assez chaud et que tout le reste de la cilicie est un pais extremement descouvert je ne fus pas d'abord trop marry d'avoir pris un chemin ou par l'excessive hauteur des pointes de rochers qui s'slevent les unes sur les autres je pouvois marcher a l'ombre mais a la fin voyant que je ne rencontrois personne dans cette affreuse solitude et que je n'y voyois rien de vivant qu'une quantite fort grande d'une espece de petites bestes sauvages que les habitans du pais apellent squilaques et qui sont si naturellement portees au farcin qu'elles suivent tous ceux qui passent de nuit en ce lieu la pour leur derober quelque chose j'advoue que je me repentis de m'estre engage si avant principalement dans la crainte que j'avois de m'esgarer de telle sorte dans les divers detours de cette affreuse montagne que je ne pusse en sortir devant que la nuit fust venue si bien que jugeant plus aise de retourner sur mes pas et de repasser par des endroits que je creus devoir 
 bien reconnoistre que de poursuivre une route qui m'estoit inconnue et ou aparemment je ne rencontrerois personne je rebroussay chemin et je marchay en effet quelque temps par les mesmes endroits ou j'avois passe mais estant arme en un lieu ou il y a plusieurs sentiers peu battus je me trompay et pris point du tout celay par ou j'estois venu je marchay donc fort longtemps en tournoyant croyant toujours que j'allois fort bien il me sembla pourtant quelquesfois que je voyois des choses que je n'avois pas veues et d'autressois aussi je creus que je reconnoissois l'endroit ou j'estois ainsi croyant tantost que j'allois comme il faloit aller et tantost craignant d'aller mal j'avancois tousjours chemin ayant beaucoup d'impatience d'estre hors d'encre ces rochers car bien souvent j'avois une haute montagne et ma droite et un precipice effroyable a ma gauche et le meilleur chemin que j'eusse estoit du moins fort inegal et fort raboteux je vous demande pardon seigneur si je m'arreste si longtemps a vous descrire toutes ces choses mais j'advoue qu'elles firent une si forte impression dans mon esprit que je ne puis m'empescher de les representer telles que je les ay veues apres avoir donc marche de cette sorte et avoir elle en descendant durant une demy-heure sans voir alors aucune trace de chemin je fus contraint de m'arrester parce que la nuit venant tout d'un coup je me fusse expose a tomber dans quelque precipice 
 si je me fusse obstine a marcher plus longtemps je descendis donc de mon cheval et apres en avoir passe la bride a mon bras car je ne pouvois ou l'attacher n'y ayant point d'arbre en cet endroit je m'assis sur une roche et m'apuyay contre une autre me resolvant a passer la nuit en cet estat et a faire tout ce que je pourrois pour m'empescher de dormir de peur que mon cheval ne s'eschapast ou que quelque beste sauvage ne vinst a moy et en effet je la passay presque tout entiere sans pouvoir fermer les yeux et sans mesme en avoir envie tant parce que l'obscurite en un lieu desert comme celuy la porte avec elle je ne scay quelle terreur qui est incompatible avec le sommeil que parce que l'entendis continuellement passer et repasser a l'entour de moy une multitude estrange de ces animaux larrons dont je vous ay dit que toute la montagne est remplie mais a la fin m'estant accoustume au bruit qu'ils faisoient la lassitude ou j'estois d'avoir tant erre parmy ces rochers sans avoir mange fit qu'un peu devant le jour je m'assoupis malgre moy et ne me resveillay qu'au soleil levant encore crois-je que j'aurois dormy plus longtemps si une de ces bestes malicieuses suivant son inclination naturelle ne m'eust resveille en sur-saut en me tirant de ma poche des tablettes dans lesquelles j'avois escrit la route que je devois tenir de sorte qu'encore que l'on die que pour l'ordinaire ces squilaques sont aussi adroits au larcin que le 
 le sont les lacedemoniens celuy qui me prit mes tablettes m'esveilla je n'eus pas plustost les yeux ouvers que voyant cet animal qui s'enfuyoit avec mes tablettes a sa gueule je montay a cheval et courus apres criant de toute ma force afin qu'en l'espouventant je l'obligeasse a les laisser tomber et en effet apres m'avoir fait longtemps courir par des lieux ou de propos delibere je n'aurois jamais ose passer il tourna tout court a droit derriere une grande roche qui me le fit perdre de veue si bien que doublant le pas je tournay comme luy et vy qu'il avoit laisse tomber ce qu'il m'avoit derobe et qu'il s'enfuyoit de toute sa force mais seigneur je fus estrangement surpris apres avoir tourne a droit comme je l'ay dit de voir que la fuitte de cet animal m'avoit conduit dans une petite plaine qui a environ quinze ou vint stades de long et dix ou douze de large et de voir quelle estoit bornee par le plus agreable bois qui soit en tout le reste de l'univers le long duquel s'esleve une grande et sterile montagne qui semble toucher les nues tant elle est haute et qui estant escarpee depuis la cime jusques au pied fait le plus affreux et le plus bel objet du monde tout ensemble n'estant pas possible de concevoir a moins que de l'avoir veu combien la verdure de cet agreable bois opposee a la secheresse de cette montagne fait un effet admirable a la veue de ceux qui se connoissent un peu aux beautez universelles et qui sont capables de 
 s'en laisser toucher d'abord que je vy ce que je viens de descrire je m'arrestay ne scachant si je devois aller m'enfoncer dans ce bois dont je ne connoissois point les routes neantmoins comme je ne scavois pas plus seurement un autre chemin que celuy la je creus qu'il valoit encore mieux s'egarer sous un si bel ombrage que de faire la mesme chose parmy des rochers ou l'on ne voyoit pas seulement pousser une herbe je traversay donc cette petite plaine par ou il faloit aller dans cebois au milieu duquel je voyois une grande route en forme de berceau que les rayons du soleil ne pouvoient traverser tant il estoit espais et touffu ce bois a mesme cela de particulier que la verdure y est eternelle estant tout compose de cedres de pins de mirthes de therebinthes et d'autres arbres semblables qui passent les hivers sans perdre leurs feuilles quoy que le printemps leur en donne pourtant tousjours de nouvelles ce qu'il y a encore de merveilleux est que tous ces arbres y sortent d'entre les rochers et que tous ces rochers y sont couverts d'une mousse si belle et si differente en ses couleurs qu'il n'est point de marbre ny de jaspe plus beau enfin soit par son ombrage par sa fraischeur par la diversite de ses arbres ou par sa verdure eternelle ce bois est incomparable je marchay donc dans cette grande et sombre route que mille oyseaux faisoient retentir agreablement de leurs chants tesmoignant assez par le peu de frayeur qu'ils 
 avoient de moy que ce lieu la estoit peu frequente apres avoir fait cinq ou six cens pas je vis a ma droite une fort belle fontaine qui sortant a gros bouillons d'entre des cailloux couverts d'une petite mousse de couleur d'esmeraude faisoit un petit ruisseau qui traversant la route ou j'estois s'alloit perdre en serpentant dans le coste du bois oppose a celuy le long duquel s'eslevoit cette espouventable roche dont je vous ay parle estant donc au bord de cette fontaine je pris garde qu'il y avoit un petit sentier qui partant de la grande route alloit en montant entre l'espaisseur des arbres de sorte que trouvant plus d'aparence de le suivre que l'autre quoy qu'il ne fust guere plus battu apres m'estre un peu repose au bord de cette belle source je le pris sans hesiter et marchant tousjours en montant par ce petit chemin qui va tantost un peu a droit et tantost un peu a gauche a cause que la montee seroit trop droite et trop aspre je fus enfin jusques au milieu de la grande roche le bois allant jusques la en cet endroit mais dieux que devin-je lors qu'estant arrive en un lieu ou les arbres s'esclaircissent je descouvris l'ouverture d'une grande grotte qui s'enfonce dans le rocher et que je vy devant cet antre sauvage le prince mazare assis sur une pierre qui au bruit que j'avois fait ayant tourne la teste de mon coste me reconnut et me donna moyen de le reconnoistre je fus si surpris et si espouvente de cette 
 veue que je fus un temps sans descendre de cheval tant je scavois peu ce que je faisois et tant mes yeux et mon esprit estoient occupez a s'esclaircir si ce que je voyois estoit veritable mais a la fin mon cher maistre ayant fait un grand cry en se levant et m'ayant nomme je revins de mon estonnement de sorte que descendant de mon cheval et l'attachant diligemment au premier arbre que je trouvay je fus me jetter a ses pieds mais il me releva a l'heure mesme et m'embrassant avec une tendresse extreme mon cher orsane me dit il est il possible que je vous voye et que vous me forciez malgre que j'en aye a recevoir un moment de consolation en toute ma vie seigneur luy dis-je les larmes aux yeux de voir la melancolie qui paroissoit sur son visage et d'imaginer comment il avoit vescu tristement depuis que je ne l'avois veu je ne pretends pas seulement vous donner quelques instans de consolation mais encore vous consoler pour tousjours vostre veue m'est sans doute bien chere reprit il mais orsane apres avoir cause la mort de la divine mandane ce que vous me dittes ne scauroit estre mais seigneur repris-je avec precipitation si je vous dis que cette princesse est vivante ne vous consoleray-je point nullement orsane repliqua t'il parce que je ne le croiray pas et que je penseray que vous ne me le dittes que pour tascher de me retirer de la solitude ou je vy et ou je suis resolu 
 de mourir il est pourtant certain repliquay-je qu'il n'est pas plus vray que je parle qu'il est veritable que la princesse que vous croyez morte est vivante et que je l'ay veue de mes propres yeux ha orsane s'escria t'il que ne vous puis je croire et mourir un instant apres afin de n'estre pas desabuse d'un si agreable mensonge et d'estre delivre pour tousjours de toutes les peines que je souffre mais seigneur repris-je est il possible que ce desert soit si peu frequente et l'antre que vous habitez si inconnu a tous les hommes qu'il n'en soit pas seulement venu un icy pour vous aprendre que toute l'asie est en armes pour la princesse mandane que l'illustre anamene n'est plus artamene et est maintenant reconnu pour estre cyrus fils de cambise roy de perse que ciaxare apres l'avoir tenu en prison l'a delivre et l'a remis a la teste de son armee que le roy de pont apres avoir perdu ses royaumes s'enfuyant dans un vaisseau sauva la vie a la princesse mandane un instant apres que la fureur des vagues vous eut separe d'elle que l'invincible cyrus croyant que ce prince l'avoit menee en armenie y a porte la guerre et s'en est rendu maistre qu'au lieu de delivrer la princesse mandane il n'a delivre que la soeur de son rival c'est a dire la princesse de pont qu'en suitte ayant apris que le roy son frere estoit a suse avec la princesse mandane et qu'elle en devoit partir pour venir s'embarquer en cilicie conduite par le roy de la susiane et 
 par la reine panthee jusques au bord d'une riviere cyrus a suivy abradate l'a deffait et pris la reine sa femme en pensant encore prendre mandane et qu'enfin le roy de pont suivant son dessein s'est embarque avec la princesse des modes et a pris la route d'ephese pendant que je parlois ainsi le prince mazare m'escoutoit avec une attention estrange et par des regards vifs et percants sembloit chercher dans mes yeux a penetrer jusques au fonds de mon coeur pour connoistre si je parlois sincerement de sorte que voyant bien qu'il vouloit et n'osoit me croire non non seigneur luy dis-je ne me soubconnez point de mensonge estant certain que la verite que je vous dis est si universellement sceue qu'il n'y a pas mesme un berger en toute l'asie qui ignore que la princesse mandane est vivante et qu'il y a deux cens mille hommes en armes pour la delivrer cette princesse adjoustay-je a mesme passe si pres de vous qu'elle a sans doute veu le haut des cedres de vostre desert et en effet je ne m'entois pas car je scavois bien qu'elle ne pouvoit avoir passe pour s'aller embarquer qu'elle n'eust veu de loin la montagne ou il estoit quoy orsane s'escria t'il je pourrois croire que mandane ne seroit point morte et je pourrois penser que vos yeux qui se rencontrent presentement dans les miens auroient veu ma chere princesse et que cette admirable personne auroit seulement regarde la cime de cette montagne 
 ha si cela est orsane je ne suis plus si malheureux que je le croyois estre comme ce prince alloit continuer de parler je vy sortir de cette grotte un homme merveilleusement bien fait et d'une phisionomie agreable quoy qu'il parust fort melancolique de sorte qu'estant aussi surpris de trouer le prince mazare en conversation aveque moy que je le fus de voir que mon maistre avoit compagnie dans sa solitude nous nous regardasmes avec un esgal estonnement mais le prince mazare l'ayant apelle venez belesis luy dit il venez m'aider a connoistre si orsane dont je vous ay tant parle et que je contois entre les pertes que je croyois avoir faites dit effectivement la verite alors celuy que mon maistre avoit apelle belesis entendant mon nom s'avanca et me saluant avec une civilite qui me fit connoistre que tout ce que le prince mazare aimoit luy estoit cher je luy rendis son falut avec beaucoup de respect apres quoy mon maistre me fit redire a belesis tout ce que je luy avois desja dit m'obligeant encore plus d'une fois a luy assurer que je parlois avec sincerite en suitte m'ayant demande comment j'estois eschape du naufrage comment j'estois venu en cilicie comment j'avois pu trouver son desert et si je n'avois point sceu ce qu'estoit devenu tiburte je satisfis pleinement sa curiosite et luy apris mesme la mort de ce sage vieillard jugeant qu'il la sentiroit moins aigrement dans le mesme temps qu'il aprenoit que mandane n'estoit point morte que si je differois 
 davantage a la luy dire il ne laissa pourtant pas d'en estre touche et de le regretter extremement et comme belesis et luy n'avoient fait autre chose depuis qu'ils estoient ensemble que se raconter toute leur vie et que parler continuellement de leurs malheurs il pleignit aussi le pauvre tiburte comme s'il l'eust fort pratique quoy qu'il ne le connust que sur le raport du prince mazare cependant comme j'avois une curiosite extreme de scavoir comment mon maistre estoit venu en ce lieu la et d'aprendre qui estoit cet estranger et quand ils s'estoient rencontrez je pris la liberte de le luy demander le supliant de me pardonner si je la prenois et le conjurant de croire qu'elle n'estoit causee que par l'affection que j'avois pour luy il est juste me dit il orsane qu'un prince de qui vous avez tant eu de foin et que vous avez cherche si longtemps vous rende conte de sa vie mais pour le pouvoir faire plus commodement suivez nous belesis et moy me dit il et venez voir le palais que nous habitons helas seigneur luy dis-je en le suivant je pense que ce palais est plus beau par dehors que par dedans et qu'il y a une notable difference de vostre grotte au bois qui la borde vous en jugerez bientost me respondit belesis et en effet estant entre apres eux je fus estrangement espouvente de voir ce que je vis car seigneur l'art ny la nature joints ensemble n'ont jamais rien fait de si beau en nul lieu du monde que ce 
 que la nature toute seule a fait en celuy la je vy donc que cette grotte estoit extremement profonde sans estre obscure parce que divers soupiraux qui percent la montagne en biaisant l'esclairent assez pour faire que l'on en puisse remarquer toutes les beautez qui ne sont pas ordinaires mille congelations admirables sont les ornemens de cette grotte ou l'on voit des colomnes des pilastres des festons des feuillages des arabesques des animaux des urnes des tombeaux et mille autres belles choses toutes d'une matiere si transparente que le cristal ne l'est pas davantage aux deux costez de cette merveilleuse grotte je vy encore deux fontaines qui sans se deborder et sans tarir demeurent tousjours en mesme estat leurs eaux s'escoulant sans doute imperceptiblement par quelques fentes du rocher a mesure qu'elles en recoivent par d'autres voyant donc une chose si surprenante et si belle je ne pus m'empescher d'admirer la providence des dieux qui avoient du moins amene le prince mazare en un si aimable desert et bien orsane me dit belesis voyant l'admiration ou j'estois trouvez vous que le prince mazare ait eu tort d'apeller cette grotte un palais non seigneur luy dis-je mais j'advoue que je ne concois pas encore trop bien dequoy vous y pouvez vivre vous le scaurez bientost me dit il et alors estant alle a l'entree de la grotte il apella un esclave qu'il avoit qui sortit d'une autre plus petite 
 et moins belle qui touchoit celle la et luy ordonna de me donner quelque chose a manger et de me faire voir le jardin qui les nourrissoit et d'avoir soin de mon cheval que l'on mit dans un petit antre plus esloigne toute cette montagne estant creuse en effet cet esclave de belesis nomme arcas apres m'avoir fait manger me fit voir a cinquante pas de la au pied de la roche un petit jardin si plein d'herbes de racines et de legumes que je compris aisement que des gens qui ne s'estoient separez du monde que pour mourir plustost que les autres hommes pouvoient trouver dequoy subsister en ce lieu la principalement arcas m'ayant dit qu'il alloit aussi quelquefois a la chasse je sceus par luy que son maistre par divers chagrins qui l'avoient oblige a renoncer a la societe civile ayant descouvert autrefois cet admirable endroit du mont noir avoit pris la resolution de le venir habiter tout le reste de sa vie de sorte que dans ce commencement la il l'avoit pourveu des choses absolument necessaires malgre que son maistre en eust en suitte il me conta que quelque temps apres qu'il y avoit este le prince mazare estoit arrive fortuitement en cette solitude et que depuis cela belesis et luy avoient lie une amitie si estroite qu'ils s'estoient promis de ne se quitter jamais et de mourir en ce desert mais luy dis-je a quoy employent ils tous les jours a se pleindre et a se promener quelquesfois seuls et quelquesfois ensemble 
 repliqua t'il ils ont aussi quelques livres car je vous ay desja dit qu'au commencement que mon maistre choisit cette grotte pour sa demeure j'y aportay tout ce que je creus la luy pouvoir rendre la moins incommode et en effet ces deux illustres solitaires sont si bien accoustumez a la vie qu'ils menent que je croy qu'ils auront assez de difficulte a se resoudre de la changer cependant il est certain que je ne pense pas qu'ils y puissent vivre longtemps et je m'estonne adjousta t'il qu'ils ne sont desja morts veu l'extreme melancolie qui les possede arcas ayant acheve de parler et de me monstrer tout son jardinage me laissa reprendre le chemin du lieu ou l'avois laisse le prince mazare avec belesis et s'en alla prendre soin de mon cheval qu'il mit avec celuy que mon maistre avoit amene a ce desert l'estois encore un peu embarrasse a comprendre comment ils faisoient quand il estoit nuit mais j'en fus bientost esclaircy car je vy lors que le soir fut venu qu'en divers endroits a l'entour de la grotte il y avoit plusieurs morceaux de cette roche transparente qui se jettant hors d'oeuvre estoient creusez par dedans et remplis d'une espece d'huile qu'arcas tiroit des therebinthes dont il y avoit abondance dans ce bois qui ayant aussi quelques cotonniers faisoit que ce fidelle esclave de belesis avoit tout ce qu'il faloit pour esclairer cette admirable grotte qui me sembla encore incomparablement plus belle lors que 
 ces lampes rustiques furent allumees qu'elle n'avoit fait au jour les lias de ces deux malheureux exilez estoient mesmes assez propres et assez commodez quoy qu'ils ne fussent faits que de jones de mousse et de roseaux et quoy qu'ils ne se fussent guere souciez de chercher les choses qui leur estoient agreables le prince mazare estoit mesme si accoustume a la melancolie qu'il ne pouvoit presques se resjouir et belesis tout afflige qu'il estoit prenoit plus de part a la satisfaction qu'il devoit avoir d'aprendre que mandane n'estoit pas morte qu'il n'y en prenoit luy mesme tant son ame avoit fait une forte habitude avec la douleur en effet trouvant encore quelque satisfaction a s'entretenir de choses tristes il me raconta quels estoient ses sentimens lors qu'il se deroba de tiburte il m'aprit qu'ayant fait dessein d'aller chercher quelque lieu ou il ne pust estre connu il avoit pris la resolution de s'aller embarquer en cilicie pour passer en l'arrabie deserte et y finir ses jours que neantmoins ayant consulte un oracle auparavant le dieu luy avoit respondu qu'il ne le fist pas et qu'il allast habiter le mont noir en cilicie ou il trouveroit de la consolation j'y vins donc me dit il et je creus d'abord que la consolation que le ciel m'avoit promise estoit la mort car ayant passe un jour et demy dans ces montagnes sans trouver personne je ne doutay point du tout que je n'y deusse bientost mourir mais enfin les dieux 
 qui me guidoient m'ayant fait venir icy et rencontrer belesis qui se promenoit dans la grande route du bois je luy parlay et nous connusmes si bien l'un et l'autre des que nous nous vismes que nous estions tous deux malheureux que nous entrasmes en confidence des le mesme jour et liasmes une amitie si forte que nous nous promismes de ne nous se parer jamais je suis pourtant prest interrompit belesis de vous degager de vostre parole n'estant pas juste qu'aujourd'huy que la princesse mandane est vivante vous demeuriez d'avantage attache a la fortune d'un malheureux qui ne peut jamais devenir meilleure qu'elle est l'auray mesme cet advantage poursuivit il que la fin de vos malheurs accourcira les miens ne doutant point du tout que je ne meure bientost des que je seray prive de la douceur de vostre entretien ha belesis s'escria le prince mazare vous ne connoissez pas encore toute la malignite de ma destinee si vous croyez que je puisse estre heureux j'advoue que ce m'est une consolation extreme de scavoir que la princesse mandane n'est point morte et qu'apres avoir este son ravisseur je n'ay pas este son bourreau mais apres tout ne pouvant cesser de l'aimer et scachant qu'il est absolument impossible que je puisse jamais me retrouver seulement avec elle au point ou je m'y suis veu on peut dire que je n'ay fait que changer d'infortune en effet de quelque facon que je regarde la chose je me trouve tousjours le 
 plus malheureux prince du monde car enfin comme c'est moy qui suis cause que cette princesse est entre les mains du roy de pont qu'elle erre de royaume en royaume et que toute l'asie est en guerre je suis presque assure qu'il n'y a pas un moment au jour ou elle ne deteste ma memoire et ou elle ne trouve du moins quelque consolation a penser que les dieux m'ont puny en me noyant je dois mesme estre assure que si elle aprenoit que je ne suis point mort elle en auroit autant de douleur que j'ay de joye de scavoir qu'elle est vivante de plus adjousta t'il j'ay encore le malheur de n'avoir point de rivaux que je puisse raisonnablement hair ny de qui je me doive pleindre le roy d'assirie a este cruellement trahy par moy et je luy ay enleve la seule personne qu'il aimoit et pour laquelle il venoit d'estre renverse du throsne et de perdre le plus grand royaume d'asie pour le roy de pont poursuivit il que pourrois-je luy dire pour m'en pleindre je fais perir mandane il la fauve l'accuserois-je apres cela sans m'accuser moy mesme et pourrois-je avoir l'injustice d'attaquer un prince qui seul a empesche mandane d'entrer au tombeau que je luy avois ouvert que dirois-je encore a l'illustre cyrus reprenoit il et de quel crime l'accuserois-je ou pour mieux dire dequoy ne m'accuseroit il pas l'employay le nom d'artamene qu'il portoit alors pour tromper l'adorable mandane ce fut par cet illustre 
 nom que je la seduisis et que je me mis en estat de perdre son estime et son amitie que je possedois si absolument vous souvient il orsane me dit il du temps que cette illustre princesse estoit a babilone qu'elle m'apelloit son protecteur et que je l'estois en effet helas que je suis loin de ce glorieux estat j'ay mesme lieu de croire que de tous ceux qui l'ont persecutee par leur passion je suis celuy qu'elle hait le plus le roy d'assirie tout violent qu'il est ne l'a pas tant outragee que moy le roy de pont non plus n'ayant fait que garder ce que la fortune luy a donne n'est pas encore si criminel mais pour moy je ne suis pas seulement un amant injuste temeraire et insolent je suis encore pour cette princesse un amy infidelle je suis un fourbe et un meschant qui ne dois plus songer seulement a luy faire scavoir que je vy de peur de resveiller dans son coeur une haine qui ne s'attache presentement qu'a ma memoire et qui s'attacheroit a ma personne ne soyons pas mesme en peine de sa liberte disoit il car si l'illustre cyrus ne la luy fait recouvrer personne ne le fera jamais le prince mazare adjousta encore beaucoup de choses de mesme force que celles la ou je ne creus pas qu'il falust respondre en s'y opposant directement de peur de le confirmer dans les sentimes ou il estoit en y resistant trop si bi que luy conce dant une partie de ce qu'il disoit et luy disputant l'autre la conversation se passa de cette sorte jusques a ce que le fidelle 
 arcas vint servir le souper qui fut plus propre que magnifique comme vous pouvez vous l'imaginer apres cela mon cher maistre passa le reste du soir a me demander encore comment j'avois veu mandane si martesie et arianite estoient avec elle car je luy avois raconte qu'elles n'avoient pas pery non plus que la princesse et comme en luy redisant toutes ces choses je vins a reparler d'abradate comme estant aujourd'huy roy de la susiane belesis m'arresta et me demanda comment il estoit possible qu'abradate fust roy veu que quand il estoit entre dans sa solitude le roy son pere et le prince son frere aisne vivoient et que luy estoit exile a sardis c'est luy repliquay-je que ces deux princes sont morts et que par consequent abradate est roy les dieux en soient louez reprit belesis car il est plus digne de porter la couronne que ne l'estoit le prince son frere qui m'a tant persecutequoy orsane interrompit panthee ce belesis dont vous parlez seroit le mesme dont j'entendis tant parler a suse lors que j'y arrivay et qui est un des hommes de toute la terre le plus accomply et a qui l'amour a fait souffrir le plus de suplices je ne scay pas si c'est celuy dont vous voulez parler reprit orsane mais je scay seulement que belesis est de la mantiane qu'il a long temps demeure a suse que l'amour a fait toute l'infortune de sa vie et que le prince de suse frere aisne de l'illustre abradate luy 
 beaucoup de sujets de se pleindre de sa violence il n'en faut pas douter dit panthee c'est le mesme dont j'entens parler de sorte que je puis vous assurer que le prince mazare estoit en la compagnie d'un des hommes de toute l'asie le plus aimable a ce que m'ont dit tous ceux qui l'ont connu et mesme les personnes du monde qu'il a le plus aimees et qui l'ont depuis le plus hai mais seigneur dit elle a cyrus je vous demande pardon d'avoir interrompu le recit d'orsane qui le continuera s'il luy plaist cyrus ayant fait un compliment a panthee sur ce qu'elle venoit de luy dire et fait signe a orsane qu'il reprist son discours il le fit de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur comment se passa le premier soir que je fus a ce desert le fidelle arcas me donnant son lict pour me reposer et s'en faisant un autre le mieux qu'il put il est vray que je me couchay si tard que les oyseaux a l'aproche du jour m'esveillerent trois heures apres que je fus retire je ne fus pourtant pas encore si tost resveille que mon maistre car bien qu'il eust une joye inconcevable d'aprendre que la princesse mandane estoit vivante c'estoit pourtant une joye inquiette et qui estoit meslee de tant de facheuses pensees qu'il ne put dormir cette nuit la aussi le trouvay-je desja hors de la grotte quand je sortis de celle ou j'avois couche si bien qu'ayant trouve belesis seul je le supliay de vouloir m'aider a persuader au prince mazare de 
 quitter la vie qu'il menoit mais seigneur luy dis-je pour le pouvoir mieux faire il faudroit la quitter vous mesme et le persuader plustost par vostre exemple que par vos raisons ha orsane s'escria belesis le destin du prince mazare et le mien sont aujourd'huy bien differents et ce qui est bon pour luy ne l'est pas pour moy seigneur repliquay-je comme je ne scay pas vos infortunes et que je n'ay pas mesme la hardiesse de vous demander de quelle nature elles sont je ne puis pas vous convaincre si fortement que je ferois peut-estre si je les scavois mais ce qu'il a de vray est qu'a parler en general il n'est point de malheurs dont un homme de vostre esprit ne se doive consoler non pas de ceux que la fortune cause reprit il mais pour ceux dont l'amour nous accable il faut ne s'en consoler jamais principalement quand ils sont aussi particuliers que les miens cependant je vous promets de faire tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir pour obliger le prince mazare a partir d'icy des demain je dirois des auojurd'huy reprit il en soupirant si l'amitie que j'ay pour luy ne meritoit pas en quelque sorte que vous m'accordiez cette journee a me preparer a une si dure separation pendant que je parlois a belesis le prince mazare erroit dans le bois plustost qu'il ne s'y promenoit le desordre de son esprit estant si grand qu'il sa communiquoit a ses pas et faisoit qu'au lieu de s'aller promener loin de la grotte il y revenoit sans en avoir le 
 dessein il nous trouva donc belesis et moy comme nous en sortions pour l'aller chercher nous ne l'eusmes pas plustost joint que belesis pour me tenir sa parole commenca de luy dire qu'il le suplioit de vouloir encore luy donner le reste du jour voulant presuposer qu'il ne mettoit point en doute qu'il n'eust dessein de le quitter mais a peine eut il dit cela que mon maistre le regardant non non belesis luy dit il le changement qui est arrive en ma fortune n'en doit guere aporter a ma forme de vivre et c'est bien un assez grand malheur pour moy de ne pouvoir seulement jamais rien pretendre a l'estime de la princesse mandane sans qu'il soit besoin qu'elle soit morte pour m'obliger a renoncer a la societe des hommes il est pourtant vray dit belesis que le desespoir de sa mort fut ce qui vous porta a prendre la resolution de vous esloigner de la veue du monde il est certain repliqua mazare mais pourquoy voulez vous aujourd'huy que je n'ay plus que quelques pas a faire pour mourir et que je me suis accoustume en quelque sorte avec la douleur que j'aille commencer une autre vie ou j'en trouveray une plus aigre songez bien belesis a ce que vous me conseillez et dittes moy precisement ce que vous jugez que je doive faire seigneur reprit il je pense qu'un homme sans amour vous conseilleroit de tascher d'oublier la princesse mandane et de vous en retourner pour donner la joye au roy vostre pere et a la reyne 
 vostre mere de vous revoir mais comme je ne suis pas ignorant de la puissance de la passion qui vous possede je vous dis ingenument qu'encore que je trouve que vous deviez quitter mon desert je ne voy pas ce que je voudrois que vous fissiez c'est pourquoy c'est a vous a vous conseiller vous mesme et a suivre vostre inclination j'ay passe toute la nuit repliqua le prince mon maistre a resver sur ma fortune presente sans pouvoir imaginer ce que je veux faire ny seulement ce que je dois faire j'advoue toutesfois que je sens dans mon coeur malgre que j'en aye un si violent desir de voir la princesse mandane que je ne scay si l'y pourray resister mais je sens en mesme temps une si grande confusion de mon crime que je ne pense pas que je puisse me resoudre a en estre veu si bien que craignant en un mesme moment la mesme chose que je desire avec ardeur je ne scay quelle resolution prendre de plus quand je me seray determine a la voir comment feray-je pour en venir a bout si je vay en lydie ou elle est allee et que je me presente a cresus qui est chef de la ligue qu'orsane dit que l'on fait contre cyrus il se trouvera que je combatray pour le roy de pont et contre un prince qui veut delivrer la princesse si je vay a l'armee de cyrus afin d'avoir la gloire de combatre pour mandane il faudra au lieu de cela combatre peut-estre et cyrus et le roy d'assirie et mourir sans avoir repare 
 mon crime par quelque service considerable que feray-je donc disoit il je ne puis me resoudre a combatre ny pour le roy de pont ny pour le roy d'assirie ny pour cyrus cependant je ne puis prendre de party dans cette guerre sans servir quelqu'un de mes rivaux tant mon destin est bizarre et il est absolument impossible que j'imagine rien qui me puisse jamais estre avantageux au reste adjousta t'il puis que la princesse mandane aimoit cyrus quand il n'estoit qu'artamene et que pour luy estre fidelle elle mesprisoit le plus grand roy de toute l'asie qu'elle aparence y a t'il qu'aujourd'huy que cet artamene est devenu cyrus c'est a dire fils du roy de perse et que depuis cela il a conquis plusieurs royaumes elle change de sentimens pour luy non non adjousta t'il elle n'en changera jamais et je suis mesme contraint d'avouer qu'elle a raison de n'en changer point aussi ne songez-je plus a pretendre rien a la possession de cette princesse et je borne toute mon ambition a n'en estre plus hai ouy mandane poursuivit il je pouvois vous faire voir mon veritable repentir et vous rendre quelque service si considerable que vous fussiez forcee par vostre generosite de me pardonner et de me redonner vostre amitie je serois ce me semble assez satisfait dans mon malheur du moins suis-je persuade que si je n'estois pas content je serois tousjours en estat de souffrir patiemment et sans m'en pleindre 
 jamais tous les maux que l'amour me feroit endurer mais le moyen disoit il de parvenir a ce que je veux seigneur luy dis-je afin de le faire resoudre a quitter fou desert vous pourriez ce que vous dittes si vous imaginiez les voyes de delivrer la princesse des medes et de la remettre entre les mains du roy son pere mais pour cela il faut renoncer a la solitude il faut aller ou est mandane et chercher les moyens de faire ce que je dis ha orsane s'escria t'il vous ne parlez comme vous faites que pour me faire abandonner cette grotte car enfin vous jugez bien que ce que vous dittes n'est pas aise a faire si nous estions sur les lieux repris-je j'en parlerois plus affirmativement mais ce qu'il y a de vray est que tant que vous serez dans ces bois vous ne rendrez jamais aucun service a la princesse que vous aimez qui haira tousjours vostre memoire et qui ne scaura jamais que vous vous estes repenty de l'avoir enlevee c'est pourquoy je ne voy pas ce qui vous y peut retenir au reste si vous ne pouvez faire ce que je dis adjoustay-je et que vous soyez absolument resolu de renoncer au monde et d'entrer au tombeau tout vivant vous trouverez tousjours vostre grotte preste a vous recevoir et il y trouvera mesme tousjours belesis reprit cet illustre solitaire qui nous escoutoit si ce n'est que la mort ait finy ses peines auparavant qu'il y revienne non non belesis repliqua le prince mazare nous ne nous separerons jamais et si 
 orsane me persuade de quitter nostre desert vous le quitterez aussi ou je ne le quitteray pas belesis entendant parler mon maistre de cette sorte luy respondit comme un homme qui auroit une peine estrange a le voir partir et qui en auroit aussi beaucoup a abandonner ses rochers il se fit donc alors entre eux une contestation la plus genereuse du monde de part et d'autre belesis voulant que le prince mazare partist et le laissast dans sa solitude et le prince mon maistre ne l'y voulant point laisser en cas qu'il se resolust a en partir enfin la chose alla de telle sorte que tout ce jour la se passa sans pouvoir rien resoudre le lendemain mon maistre se determina a abandonner cette sauvage demeure pourveu que belesis le voulust suivre etle jour d'apres mes prieres et mes larmes gagnerent belesis et l'obligerent a se resoudre d'accompagner mon maistre jusques a ce qu'il fust en un estat plus heureux les voyant donc a la fin tous deux resolus je les pressay de partir de peur qu'ils ne changeassent de dessein il falut pourtant quelque temps pour cela ne voulant ny l'un ny l'autre paroistre avec les habillemens qu'ils avoient comme j'avois assez de ce que vous m'aviez donne pour nous mettre en equipage et que de plus belesis avoit quantite de pierreries que son esclaveavoit conservees soigneusement nous l'envoyasmes avec mon cheval a la ville la plus proche en acheter encore un et faire faire des habillemens pour mon maistre et pour belesis 
 de sorte que trois jours apres qu'il fut party il revint avec une partie de tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour notre voyage que nous commencasmes d'une estrange sorte car je remarquay que le prince mazare et belesis ne quitterent leur desert que comme des gens qui avoient dessein d'y revenir je ne fis pourtant pas semblant de m'en apercevoir esperant que le temps et le monde leur feroient changer d'avis cependant il falut qu'arcas fust nostre guide pour sortir de la montagne dont il avoit fort bien retenu les detours et en effet il nous en fit sortir heureusement pour moy quoy que ce lieu la soit le plus beau du monde j'eus bien de la joye de le quitter et je ne tournay pas tant de fois la teste pour le regarder comme fit belesis qui tant qu'il put voir cette montagne la regarda tousjours en souspirant mais comme il nous manquoit encore plusieurs choses pour notre voyage nous fusmes a la premiere ville que nous rencontrasmes ou mon maistre fit faire l'escu qu'il a tousjours porte depuis et qui vous a pu faire voir seigneur fi vous l'avez remarque combien il se juge rigoureusement luy mesme puis qu'il se juge digne de mort pour avoir enleve mandane belesis fit aussi faire des armes telles qu'il les vouloit et durant que l'on travailloit pour cela je fis ce que je pus pour persuader au prince mazare d'aller plustost vers le roy son pere que vers mandane a laquelle il advouoit luy mesme ne pretendre plus rien mais il me dit 
 qu'il ne quittoit son desert que pour la delivrer s'il pouvoit et qu'avec intention d'y rentrer s'il ne pouvoit executer son dessein voyant alors avec quelle fermete il me disoit cela je creus qu'il valoir mieux ceder que de luy resister davantage de sorte que je consentis a ce qu'il voulut nous nous informasmes donc en quel estat estoient les choses et nous sceusmes que vostre armee avoit quitte l'armenie et avoit tourne teste vers la capadoce pour aller de la sur les frontieres de phrigie qui touchent la lydie et que l'on disoit qu'abradate partiroit bientost de suse pour s'aller jetter dans le party de cresus nous songeasmes alors si nous irions a ephese ou par mer ou par terre mais le prince mazare ne voulut point se mettre au hazard de n'arriver pas ou il vouloit aller en se confiant a l'inconstance des vents joint que venant a songer qu'il y avoit plus loin par eau qu'autrement et que le roy de pont n'avoit mene mandane par cette voye que parce qu'il aprehendoit d'estre suivy par l'illustre cyrus il fut resolu que nous n'irioins point par mer adjoustant encore a toutes ces raisons que dans un vaisseau nous ne scaurions point de nouvelles de la princesse mandane que nous ne fussions arrivez a ephese ou au contraire par terre nous en entendrions parler par tout n'y ayant point de lieu en toute l'asie ou l'on n'en parlast alors je ne vous diray point seigneur quelle fut nostre route car ce seroit perdre le temps inutilement mais je vous diray que nous 
 fusmes contraints pour marcher seurement de prendre un assez long detour et de nous arrester a un endroit de paphlagonie qui touche la capadoce car soit par le changement d'air ou par le changement de nourriture belesis tomba malade et si malade que le prince mazare creut qu'il mourroit et en eut une affliction la plus grande du monde belesis le pria cent et cent fois de le laisser mourir en ce lieu la et de poursuivre son voyage mais il ne le voulut pas au contraire il luy protesta qu'il ne l'abandonneroit jamais cependant il se trouva que la maladie de belesis ne fut pas seulement dangereuse mais qu'elle fut encore tres longue ce qui consola pourtant un peu le prince mazare fut qu'il apprit que la princesse mandane estoit dans le temple de diane a ephese qu'en la saison ou l'on estoit vous ne pouviez faire la guerre et que quand il eust este a ephese il n'eust pu ny voir mandane ny songer a l'oster d'un lieu si sacre que celuy la il ne laissoit pourtant pas de souffrir avec beaucoup d'impatience la longueur du mal de belesis qui enfin commenca de se mieux porter et de faire croire qu'il eschaperoit et en effet il eschapa comme il fut donc absolument hors de danger et qu'il commenca de quitter le lict son medecin luy dit que pour recouvrer plus promptement ses forces il faloit qu'il allast prendre l'air peu a peu et qu'il se promenast belesis qui mouroit d'envie d'estre bientost en estat de n'arrester plus le prince mazare 
 creut le conseil qu'on luy donnoit de sorte qu'apres s'estre promene quelques jours a pied il se trouva avoir assez de force pour monter a cheval si bien que pour essayer s'il en pourroit avoir assez pour se mettre en chemin mon maistre et luy firent dessein de s'aller promener jusques a quarante ou cinquante stades de la ou il y avoit un bois extremement grand et effectivement ils y furent et je les y suivis mais seigneur a peine eusmes nous fait cent pas dans ce bois que mon maistre qui marchoit seul vingt pas devant belesis et moy qui parlions ensemble vint a nous avec beaucoup d'esmotion sur le visage et m'adressant la parole venez orsane me dit il venez me dire si mes yeux m'abusent car comme je n'ay jamais veu cyrus qu'une seule fois et que je n'estois pas trop en estat de remarquer son visage je n'ose assurer que ce soit luy qui vient de me saluer et de me demander si je n'avois point rencontre un homme qu'il m'a depeint il est pourtant vray que si mon imagination a bien conserve l'idee de ce prince celuy que je viens de voir est cyrus mais seigneur luy dis-je n'aprenons nous pas par tous les lieux ou nous passons que cyrus est a la teste de son armee je suis pourtant le plus trompe de tous les hommes reprit il si je ne le voy encore au pied d'un arbre en disant cela il me monstra en effet l'arbre contre lequel vous estiez apuye ha orsane reprit cyrus il faut que j'interrompe 
 rompe vostre recit afin de vous desabuser et que je vous assure que je n'estois point en paphlagonie lors que vous y avez passe je vous respecte de telle sorte respondit orsane que j'aime mieux croire a vos paroles qu'a mes propres yeux vos yeux repliqua la princesse araminte en rougissant ne sont pas si mauvais que vous pensez puis que selon les apparences c'est le prince spitridate que vous avez rencontre qui ressemble si fort a l'illustre cyrus qu'il ne faut pas trouver estrange que vous vous y soyez trompe mais de grace j'adjousta telle dittes moy precisement le temps ou vous vistes celuy dont je parle orsane obeissant a la princesse araminte luy apprit ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir de sorte que par la supputation que cyrus et elle en firent ils trouverent qu'orsane avoit rencontre spitridate trois semaines depuis que l'inconnu anaxaris l'avoit laisse blesse en paphlagonie et assez pres d'un bois tel que le representoit orsane si bien que par la cette princesse eut la consolation de scavoir avec certitude que spitridate n'estoit pas mort des blessures qu'il avoit receues mais en eschange elle eutla douleur de ne pouvoir comprendre pourquoy ce prince ne luy donnoit point de ses nouvelles apres avoir donc eu tout l'esclaircissement qu'elle pouvoit tirer d'orsane il continua son discours en ces termes le prince mazare ne m'eut pas plus tost monstre celuy que je creus estre l'illustre cyrus que 
 voyant qu'il n'osoit tout a fait se fier a ce qu'il en pensoit et qu'il s'en raportoit a moy je luy dis par prudence de peur de quelque fascheux accident que celuy qu'il venoit devoir n'estoit assurement point celuy qu'il croyoit quoy qu'il luy ressemblast assez mazare eut pourtant beaucoup de peine a me croire et je pense qu'il auroit este luy mesme s'en esclaircir et demander a ce pretendu cyrus s'il estoit effectivement ou s'il ne l'estoit pas n'eust este que pendant que nous contestions et que belesis disoit au prince mazare que je devois vous mieux connoistre que luy et qu'il devoit par consequent s'en fier a moy celuy qui estoit le sujet de la contestation s'enfonca dans le bois et le deroba a nos yeux belesis dit mesme qu'il avoit veu un escuyer qui l'estoit venu joindre ainsi le prince mazare fut contraint de continuer sa promenade je ne vous dis point seigneur quels furent les sentimens qu'il eut en cette occasion car il n'a jamais pu nous les dire luy mesme tant ils furent tumultueux et mesme peu distincts dans son esprit tantost il estoit bien aise que ce n'eust pas este vous qu'il eust trouve et tantost il en estoit bien fasche sans scavoir pourtant ny pourquoy il avoit de la joye ny pourquoy il avoit de la douleur mais comme il scavoit tousjours bien qu'il ne pretendoit plus rien sinon que de delivrer mandane et d'obtenir son pardon nous ne rencontrions personne a qui il ne s'informast d'elle et de vous aussi ce qui m'espouventoit dans la 
 croyance ou j'estois de vous avoir veu estoit que toux ceux a qui nous parlions nous parloient tousjours de vous comme estant vers les frontieres de lydie et cette pensee m'occupa d'une telle sorte que ne pouvant la cacher deux jours apres que nous eusmes rencontre celuy qui vous ressemble si fort et que nous nous fusmes remis en chemin je ne pus m'empescher de dire a mon maistre que je luy avois deguise la verite et que je croyois effectivement vous avoir veu dans le bois ou nous avions passe si bien que nous mettant a chercher le sujet pourquoy vous y estiez nous fusmes un jour tout entier a raisonner inutilement sur cela et a ne pouvoir concilier deux choses si opposees comme estoit celle d'entendre dire que vous estiez a l'armee et celle de croire vous avoir veu en paphlagonie neantmoins ne pouvant dementir mes propres yeux je ceus que vous aviez fait quelque voyage secret pour faire ligue avec quelque prince voisin et qu'encore que le bruit fust espandu par tout que vous estiez a vostre armee il n'estoit pas impossible que vous en eussiez este quelques jours absent ainsi croyant tousjours vous avoir veu et que vous n'aviez pas connu mon maistre nous arrivasmes enfin a ephese le prince mazare changeant alors son nom en celuy de telephane belesis ne se souciant pas de deguiser le lien qu'il scavoit bien n'estre pas connu en lydie je ne vous diray point seigneur quelle 
 esmotion fut celle du prince mazare que j'apelleray telephane jusques a ce que je sois arrive a l'endroit ou vous le rencontrastes en voyant le temple ou estoit la princesse mandane car je voudrois bien s'il estoit possible vous cacher sa passion de peur qu'elle ne vous aigrisse l'esprit contre luy neantmoins comme la grandeur de son amour est ce qui fait voir la grandeur de sa vertu il faut que j'aye assez bonne opinion de la vostre pour croire qu'a la fin de mon recit vous vous trouverez capable d'avoir quelque admiration et peut-estre quelque amitie pour un rival tel que luy quoy que je vous represente sa passion extremement forte pour mandane en effet on ne peut pas en avoir une plus violente mais ce qu'il y a eu d'admirable est que depuis qu'il a este sorty de son desert il n'a jamais eu d'autre pensee que celle de reparer sa faute et d'en obtenir le pardon et certes je pense pouvoir dire que jamais criminel ne s'est repenty comme luy et n'a eu de si cruels remors toutes les fois qu'il pensoit que c'estoit par la tromperie qu'il avoit faite a mandane qu'elle estoit enfermee dans le temple ou elle estoit il en avoit une douleur si sensible que je suis estonne qu'il n'en est mort et je pense que si ce n'eust este que lors que nous arrivasmes a ephese le roy de pont gardoit le lict a cause qu'il estoit si blesse a une jambe qu'il n'avoit pas mesme este en estat de s'oposer a ceux qui avoient voulu enlever du temple la princesse mandane 
 et la princesse palmis je pense die-je qu'il auroit eu de la peine quoy que ce prince eust sauve la vie a la princesse a ne l'attaquer pas dans les premiers transports de la douleur qu'il eut en arrivant en ce lieu la mais a la fin venant a songer que la mort du roy de pont ne delivreroit pas mandane puis qu'en l'estat ou estoient les choses cresus ne la rendroit pas il pensa qu'il valoit mieux tascher de chercher les voyes de rompre ses chaines par adresse de sorte que considerant qu'il luy seroit impossible au lieu ou elle estoit rien entreprendre pour sa liberte il jugea qu'il valoit mieux aller a sardis ou on la devoit conduire aussi tost que cresus et le roy de pont seroient tombez d'accord de toutes leurs conditions qui n'estoient pas encore reglees quoy que cette negociation eust tousjours dure depuis que le roy de pont estoit arrive a ephese car il n'y avoit pas plustost este qu'il avoit envoye demander asile et protection a cresus a condition que quelque traitte qu'il pust faire avec ciaxare ou aveque vous il ne se parleroit jamais de rendre mandane comme cette proposition sembloit un peu dure parce qu'en accordant au roy de pont ce qu'il demandoit c'estoit vouloir commencer une guerre qui ne devoit point estre suivie de paix que par la ruine entiere d'un des deux partis n'y ayant pas aparence que ciaxare la voulust jamais si on ne luy rendoit la princesse sa fille la chose tira fort en longueur jusques 
 a ce que cresus ayant receu la responce de l'oracle qui luy paroist estre si favorable se determina a accorder precisement au roy de pont ce qu'il vouloit neantmoins pour trouver un expedient qui ne choquast pas directement la justice il s'engagea a ne parler jamais dans aucun traitte de rendre la princesse mandane sans que le roy de pont y consentist ainsi apres avoir envoye plusieurs fois l'un vers l'autre la chose estoit presques achevee de conclurre entre eux quand nous fusmes a ephese si bien qu'apres avoir pris la resolution d'aller a sardis et nous estre mis en quelque equipage nous partismes pour aller a cette magnifique ville ou le prince mon maistre ne craignit pas d'estre connu car encore que cresus eust autrefois este dans le party du roy d'assirie aussi bien que luy ils ne s'estoient pourtant point veus tant parce que cresus n'avoit point este a babilone que parce qu'il avoit en quelque facon tousjours este en un corps separe ainsi il fut hardiment se presenter a luy pour luy offrir son service l'amour luy persuadant que ce n'estoit pas directement choquer la generosite que de cacher le dessein qu'il avoit delivrer mandane par des assurances de fidelite ou il ne vouloit manquer que pour elle seulement enfin il creut que comme on peut surprendre des villes et faire des ruses de guerre innocemment il pouvoit entreprendre sans laschete de delivrer mandane par adresse puis qu'il ne le pouvoit pas par la force 
 pour s'aquerir donc quelque credit aupres de cresus il aporta soin a se faire connoistre pour ce qu'il est c'est a dire pour avoir beaucoup d'esprit et mesme de capacite pour les choses de la guerre de sorte que son dessein reussissant ce prince le receut fort bien et nous traitta aussi belesis et moy avec beaucoup de civilite car pour nous deguiser mieux il ne paroissoit point qu'il y eust de difference de condition entre nous l'inclination de cresus ne laissa pourtant pas de faire ce que nous ne faisions point puis qu'encore que belesis soit tres bien fait et aye infiniment de l'esprit ce prince aima mieux le pretendu telephane que luy il est vray que comme il ne surmontoit sa douleur que par l'amitie qu'il avoit pour ce prince et que ce prince surmontoit la sienne pour tascher de delivrer sa maistresse ils agissoient differemment l'un s'empressant beaucoup plus que l'autre quoy qu'il en soit en fort peu de jours telephane fut connu de toute le cour et de toute l'armee cresus luy offrit mesme employ mais il ne voulut toutesfois pas en prendre de peur que cela ne luy ostast la liberte de profiter de l'occasion s'il s'en presentoit quelqu'une et il songea seulement a n'estre point suspect et a s'intriguer avec diverses personnes comme il scavoit que ce seroit dans la citadelle que l'on logeroit la princesse mandane quand elle arriveroit a sardis il fit dessein de faire amitie avec celuy qui en estoit gouverneur et il reussit si bien 
 qu'en effet il acquit grand pouvoir sur son esprit cependant la negociation de cresus et du roy de pont ne se pouvant tout a fait achever sans une entreveue il fut resolu qu'ils se verroient assez proche de sardis de sorte qu'apres estre tombez d'accord de toutes leurs conditions comme ils craignoient qu'en amenant la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis on n'entreprist quelque chose pour les delivrer afin de mieux cacher leur depart cresus voulut d'authorite absolue qu'elles partissent d'ephese durant que le roy de pont n'y estoit pas afin de tromper les espions que vous ou le prince artamas pouviez y avoir le roy de pont s'y opposa pourtant extremement disant que puis que la riviere d'hermes estoit entre vostre camp et le chemin que ces princesses devoient tenir il ne devoit rien aprehender mais cresus luy ayant dit que le prince artamas avoit tant de creatures dans son estat qu'il devoit tout craindre de ses propres sujets aussi bien que de ses ennemis il falut qu'il ce dast par force et qu'il consentist que l'on envoyast ordre a andramite d'escorter ces princesses et de les conduire avec les troupes qu'il avoit jusques a un lieu ou le roy de pont les devoit aller rencontrer avec d'autres et en effet la chose s'executa ainsi cependant comme cresus avoit voulu que mon maistre le suivist lors qu'il estoit alle au lieu ou le roy de pont et luy se virent il se trouva en un embarras estrange 
 quand ce prince pour luy faire honneur le presenta a son rival comme un homme qui venoit embrasser son party et de qui il attendoit de grands services si bien que le roy de pont jugeant par le procede de cresus que ce telephane estoit fort considere de luy et sa bonne mine luy persuadant aisement que c'estoit avec raison qu'il l'estimoit il le receut avec une civilite extreme ou mon maistre respondit avec tant d'esmotion sur le visage que je me suis estonne cent fois que cresus et le roy de pont ne s'en aperceurent il est vray que s'estant remis un moment apres il se tira en suitte de cette conversation avec toute l'adresse que peut avoit un homme amoureux qui veut tromper son rival pour delivrer sa maistresse le roy de pont fut donc aussi satisfait de telephane qua telephane l'eust este de luy s'il n'eust pas eu une raison cachee qui ostoit toute la force aux civilitez que ce prince avoit pour mon maistre et qui l'empeschoit de s'en tenir oblige il y avoit pourtant quelques instans ou le considerant comme ayant sauve la vie a la princesse mandane il ne pouvoit pas qu'il n'en sentist quelque reconnoissance dans son coeur cependant quelque envie que telephane eust de voir la princesse qu'il adoroit il n'ose aller aveque le roy de pont qui comme je l'ay desja dit devoit aller rencontrer andramite qui l'escortoit car comme il n'estoit pas si aise de deguiser son visage que son nom 
 il ne doutoit pas que si elle le voyoit elle ne le connust et que si elle le connoissoit auparavant que de scavoir le veritable repentir qu'il avoit de l'avoir enlevee et d'estre cause de toutes ses disgraces elle ne le fist connoistre aussi tost par l'aversion qu'elle tesmoigneroit avoir pour luy et qu'ainsi le dessein qu'il avoit de tascher de luy redonner la liberte qu'il luy avoit ostee ne fust entierement detruit de sorte que se faisant une extreme violence il trouva quelque pretexte pour n'accompagner point le roy de pont qui l'en pria et il retourna a sardis avec une inquietude que je ne vous puis representer parce qu'il ne pouvoit seulement regler ses souhaits car lors que le repentir de sa faute et sa generosite estoient les plus forts dans son coeur il desiroit que le prince artamas pust entreprendre quelque chose pour la liberte de ces princesses et qu'au lieu de les conduire a sardis on les menast dans vostre camp mais aussi quand l'amour qui le possedoit estoit la maistresse il ne pouvoit s'empescher de desirer de voir mandane et de souhaiter avec ardeur que ce fust luy qui la delivrast et mesme qui vous la rendist plustost que de laisser a un autre la gloire de l'avoir mise en liberte il ne put toutesfois se resoudre a ignorer ce qui se passeroit a l'entreveue du roy de pont et de la princesse mandane si bien que pour en estre informe il pria belesis de vouloir accompagner ce prince n'osant m'y envoyer 
 parce qu'elle me connoissoit trop mais comme il ne pouvoit se passer de la veue de cette princesse puis qu'elle alloit entrer dans une ville ou il estoit il fit dessein de la voir d'une fenestre lors qu'elle traverseroit sardis pour aller dans la citadelle de sorte qu'il attendit avec quelque espece de satisfaction le retour du roy de pont et l'arrivee des princesses qu'il devoit amener deux jours apres la nouvelle vint que le prince artamas ayant voulu entreprendre quelque chose pour la liberte des princesses avoit este pris et blesse en divers endroits et que tous ceux qui l'avoient accompagne avoient este deffaits ou faits prisonniers a deux heures de la un autre courrier d'andramite arriva qui vint aprendre a cresus que le roy d'assirie se trouvoit estre parmy ces prisonniers ayant este reconnu par un capitaine qui avoit este a la guerre de babilone cette nouvelle qui resjouit extremement cresus affligea mon maistre car encore que le roy d'assirie fust son rival il ne put aprendre sans douleur qu'un si grand prince fuit en un si pitoyable estat principalement considerant que ce dernier accident ne luy seroit point arrive s'il ne luy eust jamais enleve la princesse mandane joint aussi que ne craignant pas moins d'estre reconnu par ce prince que par la princesse de peur que tous ses desseins ne fussent traversez il se vit encore contraint de se cacher plus soigneusement le jour que la princesse et les prisonniers 
 entrerent dans sardis et en effet je le confirmay si puissamment dans la resolution ou il estoit d'aporter beaucoup de soin a s'empescher d'estre connu que le jour de l'arrivee de ces princesses estant venu il demeura au lieu ou il logeoit car par bonheur la rue ou nous demeurions se trouva estre de celles par ou mandane devoit passer et ou elle passa en effet de vous dire seigneur ce que la veue de cette princesse fit dans le coeur de mon maistre c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire ce qu'il y a de vray est qu'elle n'augmenta pas tant son amour que son repentir car lors que passant devant nous il la vit si belle et si triste tout ensemble et qu'il s'imagina qu'il estoit la cause de cette tristesse il eut une douleur que je ne vous puis representer qu'en vous disant qu'il est impossible de vous la depeindre a peine avoit il perdu de veue le chariot ou estoit la princesse mandane avec la princesse palmis que comme il estoit prest de se retirer de la fenestre il vit paroistre le roy d'assirie environne de soldats qui le conduisoient avec les autres prisonniers a la reserve du prince artamas qui ne fut amene a sardis que quelques jours apres a cause de ses blessures mon maistre voyant donc en mesme temps le prince qu'il avoit offence et la princesse qu'il avoit enlevee il sentit une douleur si excessive qu'il fut fort longtemps sans pouvoir seulement respondre a ce que je luy disois pour le consoler et je croy mesme qu'il n'auroit pas 
 encore si tost cesse d'entretenir ses propres pensees si belesis ne fust entre il n'eut pourtant plus cette sorte curiosite de scavoir comment c'estoit passe l'entreveue du roy de pont et de mandane et il escouta presques belesis sans l'entendre tant la veue de cette princesse avoit aporte de trouble dans son esprit mais seigneur luy dis-je j'avois perse que comme la croyance de la mort de la princesse mandane avoit cause vostre plus grand desespoir la certitude de sa vie telle que vous la venez d'avoir par sa veue feroit aussi vostre plus sensible consolation et cependant je vous voy plus afflige que vous n'estiez ces jours passez quoy orsane me dit il vous croyez que je puisse voir mandane triste et captive sans en avoir une douleur extreme et triste et captive encore par moy seulement ha non orsane je ne scaurois estre sensible a la joye jusques a ce que j'aye repare tous les crimes il m'a semble nous dit il que dans le mesme temps que je la regardois elle a souspire et que je voyois dans son coeur que la juste mesure de la haine qu'elle a pour moy estoit celle de sa douleur l'ay donc veu dans son ame adjousta t'il tant d'horreur pour la memoire de mazare que je me suis persuade qu'elle s'en souvient tousjours malgre qu'elle en ait et que cette haine renaist tous les jours dans son ame a mesure qu'il luy arrive de nouvelles disgraces jugez apres cela si j'ay pu voir cette divine princesse avec une joye tranquile je ne voudrois 
 pourtant pas poursuivit il ne l'avoir point veue et ne l'avoir point veue affligee car enfin ma vertu estoit encore un peu foible et chancelante et je ne scay si j'eusse trouve les voyes de delivrer mandane si je ne l'eusse pas encore voulu delivrer pour moy mais aujourd'huy que j'ay veu ses beaux yeux tous prests a respandre des larmes tant ils estoient melancoliques je suis maistre de mon amour et je ne veux plus delivrer mandane que pour elle mesme non imperieuse passion s'escrioit il qui as fait tous les crimes de ma vie tu ne m'en feras plus commettre ma vertu est presentement plus forte que toy et tu ne la pourras plus vaincre mais que dis-je reprenoit il un moment apres ne donnons point a la vertu ce qui n'apartient qu'a l'amour et disons pour parler plus veritablement que c'est parce que je suis parfaitement amoureux que j'agiray comme je veux agir jusques icy nous dit il j'avois aime mandane pour l'amour de moy mais je veux commencer de l'aimer pour l'amour d'elle seule je ne scay pas poursuivit il si je la pourray aimer sans desirs mais je scay du moins que je l'aimeray sans esperance et par consequent sans l'offencer travaillons donc mon cher belesis luy dit ce genereux prince a delivrer ma princesse et pour y travailler avec plus de courage ne songeons jamais que nous la delivrerons pour un prince plus heureux que nous car encore qu'il merite son bonheur j'aurois 
 peut-estre quelque peine a n'en murmurer pas quoy que je sois resolu de ne le troubler jamais voila seigneur quels furent les sentimens de l'illustre mazare qui passa le reste du jour et toute la nuit suivante dans une douleur extreme cependant pour ne s'amuser pas a souspirer inutilement il songea a observer avec beaucoup de foin quelle garde on faisoit a la citadelle a entretenir l'amitie qu'il avoit avec celuy qui en est gouverneur afin de voir ce qu'il y auroit moyen de faire pour la liberte de mandane pour se faire donc des amis et des creatures il rendoit office jusques aux moindres soldats ou aupres de cresus ou aupres du roy de pont ou aupres d'abradate de qui il a aussi este fort aime il chercha encore a faire amitie avec andramite qu'il obligea bientost apres qu'il eut amene les princefles d'ephese a sardis car le bruit s'estant enfin espandu toit par les prisonniers ou par quelque autre voye qui m'est inconnue que vous aviez este pris aussi bien que le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas et qu'andramite a la priere de la princesse palmis vous avoit redonne a la princesse mandane et vous avoit delivre cresus en entra en une colere si grande que les princesses en furent resserrees pour quelques jours et qu'andramite en fut disgracie quoy qu'il eust mis le roy d'assirie et le prince artamas entre les mains de ce prince mais comme il paroistoit clairement qu'andramite avoit fait la chose sans 
 penser la faire tout le monde le pleignoit de sorte que mon maistre qui dans le dessein qu'il avoit ne cherchoit qu'a faire amitie avec des gens de qualite puissans et mescontens tout ensemble servit andramite autant qu'il pu t en cette occasion et le servit mesme utilement estant certain que cresus deffera plus aux raisons et aux prieres de mon maistre qu'il n'avoit fait a celles de beaucoup d'autres qui luy avoient parle pour andramite ce qui l'obligea si sensiblement qu'il luy promit une amitie eternelle mais quoy que cresus revist andramite comme auparavant il demeura toujours dans son coeur un secret despit d'avoir pu estre soubconne par un prince a qui il avoit tant donne de marques d'une grande fidelite pour le roy de pont il eut une douleur la plus grande du monde que vous n'eussiez pas este pris luy semblant que si cela eust este la guerre eust pu se terminer heureusement pour luy en vous rendant la liberte pour satisfaire a ce qu'il vous doit et en ne la rendant jamais a la princesse mandane pour satisfaire sa passion comme les choses estoient en cet estat nous sceusmes aussi que tegee fils du gouverneur de la citadelle estoit parmy les prisonniers de guerre que l'on avoit faits et comme nous aprismes en mesme temps qu'il estoit amoureux d'une fille apellee cylenise qui estoit dans la citadelle avec la princesse palmis le prince mon maistre pria belesis qui a l'esprit 
 fort adroit de chercher les voyes de le voir et de scavoir de luy s'il n'avoit plus nulle intelligence dans la citadelle afin que l'on pust delivrer sa maistresse et peut- estre le delivrer luy mesme belesis se chargea donc de cette commission a cause que mon maistre ne pouvoit pas me la donner parce que feraulas qui estoit prisonnier avec tegee m'auroit reconnu et qu'il ne vouloit pas non plus aller au lieu ou estoient les prisonniers de guerre de peur que le roy d'assirie ne le vist si bien qu'il falut que belesis eust cet employ et certes il eust este difficile de mieux choisir car il s'en aquita admirablement comme vous le scaurez par la suitte de mon discours en mon particulier je taschois aussi de gagner quelques soldats de la citadelle sans leur dire pourtant a quoy je les voulois employer ainsi travaillant tous chacun de nostre coste quoy que nous ne vissions pas encore grande apparence d'heureux succes a nostre entreprise nous vivions pourtant avec un peu moins d'inquietude cependant comme le roy de pont estimoit infiniment le pretendu telephane il fit tout ce qu'il put pour acquerir son amitie bien qu'il n'y respondist pas trop toutesfois comme il n'osoit pas sortir des termes de la civilite qu'il devoit a un homme de cette condition le roy de pont ne s'en apercevoit pas et l'aimoit extremement et jusques au point que l'ayant trouve un jour dans les allees des jardins du roy apres estre sorty du 
 conseil de guerre qui c'estoit tenu ce jour la dans le cabinet de cresus il se mit a luy parler de ses malheurs et de son amour mais entre tant d'infortunes qui luy sont arrivees il n'en exagera aucune avec tant d'ardeur que celle d'avoir un rival qu'il avoit tant aime et a qui il avoit tant d'obligation en effet luy dit il car mon maistre nous raconta toute cette conversation a belesis et a moy n'est - ce pas une cruelle chose qu'il faille estre injuste et ingrat au plus grand prince du monde a qui je dois la vie et la liberte et a qui je devrois le sceptre qui m'apartient et que j'ay perdu si j'avois pu me resoudre a le recevoir de luy toutesfois je ne puis faire autrement et l'amour que j'ay pour mandane est si violente que je ne suis plus maistre de ma raison telephane entendant parler le roy de pont de cette sorte creut que fortifiant un peu sa generosite il pourroit peut - estre le porter a delivrer mandane si bien que pousse par un sentiment d'amour qui ne luy permit pas d'hesiter un moment sur ce qu'il avoit a dire il se mit a luy representer tout ce qu'il s'estoit tant dit de fois a luy mesme depuis qu'il s'estoit repenty d'avoir enleve la princesse mandane ne songez vous point luy dit il apres plusieurs autres choses qu'il luy avoit dittes auparavant que chaque moment que vous retenez la princesse que vous aimes elle vous hait davantage ouy je le scay bien repliqua le roy de pont mais 
 telephane adjoustoit il imaginez vous si vous avez aime quelque chose quelle difficulte il y a a se resoudre de rendre une princesse qui des qu'elle sera en liberte sera en la possession d'un autre ha telephane pour me conseiller comme vous me conseillez il faut n'avoir rien aime plust aux dieux seigneur reprit il en soupirant et ayant tant d'agitation dans l'esprit qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il ne mentoit pas que ce que vous dittes fust vray non seigneur je connois l'amour et c'est parce que je connois toute la puissance de cette passion que je vous parle comme je fais car enfin quand on aime n'est-ce pas pour estre aime ouy sans doute reprit le roy de pont pourquoy donc repliqua telephane faites vous tout ce qu'il faut faire pour estre hai c'est parce que je ne puis faire autrement reprit il car par quelle voye pourrois-je ne l'estre pas en redonnant la liberte a princesse que vous aimez respondit il n'estant pas possible qu'elle ne vous estimast pas infiniment si vostre vertu avoit surmonte vostre passion apres cela seigneur vostre gloire s'epandroit par toute l'asie tous vos sujets se rebelleroient contre celuy qui a usurpe vostre royaume tous les princes s'armeroient pour vous faire reconquerir vostre estat et cyrus mesme vous remettroit sur le throsne enfin seigneur adjousta t'il emporte par l'impetuosite de la passion qui le faisoit parler je voudrois avoir fait une action semblable a celle que je vous conseille et estre 
 mesme assure de mourir le lendemain tant je la trouve glorieuse ha telephane s'escria le roy de pont vous ne scavez pas quelle est la passion que j'ay dans l'ame quoy que vous ayez aime l'amour adjousta ce prince est grande ou petite selon la beaute qui la fait naistre ou selon la sensibilite du coeur de celuy qui en est touche c'est pourquoy tout le monde n'aime pas esgalement mais telephane je suis le plus sensible de tous les hommes et mandane est la plus belle et la plus parfaite personne de la terre venez telephane luy dit il en le prenant par le bras et luy voulant faire prendre le chemin de la citadelle venez voir ma justification ou mon excuse dans les beaux yeux de la princesse que j'adore car encore que je ne les voye jamais qu'irritez ou du moins melancoliques vous ne laisserez pas de connoistre qu'il est impossible de m'en priver sans mourir telephane fort surpris de la proposition que le roy de pont luy faisoit en fut si interdit que si ce prince eust eu l'esprit libre il s'en seroit apperceu ce qui causoit son chagrin estoit que quelque passion que mon maistre eust de voir mandane il ne la vouloit pas voir avec le roy de pont de sorte que pour s'en excuser seigneur luy dit il s'il ne faloit qu'avoir veu la beaute de la princesse que vous aimez pour vous justifier vous le seriez desja dans mon esprit car je la vy le jour qu'elle arriva a sardis joint que plus je la verrois triste et plus je vous accuserois 
 le roy de pont ne se rebuta pourtant pas et il pressa encore plusieurs fois mon maistre de l'accompagner chez cette princesse
 
 
 
 
pardonnez moy orsane dit cyrus si j'interromps vostre recit pour vous demander si ce prince la voit tous les jours ouy tant qu'il est a sardis repliqua t'il nulle autre personne n'en ayant eu la liberte depuis qu'elle y est il est vray toutesfois qu'il n'en a guere este plus heureux car a ce que j'ay ouy dire a un des siens qui est fort avant dans ses secrets et qui n'est pourtant pas trop secret il ne luy rend pas une visite qui n'augmente tout a la fois son amour et son desespoir la trouvant tousjours plus belle et plus rigoureuse cyrus ayant alors demande pardon aux deux princesses avec qui il estoit orsane reprit son discours de cette sorte le roy de pont ayant donc fort presse mon maistre d'aller chez mandane et presse jusques au point que le pauvre telephane ne luy disoit que de mauvaises raisons pour s'en excuser il fut contraint de le laisser et d'entrer sans luy dans la citadelle ou il fut par une grande allee de cypres qui le conduisit jusques a une porte du jardin qui donne vers les fossez de cette place apres qu'il l'eut quitte il se promena plus de deux heures dans cette allee ou il estoit afin de s'entretenir de l'avanture qui luy venoit d'arriver par hazard belesis et moy l'ayant trouve il nous dit ce qui luy estoit advenu en suitte dequoy s'arrestant vis a vis de nous et 
 nous regardant fixement ne faut il pas advouer nous dit il que la fortune est bien ingenieuse a me tourmenter et a vouloir que je sois tousjours criminel et tousjours malheureux puis qu'enfin nous dit il je voy bien que pour faire une bonne action comme est celle de delivrer la princesse que j'ay enlevee il faudra que j'en face cent mauvaises il faudra dis-je que je me deguise que je trompe ceux qui se fient en moy que je parle tousjours contre la verite que je sois d'un party en faisant semblant d'estre d'un autre et tout cela pour mettre la personne que j'adore en la puissance d'un rival aime car mes chers amis nous dit il presques les larmes aux yeux mettre mandane en la sienne propre c'est la mettre assurement bien tost en celle de cyrus cependant je me le suis promis a moy mesme et il faut ou l'executer ou mourir seigneur reprit belesis je ne desespere pas de vous donner les voyes de faire le premier car luy dit il j'ay trouve les moyens en subornant quelques uns des gardes de tegee de parler a luy plusieurs fois et de le disposer a faire tout ce qu'il pourra pour tascher de surprendre la citadelle il m'a mesme donne un billet pour un vieil officier qui y demeure qu'il m'a dit estre fort avare et que j'ay en effet trouve tout prest a recevoir des presens etpar consequent aussi tout prest a faire tout ce que l'on voudra pourveu qu'on luy donne il m'a dit de plus que lors que l'on aura trouve les voyes de delivrer les princesses et sa 
 chere cylenise il scaura bien trouver celles de s'eschaper sans que personne s'en mesle parce que celuy qui commande tous ceux qui gardent les prisonniers de guerre est tellement a luy que s'il l'avoit entrepris il les feroit tous sauver a la reserve du prince artamas qui a ses gardes a part mais interrompit mon maistre pourquoy tegee est il encore prisonnier s'il est en pouvoir de recouvrer la liberte c'est parce repliqua belesis qu'en cet estat la il n'est point suspect et qu'il a voulu tascher de trouver les moyens de delivrer les princesses pour obliger deux grands princes et de delivrer cylenise pour se satisfaire luy mesme de sorte adjousta belesis que j'ay presques trouve l'affaire toute faite ne luy manquant plus que deux choses c'est a dire quelques gens d'execution que je luy ay promis et de pouvoir faire scavoir aux princesses que l'on songe a leur liberte afin qu'elles se preparent a suivre leurs liberateurs aussi est-ce pour cela qu'il m'a donne un billet pour ce vieil officier dont je vous ay parle avec intention qu'il tasche de faire scavoir aux princesses que l'on pense a les delivrer mais il m'a dit qu'il luy sera fort difficile et qu'il luy sera bien plus aise de nous livrer une porte pour les enlever tout de bon que de leur parler mais belesis reprit telephane pourquoy ne m'avez vous rien dit de vostre negociation c'est parce que j'ay voulu que la chose fust un peu plus avancee repliqua t'il et je pense mesme que si 
 ce n'eust este pour vous consoler je ne vous en eusse pas encore parle a cause que l'entreprise ne se peut pas executer si tost d'autant qu'un capitaine qui est celuy qui ale plus de pouvoir dans la citadelle apres le gouverneur et qui est amy particulier de tegee n'y est pas presentement et n'y sera de quinze jours estant alle hors de sardis pour quelque affaire particuliere qu'il a telephane voyant donc que tegee estoit maistre de ses gardes qu'il avoit une puissante intelligence dans la citadelle que j'y avois gagne plusieurs soldats et qu'il ne s'agissoit plus que d'avoir une escorte et d'avertir les princesses ne songea plus a rien qu'a vaincre ces deux obstacles quelques jours apres la nouvelle estant venue de la prise de nysomolis et de la terreur que vos armes portoient par toute la lydie il falut malgre qu'en eust telephane pour ne se rendre pas suspect etpour satisfaire a l'opinion avantageuse que l'on avoit conceue de luy qu'il allast montrer qu'il la meritoit et qu'il allast a la guerre il fut donc avec andramite ou en diverses petites rencontres il se signala hautement il voulut pourtant que belesis et moy de meurassions a sardis pour tenir tegee et tous ceux qui estoient de son intelligence dans la volonte d'executer l'entreprise quand l'heure en seroit venue avec ordre de l'en advertir promptement afin qu'il trouvast un pretexte pour revenir a sardis voila donc seigneur ou en estoient les choses pendant 
 que vous preniez des villes et que vous faisiez quitter les postes qu'occupoient les troupes lydiennes mais pour accourcir mon discours autant que je le pourray voila encore seigneur les termes ou en estoit l'entreprise de delivrer mandane lors qu'apres que vous eustes demande a combatre le roy de pont il se fit une entreveue de vous et de ce prince ou vous reconnustes le prince mazare parmy ceux qui l'accompagnoient je ne doute pas seigneur que vous n'ayez quelque curiosite de scavoir pourquoy mon maistre fut a ce lieu la car je l'ay eue comme vous mais il ne m'en a pu dire autre chose sinon que croyant assurement vous avoir rencontre et parle a vous en paphlagonie sans que vous l'eussiez connu il crut au avec certitude que vous ne le connoistriez pas non plus en lydie et qu'ainsi il pouvoit hardiment sans s'exposer a estre descouvert accompagner le roy de pont qui l'en pressa extremement et satisfaire l'envie qu'il avoit d'estre present a une entreveue ou il avoit un interest cache que personne ne scavoit que luy car enfin il m'a dit qu'en allant au lieu ou vous et le roy de pont vous deviez voir il y eut des momens ou il craignit que vous ne persuadassiez a ce prince de rendre mandane et que ce ne fust pas luy qui eust la gloire de la delivrer et il y en eut d'autres aussi ou se deffiant de l'heureux succes de son entre prise il desira que le roy de pont se laissast toucher a vos raisons quoy 
 qu'il en soit le prince mazare que je ne nommeray plus telephane puis que je suis arrive a l'endroit ou il fut reconnu fut avec le roy de pont pour des causes si differentes et si opposees qu'il n'a mesme jamais pu me les bien demesler cependant seigneur faites moy s'il vous plaist la grace de m'avouer qu'il ne faut jamais juger sur des aparences car enfin j'ay sceu que quand vous vistes cet escu ou le prince mon maistre a fait representer la mort et fait mettre des paroles qui temoignent qu'il s'en juge digne que vous eustes dis-je veu celuy qui le portoit et reconnu que c'estoit le prince mazare vous eustes de la haine et de la colere pour luy et que vous en donnastes des marques si visibles et par vos paroles et par vostre action que personne ne put douter de vos sentimens toutesfois seigneur cet homme que vous haissiez ne songeoit alors a rien qu'a vous rendre la princesse mandane et qu'a s'en priver pour toujours et en effet j'ay sceu qu'il vous respondit avec toute la moderation dont un homme courageux peut estre capable je ne vous diray point seigneur quels furent ses sentimens en cette occasion car vous pouvez facilement vous les imaginer mais je vous diray qu'apres que par la prudence d'abradate cette dangereuse conversation eut finy et que chacun entrepris le chemin de son quartier le roy de pont ne scavoit plus comment agir avec le prince mazare qui de son coste ne scavoit 
 aussi pas trop bien ce qu'il devoit dire au roy de pont car dans l'inquietude qu'il avoit de craindre qu'estant decouvert pour ce qu'il estoit il n'eust beaucoup plus de difficulte a executer son entreprise il n'avoit pas l'esprit bien libre et si le roy de la susiane n'eust fait le tiers en cette conversation il en seroit peut-estre arrive quelque malheur apres avoir donc marche quarante ou cinquante pas sans rien dire abradate s'aprocha de mon maistre avec beaucoup de civilite et luy adressant la parole genereux prince luy dit il je suis bien fache d'estre oblige de vous rendre plus de respect que je ne vous en ay rendu jusques icy car puis que vous ne vouliez pas estre connu je pense que vous aimeriez mieux estre encore telephane que d'estre le prince mazare quoy que vous ayez rendu ce nom si celebre que vous ne puissiez je quitter sans vous faire tort seigneur reprit il car j'ay sceu exactement tout ce que ces grands princes se dirent en cette occasion j'ay tousjours este si malheureux tant que j'ay porte le nom de mazare qu'il n'est pas fort estrange que j'aye eu le dessein de le quitter durant quelque temps mais a ce que je voy celuy de telephane ne m'est guere plus heureux pendant cela le roy de pont ne parloit point et rapelloit dans sa memoire de quelle facon mazare avoit vescu a sardis il se souvenoit qu'il n'avoit point voulu aller voir mandane quand il l'en avoit presse et en comprenoit alors la raison il pensoit qu'il avoit fait amitie 
 avec le gouverneur de la citadelle et avec tous les gens de qualite de la cour et il voyoit enfin qu'il faloit que mazare eust un dessein mais ne le pouvant comprendre et voulant en estre esclaircy sans differer davantage il s'approcha du roy de la susiane et du prince mazare et regardant mon maistre de grace luy dit il tout mon rival que vous estes ne me refusez pas une faveur que je vous demande comme si vous estiez encore telephane de qui j'estois amy et amy passionne il n'y a pas un quart d'heure bien que je sois vostre rival reprit le prince des saces et que par consequent telephane n'ait jamais pu estre fort de vos amis non plus que mazare je ne laisse pas de vous dire qu'il n'y a qu'un tres petit nombre de choses que vous ne puissiez pas obtenir de moy car enfin apres avoir sauve la vie a la princesse mandane que j'avois fait perir malheureusement vos prieres me doivent estre fort considerables et me le seront en effet tousjours cela estant repliqua le roy de pont dittes moy un peu ce que je dois penser de vous car je vous avoue que je n'en scay rien quand je me souviens poursuivit il de tout ce que je vous ay veu faire je ne scay plus ou j'en suis et je doute encore si vous estes telephane ou si vous estes le prince mazare je suis sans doute le dernier reprit il mais puis que cela est adjousta le roy de pont comment vous elles vous venu jetter dans le party de cresus pourquoy avez vous cache vostre 
 nom et par quel motif avez vous agi comme vous avez fait est ce pour vous ou pour moy que vous avez combatu ce n'est n'y pour vous ny pour moy interrompit mon maistre avec autant de finesse que d'esprit pour deguiser la verite de ses sentimens mais c'a este contre cyrus il ne me semble pourtant pas reprit ce prince que vous luy ayez parle avec autant de marques de haine qu'il en faut avoir pour combatre en faveur d'un de ses rivaux afin de nuire a un autre parlez donc je vous en conjure que dois-je penser de ce que vous faites et comment vous dois- je considerer comme un homme repliqua t'il en souspirant qui ne pretend plus rien a la possession de mandane et plust aux dieux adjousta ce genereux prince que je pusse vous inspirer le repentir que j'ay de l'avoir enlevee et d'estre cause de la plus grande partie des malheurs qu'elle a eus quoy mazare interrompit le roy de pont vous ne pretendez plus rien a mandane et vous venez pourtant deguise dans le lieu ou elle est vous servez un de vos rivaux vous combatez contre les troupes de l'autre vous aportez soin a acquerir des amis vous tesmoignez mesme estre des miens et tout cela sans avoir aucune pretention non non cela n'est pas possible et vous ne me le persuaderez jamais il n'est toutesfois pas bien aise dit le roy de la susiane de concevoir quelle peut estre l'intention du prince mazare il en a pourtant une repliqua le 
 roy de pont de quelque nature qu'elle soit ce qui m'espouvante poursuivit il en parlant a abradate c'est qu'il n'est rien que ce prince n'ait fait pour me persuader de rendre la princesse mandane a cyrus car enfin adjousta t'il en parlant a mon maistre comment est il possible si vous aimez encore cette princesse que vous m'ayez pu conseiller de la remettre entre les mains d'un prince qui l'adore et pour qui elle meprise tous ceux qui ont de l'amour pour elle pour vous tesmoigner dit mazare que je n'ay point d'interest cache c'est qu'aujourd'huy que vous me connoissez pour ce que je suis je vous dis encore la mesme chose et je vous conjure de tout mon coeur de redonner la liberte a la princesse mandane je vous engage mesme ma parole qu'en reconnoissance de ce que vous luy avez conserve la vie et de ce que vous l'aurez delivree de partager un jour aveque vous le royaume que je dois posseder si nous ne pouvons conquerir les vostres non non interrompit le roy de pont vous ne voulez pas ce que vous dittes ou si vous le voulez vous n'estes plus mon rival et je puis vous regarder comme mon amy je ne scay pas precisement repliqua t'il si je suis vostre amy ou vostre rival tant ma raison est troublee mais je scay toutesfois que j'aime mandane plus parfaitement que vous puis que ne pouvant en estre aime je scay borner mes esperances et ne chercher plus que son repos si vous scaviez adjousta t'il aussi bien aimer 
 que je le scay vous sentiriez plus que vous ne faites les souffrances de la personne aimee pour moy qui ay creu l'avoir veue noyer je serois plus sensible a ses larmes que vous n'estes et je ne serois pas capable d'estre si longtemps criminel au nom des dieux luy dit il encore repentez vous comme je me suis repenty et ne souffrez pas qu'un de vos rivaux ait cet avantage la sur vous au reste ne pensez pas que je die que je ne pretens plus rien a la princesse mandane pour m'empescher d'avoir un ennemy aussi vaillant que vous l'estes car l'ay si peu d'attachement a la vie que si je ne considerois que moy je devrois chercher une pareille occasion afin de mourir plustost et plus glorieusement mais c'est qu'effectivement je dis la chose comme je la pense et qu'il n'est pas plus vray que vous estes amoureux de la princesse mandane qu'il est vray que je n'y pretens plus rien et qu'il est vray que je souhaite avec ardeur que vous la remettiez en liberte et mesme entre les mains de cyrus plustost que de la scavoir malheureuse si ce que vous dittes est veritable reprit le roy de pont vous estes le plus vertueux de tous les hommes ou le moins amoureux et je m'estonne estrangement si c'est le dernier qu'une passion aussi mediocre que doit estre la vostre vous ait oblige autrefois a enlever la princesse mandane et a oublier tout ce que vous deviez au roy d'assirie comme les grands crimes reprit mon maistre sont ceux qui donnent les grands 
 repentirs il n'est pas fort estrange qu'ayant fait une double injustice j'en aye une confusion espouventable il est vray repliqua le roy de pont mais il l'est toujours beaucoup d'aimer et de vouloir que l'on rende sa maistresse a un rival aime cependant dit le roy de la susiane le prince mazare parle d'un air qui me fait voir que sa bouche exprime les veritables sentimens de son coeur c'est pourquoy je vous conjure tous deux de ne vous desunir point quels que puissent estre vos desseins a l'un et a lautre pour moy respondit le roy de pont si le prince mazare m'engage sa parole qu'il ne pretend plus rien a la princesse mandane et qu'il n'a aucun dessein cache de l'enlever esgalement et a cyrus et a moy je vivray aveque luy comme s'il n'estoit point mon rival abradate prenant alors la parole demanda a mazare s'il ne vouloit pas bien s'engager a ce que desiroit le roy de pont puis que de luy mesme il avoit advoue ne pretendre plus a la possession de la princesse mandane pendant que ce prince luy disoit cela il agitoitia chose dans son esprit et trouvant en effet qu'en promettant ce qu'on vouloit qu'il promist il ne s'engageroit a rien qui fust contraire a son dessein puis qu'il ne vouloit pas enlever mandane pour luy il le fit quoy qu'avec beaucoup de repugnance et s'il n'eust pas sceu avec certitude que la mort du roy de pont ne delivreroit point mandane je pense qu'au lieu de promettre ce qu'il promit il auroit 
 mis l'espee a la main et auroit combatu ce prince voila donc seigneur comment cette conversation se passa en suitte dequoy abradate ayant apris a cresus quand il fut a sardis la condition de mon maistre et luy ayant dit la chose avec beaucoup d'adresse et fort obligeamment pour luy il n'eut pas tant de soubcons dans l'ame que le roy de pont qui depuis cela fit observer si soigneusement tout ce que nous faisions que ce ne fut pas sans peine que nous entretinsmes les intelligences que nous avions sans qu'on s'en aperceust cependant le prince mazare avoit une repugnance horrible a se deguiser comme il faloit et si belesis et moy ne luy eussions persuade que la gloire d'une entre prise de cette nature consistoit seulement a la faire reussir et non pas aux moyens par lesquels on la cachoit et qu'enfin les conjurateurs qui soutenoient un mensonge le plus hardiment quand la cause de la conjuration estoit juste meritoient le plus de louange je pense que plustost que de faire ce qu'il faloit qu'il fist pour cacher son dessein il se seroit porte a prendre quelque resolution fort violente depuis cela seigneur vous scavez comment les choses se sont brouillees entre tous ces princes pour la liberte du prince artamas et de la reine devant qui je parle et comment andramite et le prince myrsille ont pris le party du roy de la susiane mais vous ne scavez pas sans doute que mon maistre profitant de toutes ces divisions 
 vit secrettement plusieurs fois le genereux abradate et andramite et leur disposa de telle sorte l'esprit qu'ils luy promirent si les choses s'aigrissoient davantage de ne rien entreprendre sans luy mon maistre ne s'ouvrant toutesfois pas a eux apres cela je vous diray que la treve estant publiee et le capitaine amy de tegee qui estoit absent estant revenu a la citadelle mon maistre fit semblant de se trouver un peu mal afin d'avoir plus de temps a songer tout de bon a tascher de parler a la princesse mandane ou du moins a martesie et nous fusmes si heureux que par le moyen de cet amy de tegee qui avoit la garde particuliere de l'apartement des princesses il nous promit de me faire entrer de nuit dans la citadelle et de me faire parler a martesie comme je scavois que cette agreable fille avoit tousjours eu assez d'amitie pour moy depuis que j'avois este son guide et que je l'avois remenee a sinope je creus que je m'aquitterois fort bien de cet employ mais quoy que le pusse faire je ne pus jamais empescher mon maistre d'y vouloir venir luy semblant que je n'exagererois pas assez bien son repentir de sorte que ne pouvant pas luy resister davantage je ceday a sa volonte et je mis les choses en estat que justement a neuf heures du soir l'amy de tegee nous fit entrer mon maistre et moy sans que personne nous pust connoistre et nous menant par un escalier derobe il nous mit dans sa chambre et fut a celle de 
 mandane ou trouvant martesie qui avoit pour luy toute la complaisance qu'une personne judicieuse doit toujours avoir pour ceux qui la tiennent prisonniere il la suplia de luy vouloir donner une heure d'audiance si bien que martesie passant de la chambre de sa maistresse a la sienne qui estoit tout proche ce capitaine nous vint querir et suivant ce que nous avions concerte mon maistre et moy je fus seule parler a maitefie afin de la tromper comme je m'en vay vous le dire car nous scavions bien que la princesse mandane ne scavoit pas que mon maistre ne fust point mort et qu'il estoit a sardis parce qu'il y avoit un ordre si expres de cresus et du roy de pont de ne dire nulle nouvelle aux princesses que nous ne douions pas craindre qu'on eust dit celle la a la princesse mandane estant donc dans cette opinion je fus conduit par ce capitaine qui me laissa dans la chambre de martesie qui ne me vit pas plustost qu'elle me donna cent marques de joye et de tendresse ha orsane me dit elle ne pourriez vous point encore une fois en vostre vie me remener a sinope et m'y remener avec la princesse ouy aimable martesie luy dis-je et c'est pour vous en faire la proposition que je suis icy ce que vous dittes a si peu d'aparence repliqua t'elle que j'ay bien plus de sujet de croire que l'on vous met prisonnier aveque nous que je n'en ay de penser que vous nous puissiez mettre en liberte c'est pourquoy sans vous amuser a me dire un si agreable 
 mensonge dittes moy un peu en quel estat sont les affairez generales car nous ne scauons rien icy que ce qu'il plaist au roy de pont qui ne veut pas que l'on scache autre chose sinon qu'il est amoureux aprenez moy donc je vous en conjure ce que fait l'illustre cyrus et en quel lieu est son armee dittes moy encore si le prince artamas est guery de ses blessures car la princesse de lydie en est en une peine estrange et si ce n'est pas vous demander trop de choses a la fois vous me ferez aussi plaisir de m'aprendre ce qu'est devenu le pauvre feraulas martesie m'ayant parle de cette sorte je satisfis sa curiosite apres quoy reprenant le discours que j'avois conmence je l'assuray si fortement que je scavois une voye infaillible de delivrer les princesses et de remettre mandane entre les mains de cyrus qu'enfin elle creut qu'il y avoit de la verite en mes paroles mais en mesme temps elle me dit que quant a la princesse palmis elle ne croyoit pas qu'elle voulust sortir de prison que par la main du roy son pere principalement puis que le prince artamas estoit prisonnier de guerre mais que cela n'empescheroit pas que la princesse mandane ne sortist c'est pourquoy me dit elle aprenez moy promptement ce qu'il faut faire il faut premierement luy dis-je que j'aye l'honneur de voir la princesse et que de plus celuy qui est chef de cette entreprise et qui est presentement dans la chambre du capitaine qui m'a conduit icy ait aussi la satisfaction de recevoir ses ordres 
 de sa bouche tout ce que vous dittes repliqua martesie n'est pas bien difficile a faire pourveu que vous ayez patience car je croy que la princesse de lydie se retirera bientost mais en attendant adjousta t'elle dittes moy quel est ce genereux liberateur comment il pourra faire pour nous tirer d'icy et quand ce sera car je voudrois que ce fust a l'heure mesme s'il estoit possible vous scaurez a loisir ces deux premieres choses que vous demandez repliquay-je mais pour ce qui est de vous tirer d'icy ce sera dans trois jours si la princesse le veut si elle le veut reprit elle ha orsane je vous assure qu'elle le voudra puis qu'encore que le roy de pont soit aussi respectueux pour elle qu'il est injuste je suis assuree qu'il n'est rien qu'elle ne fist pour sortir de sa puissance cependant dit elle afin de scavoir plus promptement quand la princesse de lydie se retirera et que nous puissions plus tost voir nostre liberateur suivez moy s'il vous plaist en disant cela elle me mena par un petit cabinet qui respondoit dans la chambre de la princesse ou l'on avoit fait un retranchement pour pouvoir avoir une garderobe car comme vous scavez les places de guerre ne sont pas basties comme les palais estant donc en ce lieu la d'ou nous pouvions entendre tout ce que ces princesses disoient nous nous mismes a escouter afin de juger si la conversation finiroit bien tost de sorte qu'apres nous estre teus j'entendis qu'une personne de qui la voix 
 m'estoit inconnue et que martesie me dit estre la princesse palmis se pleignoit de l'opiniastrete de sa mauvaise fortune pour moy luy repliqua la princesse mandane je n'ose presques plus me pleindre de la mienne car puis que la conformite de nos malheurs m'a fait acquerir vostre affection et a en quelque facon cause l'amitie du prince artamas et de l'illustre cyrus il me semble que je les dois souffrir plus patiemment ha madame interrompit la princesse palmis ne donnez pas une cause si facheuse a l'affection que j'ay pour vous et ne cherchez pas en la conformite de nos disgraces ce que vous ne pouvez trouver qu'en vostre rare merite joint qu'a regarder les choses de fort pres il y a tousjours eu une notable difference entre les malheurs de cyrus et ceux d'artamas et entre les vostres et les miens il y a pourtant beaucoup de choses qui se ressemblent repliqua mandane car enfin si le malheureux cyrus a este expose artamas l'a este aussi que si l'un a change son nom en celuy d'artamene l'autre a porte celuy de cleandre qui n'estoit pas le sien ils ont tous deux este braves ils ont tous deux este conquerans ils ont tous deux este amoureux et s'il y a quelque difference c'est que le prince artamas a aime par raison et que cyrus a aime par inclination seulement vous n'avez interrompit la princesse palmis qu'a transposer le nom d'artamas et a le mettre a la place de celuy de cyrus et vostre discours sera 
 juste de grace laissez moy achever poursuivit mandane et voyons si je n'ay pas raison d'attribuer a la conformite de nos infortunes la pitie que vous avez des miennes en effet outre ce que j'ay desja dit ces deux princes ont este aimez des rois qu'ils ont servis et ont tous deux este mis en prison par ceux pour qui ils avoient hasarde mille fois leur vie si cresus vous a voulu mal parce que vous ne haissiez pas l'illustre cleandre ciaxare durant longtemps m'a presques haie parce que j'estimois trop artarmene enfin que vous diray-je encore de plus cyrus et artamas ne furent ils pas prisonniers de guerre quand andramite nous amena icy n'avez vous pas eu plusieurs persecuteurs aussi bien que moy ' et si adraste et artesilas sont morts pour vous le malheureux mazare ne perit il pas a ma consideration ne sommes nous pas a l'heure que je parle en mesme prison et ne faut il pas tomber d'accord qu'il semble que le ciel ait eu dessein de faire que ne me pouvant aimer par la ressemblance de tant d'admirables qualitez qui sont en vous et qui ne sont pas en moy vous m'aimassiez seulement parce que je suis malheureuse comme vous et de mesme maniere que vous pour vous montrer repliqua la princesse palmis que l'amitie que je vous porte ne vient que de vostre merite seulement et point du tout de la ressemblance de nos avantures il faut que je vous fasse voir qu'il ne peut y avoir rien de plus esloigne estant certain 
 que les evenemens qui en aparence ont le plus de rapport ont des circonstances qui les rendent si differents qu'a parler raisonnablement on ne peut pas dire qu'ils se ressemblent et par consequent vous ne devez pas croire que l'affection que j'ay pour vous ait une semblable cause j'advoue toutesfois que quant a la naissance il y a de l'egalite mais comme vous ne parlez que des malheurs je ne la mets pas en conte je scay bien aussi qu'encore que la maniere dont cyrus et artamas ont este exposez soit absolument differente c'est pourtant quelque espece de raport cela est toutesfois une circonstance de leur vie si generale qu'ils ont cela de commun aussi bien avec semiramis et beaucoup d'autres de l'antiquite qu'entre eux mais depuis cela madame tout est different en leurs advantures car enfin quand cyrus n'estoit qu'artamene il scavoit pourtant qu'il estoit cyrus et n'ignoroit nullement sa condition ou au contraire le malheureux cleandre ne scavoit luy mesme qui il estoit et se trouvoit si esloigne de ce que je suis qu'il ne condamnoit guere moins son amour que je l'eusse condamnee si je l'eusse sceue alors et que je la condamnay quand je la sceus artamene n'avoit qu'a dire qu'il estoit cyrus pour faire connoistre qu'il estoit d'une naissance egalle a la vostre mais au lieu de cela cleandre durant tres long temps n'osoit presques souhaiter de scavoir qui il estoit de 
 peur qu'il ne luy fust plus desavantageux d'estre connu que de ne l'estre pas les faux noms qu'ils ont portez l'un et l'autre leur ont mesme este donnez bien differemment car cyrus prit celuy d'artamene pour se deguiser et artamas sans scavoir seulement son veritable nom receut celuy de cleandre de thimettes qui le luy donna ne croyant pas qu'il le deust jamais quitter il est vray qu'ils ont este tous deux braves et tous deux conquerans mais avec une notable difference puis qu'enfin la fortune a presques renferme les victoires d'artamas dans le royaume de mon pere pendant qu'elle a estendu les conquestes de cyrus par toute l'asie la naissance de leur passion est mesme aussi differente que le merite des deux personnes qui leur en ont donne est esloigne l'un de l'autre et quant a la prison ou ils ont este tous deux c'a este encore par des causes bien dissemblables la jalousie et la meschancete d'artesilas firent la prison de cleandre et la preocupation de ciaxare celle d'artamene quoy que je sois contrainte d'advouer qu'il y a eu une egalle injustice en l'une et en l'autre de plus la haine que ciaxare a portee a cyrus n'a este que parce qu'il avoit mal entendu les menaces des dieux mais pour le roy mon pere il n'a hai artamas que parce qu'il a creu que je l'aimois et par consequent la cause de sa haine ne scauroit cesser conme celle de la haine de ciaxare a cesse au reste il ne me semble pas que vous ayez raison 
 de trouver qu'il y ait de l'egalite en leur derniere prison puis que celle de cyrus ne dura qu'une heure au plus que celle d'artamas dure encore et qu'outre cela il fut dangereusement blesse renfermez donc de grace poursuivit elle toutes ces ressemblances que vous trouvez en nos advantures en une seule qui est que nous sommes en prison encore est-ce bien differemment car vous scavez qu'il y a deux cens mille hommes en armes pour vostre liberte que le plus vaillant prince de la terre et le plus grand capitaine tout ensemble commande cette grande armee et qu'il ne combat que pour vous de plus vous pouvez luy souhaiter la victoire et faire des voeux pour l'obtenir mais pour moy je ne suis pas seulement privee de toute esperance de secours mais encore de toute consolation si ce n'est de celle de vostre amitie qui en est veritablement une fort grande car enfin il ne m'est pas permis de desirer pour recouvrer ma liberte que le roy mon pere soit vaincu qu'il perde la couronne et qu'il devienne esclave cependant si cyrus est vainqueur la chose sera ainsi et s'il ne l'est pas le prince artamas perira en prison et je mourray en celle ou je suis de sorte que sans pouvoir seulement faire un desir innocent qui me soit avantageux il faut que je souffre les maux qui m'accablent sans en souhaiter mesme la fin jugez apres cela si je puis tomber d'accord que je dois vostre affection a mes infortunes et 
 si je ne dois pas vous soutenir que cela n'est point du tout afin d'avoir du moins la consolation de m'en pleindre ce que je ne pourrois faire si je croyois leur devoir vostre amitie ce que vous me dittes repliqua mandane est aussi spirituel qu'obligeant mais apres tout je ne laisse pas d'estre persuadee que les dieux ont eu dessein que le prince artamas aimast et servist cyrus et que cyrus aussi protegeast et consolast artamas et qu'ils n'ayent du moins eu intention que la pitie qui attache si facilement les malheureux les uns aux autres fist que nous trouvassions quelque soulagement a nous entretenir de la difference de nos malheurs et a nous rendre tous les offices que des personnes prisonnieres se peuvent rendre apres cela ces deux princesses dirent encore beaucoup de choses que je n'entendis pas bien parce que martesie m'en empeschoit j'avois mesme eu asses de peine a l'obliger de me permettre d'escouter ce que je viens de vous dire car elle me faisoit tousjours quelque question ou je respondois en deux mots et mesme quelquefois de la teste seulement parce qu'ayant ouy que la princesse mandane avoit nomme une fois le prince mon maistre je voulois tousjours scavoir si elle n'en parleroit point davantage c'est pourquoy malgre martesie qui s'estoit ennuyee d'escouter et qui me vouloit entretenir l'entendis ce que je viens de dire que j'ay este bien aise d'apprendre a l'illustre cyrus afin de luy faire juger qu'estant 
 aussi fidelle a mon maistre que je le suis je ne luy apprendrois pas les sentimens avantageux que la princesse mandane a pour luy si je ne scavois avec certitude que le prince mazare n'y pretend plus rien mais pour revenir a mon discours vous scaurez madame qu'enfin la princesse de lydie quitta mandane et passa de sa chambre dans la sienne qui n'en estoit separee que par une petite antichambre qui estoit commune a toutes les deux
 
 
 
 
elle ne fut pas plustost sortie que scachant qu'il n'y avoit plus qu'arianite avec elle je fus prendre mon maistre au lieu ou je l'avois laisse pour l'amener dans la chambre de mandane le capitaine qui nous avoit fait entrer dans la citadelle nous menant encore jusques a la porte et nous y laissant afin d'aller prendre garde que l'on ne nous peust descouvrir comme martesie estoit allee preparer la princesse a recevoir un homme qui la vouloit delivrer et qu'elle luy avoit dit que c'estoit moy qui le luy conduisois elle chercha a s'imaginer quel pouvoit estre ce liberateur et j'ay sceu depuis par martesie qu'elle avoit creu que ce ne pouvoit estre que l'illustre cyrus de sorte qu'ayant une extreme frayeur de penser qu'il se fust mis en un si grand danger a sa consideration elle n'avoit pas toute la joye qu'elle devoit avoir de la liberte qu'on luy faisoit esperer apres cela madame il vous est ce me semble aise de vous representer quel fut l'estonnement de cette princesse lors qu'au lieu de voir entrer 
 l'invincible cyrus dont elle avoit l'imagination toute remplie elle vit a ses pieds le prince mazare qu'elle croyoit mort elle se tourna alors avec precipitation vers martesie comme pour luy demander si ce qu'elle voyoit estoit vray et pourquoy s'il l'estoit elle l'avoit trompee martesie de son coste qui n'estoit pas moins surprise que la princesse me regardoit avec un estonnement si grand qu'elle ne pouvoit me demander pourquoy je luy avois deguise la verite cependant mon maistre ne fut pas plustost a genoux aupres de mandane qui n'avoit pas la force de se lever que luy adressant la parole madame luy dit il vous voyez a vos pieds un homme ressuscite mais ressuscite aussi innocent qu'il estoit criminel un quart d'heure devant que de faire naufrage avecque vous c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne me traitter plus comme je meritois de l'estre lors que j'eus l'injustice de vous enlever puis que je ne suis plus maintenant le mesme que j'estois alors je ne vous demande plus divine princesse que vous souffriez que je vous adore puis que c'est une chose que je suis resolu de faire en secret dans mon coeur tout le reste de ma vie mais je vous suplie seulement de me vouloir pardonner un crime que je suis prest de reparer en vous redonnant la liberte que je vous ay ostee ha mazare interrompit la princesse on ne m'abuse pas a sardis comme on me trompa a sinope et je n'ay plus presentement pour vous les 
 sentimens que j'avois en ce temps la je suis pourtant repliqua t'il en soupirant moins indigne de vostre amitie que je ne le fus jamais car enfin madame lors que vous me l'aviez accordee a babilone je ne faisois que combatre contre la passion que vous aviez fait naistre dans mon coeur et l'on peut dire qu'encore que je creusse combattre de toute ma force je me deffendois pourtant foiblement en effet je suis vaincu par cette imperieuse passion ma vertu luy ceda absolument elle chassa de mon ame la generosite et la raison et me forca enfin a sinope a faire la plus violente et la plus injuste action dont on puisse estre capable je vous enlevay donc madame et je vous enlevay en vous trompant et en vous persuadant que je voulois vous remettre entre les mains de qui il vous plairoit mais divine princesse je ne fus pas longtemps criminel puis que je me repentis aussi tost de ce que j'avois fait et que le commandement que je fis au pilote de tourner la proue de la galere vers sinope fut ce qui vous mit en estat de perir non non interrompit mandane vous ne me persuaderez pas ce que vous dittes je fus trop cruellement trompee de vous pour m'y pouvoir jamais confier car mazare pour vous faire voir combien vostre crime me doit paroistre grand il faut que je vous advoue qu'excepte cyrus je ne croyois pas qu'il y eust un homme au monde de qui la vertu egalast la vostre je vous estimois autant que j'estois capable 
 d'estimer quelqu'un je croyois vous avoir de l'obligation et je vous en avois en effet et pour dire quelque chose de plus je vous aimois comme si vous eussiez este mon frere jugez apres cela comment j'ay deu passer d'une extremite a l'autre apres la violence que vous m'avez faite apres m'avoir trompee avec tant d'adresse et m'avoir cause tous les malheurs qui me sont arrivez en verite mazare adjousta t'elle je ne scay comment les dieux vous ont conserve la vie puis que non seulement vous estes cause de toutes mes infortunes mais de celles de toute l'asie qui n'est en guerre que parce que vous m'avez enlevee cessez madame reprit ce prince afflige cessez de me reprocher mon crime puis que je le voy aussi grand qu'il est car sans considerer les malheurs des autres je n'ay qu'a penser a ceux que je vous ay causez et que je vous cause encore et je n'ay enfin qu'a me souvenir que j'ay perdu le respect que le vous devois mais madame le repentir que j'en ay eu et que j'en auray jusques a la mort est un chastiment si rude que si vous en connoissiez la grandeur vous auriez peut-estre pitie de ce que je souffre ne le trouvant pourtant pas proportionne a ma faute je m'en suis encore impose un plus rude c'est madame de vous remettre moy mesme entre les mains de cyrus de cet heureux rival dis-je a qui les dieux ont reserve de si favorables avantures que ses rivaux mesmes travaillent a delivrer pour luy seulement la princesse 
 qu'il adore et qu'ils adorent aussi bien que luy c'est pour cela madame adjousta t'il que j'ay quitte un desert ou je m'estois confine que je suis venu en lydie sous un autre nom que le mien et que je me suis determine a vous tirer de prison les dieux ont sans doute favorise mon entreprise et j'ay amene la chose au point que si vous le voulez dans trois jours vous serez hors d'icy et dans le camp de cyrus en achevant ces paroles le prince mazare souspira malgre qu'il en eust d'une maniere si touchante qu'il estoit ce me semble aise de voir qu'il se repentoit veritablement neantmoins la princesse mandane ne se le put jamais imaginer il y avoit pourtant quelques instants ou toutes les choses que luy disoit ce prince afflige l'esbranloient mais un moment apres la defiance reprenoit sa place dans son coeur et faisoit qu'elle ne pouvoit croire que le prince mazare eust effectivement dessein de la remettre en liberte elle voyoit bien qu'il faloit qu'il eust une grande et puissante intelligence dans la citadelle et elle pensoit aussi que puis qu'il avoit eu assez d'adresse pour trouver les moyens d'y entrer il pourroit encore avoir celle de l'en pouvoir faire sortir mais en mesme temps elle croyoit que ce seroit pour l'enlever une seconde fois et non pas pour la delivrer veritablement de sorte que quoy qu'il luy peust dire elle ne le croyoit point et luy disoit tousjours constamment qu'elle aimoit mieux demeurer prisonniere que de le suivre conme 
 il le luy proposoit quoy madame luy disoit il vous ne voulez point me croire lors que je vous assure que je me repens et que pour reparer mon crime je veux vous remettre en liberte je n'ay pas la force adjoustoit il de vous dire que je n'ay plus d'amour pour vous car madame je ne veux pas mesler le mensonge avec la verite mais je vous proteste en presence des dieux qui m'escoutent que cette passion est sans esperance et sans aucune pretention je ne veux autre chose qu'obtenir mon pardon et vous remettre en liberte apres cela je mourray sans murmurer il est mesme juste adjousta t'il que pour me punir plus rigoureusement cette passion demeure dans mon ame regardez la donc comme un suplice qui me punit de ma faute et vous la souffrirez sans doute principalement quand vous verrez que je ne vous en demanderay aucune reconnoissance cependant ne me donnez pas le desplaisir de voir que quand je vous ay dit un mensonge qui vous estoit desavantageux vous m'avez creu et que lors que je vous dis une verite qui peut rompre vos chaines vous ne me croyez pas non non interrompit la princesse vous ne me tromperez pas une seconde fois je me fiay en vous parce que je vous croyois incapable de me tromper mais apres m'avoir trompee je ne m'y scaurois plus fier ne considerez vous point madame reprit il que mesme il est impossible que je puisse avoir un mauvais dessein car comment ferois-je pour 
 l'executer je puis sans doute vous tirer de prison parce que le camp de cyrus est un lieu de retraitte tres proche et tres assure mais si je voulois vous enlever au roy de pont seulement et vous enlever pour moy mesme comment en viendrois-je a bout sardis ne seroit pas un lieu seur a vous cacher et toute la campagne est couverte des troupes de cyrus je ne scay dit elle ny ou est cyrus ny comment vous pourriez faire mais je scay bien que je ne vous croiray pas quoy madame luy dit il vous refuseriez la liberte parce qu'elle vous est offerte par un prince que vous n'aimez point la raison qui fait que je ne l'aime pas repliqua t'elle est que je croy qu'il n'a pas dessein de me delivrer et qu'il ne cherche qu'a me faire changer de chaines mais prison pour prison j'aime mieux estre avec la princesse de lydie qu'aveque vous pour vous tesmoigner madame interrompit il que je ne veux pas vous delivrer pour moy je n'ay qu'a vous dire que je ne veux pas vous delivrer seule puis que je pretends aussi donner la liberte a la princesse palmis et que c'est par un amant d'une fille qu'elle a aupres d'elle qui s'apelle cylenise que j'ay intelligence dans la citadelle ou vous estes prisonniere apres cela madame douterez vous de la sincerite de mes intentions je douteray de tout repliqua t'elle car j'aime mieux douter de vos paroles que si vos paroles me trompoient une seconde fois mais orsane me dit elle en se tournant vers moy conment est il possible 
 que vous ayez servy vostre maistre en une pareille occasion pour moy adjousta t'elle j'ay tousjours connu tant de vertu en vostre ame que j'aime mieux croire qu'il vous trompe que de penser que vous me trompiez comme luy madame repliquay-je je puis vous assurer que le prince mazare n'a autre intention que celle qu'il vous dit ha orsane s'escria t'elle vous estes moins sage que moy si vous croyez ce que vous dittes en verite dit manesie parlant a la princesse il me semble puis qu'orsane parle comme il fait qu'il faudroit adjouster foy a ses paroles car enfin il n'est pas amoureux et par consequent il est plus croyable que le prince mazare pour vous tesmoigner interrompit mon maistre parlant a mandane que je ne veux que vous delivrer je m'offre a demeurer dans vostre prison lors que vous en sortirez orsane et un illustre amy que j'ay acquis dans ma solitude vous conduiront au trop heureux cyrus et je demeureray icy a souffrir constamment la mort que cresus me fera donner je vous promets mesme de la recevoir aveque joye pourveu que vous me promettiez que ma memoire ne vous sera point en horreur je feray encore plus adjousta t'il emporte par la violence de son amour et par le desespoir ou il estoit de voir que cette princesse ne le croyoit pas car si vous le voulez je me tueray devant que vous sortiez de la prison que je vous auray ouverte si je croyois ce que vous dittes repliqua 
 qua la princesse je vous dirois que si vostre mort arrivoit de cette sorte elle me toucheroit trop mais enfin je ne scaurois me resoudre a vous croire advouez moy du moins reprit il en attendant que j'aye trouve les moyens de vous persuader que si vous me croiyez vous diminueriez une partie de la haine que vous avez pour moy je dis mesme plus adjousta t'elle car si je vous croyois je serois capable d'oublier le passe de vous pardonner et de vous redonner mon amitie tant je trouverois la liberte douce et vostre action genereuse mais le mal est que je ne vous crois pas et que je ne vous scaurois croire et qu'ainsi vous regardant comme un prince qui me veut tromper une seconde fois je vous regarde avec colere et avec haine qui vit jamais s'ecria t'il alors un malheur egal au mien vous me dittes que vous me pardonneriez et que vous me redonneriez vostre amitie si ce que je dis estoit vray et cependant vous avez l'injustice de me regarder avec colere et avec haine quoy qu'il n'y ait rien de plus certain que je vous veux delivrer dittes moy du moins ce qu'il faut faire pour vous persuader que je ne ments pas et pour vous monstrer mon coeur a descouvert je n'en scay rien reprit elle mais je scay que je ne me fieray pas a ce que vous dittes c'est pourquoy obligez ceux qui vous ont fait entrer a vous faire sortir promptement et contentez vous que j'aye la generosite de ne vouloir pas vous perdre et de ne faire pas advertir les gardes 
 que vous ne pouvez pas avoir tous gagnez que vous estes icy ne pensez pas adjousta t'elle que ce soit parce que je doute si ce que vous dittes est vray ou faux que j'agisse comme je fais mais c'est que je ne suis pas cruelle et que de plus les premiers services que vous m'avez rendus ont este assez considerables pour m'obliger a ne vouloir pas estre cause de vostre mort au nom des dieux madame luy dit il ne me desesperez pas et croyez moy au nom des dieux repliqua t'elle ne me persecutez pas davantage et me laissez en repos de grace martesie adjoustoit ce prince persuadez vostre illustre maistresse de se fier en mes paroles seigneur luy repliquoit cette sage fille j'advoue que je vous croy mais j'advoue en mesme temps que je n'oserois pourtant conseiller a la princesse de vous croire c'est pourquoy ce n'est pas a moy a la persuader que faut il donc que je face reprit il et que puis je faire autre chose que mourir car comme je n'avois quitte ma solitude que pour vous delivrer dit il a mandane et pour obtenir mon pardon ne pouvant faire ny l'un ny l'autre je n'ay plus rien a chercher que la mort aussi la chercheray-je en des lieux et en des occasions ou apparamment je la trouveray en effet madame poursuivit il puis que je ne puis estre souffert de vous ny comme vostre amant ny comme vostre amy et que vous ne pouvez croire que je sois capable de repentir il faut 
 bien que je cherche les voyes de me jetter en un peril si grand qu'il y ait certitude de vous delivrer pour toujours de la veue d'un prince que vous haissez jusques au point de ne vouloir pas recevoir la liberte de sa main la princesse entendant parler mon maistre avec tant de violence creut par ce qu'il luy disoit et par ce peril qu'il vouloit chercher qu'il entendoit de se battre avec l'illustre cyrus de sorte madame que prenant la parole elle luy dit certains mors qui firent connoistre au prince mazare la crainte qu'elle avoit qu'il ne voulust entreprendre quelque chose contre ce prince mais a peine eut il compris ce qu'elle vouloit dire que sans luy donner loisir d'achever d'expliquer la pensee je vous entens madame je vous entens luy dit il vous ne voulez pas que cyrus ait l'avantage de me vaincre puis que vous ne voulez pas que je le combatte mais ne craignez pas madame que dans les sentimens ou je suis j'entreprenne rien contre luy j'ay trop de respect pour ce que vous aimez pour y songer et je suis moy mesme assez oblige a ce prince pour ne pouvoir m'y porter avec honneur ainsi madame si je meurs par la main de l'illustre cyrus il faudra qu'il me cherche et qu'il me tue mesme sans que je me deffende ce qu'il n'est pas capable de faire voila madame jusques ou va le respect que j'ay pour vous et quels sont les sentimens de cet homme que vous dittes qui vous veut tronper une seconde fois croyez donc 
 que si je rencontre cyrus je luy demanderay la mort comme une recompense des services que je vous ay voulu rendre et comme le seul remede aux maux que je souffre apres cela madame ma memoire vous sera t'elle encore en horreur et hairez vous mazare et vivant et mort pendant que ce prince parloit ainsi la princesse le regardoit attentivement et il y eut des instants ou j'esperay qu'elle se laisseroit persuader mais il n'y eut pourtant pas moyen elle luy parla toutesfois avec plus de douceur depuis ce qu'il luy eut dit de l'illustre cyrus et je ne scay si cette conversation eust dure un peu plus long temps si a la fin cette vertueuse princesse n'eust pas connu la verite mais ce capitaine qui nous avoit fait entrer nous estant venu advertir qu'il estoit temps de sortir de l'apartement de la princesse et de retourner au sien jusques a ce qu'il nous pust faire sortir de la citadelle il falut en effet nous retirer sans avoir pu persuader la princesse mandane et avec le deplaisir d'avoir amene inutilement une si grande et si hardie entreprise si pres d'estre executee aussi vous puis-je assurer que mon maistre en eut une douleur extreme et quand je me souviens quel transport fut le sien lors qu'apres que nous fusmes sortis de la citadelle il raconta a belesis ce qui luy venoit d'arriver je ne puis que je n'admire encore la grandeur de sa passion par la grandeur de son desespoir car enfin il vouloit mourir absolument et ne pouvoit pas 
 comprendre ny qu'il pust vivre ny qu'il le deust de sorte que belesis et moy n'eusmes pas peu de peine a moderer la fureur qu'il avoit contre luy mesme ce que j'admiray le plus fut que la veue de mandane ne fit qu'augmenter son repentir et que le confirmer dans le genereux dessein qu'il avoit les gardes de cette princesse son logement et mille autres choses qu'il avoit remarquees ou en entrant ou en sortant de la citadelle quoy qu'il fist fort obscur redoubloient encore ses desplaisirs c'est moy disoit il c'est moy qui suis cause qu'elle est prisonniere qu'elle voit tous les jours mille fascheux objets et qu'elle n'a pas un moment de repos aussi a t'elle bien proportionne la haine qu'elle me porte aux maux que je luy fais souffrir car je ne pense pas que l'on puisse plus hair personne qu'elle me hait en effet adjoustoit il si cela n'estoit pas elle n'agiroit pas comme elle agit et elle n'aimeroit pas mieux estre dans une forte citadelle et au pouvoir d'un prince qui a une puissante protection et une grande armee pour s'opposer a cyrus que de s'exposer au malheur qu'elle craint il faut bien sans doute qu'elle me haisse plus que le roy de pont puis que quand il seroit vray ce qui n'est pas que je la voudrois enlever une seconde fois il serort bien plus aise a cyrus de la tirer de mes mains que de celles de deux princes qui ont la moitie de l'asie engagee dans leurs interests mais c'est sans doute que les dieux non seulement 
 ne veulent pas que je sois le plus aime mais c'est qu'ils veulent mesme que je sois le plus hai cependant j'ay entendu ou j'ay creu entendre car je ne me fie pas a mes propres sens tant ma raison est troublee que si mandane croyoit que j'eusse un veritable repentir elle auroit encore une veritable amitie pour moy et malgre cela j'ay beau avoir dans l'ame des sentimens equitables et genereux elle n'en croit rien et n'en veut rien croire car je suis assure qu'elle combat sa propre raison qui luy dit sans doute qu'elle doit adjouster foy a mes paroles et qu'a quelque prix que ce soit elle veut que je sois coupable au nom des dieux orsane adjousta t'il voyez encore une fois martesie et taschez de faire ce que je n'ay pas fait dittes luy qu'elle die a son incomparable maistresse qu'el- ne refuse point la liberte et qu'elle cherche dans son esprit par quelle voye je la puis assurer que je n'ay point d'autre dessein que de la delivrer la chose presse extremement et si nous n'achevons nostre entreprise durant la treve nous ne la pourrons jamais faire reussir puis que des qu'elle sera rompue il faudra que j'aille a l'armee et par consequent je ne pourray plus demeurer icy sans estre suspect l'incommodite que je feins d'avoir presentement afin d'estre en liberte d'agir commence de donner quelque inquietude au roy de pont c'est pourquoy encore une fois songez a moy et faites vos derniers efforts et s'il est possible ne les faites pas 
 inutilement je vous laisse a juger si je pouvois refuser quelque chose a un prince qui pouvoit tout sur moy et qui ne me demandoit rien d'injuste mais afin de mieux agir belesis fut prendre un billet de tegee pour cylenise que je portay avec intention d'obliger martesie a le rendre a cette fille de sorte qu'ayant parle a ce capitaine qui estoit de nostre intelligence il me fit entrer le soir suivant dans la citadelle et me donna encore moyen de parler a martesie a qui je dis tout ce qu'on peut dire pour luy faire connoistre que la princesse avoit tort de ne vouloir pas qu'on la delivrast et en effet je parlay si fortement que je suis persuade qu'elle me creut mais elle m'assura que quant a la princesse elle ne me croiroit pas en suitte comme je luy eus dit que j'avois un billet pour cylenise elle me repliqua que cela ne serviroit de rien comme elle me l'avoit desja dit parce que la princesse palmis ne vouloit assurement point sortir de prison si ce n'estoit de la main du roy son pere et que cylenise ne voudroit pas quitter sa maistresse le ne laissay pourtant pas de la prier de l'envoyer querir afin que je luy donnasse le billet de tegee et en effet martesie le fit mais lors qu'elle fut venue elle me dit les larmes aux y eux qu'elle estoit bien redevable a tegee mais qu'elle ne pouvoit ny persuader sa maistresse ny la quitter que la princesse mandane ayant dit a la princesse palmis ce qu'il luy estoit arrive elle avoit ouy leur conversation et 
 avoit connu que cette princesse croyoit absolument que mazare trompoit tegee et moy aussi et avoit un mauvais dessein et qu'en suitte la princesse palmis luy avoit fait connoistre que quant a elle il luy estoit impossible de le pouvoir plus resoudre a faire ce qu'elle avoit voulu faire a ephese luy semblant que la bien seance ne pouvoit souffrir qu'elle voulust sortir aveque violence d'une prison ou le roy son pere l'avoit mise voyant donc que l'assistance de ces deux filles m'estoit inutile je pressay tant martesie de me faire encore une fois parler a la princesse mandane qu'enfin elle s'y resolut j'entray donc avec elle dans la chambre apres qu'elle eut este luy en demander la permission et qu'elle l'eut assuree que le prince mazare n'y estoit pas mais quoyque je pusse luy dire il me fut impossible de luy faire croire ce que je voulois qu'elle creust et tout ce que je pus obtenir d'elle fut que je l'amenay au point d'en douter ce qu'elle ne faisoit pas auparavant que je l'eusse veue cette derniere fois cela ne changea pourtant rien a sa resolution ne voulant pas bazarder de sortirs sur une chose douteuse mais madame luy dis-je alors presupose que ce que je dis soit veritable n'y a t'il pas de l'injustice de ne vouloir pas du moins donner a mon maistre les moyens de vous faire connoistre qu'il est effectivement dans le dessein de reparer la faute qu'il a faite pour moy madame adjoustay-je il ne me semble pas que vous agissiez selon toute l'estendue 
 de vostre bonte car que voulez vous que mon maistre devienne comme je scay tous ses sentimens je puis vous assurer qu'il n'est venu se jetter dans le party de cresus qu'avec l'intention de vous delivrer et qu'il n'a combatu pour luy que pour pouvoir trouver les moyens de vous mettre en liberte mais aujourd'huy que vous ne voulez pas qu'il vous y mette il ne demeurera pas dans un party qui n'est point le vostre il ne peut pas non plus aller dans l'armee de cyrus a moins que de vous y remener que voulez vous donc qu'il face de grace madame adjoustay-je ne souffrez pas qu'un si grand prince perisse pour l'amour de vous comme il fera sans doute si du moins vous ne luy donnez les moyens d'esperer d'estre justifie dans vostre esprit et de vous faire voir que sa vertu est aussi grande que son amour et que son repentir est encore plus grand que son crime enfin madame si je le puis dire sans perdre le respect que je vous dois je ne partiray point d'icy que je n'aye obtenu par mes tres humbles prieres ce que je vous demande pour mon maistre orsane me dit elle ce que vous me dittes m'espouvante et m'afflige tout ensemble car le moyen de croire que vous ne parliez pas sincerement le moyen encore de penser que l'on vous puisse tromper et le moyen aussi de s'imaginer qu'un prince qui a este assez injuste pour m'enlever soit en suitte assez genereux pour vouloir reparer sa faute cependant a vous parler avec sincerite je conmence 
 de croire qu'il n'est pas impossible que cela soit mais ce qui fait mon affliction est que je ne puis le croire assez fortement pour me fier au prince mazare ainsi j'entre-voy ce me semble un chemin de pouvoir sortir de ma prison mais je ne le scaurois suivre quoy que l'on m'en puisse dire en effet l'action de mazare et celle du roy de pont font que tout m'est suspect et que je ne me puis fier a rien c'est pourquoy ne vous obstinez pas davantage a me presser d'une chose que je ne puis faire mais adjoustay je que deviendra mon maistre si vous ne luy donnez du moins les moyens de vous faire connoistre qu'il a effectivement voulu vous delivrer eh de grace madame songez bien a ce que je dis et ne vous mettez pas en estat de vous reprocher un jour a vous mesme la mort d'un des plus vertueux princes du monde pour vous monstrer orsane me dit la princesse que je ne veux pas vous refuser toutes choses et que je veux bien que le prince mazare s'il est tel que vous le dittes ait les moyens de me donner des marques convainquantes de son veritable repentir et une voye infaillible de recouvrer mon estime etmesme mon amitie dittes luy qu'il aille combatre pour ma liberte en combattant pour cyrus et que s'il le fait je croiray effectivement qu'il m'a voulu delivrer mais madame luy dis-je cyrus ne recevra peut estre pas trop bien le prince mon maistre il le recevra sans doute comme son amy repliqua mandane 
 s'il est persuade qu'il a voulu estre mon liberateur mais afin de n'exposer pas la vie d'un prince qui me sera chere s'il est redevenu aussi vertueux que je l'ay connu autrefois je m'en vay vous donner un billet pour cyrus que mazare luy rendra et en effet ayant accepte ce qu'elle m'offroit non seulement parce que je mourois d'envie de voir mon maistre hors de sardis de peur que ce que nous avions trame ne fust descouvert par cresus ou par le roy de pont mais encore parce que j'en avois infiniment davantage de le voir amy de l'illustre cyrus enfin madame cette grande princesse escrivit et me dit si fortement que si mazare agissoit ainsi elle croiroit qu'il l'avoit voulue delivrer et luy redonneroit son estime et son amitie que je la quittay en l'assurant qu'elle n'avoit qu'a se preparer a luy rendre cette justice je taschay encore auparavant a l'obliger de faire plus mais il n'y eut pas moyen quoy que martesie luy pust dire apres cela je fus retrouver mon maistre qui m'attendoit avec une impatience extreme quoy qu'il n'esperast rien du tout de mon voyage et certes a dire vray il luy fut avantageux de n'avoir rien espere parce que cela luy fit recevoir plus favorablement la proposition que la princesse mandane m'avoit faite car enfin madame comme en faisant ce qu'elle vouloir je l'assurois qu'elle luy seroit aussi obligee que s'il l'avoit remise en liberte puis qu'elle connoistroit par la qu'il auroit eu dessein 
 de le faire et qu'elle luy prometroit de luy pardonner et de luy redonner son amitie il ne put s'empescher d'en avoir quelque joye il eut pourtant beaucoup de douleur de voir qu'il ne pouvoit obeir a la princesse sans changer de party legerement son amour faisant aussi un dernier effort contre sa vertu fit encore qu'il fut une peine estrange a se resoudre de rendre a l'illustre cyrus le billet de la princesse mandane mais apres un combat de deux heures qui se passa dans son coeur la vertu vainquit l'amour de sorte qu'apres avoir este ce temps la a s'entretenir seul il revint a belesis et a moy avec beaucoup de melancolie sur le visage mais pourtant avec plus de tranquilite dans les yeux que nous ne luy en avions veu il y avoit plusieurs jours enfin nous dit il ma passion a cede j'ay acheve de la vaincre et je suis resolu a faire tout ce que la princesse veut puis que je ne la puis delivrer mais comme je suis criminel envers le roy d'assirie aussi bien qu'envers la princesse et que le voudrois avoir repare ce crime la comme j'ay voulu reparer l'autre je voudrois bien encore que par le moyen de tegee et de nos autres amis nous pussions le delivrer comme il disoit cela andramire le vint voir pour luy dire que les choses estoient en une confusion estrange que cresus et abradate estoient brouillez qu'abradare et le roy de pont l'estoient aussi que chacun prenoit party entre tous ces princes et mesme le peuple 
 qu'un homme apelle araspe qui avoit quitte le party de l'invincible cyrus depuis quelque temps et s'estoit jette dans celuy du roy de lydie fomentoit toutes ces divisions adroitement que cependant il venoit suivant sa promesse l'advertir que le roy de la susiane scachant que cresus ne cherchoit qu'un pretexte de le quereller afin de rompre absolument le traitte de l'eschange du prince artamas et de vous madame estoit resolu de quitter son party et d'autant plus qu'il scavoit encore que l'on devoit s'assurer du prince vostre pere qui pour eviter ce malheur venoit de s'en aller deguise pour se jetter dans clasomene de plus dit encore andramite j'ay sceu en mon particulier que l'on me veut arrester de sorte que je suis au desespoir de ce que sans doute vous ne pourrez faire ce que nous avons resolu qui est de nous aller jetter dans le party de cyrus je ne pense pourtant pas que vous nous blasmiez car je croy que pour mettre sa personne en seurete et pour delivrer sa maistresse il est permis de passer dans le party ennemy le prince mazare entendant parler andramite de cette sorte en fut bien aise parce qu'il vit qu'il avoit une voye d'enveloper son changement dans celuy des autres et qu'il luy seroit bien plus aise de passer du camp de cresus a celuy du party contraire que s'il eust este seul parce que le roy de pont le faisoit tousjours observer avec grand soin tant qu'il estoit a sardis apres avoir donc ouy tout 
 ce qu'andramite avoit a luy dire qui luy exagera l'injustice de cresus avec toute la chaleur d'un homme qui mouroit d'envie d'estre aupres de la belle doralise il luy dit que ses interests seroient tousjours les siens et qu'il feroit tout ce qu'il luy plairoit qu'il fist car encore luy dit il que vous ayez lieu de croire que je ne dois pas aller trouver cyrus apres ce qui s'est passe j'ay d'autres raisons que vous ne scavez pas qui feront que je ne laisseray pas de le faire mais il me semble que si nous pouvions trouver les moyens de delivrer les prisonniers qui sont icy nous serions mieux receus de ce prince j'en ay sans doute une voye assez seure toutesfois elle la sera encore davantage si vous vous joignez a moy enfin madame que vous diray-je andramite consentit a ce que mon maistre voulut et belesis et moy agismes si bien avec tegee que nous mismes la chose en estat d'estre executee la nuit suivante mais quoy que nous pussions faire nous ne pusmes imaginer les voyes de delivrer le prince artamas par ce qu'il avoit ses gardes en particulier avec lesquels ny tegee ny nous n'avions nulle habitude et ce qui faisoit qu'on le gardoit plus exactement que les autres estoit qu'il avoit cent mille amis en lydie et qu'ainsi ce qui le devoit rendre plus heureux estoit ce qui le rendoit plus miserable de sorte qu'il falut se contenter de songer a la liberte du roy d'assirie et a celle de sosicle de tegee de feraulas et d'un estranger apelle anaxaris comme 
 celuy qui commandoit les soldats qui les gardoient estoit amy particulier de tegee quoy que cresus ne le sceust pas il nous fut aise d'executer la chose ainsi des la nuit prochaine environ deux heures devant le jour le prince mazare andramite belesis quelques autres de leurs amis et moy fusmes trouver ce capitaine qui nous attendoit et suivant ce que nous estions convenus ensemble il nous mena droit a la chambre du roy d'assirie qui s'estant esveille au bruit que l'on avoit fait en y entrant fut estrangement surpris de voir a la faveur d'une lampe magnifique qui estoit pendue au milieu de sa chambre que c'estoit le prince mazare qu'il croyoit mort qui s'aprochoit de luy comme ce prince est d'un naturel violent quoy qu'il ne sceust pas trop bien s'il estoit esveille ou endormy si ce qu'il voyoit estoit un phantosme ou un homme il s'assit sur son lict et troussant de la main droite un grand pavillon de pourpre de tir qui le couvroit que voy-je luy dit il d'un ton de voix fier et esleve sortez vous d'entre les ombres des morts pour m'annoncer la fin de ma vie ou estes vous encore entre les vivants pour me donner lieu de vous punir de vostre trahison seigneur repliqua le prince mon maistre sans s'emouvoir vous scaurez tout a loisir d'ou je sorts quand vous serez sorty de la prison ou vous estes et d'ou je viens vous tirer afin de reparer si je puis la faute que je commis contre vous quoy mazare reprit 
 il les dieux voudroient encore que je vous deusse ma liberte ils le veulent sans doute repliqua mon maistre mais pour faire que cela soit hastes vous s'il vous plaist de vous mettre en estat de nous suivre ha non non repliqua ce prince violent je ne veux rien devoir a celuy qui m'a ravy la princesse mandane quand je vous auray delivre reprit mazare je ne pretens pas que vous me soyez redevable puis qu'en vous rendant la liberte je vous auray encore moins rendu que je ne vous auray oste cependant adjousta t'il si vous voulez aider a cyrus a delivrer cette princesse il faut accepter la liberte que je vous offre et l'accepter mesme promptement car les moments nous sont precieux ha mazare s'escria le roy d'assirie vous avez trouve la voye de faire que je recoive la liberte que vous m'offrez je ne puis encore toutesfois vous promettre d'oublier le passe car il faudroit que je pusse oublier mandane et que je me pusse oublier moy mesme et tout ce que je puis est de vous dire que comme je fais tousjours tout ce qui est en ma puissance pour faire que mes amis mes rivaux et mes ennemis ne me surpassent pas en generosite il est a croire que je ne seray pas moins genereux que vous et que je seray maistre d'une partie de mes seutimens quoy qu'il en soit reprit le prince mazare hastons nous alors les gardes du roy d'assirie qui estoient tous de nostre intelligence luy aiderent a se lever en suitte dequoy 
 le prince mazare luy donnant une espee avec le mesme respect qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir pour luy quand il estoit a babilone tenez seigneur luy dit il tenez voicy dequoy punir mazare quand vous aurez delivre mandane si vous n'estes pas satisfait eh veuillent les dieux repliqua le roy d'assirie en prenant cette espee assez civilement que nous la pussions delivrer cette admirable princesse qui nous a rendus vous et moy si criminels et si malheureux apres cela faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme il surmonta une partie de sa colere et de sa fierte et apres avoir remercie andramite qu'il reconnut fort bien pour estre celuy qui avoit escorte les princesses et qui l'avoi amene a sardis il se laissa conduire a mazare et a luy ou pour mieux dire nous nous laissasmes mener a tegee et au capitaine qui avoit garde ces prisonniers qui par un escalier derobe nous fit sortir si secrettement que les soldats qui n'estoient pas gagnez ne s'en aperceurent point cela estant fait nous ne trouvasmes plus de difficulte a rien parce qu'andramite qui estoit un des lieutenans generaux de l'armee de cresus avoit fait en sorte qu'un capitaine qui estoit sa creature estoit en garde a une porte de la ville qui regardoit vers le quartier d'abradate ou nous voulions aller et ou nous gusmes en effet sans rencontrer aucun obstacle nous n'y fusmes pas si tost qu'allant droit a la tente d'abradate nous avisasmes ce que nous avions a faire 
 et il fut resolu seigneur poursuivit orsane adressant la parole a cyrus que pour ne rien hazarder ces princes n'entreprendroient pas encore de se venir jetter dans vostre camp parce que le jour commencoit de paroistre et qu'un frere d'andramite qui commande les gens de guerre qui tiennent le passage de la riviere d'helle n'aurait pas le temps de disposer les choses a nous laisser passer si promptement joint que comme abradate a son quartier a un poste fort avantageux il ne craignit pas que cresus entreprist de le forcer en ce lieu la de plus il creut bien encore qu'il ne reviendroit pas si tost de l'estonnement ou le depart du prince de clasomene et la fuitte du roy d'assirie l'avoient mis cependant ne voulant pas vous surprendre et estant mesme a propos que vous donniez quelques ordres afin que les troupes d'abradate puissent passer sans difficulte j'ay bien fait que j'ay obtenu que ce seroit moy qui viendrois vous aprendre que vostre party va estre fortifie de trois des plus vaillants princes du monde de beaucoup d'autres gens de qualite et de quatre mille des meilleurs soldats de l'armee de cresus feraulas a fait ce qu'il a pu pour m'oster cet avantage mais comme il n'eust pu vous instruire de tant de chose qu'il estoit necessaire que vous sceussiez je me suis oppose a son dessein il ne sera pourtant pas prive pour long temps de l'honneur de vous voir car le roy de la susiane a resolu de decamper 
 camper ce soir des que la nuit sera venue afin de passer la riviere d'helle devant le jour et d'estre aupres de vous au soleil levant voila seigneur ce que j'avois a vous dire vous supliant tres humblement de croire que je n'aporte autre changement aux sentimens de mon maistre si ce n'est qu'ils sont encore plus genereux que je ne vous les depeints c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de vouloir le regarder comme vostre amy et de ne le regarder plus comme vostre rival mais comme mes prieres sont trop peu considerables pour obtenir ce que je vous demande je suplie tres humblement ces deux grandes princesses qui m'escoutent de vouloir vous en prier ne doutant nullement qu'elles ne puissent tout obtenir de vous
 
 
 
 
orsane ayant cesse de parler panthee et araminte voulurent luy accorder ce qu'il souhaitoit d'elles et suplier cyrus d'oublier les choses qui s'estoient passees et de ne douter point du repentir de mazare mais ce prince les empeschant de continuer de grace leur dit il ne m'ostez pas la gloire de m'estre vaincu tout seul si j'ay a me vaincre et faites s'il vous plaist que mazare ne doive pas a vostre generosite ce qu'il devoit attendre de la mienne ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que ce ne soit une assez difficile chose a faire que de faire son amy d'un rival et d'un rival encore qui a enleve la princesse mandane et qu'ainsi je ne deusse estre bien aise que ma vertu fust soutenue par la 
 vostre mais apres tout comme le prince mazare n'est pas plus mon rival que je suis le sien s'il peut estre mon amy je ne dois pas trouver impossible de le recevoir comme tel c'est pourquoy je ne desespere pas de profiter de son exemple et d'estre peut-estre aussi genereux en oubliant l'outrage qu'il a fait a mandane qu'il l'a este en se repentant de son crime mais madame adjousta cyrus en parlant a panthee c'est sans doute a vous que je dois le puissant secours que j'attens du vaillant abradate puis que sans l'amour qu'il a dans le coeur il n'auroit pas senty si aigrement l'injustice de cresus je voudrois bien seigneur repliqua t'elle que ce que vous dittes fust vray car je serois bien aise de vous pouvoir rendre une partie de ce que je vous dois plust aux dieux interrompit la princesse araminte que je pusse avoir le mesme avantage que vous et que le roy mon frere pust se laisser toucher a l'illustre exemple que le prince mazare luy donne par son repentir quoy qu'il en soit dit cyrus a cette princesse ne vous affligez pas s'il vous plaist de voir le parti de cress s'affoiblir et le mien se fortifier puis que je vous engage ma parole que plustost je vaincray et plustust les malheurs de vostre maison finiront cependant comme il y a quelques ordres a donner afin qu'on recoive la nuit prochaine ceux qui viennent nous aider a vaincre vous me permettrez s'il vous plaist de vous quitter apres cela cyrus se retira 
 laissant panthee avec beaucoup de joye et emmenant orsane aveque luy a qui il fit encore cent questions en s'en retournant a son quartier ou il ne fut pas si tost qu'il choisit les troupes qu'il vouloit envoyer recevoir celles d'abradate avec lesquelles orsane retourna vers son maistre pour l'assurer de la protection de cyrus en suitte ce prince disposa toutes choses comme il vouloit qu'elles allassent jusques au logement du roy de la susiane de mazare d'andramite des autes personnes de qualite qui les suivoient et des troupes qu'ils amenoient ce n'est pas qu'il eust l'esprit fort libre mais c'est qu'il avoit l'ame si grande qu'il estoit incapable de manquer jamais a rien de ce qu'il estoit oblige de faire en s'en retournant a sa tente il rencontra aglatidas et ligdamis qu'il apella et qu'il mena aveque luy afin de leur aprendre comme a des gens qui avoient l'ame tendre et passionnee ce qui luy venoit d'arriver n'admirez vous point leur dit il apres leur avoir raconte en peu de mots les choses les plus essentielles du recit d'orsane l'opiniastrete de la fortune a vouloir tousjours que toutes mes advantures ayent quelque chose de particulier et qui me distingue de tous les autres malheureux qui sont au monde en effet ne voyez vous pas qu'elle n'a pas encore trouve que ce fust assez que j'eusse des rivaux que je pouvois regarder comme mes ennemis et les hair sans choquer la generosite et qu'elle veut pour m'accabler davantage 
 que j'en aye un qui devienne mon amy a qui je donne asile dans mon armee et qui m'aide peut-estre a delivrer mandane pour me l'enlever une seconde fois ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que je ne croye tout ce que m'a dit orsane de qui la probite ne me peut estre suspecte mais apres tout j'advoue que quelque desinteressee que soit la passion que j'ay pour la princesse mandane j'ay pourtant quelque peine a comprendre comment on la peut aimer sans pretendre d'en estre aime si vous l'aviez offencee comme le prince mazare reprit aglatidas je pense seigneur que vous trouveriez que quelque amoureux que vous fussiez il vous sembleroit que ce seroit bien assez d'estre justifie pour estre content je le croy aussi bien que vous adjousta cyrus mais je croy en mesme temps que des que je serois justifie je voudrois quelque chose de plus car c'est tellement la nature de l'amour de desirer que je croy qu'il faut conclurre que si mazare ne desire plus il n'aime plus cependant je scay bien que l'on ne peut pas cesser d'aimer mandane et je suis assure que mazare est tousjours mon rival il paroist pourtant assez repliqua ligdamis que la generosite l'emporte presentement sur l'amour dans le coeur de ce prince puis que si cela n'estoit pas il n'auroit ce me semble pas delivre le roy d'assirie qui est son rival aussi bien que vous que voulez vous que je vous die reprit cyrus si ce n'est que tout ce qui m'arrive est 
 si surprenant qu'il ne me laisse pas la liberte de raisonner juste apres cela cyrus s'affligeoit de ce que mandane n'avoit pas voulu que mazare la delivrast un moment apres il en estoit presques bien aise luy semblant qu'il luy eust este honteux qu'un autre que luy l'eust delivree en suitte il craignoit que ce ne fust pas tant par l'aprehension d'estre trompee par mazare que mandane eust agy comme elle avoit fait que par quelque autre sentiment qu'il n'osoit pas mesme determiner dans son esprit mais qui tout confus qu'il estoit luy donnoit pourtant beaucoup d'inquietude toutesfois cette inquietude ne duroit pas longtemps et la fermete qu'il avoit tousjours veue dans l'esprit de la princesse mandane dissipoit bien tost cette legere crainte qui le tourmentoit il est vray qu'il avoit tant de justes sujets d'estre afflige d'ailleurs qu'il n'avoit que faire de se former des malheurs imaginaires il voyait pourtant bien que son party alloit estre fortifie considerablement de sorte qu'adoucissant tous ses desplaisirs par l'esperance de la victoire il s'entretint assez tranquilement le reste du soir avec aglatidas et avec ligdamis il dormit pourtant fort peu cette nuit la tant parce qu'il vouloit voir arriver ceux qu'il attendoit que parce que l'entreveue de mazare et de luy l'inquietoit assez neantmoins quand il se souvenoit des choses que martesie luy avoit racontees de la vertu de ce prince il se r'assuroit un peu et il se determina 
 enfin si absolument a le bien recevoir qu'il ne douta point qu'il ne le fist en effet cyrus ne sceut pas plustost par quelques espions qu'il avoit envoyez expres pour cela qu'abradate avoit passe la riviere d'helle avec ses troupes qu'il monta a cheval apres avoir envoye advertir les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie aussi bien que les plus considerables des autres princes de son armee qui se trouverent alors a son quartier de sorte qu'en fort peu de temps tout le monde se rangeant aupres de luy il fut au devant de ces princes jusques a trente stades de son camp mais a peine fut il arrive sur une petite eminence qu'il vit paroistre les troupes d'abradate et celles qu'il avoit envoyees a sa rencontre jointes ensemble si bien que s'avancant suivy d'environ cinq cens chevaux seulement il fut au devant d'abradate et de ses rivaux il est vray qu'il y fut un peu lentement afin d'avoir plus de temps a se preparer a une entre veue qui avoit tant de choses capables d'esbranler l'ame la plus ferme ces deux corps avancant donc chacun de leur coste furent bientost assez pres l'un de l'autre pour permettre a ceux qui estoient aux premiers rangs de se connoistre si bien que le roy d'assirie abradate et mazare n'eurent pas plustost connu cyrus que voulant luy rendre le respect qu'il luy devoient comme a leur ancien vainqueur et comme a leur protecteur qu'il alloit estre ils s'avancerent vers luy en quittant leurs gros cyrus 
 de son coste n'eut pas plustost veu leur action qu'il fit aussi la mesme chose et descendans tous de cheval en mesme temps a quinze ou vingt pas les uns des autres abradate suivant qu'ils en estoient convenus le roy d'assirie mazare et luy s'avanca le premier en les presentant a cyrus seigneur luy dit il si j'estois venu seul aupres de vous j'aurois deu craindre de n'y estre pas bien receu mais vous amenant deux si vaillants princes et tant de braves gens qui les suivent j'ose esperer que vous ne me refuserez pas la protection que je vous demande principalement si vous considerez que je vous amene un prince dit il en monstrant mazare qui vous auroit amene la princesse mandane si elle l'eust voulu croire et qui est bien marry de ne vous amener pas le prince artamas de qui vous desirez tant la liberte en disant cela le roy d'assirie et le prince mazare saluerent cyrus le premier avec une civilite un peu fiere et l'autre avec un respect melancolique cyrus recevant leur salut et le leur rendant fort civilement quoy qu'avec plus de froideur qu'il n'avoit resolu d'en avoir il leur parla pourtant avec une generosite sans egale des qu'il eut surmonte la repugnance qu'il avoit a embrasser ses rivaux et les ravisseurs de mandane en effet aussi tost que cette premiere et facheuse ceremonie fut faite je ne pense pas leur 
 dit il que la victoire puisse desormais estre douteuse pour nous ny que la fortune toute puissante qu'elle est puisse s'opposer a la liberte de mandane vous verrez luy dit alors mazare en luy presentant le billet que mandane avoit voulu qu'il luy aportast que s'il eust pleu a l'admirable princesse dont vous parlez elle ne seroit plus en prison et que j'aurois fait pour elle tout ce que j'estois capable de faire pour obtenir mon pardon cyrus prenant alors des mains de son rival le billet de mandane avec une agitation d'esprit aussi grande qu'estoit celle de mazare en le luy donnant quoy qu'elle fust differente il l'ouvrit et y leut ces paroles apres en avoir fait un compliment a ces princes
 
 
 mandane a l'invincible cyrus 
 
 
 si le prince mazare est assez genereux pour vous rendre ce billet et pour vouloir combattre pour vous recevez le comme s'il m'avoit delivree puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'a tenu qu'a moy que je ne l'aye este par luy rendez donc a sa vertu en cette rencontre ce que je luy ay refuse et soyez assure que si son repentir est veritable il merite que vous luy donniez vostre amitie comme je luy avois donne autrefois la mienne c'est pourquoy sans vous souvenir jamais qu'il m'enleva a sinope souvenez vous seulement 
 qu'il me protegea a babilone et qu'il m'a voulue delivrer a sardis vivez donc aveque luy comme s'il avoit tousjours este vostre amy et qu'il n'eust jamais este vostre rival vous assurant que vous obligerez sensiblement la personne du monde qui est la plus equitable et la plus reconnoissante adieu tirez des dernieres paroles de ce billet toute la consolation que vous peut donner la malheureuse 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
pendant que cyrus lisoit ce que cette princesse luy avoit escrit le roy d'assirie souffroit ce que l'on ne peut s'imaginer qu'imparfaitement et parlant bas a mazare que vous estes heureux luy dit il d'avoir une passion si moderee qu'elle vous rend capable de donner une lettre de mandane a un de vos rivaux je ne pensois pas repliqua tristement mazare devoir estre en estat d'estre en vie aussi crois-je que vous ne parlez ainsi que parce que vous ne scavez pas ce qui se passe dans mon coeur comme ils alloient continuer de parler et qu'abradate les alloit interrompre cyrus ayant acheve de lire et la joye d'avoir en ses mains une chose qui avoit este en celles de sa princesse ayant remis le calme dans son esprit il regarda mazare avec plus de douceur et l'assura si obligeamment et si genereusement tout ensemble de ne le considerer plus que comme le liberateur de mandane et de ne se souvenir plus de l'advanture de sinope que ce vertueux prince 
 ce malgre la passion qu'il avoit tousjours dans l'ame en fut ravy d'admiration aussi bien que le roy de la susiane mais comme le roy d'assirie suportoit impatiemment cet entretien cyrus le finit bientost avec adresse abradate luy presenta pourtant andramite auparavant que de remonter a cheval et le prince mazare luy presenta aussi belesis luy disant que cet illustre amy luy pourroit dire un jour quel avoit este son repentir en suitte anaxaris s'estant avance aussi bien que sosicle tegee et feraulas cyrus les embarassa tous avec beaucoup de joye de les revoir principalement le dernier pour qui il avoit une fort grande tendresse apres quoy remontant tous a cheval ils prirent le chemin du camp ou cyrus ne fut pas plus tost que suivant les ordres qu'il en avoit donnez on assembla le conseil de guerre dans sa tente afin d'aviser si on continueroit d'observer la treve ou si ce qui venoit d'arriver la devoit faire rompre de sorte que des le premier jour mazare y donna sa voix comme s'il eust este des plus anciens amis de cyrus la chose fut quelque temps douteuse les uns voulant que l'on rompist la treve et que l'on profitast du desordre ou estoit alors cresus et les autres soutenant qu'il iroit de la gloire de cyrus s'il en usoit ainsi ceux qui estoient de cette opinion disoient que ce qui venoit d'arriver n'estoit point une chose que l'on pust attribuer a cyrus puis qu'il n'avoit rien fait que recevoir des prisonniers qui 
 s'estoient sauvez et qu'accorder retraitte a un prince mal traitte et a quelques gens de qualite mescontents qu'ainsi il faloit se donner patience puis que la treve ne devoit plus durer que trois jours enfin la chose ayant este bien contestee quelque envie qu'eust cyrus de combattre principalement ayant presentement le passage de la riviere d'helle libre par le moyen du frere d'andramite il ne voulut toutesfois pas qu'on luy pust reprocher d'avoir viole les loix de la guerre si bien que resolution estant prise tous ces princes se retirerent aux tentes qui leur avoient este preparees a la reserve d'abradate que cyrus fit conduire a la petite ville ou estoit sa chere panthee faisant ordonner a artabase de se retirer afin qu'elle ne vist plus aucune marque de captivite cyrus voulut mesme encore qu'andramite suivist abradate afin de voir doralise luy semblant que les dieux les recompenseroient un jour de la pitie qu'il avoit des amans malheureux comme luy et du soin qu'il aportoit a soulager leurs maux lors qu'il ne voyoit presque point de remede aux siens 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 apres que cyrus eut satisfait a tout ce que la dignite de son employ le besoin des affaires la civilite la generosite et la tendresse de son ame pouvoient exiger de luy en une pareille rencontre il voulut entretenir son cher feraulas en particulier et l'entretenir de mandane car il avoit sceu par orsane qu'il pouvoit l'avoir veue se promener sur le haut de la tour ou elle estoit captive de sorte que l'ayant fait apeller il luy fit toutes les caresses qu'un prince amoureux pouvoit faire a un confident de sa passion et a un confident encore de 
 qui il avoit receu cent services considerables et cent consolations dans ces malheurs il s'entretint donc aveque luy plus de deux heures sans pouvoir pourtant presques rien aprendre de sa princesse car feraulas avoit veu mandane de si loin qu'il ne pouvoit pas tirer grande satisfaction de ce qu'il luy en pouvoit dire mais l'amour a cela de particulier qu'elle fait que ceux qui en sont possedez ne s'ennuyent jamais de parler d'une mesme chose pourveu que l'interest de la personne qu'ils aimnent s'y trouve mesle c'est pourquoy quand cyrus avoit assez parle des derniers evenemens de sa vie il parloit encore des premiers avec le mesme empressement que s'ils fussent venus de luy arriver il est vray que ce jour la il n'avoit pas besoin de chercher a s'entretenir de choses fort esloignees puis que le retour du roy d'assirie et l'arrivee de mazare luy donnoient assez d'occupation de plus la lettre qu'il avoit receue de mandane luy donnoit encore assez dequoy parler ne pouvant s'empescher de trouver quelque chose de difficile a souffrir que cette princesse luy eust escrit si obligeamment pour mazare toutesfois les dernieres paroles de son billet le consoloient de toutes les autres et quand il songeoit qu'elle luy permettoit de les expliquer le plus favorablement qu'il pourroit il sentoit une douceur dans son ame plus aisee a imaginer qu'a depeindre quoy ma princesse disoit il vous permettez a mes pensees d'interpreter vos paroles 
 les a mon avantage mais scavez vous bien divine mandane adjoustoit il jusques ou se peut flatter un amant et ne craignez vous point que je vous face dire ce que vous ne me direz jamais ne pensez pas en me disant que vous estes equitable et reconnoissante renfermer la justice que vous me voulez faire et la reconnoissance que vous voulez avoir dans des bornes si estroites que vous n'y compreniez que ce que j'ay fait pour vous delivrer non non diune mandane ce n'est point la le sens que je veux donner a vos paroles ne contez s'il vous plaist pour rien ny les combats que j'ay faits ny les villes que j'ay prises ny les batailles que j'ay gagnees mais contez pour quelque chose la violente et respectuese passion que j'ay pour vous c'est de cela seulement que je souhaite que vous me soyez obligee et que vous me rendiez justice ne contez donc point les perils que j'ay courus ny les blessures que j'ay receues mais tenez moy conte des souspirs que j'ay poussez et des larmes que j'ay versees depuis que j'ay commence de vous aimer enfin adjoustoit il encore comme si elle eust pu l'entendre souffrez que le transport de mon amour me fasse interpreter si favorablement ce que vous m'avez escrit que je puisse croire qu'en m'assurant que vous estes equitable vous voulez bien que je croye que vous m'aimez autant que je vous aime mais que dis- je reprenoit il un moment apres adressant 
 la parole a feraulas ne seroit-ce pas une injustice que mandane m'aimast autant que je l'aime ouy sans doute et c'est pourquoy pour adoucir un peu la chose souhaitons seulement que cela soit et appellons grace ce que nous avons apelle justice fort improprement pour moy seigneur interrompit feraulas je ne pense pas que la princesse mandane face ce que vous voulez car enfin vos victoires ne sont pas moins des marques de vostre amour que vos soupirs et vos larmes c'est pourquoy si elle joint toutes ces choses ensemble comme je n'en douce pas je suis persuade que sans vous faire grace elle vous aimera un jour autant que vous l'aimez ha feraulas interrompit ce prince que ce jour est peut-estre loin et que de choses j'ay encore a faire auparavant que de pouvoir estre heureux quand mesme la fortune ciaxare et ma princesse voudroient que je le fusse il faut donner une bataille et la gagner il faudra en suitte faire un siege considerable et apres cela encore combatre du moins le roy d'assirie voila feraulas les moindres difficultez que je puisse trouver pour arriver jusques aux pieds de mandane afin de luy demander a genoux la grace d'estre aime d'elle jugez donc si je ne dois pas plus craindre qu'esperer principalement apres tant de menaces des dieux pendant que cyrus s'entretenoit de cette sorter ses rivaux n'avoient pas de plus douces pensees que luy belesis 
 et orsane consoloient le prince mazare autant qu'ils pouvoient et taschoient en le louant de la genereuse resolution qu'il avoit prise de l'y confirmer si puissamment qu'il ne s'en repentist jamais ils avoient mesme l'adresse de flatter sa passion quoy qu'ils l'en voulussent guerir c'est pourquoy ils luy disoient qu'infailliblement mandane luy redonneroit son estime et son amitie s'il continuoit d'agir comme il avoit commence veuillent les dieux interrompit il lors que belesis luy tint ce discours que je ne desire jamais davantage si je suis assez heureux pour obtenir ce que vous dittes je feray sans doute tout ce que je pourray pour cela poursuivit il mais s'il arrive que je ne le puisse et qu'en l'estat ou seront les choses je n'aye pas plus de raison d'esperer que l'en ay aujourd'huy je retrouveray du moins tousjours ma grotte et mon desert pour y cacher ma souffrance et pour y mourir non non seigneur repliqua belesis les choses n'en viendront pas la mandane vous redonnera son amitie et vostre vertu sera tousjours maistresse de vostre passion c'est pourquoy il faudra que vous me laissiez retourer seul dans ma solitude moy dis-le qui ne puis jamais rien esperer l'esperance que j'ay est d'une telle nature reprit mazare qu'elle est absolument sans douceur parce que ce que j'espere n'est sans doute que ce que ma raison me conseille de vouloir et non pas ce que mon coeur souhaite effectivement et puis belesis 
 s'il est vray de dire que la felicite consiste principalement a satisfaire ses desirs et a faire toujours sa volonte on peut assurer que je suis le plus malheureux de tous les hommes estant certain que je ne fais rien de ce que je veux et que je n'auray jamais rien de ce que je desire de grace adjousta ce prince afflige ne pensez pas qu'encore que je parle comme je fais je me repente de m'estre repenty non belesis je ne le fais pas et je suis si absolument determine a combattre pour cyrus jusques a ce que la princesse mandane soit delivree et a ne demander jamais a cette princesse d'autre grace que celle de me pardonner et de me redonner son estime et son amitie que je ne croy pas possible que toute la violence de mon amour et de mon desespoir me puisse faire changer de resolution mais cela n'empesche pourtant pas que je ne sente dans mon coeur tant de mouvemens tumultueux que je dois me preparer a une guerre eternelle contre moy mesme au reste il faut que je vous die encore que pour faire que mon destin soit tout particulier je ne suis pas comme ceux qui par un sentiment d'amour trouvent tous leurs rivaux peu honnestes gens quelques accomplis qu'ils puissent estre au contraire il me semble que je voy cyrus tant au dessus de tous les autres hommes et si digne de mandane qu'il y auroit une injustice estrange s'il ne l'aimoit pas et s'il n'en estoit pas aime de sorte que jugeant par la grandeur du merite de ce 
 prince de la grandeur de l'affection que cette princesse doit avoir pour luy je conclus que nul autre n'y doit rien pretendre et qu'ainsi je n'ay rien a faire qu'a chercher a mourir plus doucement comme je feray sans doute si je puis obtenir mon pardon d'autre part le roy d'assirie n'estoit pas sans chagrin il estoit pourtant bien aise d'estre delivre afin que cyrus ne fust pas seul a combattre pour mandane mais il estoit au desespoir d'avoir cette obligation a mazare toutefois comme la veue d'un rival aime aigrit bien davantage l'esprit que celle d'un qui ne l'est pas toute la haine du roy d'assirie estoit pour cyrus il l'estimoit pourtant malgre luy car sa vertu brilloit avec tant d'esclat que la plus maligne jalousie de ce prince ne pouvoit jamais faire qu'il fust assez preocupe pour ne voir pas que cyrus estoit le plus grand prince du monde et le plus digne de mandane mais pendant que ces trois illustres rivaux s'entretenoient avec tant de melancolie abradate et panthee se consoloient de toutes leurs disgraces en se les racontant andramite trouvoir aussi beaucoup de consolation a voir l'aimable doralise de qui l'humeur enjouee et indifferente ne luy donnoit pourtant pas peu de peine ligdamis et cleonice avoient encore d'assez douces heures lors qu'ils pouvoient estre ensemble mais pour le prince phraarte il n'en estoit pas de mesme luy estant absolument impossible de voir jamais la princesse araminte 
 qu'irritee le prince tigrane regrettoit l'absence de sa chere onesile comme faisoit aglatidas celle d'amestris aussi bien que tegee et feraulas s'affligeoient de la captivite de cylenise et de celle de martesie enfin on eust dit que l'amour estoit l'ame de cette armee n'y ayant presques pas une personne considerable en tout le camp de cyrus qui ne se louast ou ne se plaignist de cette passion mais pendant qu'elle partageoit les pensees de tant de personnes illustres dans le party de cyrus le roy de lydie ne donnoit toutes les siennes qu'a la colere et qu'a la vangeance la fuitte des prisonniers de guerre l'affligeoit sensiblement le depart du prince de clasomene l'inquietoit encore plus et le changement de party du roy de la susiane et d'andramite le mettoient en une fureur estrange le prince myrsile parut aussi fort afflige qu'andramite eust fait ce qu'il avoit fait quoy qu'il eust beaucoup contribue a aigrir les choses sans que l'on en comprist la raison pour le roy de pont il eut des sentimens bien differents car il fut fort fache qu'abradate le prince de clasomene et andramite fussent allez fortifier le party de cyrus mais il ne fut pas marry que le roy d'assirie et le prince mazare ne fussent plus a sardis car encore que ce premier fust prisonnier il ne laissoit pas de craindre qu'il ne tramast quelque chose joint que c'est un sentiment si naturel que d'estre bien aise de l'absence d'un rival qu'il ne put estre fache de 
 celle de deux tout a la fois ainsi n'estant pas aussi afflige que cresus il fit ce qu'il put pour luy persuader qu'il n'avoit pas autant perdu qu'il avoit pense le mal estoit que la fin de la treve aprochoit si bien que n'y ayant plus de negociation a faire puis que le roy de la susiane avoit change de party on ne scavoit comment demander a la prolonger cependant ce qui estoit arrive avoit cause une si grande espouvente a sardis et si fort esmeu toute l'armee de cresus qu'il avoit grand besoin de quelques jours pour rassurer les peuples et les soldats de plus le passage de la riviere d'helle estant a cyrus il faloit alors de necessite donner bataille si ce prince en avoit envie de sorte qu'il voyoit bien que s'il la donnoit auparavant que les choses fussent un peu raffermies il estoit perdu c'est pourquoy comme aux extremes maux il faut aussi avoir recours aux extremes remedes cresus se resolut de commencer une autre negociation quoy qu'il n'eust pas dessein de l'achever mais seulement de gagner temps il dit donc au roy de pont qu'il estoit d'avis d'envoyer proposer a cyrus l'eschange de la princesse araminte avec le prince artamas mais ce fut avec des conditions bizarres qui faisoient assez connoistre qu'il cherchoit a alonger la treve plustost qu'a faire cet eschange puis que non seulement il vouloit que le prince artamas promist de ne songer plus a la princesse palmis mais qu'il demandoit encore qu'on luy rendist 
 tous les prisonniers qui avoient este faits depuis que cyrus estoit entre dans ses estats le roy de pont ne manqua d'aprouver tout ce que cresus luy proposa car encore qu'en effet il eust este bien aise que la princesse sa soeur n'eust pas este en la puissance de cyrus il n'osoit pourtant pas dire au roy de lydie que toutes ces propositions la ne pouvoient pas reussir parce qu'estant son protecteur c'estoit a luy a s'accommoder a ses sentimens cresus ne pouvant donc mieux faire envoya demander a prolonger la treve pour huit jours afin de traiter de la liberte du prince artamas etde celle de la princesse araminte des que cette proposition fut faite a cyrus ce prince connut bien le veritable dessein du roy de lydie et s'il eust suivy son inclination il l'auroit absolument rejettee afin de profiter du desordre qui estoit dans l'armee de cresus mais comme elle luy fut faite en presence du roy de phrigie qui quelque habile qu'il fust espera que peut-estre le prince son fils pourroit il estre delivre par cette negociation cyrus voyant les sentimens de ce prince ne voulut pas le desobliger ny persuader aussi a la princesse araminte qu'il estimoit extremement qu'il eust moins d'envie de contribuer a sa liberte qu'a celle de panthee ce n'est pas que quelque estime qu'il fist de cette princesse il n'eust eu peine a la rendre parce qu'il luy sembloit qu'estant soeur du roy de pont cela luy estoit d'une 
 extreme consideration mais comme il jugeoit bien qu'il importoit encore plus a cresus de ne rendre pas le prince artamas qu'a luy de ne rendre pas la princesse araminte il accorda la treve qu'on luy demandoit et d'autant plustost qu'estant assure du passage de la riviere d'helle il scavoit bien qu'il faudroit de necessite que cresus combatist des qu'il le voudroit de sorte que ne s'agissant que de huit jours plustost ou plus tard il se resolut de satisfaire le roy de phrigie et de n'irriter pas la princesse de pont a qui il envoya dire la chose de plus ces huit jours ne luy estoient pas encore absolument inutiles non plus qu'a cresus car comme les lydiens avoient fait le degast dans toute la campagne qui alloit de la riviere d'helle a sardis il faloit bien ce temps la afin d'avoir assez de munitions pour son armee dans toutes les villes voisines de peur de s'engager mal a propos la treve ayant donc este renouvellee le prince phraarte ne songea qu'a empescher s'il pouvoit que cette negociation ne s'achevast heureusement ce n'est pas qu'il n'estimast fort le prince artamas et qu'il n'eust voulu qu'il eust este delivre mais estant amoureux d'araminte au point qu'il l'estoit il ne pouvoit pas consentir qu'elle passast dans le party ennemy et de la perdre de veue pour tousjours cependant comme les premiers jours de cette nouvelle treve ne furent employez qu'a faire simplement les propositions de cresus 
 que l'on faisoit aussi au nom du roy de pont cyrus n'estoit pas si ocupe qu'il n'allast visiter panthee et prendre part a la joye qu'elle avoit de revoir abradate le roy d'assirie y alloit aussi quelquesfois aussi bien que tous les autres princes qui estoient dans cette armee de sorte que pendant cette treve on peut dire que la cour de panthee estoit la plus belle cour du monde n'y ayant pas un lieu en toute la terre ou il y eust tant d'honnestes gens ensemble qu'en celuy la l'inconnu anaxaris fit voir pendant cette petite paix s'il est permis de parler ainsi qu'il avoit autant d'esprit que de courage le prince mazare quoy que tres melancolique n'estant pas devenu incivil dans la solitude ou il avoit vescu visita aussi la reine de la susiane il vit aussi la princesse araminte mais les visites qu'il leur rendoit estoient simplement des visites de civilit et non pas de divertissement cependant le roy de la susiane scachant les divers interests de cyrus et de mazare et de mazare et du roy d'assirie mesnagea si adroitement leurs esprits qu'ils vinrent enfin a vivre presques ensemble comme s'ils eussent oublie le passe le roy d'assirie s'eschapoit pourtant tousjours de temps en temps a dire quelque chose qui faisoit aisement voir qu'il s'en souvenoit et que mesme il ne l'oublieroit jamais toutesfois cela n'avoit point de suitte et la sagesse de mazare temperoit si a propos 1 humeur impetueuse du roy 
 d'assirie qu'il n'en arrivoit point de desordre entre eux ils en vinrent mesme aux termes de parler tous trois ensemble de leur amour et d'en parler sans se quereller il est vray que ce fut en la presence d'abradate car on aportoit un soin extreme a ne les laisser jamais seuls de peur qu'une passion aussi violente que celle qu'ils avoient dans l'ame ne produisist enfin quelque funeste evenement cependant belesis au milieu d'une armee de cent cinquante mille hommes et dans une ville ou il y avoit deux grandes princesses et grand nombre d'autress dames de qualite tant de celles que l'on avoit fait prisonnieres que de celles de la ville mesme ne voyoit personne que le prince mazare avec qui il estoit loge tant la melancolie l'accabloit les choses estant donc en ces termes un jour que cyrus et maxare estoient chez la reine de la susiane chez qui estoit aussi la princesse araminte belesis estant alle jusques dans cette petite ville aveque le prince des saces afin de faire racommoder quelque chose a la boiste d'un portrait qui luy estoit infiniment cher et qu'il ne vouloit confier a personne comme il parloit a celuy qui y devoit travailler et qu'il en ostoit la peinture qu'il ne vouloit pas abandonner cet ouvrier qui se connoissoit en cet art la trouvant merveilleuse ne pouvoit se lasser de la regarder pendant qu'il la consideroit de cette sorte avec autant d'admiration que de plaisir un estranger de bonne mine arrivant 
 dans cette ville vint descendre de cheval devant la maison qui touchoit celle ou belesis estoit de sorte que jettant fortuitement les yeux sur cette peinture il la reconnut et en fut si surpris que ne pouvant comprendre comment ce portait pouvoit estre en lydie il ne put s'empescher de demander a celuy qui le tenoit qui luy avoit donne cette peinture adjoustant mesme qu'elle luy apartenoit car cet estranger scavoit la langue lydienne mais a peine eut il dit cela que belesis l'entendant et connoissant le son de la voix de celuy qui parloit il reprit avec precipitation le portrait qui estoit a luy et se tournant vers cet estranger il vit en effet qu'il ne se trompoit pas etque c'estoit effectivement celuy qu'il avoit pense entendre de sorte que se reculant d'un pas ha hermogene s'escria t'il emporte de douleur et de desespoir et en portant mesme la main sur son espee c'est me poursuivre trop loin ettrop opiniastrement que de venir jusques en lydie pour m'arracher une peinture dont vous m'avez si cruellement derobe l'original hermogene fut si surpris de la rencontre de belesis et tant de choses differentes occuperent son esprit tout a la fois qu'il fut un temps sans se mettre en deffence et sans scavoir seulement si ce qu'il voyoit estoit possible il n'eut mesme pas le loisir de deliberer ce qu'il avoit a faire car orsane qui avoit accompagne mazare chez panthee ayant eu besoin d'aller dans la ville 
 passa fortuitement comme belesis avoit porte la main sur la garde de son espee et comme hermogene ne scavoit si ce qu'il voyoit estoit vray ou faux si bien qu'appellant du monde a son secours il se saisit et de belesis et d'hermogene qu'il ne connoissoit pas comme de deux hommes qui avoient querelle envoyant a l'heure mesme en advertir le prince mazare qui ne sceut pas plustost la chose qu'il suplia cyrus d'y donner ordre et comme en luy faisant cette priere il nomma belesis la reine de la susiane joignit ses prieres aux siennes s'accusant alors de ne s'estre pas souvenue qu'orsane luy en avoit parle comme estant aveque luy il est vray qu'elle estoit excusable de n'avoir pas si tost pense a s'informer de belesis en revoyant son cher abradate neantmoins pour reparer la faute qu'elle disoit avoir faite d'avoir eu quelque negligence a demander des nouvelles d'un homme d'un si grand merite elle fit scavoir la chose au roy de la susiane qui ayant assure cyrus que belesis estoit un homme de grande qualite et de beaucoup d'esprit et qui de plus avoit aussi beaucoup de coeur tous ces princes voulurent passer dans une autre chambre afin d'y faire venir belesis et celuy contre qui on disoit qu'il avoit querelle mais la reine de la susiane qui avoit une envie estrange de connoistre belesis suplia cyrus de les faire venir dans la sienne si bien que luy obeissant il commanda qu'on les fist entrer a peine furent 
 ils dans cette chambre qu'abradate et panthee reconnurent hermogene qui estoit de suse et de tres grande condition et qui ayant eu dessein de s'aller jetter dans sardis avoit apris par bonheur qu'abradate avoit change de party si bien qu'il avoit change sa route et estoit venu a cette ville ou il avoit sceu qu'estoit la reine de la susiane abradate et panthee qui estimoient fort hermogene le carresserent extremement aussi bien que belesis quoy qu'ils ne connussent le dernier que de reputation parce qu'il n'estoit plus a suse lors qu'ils y estoient allez apres la mort du feu roy de la susiane apres avoir donc dit a ces deux querellans tout ce que la civilite vouloit qu'ils leur dissent ils suplierent tout de nouveau cyrus de vouloir les accommoder et de les obliger a dire quel estoit leur different il est de telle nature interrompit belesis qu'il est impossible qu'il puisse jamais estre bien entendu a moins que de scavoir toute la vie d'hermogene et toute la mienne c'est pourquoy je pense qu'il vaut mieux nous laisser ennemis que d'occuper si long temps tant de grand princes a entendre tant de choses qui leur doivent estre indifferentes l'interest des personnes de vostre merite respondit cyrus ne doit jamais estre indifferent aux plus grands princes du monde c'est pourquoy s'il ne faut pour vous rendre justice qu'escouter le recit de toute vostre vie vous nous trouverez tous disposez a l'entendre paisiblement 
 aussi bien ne pensay-je pas que nous puissions plus utilement employer le loisir que la treve nous donne qu'a tascher de vous rendre amis hermogene et vous j'y trouveray mesme quelque avantage adjousta cyrus en sous-riant puis que si je vous accommode j'espere que vous en combatrez mieux le jour de la bataille c'est pourquoy je suplie tres humblement la reine de se servir du droit qu'elle a de commander a hermogene et de luy ordonner da me dire vos avantures si vous ne voulez pas que je les scache par vous mesme hermogene repliqua belesis est trop interesse en la chose et a l'esprit trop adroit pour m'obliger a souffrir que se soit sur sa narration que vous jugiez de la justice de ma cause et de l'injustice de la sienne car seigneur comment ne vous preocuperoit il pas luy dis-je qui m'a pense persuader a moy mesme plus de vint fois que j'avois tort et qu'il avoit raison pour vous monstrer dit alors hermogene que je n ay pas besoin de deguiser la verite je contents que vous disiez vous mesme tout ce qui s'est passe entre nous je ne le pourrois pas reprit il car le temps m'a si peu soulage qu'il me seroit impossible de redire tout ce qui m'est advenu sans rentrer dans mon premier desespoir pour les mettre d'accord interrompit abradate parlant a cyrus il faut que ce ne soit ny belesis ny hermogene qui racontent leurs advantures et qu'un de leurs amis communs qui n'ignore 
 pas la moindre de leurs pensees vous les aprenne ha seigneur repliqua belesis il n'y a qu'alcenor au monde qui puisse faire ce que vous dittes aussi est- ce luy dont j'entens parler repliqua abradate et je m'estonne que vous ne l'ayez pas veu puis qu'il arriva a sardis deux jours devant que l'en partisse et m'a par consequent suivy icy il faudroit plustost s'estonner s il l'avoit veu reprit le prince mazare car belesis n'a voulu voir personne depuis que nous avons quitte nostre desert que lors qu'il a creu me pouvoir servir a delivrer la princesse mandane apres cela cyrus pressant ces deux ennemis de trouver bon que celuy qu'abradate leur avoit nomme luy aprist la cause de leurs differents puis qu'ils ne vouloient pas la dire eux mesmes ils y consentirent demandant toutesfois a voir alcenor auparavant qu'il parlast ce qu'on leur accorda sans resistance si bien que sans perdre temps la reine de la susiane l'ayant fait chercher on le trouva a l'heure mesme et on le fit voir a ces deux amis qui luy recommanderent l'un et l'autre de dire la verite toute pure leur semblant qu'ils n'avoient besoin d'autre chose pour se justifier en suitte dequoy s'estant retirez dans une autre chambre et n'estant demeure que la reine de la susiane la princesse araminte cyrus abradate et mazare alcenor commenca le recit qu'il devoit faire en ces termes panthee luy ayant ordonne d'adresser tousjours la 
 parole a cyrus comme devant estre l'arbitre de ce different joint qu'elle estoit desja assez informee de cette avanture quoy qu'elle fust bien aise de l'entendre encore une fois
 
 
 
 
histoire de belesis d'hermogene de cleodore et de leonise
 
 
il vous doit sans doute sembler estrange seigneur que je sois si egalement amy des deux ennemis dont vous voulez terminer les differents que je scache jusques aux moindres evenements de leur vie et jusques a leurs pensees les plus secrettes et qu'ils ayent cous deux si bonne opinion de ma sincerite qu'ils consentent que je vous aprenne leurs avantures hors de leurs presence quoy qu'elles soient de telle nature que la plus petite circonstance oubliee les changeroit extremement l'espere toutesfois ne me rendre pas indigne de la grace qu'ils me font estant resolu de ne vous deguiser rien et de vous dire avec beaucoup d'ingenuite toutes les foiblesses dont ils se sont tous deux trouvez capables mais seigneur comme il importe ce me semble que vous scachiez ce qu'ils sont je vous diray que belesis est de la mantiane et de 
 la premiere qualite dans son pais et qu'hermogene est de suse et d'une condition qui est aussi tres grande outre cet avantage de la naissance ils ont encore eu celuy d'estre eslevez avec beaucoup de soin et d'avoir eu l'un et l'autre des parents qui leur ont sait enseigner non seulement tout ce que les honnestes gens ne peuvent ignorer sans honte mais encore cent autres choses qui ne sont pas d'une absoulue necessite mais qui ornent pourtant infiniment l'esprit de ceux qui les scavent et qui plaisent beaucoup a ceux mesmes qui ne les scavent pas ils ont aussi eu cela de commun entre eux que leurs parents voulurent qu'ils voyageassent et comme si les dieux eussent eu dessein de faire qu'ils se rencontrassent et qu'ils eussent de l'amitie l'un pour l'autre ils firent que l'un partant de suse et l'autre de la capitale de la mantiane ils ne laisserent pas de se rencontrer a babilone non seulement en mesme temps mais encore en mesme maison de sorte que comme ils ont tous deux une mine a se donner une egalle curiosite de se connoistre ils chercherent occasion de se parler et la trouverent aisement car comme auparavant que d'entreprendre leurs voyages ils avoient apris une grande partie des langues asiatiques et que de plus celle de suse et celle de la mantiane le ressemblent fort des la premiere fois qu'ils se parlerent ils se parlerent long temps et furent mesme ensemble voir une partie des 
 merveilles de cette grande et superbe ville ils connurent aussi des cette premiere conversation qu'ils aimoient les mesmes plaisirs et qu'ils se connoissoient aux mesmes choses de sorte que depuis cela ils furent tousjours l'un aveque l'autre d'abord ils n'eurent pourtant dessein d'estre ensemble que durant qu'ils seroient a babilone ou ils firent un mois de sejour mais comme pendant ce temps la ils se connurent plus particulierement et s'aimerent davantage ils ne purent se resoudre a se separer si tost et ils prirent enfin la resolution de faire tous leurs voyages ensemble en effet ces deux aimables amis furent une annee entiere a aller de cour en cour et de pais en pais avec un plaisir extreme n'ayant jamais eu la moindre contestation apres avoir donc veu tout ce qu'ils avoient a voir hermogene obligea belesis d'aller passer quelque temps a suse au lieu de s'en retourner chez luy et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison qu'il luy donnoit la curiosite de voir cette belle ville estant certain que je ne croy pas qu'il y en ait une au monde qui soit plus capable de plaire belesis s'estant donc laisse persuader aisement d'aller a un des plus beaux lieux de la terre avec un amy dont il n'eust pu se separer sans une douleur extreme il arriva a suse quelque temps apres que l'illustre abradate en fut exile mais pour faire qu'il ne se repentist pas d'y estre venu hermogene qui en scavoit toutes les aduenues fit qu'ils y arriverent par le code le plus 
 agreable qui en effet est une des plus belles choses qui puisse tomber sous la veue car seigneur en aprochant de suse par cet endroit on trouve une petite eminence d'ou on descouvre une grande prairie qui contient plus de cent stades au milieu de laquelle passe en serpentant le fleuve choaspe dont les eaux sont si pures que celles des fontaines les plus vives et les plus fraiches ne les egallent pas au bord de ce fleuve est la ville de suse que grand nombre de palais magnifiques font paroistre aussi belle par dehors qu'elle l'est par dedans et ce qui rend son abord plus agreable et son sejour plus sain est que toute cette grande prairie aussi bien que les deux bords de la riviere sont entierement couverts d'iris de mille couleurs differentes qui par un esmail admirable charment les yeux par leur diversite et parfument l'air de leur odeur qui ne ressemble point du tout celle des autres iris que l'on trouve ailleurs aussi est-ce par l'abondance de ces belles fleurs que la ville de suse prend son nom car en nostre langue l'un signifie l'autre et c'est pour cela que l'on apelle ces iris par toute l'asie iris de suse de plus en arrivant du coste par ou hermogene mena belesis on trouve le long de ce beau fleuve quatre grandes allees si droites et si sombres par la hauteur des abres qui les forment quoy qu'il n'y en ait pas beaucoup en tout le reste du pais que l'on ne peut pas voir une promenade plus agreable que celle la aussi est-ce le lieu ou toutes 
 les dames vont le soir dans de petits chariots descouvers et ou tous les hommes les suivent a cheval de sorte qu'ayant la liberte d'aller tantost a l'une et tantost a l'autre cette promenade est tout ensemble promenade et conversation et est sans doute fort divertissante comme hermogene avoit eu dessein de faire que le premier instant ou belesis arriveroit a suse fust un instante plaisir il avoit voulu le surprendre et ne luy avoit pas dit qu'il le meneroit par ce lieu la dont il avoit assez entendu parler neantmoins afin de ne donner pas a son amy le deplaisir de paroistre au milieu de tant de monde en habillement neglige il fit que le matin dont il devoit arriver le soir a suse il s'habilla comme un homme qui devoit aller loger dans une maison ou il y aurait des dames comme en effet il y en avoit chez hermogene qui avoit et sa mere et une soeur si bien que belesis sans prevoir l'innocence et agreable tromperie que son amy luy vouloit faire fut tout ensemble et propre et magnifique contre la coustume de ceux qui voyagent mais il s'aperceut aisement de l'adresse d'hermogene lors qu'il se trouva au bout de ces grandes allees qu'il vit estre toutes remplies de ces petits chariots peints et dorez dans lesquels les plus belles dames de suse estoient et aupres de qui un nombre infiny d'hommes de qualite admirablement bien montez et magnifiquement vestus alloient et venoient 
 en les saluant ce fut donc alors qu'il remercia belesis de l'avoir surpris si agreablement et de ne luy avoir pas differe un si grand plaisir comme estoit celuy de voir tant de belles personnes en un mesme lieu et de les y voir d'une maniere si galante apres quoy envoyant tout leur train par un autre chemin belesis et hermogene se mirent a se promener comme s'ils fussent sortis de suse au lieu de venir d'un long voyage pour moy qui estois le plus particulier amy d'hermogene auparavant qu'il eust connu belesis je fus estrangement surpris de le voir arriver pendant que j'entretenois des dames car je ne l'attendois pas encore je ne l'eus pas plustost aperceu que le montrant a celles a qui je parlois afin qu'elles ne trouvassent pas mauvais que je les quitasse si brusquement je fus au devant de luy et comme nous n'estions pas en lieu ou la bien-seance permist de descendre de cheval parce que cela auroit embarrasse la promenade des dames nous nous embrassasmes en aprochant nos chevaux l'un de l'autre apres ce premier transport de ioyc que nous eusmes en nous revoyant hermogene me pria d'aimer belesis comme il pria belesis de m'aimer en suitte dequoy nous nous saluasmes belesis et moy avec une civilite pleine de franchise qui faisoit aisement voir que nous estions tous deux disposez a ne refuser pas a hermogene ce qu'il souhaitoit de nous tous nos conplimens estant faits hermogene qui s'empressoit 
 fort a divertir belesis et qui vouloit que le sejour de suse luy plust me demanda si toutes les belles estoient ce soir la a la promenade souhaitant que son amy vist tout d'un coup ce que suse avoit de plus beau et comme je luy nommay celles qui y estoient et celles qui n'y estoient pas il se trouva qu'une fille de qualite nommee cleodore qui estoit sans doute une des plus belles de suse ne s'y trouva point dont hermogene parut en chagrin et comme je luy demanday d'ou pouvoit venir qu'il regrettoit si fort celle la veu que je scavois qu'il n'en estoit pas amoureux c'est alcenor me dit il que je voudrois que tout ce qu'il y a de belles personnes a suse fussent icy afin qu'il s'en pust trouver quelqu'une qui donnast de l'amour a belesis et qui l'arrestast parmy nous si cela estoit reprit belesis vous ne m'auriez nulle obligation du sejour que je serois a suse c'est pourquoy j'ame mieux y demeurer par amitie que par amour apres cela nous nous mismes a regarder toutes les dames et a les saluer tout le monde estant fort surpris de voir hermogene et tout le monde luy faissant carresses etluy demandant qui estoit belesis apres avoir donc fait plusieurs tours et bien belesis luy dit hermogene trouvez vous quelqu'une de nos belles qui puisse raisonnablement pretendre a la gloire de vous vaincre le trouve leur beaute admirable luy repliqua t'il mais s'il faut vous dire la verite je n'en ay point veu qui m'ait 
 donne une certaine esmotion de coeur et d'esprit qui pour 1 ordinaire suit le premier instant que l'on voit une tres belle personne que l'on est destine d'aimer et qui precede tousjours l'amour que l'on doit avoir pour elle de sorte que si cette cleodore que vous dittes qui n'est point icy ne fait ce que les autres n'ont pu faire vous me tiendrez conte s'il vous plaist du sejour que je seray a suse puis que selon les aparences je n'y deviendray pas amoureux comme belesis disoit cela je vy paroistre au bout des allees du coste de suse un chariot qui me sembla estre celuy d'une tante de cleodore chez qui elle demeuroit n'ayant point de mere je ne l'eus pas plustost veu que je le montray a hermogene qui l'ayant reconnu aussi bien que moy dit en riant a belesis qu'il faloit aller au devant de sou vainqueur je ne suis pas encore enchaisne reprit il en sous-riant a son tour cependant il ne laissa pas de nous suivre hermogene le faisant passer du coste qu'il scavoit que cette belle personne avoit accoustume de se mettre mais enfin estant arrivez aupres de ce chariot belesis y vit cleodore plus belle que je ne l'avois jamais veue comme elle estoit venue tard a cette promenade son voile n'estoit pas abaisse de sorte que belesis la vit comme il la faloit voir pour en estre vaincu aussi le fut il en effet cleodore estoit ce jour la habille de blanc et paree de diamants ayant 
 sur la teste quantite de plumes incarnates que l'on entrevoyoit a travers son voile et dont quelques unes pendoient mesme si bas par derriere qu'elles touchoient sa gorge quand elle tournoit un peu la teste comme une des beautez de cleodore est d'avoir les yeux admirablement beaux le taint fort blanc et la mine fort haute elle n'est pas de celles de qui il faut chercher la beaute pour la trouver car des qu'on la voit on la trouve belle et on est mesme persuade qu'on la trouvera encore beaucoup plus belle quand on aura eu loisir de la considerer de sorte qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si cleodore fit ce que tant d'autres n'avoient point fait belesis ne la vit donc pas plustost qu'il la prefera a toutes celles qu'il venoit de voir et qu'il pria hermogene de vouloir faire encore un tour de promenade a peine eut il dit cela que nous luy demandasmes en riant s'il avoit senty cette esmotion de coeur et d'esprit qu'il disoit devoir tousjours preceder l'amour il nous respondit alors en riant aussi qu'il n'estoit pas encore vaincu mais qu'il craignoit fort de l'estre si vous le craigniez luy dis-je vous ne suivriez pas une si redoutable ennemie et il vaudroit mieux la fuir c'est me respondit il encore que je n'aime pas a devoir mon salut a ma fuitte et que j'aime mieux le devoir a ma resistance parlant donc ainsi belesis hermogene et moy rencontrasmes une seconde fois cleodore qui reconnut 
 hermogene car a la premiere elle ne l'avoit pas aperceu parce qu'ayant fortuitement jette les yeux sur belesis elle les y avoit attachez long temps estant avez ordinaire en ces lieux la de regarder plus les estrangers que ceux de sa connoissance quand ils sont aussi bien faits que luy de sorte que cela avoit fait qu'elle n'avoit pas veu hermogene mais l'ayant enfin connu elle l'apella estant bien aise de luy faire civilite pour l'amour de luy mais estant bien aise aussi d'avoir lieu de luy demander le nom de cet estranger qu'elle voyoit bien qui estoit de sa connoissance c'est pourquoy elle ne le vit pas plustost passer aupres d'elle que l'appellant comme je l'ay desja dit et depuis quand hermogene luy dit elle estes vous revenu il y a si peu repliqua t'il que je ne suis pas mesme oblige de vous faire excuse de ce que je n'ay pas encore eu l honneur de vous voir quoy que vous soyez une des personnes du monde pour qui je veux avoir le plus de respect puis qu'enfin je n'ay point encore entre dans suse c'est estre ce me semble bien galand reprit elle que de vouloir finir un voyage d'un an par une promenade comme celle cy et si l'on vous eust accuse d'estre amoureux quand vous partistes je croirois que vous auriez donne assignation au lieu ou nous sommes a quelque belle personne ane vous en mentir pas repliqua t'il l'amitie que j'ay pour cet estranger que vous voyez et qui vous regarde si fort est 
 ce qui est cause que je vous ay veue aujourd'huy car comme je meurs d'envie qu'il tarde icy je fais ce que je puis pour l'enchaisner c'est pourquoy belle cleodore je vous conjure de vouloir me rendre cet office vous estes un mauvais amy respondit elle de vouloir ce que vous dittes aussi ne crois-je pas que vous le souhaitiez mais pour parler un peu plus serieusement adjousta cleodore aprenez moy le nom de cet estranger sa condition et son pais je vous aprendray encore plus reprit hermogene en sous-riant car apres vous avoit dit qu'il s'apelle belesis qu'il est de haute qualite et qu'il est de la mantiane je vous diray encore qu'il vous trouve mille fois plus belle que tout ce qu'il a veu icy et si vous ne m'en voulez pas croire je m'en vay l'obliger a vous le dire luy mesme en achevant de prononcer ces paroles sans donner loisir a cleodore de respondre il se tourna vers belesis et l'apellant avec empressement venez luy dit il venez confirmer ce que je dis a l'aimable cleodore pourveu que vous luy disiez que je la trouve la plus belle personne du monde dit belesis en s'aprochant du chariot qui alloit tres lentement et en la saluant avec un profond respect je confirmeray vos paroles aveque joye et mesme avec serment s'il en est besoin vous croyez sans doute genereux estranger respondit elle en sous - riant faire un fort grand plaisir a hermogene de louer tout ce qu'il vous fait 
 voir et je recois sans doute aussi les flatteries que vous me dittes plustost comme une marque de l'amitie que vous avez pour luy que de la bonne opinion que vous avez de moy si ce que vous dittes estoit vray reprit belesis j'aurois loue tout ce que j'ay veu de belles icy afin d'obliger hermogene ce pendant je puis vous assurer que je n'ay loue que vous et je puis mesme adjouster interrompit hermogene que si belesis doit aimer quelque chose a suse ce sera la belle cleodore car il nous a assure alcenor et moy qu'il a desja senty pour vous je ne scay quelle agitation de coeur qui a accoustume de preceder l'amour dans le sien comme hermogene achevoit de dire cela tant de chariots se croiserent en ce lieu la qu'il falut de necessite que la conversation cessast belesis ne pouvant faire autre chose qu'advouer des yeux a cleodore que tout ce qu'hermogene venoit de dire estoit vray et cleodore ne pouvant aussi de son coste faire entendre qu'elle ne croyoit pas ce qu'on luy disoit que par une action de teste et de main qui ne laissa pourtant pas d'expliquer sa pensee depuis cela nous la saluasmes encore deux ou trois fois apres quoy toutes les dames se retirerent et nous nous retirasmes aussi en nous en allant belesis nous demanda de quelle humeur estoit cleodore et si elle avoit beaucoup d'amants comme j'en estois encore mieux informe qu'hermogene qui estoit absent depuis un an ce fut moy qui 
 pris la parole pour luy respondre et pour satisfaire sa curiosite qui en effet estoit mieux fondee qu'il pensoit estant certain que l'humeur de cleodore a tousjours este assez particuliere de sorte que pour le contenter je commencay a luy dire en general qu'il n'y avoit pas une personne de son sexe a suse qui eust plus d'esprit qu'elle en avoit je m'en suis desja bien aperceu repliqua t'il et par sa phisionomie et par l'air dont elle a parle mais ce que je veux de vous est que vous me disiez de quelle sorte d'esprit elle a puis que vous le voulez repris-je je vous diray que cleodore a en aparence plus de douceur qu'on n'en a jamais veu en personne cependant ceux qui la connoissent jusques dans le fonds du coeur disent qu'elle ne laisse pas d'estre un peu fiere elle s'en deffend pourtant extremement mais quoy qu'il en soit il est certain qu'il faut que tout le monde ait de la complaisance pour elle quoy qu'elle n'en ait guere pour personne il y a pourtant dans son esprit malgre ce que je vous dis de la tendresse et de la bonte ainsi il se fait un meslange de douceur et de fierte dans son ame qui fait qu'elle n'est pas toujours d'humeur absolument egalle quoy qu'elle soit tousjours agreable de plus elle a une delicatesse a choisir ses amis qui est louee de quelques uns et blasmee de beaucoup d'autres car si ceux qui la voyent ne sont fort honnestes gens elle ne fournit guere a la conversation et ne se soucie pas 
 beaucoup s'ils l'estiment ou s'ils ne l'estiment pas vous m'embarrassez estrangement dit belesis car vous me dittes cent choses a me rendre cleodore fort redoutable et cependant je ne puis m'empescher de croire qu'il y auroit grand plaisir a pouvoir un peu engager le coeur d'une personne telle que vous me representez celle-la si vous tentez cette advanture reprisie vous serez plus hardy que grand nombre d'honnestes gens de nostre cour qui ont eu sans doute beaucoup de disposition a aimer cleodore mais qui n'ont ose l'entreprendre ce n'est pas comme vous avez veu qu'elle ne soit fort civile mais c'est qu'il est si difficile d'estre ce qu'elle veut qu'on soit pour luy plaire que peu de gens ont eu assez bonne opinion d'eux mesmes pour oser y songer au reste il faut dire cela a sa louange qu'elle ne se trompe guere en son choix et que ce qu'elle estime merite assurement de l'estre mais apres tout il seroit a souhaite qu'elle se resolust a estre un peu plus indulgente qu'elle n'est aux deffauts d'autruy ce n'est pas qu'elle en parle mais c'est qu'elle ne parle point a ceux qui en ont ou si elle le fait c'est avec une langueur et une indifference a faire desesperer ceux qui ont assez d'esprit pour s'en apercevoir cela n'empesche pourtant pas que cleodore ne soit admirable principalement a ceux pour qui elle la veut estre c'est pourquoy comme vous avez sans doute tout ce qu'il faut pour estre de ce 
 nombre choisi qu'elle estime je vous conseille de la voir et de la voir mesme souvent pendant que vous serez a suse quand ce ne seroit que par curiosite reprit belesis je la verray infailliblement j'ay encore un avis a vous donner interrompit hermogene car il faut que vous scachiez que si cleodore n'a change d'humeur elle a encore une fantaisie qui est de faire une notable difference des honnestes gens de la cour aux autres c'est pourquoy si vous luy voulez plaire il ne faut pas que vous viviez en estranger qui ne veut pas estre connu c'est peut-estre reprit belesis qu'elle est persuadee qu'il est impossible d'estre fort honneste homme sans avoir effectivement un certain air qui ne s'aquiert que rarement hors de la cour outre cela adjoustay-je c'est que cleodore ne scait que dire a ceux qui ne scavent pas les nouvelles du monde qu'elle scait admirablement de sorte reprit belesis que pour plaire a cleodore il faudra que je m'instruise de cent mille choses dont je n'ay que faire il le faudra sans doute repris-je si vous voulez qu'elle vous parle long temps si ce n'est que vous ayez quelque privilege particulier voila donc seigneur comment hermogene et moy fismes connoistre cleodore a belesis qui fut receu chez son amy avec beaucoup de magnificence le jour suivant hermogene fut chez le roy et chez le prince de suse qui estoit alors et y mena belesis de qui le nom n'estoit pas 
 inconnu a ces princes car son pere avoit autrefois este assez long temps a suse apres cela deux ou trois jours se passerent a recevoir les visites qu'on rendoit a hermogene et faire voir les raretez de la ville a belesis en suitte dequoy il demanda a hermogene quand il vouloit le mener chez cleodore car encore dit il que je ne scache pas tout ce qu'il faut scavoir pour la divertir je ne laisse pas d'avoir beaucoup d'envie de la visiter a l'instant mesme hermogene envoya demander si cleodore estoit chez elle mais on luy vint dire qu'il n'y avoit qu'une heure qu'elle estoit partie pour aller aux champs et qu'elle n'en reviendroit de quinze jours comme j'ay dessein de passer trois mois icy reprit belesis il faut pour me consoler que je pense que du moins ce n'est qu'un plaisir differe et non pas un plaisir perdu pendant cette petite absence de cleodore hermogene fit voir a belesis toutes les belles et de la cour et de la ville sans que son coeur en fust touche et comme il a un esprit adroit il s'aquit tous les amis d'hermogene en fort peu de jours et sceut aussi bien les divers interests de toute nostre cour que s'il y eust este toute sa vie mais enfin quinze jours apres ton depart la belle cleodore revint le hazard voulut mesme que belesis hermogene et moy qui venions de nous promener la vismes revenir et la saluasmes de sorte que scachant son retour auparavant que personne le sceust nous y 
 fusmes des premiers car comme elle estoit arrivee d'assez bonne heure nous luy fismes nostre visite sans choquer la bien - seance apres luy avoir toutefois donne autant de temps qu'il luy en faloit pour consulter son miroir afin de voir si elle estoit en estat de recevoir compagnie comme nous fusmes donc chez elle hermogene presenta belesis a sa tante et a elle aussi et pour faire la civilite toute entiere a son amy il se mit a entretenir la premiere nous bissant cleodore a belesis et a moy cependant comme les flatteries ne s'oublient jamais quand elles sont dittes agreablement celles que belesis avoit dittes a cleodore a la promenade le jour qu'il estoit arrive a suse firent qu'elle se contraignit un peu plus qu'elle n'avoit accoustume et qu'elle luy parla davantage qu'elle ne parloit pour l'ordinaire a ceux qui n'estoient pas du monde qu'elle voyoit elle le traita pourtant en estranger a qui elle creut ne devoir parler que de choses generales c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je ne demande pas luy dit elle avec un air qui faisoit assez connoistre a ceux qui la connoissoient qu'elle se preparoit a s'ennuyer si hermogene vous a fait voir tout ce qu'il y a de beau a suse car je ne doute pas qu'il ne vous ait mene en tous les lieux ou il aura creu vous divertir c'est pourquoy faites moy la grace de me dire ce qu'il vous semble de nos places publiques de nos temples et de nos promenoirs tout ce que vous 
 dittes la reprit belesis me semble admirablement beau mais a vous parler sincerement adjousta t'il en riant il ne me semble pas fort propre a vous divertir c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne me traitter pas en estranger a qui on ne peut parler que des coustumes de son pais ou que du chaud ou du froid qu'il fait en la saison ou on luy parle si j'eusse eu l'honneur de vous voir des le lendemain que j'arrivay icy j'aurois eu patience que vous m'eussiez parle comme vous venez de faire mais aimable cleodore il y a quinze jours que je suis a suse de sorte que si vous croyez que je ne scache encore rien sinon que vos rues sont grandes et droites que vos temples sont beaux et vos palais magnifiques vous me traitez un peu cruellement c'est pourquoy ne vous contraignez pas pour l'amour de moy et ne laissez pas de me demander des nouvellez comme si j'estois de suse et mesme de la cour cleodore entendant belesis parler ainsi se mit a rire ne croyant pas toutesfois qu'il pust luy dire rien de particulier et pensant seulement qu'il ne parloit comme il faloit que parce qu'il avoit sceu quelque chose de son humeur de sorte que prenant la parole je voy bien luy dit elle que du moins vous scavez que je crains les nouvelles connoissances et les connoissances encore de ces gens qui ne scavent les choses du monde que lors que ceux qui en sont les ont oubliees mais belesis je ne suis pas aussi injuste qu'on vous l'a dit car 
 ce que je trouve estrange est de voir des gens de suse qui ne scavent rien de ce qui s'y passe mais pour vous qui n'en estes pas et qui n'y demeurez point je serois fort deraisonnnable de vous blasmer de ce que vous ne scavez pas toutes les bagatelles qui sont le secret de nostre cour et fore incivile aussi de vous aller parler de choses que vous n'entendriez point pour moy interroropis-je parlant a belesis il me semble que vous avez sujet de vous louer de cleodore au contraire reprit il j'ay peut-estre plus de sujet de m'en pleindre que vous ne pensez mais quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'il encore en parlant a elle voulez vous promettre de ne me traiter plus en estranger si je vous aprends des nouvelles mais j'entends poursuivit belesis en sous riant de celles que l'on ne dit pas tout haut et qui passent d'oreille en oreille durant plus de quatre jours devant qu'on les die sans baisser la voix ha belesis s'escria t'elle vous me seriez la plus grande honte du monde et pourtant le plus grand plaisir si vous faisiez ce que vous dittes je n'y voy toutesfois pas d'aparence car excepte hier j'ay tousjours eu des lettres de suse qui m'ont apris toutes choses du moins luy dit il voux veux-je faire connoistre que si je ne vous puis rien aprendre vous ne me devez pas aussi reprocher de rien ignorer en suitte de cela il se mit a luy raconter cent choses et a luy parler comme un homme qui scavoit tout les divers interests des personnes de qualite 
 soit d'ambition soit d'amour et ils en vinrent au point cleodore et luy devant que la conversation finist a se parler bas plusieurs fois et a me forcer de changer de place et de parler avec la tante de cleodore et hermogene de sorte que des ce premier jour la belesis fut en confidence avec cleodore qui advoua tout haut qu'il luy avoit apris beaucoup de choses qu'on ne luy avoit point escrites en verite luy dit elle comme nous estions debout et prests a sortir je pense qu'il y a long temps que vous estes cache dans suse car il ne seroit pas possible que vous sceussiez tout ce que vous m'avez dit s'il n'y avoit que quinze jours que vous y fussiez je scay mesme encore quelque chose que vous ne scavez pas sans doute reprit il eh de grace repliqua cleodore ne vous en allez pas sans me le dire je le veux bien luy dit belesis alors s'approchant de son oreille n'est il pas vray luy dit il aimable cleodore que vous ne scavez pas que selon toutes les aparences je vous aimeray trop pour vostre repos et pour le mien il est vray repliqua t'elle tout haut en rougissant que je ne scay point ce que vous dittes et plus vray encore que je ne crois pas que cela soit ny mesme que cela puisse estre le temps vous l'aprendra et a moy aussi respondit belesis en se retirant apres quoy nous sortismes et fusmes chez hermogene quand nous fusmes dans la chambre de belesis nous luy demandasmes ce qui luy sembloit de cleodore je ne veux pas 
 vous le dire repliqua t'il car peut- estre ne me tiendriez vous plus conte du sejour que je seray icy je ne m'estonne pas repliquay-je si vous estes satisfait de cette belle personne puis qu'enfin elle vous a traite tout autrement qu'elle n'a accoustume de traiter ceux qui ne sont pas de ses amis elle a pourtant la mine adjousta t'il de me donner de facheuses heures si je ne puis m'empescher de l'aimer car malgre sa douceur j'ay pourtant descouvert dans son ame je ne scay quoy de fier et de superbe qui me fera bien de la peine elle a toutesfois quelque chose de si attirant dans les yeux poursuivit il que je ne scay n je m'en pourray deffendre quoy que j'en aye grande envie pour moy dit hermogene je m en suis tousjours deffendu car encore que cleodore soit tres charmante il y a beaucoup de choses dans son humeur qui sont du contrepoison pour moy et qui font que je ne suis pas expose a mourir jamais d'amour pour elle il n'en est pas ainsi de moy dit belesis et je crains bien que je ne me pleigne un jour estrangement du plaisir que j'ay aujourd'huy a la connoistre
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur quel progres fit cette belle fille dans le coeur de belesis apres quoy je vay vous dire celuy que fit belesis dans le coeur de cleodore mais pour vous faire voir comment les petites choses faites a propos font quelquefois aquerir une grande estime parmy les dames il faut que vous scachiez que belesis ayant sceu qu'il y avoit assez d'amitie entre la soeur 
 d'hermogene nommee prasille et cleodore eut une civilite particuliere pour elle comme elle en avoit une pour luy belesis estant donc en conversation avec elle le lendemain qu'il eut veu cleodore il la pria de vouloir luy faire voir quelque beau jardin aux environs de suse je demanderois bien luy dit il cette grace a hermogene seul mais je vous advoue que pour les promenades je ne les trouve point agreables si ce n'est avec des dames c'est pourquoy si vous voulies m'obliger vous me feriez la grace de faire quelque partie pour cela a peine belesis avoit il prononce cette derniere parole que cleodore entra qui venoit visiter prasille elle ne fut pas plus tost assise que prasille commenca de vouloir dire a cleodore la priere que belesis luy venoit de faire qui pour mieux arriver a la fin qu'il s'estoit proposee fit semblant de vouloir empescher prasille d'achever le discours qu'elle avoit commence de grace luy dit il ne me rendez pas un si mauvais office que de me vouloir faire encore passer pour estranger aupres de la belle cleodore avec qui je ne le suis desja plus la resistance que fit belesis ne manqua de faire son effet et de donner une envie estrange a cette belle fille de scavoir ce que prasille luy vouloit dire de sorte que la pressant extremement prasille luy dit dequoy il s'agissoit la priant de luy vouloir aider a faire les honneurs de suse cleodore qui fut bien aise d'avoir lieu de faire 
 un compliment a belesis luy dit qu'elle estoit ravie de voir qu'il n'estoit pas comme ces voyageurs qui ne scavent qu'a peine qui regne aux lieux ou ils passent et qui se contentent de faire des memoire des temples qu'ils ont veus des montagnes des fleuves et d'autres semblables choses sans s'informer des moeurs des coustumes et des gens qui habitent les villes dont ils remarquent seulement les rues et les places publiques mais aujourd'huy adjousta t'elle que je scay que vous connoissez mieux les honnestes gens de nostre cour que vous ne scavez ou sont nos jardins je veux bien aider a prasille a vous les faire voir c'est pourquoy si elle le veut nous ferons demain une partie avec quelques dames de nos amies pour aller a un des aimables lieux du monde qui n'est pas trop esloigne de nostre riviere je le veux bien dit prasille et alors convenant des personnes qui en devoient estre belesis n'eut plus autre chose a faire qu'a consentir a ce que ces deux aimables filles vouloient faisant toutesfois tousjours semblant de n'estre point bien aise que cleodore le traitast en estranger la chose estant donc resolue ainsi et le lendemain estant venu hermogene belesis et moy fusmes prendre les dames qui devoient estre de cette promenade et comme cleodore estoit en un de ses plus agreables jours nous ne fusmes pas plustost arrivez au lieu ou nous voulions aller et elle ne sur pas plustost descendue du chariot ou elle estoit 
 que tendant la main a belesis venez genereux estranger luy dit elle venez voir les beautez de nostre pais afin de les raconter au vostre quand vous y serez retourne au nom des dieux madame luy dit il ne m'apellez point ainsi il faut bien que je vous y nomme du moins aujourd'huy reprit elle en riant puis que je vay vous faire voir mille choses que vous n'avez point veues et que-vous estes presentement en un lieu ou vous n'avez nulle habitude je consens donc luy dit il d'estre encore estranger pour vous jusques a la fin de la promenade je le veux repliqua t'elle et alors faisant entrer belesis dans le jardin qu'on vouloit luy faire voir elle se mit a luy en faire remarquer toutes les beautez le reste de la compagnie les suivant et se meslant mesme a leur conversation d'abord cleodore le mena par une grande allee de cypres au bout de la quelle estoit une fontaine dont les eaux en s'esluant par gros bouillons les uns sur les autres faisoient continuellement voir un grand rocher de cristal a qui les rayons du soleil donnoient les couleurs de l'arcen-ciel de la tournant a droit de l'autre coste d'une espaisse palissade le long de laquelle coule un petit ruisseau cleodore fit voir a belesis un grand parterre au de la duquel par dessus une balustrade qui le bornoit on voyoit une agreable prairie et au dela de la prairie la mesme riviere qui passe a suse apres avoir donc este jusques a cette balustrade et veu en 
 passant un grand rondeau au milieu du parterre nous tournasmes a gauche pour luy aller faire voir un grand canal qui borne le jardin d'un coste en suitte cleodore mena belesis voir un parterre d'eau admirable qui est encore en ce lieu la apres quoy nous fusmes nous assoir dans un grand cabinet de mirthe ou il y a vintquatre statues dans des niches de verdure au milieu de ce cabinet il y a une fontaine dont les eaux sont jettees par douze monstres marins que l'on ne voit qu'a demy corps la figure du milieu estant un neptune avec son trident comme ce cabinet est fort agreable et qu'il y a des sieges tout a l'entour nous y fusmes assez long temps cleodore faisant tousjours la guerre a belesis et voulant luy persuader qu'il n'y avoit rien de tout ce qu'il voyoit en son pais luy nommant jusques aux herbes les plus un universellement connues et faisant enfin si bien que d'une conversation de bagatelles elle en divertissoit toute une grande compagnie belesis de son coste contribuoit autant qu'il faloit pour la rendre agreable mais enfin apres avoir este long temps en ce lieu la belesis dit a cleodore que pour achever de luy faire la grace toute entiere il faloit encore qu'elle luy fist voir la maison apres luy avoir fait voirie jardin vous ne la trouverez pas si belle que ce que vous avez desja veu dit elle car a la reserve d'une sale basse et voutee qui est extremement fraische en este' tout le reste 
 est peu de chose toutesfois puis que vous le voulez il y faut aller en disant cela cleodore se leva belesis continuant de luy aider a marcher et toute la compagnie les suivant nous fusmes a la porte de la salle cleodore ayant envoye dire au concierge qu'il la fist ouvrir mais seigneur il ne fut pas besoin d'attendre car des que cleodore et belesis furent au haut du perron l'on ouvrit la porte de la salle et cleodore vit qu'il y avoit en ce lieu la une colation magnifique elle fut si surprise de cette veue et soupconna si peu que ce pust estre belesis qui l'eust fait preparer qu'elle se retira et voulut mesme refermer la porte croyant que c'estoit quelque galanterie secrette d'autres gens et cherchant desja qui ce pouvoit estre qui estoit dans cette maison mais elle ne tut pas long temps en cette erreur car belesis poussant la porte on commenca d'ouir un concert admirable d'instruments apres quoy se tournant vers cleodore il la pria de l'excuser comme estranger s'il ne la traittoit pas aussi poliment que s'il ne l'eust pas este quoy belesis luy dit elle c'est moy qui viens vous monstrer un jardin et c'est vous qui nous y donnez cette magnifique colation du moins advouez qu'hermogene et alcenor en ont eu le soin je ne veux pas leur faire cette honte reprit il en disant un pareil mensonge pour m'excuser de ne vous traiter pas assez bien alors hermogene et moy dismes conme il estoit vray que nous n'en avions rien sceu de sorte qu'apres cela ce ne 
 furent que des exclamations et des louanges en faveur de belesis cleodore luy demandant pardon de l'avoir traitte en estranger et luy declarant qu'elle ne le feroit plus de sa vie enfin nous louasmes tant belesis que nous ne pensasmes jamais nous imposer silence et la compagnie s'en retourna si satisfaite de l'agreable surprise qu'elle avoit eue que cela ne fit pas un petit effet dans le coeur de cleodore n'y ayant rien de si important dans une affection naissante que de faire quelque galanterie d'esclat qui face que diverses personnes vous louent en la presence de celle que vous aimez voila donc seigneur comment belesis cessa d'estre estranger aupres de cleodore qu'il vit tres souvent depuis cela et dont il devint si amoureux qu'il fit dessein de s'arrester le plus long temps qu'il pourroit a suse il fit donc si bien que ses parents luy ayant envoye dequoy se mettre en equipage il n'y eut pas un homme de sa condition a la cour qui fist une plus belle despence que luy cependant comme il sceut admirablement prendre le biais de l'esprit de cleodore il fut fort bien avec elle sans oser pourtant jamais l'entretenir de sa passion serieusement car il connoissoit a cent choses que c'estoit une resolution dangereuse a prendre que celle de luy parler d'amour d'abord elle declara qu'elle le mettoit au rang de ses amis en general quelque temps apres elle luy fit la grace de luy advouer publiquement qu'il estoit du nombre de trois 
 ou quatre qu'elle preferoit a tous les autres et quelque temps encore en suitte je pense que belesis connut sans qu'elle le luy dist qu'il estoit le premier de ses amis cependant il n'osoit luy descouvrir qu'il estoit plus son amant que son amy car comme il estoit dans sa confidence elle luy avoit advoue un jour qu'elle seroit la plus satisfaite personne du monde si elle avoit pu voir jusques ou pourroit aller la patience d'un amant mal-traitte vous pouvez penser luy disoit elle que je ne suis pas d humeur a faire galanterie mais si par hazard je perdois la raison jusques au point que je voulusse me divertir de la folie d'autruy et que le caprice de l'amour me donnast un amant il est certain que je n'aurois pas un plus grand plaisir que celuy de le tourmenter en effet adjoustoit elle je ne croy point qu'il y ait rien de si doux que de faire souffrir de ces sortes de gens qui se font de si grands malheurs de si petites choses mais est il possible luy disoit belesis qui m'a raconte depuis jusques a ses moindres pensees que vous soyez capable d'un sentiment si cruel s'il faloit disoit elle en riant egorger un homme de ma main empoisonner quelqu'un mettre le feu a une ville et mille autres semblables choses j'en aurois sans doute horreur et j'aimerois mieux mourir que d'y penser mais belesis tant qu'il ne faudra pour faire des malheureux qu'estre un peu inesgale un peu fiere et un peu insensible je m'y resoudray 
 sans peine et je trouverois sans doute beaucoup plus agreable que l'on me nommast inhumaine inexorable et cruelle et mesme tigresse si vous voulez que de me venir simplement dire que je serois belle que je serois aimamable et que je serois charmante c'est pourquoy adjousta t'elle c'est un grand bonheur que je ne sois pas nee avec une beaute a faire beaucoup de conquestes car assurement mon regne n'eust pas este doux l'en connois pourtant reprit belesis qui vivent sous vostre puissance qui n'ont pas dessein de se rebeller si ce que vous dittes est vray reprit elle c'est que je ne scay pas qu'ils soient mes sujets car si je le scavois j'en ferois bien tost des esclaves et des esclaves encore si chargez de la pesanteur de leurs fers qu'ils seroient peut-estre contraints d'essayer de les rompre cleodore dit cela par un certain emportement d'esprit qui estonna belesis et qui luy osta la hardiesse de se declarer comme il en avoit eu l'intention parce qu'il creut que cleodore parloit ainsi avec dessein de luy faire entendre qu'il ne devoit pas s'engager a la servir en effet cette pensee s'empara si fort de son esprit que depuis ce jour la il devint assez resveur et assez melancolique et jusques au point qu'il ne s'informa plus de rien de sorte qu'au lieu qu'il avoit accoustume de fournir de nouvelles a cleodore et de luy aprendre tout ce qui se passoit devant que tout le monde le sceust c'estoit a cleodore 
 a luy aprendre tout car il ne scavoit pas seulement les choses les plus publiques cette aimable fille s'estant donc aperceue de ce changement se mit un jour qu'il estoit seul avec elle a luy en faire la guerre et a la luy faire obligeamment car par bonheur pour luy elle estoit en un de ces jours ou sa fierte estoit si cachee qu'on ne la descouvroit point est il possible luy dit elle que je voye ce que je voy car enfin vous ne m'espouventez guere moins aujourd'huy de ne scavoir point ce que l'on fait dans suse que vous m'espouventastes lors que vous y veniez d'arriver et que vous scaviez pourtant toutes choses est-ce que vous estes desja las d'estre complaisant pour moy est-ce que le sejour de suse vous ennuye est-ce que vous croyez que les nouvelles ne doivent pas faire partie de la conversation et que vous veuilliez reformer le monde par vostre exemple ce n'est rien de ce que vous dittes reprit il mais c'est que j'ay quelque chose dans l'esprit qui m'occupe d'une t'elle forte que je ne songe a rien qu'a cela quand on se sent de cette humeur reprit cleodore il faut n'aller qu'aux lieux ou l'on a affaire afin que venant bientost a bout de son dessein on redevienne apres comme les autres car selon mon sens il n'y a pas grand plaisir a se faire remarquer pour estre different des autres et different de soy mesme ce qui fait que je ne scay presque rien reprit belesis est qu'effectivement 
 je ne vay en aucun autre lieu qu'en celuy ou l'ay affaire et qu'en ce lieu la encore je n'escoute pas tout ce que l'on y dit mais belesis repliqua cleodore sans deviner ce qu'il vouloit dire je vous voy eternellement icy il est vray madame repondit il mais ce qui fait que vous m'y voyez toujours est qu'il n'y a point d'autre lieu au monde ou je me plaise il paroist bien repliqua t'elle avec un sourire malicieux que vous ne vous y plaisez pas et que mesme vous n'y voulez pas plaire car depuis quelque temps vous y resvez tousjours et vous n'y parlez point c'est madame reprit il que j'ay peur de dire ce que vous ne voulez point scavoir pourveu que vous ne me parliez point de chose ou j'aye interest respondit elle il n'est presques rien que vous ne me puissiez dire il me semble repliqua belesis que vostre curiosite seroit plus raisonnable si vous souhaitiez scavoir ce qui vous regarde que ce qui ne vous touche point quoy qu'il en soit dit elle c'est mon humeur et c'est a ceux qui me veulent plaire a s'y conformer mais madame reprit il avec un visage fort serieux si je vous disois qu'il y a une personne qui se pleint de vous et une personne encore pour qui je vous ay entendu dire avoir quelque estime n'auriez vous point envie de scavoir dequoy elle vous accuse afin de vous justifier nullement reprit elle car si elle m'accuse a tort elle est indigne que je me justifie et si je suis coupable c'est assurement 
 que je l'ay voulu estre et que je suis incapable ny de me repentir ny de m'excuser je ne vous croyois pas si injuste reprit belesis mais adjousta t'il puisque vous l'estes jusques au point que de ne vouloir ny vous justifier ny vous excuser ne dois-je point encore craindre que vous ne veuilliez pas que les autres ne se justifient ny s'excusent au contraire dit elle par la mesme raison que je n'aime point a rendre conte de mes actions j'aime que les autres facent ce que je ne fais point cela estant madame reprit belesis vous ne vous offencerez donc pas si je vous dis que la raison pourquoy je ne scay plus ce qui se passe dans le monde est que le ne songe qu'a tascher de scavoir ce qui se passe dans vostre coeur et que ce qui fait que je ne parle guere est que je crains de parler trop tost et de vous dire que je vous aime en un instant si malheureux que je m'en face hair pour tousjours je vous assure reprit cleodore qu'il n'y a point d'instant a choisir pour cela et qu'il n'en est aucun ou je puisse trouver bon que l'on me die une pareille chose c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez ne le faites pas vous n'estes pas encore engage si avant en un si facheux discours adjousta t'elle que vous ne le puissiez tourner en raillerie non non madame interrompit belesis je parle serieusement et j'aime beaucoup mieux vous irriter en vous descouvrant la violente passion que j'ay pour vous que si vous l'ignoriez toute vostre vie vous m'avez autre 
 autrefois fait l'honneur de me dire que vous aimeriez mieux que l'on vous apellast cruelle inhumaine et inexorable que de vous donner des louanges c'est pourquoy vous ne devez pas ce me semble trouver estrange si j'aime encore mieux que vous m'apelliez temeraire presomptueux et insolent que de vous louer de moy comme du meilleur de vos amis si vous ne voulez que des injures reprit cleodore je seray ce que je pourray pour vous satisfaire quoyque jusques a cette heure personne ne m'ait mise en necessite d'en dire de grace madame interrompit belesis ne me traitez pas selon toute l'estendue de vostre fierte j'en suis bien esloignee repliqua t'elle en riant car si j'estois aujourd'huy en humeur fiere je suis asseuree que vous n'auriez pas tant parle et que je vous aurois desja impose silence mais je vous avoue ingenument qu'il y a desja plus d'un quart d'heure que je fais ce que je puis pour me mettre en colere contre vous sans en pouvoir venir about il est vray que ce qui fait que je suis si douee est que je ne croy point du tout ce que vous dittes ha madame s'ecria belesis je ne veux point de vostre douceur a une si dure condition toutesfois reprit il quelle aparence y a t'il que l'aimable cleodore scache tout ce qui se passe par tous les lieux ou elle n'est pas et qu'elle ignore ce qui se passe dans mon coeur ou elle est tousjours de plus madame adjousta t'il qui me peut retenir a suse si ce n'est vous 
 qui m'y retenez l'amitie d'hermogene reprit elle qui vous y a fait venir mais madame repliqua t'il je ne voy presques plus hermogene et je vous voy eternellement il est vray que j'y suis venu pour luy mais il est encore plus vray que j'y demeure pour l'amour de vous si ce que vous dittes est veritable reprit elle je vous conseille de partir de suse le plustost que vous pourrez car belesis pour ne vous en mentir pas je suis meilleure amie que je ne serois bonne maistresse quand mesme je pourrois me resoudre a souffrir que vous m'aimassiez mais adjousta t'elle je n'en suis pas la et vous ne scauriez me faire un plus sensible depit que de vous obstiner a me vouloir persuader que vous m'aimez car quelque inclination que j'aye a aimer les nouvelles je n'aime pas a estre la nouvelle des autres s'il faut ainsi dire et quand je songe que si vous vous mettiez dans la fantaisie d'aller faire pour moy tout ce que font ces gens qui veulent que l'on croye qu'ils sont amoureux tout le monde se diroit a l'oreille durant plusieurs jours belesis aime cleodore et que peut-estre on y adjousteroit aussi que cleodore le souffre sans chagrin j'en ay une colere si grande qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne vous haisse mais madame reprit belesis le moyen de faire que personne ne se die a l'oreille que je suis amoureux de vous est que vous enduriez que je vous le die tout bas et que vous ne me desesperiez point car madame il est ce me 
 semble bien aise a un amant heureux d'estre secret mais si vous ne voulez point croire que le vous aime et si vous ne voulez point que je vous le die quelquesfois je seray contraint pour vous persuader cette verite malgre vous de faire cent choses qui descouvriront ma passion a toute la terre c'est pourquoy aimable cleodore examinez bien auparavant que de prononcer mon arrest de mort si je la merite si vous le voulez adjousta t'il personne ne scaura que le vous aime et vous serez seule qui scaurez jusques ou s'estend vostre pouvoir sur mon ame mais si vous ne voulez pas que je vous parle de mon amour en particulier je vous declare qu'il n'y a point de gens a qui je ne face confidence de la passion que j'ay pour vous non seulement afin d'avoir la consolation de me pleindre de vostre rigueur mais aussi afin que tout le monde vous parle voyez donc inhumaine fille que vous estes si vous aimez mieux que cent mille personnes vous disent que je vous aime que si je suis seul a vous le dire et a vous le dire encore avec un respect qui n'eut jamais d'egal de grace belesis interrompit cleodore taisez vous si vous ne voulez que je vous parle rudement car je sens enfin que pour peu que vous continuyez la colere que je ne pouvois exciter dans mon coeur il n'y a qu'un moment me fera eclater contre vous comme cleodore disoit cela j'arrivay et rompis leur conversation il me fut aise de remarquer que 
 cet entretien avoit quelque chose de particulier car je vy un incarnat si vif sur le visage de cleodore et tant d'inquietude dans les yeux de belesis que je devinay a peu pres ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux depuis cela cleodore mit en pratique ce qu'elle avoit un jour dit a belesis car il n'y a point de rigueur que cette cruelle fille n'eust pour luy quoy qu'elle l'estimast infiniment et qu'elle l'aimast peut-estre desja non seulement elle luy osta l'occasion de l'entretenir srule mais il n'estoit jamais chez elle qu'elle n'entretinst quelque autre en sa presence elle estoit pourtant toujours tres civile pour luy car je pense qu'elle ne cherchoit pas a esteindre le feu qu'elle avoit allume dans son ame et qu'elle vouloit plustost l'augmenter cette civilite ne laissoit pourtant pas d'assiger belesis au lieu de le consoler et en effet l'ayant trouvee un jour seule malgre qu'elle en eust il s'en pleignit comme d'un assez grand mal je vous respecte si fort luy dit il que je n'ay garde de me pleindre a vous de toutes vos rigueurs et de tous vos mespris car enfin je veux croire que j'en suis digne mais madame a quoy bon la civilite que vous gardez encore pour moy si vous avez resolu ma perte est-ce que vous aimez les longs suplices et qu'une mort violente ne satisferoit pas pleinement vostre cruaute la civilite reprit cleodore est une chose que l'on doit tousjours avoir mesme pour ses ennemis je scay bien madame repliqua t'il 
 qu'elle n'est pas mesme bannie de la guerre et des combats mais je scay aussi que vous n'en devez point avoir pour un homme dont l'amour vous importune et dont la presence vous fache ha belesis s'escria t'elle en sous-riant il faut distinguer belesis de belesis s'il est permis de parler ainsi car enfin j'estimois infiniment cet agreable estranger qui me donna de la curiosite des le premier instant que je le vy et avec qui j'ay eu depuis cent agreables conversations et fait tant de promenades divertissantes mais j'advoue que le belesis d'aujourd'huy n'est pas tant selon mon humeur que l'autre pourveu que vous en aimiez un des deux reprit il en sous - riant aussi bien qu'elle je vous promets que l'autre ne se pleindra point de vous serieusement belesis luy dit elle y a t'il quelque verite en vos paroles sincerement cruelle personne reprit il en pouvez vous encore douter apres m'avoir traitte comme vous avez fait car a quoy bon d'esviter m'a racontre si vous croyez que je n'ay rien de particulier a vous dire a quoy bon encore de detourner si souvent vos beaux yeux afin de ne voir pas les miens si vous ne craignez point d'y voir la passion que j'ay pour vous enfin cruelle cleodore si vous ne scavez point que je vous aime vostre procede est deraisonnable et si vous le scavez il est injuste et inhumain songez donc a vous je vous en conjure ou pour mieux dire songez a moy et ne me mettez pas au desespoir 
 pout vous monstrer luy dit elle que je ne veux pas vous desobliger absolument je veux bien vous faire une declaration ingenue mais de grace ne donnez pas plus de force a mes paroles que je ne veux qu'elles en ayent ne craignez pas divine cleodore luy dit il que je me flatte quoy que vous me puissiez dire puis que de l'humeur dont je suis je voy tousjours mes maux plus grands qu'ils ne sont en effet et mes biens plus petits cela estant reprit elle je ne craindray donc point de vous dire que je vous estime infiniment et que si j'avois a s'estre capable d'une foiblesse j'aimerois mieux que ce fust pour vous que pour aucun autre mais apres tout il faut encore que je vous die que pour vostre bonheur et pour le mien il est a propos que je ne vous aime jamais que mediocrement car enfin si j'en estois venue au point de vous dire que vostre passion ne me deplairoit pas j'en aurois une si grande honte que j'en deviendrois tres melancolique et comme on passe aisement de la melancolie au chagrin et que le chagrin est une grande disposition a la colere nous serions tousjours en querelle c'est pourquoy pour accommoder les choses et pour faire que vous ne vous pleigniez point de mon injustice je vay vous faire une proposition par laquelle je ne veux pas que vous faciez un pas plus que moy belesis croyant alors que cleodore alloit luy dire quelque chose de fort doux luy dit que ce cela n'estoit pas juste qu'il suffisoit qu'elle abaissast 
 les yeux jusques a luy et qu'elle souffrist qu'il fist toutes choses pour son service ne vous hastez pas encore tant reprit cleodore de vous opposer a ce que je veux de vous afin que nous soyons toute nostre vie bien ensemble mais encore repliqua t'il que faut il faire pour cela il faut dit elle que vous m'aimiez beaucoup moins que vous ne faites et que je vous aime un peu plus que je ne fais afin que nostre affection devienne une veritable et solide amitie quand vous aurez commence de m'aimer un peu plus reprit il je verray si je vous pourray aimer beaucoup moins ha belesis interrompit elle c'est a vous a commencer et non pas a moy ha madame repliqua t'il en souspirant si vous ne me pouvez aimer quand je vous aime plus que ma vie vous ne m'aimeriez sans doute pas si je vous aimois mediocrement mais cruelle personne adjousta t'il l'affection que j'ay pour vous n'est pas en mon choix comme il semble que celle que vous avez pour moy est au vostre car soit que vous veuilliez que je vous aime ou que je ne vous aime pas je vous aimeray non seulement malgre vous mais malgre moy mesme ouy poursuiit il in humaine fille que vous estes vous me reduisez souvent aux termes de vouloir ne vous aimer plus sans que je puisse toutesfois chasser de mon coeur la passion qui le tirannise belesis adjoust en suitte beaucoup d'autres choses a celles que je viens de dire sans pouvoir rien obtenir encore s'estimat'il bienheureux 
 de n'avoir pas este plus mal-traitte cependant le rare merite de belesis ae laissoit pas d'avoir puissamment touche le coeur de cleodore elle fut pourtant long temps sans pouvoir se resoudre a luy en donner volontairement quelques marques il est vray que sans qu'elle en eust dessein elle fit beaucoup de choses qui nous firent connoistre a hermogene et a moy qui scavions le secret de belesis qu'elle ne le haissoit pas ce n'est pas que pour l'ordinaire elle n'eust une froideur estrange pour luy quand il cherchoit les occasions de la voir avec empressement mais c'est que quand il arrivoit qu'il ne se trouvoit point aux lieux ou elle pensoit qu'il la deust suivre elle luy en faisoit tousjours quelque raillerie piquante de sorte que l'on peut dire s'il est permis de parler ainsi d'une personne aussi aimable que cleodore que sa bizarrerie fut la premiere faveur que belesis receut d'elle mais a la fin apres que la fierte de cleodore eut bien combatu sa douceur elle ceda peu a peu et advoua enfin a belesis qu'elle ne seroit pas bien aise qu'il ne l'aimast plus de vous representer quelle fut la joye de cet amant quand il eut obtenu la permission de parler de son amour a cleodore il ne me seroit pas aise le souvenir des rigueurs de cette personne luy devint mesme agreable car encore qu'elle ne luy accordast autre faveur que celle de souffrir d'estre aimee il ne laissoit pas de s'estimer le plus heureux homme du 
 monde son bonheur ne fut pourtant pas long temps tranquile parce que plus cleodore vint a aimer belesis plus elle devint difficile a contenter sil luy tesmoignoit beaucoup d'amour elle disoit qu'il estoit imprudent de donner des marques si visibles de la passion qu'il avoit pour elle s'il aportoit soin a la cacher elle luy reprochoit qu'il estoit change et qu'il l'aimoit moins s'il estoit guay elle croyoit qu'elle luy avoit donne trop de preuve de son affection et disoit quelle s'en repentoit s'il estoit triste elle l'accusoit de ne sentir pas les graces qu'elle luy avoit faites avec assez de transport de joye de sorte que quoy que pust faire ou dire belesis il y avoit tousjours quelque petit chagrin entre eux cependant ils ne laissoient pourtant pas de scavoir qu'ils s'aimoient et de le croire fortement quoy qu'ils se dissent bien souvent des choses qui eussent pu faire penser qu'ils ne le croyoient point du tout belesis avoit pourtant d'assez douces heures car enfin cleodore souffroit qu'il luy escrivisst quand il ne la pouvoit voir elle luy avoit aussi donne son portrait et l'on peut dire enfin que par l'inegalite de l'humeur de cette aimable fille il n'avoit jamais d'espines sans fleurs ny de fleurs sans espines
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur comment vescut belesis durant un assez longtemps pendant quoy hermogene et moy sans avoir de dessein forme nous divertissions a visiter toutes les dames indifferemment hermogene alloit pourtant 
 moins chez cleodore que chez les autres afin disoit il que son amy ne luy pust pas souvent reprocher de luy avoir fait perdre l'occasion d entretenir sa maistresse seule les choses estant donc en ces termes il arriva qu'une soeur de la tante de cleodore estant morte dans une province ou elle demeuroit il y avoit assez long temps et n'ayant laisse qu'une fille nommee leonise agee de quinze ans cette fille vint a suse et vint demeurer chez la soeur de sa mere par consequent en mesme maison que cleodore lors qu'elle y arriva belesis hermogene et moy estions allez faire un voyage de huit jours seulement a nostre retour nous fusmes ensemble chez cleodore qui avoit desja lie une amitie assez estroite avec sa parente mais seigneur nous fusmes extremement surpris de voir leonise que nous trouvasmes avec elle car encore que nous eussions sceu qu'elle devoit venir a suse que nous eussions ouy dire qu'elle estoit belle et qu'hermogene et moy nous souvinssions que lors qu'elle estoit enfant nous avions toujours preveu qu'elle auroit beaucoup de beaute nous ne laissasses pas estre esblouis de l'eclat de son taint et de celuy de ses yeux car seigneur pour vous faire imaginer ce que nous parut leonise il faut que je vous die que la nature n'a jamais donne a personne de plus beaux cheveux ny un plus beau taint de plus beaux yeux ny une plus belle bouche au reste quoy que sa taille ne soit pas 
 des plus grandes elle n'est pourtant pas petite au contraire elle est si noble et si bien faite qu'on ne peut rien voir de plus agreable outre toutes ces choses leonise a encore un agreement plus grand que sa beaute et je ne scay quoy de si doux et de si flatteur dans l air du visage que ses yeux n'ont assurement jamais pris de coeurs sans donner esperance de toucher le sien quoy qu'elle ait pourtant de la modestie autant qu'on en peut avoir voila donc seigneur quelle estoit leonise lors que belesis la vit la premiere fois chez cleodore qui nous presenta tous trois a sa belle parente de qui la civilite nous fit assez paroistre qu'elle estoit aussi spirituelle que belle comme cleodore et leonise estoient des beautez toutes differentes l'envie n'eut point de place en leur ame elles avoient mesme cet advantage qu'elles ne se deffaisoient pas l'une l'autre quoy qu'il faille pourtant advouer que leonise avoit un air de jeunesse sur le visage encore plus aimable que cleodore quoy qu'il n'y eust que trois ans a dire de l'une a l'autre cependant comme la civilite veut que l'on loue toutes les belles et principalement celles que l'on voit la premiere fois nous louasmes extremement la beaute de leonise hermogene et moy belesis la loua aussi quoy que ce fust moins que nous parce qu'il estoit devant sa maistresse et qu'il n'ignoroit pas que c'est presques un sentiment general a toutes les belles de ne pouvoit souffrir sans 
 chagrin que leurs amans en louent d'autres en leur presence pour moy qui n'avois pas une si puissante raison de songer a ce que je disois j'exageray autant que je le pus les louanges de leonise je luy demanday si on ne luy avoit pas desja escrit du lieu d'ou elle venoit la mort de plusieurs de ses amans que la douleur de son absence devoit avoir fait mourir car luy dis-je s'ils n'estoient point morts ils vous auroient tous suivis et nous les verrions icy je vous assure dit elle en riant que quand j'aurois eu assez de beaute pour avoir des amans au lieu d'ou je viens et pour m'en faire suivre a suse je n'y aurois pas amene fort bonne compagnie c'est pourquoy il est avantageux que je n'aye point fait de conquestes vous en ferez assurement bien tost icy reprit hermogene et je ne doute pas mesme adjoustay-je qu'elle n'y face plusieurs inconstants eh de grace interrompit cleodore ne presagez pas tant de choses facheuses a la fois a leonise comme seroient celles d'estre aimee par des hommes inconstants et d'estre haie de leurs maistresses il paroist bien dit agreablement leonise en rougissant que je n'ay encore guere vescu et que je viens d'un lieu sauvage ou l'on ne connoist point l'amour car pour moy il me semble que si j'estois telle qu'il faut estre pour faire des conquestes et que je fusse d'humeur a en faire je trouverois plus glorieux d'arracher des coeurs d'entre les mains des belles qui les auroient pris 
 que d'en prendre d'autres qui ne seroient encore a personne il y a bien de la malice a dire une semblable chose repliqua cleodore et mesme bien de l'injustice et bien de la vanite ne vous ay-je pas dit reprit leonise que je ne scay point raisonner juste sur une pareille matiere je pense pourtant adjousta t'elle quoy que vous m'en puissiez dire que cela seroit assez plaisant mais voudriez vous bien que l'on vous quittast pour une autre repliqua cleodore nullement respondit leonise et c'est parce que je concois admirablement le depit que j'aurois si une semblable avanture m'arrivoit que je comprens parfaitement le plaisir qu'il y auroit a causer ce depit la aux autres si les malheurs d'autruy vous donnent du divertissement interrompit belesis qui n'avoit point encore parle je pleins estrangement ceux qui sont destinez a vous aimer je pense repliqua t'elle qu'ils seront en si petit nombre que je ne donneray pas une ample matiere a vostre compassion pour moy dit cleodore seulement pour faire disputer sa parente je souhaite de toute mon ame que bien loin de faire des inconstants le premier coeur que vous gagnerez le deviene afin de vous punir d'un si injuste sentiment je ne me scaurois pourtant repentir de l'avoir eu poursuivit leonise car quand je songe a la joye que j'aurois d'effacer l'image d'une autre du coeur que j'aurois assujetty de forcer cet amant a remettre entre mes mains les portraits et les lettres 
 de sa premiere maistresse et combien j'aurois de plaisir a voir les uns et a lire les autres je vous assure qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne souhaite estre assez belle pour pouvoir esperer de faire quelque inconstant tout a bon luy dit cleodore en riant vous me serez croire a la fin que vous ne scavez pas encore precisement les choses qu'il faut dire ou ne dire pas je l'advoue dit leonise mais je scay bien du moins celles qui me plaisent et puis adjousta t'elle je ne vous dis pas que j'aimerois cet inconstant que j'aurois fait mais seulement que je me divertirois fort a l'avoir rendu tel ha belle leonise s'escria hermogene vous estes cette fois la encore plus malicieuse que vostre aimable parente ne croyoit car pourquoy voudriez vous gagner des coeurs si vous aviez absolument resolu de ne donner jamais le vostre cette resolution reprit leonise ne m'est a mon advis pas particuliere et j'ay si bonne opinion de toutes les personnes de mon sexe que je croy qu'il ny en a pas une qui face une semblable liberalite ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle en riant que je n'aye quelquesfois entendu dire que quelques hommes se sont vantez de posseder les coeurs de quelques belles personnes mais c'est qu'assurement ils les avoient derobez par adresse on arrachez par violence je vous assure repliqua hermogene que de quelque facon que l'on puisse posseder le vostre ce sera toujours une chose fort glorieuse et fort agreable quand ce que 
 vous dittes seroit vray respondit elle ce seroit un bonheur qui n'arriveroit pas sans peine a celuy qui le devroit recevoir puis qu'il est certain que je suis resolue de ne donner pas seulement place en mon coeur bien loin de le donner tout entier de grace leonise interrompit cleodore ne parlez pas si determinement puis qu'a dire la verite il y a tousjours beaucoup d'imprudence a chanter le triomphe devant la victoire vous n'avez encore escoute luy dit elle en raillant que des galanteries de village et vous n'avez enfin assujetty que des provinciaux assez rustiques cependant vous estes aussi assuree de vous mesme que si vous aviez veu a vos pieds tout ce qu'il y a d'honnestes gens a suse et que vous les eussiez mesprisez croyez leonise poursuivit elle qu'il n'est pas trop a propos d'avoir si bonne opinion de ses forces et j'en connois de plus fieres que vous qui pour avoir mesprise leurs ennemis se sont quelquesfois trouvees vaincues c'est pourquoy ne vous hastez pas tant de publier que vous elles invincible quand vous aurez este une annee ou deux a la cour et que vostre beaute vous y aura fait un nombre infiny de ses esclaves qui ne portent des chaines que pour les donner s'ils peuvent a celles qu'ils apellent leurs maistresses et que vous vous en serez bien deffendue nous souffrirons alors que vous parliez avec toute la hardiesse que vous venez d'avoir mais jusques a ce temps la je vous declare que je ne le souffriray 
 pas j'aime donc mieux me taire reprit leonise que de disputer contre vous apres cela nous fusmes encore quelque temps en conversation en suitte de quoy nous nous retirasmes belesis hermogene et moy fort satisfaits de la beaute et de l'esprit de leonise et trouvant tous comme il estoit vray qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus beau ny de plus aimable qu'elle en toute la cour ny en tonte la ville belesis ne s'expliqua pourtant pas si precisement que nous et il nous dit seulement que si leonise n'eust point eu de parente a suse elle eust este au dessus de tout ce qu'il y avoit d'aimable cependant comme il ne pouvoit presques plus voir cleodore sans voir leonise parce qu'elles demeuroient en mesme maison il falut qu'il la vist tous les jours car s'il ne la voyoit chez sa tante il la voyoit chez la reine ou a la promenade ou en quelques visites et comme leonise n'est pas de celles qui se detruisent elles mesmes lors qu'on les voit en particulier et qu'au contraire plus on la voit plus on la trouve charmante belesis la voyant plus souvent qu'aucun autre l'estima aussi encore plus que tous les autres ne l'estimoient quoy qu'elle le fust universellement de tout le monde leonise de son coste eut pour belesis plus de civilite et plus de complaisance que pour tous les hommes qu'elle voyoit non seulement parce qu'en effet il le meritoit plus que tous les autres mais encore parce qu'elle remarqua aisement qu'il 
 estoit fort estime de sa tante et de cleodore de sorte que belesis la trouvant toujours d'une humeur egallement douce s'accoustuma a chercher quelque consolation en son entretien dans les heures ou il estoit mal avec cleodore ce qui luy arrivoit assez souvent comme je l'ay desja dit il avint mesme que leonise leur causa une querelle sans y penser car comme sa beaute fit grand bruit lors qu'elle arriva a suse elle attira indifferemment chez elle les honnestes gens et ceux qui ne l'estoient pas si bien que cleodore qui n'estoit accoustumee qu'a voir des personnes choisies se trouva bientost importunee de cette multitude de monde et sa complaisance n'alla pas fort loin elle en parla donc a leonise a diverses fois mais comme elle n'estoit pas de l'humeur de sa parente et qu'elle estoit un peu plus jeune qu'elle elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a bannir des gens qui la cherchoient et qui luy tesmoignoient avoir de l'estime pour elle si bien qu'elle se contentoit de dire a cleodore qu'elle ne pouvoit jamais faire d'incivilite a personne et que de plus elle ne croyoit pas qu'elle deust entreprendre rien dans une maison ou elle n'estoit que pour obeir cleodore n'osoit pas en parler a sa tante parce qu'elle scavoit bien qu'elle ne trouvoit pas bon qu'elle fust d'humeur si particuliere ainsi ne scachant que faire elle pria un jour belesis apres avoir remarque qu'il parloit souvent a leonise et que leonise avoit beaucoup 
 de creance en luy de vouloir luy dire qu'elle se faisoit tort d'avoir une civilite si universelle car enfin luy dit elle si elle vous dit qu'elle n'aime point a desobliger personne dittes luy qu'elle doit plus raisonnablement aprehender de n'obliger jamais un honneste homme a l'estimer et en effet comment pourra t'on croire qu'elle ait autant d'esprit qu'elle en a si elle continue d'avoir une civilite si egalle pour tous ceux qui la voyent comme cleodore disoit cela sans penser estre entendue que de belesis leonise qui estoit dans un cabinet ou elle ne pensoit pas qu'elle fust sortit en riant et venant a cleodore avec une bonte extreme du moins luy dit elle ne me faites pas mon proces sans m'entendre et escoutez moy auparavant que de me condamner cleodore voyant que leonise avoit entendu ce qu'elle avoit dit fit semblant d'avoir bien sceu qu'elle estoit dans ce cabinet et d'avoir parle expres comme elle avoit fait afin qu'elle l'entendist cependant adjousta t'elle je ne laisse pas de vous redire serieusement devant belesis qui scait admirablement bien le monde qu'il n'y a que de deux sortes de personnes qui aiment cette multitude de gens sans choix qui vous accablent aujourd'huy mais encore dit leonise aprenez moy un peu de quel ordre je suis et qui sont ces deux sortes de personnes qui aiment ce que je ne hais pas ce sont repliqua cleodore les provinciales nouvelles venues ou les 
 coquettes du moins reprit leonise sans se facher ne suis-je pas des dernieres je l'advoue dit cleodore et si vous en estiez je ne m'estonnerois pas tant de ce que vous faites je dis mesme encore une chose a vostre avantage adjousta t'elle c'est que vous n'avez rien d'une provinciale que cela seulement mais cleodore repliqua leonise n'ay-je pas ouy dire que la civilite doit estre universelle et n'est-ce pas par l'estime que l'on doit faire la distinction des gens que l'on voit nullement interrompit cleodore car par quelle voye une honneste personne peut elle donner des marques d'estime que par la civilite qu'elle a pour ceux qu'elle distingue des autres vous scavez bien poursuivit elle que la bien-seance ne permet pas que l'on die aux hommes beaucoup de choses tendres et obligeantes le mot d'amitie est mesme quelquesfois assez difficile a prononcer et on n'ose presques s'en servir en parlant a un homme un peu galand quand il est jeune et enjoue et a parler raisonnablement il faut qu'un homme ait donne mille preuves de sagesse ou nous ait rendu quelque service considerable pour pouvoir dire avec bien-seance que l'on a beaucoup d'affection et beaucoup de tendresse pour luy jugez apres cela leonise si vous estes si prodigue de vostre civilite ce que vous reserverez pour les gens que vous estimerez veritablement je reserveray mes louanges reprit leonise dont je ne suis pas si prodigue que de 
 cent mille petites choses qui ne sont purement que civilite vos louanges repliqua cleodore sont assurement d'un prix inestimable mais leonise adjousta t'elle il n'y a guere que les hommes qui puissent avec bien-seance louer souvent en parlant aux dames qu'ils louent et je m'assure que depuis que belesis vous voit vous ne luy avez point encore dit que vous le trouvez de fort bonne mine que son esprit vous plaist infiniment et que sa conversation vous charme ha madame interrompit belesis ne me meslez pas dans vostre dispute en me raillant si cruellement car ce n'est pas moy qui suis cause que les beaux yeux de leonise attirent tant de gens qui vous importunent je vous prie dit leonise a belesis de me laisser respondre a ce que cleodore vient de dire respondez y donc precisement repliqua t'elle aussi feray-je reprit leonise et c'est pour cela que je vous advoue que je n'ay en effet rien dit a belesis de ce que vous dittes cependant je suis assuree que malgre cette civilite universelle que vous me reprochez belesis n'a pas laisse de remarquer que je fais une notable difference de luy a beaucoup d'autres parlez belesis interrompit cleodore leonise dit elle la verite et avez vous pu estre assez fin pour discerner l'estime qu'elle fait de vous de celle qu'elle tesmoigne avoir pour toute la terre belesis se trouva alors bien embarrasse car il ne vouloit point desobliger leonise et craignoit aussi de facher 
 cleodore de sorte que prenant un biais assez adroit j'ay si peu de droit a l'estime de la belle leonise reprit il que je ne devrois pas sans doute m'estre imagine qu'elle deust faire quelque difference de moy aux moins honnestes gens qui la voyent mais comme je me flatte assez souvent et que je crois facilement les choses que je desire j'advoue qu'il m'a semble que je remarquois je ne scay quoy en la civilite qu'elle avoit pour moy de plus obligeant que pour quelques autres a qui elle faisoit mesme de plus longues reverences tant il est vray qu'elle scait admirablement l'art d'obliger de peu de chose ne croyez pas belesis interrompit cleodore en parlant a leonise puis que je suis assuree qu'il n'aime nullement la presse et certes il a raison car apres tout adjousta t'elle que voulez vous faire de tous ces gens la vous ne voulez point estre coquette et vous ne l'estes pas en effet vous ne les pouvez pas tous espouser vous ne pouvez pas mesme les estimer a quoy bon donc de les endurer c'est repliqua leonise que je ne trouve rien de plus doux que de penser que personne ne me hait et qu'au contraire tout le monde m'estime et se loue de moy ha leonise s'escria cleodore qu'il y a de foiblesse a dire ce que vous dittes car enfin a quoy vous sert l'estime de mille personnes que vous n'estimez pas croyez s'il vous plaist ma chere leonise que c'est bien avez de vivre de facon que personne n'ait sujet de nous hair sans vouloir 
 que tout le monde nous aime je tombe d'accord qu'il ne faut point estre medisante qu'il faut faire tout le bien que l'on peut et ne laisser noyer personne faute de luy tendre la main mais il faut pourtant vivre pour soy et pour ses amis et non pas pour le public il faut avoir de la civilite aux temples aux promenades et dans les rues mais pour dans ma chambre si ce n'estoit pas assez d'estre froide pour en chasser ceux qui m'incommodent je serois encore incivile et je pourrois mesme quelquesfois aller encore plus loin pour me delivrer de la conversation de certaines gens que je connois et certes ce n'est pas sans raison puis que de l'humeur dont je suis il ne faut qu'un seul homme stupide pour m'empescher de jouir avec plaisir de la conversation des plus honnestes gens du monde tant il est vray que j'ay l'esprit delicat et que je suis incapable de cette espece de complaisance qui en mille ans ne me donneroit pas un veritable amy il est vray dit leonise que j'ay peut-estre moins d'amis que vous mais aussi puis-je peut-este me vanter d'avoir moins d'ennemis car combien pensez vous qu'il y a de gens qui trouvent que vous avez l'esprit trop particulier et trop misterieux combien en avez vous desoblige en ne leur parlant point ou en parlant trop a d'autres qui vous plaisoient plus qu'eux je n'ignore pas ce que vous dittes reprit cleodore mais scachez s'il vous plaist qu'a une personne de mon humeur le 
 mespris ou la haine de certaines gens ne touche guere car enfin depuis que je suis dans le monde je m'en suis fait un a part au dela duquel je ne prens interest a rien c'est pourquoy je ne me soucie point du tout de l'estime de ceux qui n'en sont pas quand j'ay commence de regler ma vie je me suis resolue a ne faire jamais rien qui me deust faire hair mais aussi a ne me tourmenter pas de vouloir estre aimee de tout le monde au contraire j'ay songe a l'estre de peu parce que j'ay creu qu'il y en avoit peu qui en fussent dignes de plus j'ay considere qu'une seule personne ne peut pas aimer tant de gens et que pour estre heureux il faut vivre avec ce que l'on aime et ne voir pas ce que l'on n'aime point voila leonise quelle est ma maxime qui ne sera jamais la vostre si vous ne changez bien d'humeur pour vous tesmoigner dit leonise combien je deffere a vos sentimens apres avoir dispute autant qu'il le faloit pour vous faire dire si agreablement la cause de la rudesse que vous avez pourtant de personnes je vous declare que je veux vivre absolument comme il vous plaira ha madame interrompit belesis parlant a cleodore il ne faut pas s'il vous plaist apres cela faire le moindre reproche a leonise a ce que je voy luy dit cleodore vous estes desja devenu complaisant avec exces en la voyant car ne diroit on point a vous entendre parler que j'ay tous les torts du monde et que leonise a raison vous dis-je qui m'avez dit plus de 
 mille fois en vostre vie que la multitude estoit une chose qui vous estoit si insuportable que mesme celle des honnestes gens ne vous estoit pas commode et que des que la conversation alloit au de la de trois ou quatre elle n'estoit plus charmante pour vous cependant vous n'avez pas dit un mot pour fortifier mon party et vostre silence a tellement fortifie celuy de leonise qui je suis assuree que dans le fonds de son coeur elle croit que si vous n'avez point parle c'a este par discretion et parce que vous ne me vouliez pas condamner mais madame luy dit il je pense que voyant que leonise vous cede vous venez chercher a me faire une nouvelle guerre il n'est pourtant juste ce me semble de me faire entrer en part d'un chose ou je n'ay point d'interest il est vray dit elle avec un sous-rire piquant que quand on va en un lieu ou la personne qui tient la conversation n'est pas agreable on est bien aise d'y en trouver beaucoup d'autres on y fait mesme ses affaires adjousta t'elle car leonise ne vous y trompez point poursuivit cleodore sans donner loisir a belesis de parler la plus part de ces gens qui vont dans ces maisons qui sont aussi publiques que les temples s'y entre-cherchent bien souvent ou du moins y cherchent leur commodite si c'est en hiver ils cherchent les chambres chaudes en este ils choisissent les sales fraisches ils prennent mesme garde jusques aux sieges les uns parlent de torquer des chevaux 
 les autres d'un interest qu'ils ont quelques uns attendent l'heure d'une assignation les autres encore ne scachant ou aller se tiennent la par necessite et peut-estre y aura t'il tel jour ou de cent hommes qui iront dans une de ces maisons il n'y en aura pas un qui y aille pour celle qui en fait les honneurs pour moy qui ne veux que des gens qui me cherchent je ne puis pas vivre ainsi c'est pourquoy adjousta t'elle en se levant de peur que ma conversation ne vous semble trop longue a tous deux je m'en vay a ma chambre ou il n'entre guere que des gens qui me plaisent et a qui je ne desplais pas par cette raison dit leonise nous vous y suivrons belesis et moy car je veux esperer que nous ne vous deplaisons pas et vous scavez bien que vous nous plaisez beaucoup je vous suis infiniment oblige dit belesis a leonise de parler si fort a mon avantage mais j'ay bien peur que cleodore ne demeure pas d'accord d'une partie de ce que vous dittes je fais encore moins que vous ne pensez dit elle car je ne demeure d'accord de rien estant certain qu'en la colere ou je suis ny je ne vous plais ny vous ne me plaisez en disant cela cleodore s'en alla et tira la porte de la chambre apres elle tesmoignant par cette action qu'elle ne vouloit pas que leonise ny belesis la suivissent ils n'auroient pourtant pas laisse de le faire si dans le mesme temps qu'ils ouvrirent la porte pour suivre cleodore il ne fust arrive du monde 
 qui fit que leonise ne put executer le dessein qu'elle avoit cependant belesis qui connoissoit l'humeur de cette personne se separa de la compagnie et voulut aller a l'apartement de cleodore mais en y allant il rencontra le prince de suse qui venoit voir leonise qui le forca de rentrer luy disant qu'il vouloir l'entretenir de quelque chose le respect qu'il devoit a ce prince qui de son naturel estoit assez violent fit que belesis ne put refuser de luy obeir de sorte qu'il rentra aveque luy dans la chambre ou estoit leonise il n'y fut pourtant pas plus d'une demie heure car apres que le prince de suse luy eut dit ce qu'il avoit a luy dire il se deroba de la compagnie afin d'aller trouver cleodore mais il n avoit garde de la rencontrer car comme elle avoit veu que belesis ne l'avoit pas suivie sans se donner la peine d'en scavoir la raison elle estoit sortie par un escallier derobe pour aller faire une visite chez une de ses amies qui demeuroit assez pres de la afin que quand belesis la voudroit aller voir a sa chambre il ne l'y trouvast plus comme il se la connoissoit admirablement il se douta bien qu'elle n'estoit sortie que pour luy faire despit cependant je ne scay en quelle disposition se trouva son ame ce jour la mais il ne sentit pas ce qu'il avoit accoustume de sentir quand cleodore avoit quelque caprice pour luy car pour l'ordinaire il en avoit une extreme douleur et mesme il n'avoit point de repos 
 qu'il n'eust fait sa paix avec elle mais cette fois la au lieu d'avoir du despaisir il eut de la colere et s'en alla resolu d'en donner mesme quelques marques a cleodore la premiere fois qu'il la verroit apres cela il ne faut pas ce me semble trouver fort estrange si ces deux personnes irritees eurent le lendemain une conversation assez aigre et assez piquante belesis ne dit pourtant rien a cleodore contre le respect qu'il luy devoit mais il n'aporta pas tout le soin qu'il eust eu en un autre temps pour l'apaiser il luy dit simplement les choses qui le devoient justifier sans y joindre ny prieres ny conjurations ny soupirs mais comme cleodore n'estoit pas accoustummee de le voir ainsi bien loin de recevoir ses justifications elle l'accusa encore de la froideur avec laquelle il se justifioit si bien que ce qui n'estoit qu'une petite querelle en devint une tres considerable et ils se separerent si mal que belesis fut plusieurs jours sans oser aller chez cleodore et peut estre aussi sans le vouloir
 
 
 
 
pendant ce temps la le hazard voulut qu'il ne laissast pas de voir leonise et de luy parler diverses fois de sorte que l'amour qui avoit resolu de faire plus souffrir belesis que tous les hommes qui ont reconnu la puissance n'ont jamais souffert fit que la douceur de cette fille qui sans doute avoit desja un peu touche son coeur le charma absolument l'on peut toutesfois dire pour excuser belesis que le despit qu'il avoit de voir qu'il ne pouvoit jamais 
 jouir en repos de l'affection de cleodore ne fut pas une des moindres causes de l'amour qu'il eut pour leonise quoy qu'il en soit il est certain qu'il l'aima et qu'a mesure que sa passion augmenta pour elle elle diminua pour cleodore au commencement il ne creut pas aimer leonise et il s'imagina seulement qu'il estoit irrite contre cleodore mais insensiblement il vint a craindre que cleodore s'apaisast et qu'il ne fust oblige de la revoir comme son amant il se trouva pourtant bien embarrasse a determiner ce qu'il vouloit car s'il ne se racommodoit point avec cleodore il voyoit qu'il n'oseroit plus aller chez elle et que par consequent il ne verroit point leonise ou au moins ne la verroit guere il consideroit aussi que s'il se racommodoit avec elle il ne luy seroit pas aise de faire croire a leonise qu'il l'aimoit joint qu'il avoit une honte estrange de son inconstance et une repugnance horrible a tromper une personne qu'il avoit tant aimee et qu'il estimoit encore tant malgre sa nouvelle passion elle estoit pourtant si violente qu'encore qu'il connust son crime il ne s'en pouvoit repentir il avoit donc l'ame en une assiette bien facheuse et ses sentimens estoint bien confus et bien embrouillez mais quelque douleur qu'il eust il ne faisoit point confidence de sa nouvelle amour ny a hermogene ny a moy se contentant de se pleindre a nous des caprices de cleodore cependant cette aimable fille qui avoit dans le 
 coeur une veritable affection pour belesis se repentoit de ce qu'elle avoit fait voyant qu'il ne revenoit point a elle comme il avoit accoustume de sorte que toute fiere qu'elle estoit elle se resolut a la premiere occasion qu'elle en trouveroit de tascher de le rapeller estant donc allee un jour chez la reine avec sa tante sans que leonise y fust le bazard fit qu'il s'y trouva et qu'il se trouva mesme assez pres d'elle cleodore ne l'eut donc pas plus tost veu qu'elle voulut luy dire quelque chose mais quelque resolution qu'elle en eust faite il luy fut impossible de gagner cela sur elle et elle creut qu'il suffisoit qu'elle le regardast sans colere et qu'elle luy respondist sans aigreur s'il luy parloit d'autre part belesis estoit si interdit qu'il ne scavoit que faire ny que dire car la veue de cleodore luy donna tant de confusion de sa foiblesse qu'en un instant il se resolut d'agir avec elle comme s'il n'eust point eu d'autre passion c'est disoit il en luy mesme tout ce que je puis et peut-estre plus que je ne dois puis qu'enfin je ne pense pas qu'il soit juste de se rendre malheureux soy mesme comme je m'en vay me le rendre en disant tousjours a cleodore que je meurs d'amour pour elle lors qu'il est vray que j'en meurs pour leonise mais le moyen aussi reprenoit il de rompre avec une personne qui m'a donne cent marques d affection et de qui mesme les caprices sont des preuves de tendresse le moyen dis-je que j'ose jamais luy 
 faire scavoir que je suis un inconstant mais le moyen aussi que je feigne eternellement et quel fruit puis-je esperer de cette feinte toutesfois disoit il soit que je veuille faire effort pour remettre cleodore dans mon coeur et pour en chasser leonise ou soit que je veuille suivre leonise et abandonner cleodore il faut tousjours presentement que je me racommode avec cette derniere car si je veux qu'elle reprenne sa premiere place dans mon coeur il faut bien que je me raproche de ses beaux yeux afin qu'ils y rallument la flame qui m'a brusle si long temps et si je veux au contraire estre eclaire de ceux de leonise il faut encore que je me mette bien avec cleodore puis que je ne puis voir l'une sans l'autre ainsi belesis ne scachant s'il pourroit n'estre point inconstant ou s'il vouloit l'estre si c'estoit pour tromper cleodore ou pour l'apaiser s'aprocha de cette belle fille avec une confusion qui fit un grand effet dans le coeur de cette personne qui n'en scavoit pas la veritable cause puis que bien loin de cela elle attribuoit les divers changemens de son visage a son repentir il luy demanda donc alors en tremblant si sa colere estoit passee vous avez este si long temps a me le demander luy dit elle en sous-riant que si j'estois equitable je devrois vous dire qu'elle dure encore mais belesis vous me le demandez d'une maniere qui me fait croire que je n'en dois pas user ainsi c'est pourquoy je vous declare que je vous 
 pardonne de bon coeur tout le passe ha madame luy dit belesis en rougissant c'est estre trop bonne que de ne me punir pas si vous eussiez parle comme vous parlez reprit elle au commencement de nostre querelle elle n'auroit pas dure si long temps mais le mal fut poursuivit elle en riant que nous nous trouvasmes tous deux capricieux en un mesme jour c'est pourquoy ne le soyons s'il vous plaist du moins que l'un apres l'autre ou pour mieux faire encore ne le soyons plus du tout et pour vous y obliger davantage je vous promets de faire ce que je pourray pour m'en corriger je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle confusion devoit avoir belesis aussi m'a t'il dit depuis que de sa vie il n'avoit tant souffert il fit mesme dessein alors de recommencer d'aimer cleodore mais il ne luy dura que jusques a ce que l'ayant remenee chez elle il revit leonise qui le voyant rentrer avec sa parente fut au devant d'elle pour se resjouir de ce qu'elle ramenoit belesis disant en suitte cent choses obligeantes pour luy qui acheverent de le gagner et qui detruisirent le dessein qu'il avoit fait de n'estre point inconstant depuis cela belesis devint si inquiet et si resueur qu'il n'en estoit pas connoissable cependant il ne disoit rien de sa passion a leonise et parloit tousjours a cleodore comme s'il l'eust encore aimee c'estoit pourtant avec un chagrin si grand qu'il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il n'eust besoin d'inventer un mensonge pour le pretexter 
 tantost il disoit avoir receu des nouvelles qui luy aprenoient que son pere estoit malade une autre fois il disoit se trouver mal luy mesme et quelque fois aussi ne trouvant rien a dire il mettoit la pauvre cleodore en une peine estrange car comme elle aimoit effectivement belesis et qu'elle voyoit qu'elle avoit pense le perdre par un petit caprice elle contraignit si bien son humeur qu'elle ne luy donna plus sujet de pleinte de sorte qu'il en avoit alors autant de despit qu'il en avoit eu autrefois quand elle luy en avoit donne les choses estant donc en ces termes hermogene chez qui logeoit belesis remarqua qu'il n'estoit plus si soigneux des lettres qu'il recevoit de cleodore qu'il j'avoit tousjours este depuis qu'il l'aimoit car il en trouva deux on trois fois sur la table luy qui auparavant son inconstance ne pouvoit pas seulement souffrir qu'elles partissent de ses mains lors qu'il les luy montroit car pour l'ordinaire il ne vouloit pas qu'hermogene les l'eust et il les luy lisoit luy mesme de plus il luy rendit aussi le portrait de cette belle fille qu'il avoit laisse tomber mais il ne luy rendit qu'apres l'avoir garde trois jours sans que belesis se fust aperceu de l'avoir perdu ce qui estoit bien contre sa coustume estant certain que du temps qu'il aimoit cleodore il ne pouvoit estre un quart d'heure esloigne d'elle quand il estoit en liberte sans le regarder ce qui embarrassoit estrangement 
 hermogene estoit qu'il voyait que cleodore navoit jamais si bien traite belesis qu'elle le traitoit et que cependant belesis estoit plus chagrin qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veu dans le temps ou elle luy estoit la plus rigoureuse estant donc assez en inquietude de scavoir la cause d'un si grand changement en l'humeur de son amy il fut un matin le trouver dans sa chambre pour luy rendre le portrait de cleodore comme je l'ay desja dit mais comme il ne voulut pas d'abord luy parler serieusement afin de mieux descouvrir ses veritables sentimens si la vertu de cleodore luy dit il en luy rendant cette peinture m'estoit moins connue je croirois que vous l'avez espousee secrettement sans le consentement de ses parens et des vostres car comme c'est la coustume de beaucoup d'amans de ne se soucier plus guere de toutes les petites choses que leurs maistresses leur ont donnes quand ils les possedent je pourrois penser que puis que vous avez pu estre trois jours sans vous apercevoir que vous aviez perdu le portrait de cleodore et que vous ne prenez plus le soin que vous aviez accoustume d'avoir de ses lettres il faudroit que ce fust parce que vous seriez si heureux d'ailleurs que vous n'auriez plus besoin ny de portraits ny de lettres pour vous consoler dans vos souffrances il est vray adjousta t'il que je vous voy si chagrin qu'il n'y a personne qui pust penser que vous fussiez fort content c'est pourquoy ne pouvant penetrer jusques au fons 
 de vostre coeur je vous conjure de me dire s'il faut que je me resjouisse ou que je m'afflige aveque vous car si vous ne me dittes vos veritables sentiments j'iray les demander a cleodore qui a mon advis les doit scavoir eh de grace hermogene dit belesis n'allez pas luy dire que j'ay perdu son portait sans m'en apercevoir et laisse ses lettres en lieu ou elles pouvoient estre veues dittes moy donc reprit hermogene quel est le changement que je voy en vostre humeur ne suffit il pas que vous connoissiez celle de cleodore reprit il pour ne demander jamais raison de la mienne l'humeur de cleodore repliqua hermogene est presentement si egalle pour vous et si douce que celle de leonise ne l'est pas plus pour tout le monde que celle de cleodore l'est pour belesis ha hermogene s'escria cet amant inconstant emporte par l'exces de sa nouvelle passion plust aux dieux que cleodore eust tousjours este de l'humeur de leonise de leonise dis-je sur le visage de laquelle je n'ay pas veu un moment de chagrin depuis que je la connois et de qui les beaux yeux sont des astres sans nuages qui brillent tousjours egallement je pensois repliqua hermogene en regardant fixement belesis qu'un honme amoureux ne trouvoit de beaux yeux que ceux de sa maistresse mais a ce que je voy ceux de leonise vous plaisent aussi bien que ceux de cleodore belesis revenant alors a luy mesme rougit du discours de son amy et luy fit si bien conprendre qu'il y avoit quelque grand changement 
 dans son ame qu'enfin prenant la parole advouez la verite luy dit il et dittes moy franchement si je me trompe lors que je croy que leonise prend la place de cleodore dans vostre coeur et que si elle ne l'en a chassee repliqua belesis elle l'en chassera bien-tost cruel amy quel plaisir prenez vous a vouloir que je vous advoue ma foiblesse quoy repliqua hermogene il est donc bien vray que vous aimez leonise et que vous n'aimez plus cleodore je ne scay luy dit il alors si je n'aime plus cleodore mais je scay bien que j'aime eperdument leonise il n'est donc pas douteux respondit il que cleodore n'est plus aimee de vous car on n'en peut pas aimer deux a la fois cependant j'advoue poursuivit hermogene que je ne puis pas que je ne vous blasme un peu car enfin l'inconstance est une foiblesse inexcusable si ce n'est par l'infidelite ou par l'excessive rigueur de la personne que nous aimons vous estes toutesfois bien eloigne de cet estat la puis que vous ne pouvez reprocher nulle infidelite a cleodore et qu'elle n'a que la rigueur que la vertu et la bien- seance veulent qu'elle ait je scay bien respondit belesis que je suis coupable ce n'est pas que je ne pusse trouver quelque excuse a mon crime si je le voulois car enfin cleodore ma fait cent mille querelles sans sujet et a de telle sorte lasse ma patience que ma passion s'en est peu a peu affoiblie malgre moy les dieux scavent pourtant si je n'ay pas fait tout ce que 
 j'ay pu pour resister a leonise et pour conserver mon coeur tout entier a cleodore mais il m'a este impossible je voy bien que ce que je fais est foible pour ne pas dire lasche toutesfois je n'y scaurois que faire tous mes desirs et toutes mes pensees ont change d'objet je ne voy plus cleodore comme je la voyois et par un enchantement epouventable ce que je croyois autrefois qui devoit faire ma felicite ne pourroit presentement me donner un quart d'heure de joye que voulez vous apres cela que je face puis-je changer ma destinee et puis-je faire que l'amour soit un acte de volonte je connois bien que cleodore a cent bonnes qualitez et qu'elle est tres belle mais je sens malgre que j'en aye que leonise arrache mon coeur d'entre ses mains et que mon coeur est ravy de changer de maistresse j'ay hote de mon inconstance je l'advoue mais je ne puis m'empescher d'estre inconstant c'est pourquoy pleignez moy sans m'accuser et me servez aupres de leonise vous dis-je qui en m'amenant a suse avez cause toutes mes disgraces car apres tout quel amant peut jamais avoir este plus malheureux que moy j'aime une personne d'humeur difficile et inesgale j'endure tout ce qu'on peut endurer a la fin je suis aime etlors que selon les aparences je vay estre heureux le caprice de la fortune veut que je cette de desirer la possession de cleodore en cessant de l'aimer et que tout le temps que j'ay employe a aquerir l'affection de cette personne 
 que je croyois devoir faire toute ma felicite est entierement perdu puis que cette affection ne me sert plus a rien qu'a me rendre criminel et miserable et puis qu'il faut recommencer de soupirer pour une autre cependant je ne scaurois y trouver de remede c'est pourquoy encore une fois mon cher hermogene servez moy je vous en conjure mais encore reprit il en quels termes en estes vous avec cleodore et avec leonise cleodore reprit belesis croit que je l'aime tousjours mais pour leonise je ne luy ay encore parle que des yeux je juge toutesfois pas ses regards qu'elle a entendu les miens quoy luy respondit hermogene leonise entend ce langage et y respond ce n'est pas parce qu'elle y respond reprit belesis que je connois qu'elle l'entend mais parce qu'elle aporte soin a n'y respondre pas mais comment repliqua hermogene pourrez vous jamais oser parler d'amour a leonise ne craindrez vous point qu'elle ne vous reproche vostre inconstance et aurez vous mesme la hardiesse en voyant cleodore de dire a leonise que vous l'aimez pour moy belesis je ne scay pas comment vous pensez faire mais j'advoue que je n'entreprendrois pas ce que vous voulez entreprendre quand mesme il iroit de ma vie si cleodore demeuroit a l'autre bout de suse la chose ne seroit pas si difficile mais aimer une personne effectivement et feindre d'en aimer une autre dans une mesme maison et une autre encore que vous 
 avez veritablement aimee est une chose si hardie que j'en suis espouvente car enfin belesis adjousta t'il je ne pense pas que vous puissiez long temps tromper cleodore je ne trouve pas impossible poursuivit hermogene de persuader a une fille que l'on a de la passion pour elle quoy qu'on n'en ait pas pourveu que l'on n'en ait effectivement point eu pour elle autrefois mais de persuader a une personne de qui on a este fort amoureux qu'on l'est encore bien qu'on ne le soit plus c'est ce que je ne scaurois croire possible je voy toutes les difficultez que vous me faites reprit belesis aussi grandes et plus grandes qu'elles ne sont mais comme la passion qui me tirannise est plus forte que tout ce qui se veut opposer a elle je ne laisse pas quelque repugnance secrette que j'y aye de vouloir tromper cleodore puis que sans cela je ne pourrois jamais voir leonise je pretens donc fi je le puis dire sans rougir de confusion continuer d'aller voir cleodore et de vivre avec elle conme si je l'aimois tousjours si ce n'est aux heures ou je pourray regarder leonise sans qu'elle s'en apercoive ou l'entretenir sans qu'elle entre en deffiance je vous ay desja dit reprit hermogene que je ne croy point que vous le puissiez faire et je suis le plus tronpe de tous les honmes si devant qu'il soit huit jours cleodore n'est detrompee et si vous ne perdez tout a la fois et cleodore et leonise apres cela belesis se mit a se promener par sa chanbre avec une agitation d'esprit la plus grande du monde 
 puis tout d'un coup s'arrestant devant hermogene mon cher amy luy dit il si vous voulez faire ce que je viens d'imaginer je vous devray quelque chose de plus que la vie puis que je vous devray en quelque facon l'honneur et que du moins je vous devray toute ma felicite dittes moy donc ce que vous voulez que je face reprit hermogene afin que je juge si je le dois car vostre raison est ce me semble si troublee que je ne me dois pas fiera vous il faut repliqua t'il que vous feigniez d aimer cleodore et de devenir mon rival ce qui vous sera fort aise puis que vous venez de tomber d'accord que pourveu que l'on n'ait jamais aime celle a qui l'on parle d'amour il n'est pas impossible de luy persuader que l'on est amoureux d'elle encore qu'on ne le soit point c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de faire tout ce qu'il faut pour persuader a cleodore que vous estes son amant mais quel avantage pretendez vous tirer de cette feinte reprit hermogene je pretens repliqua belesis que vous faciez cleodore inconstante comme leonise m'a fait inconstant ou que du moins vous donniez un pretexte a mon inconstance en vivant avec elle de facon que je puisse avoir lieu de l'accuser de changement et qu'elle ne puisse regarder le mien que comme une suitte de celuy que je luy reprocheray croyez belesis reprit hermogene que je ne feray point cleodore inconstante et que tout ce que je puis est de vous donner un mauvais pretexte 
 texte de la quereller mais si elle vous est fidelle comme le n'en doute point et que tous les soins que j'aporteray a luy persuader que je l aime ne puissent esbranler sa constance vous en serez plus criminel je l'advoue repliqua belesis mais je ne laisseray pas d'en estre moins malheureux car enfin il suffit que vos conversations me donnent un sujet apparant de pleinte pour m'excuser quelque jours envers cleodore et pour luy persuader que l'amour de leonise aura pris naissance dans le temps que je l'auray creue infidelle cependant durant que vous parlerez a cleodore je parleray quelquesfois a leonise ainsi je puis dire que c'est de vous seul que depend tout mon repos j'advoue dit hermogene que je vous dois toutes choses mais j'advoue en mesme temps que j'ay une estrange repugnance a vous rendre l'office que vous desirez de moy belesis l'en pressa pourtant si instamment qu'a la fin il s y resolut mais pour faire la chose avec plus d'adresse comme il n'alloit pas souvent chez cleodore il ne fut pas tout d'un coup luy parler de sa feinte passion et il commenca seulement d'y aller plus qu'il n'avoit accoustume et de s'attacher plus aupres d'elle qu'aupres de leonise ce qu'il y avoit de raire en cette avanture estoit de voir avec quelle ardeur belesis souhaitoit quelquesfois que cleodore pust assez bien traitter hermogene pour luy donner un veritable sujet de luy faire une querelle cependant il faut que vous scachiez 
 qu'encore qu'il y eust assez d'amitie entre cleodore et leonise il n'y avoit pourtant pas assez de liaison entre elles pour se faire confidence de toutes choses de sorte que cleodore n'avoit jamais parle a leonise de l'intelligence qui estoit entre elle et belesis et comme ce n'est pas trop la coustume d'aller dire une pareille chose a une parente personne n'avoit dit a leonise que cleodore ne le haissoit pas elle voyoit bien qu'ils n'estoient pas mal ensemble mais elle croyoit que ce n'estoit qu'amitie et soupconnoit mesme qu'il fust amoureux d'elle estant donc dans ce sentiment la un jour que prasille soeur d'hermogene avec qui elle avoit lie une affection assez particuliere estoit seul avec elle cette belle fille qui estimoit infiniment belesis se mit a en parler a prasille et a luy en demander cent choses scachant qu'elle estoit soeur de son meilleur amy d'abord elle s'informa de sa maison des lieux ou il avoit passe sa vie de l'amitie qu'il avoit pour hermogene de celle qu'hermogene avoit pour luy et de cent autres choses qui tesmoignoient une grande curiosite pour tout ce qui regardoit belesis apres que prasille luy eut respondu exactement a tout ce qu'elle luy avoit demande et qu'elle vit que leonise se preparoit a luy faire encore de nouvelles questions mais de grace luy dit prasille en riant qui depuis a raconte toute cette conversation a son frere qui me l'a ditte aprenez moy un peu par quelle raison vous ne voulez 
 aujourd'huy parler que de belesis et pourquoy vous voulez scavoir jusques aux moindres choses qui le touchent est-ce amour ou curiosite je ne puis en verite repliqua leonise en raillant determiner si c'est curiosite ou si c'est amour mais je scay tousjours bien que ce n'est pas par haine que je m'en informe il n'est pas croyable aussi que ce soit par amour reprit prasille quoy que je vous l'aye demande car vous estes trop raisonnable pour aimer sans estre aimee et trop prudente aussi pour vouloir faire des conquestes au prejudice de cleodore qui ne vous le pardonneroit pas belesis est donc amoureux de cleodore reprit leonise en rougissant je pense repliqua prasille qu'il y a long temps qu'elle n'en doute plus et que vous estes seule a suse qui ne le scachiez point mais leonise adjousta t'elle d'ou vient que vous changez de couleur quand je dis que belesis est amoureux c'est repliqua leonise en rougissant encore davantage et sans avoir le temps de songer a ce qu'elle devoit respondre que je pensois qu'il le fust d'une autre et de qui luy demanda prasille vous m'avez si cruellement fait la guerre de ma curiosite reprit elle que je ne veux point contenter la vostre je voudrois pourtant bien scavoir respondit prasille de qui vous pensiez que belesis fust amoureux j'ay tant de depit de m'estre tronpee en mon jugement repliqua leonise que je mourrois plustost que de vous le dire je ne vous diray donc plus jamais rien de toutes 
 que vous voudrez scavoir respondit prasille je voudrois pourtant bien que vous m'aprissiez tout ce que vous scavez de l'intelligence de belesis et de cleodore reprit leonise j'en scay sans doute plus de cent choses repliqua prasille mais je ne vous en diray pas une si vous ne me dittes qui vous vous estez imaginee que belesis aimoit puis que vous le voulez luy dit leonise je vous diray que je pensois qu'il fust amoureux de vous ha leonise s'escria prasille que vous estes peu sincere et que vous me croyez stupide si vous pensez me persuader ce que vous dittes non non adjousta t'elle on ne m'attrape pas si aisement mais pour vous punir de l'avoir voulu faire je m'en vay vous dire ce que vous ne voulez pas m'advouer gardez vous bien luy dit leonise en riant d'aller diviner la verite car je ne vous le pardonnerois jamais principale ment puis que je me suis trompee et je me vangerois mesme sur belesis voila donc seigneur comment ces deux aimables personnes s'entendirent a la fin sans s'expliquer precisement et voila comment leonise aprit qu'il y avoit intelligence entre belesis et cleodore cependant les yeux de belesis luy avoient tant dit de choses qu'il y avoit des instants ou elle ne scavoit si elle devoit plustost croire les paroles de prasille que les regards de belesis toutesfois comme elle estoit glorieuse quoy qu'elle fust douce elle se resolut de vivre plus froidement aveque luy comme le voulant punir de ce 
 qu'il estoit cause qu'elle avoit eu cette conversation avec prasille qui ne luy avoit pas este agreable il vous est aise de juger apres ce que je viens de dire que ces quatre personnes ne furent pas sans occupation car cleodore faisoit ce qu'elle pouvoit pour contraindre son humeur et pour descouvrir d'ou venoit le chagrin de belesis et belesis de son coste avoit bien assez d'affaire a continuer de tromper cleodore et a tascher de trouver les voyes de descouvrir son amour a leonise hermogene s'estant resolu a feindre d'estre amoureux n'estoit pas aussi sans soin et leonise voulant descouvrir precisement les sentimens de belesis avoit une espece de curiosite inquiette que l'on pouvoit peut-estre nommer autrement d'abord qu'hermogene commenca d'aller plus souvent chez cleodore elle luy fit cent carresses luy semblant que c'estoit obliger belesis que d'obliger hermogene et croyant mesme qu'il n'y venoit que pour rendre office a son amy quoy qu'elle n'imaginast pourtant pas la chose comme elle estoit et qu'elle en fust bien esloignee quelques jours se passerent donc de cette sorte sans que toutes ces personnes eussent nul sujet d'augmentation d'inquietude il est vray que pour belesis il en avoit tant qu'il n'eust pas este aise qu'il en eust eu davantage car lors qu'il estoit seul avec cleodore il ne pouvoit plus que luy dire et quand il estoit avec leonise et avec elle il estoit si interdit et si confondu qu'il ne trouvoit 
 pas non plus dequoy fournir a la conversation si ce n'estoit de choses indifferentes cependant hermogene pour contenter son amy s'accoustuma tellement a parler a cleodore qu'il luy laissoit beaucoup de temps a parler a leonise cela embarrassoit pourtant estrangement cleodore parce que dans la croyance ou elle estoit qu'hermogene scavoit l'intelligence qui estoit entre eux elle ne comprenoit pas trop bien pourquoy il ne donnoit pas lieu a belesis de l'entretenir et pourquoy il l'entretenoit tousjours elle s'imagina pourtant a la fin que peutestre hermogene estoit il amoureux de leonise et qu'il avoit prie belesis de luy parler a son avantage cleodore s'estonnoit toutesfois si cela estoit que belesis ne luy en eust point parle neantmoins ne pouvant imaginer rien de plus vray semblable elle demeuroit dans cette opinion mais quelque commodite que belesis eust d'entretenir leonise parce qu'hermogene entretenoit toujours cleodore il ne put jamais avoir la force de luy descouvrir la passion qu'il avoit pour elle en presence d'une personne qu'il avoit tant aimee et qu'il estimoit encore tant c'est pourquoy il chercha avec beaucoup de soin l'occasion de la voir sans que cleodore y fust il ne l'auroit mesme jamais trouvee sans hermogene qui se trouva a la fin n'estre pas moins interesse a vouloir entretenir cleodore en particulier que belesis l'estoit a vouloir entretenir leonise car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'en 
 voyant cleodore avec plus de liberte qu'il n'avoit jamais fait il descouvrit dans son esprit tant de charmes et tant de beautez que sa personne mesme luy en parut plus aimable en effet il m'a jure plus de cent fois que qui n'a veu cleodore dans cette humeur de confiance qu'elle a pour ses veritables amis ne la connoist point du tout pour ce qu'elle est et ne peut imaginer jusques ou va la puissance de ses charmes belesis descouvrant donc dans l'esprit et dans le coeur de cleodore mille graces et mille bonnes qualitez qu'il ignoroit auparavant se trouva plus sensible aux traits de ses beaux yeux et vint insensiblement a l'aimer d'abord il ne creut pas que ce qu'il sentoit fust amour car il ne faisoit autre chose que blasmer belesis de ce qu'il quittoit cleodore pour leonise mais peu a peu il ne parla plus a son amy contre son inconstance et vint a aimer cette belle fille si esperdument que belesis ne l'avoit pas aimee davantage et n'aimoit pas plus leonise il ne dit pourtant point a son amy cette passion naissante sans scavoir toutesfois pourquoy il luy en faisoit un secret si ce n'est que de sa nature l'amour est misterieux il ne s'opposa pas mesme a cette puissante affection qu'il sentoit naistre dans son coeur car encore qu'il sceust que celuy de cleodore estoit un peu engage pour belesis il espera pourtant que des qu'elle scauroit son inconstance elle s'en degageroit et que peut-estre apres cela il pourroit occuper dans son ame 
 la place dont belesis se seroit rendu indigne hermogene estant donc dans ces sentimens voyoit cleodore avec une assiduite si grande que belesis qui ne scavoit pas ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur ne faisoit autre chose quand ils estoient seuls que luy demander pardon de la contrainte ou il vivoit pour l'amour de luy mais afin de commencer de tirer quelque fruit de la fourbe qu'il avoit inventee belesis fit semblant de devenir un peu jaloux d'hermogene et agit de telle sorte avec cleodore qu'il luy persuada qu'elle s'estoit trompee lors qu'elle avoit creu qu'il parloit a leonise pour hermogene car depuis certaines choses qu'il luy dit elle pensa qu'il luy parloit seulement pour luy faire depit d'abord comme elle creut que ce procede bizarre et jaloux estoit une preuve de l'amour que belesis avoit pour elle elle ne s'en offenca point et d'autant moins que ne soupconnant encore rien de l'amour d'hermogene cleodore s'imagina qu'il luy seroit aise de guerir belesis de sa jalousie quand elle le voudroit en priant son amy de ne s'attacher pas tant a luy parler de sorte que trouvant je ne scay quel plaisir a tourmenter belesis pour quelques jours elle ne se mit pas en peine de faire ce qu'elle pouvoit pour luy oster la croyance qu'elle pensoit qu'il eust si bien que cela facilita a belesis le dessein qu'il avoit de descouvrir a leonise la passion qu'il avoit pour elle un jour donc qu'ils estoient tous quatre ensemble et que leonise 
 gardoit la chambre cleodore voulant faire depit a belesis demanda a hermogene s'il vouloit bien la mener a une visite qu'elle avoit a faire leonise l'entendant parler ainsi se mit a se pleindre agreablement de ce qu'elle l'abandonnoit la menacant de la traitter avec une egalle indifference s'il arrivoit jamais qu'elle se trouvast un peu mal mais cleodore luy dit qu'elle la laissoit en si bonne compagnie qu'elle ne comprenoit pas qu'elle pust avoir raison de regretter la sienne belesis ravy de voir qu'elle s'en alloit quoy qu'il eust autrefois tant souhaitte sa presence luy dit qu'elle jugeoit des autres par elle mesme qui emmenant hermogene ne regrettoit point ceux qu'elle laissoit chez elle en suitte dequoy cleodore et hermogene sortant belesis demeura seul aupres de leonise qui ne scavoit que penser de ce qu'elle voyoit car si elle se souvenoit de ce que prasille luy avoit dit elle devoit croire que belesis aimoit cleodore et que ce qu'il faisoit n'estoit que pour cacher sa passion mais si elle consideroit toutes ses actions elle croyoit qu'il ne la haissoit pas et qu'il n'aimoit plus cleodore toutefois ne scachant que penser et n'osant mesme se determiner a rien souhaiter elle se tourna vers belesis et le gardant avec un sous-rire malicieux je vous pleins extremement aujourd'huy luy dit elle de vous trouver engage par la rigueur de cleodore en une conversation qui ne vous consolera guere de la perte de la sienne de grace madame luy dit 
 il si vous avez a me pleindre pleignez moy avec plus de raison que vous ne faites de ce qu'il y a si long temps que je cherche l'occasion de vous parler seule sans l'avoir jamais pu trouver qu'aujourd'huy nous sommes si souvent ensemble reprit leonise que je ne juge pas que vous puissiez rien avoir a me dire car ne vous ay je pas veu presques tous les jours depuis que je suis a suse il est vray que je vous ay veue tous les jours reprit belesis et c'est principalement pour ce que je vous ay veue tous les jours que j'ay a vous entretenir en particulier car divine leonise poursuivit il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre si je ne vous avois veue que rarement je n'aurois peut-estre pas pu remarquer toutes les rares qualitez de vostre esprit et de vostre ame et je serois sans doute moins amoureux de vous que je ne le suis ha belesis s'escria leonise je pensois parler serieusement et cependant je voy que je me suis trompee non no madame reprit il vous ne me scauriez soupconner de railler sur une pareille chose et il y a tant de vray semblance a dire que je suis amoureux de la belle leonise qu'il n'est pas mesme possible qu'elle en puisse douter comme il est une espece de raillerie interronpit leonise dont la finesse consiste a parler comme si on parloit serieusement je veux croire que celle que vous faites presentement est de cette nature mais belesis ce qui m'embarrasse un peu est de deviner a quoy cela vous peut servir si ce n'est que vous 
 veuilliez m'empescher de connoistre par la que vous estes amoureux de cleodore mais afin que vous n'emploiyez pas beaucoup de paroles inutilement a me vouloir persuader que vous ne l'aimez pas scachez belesis que je scay que vous l'aimez depuis le jour que vous vinstes a suse j'advoue luy repliqua belesis avec quelque confusion que j'ay aime cleodore mais afin que vous scachiez la fin de cette passion comme vous en scavez la naissance scachez encore que comme je conmencay d'aimer cleodore le jour que j'arrivay a suse je cessay d'en estre amoureux le jour que vous y arrivastes pour moy c'est a dire le premier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous y voir ha belesis s'ecria t'elle vous vous souvenez sans doute que je vous dis ce jour la que je trouverois quelque plaisir a faire un inconstant et a arracher des coeurs d'entre les mains de celles qui les auroient assujettis et c'est assurement pour me faire la guerre de cette folie que je dis sans y penser que vous parlez comme vous faites nullement reprit il en prenant un visage fort serieux mais c'est parce qu'en effet vous m'avez rendu inconstant pour cleodore et le plus constant de tous les hommes pour la belle leonise l'inconstance respondit elle est une chose dont ceux qui en sont une fois capables peuvent l'estre toute leur vie non pas repliqua belesis quand elle n'est pas nee par caprice mais par raison et que la personne que l'on laisse est moins belle et moins parfaite que celle que l'on choisit 
 du moins reprit leonise en sous-riant faudroit il auparavant que je vous escoutasse que vous m'eussiez permis de m'informer bien exactement si je suis la plus belle et la plus accomplie personne de suse car belesis si cela n'est pas et qu'au contraire je vous prouve qu'il y en a un nombre infini de plus aimables que moy il ne seroit pas juste que j'allasse recevoir vostre affection pour la perdre des le lendemain cruelle personne luy dit il ne me traittez pas si rigoureusement et souvenez vous s'il vous plaist que puis que je vous aime plus que je n'ay jamais aime cleodore je n'aimeray jamais rien que leonise estant certain que pour avoir arrache mon coeur d'entre ses mains il faut que vous ayez eu une puissance que nulle autre ne scauroit surmonter quoy qu'il en soit reprit elle je pense estre obligee de vous dire que si ce que vous dittes estoit vray vous en seriez plus malheureux estant certain qu'il n'est rien que je ne fisse pour vous punir de l'inconstance que vous auriez eue pour cleodore du moins luy dit il ne me refuserez vous pas d'ajouster foy a mes paroles je vous refuseray tout ce que vous me demanderez repliqua t'elle quoy reprit belesis je pourrois croire que vous ne me croyez point et je pourrois penser que me croyant vous seriez tousjours inexorable vous le devez sans doute respondit elle car je suis absolument resolue de ne vous donner jamais lieu de penser que je fusse capable de prendre 
 plaisir a estre aimee quoy leonise interrompit il vous me refuserez toutes choses et ne me donnerez jamais rien de ce une je vous demanderay non pas mesme un peu d'esperance ha pour l'esperance reprit elle je ne vous la puis pas oster il est vray respondit belesis mais vous me la pouvez donner puis que vous la pouvez trouver en vous mesme repliqua leonise il ne faut point la chercher en autruy de grace reprit il ne me refusez pas absolument tout ce que je vous demande et faites du moins une chose pour moy mais afin que vous me la promettiez sans repugnance je vous declare que ce que je vous demanderay ne se pour a apeller faneur avec cette condition reprit elle je vous permets de dire ce que vous voulez apres cela repliqua belesis je ne craindray point de vous suplier de croire que toutes les fois que je parleray a cleodore j'auray une extreme douleur de ne parler point a leonise et que tous les tesmoignages d'affection que je luy rendray de peur qu'elle ne me bannisse d'aupres de vous seront des preuves de la passion que j'ay pour cette belle leonise et vous n'apellez pas cela faveur reprit elle en riant non respondit belesis mais un moyen pour en obtenir mais de grace reprit elle quelle plus grande faveur peut on faire que d'escouter escouter repliqua belesis n'est assurement que civilite mais aimer est une veritable faveur cela estant repartit leonise vous avez bien fait de ne pretendre 
 pas d'estre favorise de moy car belesis a vous dire la verite je trouverois sans doute quelque vanite a faire si j'avois oste un amant a cleodore mais apres tout s'il m'est permis de dire une si grande rudesse a un homme qui me dit de si grandes douceurs je pense qu'il est de l'inconstance et des inconstants comme de la trahison et des traistres c'est a vous belesis adjousta t'elle en sous-riant pour oster quelque chose de l'amertume de ses paroles a faire l'aplication de ce que je dis je voy bien madame reprit il que vous voulez que j'entende que vous aimeriez l'inconstance et que vous hairiez l'inconstant cependant il ne seroit ce me semble pas juste de me traiter plus cruellement que vous ne traitteriez un amant qui n'auroit jamais rien aime que vous et qui ne quitteroit rien pour l'amour de vous mais madame si vous voyez ce que je perds pour vous aimer je m'assure que vous avouerez que vostre beaute ne vous a jamais donne de grandes marques de sa puissance qu'en assujettissant mon coeur comme leonise alloit respondre il arriva compagnie de sorte que cette conversation finit sans que belesis sceust si leonise croyoit ce qu'il luy disoit ou si elle ne le croyoit pas il espera pourtant qu'a l'avenir elle prendroit garde de plus pres a ses actions et que par consequent elle s'apercevroit plus qu'elle n'avoit fait de l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle pendant cette conversation hermogene qui estoit alle avec 
 cleodore pour faire une visite n'ayant pas trouve celle qu'ils alloient chercher l'avoit ramenee dans si chambre n'ayant pas voulu rentrer dans celle de leonise si bien que se trouvant dans la liberte de l'entretenir si passion le sollicita si puissamment d'aprendre a cleodore ce qu'il souffroit pour elle qu'il s'y resolut il ne trouva pourtant pas aisement les paroles avec lesquellse il se vouloit exprimer et je pense que si cleodore ne luy eust sans y penser donne lieu de luy descouvrir son amour il n'auroit pu tomber d accord avec luy mesme de ce qu'il luy vouloit dire tant il avoit de peur de l'irriter mais apres avoir este un quart d'heure presques sans parler l'un ny l'autre parce qu'hermogene pensoit a ce qu'il avoit a dire et que cleodore resvoit au procede de belesis tout d'un coup cleodore revenant de sa resverie et se tournant vers hermogene en sous-riant si belesis luy dit elle n'entretient pas mieux leonise que vous m'entretenez et si leonise aussi n'est pas de meilleure conversation pour belesis que je ne suis pour hermogene nous ne leur avons pas rendu un grand office de les laisser seuls et nous ne nous en sommes pas rendus un fort grand a nous mesmes puis que peut-estre si nous estions tous quatre ensemble resverions nous moins que nous ne faisons je ne scay pas madame reprit hermogene ce que vous feriez mais pour moy je scay bien que tout reveur que je suis et que toute reveuse que vous estes 
 j'aime mieux estre seul aupres de vous que d'estre en plus grande compagnie il n'y a pourtant pas grand plaisir adjousta t'elle d'estre avec une personne de qui l'esprit est distrait et de qui la pensee est aussi esloignee de celle a qui elle parle que si elle en estoit separee par des fleuves et par des mers et je vous advoue que lors que je suis revenue de ma resverie et que le vous ay trouve aussi loin de moy par la vostre que je l'estois de vous par la mienne j'ay trouve cela fort incivil et que j'ay fait dessein de m'en corriger quoy madame interrompit hermogene vous croyez que je ne pensois point a vous encore que je ne vous parlasse pas je le croy sans doute reprit elle mais pour vous aprendre a estre sincere et a ne nier pas la verite je vous diray que cette fois la je juge d'autruy par moy mesme estant certain qu'il n'y a qu'un moment que j'estois aupres de vous sans y estre et que j'en estois assez esloignee nous sommes donc bien opposez dit hermogene car si vous n'estes pas aveque moy quand je suis aveque vous je suis tousjours aupres de vous lors mesme que je n'y suis pas vous voulez sans doute reparer l'incivilite dont je vous accuse reprit cleodore par une civilite excessive mais scachez hermogene qu'aux personnes de mon humeur il ne faut pas mesme leur dire des veritez qui ne soient point vray semblables bien loin de leur dire des mensonges qu'on ne puisse croire possibles je pensois dit hermogene que ce que 
 je viens de dire ne fust pas difficile a croire car enfin madame il est ce me semble assez aise de s'imaginer qu'on se souvient de vous quand on ne vous voit plus et pour moy je vous declare que le ne songe a autre chose en quelque lieu que je sois si vous me disiez repliqua cleodore que vous vous en souvenez souvent je vous en serois obligee parce que je pourrois croire que vous parleriez sincerement mais de me dire que vous vous en souvenez toujours c'est ne me dire rien a force de me dire trop je ne vous en dis pourtant pas encore assez respondit hermogene puis qu'il est vray que si je vous disois tout ce que je sens pour vous je vous dirois plus de choses que belesis ne vous en a jamais die estant certain que je vous aime plus qu'il ne vous jamais aimee ha hermogene s'escria cleodore vous me voulez faire trop d'outrages a la sois car non seulement vous voulez que j'escoute de vous une declaration d'amour mais vous me faites encore connoistre que vous presuposez que j'en aye escoute une autre de belesis et je pense mesme que qui considereroit bien ce que vous venez de dire trouveroit encore que vous offencez belesis aussi bien que moy et que vous vous offencez vous mesme car si belesis ne m'aime pas il a lieu de se plaindre que vous le croiyez capable de s'estre laisse assujettir a une personne de qui la beaute est si mediocre et si vous le croyez vous estes mauvais amy et mauvais mesnager aussi de vostre gloire de publier 
 si hardiment vostre crime quoy qu'il en soit madame repliqua hermogene je vous aime et je vous aime assurement sans estre criminel quand mesme il n'y auroit point d'autre raison a m'excuser que de dire que je ne scaurois faire autrement non non hermogene interrompit cleodore vous ne m'abuserez pas je voy bien que ce que vous me dittes est une chose concertee avec belesis c'est pourquoy sans me mettre en colere contre vous je veux seulement me vanger de luy car enfin je ne trouve nullement bon qu'il vous ait oblige ame parler comme vous venez de faire et il est enfin certaines choses dont on ne doit jamais railler je vous proteste madame repliqua hermogene que belesis ne scait rien des sentimens d'amour que j'ay pour vous quoy que je scache tous les siens vous estes donc un mauvais amy respondit cleodore je ne scay pas si je suis un mauvais amy reprit il mais je scay bien que je suis un amant fidelle et passionne cependant madame laissez s'il vous plaist a belesis a se plaindre de mon infidelite quand il la scaura et souffrez seulement que je vous demande une grace qui est de vouloir observer la passion de belesis et la mienne et de me promettre que si belesis consent que je sois heureux vous ne vous y opposerez point vous me dittes tant de choses surprenantes repliqua cleodore que je ne scay comment y respondre je scay pourtant bien que je trouve fort mauvais que vous me parliez comme vous faites 
 je vous parleray pointant toute ma vie ainsi reprit il vous ne me parlerez donc plus repliqua t'elle du moins en particulier mais encore une fois hermogene adjousta cleodore vous n'agissez comme vous faites que par les ordres de belesis sans que j'en puisse toutesfois comprendre la raison car enfin puis qu'il faut vous parler avec sincerite si vous estiez devenu son rival vous seriez un peu moins son amy cependant je vous voy vivre aveque luy comme a l'ordinaire c'est pourquoy si vous me voulez obliger dittes moy un peu quel avantage il pretend de cette fourbe comme je ne suis pas aussi mauvais amy que vous me l'avez reproche dit il je ne vous diray rien de ce qui regarde belesis mais je vous diray seulement qu'il ne scait point la passion que j'ay pour vous et que par consequent il ne peut pas scavoir que j'aye la hardiesse de vous dire que je vous aime mais madame ne m'accusez pas legerement ny d'infidelite pour mon amy ny de temerite pour ma maistresse et laissez au temps et a vostre raison a connoistre de toutes ces choses je n'ay que faire du temps reprit elle pour scavoir que je ne dois pas souffrir que vous me parliez comme vous faites c'est pourquoy ne le faites plus si vous ne voulez que je passe de la colere ou je suis a la haine apres cela hermogene dit encore beaucoup de choses plus passionnees que les premieres il les dit mesme d'un air qui fit que celodore connut en 
 effet qu'il ne la haissoit pas aussi fut-ce par cette croyance qu'apres qu'elle eut bien agite la chose en elle mesme lors qu'hermogene l'eut quittee elle prit la resolution de ne rien dire a belesis de ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux quand mesme ils se remettroient tout a fait bien ensemble de peur qu'il n'en arrivast quelque desordre car encore qu'elle eust dessein d'estre tres fidelle a belesis elle ne laissoit pas de souhaitter qu'il n'arrivast point de malheur a hermogene pour l'amour d'elle c'est pourquoy elle ne put pas prendre la resolution de rompre absolument aveque luy se contentant de faire ce qu'elle pourroit afin d'esviter qu'il fust seul avec elle
 
 
 
 
apres qu'hermogene fut party elle fut a la chambre de leonise d'ou belesis ne faisoit que de sortir mais comme elles avoient toutes deux l'esprit fort occupe a penser a tout ce qu'on leur avoit dit et a tascher de connoistre la verite leur conversation eut quelque chose d'assez particulier d'abord que cleodore entra leonise prenant la parole du moins luy dit elle apres avoir eu la cruaute de me quitter aujourd'huy aprenez moy ce que vous avez apris a vos visites comme je n'ay trouve personne reprit cleodore et que depuis cela je n'ay bouge de ma chambre avec hermogene je ne scay que ce que je scavois quand je vous ay quittee et c'est plus tost a vous a me dire des nouvelles que non pas a moy a vous en aprendre je vous assure repliqua leonise que si 
 vous ne scavez que ce que je scay vous n'en serez pas bien informee car je n'ay veu que belesis qui ne m'a rien apris du tout vous avez pourtant este avez long temps ensemble repliqua cleodore je n'y ay pas este davantage reprit leonise que vous avez este avec hermogene il est vray dit cleodore mais c'est que belesis a accoustume de scavoir mieux les nouvelles que luy il ne m'en a pourtant point dit repliqua t'elle je voudrois du moins bien scavoir reprit cleodore de quoy vous avez tant parle durant quelque temps respondit leonise nous nous sommes entretenus de vous et le reste de l'apres-disnee s'est passe a dire cent choses que je ne vous scaurois redire tant elles ont fait peu d'impression dans mon esprit mais vous qui retenez mieux tout ce qu'un vous dit adjousta t'elle dittes moy un peu ce que vous avez pu tant dire avec hermogene puis que les nouvelles n'ont point eu de part a vostre conversation en verite luy dit cleodore je suis plus sincere que vous car je vous advoue que je me souviens fort bien de tout ce que m'a dit hermogene mais en mesme temps je vous declare que je ne vous le diray point si du moins vous ne me dittes ce que belesis vous a dit de moy ne pouvez vous pas bien vous imaginer reprit leonise ce que belesis et moy en pouvons dire non pas en l'humeur ou il est de puis quelques jours repliqua cleodore c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien scavoir 
 s'il ne se pleint point de quelque chose que j'ay ditte sans y penser il ne m'a pas semble qu'il se pleingne de vous reprit leonise que vous en a t'il donc dit repliqua cleodore sincerement respondit leonise je ne scaurois vous je dire et je scay seulement que nous avons parle de vous sans scavoir precisement en quels termes je n'oublierois pas si tost ce que l'on me diroit de vous reprit cleodore en rougissant de depit d'avoir tessmoigne inutilement qu'elle avoit tant de curiosite de scavoir ce que belesis avoit dit elle apres quoy chacune se mettant a resver de son coste elles passerent le reste du soir sans se parler qu'a mots interrompus voila donc ou en estoient les choses lors qu'un homme de la plus haute qualite et de la plus grande richesse nomme tisias devint amoureux de leonise aussi bien que belesis mais comme il n'estoit pas fort honneste homme elle ne pouvoit pas raisonnablement tirer grande vanite de cette conqueste toutesfois comme elle estoit jeune et qu'en l'age ou elle estoit il est difficile que les choses d'un grand esclat ne plaisent pas elle ne fut pas marrie qu'un homme de ce rang la pensast a elle quoy qu'elle n'eust nulle estime pour luy et qu'elle ne le considerast que pour sa grande naissance pour la magnificence de son train et a cause qu'il estoit fort bien avec le prince de suse ainsi belesis se trouva encore plus malheureux parce que depuis que tisias fut amoureux de 
 leonise il estoit presques tousjours chez elle et l'empeschoit non seulement d'entretenir leonise mais le forcoit encore bien souvent de parler a cleodore a la quelle il ne pouvoit presques plus que dire hermogene avoit aussi sa part a cette facheuse avanture parce qu'il en parloit moins a cleodore pour qui sa passion estoit venue a un point qu'il n'avoit plus de repos c'estoit pourtant en vain qu'il luy donnoit des marques de son amour car cette personne avoit une affection si constante pour belesis que rien ne la pouvoit faire changer et tout ce qu'elle faisoit en sa faveur estoit qu'elle n'en parloit pas a belesis la croyance ou elle estoit que si elle l'eust fait il seroit arrive quelque desordre entre eux ce qui l'obligeoit d'en user ainsi estoit que belesis faisoit semblant d'estre jaloux d'hermogene et qu'il feignit mesme a la fin de vivre plus froidement avec son amy pour mieux tromper cleodore c'est pourquoy elle se contentoit de luy offrir de ne voir plus hermogene et de luy nier qu'il fust amoureux d'elle mais quoy quelle pust dire belesis qui ne se pleignoit pas pour estre appaise luy disoit tousjours qu'il vouloit tascher d'aimer leonise pour se vanger de cleodore comme elle aimoit hermogene pour se moquer de belesis et de sa passion de sorte que cleodore venant enfin a croire que belesis estoit effectivement jaloux d'hermogene commenca de le fuir avec beaucoup de soin et de le mal traitter estrangement 
 d'autre part belesis n'estoit pas heureux ce n'est pas qu'il ne connust bien que leonise l'estimoit et qu'elle n'estoit pas mesme marrie qu'il l'aimast mais il avoit si peu souvent occasion de luy parler en particulier principalement depuis que tisias en fut amoureux qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'il fist un grand progres dans son esprit il fit pourtant si bien qu'il trouva un jour l'occasion de luy parler sans que cleodore ny tisias y fussent et sans que personne pust entendre ce qu'il luy disoit belesis ne voulant donc pas perdre des momens si precieux se mit a luy exagerer la grandeur de sa passion mais comme leonise toute douce qu'elle estoit avoit pourtant je ne scay quoy d'imperieux dans l'esprit elle prit la parole et le regardant d'un air assez malicieux en verite belesis luy dit elle je ne scay comment vous avez la hardiesse de vouloir me persuader que vous m'aimiez dans la mesme temps que tout le monde scait que vous aimez tousjours cleodore si je pouvois abandonner cleodore sans abandonner leonise reprit belesis tout le monde seroit bientost desabuse car je vivrois de facon avec elle que je ne laisserois pas lieu de douter que je n'en serois plus amoureux quoy que je ne perdisse pourtant pas le respect que je dois a une personne de son merite et de sa vertu mais puis que mon destin veut que je ne puisse vous dire veritablement que je vous aime qu'en faisant semblant de l'aimer encore il y a sans doute beaucoup d'injustice 
 dans l'esprit de la belle leonise de me reprocher une chose que je ne fais que pour l'amour d'elle je m'en vay vous en dire une que vous faites repliqua t'elle ou a mon advis vous ne pouvez pas respondre si precisement car enfin si vous n'aimez plus cleodore pourquoy regardez vous eternellement un portrait que vous avez d'elle des que vous le pouvez faire sans qu'on puisse voir la peinture qui est dans la boiste que l'on vous voir ouvrir si souvent afin de scavoir precisement ce que je regarde reprit belesis en montrant cette boiste a leonise et en la luy faisant ouvrir a elle mesme voyez le je vous prie et jugez apres cela si je suis coupable de prendre plaisir a voir cette peinture alors leonise prenant cette boiste et l'ouvrant du coste que belesis la luy presenta fut estrangement surprise de voir qu'au lieu d'y trouver la peinture de cleodore comme elle l'avoit creu elle y trouva la sienne ha belesis s'escria t'elle en rougissant vous estes bien plus criminel que je ne pensois car enfin je ne trouve nullement bon que vous ayez un portrait de moy belesis craignant alors qu'elle ne voulust pas le luy rendre reprit sa boiste si adroittement qu'elle n'eut pas le temps de s'y opposer je vous demande pardon madame luy dit il de mon incivilite mais je suis si malheureux que je dois craindre de perdre la seule consolation que vostre rigueur me laisse ne vous y abusez pas dit leonise car ce n'est pas mon dessein de vous la laisser et de m'exposer au 
 danger que l'on croye que je vous ay donne mon portrait je ne suis pas assez vain reprit belesis pour me vanter d'avoir receu cette grace de vous et vous devez croire qu'un homme qui cacheroit tres soigneusement une veritable faveur s'il l'avoit receue ne dira pas faussement que vous luy ayez accorde celle de luy donner vostre portrait vous n'avez pourtant pas este si discret repliqua leonise que je n'aye sceu que vous aviez celuy de cleodore il est vray respondit belesis mais il faut que vous l'ayez apris parla soeur d'hermogene qui ne l'auroit jamais sceu elle mesme si je ne vous avois jamais aimee car ce n'a este que par cette raison que l'en suis devenu moins soigneux et qu'il m'est arrive de l'esgarer une fois ha belesis interrompit leonise je ne veux point que mon portrait soit entre les mains d'un homme accoustume a les perdre jusques icy repliqua t'il je n'en ay point encore perdu puis que cela est reprit leonise vous avez donc encore celuy de cleodore il est vray dit il et ce n'est que par son moyen que j'ay quelquesfois le plaisir de voir le vostre mesme en sa presence leonise ne comprenant pas alors trop bien ce que belesis luy vouloir dire le forca de s'expliquer et de luy aprendre aussi comment il avoit eu sa peinture belesis luy dit donc que scachant qu'elle s'estoit fait peindre pour envoyer son portrait a quelques parent qu'elle avoit dans la province qu'elle avoit quittee il avoit suborne 
 le peintre en suitte il luy fit voir que la boiste de portrait qu'il portoit estoit double quoy qu'elle ne le parust pas et qu'ainsi la peinture de cleodore y estoit aussi bien que celle de leonise de sorte que par ce moyen belesis regardoit bien souvent le portrait de sa nouvelle maistresse en des temps ou la pauvre cleodore croyoit que c'estoit le sien parce qu'elle en connoissoit la boiste et que de plus belesis pour la mieux tromper luy laissoit quelquesfois effectivement voir son veritable portrait afin qu'elle creust que c'estoit ce qu'il regardoit si souvent car encore que belesis aimast eperdument leonise il craignoit et respectoit encore cleodore leonise aprenant donc cette fourbe fit tout ce qu'elle put pour obliger belesis a remettre entre ses mains le portrait qu'il avoit d'elle mais elle ne put jamais l'y faire resoudre quoy qu'elle luy pust dire si bien que voulant trouver sa seurete de quelque facon que ce pust estre et voulant aussi contenter une curiosite qu'elle avoit il y avoit long temps ou esprouver du moins la vertu de belesis enfin belesis luy dit elle apres beaucoup d'autres choses je ne puis croire que vous m'aimiez ny me resoudre a laisser mon portrait entre vos mains qu'a une condition qui est que vous remettiez entre les miennes toutes les lettres que vous avez de cleodore et mesme son portrait car sans cela je vous declare que je croiray que vous ne m'aimez point que vous aimez tousjours cleodore 
 et que vous ne portez ma peinture qu'afin de mieux cacher la sienne tout ce que vous me dittes est si injuste reprit belesis que je veux m'imaginer que vous ne voulez pas que je le croye joint que ce que vous voulez n'est pas mesme possible car enfin cleodore ne m'a jamais fait l'honneur de m'escrire et pour son portrait je l'ay certainement eu par adresse aussi bien que le vostre et par consequent je serois peu sincere si je voulois le faire passer pour une faveur si cela est dit leonise en riant vous ne devez ce me semble pas trouver si estrange que je ne face pas plus pour vous que ce qu'a fait cleodore car je ne pretens pas estre moins severe qu'elle mais apres tout adjousta leonise je scay de certitude que le portrait que vous avez de cleodore vous l'avez eu de sa main et je scay aussi que vous avez cent lettres d'elle si cela est reprit belesis soyez donc aussi douce que cleodore je verray ce que je devray estre reprit elle quand vous m'aurez accorde ce que je vous demande je dois sans doute vous accorder toutes choses repliqua belesis excepte ce qui pourroit me faire perdre vostre estime car pour cela madame l'amour que j'ay pour vous n'y pourroit jamais consentir c'est pourquoy ne trouvez pas s'il vous plaist mauvais que je vous refuse ce que vous desirez de moy car conment pourriez vous confier jamais a ma discretion la plus legere faveur si j'allois seulement vous advouer d'en avoir receu quelqu'une 
 de cleodore c'est bien assez madame luy dit il que je l'abandonne pour vous sans la trahir encore si laschement aussi ne crois-je pas que vous ayez fait reflection sur ce que vous m'avez demande veritablemcnt adjousta t'il en sous-riant si vous me disiez que vous voulez scavoir precisement jusques a quel point elle m'a favorise afin d'aller encore plus loin qu'elle n'auroit este en ce cas la je pense que je suposerois des lettres et que j'enventerois mille mensonges avantageux pour moy mais comme je scay bien que quand j'aurois effectivement receu mille faveurs de toutes les belles qui sont au monde vous ne m'en seriez pas plus favorable ne m'obligez pas s'il vous plaist a vous dire des faussetez et si vous voulez que je vous raconte quelque chose de ce qui c'est passe entre cleodore et moy souffrez madame que ce soit sa rigueur et sa cruaute afin que vous exagerant les maux qu'elle m'a fait souffrir vous vous resolviez a estre plus douce qu'elle et a me rendre moins malheureux l'exemple reprit malicieusement leonise est une chose qui touche puissamment mon esprit c'est pourquoy si vous ne m'entretenez que des rigueurs de cleodore il pourra estre aisement que j'auray pour vous les mesmes sentimens que vous m'aprendrez qu'elle aura eus si je pensois que ce que vous dittes fust vray repliqua belesis je ferois ce que je vous ay desja dit mais je scay que vous estes trop raisonnable pour parler comme vous faites et parler 
 sincerement car enfin quand il seroit vray que cleodore m'auroit escrit obligeamment et que j'aurois encore ses lettres je ne devrois pas vous les donner un amant doit sans doute obeir aveuglement a la personne qu'il aime mais non pas comme je l'ay desja dit lors qu'on obeissant il s'expose a perdre son estime il est pourtant certaines choses reprit leonise qu'une maistresse pourroit vouloir qui en ne meritant pas son estime pourroient neantmoins meriter son affection et je ne scay si celle que je veux de vous n'est point de ce nombre la car encore que je sois contrainte d'advouer qu'il est plus beau d'en user comme vous faites que si vous en usiez autrement je ne laisse pas de connoistre qu'il n'est pas si obligeant puis qu'apres tout vous ne pouvez me refuser que par deux raisons l'une parce que vous ne vous fiez pas a ma discretion et l'autre parce que peut-estre vous voulez tousjours estre en termes de renouer avec cleodore et lequel que ce soit des deux il n'est assurement pas fort avantageux pour moy l'advoue dit belesis que quelque discrette que vous soyez je ne croy point que je fusse oblige de vous confier rien qui pust nuire a une personne que j'aurois aimee et qui ne m'auroit pas hai car enfin si je le faisois je vous donnerois un si bel exemple d'indiscretion que j'aurois lieu de croire que vous pourriez n'estre pas plus discrette que j'aurois este discret sans me donner un juste sujet de 
 pleinte mais madame quant a ce que vous dittes que peut-estre je veux garder tout ce que vous vous estes imagine que j'ay entre les mains pour estre tousjours bien avec cleodore j'ay a vous dire que si vous le voulez je ne luy parleray plus ny mesme ne la regarderay plus j'iray si vous le souhaitez jusques a l'incivilite pour elle mais non pas s'il vous plaist jusques a la trahison ne croyez pas toutesfois reprit il que je parle de cette sorte parce que la passion que j'ay pour vous n'est pas assez violente car d'ans le mesme temps que je vous refuse ce que vous desirez de moy je vous offre de faire pour vostre service les choses du monde les plus difficiles a ces mots leonise interrompit belesis c'est assez luy dit elle c'est assez esprouve vostre vertu mais afin que vous n'ayez pas moins bonne opinion de la mienne que j'ay de la vostre scachez belesis que si vous m'eussiez accorde ce que je vous demandois avec tant d'empressement je ne me serois jamais confiee a vous de la moindre chose mais puis que vous m'avez resiste avec une si sage opiniastrete et que vous m'avez refuse le portrait de cleodore je consens que le mien vous demeure quoy que vous l'ayez derobe en prononcant ces dernieres paroles leonise se teut en rougissant et je ne scay si belesis ne se fust haste de luy rendre grace si elle n'eust point diminue le sens obligeant de ce qu'elle venoit de luy dire mais il sentit si promptement la joye que luy 
 donna un consentement si avantageux que les paroles de leonise ne fraperent pas plustost son oreille qu'elles toucherent son coeur et que sa bouche s'ouvrit pour la remercier quoy que vous ne fassiez luy dit il que consentir a une chose que vous ne pourriez empescher je ne laisse pas de vous estre infiniment redevable de ce que vous voulez bien que je puisse desormais regarder comme un present et non pas comme un larcin ce que j' avois derobe je suis mesme assure adjousta t'il que je trouveray que vostre portrait vous ressemblera mieux qu'il ne faisoit estant certain que les trois ou quatre paroles que vous venez de dire en ma faveur flattent si doucement mon imagination que je ne doute point que je ne sois cent fois plus heureux que je n'estois lors que je regarderay cette admirable peinture de grace belesis dit leonise ne me remerciez pas tant de peur que je ne croye vous avoir trop accorde et que je ne m'en repente il faut donc que je renferme ma reconnoissance dans mon coeur dit belesis et que je me contente de vous monstrer mon amour apres cela leonise voulut voir son portrait avec un peu plus de loisir de sorte que belesis luy ayant redonne il eut la satisfaction de le reprendre des mains de sa chere leonise sans luy faire de violence ce qui ne luy causa pas moins de joye que si elle le luy eust effectivement donne mais auparavant il luy fit remarquer par la difference des fermoirs quel 
 estoit le coste ou estoit le portrait de cleodore afin que lors qu'elle le surprendroit en ouvrant cette boiste elle pust tousjours connoistre que c'estoit le sien qu'il regardoit car encore que ce ne soit pas la coustume de ceux qui ont des portraits des personnes qu'ils aiment de les regarder en leur presence il n'en estoit pas ainsi de belesis puis que soit qu'il ait aime cleodore ou leonise c'a tousjours elle avec des transports d'amour si grands et des sentimens si particuliers qu'il eust voulu les voir en tous lieux et en cent manieres differentes aussi n'estoit il jamais plus satisfait que lors qu'il voyoit leonise dans un grand cabinet qu'avoit sa tante ou il y avoit aux quatre faces quatre grands miroirs d'acier bruni parce que de quelque coste qu'il se tournast il voyoit tousjours leonise et mesme plusieurs leonises du moins parloit il ainsi quand il m'exageroit sa passion il ne faut pas donc s'estonner de la precaution qu'il prenoit avec elle car il luy arrivoit souvent de ragarder sa peinture encore qu'il fust dans la mesme chambre ou elle estoit voila donc seigneur en quels termes en estoit belesis avec elle cependant la pauvre cleodore croyant que l'amour d'hermogene estoit la veritable cause de la facon d'agir de belesis prit une ferme resolution de le prier de ne la voir plus voyant que toutes les rudesses qu'elle luy faisoit ne le rebutoient pas comme elle connoissoit qu'il estoit fort sage et qu'elle n'ignoroit pas qu'il 
 avoit sceu la plus grande partie de ce qui c'estoit passe entre elle et belesis elle creut qu'il valoit mieux luy parler avec sincerite si bien que l'ayant trouve dans la chambre de sa tante un jour qu'elle estoit occupee a parler a d'autre monde elle se mit a 1 entretenir cependant comme il y avoit desja quelque temps qu'elle le fuyoit hermogene fut ravy de voir un changement si avantageux pour luy il est vray que la joye ne fut pas long temps dans son coeur car a peine eut elle ouvert la bouche qu'il connut qu'il alloit avoir plus de sujet de se pleindre de cleodore que de la remercier de grace luy dit elle ne murmurez point de la priere que je m'en vay vous faire et prenez s'il vous plaist la confiance que je vay prendre en vous pour la plus grande marque d'estime et d'affection que vous puissiez jamais recevoir de moy au nom des dieux madame interrompit hermogene ne me demandez rien que je sois contraint de vous refuser si je pensois estre refusee dit elle je ne vous demanderois pas ce que je m'en vais vous demander mais me confiant en vostre sagesse j'espere que vous me ferez la faveur de m'accorder ce que je veux de vous mais madame reprit hermogene que pouvez vous vouloir de moy davantage que ce que je vous ay donne je veux luy dit elle que pour certaines considerations qui me regardent vous ne vous attachiez plus tant a me voir ny a me parler ha madame repliqua t'il vous me demandez 
 ce qui n'est pas en mon pouvoir de vous accorder mais madame adjousta t'il est-ce la une marque d'estime et d'affection c'en est une sans doute reprit elle car si je n'avois pas voulu garder quelque mesure aveque vous je vous aurois banny sans vous en parler c'est pourquoy il me semble que vous devez me scavoir quelque gre de ma facon d'agir si vous me vouliez bannir reprit il parce que la personne qui a pouvoir sur vous ne trouveroit pas bon que j'eusse l'honneur de vous voir ou parce que ma passion feroit trop de bruit dans le monde j'advoue que je pourrois en me flattant donner quelque sens a ce que vous faites qui me seroit avantageux mais aimable cleodore je comprens bien que vous ne m'esloignez de vous que pour en raprocher belesis je vous demande pardon 'adjousta t'il voyant que cleodore rougissoit de ce qu'il venoit de dire de la liberte que je prens de vous parler avec tant de sincerite mais le pitoyable estat ou je me trouve doit ce me semble me servir d'excuse aupres de vous cependant poursuivit hermogene j'ay a vous dire que quand ce ne seroit que pour rapeller ce trop heureux belesis pour lequel vous me voulez chasser vous devez souffrir que je vous aime et le souffrir mesme agreablement car madame si la jalousie ne le ramene rien ne le ramenera ainsi soit que vous me consideriez ou que vous ne consideriez que vous il faut s'il vous plaist me laisser vivre comme 
 j'ay commence non hermogene repliqua cleodore ne vous obstinez pas a me refuser et contentez vous que je ne me fache point de ce que vous venez de me dire je veux mesme vous advouer adjousta t'elle en portant la main sur ses yeux et en detournant un peu la teste pour cacher la rougeur de son visage que la jalousie de belesis commence de me facher principalement parce qu'elle fait connoistre sa folie a des gens qui n en amoient peutestre jamais rien sceu sans cela de grace madame interrompit hermogene n'entreprenez point de me deguiser la verite et souvenez vous s il vous plaist que cleodore estant ma maistresse et que belesis ayant tousjours este mon amy il n'est pas possible que je ne scache a peu pres les choses comme elles sont vous douiez encore adjouster reprit elle que belesis estant vostre rival vous ne pouvez manquer d'estre son espion c'est repliqua hermogene que belesis agissant presentement plus comme amant de leonise que comme amant de cleodore il ne s'est pas presente a mon imagination comme estant mon rival quoy qu'il en soit hermogene reprit elle ne me refusez pas ce que je vous demande et ne me forcez point a vous bannir avec esclat mais madame repliqua t'il s'il estoit vray que belesis fust amoureux de leonise seroit il juste de traitter hermogene comme vous le voulez traitter il le seroit sans doute respondit elle car j'aurois tant d'horreur 
 pour tous les hommes que je ne pourrois pas manquer d'en avoir pour vous la vangeance reprit il seroit pourtant une douce chose je l'advoue repliqua clodore mais il ne faut pourtant jamais se vanger sur soy mesme en se voulant vanger d'autruy et puis hermogene adjousta t'elle vous avez trop de bonnes qualitez pour devoir l'affection qu'on auroit pour vous a la haine que l'on auroit pour vostre rival c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux que vous alliez chercher quelque meilleure fortune non non madame reprit il je ne suis pas de ces gens delicats et difficiles qui veulent que l'on songe exactement de quelle main on leur offre des presens car pourveu que vous m'aimiez je ne songeray point si ce sera par vangeance ou par inclination apres tout hermogene interrompit cleodore je veux estre obeie encore est ce quelque grace que vous me faites reprit il de me commander absolument apres avoir commence de me prier il est vray dit elle mais pour faire que je ne me repente pas de vous l'avoir accordee faites donc precisement ce que je veux hermogene voyant avec quelle fermete cleodore luy parloit creut qu'il ne faloit pas luy resister absolument de sorte que pour gagner temps afin d'executer un dessein qu'il avoit il la conjura de luy vouloir accorder six jours seulement a la fin desquels il luy demandoit une heure d'audience comme cleodore estimoit fort hermogene elle luy accorda ce qu'il vouloit 
 et ils se se parerent de cette sorte cleodore esperant que des qu'elle auroit banny hermogene belesis reviendroit a elle et hermogene esperant aussi que des qu'il auroit obtenu de belesis une chose qu'il luy vouloit demander il seroit changer de dessein a cleodore pour cet effet il fut le chercher a l'heure mesme et par bonheur pour luy il le trouva qu'il venoit de r'entrer dans sa chambre il ne le vit pas plustost que belesis vint au devant de luy pour luy rendre grace de ce qu'il avoit si fort occupe cleodore ce jour la qu'elle n'avoit point este aupres de leonise qu'il avoit entretenue avec un plaisir extreme je suis ravy luy dit hermogene de pouvoir contribuer quelque chose a vostre felicite mais mon cher belesis luy dit il en l'embrassant il faut que vous faciez aussi quelque chose pour tascher de m'empescher d'estre malheureux il n'est ce ne semble pas besoin reprit belesis de me faire une conjuration si forte car pouvez vous douter que je ne face pas tout ce que je pourray pour vostre service tout a bon hermogene poursuivit il vostre procede m'offence estrangement puis que selon moy il n'est point permis de faire de prieres a ses veritables amis suffisant sans doute de leur faire scavoir le besoin que nous avons d'eux pour les obliger a nous servir parlez donc le vous en conjure et me dittes promptement ce qu'il faut que je face pont vous il faut repliqua hermogene puis que vous ne voulez pas qu'on vous prie que 
 vous me permettiez de faire scavoir a cleodore que vous ne l'aimez plus et que vous aimez effectivement leonise ha hermogene reprit belesis il n'y a pas encore assez long temps que je suis inconstant pour pouvoir me resoudre a paroistre tel aux yeux de cleodore et puis a quoy bon de luy descouvrir mon crime si c'est adjousta t'il que vous soyez las de l'entretenir si souvent et que vous soyez ennuye d'estre tousjours en un lieu ou vous n'avez point d'attachement j'aime encore mieux que vous cessiez de voir cleodore sans luy rien dire que d'aller luy aprendre ce qu'elle ne scaura que trop tost non non luy dit hermogene vous ne comprenez pas le sens de mes paroles et pour vous l'expliquer poursuivit il scachez cruel amy que vous estes qu'en vous deschargeant des fers que la belle cleodore vous faisoit porter vous m'en avez accable et qu'enfin vous n'avez jamais tant aime cette belle personne que je l'aime puis que je ne la quiterois pas pour mille leonises comme la vostre quoy hermogene reprit belesis avec precipitation et avec estonnement vous aimez cleodore ouy repliqua t'il je l'aime et je loue les dieux de ce que vous ne l'aimez plus et de ce que vous estes en estat de me pleindre et de m'accorder la permission que je vous demande belesis voyant qu'hermogene parloit serieusement n'eut pas lieu de douter de la verite de ses paroles mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut qu'il en parut si surpris 
 qu'il fut quelque temps a se promener sans parler de sorte qu'hermogene s'estonnant de le voir si interdit continua de le presser de luy permettre de faire scavoir son inconstance a cleodore car enfin luy dit il si vous faites cet effort sur vous mesme en ma faveur vous y gagnerez aussi bien que moy puis que cleodore ne pretendant plus rien a vostre affection ne vous tourmentera pas comme elle fait si son affection reprit il ne me tourmentoit plus sa haine me tourmenteroit c'est pourquoy je vous prie de ne luy dire jamais positivement que je ne l'aime plus il en rejaliroit mesme quelque chose sur leonise adjousta belens ainsi vous augmenteriez mes malheurs sans diminuer les vostres car je ne voy pas quel avantage vous pourriez tirer quand cleodore scauroit avec certitude que je suis amoureux de leonise puis qu'il faut le dire repliqua t'il c'est que cleodore qui vous croit jaloux de moy et qui s'imagine que vous feignez d'aimer leonise pour luy faire depit vous aime encore mille fois plus qu'elle ne doit de sorte que quelque passion que j'aye pour elle je suis assure que je ne toucheray jamais son coeur que je ne vous en aye chasse obligez la si vous pouvez a me hair parce qu'elle vous aimera trop repliqua belesis mais de grace ne songez pas a vous en faire aimer parce qu'elle me haira il me semble dit hermogene en sous-riant que cette delicatesse est un peu chimerique car enfin vous aimez 
 leonise ou vous ne l'aimez pas si vous ne l aimez pas il faut me dire positivement que vous aimez tousjours cleodore et que vous voulez estre mon ennemy puis que je suis vostre rival mais si au contraire vous aimez leonise je ne voy pas pourquoy vous faites difficulte de me permettre de dire une chose a cleodore qui me peut servir aupres d'elle et qui vous delivrera sans doute de son affection car je suis persuade que quand ce ne seroit que pour se vanger elle m'en traitera moins mal cependant afin de ne vous deguiser rien si vous ne m'accordez ce que je dis elle voudra que je ne la voye plus et que je ne l'aime plus et alors hermogene raconta a belesis ce qui c'estoit passe entre cleodore et luy pendant qu'il parloit il remarqua une agitation estrange dans son esprit quoy qu'il n'en comprist pas bien la raison si ce nestoit la honte qu'il avoit d'estre connu pour inconstant mais enfin luy dit il apres luy avoir tout raconte il faudra bien que cleodore vienne un jour a scavoir que vous ne l'aimez plus et que vous aimez leonise cela estant ne vaut il pas mieux qu'elle le scache aujourd'huy que cela me peut servir a quelque chose que d'attendre que cela ne me puisse servir a rien plus vous cacherez vostre crime adjousta t'il et plus vous serez criminel c'est pourquoy souffrez je vous en conjure que je tasche de gagner ce que vous avez voulu perdre considerez pour ne me refuser pas que c'est vous qui estes cause que 
 j'aime cleodore puis que sans vous je ne l'aurois jamais veue si particulierement que j'ay fait je l'avois veue toute ma vie sans l'aimer je l'aurois encore veue de mesme le reste mes jours mais ayant eu la complaisance de m'attacher a la voir pour vos interests et en estant devenu amoureux il est ce me semble juste que vous faciez tout ce que vous pourrez pour soulager le mal que vous m'avez cause je voudrois le pouvoir faire repliqua belesis fort interdit mais je vous avoue qu'il m'est impossible d'obtenir de moy de vous permettre de descouvrir mon crime a cleodore de plus adjousta t'il ne considerez vous point que n'estant pas encore tout a sait bien avec leonise il pourroit estre que cleodore venant a scavoir la verite m'y rendroit cent mauvais offices c'est pourquoy quand j'aurois a vous permettre ce que vous desirez ce ne seroit que lors que j'aurois absolument gagne le coeur de leonise mais durant que vous ferez cette conqueste reprit hermogene que voulez vous que je devienne cleodore dans six jours ne voudra plus que je luy parle et ne voudra plus que je la voye songez de grace adjousta t'il ce que vous feriez si vous estiez a ma place je n'en scay rien repliqua belesis mais je scay bien que je ne scaurois vous permettre de descouvrir mon crime a cleodore mais aussi reprit il pourquoy en estes vous devenu amoureux ne scaviez vous pas tout ce que je vous avois dit de son humeur 
 que ne vous faisiez vous sage a mes despens et que ne le devenez vous encore croyez moy adjousta t'il au lieu de tascher de toucher son coeur taschez de degager le vostre d'une servitude si penible plus vous seriez bien avec cleodore plus vous auriez d'inquietude et quand je ne considererois que vous en cette rencontre je devrois tousjours vous refuser ce que vous desirez que je vous accorde non non belesis interrompit hermogene nous ne douons pas servir nos amis selon nostre goust mais selon le leur et quand j'ay commence de feindre d'estre amoureux de cleodore je n'ay pas raisonne si sagement que vous quoy que j'eusse peut-estre plus de sujet de le faire que vous n'en avez cependant puis qu'en feignant de l'aimer je l'ay aimee effectivement je ne voy pas que vous deviez vous obstiner a ne vouloir point ce que je veux hermogene eut pourtant beau parler il ne persuada pas belesis qui n'ayant point de bien puissantes raisons pour pretexter le refus qu'il luy faisoit employa ses prieres avec ardeur pour l'empescher de dire a cleodore qu'il ne l'aimoit plus et qu'il aimoit leonise
 
 
 
 
apres que cette contestation eut dure tres long temps ces deux amis se separerent en se pleignant l'un de l'autre il est vray qu'ils s'en pleignirent ce jour la sans aigreur et qu'ils se parlerent tousjours comme des gens qui esperoient de s'entre-persuader mais apres qu'ils se furent separez ils sentirent mieux 
 qu'ils ne faisoient auparavant l'inquietude que cette bizarre rencontre leur donnoit hermogene fut si presse de la douleur qu'il eut de voir que belesis luy refusoit la seule chose qui pouvoit luy servir aupres de cleodore qu'il vient me raconter tout ce qui luy estoit arrive m'exagerant l'injustice du refus que belesis luy avoit fait avec des paroles qui me firent aisement connoistre la grandeur de sa passion mais afin que je n'ignorasse rien de ce qui les regardoit le lendemain au matin belesis scachant que j'estois leur amy commun vint aussi me dire tout ce qui luy estoit advenu et me prier de faire tout ce que je pourrois pour empescher hermogene d'aller aprendre a cleodore qu'il la trompoit de sorte qu'estant le confident de tous les deux et leur estant fidelle a l'un et a l'autre je me servois de la connoissance que j'avois de leurs veritables sentimens pour empescher qu'ils ne se brouillassent taschant de mesnager leur esprit et de faire qu'ils ne se pleignissent du moins l'un de l'autre qu'avec civilite la chose n'en put pourtant pas demeurer en ces termes la comme vous le scaurez bientost cependant belesis ne se trouva pas peu embarrasse lors qu'il fut chez la tante de cleodore et de leonise car lors qu'il ne parloit point a cette derniere il n'estoit pas content et lors qu'il voyoit hermogene parler a cleodore il ne pouvoit l'endurer s'imaginant tousjours qu'il alloit luy descouvrir son inconstance malgre toutes ses prieres si 
 bien que pour differer du moins ce malheur qu'il aprehendoit sans scavoir pourtant precisement pourquoy il le craignoit si fort il quittoit quelquefois leonise et alloit interrompre hermogene et cleodore et se mesler dans leur conversation pretextant la chose aupres de leonise le mieux qu'il pouvoit cleodore de son coste voyant que belesis estoit si interdit et si inquiet et qu'il parloit pourtant plus a elle qu'il n'avoit accoustume depuis quelque temps expliquoit toutes ses inquietudes a son avantage et pensoit qu'il estoit toujours fort amoureux d'elle d'autre part hermogene voulant profiter de tout disoit quelquesfois bas a cleodore quand il en pouvoit trouver l'occasion que si elle vouloit bien rapeller belesis il faloit qu'elle ne bannist pas hermogene mais pour leonise elle ne scavoit que penser de 1 inquietude de belesis et faisoit du moins ce qu'elle pouvoit pour ne perdre pas ce qu'elle avoit fait perdre a cleodore enfin seigneur je pense pouvoir assurer que je vy cette fois la ce que l'on n'avoit jamais veu auparavant et ce que l'on ne verra peut-estre jamais je veux dire un homme jaloux sans amour estant certain que durant quelques jours belesis agit avec cleodore et avec hermogene comme s'il eust encore este amant de l'une et rival de l'autre c'est a dire avec les mesmes changemens de visage et les mesmes impatiences que la jalousie a accoustume de donner a ceux qu'elle tourmente le plus cependant 
 il disoit tousjours qu'il n'aimoit plus cleodore et qu'il aimoit esperdument leonise j'ay bien ouy dire luy disois-je un soir que je luy demandois conte de ses veritables sentimens qu'il n'est pas aise d'estre longtemps fort amoureux sans estre un peu jaloux mais je ne pensois pas qu'il fust possible d'estre jaloux sans estre amoureux et toutefois je vous voy agir de cette sorte car enfin vous ne pouvez souffrir qu'hermogene parle eu particulier a cleodore vous rompez leur conversation quand vous le pouvez quand vous ne le pouvez pas vous les regardez avec des yeux a penetrer jusques au fond du coeur et a deviner mesme leurs pensees et vous en estes si transporte que vous n'en regardez pas seulement leonise quoy que vous soyez aupres d'elle que voulez vous que j'y face me dit il je voudrois que vous escoutassiez la raison luy dis-je et que puis que vous n'estes plus amoureux de clodore vous ne vous opposassiez point a la passion qu'hermogene a pour elle et que de plus vous luy permissiez de faire tout ce qu'il croiroit luy pouvoir estre utile non non alcenor me dit il je ne scaurois gagner cela sur moy et par une bizarrerie que je ne puis vaincre il faut que j'avoue que je ne puis souffrir non seulement qu'hermogene aille dire a cleodore que je la trahis mais encore qu'hermogene l'aime et en soit aime je ne me soucierois ce me semble pas adjousta t'il que cent autres personnes l'aimassent mais pour 
 hermogene je ne le scaurois endurer vous estes pour tant plus oblige de le souffrir que d'aucun autre repris-je car il est plus vostre amy que qui que ce soit il est vray reprit belesis et si vous scaviez la confusion que j'ay de ma folie vous auriez pitie de moy cependant elle est si forte que je sens bien que je ne pourray jamais ny retourner absolument a cleodore ny trouver bon qu'hermogene l'aime ny abandonner leonise comme nous en estions la hermogene entra qui se mit en ma presence a dire a belesis tout ce qu'on peut dire d'obligeant il luy aprit que les six jours que cleodore luy avoit donnez devant expirer ce soir la il venoit le conjurer de luy accorder la permission qu'il luy avoit demandee au reste luy dit il j'ay une chose a vous dire auparavant que vous me refusiez pour la derniere fois qui est que si contre toute aparence vous vous estiez repenti de vostre faute et que vous voulussiez quitter leonise et retourner a cleodore pour estre aussi fidelle que vous avez este inconstant je vous promets de ne vous demander jamais rien et de ne luy descouvrir point vostre crime vous protestant de plus de m'esloigner non seulement de cleodore mais mesme de suse mais aussi je presens apres cela que s'il est vray que vous aimiez tousjours leonise et que par consequent vous ne pretendiez plus rien a cleodore je pretens dis-je que vous me serviez et que vous ne vous opposiez plus a ce que je veux tout ce que vous 
 me dittes est si raisonnable reprit belesis avec une extreme confusion sur le visage que je meurs de honte d'y respondre aussi extravagamment que je vay faire mais apres tout hermogene si vous m'aimez vous aurez quelque pitie de la foiblesse de vostre amy et vous m'excuserez enfin si je vous refuse et si je vous avoue que je ne pourrois jamais recevoir un plus sensible deplaisir que de vous voir aime de cleodore quoy que j'aime tousjours leonise je scay bien adjousta t'il qu'il y a de la folie a parler ainsi mais apres tout puis que je sens ce que je dis je pense que je ne dois point deguser mes sentimens c'est pourquoy c'est a vous qui estes plus sage que je ne suis a vous accommoder a ma foiblesse c'est vous adjousta t'il qui m'avez amene a suse et qui avez cause toutes mes disgraces c'est donc a vous a les soulager il est vray que je vous ay amene a suse reprit hermogene mais c'est vous qui m'avez fait connoistre particulierement cleodore et par consequent c'est donc a vous a soulager mes maux aussi bien que c'est a moy a soulager les vostres apres cela je me mis a leur parler a tous deux mais je parlay inutilement et nous nous deparasmes sans avoir rien avance ny rien conclu et certes il fut avantageux que belesis ne logeast plus chez hermogene comme il y avoit loge au commencement qu'il fut a suse car ils se seroient encore brouillez plus fort qu'ils ne firent cependant le pauvre hermogene 
 se trouva estrangement embarrasse parce que cleodore remarquant toutes les inquietudes de belesis et croyant qu'il souffroit infiniment pour l'amour d'elle avoit une envie extreme de pouvoir bannir hermogene si bien que le sixiesme jour qu'elle luy avoit accorde ne fut pas plus tost expire qu'elle se prepara a luy donner cette heure d'audiance qu'il luy avoit demandee et qu'elle luy avoit promise de sorte qu'en faisant naistre l'occasion adroitement dans la chambre de sa tante ils se trouverent tous deux vers des fenestres assez esloignees du reste de la compagnie pour pouvoir parler sans estre entendus c'est pourquoy cleodore prenant la parole se mit a le conjurer de commencer de ne luy parler dus avec tant d'attachement et de se desacoustumer peu a peu d'aller chez elle du moins madame luy dit il avouez moy en me bannissant que c'est pour belesis que vous me bannissez et que si belesis n'estoit point amoureux de vous vous ne me banniriez point cleodore croyant qu'en effet hermogene la laisseroit plustost en repos si elle luy parloit sincerement que si elle luy deguisoit une verite qu'il n'ignoroit pas luy dit a la fin avec des paroles assez obligeantes qu'il estoit vray qu'elle ne seroit pas marrie d'oster a belesis tout sujet de faire esclatter sa jalousie et de se pleindre d'elle a des gens qui pourroient en tirer des consequences qui ne luy seroient pas avantageuses l'assurant que si elle n'eust pas eu 
 quelque sorte de compassion de belesis elle ne se seroit pas privee de sa conversation et se seroit contentee de le prier de regler l'affection qu'il disoit avoir pour elle hermogene entendant parler cleodore avec toute la douceur que peut avoir une personne qui en bannit une autre sans la vouloir desobliger absolument creut effectivement que si elle scavoit l'inconstance de belesis il pourroit peut- estre occuper la place que cet inconstant occupoit dans le coeur de cette belle personne de sorte qu'emporte par l'exces de son amour et voyant qu'il faloit ou quitter cleodore ou tascher de la detromper de la croyance ou elle estoit d'estre tousjours aimee de belesis afin de faire changer son arrest de mort il se mit a agiter la chose en luy mesme comme il avoit tousjours extremement aime belesis il eut quelque peine a se resoudre de dire ce qu'il scavoit bien qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'il dist mais apres tout s'agissant de toute la felicite de sa vie l'amour l'emporta sur l'amitie et d'autant plus qu'il avoit l'esprit fort aigry contre belesis pendant qu'hermogene songeoit donc a ce qu'il seroit cleodore le regardoit croyant que tous les divers changemens qu'elle voyoit en son visage n'estoient causez que par la douleur qu'il avoit d'estre contraint de ne luy parler plus comme a l'ordinaire mais a la fin hermogene faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme les dieux me sont tesmoins madame luy dit il si je n'ay pas une repugnance extreme 
 a chercher quelque remede aux maux que je souffre en vous aprenant une chose qui vous affligera sans doute et qui ne me scauroit estre agreable car enfin je sens bien que je ne pourray voir dans vos beaux yeux la melancolie que vous aurez d'aprendre que belesis n'est pas digne de l'honneur que vous luy faites sans en avoir moy mesme infiniment mais madame quand je ne voudrois pas essayer de faire revoquer le cruel arrest que vous avez prononce contre moy je pense que pour vostre interest seulement je serois oblige de vous descouvrir ce que je scay car je suis persuade qu'entre une maistresse et un amy il n'y a point a balancer joint aussi que je ne suis plus en termes de choisir ny de deliberer puis qu'en l'estat ou je suis reduit il faut que je vous aprenne que belesis est un inconstant que sa jalousie est feinte et qu'il est devenu amoureux de leonise d'abord cleodore ne creut point du tout ce qu'hermogene luy dit et elle pensa qu'il inventoit ce qu'il luy disoit mais comme il n'est rien si aise que de jetter la defiance dans un esprit amoureux elle n'eut pas plustost dit a hermogene qu'elle ne pouvoit adjouter foy a ses paroles qu'elle commenca pourtant d'y en adjouster car insensiblement apres luy avoir dit qu'elle ne le pouvoit croire elle vint a luy demander sur quelles conjectures il avoit fonde la creance qu'il avoit de sorte que peu a peu et presques sans scavoir ce 
 qu'elle disoit elle demanda encore plus de choses a hermogene qu'il n'en scavoit et il luy en dit aussi plus qu'elle n'en vouloit scavoir neantmoins comme il demeuroit encore quelque doute dans l'esprit de cleodore hermogene luy dit que pour s'esclaircir de cette verite elle n'avoit qu'a tascher de tirer des mains de belesis la boiste dans laquelle estoit le portrait qu'il avoit d'elle afin d'y voir aussi celuy de leonise ha hermogene reprit cleodore si je puis voir ce que vous dittes je hairay estrangement belesis vous le verrez sans doute reprit il pour peu que vous y aportiez de soin mais madame adjousta t'il ce ne sera pas assez que de hair belesis si vous n'aimez encore un peu hermogene je vous assure luy dit elle que si ce que vous dittes est vray il ne sera pas aise que j'aime jamais rien et j'auray mesme tant de haine pour moy que je ne seray pas en estat d'aimer les autres puis qu'a parler sincerement on n'aime gueres que pour l'amour de soy mais du moins vous puis-je assurer que je vous seray eternellement obligee de m'avoir descouvert la perfidie de belesis comme elle achevoit de prononcer ces paroles belesis entra qui voyant hermogene et cleodore separez de la compagnie fut droit a eux pour interrompre leur conversation quoy que leonise fust dans la mesme chambre en y allant il pensa pourtant s'arrester et changer d'avis parce qu'il craignoit qu'hermogene n'eust descouvert son 
 crime a cleodore neantmoins comme il avoit desja fait quelque pas vers l'endroit ou ils estoient il continua d'y aller avec une esmotion sur le visage qui fit bien connoistre a cleodore qu'il n'avoit pas l'esprit tranquile d'autre part cette belle fille n'eut pas peu de peine a se contraindre et a deguiser ses sentimens mais comme il le faloit afin des s'esclaircir de ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir elle se fit une violence estrange pour parler a belesis comme elle avoit accoustume elle le receut toutesfois avec une civilite contrainte qui embarrassa fort belesis ne scachant si c'estoit un effet de la connoissance qu'elle avoit de son crime on si c'estoit que pour luy faire depit elle le vouloit traitter ainsi hermogene estoit aussi tellement interdit qu'il n'osoit regarder belesis c'est pourquoy il n'est pas estrange si ces trois personnes ne purent durer seules ensemble et si elles se raprocherent de la compagnie aussi tost que les premiers complimens furent faits cependant leonise qui avoit veu entrer belesis tournoit continuellement la teste pour regarder s'il parloit a cleodore mais comme elle vit qu'ils ne se disoient presques rien et qu'ils venoient ou elle estoit le depit qu'elle avoit eu en diminua elle ne laissa pourtant pas de s'en vouloir vanger conme elle le fit un moment apres car seigneur vous scaurez que belesis qui en entrant dans cette chambre avoit plustost choisi d'aller vers cleodore que vers leonise parce qu'elle estoit 
 seule avec hermogene ne vit pas plustost qu'ils estoient separez et meslez dans le reste de la compagnie qu'il se mit aupres de leonise qui pour se vanger comme l'ay desja dit le receut avec une froideur qui ne le consola pas de tous ses desplalsirs secrets car se tournant un moment apres vers tisias qui estoit de l'autre coste afin d'aprendre a belesis par son experience quel depit est celuy de voir preferer un autre a soy il ne put l'obliger a luy parler de tout le reste du jour mais pendant que leonise se vangeoit de cette sorte cleodore qui avoit une impatience estrange de s'esclaircir absolument de ce qu'hermogene luy avoit dit fit si bien que sans que personne pust prendre garde qu'elle eust affecte la chose elle fit que toute la compagnie prit la resolution de s'aller promener au bord du fleuve qui passe a suse cleodore n'ayant pas voulu aller a la promenade ordinaire parce qu'elle n'auroit pas eu la liberte de parler a belesis comme elle le vouloit comme tisias estoit aupres de leonise et qu'il estoit d'une condition si considerable dans suse que personne ne luy pouvoit disputer la place qu'il vouloit prendre ce fut luy qui mit leonise dans le chariot ou elle fut jusques au bord de l'eau et qui luy aida aussi a en descendre lors que toute la compagnie estant arrivee dans une grande prairie ou il y a quantite de saules le long de la riviere se mit a se promener a pied belesis voyant donc qu'il ne pouvoit aider a 
 marcher a leonise et voulant aussi empescher hermogene de donner la main a cleodore la luy presenta quoy que ce ne fust pas de l'air qu'il avoit accoustume de la luy donner devant qu'il aimast leonise comme cleodore avoit eu quelque temps pour se remettre elle se mit a luy parler avec beaucoup de civilite et de douceur de sorte que belesis se rassurant creut qu'hermogene ne luy avoit encore rien dit contre luy si bien que se souvenant que par le discours de son amy il avoit connu que cleodore l'aimoit tousjours cherement il sentoit dans son ame un remords estrange d'avoir trahy cette belle personne ce n'est pas que de temps en temps il ne tournast la teste vers leonise pour voir comment tisias l'entretenoit et l'on peut dire que son coeur estoit cruellement dechire cependant cleodore qui avoit un dessein cache regla son pas de facon que malgre que belesis en eust qui n'osoit pas luy resister ny la presser d'aller plus viste elle se separa un peu de la compagnie prenant un petit sentier plus pres de la riviere afin disoit elle d'estre plus a l'ombre de saules qui la bordoient apres avoir marche quelque temps ainsi sans que cleodore tesmoignast avoir aucun chagrin dans l'esprit tout d'un coup levant son voile et feignant de se regarder dans la riviere qui estoit extremement tranquile ha belesis s'escria t'elle je pensois que mon miroir estoit fort mauvais quant je me trouve desagreable depuis 
 quelque temps toutesfois je voy bien qu'il ne l'est pas car cette riviere ne me flatte non plus que luy belesis ne soupconnant rien de son dessein se mit a la contredire et a luy vouloir persuader comme il estoit vray qu'elle n'avoit jamais este plus belle croyant qu'elle ne parloit ainsi que pour l'obliger a n'en tomber pas d'accord quoy que ce ne fust pas trop la coustume de cleodore d'estre capable de tant de petites foiblesses dont presques toutes les belles ne se peuvent deffendre belesis estant donc dans ce sentiment la luy dit croyant bien la contenter qu'il ne l'avoit pas trouvee plus belle le jour qu'il arriva a suse je scay bien du moins reprit cleodore que j'estois un peu moins mal que je ne suis le jour que je me fis peindre pour vous et je m'assure adjousta t'elle malicieusement que si vous voulez regarder mon portrait il vous reprochera la flatterie que vous me faites et me reprochera a moy mesme mon changement pour vous montrer luy dit il afin de ne luy faire pas voir son portrait de peur qu'elle ne vist celuy de leonise que je vous trouve plus belle que vostre peinture je ne veux pas la regarder presentement que je suis aupres de vous aimant beaucoup mieux vous voir qu'elle flatterie a part luy dit cleodore je vous prie de me la montrer je voudrois bien le pouvoir faire luy dit il pour vous faire voir l'outrage que vous vous faites a vous mesme en parlant mal de vostre beaute mais je suis si malheureux 
 que je l'ay laissee aujourd'huy dans mon cabinet sans y penser en disant cela belesis changea de visage et cleodore en changea aussi car elle connut bien qu'il ne disoit pas la verite mais pour donner un pretexte a l'esmotion qui paroissoit dans ses yeux malgre elle je ne vous avois pas donne mon portrait reprit cleodore pour le laisser sans y penser eh de grace luy dit belesis fort interdir ne redevenez pas capricieuse et ne me condamnez pas pour m'estre mal exprime car enfin je n'ay pas voulu dire que je ne pense point a vous mais seulement que sans en avoir eu le dessein j'ay laisse vostre portrait dans mon cabinet quoy qu'il en soit dit elle je ne vous l'avois pas donne pour cela cependant je vous prie de me le faire voir le plustost que vous pourrez et de chercher mesme si vous ne l'avez point icy car comme vous dittes que vous l'avez laisse sans y penser peut-estre encore que sans y penser vous l'avez sur vous belesis s'obstina long temps a ne vouloir pas chercher disant tousjours qu'il scavoit bien qu'il ne l'avoit point mais a la fin craignant de rendre ce qu'il disoit suspect a cleodore il fit semblant de voir s'il ne se trompoit pas pour cet effet il regarda parmy des tablettes qu'il portoit tousjours comme s'il eust voulu s'esclarcir s'il n'y seroit point aportant grand soin a ne tirer pas ce qu'il ne vouloit point que cleodore vist mais par malheur pour luy un des fermoirs de ces tablettes s'estant acrochee a un 
 tissu de soye et d'or ou la boiste du portrait de cleodore estoit pendue en tirant des tablettes il la tira aussi de sorte que cleodore ne la vit pas plustost qu'elle la prit sans que belesis l'en pust empesher car par malheur pour luy ce cordon se detacha facilement des tablettes cleodore n'eut pas plustost cette boiste que craignant que belesis ne la voulust reprendre elle la mit dans sa poche puis se tournant vers luy une autrefois luy dit elle sans s'esmouvoir et faisant semblant de ne s'apercevoir pas qu'il eust voulu luy dire un mensonge ne vous fiez plus a vostre memoire cependant belesis se trouva bien embarrasse car encore qu'il ne creust pas que cleodore sceust que le portrait de leonise fust dans cette boiste aussi bien que le sien il ne laissoit pas de voir que si elle demeuroit dans ses mains elle le verroit ce n'est pas qu'elle ne fust faire de facon qu'il y avoit quelque peine a ceux qui ne scavoient pas la chose de s'apercevoir qu'elle s'ouvroit des deux costez mais apres tout il jugeoit que cleodore estant soupconneuse et adroite s'en apercevroit aisement si elle avoit le loisir de la considerer c'est pourquoy prenant un biais qu'il creut assez fin il se mit a la conjurer instamment de luy vouloir rendre son portrait n'osant pas avoir recours a la force contre une personne a qui il devoit tant de respect je ne scay toutesfois s'il auroit pu en avoir pour cleodore en cette occasion si ce n'eust este que malicieusement 
 sans qu'il y prist garde tant il songeoit a ce qu'il luy vouloit dire elle ne l'eust remene vers la compagnie dont ils n'estoient pas fort esloignez mais madame luy disoit il vous m'avez demande vostre portrait pour regarder s'il estoit plus beau que vous que ne le regardez vous donc afin de vous rendre justice et de me le rendre tout a l'heure je le regarderay dit elle quand je seray dans ma chambre aupres de mon miroir mais comment pensez vous luy dit il encore que je puisse passer le reste du jour sans l'avoir puis que vous voyez la personne que vous aimez reprit elle avec un sous-rire plus malicieux qu'il ne le croyoit vous ne devez pas regretter de ne voir point sa peinture promettez moy donc repliqua t'il que vous me la rendrez devant que nous nous separions je vous la rendray peut-estre demain dit elle du moins vous prieray-je de me venir faite une visite dans ma chambre pour scavoir ce que j'en auray trouve apres cela belesis luy fit cent conjurations en suitte il luy parla presques avec colere il s'en falut peu que mesme il n'employast ses larmes aussi bien que ses paroles mais a la fin il fut contraint de se taire car cleodore l'ayant remene comme je l'ay desja dit dans la compagnie il ne put plus l'entretenir en particulier pour luy en oster mesme toutes les occasions elle se joignit a leonise et' ne la quitta point de tout le reste du jour je vous laisse a penser seigneur en quelle inquietude estoit belesis 
 et quelle impatience estoit aussi celle de cleodore de pouvoir estre en lieu ou elle pust s'esclaircir si hermogene luy avoit dit la verite elle fut si grande qu'elle se pleignit du serain long temps devant qu'il en fist afin de faire finir la promenade le plustost qu'elle pourroit au contraire belesis croyant trouver quelque remede au mal qu'il craignoit et trouvant du moins quelque consolation a le differer faisoit ce qu'il pouvoit pour la faire durer long temps disant a cleodore qu'elle estoit peu complaisante de vouloir que toute une grande et belle compagnie se privast d'un grand plaisir pour l'amour d'elle mais quoy qu'il pust dire on se retira d'assez bonne heure il espera pourtant que quand elle arriveroit chez elle il pourroit peut-estre la remener jusques a sa chambre et la presser encore de luy rendre son portrait mais elle demeura malicieusement dans celle de sa tante jusques a ce qu'il fust sorty a peine le fut il qu'impatient de s'esclaircir de ce qu'elle souhaitoit et de ce qu'elle craignoit pourtant d'aprendre elle fut dans son cabinet ou elle s'enferma et se mit avec une precipitation extreme a ouvrir cette boiste ou d'abord elle ne vit que sa peinture mais comme hermogene luy avoit assure si fortement que cette boiste estoit double elle se mit a la considerer attentivement de sorte qu'elle la regarda tant et la tourna de tant de costez qu'a la fin lors qu'elle desesperoit de pouvoir trouver par ou elle s'ouvroit elle s'ouvrit 
 tout d'un coup et luy fit voir le portrait de leonise elle ne l'eut pas plustost veu qu'elle le laissa tomber car elle m'a raconte depuis tout ce qu'elle fit alors puis le reprenant un moment apres elle le regarda encore une fois en suitte dequoy le jettant sur sa table avec autant de colere que de douleur ha hermogene s'escria t'elle vous n'estes que trop veritable et plus taux dieux que vous l'eussiez este moins quoy perfide belesis poursuivit elle en elle mesme il est donc bien vray que vous estes un inconstant et que vous m'avez trahie quoy leonise adjousta cleodore vous ne serez venue a suse que pour me rendre la plus malheureuse personne du monde quoy hermogene vous ne m'aurez aimee que pour me faire scavoir plustost la fourbe de vostre amy mais a quoy bon poursuivit elle me prendre a belesis a leonise et a hermogene des maux que je souffre puis que c'est moy mesme que je dois accuser de toutes mes disgraces car en fin adjousta cleodore en s'adressant la parole comme a une tierce personne a quoy t'a servy d'estre si difficile au choix de tes amis si tu as si mal choisi un amant tu ne pouvois souffrir que quatre ou cinq personnes en toute la terre et de ces quatre ou cinq tu en as prefere une aux autres cependant c'est justement celle la qui te trahit et qui t'abandonne toy qui abandonnois tout le monde pour belesis tu avois mesme change ton humeur pour luy tu n'estois 
 plus ny fiere ny inegale et toutesfois il te quitte et te quitte lors que tu luy estois la plus favorable il faloit sans doute reprenoit elle le traitter comme on traitte certains esclaves qui ne servent bien que lors qu'on les traite mal ou pour mieux dire encore il ne faloit avoir ny bonte ny rigueur pour luy car pour nostre repos il faloir ne le voir du tour mais il n'est plus temps de raisonner la dessus puis qu'il n'est que trop vray que je l'ay veu que je l'ay estime et que je l'ay aime du moins adjoustoit elle scay-je bien que je ne le verray plus qu'une fois en particulier pour luy reprocher son infidelite et je scay bien encore que je ne l'estime plus mais apres tout poursuivit elle en soupirant je ne scay pas si je ne l'aime plus il me semble que j'ay plus de douleur et de colere que de haine et que j'ay quelque peine a m'empescher de souhaiter qu'il se repente le suis pourtant resolue quand mesme il se repentiroit de ne luy pardonner jamais et de me vanger sur luy et de son propre crime et de ma foiblesse apres cela cleodore m'a raconte qu'elle dit encore cent choses dont elle ne se souvenoit pas mesme precisement qu'elle forma cent resolutions contraires les unes aux autres et que tout ce quel amour la haine la colere et la jalousie peuvent inspirer de plus violent luy passa dant l'esprit elle fut mesme si long temps a s'entretenir que ses femmes furent contraintes de l'advertir qu'il estoit extraordinairement tard 
 et que si elle vouloit dormir devant qu'il fust jour il faloit qu'elle se couchast bientost cleodore voulant donc cacher ses chagrins reprit le portrait qu'elle avoit jette sur sa table avec tant de violence et se fut mettre au lict ou elle m'assura n'avoir jamais pu fermer les yeux de toute la nuit mais enfin apres avoir bien pense a ce qu'elle avoit a faire elle prit la resolution d'employer toute son adresse pour mettre belesis mal aveque leonise et pour faire en sorte que tisias l'epousast toutesfois comme elle ne pouvoit pas faire cette derniere chose toute seule et qu'elle avoit besoin du secours d'hermogene qui pouvoit aisement faire reussir ce dessein elle prit encore celuy de le souffrir et de se confier a luy de sa vangeance comme elle a l'ame fiere elle estoit dans une apprehension estrange que l'on ne pust remarquer a ses yeux qu'elle n'avoit point dormy et qu'elle avoit pleure de sorte que faisant un grand effort sur elle mesme des que le soleil parut elle renferma toutes ses larmes elle retint tous ses soupirs et tascha de remettre une tranquilite sur son visage qui n'estoit pas dans ton coeur elle voulut mesme ce jour la estre assez paree et plus qu'elle ne l'estoit le jour auparavant luy semblant qu'en faisant ce qu'elle avoit accoustume de faire quand elle estoit gaye qu'elle la paroistroit davantage apres donc qu'elle eut aporte tous ses soins a cacher sa melancolie elle passa de sa chambre a celle de leonise qui n'en estoit pas fort esloignee mais comme 
 cette belle fille ne s'estoit pas levee si matin que cleodore elle n'estoit pas encore habillee si bien que ne scachant pas d'ou venoit sa diligence au lieu de s'accuser de paresse elle luy fit la guerre de s'estre levee de si bonne heure luy en demandant la raison avec empressement car enfin luy dit elle je ne scay que penser de vous voir si matineuse et si paree quand vous auriez mesme dessein adjousta t'elle en riant de faire quelque nouvelle conqueste au temple et que vous seriez assez prophane pour en concevoir la pensee vous vous seriez encore levee trop tost puis que quand il seroit vray que vous auriez le taint aussi repose et les yeux aussi brillans que si vous aviez dormy dix heures du moins suis-je assuree que devant que nous allions au temple plus de la moitie des boucles de vos cheveux seront desja trop pendantes et trop negligees je vous assure luy repliqua cleodore avec un enjouement qui n'estoit pas trop naturel que pourveu que je vous plaise aujourd'huy je ne pleindray point la peine que j'ay eue a me coiffer et que je tiendray toute ma parure bien employee car pour des conquestes adjousta t'elle je vous jure ma chere parente que je ne songe point a en faire puis qu'au contraire si l'en avois fait je chercherois plustost a les perdre apres cela ces deux belles personnes se dirent encore plusieurs choses de pareille nature jusques a ce que leonise fut achevee d'habiller mais lors qu'elle le fut et que ses filles furent 
 entrees dans sa garderobe cleodore prenant un visage plus serieux et voulant luy faire une fausse confidence pour se vanger de belesis je suis bien fachee luy dit elle d'estre contrainte de vous donner une preuve de mon amitie qui ne vous sera pas agreable et d'estre obligee de vous reveler tout le secret de ma vie en un temps ou peut - estre vous ne m'en aurez pas d'obligation mais apres tout estant persuadee que je le dois je m'y resous sans repugnance vous supliant seulement de croire que je n'ay nulle intention de conserver ce que je vous conseilleray de perdre il y a tant d'obscurite pour moyen vos paroles reprit leonise que je n'y scaurois respondre a propos et tout ce que je vous puis dire est que j'ay toute la disposition que vous pouvez desirer que j'aye a expliquer favorablement tout ce que vous me direz et a reconnoistre comme il faut la confiance que vous aurez en moy cela estant reprit cleodore je vous advoueray donc quoy que je ne le puisse faire sans rougir que long temps devant que vous arrivassiez a suse belesis s'estoit attache a me voir et si je l'ose dire a m'aimer mais a m'aimer d'une maniere a faire un si grand esclat dans le monde que je fus contrainte pour empescher qu'il ne fist beaucoup de choses qui m'eussent pu nuire d'estre un peu moins severe que je ne l'eusse este sans cela je souffris donc qu'il me dist quelquesfois qu'il ne me haissoit pas afin qu'il ne l'allast pas dire aux 
 autres ainsi ayant beaucoup d'estime pour belesis et quelque legere reconnoissance de l'affection qu'il avoit pour moy je vescus aveques luy dans une assez grande confiance voila donc ma chere leonise l'estat ou estoient les choses lors que vous arrivastes icy mais comme l'amour est une passion difficile a cacher j'advoue que j'eus peur que vous ne vous aperceussiez de celle que belesis avoit pour moy car comme je ne vous avois point veue depuis l'age de cinq ou six ans on peut dire que je ne vous connoissois point de sorte que vos ne pouvez ce me semble pas raisonnablement vous offencer que je me defiasse de vous en ce temps la et puis a vous dire la verite comme vous n'aviez jamais este a la cour je pensois que vous expliqueriez les choses de cette nature fort criminellement et que vous ne scauriez peut-estre pas faire le discernement d'une passion innocente a une passion dereglee si bien que craignant estrangement que vous ne vinssiez a descouvrir l'intelligence qui estoit entre belesis et moy je luy declaray que je ne l'aimois pas assez pour m'exposer a ce malheur et que je voulois absolument qu'il ne me parlast jamais en particulier devant vous enfin j'en vins au point que je ne voulois quasi pas qu'il me regardast quand vous y estiez car comme j'avois aisement remarque que vous avez infiniment de l'esprit je vous aprehenday encore plus quand je vous connus que je ne vous craignois quand je ne vous connoissois 
 pas estant donc dans cette inquietude et n'ayant pas un attachement aussi fort pour belesis qu'il en avoit un pour moy je luy dis absolument que je ne voulois plus vivre dans l'aprehension ou je vivois ainsi me voyant presques determinee a rompre aveques luy plustost que de m'exposer a faire que vous sceussiez l'intelligence qui estoit entre nous il s'advisa de me proposer afin de me mettre l'esprit en repos et de vous empescher de descouvrir la verite de luy permettre de feindre d'estre amoureux de vous de sorte que ne vous aimant pas en ce temps la comme je vous aime aujourd'huy je consentis a ce qu'il voulut me semblant mesme que c'estoit donner quelque joye a une je une personne nouvelle venue que de luy donner lieu de croire qu'elle avoit gagne le coeur d'un aussi honneste homme que belesis je vous assure interrompit leonise en rougissant et sans avoir loisir de raisonner sur ce cleodore luy disoit voulant seulement nier qu'elle eust este trompee que belesis s'aquitta donc fort mal de sa commission car il ne m'a jamais dit qu'il m'aimast et je me suis toujours bien aperceue qu'il vous aimoit non non leonise reprit cleodore avec beaucoup de finesse ne me niez pas ce que je scay aussi bien que vous et pardonnez moy seulement le consentement que j'ay aporte a la fourbe que belesis vous a faite mais pour vous monstrer que je n'ay jamais eu intention qu'il poussast la chose aussi loin qu'elle a este il faut que vous vous 
 donniez la patience de m'escouter je vous diray donc qu'en consentant a ce qu'il me proposoit je luy declaray que je voulois qu'il se contentast de vous dire quelques galanteries ne voulant nullement qu'il allast vous engager a luy vouloir effectivement du bien parce qu'alors ce n'eust plus este une simple tromperie mais une horrible trahison dont je ne voulois pas estre capable il me promit donc ce que je voulus et depuis cela je me mit l'esprit en repos connoissant bien que vous croiyez qu'il avoit quelque affection pour vous et qu'ainsi vous ne soupconniez pas qu'il m'eust aimee ou que du moins si vous en soupconniez quelque chose vous croiyez qu'il ne m'aimoit plus au commencement je m'accoustumay a luy demander ce qu'il vous disoit et ce que vous luy respondiez mais a la fin je m'en lassay et ne m'en informay plus ayant remarque depuis cela qu'il vous parloit beaucoup davantage j'advoue ma chere leonise que vos yeux m'ont este redoutables et que j'ay eu peur que la feinte n'eust cesse d'estre feinte je me suis donc resolue d'en dire quelque chose a belesis qui m'a jure plus de mille fois n'avoir jamais eu un moment d'amour pour vous et pour me le prouver plus fortement il m'a non seulement offert de ne vous parler jamais mais il m'a remis entre les mains tout ce qu'il a eu de vous jusques a vostre portrait en disant cela cleodore le fit effectivement voir a leonise de vous representer 
 seigneur l'estonnement et le depit de cette belle fille il ne seroit pas aise car je luy ay ouy dire a elle mesme que de sa vie elle n'avoit eu l'esprit si trouble ha cleodore s'ecria leonise je n'ay jamais donne mon portrait a belesis je le veux croire reprit elle mais il n'a pas laisse de me le dire et ce qui fait que je vous crois d'autant plustost est que je ne luy avois pas donne le mien ii m'a pourtant dit reprit leonise en colere qu'il le tenoit de vostre main et non seulement il me l'a dit mais je pense mesme qu'il l'a dit a hermogene car je l'ay ouy dire a sa soeur quoy qu'il en soit dit cleodore j'ay cru que j'estois obligee de remedier au mal que j'avois fait et de vous detromper absolument mais pour vous faire voir luy dit elle qu'en vous descouvrant la verite je ne le fais pas par jalousie j'ay a vous dire que j'ay eu l'esprit si choque du procede de belesis que je me suis resolue de rompre aveque luy et d'autant plus que j'ay sceu par une autre voye qu'il a encore une intelligence secrette dans suse avec une personne de plus haute qualite c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez et que vous puissiez estre capable de croire les conseils d'une personne qui a consenty au commencement de la tromperie que l'on vous a faite vous vous detacherez de luy comme je m'en veux detacher et nous ne le verrons jamais je scay bien adjousta t'elle que si je regardois la chose comme je la pourrois regarder j'aurois lieu de me pleindre de vous puis 
 que par vos propres paroles vous dittes avoir creu que je ne haissois pas belesis et que cependant vous n'avez pas laisse de l'engager a vous aimer autant qu'il a este en vostre puissance mais comme j'ay fait la premiere faute je vous pardonne la seconde m'offrant mesme de vous vanger de belesis beaucoup mieux que vous ne vous en vangeriez sans moy leonise entendant parler cleodore comme elle faisoit ne scavoit que penser et n'avoit pas la force de douter de ses paroles tant elle trouvoit de vray semblance a tout ce qu'elle luy disoit de sorte que la colere d'avoir este trompee par belesis s'empara si puissamment de son esprit qu'elle n'en eut presques point pour cleodore et qu'elle luy pardonna sans peine en suitte dequoy la voulant irriter contre belesis elle luy raconta avec exageration tout ce qu'il luy avoit dit de plus passionne et de plus obligeant mais comme elle avoit trop de douleur pour avoir son jugement absolument libre en voulant irriter cleodore elle luy dit pourtant une chose qui pensa un peu l'adoucir car comme elle luy disoit combien elle avoit creu fortement que belesis l'aimoit je connois pourtant luy dit elle que j'avois tort de n'entrer pas en soupcon un jour que je le pressay de remettre entre mes mains vostre portrait et toutes les lettres qu'il avoit de vous mais le meschant qu'il est adjousta t'elle me fit passer le refus qu'il m'en fit pour un effet de sa discretion et de sa vertu et je luy en sceus si bon gre 
 que le luy accorday plus de graces ce jour la qu'il n'en avoit eu de puis que je le connoissois
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur comment la pauvre leonise seconda admirablement le dessein qu'avoit cleodore de se vanger de belesis elle ne fut pourtant pas marrie qu'il eust eu ce respect la pour elle de ne donner pas ses lettres a leonise mais il estoit si criminel d'ailleurs que cela ne la fit pas changer d'avis et elle le regarda comme un homme qui naturellement estoit discret mais qui ne faisoit pas d'estre inconstant elle se mit donc a flatter leonise et a la confirmer puissamment dans le dessein de bannir belesis cherchant ensemble quel pretexte elles pourroient trouver pour faire que leur tante ne le trouvast pas mauvais cependant comme leonise ne se sentit pas l'ame assez ferme pour dissimuler bien sa douleur ce jour la elle pria cleodore de dire qu'elle se trouvoit mal et qu'on ne la voyoit point et en effet elle se mit au lict afin de pouvoir peut-estre cacher quelques larmes qu'elle n'eust pu retenir apres quoy cleodore s'en alla au temple attendant l'apres-disnee avec beaucoup d'impatience car elle s'imagina bien que belesis ne manqueroit pas d'aller luy faire une visite a sa chambre scachant ce qu'elle luy avoit dit il n'y fut pourtant pas d'aussi bonne heure qu'elle l'avoit espere car il aprehendoit tellement qu'elle n'eust veu le portrait de leonise qu'il fut tres long temps sans pouvoir se resoudre 
 a voir cleodore mais enfin voyant que quand il auroit bien differe il faudroit tousjours la voir il y fut mais il y fut avec des sentimens que luy mesme ne connoissoit pas car bien qu'il souhaitast ardemment qu'hermogene ne fust point aime de cleodore il ne laissoit pourtant pas d'estre toujours aussi amoureux de leonise qu'il l'avoit jamais este quoy qu'il eust pourtant conserve beaucoup de respect pour cleodore mais encore qu'il sentist qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher de la craindre il s'imagina toutesfois qu'il n'aprehendoit qu'elle sceust la trahison qu'il luy faisoit que par un sentiment d'amour estant donc assez inquiet et craignant mesme que leonise ne trouvast mauvais qu'il eust tant entretenu cleodore le jour auparavant et qu'il allast encore a sa chambre devant que d'aller a la sienne il partit de chez luy fort resveur et arriva fort melancolique chez cleodore pour elle comme elle esperoit que leonise sans en avoir le dessein la vangeroit de belesis elle avoit quelque joye sur le visage ce qui le rassura extremement croyant que si cleodore eust veu le portrait de leonise elle ne luy eust pas paru aussi tranquile qu'il la voyoit et bien madame luy dit il n'avez vous pas trouve que vous estes plus belle que vostre portrait vostre miroir ne vous a t'il pas convaincue d'erreur et n'estes vous pas dans l'opinion ou je suis que vous estes mille fois plus aimable que vostre peinture je ne scay pas luy 
 elle si vous avez tort ou si vous avez raison de dire ce que vous dittes mais du moins scay-je bien qu'il y a un portrait dans la boiste que je vous ay prise que vous trouvez plus beau que le mien et plus beau que moy en disant cela cleodore rougit de colere et belesis paslit de crainte et d estonnement n'ayant pas seulement la force d'ouvrir la bouche car encore qu'en allant chez cleodore il eust songe a ce qu'il diroit si par malheur elle avoit veu le portrait de leonise il ne trouva pourtant rien a dire de sorte que cleodore voyant qu'il ne parloit pas vous avez raison belesis luy dit elle vous avez raison de n'entreprendre pas de vous excuser car vous le feriez si mal que vous ne feriez qu'augmenter ma colere si toutesfois quelque chose la peut augmenter je scay bien madame luy dit il alors que vous avez lieu de me croire bien criminel puis que vous avez veu le portrait de leonise et je scay encore de plus interrompit elle que vous ne me persuaderez jamais le contraire car enfin pour vous espargner la peine de me dire de mauvaises raisons et d'inventer cent mensonges je scay tout ce qui s'est passe entre leonise et vous vous ne luy avez pas dit une parole que je ne scache soit par elle ou par quelque confidente qui la trahie et j'ay pour mon malheur dans ma memoire tout ce que vous avez fait contre moy jugez apres cela quels sentimens je dois avoir pour 
 vous et si je ne dois pas vous mepriser jusques au point de ne pouvoir seulement vous hair l'advoue toutesfois adjousta t'elle que je n'en suis pas encore la car il est vray que je vous hais horriblement non seulement parce que l'inconstance est une foiblesse indigne d'un esprit raisonnable et d'un homme genereux mais encore parce que vous avez voulu cacher cette inconstance en feignant d'estre jaloux et que vous m'avez voulu noircir injustement de vostre crime mais madame luy dit il pourquoy durant si long temps m'avez vous traitte si cruellement et pourquoy m'avez vous rendu si malheureux que j'aye este contraint d'essayer de vous donner de la jalousie et de feindre mesme d'en avoir pous vous afin de tascher de vous donner de l'amour non non belesis luy dit elle ne deguisez pas les choses vous avez aime leonise et nous n'avez point creu que j'aimasse hermogene je ne scay dit il si je l'ay creu mais je scay bien que je le crains estrangement et qu'il n'est rien que je ne fasse pour l'empescher d'estre bien aveque vous ce que vous me dittes est si extravagant repliqua cleodore en colere que je ne comprens pas que je puisse avoir la patience de souffrir que vous soyez encore un moment aupres de moy mais comme c'est icy la derniere fois de ma vie que je vous parleray je seray bien aise de scavoir par quels motifs vous avez change de sentimens car devant que leonise fust a suse vous y aviez veu nulle personnes 
 plus belles que moy et plus belles que leonise cependant vous ne m'aviez pas quittee pour elles ce ne sont pas aussi mes rigueurs qui ont lasse vostre patience puis que tant que j'ay elle rigoureuse vous m'avez aimee et que quand j'ay commence de l'estre moins vous avez change de sentimens ce n'ont pas este non plus mes faveurs qui ont detruit vostre amour car graces aux dieux je ne vous en ay pas accable quelle est donc la cause de vostre inconstance suis-je plus stupide que je n'estois ou d humeur plus inegale au contraire j'ay a me reprocher de m'estre changee pour l'amour de vous parlez donc belesis mais parlez moy comme si je n'estois point cleodore et dittes moy precisement comment leonise m'a chassee de vostre coeur car je seray bien aise de scavoir si j'en suis sortie de vostre gre ou aveque violence si c'a este par vostre propre foiblesse ou par ma faute belesis se trouvant si presse par cleodore ne scavoit pas trop bien que luy respondre car il avoit tant de honte de son inconstance qu'il ne pouvoit resoudre a l'advouer d'autre par il voyoit bien qu'il ne la pouvoit nier et il jugeoit encore que quand il feroit semblant de s'en repentir et que cleodore luy voudroit pardonner ce ne seroit qu'a condition d abandonner leonise ce qu'il ne pouvoit pas faire de sorte que ne scachant que resoudre il respondit si ambigument a cleodore qu'elle s'en facha presques autant que de son 
 inconstance car enfin luy dit elle apres qu'il eut cesse de parler la sincerite est une chose que tout le monde peut avoir le veux bien croire poursuivit cleodore que vous ne pouvez plus m'aimer et que vous ne pouvez pas aussi n'aimer plus leonise mais vous pouvez du moins m'advouer la verite et de n'adjouster pas la fourbe a la foiblesse que voulez vous que je vous die repliqua belesis si je ne scay pas presentement ce que je pense l'advoue poursuivit il que je vous ay plus aimee que je ne vous aime mais vous en avez este cause puis que dans le plus fort de ma passion vous avez mis ma patience a des epreuves si rudes que tout autre que moy vous auroit haie de sorte interrompit brusquement cleodore que selon vous je vous suis encore obligee de ce que vous n'avez simplement fait que passer de l'amour a l'indifference mais scachez foible et inconstant que vous estes que l'indifference est quelque chose de plus offencant que la haine parmy les personnes qui ont l'ame tendre et qu'ainsi je vous dois plus hair de ce que vous ne me haissez pas que si vous me haissiez mais madame reprit belesis vous voulez que je sois sincere et cependant ma sincerite ne fait que vous irriter davantage ne laissez pourtant pas d'en avoir repliqua t'elle car je seray tousjours bien aise d'aprendre quelque chose qui ne vous soit pas avantageux vous aprendrez donc luy dit il que je ne scaurois vous obeir ny me resoudre 
 a vous redire tout ce qui s'est passe dans mon ame et tout ce que je puis presentement est de vous assurer que je n'ay jamais perdu le respect que je vous dois ny dit une parole contre vous a leonise je luy ay mesme refuse vostre portrait c'est pourquoy je vous conjure d'avoir la generosite de ne vouloir pas mal user du sien je vous entens bien luy dit elle vous voulez que je vous le rende mais comme il vous sera plus agreable de le recevoir des mains de leonise que des miennes je le luy rendray afin quelle vous le redonne une seconde fois eh de grace madame luy dit il ne donnez pas un si sensible deplaisir a une personne qui n'est pas coupable car presupose que je sois un inconstant qui ne vous aime plus et qui vous a trahie leonise n'auroit tousjours autre part a mon crime que de s'estre laisse voir quoy qu'il en soit dit cleodore ta chose ira comme je le dis je voy bien reprit il que vous ne cherchez qu'un pretexte a me rendre de mauvais offices aupres de leonise mais madame quoy que vous croiyez que je ne vous aime plus je ne laisse pas de m'interesser encore assez en tout ce qui vous touche pour m'apercevoir que vous estes ravie de joye de pouvoir m'accuser d'inconstance de peur que je ne vous die qu'hermogene vous a rendue infidelle je ne vous conseille pas luy dit elle de vous servir d'une si mauvaise finesse car elle vous seroit inutile cependant puis que vous ne voulez pas que je scache vos veritables 
 sentimens il faut que je vous die les miens scachez donc qu'on ne peut pas avoir plus d'horreur que l'en ay pour vostre inconstance ny moins de regret d'avoir perdu ce qui estoit si aise a perdre apres cela allez vous en chercher quelque consolation aupres de leonise de ce que vous avez este une nuit sans sa peinture aussi bien elle se trouve mal et a ordonne de dire qu'on ne la voit pas aujourd'huy mais comme je pense que vous avez quelque privilege particulier aupres d'elle il pourra estre que vous la verrez cependant preparez vous s'il vous plaist a la voir ailleurs qu'en ma prensence car j'ay assez de credit aupres de ma tante et assez d'adresse pour faire que vous n'ayes plus la liberte de venir dans sa maison c'est sans doute reprit belesis sans scavoir presques ce qu'il disoit que vous voulez voir hermogene plus commodement c'est assurement dit elle que je ne veux plus voir belesis ny inconstant ny assez hardy pour me dire des choses qu'il ne devroit pas mesme penser au reste ne jugez pas s'il vous plaist de ma colere par le peu d'aigreur que vous trouvez en mes paroles car si je suivois mon inclination je vous dirois les choses du monde les plus estranges mais comme vous pourriez vous imaginer que la grandeur de ma colere seroit une marque de la grandeur de l'affection que j'ay eue ou que j'aurois encore pour vous je veux vous faire voir qu'ayant assez de pouvoir sur moy pour 
 estre maistresse absolue d'une passion qui a accoustume d'estre fort difficile a retenir dans les bornes de la raison je scaurois facilement en vaincre une autre plus douce quand j'en aurois este capable belesis voulut encore dire quelque chose du portrait de leonise et d'hermogene aussi mais a la fin la patience de cleodore s'eschapa et il falut qu'il s'en allast il ne fut pas plustost sorty de la chambre de cleodore qu'il fut pour chercher quelque consolation a celle de leonise voulant aussi la prevenir de peur que cleodore ne luy rendist quelque mauvais office mais comme il arriva a deux pas de la porte une fille qui estoit a elle luy dit qu'on ne voyoit point sa maistresse toutesfois comme il y avoit long temps qu'il avoit aporte soin a se la rendre favorable il fit si bien qu'il luy persuada de laisser la porte ouverte afin qu'il pust dire estre entre sans avoir parle a personne et qu'ainsi elle en fust quitte a meilleur marche et en effet cette fille rentrant dans la chambre de leonise par une porte degagee fit ce que belesis souhaitoit de sorte qu'estant alle un moment apres cette fille et estant entre sans resistance il fut au chevet du lict de leonise sans que deux ou trois femmes qui estoient a un coste de la chambre a parler bas ensemble y prissent garde et ce fut celle qui luy avoit ouvert la porte qui courut a luy faisant semblant qu'elle estoit bien fachee qu'il fust entre et en demandant mesme pardon a sa maistresse 
 qui en effet en sur en colere aussi voulut elle d'abord l'obliger a sortir de sa chambre mais comme il s'obstina a ne le vouloir pas faire et que leonise eut peur que les femmes qui estoient aupres d'elle ne tirassent quelque consequence de cette contestation et que de plus elle avoit une extreme envie de faire des reproches a belesis elle souffrit enfin qu'il demeurait et qu'il luy fist une visite une fut pas plustost assis qu'il luy demanda pourquoy elle avoit voulu le chasser si cruellement en un temps ou il avoit tant de besoin d'estre console mais leonise prenant la parole avec precipitation c'est luy dit elle qu'ayant resolu de vous chasser de mon coeur j'ay voulu des aujourd'huy commencer a vous chasser de ma chambre madame luy dit il je voy bien que cleodore vous a preoccupee a mon prejudice ha belesis repliqua t'elle vous voyez bien que celle que vous nommez se repentant du consentement qu'elle avoit aporte a vostre fourbe me l'a enfin decouverte belesis forte estonne d'entendre parler leonise ne scavoit que penser de ce qu'elle luy disoit car il ne scavoit que trop que c'estoit cleodore qu'il avoit trompee et qu'il n'avoit jamais trompe leonise il la pria donc de vouloir luy dire dequoy elle l'accusoit de sorte que leonise toute douce qu'elle estoit si irritee de cette demande qu'elle luy dit cent choses facheuses luy faisant pourtant entendre le crime qu'elle croyoit qu'il eust commis belesis voulut alors se justifier mais elle ne put souffrir 
 qu'il parlast non non luy dit elle vous estes coupable et plus coupable qu'on ne scauroit se l'imaginer car enfin pourquoy aller remettre mon portrait entre les mains de cleodore vous qui m'aviez refuse le sien n'estoit-ce pas assez que vous feignissiez de m'aimer pour la satisfaire et pour cacher la passion que vous aviez et que vous avez encore pour elle sans triompher de mon innocence et de ma credulite en remettant dans ses mains un portrait que je ne vous ay pas mesme donne et que je n'ay fait simplement que consentir que vous gardassiez parce que vous aviez eu la discretion de ne me donner pas celuy de cleodore quoy madame interrompit il vous croyez que j'ay donne volontairement vostre portrait a cleodore il faut bien que je le croye dit elle car elle ne peut pas vous l'avoir pris aveque violence belesis se mit alors a conjurer leonise de souffrir qu'il se justifiast mais elle luy respondit qu'elle croiroit plustost ses yeux que ses paroles et quoy qu'il pust dire il ne put jamais obtenir la permission de parler car leonise avoit un si sensible depit contre luy de ce qu'elle croyoit qu'il avoit feint de l'aimer qu'elle ne pouvoit souffrir qu'il se voulust justifier il auroit pourtant a la fin lasse son obstination et obtenu la liberte de dire ce qu'il eust voulu n'eust este que la tante de leonise entra qui ayant sceu qu'elle ne vouloit voir personne venoit s'informer elle mesme quelle estoit son incommodite mais elle fut bien surprise 
 de voir belesis aupres d'elle c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je pensois dit elle a leonise vous trouver fort mal mais au lieu de cela je vous trouve en fort bonne compagnie quoy qu'elle ne soit pas grande je vous au lire repliqua t'elle un peu interdite que je ne m'en porte pas mieux et vous me serez le plus grand plaisir du monde si vous pouvez obliger belesis qui est entre sans permission a me laisser en repos et en solitude qui est un assez grand remede pour la douleur que je sens cette dame l'entendant parler ainsi et voyant qu'elle avoit les yeux fort gros et le visage fort rouge creut aisement qu'elle avoit mal a la teste de sorte que presentant la main a belesis elle l'obligea de la suivre luy disant en riant qu'elle vouloit luy aprendre une chose qu'il ne scavoit peut-estre pas qui estoit de ne voir jamais les dames qu'aux heures ou elles veulent estre veues car enfin luy die elle je suis la plus trompee du monde si leonise vous pardonne de long temps de l'avoir veue negligee du moins scay-je bien que la rougeur que j'ay remarquee sur son visage estoit assurement un peu meslee de colere belesis fit alors cent excuses a cette dame voulant du moins estre bien avec celle qui estoit en pouvoir de le recevoir chez elle ou de l'en chasser mais comme il avoit l'esprit estrangement inquiet il ne luy respondit pas long temps de suitte et il s'egara quelquefois si fort que croyant que c'estoit qu'il s'ennuyast avec elle et qu'il ne peust 
 souffrir que les jeunes personnes elle s'en facha et luy dit mesme quelque raillerie piquante sur cela si bien que le pauvre belesis sortit de cette maison mal avec toutes celles qui l'habitoient et si mal avec luy mesme qu'il se pleignoit encore plus de luy que des autres il s'accusoit quelquesfois d'estre inconstant et se repentoit d'avoir quitte cleodore mais il n'avoit pas plustost eu ce sentiment la qu'il l'abandonnoit et se vouloit mal de ce qu'il conservoit encore tant de respect pour elle apres cela il se pleignoit de la facilite que leonise avoit eue a la croire en suitte il accusoit cleodore de son ancienne inegalite et n'epargnoit pas mesme hermogene il n'avoit pourtant pas de preuves convainquantes contre luy au contraire il pensoit que le portrait de leonise estoit ce qui avoit fait descouvrir la verite a cleodore qui de son coste n'estoit pas sans inquietude le desir de se vanger occupoit pourtant si fort son ame qu'elle ne sentoit presques pas la perte de belesis aussi fut-ce par ce sentiment la qu'elle receut hermogene avec une civilite extraordinaire pendant que belesis estoit aveque leonise d'abord qu'elle le vit elle le remercia de luy avoir fait descouvrir la fourbe de son amy elle l'apella son liberateur et luy dit enfin tant de choses obligeantes que s'il eust eu moins d'esprit qu'il n'en avoit et qu'il eust este moins amoureux qu'il n'estoit il s'en seroit tenu fort oblige mais parce que tout ce que 
 cleodore luy disoit estoit une marque de l'affection qu'elle avoit pour belesis quoy qu'elle parust fort irritee contre luy il ne s'en pouvoit resjouir neantmoins elle luy dit tant de fois qu'elle n'oublieroit jamais le service qu'il luy avoit rendu qu'a la fin il espera qu'il pourroit tirer quelque avantage de ce qu'il luy avoit descouvert l'inconstance de son amy mais comme il luy voyoit l'esprit fort agite il n'osoit presques la presser de luy donner dans son coeur la place que belesis meritoit de perdre et il escoutoit toutes les exagerations qu'elle lay faisoit de la perfidie de belesis sans luy parler de sa passion que des yeux seulement apres qu'elle luy eut donc raconte comment elle avoit eu le portrait de leonise et le sien et qu'elle luy eut apris tout ce qu'elle avoit dit a belesis mais hermogene adjousta t'elle ce n'est pas assez de m'avoir revele son crime il faut encore que vous m'aidiez a le punir pourveu que ce ne soit qu'en me donnant une partie des biens dont vous l'aviez enrichy repliqua t'il je suis tout prest d'aider a vostre vangeance et de les deffendre apres cela contre toute la terre il paroist assez reprit elle que ces biens dont vous parlez n'estoient pas fort precieux puis que belesis ne s'est pas soucie de les perdre mais hermogene il n'est pas temps de me dire une pareille chose puis que je n'ay pas besoin d'augmentation de malheurs c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire sincerement si vous ne 
 voulez pas m'aider a me vanger de belesis car sans cela je pense que l'oublieray le service que vous m'avez rendu en me descouvrant son crime du moins madame reprit il dittes moy quelle espece de vangeance vous en voulez tirer auparavant que je vous promette rien ce n'est pas que le croye que je vous puisse rien refuser ny que je vous soupconne d'estre capable de vouloir m'obliger a faire une chose qui fust indigne d'un homme d'honneur mais j'advoue que j'ay fait un si grand mal a belesis quoy qu'il ne le connoisse pas pour tel de luy oster vostre estime et vostre affection en vous aprenant son inconstance que je ne seray pas marry de scavoir ce que vous voulez que je face je veux luy dit elle que par le credit que je scay que vous avez et aupres du prince de suse et aupres des amis de tisias vous faciez en sorte que ce dernier espouse leonise vous scavez qu'il en a envie et qu'il n'y a que quelques considerations de cabale et de famille qui l'empeschent de pousser la chose plus loin c' est pourquoy comme je scay que si vous le voulez vous pouvez surmonter tous ces obstacles je vous conjure de le vouloir faire car pour leonise je suis assuree qu'en l'humeur ou elle est presentement et ou je l'entretiendray autant que je pourray elle epousera qui on voudra je voudrois donc bien madame reprit hermogene que le depit eust mis dans vostre ame une aussi favorable disposition a recevoir mes services je 
 recevray fort agreablement repliqua t'elle celuy que je vous demande mais madame respondit il je voy bien que vous songez admirablement a vous vanger et que vous ne le pouvez jamais mieux faire qu'en ostant leonise a belesis mais je ne voy pas que vous songiez a l'interest que je puis avoir a cette vangeance ne considerez vous point divine cleodore adjousta t'il qu'en mettant leonise en estat de ne pouvoir jamais estre a belesis je mettrois peut-estre belesis en estat de revenir a cleodore ha quand cela seroit interrompit elle il y reviendroit inutilement de plus madame poursuivit hermogene j'ay encore a vous dire que l'amour que j'ay pour vous m'aprend si parfaitement quelle doit estre la douleur d'un homme a qui on oste l'esperance de posseder sa maistresse que quelque passion que j'aye de vous plaire je sens une repugnance horrible a vous obeir c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de vouloir punir belesis par une autre voye comme il n'est pas mon rival puis qu'il ne vous aime plus j'advoue que je ne puis pas cesser de le regarder encore comme mon amy ce n'est pas qu'il ne m'ait refuse certaines choses qui m'ont irrite contre luy mais apres tout je ne luy puis faire cette trahison je scay bien que je vous ay revele son crime mais c'a este parce que je ne luy ostois pas une personne dont il souhaitast la possession puis qu'il cherchoit celle d'une autre ainsi madame encore une fois ayez la bonte de ne 
 m'obliger pas a faire une chose que vous mesme me pourriez un jour reprocher quand vostre colere seroit passee et que vostre raison seroit plus libre vangez vous de belesis en l oubliant ou si vous ne pouvez l'oublier ne vous en souvenez du moins que pour le hair et pour detester son inconstance et si vous voulez mesme le punir encore davantage rendez moy si heureux que ma felicite luy face envie en luy faisant connoistre qu'il a quitte des diamants pour du verre en abandonnant cleodore pour leonise non non hermogene reprit elle je ne scaurois estre capable de cette generosite que vous me voulez persuader d'avoir et qui n'est peut-estre dans vostre coeur que parce qu'il y a peu de disposition a m'obliger ha madame interrompit hermogene vous me connoissez mal si vous croyez que ce soit par deffaut d'affection que je parle comme je fais vous me connoissez encore plus mal que je ne vous connois repliqua t'elle si vous croyez que je puisse garder quelque mesure en ma vangeance et que je puisse trouver que vous ayez raison de ne m'y vouloir pas servir car enfin dit elle il n'y a point a balancer il faut que vous m'aidiez a faire ecouser tisias a leonise ou qu'hermogene ne voye jamais cleodore eh de grace madame luy dit il ayez quelque soin de mon honneur et ne me forcez pas a faire une chose qui me rendra criminel aux yeux toute la cour je ne pretens pas repliqua t'elle que vous alliez ouvertement parler 
 du mariage de tisias et de leonise mais je veux que vous fassiez la chose avec adresse et mesme fort secrettement enfin madame luy dit il puis que vous me pressez de vous dire tout ce que je pense la dessus il faut que je vous declare que je ne vous refuse pas seulement par generosite mais encore par amour car madame quelque haine que vous ayez pour belesis et quelque passion qu'il ait pour leonise je ne seray pourtant jamais en repos que je ne voye une impossibilite absolue que vous puissiez vous remettre bien ensemble jugez apres cela madame si c'est par deffaut d'affection que je m'oppose a ce que vous desirez de moy quoy qu'il en soit reprit elle vous me refusez et vous me refusez la chose du monde que je souhaite le plus mais apres tout comme je n'ay pas droit de forcer les volontez je vous dispense de m'obeir et je le fais d'autant plustost que je viens d'imaginer une voye de faire reussir mon dessein sans que vous vous en mesliez n'estant pas mesme marrie de ne vous avoir pas une obligation si sensible car je ne scay comment j'aurois pu la reconnoistre a ces paroles hermogene croyant que cleodore estoit irritee contre luy se mit a luy dire cent choses infiniment touchantes luy protestant que quoy qu'il luy eust dit si elle le vouloit absolument il ne laisseroit pas de luy obeir de sorte que cleodore qui n'avoit parle comme elle avoit fait que pour piquer hermogene le prit au mot a 
 l'heure mesme mais madame luy dit il afin que du moins j'aye quelque puissante excuse a donner a ceux qui scauront mon crime que me faites vous esperer si je fais ce que vous voulez presques toutes choses reprit elle car je vous advoue que si je puis oster leonise a belesis j'auray une joye que je ne vous puis exprimer et par consequent une reconnoissance pour vous qui ne donnera gueres de bornes a vos esperances pourveu qu'elles ne soient pas injustes puis que vous me parlez avec tant de bonte repliqua hermogene souffrez donc madame que je vous conjure de m'assurer afin de me mettre l'esprit en repos que si l'oste leonise a belesis vous donnerez cleodore a hermogene non non luy dit elle je ne capitule point avec ceux que je veux qui me rendent office et je ne scay comment vous pouvez avoir la hardiesse de me dire une semblable chose mais madame respondit il comment pouvez vous concevoir qu'estant aussi amoureux de vous que je le suis je puisse estre capable d'aller empescher belesis d'espouser leonise moy dis-je qui dois souhaiter ardemment ce mariage et comment pouvez vous vous imaginer que je ne craigne pas que vous ayez un dessein cache si vous ne vous engagez a rien je veux mesme adjousta t'il que vous n'en ayez point presentement mais apres tout puis que vous n'avez pas hai belesis tant qu'il sera libre je dois tout craindre car comme il y a tant de raisons qui veulent 
 qu'il se repente je suis assure que vous ne scauriez respondre de vous s'il se repentoit effectivement c'est pourquoy madame ne trouvez s'il vous plaist pas mauvais si je ne me resous pas facilement a rompre un mariage qui pourroit causer le vostre avec belesis enfin luy dit elle hermogene je voy bien que vous ne voulez pas me rendre l'office que je veux de vous et que pour me desobliger moins vous feignez que ce soit par un sentiment d'amour quoy qu'en effet ce ne soit que par generosite seulement je ne veux pas vous blasmer de ce que vous faites car je n'ay pas encore absolu ment perdu la raison mais aussi n'ay-je pas lieu de m'en louer puis que comme je l'ay de-ja dit vous me refusez ce que je vous demande et me refusez mesme la chose du monde que je desire le plus cependant puis que vous ne me pouvez servir qu'a une condition ou je ne puis pas m'engager faites s'il vous plaist que la mesme generosite qui fait que vous ne voulez pas trahir vostre amy vous empesche aussi de trahir une personne qui vous a confie son secret et sa vangeance hermogene voyant que cleodore ne vouloit pas luy promettre ce qu'il souhaitoit creut effectivement qu'elle ne vouloit faire marier leonise a tisias qu'afin que belesis perdant tout a fait l'esperance de la posseder revinst plus tost a elle de sorte que se determinant a ne faire point ce qu'il croyoit estre si nuisible et a son honneur et a son amour il dit encore cent choses a 
 cleodore pour s'excuser de ce qu'il la refusoit et il les luy dit d'une facon si touchante qu'elle connut parfaitement qu'hermogene n'avoit pas moins d'amour que de vertu de sorte qu'ils ne se separerent pas fort mal hermogene imagina mesme une chose qui luy fut avantageuse car comme il vit que cleodore ne tesmoignoit avoir dans l'esprit que des sentimens de vangeance pour belesis il luy fit scavoir adroitement que bien que sa jalousie eust este feinte il estoit pourtant vray qu'il ne pouvoit recevoir un plus sensible depit qu'en aprenant qu'il la voyoit et qu'il n'en estoit pas meprise il est vray qu'il dit cela avec beaucoup d'art par la crainte qu'il avoit que cleodore n'attribuast ce sentiment la a jalousie et a un reste d'amour aussi choisit il si bien toutes les paroles dont il se servit pour s'exprimer que cleodore appella cent et cent fois belesis bizarre aussi bien qu'inconstant de sorte que comme en l'humeur ou elle estoit elle ne pouvoit negliger les plus petites choses qui pouvoient deplaire a belesis elle prit la resolution de parler beaucoup plus souvent a hermogene qu'elle n'avoit accoustume et de le traitter incomparablement mieux cependant comme elle avoit un amy assez puissant sur l'esprit du prince de suse et sur celuy de tisias elle prie enfin le dessein de s'en servir quoy que d'abord elle eust eu quelque repugnance a se confier a une personne qui ne scavoit rien de ses affaires mais comme 
 la vangeance ne trouve point d'obstacles qu'elle ne surmonte elle chercha a parler a celuy qui luy pouvoit rendre l'office qu'elle souhaitoit et mena la chose avec tant de finesse que sans que le prince de suse ny tisias creussent estre portez par autruy a ce mariage ils vinrent a le souhaiter ardemment le premier par certains interests d'estat qu'on luy avoit fait trouver a cette alliance et l'autre parce que luy ayant oste les obstacles qui s'opposoient a son amour il estoit tout dispose a espouser leonise pour elle comme elle estoit rebutee de la tromperie qu'elle croyoit que belesis luy eust faite elle tournoit son coeur du coste de l'ambition et souhaitoit autant alors que tisias l'epousast qu'elle l'avoit aprehende quelques jours auparavant il est vray que les conseils de cleodore servoient beaucoup a cela et elle la croyoit d'autant plustost qu'elle la voyoit resolue a ne voir jamais belesis et qu'elle s'apercevoit bien qu'elle traitoit beaucoup mieux hermogene de sorte que la croyant absolument desinteressee elle agissoit comme elle vouloit si bien que quand le pauvre belesis voulut aller voir leonise il se trouva fort embarrasse car comme il importoit extremement a cleodore qu'il ne parlast pas a leonise en particulier et que leonise aussi croyant belesis amoureux de sa parente n'estoit pas trop marrie qu'il ne luy parlast point elles s'estoient promis de ne se quitter point du tout jusques a ce que le mariage de tisias que l'on 
 tramoit se crettement mesme du consentement de leonise fust acheve ains lors que belesis voulut chercher quelque occasion de se justifier aupres de leonise et d'apaiser cleodore il les vit tousjours l'une aupres de l'autre sans leur pouvoir non seulement parler se parement mais mesme sans leurs pouvoir parler parce que si elles estoient sans compagnie etrangere elles s'entretenoient bas et le laissoient avec leur tante mais ce qui l'affligeoit encore plus estoit que pour l'ordinaire tisias parloit a leonise et hermogene a cleodore enfin seigneur le pauvre belesis en vint au point qu'il ne suportoit guere moins impatiemment que cleodore parlast civilement a hermogene que de voir que leonise luy parloit point ou ne luy parloit qu'a mots interrompus et encore avec colere si bien que quand il eust aime egallement cleodore et leonise il n'eust pu faire que ce qu'il faisoit aussi crois-je a vous parler sincerement que l'amour d'hermogene pour cleodore ralluma des lors dans son coeur quelque estincelle de sa premiere flame quoy qu'il ne le creust pas mais il seroit impossible que la chose fust autrement veu tout ce que je luy vis faire et tout ce que je luy entendis dire il en vint mesme au point de hair presques son amy il est vray qu'ils ne se voyoient gueres si ce n'estoit chez la tante de cleodore ou belesis ne se pouvoit empescher d'aller et ou il n'alloit pourtant jamais sans recevoir un nouveau deplaisir car comme leonise 
 croyoit en avoir este trompee elle vint a le hair et comme cleodore voyoit qu'en favorisant hermogene elle luy faisoit depit elle affectoit des qu'il entroit de redoubler sa civilite pour hermogene en attendant que sa grande vangeance esclatast tout d'un coup la chose prit mesme un si mauvais biais que deux ou trois sois belesis et hermogene penserent se quereller et si je ne m'y fusse trouve un jour il en seroit sans doute arrive quelque malheur mais ce qui nuisit a belesis servit beaucoup a avancer le dessein d'hermogene car cleodore jugeant combien belesis seroit irrite si elle espousoit hermogene puis qu'il l'estoit tant de la civilite qu'elle avoit pour luy souffrir en effet qu'il la fist demander secrettement a ses parens afin que le mariage de leonise et le sien se publiassent en mesme temps imaginant un plaisir extreme a l'accabler de tant de choses facheuses a la fois et en effet on les trama si secrettement et on les avanca de telle sorte en peu de jours que tous les parens estant d'accord et la chose paroissant indubitable tisias et hermogene furent un peu plus favorisez de sorte qu'hermogene ayant trouve un jour le portrait que cleodore avoit donne a belesis et qu'elle luy avoit oste il le prit et elle le luy laissa car pour celuy de leonise elle l'avoit oste de la boiste et le luy avoit rendu ainsi hermogene fut enrichy des pertes de son amy ce n'est pas que cleodore aimast hermogene mais la vangeance 
 occupoit si fort son esprit qu'elle ne faisoit reflexion qu'a ce qui la pouvoit haster pendant que toutes ces choses se passoient belesis menoit la plus malheureuse vie du monde car son ame estoit en telle assiette qu'il ne pensoit guere moins a cleodore qu'a leonise et qu'il haissoit autant hermogene que tisias au commencement ses desirs estoient pourtant differens pour ces deux belles personnes car il souhaitoit posseder leonise et desiroit seulement qu'hermogene ne possedast point cleodore mais a mesure que cleodore favorisoit hermogene les sentimens de belesis devenoient plus tendres pour elle la honte qu'il eut de son inconstance s'augmenta sans que la passion qu'il avoit pour leonise diminuast si bien qu'il estoit le plus malheureux des hommes
 
 
 
 
les choses estant donc en ces termes il en aprit deux qui luy donnerent une merveilleuse douleur l'une fut qu'hermogene avoit le portrait qui avoit este a luy et l'autre fut que le prince de suse tramoit le mariage de tisias avec leonise et qu'enfin c'estoit une chose resolue et qui alloit esclatter dans deux jours je ne vous rediray point tous ses transports car mon recit n'est desja que trop long joint aussi que vous les connoistrez assez par ce qu'il fit sans qu'il soit besoin de vous faire scavoir ce qu'il pensa et ce qu'il dit en cette rencontre je vous diray donc qu'apres avoir senty ces deux choses avec des douleurs extremes comme le mariage de tisias 
 estoit le plus presse et qu'alors la passion de leonise estoit encore la passion dominante dans son coeur il resolut de quereller tisias sur quelque autre pretexte devant que l'affaire esclattast afin que le prince de suse n'eust pas lieu de prendre part a cette action et de l'accuser de luy avoir manque de respect si bien qu'estant alle le joindre un matin au temple comme si c'eust este sans dessein il en sortit aveque luy l'engageant en une conversation de nouvelles de guerre et contestant opiniastrement tout ce que tisias luy disoit car son dessein estoit d'obliger tisias a le quereller parce que connoissant l'humeur violente du prince de suse il aprehendoit d'estre banny s'il paroissoit que ce fust luy qui eust attaque un homme qu'il aimoit mais comme tisias avoit plus de coeur que d'esprit il fut assez long temps sans s'apercevoir qu'il se devoit facher neantmoins a la fin belesis poussa la chose si loin que tisias mit le premier l'espee a la main il est vray que ce fut de si peu de momens que cela ne l'empescha pas de recevoir le premier coup leur combat fut grand et beau et si ceux qui y suruindrent ne les eussent separez ils auroient pu demeurer tous deux sur la place cependant quelque diligence que l'on pust aporter a empescher ce malheur ils ne laisserent pas d'estre tous deux blessez toutesfois belesis le fut si legerement au bras gauche qu'il n'en garda pas le lict mais il n'en fut pas de mesme de tisias qui receut deux coups 
 d'espee assez considerables et qui eut beaucoup de desavantage en ce combat car outre qu'il fut plus blesse que son ennemy il eut mesme le malheur que belesis luy arracha son espee des mains lors que voyant qu'on les vouloit separer il passa sur luy et la luy osta de force cependant quoy que ce combat ne passast d'abord dans le monde que pour une querelle impreveue le prince de suse ne laissa pas d'en estre fort irrite contre belesis parce que s'estant fait redire le sujet de leur querelle il connut mieux que tisias ne l'avoit connu que belesis l'avoit voulu pousser de sorte qu'encore que ce prince eust assez aime belesis an commencement qu'il fut a suse comme tisias estoit alors son favory il s'emporta fort contre belesis et il n'y eut que ceux qui estoient bien desinteressez et bien genereux qui le furent visiter en cette occasion toute la presse du monde allant chez tisias comme estant favory du prince mais pour hermogene comme il a beaucoup de generosite et que de plus ce combat la le confirmoit dans l'opinion que son amy estoit tousjours plus amoureux de leonise il fut le visiter et s'offrir a luy le hazard ayant fait que j'estois chez belesis lors qu'il y vint je fus tesmoin de leur entre veue il est vray que je fus extremement surpris de voir avec quelle froideur belesis receut hermogene de sorte que craignant qu'une longue conversation entre eux ne causast quelque malheur je dis a hermogene que j'avois a 
 l'entretenir de quelque affaire et je l'emmenay aveque moy ne pouvant assez m'estonner du procede de belesis cependant ce combat acheva d'irriter cleodore contre luy et de la confirmer dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de s'en vanger en luy ostant leonise et en espousant hermogene principalement quand elle sceut avec quelle froideur il avoit receu sa visite d'autre part le prince de suse tesmoigna avoir tant de colere contre belesis que ses amis luy dirent qu'ils ne croyoient pas qu'il y eust de seurete pour luy a demeurer a la cour et que du moins ils luy conseilloient de garder le logis durant quelques jours il n'y eut pourtant pas moyen de l'obliger a ne sortit point parce qu'il vouloit s'eclaircir si le portrait de cleodore estoit entre les mains d'hermogene comme il s'en alloit donc un matin chez son amy sur le pretexte de luy rendre sa visite afin de luy demander ce qui en estoit il aprit que son mariage estoit resolu avec cleodore et que dans peu de jours on en devoit faire la ceremonie de vous representer ce qui se passa dans le coeur de belesis c'est ce que je ne vous scaurois dire quoy qu'il me l'ait raconte fort exactement ce qu'il y a de vray est que n'estant pas bien d'accord avec luy mesme au lieu d'aller droit chez hermogene comme il en avoit eu le dessein il fut se promener dans une grande place qui est derriere le lieu ou il demeuroit et ou il ne passoit que peu de monde apres avoir donc bien 
 resve et bien excite sa colere il forma la resolution d'empescher ce mariage a quelque prix que ce fust et l'amour qu'il avoit eue autrefois pour cleodore commenca de reprendre tant de force dans son coeur qu'il estoit luy mesme estonne de ce qu'il sentoit estant donc dans des sentimens si bizarres et si extraordinaires il reprit le chemin de la maison d'hermogene mais en y allant il rencontra cleodore qui estoit dans un chariot comme son voile estoit leve il la vit si belle ce jour la qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais tant este a ses yeux mais comme elle l'aperceut et qu'il se preparoit a la saluer elle destourna la teste meprisamment et par cette action ralluma encore plus fort le feu qui recommencoit de le brusler avec tant de violence belesis continuant donc son voyage fut chez hermogene ou je me rencontray fortuitement mais comme il scavoit que je n'ignorois pas tout ce qui s'estoit passe entre eux ma presence ne l'empescha pas de luy parler il ne fut donc pas plustost entre qu'adressant la parole a hermogene ne voulez vous pas luy dit il me restituer le bien que vous m'avez oste et que je n'avois fait que vous confier si c est de mon amitie que vous entendez parler repliqua hermogene je puis vous assurer que je ne vous l'ay jamais ostee et qu'ainsi il vous est aise de la retrouver non hermogene luy dit il ce n'est pas ce que j'entend car je ne doute point que malgre toutes mes bizarreries vous ne me l'ayez coseruee mais 
 c'est cleodore que je vous demande cleodore dis-je que je vous ay prie de feindre d'aimer mais que je ne vous ay jamais permis d'aimer effectivement c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne vouloir pas me la disputer si l'amour estoit une chose volontaire reprit hermogene je pense que vous n'auriez pas tort de me parler comme vous faites mais belesis vous scavez assez par vostre propre experience que l'on ne cesse pas d'aimer quand on veut et que par la mesme raison on n'aime pas tousjours ce que l'on voudroit aimer car si cela estoit autrement je suis persuade que vous n'auriez pas cesse d'aimer cleodore pour leonise mais adjousta t'il encore je ne comprens pas bien pourquoy vous me parlez comme vous faites puis qu'enfin il n'y a pas d'aparence qu'un homme qui vient de se battre contre tisias pour l'empescher d'espouser leonise songe en mesme temps a cleodore qu'il a achevee d'irriter pas ce combat quand je me suis battu contre tisias reprit il je ne scavois pas qu'hermogene alloit espouser cleodore de sorte repliqua hermogene que c'est plus pur la haine que vous avez pour moy que par l'amour que vous avez pour elle que vous voulez vous opposer a mon bonheur nullement repliqua belesis mais c'est que pour mon malheur comme je passay en un instant de l'amour de cleodore a celle de leonise j'ay aussi repasse en un moment de l'amour de leonise a celle de cleodore je ne 
 scay adjousta t'il si en perdant l'esperance de posseder leonise cela a contribue a esteindre la flamme que je sentois pour elle et a rallumer l'autre dans mon coeur mais je scay bien que je n'ay pas plustost sceu que cleodore alloit estre a vous que j'ay senty renouveller mon ancienne passion dans mon ame mais avec tant de force que je croy que j'en perdray la raison si vous n'avez pitie de moy l'advoue seigneur que de ma vie je ne fus si espouvente que d'entendre parler belesis de cette sorte hermogene comme vous pouvez penser l'estoit encore plus que moy et ne scavoit pas trop bien que luy respondre car enfin quoy que cleodore eust consenty a son mariage il connoissoit pourtant bien que c'estoit plus pour se vanger de belesis que pour le rendre heureux aussi estoit- ce pour cela qu'il aprehendoit estrangement que cleodore ne vinst a scavoir qu'il se repentoit de peur qu'elle ne se repentist aussi c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je scay bien luy dit il que ce que je m'en vay vous dire vous affligera mais puis qu'il faut que vous le scachiez pour vostre repos et pour le mien il faut que je vous die que quand je le voudrois vostre bonheur n'est plus une chose possible s'il est vray qu'il soit attache a la possession de cleodore estant certain qu'elle est tellement irritee contre vous qu'on peut dire qu'elle vous hait autant qu'elle vous a aime c'est parce qu'elle me hait reprit belesis que j'espere encore qu'elle m'aimera 
 car si son ame estoit en termes de n'avoir pour moy que de l'indifference ou du mepris je desesperois tout a fait d'obtenir mon pardon mais puis que cela n'est pas faites je vous prie que je ne trouve point d'autre obstacle' ma bonne fortune que cleodore mesme au reste luy dit il je scay qu'elle vous a donne un portrait qu'elle ne vous pouvoit donner puis qu'elle me l'avoit donne c'est pourquoy je vous prie de me le rendre mais est il possible luy dis-je en l'interrompant que ce que vous dittes soit vray et puis-je croire que cet homme qui disoit n'aimer que leonise il n'y a que huit jours n'aime aujourd'huy que cleodore je ne puis pas nous dit il vous bien exprimer mes sentimens car il s'est passe tant de choses dans mon coeur en peu de temps que je ne puis moy mesme vous rendre conte de mes propres pensees ce que je vous puis dire est que j'ay connu si visiblement que les dieux m'ont voulu punir de mon inconstance que j'en ay un repentir extreme en effet adjousta t'il il faut bien que je regarde la chose de ce coste la car enfin je suis assure qu'il n'y a pas huit jours que je n'estois pas hai ny de cleodore ny de leonise cependant par un renversement estrange je me voy en estat de les perdre toutes deux et de les perdre encore d'une maniere tres cruelle car leonise m'a este ravie par l'homme du monde que je meprise le plus et cleodore me la sera peut-estre par celuy que j'ay le plus tendrement 
 aime a vous dire la verite interrompis-je vous ne devez vous prendre de vostre malheur qu'a vous mesme je scay bien que je suis coupable repliqua t'il mars c'est principalement a cause que je le suis que je m'estime malheureux le voy bien mesme que la priere que je fais a hermogene n'est pas trop juste toutesfois puis que l'amour de cleodore a repris sa premiere place dans mon coeur il me semble qu'hermogene doit avoir pitie de ma foiblesse j'en ay aussi beaucoup de compassion reprit il mais je ne dois pas ce me semble n'avoir point pitie de moy mesme du moins mon cher hermogene luy dit il faites au nom des dieux que je vous aye l'obligation de me dire avec sincerite si vous croyez que cleodore vous aime effectivement ou si ce n'est que par depit qu'elle se porte a souffrir que vous la serviez je scay bien adjousta t'il que vous avec plus de merite que moy si qu'ainsi puis que l'avois eu le bonheur de n'en estre pas hai il ne doit pas estre impossible que vous en soyez aime mais apres tour je vous demande cela en grace de me dire ce que je veux scavoir vous protestant que si vous me jurez en homme d'honneur que vous croyez qu'elle vous aime autant qu'elle m'a aime de ne chercher plus d'autre remede a mes maux que la mort tout ce que je vous puis respondre repliqua hermogene qui ne pouvoit se resoudre a dire ce qu'il croyoit est que je suis persuade que cleodore vous hait et que je scay qu'elle 
 consent que je l'espouse c'en est assez luy dit il pour me faire connoistre que vous n'estes pas si bien avec elle que je le craignois c'est pourquoy poursuivit belesis je vous conjure seulement de me faire une faveur qui est de souffrir que je parle une fois en particulier a cleodore car si elle vous aime assez pour ne se soucier pas de mon repentir vous en serez plus heureux et si par bonheur pour moy je la ramenois aux mesmes termes ou je l'ay veue autrefois vous y gagneriez encore puis qu'enfin ce ne seroit pas estre tout a fait heureux que d'espouser une personne qui n'auroit pas une affection bien force pour vous c'est pourquoy ne me refusez pas je vous en conjure j'advoue que ne trouvant pas ce que belesis disoit trop esloigne de la raison je fis ce que je pus pour obliger hermogene a y consentir mais il n'y eut pas moyen cependant plus il y resistoit et plus belesis concevoit d'esperance de n'estre pas tout a fait detruit dans le coeur de cleodore si bien que n'en ayant point du tout du coste de leonise et en trouvant un peu ce luy sembloit de celuy de cleodore sa passion en augmenta de beaucoup voyant donc qu'hermogene ne vouloit point consentir qu'il parlast a cette belle personne il se mit a luy redemander le portrait qu'il en avoit mais hermogene luy repliqua qu'il ne devoit point entrer en connoissance s'il avoit este a luy ou non qu'il suffisoit qu'il l'avoit receu de cleodore et qu'ainsi 
 il ne le luy rendroit pas conme j'avois condamne hermogene un moment auparavant lors qu'il s'estoit obstine a ne vouloir pas que belesis par last a cleodore je condamnay en suitte belesis lors qu'il voulut presser son amy de luy rendre un portrait qu'il ne tenoit pas de luy cependant craignant estrangement qu'estant seul avec eux je ne pusse a la fin empescher qu'ils ne s'aigrissent trop ie leur dis qu'estant tous deux possedez d'une passion trop violente pour pouvoir parler de leurs interests avec moderation je les priois de vouloir ne scavoir a l'advenir leurs pretentions que par moy adjoustant que quand ils seroient separez je leur dirois des choses que je ne leur pouvois pas dire en leur presence de sorte que mesnageant leur esprit le mieux que je pus je fis qu'ils se quiterent sans s'estre querellez en suitte dequoy je fus tantost vers l'un et tantost vers l'autre sans scavoir de quel coste me ranger en effet quand l'estois avec belesis il me faisoit pitie tant il avoit de repentir de son inconstance et quand je voyois hermogene il me persuadoit qu'il avoit raison car enfin me disoit il si belesis n'eust point abandonne cleodore non seulement je n'en fusse point devenu amoureux mais quand mesme je l'aurois aimee je n'en eusse jamais rien tesmoigne par le respect que j'eusse eu pour nostre amitie mais apres m'avoir force a la voir souvent et m'avoir prie de feindre que j'avois de la passion pour elle vouloir m'obliger a ne la voir plus et a 
 arracher de mon coeur une amour qu'il y a fait naistre c'est ce que je ne puis ny ne dois faire d'autre part me disoit belesis quand r'estois seul aveque luy est il juste que parce que l'ay prie hermogene de voir la personne que l'aime que ce soit luy qui me la derobe ne scait il pas que des la premiere fois qu'il me demanda la permission de luy descouvrir mon inconstance je luy tesmoignay que je ne le pouvois soufrir ne pouvoit il pas juger que je ne pouvois ne le vouloir pas que par un sentiment d'amour quoy que je ne le nommasse point ainsi est on jaloux sans avoir de l'affection pour si personne pour qui l'on a de la jalousie et hermogene n'a t'il pas deu plustost croire que j'aimois deux personnes a la fois sans que je le pensasse faire que de penser que je fusse jaloux de luy sans estre amoureux de cleodore et puis me dit il je ne luy demande rien d'injuste quand je luy propose de laisser juger nostre different a cleodore pourveu qu'il souffre que je la voye et que je luy parle car si apres cela elle le choisit encore je quitteray suse et m'en iray en des lieux si esloignez d'icy et si cachez a la connoissance des hommes que ny luy ny cleodore n'entendront jamais parler de moy en suitte belesis se mettoit a exagerer son malheur apres la colere s'emparoit de son esprit et sans se souvenir plus de l'amitie qu'il avoit pour hermogene il disoit qu'il n'estoit point de resolution qu'il ne fust capable de prendre plustost que de 
 souffrir qu'il espousast cleodore cependant le prince de suse ayant sceu que belesis ne laissoit pas de sortir de chez luy en fut si irrite que je fus adverty qu'il avoit dessein de luy faire commander de se retirer je sceus encore le mesme jour que tisias croyant que tant qu'il ne pourroit sortir belesis agiroit peut- estre contre luy l'esprit de leonise avoit oblige le prince de suse a faire en sorte sur quelque pretexte que l'on trouva pour cela de la mettre chez la reine jusques a ce qu'il fust entierement guery de sorte que ne voulant pas que mon amy receust un commandement si facheux je fus le conjurer de vouloir s'esloigner de suse pour quelques jours mais il me dit qu'il n'en sortiroit point qu'il n'eust parle a cleodore et parle en particulier il m'aprit qu'il avoit este plusieurs fois chez elle mais qu'on luy avoit tousjours fait dire qu'elle n'y estoit point ou qu'on ne la voyoit pas adjoustant que c'estoit donc a hermogene s'il la vouloit posseder en repos a luy procurer l'occasion de la voir voyant donc son obstination je fus trouver son amy afin de l'y obliger mais il n'y eut pas moyen de l'y faire resoudre de sorte que ne voyant point de fin a cette contestation je m'advisay d'aller trouver cleodore secrettement pour l'advertir de l'estat ou estoit la chose afin que par sa prudence elle y donnast ordre car comme ils estoient tous deux mes amis je ne scavois lequel souhaiter qui fust heureux ny lequel 
 je devois preferer a l'autre je n'eus pas plustost dit a cleodore les termes ou en estoient belesis et hermogene qu'elle me dit que ce dernier luy faisoit tort d'aprehender qu'elle ne vist son amy elle me parut pourtant fort surprise et fort inquiette toutesfois elle me parla en suitte avec tant de marque de colere contre belesis que je creus bien qu'il ne tireroit pas grande satisfaction de sa veue neantmoins comme il la souhaitoit passionnement et que je voyois que je ne pourrois l'obliger a sortir de suse s'il n'avoit entendu son arrest de mort de sa bouche je la priay de vouloir luy en faire naistre l'occasion mais elle me respondit qu'elle ne le feroit pas je connus pourtant ce me sembla que si je cherchois les voyes de la tromper et de luy faire voir belesis qu'elle me le pardonneroit de sorte que croyant avancer le bonheur d'hermogene en avancant le depart de belesis qui ne pouvoit se refondre a quitter suse qu'il n'eust parle a cleodore je fis si bien que le lendemain que je l'eus entretenue j'occupay hermogene en quelque affaire et je fis qu'une de mes parentes mena cleodore sans qu'elle sceust ou on la menoit dans un palais nouvellement basty que tout le monde alloit voir et qui n'estoit pas encore habite belesis qui estoit instruit de la chose ne manqua pas de s'y trouver si bien que ma parente que scavoit toute l'affaire dont il s'agissoit la conduisit avec tant d'adresse que laissant les femmes qui les suivoient dans une gallerie 
 elle la mena dans une chambre et de cette chambre dans un cabinet ou belesis attendoit cleodore elle ne le vit pas plustost qu'elle voulut en ressortir mais s'estant jette a genoux et l'ayant retenue par sa robe au nom des dieux madame luy dit il donnez moy une heure d'audiance je vous en conjure c'est pour cela que cette charitable personne qui vous a amenee icy vous a conduite dans ce cabinet souffrez donc que je vous demande pardon et que je vous le demande avec des larmes pourveu qu'elle me permette de vous refuser tout ce que vous me demanderez luy dit elle je consentiray de vous escouter mais si je vous demande la mort luy dit il me la refuserez vous aussi je vous la refuseray sans doute repliqua t'elle non seulement parce que le suplice que vous meritez ne seroit pas assez long si vous mouriez si tost mais encore parce qu'il suffit que vous desiriez quelque chose pour faire que je ne vous l accorde pas quoy qu'il en soit madame luy dit il quand ce ne seroit que pour me faire des reproches vous me devez entendre et m'entendre auequc loisir pendant que ces deux personnes parloient ainsi celle qui avoit trompe cleodore en l'amenant dans ce palais apella une de ses parentes qui estoit demeuree dans la galerie avec leurs femmes et comme elle scavoit la chose elles s'amuserent a regarder les peintures de la chambre qui touchoit ce cabinet de sorte que belesis pouvant parler sans estre entendu que 
 que de cleodore souffrez madame luy dit il apres qu'elle se fut assise qu'auparavant que de vous demander pardon je vous assure que ce belesis que vous voyez a vos pieds est ce mesme belesis que vous distinguiez autresfois assez favorablement de tout le reste du monde je le fais encore aujourd'huy interrompit elle et je vous tiens en effet si different de tous les autres hommes que je ne doute nullement que vous ne soyez incomparable quoy qu'il en soit dit il je suis pourtant ce que j'estois en une chose qui est que je n'eus jamais plus d'amour pour vous que t'en ay plust aux dieux luy repliqua t'elle que ce que vous dittes fust vray eh plust a ces mesmes dieux que vous invoquez reprit il que vous le desirassiez effectivement non non belesis respondit cleodore je ne m'esloigne point de la verite quand je dis que je serois ravie que vous m'aimassiez esperdument mais vous vous esloignez estrangement de mon sens si vous croyez que je fasse ce souhait pour recevoir vostre affection puis qu'au contraire je ne voudrois que vous m'aimassiez qu'afin de vous pouvoir mieux punir de ce que vous ne m'avez plus aimee le scay bien madame repliqua t'il que je suis le plus coupable de tous les hommes d'avoir vescu comme j'ay fait durant quelque temps mais madame il faut s'il vous plaist ne regarder point cet endroit de ma vie ou si vous le voulez regarder il faut que ce soit pour y trouver matiere d'exercer vostre bonte 
 a quoy serviroit la clemence si l'on ne pardonnoit jamais ne laissez donc pas cette vertu inutile dans vostre ame vous qui pratiquez si admirablement toutes les autres au reste madame ne croyez pas que j'aye jamais absolument cesse de vous aimer mesme dans le temps ou j'ay paru estre le plus amoureux de leonise elle vous a pu dire si jamais elle m'a pu obliger a luy aprendre la moindre chose de tout ce qui s'est passe du temps que j'estois innocent aupres de vous je n'ay pas mesme pu souffrir que le meilleur de mes amis vous aimast ainsi il faut conclure de necessite que je vous ay tousjours aimee ce n'est pas que je pretende me justifier mais je veux seulement si je le puis amoindrir un peu mon crime afin que vous me pardonniez plustost il faudroit que j'eusse perdu la raison pour en avoir la pensee reprit cleodore car l'inconstance est une faute que l'on ne pardonne jamais ou que du moins l'on ne doit jamais pardonner mais vous mesme madame repliqua t'il n'avez vous pas vescu avec hermogene d'une maniere a me faire croire que vous estes coupable du crime que vous me reprochez comme j'ay remarque repliqua cleodore que par une bizarrerie sans egalle vous avez quelque depit de penser que j'ay commence d'aimer hermogene des le premier instant que je me suis aperceue que vous aimiez leonise je ne veux pas vous en desabuser croyez donc si cela vous fasche que je l'ay aime que je l'aime encore 
 et que je l'aimeray tousjours car vous ne pouvez me faire un plus sensible plaisir que de vous tourmenter vous mesme mais madame reprit il ne craignez vous point de me desesperer et de me porter a faire tout ce qu'un homme qui a beaucoup d'amour et qui n'a plus de raison peut entreprendre non belesis reprit elle je ne l'aprehende point car j'ay tousjours ouy dire que les gens qui ont le coeur partage n'ont pas les passions si violentes mais madame interrompit il mon coeur n'est plus qu'a vous seule et ne sera jamais a nulle autre seriez vous bien assez hardy reprit elle pour oser respondre de vous mesme apres ce qui vous est arrive pour moy qui ne m'assure pas si aisement et qui juge tousjours de l'advenir par le passe je vous predis qu'un de ces jours vous en direz autant a leonise et que peut-estre encore l'oubliant aussi bien que moy vous irez redire a une troisiesme ce que vous nous avez dit a toutes deux l'une apres l'autre et a toutes deux ensemble quoy madame interrompit belesis vous ne me pardonnerez point et vous ne vous assurerez jamais en mon affection n'en doutez nullement repliqua t'elle car comment voudriez vous que je m'y pusse jamais assurer vous m'avez quittee dans le temps de toute ma vie ou j'ay este la moins laide et dans le temps de toute ma vie ou j'ay este la plus douce pour vous apres cela a quoy me pourrois-je fier a vos paroles que vous avez si mal tenues 
 a vos sermens que vous avez si laschement faussez non madame interrompit belesis mais fiez vous a mon repentir c'est luy divine cleodore qui m empeschera d'estre inconstant a l'advenir car j'ay une si horrible confusion de ma foiblesse qu'il ne faut pas aprehender que j'y retombe le ne l'aprehende pas aussi respondit elle brusquement car je vous assure que je m'interesse si peu en tout ce qui vous regarde excepte aux choses qui vous peuvent fascher que je ne me soucie point de tout ce qui vous arrivera cependant adjousta t'elle j'ay a vous dire que je ne pretends nullement que vous cherchiez les occcasions de me parler si vous ne voulez que je vous face mille incivilitez devant tout le monde mais madame repliqua-t'il puis que tous mes services passez sont perdus aupres de vous et que je suis destruit dans vostre esprit ne contez donc s'il vous plaist pour rien toutes les choses passees faites une compensation de mes crimes et de mes services et souffrez que je recommence a vous aimer comme si je ne vous avois jamais aimee etc si lors vous n'estes satisfaite de ma fidelite traitez moy de lasche et d infame et espousez mesme hermogene mais jusques alors souffrez madame que je vous die que je ne le scaurois endurer le l'espouseray pourtant repliqua t'elle si mes parens continuent de me le commander c'est pourquoy le mieux que vous puissiez faire pour vostre repos est de l'endurer sans en rien dire car aussi bien 
 en parleriez vous inutilement au reste ne pensez pas vous en prendre a hermogene si vous ne voulez que j'augmente encore pour vous de haine et de mepris cependant vous pouvez esperer pour vous consoler que peut estre tisias mourra de ses blessures et qu'ainsi vous retournerez a leonise en m abandonnant une seconde fois car comme elle est plus douce que moy elle vous recevra sans doute mieux que je ne vous recoy apres cela belesis je n'ay plus rien a vous dire si ce n'est de vous assurer que lors que vous me quittastes pour leonise j'avois pour vous des sentimens qui meritoient que vous fussiez plus fidelle que vous ne l'avez este il vous est aise de juger parce que je dis adjousta t'elle que quelque glorieuse que je sois la vangeance l'emporte sur la gloire puis que pour vous faire depit je vous advoue les sentimens advantageux que j'ay eu pour vous mais pour rabatre un peu vostre orgueil je vous diray que vous devez en tirer une consequence infaillible qui est que si je les avois encore je ne vous dirois pas que l'en ay este capable cleodore en achevant ces paroles se leva et quoy que belesis peust luy dire elle le quitta se pleignant mesme de celle qui l'avoit trompee d'une maniere peu obligeante pour luy mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre fut que cette conversation produisit des effets bien differens dans le coeur de cleodore et dans celuy de belesis car cette imperieuse fille eut une assez grande joye d'avoir connu 
 connu avec certitude dans les yeux de belesis qu'il estoit encore pour elle ce qu'il avoit este autrefois ce ne fut pourtant pas dans le dessein de luy pardonner mais seulement parce qu'elle espera le rendre plus malheureux de sorte qu'elle commenca de parler a tout le monde de son mariage avec hermogene comme d'une chose qui luy estoit fort agreable pour belesis il sortit d'avec cleodore plus amoureux qu'il ne l'avoit jamais este si bien que s'estonnant luy mesme de l'amour qu'il avoit eue pour leonise et la regardant alors comme estant cause qu'il avoit perdu cleodore il vint presques a la hair estant donc dans un desespoir qui n'eut jamais d'esgal il me vint retrouver pour me dire que cleodore estoit inexorable mais qu'apres tout il n'endureroit pas qu'hermogene l'epousast je fis ce que je pus pour luy remettre l'esprit il n'y eut toutesfois pas moyen je voulus le faire ressouvenir qu'il avoit dit a hermogene que si cleodore le choisissoit quand il l'auroit entretenue il le laisseroit en repos mais il me dit que l'on n'estoit pas oblige a tenir des promesses dont l'execution estoit impossible si bien que ne scachant comment empescher le malheur que je craignois je fus contraint de faire haster ce que j'avois aprehende je veux dire de faire en sorte que le prince de suse fist commander a belesis de sortir de la ville comme je scavois qu'il le devoit faire esperant que l'absence et le temps gueriroient belesis de la passion qu'il avoit dans 
 l'ame mais quoy que belesis receust ce commandement des le mesme jour il n'obeit pourtant pas si promptement il le sit neantmoins en aparence car il se cacha quelques jours dans la ville durant cela il escrivit diverses fois a cleodore sans qu'elle luy voulust respondre il vit mesme hermogene encore une fois mais en le voyant un soir chez luy hermogene luy parla avec de si puissantes raisons qu'il fut contraint de le quitter sans le quereller comme il en avoit eu le dessein car enfin dans les plus violens transports de l'amour de belesis il a pourtant tousjours conserve de l'amitie pour hermogene pendant qu'il estoit dans le cabinet d'hermogene il vit le portrait de cleodore sur une cassette ou celuy entre les mains de qui il estoit presentement le mettoit tous les soirs de sorte qu'emporte par sa passion il le prit durant que son amy estoit alle parler a quelqu'un qui l'avoit demande l'advoue que le luy vy faire ce larcin mais comme je scavois qu'hermogene devoit bien tost espouser cleodore et que belesis devoit partir dans deux jours je ne m'y opposay pas mais de peur que durant ces deux jours la il n'en arrivast quelque malheur je demeuray avec hermogene et luy dis la chose comme elle estoit le priant etle conjurant de n'envier pas une si foible consolation a son amy et en effet hermogene me promit qu'il n'en tesmoigneroit rien quoy qu'il ne laissast pas d'estre sensiblement touche de la 
 perte de cette peinture cependant tisias se portant mieux on parla d'achever son mariage et celuy d'hermogene en un mesme jour et on se prepara a tout ce qui devoit rendre cette belle feste agreable mais durant cela belesis hermogene et cleodore n'estoient pas sans inquietude le premier comme vous le pouvez juger en avoit assez de sujet hermogene mesme quoy que prest d'espouser cleodore n'estoit pas tout a fait heureux parce qu'il la voyoit fort chagrine et cleodore non plus que les autres n'estoit pas sans douleur car quelque desir de vangeance qu'elle eust dans le coeur elle ne se vangeoit pas de belesis sans se vanger sur elle mesme mais pendant que toutes ces personnes souffroient tant leonise que 1 ambition avoit consolee de la perte de belesis scachant qu'il estoit cache dans suse et craignant que ce ne fust pour taire obstacle a sa grandeur fit que tisias obligea encore le prince de suse a le faire chercher afin de s'assurer de luy de sorte que belesis ayant sceu la chose fut contraint de peur de tomber sous la puissance d'un prince irrite et fort violent de se resoudre a sortir de suse mais pour faire qu'il eust moins de regret a l'abandonner il sceut que le jour suivant les nopces de tisias et de leonise d'hermogene et cleodore et se devoient faire pour moy qui ne le quittay qu'a cent stades de suse je puis dire n'avoir jamais veu rien de si touchant que d'avoir veu belesis en l'estat ou 
 je le vy il donna deux lettres en partant a un esclave qui estoit a luy l'une pour cleodore et l'autre pour hermogene avec ordre de les aller rendre en main propre des qu'il seroit party ce qui m'embarrassa un peu lors que je me separay de belesis fut que je vy qu'il r'envoya tout son train en son pais avec une lettre pour son pere et qu'il ne retint qu'un esclave aveque luy ne voulant point me dire ny quel dessein il avoit ny quelle route il devoit tenir cependant celuy qui devoit rendre les lettres qu'il avoit laissees pour cleodore et pour hermogene ne manqua pas de s'aquitter de sa commission comme il estoit assez matin car belesis sortit de suse a la premiere pointe du jour il fut chez hermogene devant que d'aller chez cleodore et luy rendit une lettre qui estoit' peu pres conceue en ces termes
 
 
 belesis a hermogene 
 
 
 je pense que vous ne vous pleindrez pas de ce que je vous ay pris le portrait de cleodore puis que je vous laisse en possession de cleodore mesme je ne vous nie pas que si j'eusse trouve quelque disposition dans le coeur de cette admirable personne a me pardonner je vous l'aurois disputee jusques a la mort et je vous advoueray 
 mesme que ce n'est pas sans peine que je pars sans vous avoir tesmoigne le ressentiment que j'ay du mal que vous m'avez sait cependant puis que j'ay pris la resolution de ne punir que moy de tous ceux qui causent mon malheur je vous prie pour reconnoistre ma moderation de souffrir que je vous face une priere je vous demande donc en grace quand vous serez possesseur de cleodore de n'insulter point sur un amant infortune que vous avez rendu miserable et de ne la faire jamais souvenir de mon inconstance dont vous avez este le confident c'est la seule chose que vous demandera en toute sa vie un malheureux qui n'ayant trouve nulle compassion dans le coeur de son amy ny nulle bonte dans celuy de sa maistresse renonce pour tousjours a la societe des hommes 
 
 
 belesis 
 
 
hermogene receut cette lettre avec quelque sentiment de tendresse mais apres tout il ne fut pas marry du depart de belesis et l'esperance d'espouser cleodore le lendemain luy donnoit tant de joye qu'il ne fut pas en estat de sentir bien fortement le malheur de son amy mais si la lettre de belesis pour hermogene ne fit pas un grand effet dans son ame celle de belesis pour cleodore en fit un plus considerable aussi estoit elle si touchante qu'il eust falu avoir l'ame du monde la plus dure pour n'en estre pas esmeu de compassion et certes elle fit une si forte impression dans mon esprit lors que cleodore me la monstra que je luy en demanday une copie de sorte que je l'ay leve 
 tant de fois en ma vie que je ne pense pas que je la puisse jamais oublier voicy donc comme elle estoit
 
 
 belesis a cleodore 
 
 
 j'ay si bien merite tous les tourmens que j'endure que je n'ay aucun droit de vous accuser d'injustice mais je m'estois si veritablement repente de ma foiblesse que je pense qu'il me seroit permis de murmurer contre vostre bonte de ce qu'elle n'a pas voulu m'accorder mon pardon cependant je vous respecte encore si fort toute irreconciliable que vous estes que je ne me veux pleindre ny de vous ny d'hermogene mais seulement de moy mesme et pour vous faire voir que j'eusse pu estre fidelle aupres de vous je vous promets de l'estre en des lieux bien esloignez d'icy je vous engage mesme ma parole de ne me souvenir que de vous durant tout le reste de la malheureuse vie que je vay mener et comme je suis devenu criminel en voyant une personne que je ne devois regarder que pour l'amour de vous je me resous pour me punir de ma foiblesse a ne voir jamais qui que ce soit qu'un esclave que je mene afin qu'apres ma mort il puisse vous raconter quelle aura este la constance de celuy que vous bannissez comme un inconstant je m'assure que s'il est fidelle il tirera quelques larmes de vos beaux yeux et que vous regretterez peut-estre la mort de celuy dont vous aurez rendu la vie l'a plus malheureuse du mondes 
 
 
 belesis 
 
 
 
 
 lors que cleodore receut cette lettre elle avoit l'esprit estrangement inquiete car se voyant a la veille d'espouser hermogene le plaisir qu'elle avoit trouve a se vanger de belesis se changea en une douleur tres sensible ce n'est pas qu'elle n'estimast extremement hermogene mais c'est que son ame ne pouvant estre capable de rien aimer que belesis elle descouvrit que malgre toute sa colere et tout son ressentiment son coeur n'en estoit pas degage elle receut donc sa lettre en rougissant elle l'ouvrit avec un battement de coeur estrange elle commenca de la lire en soupirant et acheva de la voir en respandant quelques larmes enfin seigneur que vous diray-je cleodore s'aperceut qu'elle n'avoit sans doute jamais voulu espouser hermogene et qu'elle avoit tousjours aime belesis cependant toutes choses estoient preparees pour son mariage et elle se voyoit dans l'impossibilite de pouvoir rappeller belesis quand mesme sa fierte l'auroit pu souffrir ne scachant donc que faire elle voulut du moins differer a prendre une resolution absolue et pour cet effet elle feignit de se trouver mal et se mit au lict hermogene aprenant la chose en fut extremement afflige non seulement parce qu'il luy estoit fascheux d'aprendre que la personne qu'il aimoit souffroit non seulement parce que son bonheur estoit recule mais encore parce qu'il soupconna quelque chose de la verite il fut donc en diligence pour voir cleodore mais on luy dit par 
 ses ordres qu'elle venoit de s'endormir il y retourna pourtant tant de fois qu'elle fut contrainte de le voir mais elle luy parla peu encore ne fut-ce que pour se pleindre des maux qu'elle disoit sentir et qu'elle sentoit effectivement quoy que ce ne fust pas de la maniere qu'elle les depeignoit ainsi il falut de necessite qu'hermogene consentist qu'on ne songeast point a ses nopces pour le jour suivant et que tisias plus heureux que luy espousast leonise qui ayant les yeux esblouis de la magnificence qui l'environnoit n'eut que quelques momens de resverie le jour de cette grande feste encore furent ils remarquez de si peu de personnes que je fus presques le seul qui m'en aperceus pour hermogene il n'avoit garde de s'en apercevoir car il ne voulut point s'y trouver quoy que toute la cour y fust mais pendant que la joye estoit respandue dans le palais du roy ou le prince de suse voulut que la ceremonie des nopces de tisias se fist cleodore estoit dans son lict avec une douleur inconcevable tantost elle se repentoit de n'avoir pas pardonne a belesis une autrefois elle trouvoit qu'elle avoit eu tort d'avoir si bien traitte hermogene un moment apres elle aprouvoit ce quelle avoit condamne auparavant et passant d'un sentiment a l'autre elle ne trouvoit repos en nulle part principalement quand elle venoit a penser qu'elle ne verrait peut-estre jamais belesis qui estoit le seul homme du monde avec lequel avoit pu croire 
 pouvoir vivre heureuse quelque accomply que fust hermogene elle m'a dit qu'elle vit alors dans son humeur cent choses qui choquoient la sienne enfin seigneur pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience cleodore passa trois jours avec des agitations d'esprit si horribles qu'elle en pensa perdre la vie ou la raison mais a la fin s'estant determinee a ce qu'elle vouloit faire elle donna ordre secrettement a l'execution du dessein qu'elle avoit pris et l'executa en effet comme je m'en vay le dire vous scaurez donc qu'un matin comme j'estois prest a sortir je receus un billet de cleodore qui me prioit de vouloir mener a l'heure mesme hermogene a un temple de ceres qui n'est qu'a trente stades de la ville ou elle alloit remercier la deesse d'une grace qu'elle disoit que les dieux luy avoient faite pendant sa maladie or seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que ce temple est garde par cent vierges qui observent a peu pres les mesmes ceremonies que celles qui sont aupres d'ecbatane quoy qu'elles ne soient pas consacrees a une mesme deesse j'advoue toutesfois que d'abord je ne soupconnay rien du veritable dessein de cleodore et je fus trouver hermogene a qui je monstray le billet que j'avois receu mais pour luy il fut plus clair-voyant que moy car des qu'il eut veu ce que je luy monstrois il craignit estrangement que cleodore n'eust pris quelque extreme resolution de sorte que sans differer nostre depart d'un moment nous montasmes 
 a cheval et fusmes avec une diligence incroyable a ce temple a peine eusmes nous mis pied a terre que l'on nous conduisit dans un apartement destine a recevoir les estrangers ou nous fusmes quelque temps a attendre apres quoy une porte qui donne dans l'enclos des vierges s'ouvrit d'ou nous vismes sortir cleodore accompagnee de deux femmes mais avec tant de melancolie sur le visage qu'elle auroit attendry l'ame la plus dure aussi hermogene en fut il si esmeu si surpris et si fache qu'il n'eut pas la force de luy tesmoigner son estonnement apres donc qu'elle se fut aprochee de nous et que nous l'eusmes saluee elle s'assit et nous fit mettre aupres d'elle en suitte dequoy prenant la parole je ne doute point dit elle a hermogene que ce que je m'en vay vous dire ne vous afflige aussi ay-je voulu vous le faire scavoir en un lieu ou le respect que vous devez a la deesse qu'on y adore vous obligera peut-estre a le recevoir avec plus de moderation de grace madame luy dit hermogene ne mettez pas ma vertu a la derniere espreuve et songez bien auparavant que de me dire ce que vous avez a me faire scavoir si je puis l'aprendre sans mourir ou sans perdre le respect que je dois aux choses les plus sacrees comme je connois par mon experience reprit elle que l'on ne meurt pas de douleur et que j'ay meilleure opinion de vostre sagesse que vous mesme je ne craindray point de vous dire la resolution 
 que j'ay prise scachez donc poursuivit cleodore que je serois indigne de l'affection que vous avez pour moy si je vous espousois apres avoir descouvert des sentimens dans mon coeur depuis le depart de belesis qui me font voir que je ne suis pas en estat de vous pouvoit rendre heureux quoy madame interrompit hermogene vous tromperiez l'esperance que vous m'avez donnee je la tromperois bien davantage repliqua t'elle si je songeois a la satisfaire puis que j'entreprendrois une chose qui n'est pas en ma puissance car enfin je puis vous dire avec verite que depuis trois jours j'ay continuellement combatu pour vous contre moy mesme sans me pouvoir vaincre de sorte que voyant qu'il m'estoit absolument impossible de vous donner mon affection comme je l'avois donnee a belesis et que par consequent je vous rendrois malheureux et augmenterois mes souffrances j'ay creu qu'il faloit faire un grand effort sur moy mesme pour me degager de tous les attachemens que je puis avoir au monde afin de donner le reste de mes jours au service de la deesse que l'on adore icy voila hermogene ce que j'avois a vous dire c'est a vous a me faire voir par un consentement volontaire que vous avez encore plus de vertu que d'amour ha madame repliqua t'il je ne suis point capable de souffrir cette avanture sans murmurer et sans m'y opposer de toute ma force je ne vous conseille pas de le faire reprit elle puis 
 que vous le feriez inutilement mais madame luy dit il si vous aimiez encore belesis pourquoy ne luy avez vous point pardonne et si vous ne l'aimez plus pourquoy n'achevez vous pas de me rendre heureux ne me forcez point respondit elle a vous redire precisement qui s'est passe dans mon coeur car comme je suis resolue d'oublier toutes mes foiblesses je ne veux pas m'en refraischir la memoire ce qu'il y a de vray est que je ne retourneray point a suse peut-estre madame luy dis-je que pendant les trois annees ou vous ferez les espreuves necessaires auparavant que de vous engager pour tousjours vostre volonte changera je ne le pense pas repliqua t'elle car ce n'est pas ma coustume de changer de sentimens et si j'en avois pu changer c'auroit este en faveur d'hermogene au nom des dieux madame luy dit il transporte de douleur et de desespoir ne vous enfermez point icy si c'est adjousta t'il que vous ne me jugiez pas digne de l'honneur que vos parens m'ont fait privez m'en pour tousjours mais ne privez pas le monde de son plus bel ornement croyez hermogene respondit elle que puis que je n'y ay pu vivre pour belesis si j'avois eu a y demeurer c'auroit este pour vous seulement mais enfin c'est ma destinee qui m'apelle au lieu ou je suis et il ne vous reste autre chose a faire qu'a vous y conformer comme hermogene alloit respondre la mesme porte par ou cleodore estoit entree ou nous estions s'ouvrit une seconde fois 
 elle ne fut pas plustost ouverte que je vy qu'elle donnoit dans un grand et magnifique vestibule ou celle qui gouvernoit ces vierges sacrees parut avec un habillement d'un blanc un peu jaunastre et tenant une gerbe d'or accompagnee de grand nombre de filles avec le mesme habit et des espics d'or a la main mais a peine se furent elles rangees derriere elle qu'elle apella cleodore qui nous quittant apres m'avoir prie de faire scavoir a sa tante le lieu ou elle estoit et apres avoir salue hermogene les larmes aux yeux s'en alla vers cette porte ou celle qui devoit faire la ceremonie la receut et la fit entrer toutes ces filles commencant de chanter un hymne a la gloire de ceres aussi tost qu'elle fut avec elles et que la porte fut refermee mais dieux que ce chant fut lugubre pour hermogene et en quel pitoyable estat je le vy cependant il eut beau se pleindre il n'y eut plus moyen de parler a cleodore que l'on avoit menee au temple ny mesme a pas une de ces vierges et nous fusmes contraints de nous en retourner a suse annoncer a tout le monde cette surprenante nouvelle depuis cela seigneur il a este impossible a hermogene de voir cleodore nous avons pourtant sceu par un sacrificateur que depuis qu'elle est en ce lieu la elle ne s'est informee de rien des choses du monde excepte qu'elle a demande quelquesfois si on ne scavoit point en quel lieu de la terre belesis vivoit ou en quel 
 lieu de la terre il estoit mort mais comme personne n'avoit jamais pu descouvrir ce qu'il estoit devenu elle n'en fut pas mieux informee on nous assura pourtant qu'elle avoit eu quelque joye de scavoir qu'il n'estoit pas retourne en son pais y ayant aparence de croire qu'elle aimoit mieux se l'imaginer miserable que de scavoir qu'il fust heureux cependant a cela pres elle vit avec autant d'exactitude que la plus ancienne des vierges du temple quoy qu'elle ait encore six mois auparavant que d'estre obligee a faire les derniers voeux voila donc seigneur quelle a este l'avanture de belesis et d'hermogene n'ayant plus rien a vous en dire si ce n'est qu'hermogene depuis que cleodore eut pris cette resolution pensa cent et cent fois mourir de douleur mais insensiblement venant a considerer qu'il estoit en quelque facon cause de sa retraite et de la perte de son amy la raison a repris sa place dans son coeur sa passion a este moins forte et je luy ay veu souhaiter a diverses fois de pouvoir ressusciter belesis que nous croiyons mort en quelque pais inconnu c'est pourquoy je ne puis assez m'estonner qu'il ait pu quereller belesis en le rencontrant et il faut sans doute que la veue du portrait de cleodore que belesis luy avoit pris autrefois ait surpris sa raison comme ces yeux et que ce que belesis luy a dit d'abord l'ait oblige a agir comme il a fait estant bien assure qu'il a tousjours conserve beaucoup d'amitie pour luy 
 principalement depuis que le temps a diminue la passion qu'il avoit pour cleodore
 
 
 
 
alcenor ayant cesse de parler cyrus luy tesmoigna la satisfaction qu'il avoit de son recit panthee araminte abradate et mazare le remercierent aussi en suitte dequoy examinant la chose ils ne trouverent pas grande difficulte a accommoder ces deux amis ennemis car puis qu'hermogene avoit pu se resoudre a vivre sans cleodore et que sa passion estoit diminuee pour elle c'estoit sans doute a luy a la ceder a belesis de qui l'amour estoit plus tost augmentee que diminuee ils penserent aussi que quant au portrait il estoit encore juste qu'il demeurast a celuy a qui cleodore l'avoit donne faisant pourtant dessein si hermogene ne pouvoit pas tout a fait consentir de renoncer a cleodore d'ordonner que l'on feroit scavoir a cette belle personne que belesis vivoit et l'aimoit toujours et qu'hermogene l'aimoit aussi et qu'apres cela soit qu'elle voulust demeurer au lieu ou elle estoit ou choisir quelqu'un d'eux pour son mary ils y conformeroient leur volonte et demeureroient amis mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut qu'alcenor ayant este envoye vers belesis pour luy aprendre que cleodore n'avoit point espouse hermogene afin de le preparer a cet accommodement il le trouva en conversation aveque luy ayant tous deux prie leurs gardes de les laisser parler ensemble de sorte que belesis en aprenant d'hermogene 
 qu'il n'avoit point espouse cleodore avoit de telle sorte perdu l'animosite qu'il avoit contre luy qu'il luy avoit dit cent choses pleines de tendresse luy racontant en peu de mots la malheureuse vie qu'il avoit menee si bien qu'hermogene estant sensiblement touche de scavoir les maux qu'il luy avoit causez avoit pris la resolution d'achever de se vaincre luy mesme en contentant qu'il fist ce qu'il pourroit pour faire sortir cleodore du lieu qu'elle avoit choisi pour sa retraitte si bien qu'hermogene n'eut pas besoin de s'aquitter de sa commission comme il estoit leur amy commun il les embrassa avec une joye extreme et les mena dans la chambre de panthee plus pour remercier la compagnie de la patience qu'elle avoit eue d'escouter leurs avantures que pour estre mis d'accord puis qu'ils s'estoient accordez eux mesmes neantmoins cyrus ne laissa pas de vouloir qu'ils promissent a la reine de la susiane de vivre tousjours bien ensemble ce qu'ils firent de bonne grace en suitte dequoy s'estant entretenus quelque temps cyrus et mazare accompagnez de belesis et de tous ceux qui les avoient suivis s'en retournerent au camp en y allant chrisante presenta a cyrus un homme qu'il croyoit estre un espion et que l'on avoit trouve charge d'une lettre pour la princesse araminte cet homme soutenant pourtant constamment qu'il n'estoit point envoye pour scavoir des nouvelles de l'armee 
 mais seulement de celles de la princesse de pont cyrus prenant cette lettre sans l'ouvrir luy demanda de la part de qui il estoit envoye mais il respondit qu'il ne le pouvoit dire que tout ce qu'il scavoit estoit qu'un homme qu'il ne connoissoit point l'avoit aborde dans heraclee d'ou il estoit et d'ou il paroissoit estre en effet par son langage que cet homme l'ayant tire a part luy avoit offert une grande recompence s'il vouloit se hazarder de porter une lettre a la princesse araminte et plus grande encore s'il pouvoit luy en raporter responce qu'en suitte ayant conte peu pres le temps qu'il devoit tarder a son voyage ce mesme homme l'avoit assure que huit jours durant vers le temps qu'il pouvoit revenir il se trouveroit tous les matins au soleil levant a un temple qu'il luy avoit marque pour aprendre le succes de son voyage cyrus connoissant par l'ingenuite de celuy qui parloit qu'il ne mentoit pas se contenta de le donner en garde a un des siens et pour tesmoigner a la princesse araminte le respect qu'il luy vouloit rendre il luy envoya la lettre qui s'adressoit a elle sans l'ouvrir commandant toutefois a chrisante qui eut ordre de la porter d'observer un peu le visage de cette princesse lors qu'elle la liroit et en effet chrisante obeissant ponctuellement a cyrus fut trouver la princesse araminte et luy rendre cette lettre mais a peine eut elle jette les yeux dessus qu'elle la reconnut pour estre de spitridate de 
 sorte que l'ouvrant avec toute la precipitation d'une personne qui mouroit d'envie de scavoit ou estoit ce prince elle y leut ces paroles
 
 
 le malheureux spitridate a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 quelque violente que soit la douleur que je souffre je vous declare en commencant cette lettre que je n'ay pourtant dessein de me pleindre de vous qu'avec tout le respect que je vous ay tousjours rendu et que si dans la suitte de mon discours il m'eschape quelque parole un peu dure elle m'eschapera malgre moy apres cela madame je ne m'amuseray point a vous faire scavoir les avantures d'un homme qui n'a plus de part en vostre affection et je vous aprendray seulement que dans la prison ou le roy mon pere me retient pour l'amour de vous on n'a pu inventer de plus cruel suplice que de me faire redire tous les jours que vous avez vaincu le vainqueur de la plus grande partie de l'asie et si je l'ose dire sans vous offencer que vostre coeur est la plus illustre de ses conquestes et mesme la plus apuree lugez s'il vous plaist madame combien cette prison m'est rude et insuportable cependant quoy que j'aye entendu parler devant que d'estre en prison de la defference que cyrus a pour vous 
 et de la complaisance que vous avez pour luy et que depuis que j'y suis on m'en ait raconte cent particularitez je ne puis toutesfois me resoudre a la mort sans avoir sceu par vous mesme que vous avez change de sentimens je dois ce me semble ce respect a tant d'assurances de fidelite que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de me donner de ne vous condamner pas tout a fait sans vous entendre ce n'est pas que mon coeur ne vous croye infidelle malgre toute la resistance que j'y aporte mais ce qui m'embarrasse un peu madame est que scachant que je ressemble a cyrus je ne scay comment vous le pouvez regarder sans vous souvenir du malheureux spitridate et je ne scay encore comment vous pouvez vous en souvenir sans rapeller dans vostre memoire la respectueuse passion que j'ay eue pour vous et tout ce qu'elle m'a fait faire il est vray que la ressemblance de cyrus et de moy n'est pas en nostre fortune comme aux traits du visage car il est heureux et je suis miserable il est aupres de vous et je suis absent il est vainqueur de tous ses ennemis et je suis captif il est maistre de la plus grande partie de l'asie et je n'ay pas seulement pouvoir sur moy mesme mais apres tout madame ce prince a plus fait pour sa propre gloire que pour vous ou au contraire j'ay renonce a la mienne seulement pour vostre service j'ay quitte des couronnes j'ay souffert l'exil et de la prison et pour dire tout en peu de paroles j'ay fait tout ce que j'ay pu et par consequent tout ce que je devois eh plust aux dieux madame que vous pussiez en dire autant aveque verite cependant comme je n'ay jamais eu dessein de vivre que pour vous et que je ne dois plus prendre de part a la vie si vous ne vivez plus pour 
 moy ayez s'il vous plaist la generosite de m'escrire que vous voulez que je mettre afin que j'aye me mesme la gloire de vous obeir en mourant 
 
 
 spitridate 
 
 
tant que la lecture de cette lettre dura la princesse araminte changea vint fois de couleur de sorte que comme chrisante l'observoit soigneusement il ne doutoit point du tout que ce ne fust une lettre d'importance sans en imaginer pourtant la verite mais durant qu'il cherchoit a la deviner la princesse de pont apella sa chere hesionide pour luy monstrer cette lettre ne pouvant assez s'estonner de ce qu'elle contenoit et ne scachant si elle la devoit faire voir a cyrus parce que sa modestie en faisoit quelque scrupule mais hesionide ayant considere la chose elle luy representa que ce prince luy ayant envoye cette lettre sans l'ouvrir meritoit qu'elle se confiast en luy et principalement en cette occasion de plus cette princesse scachant bien qu'il n'y avoit aucune verite a tout ce que luy disoit spitridate et que cyrus estoit aussi constant pour mandane qu'elle l'estoit pour le prince de bithinie elle prit en effet la resolution de la luy faire voir de peur qu'il ne s'en imaginast quelque chose d'autre nature et qu'il ne luy fust pas permis de renvoyer celuy qui la luy avoit aportee et qu'elle avoit grande envie d'entretenir de sorte que sans perdre temps elle escrivit ce billet a cyrus 
 
 
 
 araminte a cyrus 
 
 
 il faut du moins que ma confiance egalle vostre civilite et que comme vous n'avez pas voulu voir une lettre que selon les loix de la guerre vous pouviez ouvrir sans choquer la bien-seance je vous en monstre une que je devrois vous cacher si vous n'estiez pas aussi discret que genereux vous pourrez juger apres l'avoir leue que la fortune est bien ingenieuse a me persecuter puis que mesme sans que vous y contribuyez rien vous augmentee mes desplaisirs je vous suplie toutesfois de pardonner au malheureux spitridate le crime qu'il commet en vous en supposant un et de m'aider a pleindre ses malheurs et a soulager les miens vous le pouvez si vous voulez me renvoyer sa lettre que je vous envoye par celuy qui l'a aportee afin que je scache un peu mieux en quel estat est ce malheureux prince 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
cette princesse n'eut pas plustost acheve d'escrire que fermant la lettre de spitridate et la sienne elle les donna toutes deux a chrisante qui s'en retourna trouver son maistre apres avoir receu autant de civilite de cette princesse que le trouble ou elle estoit luy pouvoit permettre d'en avoir apres quoy elle se mit a exagerer ses infortunes et a les repasser l'une apres 
 l'autre depuis le premier jour que spitridate l'avoit aimee jusques au moment ou elle se separa de luy et jusques a celuy ou elle parloit cependant cyrus qui ne cherchoit qu'a l'obliger ne manqua pas aussi tost qu'il eut leu son billet de luy renvoyer la lettre de spitridate par celuy qui l'avoit aportee et de luy respondre en ces termes
 
 
 cyrus a la princesse araminte 
 
 
 comme les loix de la guerre ne doivent jamais faire contrevenir a celles du respect que l'on doit aux personnes de vostre condition et de vostre vertu je n'ay sans doute sait que ce que j'estois oblige de faire mais pour vous madame vous avez este beaucoup au de la de ce que vous deviez cependant tout ce que je vous puis dire pour reconnoistre la confiance que vous avez en ma discretion est de vous assurer que le prince spitridate ne s'est trompe qu'au nom lors qu'il vous a parle de l'affection que vostre rare merite a fait naistre dans mon coeur estant certain que l'amitie que j'ay pour vous est aussi parfaite que son amour est confiance je m'assure madame que vous ne vous offencerez pas de ce que je dis et que vous voudrez bien que je vous conjure de travailler a faire que spitridate de qui la vertu 
 me ravit me veuille regarder comme son amy que je veux estre et que je suis desja afin qu'en me justifiant vous vous justifiyez aussi mais en attendant que cela soit je vous promets que malgre la haine qu'il me porte sans doute je ne laisseray pas de songer a luy redonner la liberte aussi tost que les dieux m'auront donne la joye d'avoir delivre la princesse mandane 
 
 
 cyrus 
 
 
cette lettre ayant donc este donnee a celuy qui avoit aporte celle de spitridate il fut conduit a cette princesse qui croyoit devoir estre bien esclaircie par luy de la fortune de ce prince mais elle fut extraordinairement surprise lors qu'elle vit qu'il ne scavoit pas seulement que spitridate fust prisonnier il luy dit bien qu'il y avoit environ un mois que l'on avoit amene de nuit des prisonniers a heraclee que l'on y gardoit tres exactement mais que l'on ne disoit point qui ils estoient en suitte elle luy demanda ce que l'on disoit de spitridate et il luy respondit qu'on ne scavoit ce qu'il estoit devenu et que tout le peuple le regrettoit fort et en pont et en bithinie apres cela elle s'informa encore d'arbiane et d'aristhee qu'il luy dit estre en sante de sorte que ne pouvant tirer autre esclaircissement de luy elle prit la resolution non seulement de le renvoyer avec une lettre mais encore d'envoyer aveque luy un de ses esclaves afin de parler a celuy a qui cet homme devoit donner sa responce dans un temple d'heraclee 
 de sorte que sans perdre temps araminte escrivit a spitridate et choisit l'esclave qu'elle vouloit envoyer recompensant magnifiquement celuy qui luy avoit aporte la lettre de spitridate car encore qu'elle fust captive la generosite de cyrus ne laissoit pas de la mettre en estat de pouvoir faire des presens cependant le traitte qui se devoit faire pour la liberte de cette princesse et pour celle du prince artamas alla si lentement parce que cresus le vouloit ainsi qu'il n'y avoit pas encore un article resolu le jour auparavant que la treve deust finir cyrus n'avoit pas plustost accorde une chose que cresus y faisoit naistre une nouvelle difficulte et le dessein cache qu'il avoit de gagner temps parut si clairement qu'encore qu'il s'agist de la liberte du prince artamas le roy de phrigie fut le premier a dire a cyrus qu'il ne faloit plus s'amuser a traitter avec un prince qui ne traittoit pas sincerement et d'autant plus que l'on sceut qu'il avoit une grande joye dans l'armee de cresus pour l'arrivee d'un renfort de troupes egiptiennes que l'on disoit estre conduites par un prince extremement brave de sorte que voyant que cette treve ne servoit qu'a faire durer la guerre plus long temps il fut resolu qu'on ne la prolongeroit plus quelque demande qu'en fissent les ennemis cyrus ne voulut toutefois pas qu'on la rompist que le temps qu'elle devoit durer ne fust entierement expire mais aussi ne le fut il pas plustost et les negociateurs 
 de part et d'autre ne se furent plustost retirez que cyrus fit recommencer la guerre et commenca de faire filer toutes ses troupes pour leur faire passer la riviere d'helle au passage que tenoit le frere d'andramite et comme il y avoit en ce lieu la un grand et magnifique chasteau aussi tost que l'armee eut passe la riviere et que l'avantgarde de cyrus eut pousse les coureurs de celle de cresus jusques a une demy journee de sardis cyrus fit amener la reine de la susiane la princesse araminte et toutes les autres dames prisonnieres dans ce chasteau afin qu'abradate ne fust pas oblige de repasser la riviere quand il voudroit aller voit panthee cependant ce grand et merveilleux esprit qui estoit capable de tant de choses a la fois au milieu de tomes ses souffrances amoureuses ne laissoit pas d'avoir toute la vigilance d'un jeune ambitieux et toute la prudence d'un vieux capitaine il scavoit non seulement combien il avoit de troupes de munitions et de machines mais il scavoit encore precisement quelles estoient les troupes a qui il se devoit confier en une expedition dangereuse il scavoit la capacite des capitaines et jusques ou pouvoit aller la valeur de leurs soldats de sorte que lors qu'il rangeoit son armee on estoit assure que chacun estoit a la place qu'il devoit le mieux occuper mais durant qu'il songeoit a donner ordre a toutes choses tout le monde murmuroit fort dans l'armee 
 de cyrus de scavoir qu'araspe estoit dans celle des ennemis on sceut mesme un jour que les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie tigrane mazare et beaucoup d'autres estoient aupres de cyrus qu'araspe se mesloit de donner des conseils a cresus pour ranger ses troupes le jour de la bataille car comme on eut amene a cyrus des prisonniers que l'on avoit faits et qu'il leur eut demande quel ordre ils croyoient que cresus tiendroit a ranger son armee ils respondirent qu'ils avoient ouy dire qu'on suivroit le conseil d'un mede qui s'estoit jette dans leur party et qui vouloir que l'on changeast l'ordre qu'ils avoient accoustume detenir a peine ces prisonniers eurent ils dit cela que tout le monde connut bien que celuy qu'ils disoient estoit araspe mais ils furent extremement surpris de voir que cyrus au lieu de s'emporter contre luy se contenta de dire en sous-riant qu'il eust bien voulu tenir ce mede en sa puissance mais a peine avoit il dit cela que sans y faire une plus grande reflection il tint conseil de guerre sur toutes les choses qui pouvoient tomber en contestation il n'y en avoit pourtant gueres aux lieux ou estoit cyrus car il apuyoit tousjours ses advis de si puissantes raisons que rien ne s'y pouvoit opposer de sorte que les rois d'assirie de phrigie d'hircanie et de la susiane aussi bien que mazare tigrane persode phraarte gobrias gadate anaxaris et tous les autres qui en estoient s'estant remis absolument a fa 
 conduite il commenca de songer a toutes les choses necessaires et pour la marche de ses troupes et pour le jour de la bataille pour cet effet il fit venir presques tous les officiers de son armee et leur donna a chacun un ordre si particulier de ce qu'ils avoient a faire qu'ils n'avoient simplement qu'a obeir pour se bien aquitter de leur charge c'est a vous dit il aux capitaines a enfermer tousjours les moins bons de vos soldats entre les meilleurs afin que la valeur de ceux qui sont devant donne exemple de bien faire a ceux du milieu et que le courage de ceux qui sont derriere empesche les autres de fuir en suitte il commanda encore aux capitaines que quelque confiance qu'ils eussent en leurs soldats ils ne laissassent pas de les exhorter a faire leur devoir et qu'ils ne manquassent pas non plus de chastier les lasches leur disant que le moyen de rendre les soldats invincibles estoitde faire en sorte qu'ils craignissent autant leurs capitaines que leurs ennemis en suitte il donna tous les ordres necessaires pour faire marcher les machines et mesme pour le bagage aussi bien que pour les chariots de guerre il destina des troupes pour estre aupres des uns et aupres des autres il songea mesme a faire que personne ne se pleignist du lieu qu'il occuperoit il pend aussi a donner les ordres aux archers qui devoient estre montez sur des chameaux si assignant precisement le rang de tous ceux qui composoient cette grande 
 armee il parut qu'il avoit l'esprit d'une si merveilleuse estendue qu'il eust pu gouverner tout l'univers avec plus de facilite que les autres ne gouverneur une petite famille mais une des choses qu'il recommanda le plus a tous les chefs fut de se tenir aussi prests a combatre quand mesme ils seroient a l'arriere garde que s'ils estoient au front de la bataille toutes choses estant donc disposees de cette sorte et ayant resolu de marcher le lendemain cyrus fut le soir prendre conge des princesses accompagne de la plus part des personnes de qualite de cette armee mais entre les autres de ceux qui avoient quelque attachement particulier en ce lieu la comme phraarte andramite et ligdamis qui ayant sceu que cresus avoit voulu faire surprendre le chasteau d'hermes et que son pere qui en estoit gouverneur s'estoit veu contraint de ce declarer ne fit plus de difficulte de combatre pour cyrus principalement voyant tant d'autres lydiens dans son armee comme cyrus estoit tres civil il dit a toutes ces dames en general qu'il feroit ce qu'il pourroit pour faire qu'elles ne fussent pas obligees de respandre des larmes apres la victoire qu'il esperoit obtenir assurant la princesse araminte en son particulier de ne manquer jamais a rien de ce qu'il luy avoit promis cyrus avoit ce soir la tant de joye sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de tirer un heureux presage pour la bataille qu'il devoit donner aussi panthee luy 
 dit elle qu'elle en esperoit bien s'imaginant qu'il scavoit sans doute que ses ennemis n'estoient pas si forts qu'on les disoit au contraire madame luy dit il j'ay sceu qu'il leur est venu d'egipte un prince extremement brave que le prince de mysie est aussi arrive a sardis et qu'un vaillant capitaine d'ionie nomme arinaspe est aussi venu avec des troupes au secours de cresus mais puis que le vaillant abradate poursuivit il est pour nous et que nostre cause est la plus juste je ne laisse pas d'esperer la victoire au moins adjoustat il ay-je cette consolation de pouvoir esperer de vaincre bientost ou de mourir apres cela ce prince prit conge d'elle et de toutes les autres dames n'y en ayant pas une qui n'eust un sujet particulier de se louer de sa civilite et qui ne fist des voeux pour sa conservation phraarte n'en put pas autant obtenir de la princesse araminte qui dans les sentimens de douleur ou elle estoit et pour la prison de spitridate et pour la bataille qu'on alloit donner le regarda partir presques sans scavoir si c'estoit luy pour ligdamis il receut de sa chere cleonice toutes les marques de tendresse qu'il en pouvoit desirer mais pour andramite il ne put voir en doralise que de la civilite encore ne s'estimoit il pas tout a fait malheureux d'en avoir este regarde sans froideur cependant abradate fit ses adieux a part et ne les fit que le lendemain au matin mais comme il estoit prest de prendre les armes qu'il avoit accoustume de 
 porter panthee luy en envoya de magnifiques qu'elle luy avoit fait faire secrettement a la ville ou elle estoit lors qu'il l'estoit allee trouver et ou elle avoit fait mettre tontes ses pierreries le casque qu'on luy aporta estoit tout estincelant de diamants avec un pannache de couleur de pourpre la cotte d'armes estoit aussi tres magnifique et de mesme couleur que le pannache de sorte qu'abradate s'estonnant de voir des armes si superbes commenca le remerciment qu'il en fit a sa chere panthee par des pleintes qu'il luy fit de ce qu'elle avoit employe ses pierreries a le parer en un jour de guerre qui eussent este plus necessaires a la parer elle mesme en quelque feste de resjouissance apres sa victoire j'ay une si grande opinion de vostre valeur luy respondit elle et nous douons tant a l'illustre cyrus que j'ay creu qu'il estoit a propos que vous eussiez des armes fort remarquables afin que les belles choses que vous ferez le jour de la bataille puissent plus aisement estre remarquees par ce prince mais quelque grandeur de courage qu'il y eust en ces paroles panthee ne les prononca pourtant qu'en pleurant il est vray qu'elle aporta soin a cacher ses larmes de peur qu'abradate ne les prist a mauvais augure il est vray aussi que ce prince fit semblant de ne les voir pas de peur de l'attendrir trop et de s'attendrir luy mesme il se contenta donc de luy renouveller en peu de paroles les assurances d'une affection inviolable et d'une passion eternelle apres 
 quoy il luy promit de l'aquiter envers cyrus de tout ce qu'elle luy devoit de sorte que s'engageant insensiblement a parler de ce prince ils en firent un grand eloge en se reussouvenant comment il les avoit traitez panthee faisant durer cette conversation avec adresse afin de differer ce cruel adieu et de voir plus long temps son cher abradate qui n'avoit jamais este plus beau ny de si bonne mine qu'il estoit avec ces magnifiques armes mais enfin ce prince voyant qu'il estoit temps de partir embrassa sa chere panthee et la quittant sans pouvoir prononcer le mot d'adieu il traversa une antichambre et alla pour monter dans un superbe et magnifique chariot de guerre qui l'attendoit devant le perron de ce chasteau panthee le suivant accompagnee de toutes les dames prisonnieres mais comme il vint a se retourner et qu'il la vit avec une douleur sur le visage qui n'avoit pourtant rien que de grand et d heroique il retourna encore une fois vers elle et la prenant par la main qu'il luy baisa en voulant l'obliger de rentrer veuillent les dieux s'escria t'il que je puisse faire voir que je ne suis pas indigne d'estre mary de panthee et amy de l'illustre cyrus apres quoy la quittant il se jetta avec precipitation dans le chariot qui l'attendoit la conjurant encore une fois apres qu'il y fut de se retirer elle ne le fit pourtant pas au contraire elle le suivit des yeux autant qu'elle put et il la regarda aussi le plus longtemps 
 qu'il luy fut possible mais comme si la constance de panthee luy eust este inspiree par la veue d'abradate des qu'elle ne le vit plus elle s'esvanouit et ses femmes furent contraintes de la porter sur son lict cependant jamais on n'a rien veu de si magnifique que l'estoit cette grande armee car non seulement cyrus le roy d'assirie mazare et tous les autres princes estoient superbement armez mais encore tous les capitaines et il n'y avoit pas mesme un simple soldat qui du moins n'eust rendu ses armes claires et luisantes s'il ne les avoit pu avoir belles et riches de sorte que le soleil estant ce jour la sans aucun nuage fit voir en la marche de cette armee le plus bel objet qui soit jamais tombe sous les yeux toute la cavalerie avoit des casques d'airain bruny aussi bien que le reste des armes des pennaches blancs des cottes d'armes incarnattes et des javelots a la main garnis de cuivre dore ou d'orfevrerie pour cyrus ses armes estoient ces mesmes armes d'or qu'il avoit portees a la bataille qu'il avoit gagnee contre le roy d'assirie luy semblant que puis qu'elles luy avoient este si heureuses il devoit encore s'en servir en une occasion qui n'estoit pas moins dangereuse et qui ne luy estoit pas moins importante le cheval qu'il monta avoit aussi eu l'honneur de luy servir a plusieurs de ses victoires et particulierement a celle la de sorte que le roy d'assirie reconnoissant ces armes qui estoient fort remarquables 
 en soupira et ne put s'empescher d'en dire quelque chose a cyrus veuillent les dieux du moins luy dit il que ces armes que vous portez vous soient aussi heureuses contre cresus et contre le roy de pont qu'elles vous le furent contre moy eh veullent ces mesmes dieux que je me serve mieux de celles que j'ay aujourd'huy que je ne fis de celles que j'avois alors vous fistes de si belles choses reprit modestement cyrus que si la fortune n'eust este vostre ennemie ciaxare ne vous eust pas vaincu c'est pourquoy l'espere plus aujourd'huy en vostre valeur qu'en la mienne comme ils en estoient la mazare s'estant joint a eux aussi bien que tigrane phraarte anaxaris gobrias gadate et tous les volontaires il commanda que toute l'armee commencast de marcher et il marcha en effet luy mesme a la teste de son avant-garde avec le roy d'assirie auquel il donna la droite et auquel il offrit mesme le commandement hidaspe commandant le corps de la bataille ou estoient tous les homotimes le roy de phrigie et le roy d'assirie l'arriere-garde et abradate tous les chariots de guerre qui faisoient un corps separe avec les tours et les machines pendant cette marche cyrus commencant donc d'avancer apres avoir envoye long temps auparavant des coureurs pour aprendre des nouvelles des ennemis donna le branle a tout ce grand corps d'armee qui sembloit n'avoit qu'un esprit qui la conduisist et qui animast toutes ses 
 parties tant il se remuoit avec ordre cresus de son coste aussi bien que le roy de pont se preparoit a un combat general n'oublioit rien de tout ce qui pouvoit luy faire obtenir la victoire il est vray qu'il y avoit une notable difference entre ces deux armees car si l'esperance estoit dans celle de cyrus la terreur estoit dans celle du roy de lydie ce n'est pas qu'elle ne fust beaucoup plus nombreuse que l'autre a cause de ce grand nombre d'egiptiens qui y estoient venus et du secours que le prince de misie et arinaspe y avoient amene mais le nom de cyrus estoit si redoutable par tout que des que l'on sceut au camp de cresus que ce prince avoit passe la riviere d'helle l'espouvante se mit dans le coeur de la plus part des soldats et la nuit suivante les gardes avancees de cresus ne cesserent de donner de fausses allarmes car la crainte qu'ils avoient leur faisoit croire qu'ils voyoient ce qu'ils ne voyoient point du tout de sorte qu'il falloit que toutes les troupes de cresus passassent la nuit sous les armes cresus craignant donc que cette espouvante ne devinst a la fin une de ces terreurs paniques qui ont quelquesfois detruit sans combatre les plus grandes armees du monde se resolut de tesmoigner de la hardiesse afin d'en donner aux autres et d'aller au devant de cyrus si bien que decampant des le lendemain il s'avanca un peu au dela de thybarra en mesme temps que cyrus venoit a luy de sorte que ces deux armees camperent le soir 
 a cinquante stades l'une de l'autre comme cyrus ne vouloit pas estre sur pris il passa toute cette nuit la sans dormir et comme le roy d'assirie et mazare vouloient du moins faire tout ce qu'ils pouvoient ils furent tesmoins des soins qu'il avoit de pourvoir a toutes choses et veillerent aussi bien que luy il fit visiter les chariots de guerre qu'il avoit sait armer de faux a l'entour des essieux pour voir si durant la marche du jour precedent il ne s'y seroit rien gaste et il n'oublia rien enfin de tout ce qu'il creut luy pouvoir servir a vaincre cependant ces trois illustres rivaux passerent le reste de la nuit dans une mesme tente avec des sentiments bien differents quoy que mandane fust l'objet de toutes leurs pensees car cyrus dans la certitude d'estre aime malgre toutes les menaces des dieux avoit quelques momens agreables au milieu de ses souffrances ou au contraire le roy d'assirie malgre le favorable oracle qu'il avoit receu a babilone scachant qu'il n'estoit point aime et que cyrus l'estoit avoit des momens de fureur dont il avoit peine a estre le maistre pour mazare quoy que ses sentimens fussent moins violens sa douleur estoit pourtant tres sensible car enfin quand il venoit a penser qu'il s'estoit impose a luy mesme la necessite de ne pretendre plus qu'a l'amitie de mandane il ne scavoit pas s'il pourroit demeurer dans les bornes qu'il s'estoit prescrites d'autre part le roy de pont s'estimoit aussi malheureux qu'il pouvoit l'estre 
 principalement quand il venoit a considerer que mesme la victoire ne le rendroit pas heureux puis que quand il auroit vaincu cyrus il n'auroit pas vaincu mandane a qui il n'avoit pas voulu qu'on dist rien de la bataille qu'on alloit donner afin de luy espargner quelques inquietudes car on peut dire que jamais ravisseur n'a este moins violent ny plus respectueux que celuy la de sorte que mandane et la princesse palmis sans scavoir que l'on alloit combatre pour leur liberte se plaignoient et se consoloient ensemble mandane avoit pourtant eu une douleur bien sensible de n'avoir pas voulu croire mazare car elle avoit sceu par cylenise que ce prince estoit effectivement alle trouver cyrus le prince artamas de son coste souffroit des peines inconcevables non seulement par sa prison mais par celle de la princesse palmis et par l'inquietude qu'il avoit de la bataille qu'il scavoit que l'on alloit donner il avoit pourtant tout brave qu'il estoit quelque consolation de n'y estre point afin que la princesse de lydie ne luy pust pas reprocher un jour qu'il eust combatu contre le roy son pere mais quelques inquietudes qu'eussent routes ces illustres personnes comme cyrus estoit le plus amoureux je pense qu'on peut dire qu'il estoit le plus tourmente du moins fut il le plus diligent a se mettre en estat de vaincre
 
 
 
 
car a peine l'aurore commenca t'elle de blanchir les nues du coste du soleil levant qu'il fit esveiller tout son 
 camp au son des trompettes des clairons et des haubois de sorte que chacun prenant ses armes et se rangeant sous son enseigne presques en un moment toute cette grande armee se trouva en estat d'obeir a son general qui n'ayant pas moins de piete que de valeur commanda que l'on fist un sacrifice afin de demander la victoire aux dieux voulant mesme que l'on sacrifiast selon la coustume des persans sans y mesler nulle ceremonie estrangere de sorte que les mages qui s'estoient preparez a faire cette ceremonie choisirent une eminence qui le trouva estre enfermee dans le camp pour sacrifier a jupiter au soleil qu'ils apelloient orosmade et a venus uranie qu'ils nommoient mitra cyrus choisissant ces trois divinitez afin que jupiter luy donnast la force de vaincre que le soleil esclairast sa victoire et que venus uranie le favorisast dans le dessein qu'il avoit de delivrer la princesse qu'il aimoit comme les persans ne sacrifioient jamais qu'a ciel ouvert qu'ils ne dressoient point d'autels n'allumoient point de feu ne se servoient point de musique ny de couronnes de sleurs la ceremonie ne fut pas longue car les mages ne firent autre chose sinon que se mettant chacun une tiare environnee de mirte sur la teste ils conduisirent les victimes sur l'eminence qu'ils avoient choisie ou ils ne furent pas plustost arrivez qu'ils invoquerent les divinitez a qui ils sacrifioient et suivant la coustume de perse qui vouloit que l'on 
 ne fist jamais de priere que pour tous les perses en general excepte pour le roy ils demanderent a ces divinitez tout ce qui pouvoit estre glorieux a leur nation et par consequent la victoire en suitte ils prierent pour toute l'armee et pour ciaxare seul en particulier cyrus n'ayant pas voulu qu'on le distinguast de tous les autres persans apres cela les victimes estant immolees on les estendit sur des faisseaux de mirte et de laurier ou l'on visita les entrailles qui se trouverent estre telles qu'il les faloit pour bien esperer de la victoire et pour donner un nouveau coeur a tous les soldats cependant quelque diligent que fust ce prince a sacrifier il avoit este devance par cresus il est vray que c'avoit este d'une maniere bien differente car comme luy et le roy de pont aussi bien que le prince de mysie et tous les autres chefs avoient remarque que leurs soldats craignoient leurs ennemis et que le nom de cyrus leur estoit extraordinairement redoutable ils eurent peur eux mesmes que cette terreur ne mist le desordre dans leur armee de sorte que comme il s'agissoit de donner une bataille qui sembloit devoir estre une bataille decisive ils s'aviserent pour obliger leurs soldats a faire leur devoir et a joindre l'opiniastrete a leur valeur ordinaire de les y engager par un sentiment de religion pour cet effet ils remirent en usage un ancien sacrifice dont on se servoit a la guerre du temps que les heraclides regnoient en lydie ils firent 
 donc dresser des autels au milieu du camp ou toute l'armee se rangea comme en bataille environ a deux heures apres minuit en suitte dequoy on alluma a l'entour de ces autels douze feux qui firent voir grand nombre de victimes que les sacrificateurs avoient desja egorgees a l'entour de ces autels de ces feux et de ces victimes sanglantes estoient deux cens hommes l'espee nue a la main en suitte dequoy apres avoir fait jurer tous les capitaines de ne quitter le combat que morts ou victorieux on apella les uns apres les autres au milieu de ces feux de ces autels de ces victimes et de ces hommes qui avoient l'espee nue a la main on leur fit promettre et jurer avec des paroles terribles et en faisant des imprecations sur eux et sur toute leur posterite de ne manquer a rien de tout ce que cresus leur commanderoit ou leur feroit commander par leurs capitaines apres cela on leur fit encore promettre en particulier de ne fuir point de la bataille de tuer ceux de leurs compagnons qui voudroient reculer d'un pas seulement et de se resoudre a la mort plustost que de ne remporter pas la victoire et comme il y en eut quelques uns qui espouventez d'un si estrange sacrifice et d'une si ferme resolution ne voulurent pas jurer ces hommes qui avoient l'espee nue a la main les tuerent et par un exemple si cruel et si terrible porterent tous les autres a promettre ce qu'on leur demandoit quoy que peut-estre ils n'eussent pas tous envie 
 de le tenir neantmoins comme les choses d'aparat touchent extremenent le coeur de la multitude les soldats de l'armee de cresus en general creurent estre devenus plus vaillans apres cette ceremonie qui finit par des assurances que les sacrificateurs donnerent par force qu'ils ne voyoient que des signee favorables a toutes les victimes si bien que l'esperance succedant a la crainte l'armee de cresus commenca de ne douter plus de l'heureux succes de la bataille cependant le roy de lydie qui ne s'assuroit pas tant a la multitude de ses troupes qu'il ne voulust encore songer a tout ce qui luy pouvoit estre avantageux se raprocha de thybarra de sorte que cyrus fut extremement surpris apres qu'il eut sacrifie et que le jour commenca de paroistre de voir que les ennemis n'estoient plus ou il les croyoit jugeant bien alors qu'ils vouloient l'engager a combattre en un lieu desavantageux pour luy en effet si ce prince n'eust pas este aussi prudent que vaillant il se seroit expose a perdre toute son armee inutilement thybarra estoit une ville d'une medrocre grandeur scituee sur une agreable coline a cent trente stades de sardis au pied de cette coline passoit une petite riviere qui en formant tout a l'entour un marais assez estendu en rendoit l'abord difficile de sorte qu'il paroissoit assez que cresus croyoit avoir besoin de tout contre un prince tell que cyrus comme cet heros estoit accoustume a chercher ses ennemis et a 
 ne les fuir jamais il fut se mettre en bataille sur la hauteur la moins esloignee de thybarra et la plus opposee a celle ou estoit cresus tesmoignant avoir une si violente envie de combatre qu'il eut besoin de toute sa prudence pour s'opposer a l'ardeur de son courage qui vouloit qu'il hazardast tout plustost que de ne combatre point toutesfois venant a considerer que s'il perdoit la bataille sa gloire recevroit une tache et que mandane ne seroit point delivree il examina la choie de plus pres il vit donc que l'aisle droite de cresus estoit a couvert de la ville de thybarra qui de ce coste la estoit fortifiee naturellement par la chutte de plusieurs torrens qui par la suitte des temps s'estoient faits des passages si profons et si tortueux qu'ils en rendoient l'abord tres difficile cyrus sceut encore que le corps de la bataille des ennemis estoit si judicieusement poste qu'il ne l'eust pu estre mieux car enfin il estoit dans de petits bois que la nature avoit tellement retranchez que l'art ne l'eust pas si bien fait et pour l'aisle gauche comme elle estoit sur une eminence ou pour y aller il faloit passer plusieurs defilez il y auroit eu beaucoup d'imprudence d'en concevoir le dessein principalement l'armee de cresus estant beaucoup plus nombreuse que celle de cyrus le roy de lydie avoit pourtant espere que cyrus feroit ce qu'il avoit fait aupres d'anaxate et en assirie et qu'ainsi ne hazardant rien et cyrus hazardant 
 tout il pourroit remporter la victoire mais comme la prudence consiste principalement a changer de sentimens selon les occurrences cyrus qui avoit tout hazarde pour delivrer mandane en armenie ou il le pouvoit faire sans choquer la raison ne voulut pas faire la mesme chose en lydie ou il ne pouvoit sans s'exposer a perdre et mandane et la victoire il fit pourtant tout ce qui fut en son pouvoir pour tascher de faire quitter a cresus le poste qu'il occupoit et pour l'obliger a combatre et l'on peut dire que tout ce que l'art militaire enseigne pour forcer des ennemis a faire plus qu'ils ne veulent fut employe inutilement en cette occasion de sorte que tout ce jour la les deux armees furent en de continuelles escarmouches sans que cyrus pust jamais engager les ennemis a un combat general cependant le lieu ou il estoit campe estoit extremement incommode car comme les ennemis estoient maistres de la petite riviere qui passoit aupres de thybarra on ne scavoit ou mener boire les chevaux de son armee ny mesme ou trouver du fourrage cyrus se resolvant donc a decamper il fie dessein de s'aller poster assez pres du pactole ou son armee trouveroit abondance de tout ce qui luy manquoit au poste qu'elle abandonnoit et d'ou il pourroit observer la contenance des ennemis et estre en estat de pouvoir facilement les joindre et les forcer a combatre de quelque coste qu'ils marchassent la difficulte 
 estoit de resoudre s'il decamperoit de jour ou de nuit la prudence vouloit que ce fust de nuit mais le grand coeur de cyrus n'y pouvoit consentir et n'y consentit pas en effet il est vray qu'une des raisons qui l'obligerent a suivre plustost en cette occasion les mouvemens de son courage que les conseils de la prudence ordinaire fut qu'il espera que peut estre cresus et le roy de pont voudroient ils du moins faire semblant de le suivre et que pofitant de cette occasion il tourneroit teste et les forceroit a combattre de sorte qu'encore qu'il connust bien qu'il y avoit un danger evident a faire ce qu'il pretendoit et que le bon succes en estoit douteux il ne laissa pas d entreprendre de se retirer a la veue d'une armee beaucoup plus forte que la sienne et commandee par des princes qui scavoient admirablement la guerre et qui par consequent devoient vray-semblablement prendre la resolution de faire en sorte que la retraitte de cyrus se changeast en fuitte et que sa fuitte fust suivie de sa deffaite entiere cependant le courage heroique de cyrus l'emporta sur toute autre consideration et des que la pointe du jour luy permit de voir la route qu'il devoit prendre le corps de reserve marcha la seconde ligne le suivit et preceda la premiere qui marcha immediatement apres en suitte dequoy et les machines et les chariots armez de faux marcherent a la teste de l'infanterie les ordres de cyrus furent si bien executez que cette 
 retraitte se fit sans confusion et sans peril excepe la premiere ligne de l'aisle droite ou estoit cyrus parce que l'aisle gauche de cresus qui luy estoit opposee et ou estoient les lydiens et les mariandins estoit la plus degagee et celle qui pouvoit plus facilement venir fondre sur ce prince parce qu'il y avoit moins d'obstacles de son coste que des autres aussi fut-ce celle qui commenca de quitter son poste pour aller charger un prince que les lydiens n'eussent ose attaquer de pied ferme et qu'ils n'attaquoient que parce qu'il se retiroit cependant cyrus avoit voulu que le corps de cavalerie que commandoit hidaspe fist ferme dans la plaine afin que sa ligne peust se retirer par les intervales de la cavalerie comme en effet elle le fit mais les troupes que commandoit artabase ce jour la qui faisoient la retiraitte de toute l'armee aussi bien que celles que commandoit anaxaris furent attaquees par les mariandins de qui ils soustinrent l'effort avec beaucoup de courage principalement anaxaris qui fit des miracles en cette occasion mais quoy qu'ils peussent faire les troupes qu'ils commandoient pliererit anaxaris fut blesse et fait prisonnier et artabase plus heureux que luy se degagea d'eux et rejoignit ceux de son party les ennemis voyant un commencement si heureux eussent pousse leur victoire plus avant si hidaspe ne les eust arrestez et ne les eust repoussez si vigoureusement qu'il en merita des acclamations 
 et des louanges de toutes les deux armees qui le virent aller a la charge avec une ardeur qui faisoit assez connoistre qu'il estoit digne de l'amitie que cyrus avoit pour luy hidaspe combatant donc et pour sa propre gloire et pour celle de son maistre repoussa les mariandins et les lydiens qui les soutenoient jusques a demy hauteur de la coline dont ils estoient descendus mais un moment apres trois escadrons les venant soutenir et ces trois estant suivis de toute la cavalerie de cresus qui fut commandee pour s'opposer a la valeur d'hidaspe il falut que les siens cedassent a la multitude et se retirassent en confusion principalement parce qu'ils se retiroient en descendant cyrus de qui la prudence ne pouvoit estre trompee et qui avoit preveu ce qu'il voyoit avoit commande a une partie de ses troupes de se mettre en bataille sur la hauteur la plus proche et avoit voulu que sa ligne s'arrestast dans la plaine afin de favoriser en personne la retraitte d'hidaspe pour cet effet il avoit este d'escadron en escadron exhorter tous ceux qui les composoient a se monstrer dignes de l'opinion avantageuse qu'il avoit de leur courage et en effet il creut qu'ils feroient ce qu'ils avoient accoustume de faire et qu'ils ne l'abandonneroient pas cependant comme il estoit prest d'aller charger ceux qui forcoient les siens a se retirer avec tant de desordre et que l'on voyoit desja dans ses yeux cette fierte qui avoit accoustume d'inspirer une nouvelle ardeur 
 a ses soldats et d'espouvanter ses ennemis ces mesmes escadrons qui luy avoient promis de ne le quitter point et qui ne l'avoient jamais quitte se trouverent capables de la peur qu'ils avoient accoustume de donner aux autres ainsi soit que la multitude des ennemis les estonnast soit que la retraitte tumultueuse des leurs esbranlast leur courage ou soit qu'il y ait certains momens dangereux a la guerre ou les plus braves ne peuvent respondre d'eux mesmes ils abandonnerent cyrus de sorte qu'il ne put faire autre chose que songer enfin a sauver sa personne pour sauver son annee ce ne fut pourtant qu'a l'extremite qu'il prit cette resolution et qu'apres s'estre veu plus d'une fois en danger d'estre pris ou tue tant il avoit de peine a se retirer devant ses ennemis luy qui n'en avoit jamais rencontre qu'il n'eust batus tous ceux a qui la frayeur osta le jugement ne purent s'empescher de fuir jusques au pied de la hauteur ou la seconde ligne s'estoit postee aussi bien que l'aisle gauche de la premiere l'lnfanterie de la bataille et le corps de reserve mais ceux a qui le peril ne fit pas perdre la raison s'arresterent a un endroit de la plaine ou un petit rideau les couvroit en quelque sorte cyrus qui dans cette fascheuse rencontre avoit l'esprit aussi libre que s'il n'eust pas este en peril voyant quelques uns des siens qui avoient fait alte commenca de les r'allier et il le fit avec tant de courage et si a propos que tournant teste aux ennemis non seulement 
 il les arresta tout court mais il les repoussa vigoureusement et les forca de se retirer sur l'eminence que les gens de cyrus avoient quittee et qui estoit opposee a celle ou ils estoient postez apres que cyrus eut fait cette genereuse action et qu'il eut rejoint les rois d'assirie de phrigie d'hircanie et tous les autres princes qui estoient a cette armee il resolut absolument de donner bataille et de ne changer rien au premier ordre qu'il avoit donne comme en effet il n'y eut point d'autre chargement sinon que la premiere ligne de l'aisle droite devint seconde ligne cyrus ne jugeant pas qu'elle fust assez bien remise de l'effroy dont elle avoit este capable pour l'exposer au premier choc du combat ce n'est pas que ce ne fust une chose aussi dangerese que hardie de vouloir changer un ordre de bataille a la veue des ennemis cependant le changement de ces deux lignes se fit avec tant d'ordre et d'un mouvement si regle qu'il n'y eut aucune confusion car faisant une contre marche elles passerent a la place l'une de l'autre par leurs intervales et le firent avec tant de justesse qu'en fort peu de temps elles se trouverent en estat de combatre s'il le faloit tout ce que cyrus avoit rallie de cavalerie fut renvoye au poste qu'elle devoit occuper et toutes choses enfin furent si bien et si tost restablies quel on ne s'apercut pas que l'on eust perdu quelques hommes a cette retraitre dont le nombre se trouva en effet estre fort petit cependant 
 cyrus qui vouloir tousjours choisir le lieu le plus dangereux principalement a un jour de bataille prit l'aisle droite et fut se poster a la premiere ligne dont les escadrons estoient composez de persans de medes et de capadociens ayant place un petit corps de volontaires qui voulurent avoir l'honneur de combatre aupres de luy en cette journee dans l'intervale des deux escadrons que gadate commandoit a la teste desquels ce prince voulut combatre les plus remarquables de ces volontaires estoient persode andramite ligdamis timocreon sosicle hermogene belesis orsane et tegee feraulas et ortalque suivant aussi leur maistre de fort pres ceux qui servirent ce jour la sous ce prince furent le roy d'assirie qui commandoit la premiere ligne assiste d'aglatidas tigrane qui demeura aupres de la personne de cyrus pour faire aupres de luy ce qu'aglatidas faisoit aupres du roy d'assirie et artabane qui commandoit la cavalerie de cette brigade cependant mazare prit l'aisle gauche dont la premiere ligne estoit egalle en nombre d'escadrons a la premiere ligne de l'aisle droite gobrias commandant cette premiere ligne assiste d'adusius phraarte commandant aussi la cavalerie de cette brigade la premiere ligne d'infanterie marchant entre les deux aisles estoit de cinq bataillons les machines et les tours marchant a la teste de l'infanterie aussi bien que les cent chariots armez de faux que commandoit 
 abradate dont le magnifique chariot avoit quatre timons et estoit tire par huit chevaux de front les plus beaux du monde la seconde ligne de l'aisle droite estoit commandee par artabase comme la seconde ligne de l'aisle gauche par chrisante la seconde ligne d'infanterie estoit de cinq bataillons plusieurs escadrons de cavalerie estoient postez entre les deux lignes d'infanterie et tout le gros de la cavalerie persienne ou estoient les homotimes l'infanterie assirienne que commandoit hidaspe composoit le corps de la bataille le corps de reserve compose de phrigiens et d'hircaniens estoit commande par les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie les choses estant en cet estat cyrus en eut une joye interieure qui parut sur son visage et qui inspira de la hardiesse a tous ceux qui la remarquerent mais afin que le mesme esprit de valeur qui l'animoit animast toute son armee il fit une reveue de toutes ses troupes et allant de ligne en ligne d'escadron en escadron et de rang en rang il dissipa la crainte de ceux qui en avoient et augmenta mesme le courage des plus vaillants souvenez vous mes compagnons disoit il en parlant aux premiers escadrons a qui il adressa la parole qu'il s'agit aujourd'huy de cambatre non seulement peur la victoire que nous voulons remporter mais encore pour conserver la gloire que nous avons aquise in tant d'autres occasions en suitte se tournant vers d'autres troupes n'oubliez pas leur disoit il qu'il y a bien souvent 
 plus de peril pour ceux qui combatent mal que pour ceux qui combatent bien et qu'en toutes sortes de combats il y a plus de seurete a tenir ferme qu'a fuir passant outre et s'adressant encore a d'autres c'est aujourd'huy soldats s'escrioit il qu'il faut faire voir que nous scavons l'art de vaincre et que nous ne triomphons pas par hazard n'oubliez pas adjoustoit il en regardant d'autres escadrons qu'une partie de ces mesmes ennemis que nous allons combatre ont desja este vaincus pas nous en d'autres rencontres et que nous ne l'avons jamais este par per sonne que la multitude de nos ennemis disoit cyrus a ceux qu'il croyoit estre les moins vaillants ne vous espouvante pas car si nous avons plus de coeur qu'ils n'en ont nous ne laisserons pas de les vaincre facilement je vous serais tort disoit il a ceux qu'il vouloit flater si le vous exhortais a combattre et il suffit de vous dire que vous faciez ce que vous avez accoustume de faire au reste mes compagnons poursuivoit ce prince en avancant tousjours souvenez vous que nostre cause est juste que les dieux sont equitables que vous estes braves que vous n'avez lamais este vaincus et que vans pouvez sans craindre d'estre trompez esperer de grandes recompences c'est pour quoy je puis ce me semble hardiment vous promettre la victoire si vous faites seulement ce que je suis resolu de faire moy mesme apres cela cyrus leur recommanda particulierement trois choses l'une de s'entre-regarder marcher afin que s'observant l'u n l'autre l'ordre de la bataille ne fust point rompu et que les lignes fussent droites et leurs distances egalles l'autre chose qu'il leur 
 recommanda encore fut de ne se precipiter point en allant a la charge et de n'y aller qu'au pas seulement et la derniere de laisser tirer tous les premiers traits des ennemis et lancer tous leurs javelots devant que de jetter les leurs en suitte cyrus ayant passe aupres d'abradate au lieu de luy parler comme aux autres il luy dit seulement qu'il se preparoit a luy devoir une partie de la victoire qu'il esperoit obtenir mais comme le roy de la susiane ne se trouvoit pas assez avantageusement place il luy respondit qu'il voyait bien qu'il ne ferait tout au plus que luy aider a achever de vaincre et qu'il avoit voulu que les persans luy enseignassent a combatre apres quoy cyrus continuant de marcher et d'exhorter ses soldats il retourna a la teste de l'aisle droite ou il devoit combatre a peine cyrus eut il acheve de haranguer ses troupes de leur donner ses derniers ordres et a peine eut il repris sa place qu'araspe qui s'estoit degage des ennemis et s'estoit jette dans l'armee de cyrus vint se presenter a luy c'est icy seigneur luy dit il que je viens expier la faute que j'ay faite en mourant pour vostre service comme je vous escrivis que j'en avois le dessein lors que je me jettay parmy vos ennemis afin de vous en mander des nouvelles nous avons tant de besoin de vaillants hommes repliqua cyrus que tout criminel que vous estes je ne laisse pas d'estre bien aise de vous voir et de vous assigner vostre place pour combatre aupres 
 d'andramite quand vous m'aurez rendu conte en peu de mots de ce que vous scavez des ennemis alors araspe s'aprocha de l'oreille de cyrus et luy dit tout ce qu'il creut estre le plus important de luy apprendre en suitte dequoy il s'alla mettre dans le petit corps de volontaires qui suivoit de fort pres la personne de ce prince mais a peine cyrus eut il fait quelque reflexion sur les advis qu'araspe luy venoit de donner que l'on vit la cavalerie lydienne qui paroissoit sur la hauteur qui estoit vis a vis de cyrus s'ouvrir tout d'un coup a droit et a gauche pour faire place a la bataille de cresus cyrus jugeant alors parce qu'il voyoit qu'enfin les ennemis estoient resolus a accepter le combat qu'il leur presentoit eut une joye inconcevable de voir que sa feinte retraitte les avoit trompez et les avoit malgre eux attirez au combat dans l'esperance qu'ils avoient de le vaincre plus facilement ce jour la qu'un autre a cause du petit desordre qui estoit arrive cependant l'armee de cyrus estoit en estat de combatre et celle de cresus ne l'estoit pas de sorte que la diligence de cet illustre conquerant surprit ceux qui le vouloient surprendre en effet sans perdre temps et sans donner loisir aux ennemis d'achever de se ranger cyrus marcha droit a eux y ayant desja trois heures et demie que le soleil estoit leve jusques alors l'esperance de la victoire avoit este dans l'armee de cresus mais des que les ennemis virent que cyrus alloit a eux 
 comme ayant absolument determine de combatre ils perdirent une partie de leur assurance et tinrent du moins la victoire un peu douteuse le cry de la bataille que cyrus avoit donne a ses troupes estoit jupiter projecteur mais toute cette armee animee parla presence d'un prince que tous les soldats apelloient un second mars au lieu de crier jupiter protecteur fit retentir l'air du nom de ce dieu de la guerre de sorte que redisant mille et mille fois mars mars et ce bruit de tant de voix differentes se meslant a celuy des trompettes des haubois et des clairons sembloit desja estre un chant de victoire quoy que ce ne fust qu'au commencement du combat ce qu'il y eut de considerable fut que les tours et ler machines servirent importamment en cette occasion et beaucoup mieux que celles des ennemis car tout en marchant ceux qui estoient sur les tours ne laissoient pas de faire pleuvoir une gresle de traits sur les troupes lydiennes et les machines qui par certains ressorts estoient destinees a pousser des pierres avec impetuosite sur les ennemis le faisoient aussi avec tant de violence qu'ils en estoient beaucoup incommodez de sorte qu'ils avoient une peine estrange a se mettre en ordre toutefois cresus et le roy de pont voyant qu'ils estoient forcez de combatre ne laisserent pas de tesmoigner de la fermete et de marcher au combat avec assez de resolution ils avoient pourtant un notable desavantage car ils estoient 
 contraints de se ranger en bataille en marchant si bien qu'il estoit difficile qu'un si grand corps dont toutes les parties estoient si mal affermies peust estre en estat de soutenir le choc d'un autre plus ferme mais a la fin ils vinrent pourtant a bout de ranger leurs troupes le prince myrsille malgre son incommodite commanda les deux lignes de l'aisle droite assiste de pactias qui donnoit les ordres pour luy ce prince n'ayant en cette occasion que l'honneur du commandement et ne pouvant pretendre qu'a la gloire de bien servir de sa personne le prince de mysie et un homme de qualite de lydie nomme artibe commandoient les deux lignes de l'aisle gauche arinaspe vaillant capitaine d'ionie commandoit toute l'infanterie et le roy de pont toutes les autres troupes qui soutenoient celles cy cresus s'estant poste a la teste d'un corps de cavalerie lydienne au milieu de sa bataille ces deux grandes armees pouvoient estre a trente pas pres l'une de l'autre lors que cyrus s'apercent que de l'aisle gauche des ennemis on tira trois coups de traie sur l'aisle droite de la sienne de sorte que ce prince aprehendant que ses soldats n'allassent tirer avec precipitation devant que les ennemis eussent lance leurs javelots il fit faire alte pour les en empescher et leur deffendit encore une fois de tirer leurs traits jusques a ce que les ennemis eussent tire les leurs ce commandement fut aussi exactement execute 
 que judicieusement fait de sorte qu'il en arriva trois avantages considerables car cela redoubla l'ardeur des troupes en la retenant remit l'ordre dans les lignes et dans les rangs et confirma puissamment tous les soldats dans le dessein de laisser passer sur leur teste cette gresle de fleches de traits et de javelots qui partent tout d'un coup d'une armee ennemie au premier choc d'une bataille les choses estant en ces termes le prince de mysie qui se vouloit signaler en cette journee s'avanca avec sa premiere ligne contre celle de cyrus qui marcha au mesme instant pour le recevoir ces deux lignes estant arrivees a la juste distance de pouvoir lancer leurs javelots furent un temps assez considerable sans que de part ny d'autre ils voulussent commencer de le faire chacun voulant que le party ennemy commencast toutefois a la fin les lydiens plus impatiens que les autres commencerent d'obscurcir l'air par une multitude incroyable de traits et de javelots mais au mesme instant cyrus commandant aux siens de faire ce qu'il feroit lanca le premier un javelot qu'il tenoit et mettant l'espee a la main enfonca l'escadron qui luy estoit oppose et fit des choses si prodigieuses que tout ce qu'il avoit fait jusques alors n'estoit rien en comparaison de ce qu'il fit en cette occasion toute sa premiere ligne le suivit courageusement et chargea avec tant de vigueur la premiere ligne des lydiens qu'elle la rompit et si renversa entierement 
 cyrus voyant que sa valeur avoit apris aux siens en ce lieu la comment il faloit achever de vaincre se degagea en se faisant jour a coups d'espee afin de voir en quel lieu on avoit besoin de son secours mais il ne fut pas plustost degage que la seconde ligne des ennemis soutenant leur premiere repoussa celle d'ou cyrus venoit de partir et la repoussa avec tant de vigueur que toute la valeur du roy d'assirie qui s'y trouva ne put mesme l'empescher d'y estre pris il est vray que ce ne fut qu'apres une resistance fort opiniatree et qu'apres avoir perce les deux lignes des ennemis migrane eut aussi le malheur d'y estre blesse et fait prisonnier malgre toute sa valeur et toutes les belles choses qu'il avoit faites a la veue de cyrus aussi ne se rendit il qu'apres que son cheval eust este tue sous luy et qu'apres que le nombre l'eust accable les choses estant en ces termes la seconde ligne qui voulut reparer en cette occasion le malheur qu'elle avoit eu a sa retraitte eut comandement de soutenir la premiere ce qu'elle fit fort courageusement sous la conduite d'artabase cependant cyrus ayant r'allie sa premiere ligne donna par son coste durant qu'artabase donnoit de l'autre non seulement ce prince fit des miracles en cette rencontre mais aglatidas y fit aussi des merveilles de sorte que toute la force des ennemis fut arrestee par la valeur de cyrus le combat fut pourtant quelque temps douteux et la victoire ne determina pas tout 
 d'un coup de quel coste elle pancheroit car tantost les troupes de cyrus poussoient les troupes lydiennes avec tant d'impetuosite que l'on eust dit qu'elles alloient estre taillees en pieces ou reduittes a prendra la fuitte et tantost aussi reprenans courage elles retournoient a la charge et faisoient reculer ceux qui les avoient renversees ce qu'il y eut de remarquable pour la gloire de cyrus fut qu'il n'y eut point descadron rompu par les lydiens que cyrus ne r'alliast et ne remenast au combat mais avec tant de coeur tant de jugement et tant de promptitude qu'il paroissoit estre en plus d'un lieu a la fois tant il avoit de diligence a faire tout ce que son grand coeur et sa prudence luy conseilloient aussi ne scauroit on presques imaginer le nombre de fois qu'il retourna a la charge et combien de combats il fit en un seul combat il n'avoit pas plustost vaincu en un lieu qu'il cherchoit une nouvelle matiere a sa valeur il vouloit mesme du choix dans ses combats et non content de vaincre tout ce qu'il rencontroit il chercha avec un soing estrange ou le roy de pont ou cresus mais ce fut inutilement car la fortune ne voulut pas qu'ils se rencontrassent cependant quelques efforts qu'il put faire pour achever de vaincre il trouvoit tousjours une nouvelle resistance et l'opiniastrete des ennemis donnoit une ample matiere a sa prudence et a sa valeur de sorte que ne voulant pas que la victoire fust plus long temps incertaine il fit avancer 
 son corps de reserve le roy de lydie fit la mesme chose mais le succes ne fut pas egal des deux costez car les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie chargerent si rudement les ennemis et furent si puissamment animez par l'exemple de cyrus a qui ils voyoient faire des actions de valeur si incroyables qu'ils ne pouvoient s'empescher de croire qu'il y avoit quelque chose de divin en ce prince la qu'ils eurent la gloire de seconder si bien son courage qu'ils mirent en deroute l'aisle gauche et le corps de reserve des ennemis qui fut contraint de prendre la fuitte et de ceder a la valeur d'un prince que rien ne pouvoit surmonter ce pendant comme tonte l'armee de cyrus estoit animee d'un mesme esprit mazare fit aux lieux ou il estoit tout ce qu'un prince brave qui souhaitoit la mort et qui desiroit pourtant la victoire pouvoit faire car il avanca vers le prince myrsile et vers pactias qu'il avoit en teste avec une valeur extreme il rut non seulement a eux avec resolution mais voyant encore qu'ils ne vouloient pas avancer parce qu'ils estoient postez a dix pas au dela d'un rideau qu'il faloit monter pour aller ou ils estoient il y fut avec une ardeur incroyable quoy que ce fust sans desordre et sans precipitation aussi les poussa t'il si vigoureusement qu'ils furent contrains de se retirer en coufusion et de fuir il y eut toutefois un escadron qui voulant monter le rideau par l'endroit le plus difficile fut repousse par un escadron des ennemis 
 mais gobrias arrivant en cet endroit apres avoir rompu un escadron de lydiens soustint ceux de son parti et forca les autres a faire ce que faisoient presques tous les leurs c'est a dire d'avoir recours a la fuite la seconde ligne des ennemis voulut pourtant soustenir la premiere mais chrisante estant venu joindre mazare elle lascha le pied de sorte que par ce secours l'aisle droite des lydiens fut entierement rompue et mazare eut l'avantage qu'il ne vit pas seulement un instant la victoire douteuse pour son parti quoy qu'il se vist luy mesme deux ou trois fois en estat d'estre pris par les ennemis le corps de bataille qui avoit donne d'un mesme temps que les deux aisles a la teste duquel estoit les chariots armez de faux n'eut pas moins de part a la victoire et abradate fit en cette occasion plus qu'il n'avoit promis a sa chere panthee et plus mesme qu'il ne devoit faire car il s'exposa de telle sorte qu'on eust dit qu'il scavoit qu'il ne pouvoit estre blesse ou qu'il vouloit mourir les huit chevaux qui tiroient son chariot furent poussez aveque tant de violence qu'il enfonca les ennemis et contraignit leurs chariots a prendre la fuitte les autres chariots qui le suivoient faisant la mesme chose que luy donnerent l'espouvantte a tout ce qui leur estoit oppose la plus part des chariots ennemis fuirent les autres furent renversez ou rompus et tous ensemble furent rendus inutiles aux lydiens abradate ayant acheve cet 
 exploit voyant un bataillon d'egiptiens qui faisoit ferme fut avec ses chariots pour l'enfoncer et l'enfonca en effet renversant tout ce qu'il rencontroit ou par l'impetuosite des chenaux qui tiroient son chariot ou par les faux dont il estoit arme ou par son espee jamais il ne s'est rien veu de si terrible que ce qui se passa en cet endroit les chevaux qui tiroient les chariots souloient aux pieds les corps des soldats morts ou mourants les faux en renversoient d'autres et les roues achevoient d'escraser ceux que les chevaux et les faux avoient fait tomber mais enfin il advint que la victoire d'abradate luy fut funeste car la campagne fut si jonchee de chenaux et d'hommes morts d'armes brisees et de chariots renversez que le sien ne pouvoit plus aller qu'en passant sur des monceaux de toutes ces choses meslees ensemble si bien que les roues en allant tantost bas et tantost haut il arriva malheureusement que le sien se renversa malgre toute l'adresse de celuy qui le conduisoit abradate se degagea pourtant et se mit en estat de combatre a pied mais il fut contraint de ceder a la multitude de ceux qui le voyant tombe se r'allierent et vinrent a luy de sorte que ce vaillant prince et tous ceux qui se trouverent alors aupres de sa personne perirent en cette occasion il est vray que leur mort fut bientost vangee car hidaspe estant arrive en cet endroit et madate l'estant venu soutenir ils chargerent si vertement ceux qui avoient fait perir abradate 
 qu'ils furent contraints de se retirer en confusion dans le gros de leur bataille en suitte hidaspe remena les troupes qu'il commandoit contre les troupes d'arinaspe et contre arinaspe luy mesme et tous les bataillons de la premiere ligne chargerent ceux des ennemis qui leur estoient opposez avec tant de vigueur qu'arinaspe tout grand capitaine qu'il estoit fut contraint de ceder a la valeur d'hidaspe ne pouvant pas mesme luy resister longtemps le roy de pont qui avoit combatu ce jour la avec autant de courage que de malheur voyant le desordre qui estoit dans l'armee de cresus fit tout ce qu'il put pour r'allier ses troupes il se mesla vingt fois dans celles de cyrus et faillit mesme a estre pris mais qu'eust il pu faire au deplorable estat ou il se voyoit cresus aussi bien que luy donna beaucoup de marques de courage sans pouvoir non plus que ce prince trouver de remede a son malheur il voyoit ses deux aisles rompues et son corps de bataille enfonce toute la campagne estoit couverte de morts et de morts de son parti l'espouvante estoit dans ses troupes elles fuyoient par tout ou cyrus les attaquoit et fuyoient mesme ou on ne les attaquoit pas tant la frayeur s'estoit emparee des troupes lydiennes de sorte que cresus voyant qu'il ne s'agissoit plus que de mettre sa personne en seurete et d'aller deffendre sardis et le roy de pont jugeant aussi qu'il faloit se mettre en estat d'aller songer a la conservation de 
 mandane ces deux princes prirent enfin la resolution de se retirer ce qu'ils firent sans que cyrus qui les cherchoit par tout le peust empescher ni sans qu'il sceust mesme par ou ils s'estoient retirez si ce n'est qu'ils fussent dans un gros de cavalerie qui fuyant avec precipitation eslevoit un si grand amas de poussiere en l'air qu'il s'en forma une espece de nuage qui les deroba a sa veue et qui l'empescha des les poursuivre cependant cyrus et mazare estant chacun a la teste des aisles qu'ils avoient si glorieusment conduittes se joignirent au derriere de la bataille des ennemis qui n'estoit plus compose que d'un reste d'infanterie toute la cavalerie ayant fui de sorte que cyrus ne voyant plus rien qui fust en estat de luy resister qu'un bataillon d'egiptiens qui faisoit ferme commanda a feraulas de prendre ses gardes dont le capitaine avoit este tue et de donner dans ce bataillon mais comme feraulas voulut executer les ordres de son maistre il vit que les egiptiens ne faisoient autre chose que se couvrir de leurs boucliers et qu'ils agissoient comme des gens qui vouloient mourir a la place ou il estoient cyrus surpris de voir que ce bataillon n'avancoit ny ne reculoit et voyant que par tout son armee estoit victorieuse et que par tout celle de cresus estoit vaincue fit cesser le combat et fit demander a ces egiptiens pourquoy ils ne jettoient pas leurs armes s'ils se vouloient rendre ou pourquoy ils ne combatoient 
 pas s'ils ne le vouloient point ils respondirent a cela que le prince qui les conduisoit estant mort et son corps estant au milieu de leur bataillon ils estoient resolus a ne l'abandonner pas c'est pourquoy si cyrus vouloit qu'ils se rendissent il faloit qu'il leur accordast la permission d'en emporter le corps et de luy rendre tous les honneurs qu'ils luy devoient et que moyennant cela ils prendroient son parti et quitteroient celuy de cresus qui les avoit abandonnez sinon qu'ils se feroient tous tuer sur le corps de ce prince cyrus n'eut pas plustost entendu ce qu'ils desiroient qu'admirant leur affection et leur fidelite il leur accorda ce qu'ils vouloient ordonnant a feraulas de faire porter le corps de ce prince mort dans un des chariots de guerre voulant mesme parler aux principaux chefs de ces egiptiens qui sans differer davantage se mirent en estat d'enlever le corps de leur general mais comme si le ciel eust voulu recompencer leur fidelite comme ce chariot passa fortuitement aupres de cyrus qui achevoit d'assurer sa victoire par sa presence ce prince jettant les yeux sur celuy que ces egiptiens croyoient mort il vit qu'ayant la teste apuyee sur un bouclier qu'ils avoient mis dessous pour la soutenir il ouvrit les yeux de sorte que cyrus voyant un prince de si bonne mine comme estoit celuy la estre en estat d'estre secouru en advertit ceux qui le conduisoient et commanda a feraulas qu'on le menast a une de ses tentes 
 en suitte dequoy se mettant a poursuivre sa victoire en poursuivant les fuyards il les poussa jusques a un defile qui estoit aupres de thybarra qu'il investit a l'heure mesme et qui se rendit a discretion de sorte qu'en un mesme jour il gagna une bataille prit une ville delivra le roy d'assirie tigrane et anaxaris que les ennemis y avoient envoyez aussi tost apres les avoir pris et ce qu'il eut de remarquable fut que ce roy prisonnier fut celuy qui fit la capitulation de la ville ou on l'avoit mene car les habitans se voyans sans espoir d'este secourus et sans pouvoir de se deffendre furent se jetter a ses pieds pour luy demander la grace de faire que cyrus les traittast bien ce qu'il leur promit et ce qu'il leur tint cyrus degageant genereusement la parole de son rival et ne manquant jamais de donner des marques de clemence et de bonte quand les occasions s'en presentoient cette victoire ne fut pas de celles qui laissent quelque consolation aux vaincus car les lydiens furent battus par tout et deffaits par tout ils perdirent toutes leurs machines toutes leurs enseignes tous leurs chariots et tout leur bagage il y eut un nombre si grand de morts et de prisonniers que l'on ne l'a jamais pu scavoir arinaspe ce vaillant capitaine ionien y fut pris et si blesse qu'il en mourut le lendemain et tout cela sans que cyrus eust perdu qu'un tres petit nombre de gens il est vray que la more d'abradate le toucha sensiblement et 
 que tout victorieux qu'il estoit elle luy donna de la douleur mesme sur le champ de bataille ou il campa cette nuit la apres avoir eu la satisfaction d'avoir non seulement veu tous les siens faire tout ce qu'ils avoient deu n'y ayant pas eu un de ses amis qui ne se fust signale mais encore d'avoir veu ses rivaux servir a sa gloire de sorte que ne voyant plus rien a faire ce luy sembloit pour delivrer mandane que d'aller forcer les murs de sardis il sentit une joye qui le consola malgre luy de la perte d'abradate dont il envoya chercher le corps afin de luy faire rendre tous les honneurs qu'il meritoit et comme si les dieux eussent voulu l'accabler de bonheur apres l'avoir accable d'infortunes en entrant dans sa tente pour se reposer apres tant de glorieux travaux il luy vint un courrier de thrasibule pour luy aprendre que ses armes n'estoient pas moins heureuses entre ses mains qu'entre les siennes qu'il avoit vaincu tout ce qui luy avoit resiste et que la plus grande partie de la basse asie estoit de l'estendue de son empire en mesme temps un envoye de ciaxare vint luy dire qu'il estoit en estat de grossir encore son armee par de nouvelles troupes parce que thomiris n'estoit pas en termes de luy faire la guerre estant tombee dans une maladie languissante que l'on croyoit qui luy feroit perdre la vie ou la raison et pour achever son bonheur un cavalier qu'il reconnut pour estre un de ceux a qui il avoit autrefois pardonne de l'avoir 
 voulu assassiner par les ordres du lasche artane luy presenta une lettre de mandane qu'il receut encore avec plus de joye que la victoire ne luy en avoit donne et qui luy persuada mesme devant que de l'avoir leue qu'il avoit mal explique les oracles des dieux et qu'il alloit estre a l'advenir aussi heureux sous le nom de cyrus qu'il avoit este miserable sous celuy d'artamene 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 quelque impatience qu'eust l'illustre cyrus de voir ce que l'incomparable mandane luy escrivoit il fut pourtant quelque temps sans pouvoir lire sa lettre non seulement parce que la joye avoit excite un si agreable trouble dans son coeur qu'il ne scavoit pas s'il devoit croire ce qu'il voyoit mais encore parce qu'il vouloit que celuy qui la luy avoit aportee luy dist s'il la tenoit de la main de mandane comment il l'avoit pu voir et dans quel temps il l'avoit veue il n'eut pourtant pas plustost acheve de luy demander tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir que sans attendre sa responce il ouvrit le paquet qu'il luy avoit aporte et qui n'avoit point de 
 suscription mais apres l'avoir ouvert avec une impatience extreme il reconnut le carractere de sa chere princesse et vit qu'il y avoit au commencement de la lettre qui s'adressoit a luy la malheureuse mandane a l'infidelle cyrus 
 
 
a peine ce prince eut il jette les yeux sur ces cruelles paroles que s'arrestant tout court il les releut une seconde fois mais il les releut avec tant d'estonnement et tant de desespoir qu'il ne put s'empescher de faire une douloureuse exclamation et de donner des marques tres visibles de sa surprise et de son desplaisir de sorte que sentant dans son coeur une agitation si violence il se retira en particulier mais il se retira en continuant de lire la lettre de mandane qui estoit telle
 
 
 je voudrois bien pouvoir renfermer dans mon coeur le ressentiment que j'ay de vostre inconstance mais je vous avoue que j'ay este si surprise d'aprendre que vous avez change de sentiment pour moy que je n'ay pu m'empescher de vous donner des marques de mon estonnement et de mon indignation quoy que je scache bien qu'il y a de la foiblesse a se pleindre a ceux de qui nous avons este offencez et qu'il y a plus de grandeur d'ame a n'accuser pas soy mesme les coupables a qui on ne veut point pardonner mais enfin puis que je n'ay pu souffrir vostre changement sans m'en pleindre il faut au moins que je m'en pleigne comme une personne qui 
 ne veut pas estre appaisee c'est pourquoy je vous declare que je ne veux plus servir de pretexte a vostre ambition ny estre la cause innocente de la desolation de toute l'asie rendez donc au roy mon pere les troupes que vous avez a luy afin que ce ne soit pas de vostre main que mes chaines soient rompues car je vous advoue que j'aime encore mieux estre captive d'un raviseur respectueux que d'estre remise en liberte par un prince infidelle et par un infidelle encore a qui j'ay donne cent illustres marques de fidelite 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
cyrus leut cette lettre avec tant de douleur tant d'estonnement et tant de trouble dans l'esprit qu'il fut contraint de la relire une seconde fois mais plus il la leut plus il en fut surpris et plus il en fut afflige ce n'est pas que son innocence ne le deust consoler mais il avoit l'ame trop delicate pour pouvoir souffrir sans une extreme douleur une si injuste accusation et son amour estoit trop sorte pour n'estre pas sensiblement touche de voir que mandane le pouvoit soubconner d'estre capable de changer de sentimens pour elle de plus comme il ne paroissoit point par la lettre de cette princesse quelle estoit la personne qu'elle croyoit qu'il aimoit il ne pouvoit deviner precisement si c'estoit panthee ou araminte car il leur rendoit egalement des devoirs a l'une et a l'autre de sorte qu'estant dans un desespoir sans egal il fit apeller celuy qui luy avoit donne cette lettre pour tascher de tirer quelques conjectures de ce qu'il vouloit 
 scavoir cet homme luy dit donc que s'estant trouve dans la citadelle de sardis lors qu'on y avoit amene la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis il s'estoit resolu d'y demeurer jusques a ce qu'il eust pu trouver les moyens de s'aquiter des obligations qu'il luy avoit en rendant quelque service a la princesse mandane esperant tousjours qu'il pourroit rencontrer les occasions de faire scavoir a quelqu'une des femmes de cette princesse qu'il estoit prest a toute entreprendre pour elle il luy dit en suitte que comme elle estoit tres estroitement gardee il n'avoit pu imaginer les voyes d'executer son dessein que depuis quelques jours qu'il avoit enfin trouve lieu d'entretenir martesie qui d'abord n'avoit pas adjouste foy a ses paroles mais qu'enfin ayant cru ce qu'il luy disoit elle l'avoit charge le jour auparavant de la lettre qu'il luy venoit d'aporter l'asseurant qu'il rendroit un grand service a la princesse mandane s'il portoit cette lettre seurement cyrus voyant qu'il ne pouvoit scavoir autre chose de cet homme commanda a ortalque d'en avoir soin et luy ordonna a luy de ne dire a qui que ce fust qu'il luy avoit aporte une lettre de mandane ne voulant pas donner la joye a ses rivaux de scavoir qu'il fust mal avec elle ce n'est pas que ce prince fust en estat de raisonner avec autant de liberte d'esprit comme il paroissoit qu'il en eust pour estre capable d'avoir cette prevoyance mais c'est que l'amour est de telle nature qu'elle fait tousjours voir a ceux qui 
 en sont possedez tout ce qui peut nuire ou servir a leurs rivaux aussi bien qu'a eux mesmes et qu'ainsi cyrus voulut du moins s'epargner la douleur de voir de la joye dans les yeux du roy d'assirie en aprenant sa disgrace joint que le respect qu'il avoit pour mandane ne luy permit pas de faire connoistre aux autres qu'elle estoit capable d'une foiblesse si injuste et comme toute jalousie presupose amour sa discretion voulut cacher celle de la princesse mais apres qu'ortalque se fut retire avec celuy qui en croyant donner une grande joye a cyrus luy avoit cause une excessive douleur ce prince apella feraulas qui ne fut pas peu surpris de luy voir tant de tristesse dans les yeux seigneur luy dit il avec la liberte qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir avec son illustre maistre je ne pensois pas qu'il fust permis aux vainqueurs d'avoir de la melancolie sur le champ de bataille ha feraulas s'ecria cyrus en luy montrant la lettre de mandane la fortune est bien plus ingenieuse que vous ne pensez a me tourmenter voyez luy dit il encore voyez par les cruelles paroles que ma princesse m'a escrites ce qui empoisonne toutes les douceurs qui ont accoustume de suivre la victoire ce qui fait que la gloire d'avoir vaincu ne m'est plus sensible et ce qui detruit toute ma joye et toutes mes esperances j'advoue seigneur reprit feraulas apres avoir leu cette lettre dont il connoissoit bien le carractere qu'il n'est pas aise de concevoir comment la princesse qui est si prudente 
 aura pu se laisser persuader que vous estes un infidelle mais apres tout je ne trouve pas que vous deviez vous affliger avec exces de cette facheuse avanture car enfin il vous sera si aise de la desabuser de son erreur que la chose ne se doit pas seulement mettre en doute non non feraulas interrompit cyrus mon malheur n'est pas si petit que vous le croyez et puis que ma princesse a pu croire que je ne l'aime plus et que je ne continue de faire la guerre que par ambition elle pourra encore me faire plusieurs autres injustices elle pourra peut-estre pour m'oster plus absolument son coeur le donner au roy de pont a qui elle ne l'a sans doute si constamment refuse que pour l'amour de moy vous scavez quelle est la fermete de cette personne vous venez de voir qu'elle n'a pas voulu que mazare la delivrast et vous voyez qu'elle me traitte comme luy puis qu'elle me declare qu'elle veut que je rende au roy son pere les troupes qui luy appartiennent et qu'elle m'assure en suitte qu'elle aime mieux estre entre les mains d'un ravisseur respecteux que d'estre delivree par un prince infidelle quoy mandane s'escrioit cyrus vous avez pu penser une chose si injuste vous l'avez pu croire et vous l'avez pu escrire ha puis que vous l'avez pu je dois criore encore que vous ne voudrez point voir mon innocence et que vous allez devenir la plus injuste la plus infidelle et la plus ingratte princesse du monde mais seigneur interrompit feraulas pourquoy ne voulez vous 
 pas croire en mesme temps que des que vous aurez pris sardis la preocupation de la princesse cessera car enfin quand elle verra que vous porterez a ses pieds tous les lauriers dont la fortune et la victoire vous ont couronne que vous ne verrez plus ny panthee ny araminte il faudra bien qu'elle se repente de son erreur et qu'elle vous redonne son affection qu'elle ne vous a sans doute pourtant pas ostee quoy qu'elle vous ait escrit car si elle vous la vouloit oster elle ne vous escriroit point et elle vous l'osteroit sans vous le dire quoy qu'il en soit dit cyrus ma princesse croit que je ne l'aime plus et que j'en aime une autre et elle le croit apres tout ce que j'ay fait pour elle en cent occasions differentes elle le croit dans le mesme temps que je hazarde ma vie et que je gagne des batailles seulement pour la mettre en liberte elle appelle ambition ce qui n'est assurement qu'amour puis qu'apres tout quelque passion que j'aye pour la gloire et quelque ambitieuse que soit mon ame je n'aurois pas porte le feu par toute l'asie je n'aurois pas renverse tant de provinces ni conquis tant de royaumes si l'amour que j'ay pour elle n'avoit donne un fondement raisonnable a toutes les guerres que j'ay faites et si je n'avois pu estre conquerant legitime je n'aurois pas voulu estre usurpateur cependant elle pense et elle escrit qu'elle ne veut plus estre le pretexte de cette ambition et sans dire mesme qui elle m'accuse d'aimer elle agit comme une personne qui ne 
 m'aime plus il faut avouer la verite feraulas adjousta ce prince il y a quelque chose de bien capricieux en ma destinee ne diroit-on pas que la fortune qui fait tous les heureux et tous les malheureux qui sont au monde a abandonne le soin de tout l'univers pour ne songer qu'a moy seulement car par une cruaute qui n'a point d'exemple elle fait qu'eternellemet mon ame passe d'une extremite a l'autre et qu'il n'y a jamais qu'un instant entre une extreme joye et une extreme infortune mais elle fait toujours que le plaisir precede la douleur de sorte qu'il paroist visiblement qu'elle ne me donne le premier que pour me faire mieux sentir l'autre en effet ne voyez vous pas en quel temps en quel jour a quelle heure et en quel lieu elle a voulu que je receusse cette cruelle lettre de mandane si je l'eusse receue devant que donner la bataille peut-estre que la victoire m'auroit oste une partie de l'amertume qu'elle auroit mis dans mon coeur mais au contraire je la recois apres avoir vaincu mes ennemis et mon rival je la recois apres avoir sceu que la basse asie reconnoist ma puissance et s'y soumet je la recois estant sur le point d'aller prendre sardis je la recois enfin sur le champ de bataille ou je ne voy a l'entour de moy que des signes de ma victoire et cependant au milieu de tant de sujets de joye la douleur s'empare de mon esprit et le surmonte mais de telle sorte que je suis asseure que le roy de pont qui a perdu la bataille n'a pas plus de deplaisir 
 que j'en ay il en a pourtant plus de sujet que vous reprit feraulas car enfin seigneur quoy que vous m'en puissiez dire je croy que la princesse mandane ne scauroit croire long temps ce qu'elle croit presentement il faut du moins nous haster interrompit cyrus d'aller a sardis afin de perir au pied de ses murailles ou d'arriver aux pieds de mandane pour luy demander de qui elle croit que je suis amoureux et pour luy protester que je ne le fus jamais que d'elle seulement apres cela cyrus dit encore plusieurs choses a feraulas et resolut de renvoyer celuy qui luy avoit apporte la lettre de mandane avec une responce pour cette princesse car com- c'estoit un homme determine et hardi cyrus jugea bien qu'il entreprendroit aisement de s'en retourner a sardis comme en effet il le fit de sorte que cyrus emporte par la violence de sa passion escrivit la lettre qui suit a mandane mais il l'escrivit avec tant de precipitation qu'on peut dire que son coeur la luy dicta plustost que son esprit car il n'hesita pas un moment sa main pouvant a peine suffire a suivre ses pensees qu'il exprima en ces termes
 
 
 l'infortune cyrus a l'inivste mandane 
 
 
 il faut bien que je vous aime plus que personne n'a jamais aime puis qu'apres l'injustice que vous avez de m'apeller infidelle je ne vous aime pas moins que je 
 faisois auparavant au contraire je sens la passion que j'ay pour vous avec tant de violence et vostre injuste accusation m'en fait si bien connoistre la grandeur par le ressentiment que j'en ay que je suis asseure que si vous scaviez ce qui se dans mon ame vous advoueriez que vous estes la plus cruelle et la plus injuste personne du monde si la fortune continue de m'estre favorable a la guerre et que je ne trouve pas plus de difficulte a prendre sardis qu'a gagner la bataille que cresus et le roy de pont viennent de perdre vous me verrez bien tost a vos pieds c'est la madame que je vous protesteray que vous avez este ma premiere passion et que vous serez la derniere mais en attendant il vous souviendra s'il vous plaist que vous m'avez permis d'aimer la gloire et qu'ainsi j'ay cru que je ne devois pas estre rigoureux apres avoir vaincu et qu'il m'estoit permis d'avoir de la civilite pour deux grandes princesses malheureuses et de la compassion pour leurs infortunes voila o trop injuste mandane par quel motif j'ay agy avec les seules dames que j'ay veues depuis que j'ay commence la guerre et avec les seules personnes que vous me pouvez soubconner d'aimer mais comment le pouvez vous faire et comment pouvez vous ne vous connoistre point et ne me connoistre pas cependant vous me dispenserez s'il vous plaist de remettre au roy vostre pere les troupes qui sont a luy jusques a ce que je vous aye mise en liberte quand cela sera madame et que j'auray vaincu tous mes rivaux je remettray l armee que je commande au roy des medes je luy laisseray toutes les couronnes que j'ay conquises afin qu'il vous les mettre il vous les mette sur la teste et j'iray comme
 je l'ay desja dit me jetter a vos pieds pour y mourir de douleur et d'amour si je ne puis vous persuader que je ne fus jamais infidelle et que j'ay plus de passion pour vous que nul autre n'en a jamais eu pour personne 
 
 
 cyrus 
 
 
cette lettre estant escrite cyrus la releut plus d'une fois luy semblant qu'en le relisant il persuadoit son innocence a mandane mais enfin apres l'avoir fermee feraulas se voulut charger de la donner a celuy qui la devoit rendre cyrus voulut toutesfois que cet homme la receust de sa main avec une liberalite digne de luy et l'on peut dire que jamais porteur de mauvaises nouvelles n'a este si bien recompense apres cela il fut contraint malgre qu'il en eust de donner quelques heures au repos la lassitude du jour precedent le forcant de laisser charmer ses ennuis par le sommeil il est vray que ce sommeil fut fort interrompu et fort peu tranquile car comme son imagination n'estoit plus remplie que de choses tumultueuses ses songes ne furent pas agreables mais pour faire voir la force de son amour et la tendresse de son amitie au lieu que vray-semblablement il ne devoit songer que des combats il ne songea que mandane et abradate et il les songea de cent manieres differentes bien que ce fust tousjours funestement il y avoit pourtant cette difference entre eux qu'il voyoit quelque fois mandane sans voir abradate mais qu'il ne voyoit jamais abradate sans voir mandane tant il est vray que cette princesse estoit fortement 
 empreinte dans son imagination aussi bien que dans son coeur quoy que cette partie de l'ame ait accoustume d'estre assez errante et assez legere et de representer presques indifferemment toutes sortes d'objets principalement durant le sommeil il est vray que celuy de cyrus n'estoit pas profond aussi ne dura t'il pas fort long temps des qu'il fut esveille on tint conseil de guerre dans sa tente ou le roy d'assirie mazare et tous ceux qui avoient accoustume d'en estre se trouverent et ou il fut resolu que sans donner temps aux ennemis de se reconnoistre ny au roy de pont d'oster mandane de sardis on iroit investir cette ville a l'heure mesme de sorte que sans differer davantage apres avoir bien considere quelle en estoit la scituation et quels postes il faloit d'abord occuper cyrus assigna tous les quartiers a toute son armee qui eut ordre de marcher a l'heure mesme ce prince remettant a partir le lendemain parce qu'il vouloit voir panthee pour la consoler de la mort d'abradate dont il estoit sensiblement touche et dont on luy vint dire qu'on n'avoit point encore trouve le corps a l'endroit ou il avoit combatu a cause du grand nombre de morts qu'il y avoit en ce lieu la cyrus commanda une seconde fois qu'on y retournast et ne manqua pas d'envoyer querir les capitaines qui commandoient les troupes d'abradate pour les assurer qu'il les recompenseroit des services de leur maistre et des leurs et apres avoir donne tous les ordres 
 necessaires pour se preparer a un siege comme celuy de sardis et commande que l'on eust soin d'enterrer les morts il monta a cheval pour aller visiter panthee il est vray qu'il fut aise d'executer les ordres qu'il donnoit pour le siege de sardis car comme ce prince l'avoit preveu des le commencement de la guerre il y avoit dans son camp toutes les machines dont on pouvoit avoir besoin pour prendre cette ville mais devant que d'aller au lieu ou il croyoit trouver panthee il passa a la tente ou estoit ce prince egyptien qui paroissoit estre si aime des siens afin d'aprendre en quel estat il estoit et si on le pourroit transporter en un lieu plus commode que celuy la les principaux chefs des egyptiens qui n'avoient garde d'abandonner leur prince malade eux qui ne l'avoient pas abandonne lors qu'ils l'avoient cru mort luy dirent que les chirurgiens apres avoir fonde ses blessures n'en desesperoient pas mais qu'aussi n'en pouvoient ils pas respondre quelque deffence que les medecins eussent faite de le faire parler ils offrirent pourtant a leur illustre vainqueur de le laisser entrer mais il ne le voulut pas scachant que cela pourroit nuire au prince leur maistre et il se contenta de commander a ceux des siens qui avoient ordre d'estre aupres de luy d'en avoir tous les soins imaginables et d'asseurer luy mesme tous ces capitaines egyptiens qu'ils pouvoient attendre toutes choses de son assistance
 
 
 
 
mais durant que cyrus estoit aussi afflige apres la victoire 
 que s'il eust este vaincu cresus et le roy de pont estoient en un deplorable estat le premier en fuyant apres avoir perdu la bataille se voyoit a la veille de perdre son royaume et quoy que l'oracle de delphes luy eust asseure que s'il entreprenoit de faire la guerre a cyrus il destruiroit un grand empire il ne voyoit plus lieu de pouvoir expliquer cet oracle a son avantage puis qu'il se voyoit luy mesme en estat d'estre destruit d'autre part le roy de pont voyant qu'il estoit cause de la ruine de celuy qui l'avoit protege jugeoit bien qu'allant demeurer sans protecteur il alloit estre expose a perdre mandane comme il avoit perdu ses royaumes de sorte que ces deux princes se retiroient sans se rien dire chacun s'affligeant en secret du pitoyable estat ou ils estoient n'ayant pas la force ny de se pleindre de la fortune ny de se pleindre l'un de l'autre ny de se pleindre d'eux mesmes quoy qu'ils connussent bien qu'ils estoient la veritable cause de leurs malheurs la terreur s'estoit de telle sorte espandue parmy leurs troupes que ceux qui les suivoient creurent cent et cent fois estre poursuivis et estre attaquez si bien que se desbandant peu a peu et se separant par petites troupes qui prirent divers sentiers cresus et le roy de pont se virent si peu accompagnez qu'ils pouvoient conter aisement ceux qui les suivoient de sorte que venant a considerer qu'ils s'estoient veus le matin a la teste d'une armee de deux cens mille hommes et qu'ils 
 se voyoient presques seuls la douleur et le desespoir s'emparerent tellement de leur esprit que sans scavoir ce qu'ils faisoient estant arrivez a un endroit ou plusieurs chemins se croisoient ils se separerent sans en avoir le dessein si bien que les leurs se separant aussi comme ils estoient en fort petit nombre ces deux princes se trouverent avec si peu de gens qu'on pouvoit dire qu'ils estoient seuls de quelque coste que cresus tournast les yeux au commencement de sa fuite il voyoit des morts des blessez des mourants ou des gens qui fuyoient quelque temps apres il ne voyoit plus que des paisans espouventez qui se sauvoient dans la ville avec leur bagage a la fin ayant quitte le chemin en aprochant de sardis afin d'aller a travers champs pour y estre plustost et pour n'estre pas veu en un si pitoyable estat il arriva en un petit vallon solitaire de sorte que passant du plus effroyable tumulte du monde en un lieu ou le silence n'estoit trouble que par le murmure d'un agreable ruisseau et par le chant des oyseaux il en souspira et comme si ce lieu de repos eust este un azile il marcha plus lentement mais comme il voulut tourner la teste pour regarder ceux qui le suivoient il vit qu'il estoit seul car de quatre ou cinq qui l'avoient suivy lors que le roy de pont l'avoit quitte sans y penser le cheval de l'un estant blesse n'avoit pu suivre l'autre estant blesse luy mesme estoit demeure derriere et tous ayant eu quelque empeschement avoient abandonne 
 ce malheureux prince qui se voyant seul dans ce vallon solitaire connut alors que tous ses thresors qu'il avoit tant aimez luy estoient inutiles et que solon avoit eu raison de les mespriser pendant qu'il s'entretenoit si tristement en avancant toujours il entendit tout d'un coup le son d'un agreable chalumeau de sorte que tournant la teste vers le lieu d'ou venoit ce son qu'il oyoit il vit que celuy qui jouoit de cet instrument rustique estoit un jeune berger age de douze ou treize ans qui sans se soucier des miseres publiques ny sans scavoir que la bataille avoit este ny donnee ny perdue jouoit de ce chalumeau en gardant un petit troupeau aussi innocent que luy cresus s'arrestant tout court en considerant ce jeune berger qui estoit extremement beau soupira avec autant d'amertume que cette harmonie champestre avoit de douceur si bien que levant les yeux au ciel il porta envie a l'heur de ce jeune enfant et tout roy qu'il estoit il souhaita d'estre berger et de pouvoir changer le sceptre que la fortune alloit luy arracher des mains avec la houlette de cet innocent pasteur mais comme il n'estoit pas maistre de sa destinee et que rien ne peut divertir l'immuable decret de la souveraine puissance qui conduit l'univers il continua son chemin et arriva enfin a sardis ou il fut receu de tout le peuple avec des larmes de tendresse et de douleur le roy de pont qui s'estoit egare n'y arriva qu'une heure apres luy non plus que le prince myrsile et 
 le prince de misie qui avoient pris un autre chemin tous ces princes firent pourtant tout ce qu'ils peurent pour rasseurer le peuple mais comme de moment en moment il arrivoit des blessez qui aprenoient tousjours a ce peuple la mort de quelques uns de leur party il estoit difficile de r'asseurer des gens qui avoient veu leur roy revenir tout seul apres l'avoir veu partir a la teste d'une des plus grandes armees du monde de plus ces princes sceurent que les thraces au lieu de venir vers sardis avoient pris la route de leur pais apres s'estre r'alliez que les troupes d'ionie avoient fait la mesme chose et que celles de misie s'estoient aussi retirees et qu'ainsi il y avoit apparence qu'ils ne pourroient pas se revoir si tost en corps d'armee et qu'ils ne pourroient faire autre chose que se renfermer dans leur ville jusques a ce qu'ils eussent fait faire de nouvelles levees pour les secourir de sorte que tout ce peuple n'estant que trop instruit du pitoyable estat ou estoient les affaires murmuroit hautement et disoit avec beaucoup de hardiesse qu'il falloit aller delivrer le prince artamas que cresus retenoit prisonnier qu'il n'y avoit que luy qui peust les garantir du peril qui les menacoit et que c'estoit une honte estrange aux lydiens de laisser mourir dans les fers un prince innocent qui avoit accreu leur empire par tant d'illustres conquestes qui avoit tant r'emporte de fameuses victoires et qui seul pouvoit s'opposer a la puissance de cyrus ce que 
 ce peuple disoit paroissoit si juste et si raisonnable que ce sentiment devint bientost general car on ne pouvoit pas luy dire qu'artamas ne fust pas innocent qu'artamas ne fust pas brave qu'artamas n'eust pas este heureux a la guerre qu'artamas ne fust pas un grand capitaine et que ce ne fust pas un grand conquerant de sorte que n'ayant rien a luy dire pour l'empescher de songer a delivrer ce prince que le respect qu'il devoit a son souverain cresus ne jugea pas veu la necessite pessante des choses que cela suffist pour l'en empescher si bien que prenant la resolution de le prevenir il fit dire qu'il alloit le delivrer et en effet il envoya preposer au prince artamas de le remettre en liberte s'il vouloit deffendre les murailles de sardis contre cyrus mais comme ce prince ne l'eust pu faire sans faire la guerre au roy de phrigie son pere quelque amoureux qu'il fust de la princesse palmis et quelque envie qu'il eust aussi d'empescher la ruine de cresus il rejetta la proposition qu'on luy fit il est vray qu'il la rejetta avec tant de respect et qu'il donna de visibles marques de la douleur qu'il avoit de voir que cresus avoit des ennemis contre lesquels l'honneur ny la nature ne permettoient pas qu'il peust combatre que tout autre que cresus en auroit eu le coeur attendry cependant ce malheureux roy ne laissa pas d'estre irrite du refus du prince artamas de sorte que redoublant ses gardes il fit dire parmy le peuple tout ce qu'il creut capable d'attiedir l'ardeur que les habitans 
 de sardis avoient tesmoigne avoir de le delivrer et en effet comme les peuples sont legers et capables de toutes sortes d'impressions ils se contenterent de desirer la liberte d'artamas de faire des eloges continuels de sa valeur et de son esprit de parler contre cresus et de le menacer tousjours de delivrer cet illustre prisonnier sans entreprendre pourtant de le faire cependant le roy de pont apporta un tel ordre a la citadelle que la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis ne sceurent point que la bataille eust este perdue jusques a ce que sardis fut assiege il est vray que pour mandane il n'estoit pas difficile en l'estat qu'estoit son ame de luy cacher ce que l'on ne vouloit pas qu'elle sceust car elle ne s'informoit de rien tant la douleur qu'elle avoit de croire que cyrus estoit infidelle occupoit toutes ses pensees
 
 
 
 
mais pendant qu'elle ne s'entretenoit que de l'inconstance pretendue du plus constant prince du monde que la princesse palmis ne songeoit qu'a deplorer le malheur du roy son pere et celuy du prince artamas que cresus ne pensoit qu'a la seurete de sardis que le roy de pont ne se preparoit qu'a mourir en deffendant la citadelle que le prince myrsile le prince de mysie pactias et tous les autres chefs ne songeoient qu'a ce qui pouvoit fortifier la ville et empescher sa perte et que tout le peuple dans une oisivete tumultueuse desaprouvoit tout ce que faisoient ces princes sans scavoir pourtant s'il avoit raison ou 
 s'il ne l'avoit pas cyrus tout vainqueur qu'il estoit s'en alloit avec une douleur extreme pour visiter panthee mais en y allant il sentoit quelque repugnance d'y aller car comme il ne scavoit pas si c'estoit d'elle ou d'araminte que mandane le croyoit amoureux il craignoit encore que cette visite ne luy nuisist et que la renommee qui porte par tout les actions les moins remarquables des princes ne la fist scavoir a mandane mais apres tout abradate estant tel qu'il estoit et estant mort pour son service rien ne l'en pouvoit dispenser et en effet il ne s'en dispensa pas comme son ame estoit fort triste non seulement il voulut estre peu accompagne mais il chercha mesme un chemin destourne et solitaire et fut gagner le bord de la riviere d'helle afin d'aller le long de l'eau jusques au chasteau ou il croyoit trouver la reine de la susiane il n'eut pourtant pas la peine de l'aller chercher si loin car des que la nouvelle fut portee au lieu ou estoit cette princesse que la bataille avoit este donnee sans qu'on luy dist pourtant qu'abradate y avoit este tue elle monta dans un chariot sans en rien dire a la princesse araminte ny mesme a doralise de sorte que n'ayant que pherenice avec elle deux autres femmes et quelques esclaves elle se mit en estat d'aller au camp et y fut par le mesme chemin que cyrus avoit pris pour aller trouver cette princesse ce n'est pas que pherenice n'eust fait tout ce qu'elle avoit pu pour l'empescher de faire ce qu'elle faisoit 
 mais elle n'avoit pu l'en detourner luy disant que si abradate estoit vivant elle ne pouvoit le voir assez tost pour s'en resjouir que s'il estoit blesse elle ne pouvoit encore estre trop promptement aupres de luy pour l'assister et que s'il estoit mort elle ne pouvoit non plus le scavoir avec assez de diligence pour le suivre au tombeau de sorte que son chariot allant aussi viste que les chevaux qui le tiroient pouvoient aller et allant mesme toute la nuit elle arriva le matin en un lieu d'ou cyrus qui avancoit vers elle descouvrit son chariot qu'il ne pouvoit pourtant pas connoistre pour estre le sien mais ce qui arresta ses yeux fut de remarquer qu'il s'arresta aupres d'un autre qu'il vit estre assez pres du fleuve et ou plusieurs hommes faisoient quelque chose qu'il ne pouvoit discerner ce qui augmenta encore sa curiosite fut de voir que de ce chariot qui s'estoit arreste il en estoit sorty des femmes avec beaucoup de precipitation une desquelles s'estoit assise a terre sans qu'il peust connoistre ce qu'elle y faisoit cyrus regardant toutes ces choses sans y avoir toutesfois une sorte aplication avanca tousjours jusques assez pres du lieu ou estoient ces gens qu'il voyoit mais il fut estrangement surpris d'aprendre en s'en aprochant par un de ceux a qui il avoit donne ordre de retourner chercher le corps d'abradate que ses compagnons et luy l'avoient enfin trouve et l'avoient porte au bord de ce fleuve avec intention de le mettre dans le premier bateau qui passeroit 
 pour le pouvoir porter plus aisement au lieu ou estoit panthee mais que n'estant point passe de bateau et un chariot vuide estant venu la ils avoient change de dessein de sorte que comme ils estoient prests d'y mettre le corps d'abradate panthee estoit arrivee aupres d'eux qui n'avoit pas plustost reconnu le corps de son mary qu'elle s'estoit jettee avec precipitation du haut de son chariot et s'estoit assise aupres de luy en faisant de pleintes si douloureuses et en l'arrosant de tant de larmes qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus pitoyable a voir et en effet cyrus s'avancant avec diligence et descendant de cheval a quelques pas du lieu ou estoit cette deplorable princesse il la vit assise aupres du corps d'abradate a qui on n'avoit pas oste les magnifiques armes que panthee luy avoit donnees car comme le party ennemy avoit este vaincu leurs soldats n'avoient pas este en pouvoir de songer a despouiller des morts et cyrus avoit poursuivy sa victoire si loing que les siens non plus ne s'y estoient pas amusez il est vray que ces magnifiques armes avoient perdu une partie de leur beaute par l'abondance du sang qui en avoit change les diamants en de funestes rubis mais pour luy il estoit si peu change qu'il ne paroissoit que passe et endormy panthee luy tenoit la teste sur ses genoux qu'elle regardoit fixement et qu'elle arrosoit d'une si grande abondance de larmes qu'elle estoit contrainte de les essuyer de temps en temps afin de pouvoir voir son cher abradate 
 ses larmes estoient accompagnees de soupirs douloureux et longs et qui partant du profond de son coeur et du coeur plus afflige qui sera jamais portoient la douleur et la compassion dans celuy de tous ceux qui la regardoient cette princesse estoit si fort occupee par un si funeste objet qu'elle ne vit point cyrus lors qu'il arriva aupres d'elle et elle ne l'auroit sans doute point aperceu si ce prince sensiblement touche de voir abradate mort et de voir panthee en un si pitoyable estat n'eust mis un genouil en terre afin de luy pouvoir parler plus aisement pour la consoler et pour l'empescher de se lever et si par ses paroles il ne l'eust obligee a tourner les yeux vers luy pleust aux dieux madame luy dit cyrus avec une douleur sur le visage qui tesmoignoit assez le regret qu'il avoit dans l'ame que je peusse ressusciter l'illustre abradate par la perte de ma vie et que le sang que je respandrois peust seulement faire tarir vos larmes vous verriez madame combien la perte d'abradate me touche et combien vostre douleur m'afflige d'abord panthee ne put respondre a cyrus que par des sanglots redoublez qui ne luy permirent pas de parler mais comme cette princesse avoit l'ame aussi grande qu'elle l'avoit sensible elle r'apella toute sa vertu et faisant un grand effort sur elle mesme seigneur luy dit elle en levant tristement les yeux vers luy et luy monstrant de la main droite son cher abradate apres avoir perdu ce que je viens de perdre il ne faut point s'il vous 
 plaist que vous songiez a faire tarir mes larmes puis que c'est une chose que la mort seule doit faire et qu'elle fera infailliblement bientost jouissez donc en repos de la victoire que vous avez r'emportee et souvenez vous seulement quelquesfois que le malheureux abrabate a peut-estre este la victime qui vous a rendu les dieux propices mais seigneur adjousta t'elle la douleur me trouble de telle sorte que pour penser trop a abradate je ne me souviens pas de luy obeir pour la derniere fois en disant cela elle tira des tablettes cachettees et les donnant a cyrus seigneur luy dit elle le jour qui preceda le depart d'abradate il me donna ce que je remets en vos mains avec ordre de vous le donner s'il mouroit pour vostre service vous voyez qu'il est mort seigneur poursuivit elle en redoublant ses pleurs c'est donc a vous de voir ce qu'il a souhaite que vous sceussiez cyrus fit alors ce qu'il put pour obliger panthee a rentrer dans son chariot et a souffrir que l'on mist le corps de l'illustre abradate dans un autre voulant aussi remettre a lire les tablettes qu'elle luy donnoit jusques a ce qu'on luy eust oste un objet aussi funeste comme estoit celuy de voir abradate mort mais elle ne le voulut pas de sorte que ce prince n'osant la contraindre dans les premiers mouvemens de sa douleur fit ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il fist et commenca de voir ce qu'abradate avoit escrit de sa main mais a peine eut il jette les yeux dessus qu'il vit les paroles 
 qui suivent escrites en plus gros carractere que le reste du discours
 
 
 derniere volonte d'abradate 
 
 
 je laisse mon coeur et toutes mes affections a ma chere panthee et mon royaume a l'illustre cyrus sans autre condition que celle de proteger la princesse qui en porte la couronne et de la consoler de ma mort entendant que tous mes sujets obeissent a ce prince comme a moy mesme et ne croyant pas pouvoir rien faire de plus glorieux pour moy que de choisir un tel successeur ny rien de plus utile pour eux que de leur donner un tel maistre ny rien de plus avantageux pour la reine ma femme que de luy donner un si genereux protecteur 
 
 
 abradate apres que cyrus eut leu ce que le roy de la susiane avoit escrit dans ces tablettes il fut si surpris de la generosite de ce prince que sa douleur en redoubla encore et comme son grand coeur ne pouvoit ceder a personne en generosite je vous declare madame dit il a panthee que je n'accepte que la derniere qualite que l'illustre abradate me donne jugeant bien qu'il ne me fait roy de la susiane que parce que les loix de son pais luy deffendent de vous en faire reine mais je l'accepte madame avec intention de la meriter par mes services et de vous proteger contre toute la terre je vous le promets adjousta t'il et je vous declare de plus que je pretens ne me servir 
 de l'authorite qu'abradate me donne dans ses estats que pour en r'affermir la couronne sur vostre teste ce que vous me dites repliqua panthee est digne de vous et digne d'un amy d'abradate mais seigneur je n'ay plus besoin que d'un tombeau assez grand pour renfermer abradate et panthee ensemble c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me laisser s'il vous plaist encore quelque temps aupres de cet illustre mort que je suis resolue de n'abandonner point je scay bien madame luy dit cyrus que vostre douleur est juste et qu'elle peut estre violente sans que l'on vous puisse accuser de foiblesse mais madame il faut conserver la memoire d'abradate et pour la conserver il faut vivre c'est pourquoy allons s'il vous plaist songer a luy dresser un tombeau digne de sa valeur et de sa condition et souffrez que je vous separe de celuy dont la mort ne vous a desja que trop cruellement separee je vous en conjure poursuivit cyrus en prenant une des mains de cet illustre mort par le plus vaillant prince du monde et par le seul homme de toute la terre que vous avez aime mais helas cyrus fut estrangement surpris de voir que cette main qui avoit presques este entierement separee du bras d'abradate par un coup d'espee demeura dans la sienne detachee du corps de son illustre amy la parole luy manqua les larmes luy vinrent aux yeux et panthee redoublant les siennes reprit cette vaillante main de celle de cyrus et apres l'avoir baisee avec tendresse et 
 aveque respect elle la remit a la place ou elle avoit este comme si elle eust voulu la ratacher au bras d'ou elle avoit este separee la mouillant de tant de larmes qu'elle en osta tout le sang dont elle estoit marquee en divers endroits c'est moy disoit elle c'est moy qui suis cause de la mort d'abradate il sembloit que je ne me fiois pas assez a sa valeur ordinaire pour m'aquiter de ce que je vous devois car je luy dis cent choses pour l'obliger a se surpasser luy mesme et je ne doute point du tout qu'il ne se soit precipite dans le peril seulement pour l'amour de moy et cependant je le voy mort entre mes bras et je respire encore et je souffre que l'on me parle de consolation mais madame luy dit cyrus en l'interrompant puis que le mal que vous souffrez n'a point de remede il faut bien prendre la resolution de le souffrir constamment abradate est mort couvert de gloire sa memoire passera a la posterite avec honneur mais pour la rendre plus esclatante c'est a vous madame a faire que la fermete de vostre ame esgalle son courage et c'est a moy aussi a faire tout ce que l'amitie que j'avois pour luy et le respect que j'ay pour vous veulent que je face pour sa gloire et pour vostre repos commandez donc madame ou il vous plaist que je vous conduise et laissez moy le soin des funerailles de cet illustre mort seigneur luy dit elle avec un visage un peu plus tranquile accordez moy encore un quart d'heure seulement la veue d'une personne qui me fut si chere 
 et laissez moy quelques instans la liberte de pleurer dans le silence cyrus ne voulant pas la presser trop se leva et tirant pherenice a part aussi bien que belesis et hermogene qui l'avoient suivy il se mit a les presser de luy aider a persuader panthee de souffrir qu'on luy ostast un objet aussi funeste que celuy qu'elle avoit devant les yeux mais pherenice et hermogene estoient si affligez qu'ils n'avoient pas la force de parler et pour belesis il n'osoit pas croire que ses paroles peussent obtenir ce que celles de cyrus n'obtenoient pas tous les autres gens qui estoient a l'entour de ce prince n'estoient pas propres a parler a cette malheureuse reine de sorte que voyant qu'il estoit seul qui peust agir aupres d'elle puis que pherenice ne le pouvoit pas a cause de l'exces de sa douleur et de l'abondance de ses larmes il voulut se raprocher de panthee mais pherenice qui connoissoit par une longue experience qu'elle ne pouvoit souffrir que l'on s'opposast aux premiers mouvemens de sa douleur le retint et le pria de se donner un moment de patience attendez seigneur luy dit elle attendez je m'en vay faire un grand effort pour arrester une partie de mes larmes afin d'aller me jetter aux pieds de la reine pour tascher de l'arracher d'aupres d'abradate mais pendant que cyrus pherenice hermogene et belesis cherchoient comment ils pourroient separer panthee d'abradate mort cette deplorable princesse cherchoit dans son esprit par quelle voye elle pourroit n'en estre jamais separee 
 et comme si le hazard eust voulu favoriser le funeste dessein qu'elle avoit de mourir elle apperceut que son cher abradate avoit un poignard dont il ne s'estoit point servy a la bataille de sorte que croyant sans doute dans le desespoir ou elle estoit qu'elle estoit cause de la mort de son mary non seulement par ce qu'elle luy avoit dit en partant mais parce que c'estoit elle qui l'avoit d'abord engage dans le party du roy de lydie et depuis encore dans celuy de cyrus elle creut que les dieux n'avoient permis qu'abradate eust encore ce poignard qu'on le luy eust laisse et que cyrus ne l'eust pas veu qu'afin qu'elle s'en servist pour se punir et pour se delivrer de ses malheurs de sorte que comme en ce temps la cette action de desespoir estoit une action de vertu cette tragique pensee ne trouva rien dans l'esprit de panthee qui s'opposast a cette funeste resolution comme elle avoit perdu tout ce qu'elle aimoit rien ne luy pouvoit plus estre agreable elle ne concevoit pas qu'elle deust ny qu'elle peust jamais se consoler et elle croyoit mesme qu'il luy seroit honteux de vivre puis qu'abradate ne vivoit plus si bien que l'exces de sa douleur luy faisant regarder la mort comme le seul bien qui luy pouvoit arriver elle ne vit pas plustost ce poignard que le prenant sans que ceux qui estoient proche s'en aperceussent parce que tout le monde detournoit les yeux d'un objet si lamentable elle se l'enfonca dans le sein et le retirant pour se donner un second coup sa foiblesse 
 l'en empescha et la fit pancher sur le corps de son cher abradate le sang qui sortit de sa blessure rejalissant jusques sur les armes de cet illustre mort mais si ceux qui estoient proches de panthee ne virent pas cette action un esclave qui estoit a cette princesse et qui en estoit assezloin luy vit prendre ce poignard de sorte que faisant un grand cry et courant vers elle la voix de cet esclave fit tourner la teste a cyrus et a tous les autres du coste qu'il venoit qui n'estoit pas celuy ou estoit panthee si bien que cela fut en partie cause qu'il n'y eut que cet esclave qui vit son action et que par consequent on ne la put empescher mais comme les cris redoublez de cet esclave qui crioit pourtant sans dire ce qui le faisoit crier firent soubconner quelque chose a cyrus il fut ou l'esclave alloit et se raprochant de panthee avec pherenice et ses autres femmes il trouva qu'elle estoit preste d'expirer elle ouvrit pourtant encore ses beaux yeux qu'elle tourna foiblement vers abradate et en suitte vers le ciel ou ils demeurerent attachez sans donner plus aucun signe de vie cyrus fut si surpris de ce funeste accident si afflige de la mort de ces deux illustres personnes et si estonne du grand coeur de panthee qu'il ne pouvoit presque exprimer ny sa surprise ny sa douleur d'autre part pherenice et les autres femmes de cette princesse se desesperoient et disoient des choses si pitoyables que les coeurs les plus durs en auroient este attendris enfin la consternation 
 estoit si grande et si generale parmy tous ceux qui furent presens a ce funeste spectacle qu'il n'y avoit personne qui fust en estat de donner aucune consolation aux autres mais pour achever de rendre cette avanture encore plus touchante trois des esclaves de cette reine se tuerent a dix pas du lieu ou elle estoit et araspe sans scavoir rien de ce qui venoit d'arriver passa fortuitement en ce lieu la et y vit cette belle reine morte de qui la beaute avoit surmonte sa vertu et vaincu l'insensibilite de son coeur comme araspe estoit assez violent et qu'il estoit tousjours amoureux quelque respect qu'il eust pour cyrus sa passion fut plus sorte que sa raison et il fit si bien paroistre la grandeur de son amour par la grandeur de son desespoir qu'on peut dire qu'il meritoit quelque excuse de ne l'avoir pu cacher la fureur estoit dans ses yeux il ne connoissoit point ceux a qui il parloit et demandant a tous les uns apres les autres qui avoit mis panthee en cet estat il se pouvoit croire qu'elle fust morte de sa main et sembloit estre resolu a vouloir vanger sa mort quand il scauroit qui l'avoit causee mais lors qu'a la fin il commenca de croire ce qu'on luy disoit il tourna toute sa fureur contre luy mesme et il se fust passe son espee au travers du corps si on ne l'en eust empesche en suite il voulut se jetter dans le fleuve au bord duquel il estoit et si cyrus ne l'eust donne en garde a deux de ses amis qui eurent ordre de ce prince de ne l'abandonner pas 
 et de l'oster de la il auroit infailliblement suivy panthee au tombeau cependant cyrus voyant que ce funeste accident n'avoit point de remede fit mettre le corps d'abradate et celuy de panthee dans un chariot et les femmes de cette princesse dans celuy de cette deplorable reine les suivant a cheval avec les siens et prenant le chemin du chasteau ou estoit la princesse araminte cyrus faisant aussi emporter les corps de ces fidelles esclaves pour les enterrer aupres du tombeau de leur maistresse mais en partant il envoya feraulas donner ordre a toutes les choses necessaires aux funerailles de ces deux illustres personnes qu'il voulut estre les plus magnifiques qu'on les peust faire cependant la princesse araminte qui attendoit avec une impatience extreme le retour de la reine de la susiane estoit a une fenestre de sa chambre accompagnee de cleonice de doralise et de toutes les autres dames prisonnieres lors que ces deux chariots arriverent suivis de cyrus de sorte qu'elle fut extremement surprise par un objet aussi funeste comme estoit celuy de voir une des plus belles princesses du monde et un des plus vaillans princes de la terre en un si pitoyable estat cyrus commanda que l'on mist ces deux corps dans une grande sale sous un dais et sur des quarreaux les faisant couvrir d'un grand tapis noir broche d'or il voulut aussi que l'on allumast quantite de lampes de cristal dans cette sale et que ces deux corps demeurassent en cet estat jusques 
 au lendemain que la ceremonie des funerailles se fit cependant cyrus fut voir la princesse araminte plus pour se pleindre avec elle que pour la consoler et quelque consolation qu'il trouvast dans son entretien il ne luy fit pas une longue visite il l'asseura toutesfois que le roy son frere n'estoit ny mort ny blesse l'ayant sceu par des prisonniers en suitte de quoy il la quitta luy disant qu'il la reverroit le jour suivant car il voulut honnorer de sa presence les funerailles de panthee et d'abradate apres cela cyrus vit cleonice et doralise a leurs chambres lors qu'elles y furent retournees leur remenant pherenice et les consolant avec une extreme civilite il les assura fort obligeamment qu'il auroit autant de soin d'elles que panthee en eust pu avoir et il n'oublia pas mesme jusques aux moindres esclaves mais pour tesmoigner une plus grande affection envers ces illustres morts il commanda des lors a chrisante de faire venir des architectes pour leur bastir un superbe tombeau de marbre et de porphire au mesme lieu ou panthee estoit morte et en effet le jour suivant un sacrificateur egyptien embauma ces deux corps a la maniere de son pais qui les rendoit incorruptibles apres quoy ils furent mis en depost dans un temple qui estoit assez pres de la jusques a ce que le tombeau fust basty ou cyrus fit mettre des inscriptions en plusieurs langues qui aprenoient a ceux qui les lisoient quelle avoit este la valeur d'abradate la beaute et la 
 vertu de panthee leur affection l'un pour l'autre leur vie et leur mort et la fidelite de leurs esclaves cependant apres que cyrus eut rendu les derniers devoirs a abradate et a panthee il revit encore une fois araminte devant que de s'en aller ou son honneur et plus encore son amour l'apelloient mais en la revoyant il creut que comme elle avoit eu assez de confiance en sa discretion pour luy faire scavoir que spitridate estoit jaloux d'elle et de luy il devoit aussi luy aprendre que peut-estre mandane l'estoit de luy et d'elle mais outre cela il eut encore une raison plus forte qui l'y obligea qui fut le dessein d'oster tout pretexte de jalousie a mandane pour cet effet il suplia cette princesse de ne trouver pas estrange s'il ne la voyoit plus jusques a ce qu'il eust delivre la princesse de medie et qu'il se fust justifie mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que dans le mesme temps que cyrus songeoit a dire cela a araminte elle se preparoit a le suplier de la voir moins de peur que ceux qui persuadoient a spitridate une chose si esloignee de la verite n'eussent un fondement pour appuyer leur mensonge de sorte qu'il ne fut pas difficile a cyrus de faire que cette princesse qui estoit toute raisonnable ne s'offencast pas de la priere qu'il luy fit en suitte elle le conjura que tant que le siege dureroit il ne permist point a phraarte de la venir voir mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que ces deux personnes qui avoient une si puissante raison de n'estre pas longtemps ensemble eurent 
 pourtant cette fois la une longue conversation car apres avoir parle de leurs propres malheurs et apres que cette princesse eut encore fait souvenir cyrus des promesses qu'il luy avoit faites touchant le roy son frere ils reparlerent encore et d'abradate et de panthee cyrus suplia araminte de vouloir prendre soin de doralise et de pherenice jusques a ce qu'elles eussent resolu ce qu'elles vouloient devenir et de trouver bon aussi que cleonice et ses amies demeurassent aupres d'elle jusques a la fin du siege apres quoy il la quitta et s'en alla avec une diligence extreme s'occuper tout entier a l'important siege de sardis mais en y allant il repassa a la tente de ce prince egyptien qu'il trouva en estat d'estre veu et d'estre transporte au mesme chasteau ou estoit la princesse araminte ou en effet cyrus le fit conduire et ou il occupa l'appartement qui avoit servy a la malheureuse panthee l'entre-veue de ces deux princes commenca entr'eux une amitie qui ne finit qu'avec leur vie car des ce premier jour la ils connurent qu'ils avoient toutes les qualitez qu'ils souhaitoient en leurs amis lors que cyrus entra dans la tente ou estoit cet illustre blesse qui s'appelloit sesostris la grandeur qui parut sur son visage le surprit car encore qu'il luy eust semble de fort bonne mine la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit veu comme il ne l'avoit veu qu'evanouy il vit en son visage un changement fort avantageux mais si cyrus fut agreablement surpris de la veue 
 de sesostris sesostris le fut extremement de celle de cyrus qui ne manquoit jamais de produire son effet ordinaire dans le coeur de tous ceux qui le voyoient c'est a dire de donner du respect et de l'admiration comme sesostris devoit la vie a cyrus et qu'il luy estoit infiniment oblige d'avoir si geneureusement traitte les siens il luy en fit un grand compliment seigneur luy dit il en grec scachant que cyrus le parloit admirablement et qu'il ne scavoit pas si bien la langue egyptienne je suis bien aise que la fortune qui m'a tant este ennemie en tant d'autres occasions m'ait favorise en celle cy et m'ait jette dans un party plus juste et plus heureux que celuy ou j'estois mais seigneur la principale raison qui fait que je luy en suis fort redevable est que par la je jouis de l'honneur de vous voir que j'avois extremement desire je suis bien glorieux reprit modestement cyrus qu'un prince qui a assez de vertu pour se faire aimer des fies jusques au point que vous estes aime des vostres ait quelque disposition a m'aimer car il est a croire que tant de vaillants hommes ne vous reverent comme ils font que parce que vous estes encore plus vaillant qu'eux mais seigneur adjousta t'il comment est il possible que je n'aye jamais entendu dire qu'il y eust un prince en egypte qui portast le nom de sesostris et que scachant jusques aux moindres actions de ce grand sesostris qui fit autresfois de si grandes conquestes en asie et en arabie j'ignore qui est cet autre illustre 
 sesostris que je voy seigneur repliqua ce prince blesse quand je me seray rendu digne de vostre estime par quelque action considerable je vous aprendray qui je suis aussi bien ne me sentay-je pas en estat de pouvoir vous faire scavoir toutes mes disgracec et toutes celles de ma maison cyrus voyant qu'en effet le parler beaucoup pourroit extremement nuire a la sante de ce prince ne le pressa pas davantage et se separa de luy infiniment satisfait un des principaux chefs des egyptiens qui estoient aupres de sesostris estant alle conduire cyrus jusques au lieu ou il monta a cheval luy dit seulement que sesostris estoit un prodige d'esprit et de valeur et qu'il l'assuroit que quand il scauroit sa veritable condition il trouveroit que son merite la surpassoit encore bien qu'elle fust des plus illustres du monde
 
 
 
 
apres quoy cyrus l'ayant quitte il s'en alla au camp avec beaucoup de diligence des qu'il y fut arrive les rois d'assirie de phrigie d'hircanie mazare anaxaris et tous les autres luy rendirent compte de l'estat des choses il ne s'en fia pourtant pas a eux car il fut luy mesme visiter tous les quartiers et reconnoistre le fort et le foible de la place mais en la considerant exactement comme il fit il eut une extreme douleur de voir qu'elle estoit plus forte qu'on ne la luy avoit representee neantmoins quelque difficulte qu'il y eust a la prendre de force il ne voulut plus tirer la guerre en longueur ny entreprendre de faire un siege regulier 
 en faisant faire des forts et des lignes tout a l'entour et il aima mieux choisir une autre voye et perdre quelques gens que d'estre plus longtemps creu inconstant par mandane il pensa toutesfois qu'il ne falloit pas d'abord presser trop sardis jusques a ce qu'il se fust asseure d'un coste de la ville par ou il craignoit que le roy de pont n'emmenast cette princesse cependant comme ce prince ne manquoit a rien de ce qu'il devoit il envoya vers le prince de clasomene a qui il escrivit sur la mort d'abradate et de panthee il envoya aussi vers ciaxare pour luy aprendre sa victoire et pour luy dire qu'il n'avoit point besoin des troupes qu'il luy offroit et il envoya encore a persepolis vers le roy son pere et la reine sa mere il voulut aussi qu'alcenor s'en allast a suse accompagne d'artabase et d'adusius et qu'ils portassent les tablettes dans lesquelles abradate avoit escrit sa derniere volonte afin de disposer les peuples a l'executer il voulut mesme y envoyer hermogene mais ce genereux amy scachant que cyrus vouloit aussi que belesis allast a suse le suplia de le dispenser d'y aller n'osant encore se fier a luy-mesme et craignant de ne pouvoir voir sortir cleodore du temple de ceres sans quelque petit sentiment de douleur s'il arrivoit que belesis luy persuadast d'en sortir et qu'il se racommodast avec elle ainsi il n'y eut qu'artabase adusius belesis alcenor et quelques autres susiens qui eurent ordre de ce prince de partir pour aller a 
 suse ils ne prirent toutesfois pas conge de luy sans luy tesmoigner le regret qu'ils avoient de le quitter en un temps ou ils l'eussent pu servir de sorte que cyrus pour reconnoistre en particulier le zele que belesis tesmoignoit avoir luy escrivit a cleodore pour l'asseurer de la fidelite de son amant mazare fit aussi la mesme chose et pour faire que belesis ne fust pas dans la necessite de dire luy mesme a cleodore quelle estoit la malheureuse vie qu'il avoit menee il voulut qu'orsane l'accompagnast la separation de mazare et de belesis fut extremement touchante aussi bien que celle de belesis et d'hermogene qui eut toutesfois assez de force sur luy-mesme pour ne dire rien a son amy qui peust luy faire connoistre qu'il ne demeuroit pas aussi tranquile et aussi satisfait qu'il l'avoit espere cyrus ordonna encore a alcenor et a belesis d'aller dire adieu a doralise et a pherenice qui auroient peut-estre quelques ordres a leur donner mais apres que cyrus eut satisfait a ce qu'il devoit aux autres il ne songea plus qu'a se satisfaire luy mesme en delivrant mandane le roy d'assirie et mazare estoient surpris de remarquer qu'il estoit plus inquiet depuis la victoire qu'il avoit r'emportee qu'il ne l'estoit auparavant ils n'en penetroient pourtant pas la cause et ce fut en vain qu'ils la chercherent il est vray que le chagrin de cyrus diminuant par l'esperance qu'il eut d'estre bien tost en estat de se justifier diminua aussi leur curiosite et fit qu'ils 
 ne songerent non plus que luy qu'a prendre sardis ils avoient pourtant des sentimens bien differens car cyrus esperoit qu'en prenant cette ville il se justifieroit dans l'esprit de mandane et se verroit en estat de la posseder des qu'il auroit vaincu le roy d'assirie mais pour ce prince la prise de sardis et la deffaite de cyrus ne suffisoient pas pour le rendre heureux il falloit encore vaincre la fierte de mandane et c'est ce qu'il ne pouvoit vray-semblablement esperer et ce qu'il esperoit pourtant quelquesfois a cause de ce que l'oracle luy avoit promis pour mazare il estoit plus malheureux que les deux autres car de quelque coste qu'il envisageast la chose il n'y voyoit rien de favorable pour luy et il faisoit mesme ce qu'il pouvoit pour bannir l'esperance de son coeur en bannissant l'amour qui la faisoit naistre de sorte que dans le mesme temps qu'il combatoit contre les lydiens il combatoit encore contre luy mesme et il n'y avoit point de jour ou la vertu et l'amour ne se surmontassent l'un l'autre dans son ame cependant cyrus agissoit avec une vigilance extreme il alloit continuellement de quartier en quartier et avoit une impatience estrange de voir les choses en estat de pouvoir donner un assaut a la ville quoy que toutes les murailles fussent bordees d'une multitude si grande de soldats que la seule pensee d'y aller poser des eschelles deust faire fremir les plus braves et les plus determinez il est vray que ceux qui estoient dans la ville voyant de dessus 
 leurs rampars cette grande armee victorieuse qui l'environnoit en estoient si espouventez que ne doutant point de leur perte ils ne songeoient qu'a vendre cherement leur vie la veue d'un peril si evident ne produisit pourtant pas egalement cet effet dans tous les coeurs des habitans et cette ville fut durant quelques jours tellement divisee que cresus ne craignoit gueres moins ses propres sujets que ses ennemis comme l'amour et l'amour heroique est une passion que le peuple ne conprend point du tout celuy de sardis ne croyoit pas que mandane fust le veritable sujet de la guerre que faisoit cyrus et il s'imaninoit au contraire que l'ambition toute seule le faisoit agir de sorte que scachant que ce prince avoit rendu le royaume au roy d'armenie apres l'avoir conquis et qu'il s'estoit contente de luy faire payer le tribut qu'il devoit a ciaxare il se mit dans la fantaisie de dire qu'il faloit que cresus fist proposer a cyrus d'estre son vassal s'imagirnant que ce prince accepteroit la chose de sorte que cette imagination allant d'esprit en esprit et ce passant de bouche en bouche il se fit un tumulte si grand dans cette ville que cresus fut contraint pour le calmer d'asseurer ce peuple qu'il feroit faire quelques propositions de paix a cyrus mais qu'il faloit attendre encore quelques jours pendant que cresus et le roy de pont estoient en cet estat cyrus dont le grand coeur ne trouvoit rien de difficile se preparoit a un assaut general il est vray qu'il y avoit un coste de 
 la ville qui regardoit vers le mont tmolus si inaccessible qu'on ne pouvoit songer a l'attaquer par cet endroit la et par tout ailleurs les murailles estoient si bien garnies d'hommes qu'il estoit aise de voir que l'attaque en seroit bien dangereuse cependant cyrus ne laissa pas d'entreprendre de les attaquer il disposa toutes ses machines il visita toutes ses eschelles pour voir si elles estoient de longueur il fit aprocher toutes les tours il rangea toutes ses troupes il harangua tous ses soldats et apres avoir donne ordre qu'on fist trois attaques differentes en mesme temps l'une desquelles estoit commandee par le roy d'assirie l'autre par mazare et la troisiesme par luy ce prince fut le premier poser une eschelle contre les murailles de cette fameuse ville apres en avoir fait combler le fosse avec des facines malgre la resistance des ennemis selon toutes les aparences cette attaque devoit bien succeder a cyrus veu le desordre qui estoit dans la ville neantmoins le bruit ne s'epandit pas plustost parmy les habitans de sardis que leur ville estoit attaquee que le desespoir s'emparant de leur esprit les rendit si vaillans qu'il n'y eut pas jusques aux femmes qui n'allassent pour la deffendre et pour jetter du moins des pierres sur la teste de ceux qui vouloient monter aux eschelles en effet la resistance des lydiens animez par le roy de pont fut telle que toute la valeur de cyrus et celle de tant de braves gens qui combatoient sous luy ne put les 
 forcer ce jour la cyrus fut repousse plus de vingt fois du haut de la muraille et si la fortune ne l'eust conserve il eust asseurement pery en cette occasion car les ennemis se deffendirent si opiniastrement qu'il n'y eut jamais moyen de pouvoir tenir ferme sur le haut de leurs rampars on ne voyoit qu'eschelles renversees ou rompues et il partoit de dessus les murs de sardis une si prodigieuse quantite de traits de dards et de javelots que l'air en estoit obscurcy ceux qui esvitoient les javelots et les javelots et les traits n'esvitoient pas une gresle de pierres qui tomboit continuellement sur eux ils avoient mesme une espece de cercles de fer qu'ils lancoient continuellement sur les attaquans qui furent enfin contraints de se retirer de toutes les trois attaques il est vray que cyrus en se retirant se longea sur la contr'escarpe du fosse ne voulant pas qu'on luy peust reprocher de n'avoir r'emporte nul avantage en cette journee anaxaris qui combatoit ce jour la aupres de luy et qui fit des choses si prodigieuses que cyrus advoua n'avoir jamais veu un plus vaillant homme aida extremement a ce prince a faire ce logement et a le garder joint aussi que la nuit venant bientost apres facilita le moyen de le mettre en estat d'estre conserve cyrus fut pourtant bien marry que sa premiere attaque ne luy eust pas mieux succede toutefois comme il scavoit que tous les jours ne sont pas esgaux a la guerre il ne se rebuta point non plus que le roy d'assirie et 
 mazare qui s'estoient signalez ce jour la et ne laissa pas de louer tous les siens comme en effet il n'avoit pas eu sujet de s'en pleindre car ils avoient fait tout ce que des gens de coeur pouvoient faire il eut mesme ce bonheur qu'il n'y eut point de personne remarquable qui perist en cette occasion il est vray qu'il y eut un assez grand nombre de soldats tuez de sorte que des que le jour parut on fit une treve d'un jour pour en retirer les corps pendant quoy cyrus observa tres soigneusement luy mesme s'il n'y avoit point quelque autre endroit des murailles par ou l'attaque fust moins difficile mais durant qu'il s'occupoit tout entier a considerer tout ce qui luy pouvoit nuire ou servir les lydiens qui devoient avoir pris un nouveau coeur apres avoir repousse leurs ennemis retomberent dans une nouvelle espouvente car comme il y avoit eu beaucoup de blessez et de tuez tant par ceux qui avoient peu gagner le haut des ramparts que par ceux qui estoient sur les tours et qui pour favoriser les leurs durant qu'ils posoient les eschelles avoient continuellement tire sur ceux qui gardoient les murailles de sardis ils s'estonnerent plus qu'auparavant les femmes qui voyoient leurs maris ou leurs enfans blessez ou morts jettoent tant de larmes qu'ils en amolissoient les coeurs les plus fiers et les plus determinez de sorte que croyant mesme que leur roy pouvoit faire un traite plus avantageux apres avoir repousse cyrus qu'auparavant 
 ils recommencerent d'en reparler et porterent la chose si loin que ce malheureux prince eust volontiers rendu mandane a cyrus pour sauver sa couronne mais le roy de pont avoit este si adroit que cresus n'estoit plus maistre de la citadelle car ce prince s'estoit tellement acquis pactias et tous les soldats qui la gardoient estoient tellement a luy que cresus n'en pouvoit plus disposer de sorte que ce malheureux roy n'estoit pas seulement maistre de sa propre fille ny de la seule ville qui luy restoit cependant cyrus estant adverty par des espions qu'andramite luy avoit donnez et qui alloient et venoient dans la ville que le tumulte y recommencoit resolut de le laisser augmenter encore auparavant que de redonner un second assaut joint aussi qu'ayant fait dessein au lieu de ne faire que trois attaques de tascher de faire attaquer tout a la fois toute l'enceinte des murailles de la ville par les costez ou elles estoient accessibles il n'avoit pas assez d'eschelles pour cela de sorte qu'il fallut se contenter de garder le logement qu'il avoit fait et de repousser les ennemis qui voulurent deux ou trois fois faire tout ce qu'ils pouvoient pour en deloger ceux qui le gardoient mais toutes les fois qu'ils firent des sorties pour cela cyrus les recogna si vertement qu'a la fin ils n'y songerent plus comme les choses estoient en cet estat leontidas accompagne d'un envoye de philoxipe vint de la part de thrasibule et d'harpage pour aprendre a cyrus le detail 
 des heureux succes dont il avoit desja este adverty aussi tost apres le gain de la bataille
 
 
 
 
cyrus ne le vit pas plustost qu'il en eut autant de joye qu'il estoit alors capable d'en avoir car comme il aimoit fort thrasibule et qu'il estimoit extremement leontidas il espera beaucoup de consolation d'aprendre par ce dernier la fin des mal-heurs de son amy il ne put toutefois voir cet amant jaloux sans se souvenir de toutes ses jalousies qu'il luy avoit entendu raconter a sinope et sans repasser en mesme temps dans sa memoire l'injuste jalousie de mandane de sorte que malgre le plaisir qu'il avoit de voir leontidas il l'embrassa en soupirant il retint pourtant ce subit mouvement de douleur afin de luy tesmoigner mieux combien les victoires de thrasibule luy donnoient de satisfaction je vous asseure luy dit il apres les premiers complimens et apres s'estre informe de l'envoye de philoxipe que leontidas luy avoit presente en quel estat estoit ce prince que je n'ay guere moins fait de voeux pour la felicite de thrasibule que pour la mienne et que le bonheur dont il jouit presentement m'empesche de murmurer autant que je ferois de la continuation de mes malheurs si les siens n'estoient pas finis vous avez sans doute raison seigneur respondit leontidas de vous interesser en la fortune du prince thrasibule car je puis vous asseurer que si son bonheur vous empesche d'accuser les dieux de vos disgraces vos malheurs l'empeschent aussi de les remercier 
 de bon coeur de sa felicite mais de grace dit cyrus a leontidas dites moy promptement non seulement toutes ses victoires mais tout ce qui luy est arrive et tout ce qui vous est advenu aprenez moy aussi comment se portent tous nos autres amis philocles n'est il point guery de sa passion et aime t'il encore sans estre aime thimocrate est il tousjours amoureux et absent et estes vous toujours jaloux toutes les choses que vous me demandez reprit leontidas en riant meritent sans doute que je vous y responde excepte la derniere qui me regarde car seigneur il est inutile de demander si un homme d'un naturel jaloux l'est encore puis qu'assurement il ne peut jamais cesser de l'estre le discours de leontidas affligea cyrus luy semblant que selon ce qu'il disoit la jalousie de mandane dureroit eternellement l'exces de sa passion ne luy permettant pas alors de faire la distinction d'une jalousie de temperamment qui naist dans le fonds du coeur sans sujet et sans raison ou d'une jalousie estrangere qui a quelque pretexte apparent et qui par consequent ne dure qu'autant de temps que ce qui l'a fait naistre subsiste il s'opposa pourtant a luy mesme en cette occasion et cachant le trouble de son esprit il pressa leontidas de satisfaire la curiosite qu'il avoit de scavoir tout ce qui estoit arrive a thrasibule a harpage a thimocrate et a luy mesme luy semblant que ce luy seroit une extreme consolation d'aprendre que ces amants qu'il avoit veus si 
 malheureux ne le fussent plus joint aussi que leontidas estant arrive en un jour de treve et ou cyrus n'avoit pas grande occupation scachant bien que sardis n'estoit pas en estat d'estre encore secouru il estoit bien aise d'employer le loisir qu'il avoit a scavoir le detail des victoires de thrasibule et de ses avantures amoureuses mais comme leontidas scavoit que l'envoye de philoxipe nomme megaside avoit une nouvelle a dire a cyrus de la part de son maistre qui luy seroit plus agreable que tout ce qu'il luy pouvoit dire il se resolut de satisfaire sa curiosite en peu de mots seigneur luy dit il le prince philoxipe vous mande quelque chose par megaside qui vous doit donner une si grande joye que je pense qu'il est en effet a propos de peur que vostre ame n'en soit trop surprise que je la dispose par un moindre plaisir a recevoir celuy la mais je suis aussi persuade qu'il ne faut pas vous le differer trop longtemps c'est pourquoy je vous diray avec le moins de paroles qu'il me sera possible tout ce que vous voulez scavoir cyrus entendant parler leontidas de cette sorte creut que ce que magaside avoit a luy dire ne regardoit que philoxipe et ne le touchoit point du tout si bien que quelque estime qu'il eust pour luy comme il avoit encore plus d'amitie pour thrasibule il n'interrompit point leontidas qui d'abord voulut le faire souvenir de l'estat ou estoient les affaires du prince de milet lors qu'il estoit party d'aupres de luy mais cyrus l'interrompant 
 ha leontidas luy dit-il vous me faites tort si vous croyez que j'oublie les interests de mes amis et que j'oublie leurs malheurs non non poursuivit il je n'ay rien oublie de ce qui regarde thrasibule ny mesme de ce qui vous touche je me souviens bien que le peuple de milet avoit chasse la mechante melasie l'ambitieuse philodice la malheureuse leonce et le tyran alexidesme et que toutes ces abominables personnes s'estoient retirees chez le prince de phocee frere de philodice qui taschoit de faire ligue avec tous les estats voisins que cependant anthemius au lieu de rapeller son prince legitime comme le sage thales le vouloit employoit tous ses soins a faire que le peuple de milet s'accoustumast a la liberte et ne voulust plus reconnoistre de maistre je me souviens aussi que la belle alcionide estoit demeuree a mytilene durant que le prince tisandre estoit venu a sardis et de sardis en armenie ou vous scavez qu'il mourut en declarant par ses dernieres paroles et par une lettre a alcionide qu'il vouloit que thrasibule l'espousast et pour vous montrer adjousta cyrus que je me souviens de tour ce qui touche mes amis je me souviens bien encore que la derniere absence de thimocrate estoit causee par le combat qu'il avoit fait avec un de ses rivaux qu'il avoit tue et pour la mort duquel on l'avoit banny de delphes pour trois ans je n'ay pas oublie non plus que le malheureux philocles qui n'avoit jamais pu estre aime 
 estoit absolument sans esperance de l'estre parce que la belle philiste estoit mariee et estoit retournee a ialisse et pour vous poursuivit cyrus avec un sousris qui fut pourtant suivy d'un souspir je me souviens bien qu'en vostre particulier vus avez este jaloux de tout ce qui a este au dessus ou au dessous de vous et que lors que vous quittastes samos apres avoir consulte vainement le philosophe xanthus vous laissastes trois de vos rivaux chez la belle alcidamie jugez apres cela s'il est necessaire que vous me remettiez en la memoire ce que j'y ay si bien conserve j'advoue seigneur reprit leontidas que je ne croyois pas que vos malheurs vous peussent permettre de vous souvenir si exactement de ceux des autres mais puis que je me suis trompe il faut donc que je me haste de vous dire que le prince thrasibule ne pouvant se resoudre d'aller luy mesme porter la lettre de tisandre a alcionide et luy aprendre la mort de son mary et ne voulant pas mesme songer a la presser d'accomplir la derniere volonte de ce malheureux prince qu'il ne fust rentre dans milet et qu'il ne s'en fust rendu maistre il luy envoya leosthene a qui il remit la lettre de tisandre mourant pour la rendre a alcionide luy en donnant aussi une pour cette belle personne que je suis bien marry de ne vous pouvoir montrer comme thrasibule me la montra car seigneur je n'ay jamais veu une si belle lettre ny si touchante ny ou il parust tant d'art tant d'esprit ny tant de jugement 
 mais pour vous faire concevoir quelle elle estoit je n'ay qu'a vous dire que quand thrasibule n'eust point este amoureux d'alcionide et qu'il n'eust este qu'amy de tisandre elle n'eust pu estre plus tendre qu'elle estoit pour cet illustre mort et que quand aussi il n'eust point este amy de tisandre et qu'il n'eust este qu'amant d'alcionide elle n'eust pu estre plus passionnee qu'elle estoit il ne luy disoit pourtant pas une parole qui choquast la bien-seance le mot d'amour n'estoit seulement pas dans sa lettre il ne la prioit pas mesme d'accomplir la volonte de son mary qui vouloit qu'elle l'espousast mais en ne luy demandant rien il luy demandoit pourtant tout et je ne vy de ma vie rien de si plein d'esprit et de passion que cette admirable lettre mais apres que thrasibule eut fait partir leosthene et qu'il luy eut dit tout ce qu'il vouloit qu'il dist et a alcionide et au sage pitaccus pere de tisandre a qui il escrivit aussi il songea avec harpage quelle voye ils devoient tenir pour faire reussir ses desseins et ils adviserent qu'il devoit premierement penser a se rendre maistre de milet avant que de songer a se vanger de ses ennemis la chose ne fut pourtant pas en leur choix car le prince de phocee comme vous l'avez desja sceu fit ligue avec les xanthiens les cariens et les cauniens si bien que faisant une armee assez considerable il fallut songer a la combatre et non pas a aller a milet ou thrasibule se contenta alors d'envoyer secrettement 
 un des siens vers thales et en effet seigneur ce prince la combatit et la deffit apres cette victoire le prince de phocee et alexidesme furent contraints de se retirer dans leur ville que thrasibule investit a l'heure mesme et fit enclorre de tranchees et par ce moyen ils n'avoient que le coste de la mer libre d'ou ils n'attendoient pas un secours assez prompt pour les sauver de sorte que comme il jugeoient par les crimes qu'ils avoient commis de la punition qu'ils en recevroient s'ils tomboient sous la puissance de thrasibule ils ne songerent plus qu'a desrober leurs personnes a sa vangeance ils inspirerent mesme dans l'esprit du peuple de phocee une si grande horreur pour toute domination estrangere que les innocens prirent la resolution des coupables telle que je vay vous la dire ils firent donc demander a parlementer et proposerent d'abord des choses si advantageuses qu'harpage obligea thrasibule d'oublier une partie de ses ressentimens et de les escouter de sorte que tous actes d'hostilite cessant de part et d'autre on fut deux jours en negociation cependant les phoceens se servirent de ce temps la a equiper tout ce qu'ils avoient de vaisseaux qui n'estoient pas en petit nombre car ils ont este les premiers des grecs qui ont fait de longues navigations et qui ont aussi les premiers trace le chemin de la tirrhenie et de tartesse enfin seigneur en une nuit tous les phoceens s'embarquerent avec leurs femmes et leurs enfans et 
 emporterent avec eux tout ce qu'ils avoient de plus precieux jusques aux statues de leurs temples de sorte que le lendemain au lieu de voir des negociateurs nous ne vismes personne ny sur les murailles de phocee ny en nulle part si bien que thrasibule triompha d'une ville deserte et ne vit pas un de ses ennemis en sa puissance n'estant demeure dans cette ville que quelques miserables esclaves je ne vous dis point seigneur quel fut le desespoir de thrasibule car cela seroit inutile mais je vous diray que se contentant de mettre garnison dans phocee sans tarder davantage en ce lieu la il envoya asseurer euphranor pere d'alcionide qui estoit tousjours chef du conseil des gnidiens qu'il n'avoit autre desseins que de le proteger mais qu'il le conjuroit de ne donner pas retraite au prince de phocee ny a alexidesme cependant quelques assurances que thrasibule peust luy donner scachant que l'armee qu'il commandoit estoit a un prince qui sembloit vouloir assujettir toute l'asie il ne se pouvoit fier a ses paroles et il faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour faire couper cette pointe de terre qui est entre deux mers et qui seule fait que le pais des gnidiens est du continent mais comme ils travailloient a faire une isle de leur pais soit que la chose fust ainsi ou que le peuple se l'imaginast ceux qui travailloient a creuser cet isthme et a le detruire creurent que les pierres rejallissoient contre eux mesmes de sorte que croyant que les 
 dieux n'aprouvoient pas ce qu'ils faisoient il ne voulurent plus travailler euphranor pour les y obliger par la mesme raison qui les en empeschoit envoya consulter l'oracle a delphes mais cette fois la cet oracle qui a accoustume de respondre si obscurement a tout ce qu'on luy demande respondit aux gnidiens au nom desquels euphranor le faisoit consulter comme s'il eust voulu les railler agreablement qu'ils ne travaillassent plus inutilement a couper cet isthme parce que si jupiter eust eu dessein de faire une isle de leur pais il l'eust bien faite sans eux de sorte que cette response estant sceue a gnide euphranor creut que les dieux vouloient qu'il se soumist a vous si bien qu'il fit beaucoup plus que thrasibule ne demandoit car il luy envoya les deputez du pais pour l'asseurer de la fidelite qu'il vous vouloit rendre je ne vous dis point seigneur que thrasibule les receut bien car il suffit que vous scachiez qu'ils venoient de la part d'euphranor pour vous l'imaginer cependant thrasibule apres les avoir renvoyes avec les assurances de les traiter aussi favorablement qu'ils le pouvoient desirer sceut que ses ennemis s'estoient retirez a xanthe apres avoir este refusez en beaucoup d'autres lieux et que la multitude des phoceens estoit allee a chio si bien que sans differer davantage il tourna teste vers les xanthiens il falut pourtant combatre les cariens auparavant qui furent bientost soumis pendant quoy anthemius et thales agissoient dans milet 
 selon leurs differens desseins mais comme ceux de thales estoient plus justes que ceux d'anthemius les dieux les favoriserent et malgre tous les artifices de cet ennemy de thrasibule il disposa les peuples a recevoir leur prince avec soumission il est vray que la puissance de vos armes ne servit pas peu a son restablissement et il m'a charge de vous dire qu'il vous doit tout le repos dont il espere jouir le reste de ses jours et que les victoires qu'il a remportees n'ont este qu'un effet des vostres mais seigneur pour faire qu'il ne manquast rien a son bonheur il receut la nouvelle de ce qui se passoit a milet a son avantage le lendemain qu'il eut deffait les xanthiens et les lyciens qui s'estoient joints ensemble et qu'il eut force alexidefme et le prince de phocee de se retirer non seulement dans la ville de xanthe mais dans son chasteau car comme elle n'estoit pas extremement forte ils ne se creurent pas en seurete dans ses murailles mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que ces hostes impitoyables a qui l'image de leurs crimes troubloit la raison et ostoit toute sorte d'humanite mirent eux mesmes le feu au lieu qui leur avoit servy d'azile il est vray qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si l'horreur de leur mechancete leur fit imaginer plus de douceur a mourir dan les flames qu'a tomber entre les mains de trasibule car enfin melasie l'avoit exile luy avoit fait perdre ses estats et en suite avoit empoisonne son pere philodice avoit eu part a ses desseins et a ses 
 crimes et en avoit profite le prince de phocee pour se vanger du malheur de son fils qui n'avoir point fait descrupule de violer toutes sortes de loix non plus qu'alexidesme de qui la femme estoit sans doute la moins coupable elle eut toutefois mesme destin que les autres car seigneur non seulement ces desesperez bruslerent la ville de xanthe en se retirant dans le chasteau mais voyant que le prince thrasibule se preparoit a les y forcer ils le bruslerent aussi et se bruslerent eux mesmes et par ce moyen ils furent les ministres de la vangeance divine et se punirent de leur propre main de tous les crimes qu'ils avoient commis je ne vous dis point combien cette effroyable avanture surprit thrasibule et surprit toute l'armee car a moins que d'avoir veu un si espouventable objet on ne scauroit concevoir l'estonnement que tous ceux qui le virent en eurent depuis cela seigneur rien ne resista a la puissance de vos armes et tout reconnut vostre authorite de sorte que thrasibule tout couvert de gloire fut apres cela a milet ou il fut receu avec des acclamations les plus grandes du monde mais comme ce n'estoit pas assez pour luy d'estre restably dans ses estats s'il ne l'estoit encore dans le coeur d'alcionide il ne songea plus qu'a cela ce qui l'affligeoit estoit de ne scavoir pas precisement quels estoient les veritables sentimens de cette belle personne car comme elle avoit sceu la mort de tisandre auparavant que leosthene arrivast a mytilene il la 
 trouva preste a s'embarquer pour retourner a gnide aupres de son pere lors que thrasibule l'envoya vers elle de sorte qu'elle avoit receu la lettre de thrasibule sans y respondre se contentant de faire un compliment ne pouvant se resoudre a luy escrire parce qu'il luy sembloit qu'elle ne le pouvoit faire sans en dire trop ou trop peu leosthene dit seulement a son retour qu'on ne pouvoit pas voir plus de tristesse qu'il en paroissoit dans ses yeux quoy qu'elle fust tousjours tres belle thrasibule ne sceut pas plustost qu'alcionide estoit a gnide ou elle arriva un peu apres que les deputez qui avoient este vers thrasibule y furent retournez qu'il y renvoya leosthene pour la demander a euphranor il envoya aussi en mesme temps vers le prince de mytilene pour le suplier de vouloir obliger alcionide a accomplir la volonte de tisandre mourant et il escrivit une seconde fois a alcionide mais avec des termes si passionez qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'il sentoit ce qu'il disoit comme thrasibule m'a fait l'honneur de me donner beaucoup de part a sa confidence pendant cette guerre il voulut que j'allasse aider a leosthene a faire reussir son dessein si bien que si leosthene fut envoye vers euphranor je puis dire que je le fus vers alcionide je ne vous diray point exactement seigneur tout ce qui se passa en nostre negociation qui ne trouva point de difficulte dans l'esprit du pere mais qui en trouva beaucoup dans celuy de la fille car ce discours differoit 
 trop longtemps le plaisir que vous devez recevoir ce n'est pas qu'alcionide n'eust conserve une affection si tendre pour thrasibule que le rare merite de tisandre ne l'avoit pu affoiblir quoy qu'elle eust admirablement bien vescu aveque luy et qu'elle l'eust infiniment estime et mesme fort tendrement aime mais apres tout quoy que son mary en mourant luy eust ordonne d'espouser thrasibule elle se mit dans la fantaisie qu'il luy seroit plus glorieux de ne luy obeit pas que d'accomplir sa derniere volonte et cette opinion s'empara de telle sorte de son esprit qu'elle creut quelle seroit blasmee si elle espousoit thrasibule quoy qu'elle l'aimast tousjours cherement mais enfin le prince de mytilene luy ayant escrit pour la prier d'accomplir la volonte du prince son fils et euphranor le luy ayant commande absolument je pense pouvoir dire qu'elle obeit sans repugnance et qu'elle ne fut pas marrie que deux personnes qui avoient un si grand pouvoir sur elle l'asseurassent qu'elle ne faisoit rien contre sa gloire ainsi seigneur comme leosthene et moy avions un pouvoir absolu le mariage de thrasibule et d'alcionide fut conclu leosthene retourna a milet et je demeuray a gnide jusques a ce que les choses fussent en estat qu'alcionide en peust partir je ne vous diray point seigneur toute la joye de thrasibule et toute la magnificence qu'il aporta pour la recevoir mais je vous asseureray que la belle alcionide est digne de l'affection qu'il a 
 pour elle et d'autant plus seigneur qu'elle partage aujourd'huy celle qu'il a pour vostre service estant certain qu'elle est si charmee de vostre vertu quoy qu'elle ne la connoisse que par la renommee et par thrasibule qu'elle ne fait pas moins de voeux que luy pour vostre prosperite voila donc seigneur l'heureux estat ou est le prince thrasibule et comme si son bonheur se fust encore estendu sur ses amis quand je retournay a milet avec alcionide je trouvay que thimocrate estoit prest d'en partir pour aller a delphes parce qu'il avoit receu nouvelle que ses amis avoient fait revoquer son arrest de bannissement et que le pere de telesile ayant change d'advis estoit prest de luy donner sa fille preferablement a tous ses autres amans parce que menecrate qui estoit le plus considerable de tous s'estant enfin rebute des rigueurs de telesile avoit change de sentimens de sorte que cet amant a qui l'absence a fait sentir tant de maux est alle retrouver telesile pour ne la quitter jamais philocles partit aussi de milet en mesme temps que luy pour s'en aller a ialisse ayant sceu que le mary de la belle philiste estoit mort et voulant voir s'il ne sera point plus heureux aujourd'huy qu'elle est veusve qu'il ne l'a este devant qu'elle fust mariee pour moy seigneur a qui la jalousie a tant donne d'inquietude je trouvay a mon retour une lettre d'un de mes amis de samos qui m'aprit une chose qui devoit selon les aparences me guerir de ma jalousie 
 en me guerissant de ma passion car enfin on m'a escrit qu'alcidamie n'est plus belle et on me l'a depeinte si maigre si pasle et si changee que je ne scay comment mon amour et ma jalousie subsistent encore je ne m'estonne pas interrompit cyrus en souriant que vostre amour dure plus que la beaute d'alcidamie car je suis persuade qu'on ne doit point mesurer la duree de son affection par celle d'une chose qui est extremement fragile et qui passe infailliblement bientost mais ce qui m'estonne est que vous soyez encore jaloux car enfin de la facon dont vous depeignez alcidamie elle ne fera plus guere de nouvelles conquestes il est vray seigneur repliqua leontidas mais en m'aprenant qu'alcidamie n'est plus belle on m'a apris que theanor ne fut jamais si bien avec elle qu'il y est de sorte poursuivit leontidas en souriant que comme j'ay ouy dire que pour l'ordinaire les fort belles personnes cessent d'estre rigoureuses et fieres lors qu'elles commencent de cesser d'estre belles j'ay une telle peut qu'elle ne veuille retenir par des faveurs ce qu'elle craint de ne pouvoir plus conserver par sa beaute que je n'estois pas si jaloux que je le suis lors qu'alcidamie estoit la plus belle chose du monde et puis seigneur adjousta t'il alcidamie n'a perdu ce qui la faisoit belle qu'en perdant la sante de sorte que peut estre le printemps prochain luy redonnera ce qu'elle a perdu et ne me redonnera pas son affection qu'elle aura engagee a un autre mais 
 seigneur comme je ne dois pas estre moins jaloux de vostre gloire que de ma maistresse quoy que ce soit d'une maniere differente il faut que je vous die encore que dans peu de jours il vous viendra des deputez de tous les pais que thrasibule et harpage vous ont conquis et comme l'armee qu'ils commandent n'a plus rien a faite en un lieu dont vous estes le maistre c'est a vous a leur envoyer les ordres que vous voulez qu'ils suivent cependant seigneur souffrez s'il vous plaist que megaside s'aquitte des commandemens du prince philoxipe et qu'il vous aprenne une chose qui vous doit consoler dans toutes vos disgraces puis qu'elle vous en fera voir la fin assuree quelque confiance que j'aye en vous reprit tristement cyrus j'ay peine a croire que vous puissiez faire ce que vous dittes et je ne scay si j'en pourrois croire le prince philoxipe quand il seroit icy et qu'il se joindroit aveque vous pour me persuader que je dois esperer fortement que mes malheurs finiront je veux bien seigneur interrompit leontidas que vous n'en croiyez ny le prince philoxipe ny megaside ny moy pourveu que vous en croiyez les dieux qui en ont donne une asseurance si claire que vous n'en oserez douter quand vous la scaurez j'entens si peu ce que vous me dites repliqua cyrus que je n'y scaurois respondre c'est pourquoy-je vous conjure adjousta t'il adressant la parole a megaside de m'aprendre ce que vous voulez que je scache et ce que vous croyez qui me doit consoler 
 seigneur repliqua megaside avant que vous dire ce qui doit satis-faire vostre curiosite il faut que je vous fasse souvenir qu'il y a un oracle de venus uranie en chipre qui pour les choses qui regardent l'amour n'a jamais rendu de responce qui n'ait infailliblement este suivie de l'effet qu'on en a attendu apres cela seigneur je vous diray que la princesse de salamis soeur du prince philoxipe en la fortune de la quelle il est arrive bien des changemens depuis que vous passastes en nostre isle n'ayant pas voulu consulter cet oracle sur une chose d'ou dependoit tout le repos de sa vie et ayant envoye a delphes comme au plus fameux oracle de toute la terre elle en receut une responce qui la surprit de telle sorte qu'elle creut voir de l'impossibilite a ce que cet oracle asseuroit luy devoir arriver de sorte que cherchant quelque esclaircissement a ce qu'il luy avoit respondu elle consulta celuy de venus uranie qui luy dit en termes expres qu'il n'estoit pas plus vray que cyrus estoit le plus grand prince du monde et qu'il seroit un jour aussi heureux qu'il estoit infortune qu'il estoit vray que ce que l'oracle de delphes luy avoit dit luy arriveroit ha megaside s'ecria cyrus le moyen de croire ce que vous dites car enfin les dieux ne se contredisent jamais cependant ils ne m'ont pas respondu de cette sorte quand j'ay consulte ceux par qui ils revelent quelquesfois leurs secrets aux hommes megaside voyant qu'il n'estoit pas creu luy rendit une 
 lettre de creance que le prince philoxipe luy escrivoit et qu'il n'avoit pu luy rendre plustost a cause que la conversation de cyrus et de leontidas s'estoit liee d'une telle sorte qu'il n'avoit pu l'interrompre mais apres luy avoir donne cette lettre il luy donna encore le mesme oracle que la princesse de salamis avoit receu si bien que cyrus ne scachant s'il devoit plustost croire venus uranie que la sibille qu'il avoit consultee ou que jupiter belus qui avoit respondu favorablement au roy d'assirie il avoit l'esprit bien en peine ce qui le faisoit pancher a croire qu'il expliquoit mal ce que la sibille luy avoit dit et ce qu'on avoit respondu a babilone au roy d'assirie estoit de voir que l'oracle de delphes avoit asseure a cresus que s'il luy faisoit la guerre il destruiroit un grand empire et que cependant il le voyoit luy mesme en estat d'estre destruit toutesfois l'esperance avoit bien de la peine a chasser la crainte de son coeur c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je voy bien dit il a megaside que l'oracle que la de princesse de salamis a receu luy dit qu'il n'est pas plus vray que je seray un jour heureux qu'il est vray que ce qu'on luy a respondu a delphes luy arrivera mais megaside la difficulte est de scavoir si ce que l'oracle de delphes a respondu a cette princesse luy est arrive puis que c'est sur cela que je dois fonder cette esperance que le prince philoxipe veut que j'aye seigneur repliqua megaside comme le prince qui m'envoye a bien creu que c'estoit par le bonheur 
 de la princesse de salamis que vous pourriez esperer celuy que les dieux vous promettent il a obtenu d'elle la permission de vous faire scavoir tout ce qui luy est arrive qui est sans doute si particulier que je puis vous asseurer que ce recit en vous donnant de l'esperance vous donnera aussi beaucoup de plaisir a l'entendre si vous en avez le loisir quand je ne m'interesserois pas au tant que je fais a la fortune d'une des plus belles princesses du monde respondit cyrus le seul interest que j'ay a scavoir ses avantures afin de pouvoir determiner ce que je dois attendre des miennes me forceroit toujours de vous prier instamment de me les vouloir aprendre c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de m'accorder cette grace puisque le prince philoxipe et la princesse de salamis vous en ont donne la permission mais pour vous pouvoir escouter avec plus de loisir et pour ne derober rien aux soins que je dois avoir du siege de sardis qui m'est de si grande importance il vaut mieux prendre ce temps la sur mon sommeil c'est pourquoy ce sera s'il vous plaist ce soir que vous m'aprendrez ce que je dois esperer de ma fortune et en effet la chose se fit ainsi cependant cyrus ordonna a feraulas d'avoir soin de leontidas et de megaside et de les luy ramener aussi tost qu'il le verroit retire dans sa tente et qu'il auroit congedie tout le monde mais quoy qu'il peust faire il luy fut impossible de detacher son esprit de ce que megaside luy avoit dit et il eut une si grande impatience 
 de scavoir precisement comment cet oracle de venus uranie avoit este accomply qu'il se hasta de donner tous les ordres qu'il avoit a donner pour son armee afin de se pouvoir retirer de meilleure heure ce qui luy fut d'autant plus aise que la treve ne devoit finir que le lendemain au matin cyrus ne fut donc pas plustost en liberte que feraulas luy obeissant luy mena leontidas et megaside qui ne fut pas plustost arrive qu'il le somma de tenir sa parole et qu'il l'obligea de commencer son recit en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire de timante et de parthenie
 
 
n'attendez pas s'il vous plaist seigneur qu'en vous aprenant les avantures de la princesse de salamis qui s'apelle parthenie je vous aprenne de ces evenemens merveilleux ou mars a autant de part que l'amour et ou la fortune fait de si grands changemens au contraire preparez vostre esprit a croire que tout ce qui arrive en chipre ne peut estre de cette nature en effet je pense pouvoir dire que l'amour qui par tout ailleurs est bien souvent cause de beaucoup d'evenemens tragiques se contente quand il est en colere d'en faire seulement voir de bizarres et de capricieux en nostre isle cependant ceux a qui ils arrivent ne laissent pas de s'estimer fort malheureux et de se pleindre autant que ceux que la fortune l'amour et l'ambition 
 tourmentent tout a la fois apres cela seigneur je ne scay s'il n'est point encore necessaire de vous faire souvenir qu'en nostre cour l'amour n'est pas seulement une simple passion comme par tout ailleurs mais une passion de necessite et de bien-seance il faut que tous les hommes soient amoureux et que toutes les dames soient aimees nul insensible parmy nous n'a jamais este estime excepte le prince philoxipe qui ne le fut pas long temps on reproche cette durete de coeur comme un crime a ceux qui en sont capables et la liberte de cette espece est si honteuse que ceux qui ne sont point amoureux font du moins semblant de l'estre pour les dames la coustume ne les oblige pas necessairement a aimer mais a souffrir seulement d'estre aimees et toute leur gloire consiste a faire d'illustres conquestes et a ne perdre pas les amans qu'elles ont assujettis quoy qu'elles leur soient rigoureuses car le principal honneur de nos belles est de retenir dans l'obeissance les esclaves qu'elles ont faits par la seule puissance de leurs charmes et non pas par des faveurs de sorte que par cette coustume il y a presques une esgalle necessite d'estre amant et malheureux il n'est pourtant pas deffendu aux dames de reconnoistre la perseverance de leurs amans par une affection toute pure au contraire venus uranie l'ordonne mais il faut quelquesfois tant de temps a aquerir le coeur de la personne que l'on aime que la peine du conquerant esgalle 
 presques la prix de la conqueste il est toutesfois permis aux plus belles de se servir de quelques artifices innocens pour predre des coeurs le desir de plaire n'est pas un crime le soin de paroistre belle n'est point une affectation la conplaisance mesme est extremement louable pourveu qu'elle soit sans bassesse et pour dire tout en peu de paroles tout ce qui les peut rendre aimables et tout ce qui les peut faire aimer leur est permis pourveu qu'il ne choque ny la purete ny la modestie qui malgre la galanterie de nostre isle est la vertu dominante de toutes les dames ainsi ayant trouve lieu d'accorder l'innocence et l'amour elles menent une vie assez agreable et assez divertissante voila donc seigneur ce que j'ay creu a propos de vous remettre en la memoire afin de vous faire mieux comprendre ce que je m'en vay vous raconter je ne vous diray point que parthenie est nee avec une beaute surprenante qui charme des le premier instant qu'on la voit et qui semble encore augmenter a tous les momens qu'on la regarde car vous ne pouvez pas avoir este en chipre sans le scavoir quoy qu'elle ne fust pas a paphos quand vous y passastes mais je vous diray que son esprit brille aussi bien que ses yeux et que sa conversation quand elle le veut n'a pas moins de charmes que son visage au reste son esprit n'est pas de ces esprits bornez qui scavent bien une chose et qui en ignorent cent mille au contraire il a une estendue si prodigieuse que si l'on ne peut pas dire que parthenie 
 scache toutes choses egallement bien on peut du moins assurer qu'elle parle de tout fort a propos et fort agreablement il y a mesme une delicatesse dans son esprit si particuliere et si grande que ceux a qui elle accorde sa conversation en sont espouventez et d'autant plus que c'est une des personnes du monde qui parle le plus juste et le plus fortement quoy que toutes ses expressions soient simples et naturelles de plus elle change encore son esprit comme elle veut car elle est serieuse et mesme scavante avec ceux qui le sont pourveu que ce soit en particulier elle est galante et enjouee quand il le faut estre elle a le coeur haut et quelquefois l'esprit flatteur personne n'a jamais mieux sceu le monde qu'elle le scait elle est d'un naturel timide en certaines choses et hardi en d'autres elle a de la generosite heroique et de la liberalite et pour achever de vous la depeindre son ame est naturellement tendre et passionnee aussi peut on dire que jamais personne n'a si parfaitement connu toutes les differences de l'amour que la princesse de salamis les connoist et je ne scache rien de si agreable que de luy entendre faire la distinction d'une amour toute pure a une amour grossiere et terrestre d'une amour d'inclination a une amour de connoissance d'une amour sincere a une amour feinte et d'une amour d'interest a une amour heroique car enfin elle vous fait penetrer dans le coeur de tous ceux qui en sont capables elle vous depeint la jalousie 
 plus espouventable par ses paroles qu'on ne la represent avec les serpens qui luy deschirent le coeur elle connoist toutes les innocentes douceurs de l'amour et tous ses suplices et tout ce qui despend de cette passion est si parfaitement de sa connoissance que venus uranie ne la connoist guere mieux que la princesse de salamis voila donc seigneur quelle est la personne dont j'ay a vous entretenir qui n'a pas este moins aimee qu'elle est aimable en effet qui voudroit se souvenir du nombre prodigieux d'amans qu'elle a eux en seroit sans doute estonne estant certain que des que la belle parthenie commenca de paroistre dans le monde elle y fit mille conquestes ce qui luy donna encore un grand bruit a paphos fut qu'elle n'y avoit pas este eslevee parce que le pere de philoxipe ayant le gouvernement d'armathusie y avoit fait eslever tous ses enfants jusques a ce qu'ils fussent en estat de paroistre a la cour joint que la princesse sa femme y demeuroit presques tousjours de sorte qu'il ne fut pas de l'esclat de la beaute de parthenie comme du soleil qu'on voit tous les jours s'eslever peu a peu et aux rayons duquel on s'accoustume insensiblement car elle parut tout d'un coup a paphos toute brillante de lumiere aussi esblouit elle tous ceux qui la virent et l'on peut asseurer sans mensonge qu'elle effaca toutes les autres beautez et qu'elle brusla plus de coeurs en un jour que toutes les autres belles n'en avoient seulement blesse en toute leur vie mais ce qu'il 
 y eut de remarquable aux conquestes que fit parthenie au commencement qu'elle fut a paphos fut que cet admirable esprit qu'elle avoit desja quoy qu'elle avoit l'air encore infiniment plus aimable qu'elle ne l'avoit en ce temps la ne luy servit de rien pour faire toutes les conquestes qu'elle fit parce que sa beaute avoit un si prodigieux esclat que ceux qu'elle devoit assujettir l'estoient devant qu'ils l'eussent entretenue tant il est vray que ses yeux estoient puissans et que leurs charmes estoient inevitables mais seigneur comme je vous ay dit que l'on n'oseroit estre insensible a paphos ou du moins le paroistre vous pouvez bien juger que parthenie ne trouva gueres de gens en liberte et qu'elle ne put gagner tant de coeurs sans les derober aux autres de sorte qu'il vous est encore aise de vous imaginer que cela estant ainsi elle ne fut aimee que par des inconstans qui quittoient sans sujet leurs premieres chaines pour prendre les siennes puis qu'enfin ce n'est point une bonne raison a dire pour changer de maistresse que d'alleguer qu'on en trouve une plus belle puis que je suis persuade que qui quitte la personne qu'il aime pour une plus belle qu'elle la quitteroit infailliblement pour quelque autre sujet voila donc parthenie aimee de plusieurs et haie de beaucoup car vous pouvez juger que toutes celles qui perdirent les coeurs qu'elle gagna ne l'aimerent pas il n'y en eut pas une qui ne fist tout ce qu'elle put pour trouver quelque 
 deffaut a sa beaute et comme il n'estoit pas aise elles s'attaquoient du moins ou a sa coiffure ou a ses habillemens quoy qu'elle fust tres propre et elles n'oublioient rien de tout ce qu'elles pensoient luy pouvoir estre desavantageux cependant parthenie qui s'aperceut aisement de l'envie qu'elles luy portoient trouvoit un extreme plaisir a s'en vanger en assujettissant tousjours davantage leurs amans ne se souciant pas mesme de faire de nouvelles ennemies pourveu qu'elle fist de nouveaux esclaves car elle estoit alors dans un age ou il est assez difficile aux belles de mettre elles mesmes des bornes a leurs conquestes et de rejetter des voeux et des sacrifices elle fut donc quelque temps a estre bien aise de voir a l'entour d'elle cette foule d'adorateurs qu'elle menoit comme en triomphe par tous les lieux ou elle alloit mais comme elle les avoit tous assujettis par le seul esclat de ses yeux et que son esprit n'avoit point eu de part a toutes les conquestes qu'elle avoit faites tous ces amans n'estoient pas esgallement dignes de porter ses chaines il y en avoit de stupides et de grossiers de bizarres et de capricieux d'ennuyeux et d'incommodes de sorte que se trouvant bientost importunee de la mesme chose qui d'abord l'avoit divertie elle fit tout ce qu'elle put pour les rendre a celles a qui elle les avoit ostez ou du moins pour s'en deffaire il ne luy fut pourtant pas aise et l'on peut dire qu'en cette occasion sa beaute luy donna bien de la peine 
 parce qu'ils eurent plusieurs querelles entr'eux qui luy despleurent mais a la fin elle fut si severe a quelques uns si rude a quelques autres et mesme si incivile qu'elle vint a bout de se deffaire de cette multitude qui l'importunoit car encore que la coustume de chipre veuille que les dames souffrent d'estre aimees ce n'est pas indifferemment de toutes sortes de gens si bien que parthenie s'estant delivree de la persecution que luy faisoit cette abondance d'amans que sa seule beaute luy avoit donnez elle ne s'en trouva plus que trois qui estant plus agreables que les autres ne furent pas exilez ces trois amans n'estoient pas seulement de condition differente ils estoient aussi d'humeurs opposees en beaucoup de choses le premier estoit un parent de timoclee que vous vistes en passant a chipre appelle polydamas dont les inclinations estoient toutes genereuses il estoit beau de bonne mine et bien fait il avoit l'air grand et noble l'esprit enjoue mais mediocre et il plaisoit plus par un charme inexplicable qui estoit en toutes ses actions et en toute sa personne que par les choses qu'il disoit qui estoient sans doute plus agreables par la maniere dont elles estoient dites que par elles mesmes le second estoit le prince de salamis infiniment riche de grande condition fort bien fait de sa personne ayant assez d'esprit mais un peu bizarre et le troisiesme estoit un homme d'assez basse naissance nomme callicrate qui par son esprit en estoit venu au point qu'il 
 alloit du pair avec tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand a paphos et parmy les hommes et parmy les dames il escrivoit en prose et en vers fort agreablement et d'une maniere si galante et si peu commune qu'on pouvoit presque dire qu'il l'avoit inventee du moins scay-je bien que je n'ay jamais rien veu qu'il ait pu imiter et je pense mesme pouvoir dire que personne ne l'imitera jamais qu'imparfaitement car enfin d'une bagatelle il en faisoit une agreable lettre et si les phrigiens disent vray lors qu'ils asseurent que tout ce que midas touchoit devenoit or il est encore plus vray de dire que tout ce qui passoit dans l'esprit de callicrate devenoit diamant estant certain que du sujet le plus sterile le plus bas et le moins galant il en tiroit quelque chose de brillant et d'agreable sa conversation estoit aussi tres divertissante a certains jours et a certaines heures mais elle estoit fort inegalle et il y en avoit d'autres ou il n'ennuyoit gueres moins que la pluspart du monde l'ennuyoit luy mesme en effet il avoit une delicatesse dans l'esprit qui pouvoit quelques fois plustost se nommer caprice que delicatesse tant elle estoit excessive sa personne n'estoit pas extremement bien faite cependant il faisoit profession ouverte de galanterie mais d'une galanterie universelle puis qu'il est vray que l'on peut dire qu'il a aime des personnes de toutes sortes de conditions il avoit pourtant une qualite dangereuse pour un amant estant certain qu'il n'aimoit pas moins a faire croire 
 ou il estoit aime qu'a l'estre voila donc seigneur quels estoient ces trois amans qui demeurerent les plus assidus aupres de parthenie qui ne trouvoit en pas un des trois tout ce qu'il faloit pour engager son coeur polydamas n'avoit pas assez d'esprit le prince de salamis ne l'avoit pas bien tourne et callicrate estoit d'une condition si basse qu'elle ne pouvoit le regarder que comme admirateur de son merite et non pas comme son amant de sorte que pour en faire un tel qu'elle l'eust voulu il eust falu joindre ensemble le coeur et la personne de polydamas avec la condition du prince de salamis et l'esprit de callicrate mais comme cela n'estoit pas possible elle se contentoit d'estimer en chacun d'eux ce qu'il avoit d'estimable sans en aimer pas un des trois polydamas et callicrate estoient pourtant mieux dans son esprit que le prince de salamis car l'esprit du dernier la divertissoit fort et la personne de l'autre luy plaisoit extremement cependant ces trois amans avoient des desseins bien differens en aimant parthenie car polydamas songeoit principalement a en estre aime et il ne l'eust sans doute pas voulu espouser sans cela au contraire le prince de salamis plustost que de ne la posseder pas se resoluoit a l'espouser quand mesme elle l'auroit hai c'est pourquoy il n'aportoit pas moins de soin a gagner ceux qui pouvoient disposer d'elle qu'a luy plaire et callicrate dont l'ame n'estoit que vanite ne songeoit principalement qu'a faire en sorte qu'on 
 peust soupconner que parthenie souffroit agreablement sa passion et je ne doute nullement qu'il n'eust este plus satisfait que toute la cour eust creu que parthenie l'aimoit que si elle l'eust aime effectivement et que personne ne l'eust sceu c'est pourquoy toutes ses actions avoient un dessein cache dont parthenie ne s'aperceut que long temps apres mais seigneur ce qu'il y avoit d'admirable en l'humeur de callicrate c'est qu'il n'aimoit jamais tant par son propre jugement que par celuy des autres et si parthenie toute belle qu'elle estoit n'eust pas eu la grande reputation de beaute il ne l'auroit jamais aimee car sa vanite ne cherchoit pour l'ordinaire que les choses d'esclat les belles maisons les beaux meubles le grand train et la grande qualite luy ont quelques fois fait quitter les plus belles dames de chipre c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas s'estonner si trouvant en une mesme personne la condition la beaute l'esprit et la grande reputation il s'y opiniastra plus qu'aux autres et s'il mit sa derniere felicite a persuader a toute la cour qu'il n'estoit pas mal avec elle ce n'est pas que de la naissance dont il estoit il osast agir comme faisoient polydamas et le prince de salamis mais il prenoit un autre air de vivre plus familier et presuposant tousjours que ce qu'il faisoit ne pouvoit tirer a consequence il accoustuma insensiblement parthenie a souffrir qu'il la louast qu'il luy parlast souvent bas et qu'il luy dist mesme quelquesfois tout haut en raillant 
 qu'elle estoit une dangereuse personne comme il ne songeoit pas tant a estre aime qu'a faire croire qu'il n'estoit pas hai il ne luy disoit jamais rien en particulier qui luy peust desplaire de peur qu'elle ne le bannist mais il apportoit grand soin a faire que l'on s'aperceust qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle c'est pourquoy quand il sortoit de chez parthenie avec quelqu'un qu'il croyoit avoir assez d'esprit pour l'observer il affectoit de paroistre melancholique quelquesfois il ne parloit point d'antres fois il parloit toujours d'elle et la suivoit presques en tous lieux affectant estrangement de la regarder attentivement quand elle ne le regardoit pas et cherchant pourtant aveque soin de rencontrer quelquesfois ses yeux pour luy faire quelque signe d'intelligence sur quelque secret de bagatelles qu'il luy avoit confie expres pour cela car de l'humeur dont il estoit il eust prefere un regard favorable dont on se seroit aperceu aux plus estroites faveurs obtenues dans le secret et dans le silence ce qu'il y avoit d'estrange en l'humeur de callicrate estoit qu'encore qu'il eust une delicatesse d'esprit si excessive qu'il ne peust presques trouver personne digne de louanges il ne laissoit pas d'avoir certains gousts bizarres et extravagans qui luy en faisoient quelquesfois aimer d'autres qui n'estoient point du tout aimables si ce n'estoit parce qu'il en estoit aime et que selon son sens il y avoit de la vanite a l'estre de qui que ce fust comme il avoit l'esprit imperieux il aimoit a avoir 
 tousjours quelqu'un qu'il peust mepriser impunement et comme il n'eust asseurement pu trouver cela parmy des personnes de qualite et des personnes raisonnables il en souffroit quelques autres seulemet pour avoir le plaisir de pouvoir les tourmenter et d'estre plustost leur tiran que leur amant de sorte que l'on peut asseurer que jamais nul autre que luy n'a eu des sentimens dans le coeur si opposez qu'estoient tous les siens au reste tout le monde a tousjours bien sceu qu'il adoroit plus dans son coeur venus anadiomene que venus uranie car enfin il ne pouvoit conprendre qu'il peust y avoir de passion detachee des sens et il avoit mesme bie de la peine a croire qu'il y eust au monde une affection toute pure il ne laissoit toutesfois pas d'estre non seulement souffert de toutes les dames mais il estoit encore aime de plusieurs de sorte qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si parthenie toute sage qu'elle estoit le souffrit et d'autant moins qu'il vivoit avec elle plus respectueusement qu'avec toutes les autres et qu'il ne luy disoit jamais qu'il avoit de l'amour pour elle si ce n'estoit en raillant et d'une maniere qui ne luy permettoit pas de s'en offencer ny mesme de le croire cependant polydamas et le prince de salamis qui estoient d'une condition a ne cacher pas leur amour la tesmoignoient a parthenie par des voyes toutes differentes car le prince de salamis se contentoit d'avoir une assiduite estrange aupres d'elle et polydamas qui n'avoit pas assez d'esprit pour fournir a 
 de longues conversations luy faisoit connoistre sa passion par mille divertissemens qu'il luy donnoit continuellement ce n'estoient que bals musiques colations et promenades et comme sa personne estoit infiniment aimable qu'il dancoit admirablement bien que toutes ses actions plaisoient et que sa presence et l'enjouement de son humeur inspiroient de la joye aux plus melancholiques parthenie ne le haissoit pas et n'eust pas eu de repugnance a l'espouser si ses parens y eussent consenty mais comme il y avoit alors quelques factions dans la cour qui partageoient les grandes maisons il y avoit certains interests qui faisoient que ceux qui pouvoient disposer de parthenie ne la vouloient pas donner a polydamas d'autre part callicrate qui reconnut aisement que polydamas n'estoit pas trop mal avec parthenie aporta soin a luy faire remarquer le peu d'esprit qu'il avoit et il le fit avec tant d'art que quelque inclination que parthenie eust pour polydamas elle vint a croire qu'elle seroit blasmee de l'aimer et de le choisir de sorte que combatant ses propres sentimens callicrate eut la joye de voir qu'elle commenca de vivre un peu plus froidement avec polydamas qu'elle n'avoit accoustume toutesfois comme elle avoit une assez forte inclination pour luy et qu'en effet il estoit fort aimable elle ne se vainquit pas tout d'un coup et callicrate eut besoin d'un nouvel artifice pour le detruire absolument comme il estoit donc un jour avec elle il fit si bie 
 qu'insensiblement elle vint a parler de polydamas et a parler mesme avantageusement de son grand coeur de sa liberte et de sa magnificence j'advoue madame luy dit il que polydamas merite toutes les louanges que vous luy donnez et s'il connoissoit aussi bien toutes celles que vous meritez que vous connoissez toutes celles qu'il merite il seroit le plus heureux homme de la terre sa paillon vous honnoreroit plus qu'elle ne vous honnore et il seroit encore une fois plus amoureux de vous qu'il ne l'est polydamas reprit parthenie n'est point amoureux de moy mais quand il le seroit je suis persuadee que plus ou moins d'esprit ne donne point plus ou moins d'amour et qu'il y a des stupides plus amoureux que d'autres plus spirituels qu'eux ne le sont ha interrompit callicrate si j'osois vous dire ce que je pense la dessus je vous ferois bien changer d'avis je vous le permets luy dit elle souffrez donc madame adjousta t'il que je vous assure que le pauvre polydamas n'aime que la moitie de la belle parthenie en effet poursuivit il oseriez vous jurer que polydamas entende tout ce que vous dites et ne remarquez vous pas qu'il vous regarde plus qu'il ne vous escoute et qu'il n'y a jamais de raport entre ce que vous luy dites et ce qu'il vous respond pour moy dit parthenie qui n'estoit pas trop aise de ce que callicrate luy disoit il me semble que polydamas parle a peu pres comme un autre mais c'est que les qualitez de son ame sont si nobles 
 que cela est cause que l'on ne le loue point d'autre chose puis que vous ne voulez pas tomber d'accord repliqua t'il que polydamas n'a que mediocrement de l'esprit du moins fuis-je resolu de vous prouver seulement que vous en avez mille fois plus que luy vous me ferez le plus grand plaisir du monde reprit elle en verite madame luy dit il je ne croy point ce que vous dites vous croyez donc repliqua t'elle que j'aime mieux polydamas que je ne m'aime moy-mesme puis que je prefere sa gloire a la mienne je ne dis pas cela adjousta t'il en riant mais il s'en faut peu que je ne le craigne et mesme que je ne le croye en effet quelle apparence y a t'il que sans une grande preocupation vous ne voulussiez pas estre aimee toute entiere souffrez donc poursuivit callicrate avec cette liberte qu'il avoit accoustume de prendre avec tout le monde que durant que polydamas aime une moitie de parthenie un certain homme que je connois ait la permission d'adorer l'autre au reste madame reprit-il quand je dis que polydamas aime la moitie de parthenie je ne dis pas encore vray car il est certain qu'il n'aime pas mesme toute sa beaute quoy qu'il la voye tous les jours je pense adjousta-t'il qu'il scait bien qu'elle est grande de belle taille qu'elle a de beaux yeux que sa gorge est la plus belle du monde qu'elle a le teint admirable que ses cheveux sont blonds et qu'elle a la bouche fort agreable mais pour cet air charmant qui l'accompagne 
 il ne le connoist point du tout et je suis asseure que quoy que vous luy plaisiez infiniment il ne scait pourquoy vous luy plaisez il y a je ne scay quoy sur vostre visage poursuivit callicrate qui passe sa connoissance il n'entend point du tout le langage de vos yeux vos sousris qui sont si fins et si eloquens et qui font quelquesfois si bien connoistre la douceur ou la malice qui est dans vostre ame ne sont asseurement point dans son coeur l'effet qu'ils font dans celuy des autres et pour vous dire en un mot tout ce que je pense la dessus je suis persuade qu'un homme qui seroit assez heureux pour obtenir de la belle parthenie la permission d'aimer en elle tout ce que polydamas n'y connoist point seroit mieux partage que luy callicrate dit tout ce que je viens de dire avec tant de hardiesse que parthenie n'eut pas celle de s'en facher joint aussi qu'elle n'en eut pas le temps car le prince de salamis arrivant callicrate se retira avec autant de froideur et de serieux sur le visage que s'il n'eust parle tout le jour que de morale et de politique cependant comme parthenie l'estimoit extremement elle estoit au desespoir de sentir qu'elle avoit dans le coeur quelque diposition a aimer un homme qu'il n'estimoit pas assez car comme elle ne soupconnoit pas callicrate d'estre amoureux d'elle tout ce qu'il luy disoit portoit coup dans son esprit neantmoins elle n'estoit pas encore absolument determinee a bannir polydamas comme elle s'y determina quelques 
 jours apres par la malice de callicrate et voicy comment cela arriva parthenie se trouvant un peu mal garda la chambre et fut par consequent visitee de beaucoup de monde et entre les autres de polydamas et de callicrate qui estant ce jour la en un de ces jours de silence que tout le monde luy reprochoit se mit en un coin de la ruelle de parthenie sans faire mesme semblant d'entendre ce que l'on y disoit cependant polydamas qui ne scavoit pas que callicrate ne se taisoit que pour l'escouter mieux se mit a parler selon sa coustume c'est a dire avec peu de suite peu d'eloquence et peu d'esprit quoy que ce fust tousjours avec agreement parce que sa personne estoit fort aimable et comme un homme amoureux parle plus a la personne qu'il aime qu'aux autres quand il n'a point d'intelligence particuliere avec elle polydamas parla plus a parthenie qu'a toutes les autres dames d'autrepart gallicrate qui avoit son dessein cache et qui avoit une memoire admirable sans escouter rien de tout ce que le reste de la compagnie dit escouta fort attentivement tout ce que dit parthenie et tout ce que dit polydamas mais s'il l'escouta bien il le retint encore mieux estant certain qu'il se souvint parole pour parole de tout ce que parthenie avoit dit a polydamas et de tout ce que polydamas avoit dit a parthenie de sorte que la conversation ayant cesse il sortit de la compagnie sans avoir parle a personne et se retira en diligence chez luy ou il ne fut 
 pas plustost qu'il escrivit en forme de dialogue tout ce qu'il avoit entendu dire a polydamas et a parthenie mettant leurs noms au dessus de ce que chacun d'eux avoit dit sans y changer presques rien si bien que comme parthenie est une des personnes du monde qui parle le mieux et que polydamas estoit un des hommes de toute la terre qui parloit le moins juste et qui respondoit le moins precisement aux choses qu'on luy disoit les paroles de polydamas n'estant plus soustenues de la grace avec laquelle il les prononcoit et celles de parthenie se soustenant par elles mesmes ce dialogue estoit une fort plaisante chose a lire car outre la difference qu'il y avoit entre ces responces il est encore vray que tous ces discours estans destachez les uns des autres faisoient un galimatias terrible estans leus de suitte comme si c'eust este un discours lie de sorte qu'encore que cette derniere chose ne se deux pas reprocher a polydamas elle ne laissa pas de servir a la malice de callicrate qui pour ne perdre point de temps fut le lendemain de si bonne heure chez parthenie qu'il la trouva seule a peine fut il entre que cette princesse se souvenant du silence qu'il avoit grade le jour auparavant prit la parole pour luy en faire la guerre et pour luy demander s'il estoit encore en humeur de ne parler point au contraire madame luy dit il je suis venu aujourd'huy expres icy pour vous dire tout ce que je pensay hier vous paroissiez si melancholique luy respondit 
 elle que je croy que ce que vous me direz ne sera pas fort divertissant si ce n'est que vous vous fussiez peut-estre trouve d'humeur a faire des vers car il me semble avoir ouy dire que ceux qui en font sont aussi separez d'eux mesmes lors qu'ils en cherchent dans leur esprit que vous l'estiez hier de toute la compagnie quoy que vous y fussiez je vous assure madame luy dit il languissamment que je ne songeois point a entretenir les muses il est vray pourtant que je pensois a escrire quelque chose d'assez divertissant mais c'estoit en prose et non pas en vers comme vous n'escrivez pas moins agreablement en l'un qu'en l'autre reprit-elle je voudrois bien voir ce que c'estoit c'est pourquoy puis que vous m'avez dit d'abord que vous veniez aujourd'huy pour me dire tout ce que vous aviez pense hier monstrez-le moy je vous en prie je vous jure luy dit-il madame que quoy que je ne fois venu icy que pour cela je ne scay encore si je vous dois monster ce que j'ay escrit non non interrompit parthenie qui n'avoit garde de soupconner rien de la verite il n'est plus temps de raisonner la dessus et je veux absolument le voir promettez moy du moins luy dit-il que vous me ferez l'honneur de me dire sincerement ce que vous y trouverez de mauvais et que vous m'en ferez remarquer tous les deffauts sans mentir callicrate luy respondit parthenie vous estes aujourd'huy admirable de vouloir me persuader que vous trouveriez bon que l'on se meslast de corriger 
 quelque chose que vous auriez escrit cependant pour vous oster tout pretexte de me differer plus long temps le plaisir que j'attends de ce que vous me devez montrer je vous promets de vous dire tout ce que j'en penseray et c'est a dire adjousta t'elle que je vous promets de vous louer je vous asseure madame luy dit il que vous serez bien indulgente si vous louez tout ce que j'ay escrit mais pour vous aprendre a estre sincere je vous dis qu'il y a sans doute beaucoup de choses dans ce que je vous montreray qui ne sont pas indignes de vous mais en mesme temps je vous asseure encore qu'il y en a beaucoup d'autres aussi qui ne sont pas seulement dignes de moy et qui ne vous scauroient plaire a moins que d'une estrange preocupation dont je ne vous veux pas accuser vous n'estes guere accoustume repliqua parthenie a nous faire voir de si grandes inegalitez dans les choses que vous escrivez et je suis mesme asseuree que vous ne me monstreriez point ce que vous me voulez montrer et ce que je veux voir si vous croiyez ce que vous dittes vous en jurez vous mesme luy dit il en luy donnant les tablettes ou il avoit mis parole pour parole tout ce que parthenie et polydamas s'estoient dit le jour auparavant mais d'ou vient luy dit elle en les prenant que vous me donnez a lire ce que vous avez escrit car ce n'est pas trop vostre coustume c'est repliqua t'il que j'auray plus de plaisir a vous l'entendre lire que si je le lisois moy mesme et que 
 je suis persuade que vous l'entendrez mieux comme callicrate estoit accoustume a faire cent malices ingenieuses il vint tout d'un coup quelque soupcon a parthenie qu'il luy en vouloit faire une mais quelque soupcon qu'elle en eust elle aima mieux s'exposer a estre trompee qu'a ne contenter pas sa curiosite de sorte que sans hesiter davantage elle ouvrit les tablettes et vit d'abord qu'il y avoit escrit en tiltre responses de polydam a sa parthenie et de parthenie a polydamas a peine eut elle veu cela qu'elle se mit a rire ce ne fut toutesfois pas sans rougir et sans regarder callicrate comme voulant chercher plustost sur son visage que dans les tablettes qu'elle tenoit quel dessein il pouvoit avoir eu en luy faisant cette tromperie elle n'imagina pourtant pas encore la verite car elle creut que callicrate auroit fait dire a polydamas et a elle tout ce qu'il auroit voulu mais lors qu'en continuant de lire elle reconnut ses veritables paroles aussi bien que celles de polydamas et qu'elle se souvint qu'en effet elle et luy avoient dit le jour auparavant tout ce qu'elle trouvoit dans ces tablettes elle eut des sentimens bien differens car elle ne put s'empescher d'abord de trouver cela plaisamment pense et plaisamment fait mais en mesme temps elle ne put aussi s'empescher de 
 vouloir mal et a callicrate et a polydamas et a elle mesme a callicrate pour la malice qu'il luy faisoit a polydamas pour son peu d'esprit et a elle mesme pour sa foiblesse elle cacha pourtant ce qu'elle pensoit le mieux qu'elle put par un sentiment de gloire jugeant qu'il valoit beaucoup mieux entendre raillerie en cette occasion que de monstrer son ressentiment mais afin de gagner temps et d'avoir loisir de se remettre elle leut d'un bout a l'autre tout ce qu'il y avoit dans les tablettes qu'elle tenoit de sorte que voyant escrit ce qu'elle n'avoit fait qu'entendre et le voyant oppose aux choses qu'elle avoit dites elle eut une si grande confusion de sentir dans son coeur qu'elle avoit quelque disposition a aimer celuy qui parloit ainsi qu'elle se resolut absolument a chasser polydamas de son ame cependant callicrate la regardoit attentivement de sorte qu'il ne vit pas plustost que parthenie avoit acheve de lire que prenant la parole et bien madame luy dit il avec un sousrire malicieux et mocqueur ne tombez vous pas d'accord qu'il y a beaucoup de choses dans ce que vous venez de voir qui meritent vostre censure et qu'il y a bien de l'inegalite je tombe d'accord repliqua parthenie que vous avez pour le moins autant de malice que d'esprit et qu'il faut estre aussi bonne que je le suis pour ne vous hair pas estrangement de la tromperie que vous m'avez faite mais madame interrompit callicrate vous ne me tenez pas vostre parole 
 car vous m'avez promis de me faire remarquer tous les deffauts qui sont dans ce que je vous ay donne a lire vous estes si peu sage luy dit elle en sousriant qu'il faudroit avoir autant de folie que vous en avez pour se donner la peine de vous respondre serieusement advouez moy du moins luy dit-il que vous ne croiyez pas hier que polydamas parlast si mal que vous le croyez aujourd'huy je vous asseure dit elle que je n'ay pas trop pris garde aux responces de polydamas mais seulement aux miennes et que toute l'obligation que je vous ay est que vous m'avez desabusee de la bonne opinion que j'avois de moy car je pensois mieux parler que je ne parle ha madame s'escria-t'il en voulant reprendre ses tablettes vous n'avez donc pas bien leu et il faut que je vous lise moy-mesme tout ce que vous dites hier callicrate eut pourtant beau faire il ne put retirer ses tablettes des mains de parthenie qui les garda malgre qu'il en eust je voy bien seigneur que vous ne seriez pas marry de scavoir une partie des choses qui estoient dedans afin de voir la difference qu'il y avoit de l'esprit de polydamas a celuy de parthenie mais je vous advoue qu'encore qu'une soeur que j'ay aupres de cette princesse m'en ait dit la plus grande partie je ne puis m'en souvenir toutesfois je puis du moins vous asseurer qu'il n'y a jamais rien eu de si different l'un de l'autre que les responces de parthenie et celles de polydamas cependant cette conversation de callicrate et de 
 parthenie qui commenca par une raillerie finit par un discours plus serieux car insensiblement passant d'une chose a une autre callicrate obligea parthenie a luy advouer qu'elle ne pouvoit comprendre comment il estoit possible que polydamas peust estre si aimable et si peu eclaire au nom des dieux madame luy dit il faites moy la grace la premiere fois que vous le verrez engage en un discours qui doive avoir un peu de suitte de destourner la teste ou de baisser les yeux afin que vous puissiez l'escouter sans le voir et si apres cela vous ne m'advouez qu'il n'y a point d'aparence qu'ayant si peu de conformite aveque vous il en soit aime je veux perdre pour tousjours l'esperance que j'ay de n'en estre pas hai car enfin madame peut il y avoir rien de plus oppose que la princesse parthenie et polydamas quand on ne le voit point et qu'on l'entend on ne le peut endurer et on perd pour toujours l'envie de le voir au contraire quand mesme on ne vous regarde pas et qu'on vous entend parler on ne laisse pas de vous admirer et on meurt d'envie de vous voir croyez moy madame adjousta t'il ne prophanez pas la moitie de ce que les dieux vous ont donne d'admirable et trouvez s'il se peut en une mesme personne un homme qui vous connoisse et qui vous adore voila donc seigneur quelle fut la conversation de parthenie et de callicrate qui se retira fort satisfait de l'heureux succes de son dessein et en effet depuis ce jour la parthenie fit un si 
 grand effort sur elle mesme qu'elle desgagea son coeur et qu'elle se vit en estat de traiter polydamas comme un amant qu'elle vouloit desesperer ce qui donna une joye estrange a callicrate qui tout fier du malheur qu'il luy avoit cause le traitoit d'une maniere fort cruelle toutes les fois qu'il le trouvoit chez parthenie il est vray que polydamas ne s'en pouvoit pas apercevoir parce que ce n'estoit qu'en le louant des choses par ou il n'estoit pas a louer c'est a dire en admirant tout ce qu'il disoit et faisant de l'eloge toutes ses paroles la chose auroit mesme este plus loin si cette princesse ne luy eust impose silence et ne luy eust deffendu d'en user ainsi car enfin callicrate en vint aux termes avec parthenie qu'elle le croyoit absolument a elle sans le croire pourtant son amant cependant le prince de salamis continuoit de la voir et de la servir quoy qu'il vist bien qu'il ne faisoit aucun progres aupres d'elle de sorte que comme il remarqua que callicrate y estoit fort bien et qu'il ne le soubconna pas d'en estre amoureux quoy qu'il y en eust desja quelque bruit dans le monde il fit ce qu'il put pour l'obliger et luy confia mesme son dessein mais callicrate qui n'estoit pas d'humeur a parler pour un autre luy dit qu'il ne pouvoit rien pour luy que parthenie estoit une personne qui ne prenoit conseil que d'elle mesme et qu'ainsi il entreprendroit inutilement de le vouloir servir mais comme il ne trouvoit pas encore que polydamas fust assez mal avec parthenie 
 il dit certaines choses embrouillees au prince de salamis qui luy firent pourtant comprendre que tant que polydamas verroit parthenie personne n'y devoit rien pretendre il luy fit toutesfois un grand secret de cela car dans le dessein qu'il avoit que le monde vinst a croire qu'il estoit aime de parthenie il n'eust pas voulu publier qu'elle eust eu quelque disposition a ne hair pas polydamas mais enfin il en dit autant qu'il en faloit pour faire que le prince de salamis haist son rival et prist la resolution de le quereller esperant par la se deffaire de deux rivaux a la fois soit qu'ils se tuassent tous deux ou soit que la querelle qu'ils auroient ensemble les fist exiler de la cour en effet son dessein reussit et ce qui l'avanca encore fut que le prince de salamis estant un jour dans le cabinet de parthenie elle en sortit pour quelque chose et y laissa ce prince avec quelques autres qui estans sortis un moment apres le laisserent seul dans ce cabinet en attendant que parthenie y revinst de sorte que se mettant a regarder diverses choses qui estoient sur la table il vit des tablettes ouvertes que la princesse y avoit laissees sans y penser et qui se trouverent estre les mesmes dans lesquelles callicrate avoit escrit les responces de parthenie a polydamas et de polydamas a parthenie car cette princesse ne les avoit pas voulu brusler afin de s'en servir a achever de se guerir l'esprit en les relisant quelquesfois de sorte que le prince de salamis voyant le no de polydamas et celuy de parthenie 
 prit ces tablettes sans hesiter un moment avec intention de voir ce qui estoit dedans neantmoins comme il vit qu'il y avoit beaucoup a lire il craignit que la princesse ne revinst devant qu'il eust leu si bien qu'emporte d'une curiosite aussi forte que son amour estoit grande il les prit et s'en alla devant que parthenie r'entrast dans son cabinet mais il fut estrangement surpris de voir ce que c'estoit car il ne pouvoit comprendre pourquoy on avoit escrit dans ces tablettes tout ce qu'il y voyoit il ne pouvoit pas penser que parthenie qui avoit tant d'esprit peust avoir trouve fort beau tout ce que polydamas avoit dit en sa presence ny qu'elle l'eust fait escrire par callicrate dont il connoissoit bien l'escriture il ne pouvoit pas croire non plus dans les soubcons qu'il avoit que parthenie ne haissoit pas polydamas qu'elle eust pris plasir que callicrate en eust raille de sorte que ne scachant que penser il se resolut de tascher de faire dire la verite a celuy qui avoit escrit ce bizarre dialogue il envoya donc chercher callicrate et le fut chercher luy-mesme mais comme cet homme malgre la vanite qu'il trouvoit a estre amoureux de parthenie ne laissoit pas d'avoir plusieurs autres passions moins esclatantes que celle-la le prince de salamis ne le trouva pas aisement et il fut en vingt maisons differentes sans le pouvoir rencontres mais a la fin l'ayant fortuitement veu sortir d'une ou il ne se fust jamais advise de l'aller chercher il le mena chez luy afin de l'entretenir 
 plus commodement et le conjura de luy vouloir dire quel dessein il avoit eu en escrivant toutes ces responces de polydamas en les donnant a parthenie seigneur luy dit il avec une promptitude d'esprit estrange je m'estonne que vous ne compreniez pas mon de dessein et que vous ne voiyez pas que je n'en puis avoir eu d'autre que celuy de vous servir en faisant voir a la belle parthenie l'ineglite de son esprit a celuy de vostre rival ha callicrate s'ecria le prince de salamis pourquoy m'avez vous fait un secret de l'obligation que je vous ay et pourquoy ne m'avez vous pas fait scavoir comment parthenie a pu souffrir que vous ayez raille de polydamas comme elle a beaucoup d'esprit reprit callicrate quelque depit qu'elle en ait eu elle n'a eu garde de me le tesmoigner quoy qu'il en soit dit le prince de salamis je ne tiens pas possible puis qu'apres cela elle vous voit encore que polydamas soit aussi bien avec elle que je le craignois callicrate voyant que ce prince perdoit une partie de sa jalousie la r'alluma par cent discours malicieux de sorte que lors qu'il le quitta il le laissa plus jaloux qu'il n'avoit jamais este mais avec plus d'esperance de se pouvoir vanger de son rival s'imaginant que puis que parthenie avoit bien souffert par prudence que callicrate eust fait de luy une raillerie si piquante elle en auroit encore assez pour dissimuler le ressentiment qu'elle auroit de ce qu'il l'auroit querelle le prince de salamis s'estant donc mis cela dans la 
 fantaisie ne fut pas long temps sans executer son dessein car comme il ne manque jamais de pretexte de querelle entre deux rivaux a la premiere occasion qu'il en trouva il se mit a contester tout ce que dit polydamas et a le contester opiniastrement de sorte que passant bien tost de la simple contestation a une dispute facheuse ils en vinrent enfin aux mains et firent un combat assez sanglant car le prince de salamis qui avoit son dessein cache avoit attendu polydamas dans une grande place qui est devant le palais ou parthenie logeoit de sorte que cette princesse vit ce combat de ses fenestres qui fut finy devant qu'on les pust separer il est vray que ce fut d'une facon qui ne permit pas de pouvoir juger lequel des deux avoit eu l'advantage car ils furent tous deux presques esgalement blessez et leurs deux espees se rom rent en tombant lors qu'apres estre venus aux prises ils faisoient chacun ce qu'ils pouvoient pour se vaincre ce combat fit un grand bruit dans la cour et la partagea mais pour callicrate il s'en resjouit en secret il ne laissa pourtant pas d'aller chez la princesse pour s'en affliger avec elle ou pour mieux dire pour voir comment elle prenoit la chose mais comme elle le croyoit fort de ses amis elle ne luy dissimula point que ce combat faisoit un effet dans son coeur qui ne plut pas a callicrate car elle luy fit connoistre qu'elle en haissoit le prince de salamis et qu'elle en aimoit mieux polydamas ne trouvant nullement bon que le premier eust 
 eu la hardiesse de quereller l'autre a sa consideration n'ignorant pas que c'estoit luy qui l'avoit attaque et scachant bien qu'ils ne pouvoient avoir d'autre demesle ensemble que pour ses interests en verite madame luy dit callicrate je trouve que vous avez raison de vouloir mal au prince de salamis de ce qu'il n'a pas eu assez de respect pour vous et qu'ainsi vous estes fort equitable de le hair mais je ne trouve pas que vous ayez sujet d'aimer mieux polydamas puis qu'enfin il n'a fait autre chose en cette occasion sinon qu'il ne s'est pas laisse tuer car je ne pense pas madame que vous puissiez croire qu'il n'ait eu dessein en deffendant sa vie que de la conserver pour l'amour de vous et si j'avois a prononcer sur l'action de ces deux rivaux je trouverois que vous avez plus d'obligation au prince de salamis que vous n'en avez a polydamas qui apres tout n'aura pas plus d'esprit qu'il en avoit car je vous proteste madame adjousta t'il que si vous luy entendiez raconter son combat avec cette eloquence que vous scavez qu'il a vous auriez tous les regrets du monde que le prince de salamis ne l'eust pas acheve je vous assure luy dit elle qu'il faut que j'aye pour vous une extreme bonte de ne m'offencer pas de ce que vous raillez d'une chose qui m'afflige et qui me donne de la colere et en effet seigneur quoy que parthenie n'eust aucune affection liee avec polydamas elle ne laissa pas de sentir tres fort le malheur qui luy estoit arrive et d'autant plus que la fievre luy ayant pris il 
 mourut de ses blessures six jours apres son combat de sorte que callicrate n'ayant plus a s'opposer dans le coeur de parthenie a l'affection qu'il craignoit qu'elle eust pour luy il commenca de le pleindre lors qu'il estoit devant elle disant que les grandes qualitez de son ame et l'agreement de sa personne meritoient en effet que l'on excusast les deffauts de son esprit voulant s'il estoit possible faire en sorte que le regret qu'elle auroit de la mort de polydamas l'empeschast de souffrir jamais l'affection du prince de salamis qui se fit porter hors de paphos jusques a ce que les choses fussent apaisees mais lorsque callicrate n'estoit point devant parthenie il ne laissoit pas de railler de polydamas mort conme il avoit raille de polydamas vivant car il disoit que toute la cour estoit bien obligee au prince de salamis d'avoir fait taire pour tousjours un homme qui parloit si mal cependant pour ne perdre point de temps a contenter sa vanite durant qu'il n'y avoit point d'amans declarez aupres de parthenie il se mit a n'en partir plus il la voyoit a toutes les heures ou elle estoit visible et quand il ne la voyoit pas il affectoit non seulement de parler d'elle hors de propos mais de la nommer tousjours au lieu d'une autre de sorte qu'il apelloit tout le monde parthenie feignant de se reprendre avec precipitation et faisant semblant d'estre fasche que sa langue descouvrist le secret de son coeur en un mot il agit avec tant d'art qu'il fit enfin soubconner a toute la cour qu'il aimoit parthenie personne 
 n'osa pourtant en parler a cette princesse car le moyen disoit on qu'elle ne s'apercoive point de ce que toute la terre s'apercoit et si elle s'en apercoit le moyen encore si la chose luy desplaist qu'elle ne bannisse pas callicrate de chez elle si bien que ne scachant que croire on se contentoit de voir que callicrate estoit amoureux et d'en parler sans rien dire pourtant a parthenie qui n'avoit garde de penser que callicrate eust de l'amour pour elle puis que pour l'ordinaire il ne l'entretenoit que de choses si indifferentes et si peu importantes qu'elle n'en pouvoit pas avoir la pensee car pour luy comme il aimoit mieux satisfaire sa vanite que son amour la peur d'estre banny faisoit qu'il n'osoit dire serieusement qu'il aimast afin d'avoir plus de sujet de faire soubconner qu'il estoit aime cependant le prince de salamis ayant termine ses affaires et les medecins ayant raporte que polydamas estoit plustost mort par la mauvaise disposition de ses humeurs et par la delicatesse de son temperamment que par ses blessures il revint a la cour des qu'il fut guery et il sceut si bien menager l'esprit de tous les parens de parthenie que son mariage fut conclud devant qu'elle en eust entendu parler je ne vous diray point seigneur quelle repugnance elle eut a obeir au commandement qu'on luy fit de regarder le prince de salamis comme un homme qu'elle devoit espouser ny combien callicrate aporta de soin a entretenir et a augmenter l'aversion qu'elle y avoit mais je vous aprendray 
 qu'enfin la chose n'ayant point de remede il falut que parthenie se resolust a espouser le prince de salamis et que callicrate le souffrist il est vray qu'il trouva quelque consolation a penser que parthenie ne l'aimeroit point et a esperer qu'il pourroit estre le confident et le consolateur de tous ses desplaisirs secrets joint aussi qu'il espera que tout le monde scachant que parthenie n'aimeroit point son mary il luy seroit plus aise de faire croire qu'il n'en seroit pas hai car pour en estre aime quelque orgueil qu'il peust avoir et quelque mauvaise opinion qu'il eust des femmes en general je suis assure qu'il n'a jamais pu croire luy mesme que parthenie dont il connoissoit bien la vertu peust avoir un sentiment criminel en toute sa vie quoy qu'il connust bien qu'elle avoit l'ame passionnee enfin seigneur le prince de salamis espousa parthenie malgre qu'elle en eust et luy tesmoigna tant d'amour au commencement de son mariage qu'il en adoucit ses chagrins et diminua de beaucoup l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour luy il luy donna mesme en propre en cas qu'il mourust devant elle la principaute de salamis luy rendant plus de soumission que personne n'en a jamais rendu mais seigneur apres vous avoir despeint cette princesse aussi belle que je vous l'ay representee pourrez vous croire que lors qu'elle vivoit le mieux aveque luy les yeux de ce prince s'accoustumerent de telle sorte a la beaute de parthenie qu'elle vint a luy donner moins de plaisir a voir que ne faisoit une beaute 
 qui luy estoit nouvelle et qui estoit mille degrez au dessous de la sienne il est pourtant vray que n'ayant aime parthenie que comme belle des que ses yeux furent accoustumez a la voir et a la voir a luy sa passion s'allentit de la tiedeur son ame passa insensiblement a l'indifference et de l'indifference au mespris car comme il avoit l'esprit bizarre l'humeur de parthenie et la sienne n'avoiet aucun raport je vous laisse donc a penser qu'elle fut la douleur de cette princesse lors qu'elle se vit mesprisee elle fut si forte qu'elle se en tomba malade mais d'une maladie languissante qui sans mettre sa vie en hazard luy fit perdre sa beaute vous pouvez juger seigneur que celuy qui l'avoit mesprisee lors qu'elle estoit la plus belle personne de chipre ne l'aima pas lors que par sa melancholie elle ne la fut presque plus aussi commenca t'il de la mal-traiter encore davantage il eut vingt amours differentes pour des femmes qui dans le plus grand esclat de leur beaute estoient moins belles que parthenie ne l'estoit encore quelque changee qu'elle fust le changement du prince de salamis estonne de telle sorte tout le monde qu'on ne pouvoit s'imaginer qu'il n'y eust pas quelque cause secrette qui fist la mauvaise intelligence de parthenie et de luy et chacun en parloit a sa fantaisie de sorte que le prince de salamis scachant cela s'en facha et commenca de dire tout haut qu'il ne pouvoit pas concevoir comment on trouvoit estrange qu'il ne fust plus amoureux de sa femme puis que selon 
 son sens son procede ne satifaisoit pas moins la bien-seance que la raison car enfin me disoit il un jour comme je le supliois de me dire ce que je devois respondre a ceux qui me demandoient pourquoy il n'aimoit plus parthenie qui estoit encore alors la plus belle chose du monde je ne trouve rien de plus extravagant que de voir un mary faire encore l'amoureux de sa femme et si parthenie vouloit que je le fusse tousjours d'elle il falloit qu'elle ne m'espousast point j'advoue seigneur luy disois-je qu'il doit y avoir de la differece en la facon d'agir d'un amant et d'un mary et je tombe d'accord aveque vous qu'il y a cent choses qui sont galantes a faire lors qu'on est amant qui seroient ridicules quand on est marie mais seigneur cette difference ne doit point aller jusques au coeur et il faut ce me semble aimer et honnorer comme auparavant la personne qu'on a espousee il ne faut pas mesme bannir la civilite et le respect afin de conserver plus long-temps l'amour de peur qu'une familiarite incivile ne la ruine entierement ha megaside s'escria t'il il paroist bien que vous n'avez jamais este marie et que vous ne scavez pas trop bien quelle est la nature de l'amour mais seigneur luy dis-je je pense que vous ne le scavez pas vous mesme car enfin pourquoy n'aimez vous plus parthenie puis qu'elle est aussi belle qu'elle estoit quand vous en estiez amoureux c'est parce me dit il qu'il est de la beaute qu'on possede conme des parfumes ou l'on s'accoustume si facilement qu'on 
 ne les sent plus tout et pour moy poursuivit-il je suis persuade que comme on s'accoustume a la beaute on peut s'accoustumer a la laideur et qu'ainsi quiconque se veut marier ne doit point se soucier d'espouser une femme qui ne soit point belle mais seigneur luy disois-je pourquoy espousiez vous donc parthenie je l'espousois dit il parce que l'amour m'avoit fait perdre la raison et que j'aimois encore mieux m'exposer a n'estre plus son amant que de me resoudre a ne la posseder jamais enfin disoit il encore il y a je ne scay quoy dans le mariage qui est si incompatible avec l'amour que je ne puis souffrir qu'on me blame de n'en avoir plus pour parthenie je suis pourtant bien embarrasse a concevoir repliquay-je comment vous en pouvez avoir pour des femmes qui sont mille et mille fois moins belles qu'elle si vous en aviez espouse quelqu'une respondit il vous le connoistriez comme je le connois en effet poursuivit ce prince qui oste la grace de la nouveaute a l'amour luy oste tout et qui en bannit le desir et l'esperance ne luy laisse rien d'ardent ny d'agreable jugez apres cela quelle doit estre la passion d'un homme qui voit tous les jours la mesme personne qui ne desire rien qui n'espere rien et qui ne voit dans l'advenir autre chose sinon que sa femme sera un jour vieille et laide mais luy dis-je si vous avez la foiblesse de ne pouvoir estre capable d'une amour constante conservez du moins de l'estime pour 
 parthenie et faites que vostre amour devienne amitie si je n'avois point este amoureux d'elle reprit il et que je l'eusse espousee par d'autres interests je pourrois faire ce que vous dittes mais megaside passer de l'amour a l'amitie est une chose que je ne croy pas possible et dont je ne suis point capable ce n'est pas que je n'aye quelquesfois honte de voir que je m'ennuye lors que je suis seulement un quart d'heure avec parthenie aupres de laquelle j'ay passe des journees entieres avec un plaisir extreme mais qu'y ferois je comme je ne pouvois pas cesser de l'aimer en ce temps-la je ne puis pas l'aimer en celuy-cy et c'est a elle a conformer son esprit a sa fortune et a me laisser vivre comme il me plaist voila donc seigneur quels estoient les sentimens du prince de salamis lors qu'il commenca de n'aimer plus parthenie mais il ne fut pas le seul qui changea de sentimens pour elle callicrate mesme trouvant moins de vanite a faire d'estre aime de parthenie que lors qu'elle estoit l'astre de la cour se desacoustuma de la voir si souvent toutes les belles a qui elle avoit tant oste d'amans a son arrivee a paphos furent ravies de son malheur et tous les amans qu'elle avoit mal traitez en furent bien aises de sorte que parthenie voyant qu'elle perdoit tout ce que sa beaute luy avoit acquis entra en une telle indignation contre elle mesme qu'elle quitta la cour et s'en alla a salamis ou elle vescut dans une fort grande solitude ce fut pourtant 
 la seigneur ou son esprit acquit de nouvelles lumieres et ou elle apprit cent choses pour charmer ses ennuis qui l'ont rendue encore plus merveilleuse qu'elle n'estoit auparavant cependant quoy que la cause de ses chagrins ne parust point la solitude ne laissa pas d'avoir quelque douceur pour elle car enfin si elle ne voyoit rien qui luy pleust elle ne voyoit aussi rien qui la faschast et l'absence de son mary et de tous ceux qui l'avoient abandonnee avec sa beaute faisoit qu'elle avoit l'esprit plus tranquile si bien que s'accoustumant peu a peu a une espece de melancholie qui occupe l'ame sans la troubler elle commenca de se porter mieux et elle recouvra sa beaute mais de telle sorte que jamais elle n'en avoit tant eu les chose estant en ces termes il arriva que le prince de salamis mourut subitement a paphos au retour d'une chasse et que ce fut callicrate comme ancien amy de parthenie qui fut choisi par le roy pour luy porter la nouvelle de cette mort je pense seigneur que vous croirez bien sans que je vous le die qu'il n'estoit pas possible que cette princesse eust une violente douleur de la perte d'un mary qui l'avoit tant mesprisee et qu'il y avoit plus de six mois qu'elle n'avoit veu ny receu de ses nouvelles elle ne laissa pourtant pas d'en estre plus touchee que vray-semblablement elle ne le devoit estre car enfin lorsque callicrate fut luy aprendre cette mort elle en jetta quelques larmes il est vray qu'elles ne furent pas en si grande 
 abondance que callicrate ne remarquast bien que ses yeux avoient recouvre leur premier esclat elles coulerent mesme si doucement a ce qu'il a dit depuis qu'elles ne firent que l'embellir aussi la trouva-t'il si admirablement belle qu'au lieu de luy dire tout ce qu'il avoit premedite il ne fit que la regarder attentivement se contentant de luy avoir apris en deux mots la mort du prince de salamis il ne put pourtant pas la voir long temps ce jour la car elle se retira et se mit au lit afin de recevoir toutes les visites qu'elle prevoyoit qu'elle auroit bien tost et en effet deux heures apres que cette nouvelle fut sceue tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite a salamis furent chez elle cependant elle renvoya callicrate des le lendemain quoy qu'il eust bien voulu ne s'en aller pas si promptement mais a son retour il dit tant de choses a la cour de la beaute de parthenie qu'on n'y parloit que de ce merveilleux changement je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire que l'on reporta le corps du prince de salamis au lieu dont il portoit le nom car cela seroit inutile mais je vous diray qu'apres que le temps du deuil fut passe parthenie fit un voyage a la cour pour une affaire qui regardoit la principaute de salamis joint aussi que peut-estre ne fut-elle pas marrie de faire voir qu'elle estoit plus belle qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais este et qu'elle n'avoit pas eu le mal-heur de cesser de l'estre dans un age ou bien souvent les femmes n'ont pas encore leur beaute parfaite estant certain que 
 parthenie n'avoit pas plus de dix-huit ans quoy qu'il en soit elle revint a paphos ou elle effaca tout ce qu'il y avoit de beau et ou elle ne gagna pas moins de coeurs que la premiere fois qu'elle y avoit paru il est vray que le sien estoit un peu plus difficile a acquerir et elle s'estoit si fort determinee a ne s'assurer jamais a l'affection de personne qu'elle ne se tenoit pas seulement obligee de tous les soins qu'on luy rendoit et comme callicrate luy faisoit un jour la guerre de cette grande indifference qu'elle avoit pour l'affection qu'on avoit pour elle et qu'il luy reprochoit que la solitude l'avoit rendue sauvage et al- tiere elle luy soustint qu'elle avoit raison de n'estre point obligee a ceux qui ne l'aimoient que parce que ce qu'elle avoit de beaute leur plaisoit car enfin disoit elle je ne puis plus me resoudre a m'exposer au malheur que j'ay eu et tant que je croiray que l'on ne m'aimera que parce que je ne choque pas les yeux et que pour une chose qu'un petit mal me peut oster je ne feray pas un grand fondement sur cette espece d'affection mais madame reprit callicrate si vous ostez la beaute a l'amour vous ne luy laissez ny fleches ny flambeau et vous le desarmez entierement je ne veux pas luy oster la beaute repliqua t'elle au contraire je veux qu'il s'en serve en effet comme on se sert d'un flambeau ne voyez vous pas poursuivit cette princesse que lors que l'on a mis le feu a un bucher il ne laisse pas de brusler encore que le flambeau qui l'a allume soit esteint 
 de mesme je veux bien que ce soit la beaute qui commence d'embrazer des coeurs mais je veux qu'encore que cette beaute cesse ils ne cessent pas de brusler ce que vous dites reprit callicrate est sans doute plein de beaucoup d'esprit cependant madame il est certain que le feu qui doit durer long temps a besoin de quelque chose qui l'entretienne il est vray dit-elle mais ce ne doit point estre la beaute et c'est tout au plus a elle a le faire naistre et non pas a le conserver en effet ce seroit une rare chose si l'amour devoit tousjours changer selon le visage de celles que l'on aime a ce conte la un rhume feroit quelquesfois mourir mille amours une fievre lente denoueroit mille chaines et donneroit la liberte a mille esclaves non non poursuivit elle la chose ne doit point aller ainsi et quiconque n'aimera que la beaute de parthenie n'aquerra jamais son amitie je veux qu'on aime parthenie toute entiere comme vous me le disiez autresfois du temps que polydamas vivoit il est vray adjousta-t'elle que je pense que je fais la un souhait inutile puis que non seulement j'ay veu que les amans s'accoustument a la beaute et la mesprisent mais encore que les amis abandonnent leurs amies quand elles cessent d'estre belles et qu'elles perdent quelque chose de cette reputation de beaute qui rendoit leur amitie glorieuse car enfin luy dit elle n'est il pas vray que vous changeastes vostre facon d'agir avecque moy devant que je partisse pour aller 
 a salamis il est vray madame respondit il mais c'estoit parce que je ne pouvois me resoudre a vous voir malheureuse non non repliqua-t'elle vous ne me ferez pas croire ce que vous dites et je suis persuadee que vous me quitastes ou parce qu'il y avoit moins de monde chez moy ou parce que mon amitie comme je l'ay desja dit vous estoit moins glorieuse mais pour vous le rendre dit-elle en riant scachez que je n'aime point callicrate mais seulement l'esprit de callicrate j'aime qu'il escrive de belles lettres qu'il face d'agreables vers et qu'il dise de jolies choses et du reste que m'importe qu'il soit heureux ou malheureux je pense mesme poursuivit elle en raillant d'une maniere qui faisoit voir qu'elle avoit quelque ressentiment du procede de callicrate que les jours que vous ne ferez ny lettres ny vers et que vous ne parlerez point vous me serez insuportable et que peu s'en faudra que je ne vous haisse car enfin je souffre encore moins l'inconstance en mes amis qu'en mes amans puis que cela est madame interrompit il faites moy donc l'honneur de me mettre au rang des premiers afin que je ne vous paroisse pas si criminel comme je ne puis pas revoquer le passe dit elle en riant je ne pourrois pas quand je le voudrois vous faire plus innocent que vous n'estes joint qu'en vous justifiant d'un coste je vous accuserois de l'autre c'est pourquoy il vaut encore mieux que je vous regarde comme un amy infidelle que comme 
 un amant inconstant puis qu'enfin de quelque facon que vous fussiez le dernier vous seriez toujours criminel et tousjours mal-traite je serois pourtant bien aise madame luy dit il que vous me voulussiez faire la grace que je vous demande car je vous advoue que j'ay bien de la peine a souffrir de me voir deshonnore en effet poursuivit il le moyen d'endurer qu'on m'accuse d'estre un amy infidelle scachant bien qu'on ne le peut estre sans estre lasche et sans avoir renonce a toute sorte de vertu et de generosite ce qui n'est pas en un amant inconstant que l'on ne peut tout au plus accuser que de legerete et de foiblesse je pense pourtant reprit elle qu'on y pourroit joindre la follie comme il en est d'une espece qui ne deshonnore point repliqua t'il ce que vous dites n'est pas un grand obstacle pour moy et j'aimeray tousjours mieux que vous croiyez que j'aimeray tousjours mieux que vous croiyez que j'ay perdu la raison que de croire que je suis coupable quoy que callicrate fust accoustume de dire beaucoup de choses plus hardies que celle-la sans qu'on le soubconnast de parler serieusement parthenie ne laissa pas de trouver mauvais qu'il luy parlast comme il faisoit ce jour-la parce qu'il luy dit cela d'un certain air audacieux qui luy desplut de sorte que se taisant tout d'un coup callicrate se teut aussi et ils furent quelque temps a garder un silence que parthenie eust bien voulu n'avoir pas commence car elle remarqua que callicrate en tiroit avantage et n'estoit pas marri de sa colere il est vray que cette inquietude 
 ne luy dura pas long-temps parce qu'il vint compagnie mais elle ne fut pas plustost arrivee que callicrate s'en alla bien aise que parthenie l'eust entendu il se resolut pourtant de l'appaiser a quelque prix que ce fust quand mesme il eust deu luy jurer plus de cent fois qu'il n'estoit point amoureux d'elle et luy protester qu'il n'avoit parle comme il avoit fait que pour la mettre en peine durant un quart d'heure cependant seigneur il y eut une telle fatalite a la beaute de parthenie qu'elle luy causa cent malheurs ou par ceux qui l'aimoient ou par celles qui luy portoient envie ou par callicrate il y eut mesme encore un homme de haute qualite qui l'aima sans l'aimer long-temps de sorte qu'elle vint a estre si rebutee du monde et de la cour qu'elle ne les pouvoit plus endurer et d'autant moins que le prince philoxipe qui estoit revenu d'un voyage de guerre pendant lequel toutes ces choses s'estoient passees voulut l'obliger a se remarier de sorte que pour se delivrer de tant d'importunitez a la fois elle retourna chercher la solitude elle ne voulut pas mesme aller a salamis mais a la campagne et comme elle aimoit tendrement une soeur que j'ay qui s'apelle amaxite elle la pria de vouloir luy aller aider a s'accoustumer au desert ce qu'elle luy accorda sans peine cependant comme parthenie a naturellement l'ame passionnee elle avoit quelque chagrin de voir qu'elle ne connoissoit personne qu'elle pust aimer joint aussi que comme la coustume 
 de chipre veut que toutes les dames soient aimees elle avoit quelque despit de scavoir que toutes celles qui estoient ses ennemies parce qu'elle estoit trop belle triomphoient en son absence mais ce qui l'affligea le plus fut une meschancete que callicrate luy fit il me semble seigneur que je ne vous ay point dit que depuis cette conversation qui finit par un si grand silence il n'avoit jamais pu parler en particulier a parthenie qui luy en avoit oste toutes les occasions et qui l'avoit traitte si froidement que s'il n'eust trouve lieu de faire servir cette froideur a sa vanite il en seroit mort de douleur mais comme cela arriva peu de temps avant le depart de parthenie il fit croire a quelques uns sans pourtant le dire precisement que cette froideur estoit une froideur feinte et pour mieux confirmer la chose apres que la princesse de salamis fut partie il se mit a luy escrire tres souvent sans luy escrire pourtant rien qui luy peust desplaire au contraire il luy mandoit cent agreables choses et les luy mandoit si plaisamment qu'il luy eust este difficile de refuser un divertissement qui luy estoit si necessaire dans la solitude ou elle vivoit de sorte que pour le faire durer elle se resolut de luy respondre mais quoy que les lettres de cette princesse fussent tres jolies qu'elles ne fussent que de choses indifferentes et que bien souvent elle en escrivist avec dessein qu'il les monstrast il n'en fit pourtant voir pas une si bien que tout le monde scachant que parthenie escrivoit 
 a callicrate et voyant qu'il faisoit un grand mistere de ses lettres les ennemies de cette princesse tascherent de faire croire que l'intelligence qu'elle avoit avec callicrate n'estoit pas une intelligence de bel esprit seulement mais pour achever de contenter sa vanite callicrate feignit d'avoir un voyage a faire ou il donnoit des pretextes si peu vray-semblables qu'il eust donne de la curiosite aux gens du monde les moins curieux des affaires d'autruy et pour faire que cette curiosite fust plus generale il fut dire adieu a toute la cour apres quoy il partit sans mener personne aveque luy et partit mesme le soir disant que parce qu'il faisoit chaud il vouloit aller de nuit de plus comme il ne doutoit point qu'il n'y eust quelques personnes a paphos qui s'interessoient assez luy en pour l'observer aussi tost qu'il fut hors de la ville il prit le chemin qui alloit au lieu ou demeuroit la princesse de salamis et en effet il fut jusques a cinquante stades de la maison ou elle estoit puis tout d'un coup prenant plus a gauche il fut se cacher chez un de ses amis sans luy en dire la veritable cause ou il fut quinze jours tous entiers apres quoy il revint a paphos ou ceux qui l'avoient fait suivre comme il l'avoit bien preveu avoient desja publie qu'il estoit alle faire une visite a la princesse de salamis de sorte que lors qu'il revint a la cour on ne manqua pas luy demander pourquoy il avoit voulu cacher le lieu ou il avoit este mais pour mieux faire croire la chose il 
 feignit d'estre en une si grande colere contre ceux qui la disoient et s'empressa tellement a dire que cela n'estoit pas qu'enfin on vint a le croire la chose fit un si grand bruit que je l'escrivis a ma soeur afin qu'elle le fist scavoir a parthenie qui ne douta point du tout que ce ne fust une fourbe de callicrate de sorte qu'elle se confirma de plus en plus dans l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour le monde cependant parthenie fit scavoir si clairement a paphos que callicrate n'avoit point este chez elle que personne n'en douta plus mais on ne put pas pour cela convaincre callicrate de la fourbe qu'il avoit faite a cause qu'il avoit tousjours dit qu'il n'avoit point este chez la princesse de salamis cela n'empescha pourtant pas que parthenie ne rompist toute sorte de commerce aveque luy mais comme si les dieux eussent voulu que la mort eust triomphe de tous ceux que les yeux de parthenie avoient vaincus callicrate mourut peu de temps apres cette fourbe extremement regrette de tous ceux qui l'avoient connu et mesme de celles qu'il avoit le plus cruellement trompees tant il est vray que les rares qualitez de son esprit faisoient excuser je ne scay quelle maligne vanite dont son ame estoit remplie la belle parthenie le pleignit aussi comme les autres quelque sujet de pleinte qu'il luy eust donne ce fut alors seigneur que le prince philoxipe devint amoureux de policrite de sorte que comme il estoit assez occupe de sa propre passion il laissa vivre la princesse de salamis 
 a sa fantaisie il la forca pourtant quelquesfois de quiter sa solitude il est vray que ce ne fut pas souvent mais depuis qu'il fut marie il recommenca de presser parthenie de se redonner a ses amis et de ne passer pas le reste de ses jours comme elle faisoit ce fut pourtant en vain qu'il la pressa car elle luy dit que tout ce qu'elle pouvoit faire pour sa satisfaction estoit de ne se croire non plus qu'elle le croyoit et de remettre la conduitte de sa vie aux dieux pour cet effet elle euuoya a delphes consulter l'oracle et luy demander ce qu'elle devoit faire pour estre heureuse attendant cette responce avec beaucoup d'impatience elle n'en fut pourtant pas trop satisfaite car l'oracle luy respondit en termes expres que si elle vouloit estre heureuse il faloit qu'elle espousast un homme qui fust amoureux d'elle sans le secours de sa beaute et qu'au contraire si elle en espousoit quelqu'un de ceux que ses yeux luy assujettiroient elle seroit la plus infortunee personne de son siecle je vous laisse a penser seigneur combien cette responce embarrassa parthenie car de s'imaginer qu'on pust estre amoureux d'elle sans la voir c'est ce qu'elle ne pouvoit comprendre de croire aussi qu'on la pust voir sans la trouver belle et qu'en la voyant on pust separer son esprit de sa personne et adorer l'un sans aimer l'autre c'est encore ce qu'elle ne pouvoit pas concevoir de sorte qu'elle creut qu'en effet les dieux luy faisoient entendre qu'ils ne vouloient pas qu'elle aimast jamais rien et qu'ils vouloient qu'elle vescust en solitude car 
 enfin disoit elle puis que les dieux me disent que si j'espouse quelqu'un de ceux que mes yeux m'assujettiront je seray la plus infortunee personne de mon siecle n'est ce pas me dire tacitement que je ne dois jamais me remarier mais luy disoit le prince philoxipe qui l'aimoit extremement quand vous voudriez prendre cette resolution seroit il necessaire de vous bannir de la societe pour cela il le seroit assurement luy disoit elle car enfin pourquoy m'aller exposer a souffrir que quelqu'un s'attache a me servir et vienne peut-estre a bout de me persuader de mespriser les advertissemens des dieux pour moy repliquoit philoxipe je ne puis croire que nous entendions cet oracle comme il doit l'estre et en effet le moyen que l'oracle de delphes vous conseille une chose toute opposee aux loix de la deesse que nous adorons qui veut que l'on aime et que l'on soit aime et pour moy si j'en estois creu vous suplierez cette deesse de vous esclaircir d'un doute qui me semble si bien fonde le sentiment de philoxipe parut si raisonnable a parthenie qu'elle fut elle mesme a un temple qui est a l'extremite de l'isle du coste du levant pour consulter un oracle de venus uranie la princesse policrite l'y mena et j'eus l'honneur d'y aller aussi avec elle et d'estre present lors qu'elle luy demanda si elle devoit entendre ce que l'oracle de delphes luy disoit de la facon qu'elle l'entendoit mais seigneur elle fut extremement surprise et toute l'assistance aussi 
 lors que cet oracle luy respondit qu'il n'estoit pas plus vray que vous estiez le plus grand prince du monde et que vans seriez un jour aussi heureux que vous estiez infortune qu'il estoit vray que ce que l'oracle de delphes luy avoit dit luy arriveroit la joye de philoxipe fut alors extremement grande seigneur de voir que vous estiez si cher aux dieux qu'ils vous donnoient des louanges par leurs oracles eux dis-je qui en recoivent de toute la terre aussi peut on dire que depuis liourgue qui receut autresfois un pareil honneur a delphes cela n'est jamais arrive le prince philoxipe fut donc en quelque facon console du peu de satisfaction que la princesse de salamis avoit de cet oracle car en fin elle ne pouvoit concevoir nul autre sens a celuy de delphes et a celuy la sinon que les dieux vouloient qu'elle passast toute sa vie sans estre veue de personne ny sans estre aimee qui est une espece de honte et de malediction en nostre isle mais seigneur ce qui rejouit encore plus le prince philoxipe fut de voir que les dieux ne se contentoient pas seulement de vous donner des louanges mais qu'il disoient encore que vos malheurs finiroient de sorte qu'il n'eut pas plustost remene la princesse de salamis dans sa solitude qu'il fit embarquer un des siens pour vous venir aporter cette agreable nouvelle mais par malheur le vaisseau dans lequel il s'estoit embarque ayant fait naufrage cet homme perit sans que le prince philoxipe en ait rien sceu que 
 long temps apres si bien qu'il n'a peu vous faire scavoir plustost le glorieux tesmoignage que les dieux ont rendu de vostre vertu il est vray que je suis persuade qu'ils ont permis que la chose arrivast de cette facon afin que vous ne sceussiez cet oralce qu'en aprenant en mesme temps qu'il c'est trouve tres veritable pour ce qui regardoit la princesse de salamis et qu'ainsi il y a lieu d'esperer qu'il le sera pour ce qui vous touche je vous diray donc seigneur que depuis que cette princesse eut receu cette derniere responce de venus uranie elle regarda sa solitude comme un lieu ou elle devoit vivre et mourir et aporta autant de soin a cacher sa beaute que les autres en aportent a monstrer la leur la lecture la promenade et la conversation de ma soeur qui ne la voulut point abandonner furent ses plus grands divertissemens le prince philoxipe policrite et doride la visitoient quelquesfois mais c'estoit assez rarement n'estant pas possible a ceux qui sont engagez dans la cour de la pouvoir quitter souvent parthenie s'occupoit aussi a rendre sa prison agreable en faisant peindre des apartemens et faire des jardins cependant on eust dit que dans le mesme temps que les dieux sembloient luy interdire l'usage de sa beaute ils augmentoient tous les jours estant certain qu'il y avoit une fraischeur toute nouvelle sur son taint et un feu plus vif dans ses yeux qu'il n'y en avoit jamais eu et ce qu'il y avoit d'estrange c'est qu'encore que parthenie ne vist personne elle 
 n'estoit jamais negligee et elle avoit mesme autant de soin de sa beaute que si elle eust eu dessein d'en conquerir mille coeurs de sorte que l'on peut dire que croyant qu'il luy estoit deffendu d'aimer jamais personne elle employa toute la disposition qu'elle avoit a aimer a s'aimer elle mesme et certes a dire vray elle eust eu peine a trouver un objet plus aimable estant certain que je n'ay jamais veu parthenie plus belle a la cour que je la voyois dans sa solitude ou elle souffroit que j'allasse quelquesfois visiter ma soeur il y avoit pourtant certains jours ou le chagrin estoit plus fort que la resolution qu'elle avoit prise de n'en avoir point et ou elle s'y abandonnoit de telle sorte qu'elle venoit a hair mesme sa propre beaute il est vray que ses chagrins n'estoiet fascheux que pour elle car ils luy faisoient dire cent plaisantes choses pour ceux qui les entedoient je me souviens mesme d'un jour que j'y fus et que je la trouvay dans une de ses humeurs ou elle se pleignoit de tout et ne se louoit de rien de sorte qu'apres luy avoir entendu souhaitter de n'estre point d'une condition si relevee afin d'estre plus maistresse d'elle mesme qu'elle n'estoit et d'estre moins observee et apres luy avoir entendu desirer d'estre d'un autre sexe que le sien du moins luy dis-je madame ne desierez vous pas de n'estre plus belle ha megaside s'escria t'elle vous estes bien abuse car je vous proteste qu'en l'humeur ou je suis aujourd'huy je pente que j'aimerois mieux estre comme on dit qu'est esope qu'on nous depeint comme 
 un des plus laids hommes du monde que d'estre la plus belle personne de la terre j'avoue madame repliqua amaxite que j'ay bien de la peine a vous croire peut-estre avez vous raison reprit elle agreablement en sousriant de ne me croire pas tout a fait mais il est tousjours certain que je tiens que la beaute n'est pas un aussi grand bien qu'on se l'imagine du moins n'est-ce pas un de ces biens tous purs et sans aucun meslange de mal pour moy madame luy dis-je je ne suis pas de vostre opinion car je suis persuade que la beaute est un des plus rares presens des dieux en effet ne voyez vous pas qu'elle agit plus souverainement sur les coeurs que toutes les autres choses elle charme les plus grossiers elle apprivoise les plus sauvages elle adoucit les plus cruels et soumet les plus rebelles et les plus ambitieux il est vray interrompit parthenie mais elle n'arreste pas les inconstans et par un hazard capricieux j'ay bien plus connu de personnes d'une mediocre beaute qui ont este constamment aimees que je n'en ay connu des autres comme le nombre est beaucoup plus grand des premieres que des dernieres luy respondis-je il ne faut pas s'estonner de ce que vous dittes et puis madame l'inconstance naist dans le coeur des amans et non pas dans les yeux de leurs maistresses car enfin de tous les dons de la nature celuy de la beaute est le plus grand ce n'est pas du moins le plus durable repliqua t'elle et je ne puis presque me resoudre d'apeller bien une 
 chose si passagere et dont la douceur est accompagnee de tant d'amertume en effet examinons un peu je vous en conjure quels sont les plaisirs de la beaute a celles qui la possedent dans l'enfance elle n'est presque pas sensible dans la plus belle jeunesse elle occupe pour le moins autant qu'elle divertit on est enviee des autres belles ou ce qui est encore pis on porte envie a leur beaute si on est blonde on ne peut souffrir les brunes si on est brune on ne peut souffrir les blondes et tout ce qui est seulement aussi beau que soy deplaist et donne du chagrin de plus il ne faut autre chose sinon qu'une dame ait le teint un peu pasle ou les yeux un peu battus pour faire dire a toute une ville qu'elle est fort changee et que c'est une beaute detruite mais quand mesme cela ne seroit pas que resulte t'il de cette beaute elle aquiert quelques amans de qui l'amour ne dure pas plus qu'elle elle attire indifferemment les habiles et les stupides elle s'en va bien souvent devant la jeunesse et s'en va tousjours infailliblement aussi tost que la vieillesse aproche si bien que ceux qui n'ont aime une femme que parce qu'elle estoit belle viennent a la mepriser et a la hair jugez apres cela si la beaute est un bien si souhaitable quand tout ce que vous dites seroit vray reprit amaxite encore aimerois-je mieux estre belle au hazard d'estre mesprisee dans ma vieillesse que de ne l'estre pas et de me voir exposee a estre mesprisee jeune car enfin quand on n'est point belle il faut avoir terriblement 
 de l'esprit pour reparer en quelque sorte ce manquement la et comme il se trouve bien plus de gens capables de juger de la beaute du visage que de celle de l'esprit ou de l'ame la multitude du monde suivra la belle et laissera l'autre quoy qu'il en soit dit parthenie comme je suis persuadee que la supreme infortune est d'avoir este aimee et de ne l'estre plus et que les belles sont plus exposees a ce malheur la que les autres je ne me repens point de ce que j'ay dit
 
 
 
 
voila donc seigneur dans quels sentimens estoit parthenie durant ses jours de chagrin et quelle estoit la vie qu'elle menoit lors qu'un homme de tres grande qualite appelle timante arriva a paphos avec un equipage proportionne a sa haute naissance a la magnificence de son humeur et a sa richesse qui est aussi grande que sa condition en effet seigneur ce timante dont je parle est descendu du roy minos qui regna si long temps en crete et quoy que la couronne ne soit plus dans sa maison et que la forme du gouvernement ait change dans cette isle les peuples n'ont pas laisse de continuer de respecter ceux qui sont descendus de leurs anciens rois et jusques au point qu'ils ont tousjours eu les premiers honneurs et la plus grande authorite parmi eux de sorte que l'on peut dire qu'encore que le pere de timante ne porte point le nom de roy il ne laisse pas d'en avoir presques l'authorite principalement pour les choses de la guerre il est vray que comme il s'attache fort a observer les loix que 
 fit cet illustre roy dont j'ay parle et qui ont servy de modelle a tous les legislateurs de grece il n'abuse pas du credit que ces peuples luy ont laisse et il s'en fait extremement aimer mais il ne faut pas s'en estonner car je suis persuade que quiconque obeit aux loix se fait aisement obeir voila donc seigneur quelle est la naissance de timante dont la personne est extremement bien faite et dont l'esprit n'est pas ordinaire la cause de son voyage avoit mesme quelque chose de particulier car comme il est nay dans une isle qui dispute de reputation avec la nostre a cause des cent villes qu'on y voit il eut la curiosite de voir en effet si chipre devoit estre mise devant crete ou si crete devoit estre preferee a chipre de sorte que son voyage estant un voyage de plaisir et de curiosite il arriva a paphos comme je l'ay desja dit avec un equipage tres magnifique on ne sceut pas plustost sa condition que le roy luy fit tous les honneurs imaginables et on ne connut pas plus tost son merite qu'on l'estima autant qu'on pouvoit l'estimer de sorte qu'en fort peu de jours il ne fut presque plus estranger dans nostre cour la reine aretaphile luy fit beaucoup d'honneur le prince philoxipe fit une amitie particuliere aveque luy policrite l'estima extremement et toutes les dames en general luy donnerent mille louanges comme c'est la coustume dans toutes les cours de redoubler les divertissemens en faveur des estrangers on fit la mesme chose pour timante 
 mais soit dans la conversation au bal aux jeux de prix aux promenades ou aux autres festes publiques timante parut comme un homme de beaucoup d'esprit extremement adroit et extraordinairement magnifique de sorte qu'on ne parloit que de luy a paphos sa reputation fut mesme jusques a la solitude de la princesse de salamis et je pense que je fus le premier qui l'y portay et qui le representay tel qu'il est a la belle parthenie elle fit pourtant tout ce qu'elle put pour m'empescher de luy en faire le portrait me disant qu'elle estoit bien aise de ne scavoir point ce qui se passoit dans le monde qu'elle avoit quitte elle me demanda toutesfois un moment apres si je ne scavois point quelle estoit celle de toutes les dames de la cour qui avoit le plus touche le coeur de timante je vous assure luy dis-je que jusques a cette heure sa civilite a este assez egalle pour toutes et il a mesme paru adjoustay-je qu'il n'est point amoureux car a une des festes qu'on a faites ou il y eut une espece de combat extremement agreable et ou tous ceux qui le faisoient avoient des devises sur leurs boucliers timante fit representer sur le sien un phoenix avec ces mots j'attens que le soleil m'embraze c'est assurement dit parthenie que cet estranger a voulu laisser l'esperance de conquerir son coeur a toutes les belles afin de n'estre hai de pas une durant qu'il sera a paphos cependant 
 poursuivit elle scachez megaside que ce n'est pas estre bien obligeant que de venir icy me raconter cent divertissemens dont je ne suis point c'est pourquoy une autrefois quand vous viendrez voir vostre soeur dittes moy tousjours que la cour n'est plus ce qu'elle estoit quand j'y estois qu'on ne s'y divertit plus comme on faisoit qu'il y a moins d'honnestes gens qu'il n'y en avoit alors et dittes moy enfin tout ce que disent ces vieilles personnes qui regrettent le temps de leur jeunesse et qui pensent qu'on ne se divertit plus parce qu'elles n'ont plus de divertissemens voila donc seigneur comment parthenie entendit parler de timante la premiere fois il est vray que je ne fus pas le seul qui luy en dis du bien car le prince philoxipe qui la fut voir luy en parla de la mesme facon que je luy en avois parle policrite luy en escrivit et doride aussi de sorte qu'elle se forma une idee de timante extremement avantageuse elle ne voulut pourtant jamais consentir que philoxipe le luy menast comme il le luy proposa ce prince luy disant qu'un estranger n'interromproit point sa solitude mais elle luy dit si fortement qu'elle ne le vouloit pas qu'en effet il n'osa le faire ou pour mieux dire les dieux ne le permirent point estant certain qu'il a paru visiblement qu'ils vouloient que la connoissance de timante et de parthenie se fist d'une autre maniere mais seigneur devant que de vous raconter comment elle se fit il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y a une maison du pere de 
 timoclee qui n'est qu'a deux journees de paphos et qui est justement a moitie chemin de cette ville au lieu ou demeuroit parthenie ou il y a un labirinthe de mirthe dont les palissades qui le forment sont si espaisses et si hautes qu'on est aussi embarrasse pour en sortir que si c'estoient des murailles comme a ce fameux labirinthe d'egypte et comme a celuy de crete mais il est fait avec un tel artifice que ceux mesme qui ont este et en egypte et en crete n'en scavent pas encore trouver les issues car comme celuy de crete fut fait par l'ingenieux dedale du temps de minos qui y enferma le minotaure et que dedale en avoit pris le modelle sur celuy d'egypte de mesme celuy qui est aupres de paphos que j'ay sceu que vous ne vistes point en passant a chipre a este fait par un homme qui ayant veu tous les deux a pris un peu de l'un et un peu de l'autre et en a fait une des plus agreables choses du monde les mesmes ornemens d'architecture y paroissent en mirthe tels qu'ils sont en marbre aux deux autres labirinthes on passe de salle en salle de cabinet en cabinet et de gallerie en gallerie en tous ces divers lieux il y a des statues d'albastre et de bronze qui ne servent pourtant point a faire qu'on reconnoisse son chemin parce qu'il y en a de toutes semblables en plusieurs endroits il y a aussi des sieges de gazon par tout pour reposer ceux qui s'y esgarent et s'y lassent ou pour asseoir ceux qui veulent y resver agreablement 
 le centre de ce labirinthe ou tous les chemins aboutissent est un agreable rondeau du milieu duquel part un jet d'eau merveilleux qui jalit beaucoup au dessus des pallissades quelques hautes qu'elles soient voila donc seigneur quel est ce labirinthe que timante eut la curiosite de voir et il l'eut d'autant plus grande qu'estant de crete ou il y en a un qu'on va voir de par tout le monde il faut bien aise de pouvoir juger de celuy de chipre quoy qu'il n'eust pas la magnificence de l'autre il parla donc a diverses fois d'y aller et le prince philoxipe fit une partie pour cela mais s'estant trouve mal elle fut rompue de sorte que timante en fit une autre de chasse avec quelques gens de qualite de paphos mais par hazard en chassant timante s'esgara avec un de ses amis qui l'avoit suivy dans son voyage et qui se nomme antimaque de sorte que ne scachant ou ils estoient il virent au sortir d'un bois une maison assez magnifique au milieu d'une petite plaine ils ne l'eurent pas plustost veue qu'ils y furent et par curiosite et pour demander ou ils estoient et pour s'informer aussi quel chemin ils devoient tenir pour retourner a paphos timante avancant donc le premier fut droit a la porte qu'il trouva ouverte et entra dans une grande basse-court ou il ne vit personne il ne laissa pourtant pas de descendre de cheval aussi bien qu'antimaque et d'entrer dans un jardin d'une grandeur prodigieuse dont il vit aussi la porte ouverte laissant leurs chevaux 
 a garder a un esclave qui les avoit suivis mais a peine timante eut il fait deux pas dans ce jardin qu'il vit au dela du parterre une si grosse touste de palissades de mirthe qu'il ne douta point du tout que le hazard ne l'eust conduit au lieu ou il avoit eu dessein d'aller et que ce qu'il voyoit ne fust le labirinthe qu'il avoit souhaitte de voir de sorte qu'impatient de satisfaire sa curiosite il se hasta de marcher ne se souciant pas de n'avoir point de guide car comme il scavoit admirablement les destours de celuy crete il creut qu'il scauroit bien aussi ceux de celuy la il entra donc avec antimaque dans ce labirinthe ou il n'eut pas plustost traverse cinq ou six salles ou cabinets qu'il vit qu'il n'en connoissoit plus les destours et qu'il faloit qu'il fust different de celuy de crete mais il trouva qu'il n'estoit plus temps de s'en apercevoir parce qu'il estoit desja tellement esgare que plus il pensoit chercher par ou il en sortiroit plus il s'enfoncoit avant il prenoit pourtant beaucoup de plaisir dans cet esgarement car comme antimaque et luy estoient en equipage de chasse antimaque avoit un cor de sorte qu'ils estoient sans inquietude s'imaginant bien qu'on les entendroit quand ils voudroient comme ils parloient donc ensemble et qu'antimaque railloit timante de ce qu'il auroit eu besoin d'avoir le fil d'ariadne pour sortir de ce labirinthe et luy soutenant qu'estant de la race de cette princesse il luy estoit plus honteux qu'a un autre d'y estre embarrasse tout 
 d'un coup il entendit une femme qui chantoit et qui chantoit fort agreablement de sorte que se taisant et marchant vers la voix qu'ils entendoient ils firent enfin si bien qu'il ne pouvoit y avoir qu'une palissade entre eux et celle qui chantoit mais elle estoit si espaisse et si pressee qu'ils ne pouvoient trouver moyen de voir celle qu'ils entendoient ny mesme celuy de s'en approcher davantage car quand ils vouloient l'essayer ils s'en esloignoient si bien que ne pouvant du moins pas s'empescher ne louer une personne qui chantoit si agreablemet et timante esperant que cela pourroit aussi peut-estre servir a le degager il commenca de s'ecrier avec un ton de voix d'admiration aussi tost qu'elle eut cesse de chanter ha antimaque que nostre esgarement est heureux pourveu que nous n'ayons pas sur la terre le destin qu'eut ulisse sur la mer et que la belle voix que nous entendons ne nous ait pas attirez pour nous perdre mais seigneur pour vous faire avoir plus de divertissement du recit de cette capricieuse rencontre il faut que vous scachiez que celle qui avoit chante estoit la princesse de salamis qui ayant fait planter chez elle un labirinthe tout pareil a celuy la sinon que les palissades n'en estoient encore eslevees qu'a deux pieds de terre en scavoit tous les detours admirablement de sorte qu'estant venue ce jour la pour resoudre avec ma soeur si elle feroit mettre des statues au sien le hazard fit qu'elle entra dans ce jardin par une petite porte de derriere ou le 
 chariot qui l'avoit amenee l'attendoit si bien que par ce moyen timante ne l'avoit pas veu de plus comme elle affectoit fort de paroistre tout a fait solitaire elle avoit fait un mistere de cette promenade c'est pourquoy elle estoit mesme venue dans un chariot qui n'avoit rien de remarquable n'ayant pas un de ses gens avec elle mais ce qui l'obligeoit encore plus d'en user ainsi c'est que ce jardin apartenoit au pere d'un homme qui avoit autresfois este fort amoureux d'elle et c'estoit principalement pour cette raison qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'on sceust qu'elle y eust este de peur qu'on ne s'imaginast qu'elle vouloit rapeller celuy qu'elle avoit banny il luy avoit mesme este facile de le cacher parce que le concierge de cette maison qui l'avoit fait entrer avoit este son domestique du temps que son mary vivoit si bien qu'il estoit plus a elle qu'a son maistre c'est pourquoy il n'avoit garde de dire ce qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'on sceust et pour faire qu'elle fust mieux obeie il s'estoit tenu a la porte ou estoit son chariot de peur que quelqu'un ne fist dire a ceux qui estoient demeurez a qui il apartenoit il avoit mesme laisse un jardinier a l'autre porte du jardin avec ordre de ne laisser entrer personne bien est il vray qu'il luy avoit pourtant mal obei car timante l'avoit trouvee ouverte et estoit entre comme je l'ay desja dit mais seigneur il n'eut pas plustost dit a antimaque la galanterie que je vous ay dite que parthenie fort surprise d'entendre parler si 
 pres d'elle voulut s'esloigner de ce lieu la par les destours du labirinthe qu'elle scavoit admirablement mais antimaque ayant respondu a timante que bien loin de craindre qu'une si belle voix les eust attirez pour les perdre il esperoit qu'elle les feroit sortir heureusement de l'esgarement ou ils estoient elle comprit par ce qu'ils disoient qu'en effet ils estoient esgarez et qu'ils n'avoient point de guide et elle connut mesme principalement a l'accent d'antimaque qu'ils estoient estrangers de sorte que se r'assurant et jugeant bien qu'ils ne pourroient jamais aller du lieu ou ils estoient a celuy ou elle estoit n'estant presque pas possible que le hazard tout seul les y pust conduire et scachant bien aussi qu'ils ne la connoistroient pas elle se resolut pour se divertir de respondre a ceux qui parloient de sorte que prenant la parole elle dit qu'ils paroissoit bien que la voix qu'ils venoient d'entendre ne les charmoit guere puis qu'ils ne se rejouissoint de l'avoir entendue que parce qu'ils esperoient qu'elle les feroit sortir heureusement du labirinthe ou ils s'estoient esgarez ha madame interrompit timante qui connut bien au son de la voix que celle qui parloit estoit la mesme qu'il avoit entendue changer ne confondez pas l'innocent et le coupable et faites difference de ce que j'ay dit a ce que m'a respondu un plus honneste homme que moy mais qui pour cette fois a este moins raisonnable car enfin je me suis rejouy de mon egarement sans souhaiter 
 comme luy d'en sortir au contraire je puis vous assurer que bien loin d'en avoir le dessein et de chercher les issues du labirinthe je cherche par ou je pourrois aller au lieu ou vous estes afin de connoistre si vous avez autant de douceur dans les yeux que dans la voix il paroist par ce que vous dites reprit parthenie que vous avez bien de l'esprit et bien de la civilite mais je ne scay adjousta t'elle en riant si on ne vous pourroit point reprocher de manquer un peu d'une chose plus importante car enfin a ce que je voy vous vous estes engage sans guide dans un lieu d'ou on ne fort pas sans cela pendant que parthenie parloit avec timante amaxite et antimaque poussez d'une mesme curiosite faisoient tous deux tout ce qu'ils pouvoient chacun de leur coste pour entre-ouvrir les branches des mirthes mais elles estoient tellement entrelassees et la pallissade avoit tant d'espaisseur qu'amaxite travailla long-temps inutilement toutesfois a la fin le hazard fit qu'elle aperceut un petit rayon de soleil qui penetroit toute l'espaisseur de la pallissade si bien que portant les yeux a cet endroit elle vit timante qui parloit a parthenie et ne vit point antimaque qui estoit a quatre pas de la aussi occupe qu'elle mais moins avance car il ne voyoit encore rien amaxite n'eut donc pas plustost veu timante qu'elle fit signe a parthenie qui jugeant que puis qu'on pouvoit voir ceux qui estoient de l'autre coste de la pallissade ils la pourroient voir aussi abaissa son voile promptement 
 et fit faire la mesme chose a toutes ses femmes elle releva pourtant un peu le sien pour regarder cet homme qu'amaxite avoit veu et qu'elle connut aisement pour estre un homme de haute qualite non seulement par la magnificence de son habillement mais encore par je ne scay quel air de grandeur que timante a sur le visage parthenie n'en demeura pas mesme la car elle ne l'eut pas plustost veu qu'elle ne douta point du tout que ce ne fust cet estranger dont on luy avoit dit tant de merveilles si bien que sans en scavoir la raison elle sentit dans sons coeur une agitation extreme ou elle ne donna pourtant alors autre cause que celle de la surprise d'une rencontre si inopinee cependant comme antimaque avoit les mains plus fortes qu'amaxite il fit tant qu'a la fin il trouva moyen d'entrevoir parthenie il est vray qu'il ne la vit que son voile abaisse non plus que timante a qui il la montra de sorte que pendant cela il se fit un assez grand silence car timante qui ne scavoit pas que la dame qu'il vouloit voir ne vouloit pas estre veue esperoit tousjours qu'elle leveroit son voile ce qu'il souhaitoit passionnement et ce qui faisoit sa curiosite estoit qu'il voyoit une personne de fort belle taille et qui avoit les plus belles mains du monde car parthenie avoit pris amaxite par sa robe pour la faire aprocher d'elle afin de luy dire tout bas qu'elle croyoit que celuy qu'elle luy avoit monstre estoit cet estranger que tout le monde louoit tant de sorte que 
 par ce moyen timante pouvoit juger de la beaute de sa voix de sa taille de ses bras et de ses mains pour son habit il ne scavoit quelle conjecture en tirer pour connoistre sa qualite car elle avoit ce jour la un de ces habillemens simples et propres dont les personnes de la plus haute condition portent quelquesfois mais dont celles de la mediocre portent aussi si bien qu'il ne pouvoit raisonner juste la dessus joint qu'il n'eut pas le temps d'observer comment les femmes qui estoient la vivoient avec elle car comme il ne faut que changer un peu de place pour faire que ceux qui regardent a travers une pallissade fort espaisse et par une ouverture fort petite ne voyent plus ce qu'ils voyoient timante ayant laisse eschaper une branche qu'il tenoit et parthenie ayant fait deux pas il ne la vit plus et ne put jamais la revoir quelque soin qu'il y aportast cependant comme il entendit par le bruit que font les robes des femmes lors qu'elles marchent plusieurs a la fois que celle qu'il mouroit d'envie de voir s'en alloit eh de grace madame luy dit il si vous ne voulez pas qu'on vous voye souffrez du moins qu'on vous entende et n'ayez pas s'il vous plaist l'inhumanite de laisser un malheureux estranger esgare et esgare pour l'amour de vous car enfin madame je suis persuade que si je n'eusse point ouy vostre belle voix j'aurois peut-estre bien retrouve les chemins du labirinthe et pour vous monstrer que j'en ay veu d'autres et qu'ainsi j'eusse pu les retrouver je veux 
 bien vous dire que je suis de crete c'est pourquoy faites s'il vous plaist que les dames de chipre ne soient pas moins pitoyables que celles de mon pais car vous scavez sans doute qu'ariadne retira thesee du labirinthe qu'on y voit n'ayez donc pas la cruaute de laisser en celuy-cy un homme qui a l'honneur d'estre du sang de cette charitable princesse et faites du moins en cette recontre pour timante ce qu'ariadne fit pour thesee car s'il ne faut adjousta t'il en riant qu'avoir pour vous la mesme passion qu'il avoit pour elle je m'y engage quand mesme vous n'en devriez jamais avoir une pareille pour moy si vous estes si absolument maistre de vous passions repliqua parthenie bien aise de voir qu'elle ne s'estoit pas trompee que vous puissiez aimer quand bon vous semblera et qui il vous plaira il est fort a craindre que vous ne pussiez aussi hair quand vous le voudriez et que si je faisois pour vous ce qu'ariadne fit pour thesee vous ne fissiez aussi pour moy ce que thesee fit pour ariadne c'est pourquoy seigneur je n'ay garde de vous delivrer a la condition que vous me proposez au contraire vous ne pouviez me rien dire qui fust plus propre a m'en empescher joint aussi adjousta t'elle qu'apres m'avoir fait connoistre vostre qualite je ne puis plus me resoudre a me laisser voir a vous car je mourrois de confusion de vous avoir rendu si peu de respect mais madame reprit il en sousriant trouvez vous qu'il soit fort civil de me deffendre de 
 vous voir et de me laisser esgare en un lieu d'ou je ne puis sortir sans vostre aide et ne craignez vous point que je m'en plaigne si vous pouviez scavoir qui je suis repliqua t'elle je le craindrois sans doute et je n'en userois pas ainsi dittes moy du moins respondit il pourquoy vous me traittez de cette sorte c'est parce repliqua t'elle en riant a son tour que n'ayant jamais pu faire d'esclaves par mes propres charmes je suis bien aise de prendre l'occasion qui se presente et de faire du moins un prisonnier s'il ne faut que cela pour vous satisfaire respondit timante je vous promets d'estre et vostre esclave et vostre prisonnier tout ensemble je consens mesme de ne vous suivre point et de demeurer dans ce labirinthe c'est pourquoy ayez la bonte de ne me refuser pas le plaisir de vous voir et de m'enseigner par quel lieu je puis aller a celuy ou vous estes quand je n'aurois eu que de l'incivilite pour vous reprit elle je ne pourrois me resoudre a me laisser voir jugez donc si apres avoir eu de la cruaute j'y pourrois consentir la cruaute des belles reprit il s'oublie absolument des qu'elles cessent d'en avoir comment voudriez vous repliqua parthenie en riant encore qu'on adjoustast foy a vos paroles vous dis-je qui me mettez au rang des belles sans m'avoir veue je scay de desja repliqua t'il que vous avez une belle voix non seulement en chantant mais encore en parlant et je scay de plus que vous avez la plus belle taille du monde et les plus belles mains de sorte 
 que si vous avez les yeux aussi beaux que je me les imagine vous estes la plus belle personne de la terre apres vous les estre imaginez si beaux reprit parthenie je n'ay garde de vous les monstrer cependant pour vous faire voir que je ne suis pas tout a fait inhumaine je vous promets de vous envoyer desgager aussi tost que je seray hors d'icy timante connoissant par ce que disoit parthenie qu'elle se preparoit a s'en aller du moins luy dit il madame dittes moy vostre nom comme je vous ay dit le mien j'aimerois encore mieux me monstrer a vous respondit elle que de vous dire mon nom mais je ne feray ny l'un ny l'autre s'il vous plaist apres cela parhenie s'en alla et timante n'entendit plus aucun bruit que celuy que faisoient parthenie et ses femmes qui s'en alloient sans crainte d'estre suivies elles ne laisserent pourtant pas de marcher viste et de remonter dans leur chariot avec beaucoup de diligence parthenie ordonnant au concierge qu'elle connoissoit d'aller desgager deux estrangers qui estoiet esgarez dans le labirinthe mais de n'y aller qu'une heure apres qu'elle seroit partie luy commandant absolument de ne leur dire point qui elle estoit et de leur soustenir tousjours que celles qu'ils avoient entendues estoient des dames de paphos qu'il ne connoissoit point du tout apres cela parthenie partit et ce concierge luy obeissant comme a son ancienne maistresse attendit qu'il y eust une heure qu'elle fust partie pour aller desgager les 
 estrangers dont elle luy avoit parle cependant timante et antimaque ne se furent pas plustost aperceus que celle qu'ils avoient une extreme envie de voir s'en alloit qu'ils firent tout ce qu'ils peurent pour la suivre toutesfois ils y reussirent si mal que bien loin de sortir du labirinthe ils se trouverent au milieu c'est a dire au bord du rondeau ou ils se resolurent d'attendre qu'elle leur tinst sa parole mais comme les momens semblent des siecles a ceux qui attendont quelque chose timante n'eut pas employe un quart d'heure a tesmoigner a antimaque le desplaisir qu'il avoit de n'avoir point veu le visage de celle qui avoit chante et l'extreme curiosite ou il estoit de scavoir son nom que l'impatience le prit ce n'estoit pourtant pas tant par l'envie qu'il avoit d'estre hors du labirinthe que par celle de tascher d'aprendre qui estoit cette inconnue dont la voix la belle taille les belles mains et le bel esprit l'avoient si agreablement surpris et si doucement charme de sorte qu'antimaque croyant que le son de son cor feroit plustost venir quelqu'un pour les degager se mit a sonner le plus fort qu'il put afin d'estre entendu de plus loin mais il sonna inutilement parce que le concierge qui se promenoit dans le jardin en attendant qu'il y eust une heure que parthenie fust partie empescha les jardiniers d'y aller si bien qu'il falut qu'il se reposast et qu'il se teust mais a la fin l'heure estant passee celuy qui les devoit delivrer les delivra en effet ils ne le virent pas 
 plustost que suivant ce que parthenie luy avoit ordonne il dit a timante que cette princesse luy avoit designe par son habillement qu'une dame qu'il ne connoissoit point l'avoit charge de luy dire que c'estoit a sa priere qu'il le venoit desgager et qu'il luy demandoit pardon de n'y estre pas venu plustost a cause d'un homme qu'il avoit rencontre ha mon amy respondit timante vous ne dites pas la verite et il n'est pas possible que vous ne connoissiez point une personne qui connoist tous les destours de ce labirinthe seigneur reprit cet homme avec une ingenuite aparente comme il n'y a pas fort long temps que je suis concierge de cette maison il n'est pas estrange que je ne connoisse pas cette dame car je vous assure que mon maistre a une file que je ne connois point encore timante ne le crut pourtant pas d'abord et il le pressa tres long temps de luy dire qui estoit celle qu'il vouloit connoistre il le pressa neantmoins inutilement il luy promit mesme de luy faire une liberalite considerable s'il vouloit satisfaire sa curiosite mais comme les promesses ne sont pas si puissantes sur l'esprit de pareilles gens que les presens effectifs et que timante n'avoit rien sur luy qu'il luy peust donner il n'ebranla point sa fidelite et il ne luy dit point qui estoit parthenie comme timante vit qu'il ne pouvoit l'obliger a dire ce qu'il vouloit et qu'il creut en effet qu'il ne scavoit point qui estoit cette dame du moins luy dit il me diras tu bien quel chemin elle a pris 
 ha pour cela seigneur repliqua cet homme avec autant de malice que de finesse il ne me sera pas difficile et alors il se mit a le conduire jusques a la porte des champs ou il luy montra le grand chemin qui conduisoit de la a paphos par ou il l'assura hardiment que le chariot de cette dame estoit alle quoy que ce fust une route toute opposee a celle qu'elle avoit prise et il le faisoit avec d'autant plus de hardiesse que ce chemin est tousjours fort battu et que timante ne pouvoit manquer de voir par ses ornieres qu'il y avoit passe des chariots depuis peu de sorte que timante adjoustant foy a ses paroles monta a cheval avec antimaque sans se soucier d'aller chercher a rejoindre la chasse et marcha avec diligence pour tascher de trouver ce chariot il demanda pourtant a l'esclave qu'il avoit laisse a garder leurs chevaux s'il ne l'avoit point veu mais encore qu'il luy dist que non cela ne le detrompa point car comme il l'avoit laisse dans la basse-court il pensa en effet qu'il ne pouvoit pas avoir veu ce chariot qui estoit a une autre porte si bien qu'il fut jusques a paphos dans l'esperance de le joindre le hazard fit mesme qu'ayant demande a des gens qui en venoient s'ils n'avoient point rencontre un chariot il y en eut qui dirent qu'ils en avoient trouve deux si bien que timante ne doutant point du tout que celuy de celle qu'il cherchoit n'en fust un il s'estima bien malheureux de ne l'avoir pu trouver et s'en pleignit a tous cens qu'il vit 
 ce jour la et mesme le lendemain mais comme timante disoit affirmativement a ceux a qui il parloit que la dame qu'il avoit rencontree au labirinthe estoit de paphos personne n'alloit tourner les yeux du coste de la princesse de salamis joint que comme on croyoit qu'elle ne quittoit jamais son desert et qu'on ne l'eust pas mesme soupconnee d'aller en ce lieu la a cause de la raison que j'en ay dite personne n'en eut la pensee et on chercha seulement a se souvenir de toutes celles qui chantoient bien a paphos toutesfois comme il y en a grand nombre cela ne donnoit pas grande lumiere le prince philoxipe mesme ne jetta pas les yeux du coste de la prin- que cesse sa soeur au contraire il pensa que celle timante avoit rencontree estoit une femme de mediocre qualite qui avoit une belle voix mais qui estoit extremement laide et qui pour cette raison n'avoit point voulu se monstrer et en effet on fut persuade que c'estoit elle si bien que tout le monde en faisoit la guerre a timante et de telle sorte que pour s'en esclaircir il la voulut voir et l'entendre chanter mais quoy qu'il jugeast apres l'avoir veue et entendue que ce ne pouvoit estre celle la et qu'il n'en eust pas seulement le moindre soubcon on ne le creut point et on l'en railla si cruellemet durant quelques jours qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'eust fait pour pouvoir trouver l'aimable personne dont son imagination estoit remplie la chose en vint mesme au point qu'il n'osa plus tesmoigner sa curiosite ny parler 
 de cette avanture et certes je pense que sans cette fausse imagination dont toute la cour se trouva capable il eust este difficile si on eust creu timante qu'on ne fust a la fin venu a soubconner que c'estoit parthenie qu'il avoit veue cependant comme si les dieux l'eussent desja voulu faire connoistre a timante il en eut quelque soubcon de luy mesme sur le raport qu'il avoit entendu faite de cette princesse mais veu la guerre qu'on luy faisoit il n'osa s'en declarer qu'a une femme qui estoit assez de ses amies et comme cette personne estoit une de celles a qui parthenie avoit autresfois fait perdre quelques adorateurs elle la haissoit il ne luy eut donc pas plustost demande si celle qu'il avoit rencontree ne pourroit point bien estre la princesse de salamis dont il avoit tant entendu louer la beaute l'esprit et mesme la voix qu'elle fit un grand cry et luy respondit avec toute l'envie et toute la preocupation d'une rivale que si celle qu'il avoit rencontree avoit la taille fort belle de belles mains et une fort belle voix comme il le disoit ce ne pouvoit estre parthenie car enfin luy dit elle quoy qu'on l'ait tant louee par le monde il est pourtant vray qu'elle est grande sans estre bien faite que ses mains sont blanches sans estre belles et que sa voix est d'une grande estendue sans estre agreable vous pouvez donc juger seigneur qu'apres cela timante perdit le leger soubcon qu'il avoit eu car il scavoit bien que la personne qu'il avoit veue avoit la plus 
 belle taille du monde les plus belles mains et la plus belle voix de sorte que cette agreable idee remplissant tousjours son imagination et augmentant sa curiosite il cherchoit cette aimable inconnue par tout il alloit aux temples aux promenades et a toutes ses visites avec un dessein forme de la chercher en tous lieux mais quoy qu'il pust faire il ne la trouvoit en nulle part et il demeuroit tousjours avec cette curiosite inquiette qui ne le quittoit point du tout cependant parthenie apres estre retournee a sa solitude se mit a s'entretenir en particulier avec amaxite de la rencontre qu'elle avoit faite louant extremement la bonne mine de timante et luy trouvant beaucoup d'agreement et de galanterie dans l'esprit mais madame luy dit amaxite si timante estoit celuy que les dieux vous reservent nostre promenade auroit este bien heureuse pour moy a n'en mentir pas adjousta telle je pense que vostre voix et vostre esprit l'ont touche plus que vous ne pensez car il vous a parle d'une maniere plus obligeante que la seule civilite ne le vouloit helas amaxite luy respondit parthenie en riant comment voudriez vous que j'eusse pu blesser timante a travers une pallissade si espaisse je scay bien qu'on donne des aisles a l'amour poursuivit elle en raillant tousjours mais je ne pense pas qu'elles soient assez fortes pour le faire voler par dessus des pallissades si hautes c'est pourquoy ne nous imaginons point que timante songe a moy sa curiosite aura 
 peut-estre dure un quart d'heure et depuis cela il n'y aura plus pense et mesme n'y aura plus deu penser faisons la mesme chose je vous en prie et ne troublons pas nostre repos par des propositions chimeriques qui ne scauroient avoir de suitte car enfin timante ne m'aimera pas sans me voir et s'il m'avoit veue et que le peu de beaute que j'ay luy eust donne quelque affection pour moy je n'oserois jamais m'y fier non seulement par la cruelle experience que j'ay faite que l'amour fondee sur la beaute n'est point durable mais encore parce que les dieux m'ont predit que je seray tres malheureuse si j'espouse quelqu'un que mes yeux m'ayent assujetty voila donc seigneur dans quels sentimens estoit alors parthenie pour timante dont la personne et l'esprit luy plaisoient elle l'auroit pourtant facilement oublie sans une visite que le prince philoxipe luy fit qui luy en raffraichit la memoire et voicy comment la chose arriva comme ce prince eut este quelque temps en conversation avec elle elle luy demanda s'il ne vouloit pas qu'elle luy fist voir les changemens qu'elle avoit faits a son jardin de sorte que philoxipe voulant ce que vouloit parthenie elle le mena par tous les lieux qu'elle avoit fait accommoder depuis qu'il n'y avoit este car il se connoist admirablement en de pareilles choses sa belle maison de clarie l'y ayant rendu tres scavant apres avoir donc fait une longue conversation de fontaines de parterres de balustrades et de fleurs tout d'un coup philoxipe 
 tournant les yeux du coste de ce labirinthe que je vous ay dit qu'elle avoit fait faire et dont les pallissades n'estoient encore guere eslevees vostre labirinthe luy dit il ne sera de longtemps en estat qu'il y puisse arriver des avantures pareilles a celle qu'a eue cet estranger dont je vous parlay la derniere fois que je vous vy car les pallissades en sont encore bien basses parthenie entendant parler philoxipe de cette sorte changea de couleur il est vray qu'il n'y prit pas garde parce qu'il avoit la teste tournee du coste du labirinthe si bien que parthenie se remettant elle commenca de demander a philoxipe quelle estoit cette advanture qu'elle scavoit bien mieux que luy et il la luy raconta d'un bout a l'autre luy exagerant de dessein premedite toutes les louanges que timante donnoit a cette inconnue qu'il avoit rencontree afin de faire son recit plus agreable car apres avoir bien dit a parthenie que timante louoit si fort cette personne qu'il ne connoissoit point qu'il croyoit qu'il en estoit amoureux il adjousta qu'il croyoit encore que celle qu'il louoit avec tant d'exces estoit une personne qui n'est de nulle condition et qui estoit fort laide et alors philoxipe nomma a parthenie celle dont il entendoit parler et dont il avoit tant fait la guerre a timante il me semble respondit parthenie en riant qu'il est bien aise de s'en esclaircir car il ne faut que faire voir et entendre cette personne a timante cela est desja fait reprit il mais il n'a jamais pu advouer 
 que ce pust estre celle la au contraire il s'en met en colere quand on luy en parle et il jure aussi hardiment que s'il le scavoit avec certitude que celle qu'il a rencontree est une des plus belles personnes du monde bien est il vray qu'il s'est desacoustume d'en parler afin d'esviter la raillerie qu'on luy en faisoit mais tout le monde s'apercoit pourtant bien qu'il cherche cette inconnue en tous lieux je vous laisse a penser seigneur combien la princesse de salamis eut de plaisir de se faire conter si exactement une advanture ou elle avoit tant de part et ou philoxipe ne soubconnoit pas qu'elle en pust avoir ce ne fut toutesfois pas le plus grand et la certitude qu'elle eut d'avoir fait quelque legere impression dans l'esprit de timante et d'occuper du moins quelque place dans sa memoire si elle n'en avoit pas dans son coeur luy donna une satisfaction si grande que quelque plaisir que luy causast la veue de philoxipe pour qui elle avoit une amitie fort tendre elle eut neantmoins impatience qu'il fust party afin de dire a amaxite tout ce qu'il luy avoit raconte elle fut mesme tentee cent et cent fois de descouvrir a ce prince la verite de cette avanture mais je ne scay quel sentiment secret dont elle ne voyoit pas la raison bien claire l'en empescha joint aussi que comme la conversation de timant et d'elle ne s'estoit faite qu'avec l'intention de n'estre jamais connue elle croyoit qu'en effet elle ne devoit pas l'advouer cependant elle demanda encore cent choses de timante 
 qui obligerent philoxipe a luy dire qu'il le luy vouloit amener mais elle s'en deffendit plus qu'elle n'avoit jamais fait disant a ce prince que plus timante estoit honneste homme moins elle le vouloit voir car enfin disoit elle quand on est dans la solitude on en redouble l'ennuy lors qu'on y amene une agreable compagnie qui n'y tarde point et qui laisse apres dans un silence qui a quelque chose de si melancholique et de si sombre qu'on est plus malheureux que si on n'avoit point este heureux en effet poursuivit elle toutes les fois que vous venez icy je suis deux jours apres que vous en estes party a ne prendre plus de plaisir ny a mes fontaines ny a mes jardins vous ne pouviez pas me dire plus civilement que je ne vous vienne pas voir souvent que vous me le dittes reprit philoxipe car enfin je scay bien que de l'humeur dont vous estes vous n'aimez pas les plaisirs qui sont suivis par la douleur et que c'est principalement pour cela que vous ne voulez point estre aime de peur de vous voir exposee a ne l'estre plus il est vray dit elle que je mets ce malheur la au rang des supremes infortunes et que selon moy il n'en est point de plus grande mais luy dit philoxipe vous voyez bien que tous ceux qui aiment ne sont pas inconstans comme le prince de salamis l'estoit et comme tant d'autres qui vous ont aime l'ont este et pour vous en montrer un exemple je vous proteste que la possession de policrite n'a point diminue mon amour je la trouve aussi charmante 
 que je faisois devant que de l'espouser et si la bienseance souffroit que je luy rendisse les mesmes soins que je faisois autrefois vous me verriez encore a ses pieds estant certain que mon coeur n'est point change et que j'ay bien plus de peine a m'empescher de luy donner des marques de ma passion qu'a continuer de luy faire voir que je l'aime tousjours ardemment policrite est tousjours si admirablement belle reprit parthenie que vostre constance n'a pas encore este mise a une espreuve bien difficile car je tombe d'accord qu'il y a quelques gens qui ne sont pas comme ceux de qui l'amour s'en va devant la beaute qui l'avoit fait naistre et qui font du moins durer leur passion aussi long temps qu'elle dure ha ma soeur interrompit philoxipe ne me faites pas ce tort la de croire que quand policrite ne seroit plus belle je l'aimasse moins et soyez persuadee que ce que policrite a de beau n'est pas la veritable cause de ma constance son ame et son esprit ont mille beautez effectives que le temps ne scauroit destruire et que j'aimeray eternellement je n'en veux pas davantage interrompit parthenie pour me confirmer dans l'opinion que j'ay que ce n'est pas la beaute qui fait les amours constantes et fidelles philoxipe voulut alors desbiaiser ce qu'il avoit dit mais il n'y eut pas moyen et il convint enfin avec parthenie que comme l'absence du soleil fait les tenebres la perte de la beaute a ceux qui n'aiment que pour cela fait la tiedeur et l'inconstance 
 apres quoy il s'en retourna a la cour et laissa parthenie avec la liberte d'entretenir amaxite a qui elle raconta tout ce que ce prince luy avoit dit de timante prenant un plaisir extreme a s'en entretenir avec elle souhaittant quelquesfois que timante sceust qui elle estoit et quelquesfois aussi l'aprehendant estrangement comme amaxite eust este bien aise que parthenie eust este moins solitaire elle fit ce qu'elle put pour l'obliger a souffrir que philoxipe luy menast timante mais elle ne l'y put jamais resoudre et elle luy protesta tousjours qu'elle ne vouloit plus que sa beaute fust la cause de ses malheurs et qu'enfin ayant la raison l'experience et l'authorite des dieux pour elle il estoit juste qu'elle ne changeast pas de sentimens depuis cela seigneur parthenie fut quelques jours sans entendre parler de timante de sorte qu'elle eust pu estre oubliee si le hazard n'eust fait une autre avanture que je vous vay dire
 
 
 
 
nous estions alors en la saison ou l'on celebre la feste des adoniennes en la ville d'amathonte qui est si fameuse par le magnifique temple qu'on y voit et par cette ceremonie qui s'y fait je ne doute pas seigneur que vous ne soyez en quelque facon surpris d'entendre parler de cette feste en un lieu ou venus anadiomene n'a presques plus d'autels et ou venus uranie est adoree mais il faut que vous scachiez que lors que cette illustre reine dont vous avez assez attendu parler restablit les temples de cette grande 
 deesse elle fut contrainte de tolerer quelques coustumes qui ne choquoient ny les bonnes moeurs ny la bien-seance car comme les peuples aiment bien souvent mieux les ceremonies des religions que les religions mesmes elle creut qu'il ne faloit pas irriter les esprits de ceux qui estoient capables de murmurer d'un changement si universel de sorte qu'elle fut en quelque facon forcee de laisser la feste des adoniennes pour satisfaire le peuple d'amathonte si bien que depuis ce temps la cette feste est toujours demeuree et s'est rendue si celebre qu'on y va pour la voir de tous les endroits de l'isle parthenie scachant donc le jour qu'elle se devoit faire prit la resolution de s'y trouver cette annee la pour la faire voir a ma soeur qui en avoit une extreme envie car pour parthenie elle y fut plustost pour conteter la curiosite d'amaxite qu'elle aimoit que pour satisfaire la sienne bien qu'elle n'eust point veu cette feste quoy qu'il en soit elle forma le dessein d'aller a amathonte mais d'y aller sans se faire connoistre ne voulant pas qu'on dist qu'elle eust quitte sa solitude pour voir une feste de venus anadiomene comme elle connoissoit une personne a amathonte dont elle pouvoit disposer absolument parce qu'elle avoit este nourrie aupres de la princesse sa mere elle fut loger chez elle et comme elle estoit asses avancee en age qu'elle n'avoit ny mary ny enfans ny grand train elle y fut si bien cachee que personne ne soubconna qu'elle fust a 
 amathonte car comme elle y arriva de nuit que son chariot n'avoit rien de remarquable et qu'elle n'avoit avec elle que ma soeur et deux femmes pour la servir il ne luy fut pas difficile d'estre dans cette ville sans qu'on le sceust principalement en un temps ou il y avoit tant d'estrangers mais seigneur pour vous faire entendre ce qui arriva a parthenie a cette feste je suis force de vous dire quelle elle est car vous auriez peine a le comprendre si je ne le faisois pas je vous diray donc seigneur que cette feste des adoniennes est une feste de larmes au commencement et de rejouissance a la fin comme vous le scaurez bien tost cependant il est de l'essence de la ceremonie du deuil que l'on fait de la mort d'adonis de deffendre ce jour la a toutes les femmes d'entrer dans le temple ou elle se fait le voile leve n'estant permis qu'a celles qui sont destinees de pleurer a l'entour du vain tombeau d'adonis d'avoir le visage descouvert tant que la ceremonie dure car comme toutes les dames ne pourroient pas pleurer ils disent qu'il vaut mieux qu'elles soient voilees que de faire voir de la joye dans leurs yeux en une feste de larmes la premiere chose qu'on voit ce jour la en entrant au temple qui n'est esclaire que par lampes est un grand cercueil d'or couvert de roses de mirthe et de cypres esleve sur quatre marches couvertes d'un grand tapis noir seme de coeurs enflamez et de larmes d'argent ces quatre marches en quarre sont 
 au milieu d'un grande balustrade de marbre blanc et noir de vingt pas de diamettre a l'entour de laquelle sont tous ceux qui veulent voir la ceremonie cette balustrade estant a demy couverte de riches tapis de sidon a l'entour du cercueil on voit a genoux cinquante des plus belles filles de la ville habillees en nimphes mais en nimphes en deuil et en nimphes desesperees c'est a dire avec des robes volantes de gaze noire meslee d'argent les cheveux espars sur les espaules sans estre pourtant negligez et tesmoignant par des larmes feintes ou du moins par des souspirs redoublez qu'elles ont une extreme tristesse dans le coeur on voit encore sur des quarreaux aupres du cercueil tout l'equipage d'un chasseur mais d'un chasseur magnifique c'est a dire un arc d'ebene garny d'or un quarquois de mesme un cor d'ivoire orne de pierreries et un espieu si superbe que la hampe en est de cedre avec des cloux a testes de rubis et d'emeraudes voila donc seigneur en quel estat sont les choses durant que toute la compagnie s'assemble mais aussi tost que l'heure ou la ceremonie doit commencer est arrivee deux de ces belles affligees qui sont a l'entour du cercueil commencent de reciter en vers les louanges d'adonis en forme de dialogue et lors que son panegirique est acheve douze autres commencent de chanter d'autres vers pour pleindre sa mort et certes a dire vray le chant en est si lamentable et les paroles en sont 
 si tristes que toute l'assistance en a le coeur attendry mais auparavant que d'achever de vous representer tout ce qui se passe en cette belle feste il faut que je vous die que les dieux qui avoient determine que timante aimast parthenie firent qu'ayant fort entendu parler de la feste des adoniennes il partit de paphos expres pour s'y trouver et il s'y trouva en effect et non seulement il s'y trouva mais le hazard tout seul fit encore qu'il se rencontra appuye sur cette balustrade dont je vous ay parle et qu'il s'y rencontra entre parthenie et amaxite qui suivant la coustume avoient leur voile abaisse et par consequent la beaute de parthenie ne pouvoit pas attirer ses regards non plus que celle des autres dames qui estoient toutes voilees a la reserve de celles qui estoient a l'entour du cercueil mais comme parthenie et amaxite ne laissoient pas de voir encore qu'on ne leur vist point le visage elles reconnurent timante des qu'il aprocha d'elles et elles se firent un certain signe de teste lors qu'il arriva qui leur fit connoistre a toutes deux qu'elles estoient dans un mesme sentiment parthenie a advoue depuis qu'elle ne vit pas plustost timante que le coeur luy batit elle pensa mesme changer de place mais jugeant que peut-estre cela la feroit il remarquer elle demeura ou elle estoit pour timante comme il n'y avoit point de femmes desvoilees que celles qui estoient dans la balustrade et qu'il ne scavoit pas que cette personne qu'il cherchoit par tout estoit si 
 proche de luy il regarda cette ceremonie avec une attention extreme jusques a ce qu'apres que ces douze filles eurent chante ces pleintes si lamentables une d'entre elles se tourna vers toutes les dames de l'assemblee pour les conjurer par le nom de venus de joindre leurs pleintes aux siennes et de chanter avec elle six vers qu'elle commenca de reciter immediatement apres afin que le deuil que l'on faisoit pour la mort d'adonis fust effectivement un deuil public et en effet elle n'eut pas plustost acheve de chanter ces six vers que tous ceux qui sont de chipre scavent que tout ce qu'il y avoit de dames dans le temple se mirent a les chanter en suitte de sorte que parthenie chanta comme les autres ne croyant pas que dans une si grande multitude de voix timante pust reconnoistre la sienne qu'il avoit si peu entendue elle n'a pourtant jamais pu nous dire depuis si elle l'avoit espere ou si elle l'avoit craint mais quoy qu'il en soit seigneur elle n'eut pas plustost commence de chanter que malgre cette confusion de voix qui s'esleva tout d'un coup et qui fit un si grand retentissement dans toutes les voutes du temple il la distingua de toutes les autres et la reconnut il est vray que comme parthenie le touchoit il receut les premiers sons de sa voix tous purs sans estre meslez a ceux des autres et comme elle l'a sans doute fort belle et qu'elle y a mesme quelque chose de fort particulier et de fort esclatant quoy qu'elle l'ait toutesfois fort douce cette agreable voix 
 ne frapa pas plustost les oreilles de timante qu'elle toucha son coeur et luy fit connoistre qu'il avoit enfin trouve celle qu'il cherchoit depuis si long temps de sorte que sans se soucier plus de la ceremonie il se tourna vers elle afin de voir s'il y avoit autant de conformite a sa taille qu'a sa voix avec son aimable inconnue et comme elle craignoit que son voile ne se levast elle le tenoit fort soigneusement avec sa main droite si bien que timante voyant la mesme taille et la mesme belle main qu'il avoit veue et entendant la mesme voix qu'il avoit entendue ne douta point du tout que ce ne fust la mesme personne qu'il avoit rencontree il attendit pourtant a luy parler qu'elle eust acheve de chanter pendant quoy il taschoit de descouvrir a travers son voile si son visage estoit aussi beau que tout ce qu'il en connoissoit mais ce fut inutilement qu'il essaya de s'en esclaircir car outre que ce temple n'estoit esclaire que par des lampes il est encore certain que le voile de parthenie estoit plus espais que celuy des autres car comme elle avoit un dessein particulier de se cacher elle en avoit pris un de ceux que nos dames portent en voyage pour se garantir du hasle et du soleil timante ne put donc voir que ce qu'il avoit desja veu il ne s'en affligea pourtant pas car il espera qu'apres la ceremonie il contenteroit sa curiosite de sorte que parthenie n'eut pas plus tost acheve de chanter avec toutes les autres que timante la saluant et luy parlant bas je ne demande 
 plus madame luy dit il d'ou m'est venu la curiosite que j'ay eue de voir cette ceremonie moy dis-je qui n'ay pas trop accoustume de les chercher car c est assurement vous qui m'y avez attire sans que j'en sceusse la raison seigneur respondit parthenie si je vous y ay attire sans que vous le sceussiez c'a este aussi sans que je le sceusse car comme je n'ay pas l'honneur d'estre connue de vous ny de vous connoistre particulierement il faut sans doute que nous nous soyons rencontrez sans dessein mais seigneur adjousta t'elle comme la fin de la ceremonie nous separera bientost et que vous estes venu pour la voir et non pas pour m'entretenir achevez s'il vous plaist de la regarder avec la mesme attention que vous aviez au commencement ha madame luy dit il je ne scaurois plus faire ce que vous dittes et pour vous monstrer que je ne le dois pas scachez que je suis ce mesme timante qui eut l'honneur de vous rencontrer dans le labirinthe et qui depuis cela vous ay cherchee en tous lieux il n'estoit pas besoin luy repliqua t'elle malicieusement pour l'embarrasser que vous me dissiez qui vous estes car je vous ay veu ailleurs qu'icy timante fut fort surpris du discours de parthenie parce qu'il ne scavoit pas qu'elle l'avoit veu a travers de la pallissade et il s'imagina qu'elle l'avoit veu a paphos cependant il n'y connoissoit personne qui chantast comme elle ny qui parlast comme elle de sorte que tout surpris de l'entendre parler ainsi il ne scavoit presque 
 que luy dire ny que penser joint qu'elle luy imposa silence pour tout le reste de la ceremonie ce n'est pas luy die elle que j'aye une aussi grande devotion a cette feste que si c'en estoit une de venus uranie mais c'est qu'en fin il ne seroit pas juste que vous fussiez venu de paphos a amathonte pour ne la point voir et que je m'y fusse trouvee pour ne pouvoir dire ce que j'y aurois veu pour vous madame luy dit il vous ferez ce qu'il vous plaira mais pour moy je suis bien resolu de ne regarder plus que vous car je crains tellement de vous perdre parmy tant de dames voilees que je ne veux pas me trouver une seconde fois dans la cruelle necessite de me separer de vous sans vous voir et sans vous connoistre parthenie entendant parler timante de cette sorte ne voulut pas luy tesmoigner qu'elle ne vouloit point qu'il la vist ny qu'il sceust qui elle estoit de peur d'augmenter sa curiosite si bien que sans luy respondre elle luy imposa silence en continuant de regarder attentivement le reste de la ceremonie son exemple ne servit pourtant guere a timante qui ne vit plus rien de tout ce que l'on fit depuis qu'il eut veu parthenie cependant la ceremonie continuant tousjours il y eut un concert d'instrumens de chasse un autre de musique de bergers et un autre de lires apres quoy on mit des parfums excellens dans des cassollettes qui firent une espece de nuage qui dura autant de temps qu'il en faloit pour faier que par une machine qui agit presques imperceptiblement 
 le cercueil d'or disparut du milieu de cette ballustrade aussi bien que le tapis couvert de coeurs enflamez et de larmes d'argent au lieu d'un objet si funeste on vit un petit parterre borde de rosiers et de mirthes dans des vazes magnifiques au milieu duquel on voyoit s'eslever au dessus de toutes les autres fleurs cette belle fleur en la quelle on dit que les dieux ont change adonis a la priere de venus de sorte que ces agreables parfums se dissipant peu a peu firent que la ceremonie changea tout d'un coup de face et que ces mesmes filles qui avoient chante des pleintes si lamentables apres avoir jette leurs manteaux de deuil sur ce vain tombeau qui disparut parurent en suitte avec des habits magnifiques et chanterent des vers qui annoncerent l'immortalite d'adonis a toute l'assemblee si bien que la ceremonie finit par la joye et par un sacrifice de remerciment mais seigneur conme la constume est que des que le parterre de fleurs paroist la plus grande partie des dames se desvoilent parthenie qui ne l'ignoroit pas quoy qu'elle n'eust jamais veu cette feste fit signe a amaxite qu'elle se vouloit retirer et en effet des que les cassolettes commencerent d'exhaler cette abondance de parfums qui faisoit une espece de tenebres dans le milieu du temple parthenie feignant qu'elle ne les pouvoit souffrir changea de place avec amaxite et ses deux femmes et se retira avec des sentimens bien differens car elle craignoit que timante ne la connust 
 et ne la voulust suivre et elle n'uest toutesfois pas este bien aise qu'il ne se fust pas aperceu qu'elle changeoit de place et qu'il ne l'eust pas suivie elle ne se trouva pourtant pas dans la necessite de choisir car timante qui ne l'avoit point perdue de veue depuis qu'il l'avoit reconnue pour estre cette aimable personne qu'il ne connoissoit point changea de place aussi bien qu'elle et la suivit sous une des arcades du temple ou elle se fut asseoir avec amaxite dans le dessein de sortir parmy la presse quand la ceremonie seroit achevee n'osant sortir a l'heure mesme de peur que timante ne la suivist jusques au lieu ou elle logeoit comme elle voyoit qu'il la suivoit dans ce temple cependant elle ne fut pas plustost assise ayant fait mettre ma soeur aupres d'elle sans aucune ceremonie afin de se mieux deguiser que timante fut se mettre a genoux devant elle luy demandant pardon de la liberte qu'il prenoit et la conjurant de ne vouloir pas luy estre aussi rigoureuse qu'elle luy avoit este au labirinthe car enfin madame luy dit il quelque respect que j'aye pour vostre sexe en general et pour vous en particulier je suis resolu aujourd'huy de perdre une partie de celuy que je vous dois en vous supliant jusques a vous importuner de me faire l'honneur de lever ce voile envieux qui me cache sans doute la plus grande beaute qui soit en toute l'isle de chipre ou de me dire du moins en quel lieu et en quel temps mes yeux pourront connoistre une personne 
 que mon coeur connoist desja si bien comme la nature reprit parthenie ne m'a pas donne autant de beaute que vostre imagination m'en donne je ne veux pas moy mesme detruire cette agreable image que vous vous estes formee de moy et qui ne me ressemble pourtant point car enfin si vous veniez a me voir et a me voir beaucoup au dessous de ce que vous croiyez que je suis il arriveroit peut-estre qu'en chassant la curiosite de vostre esprit je mettrois de l'aversion dans vostre coeur ha madame interrompit il quand vos yeux ne conviendroient ny a vostre taille ny a vostre voix ny a vos belles mains ny a vostre esprit je vous honnorerois encore infiniment la beaute ne consiste pourtant a rien de ce que vous connoissez de moy reprit elle quand mesme je tomberois d'accord d'avoir une partie de ce que vous dittes que j'ay car apres tout adjousta t'elle en riant la plus belle taille du monde les plus belles mains la plus belle voix et le plus bel esprit n'empescheront pas qu'on ne soit encore la plus laide personne de la terre si on a le taint grossier tous les traits du visage desagreables et la phisionomie stupide ou sauvage ha madame respondit timante tout ce que vous dittes acheve de me faire croire que vous estes telle que mon imagination vous represente car enfin si vous n'estiez pas aussi belle que je croy que vous l'estes vous ne feriez pas une si agreable peinture de la laideur et je suis persuade que pour faire bien vostre portrait il 
 ne faudroit que faire le contraire de ce que vous venez de dire c'est pourquoy madame au nom de la deesse qu'on adore icy ne vous obstinez pas a vouloir que je ne scache point qui vous estes car aussi bien suis-je resolu de vous suivre opiniastrement jusques a ce que je vous connoisse parthenie voyant alors qu'en effet timante parloit comme un homme qui avoit un dessein forme de la voir et de scavoir qui elle estoit se trouva estrangement embarrassee elle scavoit bien que quand elle leveroit son voile il ne la connoistroit pas mais elle n'ignoroit pas aussi que sa veue augmenteroit plustost sa curiosite qu'elle ne la diminueroit et qu'il la suivroit encore avec plus d'empressement quand il l'auroit veue que s'il ne la voyoit point de se confier aussi a sa discretion en luy descouvrant son visage et en luy disant son nom elle ne le connoissoit pas assez pour croire qu'il luy garderoit fidellite joint que dans les sentimens ou elle estoit de ne vouloir point souffrir que sa beaute luy fist des conquestes et estimant desja extremement timante et par le raport qu'on luy en avoit fait et par sa propre connoissance elle ne vouloit pas qu'il la vist ny se mettre en estat qu'elle fust obligee de le fuir neantmoins elle ne scavoit pas trop bien quel avantage elle pourroit tirer de ce qu'il ne la verroit point et de ce qu'il ne la connoistroit point toutesfois elle ne laissa pas de croire qu'apres que les dieux luy avoient fait entendre que si elle se pouvoit faire aimer sans le secours 
 de sa beaute elle seroit fort heureuse il y avoit quelque chose d'extraordinaire en la rencontre de timante et d'elle et que par consequent elle devoit agir conformement au sentiment de l'oracle de delphes et de celuy de venus uranie la voila donc fortement resolue de ne se monstrer point et de ne se nommer pas a timante c'est pourquoy prenant la parole seigneur luy dit elle comme je ne suis pas injuste je comprens bien que vous avez quelque sujet d'avoir quelque legere curiosite de scavoir qui je suis et qu'ainsi je ne dois pas trouver estrange que vous m'ayez demande si instamment de la satisfaire et d'autant moins que vous estes sans doute persuade qu'en me pressant comme vous faites de lever le voile qui me cache le visage vous croyez me faire une civilite mais seigneur pour vous tesmoigner que je veux agir aveque vous comme avec une personne de qui je connois la vertu je veux bien me confier a vous de quelque chose et vous dire qu'il m'importe de telle sorte que vous ne me connoissiez pas presentement que peut estre tout le repos de ma vie en depend c'est pourquoy je vous conjure par tout ce qui vous est cher de me laisser aller sans me suivre et sans me demander mesme plus qui je suis il paroist bien madame repliqua t'il que vous ne vous fiez guere a cette vertu que vous connoissez puis que vous ne luy confiez rien mais madame comme on n'est pas oblige aux choses impossibles et que je ne puis absolument 
 me resoudre a vous perdre pour tousjours je vous declare que je ne vous abandonneray point que je ne vous connoisse mais en mesme temps je vous assure de ne dire point qui vous estes puis que vous ne voulez pas qu'on le scache si je puis venir a bout de le scavoir parthenie voyant alors l'opiniastrete de timante s'avisa enfin d'un autre expedient pour l'empescher de scavoir qui elle estoit qu'elle se hasta de luy proposer parce qu'elle voyoit que la ceremonie s'en alloit finir de sorte que voyant que c'estoit en vain qu'elle s'opposoit a la curiosite qu'il avoit seigneur luy dit elle j'avoue que je ne puis pas presentement vous empescher de me suivre et qu'ainsi vous pouvez venir a bout de scavoir ou je loge et peut-estre en suitte scavoir qui je suis mais je vous declare a mon tour que si vous le faites vous ne me verrez jamais et ne me parlerez jamais ou au contraire si vous avez cette defference a ma volonte de ne me suivre point ne vous informer point qui je puis estre et de ne dire jamais a personne sans exception que vous ayez rencontre une seconde fois cette inconnue que vous trouvastes dans le labirinthe je vous promets dis-je de vous accorder ma conversation eu un lieu ou j'auray plus de loisir de vous entretenir qu'icy c'est donc a vous a choisir mais auparavant souvenez vous poursuivit elle que je viens de vous dire que si vous me suivez aujourd'huy je vous fuiray toute ma vie et de telle sorte que vous ne me verrez jamais et que 
 si vous ne me suivez point et que vous faciez exactement tout ce que je vous ay dit je vous tiendray ma parole mais ne pensez pas adjousta-t'elle me pomettre tout pour ne me tenir rien car je suis asseuree qu'il n'y a personne a paphos a qui vous puissiez faire confidence de cette petite advanture que je ne le scache a l'heure mesme c'est pourquoy prenez garde a ce que vous me devez dire car encore une fois vous ne me verrez plus de vostre vie si vous me voyez aujourd'huy et si vous ne faites ponctuellement tout ce que je veux madame luy dit il que voulez vous que vous responde un homme qui meurt d'envie de vous connoistre et que vous voulez mettre au hazard de ne vous connoistre jamais nullement luy dit elle avec precipitation voyant que le monde commencoit desja de sortir du temple et pourveu que vous ne me suiviez point et que vous faciez ce que je veux vous me parlerez infailliblement devant qu'il soit huict jours jurez le moy donc en presence de la deesse qu'on adore icy respondit timante je le veux luy dit elle mais apres cela ne faites pas seulement un pas pour me suivre et croyez fortement pour vous en empescher que l'unique moyen de me voir un jour est de ne me suivre point aujourd'huy mais madame respondit il vous ne me dites point ou je vous retrouveray je vous le feray scavoir a paphos dit elle en s'en allant encore une fois dit timante en la suivant me puis-je fier a vos paroles ouy respondit elle 
 pourveu que vous me laissiez aller sans me suivre parthenie dit toutes ces choses a timante d'une maniere si determinee qu'il creut en effet qu'elle vouloit estre obeie et qu'il luy devoit obeir cette creance ne demeura pourtant pas longtemps bien affermie dans son esprit par la peur qu'il eut que cette inconnue ne luy eust promis de le revoir que pour ne le voir jamais de sorte s'estant arreste aussi long temps qu'il le faloit pour faire croire a parthenie qui tourna deux ou trois fois la teste de son coste qu'il luy obeissoit il la suivit neantmoins des yeux le plus longtemps qu'il put avec intention de la suivre de loin malgre ses promesses mais a peine fut elle meslee dans cette foule prodigieuse de dames voilees qui sortoient du temple qu'il ne la put plus discerner quelque soin qu'il y aportast il creut toutefois encore l'avoir veue de loin dans une grande rue qui aboutissoit a la grande porte du temple mais il s'estoit abuse car des qu'elle avoit este sortie elle avoit tourne a droit ayant fort bien remarque que timante avoit bien de la peine a luy obeir et qu'il ne luy obeissoit pas ponctuellement elle ne luy en voulut pourtant point de mal et je ne scay si en cette occasion elle eust souhaitte qu'il luy eust obei sans repugnance quoy qu'elle ne voulust pas qu'il la vist ny qu'il la connust aussi fut elle bien aise de remarquer qu'il l'avoist perdue de veue et plus aise encore quand elle fut arrivee au lieu ou elle logeoit d'ou elle ne sortit plus que pour s'en retourner 
 chez elle le lendemain au matin pour timante il eust bien voulu demeurer quelques jours a amathonte pour s'informer qui pouvoit estre cette inconnue mais comme elle luy avoit promis de ses nouvelles a paphos il s'y en retourna apres avoir fait cens mille tours dans toutes les rues de cette belle ville pour tascher de retrouver encore une fois une personne qui touchoit son coeur d'une si grande curiosite qu'elle avoit presque toutes les inquietudes d'une amour naissante mais apres avoir bien erre inutilemet il s'en retourna a paphos ayant fait ce petit voyage sans avoir aveque luy qu'un escuyer et deux esclaves antimaque pour n'en ayant pu estre quelque legere indisposition qu'il avoit eue en s'y en retournant il resva continuellement a l'advanture qu'il venoit d'avoir il se resolut pourtant de ne la dire a personne suivant ce qu'il avoit promis a l'aimable inconnue qu'il avoit retrouvee si ce n'estoit qu'elle luy manquast de parole et qu'elle ne luy donnast point le moyen de l'entretenir comme elle luy avoit fait esperer il chercha cent et cent fois a deviner par quelle raison elle agissoit ainsi et il n'est rien que son imagination ne luy figurast quelquesfois il pensoit que peut-estre n'estoit elle point belle mais il n'avoit pas plustost pense cela que les belles mains la belle taille la belle voix et le bel esprit de cette personne revenans en son imagination il ne pouvoit croire qu'elle ne fust du moins fort agreable si elle n'estoit pas fort belle en suitte il venoit a 
 soubconner que cette femme estoit allee a amathonte pour quelque galanterie secrette puis un moment apres venant a considerer qu'elle s'estoit aussi bien cachee au labirinthe qu'a amathonte et qu'il n'avoit point veu d'hommes aupres d'elle dans le temple ou il l'avoit rencontree il changeoit encore d'advis et ne pouvoit que penser il arriva donc a paphos sans scavoir ce qu'il devoit croire ou ne croire pas cependant cette avanture luy tint tellement au coeur qu'il ne pensa jamais a autre chose durant les huict jours que cette inconnue luy avoit demandez toutes les fois qu'il sortoit de chez luy il laissoit ordre s'il venoit quelqu'un qui eust a luy parler d'une affaire qu'on le luy menast il ne r'entroit jamais sans demander s'il n'estoit venu personne pour luy dire quelque chose ou si on ne luy avoit point aporte de lettres et il menoit une vie si inquiette et avoit une curiosite si impatiente que les heures luy sembloient des jours et les jours des siecles mais durant que timante estoit en cet estat parthenie de son coste estoit en une irresolution estrange ses premiers sentimens furent pourtant tous a manquer de parole a timante et a ne le voir jamais elle ne fut toutesfois pas long temps dans cette opinion car revenant a songer que si elle manquoit de parole a timante il ne seroit pas oblige de luy tenir ce qu'elle luy avoit fait promettre et qu'ainsi disant a tout le monde cette derniere rencontre on pourroit enfin venir a deviner la verite sa premiere resolution 
 ne fut plus si ferme c'est pourquoy elle demanda conseil a ma soeur je vous prie luy dit elle dites moy ce que vous feriez si vous estiez en ma place dois-je manquer de parole a timante ou la luy tenir pour moy madame repliqua amaxite qui faisoit ce qu'elle pouvoit pour luy oster son humeur solitaire je ne voy pas par quelle raison vous ne la luy voudriez pas tenir car enfin quel mal vous peut-il arriver de ne manquer point a ce que vous luy avez promis s'il ne vous connoist pas vous ne hazardez rien et s'il vient a vous connoistre je suis asseuree qu'il vous aymera et que nous verrons l'oracle accomply en verite madame adjousta-t'elle je suis si persuadee que timante est celuy que les dieux vous reservent que je ne puis vous conseiller de luy manquer de parole car enfin vous l'avez rencontre deux fois d'une maniere si surprenante que je ne puis penser que cela ne soit pas comme je le dis car ne voyez vous pas que toute inconnue que vous luy estes il a une inquietu- si grande et une curiosite si respectueuse que je suis assuree que vous avez eu des amans qui vous avoient veue plus de cent fois qui ne pensoient pas plus a vous qu'y pense timante quand ce que vous dittes seroit vray repliqua parthenie je ne luy en aurois pas grande obligation puis qu'enfin sa curiosite n'est pas un effet de mon merite mais c'est que naturellemet on aime a scavoir ce qu'on ignore principalement en de certaines rencontres je suis pourtant asseuree 
 reprit amaxite que si vous eussiez chante que vous eussiez eu la taille mal faite et que vous luy eussiez paru stupide quand vous luy parlastes que sa curiosite ne luy eust pas dure un quart d'heure je ne vous dis pas adjousta t'elle que timante soit amoureux de vous mais j'ose vous asseurer que si vous le voulez il le deviendra car apres l'avoir entendu parler comme j'ay fait je suis certaine qu'il y a entre vous et luy je ne scay quelle disposition tendre et passionnee qu'on dit qu'il faut qui se trouve entre les personnes qui se doivent aimer mais interrompit parthenie a ce conte la vous croiriez que cette disposition seroit dans mon coeur comme dans celuy de timante en verite madame repliqua t'elle en riant si le respect que je vous dois le peut souffrir je vous advoueray franchement que je croy que comme timante a assurement quelque inclination a vous aimer vous en avez aussi a souffrir qu'il vous aime c'est pourquoy examinez bien je vous prie si estant nee dans une isle ou il est honteux de n'estre point aimee et de ne rien aimer vous estes resolue de passer le reste de vostre vie comme vous faites car si cela n'est pas je vous conseille de tascher de faire ce que n'ont point encore fait toutes les belles de la cour je veux dire d'assujettir le coeur de timante qu'elles n'ont pu prendre avec tous leurs charmes pour vous faire voir mon ame a descouvert luy dit parthenie je vous advoueray que selon moy toute la felicite de la vie ne consiste qu'a regner souverainement 
 dans le coeur de quelqu'un et qu'a faire un agreable eschange de plaisirs et de douleurs avec une personne raisonnable cette liaison d'ame et d'esprit a sans doute beaucoup de douceur dans l'amitie toute pure mais apres tout il y a trop d'esgalite entre deux amies pour pouvoir tirer de cette amitie toute la satisfaction que l'on trouve en une affection d'autre nature car enfin on n'y trouve point d'obeissance aveugle on est prive de mille petits soins qui plaisent infiniment les plaisirs en sont trop tranquiles les secrets en sont trop peu secrets et si l'amitie a du feu aussi bien que l'amour on peut dire qu'elle a de la lumiere sans avoir de la chaleur et que l'autre brusle et esclaire tout ensemble enfin ma chere fille poursuivit elle en rougissant il faut advouer qu'une amour innocente et toute pure seroit la plus douce chose du monde si elle pouvoit estre durable mais la plus cruelle aussi quand une personne qui a l'ame ferme et constante s'attache d'affection avec un coeur infidelle et croyez vous madame reprit amaxite qu'il soit absolument impossible de trouver un amant constant je ne veux pas le croire impossible dit parthenie mais j'y crois bien de la difficulte si ce n'est du moins de ceux qui n'aiment pas par la beaute ny par nulle raison estrangere en effet pour faire que l'amour soit parfaite et durable il faut que nul interests n'y soit mesle il faut aimer parce qu'on y est force il ne faut point que la raison y contribue rien au contraire il faut qu'elle soit de telle sorte assujettie 
 et preocupee par cette passion qu'elle ne voye que par elle enfin amaxite je vous advoue que si je croyois trouver en timante un homme qui fust capable de m'aimer sans considerer ny ma condition ny ma richesse ny sans fonder mesme sa passion sur le peu de beaute que j'ay il n'est rien que je ne fisse pour aquerir son affection je ne ferois pourtant pas un crime comme vous pouvez penser adjousta t'elle mais je veux dire que je serois capable d'aller un peu au dela de l'exacte prudence qui ne veut pas qu'on hazarde rien mais madame dit amaxite que hazardez vous en l'occasion qui se presente vous scavez que timante est digne de vous par sa naissance par sa richesse par sa personne par son esprit et par sa vertu vous scavez de plus que le prince vostre frere l'aime cherement et vous voyez que timante vous cherche en tous lieux de plus il paroist encore que de la facon dont vous l'avez rencontre ce doit estre luy que les dieux veulent que vous espousiez car enfin ce n'est point par le pouvoir de vos yeux que vous l'avez assujetty ou du moins que vous luy avez donne de la curiosite c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous luy tiendrez vostre parole sans vous faire connoistre a luy s'il ne vous aime point vous n'aurez rien hazarde puis qu'il ne scaura qui vous estes et s'il vous aime vous aurez trouve en timante celuy qui vous doit rendre heureuse mais quand je voudrois luy tenir ma parole reprit elle comment le pourrois a qui confieroy-je ce secret et 
 comment le verrois-je avec bien-seance sans qu'il me vist de plus adjousta t'elle comme ce ne doit point estre par le pouvoir du peu de beaute que j'ay que je dois assujettir celuy qui me doit rendre heureuse je pense qu'il faut que ce soit autant par ma vertu que par mon esprit que je face cette conqueste c'est pourquoy je doute si en accordant a timante la permission de me voir en secret je ne luy rendrois point la mienne suspecte avec beaucoup d'injustice toutesfois estant certain que j'ay une aversion invincible pour tout ce qui choque tant soit peu la modestie amaxite voyant qu'il n'y avoit plus d'autre difficulte dans l'esprit de parthenie que celle de trouver les moyens de conserver la bien-seance se mit a songer comment elle pourroit imaginer la chose et elle y songea si bien qu'enfin elle trouva les voyes de satisfaire cette princesse mais seigneur il faut ce me semble que je vous die que la principale raison qui faisoit qu'amaxite portoit si fort parthenie a souffrir que timante luy parlast estoit que le prince philoxipe et policrite l'avoiet priee mille et mille fois de porter cette princesse autant qu'elle le pourroit a quitter sa solitude et a ne s'attacher pas si ponctuellement aux paroles de l'oracle qu'ils croyoient qu'elle expliquoit mal aussi en avoit on fait un secret car excepte moy personne n'avoit rien sceu de ce qu'on luy avoit respondu parce que cela eust semble une espece de malediction des dieux si la chose eust este comme parthenie se l'imaginoit voila donc 
 seigneur par quel motif amaxite agissoit mais pour obliger parthenie a se servir d'un moye qu'elle luy proposa elle luy fit relire l'oracle de delphes qui luy disoit en termes expres comme je l'ay desja dit que si elle vouloit estre heureuse il faloit qu'elle espousast un homme que ses yeux ne luy eussent point assujetty et par consequent luy dit amaxite apres qu'elle eut acheve de voir cet oracle il faut conclurre qu'il y a quelqu'un au monde qui peut commencer de vous aimer sans avoir veu vos yeux car les dieux ne predisent pas des choses impossibles si bien qu'il faut presque croire de necessite apres cela que timante est celuy dont les dieux veulent se servir a vous rendre heureuse c'est pourquoy ne deliberez pas davantage si vous devez luy tenir vostre parole et souffrir qu'il vous parle mais encore une fois interrompit parthenie si je voulois vous croire comment pourrois-je aller a paphos sans qu'on le sceust voir timante sans qu'il me vist le visage et l'entretenir sans qu'il pust mesme deviner qui je suis cependant soit scrupule ou raison apres la cruelle experience que j'ay faite du peu de fermete que l'on trouve dans le coeur de ceux qui aiment la beaute seulement je ne veux point que timante scache si j'ay les yeux beaux ou laids ny qu'il schache mesme precisement ma condition que je ne scache qu'il m'aime assez pour m'aimer eternellement quand mesme je ne serois point du tout belle car enfin si j'ay a conquerir le coeur de timante je ne veux point 
 que ce soit avec une beaute passagere qui emporte son affection avec elle et qui ne me laisse qu'un desespoir que je n'ay que trop esprouve amaxite entendant parler parthenie de cette sorte ne voulut point la contredire parce qu'encore qu'elle ne creust pas trop qu'il fust possible que timante pust devenir amoureux d'elle sans luy voir le visage et qu'elle fust de l'opinion de ceux qui croyent que les yeux seuls donnent et recoivent de l'amour elle ne laissa pas de luy accorder qu'elle avoit raison de vouloir tout ce qu'elle vouloit
 
 
 
 
mais apres cela madame luy dit elle il faut aussi faire de vostre coste ce qui despend de vous c'est pourquoy il faut suposer un voyage de quinze jours et au lieu d'aller ou l'on dira que vous estes allee il faut aller secretement a paphos loger chez une amie de mon frere et y demeurer tout ce temps la pendant lequel sur quelque pretexte que nous inventerons avec plus de loisir je feray en sorte que la chambre qu'on vous donnera sera une chambre basse qui donne sur le jardin les fenestres en son grillees et il y en a une qui donne mesme au bout d'un berceau de iasmin qui fait qu'on y voit moins clair qu'aux autres cette personne est une personne de qualite et de vertu son mary et un fils qu'elle a sinon allez a athenes et elle a d'extremes obligations a mon frere a qui seul il faut confier la chose mais luy dit parthenie si on venoit a scavoir que j'eusse este a paphos de cette sorte qu'en penseroit on ou plustost que 
 n'en penseroit on pas au pis aller reprit amaxite on diroit que vous auriez voulu voir sans qu'on le sceust une course de chevaux qui s'y doit faire et en effet ce pretexte n'estoit pas mauvais car il estoit vray qu'on en devoit faire une et que la maison de cette dame dont amaxite parloit a parthenie respondoit sur la place de l'hipodrome destinee a de semblables divertissemens parthenie ne se rendit pourtant pas encore et la chose demeura irresolue dans son esprit jusques au sixiesme jour que j'arrivay chez elle je n'y fus pas plustost qu'elle pria amaxite de me parler de timante afin de scavoir s'il auroit este secret jugeant bien veu le grand bruit qu'avoit fait leur premiere rencontre du labirinthe que s'il avoit dit la seconde j'en aurois entendu parler car j'avois l'honneur de le voir assez souvent chez le prince philoxipe amaxite obeissant donc aux volontez de parthenie me demanda tout devant elle si cet estranger dont on disoit tant de merveilles estoit encore a paphos et s'il y divertissoit autant la cour qu'il avoit fait au commencement timante repliquay-je est sans doute tousjours un des hommes du monde le plus accomply mais depuis un petit voyage qu'il a fait pour aller voir la feste des adoniennes a amathonte il est devenu plus resveur et plus inquiet qu'il n'estoit auparavant il faut pourtant poursuivit il que ce soit une resverie qui vienne de temperamment car il ne luy est rien arrive que de favorable il est peutestre devenu amoureux 
 dit parthenie nullement repliquay-je car depuis son retour d'amathonte il n'a guere fait de visites de dames c'est donc respondit elle en souriant et en regardant amaxite que cette feste des adonienes ou il a este luy a inspire dans le coeur une melancholie dont il ne se peut deffaire apres cela passant d'un discours a un autre je me mis a luy raconter quelle devoit estre la course de chevaux qu'on devoit faire a paphos de sorte que parthenie qui dans le fonds de son coeur souhaitoit de voir timante prit cette occasion pour trouver un pretexte a ce qu'elle desiroit elle dit donc a ma soeur qu'elle ne vouloit pas la priver eternellement de toutes sortes de plaisirs et qu'elle vouloit qu'elle eust celuy la c'est pourquoy luy dit elle je vous donneray un chariot et megaside vous menera a paphos et vous ramenera icy apres la feste afin que vous me la racontiez amaxite entendant parler parthenie de cette facon connut bien qu'il faloit luy laisser un pretexte de cacher la veritable cause de son voyage de sorte que faisant semblant de croire qu'elle parloit tout de bon elle luy dit qu'elle n'iroit point sans elle et la chose alla enfin de telle maniere que parthenie fit comme si elle n'eust este a paphos que pour faire voir la course de chevaux a amaxite ce n'est pas que parthenie n'ait l'esprit tourne d'une certaine facon que bien souvent pourveu qu'elle n'ait rien a se reprocher a elle mesme elle ne se soucie pas trop si le monde pense bien ou mal de ce 
 qu'elle fait mais pour cette fois la elle eut cent circonspections estranges qui penserent rompre son voyage il fut toutesfois resolu apres tant d'irresolutions aparentes elle me dit certaines raisons obscures et embrouillees pour me faire comprendre qu'elle avoit sujet de ne vouloir pas qu'on sceust qu'elle allast a paphos en suitte de quoy elle me fit faire mille sermens d'estre secret quoy que je ne sceusse alors autre chose sinon qu'elle alloit voir une course de chevaux apres quoy je fus devant a paphos pour preparer celle qui devoit recevoir parthenie et pour donner ordre a tout ce qui pouvoit cacher ce petit voyage ma mere mesme ne sceut point que ma soeur estoit a paphos et la chose fut conduitte si adroitement que personne n'en soupconna jamais rien et certes il eust este assez difficile car comme parthenie ne dit point chez elle ou elle alloit qu'elle arriva de nuit et que la maison ou elle logea est assez pres de la porte de la ville par ou elle entra il n'eust pas este aise qu'on en eust rien descouvert principalement parthenie n'ayant que des femmes avec elle qui ne sortoient point du tout enfin seigneur parthenie fut a paphos croyant presques qu'elle n'y alloit point pour timante et en effet quand elle y fut arrivee et qu'amaxite luy demanda si elle ne vouloit donc pas luy tenir sa parole elle luy repartit d'abord determinement qu'elle n'y pouvoit consentir un moment apres elle n'en parla plus avec tant de certitude mais 
 elle n'eut pourtant pas la force de se resoudre a faire ce qu'amaxite luy proposoit et elle luy dit au contraire qu'elle ne le pouvoit pas et qu'elle ne verroit timante qu'a la course de chevaux qui se faisoit le lendemain ce fut en vain qu'amaxite luy dit que le terme qu'elle luy avoit donne expiroit ce jour la car elle demeura ferme dans sa resolution amaxite fut tentee cent fois d'avertir philoxipe de la verite de la chose scachant assez qu'il faut bien souvent pour servir ses amis ne croire pas tousjours ce qu'ils disent et ne faire pas tousjours ce qu'ils veulent mais apres tout elle croyoit que les deux oracles que parthenie avoit receus avoient fait une si forte impression dans son esprit qu'elle se fust estrangement offencee si elle eust este cause que le prince philoxipe eust este encore la presser de ne s'y attacher pas si exactement qu'elle se privast de la societe pour tousjours si bien que craignant de l'irriter contre elle inutilement et croyant que si les dieux vouloient que timante espousast parthenie ils en trouveroient bien les moyens sans qu'elle s'en meslast elle ne resista plus a cette princesse cependant la course de chevaux se fit le jour suivant ou toute la cour se trouva et comme celle chez qui estoit parthenie ne pouvoit pas refuser pour ce jour la une partie des fenestres de sa maison a des dames a qui elle avoit accoustume de les prester en de pareilles occasions a moins que de faire soubconner qu'il y avoit quelqu'un chez elle qu'elle ne 
 vouloit pas qu'on vist parthenie fut mise dans un cabinet dont les fenestres avoient une certaine espece de grilles faites de joncs et de feuilles de palmier a travers desquelles on pouvoit voir sans estre veue et par ou elle vit en effet la course de chevaux qui se fit dans cette grande place ou elles donnoient je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous la descrire et je vous diray seulement que timante y parut avec esclat et qu'il emporta le prix mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que timante s'estant imagine que l'inconnue qui luy donnoit tant de curiosite estoit quelqu'une des dames de paphos a qui il n'avoit jamais parle et qu'elle verroit la course de chevaux dont il estoit avoit change la devise qu'il avoit portee en une autre occasion c'est pourquoy au lieu de faire representer un phoenix sur un bucher avec ce mot j'attens que le soleil m'embrase il fit que le peintre representa le bucher desja embraze au dessus duquel paroissoit le soleil a demy eclipse avec ces paroles pour ame il me brusle tout eclipse qu'il est je vous laisse donc a penser seigneur combien la veue de cette devise surprit parthenie comme le cabinet ou elle estoit enfermee estoit fort bas et que c'estoit de ce coste la que ceux qui couroient faisoient leur course elle put voir facilement cette devise sur le bouclier de timante car tous ceux qui estoient de cette feste avoient une javeline 
 et un bouclier parthenie n'eut donc pas plustost veu cette devise qu'elle en fit l'application telle que timante l'eust pu souhaitter elle la montra en suitte a amaxite qui se servant de cette occasion luy demanda en riant si elle ne vouloit donc pas faire que soleil qui brusloit timante ne fust pas tousjours eclipse comme ma soeur ne luy parloit pas tout a fait serieusement elle luy respondit de la mesme sorte mais amaxite ne laissa pas de remarquer que parthenie estoit bien aise que timante ne l'eust pas oubliee si bien qu'encore que cette devise se deust plustost considerer comme une simple galanterie que comme une veritable marque d'amour elle ne laissa pas de toucher le coeur de parthenie et de l'obliger il luy sembla mesme que timante avoit ce jour la l'air du visage plus melancholique et elle crut que c'estoit peut estre parce qu'elle luy avoit manque de parole elle ne pouvoit pourtant se resoudre a luy envoyer dire qu'il vinst dans le jardin par une porte de derriere qui donnoit vers les murailles de la ville afin de luy parler au travers des grilles de la fenestres mais seigneur elle n'en fut pas a la peine car ces mesmes dieux qui avoient fait qu'ils s'estoient rencontrez deux fois firent encore qu'ils se parlerent une troisiesme et voicy comment la chose arriva le logis de timante estoit si pres de celuy ou estoit parthenie que les fenestres en donnoient sur le jardin de sorte que comme il n'y en avoit point chez luy ceux chez qui il estoit 
 loge qui estoient gens de qualite et qui estoient amis particuliers de cette dame chez qui estoit parthenie avoient obtenu d'elle la liberte de s'y promener quelquesfois et l'avoient aussi demandee pour timante mais comme ils n'y alloient pas souvent elle ne s'estoit point souvenue d'avoir la precaution de les en empescher pendant que parthenie seroit chez elle et de faire fermer une porte par ou ils y entroient quand ils le vouloient si bien que comme timante fut retire le soir il voulut pour se delasser du travail du jour et pour se refraischir du chaud qu'il avoit eu a la course de chevaux s'aller promener dans ce jardin et il y fut en effet mais il y fut seul et s'y promena assez longtemps apres quoy il fut s'assoir dans un cabinet de iasmin ou donnoit une des fenestres de parthenie et y demeura pres d'une heure trouvant beaucoup de douceur a resver en un lieu ou l'air estoit si frais et ou l'on sentoit si bon le soleil estoit couche et il ne faisoit plus assez de jour pour pouvoir discerner la diversite des fleurs du parterre lors que parthenie ouvrit sa fenestre qui donnoit dans ce cabinet de iasmin afin de jouir de la fraischeur qui s'esleve tous les soirs d'este principalement en chipre car quoy que cette fenestre fust grillee elle ne l'estoit pas comme celles qui donnoient du coste de la place ou la course de chevaux s'estoit faite mais a peine l'eut elle ouverte qu'elle vit que la lune se levoit si bien qu'adressant la parole a amaxite sans la nommer cet astre luy 
 dit elle n'est pas eclipse comme celuy de la devise de timante il ne tiendra qu'a vous reprit amaxite que le soleil de celuy que vous nommez ne le soit non plus que l'astre que vous voyez vous pouvez penser seigneur quelle surprise fut celle de timante qui estoit assis sur un siege de gazon a deux pas de cette fenestre et du mesme coste de s'entendre nommer et de croire mesme qu'il entendoit la voix de son aimable inconnue il n'en fut pourtant pas d'abord fort assure car comme parthenie n'avoit pas parle tout a fait haut il ne scavoit encore ce qu'il en devoit croire c'est pourquoy pour s'en esclaircir il s'avanca diligemment et s'aprocha de cette fenestre mais il n'y fut pas plustost que parthenie respondant a ce qu'amaxite luy avoit dit comme il n'apartient qu'aux dieux a faire que les astres eclipsez ne le soient plus dit elle c'est a eux que timante se doit adresser s'il veut que celuy qui luy est cache ne le soit plus aussi ay-je desja suivy vostre conseil reprit timante en prenant un des barreaux des grilles de la fenestre ou estoit parthenie puis que ce sont sans doute les dieux qui m'ont conduit icy ou il ne tiendra qu'a vous que le soleil qui me brusle tout eclipse qu'il est n'acheve de me reduire en cendre en me descouvrant toute sa lumiere lors que timante approcha parthenie sans scavoir qui c'estoit abaissa son voile et se retira de la fenestre mais amaxite qui n'eut pas tant de frayeur qu'elle reconnut d'abord timante a la voix de 
 sorte que se confirmant encore par cette rencontre en l'opinion qu'elle avoit que les dieux vouloient que timante et parthenie s'aimassent elle luy fit un compliment et fut a l'autre coste de la chambre requerir parthenie qui fit quelque difficulte de r'approcher de la fenestre mais enfin elle en r'aprocha il est vray qu'elle ne se fia pas a la nuict pour la cacher car comme la lune esclairoit elle ne parut a timante que le voile abaisse non plus qu'amaxite de sorte que comme il vit qu'elle ne se disposoit pas encore a le contenter il faut bien madame luy dit il que vous soyez en effet ce que je croy que vous estes je veux dire la plus belle personne du monde puis que vous ne croyez pas que la nuict avec tous ses voiles puisse ccher l'esclat de vos yeux quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'il monstrez moy du moins ce que je connois desja faites qu'en vous entendant parler je recoive quelque consolation et dites moy enfin pourquoy vous avez voulu que je deusse au hazard le bonheur de vous rencontrer puis que vous m'aviez promis de m'accorder l'honneur de vous entretenir dans huict jours lors que timante commenca de parler parthenie estoit en une peine estrange parce qu'elle ne concevoit point qu'il peust estre dans ce jardin sans qu'il sceust qui elle estoit et sans que quelqu'un l'eust trahie mais lors qu'elle entendit qu'il attribuoit cette rencontre au hazard elle se rassura et se trouva l'esprit en estat de luy respondre avec plus de tranquilite elle voulut 
 pourtant scavoir plus particulierement comment il estoit entre dans ce jardin et elle luy dit enfin si fortemet qu'elle vouloit qu'il le luy dist qu'en effet il luy dit la chose telle qu'elle estoit il la luy dit d'autant plustost sans aucun desguisemet qu'il ne douta point du tout qu'il ne sceust sans peine qui estoit celle a qui il parloit puis qu'il la trouvoit dans une maison si proche de la siene il ne scavoit pourtant point precisement qui y demeuroit c'est pour quoy il ne pouvoit encore que penser mais enfin apres que timante eut dit a parthenie ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir vous voyez luy dit il madame que je vous dis tout ce que vous desirez que je vous die faites la mesme chose je vous en conjure et ne me cachez pas plus longtemps vos yeux comme ils portent sans doute leur lumiere avec eux l'obscurite ne m'empeschera pas de les voir c'est pourquoy au nom des dieux madame ne me desniez pas cette faveur que je souhaite avec plus de passion que je n'ay jamais rien souhaite je vous proteste adjousta t'il qu'apres avoir veu tout ce qu'il y a de belles personnes en chipre il n'y en a pas une dont j'aye desire une seconde fois la veue comme je desire la vostre en effet vous avez pu voir qu'au milieu de tant de grandes beautez je n'ay paru a une feste publique qu'avec toutes les marques qu'un homme qui vous adore comme on adore les dieux c'est a dire sans vous connoistre c'est pourquoy encore une fois madame ne me refuses pas ce que je vous demande je voudrois 
 seigneur luy respondit parthenie vous pouvoir accorder ce que vous tesmoignez peutestre desirer plus ardemment que vous ne le desirez en effet mais il y a quelque chose de si capricieux en ma destinee que je ne puis faire ce que vous souhaitez de moy a moins que de former le dessein de ne vous voir jamais apres cela ou au contraire s'il est vray que ce que vous connoissez de moy ne vous rebute pas de ma conversation il pourra estre qu'avec le temps vous pourrez scavoir qui je suis sans me perdre c'est pourquoy contentez vous s'il vous plaist que je vous permette de m'entretenir une heure de choses indifferentes de choses indifferentes reprit brusquement timante ha madame c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire et je vous declare que je ne vous parleray jamais que de vous jusques a ce que vous m'ayez accorde ce que j'en desire nostre conversation ne sera donc pas fort divertissante repliqua parthenie en riant car vous scavez si peu de chose de moy qu'il faudra tousjours recommencer le mesme discours je suis neantmoins bien assure reprit il que je ne m'ennuyeray pas et qu'apres vous avoir dit mille fois que je suis charme de la beaute de vostre voix et plus encore des graces de vostre esprit je trouveray pourtant tousjours quelque douceur a vous le redire pourveu que vous ne m'ostiez pas l'esperance de vous connoistre un jour mieux que je ne vous connois tant que vous ne me direz autre chose respondit parthenie sinon que vous avez une curiosite 
 estrange de scavoir qui je suis je le croiray sans peine mais de vouloir me persuader que tant que je vous seray inconnue j'auray quelque pouvoir sur vostre ame c'est ce que vous ne ferez pas facilement et c'est pourtant ce qu il faudroit qui fust pour m'obliger a vous dire qui je suis car enfin aller confier tout le secret de ma vie a une personne qui n'auroit nulle amitie pour moy c'est ce que je ne dois pas faire et c'est pourquoy comme il n'est pas possible que vous puissiez aimer ce que vous ne connoissez point et que vous ne pouvez aussi jamais me conoistre sans m'aimer auparavant il faut s'il vous plaist qu'apres avoir desgage aujourd'huy la parole que je vous donnay a amathonte nous nous separions pour tousjours ha madame luy dit il puis qu'il ne faut que vous aimer pour vous connoistre je vous connoistray infailliblement bientost estant certain qu'il y a je ne scay quelle puissance superieure qui me force malgre moy a m'attacher plus a vous qu'a toutes les personnes que j'ay jamais connues je vous declare toutesfois madame luy dit il que si j'ay a vous aimer il faut que ce soit d'amour et non pas d'amitie car pour mes amis et pour mes amies c'est mon esprit qui les choisit et je les veux mesme connoistre longtemps devant que de leur donner part en ma confiance mais pour l'amour il n'en est pas de mesme car il se vante d'estre au dessus de la raison de naistre plustost dans le coeur que dans l'esprit et de naistre mesme sans le consentement de ceux 
 dans le coeur desquels il naist c'est pourquoy madame comme je sens pour vous ce que je n'ay jamais senty pour personne je dois ce me semble croire que ce que je sens est amour pour moy dit parthenie je ne suis pas de vostre opinion parce que je suis persuadee que si vous me parliez souvent quoy que vous ne sceussiez pas qui je suis et quoy que vous ne vissiez point si je suis belle ou laide vous ne laisseriez pas de pouvoir avoir de l'amitie pour moy car comme en de longues conversations on peut connoistre l'ame de la personne avec qui on les a quoy qu'on ne connoisse ny sa condition ny son visage il n'est pas impossible que l'amitie naisse de cette connoissance mais pour l'amour seigneur ce n'est pas la mesme chose et comme vous avez dit vous mesme qu'il naist dans le coeur et non pas dans l'esprit il paroist assez que l'esprit tout seul ne peut faire naistre l'amour et que c'est a la beaute seulement que cet advantage est reserve ha madame luy dit il que vous connoissez peu l'amour si vous croyez que la seule beaute la cause ne considerez vous point que si cela estoit il n'y auroit que les grandes beautez qui en pussent donner et que l'on verroit bien souvent qu'en toute une grande cour il n'y auroit que deux ou trois belles qui eussent des adorateurs mais au contraire on voit des femmes qui n'ont quelquesfois ny grande beaute ny grand esprit qui sont aimees par de fort honnestes gens et l'on voit quelquefois aussi 
 en mesme temps les plus belles personnes du monde ne pouvoir attacher un coeur fortement a leur service apres cela madame douterez vous encore que l'amour ne soit pas un puissant effet de la simpathie qui agit malgre nous croyez donc s'il vous plaist madame que puis qu'il se trouve des hommes et mesme des hommes d'esprit qui sont amoureux de femmes qui ne sont point du tout belles je le puis bien estre de vous de qui je connois desja de grandes beautez et que je crois en effet estre fort belle quoy qu'il en soit seigneur dit elle vous ne le scaurez de long temps mais madame reprit il seroit il bien possible qu'il pust y avoir de la raison a ce que vous faites il y en a une si pressante repondit elle que si vous vous rendez un jour digne de la scavoir vous tomberez d'accord que j'auray fait ce que je devois mais madame reprit il encore quand mesme il vous importeroit qu'on ne sceust pas icy qui vous estes pourquoy ne vous fiez vous point a ma discretion je vous proteste que je n'ay dit a qui que ce soit ce que vous m'aviez deffendu de dire a amathonte je le scay bien luy dit elle afin de l'embarrasser car je m'en suis fait informer a tous vos amis c'est pourquoy connoissant que vous estes capable de garder un secret je veux bien vous en confier encore un et vous aprendre quels sont les sentimens de mon ame afin que je ne vous fois pas absolument inconnue scachez donc poursuivit elle que je suis sincere que j'ay le coeur 
 assez tendre que mon amitie est un peu tirannique que j'aime la vertu et la gloire que je ne veux point de coeur partage que je ne donne jamais le mien qu'apres qu'on m'a persuade par toutes les voyes imaginables que je regne souverainement dans celuy qu'on veut que je recoive que je suis ennemie mortelle de l'inconstance et que c'est principalement pour esviter un semblable malheur que je ne veux ny aimer ny estre aimee apres cela seigneur adjousta t'elle ne me demandez plus rien d'aujourd'huy car je vous assure que vous ne l'obtiendriez pas eh de grace madame luy dit il ne renversez pas l'ordre universel du monde j'ay connu le visage de tous mes amis longtemps devant que de connoistre leur coeur et vous voulez que je connoisse vostre coeur long temps devant que de connoistre vostre visage encore une fois madame ne faites pas une chose si peu ordinaire et ne faites point de difficulte de me monstrer vos yeux apres m'avoir monstre vostre ame mais non adjousta t'il un moment apres je ne veux que ce qu'il vous plaist et je dois estre si satisfait de ce que vous m'avez descouvert les plus beaux sentimens du monde que je ne dois plus rien desirer mais madame afin que vous connoissiez mon ame comme vous connoissez ma condition mon esprit et ma personne scachez s'il vous plaist que ce que je promets je le tiens toujours que ce que j'aime une fois je l'aime jusqu'a la mort si ce n'est qu'on m'abandonne 
 ou qu'on me trahisse que je ne suis point de ces amans qui ne veulent servir que pour regner puis qu'au contraire je ne veux estre aime que pour estre plus accable de nouvelles chaines et pour vous monstrer adjousta t'il que je ne suis pas inconstant et que mesme je ne le puis pas estre c'est que je ne suis point du tout de l'humeur de ceux qui ne considerent l'esprit aux femmes que comme un ornement a leur beaute puis qu'au contraire je regarde plustost leur beaute comme un ornement a leur esprit de sorte que ne faisant pas le principal fondement de mon amour sur un bien si peu durable et la fondant au contraire sur des choses qui durent autant que la vie elle durera aussi jusques a la mort comme je l'ay desja dit si tout ce que vous dittes estoit vray reprit parthenie en sousriant vous ne devriez pas desesperer de scavoir un jour qui je suis quoy madame luy dit il je croy tout ce que vous dittes et vous voulez douter de ce que je dis vous qui pouvez vous informer de moy a tous ceux qui me connoissent et moy qui ne puis a qui demander de vos nouvelles vous pouvez encore adjouster repliqua parthenie qu'il ne vous est pas mesme permis de vous en informer mais du moins luy dit il madame ne me permettrez vous pas de vous entretenir icy jusques a ce que vous ayez mis ma discretion a une assez longue espreuve parthenie fut alors quelque temps sans respondre mais timante la pressa si instamment et luy dit tant de 
 choses qu'elle craignit qu'en effet il n'entreprist plus qu'elle ne vouloit pour scavoir qui elle estoit c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je veux bien luy dit elle durant quelques jours vous accorder la permission de me parler icy a la mesme heure pourveu que vous me juriez par venus uranie que vous ne direz a qui que ce soit sans exception que vous ayez retrouve cette personne inconnue dont vous parlastes la premiere fois a toute la terre car si vous le dites je le scauray infailliblement et je ne le scauray pas plustost que je prendray la resolution de ne vous parler jamais et de faire en sorte que vous ne me connoissiez jamais c'est pourquoy voyez si vous pouvez vous satisfaire de ce que je veux comme c'est a vous a faire les loix reprit-il et que c'est seulement a moy a les suivre il faut bien que je vous obeisse mais madame quelle seurete puis je prendre a la promesse que vous me faites que je vous verray demain au mesme lieu et a la mesme heure ma parole repliqua t'elle mais madame respondit il vous ne me l'aviez pas tenue car les huict jours estoient passez et cependant je n'avois point eu de vos nouvelles pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos reprit-elle je vous permets de reveler tout ce que je vous ay dit si je ne me trouve demain icy pourveu que vous me soyez fidelle et que vous vous en alliez tout a l'heure apres cela il fallut qu'en effet timante se retirast car parthenie ne voulut point fermer la fenestre qu'il ne se fust retire mais des qu'il 
 le fut elle envoya prier celle chez qui elle logeoit de faire fermer la porte de cette maison voisine qui donnoit dans son jardin de peur que timante n'y revinst et n'escoutast ce que l'on diroit dans son apartement elle voulut mesme le quitter et elle le quitta en effet en prenant un plus haut qui ne donnoit pas dans le jardin de plus elle recommanda de nouveau le secret a tous ceux qui scavoient qu'elle estoit a paphos sans qu'il leur parust qu'il y eust pourtant d'autre raison sinon que parthenie ne vouloit pas que l'on sceust qu'elle eust quitte sa solitude pour venir voir un divertissement public principalement n'estant pas logee chez le prince son frere ou elle disoit n'avoir pas voulu aller parce qu'il eust este impossible que son voyage n'eust este sceu elle avoit mesme cet advantage que celle chez qui elle estoit logee n'estoit pas difficile a tromper mais apres que tous ces ordres eurent este donnez et qu'elle fut seule avec amaxite elle se mit a parler de l'autre ou elle se trouvoit tantost elle estoit ravie que timante l'eust retrouvee sans qu'elle l'eust fait advertir et tantost on eust dit qu'elle estoit faschee de s'estre engagee a le revoir apres elle s'imaginoit qu'amaxite l'avoit fait advertir qu'elle estoit dans cette maison et qu'elle avoit mesme fait dire a timante quelle estoit son humeur car enfin luy disoit elle il m'a dit tout ce que j'eusse pu souhaiter qu'il me dist et tout ce qu'il m'eust pu dire quand il auroit sceu tout ce que je pensois 
 c'est ce qui vous doit persuader madame luy repliqua amaxite que ce sont les dieux qui le font parler car pour moy vous scavez bien que vous ne m'avez point perdue de veue et que je ne connois point timante je scay bien ce que vous dittes reprit parthenie mais je scay si peu comment timante m'a trouvee tant de fois et m'a tant dit de choses selon mon sens que vous me devez pardonner le leger soubcon que je vous ay dit que j'avois et que je n'ay pourtant point eu et puis qu'il faut vous advouer la verite comme a un autre moy mesme je pense que je ne vous ay accusee qu'afin que vous me persuadassiez plus fortement que les dieux veulent que timante m'aime je n'ay pourtant garde de croire positivement tout ce qu'il m'a dit mais apres tout je ne veux pas du moins m'imaginer que ce qu'il dit qui est ne puisse point estre car je destruirois la seule veritable douceur dont j'ay jouy depuis que je me suis exilee qui est d'esperer de trouver quelqu'un capable d'une amour constante mais madame luy dit amaxite pourquoy avez vous donne tant d'ordres contraires a la promesse que vous avez faite a timante de le revoir c'est dit elle que je veux bien luy parler mais que je ne veux pas qu'il me connoisse et que j'ay bien creu que vous trouveriez demain les voyes de faire r'ouvrir la porte du jardin que j'ay fait fermer car enfin jusques a ce que je fois assuree que timante m'aime et que j'en fois assure par mille preuves d'affection je ne veux pas qu'il scache 
 qui je suis ny qu'il me voye mais ce que je voudrois bien scavoir seroit si timante me sera fidelle et s'il ne dira rien de nostre advanture ny au prince mon frere ny a ses autres amis apres que parthenie eut acheve de parler amaxite qui scavoit qu'antimaque estoit devenu amoureux de doride et que doride me faisoit l'honneur d'avoir assez d'amitie pour moy et de me confier presques toutes choses luy dit que si elle vouloit se fier en ma discretion je serois fort propre a descouvrir ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir d'abord parthenie fit quelque difficulte sur ce que ma soeur luy proposoit mais elle luy respondit si fortement de ma fidelite qu'enfin il fut resolu que je serois du secret cependant timante n'estoit pas sans inquietude car apres qu'il fut r'entre dans la maison ou il logeoit il s'informa sans dire la raison pourquoy il le demandoit quelles femmes estoient dans celle d'ou il venoit de se promener mais il fut estrangement surpris d'apprendre qu'il n'y en avoit point d'autres que la maistresse du logis qui estoit une femme fort avancee en age et les esclaves qui la servoient il scavoit pourtant bien que celle a qui il avoit parle n'estoit ny esclave ny vieille car sa conversation l'assuroit du premier et ses belles mains sa belle voix et sa belle taille l'assuroient de l'autre joint que les deux premieres fois qu'il l'avoit veue il avoit bien connu par la couleur de son habillement qu'elle estoit assurement jeune quoy qu'il n'eust pu connoistre sa 
 condition de sorte qu'il estoit en une peine estrange il voyoit que tout ce qu'il connoissoit de cette personne estoit admirable et qu'elle avoit un charme dans le son de la voix qui faisoit que tout ce qu'elle disoit plaisoit mille fois plus en sa bouche qu'il n'eust fait en celle d'une autre il trouvoit qu'elle avoit dans l'esprit un tout si galant et si aise qu'il estoit ravy de sa conversation et il croyoit mesme qu'elle estoit d'un naturel a aimer tendrement fondant cette opinion sur ce qu'elle haissoit tant l'inconstance mais apres tout disoit il lors qu'il eut examine cette advanture il faut bien qu'il y ait quelque chose d'estrange ou en la condition ou en la beaute de cette personne car pourquoy se cacheroit elle si soigneusement a un homme dont elle ne rejette portant pas absolument la connoissance il faut toutesfois adjoustoit il que cette personne soit belle puis que je luy ay ouy dire des choses a amathonte que celles qui ne le sont pas ne disent jamais il faut mesme quelle soit femme de condition son langage son esprit et son port me le prouvent assez et font que je n'en doute point quoy qu'il en soit disoit il elle me plaist toute inconnue qu'elle m'est et quand ce ne seroit que pour scavoir seulement son nom il faut que je luy obeisse car enfin elle m'a dit que si je fais ce qu'elle veut je ne dois pas desesperer de la connoistre un jour c'est pourtant une bizarre voye de scavoir une chose que de ne s'en informer point mais apres tout quand il venoit 
 a penser que cette personne luy avoit dit si affirmativement que s'il s'informoit d'elle a quelqu'un elle le scauroit et que si elle le scavoit il ne la connoistroit jamais et ne luy parleroit plus la curiosite faisoit cette fois la dans son coeur ce qu'elle n'a jamais fait dans celuy de personne puis qu'elle l'empeschoit de s'informer de ce qu'il avoit tant d'envie d'aprendre en effet timante mourant d'envie de demander a tous ceux qu'il connoissoit qui pouvoit estre cette aimable inconnue qu'il aimoit desja sans penser l'aimer n'osoit seulement en parler a antimaque de peur qu'il ne l'allast dire a doride de sorte qu'il passa la nuict et tout le jour suivant avec une impatience estrange cependant amaxite m'ayant envoye querir je devins l'espion de timante si bien qu'ayant cherche a le rencontrer je fus tout le jour aux lieux ou il estoit et je raportay le soir a ma soeur qu'il avoit paru fort resveur a tous ceux qui l'avoient veu qu'il avoit refuse de souper chez le prince philoxipe et d'aller a une promenade qui se devoit faire le soir sur la mer et ou toute la cour estoit sans en avoir voulu dire la raison et qu'il s'estoit retire chez luy de fort bonne heure de sorte qu'amaxite ayant dit a parthenie tout ce qu'elle avoit sceu par moy cette princesse en eut une joye extreme et se resolut plus facilement a ne manquer pas de promesse a timante si bien qu'ayant donne la commission a amaxite de faire ouvrir le soir la porte du jardin et amaxite en 
 ayant trouve le moyen sans que la maistresse de la maison comprist qu'il y eust rien de misterieux a cela tant la chose fut bien conduite l'heure de l'assigation estant venue timante se rendit a la fenestre du cabinet de la chambre basse ou parthenie estoit sur le pretexte d'avoir a escrire mais afin que parthenie ne fust pas obligee d'avoir un voile si espais pour la cacher ce cabinet n'estoit esclaire que par deux petites lampes de cristal qui estoient disposees de telle sorte que la lumiere ne s'estendoit pas jusques a la fenestre parce qu'elles estoient a un endroit ou il y avoit une corniche fort avancee qui portoit ombre jusques la si bien que lors que timante arriva il ne vit pas mieux parthenie que le jour auparavant il est vray qu'il la trouva avec encore plus de disposition a le recevoir civilement le raport que j'avois fait a ma soeur luy ayant donne beaucoup de satisfaction elle ne le vit donc pas plustost que prenant la parole je vous demande pardon seigneur luy dit elle d'estre peut estre cause que vous perdez le divertissement de la promenade que l'on fait ce soir sur la mer ce qui m'en console un peu adjousta t'elle c'est qu'a l'heure ou on la fait vous eussiez este prive du plaisir de voir tant de belles personnes qui y sont il paroist assez madame luy dit il apres l'avoir saluee tres respectueusement que j'ay espere plus de plaisir de vostre conversation que de la veue de toutes les belles dont vous parlez puis que je les ay quittees pour vous et qu'ainsi il 
 n'est pas besoin de me faire un compliment la dessus mais madame puisque vous scavez tout ce qui se passe dans le monde vous n'estes donc inconnue que pour moy seulement il est vray seigneur repliqua t'elle mais c'est par une raison qui vous est si avantageuse que si je vous la pouvois dire presentement je suis assuree que vous advoueriez que vous m'en devez estre oblige quelque defference que je fois resolu d'avoir pour vous reprit il j'aurois pourtant bien de la peine a croire que je vous pusse remercier de ce que vous me refusez une chose que je desire avec la mesme violence que les amans les plus ardens dans leur passion peuvent desirer la possession de leurs maistresses il paroist pourtant repliqua malicieusement parthenie que la conversation que vous eustes hier icy ne vous a pas donne grande satisfaction car pour moy quand j'ay passe un soir agreablement il demeure tout le lendemain une impression de joye sur mon visage ou au contraire quand je me suis trouvee en une conversation ennuyeuse le chagrin est dans mes yeux pour vingt-quatre heures c'est pourquoy si vous estes de l'humeur dont je suis j'ay sujet de croire qu'il vous ennuya hier estrangement car j'ay sceu que vous avez este assez resveur tout aujourd'huy il est vray madame reprit il que j'ay resve tout le jour mais c'a este par une raison toute opposee a celle que vous dites estant certain que je ne suis jamais plus melancholique qu'apres que j'ay eu un fort grand plaisir et puis 
 madame celuy dont je jouis en vous entretenant n'est pas un plaisir tranquile au contraire il est si mesle d'inquietude et de curiosite que je ne souffrirois guere davantage que je souffre quand mesme vous m'auriez entierement oste l'esperance car enfin vous scavez tout ce que je fais et je ne puis scavoir qui vous estes moy dis-je qui le desire avec une passion extreme et qui ne puis jamais avoir de repos que cela ne soit mais seigneur luy dit parthenie je ne voy pas que vous deviez estre si inquiete de ne scavoir point qui je suis puisque si je vous suis en quelque consideration il dependra de vous de le scavoir un jour et s'il est vray que vous n'ayez qu'une simple curiosite pour moy il vous sera sans doute aise de la vaincre sans la satisfaire puisque vous n'avez qu'a ne venir plus icy et qu'a m'oublier et vous croyez madame interrompit timante qu'il soit fort aise de vous oublier je pense en effet dit elle qu'il est bien plus difficile de se souvenir de moy que d'en perdre la memoire non non madame reprit il ne vous y abusez pas je ne vous oublieray jamais et je ne seray jamais content que je n'aye obtenu de vous deux choses fort precieuses je veux dire la veue de vostre beaute et vostre coeur si je vous avois accorde la moitie de ce que vous me demandez repliqua t'elle vous n'auriez jamais de part a l'autre c'est pourquoy pour vous aprendre du moins ce que vous devez faire pour obtenir ce que vous desirez scachez que devant que de me voir et de scavoir 
 qui je suis il faut avoir aquis mon coeur jugez donc si sans me connoistre vous pouvez faire tout ce que je veux qu'on face pour esperer seulement de le toucher comme je suis fort sincere adjousta t'elle et que je n'ay pas autant de desguisement en l'esprit qu'au visage je vous diray que diverses raisons que je ne puis dire presentement m'ont mise en estat de ne recevoir jamais d'affection qui soit fondee sur des choses passageres comme la beaute et la richesse sur qui le temps et la fortune ont beaucoup de part je veux donc qu'on m'aime seulement par inclination et par la connoissance de mon ame de mon esprit et de mon humeur de plus je veux qu'on me puisse aimer laide et pauvre si je la suis ou si je la deviens et je veux enfin qu'on n'aime que moy qu'on m'aime ardemment qu'on m'aime tousjours qu'on ne face que ce que je veux qu'on ne desire que ce qui me plaist et qu'on m obeisse aveuglement et sans repugnance jugez apres cela seigneur s'il est aussi aise que vous le pense de jouir de ma veue puisque je ne puis l'accorder qu'a ceux qui auront gagne mon coeur et que mon coeur ne se peut gagner que par la voye que j'ay ditte au reste dit elle encore comme la naissance est une chose qui n'est pas passagere puisque le temps et la fortune ne peuvent empescher qu'on ne soit jusques a la mort ce qu'on a este le premier instant de sa vie je veux bien vous advouer que dans la maison dont je suis il n'y eut jamais d'esclaves et que si je suis 
 aussi belle que noble peu de personnes en chipre sont sans doute plus belles que moy mais apres cela seigneur ne m'en demandez pas davantage car vous le demanderiez inutilement pendant que parthenie parloit ainsi timante estoit dans une inquietude estrange car comme toute la grece est pleine de certaines femmes qui font profession ouverte d'une galanterie universelle qui ne demeure pas exactement dans les termes de la modestie et qui en ternissant leur gloire les enrichit et qu'il y en a aussi assez en chipre il y avoit des instans ou il craignoit que celle avec qui il estoit n'en fust une il y avoit toutesfois je ne scay quoy dans l'air dont parthenie parloit qui luy persuadoit le contraire un moment apres en effet quand il venoit a considerer qu'elle estoit dans une maison de qualite et d'honneur que de plus ce n'est pas la coustume de cette espece de personnes de cacher leur beaute il se repentoit de la pensee qu'il avoit eue et trouvoit cette avanture trop galante pour ne la continuer pas il croyoit pourtant encore n'avoir que de la curiosite mais lors que parthenie luy eut dit toutes les conditions qu'elle vouloit en un amant il commenca de s'apercevoir qu'il estoit desja le sien car sans hesiter un moment il luy dit qu'il s'engageoit a tout ce qu'elle luy proposoit pourveu qu'elle luy promist qu'apres qu'elle auroit assez esprouve sa constance elle luy donneroit son coeur et luy accorderoit sa veue ces promesses se faisoient pourtant en aparence 
 de part et d'autre plustost comme une simple galanterie que comme de veritables promesses ce n'est pas qu'il n'y eust desja dans le coeur de timante la plus violente inclination qui sera jamais pour aimer parthenie et qu'il n'y eust aussi dans celuy de parthenie une tres forte disposition a aimer timante mais comme ils avoient tous deux de l'esprit raisonnable ils trouvoient qu'il y avoit quelque chose de si bizarre en cette avanture qu'ils ne pouvoient se resoudre a parler serieusement et il leur falut quelques jours auparavant que de connoistre assez leurs veritables sentimens pour se parler sans railler cependant jamais timante ne se separoit de parthenie qu'elle ne luy fist jurer qu'il ne diroit rien de leur avanture qu'il ne s'informeroit point d'elle et qu'il attendroit qu'elle s'assurast assez en son affection pour luy dire qui elle estoit et pour luy faire voir si elle estoit belle ou laide mais enfin seigneur comme parthenie a le plus bel esprit du monde et le plus charmant elle aquit un pouvoir si absolu sur celuy de timante qu'en effet il n'osa pas mesme dire a antimaque quelle estoit son advanture de peur qu'il ne la dist a quelqu'un il luy fut mesme aise de la luy cacher car comme antimaque estoit amoureux de doride il passoit tous les soirs chez la princesse policrite de sorte que timante avoit la liberte de se trouver a son assignation sans qu'il s'en aperceust il fit pourtant tout ce qu'il put par un escuyer qu'il avoit pour 
 faire suborner quelques domestiques de la dame chez qui parthenie logeoit pour scavoir qui estoit celle qui estoit chez elle mais comme la chose avoit este conduite avec tant d'adresse qu'ils ne scavoient pas mesme qui estoit parthenie cela ne luy servit de rien cependant comme il craignoit que si l'aimable inconnue venoit a scavoir qu'il luy auroit manque de parole et qu'il se seroit informe d'elle elle ne luy en manquast aussi il fit autant donner a ceux qui ne luy avoient rien apris que s'ils luy eussent dit ce qu'il vouloit scavoir afin de les obliger du moins a ne dire pas qu'on leur eust rien demande et en effet parthenie ne sceut point alors que timante ne luy eust pas tenu exactement sa parole il est vray qu'il la luy tint si fidellement d'ailleurs qu'elle eut sujet d'en estre contente car quelque soin que j'aportasse a observer tout ce qu'il disoit et tout ce qu'il faisoit je ne raportay jamais rien a ma soeur qui ne deust plaire a parthenie et qui ne deust luy persuader qu'elle occupoit fort l'esprit de timante en effet sa facon d'agir changea absolument dans le monde car comme il n'avoit autre dessein que de chercher son aimable inconnue partout et qu'il estoit persuade que c'estoit une personne de paphos qui venoit dans la maison ou il l'entretenoit seulement pour luy parler quoy que les domestiques eussent assure qu'elle y logeoit il alloit de visite en visite sans tarder en nulle part esperant tousjours de discerner a la voix celle qu'il mouroit d'envie de connoistre 
 mais il avoit beau aller il ne la trouvoit point de sorte que comme la difficulte en amour est ce qui en fait toute l'ardeur timante vint a estre plus amoureux de parthenie que jamais nul autre de ses amans ne l'avoit este il vint mesme a estre beaucoup plus inquiet car comme il avoit plus de choses a desirer et qu'il y avoit tousjours quelques instans ou la crainte d'estre trompe mesloit de la douceur et du chagrin a ses autres maux il souffroit assurement plus que les autres amans n'ont accoustume de souffrir aussi s'en plaignoit il quelquesfois si fortement a parthenie qu'il en faisoit pitie et d'autresfois si plaisamment qu'il en faisoit rire pour moy luy disoit il un soir que la lune estoit fort claire et qu'il la pressoit estrangement de lever son voile je ne puis plus souffrir que vous ne m'accordiez pas ce que je vous demande ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que vostre beaute soit necessaire pour faire durer ma passion car puis qu'elle est nee sans elle elle subsistera sans elle mais ce qui fait que je ne puis plus souffrir que vous me traitiez ainsi c'est que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de me dire une fois que vous m'accorderiez vostre veue des que j'aurois gagne vostre coeur de sorte que voyant que vous vous cachez tousjours aussi soigneusement qu'a l'ordinaire j'ay sujet de croire que je suis encore bien loin d'avoir fait cette illustre conqueste elle vous auroit trop peu couste repliqua parthenie si vous l'aviez desja faite c'est pourquoy afin que vous l'estimiez davantage il 
 faut que vous ne la faciez pas si tost du moins madame luy disoit il formez donc une image par vos paroles que je puisse adorer et qui passant de vostre bouche dans mon coeur y puisse demeurer jusques a ce qu'en vous voyant vostre veritable image l'en chasse car enfin je passe les journees entieres a aller de palais en palais et de temple en temple pour vous chercher mon imagination donne tous les jours a vostre beaute cent figures differentes je vous vois tantost le taint vif et tantost pasle tantost blonde et tantost brune quelquesfois je me persuade que vous avez les yeux doux languissans et passionnez et quelquesfois aussi je croy que vous les avez vifs et brillans et tous remplis de certains esprits lumineux et enflamez qui portent le feu dans l'ame de tous ceux qui les voyent je les crois tantost bleus et tantost noirs et sans scavoir ce que vous estes je vous adore pourtant tousjours esgalement mais apres tout madame adjousta t'il si vous avez autant de bonte que vous dittes souvent que vous en avez vous fixerez toutes ces imaginations et vous me direz du moins si vous estes blonde ou brune quand vous m'aurez dit repliqua t'elle malicieusement en riant si vous souhaitez que je fois brune ou blonde je vous diray peutestre si je suis l'une ou l'autre timante se trouva alors bien en peine car comme il ne scavoit point si elle estoit ou blonde ou brune il n'osoit dire son veritable sentiment de peur de ne rencontrer pas la verite joint aussi que parthenie 
 ne luy promettoit pas positivement de luy dire ce qu'il vouloit scavoir de sorte que n'osant respondre precisement il se mit a l'accuser d'inhumanite il est vray qu'il ne se plaignit pas longtemps parce qu'elle l'interrompit pour l'accuser de foiblesse car enfin luy dit elle je connois par ce que vous me dittes que vous voulez absolument que je fois belle puis que vous dittes que vostre imagination me donne les plus beaux yeux du monde et par consequent j'ay sujet de craindre que si je ne les ay pas tels vous ne changiez de sentimens pour moy ha madame interrompit il ne me faites pas ce tort la s'il vous plaist que de croire que quand vous ne seriez point belle je pusse vous aimer moins mais apres tout tant que vos yeux ne desmentiront pas mon imagination je croiray tousjours que vous estes la plus belle personne du monde en effet le moyen que je ne proportionne pas vostre beaute a vostre ame et a vostre esprit c'est pourquoy si vous voulez vous assurer de ma fidelite monstrez vous a moy telle que vous estes et si apres cela je ne vous adore encore quand mesme vous ressembleriez le portrait que vous me fistes de la laideur lors que j'eus l'honneur de vous rencontrer a amathonte haissez moy autant que je vous aime en verite dit parthenie l'amour est une capricieuse passion en effet luy dit elle n'est il pas vray que pour l'ordinaire ceux qui sont amoureux d'une fort belle personne et qui la voyent autant qu'ils veulent ne 
 laissent pas pourtant de s'estimer tres malheureux lors qu'ils croyent n'avoir point de part a son estime et que toute la beaute de ses yeux ne les empesche pas de sentir avec une douleur extreme une parole un peu rude ils disent alors que ce ne sont que les sentimens du coeur qu'ils cherchent il n'y en a pas un qui ne proteste a la personne qu'il aime qu'il souhaite plus la possession de son coeur que celle de sa beaute que c'est le terme de ses desirs et la borne de ses esperances cependant je voy qu'a parler raisonnablement l'amour est de telle nature qu'il meprise tout ce qu'il possede et qu'il desire tout ce qu'il ne possede pas en effet si la chose n'estoit pas ainsi bien loin de vous plaindre vous me remercieriez car enfin j'y commence par ou les autres achevent je vous ay advoue que je vous estime je vous ay dit que je serois bien aise que vous m'aimassiez et je ne vous ay pas deffendu d'esperer d'estre aime vous avez consenty de ne fonder point vostre affection sur la beaute je vous ay montre mon ame a descouvert je vous ay enseigne par quel chemin on pouvoit arriver jusques a mon coeur et je ne vous ay pas dit qu'il fust invincible et apres cela vous vous plaignez encore et vous vous amusez a me presser de vous montrer mes yeux qui peut-estre ne sont point beaux revenez seigneur revenez dans les termes de nos conditions si vous ne voulez que je rompe aveque vous il y a tant d'esprit a tout ce que vous dittes reprit timante que vous en 
 augmentez encore et mon amour et ma curiosite c'est pourquoy ne me deffendez pas s'il vous plaist de vous demander a genoux la grace que je desire contentez vous que je n'entreprenne rien de plus violent pour scavoir qui vous estes et que j'aye ce pouvoir la sur moy de ne le demander pas a tout ce que je connois de gens dans la cour mais madame pour faire que je continue de ne le demander point aux autres il faut que je vous le demande quelquesfois a vous mesme ne vous offencez donc point je vous en conjure de toutes mes prieres et de toutes mes impatiences si je ne vous aimois point je n'en userois pas ainsi mais vous aimant ardamment malgre que j'en aye il faut que je vous prie et que je vous presse de me faire connoistre ce que j'aime je connois bien poursuivit il que vous avez mille beautez dans l'esprit tout ce qui me paroist de vostre personne est admirable je voy des sentimens dans vostre coeur qui me ravissent il y a dans vostre conversation quelque charme particulier que je n'ay jamais trouve en nulle autre et vous attachez si fortement et si agreablement mon esprit lors que vous parlez que je pense que je pourrois vous voir sans que je pusse m'apercevoir si vous seriez belle ou si vous ne le seriez pas vous ne prononcez pas une parole qui ne passe de mon oreille dans mon coeur et qui ne luy donne je ne scay qu'elle esmotion agreable qui me plaist et me flatte tout a la fois mais apres tout adjousta t'il en sousriant je ne 
 vous connois pas encore assez et j'ay une si violente curiosite de me voir du moins dans vos yeux si je ne me puis voir dans vostre coeur que je ne me lasseray jamais de vour prier de m'accorder cette grace vous protestant que vous avez tous les torts du monde de vous deffier de mon amour et de ma discretion pendant que timante parloit ainsi parthenie forma le dessein d'esprouver sa constance par une assez bizarre voye c'est pourquoy prenant la parole et feignant de vouloir luy accorder une partie de ce qu'il souhaitoit je veux bien luy dit elle puisque vous en avez tant d'envie ne vous refuser pas tout ce que vous me demandez mais comme je suis resolue de vous accorder grace apres grace et de ne vous en accabler pas tout d'un coup je ne veux pas que vous scachiez encore qui je suis et je veux seulement que vous me voiyez le visage descouvert en plein jour mais a condition que vous ne me parlerez point au lieu ou je vous verray qui sera s'il vous plaist demain au matin a un petit temple qui est aupres du port je m'y tiendray justement deux heures apres que le soleil sera leve n'y voulant pas aller plus tard pour diverses considerations j'auray le mesme habit que j'avois le jour que vous me vistes a la feste des adoniennes je me mettray a la seconde colomne de la main droite et je leveray mon voile des que je vous verray afin de contenter une partie de vostre curiosite mais madame luy dit il en attendant que je recoive un plaisir que je souhaite si ardemment 
 pourquoy ne me monstrez vous pas vos yeux tout a l'heure je scay bien qu'il fait assez obscur pour ne les voir pas comme je les voudrois voir mais cela n'empeschera pas que je ne les voye mieux demain je voy bien dit elle que vous avez oublie qu'une de nos conditions est que vous ne veuilliez jamais que ce que je veux et que vous ne desiriez rien que ce qui me plaist quelque grand que soit vostre pouvoir luy dit il madame il ne scauroit s'estendre jusques a regler mes desirs et tout ce que je puis est assurement de vous les cacher apres cela parthenie congedia timante sans luy accorder ce qu'il luy demandoit luy disant que s'il entreprenoit de luy parler ou de la suivre le lendemain qu'il ne la verroit plus jamais de sorte que timante luy promettant tout ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il luy promist il se retira avec l'esperance de voir le jour suivant cette aimable inconnue qui luy avoit donne tant de curiosite et tant d'amour mais comme l'esperance que l'amour fait naistre est inquiette il ne put dormir de toute la nuict et il se leva si matin que ses gens en estoient estonnez et ils l'estoient d'autant plus qu'ils voyoient qu'il se paroit comme pour aller au bal quoy qu'il n'allast qu'a un petit temple ou peu de personnes de condition alloient et a une heure encore ou les femmes de qualite n'estoient pas esveillees
 
 
 
 
mais si timante avoit de l'impatience parthenie avoit de l'occupation car elle songeoit a faire qu'elle pust s'assurer du coeur de timante et que rien 
 ne le luy pust jamais oster c'est pourquoy elle avoit pris la resolution de luy faire une tromperie afin de voir s'il la pourroit aimer dans la croyance qu'elle ne fust point belle pour cet effet elle fit prendre le lendemain au matin a une fille qu'elle avoit qui avoit la taille fort bien faite et qui estoit a peu pres de mesme grandeur qu'elle le mesme habit qu'elle avoit porte la feste des adoniennes car comme cette fille estoit de salamis et qu'il n'y avoit pas longtemps qu'elle estoit a son service elle ne pouvoit pas estre connue a paphos mais seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que cette fille est une des plus laides personnes du monde car enfin tous les traits de son visage ont une si grande disproportion entre eux qu'on diroit qu'ils n'ont point este faits l'un pour l'autre aussi en resulte t'il une laideur si excessive que je n'ay jamais veu un objet si desagreable que le visage de cette fille cependant afin que timante fust mieux trompe amaxite suivit cette feinte parthenie avec un voile fort espais comme si elle este eust a elle et elles furent au temple dans un chariot de la dame chez qui parthenie logeoit mais pour plus grande seurete parthenie voulut que ma soeur m'envoyast querir et me donnast commission de me trouver a ce temple et de joindre timante des qu'il y seroit entre afin de luy oster la liberte de pouvoir parler a celle dont la veue le devoit tant surprendre me donnant ordre d'agir selon que l'occasion le requerroit et de faire et de dire 
 tout ce que je jugerois a propos pour empescher timante de descouvrir qu'on luy faisoit une tromperie parthenie n'avoit pourtant pas le dessein de laisser croire longtemps a timante qu'elle fust celle qu'il avoit veue au contraire elle avoit resolu lors qu'elle auroit veu comment il luy parleroit apres cette fourbe innocente de luy faire voir des le soir cette mesme fille aupres d'elle afin qu'il connust son erreur et que cette image terrible ne demeurast pas dans son esprit enfin seigneur si cela fut bizarrement et plaisamment pense il fut adroitement execute cette fille fut au temple plus matin que parthenie ne l'avoit dit a timante pour faire qu'elle y arrivast devant luy ce ne fut pourtant que d'un quart d'heure car il avoit une si grande impatience de voir la personne qu'il aimoit qu'il fut a l'assignation devant l'heure qu'on luy avoit donne mais comme j'y estois encore devant luy et que je scavois la chose je le vy entrer dans ce temple avec precipitation et empressement il n'y fut pas plustost qu'il regarda vers le lieu ou parthenie luy avoit assure qu'elle seroit mais a peine y eut il jette les yeux qu'il vit en effet une personne de fort belle taille suivie d'une autre qui estoit effectivement la mesme qu'il avoit veue a amathonte de plus il vit que cette personne estoit au mesme lieu qu'on luy avoit marque et qu'elle avoit le mesme habit qu'il avoit desja veu de sorte qu'il ne douta point du tout que celle qu'il voyoit ne fust son aimable inconnue 
 car encore qu'il y eust quelque peu de difference de la taille de cette fille a celle de parthenie la preocupation de timante fut si grande qu'il ne la remarqua point il advanca donc diligemment vers l'endroit ou elle estoit mais comme il estoit convenu avec parthenie qu'il ne luy parleroit point en ce lieu la il se mit un peu a sa gauche deux ou trois pas plus avance qu'elle vers le fonds du temple afin de la voir mieux il n'y fut pas plustost qu'amaxite advertit tout doucement cette feinte parthenie qui ne connoissoit point timante de lever son voile ce qu'elle fit a l'instant le levant mesme si adroitement que timante ne vit point ses mains car parthenie le luy avoit ordonne ainsi mais seigneur imaginez vous un peu je vous suplie quelle fut la surprise de timante qui s'estoit forme une idee admirable de la beaute de son inconnue de voir l'horrible laideur de cette fille elle fut si grande seigneur qu'elle parut en son visage et en toute ses actions il changea vingt fois de couleur presques en un moment il la salua en destournant les yeux malgre luy et fut si espouvente par un objet si surprenant qu'il ne songea pas seulement a cacher sa surprise il n'eut pas mesme le moindre soubcon de la tromperie qu'on luy faisoit si bien qu'estant fort afflige de cette advanture justes dieux disoit il en luy mesme comme il l'a raconte depuis comment avez vous pu vous resoudre de mettre une si belle voix et un si bel esprit en une si effroyable personne et de 
 joindre une si belle taille et de si belles mains a un visage si terrible mais comment se peut il faire adjoustoit il un moment apres que cette personne connoisse toutes les delicatesses de l'amour comme elle les connoist quelqu'un peut il l'avoir aimee ou les peut elle scavoir sans cela pour moy poursuivoit il en souspirant si j'avois veu son visage devant que connoistre son esprit je n'aurois pas voulu seulemet en faire ma confidente bien loin d'en faire ma maistresse et je pense que tout ce que je pourray faire sera de ne passer pas de l'amour a l'aversion encore si elle n'avoit qu'une laideur ordinaire qu'elle fust de ces femmes qui n'attirent ny ne rebutent qu'elle eust quelque chose dans la phisionomie qui peust faire croire qu'elle eust de l'esprit ou de la bonte je sens une si forte disposition a l'aimer que je l'adorerois encore avec la mesme ardeur mais que dis-je reprenoit il un moment apres il semble donc que je veuille determinement abandonner la personne du monde qui a le plus de charmes dans l'esprit et qui a le plus sensiblement touche mon coeur comme timante s'entretenoit de cette sorte avec autant de chagrin qu'amaxite et moy avions de plaisir a l'observer et que de temps en temps il regardoit celle qu'il croyoit estre parthenie comme s'il eust voulu voir si les dieux ne la changeroient point a sa priere tout d'un coup cette fille oubliant l'ordre qu'on luy avoit donne de ne monstrer point ses mains se mit a rabaisser son voile sans se mettre en 
 peine de les cacher de sorte que comme timante avoit alors fortuitement les yeux sur elle et qu'il estoit peutestre tout prest a prendre la resolution de rompre avec parthenie quoy qu'il n'ait jamais voulu l'advouer il vit que celle qu'il prenoit pour son aimable inconnue au lieu d'avoir les mains admirablement belles comme il les luy avoit veues et au labirinthe et a amathonte et mesme a la fenestre grillee ou il l'entretenoit et ou il les pouvoit entrevoir quand la lune estoit claire il vit dis-je qu'elle les avoit courtes larges et point du tout blanches si bien que revenant a luy il connut qu'il s'estoit trompe et en eut une si grande joye qu'elle parut sur son visage comme le chagrin y avoit paru un peu auparavant il fut alors bien fache d'avoir si peu cache sa premiere surprise mais pour la reparer il prit du moins la resolution d'aller parler a celle qui n'avoit que l'habit de son aimable inconnue disant que ce n'estoit pas a elle qu'il avoit promis de ne parler pas a celle qu'il trouveroit au temple et de ne la suivre pas et que puis qu'on luy manquoit de parole il n'estoit pas oblige de tenir la sienne mais justement comme il prenoit cette resolution cette feinte parthenie s'en alla avec ma soeur et acheva de le desabuser en marchant estant certain qu'elle n'avoit pas le port d'une personne de qualite comme parthenie l'a quoy qu'elle eust la taille fort belle cependant comme je vy qu'il la suivoit je m'avancay vers luy et le joignis devant qu'il l'eust pu 
 joindre et afin de l'embarrasser davantage seigneur luy dis-je en l'abordant cette dame que je voy que vous avez saluee est elle de crete nullement repliqua timante bien fasche que j'eusse rompu son dessein et je la croyois de paphos c'est pourquoy comme je l'ay creue femme de qualite je l'ay saluee sans la connoistre je pensois seigneur luy dis-je en sousriant qu'on ne saluast les dames qu'on ne connoissoit pas que lors qu'elles estoient belles mais a ce que je voy vostre civilite va plus loin que la nostre j'ay encore quelque chose de plus que vous respondit il en marchant tousjours car je suis sans doute plus curieux que vous n'estes estant certain que je voudrois bien scavoir qui est cette dame c'est assurement repliquay-je sans faire semblant de connoistre que je l'importunois que la curiosite que vous avez en cette rencontre est de la nature de celle qu'ont ceux qui cherchent a voir des monstres et qui ne croiroient pas avoir veu toute l'egipte s'ils n'avoient veu ces dangereux animaux qui attirent les passans pour les devorer quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'il je voudrois scavoir qui est cette dame seigneur luy dis-je pour l'empescher de s'obstiner a la suivre je pense qu'il me sera aise de vous l'aprendre car je connois le chariot dans lequel elle est venue a ce temple je le connois bien aussi me dit il mais je ne connois pas pour cela celle qui s'en sert je vous promets de m'en informer luy repliquay-je et de vous en rendre conte cependant 
 la feinte parthenie et ma soeur remonterent dans le chariot sans que timante osast leur parler en ma presence comme il en avoit eu le dessein tant il avoit de peur d'irriter son aimable inconnue mais apres qu'elles furent parties et que timante les eut saluees en partant il me somma de ma parole et me pria de la luy tenir me donnant de si mauvais pretextes pour m'obliger a satisfaire sa curiosite que j'avois assez de peine a m'empescher de rire je connoissois pourtant bien qu'il ne vouloit connoistre cette personne que pour tascher de connoistre celle qui la faisoit agir vous pouvez penser seigneur que je luy promis tout ce qu'il voulut en suitte de quoy je le remenay chez luy et fus quelque temps apres rendre conte a ma soeur de ce qui c'estoit passe mais comme elle scavoit que parthenie n'agissoit comme elle faisoit que pour esprouver la fidelite de timante elle ne luy dit pas l'horrible douleur qui avoit paru dans ses yeux lors qu'il avoit veu le visage de cette desagreable fille qu'il croyoit estre celle qu'il aimoit et elle luy dit seulement qu'il en avoit paru surpris que neantmoins il n'avoit pas laisse de la saluer tres civilement et de la suivre lors qu'elle estoit sortie du temple ne luy disant point que cette fille avoit desabuse timante en montrant ses mains de sorte que parthenie croyant que timante se l'imaginoit aussi laide que cette fille commenca de se repentir de la tromperie qu'elle luy avoit faite craignant qu'il ne revinst 
 plus a son assignation ordinaire car encore qu'elle n'eust fait la chose que pour luy faire croire qu'elle n'estoit point belle elle ne pouvoit toutesfois souffrir sans impatience que timante se la figurast si horrible de sorte qu'elle attendit le soir avec une inquietude estrange tantost elle s'entretenoit de la joye qu'elle auroit si timante revenoit puis que ce seroit une marque que la laideur ne pourroit changer son affection tantost elle aprehendoit aussi qu'il ne revinst pas si bien que passant continuellement d'un sentiment dans un autre elle passa tout le jour avec autant d'inquietude qu'amaxite avoit de plaisir a se souvenir de tout ce qu'elle avoit veu dans l'esprit de timante a qui parthenie m'obligea de dire que je n'avois pu aprendre qui estoit cette dame que j'avois veue au temple cependant le soir estant venu timante ne manqua pas d'aller trouver parthenie selon sa coustume mais a peine luy eut on ouvert la fenestre du cabinet ou elle estoit que cette princesse prenant la parole et bien seigneur luy dit elle estes vous satisfait et pourrez vous aimer une personne telle que celle que vous avez veue ce matin au temple ou vous avez este pour vous monstrer madame dit-il en sousriant que je suis capable de trouver tousjours un extreme plaisir a vous voir levez ce voile qui vous cache car si je vous ay veue ce matin il ne doit plus estre abaisse et vous ne vous devez plus cacher quoy seigneur interrompit elle il semble que vous ne croyez pas 
 m'avoir veue je ne le croy pas en effet luy dit il et c'est pour cela que je me viens pleindre a vous car enfin vous m'avez manque de parole et vous m'avez mis en estat de n'estre plus oblige a vous rien tenir non non madame poursuivit il ne me niez pas la verite car si vous me vouliez tromper il ne faloit pas seulement donner vostre habit a celle qui vous a si mal representee il faloit encore luy donner vos mains vostre air et vostre port j'advoue toutesfois que d'abord la confiance que j'avois en vostre sincerite m'a trompe et que mes yeux m'ont trahy mais mon coeur a pourtant bientost connu que ce ne pouvoit estre vous du moins luy dit elle en luy advouant la tromperie qu'elle luy avoit faite dittes moy jusques a quel point vous m'avez haie quand vous avez creu que j'estois celle que vous voiyez je vous proteste madame luy dit il que je n'ay point eu de pensee qui vous doive offencer et que j'ay plus offence les dieux que vous mais encore reprit parthenie quels sentimens avez vous eus qu'avez vous fait et qu'avez vous pense je vous advoueray puis que vous le voulez repliqua t'il que j'ay murmure contre les dieux d'avoir mis tant de choses opposees en une mesme personne mais je n'en ay murmure que pour l'amour de vous seulement je regardois vostre gloire et non pas la mienne et je n'avois presque point d'interest aux souhaits que je faisois a vostre avantage ha seigneur interrompit parthenie vous n'estes point sincere 
 cependant je veux que vous le soyez et que vous me disiez effectivement si vous ne m'abandonneriez pas si j'estois a peu pres comme celle que je vous ay fait voir puisque vous voulez absolument que je vous montre mon coeur a descouvert respondit timante je vous diray que si vous estiez telle que vous dittes et que vous ne parlassiez jamais je pense que j'aurois bien de la peine a continuer de vous aimer mais si au contraire vous estiez comme celle que j'ay veue et que vous parlassiez tousjours comme vous parlez je vous suivrois eternellement mais reprit parthenie je ne veux pas que vous me respondiez en raillant et je veux que vous parliez serieusement j'y consens madame luy dit il et pour vous obeir exactememt je vous proteste devant les dieux qui m'escoutent que ce que je m'en vay vous dire est absolument vray je vous assure donc que mon coeur est si fort attache a vous que je ne veux jamais songer a le desgager j'avoue toutesfois madame que si vous estes aussi belle que je croy que vous l'estes je pense que j'auray la foiblesse de vous en aimer peutestre encore un peu davantage que je ne fais mais tousjours vous puis-je asseurer que si vous ne l'estes pas je ne vous en aimeray pas moins ha seigneur reprit elle cela ne scauroit jamais estre et puis qu'il est vray que vous m'aimerez davantage si je ne suis pas laide il est encore plus vray que vous m'aimerez moins si je la suis cependant seigneur il est constamment vray que si je ne la suis je la 
 deviendray c'est pourquoy si vous ne pouvez m'aimer sans que je fois belle cessez de m'aimer des aujourd'huy car enfin je vous l'ay dit des le commencement de nostre connoissance je ne veux point de coeur qui puisse changer je veux qu'on m'aime tousjours esgallement et que si j'ay a vous aimer un jour je puisse vous aimer jusques a la fin de ma vie ce qui ne seroit point du tout si vous m'aimiez moins en effet le moyen de souffrir sans colere et sans ressentiment de voir passer tout d'un coup de l'amour a l'indifference de se voir mespriser lors qu'on doit estimee et apres s'estre veue adoree en un temps ou on ne faisoit rien pour se faire aimer cependant seigneur ce que je dis est arrive mille et mille fois et arrivera encore autant ce qu'il y a de plus cruel en ces occasions est qu'on se devient esgallement insuportable et s'il y a de la difference entre celuy qui cesse d'aimer et celle qui aime encore il est certain que celuy qui mesprise est bien moins a pleindre que celle qui est mesprisee cet inconstant perd sans doute un plaisir en perdant son affection mais il en recouvre d'autres facilement ou au contraire une personne constante en perdant la douceur qu'il y a d'estre aimee perd en mesme temps toute celle de sa vie et se voit accablee de toutes sortes de chagrins en effet le moyen apres cela de souffrir tout ce qu'on apelle divertissement et le moyen de se resoudre seulement a vivre si ce ne'st pour se vanger c'est pourquoy seigneur songez 
 bien serieusement s'il est vray que vous puissiez estre capable d'une passion constante et ne me rendez pas plus malheureuse que je ne la suis en me faisant esperer un bien dont je me trouverois privee je vous proteste madame luy dit il que dans les sentimens ou je me trouve je tiens si absolument impossible que je puisse vous aimer moins que je ne puis seulement concevoir que cela puisse jamais estre ce qui m'embarrasse le plus repliqua parthenie lorsque je vous demande des assurances d'une affection eternelle est que les plus inconstans du monde croyent qu'en effet ils ne le deviendront pas c'est pourquoy tant que leur passion dure ils s'imaginent qu'elle durera tousjours et disent les mesmes choses que les plus fidelles peuvent dire mais madame dit alors timante puis qu'on n'a pu encore trouver le trouver le moyen de s'assurer de l'advenir que par le passe et par le present je ne dois pas estre puny comme inconstant encore que j'exprime mes veritables sentimens avec les mesmes paroles que les amants infidelles expriment les leurs c'est pourquoy contentez vous d'esprouver ma constance par toutes les voyes que vostre esprit vous pourra suggerer et apres cela resolvez vous de me rendre heureux en m'aprenant que je ne suis pas mal dans vostre esprit mais pour me le prouver madame faut me dire qui vous estes il faut me descouvrir vos yeux et non pas remplir mon imagination d'une image qui vous convient si peu apres cela seigneur parthenie 
 craignant que timante ne fust pas encore assez desabuse de l'opinion qu'il avoit eue que celle qu'il avoit veue au temple estoit effectivement elle voulut que cette fille vinst luy parler le voile leve de sorte que par ce moyen timante les voyant toutes deux en mesme temps ne pouvoit pas douter que celle qui avoit le voile abaisse ne fust pas une autre personne que celle qu'il avoit veue au temple car encore qu'il ne la vist pas bien distinctement il la reconnut pourtant mais il ne l'eut pas plustost veue et elle ne se fut pas plustost retiree que prenant la parole non non madame dit il a parthenie il ne faloit point me faire voir une seconde fois cette fille pour me desabuser mon erreur n'a dure qu'un moment et mon coeur n'a pas garde longtemps une image si indigne de vous et que j'aurois pourtant conservee si c'eust este la vostre vous m'en dittes trop pour estre creu reprit parthenie et certes a dire vray adjousta t'elle en riant je ne veux pas tout a fait vous blasmer quand vous ne direz pas exactement la verite en cette occasion car enfin tout ce que je puis faire est de souffrir que cette fille me serve c'est pourquoy je ne dois pas trouver si estrange qu'on eust peu de peine a se resoudre de servir une personne qui seroit faite comme elle apres cela le reste de la conversation fut tantost mesle de protestations sinceres d'une affection eternelle et tantost d'un agreable enjouement d'esprit qui ne laissoit pas de faire connoistre a timante et a 
 parthenie qu'ils estoient dignes l'un de l'autre et qu'ils s'aimoient plus encore qu'ils ne se le disoient cependant comme la chose du monde la plus difficile a un amant est de r'enfermer dans son coeur tout ce qui luy arrive et de n'en rien dire a personne timante ne put plus vivre sans avoir la consolation de raconter son avanture a quelqu'un c'est pourquoy changeant le dessein qu'il avoit eu de la cacher a antimaque de peur qu'il ne la dist a doride il creut au contraire qu'il seroit aise a un amant de cacher le secret d'un autre amant si bien qu'apres avoir quitte parthenie et estre retourne chez luy il attendit qu'antimaque revinst de chez policrite afin de luy dire tout ce qui luy estoit advenu et de luy demander conseil de ce qu'il devoit faire pour contenter tout ensemble et sa passion et sa curiosite il ne se descouvrit pourtant pas a antimaque sans luy faire promettre plus d'une fois de ne dire jamais a qui que ce fust ce qu'il alloit luy aprendre en suitte de quoy il luy dit tout ce qui luy estoit arrive d'abord antimaque escouta tout ce que timante luy disoit conme une fort plaisante chose et comme une avanture fort bizarre et fort divertissante sans croire que son amy fust veritablement amoureux d'une personne qu'il ne connoissoit point mais lors qu'il l'entendit exagerer toutes ses inquietudes il connut que sa curiosite estoit une curiosite amoureuse dont il commenca de luy faire la guerre mais comme il vit que timante luy parloit serieusement et ne trouvoit pas trop 
 bon qu'il le pleignist si peu et qu'il l'escoutast en riant antimaque quittant son enjouement luy dit qu'il devoit luy pardonner si la nouveaute de cette advanture l'avoit surpris et luy avoit persuade que ce ne pouvoit estre qu'une simple galanterie et non pas une veritable passion mais poursuivit antimaque puis que vous estes effectivement amoureux je vous pleins infiniment et je vous pleins d'autant plus que je suis persuade qu'il faut de trois choses l'une ou que la persone que vous aimez soit fort bizarre ou qu'elle ne soit point belle ou qu'elle ne soit point de qualite et veuillet les dieux qu'elle ne soit pas quelque chose de pis que tout ce que je dis qu'elle n'est point et que vous ne soyez pas trompe ha cruel et injuste amy reprit timante il paroist bien que vous ne connoissez pas celle que j'adore je la connois autant que vous respondit antimaque car ce fut moy qui vous la fis voir au labirinthe il est vray dit timante mais quoy que vous vissiez alors et sa belle taille et ses belles mains que vous entendiez sa voix et que vous pussiez mesme connoistre son esprit ce n'est pourtant rien en comparaison de ce que j'en connois car enfin il y a je ne scay quel charme dans sa conversation qui me ravit et sans me dire qui elle est elle ne dit pourtant pas une parole qui ne m'assure de la grandeur de son esprit de la noblesse de sa naissance de la generosite de son ame et mesme de la beaute de ses yeux car elle a quelquesfois je ne scay quoy de galant dans ses facons 
 de parler qu'une personne qui ne scauroit pas qu'elle est belle n'auroit point ha seigneur s'escria antimaque que je vous pleins de voir jusques a quel point l'amour a preocupe vostre ame et je vous pleins d'autant plus luy dit il que je ne voy pas par ou vous pouvoir servir puis que vous me deffendez de dire a personne ce que vous venez de me dire et que par consequent je ne puis ny m'informer qui est celle que vous aimez ny la porter a vous estre favorable je pense pourtant adjousta t'il que si vous voulez suivre mon conseil vous pourrez du moins tirer quelque lumiere de ce que vous voulez scavoir
 
 
 
 
timante pria alors antimaque de luy dire donc ce qu'il luy conseilloit de faire je voy bien repliqua t'il par tout ce que vous m'avez dit que vous avez employe toute vostre diligence a persuader a celle que vous aimez de se faire connoistre a vous vous luy avez aporte de pressantes raisons vous l'avez priee ardemment vous luy avez dit de belles et d'agreables choses vous avez mesme adjouste les pleintes aux raisons et aux prieres mais je ne voy pas que vous ayez essaye la liberalite cependant l'amour veut des sacrifices et des offrandes aussi bien que les autres dieux c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez vous chercherez les voyes de trouver un pretexte de faire un present assez magnifique a cette personne si elle est telle que vous la croyez elle le refusera et ne se monstrera pas davantage a vous pour cela ou si elle ne l'est pas et qu'elle soit belle elle le prendra 
 et vous la verrez si c'est le premier vous aurez descouvert une nouvelle beaute en son ame et si c'est la seconde vous aurez du moins le plaisir de contenter vostre curiosite quoy qu'il en soit dit antimaque si elle resiste a vos persuasions a vos souspirs et a vos presens vous aurez tousjours la satisfaction de voir que je ne condaneray plus vostre passion encore que je scache bien reprit timante que la liberalite doit estre inseparable de l'amour je ne laisse pas de craindre d'irriter la personne que j'aime en luy voulant faire un present mais si je fuy vostre conseil il faut du moins que ce que je luy offriray soit si magnifique qu'elle puisse connoistre par la quelle est l'opinion que j'ay de sa qualite et qu'elle puisse juger de la grandeur de mon amour par la richesse de mon present car enfin selon mon sens un amant ne peut raisonnablement passer pour liberal s'il n'est prodigue et certes timante tesmoigna bien en cette occasion qu'il estoit de ce sentiment la puis qu'apres avoir absolument resolu de suivre le conseil d'antimaque il choisit parmy les pierreries qu'il avoit tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus riche et de plus rare il ne le choisit pas mesme sur un petit nombre car conme les personnes de sa condition en portent tousjours beaucoup lors qu'ils voyagent et que timante estoit aussi riche que magnifique il avoit une fort grande quantite de pierreries mais apres avoir mis dans un petit coffre d'orfevrerie garny d'onices tout ce qu'il jugea digne de la personne qu'il aimoit 
 et qu'il eut veu enfin que ce present pourroit l'estre d'une reine il y mit encore une lettre et le porta le lendemain au soir a son assignation resolu de chercher quelque voye de pouvoir faire une liberalite de bonne grace et de tourner la conversation de facon que la chose se fist avec bien-seance apres avoir donc parle quelque temps selon leur coustume parthenie et luy c'est a dire de cent choses agreables et en avoir parle agreablement timante qui estoit tousjours accoustume a se pleindre et qui scavoit en effet que rien n'est plus doux aux belles que d'entendre qu'on se pleigne tousjours de quelque chose se mit a luy faire une pleinte dont il ne s'estoit point encore advise jusques a quand madame luy dit il voulez vous que je ne vous puisse donner nulle marque de mon amour et jusques a quand avez vous resolu que j'aime sans pouvoir obtenir la liberte de faire rien de tout ce que l'amour a accoustume d'inspirer a ceux qu'il met sous son empire car enfin si je scavois qui vous estes et qu'il me fust permis de faire esclater ma passion j'aurois desja fait pour vous tout ce que peuvent faire les amans les plus passionnez les plus soigneux et les plus magnifiques vous auriez eu autant de serenades qu'il y a de jours que j'ay l'honneur de vous connoistre j'aurois desja fait ou quatre festes publiques vous auriez desja donne divers prix le bal vous auroit lassee et vous auriez veu si on scait traitter en crette comme en chipre de plus comme je 
 suis persuade que j'ay des rivaux je vous aurois peutestre fait voir qu'ils ne me doivent point estre preferez je vous aurois suivie en tous lieux j'aurois cherche a estre amy de tous vos amis et ennemy de tous vos ennemis je n'aurois veu que les gens que vous voyez et j'aurois enfin trouve mille voyes de vous faire connoistre la grandeur de ma passion mais au point ou est la chose que fais-je qui vous puisse faire voir mon amour telle qu'elle est vous m'obeissez interrompit parthenie et cela suffit car pourveu que vous continuyez de le faire je croiray vous devoir autant que si vous aviez fait tout ce que vous venez de dire que vous feriez si vous scaviez qui je suis je fais toutesfois si peu de chose reprit il que j'ay bien de la peine a croire que vous puissiez m'avoir grande obligation ny mesme que vous me puissiez estimer car apres tout vous ne scavez si je suis genereux ou non vous ignorez si je suis avare ou liberal et je suis enfin en terme aveque vous que je puis avoir mille vertus que vous ne connoissez pas ou mille deffauts qui vous sont cachez c'est pourquoy faites s'il vous plaist que je ne fois pas renferme dans des bornes si estroites et souffrez que mon amour esclate de quelque maniere que ce soit pour esclater a mes yeux respondit parthenie il faut qu'elle soit cachee a ceux de tout le reste du monde du moins luy dit il madame souffrez donc que je regle toute ma vie par vos conseils et que je vous de mande advis de tout ce que je feray ha 
 pour cela reprit parthenie je le veux bien car comme je ne cherche qu'a vous connoistre parfaitement je seray ravie de scavoir tout ce qu'il y a dans vostre coeur faites moy donc s'il vous plaist l'honneur luy dit il en luy presentant ce petit coffre d'orfevrerie dans lequel estoient ces magnifiques pierreries qu'il luy vouloit donner de me dire si ce que je remets entre vos mains pourroit estre offert a une grande princesse et demain vous me direz ce qu'il vous en aura semble car je le destine a une personne qui merite sans doute d'estre reine d'abord parthenie ne creut point que ce present fust pour elle et elle pensa que c'estoit pour policrite ou peutestre mesme pour aretaphile quoy que ce que disoit timante n'y convinst pas tout a fait c'est pourquoy elle prit ce qu'il luy presentoit sans en faire de difficulte mais elle ne le tint pas plustost qu'elle changea de sentiment et ne douta point que ce present ne fust pour elle cette pensee excita un assez grand trouble dans son coeur car elle eut du despit et de la curiosite le premier parce qu'elle creut que timante ne pensoit pas d'elle ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il en pensast et l'autre parce qu'en effet elle voulut voir ce que timante luy avoit baille c'est pourquoy sans faire semblant qu'elle creust avoir part a cette liberalite elle luy dit qu'elle ne vouloit point remettre au lendemain a luy donner son advis sur ce qu'il luy demandoit et qu'elle le conjuroit de se donner un moment de patience afin qu'elle 
 pust aller voir aupres d'une lampe que estoit allumee en un coin du cabinet si ce qu'il vouloit donner estoit digne de luy estant certain adjousta t'elle obligeamment que s'il est digne de vous il est digne de celle a qui vous le destinez quelle qu'elle puisse estre en disant cela parthenie s'en alla effectivement pour voir ce que timante avoit remis en ses mains avec intention de le luy rendre tout a l'heure mais il s'en alla aussi bien qu'elle afin de luy mieux tesmoigner qu'il ne vouloit pas le reprendre si bien que comme parthenie l'entendit marcher elle retourna a la fenestre pour le rapeller mais il estoit desja sorty du cabinet de iasmin sur le quel cette fenestre respondoit de sorte qu'elle fut contrainte apres avoir attendu quelque temps pour voir s'il ne reviendroit point de refermer la fenestre et de regarder aveque loisir ce que timante luy avoit laisse il est vray qu'elle ne le regarda pas seule car elle le fit voir a amaxite qui ne fut pas peu surprise du prodigieux esclat des pierreries qu'elle vit dans ce petit coffre qui estoit remply de tout ce que nos dames portent de plus magnifique lors qu'elles se parent parthenie regarda pourtant moins toutes ces perles et tous ces diamans qu'une lettre qui estoit au dessus qu'elle trouva estre telle 
 
 
 
 timante a son admirable inconnue 
 
 
 puis qu'il n'y a point de roy qui ne tire tribut de ses sujets souffrez qu'estant non seulement vostre sujet mais vostre esclave je vous donne ce que je puis si ce n'est pas ce que je dois comme deesse il vous faut des offrandes et des sacrifices et comme reine de mon coeur il vous faut un tribut c'est pour quoy je vous conjure de recevoir celuy que je vous offre non pas pour vous faire voir que je suis liberal mais seulement pour vous monstrer que je ne suis pas avare au reste ne pensez pas que je pretende acheter vostre coeur car outre que je scay qu'il est d'un prix inestimable et que tout ce que le soleil a forme d'or de perles et de pierreries depuis qu'il esclaire l'univers ne le pourroient pas payer il est encore constant que si j'ay a le posseder un jour je veux le devoir a mes larmes et a mes souspirs et non pas a des perles et a des diamans cependant n'ayez pas l'inhumanite de vous offencer de ma hardiesse et de trouver mauvais qu'une personne qui vous a donne son coeur tout entier vous donne ce qu'elle estime bien moins c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne m'en hair pas et de ne m'en recevoir pas demain plus froidement si vous ne voulez accabler de douleur le plus amoureux de tous les hommes 
 
 
 timante 
 
 
apres que parthenie eut acheve de lire cette 
 lettre elle la fit lire a amaxite qui ne pouvant assez admirer la liberalite de timante prit la parole apres avoir leu sa lettre pour dire a parthenie que pour donner autant que timante il faloit aimer plus que personne n'avoit jamais aime je ne scay pas si timante m'aime autant que vous le dittes reprit parthenie mais je scay bien tousjours qu'il ne m'estime pas assez et qu'il ne me connoist point du tout car puis qu'il a pense esblouir mes yeux et toucher mon coeur par des diamans il a creu qu'il y avoit de la foiblesse dans mon esprit que j'avois l'ame mercenaire et il n'a enfin rien pense de moy qui me soit advantageux il est vray adjousta t'elle que timante est excusable car ma facon d'agir aveque luy est si bizarre et si extraordinaire que je ne dois trouver son procede estrange aussi suis-je resolue de ne le traitter pas rigoureusement et de me contenter de luy faire voir qu'il s'est abuse lors qu'il a creu que je serois capable de recevoir un present de l'importance du sien et pour faire adjousta t'elle qu'il ne puisse douter de ma generosite je ne veux pas seulement refuser ce qu'il m'offre mais je veux encore luy faire un present et mesme un present si magnifique qu'il puisse en tirer quelque conjecture de ma condition et de ma richesse car les dieux ne m'ont pas menacee d'estre malheureuse quand celuy qui m'espousera scaura que ma naissance n'est pas basse et en effet parthenie fit ce qu'elle dit car non seulement elle remit dans ce petit coffre tout 
 ce que timante luy avoit voulu donner mais elle y mit encore une boiste de portrait couverte de diamans mais des diamans admirables et d'une grandeur fort considerable elle ne craignoit pas mesme qu'elle peust estre reconnue pour estre a elle quand timante l'auroit montre a tout ce qu'il y avoit de monde a paphos car elle l'avoit fait faire a salamis il n'y avoit pas longtemps pour y mettre le portrait de policrite qu'elle osta auparavant que de l'envoyer a timante il est vray qu'elle y escrivit quelque chose avec un crayon elle respondit aussi a la lettre de timante en deguisant son escriture apres quoy je fus charge de faire porter ce petit coffre si lendemain au matin par une personne fidelle et en effet je m'aquitay de cette commission sa heureusement que ce petit coffre fut donne a un escuyer de timante a qui il se fioit extremement pour le rendre a son maistre ne voulant pas le luy faire donner a luy mesme de peur qu'il ne retinst celuy qui le luy eust rendu et ne luy fist dire qu'il le tenoit de ma main et qu'ainsi il n'eust lieu de me presser de luy dire qui estoit la personne qu'il aimoit et qu'il ne peust mesme peutestre le deviner a cause de ma soeur qui estoit avec parthenie la chose se fit donc aussi bien que cette princesse l'eust pu desirer car l'escuyer de timante ne connoissoit point celuy qui luy parla et n'avoit mesme garde de le connoistre ny mesme de le rencontrer sans un grand hazard car c'estoit un homme qui n'estoit pas 
 de paphos et qui en partoit ce jour la de sorte que timante en s'esveillant fut estrangement estonne de voir sur sa table ce qu'il croyoit estre dans les mains de son inconnue d'abord il creut que ses yeux le trompoient ou qu'il n'estoit pas bien esveille mais son escuyer luy ayant dit qu'un homme qu'il ne connoissoit point qui ne s'estoit point voulu nommer et qui n'avoit pas voulu attendre qu'il fust esveille l'avoit charge de luy rendre ce qu'il voyoit il ne douta plus que ce qu'il voyoit ne fust effectivement vray mais comme il crut bien que puis que l'aimable inconnue luy renvoyoit son present il ne la verroit pas il s'en affligea beaucoup et d'autant plus qu'il crut que puis que cette personne estoit assez genereuse pour refuser une liberalite si considerable elle s'en seroit peutestre offencee c'est pourquoy il ouvrit le petit coffre avec beaucoup d'impatience non pas pour scavoir si on luy renvoyoit toutes ses pierreries mais pour voir s'il n'y avoit point de responce a sa lettre mais il fut estrangement estonne de voir droit au dessus de toutes les pierreries qui estoient dedans cette belle et riche boiste que parthenie y avoit mise et qu'il connut d'abord pour n'estre pas a luy il ne l'eut pas plustost veue qu'esperant que peutestre le portrait de celle qu'il mourroit d'envie de voir estoit dedans qu'il l'ouvrit avec precipitation sans s'amuser a en considerer la beaute et la richesse mais au lieu de voir ce qu'il souhaittoit il vit ces paroles escrites a la place de la peinture 
 
 cette boiste servira un jour a mettre mon portrait si vous vous en rendez digne ha cruelle personne s'escria t'il a ce qu'il a raconte depuis ne serez vous jamais lasse d'esprouver ma patience et ne vous resoudrez vous jamais de me faire voir ce que j'adore apres cela voyant des tablettes il les ouvrit et y vit cette lettre
 
 
 au trop curieux timante 
 
 
 je suis si fortement persuadee que la liberalite est une vertu et mesme une vertu heroique que je n'ay garde de rien faire qui vous puisse donner lieu de me soubconner du vice qui luy est oppose c'est pourquoy je vous renvoye vostre magnifique present et je le vous renvoye mesme sans me pleindre aigrement car comme vous ne me connoissez pas pour ce que je suis je ne dois pas m'offencer d'un procede qui me seroit injurieux si vous me connoissiez je me pleins pourtant un peu de ce qu'apres tant de conversations ou je ne vous ay pas cache mon coeur comme mon visage vous n'ayez pas eu assez bonne opinion de moy pour croire que je n'accepterois pas ce que vous m'avez offert je ne veux pourtant pas rompre aveque vous pour cela quand ce ne seroit que pour vous donner lieu de me connoistre mieux cependant pour reparer vostre faute je vous ordonne de garder la boiste que je vous envoye sans la monstrer a personne car si vous la monstrez vous n'y verrez 
 
 jamais ma peinture et ne me verrez jamais moy mesme comme timante achevoit de lire cette lettre antimaque entra qui trouva son amy bien occupe a raisonner sur la nouveaute de cette derniere avanture qu'il luy raconta malgre la deffence de parthenie ne luy estant pas possible de s'en empescher et croyant qu'en effet ce n'estoit pas la trahir que de faire son confident d'un homme qu'il aimoit comme un autre luy mesme mais si timante fut estonne antimaque le fut encore davantage n'y ayant pas moyen apres cela de douter ny de la condition ny de la generosite de cette inconnue car enfin le present de timante estoit si riche qu'il faloit avoir l'ame bien grande pour le refuser et la boiste que parthenie luy donnoit estoit si magnifique qu'il faloit estre tres riche et tres liberale pour la donner si bien qu'antimaque apres cela advoua a timante qu'il avoit raison de continuer son avanture et de voir jusques ou elle pourroit aller il voulut l'obliger a monstrer cette boiste a quelqu'un qui s'y connust pour scavoir ou elle avoit este faite et il voulut aussi l'obliger a luy confier sa lettre pour en faire voir quelques lignes a doride afin de tascher d'en connoistre l'escriture mais comme timante avoit remarque en plusieurs conversations que son inconnue scavoit tout ce qui se passoit dans le monde il n'osa hazarder la chose et il pria mille et mille fois antimaque de ne reveler jamais son secret 
 a personne il avoit pourtant quelquesfois une envie estrange de parler luy mesme a la dame chez qui estoit celle qu'il aimoit mais parthenie luy disoit tousjours si fortement que s'il s'informoit d'elle il ne la verroit plus qu'il n'osoit le faire cependant il attendit le soir avec beaucoup d'impatience il se trouvoit pourtant fort embarrasse a determiner ce qu'il devoit faire de la boiste que parthenie luy avoit donnee car parce qu'elle avoit touche les mains de la personne qu'il aimoit et qu'elle y avoit escrit quelque chose il ne pouvoit se resoudre de la luy rendre d'autre coste elle estoit si riche qu'il croyoit que c'estoit estre moins genereux qu'elle de ne la luy rendre pas de sorte que sans scavoir ce qu'il en vouloit faire il la porta en allant a son assignation il ne fut pourtant pas si heureux qu'il le pensoit estre car parthenie pour l'embarrasser davantage luy fit dire par amaxite qu'elle ne pouvoit le voir ce soir la et comme timante luy en demanda la cause elle luy donna lieu de croire par la responce sans pourtant le luy dire precisement que c'estoit parce qu'elle se preparoit a aller a un bal general qui se faisoit le lendemain chez la princesse policrite de sorte que timante ravy de ce qu'il creut qu'amaxite avoit dit sans y penser se forma le dessein de ne manquer pas d'aller a cette assemblee et d'y parler a tant de dames qu'enfin il peust trouver celle qu'il cherchoit mais comme il espera qu'en faisant parler amaxite il aprendroit 
 peut-estre quelque chose de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir il l'entretint assez longtemps et comme il connut par ce qu'elle disoit qu'elle estoit absolument du secret de parthenie il luy dit cent choses pour luy dire et se mit a exagerer la peine ou il estoit de ce qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre a rendre la boiste qu'on luy avoit envoyee et de ce qu'il la trouvoit trop riche pour la garder toutesfois luy dit il a la fin de leur conversation le milieu que je veux prendre est de vous conjurer de dire a l'aimable personne que j'adore que je luy rendray la boiste qu'elle m'a donnee le jour qu'elle me donnera sa peinture mais afin qu'elle ne me soupconne pas de la garder par un sentimant avare je feray dans quatre jours une autre course de chevaux ou je donneray pour prix tout ce que j'avois eu la hardiesse de luy offrir ainsi je pourray conserver en repos un present qui pourroit faire soupconne d'interest le plus desinteresse de tous les hommes amaxite fit alors tout ce qu'elle put pour luy faire changer de resolution mais il n'y eut pas moyen cependant ils se separerent demeurant d'accord que le jour suivant au sortir du bal il viendroit a l'assignation je ne vous diray point seigneur quelle fut l'inquietude de timante ce jour la elle fut pourtant meslee de beaucoup d'esperance et de beaucoup de joye car il crut qu'il connoistroit son inconue a la voix que du moins il auroit des espions a l'entour de la maison ou elle devoit retourner apres le bal qui luy pourroient dire qui elle estoit il 
 se para donc avec le plus de soin qu'il luy fut possible et fut au bal de si bonne heure que la salle n'estoit pas encore achevee d'esclairer lors qu'il y arriva car comme il ne doutoit point que la personne qu'il aimoit n'y deust venir il estoit bien aise qu'elle l'y trouvast cependant j'avois este adverty par amaxite d'observer tres soigneusement timante et de luy aller rendre conte de mes observations un peu devant que le bal fust finy de sorte que comme j'estois ravy de rendre office a la princesse de salamis et que je n'ignorois pas qu'en la servant en cette occasion je servois aussi timante et mesme le prince philoxipe que je scavois qui desiroit ce mariage je fus presques aussi tost que luy au lieu de l'assemblee qui commenca de se former bientost apres pour moy je n'eus jamais guere plus de plaisir en ma vie que j'en eus ce soir la a regarder timante car il n'arrivoit pas une belle femme que je ne visse dans ses yeux qu'il souhaitoit que ce fust son inconnue il n'en voyoit pas aussi entrer une qui ne le fust point que je ne remarquasse qu'il craignoit que ce ne fust celle la et je vy enfin tant de divers mouvemens dans son visage qu'il m'en fit pitie apres m'avoir fait rire ce qui l'embarrassoit un peu estoit qu'il y avoit trois ou quatre femmes a paphos extremement laides et qu'excepte la reine policrite timoclee et encore une autre il n'y en avoit point de belles qui pussent vray-semblablement faire un present comme celuy qu'il avoit receu cependant il scavoit bien 
 que ce n'estoit pas une de ces quatre personnes car il en connoissoit le son de la voix et scavoit de plus que ce ne pouvoit estre les deux premieres qui estoient mariees et vertueuses il voyoit bien encore que ce n'estoit pas une des autres car elles avoient toutes deux des amans declarez et des amans qui n'estoient pas hais ainsi ne pouvant que pensera il alloit de place en place parlant a toutes les belles et a toutes celles qui ne l'estoient pas les unes apres les autres sans trouvers qu'il cherchoit comme il estoit donc dans cette assemblee et qu'il passoit et re passoit par tous les coins de la sale il vit arriver une dame d'amathonte extremement belle que policrite receut comme une personne de qualite et comme sa beaute est extraordinaire et que timante ne l'avoit encore veue quoy qu'il y eust trois jours qu'elle fust a paphos il la regarda en souhaitant que ce pust estre celle qu'il aimoit mais il ne l'eut pas plustost souhaite que l'entendant parler il creut entendre quelque chose dans le son de sa voix qui ressembloit a celle de son aimable inconnue de sorte que tout ravy de joye de pouvoir esperer de connoistre bientost ce qu'il aimoit il attendit impatiemment que le complimet que policrite luy faisoit fust acheve et qu'elle luy eust fait prendre place elle ne fut pas plustost assise que timante suivant la liberte de nostre cour fut luy parler afin de l'obliger a luy respondre mais comme cette dame estoit une personne de province qui n'estoit pas accoustumee 
 a l'air du monde et qui ne scavoit que dire a ceux qu'elle ne connoissoit point a peine respondit elle a ce que luy disoit timante elle luy respondit mesme assez mal a propos car elle est aussi stupide que belle joint qu'elle parla si peu et si confusement que timante n'entendit presque pas ce qu'elle luy dit cependant comme son imagination estoit preocupee il creut que la stupidite et le silence de cette personne estoient affectez et que c'estoit peutestre son inconnue qui se vouloit deguiser c'est pourquoy il s'obstina a demeurer aupres d'elle esperant tousjours qu'elle luy parleroit davantage mais il eut beau faire elle ne luy dit jamais que ouy ou non il fut pourtant a la fin desabuse de son erreur car un homme d'amathonte qu'elle connoissoit fort s'estant venu mettre devant cette dame elle se mit a luy parler autant qu'elle avoit peu parle jusques alors et a luy dire cent fausses galanteries de province qui firent bien connoistre a timante qu'il s'estoit abuse cependant comme il n'y avoit pas une femme un peu considerable dans cette assemblee a qui il n'eust parle ou que du moins il n'eust assez entendu parler pour croire qu'elle n'estoit pas celle qu'il cherchoit il demeura a la place ou il estoit mais il y demeura si afflige qu'il ne fut pas en estat de remarquer rien de ce qui se passoit dans la compagnie on le forca pourtant a dancer il est vray qu'il le fit si negligeamment quoy qu'il eust accoustume de s'en acquitter fort bien que policrite 
 ne put s'empescher de luy en faire la guerre et de luy dire qu'elle ne comprenoit pas comment il s'estoit tant pare pour prendre si peu d'interest au bal cependant comme je jugeay qu'il finiroit bientost j'en sortis et fus rendre conte a ma soeur de ce que j'avois veu et de tout ce qu'avoit fait timante jusques aux actions les moins remarquables luy disant mesme precisement en quel lieu estoient les principales dames de l'assemblee luy nommant aussi toutes celles a qui timante avoit parle et n'oubliant pas la dame d'amathonte qu'il avoit plus entretenue que toutes les autres quoy que je n'en sceusse pas alors la veritable raison je luy dis aussi qu'il m'avoit semble qu'il y avoit des gens a l'entour de la maison ou estoit parthenie qui prenoient garde qui y entroit mais que je ne croyois pas qu'ils pussent m'avoir connu parce qu'il faisoit fort obscur apres avoir donc dit tout ce que j'avois a dire je sortis par une autre porte que celle par ou j'estois entre mais a peine amaxite eut elle bien instruit parthenie de tout ce qui c'estoit passe que timante vint a son assignation accoustumee cependant parthenie pour l'abuser mieux avoit mis ce soir la beaucoup de pierreries car encore que la fenestre ou elle luy parloit ne fust presques pas esclairee elle l'estoit pourtant assez par une sombre lueur qui venoit de la lune des estoiles et des lampes qui estoient en un coin du cabinet pour faire qu'il pust entrevoir des diamans de sorte que timante 
 connoissant bien que parthenie estoit plus paree qu'a l'ordinaire creut qu'elle avoit donc este au bal quoy qu'il sceust bien qu'il avoit parle a toutes les dames et qu'il sceust encore mieux que toutes celles qu'il avoit entretenues chez policrite n'estoient pas celle qu'il entretenoit alors de plus comme il avoit sceu par ses espions qu'il n'estoit entre qu'un homme dans la maison ou elle estoit il n'avoit pas plustost creu qu'elle avoit este au bal qu'il ne le croyoit plus et qu'il se trouvoit dans la cruelle necessite de ne scauvoir plus que croire mais pour achever de le mettre en inquietude parthenie ne le vit pas plustost que sans luy donner loisir de parler et bien seigneur luy dit elle que vous semble de l'esprit de cette dame d'amathonte aupres de qui vous avez este plus long temps qu'aupres de toutes celles de paphos ne craignez vous point que toutes les dames de nostre cour ne vous haissent de ce que vous leur avez prefere une personne de province et n'aprehendez vous point encore de m'avoir donne de la jalousie plust aux dieux madame interrompit il que ce dernier malheur me fust arrive car comme cette passion ne pourroit estre dans vostre coeur sans avoir este precedee par une autre je serois plus heureux que je ne suis puis que vous m'aimeriez et que je vous verrois et que par consequent je ne serois pas dans la cruelle necessite de vous chercher par tout et de ne vous trouver en nulle part si ce n'est icy ou je ne vous voy pas 
 comme je voudrois vous voir pour estre parfaitement content mais madame adjousta t'il faites moy l'honneur de me dire sincerement si vous avez este au bal ou si vous n'y estiez pas ne suffit il pas pour vous respondre dit elle que je vous die tout ce qui s'est passe dans l'assemblee et alors elle luy dit effectivemet tout ce que j'avois dit a amaxite et l'embarrassa de telle sorte qu'il ne scavoit que penser mais encore luy dit elle qui voudriez vous que je fusse de toutes celles que vous avez veues chez policrite je ne veux rien luy repliqua t'il sinon que vous soyez vous mesme et que je vous connoisse pour ce que vous estes car enfin pour peu que vous continuyez de me traiter comme vous faites je perdray infailliblement la raison tout a bon respondit parthenie en sousriant je commence de l'aprehender et ce qui me le fait craindre est qu'en effet il ne faloit pas que vostre raison fust bien libre lors que vous pristes la resolution de me faire un present si magnifique qu'on n'oseroit l'accepter sans choquer la bienseance et la vertu vous en pouvez encore tirer une autre conjecture adjousta t'il car madame apres m'avoir montre un si bel exemple de generosite vous me faites un present plus riche que le mien et cependant je le garde et le garde mesme sans vous en rendre grace j'espere toutesfois que la personne que vous m'envoyates hier au soir vous aura dit que je ne pretes garder cette belle boiste que jusques a ce que vous m'ayez fait l'honneur de me donner la peinture 
 que vous ne me deffendez pas d'esperer elle s'est sans doute aquitee de sa commission reprit parthenie mais j'ay a vous dire qu'il y a encore bie des choses a faire auparavant que je vous donne mon portrait car enfin je veux estre assuree de vostre coeur pour toute ma vie mais en attendant dittes moy je vous prie a qui vous donnez le prix de la beaute de tout ce que vous avez veu de beau en chipre vous m'avez si bien accoustume luy dit il a ne me servir point de mes yeux que je suis persuade qu'ils sont presentement mauvais juges de la beaute car comme je ne songe qu'a celle de vostre ame et de vostre esprit et que je ne voy pas la vostre je ne scay plus si j'aime les blondes ou les brunes parthenie le pressa alors estrangement de luy dire s'il aimoit mieux la beaute de policrite que celle d'aretaphile afin de tirer un prejuge de ce qu'il trouveroit un jour de la sienne car il y a sans doute des gens qui n'aiment pas toutes sortes de beautez les uns les voulant delicates et les autres non mais quoy qu'elle pust faire il ne voulut jamais s'expliquer nettement parce qu'il ne scavoit pas qu'elle estoit la beaute de la personne a qui il parloit de sorte comme il ne cherchoit qu'a changer de discours il se mit a dire que ce qui l'estonnoit estoit de voir que tout ce qu'il connoissoit de gens en chipre a la reserve d'une femme de ses amies qui avoit un sentiment tout oppose a celuy des autres luy disoient que tout ce qu'il y voyoit de beau n'estoit rien en comparaison 
 de la princesse de salamis parthenie s'entendant nommer creut d'abord que peutestre timante scavoit qui elle estoit mais elle fut bientost desabusee car timante poursuivant son discours il est vray dit il que je croy bien autant cette femme que tous les autres parce qu'elle a beaucoup d'esprit il ne faut pas avoir seulemet de l'esprit reprit elle pour juger de la beaute il faut encore avoir de l'equite et n'estre point envieuse de la gloire d'autruy mais encore luy dit parthenie quelle est cette dame qui vous a parle au desavantage de la princesse de salamis ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je ne trouve qu'on a trop loue sa beaute mais aussi ne suis-je pas tout a fait de celle qui vous l'a tant blasmee timente ne jugeant pas qu'il y eust d'inconvenient de nommer cette dame ne s'en fit pas presser mais il ne l'eut pas plustost nommee que parthenie ne s'estonna plus de l'injustice qu'elle luy avoit faite c'est pourquoy prenant la parole eh de grace seigneur luy dit elle ne jugez pas de la princesse de salamis sur le raport de cette personne qui la hait avec fort peu de raison mais si elle est aussi aimable qu'on le dit repliqua timante comment la peut elle hair ayant autant d'esprit qu'elle en a non non seigneur reprit parthenie ne vous y abusez pas ce n'est point sur le raport d'une autre belle qu'il faut juger d'une autre belle car je suis persuadee que de cent il n'y en aura pas deux equitables ayant presques toutes la foiblesse de croire qu'elles se donnent la gloire qu'elles ostent aux 
 autres il est vray dit timante que je fus estrangement surpris lors que je parlay de la princesse de salamis a cette personne et qu'elle m'en parla d'une maniere si opposee a tout ce qu'on m'en avoit dit mais encore dit parthenie que vous en dit elle precisement car je prends le plus grand plaisir du monde a voir ce que fait l'envie et la jalousie dans l'esprit de ceux qu'elle possede puis que vous le voulez luy dit il madame je vous advoueray qu'apres que j'eus eu l'honneur de vous rencontrer la premiere fois au labirinthe et que je vy que je ne vous trouvois en nulle part et que personne ne me pouvoit dire qui vous estiez je m'imaginay qu'il faloit que vous fussiez cette princesse de salamis dont j'entendois tant parler je n'osay pourtant jamais dire ma pensee a personne excepte a cette dame qui est assez de mes amies mais elle ne me laissa pas longtemps dans cette erreur car elle me dit que cette princesse a la voix d'assez grande estendue sans l'avoir agreable qu'elle est grande sans estre bien faite et qu'elle a les mains blanches sans les avoir belles sans mentir dit parthenie en rian je pense que ceux qui ne se fient ny a autry ny a eux mesmes ont raison et qu'il n'y a rient sur quoy on doive porter un jugement decisif car enfin comme j'aime fort parthenie et que je n'aime pas trop celle qui vous a parle a son desavantage il peut estre que je fais grace a l'une et injustice a l'autre c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien que vous eussiez veu cette princesse pour en juger par vous 
 mesme cependant je vous suis bien oblige d'avoir pu seulement soubconner un instant que je pusse estre elle car quand mesme elle ne seroit pas ce qu'on dit je ne vous en aurois pas moins d'obligation puisque vostre imagination vous figuroit que j'estois telle qu'on vous l'avoit representee et non pas telle que cette dame vous l'a despeinte il est vray madame reprit timante que je me suis forme une image de vous que celle de la beaute de la princesse de salamis auroit bien de la peine a effacer quelque belle qu'elle puisse estre mais de grace luy dit parthenie qui mouroit d'envie de scavoir ce que timante penseroit de sa beaute voyez cette princesse mais madame repliqua t'il ou la peut on voir le prince philoxipe luy a demande la permission de me mener a son desert sans qu'elle ait voulu m'accorder cet honneur dont je ne me soucie plus guere car enfin madame toute ma curiosite est renfermee en vous seule et je ne veux plus voir que vous je vous seray pourtant bien obligee respondit elle si vous voulez avoir celle devoir la princesse de salamis mais encore une fois madame luy dit il comment la pourrois-je voir vous le pourrez bien aisement dit parthenie car je scay qu'elle va presques tous les ans a pareil jour que demain a un petit temple de venus uranie qui n'est qu'a trente stades d'icy du coste qu'on va a amathonte je scay bien ou est ce temple dit il car on me le montra en allant a la feste des adoniennes puisque cela est dit elle je vous prie 
 allez y demain car je vous advoue que je seray ravie que la beaute de cette princesse vous plaise afin qu'une personne que je m'aime pas vous soit suspecte a l'advenir et ne soit plus tant de vos amies ha madame interrompit timante il n'est nullement necessaire que je voye la princesse de salamis et que je connoisse que celle qui l'a blasmee est une envieuse pour m'obliger a n'estre plus de ses amis car puis qu'elle ne vous plaist pas je ne la verray jamais non dit elle je ne veux point que ce soit par complaisance mais par raison c'est pourquoy faites ce que je veux je vous en conjure mais madame dit il si cette princesse est aussi belle qu'on le dit il me semble que vous ne vous souciez guerre de mon coeur puis que vous voulez l'exposer a un si grand danger et que vous devriez du moins me monstrer vos yeux afin de me deffendre des siens au contraire dit elle comme je pretens ne vous donner mon affection toute entiere que je seray assuree de la vostre je voudrois que la princesse de salamis fust encore mille fois plus belle qu'elle n'est afin de tirer une plus grande preuve de vostre constance car comme je ne veux point de coeur infidelle que je ne veux point estre aimee comme belle quand il seroit vray que je la serois et que je veux m'assurer contre tous les maux que la beaute peut faire je seray bien aise que vous voiyez tout ce qu'il y a de beau en chipre afin qu'apres cela je n'aye plus rien a craindre enfin seigneur parthenie conduisit la chose 
 avec tant d'art que timante luy promit d'aller le ledemain voir si la princesse de salamis seroit a ce temple sans qu'il soubconnast rien de la verite ny sans qu'il creust qu'il y eust nul autre sujet au commandement qu'elle luy faisoit sinon qu'elle aimoit a estre obeie ponctuellement en toutes choses de sorte qu'ils se separerent ainsi au sortir de ce jardin timante se souvenant que son inconnue avoit tesmoigne n'estre pas amie de celle qui avoit parle au desavantage de la princesse de salamis espera venir a la connoistre en s'informant avec qui elle avoit eu quelque demesle mais il fut trompe car il sceut que cette personne en avoit eu avec toutes celles qui l'avoient pratiquee et qu'ainsi il ne la pouvoit distinguer apres que timante eut quitte parthenie elle commenca de donner ordre a tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour le petit voyage qu'elle devoit faire le lendemain amaxite m'ecrivit un billet afin que je luy envoyasse un chariot a la pointe du jour parthenie ne voulant pas se servir de celuy de la dame chez qui elle estoit parce que timante l'auroit connu de sorte que ne manquant plus rien pour executer son dessein elle se leva tres matin et s'habilla avec une magnificence extreme se coiffant aveque soin et n'oubliant rien de tout ce qui pouvoit luy estre avantageux mais apres qu'elle fut achevee d'habiller et qu'elle eut consulte son miroir pour la derniere fois amaxite luy demanda quel dessein elle avoit n'estant pas encore bien satisfaite de 
 toutes les raisons qu'elle luy avoit dittes je veux luy dit elle scavoir precisement ce que timante pensera de moy et c'est ce que je ne scaurois jamais si je me montrois a luy en me descouvrant pour ce que je suis mais madame luy dit amaxite puis que vous ne craignez donc plus que vostre beaute gagne le coeur de timante que ne vous resoluez vous a luy dire la verite non non reprit parthenie je n'ay point change de sentimens je crains tousjours les menaces des dieux et ce n'est que par cette crainte que j'agis bizarrement comme je fais mais apres tout madame dit amaxite je suis assuree que timante va vous trouver la plus belle personne qu'il ait jamais veue et selon mon sens toute la beaute de vostre esprit de vostre ame de vos mains de vostre taille et de vostre voix aura bien de la peine a tenir contre celle de vos yeux c'est pourquoy poursuivit amaxite si vous croyez estre capable de ne vouloir point espouser timante si par hazard il devient aussi amoureux de vostre beaute que de vostre esprit ne l'exposez point a ce danger et cherchez quelque autre voye d'esprouver sa fidelite amaxite eut pourtant beau dire parthenie ne voulut point s'examiner elle mesme et sans scavoir bien precisement ce qu'elle penseroit si timante la louoit trop ou trop peu elle fut a ce temple si matin qu'elle ne fut pas exposee a estre connue dans la ville joint que comme je l'ay desja dit elle logeoit tout contre une des portes elle fut mesme par un 
 chemin destourne afin d'y arriver comme si elle fust venue du coste de salamis qui estoit celuy de son desert mais comme elle craignit que si timante la voyoit dans le temple il ne vinst a la connoistre a la taille des qu'elle fut arrivee elle fit offrir un sacrifice apres quoy voyant que timante n'estoit pas encore venu elle fut sur le pretexte de se vouloir reposer chez le sacrificateur dont le logement estoit oppose au grand chemin qui venoit de paphos de sorte qu'estant entree dans une salle basse elle s'apuya contre une des fenestres qui estoit ouverte s'entretenant avec amaxite de qui le voile estoit leve aussi bien que le sien car pour favoriser son dessein le soleil estoit couvert et elle pouvoit estre a cette fenestre sans incommodite elle n'y eut pas este un quart d'heure qu'amaxite aperceut timante qui venoit droit vers le lieu ou elle estoient n'ayant aveque luy qu'un escuyer seulement et elle ne l'eut pas plustost veu qu'elle le montra a parthenie justement dans le mesme temps que timante tournoit les yeux vers elle il en estoit pourtant encore assez esloigne c'est pourquoy ne pouvant pas bien juger de sa beaute il s'en aprocha sans empressement mais lors qu'il fut assez pres de parthenie pour distinguer les traits de son visage il ne douta point que ce ne fust la princesse de salamis et il fut si surpris du prodigieux esclat ne sa beaute qu'il en changea de couleur et advoua en luy mesme que l'image qu'il s'estoit formee de son aimable inconnue 
 n'estoit pas si belle que cette princesse il marcha donc le plus lentement qu'il put il la regarda avec une attention pleine de transport il la salua avec un profond respect et il n'entra dans le temple qu'apres l'avoir consideree avec assez de loisir car ayant trouve un des sacrificateurs dans la place qui estoit entre le temple et la maison ou estoit cette princesse il s'y arresta aveque luy afin d'avoir un pretexte de la voir plus long temps d'abord il eut dessein d'aller luy faire une visite scachant qu'elle n'ignoroit pas qu'il estoit amy du prince son frere mais comme il n'avoit qu'un escuyer aveque luy et qu'il estoit mesme assez neglige il ne put resoudre d'aller se faire voir de plus pres a une personne de qui la beaute luy avoit desja donne tant d'admiration et tant de respect c'est pourquoy n'osant demeurer au lieu ou il estoit apres que le sacrificateur a qui il avoit parle fut entre dans le temple il y entra aussi esperant toutesfois qu'il la reverroit encore quand il en sortiroit mais parthenie qui n'avoit pas dessein qu'il luy parlast ni qu'il la suivist ne le vit pas plustost entre dans ce temple qu'elle monta dans son chariot et prit le chemin de sa belle solitude elle le quitta pourtant aussi tost qu'elle fut dans un bois qui n'estoit qu'a deux stades du temple mais comme elle ne vouloit arriver a paphos que de nuit et qu'elle ne vouloit pas rencontrer timante elle fit prendre une route fort destournee dans la forest qui la mena a une maison de la 
 connoissance de ma soeur ou elle passa le milieu du jour et d'ou elle ne partit qu'a l'heure qu'il faloit pour arriver tard a paphos cependant seigneur comme parthenie avoit bien remarque que sa beaute n'avoit pas manque de produire son effet accoustume dans l'esprit de timante c'est a dire de luy donner de l'admiration et de luy en donner mesme d'une maniere qui luy faisoit voir que quoy qu'il en eust attendu il en avoit pourtant este surpris elle ne scavoit si elle en devoit estre ou bien aise ou faschee elle avoit pourtant desire de plaire a timante mais apres tout quand elle se souvenoit des menaces des dieux elle estoit presques marrie de voir que la beaute touchoit si fort l'esprit de son amant et elle craignoit enfin puisqu'il y estoit si sensible qu'il ne fust pas aussi constant qu'elle le souhaitoit et qu'elle l'avoit espere mais luy disoit amaxite en riant si timante change l'objet de sa passion en cette rencontre il ne sera pas inconstant pour cela puis qu'il vous aimera tousjours je vous assure luy respondit elle que je pense que je ne serois guere moins jalouse de moy que d'une autre ha madame interrompit amaxite il n'est pas possible que vous vous attachiez si scrupuleusement a l'oracle que vous pussiez avoir un pareil sentiment et estre jalouse de vous mesme car enfin voudriez vous que timante n'eust point d'yeux ou qu'en ayant il les eust mauvais et mauvais jusques au point que de vous trouver desagreable en verite amaxite 
 reprit elle vous m'embarrassez fort car je vous advoue que je ne serois point bien aise de desplaire a timante mais apres tout je ne veux point qu'il ait l'ame extraordinairement sensible a la beaute et je vous declare que si je remarque ce soir qu'il soit capable de preferer la princesse de salamis a cette inconnue qu'il entretiendra j'en auray une douleur extreme en verite madame repliqua amaxite je ne vous puis croire et je suis persuadee que malgre toutes les menaces des dieux vous ne pensez point a ce que vous dittes n'estant assurement pas possible qu'une belle personne puisse estre ennemie de ses propres charmes mais seigneur pendant que parthenie et amaxite s'entretenoient de cette sorte timante s'entretenoit luy mesme fort agreablement de la prodigieuse beaute qu'il avoit veue helas disoit il que n'est il possible de joindre l'esprit de mon aimable inconnue a la beaute que je viens de voir afin de me rendre le plus heureux de tous les hommes par la possession de la personne du monde la plus accomplie il est vray qu'elle la seroit trop et s'il y avoit une femme au monde aussi belle que la princesse de salamis et de qui l'esprit fust aussi grand et aussi plein d'agreement que celuy de la personne que j'aime on luy esleveroit plus d'autels qu'a venus anadiomene ny qu'a venus uranie contentons nous donc de ce que les dieux ont donne a celle que j'adore et souhaitons seulement qu'elle ne soit qu'un peu moins belle que la princesse 
 de salamis
 
 
 
 
timante ne s'entretint pourtant pas longtemps car l'envie qu'il avoit de revoir encore une fois l'admirable beaute qui avoit si agreablement surpris ses yeux et si doucement touche son coeur fit qu'il sortit du temple bientost apres y estre entre mais il fut fort afflige de ne voir plus ce qu'il avoit desire de revoir encore une fois et d'apprendre par ceux qui gardoient ses chevaux que la princesse de salamis estoit partie un moment apres qu'il estoit entre dans le temple il se fit mesme monstrer le chemin qu'elle avoit pris et le suivit quelque temps mais comme elle estoit desja dans le bois devant qu'il peust estre monte a cheval il ne s'y obstina pas et s'en retourna a paphos si ravy de la beaute de cette princesse qu'il s'en falloit peu qu'il ne craignist d'en estre amoureux cependant comme son inconnue ne luy avoit pas ordonne de faire un secret de ce petit voyage il le dit a tout le monde ce jour la et se contenta d'en cacher la cause et ce qui l'y obligea fut qu'effectivement il ne pouvoit s'empescher de louer la beaute de la princesse de salamis qu'il scavoit bien qu'il n'oseroit louer avec exces en parlant le soir a son inconnue n'ignorant pas qu'il ne faut jamais qu'un amant loue une belle personne avec empressement devant sa maistresse il le devoit mesme d'autant moins faire qu'il scavoit que la sienne ne vouloit pas qu'on fust aussi sensible a la beaute du corps qu'a celle de l'esprit de sorte qu'il ne fit que louer la beaute de la princesse de 
 salamis a tout ce qu'il vit de gens ce jour la il en parla a philoxipe a policrite a doralise et fut mesme faire une derniere visite a cette dame qui luy avoit dit autresfois qu'elle n'estoit pas si belle qu'on la disoit afin de luy dire qu'elle ne se connoissoit pas en beaute il ne luy vint pourtant aucun soubcon que cette princesse fust son inconnue comme il en avoit eu autre fois presuposant qu'il seroit absolument impossible qu'une femme qui seroit aussi belle que l'estoit cette princesse peust se resoudre de cacher sa beaute a un homme qui seroit amoureux d'elle pour son esprit seulement et a un homme encore qu'elle ne haissoit pas et dont elle souhaitoit d'estre eternellement aimee car comme il ne scavoit pas les oracles que cette princesse avoit receus il n'avoit garde de deviner la veritable cause d'un procede si bizarre et si extraordinaire personne ne trouva mesme estrange que la princesse de salamis fust venue si pres de paphos sans y entrer car on scavoit son humeur mais philoxipe et policrite murmurerent un peu de ce qu'elle n'avoit pas envoye scavoir de leurs nouveles sans en imaginer autre cause sinon qu'elle n'avoit pas voulu qu'on sceust qu'elle fust si pres de paphos de peur qu'on ne l'obligeast d'y aller cependant le soir estant venu timante fut a son assignation accoustumee resolu de louer la beaute de la princesse de salamis mais de ne la louer pas trop pour les raisons que j'ay dittes et il prit d'autant plustost cette resolution 
 qu'il sentoit dans son coeur une si grande disposition a la louer fortement qu'il songea a s'observer luy mesme autant qu'il put a peine fut il aupres de parthenie qu'elle luy demanda ce qu'il luy sembloit de la princesse de salamis elle me semble sans doute fort belle reprit il et je trouve que celle qui m'en avoit parle froidement luy faisoit une grande injustice car enfin si cette princesse a l'esprit aussi brillant que les yeux et l'ame aussi belle que le visage elle est sans doute fort accomplie mais quand elle ne seroit que belle reprit parthenie ne trouvez vous pas qu'on la pourroit aimer ouy repliqua t'il en sousriant si on n'avoit que des yeux et qu'on n'eust point d'esprit non non interrompit parthenie je ne veux point qu'on se desguise et cependant je voy bien que vous ne songez pas tant a me respondre selon vos sentimens que selon les miens et que vous cherchez pour le moins autant a dire ce que je veux que vous disiez que ce que vous pensez quand cela seroit madame reprit il serois-je criminel d'estre complaisant la complaisance dit-elle ne doit point s'estendre jusques a desguiser ses sentimens il suffit qu'on les soumette et il ne les faut pas cacher joint que le veritable plaisir consiste en la conformite des pensees et non pas des paroles seulement en effet j'ay plus de joye de voir qu'une personne que j'aime pense justement ce que je pense moy mesme que si a ma consideration elle se contraignoit en toutes choses et il y 
 a je ne scay quoy de si doux dans cette rencontre d'esprits de pensees et de sentimens qu'on s'en aime la moitie davantage c'est pourquoy ne vous amusez point a chercher ce que je souhaite que vous me disiez car vous ne m'y scauriez tromper mais madame reprit timante je vous parle tousjours sincerement vous me demandez si la princesse de salamis est belle je vous respons qu'elle l'est beaucoup m'esloigne-je de la verite parthenie estant alors en colere de ce qu'elle creut en effet que sa beaute n'avoit pas autant touche timante qu'elle l'avoit pense prit la parole avec un ton de voix un peu esleve vous louez si froidement la princesse de salamis luy dit elle qu'il est aise de voir que vous ne la louez que par complaisance ou que vous ne vous empeschez de la louer que par finesse et que pour me persuader que vous n'avez point le coeur sensible a la beaute il est vray madame repliqua t'il que je ne l'ay presentement qu'a celle de vostre esprit et qu'a tout ce que je connois de vous c'est pourquoy ne vous estonnez pas luy dit il croyant qu'il ne pouvoit luy rien dire qui luy plust davantage si je ne suis pas aussi charme de la beaute de la princesse de salamis que je le serois si je n'estois pas amoureux de vous car enfin j'avois une telle impatience de revenir icy que je ne l'ay pas consideree longtemps voila donc seigneur a peu pres de quelle facon se passa la conversation de timante et de parthenie ce soir la timante n'osant 
 presques louer la beaute de la princesse de salamis quoy que parthenie tesmoignast le souhaiter et parthenie ne scachant precisement si elle vouloit qu'il la louast fort ou qu'il ne la louast guere mais apres qu'il fut party elle se determina pourtant et s'imagina qu'en effet sa beaute n'avoit point de charmes pour luy et qu'elle s'estoit abusee lors qu'elle avoit creu voir et en son visage et en ses actions des marques de surprise et d'admiration non non disoit elle a amaxite je me suis assurement trompee et tout ce que je croyois estre admiration n'a este qu'estonnement timante a sans doute este surpris mais c'a este de voir qu'on m'ait tant louee avec si peu de sujet il aime assurement la beaute sous une autre forme que celle que les dieux m'ont donnee il y a quelque chose en mon visage qui choque ses yeux et qui me fera sans doute perdre un jour tout ce que mon esprit m'a aquis mais madame luy disoit amaxite vous ne voulez pas que timante vous aime pour vostre beaute il est vray dit elle mais je ne veux pas aussi qu'il me haisse parce que j'auray quelque chose dans les yeux qui ne luy plaira pas je scay bien poursuivit cette princesse que tout ce que je dis vous paroist deraisonnable mais amaxite je n'y scaurois que faire car enfin si vous aviez esprouve comme moy quel malheur est celuy de se voir mesprisee par la mesme personne de qui on a este adoree vous excuseriez toutes mes foiblesses et vous trouveriez que j'ay raison 
 de faire toutes choses possibles pour m'assurer du coeur de timante cependant seigneur parthenie ne fut pas longtemps a s'affliger de ce qu'elle croyoit que sa beaute ne plaisoit point a son amant car comme je m'estois trouve en trois ou quatre lieux ou il l'avoit louee avec tant d'empressement qu'on luy avoit fait la guerre d'en estre amoureux je fus le lendemain le dire a amaxite et mesme a parthenie et comme je ne pouvois pas me persuader qu'il peust jamais y avoir de danger de dire a une belle personne qu'on avoit extraordinairement loue sa beaute j'exageray la chose autant que je pus je joignis mesme le raisonnement a mon recit et je dis enfin que je croyois en effet que timante estoit aussi amoureux de sa beaute que de son esprit ainsi madame luy dit amaxite on peut assurer sans mensonge que timante a deux passions sans estre inconstant puis qu'il n'aime qu'une mesme personne qu'en donnant son coeur d'un coste il ne l'oste point de l'autre et qu'on peut aussi adjouster que vous avez une rivale que vous ne scauriez hair car enfin je ne pense pas que vostre esprit puisse envier le pouvoir de vos yeux ny que vos yeux s'opposent aussi aux conquestes de vostre esprit parthenie escouta ce qu'amaxite luy disoit presques sans luy respondre mais apres que je fus party et qu'elle m'eut encore ordonne de continuer a luy aprendre tout ce que faisoit timante elle commenca de se pleindre presques autant des louanges qu'il 
 donnoit a sa beaute en parlant aux autres qu'elle avoit fait le soir auparavant de ce qu'il luy en avoit trop peu donne en parlant a elle joint que voyant qu'il ne luy en avoit pas parle sincerement elle s'en affligea ce fut pourtant un peu moins fortement qu'elle n'avoit fait lors qu'elle croyoit qu'elle ne luy plaisoit pas et comme amaxite la pressoit et luy demandoit quel terme elle prenoit pour achever de s'assurer de coeur de timante elle luy dit qu'elle ne le scavoit pas elle mesme cependant madame luy dit amaxite il ne me semble pas que vous ayez plus rien a attendre ny a eprouver pour vous mettre l'esprit en repos et pour estre persuadee que timante est celuy que les dieux veulent que vous espousiez car enfin il a commence de vous aimer sans le pouvoir de vostre beaute et sans scavoir mesme si vous estiez ny noble ny riche il vous aime encore sans scavoir si vous estes belle et il vous aime en un lieu ou il y a mille beautez esclatantes qui font ce qu'elles peuvent pour gagner son coeur vous luy avez voulu persuader que vous estiez laide et il a en effet sujet de le soubconner neantmoins il continue de vous aimer vous avez mesme employe vostre propre beaute pour esprouver sa constance et vous voyez qu'il vous est si fidelle qu'il n'ose la louer en parlant a vous de peur assurement de vous donner sujet de croire qu'il puisse estre trop sensible a la beaute tout ce que vous dittes est vray reprit parthenie mais apres tout si timante pouvoit estre 
 capable de laisser toucher son coeur aux yeux de la princesse de salamis au prejudice de son inconnue quoy que cette inconnue et cette princesse ne soient qu'une mesme chose j'aurois pourtant lieu de craindre que s'il quittoit mon esprit pour ma beaute il ne quittast encore apres et ma beaute et mon esprit pour quelque autre personne a qui la grace de la nouveaute donneroit beaucoup d'avantage si bien que pour m'assurer absolument du coeur de timante je veux encore esprouver l'absence qui est sans doute la plus forte espreuve de toutes c'est pourquoy je veux m'en retourner a ma solitude et m'en retourner mesme sans luy dire adieu de peur que s'il scavoit que je deusse sortir de paphos il ne mist tant d'espions a l'entour de cette maison qu'il pust me faire suivre amaxite voulut s'opposer a son dessein et luy persuader de se faire connoistre a timante mais il n'y eut pas moyen elle ne put pourtant partir le lendemain parce qu'il y avoit encore quelques ordres a donner pour son despart afin qu'il pust estre secret si bien qu'elle vit encore une fois timante a qui elle fit fort la guerre des louanges excessives qu'il avoit donnees a la princesse de salamis et de ce qu'il n'avoit pas parle en mesmes termes lors qu'il luy en avoit dit son sentiment c'est pourquoy adjousta t'elle il me semble que j'ay lieu de croire que ceux qui vous ont accuse d'en estre amoureux ont raison mais de grace si cela est poursuivit cette princesse sans scavoir si elle 
 vouloit qu'il luy dist ouy ou non advouez le moy je vous en conjure afin que je ne m'engage pas davantage d'affection et que je ne vous empesche pas de faire cette conqueste mais seigneur ne vous y trompez pas vous ne la trouverez pas si aisee a faire que vous pensez je connois parthenie elle est aussi difficile a contenter que moy et aussi delicatte si bien que selon toutes les apparences si vous me quittez pour elle vous me perdrez sans la gagner timante entendant parler parthenie de cette sorte se mit a luy protester qu'il n'estoit point amoureux de la princesse de salamis et qu'il ne le seroit jamais vous m'en promettez plus que je n'en demande reprit elle en sousriant et il suffit que vous m'assuriez seulement que vous ne l'estes point presentement car pour l'advenir vous seriez bien hardy si vous en respondiez avec autant de certitude que du present c'est pourquoy ne confondons pas les choses mais madame dit timante puis que je ne suis point amoureux de la princesse de salamis il s'enfuit de necessite que je ne le seray jamais car enfin outre que je ne chercheray point a la voir il est encore vray que quand je le voudrois je ne la verrois pas puis qu'elle m'a desja refuse cet honneur ainsi vous devez estre en seurete de ce coste la j'advoue bien puis que vous scavez ce que j'en ay dit ailleurs que la princesse de salamis est la plus belle personne que je vy jamais comme vostre esprit encore plus beau que ses yeux que je vous serviray toute ma vie et 
 que je ne la verray plus il s'enfuit de necessite que je ne l'aimeray point et que je vous aimeray tousjours encore une fois dit parthenie laissons l'advenir a la providence des dieux mais madame dit il vous m'avez dit cent fois que vous ne voulez point recevoir d'affection si vous n'estes assuree qu'elle sera eternelle il faut donc bien que vous regardiez l'advenir et que vous conceviez qu'il soit possible de s'en assurer et par les choses passees et par les choses presentes quoy qu'il en soit dit parthenie je ne veux point qu'on m'asseure esgalement le present et l'advenir de peur qu'on ne me les rende tous deux suspects apres plusieurs semblables discours timante se retira et le lendemain parthenie partit pour s'en retourner a sa solitude me laissant une lettre pour timante que j'eus ordre de luy faire tenir secrettement sans qu'il peust soubconner d'ou elle venoit mais comme la difficulte estoit de faire que timante peust respondre sans qu'il sceust par quelle voye ses lettres seroient rendues je fus quelque temps sans en trouver l'invention neantmoins a la fin je resvay tant que je trouvay moyen de faire rendre la lettre de parthenie a timante et de luy en faire avoir responce sans l'exposer a estre connue de luy pour ce qu'elle estoit et voicy comment j'agis en cette occasion j'envoyay la premiere lettre de parthenie a timante comme je luy avois renvoye ses pierreries c'est a dire par une personne inconnue qui la donna a son escuyer mais je joignis 
 un billet a cette lettre par lequel je luy disois en desguisant mon escriture comme parthenie desguisoit la sienne que s'il vouloit respondre il le pouvoit faire seurement n'ayant qu'a ordonner qu'on donnast sa lettre a une personne qui seroit le lendemain tout le matin au pied d'une statue de venus dans le plus grand temple de paphos mais afin que la chose se fist sans rien hazarder je fis une fausse confidence a un de mes amis et je luy fis croire qu'il m'importoit extremement pour un dessein que je lui dirois un jour quand j'en aurois eu la permission d'une personne qui pouvoit tout sur moy de recevoir des lettres sans qu'on sceust par qui je les recevois ni pour qui je les recevois et j'embrouillay tellement la chose qu'il ne put jamais demesler si j'agissois pour moy ou pour un autre et si c'estoit une affaire d'estat ou de galanterie si bie que sans scavoir si j'agissois par amour ou par ambition il fit ce que je voulois qu'il fist car comme je l'avois instruit exactement et qu'il estoit fidelle et hardy y je creus bien qu'il me serviroit comme je voulois l'estre et en effet la chose alla comme je l'avois pense je fis donc rendre la lettre que parthenie avoit laisse en partant qui surprit extremement timante elle estoit a peu pres conceue aux mesmes termes que je vous diray bientost car comme l'aventure de parthenie a este fort extraordinaire il n'y a personne a paphos presentement qui n'en scache toutes les particularitez et puis comme j'en ay este en 
 quelque facon le confident je pense pouvoir dire que je scay aussi bien tout ce qui c'est passe entre ces deux illustres personnes qu'elles mesmes voicy donc comment estoit la lettre de la princesse de salamis
 
 
 a timante 
 
 
 dans la resolution que j'ay prise de voir si l'affection que vous dittes avoir pour moy pourra resister a l'absence et la surmonter il me semble que vous me devez avoir quelque obligation de vous avoir espargne la peine de me dire adieu croyez encore si vous le voulez que je me la suis voulu espargner a moy mesme car comme je vous cache mon visage il est ce me semble juste de vous dire ce que vous pourriez deviner dans mes yeux si vous les voiyez et ce que je ne vous dirois sans doute pas si vous les pouviez voir si durant cette absence j'aprens que vous me soyez fidelle et qu'effectivement vous n'aimiez point la beaute de la princesse de salamis a mon prejudice il pourra estre qu'a nostre premiere conversation vous scaurez veritablement qui je suis cependant souvenez vous qu'il ne vous est non plus permis de vous informer qui vous rend mes lettres ny qui recoit les vostres que de moy mesme il y va de tout vostre repos si vous m'aimez et de tout le mien aussi adieu 
 
 
la lecture de cette lettre ne surprit pas seulement timante elle l'affligea et l'affligea mesme sensiblement aussi fut ce veritablement alors qu'il connut qu'il aimoit assionnement celle qu'il ne connoissoit point car il 
 fut si touche de son absence que la melancholie qu'il en eut se fit voir et dans ses yeux et dans sa conversation estant certain qu'il parut resveur durant plusieurs jours ce qui augmentoit son inquietude estoit de voir qu'il ne luy estoit pas permis de s'informer de la chose du monde qu'il souhaitoit le plus de scavoir aussi ne put il pas demeurer exactement dans les bornes qu'on luy avoit prescrites il fut luy mesme porter sa responce a celuy de mes amis qui l'attendoit precisement au lieu que je luy avois marque mais il fut fort estonne de voir que c'estoit un homme qu'il connoissoit et un homme de qualite que ne fit il point alors pour l'obliger a luy dire a qui il devoit rendre la lettre qu'il luy donnoit mais il n'y eut pas moyen et timante se vit dans la necessite de le conjurer de ne dire pas du moins qu'il luy eust rien demande de sorte que mon amy m'ayant rendu cette lettre qui ne pouvoit avoir de suscription determinee je l'envoyay a parthenie qui trouva qu'elle estoit telle
 
 
 le mal'heureux timante a sa cruelle inconnue 
 
 
 en pensant m'espargner la douler de vous dire adieu vous m'en avez accable car enfin madame que pensez vous que devienne un homme qui vous adore qui ne scait qui vous estes qui ne scait ou vous allez ny mesme si vous changez de lieu et qui ignore esgallement 
 quand vous reviendrez pour luy ou si vous ne reviendrez jamais au nom des dieux madame ayez quelque compassion de ma constance et ne craignez pas que la beaute de la princesse de salamis vous chasse de mon coeur je l'admireray sans doute mais je ne l'aimeray pas et comme je vous l'ay deja dit je ne la verray point mais aussi ne poussez pas ma patience jusqu'au bout si vous ne voulez me faire mourir non seulement d'amour mais encore de curiosite revenez donc si vous estes partie ou montrez vous a moy si vous ne l'estes pas car en verite je ne puis seulement imaginer ou vous estes ny ou vous pouvez estre et je suis persuade que pour peu que vostre inhumanite dure encore je ne scauray plus moy mesme qui je suis je scay pourtant que rien ne scauroit m'empescher d'estre le plus fidelle de vos amans et le plus passionne de vos adorateurs 
 
 
 timante 
 
 
voila donc seigneur qu'elle fut la responce que j'envoyay a parthenie qui escrivit plusieurs fois a timante et timante a elle cependant comme la beaute de cette princesse qu'il avoit veue a ce temple qui est sur le chemin d'amathonte avoit fait une sorte impression dans le coeur de timante il en parla encore plusieurs fois de sorte que comme antimaque a cause de l'amour qu'il avoit pour doride eust este ravy que timante eust espouse parthenie il se mit a luy dire que c'estoit veritablement de cette princesse qu'il pouvoit devenir amoureux avec 
 honneur et non pas d'une personne inconnue qui peutestre n'avoit aucune beaute et qui du moins avoit quelque chose de bien particulier et de bien bizarre dans l'esprit timante voulut alors le faire souvenir qu'il luy avoit dit qu'il ne condamneroit plus sa passion si l'inconnue refusoit ses presens mais antimaque luy respondit que quand il avoit dit cela il ne pensoit pas qu'il peust y avoir en chipre un party si avantageux pour luy mais qu'aujourd'huy qu'il scavoit que le prince philoxipe eust en effet souhaite qu'il eust espouse sa soeur il ne pouvoit pas demeurer dans ses premiers sentimens car enfin luy dit il faites un peu comparaison de vostre inconnue a parthenie pour la condition il est tousjours certain qu'elle ne scauroit estre plus haute ny mesme si haute car il n'y en a point en toute cette isle pour la beaute de la facon dont vous parlez vous mesme de celle de cette princesse il n'y en scauroit avoir de plus grande pour la vertu vous scavez quelle est sa reputation et pour l'esprit tout le monde confesse que personne ne l'a jamais eu ny si grand ny si beau et apres cela vous voudriez luy preferer vostre inconnue je le voudray sans doute reprit timante car je l'aime et elle ne me hait pas et pour la princesse de salamis quand mesme le je pourrois aimer et que sa prodigieuse beaute me forceroit a estre infidelle il seroit fort douteux si elle m'aimeroit car enfin j'ay ouy dire qu'elle a l'esprit delicat et difficile que peu 
 de gens luy plaisent et que beaucoup l'importunent quoy qu'ils ne soient pas tout a fait sans merite c'est pourquoy ne me parlez plus de cette princesse dont l'image n'est que trop profondement demeuree empreinte dans mon imagination cependant doride qui par l'interest qu'elle prenoit a antimaque desiroit que timante s'arrestast en chipre persuadoit autant qu'elle pouvoit a policrite de forcer la princesse de salamis a quitter sa solitude si bien que sans que parthenie en sceust rien philoxipe policrite doride et antimaque songeoient a la marier a timante et certes il fut a propos que la chose allast ainsi estant certain que je ne pense pas que jamais parthenie eust pu se resoudre a se descouvrir a timante pour ce qu'elle estoit car comme sa raison n'estoit pas tout a fait preocupee il y avoit des jours ou elle trouvoit son procede si bizarre qu'elle croyoit que timante ne la pouvoit effectivement estimer et lors qu'elle estoit dans ces sentimens la elle prenoit une si ferme resolution de ne se faire jamais connoistre et de rompre absolument avec timante qu'amaxite desesperoit de pouvoir rien gagner sur son esprit cependant philoxipe scachant que timante trouvoit la princesse sa soeur fort belle qu'elle croyoit que s'il pouvoit faire qu'il luy pleust autant qu'elle luy plaisoit ce seroit un grand acheminement a faire reussir ce qu'il desiroit avec tant d'ardeur mais comme timante ne pouvoit pas luy plaire s'il n'en estoit 
 veu et que philoxipe ne scavoit pas qu'elle le connoissoit aussi bien que luy il prit la resolution de le mener chez cette princesse sans qu'elle en sceust rien et de la surprendre malgre qu'elle en eust mais timante s'excusa d'y aller disant qu'il la respectoit trop pour la vouloir forcer a voir un homme qu'elle ne jugeoit pas digne de cet honneur puis qu'elle le luy avoit refuse adjoustant que ce seroit le moyen de l'en faire hair ainsi refusant la chose si civilement philoxipe ne scavoit ce qu'il en devoit penser mais comme antimaque sceut ce qui s'estoit passe il dit a doride afin qu'elle le dist a policrite que ce qui faisoit que timante ne vouloit point aller voir la princesse de salamis estoit qu'il sentoit une si forte disposition a en devenir amoureux qu'il ne vouloit pas s'exposer a prendre de l'amour pour une personne qui peut-estre seroit insensible pour luy de sorte que doride mesnageant l'esprit de policrite et policrite celuy du prince philoxipe il fut resolu qu'ils feroient une partie de promenade dont timante seroit et qu'au lieu de le mener ou on luy auroit dit qu'on alloit on le meneroit chez la princesse de salamis mais comme le prince philoxipe connoissoit l'humeur de parthenie il creut que du moins il faloit gagner amaxite c'est pourquoy il fut faire une visite a cette princesse et mena la chose si adroitement qu'il trouva moyen pendant que parthenie achevoit de s'habiller le lendemain au matin qu'il fut arrive chez elle d'entretenir 
 amaxite a sa chambre et de luy confier le dessein qu'il avoit de tascher de marier la princesse sa soeur avec timante nous luy dirons disoit il pour la satisfaire touchant les oracles qu'elle a receus que timante est devenu amoureux de sa reputation et des louanges qu'on donne a son esprit afin qu'elle ne face point d'obstacle a ce que je desire d'abord amaxite creut que le prince philoxipe scavoit quelque chose de ce qui s'estoit passee entre timante et parthenie et qu'il ne luy parloit ainsi qu'afin de la faire parler mais elle fut bien tost desabusee par toutes les choses qu'il luy dit de sorte que connoissant qu'effectivement philoxipe souhaitoit ce mariage avec une passion demesuree elle se resolut de luy reveler le secret de la princesse de salamis scachant bien que si elle ne le faisoit pas il pourroit estre que le prince philoxipe voyant la surprise qu'auroit timante lors qu'il connoistroit envoyant parthenie et en l'entendant parler que son inconnue et elle n'estoient qu'une mesme personne ne scauroit qu'en penser et en penseroit peutestre quelque chose de desavantageux a parthenie c'est pourquoy apres avoir suplie le prince philoxipe de croire qu'elle luy alloit parler avec toute sorte de sincerite et l'avoir conjure de bien user de ce qu'elle luy alloit descouvrir elle luy raconta tout ce que je vous viens de dire luy exagerant avec tant d'exces le scrupule que parthenie faisoit d'espouser un homme qui fust amoureux de la beaute 
 que philoxipe croyant aisement tout ce que ma soeur luy disoit fut si puissamment confirme dans le dessein de faire reussir celuy qu'il avoit desja pris qu'il ne songea plus a autre chose il convint donc avec amaxite du jour qu'il meneroit timante chez parthenie afin que sans que cette princesse s'en aperceust elle trouvast pourtant lieu de faire qu'elle ne fust pas negligee apres quoy il s'en retourna a paphos ou timante menoit une vie assez melancholique car enfin il estoit fort amoureux de son inconnue et ne pouvoit pourtant oublier la beaute de la princesse de salamis de qui il recevoit tres souvent des lettres sans scavoir quelles fussent d'elle cependant le lendemain que philoxipe fut party parthenie se resolut presque entierement a se degager de l'affection de timante parce qu'elle avoit je ne scay quelle gloire qui faisoit qu'elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a se faire connoistre a luy apres toute cette bizarre galanterie et en effet elle luy escrivit comme si c'eust este pour la derniere fois je pense pourtant que ce ne fut pas tout a fait son intention et qu'elle n'en eut point d'autre que celle de scavoir par moy quelle seroit sa douleur apres cette facheuse nouvelle afin de mieux scavoir quelle estoit son amour quoy qu'il en soit la chose alla ainsi et timante receut cette cruelle lettre apres s'estre engage avec policrite et philoxipe d'aller le lendemain avec eux en un lieu ou il n'avoit point encore este ne croyant pas que ce fust chez la 
 princesse de salamis mais comme la lettre de parthenie l'affligea avec exces il fit ce qu'il put pour ne tenir pas ce qu'il avoit promis neantmoins il n'y eut pas moyen car encore qu'il employast tous les pretextes qu'il put imaginer luy devoir servir d'excuse philoxipe ne s'en contenta pas et il fut luy mesme chez timante pour l'obliger a faire cette promenade policrite y envoya plusieurs fois et luy manda qu'elle n'iroit point sans luy de sorte qu'il falut que tout triste qu'il falut que tout triste qu'il uec eux il est vray qu'il y fut avec tant de repugnance et tant de tristesse qu'elle paroissoit et sur son visage et en toutes ses paroles et mesme en ses habillemens car il voulut estre neglige ce n'est pas qu'il ne fist ce qu'il pouvoit pour se contraindre mais sa douleur estoit plus forte que luy philoxipe en eust este bien en peine s'il n'en eust pas sceu la cause mais ma soeur la luy avoit escrite afin qu'il se hastast d'executer son dessein j'oubliois de vous dire que timante respondit a la lettre de parthenie des le soir de sorte que faisant donner sa responce a celuy de mes amis qui avoit accoustume de la recevoir il me la donna tout a l'heure si bien que faisant partir au mesme instant celuy qui la devoit porter parthenie la receut plus de deux heures devant que philoxipe policrite et timante arrivassent chez elle jamais il n'a este une lettre si touchante que celle la aussi obligea t'elle parthenie a se repentir de ce qu'elle avoit escrit a timante 
 cependant amaxite qui scavoit quelle estoit la conpagnie qui devoit arriver ce jour la dans cette belle solitude s'estoit trouvee bien embarrassee a faire que parthenie ne fust pas negligee mais lors qu'elle vit que cette lettre l'avoit satisfaite elle s'advisa d'un artifice pour l'obliger a se parer il y avoit desja fort longtemps que cette princesse avoit promis a ma soeur de souffrir qu'on fist son portrait pour le luy donner c'est pourquoy amaxite luy dit que je luy avois mande par celuy qui luy avoit rendu la lettre de timante que je luy envoyerois un peintre ce jour la et qu'infailliblement il arriveroit dans deux heures si bien qu'amaxite apres cela se mit a conjurer parthenie de souffrir qu'on la coiffast un peu mieux qu'elle n'estoit d'abord cette princesse luy dit qu'il suffiroit d'attendre au lendemain mais amaxite luy repliqua que ce peintre estoit fort occupe qu'il n'avoit pas loisir de tarder tant et qu'il n'y avoit point de temps a perdre de sorte que parthenie aimant ma soeur ne luy resista plus et se laissa coiffer et habiller par ses femmes comme si elle eust deu aller a une feste publique amaxite disant qu'encore que le peintre ne deust pas travailler a l'habillement ce jour la il ne falloit pas laisser de se parer en pareilles occasions parce que le visage paroissoit plus beau et donnoit une plus belle imagination a celuy qui peignoit joint qu'il estoit necessaire qu'il vist aussi l'habillement de parthenie afin de pouvoir esbaucher tout son portrait mais durant 
 qu'amaxite choisissoit des pierreries et donnoit ses advis a celles qui habilloient la princesse de salamis timante sans scavoir ou on les menoit se laissa conduire au prince philoxipe et a la princesse policrite antimaque fut de ce voyage aussi bien que doride et j'eus aussi l'honneur d'en estre philoxipe ayant sceu par ma soeur que j'avois eu part a la confidence mais seigneur plus timante paroissoit chagrin plus philoxipe et policrite avoient de disposition a se divertir et plus ils estoient en effet persuadez qu'il estoit celuy que les dieux avoient reserve pour faire le bonheur de la princesse de salamis n'estant pas possible que sans un ordre particulier de leur providence timante eust pu venir a aimer parthenie par une si bizarre voye cependant cette belle compagnie advancant toujours arriva si pres de la solitude de la princesse de salamis qu'enfin timante revenant de la profonde resverie qui l'avoit occupe pendant tout le chemin demanda a qui estoit cette maison qu'il voyoit et si c'estoit celle ou ils alloient c'est assurement celle ou nous allons dit philoxipe mais vous ne scaurez point a qui elle est que vous n'ayez veu celle qui en fait les honneurs et qui nous y recevra timante estoit si occupe de son chagrin que cette responce si peu precise ne le mit point en peine et ne le fit entrer en nul soupcon
 
 
 
 
nous arrivasmes donc dans la basse court du chasteau ou nous mismes pied a terre timante donna la main a policrite et antimaque a doride et 
 pour philoxipe il dit a la princesse sa femme et a timante qu'il alloit advertir qu'ils venoient si bien que prenant le devant et m'ayant ordonne de le suivre nous fusmes dans la chambre de parthenie qui ne faisoit que d'achever d'estre paree et qui venant d'estre advertie par quelqu'un des siens que le prince son frere et la princesse sa soeur venoient d'arriver se mettoit en estat de les aller recevoir de sorte que philoxipe luy donnant la main apres l'avoir saluee ne s'opposa point a la civilite qu'elle vouloit rendre a policrite et la conduisit jusques au milieu de son antichambre ou elle la rencontra de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la surprise de timante lors qu'il vit paroistre la princesse de salamis qu'il reconnut a l'heure mesme quoy qu'il ne l'uest veue qu'une fois et qu'elle fut aussi celle de princesse de salamis lors qu'elle apperceut timante et qu'elle comprit que des qu'elle parleroit il connoistroit bien que son inconnue et elle n'estoient qu'une mesme chose il ne seroit pas aise estant certain qu'il n'est peutestre jamais rien arrive de plus surprenant que cette advanture d'abord parthenie changea de couleur et au lieu d'avancer vers policrite elle pensa s'arrester timante de son coste fit la mesme chose et l'on n'a jamais veu deux personnes de tant d'esprit que celles la paroistre si interdites timante fut pourtant un instant ou dans sa surprise il eut de la joye aussi bien que de l'inquietude la premiere parce que la beaute de parthenie 
 avoit fait assez d'impression en son coeur pour n'estre pas marry de voir encore une fois une si belle personne et la seconde parce qu'en l'estat ou il estoit avec son inconnue il craignit que cette visite n'achevast de le destruire aupres d'elle mais lors que parthenie fut un peu revenue de son premier estonnement et qu'elle se fut fait assez de violence pour pouvoir dire a policrite qu'elle estoit bien aise de la voir timante r'entra dans un second estonnement qui fut beaucoup plus grand que l'autre qu'il avoit desja eu car parthenie n'eut pas plustost prononce quatre paroles qu'il reconnut sa voix et qu'il ne douta point du tout que ce ne fust son aimable inconnue il est vray que cette derniere surprise fut bien differente de la premiere car il eut une joye extreme de voir que ce qu'il avoit creu aimer en deux personnes se trouvoit en une seule et que son inconnue et parthenie estoient une mesme chose l'emotion de son coeur parut dans ses yeux la joye s'espandit sur son visage et il eut une peine estrange a s'empescher d'esclater principalement lors que policrite ayant acheve son compliment le presenta parthenie qui le salua fort civilement mais pourtant avec un peu de froideur car comme elle ne scavoit pas quelle estoit la violence qu'on avoit faite a timante pour l'amener chez elle cette princesse croyoit que puis qu'il estoit assez guay pour se promener apres receu la lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite il ne l'aimoit pas assez de sorte qu'encore qu'elle 
 ne luy fist pas d'incivilite il ne laissa pas de remarquer qu'elle avoit de la colere joint aussi qu'elle avoit une si grande confusion de voir que timante la connoissoit qu'elle n'estoit plus en pouvoir de se cacher qu'il ne luy pouoit plus avoir d'obligation de se faire connoistre a luy que tous ses sentimens estoient si brouillez et si confus qu'elle ne scavoit ce qu'elle pensoit elle creut pourtant bien qu'il y avoit quelque chose de cache a cette visite et elle soubconna amaxite de l'avoir sceue et d'avoir revele son secret aussi la chercha t'elle des yeux pour trouver dans les siens la confirmation de ses soubcons mais elle ne les put rencontrer cependant philoxipe prenant alors la parole se mit a reprocher en riant a la princesse sa soeur qu'elle n'avoit point assez de joye de voir policrite et qu'elle avoit de l'incivilite de ne le remercier pas de ce qu'il luy amenoit le plus honneste homme du monde en luy amenant timante il me semble luy dit elle que la princesse ma soeur doit estre si persuadee de mon amitie qu'elle ne scauroit douter que je ne fois ravie de la voir et qu'ainsi il n'est pas necessaire de le luy dire et pour cet illustre estranger adjousta t'elle en rougissant je pense qu'il aura si peu de sujet de vous remercier de l'avoir amene icy que je n'entrerois pas assez dans ses interests si je vous en remerciois moy mesme je vous assure madame reprit timante en la regardant avec autant d'amour que de joye que je me tiens si heureux d'avoir l'honneur 
 de vous voir aujourd'huy que s'il estoit vray que vous pussiez prendre quelque part a mes interests vous seriez obligee de faire un grand rememerciment pour moy au prince philoxipe et d'autant plus adjousta t'il pour se justifier envers son inconnue sans croire que la compagnie y prist garde que le prince philoxipe m'a force a estre heureux en me forcant de venir icy ou je craignois de troubler vostre solitude apres cela parthenie fit entrer toute cette agreable compagnie dans sa chambre ayant l'esprit si remply de diverses pensees aussi bien que timante qu'il n'y a peut-estre jamais eu de conversation comme celle qui se fit d'abord entre ces quatre personnes timante regardoit tousjours parthenie et parthenie au contraire n'osoit regarder timante et evitoit ses regards autant qu'elle pouvoit cependant philoxipe et policrite qui estoient bien aises de donner un peu d'inquietude a parthenie luy demanderent d'ou venoit qu'elle estoit si paree dans son desert en suitte ils luy firent la guerre d'estre allee si pres de paphos sans leur envoyer faire un compliment et la chose alla de cette sorte jusques apres le disner mais comme timante mouroit d'envie de pouvoir dire a son adorable inconnue qu'il la connoissoit malgre elle il fit si bien que durant que philoxipe et policrite parloient ensemble pour convenir du biais qu'il faloit prendre pour faire consentir parthenie a ce qu'ils souhaitoient il trouva moyen de s'aprocher d'elle et de la pouvoir 
 entretenir un moment sans estre entendu de personne quoy madame luy dit il vous m'avez pu cacher si longtemps la plus grande beaute du monde et vous m'avez assez hai pour aimer mieux que je deusse l'honneur de vous voir au hazard qu'a vous la derniere lettre que cette inconnue vous a escrite luy dit elle vous a si peu touche que je ne scay si la connoissance vous sera aussi agreable que vous le pensez et si la consolation que vous estes venu chercher chez la princesse de salamis sera aussi grande que vous l'avez espere car enfin ce n'est point cette personne que vous vistes au temple que je veux que vous aimiez et c'est celle que vous ne voyez point a paphos que je pretendois que vous deviez aimer timante entendant parthenie parler ainsi se mit a luy protester qu'il n'avoit point creu la venir voir que philoxipe l'avoit trompe et l'avoit force de luy tenir la parole qu'il luy avoit donnee devant que d'avoir receu la cruelle lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite luy faisant remarquer qu'il n'estoit pas en un habit qui pust faire soubconner qu'il eust eu dessein de ne desplaire pas enfin seigneur il luy dit pour l'apaiser et pour luy persuader qu'il n'avoit point eu intention de voir la princesse de salamis tout ce qu'il luy eust pu dire s'il eust voulu se justifier d'avoir eu dessein de faire une visite a sa plus mortelle ennemie et que la princesse de salamis et son inconnue n'eussent pas este une mesme personne il est vray qu'il reussit assez bien a faire sa paix et 
 il y a lieu de croire que parthenie ne fut pas trop fachee que le hazard eust fait que timante eust sceu qui elle estoit cependant comme ils s'alloient demander s'ils croyoient que philoxipe sceust quelque chose de la verite ce prince se raprocha d'eux avec policrite ce fut toutes fois pour les separer car philoxipe prit parthenie pour l'entretenir en particulier et policrite demeura avec timante mais seigneur pourquoy tarder plus longtemps a vous annoncer le bonheur de ces deux amans afin de vous faire plus tost avoir un bon presage du vostre je vous diray donc sans m'amuser a vous particulariser les choses que philoxipe fit connoistre a la princesse de salamis qu'il scavoit la passion que timante avoit pour elle et qu'il la fit si bien souvenir de celle qu'il avoit eue pour policrite et qu'il avoit encore qu'elle ne fit point de difficulte de luy advouer qu'elle ne le haissoit pas qu'en suitte ce prince luy fit voir que les oracles estoient accomplis puisque timante l'avoit aimee sans le secours de sa beaute et qu'en fin il persuada de ne s'amuser plus a vouloir de nouvelles preuves de la fidelite de timante l'assurant pour conclusion qu'il respondit de sa constance d'autre part policrite aprit a timante que philoxipe scavoit sa passion et l'aprouvoit si bien que les choses s'advancerent tellement qu'il fut resolu devant que philoxipe s'en retournast a paphos qu'antimaque retourneroit en crete pour avoir le consentement du pere de timante cependant 
 de peur que la solitude ne remist quelques bizarres sentimens et quelques nouveaux scrupules dans l'ame de parthenie philoxipe voulut aussi que la princesse policrite la menast a la belle maison de clarie ou elle seroit quelques jours avec elle devant que de la ramener a la cour enfin seigneur la chose fit si heureusement terminee parthenie pardonna a amaxite d'avoir revele son secret timante rendit mille graces au prince philoxipe et devint encore mille fois plus amoureux qu'il n'estoit auparavant sans oser pourtant le dire a parthenie de peur qu'elle ne l'accusast d'aimer plus la beaute que son esprit antimaque partit et revint avec le consentement du pere de timante il est vray que pour le recompenser de la peine il obtint doride qu'il aimoit et qu'il l'espousa huit jours apres que timante eut espouse parthenie je ne vous diray point quelles ont este les resjouissances que l'on a faites a paphos car vous n'y avez point d'interest mais je vous diray que jamais il n'y a eu deux personnes si heureuses que timante et parthenie le sont et afin de faire voir a cette princesse qu'il l'aime plus que tout le reste du monde et qu'elle luy tient lieu de parens et de patrie bien loin de l'obliger a aller demeurer en crete il a pris la resolution demeurer en chipre avec la permission de son pere le roy a la consideration de philoxipe luy a donne le gouvernement d'une des principales parties de l'isle de sorte que parthenie voit sa joye 
 si accomplie que vous avez sujet d'esperer que ces mesmes dieux qui luy ont annonce son bonheur vous ayant annonce le vostre en un mesme temps en seront pas moins veritables pour ce qui vous regarde qu'ils l'ont este pour ce qui la touche aussi le prince philoxipe a t'il voulu que je vous fisse scavoir l'heureuse fin de cette advanture pour vous obliger d'attendre avec plus d'esperance la fin de tous vos malheurs et l'accomplissement de vostre felicite qu'il desire comme la sienne propre magaside ayant cesse de parler cyrus luy donna mille tesmoignages de reconnoissance du soin que le prince philoxipe prenoit de vouloir luy donner du moins la consolation de pouvoir esperer quelque treve a ses malheurs le remerciant en son particulier de luy avoir si exactement apris une si agreable avanture et de luy avoir en effet donne lieu de croire que puis que les dieux avoient rendu parthenie heureuse par une si bizarre voye ils pourroient bien aussi le rendre heureux apres l'avoir rendu si miserable en suite cyrus s'informa de leontidas en quel lieu megaside et luy s'estoient trouvez et il sceut que c'avoit este a milet apres quoy il les congedia assurant megaside et leontidas qu'il leur donneroit leur depesche aussi tost qu'ils auroient eu loisir de se reposer mais ils le suplierent tous deux de leur permettre de voir la fin du siege de sardis leontidas conjurant cyrus d'envoyer ses ordres a thrasibule par un autre 
 que par luy et megaside le priant de vouloir qu'il ne s'en retournast en chipre qu'avec la nouvelle de la victoire afin que comme il luy en avoit apporte une agreable il en peust aussi reporter une a philoxipe qui luy donnast de la joye cyrus accordant donc une si genereuse priere a ceux qui la luy faisoient les loua en les remerciant et leur ordonna de s'aller reposer demeurant avec plus de quietude d'esprit qu'il n'en avoit eu le jour auparavant car encore que les dieux l'eussent menace a babilone et que la sibille ne luy eust rien annonce que de funeste il sembloit pourtant que puis que l'oracle de venus uranie disoit des choses qui luy estoient aussi avantageuses que les autres sembloient luy devoir estre funestes il devoit du moins croire qu'il n'entendoit pas mieux les unes que les autres et ne se desesperer pas tout a fait ainsi reprenant une nouvelle vigueur dans ses souffrances il espera un heureux succes du siege de sardis et espera aussi que l'injuste jalousie de mandane finiroit bientost de sorte qu'apres avoir encore donne quelques ordres militaires il dormit deux ou trois heures avec assez de tranquilite ses songes mesme qui avoient accoustume de le tourmenter le flatterent et luy firent voir mandane mais mandane sans jalousie et sans colere il luy sembloit qu'il la voyoit assise dans une prairie toute semee de fleurs et qu'elle l'appelloit avec autant de douceur dans la voix que dans les yeux mais comme il voulut aller a elle et qu'il estoit prest de se mettre 
 a genoux aupres de cette princesse il luy sembla qu'il entendit un grand bruit et qu'il la vit disparoistre de sorte qu'il s'esveille en sursaut bien marry d'avoir jouy si peu de temps d'une si belle et si agreable apparition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cyrus ne fut pas plus tost esveille qu'il donna toutes ses pensees a chercher par quelle voye il pourroit se mettre en estat de n'avoir plus besoin de la faveur du sommeil et des songes pour jouir de la veue de mandane mais comme il ne le pouvoit sans prendre sardis la prise de cette fameuse ville fut l'objet de tous ses souhaits jamais ce prince n'avoit si ardamment desire de vaincre qu'en cette occasion aussi n'oublia t'il rien de tout ce qui pouvoit avancer son dessein et il exposa tant de fois sa vie durant ce siege que si la fortune n'eust eu autant de soin de le conserver qu'il en avoit peu ses rivaux eussent triomphe de son malheur et n'eussent plus eu qu'a se combatre 
 entre eux mais ce prince estoit trop puissamment protege du ciel pour succomber en une guerre si juste quoy qu'il en parust souvent estre abandonne a ceux qui jugeoient des choses par les aparences et qui ne consideroient pas que les secrets de la puissance souveraine sont impenetrables cependant cette petite treve que l'on avoit faite pour retirer les morts de tous les deux partis estant finie les attaquans et les attaquez recommencerent chacun de leur coste a faire tous leurs efforts pour arriver a leur fin cyrus entreprit de faire un autre logement sur la contr'escarpe du fosse a l'oposite de celuy qu'il y avoit desja fait le jour de l'assaut qu'il avoit donne a cette place afin que lors qu'il en donneroit un second cela facilitast son dessein qu'il eust deux endroits du fosse dont il fust desja le maistre et qu'ainsi il pust aller d'abord a l'escalade par deux lieux differens sans perdre de beaucoup de monde il ne fit pourtant pas la chose sans tenir conseil de guerre mais comme ce prince ne proposoit jamais rien qui ne fust tres judicieusement pense et tres avantageux a la cause commune ses amis et ses rivaux estoient contraints d'approuver toujours tout ce qu'il disoit le roy d'assirie disputoit neantmoins quelques-fois par pure opiniastrete et si la sagesse de mazare n'eust en quelque facon tempere la violence du roy d'assirie peut-estre que le combat de cyrus et de luy se fust fait devant la fin de la guerre et par consequent devant que mandane fust en liberte 
 qui estoit le terme ou cyrus du temps qu'il n'estoit qu'artamene avoit promis a ce roy de remettre encore au hazard par un combat singulier ce qu'il avoit si bien aquis et si justement merite par tant de combats generaux par tant de prises de villes par tant de provinces conquises et de royaumes et par le gain de tant de batailles il est vray que tous les amis de cyrus avoient un soin extreme de les observer soigneusement et plus vray encore que cyrus luy mesme avoit quelquesfois pitie de ce prince qui avoit sans doute d'excellentes qualitez car lors qu'il venoit a penser que le roy d'assirie avoit perdu un grand royaume et la premiere ville du monde qu'il estoit contraint par sa passion de servir dans l'armee de son vainqueur de son rival et de son ennemy tout ensemble et qu'il estoit dans la certitude d'estre hai de mandane il excusoit une partie de ses chagrins remettant a se vanger de luy lors qu'il le pourroit faire equitablement et avec honneur apres avoir delivre cette princesse il voulut toutesfois luy donner une nouvelle inquietude en faisant qu'il sceust ce que l'oracle de venus uranie avoit dit a son advantage afin qu'il n'esperast plus tant en celuy de jupiter belus qu'il avoit receu a babilone l'envie d'oster l'esperance a un rival ne fut pourtant pas la seule raison qui porta cyrus a vouloir que cet oracle fust publie car comme il n'avoit pas voulu qu'on fist scavoir a personne la funeste 
 responce que la sibille luy avoit envoye par ortalque de peur que les soldats ne s'en espouventassent il voulut au contraire qu'ils sceussent ce que l'oracle avoit dit de luy afin qu'ils prissent une nouvelle confiance et un nouveau coeur et qu'ils en combattissent mieux scachant bien que l'esperance de la victoire parmy les gens de guerre est un grand acheminement a la r'emporter mais comme il estoit tres modeste s'il eust creu pouvoir sans prophanation changer quelque chose a l'oracle des dieux il auroit prie megaside et leontidas d'oster de celuy de venus uranie les louanges qui s'y trouvoient pour luy et de ne dire que ce qui regardoit la fin de ses malheurs car encore que cet oracle ne dist pas positivement que cyrus prendroit sardis delivreroit mandane et vaincroit tous ses rivaux il estoit pourtant aise de concevoir que puis qu'il devoit estre heureux il falloit que toutes ces choses arrivassent estant certain qu'il ne le pouvoit jamais estre sans mandane et qu'il ne pouvoit avoir mandane sans avoir vaincu ses rivaux et ses ennemis joint aussi qu'il falloit de necessite avoir r'emporte la victoire devant que de posseder cette princesse cet oracle ne fut donc pas plustost publie et par megaside et principalement par leontidas qui connoissoit tous les chefs de l'armee qu'il produisit l'effet que cyrus en avoit attendu une nouvelle allegresse se respandit dans toutes ses troupes et un nouveau chagrin s'empara du coeur du roy d'assirie cette 
 grande esperance qu'il avoit tousjours eue aux promesses de jupiter belus commenca de diminuer par la crainte qu'il eut que venus uranie ne se fust expliquee plus precisement en chipre que jupiter n'avoit fait a babilone mais comme il croyoit bien que les murmures faits contre les dieux qu'il adoroit n'eussent fait que les irriter il ne s'en prist point a eux et il s'en prit a cyrus pour qui il eut encore plus de haine quoy qu'il n'eust pas moins d'estime pour mazare comme il s'estoit determine absolument a estre malheureux et qu'excepte quelques instans ou son amour faisoit encore quelques efforts pour surmonter sa raison il n'avoit aucune esperance que celle de partager avec cyrus le peril et la gloire qu'il auroit a delivrer mandane les promesses que les dieux avoient faites a cyrus ou au roy d'assirie ne faisoient pas extremement redoubler ses maux il est vray qu'il estoit tousjours si malheureux qu'il eust este difficile que la fortune eust pu estre assez ingenieuse pour les pouvoir accroistre mais comme il n'estoit pas moins sage qu'il estoit afflige et qu'il n'avoit pas moins de generosite que de sagesse cyrus vingt a l'estimer extraordinairement et a lier mesme quelque espece de societe aveque luy ils se plaignoient esgalement l'un a l'autre de l'humeur violente du roy d'assirie et s'accoustumerent enfin si bien a avoir de la civilite et de la defference l'un pour l'autre qu'ils vinrent non seulement a s estimer car ils ne se pouvoient pas connoistre 
 sans cela mais encore a se pleindre et a se juger tous deux dignes de mandane ils n'en parloient pourtant jamais qu'en souspirant et lors qu'ils alloient ensemble de quartier en quartier visiter tous les divers postes que cyrus faisoit garder sur les advenues de sardis mandane estoit l'objet de tous leurs discours si ce n'estoit lors qu'ils estoient obligez de parler de ce qui regardoit le siege que vous estes heureux luy disoit quelquesfois mazare non seulement de ce que vous estes aime de la plus admirable princesse du monde mais encore de ce que vous n'avez jamais rien fait qui luy ait pu desplaire et qu'au contraire vous l'avez servie et servie importamment en mille et mille rencontres eh plust aux dieux s'escrioit il que puis que mon destin estoit que j'en deusse estre hai je le fusse du moins avec injustice et que je n'eusse pas a me reprocher a moy mesme d'avoir merite sa haine par la tromperie que je luy fis en l'enlevant de sinope il y a quelque chose de si amoureux de si sage et de si genereux tout ensemble a ce que vous dittes repliqua cyrus que je ne voudrois pas que ma princesse l'eust entendu non non seigneur reprenoit tristement mazare ne craignez rien du coste de la princesse mandane car puis qu'elle a mesprise le roy d'assirie pour vous qu'elle a mieux aime voir toute l'asie en armes que de vous estre infidelle qu'elle este insensible aux soumissions du roy de pont et qu'elle m'a mesme assez hai pour refuser la liberte 
 que j'ay voulu luy rendre vous devez estre persuade que rien ne changera jamais le coeur de cette princesse pendant que mazare parloit ainsi cyrus l'escoutoit en souspirant voyant qu'il estoit bien moins heureux qu'il ne le croyoit il ne voulut portant pas luy dire en quels termes il en estoit avec mandane de peur de faire renaistre l'esperance dans le coeur de ce genereux rival et de r'allumer un feu qui n'estoit pas tout a fait esteint cependant cyrus se mit en estat de faire le logement qui avoit este resolu au conseil de guerre mais il ne le fit pas sans peine car le roy de pont qui en connoissoit l'importance s'y opposa par trois sortiez qu'il fit faire en mesme temps neantmoins comme cyrus scavoit bien qu'un des grands secrets de la guerre est de n'abandonner pas son premier dessein pour en prendre un autre parce que les ordres d'improviste ne sont jamais si sagement donnez ny si ponctuellement executez que ceux qui ont este donnez aveque loisir il voulut que tout ce qu'il avoit commande pour faire ce logement s'executast comme s'il n'y eust point eu de combat ailleurs car comme son armee estoit fort nombreuse il jugeoit bien que quelques sorties que pussent faire les ennemis il luy seroit aise de les repousser et comme il jugeoit bien encore que le grand effort des assiegez se feroit au lieu ou il vouloit faire ce logement ce fut la qu'il voulut estre les rois d'assirie de phrigie et d'hircanie et tous les autres princes estant chacun a leur poste l'inconnu 
 anaxaris combatit encore ce jour la aupres de cyrus luy semblant que sa valeur estoit assez dignement recompensee quand cet illustre heros en avoit este le tesmoin aussi faut il advouer que si les louanges de cyrus estoient un digne prix des actions d'anaxaris les actions d'anaxaris estoient aussi dignes des louanges de cyrus mais entre toutes les occasions ou il se signala durant ce siege celle de ce logement fut une des plus remarquables car il y fit des choses qui ne pouvoient estre surpassees que par la valeur de cyrus seulement qui fit sans doute en cette rencontre ce qu'on ne scauroit redire sans se rendre suspect de mensonge vingt fois il fut repousse par les ennemis et vingt fois il les repoussa et les mena battant jusques dans leurs postes il perdit et regagna pour le moins autant l'endroit du fosse ou il vouloit faire son logement mais a la fin il lassa les ennemis et vint heureusement a bout de son dessein les sorties que les assiegez avoient faites par les autres costez ne leur avoient guere mieux reussi ce n'est pas que cyrus n'eust perdu quelques soldats mais ce n'estoit rien en comparaison de ceux que les ennemis avoient perdus il est vray qu'araspe qui depuis la mort de panthee n'avoit fait que se plaindre et souspirer fut blesse en cette occasion ou il combatit plustost pour mourir que pour vaincre son dessein ne reussit pourtant pas car la blessure qu'il receut n'estoit pas dangereuse et servit plustost a conserver sa vie qu'a 
 la mettre en danger estant certain qu'il fut a propos qu'il ne se trouvast point en estat de combatre une seconde fois que sa douleur ne fust un peu diminuee et que le temps ne l'eust console le roy d'assirie avoit aussi pense estre tue en cette occasion mais enfin l'advantage tout entier estoit demeure a cyrus qui avoit fait le logement qu'il vouloit faire qui avoit tue beaucoup de lydiens et fait assez bon nombre de prisonniers il sceut par quelques uns d'entr'eux apres le combat finy et lors qu'il fut retourne a sa tente ou il se les fit amener que le roy de pont pour amuser le peuple avoit fait dire qu'il venoit un grand secours de thrace que ceux de la bactriane leur envoyoient aussi des troupes et que dans peu de temps il faudroit que cyrus levast le siege il sceut encore avec plus de certitude qu'auparavant que cresus n'avoit plus nul pouvoir dans la citadelle et que le roy de pont avoit si bien fait qu'il estoit maistre de tous les gens de guerre ces prisonniers luy dirent aussi que depuis quelques jours il estoit entre une dame dans la citadelle a qui le roy de pont avoit oblige cresus de donner protection mais interrompit cyrus une dame peut elle estre entree dans sardis depuis qu'il est environne de deux cens mille hommes nullement seigneur reprit un de ces prisonniers mais c'est qu'il y avoit quelque temps qu'elle y estoit sans estre connue pour ce qu'elle est car on assure qu'elle est d'une fort grande condition il y a aussi un 
 homme apelle heracleon qui est celuy qui l'a fait connoistre au roy de pont que l'on dit estre fort brave et de grande qualite qui promet qu'il fera venir du secours pour cresus on dit aussi poursuivit il qu'il y a desja quelque temps qu'il estoit cache dans sardis mais je ne puis vous bien esclaircir toute cette advanture je scay toutesfois que ce sont des gens de grande qualite en suitte de cela cyrus leur demanda toutes les choses qu'il creut necessaires de scavoir apres quoy il les fit retirer la pluspart d'entre eux ayant pris party dans l'armee de ce prince le jour suivant les deputez dont leontidas luy avoit parle arriverent au camp pour luy jurer une fidellite invioblable de la part des peuples qui les envoyoient il y en avoit de gnide de carie du territoire de xanthe et de licie les cauniens en avoient encore envoye aussi bien que les milesiens que thrasibule voulut qui deputassent vers cyrus et en son nom et au leur de sorte qu'il sembloit que de tous costez la fortune le voulust favoriser et en effet s'il n'eust eu que de l'ambition et qu'il n'eust aime que la gloire il auroit eu sujet d'estre content mais comme il avoit de l'amour il ne sentoit pas tout ce qui ne luy faisoit point delivrer la princesse aussi eust il donne sans repugnance toutes ses conquestes pour la seule liberte de mandane cependant il receut tous ces deputez avec beaucoup de douceur et les traita avec une magnificence extreme il les assura de les proteger contre leurs 
 ennemis et de faire en sorte que ciaxare les traiteroit comme s'ils estoient ses plus anciens et ses plus fidelles sujets enfin ils furent tellement charmez de la douceur de cyrus qu'il ne se rendit pas moins maistre de leurs coeurs par sa bonte qu'il s'estoit rendu maistre de leur pais par la force de ses armes ce qui les surprit extremement fut de voir qu'un prince de l'age de cyrus fust instruit de toutes leurs coustumes et de toutes leurs loix et qu'il leur donnast des advis pour la conduite des affaires publiques comme s'il eust toujours este parmy eux et qu'il n'eust eu autre chose a faire qu'a les gouverner il leur parla a tous chacun en leur langue et leur donna enfin tant d'admiration qu'ils s'en retournerent non seulement charmez de sa bonne mine de son esprit de sa vertu et de sa bonte en particulier mais encore chargez de ses presens et ce qui est le plus remarquable ils s'en allerent resolus d'obliger leurs concitoyens de faire une chose fort glorieuse a cyrus mais fort extraordinaire car au lieu qu'on voyoit certains peuples qui faisoient tous les ans des sacrifices pour remercier les dieux de les avoir delivrez de quelque domination estrangere ils firent dessein quand ils seroient retournez en leur pais de faire faire tous les ans a perpetuite un sacrifice de remerciment pour rendre graces aux dieux de les avoir mis sous la puissance de cyrus cependant ce prince pour donner plus de marques de confiance a des peuples qui luy tesmoignoient 
 tant d'affection les confirma dans tous leurs privileges ne les obligea a nul tribut et ne demanda d'eux que des asseurances de fidelite r'appellant l'armee que thrasibule et harpage avoient commandee ensemble envoyant ordre a ce dernier de la luy r'amener et laissant l'autre dans la possession de sa chere alcionide ce n'est pas que cyrus ne sceust assez bien la politique pour n'ignorer pas que ce n'est point la coustume de retirer si promptement les armees des pais qu'on a nouvellement conquis mais comme la guerre importante et decisive pour luy estoit celle de lydie et qu'il donnoit ordre qu'on laissast des garnisons en tous les lieux forts il ne creut pas rien hazarder et il aima mieux fortifier encore ses troupes ne scachant pas combien le siege pourroit durer et n'ignorant pas que bien souvent la prise d'une ville couste une armee toute entiere a celuy qui la prend cependant comme cyrus n'oublioit jamais rien il envoya scavoir des nouvelles de la sante de sesostris qui se trouva estre si bonne qu'il manda a cyrus qu'il esperoit estre dans peu de jours en estat d'aller hazarder pour son service la vie qu'il luy avoit conservee cyrus fit aussi faire un compliment a la princesse araminte a qui il tint sa parole ne voulant pas permettre a phraarte de l'aller voir pendant ce siege il n'oublia pas mesme ny cleonice ny doralise ny toutes les autres dames prisonnieres qu'il sceut estre en sante parfaite par le retour de celuy qu'il avoit 
 envoye vers elles mais durant que cyrus s'aquitoit si dignement de tout ce qu'il estoit oblige de faire ou comme amant ou comme amy ou comme ennemy ou comme prince ou comme general d'armee ou comme conquerant il ne laissoit pas d'avoir dans le fond de son coeur un chagrin extreme de l'injustice que mandane luy faisoit en l'accusant d'estre infidelle et toutes les fois que cette fascheuse pensee luy venoit il trouvoit qu'il avoit lieu de craindre qu'elle ne peust la devenir puisque pour l'ordinaire on ne soubconne pas legerement les autres d'une chose dont on se sent incapable il se repentoit pourtant bien tost d'un sentiment qui l'eust estrangement afflige s'il fust demeure long temps dans son coeur mais pour le consoler dans ses chagrins il sceut que le peuple de sardis commencoit de ne trouver plus a vivre que par l'assistance des riches et qu'ainsi il y avoit lieu d'esperer que la sedition recommenceroit bien tost parmy eux et qu'il en prendroit leur ville plus facilement et en effet il y avoit grande aparence que la chose seroit ainsi ce n'est pas que cresus et le roy de pont ne fissent tout ce qu'ils pouvoient l'un pour sauver sa couronne et l'autre pour conserver sa maistresse mais ils ne laissoient pas de voir qu'ils estoient perdus
 
 
 
 
cependant ils cachoient le mieux qu'ils pouvoient le peu d'esperance qu'ils avoient l'un et l'autre afin de n'avancer pas leur ruine en desesperant le peuple au contraire ils publioient 
 qu'ils alloient estre secourus que l'armee de cyrus se destruisoit tous les jours qu'il seroit contraint de lever le siege dans peu de temps que les peuples qu'il avoit vaincus se revoltoient et qu'ainsi il ne seroit pas en estat de faire de nouvelles conquestes de plus le roy de pont fit encore dire adroitement par les siens que cyrus ne se soucioit plus de mandane qui estoit la cause de la guerre qu'il estoit devenu amoureux de la princesse araminte et qu'ainsi ces deux princes s'alloient accommoder dans peu de jours de sorte que ce bruit s'espandant par tout faisoit que le peuple souffroit ses maux plus patiemment par l'esperance de les voir bientost finir joint aussi que le roy de pont en attendit un autre advantage qui en effet ne luy manqua pas car ce bruit fut si general qu'il passa de la ville dans la citadelle et de la bouche du peuple en celle des soldats si bien que les femmes de mandane sceurent par leurs gardes ce que l'on disoit dans sardis ils leur dirent mesme pensant leur donner une agreable nouvelle pour elles en particulier qu'elles sortiroient bientost de prison parce que la paix s'alloit faire entre le roy de pont et cyrus adjoustant que ce premier espouseroit mandane et cyrus araminte ce discours ne fut point creu de martesie quoy qu'il semblast confirmer l'opinion qu'avoit mandane que cyrus fust infidelle mais s'il ne fit pas d'impression dans l'esprit de cette fille il en fit dans celuy d'arianite qui ne put s'empescher de raconter 
 ce qu'elle avoit apris a une des femmes de la princesse palmis et de le luy raconter mesme si haut que mandane dans la chambre de qui elles estoient l'entendit avec un redoublement de douleur estrange aussi en parut elle si surprise que la princesse de lydie avec qui elle estoit luy demanda la cause du changement de son visage comme mandane estoit une personne qui n'aimoit pas a advouer qu'elle fust capable de foiblesse quelque confiance qu'elle eust en l'amitie et en la discretion de la princesse palmis elle luy avoit fait un secret de sa jalousie mais voyant que la cause en estoit si publique elle se resolut de la luy avouer luy demandant toutesfois auparavant la permission de commander a arianite de luy dire de qui elle tenoit la nouvelle qu'elle venoit d'aprendre a celle qu'elle entretenoit arianite surprise de voir que mandane avoit ouy ce qu'elle avoit dit voulut d'abord desbiaiser ce qu'elle venoit de dire mais mandane luy dit si absolument qu'elle vouloit scavoir la verite qu'a la fin elle dit la chose telle qu'on la luy avoit racontee apres quoy s'estant retiree ces deux princesses demeurerent dans la liberte de s'entretenir de leurs disgraces pour moy disoit la princesse palmis je ne trouve pas que vous ayez sujet de craindre que ce que ces gardes ont dit soit vray car enfin quelle apparence y a t'il que le plus grand prince du monde peust estre capable d'une laschete comme celle la quand mesme il seroit infidelle adjoustoit elle il ne devroit 
 pas disposer de vous par un traite de paix et il devroit tousjours vous rendre la liberte s'il ne pouvoit vous conserver son coeur il pourroit redonner le royaume de pont au frere de sa nouvelle maistresse s'il pouvoit le luy reconquerir mais non pas luy laisser la fille du roy des medes dont il commande les armees encore une fois poursuivoit palmis je crois que cyrus est innocent et que ce que ces gardes on dit a vos femmes est une de ces nouvelles populaires qui n'ont ny aparence ny verite non non madame reprit tristement mandane cette nouvelle n'est pas absolument fausse je croy bien aussi adjousta t'elle qu'elle n'est pas tout a fait veritable et que l'infidelite de cyrus ne produira pas la paix mais ce qu'il y a de certain est qu'il ne m'aime plus et qu'il aime la princesse araminte car enfin il faut que je vous advoue que j'ay des conjectures de son crime qui ne me permettent pas d'en douter et si je ne vous les ay pas dites c'est que je vous les ay cachees afin de vous cacher la foiblesse que j'ay de n'avoir encore pu chasser de mon coeur un prince qui a eu l'injustice de m'oster le sien je croyois mesme aussi que je ne devois pas si tost deshonorer dans vostre esprit un homme a qui j'ay donne mille louanges et qui a l'infidelite pres est sans doute digne de toutes celles qu'on luy peut donner mais encore interrompit la princesse palmis que le preuve pouvez vous avoir de l'inconstance de cyrus qui vous a donne tant de marques d'une 
 fidelite inviolable et qui a plus fait pour vous que jamais qui que ce soit n'a fait pour personne puis qu'il faut que je vous le die poursuivit elle scachez que quelques jours devant que le roy de pont partit d'icy pour aller donner la bataille qu'il a perdue il entra dans ma chambre avec plus de marques de joye sur le visage qu'il n'avoit accoustume d'en avoir il n'y fut pas plustost que prenant la parole madame me dit il je vous demande pardon si je viens vous aprendre une chose qui sans doute ne vous plaira pas mais comme elle ne vous importe pas moins qu'a moy j'ay pense que je devois vous la faire scavoir seigneur luy dis-je en soupirant vous m'avez tellement accoustumee a ne recevoir que de fascheuses nouvelles depuis que vous me retenez sous vostre puissance que du moins ne seray-je pas surprise quand vous m'aprendrez quelque chose qui ne me sera pas agreable je pense pourtant madame luy dit il que vous la serez un peu lors que je vous aprendray que cyrus que vous avez prefere aux plus grands princes du monde et qui merite en effet toute la gloire dont il est couvert vous prefere une personne qui vous est inferieure en toutes choses mais madame me dit il ne m'en croyez pas s'il vous plaist et croyez en vous yeux seulement apres cela il me donna une lettre qu'il me dit estre de la princesse sa soeur et qui en est en effet adjoustant en suitte que cette lettre avoit este prise entre les mains d'un homme que des coureurs 
 avoient fait prisonnier avec un des esclaves que cyrus avoit donnez a la princesse araminte me disant en suitte que je les examinasse moy mesme mais madame adjousta mandane afin que vous puissiez juger de ce qui a cause la plus aigre douleur de toute ma vie lisez s'il vous plaist vous mesme cette lettre de la princesse araminte que le roy de pont me laissa je ne vous dis point que cette princesse est aimee du prince spitridate fils d'arsamone roy de bithinie et que spitridate ressemble prodigieusemet a cyrus car il me semble que les personnes de vostre condition scavent toutes les avantures remarquables de la leur apres cela mandane donna effectivement la lettre de la princesse araminte a la princesse palmis qui en effet avoit este trouvee par ceux qui avoient fait prisonnier celuy qui la portoit si bien que le roy de pont l'ayant ouverte et connu qu'elle pourroit donner de la jalousie a mandane n'avoit pas manque de prendre la resolution de s'en servir a destruire cyrus dans son esprit cependant palmis ayant pris cette lettre des mains de mandane y trouva ces paroles
 
 
 araminte a spitridate 
 
 
 je pense que vous aurez lieu d'estre surpris de voir qu'une personne que vous avez mise dans la necessite de se justifier vous advoue presques les choses dont vous l'accusez 
 cependant il est certain que je ne puis nier que je n'aye beaucoup d'obligation a l'illustre cyrus qu'il n'ait des defferences pour moy que jamais vainqueur n'a eues pour captive que je n'en aye aussi beaucoup pour luy et qu'il ne soit un des plus grands princes du monde et un des plus heureux conquerans je ne puis encore nier qu'il ne vous ressemble admirablement et que sa veue ne me soit agreable mais apres cela je ne laisse pas de trouver estrange que vous m'escriviez qu'on vous dit tous les jours que j'ay vaincu le vainqueur de toute l'asie et que mon coeur est sa plus illustre conqueste et mesme la plus assuree car enfin apres ce que j'ay fait pour vous c'est estre extremement injuste il n'estoit point necessaire d'adjouster que devant que vous fussiez en prison vous aviez entendu parler de la deference que ce prince a pour moy et de celle que j'ay pour luy car je vous l'advoue et moins encore de m'escrire qu'on vous a dit cent particularitez et de ce qui se passe entre luy et moy puis que vous ne le pouviez sans me faire outrage revenez donc a vous spitridates et pour vous rendre digne que j'aporte plus de soin a me justifier repentez vous de m'avoir accusee il est vray que je n'ay que faire de m'en mettre en peine puis que la prise de sardis vous fera bientost scavoir quels sont les desseins de cyrus et les miens je ne vous dis point que ce prince m'a promis de vous remettre en liberte car vous croiriez peut estre qu'il voudroit ne vous la rendre que pour vous recompenser de ce qu'il vous a oste le coeur d'une personne qui vous a este autresfois fort chere apres cela je n'ay plus qu'a vous dire que comme c'est la voix publique qui m'a accusee je pretends 
 que ce soit elle qui vous face connoistre que je n'ay jamais rien fait que ce que j'ay deu faire que je ne pense que ce que je dois penser et que je n'aime que ce que j'aimeray jusques a la mort 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
a peine la princesse palmis eut elle acheve de lire cette lettre que mandane prenant la parole et bien madame luy dit elle ne trouvez vous pas que puis que spitridate est jaloux d'araminte j'ay lieu de soubconner la fidellite de cyrus et ne trouvez vous pas encore qu'il faut qu'il y ait de la verite en une chose qui se dit esgallement et en bithinie et en lidle a chalcedoinie et a sardis de plus madame poursuivit cette princesse avec precipitation je ne puis pas mettre en doute que la lettre que je vous montre soit de la main de la princesse araminte car j'en ay eu autrefois plusieurs d'elle du temps que le roy de pont estoit en ostage a la cour du roy mon pere ainsi je ne puis pas croire que ce soit une fourbe de plus je ne puis pas soubconner ce prince d'avoir fait escrire cette lettre a la princesse sa soeur car j'ay veu celuy que spitridate luy avoit envoye et l'esclave qu'elle envoyoit en bithinie que j'avois donne a cyrus lors qu'il partit pour aller a themiscire mais cet esclave vous a t'il dit que cyrus soit amoureux d'araminte reprit la princesse palmis il ne me l'a pas dit precisemet repliqua t'elle car il n'est pas assez simple pour ne scavoir pas que ce n'est point une chose a me dire mais il m'a advoue que 
 cyrus fait rendre autant d'honneur a araminte que si elle estoit a heraclee qu'il la voit tres souvent et qu'il a de longues conversations avec elle de plus cet envoye de spitridate m'a dit encore une chose qui ne permet pas de douter qu'il n'y ait une intelligence tres estroite entre cyrus et araminte puis qu'il m'assure que lors qu'on l'eut presente a ce prince et qu'on eut remis entre ses mains une lettre dont on l'avoit trouve charge il l'envoya l'heure mesme a cette princesse par chrisante dont je vous ay tant parle ne scachant pas alors de qui elle estoit car celuy qui la portoit ne le scavoit pas luy mesme et ce n'est que par la responce d'araminte que je connois qu'elle estoit de spitridate cet homme eut mesme ordre d'aller trouver cette princesse avec chrisante qui luy porta la lettre qui estoit pour elle mais qui la luy porta sans que cyrus l'eust ouverte tant il la respecte quoy que selon les loix de la guerre il le peust faire sans incivilite mais pour vous faire encore mieux voir quelle est l'intelligence qui est entre eux cet homme dit que la princesse araminte renvoya a cyrus par le mesme chrisante la lettre de spitridate avec un billet qu'elle luy escrivit et qu'en suitte cyrus la luy renvoya avec la responce qu'il luy fit jugez apres cela poursuivit mandane si je puis douter de l'infidellite de cyrus car enfin s'il n'estoit point amant d'araminte elle ne luy auroit point envoye une lettre de spitridate elle se seroit contentee de luy 
 mander que cette lettre ne traittoit ny d'affaires d'estat ny d'affaires de guerre et elle auroit du moins attendu qu'il luy eust tesmoigne qu'il la vouloit voir et qu'il eust este chez elle mais c'est assurement qu'elle voulut sacrifier spitridate a cyrus et qu'elle luy envoya sa lettre pour scavoir ce qu'il vouloit qu'elle y respondist apres tout interrompit la princesse palmis il paroist pourtant bien que la princesse araminte songe a se justifier puis qu'elle n'advoue pas que spitridate ait sujet d'estre jaloux ha madame repliqua mandane je voy bien plus le crime de cyrus que l'innocence d'araminte dans cette lettre car enfin elle s'y justifie si foiblement qu'elle semble plustost vouloir preparer spitridate a son inconstance qu'a le guerir de sa jalousie elle luy advoue presque tout ce dont il l'accuse elle remet sa justification apres la prise de sardis sans luy dire precisement qu'elle sera tousjours a luy et qu'elle ne sera jamais a cyrus elle commence de luy faire esperer sa liberte et elle se contente de dire qu'elle aimera jusques a la mort ce qu'elle aime presentement sans luy dire positivement que ce soit de luy qu'elle entend parler ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je croye que la princesse araminte soit inconstante seulement parce qu'elle aura trouve cyrus plus aimable que spitridate mais c'est que cyrus est plus heureux c'est que l'ambition se trouve jointe a l'amour c'est qu'en recevant la passion de ce prince elle remettra la couronne 
 dans sa maison et se mettra sur la teste tous les lauriers dont cyrus est couvert enfin madame poursuivit elle il n'est pas estrange que le vainqueur de toute l'asie ait vaincu le coeur d'araminte et s'il l'estoit aussi peu que cyrus se soit laisse vaincre a une princesse captive qu'il l'est qu'elle se soit laisse toucher aux larmes d'un conquerant je n'en murmurerois pas mais j'advoue que c'est une fort injuste chose de voir qu'il m'abandonne apres avoir fait ce que j'ay fait pour luy apres qu'il a cause tous les malheurs de ma vie apres que j'ay mesprise a sa consideration les plus grands princes du monde et apres m'estre enfin determinee a vaincre dans mon esprit je ne scay quelle gloire qui ne vouloit pas que j'advouasse jamais que mon coeur n'estoit pas insensible cependant il n'est que trop vray que cyrus me quitte et qu'il aime peut-estre mieux perdre tous les services qu'il m'a rendus que de demeurer fidelle en verite madame luy dit la princesse palmis il me semble que vous condamnez bien legerement cyrus car encore qu'il y ait quelques aparences contre luy je trouve qu'il ne faut pas le traiter tout a fait en criminel je pense adjousta t'elle en souspirant que la prise de sardis vous esclaircira bien tost de son crime car pour cette pretendue paix dont on a parle a arianite je suis assuree que c'est un bruit sans fondement remettez donc a la fin du siege a juger de l'innocence ou du crime de cyrus puis que ce sera veritablement en ce temps la que vous pourrez juger de 
 ce qu'il est et luy faire des remercimens de vostre liberte ou des reproches de son inconstance eh veullent les dieux que vous soyez en estat d'avoir assez de credit pour l'obliger a estre aussi doux aux vaincus qu'il l'a este jusques icy quand je n'y aurois plus de credit reprit mandane je suis assuree qu'il ne laisseroit pas de bien traiter le roy vostre pere mais pour des reproches adjousta t'elle je luy en ay desja fait et alors mandane raconta a palmis comment elle avoit escrit a cyrus et par qui exagerant la prodigieuse rencontre de celuy qui avoit porte sa lettre qui avoit autrefois este un de ceux qui avoient voulu assassiner cyrus a la solicitation du lasche artane et a qui cyrus avoit depuis si genereusement pardonne lors qu'il estoit tombe en sa puissance cependant disoit elle il ne me respond pas quoy que cet homme eust promis a martesie de mourir ou de revenir mais c'estoit en vain que mandane l'attendoit car quelque adresse qu'il eust il s'estoit rendu suspect par son absence quoy qu'il eust demande permission d'aller au camp sur quelque pretexte qu'il avoit invente de sorte que lorsqu'il avoit pense revenir dans la citadelle on l'avoit arreste et on s'estoit non seulement informe de ce qu'il avoit fait depuis la bataille parce qu'il estoit party de sardis le jour qu'on l'avoit donnee mais encore on avoit cherche s'il n'avoit point de lettre si bien qu'on avoit trouve celle de cyrus quoy qu'il l'eust tres soigneusement cachee de sorte que 
 pactias a qui on la porta la donna a l'heure mesme au roy de pont a qui il defferoit plus alors qu'au roy de lydie ainsi la malheureuse mandane fut privee de la consolation de recevoir une lettre de cyrus qui l'eust assurement desabusee de l'erreur ou elle estoit bien heureuse encore d'avoir une personne aussi pleine d'esprit et de bonte qu'estoit la princesse palmis pour la soulager dans ses disgraces il est vray que si la princesse de lydie la soulageoit dans ses malheurs mandane luy rendoit aussi consolation pour consolation elles eurent mesme encore un petit renouvellement de douleur car le roy de pont jugeant qu'il y avoit un autre apartement dans la citadelle ou il faudroit moins de gardes et que par consequent il seroit moins difficile d'en trouver un petit nombre fidelle qu'un grand il voulut qu'on les y mist mais comme elles ne purent y aller sans passer par une grande et large terrasse d'ou elles pouvoient descouvrir toute la ville et toute la plaine elles n'y furent pas plustost qu'elles descouvrirent en effet toute l'armee de cyrus a l'entour de cette superbe ville toutesfois comme les attachemens les plus sensibles de leur coeur estoient differens elles ne tournerent pas d'abord la teste d'un mesme coste car mandane regarda tout a l'heure vers les assiegeans ou elle scavoit qu'estoit cyrus qui tout infidelle qu'elle le croyoit occupoit encore toutes ses pensees et la princesse palmis regarda vers l'endroit de la ville ou elle 
 scavoit que le prince artamas estoit prisonnier si bien que mandane cherchoit a deviner de quel coste pouvoit estre cyrus et palmis vouloit connoistre a quel apartement on avoit mis artamas mais comme cette princesse avoit plus d'une douleur dans l'ame que l'amour de la patrie et la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour le roy son pere et pour le prince myrsile faisoient qu'elle ne pouvoit donner toutes ses larmes au prince artamas apres avoir regarde d'abord ce qui causoit sa plus vive douleur elle regarda en suitte cette grande et nombreuse armee qui couvroit toute la campagne depuis le bord du fosse de sardis jusques aussi loing que la veue se pouvoit estendre mais apres l'avoir consideree du moins dit elle en se tournant tristement vers mandane avez vous la consolation de pouvoir croire que parmy cette multitude d'hommes que vous voyez vous voyez peutestre vostre liberateur ha madame luy repliqua mandane un prince infidelle qui a rompu les chaines qui devoient l'attacher pour toute sa vie ne sera peutestre pas mon liberateur et je trouve que vous devez avoir plus de consolation de voir artamas dans les fers puis qu'il vous aime que je n'en ay de voir cyrus victorieux puis qu'il ne m'aime pas la conversation de ces deux grandes princesses qui se faisoit tout bas ne fut pas longue car leurs gardes ne leur permirent pas d'estre longtemps en ce lieu la de sorte que leur faisant connoistre que leur ordre estoit de ne les y laisser pas davantage 
 elles entrerent dans leur nouvel apartement il est vray qu'elles y entrerent en souspirant celle qui en avoit le moins de sujet fut pourtant celle qui le fit avec le plus de melancolie mais l'erreur ou elle estoit la devoit rendre excusable estant certain que s'il eust este vray qu'elle eust perdu le coeur de l'illustre cyrus elle eust fait la plus grande perte du monde or durant que cette belle et malheureuse princesse se pleignoit avec tant d'injustice que cresus s'affligeoit avec tant de raison que le roy de pont se desesperoit avec tant de sujet et que le prince artamas souffroit sa prison avec tant de patience cyrus ne songeoit qu'a delivrer mandane il se pleignoit de sa jalousie mais c'estoit avec tant de respect qu'elle en eust este satisfaite si elle l'est pu scavoir cependant il estoit au desespoir de voir que sardis luy resistoit plus qu'il n'avoit pense et il se resoluoit a perdre beaucoup de gens plustost que de ne l'emporter pas au premier assaut qu'il donneroit mais comme il ne vouloit pas le donner en vain il se resolut d'attendre encore quelques jours que les eschelles dont il avoit besoin fussent toutes faites et en attendant il ne laissoit pas d'avancer tousjours son dessein soit en empeschant les vivres d'entrer dans la ville soit en gagnant quelques dehors que les ennemis avoient encore gardez du coste du fleuve ou soit en repoussant les sorties qu'ils faisoient presques tous les jours ce qui obligeoit le roy de pont a hazarder tant d'hommes par 
 ces frequentes sorties estoit que par ce moyen il remarquoit mieux quel estoit le campement des ennemis afin de tascher de voir si en cas de besoin il n'y auroit point moyen d'entreprendre de faire sortir la princesse mandane de cette ville joint aussi que par cette voye il envoyoit plus facilement quelques uns des siens ou pour espions dans l'armee de cyrus ou pour aller soliciter du secours ou pour donner lieu a ceux qu'il avoit desja envoyez de r'entrer dans la ville en se meslant parmy les siens
 
 
 
 
les choses estant donc en ces termes le roy de pont fit faire une sortie la nuit du coste ou cyrus commandoit en personne et elle fut faite si a propos que d'abord ils tuerent beaucoup de monde nettoyerent toute la teste de la tranchee firent main basse sur tous les premiers qu'ils trouverent et mirent l'allarme par tout le camp mais cyrus arresta bien tost leur impetuosite par sa presence car a peine sa voix eut elle este entedue des siens et entendue au milieu des ennemis ou il s'estoit jette d'abord avec une ardeur heroique que se r'alliant a l'entour de luy ils firent fuir ceux qui ne les avoient batus que parce qu'ils les avoient surpris et les pousserent si vivement que ceux qui les suivoient penserent entrer dans la ville avec eux ils y retourneret mesme en si petit nombre que depuis cela il ne prit plus envie aux ennemis de faire des sorties du coste ou cyrus estoit en personne les egyptiens et les medes estande garde cette nuit la eurent leur part a la 
 gloire de cette action qui estoit pourtant presques toute deue a la valeur de cyrus qui n'estant pas moins doux apres la victoire que vaillant au combat ne manquoit jamais de commander lors qu'il avoit vaincu que l'on eust soin des blessez soit qu'ils fussent amis ou ennemis et il le fit cette fois la d'autant plustost qu'il sceut qu'il y avoit parmy les prisonniers qu'on avoit faits un homme de qualite egiptien qui devant que de se rendre avoit dispute opiniastrement sa liberte et s'estoit fait blesser en plusieurs lieux jusques a ce qu'estant tombe de cheval il eust este contraint de ceder cyrus entendant ce qu'on luy disoit demanda si on ne scavoit point le nom de ce vaillant homme et le demanda en presence de plusieurs chefs egiptiens qui estoint a l'entour de luy et qui avoient aussi beaucoup d'impatience de scavoir qui pouvoit estre cet homme de qualite de leur nation car ils n'avoient pas sceu ce qu'on avoit dit a cyrus quelques jours auparavant mais lors qu'ils entendirent que ceux a qui ce prince demandoit le nom de ce prisonnier luy dirent qu'il leur sembloit qu'il se nommoit heracleon ils ne purent s'empescher d'en murmurer entr'eux et d'en paroistre estonnez principalement quand ils ouirent en suitte que cyrus commandoit qu'on en eust un soin particulier et qu'on le mist dans une de ses tentes aussi un de ces chefs egiptiens nomme miris ne put il s'empescher de s'opposer aux soins que cyrus vouloit prendre de ce prisonnier ha seigneur 
 s'ecria t'il ne soyez pas si soigneux de conserver la vie du plus meschant de tous les hommes et du plus indigne d'estre protege par un prince aussi vertueux que vous s'il est tel que vous dittes repliqua cyrus les dieux le puniront sans que je m'en mesle c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas laisser de le secourir pour l'amour de moy mesme quand je ne le devrois pas pour l'amour de luy mais encore poursuivit il qui est cet heracleon c'est seigneur repliqua miris un homme indigne de sa naissance qui est assez illustre c'est un rival du genereux sesostris c'est un ennemy de sa patrie c'est un assassinateur de rois et c'est enfin un homme que l'amour et l'ambition ont noircy de tous les crimes imaginables c'est pourquoy je vous conjure par l'interest du prince sesostris mon maistre de commander qu'on le garde du moins soigneusement de peur qu'il ne s'enfuye s'il est en estat de le pouvoir faire ou qu'il n'acheve de se tuer s'il juge qu'il soit connu pour ce qu'il est car seigneur il importe de tout a sesostris puis qu'heracleon est en vostre puissance que ce meschant ne meure pas sans luy aprendre ce que luy seul peut luy faire scavoir apres tout ce que vous venez de me dire d'heracleon reprit cyrus je suis bien aise d'avoir une raison qui regarde sesostris pour me porter a continuer de prendre soin de luy afin de ne me repentir pas de ce que j'ay dit et en effet cyrus qui avoit bien remarque que miris estoit fort aime du prince sesostris fit ce 
 qu'il souhaitoit de luy c'est a dire qu'il commanda qu'on gardast soigneusement heracleon et qu'on observast mesme ce qu'il diroit commandant aussi a la priere de miris qu'on luy vinst rendre conte de l'estat de ses blessures afin de juger s'il faudroit bientost tascher de luy faire dire ce qui importoit tant au prince sesostris cependant seigneur adjousta miris je vous suplieray par l'interest de ce grand prince de vouloir me donner deux heures d'audience le plutost que vous le pourrez afin que vous puissiez scavoir combien il importe a sesostris de n'ignorer pas ce qu'heracleon seulement peut luy aprendre et que vous scachiez aussi quelle difference vous devez faire entre ces deux rivaux car comme je scay precisement tout ce qui s'est passe entre eux et que le prince sesostris m'a commande quand j'en trouverois l'occasion favorable de vous faire connoistre ce qu'il est je seray bien aise aujourd'huy que je vois son ennemy entre vos mains de vous informer de ses advantures vous me ferez un plaisir signale reprit cyrus estant certain depuis le premier instant que je vis sesostris j'ay tousjours eu envie de le connoistre un peu plus que je ne fais c'est pourquoy je vous promets de mesnager aujourd'huy si adroitement toutes mes heures que j'en trouveray quelqu'une pour vous escouter et en effet cyrus ne manqua pas a sa parole car apres avoir employe tout le reste du jour et le commencement de la nuit aux ordres qu'il avoit a donner il se retira un peu plustost 
 qu'il n'avoit accoustume il sceut pourtant auparavant qu'heracleon avoit d'abord fait grande difficulte de se laisser penser et qu'il avoit agy comme un furieux mais qu'a la fin il avoit toutesfois souffert qu'on pensast ses blessures qui estoient fort dangereuses que neantmoins il n'estoit pas impossible qu'il guerist et que quand mesme il auroit a mourir il y avoit aparence que ce ne seroit pas si tost apres quoy cyrus envoya querir miris pour luy donner audience le conjurant de vouloir luy dire bien exactement toute la vie de sesostris car outre poursuivit cyrus que tout ce que vous avez dit d'heracleon me fait connoistre qu'il y a de grandes choses a scavoir il est encore certain qu'il y a je ne scay quelle puissante inclination qui fait que je m'interesse si fort a tout ce qui touche sesostris que vous m'obligerez extremement de ne me cacher rien de sa vie aussi bien suis-je persuade que vous en aurez le loisir et que les ennemis apres leur advanture de la nuit passee ne seront pas en estat de nous interrompre celle cy je vous assure seigneur repliqua miris que vous ne scauriez avoir tant d'envie d'aprendere les advantures du prince sesostris que j'en ay presentement de vous les dire c'est pourquoy interrompit cyrus ne me dites plus rien autre chose afin de ne perdre pas de momens dont je ne suis pas absolument le maistre myris obeissant alors a cyrus commenca son discours de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
 histoire de sesostris et de timarete
 
 
pour vous faire bien connoistre sesostris et vous faire scavoir la cause de ses malheurs il ne faut pas seulement vous raconter sa vie il faut encore vous apprendre celle de ses peres et ne vous dire moins exactement l'histoire de toute l'egipte en general que la sienne particuliere tant il est vray que ses infortunes ont une source esloignee ne trouvez donc pas estrange si je commence mon discours par des choses qui d'abord vous sembleront en quelque facon detachees de mon sujet et presques inutiles a mon recit mais que vous connoistrez pourtant par la suite en estre essentiellement il faut mesme seigneur que je vous die particulierement beaucoup de choses dont la renommee vous aura sans doute apris une partie mais que vous ne pouvez pas scavoir assez parfaitement pour entendre les avantures qui en despendent n'estant pas croyable que dans vostre enfance vous les ayez assez bien sceues pour cela n'estant pas possible que dans un age plus avance le conquerant de toute l'asie ait eu assez de loisir pendant qu'il faisoit tant d'illustres conquestes de s'informer exactement de ce qui se passoit en afrique il faut donc seigneur que je vous die que sesostris est fils d'apriez cet illustre et malheureux roy qui apres avoir regne si heureusement durant si 
 long temps et r'emporte tant de glorieux advantages a la guerre qu'il eut contre ceux de tir et de sidon se vit a la fin renverse du throsne de cet apriez dis-je qui se vantoit d'estre sorty de la race du premier sesostris si fameux par ses vertus et par ses conquestes car psammethicus son bisayeul en estoit il est vray que ce prince dont apriez estoit sorty estoit assez couvert de gloire par luy mesme sans avoir besoin de celle de ses predecesseurs puis que ce fut luy comme vous le scavez qui eut celle de vaincre ces onze rois ou plustost ces onze tirans qui avoient partage tout le royaume pendant un inter- regne et de reunir en une seule puissance comme auparavant tant de puissances illegitimes voila donc seigneur quelle est la naissance de sesostris je voy bien que ce que je vous dis vous surprend et que scachant que c'est aujourd'huy amasis qui regne en egipte vous avez peine a croire qu'il y ait un fils d'apriez et un fils d'apriez qui commande des troupes d'amasis vainqueur du feu roy son pere mais seigneur pourveu que vous veuilliez avoir la patience de m'escouter vostre estonnement cessera et tout ce qui vous paroist incroyable ne vous le semblera plus pour retourner donc a la source des malheurs de sesostris il faut comme je vous l'ay desja dit vous aprendre les dernieres infortunes du roy son pere et vous dire en suitte comment amasis est monte au throne car c'est principalement sur cela que porte toute la suitte de 
 cette histoire je vous ay desja dit seigneur qu'apriez avoit regne heureusement et qu'il avoit este heureux en guerre et heureux en paix mais il faut encore que je vous die qu'il avoit aussi este heureux en son mariage non seulement parce qu'il avoit espouse une princesse admirable en beaute et en vertu mais encore parce que les dieux luy donnerent un fils des la premiere annee qu'il fut marie et un fils qui tesmoigna des le berceau devoir estre ce que vous le voyez aujourd'huy estant certain que jamais enfance n'a este plus agreable que la sienne voila donc apriez le plus heureux de tous les rois du monde le voila maistre d'un des plus abondans et des plus riches royaumes de toute la terre jamais l'egipte n'avoit este plus tranquile jamais le desbordement du nil n'avoit rendu nos campagnes plus fertiles et jamais enfin cette monarchie n'avoit este plus solidement establie qu'elle paroissoit l'estre en ce temps la cependant seigneur cet honneur fut bien tost renverse mais afin que vous scachiez mieux de quelle voye les dieux se servirent pour cela il faut que vous scachiez qu'amasis qui regne aujourd'huy et dont la naissance est sans doute plus grande que ses ennemis ne la disent estoit alors dans la cour mais il y estoit avec une ambition cachee dans le coeur qui faisoit qu'il n'avoit point de repos en ce mesme temps il y avoit aussi a la cour une princesse nomee ladice qui avoit este mariee et qui estant veusve possedoit toute la faveur de la reine et 
 par consequent celle du roy car outre qu'en egypte toutes les femmes en general sont extremement considerees par leurs maris les reines en particulier le sont extremement par les rois se fondant sur l'exemple d'osiris qu'on assure avoir fort respecte isis de sorte que par ce moyen comme je l'ay desja dit ladice en possedant le coeur de la reine avoit beaucoup de credit aupres du roy et comme ceux qui sont en faveur n'y sont pas long temps sans qu'on le scache amasis de qui l'esprit estoit aussi grand que l'ambition s'apercevant le premier du pouvoir que ladice avoit sur les volontez de la reine se hasta de s'attacher a la voir plus qu'une autre devant que sa faveur eust fait beaucoup d'esclat dans le monde afin de persuader a cette princesse que c'estoit par cette raison qu'il la voyoit plus souvent qu'il n'avoit accoustume car comme amasis avoit un esprit penetrant qu'il connoissoit l'humeur de la reine et l'adresse de ladice quoy que les commencemens de la faveur de cette princesse fussent petits en aparence il ne laissa pas de prevoir qu'elle augmenteroit infailliblement bientost c'est pourquoy pour faire que le prix de tous ses services fust plus grand il se hasta comme je l'ay desja dit de se declarer pour estre amy particulier de ladice et en effet cette princesse a qui l'esprit d'amasis plaisoit extremment ne fut pas longtemps sans estre autant de ses amies qu'il estoit de ses amis et mesme davantage car enfin il aimoit ladice 
 et la faveur de ladice et cette princesse aimoit seulement le merite et la personne d'amasis cependant afin de cacher mieux son ambition quand amasis vit qu'il ne s'estoit pas trompe en ses conjectures et que la faveur de ladice augmentoit il fit si bien que cette princesse creut qu'il avoit de l'amour pour elle et qu'elle le creut sans s'en facher je ne vous diray point seigneur ny par quelle voye il luy fit connoistre sa passion ny par quels sentimens ladice la souffrit enfin agreablement car ce n'est pas l'histoire d'amasis que je vous raconte mais je vous diray seulement que comme ladice estoit belle et de plus favorite de la reine tout ce qu'il y eut de gens de qualite dans la cour s'attacherent a la servir si bien que par ce moyen n'en desesperant ny n'en favorisant pas un elle estoit maistresse absolue du coeur de tous les grands d'egipte de sorte que comme cette princesse aimoit l'estat elle se resolut de se servir de l'amour que sa beaute et sa faveur avoient donne a tant de gens d'importance pour les empescher de remuer dans le royaume et pour les unir inseparablement aux interests du roy et en effet elle agit avec tant de generosite et tant d'adresse en ces occasions qu'elle en a merite une gloire eternelle car enfin elle dissipa plusieurs factions elle rompit plusieurs cabales et elle persuada si bien a tous ceux qui la servoient qu'ils ne le pouvoient mieux faire qu'en servant le roy qu'en effet elle les retint durant tres longtemps dans l'obeissance cependant 
 amasis qui aux yeux de tout le monde ne paroissoit estre qu'amy de ladice estoit effectivement devenu amant et un amant encore qui devint enfin un amant aime principalement parce qu'elle croyoit qu'il estoit le seul qui aimoit effectivement sa personne sans considerer sa faveur ne scachant pas qu'il avoit une ambition cachee dans l'ame encore plus forte que son amour elle se trouva pourtant fort embarrassee car amasis n'estoit pas alors en une posture ou il pust y avoir de proportion entre luy et ses rivaux ny entre luy et ladice neantmoins comme elle avoit l'ame passionnee qu'elle croyoit avoir de l'obligation a amasis qu'il la servoit avec un respect sans esgal qu'il avoit servy le roy en diverses occasions avec beaucoup de fidelite qu'il s'estoit signale a la guerre de tir et de sidon que son inclination la portoit puissamment a le preferer a tout le reste du monde et qu'elle avoit l'ame fort desinteressee elle se seroit resolue assez facilement a l'espouser si elle se n'eust juge qu'infailliblement tous ceux qui la servoient alors et qu'elle empeschoit de brouiller l'stat recommenceroient toutes leurs factions principalement en un temps ou le roy se trouvoit oblige de faire la guerre aux cyreneens mais comme amasis estoit alors assez bien avec elle pour scavoir toutes ses pensees et les obstacles qu'elle mettoit a son bonheur il redoubla ses soins et ses prieres afin qu'elle luy donnast quel que asseurances plus particulieres de son affection car 
 comme il scavoit qu'il faudroit qu'il allast a la guerre avec le roy et qu'il y avoit quelques uns de ses rivaux qui demeureroient aupres de la reine il craignoit que durant son absence ladice ne changeast de sentiment de sorte que faisant le desespere il luy dit qu'absolument il n'iroit point a l'armee qu'il aimoit mieux perdre son honneur que de s'exposer a perdre son affection et il luy dit cela si determinement qu'en effet elle creut qu'il n'iroit pas et qu'ainsi on viendroit a scavoir peut-estre la cause d'un procede si peu ordinaire a amasis qui estoit extremement brave quoy qu'il en soit seigneur comme ladice aimoit effectivement amasis et qu'elle avoit resolu de l'espouser quand cette guerre seroit terminee il ne fut pas si difficile a cet ambitieux amant de persuader a cette princesse de l'espouser en secret et en effet l'amour estant aussi sorte dans le coeur de ladice que l'ambition l'estoit dans celuy de cet amant cache quelques jours devant le depart du roy amasis espousa ladice secrettement dans un petit temple sans autres tesmoins que ceux qui en faisoient la ceremonie et qui estoient absolument a elle a la reserve d'une de ses femmes en qui elle se confioit de toutes choses et par ce moyen amasis se vit en estat de pouvoir un jour posseder toute l'utilite de la faveur de ladice qu'il souhaitoit pour le moins autant que la possession de sa beaute quoy qu'il en soit amasis partit pour aller a la guerre et partit mary 
 de la belle ladice durant que tous ses amans luy disoient adieu avec des larmes mais pour commencer a le mettre en estant de pouvoir declarer son mariage apres la fin de la guerre elle obligea la reine a faire que le roy le fist un de ses lieutenans generaux pretextant la chose de sa fidellite et de son courage et quoy que cela parust un peu extraordinaire a la reine lors que ladice luy fit cette proposition elle ne laissa pas de la contenter cependant cete guerre ou alloit le roy n'avoit pas un pretexte extremement plausible et l'on eust dit qu'apriez ne la faisoit que pour occuper les grands de son estat de peur qu'ils ne fissent une guerre civille les commencemens en furent assez heureux et amasis y rendit des services considerables et s'aquit de telle sorte le coeur des soldats qu'il estoit maistre de l'armee toutes les fois qu'apriez avoit rencontre les ennemis il les avoit batus de sorte qu'encore qu'il n'eust pas donne de bataille il ne laissoit pas d'avoir beaucoup fait d'avoir estably la reputation de ses armes et d'avoir porte la terreur dans le pais ennemy les choses estant en ces termes apriez detacha dix mille hommes de son armee et les donna a commander a amasis afin qu'il fist semblant d'aller attaquer les ennemis par un autre coste pour les obliger a separer leurs forces et pour les contraindre apres a combatre malgre qu'ils en eussent esperant les vaincre plus facilement mais la chose ne reussit pas comme il l'avoit pense car les cyreneens 
 ne separerent point leurs troupes et aimerent mieux s'exposer a estre vaincus en quelque part qu'a l'estre par tout si bien que ne divisant point leur armee ils firent ce qu'apriez vouloit faire c'est a dire qu'ils le forcerent a combatre et le vainquirent mais de telle sorte que son armee ayant este entierement deffaite il fut contraint de s'en retourner a says ou il avoit laisse la reine et de s'y en retourner couvert de honte et accable de douleur car non seulement il avoit perdu la bataille mais elle avoit este si sanglante que cette funeste journee mit le deuil dans toute l'egipte apriez en partant pour retourner a says envoya commander a amasis de l'y aller trouver de retirer les troupes qu'il avoit du pais ennemy et de les laisser sur la frontiere laissant ordre aux autres lieutenans generaux de r'allier ce qu'ils pourroient du debris de son armee en effet amasis obeissant au roy fut le trouver ou il estoit bien aise de n'avoir point eu de part a la honte de sa deffaite et de pouvoir dire a ladice qu'il n'avoit rien fait indigne de l'honneur qu'elle luy avoit accorde cependant comme la perte de cette bataille avoit cause une consternation generale dans toute l'egipte le peuple et les soldats commencerent de murmurer et il s'espandit un bruit universel qu'apriez avoit cherche a estre vaincu qu'il n'avoit separe son armee que pour faire perir quelques grands de son estat qui pouvoient le troubler esperant apres cela regner sur eux avec 
 plus d'empire et passer d'une puissance legitime a une puissance tirannique seigneur soit que les soldats parlassent ainsi de leur propre mouvement ou qu'amasis les entretinst sourdement dans cette disposition il est tousjours certain que toutes ces troupes r'alliees jointes a celles qu'amasis avoit ramenees sur la frontiere parurent avoir intention de se revolter et agirent en effet comme ayant dessein de faire la guerre a leur prince apriez ne sceut pas plustost la chose qu'il resolut pour calmer cet orage d'envoyer amasis vers cette armee qui sembloit vouloir estre rebelle ce prince le considerant comme un homme qui estoit agreable aux soldats et qu'il croyoit luy estre fidelle amasis acceptant donc cette commission partit pour s'en aller a l'armee mais devant que de partir que ne luy dit point ladice pour l'obliger a servir bien le roy en cette occasion et a bien servir sa patrie adjoustant a toutes ses prieres que s'il pouvoit restablir le calme dans l'armee et par consequent dans toute l'egipte elle declareroit aussi tost son mariage et au roy et a la reine qui n'oseroient pas le desaprouver apres qu'il leur auroit rendu un service si considerable mais seigneur comme amasis avoit plustost espouse ladice par ambition que par amour quoy qu'il en fust pourtant devenu amoureux il ne demeura pas dans les bornes que cette genereuse princesse luy prescrivit neantmoins quand il arriva a l'armee il commenca d'agir en fidelle sujet et je suis persuade 
 quoy que ses ennemis en ayent dit qu'il n'avoit alors que de bonnes intentions et que tout ambitieux qu'il estoit il ne vouloit faire sa fortune que par la belle voye il fit donc mettre toutes les troupes en bataille et assemblant tous les chefs il se mit a leur remonstrer leur faute et l'injustice de leur procede mais durant qu'il parloit un soldat egiptien prit un armet et le luy mettant sur la teste comme on fait a la ceremonie du couronnement de nos rois souffre amasis luy dit il que je te mette en possession du royaume d'egypte et cesse de nous parler d'obeir a apriez car nous ne voulons point de roy qui ait este vaincu le discours insolent de ce soldat qui n'avoit pas este fait sans estre concerte avec beaucoup d'autres fut suivy d'une acclamation presque universelle qui fit connoistre a amasis qu'il estoit peut-estre a son choix d'estre roy ou de ne l'estre pas de sorte que toute l'ambition de son ame se resveillant il n'escouta ny la generosite ny la raison ny mesme la veritable gloire qui ne se trouve pas a regner par une injuste voye et se laissa emporter aveuglement a l'ambition toute seule il voulut pourtant d'abord rejetter la proposition qu'on luy faisoit afin de ne se declarer pas trop tost mais il la rejetta foiblement et d'une maniere qui ne fit que redoubler les cris des soldats qui disoient tous qu'ils faloit qu'amasis fust leur souverain enfin seigneur vous le scavez et toute la terre l'a sceu amasis ne put refuser d'estre roy et 
 il commenca de parler comme un homme qui vouloit estre force a recevoir la puissance souveraine il n'accepta pourtant pas precisement la qualite de roy afin d'avoir loisir de juger s'il pourroit effectivement le devenir il leur dit donc seulement que pour reconnoistre la confiance qu'ils avoient en luy il vouloit estre leur protecteur qu'il leur permettoit de ne les quitter point qu'il ne leur eust fait obtenir leur disgrace et mesme de nouveaux privileges mais plus amasis agissoit ainsi plus les chefs et les soldats persistoient a dire qu'ils vouloient qu'il fust leur roy cependant amasis depescha a la cour faisant dire a apriez qu'il estoit au desespoir de ce qui estoit arrive et qu'il l'assuroit qu'il ne faisoit semblant d'accepter une partie du pouvoir que les soldats luy avoient donne que pour les ramener dans l'obeissance mais en mesme temps il depescha un des siens secrettement a la princesse ladice pour la conjurer de se retirer de la cour et de venir recevoir la couronne que les dieux luy offroient par sa main cependant comme le roy fut adverty fidellement par quelques officiers de cette armee comment la chose se passoit il entra en une telle colere contre amasis qu'au lieu de dissimuler une partie de son ressentiment et de tascher de mesnager les choses il esclatta contre ce rebelle et depescha vers luy un homme de la plus haute consideration nomme patarbenis avec ordre d'agir conjoinctement avec ce peu d'officiers qui luy estoient fidelles 
 et de tascher de se saisir de la personne d'amasis ou mesme de le tuer s'ils n'estoient pas assez forts pour le prendre d'autre part ladice qui estoit effectivement genereuse desaprouva de telle sorte ce que faisoit amasis qu'encore qu'elle l'aimast avec une passion extreme elle luy manda que bien loing de se derober de la cour et de prendre part a son crime elle luy declaroit que s'il ne r'entroit bientost dans son devoir elle seroit sa plus mortelle ennemie elle ne laissa toutesfois de tascher d'adoucir les choses a la cour autant qu'elle put mais ce fut inutilement parce que patarbenis avoit desja receu les ordres du roy apriez n'ayant pas delibere un moment sur ce qu'il devoit faire la chose ne luy reussit pourtant pas car comme cet ordre n'avoit pas este bien secret amasis le sceut devant que de voir celuy a qui on l'avoit donne de sorte que lors que patarbenis arriva au camp il trouva qu'il estoit desja adverty du sujet de son voyage ce luy que ses amis de la cour luy avoient envoye ayant este plus diligent que patarbenis qui estoit desja assez avance en age en effet lors qu'il arriva aupres de luy il le trouva qui haranguoit ses soldats qu'il avoit fait ranger en bataille pour les exhorter a deffendre sa vie qu'il scavoit qu'apriez vouloit luy faire oster par quelques uns d'entre eux patarbenis arrivant donc comme amasis estoit en cette occupation il voulut d'abord luy parler comme si le roy eust creu positivement tout ce qu'il luy avoit mande et qu'ainsi 
 sa fidelite ne luy eust pas este suspecte afin d'avoir le temps de negocier avec ceux de chefs de cette armee qui avoient adverty apriez de la verite mais amasis qui scavoit la veritable cause de son voyage ne luy donna pas le loisir de parler plus longtemps non non luy dit il patarbenis ne me desguisez point une chose que je scay aussi bien que vous vous venez avec intention de porter ma teste a apriez mais je ne pense pas dit il en se tournant vers ses troupes que ces mesmes soldats qui l'ont couronnee veueillent vous la livrer c'est pourquoy vous n'avez qu'a vous en retourner a l'heure mesme pour dire au prince qui vous envoye que s'il deffend aussi bien sa couronne que je deffendray ma teste je ne seray de longtemps roy patarbenis voulut repartir quelque chose a un discours si hardy mais il se fit une telle acclamation parmy les soldats pour aprouver le discours d'amasis que cet envoye connut bien que le mieux qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de s'en retourner car de par tout il n'entendoit qne menaces insolentes contre luy patarbenis s'en retourna donc a says ou apriez estoit alors dans le superbe palais qui'il y avoit fait bastir mais il n'y fut pas bien receu car ce malheureux roy aprenant le peu de succes de son voyage creut qu'il s'entendoit avec amasis si bien qu'il le fit non seulement arrester mais mourir sur le raport de quelques soldats qui l'avoient suivy et qui dirent que s'il se fust obstine a demeurer au camp il auroit pu faire revolter une partie 
 des troupes contre amasis cette mort precipitee et violente acheva de destruire les affaires d'apriez car comme patarbenis estoit d'une probite reconnue de tout le monde le peuple de says en murmura fort tous les amis d'amasis craignant quelque mauvais traitement du roy puis qu'il estoit capable d'une telle injustice s'allerent jetter dans le party de leur amy et entre les autres le pere d'heracleon de sorte qu'en moins d'un mois amasis se trouva avec une armee tres puissante qui se fortifiant tous les jours de toutes les provinces d'egipte se vit bientost en estat de l'assujettir cependant le coeur d'amasis n'estoit pas sans inquietude l'amour qu'il avoit pour ladice combatoit son ambition et la combatoit fortement toutesfois il n'y avoit pas moyen que cette passion peust vaincre l'autre et d'autant moins que comme son mariage n'estoit point sceu il voyoit qu'il n'exposoit pas ladice a la violence d'apriez mais helas cette malheureuse princesse estoit estrangement a pleindre car non seulement elle se voyoit forcee a se separer d'amasis qu'elle avoit tant aimee mais elle s'aperceut encore qu'elle estoit grosse et qu'ainsi il faudroit a la fin declarer a la reine qu'elle aimoit si cherement et de qui elle estoit si tendrement aimee qu'elle estoit femme d'un homme qui la vouloit faire tomber du throne estant donc en cette extremite elle s'advisa encore d'un moyen pour tascher de faire qu'amasis peust se repentir pour cet effet elle luy manda 
 l'estat ou elle se trouvoit et apres luy avoir dit les choses du monde les plus tendres et les plus touchantes elle luy dit que s'il ne se resoluoit a ce qu'elle souhaittoit de luy qui estoit d'entendre a quelque negociation elle alloit apprendre au roy qu'elle estoit sa femme et s'accuser mesme d'avoir eu part a son crime et qu'ainsi la premiere nouvelle qu'il recevroit seroit sans doute qu'il auroit perdu et sa femme et son enfant n'estant pas croyable puis qu'apriez avoit fait mourir un innocent qu'il peust pardonner a la femme d'un usurpateur qni se declareroit coupable ce fut pourtant en vain que ladice employa toutes ses persuasions car amasis creut tousjours que la reine l'aimoit trop pour la perdre et que ladice estoit trop sage pour s'accuser elle mesme inutilement et pour l'estat et pour elle c'est pourquoy apres luy avoir mande qu'il se croyoit indigne de l'honneur qu'elle luy avoit fait et que c'estoit pour cela qu'il vouloit monter au throne il poursuivit son dessein pour cet effet il fit publier qu'il estoit de la race des premiers rois d'egipte sur qui les predecesseurs d'apriez avoient usurpe la souveraine puissance si bien que donnant quelque leger pretexte de justice a son party il le fortifia encore davantage apriez se voyant donc abandonne de ses propres subjets et particulierement du pere d'heracleon qui estoit tres puissant se servit de troupes auxiliaires les joniens les cariens et quelques autres peuples asiatiques luy fournirent 
 trente mille hommes de sorte que se mettant a la teste de cette armee il partit de says resolu d'aller combatre et par ce moyen on vit une chose qui ne s'est peutestre jamais veue car enfin le veritable roy d'egipte n'avoit presques point d'egiptiens dans son armee qui n'estoit composee que d'estrangers et au contraire les troupes de l'usurpateur estoient toutes de sujets naturels du roy son maistre a qui il faisoit la guerre cependant la malheureuse ladice n'ayant pas la force d'executer ce qu'elle avoit mande a amasis esperant de luy toucher le coeur demeura avec une douleur inconcevable car elle scavoit bien que sans elle amasis n'auroit pas este en termes de faire ce qu'il faisoit si bien que se regardant comme la cause de son crime de la desolation de sa patrie et du renversement de l'estat il n'y avoit point de jour qu'elle ne se desirast la mort elle ne scavoit mesme ce qu'elle devoit demander aux dieux de sorte que se resignant a leur volonte elle attendit le succes de la guerre avec une inquietude plus grande que celle de la reine quoy que cette princesse fust la plus malheureuse du monde sesostris son fils unique pouvoit alors avoir quatre ou cinq ans ainsi il y avoit lieu de croire que son innocence devoit aparemment garantir le roy son pere du malheur qui luy arriva cependant le parti le plus juste fut le plus infortune mais seigneur pour ne m'estendre pas davantage sur cet endroit de mon recit je vous diray en 
 peu de mots que l'armee d'apriez et celle d'amasis s'estans rencontrees aupres de memphis assez proche de ces superbes piramides qui surpassent toutes les autres qui sont en divers endroits de l'egite la bataille fut perdue par le malheureux apriez d'abord que les troupes se meslerent il fut blesse quelque temps apres il fut pris et pris d'une maniere si estrange qu'il luy en cousta la vie car ceux entre les mains de qui il tomba ne pouvant demeurer d'accord qui d'entr'eux le presenteroit a amasis se querellerent et firent un combat particulier au milieu d'une bataille mais avec tant de rage et tant de fureur qu'un des deux partis qui s'estoient formez entre ces furieux se trouvant le plus foible un de ces desesperez s'avanca vers ce malheureux roy qui estoit au milieu d'eux et le tua avec une inhumanite qui n'a point d'exemple afin d'empescher ses compagnons de jouir d'un avantage ou il voyoit qu'il ne devoit plus avoir de part voila donc seigneur comment finit ce malheureux roy et comment amasis le devint vous pouvez juger quelle fut la douleur de la reine lors qu'elle aprit que le roy avoit perdu la bataille et la vie et que par consequent le jeune sesostris avoit perdu la couronne mais quelque grande que fust sa douleur elle estoit encore moindre que celle de la genereuse ladice qui ne put jamais se consoler d'estre femme d'un usurpateur cette reine affligee fit d'abord ce qu'elle put pour obliger le peuple de says d'estre 
 fidelle a son jeune prince et de vouloir s'opposer a amasis mais la haine que les habitans de cette ville avoient conceue dans les derniers temps contre apriez estoit si forte et ils se voyoient si despourveus de gens de guerre pour s'opposer a amasis que bien loin de faire ce qu'elle vouloit et de luy accorder ce qu'elle leur demandoit les larmes aux yeux et en leur montrant leur jeune roy ils se mutinerent de nouveau et agirent comme des gens qui vouloient se ranger du parti le plus fort de sorte que cette deplorable reine craignant qu'ils ne se saisissent de sa personne et de celle de son fils se vit contrainte de sortir de nuit de la ville et de se retirer avec un tres petit nombre des siens a un chasteau assez fort qui estoit a trente stades de says jusques a ce qu'elle eust resolu ce qu'elle devoit faire comme elle estoit preste de partir accompagnee de sa chere ladice il vint un envoye d'amasis vers la princesse sa femme pour luy annoncer sa victoire et pour luy dire qu'elle ne s'obstinast pas la s'engager dans le malheur de la reine et que tout ce qu'il pouvoit faire en sa consideration estoit de luy laisser une des provinces d'egipte pourveu qu'elle remist en ses mains le jeune sesostris a peine ladice eut elle entendu cette proposition qu'elle esclatta contre amasis et dit a celuy qu'il luy avoit envoye tout ce que la reine eust pu souhaiter qu'elle dist si elle eust sceu son mariage et qu'elle l'eust veue dans les premiers transports 
 de sa douleur allez luy dit elle allez et dittes a amasis que je suis nee subiette du roy devant que d'estre sa femme que ce premier devoir me separe de luy pour jamais si ce n'est qu'il veuille rendre au jeune sesostris la couronne qu'il vient d'arracher au malheureux apries en suitte de quoy sans vouloir souffrir qu'il luy parlast davantage elle fut retrouver la reine qui l'attendoit pour partir sans luy dire encore toute la cause de sa douleur jamais fuitte ne fut faite plus a propos que celle la car a peine la reine fut elle hors de la ville que le peuple fut a son palais pour executer l'ordre qu'amasis avoit envoye par celuy qui avoit parle a ladice car comme ce nouveau roy scavoit bien quelle estoit la disposition des habitans de says il avoit envoye commander aux chefs de la police de faire prendre les armes au peuple et de s'assurer de la personne de la reine de celle de sesostris et de celle de ladice mais les dieux qui vouloient sans doute conserver sesostris firent que cet envoye d'amasis suivant le commandement qu'il en avoit eu fut parler a ladice devant que d'aller parler aux habitans de la ville ainsi ce jeune prince et ces deux malheureuses princesses eschaperent a la victoire d'amasis cette grande reine fut mesme si heureuse dans sa fuitte qu'on ne sceut point d'abord ou elle estoit allee mais comme on ne l'eust pu ignorer longtemps ladice qui ne vouloit pas livrer le reste de la maison royale entre les mains d'amasis 
 luy conseilla de n'y tarder pas et d'aller a un autre lieu plus esloigne et ou selon les apparences on ne la chercheroit pas si tost et en effet la chose s'executa heureusement mais helas a peine ces deux princesses eurent elles eu loisir de connoistre leurs premiers malheurs et de les pleurer quelques jours qu'elles sceurent que tout suivoit le party du vainqueur que la haute et basse egipte reconnoissoient sa puissance que toutes les provinces et toutes les villes luy envoyoient des deputez pour l'assurer de leur fidelite que says thebes memphis bubastis siene busiris canope et anisis se soumettoient et qu'a la reserve d'elephantine qui deliberoit encore sur ce qu'elle avoit a faire amasis estoit maistre de toute l'egipte elles sceurent que tous les calasires et les hermotibies c'est ainsi qu'on apelle les nobles parmy nous obeissoient sans murmurer parce qu'ils esperoient qu'amasis leur laisseroit plus de pouvoir qu'ils n'en avoient eu sous apriez de sorte que ne voyant nul secours a esperer de nulle part la reine se trouva au plus deplorable estat du monde car enfin ce qui fait la force de l'egipte faisoit son malheur particulier puis que comme vous le scavez elle ne pouvoit pas aisement estre secourue par les estrangers en effet du coste de l'occident comme l'egipte est bornee des steriles deserts de lydie elle ne pouvoit pas en attendre du secours du coste du mydy les cataractes du nil et les montagnes qui nous servent de barriere 
 faisoient qu'elle n'avoit rien a en esperer du coste de l'orient vous scavez sans doute seigneur que ce grand et espouventable marescage qui regne le long du nil en cet endroit dans une partie de cette province qui s'appelle barathra qui separe la sirie de l'egipte fait qu'il n'y a pas moyen d'y faire passer des troupes de sorte que n'y ayant presque que le coste du septentrion par ou ce royaume soit accessible et la reine ne pouvant esperer de secours ny des joniens ny des cariens qui venoient de perdre leurs troupes a la derniere bataille elle ne vit rien a faire pour elle qu'a se resoudre a la fuitte ou a la mort cette grande reine avoit avec elle un homme appelle amenophis frere de ma mere qui avoit este esleve dans la maison du feu roy et de qui l'esprit et la vertu sont extraordinaires de qui la fidellite estoit connue a la reine et a ladice et dont il estoit aussi amy particulier de sorte qu'amenophis fortifiant le courage de cette reine et luy persuadant de soumettre son esprit a sa fortune en attendant qu'il pleust aux dieux de la rendre meilleure il luy conseilla en l'estat ou estoient les choses de ne songer qu'a cacher le prince sesostris et qu'a se cacher elle mesme afin de voir si dans la suitte du temps les affaires ne changeroient point de face la reine ayant donc remis sa conduitte au sage amenophis il resolut de prendre la route d'elephantine d'ou il estoit qu'on disoit n'estre pas encore en estat de se soumettre si tost 
 mais seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que lors que la bataille fut donnee le nil commencoit desja a croistre de sorte que lors que cette reine prit la resolution de quitter le lieu ou elle estoit pour aller chercher un azile plus esloigne ce fleuve suivant sa constume innondoit toute la campagne si bien qu'il falut non seulement que la reine changeast de lieu par raison mais encore par cecessite car durant que ce desbordement est en son plein on ne voit rien de descouvert en toute l'egipte que les montagnes les villes et les villages bastis sur des collines qui paroissent comme des isles dans ce grand fleuve dont la vaste estendue le fait ressembler a la mer en cette saison il falut donc qu'amenophis prist soin d'avoir un bateau pour embarquer cette deplorable troupe il est vray que ce mesme desbordement du nil qui d'un coste les incommodoit fut ce qui les empescha de tomber sous la puissance d'amasis qui a cause de cette innondation ne put ny envoyer des troupes a says ny faire chercher cette princesse si exactement mais de grace seigneur imaginez vous un peu non seulement le pitoyable estat ou estoit la reine et le jeune prince son fils mais encore celuy ou se trouvoit la malheureuse ladice car enfin comme sa grossesse estoit assez avancee quoy qu'il n'y parust pas elle voyoit bien que s'en allant avec la reine il faudroit pour se justifier qu'elle luy fist scavoir qu'elle estoit femme d'amasis cependant elle ne la vouloit 
 point abandonner et elle ne l'abandonna pas en effet amenophis ayant donc pris dans cette maison qui avoit servy de retraite a la reine toutes les provisions dont il avoit besoin durant une navigation de plus quinze jours ils s'embarquerent des le lieu ou ils estoient quoy que cette maison ne fust pas au bord du fleuve lors qu'il estoit r'enferme dans son canal ordinaire leur batteau avoit vers la poupe une cabane couverte d'une voile sous laquelle estoient sesostris et la reine sa mere ladice et deux des femmes de la reine amenaphis et deux esclaves du prince estans a l'autre bout du bateau avec ceux qui le conduisoient imaginez vous seigneur en quel estat estoit la reine qui de tout un grand royaume ne se voyoit plus qu'un meschant esquif s'il faut ainsi dire et qui se voyoit encore exposee a perir par l'impetuosite du nil qu'il falloit remonter en biaisant et mesme par les hipopothames par les cinocephales par les crocodiles et par tant d'autres horibles monstres dont il est tout remply de quelque coste qu'elle jettast les yeux elle ne voyoit que le fleuve espanche par toute la campagne qui l'alloit rendre fertile pour ses ennemis si elle tournoit vers le jeune sesostris elle trouvoit encore un redoublemet de douleur en voyant sur son visage tant de marques de grandeur en une fortune si lamentable et en remarquant mesme desja beaucoup de signes d'un grand coeur en un age si tendre car il ne s'estonnoit ny de l'emtion 
 des vagues ny de l'agitation du bateau ainsi cette malheureuse reine ne scachant que regarder pour trouver de la consolation se tournoit vers sa chere ladice mais au lieu de trouver dans ses yeux ce qu'elle y cherchoit elle y voyoit tant de larmes et tant de melancolie que la sienne augmentoit encore le seul amenophis estoit celuy qui luy donnoit quelque consolation cependant l'innondation du nil ne les incommoda pas autant que la reine l'avoit apprehende parce qu'elle n'est pas si grande aux lieux qu'il leur faloit traverser qu'elle l'est en la province de delta dont la scituation est fort basse et qui est toute environnee par ce fleuve qui semble ne se diviser et ne se reunir pour en former cette lettre greque dont elle porte le nom de sorte qu'apres avoir navige huit ou dix jours ils trouverent qu'il y avoit quelques villages ou l'on pouvoit aborder et se reposer la nuit mais seigneur j'avois oublie de vous dire que la reine sesostris et ladice n'avoient garde nulle marque de grandeur en leurs habillemens afin de ne pouvoir estre reconnus et certes je pense qu'il n'eust pas este aise car outre que l'habit d'une bergere est bien different de celuy d'une reine il est encore vray que la douleur avoit tellement change cette princesse aussi bien que ladice qu'elles n'estoient pas connoissables elles avoient seulement pris toute leurs pierreries en cas de besoin mais enfin seigneur comme j'ay beaucoup de choses a vous aprendre je ne veux point m'arrester a vous dire 
 qu'ils penserent faire deux fois naufrage par certains vents qui soufflent tousjours quand le nil croist et que quelques uns apellent ventes etesiens car j'ay tant d'autres sujets d'esmouvoir vostre pitie que je n'ay que faire de m'amuser a celuy la je vous diray donc seigneur qu'apres avoir souffert toutes les incommoditez imaginables durant cette dangereuse navigation ils aborderent a un village scitue sur un lieu assez haut et r'empare d'une chauffee assez forte pour resister au fleuve qui n'est qu'a deux parasanges d'elephantine qui sont environ soixante stades et qu'en ce lieu la amenophis aprit que cette ville s'estoit enfin determinee d'obeir a amasis que la resolution en avoit este prise et que les deputez estoient choisis pour aller faire le serment de fidelite au nouveau roy ainsi apres avoir fait inutilement un long voyage esperant trouver un azile la reine se trouva encore avec une nouvelle surcharge de douleur de sorte qu'il n'y eut donc plus rien a faire qu'a se cacher mais pour le pouvoir il ne faloit pas aller a elephantine c'est pourquoy la reine consulta amenophis qui scavoit admirablement ce pais la et apres y avoir bien songe il se souvint qu'il connoissoit un berger dont le pere avoit autrefois servy le sien et qui demeuroit en un lieu fort solitaire et fort agreable ou la reine pourroit estre assez seurement et mesme assez commodement de sorte que sans hesiter davantage ils en prirent le chemin et aborderent enfin le 
 lendemain a une petite isle que les dieux sembloient sans doute avoir faite expres pour servir d'azile et de retraite a cette grande princesse car seigneur je ne pense pas qu'il y ait en toute la nature un lieu comme celuy la cette isle peut avoir environ qu'inze ou seize stades de largeur sa forme est ovale le milieu a une coline assez eslevee ou l'on peut se retirer quand le nil est desborde et ou les pasteurs de l'isle qui n'est habitee que par des bergers ont des cabanes pour se loger durant ce temps la cette petite coline est couverte d'une espece de cicomores dont l'ombrage est fort agreable et depuis le pied de cette petite montagne jusques au bord du fleuve ce sont des prairies dont l'herbe est si espaisse si fraiche et si belle qu'il paroist bien que la terre qui la produit est extremement fertile mille arbres aquatiques ombragent ces agrables prairies en divers endroits et comme si les dieux avoient eu dessein de faire que ceux qui habitent cette isle ne soient pas veus de ceux qui sont dans les bateaux qui la costoyent elle est toute bordee d'une espaisse pallissade d'alisiers et de roseaux qui croissant assez avant dans le fleuve semblent en l'embellissant en vouloir deffendre l'entree a ceux qui y voudroient aborder tous ces roseaux sont entre-meslez d'une espece de lis sauvages qui croissent le long du nil et dont l'odeur parfume toute l'isle tant il y en a en ce lieu la voila donc seigneur quel est l'aimable desert qui servit de retraite 
 et d'azile a la reine amenophis n'y fut pas plustost aborde qu'il fut chercher si celuy qu'il connoissoit vivoit encore si bien que l'ayant trouve et l'ayant dispose a recevoir quelques personnes qui fuyoient la persecution du nouveau roy sans luy dire toutesfois qui elles estoiet quoy qu'il luy recommandast pourtant fort le secret ils furent dans sa maisons qui se trouva estre la plus grande et la plus commode de toute l'isle ou il n'y en a pas plus de dix ou douze qui sont mesme si separees les unes des autres qu'il est aise d'y entrer et d'en sortir sans qu'on scache ce qu'on y fait il se rencontra mesme que ce berger avoit assez d'esprit il est vray qu'il l'avoit interresse mais ce deffaut la sembla d'abord extremement commode a amenophis qui ayant de quoy satisfaire l'avarice de cet homme crut qu'il seroit tres fidelle a la reine et en effet on ne peut pas l'estre davantage qu'il le fut alors car il ne dit jamais rie aux autres pasteurs de l'isle que ce qu'amenophis vouloit qu'il leur dist comme ils estoient arrivez tard il n'y avoit eu personne qui les eust veus aborder tous les bergers estans occupez a remener leurs troupeaux a leurs bergeries si bien qu'amenophis eut tout le soir a instruire son pasteur qui se nommoit traseas qui estoit marie et dont la femme se nommoit nicetis il leur dit donc apres leur avoir fait un present considerable et leur avoir promis de grandes recompenses s'ils estoient fidelles qu'il falloit qu'ils dissent aux autres pasteurs de l'isle 
 que les gens qu'ils voyoient dans sa maison avoient este contraints de quitter leur demeure ordinaire cause du debordement du nil disant qu'ils habitoient aupres de ce grand lac que le fleuve traverse au dessus d'elephantine et qu'en suitte quand le debordement seroit passe ils diroient qu'ils se trouvoient si bien en leur isle qu'ils y vouloient demeurer comme ils estoient desja deguisez il n'y eut point d'habillemens a changer les gens qui conduisoient leur bateau furent retenus pour mener a la ville les deux esclaves qu'ils avoient pour y aller querir toutes les choses dont ils avoient besoin de sorte que cette petite retraitte par sa tranquilite eut d'abord tant de douceur pour la reine qu'elle espera que peut estre les dieux voudroient y conserver sesostris pour le reserver a une meilleure fortune mais si les larmes de la reine coulerent un peu plus lentement celles de ladice redoublerent encore car enfin sentant qu'il faudroit bien tost malgre elle faire scavoir son mariage a la reine si elle ne vouloit estre des honnoree dans son esprit elle s'y resolut des le troisiesme jour qu'elle fut dans cette isle comme elle estoit donc un matin aupres de cette princesse qui n'avoit point sorty de la cabanne depuis qu'elle y estoit elle se mit a la conjurer le visage tout couvert de larmes de luy promettre de ne la hair pas apres ce qu'elle avoit a luy dire un dicours si extraordinaire surprit extremement la reine neantmoins comme elle ne pouvoit 
 pas concevoir qu'il fust possible qu'elle peust jamais avoir sujet de hair ladice elle luy promit ce quelle voulut et le luy promit avec une tendresse estrange en presence d'amenophis a qui je l'ay ouy raconter long temps depuis apres donc que la reine eut proteste a ladice qu'elle l'aimeroit toute sa vie quoy qu'elle luy peust dire cette malheureuse princesse luy aprit avec peu de paroles et beaucoup de soupirs son mariage avec amasis et l'estat ou elle se trouvoit mais d'une maniere si touchante qu'elle eust inspire de la compassion a l'ame la plus barbare non non madame luy disoit elle apres luy avoir raconte tout ce qui luy estoit arrive vous n'estes point obligee de tenir vostre parole a la femme d'un usurpateur et je me repens mesme de ce que je vous ay demande haissez moy puis que vous le devez et que vous ne pouvez aimer ladice sans aimer la femme de vostre ennemy ce n'est pas adjoustoit elle que je ne fois presentement sa plus mortelle ennemie aussi n'ay-je pas voulu vous descouvrir mon mal heur que je ne fusse en lieu a vous faire connoistre que je ne pretends pas partager la grandeur qu'amasis a acquise par une si injuste voye au contraire j'ay une telle horreur de ce qu'il a fait que je ne l'en hais pas seulement je m'en hais aussi cependant madame si vostre douleur peut trouver quelque consolation a vous vanger en ma personne de celle d'amasis faites le je vous en conjure il est vray que puis qu'il a si peu considere 
 mes prieres je pense qu'il ne se souciera guere de ma vie je ne laisse pourtant pas adjousta t'elle de la remettre en vostre disposition ne vous demandant autre grace que celle de croire que je suis innocente et que si je pouvois arracher le sceptre des mains d'amasis je le ferois pour le mettre dans celles du prince sesostris son maistre quand mesme je devrois estre esclave le reste de mes jours ladice ayant cesse de parler parce que l'exces de sa douleur luy coupa la parole la reine aussi genereuse qu'elle commenca sa responce en l'embrassant ne luy estant pas possible d'exprimer si tost ny la surprise qu'elle avoit d'aprendre ce que ladice luy venoit de raconter ny l'admiration qu'elle avoit encore de la vertu de cette princesse qui s'estoit volontairement exilee plustost que de regner injustement mais apres que le calme fut remis dans son esprit elle la consola et la conjura de croire qu'elle ne confondroit jamais l'innocence et le crime et qu'ainsi elle ne laisseroit pas de l'aimer comme auparavant et de l'estimer mesme davantage amenophis se joignant a la reine la consola aussi autant qu'il put et luy donna autant de louanges qu'elle en meritoit il est vray qu'elle ne les pouvoit souffrir et qu'elle les rejettoit d'une maniere si genereuse que la reine en avoit encore le coeur plus attendry cependant cette princesse se donna une si grande emotion ce jour la en r'apellant tous ses malheurs dans sa memoire qu'elle en tomba malade et 
 malade jusques au point qu'elle perdit la vie le troisiesme jour il est vray qu'en la perdant elle la donna a une fille qui est un miracle de beaute et d'esprit mais seigneur comme la mort de ladice ne fut pas moins genereuse que sa vie il faut que je vous en raconte les particularitez en peu de mots apres qu'elle eut donc fait voir la lumiere a cette fille de qui la suitte de la vie a este aussi extraordinaire que sa naissance et qu'elle vit qu'elle n'avoit plus de part au jour qu'elle venoit de luy donner veu la foiblesse ou elle se sentoit pour ne perdre pas des momens si precieux elle se fit aporter de quoy escrire et escrivit en effet un billet a amasis tel que vous l'allez entendre
 
 
 ladice mourante au trop ambitieux amasis 
 
 
 comme je n'ay peutestre plus qu'un quart d'heure a vivre je n'ay guerre de temps a vous entretenir scachez donc que je vous laisse une fille que vous ne verrez jamais si vous ne rendez la couronne au jeune sesostris trop heureuse encore de pouvoir en mourant luy laisser un gage de seurete entre ses mains pleust aux dieux que vous pussiez me voir expirer car je ne doute point qu'en me voyant perdre la vie l'ambition ne sortist de vostre coeur quand ce ne seroit que pour n'y conserver plus une passion qui cause la mort de 
 
 
 ladice 
 
 
 apres que cette princesse eut escrit ce billet elle le remit entre les mains d'amenophis le puant de le garder soigneusement et de s'en servir quand il le jugeroit a propos en suitte elle se tourna vers la reine pour la conjurer de luy pardonner si elle la suplioit de prendre quelque soin de la vie d'une fille d'amasis puis que peut estre pourroit elle servir a l'empescher d'aller aussi loin qu'il le pourroit si elle n'estoit pas en sa puissance enfin seigneur cette malheureuse princesse parla a la reine comme si elle n'eust souhaite la vie de cette fille que pour l'amour d'elle aportant un soin estrange a cacher le sentiment que la nature donne a toutes les meres qui est de souhaiter la vie de leurs enfans pour l'amour d'eux mesmes et on eust dit qu'il ne luy estoit permis de desirer que sa fille vescust la reine qui estoit extremement touchee de voir cette princesse en cet estat et par la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour elle et parce qu'en effet elle perdoit beaucoup en la perdant l'assura qu'elle ne regarderoit pas cette fille comme fille d'amasis mais comme fille de ladice seulement et qu'ainsi elle en auroit autant de soin que si elle estoit la sienne apres cette assurance ladice remercia la reine les yeux tous couverts de larmes et perdant le souvenir de toutes les choses de la terre elle ne songea plus qu'a prier les dieux ce ne fut toutesfois ny pour amasis ny mesme pour sa fille mais seulement pour la reine et pour sesostris en suitte de quoy elle mourut 
 vous pouvez juger que sa pompe funebre ne fut pas fort magnifique en effet on n'y fit point plus de ceremonie que si elle eust este femme de quelqu'un des bergers de l'isle de peur de faire soubconner quelque chose de la verite cependant nicetis prit soin de faire nourrir la fille de ladice qu'on nomme timarete les premiers jours qui suivirent la mort de cette genereuse princesse ne furent employez par la reine qu'a regretter sa perte mais enfin conformant son esprit a un accident qui n'avoit plus de remede elle se mit a adviser avec amenophis ce qu'ils devoient faire de ce billet de ladice pour amenophis il ne creut point qu'en l'estat ou estoient les choses amasis rendist la couronne a sesostris a la priere de ladice mourante luy qui n'avoit pu moderer son ambition lors qu'elle l'en avoit conjure et lors qu'il estoit encore en termes de ne scavoir si son ambition luy succederoit bien ou mal joint qu'il n'estoit pas croyable que pour retirer des mains de la reine une petite fille qui ne faisoit que de naistre il se resolust a quitter le sceptre qu'il tenoit que de plus il pourroit estre qu'aprenant la mort de ladice il entreroit en une nouvelle fureur et qu'il joindroit la vangeance a l'ambition s'imaginant peut estre qu'on auroit cause cette mort et qu'enfin il seroit fort a craindre qu'en luy voulant faire rendre ce billet on ne vinst a luy faire scavoir ou estoit le prince sesostris qu'ainsi son advis estoit qu'il falloit garder ce billet 
 jusques a ce que l'on eust trouve moyen de pouvoir former un party dans l'estat la reine aprouvant donc ce qu'amenophis luy disoit ne songea plus qu'a se bien cacher il est vray qu'elle n'eut pas ce soin la longtemps car seigneur comme le nil fut entierement retire dans son canal ordinaire il s'esleva certaines vapeurs qui causerent cette annee la une maladie contagieuse dans la ville d'elephantine qui la depeupla presques entierement et qui fut portee dans cette petite isle par ces deux hommes qui menoient le bateau qui servoit a aller querir a la ville les choses dont ils avoient besoin mais ils ne furent pas les seuls qui en moururent presques tous les habitans de l'isle en perdirent la vie et ceux qui resterent s'enfuirent et amenophis eust fuy comme les autres si la reine ne fust pas tombee malade et si elle ne fust pas morte aussi bien que les femmes qui estoient a elle des qu'amenophis vit que la reine se trouvoit mal il se resolut de demeurer aupres d'elle et d'envoyer sesostris avec un esclave la femme du berger la jeune timarete et sa nourrice dans une des cabanes qui estoient sur la coline qui n'estant point habitee alors n'estoit point infectee de ce mauvais air et par ce moyen il sauva la vie au prince sesostris cet espouventable mal ne put pas durer long temps en cette isle car il y avoit si peu de gens qu'il l'eut bien tost depeuplee ou par la mort ou par la fuite des habitans mais ce qu'il y eut de pitoyable fut 
 que la reine et ses femmes moururent en quatre jours de sorte qu'amenophis se trouva seul dans cette isle avec sesostris traseas nicetis timarete sa nourrice et un esclave du prince voyant donc les choses en cet estat il creut qu'il ne devoit point quitter cette isle qui estoit devenue plus seure par cet accident qu'elle n'estoit auparavant estant bien plus aise de cacher le jeune sesostris en un lieu tout a fait desert que non pas quand l'isle estoit peuplee il arriva mesme que ceux que le mal avoit fait fuir furent si espouventez qu'ils ny revinrent point et que ce furent d'autres bergers a qui ils vendirent leurs cabanes et qui creurent tousjours que le jeune prince estoit fils d'amenophis qu'ils croyoient berger et que timarete estoit fille de traseas et de nicetis cependant amenophis voyant qu'en l'estat ou estoient les choses il ne pouvoit pas esperer de pouvoir rien entreprendre ouvertement contre amasis se resolut d'attendre quelque conjoncture favorable pour faire paroistre sesostris aux yeux de ses peuples et pour faire qu'ils pussent le reconnoistre pour leur prince quand il en trouveroit l'occasion il songea a l'eslever avec autant de soin que la solitude ou il estoit le luy pouvoit permettre mais quelque soin qu'il aportast a le cacher jusques a ce qu'il eust trouve le temps de le montrer a propos il ne deguisa point son nom non plus que le sien parce qu'ils sont tous deux si communs en egypte qu'il n'y en a point qui le 
 soient tant comme sesostris estoit fort jeune il ne sentit pas la mort de la reine et ne se souvint mesme pas qu'il eust eu d'autre pere qu'amenophis mais afin qu'il pust se divertir et aprendre mieux les choses qu'amenophis se resolut de luy enseigner luy mesme comme estant un des plus scavans hommes de toute l'egipte il chercha a luy donner quelque divertissement pour cet effet il fut secretement a elephantine ou j'estois alors age d'environ huit ans et comme je n'avois point de pere et que j'estois sous la conduite de ma mere qui estoit soeur d'amenophis il fit si bien que me demandant a elle pour le consoler dans son exil elle me permit de le suivre car comme elle avoit beaucoup d'autres enfans et qu'amenophis estoit fort riche elle ne le contredit pas de sorte que je fus mene par luy en cette solitude ou au commencement je m'ennuyay fort mais je m'y accoustumay bien tost apres car encore que j'eusse quatre ans plus que sesostris il avoit pourtant un esprit si avance que je vins a l'aimer estrangement amenophis n'ayant autre occupation ny autre plaisir que celuy de nous enseigner toutes les choses dont nostre age nous rendoit capables traseas et sa femme avoient soin de l'oeconomie de la famille et des troupeaux et l'esclave alloit et venoit a elephantine pour scavoir ce qui se passoit dans le monde par le moyen de ma mere qui ne scavoit pourtant point precisement ou estoit son frere mais il n'aprit jamais rien qui 
 luy peust plaire car enfin seigneur comme vous le scavez amasis se vit maistre absolu de toute l'egipte comme s'il fust nay sur le throne il eut pourtant une sensible douleur de ce que la reine et sesostris n'estoient pas en sa puissance et il s'affligea aussi extremement de ce que ladice les avoit suivis mais enfin voyant que toutes les perquisitions qu'il en faisoit estoient inutiles et qu'il n'en scavoit autre chose sinon qu'elles s'estoient embarquees sur le nil il creut qu'il faloit faire courir le bruit par toute l'egypte que sesostris et la reine avoient fait naufrage afin que les peuples croyant qu'il n'y eust plus de successeur d'apriez se portassent encore plus facilement a l'obeissance et pour en confirmer mieux la croyance il fit faire des obseques a ladice comme scachant disoit il avec certitude qu'elle avoit pery avec la reine et sesostris cependant il ne laissoit pas de les faire chercher secretement avec un soin extraordinaire ce qui persuada a amenophis lors qu'il le sceut que ce ne pouvoit estre qu'avec un mauvais dessein de sorte que voyant que toute l'egipte estoit tranquille il ne pensa plus qu'a l'education de sesostris joint aussi que comme l'astrologie est une science originaire d'egipte dont toutes les personnes curieuses ont quelque connoissance amenophis la scavoit assez bien et avoit connu par elle que sesostris ne devoit estre heureux que dans un age plus avance il y eut pourtant un temps ou amenophis songea a 
 quitter son desert malgre toute son astrologie pour aller faire scavoir au peuple que son veritable prince vivoit car il sceut qu'amasis s'estant bientost console de la perte de ladice et voulant jouir de tous les plaisirs s'y estoit abandonne mais de telle sorte que les peuples en murmuroient joint aussi que scachant qu'il n'estoit pas de naissance royale ils commencerent de le mespriser et ne luy rendirent pas le mesme honneur qu'ils faisoient auparavant au contraire ils disoient qu'ils ne pouvoient oublier qu'ils l'avoient veu en autre posture qu'il n'estoit que s'ils ne luy rendoient pas assez d'honneur comme a leur roy ils luy en rendoient trop comme a amasis et que puis qu'amasis et le roy n'estoient qu'une mesme chose il ne faloit pas qu'il se pleignist d'eux ce prince ayant sceu ce que le peuple disoit s'advisa d'une chose un peu bizarre pour faire cesser ces murmures mais qui produisit pourtant son effet et qui forca amenophis a demeurer dans son desert il y avoit au superbe palais que le feu roy avoit fait bastir de grandes cuves d'or qui servoient lors qu'en certaines occasions on faisoit des festins publics amasis fit donc prendre ces magnifiques cuves et de ce mesme metal il en fit faire une statue d'osiris qu'il fit mettre dans la grande place qui est devant son palais mais a peine y fut elle que tout le peuple s'ammassa a l'entour et la regarda avec un profond respect luy rendant autant d'honneur que si osiris luy eust 
 apparu car parmy nous les representations des choses que nous adorons nous sont sacrees jusques aux figures des animaux qui nous sont en veneration amasis voyant donc d'un balcon de son palais qui se jette hors d'oeuvre sur cette magnifique place tous les respects que le peuple rendoit a cette statue d'osiris leur fit dire qu'il s'estonnoit de l'honneur qu'ils rendoient a cette statne veu qu'elle estoit faire de l'or de ces grandes cuves qui leur avoient tant servy aux festins publics mais ils respondirent comme il l'avoit preveu que ce n'estoit pas au metal qu'ils rendoient cet honneur mais a la representation d'osiris en suitte de quoy il leur dit luy mesme qu'ils ne devoient donc plus le regarder comme amasis seulement mais comme leur roy puis qu'il en tenoit la place et n'avoir pas plus de difficulte a le respecter qu'a honorer cette statue puis qu'il representoit bien plus parfaitement apriez que cette figure ne representoit osiris le peuple touche par un exemple qui ne luy laissoit rien a respondre commenca de reverer amasis et d'autant plus que ce prince publia des loix qu'il avoit faites qui semblerent fort equitables et qui firent beaucoup esperer de sa sagesse car il commanda qu'en toute l'estendue de son royaume il n'y eust pas un de ses sujets qui ne fust oblige de faire scavoir au gouverneur ou au juge d'ou il dependoit de quoy il avoit vescu durant l'annee anfin de bannir tout a la fois et l'injustice et l'oysivete de sorte qu'amenophis 
 n'eut pas plustost sceu dans nostre desert la disposition qu'il y avoit a murmurer contre amasis qu'il sceut qu'il estoit plus puissant que jamais si bien qu'on eust dit en cette occasion que les dieux avoient oublie le soin de l'univers puis qu'on voyoit l'usurpateur sur le throne et le veritable roy dans l'exil et nourry dans une isle deserte avec les habits d'un berger mais seigneur il n'est pas temps de s'amuser a faire des reflections ayant tant de choses importantes a vous dire cependant comme amenophis jugea que pour tirer un jour quelque avantage de la jeune timarete il falloit la mettre en estat de pouvoir estre reconnue par amasis sans repugnance il fit si bien par le moyen de ma mere et des grandes recompenses qu'il promit qu'elle luy envoya une femme pour eslever cette jeune princesse cette femme estoit de thebes et la plus habile qui sera jamais pour l'education d'une jeune personne de cette qualite diverses avantures avoient destruit sa maison et l'avoient mise en estat de s'estimer heureuse de trouver une occasion de servitude aussi utile et aussi cachee que celle la elle se nommoit edesie ainsi voila timarete sous sa conduite lors qu'elle n'eut plus besoin de celle de sa nourrice qui avoit eschape aussi bien qu'elle de ce mal contagieux mais seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que si sesostris fut un prodige timarete fut un miracle et de beaute et d'esprit et d'agreement car tous les traits de son visage estoient admirables 
 son teint quoy qu'un peu brun ne laissoit pas d'estre beau ses cheveux estoient du plus beau noir qui sera jamais et sa grace avoit je ne scay quoy de si charmant et de si grand mesme dans sa plus tendre enfance qu'on ne pouvoit pas s'empescher d'avoir de l'admiration pour elle et de l'aimer ainsi on peut dire que jamais on n'a veu ensemble deux enfans si aimables que le jeune sesostris et la jeune timarete principalement lors que les charmes de leur esprit commencerent de se joindre a celuy de leur beaute c'est a dire lors que timarete eut huit ans et sesostris douze car seigneur je pense pouvoir asseurer qu'ils ne faisoient pas une action ny ne disoient pas une parole qui ne plust et qui ne surpassast leur age comme naturellement je n'estois pas mal adroit et que j'avois desja appris quelque chose a elephantine devant que de venir a cette isle il n'y avoit point d'exercice du corps que je ne luy enseignasse et dont sesostris ne s'aquittast admirablement c'est a dire la course la lutte tirer de l'arc et d'autres semblables choses et pour les sciences amenophis luy aprit tout ce qu'un prince et un habile prince doit scavoir il scavoit diverses langues et particulierement la greque car comme amenophis avoit en sa disposition toutes les pierreries de la reine et toutes celles de ladice il ne manquoit pas d'avoir des livres et toutes les choses dont nous avions besoin nous ne laissions pourtant pas d'estre habillez en bergers et nous 
 allions mesme quelquesfois aupres des troupeaux aux heures ou amenophis nous le permettoit d'autre part edesie nourrissoit timarete comme si elle eust este a la cour quoy qu'elle ne laissast pas de luy laisser aprendre a faire divers ouvrages que les bergeres font comme des corbeilles de joncs et des tissus de cotton de diverses couleurs car comme toute l'egipte est pleine des arbrisseaux qui le portent c'est un des ouvrages le plus ordinaire aux femmes mais comme edesie n'estoit pas une personne du commun timarete n'aprit pas seulement toutes ces choses mais encore la langue greque qu'edesie scavoit admirablement et que timarete voulut aprendre parce que sesostris la scavoit mais ce qu'il y avoit de merveilleux estoit de voir la prodigieuse inclination que sesostris avoit pour timarete il ne pouvoit durer sans la voir jamais il ne luy disputoit rien au contraire il luy cedoit toutes choses quoy qu'il fust en un age ou la complaisance ne se trouve guere s'il remarquoit qu'elle n'eust pas assez de joncs pour faire ces jolies corbeilles dont elle se servoit a mettre des fruits il alloit en diligence luy en cueillir si elle tesmoignoit vouloir des fleurs il n'avoit point de repos qu'il ne luy eust aporte des bouquets et il songeoit tellement a la contenter qu'il ne pensoit a autre chose de son coste la jeune timarete quoy que tres douce pour tous ceux qu'elle voyoit faisoit une si notable difference de sesostris aux autres qu'il estoit aise de 
 la remarquer elle aprouvoit tout ce qu'il disoit et si nous luy presentions tous deux une mesme chose elle acceptoit plustost ce que luy offroit sesostris que ce que je luy presentois quoy que nous ne fussions pas eslevez comme estans de condition differente car je ne scavois point alors que sesostris fust ce qu'il estoit voila donc seigneur comment nous vescusmes jusques a ce que sesostris eust seize ans et timarete douze mais seigneur s'ils avoient este aimables dans leur premiere enfance ils furent admirables dans le commencement de cette belle jeunesse ou l'esprit commence d'animer la beaute et ou l'on vient a estre capable de s'aimer et d'aimer les autres car enfin quand timarete eust eu dessein de plaire a toute une grande cour elle n'eust pas eu plus de soin d'elle qu'elle en avoit et quand sesostris eust aussi eu dessein de faire voller la reputation de son esprit par tout le monde il n'eust pas songe plus exactement a luy qu'il y pensoit quand il parloit devant timarete cependant comme amenophis jugeoit que si sesostris et timarete avoient un jour a paroistre dans le monde pour y estre connus pour ce qu'ils estoient il seroit avantageux que timarete aimast sesostris il ne s'opposa point a cette affection naissante non plus qu'edesie qui suivoit tous les sentimens d'amenophis sans en penetrer la cause et elle les suivit d'autant plustost en cette occasion qu'elle connoissoit que toutes les inclinations de timarete estoient vertueuses et que de 
 plus elle ne l'abandonnoit presque jamais cependant comme nous avions leu toutes sortes de liures et principalement l'histoire d'egipte il y avoit des jours ou sesostris et moy allans seuls a la chasse nous entretenions de diverses choses mais principalement du dessein que pouvoit avoir amenophis car me disoit sesostris je voy par l'histoire d'egipte qu'elle est divisee en six prosessions differentes que les prestres sont destinez aux choses sacrees que les grands conseillent les rois commandent les armees et gouvernent les provinces que les calasires en general ne songent qu'a la guerre que les marchands ne s'occupent qu'au trafic que les laboureurs ne scavent que l'agriculture que les artisans n'aprennent que ce qui les peut rendre plus scavans en leur art et que les bergers ne doivent scavoir que ce qui regarde leurs troupeaux et leurs pasturages cependant adjousta t'il quoy que nous soyons bergers je voy qu'amenophis nous fait aprendre cent choses que la loy leur deffend et je sens de plus dans mon coeur je ne scay quoy qui fait que cette isle me semble trop petite pour y estre tousjours r'enferme aussi y a t'il desja long temps poursuivit il que je vous aurois propose de la quitter si ce n'estoit 'a a  a ces mots sesostris s'arresta et quoy que je le pressasse extraordinairement d'achever ce qu'il m'avoit voulu dire je ne pus l'y obliger et je fus contraint de respondre a ce qu'il m'avoit dit sans penetrer plus avant dans ce qu'il 
 ne me disoit pas de sorte que tombant d'accord de tout ce qu'il me disoit je voulus en effet luy persuader de nous derober de cette isle luy racontant cent choses de la ville d'elephantine dont je me souvenois fort bien qui luy donnerent beaucoup de curiosite mais apres tout il ne nous eust pas este trop aise car amenophis nous observoit estrangement joint que sesostris avoit quelque chose qui l'y retenoit malgre luy estant certain qu'il estoit desja fort amoureux de la jeune timarete estans donc assez resveurs et l'un et l'autre nous nous separasmes sesostris me disant qu'il vouloit encore se promener et moy luy disant aussi que je voulois m'en retourner a la cabane comme nous estions partis avec le dessein de chasser sesostris avoit un arc un quarquois garny de fleches et une houlette a la main mais une houlette telle que les portent les bergers a l'entour d'elephantine c'est a dire garnie d'un fer tranchant et pointu dont on se peut presques aussi bien deffendre que d'une espee car comme dans la province d'elephantine les crocodiles ne sont pas en veneration comme en celle de thebes ou il n'est pas permis d'en tuer et qu'au contraire on croit en celle la que c'est faire une chose agreable aux dieux que de purger le nil de ces terribles animaux tous les bergers de cette province ne vont jamais sans cette espece de houlette pour s'en pouvoir garantir en cet estat sesostris prenant le long du fleuve sans autre dessein que celuy 
 de s'entretenir agreablement luy mesme il marcha assez longtemps sans trouver rien qui interrompist sa resverie mais enfin estant arrive en un endroit ou une pointe de terre s'avance dans le nil et fait comme un petit cap il aperceut timarete qui pour jouir mieux de la fraicheur du soir et de la veue du fleuve avoit quitte edesie et s'estoit allee mettre tout au bout de cette pointe de terre qui comme je l'ay dit s'avance dans la riviere de sorte que pour jouir mieux de la beaute de la veue elle entr'ouvroit avec ses belles mains les rozeaux et le alisiers qui bordent cette isle et qui estans moins espais a l'extremite de cette pointe de terre que par tout ailleurs faisoient qu'elle descouroit aussi loing que sa veue se pouvoit estendre sesostris ne l'eut pas plustost aperceue que ravy de joye de l'avoir recontree il se mit en estat d'aller ou elle estoit mais a peine eut il fait quatre pas vers elle qu'il entrevit a sa droite a travers l'espaisseur des rozeaux et des alisiers un de ces terribles monstres du nil qui fendant l'eau avec une vistesse incroyable estoit prest de s'elancer sur la belle timarete et de l'entraisner dans le fleuve avec une de ces griffes espouventables dont les crocodiles sont si terriblement armez sesostris n'eut pas plustost veu ce fier animal qu'il fit un grand cry et qu'il courut avec ve precipitation estrange pour se mettre entre le crocodile et timarete car encore qu'il eust un arc et des fleches il ne s'amusa pas inutilement a 
 s'en servir parce qu'outre que les rozeaux et les alisiers en eussent empesche l'effet il scavoit bien encore que les crocodiles ont les escailles du dos si dures qu'il est impossible de les percer ainsi raisonnant juste en un moment il fut avec sa houlette ferre a la main droite et son arc a la gauche pour se jetter entre le monstre et timarete cependant comme la voix de sesostris le devanca et qu'elle arriva aux oreilles de cette jeune personne devant qu'il pust arriver aupres d'elle timarete tournant la teste pour connoistre ce qui faisoit crier sesostris et la tournant du mesme coste que le crocodile venoit vers elle cette belle fille fut saisie d'une si grande frayeur qu'elle en perdit la parole mais l'exces de sa crainte luy donnant pourtant de la force quoy que la frayeur ne produise pas toujours cet effet elle se mit a fuir vers sesostris et comme le crocodile attaque bien avec plus de fureur ceux qui le fuyent que ceux qui l'attendent ce fier animal craignant que sa proye ne luy eschapast bondit d'un plein faut sur le rivage ou il ne fut pas plus tost que faisant retentir toutes ses escailles en secouant l'escume du fleuve dont il estoit couvert il s'eslanca apres la belle timarete qui tournant quelquesfois la teste vers ce monstre pour voir s'il estoit proche ou s'il estoit loin ne laissoit pas de fuir avec une vitesse incroyable vers sesostris qui couroit a son secours avec une precipitation qui n'eut jamais d'esgale imaginez vous donc seigneur quel objet c'estoit 
 pour edesie qui voyoit de loin un si estrange spectacle cependant sesostris prenant un peu plus a droit afin de n'arrester pas la fuite de timarete la laissa passer et se jetta entre elle et le crocodile qui la suivoit pour arrester sa fureur ou du moins pour l'assouvir s'il ne pouvoit le vaincre ce monstre qui n'avoit point veu sesostris parce qu'il n'avoir regarde que cette belle proye qu'il poursuivoit demeura surpris et s'arresta un moment mais encore que le naturel des crocodiles ne soit pas comme je l'ay desja dit d'estre aussi furieux a ceux qui tiennent ferme qu'a ceux qui fuyent comme celuy la se vit un peu loin de son azile c'est a dire un peu esloignee du bord du nil le desespoir irrita sa fureur naturelle et fit qu'il se resolut de combatre sesostris il recula pourtant d'abord de deux ou trois pas il est vray que ce ne fut que pour s'eslancer sur luy avec plus de violence mais comme sesostris avoit une hardiesse extreme il ne perdit point le jugement de sorte que jettant son arc et prenant sa houlette avec ses deux mains afin de la tenir plus ferme il se fit un combat admirable entre ce monstre et luy dont la belle timarete qui estoit tombee de lassitude et de frayeur a vingt pas de la fut tesmoin aussi bien qu'edesie que l'estonnement empeschoit de pouvoir ny avancer ny reculer cependant comme les crocodiles voyent bien mieux a terre que dans l'au celuy la evitoit avec tant de justesse la pointe de la houlette de sesostris qu'il ne le pouvoit toucher 
 si ce n'estoit par des endroits ou il ne pouvoit estre blesse car il n'y en a qu'un seul en tout le corps de cet animal par ou l'on puisse luy faire perdre la vie tantost il feignoit d'estre las et de se vouloir retirer afin de surprendre sesostris puis tout d'un coup alongeant ses griffes et entr'ouvrant cette horrible gueule dont toutes les dents sont envenimees il se jettoit sur luy avec tant de violence que timarete creut plus d'une fois que son cher liberateur en alloit estre devore toutes les escailles du monstre faisoient un bruit esclatant et se herissoient en divers endroits de son corps la couleur mesme en paroissoit changee leur gris estoit devenu rougeatre ses yeux quoy qu'a demy couverts de deux especes de tayes jettoient pourtant un feu sombre qui avoit quelque chose d'affreux ses dents paroissoient encore toutes sanglantes de la derniere proye qu'il avoit devoree une escume jaune et verte luy sortoit a gros bouillons des deux costez de la gueule et une espaisse fumee s'exhallant de ses naseaux faisoit que sesostris avoit encore plus de peine a se deffendre de ces longues griffes parce qu'elle luy en desroboit quelquesfois la veue neantmoins son grand coeur faisoit qu'il ne s'estonnoit ny ne se lassoit il esquivoit avec une legerete incroyable toutes les attaques du monstre il bondissoit a droit et a gauche et luy portoit tousjours quelque coup mais a son grand regret c'estoit inutilement cependant ce fier animal ne se rendoit pas d'un coup de 
 griffe il luy arracha toutes les fleches de son quarquois et d'un autre coup il luy arracha en tournante le quarquois tout entier pensant l'atterrer mais par bonheur ce quarquois se destacha et sesostris eschapa a la fureur du monstre il commencoit pourtant de croire qu'il succomberoit a la fin et il ne trouvoit plus rien a esperer sinon que du moins il auroit la gloire d'avoir sauve timarete lors que ce furieux crocodile s'eslevant presque tout droit sur les pieds de derriere afin de faire un plus grand effort et de retomber en s'eslancant sur la teste de sesostris donna lieu a ce jeune heros de luy porter sa houlette dans le ventre et de luy en enfoncer le fer jusques aupres du coeur sesostris estant si heureux que de rencontrer justement cet endroit dont les escailles ne sont pas impenetrables cet animal se sentant blesse fit un grand effort en l'air pour vanger du moins sa mort en mourant mais sesostris ravy de sentir qu'il avoit blesse son superbe ennemy et de voir couler son sang sur l'herbe tint sa houlette si ferme avec ses deux mains que ce monstre ne pouvant s'en desgager fut contraint au lieu de tomber sur sesostris de tomber sur le coste se debatant mesme assez foiblement car comme sesostris n'avoit point voulu retirer le fer dont il l'avoit blesse il est croyable qu'en l'infoncant tousjours davantage il luy perca enfin le coeur du moins ne fut il plus en estat de se relever si bien que sesostris sentant que son fier ennemy estoit vaincu et qu'il alloit 
 expirer retira ce fer sanglant du corps de ce monstre et acheva d'en faire sortir la vie avec le ruisseau de faire sortir la vie avec le ruisseau de sang qui sortit de sa blessure en retirant sa houlette apres quoy il fut tout glorieux de sa victoire se jetter aux pieds de la belle timarete qui ne pouvant passer si subitement d'une extreme douleur a une extreme joye avoit encore toutes les marques de la frayeur sur le visage je vous demande pardon luy dit il en l'abordant de n'avoir pu vaincre plus promptement cet horrible monstre qui avoit eu la cruaute de vouloir attaquer la plus belle personne du monde ha sesostris interrompit timarete en se levant comment pouvez vous avoir l'esprit assez tranquile pour me parler comme vous faites car pour moy dit elle en marchant vers edesie qui venoit a eux je croy tousjours que ce monstre se va relever sesostris souriant de la frayeur de timarete avec autant de tranquilite que s'il n'eust point este en peril l'assura qu'elle n'avoit rien a craindre et se mit a luy aider a marcher mais comme edesie les eut joints elle demanda a timarete si elle avoit rendu grace a son liberateur helas luy dit elle je suis encore si peu persuade que ce monstre soit mort et que je fois en seurete que je ne pense pas que je puisse remercier sesostris de tout le jour et tout ce que je puis dire pour le satisfaire est de l'assurer que ce terrible animal m'a fait autant de peur pour luy que pour moy mesme durant qu'il le combatoit 
 ha aimable timarete s'escria sesostris vous m'en dites plus que je n'en merite et plus que je n'en scanrois croire comme timarete alloit respondre a sesostris et luy dire avec autant d'innocence que d'esprit et de sincerite qu'elle n'avoit dit que ce qu'elle avoit senty amenophis et moy arrivasmes ou ils estoient si bien qu'edesie nous ayant conte le combat de sesostris et sa victoire nous forcasmes timarete a retourner sur ses pas pour aller voir le monstre que sesostris avoit vaincu je dis que nous la forcasmes car en effet elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a voir ce crocodile tout mort qu'il estoit il falut pourtant qu'elle obeist mais lors que nous fusmes arrivez au lieu ou il estoit estendu sur l'herbe fouillee de son sang et qu'elle connut enfin qu'il n'y avoit plus rien a craindre elle commenca alors de raconter a amenophis avec une grace nom-pareille comment la chose c'estoit passee et comment ce combat c'estoit fait car sesostris qui est nay fort modeste se contentoit de dire qu'il avoit vaincu sans dire precisement comment il l'avoit pu faire mais la jeune timarete supleant a son deffaut se mit a exagerer la chose comme si en publiant la gloire de sesostris elle eust augmente la sienne durant qu'elle parloit ainsi amenophis comme il me l'a dit depuis ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de la prodigieuse rencontre de cette avanture car enfin il voyoit la fil- d'un usurpateur secourue par le fils de celuy a qui le pere de cette fille avoit oste la couronne 
 et il voyoit naistre entre eux autant d'amitie qu'il y avoit eu de haine entre leurs peres durant les derniers jours de la vie d'apriez cependant apres qu'amenophis eut bien fait des reflectoins sur cette avanture durant que timarete la racontoit avec une grace sans esgale il loua hautemet esgal le courage de sesostris et luy dit que cette qualite horoique devoit estre le partage de tous les hommes que les bergers la devoient avoit aussi bien que les rois qu'ils estoient obligez de deffendre leurs troupeaux comme les autres leurs peuples et qu'ainsi il l'exhortoit a fortifier sa valeur enfin luy dit il comme il y a un merveilleux rapport entre les rois et les bergers vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si je vous donne quelquesfois les mesmes lecon que je vous donnerois si vous estiez fils de roy et en effet seigneur amenophis aprit la morale et la politique a sesostris en termes de bergerie et de pasturage mais avec tant d'art que les mesmes preceptes qu'il luy donnoit pour la couduite des troupeaux pouvoient servir pour la conduite des peuples c'est pourquoy demeurant dans les termes qu'il s'estoit prescripts il dit en cette occasion a sesostris qu'il y avoit lieu de croire que puis qu'il avoit si genereusement deffendu timarete contre un monstre il deffendroi en aussi ses troupeaux contre les loups ha mon pere luy dit il avec precipitation je n'aime pas tant vos troupeaux que j'ayme la belle timarete amenophis sourit de ce discours aussi bien 
 qu'edesie mais timarete rougit et en baissa les yeux disant mesme quelque chose a demy bas que personne ne put entendre et que l'on connut pourtant bien qui ne devoit pas estre desavantageux a sesostris cependant comme il estoit desja tard nous retournasmes a la cabane en parlant tousjours de la peur de timarete et du courage de son liberateur le lendemain au matin amenophis pour exciter ce jeune prince a aimer la gloire ayant fait scavoir au peu de bergers qui estoient dans l'isle la courageuse action de sesostris il en receut des louanges qui toutes rustiques qu'elles estoient ne laisserent pas de commencer de luy faire connoistre quelles sont le plus doux fruit de la victoire ces bergers furent non seulement voir le monstre mais l'ayant mis sur une claye de roseaux entrelassez soustenus pas des houletts croisees ils le trainerent devant la porte d'un petit temple champestre qui estoit a l'extremite de l'isle du coste de l'orient afin de rendre grace aux dieux d'avoir sauve timarete et sesostris de la fureur de ce crocodile cette ceremonie fut mesme faite comme une espece de petit triomphe car tous les bergers avec des hautbois alloient deux a deux en jouant des airs de rejouissance et de victoire en suitte quatre bergers trainoient le monstre sur la claye de roseaux qui estoit attachee a deux gros cordons de cotton et immediatement apres ce terrible animal marchoit sesostris couronne de brancher de palmier dont 
 il y a abondance en divers lieux de l'egipte ce prince ayant a la main la mesme houlette dont il avoit vaincu le monstre et qui estoit ornee de fleurs mais ce qui luy donnoit le plus de joye estoit que la couronne qu'il portoit avoit este faite par la jeune timarete qui suivoit sesostris avec toutes les bergeres et qui le suivoit avec tant de joye sur le visage qu'on peut assurer sans mensonge qu'elle fut le plus bel ornement de ce petit triomphe rustique aussi sesostris ne regardoit il pas tant le fier animal dont il avoit este vainqueur quoy qu'en cette occasion ce fust la cause de sa gloire que timarete qui l'avoit vaincu et qui le chargea encore de nouvelles chaines ce jour la estant certain qu'elle n'avoit jamais paru si belle en effet elle le parut tant principalement aux yeux de sesostris et son amour augmenta de telle sorte qu'il ne put cacher plus longtemps l'innocente flame qui brusloit son coeur si bien qu'apres avoir remercie les dieux et apres que tous ces bergers eurent remene sesostris a nostre cabane il n'y fut pas plustost retourne qu'apres s'estre oste cette couronne qu'il avoit sur la teste il entra dans une petite chambre extremement propre ou couchoit timarete et ou elle estoit alors pendant qu'amenophis remercioit encore quelques bergers et qu'edesie parloit aussi a quelques bergeres sesostris se servant donc de cette occasion aborda timarete avec sa couronne a la main il est bien juste luy dit il que je vous rende ce que vous 
 meritez mieux que moy aussi vous puis-je assurer que je n'aurois pas voulu porter cette couronne si ce n'estoit que je n'ay pu refuser d'avoir la gloire d'avoir este couronne de la plus belle main du monde mais pour vous monstrer que je ne suis pas injuste je vien mettre a vos pieds cette mesme couronne que vous m'aviez mise sur la teste car encore une fois vous meritez tout l'honneur de ma victore en verite dit la jeune timarete avec autant de grace que d'innocence je ne scay pas comment vous l'entendez je scay bien que c'est vous qui avez combatu le monstre et qui l'avez vaincu veritablemet adjousta t'elle s'il y avoit un prix a la crainte comme on en donne a la valeur ce seroit moy qui aurois deu triompher mais comme cela n'est pas gardez sesostris gardez la couronne que je vous ay faite puis qu'apres tout c'est vous qui avez combatu et que c'est vous qui avez vaincu il est vray adjousta t'il mais aimable timarete c'est vous qui m'avez fait vaincre car si je n'eusse pas eu une extreme envie de vous sauver j'aurois este moins vaillant et j'aurois peutestre este vaincu ainsi bien loin de m'estre obligee c'est moy qui vous suis oblige vous m'en direz ce qu'il vous plaira repliqua t'elle mais je scay que je vous dois la vie et que vous ne me devez rien car enfin je ne vous ay jamais rendu aucun service ny ne vous ay mesme jamais rien donne que cette seule couronne que vous me voulez rendre ha timarete s'escria t'il vous estes plus liberale que vous ne 
 pensez car vous m'avez donne une chose que je ne vous rendray jamais et que je ne pourrois mesme pas vous rendre quand je le voudrois timarete entendant parler sesostris de cette sorte se mit innocemment a tascher de se souvenir de ce qu'elle pouvoit avoir donne a sesostris mais apres y avoir bien pense pour moy dit elle je croy que vous prenez plaisir a me mettre en peine car enfin je me souviens bien que vous m'avez mille et mille fois donne de fruits des oyseaux des joncs a faire mes corbeilles et des bouquets mais je ne me souviens point que je vous aye jamais fait aucune liberalite vous m'avez pourtant donne une chose repliqua t'il que je conserveray toute ma vie il faut donc adjousta t'elle que je vous l'aye donnee au sortir du berceau et en un temps ou il ne m'en puisse pas souvenir nullement reprit sesostris et c'a este dans un age plus avance eh de grace interrompit timarete dites moy donc ce que je vous ay donne puisque vous voulez que je vous le die luy repliqua-t'il en sousriant a demy et en changeant de couleur vous m'avez donne de l'amour ha sesostris interrompit timarete toute confuse sans scavoir si elle devoit se fascher ou estre bien aise vous me recompensez mal de la peine que j'ay pris a vous faire une couronne de railler si cruellement de ma simplicite ha timarete s'escria sesostris a son tour vous me recompensez bien plus cruellement puis qu'en disant que je vous ay conserve 
 la vie vous vous preparez a me donner la mort car enfin je vous le dis tres serieusement si vous ne croyez que je vous aime mille fois plus que moy mesme et si vous ne le croyez sans vous en fascher je mourray infailliblement timarete ayant eu le loisir de revenir a elle durant que sesostris parloit prit enfin la resolution de continuer de railler c'est pourquoy prenant la parole quoy qu'il en soit dit elle en riant avec une vivacite d'esprit admirable je vous declare que s'il est vray que sans y penser je vous aye donne ce que vous dites je ne veux pas que vous me rendiez jamais liberalite pour liberalite en me donnant une pareille chose comme sesostris alloit respondre on les apella pour disner mais tant que le repas dura timarete n'osa regarder sesostris il luy demeura mesme un certain incarnat sur le visage qui la mit dans la necessite de dire pour le pretexter qu'elle avoit eu tant de chaud a aller au temple qu'elle ne croyoit pas qu'elle peust se raffraischir de tout le jour mais enfin seigneur sans vous amuser davantage a escouter les premieres conversations de ces jeunes et illustres amans je vous diray seulement que depuis que sesostris aima timarete et depuis que timarete sceut que sesostris l'aimoit ils en devinrent infiniment plus aimables ce fut alors seigneur que je devins le confident de ce prince qui n'avoit pourtant point d'autres secrets a me confier que la violence de sa passion estant certain que timarete toute jeune qu'elle estoit 
 agit tousjours en cette rencontre avec une retenue estrange de sorte qu'on peut dire qu'elle a este sage devant que d'avoir l'age ou on le doit estre de plus comme edesie estoit fort habile elle l'observoit soigneusement il est vray que la seule vertu de timarete fut bien tost une garde assez fidelle de sa beaute car je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une personne dont les inclinations ayent este plus grandes cependant apres avoir esprouve la passion de sesostris par mille petites rigueurs il est certain que timarete eut pour cet aimable berger toute l'estime toute la reconnoissance et toute la tendresse dont elle pouvoit estre capable elle luy en donna mesme mille preuves innocentes en cent occasions soit par de favorables regards par certaines rougeurs obligeantes ou par quelques flateuses paroles et par mille autres petites choses qui donnerent de grands plaisirs a sesostris durant quelque temps mais qui luy causerent en suitte de longues douleurs ce qui augmentois encore l'affection entre ces deux jeunes personnes estoit qu'elles n'imaginoient point qu'il pust y avoit d'obstacle a leur mariage la condition de leurs peres leur sembloit esgale leur age estoit proportionne il n'y avoit pas une bergere en toute l'isle a qui sesostris pust parler un quart d'heure il n'y avoit pas non plus un berger que timarete pust souffrir qui la regardast ainsi leur raison leur disant a tous deux en particulier qu'amenophis et traseas voudroient bien qu'ils s'epousassent ils abandonnerent 
 leur coeur sans resistance a l'amour que leur merite y faisoit naistre les choses estant donc en ces termes nous fusmes un soir amenophis edesie timarete sesostris et moy nous promener a l'endroit par ou l'on peut aborder a cette isle car depuis l'advanture du crocodile timarete n'aimoit point a aller le long du fleuve si ce n'estoit aupres du port ce n'est pas qu'assurement il n'y ait moins de ces dangereux animaux en cette isle qu'ailleurs parce qu'il y a une abondance estrange de ces petits oyseaux que la providence des dieux a faits pour aller tout le long des rives du nil afin de faire par une adresse admirable dont vous avez sans doute entendu parler qu'il y ait moins de ces crocodiles et que les hommes n'en soient pas incommodez mais enfin comme timarete n'avoit jamais pu se guerir de sa frayeur toutes ses promenades se faisoient du coste du port ou l'on n'en avoit jamais veu comme nous estions donc un soir assis sur un gazon fort espais et tout parseme de fleurs timarete demanda a sesostris qui estoit aupres d'elle s'il ne voyoit pas un bateau qui sembloit venir vers l'isle ou ils estoient d'abord il luy respondit qu'elle avoit tort de luy demander une pareille chose parce qu'il ne regardoit jamais qu'elle quand il estoit en lieu ou il la pouvoit voir mais timarete luy ayant dit qu'elle vouloit qu'il luy respondist serieusement et l'ayant force a regarder vers le lieu qu'elle luy marqua il vit en effet aussi bien qu'elle qu'il paroissoit 
 un bateau dont la proue estoit tournee vers leur isle de sorte que monstrant a amenophis et a edesie ce que timarete luy avoit monstre nous regardasmes tous cette petite barque qui s'aprochoit tousjours de nous mais comme il estoit desja assez tard et que la nuit approchoit nous ne pouvions pas discerner les personnes qui estoient dedans ce qui estonnoit amenophis estoit qu'il n'estoit pas trop ordinaire de voir venir des estrangers a cette isle mais enfin cette barque ayant aborde nous vismes sur la poupe un homme d'une phisionomie grave et serieuse mais pourtant extremement agreable qui sans nous regarder et sans se mesler de rien de ce que ceux de sa compagnie faisoient regardoit la lune qui se levoit et qui sembloit sortir du fleuve pour venir esclairer le monde le reste des gens qui estoient dans ce bateau estoient des rameurs un desquels s'estant jette a terre vint demander a amenophis qu'il jugea devoir estre le maistre de la troupe s'il n'y avoit point moyen de loger pour cette nuit seulement un estranger qui avoit eu dessein d'aller coucher a elephantine adjoustant que la nuit les ayans surpris plustost qu'ils ne pensoient ils avoient este contraints de venir prendre terre a cette isle parce qu'il est assez dangereux d'aborder de nuit a ce port amenophis entendant parler cet homme et connoissant effectivement a la mine et a l'habit que celuy qu'il voyoit estoit estranger il ne luy accorda pas seulement la liberte de passer la nuit 
 dans l'isle mais il offrit mesme sa cabane pour recevoir cet hoste dont la phisionomie estoit si belle et il s'y porta d'autant plustost que s'estant informe de quel pais il estoit il sceut qu'il estoit de samos car encore que la coustume des egiptiens en general ne soit pas de vouloir rien aprendre des autres nations amenophis en son particulier n'estoit pas de ce sentiment la et il croyoit au contraire qu'il n'y en avoit point de qui on ne pust recevoir quelques enseignemens utiles mais lors qu'apres avoir sceu son pais il de manda encore son nom et qu'on luy eut dit qu'il se nommoit pythagore la joye s'empara tout a fait de son esprit et il prit la resolution de le recevoir le mieux qu'il pourroit car comme amenophis estoit amy particulier du grand prestre de memphis et que par le moyen de ma mere il entretenoit un commerce secret avec ses amis intimes pour se servir d'eux quand il le jugeroit a propos il avoit receu une lettre de son amy il n'y avoit pas longtemps qui luy mandoit que pythagore estoit arrive a memphis et qui luy faisoit une peinture de ce philosophe la plus belle et la plus avantageuse du monde je vous laisse donc a juger seigneur quelle fut la joye d'amenophis luy qui estoit extremement scavant et qui depuis qu'il estoit exile n'avoit pu avoir de conversation qu'avec sesostris edesie timarete et moy et il en eut d'autant plus qu'ayant sceu par ce grand prestre de memphis que pythagore ne retourneroit point a la cour 
 d'amasis il vit bien qu'il n'y avoit aucun danger a le recevoir aussi le fit il de bonne grace de sorte que s'avancant aupres du bateau il presenta la main a pythagore pour luy aider a descendre et luy adressant la parole le rends graces aux dieux luy dit il en grec d'avoir amene dans ce desert un homme dont la reputation surpasse celle de ces sept sages que la grece se vante d'avoir presentement ce philosophe surpris de ce qu'amenophis luy disoit et d'entendre qu'il parloit grec le salua avec une civilite majestueuse et pour luy monstrer qu'il estimoit fort nostre nation il ne se servit pas de la langue greque pour luy respondre mais de l'egyptienne ainsi ces deux hommes illustres ne parlerent point leur langue naturelle a leur premiere rencontre chacun se rendant une esgale civilite il est vray que le compliment de pythagore fut en peu de paroles car comme vous le scavez sans doute seigneur ce philosophe est si grand amy du silence qu'il veut que ses disciples estudient cinq ans sans parler sa maxime estant que pour parler bien il faut s'estre teu et avoir escoute longtemps mais ce peu qu'il parla ne laissa pas de charmer amenophis qui le mena dans sa cabane apres luy avoir presente sesostris comme son fils et tout le reste de la famille comme estant la sienne il est vray seigneur que les soins que prit amenophis de le bien traitter furent mal employez car ce philosophe ne mange jamais rien qui ait eu vie de sorte que pourveu qu'on 
 luy donne des legumes et des fruits on luy fait un festin magnifique cependant apres amenophis se mit a l'entretenir des sciences les plus sublimes et il le fit si admirablement que ce philosophe charme de son scavoir luy dit que comme il n'estoit venu en egypte que pour y apprendre et que pour y connoistre les grands hommes dont elle estoit remplie il faloit qu'il tardast quelque temps aupres de luy comme il avoit fait aupres de tous ceux qu'il avoit rencontrez et qu'il n'allast pas si tost a elephantine ou il ne pourroit trouver mieux amenophis receut ce discours avec beaucoup de modestie et se mit a conjurer ce philosophe de vouloir qu'il devinst son disciple et de souffrir qu'il luy en donnast deux autres parlant de sesostris et de moy enfin seigneur sans vous dire precisement la conversation qu'ils eurent ensemble pythagore se resolut de tarder quelque temps dans nostre desert de sorte qu'il renvoya le bateau qui l'avoit conduit et il se trouva si bien dans cette solitude qu'il y fut quatre mois pendant lesquels il instruisit sesostris avec un plaisir extreme ce grand homme estant ravy de trouver en l'esprit de ce jeune prince une si merveilleuse disposition a aprendre les choses les plus eslevees il eut aussi beaucoup d'admiration pour la jeune timarete et d'autant plus disoit-il qu'il n'avoit jamais connu personne de son sexe qui sceust se taire si a propos ny qui parlast avec si peu d'empressement quand il n'en estoit pas besoin ny qui laissast 
 parler les autres avecque plus de patience je ne vous diray rien seigneur de ce qui regarde la science de ce grand homme car ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit mais il faut que je vous die que d'abord il fit un sensible desplaisir a la jeune timarete car dans l'opinion qu'il a que toutes les ames ne font que passer continuellement d'un corps en un autre soit des hommes ou des animaux ce que les grecs appellent metampsicose il a une compassion universelle pour les uns et pour les autres et en effet toutes les fois qu'il trouve des pescheurs qui ont des filets pleins de poissons il achete tout ce qu'ils en ont pris pour leur redonner la liberte de sorte que quelque temps apres qu'il fut a nostre isle il prit garde que la jeune timarete avoit dans une petite voliere faite de joncs quantite de petits oyseaux dont le chant estoit admirable et qu'elle aimoit principalement parce que sesostris les luy avoir donnez si bien que pythagore suivant son opinion et la pitie qu'il avoit de leur prison leur redonna la liberte et causa une sensible affliction et a timarete pour la perte de ses oyseaux et a sesostris pour l'affliction de timarete ils souffrirent pourtant cette petite disgrace sans murmurer qu'en secret car encore que sesostris receust quelques enseignemens de pythagore il ne l'assujettissoit pas au silence qu'il a fait garder depuis a ses disciples sesostris entretnant donc timarete apres la perte de ses oyseaux l'assuroit pour la consoler que du moins luy promettoit-il 
 que pythagore tout pitoyable qu'il estoit ne le pourroit pas mettre en liberte comme il les y avoit mis mais timarete luy repliqua que pour elle elle n'en respondoit pas et en effet adjousta-t'elle je trouve qu'il est plus juste de delivrer des hommes que des oyseaux mais luy dit sesostris il y a une notable difference a faire en cette occasion car ceux qu'il a delivrez ont este ravis de l'estre et je serois au desespoir si on vouloit rompre mes chaines ainsi comme il n'a dessein que de faire du bien a tout ce qui respire en toute la nature quand il scauroit que je serois vostre captif il ne me delivreroit pas mais pour vous belle timarete adjousta sesostris que n'aprenez vous par l'exemple de ce grand homme a devenir pitoyable est-ce que vous voulez que je vous mette en liberte reprit elle comme il y a mis mes oyseaux nullement repliqua-t'il mais je voudrois que vous me rendissiez heureux dans ma prison et que faudroit il faire pour cela repartit timarete il faudroit respondit il que vostre belle main prist la peine de ferrer encore plus estroitement les liens qui m'attachent a vous il faudroit charmer mes souffrances par mille faveurs innocentes il faudroit avoir plus de joye de voir augmenter mon amour que toute l'egipte n'en a lors qu'elle voit croistre le nil et si je l'ose dire sans vous facher il faudroit pour me rendre heureux dans ma captivite que vous m'aidassiez a porter une partie de mes chaines ha sesostris 
 s'escria t'elle en riant vous voulez que je fois pitoyable et vous avez l'inhumanite de me vouloir enchainer non non adjousta t'elle cela ne seroit pas juste c'est pourquoy tout ce que je puis pour vous est de vous dire qu'il ne tiendra pas a moy que vous ne soyez libre vous ne m'aimes donc point du tout repliqua t'il en la regardant fixement je ne voy pas reprit elle que vous ayez raison de tirer cette consequence de ce que je dis car quel plus grand bien peut on faire que de mettre un prisonnier en liberte vous n'y auriez pourtant jamais mis ces aimables oyseaux dont le chant vous divertissoit reprit sesostris je l'advoue dit elle car leur prison me donnoit plus de plaisir que leur liberte ne m'en donne et pourquoy repliqua sesostris ma captivite ne vous plaist elle pas puis que je ne porte des chaines que pour estre eternellement esclave de vostre beaute comme timarete alloit respondre amenophis les interrompit mais enfin seigneur voila quelles estoient en ce temps la les conversations de sesostris et de sa belle et jeune maistresse qui ne pouvoient se servir en leurs conversations que des choses de leur connoissance cependant les lecons de pythagore n'empescherent pas que l'amour n'enseignast tous les jours a sesostris mille innocentes voyes de se faire aimer et de se rendre aimable et que sa passion ne s'accreust mesme avec tant de violence qu'enfin apres en avoit demande permission a la jeune timarete il n'en parlast a amenophis 
 pour le conjurer de vouloir faire en sorte qu'il la pust espouser cette priere le surprit car il ne jugeoit pas qu'il deust de son authorite marier sesostris avec une fille d'amasis il vouloit pourtant bien que timarete aimast sesostris afin que quand les intelligences qu'il entretenoit en divers lieux auroient mis les choses en l'estat qu'il les vouloit elle pust lors qu'il auroit forme un party dans le royaume non seulement servir a quelque negociation entre son pere et son amant et estre le lien de la paix entre le roy legitime et l'usurpatur mais encore tenir lieu d'ostage car amenophis scavoit qu'amasis quoy qu'il se fust remarie n'avoit point d'enfans et n'en pouvoit avoir parce qu'il avoit repudie cette seconde femme aussi la demande de sesostris l'ayant surpris il luy dit que le choix qu'il avoit fait de timarete estoit digne de son esprit et de son jugement mais qu'il n'estoit pas en un age ou il fust a propos de se marier que c'estoit une chose plus importante qu'il ne pensoit et qu'enfin timarete estoit un bien qu'il faloit esperer longtemps devant que de le posseder cette responce peu precise ne satisfaisant pas sesostris il joignit les prieres aux raisons mais ce fut inutilement de sorte qu'il entra en un chagrin si grand qu'il n'en estoit pas connoissable ce fut en vain qu'amenophis employa les conseils de pythagore car ce jeune prince se servant contre luy de sa propre doctrine luy dit que puis que le destin gouvernoit l'univers et que les hommes 
 n'estoient pas maistres de leurs actions il ne devoit pas estre accuse de ce qu'il aimoit timarete avec trop de violence puis qu'il ne faisoit que ce qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher de faire enfin seigneur ce prince fut tellement irrite du refus qu'amenophis luy faisoit qu'il ne voulut plus ny estudier ny se promener ny se divertir ny s'occuper a rien qu'a se pleindre
 
 
 
 
et ce qui augmenta son desespoir fut qu'amenophis croyant que la veue de timarete entretenoit son chagrin se resolut de l'envoyer quelque temps a elephantine chez ma mere si bien que sans que sesostris en sceust rien edesie partit un matin a la premiere pointe du jour avec la jeune timarete portant ordre a ma mere de la faire passer pour une de ses parentes et de luy donner un habit proportionne a cette condition la chose fut si finement executee que sesostris n'en sceut rien et que timarete ne put luy faire rien dire en partant cependant le jour estant venu amenophis fit si bien que sesostris ne sceut point que timarete estoit partie qu'il ne fust desja assez tard mais enfin ayant sceu la chose il en fut si afflige qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage neantmoins comme il croyoit qu'amenophis estoit son pere il ne s'emporta point contre luy et ce fut avecques moy seulement qu'il se plaignit de son infortune mais il s'en pleignit d'une maniere a faire pitie a l'ame plus dure pythagore ayant sceu par amenophis la cause de l'exil de timarete et de la douleur de sesostris employa 
 tous les remedes que la philosophie peut donner pour le guerir ou pour le soulager mais ce fut inutilement cependant amenophis avoit tellement deffendu a celuy qui avoit conduit le bateau dans lequel on avoit mene timarete a elephantine de dire a sesostris en quel endroit il l'avoit conduite qu'il luy obeit de sorte qu'au lieu de luy dire qu'il l'avoit menee a elephantine il l'assura au contraire qu'il n'avoit fait que la mettre a terre de l'autre coste du fleuve ainsi ne scachant point ou estoit timarete ny mesme ou elle pouvoit estre il souffroit une peine estrange cependant pithagore estant apelle ailleurs se disposa a partir et comme il le devoit faire tres matin il dit adieu des le soir a amenophis qui se trouvoit mal et qui n'estoit pas en estat de le pouvoir mener au bateau sesostris scachant cela prit la resolution de quitter une isle qui estoit devenue insuportable et de s'en aller chercher timarete ou du moins de faire connoistre a amenophis qu'il avoit eu tort de lui refuser ce qu'il avoit souhaite il me communiqua son dessein que j'approuvay pourveu qu'il me permist de le suivre car j'advoue que j'avois une envie estrange de n'estre plus enferme dans cette isle ou je n'avois point eu de passion qui m'eust attache mais apres estre convenus qu'il faloit partir la difficulte fut d'executer la chose pour moy il ne m'eust pas este difficile mais pour sesostris on l'observoit fort soigneusement il s'advisa pourtant d'une invention qui fit reussir 
 son dessein car voyant qu'amenophis se trouvoit mal et qu'il ne pourroit aller conduire pythagore il feignit de s'estre blesse a une jambe et de ne se pouvoir soustenir ainsi amenophis ne croyant pas qu'il fust en estat de pouvoir sortir non seulement de sa cabane mais mesme de son lit n'aprehenda pas qu'il pust s'en aller hors de l'isle et ne donna point d'ordre particu- de l'observer joint que comme il se fioit extremement a moy il se contenta de me recommander tousjours de songer bien a prendre garde a sesostris cependant pythagore ayant comme je l'ay desja dit pris conge d'amenophis des le soir apres luy avoir promis de ne reveler a personne qu'il fust dans cette isle pour des raisons qu'il suposa il fut encore dire adieu a sesostris et ce fut moy qui eus ordre de l'aller accompagner le lendemain au matin mais seigneur comme nous scavions qu'il y avoit deux bergeres qui devoient aller le jour suivant a elephantine je fis si bien que je les gagnay et que je les obligeay a me donner un de leurs habits que je fis porter secretement dans la chambre de sesostris et comme la coustume des villageoises d'egipte est de porter lors qu'elles vont a la ville de grands manteaux blancs plissez qui les couvrent depuis le haut de la teste jusques aux pieds sesostris se contenta d'en prendre un et de le mettre pour cacher ses habillemens de berger et pour se couvrir mesme a demy le visage comme nos bergeres font quelquefois ainsi estant sorty de 
 la cabane sans estre aperceu il fut attendre sur le bord de l'au comme font celles qui doivent aller a la ville de sorte que lors que pithagore fut s'embarquer sesostris couvert de son grand manteau entra avec ces deux femmes qui estoient de l'intelligence et a qui je persuaday qu'il n'y avoit point d'autre mistere a ce dessein sinon que sesostris estoit amoureux de timarete et qu'il la vouloit aller voir au lieu ou elle estoit de sorte que comme ces femmes avoient fort murmure de ce qu'amenophis s'estoit oppose a ce mariage elles contribuerent a faire reussir nostre fourbe joint que pythagore estant ordinairement aussi abstrait qu'il l'estoit ne songea pas a ces bergeres non plus que ceux qui conduisoient le bateau mais pour moy qui n'avois ordre de conduire pythagore que jusques au bord du fleuve il ne m'estoit pas si aise de trouver moyen d'eschaper neantmoins je le trouvay a la fin car comme je fus au bord de l'eau je dis hardiment a pythagore qu'amenophis m'avoit charge de le conduire jusqu'a elephantine si bien que comme je dis la chose avec beaucoup d'assurance ce philosophe ne la contesta point et il ne fit difficulte de me le permetrre que par civilite seulement neantmoins comme il faisoit beau et qu'il scavoit bien que les gens de l'age ou j'estois alors ne haissent pas a changer de lieu il le souffrit a la fin ainsi je m'embarquay aveque luy regardant de temps en temps si sesostris estoit assez bien desguise mais seigneur pour ne vous amuser 
 pas davantage a entendre des choses de peu de consideration vous scaurez que nous arrivasmes a elephantine que je me separay de pythagore sur le bord du fleuve et que je suivis des yeux la feinte bergere qui fut m'attendre a vingt pas de la avec ces autres femmes a qui elle rendit l'habit qu'elles luy avoient preste n'ayant autre chose a faire pour cela qu'a detacher le grand manteau qui la couvroit ainsi en un instant cette feinte bergere estant redevenue berger nous nous separasmes d'elles apres les avoir chargees d'une lettre pour amenophis que sesostris avoit escrite avant que de partir de la cabane et si ma memoire ne m'abuse elle estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 sesostris a amenophis 
 
 
 je vous demande pardon de ce que j'obeis plustost a l'amour qui me possede qu'a vous mais comme j'y suis force je merite assurement quelque excuse ne trouvez donc pas estrange si ne pouvant vivre sans timarete je vay la chercher par toute la terre je suis bien fasche de vous enlever miris mais l'amitie l'obligeant a faire presques autant pour moy que je fais pour timarete il vous quitte pour s'attacher a ma fortune que vous auriez pu rendre heureuse si vous eussiez voulu je souhaite que la vostre soit meilleure et que je puisse un jour vous revoir en me faisant revoir timarete 
 
 
 sesostris 
 
 
 
 apres avoir donne cette lettre a ces femmes je les chargeay de dire a ceux qui conduisoient le bateau de ne m'attendre point parce que je ne retournerois pas a l'isle ce jour la leur disant que timarete demeuroit assez loin au dela d'elephantine mais seigneur nous nous trouvasmes bien embarrassez car on avoit assure a sesostris qu'on avoit mis timarete a terre au bord du fleuve et non pas a elephantine cependant apres avoir bien regarde d'un endroit d'ou nous decouvrions fort loin nous ne voyions point de village assez proche ou elle pust avoir este ainsi nous connoissions bien qu'il faloit qu'elle fust a la ville ou nous estions cette connoissance ne faisoit toutes fois pas que nous en fussions moins en peine puisque sesostris n'avoit jamais este a elephantine et que je ne m'en souvenois pas assez bien pour en scavoir toutes les rues d'autre part je n'osois aller chez ma mere car je scavois bien que me voyant sans ordre d'amenophis elle m'auroit arreste mais enfin m'estant souvenu que dans ma premiere enfance j'avois fait amitie particuliere avec un autre enfant comme moy qui estoit fils unique et extremement riche je m'advisay de demander des nouvelles de son pere a un marchand qui se promenoit sur le port scachant bien que son nom estoit connu de tout le monde j'apris donc par ce marchand que le pere de mon amy estoit mort aussi bien que sa mere et qu'il estoit maistre de son bien et de sa maison a l'instant mesme je me la fis enseigner 
 et nous y fusmes je demanday a parler a luy et a luy parler en particulier de sorte que m'ayant fait entrer apres m'avoir fait attendre longtemps d'abord il ne me reconnut point tant a cause de l'habit de berger que je portois que pour le changement que le temps avoit aporte a ma taille et a mon visage mais enfin apres luy avoir parle et l'avoir fait souvenir de nostre ancienne amitie il m'embrassa aveque joye et me reconnut parfaitement je luy dis alors apres l'avoir oblige a me garder un secret inviolable qu'amenophis depuis la mort d'apriez avoit renonce au monde et s'estoit exile dans un desert ou il m'avoit voulu avoir mais qu'enfin m'estant ennuye de cette sorte de vie je m'estois resolu de m'eschaper en suitte de quoy je luy presentay sesostris que je luy dis estre fils d'amenophis enfin seigneur je menay la chose si adroitement et mon amy fut si genereux qu'il nous logea chez luy et nous donna de quoy nous faire habiller cependant nous ne scavions ou trouver timarete ny comment la chercher dans une aussi grande ville que celle la de sorte que ne scachant que faire ny que devenir apres avoir cherche timarete non seulement aux lieux ou elle pouvoit estre mais mesme en mille endroits ou vray-semblablement elle n'estoit pas et ou elle ne pouvoit pas estre la veue d'une si belle ville mit dans le coeur de sesostris quelques sentimens d'ambition qui luy firent prendre le dessein pour donner temps a amenophis de faire retourner timarete a nostre 
 isle de s'en aller a la guerre afin de satisfaire du moins son ambition s'il ne pouvoit contenter son amour et d'aquerir de la gloire s'il ne pouvoit posseder timarete il n'eut pas plustost forme ce dessein qu'il me le communiqua et il ne me l'eust pas plustost communique que je voulus ce qu'il vouloit et d'autant plus qu'il couroit bruit qu'il y avoit quelque souslevement contre amasis dans une province d'egypte de sorte que sans differer davantage je dis nostre intention a mon amy qui estant tousjours genereux nous donna de quoy nous mettre en esquipage pour ce voyage de guerre ainsi quittant la houlette pour prendre l'espee nous partismes d'elephantine sans avoir pu rien aprendre de timarete car le moyen d'esperer d'avoir des nouvelles d'une simple bergere en un lieu comme celuy-la cependant comme sesostris vouloit que sa bergere sceust que c'estoit pour l'amour d'elle qu'il s'estoit banny de nostre isle j'avois oublie de vous dire qu'il avoit grave quelques paroles sur un sicomore qui est au haut de la coline qui s'esleve au milieu de l'isle et ou timarete aymoit fort a s'aller assoir quand elle vouloit jouir de la belle veue c'est pourquoy il espera qu'elle iroit encore si elle y revenoit jamais car ils y avoient eu quelques conversations assez agreables pour croire qu'elle y retourneroit si on la remenoit dans cette isle ces paroles estoient telles sesostris ne pouvant vivre ou la belle timarete 
 
 n'est pas s'en va avec le dessein de mourir des qu'il aura perdu l'esperance de la trouver mais seigneur devant que de vous dire comment nostre voyage de guerre se fit et ou nous fusmes il faut que je vous die en peu de mots quel fut l'estonnement d'amenophis lors qu'il aprit deux heures apres le despart de pythagore que je l'estois alle conduire a elephantine neantmoins comme il croyoit que sesostris n'estoit pas en estat de se pouvoir soustenir il ne soubconna pas d'abord qu'il fust party de sorte qu'envoyant a sa chambre pour luy demander s'il scavoit mon dessein il fut estrangement estonne d'aprendre qu'il n'y estoit plus on ne luy eut pas plustost dit qu'on ne trouvoit point sesostris qu'il creust qu'il avoit feint de s'estre blesse et qu'il estoit party aussi bien que moy il fit venir alors ceux qui avoient veu embarquer pythagore qui dirent qu'il n'y avoit personne dans le bateau que trois bergeres cet estranger et moy comme le nombre des femmes qui estoient dans cette isle n'estoit pas fort grand amenophis envoya scavoir par l'esclave du prince par traseas et par nicetis combien il y en avoit de chaque cabane qui fussent allees a elephantine mais apres une exacte recherche ils trouverent qu'il n'y en estoit alle que deux de sorte qu'amenophis ne doutant point que sesostris ne se fust desguise en fille pour sortit de l'isle entra en un desespoir extreme sans scavoir quel remede y aporter car il n'y avoit point alors d'autre bateau 
 en toute l'isle pour pouvoir envoyer apres les autres estant allez assez loin a la pesche ainsi il falut qu'il eust patience jusques au soir que le bateau revinst d'elephantine sans ramener ny sesostris ny moy mais afin qu'il ne pust douter ny de nostre fuite ny de la cause de celle de sesostris ces deux femmes luy rendirent la lettre qu'il leur avoit donnee disant qu'elles avoient este bien surprises de voir que celle qu'elles avoient creu estre une bergere tant qu'elles avoient este dans le bateau estoit sesostris amenophis ne creut pourtant pas ce qu'elles luy disoient et il leur tesmoigna avoir toute l'indignation qu'un homme aussi sage que luy pouvoit avoir pour des femmes qui avoient plustost failly par simplicite que par malice cependant sans perdre temps il envoya a elephantine et traseas et nicetis et l'esclave du prince avec ordre d'y tarder deux ou trois jours sans faire autre chose que se promener par les rues par les temples et par les places publiques pour voir s'ils ne nous rencontreroient point ne pouvant ny n'osant y aller luy mesme de peur d'estre reconnu mais ils eurent beau se promener ils ne nous rencontrerent pas de sorte qu'amenophis demeura le plus afflige de tous les hommes neantmoins comme il voyoit que l'amour de sesostris pour timarete estoit fort violente il espera que la mesme passion qui l'avoit banny le rapelleroit et le feroit revenir a cette isle il n'osa pourtant encore rapeller timarete de peur que sesostris 
 n'eust fait dessein de l'enlever quand elle seroit retournee et qu'ainsi il ne se mist en estat de le perdre pour tousjours n'ayant plus en sa puissance celle qui pouvoit l'obliger a revenir il n'osa non plus quitter cette isle de peur que sesostris n'y revinst quand il n'y seroit point si bien qu'il se vit contraint de demeurer seul a pleindre sa disgrace il avoit pourtant tousjours quelque espoir car la connoissance qu'il avoit de l'astrologie luy faisoit voir dans les astres tant d'heureux presages pour sesostris que malgre toutes les traverses de la fortune il croyoit plus a ce que le ciel luy monstroit qu'a ce qu'il voyoit sur la terre il eut neantmoins un grand redoublement de douleur de l'absence de sesostris quelques jours apres nostre depart car enfin il sceut que tous les soins qu'il avoit aportez a former un party contre l'usurpateur n'avoient pas este inutiles et que les amis particuliers qu'il avoit dans thebes et dans heliopolis avoient si bien fait que non seulement les peuples commencoient de se souslever mais qu'il y avoit mesme desja quelques gens de qualite qui se declaroient principalement a thebes ou il avoit este aise de mettre un esprit de revolte parmy ce peuple parce que lors qu'amasis estoit monte au throne il avoit fait dire aux habitans de thebes pour les obliger a se declarer pour luy qu'il vouloit remettre leur ville en son ancien lustre car seigneur vous scavez bien que c'estoit autrefois la premiere ville d'egipte devant 
 que l'illustre menez eust fait bastir memphis qui depuis cela a este la demeure ordinaire de beaucoup de rois a cause de sa scituation qui est la plus belle du monde il est donc arrive par la qu'a mesure qu'elle s'est augmentee thebes a commence de dechoir c'est pourquoy scachant bien que la richesse la grandeur et la magnificence des villes viennent de la presence des rois les habitans de thebes avoient ardamment desire qu'amasis suivant les promesses qu'il leur en avoit faites fist plustost son sejour dans leur ville que dans memphis aussi thebes ne s'estoit elle declaree si promptement pour luy que par cette esperance mais voyant qu'au contraire bien loin de tenir sa parole apres tant d'annees ou d'avoir seulement dessein de la tenir un jour il faisoit luy mesme bastir son tombeau a memphis comme a un lieu ou il vouloit vivre et mourir il fut aise aux amis d'amenophis de se servir de ce pretexte pour faire un soulevement et pour engager heliopolis dans les interests de thebes a cause du grand trafic qu'il y a entre ces deux villes ainsi amenophis voyoit que s'il eust en sesostris eu sa puissance il eust este en estat d'aller le faire reconnoistre a ces peuples et causer peut estre une revolution universelle dans toute l'egipte car la reconnoissance de ce prince estoit aisee a faire ayant la lettre de ladice entre ses mains et ayant aussi avecque luy traseas et nicetis qui scavoient bien que sesostris estoit ce mesme enfant qui avoit 
 este amene a cette isle a l'age de quatre ou cinq ans joint aussi qu'il avoit encore un des esclaves du prince cependant comme amenophis n'avoit pu tramer tout ce dessein sans se confier a quelqu'un il y avoit un homme de qualite a thebes qui scavoit que le fils n'estoit pas mort sans qu'il sceust pourtant ou il estoit amenophis n'ayant point voulu faire scavoir le lieu de sa retraite a personne afin de ne rien hazarder il ne put donc faire autre chose que mander a celuy qui luy disoit qu'il estoit temps qu'il amenast le fils d'apriez que ce prince estoit malade et qu'aussi tost qu'il seroit en estat de pouvoir aller a thebes il l'y meneroit d'autre part timarete quoy que bien aise de voir une aussi belle ville qu'elephantine et de ne se voir plus avec l'habit d'une bergere regrettoit pourtant sensiblement sesostris mais elle le regrettoit en secret n'osant en faire ses pleintes a personne or durant qu'amenophis et timarete se pleignoient sesostris se pleignoit encore plus qu'eux en effet tant que dura le chemin que nous fismes pour aller chercher la guerre il ne parla que de timarete il estoit devenu si chagrin que nous pensasmes avoir une petite dispute ensemble nous qui n'avions jamais rien eu a demesler car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'ayant sceu comme je l'ay desja dit qu'il y avoit une province qui se revoltoit contre amasis il fut question de scavoir si dans le dessein que nous avions d'aller a l'armee nous prendrions le party de ceux 
 qui se soulevoient contre le roy usurpateur ou le party de l'usurpateur contre les peuples souslevez pour moy qui estois un peu plus age que sesostris et qui me souvenois d'avoir tant entendu faire d'imprecations a tous mes proches contre ce prince lors qu'il estoit monte au throne mon inclination alloit a faire la guerre contre luy mais pour sesostris il vouloit au contraire aller dans l'armee qu'amasis envoyoit contre ces peuples revoltez je luy disois pour apuyer mon dessein qu'amasis estoit un usurpateur qu'il ne faloit pas le regarder avec le respect qu'on doit a un roy legitime que ceux de thebes n'estoient point des rebelles mais de legitimes ennemis du tiran et qu'ainsi je trouvois qu'il faloit aller combatre pour eux cependant sesostris ne fut pas de mon advis au contraire il me soustint qu'encore qu'amasis fust un usurpateur ceux de thebes ne laissoient pas d'estre indignes d'estre assistez car enfin disoit il s'ils estoient fidelles a leur prince pourquoy reconnoissoient ils amasis et puis qu'ils l'ont reconnu pourquoy l'abandonnent ils s'il y avoit un prince du sang de nos rois a qui il falust redonner la couronne je serois assurement pour eux s'ils avoient seulement dessein de vanger la mort d'apriez je serois encore de leur party mais puis qu'on dit qu'ils ne cherchent que la grandeur de leur ville et que c'est pour cela qu'ils troublent tout le royaume il est juste qu'ils perissent aussi bien croy-je avoir entendu dire a amenophis qu'il 
 vaut mieux n'avoir qu'un maistre que d'en avoir plusieurs et qu'un bon tiran en paix vaut mieux pour les peuples qu'une juste guerre de plus adjoustoit il sans m'amuser a chercher la raison pourquoy je sens dans mon coeur une si forte envie de me jetter dans le parti d'amasis il suffit que je vous die que je n'en scaurois suivre d'autre apres cela seigneur je ceday a sesostris mais je luy ceday avec peine ne scachant pas par quelle voye les dieux vouloient le conduire dans une autre condition que celle dont je le croyois nous voila donc en chemin d'aller a l'armee d'amasis qui marchoit desja sous la conduite d'heracleon qui est presentement vostre prisonnier et qui estoit alors favori du roy non seulement parce qu'il estoit fils d'un homme qui avoit fort aide a mettre ce prince dans le throsne mais encore parce que sa personne luy plaisoit ce n'est pas que cette guerre ne fut d'une assez grande importance pour obliger amasis d'y aller luy mesme mais il y avoit desja quelque temps que ce prince estoit presques tousjours malade et qu'il estoit menace de perdre la veue enfin seigneur nous arrivasmes au camp et nous y parusmes comme des gens qui vouloient servir comme volontaires et en effet la chose alla ainsi mais seigneur si sesostris avoit eu bonne grace a porter une houlette il l'eut encore meilleure a se servir d'une espee car jamais on n'avoit veu en toute l'egipte un homme de si bonne mine que luy avec un habillement de 
 guerre aussi attiroit il les yeux de tous les chefs et de tous les soldats mais s'il les attiroit par sa bonne mine lors qu'ils le voyoient au camp il les attira bien davantage lors qu'ils le virent combatre estant certain que sesostris fit des choses qui surpassent tout ce qu'on scauroit penser de sa valeur heracleon n'en fut pourtant pas le tesmoin car a la premiere rencontre des ennemis il fut extremement blesse mais de telle sorte qu'il falut le porter hors du camp si bien que durant toute cette campagne il ne put revenir a l'armee qui fut commandee par son lieutenant general nomme simandius ainsi la valeur de sesostris ne fut alors connue d'heracleon que par la renommee car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'encore que nous fussions arrivez au camp sans y estre connus de personne et comme de simples volontaires nous le fusmes bientost de toute l'armee par la valeur de sesostris qui se signala si hautement et si heureusement tout ensemble qu'il sauva la vie a simandius a une bataille de sorte que sa reputation fut jusques a amasis mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre fut que sesostris qui ne vouloit pas qu'on pust scavoir qu'il n'estoit qu'un berger voulut que nous changeassions de nom quoy que celuy de sesostris qu'il portoit et celuy de miris que je porte fussent tres communs en egipte et qu'il n'y eust pas d'aparence que n'estant que ce que nous estions on nous peust connoistre mais enfin il avoit tant de peur d'estre 
 reconnu pour estre berger qu'il fit tout ce qu'il eust deu faire pour empescher qu'on ne descouvrist qu'il estoit fils de roy s'il eust sceu sa veritable naissance si bien que prenant le nom de psammetite tant qu'il fut a l'armee ce fut sous ce nom la et non pas sous celuy de sesostris que sa reputation s'epandit et dans l'armee d'amasis et dans celle des ennemis car enfin il fit des choses si remarquables en vingt occasions differentes qu'on le regardoit comme un homme extraordinaire simandius en reconnoissance de ce que sesostris luy avoit sauve la vie voulut luy donner un employ considerable mais comme il avoit resolu de retourner a la fin de la campagne a elephantine pour tascher d'aprendre si timarete qu'il aimoit tousjours ardamment seroit retournee a l'isle il ne le voulut point accepter cependant quoy que sesostris fist des merveilles sous le nom de psammetite et qu'en sauvant la vie de simandius il eust empesche luy seul la deffaite de son armee le party des ennemis ne laissoit pas d'estre tousjours assez fort et de paroistre extremement resolu a soustenir opiniastrement leur revolte on se moquoit pourtant dans l'armee ou nous estions du bruit qui couroit a thebes qu'il y avoit un fils d'apriez qui devoit bien tost se mettre a la teste de leurs troupes sesostris estant le premier a soustenir que les ennemis ne disoient cela que pour faire sembler leur revolte juste et qu'enfin s'il estoit vray qu'il y eust un fils d'apriez il se seroit desja signale en 
 quelqu'un des combats qu'ils avoient faits mais apres tout seigneur la fin de la campagne estant venue et simandius estant contraint de retirer ses troupes parce que le nil commencoit de croistre il voulut obliger celuy qui s'estoit rendu si fameux sous le nom de psammetite d'aller a la cour aveque luy afin de recevoir du roy la recompence deue a son courage mais sesostris pour pouvoir s'excuser d'y aller avec plus de civilite luy dit qu'il se rendroit a la cour aussi tost qu'il seroit en estat d'y paroistre sans luy faire honte et qu'ainsi il le supplioit de luy permettre d'aller chez luy auparavant simandius s'informa alors precisement d'ou il estoit et sesostris luy respondit suivant ce que nous avions concerte ensemble qu'il estoit d'une ville appellee canope qui donne le nom a une des sept bouches du nil qui en est tout proche ainsi simandius se contentant de scavoir quelle terre avoit veu naistre celuy qui luy avoit sauve la vie ne s'obstina pas a le presser davantage de le suivre se contentant de la promesse qu'il luy faisoit de l'aller trouver a la cour il forca pourtant sesostris a recevoir un present de pierreries tres magnifique mais entre les autres choses qu'il luy donna il y avoit une grande medaille d'or dont amasis luy avoit donne plusieurs pour de semblables occasions ou d'un coste estoit le portrait de ce roy et de l'autre celuy de ladice dont la memoire luy estoit tousjours fort chere non seulement parce qu'en effet 
 il avoit eu de l'amour pour elle mais principalement parce qu'elle avoit este cause qu'il estoit devenu roy quoy que ce n'eust pas este son intention mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que comme timarete a ce que j'ay sceu depuis ressembloit fort a la princesse ladice sa mere cette medaille ressembloit aussi fort a timarete de sorte qu'apres que nous eusmes pris conge de simandius et que nous la regardasmes avec plus de loisir sesostris eut une joye de cette heureuse rencontre que je ne vous puis exprimer il ne soupconna pourtant rien de la verite car comme cette ressemblance n'estoit pas parfaite et qu'il croyoit fortement que timarete estoit fille d'un berger il creut que c'estoit un simple cas fortuit dont il devoit rendre graces aux dieux la veue de cette medaille fit que nous nous en retournasmes a elephantine avec plus de diligence et mesme avec plus de joye que nous n'en estions partis car apres cette heureuse avanture sesostris ne douta point du tout qu'il ne retrouvast timarete dans l'isle mais enfin seigneur nous arrivasmes a elephantine et nous fusmes chez celuy qui nous y avoit desja receus qui fut fort estonne de voir que nous y retournions en un esquipage plus magnifique que celuy ou nous estions partis cependant comme sesostris n'estoit revenu que pour timarete a peine fusmes nous arrivez a elephantine qu'il ne songea qu'a tascher de scavoir si elle estoit retournee a l'isle de sorte que comme il se souvenoit fort 
 bien quel estoit le jour que le bateau des bergers qui y sont venoit le plus ordinairement a la ville il fut se promener le long du port et il le fit si heureusement qu'il vit aborder ce bateau plein de bergeres il ne voulut pourtant pas se monstrer a eux mais il envoya un esclave qu'il avoit pris durant le voyage leur demander si une fille appellee timarete estoit presentement dans leur isle de sorte que ces bergeres ayant respondu qu'il y avoit desja quelques jours qu'elle y estoit retournee sesostris sans hesiter un moment prit la resolution d'y retourner aussi bien qu'elle mais comme il jugea que tous les autres bergers s'estonneroient de le voir en l'habit ou il estoit alors et s'en moqueroient peut-estre il reprit son habit de berger qu'il avoit quitte en allant a l'armee pour moy lors qu'il m'en parla je luy voulus persuader de paroistre devant les yeux de timarete en l'habit ou il estoit mais il ne le voulut pas et je suis persuade que s'il eust este effectivement berger il n'eust pas fait ce qu'il fit mais comme il estoit roy sans qu'il le creust estre son ame se trouva au dessus de cette espece de vanite il creut qu'il suffisoit pour faire voir que son voyage de guerre avoit este heureux de donner a timarete les presens qu'il avoit receus de simandius a la reserve de la medaille qui ressembloit a cette belle personne enfin sesostris suivant son dessein et moy suivant sesostris nous laissames nos gens et tout nostre equipage de guerre chez mon amy et nous allasmes au bateau 
 attendre les bergers et les bergeres qui estoient allez a la ville et qui eurent une joye extreme lors qu'ils revirent sesostris il se trouva mesme qu'une de ces deux femmes qui luy avoient aide a sortir de l'isle en luy prestant un habit de bergere se trouvant dans ce bateau luy dit qu'elle avoit la plus grande joye du monde de pouvoir le remener a l'isle puis que c'estoit elle qui l'en avoit fait sortir apres quoy sesostris s'informant de timarete d'amenophis et d'edesie mais principalement de timarete il sceut que cette belle fille estoit retournee a l'isle avec edesie mais encore mille fois plus belle qu'il ne l'avoit veue et que deux jours apres qu'elle y avoit este amenophis en estoit party avec un esclave qu'il y avoit si longtemps qui estoit a luy quoy que sesostris eust tousjours beaucoup d'amitie pour amenophis malgre la rigueur qu'il luy avoit tenue il fut pourtant bien aise de son absence et comme il ne pouvoit parler que de timarete tant que cette petite navigation dura il ne parla jamais que d'elle ou a moy ou a cette bergere qui scavoit qu'il en estoit amoureux comme nous vinsmes a aprocher de nostre desert il luy sembla qu'il voyoit quelqu'un au haut de la coline qui est au milieu de l'isle aupres du sicomore ou il avoit grave quelques paroles mais comme il y avoit trop loin pour pouvoir discerner si c'estoit un berger ou une bergere il se mit seulement a me demander si je ne voyois pas quelqu'un au pied de cet arbre qu'il me 
 monstroit et qui est plante a la cime de la coline a peine eut il dit cela que cette mesme bergere qui luy avoit dit des nouvelles de la personne qu'il aimoit prenant la parole je suis assuree luy dit elle que c'est timarete car depuis qu'elle est revenue elle y va tus les jours sans y manquer sesostris entendant parler cette femme ne douta plus que ce qu'il voyoit ne fut sa bergere de sorte que son imagination supleant au deffaut de ses yeux il creut en effet qu'il discernoit sa taille et son habit de sorte que s'imaginant qu'elle n'estoit en ce lieu la que pour penser a luy il en eut une joye estrange il n'eut mesme presques pas le loisir d'attendre que nous fussions abordez car il se jetta a terre le premier devant que le bateau fust arreste tant il avoit d'envie de voir timarete cependant seigneur pour vous faire connoistre parfaitement combien les secrets des dieux sont impenetrables et combien la prudence humaine est bornee il faut que je vous die comment le despart d'amenophis s'estoit fait et pourquoy il estoit party vous scaurez donc seigneur que ceux qui avoient commence de faire le souslevement dans thebes et dans heliopolis ne voyant point paroistre sesostris commencerent fort d'en murmurer contre amenophis qui leur avoit durant si long temps donne de si grandes esperances de le faire bientost paroistre de sorte que luy ayant escrit pour luy tesmoigner la crainte ou ils estoient qu'apres avoir assure aux peuples et publie par toute l'egipte qu'il y avoit 
 un fils d'apriez vivant ils ne fussent contraints de dire qu'ils avoient este trompez et qu'il n'y en avoit point amenophis se vit force de peur qu'ils ne s'accommodassent et qu'ils ne creussent qu'il les avoit voulu tromper d'aller luy mesme en un lieu dont ils convinrent pour se justifier et pour leur dire la chose comme elle s'estoit passee n'osant la confier a une lettre cependant pour ne hazarder rien il fit revenir edesie et timarete a l'isle afin que si sesostris y revenoit cette belle bergere l'y arrestast ordonnant a traseas et a edesie de luy dire afin de l'empescher de rien entreprendre durant son absence qu'il avoit change d'advis depuis son depart et qu'a son retour il luy donneroit toute sorte de satisfaction conjurant aussi edesie de faire en sorte que timarete retinst sesostris s'il revenoit en suitte de quoy amenophis partit desguise et mena aveque luy l'esclave du prince voila donc seigneur pourquoy nous ne trouvasmes point amenophis a l'isle et pourquoy nous y trouvasmes timarete mais pour retourner a sesostris que j'ay quitte lors qu'il s'estoit jette hors du bateau avec precipitation pour aller plustost voir sa bergere je vous diray qu'il la rencontra qui venoit effectivement du haut de la colline et du pied du sicomore ou sesostris avoit escrit quelque chose et ou elle avoit este tous les jours depuis qu'elle estoit revenue a l'isle cette belle fille revenoit en resvant ayant les yeux bas et marchant assez lentement lors 
 que sesostris l'apercevant s'avanca vers elle avec une diligence qui tesmoignoit assez l'envie qu'il avoit d'estre veu de timarete qui revenant de sa resverie fut bien agreablement surprise de voir son cher sesostris et de le voir avec tant de marques de joye sur le visage qu'elle eut lieu de croire qu'il avoit tousjours beaucoup d'amour dans le coeur l'aise qu'ils avoient de se revoir estoit si forte qu'ils ne pouvoient se la tesmoigner pat leurs paroles ou s'ils se la tesmoignerent ce fut imparfaitement ils parlerent pourtant a la fin mais ce fut tous deux a la fois ils ne laisserent neantmoins pas de s'entendre car en de pareilles occasions les civilitez les plus regulieres ne sont pas les plus obligeantes et il y a un certain desordre d'esprit et une certaine confusion de paroles qui plaist bien davantage que ne feroit un compliment plus juste et plus estudie mais apres s'estre dit ce que leur premier transport leur permit de se dire timarete me salua et sesostris fut saluer edesie qui suivoit timarete de dix ou douze pas ces deux amans furent si esgalement troublez d'une si douce surprise que timarete m'apella sesostris en parlant a moy et que sesostris nomma edesie timarete en parlant a elle cette petite erreur reciproque fit deux effets differens car sesostris fut bien aise de voir que timarete avoit dit son nom au lieu du mien et ne fut pas marry d'avoir dit celuy de timarete au lieu de celuy d'edesie luy semblant qu'elle connoistroit par la qu'il pensoit a elle mesme 
 en voulant penser aux autres mais pour timarete elle eut quelque despit contre elle mesme de s'estre mesprise aussi en rougit elle de confusion cette agreable erreur ne fut pas la seule joye qu'eut sesostris a cette premiere entreveue puis qu'il eut encore celle de voir que timarete estoit mille fois plus belle et mille fois plus charmante qu'elle n'estoit lors qu'il estoit party elle estoit devenue plus grande sa gorge s'estoit formee son embonpoint s'estoit augmente son taint s'estoit embelly ses yeux estoient devenus plus brillans et sa grace estant plus assuree et plus libre faisoit qu'elle en estoit infiniment plus aimable au reste la beaute de son esprit s'estoit encore plus augmentee que celle de son corps et le sejour qu'elle avoit fait a elephantine luy avoit tellement donne l'air du monde qu'elle sembloit estre ce qu'elle estoit en effet je veux dire une princesse desguisee en bergere sesostris de son coste estoit aussi devenu incomparablement plus aimable sa mine estoit plus haute et son esprit estoit et plus hardy et plus poly tout ensemble ainsi ces deux personnes se trouvant toutes deux dignes d'une nouvelle admiration il ne faut pas s'estonner si leur affection se lia encore plus estroitement qu'auparavant il y eut toutesfois quelque changement au procede de timarete qui donna quelques mauvaises heures a sesostris qui fut qu'encore que cette belle fille l'aimast assurement plus qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais ayme elle le luy tesmoigna pourtant 
 moins de sorte qu'a la premiere conversation particuliere qu'ils eurent ensemble qui fut deux jours apres le retour de sesostris il se mit a se pleindre de ce cruel changement qu'il voyoit au procede de timarete qui s'observant plus soigneusement qu'elle ne faisoit quand elle estoit plus jeune ne songeoit pas tant a dire ce qu'elle pensoit qu'a ne dire pas tout ce qu'elle avoit dans le coeur de grace luy disoit-il belle timarete aprenez moy un peu d'ou vient le changement que je voy en vous et pourquoy vous me traitez plus serieusement et mesme plus froidement que vous ne faisiez autrefois vous pouvez reprit elle en souriant oster de vostre discours une des dernieres paroles dont vous vous estes servy estant certain que je n'ay rien fait qui puisse vous obliger a croire que je vous traite froidement j'avoue bien que j'ay perdu une partie de la simplicite et de l'enjouement de l'enfance ha timarete interrompit il ne m'allez point oster par une cruelle parole toutes les bontez que vous avez eues autrefois pour moy et souffrez du moins que je cherche quelque consolation dans les choses passees puis que je n'en puis trouver dans les choses presentes pour vous monstrer luy dit timarete que je ne suis pas rigoureuse je vous promets de n'oublier jamais que je vous dois la vie mais en mesme temps je vous conjure d'oublier toutes les innocences de ma premiere jeunesse et de ne pretendre pas regler la suitte de ma vie par celle que j'ay passee car enfin sesostris 
 je vous ay dit cent mille choses qui me font rougir quand j'y pense et que je ne vous diray plus jamais quoy interrompit sesostris vous trouvez qu'il soit juste que parce que vous avez plus d'esprit que vous n'en aviez je dois estre plus mal traite et que parce que vous estes plus belle et que je suis plus amoureux vous devez m'estre plus rigoureuse je croy dit elle en sousriant aujourd'huy que je l'ay apris qu'il est une bien-seance qu'il faut suivre et qu'ainsi quand je vous aimerois je ne devrois pas vous le dire et ce seroit a vous a le deviner il faut advouer dit sesostris que l'usage a quelque chose de bien tirannique et de bien injuste et que ceux qui s'en peuvent affranchir aux choses innocentes doivent estre louez de toutes les personnes raisonnables car enfin ne suis je pas celuy que j'estois lors que vous viviez aveque moy avec plus de franchise que vous ne faites nullement luy dit elle car vous estes plus honneste homme mais si cela est reprit il pourquoy m'en traitez vous plus mal c'est afin d'avoir plus depart a votre estime repliqua t'elle ha timarete respondit sesostris la rigueur est un mauvais moyen de se faire estimer par un amant je vous assure adjousta t'elle que je croy qu'il est encore meilleur que l'indulgence vous avez pourtant beau estre rigoureuse luy dit il en luy monstrant la medaille que simandius luy avoit donnee car vous ne me scauriez empescher d'avoir vostre portrait il est vray dit il qu'il n'est pas 
 tout a fait ressemblant mais du moins n'est il pas plus different de ce que vous estes que vous estes differente de ce que vous estiez pour moy dans cet age ou vous me permettiez de regarder vos yeux sans les destourner timarete prenant cette medaille et la regardant fut extremement surprise de voir que la figure de femme qui estoit d'un coste avoit extremement de son air de sorte qu'ayant beaucoup de curiosite de scavoir comment il avoit eu cette medaille et comment elle luy pouvoit ressembler elle se mit a le presser de le luy dire il voulut alors suivant son dessein lui donner tout ce que simandius luy avoit donne mais elle ne le voulut pas et elle continua de le presser de luy dire par quelle voye il avoit pu aquerir tant de richesses luy demandant encore comment il avoit pu se resoudre apres cela a redevenir berger vous me permettrez luy dit-il de commencer a vous respondre par la derniere chose que vous me demandez et de vous dire que je suis berger parce que vous estes bergere et que je cesseray de porter la houlette des que vous ne la porterez plus et pour l'autre dit il en me voyant arriver aupres d'eux vous la scaurez s'il vous plaist de la bouche de miris comme j'entendis ces dernieres paroles je demanday a timarete apres l'avoir saluee ce que je luy devois aprendre de sorte que me l'ayant dit je commencay a luy faire le recit de nostre voyage mais comme je voulus raconter a timarete quelle estoit la valeur de 
 sesostris il voulut m'imposer silence toutesfois voyant qu'il ne le pouvoit du moins me dit il me permettrez vous pour m'empescher de vous contredire de m'en aller afin que je puisse tirer quelque advantage de vos flatteries et que timarete en puisse croire une partie et en effet sesostris s'estant leve pour aller au devant d'edesie qui venoit a nous je me mis a dire exactement a timarete tout ce qu'il avoit fait quelle estoit la reputation qu'il avoit acquise sous le nom de psammetite et comment il avoit eu la medaille qui luy donnoit tant de curiosite mais en luy faisant ce recit je voyois tant de joye dans les yeux de timarete qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que sesostris ne luy estoit pas indifferent cependant seigneur quelques assurances qu'edesie donnast a cet amoureux berger qu'amenophis avoit change de sentiment et qu'il luy avoit promis en partant qu'a son retour il luy donneroit toute sorte de satisfaction il fut plusieurs jours a ne pouvoir s'assurer en ses paroles et si timarete n'eust pas este aussi sage que belle sesostris l'eust assurement enlevee de cette isle sans attendre le retour d'amenophis mais elle luy tesmoigna avoir tant de colere a la premiere proposition qu'il luy en fit qu'il n'osa plus en concevoir la pensee car enfin elle fut trois jours entiers sans luy vouloir parler quoy qu'il la luy eust faite avec toutes les precautions imaginables neantmoins apres avoir demande mille fois pardon et avoir promis a timarete de ne vouloir jamais que 
 ce qu'elle voudroit sesostris fit sa paix avec elle et se resolut par les ordres de cette belle fille d'attendre en repos qu'amenophis revinst de sorte que depuis ce petit accommodement dont je fus le mediateur ils vescurent ensemble sans avoir plus aucun despit l'un contre l'autre si ce n'estoit de ceux qui sont essentiellement attachez a la passion qu'ils avoient dans l'ame et qui naissent et meurent tous les jours sans qu'on puisse presque dire ce qui les fait naistre et mourir la douceur de leur vie fut pourtant bientost troublee par la mort d'edesie qui toucha extremement timarete qui la croyoit soeur de traseas et qui par cet accident se trouva sans autre conversation raisonnable que celle de sesostris traseas estoit sans doute nay avec beaucoup d'esprit il l'avoit mesme en quelque facon civilise par la longue communication d'amenophis nicetis sa femme estoit aussi devenue un peu plus sociable par la frequentation d'edesie mais apres tout ce qu'ils avoient aquis d'esprit ne servoit qu'a les rendre moins incommodes et ne suffisoit pas a les rendre agreables ainsi timarete n'ayant plus que sesostris qui pust la satisfaire par son entretien elle luy accorda encore le sien avec plus de joye ce fut pourtant tousjours avec beaucoup de retenue luy semblant que puis qu'elle n'avoit plus edesie qui avoit toujours eu plus de soin de sa conduite que nicetis elle devoit luy faire voir qu'elle ne se donneroit pas plus de liberte qu'on luy en avoit donne cette retenue n'avoit 
 toutesfois que de la modestie et ne tenoit rien de la severite ny de la rigueur de sorte qu'apres que les premieres larmes de timarete furent essuyees sesostris se trouva sans autre inquietude que celle de voir qu'amenophis ne revenoit point et de ce qu'il croyoit que plus son absence estoit longue plus son bonheur estoit differe mais seigneur c'estoit en vain qu'il attendoit amenophis qui se trouvoit en une facheuse extremite car il faut que vous scachiez que s'en allant au lieu dont il estoit convenu avec les chefs du party qu'il avoit forme il fut si malheureux qu'en traversant la ville de nea qui est de la province de thebes il s'y fit une sedition de sorte qu'amenophis et son esclave se trouverent au milieu du tumulte malgre qu'ils en eussent cependant le malheur voulut qu'un des principaux de la ville fut blesse et qu'il le fut si pres d'amenophis et de l'esclave qui estoit aveque luy qu'ils furent pris avec beaucoup d'autres comme autheurs de cette sedition le party dont estoit le blesse ayant prevalu sur celuy qui luy estoit oppose ainsi voila amenophis et son esclave prisonniers pour longtemps car comme ils estoient estrangers ils n'avoient point de suport amenophis n'osant s'apuyer de celuy qu'il pouvoit avoir a thebes parce que ceux qui estoient demeurez maistres de la ville estoient pour amasis de sorte qu'il estoit contraint de se fier a son innocence seulement mais comme elle n'estoit deffendue par personne et que ceux qui estoient 
 veritablement criminels et qui avoient este pris avecque luy avoiet des parens et des amis dans la ville les coupables furent absous et les innocents furent resserrez plus estroitement dans leur prison on ne put pourtant pas les juger si tost parce que la blessure de celuy qui les poursuivoit estant a la teste on fut tres long temps sans qu'on peust assurer s'il mourroit ou s'il ne mourroit pas si bien que comme le chastiment devoit estre plus ou moins rigoureux selon l'evenemet amenophis et son esclave demeurerent prisonniers sans pouvoir ny mesme sans oster quand ils l'eussent pu donner de leurs nouvelles a personne amenophis eut encore une sensible douleur car il s'aperceut qu'il avoit perdu dans ce tumulte ou il s'estoit trouve la lettre de ladice pour amasis par le moyen de la qu'elle il esperoit faire un jour reconnoistre et sesostris et timarete et qu'il avoit voulu porter aveque luy non seulement pour la faire voir a ceux aupres de qui il se vouloit justifier mais encore parce qu'il ne la vouloit confier a personne mais pendant qu'il estoit en ce pitoyable estat le nil s'estant acreu et en suitte retourne dans ses bornes ordinaires comme il fait tousjours lors que l'hyver aproche au contraire de tous les autres fleuves du monde qui sont plus petits l'este que l'hyver il arriva qu'heracleon ayant retire ses troupes des garnisons ou on les avoit mises surprit ceux qui s'estoient souslevez et les defit presques entierement de sorte qu'ils furent contraints de se renfermer dans 
 thebes heracleon ne put pourtant pas entreprendre alors de l'assieger et il fut contraint de se contenter de s'estre rendu maistre de la campagne et d'avoir par cette action acquis un nouveau credit sur l'esprit du roy cet heureux succez ayant persuade a amasis que pour retenir les peuples dans leur devoir il faloit qu'il allast se montrer dans toutes ses provinces et faire le tour de son royaume il commenca en effet d'aller de ville en ville r'assurer tous les esprits et leur imprimer un nouveau respect mais afin que ce voyage n'eust que des marques de paix le roy voulut que toute la cour y allast enfin seigneur sans m'amuser a vous dire quelle fut la suitte que le roy avoit a son depart de memphis je vous diray seulement qu'il vint a elephantine il n'y fut pas plustost que la foiblesse de sa veue s'augmenta de telle sorte qu'il creut qu'il l'alloit perdre entierement ce qui l'espouvanta d'autant plus qu'il eut en ce mesme temps une apparition fort terrible il est vray que je pense que ce fut plustost un de ces songes misterieux qui advertissent quelquesfois les hommes de ce qui leur doit arriver que non pas une apparition effective quoy qu'il en soit amasis dit que s'estant esveille une nuit un peu devant le jour il vit ou du moins il luy sembla qu'il voyoit une sombre lumiere a la faveur de laquelle il aperceut le corps d'apriez et vit distinctement les blessures qu'il avoit receues lors qu'il avoit este si inhumainement massacre ce corps estoit 
 tout sanglant et tout deffigure mais ce qui l'estonna bien davantage fut de voir aupres de ce roy mort la princesse ladice couverte d'un grand manteau de deuil qui le regardant avec une action menacante et des yeux ou l'on voyoit bien que la vie n'estoit qu'empruntee commenca de luy parler en ces termes sa voix ayant un son si lamentable si penetrant et si terrible tout ensemble qu'amasis en pensa perdre la raison scache luy dit elle en luy montrant cet infortune roy que ce malheureux prince que tu as fait perir a laisse un fils et que si tu ne luy rends la couronne que tu as arrache a son pere tu ne verras jamais d'autre objet que celuy que tu vois et que tu le verras tousjours ouy trop ambitieux amasis poursuivit cette ombre tu ne verras plus ny tes sujets ny le sceptre que tu tiens ny l'enfant que je t'ay laisse ny mesme la lumiere mais tu me verras tousjours pour te reprocher ton crime jusques a ce que tu entres au tombeau apres cela mille eclairs dont les flammes ondoyantes estoient meslees de rouge de bleu et de noir luy desroberent la veue du corps d'apriez et celle de ladice ces esclairs furent accompagnez d'un bruit si grand a ce qu'il luy sembla que tout son apartement luy en parut esbranle de sorte que passant tout d'un coup de cette funeste lumiere dans une grande obscurite et de ce grand bruit dans un profond silence amasis en demeura si trouble qu'il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre son estonnement redoubla pourtant encore lors que le 
 jour estant venu il sceut qu'on avoit veu pleuvoir durant une heure car seigneur comme il ne pleut jamais en cette partie de l'egipte ce prodige acheva de l'effrayer mais il eut encore un autre sujet de frayeur car il luy vint nouvelle qu'apis dont la naissance avoit resjouy toute l'egipte quelque temps auparavant estoit mort d'un coup de tonnerre je ne vous explique point seigneur ce que c'est qu'apis parmy nous parce que je scay bien que vous ne pouvez rien ignorer ainsi il vous est aise de connoistre par ce que je dis qu'amasis eut lieu d'estre fort estonne et d'autant plus qu'il sceut encore que la statue d'osiris qu'il avoit fait eslever devant son palais estoit tombee en une nuit ce prince voulut pourtant cacher son estonnement mais il ne laissa pas d'envoyer consulter l'oracle de latone a la ville de butte qui est le plus renomme de tous ceux qui sont en egipte il est vray que cet oracle ne le satisfit pas car il respondit en termes obscurs que s'il vouloit que sa posterite regnast apres luy il faloit qu'il rendist le sceptre qu'il avoit usurpe a celuy a qui il apartenoit qu'autrement il perdroit non seulement la veue mais encore la vie amasis se voyant donc si cruellement menace et sentant en effet que sa veue s'affoiblissoit tous les jours commenca de combatre son ambition et de la vouloir vaincre mais il ne put toutesfois jamais en venir a bout de sorte que faisant tous ses efforts pour se r'assurer et pour r'assurer les autres il recommenca d'agir comme s'il 
 n'eust rien aprehende quoy que dans le fonds de son coeur il fust dans une aprehension continuelle les choses estant donc en cet estat il arriva qu'on aporta a amasis la lettre de ladice qu'amenophis avoit perdue au milieu de ce tumulte et qui avoit este trouvee par un officier d'amasis qui estoit de cette ville la et qui estant prest de s'en retourner aupres du roy la prit avec le dessein de la luy rendre sans scavoir pourtant qui l'avoit perdue mais a son arrivee a elephantine il perdit cette lettre qui fut trouvee par un des gardes d'amasis qui la donna a ce prince celuy qui l'avoit aportee ne scachant point alors ce qu'elle estoit devenue ce qui l'en empescha fut que ses amis l'advertirent de ne se montrer point au roy et de sortir de la ville parce que ce prince estoit persuade qu'il avoit este en partie cause de la sedition qui estoit arrivee a la ville d'ou il estoit ainsi il s'en alla sans scavoir que la lettre qu'il avoit aportee et qu'il avoit perdue eust este retrouvee laissant ordre a ses amis de le justifier aupres du roy il n'osa pas mesme luy faire rien dire de cette lettre car comme il ne l'avoit plus il jugeoit bien qu'il n'auroit pas este cru cependant estant dans les mains d'amasis par la voye que je viens de dire il ne la vit pas plustost que malgre la foiblesse de sa veue il en reconnut le carractere des qu'il jetta les yeux dessus vous pouvez juger qu'il la lut avec estonnement et avec application et d'autant plus qu'il eut une grande joye d'aprendre 
 que ladice avoit laisse un enfant mais seigneur il y eut un cas fortuit merveilleux en cette rencontre qui merite d'estre remarque car il faut que vous scachiez que les tablettes dans lesquelles la lettre de ladice mourante estoit escrite estoient faites d'une certaine composition de ciregonmee un peu sujette a s'escailler de sorte que lors que cet officier du roy la porta a elephantine il y eut un petit morceau de ces tablettes qui se leva justement a l'endroit ou ladice disoit a amasis qu'elle luy laissoit une fille de sorte que ce mot de fille et la derniere lettre de celuy qui le precede se leva sans se briser et s'attacha dans d'autres tablettes que cet officier avoit dans sa poche sans qu'il s'en apperceust alors si bien que par ce moyen amasis receut cette lettre sans pouvoir juger avec certi- de si ladice luy disoit qu'elle luy laissoit une fille ou un fils neantmoins il y avoit beaucoup d'aparence veu comme il voyoit la chose qu'elle avoit escrit un fils et non pas une fille car enfin il voyoit qu'a l'endroit ou elle luy parloit de l'enfant qu'elle luy laissoit il y avoit scachez donc que je vous laisse un 'a a 'a a  que vous ne verrez jamais si vous ne rendez le sceptre au jeune sesostris de sorte seigneur que manquant une lettre au mot qui precedoit celuy de fille qui n'y estoit plus il y avoit plus d'aparence de croire que c'estoit un fils qu'une fille car si ce mot fust demeure entier la chose n'auroit pas este douteuse 
 quoy que celuy de fille n'y eust pas este joint que ladice luy aparoissant luy avoit dit un enfant en general et non pas une fille de sorte qu'encore que ce mot convinst a tous les deux sexes il ne laissa pas d'incliner plustost a croire que c'estoit un fils qu'une fille cependant encore qu'il connust par cette mesme lettre que lors que ladice l'avoit escrite le jeune sesostris vivoit il ne songea pourtant plus a luy rendre le sceptre et il n'eut autre dessein que de faire regner l'enfant que ladice luy avoit laisse soit que ce fust un fils ou une fille il creut mesme que peutestre ladice n'estoit elle pas morte et l'ambition l'aveugla de telle facon qu'il commenca de disposer de cet enfant qui n'estoit pas en sa puissance qu'il ne scavoit ou chercher et dont la vie estoit mesme incertaine il dit donc a heracleon que comme il devoit la couronne a feu son pere il estoit juste qu'elle passast dans sa maison qu'ainsi il luy promettoit que s'il pouvoir retrouver l'enfant que les dieux luy avoient donne il s'aquiteroit des obligations qu'il avoit a sa maison en general et a sa valeur en particulier ce prince luy engageant sa parole que s'il avoit une fille il la luy feroit espouser et que s'il avoit un fils il espouseroit la princesse sa soeur nommee liserine qui scachant que son frere estoit a elephantine l'y estoit venu voir cette princesse estant alors a trois parasanges de cette ville cependant comme cette lettre avoit este trouvee dans une place publique on ne scavoit 
 qui l'avoit perdue si bien qu'amasis se trouvoit fort embarrasse a chercher quelque lumiere de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir ce qui l'inquietoit le plus estoit qu'il paroissoit par cette lettre que le fils d'apriez vivoit lors qu'elle avoit este escrite mais en mesme temps il estoit persuade qu'il faloit qu'il fust mort puis qu'on ne le voyoit point a thebes et a la teste des troupes des revoltez cependant il ne scavoit que faire pour s'esclaircir toutesfois comme il se souvenoit qu'amenophis estoit party de says avec la reine lors qu'elle avoit este contrainte d'avoir recours a la fuitte et qu'il scavoit qu'il estoit d'elephantine il s'imagina que peut-estre pourroit il tirer quelque connoissance de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir en faisant faire vue exacte recherche dans cette grande ville et a tous les lieux d'alentour il voulut mesme qu'on arrestast tous ceux qui se trouverent estre parens d'amenophis mais comme ma mere sceut la chose elle sortit promptement d'elephantine de sorte que comme elle estoit seule qui eust pu dire quelque nouvelle d'amenophis cette recherche ne luy servit de rien il n'en demeura pourtant pas encore la car il se servit de la loy qu'il avoit faite qui portoit que chacun rendroit conte de quoy il avoit vescu durant l'annee pour faire une exacte reveue dans toutes les maisons d'elephantine mais enfin comme il ne trouvoit nulle lumiere de ce qu'il cherchoit le gouverneur de cette grande ville sceut qu'on n'avoit encore 
 jamais fait cette recherche dans nostre isle parce qu'on disoit qu'elle estoit si peu peuplee que cela ne valoit pas la peine de s'y transporter le roy ne sceut pas plustost cela que pousse par un puissant instinct il commanda qu'on y allast et qu'on luy fist le raport de ce qu'on y auroit trouve il est vray qu'il faut regarder la chose comme ayant este conduite par les dieux car enfin si cet officier du roy qui avoit trouve la lettre de ladice mourante dans la ville de nea l'eust rendue a amasis c'auroit este a l'entour de cette ville qu'il auroit fait chercher des nouvelles de cette princesse et non pas a l'entour d'elephantine ainsi il paroist clairement qu'ils permirent qu'elle fust perdue une seconde fois afin de faire retrouver sesostris en effet le commandement du roy ayant este execute a l'heure mesme nous fusmes fort estonnez de voir arriver un matin a nostre isle divers officiers d'elephantine qui allerent de cabane en cabane demander qui y demeuroit et de quoy vivoient ceux qui y demeuroient de sorte que comme la nostre estoit la plus grand de l'isle ils ne manquerent pas d'y venir et d'y demander ce qu'ils demandoient a toutes les autres traseas fut celuy qui leur respondit pour toute la famille qu'ils voulurent voir si bien que timarete sesostris et moy parusmes devant ces gens la qui ne nous eurent pas plus tost veus qu'ils recommencerent de s'informer tres soigneusement qui nous estions mais seigneur devant que de vous dire precisement 
 ce que traseas respondit il faut que je vous die que quelques jours devant qu'amenophis partist de l'isle l'esclave du prince qui scavoit qu'il devoit partir et qui avoit une passion demesuree pour sesostris se mit a recommander a traseas avec un empressement estrange d'en avoir un soin extreme s'il revenoit a l'isle et de ne l'en laisser plus sortir comme traseas avoit de l'esprit il ne pouvoit pas manquer d'avoir de la curiosite et de s'imaginer qu'il faloit que sesostris fust d'une grande naissance aussi bien que timarete car outre qu'amenophis luy avoit advoue en effet en abordant a cette isle que la reine et ladice estoient deux personnes de condition qui fuyoient la persecution du nouveau roy il avoit encore entreveu les pierreries de ces deux princesses qu'amenophis avoit fait cacher par cet esclave devant que de partir de l'isle cent et cent fois traseas avoit fait tout ce qu'il avoit pu pour scavoir de luy qui estoient sesostris et timarete mais il n'avoit pu le luy faire dire de sorte que luy semblant avoir trouve un moyen de l'obliger a luy reveler le secret qu'il vouloit scavoir il n'y dit donc comme il le pressoit de songer bien a garder sesostris s'il revenoit a cette isle qu'il ne feroit rien de ce qu'il luy disoit s'il ne luy advouoit la verite d'abord l'esclave resista comme il avoit resiste tant d'autres fois mais enfin il luy promit si fortement de luy garder une fidelite inviolable que cet esclave qui voyoit en effet que traseas paroissoit fort fidelle et fort 
 affectionne creut qu'il le seroit encore davantage s'il scavoit que sesostris estoit fils d'apriez et legitime roy d'egipte apres donc l'avoir fait jurer par osiris et par isis qu'il ne le trahiroit point scache luy dit il traseas que tu es en estat d'estre bien tost au dessus de ta condition car enfin cette princesse que tu vis aborder icy estoit femme d'apriez et mere de sesostris et celle qui mourut en donnant la vie a timarete estoit femme d'amasis ainsi traseas tu tiens en ton pouvoir le fils du legitime roy et la fille de l'usurpateur juge apres cela si tu n'es pas le plus heureux de tous les hommes puis que de quelque coste que la fortune tourne tu as en ta puissance la personne qui doit porter la couronne d'egipte cet esclave ayant donc dit tout ce qu'il scavoit traseas eut une joye extreme et luy promit une fidelite inviolable apres cela seigneur vous pouvez juger que traseas vit dans sa cabane ces ges qui s'informoient si particulierement qui estoit sesostris qui estoit timarete et qui j'estois il eust lieu d'estre un peu estonne mais afin d'avoir moins de choses a respondre et d'estre moins expose a se contredire il dit que nous estions ses enfans et que nicetis estoit nostre mere ne voulant point nonmer amenophis d'abord la responce de traseas nous surprit sesostris et moy toutesfois croyant que c'estoit pour quelque raison que nous ignorions nous ne le contredismes point cependant ceux qui s'informoient si curieusement regarderent sesostris et timarete 
 avec admiration et firent encore plusieurs questions a traseas ou il respondit assez juste mais il n'en fut pas autant de nicetis car encore qu'elle eust entendu que son mary avoit dit que nous estions ses enfans quand ils vinrent a l'interroger et a luy demander de quoy ils faisoient subsister leur famille au lieu de respondre precisement elle respondit que n'ayant qu'une fille il leur estoit aise de subsister de sorte que ces gens voyant de la contradiction entre le mary et la femme creurent qu'il y avoit quelque chose de cache la dessous et ils le creurent d'autant plus que traseas voulant reparer ce que sa femme avoit dit repliqua que nicetis ne nous apelloit pas ses enfans sesostris et moy parce qu'il nous avoit eus d'une autre femme mais que cela n'empeschoit pas que nous ne fussions ses enfans cependant nicetis ne pouvant souffrir ce que disoit traseas se mit a dire en s'en allant que quand amenophis reviendroit elle ne pensoit pas qu'il trouvast bon qu'on luy eust oste son fils ce nom d'amenophis ne fut pas plustost prononce qu'un des officiers d'amasis qui estoit avec ceux qui faisoient cette recherche ne douta point qu'il n'eust peut estre trouve ce que le roy cherchoit car il scavoit bien qu'on avoit fait arrester a elephantine tous les parens d'amenophis et il scavoit de plus que c'estoit luy qui avoit suivy la reine et la princesse ladice de sorte que tirant ceux avec qui il estoit a part il les laissa dans cette 
 isle et s'en retourna dire au roy ce qu'il avoit descouvert amasis ne sceut pas plustost toutes les conjectures qui donnoient lieu de croire qu'il trouveroit dans cette isle des nouvelles de ce qu'il cherchoit qu'il voulut aller luy mesme s'informer d'une chose qui luy estoit de si grande importance mais comme il estoit alors dans la chambre de la princesse liserine et qu'heracleon y estoit aussi il voulut qu'ils y allassent avec que luy car enfin leur dit il a tous deux vous avez autant d'interest que moy en la chose dont il s'agit puis que comme je vous l'ay desja dit si j'ay un fils la princesse liserine l'espousera et si j'ay une fille heracleon sera son mary enfin seigneur cet officier d'amasis qui ne cherchoit qu'a s'empresser et a luy donner une agreable nouvelle fortifia toutes les conjonctures effectives qu'il avoit par tant de choses qu'il inventa qu'en effect amasis creut qu'il trouveroit ce qu'il cherchoit il s'embarqua donc avec la princesse liserine heracleon et cinq ou six personnes de qualite ne voulant pas estre suivy d'un plus grand nombre en cette occasion ainsi n'ayant qu'une partie de ses gardes qui le suivoient dans un autre batteau ils aborderent a cette isle mais en y abordant vous pouvez juger combien l'ambitieux heracleon fit de voeux afin qu'amasis peust trouver qu'il eust une fille et vous pouvez juger aussi combien en fit liserine afin que ce peust estre un fils cependant traseas qui avoit bien remarque que 
 cet officier du roy estoit retourne a elephantine ne sceut pas plustost qu'amasis abordoit a cette isle qu'il crut bien qu'il n'y venoit que pour s'informer ce qu'estoient devenus la reyne sesostris et ladice de sorte que traseas raisonnant a sa mode et n'ayant pas le temps d'instruire sesostris parce qu'ils estoient observez de ceux qui estoient demeurez dans l'isle il s'aprocha seulement de luy pour luy dire en passant qu'il ne le contredist pas et qu'il y alloit de toute sa fortune mais a peine luy eut il dit cela que sans faire l'estonne ny l'empresse il s'assit devant sa cabane sesostris estant debout appuye sur sa houlette vis a vis de sa maistresse qui estoit assise sur un siege de gazon mais seigneur comme ceux qui ont dessein de plaire n'ont guere de ces jours negligez ou les personnes les mieux faites perdent quelque chose de leur agreement sesostris et timarete estoient si propres ce jour la et si galamment habillez quoy qu'ils ne le fussent qu'avec la simplicite de berger et de bergere qu'on ne pouvoit pas les voir sans les admirer cependant le roy aprochant de cette cabane traseas se leva et fut au devant de luy comme pour le voir ne faisant pas semblant de croire qu'il pensast que le roy eust rien a luy dire sesostris timarete et moy le suivions d'autre part le roy venant droit a nous estoit appuye sur heracleon cet officier qui nous avoit desja veus estant de l'autre coste nous monstroit de la main en parlant au roy la princesse 
 liserine suivie de ses femmes estoit conduite par un homme de qualite mais seigneur a peine heracleon eut il jette les yeux sur timarete qu'il fit mille voeux secrets qu'elle se pust trouver fille d'amasis et a peine liserine eut elle veu sesostris qu'elle desira aussi ardemment qu'il pust se trouver estre fils du roy pour amasis il desiroit passionnement s'il avoit a avoir un enfant que ce fust un successeur et non pas une fille apres avoir donc regarde et sesostris et timarete il prit traseas a part et sans autre tesmoin qu'heracleon il se mit d'abord a luy dire qu'il vouloit qu'il luy dist la verite en suitte de quoy il luy demanda ou estoit amenophis et ce qu'estoient devenus la reine le jeune sesostris et la princesse ladice car enfin luy dit le roy encore qu'il ne le sceust que par des conjectures je scay affirmativement qu'ils ont este en cette isle traseas connoissant par la maniere dont le roy parloit qu'il n'estoit pas si bien informe de la verite qu'il le disoit estre se resolut a suivre le dessein qu'il avoit forme des qu'il avoit sceu que cet officier du roy estoit retourne a elephantine c'est a dire seigneur a n'advouer point que sesostris estoit fils d'apriez de peur de le livrer entre les mains de son ennemy et a luy dire au contraire qu'il estoit fils de ladice et de luy car enfin disoit-il en luy mesme pourveu que sesostris regne qu'importe a amenophis si c'est comme fils d'apriez ou comme fils d'amasis traseas estant donc dans ce 
 sentiment la ne s'amusa point a nier au roy que la reine eust este a cette isle mais pour faire reussir son dessein plus finement il ne fit pas semblant d'avoir sceu que celle qui estoit venue avec la reine fust sa femme il luy advoua donc que la reine et sesostris estoient venus a cette isle avec une autre princesse qui estoit morte trois jours apres y estre arrivee et morte en donnant la vie a un fils adjoustant que quelques jours apres une maladie contagieuse ayant pris dans l'isle la reine et le jeune sesostris en estoient morts et que depuis cela amenophis avoit fait donner le nom de sesostris au fils de cette princesse qui estoit morte en luy donnant la vie mais ou est cet enfant interrompit le roy seigneur repliqua traseas en luy monstrant sesostris voila celuy dont je parle qui croit qu'amenophis est son pere et que j'ay tantost dit estre mon fils parce qu'amenophis a tousjours aporte grand soin a le cacher sans que j'en scache la raison mais des que vous avez parle je n'ay pas eu la hardiesse de vous dire un mensonge mais ou est amenophis reprit le roy seigneur repliqua traseas je n'en scay rien et je scay seulement qu'il m'a fort recommande sesostris ha heracleon s'escria le roy il ne faut point douter que le traistre qui enleva de says et la reyne et ladice n'eust dessein d'armer mon propre fils contre moy en persuadant aux peuples qu'il estoit fils d'apriez ouy heracleon poursuivit ce prince c'est luy qui a fait croire a 
 ceux de thebes qu'il vivoit encore et il a sans doute effectivement eu dessein de supposer mon fils pour celuy de ce prince mais enfin traseas dit le roy qui avoit sceu son nom me puis je fier a tes paroles et celuy que tu me monstres doit il porter la couronne que je porte ouy seigneur reprit traseas si la princesse ladice estoit vostre femme au reste seigneur adjousta t'il ne pensez pas que je vous cache le fils d'apriez commandez seigneur qu'on me mette en prison et s'il se trouve un autre sesostris que celuy que je vous monstre faites moy perdre la vie mais interrompit heracleon qui n'estoit pas bien aise qu'amasis eust un fils apres les promesses qu'il luy avoit faites le danger n'est pas que vous cachiez un autre sesostris mais l'importance est de scavoir precisement si celuy cy n'est point le sesostris fils d'apriez et si ce n'est point l'enfant de la princesse ladice qui est mort et non pas celuy qui vint de says icy traseas entendant parler heracleon de cette sorte se mit a faire mille sermens espouventables qu'il disoit la verite mais pendant cette contestation qui se faisoit entre heracleon et traseas le roy agitant la chose en luy mesme et se souvenant de l'apparition de ladice et de tous les prodiges qui estoient arrivez il sentit dans son coeur une esmotion extraordinaire le remords de son crime luy dona mesme alors une si aigre douleur qu'il souhaitta quasi qu'il pust y avoir un fils d'apriez pour luy pouvoir rendre le sceptre de sorte que 
 n'insistant pas aussi fortement qu'heracleon a contredire traseas il creut enfin que sesostris estoit ou son fils ou celuy d'apriez si bien que jugeant que lequel que ce fust des deux il meritoit de regner il se resolut a le reconnoistre apres avoir toutesfois interroge plusieurs bergers de l'isle qui ne dirent rien qui contredist ce que disoit traseas car ils estoient tous arrivez dans cette isle depuis amenophis cependant comme tout ce qu'il y avoit de jeunes bergers en ce lieu la s'estoient assemblez pour regarder le roy et que n'osant pas s'approcher si pres ils estoient contraints de s'eslever pour le voir mieux ils monterent cinq ou six sur un petit toict de rozeaux d'une bergerie de traseas mais comme ce qui le soustenoit n'estoit pas assez fort pour les soustenir le toict et les bergers tomberent et tomberent si pres de la princesse liserine qui estant charmee de la beaute de timarete l'avoit fait approcher pour luy parler qu'elle put voir le merveilleux cas fortuit de ce petit desordre car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que c'estoit en cet endroit qu'amenophis avoit fait cacher devant que de partir toutes les pierreries de la reine et toutes celles de ladice de sorte que les deux petits coffres dans quoy elles estoient s'estant ouverts en tombant on vit esclatter mille pierre precieuses parmy le debris de cette petite bergerie la princesse liserine n'eut pas plustost veu toutes ces pierreries qu'elle fit un grand cry n'estant pas moins estonnee que ces 
 bergers de tout ce qu'elle voyoit le crey qu'elle fit ayant fait tourner la teste au roy et cette princesse luy ayant dit ce que c'estoit il s'aprocha et vit luy-mesme ce qui causoit son estonnement si bien qu'ayant commande qu'on recueilir ces pierreries et qu'on les luy apportast on ne luy eut pas plustost obey qu'il reconnut une boiste de portrait qu'avoit eu ladice qui estoit extremement remarquable et plusieurs autres choses qu'il avoit veues ou a ladice ou a la reine ainsi ne pouvant pas douter apres cela que ces deux princesse n'eussent este en cette isle il adjousta encore plus de foy au discours de traseas et ne douta presques plus que sesostris ne fust son fils heracleon voulut pourtant encore s'opposer a cette croyance en faisant remarquer a amasis que sesostris estoit trop grand et trop avance pour n'avoir que l'aage qu'il falloit qu'il eust pour estre son fils mais traseas ayant respondu a cela que l'on voyoit tous les jours de jeunes gens de seize ou dix-sept ans paroistre comme s'ils en avoient vingt le roy se rangea de l'advis de traseas enfin seigneur ce prince croyant de certitude dans le fonds de son coeur que sesostris estoit ou son fils ou celuy d'apriez il ne s'amusa point a examiner la chose de si pres scachant bien qu'il alloit encore devenir plus puissant ayant un successeur qu'il ne l'estoit n'en ayant pas il a depuis advoue que si en ce temps la il eust paru clair aux yeux du monde que sesostris estoit 
 fils d'apriez il ne l'auroit pas traitte comme il fit mais voyant que s'il n'estoit point son fils il pouvoit du moins le faire passer pour tel et luy rendre le sceptre sans que cela parust une restitution il ne voulut pas autant aprofondir la chose qu'il eust peut-estre fait s'il n'eust pas eu ce sentiment la ainsi il s'en informa autant qu'il faloit pour scavoir que sesostris estoit ou son fils ou celuy d'apriez mais non pas autant qu'il eust falu pour scavoir bien precisement lequel c'estoit des deux durant que ce prince achevoit des s'esclaircir de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir simandius qui estoit venu avec le roy et qui s'estoit arreste derriere a parler avec quelqu'un de ses amis s'estant aproche se mit d'abord a regarder timarete dont la merveilleuse beaute arrestoit les yeux de tout le monde mais en suitte les ayant tournez vers sesostris qui ne l'avoit pas aperceu il le reconnut aussi tost pour estre ce vaillant psammetite a qui il devoit la vie et qui avoit fait de si belles et de si grandes actions de sorte que s'estant aproche de luy durant que le roy parloit encere a traseas a heracleon et a liserine qu'il avoit apellee et comment est il possible luy dit il que le vaillant psammetite qui scait se servir si glorieusemet d'une espee ait mieux aime venir prendre une houlette en cette isle que de venir a la cour ou l'on preparoit de si grandes recompences a sa vertu sesostris reconnoissant alors simandius eut une confusion 
 estrange d'estre veu avec l'habit qu'il portoit aussi en changea t'il de couleur ce ne fut pourtant pas une confusion stupide que la sienne au contraire faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme pour vaincre la honte qu'il avoit d'estre veu avec une houlette a la main seigneur luy dit il en sousriant il me semble que pour vostre honneur autant que pour le mien vous pouviez ne faire pas semblant de me connoistre non non dit simandius je ne suis point capable d'une fausse gloire et quand vous ne seriez qu'un simple berger vous meritez si bien d'estre roy que je ne veux pas laisser de publier que je vous dois la vie et que le roy vous doit la victoire et en effet amasis s'estant retourne avec intention d'appeller sesostris et de le reconnoistre pour son fils simandius prenant ce mesme sesostris par le bras le presenta a amasis voyez seigneur luy dit-il voyez en la personne de cet aimable berger ce vaillant psammetite dont je vous ay tant parle et qui seul fut la cause du gain de la bataille le roy surpris du discours de simandius luy dit d'abord qu'il s'abusoit car luy dit il vous appellez ce berger psammetite et tout le monde m'asseure icy qu'il se nomme sesostris je ne scay pas seigneur reprit simandius comment on appelle mon liberateur en cette isle mais je scay bien que celuy que je voy se faisoit nommer psammetite lors que je le vis a l'armee sesostris voyant que ce changement de nom embarossoit extremement le roy simandius 
 et traseas qui n'avoient point sceu qu'il eust quitte le sien durant son voyage de guerre prit enfin la parole pour les tirer d'inquietude puis que simandius a voulu dit-il avec une grace admirable que j'eusse l'honneur d'estre connu de vostre majeste il faut que je luy advoue que changeant de profession je changeay de nom et que tant que j'ay este a la guerre j'ay porte celuy de psammetite mais pourquoy reprit le roy ravy de scavoir que celuy qu'il reconnoissoit pour estre son fils estoit digne de l'estre estes vous revenu prendre la houlette au lieu de venir a la cour sesostris se trouvant alors bien embarrasse ne voulut pas dire que c'estoit parce qu'il estoit amoureux de timarete de sorte que pour pretexter son retour il dit qu'estant party de l'isle sans le consentement de son pere il s'en estoit repenty et avoit voulu revenir quoy qu'il en soit seigneur interrompit simandius en parlant au roy ce berger est le plus vaillant homme de vostre royaume et je doute si le grand sesostris ny le vaillant psammetite dont il a porte les noms ont este plus vaillans que luy du moins reprit amasis sans donner loisir a sesostris de respondre n'ont-ils pas este plus grands qu'il le va estre car je vous declare dit-il en parlant a tous ceux qui estoient a l'entour de luy que sesostris que vous voyez est mon fils en disant cela amasis le voulut embrasser mais sesostris s'stant jette a ses pieds luy dit avec beaucoup de 
 surprise qu'il n'estoit pas digne de cet honneur il fallut pourtant qu'il se relevast car le roy le luy commanda ordonnant a tous ceux qui estoient aupres de luy de le regarder comme son successeur vous pouvez juger seigneur qu'heracleon ne fut pas bien aise de cette declaration d'amasis mais en eschange la princesse liserine en eut un transport de joye estrange d'autre part la belle timarete voyant son cher sesostris estre prest de quitter la houlette avec la certitude de porter un jour un sceptre ne put s'empescher d'en estre ravie mais a peine la joye avoit-elle pu passer de son coeur dans ses yeux que venant a considerer qu'elle alloit perdre sesostris et le perdre pour tousjours elle en souspira en secret sesostris de son coste dont le grand coeur ne pouvoit pas manquer d'estre sensible a la gloire ne put s'empescher d'estre bien aise d'apprendre qu'il n'estoit pas berger mais comme dans le plus fort de sa joye il tourna les yeux sur timarete et qu'il vint a penser qu'il falloit l'abandonner la douleur se mesla a cette joye et la modera de telle sorte que le roy ne pouvoit assez admirer la grandeur de l'ame de sesostris qui apprenoit une chose si surprenante et si avantageuse pour luy avec si peu d'esmotion et si peu d'empressement cependant heracleon qui estoit destine a avoir l'ame tirannisee par les passions les plus violentes au milieu de la douleur qu'il avoit de voir que la princesse liserine avoit este plus heureuse que luy ne laissoit pas de 
 regarder timarete avec une attention estrange cent fois il voulut ne la regarder point et cent fois il la regarda malgre luy cependant le roy trouvant qu'il avoit lieu de croire encore plus fortement que sesostris estoit son fils puis qu'il avoit pris son party contre les rebelles de thebes n'hesita plus sur ce qu'il avoit a faire et sur ce qu'il avoit fait si bien qu'apres qu'il eut donne a la princesse liserine toutes les pierreries qu'on avoit trouvees dans cette isle qu'il disoit luy apartenir ou comme successeur d'apriez ou comme mary de ladice qu'il eut assure aux bergers qu'il leur donneroit plus qu'elles ne valoient et qu'il eut encore assure traseas de le rendre heureux il se tourna vers sesostris et luy demanda s'il ne vouloit pas venir aveque luy a elephantine sesostris entendant parler le roy de cette sorte le suplia de ne vouloir pas le couvrir de confusion en le menant en l'habit ou il estoit le conjurant de vouloir souffrir qu'il demeurast en cette isle jusques a ce qu'il fust en un autre esquipage aussi bien seigneur luy dit-il est il a propos de me laisser un jour pour m'accoustumer a l'esclat de la grandeur de peur qu'elle ne m'esblouisse non non mon fils repliqua amasis il ne faut point apprehender que celuy qui a pu surpasser en valeur tout ce que l'egipte a de vaillans hommes ait besoin de temps pour s'accoustumer a soustenir la condition ou il est nay sesostris ne se rendit pourtant pas et il parla avec tant d'adresse 
 qu'amasis eut enfin cette complaisance pour luy croyant mesme en effet qu'il estoit a propos que les peuples qui se laissent fort toucher par les apparences ne le vissent pas en cet estat ainsi il se resolut de le laisser tout le jour suivant dans cette isle ne pouvant pas en moins de temps luy faire preparer un esquipage proportionne a sa condition le roy ne voulut pourtant pas le laisser sans quelques-uns des siens c'est pourquoy il commanda au capitaine de ses gardes de demeurer dans cette isle avec douze de ses compagnons amasis ne prenant pas garde a la ressemblance que timarete avoit avec ladice a cause de sa mauvaise veue et que d'ailleurs il avoit l'esprit fort occupe et pour heracleon et liserine ils ne l'avoient jamais veue le premier ayant este nourry dans une province et liserine n'estant pas nee lors que ladice avoit quitte says cependant amasis se retira apres avoir fait un compliment a la princesse liserine que sesostris ne comprit pas et qu'elle entendit fort bien de sorte que regardant cet aimable berger comme un grand prince et ce grand prince comme devant estre roy et la devant faire reyne elle eut pour luy toute la civilite et tout l'agreement dont elle pouvoit estre capable comme elle estoit tres belle elle ne douta point que le coeur de sesostris ne fust bien tost sa conqueste elle ne craignit pas mesme qu'il fust amoureux de timarete car comme elle estoit ambitieuse elle jugea des sentimens de sesostris par les siens et 
 ne douta point qu'en quitant la houlette il ne quittast aussi sa passion s'il en avoit une ainsi liserine s'en alla avec beaucoup de joye aussi bien que le roy qui estoit ravy de se voir un successeur il n'en estoit pas de mesme d'heracleon qui apres avoir espere en voyant timarete de se voir en estat de posseder la plus grande beaute du monde et une des premieres couronnes de l'univers se voyoit bien esloigne de pouvoir satisfaire son ambition mais apres que le roy fut party de l'isle il fallut que sesostris receust tous les complimens que luy vouloient faire tous les bergers car comme naturellement il a l'ame douce et civile il ne voulut pas se servir si tost du privilege que sa condition luy donnoit de sorte qu'il luy sur impossible de trouver moyen le reste du jour de parler en particulier a timarete et il luy fut d'autant plus difficile que ce capitaine des gardes voulant estre le premier a s'acquerir l'amitie du nouveau prince ne le quittoit point du tout j'eus mesme bien de la peine a luy pouvoir tesmoigner combien son bon-heur me touchoit je fis pourtant si bien que je pus luy advouer que j'avois quelquesfois eu envie de luy dire que je scavois bien qu'amenophis n'estoit pas nay berger et de luy demander pardon de ne l'avoir pas fait m'excusant sur les menaces qu'amenophis m'avoit faites si je luy en disois quelque chose joint aussi seigneur qu'ayant tousjours creu que sesostris estoit son fils je n'en imaginois rien sinon qu'il se vouloit cacher luy-mesme 
 mais enfin seigneur pour revenir ou j'en estois il faut que je vous die que sesostris et timarete ne se parlerent que des yeux encore ne fut ce pas comme a l'ordinaire car le respect que timarete commencoit de vouloir avoir pour luy mettoit je ne scai quelle contrainte dans ses regards qui en troubloit toute la douceur et qui faisoit que sesostris n'entendoit point bien leur langage luy qui avoit accoustume de connoistre les sentimens les plus cachez du coeur de sa bergere des qu'il avoit rencontre ses yeux dans les siens mais enfin le lendemain estant venu et scachant que le jour suivant on le meneroit a elephantine il se resolut d'entretenir timarete pour cet effect l'amour luy fit faire le premier commandement qu'il fit a ceux qu'on avoit laissez aupres de luy quoy qu'il eust resolu de ne commencer d'agir en prince que lors qu'il auroit quitte les habillemens de berger mais voyant que s'il n'agissoit autrement il ne pourroit entretenir timarete scachant que cette belle fille estoit allee au haut de la colline sans estre suivie que d'une bergere qui alloit souvent avec elle il y fut aussi et commanda a ce capitaine des gardes de ne l'y suivre point ce qu'il fit d'autant plustost que ce n'estoit pas un lieu ou il y eust rien a craindre joint que n'y ayant qu'un port en toute l'isle ou il avoit pose des gardes il suivoit bien plus sesostris pour luy faire la cour que pour le garder ce prince s'estant donc deffait de tous ceux qui pouvoient l'empescher d'entretenir 
 timarete monta la coline et comme il fut arrive au haut il vit sur le penchant oppose au coste par ou il y estoit monte la belle timarete assise au pied d'un arbre qui essuyoit ses yeux comme si elle eust pleure durant que la bergere qui l'avoit suivie cueilloit a dix ou douze pas d'elle des herbes dont elle avoit besoin pour son troupeau sesostris voyant sa bergere en cet estat en souspira mais avec une si veritable douleur que je suis persuade que si la chose eust despendu de son choix il eust alors prefere la houlette au sceptre et la conduite des troupeaux a celle des peuples apres avoir donc raisonne un moment sur la cruaute de sa bonne fortune il s'avanca vers timarete avec intention de se jetter a ses pieds avec le mesme respect qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir pour elle mais cette belle fille ayant tourne la teste au bruit qu'il fit en marchant et apperceu sesostris elle acheva d'esseuyer ses larmes en se cachant a demy apres quoy taschant de remettre la joye dans ses yeux elle se leva et saluant sesostris avec une civilite plus respectueuse qu'a l'ordinaire que direz vous de moy seigneur luy dit-elle de n'avoir encore pu trouver moyen de vous dire que je prends toute la part que je puis prendre a la grandeur ou vous estes esleve mais comme je ne suis accoustumee qu'a vivre avec des bergers et que je ne scay pas comment il faut agir avec un grand prince je n'ay ose entreprendre de vous dire ce que je pense 
 ha cruelle timarete luy dit-il quel plaisir prenez vous a me parler comme vous faites et pourriez vous bien croire que le changement de ma condition en eust apporte a mon coeur non non timarete ne vous y abusez pas je suis pour vous aujourd'huy ce que j'estois il y a deux jours et je seray sur le throne si la fortune m'y met ce que je suis dans cette isle ne m'appellez donc point seigneur je vous en conjure car je vous declare que vous regnerez eternellement dans mon ame au reste aimable timarete ne vous efforcez point de peindre la joye dans vos yeux pour le bonheur qui m'est arrive et scachez au contraire que vous ne pouvez faire un plus sensible outrage a mon affection que de vous rejouir d'une chose qui m'esloigne de vous ne vous interessez donc pas plus que moy a ma bonne fortune et si vous voulez m'obliger advouez moy que j'avois quelque part aux larmes que vous respandiez quand je suis arrive puis que vous avez este tesmoin de ma foiblesse reprit timarete en rougissant je veux bien vous advouer que vous estiez la cause de ma douleur mais je ne vous advoueray pas que je pleure pour vostre bonne fortune puis qu'il est vray que c'est seulement la perte que je fais qui m'afflige et qui m'afflige d'autant plus que je voy qu'en effet il est juste que je vous perde car enfin quand il seroit vray que par un miracle vous pourriez vous souvenir d'une malheureuse bergere au milieu de la grandeur dont vous allez estre environne 
 il est toujours certain que vous seriez oblige en honneur de cacher le souvenir que vous auriez de moy et de ne me donner jamais nulle marque d'affection vous voyez donc bien seigneur que c'est la perte de mon propre bonheur que je regrette et non pas le vostre qui m'afflige car je vous puis protester que toutes les fois qu'en faisant effort sur moy mesme je ne regarde que vous en cette occasion et que je considere que vostre condition est proportionnee a vostre vertu j'ay une joye que je ne vous puis exprimer en effect quand je pense qu'en quittant la houlette vous gagnez une couronne j'en ay une satisfaction extresme mais cela n'empesche pas que je ne me souvienne en suite que je perds sesostris et que je demeureray dans cette isle sans y avoir plus de liberateur cependant souvenez-vous s'il vous plaist que la douleur que j'ay ne vous est pas injurieuse pendant que timarete parloit ainsi sesostris la regardoit et la regardoit avec tant de douleur et d'amour tout ensemble qu'il en pensa perdre ou la vie ou la raison mais enfin apres l'avoir escoutee avec une attention extresme quoy que ce fust en souspirant plusieurs fois il commanca de s'affliger tout de bon de son bon-heur quoy timarete luy dit-il avec une melancolie estrange il est donc bien vray que je ne suis plus ce que j'estois et qu'on m'arrachera demain d'auprez de vous et plus vray encore adjousta t'elle que vous me devez arracher de vostre coeur et peut-estre aussi 
 vray que vous m'en arracherez en effet ha timarete s'escria-t'il n'adjoustez rien a mon desplaisir il est assez grand sans que vous l'augmentiez encore non non seigneur luy dit-elle ce que je dis n'est pas aussi desraisonnable que vous le dites et pour vous monstrer que l'affection que j'ay pour vous ne m'aveugle point et que je ne prefere pas ma satisfaction a vostre gloire je vous declare que je connois bien que la raison veut que vous fassiez tous vos efforts pour oublier timarete et que la bien-seance ne souffre pas qu'un grand prince continue d'aimer une simple bergere ha timarete interrompit sesostris cette simple bergere dont vous parlez sera tousjours dans mon esprit au dessus de toutes les reynes du monde cependant adjousta-t'elle demain a l'heure ou je vous parle vous serez dans une grande et magnifique cour et je seray dans une pauvre cabane a me resjouyr de vostre bon-heur et a m'affliger de mon infortune ainsi faisant un melange continuel de larmes de douleur et de larmes de joye la malheureuse timarete passera le reste de ses jours dans ce desert sans avoir mesme esperance de vous voir jamais eh de grace interrompit sesostris transporte d'amour et de douleur voyez-moy toute vostre vie ouy timarete adjousta-t'il en se mettant a genoux je suis prest de quitter la couronne qui m'attend si vous voulez quitter cette isle pour l'amour de moy ou vous jugez bien que je ne puis plus demeurer allons 
 ma chere timarete allons chercher quelque autre desert ou sans ambition et sans couronne je puisse seulement regner dans vostre ame comme vous regnez dans la mienne essayons de nous eschaper la nuit prochaine je trouveray peut-estre bien moyen de suborner mes gardes je vous promets adjousta t'il de ne vouloir que ce qu'il vous plaira et de vous espouser au premier lieu ou nous aborderons je vous promets mesme de ne me souvenir jamais que je suis fils d'amasis et de ne pretendre jamais a d'autre gloire qu'a celle d'estre aime de vous ce que vous me dites reprit timarete est infiniment obligeant mais apres tout seigneur comme vostre gloire ny la mienne ne souffrent pas que j'escoute cette proposition je dois vous remercier de me l'avoir faite mais je ne dois pas l'accepter helas disoit elle encore qui m'eust dit il y a trois jours que j'eusse pu souhaitter de faire tout le tourment de vostre vie je ne l'aurois pas creu cependant il est certain qu'apres avoir desire que vostre gloire s'espande par toute la terre que vous soyez l'admiration de tous les peuples sur qui vous devez un jour regner et que vous soyez heureux en paix et heureux en guerre je ne laisse pourtant pas de desirer malgre moy d'estre assez bien dans vostre coeur pour troubler quelquesfois vostre felicite je scay bien seigneur que c'est estre injuste que de desirer ce que je desire mais je n'y scaurois que faire je scay de plus que je fais un souhait inutile car enfin 
 l'ambition est une passion aussi forte que l'amour et il y a grande apparence qu'en montant seulement sur les premiers degrez du throsne ou vous serez quelque jour vous me perdrez bien tost de veue eh de grace interrompit sesostris ne me dites point tant de choses contraires les unes aux autres et resolvez-vous a vous asseurer de mon affection par la voye que je vous ay proposee ou a n'en douter jamais je ne scaurois faire ny l'un ny l'autre reprit-elle car je ne veux pas qu'il vous en couste une couronne ny qu'il m'en couste ma gloire et je ne puis pas non plus esperer que le prince sesostris soit aussi fidelle que le berger sesostris joint aussi que quand il le seroit je n'en serois plus heureuse que parce qu'il en seroit plus malheureux quoy qu'il en soit repliqua sesostris je suis tousjours bien asseure que je n'aimeray jamais que timarete je ne puis pas l'asseurer reprit il en souspirant de luy mettre la couronne d'egypte sur la teste car elle ne sera peut-estre pas en ma puissance mais je luy jureray trois choses esgallement veritables la premiere que je ne puis jamais estre heureux sans elle la seconde que si je le puis je la couronneray et la derniere qu'elle regnera tousjours dans mon coeur je voudrois vous pouvoir croire reprit timarete mais j'advoue qu'il m'est impossible car enfin quelques marques d'affection que vous m'ayez donnees je ne trouve pas que je m'y doive asseurer quis qu'apres tout ce n'est point au prince sesostris a 
 tenir les promesses du berger sesostris c'est pourquoy dit-il aimable timarete aujourd'huy que j'en aye encore les habits je vous jure par tout ce qui m'est de plus sacre que je vous adoreray eternellement et que je n'adoreray jamais que vous ainsi ce n'est plus le berger sesostris qui vous engage sa parole c'est le fils d'amasis qui tout prest de passer de ce desert a la cour et d'une extreme bassesse a une extreme grandeur vous proteste qu'il aimeroit mieux mourir d'amour a vos pieds que de vivre sans vous sur le throsne de grace seigneur interrompit timarete n'augmentez point la cause de ma douleur en me disant des choses si obligeantes et qui me font encore mieux voir quelle est la perte que je fais en vous perdant mais aimable timarete repliqua t'il vous ne perdrez jamais mon coeur je le souhaite seigneur repliqua t'elle mais je ne l'espere pas dites moy donc luy dit il ce qu'il faut que je face pour vous persuader que je dis vray en verite seigneur respondit timarete en soupirant je serois assez embarrassee a dire ce que je voudrois car enfin je suis ravie que vous soyez roy je suis faschee que vous ne soyez plus berger et je pense des choses si contraires les unes aux autres que j'ay de la confusion de ma propre foiblesse et j'en ay d'autant plus que je ne vous la scaurois cacher n'apellez point foiblesse luy disoit sesostris une chose qui me donne une si belle marque de la fermete de vostre affection 
 mais comme je vous rends justice ayez la mesme equite pour moy je vous en conjure et croyez fortement que le temps l'absence ny l'ambition ne me feront point changer de sentimens je ne vous dis point ce que je feray pour vous poursuivit cet amoureux prince car je ne scay pas ce que je pourray faire mais je vous dis et je vous le dis avec certitude que je ne feray jamais rien qui puisse offencer nostre affection apres cela seigneur sesostris se teut la douleur ne luy permettant pas de parler davatange timarete de son coste n'eut pas la force de luy respondre il est vray qu'ils se regarderent et qu'ils virent si bien dans leurs yeux tous les sentimens de leurs coeurs qu'il eurent sujet d'estre satisfaits l'un de l'autre il fallut pourtant se separer car comme la nuit aprochoit et qu'ils jugerent bien que le lendemain ils n'auroient pas la liberte de se parler sans tesmoins ce fut la qu'apres avoir garde quelque temps un triste silence qui n'estoit interrompu que par des souspirs ils se dirent le dernier adieu mais ce fut un adieu si touchant que sesostris en me le racontant le soir me communiqua une partie de sa douleur mais enfin estans contraints de se separer sesostris descendit de la coline par un coste et timarete s'en alla rejoindre par un autre la bergere qui l'attendoit a dix ou douze pas du lieu ou sesostris luy avoit parle cependant le roy croyant faire honneur a heracleon voulut que ce fust luy qui allast querir sesostris et en effet le lendemain au 
 matin apres que ceux qu'on destina au service du prince luy eurent apporte de magnifiques habillemens heracleon arriva suivy d'une grande partie de la cour pour venir prendre sesostris de qui la mine parut si haute avec les habits qu'on luy avoit apportez que timarete en redoubla encore sa douleur elle eust bien voulu si elle eust pu se resoudre a ne sortir point de sa cabane mais il luy fut pourtant impossible et elle voulut voir sesostris le plus long-temps qu'elle pourroit mais pour estre moins remarquee elle se mesla parmy les autres bergeres qui se tinrent sous des arbres aupres du port afin de le voir embarquer cependant heracleon en descendant dans cette isle rencontra timarete qui s'en alloit se mettre au lieu que je viens de dire mais il la vit si belle toute triste qu'elle estoit qu'il fut encore plus charme de sa beaute cette seconde fois la que la premiere de sorte que pour avoir plus de loisir de la considerer il l'aborda et luy demanda si elle n'avoit point de regret de voir que son isle perdoit un si aimable berger que sesostris comme toute l'egipte y gagnera un grand prince reprit-elle il faut tascher de se consoler de cette perte qui luy est si avantageuse apres quoy timarete ayant salue heracleon fort respectueusement continua son chemin sans luy donner loisir de luy faire de nouvelles demandes heracleon fut si surpris de la responce de timarete et de la grace avec laquelle elle l'avoit faite qu'il la suivit des yeux 
 aussi long-temps qu'il le put et je ne scay s'il ne l'auroit effectivement pas suivie pour l'entretenir davantage s'il n'eust point sceu qu'il estoit temps de faire partir sesostris je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous dire la magnificence de cette journee et ce sera assez que je vous die en general que cinquante bateaux couverts de tapis de tir dont les rames estoient peintes et dont les rameurs estoient tous habillez d'une mesme facon furent destinez a porter toute la suitte du prince qui se mit avec les principaux de la cour dans un bateau plus grand et plus beau que les autres orne de cent banderolles ondoyantes mais apres cela seigneur il faut que je vous die que lors que sesostris vint a passer devant ces bergeres entre lesquelles timarete s'estoit mise il la chercha des yeux et la trouva et comme heracleon la chercha aussi bien que luy il la vit encore pour la troisiesme fois il est vray qu'il n'en fut pas aperceu car timarete regardoit si attentivement sesostris qu'elle ne voyoit rien que luy elle eut mesme la consolation de voir qu'au milieu de cette magnificence il avoit de la tristesse sur le visage et de remarquer que lors qu'il fut dans le bateau il eut tousjours la teste tournee vers elle tant qu'il la put voir mais enfin voyant qu'il falloit se contraindre il fit un grand effort sur luy-mesme pour renfermer sa douleur dans son coeur qui estoit sans doute aussi forte que celle de timarete j'oubliois seigneur de vous dire que sesostris et moy convinsmes que je demeurerois 
 encore quelque temps a l'isle pour voir si amenophis n'y reviendroit pas afin de scavoir de luy ce qu'il voudroit que je fisse ce prince m'asseurant que des qu'il seroit estably dans la cour d'amasis il me tesmoigneroit l'affection qu'il avoit pour moy ce qui m'embarrassoit un peu estoit de ne pouvoir comprendre pourquoy amenophis avoit pris un si grand soin d'un fils d'amasis mais enfin n'en pouvant deviner la raison je m'en mis l'esprit en repos sesostris me conjura encore avec les paroles du monde les plus tendres de vouloir parler tous les jours de luy avec sa berger et en effet je luy tins bien ma parole car des qu'il se fut embarque et que nous l'eusmes perdu de veue je m'approchay de timarete que je suivis a sa chambre mais helas seigneur que cette conversation fut touchante car enfin timarete croyant qu'elle ne reverroit jamais sesostris ou que du moins elle ne luy parleroit de sa vie s'abandonna tellement a la douleur que je ne pense pas que personne en ayt jamais tant senty cependant sesostris en abordant au port d'elephantine y trouva un des plus beaux chevaux du monde sur lequel il monta y en ayant aussi pour tous ceux qui l'estoient alle querir tout le peuple de cette grande ville estant dans les rues a le voir passer il en receut mille et mille louanges toutes les dames estoient aussi aux fenestres pour le voir et la princesse liserine entre les autres qui pretendoit bien avoir un droit particulier de s'interesser a la 
 gloire de ce prince je ne vous dis point seigneur qu'amasis le receut bien car vous pouvez vous imaginer que puis qu'il s'estoit resolu a le reconnoistre pour son fils il ne manqua pas de luy donner beaucoup de temoignages de tendresse qui s'augmenta encore davantage par l'admiration que sesostris donna a toute la cour car comme d'abord on y avoit dit que sesostris avoit este trouve parmy des bergers et qu'on ne scavoit pas que ce berger avoit este mieux instruit que la plus part des gens de la cour ne l'estoient ils furent si estonnez de voir agir sesostris et de l'entendre parler qu'on ne faisoit autre chose que l'admirer aussi le peuple ne parloit il que de sa bonne mine toutes les dames que de son esprit et de sa civilite et simandius que de son courage de sorte que huict jours apres que sesostris fut a la cour il y fut aussi estime que s'il y eust este toute sa vie amasis estant donc charme d'avoir un tel successeur n'oublia pas les promesses qu'il avoit faites aux bergers de l'isle car outre qu'il leur envoya de quoy estre riches dans leur condition il les affranchit de tout tribut et leur donna de grands privileges mais pour traseas en son particulier et pour sa famille il ne creut pas que ce fust assez c'est pourquoy il voulut pour marque de sa reconnoissance que traseas allast demeurer dans un chasteau qui est a luy a cinquante stades d'elephantine scitue entre un grand estang et un assez grand bois le logement dans un pavillon qui 
 est au bord de l'estang et comme traseas ne voulut point changer sa profession quoy qu'amasis voulust le dispenser de suivre la loy du pays qui ne permet pas d'en changer il luy donna de quoy avoir les plus beaux troupeaux de toute l'egypte ainsi il fallut que timarete quittast l'isle et que je la quittasse aussi mais en la quittant nous laissasmes ordre aux bergers qui y demeurerent de dire a amenophis s'il y revenoit en quel lieu nous estions cependant sesostris pour tesmoigner a timarete qu'il ne l'oublioit pas et que l'eclat de la grandeur ne l'eblouissoit point m'envoya secrettement un esclave le troisiesme jour qu'il fut a elephantine avec un billet pour timarete ou il n'y avoit que ces paroles
 
 
 sesostris a timarete 
 
 
 j'ay desja veu tout ce que la cour a de beau mais je n'y ay rien veu qui ne soit au dessous de vous ne craignez donc pas que je change de sentimens et croyez que je suis a elephantine ce que j'estois dans nostre desert et ce qui je seray jusques a la mort 
 
 
 sesostris 
 
 
vous pouvez juger seigneur combien timarete eut de joye de recevoir cette marque de fidelite de sesostris mais je ne scay si je vous pourray faire comprendre l'exces de la douleur qui suivit ce premier transport de plaisir car enfin 
 me disoit-elle a quoy me servira que sesostris soit fidelle puis que de la condition dont il est et de celle dont je suis il ne peut continuer de m'aimer sans faire une chose indigne de luy selon l'opinion ordinaire du monde n'est-ce pas estre bien infortunee adjoustoit elle d'estre reduite en ce malheureux estat que l'amour que sesostris a pour moy luy puisse estre reprochee et que sans qu'il soit arrive nul changement effectif ny en sa personne ny en la mienne ce qui luy estoit glorieux il n'y a que fort peu de jours luy soit aujourd'huy honteux la constance qui est une vertu devient presentement une foiblesse en sesostris s'il continue de m'aimer il est vray adjoustoit elle que je devrois souhaiter qu'il ne le fit plus car enfin si nous ne nous voyons jamais quelle douceur tirerons nous de cette amitie et sera-il bien possible que l'absence qui est un des grands supplices de l'amour cesse d'estre rigoureuse pour nous si nous nous voyons adjoustoit elle je hazarde ma reputation et sesostris fait tort a la sienne on dira qu'il a le coeur d'un berger quoy qu'il ait l'habit d'un prince c'est pourquoy mon cher miris me disoit cette triste bergere je devrois souhaitter que sesostris m'oubliast et que je l'oubliasse mais il ne m'est pas possible ainsi je fais continuellement des souhaits desavantageux et a sesostris et a moy cependant seigneur timarete desguisa ses sentimens en respondant a ce prince en ces termes 
 
 
 
 timarete au prince sesostris 
 
 
 je ne puis ce me semble reconnoistre plus dignement l'honneur que vous me faites de vous souvenir de moy qu'en vous conjurant de m'oublier et de me priver pour toujours de la seule chose qui me peut plaire le sacrifice que je vous fais est grand mais que ne doit point au prince sesostris la bergere 
 
 
 timarete 
 
 
cette lettre ne donna pas tant de joye au prince que celle du prince en avoit donne a timarete aussi ne fut-il pas long temps sans luy respondre et sans l'obliger a luy escrire plus sincerement et plus obligemment tout ensemble timarete le fit pourtant tousjours avec tant de retenue que sesostris en se plaignant l'en estima toutesfois davantage cependant quelques jours s'estant passez en festes publiques amasis qui depuis qu'il avoit reconnu sesostris pour son fils avoit miraculeusement senti fortifier sa veue l'appella un jour pour luy dire que luy ayant destine la princesse liserine pour femme il avoit bien voulu l'en advertir afin qu'il songeast a gagner son coeur comme il avoit desja acquis son estime sesostris escouta le roy avecque respect mais ce fut avec tant de douleur qu'il eut beaucoup de peine a le cacher car encore qu'il connust bien qu'en l'estat ou il estoit il ne laissa pas d'estre fort touche de voir qu'on le vouloit forcer 
 a se marier avec une autre la violente amour qu'il avoit dans l'ame luy persuadant qu'il ne le devoit pas faire il ne s'opposa pourtant pas a ce qu'amasis luy disoit et il se contenta pour differer du moins ce mariage qui l'affligeoit si sensiblement de dire au roy qu'il falloit donner loisir a la princesse liserine d'avoir oublie qu'elle l'eust veu berger et il parla avec tant de jugement et tant d'adresse qu'amasis creut en effet que sesostris vouloit estre asseure de l'affection de liserine devant que de l'espouser quoy que ce ne soit pas la coustume des personnes de cette qualite de se marier avec cette consideration mais enfin le roy croyant que c'estoit un petit reste des inclinations d'un berger luy dit qu'il ne falloit pas que les princes se mariassent comme les autres hommes qu'ils se marioient plus pour leurs peuples que pour eux-mesmes et qu'ainsi ils n'estoient pas tousjours en liberte de choisir enfin amasis parla avec tant d'authorite que sesostris ne put plus s'opposer ouvertement a ses volontez mais comme le roy vit qu'il luy cedoit il luy dit alors qu'il luy donnoit encore quelques jours devant que de publier la chose au sortir de chez le roy vous pouvez juger que sesostris se retira chez luy mais il s'y retira avec un desespoir sans esgal jusques la il avoit regarde liserine avec beaucoup d'indifference mais depuis ce que le roy luy avoit dit il la regarda avec une aversion invincible et toutes les fois qu'il songeoit qu'amasis vouloit qu'il l'espousast 
 il estoit en termes de perdre la raison car enfin comme l'amour fait bien souvent non seulement esperer des choses difficiles mais mesme des choses impossibles sesostris avoit quelquesfois espere que peut-estre amasis ne le forceroit point a se marier et que quand il plairoit aux dieux de le retirer du monde il espouseroit sa belle bergere y ayant mesme eu plusieurs rois en egipte qui avoient espouse des esclaves grecques enfin seigneur apres que sesostris se fut plaint et plaint inutilement il se resolut d'employer tous ses soins a differer ce mariage laissant le reste a la conduitte des dieux cependant heracleon n'estoit pas moins inquiet que luy quoy que ce fust par des sentimens differens estant certain que l'ambition faisoit alors son plus grand supplice mais comme il ne pouvoit pas changer l'ordre des choses comme il luy plaisoit quelque despit qu'il eust de voir sesostris si pres du throne il agissoit pourtant aveque luy comme avec un prince dont il vouloit gagner l'amitie puis qu'il devoit un jour regner si bien qu'il cherchoit a le divertir autant qu'il pouvoit sesostris n'aimoit pourtant pas trop la conversation d'heracleon car outre qu'il a l'humeur imperieuse il le consideroit encore comme un frere de liserine qu'il croyoit souhaiter extremement son mariage avec cette princesse de sorte qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'il l'aimast fort cependant la bien-seance ne souffrant pas qu'il vescust mal aveque luy ils estoient continuellement 
 ensemble de sorte que comme heracleon croyoit ne luy pouvoir donner de divertissement plus proportionne au commencement de sa vie que celuy de la chasse il en fit plusieurs parties pour l'amour de luy ou sesostris tesmoignoit en effet prendre plaisir aimant beaucoup mieux estre dans des campagnes et dans des bois ou il peust quelquesfois s'entretenir luy mesme que d'estre a elephantine ou il estoit bien souvent contraint d'entretenir liserine mais seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'estant un jour a la chasse heracleon et luy la beste qu'ils poursuivoient les mena aupres du chasteau ou demeuroit traseas si bien que passant le long de l'estang au bord duquel est le pavillon ou amasis avoit voulu qu'il fust loge ils trouverent la belle timarete qui se promenant au bord de l'eau estoit si profondement occupee de sa resverie qu'a peine le bruit des chiens et le son des cors put-il luy faire tourner la teste pour voir ceux qui passoient si prez d'elle neantmoins a la fin le bruit estant si grand et si proche elle se tourna languissamment vers eux comme une personne qui estoit marrie que sa resverie fust interrompue mais a peine eut-elle tourne la teste que sesostris et heracleon qui se trouverent alors vis a vis d'elle la reconnurent et s'arresterent tous deux laissant aller la chasse sans la suivre timarette ne les vit pas plustost arrestez qu'elle les reconnut aussi si bien que ne pouvant s'empescher de rougir en les saluant elle en parut 
 encore plus belle et elle charma de telle sorte les yeux d'heracleon qu'il ne put s'empescher de la louer en parlant a sesostris qui estoit au desespoir de n'oser s'aller jetter aux pieds de sa bergere pour qui il avoit tousjours autant de respect que du temps qu'il estoit berger toutefois la presence d'heracleon le retint et il fut quelque temps a se contenter apres l'avoir saluee de la regarder aussi bien que luy mais enfin son amour l'emportant sur toute autre consideration quand je devrois encore paroistre berger sous l'habit d'un prince dit-il en riant comme achille parut garcon sous celuy d'une fille lorsqu'il ne put s'empescher de prendre une espee il faut que je m'arreste un moment a parler a cette belle bergere quand ce ne seroit que pour luy demander des nouvelles de celuy qui m'a esleve pour moy dit heracleon j'y consents avecque joye par le seul plaisir qu'elle donne a la regarder apres cela ces deux princes descendirent de cheval et furent apres timarete qui continuant sa promenade prenoit le chemin d'aller rejoindre nicetis qui n'estoit pas loin de la mais elle en fut empeschee par ces deux princes qui proportionnant plustost leur civilite a sa beaute qu'a sa condition l'aborderent presque comme si elle eust este de la leur la conversation qu'ils eurent avec elle fut mesme assez longue quoy qu'elle ne fust ny de choses particulieres ny de choses importantes elle ne la sembla pourtant pas ny a sesostris ny a heracleon 
 car timarete leur parla avec tant d'esprit et tant de grace que lors qu'ils s'en separerent heracleon n'en estoit pas moins amoureux que sesostris de sorte qu'estant sorty d'elephantine sans avoir d'autre passion dans le coeur que l'ambition il s'y en retourna avecque trois estant certain que dans le mesme temps qu'il eut de l'amour il eut de la jalousie car encore que sesostris en parlant a timarete eust songe estrangement a s'observer et que timarete de son coste eust examine toutes ses paroles et pense a regler mesme tous ses regards neantmoins malgre toute leur precaution heracleon avoit veu briller dans leurs yeux quelques bluettes du beau feu dont leurs coeurs estoient embrasez si bien que des le premier instant qu'il fut amant il fut jaloux mais pour s'en esclaircir mieux en s'en retournant a elephantine il demanda au prince sesostris s'il estoit bien possible qu'il eust pu voir si long temps timarete sans en estre amoureux sesostris qui ne vouloit pas pour plus d'une raison qu'on creust qu'il aimast cette bergere luy dit adroitement qu'il estoit de la beaute qu'on voyoit tousjours comme de celle du soleil qu'on voyoit bien souvent sans admiration et qu'ainsi ayant veu timarete des le berceau il l'avoit trouvee belle sans l'adorer mais comme sesostris ne put dire cela sans que son visage contredist ses paroles heracleon se confirma en l'opinion qu'il avoit et comme il est violent en toutes choses et qu'il estoit possede 
 par les trois plus violentes passions dont les hommes puissent estre capables il ne fut pas long temps sans chercher les voyes de les satisfaire toutes mais comme l'amour estoit alors la plus forte il retourna seul plusieurs fois chercher timarete non seulement au bord de l'estang mais dans le pavillon ou elle logeoit quoy qu'elle le supliast avec autant de sagesse que de modestie de ne se donner pas cette peine mais en toutes ces diverses visites il devint si amoureux qu'il avoit encore plus d'amour que d'ambition et il en eut d'autant plus qu'il trouva en cette personne une vertu aussi grande que sa beaute et une resistance invincible pour sesostris comme il estoit plus observe qu'heracleon il ne pouvoit pas aller voir timarete si facilement et ce ne fut qu'une seule fois qu'il trouva moyen de se desrober et de la pouvoir entretenir encore eut il le mal heur que la chose fut sceue par heracleon qui en pensa desesperer cependant amasis croyant avoir assez donne de temps a sesostris commenca de publier a tout le monde qu'il alloit le marier avec la princesse liserine les premieres ceremonies en furent mesme faites de sorte que comme les mariages des personnes de cette condition sont bientost sceus de tous les peuples qui s'y interessent tout le monde le sceut non seulement a elephantine mais la nouvelle en fut mesme portee au lieu ou estoit timarete et ou j'estois mais quoy que cette sage fille eust bien 
 preveu des que sesostris avoit cesse d'estre berger qu'infailliblement le roy l'obligeroit a se marier bien tost elle ne laissa pas de s'en affliger elle fit pourtant tout ce qu'elle put pour me cacher sa douleur il n'y eut toutesfois pas moyen et nous eusmes une conversation ensemble sur ce sujet la ou timarete me dit des choses si genereuses si sages et pourtant si passionnees et si obligeantes pour sesostris que je connus plus ce jour la la grandeur de l'esprit de timarete que je n'avois fait en toute ma vie cependant sesostris n'estoit pas moins triste qu'elle et la seule liserine qui cherchoit plus la couronne que l'affection de sesostris avoit de la joye ce n'est pas qu'elle ne trouvast fort estrange que ce prince si plein d'esprit n'eust que de la civilite pour elle mais la passion dominante de son coeur estant satisfaite elle se consoloit aysement du reste principalement voyant que selon les apparences rien ne pouvoit empescher son mariage dont le bruit estoit si generalement espandu que personne n'en doutoit plus les choses sembloient mesme estre disposees a en faire la ceremonie a elephantine ou le roy se plaisoit extremement ainsi son bon heur luy paroissoit si proche qu'elle ne craignoit pas que rien le peust troubler mais ce qu'elle appelloit bonheur sesostris l'appelloit infortune en effet son ame estoit si fort attachee a l'affection de timarete qu'elle ne s'en pouvoit deprendre et tout l'esclat dont il estoit environne ne luy pouvoit 
 faire oublier celuy des beaux yeux de sa bergere comme il scavoit bien que le bruit de son mariage estoit si grand qu'il ne pouvoit manquer d'avoir este jusqu'a elle il n'eut point de repos qu'il n'eust trouve moyen de se desrober pour luy aller faire une visite pour cet effet il se retira un soir de fort bonne heure et montant a cheval au mesme instant il sortit par une porte des jardins du palais et fut au lieu ou demeuroit timarete ou il arriva devant qu'elle fust retiree car il scavoit bien qu'en cette saison traseas ne se couchoit pas si tost qu'aux autres parce que les troupeaux estoient fort tard aux champs nous fusmes donc extremement estonnez de voir arriver ce prince sans autre compagnie que celle de l'esclave qui avoit accoustume d'aporter ses lettres a timarete cette belle fille estoit alors dans une allee qui conduit au bord de l'estang dont les arbres n'estant pas fort espais n'empeschoient pas que la lune ne l'esclairast une jeune bergere qui servoit nicetis estoit dans cette mesme allee ou le prince la fut trouver apres m'avoir donne commission d'empescher traseas de l'aller interrompre si j'entreprenois seigneur de vous raconter toute cette conversation je vous ferois sans doute connoistre que l'amour de sesostris luy fit dire en cette rencontre les choses du monde les plus tendres et je vous ferois voir aussi que tout ce que la sagesse et la vertu peuvent faire dire timarete le dit a sesostris cent fois ce prince luy offrit ce qu'il luy avoit desja 
 offert a l'isle ou leur amour avoit pris naissance c'est a dire de renoncer a la grandeur et a la couronne pourveu qu'elle voulust suivre sa fortune et cent fois cette genereuse bergere le conjura de ne faire rien indigne de la grandeur ou il estoit esleve et de ne luy proposer aussi jamais de faire rien indigne de sa vertu mais quoy qu'elle luy pust dire il luy dit tousjours qu'il n'espouseroit jamais liserine la conjurant de ne se laisser point abuser aux apparences et de croire constamment qu'il ne seroit jamais qu'a elle timarete s'opposoit encore a cette derniere chose que luy disoit sesostris mais c'estoit plus foiblement ne pouvant pas avoir assez de force sur elle-mesme pour luy conseiller sans repugnance qu'il espousast liserine elle luy disoit bien fortement qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'il quittast la cour ny qu'il l'enlevast mais lors qu'elle vouloit luy dire en suitte qu'il se resolust a estre mary de liserine sa bouche ne pouvoit trahir son coeur toutes ses expressions estoient foibles et son eloquence peu persuasive au reste comme timarete estoit fort prudente elle ne creut pas qu'il fust a propos de dire a sesostris toutes les visites qu'heracleon luy avoit faites car comme elle scavoit qu'il estoit fort bien avec amasis elle creut qu'il ne faloit pas mettre de division entre eux mais elle ne pensa pas aussi qu'elle ne luy en deust rien dire c'est pourquoy elle luy aprit qu'il avoit quelquesfois passe a ce chasteau en allant a la chasse mais comme 
 sesostris avoit bie remarque qu'heracleon avoit este fort touche de la beaute de timarete quoy qu'elle ne luy dist que cela il ne laissa pas de croire qu'il en estoit amoureux il ne craignit pourtant pas qu'il le chassast du coeur de cette aimable bergere de sorte qu'il se separa aussi satisfait d'elle qu'elle le fut de luy et qu'ils l'estoient peu tous deux de l'estat present de leur fortune cependant heracleon ayant le coeur dechire par trois passions violentes et ne pouvant plus faire un secret des tourmens qu'il souffroit les descouvrit enfin a un amy qu'il avoit nomme tanisis dont l'esprit n'estoit pas seulement fin et capable de toutes sortes de fourbes mais encore tres meschant ne respectant ny les loix divines ny les loix humaines et qui n'avoit point d'autre regle pour la conduitte de sa vie que celle de faire indifferemment tout ce qui luy estoit agreable ou utile il ne paroissoit pourtant pas tel qu'il estoit aux yeux de tout le monde car comme il avoit de l'esprit il jugeoit bien qu'il faloit cacher une partie de sa meschancete s'il vouloit qu'elle luy servist a quelque chose il n'avoit toutesfois jamais pu avoir d'amy particulier qu'heracleon seulement il est vray qu'il l'estoit aussi a un tel point qu'on ne pouvoit pas voir une liaison plus estroite que celle qui estoit entre eux cependant heracleon comme je l'ay desja dit commenca de raconter a tanisis l'estat present de son ame luy exagerant de telle sorte la grandeur de son amour de sa jalousie et de 
 son ambition qu'il luy fit aisement connoistre que les maux qu'il avoit demandoient d'extremes remedes et qu'il n'y en avoit point dont il ne fust capable de se servir quels qu'ils pussent estre d'abord tanisis qui songeoit plus a satisfaire l'ambition de son amy que son amour parce qu'il avoit plus d'interest a cette passion la qu'a l'autre luy dit qu'il faloit a quelque prix que ce fust empescher le mariage de sesostris et de la princesse liserine et que pour le pouvoir faire il faloit le tirer tellement en longueur qu'amasis qui ne se portoit pas bien pust mourir devant qu'il fust acheve y ayant apparence qu'il ne vivroit pas long-temps on a mesme creu qu'il luy proposa d'empoisonner ce prince afin qu'apres sa mort il empeschast que sesostris ne fust reconnu pour son sucesseur et qu'il taschast de la devenir et pour ce qui regardoit son amour comme tanisis ne croyoit pas que le coeur d'une bergere pust resister a un homme de la qualite d'heracleon il luy conseilla d'abord d'avoir recours aux presens et en suitte de la faire enlever comme ils estoient en cette ocupation et qu'heracleon ne trouvoit point d'autre difficulte aux choses que tanisis luy proposoit que celle de l'execution un de ses gens luy vint dire que cet officier du roy qui avoit este accuse injustement d'avoir esmeu la sedition qui s'estoit faite en une ville de la province de thebes demandoit a luy parler mais seigneur devant que de vous dire ce que cet officier dit a 
 heracleon il faut que je vous face souvenir que c'estoit le mesme qui avoit trouve la lettre de ladice mourante au lieu ou amenophis l'avoit perdue et qui depuis l'avoit laissee tomber a elephantine d'ou il avoit este contraint de se retirer jusques a ce que ses amis l'eussent justifie mais apres cela il faut que vous scachiez encore que lors qu'il fut arrive a deux journees d'elephantine chez un de ses amis il y tomba malade d'affliction ne pouvant se consoler de se voir exile de la cour il fut mesme malade avec tant d'exces que la violence de la fievre luy fit perdre la raison durant plusieurs jours mais apres qu'elle luy fut revenue et qu'il fust assez bien pour s'informer de ce qui se passoit dans le monde il fut fort estonne d'aprendre que le roy avoit entre ses mains la lettre qu'il avoit perdue et plus surpris encore de scavoir qu'amasis avoit reconnu sesostris pour son fils car comme cette lettre de ladice n'estoit pas cachetee cet officier l'avoit leue aussi tost apres l'avoir trouvee et il souvenoit fort bien que ladice disoit au roy qu'elle luy laissoit une fille et non pas un fils de sorte que ne scachant que penser il estoit fort embarrasse comment il estoit possible qu'amasis qu'on disoit avoir reconnu l'escriture de la princesse sa femme n'adjoustast point de foy a ses paroles car ceux chez qui il estoit n'avoient pas sceu qu'il y avoit un petit endroit des tablettes ou la lettre de ladice estoit escrite qui s'estoit escaille de sorte que pour s'esclaircir 
 mieux si ce qu'on luy disoit estoit vray il le resolut d'escrire a quelqu'un de ses amis a elephantine pour cet effet il se mit a chercher des tablettes qu'il scavoit bien qu'il avoit lors qu'il estoit tombe malade mais apres les avoir trouvees comme il voulut commencer d'escrire il trouva dedans ce petit morceau qui manquoit a la lettre de ladice mourante qui comme je l'ay tantost dit s'y estoit attache et conserve miraculeusement et qui faisoit voir clairement que ladice avoit laisse une fille et non pas un fils cet officier ne l'eut pas plustost aperceu que le regardant de plus pres il vit que ce mot de fille avec la lettre qui le precedoit estoit escrit de la main d'une femme si bien que le regardant encore plus attentivement il connut sans en pouvoir douter que ce mot qu'il voyoit faisoit partie de la lettre de ladice dont il connoissoit bien le carractere de sorte que jugeant alors qu'amasis n'avoit pu estre esclaircy de la verite et scachant que ce prince avoit dit que s'il avoit une fille heracleon l'espouseroit il creut avoir trouve un moyen infaillible de desabuser le roy de l'erreur ou il estoit de rendre heracleon heureux et de faire sa fortune c'est pourquoy il ferra soigneusement ce petit morceau de tablette et tout foible qu'il estoit de sa maladie il se mit en chemin pour aller a elephantine ou il arriva de nuict allant droit chez heracleon qu'il trouva en conversation avec tanisis comme je viens de le dire 
 d'abord il le supplia qu'il luy pust parler en particulier mais heracleon luy ayant dit qu'il n'avoit rien de cache pour tanisis il se mit a luy raconter comment il avoit trouve la lettre de ladice comment il l'avoit perdue et comment il avoit retrouve ce qui pouvoit faire connoistre a amasis qu'il s'estoit abuse lors qu'il avoit creu que ladice luy avoit laisse un fils puis qu'il estoit vray que la lettre de cette princesse marquoit qu'elle luy laissoit une fille adjoustant qu'il seroit aise de le prouver au roy en luy monstrant ce petit morceau ce tablette ou le mot de fille estoit et qui se trouveroit si juste a l'endroit qui manquoit a cette lettre qu'il ne pourroit pas croire que ce fust une fourbe et qu'ainsi quand ce morceau de tablette seroit a sa place amasis verroit bien qu'on l'avoit trompe enfin seigneur cet officier fit si bien connoistre a heracleon qu'il luy estoit aise de rendre du moins la naissance de sesostris douteuse qu'il en eut une joye estrange cependant comme c'estoit une affaire qui luy importoit de tout il voulut l'examiner avec un peu plus de loisir et pour agir seurement il fit que cet officier demeura cache chez luy le conjurant de conserver avec un soin extreme ce qui devoit oster la couronne a sa soeur et a sesostris et la luy donner car il ne douta point que puis qu'il demeuroit pour constant que la reine ladice sesostris et amenophis avoient este a l'isle ou le roy croyoit avoir trouve son fils timarete ne fust 
 fille d'amasis il ne comprenoit pourtant pas trop bien pourquoy traseas avoit deguise la verite mais enfin puis qu'il paroissoit que ladice avoit laisse une fille il y avoit tousjours certitude qu'il y avoit de la fourbe a ce que traseas avoit dit si bien que pour tascher de scavoir la verite devant que de parler au roy heracleon et tanisis resolurent d'aller trouver traseas et de l'obliger ou par promesses ou par menaces a dire ce qu'il scavoit ce qui porta d'autant plustost heracleon a agir ainsi fut que comme il avoit veu la lettre de ladice entre les mains du roy il connoissoit bien que cet officier ne luy imposoit rien et que ce mot de fille estoit asseurement celuy qui manquoit a cette lettre cette resolution estant prise heracleon ne songea plus qu'a l'executer et en effet sans differer davantage il partit avec tanisis devant le jour et arriva au lieu ou estoit traseas devant que le soleil fust leve et devant que timarete fust esveillee il ne voulut pas mesme luy parler dans le pavillon ou il logeoit et il l'envoya querir par tanisis et le fit venir au bord de l'estang mais afin de l'obliger plus tost a advouer la verite heracleon voulut luy tesmoigner d'abord qu'il la scavoit traseas ne fust donc pas plustost aupres de luy que prenant la parole je ne viens pas icy luy dit-il pour vous faire dire la verite d'une chose que vous scavez car je la scay aussi bien que vous mais pour vous demander pour quelle raison vous avez dit un mensonge au roy 
 qui luy a fait faire une injustice estrange en reconnoissant sesostris pour son fils et en laissant dans la bassesse la fille que la princesse ladice luy a laissee parlez donc traseas adjousta t'il par quel motif avez vous agy ainsi mais ne pensez pas vouloir soutenir que sesostris est fils de ladice et d'amasis car il faut que vous scachiez que le roy doit voir devant qu'il soit deux jours ce qui manque a une lettre de la reine sa femme qui luy prouvera si clairement qu'il s'est abuse et que sesostris n'est pas son fils qu'il n'est point de suplice qu'on ne vous fasse souffrir et pour vous faire dire la verite et pour vous punir de la fourbe que vous avez faite cependant poursuivit il si vous voulez vous confier a moy et me dire precisement pourquoy vous avez fait cette fourbe et en quel lieu est la fille d'amasis je vous promets non seulement de vous proteger et de vous empescher d'estre mal traite par le roy mais encore de vous recompenser si magnifiquement que tout ce qu'amasis vous a donne pour luy avoir persuade que sesostris est son fils n'aprochera point de ce que je vous donneray si vous m'advouez que timarete est sa fille et que vous faciez en suitte tout ce que je vous diray pendant qu'heracleon parloit traseas se trouvoit estrangement embarrasse car il voyoit bien veu la maniere dont il affirmoit ce qu'il luy disoit qu'il scavoit la chose avec certitude de sorte que la crainte s'emparant de son esprit il n'estoit pas 
 en estat de raisonner fort juste il voyoit bien encore qu'heracleon scavoit que sesostris n'estoit pas fils d'amasis mais il ne scavoit pas si heracleon scavoit qu'il fust fils d'apriez il jugeoit pourtant qu'il l'ignoroit s'imaginant que s'il en eust sceu quelque chose il eust este impossible qu'il ne luy en eust rien dit de sorte que ne scachant que faire apres avoir bien examine la chose en luy mesme il se resolut d'avouer a heracleon que timarete estoit fille d'amasis jugeant bien que c'estoit principalement ce qu'il desiroit car comme traseas avoit assez d'esprit et qu'il avoit sceu que le roy avoit dit a ce prince devant que d'aller a isle que s'il avoit une fille il le luy feroit espouser il ne doutoit pas que son interest ne le fist autant parler que celuy de l'estat mais en prenant la resolution d'advouer la verite pour ce qui regardoit timarete et de dire enfin qu'elle estoit fille d'amasis il prit aussi celle de ne descouvrir pas que sesostris estoit fils d'apriez non seulement parce qu'il avoit quelque houreur de livrer le fils de son roy legitime entre les mains d'un usurpateur qui le feroit peut-estre mourir mais encore parce qu'il craignoit qu'amasis ne fust bien plus irrite qu'il eust voulu supposer le fils d'apriez que le fils d'un berger ainsi apres avoir bien agite la chose en luy mesme et voyant qu'heracleon redoubloit ses promesses et ses menaces seigneur luy dit il si vous me jurez solemnellement que vous me sauverez la vie je vous advoueray tout ce que 
 je scay de ce que vous voulez scavoir de moy heracleon ayant alors reitere ses sermens et tanisis ayant joint ses persuasions aux siennes traseas leur advoua que timarete estoit veritablement fille du roy adjoustant que sesostris estoit son fils et que l'amour paternelle l'avoit aveugle jusques au point que de vouloir le faire regner au prejudice de timarete luy ayant mesme semble qu'il seroit bien plus recompense de donner un fils au roy qu'une fille mais luy dit heracleon il a paru par ce que j'entendis dire a vostre isle que sesostris a tousjours passe peur estre fils d'amenophis et non pas pour estre le vostre et vous l'advouastes vous mesme au roy il est vray seigneur reprit hardiment traseas pour mieux authoriser son mensonge mais c'est que cette maladie contagieuse qui depeupla nostre isle et qui fit mourir et la reine et le prince sesostris son fils espargna ce sesostris que vous connoissez de sorte qu'amenophis apres m'avoir fait mille promesses de recompence me pria de souffrir que mon fils passast pour estre le sien sans m'en dire la raison et en effet j'y consentis scachant qu'il seroit bien plus riche passant pour son fils que pour le mien de sorte que les bergers qui depuis cela sont venus habiter nostre isle ont tousjours creu que sesostris n'estoit pas mon fils apres cela heraclcon et tanisis se mirent a parler bas entre eux et a examiner ce que leur disoit traseas touchant sesostris car enfin ils voyoient bien qu'il falloit 
 qu'amenophis eust eu dessein de faire passer un jour sesostris pour le fils d'apriez veu comme il l'avoit esleve et ils vinrent mesme a soubconner que peut-estre traseas ne disoit-il pas toute la verite et que sesostris estoit en effet fils d'apriez ils ne jugerent pourtant pas a propos d'approfondir la chose car comme ils scavoiet qu'amasis depuis quelque temps avoit eu de grands remords de toutes les choses passees ils craignirent que s'il venoit a scavoir que sesostris fust veritablement fils d'apriez et a apprendre en suitte l'affection qui estoit entre sesostris et timarete il ne se resolust pour oster tout pretexte de guerre et pour mettre son esprit en repos de les marier ensemble c'est pourquoy quelques soubcons qu'eust heracleon que sesostris fust le veritable sesostris il n'en tesmoigna rien a traseas et il prit la resolution par les conseils de tanisis de le faire d'abord redevenir berger et quelque temps apres de s'en deffaire absolument mais enfin seigneur apres avoir considere exactement toutes les suittes de cette affaire ils instruisirent traseas de tout ce qu'ils vouloient qu'il fist heracleon commencant desja a luy donner des marques de sa liberalite et afin que traseas n'eust pas le temps de se repentir ou de s'enfuir ou d'advertir sesostris ou timarete il l'obligea d'aller a l'heure mesme a elephantine laissant deux esclaves qui l'avoient suivy pour le conduire leur ordonnant de ne marcher pourtant pas ensemble de peur que cela ne luy nuisist c'est pourquoy 
 ces deux esclaves eurent ordre de suivre traseas de trente pas loin le faisant marcher devant eux mais enfin seigneur heracleon suivant ce qu'il avoit concerte avec traseas se trouva aupres du roy comme il revenoit du temple et comme il vouloit monter dans son palais et qu'il estoit desja sur le haut du perron traseas traversant ses gardes fut se mettre a genoux sur la derniere marche conjurant le roy de luy donner audience amasis s'estant tourne et l'ayant reconnu creut qu'on luy avoit fait quelque outrage dont il vouloit demander justice ou qu'on ne luy avoit pas bien paye ce qu'il avoit commande qu'on luy donnast de sorte que se tournant vers luy il est bien juste luy dit-il que celuy qui m'a donne un successeur obtienne l'audience qu'il demande ha seigneur interrompit traseas avec des larmes je ne viens pas vous demander justice mais je vous viens demander grace comme estant le plus criminel de tous les hommes amasis estant assez estonne du discours de traseas sur le visage duquel on voyoit la peur empreinte luy commanda de le suivre ne voulant pas l'escouter devant tant de monde et en effet ce prince estant entre dans sa chambre ou il ne voulut estre suivy que d'heracleon et de traseas ce berger ny fut pas plustost entre que se jettant a genoux seigneur dit il a amasis vous voyez a vos pieds un malheureux berger que l'ambition de faire son fils roy a rendu le plus coupable de tous les hommes car enfin seigneur 
 sesostris est mon fils et n'est point le vostre et timarete dont la beaute attira les yeux de tous ceux qui vous suivirent a nostre isle est veritablement vostre fille amasis infiniment trouble du discours de traseas se mit a le regarder avec beaucoup de colere et comment veux-tu luy dit-il que je te puisse croire apres ce que tu me dis dans ton isle qui m'asseurera poursuivit ce prince que ce que tu dis presentement soit la verite car puis que tu es capable d'un telle imposture ne dois-je pas aussi tost croire que tu veux faire regner ta fille au prejudice de mon fils que de penser que tu ayes voulu faire regner ton fils au prejudice de ma fille et puis d'ou vient ce remords qui te force a t'exposer a ma fureur osiris t'a-t'il apparu et que t'est-t'il arrive qui t'ait pu obliger a te repentir seigneur repliqua traseas suivant l'instruction qu'il avoit receue je n'ay pas plustost ouy dire que vostre majeste alloit marier sesostris a la princesse liserine que le repentir de ma faute m'a si cruellement tourmente que j'ay mieux aime m'exposer a souffrir le suplice que j'ay merite que de laisser plus longtemps un malheureux berger a un rang dont il est indigne au reste seigneur poursuivit traseas si la foiblesse de vostre veue ne vous avoit pas empesche de voir la merveilleuse ressemblance qu'il y a de timarete a la princesse sa mere vous auriez connu d'abord qu'elle est vostre fille aussi fust ce principalement pour cela que j'eus la hardiesse d'abuser vostre majeste heracleon 
 voulut alors dire quelque chose en faveur du repentir de traseas mais amasis sans l'escouter se mit a faire cent questions a ce berger ou il respondit si a propos que ce prince ne scavoit plus ce qu'il devoit croire ou ne croire pas neantmoins il avoit desja tant d'amitie pour sesostris que son inclination le portoit a le vouloir maintenir au rang ou il estoit et a vouloir faire punir traseas comme un imposteur mais comme il estoit la cet officier qui avoit este cache chez heracleon et instruit par luy fit dire au roy par le capitaine de ses gardes qu'il avoit un advis a luy donner d'ou dependoit tout le repos de sa vie et qu'il importoit extemement qu'il sceust le plustost qu'il luy seroit possible amasis qui avoit l'esprit fort esmeu commanda qu'on le fist entrer et il le commanda d'autant plustost qu'il avoit sceu que cet honme n'avoit en effet rien contribue a la sedition dont on l'avoit accuse je ne vous diray point seigneur quelles furent les paroles dont cet homme se servit pour aprendre au roy que c'estoit luy qui avoit trouve la lettre de ladice dans la ville de nea qu'il l'avoit leue aussi tost apres l'avoir trouvee qu'il avoit veu qu'elle luy disoit qu'elle luy laissoit une fille qu'en suitte il l'avoit perdue dans elephantine et qu'apres il avoit retrouve ce qui pouvoit le tirer de l'erreur ou on l'avoit mis car enfin seigneur quand je vous redirois les mesmes paroles dont cet homme se servit je ne ferois que vous ennuyer par un long discours cependant amasis n'eut 
 pas plustost entendu ce qu'il luy disoit qu'impatient de voir ce qu'il luy aportoit il prit ce petit morceau de tablettes qui s'estoit tellement conserve qu'il ne s'estoit brise en nulle part de sorte que le roy le prenant et le mettant a l'endroit de la lettre de ladice qui estoit escaile et ou il manquoit quelque chose il le remplit entierement et trouva sa place si juste qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de pouvoir seulement soubconner qu'il pust y avoir de fourbe car il joignoit si bien de par tout qu'a peine en voyoit on la jointure mais si le roy fut surpris de voir que ce petit morceau de tablette trouvoit sa place si juste il le fut bien davantage lorsque voyant ce vuide remply il vit qu'au lieu qu'il avoit creu que ladice luy eust voulu dire le vous laisse un fils il y avoit je vous laisse une fille cependant il ne put plus douter qu'il ne se fust trompe et que ce mot de fille n'eust este escrit de la main de ladice comme tout le reste de la lettre amasis ne doutant donc plus que sesostris n'estoit point son fils demanda a traseas de qui il l'estoit mais il luy respondit ce qu'il avoit desja respondu a heracleon c'est a dire qu'il estoit pere de sesostris et en effet il sceut si bien respondre a toutes les objections que le roy luy fit qu'il ne put jamais le faire contrarier mais comme heracleon avoit plus d'une passion dans l'ame et qu'il ne cherchoit pas moins se vanger de sesostris comme son rival qu'a espouser timarete par amour et par ambition tout ensemble il dit tout bas au 
 roy qu'il croyoit qu'amenophis avoit esleve le fils de traseas avec intention de le faire passer pour le fils d'apriez et que selon son sens il seroit a propos de l'observer de peur qu'il nallast se jetter dans thebes et persuader aux peuples qu'il estoit le veritable sesostris mais amasis qui aimoit tendrement sesostris quel qu'il peust estre non seulement parce qu'il luy devoit une victoire signalee mais par un puissant instinct ne put souffrir cette proposition c'est bien assez luy dit il que j'oste la qualite de prince a sesostris sans luy oster encore la liberte joint que sa veritable naissance va faire un si grand esclat dans le monde qu'il ne pourra pas la rendre douteuse et s'il y a quelqu'un a arrester il faut que ce soit traseas et non pas luy et en effet le roy luy donna des gardes ordonnant que deux femmes de qualite d'elephantine allassent querir timarete mais comme heracleon vouloit estre le premier a annoncer cette nouvelle a cette belle bergere il supplia le roy de luy permettre d'y mener ces dames ce qu'il luy accorda commandant expressement et a luy et a celuy qui avoit trouve la lettre de ladice et a traseas de ne rien dire sans sa permission de ce qui se passoit entre eux ainsi le prince sesostris ignorant ce qu'on faisoit contre luy ne songeoit qu'au malheur que la grandeur ou il estoit luy causoit ne scachant pas qu'il l'alloit bien tost perdre cependant heracleon fut au lieu ou estoit timarete qu'il trouva assez en peine 
 de traseas aussi bien que nicetis mais elle la fut bien davantage lors qu'elle vit un chariot plein de dames et que ces dames luy dirent qu'elles avoient ordre du roy de la luy mener d'abord timarete respondit qu'il n'estoit pas croyable qu'un si grand prince voulust voir une simple bergere comme elle toutesfois comme elle vit qu'elles insistoient a la vouloir mener elle commenca de craindre voyant heracleon avec elles que ce ne fust une tromperie qu'on luy voulust faire mais comme il connut sa pensee il la tira a part avec la permission de ces dames qui ne scavoient que penser du commandement qu'elles avoient receu heracleon ayant donc separe timarete de quelques pas de la compagnie luy dit qu'il la conjuroit de ne tesmoigner pas au roy qu'il luy eust revele son secret en verite seigneur luy dit elle je pense que vous croyez que je ne me connois point et que parce que j'ay este eslevee avec le prince sesostris cela me doit donner quelque familiarite aupres du roy son pere nullement madame luy dit il ha seigneur interrompit elle ne me raillez point si cruellement et ne me donnez pas une qualite que les bergeres ne peuvent jamais avoir je ne vous regarde pas aussi repliqua t'il comme une bergere mais comme une princesse car enfin il n'est pas plus vray que sesostris n'est qu'un berger qu'il est vray que vous estes fille d'amasis non non poursuivit heracleon voyant par son visage qu'elle 
 ne croyoit pas ce qu'il disoit ce que je vous dis est vray et devant qu'il soit demain au soir vous vous verrez au dessus de tout ce qu'il y a de grand en egipte et sesostris se verra au dessous de tout ce qu'elle a de plus bas ha seigneur reprit timarete toute surprise la fortune n'est pas assez aveugle ny assez injuste pour faire un tel renversement quoy qu'il en soit dit-il ces dames ont ordre de vous mener a elephantine et moy de vous y escorter m'estimant infiniment heureux d'avoir pu vous annoncer le premier une nouvelle qui vous doit estre si agreable ce que vous me dites paroist si impossible repliqua t'elle que je ne vous scaurois croire mais quand la chose seroit vraye je me trouverois si fort indigne d'un si grand honneur que je ne m'en rejouyrois pas apres cela il falut que timarete obeist et qu'elle entrast dans le chariot il est vray qu'elle ne voulut point aller seule et on fut contraint de souffrir que nicetis l'accompagnast cependant comme elle est naturellement propre et qu'elle ne scavoit jamais precisement si peut estre sesostris n'iroit point a la chasse vers le lieu ou elle demeuroit elle n'estoit jamais negligee de sorte qu'elle parut si belle aux dames qui la menerent qu'elles ne pouvoient se lasser d'admirer sa beaute pour heracleon il n'a jamais este un homme plus heureux qu'il estoit alors car il se voyoit a ce qu'il croyoit a la veille d'espouser la plus belle personne de toute l'egipte et une personne encore qui le seroit roy de plus il avoit 
 la satisfaction d'oster a son rival la possession de sa maistresse et de le renverser du throsne si bien que trouvant en un mesme temps de quoy satisfaire son amour son ambition sa jalousie et sa vangeance il estoit aussi heureux qu'il eust pu souhaiter de l'estre il n'en estoit pas autant de timarete qui estoit si surprise et si estonnee que son ame n'estoit capable ny de douleur ny de joye elle pencha pourtant plus vers la premiere que vers l'autre cependant lors qu'elle fut arrivee au palais heracleon en fit advertir le roy qui commanda qu'on la fist entrer mais a peine eut elle fait un pas dans la chambre ou il estoit que ce prince voyant tout d'un coup aussi clair qu'il avoit jamais veu vit sur le visage de timarete une si grande et si prodigieuse ressemblance avec la princesse ladice sa femme qu'il ne douta plus du tout que timarete ne fust sa fille de sorte que l'embrassant avec tendresse il la reconnut aussi pour la sienne et il la reconnut avec d'autant plus de joye que le merveilleux changement qui estoit arrive en ses yeux le rendant capable de reconnoistre parfaitement timarete le confirmoit encore dans l'opinion qu'il estoit protege par les dieux timarete voyant l'honneur que le roy luy faisoit ne scavoit comment le recevoir elle luy disoit pourtant avec autant de grace que de modestie qu'elle n'estoit qu'une simple bergere indigne de la bonte qu'un si grand roy avoit pour elle car comme elle scavoit bien qu'elle ne pouvoit estre 
 reconnue pour princesse que sesostris ne redevinst berger elle ne respondoit point au roy comme estant sa fille luy semblant quasi qu'elle ne le pouvoit estre si elle n'y connsentoit cependant comme le roy ne douta plus que timarete ne fust effectivement ce que traseas disoit qu'elle estoit il arriva encore qu'il creut en suitte tout ce qu'il luy disoit de sesostris de sorte que croyant que son repentir devoit effacer son crime il luy fit oster ses gardes et le mit en liberte le faisant venir devant luy mais traseas ne vit pas plustost timarete qu'il luy demanda pardon de luy avoir voulu oster la couronne pour la donner a sesostris timarete entendant parler traseas rougit et baissa les yeux ce ne fut pourtant pas de despit de l'injure qu'il luy avoit voulu faire mais ce fut de la douleur qu'elle eut d'estre cause que sesostris redevinst berger cependant le roy fit entrer les dames qui avoient este querir timarete et leur aprit qui elle estoit de sorte que cette belle bergere devenant princesse en un instant s'il faut ainsi dire eut besoin d'avoir l'ame aussi grande qu'elle l'avoit pour ne donner point de marques de l'agitation de son esprit cependant comme amasis ne vouloit pas que ce bruit s'epandist qu'il n'eust fait scavoir a sesostris le changement qui estoit arrive a sa fortune il fit passer timarete avec les dames qui la luy avoient amenee dans une autre apartement et commanda qu'on luy fist venir sesostris mais comme timarete fut preste de sortir de la chambre 
 du roy poussee par un sentiment qu'elle ne put retenir seigneur luy dit elle souffrez s'il vous plaist que devant que de vous quitter je vous demande si traseas que j'avois tousjours creu estre mon pere vous a apris que je dois la vie a sesostris et qu'ainsi si j'ay l'honneur d'estre vostre fille vostre majeste est obligee de le recompenser pour moy de l'obligation que je luy ay comme timarete ne put dire cela sans une esmotion qui parut sur son visage heracleon qui estoit present en eut le coeur fort agite et d'autant plus que le roy voulant scavoir comment sesostris avoit sauve la vie a timarete cette belle princesse le luy raconta avec toute l'exageration d'une personne qui vouloit du moins en ostant la couronne a sesostris luy aquerir l'amitie du roy il est vray qu'il avoit une grande disposition a escouter favorablement tout ce qui estoit avantageux a sesostris c'est pourquoy lors que timarete eut finy son recit le roy l'assura qu'il se souviendroit que sesostris estoit son liberateur se separant d'elle aussi tost qu'il eut commande aux dames entre les mains de qui il la remit de luy faire changer les habits qu'elle avoit en d'autres plus proportionnez a sa condition presente heracleon l'allant conduire a son apartement pour nicetis qui avoit suivy timarete elle rejoignit son mary dans l'antichambre cependant amasis ayant envoye querir sesostris il s'aperceut bien en allant chez le roy qu'il y avoit quelque chose d'extraordinaire 
 car quelque soin qu'on eust aporte a cacher ce qui se passoit il s'en estoit espandu quelque bruit mais quoy qu'il vist de l'estonnement sur le visage de tous ceux qu'il rencontroit il ne devinoit pas ce que c'estoit il est vray qu'il ne l'ignora pas longtemps car des qu'il fut aupres du roy ce prince apres luy avoir dit tout ce qu'il creut luy devoir faire recevoir la nouvelle qu'il avoit a luy annoncer avec moins de douleur luy aprit enfin qu'il avoit este abuse qu'il n'estoit point son fils et que timarete estoit sa fille luy disant toutes les preuves qu'il en avoit au reste luy dit-il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre ne pensez pas que je veuille qu'un homme que j'ay juge digne d'estre mon fils et qui en effet est digne de l'estre redevienne berger non sesostris je ne le pretends pas au contraire je veux par une declaration publique vous mettre au range le plus esleve des calasires et vous approcher si pres du throsne que vous n'aurez presques pas lieu de vous apercevoir d'en estre tombe seigneur reprit sesostris qui avoit eu loisir de se remettre de son estonnement pendant que le roy avoit parle comme j'avois receu sans orgueil et sans emportement l'honneur que vous m'aviez fait de me reconnoistre pour vostre fils je recois aussi sans bassesse et sans desespoir la nouvelle que vous me donnez du changement de ma condition j'advoue toutesfois reprit il que si je quittois la place que vous m'aviez donnee a un autre qu'a timarete j'aurois quelque 
 peine a la quitter mais sa vertu est si digne de sa naissance que je n'ay pas besoin de toute la mienne pour me consoler de la perte d'une chose qu'elle gagne au reste seigneur poursuivit il je suis bien oblige a vostre majeste de l'honneur qu'elle me veut faire et que je n'accepte pourtant point car enfin seigneur si j'ay a estre un jour au range des calasires il faut que je doive cet honneur a mon espee et non pas a vostre bonte seulement joint aussi qu'en l'estat ou est mon ame presentement je ne scay pas encore si je me serviray d'une houlette ou d'une espee car j'ay besoin d'un peu plus de temps pour examiner si j'ay trouve plus ou moins de malheur en me servant de l'une que de l'autre cependant je vous suplieray de croire que je n'ay rien contribue a l'erreur de vostre majeste estant certain que je n'ay jamais sceu que j'estois fils de traseas et que j'ay tousjours creu l'estre d'amenophis quoy qu'il en soit seigneur poursuivit il je seray tousjours tres affectionne a vostre service mais avant que de m'esloigner de la cour je vous demande la permission de dire adieu a la princesse timarete je vous accorde celle de la voir reprit obligeamment le roy mais non pas celle de luy dire adieu sesostris respondit a la bonte de ce prince avec beaucoup de respect et quoy qu'amasis ne voulust pas qu'il deslogeast du palais il ne voulut point y demeurer et il s'en alla passer le reste du jour chez celuy de mes amis dont je luy avois donne la connoissance et 
 ou il retrouva encore tout nostre esquipage il n'y fut pas si tost qu'il m'envoya querir en diligence pour m'aprendre le renversement de sa fortune je ne les sceus pourtant pas par luy car je l'apris de traseas et de nicetis qui s'en retournoient chez eux mais enfin lorsque j'entray dans la chambre ou sesostris estoit et bien mon cher miris me dit il ma fortune n'est elle pas bien bizarre et ne faut-il pas estre insensible ou immortel pour ne mourir pas de douleur apres ce qui m'est arrive ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que je regrette autant la grandeur que vous pourriez vous l'imaginer car graces aux dieux je me trouve l'ame au dessus de toute sorte d'ambition mais ce qui me fait desesperer est que je me trouve toujours esgallement esloigne de timarete soit que je fois prince ou berger et je pense mesme qu'encore qu'elle occupe aujourd'huy la place que je tenois hier et que je fois a celle qu'elle a quittee j'en suis encore plus esloigne que je n'estois car enfin en devenant roy je pouvois peut-estre la faire reine mais timarete en devenant princesse ne pourra jamais me faire roy ainsi mon cher miris si je regrete le sceptre ce n'est point par ambition mais par amour seulement au reste poursuivit il je ne scaurois me resoudre a regarder traseas comme mon pere qu'amenophis ne soit revenu et ne m'ait assure que je ne suis point son fils mais puis que nous n'avons plus de mesure a prendre pour nous cacher je vous conseille me dit-il de paroistre 
 dans le monde pour ce que vous estes afin que vous m'en pussiez dire des nouvelles car pour moy quand j'auray veu timarete je ne veux plus qu'on m'y voye ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que je puisse me resoudre a partir si tost l'elephantine car enfin heracleon est amoureux de timarete et tout berger que je suis ou qu'on me dit estre je ne pretens pourtant pas que l'egipte ait un roy qui soit mon rival je voulus alors representer a sesostris qu'il ne faloit pas qu'il se perdist et que peut-estre pourroit il arriver encore quelque changement qui luy seroit avantageux que le retour d'amenophis nous instruiroit mieux que nous ne l'estions et qu'enfin j'estois persuade apres tout ce que je scavois que traseas et amenophis ne luy avoient point donne la vie en pensant me consoler reprit il vous me mettez en un nouveau desespoir car si je suis ce que je voy bie que vous pensez que je fois je suis le plus malheureux homme du monde et si je ne le suis pas je suis encore bien infortune cependant sesostris ne fut pas seul a se pleindre la princesse liserine eut sa part de la douleur en cette rencontre et l'ambition toute seule ne la tourmenta guere moins que l'amour tourmetoit sesostris elle dit a tout le monde que c'estoit une supposition de son frere qui vouloit estre roy adjoustant qu'asseurement sesostris estoit effectivement fils d'amasis et que timarete estoit bergere enfin elle parla avec tant de hardiesse qu'heracleon fit en sorte que 
 le roy luy envoya commander de se taire car de l'humeur dont est heracleon il n'est rien qu'il ne soit capable de sacrifier a son ambition cependant quelque envie qu'eust sesostris de voir timarete sa douleur fut si forte tout ce jour la qu'il fut contraint d'attendre au lendemain au matin passant la nuit avec des inquietudes si extraordinaires qu'il ne put jamais fermer les yeux timarete de son coste ne jouissoit pas avec plaisir de la grandeur ou elle estoit et recevoit avec assez de negligence tous les soins qu'on prenoit de la parer et de la divertir quelque magnifique que fust l'apartement ou on l'avoit mise elle se souvenoit d'avoir eu plus de plaisir d'entretenir sesostris dans sa cabane qu'elle n'en recevoit dans le palais ou elle estoit alors et quand elle venoit a considerer qu'elle l'alloit perdre pour tousjours elle eust voulu perdre la grandeur qui luy causoit cette infortune et il y avoit des instans ou elle estoit encore plus affligee de voir qu'elle estoit princesse et sesostris berger qu'elle ne l'avoit este lors qu'elle se croyoit bergere et sesostris fils de roy il n'y avoit donc qu'heracleon et tanisis qui eussent une joye tranquile car pour amasis quelque satisfaction qu'il eust de voir une image vivant de sa chere ladice il sentoit pourtant dans son coeur une inquietude qui le troubloit et qui faisoit qu'il ne trouvoit repos en nulle part mais enfin seigneur le lendemain estant arrive sesostris fut suivant la permission qu'il en avoit eue 
 du roy pour voir timarete et il entra dans sa chambre comme on venoit de l'habiller pour la premiere fois en personne de sa condition pour sesostris il y fut avec un habillement propre mais sans ornement et tel que les gens de qualite en portent d'ordinaire lors qu'ils ne se parent point mais il y fut avec une melancolie dans le coeur qu'il eut bien de la peine a s'empescher de faire paroistre sur son visage il est vray qu'il eut quelque sujet de consolation car lors qu'il entra dans la chambre de timarete il vit qu'au milieu de toute la magnificence qui l'environnoit elle avoit une tristesse si grande sur le visage qu'il ne douta point qu'il n'en fust la cause cette pensee luy fut si agreable qu'elle le mit en estat de pouvoit cacher une partie de sa douleur mais au contraire timarete voyant tant de fermete dans l'ame de sesostris sentit qu'elle s'en attendrissoit davantage et que les larmes luy en venoient aux yeux de sorte que voulant cacher ce petit desordre de son coeur aux femmes qu'on luy avoit donnees apres que sesostris l'eut saluee avec un profond respect elle se mit a sa ruelle ou il la suivit et ou elle ne fut pas plustost que sesostris prenant la parole madame luy dit il ne trouverez vous point mauvais que le berger sesostris prenne la liberte de vous suplier de luy vouloir du moins donner la houlette dont vous aviez accoustume de vous servir vous assurant qu'il la recevra avec plus de consolation qu'il ne receut de joye lors qu'on luy fit esperer qu'il porteroit 
 un jour le sceptre d'egipte ha sesostris luy dit elle en l'interrompant je ne trouve nullement bon que vous ayez l'esprit assez libre apres ce qui nous vient d'arriver pour me dire une pareille chose et je me souviens que la premiere fois que vous me vistes apres que le roy vous eut reconnu pour son fils vous me vistes les yeux couverts de larmes il est vray madame dit il mais j'ay si fort apprehende que ma tristesse ne put estre mal expliquee et que vous ne creussiez que j'avois quelque regret a vous laisser la grandeur qu'on m'avoit donnee que j'ay este contraint de faire un grand effort sur moy mesme pour vous cacher une partie de mon desespoir toutesfois si vous me faites l'honneur de m'assurer que vous ne croirez pas que l'ambition soit la cause de ma douleur je vous la monstreray toute entiere mais pour m'en donner la liberte soyez s'il vous plaist encore aujourd'huy la bergere timarete vous serez princesse tout le reste de vostre vie et ce n'est que pour une heure seulement que j'ay besoin de ne vous considerer pas comme ce que vous estes je vous assure reprit timarete en soupirant que je seray tousjours pour vous ce que j'ay este je ne m'engage pas poursuivit elle a vivre aveque vous comme j'y ay vescu car vous scavez que la bien-seance ne le veut pas mais je vous promets que tous les sentimens de mon coeur ne changeront point avec ma fortune et que je me trouveray tousjours tres malheureuse dans ma condition parce qu'elle sera 
 differente de la vostre je ne pense pas poursuivit elle que vous puissiez vous pleindre de moy je ne m'en pleins pas aussi reprit il mais je me pleins estrangement de ma malheureuse destinee qui ne m'esleve que pour me precipiter et qui ne vous esleve en suitte que pour vous empescher de me rendre heureux mais madame ne me refusez du moins pas ce qui depend absolument de vous et ce qui ne choque ny la vertu ny la bien seance il me semble reprit timarete qu'apres ce que je vous ay dit il n'est pas necesaire que je vous die que je vous accorde ce que vous me demandez avec des conditions si justes cela estant madame repliqua sesostris vous ne vous offencerez donc pas si je vous conjure de croire que vostre condition n'a rien augmente au respect que j'avois pour vous et que celle ou j'estois il y a un jour n'avoit rien diminue de la passion que j'ay dans l'ame au reste madame pour vous empescher de trouver mauvais que je conserve cette passion dans mon coeur souvenez vous s'il vous plaist que puis qu'elle n'a pu estre changee en devenant fils de roy elle ne scauroit changer aussi en redevenant berger de sorte que vous adorant avec une necessite absolue a laquelle je ne puis resister vous seriez fort injuste si vous vous en offenciez au reste madame comme en perdant tout mon bonheur je n'ay pas perdu toute ma raison je scay bien que je n'ay plus rien a esperer que je vous dois mesme adorer sans vous voir et qu'il n'y a que la seule mort qui 
 puisse faire cesser mes peines je scay dis-je que tout ce que je dois raisonnablement vous demander est d'avoir quelque douleur que la fortune n'ait pas voulu mettre quelque esgalite en nostre condition comme elle en avoit mis en nos inclinations cependant puis que vous m'avez accorde la permission de vous parler aujourd'huy comme a la bergere timarete il faut que je vous die qu'il y a encore une chose que vous pouvez faire pour moy qui m'empescheroit de mourir desespere si elle est en ma puissance reprit elle et qu'elle ne choque ny la vertu ny la bien-seance je vous l'accorderay sans doute je vous respecte si fort repliqua sesostris que je n'ay pas la hardiesse de vous dire ce que je pense mais enfin poursuivit il il faut se confier a vostre bonte et vous dire madame que toute la grace que je vous demande est de n'espouser jamais heracleon quand j'estois a la place ou vous estes j'avois fortement resolu de n'espouser jamais que vous mais madame comme les loix ne doivent pas estre esgalles entre nous quand mesme vous ne seriez que bergere je ne vous demande pas tant et je ne vous excepte qu'heracleon de tout ce qu'il y a de princes au monde ce n'est pas que je ne sois persuade que le jour de vostre mariage sera celuy de ma mort quel que puisse estre celuy que vous espouserez mais apres tout cette mort me sera moins rigoureuse que ne seroit celle que me donneroit la felicite d'heracleon si vous ne m'aviez pas permis adjousta t'il 
 de vous parler encore aujourd'huy comme je vous parlois autresfois je ne dirois pas ce que je dis et puis madame si vous vous souvenez que le prince sesostris vous offrit d'abandonner la couronne si vous le vouliez et d'aller chercher une isle deserte pour y vivre aveque vous je m'assure que vous ne trouverez pas le berger sesostris trop insolent je le trouve si malheureux reprit elle que quand mesme il seroit vray qu'il seroit un peu trop hardy je ne m'en offencerois pas mais pour respondre precisement a ce que vous dites poursuivit elle je vous promettray de faire tout ce que la bien-seance me permettra pour n'espouser jamais heracleon et je vous promets de plus que des que je ne pourray plus m'opposer a la volonte du roy j'auray recours a la mort je ne pretends pourtant pas adjousta t'elle que vous m'ayez une grande obligation de ce que je vous dis car j'ay une aversion si forte pour heracleon que je m'opposeray a ses intentions autant pour l'amour de moy que pour l'amour de vous mais ce que je veux que vous contiez pour quelque chose est que je vous assure que je ne seray jamais heureuse et que si les dieux eussent laisse ma fortune a mon choix j'aurois mieux aime estre bergere aveque vous que d'estre reine de toute l'egipte sans vous ha madame interrompit sesostris que je vous suis redevable de me dire des choses qui hasteront infailliblement ma mort et qui m'empescheront de trainer plus longtemps une malheureuse 
 vie car enfin apres ce que vous venez de me dire je dois mourir de douleur et de regret de me voir dans la necessite de perdre une personne si genereuse non non sesostris luy dit elle je n'entends pas que ce que je vous dis pour vous consoler serve a accroistre vostre douleur au contraire si j'ay encore quelque pouvoir sur vous je veux que vous viviez et que vous m'aimiez afin que je puisse avoir la consolation de penser qu'en quelque lieu que vous soyez vous me conserverez vostre affection ce qui vous doit assurer de la mienne poursuivit elle est que lors que vous estiez le prince sesostris et que j'estois la bergere timarete quelque inesgalite qui fust alors entre nous je n'eusse nullement trouve bon que vous m'eussiez oubliee quoy que je vous priasse de le faire de sorte que comme vous n'estes pas plus esloigne de ma condition que je l'estois de la vostre vous ne devez pas craindre que je vous oublie quoy que je ne vous voye plus mais apres cela ne me demandez rien davantage je fais sans doute peu pour la bergere timarete mais je fais peut estre un peu trop pour la princesse d'egipte comme ils en estoient la on vint dire a timarete avec beaucoup d'empressement que le roy la demandoit de sorte qu'il falut qu'elle se separast de sesostris avec precipitation toutesfois elle luy dit le dernier adieu comme la bergere timarete et quoy que ce fust en tumulte ce fut pourtant avec tendresse et d'une maniere si obligeante que la passion de sesostris 
 toute violente qu'elle estoit ne trouva pas lieu de s'en pleindre il se retira donc au logis qu'il avoit choisi pour sa retraite ou il me racconta cette triste conversation comme il avoit accoustume de me raconter toutes les autres cependant timarete en arrivant dans la chambre du roy aprit qu'il ne l'avoit mandee que pour luy dire que s'estant engage a heracleon de luy faire espouser sa fille s'il en avoit une il l'en avoit voulu advertir afin qu'elle commencast de le considerer comme devant estre son mary il y a encore si peu que je scay que j'ay l'honneur d'estre vostre fille repliqua timarete que c'est ce me semble me faire une injure que de me parler si tost de reconnoistre une autre authorite que la vostre et de vouloir m'obliger a partager mes soins et mes respects c'est pourquoy seigneur j'ose vous suplier de me laisser jouir quelque temps de l'honneur que vous m'avez fait comme le roy alloit respondre a timarete pour luy dire qu'il vouloit estre obei il tomba en foiblesse et fut pres d'une heure sans revenir mais au retour de cette pamoison il trouva qu'il avoit tout a fait perdu la veue et que tant qu'il avoit este esvanouy il n'avoit eu l'imagination remplie que de cette mesme apparition qu'il avoit desja eue une fois mais avec cette difference que les menaces de ladice avoient encor este plus espouventables de sorte qu'il ne se trouva pas en estat de continuer de parler a timarete du mariage d'heracleon car ce prince estoit si trouble 
 et si afflige qu'il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre n'osant mesme dire toute sa douleur car comme il n'ignoroit pas qu'heracleon avoit une ambition extreme et qu'il connoissoit bien de quoy cette passion est capable il ne croyoit pas qu'il deust luy tesmoigner combien il estoit touche des menaces que les dieux luy faisoient s'il ne rendoit pas le sceptre qu'il avoit usurpe de sorte que renfermant toute sa douleur en luy mesme justes dieux disoit il comme il l'a raconte depuis qui me punissez avec tant de severite quoy que ce soit sans injustice comment voulez vous que je rende le sceptre que j'ay usurpe si le fils d'apriez est mort aussi bien que luy et s'il ne reste personne de son sang vous me faites entendre par des apparitions terribles que l'enfant de ce malheureux roy n'est pas mort mais vous ne me faites pas connoistre ou il est j'avois eu quelques soubcons que sesostris fust le veritable sesostris et vous scavez bien vous qui penetrez dans le plus profond des coeurs que lors que je le declaray mon successeur je ne le croyois pas plutost mon fils que le fils d'apriez j'avoue toutesfois que s'il eust alors este reconnu pour enfant de ce malheureux roy je ne luy aurois pas rendu le sceptre parce que j'aurois eu trop de peine a me demettre de l'authorite souveraine et a faire une restitution de cette sorte aux yeux de toute la terre mais aujourd'huy que j'ay change de sentimens je ne suis plus en pouvoir de croire que sesostris soit fils d'apriez 
 car enfin pourquoy traseas voudroit il faire descendre du throne le fils de son roy legitime qu'il y avoit luy mesme esleve quelle aparence y a t'il qu'il voulust faire redevenir berger un des plus grands princes du monde ainsi il y a plus de raison a croire qu'amenophis avoit esleve le fils de ce berger avec dessein de le faire passer pour fils d'apriez et de l'envoyer a thebes quand il le jugeroit a propos cependant disoit il encore les dieux me disent par leurs oracles qu'il faut que je rende le sceptre que j'ay usurpe et par des aparitions espouventables ils m'assurent encore que sesostris est vivant que dois je donc faire et que puis-je resoudre comme ce prince estoit dans de si cruelles inquietudes heracleon arriva aupres de luy timarete estant alors retournee a son apartement et comme cet homme se moquoit esgallement et des prodiges et des advertissemens des dieux il regarda l'accident arrive au roy comme une chose qui luy devoit estre advantageuse et qui devoit haster son mariage avec timarete et luy assurer encore plus la couronne il n'osa pourtant pas ce jour la en parler au roy qui de son coste n'osa pas aussi tesmoigner a heracleon toute l'inquietude de son ame cependant seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'enfin amenophis et l'esclave du prince dont les dieux n'avoient pas abandonne l'innocence furent si heureux que celuy qu'on les avoit accusez d'avoir blesse mortellement ne 
 mourut point de ses blessures et il arriva mesme que durant qu'il estoit malade les affaires de cette ville changerent de face si bien que le party le plus foible estant devenu le plus fort il quitta celuy dont il estoit pour prendre l'autre ainsi dans cette revolution generale amenophis trouva sa seurete car celuy qui l'avoit tousjours poursuivy ayant change de party ne le poursuivit plus et souffrit qu'il fust delivre cependant amenophis apres avoir confere avec les chefs des souslevez qui avoient refait de nouvelles troupes et leur avoir fortement assure qu'il y avoit un fils d'apriez vivant et qu'infailliblement il le leur meneroit bien-tost se mit en chemin pour venir en effect a nostre isle ou il esperoit trouver sesostris de retour mais seigneur vous pouvez juger quel estonnement fut le sien d'entendre dire par tous les lieux ou il passoit qu'amasis avoit sceu par une lettre de ladice qu'il avoit un fils qu'il avoit trouve ce fils dans une isle proche d'elephantine et qu'il se nommoit sesostris amenophis creut d'abord que tout ce qu'on luy disoit estoit un mensonge mais voyant que plus il approchoit d'elephantine plus cette verite se confirmoit il ne scavoit que penser l'embarras ou il se trouva alors ne fut pourtant rien en comparaison de celuy ou il fut lors que n'estant plus qu'a une journee de cette grande ville il sceut qu'on disoit que celuy qu'amasis avoit reconnu pour son fils n'estoit que le fils d'un berger qui estoit retourne a sa premiere 
 condition et qu'il avoit enfin reconnu pour sa fille une bergere appellee timarete vous pouvez juger seigneur combien toutes ces choses surprirent amenophis cependant il creut que devant que d'entreprendre d'aller a l'isle il estoit a propos de bien scavoir la verite de sorte qu'il se resolut d'arriver de nuit a elephantine et d'aller loger chez sa soeur mais il fut bien surpris d'aprendre qu'elle n'estoit pas a la ville et de scavoir la cause qui l'en avoit fait partir de sorte qu'amenophis ne voulant pas se confier aux domestiques de cette maison qui d'ailleurs ne le connoissoient point le hazard fit que le pere de celuy chez qui sesostris et moy estions logez ayant este de plus cher de ses amis du temps qu'il estoit dans la province il se resolut de demander retraite a son fils durant qu'il s'informeroit de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir si bien que nous ne fusmes pas peu estonnez lors que mon amy qui n'ignoroit point combien amenophis nous estoit cher nous l'amena dans la chambre ou nous estions sesostris achevant alors de me raconter la conversation qu'il avoit eue le matin avec la princesse timarete de vous dire seigneur quelle fut nostre joye et quelle fut la sienne il ne seroit pas aise il nous demanda cent choses mais au lieu de luy respondre nous luy faisions d'autres questions cependant le maistre du logis nous ayant laissez dans la liberte de nous entretenir de grace luy dit sesostris qui avoit une envie estrange de scavoir ce qu'il estoit dites-moy je vous en conjure 
 ce que je suis veritablement suis-je fils d'amasis ou de traseas ou de vous vous n'estes reprit amenophis rien de tout ce que vous dites et qui suis-je donc repliqua sesostris vous estes respondit amenophis puis qu'il est temps de vous le dire le fils d'apriez et le legitime roy d'egypte c'est pourquoy je viens vous querir pour achever heureusement un dessein qu'il y a si long-temps que je trame sesostris fut si surpris d'ouyr ce qu'il oyoit qu'il doutoit presques s'il avoit bien entendu aussi interrompit il amenophis pour se le faire redire une seconde fois et alors amenophis luy ayant rendu conte du dessein qu'il avoit eu en luy cachant sa naissance et luy ayant appris que c'estoit luy qui avoit cause les remuemens qui estoient a thebes et a heliopolis sesostris et moy luy contasmes a nostre tour tout ce qui estoit arrive et a timarete et a luy ce qui ne surprit pas moins amenophis que ce qu'il nous avoit dit nous avoit surpris ce qui l'espouventoit le plus estoit qu'il ne demesloit pas parfaitement pourquoy traseas avoit agy comme il avoit fait ny au commencement ny a la fin de cette grande affaire qu'il avoit eue a demesler avec le roy car il ne croyoit pas que l'esclave du prince luy eust revele son secret quoy qu'il en soit dit amenophis il ne s'agit plus de scavoir pourquoy traseas a fait ce qu'il a fait mais luy dit alors sesostris est il bien vray que timarete soit fille d'amasis comme traseas l'assure ouy seigneur reprit-il 
 et nous verrons bien tost si cette princesse se souviendra qu'elle vous doit la vie j'avois eu dessein poursuivit-il de la mener a thebes aussi bien que vous et d'aprendre en mesme temps a amasis qu'apriez avoit laisse un fils et ladice une fille afin que scachant que nous avions en nostre puissance une personne qui luy doit estre si chere il pust entendre a quelque accommodement raisonnable mais les choses n'estant plus en ces termes-la venez seigneur venez vous jetter dans thebes ou je vous conduiray afin de faire voir a l'injuste amasis que vous n'estes en effect pas son fils mais son ennemy s'il ne vous rend la couronne qui vous appartient je scay bien seigneur adjousta-t'il que lors que vous partistes de nostre isle vous aviez une passion tres-violente pour timarete mais quand mesme l'absence ne vous auroit pu guerir et que scachant qu'elle est fille de l'usurpateur de vostre estat vous la pourriez encore aimer il faudroit mesme faire la guerre pour la conquerir et pour posseder tout a la fois et vostre royaume et vostre maistresse souvenez vous en cette occasion que vous portez un nom qui vous oblige a de grandes choses et que les dieux vous ont donne et assez d'esprit et assez de coeur pour esgaller et peutestre mesme pour surpasser les plus illustres de vos predecesseurs vous scavez adjousta t'il qu'en vous enseignant le devoir d'un fidelle et d'un courageux pasteur je vous ay enseigne tout ce que doit faire un grand et genereux roy commencez 
 donc a prendre la conduitte des peuples que les dieux vous ont legitimement assujettis et croyez que la guerre que vous allez entreprendre est si juste que vous ne scauriez manquer de les avoir propices il s'agit de chasser un usurpateur il s'agit de vanger le roy vostre pere inhumainement massacre il s'agit de vanger encore la mort de la reyne vostre mere que la seule douleur fit mourir et il s'agit enfin de vous couvrir de gloire aux yeux de toutes les nations ha mon pere s'escria sesostris car je ne puis vous nommer autrement que vous avez este cruel puis que vous scaviez qui estoit timarete de me la faire voir et de souffrir que nous vecussions ensemble mais que dis je reprit-il je vous accuse d'une chose dont je vous dois remercier car enfin je vous le dis et je vous le dis sans bassesse je ne puis ny ne veux jamais cesser d'aimer timarete toute fille d'usurpateur qu'elle est ne pensez pas adjousta-t'il que je ne sente dans mon coeur tout ce que vous pouvez desirer qui y soit j'aime la gloire et je ne crains pas le peril mais en mesme temps j'aime timarete et je crains de l'offencer timarete reprit amenophis est sans doute digne de vostre estime non seulement par sa grande beaute par son merveilleux esprit et par sa vertu mais encore pour la generosite de sa mere qui ne fut pas moins fidelle sujete qu'amasis fut infidel sujet aussi est ce pour cette raison que je ne me suis point oppose a l'affection que vous avez pour elle et que je tombe d'accord 
 que vous pouvez si amasis y consent espouser cette princesse mais pour en venir la et pour obliger ce prince a vous la donner il faut estre a la teste d'une armee il la luy faut demander en fils d'apriez et luy faire connoistre enfin que le berger sesostris et le prince sesostris ne sont qu'une mesme chose ha mon pere interrompit il qu'il s'en faut que ce que vous dites ne soit vray car enfin ce prince et ce berger que vous dites qui ne sont qu'une mesme personne veulent des choses toutes differentes et les veulent si fortement que je doute si l'un pourra ceder a l'autre c'est pourtant au berger a ceder au prince repliqua amenophis la raison le voudroit sans doute reprit-il mais l'amour n'y consentira pas si vous considerez bien l'estat present de vostre fortune respondit amenophis vous trouverez que l'amour aussi bien que la raison veulent que vous suiviez mes advis car enfin le berger sesostris n'a rien a pretendre a la princesse timarete il est vray repliqua t'il mais le prince sesostris ne doit aussi rien pretendre a la fille de son ennemy pour cesser d'estre son ennemy respondit amenophis il faut devenir son maistre il faut le combatre et le vaincre et redonner a timarete la couronne que vous luy aurez ostee avec justice voila donc seigneur comment amenophis mesloit un interest d'amour en parlant a sesostris pour essayer de le porter a le suivre a thebes mais la passion que ce prince avoit dans l'ame estoit trop forte pour 
 luy permettre de se resoudre si promptement sur une chose si difficile il demanda donc deux jours a amenophis pour adviser a ce qu'il avoit a faire mais ce fut en effect pour tascher de trouver les voyes de faire scavoir a timarete sa veritable naissance et pour trouver celles d'empescher heracleon d'espouser cette princesse il ne luy fut pourtant pas possible de trouver ny l'un ny l'autre car comme c'est la coustume que tout change avec la fortune lors que sesostris voulut retourner voir timarete ceux qui estoient a la porte du palais qui avoient este gagnez par heracleon le traitterent en berger et ne le voulurent point laisser entrer ce fascheux traitement l'irrita de telle sorte que sa fureur en redoubla encore pour heracleon quoy qu'il ne sceust pas que cette petite disgrace luy estoit causee directement par luy ce qui le desesperoit estoit de ne concevoir pas comment il pourroit perdre heracleon car il estoit trop genereux pour s'en vouloir deffaire par une lasche voye et il n'estoit pas fort aise de l'obliger a se battre contre un berger ny de l'y contraindre parce qu'il alloit tousjours accompagne joint que depuis que timarete estoit reconnue pour princesse il ne partoit plus du palais cependant comme sesostris ne pouvoit se resoudre a sortir d'elephantine sans avoir mis heracleon en estat de n'espouser point timarete et qu'il ne vouloit point aller a thebes sans demander a sa chere princesse ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il fist lors que les deux jours 
 qu'amenophis luy avoit accordez pour se resoudre furent expirez il fallut qu'il luy en accordast plusieurs autres car comme le bruit du mariage d'heracleon et de timarete augmentoit tousjours la jalousie de sesostris augmentoit encore et elle augmentoit d'autant plus qu'il voyoit tousjours moins d'esperance de se vanger de tous ses malheurs sur son rival cependant amenophis estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir forcer sesostris a sortir d'elephantine mais pour faire que du moins son sejour en cette ville ne luy fust pas inutile il se mit a voir secrettement la nuit diverses personnes de sa connoissance qu'il scavoit bien qui ne le descouvriroient pas afin de les disposer a le servir a un grand dessein quand il en seroit temps mais durant que timarete regrettoit sesostris au milieu de toute sa grandeur que liserine se desesperoit de la perte d'une couronne qu'heracleon ne songeoit qu'a devenir bien tost roy qu'a faire assassiner sesostris et qu'a espouser timarete que sesostris de son coste avoit l'esprit remply de mille facheuses pensees et de cent desseins opposez les uns aux autres amasis estoit cruellement persecute non seulement de la douleur qu'il avoit de son aveuglement mais par de continuelles agitations d'esprit et par un remords qui ne luy donnoit point de relasche il luy sembloit qu'il entendoit tousjours la voix de ladice qui le menacoit de plus il remarquoit qu'heracleon commencoit desja de prendre beaucoup d'authorite et d'agir dans les 
 affaires comme un homme qui pretendoit bientost avoir toute la puissance en ses mains mais ce qui acheva de l'espouvanter fut une chose qui arua qui en effect estoit assez extraordinaire il faut donc que vous scachiez qu'il y a une feste generale par toute l'egypte qu'on appelle la feste des lampes qu'on celebre a la gloire d'isis et qui est la seule feste parmy nous dont la ceremonie soit esgale dans toutes les villes et dans tous les villages vous scaurez donc seigneur que le jour ou on la commence estant arrive on orne tous les temples de mille festons qui pendent de toutes parts on jonche toutes les rues de fleurs et on pare tout le devant des maisons de ce que ceux qui les habitent ont de plus rare mais ce qu'il y a de plus particulier est que lors que le soleil est couche et que la nuit commence on allume non seulement un nombre infini de lampes magnifiques dans chaque temple mais encore dans toutes les rues a toutes les places publiques a toutes les portes a toutes les fenestres sur toutes les tours tout a l'entour des murailles de toutes les villes au haut des mats sur la proue et sur la poupe des vaisseaux qui sont aux ports et que la mesme chose se fait a tous les villages et jusques aux moindres cabanes des plus solitaires bergers de sorte qu'en une mesme heure l'egipte toute entiere est esclairee par des lampes qui sont la plus belle et la plus lumineuse nuit du monde mais comme parmy nous on croit que rien n'est 
 plus agreable aux dieux que les parfums et rien si propre a la sante et a purifier l'air chacun adjouste a toutes ces lumieres un feu de bois aromatique devant sa porte si bien qu'en un instant il s'esleve tant d'agreables vapeurs en l'air que toutes les campagnes qui environnent les villes en sont parfumees je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire qu'on chante diverses choses a la louange d'isis et dans les temples et dans les rues car cela ne sert de rien a mon sujet mais je vous diray que cette feste s'estant rencontree justement au temps ou nous estions alors la presence du roy fit qu'on espera qu'elle seroit encore plus belle quoy que l'accident qui luy estoit arrive affligeast tous ceux qui aimoient le repos et la paix et qui jugeoient bien que le regne d'heracleon ne seroit pas si doux que le sien mais enfin seigneur l'heure estant venue ou la ceremonie commence toute cette grande ville parut en feu tant il y eut de lumiere la chose estant en cet estat amasis suivant la coustume fut au temple dans un chariot faisant mettre timarete aupres de luy heracleon marchant a cheval immediatement apres le chariot du roy et toute la cour les suivant mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que dans toutes les rues ou le roy passa toutes les lampes semblerent vouloir s'esteindre leur lumiere devint sombre et blaffarde les feux s'esteignirent et les parfums se changerent en odeurs desagreables les cris de mille oyseaux funestes furent entendus et la 
 chose surprit tellement tous les habitans d'elephantine qu'ils en jetterent des cris d'estonnement et de frayeur qui firent que le roy voulant scavoir ce que c'estoit on fut contraint de le luy dire heracleon faisoit pourtant ce qu'il pouvoit pour trouver une cause naturelle a ce prodige afin de assurer le roy mais timarete en estoit si effrayee qu'elle communiqua sa peur au roy son pere il voulut pourtant aller jusques au temple mais la mesme chose arriva toujours et dans le temple aussi bien que dans les rues de sorte que ce prince sans voir ce que les autres voyoient n'entendant a l'entour de luy que des murmures de voix qui luy faisoient connoistre que le peuple estoit espouvante il suplia les dieux de luy aprendre precisement ce qu'ils vouloient qu'il fist pour les apaiser apres quoy il s'en retourna au palais encore plus afflige qu'il n'en estoit sorty pour sesostris il eut la consolation d'avoir veu timarete dans le temple mais il n'eut pas celle d'en avoir este veu quoy que malgre sa frayeur elle le cherchast des yeux et que sesostris le remarquast bien les choses estant en ces termes il arriva qu'un vieil esclave d'amasis qui estoit aupres de luy devant qu'il fust roy reconnut dans les rues cet esclave qui estoit avec amenophis et qui n'avoit pu s'empescher malgre la deffence qu'on luy en avoit faite de vouloir voir passer le roy de sorte que comme ils s'estoient fort connus autrefois il fut fort surpris de remarquer qu'il esvitoit ses yeux et qu'il faisoit 
 semblant de ne le connoistre pas d'abord il creut que peut-estre il se trompoit mais le soin que l'autre prenoit a le fuir fut ce qui le confirma en son opinion joint qu'il avoit une marque particuliere au visage qui le rendoit fort connoissable il ne put pourtant luy parler car la presse les separa et l'esclave d'amenophis estant enfin arrive devant la porte de la maison ou nous logions y entra et se desroba a la veue de celuy du roy qui ne put pas alors s'arrester pour s'esclaircir de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir parce que son devoir l'appelloit au palais ou le roy s'en retournoit car comme cet esclave estoit un de ceux qui le servoient au bain il falut qu'il s'en allast preparer celuy de son maistre cependant il scavoit bien que celuy qu'il avoit veu estoit autrefois party de says avec la reine le jeune sesostris ladice et amenophis de sorte que raisonnant la dessus il creut qu'il en devoit advertir le roy et en effet il n'y manqua pas aussi tost qu'il en trouva l'occasion et comme cet esclave luy dit quelle estoit la maison ou il avoit veu entrer celuy dont il parloit le roy fut estrangement estonne car il avoit enfin sceu ou sesostris logeoit si bien qu'aprenant qu'un esclave de la feue reine d'egipte estoit en mesme lieu que sesostris qu'il avoit soubconne devoir estre fils d'apriez il commenca de croire que peut-estre ne s'estoit il pas trompe lors qu'il avoit eu cette pensee mais comme il estoit sur le point de commander a celuy qui luy avoit donne cet advis de s'informer 
 plus precisement de la verite il fut encore adverty par un autre des siens qu'amenophis estoit a elephantine qui tramoit quelque grand dessein y ayant apparence que quelques domestiques des maisons ou il avoit este l'avoient apris a quelqu'un de chez le roy quoy qu'il en soit seigneur amasis ne sceut pas plustost le lieu ou estoit amenophis et cet esclave dont je vous ay parle qu'il envoya le lieutenant de ses gardes avec main forte pour le luy amener ordonnant aussi qu'on luy fist venir sesostris et commandant expressement qu'on n'en parlast pas a heracleon en effet cet ordre fut donne si secrettement et si diligemment execute qu'il ne le sceut que le soir car il tenoit ce jour-la conseil avec tanisis et trois ou quatre autres sur ce qu'il avoit a faire pour haster son mariage avec timarete mais durant qu'il deliberoit sur une chose qu'il croyoit certaine et qu'il n'estoit occupe qu'a chercher les voyes de la faire plus promptement reussir amenophis sesostris son esclave et moy fusmes conduits au palais il vous est aise de comprendre qu'amenophis avoit l'esprit bien en peine car comme il ne scavoit pas quel estoit le remords et le repentir du roy il craignoit estrangement que sesostris ne perist ou ne fust du moins arreste prisonnier s'il estoit reconnu pour fils d'apriez il voulut donc se preparer a le nier et a instruire sesostris de ce qu'il jugeoit a propos qu'il dist pour persuader a amasis que cela n'estoit pas en cas que ce prince en eust quelques soubcons mais 
 sesostris l'arrestant tout cour non non luy dit il je ne veux plus passer pour ce que je ne suis point je veux que timarete et heracleon me connoissent pour ce que je suis et j'aime bien mieux qu'amasis scache que je suis fils de son ennemy que de voir que timarete ne me regarde que comme un berger et heracleon comme un homme qui le deshonnoreroit s'il avoit mesure son espee avec la sienne il en eust dit davantage mais il en fut empesche par ce lieutenant des gardes qui nous conduisoit qui rompit leur conversation enfin seigneur quand nous fusmes arrivez au palais amasis voulut parler a amenophis en particulier de sorte que l'ayant fait entrer dans son cabinet nous demeurasmes dans sa chambre mais amenophis fut bien estonne lors qu'il entendit parler amasis car ce prince ne sceut pas plustost qu'il estoit seul aveque luy que luy adressant la parole et bien amenophis luy dit-il m'apprendrez vous des nouvelles de ce que je veux scavoir je ne vous demande pas adjousta ce prince ce qu'est devenu le fils d'apriez pour m'assurer contre ses desseins car je ne suis plus ce que j'aye este j'ay perdu mon ambition en perdant la veue et la justice des dieux qui s'estend si rigoureusement sur moy m'a enfin apris qu'il faut estre juste c'est pourquoy je veux scavoir de vous puis que vous le scavez parfaitement si le fils d'apriez est vivant et en quel lieu de la terre il est amenophis entendant parler le roy de cette sorte ne scavoit s'il devoit s'y 
 confier mais ce prince connoissant par le temps qu'il tardoit a luy respondre qu'il ne le croyoit pas fortement reprit la parole et l'assura avec serment que si le fils d'apriez estoit vivant il luy rendroit le sceptre et luy donneroit sa fille amenophis se laissant donc enfin persuader commenca apres avoir hautement loue le roy de la genereuse resolution qu'il prenoit de luy dire la verite toute pure luy racontant exactement tout ce qui estoit arrive et a la reine et a ladice et a sesostris et a timarete depuis qu'il estoit party de says luy exagerant avec adresse le combat que sesostris avoit fait contre le crocodile pour sauver la princesse sa fille et luy donnant mesme lieu de deviner la passion que sesostris avoit pour timarete en suite de quoy il adjousta un fort beau discours pour le persuader a demeurer ferme dans la resolution qu'il avoit prise luy representant qu'il ne pouvoit jamais mieux regner qu'en faisant regner sesostris ny assurer la couronne a sa posterite qu'en faisant le mariage de timarete et de ce prince de sorte luy dit-il que par ce moyen vous restituerez un sceptre sans le perdre et establirez la paix par toute l'egipte mais seigneur afin que vostre majeste ne me soubconne pas de luy vouloir faire une supposition il faut qu'elle face venir traseas nicetis et la nourrisse de timarete qui vit encore et qu'elle confronte ces trois personnes a un esclave qui suivit la reine et a moy de plus comme il eschapa 
 de cette maladie contagieuse dont cette princesse mourut quelques bergers qui estoient a l'isle lors que j'y arrivay qui demeurent encore aupres d'un grand lac qui n'est pas esloigne d'icy vostre majeste peut scavoir par eux aussi bien que par ceux que j'ay nommez que traseas n'avoit point de fils et que le sesostris que je vous assure estre fils d'apriez est le mesme qu'ils viret aborder a leur isle car encore que l'age doive l'avoir change et l'ait change en effet il reste encore beaucoup de ressemblance de ce qu'il estoit a ce qu'il est principalement dans ses yeux amasis estoit si bien persuade de ce qu'amenophis luy disoit qu'il n'avoit presques pas besoin de s'en esclaircir davantage tant il est vray que les dieux luy disoient fortement en secret dans le fond de son coeur que ce qu'on luy disoit estoit veritable neantmoins pour ne se tromper pas en une chose de si grande importance il envoya querir tous ceux dont amenophis luy avoit parle qui la dirent tous comme il l'avoit dite au roy car traseas ne fut pas plustost devant amenophis qu'il luy declara qu'il vouloit qu'il parlast sans deguisement qu'en effet il dit la verite ne pensant pas mesme nuire a heracleon qu'il croyoit n'avoir point d'autre interest en cette affaire sinon que timarete fust tousjours reconnue pour fille d'amasis ainsi ne manquant plus rien a la reconnoissance de sesostris puis que traseas nicetis la nourrice de timarete l'esclave de sesostris et les bergers disoient une mesme chose 
 ce prince le fit entrer et luy parla d'une maniere si genereuse que tous ceux qui l'entendirent en eurent le coeur attendry sesostris voyant cet heureux changement en sa fortune respondit a amasis avec une sagesse admirable et une generosite merveilleuse de sorte qu'amenophis se meslant a cette conversation elle fut esgallement raisonnable entre ces trois personnes il est vray que la generosite de sesostris esclatoit encore davantage que celle du roy car comme l'amour qu'il avoit pour timarete se mesloit dans tous ses sentimens il parloit a amasis avec le mesme respect que lors qu'il avoit creu qu'il estoit son pere cependant comme ce prince scavoit bien qu'heracleon ne recevroit pas cette nouvelle sans douleur il voulut qu'on ne publiast point la chose jusques a qu'il l'eust aprise a celuy seul qui la pouvoit desaprouver et qu'il eust tasche de l'empescher de s'y opposer ainsi nous retournasmes passer la nuit ou nous avions passe la precedente mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'admirable et ce qui acheva de confirmer le roy dans la resolution qu'il avoit prise fut qu'apres qu'il eut envoye querir heracleon qu'il luy eut apris avec le plus d'adresse qu'il luy fut possible ce qui l'obligeoit a luy manquer de parole et qu'il eut remarque qu'il recevoit ce qu'il luy disoit d'une facon qui luy faisoit assez connoistre qu'il n'avoit pas envie de ceder timarete au lieu de craindre quelque remuement dans son estat et d'aprehender le ressentiment 
 d'heracleon il sentit au contraire dans son coeur je ne scay quel repos dont il y avoit long-temps qu'il n'avoit jouy de sorte que congediant heracleon il luy dit pour derniere raison qu'il n'avoit pu disposer de ce qui n'estoit pas a luy qu'ainsi il n'avoit pu luy promettre ny le sceptre ny timarete qu'en cas que sesostris ne vescust pas mais qu'aujourd'huy qu'il scavoit qu'il vivoit ses promesses estoient nulles heracleon aussi injuste qu'insolent appella foiblesse ce qu'il devoit nommer vertu et luy dit avec une hardiesse insupportable qu'il y avoit beaucoup plus de honte a rendre une couronne qu'il n'y avoit de gloire a l'avoir conquise mais enfin amasis luy ayant impose silence il fut contraint de se retirer ce prince demeurant aussi tranquile que l'autre s'en alla inquiette il donna pourtant divers ordres afin qu'on observast heracleon car comme il l'aimoit il eust este bien aise qu'il ne se fust pas perdu et qu'il ne l'eust pas oblige a l'esloigner de luy apres cela il se coucha et s'endormit mais au lieu d'avoir des songes affreux et des apparitions terribles comme a l'ordinaire il n'eut l'imagination remplie que de choses agreables ladice luy apparut mais ce fut avec tout l'esclat de la beaute qu'il avoit autresfois adoree ce fut en le louant autant qu'elle l'avoit menace et en l'exhortant a achever ce qu'il avoit si bien commence et pour augmenter encore la merveille soit que la joye et l'agitation de son esprit eussent dessipe quelques 
 vapeurs melancoliques qui causoient son aveuglement ou qu'en effet les dieux l'eussent voulu punir et recompenser selon les divers sentimens de son ame comme il vint a s'esveiller il trouva qu'il avoit recouvre la veue de sorte que transporte de plaisir il envoya querir sesostris et timarete et fut avec eux au temple remercier les dieux de la grace qu'ils luy avoient faite disant luy-mesme a tout le monde que sesostris estoit le fils d'apriez et disant a timarete qu'elle estoit bien obligee a un prince qui toute fille d'usurpateur qu'elle estoit vouloit bien luy donner la couronne d'egipte sesostris luy declara pourtant publiquement qu'il ne la vouloit porter qu'apres sa mort et qu'ainsi il devoit seulement le regarder comme le premier de ses sujets vous pouvez juger seigner quelle joye fut celle de sesostris et de timarete lorsqu'estans retournez au palais ce prince eut la liberte de la conduire a son apartement et de l'y entretenir un momet devant que de retonrner a celuy du roy ou ce prince luy avoit ordonne de l'aller retrouver afin d'adviser a ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire pour publier la chose en toute l'estendue de son royaume et principalement dans thebes et dans heliopolis afin de faire cesser la guerre vous me dispenserez seigneur de vous redire cette conversation de joye et de plaisir car sesostris et timarete furent si peu de temps heureux qu'il n'est pas juste de m'arrester a vous la dire apres vous avoir fait un si long discours 
 je ne vous diray pas mesme toutes les resolutions que le roy prit avec sesostris simandius et amenophis pour toutes les choses qu'il estoit a propos de faire ny quelle fut la joye des peuples de scavoir qu'il y avoit un prince sorty de leurs anciens roys qui succederoit a amasis dont la domination ne leur sembloit fascheuse que parce qu'il n'en estoit pas mais je vous diray qu'en consideration de l'heureux evenement de cette avanture le roy pardonna a traseas les mensonges qu'il luy avoit dits que sesostris fit la mesme chose et qu'amenophis imita leur exemple pour la princesse liserine elle eut quelque consolation de voir que son frere ne seroit point un roy car elle s'estoit imaginee que luy seul l'avoit empeschee d'estre reyne mais pour heracleon les mouvemens de son coeur estoient bien plus violens et comme tanisis les irritoit encore par ses mauvais conseils il n'est point de proposition abominable qu'ils ne se fissent l'un a l'autre et qu'ils n'escoutassent sans horreur et sans repugnance mais enfin apres avoir propose crime apres crime ils resolurent qu'en l'estat ou estoient les choses il ne falloit pas seulement songer a se deffaire de sesostris mais encore du roy que cependant il faloit publier qu'amenophis estoit un imposteur qui suposoit un fils d'apriez et pour pouvoir mieux faire reussir leur dessein ils resolurent de faire en sorte que l'assassinat du roy devancast celuy de sesostris afin de publier 
 que c'estoit luy qui l'auroit fait et d'avoir un pretexte d'exciter a l'heure mesme un tumulte durant lequel tanisis iroit tuer sesostris accompagne des gens qu'il auroit preparez pour cela cet effroyable dessein ayant este resolu ils ne songerent plus qu'a l'executer promptement tanisis qui estoit accoustume a avoir des affaires facheuses ne manquoit pas d'avoir tousjours en sa disposition quantite de ces gens qui ne s'informent que de la recompense qu'on leur doit donner et qui ne demandent point si ce qu'on veut qu'ils facent est juste ou injuste mais la difficulte estoit d'avoir entree au palais du roy a l'heure ou il faloit executer la chose neantmoins comme heracleon avoit este assez longtemps bien aupres d'amasis pour avoir plusieurs creatures dans sa maison il chercha dans sa memoire s'il n'avoit point oblige quelqu'un de ses officiers qui ne fust ny riche ny vertueux et il se trouva qu'il y en avoit un qui estoit tel qu'il le luy faloit car cet homme n'avoit ny richesse ny vertu de plus il avoit une fois este chasse par amasis et en suitte restably a la priere d'heracleon qui en avoit este solicite par tanisis et c'estoit luy qui estoit ordinairement de garde du coste d'un petit escalier qui faisoit la communication de l'apartement ou l'on avoit loge sesostris a celuy du roy qui donnoit dans une grande cour de derriere de sorte qu'ayant juge que cet homme estoit fort propre a donner entree a ceux qu'ils voudroient employer pour assassiner 
 le roy et qu'il le seroit d'autant plus qu'il y auroit plus de facilite de faire croire que cet assassinat auroit este fait par sesostris veu le lieu ou il estoit en garde heracleon donna charge a tanisis de le suborner mais seigneur souffrez s'il vous plaist que je ne m'arreste pas plus long temps a vous raconter les particularitez d'une entreprise qui fait horreur il suffira donc que je vous die que tanisis suborna cet officier du roy qui promit de faire entrer ceux qu'on voudroit jusques a la porte de la chambre de ce prince et qu'en effet il mena la chose jusqu'au poinct de l'execution y ayant des gens preparez a crier des que le roy seroit mort que c'estoit sesostris qui l'avoit fait tuer afin d'aller le tuer luy-mesme heracleon s'estant asseure d'autant de gens qu'il avoit pu sans faire esclater la chose mais comme il n'y a point d'entreprise qui ne puisse manquer il avoit fait preparer un bateau qui estoit au bas des jardins que le nil arrose d'un coste afin de se sauver s'il en estoit besoin ayant aussi envoye des chevaux a trente stades d'elephantine du coste que le fleuve descend enfin seigneur les choses estant en ces termes le roy fut adverty par quelques uns de ceux a qui il avoit ordonne d'observer heracleon qu'assurement il tramoit quelque chose sans qu'ils sceussent pourtant ce que c'estoit amasis apprenant cela craignit qu'heracleon n'est quelque mauvais dessein contre sesostris ne croyant nullement qu'il en voulust a sa personne de sorte que pour empescher 
 ce malheur il fit redoubler la garde du coste que logeoit sesostris et par consequent il l'affoiblit du sien ce qui favorisoit encore le dessein d'heracleon mais comme les dieux sont justes ils ne le favoriserent que pour le destruire car il arriva que sesostris scachant qu'on avoit redouble la garde a son apartement voulut scavoir ce que c'estoit et fit venir un de ceux qu'on avoit commande pour cela qui d'abord luy dit qu'il n'en scavoit autre chose sinon qu'on avoit affoibly la garde d'un coste et fortifie de l'autre mais comme il sembla a sesostris que ce soldat en scavoit plus qu'il n'en disoit il le pressa estrangement et a la fin il le pressa tant qu'il luy dit que ce qui l'empeschoit de parler estoit qu'il n'avoit que des conjectures mais que puis qu'il vouloit qu'il parlast il estoit oblige de luy dire que selon les aparences heracleon avoit quelque mauvais dessein parce qu'il l'avoit veu le soir dans le palais parler a l'officier qui estoit en garde du coste du petit escallier adjoustant qu'il luy sembloit avoir ouy qu'il luy promettoit de grandes recompences ce soldat disant pour excuser son silence qu'il n'avoit ose le dire de peur de n'estre pas creu et d'estre expose a la haine d'heracleon sesostris n'eut pas plustost ouy ce que ce soldat luy disoit qu'apres luy avoir promis de le recompenser de sa fidelite il voulut aller advertir le roy de ce qu'il scavoit quoy qu'il fust desja fort tard et qu'il sceust bien qu'il devoit estre retire mais s'estoit sans doute 
 que les dieux l'inspiroient quoy qu'il en soit seigneur sesostris y voulut aller et y fut en effet mais au lieu d'y aller par le chemin le plus court qui estoit celuy de ce petit escalier qui faisoit la liaison de l'apartemet du roy et du sien il y fut par le grand de peur que celuy que ce soldat soubconnoit et qui commandoit de ce coste la ne jugeast qu'il estoit descouvert s'il le voyoit entrer si tard chez le roy qui dormoit desja lors que sesostris suivy de deux gardes et de moy fusmes a la porte de l'antichambre qu'on nous ouvrit sesostris disant qu'il estoit necessaire qu'il parlast a amasis mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que justement comme on ouvrit la porte de la chambre du roy pour l'aller esveiller et luy dire que sesostris avoit a luy parler nous vismes que la porte de la garderobe de ce prince s'ouvrit en mesme temps et que plusieurs hommes ayant l'espee nue entroient dans cette chambre qui estoit esclairee par une lampe seulement sesostris n'eut pas plustost veu cela que mettant l'espee a la main il se jetta avec une generosite sans esgale entre le lict du roy et ces assassins ne le considerant point en cette occasion comme l'usurpateur de son royaume mais comme le pere de timarete de sorte que le roy s'estant esveille au bruit que firent ceux qui le vouloient tuer et ceux qui le vouloient deffendre car les gardes et moy suivismes sesostris et mismes aussi l'espee a la main le premier objet qu'il vit fut 
 que sesostris tua un de ces assassins et qu'il en blessa un autre il put mesme remarquer qu'il le couvroit tousjours de son corps autant qu'il pouvoit de vous dire seigneur quel espouventable objet fut celuy-la pour amasis il ne seroit pas aise il est vray qu'il ne dura pas long-temps car l'incomparable valeur de sesostris repoussa bien tost ces lasches assassins qui servoient heracleon tanisis qui les conduisoit sentit la pesanteur du bras de sesostris estant blesse en deux endroits si bien qu'apres cela l'espouvante prenant a tous ces conjurez ils sortiret de la chambre et de la garderobe sesostris les vouloit poursuivre plus loin mais amasis s'estant leve diligemment des qu'il eut veu ce combat l'en empescha ne jugeant pas qu'il deust s'engager si legerement de sorte qu'on se contenta de faire fermer les portes de ce coste la et de les faire garder jusques a ce que tout le monde fust esveille dans le palais et qu'on eust envoye reconnoistre quel nombre de gens avoient les conjurateurs et en effet le roy envoya deux de ses gardes par le grand escallier pour luy venir raporter ce qu'ils auroient veu en envoyant deux autres pour faire venir tous ses officiers et entre les antres simandius cependant ceux qui n'avoient pu executer leur dessein se r'assemblerent aupres d'heracleon ou tanisis les conduisit car heracleon les attendoit dans la cour avec ceux qui estoient destinez a assassiner sesostris afin d'agir selon l'evenement mais comme il vit qu'il 
 n'avoit pas este heureux et qu'il ne pouvoit tuer ny le roy ny sesostris il prit un autre dessein qui fut celuy d'enlever la princesse d'egipte comme sa maison n'estoit pas encore faite il scavoit qu'elle n'avoit que fort peu de gens aupres d'elle et qu'elle logeoit mesme en un pavillon assez esloigne du logis du roy car comme elephantine n'est pas le sejour ordinaire des rois le palais ou ils logent quand ils y vont est assez irregulierement basty de sorte qu'heracleon trouvant plus de facilite a ce dessein la qu'a l'autre il l'executa sans peine s'estant donc fait ouvrir la porte de ce pavillon au nom du roy il s'en rendit maistre et enleva timarete malgre ses larmes et malgre ses cris cette grande princesse n'ayant eu qu'a peine le temps de s'habiller a demy durant qu'on enfoncoit la porte de son cabinet ou elle s'estoit jettee avec une de ses femmes des qu'elle avoit ouy la voix d'heracleon et le bruit qu'on avoit fait encore eut elle cet avantage dans son malheur que cette femme la suivit cependant ceux que le roy avoit envoyez pour scavoir s'il y avoit beaucoup de gens en armes ayant ouy quelques cris de femmes revenant en diligence dirent au roy qu'on attaquoit l'apartement de la princesse timarete de sorte que sesostris entendant cela n'escouta plus le roy et fut comme un furieux pour deffendre sa chere princesse mais il arriva trop tard car heracleon s'estoit desja embarque aussi bien que tanisis je ne vous diray point seigneur 
 quel fut le desespoir de ce prince puis que vous le pouvez aisement comprendre principalement lors qu'il vit que tous les soins qu'il eut de suivre et de faire suivre heracleon furent inutiles ce qui favorisa sa fuite fut qu'on ne s'imagina point qu'il se fust embarque sur le nil et qu'on creust qu'il s'estoit cache dans elephantine ce n'est pas qu'encore qu'on ne le creust point sesostris ne fist partir plusieurs bateaux pour cela mais comme ce fut quelques heures apres que cet enlevement fut fait et que la nuit estoit fort obscure ceux qui furent envoyez pour chercher heracleon de ce coste la ne joignirent que le bateau qui avoit enleve timarete et ne la trouverent plus ainsi le lendemain au matin on sceut qu'heracleon avoit aborde en un lieu ou des chevaux l'attendoient que tamisis estoit demeure sur le rivage ou il estoit mort entre les bras de quelques bergers qui l'avoient trouve en cet endroit la sans qu'on peust apprendre autre nouvelle d'heracleon ny scavoir seulement quelle route il avoit prise ce n'est pas que sesostris n'y fist tout ce qui fut en sa puissance car enfin il erra un mois tout entier sans scavoir ou il alloit amasis de son coste fit faire une recherche tres-exacte par tout son royaume mais ce fut inutilement de sorte qu'a la fin sesostris fut contraint d'attendre aupres du roy qu'il eust du moins quelque lumiere du lieu ou pouvoit estre heracleon cependant ceux qui avoient pris les armes pour le fils d'apriez les poserent le roy 
 allant luy mesme a thebes leur mener sesostris dont la douleur n'eut jamais d'egale de thebes ils furent a memphis ou le roy trouva un ambassadeur de cresus qui luy demandoit des troupes suivant l'alliance qui estoit entr'eux de sorte que ce prince envoya celles qui avoient servy a la guerre de thebes et qui avoient veu quelle estoit la valeur de sesostris lors qu'il portoit le nom de psammetite amasis voulant que simandius les commandast mais quelque temps apres que ces troupes furent parties le hazard fit qu'une lettre qu'heracleon escrivoit a un de ses amis en egipte tomba entre les mains de sesostris et luy fit connoistre qu'il estoit en lydie si bien que sesostris sans communiquer son dessein a personne qu'a moy se resolut de se derober d'amasis et d'amenophis pour venir luy mesme servir cresus ce n'est pas qu'estant charme de vostre reputation il n'eust une repugnance estrange a se jetter dans un party oppose au vostre mais comme l'amour regnoit dans son coeur il se resolut a servir cresus pour tascher de trouver timarete et en effet sesostris se deroba de la cour et je le suivis en partant il escrivit au roy pour luy apprendre la cause de son voyage et a amenophis pour le prier d'apaiser ce prince et pour l'asseurer qu'il ne le reverroit point qu'il ne luy ramenast timarete mais pour n'oublier rien de tout ce qui pouvoit faciliter son dessein il prioit encore amenophis de faire en sorte qu'amasis escrivist a cresus comme en effet il 
 luy escrivit afin de l'obliger a faire une recherche plus exacte pour luy faire retrouver timarete en fin seigneur nous arrivasmes a sardis ou simandius estoit desja avec les troupes qu'il commandoit qui n'eut guere moins de joye que d'estonnemet de voir mon maistre je ne vous dis point que cresus le roy de pont et le prince myrsile receurent bien sesostris mais je vous asseureray que ce prince fut sensiblement afflige de n'aprendre nulles nouvelles d'heracleon ny de timarete quelque soin qu'il apportast a s'en informer et quelque recherche que cresus en fist faire apres avoir receu la lettre d'amasis cependant les choses estoient en termes que l'honneur ne luy permettoit pas de sortir de sardis pour aller chercher sa princesse de ville en ville par toute la lydie joint que l'aproche de vostre armee fit bien tost que ce n'estoit plus une chose possible ainsi il falut que sesostris au lieu de chercher timarete songeast a combatre aussi le fit il si courageusement qu'il en a merite une gloire immortelle en effet seigneur vous scavez bien que nostre bataillon fut le seul qui ne fut point rompu le jour de la bataille mais seigneur il faut mesme que je vous die que le prince sesostris ne fut pas blesse par les vostres en cette dangereuse journee mais par le lasche heracleon de vous aprendre seigneur comment il s'estoit mesle parmy nous ny comment il y put estre sans estre connu d'abord c'est ce que je ne scaurois dire mais enfin soit qu'en un jour de bataille 
 chacun ne pense qu'a soy mesme ou soit que la quantite de plumes qu'il avoit a son habillement de teste et qui luy ombrageoient le visage favorisast son dessein tant y a que s'estant mesle parmy nous sans que je scache precisement ny le temps ny le lieu ou ce fut comme nous combations contre le vaillant abradate et que sesostris faisoit des choses capables de luy acquerir vostre estime si vous en eussiez este le tesmoin le traistre heracleon qui estoit derriere ce prince qui ne croyoit avoir d'ennemis a combatre que par devant luy donna deux grands coups d'espee presques en un instant qui le blesserent de telle sorte qu'il tomba comme mort entre les pieds de nos chevaux comme je fus quasi le seul qui remarquay quel estoit le bras qui avoit fait le coup je fus aussi presques le seul qui fus pour vanger le prince sesostris que je croyois mort car tous les autres qui ne l'avoient veu que tomber pensoient qu'il eust este blesse par les vostres mais pour moy qui avois bien veu qu'il l'avoit este par un homme que j'avois veu un moment auparavant comme estant des nostres je fus droit a luy comme je l'ay desja dit et j'y fus d'autant plustost que je remarquay que plusieurs de mes compagnons prenoient soin du prince mais comme je ne pouvois penetrer jusques au lieu ou estoit heracleon sans quelque difficulte et que des qu'il eut fait son coup il ne songea qu'a se desgager il le fit devant que je le pusse joindre s'allant mesler dans un autre corps 
 de lydiens qui fuyoient les dieux permirent toutesfois pour me le faire connoistre qu'en fuyant son habillement de teste sa destacha et tomba de sorte que s'estant tourne pour voir s'il estoit poursuivy je le reconnus pour le traistre heracleon mais comme j'allois redoubler mes efforts pour le joindre et pour le punir de tous ses crimes a la fois j'en fus empesche par un escadron des vostres qui poursuivant leur victoire se mirent entre heracleon et moy de sorte que je fus contraint de me rejetter dans nostre bataillon ou je demeuray jusques a ce qu'apres que vous eustes gagne la bataille la fermete que nous tesmoignasmes obligea vostre grand coeur a faite quelque difference de ceux qui avoient fuy a nous et a nous traiter avec une generosite qui me donne lieu de croire qu'apres avoir sauve la vie au prince sesostris vous voudrez bien encore avoir la bonte de faire dire au lasche heracleon en quel lieu est la princesse timarete car enfin seigneur en vain auriez-vous conserve la vie du prince sesostris s'il ne retrouvoit point la princesse qu'il adore mes propres malheurs respondit cyrus lors que miris eut acheve de parler m'ont si parfaittement appris a avoir pitie de ceux des autres que quand le prince sesostris ne seroit que malheureux j'en aurois compassion mais estant tel que je le connois et tel que vous venez de me le depeindre je vous asseure que je ne m'interesseray pas mediocrement en toutes les choses qui le regarderont 
 et pour vous le tesmoigner je vous promets d'aller moy-mesme faire dire a heracleon en quel lieu est la princesse timarete et plust aux dieux adjousta-t'il que je pusse la rendre au prince sesostris en delivrant mandane apres cela miris se retira car comme il estoit extraordinairement tard il ne restoit guere de temps a cyrus pour se reposer il ne s'endormit pourtant pas sans avoir encore donne un quart d'heure au souvenir de sa chere princesse quoy qu'il ne le pust plus faire sans douleur depuis l'injuste jalousie dont elle luy avoit donne une si cruelle marque 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pendant que l'illustre cyrus avoit escoute les advantures de sesostris et les crimes d'heracleon ce dernier ayant sceu par quelques uns de ceux qui estoient aupres de luy quels estoient les soins que cyrus avoit de sesostris il entra en une telle fureur que toutes ses playes se r'ouvrirent et la fievre luy prit si violente que ceux qui avoient assure cyrus que quand mesme il devroit mourir de ses blessures ce ne seroit pas si tost changerent d'advis et furent advertir ce prince qu'heracleon ne passeroit pas la nuict suivante cyrus scachant donc l'estat ou il estoit fut le voir pour s'acquiter de sa promesse afin de luy faire dire ou par adresse 
 ou par force en quel lieu estoit timarete mais il ne le trouva plus en estat de l'entretenir car sa raison s'estoit esgaree il est vray qu'il y a apparence que cyrus aprit plus de nouvelles de cette princesse dans son esgarement qu'il n'en eust sceu si son esprit eust este libre car des qu'il vit ce prince au chevet de son lict comme il n'avoit l'imagination remplie que de timarete et de tout ce qui luy estoit arrive il creut que cyrus estoit le roy de pont et se mit a le remercier d'avoir bien voulu donner azile a la princesse timarete dans la citadelle de sardis en suitte de quoy changeant de discours il parloit tantost de sesostris comme estant mort et un moment apres comme le voulant tuer de sorte que son esprit ne pouvant s'arrester a nul objet il n'y avoit pas moyen de tirer de luy nulle nouvelle assuree de timarete neantmoins comme il y avoit des prisonniers qui avoient assure a cyrus qu'il estoit entre une dame de grande condition dans la citadelle de sardis il creut qu'il faloit faire quelque fondement sur ce qu'heracleon venoit de dire il ne voulut pourtant pas donner cette esperance a sesostris qu'il n'eust perdu celle d'en scavoir davantage mais heracleon ayant enfin perdu la parole et peu de temps apres la vie il depescha miris vers ce prince pour luy apprendre la mort de son rival et pour luy dire qu'il y avoit grande apparence que la princesse timarete estoit dans la citadelle de sardis apres quoy il fut suivant sa coustume donner tous les ordres necessaires 
 et visiter tous les travaux laissant le soin des funerailles d'heracleon a ceux qui estoient aupres de luy il passa mesme a la tente d'araspe dont les blessures ne l'incommodoient pas tant que la douleur qu'il avoit dans l'ame de la cyrus fut tenir conseil de guerre ou il fut resolu que dans deux jours on donneroit un second assaut de sorte que ce prince redoublant encore ses soins employa tout ce temps-la a voir luy-mesme toutes les machines a instruire ceux qui les devoient faire agir a donner d'utiles conseils a tous les chefs et a encourager tous les soldats le roy d'assirie et mazare faisoient aussi la mesme chose tous les autres rois et tous les autres princes qui estoient dans cette armee agissants encore avec un zele extreme pour faire reussir le dessein de cyrus anaxaris en particulier n'estant pas des moins ardens au service de ce prince cyrus eut mesme encore un nouveau secours car le prince sesostris se trouvant presques entierement guery de ses blessures eut une telle joye de scavoir qu'il y avoit apparence que timarete estoit dans sardis que non seulement il ne sentit presques pas celle que luy devoit causer la mort de son rival mais encore il voulut aller au camp principalement scachant qu'on devoit donner un assaut a cette ville car encore que les troupes d'amasis fussent venues avec intention de la deffendre et que les egiptiens a qui cyrus avoit fait grace ne se fussent rendus qu'a condition de n'estre pas forcez a combatre 
 contre cresus les choses avoient change de face en effet sesostris avoit sceu qu'encore que les lydiens l'eussent abandonne le jour de la bataille cresus n'avoit pas laisse de parler indignement des egiptiens qui seuls avoient pu resister a l'effort de ses ennemis ce discours avoit tellement irrite tous ceux de cette nation que depuis cela ils n'estoient pas demeurez dans les termes qu'ils s'estoient prescrits en se rendant a cyrus car ils avoient voulu combattre et avoient combatu en effet en diverses occasions mais conme ils avoient pris cette resolution durant que sesostris n'estoit pas encore en estat de leur commander ce prince de qui la generosite estoit un peu plus scrupuleuse que la leur ne voulut pourtant pas combatre de sa personne qu'il n'eust supplie cyrus de luy permettre d'envoyer un heraut au roy de lydie pour luy demander si la princesse timarete estoit dans la citadelle de sardis et s'il la luy vouloit rendre car encore qu'il eust fait faire un compliment a cyrus il y avoit desja quelques jours qui devoit luy faire croire qu'il avoit dessein de combattre pour luy il n'en avoit pourtant en la pensee qu'avec l'intention de chercher les voyes de le pouvoir faire sans blesser son honneur de sorte qu'en ayant trouve une il n'avoit garde de la perdre il partit donc du chasteau ou il estoit mais il n'en partit pas sans prendre conge de la princesse araminte a qui il avoit desja rendu quelques visites pour la remercier des soins qu'elle avoit eus de luy pendant la 
 violence de son mal il dit aussi adieu a la belle cleonice a doralise et a toutes les autres prisonnieres car comme il scavoit la langue greque qu'elles parloient ou entendoient toutes il avoit eu de grandes conversations avec elles leur ayant mesme apris une partie de ses malheurs si bien que scachant que l'on croyoit que la princesse timarete estoit peutestre dans sardis elles s'en rejouirent pour l'amour de luy et firent des voeux pour sa liberte aussi bien que pour celle de mandane sesostris apres avoir donc receu mille civilitez de toutes ces belles captives s'en alla au camp ou il fut receu de cyrus avec tous les honneurs qu'il meritoit et par sa naissance et par sa vertu mais enfin apres que cyrus eut offert a sesostris tout ce qui dependoit de luy ce prince le suplia de vouloir envoyer un heraut a cresus pour luy demander des nouvelles de timarete et en effet sans differer davantage il y envoya selon son intention sesostris fit donc dire a cresus qu'encore qu'il eust apris qu'il avoit parle indignement des troupes egiptiennes il n'avoit pas laisse de demeurer au camp de cyrus dans les simples termes d'un captif mais qu'ayant sceu que la princesse timarete fille d'amasis estoit en sa puissance par la perfidie d'un lasche apelle heracleon qui estoit mort dans l'armee des assiegeans il envoyoit luy demander s'il ne vouloit pas la renvoyer au roy son pere cyrus ayant offert de luy donner passage et mesme escorte pour la conduire ce fut 
 pourtant en vain qu'on fit porter cette parole a cresus et au roy de pont car comme plus ils avoient de personnes importantes entre leurs mains plus ils se croyoient en seurete ils n'avoient garde de rendre timarete cresus respondit donc qu'il estoit vray qu'elle estoit en ses mains mais qu'il ne rendroit cette princesse que lors qu'amasis luy auroit envoye un secours assez puissant pour faire lever le siege de sardis de sorte que sesostris recevant cette responce en presence de cyrus se tourna en sousriant vers ce prince et luy dit que selon son sens comme il seroit plus aise de prendre sardis que de le secourir il valoit mieux qu'il receust timarete de sa main que de celle de cresus c'est pourquoy adjousta sesostris au lieu de songer a secourir sardis je pense a vous aider a le prendre plustost bien-heureux encore d'avoir quelque asseurance que la princesse timarete est dans une ville qui ne peut manquer d'estre prise puis que l'invincible cyrus l'attaque ce qui me le fait esperer repliqua-t'il est que le vaillant sesostris combattant pour timarete m'enseignera par son exemple a combattre pour mandane cependant cyrus ne se contenta pas de traiter sesostris tres civilement mais il voulut encore que tous les grands de son armee le visitassent et luy rendissent beaucoup d'honneur de sorte que sesostris vit ce jour-la tous les princes qui estoient dans cette armee qui furent tous si satisfaits de luy et si charmez de son esprit et de sa civilite 
 qu'il en fut infiniment estime et pour luy faire encore plus d'honneur cyrus voulut qu'il commandast une des attaques qu'on devoit faire si bien que le lendemain au matin estant venu tous les ordres ayant este donnez toutes les machines estant disposees toutes les eschelles estant prestes et tout le monde estant prepare on commenca une heure devant le jour a combler les fossez de la ville en divers endroits avec des fascines ce qui fut si promptement fait que presques en un instant l'assaut fut donne de toutes parts et cette grande ville se vit toute environnee d'eschelles a la reserve du coste qui regardoit le mont tmolus qui paroissoit inaccessible cyrus estoit en personne a l'endroit le plus pres de la citadelle qui estoit le plus dangereux le roy de phrigie attaquoit le coste de la ville qui donnoit vers le pactole le roy d'assirie celuy qui luy estoit oppose mazare commandoit l'attaque qui estoit entre cyrus et le roy d'assirie sesostris faisoit la sienne du coste de la ville qui regardoit la plaine tigrane et phraarte en faisoient une autre vers la principale porte de sardis et anaxaris en faisoit aussi une autre a un bastion qui couvroit une autre porte de la ville hidaspe chrisante andramite aglatidas persode hermogene leontidas et tous les autres braves de cette armee commandoient sous tous ces princes aux attaques qu'ils faisoient le roy d'hircanie gobrias et gadate demeurant a commander dans le camp avec un corps de reserve 
 tant pour le garder qu'afin de faire executer tous les ordres de cyrus et d'envoyer du secours aux lieux ou il en seroit besoin l'ordre de cet assaut ne fut pas seulement judicieusement donne mais il fut encore courageusement execute et il le fut d'autant plus que la resistance des lydiens donna une ample matiere a la valeur de tant de grands princes et de tant de vaillans soldats car jamais on n'a veu une telle ardeur ny a attaquer ny a se deffendre que celle qu'on vit et aux assiegens et aux assiegez la multitude des eschelles estoit si grande et celle de ceux qui se pressoient pour y monter estoit telle que si les lydiens n'eussent este encouragez par un prince a qui l'amour ne faisoit rien trouver de difficile ils n'auroient asseurement ose entreprendre de s'opposer a un effort si grand et a un assaut si general mais il les asseuroit tellement qu'il estoit bien adverty que cet assaut seroit le dernier qu'ils auroient a soustenir qu'en effect ils se resolurent a combattre de toute leur puissance et ils le firent si courageusement qu'ils donnerent de l'admiration a leurs propres ennemis car enfin quoy qu'ils fussent attaquez par les plus vaillans princes du monde et par des soldats acconstumez a gagner des batailles et a conquerir des royaumes ils ne laisserent pas de leur resister avec une opiniastrete qui paroissoit invincible non seulement ils faisoient pleuvoir une gresle de pierres et de traits non seulement ils renversoient les eschelles ou ceux qui 
 estoient dessus mais ils combattoient encore main a main avec une ardeur heroique contre ceux qui pouvoient arriver jusques au haut des murailles enfin seigneur quoy que cyrus fist des choses prodigieuses et que tous ces autres princes fissent aussi des merveilles que sesostris en son particulier y fist des miracles et que tous ensemble combattissent de toute leur force ils ne purent emporter la ville et il fallut que tant de vaillans princes se resolussent a ne vaincre point ce joui la il y eut pourtant cela de remarquable qu'a la reserve de tigrane qui fut legerement blesse a la main de la cheutte d'une eschelle il n'y eut pas un de ces princes ny tue ny blesse il est vray que cyrus pensa l'estre plus d'une fois car comme il s'exposoit encore plus que les autres il fut souvent tout prest ou d'estre renverse du haut des eschelles ou d'estre escrase per ceux qui estoient renversez ou d'estre accable par l'abondance des pierres que les lydiens jettoient mais enfin la fortune qui sembloit ne vouloir le mettre en peril que pour le sauver et qui sembloit aussi en d'autres occasions ne le vouloir sauver que pour le perdre plus cruellement le conserva en celle-la il se retira pourtant si triste de ce que cet assaut ne luy avoit pas succede heureusement qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage car enfin il connut bien qu'il seroit tres difficile de forcer sardis de sorte qu'ayant tenu conseil de guerre pendant une treve de quatre heures qu'on obtint pour retirer les 
 morts qui estoient demeurez dans le fosse il fut resolu qu'on ne s'obstineroit pas davantage a vouloir forcer une ville qui sembloit ne pouvoir estre prise par assaut a cause de la hauteur de ses murailles de la multitude de ses habitans et du grand nombre de soldats qui la deffendoient et qu'on commenceroit enfin ce qu'on n'avoit pas voulu faire auparavant c'est a dire une ligue de circonvalation avec des forts esperant prendre par la faim ceux qu'on ne pouvoit prendre par la force
 
 
 
 
et en effet sans differer davantage cyrus fut luy mesme le lendemain avec les ingenieurs de son armes pour voir a quelle distance il la faloit faire et combien il faudroit eslever de forts pour la deffendre la chose ne fut pas plustost resolue qu'on commenca de remuer la terre cyrus en montrant luy mesme l'exemple durant un moment pour encourager ses travailleurs de sorte que les habitans de sardis remarquant qu'on alloit enclorre leur ville et que les assiegeans ne se preparoient pas a lever le siege comme on le leur avoit fait esperer ils perdirent toute la joye qu'ils avoient eue d'avoir repousse le dernier assaut et ils commencerent de murmurer estrangement de voir que pour les amuser on leur disoit tantost une chose et tantost une autre et de connoistre enfin que quoy qu'on leur eust voulu faire croire que cyrus ne songeoit plus a mandane et que depuis qu'on leur eust voulu persuader que ce princesse resoudroit a decamper s'ils soustenoient courageusement 
 cet assaut il paroissoit pourtant qu'ils alloient estre exposez a toutes les incommoditez d'un long siege de sorte qu'ils tomberent dans une nouvelle consternation n'y ayant rien si propre a espouventer les peuples que la crainte de la faim ce qui augmentoit encore le desordre estoit que lors que le siege avoit commence il y avoit quantite d'estranger dans cette ville qui s'y estoient trouvez engagez malgre eux et qui en eussent bien voulu sortir si la chose eust este en leur puissance ce n'est pas que cresus n'y eust consenty mais il n'y avoit pas d'aparence que cyrus le souffrist puis qu'il en estoit reduit aux termes d'affamer sardis entre tant de personnes estrangeres qui estoient dans cette ville il se trouva qu'il y avoit une dame de qualite de lycie qui estant venue a sardis pour voir une soeur qu'elle y avoit qui avoit espouse un oncle de doralise s'y estoit trouvee enfermee ayant avec elle une fille une niepce et une de ses amies qui estoient toutes trois tres-belles et tres aimables de sorte qu'entre tant de personnes estrangeres qui estoient dans sardis il n'y en avoit point qui eussent plus de douleur de se voir engagees dans une ville assiegee qu'en avoient ces trois belles filles aussi solliciteret-elles si ardamment qu'elles obtinrent de cresus la permission d'escrire a doralise qu'elles scavoient estre demeuree aupres de la princesse de pont depuis la mort de panthee afin de la prier d'obtenir de cyrus qu'il permist a trois dames qui n'estoient 
 point de sardis de sortir de cette ville avec leur train seulement pour s'en retourner chez elles et comme elles scavoient qu'andramite estoit tousjours amoureux de doralise et qu'il estoit bien avec cyrus elles espereret encore qu'il les serviroit c'est pourquoy apres avoir obtenu un heraut du roy de lydie elles escrivirent et a doralise et a andramite pour obtenir ce qu'elles demandoient donnant leurs lettres ouvertes a ce heraut qui ne manquant pas de s'aquiter de sa commission sortit de la ville et fut jusques a la teste de la tranchee des assiegeans ou on j'arresta et ou on luy donna un officier et quatre soldats pour le conduire a cyrus ce prince ne sceut pas plustost le sujet de son voyage qu'il l'envoya a l'heure mesme a doralise luy faisant dire par celuy qui conduisoit le heraut qu'il luy accordoit ce qu'on desiroit de luy et ce qu'on vouloit qu'elle luy demandast ainsi andramite et doralise au lieu d'avoir a demander une grace se virent obligez a faire un remerciment a cyrus qui ne jugeant pas qu'un si petit nombre de personnes hors de sardis en pust differer la prise d'un moment ne fit pas de difficulte de consentir qu'elles en sortissent ainsi ce heraut s'en retourna avec beaucoup de satisfaction estant convenu de l'heure ou cyrus envoyeroit escorte a ces dames pour les recevoir au sortir de la ville et en effet ce heraut estant retourne a sardis et ayant rendu conte de l'heureux succes de son voyage cette dame de lycie nommee 
 lycaste accompagnee d'un neveu qu'elle avoit apelle parmenide de sa fille nommee cydipe d'une soeur de parmenide qui s'appelloit arpalice et d'une de ses amies nommee candiope fut remercier cresus et prendre conge de luy le prince myrsile les accompagnant jusques a la porte de la ville par la seule consideration qu'elles estoient parentes de doralise pour qui il avoit tousjours tesmoigne avoir beaucoup d'estime et certes elles eurent besoin qu'une personne d'authorite les conduisist jusques la car encore que les habitans de sardis deussent estre bien aises de voir sortir ces dames de leur ville ils ne laissoient pas d'en murmurer mais la presence du prince myrsile les retenant elles ne laisserent pas de sortir dans un chariot parmenide allant a cheval suivy de tout le train de lycaste et du sien un heraut de cresus marchant devant pour les conduire jusques au lieu ou andramite a la teste de cinquante chevaux les attendoit mais comme si la fortune eust voulu que les actions les plus innocentes de cyrus l'eussent fait paroistre criminel il arriva que la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis ayant enfin obtenu un jour la permission d'aller prendre l'air sur cette terrasse d'ou on descouroit toute la plaine le hazard fit qu'elles y furent justement comme ces dames sortoient de sardis par une porte assez proche de la citadelle de sorte qu'estant assez surprises de voir sortir d'une ville assiegee un chariot plein 
 de dames elle ses mirent a le suivre des yeux et a l'observer si bien qu'elles virent comment le heraut les conduisit jusques au lieu ou estoit andramite et comment andramite les receut mandane s'imaginant mesme quoy que ce fust de fort loin qu'elle voyoit que c'estoit fort respectueusement en suitte de quoy elle vit qu'il les menoit vers le camp comme tout ce qui se faisoit par les ordres de cyrus ne pouvoit estre indifferent a la princesse mandane et qu'elle jugeoit bien que ces dames ne sortoient pas de sardis sans sa permission elle eut une si violente curiosite de scavoir qui elles estoient et pourquoy cyrus leur faisoit cette grace qu'elle ne put s'empescher de le demander au roy de pont lors qu'il la fut voir comme il faisoit tous les jours aux heures ou il estoit le moins occupe pour les affaires de la guerre et ou le chagrin de mandane le luy permettoit elle ne le vit donc pas plustost que luy adressant la parole je voudrois bien scavoir seigneur luy dit-elle qui sont ces dames que j'ay veu sortir aujourd'huy de sardis et a qui on accorde une grace qu'on me refuse le roy de pont qui n'ignoroit pas quels estoient alors les sentimens de cette princesse luy respondit malicieusement que ces dames avoient obtenu passe-port de cyrus parce qu'elles estoient parentes d'une fille appellee doralise que la reyne de la susiane avoit fort aimee et qui estoit presentement aupres de la princesse araminte ainsi ce prince sans dire rien contre 
 la verite ne laissoit pas de dire beaucoup contre son rival mandane ne doutant nullement que cyrus n'eust permis a ces dames de sortir de sardis a la seule consideration de la princesse araminte et point du tout a celle de doralise neantmoins comme elle vouloit cacher l'agitation de son esprit elle se contraignit autant qu'elle put et reprenant la parole je m'estonne dit-elle puis que la princesse araminte a tant de pouvoir sur l'esprit de cyrus qu'il n'y a bien davantage de dames qui employent son credit pour sortir d'icy car je ne pense pas qu'il luy pust rien refuser je m'imagine reprit le roy de pont que ma soeur menage mieux le pouvoir qu'elle a acquis sur l'esprit de cyrus que vous ne faites celuy que vous avez sur moy vous dis je qui me demandez tous les jours des choses impossibles ou du moins des choses qui donneroient la mort a celuy a qui vous les demandez s'il ne vous les refusoit pas je ne scay pas ce qu'elle demande repliqua t'elle mais je scay bien que je ne demande rien que de juste et rien qu'on me doive refuser quand je tomberois d'accord que ce que vous voulez est juste reprit-il je ne scay madame si je vous accorderois que je deusse ne vous refuser pas car enfin l'amour est une passion qui ne reconnoist aucun empire qui puisse destruire le sien ne vous estonnez donc pas madame si je n'escoute point tout ce que vous me dites quoy que vous soyez la raison mesme puis que vous ne me parlez jamais que pour vous opposer a ma 
 passion quand je vous advouerois seigneur interrompit mandane que l'amour ne reconnoist point la raison il faudroit tousjours que vous m'advouassiez qu'il reconnoist la necessite et qu'il est certaines choses ou il faut qu'il cede en effet adjousta t'elle a quoy bon de vous obstiner a deffendre sardis et a vouloir gagner mon coeur puis qu'a mon advis le premier est fort difficile et que l'autre est absolument impossible il vaudroit donc bien mieux que le roy de lydie songeast a conserver sa couronne et que vous pensassiez a faire une negociation qui vous empeschast de perdre la liberte et qui me la redonnast je consens mesme adjousta cette princesse l'esprit injustement irrite contre cyrus que vous ne me remettiez pas entre les mains d'un prince que vous croyez estre le plus heureux de vos rivaux pourveu que vous me remettiez entre celles du roy mon pere ha madame interrompit il pour connoistre ses sentimens je ne scay si je dois croire que vous aimassiez mieux que je vous remenasse a ecbatane que de vous mener au camp de cyrus n'en doutez pas repliqua t'elle et croyez en suitte qu'en l'estat qu'est mon ame presentement puis que je ne vous suis pas favorable je ne vous la puis jamais estre quoy madame reprit il vous pourriez cesser d'aimer cyrus sans cesser de me hair je vous assure luy dit elle que je ne commenceray jamais d'aimer personne de la facon dont vous le voudriez estre je vous ay dit cent fois que pour 
 mon estime et mon amitie il vous reste tousjours une voye infaillible de les aquerir qui est celle de ne me tenir plus captive car encore qu'a parler plus raisonnablement ce doive estre assez quand on cesse de nous persecuter de se contenter de cesser de hayr je ne laisse pas de porter plus loin la generosite qu'il y a a oublier les injures que le commun du monde n'a accoustume de le faire c'est pourquoy je vous redis encore aujourd'huy ce que je vous ay dit cent fois delivrez-moy et je vous donneray mon amitie plust aux dieux madame reprit-il ou que je pusse me contenter de ce que vous m'offrez de faire en ma faveur ou que je pusse vous persuader de faire un peu davantage pour ce qui me regarde reprit-elle il est absolument impossible c'est pourquoy il faudroit que vous changeassiez puis que je ne puis changer afin de faire cesser une guerre qui cause tant de malheurs et qui selon les apparences durera encore long temps du moins suis-je persuadee adjousta-t'elle que cyrus n'a pas dessein qu'elle finisse si tost puis qu'il laisse sortir tant de monde de sardis le roy de pont entendant parler mandane de cette sorte en eut autant de joye que le malheureux estat ou il se voyoit luy pouvoit permettre d'en avoir car il connut bien qu'elle avoit l'esprit irrite contre cyrus et en effet il ne se trompoit pas il ne fut pas plustost sorty de sa chambre que mandane appellant martesie que vous semble luy dit-elle de ce que nous avons veu aujoud'huy eussiez-vous 
 jamais creu que la civilite de cyrus eust surpasse son amour cependant vous voyez comme il agit et vous voudriez encore soustenir qu'il est tousjours pour moy ce qu'il a este qui vit jamais une pareille chose adjoustoit-elle cyrus veut affamer une ville et il en laisse sortir un fort grand nombre de personnes car je m'imagine poursuivit cette princesse irritee que ce n'est pas la premiere fois qu'il a donne des passe-ports a la priere d'araminte mais madame reprit martesie ce que vous avez veu sortir de gens aujourd'huy n'apporte nul changement au siege de sardis et n'en retardera pas la prise ha martesie reprit mandane ne deffendez pas l'infidelle cyrus puis que je suis persuadee que s'il n'avoit pas voulu obliger la princesse araminte en obligeant une fille qui est presentement aupres d'elle il auroit este moins civil et moins raisonnable car apres tout je tombe bien d'accord que ces dames que j'ay veu sortir de sardis n'empescheront pas qu'il ne soit pris par la faim mais je scay bien aussi que ce n'est pas la coustume de l'amour de demeurer dans les justes bornes de la raison et je vous asseure enfin que j'aimerois mieux que cyrus eust incivilement refuse une semblable grace pour l'amour de moy que de l'avoir justement accordee a la princesse araminte mais pendant que cette grande et malheureuse princesse faisoit passer pour crime une simple civilite de cyrus il luy donnoit encore de nouveaux sujets de plainte si elle eust 
 pu scavoit comment il recevoit ces dames estrangeres qui sortoient de sardis quoy qu'en effect elle n'eust pas eu raison de l'accuser puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'agissoit ainsi que parce que naturellement il estoit nay civil et obligeant et que de plus il luy sembloit que c'eust este une chose injuste que de refuser a une personne du merite de doralise ce qui ne pouvoit nuire a mandane principalement ayant este si tendrement aimee d'une reyne qui estoit morte pour ses interests puisque sa perte avoit este causee par celle d'abradate qui avoit este tue a la derniere bataille aussi fit il en cette occasion ce que mandane luy eust elle mesme conseille de faire si elle n'eust pas este preoccupee par l'injuste jalousie qui troubloit tout a la fois et son esprit et son coeur en effet ce prince qui ne faisoit jamais rien que le mieux qui se pouvoit faire ordonna a andramite de conduire ces dames a sa tente devant que de les aller mener a doralise de sorte que n'ayant garde de manquer d'obeyr a un commandement qui luy estoit si agreable puis qu'il s'agissoit de rendre beaucoup d'honneur a des parentes de la personne qu'il aimoit il les fut recevoir avec tous les respects imaginables et certes il n'estoit pas difficile de se porter a les traiter respectueusement car elles estoient assez bien faites pour attirer la civilite de ceux mesmes qui n'auroient eu nulle raison particuliere de leur en rendre lycaste quoy qu'elle fust desja assez avancee en aage avoit 
 pourtant encore de la beaute et si on ne pouvoit plus dire que ce fust une fort belle personne on pouvoit tousjours assurer qu'elle avoit fort bonne mine cydipe qui estoit sa fille n'estoit pas une beaute parfaite mais elle avoit un grand esclat et quoy qu'elle n'eust pas tous les traits du visage regulierement beaux elle ne laissoit pas de passer pour une grande beaute sa taille estoit belle ses cheveux chastains et l'air de son visage extremement attirant et fort ouvert mais si elle attiroit les yeux arpalice les charmoit estant certain qu'on ne pouvoit pas voir une personne plus aimable elle estoit blanche blonde et vive tous les traits de son visage estoient admirables il y avoit quelque chose de brillant et de doux tout ensemble dans ses yeux qui sans estre ny bleus ny bruns avoient tout a la fois tous les charmes et des uns et des autres de sorte que joignant un fort bel esprit a un fort beau corps on pouvoit dire qu'arpalice estoit une des plus parfaites personnes du monde candiope n'estoit pas si belle que ses deux amies mais elle estoit pourtant fort aimable non seulemet parce qu'elle avoit l'air fort grand et fort noble mais encore parce qu'elle avoit un esprit adroit et insinuant et capable de se faire dire tous les secrets des autres sans communiquer jamais les siens parmenide qui estoit avec ces dames estoit bien fait et de fort bonne mine quoy qu'il eust je ne scay quoy de sombre et d'altier dans la phisionomie le reste des gens qui estoient avec elles 
 n'estoient que des femmes de lycaste de cydipe d'arpalice et de candiope et des escuyers et des esclaves de parmenide et de ces dames cependant andramite les ayant conduites a cyrus qui avoit alors aupres de luy anaxaris aglatidas ligdamis hidaspe et feraulas ce prince les receut avec beaucoup de civilite leur demandant pardon de les avoir enfermees dans sardis et d'estre en quelque facon cause de l'incommodite qu'elles y avoient receue il est vray adjousta-t'il que c'est plus le roy de pont et le roy de lydie que vons en devez accuser que moy puis que s'ils eusset voulu ils eusset pu empescher que vous n'eussiez este engagees dans une ville assiegee n'ayant rien a faire pour cela qu'a rendre la princesse mandane nous avons tant de sujet de nous louer de vous reprit lycaste que nous n'avons garde seigneur de vous accuser d'une chose dont vous n'estes pas coupable j'en ay bien davantage repliqua t'il de me louer de vostre aimable parente qui est cause que j'ay pu obliger si facilement des personnes de vostre condition et de vostre merite et puis madame adjousta-t'il avec autant de galanterie que de civilite je suis mesme plus interresse que vous ne pensez a vostre sortie car enfin je suis persuade en voyant les trois belles personnes qui vous accompagnent que les lydiens auroient encore este plus vaillans pour les deffendre qu'ils ne le seront aujourd'huy qu'elles ne sont plus dans sardis du moins scay-je bien que les amans qu'elles 
 y ont sans doute faits en combattront avec un peu moins d'ardeur je vous asseure seigneur repliqua arpalice voyant que cydipe sembloit vouloir que ce fust elle qui respondist qu'en mon particulier mes conquestes n'eussent guere servy a retarder les vostres je pensois adjousta cydipe en regardant sa parente que vous auriez la bonte de respondre pour candiope et pour moy en respondant pour vous mais puis que vous ne l'avez pas voulu faire il faut que je vous asseure seigneur poursuivit elle en se tournant vers cyrus que vous avez plus perdu que gagne a la sortie d'arpalice et si je l'ose dire a celle de candiope et a la mienne puis qu'il est vray que nous ne faisions autre chose tous les jours que d'accuser d'injustice et le roy de lydie et le roy de pont de ne vouloir pas mettre en liberte la princesse mandane il faut sans doute reprit cyrus que les lydiens soient bien fidelles a leur prince mesme dans les choses injustes puis qu'en parlant pour moy vous ne les avez pas fait revolter car si cela n'estoit point trois aussi belles personnes que vous ayant soustenu une aussi juste cause que la mienne auroient assurement fait une sedition en ma faveur
 
 
 
 
comme arpalice alloit respondre chrisante amena un prisonnier a cyrus qui attira les yeux de tout le monde par sa bonne mine et par l'air dont il entra dans la tente de ce prince mais a peine eut il fait un pas qu'il parut qu'il n'estoit pas inconnu ny a ces dames ny a parmenide lycaste tesmoigna beaucoup d'estonnement 
 de le voir cydipe en parut aussi fort surprise parmenide en parut chagrin candiope tesmoigna d'en estre bien aise et la belle arpalice en rougit d'une telle sorte et fit voir un si agreable trouble dans ses yeux qu'il fut aise de remarquer qu'elle prenoit plus d'interest que les autres en ce prisonnier qui de son coste ne fut pas peu surpris de trouver dans la tente de cyrus des personnes qu'il croyoit estre dans sardis le respect qu'il devoit a ce prince fit qu'il n'osa pourtant tesmoigner ny son estonnement ny sa joye et que ce ne fut que par quelques regards desrobez qu'il put faire connoistre a arpalice qu'il estoit encore plus son prisonnier qu'il ne l'estoit de cyrus cependant ce prince remarquant tous les divers mouvemens qui avoient paru sur le visage de toutes ces personnes ne douta point que celuy que chrisante luy amenoit ne fust de leur connoissance c'est pourquoy prenant la parole comme je voy bien dit-il a lycaste que ce prisonnier ne vous est pas inconnu et qu'il paroist a l'air de son visage qu'il est juste de ne le laisser pas long temps dans les fers vous voulez bien que je m'informe devant vous en quel lieu il a este pris seigneur luy dit chrisante voyant que cyrus se tournoit vers luy je puis vous asseurer que depuis que vous faites la guerre vous n'avez jamais fait de prisonnier qui soit plus digne d'estre delivre que celuy que je vous amene ny qui merite mieux aussi d'estre soigneusement garde puis qu'il est 
 vray qu'on ne peut pas oster un plus puissant secours aux lydiens en la personne d'un seul homme qu'en la sienne ce que vous dites interrompit modestement ce prisonnier est plus glorieux a ceux qui m'ont vaincu qu'a moy la victoire interrompit cyrus n'est pas tousjours une preuve assuree de la valeur de ceux qui la remportent et il y a quelquesfois des vainqueurs qui ne sont pas si braves que les vaincus mais encore chrisante poursuivit ce prince en quel lieu avez-vous trouve ce courageux ennemy car je voy bien que ce n'est pas a luy qu'il faut le demander et que sa modestie l'empescheroit de me faire scavoir la verite seigneur repliqua chrisante je ne puis pas vous dire par quel motif ce vaillant homme a voulu se jetter dans sardis mais ce qu'il y a de vray est qu'un peu devant le jour il s'est jette dans le fosse par un endroit dont la terre s'esboula le jour du dernier assaut se cachant aux nostres derriere un monceau de facines qui sont encore demeurees en ce lieu-la et que le feu que les ennemis y jetterent ne brusla point mais par hazard une sentinelle qui est a la teste de la tranchee du dernier logement que vous avez fait l'ayant apperceu a remarque qu'il regardoit vers le haut des murailles de la ville et qu'il faisoit signe a ceux qui y paroissoient qu'on luy fist ouvrir une fausse porte qui est assez pres de la comme ayant dessein d'entrer dans sardis de sorte que les lydiens croyant sans doute que celuy qu'ils voyoient avoit quelque advis important 
 a leur donner et qu'il venoit peut-estre leur porter la nouvelle de ce secours qu'il y a si longtemps que le roy de pont leur fait esperer se sont mis en devoir de luy ouvrir et ont voulu faire une sortie pour luy faciliter l'entree mais la sentinelle qui l'avoit aperceu ayant eu le temps de m'advertir de ce qu'il voyoit devant qu'ils eussent resolu s'ils ouvriroient ou s'ils n'ouvriroient pas j'ay juge plus a propos de tascher de le prendre que de le faire a coups de trait j'ay donc fait promptement avancer cent hommes pour se mettre entre celuy qui vouloit entrer dans sarids et la fausse porte qu'on luy ouvroit envoyant en mesme temps six soldats des plus determinez pour me l'amener mais comme ils ne pouvoient aller a luy qu'a descouvert ceux qui estoient sur les murailles en ont tue un et blesse deux a coups de fleches ainsi il n'y en a eu que trois qui l'ayent pu joindre et comme alors les lydiens n'osoient plus tirer de peur de frapper aussitost celuy qui vouloit se jetter dans leur ville que ceux qui le vouloient prendre ce vaillant prisonnier s'est veu au milieu de trois soldats determinez sans autre secours que celuy de sa propre valeur vous voyez seigneur interrompit ce captif qu'elle n'a pas este fort extraordinaire puis qu'enfin j'ay este pris comme ce n'a este reprit chrisante qu'apres avoir tue deux de ceux qui vous attaquoient et qu'apres que j'en ay envoye six autres je pense pouvoir dire que je ne vous loue pas assez pendant 
 que chrisante parloit ainsi on voyoit dans les yeux d'arpalice que les louanges qu'on donnoit a ce prisonnier ne luy deplaisoient pas et qu'elle avoit une extreme attention a les escouter elle en eut pourtant encore davantage lors que cyrus prenant la parole demanda a ce genereux captif comment il se nommoit s'il estoit sujet du roy de lyide s'il avoit este envoye par luy a quelque negociation avec quelque prince voisin et s'il aportoit quelque nouvelle de ce pretendu secours dont cresus amusoit le peuple de sardis seigneur repliqua t'il mon nom est thrasimede et le lieu de ma naissance est halicarnasse ainsi je ne suis point sujet du roy de lydie ny engage dans ses interests pourquoy donc interrompit cyrus avez-vous plustost choisi le party le plus injuste et pourquoy si vostre valeur ne pouvoit demeurer oisive n'estes-vous pas plustost demeure dans nostre armee que d'entreprendre de vous jetter dans une ville assiegee thrasimede se trouva alors assez embarrasse car il eust bien voulu ne dire pas la veritable cause du dessein qu'il avoit eu de se jetter dans sardis aussi fit il plusieurs responces en biaisant mais comme il vit que cyrus n'en estoit pas satisfait il craignit que s'il ne disoit pas la verite il ne demeurast prisonnier de guerre et qu'il ne fust par consequent separe de la personne qu'il aimoit c'est pourquoy se determinant tout d'un coup seigneur reprit il comme il y a longtemps que je suis passionne adorateur de vostre gloire je ne 
 veux pas que vous me soubconniez d'avoir voulu estre vostre ennemy ainsi il faut que je vous advoue la verite quand mesme la belle arpalice devant qui je parle s'en devroit offencer scachez donc que la seule passion que j'ay pour elle m'a porte a prendre la resolution de me jetter dans sardis ou je scavois qu'elle estoit engagee ainsi seigneur l'amour seulement ayant fait ma hardiesse on peut dire que c'est a la belle arpalice qu'apartiennet toutes les louanges que chrisante m'a donnees et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'il que je dis la verite c'est que bien loin de vouloir aller a sardis aujourd'huy qu'arpalice n'y est plus je vous demande la grace de me permettre de combatre les lydiens a la premiere occasion qui s'en presentera comme vous estes plus le prisonnier de la belle arpalice que le mien reprit cyrus c'est a elle a vous ordonner ce qu'il luy plaist que vous fassiez en verite seigneur reprit-elle toute confuse de ce que trasimede avoit dit je ne pense pas avoir aucun droit de vous disputer cet illustre prisonnier mais quand j'y en aurois je vous suis si obligee et je scay qu'il a tant d'admiration pour vous que pour m'aquiter de ce que je vous dois et pour luy faire un commandement agreable je luy ordonnerois de vous servir toute sa vie il est vray adjousta lycaste qu'arpalice a raison de dire ce qu'elle dit et il est encore plus vray reprit cyrus que si elle est rigoureuse au vaillant trasimede elle est la plus injuste personne du 
 monde pendant que cyrus parloit ainsi parmenide en paroissoit tout chagrin il n'osoit pourtant le tesmoigner ouvertement et ce n'estoit que par son silence que la belle arpalice sa soeur connoissoit ses veritables mouvemens mais enfin comme cyrus estoit prest de dire a trasimede qu'il n'estoit plus prisonnier d'amour puis qu'il n'estoit plus prisonnier de guerre hermogene luy en amena un autre qu'il luy dit qu'il s'estoit jette des murailles de sardis dans le fosse avec l'ay de d'une longue corde par le coste qui regardoit le fleuve et qu'ayant este veu par quelques soldats ils l'avoient pris sans resistance leur disant qu'il n'avoit autre dessein que de changer de party mais que comme il avoit este veu par ceux qui estoient en garde sur les murailles lors qu'il avoit este descendu il avoit pense estre tue par mille coups de trait qu'ils avoient tirez sur luy ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre fut que lors que ce prisonnier qui paroissoit estre un homme de qualite entra dans la tente de cyrus ce prince remarqua qu'il n'estoit pas inconnu ny a thrasimede ny a lycaste ny a parmenide ny a cydipe ny a candiope ny a arpalice il est vray que sa presence quoy qu'il fust bien fait ne leur donna pas une esgalle joye car a la reserve de parmenide qui fut bien aise de le voir tout le reste en eut de la colere ou du chagrin de sorte que cyrus ayant une nouvelle curiosite de scavoir qui il estoit et quel dessein il avoit eu se mit a le luy demander 
 pressamment si bien que ce prisonnier nomme menecrate qui estoit amant d'arpalice et par consequent rival de trasimede et qui de plus scavoit bien que parmenide favorisoit son dessein se mit a dire sincerement a cyrus qu'il n'en avoit point eu d'autre en sortant de sardis que de suivre arpalice qu'il aimoit mais comme cette belle fille n'avoit pas pour luy les mesmes sentimens qu'elle avoit pour thrasimede elle prit la parole pour s'opposer a ce qu'il disoit il me semble luy dit elle assez fierement que si l'illustre cyrus est equitable il n'adjoustera pas trop de creance a ce que vous luy dites car enfin adjousta t'elle avec un sousrire picquant quiconque fort d'une ville assiegee ou l'on est prest a mourir de faim ne doit pas entreprendre de vouloir faire passer cela pour une grande preuve d'amour c'est pourquoy je ne trouve pas que ce que vous dites vous doive empescher d'estre prisonnier de guerre puis qu'il declare qu'il est le vostre reprit cyrus en sousriant il n'est pas juste qu'il ait deux maistres et je ne veux point avoir rien a disputer avec une aussi belle personne que vous lycaste entendant parler cyrus de cette sorte et connoissant qu'en effet ce prince avoit la generosite de vouloir delivrer et thrasimede et menecrate qu'elle scavoit qui avoient querelle ensemble prit la parole pour l'en empescher seigneur luy dit-elle ce que vous voulez faire est sans doute digne de vostre grand coeur mais s'il m'est permis de vous faire une priere je vous conjureray 
 de vouloir que ces deux captifs demeurent quelques jours dans vos chaisnes ou de leur commander absolument de vivre bien ensemble comme ils ne sont pas mes sujets reprit-il je me contenteray de les prier de me faire juge de leur differend seigneur dit alors parmenide comme le demesle qui est entre menecrate et thrasimede est d'une nature a ne pouvoir estre entendu a moins que de scavoir toute leur vie et que leurs avantures ne sont pas assez heroiques pour estre sceues de vous il suffira que vous ayez la bonte de souffrir que trasimede demeure aupres de vous jusques a ce que menecrate ait fait voir son innocence a arpalice qui est la cause de leur different comme cyrus avoit bien remarque qu'arpalice favorisoit plus thrasimede que menecrate il dit a parmenide qu'il les retiendroit tous deux jusques a ce qu'il peust avoir le loisir d'aprendre la cause de leur querelle que cependant andramite conduiroit lycaste cydipe arpalice et candiope au chasteau ou estoit la princesse araminte ou elles seroient assez commodement jusques a tant qu'il fust en estat de pouvoir terminer le different qui estoit entre deux hommes qui tesmoignoient avoir des qualitez a les obliger plustost d'estre amis qu'ennemis comme thrasimede avoit bonne opinion de la justice de sa cause il remercia cyrus de l'honneur qu'il luy faisoit de vouloir bien estre son juge mais pour menecrate il n'en parut pas si satisfait non plus que parmenide neantmoins 
 le respect leur ferma la bouche principalement voyant que lycaste donnoit mille louanges a cyrus de ce que par sa prudence il empeschoit un malheur qui fust peut-estre arrive ou a trasimede ou a menecrate en suite de quoy ces dames prirent conge de ce prince si satisfaites de sa civilite qu'elles ne pouvoient parler d'autre chose thrasimede et menecrate demeurant plostost comme des gens qu'on gardoit parce qu'ils avoient querelle que comme des prisonniers de guerre car le premier fut donne en garde a chrisante qui l'avoit amene et le dernier a feraulas pour parmenide il accompagna lycaste jusques au chasteau ou on la menoit ligdamis eut aussi ordre de cyrus qui le vouloit favoriser d'aider a andramite a escorter ces dames scachant bien qu'il auroit beaucoup de joye de voir cleonice cyrus au sortir de sa tente donna la main a lycaste pour la conduire a son chariot quoy qu'elle s'en deffendist extremement andramite a cydipe ligdamis a arpalice et parmenide a candiope mais arpalice en passant devant ces deux amans prisonniers fit une notable difference de l'un a l'autre car elle salua thrasimede avec une civilite fort obligeante et menecrate avec une froideur qui pensa le faire desesperer principalement parce que ce petit outrage luy estoit fait en presence de son rival apres que cyrus eut mis ces dames dans leur chariot il fit un compliment a ces deux rivaux en suitte de quoy il fut au conseil 
 de guerre qui estoit desja assemble cependant quelques braves que fussent andramite et ligdamis ils quitterent le camp avec joye le premier parce qu'il le quittoit pour rendre un service agreable a doralise et l'autre parce que l'amour estoit encore plus forte dans son coeur que le desir de la gloire joint aussi que les dames qu'ils escortoient estoient si aimables qu'il y avoit beaucoup de plaisir a leur rendre office tant que le chemin dura ils ne parlerent que de cyrus mais enfin estant arrivez au chasteau ou ils devoient aller andramite les mena droicta l'apartement de doralise afin qu'elle les presentast a la princesse de pont andramite donnant ordre qu'on les logeast a celuy que sesostris avoit occupe cependant quelque fiere que fust doralise et quoy qu'elle fust accoustumee a n'aimer pas trop a faire des remarcimens et que de l'humeur dont elle estoit elle eust este plus aise de rendre cent offices que d'en recevoir un elle ne laissa pas de tesmoigner de la joye a andramite de celuy qu'il luy rendoit en luy amenant des personnes qui luy estoient si proches et si cheres elle ne luy fit pourtant pas un compliment fort estendu car encore que ce fust une des personnes du monde qui parlast le plus agreablement elle ne pouvoit jamais rendre grace a qui que ce fust avec exageration il est vray que ceux qui connoissoient bien le fond de son coeur contoient une de ses paroles pour mille et ne laissoient pas de croire qu'elle estoit fort connoissante aussi 
 andramite ne laissa t'il pas d'estre fort content d'elle quoy qu'elle luy dist peu de chose et puis elle fut si occupee a recevoir toutes les carresses que luy firent lycaste cydipe arpalice et candiope que quand elle eust este d'une autre humeur qu'elle n'estoit elle n'eust pas eu loisir de faire un long remerciment a andramite comme il y avoit long temps que lycaste ne l'avoit veue et que cydipe arpalice candiope et doralise ne s'estoient veues qu'une fois dans leur enfance elles se donnerent toutes les louanges que se donnent pour l'ordinaire toutes les belles personnes qui commencet de se connoistre l'esprit de doralise ne fut mesme pas long-temps sans briller aussi bien que ses yeux car comme elle se trouva estre en un de ces jours ou sa fierte n'estoit pas sombre et ou l'enjouement de son humeur la rendoit si charmante elle dit cent choses et a lycaste et a cydipe et a arpalice et a candiope et a parmenide et a ligdamis les plus divertissantes du monde mais enfin apres que ces dames se furent un peu reposees que cydipe arpalice et leur amie eurent racommode leur coiffure et se furent mises en estat de paroistre devant araminte doralise ayant sceu que cette princesse pouvoit estre veue les conduisit a son appartement mais il falut auparavant qu'elle leur presentast cleonice et pherenice et toutes les autres dames captives qui a sa consideration les venoient voir et qui les suivirent chez la princesse araminte mais comme 
 cleonice vouloit faire honneur a ces dames comme parentes de doralise comme nouvelles venues et comme estrangeres elle voulut qu'elles allassent devant ainsi ligdamis s'estant trouve oblige de donner la main a cydipe parce qu'il estoit a la porte ou elle passoit et que parmenide l'avoit desja donnee a cleonice doralise s'en appercevant se mit a dire a demy bas a cydipe qu'elle se croyoit obligee de l'advertir qu'elle recompensoit mal ligdamis de la peine qu'il avoit eue de l'escorter puis qu'en le separant de cleonice elle le separoit d'une personne qui luy estoit fort chere il est vray adjousta-t'elle que comme je pense qu'il a bien eu autant de dessein de la venir voir que de vous conduire vous ne luy estes pas si obligee que vous le pensez comme cleonice n'avoit pas parle pour n'estre point entendue ligdamis se pleignit de l'inhumanite qu'elle avoit d'insulter si cruellement sur un homme qui venoit de luy amener les plus aimables personnes du monde et qui luy devoient donner le plus de joye je ne scay pas luy dit elle comment vous pouvez nommer inhumanite un sentiment que la piete que j'ay de vous m'a donne ce n'est pas la premiere fois adjousta-t'il en marchant tousjours que j'ay remarque qu'il est certains maux dont vous n'avez compassion qu'en raillant et le mal heureux andramite scait bien que je ne ments pas pour peu que vous continuyez de parler tous deux reprit cydipe vous m'aprendrez bien des choses je vous asseure 
 repliqua ligdamis que du moins ne vous apprendray je pas a connoistre parfaitement doralise vous croyez peut-estre interrompit elle en riant me dire une grande injure que de dire que je ne suis pas aisee a connoistre cependant comme je veux vous traicter doucement aujourd'huy je vous declare que je prens cela pour une grande louange et que je ne voudrois pas estre comme certaines gens que je connois qui monstrent des le premier jour qu'on les voit tout ce qu'ils ont d'esprit et tout ce qu'ils ont dans l'ame ligdamis eust respondu a doralise mais ils se trouverent si pres de la chambre d'araminte qu'ils furent contraints de finir leur conversation pour saluer cette princesse qui receut toutes ces dames avec une bonte extreme non seulement parce qu'elle estoit fort civile mais encore pour obliger doralise joint aussi qu'elles avoient toutes un air a attirer la civilite de tout le monde raisonnable apres les premiers complimens elle leur demanda des nouvelles du roy son frere dont elles se louerent fort en suitte elle leur demanda encore si elles n'avoient point eu bien de la douleur de se trouver dans une ville assiegee et si au contraire elles n'avoient pas eu une extreme joye d'en sortir ainsi passant d'une question a une autre ou elles respondoient chacune a leur tour araminte se mit pour louer la beaute d'arpalice celle de cydipe et celle de candiope a dire qu'il n'y avoit pas apparence que sardis fust encore si presse puis qu'elles en sortoient 
 avec une fraischeur sur le teint qui ne tesmoignoit pas qu'elles eussent souffert aucune incommodite adjoustant qu'il y avoit lieu de croire que cresus ne les avoit laissees sortir que pour desesperer ceux qui l'assiegeoient arpalice cydipe et candiope se deffendirent de cette louange en se la cedant l'une a l'autre apres quoy andramite se mit a dire a araminte le merveilleux effet de la beaute d'arpalice luy racontant comment il y avoit eu un de ses amans qui s'estoit voulu jetter dans sardis parce qu'elle y estoit et un autre qui en estoit sorty par dessus les murailles parce qu'elle n'y estoit plus je ne scay point dit araminte lequel des deux est le plus aimable ny le plus aime mais je voudrois bien que ce fust plustost celuy qui vouloit entrer dans sardis que celuy qui en vouloit sortir il me semble madame interrompit parmenide qui favorisoit menecrate qu'il n'est pas tousjours juste de juger des choses par quelques evenemens heureux que le seul hazard a causez car enfin celuy qui s'est trouve dans la ville ne pouvoit pas faire autre chose pour tesmoigner son amour que d'en sortir il est vray dit araminte mais comme il y a plus de peril a se jetter dans une ville preste d'estre prise qu'il n'y en a a s'en retirer je ne puis m'empescher de desirer que l'un soit plus heureux que l'autre je vous asseure madame reprit arpalice en rougissant qu'a parler raisonnablement je ne dois avoir aucune part a l'action ny de celuy qui a voulu se jetter dans sardis 
 ny a celle de celuy qui est sorty puis que selon mon sens l'un a voulu chercher le peril et l'autre l'a peut-estre voulu esviter pour moy adjousta doralise je suis quasi de cette opinion non non interrompit lycaste il ne faut pas accuser injustement un homme qui n'est pas coupable du coste du coeur et qui a plus fait de fautes pour en avoir trop que pour en avoir trop peu pendant qu'araminte s'entretenoit avec ces dames ligdamis parloit bas a cleonice et andramite en taisoit quelquefois autant avec doralice mais comme il avoit affaire a une personne qui n'agissoit pas comme les autres et qui avoit un tour tout particulier dans l'esprit quand il luy parloit bas ou elle ne luy respondoit point ou elle luy respondoit peu ou elle luy respondoit aygrement c'est pourquoy il n'osoit jamais luy dire que trois ou quatre paroles a la fois s'estimant encore assez heureux quand il avoit pu les luy dire sans qu'elle eust pris un certain ton de voix fier et aygre pour luy respondre qui estoit capable de donner de l'amertume aux plus douces paroles du monde mais enfin la visite de ces dames ayant este de longueur raisonnable elles s'en allerent a leur appartement andramite et ligdamis demeurant a ce chasteau jusques a l'heure que ces dames se voulurent retirer avec intention de s'en retourner au camp toute la nuict afin de ne perdre aucune occasion d'honneur ils ne partirent pourtant pas sans recevoir les commandemens de la princesse araminte qui 
 les chargea d'un compliment pour cyrus ensuitte de quoy ils furent dire adieu a toutes ces autres dames mais pendant qu'ils faisoient tous ces divers complimens arpalice tira doralise a part et apres avoir plus d'une fois abbaise et releve son voile pour cacher la rougeur de son visage et s'estre esloignee des fenestres afin d'estre moins en veue elle la conjura de prier andramimite en particulier de vouloir apporter soin a empescher qu'il n'arrivast quelque nouvelle dispute entre thrasimede et menecrate dont elle avoit entedu parler a lygdamis et a andramite luy disant que comme cyrus estoit occupe a de grandes affaires il pouroit estre qu'on ne les garderoit pas assez exactement et qu'il en arriveroit malheur adjoustant que ce luy seroit une douleur extresme si a sa consideration il en mouroit quelqu'un des deux comme il ne m'est pas si ayse de me resoudre a faire une priere a andramite que vous le pensez dit doralise ne croyez pas que je le face si vous ne me promettez de me dire precisement quel interest vous prenez en ces deux prisonniers car encore que je n'aye pas accoustume d'estre fort curieuse et qu'il y ait beaucoup de choses que je ne scay jamais parce que je ne les veux pas demander je vous advoue pourtant que j'ay une si forte envie de scavoir ce qui a cause un evenement si extraordinaire que je ne vous accorderay point ce que vous me demandez si vous ne m'accordez ce que je vous demande j'ay tant d'interest de vous le dire reprit arpalice que je n'ay 
 garde de vous le refuser cela estant dit doralise je vay faire ce que vous voulez que je face et en effect doralise ayant quitte arpalice tira andramite a part comme si elle luy eust communique quelque affaire qui l'eust regardee et quoy que de son humeur elle n'aimast guere a demander office a personne elle mettoit encore une notable difference entre faire une priere pour autruy ou la faire pour elle-mesme c'est pourquoy elle eut un peu moins de peine a prier andramite d'apporter tous ses soings pour faire qu'on gardast bien soigneusement thrasimede et menecrate jusques a ce que cyrus les eust accommodez l'asseurant qu'elle luy en auroit une extreme obligation adjoustant encore qu'il devoit tenir la priere qu'elle luy faisoit comme une grande marque de l'estime qu'elle avoit pour luy car enfin luy dit-elle il n'y a pas quatre personnes au monde a qui je voulusse avoir de l'obligation quoy qu'il y en ait un nombre infiny que je voudrois bien qui m'en eussent si je pouvois pourtant poursuivit elle m'empescher de vous en avoir j'en serois encore bien ayse mais puis que cela n'est pas en ma puissance et qu'il faut que j'en aye a quelqu'un j'ayme mieux que ce soit a vous qu'a un autre quoy que ce que vous dites reprit-il ne soit pas une chose qu'on deust mettre au nombre des faveurs qu'on doit esperer d'une personne qu'on adore je ne laisse pas de la considerer comme telle puis que c'est la plus grande que j'aye jamais receue de vous 
 mais apres m'avoir fait l'honneur de m'asseurer que je suis du nombre de ces trois ou quatre personnes de qui vous pouvez souffrir d'estre oblige dites moy je vous en conjure si je suis le premier le second ou peut estre le dernier de ce grand nombre que vous aymez a obliger je vous asseure luy dit-elle en riant que je ne scaurois vous respondre precisement quand je le voudrois car je n'ay encore assigne nulle place dans mon coeur et tous ceux qui y sont y sont sans doute en confusion sans que je puisse dire qui est le premier ou le second mais andramite adjousta t'elle ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit c'est pourquoy si vous voulez que je ne me repente pas de ce que je vous ay dit et que je ne fois pas au desespoir de vous avoir donne lieu de m'obliger vous ne me direz plus rien si ce n'est pour me dire adieu encore est-ce avoir obtenu quelque chose reprit andramite en sousriant que de vous avoir obligee a me permettre de vous le dire je vous le dis donc madame adjousta-t il en prenant un visage plus serieux mais quand vostre fierte devroit vous persuader que je suis peu respectueux il faut que je vous die que je parts d'aupres de vous le plus'a a 'a a 'a a de grace andramite interrompit-elle en riant n'achevez pas de parler si vous n'estes bien asseure que ce que vous voulez dire ne me faschera point car conme la priere que je vous ay faite regarde une de mes amies je seray bien ayse que vous ne me mettiez pas en estat de vous deffendre de me rendre l'office que je vous 
 ay demande c'est pourquoy adjousta t'elle il vaut mieux pour vous empescher de parler que je me separe de vous et en effect doralise luy ayant fait une reverence fort serieuse comme si elle eust acheve de l'entretenir d'une affaire le quitta et fut rejoindre arpalice pour luy dire qu'andramite feroit ce qu'elle desiroit qu'il fist pendant cela ligdamis disoit adieu a cleonice avec qui il estoit tousjours esgallement bien mais enfin il s'en falut separer ainsi andramite et luy s'en retournerent au camp et laisserent toutes ces belles personnes ensemble qui ne se separerent que lors que le sommeil forca lycaste a leur dire qu'il estoit temps de se retirer cependant comme il importoit extremement a arpalice que cyrus en accommodant thrasimede et menecrate sceust qu'il ne pouvoit sans la rendre tres-malheureuse proteger le dernier au prejudice de l'autre elle consulta candiope qui estoit sa plus chere amie et la confidente de tous ses secrets sur ce qu'elle devoit faire pour moy luy dit-elle si j'estois en vostre place voyant le credit que doralise a aupres de cyrus et par elle-mesme et par la princesse araminte et par andramite je luy ouvrirois mon coeur et luy dirois la verite telle qu'elle est elle a desja souhaitte reprit arpalice que je fisse ce que vous voulez que je face et je le luy ay promis pourquoy donc reprit candiope me consultez vous sur une chose resolue c'est dit arpalice que j'ay plus promis que je ne puis tenir 
 car enfin quoy que je scache bien que c'est une foiblesse estrange de n'oser dire ce qu'on a bien ose faire quand ce ne sont pas de ces crimes qui font horreur j'advoue que je ne me puis resoudre a aller dire moy-mesme a doralise tout ce qu'il faut qu'elle scache pour s'interesser a me servir comme je le veux estre et j'advoue a mon tour reprit candiope en sousriant que je ne scay donc pas comment vous avez pu a la fin n'estre pas tout a fait rigoureuse a thrasimede puis que vous n'osez dire a doralise ce que toute la grande province scait car enfin y a t'il quelqu'un en lycie qui ne scache pas que thrasimede est amoureux de vous non dit arpalice mais il n'y a que vous et thrasimede qui scachiez que je ne le hay point encore n'y a-t'il pas fort long-temps qu'il l'a devine et il ne le scait pas mesme si bien que vous c'est pourquoy si vous me voulez obliger vous m'espargnerez la honte d'advouer toutes mes foiblesses a doralise et vous les luy raconterez vous scavez que vous avez veu la naissance de nostre affection et je ne scay mesme si vous n'estes point cause de celle qui s'est emparee de mon coeur malgre moy mais luy dit candiope vous fierez vous bien a ma discretion ne craindrez vous point que ma memoire ne me rapporte pas fidellement toutes vos paroles que j'en change quelques unes et que je vous fasse parler trop obligeamment a thrasimede comme arpalice alloit luy respondre et luy reprocher l'inhumanite qu'elle avoit 
 de railler d'elle doralise entra dans leur chambre qui apres avoit este a celle de lycaste et a celle de cydipe venoit leur demander comment elles avoient passe la nuict mais lors qu'elle se resjouyssoit de voir par la beaute de son teint et par la vivacite de ses yeux qu'elle avoit bien dormy elle luy demanda si elle se souvenoit de ce qu'elle luy avoit promis de sorte que candiope entendant parfaitement ce que doralise vouloit dire prit la parole et luy dit en riant qu'arpalice n'estoit pas trop disposee a accomplir sa promesse luy disant en suitte tout ce qu'elles venoient de dire lors qu'elle estoit arrivee de sorte qu'il se fit une conversation fort agreable entre ces trois personnes pour moy disoit doralise apres avoir entendu leur different je n'ay garde de croire qu'arpalice ait fait ny dit ny pense des choses quelle ne me puisse dire c'est pourquoy je suis persuadee que c'est plustost par vanite que par modestie qu'elle veut que j'aprenne ses avantures de la bouche d'un autre plustost que la sienne n'estant pas possible qu'on puisse dire de soy mesme tout ce que les autres en disent il me semble dit arpalice que c'est estre bien malicieuse de vouloir m'oster une vertu que j'ay effectivement pour m'attribuer un vice que je n'ay point du tout non interrompit candiope ne vous en deffendez pas doralise a trouve la veritable raison qui vous ferme la bouche et c'est asseurement que vous scavez bien que vous vous desroberiez mille louanges que je vous donneray 
 et que vous meritez en effect mais pour vous empescher de vous irriter je n'appelleray pas ce sentiment la vanite mais un simple desir de gloire je diray que voulant acquerir l'estime de doralise vous avez souhaitte qu'elle vous connust par moy afin quelle vous connust mieux vous direz tout ce qu'il vous plaira reprit arpalice pourveu que je ne die rien et en effect il falut que la chose allast ainsi et que candiope racontast a doralise toutes les advantures d'arplaice elles convinrent donc doralise et candiope qu'aussi tost apres disner elles conduiroient et arpalice chez la princesse araminte ou elles les laisseroient pour s'en revenir dans la chambre de doralise et en effect la chose se fit ainsi elles penserent pourtant estre interrompues par cleonice mais comme doralise luy fit signe adroitement qu'elle s'en allast sa visite ne fut que d'une demie heure et afin qu'une pareille chose n'arrivast plus doralise fit entrer candiope dans un petit cabinet qui estoit a son appartement qui se jettant hors d'oeuvre estoit entierement ouvert de trois faces le haut en estoit en dosme il estoit peint et lambrisse le plancher en estoit parquete il y avoit quantite de quarreaux de drap d or frise de couleurs differentes et ce cabinet estoit enfin si agreable quoy qu'il ne fust pas grand que candiope et doralise n'eussent pu estre en un lieu plus propre a dire et a escouter un secret aussi n'y furent elles pas plus tost entrees qu'apres en avoir ferme 
 la porte et apres avoir ordonne qu'on fermast aussi celle de la chambre elles s'assirent toutes deux sur ces quarreaux si bien que candiope s'apuyant contre une petite table d'ebene marquetee d'ivoire commenca son discours par un compliment
 
 
histoire d'arpalice et de thrasimede
 
 
la reputation que vous avez aymable doralise d'estre une des personnes du monde devant qui il y a plus de danger de parler mal principalement parce qu'il n'y en a point qui parle si bien que vous m'auroit sans doute empeschee de me hazarder a faire un si long discours en vostre presence s'il ne s'agissoit pas du repos d'une personne qui vous est chere et qui la doit estre a tous ceux qui sont capables de se laisser toucher a un merite extraordinaire comme le sien mais son interest m'estant en cette rencontre plus considerable que le mien je commenceray le recit que vous attendez de moy comme si vous n'aviez jamais entendu parler ny de nostre pays ny de nostre ville ny mesme d'arpalice car encore que cette belle fille vous soit assez proche comme vous n'avez jamais este en lycie que vous avez tousjours este ou a sardis ou a suze et que vous ne vous estes veues qu'en un age ou vous ne vous connoissiez pas vous-mesme ny l'une ny l'autre puis que vous n'aviez pas plus de 
 cinq ou six ans la premiere fois que lycaste vint a sardis je pense que je dois vous traitter presques comme si vous ne la connoissiez point du tout vous scavez pourtant bien qu'arpalice n'avoit que sept ans lors qu'elle perdit son pere et sa mere et que comme parmenide n'estoit pas en age d'avoir soing de luy mesme un frere de lycaste qui est leur oncle fut leur tuteur qui n'ayant point de femme mit la jeune arpalice chez lycaste qui l'a eslevee avec un soing aussi grand que cydipe mais je ne scay si vous avez sceu que le pere d'arpalice ayant eu une amitie tres particuliere avec un homme de qualite nomme amphidamas qui estoit de la mesme ville que luy et qui n'avoit qu'un fils et une fille ordonna par son testament en mourant qu'arpalice espouseroit son fils quand elle seroit en age ce qui estoit fort avantageux a menecrate qui est un de ces deux prisonniers qui sont presentement en la puissance de cyrus ce qui fait la grande richesse d'arpalice quoy qu'elle ait un frere est qu'ils ne sont pas d'une mesme mere et comme en nostre pays ce sont les meres qui donnent le rang aux familles et non pas les peres et que celle d'arpalice estoit extremement riche et avoit declare par son testament aussi bien qu'amphidamas qu'elle vouloit qu'elle espousast menecrate adjoustant qu'elle entendoit que la plus part de son bien fust pour luy si sa fille ne l'espousoit pas on peut dire qu'arpalice ne fut jamais 
 maistresse d'elle mesme puis qu'elle fut engagee devant que d'avoir de la raison menecrate pouvoit alors avoir quatorze ans et arpalice sept lors qu'on leur dit a tous deux qu'ils estoient destinez a vivre ensemble et que rien ne les pouvoit jamais separer mais avant que de m'engager a vous dire comment ils vescurent l'un avecque l'autre il faut que je vous die quelle est la forme de vie de nostre ville comme tout le monde scait que la lycie en general est un pays plein de montagnes fort pierreux fort inegal et fort sterile en beaucoup d'endroits vous vous imaginerez peutestre que ceux qui l'habitent tiennent quelque chose de la rudesse de leur pays mais comme ce qu'il y a de terre cultive en lycie est extremement fertile on peut dire de mesme que ceux qui sont honnestes gens en ce lieu la le sont autant qu'en lieu du monde joint aussi que la capitale de nostre pays qui comme vous le scavez se nomme patare est une des villes de toute l'asie la plus celebre non seulement pour sa beaute mais pour ce magnifique temple d'apollon dont l'oracle est si fameux aussi y a-t'il tousjours beaucoup d'estrangers qui y viennent pour le consulter y en ayant encore beaucoup qui y viennent par la curiosite de voir ce celebre mont de la chimere ce mont dis-je que l'illustre bellerophon a rendu fameux dont le sommet est tout plein de lions le milieu de chevres sauvages et le bas de serpens ainsi y ayant tousjours beaucoup d'estrangers a patare le sejour en est 
 fort agreable de plus quoy que le gouvernement de nostre pays soit en quelque facon en forme de republique on ne laisse pas d'y voir une espece de cour aussi bien qu'un estat monarchique car il y a un chef du conseil dont l'au- horite est si grande qu'il ne s'en faut que le nom qu'il ne soit souverain de toute la lycie de sorte qu'ayant presques en son pouvoir la disposition absolue de toutes les charges on luy rend les mesmes soings et quasi les mesmes honneurs que s'il estoit roy si bien que cela fait que la forme de vie qu'on y mene est plus agreable que dans les autres republiques ou tout le monde est separe selon les diverses factions qui s'y trouvent au contraire l'authorite d'un seul ramassant s'il faut ainsi dire tous les honnestes gens d'un estat en une seule ville et bien souvent en un seul palais cela rend sans doute la societe plus douce polit davantage les esprits et est la source de tous les plaisirs et mesme de la galanterie aussi vous puis-je asseurer que le sejour de nostre ville est aussi divertissant qu'en aucun autre lieu de l'asie et je pense mesme pouvoir dire que nous avons eu cet avantage de naistre dans un temps ou il y a plus d'honnestes gens en lycie qu'il n'y en a peut-estre eu depuis trois siecles voyla donc aimable doralise quel est le lieu ou arpalice a este eslevee et ou elle a passe sa vie je ne vous diray point qu'elle a tousjours promis d'estre ce qu'elle est presentement c'est a dire une des plus grandes beautez du monde 
 car comme tous les traits de son visage sont admirables il vous est ayse de voir qu'elle a tousjours este belle et qu'elle n'a pas este de celles dont la beaute semble venir par enchantement et qui apres avoir este laides en leur enfance deviennent tres belles en six mois arpalice n'a pas seulement promis d'estre belle des sa plus tendre jeunesse elle a encore fait paroistre qu'elle avoit infiniment de l'esprit et mesme de l'esprit galant mais un esprit si grand si noble si passionne pour la liberte et si ennemy de toute sujetion et de toute contrainte que je luy ay ouy dire plus de cent fois depuis qu'elle a eu de la raison qu'un plaisir qu'on luy commandoit de prendre estoit pour elle un plaisir perdu je vous laisse donc a penser s'il luy pouvoit jamais rien arriver de plus oppose a son humeur de se trouver engagee des l'age de sept ans a espouser menecrate ce n'est pas qu'il ne soit extremement bien fait mais quand il l'auroit este encore davantage il n'auroit jamais pu toucher le coeur d'arpalice par la seule raison qu'elle ne l'avoit pas choisi il est vray que je pense qu'une des choses qui a empesche la liaison des esprits de ces deux personnes est que menecrate est nay imperieux et ennemy de tout ce qui choque ses inclinations de sorte qu'on peut dire qu'arpalice ayme la liberte et que menecrate ayme le libertinage mais pour en revenir au commencement de leur vie il faut que vous scachiez que lycaste et son frere qui estoit tuteur d'arpalice et de parmenide creurent qu'ils estoient 
 obligez d'apporter tous leurs soings a faire que la derniere volonte du pere et de la mere d'arpalice fust executee de sorte qu'ils firent tout ce qu'ils peurent pour insinuer dans le coeur de cette jeune personne qu'elle estoit obligee d'aimer menecrate d'autre part les parens de ce pretendu amant luy commandoient si expressement de rendre des soings a sa jeune maistresse que n'estant pas en age de leur desobeir il estoit eternellement aupres d'elle du moins aux heures ou il n'estoit pas occupe avec les maistres qui luy enseignoient les choses qu'un homme de sa condition doit scavoir et ils se voyoient si souvent qu'on peut dire qu'ils se virent trop pour s'aymer neantmoins comme ils estoient fort jeunes tous deux durant les trois premieres annees on ne remarqua pas qu'il y eust une grande adversion dans le coeur d'arpalice pour menecrate ny une grande affection aussi dans celuy de menecrate pour arpalice si bien que faisant tousjours ce que leurs parens leur disoient menecrate envoyoit mille petits presens a arpalice qu'elle recevoit civilement plus pour l'amour d'eux mesmes que pour l'amour de luy s'ils dancoient c'estoit ensemble s'ils se promenoient c'estoit tousjours en mesme compagnie et ils n'avoient enfin jamais aucuns plaisirs separez cela ne dura toutefois pas long-temps car comme menecrate avoit sept ans plus qu'arpalice lors qu'il en eut dix-huit elle n'en avoit encore qu'onze de sorte qu'ayant perdu son pere en ce temps 
 la il commenca de vivre a sa mode de traitter arpalice en enfant et d'entrer dans le monde avec toute la liberte d'un homme jeune et qui avoit beaucoup d'impetuosite dans l'esprit il ne laissoit pourtant pas d'avoir dessein d'epouser arpalice et de luy rendre mesme encore quelques petits soins mais c'estoit avec tant de negligence que toute jeune qu'elle estoit elle y prit garde et en eut despit cependant il faut que vous scachiez que menecrate qui ne vouloit pas perdre le bien d'arpalice fit amitie particuliere avec parmenide car comme ils estoient de mesme age il aymoit mieux le frere que la soeur joint qu'il y avoit mesme assez de rapport d'humeurs entre eux de sorte que croyant avoir acquis son affection il negligea encore plus arpalice le voila donc bien avant dans le monde et dans les plaisirs et il agit enfin comme font certains hommes qui ne laissent pas d'estre galans de profession quoy qu'ils soient mariez s'il donnoit des serenades ou il ne venoit point devant les fenestres d'arpalice ou s'il y venoit c'estoit si tard et il y tardoit si peu que cela ne pouvoit pas l'obliger si elle estoit a quelque assemblee il ne la menoit dancer qu'une fois ou deux encore le faisoit il avec peine la quittant a l'heure mesme pour aller entretenir quelqu'une de celles qui touchoient alors son coeur c'estoit en vain que sa mere et tous ses pares luy disoient qu'arpalice avoit plus d'esprit que son age ne sembloit luy devoir permettre d'en avoir qu'il faisoit mal 
 d'en user ainsi et qu'il attireroit enfin son adversion car il ne se soucioit alors que de se divertir disant a ceux qui luy en parloient qu'il falloit laisser croistre la beaute d'arpalice devant que de luy rendre des devoirs et des respects les choses estant en ces termes et arpalice ayant alors douze ou treize ans il forma le dessein d'un voyage avec parmenide mais d'un voyage si long qu'il fut plus de trois ans sans revenir de sorte que pendant son absence la beaute d'arpalice devint ce qu'elle est aujourd'huy c'est a dire un miracle qui donna de l'admiration a toute la lycie cydipe que vous voyez estoit aussi devenue tres belle et la soeur de menecrate nommee cleoxene et qui estoit a peu pres de mesme age qu'arpalice estoit aussi fort aymable de sorte qu'on pouvoit dire que ces trois personnes faisoient le plus bel ornement de nostre ville et comme je les voyois tous les jours il me fut ayse d'aquerir leur amitie il est vray qu'entre toutes ces aymables filles arpalice toucha mon coeur sensiblement aussi se lia t'il une amitie entre nous que rien ne scauroit jamais rompre cependant quoy qu'arpalice fust la plus belle du monde aucun n'osoit s'engager a la servir elle charmoit les yeux de tous ceux qui la voyoient mais tous ceux qui la voyoient se deffendoient pourtant contre sa beaute et les louanges les plus ordinaires qu'on luy donnoit estoit qu'il falloit la fuir avecque soing puis qu'elle ne pouvoit donner de l'amour que sans esperance il n'y 
 avoit pas un homme qui l'approchast qui ne se pleignist de ce qu'il n'estoit pas permis de la servir ouvertement et qui ne luy dist cent choses qui la confirmoient dans l'amour qu'elle avoit pour la liberte neantmoins la coustume la raison et la modestie voulant qu'elle ne suivist pas son humeur elle cachoit ses veritables sentimens autant qu'elle pouvoit mais dans le fonds de son coeur elle avoit un despit estrange de se voir forcee en l'action de sa vie la plus importante et qui doit estre la plus libre elle connoissoit bien qu'elle donnoit de l'amour a tous ceux qui l'approchoient et elle connoissoit bien aussi qu'ils ne s'en deffendoient que parce qu'elle estoit promise a menecrate de plus elle voyoit encore qu'elle estoit observee si soigneusement par les parens de menecrate qu'a peine pouvoit elle tourner les yeux sans qu'ils le sceussent et sans qu'ils y trouvassent a dire si bien qu'elle vivoit avec une telle contrainte qu'une femme de qualite appellee zenocrite qui a l'esprit tout a fait agreable la nomma en raillant la belle esclave et ce nom luy demeura de telle sorte parmy nous que nous l'appellions plus souvent ainsi que par son veritable nom
 
 
 
 
car comme elle a l'esprit bien tourne elle ne se faschoit pas legerement joint qu'a parler sincerement zenocrite est une personne qui est en droict de dire tout ce que bon luy semble sans qu'on s'en ose mettre en colere en effect on passeroit pour ne scavoir point du tout le monde si on s'advisoit de trouver 
 mauvais que zenocrite dist une chose un peu malicieuse quoy qu'il soit assez rare de voir qu'on cherche avecque soing la conversation de celles qui ne pardonnet rien qui n'excusent presque jamais personne et qui parlent quelquefois indifferemment des amis et des ennemis il est pourtant vray qu'il y a tousjours plus d'honnestes gens chez cette dame dont je parle qu'en tout autre lieu de la ville zenocrite est belle sa personne est bien faite sa phisionomie est fine quoy qu'elle ait aussi quelque air languissant elle dit les choses comme si elle n'y pensoit pas et les dit pourtant plus spirituellement que ceux qui y pensent le plus elle a une imagination admirable qui fait qu'elle tourne toutes choses agreablement et qu'elle ne prend des evenemens qu'on luy raconte que ce qui peut servir a les luy faire redire plaisamment elle fait quelquesfois un recit avec une exageration si eloquente qu'elle vous fait voir tout ce qu'elle veut vous apprendre et quelquesfois aussi elle fait une grande satire en quatre paroles elle est pourtant nee bonne et genereuse et si elle parle au desavantage de quelqu'un c'est plus tost par exces de raison et de sincerite et par une impetuosite d'esprit et d'imagination qu'elle ne peut retenir que par malice ce qu'il y a de plus rare en cette personne c'est que le chagrin de son esprit fait bien souvent la joye de celuy des autres car lors qu'elle se plaint ou des malheurs du siecle ou du mauvais gouvernement elle le fait d'une maniere 
 si agreable qu'elle divertit plus par ses pleintes et par ses murmures que les autres ne peuvent faire avec l'humeur la plus enjouee on luy conte toutes les nouvelles qu'elle ne manque pas d'embellir en les redisant ce n'est pas qu'elle les change mais c'est que disant son advis sur ce qu'elle raconte elle le dit tout a fait agreablement de plus comme il y a un grand abord de monde chez elle la liberte y est toute entiere ceux qui se veulent pleindre se pleignent ceux qui veulent railler raillent ceux qui veulent ne point parler se taisent de sorte que chacun suivant son humeur trouve en ce lieu la de quoy se satisfaire ce n'est pas qu'il n'y ait des heures ou ils l'importunent mais l'ennuy qu'elle en a ne laisse pas de servir au divertissement de la compagnie enfin je puis vous asseurer que zenocrite est une personne tout a fait extraordinaire vous pouvez donc juger qu'arpalice ayant autant d'esprit qu'elle en a et logeant en mesme quartier la voyoit assez souvent elle avoit mesme ce privilege que zenocrite ne parloit d'elle que comme d'une personne qu'elle estimoit fort il est vray que je pense pouvoir dire que la conversation qu'arpalice eut avec elle ne servit pas peu a l'entretenir dans l'amour qu'elle avoit pour la liberte et lors qu'elle exageroit l'injustice qu'il y avoit a ceux qui disposoient absolument de la volonte d'autruy sans scavoir mesme quelle elle devoit estre il falloit tomber d'accord qu'elle avoit raison et qu'il n'y 
 a rien de plus estrange que de voir des peres qui veulent obliger leurs enfans a s'espouser un jour sans scavoir s'ils s'aimeront ou s'ils se hairont si leurs humeurs seront semblables ou opposees et s'ils pourront seulement passer une appresdisnee ensemble sans s'ennuyer bien loing d'y estre toute leur vie comme tout ce que disoit zenocrite estoit fort soigneusement retenu et fort exactement raconte les parens de menecrate firent ce qu'ils purent pour empescher arpalice de la voir si souvent mais comme lycaste l'a tousjours fort bien traittee quoy qu'ils en pussent dire elle ne la voulut pas contraindre leur disant que puis que zenocrite n'avoit pas moins de vertu que d'esprit elle ne trouvoit pas qu'elle deust ne la voir point ce qui les faschoit encore estoit qu'en voyant zenocrite arpalice voyoit aussi tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens en lycie cependant il falut qu'ils eussent patience et qu'ils se contentassent d'avoir quelques espions pour tascher de scavoir si quelqu'un ne s'attachoit point a servir arpalice malgre son engagement mais ce fut en vain qu'ils se donnerent cette peine car comme menecrate estoit de fort grande condition et qu'on scavoit bien que parmenide desiroit que ce mariage s'achevast quelques charmes qu'eust arpalice et quelque inclination qu'on eust pour elle tous ceux a qui elle donna de l'amour la combattirent et n'entreprirent point de s'attacher regulierement a la servir ainsi tout le monde la louoit et l'estimoit et personne 
 ne l'osoit aymer je vous laisse a penser combien elle avoit de despit de voir que si elle eust este libre elle eust este en estat de choisir qui elle eust voulu et que cependant elle se voyoit forcee a espouser menecrate qu'elle ne pouvoit souffrir combie de fois s'en est-elle plainte a moy et combien de fois luy ay je entendu souhaitter d'estre pauvre pour estre libre comme les choses estoient en ces termes les parens de menecrate qui avoient eu de ses nouvelles se mirent dans la fantaisie de vouloir luy envoyer le portrait d'arpalice pour luy faire voir combien elle estoit embellie esperant le faire revenir plus tost de sorte que comme ils s'adresserent pour l'obtenir a celuy qui disposoit d'elle et a lycaste ils luy commanderent tous deux de se laisser peindre et ce fut mesme avec tant d'authorite qu'il fallut qu'elle obeist elle differa pourtant le plus qu'il luy fut possible et il n'est point de pretexte dont elle ne se servist pour cela un jour elle dit qu'elle ne se trouvoit pas assez bie coiffee un autre qu'elle avoit trop mal dormy la nuict et qu'elle avoit trop mauvais visage pour estre peinte un autre qu'elle avoit promis de faire une visite un autre encore qu'il faisoit trop obscur et que son taint en paroistroit different de ce qu'il estoit mais a la fin apres bien des remises et des excuses il fallut obeyr pour moy je me suis estonnee cent fois comment on l'avoit pu faire ressembler veu le chagrin qu'elle avoit et le peu de patience qu'elle se donnoit car enfin elle changeoit continuellement 
 de visage selon les divers sentimens qui luy passoient dans l'esprit elle ne faisoit presques que se lever et s'asseoir et si le peintre n'eust pas eu une imagination admirable et qu'il n'eust pas este un des premiers hommes du monde dans son art il n'eust pas pu faire ce qu'il fit car enfin malgre toutes les inquietudes et toutes les impatiences d'arpalice il fit un pourtraict merveilleux quelque irritee qu'elle fust contre menecrate et quelque despit qu'elle eust que cette peinture fust pour luy elle fut pourtant bien ayse de la voir lors qu'elle fut faite car comme vous le scavez quelque encolere qu'on soit on ne peut pas souhaitter long temps de paroistre laide de sorte qu'arpalice se consolant peu a peu de ce petit chagrin qu'elle avoit eu consentit qu'on envoyast son portraict a menecrate et comme il estoit en petit il fut mis dans une assez belle boiste et envoye a celuy pour qui on l'avoit fait faire arpalice ne voulant pas qu'on le luy envoyast de sa part ny qu'on luy mandast mesme qu'elle y eust consenty mais admirez un peu je vous prie la merveilleuse rencontre des choses lors que menecrate receut ce portraict il estoit a apamee ou un homme de qualite d'halicarnasse nomme thrasimede estoit aussi sans autre dessein que de voyager et comme vous scavez que la musique phrigienne est admirable il y a dans cette ville-la un lieu ou l'on fait un concert de voix et d'instrumens a certains jours reglez ou tous les honnestes gens se trouvent 
 selon le loisir qu'ils en ont les uns y allant seulement parce qu'ils ayment la musique et les autres parce qu'ils cherchent la compagnie qu'on trouve infailliblement en ce lieu-la de sorte que menecrate parmenide et thrasimede qui avoient tous trois de l'esprit et de la curiosite ne manquoient pas d'y aller et de s'y trouver et comme il arrive presques tousjours que ceux qui sont estrangers en une ville quoy qu'ils ne soient pas de mesme pays ont pourtant plus de disposition a lier conversation ensemble qu'avec ceux de la province ou ils se trouvent il advint que thasimede chercha occasion de s'entretenir avec parmenide et avec menecrate si bien que trouvant qu'ils avoient tous deux beaucoup d'esprit il s'accoustuma a leur parler plus souvent qu'a tous les autres et comme en ces lieux-la il n'est pas fort ordinaire de faire conversation des choses fort importantes ny fort serieuses ils vinrent a parler de la difference qui se trouve a la beaute des femmes selon les divers lieux ou elles naissent de sorte que passant insensiblement d'une chose a une autre ils se demanderent reciproquement s'il y en avoit de fort belles au lieu de leur naissance et comme menecrate fut le premier qui fit cette demande thrasimede luy respondit qu'il y en avoit de fort aymables a son pays mais adjousta t'il cela n'empesche pas que je ne me die malheureux car enfin il n'y a presentement presques pas une grande beaute a halicarnasse quoy que le temps qui a precede 
 celuy cy de dix ou douze ans seulement ait eu mille beautez admirables ainsi on peut dire que si nostre cour est esclairee c'est par des astres qui se couchent et qui ne luiront plus guere il n'en est pas de mesme de nostre ville reprit parmenide car il y a un nombre infiny de beautez naissantes et pour vous en faire voir quelqu'une interrompit menecrate voyez le portraict d'une de nos belles en disant cela il luy monstra effectivement la peinture d'arpalice qu'il avoit receue le matin thrasimede ne l'eust pas plustost veue qu'il advoua n'avoir jamais rien veu de si beau demandant plus d'une fois si ce n'estoit point un de ces portraits qui ont bien quelque air de la personne pour qui ils ont este faits mais qui l'embellissent tellement qu'on ne peut dire veritablement que ce soit son portraict pendant que trasimede parloit ainsi parmenide fut appelle par quelqu'un de sorte qu'estant demeure seul avec menecrate il se mit a admirer encore plus la beaute de ce portraict et a luy demander s'il estoit d'une personne dont il fut amoureux ou si c'estoit celuy de quelqu'une de ses parentes car je presupose dit il que ce doit estre infailliblement l'un des deux ce n'est pourtant ny l'un ny l'autre reprit menecrate et je puis vous asseurer qu'arpalice dont vous voyez le portraict n'est point ma parente et que je n'en suis point amoureux quoy interrompit thrasimede vous avez peu conoistre cette personne sans l'aimer je l'ay peu sans doute reprit il 
 et mesme je l'ay peu sans peine il est vray que lors que je partis du lieu ou elle est elle n'estoit pas si belle qu'elle est presentement et l'on m'escrit adjousta-t'il qu'elle est encore plus charmante que son portraict pendant que menecrate parloit ainsi thrasimede regardoit tousjours cette peinture avec admiration mais a la fin apres la luy avoir rendue ils parlerent d'autre chose au sortir de la ils furent a une de ces maisons ou l'on joue et qui sont ouvertes a tout le monde car comme la phrigie est fort proche de la lydie et que comme vous le scavez ce sont les lydies qui ont presques invente tous les jeux de hazard on joue autant a apamee qu'a sardis menecrate et thrasimede estant donc allez en ce lieu la ou parmenide ne fut point menecrate n'y fut pas si-tost qu'il se mit a jouer mais avec un tel malheur qu'il perdit tout ce qu'il avoit sur luy excepte le portraict d'arpalice dont la boiste estoit d'or avec un cercle de diamans de sorte qu'estant desespere de n'avoir plus rien a jouer il offrit a ceux contre qui il perdoit de jouer cette boiste de portraict mais sans leur donner loisir de respondre thrasimede prit la parole et dit a menecrate que s'il estoit resolu de jouer cette boiste il le prioit que ce fust contre luy et que pourveu que la peinture y demeurast il la luy feroit valoir le double de ce qu'elle avoit couste d'abord menecrate hesita un momet mais la passion du jeu et l'envie de regagner une partie de ce qu'il avoit perdu estant plus fortes que la bien-seance firent qu'il 
 accepta l'offre que tyhrasimede luy faisoit ne voulant toutesfois que la juste valeur de la chose il se porta d'autant plustost a cotte resolution qu'il creut qu'arpalice ne scauroit jamais qu'il auroit joue son portraict et pour parmenide il ne craignit pas qu'il s'en faschast car leur amitie estoit trop bien liee pour apprehender que rien la peust rompre mais sans m'amuser a vous particulariser cette bizarre avanture il suffit que vous scachiez que menecrate perdit la boiste et le portraict que thrasimede les gagna et qu'il offrit ensuitte a menecrate de luy prester de quoy continuer de jouer mais comme l'opiniastrete de son malheur l'avoit desespere il se retira chez luy aussi chagrin de sa perte que thrasimede estoit gay du gain qu'il avoit fait menecrate estoit pourtant plus inquiet d'avoir este malheureux au jeu en general que d'avoir perdu le portraict d'arpalice en particulier car comme il avoit alors plus de passion pour le jeu que pour elle il estoit plus sensible a l'un qu'a l'autre joint que scachant que selon les apparences l'original de la peinture qu'il avoit perdue devoit infailliblement estre a luy il ne sentoit pas davantage cette perte qu'il faisoit celle qu'il avoit faite auparavant pour thrasimede il n'en estoit pas de mesme car il estoit plus satisfait d'avoir gagne cette boiste et cette peinture que s'il eust gagne une autre chose d'un prix beaucoup plus considerable de sorte que comme il craignit que menecrate ne l'engageast a la rejouer s'il le revoyoit 
 il esvita de le rencontrer et il luy fut assez ayse parce que comme il n'avoit plus que deux jours a estre a apamee il ne parut pas mesme qu'il eust affecte de ne le trouver pas il fut neantmoins pour luy dire adieu aussi bien qu'a parmenide mais le hazard fit qu'il ne les rencontra ny l'un ny l'autre et qu'ainsi il partit sans les voir pour continuer son voyage je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire en quelles villes il fut puis que cela ne serviroit de rien a mon sujet et je vous diray seulement que par tout les lieux ou il passa il regarda soigneusement s'il verroit quelque femme aussi belle que la peinture qu'il avoit mais soit qu'en effect il n'en rencontrast point qui eust tant de beaute ou que du moins il n'en vist pas qui luy pleust autant que luy plaisoit celle d'arpalice il luy donna tousjours la preference dans son esprit apres avoir donc bien erre en divers lieux de la basse asie comme il estoit prest de s'en retourner a halicarnasse il se reprocha a luy-mesme d'estre de l'heumeur de ceux qui vont chercher bien loing des choses mediocrement rares et qui n'en voyent pas d'autres qui le sont extremement parce qu'elles sont fort proches car encore que la carie et la lycie se touchent il n'estoit pourtant jamais venu a patare quoy qu'il y vienne des gens de tous les coings de l'asie pour consulter l oracle d'apollon et qu'il ne vienne aussi beaucoup en lycie pour voir le mont de la chimere thrasimede s'estant donc fait ce reproche a luy-mesme prit 
 la resolution de venir en nostre pays il est vray qu'il joignit a la curiosite qu'il avoit de voir les raretez de nostre ville qui sont conneues de tout le monde celle de voir arpalice le voyla donc en chemin pour venir a patare ou il arriva en la plus belle saison de toute l'annee mais avant que de vous dire comment il vescut il faut que je vous die la merveilleuse rencontre qui luy arriva le jour qu'il y entra pour la premiere fois vous scaurez donc que thrameside s'estant souvenu qu'il y connoissoit un homme qu'il avoit veu a helicarnasse se resolut devant que d'y entrer d'envoyer s'informer s'il y estoit afin de scavoir s'il pourroit loger chez luy suivant le droict d'hospitalite que toutes les nations reverenr il envoya donc un escuyer qu'il avoit porter une lettre a celuy qu'il connoissoit pour luy faire cette priere lors que thrasimede envoya cet escuyer il estoit environ a qu'inze stades du lieu ou il vouloit aller mais a un endroict si agreable qu'il se resolut de l'y attendre ne demeurant qu'un esclave avecque luy qui tint son cheval pendant qu'il se mit a se promener car ce n'est pas la coustume de ceux qui font de longs voyages de mener un grand train comme il n'estoit pas encore fort tard il jugea bien qu'il auroit loisir d'avoir des nouvelles devant qu'il fust nuict de celuy qu'il connoissoit et comme cet endroict est fort beau il ne fut pas mesme marry de s'y arrester car imaginez-vous un petit valon environne de colines entremeslees de rochers 
 du pied desquels fort une petite riviere q'il travarsant le valon est bordee d'une espece de saules sauvages dont l'ombrage est fort agreable et ce qui rend encore l'aspect de ce lieu la plus divertissant est qu'il y a ve fort jolie maison bastie sur une de ces colines et qu'en se promenant au bord du ruisseau on voit en perspective entre les pointes de deux rochers qui semblent s'estre separez expres pour cela la ville de patare en esloignement et un paysage au dela d'une fort grande estendue voila donc aymable doralise quel est l'endroict ou thrasimede s'arresta en attendant son escuyer d'abord il mit pied a terre et laissant son cheval a l'esclave qui estoit avec que luy il se mit a se promener seul le long du ruisseau a l'ombre des saules et il se promena si long temps en avancant tousjours que cet esclave le perdit de veue neantmoins comme il luy avoit dit qu'il l'attendist en ce lieu la et que de plus il scavoit bien qu'il faudroit qu'il y revinst parce que le coste que thrasimede avoit pris pour se promener estoit oppose au chemin qu'il devoit prendre pour aller a la ville il n'estoit pas en peine de ne le voir point cependant apres que thrasimede se fut bien promene il s'assit au pied d'un arbre ou il se mit a resver assez profondement sur ses avantures passees car il m'a raconte depuis non seulement tout ce qu'il pensa alors mais encore tout ce qu'il avoit pense en sa vie la resverie de thrasimede ne fut pas une de ces resveries qui naissent du murmure 
 d'un ruisseau ou du bruit que font les feuilles des arbres lors que le vent les agite ou qui viennent mesme sans sujet en effect il faut que vous scachiez qu'il avoit este fort amoureux en son pais et qu'il ne s'en estoit esloigne que pour se guerir de la passion qu'il avoit eue pour une personne qui l'avoit trahy et qui avoit encore eu plus de coqueterie que de beaute cependant quoy que le despit et l'absence eussent affoibly sa passion et qu'a parler raisonnablement ce qu'il sentoit encore ne se peust plus nommer amour neantmoins dans tous les voyages qu'il avoit faits il n'avoit point veu de beaute qu'il eust preferee a celle de sa fidelle maistresse excepte celle d'arpalice de sorte que croyant que la veue de ce portraict estoit un remede pour achever d'effacer de son imagination l'idee de la personne qu'il vouloit oublier il l'avoit tousjours porte depuis qu'il l'avoit gagne si bien que se trouvant dans ce lieu solitaire et avec toute l'oisivete qu'il faloit pour avoir besoing de se divertir par un si bel objet il tira cette boiste de sa poche et se mit a en considerer la peinture attentivement il estoit alors a demy couche la teste appuyee contre une grosse touffe de gazon qui estoit au pied d'un saule tenant a sa main le portraict d'arpalice qu'il regardoit de temps en temps mais apres estre tombe d'accord avec luy-mesme que la personne qu'il ne vouloit plus aymer n'estoit pas si belle que ce qu'il voyoit insensiblement sa resverie devint plus confuse et il resva 
 sans resver a rien non pas mesme au portraict qu'il tenoit et qu'il sembloit regarder de sorte que comme il faisoit assez chaud qu'il s'estoit leve fort matin que le murmure d'un ruisseau le bruit des feuiles et le chant des oyseaux sont des choses fort propres a exciter le sommeil principalement a un homme qui n'avoit alors ny grande joye ny grande douleur dans l'ame thrasimede s'endormit la boiste qu'il tenoit luy eschapant de la main sans qu'il s'en apperceust et se refermant mesme sans qu'il l'entendist mais pendant que thrasimede dormoit si profondement il faut que vous scachiez que lycaste cydipe arpalice et moy avec plusieurs autres estions allees nous promener a cette jolie maison que je vous ay dit estre bastie sur une des colines qui environnent le valon ou thrasimede estoit endormy car comme elle appartient a zenocrite nous en usions comme si elle eust este a nous cependant il faut que vous scachiez encore que conme il y avoit une liason fort estroitte entre arpalice et moy nous ne croyons pas avoir fait une agreable promenade si nous ne nous estions entretenues en particulier aussi ne manquions nous jamais guere de chercher l'occasion de nous separer des autres et d'avoir quelques momens a nous pouvoir dire tout ce que nous pensions il arriva mesme qu'ayant ce jour la je ne scay quel petit secret de bagatelle a confier a arpalice je le priay de me donner lieu de l'entretenir de sorte qu'a la premiere occasion que nous en trouvasmes 
 nous nous separasmes de la compagnie et pour n'estre point interrompues dans nostre conversation nous sortismes par une porte du jardin et descendismes par un petit sentier assez commode jusques au bord du ruisseau mais a peine eusmes nous fait vingt pas qu'arpalice s'arrestant tout court me fit signe de me taire et me monstra a travers les arbres thrasimede endormy comme je vous l'ay represente d'abord le dessein d'arpalice fut voyant a son habit que c'estoit un homme de qualite de m'obliger a retourner sur nos pas ne voulant point estre veue si peu accompagnee en un lieu si solitaire mais comme je voyois que nous n'estions pas fort esloignees de nostre asile je fus plus hardie qu'arpalice car je voulus regarder thrasimede un peu de plus pres ne pouvant assez m'estonner de voir un homme fait comme luy endormy en ce lieu-la sans voir ny cheval ny escuyer ny esclave je m'approchay donc de quelques pas malgre la resistance d'arpalice que je forcay a me suivre en la tirant par sa robe mais a peine eusmes nous passe deux rangs d'arbres qu'arpalice et moy aperceusmes la boiste de portraict qu'il avoit laisse tomber en s'endormant comme je l'ay desja dit nous ne l'eusmes pas plustost veue qu'une nouvelle curiosite s'empara de nostre esprit quoy que nous ne connussions pas encore que c'estoit celle qu'on avoit envoye a menecrate car il y avoit quelques fleurs champestres qui la cachoient a demy mais ce qu'il y 
 eut d'admirable fut qu'arpalice qui jusques alors avoit este la plus craintive devint la plus hardie et fut poussee d'une curiosite si forte qu'apres avoir regarde a l'entour d'elle si personne ne la pouvoit voir et avoir remarque que cet estranger dormoit bien profondement elle fut a pas contez prendre cette boiste elle songeoit si fort a observer le visage de celuy qui dormoit afin de voir s'il ne s'esveilloit point qu'elle prit la boiste de portraict presques sans la regarder se retirant avec que la mesme precaution qu'elle avoit eue en approchant c'est a dire en marchant tout doucement et en se cachant d'arbre en arbre jusques au pied d'un vieux saule ou je l'attendois afin de voir la peinture que nous presuposions qui devoit estre dans cette boiste avec intention toutesfois de la remettre ou arpalice l'avoit prise car vous pouvez bien juger que nous n'avions pas dessein de faire un larcin et en effect j'avois desja tire de ma poche des tablettes pour ecrire quelque galanterie dedans afin de les laisser avec la boiste quand nous la remettrions et afin aussi que cet endormy que nous croyons estre un amant peust voir qu'on avoit peu luy desrober le portraict de sa maistresse et qu'il peust lire en suitte le reproche que je luy eusse fait de sa negligence vous scavez aimable doralise combien en l'age ou nous estions ces sortes d'avantures inopinees rejouissent aussi arpalice et moy faisions nous cette petite malice a cet estranger avec un plaisir extreme et une 
 attention estrange mais lors qu'arpalice fut aupres de moy et que nous estans bien cachees derriere le saule ou nous estions nous vinsmes a regarder cette boiste nous fusmes bien surprises de voir que c'estoit celle qu'on avoit envoyee a menecrate ou du moins une toute semblable toutefois il y avoit si peu d'aparence de croire que ce peust estre celle la que nous dementismes nos propres yeux et nous l'ouvrismes dans la croyance de n'y trouver pas le portraict d'arpalice imaginez vous donc quelle surprise fut la nostre de voir que c'estoit en effect la mesme peinture qu'on avoit envoyee a menecrate mais aimable doralise je vous demande une chose impossible car il est certain que vous ne scauriez concevoir quel fut nostre estonnement cependant comme nous estions trop pres de cet estranger pour raisonner sur cette avanture sans craindre de l'esveiller nous nous en esloignasmes regardant tousjours derriere nous pour voir si cet homme ne se levoit point pour nous suivre mais enfin ayant gagne le pied de la coline nous nous demandasmes l'une a l'autre comment il estoit possible que cette peinture se trouvast entre les mains de cet estranger pour moy dis je a arpalice en sousriant lors qu'elle me fit cette question si j'en croy mes yeux je ne doute point du tout que ce portraict ne soit celuy que vous avez souffert qu'on envoyast a menecrate mais si j'en croy ma raison je pense qu'il y a plus de sujet de soubconner que vous avez quelque petite 
 galanterie secrette dont vous m'avez fait un mistere vous me faites tant d'outrages a la fois par ce que vous dites reprit-elle que je ne veux pas croire que vous parliez serieusement en verite repris-je en riant je ne scaurois vous dire si je ne raille pas car comment voulez vous que je puisse raisonner juste sur une chose si surprenante ce qui m'afflige repliqua-t'elle est que je ne voy pas comment m'esclaircir de cette avanture il ne faut qu'esveiller cet estranger repris-je ha candiope respondit arpalice je suis bien esloignee de vostre sentiment car de l'heure que je parle j'ay une telle peur qu'il ne s'esveille que quelque envie que j'aye de voir ce qu'il fera lors qu'il s'apercevra qu'il a perdu mon portraict je suis pourtant resolue de m'en retourner ce n'est pas que je ne croye qu'il regrettera plus la boiste que la peinture aussi veux-je adjousta-t'elle la luy renvoyer par un esclave apres en avoir oste mon portraict c'est pour quoy je vous prie de venir m'ayder a en trouver un qui puisse me rendre cet office pour moy j'advoue que je ne me pouvois resoudre a perdre cet estranger de veue et je voulois absolument qu'elle me permist de faire conversation avecque luy comme nous estions en cette contestation une de nos femmes qui nous cherchoit par tout nous vint dire que les chariots estoient prests que lycaste nous attendoit et qu'en nous en retournant nous allions encore voir une autre maison qui se trouvoit sur nostre route 
 ainsi tout ce que nous peusmes faire fut de chercher en passant dans le jardin si nous ne trouverions personne qui fust propre a aller observer cet estranger et a le suivre jusqu'au lieu ou il iroit coucher mais nous ne trouvasmes qu'un jardinier a qui nous taschasmes de faire entedre ce que nous desirions de luy ne manquant pas de luy donner et de luy promettre ce qu'il faloit pour le faire agir il est vray qu'il nous parut si stupide que nous n'esperasmes pas grand esclaircissement de ce que nous voulions scavoir par son moye n'osant mesme luy confier la boiste que nous voulions revoyer a cet estranger il nous promit pourtant de venir le lendemain nous dire ce qu'il scauroit il est vray que nous n'eusmes pas beaucoup de loisir pour l'instruire car on nous vint querir plus de quatre fois en demy quart d'heure lors que nous eusmes rejoint la compagnie on nous fit estrangement la guerre de l'avoir quittee pour si longtemps lycaste nous dit mesme a demy serieusement et a demy en raillant que les personnes de nostre age ne pouvoient avoir de si longs secrets ensemble sans qu'on peust leur donner quelque explication peu favorable pour moy dit arpalice qui n'aimoit pas la contrainte si on m'ostoit la liberte de me taire je pense que je parlerois tousjours et si au contraire on me commandoit de parler beaucoup je me tairois pour toute ma vie en effect dit-elle en riant pour pretexter le dessein qu'elle avoit de m'entretenir je sens une si forte envie de parler bas a candiope 
 depuis qu'on m'en a fait la guerre que je ne pense pas que je m'en puisse empescher apres cela comme nous estions l'une aupres de l'autre elle s'approcha de mon oreille pour me dire quelque chose au commencement on continua de nous reprocher nos secrets en nous interrompant continuellement mais a la fin on nous laissa en repos et nous nous entretinsmes tant que nous volusmes non seulement dans le chariot mais encore lors que nous fusmes arrivees a cet autre jardin que nous allions voir nous cherchasmes donc avecque un soing estrange a deviner comment il pouvoit estre que cet estranger eust eu ce portraict entre ses mains mais quoy que nous pussions penser nous ne pesasmes point la verite de soubconner que menecrate l'eust donne c'est ce que nous ne pouvions faire de croire que celuy a qui nous l'avions pris l'eust derobe c'est ce qui n'estoit pas possible veu son habillement et sa bonne mine de croire aussi que menecrate l'eust perdu au jeu nous n'en avions pas la pensee et le mieux que nous pouvions imaginer estoit qu'il l'eust esgare mais enfin l'heure de se retirer estant venue nous nous en retournasmes a la ville et comme lycaste voulut que je passasse le soir avec cydipe et avec arpalice apres avoir remene toutes les autres dames nous arrivasmes chez elle ou nous ne fusmes pas plustost que nous apprismes que le mary de lycaste nomme menophile venoit d'arriver d'un voyage de huict jours qu'il estoit alle faire et qu'il avoit fait apporter 
 chez luy un estranger qui paroissoit estre homme de qualite qui estoit extremement blesse et que les chirurgiens venoient d'achever de penser lycaste n'eut pas plustost ouy ce qu'on luy disoit que poussee par un sentiment de curiosite et de compassion tout ensemble elle fut droit a la chambre ou on luy dit qu'on avoit mis cet estranger et ou son mary estoit encore de sorte que poussees de mesme curiosite qu'elle arpalice et moy la suivismes cydipe n'y voulant point venir parce qu'elle disoit qu'elle s'esvanouiroit si elle estoit seulement dans le mesme lieu ou seroit un homme blesse nous voila donc a suivre lycaste qui n'eut pas fait deux pas dans la chambre ou estoit cet estranger que menophile nous fit signe que nous ne fissions point de bruit et en effect pour nous empescher d'en faire il vint a nous et nous fit passer dans l'antichambre ou il ne fut pas plustost que lycaste luy demanda avec beaucoup d'empressement qui estoit celuy qu'il assistoit avec tant de soing c'est luy dit-il le plus vaillant homme du monde et de la meilleure mine c'est un homme a qui j'ay voulu sauver la vie et qui me l'a conservee mais apres cela ne m'en demandez pas davantage car je ne scay ny son nom ny son pais mais encore luy dit lycaste ou l'avez vous rencontre je revenois nous dit-il le long de cette petite riviere qui passe assez pres du pied de la coline sur la quelle est bastie la maison de zenocrite ou j'avois dessein de passer 
 lors que j'ay rencontre un esclave qui tenoit un cheval de la poursuivant son chemin je suis enfin arrive dans l'endroict du valon ou aboutit un petit sentier qui respond a une porte du jardin de zenocrite vous pouvez juger aymable doralise qu'arpalice et moy ne pusmes pas entendre ce que disoit menophile sans nous regarder et sans luy prester une nouvelle attention nous jouismes donc que sans prendre garde a nous il continua son recit estant arrive en cet endroict poursuivit-il j'ay veu celuy dont je parle l'espee a la main contre quatre soldats mais je l'ay veu se deffendre comme un lion de sorte qu'encore que j'eusse envoye tous mes gens par un autre chemin et que je n'eusse qu'un esclave avecque moy je n'ay pas laisse de le vouloir secourir mais comme ceux contre qui il avoit affaire m'ont veu mettre l'espee a la main ils se sont separez ainsi il en est demeure deux a le combattre et les deux autres sont venus a moy ils n'ont pas plustost tourne teste pour me venir attaquer que mon esclave s'en est fuy et que je me suis trouve seul contre deux qui d'abord ont tue mon cheval en suitte ils m'ont dit que je ne me meslasse point d'une querelle ou je n'avois point d'interest semblant alors n'avoir autre intention que celle de m'empescher de m'opposer au dessein qu'ils avoient de tuer cet homme mais un d'eux s'estant tourne et ayant veu que cet estranger n'avoit plus qu'un des leurs en teste et qu'il avoit tue l'autre ils se sont jettez sur moy en mesme 
 temps j'ay pare le mieux que j'ay pu leurs premiers coups mais mon espee s'estant faussee en croisant les leurs j'allois asseurement estre tue si celuy que j'avois voulu secourir ne fust venu a mon secours apres avoir tue celuy contre qui il combatoit de sorte que les deux autres a qui j'avois a faire voyant que leurs compagnons estoient morts et remarquant de plus qu'on ouvroit la porte du jardin de zenocrite l'espouvente les a pris de sorte que sans plus songer a combattre ils ont eu recours a la fuite cet estranger et moy les avons suivis mais inutilement cependant comme ce vaillant homme avoit este fort blesse au combat qu'il avoit fait contre les deux qu'il avoit tuez et qu'il avoit beaucoup perdu de sang en poursuivant ceux qui fuyoient comme il a voulu se tourner vers moy et qu'il a commence de me remercier de ce que j'avois voulu faire pour luy il est tombe comme mort a mes pieds en mesme temps un jardinier de chez zenocrite ayant ouvert la porte du jardin comme je l'ay desja dit et ayant veu ce qui se passoit au lieu ou nous estions a apelle tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens dans la maison ou il demeure pour nous venir assister ainsi c'a este par leur moyen que j'ay fait aporter cet illustre blesse au lieu ou il est avec intention de proportionner mes soins a son merite apres que menophile eut acheve de raconter ce qui luy estoit arrive lycaste luy demanda encore plusieurs choses que nous n'escoutasmes guere arpalice et moy car encore que nous ne 
 pussions presque douter que celuy dont menophile parloit ne fust le mesme que nous avions veu endormy neantmoins cette avanture estoit si surprenante que nous mourions d'envie de nous en esclaircir par nos yeux il est vray que nous ne fusmes pas long-temps dans cette inquietude car ayant entendu que cet estranger prioit qu'on s'informast si on ne trouveroit point un portraict aux deux soldats qu'il avoit tuez lycaste r'entra dans la chambre ou nous la suivismes mais nous n'y eusmes pas fait deux pas que nous vismes que celuy que nous avions veu et celuy que nous voyons n'estoient qu'une mesme personne il ne reconnut pourtant point arpalice car outre qu'il estoit si foible qu'a peine avoit il peu lever son rideau pour demander si un escuyer et un esclave qu'il avoit ne l'estoient point venu chercher il est encore vray qu'arpalice se cachoit a demy derriere lycaste et derriere moy de sorte qu'elle le reconnut sans qu'il la reconnust pour estre la personne dont il avoit perdu la peinture cependant quelque foible qu'il fust il ne laissa pas de faire un compliment fort spirituel a lycaste lors qu'elle l'asseura qu'il estoit en lieu ou il pouvoit commander absolument mais comme les chirurgiens avoient extremement deffendu qu'on le fist parler cette conversation ne fut pas longue il n'en fut pas de mesme de celle que nous eusmes ensemble arpalice et moy sur cette estrange rencontre et nous resolusmes de ne dire encore rien du portraict que nous avions pris a 
 cet estranger jusques a ce que nous sceussions plus precisement quelle estoit cette avanture mais comme je ne doute point que vous n'ayez impatience de scavoir la cause du combat de trasimede il faut que je vous die ce que nous en sceusmes par luy le lendemain imaginez-vous donc que le hazard fit que quatre soldats passant aupres de thrasimede endormy il s'esveilla justement comme ils estoient a cinq ou six pas de luy et justement encore comme deux d'entre eux le regardoient en riant soit qu'ils raillassent de quelque chose ou il n'avoit point d'interest soit que ce fust effectivement de ce qu'ils l'avoient veu si accable de sommeil de sorte que thrasimede s'esveillant cherchant sa boiste et ne la trouvant point creut absolument que ces soldats qui l'avoient regarde en riant l'avoient prise mais pour leur donner lieu de la luy rendre il fut a eux sans nulle marque de chagrin et les appellant assez haut mes compagnons leur dit-il vous en avez assez fait pour meriter d'estre enrollez dans les troupes lacedemoniennes c'est pourquoy je vous prie de me rendre ce que vous n'avez sans doute pris que pour me faire voir vostre adresse et pour me le faire chercher mais pour vous recompenser de la joye que vous me donnerez en me le rendant je vous donneray plus que ne vaut la boiste de portraict que vous m'avez prise ces soldats bien estonnez d'entendre parler thrasimede creurent qu'il n'estoit pas encore bien esveille et se mirent insolemment 
 a rire en luy disant avec assez d'incivilite qu'ils estoient bien marris qu'il eust fait un mauvais songe mais sans m'amuser a vous dire une si estrange conversation il suffit que vous scachiez que thrasimede estant fortement persuade qu'ils avoient le portraict qu'il avoit perdu leur dit quelque chose qui leur fit connoistre la croyance qu'il avoit a quoy ils respondirent si extravagamment que thrasimede dans la colere ou il estoit ne peust s'empescher de les menacer il ne l'eut pas plustost fait que se servant sans doute de ce pretexte pour le voller ou pour le tuer ils l'attaquerent tous quatre a la fois conme je vous l'ay dit mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit de voir que lors que thrasimede racontoit son advanture a menophile et a lycaste il leur soustenoit tousjours que ces soldats avoient pris le portraict qu'il avoit perdu exagerant le malheur qu'il avoit eu d'en avoir tue deux sans l'avoir retrouve et qu'il se fust rencontre que ceux qui avoient fuy l'eussent emporte cependant l'escuyer de thrasimede estant retourne au lieu ou il avoit laisse son maistre pour luy dire que son amy estoit ravy de le loger chez luy il trouva encore l'esclave qui luy dit que thrasimede luy avoit ordonne de l'attendre ou il estoit et qu'il s'estoit alle promener le long du ruisseau en remontant vers sa source cet escuyer fut donc avec cet esclave le long de cette petite riviere mais ils n'y trouverent que les corps de ces deux soldats morts qu'on n'en avoit pas encore ostez et qui ne le furent 
 que le lendemain par les ordres de la justice l'escuyer fut alors extremement en peine de son maistre cependant comme il estoit desja fort tard ne scachant que faire pour en apprendre des nouvelles il fut a la maison de zenocrite ou le jardinier luy ayant dit ce qu'il en scavoit il luy dit qu'il seroit inutile qu'il entreprist d'entrer dans la ville ce jour la parce que les portes en seroient fermees avant qu'il y peust estre ainsi ce ne fut que le jour suivant au matin que ce jardinier voulant nous tenir sa parole amena cet escuyer et cet esclave de trasimede chez lycaste a qui ils apprirent le nom et la condition de leur maistre de sorte que la scachant elle redoubla encore ses soins pour l'assister cependant comme cela ne suffisoit pas pour contenter la curiosite d'arpalice elle fit demander a cet escuyer par une de ses femmes qui estoit fort adroite si le portraict que son maistre avoit perdu estoit celuy de quelque personne qu'il aymast en son pays esperant par la luy faire dire la verite et en effect cet escuyer sans y entendre de finesse luy dit que cela n'avoit garde d'estre et alors il luy raconta que son maistre l'avoit gagne au jeu a apamee sans qu'il peust dire qui l'avoit perdu ny quel estoit ce portraict n'ayant jamais veu ouvrir la boiste dans quoy il estoit je vous laisse a penser aymable doralise quel fut le despit d'arpalice d'aprendre que menecrate estimoit si peu sa peinture je vous asseure me dit-elle apres qu'elle m'eut apris ce que cet escuyer avoit 
 dit que menecrate en perdant mon portraict a plus perdu qu'il ne pense car enfin poursuivit elle il n'y a pas moyen de ne luy oster point ce peu de complaisance que j'avois pour luy apres l'outrage qu'il m'a fait considerez un peu je vous prie adjoustoit-elle comment il me traitteroit si je l'avois espouse puis qu'il me traitte comme il fait devant que d'estre mon mary quelque violente que fust la colere d'arpalice je ne la pouvois pas condamner cependant elle se trouvoit un peu embarrasse car elle n'aymoit pas trop a faire scavoir que nous avions este la cause innocente du malheur qui estoit arrive mais d'autre part elle avoit une telle envie que tout le monde sceust le nouveau sujet de haine qu'elle avoit pour menecrate qu'elle se resolut de le dire a zenocrite ne croyant pas le pouvoir apprendre a personne qui le dist a plus de gens ny qui le dist plus au desavantage de menecrate nous jugeasmes pourtant a propos de ne faire point scavoir que nous eussions pris ce portraict qui avoit cause un si funeste accident mais seulement que nous avions sceu que menecrate l'avoit joue et perdu toutefois comme nous ne la pusmes voir ce jour la il falut avoir patience ce pendant thrasimede se trouvant beaucoup mieux et les medecins et les chirurgiens ayant asseure que ses blessures estoient sans danger il s'informa chez qui il estoit afin de scavoir a qui il estoit oblige mais comme le nom de menophile et celuy de lycaste ne luy apprenoient pas qu'arpalice fust en 
 mesme maison que luy il fut estrangement surpris ce jour la vous scaurez donc qu'arpalice se trouvant seule aupres de sa tante elle fut obligee de la suivre a la chambre de thrasimede il arriva mesme que menophile qui y estoit le premier ayant eu quelque chose a dire en particulier a lycaste la tira vers les fenestres et laissa arpalice seule aupres du lict de cet illustre blesse imaginez vous je vous en conjure quelle fut sa surprise lors qu'il connut que la personne qu'il voyoit estoit la mesme dont il avoit gagne et perdu la peinture il fut pourtant un moment en doute parce qu'il la trouvoit encore plus belle que son portraict neantmoins s'estant confirme dans sa pensee par la prodigieuse ressemblance qu'il voyoit en tous les traicts du visage d'arpalice avec ceux de sa peinture il eut une extreme joye de cette rencontre sans qu'il sceust pourtant quel avantage il en attendoit il se fit donc plus de violence qu'il n'eust fait pour parler a une autre et il le fit en effet si agreablement qu'arpalice en fut extremement satisfaite il ne peut toutesfois pas luy dire comme il en avoit le dessein qu'il y avoit desja long-temps qu'il estoit admirateur de sa beaute car menophile estant sorty et lycaste s'estant rapprochee il falut changer de discours comme arpalice l'observoit soigneusement elle remarqua aysement la surprise et la joye de thrasimede mais comme il n'estoit pas encore en estat de faire de longues conversations celle de lycaste et de luy ne 
 fut que d'un quart d'heure seulement encore fut ce pour la conjurer comme il en avoit de fia prie menophile de vouloir souffrir qu'il se fist transporter chez un amy qu'il avoit a patare mais comme elle scavoit bien que menophile ne vouloit pas qu'il sortist de chez luy qu'il ne fust entierement guery elle luy parla avec toute la civilite possible apres quoy elle se retira elle ne fut pas plutost sortie que celuy que thrasimede connoissoit a nostre ville le vint voir de sorte que voulant estre pleinement informe de tout ce qui touchoit arpalice dont la beaute luy avoit tant donne d'admiration il sceut qu'elle estoit niepce de menophile et de lycaste qu'elle estoit promise a menecrate et qu'elle estoit soeur de parmenide si bien que par la il vint a scavoir qu'arpalice devoit espouser un homme qu'elle n'aimoit point et dont elle n'estoit pas aymee car apres luy avoir gagne son portraict et avoir ouy de sa bouche qu'il n'en estoit point amoureux il n'en pouvoit pas douter mais comment est-il possible disoit-il en luy-mesme qu'une personne aussi belle qu'arpalice puisse se resoudre a se marier sans estre aymee de celuy qui l'espousera elle dis-je qui sans doute a donne de l'amour a tous ceux qui se sont trouvez capables d'en recevoir sans mentir disoit-il a son amy le destin d'arpalice me semble digne de compassion car quoy que menecrate soit bien fait et qu'il ait de l'esprit puis qu'il ne l'ayme point il ne scauroit estre digne d'elle cependant 
 repliqua cet homme il n'est pas ayse que son destin change parce que si elle refuse menecrate elle perdra la plus grande partie de son bien j'aymerois mieux le perdre tout entier reprit thrasimede que de perdre la liberte je pense respondit celuy qu'il entretenoit que si arpalice est sage elle ne le fera pourtant pas car quelque belle qu'elle soit si elle n'avoit point de bien elle auroit des amans mais je doute si elle auroit un mary tous les hommes repliqua thrasimede ne sont pas si interessez que vous pensez et si je devenions amoureux d'arpalice je vous ferois peut estre changer d'advis cependant nous n'eusmes pas plustost fait scavoir a zenocrite que menecrate avoit joue le portraict d'arpalice qu'elle l'aprit a toute la ville mais d'une maniere si plaisante si pleine de malice et d'esprit qu'on ne parla que de cela durant huict jours elle voulut mesme scavoir la chose de la bouche de thrasimede a qui elle fit une visite lors qu'il fut en estat d'en recevoir car estant venue pour voir lycaste comme elle sceut qu'elle estoit a la chambre de thrasimede elle ne voulut point qu'on l'allast advertir et elle y monta tout droict elle n'y fut pas plustost qu'elle envoya prier cydipe arpalice et moy qui estions dans une autre chambre de l'aller voir a celle de thrasimede et je ne scay mesme si ce ne fut point ce jour la qu'il devint amoureux car enfin la joye qu'eut arpalice d'entendre toutes les plaisantes et malicieuses choses que dit zenocrite 
 contre menecrate fit qu'elle en parut si belle qu'il n'eust pas este ayse de luy resister et de se deffendre de ses charmes apres les premiers complimens faits il se trouva que zenocrite connoissoit extremement toute la maison de thrasimede car c'est un des talens qu'elle a de faire en sorte que rien ne luy soit jamais inconnu et de connoistre des gens par toute l'asie si bien que passant insensiblement d'une conversation de civilite a une autre plus enjouee elle luy demanda brusquement devant lycaste pour combien menecrate avoit joue le portraict d'arpalice contre luy car comme je m'imagine dit-elle qu'il ne se connoist gueres ny en peinture ny en pierreries je pense qu'il l'aura joue pour peu de chose il ne tint pas a moy reprit thrasimede qu'il ne le jouast pour beaucoup puis que je luy offris de le faire valoir le double de ce que la boiste en avoit couste car pour la peinture adjousta t'il en regardant arpalice je n'aurois pas eu assez de bien pour en esgaller le prix mais madame poursuivit-il encore par quelle voye avez vous sceu que menecrate a perdu le portraict de la belle arpalice il paroist bien interrompit lycaste que vous estes estranger en ce pays car si vous ne l'estiez pas vous vous estonneriez de ce que zenocrite ne scauroit point et vous ne vous estonneriez jamais de ce qu'elle scauroit c'est une chose si remarquable dit zenocrite de voir un amant qui joue le portraict de sa maistresse que je pense qu'en quelque lieu du monde que cela 
 fust arrive on le scauroit par toute la terre mais aussi adjousta-t'elle je ne scay de quoy les amis de menecrate se sont advisez de vouloir luy envoyer le portraict d'arpalice car selon moy il n'y a rien de plus ridicule que ces galanteries de famille qui se font a la veue de tout le monde et par le conseil et le consentement de tous les parens si j'en eusse este creue dit arpalice thrasimede s'en porteroit mieux car menecrate n'auroit pas eu mon portraict et par consequent il n'auroit pas este cause du malheur qui est arrive n'apellez point malheur reprit-il une chose qui m'a donne l'honneur de connoistre tant d'honnestes personnes vous en direz ce qu'il vous plaira luy dis-je mais je pense que trois coups d'espee que vous avez receus peuvent s'appeller un malheur il est tant de sortes de maux repliqua-t'il qui produisent de grands biens que je pense pouvoir dire que l'accident qui m'est arrive est de ce nombre pour moy dit zenocrite puis que vous n'en mourrez pas je ne voudrois point que cela ne fust pas arrive car je vous advoue que j'ay une telle aversion pour cette sorte d'amans de qui l'amour naist dans le testament de leur pere et qui sont dans la certitude d'espouser celles qu'on appelle leurs maistresses des le premier jour qu'ils la connoissent que j'ay quelque joye lors que je scay qu'il y en a quelqu'un qui fait quelque chose de mal a propos en effect adjoustoit-elle ostez l'inquietude et le mistere a l'amour vous luy ostez 
 tout ce qui donne de l'esprit a un amant et pour vous prouver ce que je dis imaginez-vous le plus honneste homme du monde durant les trois ou quatre derniers jours qui precedent son mariage et voyez le aupres de la personne qu'il doit espouser en une de ces heures ou les freres les soeurs les neveus les oncles les tantes les peres les meres les ayeuls et les ayeules viennent se rejouir de son mariage et je m'asseure que vous tomberez d'accord qu'il n'y a rien de plus descontenance qu'un amant legitime et declare quand mesme il seroit effectivement amant imaginez vous donc ce que ce doit estre lors que celuy qu'on marie ne l'est point pour moy j'advoue que c'est une chose qui me blesse tellement les yeux et l'imagination que je ne la puis endurer jugez apres cela ce que peut faire arpalice qui depuis qu'elle est nee n'a point eu d'autre objet devant les yeux qu'un de ces amans sans amour qu'elle a tousjours deu regarder comme devant infailliblemet estre son mary pendant que zenocrite parloit ainsi thrasimede regardoit attentivement arpalice et remarquoit que son amie luy faisoit plaisir de dire ce qu'elle disoit il n'en estoit pas de mesme de lycaste qui en avoit beaucoup de despit mais comme zenocrite n'estoit pas acoustume a consulter les sentimens d'autruy pour dire les siens elle continua le reste du jour a parler comme elle avoit commence scachant bien qu'arpalice n'en estoit pas faschee tantost elle despeignoit cette espece d'amans 
 apres elle representoit le decontenancement de leurs maistresses en suitte elle les comparoit aux veritables galans et faisoit remarquer une si notable difference entre les uns et les autres qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de ne tomber point dans son sens mais luy dis je une fois en l'interrompant il faut donc bannir entierement la galanterie car puis qu'un galant legitime n'est point galant et que la vertu ne veut pas qu'on en souffre d'autres il faut conclure qu'il n'en faut point souffrir du tout quand je dis ce que vous dites reprit zenocrite je n'entends pas precisement la chose comme vous l'entendez et a parler tout a fait juste on peut dire que ceux que je condamne sont proprement ces amans qui ne le sont point et ces amans declarez car enfin pour faire que la galanterie produise de jolies choses il faut que celuy qui la fait ayme seulement pour aimer sans songer d'abord s'il espousera ou s'il n'espousera pas car lors que la pensee du mariage naist au coeur d'un amant dans le mesme temps que sa passion je soustiens qu'il est moins galant qu'un autre qui sans scavoir pourquoy il ayme ny par quelle voye il sera ayme ne laisse pas de le faire je suis mesme persuadee poursuivit-elle en riant que les amans qui ont des peres et des meres qui s'opposent a leur amour sont bien souvent plus galans que les autres et s'ennuyent mesme moins que ces amans heureux qui ne scavent que se dire tout a bon poursuivit elle l'inquietude est un des agreemens 
 de l'amour et je ne pense pas qu'il y ait de conversation plus ennyeuse que celle d'un amant qui n'a rien a desirer ni rien a se pleindre pour moy reprit thrasimede je croy qu'un amant qui ne se pleint point n'est point amoureux car enfin quelque favorise qu'il puisse estre il me semble qu'il ne doit jamais trouver qu'il le soit assez il est vray repliqua zenocrite qu'il est assez dangereux de dire qu'on est content et qu'il n'est pas mesme trop obligeant mais pour en revenir a menecrate adjousta t'elle en se levant je vous asseure que je ne voudrois pas qu'il n'eust point perdu le portraict d'arpalice tant cette avanture m'a divertie et me divertira encore apres cela zenocrite se retira et tout le reste de la compagnie aussi thrasimede demeurant seul a entretenir ses pensees il est vray qu'il n'en eut pas beaucoup de differentes car la beaute d'arpalice l'occupa si agreablement qu'il ne songea a autre chose
 
 
 
 
mais enfin aymable doralise sans m'amuser a vous raconter tous les premiers sentimens de thrasimede pour arpalice je vous diray seulement que sa foiblesse estant fort grande il fut long-temps a guerir qu'ainsi il vit presques tous les jours arpalice et qu'a mesure que les blessures qu'il avoit receues pour elle guerissoient sa beaute luy en faisoit de plus profondes dans le coeur il m'a dit depuis que d'abord il s'opposa a cette passion mais que ne l'ayant peu vaincre il y avoit entierement abandonne son ame comme thrasimede a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit 
 galant il acquit bien-tost l'estime d'arpalice il eut mesme le bonheur de plaire a zenocrite car ce n'est pas tousjours assez que d'avoir du merite pour luy plaire pour moy j'advoue que j'eus une grande felicite a devenir amie de thrasimede et que je ne m'opose pas aux sentimens avantageux qu'arpalice avoit pour luy cependant quelque amoureux qu'il fust d'elle il n'osoit le luy tesmoigner car en l'estat ou estoient les choses il n'estoit guere moins offencant de luy parler d'amour qu'a une femme mariee neantmoins comme il scavoit qu'elle avoit une grande adversion pour menecrate il ne laissa pas d'esperer mais comme il scavoit aussi qu'un des plus grands secrets pour estre ayme est de plaire et de divertir et qu'on amolit autant de coeurs par la joye que par des larmes il ne songea qu'a divertir arpalice et toutes ses amies le premier plaisir qu'il nous donna nous surprit mesme si fort que je ne puis m'empescher de vous le redire imaginez vous donc que comme nous estions un soir dans sa chambre avec lycaste zenocrite cydipe arpalice beaucoup d'autres et moy tout d'un coup nous ouismes une harmonie admirable dans la rue d'abord zenocrite nous regarda toutes et nous demanda pour qui c'estoit adjoustant que du moins scavoit elle bien que cette serenade n'estoit pas donnee par un de ces amans declarez qui ne faisoient jamais rien de bonne grace pour moy dit cydipe je scay bien que je n'y ay point d'interest 
 j'y en dois encore moins predre que vous adjousta arpalice c'est peut estre pour la compagnie en general repliquay-je ce n'est guere la coustume reprit froidement thrasimede de donner des serenades publiques car encore que tous ceux qui les entendent les entendent esgallement je pense pourtant qu'on a tousjours dessein que quelqu'un s'en face l'application particuliere en suitte nous nous mismes a chercher qui ce pouvoit estre et nous nommasmes tous les hommes de nostre connoissance sans pouvoir tonber d'accord entre nous que ce peust estre quelqu'un d'eux car si j'en nommois un cydipe me disoit que cela ne pouvoit estre parce qu'elle scavoit qu'il estoit engage en quelque conversation si j'en nommois un autre zenocrite m'asseuroit qu'elle scavoit qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de donner des serenades et qu'il avoit un chagrin estrange ce soir la si lycaste pensoit avoir devine nous luy faisions toutes voir qu'elle s'abusoit et pour zenocrite elle advouoit elle mesme qu'elle ne pouvoit qui soubconner de cette galanterie mais durant que nous cherchions qui la pouvoit avoir faite arpalice ne disoit mot et sembloit mesme ne se vouloir pas donner la peine de chercher qui ce pouvoit estre ne diroit on pas dit alors zenocrite qu'arpalice est estrangere aussi bien que thrasimede et qu'elle ne connoist personne icy mon silence repliqua-t'elle en riant vient de ce que je n'ay pas un deffaut dont on accuse presques toutes les femmes qu'on dit qui n'aiment 
 jamais tant a parler que lors qu'il y a quelque chose qu'il faut escouter avec attention et qui demanderoit qu'elles se teussent et pour moy je trouve qu'on a raison de blasmer celles qui en usent ainsi car le moyen adjousta t'elle que vous puissiez avoir nul plaisir de la serenade si vous ne l'escoutez point arpalice eut pourtant beau nous vouloir imposer silence la curiosite de scavoir qui estoit celuy qui nous donnoit ce divertissement l'emporta par dessus toute autre consideration nous fismes mesme sortir par une porte de derriere un esclave fin et adroict qui connoissoit tous les gens de qualite de la ville avec ordre d'aller tascher de remarquer qui donnoit cette serenade mais nous fusmes bien surprises lors qu'il nous asseura a son retour qu'excepte ceux qui faisoient l'harmonie il n'y avoit personne dans la rue cet esclave n'eut pourtant pas plustost dit cela que zenocrite plus fine que les autres nous dit qu'elle n'estoit plus en peine de scavoir qui la donnoit et qu'il ne s'agissoit plus que de scavoir a qui elle estoit donnee il me semble interrompit thrasimede qu'il est assez difficile de comprendre par quelle voye vous pouvez scavoir ce que vous ignoriez il n'y a qu'un moment c'est parce que je l'ay ignore que je le scay respondit elle cet egnime est si obscur repliquay-je que j'avoue que j'ay quelque peine a le comprendre et que je ne croy pas que thrasimede l'entende je m'asseure pourtant dit-elle qu'il advouera 
 que je ne me trompe pas et alors se panchant vers luy elle luy demanda tout bas si c'estoit a arpalice a cydipe ou a moy qu'il donnoit cette serenade thrasimede surpris de voir que zenocrite avoit effectivement devine s'en deffendit avec empressement mais plus il luy dit qu'elle s'abusoit plus il la confirma dans son opinion de sorte que zenocrite estant ravie d'avoir trouve ce que nous avions tant cherche inutilement nous dit tout bas les unes apres les autres ce qu'elle avoit pense a la reserve de lycaste a qui elle n'en parla point pour moy elle ne m'eut pas plustost dit ce qu'elle pensoit que je n'en doutay point cydipe fit la mesme chose et toutes ces autres dames aussi quant a arpalice soit qu'elle voulust dissimuler ses sentimens et qu'elle soubconnast desja que thrasimede ne la haissoit pas ou qu'en effect elle ne creust point ce qu'on luy disoit elle nous dit tousjours qu'asseuremet nous nous trompions il est vray qu'elle ne fut pas longtemps en pouvoir de parler ainsi car le lendemain au matin j'envoyay querir un de ceux qui avoient este de la musique et qui avoit este mon maistre pour le conjurer de m'aprendre qui l'avoit employe le soir auparavant comme il estoit accoustume de ne me faire pas un secret de pareilles choses quelque fidelite qu'il eust promise il me dit qu'il ne me pouvoit dire precisement qui avoit donne cette serenade que tout ce qu'il en scavoit estoit qu'on les avoit fort magnifiquement recompensez qu'ils n'avoient 
 este en nul autre lieu que devant la maison de lycaste que celuy qui avoit parle a eux sembloit n'estre qu'un escuyer qu'il avoit quelque accent estranger et qu'il leur avoit fort recommande le secret de sorte que comme il me depeignit cet homme et que je connoissois l'escuyer de thrasimede je ne doutay point du tout de la verite dont je ne fis pas un secret a arpalice il arriva mesme encore une autre chose plus surprenante que celle la car il faut que vous scachiez que le soir de la serenade nous fismes partie d'aller dans deux jours nous promener a quarante stades de patare a une fort belle et magnifique maison qui appartient a un homme qui n'a jamais plus de joye que lors qu'il n'en est pas le maistre et que son concierge luy raporte qu'il y a eu beaucoup de monde qu'on s'y est bien diverty et qu'on l'a trouvee admirable car enfin il se pique autant de la beaute de sa maison qu'une belle dame fait de la sienne le plaisir qu'y prenoient les autres estoit mesme le seul qu'il en avoit alors parce qu'il y avoit trois mois qu'il estoit incommode et qu'il n'avoit point sorty de la ville voila donc quelle estoit la commodite du lieu ou nous fismes dessein d'aller en presence de thrasimede luy tesmoignant toutes beaucoup de douleur de ce qu'il n'estoit pas encore en estat d'y venir avecque nous chacune luy representant ce qu'il y avoit de plus beau a cette maison lycaste en louoit l'architecture et la scituation zenocrite un grand vestibule a 
 trente-deux colomnes et un grand et magnifique escalier cydipe une salle admirable et digne de la magnificence des rois d'egypte pour moy je louay principalement la belle veue les jardins les fontaines et les balustrades mais pour arpalice qui estoit ce jour la en humeur de n'estre pas du sentiment des autres elle nous dit qu'il y avoit un certain petit cabinet solitaire qu'elle preferoit a tout le reste de ce superbe bastiment ce n'est pas dit-elle que je ne scache bien que toutes les autres choses que vous louez sont essentiellement plus belles que ce qui me plaist mais apres tout adjousta-t'elle je pretens le jour de nostre promenade ne me promener que des yeux et demeurer dans ce cabinet dont je parle a resver agreablement imaginez-vous dit-elle a thrasimede pour justifier le choix qu'elle faisoit de ce lieu la que ce cabinet qui touche mon inclination est scitue de facon qu'encore qu'il soit ouvert de deux faces et qu'on descouvre aussi loing que la veue peut s'estendre on n'apercoit pourtant rien que de solitaire les jardins que l'on voit de ce coste la ne sont que des parterres de gazon et des vergers pleins d'arbrisseaux les fontaines qui y coulent n'ont que des bassins rustiques les ruisseaux qui en partent semblent estre conduits par la nature seulement quoy qu'ils le soient avec art au dela de ces jardins on voit une grande forest et par dessus un coing de cette forest on voit des prairies des plaines et des rivieres sans voir ny villages ny villes 
 ny autres habitations que quelques petites cabanes semees en divers endroicts de ce paisage de sorte que quand on seroit seul en tout l'univers on ne seroit presques pas plus solitaire qu'on paroist l'estre en ce lieu-la jugez donc je vous en conjure quel plaisir il y a de trouver un cabinet tel que je vous le represente dans un palais magnifique et si j'ay tort de m'y plaire car enfin je puis trouver en divers endroits de nostre ville la belle architecture et les beaux apartemens de ce bastiment mais je ne trouve en nulle part l'aymable solitude de ce cabinet de la facon dont vous le representez dit thrasimede a demy bas il ne m'est pas possible de n'estre point de vostre opinion et de ne croire pas que ce que vous louez doit tousjours estre prefere a tout ce que les autres louent apres cela nous dismes encore plusieurs choses qui ne servent de rien a mon sujet mais enfin le jour de nostre promenade estant venu nous la fismes et la fismes mesme plus agreablement que nous ne l'avions espere premierement en traversant un coing de la forest nous entendismes un concert de hauts-bois infiniment agreable quand nous fusmes dans le grand vestibule nous en ouismes un autre de voix au haut de l'escalier et quand nous fusmes dans la chambre une lire merveilleuse accompagnee d'une voix admirable imposa silence a toute la compagnie qui n'eut pas cette fois la beaucoup de peine a le garder parce que l'estonnement l'avoit rendu muette 
 tout le monde ne faisant que s'entreregarder et escouter l'harmonie nous avions trois ou quatre hommes avec que nous qui avoient une confusion que je ne vous puis exprimer car chacun croyant que ce fust quelqu'un des autres qui fist cette galanterie surprenante aucun d'eux n'estoit bien ayse que cet autre eust fait plus que luy mais a la fin ils connurent qu'ils n'y avoient tous aucune part et qu'ils devoient avoir une esgalle confusion la chose n'en demeura pas mesme la car il y eut une colation si magnifique que zenocrite disoit qu'il n'estoit pas possible de croire qu'elle fust donnee par un homme indifferent cependant comme cet homme ne paroissoit point on ne scavoit qu'en penser neantmoins il n'en fut pas cette fois la comme de la serenade estant certain que je ne doutay point du tout que ce ne fust thrasimede qui fist toute cette galanterie toutefois comme il estoit loge chez lycaste ou on l'avoit si bien receu je ne scavois encore si tout ce que je voyois estoit une simple marque de reconnoissance et de liberalite ou une grande marque d'amour il est vray que je n'en doutay pas long-temps mais pour vous aprendre ce qui m'aprit la verite il faut que vous scachiez que l'escuyer de thrasimede qui est le plus adroit homme de sa condition fit si bien que le concierge de cette maison luy permit douant que la compagnie fust arrivee de mettre des tablettes sur la table de ce cabinet qui plaisoit tant a arpalice l'obligeant a faire en sorte qu'il 
 ne l'ouvrist a personne si ce n'estoit a elle seule luy enseignant mesme a pretexter la chose et il l'instruisit si exactement qu'il fit positivement tout ce qu'il vouloit qu'il fist en effet lors que lycaste et zenocrite voulurent y entrer il leur dit qu'il ne pouvoit pas le leur ouvrir parce que c'estoit sa femme qui en avoit un soin particulier et qui estoit alors dans les jardins ainsi se servant de divers pretextes il ne l'ouvrit point qu'arpalice ne fust toute seule dans la chambre ou est ce cabinet ce n'est pas qu'elle luy demandast d'y entrer car comme elle en avoit veu refuser l'entree aux autres elle n'osoit l'en presser et ce fut plustost parce qu'elle ne scavoit que dire a cet homme que par nulle autre raison qu'elle se mit a le prier de luy apprendre le sujet pourquoy il ne monstroit plus ce lieu la mais comme il ne faisoit qu'attendre une occasion de l'y faire entrer il luy dit que puis qu'elle estoit seule il alloit le luy ouvrir et que la raison pourquoy il ne l'ouvroit pas a tant de monde a la fois estoit que son maistre depuis quelque temps le luy avoit deffendu arpalice le prenant donc au mot le pria d'ouvrir ce cabinet consentant mesme qu'il l'y enfermast s'il vouloit pourveu qu'il luy vinst ouvrir dans un quart d'heure et en effect ce concierge l'ouvrit et le referma aussi tost qu'arpalice y fut entree cet homme faisant un grand mistere de la grace qu'il luy accordoit d'abord qu'elle y entra elle m'a dit qu'elle alla droict aux fenestres pour jouir de la belle veue mais apres avoir regarde 
 d'un coste comme elle voulut aller de l'autre elle passa devant une table de marbre blanc marquetee de jaspe sur quoy elle vit des tablettes ouvertes et dans la premiere feuille de ces tablettes elle leut cette suscription a la belle et solitaire adoralice vous pouvez juger aymable doralise combien cette avanture surprit vostre parente si ces tablettes eussent este fermees elle ne les auroit asseurement point ouvertes mais comme thrasimede n'avoit pas voulu qu'elles le fussent afin qu'elle n'eust pas de pretexte de ne lire point ce qui estoit dedans elle jugea que puis qu'elles n'estoient point fermees quand mesme elle ne liroit pas ce qui estoit dedans on ne laisseroit pas de croire qu'elle l'auroit fait de sorte que les prenant avec assez de precipitation elle y leut ces paroles
 
 
 dans la necessite ou vostre beaute m'a mis de ne pouvoir plus vous cacher le mal qu'elle m'a fait j'ay creu que je ne pouvois vous l'aprendre plus a propos qu'en un lieu solitaire et qui vous est agreable si j'avois remarque que vos yeux eussent entendu les miens je ne vous aurois pas escrit que je meurs d'amour pour vous mais comme il ne m'a pas semble que leur langage vous fust intelligible j'ay creu qu'il y avoit encore plus de respect a vous escrire qu'a vous parler 
 
 si toutesfois je me suis abuse je suis tout prest de reparer ma faute et de vous dire a genoux a la premiere occasion que j'en trouveray que j'ay une passion pour vous dont la grandeur ne peut estre esgallee que par vostre beaute 
 
 
 thrasimede 
 
 
apres qu'arpalice eust leu ce billet elle demeura fort irresolue de ce qu'elle en devoit faire de le prendre elle croyoit que c'estoit agir trop obligeamment pour celuy qui l'avoit escrit de le laisser elle craignoit que lors qu'on luy ouvriroit ce cabinet quelqu'un n'y entrast qui vist ce que thrasimede luy avoit escrit mais a la fin elle imagina une voye qu'elle creut qui la mettroit en seurete de tous les deux costez qui fut d'effacer tout ce que thrasimede avoit escrit dans ces tablettes elle ne peust toutesfois s'y resoudre sans en avoir pris une copie soit qu'elle me la voulust monstrer soit qu'elle la voulust garder si bien que tirant d'autres tablettes de sa poche elle y escrivit ce qui estoit dans celles de thrasimede en suitte de quoy elle en effaca si parfaitement l'escriture qu'on ne pouvoit plus voir ce qu'il y avoit eu d'escrit de sorte que les remettant sur la table elle ne craignit plus qu'elles fussent veues et elle pensa mesme que thrasimede ne pourroit pas l'accuser d'avoir eu trop d'indulgence mais a peine eut elle acheve d'effacer toute l'escriture de ces tablettes que le concierge luy vint ouvrir le cabinet luy disant que ses amies la cherchoient par tout elle en 
 sortit donc promptement mais elle en sortir son voile a demy abaisse pour cacher a cet homme l'esmotion de son visage n'ayant pas la force de luy dire seulement une parole elle n'en fut pas plustost sortie que me voyant par une fenestre qui donnoit dans le jardin elle vint aussi tost ou j'estois mais apres qu'on luy eut fait la guerre de sa retraitte elle me separa des autres et me dit ce qui luy estoit arrive et ce qu'elle avoit fait me monstrant la copie du billet de thrasimede pour moy j'advoue que je ne pus m'empescher de dire a arpalice que je trouvois le procede de thrasimede extremement galant je le trouve tel aussi bien que vous dit-elle mais je le trouve pourtant bien hardy et mesme un peu offencant pour moy car enfin il scait bien quelle est ma mauvaise fortune et mon engagement avec menecrate et par consequent que je ne puis ny ne dois pas souffrir qu'il agisse comme si cela n'estoit pas si l'amour luy dis-je n'estoit point une passion et une passion violente je pense que thrasimede seroit oblige d'escouter la raison et de la suivre mais arpalice s'il est fort amoureux comme il y a grande apparence c'est estre injuste que de vouloir qu'il agisse par les regles de la raison joint qu'a parler mesme raisonnablement je ne voy pas que thrasimede doive croire qu'il soit oblige de ne pretendre rien au prejudice d'un rival qui joue le portraict de sa maistresse nous en eussions dit davantage mais il falut s'en retourner cependant quoy qu'en arrivant au logis 
 lycaste et cydipe allassent droict a la chambre de thrasimede arpalice n'y voulut point aller feignant de se trouver un peu mal comme il a infiniment de l'esprit il comprit aysement la raison pourquoy il ne voyoit point arpalice c'est pourquoy il craignit extremement qu'elle ne fust irritee mais il fut pourtant bien ayse de connoistre par son procede qu'elle avoit leu son billet pour lycaste quoy qu'elle creust bien alors que thrasimede estoit celuy qui avoit donne la musique et la colation elle ne croyoit pourtant pas qu'il eust de dessein particulier si bien qu'elle loua avec beaucoup d'empressement la magnificence de cet invisible qui nous avoit si superbement traittees mais apres qu'elle fut retiree l'escuyer de thrasimede estant revenu apprit plus particulierement a son maistre comment arpalice avoit veu son billet luy rapportant ses tablettes effacees d'abord il craignit extremement que le procede d'arpalice ne fust une marque d'une plus grande colere qu'il ne l'avoit apprehende mais a la fin l'esperance temperant la crainte il demeura avec beaucoup d'impatience de voir arpalice afin de pouvoir connoistre dans ses yeux s'il luy estoit permis de pouvoir esperer de se voir un jour dans son coeur mais il ne fut pas si-tost en estat de satisfaire son envie car arpalice continua de feindre de se trouver mal pour n'estre point obligee d'accompagner lycaste a la chambre de thrasimede et ce qui l'obligeoit d'en user ainsi estoit qu'elle 
 scavoit qu'il avoit dessein de sortir bien-tost de chez lycaste et qu'ainsi sa contrainte ne dureroit pas long-temps il n'avoit pourtant point encore quitte la chambre il est vray que voyant qu'il ne voyoit plus arpalice et ne pouvant vivre plus long-temps dans l'incertitude ou il estoit il fit un effort sur luy-mesme pour tascher d'agir comme un homme en sante ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust este bien ayse de tarder un peu davantage chez lycaste s'il y eust peu voir arpalice mais puis qu'au contraire en y demeurant il se privoit du plaisir de la voir il dit un matin a menophile qu'il avoit dessein de n'abuser pas davantage de sa generosite et il luy parla enfin comme un homme qui avoit tout a fait resolu d'aller loger chez celuy qu'il connoissoit a nostre ville menophile resista pourtant a thrasimede mais a la fin il falut qu'il cedast de sorte que bien que thrasimede fust encore un peu foible il ne laissa pas de se disposer a changer de logis il est vray que celuy ou il alloit n'estoit pas fort esloigne de celuy d lycaste cependant il s'habilla ce jour la avec autant de magnificence que de proprete et comme un homme qui devoit voir en une seule personne ce qu'il preferoit a tout le reste du monde d'abord il fut a la chambre de lycaste ou estoit cydipe ou il les remercia avec autant d'esprit que de civilite de tant de courtoisies qu'il en avoit receues mais comme il craignit que lors qu'il voudroit aller prendre conge d'arpalice qui gardoit la chambre lycaste ne l'y 
 voulust mener il fit sa visite un peu longue esperant qu'il viendroit quelqu'un et qu'ainsi il pourroit plus aysement aller seul voir arpalice et en effect la chose arriva comme il l'avoit esperee car il vint tant de monde chez lycaste que pendant qu'elle recevoit les dames qui arrivoient thrasimede sortit de sa chambre et fut a celle d'arpalice avec plus de diligence que la foiblesse ou il estoit ne sembloit le luy devoir permettre comme elle avoit bien preveu que thrasimede apres avoir este a la chambre de lycaste iroit a la sienne elle m'avoit envoye prier de l'aller voir afin qu'il ne la peust trouver seule mais comme j'estois preste de sortir pour aller chez elle il vint compagnie qui m'arresta de sorte que thrasimede fut plus heureux qu'arpalice n'avoit intention qu'il le fust car il la trouva en estat de la pouvoir entretenir seule n'ayant aupres d'elle qu'une femme qui la servoit quelque envie que thrasimede eust de voir arpalice il ne la vit pas plus-tost qu'il eut plus de crainte que de joye parce qu'il la vit si serieuse qu'il apprehenda estrangement de se trouver engage en une entreprise plus difficile qu'il n'avoit pense elle le receut pourtant avec assez de civilite mais ce fut avec une civilite froide qui n'avoit rien d'obligeant neantmoins comme thrasimede n'estoit pas resolu de laisser eschaper une occasion si favorable apres que le premier compliment fut fait et qu'arpalice l'eut fait asseoir je pensois madame luy dit-il vous 
 trouver assez malade pour donner de la compassion a ceux qui vous verroient mais a ce que je voy vous estes en termes de mettre ceux qui vous regardent en estat de faire pitie aussi veux-je croire que vous ne cherchez la solitude que de peur de faire des miserables je vous asseure reprit-elle que quand on le doit estre on ne scauroit l'esviter et il n'y a point de lieu si solitaire ou il ne puisse arriver un malheur je vous entends bien luy dit-il madame et je ne suis pas assez stupide pour ne comprendre pas que vous mettez au nombre de vos infortunes la hardiesse que j'ay eue de troubler la solitude que vous alliez chercher dans cet aymable cabinet dont vous m'aviez tant parle mais madame adjousta-t'il est-ce un si grand malheur de vous avoir appris que je vous adore est-ce un crime que de n'avoir peu vivre sans que vous sceussiez que je suis absolument a vous je ne vous ay encore demande ny vostre estime ny vostre affection adjousta-t'il et je ne vous ay parle que de la mienne pourquoy donc me recevez vous avec une froideur que j'ay si peu meritee il a long-temps que j'ay entendu dire reprit-elle que c'est la coustume de ceux qui ont le plus failly de se plaindre devant qu'on les accuse mais je ne pensois pas que ce peust estre en une pareille chose mais madame repliqua t'il quel crime ay-je commis suis-je cause que vous estes la plus belle personne du monde puis-je m'empescher de vous admirer et puis-je faire enfin que je n'aye pas le 
 coeur sensible croyez s'il vous plaist que si je l'avois peu je l'aurois fait mais puis que je ne l'ay peu faire pour mon propre interest et pour mon propre repos je doute si je le pourrois pour obeir a un injuste commandement et puis madame quand je serois en quelque facon coupable ne m'avez-vous pas desja assez puny vous avez cruellement efface tout ce que je vous avois escrit et vous m'avez prive de vostre veue durant trois jours jugez apres cela si cette punition ne suffiroit pas pour expier toutes les fautes qu'une violente passion pourroit m'avoir fait commettre si vous me disiez respondit arpalice que vous n'aviez eu autre dessein que de me faire hair la solitude en m'escrivant malicieusement le billet que je trouvay dans le cabinet ou je n'estois entree que pour y resver agreablement je vous pardonnerois sans doute et je croyrois vous avoir assez puny mais continuant de parler comme vous faites je ne puis que je ne vous tesmoigne que je m'en tiens offensee vous estes donc aussi rigoureuse que belle reprit-il mais si cela est madame faites moy la grace de me dire quelle sorte de supplice vous reservez pour menecrate car je ne trouve pas qu'il soit juste que je fois puny parce que je vous adore et qu'il soit recompense parce qu'il ne vous adore pas il me semble repliqua t'elle que ce n'est guere la coustume de chercher sa justification dans les crimes d'autruy puis qu'enfin encore que menecrate soit coupable cela n'empesche pas que thrasimede 
 ne fait criminel du moins madame reprit-il faites moy l'honneur de me dire precisement quel est mon crime encore une fois qu'ay je fait vous m'avez escrit resprit elle et cela suffit vous plaignez vous que je ne vous aye pas dit la verite repliqua thrasimede il ne m'importe dit-elle si ce que vous m'avez dit est vray ou faux et vostre crime est de me l'avoir dit mais encore reprit-il me tiendriez vous moins coupable si je vous avois dit un mensonge que de vous avoir parle sincerement quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle vous m'avez offencee et je sens d'autant plus vostre faute que j'avois la plus grande disposition du monde a estre de vos amies ha madame interrompit thrasimede si ce que vous dites est vray il n'est pas possible que vous me haissiez parce que je vous ayme et si cela est il faut du moins que ce soit seulement parce que je vous l'ay dit ou seulement parce que je vous l'ay mal dit toutes ces distinctions la sont bien delicates reprit arpalice en sousriant mais sans m'amuser a chercher si je suis irritee ou parce que vous m'aimez ou parce que vous me l'avez escrit ou parce que vous ne me l'avez pas assez bien dit je vous asseure que je le suis de grace repliqua-t'il puis que j'ay failly sans dessein apprenez moy par qu'elle voye on peut vous appaiser en faisant le contraire de ce qui m'a offensee dit elle il faut donc reprit-il que je vous haisse horriblement car puis que mon crime est de vous aymer et de vous le dire je ne 
 voy pas que ce puisse estre autre chose cependant comme cela n'est pas en ma puissance il faut tascher de vous flechir par une autre voye et ce sera madame par un profond respect et mesme par un profond silence ouy madame puis que ce que je vous ay dit vous a irritee je ne vous diray plus rien de ma passion jusques a ce que vos yeux m'ayent asseure que vous m'avez accorde mon pardon je vous asseure dit-elle que si vous entendez bien leur langage ils ne vous diront jamais rien qui vous doive persuader que j'aye oublie l'offense que vous m'avez faite ha pour l'oublier madame repliqua-t'il ce n'est pas ce que je desire que vous faciez au contraire je souhaitte de tout mon coeur que vous n'en perdiez jamais la memoire et que vous vous souveniez toute vostre vie que je suis le plus zele et le plus respecteux amant que vous aurez jamais comme arpalice alloit respondre et peut estre respondre aygrement j'arrivay faisant mil-excuses a mon amie de n'avoir peu venir plustost encore luy dis-je si j'eusse este en quelque conversation agreable qui m'eust peu en quelque facon consoler de la perte de la vostre j'aurois eu patience mais j'estois avec des gens qui m'importunoient estrangement et que je n'ay jamais peu ennuyer quelque soing que j'ya ye apporte comme l'eus acheve mes excuses et mon compliment je m'aperceus qu'arpalice et thrasimede avoient tous deux l'esprit si distraict qu'ils n'avoient point entendu ce que j'avois dit de sorte 
 que leur en faisant la guerre je fis rougir arpalice et sousrire thrasimede qui s'en alla un quart d'heure apres me disant qu'il ne manqueroit pas de me venir remercier chez moy de la grace que je luy avois faite de le visiter durant son mal mais a vous parler sincerement je pense que je ne dois pas tirer grande vanite des premieres visites qu'il me rendit puis qu'il me vit bien plus comme amie de la personne qu'il aymoit que par nulle autre raison cependant apres qu'il fut sorty de la chambre d'arpalice elle me raconta leur conversation mais quoy qu'elle fust en colere de ce que thrasimede luy avoit parle si ouvertement de son amour je connus pourtant bien qu'elle ne le haissoit pas et qu'il y avoit dans son coeur une tres forte disposition a l'estimer si bien que prenant la parole de grace luy dis-je arpalice apprenez moy un peu en quoy vous faites consister la liberte vous dis-je qui vous declarez ennemie de toute contrainte qui voulez en jouir jusques aux plus petites choses qui ne vous promeneriez pas agreablement si vous ne choisissiez les allees ou vous voulez marcher qui dittes que ce qu'on appelle bien seance est tres-souvent une rigueur insuportable que le seul avantage qu'ont les hommes par dessus les femmes est la liberte que le plus grand plaisir de ceux qui voyagent est de ce qu'ils ne sont point assujettis a la pluspart des loix des lieux ou ils passent et qui trouvez que la derniere felicite de l'amitie consiste principalement a se dire l'un a 
 l'autre sans contrainte tout ce qu'on a dans le coeur cependant cette amie de la liberte se fait esclave de tout et esclave d'elle mesme mais encore me dit-elle qui vous oblige a me dire ce que vous dittes la raison repliquay-je car enfin n'est-il pas vray que vous haissez horriblement menecrate je l'advoue reprit elle et n'est il point encore vray adjoustay-je que pour peu que vous voulussiez vous ne hairiez point thrasimede s'il vivoit avecque moy comme je voudrois qu'il y vescust reprit-elle je pense en effect que je ne le hairois pas car sa personne me plaist son esprit est infiniment agreable et il semble apporter quelque soing a me persuader qu'il m'estime mais encore luy dis-je faites moy la grace de me dire comment vous voudriez qu'il vescust et ce que vous voudriez qu'il vous dist mais je veux que vous parliez sincerement tout a bon poursuivis-je voyant qu'elle ne me respondoit pas voudriez vous que thrasimede ne vous considerast point plus qu'une autre qu'il ne preferast point vostre conversation a la mienne qu'il vous regardast en homme qui ne pense a rien qu'il ne vous parlast jamais que de choses absolument indifferentes qu'il en parlast mesme indifferement et comme n'ayant aucun dessein particulier de vous plaire qu'il ne vous louast jamais et qu'il ne fist rien enfin qui deust raisonnablement vous donner lieu de penser qu'il eust de l'amour pour vous parlez donc je vous en conjure et avouez-moy ingenument 
 que si thrasimede agissoit comme je viens de dira il s'en faudroit beaucoup qu'il ne fust aussi bien dans vostre esprit qu'il y est quoy qu'il vous ait dit un peu trop franchement qu'il vous aime vous vous contraignez si peu aujourd'huy reprit arpalice en riant que je pense que vous m'en ferez hair la liberte puis que celle que vous prenez vous oblige a me dire tant de choses qui ne me plaisent pas mais qui ne me faschent pas neantmoins autant que je le voudrois encore est-ce quelque chose repris-je d'avoir pu tirer une parole sincere de vostre bouche cependant luy dis-je pour parler un peu plus serieusement je vous conseille de resoudre ce que vous voulez faire du pauvre thrasimede car je le voy si amoureux que je ne pense pas qu'il s'en retourne jamais a son pays pour moy me dit arpalice toute en chagrin je pense que vous ne me trouvez pas assez malheureuse de me voir engagee a espouser un homme que je n'ayme point et que vous voulez que j'ayme encore thrasimede a qui je ne dois rien pretendre tout a bon candiope je croy que vous avez perdu la raison ou que vous voulez que je la perde car pourquoy ne me dites vous pas tout le contraire de ce que vous dites c'est parce que je ne scaurois trahir mes sentimens repris-je en riant de sa colere et que de plus je ne veux pas contrarier les vostres apres cela insensiblement arpalice m'advoua que depuis qu'elle estoit au monde elle n'avoit jamais veu d'homme qu'elle eust deu apprehender d'aimer 
 excepte thrasimede ha arpalice m'escriay-je des que nous craignons d'aimer quelqu'un nous l'aimons desja et je ne doute point puis que vous apprehendez d'aimer thrasimede qu'il ne soit plus heureux qu'il ne le croit estre mais enfin sans m'arrester a vous dire tout ce que nous dismes ce jour la et tous autres suivans je vous diray seulement qu'il parut bien que thrasimede n'avoit pas dessein de partir si-tost de lycie car il se mit en un esquipage magnifique ce fut alors qu'il fit connoissance avec tous les honnestes gens de nostre ville mais pour les dames il ne visita que les amies d'arpalie et entre ses amies je fus celle qu'il vit le plus souvent et avec qui il lia le plus d'amitie comme il estoit fort aymable il fut bien-tost l'objet de l'estime universelle de sorte qu'il eust este assez dif-cile qu'arpalice l'eust mesprise joint qu'a vous dire la verite je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu un homme au monde qui ait sceu si bien mesnager toutes ces petites occasions de plaire et d'obliger qui se peuvent trouver tous les jours aupres d'une personne qu'on ayme estant certain qu'il n'en a jamais perdu une seule tant il est soigneux de les chercher et tant il est adroict a en profiter thrasimede n'est pas de ces amans evaporez qui sans se souvenir qu'ils parlent devant les personnes qu'ils ayment viennent raconter avec exageration qu'ils se sont admirablement divertis en quelque lieu ou elles n'estoient pas ou de ces autres encore qui louent 
 avec exces une beaute brune devant une maistresse blonde au contraire thrasimede est si exact et si judicieux dans sa passion quoy qu'il ne paroisse ny contrainte ny affectation en toutes ses actions que s'il loue quelque belle personne en presence d'arpalice c'est principalement de ce qu'arpalice a de plus beau afin de luy faire connoistre que c'est ce qu'il trouve de plus digne de louange de plus je ne crois pas que jamais personne ait sceu si bien l'art de se trouver tousjours a la place ou il veut estre qu'il le scait en effect je pense pouvoir dire que depuis que je le connois et que je le voy avec arpalice et au temple et en visite et en promenade et en assemblee je ne l'ay jamais veu faire l'empresse je ne l'ay jamais veu oster la place a personne je ne l'ay jamais veu faire incivilite a qui que ce soit et je l'ay pourtant tousjours veu aupres d'arpalice jugez apres cela s'il n'eust pas falu qu'elle eust eu le coeur insensible pour ne se laisser pas un peu toucher a la passion d'un aussi honneste homme que thrasimede et aussi scavant en l'art de se faire aymer je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire quelles furent toutes les premieres rigueurs d'arpalice ny avec quelle obstination elle entreprit de resister au merite de thrasimede car vous auriez peut-estre peine a croire qu'elle eust peu si mal traitter un homme qu'elle estimoit tant mais je vous diray qu'en fin la passion de thrasimede esclatta de telle sorte que les parens de menecrate en parlant a 
 ceux d'arpalice ils se virent obligez quelque estime qu'ils eussent pour thrasimede d'en dire quelque chose a leur parente jusques-la je vous ay dit qu'arpalice s'estoit combattue elle mesme mais des que menophile et lycaste luy eurent parle de thrasimede et luy eurent commande de luy faire connostre adroitement qu'il ne devoit point s'engager a la servir ce qu'elle avoit fait contre elle-mesme luy devint impossible elle cessa de combattre son inclination et elle se revolta tellement contre ceux qui luy avoient commande de bannir civilement thrasimede que ce fut justement en ce temps la qu'elle commenca d'avoir un peu moins de froideur pour luy elle ne souffroit pourtant pas qu'il luy parlast ouvertement de son amour mais enfin elle luy imposoit silence sans colere et sans aygreur les choses estant en ces termes on sceut que parmenide et menecrate devoient arriver dans deux jours cette nouvelle fit des effects bien differens dans le coeur d'arpalice car l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour son frere faisoit qu'elle estoit bien ayse d'aprendre qu'elle le reverroit bien tost et la haine qu'elle avoit pour menecrate faisoit aussi qu'elle apprehendoit estrangement son retour d'autre part thrasimede se voyoit si peu avance dans le coeur d'arpalice qu'il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre ny de quelle facon il devoit agir avec menecrate c'est pourquoy il se determina de chercher une voye de parler a arpalice et de luy parler en particulier mais comme elle 
 estoit accoustumee a ne luy en donner pas d'occasion et que ce qu'il avoit a luy dire demandoit plus de temps qu'on n'en peut trouver dans les conversations ordinaires ou il est quelquesfois permis de parler un quart d'heure bas il s'advisa d'une invention pour entretenir arpalice qui luy reussit admirablement imaginez vous donc que pour venir a bout de son dessein il me vint faire une visite ou apres plusieurs discours il se mit a parler de menecrate et a me demander confidemment comment je croyois qu'arpalice le recevroit en suitte passant d'un discours a un autre il me dit qu'il avoit une envie estrange de donner encore un divertissement a arpalice devant que menecrate fust venu car adjousta t'il si on en croit zenocrite elle n'osera tourner les yeux des qu'il sera arrive pour moy quoy que je sceusse bien que thrasimede estoit amoureux d'arpalice je ne compris pourtant pas qu'il y eust de sens cache sous ses paroles et il estoit si accoustume de nous donner quelque nouveau plaisir que cette proposition ne me surprit point je luy demanday donc quel devoit estre ce divertissement adjoustant qu'il faloit que ce fust bien tost qu'il le donnast s'il vouloit que ce fust devant l'arrivee de menecrate
 
 
 
 
thrasimede me voyant si aysee a tromper me dit que le fameux arion dont on parloit alors par tout le monde estoit arrive a patare mais que comme il y vouloit passer sans estre connu on ne pouvoit l'obliger a chanter ny a jouer de la lire a 
 moins que d'avoir quelque amitie particuliere avecque luy qu'ainsi l'ayant connu a corinthe lors qu'il y avoit este il pouvoit leur donner ce plaisir la pourveu que ce fust sans grande compagnie s'il n'y a que cet obstacle repris-je il est ayse de le surmonter et il faudra obliger lycaste a faire dire qu'elle n'est point chez elle la compagnie seroit encore trop grande en ce lieu la reprit-il car enfin le moins qu'il y peust avoir seroit lycaste zenocrite cydipe arpalice et vous et je vous laisse a penser s'il seroit possible que zenocrite peust s'imposer un assez long silence pour obliger arion a chanter de son mieux car il faut que vous scachiez poursuivit-il qu'un homme de qui la voix est accoustumee a charmer jusques aux dauphins ne trouveroit nullement bon que des dames ne l'escoutassent pas c'est pourquoy au lieu de me donner un plaisir en vous en donnant je me causerois un chagrin estrange il me semble que je le voy desja poursuivit-il remettre sa lire sur la table a la premiere parole que zenocrite diroit ne voulant ny en jouer ny chanter et agir enfin avec toute la bizarrerie qui suit pour l'ordinaire ceux qui scavent quelque chose excellement a la musique mais que faut-il donc faire luy dis-je il faudroit repliqua-t'il que demain apres disner vous fissiez venir arpalice icy sur quelque pretexte qu'elle y fust seule et que vous fissiez dire tout le jour que vous n'y seriez point excepte a arion et a moy qui viendrions ensemble 
 thrasimede ne m'eut pas plustost propose cela que je l'acceptay car comme mon pere m'a tousjours donne assez de liberte scachant bien que je n'en abuse pas il me fut ayse de faire ce que thrasimede me proposoit ce n'est pas que je ne creusse qu'arpalice en feroit peut estre quelque difficulte mais je ne laissay pas de promettre affirmativement la chose a thrasimede qui avoit fonde cette innocente fourbe sur ce qu'il estoit arrive a patare un de ses amis d'harlicarnasse qui jouoit passablement de la lire et qui ne chantoit pas mal mais enfin pour accourcir mon discours autant que je le pourray je fis si bien que je forcay arpalice de me venir voir je dis que je la forcay car il est vray qu'elle y resista autant qu'elle peut mais enfin voyant que je me faschois elle y vint le jour suivant de fort bonne heure vous pouvez juger que thrasimede ne manqua pas d'y venir et d'y amener aussi ce pretendu arion mais j'oubliois de vous dire qu'il m'avoit dit qu'il falloit luy faire beaucoup de civilite et luy donner beaucoup de louanges il m'advertit mesme que le vray moyen de le faire bien chanter estoit de le bien entretenir devant qu'il chantast car c'est la coustume me disoit il presques de tous les musiciens qui sont au monde d'aymer mieux a faire ce qu'ils ne font pas si bien que ce qu'ils font excellemment c'est pourquoy il faut se donner la patience de luy entendre raconter quelqu'une de ses avantures amoureuses ou son advanture du dauphin si l'on 
 veut avoir le plaisir de l'entendre bien chanter s'il ne faut que cela luy dis-je laissez moy faire les honneurs de ma chambre nullement dit-il et ce ne doit pas estre a vous a choisir si vous le devez entretenir ou non et pour luy faire la civilite toute entiere il faut le laisser libre entre arpalice et vous et en effect lors qu'il arriva le lendemain apres le premier compliment je luy laissay la liberte de se mettre aupres d'arpalice ou aupres de moy mais a vous dire la verite il n'avoit garde de s'y tromper car thrasimede luy avoit si bien depeint la personne qu'il aymoit qu'il ne manqua de la luy laisser et de faire precisement ce que thrasimede vouloit qu'il fist de sorte que le feint arion qui a extremement de l'esprit se mit a m'entretenir en attendant qu'un des gens de thrasimede luy eust apporte sa lire d'abord la conversation se fit entre tous les quatre mais insensiblement il ne parla plus qu'a moy et il conduisit la chose avec tant d'art que je creus que pour l'obliger a bien chanter il faloit l'entretenir avecque soing et l'escouter paisiblement le priant mesme de me vouloir raconter cette merveilleuse advanture du dauphin qui estoit sceue de toute la terre et en effect il commenca de me la dire et de me la circonstancier de telle sorte que je m'imaginay qu'il n'acheveroit de me la raconter que le lendemain au matin et qu'ainsi il ne chanteroit point au reste thrasimede m'avoit si fortement dit qu'il estoit capricieux et j'estois si persuadee qu'il le devoit 
 estre que je n'osois tesmoigner l'inquietude ou j'estois cependant thrasimede qui ne vouloit pas perdre une occasion qu'il avoit eu tant de peine a trouver s'aprocha encore un peu plus pres d'arpalice qu'il n'estoit et prenant la parole madame luy dit il tout bas il me semble que puis que candiope a bien la bonte de souffrir qu'arion luy raconte ses malheurs passez vous devez bien avoir celle d'endurer que je vous raconte mes malheurs presens mais de grace madame adjousta t'il voyant sur son visage qu'elle se preparoit a le refuser n'ayez pas l'inhumanite de ne vouloir pas m'entendre la lire d'arion poursuivit-il m'imposera bien-tost silence sans que vostre rigueur s'en mesle c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me laisser parler arpalice qui croyoit qu'en effect on apporteroit bien-tost cette lire et que ce pretendu arion commenceroit de chanter des qu'on l'auroit apportee ne se servit pas de toute son autorite pour imposer silence a thrasimede de sorte que cet amant prenant la parole sans craindre d'estre bien-tost interrompu par le chant d'arion madame luy dit-il je ne pense pas estre assez malheureux pour ce que vous ne soyez pas persuadee que je vous ayme autant que je puis aymer toutes mes actions vous l'ont dit tous mes regards vous en ont asseuree et vous vous l'estes sans doute dit a vous mesme toutes les fois que vous avez songe a moy malgre vous n'estant pas possible qu'il y ait tant d'amour dans mon coeur sans que vous le 
 scachiez ainsi madame je ne vous parle pas pour vous persuader que je vous ayme car je veux presuposer que vous le scavez mais je vous parle pour vous demander ce qu'il vous plaist que je devienne et comment vous voulez que je vive avec ce rival sans amour qui va bien tost arriver car je vous declare madame que je ne puis changer mon coeur au reste poursuivit il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre souffrez que je vous asseure madame que si j'estois assez heureux pour estre plus considere de vous que menecrate l'engagement que vous avez avecque luy ne seroit pas un obstacle a mon bon heur car encore que je scache que si vous refusez de l'espouser le testament de vos parens vous oste la plus grande partie de vostre bien j'ay a vous dire que j'en ay assez pour vous recompenser de cette perte en ayant sans doute plus moy seul que vous et menecrate n'en pourriez avoir ensemble laissez luy donc tout ce que les loix de vostre pays luy donnent et accordez moy ce que la raison et mon amour veulent que vous m'accordiez je veux dire vostre affection ce que vous me dites reprit arpalice est si genereux que je ne scaurois m'en offenser mais apres vous en avoir donne des louanges je ne laisse pas de vous dire que quelque estime que j'aye pour vous quelque adversion que j'aye pour menecrate et quelque repugnance que j'aye a la contrainte je ne laisse pas dis je de vous advouer que je ne pense pas que je puisse avoir la force de 
 dire que je ne veux plus ce que j'ay tesmoigne vouloir toute ma vie ainsi genereux thrasimede s'il est vray que vous ayez quelque estime pour moy vous me pleindrez dans mon infortune sans entreprendre de la changer et si vous me voulez obliger vous vivrez avec menecrate comme vous y viviez a apamee et vous vivrez avecque moy comme avec une personne indifferente quoy madame interrompit-il vous trouvez qu'il y ait de l'equite a parler comme vous faites vous croyez que je puisse vivre avecque vous comme avec une personne indifferente vous pretendez que je vive avec menecrate comme je faisois a apamee de grace madame songez a ce que vous dites pensez quelle douleur il y a d'espouser un homme qui n'a point d'amour et quelle injustice il y auroit de desesperer un homme qui en meurt pour vous et qui en mourra infailliblement si vous ne prenez quelque soing de sa vie au nom des dieux madame poursuivit-il faites quelque difference de menecrate a moy songez s'il vous plaist qu'il recevra sans aucune joye l'honneur que vous luy voulez faire et considerez que puis qu'il a peu jouer vostre peinture il pourroit peut-estre ceder vostre personne sans peine aux conditions que je vous ay dites pour moy madame la passion que j'ay pour vous me feroit recevoir a genoux la plus legere faveur et pour vous tesmoigner si j'en scaurois bien user et si mon coeur en seroit touche voyez luy dit-il pour connoistre 
 la passion de thrasimede jusques ou il porte sa veneration et en disant cela il luy fit voir qu'il conservoit soigneusement les tablettes dans lesquelles je vous ay dit qu'il luy avoit escrit ne pensez pas madame adjousta-t'il que je les porte pour m'en servir au contraire c'est pour ne m'en servir jamais et je ne les conserve que parce que vos belles mains les toucherent lors que vous eustes l'inhumanite d'en affacer le premier tesmoignage d'amour que je vous ay donne jugez donc madame avec quel respect je recevrois une veritable faveur eh de grace poursuivit-il encore ne remettez point un thresor en la possession d'un aveugle qui n'en connoist pas le prix laissez le dans la liberte de se punir par un mauvais choix et choisissez vous-mesme un coeur qui vous scache adorer comme vous meritez de l'estre vous trouverez sans doute dans le mien autant de respect que de passion et autant de fidelite que d'amour advisez donc madame a ce que vous avez a faire et reglez s'il vous plaist toutes mes actions par une seule de vos paroles car enfin c'est sur ce que vous m'allez respondre que porte toute la suitte de ma vie je n'ay pas assez de vanite respondit-elle pour croire positivement tout ce que vous venez de me dire mais j'ay assez bonne opinion de vous pour esperer que vous ne me refuserez pas la priere que je vous fais de vivre civilement bien avecque menecrate seulement pour l'amour de moy de peur que si cela n'estoit pas on ne 
 creust quelque chose a mon desavantage qui retomberoit infailliblement sur vous si je la scavois car dans le chagrin ou je suis je n'aurois peut-estre pas l'equite de n'accuser de mon malheur que ceux qui en sont la veritable cause si vous me faites l'honneur de me promettre reprit thrasimede que menecrate ne sera jamais heureux je vous promettray de vivre admirablement bien avecque luy mais madame si vous me desesperez absolument je ne vous responds pas de ce que je feray je vous asseure repliqua arpalice en souspirant que je me desespererois moy-mesme si je croyois affirmativement que rien ne me peust empescher d'espouser menecrate et je suis persuadee que si ce malheur doit m'arriver je ne le croiray pas encore au moment qui le precedera mais pendant que thrasimede entretenoit arpalice elle regardoit continuellement si on n'aportoit point la lire d'arion ce n'est pas qu'elle haist celuy qui luy parloit mais c'est qu'elle ne vouloit pas luy respondre trop obligeamment ny trop aygrement aussi c'est pourquoy elle eust este ravie que leur conversation eust este interrompue pour moy je regardois aussi bien qu'elle si cette lire ne venoit point car comme thrasimede m'avoit dit qu'il y avoit une notable difference de la conversation d'arion a sa lire et a ses chansons je me preparois a recevoir le plus grand plaisir que j'eusse jamais receu en effect je trouvois qu'il parloit si bien et si agreablement que croyant qu'il chantoit cent fois 
 mieux qu'il ne parloit j'avois lieu de croire que ce que j'entedrois me charmeroit mais enfin quand il pleut a celuy que thrasimede avoit envoye avecque ordre d'estre long-temps a revenir la lire fut apportee des que je la vis je voulus la presenter a ce feint arion croyant que je ne pouvois l'obliger davantage qu'en tesmoignat avoir beaucoup d'impatience de l'entendre mais pour luy qui n'en avoit pas tant de se faire ouyr il la prit et la mit sur la table disant qu'il vouloit achever ce qu'il avoit commence de me dire et ce que je luy avois commande de m'aprendre de sorte que craignant de l'irriter je me remis a ma place et j'escoutay le reste de son advanture du dauphin qu'il exagera jusques a me despeindre bouillonnement de la mer a l'entour de ce roy des poissons qui le portoit et jusques a me representer ces cercles que font les dauphins en nageant et qui en sont d'autres sur l'eau qui se perdent les uns dans les autres en s'eslargissant j'estois pourtant si simple que je croyois qu'il ne me faisoit cette description si estendue que parce qu'il estoit fort accoustume a faire des vers et que je pensois que l'habitude qu'il y avoit estoit cause qu'il parloit en prose d'une maniere un peu trop figuree quoy que je remarquasse pourtant en d'autres endroits qu'il parloit tout a fait conme les honnestes gens parlent mais a la fin ayant acheve le recit de cette advanture il falut prendre la lire et il la prit en effect arpalice voulut alors se lever pour s'aprocher et imposer silence 
 a thrasimede mais ce feint arion luy dit qu'il n'estoit pas encore temps parce qu'il estoit un peu difficile a trouver qu'une lire fust d'accord et par consequet un peu long a accorder la sienne et que toute la grace qu'il luy demandoit estoit de parler bas adressant en suitte la parole a thrasimede pour le conjurer d'en monstrer l'exemple a arpalice et en effect il n'y manqua pas car il continua de l'entretenir tant que ce pretendu arion fut a accorder sa lire dont il ne pensa jamais demeurer satisfait vingt fois il en abaissa et haussa toutes les cordes les unes apres les autres et vingt fois apres les avoir abaissees et haussees il les remit au point ou elles estoient auparavant il tourna et retourna toutes les chevilles de sa lire il en avanca et recula cinq ou six fois le chevalet il en changea ou fit semblant d'en changer toutes les touches il rompit et remit dix ou douze cordes et apres levant les yeux vers le ciel et tournant a demy le dos vers la campagnie il fut encore plus de demie heure a former certains accords peu distincts et a gronder a demy bas certains tons confus qui ne permettoient pas de pouvoir juger pleinement de son scavoir ou de son ignorance en la musique se balancant tout le corps pour marquer la mesure et la marquant encore du pied enfin cet adroict et malicieux amy n'oublia aucune de toutes les grimaces des musiciens et il donna tant de temps a thrasimede et il fut si long et si difficile a contenter en matiere d'accords et d'harmonie que je creus vingt fois 
 qu'il alloit remettre la lire dans son estuy et qu'il ne chanteroit point il alongea mesme encore la chose par un discours de la musique ou il fit entrer les plus obscurs termes de l'art il me parla des trois modulations phrigienne dorienne et lydienne il me parla de diatonique de chromatique d'enharmonique de mese de paramese de diapasion et de cent autres grands et terribles mots que je m'entendis point du tout que je n'entends pas encore et que je ne scay comment j'ay peu retenir mais tout cela d'un ton de maistre et tel que l'auroient peu avoir amphion linus ou orphee cependant il faut que vous scachiez que pensant effectivement que je ne pouvois faire un plus grand plaisir a un musicien qui avoit este mon maistre et qui estoit celuy a qui je m'estois informee de la premiere serenade de thrasimede je l'avois envoye querir sans en rien dire et avois ordonne a une fille qui estoit a moy de le faire entrer dans mon cabinet par ve escalier degage et en effect lors que le feint arion conmenca d'accorder sa lire ce musicien estoit dans ce cabinet avec toutes les femmes du logis je vous laisse donc a penser combien il avoit d'impatience d'entendre cet homme dont la reputation alloit par toute la terre cependant comme je scavois qu'il n'estoit pas moins celebre par ses vers que par sa lire et par son chant et que je jugeay que ceux qu'il avoit chantez lors qu'il croyoit mourir devoient estre les plus beaux et les plus touchans je creus que je 
 devois le prier de le vouloir chanter c'est pourquoy prenant la parole je luy expliquay mon intention et je l'embarrassay estrangement car vous jugez bien qu'il ne pouvoit pas m'accorder ce que je luy demandois puis que le veritable arion n'a jamais voulu donner cet admirable poeme a personne mais comme cet amy de thrasimede a merveilleusement de l'esprit il s'en deffendit pourtant avecque adresse il me dit donc que c'estoit un chant si triste et des paroles si lamentables qu'au lieu de nous donner de la joye il nous donneroit de la douleur pour moy qui voulois qu'il eust bonne opinion de ma suffisance en matiere de musique je le suppliay de croire qu'arpalice et moy n'estions pas tout a fait de l'humeur des femmes en general qui n'aiment que certains petits airs de mouvement extremement gais puis qu'au contraire nous ne trouvions rien de si beau que ces grands airs melancholiques qui par des sons douloureux et plaintifs attendrissent le coeur de ceux qui les entendent et portent avec eux je ne scay quels tristes accens qui excitent a la compassion ha madame interrompit-il en me regardant fixement vous venez de parler en des termes qui n'ont garde de me permettre de chanter ce que vous desirez que je chante car la maniere dont je voy que vous entrez dans les veritables sentimens qu'on doit avoir pour la musique je suis asseure que ce qui a donne de la compassion aux dauphins vous feroit mourir de douleur 
 voyant donc que je ne pouvois l'obliger a m'accorder ce que je voulois je ne l'en pressay plus et je le laissay dans la liberte de chanter ce qu'il voudroit cependant thrasimede parloit toujours de son amour a arpalice qui craignant de ne pouvoir s'empescher de donner un peu trop d'esperance a cet amant se leva enfin determinement et s'aprocha du feint arion qui voyant que son amy n'avoit plus de temps a mesnager et qu'il n'entretenoit plus arpalice se resolut de chanter mais quoy qu'il le fist assez bien pour un homme de qualite qui n'en fait pas profession il est vray qu'ayant l'imagination toute remplie de ce merveilleux chant d'arion dont on parloit par tout le monde je fus estrangement estonnee lors que cet amy de thrasimede commenca de chanter si mediocrement mais si je le fus ce musicien qui escoutoit dans mon cabinet le fut encore davantage cependant arpalice et moy n'osions tesmoigner nostre estonnement et nous faisions semblant de trouver qu'il chantoit miraculeusement bien je ne peus pourtant jamais m'empescher de dire tout bas a arpalice durant qu'il accordoit sa lire pour chanter un autre air une partie de ce que j'en trouvois ne pensez vous pas luy dis-je a l'oreille qu'il faut estre dauphin pour trouver cette harmonie merveilleuse pour moy adjousta-t'elle tout ce que je vous en puis dire est que si arion ne parle pas mieux qu'il ne chante il vous a bien ennuyee je vous asseure luy dis-je qu'il ne chante 
 pas si bien qu'il parle et je suis asseuree que ce fut en faisant conversation et non pas en chantant qu'il attendrit le coeur de ce dauphin qui le sauva quoy que nous n'eussions eu dessein de dire qu'un mot arpalice et moy j'avois une telle envie de rire que je fus contrainte de luy parler plus long-temps pour m'en empescher mais ce qui commenca de me faire entrer en soubcon de quelque chose fut que durant que je parlois a arpalice je remarquay que ce feint arion en accordant sa lire nous monstra des yeux a thrasimede ayant luy-mesme une si forte envie de rire qu'il ne s'en pouvoit empescher qu'a peine non plus que nous il contrefit pourtant le musicien jusqu'au bout et le contrefit mesme plaisamment car comme il vid que son amy n'avoit plus besoin qu'il fist durer la conversation il fit semblant de se fascher de celle que nous faisions arpalice et moy de sorte que mettant sa lire sur la table assez brusquement il agit comme un homme qui ne vouloit plus chanter arpalice qui n'avoit pas veu ce que j'avois remarque se mit a luy en faire mille excuses et a le conjurer de continuer de chanter mais il luy dit avec un chagrin de musicien que ce seroit pour une autre fois pour moy je resvois si fort a l'action que j'avois veue faire a ce pretendu arion que je n'escoutois pas leurs complimens de sorte que se servant de mon silence pour pretexter le refus qu'il faisoit a arpalice il luy dit qu'aussi bien n'estois-je pas satisfaite de ce qu'il n'avoit pas voulu chanter 
 la mesme chose qu'il avoit chantee lors que le dauphin luy avoit sauve la vie c'est pourquoy dit il je veux attendre que je me sois remis parfaitement ce chant dans la memoire si vous luy devez la vie repliqua arpalice il n'est pas croyable que vous l'ayez oublie pendant qu'elle parloit ainsi thrasimede qui n'estoit par marry que sa fourbe fust descouverte parce qu'il esperoit qu'elle seroit prise pour une marque d'amour et que d'ailleurs son amy devant tarder quelque temps a nostre ville n'y vouloit pas passer pour ce qu'il n'estoit point s'aprocha de moy et me demanda en sousriant ce qu'il me sembloit de luy il me semble luy dis-je en abaissant la voix que cet arion parle si bien et chante si mal pour estre ce fameux arion dont on parle tant que je le tiens bien plus propre a divertir une agreable compagnie par conversation qu'a enchanter des dauphins par sa voix pour moy si j'avois este a la place de celuy qu'il dit qui le sauva j'aurois mieux ayme escouter le bruit que font les vagues en bondissant contre des rochers que d'escouter ses chansons quoy qu'il en soit me dit thrasimede sa lire m'a cause plus de satisfaction que son eloquence je n'en dis pas autant que vous repris-je car son entretien m'a plus divertie que sa musique apres cela thrasimede me dit que conme arion ne vouloit pas estre connu il se feroit nommer philistion tant qu'il seroit a nostre ville et ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que ce nom la que thrasimede me disoit estre 
 un nom emprunte estoit veritablement celuy de ce pretendu arion qui apres avoir fait remarquer en peu de mots qu'il avoit infiniment de l'esprit s'en alla avecque thrasimede qui me dit tant de choses qu'enfin je ne doutay plus du tout de la fourbe qu'il nous avoit faite de sorte que craignant que cela ne fist quelque bruit dans le monde je passay un moment dans mon cabinet pour dire a ce musicien que je le priois de ne dire point qu'arion fust a patare mais comme une fille d'arpalice avoit ouy ce nom la et qu'une fille qui estoit a moy l'avoit aussi entendu il n'y eut pas moyen que ce secret demeurast secret entre trois personnes principalement parce que ce musicien estoit ravy d'avoir trouve qu'arion avoit si mal chante il est vray qu'il ne dit pas qu'il eust veu arion dans ma chambre mais il dit qu'il l'avoit ouy les deux filles qui estoient a arpalice et a moy n'oserent pas aussi dire toute la verite qu'elles croyoient scavoir mais elles dirent seulement aux femmes de zenocrite qu'arion estoit a patare et que thrasimede le connoissoit fort de sorte que des le lendemain tout le monde se disoit cette nouvelle et chacun se demandoit si on avoit veu arion mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que ce jour la zenocrite estant venue chez lycaste ou j'estois avecque cydipe et arpalice thrasimede y vint qui y amena philistion comme philistion c'est a dire comme un homme de qualite d'halicarnasse et non pas comme arion pour moy quoy que 
 j'eusse bien creu que thrasimede nous avoit fait une fourbe toutesfois je ne scavois pas encore trop bien pour qui je devois prendre cet estranger et j'en fus d'autant plus embarrassee que tous ceux qui vinrent ce jour la chez lycaste parlerent tous d'arion les uns disant une chose et les autres une autre selon que cette fausse nouvelle s'estoit changee par la bouche de ceux qui l'avoient dite pour moy dit zenocrite je ne desespere pas de l'entendre car on m'a asseure qu'il est fort des amis de thrasimede je vous advoue que lors que zenocrite parla ainsi je creus que c'estoit une attaque qu'elle nous donnoit a arpalic et a moy et qu'elle avoit sceu quelque chose de nostre advanture du jour precedent car encore que nous fussions de ses amies nous ne nous en tenions pas plus en seurete pour cela d'autre part thrasimede et philistion ne scavoient qu'en penser mais a la fin le premier prenant la parole dit qu'il n'avoit point encore veu arion et que s'il le voyoit il promettoit a zenocrite de le luy faire entendre il n'eut pas plustost promis cela que toute la compagnie luy demanda la mesme grace qu'il ne refusa a personne et philistion le plus hardy de tous les hommes l'en pressa comme les autres si bien qu'arion demandoit a voir arion cependant arpalice et moy avions une estrange envie de rire elle la cachoit pourtant le mieux qu'elle pouvoit luy semblant que thrasimede en tireroit quelque conjecture avantageuse pour luy il est 
 vray qu'elle n'avoit pas grande peine a rapeller quelque fascheuse idee dans son esprit pour s'en empescher puis qu'elle n'avoit qu'a se souvenir que menecrate arrivoit le lendemain cependant le reste de ce jour la fut encore donne a la joye et pour me la donner toute entiere du feint arion thrasimede s'aprochant de moy me demanda pardon de la fourbe qu'il m'avoit faite et me la conta exactement me conjurant de luy vouloir estre favorable aupres d'arpalice et d'avoir pitie de luy
 
 
 
 
je ne vous diray point tout ce que nous dismes car cela seroit trop long ny combien thrasimede fut persecute de ceux qui vouloient qu'il leur fist entendre arion ny combien zenocrite fut divertissante ce jour la sur le retour de menecrate mais je vous diray qu'enfin arpalice voyant que le lendemain au soir menecrate arriveroit et que peut-estre dans peu de jours on luy commanderoit de l'espouser en conceut une telle douleur qu'elle s'en trouva mal jusques a garder le lict je pense a dire les choses comme elles sont que l'estime qu'elle avoit pour thrasimede augmentoit encore l'adversion qu'elle avoit pour menecrate quoy qu'il en soit le desplaisir la fit malade de sorte que moitie chagrin moitie maladie elle garda le lict le jour suivant que je passay tout entier aupres d'elle demeurant mesme le soir chez lycaste parce qu'arpalice voulut que je visse arriver menecrate et en effect je me trouvay a cette entreveue qui se fit a peu pres comme je l'avois pense c'est 
 a dire assez civilement du coste de menecrate quoy qu'avecque beaucoup d'indifference mais avecque une froideur estrange du coste d'arpalice il est vray que comme elle estoit au lict et qu'elle disoit se trouver mal il n'y prist pas garde et il s'attacha bien plus a regarder cydipe qui estoit fort propre ce jour la qu'a entretenir arpalice aussi tesmoigna t'elle si ouvertement qu'on luy feroit plaisir de la laisser seule qu'on se retira a la reserve de parmenide qu'elle retint et a qui elle donna toutes les marques qu'elle pouvoit donner d'une veritable amitie elle eut aussi la bonte de vouloir que je demeurasse mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que cet amant qui a son retour trouvoit sa maistresse malade en fut si peu afflige qu'il fut extraordinairement tard a entretenir cydipe a la chambre de lycaste estant de la plus belle humeur du monde ce soir la je vous laisse a penser si cette facon d'agir diminuoit l'aversion d'arpalice qui en effect fut si touchee de ce bizarre procede qu'elle en fut effectivement malade durant plus de quinze jours pendant quoy menecrate ne la voyoit qu'un quart d'heure chaque jour employant tout le reste a se divertir et a entretenir cydipe qui luy plaisoit extremement il fut mesme visiter thrasimede aussi bien que parmenide car encore qu'on luy eust parle de l'advanture du portraict et qu'on luy eust dit quelque chose qui deust luy persuader que menecrate estoit amoureux d'arpalice comme il ne l'estoit point alors il ne s'en soucioit pas 
 si bien que cela ne l'empescha point de faire civilite a thrasimede qui depuis le jour qu'il m'eut avoue la tromperie qu'il m'avoit faite continua tousjours de me parler de son amour pour arpalice cependant comme elle ne vouloit pas faire la grace a menecrate de luy tesmoigner qu'elle fust irritee contre luy de ce qu'il avoit joue son portraict et qu'elle se contentoit de luy faire froid sans luy en dire la veritable cause elle fut bien ayse pour avoir un peu plus de temps de resoudre ce qu'elle vouloit faire d'aller aux champs avecque zenocrite qui la demanda a lycaste luy disant que l'air luy redonneroit la sante de sorte qu'arpalice sans que menecrate sceust si elle estoit embellie ou non tant il l'avoit veue dans l'obscurite s'en alla pour quinze jours avec zenocrite ainsi elle sortit de son lict pour entrer dans un chariot elle ne s'en trouva pourtant pas mal car comme elle avoit l'esprit plus malade que le corps l'agitation n'augmenta point ses incommoditez au contraire elle s'en porta mieux pour moy je demeuray a patare mais ce fut avecque ordre de mander des nouvelles a arpalice et certes je ne manquay pas de matiere a luy faire d'amples relations car menecrate continua de paroistre fort touche de la beaute de cydipe parmenide devint fort amoureux de cleoxene soeur de menecrate et le feint arion fit semblant de ne me hair pas mais en mandant toutes ces nouvelles a arpalice c'estoit tousjours dans une lettre separee et luy en envoyant une autre 
 qu'elle pouvoit monstrer a zenocrite car encore que ce soit une fort genereuse personne il est pourtant vray qu'il est une espece de secrets qu'on ne luy confie point de soy-mesme ce n'est pas qu'on ne luy face cent confidences mais ce sont des affaires d'autruy plus que des siennes propres ainsi elle scait tout mais elle le scait par ceux qui n'y ont point d'interest suivant donc cet ordre general je laissois a la discretion d'arpalice de luy apprendre ce qu'elle jugeroit a propos qu'elle sceust cependant elle apprit avecque joye que menecrate s'attachoit a cydipe mais elle apprit avecque douleur que parmenide aymoit la soeur de menecrate je luy manday aussi en raillant que thrasimede me voyoit si souvent que philistion n'avoit pas loisir de me dire la moitie de l'estime qu'il avoit pour moy cependant comme l'amour de thrasimede estoit tres-violente l'absence d'arpalice luy sembla tres-longue aussi ne peut il se resoudre de la laisser durer davantage sans luy escrire comme il scavoit que je luy donnois souvent de mes nouvelles et qu'il m'avoit fait dire adroitement quel estoit le jour que je luy escrivois il prit si bien son temps qu'il me vint voir comme j'estois preste de faire mon paquet et comme il scavoit que je luy envoyois toutes les jolies choses qu'on faisoit il me donna de certains vers qu'il y avoit plus de deux ans qu'il avoit mais comme je ne les avois point veus je les pris pour une nouveaute de sorte qu'apres qu'il me les eut leus je 
 ne fis point de difficulte de les envoyer a arpalice mais thrasimede en me les donnant glissa adroitement un billet dedans sans que je m'en apperceusse si bien que lors qu'arpalice vint a ouvrir mon paquet elle fut fort surprise d'y trouver un billet de thrasimede dont elle connoissoit bien l'escriture ne concevant pas que j'eusse voulu m'en charger principalement sans luy en rien dire il est vray que celuy qui fut cause qu'on m'accusa durant un moment me justifia luy-mesme car le billet de thrasimede estoit tel
 
 
 a la plus belle personne du monde 
 
 
 je ne vous prie pas seulement de me pardonner la liberte que je prens de vous escrire je vous conjure encore d'obtenir mon pardon de candiope pour la tromperie que je luy fais mais madame le moyen de s'empescher de vous demander jusques a quand doit durer cette rigoureuse absence qui me prive de vostre veue et le moyen encore de ne vous demander pas si vous n'esloignerez jamais tout a fait de vostre coeur un homme qui peut estre esloigne de vous sans desespoir et si vous n'y recevrez jamais le plus amoureux de tous les hommes je vous dirois madame comment on l'apelle mais dites le vous a vous mesme je vous en conjure afin que mon nom ait la gloire d'estre prononce par la plus belle bouche qui sera jamais 
 
 
comme ce billet estoit aussi respectueux que 
 galant il divertit plus arpalice qu'il ne l'irrita et la tromperie que thrasimede m'avoit faite eut un aussi heureux succez qu'il l'avoit peu desirer elle feignit pourtant d'estre en colere mais elle se pleignit avecque des paroles qui avoient si peu d'aigreur qu'il estoit ayse de connoistre qu'elle se pleignoit plus par bien seance que par ressentiment arpalice ne respondit pourtant point au billet de thrasimede au contraire elle me le renvoya et si je me pouvois aussi bien souvenir de sa lettre que je me suis souvenue du billet que je vous ay recite je vous ferois advouer qu'arpalice escrit aussi bien qu'elle parle en effect cette lettre estoit l'une des plus spirituelles que je vy jamais car arpalice y conservoit toute la severite d'une honneste personne un peu en colere et ne laissoit pourtant pas d'y dire certaines choses infiniment obligeantes pour thrasimede il est vray qu'elle me deffendoit de luy monstrer sa lettre mais a vous dire la verite je voyois qu'elle avoit tant pris de peine a la bien escrire que je creus qu'elle n'avoit pas eu dessein d'estre obeie car lors qu'elle n'escrivoit que pour moy seulement son caractere estoit moins lisible et elle ne s'amusoit pas mesme a choisir si exactement toutes ses paroles de sorte que suivant son intention je la fis voir a thrasimede apres luy en avoir fait toutes les facons que je m'imaginois bien qu'arpalice vouloit que j'en fisse luy faisant toutesfois auparavant mille reproches de la tromperie qu'il m'avoit faite 
 mais enfin je me laissay appaiser et je luy monstray la lettre d'arpalice dont il fut charme non seulement parce qu'elle estoit belle mais encore parce qu'il entendit admirablement ce qu'il y avoit d'obligeant pour luy que ne fit il point pour me persuader de luy donner une copie de l'endroict qui parloit de luy mais je ne le voulus pas faire il est vray qu'il le leut tant de fois qu'il s'en falut peu qu'il ne le retinst cependant il faut que vous scachiez que la conversation que j'eus ce jour la avecque thrasimede me fit si bien connoistre la veritable passion qu'il avoit pour arpalice qu'il est certain que j'eusse souhaitte pour le bon-heur de tous les deux que menecrate fust devenu si amoureux de cydipe qu'il se fust resolu a l'espouser et a ne songer plus a arpalice aussi vous puis-je ausseurer que tant que son absence dura je fis tout ce que je peus pour y contribuer quelque chose en effect je ne voyois jamais cydipe un peu negligee que je ne luy en fisse la guerre afin de l'empescher de l'estre elle ne la fut pourtant guere en ce temps la car quoy qu'elle veuille dire aujourd'huy elle n'estoit pas marrie que menecrate la preferast a la plus belle personne de lycie ainsi sans prevoir precisement jusques ou la chose pouvoit aller cydipe eut asseurement pour menecrate toute l'honneste complaisance qu'une personne de sa vertu peut avoir il est vray que comme cydipe a une civilite fort universelle et fort esgalle il n'y avoit que ceux qui avoient de la finesse en de pareilles choses 
 qui le remarquassent mais pour moy je n'y fus point trompee et je connus sans en pouvoir douter que cydipe estoit bien ayse que menecrate l'aymast cependant parmenide qui estoit devenu fort amoureux de cleoxene n'osoit tesmoigner a menecrate qu'il trouvast estrange qu'il rendist si peu de soings a sa soeur parce qu'il craignoit de l'irriter joint que scachant bien qu'arpalice n'aymoit pas menecrate il n'avoit autre interest en la chose que celuy d'estre bien avecque le frere de cleoxene qui ne luy donnoit pas peu d'occupation car il faut que vous scachiez pour bien entendre cette advanture que cleoxene a autant d'esprit que de beaute mais c'est un esprit si fin et si cache que ceux qui pensent le mieux connoistre trouvent quelquefois qu'ils n'y connoissent rien en effect elle passoit en ce temps-la pour une personne indifferente qui ne se soucioit point qu'on l'aymast qui se divertissoit de toutes choses qui n'aymoit que le plaisir en general qui ne s'attachoit a nul plaisir particulier qui n'avoit confidence avecque qui que ce soit et qui disoit a tout le monde qu'elle ne concevoit pas de quoy on pouvit faire un secret cependant cette personne telle que je vous la despeins avoit un engagement tres-estroict il y avoit plus d'un an avecque un frere que j'ay qui se nomme lysias sans qu'on en eust jamais rien soubconne il est vray que lysias est aussi discret que cleoxene est fine et je n'aurois mesme jamais sceu cet intrigue si le hazard 
 ne m'eust fait trouver une lettre de cleoxene dont je connoissois l'escriture qui obligea mon frere a me confier absolument son secret de peur que je ne le revelasse vous pouvez donc bien juger apres ce que je viens de vous dire que cleoxene donna beaucoup de peine a parmenide neantmoins comme il croyoit que sa rigueur venoit de son indifference plus elle le mal traittoit plus il devenoit amoureux car comme ceux qui ont comme luy quelque chose de superbe et fier dans l'esprit ou se rebutent tost ou s'attachent opiniastrement parmenide n'ayant pas fait le premier fit le second et s'obstina de telle sorte a vouloir estre ayme de cleoxene que si lysias eust este capable de jalousie il eust deu en avoir pour un tel rival mais la maniere dont cleoxene vivoit avecque luy ne luy permettant pas d'estre jaloux l'amour de parmenide ne servoit qu'a les divertir et qu'a lier plus estroittement leur affection car lysias estoit plus soigneux et cleoxene plus exacte et plus obligeante au reste on m'avoit fait promettre et jurer une si grande fidelite que je n'avois mesme jamais rien dit de cette affection a arpalice qui croyoit cleoxene aussi indifferente qu'elle l'estoit peu en effect je luy avois ouy souhaitter cent fois d'estre de son temperament afin d'avoir l'ame aussi desgagee qu'elle croyoit que cleoxene l'avoit pour philistion il vivoit avecque moy comme estant persuade qu'il n'estoit pas honneste a un homme d'esprit de tarder quelque temps a une ville sans y avoir 
 fait quelque amitie un peu galante et je vivois aussi avecque luy comme n'estant pas marrie qu'il m'estimast assez pour parler plus de moy que d'une autre quand il seroit retourne en son pays ainsi sans avoir le coeur fort engage philistion agissoit pourtant d'une maniere fort agreable et fort obligeante menecrate ne songeant donc qu'a plaire a cydipe parmenide ne pensant qu'a toucher le coeur de cleoxene raillant continuellement de sa passion avec lysias et philistion et moy n'ayant asseurement dessein que d'avoir quelque estime l'un pour l'autre arpalice revint enfin avecque zenocrite mais elle revint si belle et si parfaitement remise de son mal qu'on reparla presques autant de sa beaute que d'une beaute nouvelle je pense mesme qu'elle revint avecque le dessein forme de mal traitter menecrate et certes elle ne le fit pas mediocrement comme je m'en vay vous le dire vous scaurez donc que zenocrite voulant remener arpalice jusques chez lycaste ne se contenta pas de la faire descendre a la porte car elle descendit elle mesme pour la mener jusques a la chambre de sa tante ou elle trouva qu'il y avoit beaucoup de monde et entre les autres menecrate qui parloit a cydipe lors qu'elle y entra elle n'y fut pas si-tost qu'adressant la parole a lycaste j'ay voulu luy dit-elle remettre arpalice en vos mains afin de ne perdre pas le compliment que vous me devez de vous la ramener si belle et si gaye apres me l'avoir donnee si malade si melancholique car 
 je vous asseure adjousta-t'elle malicieusement que si tout le monde la voit comme je la voy on m'advouera qu'elle ne fut jamais si belle non pas mesme lors qu'on la fit peindre pour envoyer a menecrate le portraict qu'il perdit contre thrasimede eh de grace madame dit menecrite a zenocrite avecque autant de hardiesse que de confusion ne me reproches pas si cruellement d'avoir perdu un portraict qui de vostre propre confession ne ressembleroit plus parfaitemet a arpalice puis qu'elle est plus belle aujourd'huy qu'elle n'estoit en ce temps la joint qu'a dire les choses comme elles sont c'estoit plustot publier sa beaute que luy faire outrage que de remettre sa peinture entre les mains d'un homme qui voyageoit je vous asseure interrompit arpalice avecque toute la fierte que peut avoir une belle personne qui sent qu'elle est en un de ses plus beaux jours que quand thrasimede ne seroit pas aussi honneste homme qu'il est je ne laisserois pas de dire que mon portraict estoit mieux entre ses mains qu'entre les vostres car enfin il me semble que je dois avoir plus d'obligation a celuy qui a eu dessein de gagner ma peinture qu'a celuy qui l'a voulu perdre ce n'est pas icy reprit menecrate tout confondu que je me dois justifier je suis persuadee reprit zenocrite que vous seriez encore plus embarrasse a le faire en particulier qu'en public et si j'estois en vostre place je ne l'entreprendrois pas aussi bien l'entreprendroit il inutilement adjousta arpalice il vaut donc mieux 
 croire le conseil qu'on me donne repliqua-t'il vous en avez besoing de beaucoup d'autres reprit zenocrite en s'en allant il ne tiendra qu'a vous de me les donner luy dit menecrate en luy presentant la main pour la conduire a son chariot ou en effect il la mena estant bien-ayse de s'oster d'un lieu ou il estoit si embarrasse car encore qu'il craignist fort zenocrite il aymoit pourtant mieux qu'elle luy fist mille reproches en particulier que d'en recevoir un en public apres qu'il eut rendu a zenocrite la civilite qu'il avoit entrepris de luy rendre il rentra dans la compagnie qui ne luy estoit plus si redoutable puis que zenocrite en estoit partie mais il y fut pourtant tousjours fort deconforte car la piquante conversation qu'il avoit eue avecque arpalice faisoit qu'il n'osoit l'aborder joint aussi que la maniere dont il avoit vescu avecque cydipe durant l'absence d'arpalice l'embarrassoit encore estrangement cependant comme il avoit des yeux et des yeux assez fins il remarqua bien qu'arpalice estoit mille fois plus belle qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue et comme elle s'aperceut qu'il l'observoit elle en fut bien-ayse luy semblant qu'elle ne pouvoit trouver une plus noble maniere de se vanger de menecrate qu'en luy faisant voir qu'elle n'estoit pas digne du mespris qu'il avoit fait d'elle aussi recevoit elle ce soir la les louanges qu'on luy donnoit avecque une joye extraordinaire et je fus fort estonnee lors que thrasimede et moy entrant ensemble ou elle estoit je vis qu'elle souffroit 
 paisiblement tout ce que nous luy disions de sa beaute lors que la nuict fut venue et que la chambre fut esclairee elle affecta mesme de se mettre en veue et elle le fit plus pour faire despit a l'amant qu'elle n'aymoit point que pour plaire a celuy qu'elle ne haissoit pas thrasimede ne laissa pourtant pas d'en profiter et l'on peut dire qu'en se monstrant pour punir menecrate elle recompensa thrasimede il fit mesme si bien qu'il luy parla un moment en particulier il est vray que ce moment ne fut employe par arpalice qu'a luy faire des reproches de sa hardiesse mais comme ils furent faits sans aygreur ils furent receus sans desespoir cependant l'heure de se retirer estant venue toute la compagnie sortit de chez lycaste mais tout le monde n'en sortit pas esgallement satisfait car menecrate ne l'estoit pas tant que thrasimede ce n'est pas que de l'humeur dont il estoit il ne fust moins sensible qu'un autre ne l'auroit este mais apres tout il avoit trouve ce soir la arpalice si belle et si charmante qu'il avoit honte d'avoir si mal vescu avecque elle neantmoins comme il la regardoit encore comme une personne qu'il croyoit pouvoir espouser toutes les fois qu'il le voudroit l'inquietude qu'il avoit estoit plus de scavoir comment il se conduiroit entre cydipe et arpalice qu'il eust bien voulu conserver toutes deux que pour nulle autre raison mais le lendemain au matin il apprit plusieurs choses qui changerent ses sentimens car un de ses amis l'estant venu 
 voir et s'estant mis a l'entretenir de l'estat present de son ame il sceut par luy que thrasimede avoit passe une apresdinee entiere dans ma chambre avecque arpalice sans autre compagnie que philistion et moy qui avois fait dire ce jour la que je n'y estois pas il sceut aussi toutes les choses d'esclat que thrasimede avoit faites pour arpalice et il luy persuada si bien qu'il y avoit une intelligence entr'eux qu'il commenca d'en hair thrasimede d'en aymer un peu moins cydipe et d'en aymer un peu plus arpalice en effect des qu'il la regarda comme une personne qu'il estoit pas absolument asseure d'espouser quoy qu'il n'eust jamais eu d'amour pour elle il se resolut pourtant d'agir comme un homme qui ne vouloit perdre ny son bien ny sa personne la passion qu'il avoit commence d'avoir pour cydipe avoit plustost este un amusement qu'une veritable passion quoy qu'elle en puisse croire de sorte qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner du changement prodigieux qui arriva en luy il faut donc que vous scachiez qu'en quatre ou cinq jours menecrate ayant acheve d'estre persuade que thrasimede estoit aumoureux d'arpalice qu'il n'en estoit pas hai et que pour luy il ne s'en faloit guere qu'il ne le fust entra en un chagrin estrange si bien que changeant sa facon d'agir il ne parla plus tant a cydipe il est vray qu'au lieu de tascher de gagner arpalice par des soings il somma d'abord parmenide d'accomplir ses promesses en accomplissant la volonte de son pere 
 et de sa mere qui avoient declare en mourant souhaitter qu'il espousast arpalice cependant parmenide qui avoit un interest particulier de ne mescontenter pas menecrate luy dit qu'il en parleroit a tous ceux qui avoient quelque pouvoir sur sa soeur et pour ne perdre pas une si favorable occasion pour son amour il luy demanda la sienne pour moy luy dit menecrate je vous cede tout le pouvoir que j'y ay thrasimede respondit la mesme chose pour ce qui regardoit arpalice ainsi ils disposerent tous deux de ce qui n'estoit point en leur puissance et certes ils s'en apperceurent bien-tost car des que parmenide en voulut parler a arpalice elle luy tesmoigna n'estre pas resolue de songer a se marier si promptement elle n'osa pourtant luy dire absolument qu'elle n'espouseroit point menecrate parce qu'elle scavoit qu'il estoit fort imperieux et fort violent et que s'agissant de n'accomplir pas la volonte de son pere il auroit un grand pretexte de l'accuser c'est pourquoy elle se contenta de luy dire qu'il luy faloit donner quelque temps pour se resoudre aymant beaucoup mieux dire a menecrate qu'il ne devoit plus songer a elle que de le dire a son frere mais comme parmenide vit qu'il ne gagnoit rien sur son esprit il luy parla de la passion qu'il avoit pour cleoxence la conjurant de faire quelque consideration sur ce qu'il luy disoit a cela elle luy respondit que comme toute l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour luy ne pouvoit pas changer son coeur pour menecrate il 
 devoit croire aussi que cleoxene n'agiroit pas par les mouvemens de son frere et qu'ainsi son bonheur ou son malheur despendoient de cleoxene et non pas de menecrate apres cela parmenide s'opiniastra encore assez long-temps et arpalice luy resista de mesme ainsi sans se ceder l'un a l'autre ils demeurerent chacun dans leurs veritables sentimens d'autre part menecrate ne manqua pas de parler pour parmenide en parlant a cleoxene qui continuant de faire l'indifferente luy dit que n'ayant attachement a rien il luy devoit sans doute sembler qu'elle n'auroit aucune peine a se resoudre a ce qu'il vouloit mais qu'elle le supplioit de croire que la mesme humeur qui faisoit son desgagement faisoit aussi qu'elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a s'engager qu'ainsi elle ne refusoit pas parmenide en particulier mais tous les hommes en general le conjurant de ne la presser point de songer a se marier de sorte que de tous les deux costez parmenide et menecrate n'eurent point de bonnes nouvelles a se dire de leur amour je dis de leur amour aymable doralise estant certain que des que menecrate put imaginer que peut-estre n'espouseroit-il point arpalice il en devint tres-amoureux si bien que changeant sa facon d'agir avecque elle il se tira tout a fait du rang de ces amans declarez dont zenocrite fait de si agreables peintures aussi s'en apperceut elle bien-tost et je pense qu'elle fut une des premieres personnes qui y fit prendre garde a tout le monde pour arpalice elle en eut 
 de la joye et de la douleur car elle n'estoit pas marrie que menecrate l'aymast afin de se pouvoir mieux vanger de luy mais elle n'en estoit pas aussi bien ayse de peur que cette passion ne fust cause de quelque querelle entre thrasimede et menecrate pour cydipe je suis persuadee que menecrate luy a tousjours fait croire qu'il n'avoit point dessein d'espouser arpalice mais seulement de faire semblant qu'il ne tenoit pas a luy afin de pouvoir jouyr du bien qui luy appartenoit en cas qu'elle refusast de l'espouser en effect elle m'a tousjours paru trop peu irritee contre luy estant certain qu'elle s'est contentee de servir thrasimede aupres d'arpalice autant qu'elle a peu et de la porter a refuser menecrate cependant thrasimede n'estoit pas sans inquietude de voir le changement de menecrate pour arpalice si bien qu'il n'y avoit que philistion et moy qui fussions heureux ce qui faisoit nostre bonheur estoit que nous avions autant d'estime et autant d'affection l'un pour l'autre qu'il en faloit pour nous plaire et pour nous parler confidemment de toutes choses et que nous ne nous aymions pas assez pour en estre inquiets de sorte que demeurant dans ces justes bornes qui separent le plaisir de la douleur en matiere d'amitie un peu galante nous nous divertissions de tout et mesme des malheurs d'autruy a la reserve de ceux d'arpalice et de thrasimede ou nous nous interressions extremement mais enfin menecrate ne pouvant plus souffrir la rigueur avecque laquelle 
 arpalice vivoit avecque luy se determina a la forcer de luy donner audience en particulier pour cet effect ayant eu recours a parmenide pour luy faire obtenir ce qu'il souhaittoit il se fit mener par luy un matin a la chambre d'arpalice pendant qu'elle s'habilloit ce fut en vain qu'elle s'en pleignit car parmenide apres luy avoir dit qu'il avoit prie menecrate de l'entretenir de quelque chose ou il avoit interest aussi bien que luy le laissa avecque elle de sorte que voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit se deffaire promptement de menecrate qu'en l'escoutant elle cessa de s'habiller et luy donna audience mais avecque tant de froideur sur le visage et tant de fierte dans les yeux qu'il a dit depuis qu'il ne scavoit pas comment il avoit eu la force de parler mais enfin comme la veue de la beaute d'arpalice augmentoit sa passion elle augmenta aussi sa hardiesse si bien que prenant la parole des qu'il vit qu'elle estoit en disposition de l'escouter madame luy dit-il devant que de me pleindre de vostre rigueur a toute la terre j'ay voulu avoir l'honneur de vous entretenir afin de vous advouer que j'ay este digne de vostre mespris et de vostre haine et pour vous persuader en mesme temps que je suis resolu de faire tout ce qui est en mon pouvoir pour l'estre de vostre estime et de vostre affection ce n'est guere ma coustume reprit-elle froidement d'estre capable de deux sentimens si opposez pour une mesme personne et si j'ay eu le premier pour 
 vous il sera difficile que vous m'inspiriez le second pourveu qu'il ne soit pas impossible repliqua t'il je ne me desespereray pas car je suis si fortement resolu de vous donner plus de marques d'amour que personne n'en a jamais rendu que je dois ce me semble esperer de toucher enfin vostre coeur joint aussi madame qu'a parler raisonnablement je ne suis plus ce menecrate qui vous consideroit tantost comme un enfant et tantost comme un bien que vos peres et les siens luy avoient laisse et qui n'en sentoit pas la possession parce qu'il la croyoit trop asseuree ainsi madame j'advoue a ma confusion que j'ay vescu sans vous aymer et que j'ay este tres long temps criminel mais aujourd'huy que j'ay change de sentimens et que j'ay autant d'amour pour vous que j'ay eu d'infference seroit il juste que je fusse traitte comme je l'estois lors que je ne vous aymois point il y a si peu d'aparence reprit arpalice qu'un homme qui m'a mesprisee toute sa vie et mesprisee jusques a jouer et a perdre mon portraict contre un estranger qu'il ne connoissoit point puisse changer si-tost de sentimens et passer d'une extremite a l'autre que je ne scay comment vous pouvez avoir la hardiesse d'entreprendre de me le persuader je vous ay desja dit madame reprit-il que je ne pretends pas me justifier au contraire je vous declare que je vous abandonne toute ma vie passee jusques au jour que vous revinstes de la campagne avec zenocrite mais au moins tenez 
 moy conte depuis ce soir la jusques a ce que je meure et ne confondez pas le temps de mon crime avec celuy de mon innocence quand vous aurez autant vescu innocent que vous avez vescu criminel repliqua fierement arpalice je verray si je devray ou vous recompenser ou oublier esgallement les outrages et les services afin de n'avoir que de l'indifference pour vous mais madame apres tout luy dit il quand vous m'aurez prouve que l'amour est une passion que l'on a quand on la veut avoir j'advoueray que vous avez raison de me reprocher que je n'ay pas este amoureux de vous des le berceau mais comme cela n'est pas et qu'il a pleu au destin que je ne commencasse de vous aymer que lors que vous avez este la plus aymable personne du monde me devez vous hair pour cela thrasimede adjousta-t'il que vous ne haissez peut-estre pas tant que moy ne vous connoist que depuis peu de temps et ne peut vous aymer que depuis qu'il vous connoist pourquoy donc ne me regardez vous pas du moins comme luy vous avez mis une notable difference entre luy et vous reprit-elle avecque assez de colere que je ne puis jamais vous regarder esgalement car enfin sans m'estre donne la peine de scavoir s'il m'ayme ou s'il ne m'ayme pas je scay du moins qu'il ne m'a jamais mesprisee comme vous avez fait mais pour me servir de vos propres raisons je veux bien ne vous accuser pas de ce que vous ne m'avez point aymee 
 a condition que vous ne m'accuserez point aussi de ce que je ne pourray jamais vous aymer l'advenir reprit menecrate n'est pas une chose dont on doive respondre si absolument je vous asseure interrompit elle que puis que vous pouvez me dire que vous m'aymerez jusques a la mort je puis bien plus raisonnablement vous promettre de vous hair jusques a la fin de ma vie cependant adjousta-t'elle comme en vous cedant une partie de mon bien je suis desgagee de tout ce qui m'attachoit a vous je vous le laisse avecque joye mais de grace n'allez point employer parmenide ny menophile ny le frere de lycaste ny lycaste elle mesme pour me tourmenter car ils le feroient inutilement apres cela menecrate voulut luy protester qu'il ne pretendoit plus se servir du testament de son pere et qu'il ne la vouloit devoir qu'a elle-mesme qu'a ses propres services mais elle ne voulut plus l'escouter luy disant que l'heure d'aller au temple estoit proche qu'elle ne vouloit point qu'il l'y conduisist et qu'elle vouloit qu'il s'en allast de sorte qu'il fut contraint de s'en aller en effect mais il s'en alla avec que tant de douleur tant de colere et tant d'amour tout ensemble qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher de se pleindre a tous ceux qu'il rencontroit cependant comme une des femmes d'arpalice et une qui estoit a moy avoient ouy appeller philistion arion le jour qu'il avoit passe pour cela elles croyoient tousjours qu'en effect anon estoit son veritable nom et 
 que philistion estoit un nom emprunte de sorte qu'estant de l'humeur de ceux qui croyent qu'ils ne sont obligez de garder un secret qu'au commencement qu'ils le scavent elles dirent enfin a quelqu'un que ce philistion qu'on disoit estre amoureux de moy n'estoit pas un homme de qualite mais ce fameux musicien dont on avoit tant parle et qui n'estoit point trouve quoy qu'on l'eust cherche par toute la ville de sorte que ceux a qui elles le dirent l'ayant dit a menecrate le jour mesme qu'il estoit si peu satisfait d'arpalice il le dit a tout le monde croyant qu'il fascheroit thrasimede et qu'il me fascheroit aussi car il scavoit bien que j'estois glorieuse et qu'un semblable bruit ne me plairoit pas ainsi en moins d'un jour et demy tout le monde se disoit l'un a l'autre que philistion estoit arion si bien qu'a la reserve de quatre on cinq personnes qui scavoient bien la verite tout le reste ne scavoit qu'en penser nous fusmes pourtant ses derniers a scavoir la chose arpalice et moy mais a la fin zenocrite nous l'aprit en nous conjurant de luy dire ce qu'elle en devoit croire comme elle nous faisoit cette priere philistion arriva qui venant de scavoir ce qu'on disoit de luy entra en riant dans la chambre de zenocrite que nous estions alle voir et se mit a nous dire ce qu'on luy venoit d'aprendre mais comme arpalice et moy n'estions pas bien ayses de ce bruit parce que nous craignions les consequences qu'on en pourroit tirer nous ne pusmes nous empescher 
 d'en rougir de sorte que zenocrite croyant qu'il y avoit quelque verite a ce qu'on disoit se mit a nous presser de la luy advouer je scay bien disoit elle que philistion a extremement l'air d'un homme de qualite qu'il a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit du monde mais apres tout arion n'est pas un musicien comme les autres il fait admirablement des vers et il a tant veu d'honnestes gens que je suis persuadee qu'il doit estre un fort honneste homme ainsi quand philistion seroit arion il ne devroit pas faire de difficulte de le dire pendant que zenocrite parloit ainsi philistion rioit de toute sa force et arpalice et moy ne pouvions aussi nous en empescher malgre tout nostre despit mais enfin la chose alla si avant que philistion pour faire connoistre a zenocrite qu'il n'estoit pas arion se fit donner une lire qu'il toucha devant elle en suitte de quoy il chanta il est vray que ce ne fut pas si tost car l'envie de rire l'en empescha durant plus d'une heure en effect c'estoit une chose assez extraordinaire de voir qu'il avoit autant d'envie de chanter mal ce jour la pour faire connoi- qu'il n'estoit pas arion qu'il en avoit eu de bien chanter celuy qu'il avoit este dans ma chambre pour me faire croire qu'il l'estoit aussi chanta-t'il de telle sorte qu'il ne demeura plus nul soupcon a zenocrite qu'il peust estre arion n'estant pas possible qu'elle peust croire qu'il eust peu si bien desguiser sa voix joint que nous voyant dans la necessite d'advouer la verite nous la luy dismes 
 franchement mais durant que nous nous entretenions sur cette advanture menecrate et thrasimede s'estant rencontrez en conversation se querellerent le premier ayant dit a l'autre quelque chose d'assez rude touchant ce pretendu arion si bien que sortant ensemble ils se battirent et se fussent peut-estre tuez si on ne les eust separez thrasimede avoit pourtant este trouve avecque advantage lors qu'on avoit este a eux comme cet accident fit un grand bruit nous le sceusmes bien tost chez zenocrite vous pouvez juger quelle inquietude en eut arpalice aussi bien que philistion qui sortit a l'heure mesme pour aller chercher son amy qu'on luy dit avoir des gardes aussi bien que menecrate jusques a ce qu'on les eust accommodez je ne m'amuseray point a vous particulariser combien cette nouvelle fit dire de choses je vous diray seulement que thrasimede s'estant extremement fait aymer et tout le monde ayant tousjours fort desaprouve qu'on voulust violenter arpalice pour espouser menecrate ceux qui se meslerent de cet accommodement obligerent esgallement menecrate et thrasimede a vivre bien ensemble sans que l'un peust trouver mauvais que l'autre rendist des soings a arpalice qui seule devoit faire leur bonheur ou leur infortune et en effect cet accommodement fut fait ainsi menecrate y resista pourtant autant qu'il peut disant qu'il ne jugeoit pas qu'il fust juste qu'on permist a thrasimede de pretendre rien a 
 arpalice adjoustant qu'il n'avoit pas deu s'engager a la servir puis qu'il avoit sceu quelle estoit engagee des son enfance mais thrasimede respondit a cela qu'ayant sceu de sa propre bouche a apamee qu'il n'estoit point amoureux d'arpalice il avoit eu lieu de croire qu'il n'y pretendoit rien et qu'ainsi il n'avoit pas creu devoir s'opposer a la passion que sa beaute luy avoit donnee de sorte que les raisons de thrasimede ayant este trouvees bonnes ils furent acconmodez a la condition que je vous ay dite mais comme philistion n'estoit pas content de ce qu'on avoit dit de luy trois jours apres il fit une autre combat contre menecrate ou il fit voir qu'il scavoit mieux se servir d'une espee que d'une lire car il eut encore advantage et l'autre fut legerement blesse au bras ces deux combats en causerent mesme encore d'autres en effect parmenide et lysias se battirent apres s'estre querellez en parlant de ce premier combat il est vray qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si mon frere sortit glorieusement de celuy qu'il fit puis qu'en se battant contre parmenide il scavoit bien qu'il estoit son rival et que parmenide ne scavoit pas que lysias fust le sien
 
 
 
 
enfin ma chere doralise nous fusmes plus d'un mois an'entendre parler que de querelles qui furent toutes causees par cet imaginaire arion mais a la fin le calme estant revenu thrasimede et menecrate commencerent de servir tous deux ouvertement arpalice parmenide de son coste continuant d'estre inutilement fort amoureux 
 de cleoxene pendant que lysias en estoit tendrement ayme cependant comme parmenide s'imaginoit que plus arpalice estoit rigoureuse a menecrate moins cleoxene luy estoit favorable il la persecutoit estrangement menecrate n'en faisoit guere moins a cleoxene de ce qu'elle ne traittoit pas mieux parmenide de sorte que ces deux freres devinrent presques aussi insupportables a leurs soeurs que s'ils eussent este tout a la fois et leurs peres et leurs maris mais des peres imperieux et bizarres et des maris capricieux et jaloux il est vray qu'arpalice et cleoxene suportoient cette persecution diversement car cleoxene ne s'en soucioit point du tout au contraire comme lysias mettoit au nombre des obligations qu'il luy avoit toutes les choses fascheuses que luy disoit menecrate elle s'en consoloit facilement mais pour arpalice il n'en estoit pas de mesme en effect elle supportoit la tyrannie de parmenide avecque une telle impatience qu'elle m'en faisoit pitie je n'estois pas aussi sans peine parce que philistion me pressoit continuellement d'employer le credit que j'avois sur l'esprit d'arpalice pour l'obliger a se determiner promptement en faveur de thrasimede je scavois bien qu'elle en auroit bien eu envie mais parmenide luy disoit des choses si pressantes pour l'en empescher qu'elle ne pouvoit s'y resoudre comme elle estoit donc un jour fort affligee de la persecution que luy faisoit parmenide et qu'elle m'en faisoit pitie je luy 
 conseillay de dire a son frere afin qu'il luy donnast quelque repos qu'elle vouloit bien se sacrifier pour luy pourveu que ce ne fust pas inutilement pour ses interests mais qu'elle ne vouloit pas le faire dans l'incertitude de son bonheur qu'ainsi elle s'engageoit a espouser menecrate des qu'il auroit espouse cleoxene scachant bien veu l'intelligence qu'elle avoit avecque mon frere que c'estoit ce qui n'arriveroit point mais me dit alors arpalice qui ne scavoit pas l'affection de lysias et de cleoxene si mon frere alloit espouser la soeur de menecrate je me trouverois bien embarrassee je vous asseure luy dis-je qu'il ne l'espousera pas j'eus pourtant beau luy asseurer qu'elle n'avoit rien a craindre car je ne peus luy persuader ce que je luy disois jusques a ce que je me fusse resolue de faire une infidelite a mon frere en luy descouvrant ce qu'elle ne scavoit point et je le fis d'autant plustost que je n'ignorois pas qu'arpalice est une des plus discrettes personnes du monde apres luy avoir donc dit tout ce que je scavois elle dit a parmenide ce que je luy avois conseille me chargeant d'advertir thrasimede comme de moy mesme qu'il ne se mist point en peine s'il entendoit dire qu'arpalice eust promis quelque chose a son prejudice cependant arpalice n'eut pas plustost dit a parmenide qu'elle espouseroit menecrate des qu'il auroit espouse cleoxene que parmenide pour obliger menecrate a presser sa soeur de luy estre favorable luy aprit ce qu'arpalice 
 luy avoit dit de sorte que menecrate se mit a redoubler la persecution qu'il faisoit a cleoxene et a persecuter encore bien plus sa soeur que sa maistresse j'oubliois de vous dire qu'en agissant ainsi j'avois mesme eu dessein de rendre office a mon frere car j'avois sceu par luy que cleoxene luy avoit enfin promis que si menecrate la pressoit trop et vouloit la contraindre a espouser parmenide elle se determineroit et se resoudroit a declarer la veritable cause qui l'empeschoit de le faire et a achever de le rendre heureux de sorte que par ce moyen je servois tout a la fois arpalice thrasimede lysias et cleoxene et j'obligeois mesme philistion d'autre part cydipe qui sans doute a tousjours creu que menecrate l'aymoit conseilloit continuellement a arpalice de preferer thrasimede a menecrate ainsi chacun ayant un dessein cache nous n'estions pas sans occupation principalement lors que nous estions quelquesfois tous ensemble cependant quelque asseurance que j'eusse donnee a philistion pour la donner a thrasimede il ne peut jamais l'obliger a demeurer en repos il me dit donc un jour que son amy se porteroit enfin a quelque violente resolution si arpalice ne luy faisoit l'honneur de luy donner quelques asseurances de son amitie que jusques a cette heure il avoit falu qu'il eust devine tous ses sentimens mais qu'apres tout sa passion estoit trop violente pour se satisfaire de si peu de chose qu'ainsi il falloit qu'elle luy donnast du 
 moins quelques favorables paroles je pressay donc un jour arpalice qui m'estoit venue voir parce que je me trouvois mal de vouloir effectivement parler a thrasimede non seulement comme a un homme dont elle croyoit estre aymee mais encore comme voulant bien qu'il creust qu'elle ne le haissoit pas en effect luy disois-je puis que cela est quelle si grande difficulte faites vous de le luy advouer et pourquoy vous obstinez-vous a luy refuser une satisfaction extreme qui ne vous coustera que quatre ou cinq paroles favorables ces quatre ou cinq paroles reprit-elle sont de plus grande consequence que vous ne pensez je ne vous responds pourtant pas que je puisse eternellement m'empescher de les dire mais si je suis tousjours maistresse de ma raison je ne les diray qu'a l'extremite car enfin poursuivit elle ces quatre ou cinq paroles dont vous parlez comme d'une chose si peu importante sont pourtant le dernier terme jusques ou la modestie et la vertu permettent d'aller en effect tant qu'un amant ne demande qu'a estre simplement ayme j'advoue que l'amour n'a rien qui m'espouvante ny qui blesse mon imagination tout ce que la plus violente passion peut faire dire ne me choque point du tout au contraire je trouve quelque chose de beau dans toutes les pleintes d'un amant a qui on n'a point dit ces quatre ou cinq paroles favorables je trouve mesme que ces pleintes sont glorieuses a la personne qui est aymee et qui n'a point advoue 
 qu'elle ayme elle tient alors veritablement en sa puissance le bon heur ou le mal heur de son amant et c'est proprement en ce temps-la qu'elle est maistresse et qu'il est esclave il ne demande encore que ces quatre ou cinq paroles et il les demande mesme comme une grace et mon pas comme une debte ou au contraire des que ces favorables paroles ont passe de l'oreille dans le coeur d'un amant le son n'en est pas plustost dissipe que ce mesme amant ne pouvant plus desirer ce qu'il possede desire ce qu'il n'a point c'est a dire des preuves de cette affection qu'on luy a dit avoir pour luy de sorte qu'apres cela n'agissant plus en esclave il demande ce qu'il pense luy estre deu et ne le demande plus avec la mesme soumission enfin ma chere candiope je vous le dis encore une fois tous les desirs d'un amant au dela de ces quatre ou cinq paroles favorables que vous voulez que je die a thrasimede me semblent tous si criminels et me choquent tellement l'imagination que pour l'empescher de les avoir je veux luy refuser ces quatre ou cinq paroles qu'en effect je pourrois luy accorder innocemment c'est pourquoy je vous declare que je ne puis me resoudre a ce que vous voulez de moy et que tout ce que je puis est de dire a thrasimede que je veux bien qu'il continue de m'aymer adjoustez y du moins luy dis je que vous consentez qu'il vous ayme avec l'esperance d'estre un jour ayme je vous asseure me dit-elle en riant et en rougissant 
 tout ensemble que la capitulation que vous voulez faire avecque moy est bien inutile car il m'est arrive plus d'une fois en ma vie de n'avoir rien dit a thrasimede de tout ce que je m'estois resolue de luy dire et de luy avoir dit au contraire tout ce que j'avois resolu de ne luy dire point aussi est ce pour cela que je fuy autant que je le puis a luy parler en particulier car je vous advoue qu'il n'y a rien au monde qui me fasse un plus sensible despit que lors que je me puis reprocher a moy-mesme que j'ay este plus fiere ou plus douce que je ne la voulois estre cependant luy dis-je quand vous ne voudriez pas entretenir thrasimede en particulier par affection il le faudroit faire par prudence estant certain qu'il est presentement en termes d'avoir besoing que vous vous serviez de tout le pouvoir que vous avez sur luy pour l'empescher de se porter a quelque resolution violente arpalice m'entendant parler ainsi s'obstina encore a ne vouloir pas ce que je voulois mais a la fin elle ceda a condition que je croyrois qu'elle n'accorderoit a thrasimede la permission de l'entretenir une fois en secret que par prudence seulement et non pas par affection quoy qu'elle m'advouast pourtant que si elle avoit a en avoir pour quelqu'un ce seroit pour luy mais la difficulte fut de trouver lieu de faire la chose seurement et arpalice et moy estions si peu accoustumees a donner des assignations que nous nous trouvasmes bien embarrassees a imaginer celle-la je n'avois pas plustost propose un 
 expedient qu'arpalice y trouvoit mille difficultez chez elle lycaste et cydipe y estoient tousjours dans ma chambre l'advanture d'arion avoit trop mal reussi dans un temple il y avoit trop de monde joint que d'ailleurs nous en faisions scrupule quoy que ce ne fust pas pour un crime en promenade nous n'en faisions point sans compagnie arpalice et moy enfin apres avoir bien raisonne nous ne trouvasmes rien qui nous contentast il est vray que nous n'en eusmes pas besoing car le hazard fit ce que nous ne pouvions trouver invention de faire comme nous estions donc bien avant dans cette conversation on me vint dire que thrasimede et philistion me demandoient d'abord arpalice creut que je l'avois trompee que j'avois feint d'estre malade pour l'obliger a me venir voir et que c'estoit une chose concertee avecque thrasimede de sorte qu'elle s'en voulut aller il falut qu'il attendist long-temps dans l'antichambre devant que d'entrer ne voulant pas ordonner qu'on le fist venir que je n'eusse desabuse arpalice afin de l'empescher de s'en aller aussi bien me disoit-elle ne diray-je rien de fort obligeant aujourd'huy a thrasimede et il vaudroit peut-estre mieux pour luy que je m'en allasse mais apres tout je la fis r'asseoir il est vray qu'elle voulut estre sur mon lict afin d'estre moins en veue et elle s'y cacha si bien que tout autre que thrasimede ne l'eust peu connoistre en entrant cependant il ne laissa pas de le faire et de tesmoigner 
 une joye extreme de la rencontrer il laissa donc la place d'honneur a philistion pour prendre celle qui luy estoit la plus agreable d'abord la conversation fut generale il est vray qu'arpalice y prenoit si peu de part qu'a peine scavoit-elle ce que nous disions mais insensiblement thrasimede luy ayant adresse la parole en particulier et philistion s'estant mis a me parler bas la conversation se partagea et nous fusmes pres d'une heure sans estre interrompus je ne vous diray point exactement quel fut l'entretien que thrasimede eut avecque arpalice car ils m'ont dit depuis tous deux separement qu'ils ne pouvoient me le redire et tout ce que j'en scay est qu'arpalice disoit qu'elle avoit parle trop obligeamment a thrasimede et qu'elle s'en repentoit et que thrasimede de son coste asseuroit qu'elle ne luy avoit pas dit une parole favorable et que pourtant il estoit content sans qu'il en peust dire la veritable raison si ce n'estoit qu'il croyoit avoir veu dans les yeux d'arpalice malgre l'obscurite ou elle s'estoit mise je ne scay quoy de plus obligeant pour luy que tout ce qu'il y avoit veu jusques alors cependant arpalice s'en alla la premiere sans vouloir que thrasimede la conduisist et je ne scay si le commandement qu'elle luy en fit ne fut point la plus grande faveur qu'il eust receu d'elle en ce temps la a peine fut elle partie que cleoxene arriva qui suivant son enjouement ordinaire se mit a me faire la guerre de ce quelle me trouvoit avecque deux hommes 
 si galans me demandant si j'avois passe l'apredisnee toute entiere avec que eux si nous n'avions plus rien a dire et si elle ne nous interrompoit point comme j'entendis parler cleoxene de cette sorte au lieu de luy respondre precisement et de luy dire qu'arpalice y avoit este je luy respondis en riant qu'on ne devoit jamais guere craindre d'interrompre une conversation qui se faisoit entre trois personnes puis qu'il n'y avoit pas beaucoup de secrets qu'on dist de cette maniere il est vray dit cleoxene que si tout le monde estoit de mon humeur on feroit un peu plus de mistere de beaucoup de choses qu'on n'en fait aussi est ce pour cela adjousta t'elle que je suis aussi indifferente qu'on me le voit estre aymant beaucoup mieux n'avoir rien de particulier que de me mettre en estat d'avoir le desplaisir de m'estre voulu cacher et de ne l'avoir peu faire il est pourtant beaucoup de choses reprit thrasimede qui sont fort agreables et qu'on ne scauroit cacher en effect poursuivit philistion l'amour qui est une passion si generale et qui seule peut faire sentir une grande joye est au nombre de ces choses qu'on ne peut cacher longtemps si j'avois eu a en estre capable reprit cleoxene je vous asseure qu'on ne s'en appercevroit point vous n'aymeriez donc guere reprit thrasimede au contraire repliqua t'elle j'aymerois beaucoup mieux qu'une autre vous vivriez donc avecque une merveilleuse contrainte luy dit philistion nullement respondit-elle 
 et je me contraindrois beaucoup moins que ne font toutes les autres qui se meslent d'avoir une galanterie j'advoue luy dis-je qu'encore que je n'ay pas dessein de me servir de vostre secret je serois bien-ayse de le scavoir comme cleoxene alloit respondre lysias qui avoit sceu qu'elle estoit dans ma chambre y vint un moment apres parmenide y amena lycaste et cydipe et menecrate y vint aussi mais ce qui acheva de tout gaster fut que zenocrite ayant este voir arpalice et ayant sceu par elle que je me trouvois mas me voulut venir voir et la forca d'y venir une seconde fois avecque elle de sorte que lors qu'elle entra dans ma chambre comme elle ne scavoit pas que j'eusse fait un secret a cleoxene de sa premiere visite elle me dit pour pretexter la seconde qu'elle ne pretendoit pas que je luy en eusse obligation et que c'estoit plus pour zenocrite que pour moy qu'elle me revenoit voir d'abord j'esperay que cleoxene ne se souviendroit pas qu'elle m'avoit demande lors qu'elle estoit arrivee si j'avois este seule toute l'apresdisnee avecque thrasimede et philistion et que je ne luy avois point dit qu'arpalice y avoit este mais je ne fus pas long temps dans cette esperance car comme toute la compagnie s'estoit levee pour zenocrite et pour arpalice elle prit ce temps-la pour s'aprocher de moy et pour me demander en riant s'il n'estoit pas vray qu'il y avoit un grand plaisir a pouvoir cacher un secret et si ce n'estoit pas aussi un sensible desplaisir que d'avoir voulu 
 cacher une chose et ne l'avoir peu faire je vous asseure luy dis je tout bas que je n'ay point voulu cacher qu'arpalice eust este icy et en effect adjoustay-je vous voyez bien qu'elle ne s'en cache pas c'est que vous n'estiez pas bien concertees reprit elle en sousriant apres quoy elle s'en retourna a sa place ou elle ne fut pas plustost que toute la compagnie estant rangee philistion reprit la conversation au point qu'elle estoit lors qu'elle avoit commence d'estre interrompue par lysias il me semble dit-il regardant cleoxene que vous deviez enseigner un grand secret a candiope lors que lysias est arrive il est vray dit-elle mais ce n'est qu'en particulier et non pas en public que je veux le luy apprendre zenocrite qui n'estoit pas accoustume de laisser dire des choses devant elle qu'elle n'entendist point poussa celle-la jusqu'au bout de sorte qu'encore que ce dont il s'agissoit fust le veritable secret de la vie de cleoxene elle se resolut pour le mieux cacher d'en parler aussi hardiment que si c'eust este une de ces choses qu'on suppose quelquesfois pour fournir a la conversation si bien qu'apres qu'on eut raconte ce qui s'estoit dit devant que lysias fust arrive cleoxene continua de parler et de demander si elle avoit tort dire que celles qui se mesloient de vouloir faire galanterie sans avoir l'adresse de la cacher n'en avoient que de l'inquietude sans plaisir et ne meritoient pas d'avoir un homme fidelle car enfin disoit-elle s'il y a de 
 la douceur en amour je concois qu'il faut que ce soit lors que l'on est aymee et que l'on ayme sans qu'on le scache parce que de cette facon l'on n'est point exposee ny a l'envie ny a la mesdisance ny au desplaisir de voir des rivaux jaloux se quereller ny se battre et l'on jouit en repos d'un empire qui n'est trouble par aucune chose on scait tout ce que les autres scavent et les autres ne scavent pas ce que vous scavez enfin adjousta-t'elle je suis persuadee qu'il est de l'amour comme du feu plus il est renferme plus il se conserve en effect ne voyez vous pas que ces amours que personne n'ignore s'esvaporent et s'allentissent en fort peu de temps tout le monde en parle tant durant quelques jours qu'insensiblement les amans eux-mesmes viennent a n'en parler plus et a ne scavoir que se dire jugez donc s'il estoit possible de trouver deux personnes qui s'aymassent sans que leur affection fust conneue que d'eux-mesmes s'ils ne seroient pas plus heureux que les autres ils le seroient sans doute reprit zenocrite mais comment voulez-vous qu'agisse cet amant cache et comment se pourra t'il caher s'il fait une partie de ce que l'amour veut qu'il face que deviendront cette multitude de choses qu'on dit qui sont inseparables de cette passion pour moy adjousta-t'elle qui suis ennemie de ces amans declarez qui semblent si ridicules je ne laisse pas de dire que je suis persuadee qu'il y a un milieu a prendre entre ce que vous dites et ce que je dis car si vous ostez 
 les pleintes les souspirs les inquietudes les jalousies les transports de joye le soin de plaire et de divertir les changemens de visage la magnificence et la liberte a un amant vous luy ostez tout ce qui sert a tesmoigner son affection et tout ce qui le rend agreable et si vous luy laissez tout cela il est difficile qu'on ne soubconne pas quelque chose de son amour non non reprit cleoxene cet amant cache n'est pas tel que vous le figurez il se pleint mais c'est en secret il souspire mais ce n'est que lors qu'il n'y a que sa maistresse qui le puisse entendre il a des inquietudes mais il les dissimule il a mesme de la jalousie mais ce n'est que de celle qui augmente l'amour et non pas de celle qui la destruict il a de la joye mais il en fait un secret il ne manque pas mesme d'avoir soing de plaire a la personne qu'il ayme mais comme elle ne veut point d'autres soins de luy sinon qu'il cache sa passion ce sont des soins qui ne paroissent qu'a elle seulement et pour la liberalite et la magnificence comme ce sont deux choses qui peuvent paroistre en toutes les actions d'un honneste homme et qui ne sont pas renfermees dans la galanterie seulement pour montrer qu'il les possede il est magnifique et liberal en cent occasions differetes qui ne regardent point son amour et par ce moyen il n'est rien que cet amant cache ne puisse faire sans descouvrir sa passion cependant il jouit en repos d'un thresor que personne ne luy envie parce que personne ne croit qu'il le possede 
 durant que cleoxene parloit ainsi je n'osois regarder ny mon frere ny arpalice et lysias n'osoit regarder ny cleoxene ny moy pour elle comme elle estoit absolument persuadee qu'on ne scavoit point l'intelligence qu'elle avoit avecque lysias elle parloit avecque toute la hardiesse d'une personne des interessee et absolument indifferente et en effect parmenide qui prenoit assez d'interest a elle pour l'observer soigneusement ne soubconnoit pas qu'elle peust seulement estre capable d'une legere amitie bien loing de croire qu'elle eust une violente passion de sorte que s'estimant encore plus heureux d'avoir une maistresse indifferente qu'il croyoit ne preferer personne a luy que d'estre comme menecrate qui voyoit qu'arpalice l'estimoit moins que thrasimede il escoutoit cleoxene avecque assez de plaisir pour menecrate et thrasimede ils n'escoutoient pas trop ce qu'on disoit car ils estoient assez occupez a s'observer eux-mesmes et a regarder arpalice qui sans vouloir regarder celuy qu'elle n'aymoit pas de peur de luy faire plaisir ny celuy qu'elle aymoit de crainte qu'on n'expliquast ses regards comme ils devoient l'estre escoutoit attentivement cleoxene et zenocrite qui seules tenoient la conversation ce jour la qu'elles continuerent encore assez long-temps disant toutes deux cent plaisantes et agreables choses vers la fin pourtant tout le monde parla d'autres affaires chacun entretenant qui bon luy sembla excepte menecrate 
 qui ne peut jamais dire un mot en particulier a arpalice pour cleoxene elle parla bas a lysias sans qu'on y prist garde et elle eut le plaisir de voir que sa passion estoit si bien cachee que mesme parmenide ne trouvoit pas plus mauvais que lysias l'entretinst qu'un autre de sorte que comme elle ne peut s'empescher de rire en parlant a lysias et en voyant combien elle trompoit finement tout le monde parmenide se mit a prier ce rival cache de vouloir luy dire de quoy c'estoit je vous laisse a penser si cela donna du plaisir a cleoxene mais pour cydipe je pense qu'elle n'en avoit pas tant cependant il falut enfin que la conversation finist et comme cleoxene n'avoit pas oublie ce qu'elle avoit sceu d'arpalice et qu'elle ne cherchoit autre chose qu'a persuader a son frere qu'il n'y devoit rien pretendre afin qu'il ne la pressast plus d'espouser parmenide elle luy dit le soir qu'arpalice m'avoit fait deux visites ce jour la et que la premiere avoit este pour thrasimede luy racontant comment elle avoit sceu la chose je vous laisse donc a penser quel effect cela fit dans le coeur de menecrate cleoxene fit pourtant en suitte tout ce qu'elle peut pour luy persuader de se servir de la connoissance qu'il avoit que thrasimede luy estoit prefere pour ne songer plus a arpalice et pour s'en guerir mais comme il scavoit que sa soeur n'aymoit pas parmenide il creut apres y avoir bien pense qu'il ne devoit pas tout a fait adjouster foy a ses paroles c'est pourquoy il remit 
 au lendemain a s'esclaircir s'il estoit vray que thrasimede et philistion eussent este assez long-temps seuls avecque candiope et avecque moy de sorte que comme il luy fut ayse de scavoir que cleoxene luy avoit dit la verite il entra en une colere que je ne vous puis exprimer qu'en vous disant qu'elle fut si forte qu'il creut qu'il n'aymoit plus arpalice et qu'il ne l'aymeroit jamais si bien que sans consulter plus long temps s'il estoit guery de sa passion ou s'il ne l'estoit pas il commenca de parler chez zenocrite de la visite d'arpalice comme d'une assignation qu'elle avoit donnee a thrasimede declarant tout haut qu'il ne vouloit point troubler les plaisirs d'arpalice et qu'il n'y songeoit plus zenocrite entendant parler menecrate de cette sorte se trouvoit bien embarrassee car elle n'ignoroit pas qu'arpalice ne voudroit pas qu'on tombast d'accord qu'elle eust donne une assignation a thrasimede mais d'autre part elle estoit si ayse de voir que si la colere de menecrate duroit arpalice seroit delivree de luy et seroit en liberte de rendre thrasimede heureux qu'elle n'osoit presques la justifier toutesfois comme elle scavoit qu'elle n'aymoit pas moins sa reputation que son repos elle dit pourtant a menecrate que ce qu'il nommoit une assignation n'estoit qu'un cas fortuit mais pour faire qu'en justifiant arpalice elle ne r'allumast pas l'amour de menecrate qui sembloit s'allentir elle adjousta qu'estant autant de ses amies qu'elle estoit elle se 
 croyoit obligee de luy dire que c'estoit une grande inconsideration a luy de s'obstiner a vouloir espouser une personne qu'il avoit si cruellement mesprisee que pour elle il ne luy sembloit pas qu'il deust jamais esperer d'en estre aymee qu'ainsi il feroit beaucoup mieux de laisser arpalice en repos et de s'y mettre enfin comme zenocrite est fort eloquente elle se servit si bie de la colere de menecrate qu'elle acheva de luy persuader qu'il ne devoit plus songer a arpalice si bien que sans differer davantage elle l'engagea a luy donner commission de dire la chose a parmenide menecrate la conjurant de l'asseurer que cela n'empescheroit pas qu'il ne luy donnast sa seur a peine menecrate fut-il sorty de chez elle qu'elle envoya querir parmanide pour luy dire que menecrate ne songeoit plus a arpalice mais qu'il ne laisseroit pas de le servir aupres de cleoxene parmenide entendant ce que zenocrite luy disoit entra en une colere extreme contre arpalice s'imaginant qu'il faloit qu'elle eust eu quelque nouvelle rigueur pour menecrate et ce qui faisoit son plus grand chagrin estoit qu'il croyoit que s'il ne pensoit plus a arpalice il le serviroit avecque moins d'ardeur aupres de cleoxene de sorte que quittant zenocrite il fut trouver arpalice et luy dire les choses du monde les plus fascheuses en suitte il fut trouver menecrate pour luy dire qu'il estoit prest de forcer arpalice a l'espouser mais comme il estoit encore dans la violence de sa colere et de sa jalousie il le remercia de l'offre 
 qu'il luy faisoit et l'asseura encore une fois qu'il alloit agir plus fortement pour luy sur l'esprit de sa soeur qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors sans pretendre pourtant plus rien a arpalice ainsi cleoxene en croyant se delivrer d'une persecution l'augmenta mais admirez je vous prie le bizarre destin des choses ce que n'auroient peut estre peu obtenir tous les services de thrasimede et de lysias fut accorde a ces deux amans a cause de la violence qu'arpalice et cleoxene souffrirent par la tyrannie de leurs freres car enfin arpalice se voyant si injustement tourmentee se resolut d'advouer a thrasimede qu'elle l'aymoit a condition qu'il n'entreprendroit rien ny contre menecrate ny contre parmenide et cleoxene qui avoit fait un si grand secret de l'affection de lysias et d'elle se resolut aussi d'advouer franchement que n'ayant ny pere ny mere elle croyoit ne devoir pas estre blasmee si elle suivoit son inclination en espousant lysias qu'elle aymoit depuis tres longtemps et en effect elle le dit a menecrate qui ne pouvant pas trouver que cleoxene eust mal choisi ny pour la condition ny pour la personne ne peut la blasmer que du secret qu'elle en avoit fait adjoustant toutesfois que comme il avoit donne sa parole a parmenide il ne pouvoit la retirer et qu'ainsi si elle espousoit lysias ce seroit sans son contentement cependant arpalice qui ne pouvoit souffrir qu'on dist par le monde qu'elle eust donne une assignation puis que cela n'estoit pas se mit dans la fantaisie 
 quoy que je pusse faire pour l'en empescher de vouloir qu'on sceust avecque certitude que cela n'estoit point et elle le fit si adroitement qu'en effect on sceut que la rencontre de thrasimede et d'elle s'estoit faite par hazard si bien que menecrate venant a scavoir comme les autres que le sujet de sa colere ne subsistoit plus et qu'elle avoit eu un injuste fondement elle cessa et cessa de telle sorte qu'il fut a l'heure mesme chez arpalice qu'il trouva seule vous pouvez aysement juger qu'elle ne fut pas peu estonnee de voir menecrate a ses pieds de qui elle se croyoit deffaite pour toute sa vie en effect elle en fut si surprise qu'elle n'eut pas la force de l'empescher de parler et de luy demander pardon il est vray que l'on peut dire que si elle se teut quelque temps ce fut pour luy parler apres avecque plus de colere car a peine eut il acheve de dire tout ce qu'il creut propre a obtenir son pardon qu'elle luy dit tout ce que le depit peut faire dire de plus rude luy deffendant mesme de la voir jamais et en effect elle le contraignit de s'en aller pour parmenide il n'en fut pas comme de menecrate car des qu'il sceut que cleoxene avoit eu une affection si longue et si cachee avec lysias il n'y songea plus effectivement mais pour rendre a menecrate generosite pour generosite il ne laissa pas de l'asseurer qu'il empescheroit le mariage de thrasimede et d'arpalice ainsi au lieu qu'il s'estoient promis autrefois de se faire espouser leurs soeurs l'un a l'autre ils se promirent seulement 
 qu'elles n'espouseroient point leurs rivaux les choses estant en ces termes thrasimede receut nouvelle que son pere estoit attaque d'une maladie mortelle quoy que longue et qu'il luy commandoit de l'aller trouver a l'heure mesme je vous laisse a penser quelle douleur fut la sienne non seulement de scavoir que son pere estoit en danger de mourir mais encore de s'esloigner d'arpalice et de s'en esloigner en un temps ou sa presence estoit si necessaire en lycie mais pour accourcir mon recit vous scaurez que devant que de partir philistion et moy pressasmes tant arpalice qu'en fin elle promit une fidelite inviolable a thrasimede qui se separa d'elle avec une douleur extreme et comme philistion estoit aussi oblige de s'en retourner il partit avecque luy me donnant plus de marques de son affection a son depart que je ne croyois qu'il en eust vous pouvez juger que l'absence de thrasimede fut aussi agrable a menecrate qu'elle fut fascheuse a arpalice il est vray qu'elle le traitta tousjours si mal qu'il n'en tira advantage que celuy de ne voir point son rival cependant cleoxene voyant qu'elle ne pouvoit obtenir le consentement de son frere ne laissa pas d'espouser le mien apres avoir fait une assemblee de tous ses autres parens qui approuverent son choix de sorte que comme parmenide n'avoit nulle autre envie d'espouser cleoxene la chose se passa assez doucement menecrate n'a pourtant point veu sa soeur de puis ce temps la il est vray qu'il n'a 
 guere este en mesme lieu qu'elle car vous scaurez que lycaste ayant eu besoin de venir a sardis pour quelques affaires qu'elle avoit a demesler avecque la personne aupres de qui vous avez passe une partie de vostre vie partit peu de jours apres le despart de thrasimede et le mariage de cleoxene pour venir en lycie de sorte que comme parmenide estoit bien ayse de s'esloigner de cleoxene et que de plus lycaste le pria de faire ce voyage parce qu'il la pouvoit servir il partit de patare avecque cydipe et avecque arpalice pour moy comme la mere de mon pere estoit de sardis je fus bien-ayse de trouver une occasion de faire ce voyage avec des personnes qui m'estoient si cheres je pense pourtant que parmenide n'eust pas este marry que je ne l'eusse pas fait mais il ne le peut empescher nous vinsmes donc a sardis toutes ensemble laissant menecrate en lycie mais en partant arpalice et moy escrivismes a thrasimede et a philistion pour leur apprendre ou nous allions afin qu'ils ne hazardassent point de lettres durant nostre absence qui devoit estre assez longue nous arrivasmes donc a sardis un peu devant le commencement de la campagne mais encore que la guerre fust declaree neantmoins nous ne croiyons pas que les progrez de cyrus allassent si viste ny qu'il peust assieger sardis ainsi nous y fusmes sans inquietude durant quelque temps mais nous n'y fusmes guere sans menecrate qui nous y suivit bien-tost je vous laisse 
 a juger combien son voyage fascha arpalice cependant elle eut beau le mal traiter cela ne l'obligea pas a changer le dessein qu'il avoit d'estre a sardis autant qu'elle y seroit de plus comme les affaires que lycaste y avoit estoient de nature a ne pouvoir pas estre terminees si-tost il falut avoir patience ce qui nous faschoit le plus estoit qu'il ne se passoit point de jour depuis que la campagne fut commencee que nous n'aprissions quelque nouveau progrez de cyrus et que nous ne sceussions que son armee approchoit lycaste songea alors a s'en retourner mais elle en fut empeschee par une grande maladie qui l'a tousjours tenue au lict jusques a ce que sardis ait este assiege or il faut que vous scachiez que menecrate croyant que la reputation qu'il acquerroit a la guerre pourroit servir a le faire mieux traitter par arpalice s'y signala en effect de telle sorte que cresus et le roy de pont l'obligerent pendant le siege a prendre une charge assez considerable si bien que lors que nous sommes venues a sortir de sardis par vostre faveur il n'a ose demander permission de nous suivre n'ignorant pas qu'en l'estat ou sont les choses cresus ne la luy donneroit point cependant il est arrive que ne pouvant demeurer dans une ville assiegee non seulement parce que sa maistresse en estoit sortie mais encore parce qu'il a sans doute apprehende que thrasimede ne la rejoignist au sortir de sardis il s'est jette dans le fosse pour la suivre et ce qui rend cette advanture 
 plus merveilleuse est que thrasimede ayant sceu ou nous estions a este pris le mesme jour par les gens de cyrus comme il vouloit se jetter dans sardis parce qu'il croyoit qu'arpalice y estoit jugez donc apres cela s'il n'estoit pas important a vostre aymable parente que vous sceussiez tout ce que je viens de vous dire afin qu'entrant dans ses veritables sentimens vous faciez en sorte que cyrus en accommodant ces deux rivaux termine tous leurs differens en faisant que thrasimede espouse arpalice il est mesme arrive une chose qui pourra faciliter ce mariage qui est qu'a mon advis parmenide commence de se consoler de la perte de cleoxene en regardant cydipe qui peut-estre s'accoustumera a souffrir son affection voyant qu'elle n'a pas autant de part a celle de menecrate qu'elle l'avoit pense ainsi je suis persuadee que parmenide ne s'obstinera pas tant qu'arpalice l'apprehende a ne vouloir point que thrasimede l'espouse
 
 
 
 
candiope ayant finy son recit doralisse l'asseura qu'elle ne manqueroit pas d escrire a andramite quoy qu'elle n'aymast guere a faire cette grace a personne et de l'obliger a agir de maniere aupres de cyrus qu'il establist si bien le bon-heur de thrasimede et d'arpalice que rien ne le peust troubler apres cela elle luy demanda malicieusement si philistion estoit demeure dans les fossez de la ville car il me semble adjousta t'elle en sousriant que depuis qu'il estoit party avec thrasimede il devoit estre revenu 
 avecque luy je vous asseure reprit candiope en rougissant et en riant tout a la fois qu'il me le semble aussi bien qu'a vous mais comme je n'ay parle a thrasimede que des yeux seulement je n'ay peu m'en informer joint qu'a vous dire la verite et a parler serieusement l'amitie de philistion et de moy a este conceue de telle maniere qu'il peut ne me revoir jamais sans que je le puisse accuser d'infidelite car enfin ne nous estant rien promis que de nous estimer toute nostre vie j'ay lieu de croire qu'il fait pour moy en quelque lieu qu'il soit ce que je fais pour luy presentement comme doralise alloit respondre a candiope elle fut advertie que lycaste arpalice cydipe cleonice et toutes les autres prisonnieres estoient sorties de chez la princesse araminte et estoient retournees chacune a leur appartement de sorte que candiope s'en alla retrouver lycaste et laissa doralise dans la liberte d'escrire a andramite ce qu'elle fit en effect quelque repugnance qu'elle y eust il est vray qu'elle choisit si bien toutes les paroles dont elle se servit en luy escrivant qu'encore que sa lettre fust tres longue il n'y en peut toutesfois trouver une qui fust veritablement pour luy doralise ne faisant simplement que luy dire l'intention de son amie pour ce qui regardoit thrasimede et menecrate mais par bon heur pour luy l'esclave qui la luy porta ne le trouva pas en estat de pouvoir faire une longue reflexion sur la rigueur de doralise car comme on le vint querir 
 de la part de cyrus pour quelque affaire pressee il ne peut faire autre chose qu escrire en deux mots a doralise qu'il luy obeiroit exactement en suitte de quoy il fut trouver ce prince qu'il avoit desja veu plus d'une fois depuis qu'il estoit revenu de conduire lycaste des qu'il fut arrive dans sa tente cyrus luy demanda s'il estoit vray que les telmissiens eussent predit au premier roy de lydie que s'il faisoit porter un enfant que les dieux luy avoient donne tout a l'entour des murailles des sardis cette ville seroit imprenable par tous les endroits ou on l'auroit fait passer cette croyance a tousjours este si generalement establie reprit andramite que je suis estonne de scavoir la consternation qui est parmy les habitans de sardis qui sembloient se tant asseurer sur la force de leurs murailles et cela me fait bien connoistre qu'ils ne se fient aux promesses des dieux que lors que le peril est esloigne et qu'il n'y a pas apparence que le mal arrive car je me souviens que lors que la nouvelle vint a sardis que vous aviez pris babilone j'entendis dire a plusieurs personnes et mesme a des personnes d'esprit que leur ville estoit bien heureuse de n'estre point exposee a ce danger et de ce qu'elle avoit este mise sous la protection des dieux des qu elle avoit este bastie je me souviens pourtant encore adjousta-t'il que j'entendis dire aussi en ce temps-la que ce premier roy de lydie qui avoit receu ce commandement des dieux qui sembloit si bizarre a ceux 
 qui ne consideroient pas qu'ils ayment a faire reussir les grandes choses par de petites et a cacher leurs desseins aux hommes n'avoit pas fait faire le tour tout entier des murailles de sardis a cet enfant qui sembloit avoir receu ce privilege des dieux de les fortifier par ses regards seulement il est vray que cet endroit ou l'on dit qu'il ne fut point porte est si inaccessible de luy-mesme que ce prince avoit raison de n'y chercher pas de plus grande seurete que celle que la nature y a mise car c'est par ce mesme coste ou vous n'avez jamais peu faire d'attaque et qui paroist tellemet inaccessible qu'on ne peut en concevoir la pensee aussi les lydiens font ils une garde si foible de ce coste la qu'ils tesmoignent bien qu'ils en connoissent la force il est vray dit cyrus que je pense aussi bien que vous que ce prince avoit raison de croire que la nature avoit si bien fortifie cet endroit qu'il n'estoit pas besoin d'une protection extraordinaire des dieux pour empescher sardis d'estre pris par la cependant je vous ay envoye querir parce qu'il s'est espandu un grand bruit parmy tous les soldats qu'il y a un coste de cette ville par ou on la peut prendre et qu'elle est imprenable par tout ailleurs qu'ainsi c'est les faire perir inutilement que d'entreprendre d'emporter sardis par nulle autre voye que par cet endroit dont ils parlent tant et qu'ils ne connoissent pourtant point c'est donc pour cela que j'ay voulu vous voir afin de leur tesmoigner que je ne neglige pas leurs advis vous 
 scavez adjousta ce prince combien de pareilles choses soit qu'elles soient bie ou mal fondees font d'impression dans l'esprit de la multitude combien il est dangereux que le despoir ne s'empare du coeur des soldats et combien il est ayse que la terreur se mette dans une grande armee qui croit que les dieux sont contre elle c'est pourquoy encore que je scache bien que l'endroit que vous me dites est inaccessible je ne veux pas laisser de l'aller reconnoistre tout de nouveau et de parler de cela comme si je faisois un grand fondement sur les advis qu'on m'en a donnez et en effect le roy d'assirie mazare sesostris tigrane et anaxaris estant arrivez ils monterent tous a cheval aussi bien que luy et furent guidez par andramite pour reconnoistre cet endroit que les soldats disoient estre le seul par ou sardis pouvoit estre pris comme la garde estoit fort foible dans la ville de ce coste-la il fut plus ayse a cyrus de l'aller reconnoistre sans peril joint que le peu de lydiens qui estoient sur les murailles se mocquoient de ceux qui remarquoient cet endroit de leur ville ils ne laisserent pourtant pas de tirer plusieurs coups de traict quoy qu'ils jugeassent bien qu'a cause de l'excessive hauteur du rocher d'ou ils tiroient ils ne les pouvoient pas blesser joint aussi que cyrus ayant desja un petit fort de ce coste la assez esleve pour les couvrir ils s'y mirent pour ne donner aucun ombrage aux ennemis et pour reconnoistre aussi avecque plus de loisir cet endroit dont 
 la veue seulement faisoit horreur car c'estoit un grand rocher escarpe dont la pente estoit si droite qu'elle faisoit frayeur a regarder sans qu'on peust imaginer que des chevres seulement pussent s'y faire un chemin au haut de ce rocher estoient des murailles si basses que les soldats pouvoient s'apuyer dessus et l'on pouvoit en effect plustost les nommer un simple parapet que des murailles la descente du fosse de coste la n'estoit pas extremement difficile mais ce grand rocher estoit si affreux que le mont tmolus qui luy estoit oppose n'avoit pas d'endroit qui parust si inaccessible aussi tous ces princes qui l'avoient desja tant regarde autrefois n'alloient ils le reconnoistre encore que pour tesmoigner aux soldats qu'on ne negligeoit pas leurs advis cependant comme cyrus scavoit que la prudence veut qu'on face plustost cent choses inutiles que de manquer a en faire une necessaire il regardoit plus soigneusement que les autres ce grand rocher escarpe qui regnoit tout le long de la ville de ce coste la comme il estoit donc a regarder attentivement une chose qui ne luy pouvoit donner que de fascheuses pensees puis qu'elle achevoit de luy persuader que sardis ne pouvoit estre pris par force il arriva qu'un soldat lydien qui estoit sur le haut de ce rocher ayant avance la teste au dela du parapet laissa tomber son casque qui roula le long du rocher presques jusques au fonds du fosse s'arrestant pourtant a la fin entre des cailloux et en un lieu 
 ou le soldat qui l'avoit laisse tomber et qui l'avoit suivy des yeux le voyoit encore cette veue fit que ce soldat qui estoit fasche de perdre son casque principalement parce que ses compagnons se moquoient de luy entreprit de tascher de descendre pour l'aller querir justement durant que cyrus estoit dans ce fort a regarder ce grand rocher si bien que voyant ce soldat qui apres avoir passe par dessus le parapet entreprenoit de descendre il en fut extremement surpris et le fit remarquer a ceux qui estoient avecque luy de sorte qu'attachant tous les yeux sur ce soldat ils le regarderent attentivement mais ils le regarderent bien plus comme un homme qui s'alloit precipiter que comme un homme qui alloit descendre cependant ils furent bien estonnez de voir que ce faisant un chemin en biaisant il descendoit peu a peu il est vray qu'il s'arrestoit de temps en temps pour choisir sa route mais enfin il la trouvoit et cyrus prit garde que ce grand rocher estant tout seme de grosses touffes d'une espece de genet sauvage il s'en servoit a s'empescher de glisser si bien que marchant comme je l'ay desja dit en biaisant et allant de genet en genet il arriva enfin au lieu ou estoit son casque qu'il reprit avecque bien de la joye commencant de remonter par le mesme chemin qu'il estoit descendu et de remonter mesme plus facilement parce que la veue du precipice ne l'effrayoit plus cyrus admirant alors cette merveilleuse rencontre dit au 
 roy d'assirie que puis qu'un soldat pouvoit monter ce rocher cent mille pourroient faire la mesme chose de sorte que se mettant tous a observer le chemin qu'il tenoit ils le remarquerent si juste a cause de ces fleurs jaunes qui quoy que venues par hazard ne laissoient pas de faire quelques figures irregulieres qui conduisoient les yeux qu'ils retinrent tous les divers tournoyemens qu'il fit sur ce rocher cyrus fit mesme une chose qui servit a luy faire retenir la route que ce soldat tenoit car il tira de sa poche des tablettes dont il se servoit a dessigner et griffonnant diligemment ce grand rocher qu'il voyoit il marqua precisement le nouveau sentier que ce soldat s'estoit fait ne doutant point du tout que ce merveilleux cas fortuit ne fust arrive pour luy enseigner que c'estoit par la que les dieux vouloient qu'il prist sardis et qu'il delivrast mandane le roy d'assirie et mazare n'en douterent pas plus que luy sesostris espera aussi retrouver sa chere timarete par cette voye et andramite plus que les autres fut persuade que puis qu'on pouvoit monter par cet endroit la prediction des telmissiens se trouveroit vraye pour anaxaris il ne s'opposoit pas au dessein de cyrus mais il le trouvoit si difficile qu'il n'en esperoit pas un si heureux succes qu'ils l'attendoient apres avoir donc bien raisonne entre eux sur cette entreprise ils s'en retournerent pour achever de la resoudre avec les autres princes qui estoient dans l'armee de cyrus 
 et en effet apres avoir considere que les lignes de circonvalation n'estoient pas encore achevees que quelque soin qu'on y pust aporter il entroit toujours quelque chose dans sardis par le fleuve qui y passoit et que du moins il ne seroit pas pris si tost cyrus se determina a tenter cette entreprise ce qui en faisoit la plus grande difficulte estoit qu'on ne pouvoit pas songer a monter ce rocher ny de jour ny pendant une nuit fort obscure car de jour on eust este aperceu et facilement repousse et de nuit on n'eust point veu a se conduire par un chemin si glissant et si difficile mais comme cyrus avoit l'esprit d'une grande estendue et qu'il voyoit en un moment toutes les choses qui pouvoient rendre une entreprise faisable ou impossible il considera que la lune estant alors en son decours et ne se couchant que lors que le soleil se levoit elle pouvoit l'esclairer assez pour luy aider a monter le rocher il scavoit bien que si elle luy donnoit assez de lumiere pour voir elle en donneroit aussi assez pour pouvoir estre veu mais il scavoit encore mieux que dans toutes les grandes entreprises de la guerre il faloit donner quelque chose au hazard joint aussi qu'andramite assuroit tellement qu'on ne faisoit presques nulle garde de ce coste la qu'enfin il fut resolu que sans differer davantage on feroit la nuit prochaine trois fauces attaques aux costez les plus esloignez de celuy ou l'on vouloit faire la veritable pendant que cyrus a la teste de cinq cens hommes suivy 
 de tous les braves de son armee iroit avec la resolution de monter ce rocher ou de mourir ne pouvant pas souffrir qu'un soldat eust fait pour retrouver son casque ce qu'il ne feroit pas pour delivrer mandane cependant comme il jugeoit bien que cela seroit un peu long et qu'il ne seroit pas aise qu'on pust faire monter assez de soldats par la pour prendre sardis le dessein qu'il prit apres avoir este instruit par andramite du dedans de la ville fut d'y en faire seulement monter assez pour se pouvoir rendre maistre de la porte la plus proche de cet endroit afin de s'en servir pour faire entrer apres le grand nombre des troupes aussi commanda t'il un corps d'infanterie et un de cavalerie pour cela qui eurent ordre de se tenir le plus pres qu'ils pourroient de cette porte sans estre apperceus des lydiens convenant avec ceux qui les commandoient du signal qu'on leur devoit faire pour leur marquer qu'il estoit temps d'avancer enfin ce prince donna tous les ordres qu'il devoit donner comme s'il eust este assure que cette entreprise luy succederoit et il donna aussi tous ceux qui estoient necessaires en cas qu'elle manquast il choisit luy mesme les soldats qui le devoient suivre et leur ordonna de porter tous un javelot a la main pour s'en servir a s'apuyer en montant le rocher et a combatre quand ils seroient montez n'ayant point d'autres armes pour cette expedition qu'un petit bouclier assez leger une espee et ce javelot qui leur devoit 
 servir a plus d'un usage cependant comme la vie de cyrus estoit extremement precieuse les rois de phrigie et d'hircanie qui devoient faire faire les fausses attaques firent ce qu'ils purent pour empescher ce prince d'aller en personne a cette entreprise ou du moins pour le dissuader d'estre le premier a monter ce rocher mais il estoit si persuade qu'elle manqueroit s'il ne l'executoit pas luy mesme et il croyoit si bien qu'elle luy reussiroit s'il y estoit qu'il n'y eut pas moyen de le faire changer d'advis chrisante voulut pourtant se servir du droit qu'il avoit de luy parler avec plus de liberte qu'un autre pour tascher de retenir une partie de cette ardeur heroique qui pour l'amour de la gloire et pour l'amour de mandane le precipitoit si souvent dans le peril il voulut aussi luy persuader que son entreprise reussiroit plustost quand mesme il y voudroit estre s'il faisoit marcher ses soldats devant luy que s'il alloit le premier mais il luy respondit qu'il estoit persuade que ses soldats monteroient bien plus viste s'ils le suivoient que s'il les suivoit et il luy fit si bien connoistre qu'il ne le feroit pas changer d'advis qu'il ne s'y obstina plus cyrus passa le reste du jour avec une impatience estrange le roy d'assirie en avoit aussi beaucoup sesostris n'en avoit pas moins et mazare quoy que sans esperance d'estre jamais heureux ne laissoit pas de desirer aussi ardemment la liberte de mandane que s'il en eust este aime mais enfin l'heure de l'entreprise estant arrivee et toutes 
 choses estant disposees pour l'executer cyrus harangua les soldats qui le devoient suivre et leur promit de si grandes recompences si elle reussissoit bien que quand ils n'auroient este que mediocrement courageux ils seroient devenus tres vaillans par la seule esperance du prix qu'il proposoit a leur courage il leur recommanda principalement trois choses la premiere de le suivre et de faire tout ce qu'il feroit la seconde de ne parler point en montant et la troisiesme de ne regarder point derriere eux de peur que la veue du precipice n'en estonnast quelques uns apres cela cyrus voulut obliger le roy d'assirie a ne marcher que vers le milieu des soldats qui le devoient suivre mais tout ce que ce prince put faire fut de se resoudre a marcher le second de sorte que cyrus ne voulant pas opiniastrer la chose ny contre luy ny contre mazare ce fut anaxaris qui fut mis au milieu de la file qui devoit monter et tigrane monta le dernier pour empescher que personne ne reculast sesostris phraarte persode andramite hidaspe aglatidas chrisante feraulas ligdamis leontidas et tous les autres braves qui estoient a cette occasion se partagerent entre les cent premiers soldats qui suivoient cyrus afin de les encourager par leur exemple toutes choses estant donc prestes cyrus suivy de tous les siens un a un fut descendre dans le fosse par un endroit qui n'estoit pas difficile apres avoir soigneusement regarde auparavant que de partir le plan qu'il avoit 
 du rocher qu'il devoit monter afin de se mieux souvenir de la route qu'il avoit veu tenir a celuy qui y estoit monte et certes il parut bien qu'il l'avoit bien observee et bien retenue il est vray qu'encore que la lune esclairast foiblement elle esclairoit toutesfois assez pour faire qu'il discernast l'endroit de ce rocher ou il y avoit le plus de ces fleurs jaunes qui en facilitoient la montee quoy que s'il ne les eust pas veues de jour il n'eust pu dire ce que c'estoit mais enfin voyant a la faveur de cette sombre lumiere quelque difference de couleur de ces fleurs au rocher il commenca de monter n'allant ny trop doucement de peur de glisser ny trop viste aussi de crainte de se lasser trop tost et de ne pouvoir estre suivy par ses soldats taschant tousjours de se souvenir des divers tours qu'il avoit veu faire en biaisant a ce lydien qui avoit este requerir son casque et en effet il s'en souvint si bien et conduisit si heureusement ceux qu'il menoit qu'il arriva jusques a la moitie du rocher sans aucun bruit ny sans aucun accident de sorte que commencant a bien esperer de son entreprise et voulant juger par ce qu'il avoit desja monte de ce qu'il avoit encore a monter il tourna la teste en s'arrestant un moment et vit malgre l'obscurite cette longue file tournoyante qui s'estendoit jusques au fonds du fosse sans interruption chaque soldat suivant son compagnon d'assez pres mais comme il estoit prest de remarcher il entendist du bruit au haut des murailles qui estoient 
 sur la cime de ce rocher et en effet c'estoit que les lydiens faisoient alors une ronde de sorte qu'oyant ce bruit cyrus s'arresta et se baissa en joignant contre le rocher afin d'estre moins en veue au mesme instant suivant l'ordre qu'il en avoit donne celuy qui le touchoit ayant fait la mesme chose et celuy d'apres de mesme tous ceux qui le suivoient en firent autant et demeurerent en silence et sans branler jusques a ce que cyrus jugeast a propos de remarcher mais helas que de tristes pensees avoit ce grand prince en cet estat ou il voyoit que si son dessein estoit descouvert il pourroit estre que tous les deffenseurs de mandane periroient et qu'elle demeureroit entre les mains de son ravisseur il avoit pourtant quelque consolation de voir que s'il avoit a perir le roy d'assirie qui le touchoit periroit aussi bien que luy car entre tous ses rivaux c'estoit celui qu'il pouvoit le moins endurer quoy qu'il l'estimat beaucoup mais c'estoit en vain qu'il craignoit d'estre apperceu par ceux qui faisoient la ronde car hors d'un simple cas fortuit il ne le pouvoit pas estre parce qu'ils ne la faisoient pas pour ce lieu la qu'ils croyoient absolument inaccessible et ou ils ne regardoient jamais mais ils y alloient parce que c'estoit le passage pour aller d'une porte a une autre si bien qu'ayant suivant leur coustume passe simplement sans s'arrester et le hazard n'ayant pas fait que ceux qui faisoient cette ronde avancassent la teste hors du parapet 
 comme il eust fallu qu'ils eussent fait pour pouvoir appercevoir ceux qui montoient a cause que le rocher les couvroit en s'avancant en ce lieu-la cyrus ne fut point apperceu de sorte que ce prince n'entendant plus aucun bruit recommenca de marcher avec plus de diligence qu'auparavant et mesme avec plus d'esperance jugeant bien que si la chose avoit a luy reussir il auroit gaigne le haut du rocher et se seroit rendu maistre de la plate forme qui estoit derriere le parapet devant que les ennemis fissent une autre ronde et en effet la fortune favorisant son dessein il monta si heureusement qu'il arriva enfin au haut du rocher et justement a vingt ou trente pas de l'endroit ou andramite qui suivoit cyrus d'assez pres luy avoit marque qu'il y avoit une sentinelle il n'y fut pas si tost que passant diligemment par dessus le parapet il mit l'espee a la main faisant passer tous ceux qui le suivoient avec assez de diligence les rangeant a mesure qu'ils passoient afin qu'ils fussent tous prests a combattre il fut mesme si heureux que la muraille faisant espaule en ce lieu la il ne fut point veu de la sentinelle qui en estoit la plus proche joint que pour faciliter son dessein suivant l'ordre qu'il avoit donne des qu'il avoit eu commence de monter le rocher le roy de phrigie et celuy d'hircanie secondez de gobrias et de gadate avoient fait faire de fausses attaques a l'autre coste de la ville de sorte que tous les lydiens allant de ce coste-la cyrus eut 
 autant de loisir qu'il luy en faloit pour faire passer ses gens sans estre apperceus en suitte de quoy apres avoir laisse cent hommes pour garder cet endroit afin d'y en pouvoir faire passer davantage s'il ne se pouvoit rendre maistre de la porte par ou il vouloit faire entrer les troupes qui estoient destinees pour cela cyrus marcha a la teste des quatre cents autres et surprit de telle sorte les premieres sentinelles qu'il trouva qu'il les tua sans qu'elles pussent donner l'allarme si bien que passant outre il arriva sans resistance au corps de garde de la porte dont il se vouloit rendre maistre qu'il surprit et qu'il chargea si rudement qu'a peine les soldats purent ils avoir le temps de prendre leurs javelots et de tirer leurs espees pour mourir du moins les armes a la main le peu qu'il y en eut qui combatirent le firent pourtant opiniastrement mais a la fin la valeur de cyrus secondee de celle du roy d'assirie de mazare de sesostris et de tant d'autres braves gens achevant de les vaincre ils furent tous taillez en pieces comme cyrus fut maistre de la porte l'espouvente fut dans toute la ville et les trouppes qui estoient commandees pour entrer par cette porte ayant veu le signal qu'on leur devoit faire avancerent diligemment et entrerent en effet dans sardis justement comme cresus qui avoit este adverty que les ennemis estoient dans la ville envoyoit des troupes pour tascher de regaigner ce qu'il avoit perdu s'imaginant pourtant que cette porte 
 avoit este livree a cyrus par la trahison de quelqu'un des siens et ne soubconnant pas seulement que ce prince eust monte par le rocher cependant les troupes de cyrus estant entrees et les escuyers de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite avecque luy ayant amene des chevaux pour leurs maistres a mesure qu'ils passerent sous cette porte ils monterent dessus apres quoy cyrus se mettant a la teste de la cavallerie poussa vigoureusement ceux qui vouloient s'opposer a son passage afin de tascher de gaigner une grande place qui estoit entre le palais de cresus et la citadelle commandant qu'a mesure que les troupes entreroient elles s'emparassent des principales rues et des places publiques et sur toutes choses qu'on gardast bien la porte qu'on avoit gagnee cependant les fausses attaques ne laissoient pas de continuer de se faire pour amuser tousjours une partie des ennemis jamais on n'a entendu parler d'une telle consternation qu'estoit celle des lydiens tous les soldats qui n'estoient point de garde voulant se rendre ou leur devoir les appelloit se trouvoient dans l'impossibilite de le faire parce que les rues estoient desja toutes occupees par ceux de cyrus les habitans estoient si espouventez qu'ils ne songeoient ny a barricader leurs rues ny mesme a sortir de leurs maisons toutes les femmes faisoient des cris espouvantables le bruit des armes retentissoit de toutes parts les cris des vainqueurs et ceux des vaincus remplissoient l'air de cent mille 
 voix differentes mais a la fin cresus ayant r'assemble quelques gens de guerre les opposa a cyrus qui depuis cela ne gagna pas un coing de la rue sans donner un combat les autres troupes qui avoient eu ordre d'aller aux autres quartiers de sardis trouverent aussi de la resistance en divers lieux ainsi il se faisoit cent combats tout a la fois et cent combats ou les lydiens combatoient sans esperance de vaincre dans ce grand tumulte on voyoit en quelques lieux les femmes entrer en foule dans les temples en d'autres quelques unes desesperees jetter par les fenestres tout ce qui tomboit sous leurs mains pour en escraser leurs ennemis enfin le desordre estoit si grand la confusion si terrible et la terreur si universellement espandue et dans le coeur des soldats lydiens et dans celuy des habitans de sardis qu'ils ne scavoient tous ce qu'ils faisoient cresus au milieu d'un si grand desordre conserva pourtant allez de tranquillite pour connoistre qu'il ne luy restoit plus rien a faire que de tascher de se retirer dans la citadelle avecque la princesse myrsile afin de faire une capitulation qui mist du moins sa personne en seurete ne doutant pas puis qu'il auroit mandane en sa puissance qu'il n'obtinst du moins d'estre libre ce malheureux roy ne pouvoit assez s'estonner que le roy de pont dans un si grand desordre ne se fust pas rendu aupres de luy toutesfois comme il scavoit quelle estoit l'amour qu'il avoit pour mandane il trouva moins 
 estrange qu'il fust a la citadelle voyant donc que sardis estoit perdu apprenant que les ennemis estoient maistres de toutes les principales rues que presques toutes les portes de la ville avoient este abandonnees par les siens et estoient en la puissance des troupes de cyrus il se mit en estat de se retirer comme je l'ay dit dans la citadelle mais comme le premier dessein de cyrus avoit este de s'aller poster entre cette place et le palais de cresus afin de tascher de prendre cet infortune roy et que cela luy servist a la faire plustost rendre il fit si bien qu'en effect il coupa chemin a cet infortune prince et ce fut la que le combat fut grand et opiniastre l'aproche du soleil ayant afface la lumiere du croissant permettoit de discerner toutes sortes d'objets et de se connoistre les uns les autres de sorte que les lydiens combattant a la presence de leur roy et combattant pour sa vie et pour sa liberte firent des choses prodigieuses le prince myrsile tout muet qu'il estoit fit des actions qui meriterent qu'on en parlast eternellement mais quelques grands que fussent leurs efforts ils ne purent resister a ceux de l'invincible cyrus qui combatoit au pied des remparts de la citadelle de sardis avecque le mesme coeur qu'il avoit combattu autrefois a sinope au pied de cette tour que les flames estoient prestes de devorer et dans laquelle il croyoit trouver sa princesse n'estant pas moins vaillant sous le nom de cyrus qu'il l'avoit este sous celuy d'artamene du moins 
 disoit-il en luy-mesme au milieu de ce tumulte ay-je cet advantage que je suis asseure de delivrer mandane si je suis victorieux car mon rival n'a point de galere pour me l'enlevera comme mazare en avoit et la mere ne scauroit favoriser sa fuite mais pendant que cyrus animoit sa propre valeur par une si douce esperance cresus qui vouloit tousjours faire effort pour penetrer ce gros d'ennemis qui s'opposoient a son passage afin de se jetter dans la citadelle se mit enfin a la teste des siens repoussant ceux qui l'attaquoient avecque une ardeur incroyable en effect il s'enfonca si avant parmy eux qu'il s'en trouva envelope le prince myrsile qui le vit si engage s'avanca pour le joindre et pour le deffendre mais devant qu'il le peust faire il vit un soldat persan qui durant que cresus se deffendoit par devant se preparoit a le tuer par derriere ayant desja le bras leve pour luy enfoncer son espee dans le corps myrsile voyant donc par cette action que le roy son pere alloit estre tue sans qu'il le peust empescher sentit une telle douleur et fit un si grand effort pour crier que par un prodige inouy sa langue se delia tout d'un coup et ce prince qui n'avoit jamais parle parla pour sauver la vie au roy son pere en effect il n'eut pas plustost veu l'action de ce soldat que sentant une esmotion extraordinaire qu'il n'a jamais peu representer il cria de toute sa force soldat epargne le roy cette voix qui estoit aussi sorte qu'esclatante ayant frape l'oreille du persan 
 luy suspendit le bras qu'il avoit desja leve retint le coup qu'il vouloit fraper et luy fit changer le dessein de tuer ce prince en celuy de le prendre mais il n'en fut pas en la peine car cyrus estant arrive en cet endroit justement comme ce prodige venoit d'arriver trouva encore tous les lydiens qui avoient entendu parler le prince myrsile si estonnez qu'il luy fut moins difficile de prendre cresus et le prince son fils qu'on luy avoit fait connoistre joint que cresus connoissant a la fin n'y avoir plus rien a esperer pour luy ayma mieux se rendre a cyrus que quelqu'un des siens luy nomma que de s'opiniastrer inutilement de sorte que ce malheureux roy tournant la teste de son cheval vers cyrus qui venoit a luy et commandant au prince son fils qu'il avoit joint de ne combattre plus et de le suivre il se fit une cessation d'armes entre les deux partis pendant quoy ce prince tournant son espee en presenta la garde a cyrus luy disant que puis que rien ne pouvoit resister au vainqueur de toute l'asie il luy cedoit la victoire et sa couronne tout ensemble
 
 
 
 
cyrus entendant parler le roy de lydie de cette sorte en parut touche aussi luy respondit-il en des termes dignes de sa generosite je recoy vostre espee luy dit il en la prenant mais je la recoy avecque promesse de vous la rendre des que vous m'aurez rendu la princesse mandane en faisant rendre la citadelle ou elle est puis que je me suis rendu moy-mesme reprit cresus vous pouvez 
 bien juger que tout ce qui est en ma puissance est en la vostre mais seigneur j'ay a vous dire que le roy de pont n'est pas en la mienne apres cela cyrus luy dit qu'il envoyast quelqu'un des siens luy faire ce commandement ce qu'il fit a l'heure mesme en suitte de quoy cresus et myrsile furent mis sous la garde d'hidaspe qui les mena a leur palais qui estoit tout proche et ou il avoit plus de gardes cyrus remettant l'espee de cresus entre les mains de feraulas avecque ordre de la luy rendre quand il la luy demanderoit cependant depuis que cresus se fut rendu il n'y eut plus aucun combat en toute la ville que celuy qui se faisoit aux maisons que les soldats vouloient piller mais cyrus qui ne songeoit qu'a faire que le citadelle se rendit qui ne vouloit pas que ses troupes s'amusassent a saccager cette grande ville envoya tigrane phaarte et anaxaris pour les en empescher qui les en empescherent en effect cependant celuy qui estoit alle a la cytadelle de la part de cresus afin de dire au roy de pont qu'il remist la place entre les mains de cyrus revint et raporta que le lieutenant de pactias qui en estoit gouverneur luy avoit dit que pourveu qu'il vist un ordre signe de cresus qu'il obeiroit sans resistance de sorte que cyrus ayant envoye querir cet ordre et s'estant informe quelle estoit la garnison de cette citadelle il commanda qu'elle commencast de sortir commandant aussi en mesme temps les troupes qui y devoient 
 entrer ayant forme un gros bataillon d'infanterie au milieu de la place qui estoit entre la citadelle et le palais de cresus pour cyrus il estoit a la teste d'un esquadron de cavalerie a voir sortir la garnison de la citadelle et a voir entrer celle qu'il y avoit destinee attendant avecque une impatience estrange que les choses fussent en estant qu'il peust y entrer pour avoir la gloire de remettre sa chere princesse en liberte et le moyen de luy faire connoistre par cette action que sa jalousie avoit este mal fondee le roy d'assirie quoy que ravy de joye d'esperer de revoir mandane n'estoit pourtant pas sans inquietude et je ne scay s'il ne craignit point autant de voir l'entreveue de cette princesse et de cyrus qu'il desiroit de voir mandane et de la voir en liberte pour mazare quoy qu'il se fust resolu a ne rien esperer il ne pouvoit pourtant pas tousjours soumettre sa passion a sa raison aussi ne peut-il s'empescher en cet instant de porter quelque envie au bon-heur dont cyrus alloit jouir ainsi il n'y avoit que l'invincible cyrus qui peust gouster une joye toute pure il estoit pourtant un peu estonne de ce que le roy de pont ne paroissoit pas encore et ne sortoit point de la citadelle et de ce qu'il n'avoit rie demande devant que de rendre cette place neantmoins il croyoit pour le premier que ce prince disoit les derniers adieux a madane et que pour l'autre il n'avoit pas creu que puis que cresus estoit pris et qu'il vouloit qu'il rendist la citadelle qu'il fust ny en pouvoir ny en 
 droit de ne le faire pas de sorte qu'apres que toutes les troupes lydiennes furent sorties et que toutes les siennes furent entrees il entra luy mesme avecque une joye inconcevable croyant encore que le roy de pont seroit aupres de mandane et envoyant hidaspe pour delivrer le prince artamas le roy d'assirie mazare et sesostris le suivirent ce dernier n'ayant pas moins d'impatience de voir si sa chere timarete estoit dans cette citadelle que ces trois autres princes en avoient de voir mandane en liberte chrisante voulut encore alors suplier cyrus de n'entrer point dans cette forteresse que le roy de pont n'en fust sorty mais il ne s'arresta pas a une precaution qu'il croyoit qui luy retarderoit de quelques moments la veue de sa princesse de sorte que pousse d'une impatience proportionnee a son amour et jugeant en effect qu'ayant autant de troupes qu'il en avoit dans la citadelle et autant de gens de guerre devant la porte il n'y avoit rien a craindre ny a hazarder ny pour luy ny pour mandane il entra avecque precipitation se faisant montrer l'appartement des princesses par un des soldats qui estoient sortis de cette place et qu'il y fit rentrer avecque luy car comme il avoit ouy dire que la princesse mandane et la princesse palmis n'avoint point este separees dans leur prison il demanda la chose comme il scavoit qu'elle estoit ce soldat le mena donc jusques a la porte de l'antichambre de ces princesses qui estoit commune a la chambre de 
 mandane et a celle de la princesse de lydie et comme il estoit prest de luy marquer laquelle des deux chambres estoit celle de mandane la princesse palmis sortit de la sienne mais au lieu d'en sortir avecque de la joye que la liberte a accoustume de donner elle en sortit les yeux couverts de larmes elle ne laissa pourtant pas malgre sa douleur de parler avecque autant de grace que de generosite a cyrus qu'elle s'estoit fait montrer par une fenestre de sa chambre des qu'il estoit entre dans la citadelle seigneur luy dit elle la princesse mandane m'a tousjours fait esperer que je trouverois en vous toute la faveur qu'on peut trouver en un vainqueur genereux c'est pourquoy je ne desespere pas d'obtenir de vostre bonte la grace d'estre mise en mesme prison que le roy mon pere afin que je puisse luy ayder a porter ses fers cyrus charme de la vertu de la princesse de lydie l'asseura qu'elle n'estoit plus captive et que c'avoit este avecque beaucoup de douleur qu'il s'estoit veu contraint de faire la guerre au roy son pere mais madame luy dit il vous me pardonnerez bien si je vous conjure de m'ayder a aller achever de rompre les fers de la princesse mandane comme palmis alloit respondre sesostris vit entrer la princesse thimarete qui n'ayant plus de gardes a son appartement venoit demander protection a cyrus la surprise de cette princesse fut si grande lors qu'elle vit sesostris qu'elle ne peut s'empescher de faire un grand cry de sorte que 
 ce prince s'estant advance vers elle luy donna la main avecque une joye inconcevable et la presenta a cyrus justement comme la princesse palmis alloit luy respondre sur ce qu'il luy avoit dit de mandane si bien qu'il falut malgre luy qu'il receust le compliment de la princesse d'egypte dont la rare beaute attira les yeux de tous ceux qui l'avoient suivy ce prince respondit tres-civilement a la princesse timarete qui luy avoit parle avecque autant de grace que d'esprit mais ce fut en peu de mots pour l'impatience qu'il avoit de voir mandane qu'il croyoit ne paroistre point a cause de l'injuste jalousie qu'elle avoit dans l'ame ainsi il avoit beaucoup plus d'impatience que d'apprehension mais a peine eut il respondu a timarete et luy eut il dit qu'elle devoit plus sa liberte a la valeur de sesostris qu'a la sienne qu'estant tout prest de presser palmis de lui faire donc voir mandane le prince artamas qu'hidaspe avoit delivre arriva aussi bien que sosicle et tegee ce prince ne scachant s'il devoit rendre grace a cyrus comme a son liberateur ou aller droict a sa princesse s'il se devoit resjouir de sa liberte ou s'affliger de la prison de cresus paroissoit en effect si incertain de la civilite qu'il devoit rendre ou a son liberateur ou a sa maistresse que cyrus le remarquant et voulant se haster de se delivrer de tout ce qui l'empeschoit de voir mandane il le prevint et le presenta a la princesse palmis lui disant que ce prince estoit aussi digne d'elle qu'elle 
 estoit digne de lui mais pendant que cyrus s'estoit trouve engage malgre qu'il en eust a recevoir ces deux princesses devant que d'aller a la chambre de mandane le roy d'assirie y avoit este de sorte qu'un esclave luy ayant ouvert et ce prince luy ayant demande ou estoit mandane et ou estoit le roy de pont il n'eut pas plustost entendu sa response qu'il fit un si grand cry que cyrus tournant la teste et allant droict a luy sans faire mesme nulle civilite a ces princesses tant il craignit quelque funeste accident pour mandane quel nouveau mal heur luy dit-il nous est-il arrive le plus grand qui nous pouvoit arriver repliqua-t'il avecque une fureur dans les yeux qui mit une estrange douleur dans le coeur de cyrus car enfin mandane n'est point icy et le roy de pont l'en a fait partir plus de trois heures devant le jour mandane n'est point icy reprit cyrus avecque un desespoir sans egal ha madame adjousta-t'il en se tournant vers la princesse de lydie pourquoy ne m'avez vous pas dit d'abord cette mauvaise nouvelle helas seigneur lui dit-elle toute surprise je n'avois garde de vous dire ce que je ne scavois pas car les gardes que j'avois et que vous me venez d'oster n'ont jamais voulu me permettre d'aller a la chambre de la princesse mandane pour me consoler avecque elle pendant cet effroyable bruit que j'entendois dans la ville de sorte que croyant que la mesme rigueur qu'on me tenoit on la lui tenoit aussi je n'ay rien soubconne de sa fuitte 
 joint que depuis qu'il est jour le peril ou j'ay veu le roy mon pere de mes propres yeux et celui ou j'ay veu aussi le prince mon frere m'ont tellement troublee que je n'ay songe a nulle autre chose ainsi je ne scai que ce que vous scavez de la fuitte de mandane apres cela cyrus le roy d'assirie et mazare entrerent dans l'appartement de cette princesse ou ils ne la trouverent point et ou il n'y avoit que cet esclave qui avoit parle au roy d'assirie que cyrus interrogea luy-mesme pour tascher d'estre esclairci de l'enlevement de mandane mais il n'en sceut pas grand chose car cet esclave lui dit qu'il n'avoit point veu partir la princesse mandane ni ses femmes et qu'il n'avoit veu que pactias qui lui avoit commande de demeurer dans la chambre de cette princesse et de ne l'ouvrir a personne quelque bruit qu'il peust entendre et quelque commandement qu'on lui en fist qu'il ne fust plus de deux heures de jour la princesse palmis et la princesse timarete qui estoient entrees dans la chambre de mandane aussi bien que sesostris et artamas estoient extremement affligees de cet accident principalement la princesse palmis car outre qu'il y avoit plus long-temps qu'elle estoit avecque la princesse mandane que timarete et qu'elles avoient lie une amitie fort tendre elle avoit encore plus de besoing de la protection de cyrus que la princesse d'egypte il est vrai que sa douleur estoit peu considerable en comparaison de celle de ces trois princes a qui 
 l'amour faisoit prendre un si notable interest en la fuitte de cette princesse ils ne scavoient pas mesme s'ils devoient l'appeller fuitte ou enlevement cependant pour ne perdre point de temps ils firent chercher et chercherent eux-mesmes en tous les endroits de cette citadelle pour voir si le roy de pont mandane et ses femmes ne se seroient point cachez en quelque part en suitte cyrus fit arrester tout ce qui se trouva de gens qui estoient au roy de pont et fit publier par toute la ville qu'on donneroit des recompenses excessives a ceux qui pourroient dire ou estoit mandane ou seulement quelle route elle avoit prise cependant cyrus fit mener la princesse palmis dans le palais du roy son pere et la princesse timarete aussi conjurant la premiere de scavoir de cresus s'il ne scavoit rien de la fuitte de mandane et du lieu de sa retraitte l'asseurant de luy rendre sa liberte s'il luy faisoit retrouver cette princesse mais tout cela fut inutilement fait et inutilement demande car ny par les domestiques du roy de pont ny par le cry public qu'on fit faire par la ville ny par cresus on n'aprit rien de tout ce que cyrus vouloit scavoir jamais on n'a veu un desespoir esgal au sien ny une fureur plus inquiete que celle du roy d'assirie ny une consternation plus grande que celle de mazare l'un disoit qu'asseurement le roy de pont et mandane estoient cachez dans la ville et qu'il estoit impossible qu'ils eussent peu sortir l'autre qu'ils estoient sortis durant ce 
 grand desordre qui s'estoit fait ou par le fleuve ou par le coste de la ville ou l'on n'avoit point fait d'attaque et ou la ligne de circonvalation n'estoit pas achevee et le dernier qu'il n'y avoit point d'apparence que cresus ne conjecturast du moins ou ils pouvoient estre cependant ils proposoient expedient sur expedient pour tascher d'en avoir quelque lumiere mais ils ne trouvoient rien qui les contentast et cyrus avoit tant de divers ordres a donner soit pour la seurete de la ville nouvellement prise pour la garde de cresus ou pour la recherche de mandane qu'il n'avoit pas plustost fait un commandement qu'il estoit necessaire d'en faire un autre il n'avoit pas mesme le temps de faire nulle reflexion sur son mal-heur mais quoy qu'il ne le vist qu'en gros et que tous ses sentimens fussent en confusion dans son coeur et dans son esprit il estoit pourtant le plus mal-heureux de tous les hommes mais enfin apres avoir envoye au roy de phrigie et au roy d'hircanie afin de les advertir de la chose et de leur ordonner d'envoyer diverses parties de cavalerie pour tascher de descouvrir si on n'auroit nulles nouvelles du roy de pont ny de mandane apres dis-je avoir fait commander a toutes les portes qu'on ne laissast sortir personne sans scavoir qui c'estoit et avoir mesme fait commandement qu'on gardast les murailles comme si sardis eust encore este assiege de peur que le roy de pont ne sortist avecque des eschelles et avoir pris enfin toutes les 
 precautions que l'amour et la prudence luy pouvoient faire prendre andramite vint luy dire qu'il avoit sceu par un officier de pactias gouverneur de la citadelle que son maistre avoit envoye querir a son escurie la nuict derniere six des meilleurs chevaux qu'il eust et qu'on les avoit amenez au bord du pactole du coste de la ville oppose au grand rocher par ou elle avoit este surprise qu'ainsi il y avoit apparence de croire que le roy de pont et mandane estoient hors de sardis cyrus n'eut pas plustost sceu cela qu'il voulut parler luy mesme a celuy a qui andramite avoit parle et comme le roy d'assirie n'estoit pas alors aupres de luy et qu'il n'y avoit que mazare et le prince artamas il fut avecque eux jusqu'a l'endroit ou ce domestique de pactias disoit qu'on avoit mene ces six chevaux afin de pouvoir juger par ou ils auroient peu aller mais comme feraulas qui estoit aupres de son maistre ne jugea pas qu'il fust a propos que cyrus allast peu accompagne dans une ville nouvellement conquise il l'en fit appercevoir si bien que cyrus commandant deux cens chevaux pour le suivre il fut au bord du pactole mais il n'y fut pas plustost qu'andramite qui estoit du pais s'approchant du bord de fleuve et voyant briller a travers ses ondes ce sable dore qui le rend si celebre par toute la terre connut que l'eau en estoit fort basse en cet endroit et qu'il n'estoit pas impossible de le gayer ayant un certain temps de l'annee ou a peine y avoit il assez d'eau en ce 
 lieu la pour que les mediocres bateaux y pussent aller de plus cyrus prit garde qu'on voyoit des traces de chevaux qui au lieu d'aller le long du pactole alloient droict dans le fleuve et s'y perdoient il se trouva mesme quelques pescheurs qui s'assemblerent sur le bord de cette riviere pour voir cyrus qui dirent qu'ils avoient veu de leurs maisons qui n'estoient pas loing de dela qu'on avoit amene des chevaux la nuict derniere qui en suitte avoient traverse le fleuve un d'eux adjoustant qu'il avoit aussi veu un petit bateau mais que comme l'allarme estoit si forte aux autres quartiers de la ville il n'avoit pas este voir ce que c'estoit s'imaginant mesme que c'estoit des gens qui craignant de mourir de faim avoient mieux ayme s'aller jetter parmy les ennemis que de s'y exposer on leur demanda alors s'ils n'avoient point veu de femmes les uns qui scavoient qu'on en cherchoit dirent qu'ouy pour avoir la recompense qu'on avoit promise et les autres plus sinceres dirent que non mais enfin quoy qu'on vist bien qu'ils ne scavoient pas avecque trop de certitude ce qu'ils avoient veu cyrus ne laissa pas de s'imaginer qu'infailliblement le roy de pont estoit hors de sardis de sorte que sans hesiter un moment il prit la resolution de le suivre en personne mais comme il n'estoit pourtant pas si asseure de sa croyance qu'il ne luy en demeurast quelque doute il craignit que s'il faisoit dire au roy d'assirie tout ce qu'il scavoit il ne negligeast de faire bien chercher 
 dans toutes les maisons de la ville et qu'il ne la voulust suivre il luy envoya donc andramite pour luy dire que trouvant a propos de partager leurs soings afin de chercher en divers lieux il luy laissoit le dedans de la ville pendant qu'il s'en alloit au dehors pour voir luy mesme s'il n'aprendroit rien de mandane il voulut aussi obliger le prince artamas a s'en retourner consoler la princesse palmis du mal-heur du roy son pere mais artamas qui luy devoit la liberte de sa princesse ne le voulut pas abandonner lors qu'il cherchoit la sienne pour mazare le party qu'il avoit a prendre n'estoit pas douteux ainsi ces trois princes commencant les premiers de gayer le fleuve suivis des deux cens chevaux ils le traverserent enfin heureusement aussi bien que leurs gens cependant cyrus ne pouvoit assez s'estonner comment il n'avoit point sceu le foible de sardis de ce coste la il est vray que comme les eaux croissent et baissent en fort peu de temps il n'y avoit que quatre jours que le pactole estoit en cet estat comme cyrus fut de l'autre coste de l'eau il vit a peu pres vis a vis de l'endroit ou l'on avoit veu ces six chevaux dont on luy avoit parle qu'il y avoit en effect des pas de chevaux qui marquoient qu'il en estoit sorti du fleuve mais il les vit bien-tost confondus avecque tant d'autres qu'il ne peut plus en renconnoistre la veritable piste comme il eut fait environ une stade il trouva un grand chemin ou deux autres aboutissoient si bien que s'arrestant tout 
 court pour conferer avec mazare et avecque artamas sur ce qu'ils devoient faire ils resolurent de se separer et se separerent en effect partageant leurs deux cens chevaux en trois cyrus donnant feraulas au prince artamas parce qu'il ne connoissoit pas mandane se promettant tous de se retrouver a sardis dans trois jours au plus tard ou d'y envoyer de leur nouvelles mais lors que cyrus voulut choisir lequel de ces trois chemins il prendroit il se trouva bien embarrasse car il n'avoit pas plustost resolu d'en prendre un qu'il s'en repentoit et a parler raisonnablement on peut dire que cyrus eust voulu estre en mesme temps a tous les trois et estre encore a sardis il prit pourtant a la fin le chemin qui tiroit le plus vers la mer croyant qu'il y avoit plus d'apparence que le roy de pont l'auroit pris qu'un autre mais helas que de tristes pensees occuperent l'esprit de cyrus pendant ce petit voyage qui n'avoit ny borne ny route asseuree ce prince parloit a tous ceux qu'il rencontroit il envoyoit a droict et a gauche a toutes les habitations qu'il voyoit il alloit mesme a toutes celles qui se trouvoient sur son chemin mais tous ses soings ne luy apprenoient rien toutes les fois qu'il arrivoit en un de ces lieux ou de grands chemins se croisent il repartageoit encore une fois ce qu'il avoit de gens luy semblant tousjours que s'il faisoit autrement il laisseroit le chemin qu'il faloit tenir pour trouver mandane et en effect il partagea et repartagea tant 
 de fois les chevaux qu'il avoit lors qu'il s'estoit separe du prince artamas et de mazare qu'il se trouva qu'il n'en avoit plus que dix et bientost apres no plus que cinq envoyant mesme ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite qui l'avoient suivy pour conduire ces cavaliers qu'il envoyoit en divers lieux n'ayant plus alors avecque lui d'hommes de condition que ligdamis qui lui estoit plus commode qu'un autre parce qu'il scavoit admirablement le pais ou ils estoient comme il estoit donc lui cinquiesme dans un bois ou il y avoit diverses routes il entendit en mesme temps a droit et a gauche le bruit que font des gens a cheval qui marchent dans un bois fort toffu et dont les routes sont fort estroites lui semblant mesme que de tous les deux costez il entendoit des voix de femmes de sorte que se trouvant en une inquietude estrange il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre toutes fois plustost que de manquer a trouver mandane ou de scavoir du moins ou elle estoit et ou on la menoit il partagea encore ses gens et de quatre qu'il estoient avecque lui il retint ligdamis et un autre et envoya les deux qui restoient du coste ou ils n'alloient pas ainsi les uns prenant a droict et les autres a gauche ils essayerent de penetrer l'espaisseur du bois pour gagner en traversant le chemin ou ils entendoient un bruit de chevaux et des voix d'hommes et de femmes cyrus croyant mesme qu'il avoit entendu celle d'arianite mais comme ce bois estoit tout entier de ces arbres qui ont des branches 
 et des feuilles des le pied il n'estoit pas possible que cyrus peust le traverser viste de sorte que ceux qu'il suivoit allant par un chemin ou ils ne trouvoient point d'obstacle avancoient bien plus promprement que luy aussi s'apperceut-il qu'insensiblement il entendoit moins le bruit que faisoient ceux qu'il vouloit joindre mais a la fin au lieu de les suivre en biaisant comme il faisoit il resolut de traverser en droicte ligne ce qui luy restoit du bois pour estre dans la route ou estoiet ceux qu'il suivoit esperant regagner facilement le temps qu'il perdroit quand il seroit dans le chemin la chose ne reussit pourtant pas comme il l'avoit pensee car pendant qu'il traversoit ce bois ceux qu'il suivoit s'esloignerent de telle sorte qu'il ne les entendit plus lors qu'il fut arrive dans la route neantmoins il espera de les rejoindre facilement et en effect il fut au galop suivy de ligdamis et de ce cavalier qui luy restoit jusques a deux cens pas de la que trouvant diverses routes et diverses pistes mais perticulierement deux qui paroissoient esgallement fraisches il se resolut encore d'envoyer ce cavalier qu'il avoit par une et d'aller par l'autre avecque ligdamis de sorte que choisissant encore entre ces deux chemins celuy qu'il vouloit prendre il alla avecque le plus de diligence qui luy fut possible il n'eut pas marche trente pas qu'il rencontra deux femmes de village avecque des corbeilles de fruicts sur leur teste a qui le demanda si elles n'avoient rencontre personne mais 
 elles luy respondirent qu'il y avoit environ une demie heure qu'elles avoient creu entendre passer des chevaux aupres d'elles mais qu'elles n'avoient pourtant rien veu une si bizarre responce fit que cyrus ne voulut pas perdre davantage de temps a demander rien a ces femmes se contentant seulement de vouloir qu'elles luy enseignassent le chemin et l'endroit ou elle asseuroient avoir ouy ces chevaux qu'elles disoient n'avoir point veus mais l'une n'avoit pas plustost dit que c'estoit a un lieu qu'elle luy marquoit que l'autre n'en pouvant tomber d'accord luy soustenoit que c'estoit a un autre et qu'asseurement la peur qu'elle avoit eue luy avoit trouble la raison si bien que cyrus voyant qu'il ne faisoit que perdre du temps a les escouter suivit le chemin ou il estoit mais comme il vit qu'il le suivoit inutilement et qu'il ne trouvoit rien de ce qu'il cherchoit il entra en un desespoir estrange et d'autant plus qu'il voyoit que son cheval estoit si las qu'il ne pouvoit plus marcher et que la nuict estoit desja assez proche aussi fut-il contraint de croire le conseil de ligdamis et de consentir d'aller faire repaistre leurs chevaux a la premiere habitation qu'ils trouveroient mais comme ils y vouloient aller le bois s'esclaircissant peu a peu ils arriverent a un endroit ou un furieux torrent qui descend avecque impetuosite d'une montagne qui n'est pas loing de la separe le bois d'une agreable prairie qui est de l'autre coste ayant de telle sorte creuse la terre en 
 ce lieu la et s'estant fait un passage si large et si profond qu'il n'est pas possible de le traverser ny en nageant ny a cheval cyrus estant donc arrive au bord de ce torrent le long duquel il falloit qu'il allast durant quelque temps n'y fut pas si tost qu'il vit une femme a demy couchee au milieu de cette prairie qui avoit la teste appuyee sur les genoux d'une autre il n'eut pas plustost veu cela qu'il eut une esmotion extraordinaire d'abord son premier sentiment fut de vouloir traverser ce torrent mais son cheval en se cabrant pour n'y pas aller luy ayant donne le temps de considerer ce qu'il vouloit faire il connut qu'en effect il vouloit tenter une chose impossible il se renfonca donc d'un pas ou deux dans le bois pour estre moins en veue et pour voir mieux mais quel estonnement fut le sien lors que cette femme qui estoit a demy couchee se levant aussi bien que celle sur qui elle s'appuyoit il vit que la premiere estoit mandane et que l'autre estoit martesie a peine les eut il veues que les voulant monstrer a ligdamis qui estoit demeure quelques pas derriere il se tourna vers luy et l'appella plusieurs fois mais comme il l'eut fait approcher pour les luy montrer il ne les vit plus et par consequent ne peut les luy faire voir cette prodigieuse advanture l'estonna de telle sorte qu'il ne s'osoit croire luy-mesme il s'approcha alors autant qu'il peut de ce torrent pour regarder le mesme endroit ou il croyoit avoir veu mandane mais il n'y vit 
 rien du tout cependant il jugeoit bien que durant qu'il avoit tourne la teste pour appeller ligdamis elle ne pouvoit pas avoir gagne un chemin creux qui estoit vers le pied de la montagne ainsi ne scachant si c'estoit une apparition ou une revesrie il demeuroit sans parler sa raison dementoit pourtant ses yeux et luy persuadoit que ce ne pouvoit estre mandane qu'il avoit veue toutesfois cette image avoit fait une si forte impression dans son esprit qu'apres avoir dit a ligdamis ce qu'il avoit veu il luy demanda par ou on pourroit traverser ce torrent mais ligdamis luy respondit qu'il faloit retourner sur leurs pas et qu'ils avoient quitte une route dans le bois qui les eust menez a cette prairie s'ils l'eussent prise apres cela il luy dit qu'il le faloit donc faire et qu'absolument il vouloit du moins voir de plus pres le lieu ou il avoit eu une si belle apparition ligdamis representa alors a cyrus tout ce qu'il peut pour l'en empescher luy semblant que c'estoit une peine bien inutile que celle qu'il vouloit prendre mais il falut en fin qu'il le menast ou il vouloit aller et en effect ligdamis le conduisit par un lieu ou le torrent s'espanchant n'avoit presque point de profondeur de sorte que le passant facilement ils furent en diligence dans cette prairie de peur que la nuict ne les surprist tout a fait devant qu'ils y fussent ils eurent pourtant encore assez de jour pour y arriver ils n'y furent pas si tost que cyrus allant droict ou il avoit veu mandane vit en effect que 
 l'herbe estoit foulee en ce lieu la qu'il paroissoit qu'on s'y estoit assis et qu'il y avoit mesme un petit sentier nouvellement fraye dans cette prairie car par tout ailleurs on voyoit toutes les fleurs et toutes les herbes avecque cette fraischeur que leur donne la rosee pendant les soirs d'este mais en cet endroict elles estoient a demy panchees et marquoient si visiblement qu'on y avoit marche qu'on n'en pouvoit pas douter aussi l'illustre cyrus estoit-il si surpris de ce qu'il avoit veu et de ce qu'il voyoit qu'il en pensa perdre la raison pour ligdamis il estoit persuade que le hazard avoit fait que cette herbe se trouvoit foulee au mesme lieu ou cyrus disoit avoir eu cette apparition et il croyoit de plus que ce que ce prince pensoit avoir veu estoit un pur effect de la force de son imagination et de son amour tout ensemble si bien que voyant que la nuict tomboit tout d'un coup qu'il y avoit encore assez loing jusqu'a la premiere habitation et que leurs chevaux n'en pouvoient plus il forca cyrus de marcher et de quitter un lieu ou il avoit veu ou mandane ou un phantosme qui luy ressembloit car il ne pouvoit determiner lequel des deux il devoit croire mais en se resolvant de marcher ce fut du moins par ce petit sentier qu'il voyoit nouvellement fait bien est-il vray qu'au sortir de la prairie la nuict fut si noire qu'il n'y eut plus moyen de remarquer nulle trace ny de gens ny de chevaux et il falut qu'il se laissast conduire par ligdamis ce 
 fut alors que marchant dans l'obscurite il r'appella en sa memoire le songe qu'il avoit fait il y avoit desja quelque temps et qui luy avoit fait voir mandane dans une prairie et mandane disparoistre un moment apres la conformite qu'il y avoit entre ce songe et ce qui luy venoit d'arriver augmentoit encore son estonnement de sorte que sans scavoir s'il le devoit considerer comme un advertissement de ce qui luy estoit advenu ou s'il devoit regarder l'apparition qu'il avoit eue comme le songe d'un homme esveille il avoit l'ame bie en peine apres rappellant encore en son souvenir toute cette longue suitte de mal-heurs qui luy estoient arrivez depuis qu'il estoit party de persepolis a l'age de seize ans et considerant qu'il n'en avoit encore que vingt-quatre il trouvoit que s'il avoit a continuer de vivre et d'estre mal-heureux il faloit donc que les dieux inventassent de nouvelles infortunes n'y en ayant aucune qu'il n'eust esprouvee il est vray que du coste de la gloire et de la guerre il avoit este fort heureux mais comme toutes ses victoires avoient este inutiles a sa princesse il les mettoit plustost au nombre de ses disgraces qu'a celuy de ses bonnes fortune cependant durant que cyrus s'entretenoit d'une si triste maniere il avancoit insensiblement ne faisant autre chose que suivre ligdamis qui marchoit devant mais enfin estant arrivez a une maison qui estoit separee de cent pas seulement d'un hameau qui estoit au pied d'une coline cyrus descendit de cheval et sans 
 s'informer s'il seroit bien ou mal loge il entra dans une petite chambre qu'on luy donna ligdamis prenant tous les soing qu'il faloit pour faire que cyrus passast la nuict en ce lieu-la avecque le moins d'incommodite qu'il pourroit mais comme ce prince vouloit en partir a la premiere pointe du jour il s'opposoit a l'empressement de ligdamis autant qu'il luy estoit possible ne se souciant guere de faire un mauvais repas ny de mal coucher et certes il fut a propos qu'il ne s'en souciast point car comme le maistre de la maison ou il estoit loge n'y estoit pas et qu'il n'y avoit qu'une femme et un fils qu'elle avoit il n'eust pas este ayse qu'il eust este bien et il eust este d'autant plus difficile que ligdamis ne voulut point que cette femme allast au hameau ou il n'avoit pas voulu par prudence mener cyrus car enfin il aprehendoit que s'il estoit connu pour le vainqueur de cresus et pour celuy qui le tenoit prisonnier il ne se trouvast quelques-uns des sujets de ce malheureux roy qui arrestassent cyrus c'est pourquoy il ayma mieux que ce prince fust incommode que de l'exposer a ce peril cependant cette pauvre femme chez qui ils estoient leur en faisoit mille excuses leur disant que si son mary y eust este elle les eust mieux receus cyrus qui ne manquoit pas de s'informer tousjours de mandane luy demanda si elle n'avoit point veu passer de femmes de qualite a cheval ce jour-la accompagnees d'un homme qu'il luy despeignoit tel 
 qu'estoit le roy de pont mais elle luy respondit que non de sorte que cyrus et ligdamis apres avoir fait un leger repas et s'estre entretenus durant assez long temps de la passion qui regnoit dans leur ame donnerent enfin quelques heures au repos cyrus s'esveilla pourtant devant le jour qu'il attendit avecque beaucoup d'impatience aussi ne le vit il pas plus tost paroistre qu'il se prepara a partir mais comme il estoit prest de monter a cheval il se trouva que le maistre de cette petite maison estant revenu la nuict le vint saluer et l'asseurer qu'il estoit bien fasche de n'avoir pas este chez luy pour le mieux recevoir que sa femme n'avoit fait ce pauvre homme luy disant autant de choses pour se justifier de ne s'y estre pas trouve que s'il eust peu deviner qu'il y viendroit et qu'il eust este oblige d'estre ce n'est pas seigneur luy dit-il que je me doive repentir de ce que j'ay fait car je vous asseure que j'ay assiste une dame bien affligee une dame reprit cyrus avecque precipitation ouy seigneur poursuivit il et je l'ay laissee a vingt stades d'icy a un village ou j'ay demeure autrefois cyrus entendant parler cet homme de cette sorte le pressa de luy dire ou il avoit trouve cette dame conment elle estoit faite et quelle affliction elle avoit pour l'affliction qu'elle a reprit-il je ne la scay pas bien mais je scay qu'elle est belle qu'elle pleure fort et qu'un homme qui est aupres d'elle est fort occupe a la consoler mais ou l'as tu trouvee reprit cyrus je la 
 trouvay hier repliqua cet homme un peu devant que le soleil fust couche comme je revenois d'un lieu ou j'avois eu a faire et je sceus parce que je luy entendis dire qu'allant a cheval le long d'un torrent qui est entre un bois et une prairie son cheval avoit bronche qu'elle estoit tombee dans ce torrent qu'elle avoit pense estre noyee et qu'elle s'estoit tellement blessee a une jambe qu'elle ne pouvoit ny se sustenir ny souffrir l'agitation du cheval de sorte qu'arrivant cet endroit comme elle estoit en cet estat je m'offris a l'assister et cet homme qui l'accompagnoit me prenant au mot me pria de le mener en quelque lieu ou cette dame peust estre secourue et en effect je l'ay conduitte a ce village ou je vous ay dit que je l'ay laissee ayant eu toutes les peines du monde a arriver jusques-la cet homme ayant este contraint de la prendre entre ses bras et de me donner le cheval sur quoy elle estoit lors qu'elle estoit tombee dans le torrent cyrus n'eut pas plustost ouy ce qu'il luy disoit qu'il le pria avecque precipitation de le mener ou estoit cette dame sans scavoir s'il devoit croire que ce fust mandane mais cet homme ne scachant s'il ne feroit point mal de luy obeir voyant qu'il en tesmoignoit tant d'empressement eu fit quelque difficulte neantmoins a la fin cyrus luy promit tant de le recompenser qu'il se mit en estat de le conduire ou il vouloit aller et en effect il le mena au lieu ou estoit celle qu'il avoit assistee et le mena mesme 
 dans la chambre ou elle estoit sans l'en faire advertir car comme ceux chez qui elle estoit logee estoient de sa connoissance ils ne s'opposerent point a son dessein cyrus leur demanda pourtant devant que de la voir si elle estoit fort blessee mais ils luy respondirent qu'elle l'estoit bien moins qu'elle ne l'avoit creu lors qu'elle estoit tombee pour ce que le chirurgien avoit trouve qu'elle n'avoit pas la jambe rompue et qu'elle n'avoit este que demise et qu'ainsi il asseuroit que ce ne seroit rien pourveu qu'elle fust quelques jours sans marcher
 
 
 
 
apres cela cyrus entrant dans la chambre de cette dame connut que s'estoit arianite il ne l'eut pas plustost veue qu'allant droict a elle voyant qu'il ne pouvoit estre entendu que de ligdamis qui l'avoit suivy ha ma chere arianite luy dit-il qu'avez vous fait de ma princesse seigneur luy respondit elle bien estonnee de le voir je l'ay abandonnee malgre moy a cause d'un accident qui m'est arrivee et je n'ay pas este si heureuse que martesie qui est allee avecque elle mais ou est elle reprit cyrus et en quel lieu de la terre le roy de pont la mene-t'il peut-il estre loing et ne pouvez vous pas m'enseigner par ou je le dois suivre helas seigneur repliqua-t'elle vous me demandez bien des choses ou je ne vous puis respondre car je ne scay ou va le roy de pont je ne scay quel chemin il tient et je scay seulement que je le quittay hier au soir comme le soleil se couchoit je scay encore qu'il devoit marcher 
 toute la nuict et je scay de plus qu'il est fort difficile que vous le puissiez suivre non seulement parce qu'il est fort loing devant vous mais encore parce qu'il voyage sans estre veu vous me dites tant de choses fascheuses reprit cyrus que je croy que ma raison en estant troublee fait que je n'entends pas bien la derniere que vous venez de me dire je ne vous dis pourtant rien qui ne soit vray repliqua-t'elle c'est pourquoy seigneur comme vous ne pouvez suivre le roy de pout sans scavoir auparavant de quelle maniere il s'en va il faut que vous vous donniez la patience que je vous l'aprenne je voudrois bien reprit-il vous demander comment le roy de pont est party de sardis s'il a enleve ma princesse ou si elle l'a suivy si je la vy hier en un milieu d'une prairie avecque martesie comme je l'y creus voir et si elle a de la haine pour moy je voudrois mesme encore vous demander comment vous vous portez de vostre cheute je voudrois vous faire porter en un lieu plus commode mais plus que tout cela je voudrois suivre mandane et l'oster a l'injuste rival qui me l'enleve vous ne pouvez pourtant seigneur reprit arianite la suivre avecque succez si vous ne scavez ce que je scay dites le moy donc promptement je vous en conjure adjousta cet amoureux prince ligdamis voulut alors se retirer a l'autre coste de la chambre mais cyrus le retenant obligeamment voulut qu'il entendist ce qu'arianite avoit a luy dire si bien qu'apres avoir fait fermer la porte et 
 avoir donne commission a une femme qu'on envoya aupres d'arianite pour la servir d'empescher que personne n'entrast cyrus s'estant assis au chevet de son lict se mit a la presser de luy dire tout ce qu'elle scavoit de mandane je pourrois sans doute seigneur repliqua t'elle vous apprendre beaucoup de particularitez de la princesse que j'ay l'honneur de servir que vous seriez bien ayse de scavoir mais en l'estat ou sont les choses il faut ne vous dire que ce qui est necessaire que vous scachiez presentement je ne m'amuseray donc point a vous apprendre tout ce que vous scaurez un jour avecque plus de loisir mais je vous diray afin que vous adjoustiez plus de foy a mes paroles et que vous n'ignoriez pas par quelle voye je sceu les plus secrets sentimens du roy de pont qu'un homme de qualite qui est a luy et qui est sans doute fort innocent de l'injustice du roy son maistre ayant eu quelque compassion des mal-heurs de la princesse mandane s'est tellement accoustume a la pleindre en parlant a moy que luy en scachant quelque gre je me suis aussi accoustumee a luy parler avec beaucoup de civilite et je puis vous asseurer que c'a este par son moyen que nous avons receu cent mille petits soulagemens dans nostre prison mais enfin seigneur sans prendre un si long detour je vous diray que je pense que de la compassion il a passe a l'amitie et que j'ay quelque credit sur son esprit aussi est-ce par luy que j'ay sceu par quelle voye vostre rival a peu vous oster le fruict 
 de vostre victoire en vous enlevant mandane vous scaurez donc que des que le roy de pont vit que vous vous resolviez de prendre sardis par la faim voyant que vous ne le pouviez prendre par force il creut qu'il estoit perdu quoy qu'il ne le tesmoignast qu'a pactias seulement et a celuy qui me l'apprit hier et qui s'appelle timonide voyant donc que les lignes estoient commencees il connut que si une fois elles estoient achevees il ne luy seroit pas possible de sortir de sardis et d'avoir recours a la fuitte de sorte qu'il entra en un desespoir sans esgal timonide m'a dit que ce prince fit alors ses derniers efforts contre luy mesme pour vaincre sa passion mais qu'il n'y eut pas moyen et que ce qui l'en empescha fut qu'il espera que la jalousie qu'il avoit mise dans le coeur de la princesse et dont elle vous donna des marques par une lettre a ce que je luy ay un jour entendu dire en parlant a martesie seroit peut-estre une disposition favorable pour luy cependant il ne pouvoit comment concevoir qu'il fust possible de sortir de sardis et d'en faire sortir mandane mais quoy qu'il creust presques absolument que cela estoit impossible il ne laissoit pas d'en chercher continuellement les voyes et d'en parler tousjours avecque pactias qui s'estant lie tres-estroittement aux interests de ce prince songeoit bien plus a le satisfaire qu'a bien servir cresus dont il estoit mescontent pactias voyant donc le roy de pont en cette peine le fut trouver un matin et luy dire qu'il avoit imagine 
 les voyes de faire sortir mandane de sardis d'abord ce prince transporte de joye l'embrassa puis un moment apres ne croyant pas que cela fust possible il n'osoit quasi luy demander quelle estoit cette voye qu'il avoit imaginee mais a la fin pactias prenant la parole seigneur luy dit-il je ne pense pas que vous puissiez ignorer la merveilleuse vertu de cette pierre qui s'apelle heliotrope et que vous n'ayez point sceu que le fameux anneau de gyges dont on a tant parle par tout le monde et qui en le rendant invisible luy fit gagnet une couronne a tousjours este conserve fort soigneusement dans la famille royale de lydie et que le prince mexaris frere de cresus l'avoit eu du roy son pere il me semble mesme avoir ouy dire qu'on vous raconta un jour une plaisante chose qu'avoit cause cette bague une fois que maxaris donnoit colation a panthee du temps qu'il en estoit amoureux et qu'abradate estoit son rival c'est pourquoy je ne m'amuseray point a vous redire qu'il sort un certain esclat de cette pierre qui esblouit ou qui forme une espece de nuage qui envelope la personne qui la rend invisible mais je vous asseureray qu'elle n'a jamais manque de produire cet effect extraordinaire or seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que lors que mexaris mourut il estoit hors de sardis et fort mal avecque le roy son frere a cause qu'il avoit voulu enlever la princesse de clasomene de sorte que comme la nouvelle de sa mort fut plustost sceue 
 de ses domestiques que du roy ils volerent la plus grande partie de ses thresors devant qu'on y peust donner ordre mais entre les autres choses qu'ils prirent cette fameuse bague de gyges fut desrobee on fit alors une estrange recherche pour descouvrir qui avoit fait ce vol cresus regrettant plus cette bague que tout le reste qu'on avoit pris mais on n'en eut point de nouvelles cependant il est arrive qu'un des officiers de ce prince s'estant attache a me voir m'obligea a luy donner charge dans cette citadelle ou il est mort de maladie ce matin mais en mourant il m'a fait appeller et m'a appris qu'il avoit este complice du vol qui avoit este fait apres la mort de mexaris adjoustant que n'en ayant plus que cette bague de gyges entre les mains il la remettoit entre les miennes je ne scay s'il vouloit dire qu'il me la laissoit pour la rendre au roy ou pour me la donner car il a perdu la parole et il est mort une heure apres quoy qu'il en soit seigneur j'ay la bague et elle fait son effect si admirablement que je croy que vous en devez beaucoup attendre d'abord le roy de pont eut une joye extreme de ce que pactias luy disoit ne luy laissant point de repos qu'il ne luy eust monstre a cette bague mais lors qu'il eut considere la chose de plus pres il connut que cela ne suffisoit pas encore car la vertu de cette pierre ne s'estend qu'un pas au dela de celuy qui la porte ainsi quand il eust imagine les voyes de la faire 
 porter a mandane cela n'eust pas encore este assez pour le cacher de sorte qu'il fut presques plus afflige qu'il n'estoit auparavant il se mit donc a resver profondement pour tascher de trouver les voyes de se servir d'une chose qui d'abord luy avoit semble pouvoir luy estre si utile et comme l'amour est une passion qui subtilise l'esprit et qui donne un nouveau feu a l'imagination la plus vive il ne fut pas longtemps sans trouver celle qu'il cherchoit il pensa donc que comme une pierre d'aimant divisee en plusieurs parties conserve en chaque partie la vertu qu'elle a d'attirer le fer et que l'ambre conserve aussi la qualite que la nature luy a donne quoy qu'on le partage que de mesme la pierre de cette bague estant partagee pourroit conserver sa vertu toute entiere en chaque partie et qu'ainsi il pourroit trouver par ce moyen les voyes de se rendre invisible aussi bien que mandane il n'eut pas plustost eu cette pensee qu'il la communiqua a pactias qui trouvant la chose admirablement bien imaginee ne douta nullement que l'heliotrope ne fist ce que faisoit l'aimant trouvant mesme qu'il estoit assez croyable qu'une pierre qui avoit une qualite aussi merveilleuse que celle la et aussi puissante l'auroit presques esgallement en toutes ses parties et qu'ainsi il n'y auroit rien a hazarder il adjoustoit encore pour fortifier sa croyance que toutes les choses inanimees qui sont en la nature soit parmy les pierres ou parmy les metaux conservent leurs qualitez quoy 
 qu'on les divise qu'ainsi il n'y avoit point a balancer et qu'il faloit partager cette merveilleuse heliotrope mais en la partageant simplement en deux reprit le roy de pont il faudroit vous laisser icy et il faudroit y laisser martesie et arianite cependant je suis asseure que si vous demeuriez a sardis apres ma fuitte cresus feroit ce qu'il pourroit pour vous perdre et je scay de plus que j'aurois plus de peine a enlever mandane toute seule qu'a l'enlever avecque martesie et avecque arianite neantmoins dit pactias je ne croy pas que vous deviez entreprendre de diviser cette pierre en tant de parties pour ce qui me regarde adjousta-t'il il ne faut pas que vous vous en mettiez en peine je me sauveray desguise a la premiere sortie qu'on fera et en attendant je demeureray cache dans sardis n'osant pas me fier a tous les soldats de la citadelle en la conjoncture ou sont les choses et pour les filles de la princesse poursuivit-il nous les enfermerons jusques a ce que vous soyez avez loing pour ne devoir plus craindre d'estre suivy quoy que ce dessein ne fust pas encore trop bien examine et que le roy de pont y vist encore beaucoup de difficultez qui luy paroissoient invincibles il ne laissa pas d'agir comme s'il eust este tout a fait resolu de l'executer esperant qu'avec le temps il trouveroit les moyens de surmonter tous les obstacles qu'il y voyoit pactias fit donc venir un ouvrier tel qu'il le faloit pour partager cette heliotrope et pour la remettre en oeuvre quand elle 
 auroit este partagee mais pour le faire travailler seurement sans craindre qu'il allast redire ce qu'il auroit fait devant que de se confier entierement a luy on luy fit apporter toutes les choses dont il avoit besoin pour le travail a quoy on le vouloit employer sans luy dire precisemant ce que c'estoit de sorte que ce fut dans une chambre de la citadelle ou on l'enferma qu'il fit ce que le roy de pont et pactias vouloient qu'il fist mais seigneur comme cet homme voulut partager cette pierre dont il ne connoissoit pas la nature et qui estoit extraordinairement grande pour une bague au lieu de le faire comme il vouloit et comme le vouloit le roy de pont c'est a dire de la diviser seulement en deux elle s'esclata tout d'un coup et se mit en six pieces de differentes grandeurs le roy de pont qui avoit voulu estre present voyant cet accident et craignant malgre tout le raisonnement qu'il avoit fait que cette pierre divisee en tant de morceaux n'eust perdu la plus grande partie de sa vertu et qu'elle ne luy fust inutile en eut une douleur estrange et dit tant de choses fascheuses a celuy qui l'avoit rompue qu'il fut tres-longtemps a le quereller sans oser s'esclaircir si sa crainte estoit bien ou mal fondee mais a la fin en ayant fait l'espreuve il trouva que cette pierre divisee avoit conserve sa vertu presque toute entiere en chacune de ses parties de sorte que changeant de sentimens il remercia celuy dont il s'estoit pleint car par ce moyen il vit beaucoup 
 plus de facilite a enlever mandane que lors que cette pierre ne devoit estre mise qu'en d'eux pieces seulement apres avoir donc bien envisage la chose il creut que ce dessein qu'il avoit juge impossible n'estoit plus simplement que difficile cependant devant que de faire mettre ces pierres en oeuvre il examina comment il pourroit faire pour obliger mandane a en porter une et pour faire aussi que martesie et moy fissions la mesme chose car il creut bien que quelque jalousie qu'eust cette princesse il ne l'obligeroit jamais a servir elle mesme a son enlevement considerant donc ce qu'il pouvoit faire il pensa que puis qu'il faloit que cette pierre pour faire son effect fust tournee vers la personne qui la portoit il ne pouvoit mieux faire reussir son dessein qu'en trouvant invention de la faire attacher a l'arcon de la selle du cheval que mandane devoit monter parce que de cette facon la pierre seroit tournee vers elle et seroit presque aussi pres de son visage et de toute sa personne que si elle l'eust portee en bague si bien que ne croyant pas possible de pouvoir rien imaginer de mieux il commanda a celuy qui devoit mettre ces pierres en oeuvre d'en enchasser trois dans de l'argent seulement et que ce fust de facon qu'on peust les mettre et les oster quand en voudroit du lieu ou il luy fit entendre qu'il vouloit qu'on les mist et que pour les trois autres il vouloit qu'elles fussent en bague de sorte que cet homme se mettant a resver sur la proposition qu'on luy avoit faite il s'imagina 
 une chose telle que le roy de pont la vouloit car il fit un petit cercle d'argent de la grandeur qu'il le faloit pour enclorre le bas de cette pomme qui forme l'arcon d'une selle enchassent cette pierre au milieu de ce cercle comme si c'eust este une teste de cloud et y en enchassant plusieurs autres qui n'avoient nulle vertu afin que cela parust un simple ornement ce petit cercle se fermant a vis et s'ostant quand on vouloit estant mesme fait avecque tant d'art que l'heliotrope se devoit tousjours trouver tournee vers la personne qui seroit sur le cheval ou seroit la selle ou on l'auroit attachee cette invention sembla si bonne au roy de pont qu'il pressa estrangement celuy qui l'avoit trouvee d'executer ce qu'il avoit si bien pense et en effet il le fit aussi adroitement qu'il l'avoit imagine mais durant qu'il travailloit le roy de pont fit deux choses en mesme temps l'une de tascher d'augmenter la jalousie de la princesse et l'autre de ne laisser pas de songer a prendre autant de precautions pour sortir de sardis que s'il n'eust point eu cette merveilleuse pierre s'imaginant en cas que sa venu manquast tout d'un coup qu'il ne s'y devoit pas fier absolument et qu'il ne devoit pas laisser d'agir comme s'il ne l'eust point eue pour faire donc ces deux choses tout a la fois apres que ces dames a qui vous permistes de sortir de sardis a la priere de la princesse araminte en furent effectivement fort ha arianite interrompit cyrus 
 ce n'a point este a la priere de la princesse araminte que j'ay laisse sortir ces dames mais a celle d'une de leurs parentes nommee doralise qui estoit aupres de la feue reine de la susiace cependant seigneur reprit arianite mandane n'a pas laisse de le croire et de vous accuser de peu d'affection pour elle de leur avoir donne la liberte de sortir de sardis et de trop d'affection pour araminte mais de grace seigneur donnez-vous la patience de m'escouter scachez donc poursuivit-elle qu'apres que ces dames furent sorties le roy de pont fit si bien que le lendemain il obligea un des gardes de la princesse de nous conter comme une nouvelle qu'on avoit sceue par quelques prisonniers qu'on avoit faits que vous les aviez receues avec des civilitez extraordinaires que vous les aviez envoyees a la princesse araminte leur faisant rendre tous les honneurs imaginables a sa consideration adjoustant que presentement cette princesse disposoit de toutes les charges de l'armee que c'estoit a elle qu'on s'adressoit pour en obtenir de vous lors qu'il y avoit quelque officier tue qu'elle faisoit delivrer d'entre les prisonniers qui bon luy sembloit et qu'en fin vous en estiez si amoureux que tout le monde en estoit estonne disant encore que beaucoup vous en blasmoient vous pouvez bien juger que martesie et moy ne nous fussions pas advisees d'aller dire cela a la princesse quand mesme nous l'aurions creu ce que nous n'aurions pourtant jamais fait mais celuy 
 qui nous parloit ainsi prit son temps de nous dire la chose durant que la princesse estoit dans le petit cabinet qu'on luy avoit fait dans sa chambre par un retranchement qui n'avoit point d'espaisseur de sorte que nous disant cela fort haut elle l'entendit et en eut toute la douleur toute la colere dont elle peut estre capable ce qui luy rendit encore la chose plus vray semblable fut que le roy de pont ne luy en parla point ou s'il luy en dit quelque chose ce fut seulement en passant de sorte que luy scachant bon gre de sa discretion elle en fut encore plus irritee contre vous ha arianite s'escria cyrus que m'allez-vous apprendre croyez seigneur poursuivit-elle que je ne vous apprendray pas que la princesse ayme le roy de pont mais il est vray que sans estre peu sincere je ne puis pas vous dire qu'elle ne se pleigne point de vous elle s'en pleint avecque tant d'injustice reprit ce prince afflige que j'apprehende que les dieux pour la punir ne m'empeschent de la delivrer mais de grace arianite achevez de me dire tout ce qu'il faut que je scache je vous diray donc seigneur poursuivit-elle que mandane ayant l'esprit aussi irrite qu'une personne qui a le coeur aussi grand qu'elle le devoit avoir dans la croyance ou elle estoit que vous estiez infidelle elle se mit dans la fantaisie un dessein fort surprenant quoy que martesie luy peust dire et sans en parler mesme a la princesse palmis a qui elle ne voulut pas montrer toute sa jalousie enfin seigneur vous 
 le diray-je apres que mandane eut passe une nuit toute entiere sans dormir qu'elle vous eut accuse mille et mille fois d'ingratitude et d'inconstance qu'elle se fut promis a elle-mesme de n'aimer jamais rien qu'elle se fut resolue de faire tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour ne vous aimer plus ou pour vous aymer moins elle nous dit des choses a martesie et a moy capables de toucher l'ame la plus dure et qui vous doivent donner plus de satisfaction que de douleur parce qu'elles sont une marque de l'affection de la princesse quoy que cette satisfaction reprit il ne soit pas sans amertume dites moy donc tout ce que dit mandane je vous en conjure car je respecte si fort ma princesse que mesme les injures qu'elle m'a dites ne me feront pas murmurer contre elle helas seigneur reprit arianite si je vous disois tout ce que dit la princesse je n'acheverois d'aujourd'huy car je puis vous asseurer qu'elle dit plus de choses ce jour la en un quart d'heure qu'elle n'a accoustume d'en dire en deux heures non non disoit-elle a martesie qui vouloit la supplier d'attendre a juger de vous apres la prise de sardis ne me proposez point le jour de la victoire de cyrus comme celuy de ma liberte je veux bien qu'il vainque disoit elle car je ne le hais pas encore assez pour desirer qu'il soit vaincu mais je ne veux pas qu'il me delivre et je regarde aujourd'huy la liberte qu'il me donneroit comme la chose du monde qui me causeroit la plus sensible 
 douleur si elle arrivoit mais dieux adjoustoit-elle est-il bie possible qu'une personne de ma condition ne puisse suborner ses gardes en l'estat ou sont les choses car enfin si les affaires de cresus sont en mauvais termes celles du roy de pont sont encore plus mal pourquoy donc ne seroit t'il pas possible que l'esperance d'estre recompensez magnifiquement par le roy des medes portast quelques uns de mes gardes a me donner la liberte tout a bon adjoustoit-elle je croiray que vous manquez d'adresse ou d'affection si vous ne le faites ou du moins si vous ne le tentez il est si ordinaire reprit-elle de voir changer les hommes avecque la fortune que je ne doute point que si vous me teniez bien vous ne veniez a bout d'une chose qui me donneroit une joye que je ne vous puis exprimer imaginez-vous mes cherez filles nous disoit-elle quel plaisir je recevrois si je pouvois trouver les voyes de sortir de la puissance du roy de pont de ne devoir point ma liberte a cyrus et de pouvoir alors luy reprocher son inconstance sans luy avoir une nouvelle obligation encore une fois songez je vous en conjure quel seroit le service que vous me rendriez et la reconnoissance que j'en aurois mais madame luy dit martesie quand il seroit possible qu'arianite et moy puissions suborner vos gardes comment concevez vous qu'ils pussent vous sauver ne considerez vous point qu'il ne suffiroit pas de vous faire sortir de sardis et qu'il faudroit eschaper encore a 
 ceux qui l'assiegent sur qui ces gardes n'ont point de pouvoir ha martesie s'escria t'elle ne me faites peint cette objection vous asseurant que pourveu que je sois hors de sardis je trouveray peut-estre bien les voyes d'eschaper esgallement et au roy de pont et a cyrus principalement si on m'en pouvoit faire sortir par un endroict ou les medes fussent de garde car apres tout je ne pense pas que les sujets du roy mon pere pussent me desobeir ny me refuser de me remener a ecbatane au lieu de me mener a cyrus joint que quand mesme ils ne le voudroient pas faire et qu'ils me conduiroient vers cet infidelle je luy aurois tousjours oste l'avantage de m'avoir delivree et de me rendre la liberte au lieu du coeur qu'il m'avoit donne et qu'il m'oste avecque tant d'injustice enfin seigneur la princesse nous dit tant de choses qu'elle nous persuada presques qu'en en effect nous avions tort et qu'il n'estoit pas si difficile que nous pensions de suborner ses gardes je m'offris alors de parler a timonide sur qui je scavois bien que j'allois quelque credit mais elle me le deffendit expressement me disant que c'estoit aux officiers de pactias ou a pactias luy-mesme qu'il faloit proposer la chose et non pas a un homme qui estoit au roy de pont elle nous donna pouvoir de tout promettre pour elle nous asseurant qu'elle tiendroit exactement tout ce que nous aurions promis nous voulusmes encore la conjurer de ne vous accuser pas si legerement et d'attendre en repos la liberte que vous 
 luy donneriez infailliblement bien-tost mais ne pouvant rien obtenir nous nous resolusmes martesie et moy de tenter la chose sans elle nous parlasmes donc des le soir mesme a un des officiers de pactias nous luy representasmes apres l'avoir fait tomber insensiblement sur le discours des malheurs de la princesse que luy et ses compagnons estoient eux mesmes bien mal heureux apres avoir garde mandane avecque tant de fidelite et tant de soing de voir qu'ils n'en seroiet jamais recompensez puis que ceux de qui ils le devoient estre alloient n'estre plus que des esclaves de cyrus en suitte adjoustant encore d'autres raisons et joignant son interest a la pitie qu'il devoit avoir d'une si grande princesse nous luy proposasmes de la servir en subornant une partie de la garnison ou en persuadant a pactias de delivrer mandane pour mettre sa fortune a couvert de l'orage qui alloit faire perir cresus cet homme nous entendant parler ainsi ne rejetta point entierement la proposition que nous luy fismes quoy qu'il ne l'acceptast pas et nous creusmes que la difficulte qu'il en faisoit n'estoit que pour tirer une plus grande recompense du service que nous voulions qu'il rendist a la princesse ce n'estoit pourtant pas sa pensee et s'il ne nous osta pas l'esperance de le flechir ce fut qu'il eut peur que s'il nous refusoit absolument nous ne fissions la mesme proposition a d'autres qui l'escoutassent mieux que luy et pour vous monstrer seigneur que ce fut la son raisonnement 
 vous scaurez qu'il ne fut pas plustost hors d'avecque nous qu'il fut advertir pactias de ce que nous luy avions dit de sorte que croyant que cela faciliteroit extremement le dessein qu'avoit le roy de pont d'enlever mandane il luy dit la chose qui luy donna une joye inconcevable ne doutant plus du tout qu'il n'enlevast facilement la princesse et ce qui faisoit qu'il en doutoit moins estoit qu'il venoit de scavoir que le pactole estoit tellement abaisse qu'il estoit facile de le gayer a un endroict qui est fort pres de la citadelle si bien que voyant que le seul obstacle qu'il trouvoit a son dessein qui estoit celuy de nous pouvoir mener par force sans que nous criassions estoit surmonte il ne songea plus qu'a executer promprement la chose se resolvant toutesfois d'attendre quelqu'une de ces nuits ou il y auroit allarme du coste de la ville oppose a la citadelle qui estoit celuy ou il y en avoit le plus souvent parce qu'estant le plus foible c'estoit celuy qu'on craignoit le plus qui fust attaque cependant pactias ordonna a celuy a qui nous avions parle d'agir avecque nous comme un homme qui vouloit en effect faire sa fortune en delivrant mandane et qu'il conduisist cette feinte negociation si adroitement que nous ne passions soubconner qu'il nous trompast et certes il le fit si bien que nous creusmes martesie et moy qu'en effect nous l'avions persuade car enfin il nous dit tout ce que nous eust pu dire un homme qui eut eu quelque peine a trahir son maistre et 
 qui l'eust pourtant voulu faire par interest en feignant que c'estoit par la compassion qu'il avoit eue du mal heur de la princesse aussi martesie et moy y fusmes nous tellement trompees que nous trompasmes mandane sans en avoir le dessein il est vray qu'elle ne le fut pas moins par les paroles de celuy avecque qui nous traittions que par les nostres car comme il nous dit pour nous abuser mieux qu'il n'entreprendroit pas la chose sans avoir parle a la princesse nous fismes qu'en effect il luy parla et qu'il acheva de conclurre le traicte que nous avions commence avecque luy ainsi se chargeant de tout ce qu'il y avoit a preparer nous demeurasmes sans avoir rien a faire qu'a nous tenir tousjours prestes a partir quand il nous en advertiroit et afin de rendre la chose plus vray-semblable il nous dit le changement qui estoit arrive au fleuve adjoustant que sans cela il n'auroit pu entreprendre de nous delivrer mais comme la princesse jugeoit qu'il faloit de necessite qu'il fist quelque despence pour executer son dessein en attendant qu'elle fust en lieu pour le recompenser elle luy donna une fort belle bague qu'elle avoit et qu'il prit de peur qu'elle n'entrast en soubcon s'il la refusoit y de sorte que depuis cela nous demeurasmes avec beaucoup d'esperance la princesse avoit alors un extreme regret de quitter la princesse palmis mais elle scavoit bien que quand elle luy eust donne les voyes de sortir de sa prison elle ne l'eust pas voulu faire par le seul respect qu'elle 
 avoit pour le roy son pere qui l'y avoit mise joint aussi que scachant qu'en l'estat qu'estoit ce prince palmis devoit souhaitter qu'elle demeurast en sa puissance elle se resolut de ne la mettre pas dans la necessite ou de trahir son amie ou de trahir le roy son pere c'est pourquoy elle ne luy dit rien de son dessein dont nous attendions l'execution avec beaucoup d'impatience il est vray que nous ne l'attendismes pas long-temps car les pierres d'heliotrope estant mises en oeuvre le pactole estant assez abaisse pour le pouvoir guayer pactias estant assure d'un petit bateau pour le faire passer a la princesse a martesie et a moy de peur de nous exposer a tomber dans la riviere si nous la passions a cheval le roy de pont ayant adverty timonide de se tenir prest a le suivre pactias s'estant assure de ceux qui nous devoient laisser sortir de la citadelle ou il commandoit et ayant donne ordre a toutes choses il arriva que deux heures apres que nous fusmes couchees nous entendismes un si effroyable bruit dans la ville que la princesse craignant qu'il n'y eust quelque sedition et voulant se preparer a tout evenement voulut se relever et s'habiller en mesme temps mais a peine le fut elle que celuy que nous croyions avoir suborne et de qui nous attendions nostre liberte vint nous dire qu'il faloit pour nous sauver plus facilement se servir du desordre qui estoit par toute la ville pour une fausse allarme qu'il disoit que cresus avoit fait donner expres de peur que l'ardeur 
 des habitans ne se rallentist durant que les ennemis les laissoient en repos faisant semblant de ne songer qu'a les prendre par la faim pour les surprendre peut-estre apres tout d'un coup ce qui obligea cet homme a dire a la princesse que ce grand bruit qu'elle entendoit n'estoit qu'une fausse allarme estoit que le roy de pont comme je l'ay apris par timonide craignoit que si mandane eust sceu que sardis estoit surpris elle n'eust change d'advis et n'eust plus voulu en sortir car il ne scavoit pas jusques ou alloit sa jalousie quoy qu'il en sceust quelque chose vous pouvez croire seigneur que la princesse receut la nouvelle de sa pretendue liberte avec beaucoup de joye de sorte qu'ayant dit a celuy qui la luy donnoit qu'elle estoit preste a partir il nous quitta et revint un quart d'heure apres nous faire descendre par un petit escallier sans que nous vissions personne que luy et deux de ses compagnons jusques a ce que nous fussions au corps de garde ou il y avoit peu de soldats car vous scaurez seigneur que le roy de pont afin de faire mieux reussir son dessein ne voulut pas que la princesse le vist qu'elle ne fust hors de sardis et hors du camp de cyrus c'est pourquoy prenant une des bagues qu'il avoit fait faire et en donnant une a pactias et une a timonide ils nous suivoient sans que nous le sceussions je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire quel estonnement fut celuy de la princesse lors qu'elle se vit hors de la citadelle avec ces trois hommes et nous et qu'elle 
 entendit ce bruit effroyable qui estoit dans toute la ville car cela ne serviroit de rien mais je vous diray que faisant extremement sec le chemin estant pave ou couvert de sable depuis la citadelle jusques au bord du pactole et n'y ayant pas loin nous marchasmes jusques la avec moins d'incommodite que d'aprehension le roy de pont et pactias nous suivant aussi bien que timonide qui portoit les trois petits cercles d'argent ou estoient les pierres d'heliotrope et qui devoient estre attachees comme je vous l'ay desja dit mais enfin seigneur nous trouvasmes des chevaux au bord de ce fleuve et un petit bateau dans lequel la princesse mandane nostre conducteur et moy passasmes les deux autres soldats qui nous menoient nous disant qu'ils passeroient le fleuve sur deux des chevaux que nous avions veus menant les autres en main et en effet ces chevaux guayerent le pactole mais ce ne fut pas de la maniere que nous le pensions car le roy de pont en monta un pactias un autre timonide le troisiesme et ces deux hommes qui nous avoient conduits sur deux de ceux qui restoient menant le dernier en main cependant j'ay a vous dire seigneur que des que la princesse se vit au milieu du fleuve sa crainte se dissipa et la joye commenca de s'emparer de son coeur estant aise de voir qu'elle ne craignoit pas tant d'estre prise par vos troupes que d'estre arrestee par celles de cresus ou du roy de pont du moins nous disoit elle tout bas a martesie 
 et a moy me verray-je bien-tost en estat d'estre hors de la puissance du roy de pot et de ne craindre plus de devoir la liberte a un prince infidelle cependant lors que nous eusmes aborde celuy qui avoit passe le fleuve avec que nous et que nous appellions nostre liberateur fut ou estoit timonide qui attachoit aux trois chevaux que la princesse martesie et moy devions monter les trois petits cercles d'argent ou estoient les pierres qui devoient nous derober a la veue de tous ceux que nous pourrions rencontrer comme il estoit nuit que le croissant esclairoit foiblement et que nous avions l'esprit agite de beaucoup de choses differentes nous ne prismes pas garde que nous ne voyions point les chevaux sur lesquels on nous montoit joint aussi que nous n'eusmes pas grand loisir de raisonner sur ce que nous voyions ou sur ce que nous ne voiyons pas car des qu'on nous eut mises a cheval on nous obligea de marcher j'oubliois de vous dire que martesie n'eut pas un cheval seul pour elle et que nostre conducteur la mit derriere luy la vertu de la pierre suffisant pour tous les deux mais pour ces deux hommes qui estoient sortis de la barque avecque nous ils se rangerent aux deux costez de mandane pour la conduire et afin que ces deux soldats qui n'estoient point invisibles ne fussent pas remarquez par vos troupes pactias leur avoit fait prendre des habits persans joint que comme je vous l'ay desja dit le roy de pont ne se fiant pis encore a la vertu de cette pierre 
 avoit tellement songe a prendre bien sa route et a passer entre deux quartiers du coste que les lignes n'estoient point faites que je suis presques persuadee que quand nous n'eussions point eu de pierres son dessein n'eust pas laisse de reussir car comme il avoit un plan du campement de vostre armee il choisit si bien les lieux ou il nous fit passer que nous ne rencontrasmes gueres de soldats cependant le roy de pont faisoit marcher mandane la premiere afin que ces deux hommes qui n'estoient point invisibles servissent de guide a toute la troupe qui ne s'entrevoyoit pas et en cas qu'il fust venu quelques uns des ennemis pour les prendre ils avoient ordre de ne resister point et de laisser aller mandane de laquelle il alloit tousjours fort prez quoy qu'il ne la vist pas d'abord comme je vous l'ay desja dit nous ne prismes point garde a cette merveille car il estoit nuit la lune n'esclairoit guerre et la joye et la peur nous avoient si fort trouble la raison que nous ne scavions pas trop bien ce que nous faisions ny ce que nous disions mais lors que nous eusmes marche quelque temps et que je vins a prendre garde que je ne voyois que ces deux hommes a pied qui marchoient aupres de la princesse et que je ne la voyois pont non plus que martesie et nostre conducteur ne scachant mesme ce qu'estoient devenus les autres chevaux que j'avois veus au bord du pactole j'advoue que la frayeur me prit de telle sorte que je ne pus m'empescher de crier je 
 croyois pourtant encore que je m'estois egaree aussi bie que ces deux hommes mais le cry que je fis ayant fait tourner la teste a la princesse qui voyant ceux qui la conduisoient aupres d'elle et ne s'estant point tournee vers nous n'avoit point sceu qu'elle ne pouvoit nous voir elle fut aussi surprise que je l'estois de voir qu'elle ne me voyoit point et qu'elle ne voyoit que ces deux hommes qui tenoient tour a tour la bride de son cheval martesie qui estoit en croupe derriere nostre pretendu liberateur et qui s'estoit abandonnee a sa conduite revenant de la resverie ou elle estoit eut sa part de nostre estonnement lors qu'elle vit qu'elle ne nous voyoit point cependant mandane s'estoit arrestee je l'estois aussi et nous parusmes si effrayees que le roy de pont pensa vint fois parler pour nous rassurer mais a la fin il s'en empescha aussi bien que pactias et timonide laissant ce soin a celuy que nous regardions comme l'autheur de nostre liberte et en effet s'estant approche de mandane il luy fit toucher la main de martesie et l'assura qu'elle n'avoit rien a craindre et que la merveille qu'elle voyoit estoit un enchantement qui n'estoit fait que pour la mettre en liberte si vous estiez seul invisible luy dit elle je dirois que vous auriez trouve cet anneau de gyges que j'ay ouy dire que cresus a perdu mais je ne voy ny martesie ny arianite et je connois par ce qu'elles disent qu'elles ne me voyent pas quoy qu'il en soit madame luy dit-il je vous assure que vous 
 n'avez rien a craindre et pour vous r'assurer lors qu'il ne passera personne vous pouvez parler ou avec martesie ou avec arianite que je feray marcher assez prez de vous pour le pouvoir faire commodement durant que cet homme et la princesse parloient ainsi martesie et moy estions dans un estonnement que je ne vous puis representer cependant comme nous nous voyions sous le pouvoir d'un homme qui en avoit tant et qui faisoit une chose si extraordinaire nous n'osions luy parler qu'avecque beaucoup de douceur nous semblant que puis qu'il avoit pu nous rendre invisibles il pourroit tout ce qu'il voudroit la princesse tombant aussi dans ce sentiment la ne s'opiniastra pas le presser de luy dire comment ce prodige se faisoit et elle creut qu'il estoit plus important de le conjurer seulement de la conduire precisement vers le lieu ou elle vouloit aller c'est a dire vers ecbatane jusques a ce qu'elle eust trouve quelque ville ou elle pust se reposer seurement et avoir le temps d'envoyer vers le roy son pere pour pouvoir achever son voyage plus commodement et avec plus de bien-seance comme nous estions encore en lieu ou nous pouvoions trouver des troupes de cyrus il luy promit tout ce qu'elle voulut de peur que si elle en rencontroit elle ne changeast d'advis et ne criast c'est pourquoy il luy dit pour la rassurer tout ce qu'il luy eust pu dire quand il eust este ce que nous pensions qu'il estoit je veux dire nostre liberateur si bien que prenant 
 une nouvelle confiance en luy la princesse admira ce prodige sans craindre qu'il servist a la tromper se contentant de voir ces deux honmes aupres d'elle qui la couduisoient et de nous entendre parler martesie et moy quand nous ne voiyons personne nous estant mesme assez aise de la suivre quoy que nous ne la vissions pas parce que voyant ceux qui la menoient cela suffisoit pour nous marquer le lieu ou elle estoit nous traversasmes donc ainsi le camp de cyrus allant entre deux quartiers comme je l'ay desja dit nous rencontrasmes diverses fois quelques cavaliers quelques soldats mais outre que ce ne fut pas de fort pres il est encore vray que ne voyant que ces deux hommes habillez en persans qui menoient la princesse ils ne pouvoient s'imaginer autre chose sinon que c'estoit de leurs soldats qui alloient d'un quartier a un autre de sorte que nous marchames sans rencontrer rien qui nous fist obstacle et nous assurasmes si parfaitement que ce qui nous avoit tant donne de peur commenca de nous divertir martesie et moy ne pouvant nous empescher de dire cent choses et de faire cent bizarres souhaits pour moy je desirois de voir le roy de pont pour luy pouvoir faire mille reproches de son injustice sans qu'il nous pust voir et sans qu'il nous pust suivre martesie souhaittoit de rencontrer le roy d'assirie pour luy dire que nostre invention estoit encore meilleure que celle de la neige et des habillemens blancs dont il s'estoit servy pour nous faire 
 sortir de babylone afin d'avoir le plaisir de le voir desesperer de ce qu'il entendroit la princesse sans la pouvoir voir pour mandane elle nous fit comprendre sans vous nommer toutesfois qu'elle eust este bien aise de vous voir paroistre et de vous pouvoir faire ouir sa voix pour un moment ainsi nous avancions tousjours sans soubconner seulement que le roy de pont fust si pres de nous et nous escoutoit il me sembla pourtant une fois en passant dans un chemin fort pierreux que j'en tendois plus de chevaux que nous n'en avions neantmoins je n'osay dire ma pensee de sorte qu'allant ainsi jusques a ce que nous fussions hors du camp et jusques a plus de la moitie du jour le soleil commenca d'incommoder la princesse qui s'en plaignit extemement si bien qu'estant arrivez en un lieu ou il y avoit deux chemins a prendre qui aboutissent pourtant en mesme endroit et dont l'un alloit gagner un bois fort ombragee et l'autre traversoit une plaine le roy de pont voyant que ces hommes qui conduisoient mandane alloient prendre le dernier ou elle seroit fort incommodee oublia qu'il ne vouloit point parler de peur de se faire connoistre et se mit a leur dire qu'ils tournassent a droit et qu'ils se hastassent de gagner l'ombrage je vous laisse a penser seigneur quelle surprise fut la nostre d'entendre la voix du roy de pont que nous connoissions trop pour nous y tromper elle fut telle que nous criasmes toutes a la fois la princesse s'arresta tout court et se 
 jettant a terre avec que precipitation elle cessa d'estre invisible et commenca de se pleindre avecque tant de violence que jamais nulle autre personne n'a dit plus de choses a faire pitie je n'eus pas plustost veu qu'en descendant de cheval elle avoit cesse d'estre invisible que je fis la mesme chose qu'elle martesie n'en fit pas moins de sorte que nous rangeant toutes deux aupres de la princesse le roy de pont se trouva alors bien embarrasse car comme il n'estoit que luy cinquiesme il trouvoit que ce n'estoit pas assez pour nous enlever seurement par force c'est pourquoy il servit d'une ruse qui luy reussit car apres avoir laisse sa bague a timonide il vint se jetter aux pieds de la princesse a qui il dit tout ce que la plus violente et la plus respectueuse passion peut faire dire la conjurant de luy pardonner luy protestant qu'il vivroit tousjours avecque elle comme il y avoit vescu et l'asseurant qu'il ne vouloit rien autre chose sinon qu'essayer de la gagner par ses larmes adjoustant que quand elle luy auroit encore permis durant quelque temps de tascher de la flechir il la remeneroit a ecbatane tout ce qu'il dit n'esbranla pourtant point la princesse qui disoit qu'absolument elle vouloit mourir au lieu ou elle estoit de sorte que le roy de pont voyant qu'elle sembloit vouloir s'opiniastrer a ne marcher pas se mit a la conjurer de ne le forcer point a perdre entierement le respect qu'il luy vouloit rendre en la forcant de le suivre et pour vous monstrer luy dit-il madame 
 que je suis en estat de pouvoir achever mon entreprise scachez que j'ay cinquante chevaux avecque moy quoy que vous ne les voyez pas d'abord la princesse n'en creut rien mais le roy de pont ayant dit expres quelque chose a pactias afin qu'il luy respondist et quelque chose aussi a timonide afin qu'il parlast elle ne douta plus qu'il ne dist la verite puis qu'elle entendoit parler des gens qu'elle ne voyoit pas et des gens qu'elle connoissoit car la princesse connut bien la voix de pactias et celle de timonide de sorte qu'entrant en un desespoir sans esgal et aymant encore mieux suivre son ravisseur que de le forcer par une resistance inutile a luy faire une violence qu'elle aprehendoit et qui ne luy serviroit de rien elle ceda ne pouvant faire autrement et se laissa remettre a cheval ce ne fut pourtant qu'apres avoir asseure au roy de pont qu'il ne devoit jamais attendre d'elle que de la haine et du mespris cependant comme en descendant du cheval sur quoy j'estois j'en avois laisse aller la bride il y eut bien de la peine a le retrouver car emportant avecque luy ce qui le faisoit invisible on ne pouvoit comment faire pour le chercher et timonide estoit desja tout prest de me mettre en croupe derriere luy lors que ce cheval qui avoit este nourry avecque celuy que montoit pactias vint de lui mesme se ranger aupres du sien dont il avoit ouy le hannissement de sorte que pactias l'entendant si pres de luy et le reprenant on me remit dessus et nous 
 remarchasmes apres que timonide eut rendu la bague au roy de pont mais helas ce fut avecque des sentimens bien different de ceux que nous avions eus auparavant et je ne doute pas que la princesse ne se repentist estrangement de sa fuitte je ne puis toutesfois vous dire ses sentimens que par conjecture car je ne l'ay point entendue parler depuis cela comme nous fusmes dans ce petit bois ou il y avoit quelques maisons le roy de pont fit arrester la princesse en un lieu fort ombrage et luy fit presenter a manger mais elle ne voulut rien prendre que de l'eau encore fut-ce a la priere de martesie apres quoy nous continuasmes de marcher cependant comme timonide estoit fort de mes amis il craignit que je ne creusse avoir sujet de me pleindre de luy de ce qu'il ne m'avoit pas revele le secret du roy son maistre c'est pourquoy il marcha tousjours aupres de moy depuis qu'on m'eut remise a cheval de sorte que comme je mourois d'envie de scavoir comment il pouvoit estre que nous fussions invisibles et comment ce dessein avoit este execute quoy que je le creusse coupable je ne laissay pas de l'escouter et de le conjurer de me vouloir dire precisement quelle avanture estoit la nostre l'asseurant que s'il me disoit la verite je luy pardonnerois je n'eus pas plustost dit cela que timonide bien-ayse que je luy donnasse lieu de se justifier me dit assez bas qu'il faloit donc que je retinsse mon cheval afin d'aller un peu plus loing du roy de pont car comme nous voyons ces 
 deux hommes qui conduisoient mandane et que nous scavions que ce prince la suivoit de fort pres il nous estoit ayse de regler la distance ou nous en voulions estre de sorte que tirant un peu la bride a nos chevaux pour les retenir nous nous esloignasmes assez pour parler sans estre entendus apres quoy timonide me fit mille sermens qu'il n'avoit sceu la chose que le soir auparavant que pactias luy avoit tout conte commencant alors de me dire exactement tout ce que je viens de vous faire scavoir adjoustant qu'il croyoit qu'il y avoit long-temps que le roy de pont s'estoit asseure d'un lieu de retraicte en cas qu'il fust oblige de sortir de sardis et qu'il le peust me disant encore qu'il scavoit que ce prince estoit resolu d'aller toute la nuit et de ne laisser reposer la princesse qu'a la pointe du jour cependant le discours de timonide m'attachoit si attentivement a ce qu'il me disoit que nous ne prenions point garde au chemin que nous tenions si bien qu'estans arrivez dans un fort grand bois ou il y avoit diverses toutes nous en prismes une qui n'estoit pas celle que nous devions prendre nous y songions mesme si peu que nous rencontrasmes deux femmes qui portoient des corbeilles de fruits sur leur teste a qui nous ne nous en informasmes pas helas interrompit cyrus je les rencontray aussi bien que vous et ce qu'elles me dirent fut cause que je ne pris pas le chemin que je devois prendre pour trouver la princesse mais de grace achevez promptement ce que vous avez 
 a me dire afin que j'aille tascher de reparer cette faute j'auray bien-tost acheve dit arianite car seigneur il ne m'est rien arrive depuis cela sinon que nous estant enfin apperceus timonide et moy que nous ne voyons plus ces deux hommes qui nous faisoient connoistre ou estoit mandane nous doublasmes le pas esperant tousjours les rejoindre mais ce fut inutilement il est vray que nous fusmes arrestez par l'accident qui m'arriva car il faut que vous scachiez qu'en remontant le long d'un torrent mon cheval me jetta dedans en s'abattant de sorte que m'estant extremement blessee timonide se trouva bien embarrasse et je ne scay ce qu'il eust peu faire sans l'assistance de celuy que je viens de voir et qui vous a conduit icy ha arianite s'escria cyrus que vous m'avez appris de choses et que vous m'en avez peu dit qui me puissent estre utiles si ce n'est que du moins vous me donniez cette pierre qui vous rendoit invisible afin de m'en pouvoir servir si jamais je puis scavoir ou est mandane helas seigneur reprit-elle quand on est malheureux on l'est en toutes choses et vous l'estes en celle-la comme aux autres car il faut que vous scachiez que ce petit cercle d'argent ou la pierre d'heliotrope estoit enchassee se rompit et tomba dans le torrent lors que mon cheval s'abattit sous moy et m'y jetta et pour la bague de timonide il ne peut se souvenir ou il la mit lors qu'il l'osta de son doigt au bord du torrent afin que cet homme qui m'assista ne s'esffrayast point 
 l'entendre parler sans le voir de sorte qu'elle est perdue aussi bien que la pierre que j'avois comme cyrus alloit respondre a arianite on entendit un grand bruit de chevaux dans la court mais il ne l'eut pas plustost ouy que voulant scavoir qui le faisoit il fut a la fenestre et vit que c'estoit le prince artamas et tous ceux qui l'avoient suivy qui apres avoir cherche mandane inutilement avoient sceu dans ce village qu'il y avoit une dame en cette maison qui y avoit este conduite par un homme si bien que ne scachant pas si ce n'estoit point la princesse ils y estoient venus pour s'en esclaircir de sorte que comme le prince artamas vit cyrus qui le regardoit par la fenestre ou il s'estoit mis il espera qu'en effet il auroit trouve mandane il descendit donc de cheval en diligence et entra a la chambre ou il estoit suivy de feraulas mais bien loin de le trouver en joye il le trouva dans un desespoir sans esgal il luy fit pourtant saluer arianite a qui feraulas fut demander apres des nouvelles de mandane et de martesie durant que cyrus le prince artamas et ligdamis advisoient ce qu'ils avoient a faire mais comme la diligence estoit la chose la plus necessaire ils resolurent promptement de se separer encore une fois de partager ce qu'ils avoient de gens avecque eux et de chercher tousjours en allant vers la mer car enfin disoit cyrus puis que mandane a deux hommes a pied pour la suivre qui ne sont pas invisibles et qu'elle-mesme ne l'est que lors qu'elle 
 est a cheval il n'est pas impossible d'en avoir quelque lumiere cyrus voulut pourtant voir timonide devant que de partir mais comme arianite luy avoit asseure qu'il avoit rendu mille petits offices a mandane durant sa prison il ne le receut pas mal il le pressa pourtant autant qu'il peut de luy dire s'il ne scavoit rien de la route que tenoit le roy son maistre et afin que vous le puissiez faire sans faire une laschete luy disoit cyrus je vous engage ma parole si je retrouve mandane par vostre moyen de faire rendre a ce prince la couronne qu'on luy a ostee mais ce fut en vain qu'il le pressa de luy dire ce qu'il ne scavoit pas de sorte que cyrus voyant qu'il ne luy pouvoit rien apprendre de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir le laissa pour escorter arianite quand elle seroit en estat de pouvoir aller a sardis luy laissant encore feraulas pour la conduire en suitte de quoy montant a cheval bien tost apres il se separa du prince artamas et se remit a la queste de mandane bien que ce fust avecque moins d'esperance qu'il n'en avoit eu devant que d'avoir rencontre arianite mais pendant que ce grand prince erroit par les bois et par les plaines mandane estoit en un desespoir sans esgal principalement depuis qu'elle s'estoit apperceue qu'arianite et timonide s'estoient esgarez car comme elle scavoit le pouvoir que cette fille avoit sur luy et combien il luy avoit rendu de service a sardis elle avoit espere la mesme chose dans la suitte de sa prison aussi avoit-elle voulu 
 attendre dans cette prairie ou cyrus l'avoit veue si timonide et elle ne viendroient point ce n'est pas que le roy de pont ne s'y fust oppose mais mandane s'estant jettee a terre et martesie l'ayant suivie il avoit este contraint de consentir qu'elle y fust jusques a ce qu'il eust envoye chercher si on ne les entendroit point puis qu'on ne les pouvoit voir mais comme le torrent estoit entre arianite et mandane et que l'accident qui luy arriva luy advint devant que d'estre vis a vis de la prairie ou cette princesse estoit assise et ou elle l'atendoit celuy que le roy de pont envoya n'en rapporta aucune nouvelle de sorte que ce prince qui avoit fait mettre son cheval dans un chemin creux qui estoit au dela de cette prairie afin qu'il fust moins en veue a ceux qui le pouvoient suivre forca cette princesse de remonter a cheval aussi bien que martesie ce quelle avoit fait justement comme cyrus estoit arrive vis a vis du lieu ou elle estoit sans qu'il eust peu voir le roy de pont qui avoit la bague ny trouver arianite en allant le longue du torrent pour aller dans la prairie parce qu'elle n'y estoit desja plus cependant quoy que mandane peust dire il falut qu'elle allast toute la nuit jusques a la pointe du jour que trouvant une petite maison escartee le roy de pont consentir qu'elle s'y reposast quelques heures apres quoy il la fit repartir et la fit remonter a cheval luy demandant mille fois pardon de la peine qu'elle avoit ce prince n'estant guere moins mal-heureux que 
 mandane par la seule douleur qu'il avoit d'estre cause de l'excessive affliction qu'il voyoit peinte dans ses yeux lors qu'elle n'estoit point en lieu ou la vertu de l'heliotrope la derobast a sa veue mais la force de son amour estant plus grande que sa vertu il n'avoit qu'autant de raison qu'il en faloit pour avoir une horrible confusion de son crime mais non pas assez pour s'empescher de continuer de le commettre c'est pourquoy suivant son chemin accompagne de pactias de celuy qui menoit martesie et des deux hommes qui conduisoient mandane il arriva le lendemain au soir fort tard a un petit port appelle atarme ou la princesse qu'il enlevoit eut loisir de se reposer durant toute la nuit et ou elle se reposa en effect car la lassitude l'assoupissant malgre qu'elle en eust elle dormit durant quelques heures avec plus de tranquilite que sa douleur ne sembloit le lui devoir permettre pour le roy de pont comme il estoit plus accoustume a la fatigue et que la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame est souvent incompatible avecque le sommeil au lieu de songer a se reposer il ne songea qu'a garder mandane et qu'a s'asseurer d'un vaisseau mais comme il estoit difficile qu'il peust en trouver un prest a partir et qu'il estoit plus ayse de trouver une barque il en arresta une des le soir pour le lendemain au matin de sorte que mandane ne fut pas plustost esveillee que le roy de pont luy fit scavoir par martesie qu'il falloit qu'elle se preparast a partir elle voulut alors resister autant 
 qu'elle pouvoit mais comme ce prince l'avoit fait loger sur le port et qu'il n'y avoit que quatre pas a faire pour aller au lieu ou elle estoit dans la barque elle jugea bien que sa resistance seroit inutile et d'autant plus que le roy de pont ne souffroit point que martesie ny elle parlassent a personne de la maison ou elles estoient logees leur refusant mesme la permission d'aller au temple si bien que tout ce que peut faire mandane fut de differer son depart d'une heure seulement trouvant divers pretextes pour cela sans qu'elle sceust neantmoins pourquoy elle le faisoit car dans la croyance ou elle estoit de l'amour de cyrus pour araminte elle ne croyoit pas trop qu'il la deust suivre toutesfois elle ne laissoit pas d'agir comme si elle eust attendu du secours comme elle estoit donc en cet estat et que le roy de pont estoit dans une chambre qui touchoit la sienne a s'entretenir avec pactias en attendant qu'elle eust acheve ce qu'elle disoit avoir a faire et qui n'estoit pourtant autre chose que de pouvoir partir un peu plus tard elle vit par une fenestre qui donnoit sur le port un homme d'admirablement belle taille et fort superbement vestu qui se promenoit seul mais comme en l'estat qu'elle estoit elle ne devoit rien negliger elle suivit cet homme des yeux dont elle ne voyoit pas encore le visage afin de voir si en se tournant elle ne le connoistroit point et s'il ne pourroit pas la secourir mais comme elle estoit dans ce sentiment la celuy qu'elle voyoit 
 s'estant effectivement tourne vers elle il s'en falut peu qu'elle ne fist un grand cry pour tesmoigner l'estonnement qu'elle avoit devoir ce qu'elle voyoit toutesfois se retenant tout d'un coup et ne voulant pas croire a ses propres yeux parce que celuy qu'elle pensoit si bien connoistre estoit un peu loing d'elle elle appella martesie et luy montrant la cause de son estonnement voyez martesie luy dit-elle voyez si celuy que je voy la n'est pas l'infidelle cyrus martesie s'estant approchee de la fenestre vit en effect que mandane avoit raison de croire ce qu'elle croyoit et que celuy qu'elle voyoit quoy que ce fust d'un peu loing pouvoit bien estre cyrus et bien madame luy dit martesie cyrus est il infidelle de quitter le siege de sardis pour vous suivre helas ma chere fille luy respondit elle je ne scay encore ce qu'il est mais je scay bien que j'ay la plus grande frayeur du monde que le roy de pont ne sorte ou ne vienne icy et que je ne voye quelque avanture funeste de mes proprez yeux ce qui m'espouvente disoit-elle est de voir cyrus seul c'est asseurement repliqua martesie que ceux qui le suivent sont dans quelque maison prochaine et qu'il les y a fait cacher pour estre moins suspect si je ne scavois pas reprit mandane que le prince spitridate est prisonnier a calcedoine je douterois de mon opinion mais scachant ce que je scay je ne puis pas douter que celuy que je voy ne soit effectivement cyrus comme elle parloit ainsi celuy qu'elle prenoit 
 pour ce grand prince et qui estoit effectivement le prince spitridate s'approcha davantage en se promenant martesie conseilla alors a mandane de se laisser voir a luy afin que s'il estoit la pour la delivrer il fist venir les gens qu'il auroit amenez pour cela mais mandane estoit si troublee qu'elle suivit le conseil de martesie sans raisonner mesme dessus de sorte que s'avancant a la fenestre justement comme spitridate n'estoit qu'a huit ou dix pas d'elle et que martesie se preparoit a luy faire quelque signe par une autre fenestre ou mandane l'avoit fait mettre tout d'un coup ce prince qui n'avoit l'esprit remply que de fascheuses pensees et qui ne vouloit pourtant point interrompre sa resverie voyant de dames a ces fenestres qu'il seroit oblige de saluer s'il passoit devant elles se tourna assez brusquement pour se promener de l'autre coste faisant semblant de ne les avoir point veues quoy que ce fust le plus civil de tous les hommes quand il n'estoit point accable de douleur cependant comme mandane avoit fort bien remarque cette action et qu'elle avoit bien veu que ce pretendu cyrus l'avoit veue et avoit fait semblant de ne la voir point elle eut une douleur si sensible qu'elle pensa en mourir et bien martesie luy dit-elle cyrus est-il innocent et si j'estois equitable ne devrois-je pas le monstrer au roy de pont afin qu'il me vangeast cependant adjousta t'elle ingrat et infidelle prince que tu es je ne laisse pas de trembler que son rival ne scache 
 que tu es si pres de luy mais madame disoit martesie que voulez vous que cyrus face a atarme s'il n'y est pas pour vous suivre pour moy je suis asseuree qu'il ne se tient ou je voy que pour attendre l'heure que vous vous embarquiez afin de vous oster d'entre les mains du roy de pont en appellant ceux qu'il a peut estre fait cacher pour cela nous verrons donc bien tost dit elle avecque autant de colere que de precipitation et en effect martesie fit ce qu'elle peut pour l'obliger a se donner encore un peu de patience jusques a ce qu'elle eust mieux considere celuy qu'elle voyoit mais la princesse avoit l'esprit si irrite que sans luy donner audience elle la forca d'aller dire au roy de pont qu'elle estoit preste a partir elle ne l'eut pourtant pas plustost fait dire qu'elle s'en repentit mais il n'estoit plus temps cependant comme la barque estoit fort proche le roy de pont ne s'amusa pas a chercher les voyes de faire prendre une pierre d'heliotrope a mandane ains les donnant toutes a porter a un des siens il suivit cette princesse que pactias menoit parce qu'elle ne voulut point que ce fust son ravisseur mais lors qu'elle fut preste de sortir de cette maison et qu'elle s'imagina que peut-estre cyrus et le roy de pont s'alloient battre en sa presence elle eut une peine estrange a marcher neantmoins a la fin pensant que si cyrus estoit-la pour la delivrer il auroit assez de ges pour le pouvoir faire et que s'il n'y estoit pas pour cela il estoit digne de toutes sortes de supplices 
 elle avanca enfin pour traverser le port a peine eut-elle fait trois pas qu'elle creut encore voir cyrus qui sans s'interesser a son embarquement se destournoit encore pour esviter sa rencontre cette seconde avanture la surprit de telle sorte que ne pouvant plus retenir son ressentiment elle ne peut s'empescher de s'escrier avec que autant de colere que de douleur ha infidelle peux tu bien me voir enlever sans me secourir ces paroles ayant frape les oreilles de spitridate il tourna la teste pour voir qui les prononcoit et pour juger a qui elles s'adressoient et la tourna justement comme le roy de pont la tournoit aussi pour connoistre ce qui avoit fait parler mandane comme elle avoit fait de sorte que croyant voir cyrus aussi bien qu'elle craignant qu'il ne fust suivy de beaucoup du monde et se souvenant qu'il devoit la vie et la liberte a ce prince et que c'estoit bien assez que de luy oster mandane il la prit par force par la main et precipitant ses pas pactias et luy la mirent dans la barque y firent entrer martesie et celuy qui la menoit et y entrerent eux-mesmes faisant ramer tout a l'heure sans attendre les deux hommes qui avoient conduit mandane jusques-la et qui demeurerent a atarme avecque leurs chevaux cependant comme spitridate avoit creu que les paroles de mandane s'estoient adressees a luy et qu'il luy avoit semble que le visage du roy de pont ne luy estoit pas inconnu quoy que d'abord il ne se le remist pas pour estre le frere de 
 la princesse araminte il s'aprocha du bord de l'eau et se mit a crier a quelques mariniers qui estoient sur le port qu'ils le menassent dans quelqu'une des barques qu'il voyoit vers celle qui s'esloignoit du rivage et qu'ils luy aidassent a secourir cette dame qu'on enlevoit luy semblant qu'il ne devoit pas souffrir cette violence quoy qu'il ne la connust point mais il eut beau crier et leur offrir recompense ils ne voulurent point s'aller exposer pour des gens qu'ils ne connoissoient pas de sorte que voyant qu'il ne pouvoit rien faire autre chose il se mit a regarder ceux qui estoient dans cette barque qui s'esloignant du rivage ne luy permit pas de s'en esclaircir mieux car il ne connoissoit point mandane et le roy de point n'estoit point tournee vers luy parce qu'il parloit aux mariniers pour les encourager a ramer promptement mais spitridate ayant remarque qu'il y avoit deux hommes qui estoient venus pour entrer dans la barque qui estoient arrivez trop tard et qui en suitte estoient rentrez dans la maison qui estoit vis a vis du lieu ou cet embarquement s'estoit fait il y envoia un escuyer qui estoit a luy qui vint luy dire qu'il venoit d'arriver un homme au lieu ou il logeoit qui disoit que sardis estoit pris cet escuyer arrivant justement comme il estoit en peine de n'avoir personne aupres de luy pour s'informer de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir il ne le sceut pas mesme si tost car ces deux hommes qui craignoient qu'on ne suivist le roy de pont ne voulurent jamais dire 
 qui il estoit a l'escuyer de spitridate qui retourna dire a son maistre qu'il n'avoit peu rien apprendre mais qu'il l'asseuroit qu'il faloit que ceux qui s'en alloient fussent des personnes de grande qualite veu les chevaux qu'ils avoient laissez spitridate encore plus touche de curiosite qu'auparavant voyant qu'il perdoit la barque de veue qui alloit doubler un cap qui la luy cacheroit bien-tost fut luy-mesme interroger ces deux hommes mais a peine les eut-il regardez qu'il en reconnut un qu'il avoit veu autrefois au service du roy de pont du temps qu'il estoit a heraclee devant qu'arsamone se fust revolte il ne l'eut pas plustost veu que l'idee du roy de pont luy revenant a la memoire il ne douta point que ce ne fust luy si bien qu'appellant par son nom celuy a qui il parloit qui commencoit aussi de le reconnoistre ils renouvellerent leur ancienne connoissance de sorte que cet homme n'estant plus en droict de se cacher a spitridate ny de luy nier que celuy qu'il avoit veu embarquer estoit le roy son maistre il luy advoua que c'estoit luy qui ayant enleve la princesse mandane de sardis s'estoit venu embarquera ce port spitridate n'eut pas plustost ouy ce qu'il luy disoit qu'il eut une douleur extreme car comme il scavoit qu'il ressembloit si parfaitement a cyrus que la reine sa mere avoit autresfois pris ce prince pour lui en bithinie il ne douta nullement que mandane ne fust tombee dans la mesme erreur et que l'infidellite qu'elle lui avoit 
 reprochee dans la croyance qu'il estoit cyrus n'eut son fondement en l'infidellite d'araminte de sorte que rentrant dans un nouveau desespoir et dans une nouvelle jalousie il changea le dessein qu'il avoit eu d'attendre a atarme devant que de voir araminte quel seroit le succez du siege de sardis et de voir comment cyrus agiroit apres sa prise en celuy d'aller chercher a se vanger du prince qu'il croyoit estre son rival et d'aller reprocher a la princesse de pont l'infidellite dont il l'accusoit quoy disoit-il en luy-mesme apres qu'il se fut separe de celuy qui avoit si sensiblement augmente son desespoir il est donc bien vray qu'araminte m'abandonne et qu'elle fuit celuy que la fortune favorise cependant injuste princesse j'ay fait pour vous tesmoigner mon amour tout ce que je pouvois faire j'ay quitte volontairement des couronnes pour l'amour de vous j'ay renonce a toute ambition j'ay estouffe tous les sentimens de vangeance que je devois avoir pour des princes usurpateurs parce qu'il vous estoient fort proches j'ay desobei aux commandemens du roy mon pere j'ay souffert la rigeur de deux longues prisons j'ay erre inconnu par le monde pour suivre vos volontez et il n'est rien enfin que j'aye peu faire pour vous que je n'aye fait cependant le vainqueur de toute l'asie me surmonte dans vostre coeur sa gloire vous charme et vous esblouit et vous porte sans doute a faire tous vos efforts pour le rendre aussi infidelle que vous en effect 
 adjoustoit ce prince irrite qu'elle apparence y auroit il que cyrus qui a donne de si grandes marques d'une constante passion pour mandane qui a gagne tant de batailles tant pris de villes et qui a mis toute l'asie en armes pour la delivrer eust peu devenir inconstant si vous n'aviez volontairement employe tous vos charmes pour effacer de son coeur une princesse qu'il y avoit si long-temps qu'il aymoit vous croyez sans doute adjoustoit-il injuste princesse que vous estes que je suis encore en prison que rien ne scauroit troubler vostre joye vous estes peut estre d'intelligence avecque le roy vostre frere qui enleve mandane de peur que si ce prince que vous avez rendu infidelle la revoyoit il ne reprist ses anciennes chaisnes en rompant celles que vous luy avez donnees vous esperez sans doute poursuivoit-il que cyrus reconquestera du moins le royaume de pont pour vostre frere et qu'en me donnant la liberte vous me donnerez plus que vous ne me devez mais graces aux dieux je ne suis plus en termes de vous la devoir et je suis peut-estre en estat de vanger mandane de l'infidelite de cyrus et de vous punir en sa personne de celle que vous m'avez faite comme spitridate s'entretenoit de cette sorte la nouvelle de la prise de sardis luy fut encore confirmee par diverses personnes qui vinrent au lieu ou il logeoit si bien que n'ayant plus rien a attendre a atarme il monta a cheval resolu de s'aller perdre plustost que de ne perdre pas celuy qu'il 
 croyoit luy avoir oste le coeur d'araminte du moins disoit-il en luy mesme n'y aura t'il plus moye qu'araminte dissimule sa legerete car puis que sardis est pris et que mandane est enlevee si trouve ce prince a ses pieds sans se soucier de la perte de mandane et sans se mettre en peine de la suivre il n'y aura point d'excuse ny de pretexte a trouver je scay bien reprenoit il que le dessein d'attaquer de l'asie doit sembler fort estrange mais comme je ne desire gueres moins la mort que la victoire je n'ay rien a aprehender apres cela spitridate s'enfonca si avant dans ses propres pensees qu'il vint a ne scavoir plus luy-mesme ce qu'il pensoit il fut donc ainsi jusques vers le soir que voulant aller chercher a loger au vilage qu'il voyoit a sa droicte il vit paroistre un gros de vingt chevaux qui sortant d'un petit bois venoit luy couper chemin un de ces cavaliers s'estant separe des autres pour venir de son coste spitridate interrompant alors sa resverie fut droict a la rencontre de celuy qui avoit quitte sa trouppe pour s'avancer vers luy mais il fut extremement estonne lors qu'en s'en approchant il connut que celuy qu'il voyoit devoit infailliblement estre cyrus n'estant pas possible qu'il y eust un autre homme au monde a qui il peust autant ressembler cyrus de son coste car c'estoit veritablement lui ne fut pas non plus peu surpris de connoistre que celui qu'il voyoit estoit indubitablement le prince spitridate jugeant aussi qu'il ne pouvoit pas y avoir un autre homme en toute 
 la terre qui lui fust si semblable que celui-la l'estonnement de ces deux princes fut si grand qu'ils s'arresterent un moment en retenant leurs chevaux a trois ou quatre pas l'un de l'autre pendant quoy toute la troupe de cyrus s'estant approchee tous ceux qui la composoient furent aussi surpris de voir spitridate que spitridate et cyrus l'estoient de se voir le premier parmy son estonnement eut pourtant quelque joye de ce qu'il trouvoit cyrus en un lieu ou apparemment il n'estoit que pour chercher mandane et le dernier eut aussi quelque consolation dans son malheur de se voir en estat de guerir un si grand prince d'une aussi injuste jalousie qu'estoit celle qu'il scavoit qu'il avoit dans l'ame aussi fut-il le plus diligent a parler non seulement pour oster a spitridate une si cruelle passion mais encore pour scavoir s'il ne scavoit rien de mandane neantmoins comme il ne voulut pas se fier absolument a cette prodigieuse ressemblance qu'il voyoit genereux estranger luy dit-il apres avoir este un moment a se regarder tous deux sans parler si vous estes ce que mes yeux me disent qu'il faut que vous soyez j'ay une grande joye a vous donner eh pleust aux dieux que pour m'en recompenser vous pussiez m'aprendre quelque chose de la princesse mandane que je cherche et que vous pourriez peut-estre avoir rencontre spitridate entendant parler cyrus de cette sorte sentit dans son ame ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer par l'incertitude ou il estoit s'il devoit regarder 
 cyrus comme son rival ou comme le protecteur d'araminte mais a la fin calmant tous les sentimens tumultueux de son coeur et voulant achever de s'esclaircir seigneur dit-il a cyrus je suis sans doute le mal-heureux spitridate qui par des raisons que je ne vous puis dire presentement suis venu en lydie pour y chercher la fin de mes jours ou celle de mes malheurs mais devant que d'y venir comme j'ay tarde au port d'atarme qui n'est qu'a une journee d'icy j'y ay veu une chose que je suis contraint de souhaitter ardemment qui vous afflige afin que vous puissiez veritablement me donner la joye que vous m'avez fait esperer car enfin seigneur j'ay veu le roy de pont enlever mandane mais je l'ay veu sans le pouvoir empescher et mesme sans le scavoir qu'apres qu'ils ont este embarquez quoy interrompit cyrus avecque une douleur qui donna un si senble plaisir a spitridate vous avez veu embarquer mandane et je ne suis plus en estat de la suivre du moins adjousta-t'il apprenez moy quelle route tient l'injuste ravisseur qui me l'enleve spitridate voyant alors sur le visage de cyrus toutes les marques d'une veritable douleur en fut si console que cessant de le hair et commencant d'esperer que peut-estre araminte n'estoit pas infidelle il luy apprit tout ce qu'il scavoit de mandane mais il le luy apprit avecque exageration ne pouvant s'empescher d'estre bien-ayse de voir esclatter le desespoir de cyrus parce que plus il le voyoit 
 afflige plus il esperoit qu'araminte n'estoit point inconstante aussi fut-il si parfaitement desabuse par l'excessive douleur de cyrus qu'il commenca de s'interesser en la mesme affliction qui luy donnoit de la joye comme ils en estoient-la le hazard fit que le prince mazare avecque sa trouppe arriva au mesme lieu ou il apprit de cyrus ce qu'il venoit d'apprendre de spitridate dont la veue ne laissa pas de le surprendre malgre le desplaisir qu'il eut de scavoir que mandane estoit embarquee cyrus les obligea mesme tous deux a se saluer apres quoy advisant ce qu'ils avoient a faire ils s'y trouverent bien embarrassez car cyrus ne pouvoit pas aller a atarme qui n'estoit point encore assuitty et ou l'on faisoit garde sans s'exposer a y estre arreste et a se mettre hors de pouvoir de servir mandane il ne scavoit non plus ou l'envoyer chercher ne scachant pas quelle route elle avoit prise ainsi tout ce qu'il peut resoudre avecque ces princes fut d'envoyer par tous les ports de mer ou ils auroient peu aborder pour prendre des vivres afin de scavoir si on n'en scauroit rien cyrus fut donc a la premiere habitation pour escrire d'ou il depescha tout a l'heure a ephese a millet a gnide a cume et a tous les autres ports de ce coste-la avecque ordre de s'informer adroitement de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir priant mesme thrasibule et euphranor pere d'alcionide d'envoyer des vaisseaux en mer pour en avoir des nouvelles et de luy mander diligemment a sardis tout ce qu'ils 
 en auroient appris car comme cette ville estoit presques esgallement pres de la plus part des lieux ou il envoyoit il ne pouvoit faire mieux que d'y retourner afin de tenir ses trouppes prestes a marcher a l'heure mesme vers le lieu qu'il scauroit que le roy de pont avoit pris pour sa retraicte en suitte de quoy devant que de remonter a cheval il tira spitridate a part et luy parla avecque tant de generosite et de sincerite tout ensemble touchant l'injuste jalousie qu'il avoit eue que ce prince honteux de sa foiblesse et des sentimens de haine qu'il avoit eus pour luy un moment devant que de l'avoir recontre luy parla apres comme un homme qui n'estoit pas indigne de luy ressembler cyrus luy offrit pour luy mettre l'esprit en repos de ne voir jamais la princesse araminte quoy qu'il eust pour elle une veneration extreme mais comme l'excessive douleur de cyrus avoit entierement guery spitridate il luy respondit avecque autant de generosite que d'esprit ces deux grands princes commencant des lors de lier une amitie aussi estroite que la ressemblance de leur visage estoit grande apres cela ils remonterent tous a cheval et prirent le chemin de sardis ou ils ne peurent arriver que le lendemain a midy parce qu'ils furent contraints de se reposer deux ou trois heures a un village qu'ils trouverent sur leur route en y retournant ils rencontrerent le prince artamas cyrus retrouva mesme ceux qu'il avoit envoyez dans ce bois ou il avoit entendu des voix de femmes de 
 tous les deux costez qui luy dirent que celles qu'ils avoient trouvees n'estoient pas des femmes de qualite de sorte que tous ces princes estant rassemblez ils arriverent aux portes de sardis ou cyrus fut receu avecque plus de joye qu'il n'en avoit mais en y entrant il rencontra hidaspe qui s'approchant de luy avecque assez de precipitation seigneur luy dit-il tout bas vous arrivez bien a propos pour calmer un grand desordre qui est icy car vous scaurez que depuis vostre depart le roy d'assirie ayant fait chercher inutilement la princesse mandane dans toutes les maisons de la ville en est entre en une telle fureur principalement voyant qu'il n'avoit point de vos nouvelles qu'il en a presques perdu la raison mais ce qui est de pis est que par cent conjectures que le hazard a peut-estre faites il a eu lieu de croire que cresus scavoit bien ou elle estoit de sorte que ce prince violent apres avoir essaye toutes les voyes de la douceur pour faire dire a ce roy que peut-estre il ne scait pas a adjouste les menaces et s'est mesme resolu a faire semblant de le vouloir faire mourir pour le porter par la crainte a descouvrir ce qu'il s'imagine qu'il scait eh dieux est-il possible interrompit cyrus qu'un si grand prince face une si grande faute ouy seigneur reprit hidaspe et le peuple qui ne scait pas que ce n'est qu'une feinte en est tellemet esmeu que de peur de quelque sedition j'estois venu voir a cette porte si la garde y estoit assez forte et si les officiers y estoiet car de l'heure 
 que je parle je croy que cresus est sur le buscher que la princesse palmis est toute en larmes que le prince myrsile n'employe l'usage de la parole que les dieux luy ont donne qu'a se pleindre et que tous les habitans de sardis sont en une consternation estrange cyrus n'eut pas plustost acheve d'escouter hidaspe que marchant diligemment vers la grande place qui estoit entre le palais de cresus et la citadelle ou hidaspe luy avoit dit que ce funeste spectacle se voyoit il y fut avecque une precipitation qui faisoit assez voir combien il blasmoit la violence du roy d'assirie comme il arriva a un des coings de cette place il la vit toute pleine de soldats en armes et de peuple qui pleuroit et droict au milieu un grand buscher esleve sur lequel cresus estoit attache plusieurs soldats assiriens tenant desja des flambeaux allumez comme pour y mettre le feu s'il ne vouloit point dire ou estoit mandane cyrus voyant un objet si funeste eut une telle horreur de voir un homme de cette qualite la en un si pitoyable estat que fendant la presse il arriva justement aupres du buscher comme le roy d'assirie pour intimider davantage cresus y avoit fait mettre le feu par un coing qui commencoit de brusler et justement encore comme ce mal-heureux roy se souvenant que solon luy avoit dit autresfois que nul n'estoit heureux avant sa mort se mit a s'escrier o solon solon que tu estois veritable cyrus approchant donc de ce buscher qui commencoit de s'embrazer et entendant ces paroles commanda 
 qu'on esteingnist le feu qu'on deliast cresus et qu'on le remenast a son palais se tournant apres vers le roy d'assirie qui estoit present pour luy reprocher sa violece et pour luy dire afin de l'empescher de s'opposer a ce qu'il vouloit qu'il scavoit bien que cresus ne scavoit pas ou estoit mandane a peine cyrus eut-il fait ce commandemet que le peuple et les soldats jetteret mil cris d'acclamations commencant tous de vouloir esteindre le feu les uns ostoient une partie du bois les autres alloiet querir de l'eau a une fontaine qui estoit proche de la mais il n'en fut pas besoing car come si le ciel eust obei a cyrus tout d'un coup quoy qu'il fust fort serain auparavant il tomba une pluye si abbondante qu'elle esteignit le feu en un momet et suitte de quoy cresus estant descendu du buscher cyrus luy fit mille excuses et le fit remener a son palais pour se remettre de l'emotion qu'il avoit eue pour cyrus il alla loger a la citadelle ou il entra suivy du roy d'assirie a qui il fit encore mille reproches de sa violence apres qu'il eut appris ce qu'il avoit sceu de mandane mazare artamas et spitridate le suivirent aussi bien que sesostris tigrane et anaxaris qui mourant tous trois d'envie d'aprendre le succez de son voyage l'accompagnerent a l'apartement qu'on luy avoit prepare afin de scavoir s'ils devoient se resjouir ou s'affliger avecque luy et afin aussi de scavoir qui estoit spitridate qui par la seule ressemblance qu'il avoit avecque cyrus donnoit de la curiosite a tous ceux qui le voyoient 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 sesostris tigrane et anaxaris ne furent pas les seuls qui eurent la curiosite d'aprendre qui estoit spitridate et qui eurent envie de scavoir le succez du voyage de cyrus car en un moment cet illustre conquerant se vit environne d'un si grand nombre de princes de capitaines et d'autres gens de qualite qui tesmoignoient s'interesser sensiblement a tout ce qui le touchoit qu'il fut contraint de suspendre durant quelques instans une partie de sa douleur afin de les assurer que celle qu'ils avoient de la sienne l'obligeoit et qu'il n'en seroit pas ingrat 
 mais durant qu'il donnoit des marques de sa reconnoissance a tant d'illustres personnes tegee vint luy donner des tesmoignages de celle qu'avoit la princesse palmis d'avoir fait esteindre le feu du bucher sur lequel estoit le roy son pere le prince myrsile y envoya aussi pour le mesme sujet et il eut tant de complimens a rendre ou a recevoir qu'il ne fut de long-temps en liberte d'entretenir ses propres pensees la bien-sceance voulut mesme qu'il disnalt en public cependant le prince artamas fut visiter la princesse palmis et l'assurer qu'il employeroit tout le credit qu'il avoit aupres de cyrus pour l'obliger a continuer de bien traiter le roy son pere il vit aussi le prince myrsile qu'il fut rauy de trouver en estat de luy respondre pour cresus il n'osa entreprendre de le visiter et il se resolut d'attendre a le voir que cyrus le luy presentast cependant les roys de phrigie et d'hircanie ayant sceu le retour de cyrus vinrent du camp a sardis pour luy dire deux choses qui ne luy pouvoient estre agreables la premiere que toutes les parties qu'ils avoient envoyees pour aprendre des nouvelles de mandane n'en avoient pu rien scavoir et la seconde que la prise de sardis avoit plus affoibly son armee que n'avoit fait la derniere bataille ny mesme le siege de cette ville car comme on n'avoit pu d'abord empescher le pillage il estoit arme que tous ceux qui s'estoient chargez de 
 butin s'estoient desbandez durant son absence les uns ayant emporte celuy qu'ils avoient fait et les autres l'ayant vendu afin de se retirer plus facilement cette nouvelle affligea sensiblement cyrus mais pour empescher que ce desordre ne continuast et pour retenir dans le devoir ceux qui y estoient demeurez il leur fit donner plus qu'il ne leur avoit promis au commencement du siege de sardis et fit punir avec beaucoup de severite quelques-uns de ceux qui avoient fuy et qu'on avoit repris son armee estoit pourtant encore si membreuse que si l'amour qu'il avoit pour mandane n'eust pas este extraordinairement forte il n'eust pas aprehende qu'elle eust este trop foible pour attaquer et pour prendre tous les lieux que le roy de pont auroit pu choisir pour azile mais comme c'est la nature de cette passion de ne trouver point de petits obstacles aux choses qu'elle entreprend quoy qu'ils le soient en effet cyrus sentit cet accident comme s'il eust este beaucoup plus considerable il ne laissa pourtant pas de s'appercevoir qu'il n'avoit point veu phraarte parmy ceux qui l'estoient venu visiter a son retour et de songer aussi a donner bien-tost a spitridate la satisfaction de voir la princesse araminte il s'informa donc ou estoit phraarte mais personne ne luy put dire precisement ce qu'il estoit devenu et tout ce qu'il en sceut fut qu'aussi- tost qu'il avoit este party il avoit disparu comme 
 cyrus scavoit la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse de pont il ne douta pas qu'il ne la fust alle visiter de sorte que craignant que comme il estoit violent il n'arrivast quelque mal-heur si spitridate alloit seul querir cette princesse il fit si bien que quelque sorte que fut l'impatience de cet amant il le fit resoudre d'attendre au lendemain a partir pour aller ou tous ses desirs l'apelloient cyrus luy disant obligeamment que puis qu'il estoit guery de sa jalousie il vouloir le mener a la princesse araminte ce qu'il ne pouvoit faire des le jour mesme a cause des divers ordres qu'il avoit a donner comme le terme n'estoit pas long spitridate consentit a ce que cyrus souhaitoit qui cependant envoya au chasteau ou il avoit laisse araminte pour voir si phraarte y estoit et pour luy commander de revenir a sardis apres quoy ce prince ayant fait tous les commandemens necessaires pour la tranquilite de la ville pour le campement de son armee et pour la garde de cresus il fut faire une visite a la princesse palmis et a la princesse timarete pour leur demander pardon de les avoir quittees si brusquement sans leur faire aucune civilite lors qu'il estoit sorty de la citadelle les conjurant toutes deux de considerer que s'agissant de la liberte de la princesse mandane il eust este criminel s'il se fust arreste un moment aupres d'elles apres avoir sceu que le roy de pont l'avoit enlevee comme ces deux princesses avoient de l'obligation 
 a cyrus que palmis luy en avoit en la personne de cresus et en celle d'arramas que timarette luy en avoit aussi en celle de sesostris et en la sienne elles luy firent autant de remercimens qu'il leur fit d'excuses elles furent mesme obligees de luy en faire pour de nouvelles graces qu'il leur fit car ce prince dit a la princesse palmis qu'il alloit mener le prince arramas a cresus afin de le faire souvenir de ce qu'il devoir a cleandre disant en suitte a la princesse timarete qu'aussi-tost qu'il auroit donne ordre aux choses necessaires pour la commodite de son voyage et pour la magnificence de son train il l'en advertiroit afin qu'elle puit quand il luy plairoit retourner en egypte conduite per sesostris a condition toutesfois qu'ille luy feroit l'honneur de luy promettre de rendre cet illustre prince aussi heureux qu'il meritoit de l'estre ces deux grandes princesses ayant respondu a cyrus aussi civilement que la generosite les y obligeoit il les quitta pour aller rendre une visite a cresus afin de luy demander encore une fois pardon de la violence du roy d'assirie pour le consoler dans son mal-henr - et pour luy presenter le prince artamas scachant bien que le roy de phrygie consentoit a cette reconciliation mais en y allant hidaspe qui avoit la garde de ces princes et de tout le chasteau le fit passer par le superbe apartement ou estoient tous les tresors de cresus la veue de tant de richesses et 
 de tant de belles choses ne l'eust pourtant pas destourne de la profonde resuerie ou l'enlevement de mandane l'avoit mis si tigrane anaxaris et chrisante qui l'avoient suivy aussi bien que le prince artamas n'eussent tesmoigne leur estonnement et leur admiration par des cris qu'ils ne purent retenir quelque respect qu'ils enflent accoustume de rendre a cet illustre vainqueur leur voix n'eust toutesfois pas encore fait arrester cyrus a considerer tant de rares et magnifiques choses si chrysante qui ne pouvoit se resoudre a sortir si tost d'un si beau lieu n'eust pris la parole pour l'y retenir du moins seigneur luy dit-il en sousriant regardez ce que vous avez conquis et soyez assure apres cela que puis que la fortune vous a assez aime pour vous rendre maistre de tant de tresors elle ne vous haira pas assez pour vous faire perdre la princesse mandane c'est pourquoy seigneur vous les pouvez regarder comme un gage asseure de vostre bon-heur a venir le les regarderay repliqua cyrus lors que ciaxare m'aura donne la permission d'en recompenser la valeur de tant de braves gens qui m'ont aide aussi bien que vous a les conquerir ou qu'il m'aura accorde celle de les rendre au malheureux cresus a la consideration du prince artamas mais comme cela n'est pas encore il suffit que j'ordonne a hidaspe d'en avoir foin et en effet cyrus ne se feroit pas amuse a considerer tant de magnificence s'il n'eust remarque que le prince tigrane avoit 
 beaucoup d'envie de s'y arrester davantage de sorte que ne voulant pas tout a fait s'opposer a sa curiosite il marcha plus lentement et traversa trois grandes chambres et deux galeries qui donnoient l'une dans l'autre et qui estoient routes remplies de choses esclatantes et precieuses mais disposees avec tant d'ordre et avec tant d'art qu'on voyoit par tout je ne scay quelle confusion reguliere et diversifiee qui fait la beaute des cabinets magnifiques et qui remplit l'imagination d'une abondance de belles choses qui force l'esprit de ceux qui les regardent a avoir de l'admiration et certes ce ne fut pas sans sujet si l'illustre cyrus tout desinteresse qu'il estoit et tout occupe de sa passion et de sa douleur se resolut enfin a honorer de quelques un de ses regards ce prodigieux amas de richesses que cresus avoit si cherement aimees et que solon avoit si peu estimees qu'il en avoit aquis son aversion car il est vray qu'on n'a jamais veu ensemble tant d'argent tant d'or tant de pierres precieuses ny tant de choses rares qu'il y en avoit dans ces trois chambres et dans ces deux galleries la grandeur des cuves et des vases d'or estoit prodigieuse et les statues de mesme metal estoient innombrables et incomparables en beaute mais entre toutes ces figures d'or on en voyoit une de marbre si merveilleuse qu'elle forca cyrus a s'arrester plus longtemps a l'admirer que toutes les autres quoy 
 qu'elle ne fust pas d'une matiere si precieuse il est vray qu'elle estoit faite avec tant d'art et elle representoit une si belle personne qu'il n'est pas estrange si elle charma les yeux d'un prince qui les avoit si delicats et si capables de juger de toutes les belles choses cette statue estoit de grandeur naturelle posee sur un piedestal d'or ou il y avoit des bassestailles des quatre costez d'une beaute admirable ou l'on voyoit en chacune des captifs enchaisnez de toutes sortes de conditions mais enchaisnez par de petits amours si admirablement bien faits qu'on ne pouvoit rien voir de mieux pour la figure elle representoit une femme d'environ dix-huit ans mais une femme d'une beaute surprenante et parfaite tous les traits du visage en estoient merveilleusement beaux la taille en estoit si noble et si bien faite qu'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus elegant et son habillement estoit si galant et si extraordinaire qu'il tenoit esgalement de celuy des dames de tyr de celuy qu'on donne aux nymphes et de celuy qu'on donne aux deesses mais particulierement a la victoire lors qu'on la veut representer comme faisoient les atheniens c'est a dire sans aisles et avec une simple couronne de laurier sur la teste cette statue estoit si bien plantee sur sa base et avoit une action si vive qu'elle sembloit estre animee le visage la gorge les bras et les mains en estoient de marbre blanc aussi bien que les jambes et les 
 pieds dont on voyoit une partie a travers les entrelassures des brodequins qu'elle avoit et qu'on pouvoit voir parce que de la main gauche elle retroussoit un peu sa robe comme si c'eust este pour marcher plus aisement retenant de la droite un voile qu'elle avoit attache au derriere de la teste au dessous d'une couronne de laurier comme si elle eust voulu empescher que le vent dont il paroissoit estre agite ne le luy eust enleve toute la draperie de cette figure estoit faite de marbre et de jaspe de couleurs differentes en effet la robe de cette belle phenicienne qui faisoit mille agreables plis quoy qu'on ne laissast pas de voir la juste proportion de son corps estoit d'un jaspe dont la couleur estoit si vive qu'elle aprochoit de celle de la pourpre de tir une escharpe qui passoit negligeamment a l'entour de sa gorge et qui se ratachoit sur l'espaule estoit d'une espece de marbre entremesle de bleu et de blanc qui faisoit un agreable effet a la veue le voile de cette figure estoit de pareille matiere mais taille avec tant d'art qu'il sembloit avoir la mollesse d'une simple gaze la couronne de laurier estoit d'un jaspe verd et les brodequins estoient encore d'un marbre different aussi bien que la ceinture qu'elle avoit qui ferrant au dessus de la hanche tous les plis de cette robe qui descendoient apres plus negligeamment jusqu'en bas faisoit voir la beaute de la taille de cette belle tyrienne ce qu'il y 
 avoit de plus admirable c'est qu'il y avoit en toute cette figure un esprit qui l'animoit qui persuadoit quasi a ceux qui la regardoient qu'elle alloit marcher et parler on luy voyoit mesme une phisionomie spirituelle et une certaine fierte en ton action qui faisoit connoistre que celle qu'elle representoit avoit l'ame fiere cette figure semblant regarder avec mespris les captifs qui paroisloient enchaisnez sous ses pieds de plus le sculpceur avoit si parfaitement imite je ne scay quelle fraischeur et je ne scay quoy de tendre qui se trouve a l'embonpoit des jeunes et belles personnes qu'on pouvoit mesme connoistre l'age de celle que cet excellent ouvrier avoit voulu representer en voyant seulement sa statue cette figure estant donc aussi admirable qu'elle estoit ce ne fut pas sans raison si l'illustre cyrus qui n'avoit point eu de curiosite pour toutes les autres demanda au prince artamas apres l'avoir bien consideree si elle n'estoit pas de dipoenus ou de scillis qui estoient les deux premiers sculpteurs qui fussent alors en toute la terre s'imaginant toutesfois que cette belle statue n'estoit que l'effet d'une belle imagination mais le prince artamas apres luy avoir dit qu'elle esloit en effet de ces mesmes sculpteurs donc il parloit et qui estoient de l'isle de crete il luy aprit qu'elle avoit este faite d'apres une fille de qualite qui estoit de tyr donc le feu roy de phenicie avoit este amoureux et que l'on disoit estre une des plus 
 belles personnes du monde et plus belle encore que sa statue mais cela estant dit cyrus comme est-il possible que ce roy amoureux n'ait point conserve cette figure c'est a ce que j'ay ouy dire reprit artamas que cette statue ne faisoit que d'estre achevee lors que ce prince mourut et comme vous scavez sans doute puis que vous avez este en grece que dipoenus et scillis laisserent imparfaites quatre images d'apollon de diane d'hercules et de minerue qu'ils avoient commencees en une ville du peloponese parce qu'on ne leur donnoit pas assez promptement ce qu'on leur avoit promis il vous sera aise de comprendre que le roy de phenicie estant mort et le prince son fils qui luy succedoit ayant alors des affaires plus pressees que celle de leur faire donner ce que le roy son pere leur avoit promis dipoenus et scillis ne furent pas plus patiens qu'ils l'avoient este en grece car apres avoir demande leur recompense une fois seulement et qu'ils eurent veu qu'on leur demandoit quelque temps pour la leur donner ils s'embarquerent une nuit et emporterent leur travail avec eux de sorte que comme cresus estoit alors en reputation de vouloir amasser tout ce qu'il y avoit de rare en asie ils vinrent icy et luy vendirent cette belle statue il est vray qu'on dit qu'un peu devant cette guerre ce jeune roy de phenicie avoit envoye la redemander a cresus en luy offrant le double de ce qu'elle luy avoit 
 couste et qu'il ne l'avoit pas voulu rendre cette advanture est sans doute digne de la beaute de la statue qui l'a causee repliqua cyrus apres quoy il continua de regarder une quantite predigieuse d'armes de toutes les nations du monde mais d'armes d'or garnies de pierreriers il admira aussi des trones d'or massif des figures de tous les dieux qu'on adoroit par toute l'asie mais des figures plus grandes que nature et qui par le seul prix de leur matiere valoient plus qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer il vit encore en ce lieu la des tables des miroirs et des cabinets d'un prix inestimable toutes les tablettes qui environnoient ces chambres et ces galeries estoient remplies de mille choses riches et rares et les perles et les rubis les esmeraudis et les diamants faisoient un si beau et si precieux meslange que la bigarreure d'une agreable prairie ne fait pas voir un si bel objet au printemps que la diversite des pierres precieuses en faisoit voir en toutes ces belles choses dont ces tablettes estoient couvertes mais au milieu de tant de raretez magnifiques on fit voir a cyrus ces ingenieuses fables qu'esope avoit faites a sardis ou il avoit escrit et cache avec tant d'art l'histoire de toute la cour de cresus et que ce prince avoit tant estimees que lors qu'esope partit de lydie il voulut qu'il les luy donnait et pour tesmoigner combien il les estimoit il les avoit fait relier magnifiquement aussi bien que 
 celles qu'il avoit composees auparavant et qui enseignent une morale si delicate a ceux qui entendent bien de langage des bestes qu'il fait parler en effet ces tablettes estoient couvertes d'or cizele dans lequel on avoit enchasse des diamants qui de chaque coste formoient le nom d'esope les fermoirs en estoient aussi magnifiques que le reste et cresus enfin n'eut pu faire plus d'honneur ny a homere ny aux livres de la sybille qui estoit alors si fameuse par toute l'asie qu'il en avoit fait a esope puis qu'il avoit juge ses oeuvres dignes d'estre parmy ses tresors qu'il estimoit plus que toutes les choses du monde apres avoir donc assez considere cette abondance de richesses et regarde encore en passant avec estonnement de grands menceaux de grosses lames l'or et d'argent qui estoient au bout d'une longue galerie apres dis-je avoir fait quelques reflexions sur le malheur du prince qui avoit perdu ces tresors qu'il aimoit fi passionnement cyrus sortit enfin d'un lieu si magnifique et fut a la chambre de l'infortune cresus aupres de qui estoit alors le prince myrsile ce vieux roy et ce jeune prince recourent cyrus avec toute la civilite qu'ils devoient a leur vainqueur mais ce fut pourtant sans bassesse s'il parut de la tristesse dans leurs yeux il parut aussi de la fermete dans leur ame et cyrus voyant qu'ils suportoient si constamment une si grande infortune dit 
 tout haut qu'ils meritoient de porter toute leur vie le sceptre qu'ils venoient de perdre et qu'il ne tiendroit pas a luy que ciaxate ne leur rendist
 
 
 
 
en effet ce genereux vainqueur agit avec cresus et avec le prince son fils d'une maniere si obligeante qu'on peut dire qu'il acheva de les vaincre en cette occasion et qu'il gagna aussi absolument leurs coeurs par sa civilite qu'il avoit gaigne leur royaume par sa valeur des que cyrus entra dans la chambre ou ils estoient ils s'avancerent vers luy mais ce genereux prince se hastant d'aller vers eux pour leur espargner quelques pas les receut et les salua avec la mesme civilite qu'il eust pu avoir si cette entreveue se fust faite en temps de paix et en lieu neutre et que leur fortune presente eust este esgale je n'eusse jamais creu dit cresus a son illustre vainqueur me trouver oblige de faire des remercimens a un prince dont les dieux se font voulu servir a me faire perdre la couronne cependant seigneur puisque je vous dois la vie et que la mesme main qui m'a renverse du throne m'a fait descendre du bucher ou la violence du roy d'assirie m'avoit fait monter il semble que je me dois plus louer de vous que je ne dois me plaindre de la fortune mais seigneur comme la vie que vous m'avez conservee ne me peut plus estre ny glorieuse ny agreable apres ce qui m'est arrive souffrez que je me contente de vous donner des louanges sans vous 
 faire des remercimens et que j'avoue que vous estes digne de la gloire que vous possedez je veux bien repliqua cyrus que vous ne me remerciez pas et je consens mesme que vous ne me louiez point mais je ne puis souffrir que vous ayez si mauvaise opinion du roy des medes que vous desesperiez absolument de vous voir en un estat plus heureux que celuy ou vous estes principalement adjousta-t'il en luy presentant artamas voyant que ce prince est un de mes plus chers amis et n'ignorant pas que j'ay presque autant de credit aupres de ciaxare qu'artamas en a aupres de cyrus le roy de lydie qui s'estoit desja repenty plus d'une fois depuis la prise de sardis de l'injustice qu'il avoit eue pour artamas le receut avec assez de civilite voyant qu'il avoit un pretexte de le faire ce fut pourtant avec beaucoup de confusion n'estant pas possible qu'il pust le voir sans se souvenir des obligations qu'il luy avoit du temps qu'il portoit le nom de cleandre et de l'injuste prison qu'il luy avoit fait souffrir depuis qu'il estoit connu pour estre le prince artamas toutesfois comme il s'estoit resolu de faire connoistre a cyrus qu'il ne meritoit pas son infortune il fit un grand effort sur luy mesme pour se remettre et prenant la parole comme c'est aux vainqueurs dit-il a imposer la loy aux vaincus je veux croire ce qu'il vous plaira et je veux mesme bien prier le prince artamas d'oublier toutes mes 
 violences et toutes mes injustices c'est a moy reprit le prince de phrygie a oublier tous les malheurs d'artamas mais c'est aussi a moy a n'oublier jamais les obligations que vous avoit cleandre c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous promets d'estre toute ma vie pour vous ce que j'estois lors que vous me faisiez l'honneur de m'honnorer de vostre amitie de grace interrompit cyrus parlant au roy de lydie redonnez cette amitie toute entiere a un prince qui l'a meritee par tant de services et par tant de fidelite l'amitie d'un roy sans royaume reprit cresus en souspirant ne doit pas m'estre demandee plus d'une fois par mon illustre vainqueur c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous accorde ce que vous desirez de moy et je redonne au prince artamas toute la place qu'il occupoit autrefois dans mon ame bien marry de n'avoir plus rien en ma puissance pour recompenser sa vertu quand j'auray supplie le roy des medes repliqua cyrus de bien traiter la vostre je vous feray connoistre que vous avez encore de quoy recompenser dignement la sienne et plust aux dieux que vous eussiez voulu vous empescher d'estre malheureux des le commencement de cette guerre en luy donnant la princesse palmis et en me rendant la princesse mandane mais de grace adjousta cyrus souffrez que je vous demande si je le puis sans aigrir vos douleurs par quel motif et par quelle politique vous vous estes engage en une injuste 
 guerre et quelle a este la veritable raison qui vous a porte a mespriser l'amitie du roy des medes et la mienne vostre bonne fortune et mon malheur reprit tristement cresus car enfin seigneur il paroist clairement que les dieux n'ont permis que je protegeasse le ravisseur de mandane que pour vous faire conquerir mon estat croyez donc seigneur croyez que vous ne perdrez point cette princesse et pour vous le faire voir considerez que chaque enlevement vous a fait gagner un royaume et soyez fortement persuade que ce n'est que pour vous faire conquerir toute l'asie que les dieux souffrent qu'elle erre quelque temps de province en province mais injustes dieux s'escria-t'il pourquoy m'avez vous trompe par des oracles si clairs en aparence et si obscurs en effet cyrus voyant que sans en avoir le dessein il avoit irrite la douleur de cresus voulut pour le consoler escouter ses pleintes et entrer dans ses sentimens c'est pourquoy il le pria de luy dire pour quelle raison il accusoit les dieux le les accuse signeur luy dit-il de m'avoir adverty par leurs oracles de tout ce qui m'est arrive en ma vie de moins considerable et de m'avoir trompe en l'occasion la plus importante ou je les aye jamais consultez en effet pourquoy lors que je les ay supliez de me faire connoistre si je devois faire la guerre contre vous m'ont-ils respondu en termes expres 
 
 si tu fais cette guerre ou ton desir aspiretu destruiras un grand empire est-il juste seigneur poursuivit ce prince afflige qu'apres leur avoir tant offert d'offrandres ils m'ayent abuse si cruellement en me donnant lieu de croire que je destruirois ceux qui m'ont destruit c'est pourquoy souffrez seigneur dans le transport de ma douleur que j'envoye a delphes y porter des fers afin qu'ils soient un tesmoignage public a la posterite qu'il ne faut point estre trop curieux de l'advenir et que ce n'est point aux hommes a devoir penetrer dans les secrets des dieux car encore que je vienne de les accuser d'injustice je ne laisse pas de connoistre par une seconde pensee plus raisonnable que la premiere que c'est moy qui suis injuste de me pleindre d'eux lors que je ne dois pleindre que de moy-mesme et qu'en effet ils ont este bien veritables puis qu'en detruisant mon empire j'en ay detruit un des plus grands de toute l'asie je feray du moins ce que je pourray interrompit cyrus pour faire que vous ayez sujet de vous louer de la maniere dont j'agiray avecque vous et pour adoucir toutes vos disgraces cependant si quelques uns de vos gardes m'obeissoient mal et ne vous rendoient pas autant de respect que je veux qu'on vous en rende faites que j'en sois adverty afin que la punition que l'en feray vous satisface et me justifie ha seigneur s'escria cresus je ne m'estonne plus qu'un prince qui scait si bien user de la victoire 
 vainque tousjours et je m'estonne encore moins que le roy d'assirie ait este vaincu par un prince dont la vertu est bien au dessus de la tienne le roy d'assirie reprit modestement cyrus a este malheureux parce que son dessein estoit injuste mais au reste quoy qu'il ait tousjours este mon ennemy et qu'il soit tousjours mon rival je ne laisse pas de vouloir le justifier d'une partie de la violence dont il a use envers vous en vous asseurant qu'il ne vouloit que vous obliger par la crainte a luy dire ou estoit mandane et qu'il n'a jamais eu dessein de vous faire mourir c'est une chose que je suis oblige de vous dire parce que je scay qu'elle est vraye et que je vous dis d'autant plustost que je ne puis souffrir qu'un homme de condition esgale a la vostre et a la mienne soit accuse d'une action si barbare apres cela cresus recommenca ses louanges le prince myrsile y mesla les siennes artamas tygrane et anaxaris ne purent non plus qu'eux s'empescher de louer cyrus de qui la modestie ne pouvant souffrir tant de louanges le forca a se separer un peu plustost qu'il n'eut fait du roy de lydie ce mal-heureux prince supplia pourtant cyrus auparavant qu'il le quittast de bien traitter ses nouveaux sujets le conjurant de ne trouver pas mauvais si ne pouvant plus estre leur roy il faisoit du moins ce qu'il pouvoit pour estre leur protecteur cyrus fut si couche de cette priere qu'il 
 en renouvella toutes les protestations qu'il avoit desja faites a cresus l'assurant qu'il feroit tout ce qu'il pourroit pour obliger ciaxare a souffrir qu'il lui redonnast la couronne qu'il venoit de perdre a condition qu'il feroit son vassal comme le roy d'armenie et qu'il le suivroit a la guerre jusques a ce qu'il eust delivre la princesse mandane et en effet cyrus ne fut pas plustost retourne a la citadelle qu'il se mit a escrire au roy des medes et pour l'interest de cresus et pour luy rendre compte de tout ce qui c'estoit passe avec dessein de faire partir un courrier le lendemain et d'estre plutost en estat d'aller querir la princesse araminte et luy mener le prince spitridate il est vray qu'il n'escrivit pas sans peine et sans s'interrompre luy mesme car comme il n'avoit l'imagination remplie que de la princesse mandane il croyoit tousjours au moindre bruit qu'il entendoit qu'on venoit luy aprendre de ses nouvelles et luy dire le lieu ou on l'avoit menee de sorte que tournant la teste dans cette esperance il sentoit un renouvellement de douleur estrange lors qu'il voyoit qu'elle estoit mal fondee et que ce n'estoit pas ce qu'il pensoit mais pendant qu'il escrivoit avec si peu de tranquilite dans l'ame spitridate s'entretenoit luy mesme avec une esperance si remplie d'impatience qu'on peut dire qu'elle estoit sans douceur pour luy car dans la croyance ou il estoit qu'il verroit le lendemain la princesse 
 araminte les momens luy sembloient des siecles pour sesostris et pour artamas apres avoir conduit cyrus a la citadelle ils retournerent au palais voir encore une fois les deux princesses qui regnoient dans leur ame le premier parce qu'apres avoir este si long-temps sans voir sa chere timarete il luy sembloit qu'il ne la pourroit assez voir et le second parce qu'outre la joye qu'il avoit a estre aupres de sa princesse il estoit encore bien aise de luy rendre conte de l'entreveue de cyrus et du roy son pere et de luy pouvoir dire aussi qu'il en avoit este bien receu comme ces deux princesses avoient deux apartemens qui se touchoient et qu'il se trouva qu'elles estoient separees lors que sesostris et artamas retournerent pour les voir ils se quitterent a la porte de leurs chambres mais durant que sesostris entretenoit sa chere timarete et qu'il luy protestoit que sa passion estoit aussi violete que lors qu'elle estoit la plus belle bergere d'egypte et qu'il estoit le plus amoureux berger du monde durant dis-je qu'artamas protestoit a la princesse palmis apres luy avoir rendu conte de ce qui s'estoit passe entre cresus et luy que le changement de sa fortune n'en apportoit point a son coeur et qu'il l'aimoit encore avec plus d'ardeur et avec plus de respect quoy que le roy son pere fust captif et qu'il eust perdu la couronne qu'il ne faisoit du temps qu'elle estoit fille du plus puissant et du plus riche roy 
 de l'asie et quoy qu'il ne sceust alors qui il estoit durant dis-je que ces illustres amans trouvoient quelque douceur a s'entretetenir de leurs mal-heurs passez et de leurs peines presentes andramite songeoit a se preparer a suivre cyrus le lendemain lors qu'il meneroit spitridate a araminte afin de voir plutost l'aimable doralise ligdamis aussi bien que luy prenoit le mesme dessein pourvoir aussi sa chere cleonice et parmenide qui estoit venu a sardis lors qu'il en avoir sceu la prise songeoit aussi a retourner voir cydipe de sorte que tous ces amants n'ayant pas moins d'amour que spitridate n'eurent guere moins d'impatience que luy et n'attendirent le jour avec guere moins d'inquietude ils ne partirent pourtant pas aussi matin qu'ils l'eussent desire parce que cyrus eut encore tant de choses a faire auparavant qu'il y avoit desja long-temps que le soleil estoit leve lors qu'il monta a cheval car non seulement il avoit eu a donner les derniers ordres a celuy quil envoyoit vers ciaxare il avoit commande qu'on amenast menecrate et trasimede a sardis il avoit escrit et envoye a persepolis mais il avoit encore ordonne qu'on allast a quelques petites villes maritimes dont les noms estoient eschapez a sa memoire lors qu'il avoit envoye a ephese a milet a gnide et a cumes car encore qu'en y envoyant il eust donne un ordre general d'aller a tous les ports qui estoient de ce coste-la neantmoins 
 parce qu'il n'avoit pas nomme precisement les villes dont il luy souvint alors il voulut y envoyer aimant beaucoup mieux faire cent choses inutiles pour avoir des nouvelles de sa princesse que de manquer a en faire une qui luy pust servir mais enfin apres avoir acheve tout ce qu'il avoit a faire il se disposa a partir en effet il eut vray que ce ne fut pas sans avoir demande pardon au prince spitridate de luy avoir differe la veue de la princesse araminte le conjurant de pardonner cette faute a un malheureux amant qui n'estoit pas si pres que luy devoir la personne qu'il aimoit apres ce compliment que spitridate receut avec la mesme civilite qu'il luy estoit fait ils prirent le chemin du chasteau ou cyrus avoit fait loger araminte tygrane connoissant l'humeur violente de phraarte son frere voulut estre de ce petit voyage afin d'empescher qu'il ne se portast a quelque bizarre dessein en voyant spitridate pour andramite pour carmenide et pour lygdamis ils suivirent cette fois-la cyrus plus pour s'approcher de ce qu'ils aimoient que pour nulle autre raison aglatidas qui s'interessoit pour tous les amans fut bien-aise d'estre tesmoin de la joye de ceux avec qui il estoit de sorte qu'il accompagna cyrus aussi bien qu'anaxaris artabane chrysante hermogene leontidas megaside et plusieurs autres ce prince ayant pris seulement deux cens chevaux 
 d'escorte ne jugeant pas qu'il en eust besoin de davantage quoy qu'il eust a faire une journee de chemin en pays nouvellement conquis parce que cresus n'avoit point eu de troupes en campagne mesme durant le siege et que d'ailleurs la consternation estoit si grande dans tous les peuples et la domination de cyrus leur paroissoit si douce qu'il n'y avoit pas lieu de craindre une revolte en l'estat ou estoient les choses joint qu'une partie du chemin qu'il falloit faire pour aller de sardis au chasteau ou cyrus vouloit mener spitridate se faisoit en traversant le camp et par consequent sans danger mais enfin ces princes estant a cinquante stades de sardis cyrus vit arriver un escuyer d'artabase a qui il avoit donne la garde de panthee et d'araminte lors qu'il l'avoit ostee a araspe qui venoit luy dire de la part de son maistre que le prince phraarte avoit enleve la princesse de pont a peine cet escuyer eut il dit tout haut a cyrus ce qui l'amenoit que spitridate fit un cry si douloureux qu'il en toucha sensiblement le coeur de tous ceux qui l'enrendirent pour cyrus quoy qu'il n'eust que de l'amitie toute pure pour araminte et de la compassion pour spitridate il en fut aussi extraordinairement afflige joint qu'un sentiment de gloire se meslant a la tendresse de son ame il sentit avec amertume le peu de respect que phraarte luy avoit rendu en enlevant une princesse qui estoit sa prisonniere tigrane en 
 son particulier eut une douleur extreme de la faute que son frere avoit faite et il eust este difficile en voyant d'abord ces trois princes de connoistre lequel estoit l'amant de la princesse enlevee ce n'est pas que la douleur de spitridate ne fust mille fois plus forte que celle de cyrus et de tigrane quoy que tres violente mais c'est que ses yeux ses paroles et toutes ses actions ne pouvoient la faire paroistre aussi grande qu'elle estoit apres avoir pousse ce premier cry pour exprimer son estonnement et son desespoir il demeura plus d'un quart d'heure dans une letargie d'esprit s'il faut ainsi dire qui faisoit qu'il escoutoit ce que les autres disoient comme s'il ne l'eust point entendu il est vray que durant un si triste silence il avoit quelque chose de si sombre et de si funeste sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de voir que son ame souffroit beaucoup joint qu'il n'avoit que faire de parler pour s'informer comment la chose s'estoit passee car cyrus n'eut pas plustost ou y ce que cet escuyer luy avoit dit que prenant la parole et comment est-il possible luy dit-il qu'artabase dont je connois le coeur et la fidelite n'ait pas empesche un si grand mal-heur seigneur reprit cet escuyer les grandes blessures qu'il a receues en cette occasion vous tesmoigneront qu'il n'a pas manque a la fidelite qu'il vous doit et que sa valeur ordinaire ne l'a pas abandonne en cette rencontre mais encore une fois interrompit cyrus comment est il possible que 
 phraarte ait pu executer cette entreprise seigneur reprit cet escuyer pour vous faire comprendre la chose il faut que vous scachiez que lors que la nouvelle de la prise de sardis vint au chasteau ou nous estions tous les soldats qui le gardoient regarderent ceux qui estoient aupres de vous comme beaucoup plus heureux qu'eux parce qu'ils pouvoient s'enrichir du pillage de cette superbe ville si bien que la nuit suivante il y en eut plus de la moitie qui se desbanderent pour venir se mesler dans la confusion de vos troupes victorieuses et tascher d'avoir leur part du butin de sorte que la garnison fut alors extremement affoiblie mon maistre pensa vous en advertir mais comme il gardoit des prisonnieres et non pas des prisonniers et des prisonnieres encore qui vous consideroient plustost comme leur protecteur que comme leur vainqueur il creut qu'il n'estoit pas necessaire principalement n'y ayant nulle apparence que personne fust en estat de songer a les delivrer ainsi de peur que vous ne l'accusassiez de negligence il ne vous advertit point de la fuite de ces soldats et il demeura en repos comme auparavant depuis cela seigneuril est arrive que le jour mesme que vous partistes de sardis pour aller chercher la princesse mandane comme nous l'avons sceu le prince phraarte en partit aussi pour venir voir la princesse araminte qui le receut avec une froideur estrange des qu'il l'eut quittee elle 
 envoya querir mon maistre pour se pleindre de vous disant qu'elle vous avoit supplie d'empescher phraarte de la venir voir mais luy ayant appris que vous ne scaviez pas qu'il y fust venu et qu'il estoit party de sardis depuis que vous en estiez party vous mesme elle en eut quelque consolation luy semblant qu'elle avoit plus de droit de le mal traitter et en effet m'estant trouve dans la chambre de cette princesse a parler a hesionide lors qu'il voulut y retourner pour la seconde fois je fus tesmoin qu'elle luy parla avec tant d'aigreur que je suis estonne qu'il ait pu se resoudre a enlever une princesse qui tesmoignoit avoir une si terrible aversion pour luy aussi tost qu'il fut sorty de sa chambre elle me chargea de dire a mon maistre qu'elle le conjuroit de ne laisser plus entrer phraarte dans son apartement et il est vray seigneur qu'artabase fut le prier de ne la voir plus et le prier mesme de sortir du chasteau mais phraarte tout violent qu'il estoit se contraignit en cette occasion et luy parla avec tant de civilite qu'il ne creut pas devoir se porter a faire sortir par force un homme de cette condition sans en avoir eu ordre de vous mais comme il ne scavoit alors ou vous estiez il ne pouvoit pas vous advertir de ce qui se passoit de sorte qu'il se contentoit d'empescher phraarte d'aller dans la chambre de la princesse araminte ne pouvant pas raisonnablement craindre qu'un prince qui 
 n'avoit qu'un escuyer aveque luy pust rien entreprendre parla force pendant cela phraarte visitoit quelquesfois cleonice lycaste cydipe candiope arpalice doralise et pherenice et toutes les autres prisonnieres leur parlant tousjours d'araminte quand il n'estoit point avec elles il se promenoit devant les fenestres de cette princesse ou il la voyoit quelquesfois malgre qu'elle en eust car comme vous scavez seigneur elle logeoit a un apartement bas qui donne dans le jardin mais pendant qu'il agissoit ainsi son escuyer s'amusoit a parler ou a jouer avec les soldats qui n'estoient point de garde sans qu'artabase s'en apperceust parce qu'il observoit le maistre soigneusement voila donc seigneur de quelle facon phraarte a vescu jusques a hier qu'un de ceux que vous envoyastes a ephese a gnide a cumes a milet et en beaucoup d'autres lieux apres que vous eustes rencontre le prince spitridate arriva a ce chasteau ou il vint loger parce qu'il se rencontra qu'il estoit sur la route de sorte que trouvant phraarte qui se promenoit alors devant la porte ou je me rencontray fortuitement j'entendis que le connoissant il luy demanda d'ou il venoit et ou il alloit et que l'autre luy respondit que vous aviez rencontre le prince spitridate qu'il vous avoit apris que le roy de pont s'estoit embarque avec la princesse mandane a un port appelle artame que vous aviez fait mille caresses a ce 
 prince et que vous alliez ensemble a sardis phraarte n'eust pas plustost ouy que le prince spitridate estoit aveque vous qu'il changea de couleur se faisant redire encore une fois ce qu'on luy avoit desja dit apres quoy ne pouvant plus douter qu'en effet le prince spitridate ne fust celuy dont on luy parloit a cause de cette prodigieuse ressemblance que cet homme disoit estre entre celuy qu'il avoit veu et vous il jugea sans doute qu'il seroit bien tost aupres d'araminte et qu'on meneroit mesme peut-estre cette princesse a sardis de force qu'il est croyable que ce fut pour cette raison qu'il se hasta d'executer le dessein qu'il avoit des qu'il arriva a ce chasteau et ce qui me fait parler ainsi et que nous avons sceu ce matin que son escuyer en parlant et jouant avec ce peu de soldats que nous avions les avoit presques tous gagnez par des presents car il en est demeure un blesse qui nous a descouvert cette verite mais enfin seigneur pour n'abuser pis plus long-temps de vostre patience je vous diray que hier au soir un peu apres que toutes les dames se furent retirees a leurs apartemens et qu'artabase apres avoir este suivant sa coustume visiter le corps de garde et faire le tour du chasteau fut entre dans sa chambre phraarte sortit de la sienne ou nous pensions qu'il fust bien endormy de sorte que rassemblant tous les soldats qu'il avoit subornez les autres se trouverent en si petit nombre qu'ils ne purent s'oposer a 
 leurs compagnons joint que pour les en empescher par la crainte ils les menacerent de les tuer apres quoy se partageant les uns furent a l'apartement de la princesse araminte et les autres a celuy d'artabase pour l'empescher de la secourir et en effet seigneur leur dessein a si bien reussi qu'ils ont enleve la princesse sans que nous l'ayons pu empescher ce n'est pas que le bruit qu'il a falu faire pour rompre les fenestres de sa chambre et que les cris de ces dames ne nous ayent esveillez d'abord mais quand nous avons voulu sortir nous avons trouve des gens a combatre artabase a este blesse des le commencement du tumulte mais il n'a pourtant pas laisse de donner bien de la peine a ceux qui vouloient l'empescher de sortir pour aller au secours de cette princesse a la fin neantmoins il a receu tant de blessures que la perte du sang l'ayant affoibly il est tombe comme mort et n'a plus este en estat de s'opposer a la violence de phraarte en effet ce prince trop heureux dans son injuste dessein a acheve de l'executer sans peine et s'est servy des chevaux qui estoient a mon maistre pour enlever cette princesse n'en ayant laisse aucun qui pust servir a le suivre car il a fait monter sur tout ce qu'il y en avoit une partie des complices de son crime de sorte que lors que ceux qui avoient attaque mon maistre se sont retirez et que je les ay poursuivis je les ay veus enlever la princesse sans les pouvoir suivre que 
 des yeux je ne vous diray point quels ont este les cris et les pleurs de cleonice de doralise de pherenice de candiope de lycaste de cydipe d'arpalice et de toutes les autres dames car je ne pourvois vous les representer mais je vous diray que mon maistre n'a pas plustost este revenu a luy qu'il m'a commande d'aller chercher un cheval a la premiere habitation et de venir en diligence vous advertir de cette facheuse advanture et vous dire son desespoir qui est tel seigneur qu'il n'a pas voulu que je m'amusasse un moment a donner ordre de le faire penser quoy qu'il eust grand besoin tant que le discours de cet escuyer dura spitridate eut l'ame en une estrange peine la douleur de l'enlevement de sa princesse ne fut pourtant pas la seule qu'il sentit car dans le trouble ou il estoit il y eut des instans ou l'injuste jalousie qu'il avoit eue de cyrus se renouvella et ou il craignit que ce ne fust luy qui eust fait enlever araminte car comme il ne scavoit point que phraarte fust amoureux d'elle il ne comprenoit pas par quel motif il se seroit porte a cette violence d'autre part la tristesse et la colere qu'il voyoit dans les yeux de cyrus s'opposoient a cette injuste opinion joint que considerant encore qu'artabase estoit fort blesse il ne voyoit pas qu'il y eust aparence que cyrus eust voulu faire perir un homme qui avoit assez estime pour luy confier la garde de deux grandes princesses cependant quoy qu'il vist la 
 raison d'un coste et qu'il n'en parust point de l'autre il ne pouvoit se determiner et son ame souffroit des maux que sa bouche n'eust pu exprimer quand il l'eust voulu il est vray que ces sentimens jaloux ne furent pas long-temps dans son coeur car des que cet escuyer d'artabase eut acheve de faire son recit cyrus dit des choses si obligeances si genereuses et si tendres a spitridate qu'il fit par ses paroles ce que la raison et la verite toutes seules n'avoient pu faire car il dissipa entierement cette cruelle jalousie qui commencoit de s'emparer de l'esprit de ce prince et qui l'empeschoit de se pleindre de la cruaute de son advanture ne scachant pas bien luy mesme s'il devoit quereller cyrus comme son rival et comme le ravisseur d'araminte ou s'il devoit se pleindre a luy comme a son amy et comme au protecteur de sa princesse mais lors qu'il entendit que tigrane demandoit pardon a cyrus et a luy de la violence de son frere qu'il disoit qu'il seroit le premier a l'en punir et qu'il ne l'abandonneroit point qu'il ne luy eust fait retrouver la princesse qu'il avoit perdue qu'en suitte il aprit de la bouche de cyrus que le prince phraarte estoit devenu amoureux d'araminte des qu'elle estoit a artaxate il sentit quelque tranquillite dans son ame au milieu de sa douleur et il commenca alors d'escouter et de respondre aux protestations sinceres que luy faisoit cyrus vous scavez disoit ce genereux prince que je suis plus 
 oblige qu'un autre a m'interesser a ce qui vous touche puis que je dois la vie a la reine arbiane vostre mere du temps qu'elle me receut chez elle en bithinie car encore qu'elle me creut estre son fils je ne laisseray pas de luy tenir conte de tous les soins qu'elle eut de moy joint qu'elle en usa si genereusement apres que je l'eus desabusee de son erreur que quand je n'aurais nulle autre raison de vous servir que celle-la je le ferois de toute mon affection mais genereux prince j'en ay sans doute de plus fortes vostre merite m'y engage encore plus estroitement la vertu de la princesse araminte m'y oblige et l'outrage que j'ay receu de phraarte fait que cette facheuse affaire est la mienne aussi bien que la vostre comme le prince tigrane devant qui je parle poursuivit-il est equitable et infiniment genereux je suis assure qu'il ne trouvera pas estrange que je me pleigne du prince son frere mais pour ne perdre point des momens qui doivent estre precieux allons en diligence au lieu ou il a commis le crime pour voir si nous n'aprendrons rien de la route qu'il a tenue spitridate voulut alors obliger cyrus a n'aller pas jusques a ce chasteau le conjurant seulement de luy donner cinquante chevaux pour suivre ce ravisseur mais il ne le voulut pas de sorte que marchant tous avec le plus de diligence qu'ils purent il y arriverent de fort bonne heure ils n'en aprirent pourtant pas d'avantage qu'ils 
 en avoient apris par l'escuyer d'artabase qu'ils trouverent si mal de ses blessures que cyrus n'eut pas la force de l'accuser de ne l'avoir pas adverty de la fuite de ces soldats qui estoit cause de l'enlevement de la princesse araminte cependant spitridate ne pouvant se resoudre de passer la nuit a ce chasteau suplia cyrus de luy permettre d'en sortir a l'heure mesme et de luy donner les cinquante chevaux qu'il luy avoit demandez ce fut alors que cyrus fit mille excuses a ce prince de ne pouvoir quitter les interests de mandane pour les siens et de ne pouvoir s'attacher inseparablement a luy jusques a ce qu'il eust trouve araminte le conjurant en suitte de ne manquer pas de luy aprendre ou elle seroit des qu'il l'auroit sceu afin qu'il luy donnast une armee s'il en estoit besoin l'assurant encore qu'il n'estoit rien qu'il ne fist pour sa satisfaction et pour la liberte d'une si vertueuse princesse adjoustant que puis que tigrane iroit aveque luy il n'auroit point besoin de sa valeur spitridate s'opposa quelque temps au dessein que tigrane avoit de la suivre mais jugeant qu'en effet sa presence luy pourroit estre utile il accepta l'offre qu'il luy faisoit et ils partirent ensemble apres avoir laisse reposer leurs chevaux deux ou trois heures pendant quoy ils sceurent seulement la premiere route que phraarte avoit prise en s'en allant mais au lieu de cinquante chevaux cyrus en donna cent a spitridate qui ne vit point 
 les dames qui estoient dans ce chasteau car il avoit l'ame si troublee qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de faire des compliments lors que ce prince fut prest de monter a cheval cyrus luy dit en l'embrassant qu'il estoit au desespoir qu'il y eust autant de conformite en leur mal-heurs qu'en leur visage et qu'il souhaitoit qu'il fust plus heureux a delivrer araminte qu'il ne l'estoit a delivrer mandane apres quoy ces deux princes se separerent spitridate ne fut pas plustost party que cyrus qui vouloit s'en retourner a sardis le lendemain de grand matin fut voir toutes les dames qui estoient dans ce chasteau pour les disposer a souffrir qu'on les y conduisist et pour les consoler de l'accident qui estoir arrive a la princesse araminte scachant bien qu'elle en estoit cherement aimee il les trouva toutes dans la chambre de lycaste ou andramite parmenide et ligdamis estoient allez devant luy ces trois amans ne pouvant pas estre si long-temps en un lieu ou estoient les personnes qu'ils aimoient sans les voir quoy que cyrus fut extremement triste et pour ses propres malheurs et pour ceux de ses amis il ne laissa pas d'agir avec une civilite si exacte avec toutes ces dames qu'il visita qu'il n'y en eut aucune qui n'eust sujet de se louer de luy et qui ne s'en louast en effet apres avoir parle avec douleur de l'enlevement d'araminte il dit a lycaste que pour empescher un semblable mal-heur pour arpalice il faloit 
 accorder ses amants et terminer leur differens c'est pourquoy il la conjuroit de vouloir retourner a sardis disant aussi en suitte quelque chose d'obligeant a cydipe a arpalice et a candiope
 
 
 
 
apres il parla quelque temps de la reine de la susiane a doralise et a pherenice et dit aussi quelque chose a cleonice en faveur de lygdamis mais comme mandane estoit ce qui occupoit toute son ame il se mit a leur demander a toutes si elles ne le pleignoient pas d'avoir esprouve si souvent la douleur que spitridate venoit de sentir il n'y en eut pas une qui n'employait alors toute son eloquence a persuader a cyrus qu'elle s'interessoit a ses malheurs et a ceux de sa princesse cleonice entre les autres pour tesmoigner plus de zele dit que lors qu'elle se souvenoit comment et par qui la princesse mandane avoit este enlevee et combien de fois elle l'avoit este il luy prenoit une haine si terrible contre les hommes qu'il n'y en avoit que deux ou trois en tout l'univers qu'elle ne haist point en effet disoit-elle je ne pense pas qu'il y ait rien de si injuste ny de si criminel qu'un enlevement ou celle qu'on enleve ne content point je n'en excepte poursuivit cleonice ny les assassinats ny les empoisonnemens car enfin la vengeance peut quelquesfois avoir des causes si considerables qu'elles justifient ou excusent du moins les effets les plus sangleans qu'elle peut avoir causez mais qu'on me puisse persuader que ce 
 soit une bonne raison pour enlever une femme que de dire qu'on en est amoureux c'est ce que je ne croy point du tout quand on aime quelqu'un adjoustoit elle il faut faire tout ce qui est propre a s'en faire aimer et non pas tout ce qui est propre a s'en faire hair l'advoue interrompit doralise qu'a regarder la chose comme vous la regardez vous avez sujet de hair tous les hommes mais a la considerer encore comme je la considere je pense que j'ay aussi sujet de dire que la mesme raison fait que je mesprise presques toutes les femmes et je pense pouvoir soustenir que s'il ne s'en estoit jamais trouve qui eussent pardonne a leurs revisseurs on n'auroit jamais enleve ny la princesse mandane ny la princesse araminte mais comme il n'y a pas un homme qui ne scache quelque exemple de quelque dame qui s'est laissee apaiser apres avoir este enlevee ils se flatent dans la pensee qu'ils ont de n'estre pas moins heureux que les autres l'ont este ainsi l'on peut dire que la foiblesse de quelques femmes fait une partie de la hardiesse et de l'insolence des hommes car enfin personne n'a jamais entrepris de commettre un crime sans esperance qu'il luy serve a quelque chose ce que vous dites reprit cleonice ne justifie pas les hommes il ne les fait qu'excuser il est vray dit doralise mais encore ont ils quelque chose au dessus des femmes qui pardonnent a ceux qui les ont enlevees puis que selon mon 
 sens elles sont sans excuses en effet poursuivit elle que peuvent elles dire pour authoriser leur foiblesse sinon qu'elles ont l'ame basse et le coeur plein de laschete ne sont elles pas maistresses de leur vie si elles ne le sont pas de leur liberte en cas qu'on leur veuille faire quelque violence mais c'est assurement que celles qui pardonnent un semblable crime sont capables de tout pardonner pour moy je le dis ingenument j'aimerois beaucoup mieux qu'un m'accusast d'avoir volontairement abandonne mon coeur a un homme que j'aurois creu digne de le posseder que de me laisser persuader a un homme que j'aurois mal traite et qui m'auroit enlevee je trouve le sentiment de doralise si genereux et si raisonnable reprit cyrus que je suis persuade qu'il n'y a pas une dame de la compagnie qui le veuille contredire je vous assure seigneur repliqua-t'elle que peut-estre y en a t'il bien quelqu'une qui le fait autant par le respect qu'elle vous porte que par son propre sentiment je voudrois bien scavoir dit alors arpalice qui vous soupconnez de n'estre pas de vostre advis pourveu que je vous assure que ce n'est point vous repliqua doralise et que je vous advoue que je suis persuadee que vous ne pardonneriez pas a menecrate s'il vous enlevoit il ne vous importe pas que je vous le die joint qu'a parler sincerement je ne le scay pas moy mesme et je n'ay parle comme j'ay fait que pour faire mieux comprendre 
 combien je croy fortement qu'il y a peu de femmes qui ayent l'ame ferme et genereuse afin de pouvoir en suitte donner de plus grandes louanges a l'illustre mandane qui a veu a ses pieds trois des plus grands princes du monde luy demander pardon apres l'avoir enlevee sans le leur vouloir accorder aimant beaucoup mieux voir toute l'asie en armes que de ceder aux prieres aux soupirs et aux larmes de ses ravisseurs pour moy j'advoue que lors que j'eus l'honneur de la voir a suze je fus plus ravie de la fermete de son ame que de sa beaute et des charmes de son esprit quoy que ce soit la plus accomplie princesse du monde aussi ne pus je jamais m'empescher de la louer de cette fermete un jour que la reine de la susiane m'avoit fait l'honneur de m'envoyer dans sa chambre pour estre aupres d'elle et pour la divertir un matin qu'elle se trouvoit un peu mal et qu'elle ne la pouvoit aller voir mais pour vous tesmoigner que toutes les femmes ne sont pas de mon opinion je n'ay qu'a dire qu'une partie des filles de la reine trouvant le roy de pont fort honneste homme et le voyant fort amoureux et fort afflige murmurerent contre la cruaute de la princesse mandane et souhaitterent qu'elle se laissast flechir du moins interrompit pherenice advouez que je ne fus pas de ce sentiment la il ne m'en souvient plus repliqua doralise mais quand vous en auriez este l'illustre cyrus ne vous en voudroit 
 pas de mal car vous n'aviez pas alors l'honneur de le connoistre je ne l'en hairois sans doute pas reprit cyrus mais j'advoue que je l'ayme mieux de n'en avoir pas elle et que vous m'avez fait plaisir de m'apprendre que je vous ay encore plus d'obligation que je ne pensois si vous estes oblige reprit lycaste a tous ceux qui souhaitent que les ravisseurs de la princesse mandane pendent et qui vous soyez heureux vous l'estes a la plus grande partie de l'asie comme je veux croire madame repliqua cyrus que vous jugez des sentimens des autres par les vostres ce que vous me dites me plaist et m'oblige extremement mais pour ne causer pas quelque imcommodite a une personne qui desire mon bon-heur en la faisant veiller trop tard je pense qu'il est a propos de se retirer et de prendre conge d'elle jusques a demain au soir que j'auray l'honneur de la revoir a sardis avec toute cette belle troupe qui l'environne qu'andramite et lygdamis escorteront il me semble seigneur reprit malicieusement doralise que comme il importe plus que vostre escorte soit forte que la nostre vous pourriez emmener andramite et ne laisser que lygdamis comme je scay mieux les ordres de la guerre que vous reprit cyrus en souriant a demy quoy qu'il n'en eust guere d'envie vous me dispenserez de suivre vos advis en cette occasion que je suivray en toute autre chose en disant cela cyrus se leva sans attendre 
 le remerciment d'andramite et apres avoir salue toutes ces dames avec autant de grace que de civilite il se retira a un apartement qu'on luy avoit destine ou il se reposa jusques a la pointe du jour qu'il partit de ce chasteau apres avoir commande qu'on eust soin d'artabase mais il en partit avec un redoublement de chagrin extreme car outre qu'il trouvoit que cet accident arrive a un prince qu'il estimoit tant et a un prince qui luy ressembloit estoit d'un mauvais presage il y avoit encore un desavantage effectif pour luy que la princesse araminte ne fust plus en sa puissance car enfin elle estoit soeur du roy de pont et c'estoit tousjours un gage de sevrete qu'il auoit perdu de sorte qu'il fit ce chemin la avec beaucoup de melancholie anaxaris qui se trouva le plus pres de luy lors qu'il partit de ce chasteau fut celuy a qui il parla le plus ce jour la mais apres avoir bien raisonne sur ses malheurs tout d'un coup cyrus marchant un peu moins viste et le regardant obligeamment mais jusques a quand luy dit-il vaillant inconnu vous cacherez vous a moy et me mettrez vous dans la necessite de dire que vous estes l'homme du monde que je connois le mieux et que je connois le moins en effet poursuivit il je ne pense pas que personne scache mieux ce que vous valez que je le scay je conconnois vostre bonne mine je connois la beaute de vostre esprit tout ce qui me paroist de 
 vostre ame est genereux et je scay que vostre valeur est tout a fait heroique mais avec tout cela je ne scay qui vous estes et ne scay a qui le demander qu'a vous mesme c'est pourquoy mon cher anaxaris souffrez que je vous le demande et s'il est possible faites que je ne vous le demande pas inutilement je voudrais bien seigneur repliqua-t'il pouvoir meriter toutes les louanges que vous venez de donner et je voudrois bien aussi pouvoir satisfaire la curiosite que vous avez mais comme il m'importe de cacher que je suis et qu'il ne vous importe pas de le scavoir j'espere que vous ne me mettrez pas dans la necessite de vous desobeir en me commandant de vous dire une chose que je vous aprendray des que je croiray le devoir faire quoy que ce que vous me dites repliqua cyrus augmente ma curiosite je veux bien me contraindre pous l'amour de vous pourveu que vous soyez persuade que la plus forte raison qui m'oblige a desirer de scavoir qui vous estes est l'envie que j'aurois de vous servir anaxaris remercia encore une fois cyrus de l'honneur qu'il luy faisoit mais ce fut en des termes qui persuaderent encore a ce prince qu'anaxaris estoit d'une condition a estre plus accoustume a recevoir des remercimens qu'a en rendre cependant comme il estoit desja allez pres du camp il songea a donner divers ordres en passant il visita mesmes quelques-uns des chefs de sorte qu'il estoit presques nuit lors qu'il arriva a 
 sardis en y entrant il rencontra mazare qui vint au devant de luy avec cette mesme civilite qu'ils avoient accoustume d'avoir l'un pour l'autre mais avec une melancholie qui luy fit connoistre qu'il n'estoit point venu de nouvelles de mandane je ne vous demande point genereux rival luy dit cyrus des qu'il l'aperceut si vous scavez quelque chose de nostre princesse car nostre tristesse me parle pour vous il est vray seigneur repliqua mazare que je ne scay rien de la princesse que ce que vous en scaviez hier quand vous partistes d'icy mais je scay une autre chose qui vous surprendra et que je viens d'apprendre presentement puis que ce n'est rien qui regarde la princesse reprit cyrus vous me la direz quand il vous plaira et j'attendray de la scavoir sans impatience je ne vous ay pas dit repliqua mazare que mandane n'y avoit point d'interest mais seulement que je ne scavois rien de cette princesse car si je l'avois dit je me serois esloigne de la verite estant a croire que le roy d'assirie n'est party que pour l'aller chercher le roy d'assirie reprit cyrus avec estonnement est party ouy seigneur respondit mazare et un des siens qu'il a laisse pour vous rendre une lettre vient de me dire qu'il est monte a cheval luy sixiesme il y a environ quatre heures et qu'il a dessein d'aller toute la nuit et de faire tant qu'il puisse du moins estre le premier a scavoir ou est la princesse mandane cyrus n'eut pas plustost ouy cette surprenante 
 nouvelle qu'il changea de couleur la colere se mesla a sa douleur qu'il avoit il craignit que le roy d'assirie n'eust eu quelque advis secret du lieu ou estoit mandane il eut despit que la violence de son naturel luy eust fait une chose qu'on pourroit prendre pour un simple excez d'amour quoy qu'elle fust inutile il eut mesme peur qu'il ne trouvast quelques expediens de s'approcher de mandane et je ne scay s'il n'apprehenda point qu'il ne la delivrast effectivement quoy qu'il n'y eust pas d'apparence pour mazare ses sentimens n'estoient guere plus tranquiles que ceux de cyrus car encore que son amour fust sans esperance et qu'il se fust resolu d'aymer tousjours ainsi et de ne chercher plus que la liberte de mandane et la mort neantmoins il y avoit tousjours quelques instans ou il sentoit dans son coeur plusieurs sentimens de haine pour ses rivaux et d'amour pour la princesse mandane pendant lesquels il avoit besoin de rapeller toute sa raison pour les combatre et pour les vaincre il est vray que cette fois la il n'eut pas beaucoup de temps de de s'entretenir luy mesme car cyrus avoit une si forte envie de voir ce que le roy d'assirie luy escrivoit qu'il envoya en diligence chercher celuy qui luy devoit rendre sa lettre ordonnant qu'on le luy menast a la citadelle ou il fut l'attendre avec une impatience aussi grande que l'amour qui la causoit estoit forte il ne fut pourtant pas long-temps dans cette inquietude 
 cet officier du roy d'assirie ayant sceu que cyrus estoit revenu a sardis se mit en chemin d'aller vers luy dans le mesme instant qu'on l'alloit chercher de sorte qu'un quart d'heure apres que cyrus fut a la citadelle il receut cette lettre qu'il attendait si impatiemment si bien que l'ouvrant avec precipitation il la leut avec toute la promptitude d'un homme qui eust voulu s'il eust pu scavoir en un instant tout ce qu'elle contenoit mais maigre toute son impatience il falut qu'il fust assez long temps a la lire parce que le roy d'assirie l'ayant escrite avec beaucoup de precipitation le carractere n'en estoit pas fort lisible il y leut pourtant a la fin ces paroles
 
 
 le roy d'assirie au trop heureux cyrus 
 
 
 ne pensez pas que le dessein que je preds d'aller chercher les voyes d'apprendre des nouvelles de la printesse change rien a nos anciennes conditions au contraire vous laissant a la teste d'une armee de cent mille hommes et m'en allant seul pour descouvrir si je le puis ou est cette princesse cette confiance que j'ay en vostre parole vous oblige a me la tenir encore plut exactement de mon coste vous ne devez pas craindre que j'y manque puis qu'un roy sans royaume et sans armee n'est pas en estat de l'oser faire quand il le voudrait souffrez donc que j'aille estre vostre espion puis qu'il 
 qu'il plaist a la fortune que je ne puisse estre autre chose tant que nous avons creu que la princesse mandant estoit en armenie ou que nous avons sceu qu'elle estoit a sardis l'esperance de la delivrer a fait que j'y souffert vostre veue et celle de mazare mais aujourd'huy que nous ne scavons ou elle est et que je la sers moins dans vostre armee que je ne seray peut-estre ailleurs je veux m'oster du moins la veue de mes rivaux ce n'est pas que je ne connoisse toute l'estendue de vostre generosite pour ce qui me regarde mais j'aime mieux que la princesse mandane vous puisse accuser de peu d'amour pour elle par le trop de civilite que vous avez eue pour moy que de m'accuser moy mesme de peu d'affection par le trop de reconnaissance que l'aurais eue pour vous c'est pourquoy je laisse a la voix publique a vous louer ou a me blasmer de ce que nous faisons cependant encore une fois demeurons dans nos conditions et souvenez vous tousjours que vous ne pouvez posseder mandane qu'apres avoir fait perir 
 
 
 le roy d'assirie 
 
 
apres que cyrus eut leu cette lettre il eut l'ame un peu plus tranquile ce n'est pas qu'il n'y vist plusieurs choses qui le fachoient et qui renouvelloient dans son coeur toute cette haine qu'il avoit eue pour ce fier rival du temps qu'on l'apelloit philidaspe et que luy portoit le nom d'artame mais ce qui le consoloit estoit qu'il luy sembloit que ce depart du roy d'assirie n'estoit qu'un pur effet du caprice de son humeur 
 et de la violence de son temperamment et non pas qu'il sceust rien de particulier de la princesse mandane le souvenir de ce fauorable oracle que ce prince avoit receu au temple de jupiter belus a babilone luy donnoit pourtant quelque aprehension et comme il ne pouvoit pas se souvenir de cet oracle sans se souvenir aussi de la funeste responce que la sibille luy avoit faite cette pensee redoubloit encore ses craintes toutesfois quand il consideroit que cet autre oracle qui avoit paru si favorable a cresus avoit este si mal entendu il reprenoit quelque esperance cependant comme il connoissbit une vertu toute extraordinaire en mazare et qu'il ne le regardoit pas alors tout a fait comme estant encore son rival il luy monstra la lettre du roy d'assirie comme s'il n'eust este que son amy ces deux princes furent quelque temps a s'entretenir de l'humeur violente de leur rival et du dessein qu'il pouvoit avoir mais plus ils considererent la chose plus ils creurent que c'estoit une simple boutade de son humeur comme ils en estoient la feraulas arriva qui vint aprendre a cyrus qu'il avoit enfin amene arianite et timonide a sardis et qu'il avoit mene cette fille au palais a qui cylenise qui estoit fort son amie avoit donne la moitie de sa chambre cyrus qui aimoit tout ce qui estoit a sa princess fut bien aise de scavoir qu'arianite fust mieux qu'il ne l'avoit veue quoy qu'elle ne luy eust pas tousjours este favorable et il 
 ordonna encore a feraulas d'en avoir soin priant aussi tegee qu'il vit dans sa chambre avec plusieurs autres de dire a cylenise qu'il luy scauroit gre de tous les offices qu'elle rendrait a arianite un moment apres lygdamis et andramite arriverent qui dirent a cyrus que toutes les dames qu'il avoit veues le soir auparauant estoient a sardis et que ne s'estant point voulu separer elles estoient toutes longees chez la soeur de lycaste mais cyrus ne voulant pas que la chose allast ainsi il les envoya suplier d'aller loger au palais qui estoit plus grand qu'il ne faloit pour les loger toutes commodement et en effet apres l'avoir refuse une fois il falut qu'elles obeissent de sorte qu'on peut dire qu'on n'a jamais veu une plus belle compagnie que celle qui estoit alors dans le palais de cresus ii est vray que toutes les personnes qui le remplissoient n'estoient pas esgallement satisfaites il y en avoit de tres infortunees et d'autres assez heureuses timarete estoit en estat de tout esperer et de ne rien craindre sesostris estoit vivant sesostris estoit fidelle et heracleon estoit mort ainsi ils n'avoient plus pour estre contens qu'a retourner en egypte ou amasis les desiroit ardemment d'autre part cresus estoit aussi infortune que timarete estoit heureuse et s'il voyoit quelque consolation en ses disgraces ce ne pouvoit estre qu'en la generosite de son vainqueur le prince myrsile en perdant l'esperance d'une couronne avoit obtenu des dieux la liberte de 
 la parole mais comme il n'en avoit encore employe l'usage qu'a pleindre les infortunes c'estoit un bien qui luy coustoit trop cher pour en sentir toute la douceur joint aussi que son ame avoit plus d'une espece de douleur quoy qu'on ne l'eust jamais sceu pour la princesse palmis voyant artamas aussi genereux qu'il estoit et aussi constant et voyant que cresus l'avoit bien receu et que le roy de phrygie ne s'opposoit point a son dessein elle eust eu lieu d'estre tres satisfaite si elle eust pu voir sans douleur le roy son pere et le prince son frere captifs et renversez du throne pour lygdamis et pour cleonice ils estoient les plus heureux et il n'y avoit point de jour ou ils n'eussent quelques heures ou ils trouvoient dans leurs conversations toute la douceur que l'amour et l'amitie peuvent donner car il c'estoit fait un si estroit meslange de ces deux facons d'aimer dans leur coeur qu'on pouvoit dire que ces deux personnes avoient pris de l'une et de l'autre tout ce qu'il y avoit de solide de doux de tendre et d'agreable pour en former l'affection dont ils s'aimoient pour arpalice l'incertitude ou elle estoit quel seroit raccommodement que cyrus devoit faire entre thrasimede et menecrate faisoit qu'elle n'estoit pas sans inquietude quoy qu'elle esperast pourtant qu'a la priere d'andramite il savoriseroit le premier cypide en son particulier n'estoit pas trop marrie de s'apercevoir que sa beaute effacoit de plus en plus celle 
 de cleoxene du coeur de parmenide candiope de son coste ne pouvoit s'empescher de trouver estrange qu'elle n'eust point de nouvelles de philistion et a parler raisonnablement il n'y avoit qu'un petit nombre de personnes qui se trouvassent sans inquietude non seulement dans ce palais et dans la citadelle ou logeoit tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus considerable aupres de cyrus mais mesme dans toute cette grande ville estant certain qu'il y avoit alors je ne scay quelle constellation tumultueuse qui faisoit que ceux mesme qui n'avoient point d'affaires s'en faisoient et l'on peut assurer que tout le monde y souffroitou en la personne de ses amis ou en la sienne il est pourtant vray que la maniere dont cyrus vivoit avec cresuset avec le prince myrsile luy aquit bien-tost de telle sorte le coeur du peuple qu'il estoit aussi seurement a sardis qu'il eust pu estre a persepolis ou a ecbatane cependant le lendemain que lycaste et toute sa belle troupe fut arrivee a sardis elle fut visiter les deux princesses qui les receurent comme elles meritoient de l'estre un moment apres qu'elles y furent le prince myrsilequi avoit la liberte d'aller a l'apartement de la princesse sa soeur chez qui estoit alors toute cette agreable compagnie y fut aussi mais il y fut principalement pour voir doralise qu'il n'avoit veue depuis qu'elle estoit partie de sardis pour aller a suze avec panthee de sorte qu'apres avoir fait un compliment a la princesse timarete et dit quelque 
 que chose a demy bas a la princesse palmis il leur demanda la permission de s aprocher de doralise comme elle estoit alors assez esloignee des princesses et qu'elle s'amusoit a parler avec candiope elle n'avoit point ouy ce qu'il avoit dit si bien que lors qu'il s'aprocha d'elle elle creut encore qu'il ne seroit qu'entendre ce qu'elle luy diroit sans y pouvoir respondre qu'avec l'aide de ces tablettes dont il se servoit autrefois si adroitement du temps qu'esope estoit a la cour de lydie car encore qu'elle eust ouy dire qu'il n'estoit plus muet elle ne pouvoit concevoir qu'il parlast ou que du moins il parlast bien et ce qui faisoit son erreur estoit qu'elle ne consideroit pas que ce prince n'avoit jamais este sourd et qu'il avoit tousjours fort bien escrit aussi fut elle estrangement estonnee lors que s'approchant elle entendit qu'il parloit mieux que la pluspart de ceux qui avoient tousjours parle de sorte qu'apres avoir entendu son premier compliment au lieu d'y respondre et de luy tesmoigner la part qu'elle prenoit aux malheurs de sa maison et de sa patrie elle ne put s'empescher de se reculer d'un pas et de le regarder avec admiration quoy seigneur luy dit-elle il n'y a que cinq ou six jours que vous parlez et vous parlez comme vous faites ha non non cela n'est pas possible et il faut assurement que vous ayez parle long temps en secret pour pouvoir parler si bien en public et que vous ne vous soyez teu par le passe que pour faire 
 taire apres tous les autres a l'advenir ce que vous me dites reprit le prince myrsile ne m'est peut estre pas si agreable que vous le croyez car enfin je ne puis attribuer les louanges excessives que vous venez de donner a ce que je vous ay dit a autre chose sinon que mon silence vous desplaisoit si fort et vous ennuyoit tant que pour peu que je parle vous trouvez ce que je dis digne d'admiration doralise revenant alors a elle-mesme s'apperceut qu'elle avoit trop loue ce prince et que pour agir plus sagement il eust mieux valu le louer moins et s'interesser davantage dans ses disgraces de sorte que pour reparer cette faute elle changea de discours et se mit aveque luy a repasser tous les mal-heurs de panthee et tous les changemens qu'elle trouvoit en lydie a son retour du moins luy disoit-elle avez vous cet advantage que vostre vainqueur est le plus genereux prince du monde il est vray repliqua myrsile mais apres tout aimable doralise cela n'empesche pas que le roy mon pere ne soit bien mal-heureux puis qu'a parler raisonnablement c'est une assez grande infortune a ceux qui sont accoustumez de faire grace aux autres de se voir en estat d'estre obligez d'en recevoir d'autruy cela n'empesche pourtant pas poursuivit il que je n'aye quelque consolation de voir que si nous avons a estre foumis se doive estre au plus grand prince du monde et a un prince encore que vous estimez et a qui je scay que vous avez de l'obligation il 
 est vray seigneur que je luy en ay respondit doralise mais je voudrois bien que vous ne suffiez pas en estat de luy en avoir et qu'au contraire le roy se sust mis en termes qu'il luy en eust ce qu'il pouvoit faire en luy rendant la princesse mandane le pane reprit myrsile n'a point de retour et au lieu d'employer nostre esprit a connoistre des fautes qui ne se peuvent plus reparer il faut l'employer a tascher de suporter nostre mauvaise fortune comme des gens qui estoient dignes d'une meilleure et pour vous tesmoigner que je fais desja tout ce que je puis pour adoucir mes mal-heurs poursuivit il je vous proteste que depuis que je fais aupres de vous je sens quelque douceur a penser que les dieux qui n'avoient fait naistre au dessus de l'amable doralise m'en ayent reproche et qu'il n'y ait plus une si grande distance entre elle et moy ha seigneur interrompit doralise cette civilite est excessive et si vous m'en vouliez dire une il faloit plustost desirer que les dieux m'eussent aprochee de vous que de me dire que vous trouvez quelque douceur a penser qu'ils vous ont aproche de moy comme cette premiere chose n'est pas en ma puissance reprit ce prince et que l'autre l'est effectivement vous ne devez pas vous estonner si j'ay mieux aime vous dire ce que je sens dans mon coeur que de m'amuser a faire un souhait inutile doralise alloit respondre lors que cyrus entrant rompit leur conversation mais ce qui surprit extremement 
 lycaste arpalice cydipe et plus encore candiope fut de voir philistion parmy ceux qui l'accompagnoient elles ne purent pourtant pas scavoir aussi promptement qu'elles l'euissent souhaite pourquoy il ne les avoit pas veues devant que de voir cyrus n'osant pas changer de place pour parler a luy et luy ne pouvant pas alors s'aprocher d'elles quoy qu'il en eust bien envie parce qu'apres que cyrus l'eut presente aux princesses il vit qu'il y avoit diverses personnes a l'entour d'elles a qui il ne pouvoit pas faire changer de place mais comme a quelque temps de-la le prince sesostris entra et que quelques-uns de ceux qui estoient aupres de candiope sortirent philistion s'en aprocha enfin et se mit a l'entretenir avec un plaisir aussi grand que l'impatience qu'il avoit eue de la revoir avoit este forte candiope de son coste le receut avec autant de joye que de douceur de sorte qu'il fut aise a doralise de remarquer qu'ils s'aimoient plus que candiope ne luy avoit dit lors qu'elle luy avoit fait le recit des avantures dethrasimede et d'arpalice car elle prit garde que philistion estoit si occupe a regarder candiope a luy parler et a l'escouter qu'il ne songeoit pas seulement a faire quelque civilite a lycaste a arpalice et a cydipe qui n'estoient pas trop loin de luy aussi ne fut-elle pas long-temps sans dire ce qu'elle en pensoit a candiope il est vray que ce fut avec cette malice delicate et spirituelle qui ne l'abandonnoit presque jamais si ce n'estoit quand il 
 s'agissoit de rendre quelque service effectif a ses amis car alors doralise avoit autant de generosite que personne en scavroit avoir cette agreable fille ayant donc fort bien ouy le nom de philistion lors que cyrus l'eut presente a palmis et fort bien connu que c'estoit de philistion qui avoit eu part aux advantures d'arpalice voyant avec quel empressement et quelle affection candiope et luy s'entretenoient se pancha vers candiope dont elle n'estoit pas trop esloignee et la tirant doucement par sa robe dites moy je vous prie luy dit-elle malicieusement si ce philistion a qui vous parlez est ce philistion amy de thrasimede qui contrefit si plaisamment arion car pour moy je m'imagine que ce n'est point luy candiope surprise du discours de doralise en rougit s'imaginant que c'estoit que l'air et la mine de philistion ne luy plaisoient pas et que l'idee qu'elle s'en estoit formee sur le recit qu'elle luy en avoit fait estoit plus avantageuse a philistion qu'il ne se l'estoit a luy mesme de sorte que toute confuse et toute pleine d'un despit qu'elle ne vouloit pas faire paroistre et qui paroissoit pourtant malgre qu'elle en eust elle demanda a son amie pourquoy elle avoit peine a croire que celuy qu'elle voyoit fust le philistion dont elle luy avoit entendu parler car il faudroit adjousta-t'elle que le cas fortuit fust merveilleux si c'en estoit un autre ce qui me faisoit croire que ce n'estoit pas luy reprit doralise c'est que vous m'avez dit 
 qu'il n'avoit que de l'estime pour vous et qu'il n'y avoit entre vous et luy que je ne scay qu'elle legere affection que vous n'appelliez ny amour ny amitie et que vous disiez qui estoit de telle nature que quand vous ne vous rendriez jamais autre preuve de cette affection que de dire du bien l'un de l'autre aux lieux ou vous seriez vous n'auriez rien a vous reprocher de sorte que voyant sur le visage du philistion que je voy toute la joye d'un amant qui revoit sa maistresse apres une longue absence vous me devez pardonner si j'ay doute que philistion fust philistion si vous croyez ce que vous dites reprit candiope en riant et en rougissant tout ensemble vous estes bien malicieuse de m'interrompre pour meriter la belle qualite que vous me donnez respondit-elle je vous proteste que je ne vous laisseray d'aujourd'huy parler en particulier a philistion si vous ne me priez de vous le laisser entretenir je veux bien vous en prier repliqua candiope car il m'importe de scavoir certaines choses qu'il a commence de me dire qui faciliteront l'accommodement de thrasimede et de menecrate non non repliqua doralise ce n'est pas comme cela que je l'entends et si vous ne m'en priez en m'aduouant que je vous feray plaisir pour l'amour de vous mesme je ne vous laisseray point en repos contentez vous du moins reprit elle en soufriant que je vous en prie seulement pour l'amour de philistion je le veux bien respondit doralise pourveu 
 que vous me promettiez de me dire une partie de ce qu'il vous dira je vous le promets dit candiope en se retournant vers philistion qui en effet avoit une chose a luy apprendre qui facilitoit extremement l'accommodement de thrasimede et de menecrate quoy que candiope n'eust dit a doralise que c'estoit pour cela qu'elle vouloit parler a philistion que pour luy servir d'excuse aussi des que ce feint arion luy eut dit tout ce que l'auront doit faire dire a un amant apres une assez longue absence qu'il l'eut asseure de sa fidelite qu'il luy eut demande comment il estoit dans son coeur et qu'il luy eut proteste qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue ny si belle ny si aymable qu'il la retrouvoit il luy apprit que la raison pourquoy il n'avoit pas suivy thrasimede lors qu'il estoit venu pour se jetter dans sardis estoit qu'il avoit este contraint de demeurer a halicarnasse parce qu'il avoit este tres blesse a un combat qu'il avoit fait autant pour les interests d'arpalice que pour ceux d'une soeur qu'il avoit candiope ne pouvant alors comprendre comment arpalice qui estoit de patare pouvoit avoir quelque interest mesle avec une soeur de philistion qui estoit d'halicarnasse en parut extremement surprise mais pour la tirer d'inquietude philistion luy aprite qu'il avoit une soeur qui s'apelloit androclee qui avoit donne de l'amour a un homme de qualite de leur ville nomme ephialte pour qui elle avoit eu beaucoup d'aversion sans oser la tesmoigner 
 parce qu'elle avoit une mere fort imperieuse qui vouloir qu'elle l'espousast que durant une absence d'ephialte il estoit arrive que menecrate et parmenide avoient este a halicarnasse et en quel temps interrompit candiope furent-ils a vostre ville ils y furent reprit philistion au partir d'apamee lors que nous les y laissasmes thrasimede et moy et ils y estoient justement durant que nous estions a patare de sorte que pendant que thrasimede devenoit amoureux de la maistresse de menecrate menecrate le devenoit de ma soeur a halicarnasse menecrate reprit candiope a este amoureux d'une soeur que vous avez il l'a sans doute este reprit philistion et ce qui est de pis c'est que ma soeur eut autant d'inclination pour luy qu'elle avoit d'aversion pour ephialte si bien que se laissant aisement persuader une chose qu'elle desiroit elle creut qu'il l'aimoit et il s'aperceut bien-tost qu'elle ne le haissoit pas et par ce moyen il se lia une amitie assez grande entre eux pour se dire tous leurs secrets cela estant ainsi ma soeur luy aprit que ma mere la vouloit marier a ephialte contre sa volonte et menecrate luy dit que ses parens l'avoient aussi engage avec une fille de lycie pour qui il n'avoit point d'amour ainsi cette conformite augmentant leur affection ils en vinrent au point de se promettre tous deux de faire tout ce qu'ils pourroient pour se mettre en estat de se pouvoir espouser de sorte que lors que menecrate partit 
 d'halicarnasse il dit a ma soeur qu'il alloit faire tous ses efforts pour rompre avec arpalice et que des qu'il auroit rompu avec elle il retourneroit a nostre ville mais comme il est d'humeur a commencer d'aimer bien souvent par caprice et a finir de mesme il oublia ma soeur des qu'il ne la vit plus car en effet vous scavez comment il agit a son retour a patare comment cydipe le toucha pour quelques jours et comment l'amour de thrasimede pour arpalice fit naistre celle de menecrate pour cette belle personne cependant comme ma soeur n'est pas de l'humeur de menecrate lors qu'ephialte revint aupres d'elle il en fut horriblement maltraite et toute l'authorite de ma mere ne put jamais obliger androclee a l'espouser voila donc aimable candiope l'estat ou estoient les choses lors que thrasimede et moy retournassmes a halicarnasse apres vous avoir laissee a patare comme l'amour de menecrate si de ma soeur avoit este fort secrette et qu'elle ne me l'osoit dire je n'en apris rien a mon retour mais enfin ma mere estant morte aussi bien que le pere de thrasimede ephialte s'estant adresse a moy pour me demander ma soeur comme une personne que ma mere luy avoit promise je pressay androclee de me dire pourquoy elle ne le vouloit point espouser de sorte que se voyant dans la necessite de me rendre raison de son procede elle m'aduoua la verite je ne la sceus pas plustost que faisant dessein de m'en servir pour 
 avancer le mariage de thrasimede avec arpalice et pour rompre celuy de menecrate avec elle je pris la resolution apres avoir consulte avec thrasimede de dire a ephialte que n'estant pas de l'humeur de feue ma mere et n'ayant pas autant d'authorite sur ma soeur qu'elle je ne pouvois la forcer a l'espouser et qu'ainsi je le suppliois de n'y songer plus faisant dessein apres cela de retourner a patare et d'y mener androclee sur le pretexte de l'oracle qu'on y consulte afin de sommer menecrate de luy tenir sa parole et de troubler par la tous ses desseins mais ephialte ne me permit pas de faire ce que je voulois car comme il est d'un naturel fort violent et qu'il estoit fort amoureux il ne put souffrir le refus que je luy faisois de forcer ma soeur a accomplir la promesse de ma mere de sorte qu'il me fit appeller et nous nous battismes sans que thrasimede en sceust rien l'eus le bon-heur de remporter l'avantage sur luy et de luy faire quitter toutes ses pretentions mais j'eus aussi le mal-heur d'estre fort blesse et de ne pouvoir suivre thrasimede lors qu'il vint pour se jetter dans sardis ce que j'eusse fait sans doute si mes blessures me l'eussent permis cependant comme je ne pouvois plus vivre sans vous voir et que j'avois promis a thrasimede de me servir de l'amour que menecrate avoit eue pour ma soeur afin de luy donner un nouveau droict a arpalice aussi-tost que j'ay este en estat de souffrir la fatigue du voyage j'ay fait partir 
 androclee avecque moy avec intention de la laisser a une ville frontiere de nostre pais qui touche la lycie et qui n'est pas trop esloignee d'icy ou nous avons des parens afin que quand j'aurois trouve menecrate elle fust plus proche du lieu ou je scavrois qu'il seroit mais ayant sceu par la voix publique que sardis estoit pris et par un soldat d'halicarnasse qui s'en retourne en son pais charge de butin que thrasimede et menecrate estoient en la puissance de cyrus et qu'il y avoit des dames de lycie qui estoient sorties de sardis qui avoient de grands interests a demesler avec ces deux prisonniers j'ay bien compris a travers ce recit si embrouille que ce devoit estre vous de sorte que sans differer d'avantage j'ay pris la resolution de venir icy et d'y amener ma soeur si bien qu'ayant pris une escorte des troupes de cyrus au premier lieu ou nous en avons rencontre nous sommes arrivez a sardis sans peine et sans peril il y a environ deux heures mais comme il n'y entre nuls estrangers dont on ne die les noms a cyrus il eu arrive qu'ayant respondu a ceux qui m'ont demande le mien que je m'appellois philistion et que j'estois amy de ce vaillant homme qui avoit voulu se jetter dans sardis et que cyrus avoit si bien traitte il est arrive dis-je qu'ils ont positivement dit a ce prince les mesmes paroles que j'avois dites de sorte que le nom de thrasimede a este cause qu'il a comande qu'on me menast vers luy comme en effet on m'y a mene 
 mene apres que j'ay eu conduit ma soeur avec ses femmes a un lieu ou logent les dames esrangeres ce prince m'a fort bien receu et m'a dit que j'arrivois fort a propos pour estre tesmoin de l'accord qu'il vouloit faire aujourd'huy entre thrasimede et menecrate je n'ay pas plustost entendu cela que j'ay pris la liberte de luy dire qu'il ne le pouvoit faire equitablement s'il ne me faisoit l'honneur de me donner un moment d'audience de sorte que me l'ayant accorde a l'heure mesme je luy ay conte ce que je viens de vous dire en suitte il m'a commande de le suivre icy me disant qu'apres cela il ira a l'apartement de lycaste ou il fera conduire thrasimede et menecrate afin de terminer leurs differens il sera ce me semble assez aise de les terminer reprit candiope apres ce que vous venez de me dire mais je trouve qu'il importe que lycaste et arpalice scachent ce que vous me venez d'aprendre devant que l'on parle de cet accommodement philistion ne pouvant contredire candiope souffrit qu'elle ne luy parlast plus afin d'advertir ses amies de ce qu'il estoit a propos qu'elles sceussent promptement si elle vouloit le leur dire devant que cyrus commencast de parler des interrests de thrasimede et de menecrate car a peine candiope eut elle apris en peu de mots a lycaste et a arpelice tout ce que philistion luy avoit dit que cyrus s'adressant a la premiere j'avois eu dessein luy dit-il d'aller a vostre apartement 
 afin de tacher de faire deux rivaux amis en mettant thrasimede et menecrate en liberte mais comme c'est une chose assez difficile je ne scay s'il ne vaudrait point mieux prendre le conseil des deux grandes princesses devant qui je parle et des deux princes qui m'escoutent a condition toutefois adjousta t'il que la belle arpalice y consentira arpalice reprit lycaste en soufriant n'est pas si accoutumee a faire ce qu'elle veut qu'il soit necessaire de la consulter la dessus c'est pourquoy seigneur vous n'avez qu'a suivre vostre volonte sans vous informer de la sienne aussi bien pouvez vous juger par la rougeur qui paroist sur son visage qu'elle n'auroit pas la hardiesse de vous dire precisement ce qu'elle pense il est ce me semble si aise seigneur reprit modestement arpalice en adressant la parole a cyrus de juger que je ne puis vouloir que ce qu'il vous plaist qu'en effet il n'est pas fort necessaire que mes paroles expriment mes sentimens cela estant dit cyrus a lycastec'est donc a vous madame a dire si vous voulez que la chose dont il s'agit soit determinee devant une si belle compagnie je veux tout ce qu'il vous plaira seigneur luy dit elle esperant mesme que plus il y aura de personnes illustres qui donneront leur voix en faveur de celuy qui sera heureux plus celuy qui ne le sera pas aura de patience dans son malheur apres cela cyrus qui avoit une memoire admirable et une eloquence merveilleuse qui scavoit ramasser en peu de paroles 
 les advantures les plus estendues commenca de raconter succintement tout ce qu'il avoit apris de celles de thrasimede et de menecrate ou par andramite ou par doralise ou par philistion ramenant la chose jusques au jour ou thrasimede s'estoit voulu jetter dans sardis qui estoit assiege parce qu'il croyoit que sa maistresse y estoit et que menecrate en estoit sorty parce qu'elle n'y estoit plus adjoustant encore que la soeur de philistion estoit a sardis souvenez vous donc bien dit-il aux deux princesses a qui il adressa la parole que menecrate et arpalice ont este destinez a s'espouser par leurs peres qu'arpalice n'a pu conformer son esprit au testament de ses parens sans se faire une violence extreme que menecrate l'a negligee durant tres long temps et l'a mesme mesprisee en jouant sa peinture contre thrasimede que de plus il semble avoir renonce au droit qu'il avoit a cette belle personne en promettant a la soeur de philistion de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour rompre avec elle que thrasimede a tousjours aime arpalice depuis qu'il la connoist et que menecrate n'en est devenu amoureux que lorsqu'il a commence de craindre qu'arpalice n'aymast thrasimede apres que cyrus eut donc fait comprendre quel estoit l'interest de toutes ces personnes a deux qui ne le scavoient pas et qu'il en eut refraichy la memoire a ceux qui le scavoient jugeant qu'il estoit necessaire de voir la soeur de philistion il luy ordonna de l'aller 
 querir ce qu'il fit a l'heure mesme ce n'est pas qu'androclee n'eust quelque peine a se resoudre de paroistre en une si grande compagnie veu la chose dont il s'agissoit mais l'amour qu'elle avoit dans l'ame pour menecrate et l'envie de rompre son mariage avec arpalice firent qu'elle s'y resolut et elle le fit d'autant plustost que son frere par un sentiment d'honneur pour son interest d'elle et pour celuy de thrasimede l'en pressa extremement de sorte qu'apres avoir employe un quart d'heure a raccommoder sa coessure et a se mettre en estat de faire voir que sa beaute meritoit bien de n'estre pas mesprisee elle fut au palais de cresus conduite par philistion mais elle entra de si bonne grace dans la chambre de la princesse palmis ou estoit toute cette grande et illustre compagnie qu'elle attira les yeux de tous ceux qui s'y trouverent androclee estoit grande et de belle taille elle avoit dans l'air du visage quelque chose de majestueux et quelque chose de doux et quoy que tous les traits n'en fussent pas esgallement beaux elle avoit pourtant l'air d'une grande beaute apres qu'elle fut entree dans la chambre de la princesse de lydie et que cyrus l'eut receue fort civilement il la presenta a timarete et a palmis mais des qu'elle entra elle chercha des yeux a connoistre arpalice qu'elle s'estoit fait depeindre par philistion arpalice de son coste qui avoit eu beaucoup d'envie de voir androclee qui avoit eu l'avantage 
 de toucher le coeur de menecrate devant elle la regardoit attentivement si bien que le hazard ayant fait que leurs yeux se rencontrerent et androclee croyant bien que celle qu'elle regardoit estoit arpalice a cause de ce que philistion luy en avoit dit il arriva qu'elles rougirent toutes deux et que cyrus s'en apperceut de sorte que prennant la parole le scay bien leur dit-il en les regardant que vous n'avez pas besoin qu'on vous nomme l'une a l'autre et que vous vous connoissez sans qu'on vous ait fait connoistre comme je cherche a excuser menecrate reprit androclee je seray bien aise qu'une aussi belle personne que celle que je regarde ait cause son inconstance pourveu que cette inconstance cesse les louanges que vous me donnez repliqua arpalice devroient m'obliger a rougir de confusion mais au lieu de m'amuser a les rejetter j'ayme mieux vous dire que j'ay une extreme joye de voir que selon toutes les apparences menecrate ne vous reverra pas plustost qu'il se repentira de l'injustice qu'il vous a faite et de la peine qu'il m'a donnee apres ce la cyrus qui ne cherchoit qu'a se delivrer promptement de tout ce qui l'empeschoit de penser a mandane commenca de demander a arpalice quels estoient ses interests en cette rencontre mais cette fage fille luy respondit qu'elle n'en avoit que deux le premier d'estre dispensee de l'engagement ou le testament des parens 
 de menecrate et des siens sembloit l'avoir mise avecque luy et l'autre que par sa prudence il empeschast que thrasimede et menecratene se batissent apres cela arpalice se teut ce n'est pas que si elle eust suivy les secrets mouvemens de son coeur elle n'eut dist quelque chose de plus pressant a l'advantage de thrasimede mais sa modestie l'en empescha en suitte cyrus demanda a androclee ce qu'elle pretendoit je pretends seigneur repliqua t'elle que pour punir menecrate de n'avoir pas commence d'aimer la belle arpalice des qu'il a commence de la connoistre vous l'obligiez de tenir sa parole a une personne dont le merite et la beaute sont beaucoup au dessous de celle qu'il luy prefere mais que je tiens qu'il est oblige d'aimer seulement parce qu'il le luy a promis apres cela cyrus voulut encore que philistion luy dist ses sentimens et comme il n'estoit pas moins hardy que genereux il luy dit franchement que quand il ne seroit qu'amy de thrasimede il s'opposeroit autant qu'il pourroit au mariage de menecrate et d'arpalice mais qu'estant outre cela frere d'androclee il ne l'endureroit point et qu'ainsi il faloit de necessite que menecrate se preparast a se battre et contre thrasimede et contre luy s'il songeoit a espouser arpalice cyrus ayant donc ouy ce que pretendoient arpalice androclee et philistion il les 
 pria de passer dans une autre chambre en suitte dequoy il envoya querir l'une apres l'autre menecrate parmenide et thrasimede mais auparavant que de demander au premier quelles estoient ses pretentions il luy aprit que philistion et androclee estoient a sardis et luy fit comprendre qu'ils estoient pour luy faire tenir sa parole mais seigneur s'escria-t'il si le coeur que j'avois lors que je promis a androclee de l'aimer est change que puis-je faire pour la contenter de plus je ne luy promis autre chose si-non de faire ce que pourrois pour rompre avec arpalice et plust aux dieux qu'il fust en ma puissance de le vouloir car apres les mespris que cette cruelle fille a eus pour moy et la bonte qu'androclee a encore de ne me hair pas je serois sans doute bien aise de me pouvoir vaincre moy mesme mais ne le pouvant seigneur je vous conjure de vous souvenir que les volontez des morts doivent estre inviolables du moins dit cyrus a menecrate est il juste que vous escoutiez les pleintes d'androclee menecrate voulut s'en deffendre mais la princesse timarete et la princesse palmis le condamneret a passer dans la chambre ou elle estoit avec arpalice et aveque phililistion a condition que cleonice et doralise l'y conduiroient apres qu'il eut obei parmenide parut qui ayant entieremet oublie cleoxe ne pour cydipe declara qu'il n'avoit autre interest au demesle de menecrate et de thrasimede sinon qu'ayant 
 promis au premier de le servir aupres de sa soeur autant qu'il pourroit il ne vouloit pas changer de sentimens quoy qu'il ne luy eust pas fait espouser cleoxene parmenide ayant dit tout ce qu'il avoit a dire se retira et l'on fit venir thrasimede quoy qu'il ne fust pas necessaire de luy demander ce qu'il pretendoit estant assez aise de comprendre que pourveu qu'on luy donnast arpalice il ne seroit plus ennemy de menecrate neantmoins pour suivre l'ordre cyrus voulut qu'il parlast mais il le fit avec tant d'esprit et donna tant de marques d'amour pour arpalice que tous ceux qui l'escouterent se rangerent absolument de son party de sorte que se retirant comme les autres il donna la liberte a l'illustre cyrus de prendre les advis de la princesse timarete de la princesse palmis du prince sesostris du prince myrsile et de toute la compagnie mais quoy que ce ne soit pas la coustume de voir tant de personnes ensemble sans que leurs opinions soient extremement partagees elles ne le furent presques pas cette fois la d'abord il y eut pourtant quelques personnes qui encore qu'elles fussent persuadees que thrasimede meritoit mieux arpalice que menecrate eurent toutesfois peine a comprendre qu'il fust permis de n'accomplir pas la volonte d'un pere qui ordonne quelque chose en mourant mais apres avoir entendu parler cyrus elles changerent d'advis et comprirent que les mariages doivent estre si libres que les 
 peres s'ils sont sages ne doivent pas mesme de leur vivant vouloir contraindre leurs enfans a se marier contre leur inclination jugez donc disoit ce grand prince puis qu'un pere qui seroit en estat de connoistre ce qui serait avantageux a sa fille seroit pourtant blasme s'il la marioit contre son inclination s'il ne doit pas estre permis a arpalice de ne suivre pas la volonte du sien puis qu'il n'a pu prevoir lors qu'il luy a ordonne d'espouser menecrate que menecrate la mespriseroit durant long-temps que menecrate promettrait a androclee de rompre avec arpalice et que menecrate enfin n'aimeroit sa fille que par caprice et que pour empescher son rival d'estre heureux pour moy dit la princesse palmiste ne croy point qu'un pere doive jamais disposer par son testament de la volonte de ses enfans en effet adjousta timarete qui a respondu a un pere que ce jeune enfant qu'il veut qui soit un jour mary de sa fille sera vertueux aussi suis-je persuade reprit sesostris que les peres qui font de semblables testamens n'ont dessein qu'on leur obeisse qu'en cas que les choses se trouvent raisonnablement comme elles doivent estre cela estant dit le prince myrsile il est aise de prononcer un arrest favorable pour thrasimede selon mon sens adjousta cyrus ce qu'il faut le plus considerer en cette affaire est de tascher de faire le moins de malheureux que l'on pourra et d'empescher un combat entre de si bonnestes gens que de quelque 
 coste que penchast la victoire il y auroit lieu de regretter le vaincu car encore que menecrate soit inconstant et un peu capricieux il a pourtant et du coeur et de l'esprit il faut donc s'il vous plaist adjousta cyrus en se tournant vers les deux princesses considerer que si on obligeoit arpalice a accomplir le testament de son pere en espousant menecrate ils seroient tous malheureux et que menecrate se trouveroit engage a se battre et contre thrasimede et contre philistion contre le premier pour l'interest de sa maistresse et contre l'autre pour celuy de sa soeur il y en auroit sans doute beaucoup d'infortunez reprit lycaste mais il me semble qu'ils ne le seraient pas tous car enfin menecrate possederoit sa maistresse il est vray reprit cyrus qu'il possederoit la beaute d'arpalice mais je suis persuade que puis qu'il ne possederoit point son coeur il ne se pourrait dire content et le plus grand bon-heur de menecrate en cette occasion seroit qu'il auroit empesche son rival d'estre heureux car du reste des que les premiers jours de son mariage seraient passez il seroit au desespoir d'avoir espouse une personne qui le hairoit et qu'il n'aimeroit peut-estre plus puisque de l'humeur dont est menecrate je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes si la possession de ce qu'il aime n'est un moyen infaillible de faire mourir l'amour dans son coeur pour arpalice il est aise de coprendre qu'espousant menecrate qu'elle hait et que n'espousant 
 pas thrasimede qu'elle aime elle seroit fort mal-heureuse androclee de son coste ne seroit pas fort satisfaite de voir un homme pour qui elle a de la passion estre mary d'une autre philistion ne seroit pas non plus trop content de voir que menecrate apres avoir promis a sa soeur de l'espouser en espouseroit une autre et pour thrasimede il est aise de comprendre qu'estant ausi amoureux d'arpalice qu'il l'est et scachant qu'il en est aime il auroit sujet de se trouver un des plus malheureux amans du monde si son rival possedoit sa maistresse de sorte que par ce que je viens de dire vous voyez bien qu'en donnant arpalice a menecrate on rend malheureux tous ceux qui sont interessez en cette affaire car parmenide luy mesme quoy qu'il face semblant d'estre encore attache aux interests de menecrate sera pourtant bien aise si je ne me trompe que sa soeur n'espouse pas le frere d'une personne qu'il ne veut plus voir et dont il a este mal traite au contraire a envisager la chose de l'autre coste et a donner arpalice a thrasimede il demeure constant que ces deux personnes sont heureuses qu'on satisfait philistion qu'on rend justice a androclee qu'on ne desoblige gueres parmenide et qu'on force menecrate a estre plus heureux qu'il ne le veut estre puis qu'on luy donne une femme dont il est aime et qu'on luy en oste une dont il est hai de plus la chose estant ainsiquand mesme il ne voudroit pas foumettre son esprit a 
 la raison il n'auroit lieu d'en vouloir venir aux mains qu'avec thrasimede et n'auroit rien a demander a philistion joint que des que thrasimede sera mary d'arpalice les sentimens de menecrate changeront on se bat souvent contre un rival dans la pensec de profiter de sa dessaite lors qu'il n'a pas espoufe la personne qu'on aime mais on ne se bat pas si legerement contre le mary de sa maistresse que contre l'amant cyrus ayant cesse de parler tout le monde fut de son opinion de sorte que ne s'agissant plus que de tascher de persuader a menecrate qu'il faloit qu'il contentait androclee et qu'il cedast arpalice a thrasimede ils se mirent tous a chercher les voyes de luy adoucir la chose autant qu'ils pourraient prenant la resolution de faire faire le mariage de thrasimede et d'arpalice devant que d'oster les gardes a menecrate mais durant qu'on raisonnoit sur son aduanture et que son destin estoit entre les mains de tant d'illustres personnes il n'estoit pas peu embarrasse de se trouver entre arpalice qui le maltraitoit estrangement et androclee qui luy faisoit mille reproches mais qui les luy faisoit d'une maniere a attendrir l'ame la plus dure injuste que vous estes luy disoit elle en luy monstrant arpalice pourquoy m'avez vous preferee durant quelque temps a cette belle personne et pourquoy puisque vous l'avez fait ne le faites vous pas encore il faloit du moins poursuivoit elle puis que vous estiez 
 devenu aussi inconstant pour moy que vous aviez este injuste pour arpalice il faloit m'advertir de vostre inconstance il faloit m'envoyer le portrait de cette admirable fille pour rendre vostre foiblesse excusable et il faloit du moins me demander pardon de m'avoir trahie en me donnant un coeur dont vous n'estiez pas le maistre mais au lieu de cela vous m'avez laissee dans un silence injurieux pendant que pour vous estre fidelle je mesprisois un homme qui m'aimoit ardemment si vous m'eussiez fait scavoir vostre foiblesse j'aurois toute ma vie cache celle que j'avois eue pourrons mais ayant apris la vostre par une autre voye et ayant descouvert la mienne a mes parens il n'y a plus a balancer et il faut que vous me teniez vostre parole ou que je me resolue a la mort nous mourrons donc tous deux luy disoit menecrate avec une confusion estrange car le moyen de souffrir qu'on m'oste arpalice et de souffrir que vous me reprochiez mon crime de grace reprit fierement arpalice ne prenez nul interest en ma personne et soyez persuade que quand je n'aurois nulle autre raison de vous hair que celle de scavoir l'infidelite que vous avez faite a androclee je vous hairois effroyablement eh de grace interrompit menecrate si vous voulez que je ne sois pas encore plus criminel que je ne le suis envers cette admirable fille ne me la faites pas regarder comme la cause de vostre haine vous poures vous regarder vous mesme comme la cause de 
 mon estime reprit arpalice si vous satisfaites androciee et si vous me laissez en repos plust aux dieux dit-il que vous m'y eussiez laisse et que par des charmes inevitables vous ne fussiez pas venu troubler la douceur que je trouvois a soupirer pour la belle androclee quoy qu'il en soit luy dit arpalice je vous declare que quoy que cyrus ordonne de nos differens je ne seray jamais a vous je vous abandonne tout le bien que mes peres m'ont laisse mais pour ma liberte scachez que je la conserveray toute entiere c'est pourquoy sans vous engager inutilement a faire de nouveaux outrages a une personne d'autant de merite qu' androclee prenez une ferme resolution de vous vaincre vous mesme et pour vous tesmoigner que je ne veux pas vous nuire aupres d'elle et qu'au contraire je seray ravie qu'elle vous pardonne je veux bien luy parler pour vous et en effet arpalice se mit a conivrer androclee d'oublier son crime et il se fit alors une conversation entre ces deux filles qui divertit extremement cleonice et doralise mais principalement cette derniere de qui l'ame fiere et superbe prenoit quelque plaisir a triompher dans son coeur de la foiblesse d'autruy cependant menecrate plein de confusion et de desespoir s'imposa silence durant qu'arpalice et androclee parloient s'il tournoit les yeux vers arpalice il voyoit tant de marques de haine pour luy sur son visage qu'il estoit contraint de ne la regarder plus et s'il les tournoit 
 vers androclee il voyoit dans les siens encore tant de marques d'amour malgre son infidelite qu'il estoit force de destourner ses regards de peur d'estre contraint de sentir dans son coeur quelques remords de sa faute il ne pouvoit pourtant s'empescher de les regarder de temps en temps toutes deux quoy qu'il ne sceust pas luy mesme pourquoy il les regardoit mais il trouva tousjours tant de fierte dans les yeux d'arpalice et tant de douceur et de melancolie dans ceux d'androclee que la honte commenca d'estre aussi forte dans son coeur que l'amour et d'exciter un certain trouble dans son ame qu'il n'eust jamais creu sentir une heure auparauant androclee parmy la douleur et la melancolie qu'elle avoit sur le visage y avoit encore je ne scay quoy de passionne et de languissant capable d'adoucir la cruaute mesme et l'on voyoit si bien par je ne scay quel sombre esclat qu'elle avoit dans les yeux que si elle n'eust retenu ses pleurs elle les eust eus tous couverts de larmes qu'il n'estoit pas possible de la regarder sans en avoir pitie on connoissoit mesme par le mouvement de sa gorge qu'elle estouffoit mille souspirs et l'on voyoit bien clairement qu'il y avoit dans son coeur autant d'amour que d'affliction les choses estant donc en cet estat et cyrus ayant resolu par l'advis de toute la compagnie qu'il faloit que thrasimede espousast arpalice et menecrate androclee il fit venir ce dernier et luy dit qu'apres 
 avoir examine tout ce qui c'estoit passe entre thrasimede et luy il ne jugeoit pas qu'il eust sujet de s'en pleindre que thrasimede n'avoit aime arpalice qu'apres avoir ouy de sa propre bouche qu'il n'en estoit point amoureux qu'ainsi il n'avoit nul droit de le quereller que quant a arpalice il ne pouvoit pas non plus l'accuser d'injustice veu la facon dont il avoit vescu avec elle que pour androclee il estoit oblige de la satisfaire en luy tenant la parole qu'il luy avoit donnee et que par ce moyen philistion seroit content aussi bien qu'elle qu'il le conjuroit de croire qu il avoit considere ses interests sans preocupation et qu'a parler raisonnablement il luy auroit fait tort s'il luy avoit oste androclee qu'il le prioit encore de considerer que puis que les services n'avoient pu vaincre arpalice ses violences ne la vaincraient pas et que si elle aimoit thrasimede comme il y avoit aparence ce ne seroit pas le moyen de s'en faire aimer que de se batre contre luy sans en avoir aucun sujet legitime qu'il le conjuroit donc de conformer sa volonte a la necessite qu'il y avoit pour luy de ne posseder jamais arpalice et de vouloir faire de bonne grace par raison et par grandeur de courage ce qu'il faudroit tousjours qu'il fist par force menecrate escouta le discours de cyrus avec un profond silence mais ce fut pourtant sans grande attention et l'on voyoit bien qu'il examinoit plus les raisons qu'il se disoit a luy mesme que celles que cyrus luy representoit 
 mais a la fin se voyant dans la necessite de respondre il suplia ce prince de luy donner trois jours pendant lesquels il tascheroit d'obtenir de luy ce qu'on en desiroit je le veux-bien luy dit cyrus a condition qe vous rendrez chaque jour une visite a la belle androclee j'y consens repliqua menecrate pourveu que j'aye la liberte d en rendre aussi une a la cruelle arpalice je le veux encore reprit cyrus dans l'esperance que j'ay que sa fierte vous persuadera mieux que mes paroles et que vous connoistrez que j'agis autant en cette occasion comme vostre amy que comme vostre juge apres cela menecrate se retira avec ses gardes thrasimede s'en retourna aussi avec les siens et toute la compagnie se separa il est vray qu'arpalice qui estoit ravie de voir androclee pria doralise auparauant de faire en forte qu'elle logeast au palais mais il ne sur pas besoin de son credit pour cela car cyrus voyant toutes ces belles filles rentrer dans la chambre ou il estoit dit a androclee et a arpalice que puis qu'a ce qu'il paroissoit elles estoient aussi bien ensemble que leurs amans y estoient mal il ne les falloit pas separer comme eux en suitte dequoy il pria lycaste de vouloir bien qu'androclee eust une chambre aupres de la sienne comme en effet elle y fut logee et par ce moyen elle augmenta encore la grandeur et la beaute de la compagnie par sa presence cependant comme cyrus tenoit pour perdu tout le temps qu'il n'employoit pas ou a servir mandane 
 ou du moins a penser a elle il se recompensa de celuy qu'il avoit employe tout ce jour-la a songer aux interests d'autruy en passant toute la nuit sans faire autre chose que de penser a sa chere princesse ou a ses rivaux mazare de son coste estoit encore plus malheureux parce qu'il estoit sans esperance et s'il n'eust pas eu une vertu toute extraordinaire il n'eust jamais pu agir comme il faisoit car enfin il renfermoit si bien toute la violence de ses sentimens dans son coeur qu'il ne paroiffoit sur son visage que de la tristesse et de la froideur et l'on eust dit a le voir que c'estoit seulement un prince naturellement melancolique et serieux tant il estoit maistre de luy mesme il est vray que ses desplaisirs esclaterent un matin d'une estrange sorte par une chose qui renouvella toutes ses douleurs comme ce prince n'avoit pas este chez la princesse palmis lors qu'on y avoit parle des differens de thrasimede et de menecrate il n'avoit point veu cyrus de tout ce jour-la et ne scavoit pas s'il n avoit rien apris de mandane de sorte qu'ayant une extreme envie de scavoir s'il n'en scavoit rien il fut le lendemain de grand matin a la chambre de cyrus qui apres avoir passee la nuit sans dormir s'estoit leve de fort bonne heure et s'estoit mis pour redonner quelque quietude a son esprit a regarder seul dans son cabinet les seules choses qui luy restoient de sa chere princesse c'est a dire son portrait et cette belle et magnifique escharpe 
 qu'elle luy avoit autrefois refusee et qu'il avoit eue depuis de mazare apres le naufrage qu'il avoit fait avec mandane de sorte que comme on fut dire a cyrus que mazare demandoit a le voir il creut que c'estoit pour luy dire qu'il avoit sceu quelque chose de mandane si bien que commandant avec precipation qu'on le fist entrer mazare entra en effet mais il n'eut pas fait deux pas dans ce cabinet qu'il vit sur la table le portrait de mandane et cette escharpe qu'il avoit remise entre les mains d'artamene dont la veue remit si fort dans son imagination l'injustice qu'il avoit eue pour cette princesse en la trahistant comme il avoit fait pour l'enlever qu'il ne put s'empescher de donner des marques du trouble interieur de son ame ha seigneur s'escria-t'il en regardant cyrus que ne me faites vous voir seulement cette mal-heureuse escharpe sans me monstrer cette admirable peinture car en me faisant voir cette marque de mon crime sans me faire voir la beaute qui me le fit commettre je ne ferois expose qu'a sentir dans mon ame un renouvellement de douleur et je ne craindrois pas d'y sentir une augmentation d'amour je vous demande pardon repliqua cyrus en voulant renfermer la boiste ou estoit la peinture de mandane de vous avoir expose a un si grand suplice helas seigneur reprit mazare en soupirant et en luy retenant le bras je ne scay dequoy je me pleins ny ce que je veux mais je scay seulement que quand mon amour s'il estoit 
 possible deviendroit encore plus violente qu'elle n'est quoy qu'elle soit extreme je n'entreprendrois jamais rien dont vous vous deussiez fascher tant que nostre princesse vous aimeroit et ne m'aimeroit pas c'est pourquoy comme vous estes bien assure qu'elle vous aimera tousjours et qu'elle ne m'aimera jamais ne m'enviez point le plaisir que je puisse voir un instant le portrait de l'admirable mandane afin que voyant la peinture de l'adorable personne que j'ay tant offencee et de qui j'ay presque cause toutes les infortunes le repentir en soit plus grand dans mon coeur ainsi seigneur au lieu d'augmenter mon amour comme je le disois tout a l'heure cette veue augmentera le remords que j'ay d'avoir enleve cette princesse d'un lieu ou vous estiez prest de la delivrer voyez donc genereux rival puis que vous le voulez le portrait de nostre princesse reprit cyrus mais s'il est possible voyez-le avec des sentimens qui me permettent d'estre vostre amy et qui ne dementent point cette belle et heroique resolution que vous semblez avoir prise en vous contentant de desirer l'estime et l'amitie de mandane et de travailler a sa liberte je vous le promets seigneur luy dit cet amant afflige apres quoy il voulut regarder ce portrait mais a peine eut il jette les yeux dessus et l'eut il regarde un peu de plus pres que la rougeur luy montant au visage il sentit une agitation si forte dans son coeur que ne se sentant pas l'ame aussi ferme qu'il l'avoit 
 pense il referma la boiste ou il estoit avec precipitation et en la redonnant a cyrus reprenez seigneur luy dit-il reprenez cette merveilleuse peinture je suis plus foible que je ne pensois et je ne dois pas encore respondre si hardiment de mes sentimens mais pour reconnoistre le soin que je prends a les vaincre souffrez du moins que je regarde cette escharpe qui me fait voir mandane dans les flots agitez et preste a estre noyee par ma faute il me semble reprit cet amoureux prince que je la voy encore lors que n'ayant plus d'autre secours que celuy que je luy donnois en la soustenant avec cette escharpe malgre l'impetuosite des vagues elle ne laissoit pas de vouloir se detacher de moy aimant mieux mourir que de recevoir la vie des mains de son ravisseur mais helas divine princesse s'escrioit-il vous ne scaviez pas quel estoit le changement qui estoit arrrive dans mon ame et plust aux dieux genereux rival pour suivoit-ilen se tournant vers cyrus que je fusse assure d'estre le reste de ma vie dans les mesmes sentimens que j'estois lors qu'un amas de vagues espouvantables qui tomba rapidement sur nous fit detacher cette escharpe et me separa de nostre princesse quej'entrevis un instant au milieu de ces vagues escumantes qui l'environnoient et que je creus voir un moment apres engloutir dans l'abisme encore une fois seigneur plust aux dieux que cette funeste image fust inseparable de mon esprit mais helas il y a malgre' 
 moy des instans ou je ne voy que ce qui peut accroistre ma passion mazare disoit toutes ces choses avec tant de douleur et tant de sincerite tout ensemble que cyrus en avoit le coeur attendry tout son rival qu'il estoit aussi songea-t'il a choisir si bien toutes ses paroles que mazaren y pust trouver aucun suiet d'augmentation de chagrin et apres que ce mal-heureux prince se fut pleint que cyrus en son particulier eut accuse sa mauvaise fortune et que chacun a leur tour ils se furent pleints et consolez ils se demanderent l'un a l'autres ils n'avoient rien apris de leur princesse depuis qu'ils ne s'estoient veus et se donnerent par leur responce un egal redoublement d'inquietude en se disant qu'ils n'en scavoient rien cependant comme leur conversation fut assez longue cyrus fut adverty qu'il y avoit tant de monde dans sa chambre que pour s'en delivrer plustost il sortit de son cabinet pour donner lieu de luy parler a ceux qui en avoient envie en suitte il fut voir arianite afin de s'entretenir avec elle de sa chere princesse cherchant le plus qu'il pouvoit cette consolation en attendant qu'il sceust ou elle estoit et qu'il fust en estat d'agir il eut plus d'une fois quelque tentation de faire ce qu'avoit fait le roy d'assirie mais il connut bien tost que sa passion l'aveugloit et que ce n'eust pas este servir mandane que de s'esloiger d'un lieu ou tous les advis de ceux qu'il avoit envoyez s'en informer devoient venir de sorte que se contenant de tenir 
 toutes choses en estat de marcher des qu'il scavroit le lieu ou elle seroit il taschoit du moins de n'oublier rien a faire de ce qu'il croyait que la generosite vouloit qu'il fist ou pour les princes qu'il avoit vaincus ou pour ceux qu'il avoit protegez ou pour ses amis ou pour ses domestique ou pour ses soldats si bien que le troisiesme jour que menecrate avoit pris estant arrive il n'oublia pas de songer a terminer son affaire mais il aprit qu'il estoit tombe malade la derniere nuit et malade avec tant de violence qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de luy demander quels estoient ses sentimens sur la chose dont il s'agissoit cyrus n'eust pas plustost ouy ce qu'on luy disoit qu'il commande que ses medecins eussent soin de menecrate comme en effet ils le visiterent et le trouverent en si mauvais estat qu'ils n'oserent respondre de sa vie de sorte que cette nouvelle estant sceue d'androclee elle en fut si affligee que son affection ne pouvant souffrir qu'elle s'arrestat a suivre tout ce que l'exacte bien-seance eust voulu apres l'infidelite que menecrate avoit eue pour elle elle le fut visiter tous les jours avec lycaste qui estant de mesme ville que luy ne creut pas qu'elle deust l'abandonner joint qu'arpalice esperant que la veue d'androclee toucheroit a la fin le coeur de menecrate prioit instamment lycaste d'y mener tous les jours cette belle affligee d'abord menecrate en parut irrite apres comme son mal devint encore plus grand il fit 
 comme s'il n'y eust point pris garde mais lors qu'il commenca de diminuer et qu'il vint a considerer que depuis qu'il estoit malade arpalice ne luy avoit pas donne une seule marque de son souvenir et qu'il avoit veu mille et mille fois les beaux yeux d'androclee tous couverts de larmes a sa consideration il la vit avec moins de peine et peu de jours apres il la vit avec plaisir on eust dit qu'a mesure que sa fievre diminuait son infidelite s'en allait avec elle et il y eut lieu de croire qu'il recouvreroit en mesme temps de la sante du corps et de l'esprit et qu'il se rendroit capable de suivre la raison et les conseils de cyrus cependant on preparoit un esquipage si superbe pour renvoyer timatete au roy son pere qu'il estoit aise de juger par la que cyrus luy vouloit rendre tous les honneurs qu'il pouvoit il avoit aussi donne ordre qu'il y eust des vaisseaux prests au mesme port ou sosostris s'estoit desbarque en venant en asie mais en attendant que cet esquipage fust prest sesostris attendoit sans impatience le jour de son despart car il trouvoit tant de douceur aupres de timarete et tant de satisfaction avec cyrus qu'il ne pouvoit pas sentir aigrement ce peu de retardement qu'on aportoit a son entiere felicite le prince artamas de son coste trouvant tous les jours lieu de rendre quelque service a sa princesse en la personne de cresus ou en celle de myrsile en estoit si favorablement traite qu'il n'eust pas voulu changer 
 son bon-heur contre celuy d'aucun autre aussi lors que cyrus faisoit comparaison de l'estat ou il le voyoit a celuy ou il estoit il s'en croyoit encore plus mal-heureux mais aussi quand il se souvenoit de celuy ou il avoit veu le prince artamas et qu'il consideroit le changemet qui estoit arrive en sa fortune il ne desesperoit pas de la sienne
 
 
 
 
il est vray qu'il fut bien-tost sensiblement afflige car apres avoir attendu tant de jours avec tant d'inquietude il vit revenir ceux qu'il avoit envoyez a milet qui luy dirent qu'assurement le roy de pont n'avoit point aborde le long de cette coste ceux qu'il avoit aussi envoyez a gnide revinrent aussi peu scavans que les premiers qui n'en scavoient pas davantage que ceux qui avoient este a ephese et a beaucoup d'autres villes maritimes qui assurerent tous que le roy de pont n'avoit point aborde en ces lieux la de sorte que cyrus et mazare estoient en une affliction inconcevable lors qu'un matin celuy qui avoit eu ordre d'aller a cumes revint et revint si a propos qu'il parla a cyrus et a mazare devant que d'avoir parle a personne de sa connoissance car comme il avoit une impatience extreme de dire a ce prince ce qu'il scavoit n'ignorant pas qu'il seroit magnifiquement recompense de la peine qu'il avoit eue il fut droit a la citadelle ou il trouva cyrus qui s'entretenoit avec mazare dans son cabinet cherchant a imaginer entr'eux quelle resolution ils devoient prendre des qu'il parut 
 cyrus se souvenant fort bien que c'estoit luy qui avoit eu ordre d'aller a cumes s'avanca vers luy et luy demanda avec precipitation s'il avoit apris quelque chose seigneur dit-il je loue les dieux de ce que j'ay este plus heureux que mes compagnons et de ce que c'est moy qui vous apprendray ou est la princesse mandane a ces paroles cyrus et mazare l'embrasserent tous deux a la fois et le presserent de leur dire en diligence ce qu'il scavoit seigneurs leur dit-il je scay de certitude que le roy de pont et la princesse mandane font a cumes mais ils y sont connus de fort peu de gens l'ay sceu que le roy de pont en y abordant fit mettre a son vaisseau la banniere de milet comme si c'eust este un vaisseau marchand j'ay sceu mesme qu'il y arriva de nuit qu'auparavant que d'aborder il envoya un des siens dans un esquif parler au prince de cumes qui comme vous scavez est assez jeune quoy qu'il soit fort absolu dans son estat cependant sans que je scache la raison pourquoy il a agy ainsi il n'a pas descouvert aux habitans de cumes qu'il donnoit retraite au roy de pont au contraire pour faire que la chose esclate moins il ne l'a pas fait loger dans son palais et la princesse mandane est dans une maison particuliere mais elle y est soigneusement gardee de plus le prince de cumes sur le pretexte de vos grandes victoires et de ce que toute l'asie est en armes commence de faire armer des vaisseaux et de faire 
 faire des levees de gens de guere dans son pais c'est assurement dit cyrus que ce prince ne veut point qu'on scache qu'il a donne retraite au roy de pont qu'il ne se soit mis en estat de se deffendre il n'en faut pas douter respondit mazare mais encore adjousta cyrus parlant a celuy qui aportoit cette nouvelle par ou avez vous sceu ce que vous nous aprenez et pouvons nous nous fier a vos paroles seigneur reprit-il comme j'ay assez voyage en ma vie et que j'ay este a la guerre fort jeune il s'est rencontre qu'un homme qui sert celuy chez qui on a loge mandane estoit mon compagnon a la guerre des milesiens contre policrate de sorte que l'ayant rencontre sur le port de cumes et renouvelle nostre connoissance je me resolus de de me servir de luy pour descouvrir ce que je vouloir scavoir mais je ne fus pas dans la necessite de me confier le premier a sa discretion car insensiblement partant d'un discours a un autre comme je luy disois qu'il estoit heureux de demeurer en une ville si tranquile durant que toute l'asie estoit en armes il se mit a me dire que cumes auroit bien tost son tour et en suitte voulant me tesmoigner que nostre ancienne amitie subsistoit encore dans son coeur puis qu'il me confioit son secret il m'apprit ce que viens de vous dire en suitte dequoy il me dit que son maistre chez qui mandane estoit logee avoit une douleur estrange de ce que le prince de cumes donnoit retraite au roy de pont parce 
 qu'il craignoit que cela ne causast la ruine de son pais disant qu'il avoit ouy ce qu'il me disoit de la bouche de son maistre qui en parloit avec sa femme sans croire qu'il l'entendist mais luy dit cyrus n'en scavez vous rien que ce que cet homme vous en a dit ouy seigneur reprit-il mais donnez vous un peu de patience je vous diray donc poursuivit cet heureux espion qu'en suite de ce que je vous ay dit celuy qui me parloit me dit encore qu'il y avoit une fille avec cette princesse qui luy faisoit la plus grande pitie du monde qu'elle luy parloit quelquefois par une fenestre grillee qui donnoit sur une petite cour de derriere pour tascher de le suborner afin qu'il portait une lettre a quelqu'un qu'elle luy diroit quand il luy auroit promis de luy estre fidele luy offrant pour cet effet des pierreries qu'elle luy monstroit qui paroissoient estre d'un assez grand prix mais me dit-il je me trouve bien embarrasse car je ne veux pas trahir mon maistre mais je ne veux pas aussi luy descouvrir ce que cette fille m'a dit de peur qu'on ne la resserrast et qu'on ne la mal traitast ha mon cher amy luy dis-je pour luy persuader mieux de faire ce que je voulois sa vertu est trop scrupuleuse partageons les pierreries et baille moy la lettre a porter ainsi tu profiteras de quelque chose sans t'exposer d'abord il eut de la peine a s'y resoudre mais voyant que je voulois bien estre complice de son crime je le fis enfin consentir a le commettre 
 de sorte que sans differer davantage il creut mon conseil il parla le soir a martesie il feignit de se laisser persuader il prit les pierreries et la lettre qui s'adresse a vous et m'apporta la lettre et les pierreries eh cruel que vous estes interrompit cyrus pourquoy ne m'avez vous pas donne cette lettre d'abord je n'en scay rien seigneur reprit-il si ce n'est que j'ay voulu vous conter par ordre tout ce que je scavois mais pour reparer cette faute je m'en vay vous la donner et en effet cet homme la presentant a cyrus ce prince vit que c'estoit une lettre de martesie qu'il ouvrit en diligence apres quoy il y leut ces paroles
 
 
 martesie a l'illustre cyrus 
 
 
 quoy que la princesse se pleigne tousjours de vous comme je suit persuadee qu'elle n'a pas sujet de s'en pleindre j'ay creu que je devois vous advertir que nom sommes a cumes ou selon les apparences nom demeurerons quelque temps si vous voulez vous justifier aupres de la personne qui vous accuse il faut quitter la princesse araminte pour la venir delivrer mais pour vous consoler scachez que vostre rival ne profite pas de vostre disgrace et que la princesse ne pouvant en l'estat ou elle est se vanger de vous se vange sur luy de l'infidelite dont elle vous soupconne pour ne pas dire dont elle vous accuse cependant soyez assure que des que vos troupes 
 paroistront je parleray en vostre faveur et que vous ne remporterez pas un advantage a la guerre que je ne le face valoir aupres d'elle pour vostre justification apres cela il faut que je vous die encore que l'ay sceu avec autant de bon-heur que d'adresse que ce que le roy de pont aprehende le plus est d'estre assiege par mer aussi bien que par terre car il est a craindre s'il voulait d'abord une armee navale qu'il ne pretende encore nous enlever voila seigneur tout ce que vous peut dire une personne qui ne desespere pas que celuy qui a prit artaxate babilone et sardis ne prenne encore bientost cumes et ne soit bientost a la fin de toutes ses infortunes 
 
 
 martesie apres que cyrus eut leu cette lettre il la monstra a mazare qui la leut avec quelque leger sentiment de joye car encore qu'il n'esperast plus rien neantmoins il sentit quelque consolation de connoistre par cette lettre que mandane se pleignoit de cyrus ce n'est pas qu'il ne jugeast bien que le temps tout seul justifieroit ce prince aupres d'elle mais il ne pouvoit pourtant pas s'empescher de trouver quelque douceur a penser qu'a l'heure qu'il parloit elle l'aimoit moins qu'elle n'avoit fait pour cyrus il eut sans doute beaucoup de douleur de scavoir que l'injustice de sa princesse continuoit mais il eut aussi beaucoup de consolation descavoir que martesie estoit tousjours pour luy et de scavoir ou estoit mandane mais devant que de resoudre ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire il 
 demanda encore a celuy qui luy avoit donne cette lettre s'il ne scavoit rien davantage et pourquoy il n'avoit point tasche de voir luy mesme martesie pour luy aprendre qu'il estoit envoye expres a cumes pour scavoir des nouvelles de la princesse seigneur reprit-il c'estoit bien mon dessein car apres voir pris la lettre que je viens de vous rendre je dis a mon amy que je luy laissois toutes les pierreries a condition qu'il me feroit parler a martesie ce qu'il me promit mais par mal-heur il arriva que cet homme parlant a cette fille fut veu par son maistre qui ayant remarque qu'il luy parloit avec affection le chassa a l'heure mesme de sorte qu'il me vint retrouver pour me dire qu'il n'estoit plus en estat de faire ce que je souhaitois si bien que voyant que je ne pouvois rien faire davantage en ce lieu la pour vostre service je suis revenu en diligence cyrus voyant donc qu'il scavoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit scavoir de cet homme le fit recompenser si magnifiquement qu'il estoit aise de juger qu'un prince si liberal estoit bien amoureux mais en le congediant il luy dessendit expressement de dire a personne qu'il sceust rien de la princesse mandane en suitte dequoy mazare et luy adviserent ce qu'ils auoient a faire mais apres avoir considere la chose de tous les biais dont elle pouvoit estre consideree ils conclurent qu'il ne faloit point qu'ils tesmoignassent scavoir ou estoit la princesse qu'ils ne fussent en estat d'aller assieger 
 cumes et principalement qu'ils n'eustent des vaisseaux de guerre pour en fermer le port s'il estoit possible de sorte que pour cacher mieux la chose cyrus se resolut de dire a tout le monde qu'il ne pouvoit descouvrir ou estoit mandane et afin de tromper plus finement le roy de pont s'il avoit quelques espions a sardis mazare luy conseilla d'envoyer encore en divers lieux comme pour tascher d'avoir des nouvelles de la princesse et en effet cyrus en presence de beaucoup de gens depescha plusieurs des siens pour cela mais pour ne perdre point de temps et pour descouvrir moins son dessein il renvoya leontidas vers thrasibule avec une ample instruction de ce qu'il desiroit qu'il fist le conjurant de luy fournir le plus de vaisseaux de guerre qu'il pourroit et de les faire armer le plus promptement et le plus secretement qu'il seroit possible le priant du moins de trouver un pretexte pour faire qu'on ne soubconnast pas que ce fust pour luy le conjurant encore d'en demander au prince de mytilene ii renvoya aussi megaside au prince philoxipe a qui il escrivit pour luy rendre grace de l'esperance qu'il luy avoit donnee en luy faisant scavoir l'oracle que la princesse de salmis avoit receu et qui avoit este si heureusement accomply mais il le conjura aussi de luy faire donner des vaisseaux par le roy son maistre il envoya encore vers le prince de cilicie pour le mesme sujet et afin de scavoir tousjours avec certitude 
 si le roy de pont ne partiroit point de cumes il renvoya le mesme homme qui luy avoit apris qu'il y estoit quoy que ce ne fust pas la qu'il dist qu'il alloit mais en le renvoyant il luy donna une lettre pour martesie et allez de pierreries pour suborner ceux qui gardoient la princesse s'ils estoient capables de l'estre et que par ce moyen il pust du moins faire rendre a martesie la lettre qu'il luy escrivoit luy donnant aussi deux esclaves extremement fideles afin qu'il pust s'en servir a luy faire scavoir ce qu'il jugeroit a propos de luy mander lors qu'il seroit arrive a cumes il resolut encore avec mazare que l'armee de terre ne marcherait point que celle de mer ne fust en estat de servir de peur d'allarmer trop tost le prince de cumes et le roy de pont et de ruiner le dessein qu'ils avoient de delivrer mandane en pensant l'avancer cependant ils se pleignoient plus que jamais devant le monde de ne scavoir point ou estoit cette princesse et en tesmoignoient avoir un desplaisir extreme mais la veritable douleur qu'ils avoient estoit de scavoir qu'elle estoit dans une ville aussi forte que l'estoit cumes qui estoit en ce temp la redoutable a tous ses voisins neantmoins comme cyrus n'avoit rien attaque qu'il n'eust pris et que sa valeur n'avoit jamais rencontre d'obstacles qu'elle n'eust surmontez l'esperance de vaincre encore une fois faisoit qu'il avoit l'ame un peu plus tranquile qu'il ne l'avoit auparavant qu'il sceust 
 ou estoit mandane les choses estant en ces termes cyrus eut des nouvelles de ciaxare qui luy mandoit par les courriers qu'il avoit establis qu'il luy disoit encore une fois ce qu'il luy avoit desja tant dit d'autres qu'il n'entendoit point que son pouvoir fust borne qu'ainsi il pouvoit disposer absolument de toutes choses rendre et oster des couronnes et faire de ses conquestes tout ce qu'il jugeroit a propos qu'il trouvoit aussi bien que luy qu'estant oblige de continuer la guerre il seroit plus aise de conserver la lydie en la redonnant a cresus avec les conditions qu'il luy proposoit que d'entreprendre de la garder en le laissant vivre en esclave joint qu'il trouvoit encore qu'il avoit raison de luy escrire qu'en le faisant roy tributaire il se feroit honneur a luy mesme puis qu'il se donneroit un plus illustre sujet adjoustant toutesfois que pour le tenir en devoir et l'empescher de brouiller il ne vouloit point qu'il luy rendist ses thresors et qu'il le prioit de les prendre pour luy en suite ciaxare se pleignoit du mal-heur de mandane et l'encourageoit a poursuivre ses victoires jusques a ce qu'il l'eust delivree cyrus se voyant donc avec l'authorite toute entiere de traiter cresus comme il luy plairoit prit une resolution digne de son grand coeur car comme le roy de phrigie et le prince artamas entrerent dans sa chanbre il se mit a dire au premier que ne pouvant pas songer a rompre le marriage du prince artamas avec la princesse 
 palmis qui estoit si digne de luy et ne pouvant pas se resoudre non plus a luy voir espouser la fille d'un roy sans royaume il avoit resolu de redonner a cresus la couronne qu'il venoit de perdre ha seigneur s'escria le prince artamas est-il possible que j'aye bien entendu ouy reprit cyrus et pour vous le tesmoigner je veux que pour faire vostre reconciliation toute entiere avec cresus vous alliez luy dire de ma part que le roy des medes m'ayant laisse la disposition toute entiere de sa couronne je la luy rends a condition qu'il fera vassal de ciaxare comme le roy d'armenie qu'il luy payera un leger tribut pour marque de sa dependance qu'il me suivra a la guerre avec le prince son fils jusques a ce que j'aye delivre la princesse mandane et que jusques au jour que je partiray pour aller au lieu ou je scauray qu'elle sera ils auront des gardes ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que je doute de leur parole des qu'ils me l'auront donnee mais c'est qu'il ne faut pas donner lieu au peuple de faire un soulevement qui me forceroit a luy nuire apres cela le roy de phrigie et le prince artamas donnerent mille louanges a cyrus le dernier y joignit mille remercimens qu'il auroit encore plus estendus si l'impatience de porter une si agreable nouvelle ne l'eust oblige a renfermer une partie de sa reconnoissance dans son coeur joint que cyrus connoissant bien quelle seroit la joye de ce prince de pouvoir dire a la princesse palmis 
 qu'elle reverroit encore le roy son pere sur le throne il luy imposa silence le conjurant d'aller en diligence s'aquiter de sa commission mais comme je scay bien adjousta-t'il que vous auriez quelque peine d'aller a l'apartement de cresus sans passer par celuy de la princesse sa fille je vous conjure de le faire et de vouloir l'assurer que j'ay une extreme satisfaction d'estre en pouvoir de faire une chose qui luy sera agreable je n'en userois pas avec tant de liberte reprit cyrus si je ne jugeois qu'un prince a qui on donne lieu de rendre une couronne ne s'offencera pas qu'on le charge d'un compliment pour sa maistresse artamas respondit a la civilite de cyrus avec un profond respect en suitte dequoy il fut avec une diligence estrange trouver sa chere princesse pour luy aprendre l'heureux changement de la fortune du roy son pere cette nouvelle la surprit d'une telle forte qu'elle ne la pouvoit croire mais a la fin se voyant contrainte d'adjouster foy aux paroles d'artamas elle eut une joye qu'on ne scauroit exprimer elle n'entreprit pourtant pas de la tesmoigner avec exageration car elle eut une telle impatience que cresus sceust son bonheur qu'elle pressa vingt fois artamas d'aller promptement le luy aprendre et elle l'en pressa tant en effet qu'il la quitta des qu'il luy eut fait le compliment de cyrus il fut donc apres cela chez le roy de lydie qu'il trouva dans une melancolie tres profonde aussi tost qu'artamas 
 entra dans sa chambre cresus je leva pour le recevoir mais a peine eue il loisir de le faire qu'artamas prenant la parole luy aprit que cyrus luy redonnoit la couronne de lydie eh de grace interrompit cresus ne redoublez point la pesanteur de mes fers par une fausse esperance de remonter sur le throne non seigneur reprit artamas le bien dont je vous parle n'est pas mesme de ceux qu'on espere quelque temps devant que de les posseder vous estes encore roy de lydie si vous le voulez et alors artamas commenca de luy dire les conditions que cyrus mettoit a son restablissement que cresus trouva si douces veu le maheureux estat ou il croyoit estre pour toute sa vie qu'elles ne diminuerent rien de la joye qu'il avoit de remonter sur le throne comment ils en estoient la chrysante entra qui vint dire a cresus que cyrus le prioit de ne trouver pas mauvais s'il adjoustoit encore une condition a celles dont le prince artamas estoit charge devant que de faire une declaration publique de son restablissement le discours de chrysante troubla extremement ces deux princes cresus commenca de douter de son bonheur et artamas aprehenda du moins que cette condition que cyrus demandait encore n'eust quelque chose de fort dur ou de fort honteux pour le roy de lydie puis qu'il ne l'en avoit point voulu charger mais a la fin chrysante prenant la parole et l'adressant a cresus seigneur luy dit il ce que j'ay ordre de vous 
 dire est que le prince mon maistre souhaite que le mesme jour qu'il choisira pour vous rendre vostre couronne dans le plus fameux de vos temples et a la veue de vos subjets vous donniez dans ce mesme temple la princesse vostre fille au prince artamas qui l'a meritee par tant de services le discours de chrysante surprit si agreablement ces deux princes qu'ils furent quelque temps sans pouvoir parler mais a la fin cresus revenant de l'admiration ou il estoit de la vertu de cyrus pria chrysante de dire a son maistre que quelque precieuse que fust la couronne qu'il luy rendoit il croyoit luy estre aussi oblige de donner un tel mary a sa fille que de ce qu'il luy rendoit un royaume qu'aussi pouvoit il l'assurer que cette derniere chose qu'il souhaitoit de luy ne l'empescheroit pas de remonter bien tost au throne puis qu'il ne l'en trouvoit pas indigne et que son grand coeur ne l'y faisoit consentir artamas entendant parler cresus de cette sorte luy fit mille veritables protestations de service et en suitte donna mille louanges a cyrus et comme le prince myrsile entra alors dans la chambre et qu'il sceut ce qui se passoit il partagea la joye du roy son pere et joignit ses louanges et ses remercimens aux siens mais apres avoir allez tesmoigne leur reconnoissance le prince artamas et chrysante s'en retournerent vers cyrus pour luy aprendre avec quelle joye et avec quels sentimens de gratitude cresus myrsile et palmis avoient apris 
 jusques ou alloit sa generosite pour eux ce ne fut pas seulement par leur bouche que cyrus en fut assure car cresus n'osant encore demander la liberte d'aller en personne luy dire ses sentimens y envoya aussi bien que le prince myrsile et la princesse palmis mais comme cyrus scavoit bien que quiconque oblige promptement redouble le prix de l'obligation il dit au roy de phrygie qu'il vouloir donner ordre que tout ce qui seroit necessaire pour cette double ceremonie fut bien tost prest afin qu'elle se pust faire devant le depart de timarete et que les nopces du prince artamas fussent honnorees de la presence du prince sesostris et de la princesse d'egypte comme en effet ce prince ayant donne cette commission a chrysante on commenca de faire les preparatifs de cette grande feste cependant artamas fut aussi tost qu'il eut quite cyrus aprendre a palmis la nouvelle obligation qu'il luy avoit luy exagerant sa joye avec tant de transport d'amour que cette princesse n'en avoit jamais si bien connu la grandeur qu'elle la connut alors pour elle comme elle avoit une modestie extreme elle en tesmoigna beaucoup moins de scavoir que son mariage estoit assure qu'elle n'en avoit tesmoigne en aprenant que son pere remonteroit au throne quoy que la succession de la couronne ne la regardait pas directement artamas n'en murmura pourtant point car connoissant cette princesse comme il faisoit il avoit tousjours bien creu que s'il avoit jamais 
 a estre heureux elle luy cacheroit une partie de sa satisfaction cependant quoy que cyrus n'eust pas eu dessein que la chose esclatast jusqu'au jour de la ceremonie il n'y eut pourtant pas moyen de la cacher principalement a cause d'une entreveue qui se fit du roy de phrygie et de cresus de sorte que s'en estant espandu quelque bruit elle fut bien tost sceue de tout le monde ce fut alors que le nom de cyrus fut hautement celebre parmy les habitans de sardis mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que la principale joye qu'ils eurent fut d'aprendre qu'encore qu'on leur redonnast leur roy ils ne laisseroient pas d'estre encore en quelque facon sous la puissance de cyrus puis qu'il seroit vassal de ciaxare ii y eut mesme encore une chose assez extraordinaire en cette rencontre car bien que ce soit la coustume lors que quelqu'un recoit un bienfait de se contenter d'aller voir ceux qui le recoivent pour s'en rejouir avec eux sans aller visiter celuy qui l'a fait il n'en fut pas de mesme en cette occasion car tout ce qu'il y avoit a sardis de gens de qualite a l'oser entreprendre furent remercier cyrus devant que de s'aller rejouir avec le roy de lydie de sorte que ce n'estoient que complimens et au palais et a la citadelle toutes les dames allerent aussi chez la princesse palmis tant celles de la ville qui ne pouvoient se lasser de louer cyrus qui en soulageant les malheurs de tous ceux qu'il avoit vaincus redoubloit aigrement 
 les siens car quand il pensoit que le prince artamas alloit bientost possder la personne qu'il aimoit et qu'il songeoit que mandane estoit dans cumes entre les mains d'un de ses rivaux qu'il falloit de necessite attendre une armee navale pour l'attaquer et que le succes du siege pouvoit estre douteux il souffroit des maux incroyables l'absence du roy d'assirie avoit aussi quelque chose qui augmentoit ses inquietudes quoy que sa presence luy fust insuportable cependant pour ne diminuer rien de la satisfaction du prince artamas pour qui il avoit tant d'estime il r'enferma une partie de sa douleur dans le fonds de son ame afin de ne troubler pas une si belle feste et pour ne manquer a rien il fut visiter cresus et myrsile mais ce ne fut plus comme leur vainqueur ce fut comme leur amy il fit aussi une visite a la princesse palmis et a la princesse timarete mais en retournant chez luy il fut fort surpris et de voir menecrate qui ayant commence de quitter la chambre ce jour la venait luy rendre graces des soins qu'il avoit eus de luy et luy aprendre que la maladie du corps avoit guery son esprit et luy avoit fait si bien connoistre qu'androclee meritoit toute son affection qu'il venoit luy dire qu'il estoit prest de luy obeir et de ne regarder plus thrasimede comme son rival cyrus ravy du discours de menecrate envoya a l'heure mesme querir thrasimede philistion et parmenide a qui ayant dit l'heureux changement 
 qui estoit arrive au coeur de menecrate il trouva les deux premiers fort disposez a l'embrasser et pour parmenide comme il n'avoit point d'interest a la chose que celuy de menecrate puis qu'il estoit content il l'estoit aussi de sorte qu'il ne restoit plus rien a faire qu'a advertir lycaste mais cyrus ne fut pas a la peine d'y envoyer car son mary estant arrive a sardis avec lysias frere de candiope elle vint elle mesme les amener a cyrus accompagnee de cydipe d'arpalice de candiope et d androclee si bien que parce moyen la reconciliation se fit toute entiere entre toutes ces personnes dont les interests avoient este si meslez mais pour la faire plus solide cyrus conjura menophile mary de lycaste de vouloir bien que la mariage d'arpalice et de thrasinide se fist le lendemain que se seroit celuy du prince artamas il fit aussi la mesme priere a philistion pour celuy d'androclee et de menecrate et conme il scavoit quels estoient les sentimens de parmenide pour cydipe et de philidion pour pandiope il parla a menophile et a lycaste pour le premier et a lysias et a candiope pour l'autre et il parla si fortement et trouva si peu d'obstacles dans l'esprit des personnes qu'il entreprenoit de persuader qu'elles luy accorderent ce qu'il vouloit ainsi ces quatre mariages furent resolus en un instant et tous ces differens dont la suite paroissoit devoir estre si funeste furent heureusement terminez la chose ayant este sceue lycaste et sa 
 belle troupe ne fut pas plustost retournee au palais que les princesses la furent visiter doralise et pherenice y furent avec elles et cleonice y fut la derniere parce qu'elle avoit este occupee a recevoir sa mere qui scachant que sa fille estoit a sardis estoit partie d'ephese pour l'aller querir avec intention de la ramener de sorte que cleonice ayant apris a stenobee quelles estoient toutes ces dames et l'obligation qu'elle leur avoit elle fut elle mesme les visiter et elle y fut conduite par lygdamis qui se servant de cette favorable occasion pria instamment ismenie qui avoit tousjours este la confidente de sa chere cleonice de vouloir parler pour luy a stenobee afin de presser son mariage la chose se pouvoit d'autant plus facilement que son pere qui estoit gouverneur du chasteau d'hermes estant venu a sardis et cyrus ayant fait sa paix avec cresus il estoit en estat de pouvoir s'achever sans obstacle et en effet ismenie en fit la proposition mais elle ne se trouva pas assez puissante toute seule et il falut que cyrus employait ses prieres qui eurent un effet tel que lygdamis l'eust pu souhaiter il eut pourtant une petite douleur de voir que cleonice devint un peu resveuse des qu'elle sceut qu'infailliblement elle espouseroit ligdamis et comme il la fit presser par ismenie apres l'en avoir luy mesme pressee inutilement de dire ce qui l'empeschoit d'avoir de la joye elle respondit que c'estoit qu'elle craignoit qu'apris s'estre 
 autrefois affligee de ce que l'amitie de lygdamis estoit devenue amour et depuis encore de ce qu'elle avoit aprehende que cette amour ne fust redevenue amitie il n'arrivast que lors qu'elle auroit espouse lygdamis elle ne la fust de ce qu'il n'auroit peutestre plus ny amour ny amitie pour elle luy semblant que le mariage estoit plus propre a faire naistre l'indifference la jalousie et le mespris qu'a entretenir l'estime l'amour et l'amitie mais a peine eut elle dit cela a ismenie qu'elle le dit a ligdamis qui donna tant de marques d'amour a cleonice par la douleur qu'il eut du soubcon qu'elle avoit qu'en fin il dissipa de son esprit ce petit nuage sombre qui s'y estoit esleve et luy persuada qu'elle pouvoit attendre de luy une passion violente et durable tout ensemble de sorte qu'apres cela elle souffrit que la joye parust dans ses yeux lors qu'elle receut d'arpalice de cydipe de candiope et d'androclee la mesme civilite qu'elle leur avoit rendue mais au milieu de tant d'amans heureux andramite souffroit infiniment parce qu'il trouvoit toujours doralise plus fiere on eust dit mesme que la joye des autres la mettoit en chagrin et que les preparatifs de tant de nopces l'importunoient car elle en faisoit tousjours quelque raillerie qui luy faisoit connoistre qu'elle n'estoit pas d'humeur d'augmenter le nombre de celles qui se devoient marier voyant donc qu'il ne gagnoit rien aupres d'elle par ses soins et par ses services 
 il se resolut d'avoir recours au prince myrsile car comme il avoit remarque qu'elle le consideroit beaucoup et qu'il le revoyoit en puissance et en authorite il creut que peutestre s'il vouloit se donner la peine de parler a doralise elle pourroit se resoudre a l'espouser par raison d'establissement il elle ne ne le faisoit par affection mais auparavant que de tenter cette voye il consulta pherenice avec qui il avoit fait amitie pour luy demander conseil s'il le devoit faire et comme elle luy dit que du moins cela ne luy pourroit nuire il fut trouver ce prince pour luy demander protection mais il fut fort surpris lors qu'apres luy avoir explique son intention il luy dit qu'il luy demandoit un office qu'il eust souhaitte de tout son coeur estre en pouvoir de luy rendre mais que diverses raisons qu'il ne luy pouvoit dire l'en empeschant il chercheroit quelque autre occasion de luy tesmoigner combien il l'estimoit que cependant il luy conseilloit comme son amy de ne s'obstiner pas a aimer doralise apres quoy estant arrive du monde andramite se retira aussi mal satisfait de myrsile que de sa maistresse a peine fut il party que ce prince qui n'avoit point veu doralise depuis qu'il luy estoit permis d'esperer d'estre un jour roy de lydie fut a sa chambre luy faire une visite car il avoit la liberte du palais toute entiere en attendant que la ceremonie ou cyrus devoit redonner la couronne a cresus se fist cependant pherenice apres avoir conseille a andramite 
 d'employer le credit du prince mysile se mit a parler pour luy a doralise afin de luy preparer l'esprit a recevoir mieux ce que le prince luy diroit mais elle luy fit si bien connoistre que jamais elle ne se resoudroit a espouser andramite qu'elle n'en douta point du tout de sorte que ne croyant pas rien faire contre luy elle creut qu'elle devoit advertir son amie de ce que myrsile luy devoit dire afin qu'elle le refusast plus civilement mais elle fut si bien surprise de voir que doralise se mit en colere contre andramite de ce qu'il avoit eu recours au prince myrsile il est vray qu'elle n'eut pas loisir de dire beaucoup de chose contre luy car ce prince arriva un moment apres qui luy fit changer de discours des qu'il entra dans la chambre de doralise pherenice en sortit pour quelque affaire qui l'appelloit ailleurs et par ce moyen myrsile demeura en liberte d'entretenir cette aimable fille mais a peine fut-il assis que cette fiere personne croyant qu'il alloit luy parler d'andramite le prevint je voy bien seigneur luy dit elle brusquement sans se donner loisir de se consulter elle mesme que vous vous preparez a me parler de la folie d'andramite mais de grade ne me dites rien qui m'empesche de me resjouir autant que je le dois de la generosite que cyrus a eue pour le roy vostre pere et pour vous ne craignez pas aimable doralise luy dit-il que je vous parle jamais de la passion d'andramite ce n'est pas qu'il ne m'en ait fort solicite mais j'ay une si 
 puissante raison qui m'en empesche que vous ne devez pas craindre que je vous importune de ma vie en vous parlant pour luy cela estant seigneur repartit doralise il faut que je vous tesmoigne donc l'extreme satisfaction que j'ay de pouvoir esperer de vous voir bien tost ou raisonnablement vous devez estre si je suis bientost ou raisonnablement je dois estre reprit il je seray sans doute bien-tost ou il y a long-temps que je me souhaite et ou vous ne desirez pas que je sois quoy seigneur reprit doralise je pourrois desirer que vous ne suffiez pas roy de lydie ce n'est pas ce que je dis reprit il et ce n'est pas dans le throne que mes desirs me portent le plus joint que j'ay desire ce que je desire encore aujourd'huy du temps que le prince atys vivoit et que je n'y devois pas pretendre pour moy reprit doralise en souriant je croy que du temps que vous dites vous ne souhaitiez que de pouvoir parler il est vray respondit il mais je ne le souhaitois que pour vous pouvoir dire je vous aime ha seigneur s'escria doralise en riant ne pensant pas que le prince myrsile parlast serieusement si vous eussiez bien fait entendre vous dis-je qui filles si bien comprendre a pherenice que vous entendiez mieux qu'elle cette agreable fable d'esope qui convenoit si admirablement a la princesse palmis et a ses amans il est certain repliqua-t'il que je vous eusse pu faire scavoir que je vous aimois puis que je vous leusse pu 
 mesme tout muet que j'estois vous parler des yeux et vous dire par leur moyen ce que je suis resolu de vous dire aujourd'huy mais quelle aparence y aurait il eu de m'exposer a la raillerie de la plus redoutable personne de la terre moy dis-je qui voyois tous les jours les hommes du monde qui parloient le mieux devenir muets aupres de vous par la crainte qu'ils en avoient mais seigneur reprit-elle ne suis-je pas aussi redoutable que j'estois vous l'estes mesme encore plus reprit-il car je vous trouve plus belle que vous n'estiez mais je suis devenu plus hardy c'est pourquoy je ne fais plus nulle difficulte de vous apprendre ce que je vous ay cache toute ma vie scachez donc aimable doralise que j'ay commence de vous aimer des que j'ay commence de vous voir que des vostre plus tendre enfance j'ay eu de l'affection pour vous que cette affection s'est acreue avec vostre beaute et que durant les amours de cleandre d'artesilas d'abradate et de mexaris je vous aimois aveque plus d'ardeur que tous ces princes ensemble n'en avoient pour les princesses dont ils estoient amoureux ouy charmante doralise poursuivit-il durant ce profond silence ou les dieux m'avoient condamne je mourois d'amour pour vous ha seigneur interrompit doralise vous ne me persuaderez jamais cela car enfin puis que la tendresse que vous avez eue pour le roy vostre pere vous a fait parler lors que vous avez veu ce 
 soldat qui le vouloit tuer je ne doute nullement que si vous eussiez eu pour moy une violente passion vous n'eussiez parle pour me la dire puis que vous deviez parler mais c'est assurement qu'il y avoit autant de silence en vostre coeur qu'en vostre bouche et que la tranquilite estoit aussi grande en vostre ame qu'en la mienne ne scavez vous pas repliqua le prince myrsile que l'amour est accoutume a faire des muets de ceux qui parlent le mieux comment donc eussiez vous voulu qu'il eust fait parler un mal-heureux amant qui l'estoit desja pourquoy donc parlez vous aujourd'huy reprit-elle je parle dit-il par la mesme raison que je me taisois car enfin je me taisois parce que je ne pouvois parler et je parle parce que je ne me puis taire au reste poursuivit-il comme je vous ay tousjours ouy dire que vous vouliez un coeur tout neuf qui n'eust jamais rien aime que vous j'ay creu que le mien estant tel que vous l'avez desire je pouvois vous l'offrir sans vous faire outrage puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'a jamais receu d'autre image que la vostre de plus je ne vous estre pas seulement un coeur tout neuf je vous exprime encore ma passion avec des paroles qui n'ont jamais este prophanees a exprimer ny de feintes ny de veritables passions je n'ay jamais prononce le mot d'amour que pour vous seulement je n'ay jamais dit je vous aime qu'une seule fois et cette seule fois n'a este que pour vous n'ayez donc pas l'injustice de me rejetter 
 avec la mesme rigueur que si je vous offrois un coeur qui eust receu mille images differentes et que je vous disse des choses que j'aurois dites mille et mille fois aupres d'une autre le vous assure seigneur reprit-elle que vous m'embarrassez de telle sorte que pour peu que vous continuyez de me parler comme vous faites vous me forcerez a regretter le temps ou vous ne me pouviez parler car enfin je voudrois bien ne vous dire rien de trop aigre ny de trop incivil cependant je sens que si vous me persuadez ce que vous semblez tesmoigner vouloir que je croye il sera difficile que je demeure dans les justes bornes que le respect que je vous dois demande de moy c'est pourquoy pour ne prendre pas ce que vous me dites serieusement scachez que lors que vous m'avez entendu dire que je voulois un coeur tout neuf j c'est que je parlois a des gens que je scavois bien qui n'en avoient pas car a dire les choses comme elles sont je n'en veux ny de neuf ny de vieux et je ne veux autre chose sinon que conserver le mien tout entier et en estre tousjours maistresse absolue au reste seigneur adjousta-t'elle j'ay encore a vous advertir que pour une personne qui ne passe pas tout a fait pour stupide dans le monde je suis pourtant une des filles de toute la terre qui scay le moins parler de galanterie j'en fais bien quelquesfois la guerre aux autres mais d'en parler pour moy mesme c'est ce que je ne scavrois faire et je suis assuree 
 que de l'heure que je parle je suis si descontenancee et j'ay l'air du visage si change qu'on pourroit me mesconnoistre c'est pourquoy seigneur si vous m'en croyez vous changerez de discours ou vous vous referez muet cruelle personne repliqua myrsile quel plaisir prenez vous a me monstrer toute vostre fierte a moy dis-je qui ne vous monstre qu'une petite partie de l'amour que j'ay pour vous si vous vouliez que j'en creusse quelque chose reprit-elle en riant il falloit tout d'un coup ne m'en rien cacher car de l'humeur dont je suis je ne croy pas la moitie de ce qu'on m'en dit joint que je ne pense pas que je vous donne souvent occasion de m'en entretenir mais afin que vous n'ayez pas sujet de vous pleindre de moy scachez s'il vous plaid seigneur que je suis bien plus propre a faire une amie qu'une maistresse car quand mesme pour mon malheur je n aurois pas le coeur insensible pour vous vous n'en seriez pas plus heureux puis que je ne m'en serois pas plustost aperceue que je ferois tout comme si je vous haissois songez donc si vous m'en croyez a n'estre pas mesme trop bien aveque moy de peur d'y estre trop mal et pour vous tesmoigner combien je suis delicate ou bizarre en de semblables choses il faut que je vous die qu'il m'est arrive plus d'une fois en ma vie d'avoir presques hai de fort honnestes gens seulement parce que par une foiblesse sans raison on m'avoit fait rougir en me parlant d'eux jugez donc ce que je ferois si vous alliez 
 m'embarrasser dans une galanterie encore une fois seigneur je n'y suis point propre estimez moy plus qu'une autre j'en seray bien aise mais ne meslez a cette estime ny amour ny tendresse si vous voulez que je vous sois obligee
 
 
 
 
comme myrsile alloit respondre arpalice et cydipe entrerent qui apres les premiers complimens faits dirent a doralise qu'il devoit arriver dans une heure un ambassadeur que le roy de phenicie envoyoit a cyrus qu'on disoit qui avoit un esquipage si magnifique qu'on n'avoit jamais rien veu de plus beau et que la princesse timarete dont l'apartement donnoit sur la place ou il devoit passer les avoit chargees de luy dire qu'elle seroit bien aise qu'elle allait avec les autres dames voir ces pheniciens qu'on disoit estre si magnifiques je prince myrsile entendant ce qu'arpalice et cydipe disoient se retira ne voulant pas aller voir passer un ambassadeur qui ne venoit pas pour le roy son pere joint que la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame l'occupoit si fort et la maniere dont doralise l'avoit traitte l'affligeoit de telle sorte qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de chercher un semblable divertissement pour elle il n'en fut pas de mesme car elle fut si satisfaite de ce qu'elle creut n'avoir rien dit de trop doux au prince myrsile qu'elle y alla avec une disposition la plus grande du monde de railler de ces estrangers qui devoient arriver mais elle ne trouva pas ce qu'elle cherchoit et toute son humeur enjouee et critique ne put trouver 
 rien a reprendre a ceux qu'elle alloit voir en effet jamais on n'a veu une telle magnificence que celle de cet ambassadeur soit pour le grand nombre de chameaux avec des couvertures de pourpre de tir brochees d'or ou pour la beaute de leurs chevaux ou pour la richesse de leurs habillemens de plus cet ambassadeur qui avoit la mine aussi haute que sa condition qui estoit des meilleures de phenicie avoit encore aveque luy plus de cent hommes de qualite extremement bien-faits que la seule curiosite de voir cyrus avoit portez a faire ce voyage mais entre ces cent il y avoit un homme illustre dont le merite estoit rare et extraordinaire qui s'apelloit aristhee et dont le nom estoit celebre par toute la grece et par toute l'asie de sorte que quelque disposition que doralise eust a railler ce jour la elle fut contrainte de louer presques tout ce qu'elle vit cependant on parloit diversement de cette ambassade dont personne ne scavoit la veritable cause a sardis mais on ne l'ignora pas long-temps et on sceut bientost ce qui la causoit en effet apres que cet ambassadeur fut descendu de cheval a la porte de la citadelle il fut conduit par hidaspe dans une grande sale ou cyrus luy donna audience cet ambassadeur parla en sa langue que cyrus entendoit assez bien et luy presenta une lettre du roy son maistre qui commencoit en ces termes 
 
 
 
 le roy phenicie au plus grand conquerant qui fut jamais 
 
 
 comme je ne doute pas puis que vous attaquez sardis que vous ne le preniez bien-tost j'envoye cet ambassadeur pour vous demander une grace que cresus ma cruellement refusee et que j'espere que vous ne me refuserez pas il a ordre de vous offrir mon alliance mon amitie et trente mille hommes si vous en avez besoin et de vous assurer qu'en acceptant ce que je vous envoye et ce qu'il vous offrira je ne laisseray pat de vous estre encore tres oblige si vous m'accordez ce que je vous demande 
 
 
 le roy de phenicie 
 
 
tant que la lecture de cette lettre dura cyrus chercha a deviner ce que le roy de phenicie pouvoit desirer de luy ne se souvenant pas alors d'une chose qu'on luy avoit desja dite mais ne pouvant rien imaginer il dit a cet ambassadeur que c'estoit de luy qu'il desiroit aprendre les moyens de satisfaire le roy son maistre en suitte dequoy cet ambassadeur luy dit avec autant de grace que l'eloquence que le principal point de son voyage estoit pour satisfaire l'envie qu'avoit le roy son maistre d'estre 
 d'estre allie d'un si grand prince exagerant alors quelle estoit sa reputation en phenicie mais qu'afin que cette alliance fust plus ferme il avoit bien voulu se mettre en estat de luy estre oblige en luy demandant une grace que cresus luy avoit refusee un peu auparavant la guerre ou il venoit d'estre vaincu et alors cet ambassadeur poursuivant son discours fit entendre a cyrus que ce que le jeune roy de phenicie desiroit de luy estoit qu'il luy rendist cette belle statue que cresus avoit autrefois achetee de dipoenus et de scillis et que le feu roy son pere leur avoit ordonne de faire un peu avant sa mort offrant pour cela pour plus de trois cens talens d'encens et pour plus encore de tout ce que l'arrabie heureuse produit d'autres choses precieuses et aromatiques car comme la syrie touche l'arrabie et que la phenicie fait partie de la syrie il y avoit un grand commerce entre les uns et les autres de ces peuples c'est pourquoy le roy de phenicie avoit choisi ce qu'il avoit creu estre de plus digne de servir a la rancon de la statue de la plus belle personne de son royaume et de plus digne aussi d'estre offert au plus grand prince du monde cet ambassadeur dit encore a cyrus qu'il estoit party de tyr des que le roy de phenicie avoit sceu qu'il avoit gaigne la bataille que cresus avoit perdue et qu'il avoit a pris qu'il avoit dessein d'assieger sardis adjoustant a la louange de cyrus qu'il avoit encore este plus 
 diligent a vaincre que luy a faire son voyage puis qu'il n'estoit arrive qu'apres sa victoire mais pour tesmoigner a ce prince que le roy son maistre ne doutoit pas de sa generosite il le suplia devant que de luy rendre responce de vouloir honnorer de ses regards les presens du roy de phenicie le priant de vouloir regarder a la fenestre qui donnoit sur la place afin de voir les chameaux qui en estoient chargez et qui par la magnificence de leurs couvertures faisoient assez voir que ce qu'ils portoient devoit estre precieux joint qu'il estoit aise d'en juger par l'agreable odeur dont tout l'air estoit remply a cause de cette abondance de parfums qui faisoit une partie de ce magnifique present cyrus voyant un procede si genereux fit ce que cet ambassadeur vouloit et prenant la parole pour vous tesmoigner luy dit-il que je ne veux pas de liberer si je dois accorder au roy vostre maistre ce qu'il desire de moy je veux bien accepter ce qu'il m'envoye non pas comme le prix de la belle statue que je luy rends mais comme un gage de son amitie qui m'est fort chere et j'accepte d'autant plustost un si riche present que la fortune m'a mis en estat de n'en estre pas ingrat et de luy pouvoir tesmoigner que je scay du moins imiter sa liberalite apres cela cyrus fit mille civilitez a cet ambassadeur trouvant lieu de le louer en son particulier car outre que cyrus estoit tres civil que le procede du roy de phenicie estoit fort genereux que 
 cet ambassadeur paroissoit estre tres honneste homme il est encore vray que cyrus scachant que les tyriens estoient tres redoutables sur la mer pensa qu'il en pourroit tirer quelque secours pour le siege de cumes c'est pourquoy il eut encore un soin plus grand de rendre au roy de phenicie en la personne de son ambassadeur tous les honneurs dont il se put adviser mais comme l'envie extraordinaire que le roy de phenicie avoit d'avoir cette statue donnoit de la curiosite a cyrus il luy demanda s'il estoit possible que la personne qu'elle representoit fust aussi belle qu'elle demandant encore si elle avoit l'ame et l'esprit dignes d'un si beau corps mais il luy dit qu'elle estoit plus belle que sa statue que son esprit estoit aussi grand que sa beaute estoit grande et que son ame estoit encore plus digne d'estime et d'admiration que sa beaute et que sans esprit adjoustant que sa fortune estoit aussi extraordinaire que son merite et sa vertu plus admirable encore que tout ce qu'il en avoit dit en suitte cet ambassadeur presenta a cyrus les plus considerables de ceux qui l'accompagnoient mais entre les autres cet homme illustre qui l'avoit suivy nomme aristhee et le luy presenta comme amy particulier de cette merveilleuse fille dont il luy parloit et comme estant luy mesme un des plus rares hommes du monde je me trouve bien-heureux dit cyrus en l'embrassant de ce qu'il n'a este que de ses anus car s'il eust este son amant je n'aurois 
 peut-estre pas eu le bien de le voir estant a croire qu'il auroit mieux aime demeurer aupres d'elle que de venir querir sa statue je puis vous assurer seigneur reprit aristhee que quand je serois son amant et que le seul desir de luy plaire m'auroit fait agir je n'aurois pas laisse d'avoir l'honneur que je recois aujourd'huy car cette merveilleuse personne prend un si grand plaisir a entendre parler de vostre vertu et de vos victoires que pour me mettre bien avec elle j'aurois toujours eu le dessein de pouvoir estre le tesmoin de tant de veritez qui vous sont avantageuses afin de pouvoir une fois en ma vie estre assure de luy plaire en l'entretenant de vous ce que je vous me dites reprit cyrus en la mesme langue qu'aristhee avoit parle est bien obligeant pour moy et je ne voudrois pas que tous ceux qui m'aprochent sceussent me flatter aussi doucement et aussi agreablement que vous de peur qu'en prenant trop de plaisir a leurs louanges je ne vinsse a la fin a n'en meriter plus de personne apres cela cyrus donna ordre a hidaspe de conduire cet ambassadeur et toute sa suitte au logement qui luy estoit destine luy commandant de le faire traiter avec une magnificence digne de celle du roy qui l'envoyoit cependant quoy que cyrus par la volonte de ciaxare fust demeure maistre des thresors de cresus a condition de ne les luy rendre point il ne laissa de luy vouloir dire quelque chose de cet ambassadeur bien qu'il ne fust pas 
 encore en possession de la couronne qu'il luy vouloit rendre et que ce ne d'eust estre que dans huit jours qu'on deust faire tout ensemble cette ceremonie et celle du mariage d'artamas et de tous ces autres amans heureux qui estoient alors a sardis il fit mesme plus car il fit si bien que cresus et cet ambassadeur se virent cyrus disant a ce dernier qu'il ne devoit plus considerer ce prince comme celuy qui avoit refuse la statue que le roy son maistre demandoit mais comme un roy vassalde ciaxare de qui il souhaitoit l'alliance puis qu'il desiroit la sienne de sorte qu'apres cette reconciliation que cet ambassadeur pouvoit faire parce que son pouvoir n'estoit point limite il visita la princesse palmis aussi bien que la princesse timarete et fut si charme de cette magnifique cour et de la beaute des dames qu'il y vit qu'il accorda aveque joye a cyrus la grace qu'il luy demanda d'assister a cette grande feste qui se devoit faire dans huit jours pendant lesquels on ne parloit que du roy de phenicie qu'on disoit estre amoureux de cette belle personne dont il redemandoit la statue tout le monde ayant une grande curiosite de scavoir un peu plus precisement quelle estoit cette avanture ce qui faisoit la difficulte de la scavoir estoit qu'ils n'estoient que trois ou quatre avec cet ambassadeur qui sceussent la langue lydienne et la langue greque que presques toutes les dames scavoient a sardis et que ces trois ou quatre 
 estoient tellement occupez a respondre a tout ce qu'on leur demandoit qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de les obligera une longue conversation joint que durant les premiers jours ils furent voir toutes les raretez de la ville et tous les thresors de cresus de sorte qu'en fin le grand jour de la feste arriva sans que personne sceust ce qu'on avoit tant d'envie de scavoir cette ceremonie fut sans doute une des plus belles du monde et des plus glorieuses pour cyrus s'il eust suivy son inclination il en eust retranche beaucoup de choses qui blessoient sa modestie mais il falut qu'il cedast a la coustume et aux conseils du roy d'hircanie de gadate de gobrias et de chrysante qui luy dirent qu'il importoit que les peuples vissent de leurs propres yeux que leur roy estoit son esclave et que c'estoit luy qui de son esclave le faisoit roy si bien que quelque repugnance qu'il y eust il ceda a l'usage et defera aux conseils de ses amis quoy que ce ne fust pas en toutes choses car il ne voulut point que cresus allast enchaisne dans les rues de sardis depuis le palais jusqu'au temple et voicy comment la chose se passa un peu apres qu'il fut jour on mena cresus et le prince myrsile dans un chariot au logis du grand sacrificateur qui touche le temple ou la ceremonie se devoit faire et ou ils furent jusques a ce qu'elle commencast ce temple qui est un des plus grands du monde estoit plein d'eschaffauts en amphiteatre tous magnifiquement 
 couverts de riches tapis de sidon ou toutes les dames se mirent afin de voir plus commodement toutes les rues depuis la citadelle jusqu'au temple estoient aussi superbement tendues y ayans des gens de guerre en haye des deux costez mais avec des armes si magnifiques qu'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus beau mille instrumens de guerre faisoient retentir l'air de sons agreables et esclatans qui attirerent tout le peuple de sardis ou dans le temple ou dans les rues qui y aboutissoient ou dans la place de devant la citadelle d'ou cyrus sortit accompagne de toute sa cour qui estoit si nombreuse et si magnifique ce jour la qu'il estoit aise de voir que c'estoit celle du vainqueur de l'asie pour l'ambassadeur de phenicie il estoit dans le temple sur un eschaffaut avec sa troupe assez pres de celuy ou estoit la princesse tamarete et toutes les dames qui estoient logees dans le palais de cresus lors que cyrus entra dans le temple avec cette foule de monde qui l'environnoit cresus estoit debout au milieu de ce temple ou le sacrificateur l'avoit conduit ayant une chaisne et des fers d'or aux mains et derriere luy le prince myrsile qui en avoit une la princesse palmis estoit aupres de luy mais sur des quarreaux de drap d'or et sans chaine cyrus n'ayant pas voulu qu'elle eust cette marque de servitude et qu'on luy peust reprocher d'avoir voulu triompher d'une dame des que ce prince entra dans ce temple une 
 musique admirable se fit entendre qui apres avoir chante un quart d'heure quelques louanges des dieux se teut apres quoy cyrus qui estoit sur un throne esleve de trois marches en descendit et ostant les chaisnes et les fers que cresus et myrsile tenoient et qu'il donna au sacrificateur il prit de la main de ce mesme sacrificateur une couronne qu'il luy presenta que cyrus mit sur la teste de cresus apres luy avoir fait jurer solemnellement de reconnoistre la puissance de ciaxare de ne se departir jamais de les interests et de garder inviolablement les conditions qu'il luy avoit liberalement accordees mais a peine cyrus eut il mis cette couronne sur la teste de cresus que mille cris d'acclamations firent retentir les voutes du temple et le peuple ne pouvant s'empescher de louer la generosite de cyrus ne pensa jamais s'imposer silence mais a la fin tous ces cris tumultueux qui ne parloient que de louanges et de joye s'estant apaisez cyrus cessant de traiter cresus en vaincu et d'agir en vainqueur luy demanda sa fille pour le prince artamas en presence du roy de phrigie qui le touchoit et a peine eut il parle que cresus prenant la princesse palmis par la main la presenta a cyrus et luy dit qu'il en disposast comme il luy plairoit en suitte dequoy faisant aprocher le prince artamas le sacrificateur s'avanca et fit la ceremonie des nopces de ce prince et de la princesse palmis a la fin de laquelle la musique recommenca et 
 bientost apres le prince artamas conduisit la princesse palmis dans un magnifique chariot qui l'attendoit a la porte du temple qui fut suivy de cent autres dans lesquels monterent toutes les dames tous les princes allant a cheval accompagnez de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite lors qu'ils furent au palais il y eut un festin magnifique et l'apres dinee une course de chevaux dans la grande place le repas du soir ne fut pas moins superbe que celuy du matin on fit des feux dans toute la ville et il y eut musique au palais la princesse palmis n'ayant pas voulu qu'il y eust bal a cause de l'excessive tristesse qu'elle voyoit dans les yeux de cyrus quoy qu'il se contraignist autant qu'il pouvoit joint aussi qu'encore que cyrus redonnait beaucoup au roy son pere en luy redonnant la couronne cresus avoit tousjours beaucoup perdu en perdant l'authorite independante et ses thresors de sorte que quoy que ce fust un jour de feste ce ne fut pas une feste qui eust toutes les marques de joye qu'elle eust pu avoir l'ambassadeur de phenicie en fut pourtant tres satisfait aussi bien qu'aristhees qui ne se pouvoit lasser d'admirer cyrus aussi s'attachoit il de telle sorte a l'observer qu'il ne le perdoit de veue que le moins qu'il pouvoit cependant cyrus n'ayant pas oublie ce qu'il avoit souhaite de ligdamis de thrasimede de menecrate de parmenide et de philistion la ceremonie de leurs nopces fut faite le lendemain 
 de celle d'artamas et toute la cour les honnora de sa prescence cette seconde feste n'estant guere moins magnifique que l'autre et cyrus n'estant pas moins melancolique ce second jour la que le premier de voir combien il estoit esloigne du bonheur de tous ces amans mazare n'estoit pas aussi plus guay que luy neantmoins cyrus ne laissoit pas d'aporter soin que l'ambassadeur de phenicie fust content de sa civilite pour cet effet il le divertit autant qu'il put et fit preparer des presens et pour le roy son maistre et pour luy qui valoient le double de ceux qu'il avoit receus et comme il trouvoit beaucoup de satisfaction en la conversation d'aristhee il l'entretenoit souvent et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison car jamais homme du monde n'a parle si bien de politique ny mieux entendu tous les divers interests des princes de ce temps-la qu'aristhee les entendoit il est vray qu'a dire la verite aristhee parloit de toutes choses esgalement bien aussi cyrus ne se contentoit-il pas de luy parler des affaires generales car il le menoit encore aux visites qu'il rendoit aux princesses et aux antres dames il se servoit mesme de luy pour scavoir combien le roy de phenicie luy pouvoit donner de vaisseaux auparavant que d'en faire la proposition a l'ambassadeur de ce prince de sorte qu'aristhee devint inseparable de cyrus comme il estoit scavant en toutes choses il scavoit tant de diverses langues qu'il pouvoit faire conversation avec toutes les dames 
 qui estoient la quoy qu'il y en eust de divers royaumes cependant comme l'ambassadeur de phenicie scavoit que plus il retourneroit promptement plus il seroit bien receu du roy son maistre il pressa son depart autant qu'il put cyrus de son coste ayant interest de le satisfaire afin d'obtenir les vaisseaux qu'il desiroit luy dit qu'il estoit prest de luy tenir sa parole mais auparavant que de luy rendre cette belle statue qu'il demandoit la princesse timarete la fut voir et en suitte toute la cour ceux mesme qui estoient de sardis et qui l'avoient veue plusieurs fois y retournerent par la curiosite que cette avanture leur donnoit en effet elle estoit telle que l'on ne parloit d'autre chose et comme aristhee estoit le plus mesle avec toutes les dames elles luy faisoient cent questions mais principalement doralise a qui il s'estoit plus attache qu'a aucune autre quoy que les autres recherchassent plus sa conversation qu'elle ne faisoit bien qu'elle l'estimast fort mais plus elle luy parloit de cette admirable personne que cette statue representoit plus il augmentoit sa curiosite de sorte que l'ayant un jour fort presse en la presence de la princesse palmis et de cyrus de luy en aprendre les advantures il luy promit de les luy faire raconter exactement par un homme de ses amis qui les scavoit bien plus particulierement que luy et qui sans doute les raconteroit fort agreablement comme vous n'estes pas de ce pais cy reprit doralise et que je 
 n'ay guere l'honneur d'estre connue de vous vous ne scavez pas que je donne guere de temps a ceux qui me promettent quelque chose principalement quand je suis assuree qu'en me faisant tenir ce qu'on me promet j'obligeray deux personnes aussi illustres que celles qui m'escoutent et qui seront sans douts bien aises de scavoir les avantures d'une fille ou le roy de phenicie s'interesse tant cyrus ayant aprouve ce que disoit doralise aussi bien que la princesse palmis aristhee leur dit qu'il les satisferoit quand ils voudraient de sorte que sans differer davantage il fut resolu que le soir il leur tiendroit sa parole comme en effet il la leur tint car il disposa celuy qui devoit raconter ce qu'ils vouloient scavoir a aller aveque luy chez la princesse palmis ou la princesse timarete se rendit afin d'avoir sa part de ce divertissement la il est vray qu'aristhee ne put pas y demeurer parce que l'ambassadeur de phenicie envoyant un courrier la nuit prochaine au roy son maistre pour luy rendre conte de l'heureux succes de son voyage il estoit oblige de luy escrire de sorte qu'apres avoir mene son amy qui s'apelloit telamis et que cyrus et les princesses connoissent desja pour un homme de beaucoup d'esprit il se retira demandant permission a cyrus d'aller durant que telamis feroit son recit en faire un au roy de phenicie de sa magnificence de sa generosite et de toutes les grandes qualitez qui estoient en luy adjoustant fort 
 obligeamment que comme il n'avoit pas dessein d'en cacher aucune au roy son maistre il ne croyoit pas pouvoir revenir qu'a la fin du recit de telamis apres quoy faisant une profonde reverence il se retira et laissa telamis avec la princesse de phrigie timarete cyrus et doralise qui apres quelque petite preparation qu'il leur fit pour les prier d'excuser le peu d'art qu'il employeroit a sa narration commenca de parler et de parler fort elegamment en grec que toutes les personnes qui l'escoutoient scavoient admirablement palmis et cyrus voulant qu'il adressast la parole a timarete
 
 
 
 
histoire d'elise
 
 
quoy que je scache bien madame que les personnes de vostre condition n'ignorent presques rien de tout ce qui se passe dans les cours des rois les plus esloignez de la leur je croy pourtant pouvoir raisonnablement penser qu'une princesse d'affrique prendra quelque plaisir a entendre raconter exactement quelles sont les moeurs et les coustumes d'un des plus considerables royaumes d'asie joint aussi que l'histoire que j'ay a vous reciter ne pouvant estre bien entendue sans vous donner une idee de nostre cour et de la maniere qu'on y vit je pense qu'il vaut mieux vous la depeindre en 
 general devant que de vous faire connoistre en particulier une partie des personnes qui la composent et qui font meslees dans l'avanture que je dois vous apprendre il faut donc madame que je vous die que comme les pheniciens ont presques este les premiers peuples d'asie qui se font exposez a faire de longs voyages sur la mer et qui ont estably le plus grand commerce parmy les nations voisines ils ont aussi este riches devant les autres et par consequent on peut dire que les plaisirs le luxe la volupte la magnificence ont este parmy eux devant que d'estre parmy les autres peuples ce n'est pas que cet estat n'ait este esbranle diverses fois tantost par l'enlevement que quelques pheniciens firent de la fille du roy d'argos tantost par celuy que ceux de crete firent a tyr de la tille du roy de phenicie tantost par la division de pigmalion et de didon et par la suitte de cette princesse et tantost par le souslevement general de tous les esclaves de phenicie qui en renverserent le gouvernement tout entier mais enfin malgre tant de traverses de la fortune ce royaume depuis quelque temps a recouvre sa premiere splendeur et les villes de tyr et de sidon qui peuvent presques se dire esgalement les capitales de cet estat sont assurement deux des plus belles des plus magnifiques et des plus riches villes du monde soit par leur assiette par la beaute de leurs bastimens ou par ce grand commerce qui fait qu'elles se peuvent 
 vanter de fournir la pourpre dont tous les rois du monde sont couverts et qui sert d'ornement a toute la terre de plus comme il n'y a rien qui contribue tant a perfectionner les arts que la richesse ny qui attire plus promptement tous les estrangers excellens en quelque chose que l'abondance on peut dire qu'on trouve la grece en phenicie estant certain qu'il y a des ouvriers de toutes ces villes celebres de sorte que parce moyen les palais font non seulement superbes a tyr et a sidon mais regulierement bastis les peintres y sont bons les sculpteurs excellens et la musique presque aussi charmante que celle de lydie les dames n'y sont pas seulement belles elles y sont magnifiques propres et adroites a tout ce qu'elles veulent entreprendre n'y ayant pas mesme une femme parmy de peuple de phenicie qui ne scache faire quelque ouvrage excellent soit pour les ornemens des femmes de qualite ou pour celuy des temples pour ce qui est de la cour je puis dire sans croire dire trop qu'elle est une des polies du monde la forme de vie qu'on y mene est sans doute assez agreable principalement parce que le merite y donne plus de rang que la qualite la conversation des dames y est permise mais c'est avec une honneste liberte qui est esgalement loin de la ceremonie et de l'incivilite le bal la promenade les jeux de prix et la musique font les divertissemens ordinaires de cette cour la 
 conversation est la principale occupation de tous ceux qui ont quelque esprit et principalement la conversation des dames chez qui ils se rencontrent tous les jours et qui semblent estre les dispensatrices de la gloire et de la reputation des honnestes gens estant certain que quiconque n'a point l'aprobation de quatre ou cinq dames qui sont l'ornement de leur sexe comme de cette cour ne peut pretendre a cette estime universelle que ceux qui sont possedez d'une ambition desinteressee desirent avec tant d'ardeur et que si peu de personnes mentent pour les hommes on peut dire qu'il y en a de toutes les manieres dont il y en peut avoir en effet on y voit des gens de grande qualite donc le merite est infinement au dessus de leur condition et l'on y en voit aussi qui n'ont rien de recommandable que leur qualite il y en a qui font consister leur gloire en la magnificence de leur train et de leurs habillemens et il y en a d'autres qui ne la mettent qu'en leur propre vertu on y voit sans doute comme ailleurs des gens qui ont une fausse galanterie insuportable mais a parler generalement il y a je ne scay quel esprit de politesse qui regne dans cette cour qui la rend fort agreable et qui fait qu'on y trouve effectivement un nombre incroyable d'hommes fort accomplis et ce qui les rend tels est que les gens de qualite de phenicie ne font pas profession d'estre dans une ignorance grossiere de toutes sortes de sciences comme on 
 en voit en quelques autres cours ou on s'imagine qu'un homme qui scait se servir d'une espee doit ignorer toutes les autres choses au contraire il n'y a presque pas un homme de condition a nostre cour qui ne scache juger assez delicatement des beaux ouvrages et qui ne cherche du moins a se faire honneur en honnorant ceux qui scavent plus que luy voyla donc madame quelle estoit la cour de phenicie lors que l'admirale fille dont j'ay a vous parler vint au monde et voila quelle elle est encore presentement il faut pourtant que je vous die auparavant que de vous parler de cette merveilleuse personne que le feu roy de phenicie qui a beaucoup de part au comencement de cette histoire estoit un prince qui comme vous scavez a merite de porter le nom de grand et de conquerant s'estant signale en cent occasions memorables et ayant aquis une reputation de valeur extraordinaire mais il estoit nay sous une constellation si amoureuse que jamais homme de sa condition ne l'a tant este aussi peut-on dire qu'il a tousjours eu plus de joye des conquestes qu'il a faites en amour que de celles qu'il a faites a la guerre il avoit une civilite universelle pour tout le sexe qui faisoit qu'il en estoit generalement aime et qui ayant passe de son esprit dans celuy de toute sa cour fait encore que tous les hommes qui ont vescu sous son regne ont une extreme veneration pour toutes les dames et je pense pouvoir assurer que les dieux ne pouvoient jamais faire 
 naistre la personne dont j'ay a vous entrenir dans un siecle ou il y eust plus de disposition a adorer sa beaute a admirer son esprit et a reverer sa vertu apres cela madame je vous diray que cette incomparable fille qui s'appelle elise est d'une naissance fort noble elle a mesme eu l'advantage d'estre nee dans l'abondance estant certain que lors qu'elle vint au monde son pere apelle straton estoit extremement riche cet homme avoit infiniment de l'esprit mais de l'esprit du monde et de l'esprit ambitieux il estoit d'un naturel ardent et vif qui aimoit tous les plaisirs et qui n'estoit jamais content si sa maison n'estoit remplie de tout ce que la cour avoit de plus grand il tenoit table ouverte et magnifique c'estoit chez luy que se faisoient toutes les parties de plaisir soit de promenade de musique ou des festins de sorte qu'on peut dire qu'elise est nee dans la joye la femme de straton nommee barce estoit belle mais capricieuse et ne contribuoit rien ny au plaisir de son mary ny a celuy de ceux qui alloient chez luy aussi arrivoit-il bien souvent qu'on ne la voyoit point et qu'on la laissoit a son apartement sans la demander comme il y avoit desja long-temps que straton estoit marie sans avoir eu des enfans lors qu'elise vint au monde il en eut une joye extraordinaire et fit une feste pour sa naissance qui fut d'une despence extreme le ne m'amuseray point madame a vous despeindre l'extraordinaire 
 beaute de cet enfant des les premiers jours qu'elle vit la lumiere mais il faut neantmoins que vous enduriez que je commence l'histoire de sa vie presques au sortir du berceau estant certain qu'on parla a tyr de la petite elise comme d'une grande merveille qu'elle n'avoit encore que cinq ou six ans ce ne sur pourtant pas seulement par ce prodigieux esclat de beaute qu'elle avoit que sa reputation remplit toute la cour ce fut encore par un esprit admirable par mille responces spirituelles et surprenantes que tout le monde scavoit ce fut dis-je par une grace merveilleuse par une facilite estrange a aprendre tout ce qu'on luy enseignoit par une beaute qui charmoit les coeurs par un enjouement qui divertissoit toute une grande compagnie et par une fierte qui dans un age si tendre luy donnoit la majeste d'une reyne outre tout ce que je viens de dire elle avoit encore deux qualitez qui contribuoient a la rendre plus aimable car elle estoit nee avec une si belle voix et une telle disposition a la dance que des l'age de cinq ans elle chantoit juste et dancoit en cadence commencant mesme de toucher la lire mais avec tant de grace qu'elle charmoit tous ceux qui la voyoient elise estant donc telle que je vous la represente et plus aimable encore que je ne vous la puis representer il vous sera aise de croire que son pere l'aima tendrement il l'aima d'autant plus qu'il remarqua que sa femme ne l'aimoit pas trop et que la beaute de sa fille 
 quoy que ce ne fust qu'une enfant la fachoit aussi ne luy en laissa t'il pas la conduite au contraire il donna a la petite elise un apartement separe du sien et mit aupres d'elle une gouvernante aussi vertueuse qu'elle estoit habile et capable de cultiver les belles et nobles inclinations de cette jeune personne de sorte qu'ayant un aussi beau naturel qui fut cultive avec un soin extreme il ne faut pas s'estonner si cette rare fille fit plus de bruit dans le monde a neuf ans que les plus belles n'ont accoustume d'en faire a dix-huit il se presenta mesme une occasion qui commenca de faire esclater hautement le merite extraordinaire de la jeune elise et qui fit que non seulement on parla d'elle dans tyr mais dans toute la phenicie et dans tous les royaumes dont il y avoit alors des ambassadeurs en nostre cour vous scavrez donc madame qu'un tyriens apelle crysile qui scavoit la musique admirablement et qui estoit alle voyager revint a tyr et comme c'estoit un fort honneste homme et connu de toute la cour il fut chez straton comme chez les autres et fut si charme de la jeune elise qu'il voulut estre son maistre et luy enseigner pour la lyre et pour chanter tout ce qu'il avoit apris d'arion avec qui il avoit fait amitie particuliere a lesbos d'ou il estoit et qu'il avoit encore veu au cap de tenare lors que ce dauphin qui luy sauva la vie l'y avoit apporte comme cette advanture estoit fort merveilleuse et que crysile l'avoit veue je pense 
 qu'on la luy fit raconter mille et mille fois de sorte que durant plusieurs jours on ne parloit d'autre chose le roy mesme la luy fit dire aussi bien que la reyne et crysile fut si las de la raconter qu'il disoit quelquefois en riant qu'il estoit bien assure que le dauphin d'arion ne l'avoit pas tant este de le porter qu'il l'estoit de dire tousjours une mesme chose nous estions alors dans un temps ou l'on a accoustume de celebrer une grande feste a neptune car comme les tyriens ainsi que je vous l'ay dit ont tousjours este gens de mer ils ont un soin particulier d'honnorer les dieux maritimes ils croyent mesme que leur ville estant une isle ils sont plus obligez que les autres a reverer neptune et tout ce qui luy a este cher vous scavez madame que c'est une croyance receue par tout que durant les amours de ce dieu pour amphitrite il y eut un dauphin qui fit des choses prodigieuses pour luy et que cet admirable poisson fut place entre les astres a cause des services qu'il avoit rendus a neptune de sorte que les tyriens en l'honneur de ce dieu et d'amphitrite reverent extremement les dauphins si bien qu'aprenant par crysile l'advanture d'arion ils atribuerent cette merveille a neptune comme maistre de la mer de sorte que comme on estoit proche de sa feste et que c'estoit le roy cette annee la qui faisoit la despence de la ceremonie ce prince s'advisa au lieu de faire representer suivant la coustume 
 quelques actions de neptune de choisir cette advanture d'arion puis que le peuple de tyr la luy attribuoit il n'eut pas plustost eu cette pensee qu'il la communiqua a ceux qui avoient accoustume de disposer de semblables choses et a crysile aussi qui s'y connoissoit parfaitement mais ils trouverent tous qu'en effet cette advanture donnoit lieu de faire de belles machines et une belle representation de sorte que sans tarder davantage les peintres les sculpteurs les ingenieurs et les musiciens commencerent d'estre employez car comme le roy estoit alors fort amoureux d'une dame de sa cour on peut dire que cette magnificence se fit bien autant pour elle que pour neptune cependant les machines les peintres et les sculpteurs trouvoient bien invention de representer la mer de faire voir neptune dans son char et amphitrite dans le sien de faire paroistre un vaisseau de representer les tritons et les nereides et de faire voir un dauphin qui semblast nager mais ils n'imaginoient pas qui pourroit estre celuy qui representeroit arion qui estoit alors et jeune et beau a ce que disoit crysile car comme tous ceux qui chantoient bien alors n'estoient ny fort jeunes ny fort beaux ils se trouverent un peu embarrassez mais a la fin crysile qui ne cherchoit que la gloire de la jeune elise proposa au roy de commander a straton de souffrir que sa fille representast avion ce qu'il ne pourroit refuser 
 puis que la reyne elle mesme devoit representer amphitrite l'aduis de crysile ne fut pas d'abord approuve du roy qui craignit que la jeune elise ne s'estonnast et ne gastast le plus bel endroit de la feste mais crysile respondit si affirmativement au roy de l'heureux succez de la chose que ce prince qui vouloir fortement tout ce qu'il vouloit et qui ne songeoit pas moins a bien ordonner une belle feste lors qu'il estoit amoureux qu'a bien ranger une armee lors qu'il devoit donner une bataille envoya tout a l'heure querir straton pour luy proposer ce qu'il souhaitoit mais afin de n'estre pas refuse il pria et commanda tout a la fois et fit si bien connoistre a straton qu'il ne vouloir pas qu'il luy resistast qu'il ne luy resista pas en effet ce prince fit mesme que la reine envoya demander elise a barce afin que par son caprice elle ne fist point d'obstacle a son dessein mais enfin madame pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience a vous dire des choses inutiles crysile aprit a la jeune elise les mesmes paroles et le mesme air dont arion s'estoit servy pour adoucir la cruaute de ceux qui le voulaient faire mourir crysile ayant trouve moyen de les avoir de luy quoy qu'il ne les donnast a personne et ce qu'il y eut des merveilleux fut qu'elise les aprit si admirablement que crysile en estoit luy mesme estonne mais ce qu'il y eut encore de plus admirable fut de voir que la jeune elise eust la hardiesse de faire ce qu'elle fit sans s'estonner non 
 plus que si elle eust este dans sa chambre sans autre tesmoin que sa gouvernante quoy que ce fust en presence de toute la cour je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous depeindre la magnificence de cette belle feste il suffit que je vous die que jamais il ne s'en fit une plus belle en phenicie et que je ne m'arreste qu'a ce qui touche la jeune elise je ne vous diray donc point que la mer fut si bien representee qu'il y avoit lieu de craindre que ses vagues ne s'epanchassent sur la compagnie qui la regardoit que le char de neptune et celuy d'amphitrite estoient ornez de tout ce que la mer produit de plus riche que les perles le coral et la nacre faisoient la parure de ces deux divinitez que celle des nereides et des titons estoit d'algue de coquilles et de joncs marins que le vaisseau d'ou arion s'estoit jette dans la mer paroissoit en esloignement comme s'il eust vogue pour ratraper le dauphin et que toutes choses estoient enfin si parfaitement representees qu'elles trompoient les yeux mais je vous diray que lors que la jeune elise parut sur le dauphin qui la portait toute l'assemblee fit un cry d'admiration qui au lieu de l'estonner l'enhardit et fit que cette admiration qu'on avoit desja pour elle redoubla en effet je ne pense pas qu'on puisse jamais rien voir de plus beau que l'estoit elise sur ce dauphin qui nageant lentement et levant la teste hors de l'eau comme estant tout glorieux d'une si belle charge sembloit la 
 vouloir faire voir tour a tour a tous ceux de l'assemblee car il nageoit tantost en biaisant d'un coste et tantost de l'autre la jeune elise dont les cheveux estoient d'un blond tel qu'on represente ceux d'apollon les avoit ratachez avec beaucoup d'adresse afin qu'ils ne pendissent pas trop il y en avoit pourtant diverses grosses boucles negligees qui luy tomboient sur les espaules son habillement estoit d'un tissu de diverses couleurs meslees avec de l'or ayant des brodequins qui laissoient voir en quelques endroits la blancheur de ses jambes et de ses pieds qu'elle avoit les mieux faits du monde et qui paroissoient quelques fois par dessous cette robe volante que le mouvement du dauphin agitoit selon les tournoyemens qu'il faisoit en imitant la maniere de nager de ces poissons mille diamans semez en divers endroits de son habillement jettoient un feu qui eust esbloui si on les eust regardez longs-temps mais les yeux de la jeune elise esclatoient de telle sorte qu'on ne s'amusoit guere a considerer les pierreries qui la paroient les manches de son habit estoient retroussees jusques au coude et laissoient voir des bras et des mains qui ayant encore cet embon-point qui est particulier a l'enfance ne laissoient pourtant pas de paroistre bien formez comme il faisoit allez chaud et que naturellement elise avoit un bel incarnat sur le teint qui se mesloit au plus beau blanc qui sera jamais sa beaute en 
 augmenta encore et en parut et plus vive et esclatante de sorte que joignant a tout ce que je viens de dire une bouche dont les levres ternissoient le coral dont amphitrite estoit paree des dents plus blanches que les perles qu'elle portoit un nez le mieux fait qui sera jamais un lourde visage le plus accomply et le plus agreable du monde et les plus beaux yeux de la terre il vous sera aise de concevoir qu'il y avoit beaucoup de plaisir a voir la jeune elise qui sans s'estonner ny du mouvement du dauphin qui la portoit ny de celuy de ces vagues qui estoient si bien representees ny de la presencedu roy ny de celle de la reine ny de cette prodigieuse quantite de monde qui la regardoit tenoit sa lyre avec une grace admirable et chantoit avec une assurance et une justesse si merveilleuse que toute la cour en estoit et surprise et charmee crysile qui s'y connoissoit mieux qu'un autre et qui s'y interessoit estrangement en pensa mourir de joye en effet c'estoit une chose estonnante de voir que la voix d'une si jeune personne pust avoir assez d'estendue pour remplir un aussi grand lieu que celuy-la et pour le remplir d'une harmonie si charmante et si capable de toucher les coeurs aussi lors qu'elle eut aborde a un cap qu'on avoit represente comme estant cap de tenare et que le dauphin l'eut mise sur le rivage le roy en fut si transporte d'admiration que sans attendre la fin de la ceremonie il fut 
 l'embrasser et luy faire mille carresses en suitte dequoy il la mena a la reine qui estoit sortie de son char qui luy donna aussi mille louanges qu'elle receut avec beaucoup de respect mais pour celles que tous les hommes de la cour luy donnerent chacun a leur tour elle les receut avec la plus aimable fierte du monde et comme une chose dont elle ne tiroit pas grande vanite depuis cela madame elle fut souvent chez la reyne mais elle n'y fut jamais sans avoir augmente l'admiration de tous ceux qui l'avoient veue et je suis mesme fortement persuade qu'elle eut beaucoup d'amans des ce temps-la qui ne le croyoient pas estre et qui a cause de son extreme jeunesse s'imaginoient que ce qu'ils sentoient pour elle n'estoit qu'une simple admiration et qu'une simple complaisance pour eux mesmes qui faisoit qu'ils cherchoient l'occasion de la voir seulement parce qu'elle les divertissoit comme le roy estoit alors engage en une des plus violentes passions qu'il ait jamais eue et qu'elise n'estoit en effet qu'une enfant il ne la regarda sans doute en ce temps-la que comme un miracle et non pas comme sa maistresse il luy faisoit pourtant tousjours mille carresses et luy donnoit mille louanges toutes les fois que l'occasion s'en presentoit il ne voyoit jamais straton qu'il ne luy demandast des nouvelles de sa fille et il n'y avoit jamais nul divertissement extraordinaire chez la reyne que la jeune elise n'en fust cependant 
 sa beaute croissant avec elle et chaque printemps qu'elle passoit mettant plus de lis et de roses sur son taint qu'il n'en faisoit esclorre dans nos jardins elle fut a quatorze ans la plus belle chose qu'on eust jamais veue en phenicie en effet je ne pense pas qu'on puisse jamais trouver une beaute plus accomplie ny une personne plus parfaite car enfin madame apres vous avoir depeint la beaute d'elise lors qu'elle n'estoit qu'une enfant il faut que je vous la depeigne telle qu'elle commenca d'estre a quatorze ans et telle qu'elle est presentement il faut aussi que je vous face connoistre en mesme temps et son coeur et son esprit afin que vous affectionnant a cette merveille fille vous escoutiez apres cela ses advantures avec plus de plaisir et plus d'attention
 
 
 
 
imaginez vous donc madame une personne de la plus belle et de la plus noble taille du monde si vous voulez concevoir celle d'elise ce n'est pas une de ces personnes qui ne sont simplement que grandes et droites et qui sont mesme quelquesfois et trop droites et trop grandes au contraire la taille d'elise quoy qu'elle soit beaucoup au dessus de sa mediocre est si aisee et si bien faite que l'imagination se porte d'elle mesme a croire qu'elle a le corps aussi beau que le visage de plus elle a le port si noble si libre et pourtant si majestueux qu'on n'a jamais veu personne ny marcher de meilleure grace ny se tenir en une place avec une contenance plus modeste et 
 plus assuree tout ensemble au reste son action n'est pas moins agreable que sa taille est belle et que son port est majestueux on n'y voit ny contrainte ny negligence elle regarde sans affectation et regarde pourtant toujours comme il faut regarder pour paroistre plus belle si elle est devant son miroir a raccommoder quelque chose a sa coiffure elle le fait de si bonne grace et avec tant d'adresse qu'on diroit que ses cheveux obeissent avec plaisir aux belles mains qui les rangent si elle s'assied c'est d'une maniere agreable et tout ce qu'elle fait plaist d'une telle sorte qu'on ne la scauroit voir sans l'aimer au reste la nature n'a jamais donne a personne de plus beaux yeux que les siens ils ne sont pas seulement grands et beaux ils sont encore tout a la fois et fiers et doux et brillans mais brillans d'un feu si vif qu'on n'a jamais pu bien definir leur veritable couleur tant ils esblouissent ceux qui les regardent sa bouche n'est pas moins belle que ses yeux la blancheur de ses dents est digne de l'incarnat de ses levres et son teint ou la jeunesse et la fraicheur paroissant esgalement a un si grand esclat et un lustre si naturel et si sur prenant qu'on ne peut s'empescher de la louer tout haut des qu'on la voit il y a mesme une delicatesse en son teint qu'on ne scauroit exprimer et pourtant une espaisseur de blanc admirable ou un certain incarnat se mesle si agreablement que celuy qu'on voit a nos plus beaux jasmins ou au fond 
 des plus belles roses blanches n'en aproche pas son nez comme je l'ay desja dit est le mieux fait qu'on ait jamais veu car sans s'eslever ny trop ny trop peu il a tout ce qu'il faut pour faire que de tant de beaux traits ensemble il en resulte une beaute de bonne mine et une beaute parfaite en effet le tour de son visage n'estant ny tout a fait rond ny tout a fait ovale quoy qu'il panche un peu plus vers le dernier que vers l'autre est un chef d'oeuvre de la nature qui ramassant tant de merveilles ensemble ne laisse rien a y desirer au reste elise n'a pas la gorge moins belle que tout ce que je viens de dire de sorte que les plus envieuses de sa beaute n'ont jamais pu y trouver rien a reprendre s'habillant mesme si bien et se coeffant si avantageusement qu'on ne peut pas l'estre mieux vous pouvez donc juger madame qu'une fille telle que je vous represente celle-la jouant de la lyre fort agreablement chantant mieux que personne n'a jamais chante et dancant de meilleure grace et avec plus de disposition que personne ne dancera jamais estoit toute propre a gagner des coeurs je puis pourtant vous assurer que ce n'est pas encore par tout ce que je viens de dire qu'elise est la plus louable car enfin il faut que vous scachiez que son esprit a mille charmes et mille beautez et qu'elle scait si bien l'art de mesler la gayete et l'enjouement aveque la sagesse et la modestie que personne ne l'a jamais si bien sceu il y a mesme dans son 
 humeur je ne scay quel fonds de joye qui rejouit toute une grande campagnie quoy que ce soit pourtant une des plus serieuses personnes du monde et elle scait si bien ce qu'il faut dire a tous ceux qui la visitent pour les divertir pour leur plaire et pour les obliger qu'ils sont tous infiniment satisfaits d'elle de quelque humeur qu'ils soient comme elle a tousjours veu tout ce qu'il y a eu d'honnestes gens en phenicie on peut dire que leur conversation a fait qu'elle scait tout ce qu'ils scavent aussi peut-on assurer qu'elle parle de toutes choses fort agreablement et fort a propos quoy qu'elle parle de cent choses qu'elle n'a jamais aprises mais si elle est propre a une conversation generale elle ne l'est pas moins a une particuliere estant certain qu'elle passe avec aussi peu d'ennuy une apresdisnee toute entiere avec une de ses amies que si elle estoit a une grande feste elle aime sans doute la compagnie mais elle ne s'ennuye pas dans la solitude et lors qu'il le faut elle se divertit aussi bien a la campagne au bord d'un ruisseau et a escouter le chant des rossignols que lors que toute la cour est chez elle ce n'est pas qu'elle n'ait l'esprit fort delicat mais c'est qu'elle ne l'a pas difficile et qu'au contraire elle l'a fort accommodant au reste jamais personne n'a eu une civilite plus reguliere ny plus exacte elle evite autant qu'elle peut a desobliger quel qu'un et cherche au contraire avec que soin a obliger tout le monde mais madame son 
 ame est bien encore plus grande que sa beaute et plus eslevee que son esprit et je pense pouvoir asseurer qu'on ne peut exprimer ce qu'elle est sans dire que la gloire anime son coeur tant il est remply de sentimens genereux et heroiques elle est fiere mais c'est d'une fierte qui ne l'empesche pas e'estre douce et s'il y a de la hauteur dans son ame il y a de la tendresse dans son coeur en effet jamais personne n'a aime ses amis avec plus de chaleur que celle-la ny traitte ses amans avec plus de rudesse jamais ceux a qui elle a promis amitie n'ont pu avoir le moindre sujet de se pleindre elle leur a tousjours rendu toutes sortes d'offices aveque joye mesme aux despens de son bien et de sa sante en prenant trop de soins pour leurs interests elles les a aimez absens exilez prisonniers sans credit sans bien et a mesme porte quelquesfois son amitie jusques au dela du tombeau la grandeur n'a jamais esblouy elise elle a veu des princes et des rois a ses pieds sans se sentir l'ame atteinte de cette fausse gloire qui ne s'attache qu'aux apparences et qui seduit toutes les ames foibles l'interest des richesses ne l'a pas touchee davantage comme vous le verrez par la suitte de son histoire elle n'a pas mesme este capable d'envie quoy que presques toutes les belles soient envieuses au contraire elle a tousjours exagere la beaute des autres et un pes plus grands plaisirs qu'elle ait est celuy de faire valoir les bonnes qualitez de ceux qui en ont la vertu 
 a pour elle des charmes inevitables elle aime tout ce qui est digne d'estre aime hait le vice avec autant d'ardeur qu'elle aime la vertu elle n'a seulement de l'humilite elle a encore de la modestie mais une modestie veritable qui n'est pas moins dans son coeur que sur son visage et qui ne trompe point ceux qui l'admirent au reste elle a autant de prudence que d'esprit quoy qu'elle soit incapable de ce qu'on apelle finesse qui se trouve bien souvent jointe a cette vertu dans l'ame de plusieurs personnes mais pour elise elle a de la sincerite autant qu'on en peut avoir et est capable d'un secret inviolable et d'une fermete qui a peu d'exemples parmy celles de son sexe enfin madame elise est une merveille et il n'y a pas lieu de s'estonner si elle a aquis tant d'amans et tant d'amis mais comme elle a este plus heureuse aux derniers qu'aux premiers je ne vous parleray pas moins de ceux avec qui elle a eu de l'amitie que de ceux qui ont eu de l'amour pour elle pour retourner donc au point ou j'ay interrompu ma narration pour vous faire le portrait d'elise je vous diray madame qu'estant arrivee a l'age de quatorze ans elle fit tant de conquestes et assujetit tant de coeurs que vous auriez peut-estre peine a me croire si je vous en disois le nombre car enfin elle fut presque aimee de tout ce qui estoit capable d'aimer tout ce qu'il y avoit alors de princes a la cour furent ses esclaves on vit trois freres de cette condition rivaux en un mesme 
 temps tous les gens un peu au dessous de cette qualite reconnurent sa puissance et il ne fut pas mesmes jusques a ses maistres dont elle ne fust la maistresse crysile en luy aprenant a chanter aprit a soupirer pour elle et il l'aima avec tant d'ardeur qu'il ne voulut jamais enseigner qu'a elle ce qu'il scavoit a la musique afin qu'elle fust seule a chanter parfaitement les peintres qui faisoient son portrait en brusloient d'amour et il n'y avoit pas mesme jusques a ceux qui avoient perdu la raison qui ne connussent qu'elle estoit amiable et qui ne l'aimassent en effet cependant elise au milieu de tant de victoires demeuroit tousjours elle mesme et par un noble orgueil qui la rendoit plus charmante elle ne faisoit aucune vanite de ses conquestes et l'on peut dire que straton en avoit plus de joye qu'elle n'en avoit il n'en estoit pas de mesme de barce qui ne pouvant souffrir la grande reputation de sa fille la persecutoit continuellement de cent manieres differentes la jeune elise enduroit tous ces caprices avec une patience admirable et ayant une complaisance aveugle pour toutes les volontez de son pere aussi estoit-ce principalement pour luy plaire qu'elle estoit aussi exposee au grand monde qu'on l'y voyoit estant certain qu'il l'aimoit beaucoup plus qu'elle mais pour achever d'honnorer le triomphe de la beaute d'elise le roy de phenicie cet illustre conquerant devint luy mesme son esclave mais son esclave d'une maniere 
 differente de celle dont il avoit accoustume de l'estre car comme son amour n'estoit pas pour l'ordinaire extremement detachee des sens il ne donnoit guere son coeur qu'il n'otast quelque chose de la reputation de celles a qui il le donnoit il n'en fut pas de mesme de la passion qu'il eut pour elise car excepte quelques envieuses de sa beaute personne n'en a jamais rien dit ny rien pense qui luy pust estre desavantageux et certes c'auroit bien este sans sujet estant certain que je ne croy pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une personne dont la vertu ait este plus pure ny qui ait este mise a de plus difficiles espreuves que celle d'elise comme j'avois l'honneur d'estre assez bien avec le roy en ce temps-la je fus le confident de sa passion et par consequent le tesmoin de la vertu d'elise ce n'est pas qu'elle ne m'ait advoue depuis qu'elle avoit eu d'abord quelque joye de voir a ses pieds un prince aime de tous ses peuples redoute de tous ses voisins et estime de toute l'asie mais elle cachoit si bien cette joye et recevoit tousjours le roy avec une civilite si indifferente que j'ay ouy dire plus de cent fois a ce prince qu'il ne l'abordoit jamais qu'en tremblant je scay bien que ceux qui ont voulu diminuer la gloire d'elise ont dit qu'il n'estoit pas si difficile de resister a un prince qui n'estoit pas extremement bien fait de sa personne qui avoit autant l'air d'un soldat que d'un roy et qui n'estoit pas trop propre mais apres tout ce roy estoit un des plus illustres roys du monde 
 et qui dans la familiarite qu'il souffroit qu'on prist aveque luy avoit l'esprit infinement agreable et divertissant il railloit mesme de bonne grace et agissoit avec tant de bonte qu'il gagnoit les coeurs de tout le monde de plus jamais amant n'a este si civil si soigneux ny si respectueux que celuy-la et par consequent on peut dire qu'elise merite une gloire infinie d'avoir pu resister a un si grand prince je ne m'arresteray point madame a vous dire quels furent les soins qu'il luy rendit qu'elles furent les festes qu'il fit a sa consideration et qu'elle assiduite il aporta a la voir car cela seroit trop long mais je vous diray seulement qu'il fit pour elle seule autant qu'il avoit fait pour toutes les autres qu'il avoit aimees cependant straton qui estoit ambitieux estoit bien aise de voir que le roy estoit amoureux de sa fille mais il ne laissoit pourtant pas de dire tousjours a elise qu'il ne pretendoit que se servir de la faveur du roy durant quelque temps et non pas la sacrifier a sa fortune pour cet effet il estoit bien aise de ce que le roy luy faisoit l'honneur d'aller souvent chez luy et de ce qu'il voyoit que tout le monde luy faisoit la cour pour elise elle se lassa bien-tost de cette esclatante galanterie car outre qu'elle la trouvoit un peu dangereuse pour sa reputation c'est qu'elle luy osta mille plaisirs et mille divertissemens le respect qu'on avoit pour le roy fit que tous les amans d'elise cacherent leurs chaisnes il 
 y en eut mesme qui firent semblant d'aimer aileurs de peur d'estre brouillez avec ce prince qui n'oserent plus parler a elise qui s'en souvint bien lors qu'ils voulurent revenir a elle conme la vertu de cette personne estoit fort connue de la reine l'amour du roy ne la mit point mal avec elle au contraire lors que ce prince avoit quelques chagrins dans l'esprit la reine cherchoit a faire naistre quelque occasion de luy faire voir elise s'il estoit malade elle la prioit de chanter aupres de luy pour charmer son mal et ne luy donnoit gueres moins de marques d'estime que le roy luy en donnoit d'amour comme ce prince avoit une grande inclination a railler elise fut tres-long-temps a recevoir les tesmoignages de sa passion comme une chose qu'il faisoit simplement pour se divertir mais enfin cette passion augmentant et ce prince assez violent de son naturel se lassant de ne recevoir nulles marques d'affection d'une personne qu'il aimoit si ardemment elle se vit dans la necessite de resoudre comment elle devoit agir aveque luy quoy qu'elle s'y trouvast pourtant bien embarrassee si elle eust suivy son inclination et la fierte de son naturel elle auroit fait consister sa gloire a maltraiter le roy comme le moindre de ses sujets mais elle n'ignoroist pas que son pere ne le trouveroit pas bon de sorte que comme elle scavoit que ce prince avoit naturellement l'ame assez legere et capable d'avoir mesme plus d'une passion a la fois elle fit ce qu'elle 
 put pour affoiblir celle qu'il avoit pour elle en renouvellant dans son coeur l'amour qu'il avoit eue et qu'il avoit peut-estre encore pour une personne admirable en beaute et en vertu qu'il avoit quitee pour elle luy semblant que s'il ne la quitoit pour celle-la il n'iroit point de sa gloire et qu'ainsi elle se trouveroit plus libre et plus en repos ayant donc pris cette resolution elle ne chantoit jamais devant le roy que des chansons qui avoient este faites pour cette illustre rivale qu'elle vouloit qui regnast seule dans l'esprit de ce prince afin que l'en faisant souvenir avantageusement en luy chantant ses louanges il se ratachast a cette personne elise ne se contenta pas encore de se servir de mille semblables petits artifices pour affoiblir la passion que le roy avoit pour elle car cette vertueuse fille scachant que j'avois quelque credit sur son esprit m'en parla un jour que je la pressois d'estre un peu plus favorable au roy telamis me dit elle le roy me fait le plus grand honneur du monde de me visiter et de faire quelque distinction de moy a toutes les personnes de ma condition neantmoins a vous dire la verite je voudrois bien que vous voulussiez me rendre un office aupres de luy qui me seroit tres-agreable mais je crains que vous ne le veuilliez pas il me semble madame luy dis-je en souriant que vous devez croire facilement sans que je vous le die que je ne suis pas en estat de refuser a la maistresse de mon maistre joint qu'a parler 
 veritablement je suis d'ailleurs tant vostre serviteur que vous avez lieu de me commander tout ce qu'il vous plaira sans craindre d'estre desobeie ce n'est pas seulement comme maistresse de vostre maistre reprit-elle que je veux que vous m'accordiez ce que je desire mais comme a vostre amie que je suis et que je veux estre toute ma vie si vous ne me refusez pas parlez donc madame luy dis-je et hastez vous de me donner les voyes d'estre asseure pour toujours de cette glorieuse amitie que vous me promettez en me disant ce que vous voulez que je face je veux dit-elle que vous faciez que le roy m'aime moins qu'il ne fait et qu'il recommence d'aimer cette admirable personne qu'il a aimee si ardemment quoy madame luy dis je vous voulez que le roy vous ayme moins ouy repliqua t'elle je le veux et le veux parce que j'ayme la veritable gloire et que je ne veux pas qu'on me mette un jour au rang de trois ou quatre personnes qu'il a aimees et que l'esclat d'une fausse gloire a esblouies je vous advoue adjousta t'elle que si le roy me quittoit par mespris j'aurois la foiblesse d'en estre faschee et je pense mesme que s'il m'abandonnoit pour je ne scay qu'elles personnes dont elle me nomma quelques-unes j'en aurois encore quelque depit mais s'il ne me laisse que parce qu'il se repentira d'avoir fait infidelite a une dame aussi accomplie comme est celle qu'il a quitte pour moi je vous assure que j'en auray une extreme joye 
 c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de luy parler le plus souvent que vous pourrez de cette illustre rivale faites qu'il en voye des portraits et rallumez enfin s'il est possible cette flamme qui a jette un feu si esclattant car enfin telamis le roy n'est pas en estat de me faire reyne quand il y seroit je ne suis point de condition a l'estre et il ne seroit pas assez preocupe pour en concevoir la pensee mais aussi vous puis je assurer que j'ay le coeur trop haut et l'ame trop bien faite pour vouloir sacrifier ma reputation pour une vanite mal fondee c'est pourquoy telamis je vous conjure de ne me refuser pas je vous advoue madame que ce discours d'elise me surprit d'abord je creus qu'elle avoit quelque inclination secrete qui faisoit peut-estre une partie de sa vertu ne pouvant m'imaginer qu'une personne aussi jeune qu'elle estoit pust estre capable d'une resolution comme celle-la mais je fus bien-tost desabuse et je me vy contraint d'admirer encore plus la vertu d'elise que sa beaute en effet j'en fus si charme que j'abondannay les interests du roy pour les siens de sorte qu'au lieu qu'auparavant j'agissois aupres d'elle comme il plaisoit a ce prince j'agis alors aupres de luy comme il plaisoit a elise il ne me sut pourtant pas possible de faire ce qu'elle vouloit si bien que se resolvant de luy parler elle mesme elle le fit avec tant de hardiesse et de generosite que ce prince l'en ayma encore d'avantage parce qu'il l'en estima beaucoup 
 plus elle eut mesme tant de pouvoir sur luy qu'il luy protesta qu'il n'auroit jamais d'injustes desseins pour elle et qu'il feroit mesme ce qu'il pourroit pour moderer une partie de la violence de sa passion il ne luy fut pourtant pas aise de sorte que pour en venir a bout et pour chasser une passion par une autre il renouvella quelques desseins de conquestes qu'il avoit eus sur les syriens qui sont du coste du couchant pour cet effet il leva une armee navale et s'occupa tout entier a la guerre afin de diminuer l'amour qu'il avoit dans l'ame ainsi l'on peut dire qu'il faisoit pour chasser elise de son coeur tout ce qu'il eust pu faire pour la conquerir s'il eust falu la gagner en gagnant des batailles cependant elise avoit assez de plaisir de scavoir que toute la phenicie cherchoit inutilement la cause des desseins du roy dont elle estoit alors tres-contente car enfin ce prince ne luy parloit plus que d'agrandir sa maison en agrandissant son pere luy promettant mesme s'il ne pouvoit guerir de sa passion au voyage qu'il alloit entreprendre de ne laisser pas de vivre comme il luy plairoit a son retour et de faire tousjours tout ce qui luy seroit possible pour la contenter mais pour vous tesmoigner combien l'amour que ce prince avoit pour elise estoit forte mesme dans le temps ou il la vouloit chasser de son coeur il faut que vous scachiez que dipoenus et scillis ces deux celebres sculpteurs dont la reputation s'estend par toute la 
 terre estant abordez a tyr il les y retint pour leur faire faire durant son absence la belle statue qui est presentement dans les thresors que cresus avoit amassez et qui ressemble si parfaitement a elise leur ordonnant de la presenter comme les atheniens representerent la victoire c'est a dire sans aisses voulant par la aussi bien qu'eux faire entendre qu'il ne vouloit pas que la victoire l'abandonnast ny le pust abandonner mais en leur faisant ce commandement il leur promit de si grandes recompences lors qu'il seroit revenu qu'il estoit aise de concevoir ce qu'il auroit donne pour la possession d'elise veu ce qu'il vouloit donner pour avoir seulement sa statue comme il y avoit plusieurs portraits de cette belle personne fort bienfaits dipoenus et scillis s'en servirent a faire leur modelle joint qu'ils virent aussi fort souvent elise sans qu'elle sceust pourquoy ils la regardoient tant car le roy en avoit fait un secret cependant elise qui estoit fort aise de pouvoir esperer que l'ambition de son pere seroit satisfaite sans hazarder sa reputation faisoit mille voeux pour l'heureux succes des armes du roy qui s'embarqua apres luy avoir dit adieu et luy avoir encore donne mille asseurances de grandeur a son retour n'osant presques plus luy en donner directement de sa passion je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous raconter cette guerre le commencement et la suitte en furent heureux au roy il battit ses ennemis par tout ou il les rencontra 
 et il n'envoya jamais porter les nouvelles de ses victoires a tyr sans escrire a l'incomparable elise et sans l'en remercier comme si c'eust este elle qui l'eust fait vaincre mais enfin les differens du roy de phenicie et des syriens ayant este remis a une bataille generale le roy la donna et la gagna et en envoya aussi-tost par moy la nouvelle a la reyne et en mesme temps a elise ce prince m'ayant deffendu de dire a qui que ce fust qu'il avoit este legerement blesse d'un coup de dard au coste afin de n'inquietter pas la reyne et de ne diminuer rien de la joye que sa victoire devoit causer a ses peuples me commandant de plus d'assurer la reyne et particulierement elise qu'il seroit huit jours apres moy a tyr ou il rameneroit son armee victorieuse apres avoir laisse garnison aux places qu'il avoit prises au commencement de la guerre de sorte que me servant de la voile et de la rame tout a la fois je fus a tyr avec une diligence incroyable et j'y portay la joye avecque mois mais une joye qui devint si universelle qu'on ne songea plus qu'a preparer de quoy faire une magnifique entree au roy elise quoy qu'un peu malade prit sa part a la resjouissance publique et elle l'y prit d'autant plus que la lettre que je luy avois apportee du roy estoit la plus obligeante du monde et que je l'avois asseure qu'au lieu de perdre le coeur de ce prince comme elle en avoit eu le dessein elle l'avoit seulement purifie et rendu capable d'une passion innocente 
 adjoustant en suite comme il estoit vray qu'il m'avoit charge de dire a straton qu'il se preparast a recevoir des qu'il seroit arrive une des plus considerables charges de son estat de sorte madame qu'elise pouvant esperer d'estre favorite du roy sans estre sa maistresse comme tant d'autres l'avoient este commenca de desirer son retour et d'avoir impatience de le revoir comme j'avois une amitie pour elle extremement forte et que je n'avois point d'amour pour aucune autre personne je ne bougeois de chez elle ou straton estoit bien aise de me voir et j'y allois d'autant plus souvent alors que la maison de straton estant au bout du port qui regarde la pleine mer j'estois assure que de la chambre d'elise je pourrois voir arriver un vaisseau que je croyois qui devoit devancer le roy pour aprendre l'heure de son arrivee la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi car ce vaisseau ayant fait naufrage nous fusmes fort estonnez un jour que j'estois dans la chambre d'elise de voir paroistre toute l'armee comme je la vy le premier je ne pu m'empescher de jetter un cry de joye en aprenant a elise ce que je voyois venez madame luy dis-je venez triompher du vainqueur des autres et jouir pleinemet de vostre victoire elise rougit de ce que je luy disois et ne laissa pourtant pas de venir s'apuyer sur la balustrade d'un balcon qui se jettoit hors d'oeuvre ou nous passasmes l'un et l'autre nous n'y fusmes pas plustost que nous commencasmes de 
 discerner les vaisseaux d'avec les galeres et peu apres nous peusmes remarquer que les uns et les autres avoient tous les ornemens qui peuvent estre des marques de victoire tous leurs pavillons estoient hauts mille flammes ondoyantes voltigeoient en l'air parmy les cordages mille banderolles paroissoient de toutes parts mille panonceaux se mesloient a ces banderoles les poupes des galeres estoient ornees des rondaches gagnees sur les ennemis et toutes leurs tentes brilloient d'or et d'argent mais ce qui nous surprit estrangement elise et moy lors que cette flotte approcha fut de voir que tous ces pavillons toutes ces banderoles tous ces panonceaux et toutes ces tentes au lieu d'estre de diverses couleurs comme on a accoustume de les voir en un jour de combat ou en un jour de triomphe estoient d'une brotacelle noire meslee avec de l'or et de l'argent telle qu'on a accoustume de se servir pour les pompes funebres de nos rois cette veue nous fit fremir de frayeur mais nostre estonnement redoubla encore lors que cette flotte approchant d'avantage du lieu ou nous estions nous pusmes voir distinctement que la capitaine qui avoit plus d'ornemens que les autres galeres et dont la tente estoit double avoit sur la poupe un grand cercueil esleve sur trois marches que ce cercueil estoit couvert d'un grand drap noir broche d'or sur lequel on avoit mis une couronne et au pied du cercueil sur des quarreaux une magnifique 
 espee y ayant a l'autre bout un petit trophee d'armes esleve pour marquer que celuy qui estoit enferme dans ce cercueil estoit mort en triomphant cent lampes allumees pendoient a l'entour de cette tente et les principaux officiers du roy estoient en deuil et environnoient ce cercueil dont la veue causa une sensible douleur dans le coeur d'elise et dans le mien une musique lugubre s'entendoit dans toutes ces galeres qui par des tons pleintifs sembloit annoncer la funeste mort du roy de phenicie toutes les galeres et les vaisseaux gagnez sur les ennemis suivoient cette capitaine mais sans pavillons sans banderoles et sans ornemens pour marque de leur deffaite les soldats paroissant enchaisnez sur les poupes de galeres et sur le tillac des vaisseaux afin d'honnorer la pompe funebre de leur illustre vainqueur car enfin madame c'estoit veritablement le roy de phenicie qui estoit mort de cette legere blessure qu'il m'avoit commande de celer a la reyne et a elise lors qu'il m'avoit envoye leur porter la nouvelle de sa victoire vous me demanderez sans doute madame comment il est possible qu'une blessure qui permettoit a ce prince d'escrire a la reyne et a elise et qui ne l'incommodoit presques point le put faire mourir si pronptement mais j'ay a vous respondre que le dard qui la luy avoit faite estant empoisonne comme on le reconnut depuis mon depart et ce venin n'ayant pas eu le temps de faire son effet lors 
 que je partis d'aupres de luy il ne paroissoit point malade mais a peine l'eus-je quitte que sa playe s'envenimant de plus en plus et communiquant sort venin jusques au coeur le fit mourir en vingt-quatre heures il ne fut pas si tost mort que celuy qui estoit son lieutenant general destacha un vaisseau pour venir a tyr aporter cette funeste nouvelle pendant qu'il fit jetter les anchres a une plage qui est aupres d'une assez grande ville qui se rencontroit sur sa route afin de donner ordre aux choses necessaires pour honnorer la pompe funebre du roy son maistre mais comme je l'ay desja dit ce vaisseau qui devoit preceder l'arrivee de la flotte ayant fait naufrage personne ne fut adverty ny de la mort du roy ny de l'arrivee de l'armee navale vous pouvez ce me semble madame apres cela vous imaginer aisement qu'elle surprise fut celle d'elise et de moy et qu'elle douleur fut la nostre car encore qu'elise n'eust point l'ame engagee d'aucune passion pour ce prince il n'estoit pourtant pas possible comme elle estoit genereuse qu'elle ne l'eust point sensible a la reconnoissance et qu'elle pust voir d'un oeil sec et d'une ame tranquile le cercueil d'un prince qu'elle avoit veu si respectueusement a ses pieds aussi vous puis-je assurer que lors que cette capitaine qui portoit le corps du roy vint a passer sous ses fenestres elle s'en retira avec precipitation comme ne pouvant souffrir un objet si funeste mais en s'en retirant elle 
 ne laissa pas de sentir accroistre sa douleur lors que ceste galere entrant dans le port le peuple qui s'y estoit amasse pour rendre honneur a son roy victorieux et vivant jetta des cris espouvantables et douloureux quand il sceut que son prince estoit mort le bruit de tant de clameurs estoit si grand que la chambre d'elise en paroissoit esbranlee et nous fusmes assez longtemps sans pouvoir nous pleindre l'un a l'autre parce que nous n'eussions pu nous entendre il est vray que nos larmes parloient pour nous et que nous ne laissions pas de nous dire beaucoup de choses sans nous rien dire mais enfin le silence estant revenu nous pleignismes la perte que nous faisions ce ne fut pourtant pas long temps ce jour la car elise voulant scavoir les particularitez de cette mort me pria de les aller aprendre mais comme cela ne serviroit de rien a mon discours je ne m'y arresteray pas et je vous diray seulement que je sceu qu'une des dernieres paroles que le roy avoit prononcees avoit este le nom d'elise ce qui ne diminua pas la douleur de cette belle personne que si elle en estoit touchee par generosite seulement straton l'estoit par interest et par reconnoissance tout ensemble car il voyoit toutes ses esperances renversees et n'attendoit pas tant du nouveau roy qu'il avoit attendu de l'autre jamais deuil ne fut si general que celuy-la jamais consternation ne fut plus grande que celle qui paroissoit estre parmy le peuple et jamais changement de regne 
 ne causa tant de changemens aux fortunes des particuliers pendant ce grand trouble que l'on voyoit dans la cour straton s'en alla passer quelques jours aux champs et y mena elise qui fut bien aise d'aller cacher sa melancolie dans la solitude ou elle trouva bon que je l'allasse voir quelquesfois mais pendant ce temps la dipoenus et scillis ayant presse les officiers du roy de leur donner ce que le feu roy leur avoit promis et ces officiers peut-estre sans en parler a leur maistre les ayant rebutez ils s'embarquerent en une nuit et emporterent la belle statue qu'ils avoient faite que l'on disoit estre un miracle car depuis la mort du roy ils ne la cacherent plus cependant comme vous scavez que l'on ne s'est pas plustost afflige de la mort d'un roy que la coustume veut qu'on se rejouisse de voir regner celuy qui luy succede et que les douleurs publiques ne durent jamais long-temps le calme se restablit bien-tost dans la cour et l'on commenca d'y vivre comme auparavant pour elise quoy qu'elle ne fust pas d'humeur a passer si promptement de la douleur a la joye elle ne laissa pas de se consoler par raison et par sagesse joint que n'ayant eu que de la reconnoissance pour le roy et n'ayant pas eu le coeur engage d'aucune affection particuliere son affliction en fut plus aisee a consoler straton retournant donc a tyr elise y retourna aussi et comme elle n'avoit point veu la reine depuis la mort du roy elle y fut aussi tost qu'elle put estre en estat d'y 
 aller et qu'elle eut pris le deuil jamais la cour n'avoit este si grosse qu'elle estoit alors et je pense pouvoir dire qu'il n'y avoit pas un homme de qualite en phenicie qui ne fust a tyr de sorte que lors qu'elise fut chez la reine avec une princesse dont elle estoit fort aimee elle receut des louanges de tout ce qu'il y avoit de grand dans le royaume car enfin madame le deuil qu'elise prit pour cet illustre conquerant luy sieoit si bien qu'il servit sans doute de quelque chose a luy faire conquerir des coeurs qu'elle n'avoit pas encore assujettis cet habillement noir et simple ce grand voile pendant jusqu'a terre sur ses cheveux d'un blond si esclatant cette gaze plissee a l'entour de sa gorge et ratachee avec divers rubans noirs comme si c'eust este une escharpe ces grandes manches retroussees qui laissoient voir la blancheur de ses bras et tout cet habillement lugubre qui donnoit un nouvel esclat a ses yeux et un redoublement de blancheur a son taint luy estoit si avantageux que ses plus grands adorateurs advouoient ne l'avoir jamais veue si belle aussi se pressa-t'on tellement pour la voir ce jour la qu'a peine pouvoit elle passer dans les chambres qu'il faloit qu'elle traversast pour arriver a celle de la reine qui la receut aussi bien qu'elle meritoit de l'estre parmy ce grand nombre d'hommes de qualite qui estoient ce jour-la chez la reine il y en avoit un apelle poligene qui est un des plus considerables 
 de nostre cour et pour sa condition et pour son merite qui estant amy particulier de straton et un des premiers admirateurs d'elise eut une extreme joye de voir les acclamations que l'on donnoit a sa beaute il creut pourtant que cette joye estoit autant un effet de l'amitie qu'il avoit pour le pere que de l'amour qu'il avoit pour la fille car comme il l'avoit veue dans le berceau et qu'il s'estoit accoustume a luy parler dans sa premiere jeunesse comme s'il eust este son frere et a luy donner mesme cent petits advis en diverses rencontres il ne pouvoit croire qu'il fust amoureux d'elle il s'en aperceut pourtant bien tost comme je m'en vay vous le dire parmy cette multitude de gens de qualite qui estoient alors a la cour il y en avoit un de sidon apelle phocilion qui n'ayant jamais veu elise en fut si surpris et si charme qu'il ne pouvoit parler d'autre chose il ne se contenta pas de la regarder tant qu'elle fut chez la reine il la suivit lors qu'elle en partit jusques au chariot de la princisse avec qui elle estoit venue en suitte il rentra chez la reine et se meslant a la conversation de trois ou quatre dont poligene en estoit un il se mit a louer la beaute d'elise avec empressement demandant ou elle logeoit qui la voyoit souvent et qui l'y pourroit mener poligene qui jusque alors s'estoit rejouy des louanges qu'on avoit donnees a elise sentit dans son coeur un leger chagrin de celles que phocilion qui estoit admirablement 
 bien fait luy donnoit et sans qu'il en sceust alors dire la raison il prit la parole pour dire a ce nouvel adorateur d'elise qu'on luy avoit assure que la maison de straton ne seroit plus ouverte comme elle avoit este du vivant du feu roy et qu'ainsi il ne luy conseilloit pas de songer a faire cette connoissance adjoustant que puis qu'il demeuroit ordinairement a sidon il ne trouvoit pas qu'il fist bien de chercher a voir une si dangereuse personne a tyr il ne persuada pourtant pas phocilion dont il fut bien marry de sorte que se demandant conte a luy mesme de ce sentiment de depit qu'il ne pouvoit retenir il trouva qu'il faloit de necessite que l'affection qu'il avoit pour elise ne fust pas de la nature qu'il avoit pense mais auparavant que de vous dire le progres de cette amour il faut que je vous aprenne quel estoit cet amant poligene estoit sans doute d'une naissance fort illustre et d'une maison plus esclatante que celle d'elise il estoit alors extremement bien fait de sa personne magnifique et propre en habillement mais par ou il estoit le plus remarquable c'est que jamais homme n'a eu plus de politesse dans l'esprit que celuy-la la galanterie est nee aveque luy la civilite en est inseparable et quoy qu'il sort d'une humeur un peu serieuse il n'est pourtant pas melancolique au contraire sa conversation est fort agreable il est vray qu'il est un peu particulier et qu'il ne parle jamais guere en ces conversations 
 tumultueuses ou il y a beaucoup de monde s'il donne une colation il la donne de si bonne grace avec tant d'ordre et si poliment qu'on croit tousjours qu'elle luy couste plus de la moitie qu'elle ne fait joint aussi que dans toutes les choses qu'il entreprend soit de jeux de prix de musique de bal de promenades et de festins il y a tousjours quelque chose de surprenant et d'extraordinaire de sorte que tout d'une voix on luy a donne la reputation d'estre le plus poly de tous les hommes et l'on peut dire que toute la jeunesse de la cour n'en aproche pas poligene pouvoit avoir trente-cinq ans lors que le feu roy de phenicie mourut quoy qu'il ne parust pas en avoir plus de vingt-huit il avoit un frere beaucoup plus jeune que luy mais il n'estoit pas alors a tyr et il y avoit desja plusieurs annees qu'il estoit alle puiser la politesse en sa source en allant voir toute la grece poligene estant donc tel que je vous le represente ne se mesloit pas parmy toute cette jeunesse de nostre cour qui faisoit tant de presse chez elise comme estant leur rival au contraire il y agissoit comme amy de straton et de sa fille ce n'est pas qu'il ne la louast de meilleure grace qu'eux et qu'il ne luy dist plus de choses galantes qu'ils ne luy en disoient mais c'estoit d'une maniere plus fine et sans en faire le galant il estoit plus galant qu'eux comme il connoissoit la fierte d'elise il fit si bien qu'il luy persuada que toutes les choses qu'il luy disoit 
 n'estoient qu'un effet de cette galanterie qui luy estoit naturelle de sorte que ne le soupconnant pas d'avoir nul dessein particulier pour elle elise vivoit aveque luy avec beaucoup de confiance et comme s'il eust este son frere pour cacher mesme mieux ses sentimens poligene luy donnoit quelquesfois quelques advis soit en l'advertissant de quelque chose qu'on avoit dit d'elle soit en luy conseillant de se defier de quelques-uns de ceux qui la voyoient choisissant avec adresse ceux qui luy estoient les plus redoutables comme elise le croyoit bien intentionne elle luy estoit infiniment obligee de sa facon d'agir avec elle et quoy qu'elle ne fust pas d'humeur a se laisser gouverner ny de trop facile croyance elle desseroit pourtant souvent a ses sentimens et vivoit aveque luy d'une maniere tres obligeante de sorte que durant qu'elle faisoit desesper tous ceux qu'elle ne croyoit estre que son amy recevoit d'elle mille tesmoignages d'estime et d'amitie cependant phocilion malgre les conseils de poligene chercha les voyes de se faire mener chez elise par un de ses amis et comme il estoit bien fait qu'il avoit de l'esprit qu'il estoit de fort bonne condition et que c'estoit enfin un fort honneste homme straton le receut fort bien chez luy et il le receut d'autant mieux qu'il le regarda comme un homme qui pouvoit raisonnablement penser a espouser elise car il scavoit bien que tous ces princes et tous ces 
 grands seigneurs qui avoient de l'amour pour elle ne l'espouseroient pas pour elise elle se contenta de le considerer comme un honneste homme sans en regarder la suitte car de l'humeur qu'elle estoit et qu'elle est encore le mariage ne touchoit guere son inclination comme phocilion est sage et discret qu'il a de l'esprit et de l'esprit doux et agreable et qu'il ne disoit rien a elise qui luy donnast sujet de fuir sa conversation elle luy accorda la sienne et il eut bien tost avec elle cette agreable familiarite qu'elle accordoit a ses amis et qu'elle refusoit a ses amans poligene a qui phocilion faisoit ombre employoit tous ses artifices ordinaires pour le mettre mal avec elise tantost il le vouloit faire passer pour un provincial une autre fois il luy disoit que si elle songeoit a se marier il faloit que ce fust a une personne d'un plus grand esclat et afin de faire mieux recevoir ses advis il disoit pourtant quelque bien de phocilion qui luy estoit plus redoutable que tous les autres car comme il connoissoit la haute vertu d'elise il craignoit bien moins les princes qui l'aimoient qu'il ne craignoit phocilion qui estant d'une condition plus proportionnee a la sienne luy pouvoit permettre de le regarder comme un homme qu'elle pouvoit innocemment aimer il ne put toutes fois persuader a elise ce qu'il vouloit n'osant pas non plus s'y obstiner connoissant qu'elle estoit imperieuse et qu'elle pourroit a la fin se facher 
 s'il pensoit prendre quelque authorite sur elle il eut pourtant l'ame assez en repos quelques jours apres car comme phocilion n'estoit pas entreprenant et que le dessein qu'il avoit pour elise n'estoit pas un simple dessein de galanterie mais un dessein de mariage il n'agissoit par comme ses autres amans et il agissoit d'autant plus aveque moins d'esclat qu'il n'estoit pas marry d'observer la conduite d'elise au milieu de tant d'adorateurs auparavant que de se declarer de sorte qu'agissant comme amy de straton poligene se rassura un peu et vint mesme a estre assez des amis de phocilion qui ayant remarque que poligene estoit bien avec elise aportoit beaucoup de soin a n'estre pas mal aveques luy comme il n'y a point de deuil qui passe si promptement que celuy de la cour principalement lors qu'un jeune prince succede a un vieux roy les plaisirs revinrent bien-tost a tyr ou l'on fit plusieurs festes magnifiques dont elise fut le plus bel ornement il y eut mesme divers jeux de prix et je me souviens qu'il y en eut qui furent bien glorieux a elise et qui luy aquirent la haine de quelques-unes de nos belles car imaginez vous madame que tous ceux qui gagnerent des prix ce jour la les furent tous porter a elise comme a celle qui les leur avoit fait gagner par l'extreme envie qu'ils avoient eue de luy plaire et d'aquerir quelque honneur en sa presence ces trois princes rivaux dont je vous ay parle et qui estoient freres et rivaux tout ensemble furent 
 du nombre de ceux qui furent porter a ses pieds les marques de l'avantage qu'ils avoient eu mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut de voir avec quel modeste orgueil elise voulut refuser tout ce qu'on luy presenta et avec quelle repugnance elle obeit a straton qui luy commanda de prendre ce qu'on luy offroit poligene qui fut un de ceux qui remporterent des prix fut pourtant receu plus favorablement que les autres parce qu'elle ne craignoit pas les consequences qu'elle aprehendoit de ceux qui estoient ses amans declarez je suis pourtant assure que malgre toute sa fierte elle ne fut pas marrie d'avoir receu un honneur ce jour la que nulle autre qu'elle n'avoit jamais remporte elle cacha neantmoins si bien cette satisfaction qu'elle retourna chez elle avec aussi peu d'emportement de joye que si on ne l'eust point consideree du tout le lendemain tous ceux qui prenoient quelque part a sa gloire furent la visiter pour luy tesmoigner qu'ils s'interessoient a l'honneur qu'elle avoit receu mais ils trouverent qu'elle avoit l'ame tellement au dessus de tout ce qu'on appelle vanite qu'ils la jugerent digne d'une couronne aussi bien que des prix qu'on luy avoit offerts ce n'est pas qu'elle receust les louanges qu'on luy donnoit avec une modestie soumise au contraire c'estoit avec une humilite superbe et fiere s'il est permis de parler ainsi qui faisoit assez voir qu'elle trouvoit plus sa propre satisfaction en elle mesme qu'en toutes 
 les louanges d'autruy ce n'est pas qu'elle n'aimant extremement a estre louee de ses amis mais elle vouloit que les louanges qu'on luy donnoit fussent une veritable marque de l'estime que ceux qui la louoient avoient pour elle et que ceux de qui elle recevoit des louanges fussent dignes de luy en donner car pour ces louanges tumultueuses donnees par coustume ou par bienseance qui sont celles dont on recoit le plus elles l'importunoient plus qu'elles ne luy plaisoient aussi les recevoit elle si fierement que je me suis quelquesfois estonne qu'elle n'a fait passer de l'amour a la haine quelques-uns de ceux qui la louoient et certes il ne faut pas trouver estrange si elle a de la fierte car outre que naturellement elle est fiere il est encore vray que poligene a extremement contribue a faire qu'elle ne le fust pas moins car imaginez vous madame que comme il estoit persuade qu'il n'y a pas de meilleure garde du coeur d'une belle que la fierte il louoit continuellement celle d'elise et je pense pouvoir dire qu'il la louoit cent fois plus que sa beaute que sa voix et que son esprit je me souviens d'un jour entre les autres qu'il n'y avoit que poligene phocilion et moy aupres d'elise et que venant a la louer de la generosite qu'elle avoit d'aimer a rendre office a ses amis nous vismes insensiblement a repasser les unes apres les autres toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'elle possedoit quoy qu'elle voulust nous faire changer de discours du moins 
 nous dit elle voyant que nous continuyons tousjours si vous voulez que j'endure toutes les louanges que vous me donnez promettez moy que vous me direz apres mes deffauts afin que je m'en corrige pour moy dit phocilion je ne trouve qu'une seule chose a desirer en vous qui est que vous fussiez un peu moins fiere et moy reprit poligene je voudrois qu'elle fust encore un peu moins douce car enfin je vous declare que si de necessite il faloit qu'elise perdist quelqu'une des qualitez qui la rendent admirable il n'y en a presques pas une de celles qu'elles possede que je ne luy ostasse plustost que la fierte quoy m'escriay-je avec estonnement en regardant poligene vous preferez la fierte d'elise a toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'elle possede de grace songez bien a ce que vous dites j'y songe bien aussi reprit-il et je ne pense pas parler sans raison j'advoue repliqua phocilion que la mienne ne va pas jusques la et que je ne comprends pas comment il seroit possible que vous pussiez consentir qu'elise perdist la moindre bonne qualite qu'elle ait plustost que cette fierte qui fait qu'on ne la peut aimer sans la craindre pour moy interrompit elise en riant je suis si satisfaite de trouver quelqu'un qui loue un deffaut dont je sens bien que je ne me puis corriger que je ne puis puis assez resmoigner a poligene l'obligation que je luy en ay je vous assure madame reprit-il que vous ne me devez point remercier d'une chose que je ne puis 
 penser autrement que je la pense mais encore dit phocilion voudrois-je bien scavoir par quel motif vous vous estes affectionne a la fierte au prejudice de toutes les vertus d'elise c'est parce reprit il que c'est par elle que le coeur de cette belle personne est difficile a toucher et a conquerir car comme je suis persuade adjoustat'il en riant comme si ce n'eust este qu'une simple galanterie que je ne suis pas destine a faire cette illustre conqueste je suis bien aise qu'il y ait dans l'esprit d'elise dequoy empescher les autres de la faire non plus que moy joint qu'a parler raisonnablement il n'y a rien qui convienne mieux a une fort belle personne que la fierte j'advoue toutesfois que cette humeur la ne sied pas bien a tout le monde et qu'il faut avoir mille bonne qualitez pour faire que celle la fasse l'agreable effet que je dis il faut sans doute du moins une grande beaute pour la soustenir et je ne scay mesme si la beaute toute seule suffit pour s'en bien servir et s'il ne faut pas encore outre cela avoir un grand esprit et un grand coeur car enfin je suis persuade que la fierte d'une belle stupide ressemblera fort a l'orgueil et aprochera estrangement d'une espece de sorte vanite qui enlaidit toutes celles qui l'ont et qui les rend insuportables et je suis encore assure que si la personne qui a de la fierte n'a pas le coeur grand et genereux elle sera aigre au lieu d'estre fiere qui n'est nullement ce que je desire en une personne accomplie en effet 
 l'aigreur et la fierte sont des choses toutes differentes la premiere sied mal et l'autre donne de la majeste l'une marque un esprit chagrin et mal fait et l'autre une ame grande et noble ouy la fierte dont je parle est je ne scay quoy de devin qui separe celles qui l'ont du reste du monde qui les fait craindre et respecter de ceux qui les aiment et qui sans faire incivilite a personne fait toutesfois qu'on ne se familiarise jamais trop avec celles qui ont cette aimable fierte que j'admire tous les jours en elise c'est pourquoy ne trouvez pas si estrange que je voulusse plustost qu'elle perdist quelque autre chose que cette fierte que j'aime tant et qui vous a mesme rendu de si bons offices a moy reprit phocilion eh de grace n'entre prenez point de me persuader que je doive rien a la fierte d'elise vous luy devez pourtant infinement reprit poligene car enfin pensez vous qu'estant aussi belle qu'elle est aussi aimable et aussi aimee son coeur fut encore a donner si elle n'eust pas este fiere encore une fois si elise eust este aussi douce que vous semblez la desirer elle n'auroit pu voir si long-temps tant de mal heureux a ses pieds sans avoir pitie de quelqu'un de sorte que lors que vous estes arrive a tyr et que vous estes venu a la connoistre vous auriez trouve son coeur engage ou au contraire vous le trouvez si libre et si detache de toute affection que le plus passionne de tous les amans d'elise ne scauroit trouver en sa conduite dequoy avoir 
 un moment de jalousie il est vray reprit phocilion mais il n'y scauroit aussi trouver dequoy avoir un moment d'esperance c'est tousjours beaucoup que de ne craindre pas qu'un autre soit plus heureux que nous repliqua poligene mais de grace interrompit elise dites moy un peu je vous prie en quoy consiste veritablement la fierte afin que si par hazard je voulois estre un peu plus ou un peu moins fiere je sceusse ce qu'il faudroit faire pour cela est-ce l'air de mon visage poursuit elle qui la fait paroistre sont-ce toutes mes actions en general sont-ce mes paroles en particulier ou si ce n'est que le son de ma voix c'est quelque chose que je ne puis definir reprit poligene car enfin vous estes plus civile que beaucoup d'autres qui passent pour douces ne le sont vous estes essentiellement bonne vous rendez office a vos amis de meilleure grace qu'elles ne peuvent faire vous estes mesme pitoyable et tendre en certaines occasions mais avec tout cela vous estes fiere comme je veux que vous la soyez je pense pourtant qu'a parler raisonnablement la belle et noble fierte dont je parle a sa source dans le fonds de vostre coeur et que c'est de la qu'elle passe dans vostre esprit dans vos yeux sur vostre visage dans toutes vos actions et dans toutes vos paroles cela estant dit alors elise il faut donc que je sois jusques a la mort ce que suis presentement car je vous advoue que je ne voudrois pas changer mon coeur pour celuy d'une autre 
 quand vostre fierte ne vous auroit jamais donne d'autres sentimens que celuy la reprit poligene je l'aimerois le reste de mes jours car comme je l'ay desja dit je ne suis pas marri que les autres ne possedent point ce que je ne puis aquerir phocilion ne se rendit pourtant pas encore aux raisons de poligene et cette conversation dura si long-temps qu'il falut que la nuit nous chassast d'aupres d'elise qui estoit sans doute plus aise de s'entendre louer de fierte que de toute autre chose parce qu'elle ne trouvoit personne qui ne louast sa beaute sa voix et son esprit et qu'elle en trouvoit quelquesfois qui luy reprochoient sa fierte et qui s'en pleignoient estrangement
 
 
 
 
voila donc madame l'estat ou estoient les choses lors que le frere de poligene que je vous ay dit qui estoit alle en grece revint a tyr il pouvoit alors avoir vingt-quatre ans de sorte que comme il y avoit assez de difference d'age entre poligene et luy il le respectoit presque comme son pere et en effet poligene prit autant de soin d'agenor que s'il eust este son fils il fut donc ravy de le voir aussi bien fait qu'il estoit et aussi agreable en toutes choses car enfin madame je puis vous assurer qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage que l'estoit agenor il n'estoit pas seulement beau et de bonne mine il estoit encore infiniment adroit a tous les exercices du corps mais particulierement a la dance de plus il avoit infiniment de l'esprit mais de l'esprit enjoue et de l'esprit divertissant qui occupoit 
 toute une grande compagnie agreablement par sa seule conversation au reste il estoit le plus propre de tous les hommes a faire des intrigues a discouvrir ceux des autres et a cacher les siens quand il le vouloit il est vray que cette volonte ne luy duroit pas long temps et mesme ne luy prenoit pas souvent car il avoit une vanite qui faisoit qu'il ne pouvoit estre aime sans desirer qu'on le sceust il avoit pourtant les passions de l'ame fort violentes mais la vanite ne laissoit pas d'estre presques tousjours la plus forte dans son coeur et certes si agenor n'eust point eu ce deffaut la il eust este bien plus aimable qu'il n'estoit pour celles qu'il aimoit car pour les autres excepte pour ses rivaux s'estoit le plus doux et le plus civil des hommes sa vanite estant toute renfermee en ses galanteries agenor estant tel que je viens de vous le representer arriva a tyr durant que straton barce et elise estoient allez faire un voyage de quinze jours a la campagne de sorte que pendant ce temps la poligene fit voir toute la cour a son frere qui y aquit une reputation extreme principalement parmy les dames cependant comme agenor qui avoit naturellement l'ame galante ne pouvoit vivre sans avoir quelque amusement de cette nature il s'attacha d'abord aupres d'une fille de la reine nommee lyriope qui avoir assurement de la beaute et du merite mais qui avoit un esprit vindicatif et envieux qui ne luy donnoit point de 
 repos a elle mesme car enfin lyriope regardoit avec despit tout ce qui estoit avantageux a ses compagnes et je pense pouvoir dire qu'elle ne leur a jamais veu bon visage qu'elle ne l'ait eu mauvais le reste du jour le crois mesme qu'elle eust quelquesfois voulu estre blonde et brune tout a la fois avoir les yeux bleus et noirs et estre enfin tout ce que les autres estoient sans cesser pourtant d'estre ce qu'elle estoit lyriope n'estoit pas seulement envieuse de la beaute de toutes celles qui en avoient et de leurs conquestes elle l'estoit encore de leurs habillemens ne pouvant souffrir sans un chagrin extreme qu'elles en eussent de plus magnifiques qu'elle ny de mieux faits vous pouvez donc juger madame qu'une personne de cette humeur eut une extreme joye de voir que l'homme de toute la cour du plus grand bruit et du plus grand esclat s'attachoit a la servir et la choisissoit au milieu d'une grande cour ou il y avoit tant de belles personnes de sorte que craignant que cette conqueste ne luy eschapast elle prit la resolution de joindre ses soins a ses charmes et de retenir par quelques legeres faveurs ce que sa beaute luy avoit aquis lyriope ne raisonna pourtant pas juste cette fois la car je suis persuade que si son coeur eust este un peu plus difficile a conquerir elle eust conserve plus long-temps sa conqueste cependant cette galanterie fit un grand bruit dans le monde car a peine dit-on qu'agenor aimoit lyriope qu'on dit que lyriope ne haissoit pas agenor 
 si bien que lors qu'elise revint de la campagne on ne parloit d'autre chose elle ne fut pas plustost a tyr que toute la cour fut chez elle si bien qu'agenor fut fort estonne de ne trouver presques pas un homme ce jour-la a toutes les visites qu'il fit il en sceut pourtant bien tost la raison car estant alle le soir chez la reine il comprit par les discours le toute la jeunesse de la cour qu'elise estoit cause de la solitude qu'il avoit trouvee en tous les lieux ou il avoit este n'y ayant pas un homme a qui il n'entendist parler d'elle comme l'ayant este voir les uns disoient qu'elle estoit revenue encore plus belle qu'elle n'estoit lors qu'elle estoit partie et que l'air des champs l'avoit engraissee les autres qu'elle estoit crue et que sa taille estoit encore plus avantageuse quelques-uns assuroient qu'elle estoit un peu moins fiere ou que du moins la joye de se revoir a tyr la faisoit paroistre plus douce et d'autres qui l'avoient entendue chanter en entrant chez elle juroient qu'elle avoit assurement apris encore quelque chose a la musique en entendant celle des rosignols de la solitude d'ou elle venoit soustenant qu'elle n'avoit jamais si bien chante qu'elle faisoit alors agenor entendant tant louer elise demanda a lyriope si elle meritoit toutes les louanges qu'il luy entendoit donner mais elle suivant son humeur envieuse luy en fit un portrait qui n'estoit pas digne d'envie elle luy dit qu'elise avoit de grands yeux si ouverts 
 qu'ils en estoient effarez qu'elle avoit le teint si vif qu'il en estoit rouge et qu'elle estoit si fiere qu'elle en estoit aigre de sorte qu'ostant a elise toute sa beaute et toutes ses bonnes qualitez elle en fit une peinture qui n'avoit garde de luy ressembler comme j'estois present au discours de lyriope je ne pus m'empescher de la contredire et de la hair en mesme temps ne m'estant pas possible de souffrir ce qu'elle disoit sans colere du moins dis je a agenor accordez moy la grace de ne juger d'elise qu'apres l'avoir veue ce qui sera sans doute bien tost car je suis tesmoin adjoustay-je qu'elle s'est extremement pleinte a poligene de ce qu'il ne vous avoit pas mene chez elle des aujourd'hui luy disant qu'elle n'eust jamais creu qu'estant autant de ses amis qu'elle est il eust pu avoir un frere aussi accomply qu'on luy a dit que vous estes sans luy en donner la connoissance afin qu'elle pust prendre part a la joye qu'il en doit avoir agenor m'entendant parler ainsi comprit aisement que lyriope avoit parle comme une envieuse de la beaute d'elise car encore qu'il fust amoureux d'elle il ne l'estoit pas jusques a la preoccupation et l'on peur dire que lyriope avoit touche son coeur mais qu'elle ne l'avoit pas-aquis cependant il ne laissoit pas d'agir avec elle comme s'il l'eust aimee aussi ardemment qu'on pouvoir aimer c'est pourquoy il luy demanda a demy bas la permission de voir elise qu'elle n'osa luy refuser craignant que s'il 
 n'y alloit point on ne vinst a en devenir la cause et que cela n'augmentast les bruits qui couroient dans le monde a son desavantage dont quelques unes de ses amies l'avoient advertie agenor ayant donc la permission de voir elise ne fut pas plustost retourne chez son frere ou il logeoit alors qu'il fut le chercher a sa chambre pour voir s'il luy diroit la priere que je luy avois dit qu'elise luy avoit faite de le mener chez elle mais il fut fort estonne de voir que poligene ne luy en parloit pas neantmoins comme personne ne luy avoit dit qu'il en fust amoureux il creut que c'estoit un simple oubly de sorte qu'il se resolut de luy dire ce qu'il en scavoit poligene demeura fort sur pris du discours de son frere car il estoit vray que ce qui l'avoit empesche de luy faire scavoir la priere qu'elise luy avoit faite n'estoit pas qu'il eust oublie ce que cette belle personne luy avoit dit mais c'est qu'il n'avoit pas encore tout a fait resolu s'il devoit estre bien aise de cette connoissance toutesfois comme agenor paroissoit estre fort amoureux de lyriope il se determina joint aussi qu'il ne voyoit pas trop bien comment il pourroit empescher la chose c'est pourquoy faisant excuse a son frere d'avoir oublie l'honneur qu'elise luy avoir fait il luy promit de l'y mener le lendemain mais pour s'assurer un peu d'avantage il voulut tascher de s'esclaircir qu'els estoient ses sentimens pour lyriope et s'il avoit lieu d'esperer que la passion qu'il avoit pour elle pust l'empescher d'en 
 avoir pour elise c'est pourquoy prenant la parole mais mon frere luy dit-il en sousriant ne craignez vous point de donner de la jalousie a la belle lyriope en tesmoignant avoir tant d'empressement de connoistre elise comme elle ne peut pas croire que je sois amoureux d'une personne que je ne connois point reprit agenor je n'ay pas cette apprehension joint que je ne feray cette visite qu'apres qu'elle m'en a accorde la permission vous estes donc aussi bien avec elle reprit poligene que toute la cour le dit d'abord agenor fut surpris de ce que poligene luy disoit et de ce qu'il avoit dit sans y penser mais un moment apres il se mit a rire de luy-mesme et de sa resverie qui l'avoit fait respondre si ingenument sans en avoir eu le dessein de sorte que poligene se mettant a railler aveque luy fit si bien que parlant a la fin un peu plus serieusement agenor luy aprit en quels termes il en estoit avec lyriope il sceut donc apres qu'il luy eut fait promettre fidelite pour faire mieux valoir la confidence qu'il luy faisoit que lyriope souffroit agreablement qu'il luy parlast de sa passion qu'elle ne luy avoit pas deffendu d'esperer qu'il luy avoit desja escrit plusieurs fois que veritablement elle ne luy avoit pas fait de responce mais que c'estoit seulement parce qu'elle ne se pouvoit confier a ceux qui portoient ses lettres qu'il n'y avoit point de jour qu'elle ne luy donnast quelque occasion de la voir et de luy parler qu'elle l'advertissoit 
 soigneusement de tous les lieux ou la reyne devoit aller afin qu'il s'y trouvast et qu'enfin il avoit sujet de croire qu'il n'estoit pas hai je vous assure reprit poligene que je trouve que vous en avez beaucoup de croire que vous estez aime dont je suis fort aise car enfin adjousta-t'il malicieusement outre que lyriope est une tres-belle personne et dont la conqueste ne peut manquer de vous estre agreable et glorieuse c'est encore qu'en satisfaisant vostre amour vous pouvez satisfaire vostre ambition estant certain que lyriope est beaucoup mieux avec la reine qu'on ne le croit dans le monde j'en scay des particularitez poursuivit-il quoy que cela ne fust pas que je ne vous puis dire qui m'obligent a vous exhorter de conserver soigneusement ce que vous avez aquis et a menager bien l'affection de lyriope apres cela poligene croyant avoir trouve toute la seurete qu'il pouvoit desirer se separa d'agenor qui ayant a voir le jour suivant une personne d'un merite si extraordinaire et dont on luy disoit tant de choses donna ordre a ses gens de luy donner le lendemain un habillement qu'il aimoit et qui en effet luy sieoit admirablement bien car il n'estoit ny trop simple ny trop magnifique et l'assortiment des couleurs en plaisoit si fort a la veue et l'invention des ornemens qui estoient dessus en estoit si galante qu'on ne pouvoit le voir sans le louer agenor n'ayant donc rien oublie de tout ce qui pouvoit luy 
 estre avantageux fut trouver poligene aussitost que l'heure de faire des visites fut venue pour le sommer de sa parole qu'il luy tint en effet et qu'il luy tint mesme sans repugnance ne croyant pas qu'estant aussi bien traite qu'il estoit de lyriope il pust se resoudre a luy estre infidelle pour une personne dont la conqueste paroissoit impossible de sorte que sans tarder d'avantage il fut avec agenor chez elise ayant aussi pris tous le soin qu'il faloit pour faire que son frere n'eust que la jeunesse plus que luy et certes a dire les choses comme elles sont le choix en eust este difficile a faire ce n'est pas que ces deux freres ne fussent differens presques en tout mais c'estoit une difference sans inegalite de merite chacun ayant sans doute dequoy aquerir l'estime des plus honnestes gens et des plus difficiles a accorder leur aprobation les maximes de poligene et d'agenor en matiere de galanterie estoient mesme bien opposees les unes aux autres car poligene disoit qu'il ne faloit jamais declarer ouvertement son amour qu'on ne fust presque assure d'estre aime et agenor au contraire soustenoit qu'il ne vouloit jamais cacher un moment la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame a celle qui la causoit afin disoit il qu'elle luy tinst conte de tous les soins et de tous les services qu'il luy rendoit et en effet agenor ne disoit pas cela comme une simple galanterie car il en a toute sa vie use ainsi poligene de son coste ne disoit jamais qu'il aimoit qu'il ne fust assure 
 d'estre aime c'est pourquoy ne voyant dans l'esprit d'elise que des marques d'estime pour luy et n'y voyant nulle disposition a une affection de la nature qu'il la souhaitoit ny pour luy ny pour aucun autre il l'adoroit dans le silence quoy qu'il eust une passion demesuree pour elle esperant tousjours que cette amitie galante et respectueuse qu'il avoit avec elle l'engageroit malgre qu'elle en eust a l'aimer plus qu'elle ne l'aimioit et plus qu'elle ne le vouloit aimer mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois je vous diray que poligene et agenor furent de si bonne heure chez straton qu'il n'y avoit encore personne que moy de sorte que je fus le seul tesmoin de cette premiere entreveue comme elise estoit bien plus souvent a la chambre de straton qu'a celle de barce a cause de sa bizarre humeur ce fut la que poligene presenta agenor et au pere et a la fille de qui il fut receu avec beaucoup de civilite apres le premier compliment straton qui avoit quelque chose a dire a poligene se mit a se promener aveque luy dans sa chambre et laissa agenor aupres d'elise ou je demeuray aussi cette belle personne estoit ce jour-la en un habit si avantageux qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si sa beaute parut avec tout son esclat aux yeux d'agenor comme elle n'avoit pas eu dessein de sortir elle estoit comme sont nos dames lors qu'elles veulent garder la chambre mais c'estoit comme une personne qui vouloit estre veue et non 
 pas comme estant malade l'habillement d'elise estoit bleu tous les ornemens en estoient d'argent une partie de ses cheveux estoient entortillez par derriere avec des perles et du ruban bleu et les autres luy tomboient negligeamment sur la gorge qu'elle avoit ouverte ayant un colier de diamans enchassez dans de l'or esmaille de noir et de bracelets de mesme de plus comme si le hazard eust voulu qu'agenor l'eust veue avec quelque agreement extraordinaire elise s'assit sur des quarreaux de brocatelle incarnate de sorte que cet incarnat et ce bleu faisoient une si agreable reflexion de couleurs et si propre a faire paroistre le beau teint d'elise qu'elle en paroissoit encore plus belle joint aussi que la lumiere tombant a propos sur son visage pour n'y faire ny ombre ny faux jour elle estoit telle qu'il falloir qu'elle fust pour faire un infidelle d'agenor qui se trouva droit oppose a ces yeux qui avoient tant fait de conquestes a peine fusmes nous assis qu'elise prenant agreablement la parole je vous assure luy dit elle que j'auray bien de la difficulte a me resoudre de pardonner a poligene le tort qu'il m'a fait de ne m'avoir pas donne plustost vostre connoissance puis qu'il m'a privee d'un plaisir que je ne scaurois recouvrer c'est a moy madame reprit agenor a me pleindre de luy et non pas a vous mais quand il seroit vray que ma veue ne vous seroit pas desagreabl je ne scay pas puis que j'ay aujourd'huy l'honneur de vous 
 voir pourquoy vous dites que poligene vous a privee d'un plaisir que vous ne scauriez plus recouvrer c'est dit elle en riant que veu le temps qu'il y a que vous estes revenu je n'oserois plus vous traitter en homme qui vient d'un pais estranger cependant je n'ay pas un plus grand plaisir que de me faire dire tout ce que scavent ceux qui viennent de voyager principalement quand ils viennent d'ou vous venez c'est a dire du lieu de la politesse pourveu que vous me permettiez reprit-il en sousriant apres que je vous auray dit tout ce que j'ay veu de beau en grece de vous parler aussi un peu de ce que je trouve de beau icy je vous promets de satisfaire vostre curiosite vous pouvez penser repliqua t'elle malicieusement que je n'ay garde de m'oposer a la satisfaction que vous aurez a dire tout ce que vous avez veu de beau chez la reine je ne parle pas de chez la reine reprit-il et lors que je vous ay demande la permission de vous parler de tout ce que je trouve de beau icy je n'ay pas eu intention que ce mot d'icy s'estendist hors de la chambre ou vous estes quoy qu'il en soit dit elle faites moy donc la grace de me dire si les dames dont aussi belles en grece qu'on le dit leur beaute est sans doute merveilleuse reprit-il mais si vous eussiez este comme vous estes lors que je partis de phenicie ou que toute enfant que vous eussiez j'eusse eu l'honneur de vous voir je ne vous aurois pas fait mille injustices que je vous ay faites durant mon 
 voyage car enfin madame il faut que je vous le confesse j'ay jure mille et mille fois a mille et mille belles que j'ay veues ou a corinthe ou a athenes ou a argos ou a thebes ou a sparte qu'il n'y avoit rien en toute la phenicie qui les valust ny qui aprochast de leur beaute mais pour reparer l'injure que je vous ay faite souffrez que comme j'ay dit ce mensonge outrageant a mille et mille belles grecques je vous die aussi mille et mille fois avec autant de verite que de repentir que vous estes plus belle toute seule qu'elles ne le sont toutes ensemble quand ce que vous dites seroit vray reprit elise en raillant je n'aurois garde de vous obliger a dire tant de fois une mesme chose joint qu'a parler plus serieusement adjousta-t'elle en tournant la teste vers un grand miroir qui estoit a sa main droite je n'aurois qu'a me regarder une seule fois pour destruire tout ce que vous m'auriez dit ha madame s'escria agenor qui se mit a la regarder dans ce miroir vers lequel elle s'estoit tournee si vous en croyez vos yeux vous en croirez bien mes paroles pendant que cette conversation se faisoit de cette sorte et que je l'escoutois je pris garde que poligene qui se promenoit avec straton n'aportoit pas grande attention a ce qu'il luy disoit au contraire je voyois qu'il prestoit l'oreille a ce qu'elise et agenor disoient principalement lors qu'il aprochoit du lieu ou nous estions il fit mesme si bien qu'insensiblement il obligea 
 straton de se promener en biaisant afin que du moins il pust voir elise je creus pourtant alors que ce qui le faisoit agir ainsi n'estoit qu'une simple curiosite de scavoir si agenor se tireroit bien de cette conversation et j'advoue que ma simplicite fut si grande que je donnay a un sentiment de frere ce que je devois donner a un sentiment d'amant cependant comme on passe bien souvent d'un discours serieux a un fort enjoue et d'un enjoue a un fort serieux apres qu'elise se fut agreablement et fierement deffendue des louanges qu'on donnoit a sa beaute et qu'agenor se fut obligeamment opiniastre a la louer on parla un peu des nouvelles du monde et un peu de guere en suitte dequoy agenor revenant tousjours a louer elise et voulant suivre la maxime qu'il avoit de ne cacher jamais a une dame les sentimens advantageux qu'il avoit d'elle il se mit a luy donner encore mille louanges et a les luy donner avec empressement de sorte qu'elise pour luy faire changer de discours et pous luy tesmoigner qu'elle scavoit que lyriope avoit assujety son coeur mais de grace me dit-elle aprenez moy si agenor est accoustume de louer toutes celles a qui il parle avec autant d'exces qu'il me loue afin que je scache comment je dois prendre tout ce qu'il me dit comme vous l'avez veu chez la reine adjousta-t'elle il vous sera aise de me satisfaire dites moy donc je vous en conjure ce qu'il dit a toutes les dames qu'il y voit et alors elle 
 m'en nomma plusieurs et entre celles a lyriope pour moy madame luy repliquay-je je ne l'ay jamais tant entendu louer personne que vous quoy interrompit elle il me loue plus qu'il qu'il ne loue lyriope ha telamis cela n'est pas possible il est pourtant vray reprit agenor que je ne l'ay jamais tant louee que vous je voy bien respondit elle qu'en parlant comme vous faites vous croyez que je ne scay point que vous en estes amoureux mais agenor je suis un peu mieux instruite que vous ne pensez et le bruit des conquestes de la belle lyriope est venu jusques dans mon desert je vous diray mesme adjousta t'elle en riant que j'ay este bien aise pour ma propre gloire qu'elle ait fait cette conqueste devant mon retour afin qu'on n'eust pas a me reprocher d'avoir manque a la faire les peuples nouvellement assujettis reprit-il en la regardant sont quelquesfois bien aisez a faire revolter ha agenor repliqua t'elle je ne voudrois point de sujets qui eussent este rebelles a leurs premiers maistres et puis je suis persuadee que les chaines que la belle lyriope vous a donnees sont si sortes que vous ne les pourriez rompre quand vous le voudriez mais pour en revenir ou nous en estions je vous trouve bien hardy de me dire que vous me louez plus qu'elle vous m'embarrassez un peu reprit agenor mais je pense pourtant que sans faire injure a lyriope je puis avoir dit ce que j'ay dit car enfin poursuivit-il de l'humeur dont je suis je ne sens pas plustost 
 que j'ay de l'amour que je meurs d'envie de le dire de sorte que je ne m'amuse pas long temps a donner des louanges qui ne disent pas assez precisement qu'on est amoureux joint que selon moy en disant qu'on aime on fait sans doute un fort grand eloge a celle a qui on le dit et je ne voudrois pas respondre que je vous puisse louer long-temps comme je vien de vous louer cette facon de louer reprit elise ne seroit pas a mon vsage mais enfin agenor vous vous estes mieux deffendu que je ne pensois cependant je puis encore vous dire que j'ay mesme quelque interest qui fait que je suis tres aise que vous soyez amoureux parce que cela sera cause que plus facilement je me resoudray a faire amitie aveque vous je connois beaucoup de personnes repris-je qui ne sont pas de vostre humeur et qui ne veulent point faire amitie avec un homme amoureux si j'avois des secrets a confier reprit elise je pense que je ne dirois pas ce que je dis mais ne voulant de l'amitie d'agenor qu'une simple complaisance et je ne scay quel petit eschange de secrets indifferens qui ne sont quasi point secrets et qui fournissent pourtant a la conversation il ne m'importe point qu'il soit amoureux pour faire que je sois son amie ha madame reprit-il si je ne me trompe vous estes une dangereuse amie poligene entendant ces dernieres paroles ne put s'empescher de se mesler dans les discours d'elise et d'agenor et d'assurer son frere pendant que straton parloit a un des 
 siens qu'il avoit tort de dire ce qu'il disoit puis qu'elise estoit aussi bonne amie qu'elle estoit dangereuse maistresse comme il disoit cela il arriva beaucoup de monde qui fit que cette conversation devint plus generale cependant quoy que les premieres visites n'ayent pas accoustume d'estre fort longues agenor fit durer la sienne jusques a la nuit et il s'aprovisa tellement avec elise des ce premier jour la qu'il ne l'eust pas este d'avantage s'il l'eust connue toute sa vie mais lors qu'il alla le soir chez la reine il se trouva bien embarrasse a rendre conte a lyriope de ce qu'il avoit fait l'apresdinee des qu'elle le vit elle remarqua qu'il avoit eu soin de luy ce jour la et qu'il estoit aussi propre qu'elle l'avoit veu durant les premiers jours qu'il avoit eu dessein de luy plaire ce n'est pas qu'il ne le fust tousjours mais il y a pourtant certaines petites observations que les personnes passionnees sont capables de faire qui font qu'elles remarquent de la difference entre une proprete naturelle et sans dessein et une proprete extraordinaire qui a quelque cause cachee de sorte que comme lyriope n'avoit point veu agenor de tout le jour elle eut une curiosite estrange de scavoir ou il avoit este elle ne le vit donc pas plustost que luy adressant la parole sans tesmoigner pourtant ce qu'elle avoit dans l'ame de grace agenor luy dit elle dites moy ce que vous avez fait aujourd'huy que nous ne vous avons point veu j'ay este en cent endroits sans trouver personne repliqua-t'il 
 en suitte dequoy poligene qui avoit promis a straton de me mener chez luy a voulu que j'y allasse et bien luy dit elle en rougissant que vous semble d'elise vous me l'aviez representee si laide repliqua-t'il que je croy que cela me l'a fait sembler belle c'est une terrible chose reprit cette envieuse fille que le bon-heur de cette personne la car pour moy je suis persuadee qu'encore qu'on die que chaque nation a une espece de beaute qui luy est particuliere y en ayant qui aiment les beautez blondes d'autres les brunes quelques unes qui veulent qu'elles soient grandes et grosses et d'autres delicates et de mediocre grandeur qu'il y en ait mesme qui veulent qu'elles soient camuses et basanees je crois dis-je que s'il y avoit des gens de toutes les parties du monde qui vissent elise ils s'accorderoient a louer sa beaute comme elle disoit cela tout bas a agenor un de ceux qui estoient venu chez straton durant qu'il y estoit se joignit a leur conversation et demanda a agenor sans scavoir ce qu'il avoit dit a lyriope s'il y avoit desja long temps qu'il estoit chez elise lors qu'il estoit arrive mais a peine agenor eut il dit en mentant hardiment qu'il n'y faisoit que d'entrer lors qu'il y estoit venu qu'il en vint un autre qui y avoit este fort tard et qui en estoit sorty en mesme temps que luy qui sans scavoir non plus que le premier ce qui s'estoit dit demanda a agenor s'il avoit jamais rien veu de plus beau qu'elise principalement apres qu'on avoit eu esclaire la chambre 
 ou elle estoit et pour achever de l'embarrasser il en vint encore un qui scachent qu'il n'avoit point veu elise que ce jour la et l'y ayant veu entrer aussi tost apres disner ce mit a luy dire qu'il avoit veu elise comme il la faloit voir estant certain adjousta t'il que plus le jour est grand plus elle paroist belle c'est pourquoy vous avez bien fait d'y aller pour la premiere fois d'aussi bonne heure que je vous y ay veu entrer lyriope n'eut pas plustost ouy cela qu'elle regarda agenor en rougissant de despit d'envie et de jalousie tout ensemble car elle comprit que puis qu'un de ceux qui parloient avoit veu entrer de fort bonne heure agenor chez straton et que l'autre l'y avoit veu apres que les lampes avoient este allumees il faloit qu'il y eut passe toute l'apresdinee et qu'il luy eust menty lors qu'il luy avoit dit qu'il avoit este en cent lieux sans trouver personne de sorte que le regardant fixement sans rien dire elle cherchoit ses yeux pour luy faire mille reproches mais comme il n'ignoroit pas le pouvoir qu'il avoit sur le coeur de cette fille il ne s'en mit pas beaucoup en peine et il creut bien qu'il luy seroit aise de faire sa paix en effet des qu'il luy put parler aveque liberte il luy parla d'une maniere qui luy persuada qu'elle luy devoit estre obligee du mensonge qu'il avoit dit car enfin luy disoit il conme nous l'avons sceu depuis vous pouvez bien juger que quand j'avois a devenir amoureux d'elise et a estre infidelle je ne pourrois 
 pas l'estre devenu en si peu de temps jusqu'au point que de vouloir desir faire un grand mistere d'une passion qui ne feroit que de naistre croyez donc luy dit-il que la seule complaisance que j'ay eue pour poligene m'a fait faire une si longue visite a elise et que la peur que j'ay eue que vous ne trouvassiez mauvais que j'y eusse este tout le jour m'a oblige a vous dire un mensonge cependant adjousta t'il finement je suis bien aise d'avoir descouvert un sentiment jaloux dans vostre ame car toutes les fois que je voudray recevoir quelque nouvelle faveur de vous je pense que j'iray faire une longue visite a elise ce seroit bien plus tost le chemin de perdre celles que vous avez desja repliqua t'elle la lyriope s'escria-t'il aprenez s'il vous plaist a me connoistre et croyez qu'on ne me fait point revenir par des rigueurs et que vous ne me devez jamais estre plus douce que lors que vous penserez avoir sujet de craindre de me perdre mais c'est assurement ce qui n'arrivera point principalement si vous continuez d'estre ce que vous estes presentement comme lyriope avoit l'ame preocupee d'une violente passion qu'elle ne s'estoit pleinte que pour obliger agenor a l'apaiser et que de plus elle avoit plus d'esprit que de jugement elle receut les raisons d'agenor comme bonnes et crut mesme que pour l'empescher de luy estre infidelle et d'aimer elise il faloit l'accabler de nouvelles faveurs ce n'est pas qu'elle n'eust resolu de ne marquer jamais 
 mais a ce qu'elle se devoit a elle mesme et de demeurer un peu au deca du crime mais pour toutes ces petites choses qui font un si grand bruit lors qu'on les scait et dont on tire de si facheuses consequences elle se determina a les accorder toutes a agenor croyant par la l'attacher indissolublement a elle l'empescher d'aimer elise et l'obliger a l'espouser
 
 
 
 
il n'en alla pourtant pas ainsi comme vous le verrez par la suitte de cette histoire cependant comme elise alloit par tout quand agenor n'eust pas este chez elle il ne se fust guere passe de jour qu'il ne l'eust veue et comme elle estoit faite de facon que plus on la voyoit plus on l'admiroit agenor qui connoissoit bien ce qui meritoit d'estre admire sentit croistre dans son ame toutes les fois qu'il la vit l'admiration qu'il avoit eue pour elle des le premier instant qu'il l'avoit veue il fut pourtant quelque temps a vouloir deffendre son coeur qui fit en effet quelque legere resistance a la beaute d'elise mais lors qu'il fut en quelque sorte accoustume aux faveurs de lyriope il commenca de ceder peu a peu la facilite qu'il avoit trouvee a aquerir l'affection de cette fille et la difficulte qu'il y avoit a pouvoir seulement esperer de faire souffrir la sienne a elise firent que ses desirs s'attiedirent pour lyriope et qu'ils devinrent si ardents pour elise qu'il ne pouvoit plus vivre sans la voir il n'osoit pourtant encore paroistre si tost infidelle c'est pourquoy ce n'estoit pas sans peine qu'il voyoit elise sans 
 que lyriope le sceust d'autre part poligene qui observoit son frere soigneusement s'aperceut bien tost que l'indulgence que lyriope avoit pour luy rendoit sa passion moins vive de sorte qu'il craignit estrangement qu'il ne devinst son rival aprehendant mesme desja qu'il ne le fust devenu cependant phocilion remarquant tous les jours plus de vertu en elise en devint si esperdument amoureux qu'il se resolut enfin a faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour l'espouser comme il estoit extrement riche il ne douta pas que son dessein ne fust aprouve de straton mais il ne creut point luy en devoir rien dire qu'il n'en eust eu la permission d'elise il est vray qu'il n'estoit pas sans aprehension il voyoit bien que cette sage fille avoit beaucoup de civilite pour luy et qu'elle tesmoignoit mesme avoir beaucoup d'estime mais il la voyoit si esloignee d'avoir nul sentiment d'affection particuliere de la nature dont il l'eust souhaite qu'il ne pensa jamais se resoudre a luy descouvrir son dessein tant la crainte d'estre refuse occupoit son ame mais a la fin apres avoir este plusieurs fois chez elle avec intention de luy parler sans l'avoir ose faire il se determina un jour qu'il la trouva seule de luy descouvrir ce qu'il luy avoit si long-temps cache mais comme il connoissoit sa fierte il chercha une voye de le faire sans l'irriter apres avoir donc parle quelque temps de choses indifferentes tout d'un coup phocilion prenant la parole comme vous avez la reputation luy dit-il 
 d'estre une des plus genereuses amies du monde je voudrois bien madame que vous voulussiez me faire l'honneur de me donner un conseil fidelle en une occasion d'ou despend tout le bon-heur ou tout le mal heur de la vie d'un homme qui est fort vostre serviteur et en la fortune de qui je dois prendre un interest tres-particulier elise entendant parler phocilion de cette sorte en demeura un peu surprise car elle connoissoit bien qu'il avoit beaucoup d'affection pour elle quoy qu'il ne le luy eust jamais dit toutesfois comme elle scavoit qu'il estoit tres discret et tres sage elle n'aprehenda pas qu'il luy dist rien qui luy deust desplaire c'est pourquoy prenant un biais adroit pour luy respondre il me semble luy dit elle que je ne suis guere propre a donner conseil a personne et qu'il vous seroit aise de trouver dans vostre raison celuy dont vous avez besoin sans vouloir consulter la mienne c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'elle en riant si vous m'en croyez vous ne me revelerez point le secret de la personne pour qui vous vous interessez de peur qu'il ne vous en arrive deux maux a la sois l'un de recevoir un mauvais conseil l'autre de me donner envie de dire ce que vous m'aurez dit pour cette derniere chose reprit phocilion je ne la crains pas vous me croyez donc plus secrette que prudente reprit elise puis que vous ne craignez point que je revele vostre secret et que vous aprehendez que je ne vous donne un mauvais 
 conseil quoy qu'il en soit madame repliqua-t'il donnez vous la peine de m'escouter et de m'escouter sans m'interrompre vous promettant lors que j'auray acheve de vous dire la chose dont il s'agit d'entendre apres ce qu'il vous plaira de me dire et de faire suivre le conseil que vous me donnerez a la personne qui a interest a l'affaire dont j'ay a vous entretenir ce que vous me dites repliqua-t'elle me donne une si grande curiosite que quand il y auroit quelque chose a bazarder je pense que je vous permettrois de parler c'est pourquoy vous n'avez qu'a commencer de m'aprendre ce que vous voulez que je scache avant que de vous obeir reprit-il madame il faut que je vous suplie encore de ne m'obliger point a vous dire le nom de celuy dont j'ay a vous parler que vous ne l'ayez conseille comme il le veut estre quoy interrompit elle celuy qui vous fait parler demande conseil et n'en veut pourtant point recevoir s'il n'est conforme a son inclination ha phocilion si cela est je ne suis point propre a luy en donner car je conseille tousjours selon moy et jamais selon les autres vous en vserez comme il vous plaira repliqua-t'il cependant souffrez s'il vous plaist que je commence de vous aprendre qu'il y a un homme au monde qui apres avoir eu le mal-heur de vivre tres long-temps sans vous connoistre eut enfin le bon-heur de vous voir pour la premiere fois le premier jour que vous fustes chez la reyne 
 apres la mort du feu roy mais phocilion interrompit elise pourquoy faut il que je sois meslee en l'affaire de celuy dont vous me voulez parler vous le scaurez bien tost madame repliqua t'il si vous me tenez la parole que vous m'avez donnee de m'escouter sans m'interrompre scachez donc poursuivit-il que celuy dont je parle ne vous vit pas plustost qu'il vous adora et qu'il prit la resolution de vous adorer toute sa vie en verite dit elise vous estes admirable car a ce que je voy au lieu de me consulter l'affaire d'un autre vous ne me parlez que de moy encore une fois madame reprit phocilion vous m'avez promis de m'entendre puis que je m'y suis engagee repliqua-t'elle fierement en rougissant j'y consens mais vous vous souviendrez aussi que vous vous estes oblige a deux choses l'une d'escouter paisiblement tout ce que je voudray vous respondre et l'autre de faire suivre mon conseil a celuy pour qui vous me le demandez je le scay bien madame poursuivit-il et je ne manqueray pas a ma parole mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois je vous diray que cet homme qui vous adora des qu'il vous vit et qui vous adorera tousjous ne pouvant plus vivre sans estre plus heureux qu'il n'est m'a charge de vous demander ce que vous voulez qu'il devienne vous avez pour luy une civilite dont il vous est infiniment redevable vous luy avez donne diverses marques d'estime dont il vous sera eternellement oblige straton luy fait la grace de 
 l'honnorer de son amitie il est d'une condition esgalle a la vostre et la fortune luy ayant donne beaucoup moins de bien que vous n'en meritez luy en a pourtant assez donne pour vous rendre heureuse s'il ne manquoit que la richesse a vostre felicite mais madame cet homme tel que je vous le presente a une passion si respectueuse pour vous qu'il n'a jamais ose vous la dire et quoy qu'il ait lieu de croire que straton ne le refuseroit pas s'il luy demandoit la permission de vous conjurer d'agreer le dessein qu'il a de meriter vostre affection par ses services il n'a pourtant pas voulu y penser que je ne vous eusse demande conseil pour luy mais madame douant que de me le donner il est bon que vous scachiez que jamais homme n'a sceu aimer ny plus ardemment ny plus respectueusement qu'il vous aime et il faut que vous n'ignoriez pas que si vous luy conseillez de se taire et de continuer de cacher la passion qu'il a dans l'ame vous le mettrez dans un desespoir si excessif qu'il sera contraint d'avoir recours a la mort considerez encore de grace que le respect qu'il vous porte est si grand que scachant vostre severite et vostre scrupuleuse vertu il n'a ose vous faire scavoir qu'il meurt d'amour pour vous sans vous faire scavoir en mesme temps l'innocence de son dessein je scay bien madame qu'il y a tous les jours des princes a vos pieds et que celuy dont je parle n'est pas mais je scay bien aussi qu'il a dans le coeur des sentimens d'amour et de 
 veneration pour vous qui ne sont point dans leur ame quelques amoureux qu'ils puissent estre c'est pourquoy madame je vous conjure de faire quelque consideration fut ce que je vous dis de luy je scay si parfaitement tout ce qu'il pense de vous que je puis vous assurer que je ne scay par si bien ce que je pense de moy mesme parlez donc madame ne conseillez vous pas a cet amant cache de se descouvrir ou a straton ou a vous et ne voulez vous pas que je vous die son nom comme vous m'avez dit reprit elise que vous ne me le vouliez dire que lors que je l'aurois conseille comme il le veut estre je pense qu'il est a propos que vous ne me le nommiez pas que je ne vous aye donne le conseil que vous me demandez de peur que ne le trouvent pas conforme a son humeur vous n'eussiez parle un peu trop legerement eh de grace madame luy dit il consultez vous bien devant que de desesperer ce mal-heureux amant pour qui j'implore vostre pitie pour vous tesmoigner luy dit elle qu'il ne pouvoit choisir une personne qui fust plus propre que vous a me persuader ce qu'il veut si c'estoit une chose qui me pust estre persuadee je veux bien vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur comme a un de mes meilleurs amis et quoy que je sois naturellement assez fiere je m'assure que je ne vous donneray point sujet de vous pleindre de moy aujourd'huy quoy que je ne conseille pas celuy dont vous prenez les interests 
 comme il a dessein de l'estre ha madame s'escria phocilion si vous le conseillez autrement vous le desespererez et il ne sera pas aise que vous luy refusiez ce qu'il desire sans que je me pleigne de vous vous vous pleindrez sans doute a tort reprit elle mais phocilion il ne faut pas me condamner sans m'entendre c'est pourquoy souffrez que je vous die que je fais une estime si particuliere de vous que j'ay si bonne opinion de vostre jugement et que je suis si fore persuadee que vous me faites la grace d'avoir quelque estime pour moy que je ne doute nullement que le mariage que vous me proposez ne me fust tres-avantageux si ce n'estoit l'effroyable aversion que j'ay a me marier mais phocilion j'ay a vous dire que cette aversion est si sorte que j'aurois assurement quelque peine a ne hair pas celuy qui seroit cause que mon pere me marieroit c'est pourquoy si je vous suis en quelque consideration faites en sorte que celuy pour qui vous m'avez parle ne parle point a straton et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'elle que je ne parle pas comme je fais parce que j'ay quelque engagement secret avec quelqu'un je luy permets d'en parler a mon pere s'il peut descouvrir que je le refuse pour nulle autre raison que pour celle que je dis mais madame respondit phicilion si c'est que vous veuilliez plus de temps a vous resoudre sur une chose si importante souffrez du moins en deffendant a ce mal-heureux amant de parler a straton qu'il ait 
 la liberte de vous dire quelquesfois qu'il vous adore jusques icy reprit elise vous ne m'avez rien dit qui me doive facher que ces dernieres paroles mais phocilion elles sont un peu dures a entendre a une personne de mon humeur neantmoins puis que je me suis resolue de vaincre aujourd'huy ma fierte je veux bien encore vous les pardonner a condition que vous ferez tout ce que je vous diray helas madame reprit il y a t'il quelqu'un au monde qui vous puisse desobeir faites donc je vous en conjure poursuivit elle que celuy pour qui vous me parlez ne me parle point de sa passion non plus que de son dessein a mon pere et que vous mesme ne m'en parliez plus jamais mais madame quelle esperance puis-je donner a ce mal heureux amant repliqua-t'il celle de ne me voir jamais accorder a un autre la permission que je luy refuse dit elle du moins adjousta-t'il souffrez que je combate quelquefois l'aversion que vous avez pour le mariage et promettez moy que si je la puis vaincre ce sera en faveur de cet infortune amant dont vous ne voulez pas mesme scavoir le nom comme je suis asseuree que ce sentiment la ne scauroit changer dans mon coeur reprit elle je n'ay pas grande difficulte a vous promettre ce que vous voulez et cet amant n'y aura pas grand advantage elise prononca ces paroles d'une maniere qui fit si bien connoistre a phocilion qu'elle n'avoit point envie de se marier qu'il en eut une douleur extreme car il scavoit bien connoissant 
 la vertu et la fermete d'elise que ce n'estoit pas une personne a pouvoir jamais engager en une galanterie de sorte que demeurant dans un profond silence regardant elise avec des yeux ou la douleur estoint peinte il acheva de luy persuader qu'il l'aimoit et que cet amant cache pour qui il venoit de parler et luy n'estoient qu'une mesme chose par bon-heur pour elise et pour phocilion j'arrivay car ils estoient tous deux fort embarassez a un moment de la lyriope y vint aussi avec une de ses parentes car encore qu'elle haist elise elle ne laissoit pas de la voir et bien tost apres poligene et agenor y vinrent aussi separement comme on parloit alors de divers mariages dans tyr chacun se mit a en dire ce qu'il en scavoit et la conversation fut quelque temps assez froide mais insensiblement elise qui avoit son dessein cache se mit a blasmer ceux qui disoient qu'il faloit de necessite qu'une fille se mariast ou se mist parmy les vierges voilees soustenant qu'on ne pouvoit rien dire de plus outrageant pour le sexe dont elle estoit que de croire qu'il faloit un mary ou des murailles fort hautes et fort espaisses pour conserver leur vertu de la venant a parler du mariage en general lyriope qui n'estoit jamais de mesme advis qu'elise en parla comme une personne qui croyoit qu'on y pouvoit fort souvent estre heureuse et elise au contraire soustenoit tousjours qu'on y estoit presque tousjours tres mal-heureux car enfin disoit 
 elle qu'on choisisse le plus honneste homme du monde et la plus accomplie fille de toute la phenicie qu'ils s'aiment si vous voulez jusques ou l'on peut aimer qu'ils soient jeunes qu'ils soient riches et qu'ils se croyent heureux en s'epousant je sus assuree d'une certitude infaillible qu'ils ne le seront pas long temps pour moy repliqua lyriope je ne croy point ce que vous dites et je comprends bien que l'on peut se trouver fort heureuse d'espouser un fort honneste homme qu'on aime et dont on croit estre aimee je trouve comme vous reprit elise qu'on peut quelquesfois s'estimer heureuse lors qu'on l'espouse mais encore une fois c'est un bon-heur de peu de duree en effet poursuivit elle considerez un peu combien il faut de choses pour estre satisfaite dans cette condition il faut que le mary qu'on espouse soit honneste homme qu'il aime celle qui le choisit et qu'elle l'aime qu'il ait du bien selon sa qualite qu'il ne devienne ny bizarre ny jaloux ny avare de plus il faut entrer dans tous ses interests et devenir ambiteuse s'il est ambitieux s'assujettir entierement a son humeur luy obeir sans murmurer dans les choses les plus difficiles n'estre jamais en liberte et n'estre pas mesme maistresse de sa propre personne il faut encore estre chargee des soins et de la conduite d'une grande maison estre exposee a toutes les facheuses suittes du mariage perdre peut-estre la sante et la beaute tout ensemble devant que de perdre la jeunesse 
 estre encore exposee a souffrir la jalousie d'un mary ou a en avoir et dans la fin de sa vie s'il est permis de regarder de si loin se voir peut-estre des enfans mal nez mal faits et ingrats ha lyriope s'escria-t'elle toutes ces choses ne sont elles pas estranges et n'a-t'on pas bien souvent grand tort de s'aller rejouir avec celles qui se marient et de conter pour un grand plaisir cette quantite de bagatelles inutilles qu'on donne a celles qui se mettent dans ce facheux lien comme si on vouloit les amuser a les voir de peur qu'elles ne vissent le precipice ou on les jette encore une fois lyriope le mariage est une terrible chose et il faut estre bien hardy pour s'y resoudre legerement quoy que je scache bien reprit phocilion que la belle lyriope n'a pas besoin de second je ne laisse pas de vouloir luy aider a soustenir la cause qu'elle deffend souffrez donc je vous en conjure madame poursuivit il en regardant elise que je vous die qu'en parlant comme vous venez de parler vous faites le plus grand outrage aux dieux qu'on leur ait jamais fait car enfin s'il n'y a pas deux personnes au monde qui puissent viure heureuses ensemble et passer leur vie sans toutes les incommoditez que vous venez d'exagerer avec tant de chaleur on peut dire qu'ils sont injustes et imprudens cependant vous qui avez une piete extraordinaire comment entendez vous ce que vous venez d'avancer j'entens repliqua-t'elle advouer que j'admire leur conduite sans la connoistre et sans 
 la vouloir penetrer mais je ne laisse pas en mesme temps de soustenir que comme on n'accuse pas les dieux lors qu'on blasme un homme qui a sait naufrage parce qu'il s'est embarque par un mauvais temps et dans un vaisseau qui n'estoit pas bon que de mesme je n'accuse point les dieux lors que je blasme ceux qui connoissans toutes les facheuses suittes du mariage ne laissent pas de s'y engager pendant que lyriope elise et phocilion parloient ainsi agenor se taisoit n'osant pas entrer dans les sentimens d'elise par plus d'une raison quoy que ce fussent les siens cependant comme il commencoit desja d'estre plus amoureux d'elle que de lyriope il s'estoit trouve bien embarasse en entrant de se voir entre ces deux personnes car il ne vouloit rien faire qui pust persuader a elise qu'il fust fort amoureux de lyriope et il ne vouloit pas aussi faire croire a cette derniere qu'il l'aimoit moins qu'il n'avoit fait de sorte que pour avoir le plaisir de voir elise sans desobliger lyriope il s'estoit mis aupres d'elle mais c'avoit este principalement parce qu'il estoit vis a vis d'elise ainsi estant a coste de lyriope et mesme un peu en arriere il jouissoit de la veue d'elise sans que cette envieuse fille y prist garde et sans qu'elise mesme y songeast il n'en estoit pas de mesme de poligene qui remarquoit aisement qu'agenor ne s'estoit mis aupres de lyriope que pour mieux voir elise pour phocilion il estoit si occupe de sa propre 
 passion qu'il ne songeoit point a celle des autres car comme il connoissoit la haute vertu d'elise il ne redoutoit pas ses rivaux et il aprenhendoit bien davantage qu'elle ne s'opiniatrast a ne se vouloir point marier qu'il ne craignoit qu'elle luy en preferast quelqu'un ainsi la compagnie se separa avec divers sentimens poligene en sortit avec la crainte que son frere ne devinst son rival phocilion fort afflige de l'insensibilite d'elise et de l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour le mariage lyriope avec une envie demesuree de ce qu'elle se pouvoit reprocher a elle mesme qu'elise estoit plus belle qu'elle et agenor beaucoup moins amoureux de lyriope et beaucoup plus amoureux d'elise qui sans pendre nulle part a l'agitation qu'elle causoit dans l'esprit des autres demeura dans sa tranquilite ordinaire le procede de phocilion l'obligea pourtant extremement et disposa son ame a faire ce qu'elle pourroit pour se faire un veritable amy d'un si respectueux amant il ne luy fut pourtant pas possible de faire ce miracle car je croy qu'on pourroit apeller ainsi un semblable changement en effet il falut qu'elise se contentast de ce qu'il ne luy disoit pas ce qu'il sentoit pour elle il voulut pourtant le luy dire une fois mais elle s'en irrita de telle sorte qu'il s'imposa luy mesme un silence si exact qu'a peine osoit-il seulement soupirer en secret il est vray qu'elise pour luy donner quelque consolation luy promit que si elle avoit quelque jour a changer d'advis et 
 a prendre la resolution de se marier ce seroit a son advantage le conjurant toutesfois de croire qu'elle ne pensoit pas que cela pust jamais arriver et le priant imstamment de viure avec elle comme s'il eust este son frere et en effet phocilion dont j'ay sceu les sentimens les plus secrets n'eut jamais la hardiesse depuis cela de parler ouvertement de sa passion a elise cependant lyriope croyant tousjours s'assurer davantage du coeur d'agenor continua de le favoriser et de luy donner mille tesmoignages d'une passion violente mais toute la cour continua aussi de s'en apercevoir et d'en dire cent choses qui luy estoient fort desavantageuses ce fut en vain que quelques unes de ses amies luy en parlerent car elle avoit une dangereuse maxime pour celles qui veulent conserver leur reputation qui estoit de croire que pourveu qu'elle ne fust pas tout a fait criminelle elle n'avoit rien a craindre et qu'elle devoit se moquer de tous les advis qu'on luy donnoit mais la chose ayant enfin este jusqu'a la reine elle en receut une reprimande si rude qu'elle commenca de voir qu'elle avoit eu beaucoup d'imprudence elle ne se seroit peut-estre pourtant pas corrigee pour cela ny n'auroit pas change sa facon d'agir avec agenor sans une autre raison qui l'y porta et que je suis assure que vous ne scauriez deviner car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que poligene estant persuade que la tiedeur de l'amour 
 qu'agenor avoit pour lyriope venoit de la facilite qu'il trouvoit dans son esprit creut que pour l'empescher d'augmenter et pour empescher aussi que le commencement de cette passion qu'il voyoit naistre dans son coeur pour elise ne s'accreust il faloit faire en sorte que lyriope meslast quelquesfois quelque severite a la complaisance qu'elle avoit pour agenor si bien que cherchant par ou il pourroit faire reuissir son dessein il s'advisa de parler a unes des filles de la reine nommee phocinde qui estoit amie particuliere de lyriope et qui estoit aussi la sienne comme poligene est infiniment adroit il fit si bien qu'il engagea insensiblement cette personne a parler de lyriope pour qui il tesmoignoit avoir beaucoup d'estime luy disant mesme quoy qu'il ne fust pas vray qu'il eust bien aise qu'agenor l'eust espousee ainsi venant insensiblement a entrer en confidence de cette avanture phocinde luy dit que lyriope trouvoit que depuis quelque temps agenor estoit un peu negligent pour tout ce qui la touchoit que cependant elle faisoit tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour l'obliger l'assurant qu'elle n'avoit jamais este plus complaisante ny plus douce ny plus exacte qu'elle estoit a faire les choses qu'il desiroit qu'elle fist si j'avois quelque amy bien particulier reprit poligene en riant qui fust amoureux de la belle phocinde je me garderois bien de luy descouvrir un secret que je m'en vay luy aprendre de peur qu'en faisant du 
 bien a lyriope je ne fisse du mal a mon amy mais comme le hazard a fait que je n'ay pas d'amitie particuliere avec ses amans il faut que je luy descouvre une foiblesse des hommes qu'elle ne scait sans doute point afin que la scachant elle puisse conseiller la belle lyriope comme elle a besoin de l'estre si elle veut resveiller dans le coeur de mon frere une passion que je souhaite qui y soit assez violente pour l'obliger a l'espouser cette alliance me plaist infiniment adjousta-t'il quoy qu'il ne fust pas vray c'est pourquoy aimable phocinde il faut que je vous aprenne que la raison pour laquelle la passion d'agenor s'allentit c'est que lyriope est trop egallement douce pour luy car enfin il faut que vous scachiez qu'a parler de l'amour en general elle n'est jamais violente que lors que les desirs sont violens et comme il n'est pas possible qu'ils le soient long-temps lors qu'on accorde tousjours aisement ce qu'on desire il s'ensuit de necessite que si on veut entretenir une passion dans sa violence il faut qu'une belle personne n'accorde mesme les faveurs qu'elle veut accorder qu'aveque peine afin d'en redoubler le prix et qu'il y ait toujours un assez grand intervale entre les premiers desirs et la possession de la chose desiree c'est aux rois poursuivit il a donner tost et a donner de bonne grace mais c'est aux belles a donner tard a donner presques comme si elles s'en repentoient et a faire des liberalitez avares s'il est permis de parler ainsi car autrement on 
 s'accoustume a leurs faveurs on les recoit presques sans plaisir et par consequent sans reconnoissance je pense mesme adjousta-t'il qu'on peut dire qu'il est de ces especes de graces comme d'un petit ruisseau qui coule si doucement entre deux rives de gason qu'a peine ceux qui se promenent aupres s'apercoivent ils qu'il y soit mais au contraire si de distance en distance on y fait quelque petits amas de cailloux qui luy facent quelques legers obstacles il en bondit il en gronde il en murmure il en coule apres plus agreablement il divertit plus ceux qui le regardent il les reveille de leur resverie ou les fait du moins resver avec plus de plaisir c'est pourquoy phocinde il faut que les faveurs de lyriope ne soient plus accordees a agenor avec tant d'esgalite car enfin je vous le dis encore une fois les hommes ont cette foiblesse de s'accoustumer aisement aux graces qu'on leur fait et puis qu'il faut que je vous descouvre tous les deffauts de mon sexe je vous diray que selon mon sens il seroit plus aise de rallumer des flammes qu'une excessive rigueur auroit esteintes que si elles l'estoient par des faveurs trop esgalles et trop continuees comme l'amour est une passion capricieuse ennemie de la raison et accustumee a renverser toutes sortes de regles et toutes sortes de loix elle veut qu'il y ait de l'inegalite en tout ce qui la regarde et comme elle met bien souvent dan un mesme coeur de la crainte et de l'esperance de l'insolence et 
 du respect de la joye et de la douleur elle veut de mesme qu'il se face un meslange continuel de rigueurs et de graces qui succedant les unes aux autres font que les desirs renaissent dans le coeur d'un amant et que l'amour y dure sans s'attiedir c'est pourquoy phocinde il faut que vous conseilliez a la belle lyriope afin de ramener mon frere a son devoir de mesler quelquesfois un peu de severite a la bonte qu'elle a pour luy en effet outre qu'il a assurement le deffaut dont je viens de vous parler aussi bien que tout le reste des hommes il est encore vray que son temperamment particulier veut qu'elle agisse comme je dis car comme il est glorieux je suis assure qu'il aime a vaincre tout ce qui luy resiste et que quand ce ne seroit que par opiniastrete il s'obstinera a vouloir entierement qu'elle soit a luy si elle peut seulement luy faire croire qu'il n'est pas tout a fait asseure de ne pouvoir jamais perdre son coeur mais phocinde adjousta-t'il il est de la rigueur dont je veux que lyriope se serve pour guerir la langueur qui paroist estre en l'ame d'agenor comme de certains remedes violens que les medecins arrabes ont inventez qui ressuscitent presques les morts lors qu'on en prend autant qu'il faut et lors qu'il le faut et qui tuent aussi en peu de temps si on en prend trop et mal a propos c'est donc a lyriope a connoistre jusques a quel point elle doit porter cette severite qui donne apres de si douces heures a ceux pour qui on l'a 
 eue lors que la douceur luy succede et luy assure en suitte pour si long temps les conquestes de celles qui en scavent user avec discretion tant que poligene parla phocinde l'escouta attentivement et demeura si fortement persuadee de ce qu'il luy disoit qu'elle prit une ferme resolution de conseiller lyriope comme poligene vouloit qu'elle le fust mais enfin que la chose fist un plus grand effet il obligea phocinde a ne dire pas a son amie qu'ils eussent parle d'elle ensemble ce qu'elle luy promit et ce qu'elle luy tint car comme elle pensoit servir importamment lyriope de luy persuader d'agir de cette sorte avec agenor soit qu'il la deust espouser ou ne l'espouser pas elle ne creut pas la trahir de luy faire un secret de la conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec poligene et qu'elle avoit si bien retenue qu'elle n'en avoit rien oublie il ne luy fut pourtant pas si aise de persuader son amie qu'il avoit este facile a poligene de la persuader toutesfois lyriope s'apercevant tous les jours qu'agenor estoit moins soigneux qu'il oublioit bien souvent ce qu'elle luy avoit dit et qu'il avoit moins de joye quand il la voyoit qu'il resvoit souvent aupres d'elle et qu'en fin il estoit fort change prit la resolution de faire pour ramener agenor a son devoir ce qu'elle n'avoit pas voulu faire pour conserver sa reputation mais comme elle n'estoit pas accoustumee a estre severe on peut dire que jamais belle n'a eu si mauvaise grace a l'estre que 
 celle la neantmoins d'abord la chose ne laissa pas de luy succeder heureusement car la premiere fois qu'agenor s'aperceut qu'elle avoit quelque froideur pour luy il s'empressa assez a luy en demander la cause et pour estre que si elle eust sceu mesnager la chose elle eust retenu cet esclave qui luy eschapoit mais comme elle a tousjours eu plus d'esprit que de jugement elle fut si aise de voir que le conseil de phocinde avoit produit un si bon effet qu'elle creut que pour achever de ramener entierement agenor a la raison il n'y avoit qu'a continuer d'estre rigoureuse si bien que suivant son naturel violent et envieux elle ne parut pas seulement severe elle parut bizarre et quelque chose de pis de sorte qu'agenor qui aimoit desja fort elise et qui estoit bien embarrasse a trouver un pretexte pour quitter lyriope se servit de celuy qu'elle luy donna elle mesme et commenca de la voir moins et bientost apres de ne la voir ainsi le conseil que poligene avoit fait donner a lyriope n'ayant pas este bien entendu ny bien execute produisit un effet tout contraire a son dessein car il acheva de detruire une passion qu'il vouloit augmenter et d'en augmenter une autre qu'il vouloit detruire je ne vous diray point quel fut le desespoir de lyriope lors qu'elle s'aperceut qu'elle avoit perdu sa conqueste elle rompit avec phocinde a cause du conseil qu'elle luy avoit donne elle devint encore plus envieuse qu'elle n'estoit auparavant et vint a hair si horriblement elise 
 chez qui elle sceut qu'agenor estoit presque tousjours qu'elle se resolut de la prendre pour l'objet de sa colere et de sa vangeance quoy qu'elle n'eust volontairement rien contribue a l'infidelite d'agenor car outre qu'elise n'a jamais assujetty de coeurs avec le dessein de le faire je scay encore de certitude qu'elle regardoit agenor comme un fort agreable amy mais comme un fort dangereux amant et qu'il n'y avoit point d'homme au monde de qui elle eust plus aprehende d'estre aimee que de celuy la car comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit elle connoissoit parfaitement celuy d'agenor qui estant remply de hardiesse d'artifice et de vanite ne pouvoit pas aimer long temps sans nuire a celles qu'il aimoit ou du moins sans les persecuter de cent manieres differentes cependant il estoit si naturel a elise d'inspirer du respect a ceux qui l'aprochoient et sa fierte estoit une si fidelle garde de sa beaute et de sa vertu qu'agenor tout hardy qu'il estoit n'osa entreprendre de luy faire serieusement une declaration d'amour mais il ne pouvoit aussi se resoudre de soupirer en secret et de souffrir des maux dont on ne luy tiendroit jamais conte joint qu'il disoit encore que ces amans languissans qui ne font continuellement que gemir et se pleindre n'estoient propres qu'a ennuyer celles qu'ils aimoient qu'au contraire pour estre aime il faloit plaire que pour plaire il faloit estre guay et enjoue et qu'enfin puisqu'on representoit tousjours 
 l'amour entre les yeux et les ris et concluoit que les soupirs et les larmes ne luy estoient pas si propres que le divertissement et la joye joint aussi que comme elise estoit naturellement guaye il creut qu'il ne pourroit mieux faire que de songer a la divertir sans luy parler serieusement de sa passion il pensa mesme que de l'humeur dont elle estoit il ne pourroit jamais venir a bout d'obtenir cette liberte c'est pourquoy il forma le dessein de l'accoustumer insensiblement en raillant a souffrir qu'il luy dist qu'il l'aimoit jugeant bien que comme elle scavoit le monde et qu'elle entendoit raillerie elle ne pourroit pas s'offencer d'une chose de cette nature qu'il luy diroit en riant et en presence de beaucoup de gens esperant par la cacher la verite de sa passion aux yeux de son frere qu'il soubconnoit estre amoureux d'elise aussi bien que luy et qu'il ne vouloit pas qui sceut qu'il estoit son rival et en effet agenor estant un jour chez elise et la compagnie estant fort grande on se mit a luy faire la guerre de son inconstance pour lyriope car cette imprudente fille ne s'estant guere moins scandalisee dans le monde apres avoir rompu avec agenor qu'elle avoit fait en liant amitie aveque luy on en parloit avec beaucoup de liberte et d'autant plus qu'on disoit que la reine l'alloit renvoyer chez ses parens et qu'elle estoit fort irritee contre elle de sa mauvaise conduitte agenor voyant donc qu'on luy faisoit cent questions sur son inconstance 
 se resolut de ne laisser point passer le jour sans executer son dessein de sorte qu'il se mit a respondre indifferemment en raillant a tout ce qu'on luy dit pour moy disoit elise en riant je pense que si j'estois a vostre place j'aimerois mieux dire que je n'aurois jamais este amoureux de lyriope et que j'aurois seulement semblant de l'estre que d'advouer comme vous faites que vous estes un infidelle puis qu'en cas de galanterie il me semble qu'il y a presques plus de honte a estre inconstant que fourbe car enfin pour estre le dernier il faut du moins avoir de l'esprit de la hardiesse et de l'invention mais pour estre le premier il ne faut avoir que de la foiblesse je pense mesme adjousta t'elle qu'il seroit moins honteux a lyriope que vous ne l'eussiez jamais aimee que d'avoir cesse de l'aimer comme ma passion dit-il avec une fausse modestie a fini par la rigueur de lyriope je suis persuade que mon inconstance n'est honteuse ny pour elle ny pour moy ne vous excusez point sur la severite de lyriope luy dit poligene qui estoit bien aise de l'accuser devant elise car je suis assure que devant qu'elle fust severe vous commenciez desja d'estre inconstant et de cesser d'aimer par vostre propre legerete sans qu'elle y contribuast rien il est vray respondit hardiment poligene en riant comme s'il n'eust voulu dire qu'une simple raillerie que je suis contraint d'advouer que je commencay de cesser d'aimer lyriope quand 
 elle s'advisa de me mal traitter mais il ne l'est pas que ce fust par ma propre legerete et par quelle autre raison pourroit-ce avoir este reprit brusquement elise c'est parce repliqua t'il en la regardant et en eslevant la voix afin que tout le monde l'entendist mieux que vous estes accoustumee a faire des inconstans de tous ceux qui vous voyent que je ne pouvois pas estre aupres d'elle et aupres de vous que je m'ennuyois bien souvent de ne voir personne chez la reine durant que je scavois que tous les honnestes gens de la cour estoient a vos pieds a vous adorer et que j'ay enfin voulu faire ce que tous les autres font c'est a dire vous voir vous entendre vous admirer et vous dire hardiment devant tout le monde ce que je suis assure que pas un de vos adorateurs n'a eu la hardiesse de vous dire seulement en secret comme agenor dit cela avec cet enjouement qui luy estoit si naturel et qui luy sieoit si bien toute la compagnie s'en mit a rire a la reserve de poligene qui en rougit de sorte qu'elise n'osant pas prendre serieusement une chose que tant d'honnestes personnes prenoient comme une raillerie galante se mit a rire comme les autres il est vray que ce fut un peu fierement et en rougissant elle respondit pourtant a agenor comme raisonnablement elle luy devoit respondre c'est a dire sans se facher et comme expliquant la chose comme un simple jeu d'esprit et en effet elise le croyant tel de 
 grace agenor luy dit elle ne vous servez point de moy pour excuser vostre foiblesse et ne me chargez point de la haine de lyriope pourveu que vous enduriez mon amour poursuivit il ne vous souciez pas de sa haine car graces aux dieux je m'en suis bien garanty je vous assure reprit elise que j'aime mieux que lyriope m'aime que vous et que je crains bien plus sa haine que la vostre pour ma haine luy dit-il madame vous en estes en seurete mais pour mon amour il n'en est pas de mesme car puis que j'ay tant fait que de vous en donner des marques en une si grande compagnie il y va de mon honneur de n'en demeurer pas la mais repliqua-t'elle en riant s'il y va de vostre honneur de n'en demeurer pas la il y va aussi de ma gloire de vous empescher d'aller plus loin c'est pourquoy taisez vous je vous en conjure si vous ne voulez que je prenne fort serieusement le party de lyriope et que je vous gronde estrangement d'avoir quitte une si belle personne aussi bien adjousta-t'elle en riant encore quelle seurete pourrois-je prendre en l'affection d'un infidelle la seurete que vous y trouverez repliqua-t'il c'est que vous n'agirez pas comme elle et que j'espere que vous renverserez l'ordre qu'elle a garde aveque moy car enfin elle a este douce au commencement et severe a la fin et je veux esperer que vous serez douce a la fin et severe au commencement ha agenor luy dit-elle vous vous trompez je ne suis pas changeante 
 comme vous ce que je suis une fois je le suis toute ma vie et puis que je suis fiere il faut que je la sois eternellement la fierte vous sied si bien luy dit poligene que vous auriez grand tort de la quitter la douceur luy sieroit bien mieux reprit agenor mais comme on ne luy en a jamais veu en galanterie on ne se l'imagine pas elise est si douce pour ses amis dis-je a agenor que je suis bien aise qu'elle ne le soit point a ses amans parce que je suis persuade qu'elle la seroit moins pour moy c'est une voye qui vous dura long-temps reprit phocilion que celle que vous donne la fierte d'elise pour ses amans et sa douceur pour ses amis je vous suis bien obligee repliqua t'elle d'avoir si bonne opinion de moy et je ne vous le suis guere luy dit agenor de recevoir avec tant d'indifference une declaration d'amour que mesme vous ne daignez pas vous en mettre en colere je ne m'estonne pas repliqua elise si lyriope s'est lassee de vous car enfin il n'y a qu'un quart d'heure que vous dites que vous estes mon amant et vous ne scavez desja ce que vous voulez tantost vous dites que la douceur me sieroit bien et tantost que ma colere vous obligeroit c'est pourquoy tout ce que je puis vous dire est que je me repens de vous avoir accuse d'inconstance pour lyriope et que bien loin de croire que vous l'ayez quittee je croy qu'elle vous a chasse parce que vous l'importuniez car enfin vous m'importunez desja quoy que 
 vous ne me disiez qu'en raillant ce que vous luy disiez serieusement apres cela agenor voulut respondre mais elise m'adressant la parole changea de discours et forca la compagnie d'en changer aussi cependant phocilion remarqua encore mieux que poligene malgre l'enjouement d'agenor que ce qu'il sembloit dire en raillant estoit effectivement vray et s'aperceut aussi par l'inquietude de poligene que l'affection qu'il avoit pour elise n'estoit pas de la nature dont il la disoit estre de sorte que phocilion se vit deux rivaux qu'il ne pensoit pas avoir dont l'un prenoit la resolution de cacher sa passion en la descouvrant et l'autre de la descouvrir a elise en la luy cachant ou du moins en ne luy donnant simplement lieu que de la deviner phocilion n'en eut pourtant que la douleur qui suit inseparablement la connoissance qu'on a d'avoir un rival nouveau car du coste d'elise il ne craignit rien d'autre part poligene qui estoit fin et experimente en galanterie apres avoir bien observe son frere aprehenda fort qu'il ne vinst a aimer esperduement elise neantmoins la legerete de l'humeur d'agenor et la fierte d'elise l'assuroient joint aussi qu'agenor qui ne vouloit pas qu'on sceust son secret voulut tromper son frere c'est pourquoy l'estant alle voir le soir a sa chambre lors qu'il se fut retire il se mit a exagerer la joye qu'il avoit de tout ce qu'il avoit dit a elise l'apresdisnee car dit-il je suis assure que lyriope le scaura et 
 que je seray pleinement vange de cette severite qu'elle a voulu avoir aveque moy quand il n'en estoit plus temps enfin madame agenor joua si bien qu'il embarrassa fort poligene et le fit douter de ce qu'il croyoit un quart d'heure auparavant ne pouvant en effet determiner en luy mesme ce qu'il devoit croire ou ne croire pas cependant il continua d'agir avec elise comme il avoit fait ce jour la mesme devant straton qui prenoit plaisir a tout ce qui disoit agenor la presence de barce ne l'en empeschoit mesme pas quelque capricieuse qu'elle fust de sorte qu'il falut qu'elise s'accoustumast a cette galanterie publique et elle le fit d'autant plustost qu'elle ne creut point en effet qu'agenor fust amoureux d'elle il y avoit pourtant tousjours quelques momens au jour ou elle en avoit de la colere mais l'enjouement d'agenor la dissipoit bien tost en luy persuadant qu'il ne l'aimoit point a force de luy dire tout haut qu'il l'aimoit elle creut mesme quelquesfois qu'il n'agissoit ainsi que pour faire despit a lyriope car ce qu'il y avoit d'admirable estoit que lors qu'il y avoit du monde agenor ne manquoit jamais de luy dire mille agreables galanteries de vouloir estre plus pres d'elle que les autres de la regarder avec attention de la louer avec empressement de l'observer aveque soin et de faire enfin tout ce que l'amour la plus violente et la plus galante peut faire aux plus honnestes gens il est vray 
 qu'il faisoit tout cela sans chagrin et avec une liberte d'esprit admirable qui faisoit tousjours croire a elise que son coeur n'estoit pas engage mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare en cette avanture comme je l'ay desja dit estoit qu'apres qu'agenor avoir dit mille galanteries a elise devant le monde s'il arrivoit que la compagnie s'en allast et qu'il demeurast seul aupres d'elle il perdoit toute sa hardiesse de sorte que n'osant continuer de luy parler comme auparavant il devenoit plus serieux et plus triste et n'entretenoit elise que de choses indifferentes encore estoit-ce avec peu de suitte mais ce qu'agenor faisoit avec dessein que cela servist a faire deviner sa passion a elise estoit ce qui l'empeschoit de la connoistre ne pouvant pas s'imaginer qu'un amant parlant sans tesmoins a la personne qu'il aimoit pust ne luy dire jamais rien qui luy donnast lieu de croire qu'il estoit vray amoureux cependant il estoit vray qu'agenor l'estoit d'elise autant qu'il le pouvoit estre et il estoit vray aussi qu'il luy parloit continuellement de sa passion des qu'il y avoit du monde et qu'il ne luy en parloit jamais lors qu'il n'y avoit personne mais ce qu'il y avoit encore d'admirable estoit que ce bizarre procede le faisoit jouir de mille privileges car comme il disoit les choses plaisamment et qu'il divertissoit fort elise cela faisoit qu'elle luy parloit davantage qu'a un autre de plus la chose estant sceue de toute la cour agenor n'alloit 
 jamais en aucun lieu ou il rencontrast elise qu'on ne le mist aussi tost aupres d'elle tout le monde voulant contribuer a une galanterie qui faisoit dire de si jolies choses a agenor ainsi il se voyoit tous les ours au prejudice de tous ses rivaux avoir beaucoup de familiarite avec elise et estre tousjours ou chez elle ou aupres d'elle il se fit mesme tellement aimer de straton qu'il ne pouvoit estre un jour sans le voir qu'il ne s'en pleignist d'autre part lyriope scachant le procede d'agenor s'imagina que peut-estre n'aimoit-il point elise qu'il ne faisoit cette galanterie ouverte que pour la punir de sa severite et qu'il l'aimoit encore dans le fonds de son coeur de sorte que cette imprudente fille fit cent choses inutilement pour le rapeller qui acheverent de la perdre et qui redoublerent encore sa haine et sa fureur contre elise lors qu'elle s'aperceut qu'effectiuement elle n'avoit plus aucune part au coeur d'agenor qui continuoit d'agir selon sa coustume ordinaire et il accoustuma de telle sorte elise a toutes les douceurs qu'il luy disoit qu'elle y respondoit en riant sans s'en plus facher tous sex rivaux mesme n'en avoient point de jalousie excepte poligene qui ne put jamais prendre plaisir a ce divertissement qui ne passoit que pour un jeu d'esprit cependant comme elise avoit une vertu scrupuleuse elle se mit un jour en fantaisie de craindre qu'on ne s'imaginast que lors qu'agenor l'entretenoit seule il ne luy dist serieusement ce 
 qu'il luy disoit en raillant devant tout le monde et elle eut d'autant plustost ce sentiment la qu'estant allez ensemble poligene et moy pour la voir nous y trouvasmes agenor qui des qu'il nous vit recommenca de faire ce qu'il faisoit tousjours c'est a dire le galant d'elise et comme cela ne plaisoit pas a poligene il se mit a resver si profondement qu'elise ne put s'empescher de luy faire la guerre de ce qu'il escoutoit si peu ce qu'on disoit luy demandant a quoy il pouvoit penser si profondement je pense madame luy dit-il que j'aimerois mieux scavoir ce que vous faisiez l'honneur a mon frere de luy dire lors que nous sommes entrez telamis et moy que de scavoir ce qu'agenor dit presentement poligene n'eut pas plustost dit cela qu'elise en rougit s'imaginant bien alors que la crainte qu'elle avoit n'estoit pas mal fondee elle ne voulut pourtant pas prendre la chose serieusement au contraire elle dit a poligene qu'elle luy estoit bien obligee de luy avoir donne lieu de croire qu'il ne faloit pas qu'elle endurast qu'agenor luy parlast en particulier mais madame reprit agenor vous voulez donc que je vous parle toujours d'amour car puis que je vous en parle des qu'il y a des gens et que je ne vous en parle jamais lors qu'il n'y a personne vous voulez bien que je tire autant de vanite de ce que vous me voulez deffendre de vous entretenir quand vous serez seule qu'un de vos autres amans en pourroit tirer si vous 
 luy donniez quelque assignation bien solitaire car enfin il ne pourroit vous dire en particulier que ce que je vous dis en public et vous m'obligez autant de me voir en compagnie que vous l'obligerez de le voir seul vous estes si peu sage reprit elise en riant que vous estes arrive au point de ne pouvoir plus me mettre en colere mais cela n'empesche pas que je ne veuille a l'advenir ne vous parler plus sans tesmoins je vous en seray infiniment redevable dit-il car lors que je suis seul aveque vous je vous crains de telle sorte et le respect m'impose un si cruel silence que je n'oserois vous dire rien de ce que j'ay dans le coeur en verite dit elise en riant je ne pense pas que jamais amant ait fait un pareil remerciment quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'elle j'ayme mieux que vous me parliez donc d'amour en public que de me parler de choses indifferentes en particulier mais madame je ne songe pas que je m'arreste trop longtemps a vous raconter de petites choses qui ne sont pas absolument necessaires je vous diray donc qu'en effet elise depuis cela esvita souvent aveque soin de parler en particulier avec agenor de sorte que lors qu'il se fut determine a vouloir l'entrenir plus serieusement de sa passion et a luy persuader que ce n'estoit pas une raillerie il se trouva assez embarrasse a en trouver l'occasion cependant phocilion vivoit tousjours avec elise d'une maniere si respectueuse et obligeante qu'elle se sentit engagee d'en avoir du 
 moins de la reconnoissance puis qu'elle ne pouvoit avoir de sentimens plus passionnez dans l'ame elle souffrit pourtant a la fin qu'il luy dist une fois ouvertement que cet amy dont il luy avoit parle et luy n'estoient qu'une mesme chose il ne tira neantmoins autre avantage de la connoissance qu'elle eut de sa passion sinon qu'elle luy promit tout de nouveau que si elle avoit a changer de resolution et a prendre celle de se marier ce seroit en sa faveur mais en mesme temps elle luy dit encore qu'elle ne croyoit pas que cela arrivast jamais et qu'elle le conjuroit de vouloir se contenter d'estre de ses amis je ne m'arreste point madame a vous parler de ce grand nombre d'esclaves que les beaux yeux d'elise captiverent car je me rendrois incroyable joint que n'y ayant rien eu de remarquable en leur amour sinon qu'elise les mal-traitta tous estrangement j'ay creu que je devois m'attacher principalement a ceux dontje vous ay descrit et la personne et l'humeur et de qui les avantures sont assez particulieres pour suivre donc ma resolution je vous diray qu'agenor voyant que plus il disoit en public a elise qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle moins elle le croyoit se resolut a la fin de le luy dire en secret il considera pourtant ce dessein la comme le plus dangereux qu'il eust pu prendre mais ne pouvant plus se resoudre a aimer sans qu'on le sceust et a dire tousjours qu'il aimoit sans estre creu il se determina a tout hazarder 
 cependant comme elise esvitoit a luy parler seule depuis ce que poligene luy avoit dit il fut plusieurs jours sans trouver l'occasion qu'il cherchoit c'estoit pourtant l'homme du monde le plus propre a executer les choses les plus difficiles et a trouver le plus aisement toutes les occasions dont il avoit besoin car outre qu'il estoit fort adroit fort diligent et fort soigneux il avoit encore des gens qui scavoient le servir admirablement a descouvrir tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir et a suivre ses ordres exactement de plus il avoit un esprit insinuant et flateur qui estant joint a beaucoups de liberalite le rendoit maistre de tous les domestiques des maisons ou il avoit quelque interest de galanterie et par ce moyen il luy estoit aise de scavoir quelles estoient les heures ou il y avoit du monde ou celles ou il n'y en avoit pas chez elise aussi fut-il si fidellement adverty qu'apres avoir cherche inutilement durant quelques jours l'occasion de luy parler il sceut qu'elle avoit commande un matin qu'on dist qu'elle n'y estoit pas de sorte que se servant de la familiarite avec laquelle il vivoit avec straton il fut disner chez luy si bien qu'apres le repas il fut conduire elise a sa chambre qui ne voulant voir personne ne voulut pas demeurer a celle de straton ny a celle de barce elle voulut mesme l'empescher de la mener a son apartement mais son pere qui aimoit agenor luy ayant dit que sa civilite ne devoit pas tirer a consequence 
 estant autant de ses amis qu'il l'estoit elle fut contrainte de le souffrir il falut encore qu'elle endurast qu'il entrast dans sa chambre car comme il fut a la porte ou elle croyoit qu'il la deust laisser il fit semblant d'avoir une fort plaisante chose a luy conter de sorte que comme il estoit assez accoustume a luy en dire qui la divertissoient elle le pria elle mesme d'entrer en suitte dequoy agenor inventant sur le champ je ne scay quelle bizarre nouvelle pour avoir pretexte de commencer a faire conversation avec elise elle creut en effet qu'il n'avoit autre dessein que de luy conter cette avanture qu'il luy disoit tout haut mais apres qu'il eut acheve de la dire et qu'elle voulut luy ordonner de se retirer agenor prenant la parole madame luy dit-il en abaissant la voix de peur d'estre entendu par deux femmes qui estoient a elle et qui estoient alors dans sa chambre je ne suis pas encore au bout de tout ce que j'ay a vous dire car enfin madame il faut que je vous aprenne une chose qui vous surprendra quoy qu'elle ne vous deust pas surprendre et qui selon toutes les aparences vous donnera de la colere quoy qu'elle ne vous en deust pas donner a ce que je voy reprit elise vous me croyez bien injuste puis que vous dites que je seray surprise de ce qui ne me devroit pas surprendre et que j'auray de la colere de ce qui ne m'en devroit pas donner mais encore adjousta-t'elle voudrois-je bien scavoir quelle chose peut estre celle la c'est madame 
 dit-il qu'il y a un homme au monde qui se pleint estrangement de ce que vous ne scavez point qu'il vous adore quoy qu'il vous l'ait dit cent mille fois en sa vie quoy reprit elise en rougissant de despit sans songer qu'agenor vouloit parler de luy mesme il y a un homme au monde qui a l'insolence de dire qu'il m'ait dit seulement une fois qu'il m'aimoit je scavois bien madame reprit froidement agenor que vous ne pourriez m'entendre sans avoir de la colere je veux pourtant pourtant poursuivit innocemment elise que vous me disiez qui est cet homme qui a perdu la raison ou la memoire je le veux madame reprit-il mais ce sera s'il vous plaist a condition que vous ne me bannirez pas quoy que je vous aprenne des choses qui vous desplairont car si vous ne me promettez solemnellement ce que je souhaite vous ne scaurez point ce que vous voulez scavoir ce n'est guere ma coustume repliqua elise de confondre les innocens et les coupables mais puis que vous ne vous fiez pas a mon equite je veux bien vous promettre de ne vous bannir point quoy que vous me puissiez dire de cet insense qui croit m'avoir dit plus de cent fois ce qu'il n'a peutestre pas pense une seule mais encore adjousta t'elle en quel pais est-il nay et comment l'apelle-t'on celuy dont je parle est de tyr reprit cet artificieux amant et il s'apelle agenor agenor repliqua elise en riant sans croire qu'il parlast serieusement est si fort accoustume a dire des folies que ce n'est pas 
 estre fort sage que de faire quelque fondement sur ce qu'il dit cependant quoy que je le connoisse mieux que personne ne l'a jamais connu il ne laisse pas de m'attraper tousjours ha madame s'escria-t'il qu'il s'en faut bien que vous ne me connoissiez car enfin n'est-il pas vray que vous avez creu et que vous croyez peutestre encore que toutes les fois que je vous ay dit que je vous aimois devant tout le monde je vous le disois sans qu'il fust vray et seulement parce que cette sorte de conversation paroissoit divertissante il est vray que je l'ay creu respondit elise que je le croy encore que je le croiray toute ma vie que je ne puis jamais le croire autrement et qu'il vous est mesme avantageux que je le croye tousjours je n'ay donc qu'a me preparer a la mort reprit agenor car enfin mrdame ce seroit une trop cruelle avanture que la mienne s'il faloit que je ne pusse jamais vous persuader que je vous aime seulement parce que je vous l'ay trop dit et que je vous l'ay dit trop publiquement de grace agenor repliqua elise croyant tousjours qu'il railloit ne vous pleignez pas de mon incredulite et soyez fortement persuade que si je vous croyois vous ne parleriez pas si longtemps il n'est peutestre pas si aise que vous pensez poursuivit-il d'imposer silence a un amant desespere et a un amant accoustume a dire tous les jours qu'il aime sans estre oblige d'en faire un mistere quoy qu'il en soit dit elise je vous declare que je n'aime point cette 
 galanterie lors qu'il n'y a personne je suis mesme persuadee adjousta-t'elle que la raillerie est nee dans le tumulte et qu'elle est plus propre a une conversation generale qu'a une conversation particuliere en effet c'est sans doute perdre une plaisante chose que de la dire a une seule personne il faut que tous ceux qui raillent ayent des rieurs de leur coste et il faut assurement quand on n'est que deux parler un peu plus serieusement je vous proteste madame repliqua-t'il que je ne dis jamais de verite plus serieuse que celle que je vous dis lors que je vous assure que je ne vous ay jamais dit en raillant que je vous aimois et que je l'ay toujours dit comme il estoit effectivement dans mon coeur gardez vous bien interrompit elise de me donner seulement lieu de soubconner que ce que vous dites pust estre car comme vous me divertissez fort je serois au desespoir de vous bannir vous n'estes plus en pouvoir de le faire reprit-il car je vous ay engagee par serment de ne le faire pas non non dit elise en riant ne pensez pas que je sois assez simple pour vous croire mais madame reprit-il comment pouvez vous ne me croire pas et quand je ne vous aurois jamais dit que je vous aime ne devriez vous pas en estre assuree en voyant seulement avec quelle assiduite je suis aupres de vous si vous ne me l'aviez jamais dit reprit elle je le croirois bien plus aisement et vous en seriez bien plus malheureux mais madame repliqua-t'il si je ne vous aime point 
 que fais-je de cette ame passionnee que les dieux m'ont donnee en me donnant la vie et le moyen qu'un coeur aise a s'embraser que le mien ait pu vous connoistre sans vous aimer et connoistre encore aussi parfaitement que je vous connois car enfin madame puis qu'en me louant je puis vous faire connoistre ma passion il faut que je vous die qu'il n'y a peut estre pas un de mes rivaux qui scache si bien ce que vous valez que je le scay comme je ne songe qu'a vous observer je puis me vanter que je scay mieux qu'eux combien vostre beaute est an dessus de toutes les autres beautez et combien vostre merite surpasse celuy de toutes les personnes de vostre sexe et de vostre siecle cela estant ainsi madame comment pouvez vous concevoir qu'il soit possible que je ne vous aime point et que je vous l'aye pu dire sans qu'il fust vray encore une fois agenor interrompit elise je ne puis souffrir cette raillerie que lors qu'il y a du monde et je ne concevray jamais qu'un homme effectivement amoureux pust l'aller dire en riant devant cent personnes differentes a la personne qu'il aimeroit mais madame reprit-il si vous enduriez qu'on vous le dist en particulier je n'aurois pas cherche ce foible soulagement a mon mal mais comme je scay que vous estes fiere jusqu'a la cruaute j'ay creu qu'il faloit vous tromper abuser tous mes riuaux et me servir de cette invention jusques a ce que je vous eusse assez rendu de service 
 pour pouvoir raisonnablement esperer que vous me pardonneriez la temerite que j'ay d'oser vous adorer elise entendant parler agenor de cette sorte se trouva bien embarrassee car d'un coste elle trouvoit avoir lieu de croire qu'il vouloit avoir le plaisir de luy avoir fait une tromperie et de l'autre elle craignoit qu'il n'y eust quelque verite a ce qu'il luy disoit luy semblant qu'en effet il luy parloit trop serieusement de sorte que comme elle aimoit mieux pancher vers la severite que de luy donner lieu de croire qu'elle fust moins fiere qu'elle n'avoit accoustume de l'estre elle se resolut plustost a s'exposer a donner la joye a agenor de l'avoir trompee qu'a luy donner quelque esperance de sorte que faisant paroistre toute la fierte de son ame dans ses yeux sur son visage et dans ses paroles cet amant tout hardy qu'il estoit se trouva bien embarrasse cessez luy dit elle cessez de parler comme vous faites si vous ne voulez me perdre pour tousjours soit que vous soyez mon amant ou mon amy car si c'est le premier je ne dois jamais vous souffrir apres la hardiesse que vous venez d'avoir et si c'est le dernier je dois encore rompre aveque vous puis que vous avez si peu de complaisance pour moy que de ne vouloir pas cesser une raillerie que je souffre en public de peur de paroistre bizarre mais que je ne puis souffrir en particulier agenor qui connoissoit admirablement elise connut si bien par le son de sa voix que s'il s'opiniastroit a vouloir 
 luy dire serieusement qu'il l'aimoit il seroit banni qu'il n'osa le faire de sorte que la crainte de se rendre plus malheureux en voulant s'empescher de l'estre fit que prenant une autre resolution il fit un grand effort sur luy mesme pour renfermer toute sa melancolie dans son coeur et pour remettre la joye sur son visage apres quoy prenant la parole avec cet agreable ton de voix qu'il avoit et qui estoit si propre a la raillerie enfin madame luy dit-il je suis arrive a la fin que je me suis proposee puis que je vous ay donne de la colere mais apres cela poursuivit-il en riant n'attendez pas que pour vous apaiser je vous aille dire que je ne suis point amoureux de vous car c'est une chose que je suis persuade qu'un homme ne doit jamais dire a une dame et principalement a une dame aussi admirablement belle qu'elise ces paroles ne passeront s'il vous plaist point par ma bouche et vous vous contenterez que je vous assure que je suis ce que je dois estre pour vous que j'ay voulu voir comment vous recevriez une declaration d'amour si quelqu'un vous en vouloit faire et connoistre en suitte si l'amitie que vous me faites l'honneur d'avoir pour moy estoit assez forte pour souffrir que je vous pusse dire impunement ce que les autres ne vous disent point mais puis que je m'apercoy que je n'ay point de privilege particulier je m'en vais recommencer d'agir avec vous comme auparavant c'est a dire de vous parler d'amour devant 
 le monde et de nouvelles indifferentes en particulier comme agenor a l'esprit le plus adroit et le plus souple du monde il dit cela a elise avec un enjouement qui luy persuada presques sans peine qu'en effet il avoit simplement voulu railler et luy faire une de ces agreables malices dont on n'oseroit se fascher de sorte qu'estant toute confuse de sa colere elle se mit a rire aveque agenor le grondant pourtant de la tromperie qu'il luy avoit faite comme si elle n'eust pas este tout a fait trompee et que la colere qu'elle avoit tesmoigne avoir n'eust pas este veritable luy soustenant qu'elle n'avoit point creu qu'il eust voulu luy parler serieusement cependant apres plusieurs choses qu'ils dirent encore elise chassa agenor croyant en effet que la chose estoit comme il la luy avoit dire il y avoit pourtant quelques instans ou elle croyoit qu'elle ne luy estoit pas indifferente mais elle ne pensoit du moins pas qu'il eust une violente passion s'imaginant que ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur et pour elle n'estoit tout au plus qu'une amitie amoureuse s'il est permis de parler ainsi pour agenor il sortit de chez elise avec un chagrin estrange quoy disoit-il en luy mesme comme il me l'a raconte depuis je seray donc reduit aux termes d'avoir plus parle d'amour a elise que personne n'en parla jamais a qui que ce soit depuis que l'amour fait des amans et il sera pourtant vray qu'elise ne scaura pas que je l'aime mais pourquoy aussi reprenoit-il ay-je eu la foiblesse 
 apres luy en avoir parle assez serieusement pour la mettre en colere de songer plustost a l'apaiser qu'a luy persuader une verite qu'il faut enfin qu'elle scache mais reprenoit il encore un moment apres que m'auroit servy cette connoissance qu'elle auroit eue de ma passion si elle m'avoit banny de sa presence et qu'elle fust venue a me hair que feray-je donc disoit-il a quoy me servira de continuer de luy dire devant le monde que je l'aime puis que c'est cela qui m'empesche d'estre creu lors que je le luy dis en particulier et que me serviroit mesme de le luy faire croire si elle a resolu de ne rien aimer il faut pourtant continuoit-t'il ne se priver pas du plaisir que je trouve a luy dire ce que personne que moy ne luy oseroit dire qui scait si en continuant d'agir ainsi je ne viendray point a la fin a estre assez heureux pour qu'elle se die en secret a elle mesme ce que je n'oserois luy dire qu'en public et pour faire qu'elle connoisse la verite sans s'en facher quelque fiere qu'elle soit son coeur n'est peut-estre pas aussi insensible qu'elle le croit car puis qu'elle l'a tendre a l'amitie il n'est pas impossible qu'il le devienne a l'amour voila donc madame quel fut le raisonnement d'agenor qui continua en effet de vivre avec elise comme auparavant
 
 
 
 
cependant poligene remarquant tous les jours par cent actions qu'il voyoit faire a son frere qu'assurement il estoit amoureux d'elise se resolut d'empescher le progres de cette 
 passion ne s'imaginant pas qu'elle fust encore bien violente et ne doutant point du tout veu les obligations qu'agenor luy avoit et le respect qu'il luy devoit et qu'il avoit accoustume de luy rendre que des qu'il luy auroit apris qu'il aimoit elise il ne cessast d'y penser principalement luy disant la chose comme il avoit dessein de la luy dire de sorte que par ce moyen poligene prit la resolution de descouvrir a un de ses rivaux qu'il aimoit elise devant que de luy avoir dit a elle mesme mais afin d'agir plus seurement et que dans le mesme temps qu'il agiroit aupres d'agenor pour l'esloigner d'elise il agist aussi aupres d'elise pour l'obliger a esloigner agenor il se resolut encore a faire une conversation avec elle pour cet effet comme je vous le diray bien-tost mais comme il avoit resolu de commencer par celle qu'il vouloit faire avec agenor il chercha l'occasion de luy parler qu'il ne trouva que le lendemain car il y avoit desja quelques jours qu'il ne logeoit plus chez luy il falust mesme qu'il le cherchast chez elise et qu'il l'engageast a une promenade solitaire qui est a tyr qui est assurement une des plus belles du monde car imaginez vous madame que comme tyr est une isle qui n'est separee de la terre ferme que par une assez petite distance le rivage oppose a cette superbe ville est a la juste proportion qu'il faut pour faire une agreable perspective a la veue de ceux qui se promenent au lieu ou poligene mena agenor 
 mais comme il est en quelque facon necessaire que je vous despeigne le lieu ou ils furent se promener pour vous faire comprendre ce qui s'y passa il faut que je vous die que du coste de l'orient qui regarde le rivage droit a l'extremite de la ville qui n'a point d'autres murailles en ce lieu la que les rochers qui l'environnent que la nature a tellement escarpez que l'abord en est impossible il y a un endroit ou ces rochers s'aplanissant tout d'un coup font comme une longue terrasse qui a plus de cinq cens pas de long sur laquelle on se peur promener huit ou dix personnes de front ayant a la gauche la mesme roche sur quoy l'on marche qui s'eslevant et s'enfoncant tantost plus et tantost moins offre a la veue de distance en distance diverses grottes extremement agreables et extremement fraiches ou l'on peut se reposer ou se mettre a couvert soit que le soleil incommode ou que l'on soit surpris par la pluye de l'autre coste est la mer qui bondit quelquesfois jusques au haut de cette terrasse naturelle s'il est permis de la nommer ainsi et qui y fait un bruit qui ayant quelque chose de terrible et de doux tout ensemble entretient agreablement ceux qui s'y promenent seuls de plus la veue du rivage dont je vous ay parle rend cet endroit la tout a faire divertissant car madame comme il n'y a pas un habitant riche a tyr qui n'y ait quelque maison on le voit tout borde de bastimens magnifiques et de mille ageeables jardins joint aussi 
 que voyant le port en esloignement avec les galeres et les vaisseaux dont il est remply cela fait le plus bel objet du monde y joignant encore la veue de la pleine mer qu'on descouvre au bout de cette terrasse et ou les yeux ne trouvent rien qui les arreste que les vaisseaux qui partent de tyr et les barques de pescheurs dont elle paroist semee en divers endroits principalement vers le soir qui fut l'heure ou poligene mena promener agenor en cet aimable lieu mais apparavant que de les y conduire il faut que vous scachiez madame que phocilion de qui la passion estoit aussi respectueuse que forte n'ayant alors aucun confident de son amour aimoit fort a s'entretenir luy mesme lors qu'il ne pouvoit estre chez elise de sorte qu'apres y avoir passe presque tout le jour le hazard fit que logeant assez pres de cette belle promenade il y fut renvoyant tous ses gens chez luy et il y fut resolu d'y estre jusques a la nuit mais apres avoir este jusqu'au bout de cette longue terrasse comme il voulut retourner sur ses pas il aperceut d'assez loin poligene et agenor qui sans prendre garde a luy parloient avec assez d'attention de sorte que ne voulant pas les interrompre ny s'interrompre luy mesme il entra dans une de ces agreables grottes dont je vous ay desja parle avec intention de les laisser passer et d'en sortir des qu'ils se seroient esloignez mais afin de n'estre pas aperceu par eux le hazard ayant fait qu'il entra dans 
 une grotte qui avoit plusieurs concavitez qui donnoient l'une dans l'autre il passa de la premiere dans la seconde cependant il arriva que justement comme il y venoit d'entrer il vint tout d'un coup une de ces pluyes d'este qui suprennent quelques-fois de telle sorte qu'on n'a pas un moment a les prevoir ny a se mettre a couvert si bien que poligene et agenor cherchant un abry entrerent inopinement dans la mesme grotte ou phocilion estoit entre mais comme ils ne cherchoient qu'a esviter la pluye ils s'assirent a la premiere et ne s'enfoncerent pas dans la seconde d'ou phocilion seroit sorty pour les joindre voyant qu'ils estoient si pres de luy n'eust este que comme poligene et agenor entrerent dans cette grotte il ouit le nom d'elise de sorte que ne luy estant pas possible de n'avoir point la curiosite de scavoir ce que disoient de la personne qu'il aimoit deux hommes qu'il soupconnoit d'estre ses rivaux il demeura a la place ou il estoit d'ou il ne pouvoit estre aperceu d'eux et d'ou il pouvoit entendre tout ce qu'ils disoient la concavite de la seconde grotte recevant facilement le son de leur voix parce qu'en s'asseant sur des rochers avancez qui leur servoient de sieges ils avoient la teste tournee de ce coste-la a peine furent ils donc assis que phocilion les escoutant attentivement il ouit que poligene prenant la parole je voy bien dit-il a son frere que vous avez quelque curiosite de scavoir pourquoy je vous ay tant 
 parle d'elise aujourd'huy et pourquoy j'ay voulu scavoir si precisement ce que vous pensez de sa beaute de son esprit et de tous les autres charmes qu'elle possede c'est pourquoy croyant que vous ne parlez peut-estre pas sincerement je veux bien vous dire la veritable cause qui m'a oblige a vous demander quels sont vos sentimens pour celle ce n'est pas adjousta t'il que je ne scache bien que vous n'estes pas fortement engage a l'aimer si vous l'estes mais craignant que vous ne vous embarrassiez dans un dessein qui ne vous reussiroit pas je veux vous tesmoigner aujourd'huy combien vostre repos m'est cher et combien je me confie en vostre discretion quoy que vous soyez dans un age ou il est assez difficile d'en avoir scachez donc agenor luy dit-il que j'aime elise des le berceau vous aimez elise reprit agenor avec autant d'estonnement sur le visage que s'il n'en eust jamais rien soupconne ouy mon frere repliqua poligene je l'aime et je l'aime avec tant d'ardeur qu'on ne peut pas l'aimer d'avantage c'est pourquoy voyant que vous vous engagiez sans le scavoir a devenir mon rival j'ay voulu vous empescher de l'estre et de l'estre inutilement car puis qu'il faut vous confier tout mon secret quoy qu'elise soit la vertu mesme je ne laisse pas de croire que si sa fierte peut jamais consentir qu'elle souffre qu'on l'adore ce sera moy qui possederay ce bon heur comme je l'ay veue des qu'elle a veu la lumiere et que 
 l'amour que j'ay pour elle a commence d'en estre connue des qu'elle a commence de se connoistre elle mesme ma passion n'a pas fait dans le monde l'esclat que fait celle de tous ses autres amans et en effet vous voyez que je l'entretiens avec plus de familiarite qu'eux qu'elle n'esvite point a me parler en particulier et qu'elle paroist estre fort de mes amies a ceux qui ne scavent pas que je suis son amant c'est pourquoy agenor profitez de l'advis que je vous donne et croyez que je ne vous le donne pas par jalousie mais seulement afin que vous ne perdiez pas un temps qui vous doit estre fort cher car enfin adjousta-t'il en souriant vous estes justement en l'age de faire des conquestes si vous en devez faire si je ne vous aimois pas cherement poursuivit-il je vous aurois laisse dans l'erreur ou toute la cour est et j'aurois pris assez de plaisir a vous voir abuse comme le reste de mes rivaux mais c'est ce que mon amitie n'a pu souffrir pendant que poligene parloit ainsi sans estre interrompu agenor cherchoit dans son esprit quelle resolution il devoit prendre car comme il estoit encore plus fin que poligene il connoissoit bien qu'il ne luy disoit estre souffert d'elise qu'afin de l'en detacher de sorte que raisonnant en un moment sur tout ce qu'il venoit d'entendre il prit une resolution aussi hardie que meschante et respondit en ces termes a tout ce que poligene luy avoit dit pendant quoy phocilion sans estre aperceu l'escoutoit 
 avec autant d'estonnement que d'atention je suis bien mal-heureux dit agenor a poligene que vous ne m'ayez pas fait l'honneur de me dire la passion que vous aviez pour elise du temps que vous me conseilliez de conserver l'affection que lyriope tesmoignoit avoir pour moy car vous devant autant que je vous dois l'amitie que j'ay pour vous m'auroit aisement fait vaincre ce commencement d'amour que j'avois desja pour elise mais comme je n'ay eu aucun soupcon de vostre passion pour elle je vous advoue que mon ame est tellement engagee qu'il ne m'est pas possible de la desgager ce n'est pas que si j'estois persuade adjousta-t'il avec une malice extreme que vous fussiez mieux avec elle que moy et que vous pussiez estre tout a fait bien je ne me resolusse a me rendre mal-heureux moy-mesme a m'exiler volontairement et a vous ceder elise mais poligene poursuivit-il je suis assure qu'elle vous abuse que vous n'estes pas si bien avec elle que vous y pensez estre et que vous avez un rival qui y est mieux que vous car enfin par vostre propre confession elise scait seulement que vous l'aymez et elle le souffre agreablement quoy interrompit poligene vous contez cela pour rien et vous croyez que d'estre souffert de la plus fiere personne qui soit au monde ne soit pas une faveur que je dois preferer a toutes celles que me pourroient faire les plus belles femmes de phenicie je croy reprit froidement agenor que vous auriez raison 
 de faire ce que vous dites mais je croy aussi que l'amant dont je parle a raison de croire qu'il est mieux avec elise que vous n'y estes je m'estonne repliqua fierement poligene que si ce que vous dites est vray vous n'ayez desja chasse un semblable rival d'aupres d'elise car pour moy qui ne parois pas si violent que vous si j'en connoissois un aussi heureux nue vous voulez que je croye celuy dont vous parlez je ne l'y souffrirois pas long-temps je suis bien marry reprit agenor en prenant un visage fort serieux d'estre oblige de vous descouvrir un secret que j'avois resolu de ne reveler jamais a personne mais l'estat ou je voy vostre ame et celuy ou je me trouve aveque vous font que je me determine a hazarder tout le bonheur de ma vie plustost que d'estre creu capable de peu d'amitie escoutez donc je vous en conjure et s'il est possible d'estre equitable en sa propre cause je suis assure que vous vous condamnerez vous mesme et que vous advouerez que je ne suis pas en termes de vous pouvoir ceder elise a ces paroles poligene rougit et phocilion dans le fonds de sa grotte sentit une si estrange agitation dans son ame qu'il ne put s'empescher de faire quelque bruit en changeant de place afin d'estre plus pres de ceux qu'il escoutoit mais ils estoient si attentifs a ce qu'ils disoient qu'ils n'y prirent point garde de sorte qu'agenor continuant de parler je scay bien dit-il a poligene que je vay vous causer une aussi grande douleur 
 que la joye que j'ay d'estre mieux que qui que ce soit avec elise est excessive ha agenor interrompit poligene vostre peu d'experience vous abuse et vous vous estes sans doute figure parce qu'elise se divertit de cette galanterie publique que vous faites avec elle qu'elle vous aime plus qu'un autre mais croyez agenor croyez que ce n'est point devant tant de gens qu'on touche le coeur de celles a qui on parle d'amour quoy qu'il en soit dit agenor je suis assure que je luy ay dit en particulier ce que vous ne luy avez pas dit et que je ne luy ay jamais dit une parole passionnee devant vous que je ne luy aye dite lors que j'ay este seul avec elle mais de grace s'escria-t'il pourquoy sans m'obliger a trahir le secret d'elise ne faites vous point quelque reflexion sur les choses passees pour tirer une preuve infaillible de mon bon-heur car enfin le moyen que vous ayez pu voir que j'aye abandonne lyriope qui m'accabloit de faveurs sans croire qu'il faloit de necessite qu'elise ne m'accablast pas de la pesanteur de ses chaisnes sans m'aider a les porter lyriope estoit belle lyriope m'aimoit je ne la haissois pas et vous avez pu croire que parce qu'elise estoit plus belle qu'elle je quittois celle qui m'estoit favorable pour prendre la rigoureuse ha non non poligene je ne suis pas fait ainsi l'esperance naist tousjours dans mon coeur avec l'amour et je ne scay mesme si elle ne la precede point quelquesfois dans mon ame croyez donc que je n'aurois 
 pas quitte lyriope si je n'avois eu lieu de croire qu'elise me seroit favorable je scay bien que ma facon d'agir avec elle n'est pas ordinaire mais je scay bien aussi que les chemins destournez sont bien souvent les plus courts je ne puis pourtant croire reprit poligene que celuy que vous avez tenu vous ait conduit jusques au coeur d'elise et que vous ayez trouve ce que tant de gens ont cherche inutilement si je ne voulois pas me justifier aupres de vous repliqua agenor je vous laisserois dans vostre erreur mais comme il importe mesme a mon amour que vous n'y demeuriez pas je veux bien vous aprendre a quel point j'en suis avec elise et alors agenor se mit a dire hardiment mille mensonges a poligene l'assurant qu'il avoit une intelligence tres particuliere avec elle qu'ils estoient convenus de mille choses qu'il luy dit les unes apres les autres qu'elle prenoit tousjours tres serieusement tout ce qu'il sembloit luy dire en raillant et que lors qu'ils estoient seuls elise luy racontoit tout ce que ses autres amants luy disoient mais si cela est dit poligene pour voir si agenor disoit vray vous scavez donc bien en quels termes je luy ay parle de ma passion agenor se trouva alors bien embarrasse neantmoins se souvenant qu'il luy avoit ouy dire qu'il ne descouvroit jamais son amour qu'il ne fust presques assure d'estre aime il creut bien quoy qu'il luy eust dit le contraire qu'il n'en avoit point encore parle ouvertement a elise c'est 
 pourquoy sans s'estonner de la question que luy faisoit poligene pour vous luy dit-il je suis contraint d'advouer qu'elise ne m'a point dit que vous luy eussiez jamais parle d'amour je ne scay pas si c'est qu'estant ce que je vous suis elle n'ait pas voulu railler de vostre passion comme elle raille de celle de ses autres amants mais il est vray qu'elle ne vous a jamais mis qu'au nombre de ses amis lors qu'elle a parle a moy et c'est ce qui a fait que je n'ay jamais soupconne que vous fussiez amoureux d'elle et qu'ainsi je me suis engage innocemment a estre vostre rival mais engage de telle sorte que je ne puis plus cesser de l'estre poligene oyant ce que luy disoit agenor ne douta plus qu'il ne luy dist la verite car comme il scavoit bien qu'il n'avoit jamais dit a elise qu'il l'aimoit le raport qu'il y avoit entre le discours d'agenor et ce qui estoit effectivement vray fit qu'il creut tout ce qu'il luy avoit dit auparavant et tout ce qu'il luy dit encore apres mais comme la jalousie luy fit imaginer une voye de tirer quelque advantage de scavoir tout ce qui se passoit entre elise et agenor il r'enferma une partie de sa colere et de sa douleur dans son ame et prenant la parole achevez luy dit-il achevez o trop heureux amant de me conter toute vostre bonne fortune afin que perdant absolument l'espoir je ne trouble plus vostre felicite en troublant mon propre repos mais est il bien vray reprenoit-il tout d'un coup que cette fiere personne qui a 
 meprise des princes et des rois ait pu de resoudre a laisser captiver son coeur et qu'elle ait pu vous dire qu'elle vous aime elise scait parler trop juste repliqua-t'il pour m'aller dire positivement que vous dittes mais est-il possible reprit poligene qu'elle vous parle de tous ceux qui l'adorent je vous assure repliqua t'il que depuis le feu roy jusqu'a crysile je scay tout ce qui luy est arrive phocilion cependant respondit poligene paroist assez bien avec elle pour n'estre pas compris dans la raillerie qu'elle vous fait de ses amants il ne laisse pourtant pas d'y estre repartit agenor et d'y estre mesme plus que les autres a ces paroles phocilion qui escoutoit attentivement ce que disoient ses rivaux pensa par un transport de sa douleur sortir du lieu ou il estoit cache mais l'envie d'en aprendre d'avantage quoy que tout ce qu'il aprenoit ne luy fust pas agreable fit qu'il se retint et qu'il continua d'escouter il n'ouit toutesfois plus rien qui le regardast directement car poligene passant d'un discours a un autre parla a agenor avec une dissimulation estrange je n'eusse jamais creu luy dit-il pouvoir aprendre qu'un de mes riuaux fust heureux sans le hair effroyablement cependant comme je connois bien que le choix qu'elise a fait entre vous et moy est juste je me condamne moy mesme mais comme il n'est pas possible de passer si promptement de l'amour a l'indifference et que j'ay besoin de scavoir encore qu'elise vous ait accorde quelques 
 nouvelles faveurs devant que de n'y plus pretendre je vous conjure de me vouloir dire toutes celles que vous en recevrez et de ne trouver pas estrange si en attendant que vous en ayez receu autant qu'il en faut pour faire cesser mon amour je continue de la voir agenor bien aise de la proposition que luy faisoit poligene luy raconta encore mille faveurs imaginaires et l'assura qu'il luy rendroit conte chaque jour de l'heureux progres de sa passion luy demandant mille et mille fois pardon d'estre un obstacle invincible a son bonheur apres quoy ces deux rivaux voyant que la pluye estoit passee sortirent de la grotte ou ils estoient et furent jusqu'au bout de cette belle promenade en continuant de parler d'elise pour phocilion il demeura si estonne de ce qu'il venoit d'entendre qu'il pensa demeurer dans cette grotte mais a la fin il en sortit et prenant un chemin oppose a celuy de ses rivaux il s'en alla en diligence chez luy sans scavoir la raison pourquoy il y alloit avec tant de precipitation il n'y fut pas plustost que disant a ses gens qu'il ne vouloit manger il s'enferma seul dans sa chambre resvant si profondement a la cruelle avanture qui luy venoit d'arriver qu'il n'estoit pas maistre de ses propres pensees quoy disoit-il en luy-mesme elise dont la vertu m'a tousjours semble plus admirable que sa beaute dont la fierte paroist invincible et qui tesmoigne aimer la gloire avec tant d'ardeur peut estre capable d'avoir 
 un engagement particulier et avec poligene et avec agenor dans le mesme temps qu'elle m'assure que si elle avoit a devenir pitoyable ce seroit en ma faveur ha non non cela n'est pas possible et il faut assurement que j'aye mal entendu cependant poursuivoit il toutes ces cruelles paroles que poligene et agenor ont prononcees sont demeurees si fort empreintes dans ma memoire que je n'en ay pas perdu une il est donc vray adjoustoit cet amant desespere qu'elise n'a qu'une vertu aparante que sa fierte ne luy sert que pour abuser ceux qui pensent la mieux connoistre et que cette ame que je croyois si fort au dessus de toutes les foiblesses de son sexe est capable de la plus grande de toutes les foiblesses qui est d'aimer plus d'une fois en sa vie et d'aimer mesme en divers lieux a la fois quoy s'escroit-il la superbe elise a pu laisser flechir son coeur et a pu railler du pauvre phocilion et le sacrifier au bon heur d'agenor et j'ay pu entendre sans mourir de la bouche de deux de mes rivaux que je croyois bien plus mal traitez que moy qu'elle leur est mille fois plus favorable qu'elle ne me l'a este ha puis que cela est je merite presques mon infortune du moins si je ne mourois pas de douleur faloit il faire mourir quelqu'un de mes rivaux ou me faire tuer par eux qui vit jamais poursuivoit cet amant afflige un malheur plus suprenant que celuy qui m'arrive je crois aimer une personne insensible qui par son insensibilite 
 et par sa fierte tout ensemble me met a couvert de la jalousie je croy dis je qu'estant sans esperance dans ma passion tous mes rivaux n'en ont non plus que moy et cependant j'aprends qu'elise en escoute du moins deux favorablement mais qui scait reprenoit il encore si ce qu'ils disent est vray ha non non s'escrioit le malheureux phocilion une seconde fois ne doutons point de nostre infortune s'il n'y en avoit eu qu'un des deux qui se fust vante de n'estre pas hai je pourrois croire qu'il auroit dit un mensonge mais que poligene et agenor soient tous deux fourbes c'est ce qui n'a point d'aparence principalement estant ce qu'ils sont l'un a l'autre concluons donc qu'il ne se faut jamais assurer a rien puis qu'on ne peut s'assurer a elise je n'ay pas mesme la consolation dans mon malheur de la pouvoir aveque raison nommer infidelle puis qu'elle ne m'avoit pas promis son affection et qu'elle n'avoit fait que m'asseurer que si elle changeoit la resolution qu'elle a prise de ne se point marier ce seroit a mon advantage mais a ce que je voy elle ne veut conserver sa liberte que pour l'engager en diseurs lieux a la fois mais dieux est il bien possible que je ne sois pas injuste en parlant d'elise comme je fais quoy poursuivoit-il transporte de douleur elise quelque chose et ce n'est point phocilion elise a pu souffrir qu'on luy parlast d'amour et elle m'a impose un silence eternel eh du moins elise reprenoit-il en soupirant 
 puis que vostre coeur pouvoit estre partage que ne suis-je un de ceux a qui vous en donnez une partie mais que dis-je adjoustoit le malheureux phocilion non non elise je ne veux point de concurrent dans vostre affection et j'aime cent fois mieux vous estre indifferent et que vous railliez de moy avec mes rivaux que de posseder la moitie de vostre coeur seulement j'aimerois mesme mieux estre hai de vous que d'en estre aime avec un autre gardez elise gardez cette affection partagee pour des gens qui ne vous donnent que la moitie de leur coeur ou peut estre mesme qui ne vous le donnent point du tout car pour moy qui vous avois donne le mien tout entier je ne pourrois pas consentir de n'avoir qu'une partie du vostre du moins injuste et ingrate elise ay-je la satisfaction d'estre vange par ceux mesmes que vous me preferez car enfin ils parlent des faveurs que vous leur faites sans transport de joye et en parlent sans discretion ils se disent avec plaisir les graces que vous leur accordez seulement parce que cela sert a leur vanite et je ne doute point qu'ils ne disent bien-tost a tout le monde ce qu'ils se sont dit en particulier helas elise que vous avez mal choisi si vous vouliez des amans secrets mais a dire la verite adjoustoit-il avec colere qui conque en favorise deux ne se soucie guere de la discretion qu'on doit avoir je n'ay sans doute jamais eu de faveurs a cacher mais pour peu que vous m'ayez quelques 
 fois regarde sans mepris je m'en suis presque fait un secret a moy mesme cependant elise vous me preferez deux hommes qui ne vous aiment que par vanite et qui vous aiment plus pour l'amour d'eux que pour l'amour de vous encore si je n'avois qu'un rival heureux je pourrois esperer qu'apres m'en estre deffait je pourrois l'estre a mon tour mais de scavoir qu'elise en favorise deux c'est une chose qui met mes rivaux en seurete et qui rend mon bon-heur impossible n'estant pas en ma puissance de desirer seulement d'estre dans un coeur si partage mais enfin puis qu'il demeure constant poursuivoit-il en luy mesme qu'elise n'est point ce que je croyois qu'elle fust dois-je continuer d'estre pour elle ce que j'ay este dois-je adorer ce qui n'est point adorable et dois-je enfin aimer une personne qui aime ailleurs ou qui du moins agit avec deux de mes rivaux comme si elle les aimoit non non il ne seroit pas juste et il ne seroit pas mesme genereux mais le moyen aussi de n'aimer plus elise elise qui est la beaute mesme elise dont les charmes sont inevitables elise qui tient mon coeur en sa puissance elise que seule je puis trouver belle et elise enfin que seule je puis aimer contentons nous donc reprenoit-il de hair nos rivaux sans hair elise pleignons-la seulement de ta foiblesse et vangeons-nous sur eux de son injustice puis que nous la respectons trop pour le pouvoir faire sur elle-mesme voila madame dans quels sentimens fut 
 phocilion toute la nuit sans pouvoir jamais resoudre precisement ce qu'il devoit faire cependant il faut que vous scachiez que poligene et agenor apres estre sortis de la grotte continuerent leur promenade comme je l'ay desja dit et continuerent de parler d'elise et comme poligene scavoit bien qu'il ne luy avoit jamais dit qu'il l'aimoit et qu'il n'avoit nulle esperance d'estre aime il chercha un nouveau biais de se deffaire d'agenor en feignant toujours d'estre bien avec elise puis que la fortune a voulu dit-il a son frere avec autant d'ingenuite aparente qu'il y avoit d'artifice dans son esprit que nous soyons rivaux et rivaux favorisez au lieu de disputer qui cedera elise l'un a l'autre abandonnons la esgallement puis qu'elle nous a fait presque une esgalle infidelite et par un genereux despit conservons nostre amitie en sur montant nostre amour et pour nous vanger pleinement d'elle mesprisons tous le sexe en general et ne regardons les plus belles femmes que comme un simple ornement de l'univers sans aucun attachement et avec la mesme liberte d'esprit que nous regardons les fleurs des prairies les bois et les fontaines aussi bien faut il tomber d'accord qu'il y a de la foiblesse a s'assujettir jusques a perdre le repos et la raison la galanterie est assurement une agreable chose mais une violente passion est une folie quittons donc agenor quittons cette injuste fille qui n'a pu se contenter de vostre affection ou de la 
 mienne croyons pour nous y resoudre plutost qu'elle fait pour tous ses autres amans tout ce qu'elle a fait pour nous et n'oublions rien de tout ce qui peut affaiblir la puissance de ses charmes ha mon frere s'escria malicieusement agenor que vous me donnez de joye de parler comme vous faites car enfin puis que vous pouvez vous resoudre a quitter elise par jalousie par depit et par raison vous me la quitterez sans doute bien par pitie par generosite et par affection non non reprit poligene ne vous y abusez pas je puis quitter elise si vous la quittez mais je ne la quitteray pas si vous me l'abandonnez point comme ils en estoient-la par bonheur il vint du monde qui les joignit et les separa car en la disposition ou estoit leur ame ils se fussent peut-estre querellez s'il ne fust arrive personne cependant poligene et agenor se quitterent avec des sentimens bien differens car poligene demeura avec une jalousie terrible et agenor s'en alla sans en avoir parce qu'il ne creut rien de ce que son frere luy avoit dit il ne craignit pas mesme que poligene dist a elise qu'il se vantoit d'estre bien traite par elle parce que scachant que cela n'estoit pas et qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu une parole favorable comme son amant il croyoit qu'elise ne pourroit jamais l'accuser d'avoir fait une invention de cette nature et qu'elle penseroit plustost que poligene vouloit le mettre mal avec elle ainsi il estoit ravy d'avoir trouve lieu par sa hardiesse 
 de ne ceder point elise a son frere et de luy avoir donne de la jalousie esperant que le despit luy feroit abandonner elise il ne s'en trouva pas pourtant si bien qu'il pensoit car poligene ne fut pas plustost leve qu'il fut chez straton et afin d'avoir lieu d'entretenir elise sans tesmoins il voulut que ce fust ce matin si bien que pour en avoir un pretexte il feignit en parlant a straton que des dames de ses parentes qui demeuroient dans une province luy avoient donne commission de leur envoyer quelques pierreries de sorte que comme elise avoit la reputation de se connoistre admirablement a toutes choses il pria straton de vouloir bien qu'il la vist a sa chambre luy monstrant mesme quelques diamans qu'il avoit pris expres pour cela disant que c'estoit pour les faire voir a sa fille straton n'eut pas plustost ouy ce que poligene luy disoit qu'il envoya scavoir si elise estoit esveillee de sorte qu'ayant sceu qu'elle estoit mesme desja coiffee straton mena poligene jusques a la porte de sa chambre luy commandant de luy rendre le service qu'il desiroit d'elle apres quoy ayant affaire et estant oblige de sortir il s'en alla et laissa poligene avec elise dont la beaute sans art et sans ornemens luy parut encore plus grande qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue d'abord elise croyant qu'elle luy pouvoit rendre quelque office luy demanda de quelle nature il estoit avec empressement car je m'imagine dit elle qu'il faut que ce soit 
 quelque chose d'important puis que vous m'estes venu voir a une heure ou on ne visite guere les dames il est sans doute vray reprit poligene que la raison qui m'a oblige de vous voir ce matin est extremement importante mais il est encore plus vray poursuivit-il en abaissant la voix de peur que les femmes d'elise ne l'entendissent que c'est une chose qui vous importe plus qu'a moy car enfin madame s'il n'y avoit eu que de mon interest je n'aurois pas este assez incivil pour vous faire une visite a une heure incommode cependant quoy que je ne vienne icy que pour vostre service je n'ay pas laisse de tromper straton en luy disant que je voulois vous prier de me choisir des pierreries n'ayant pas juge a propos qu'il sceust rien de que j'ay a vous dire elise fut d'abord surprise du discours de poligene mais comme il ne luy avoit jamais rien dit qui luy deust desplaire qu'elle ne le croyoit que son amy et qu'elle ne le soupconnoit pas d'estre son amant elle se remit et s'imagina que comme il luy avoit donne cent advis officieux en sa vie il venoit peutestre encore l'advertir que lyriope disoit d'elle tout ce que la jalousie et l'envie jointes ensemble peuvent faire dire de sorte que jugeant que poligene avoit quelque chose de consequence a luy faire scavoir elle fit signe a ses femmes qui l'habilloient de se retirer a l'autre bout de sa chambre apres quoy se tournant vers poligene j'ay une si grande envie luy dit elle de vous avoir une nouvelle 
 obligation que je ne puis m'empescher de vous prier de me dire promptement ce que vous jugez a propos que je scache madame luy dit-il quoy qu'en vous disant ce que je m'en vay vous aprendre je vous rende la plus grande preuve d'affection que je vous puisse jamais rendre je voudrois pourtant bien estre en estat de ne vous la rendre pas car enfin ce que je fais pour vous est de telle nature que l'amitie toute seule ne suffit pas pour excuser la trahison que je m'en vay faire a une personne que la nature veut que j'aime mais apres tout s'agissant de la gloire d'elise il n'y a point a balencer et je suis persuade que je dois tout trahir pour son interest que j'apellerois le mien si le respect que je luy porte me le permettoit je vous suis infiniment obligee reprit elise avec une bonte extreme de tesmoigner avoir tant de zele pour ce qui me touche mais je ne veux pourtant pas m'arrester a vous en remercier de peur de vous empescher de me dire promptement ce que je meurs d'envie de scavoir quoy que l'aye aussi fort envie de vous le dire repliqua poligene je tremble pourtant en longeant a la trahison que je fais je vous conjure neantmoins adjoustat'il pour faire mieux reussir son dessein lors que je vous auray descouvert le crime qu'un homme que je connois a commis contre vous de ne me brouiller point avec le criminel et de vous servir de l'advis que je vous donneray selon que vostre prudence le ingera a propos je vous 
 promets repliqua elite de me conduire par vostre conseil afin de ne desobliger pas celuy qui m'aura obligee apres cela madame reprit-il je vous diray avec quelque remords et quelque confusion que celuy que je m'en vay accuser est mon frere quoy interrompit elise agenor a fait quelque chose qui m'offence agenor reprit froidement poligene n'a sans doute fait que vous adorer autant qu'il en est capable mais a vous parler sincerement il a dit certaines choses qu'il ne devoit jamais dire mais encore reprit brusquement elise quelle part puis-je avoir a l'imprudence d'agenor moy qui n'ay rien a demesler de particulier aveque luy ny aveque personne le voudrois bien madame repliqua poligene qu'en vous apprenant que mon frere est un inconsidere que la vanite emporte vous m'aprissiez qu'il fut quelque chose de pis et que tout ce qu'il m'a dit de vous ne fust pas vray car il seroit plus aise de metre vostre gloire en seurete quoy poligene repliqua elise en rougissant de colere agenor vous a pu dire quelque chose a mon desavantage il m'a du moins dit quelque chose qui luy est bien avantageux reprit poligene mais madame adjousta-t'il devant que de vous pleindre laissez moy parler et souffrez du moins qu'en accusant agenor je l'excuse en quelque forte et que je vous die qu'il est presques impossible de trouver un homme de son age qui ait de la discretion la discretion reprit fierement elise 
 elise de la maniere dont vous l'entendez est une bonne qualite dont ceux qui m'aprochent peuvent manquer sans qu'ils me puissent nuire mais encore poligene expliquez moy un peu plus clairement cet enigme madame luy dit-il je veux bien vous parler comme si vous ne scaviez pas qu'agenor vous aime ha poligene interrompit elise n'est ce point qu'agenor vous aura trompe comme il me trompa un jour qu'il me voulut persuader que toutes ces galanteries qu'il s'est accoustume de me dire devant tout le monde estoient de veritables marques d'amour car je vous proteste que je fus assez long-temps a en avoir une colere estrange cependant je connus a la fin de la conversation qu'il s'estoit voulu divertir de sorte que nous fismes la paix et je gagnay et perdis un amant presque en un quart d'heure non non madame reprit poligene cela n'a pas este ainsi agenor qui est accoustume d'avoir toujours deux ou trois confidens de ses amours afin d'avoir deux ou trois tresmoins de sa gloire m'a quelquesfois choisi pour cela et en effet je sceus tout ce que lyriope faisoit pour luy ha poligene interrompit elise lyriope et moy sommes d'humeur bien differente il est vray repliqua poligene qu'il ne se vante pas d'avoir receu de vous ce qu'il avoit receu d'elle je veux dire toutes ces faveurs qu'on peut enfermer dans un cabinet comme des lettres des portraits et d'autres semblables choses mais 
 il est assez hardy pour assurer qu'il a obtenu une partie de celles qu'on ne peut conserver que dans le coeur en s'en souvenant avec plaisir et dont la possession donne une joye si delicate et si sensible a ceux qui les scavent posseder en secret et qui n'en ostent pas toute la douceur en les publiant je suis si ignorante en galanterie reprit elise avec une colere extreme que je ne scay pas la difference qu'il y a de faveur et tout ce que j'en scay est qu'il n'y en a point de si petite qui ne soit criminelle et que je puisse jamais estre capable d'accorder a personne mais encore poligene que dit agenor que je fais pour luy il dit madame puis qu'il faut vous le dire pour vostre interest reprit poligene qu'il vous a dit mille fois en secret qu'il vous aime que vous le souffrez sans vous en facher que vous raillez aveque luy de tous ses rivaux et qu'enfin s'il n'est pas aime il n'est pas hai et je ne scay mesme s'il ne m'a point fait entendre quelque chose de plus obligeant encore car enfin de la facon dont il m'a parle il semble qu'il lit souvent dans vos yeux qu'il n'est pas mal dans vostre coeur cependant madame adjousta poligene pour nuire davantage a agenor en vous descouvrant la foiblesse de mon frere je vous demande pourtant grace pour luy vous conseillant mesme de ne l'en punir pas ha poligene s'escria-t'elle vous me donnez un advis fort obligeant en m'advertissant de la meschancete d'agenor mais vous me donnez en mesme temps un mauvais 
 conseil et je ne scay mesme si en me conseillant ainsi vous ne me faites point un outrage car enfin il semble quasi par ce que vous dites que vous ne croyez pas que tout ce que vous a dit agenor est invente comme agenor est mon frere reprit poligene vous me devez pardonner si mon esprit ne se porte pas aisement a le soupconner d'un crime effroyable comme seroit celuy d'avoir invente tout ce qu'il m'a dit c'est pourquoy vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si j'aime mieux croire qu'agenor a este heureux et qu'il n'est coupable que de reveler peut estre avec exageration un secret qu'il devoit sans doute garder car si j'avois creu qu'agenor eust joint le mensonge a la vanite au lieu de vous advertir de son crime je l'en aurois puny moy-mesme punissez-le donc repliqua elise car il n'est pas plus vray que je vous parle qu'il est vray qu'il ne m'a jamais parle de sa pretendue passion que de la maniere que je vous l'ay dit et que pas consequent tout ce qu'il dit en suitte est absolument suppose mais comme il me semble qu'il y va de ma gloire poursuivit elle d'employer mes paroles a me justifier je veux prendre une autre voye qui sera celle de ne voir jamais agenor poligene voyant un si heureux commencement a son dessein fit semblant pour confirmer davantage elise en sa resolution de s'y vouloir opposer luy representant que n'ayant regarde que son interest il sembloit qu'elle fust obligee de considerer 
 le sien et de ne le commettre pas avec son frere qu'il suffisoit tout au plus de luy oster tout pretexte d'apuyer sa vanite d'aucune vray-semblance et de ne luy accorder jamais la liberte de luy parler en particulier
 
 
 
 
mais plus il parla plus elise s'obstina a ne vouloir jamais voir agenor dont poligene estoit fort aise neantmoins comme il connoissoit bien qu'elise estoit faschee contre luy de ce qu'il avoit tesmoigne croire que tout ce qu'agenor luy avoit dit n'estoit pas invente il raccommoda si adroitement la chose qu'il persuada en effet a elise qu'il n'avoit point creu ce qu'il avoit pourtant dit qu'il croyoit de sorte qu'elise luy estant sensiblement obligee de l'advis qu'il luy avoit donne luy dit cent choses obligeantes le regardant comme le meilleur et plus fidelle de ses amis luy promettant mesme de bannir agenor sans le brouiller aveque luy et de trouver un pretexte pour cela cependant elle avoit une colere si forte contre agenor qu'on n'en pouvoit pas avoir une plus violente aussi ne put elle pas se resoudre a sortir de tout ce jour la et des que poligene l'eut quittee elle feignit de se trouver mal et se mit en habit de garder la chambre ordonnant mesme qu'on dist qu'on ne la voyoit point mais ceux qui receurent cet ordre ne l'observerent pas bien exactement en effet phocilion s'estant resolu de s'en retourner a sidon et de quitter elise des qu'il luy luy auroit reproche la foiblesse dont il la croyoit 
 capable fut chez elle aussi tost apres disner et ne trouva nulle difficulte a entrer si bien qu'allant droit a la chambre d'elise scachant qu'elle y estoit quoy que ce ne fust pas sa coustume de l'y voir il la trouva seule qui resvoit profondement elle ne le vit pas plustost que grondant ses femmes de ce qu'on n'avoit pas dit qu'on ne la voyoit point elle en envoya une renouveller cet ordre qui fut exactement observe le reste du jour ainsi elise sans y penser donna a phocilion une longue audience sans estre interrompu car comme elle l'estimoit fort elle n'eut pas la force de le chasser sans luy avoir permis de luy faire sa visite puis que le hazard avoit voulu qu'il fust entre elle ne luy permit pourtant de s'asseoir qu'a condition qu'il ne seroit qu'un quart d'heure avec elle mais comme il luy dit ce qu'elle ne pouvoit pas prevoir qu'il luy diroit la chose n'alla pas ainsi et il y fut une grande partie de l'apresdisnee comme elise paroissoit estre fort triste et que phocilion avoit l'esprit extremement irrite a peine fut-il assis que prenant la parole il me semble madame luy dit il que pour une personne qui donne de si grandes joyes aux autres vous estes bien melancolique je ne scay pas reprit-elle si j'ay jamais donne quelque grande joye a quelqu'un mais je scay bien que je connois des gens qui m'ont quelques fois donne beaucoup de chagrin je crains bien madame reprit-il que je n'accroisse aujourd'huy le nombre de 
 ceux que vous dites et qu'en vous rendant ma derniere visite je ne vous importune ne doutez nullement repliqua obligeamment elise que si vous me venez voir pour me dire adieu vous ne me donniez du desplaisir mais phocilion le mot d'importune n'est pas bien place ou vous l'avez mis et celuy d'afflige y auroit sans doute mieux este ce que vous me dites madame reprit-il m'auroit rendu le plus heureux de tous les hommes si vous me l'eussiez dit avant hier mais pour aujourd'huy je vous advoue que plus vous aurez de civilite pour moy plus vous me serez rigoureuse ce que vous me dites paroist si bizarre repliqua elise que je ne scay ce que le dois y respondre ce que je scay reprit phocilion est si surprenant que je ne scay aussi madame ce que j'en dois dire ny mesme ce que j'en dois penser c'est pourquoy vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si je m'explique obscurement je voudrois bien mesme s'il estoit possible ne me faire point entendre et je ne puis pourtant me resoudre a ne me pleindre pas je suis toutesfois resolu adjousta t'il de me pleindre de mon malheur sans me pleindre positivement de vous en verite phocilion reprit elise plus vous parlez moins je vous entends c'est pourquoy songez bien je vous en conjure si vous vous entendez vous mesme car je vous advoue que j'ay peine a croire que vous ayez raison de dire tout ce que vous dites plust aux dieux madame repliqua-t'il que je fusse coupable 
 et que vous fussiez innocente ouy madame j'ay une passion si demesuree pour vostre gloire que quelque envie que j'aye eu d'estre aime de vous je pense que je consentirois d'en estre hai pourveu que ce que j'en scay ne fust pas vray jugez apres cela si mon affection est interessee mais a ce que je voy reprit elise vous m'accusez de quelque grand crime le crime dont je vous accuse reprit phocilion en soupirant est pourtant de telle nature madame que vous seriez fort innocente si vous en estiez coupable pour moy seulement quoy phocilion repliqua elise en rougissant de colere vous croyez que j'aime quelqu'un je ne scay madame respondit il si le respect que j'ay pour vous et que je veux tousjours avoir souffrira que je vous die que je le croy mais je scay bien qu'apres ce que j'ay entendu de la bouche de poligene et de celle d'agenor ce n'est pas assez que de dire que je le crains elise estrangement estonnee de voir phocilion qu'elle avoit tousjours veu si sage et si respectueux luy dire des choses si surprenantes creut bien qu'il y avoit quelque bizarre avanture qu'elle ne scavoit point et elle craignit extremement que la vanite d'agenor n'eust este jusques a phocilion mais ce qui l'embarrassoit estoit d'entendre qu'il nommoit poligene aussi bien qu'agenor de sorte qu'ayant une envie estrange de scavoir la verite elle se contraignit et cachant une partie de sa colere se mit a presser phocilion de luy dire ce qui l'obligeoit 
 a parler ainsi ce qu'il fit exactement luy racontant la promenade qu'il avoit faite comment il estoit entre dans une grotte pour esviter la rencontre de poligene et d'agenor comment la pluye les avoit fait entrer et en suitte silabe pour silabe tout ce qu'il leur avoit ouy dire phocilion fit ce recit avec une douleur si visible dans les yeux il s'interrompit si souvent luy mesme pour soupirer il regarda elise d'une maniere si touchante et il parla si respectueusement a elle quoy que ce qu'il luy disoit fust assez difficile a dire a une personne aussi fiere qu'elle estoit et qu'elle est encore qu'elise ne le soubconna point de mensonge et ne douta point qu'il n'eust en effet ouy dire a poligene et a agenor tout ce qu'il venoit de luy raconter et elle le creut d'autant plus tost qu'il y avoit beaucoup de raport entre ce que poligene disoit qu'agenor avoit dit et ce que phocilion assuroit luy avoir ouy dire mais ce qui l'espouventoit estoit d'aprendre que poligene qui n'avoit jamais agy avec elle que comme son amy et qui estoit venu d'advertir de la vanite de son frere en la detestant fust encore aussi vain et aussi detestable que luy cependant comme elle n'avoit pas balence a prendre la resolution de bannir agenor lors que poligene luy avoit apris ce qu'il disoit elle ne balanca point non plus a bannir poligene des que phocilion luy eut apris ce qu'il avoit dit mais pour se justifier aupres de luy et se justifier avec cette fierce qui luy estoit si naturelle 
 je suis bien marrie phocilion luy dit elle que pouvant m'obliger sensiblement vous m'ayez cruellement desobligee car enfin vous pouviez me dire sans m'offencer presques tout ce que vous venez de m'aprendre et vous me l'avez dit en m'outrageant en effet il vous estoit aise de me raporter tous les mensonges de poligene et d'agenor comme des mensonges dont vous jugiez a propos de m'advertir et non pas comme des veritez car a vous parler sincerement je pense qu'a considerer les choses comme elles sont vous m'avez plus offencee en croyant ce que vous leur avez ouy dire qu'ils n'ont fait en l'inventant et si leur crime a quelque raport avec le vostre c'est seulement en ce qu'ils ont creu ce qu'ils se sont dits l'un a l'autre comme vous avez creu ce qu'ils disoient tous deux quoy madame reprit phocilion vous pouvez me croire plus coupable que poligene et plus criminel qu'agenor quoy qu'il en soit dit elle vous n'estes pas innocent puis que vous me croyez capable d'une si espouventable foiblesse mais pour vous faire voir poursuivit elle que vous vous estes abuse je veux faire trois choses l'une de vous jurer par tout ce qui m'est de plus sacre que jamais poligene ne m'a donne nulle marque d'amour non plus qu'agenor si ce n'a este en raillant l'autre que pour vous faire juger du passe pour l'advenir et vous faire connoistre que je ne les crains pas je les banniray tous deux pour toute ma vie et la troisiesme est que je vous assureray qu'encore 
 que j'aye eu plus d'estime et plus d'amitie pour vous que je n'en ay jamais eu pour personne je ne laisseray pas de vous bannir aussi bien qu'eux pour vous faire voir que je suis maistresse de mes sentimens quand je le veux estre et pour vous persuader par cet exemple qu'une personne qui regne si absolument sur son coeur n'a pas este capable de l'engager si legerement que vous l'avez creu aussi bien ne pourrois-je plus souffrir la veue d'un homme qui a eu l'injustice de m'accuser d'un crime effroyable luy qui m'avoit donne mille marques d'estime luy qui me devoit bien connoistre et luy enfin que je croyois incapable de penser jamais rien qui me pust estre desavantageux et que je pensois m'estimer assez pour se dementir plustost luy mesme que d'avoir le moindre soubcon qui me pust estre prejudiciable mais madame repliqua t'il le moyen d'avoir de l'amour sans avoir de la jalousie en oyant ce que j'ay entendu et le moyen d'avoir de la jalousie sans perdre la raison et sans estre injuste je ne scay pas repliqua-t'elle comment cela se peur faire mais je scay bien que ce n'est point a moy a examiner la cause de l'injustice qu'on me fait ainsi sans m'informer si vous avez este injuste pour moy par amour par jalousie ou par quelque autre raison il suffit que je scache que vous l'avez este pour prendre la resolution de vous punir mais madame respondit phocilion puis que vous estes si equitable que ne faites vous quelque difference 
 de poligene et d'agenor aveques moy j'y en feray aussi repliqua-t'elle car en les bannissant je les hairay et les mespriseray estrangement et je me contenteray d'avoir beaucoup d'indifference pour vous cette grace madame respondit phocilion en soupirant est d'une nature a pouvoir estre receue sans reconnoissance et pourtant sans ingratitude quoy qu'il en soit reprit elise vous n'en avez point d'autre a attendre de moy mais pour vous consoler j'ay a vous dire que je n'en feray jamais a personne car apres la cruelle avanture qui me vient d'arriver je dois me mettre en estat qu'on ne puisse plus croire de pareilles impostures que celles que vous m'avez aprises phocilion voyant la ferme resolution d'elise n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut capable de la pouvoir flechir il joignit les conjurations aux prieres et ses soupirs a ses paroles il se mit mesme a genoux pour demander pardon de sa faute mais elise fut inflexible et il falut qu'il s'en allast sans l'avoir pu obtenir neantmoins quoy qu'il se retirast avec une douleur extreme il avoit pourtant quelque consolation d'avoir connu par la maniere dont elise avoit parle et avoit agi qu'elle estoit innocente il est vray qu'il eut un si grand repentir de la facilite qu'il avoit eue a croire poligene et agenor qu'il se haissoit presques autant que ses rivaux contre lesquels il fit dessein de se vanger de la rigueur qu'elise luy tenoit de ne luy vouloir point pardonner joint que les regardant 
 alors comme des imposteurs il creut qu'il devoit mesme vanger elise quand il n'auroit pas eu d'autre motif de leur vouloir mal cependant si phocilion avoit de la douleur et du repentir elise avoit de la colere mais de la colere si vindicative que si son ame eust pu estre capable d'une resolution violente et injuste il n'eust rien este qu'elle n'eust fait pour se vanger de poligene et d'agenor mais comme elise est fort sage et qu'elle scavoit bien qu'il est certaines choses qu'il ne faut pas faire esclater et dont la vangeance est nuisible elle ne voulut employer qu'elle mesme a punir ces deux criminels elle ne laissa pourtant pas de le faire sensiblement car comme ils l'aimoient avec une ardeur extreme ils sentirent aigrement la maniere dont elle les traita cependant comme elle avoit resolu de leur parler l'un devant l'autre elle fut deux jours sans en pouvoir trouver l'occasion qui par bonheur se presenta d'elle mesme car ces deux rivaux voulant chacun en particulier demeurer le dernier aupres d'elise s'opiniaistrerent a laisser sortir toute la compagnie qui estoit ce jour la chez elle de sorte qu'a la fin ils demeurerent seuls aupres d'elise avec une confusion estrange et n'osant presques s'entre-regarder l'un l'autre en se souvenant de ce qu'ils s'estoient dit ny la regarder non plus tant le remords de leur imposture les interdisoit de sorte qu'elise se confirmant en la croyance que phocilion luy avoit dit la verite commenca de leur parler a 
 tous deux mais avec une fierte serieuse a faire trembler les plus hardis et a imprimer le respect dans le coeur des plus insolens comme vous estes tous deux coupables d'un mesme crime leur dit elle je pense qu'il est a propos de vous accuser ensemble et de ne prononcer qu'un mesme arrest contre vous poligene et agenor entendant parler elise de cette sorte en furent estrangement surpris le premier creut qu'agenor avoit descouvert son crime a elise comme il luy avoit apris le sien et agenor ne douta point que poligene ne 'eust accuse et qu'il ne se fust trompe lors qu'il avoit creu qu'elise n'adjousteroit point de foy a ses paroles ainsi tout hardy qu'il estoit il commenca de trembler aussi bien que poligene ils n'eurent mesme pas je loisir de demander a elise quel estoit leur crime car elle continua de parler avec la mesme fierte qu'elle avoit commence ne pensez pas leur dit elle que j'aille vous accuser en detail de toutes vos impostures ce discours seroit indigne de moy et il suffit que je vous die que les dieux m'ayant revele tout ce que vous dites dans une des grottes qui sont le long de cette grande terrasse qui regarde la mer j'ay pris la resolution de vous deffendre de me voir jamais et que j'ay pris en mesme temps celle de vous dire que je vous mesprise autant que je vous ay estimez et que je vous deffie de dire jamais rien qui me puisse nuire au reste poursuivit elle ne pensez pas aller employer le pouvoir 
 de mon pere car si vous le faites je luy diray la juste pleinte que je fais de vous c'est pourquoy sans resister a ma volonte obeissez sans murmurer vous le devez d'autant plustost adjousta t'elle que vous n'y perdrez aucune de ces faveurs dont vous vous estes vantez elise en achevant de dire ces paroles se leva et leur fit signe de s'en aller s'en allant elle mesme dans son cabinet de sorte que poligene et agenor ne pouvant que luy dire et n'osant la retenir se mirent a se quereller l'un l'autre s'accusant tous deux de s'estre trahis is n'oserent pourtant pas demeurer d'avantage dans la chambre d'elise et ils en sortirent avec un desespoir et une colere estrange sans qu'ils sceussent pourtant bien precisement quel objet avoit leur fureur mais a peine eurent-ils fait vingt pas en parlant avec beaucoup de chaleur de ce qui occupoit alors toute leur ame qu'un amy de phocilion les joignit et leur dit qu'il les attendoit au bord de la mer qui regarde le septentrion avec autant d'espees qu'il en faloit pour se battre contre deux qu'il leur laissoit le choix de celuy d'entre eux a qui il auroit a faire adjoustant que le sujet de pleinte qu'il avoit estoit de telle nature qu'il n'en pouvoit estre satisfait par nulle autre voye comme poligene et agenor avoient l'esprit fort aigry ils recevrent cette proposition fierement et comme des gens qui se fussent plus volontiers batus ensemble que de se batre contre d'autres neantmoins l'honneur ne 
 leur permettant pas de deliberer ils dirent a l'amy de phocilion qu'ils estoient prests de le suivie et ils le suivirent en effet apres s'estre deffaits de leurs gens comme ils avoient l'esprit fort occupe ils ne s'amuserent point a vouloir deviner pour quelle raison phocilion vouloit les voir l'espee a la main et dans la rage ou ils estoient tout leur estant ennemy ils se battirent sans scavoir pourquoy phocilion ne voulant pas leur dire precisement la raison qui l'avoit oblige a faire ce qu'il faisoit afin de n'engager pas le nom d'elise comme on ne scavoir pas qu'ils eussent rien a demesler ensemble on ne put empescher ce combat dont l'evenement fut fort sanglant car apres avoir jette au fort il se trouva que phocilion se batit contre agenor et poligene contre l'amy de phocilion et que tous les quatre furent blessez il est vray qu'agenor et phocilion le furent bien plus dangereusement que les deux autres car ils se donnerent de si terribles coups qu'ils en penserent mourir phocilion eut pourtant l'advantage sur agenor mais poligene l'eut aussi sur l'amy de phocilion ce combat fit un grand bruit dans le monde sans qu'on en pust penetrer la cause car lors qu'on la demandoit a poligene ou a agenor ils disoient qu'il falloit la demander a phocilion et quand on pressoit phocilion de la dire ils respondoit qu'ils suffisoit que poligene et agenor sceussent qu'ils n'estoient pas innocens cependant se combat la fit un bien a elise 
 car comme agenor poligene et phocilion estoient tous trois blessez on ne s'aperceut pas qu'ils fussent brouillez avec elle et il n'y eut quelyriope qui en dit quelque chose il est vray que favorablement pour elise elle n'osa pas s'emporter contre elle comme elle eust fait quelque temps auparavant parce que ses parens chez qui elle estoit retournee estoient prests de la marier a un homme de la cour nomme asiadate qui l'espousa en effet peu de jours apres plus par interest de famille que par nulle autre raison de sorte que craignant qu'il n'attribuast la haine qu'elle tesmoignoit avoir pour elise a l'amour qu'elle avoit encore pour agenor elle cacha une partie de ses sentimens en cette rencontre et ne parla pas du combat qui s'estoit fait comme elle en eust parle en un autre temps pour elise la colere ou elle estoit contre poligene contre agenor et mesme contre phocilion fit qu'elle trouva quelque douceur a estre delivree de leur veue neantmoins comme elle est naturellement bonne si la chose eust despendu d'elle elle n'eust pas voulu que ce combat se fust fait mais puis qu'elle n'y avoit point contribue elle n'estoit pas marrie que les dieux l'eussent permis et eussent esloigne de sa presence des gens qu'elle ne vouloit jamais voir comme les choses estoient en cet estat et qu'elise se confirmoit de plus en plus dans le dessein de ne se marier jamais et d'augmenter sa fierte s'il estoit possible straton qui n'avoit point eu 
 de veritable joye depuis qu'en perdant le feu roy il avoit perdu toutes ses esperances tomba malade et mourut en sept jours d'une fievre si ardente qu'elle le mit hors d'estat de donner nul ordre a ses affaires des le premier jour de son mal cet accident causa une douleur si extraordinaire a elise que je m'estonne qu'elle n'en perdit ou la vie ou du moins sa beaute cependant ses larmes ne firent sur son visage que ce que fait la rosee sur les fleurs c'est a dire qu'elles l'embellirent au lieu de la changer joint que comme la melancolie a quelque chose de doux et de languissant elise perdoit sans doute une partie de sa fierte lors qu'elle estoit triste et estoit par consequent plus propre a ne desesperer pas ceux qui l'aimoient elise en perdant straton ne perdit pas seulement un pere qu'elle aimoit et qui avoit une tendresse sans esgalle pour elle mais elle vit encore renverser sa fortune et se vit tomber sous la puissance d'une mere capricieuse et bizarre qui n'avoit nulle amitie pour elle et qui la persecuta de cent manieres differentes depuis la mort de straton cependant elise vescut aupres d'elle avec autant de respect que si elle eust este la meilleure mere du monde et elle porta sa generosite si loing que barce l'ayant laissee aux champs et estant allee a tyr elle y fut prise d'une maladie si contagieuse que les maris en abandonnoient leurs femmes et les femmes leurs maris cependant elise ne sceust pas plustost l'estat ou 
 estoit barce qu'elle partit a l'heure mesme pour s'aller jetter dans le peril et pour aller assister jusques a la mort une personne qui avoit resolu de rendre sa vie la plus mal-heureuse qu'elle pourroit mais les dieux qui ne vouloient sans doute que faire esclater la vertu d'elise firent que barce mourut comme elle estoit preste de se jetter malgre tous ses amis dans la maison ou elle estoit de sorte que voyant que ce seroit s'exposer inutilement puis que sa mere n'estoit plus en estat d'estre secourue elle se retira chez une dame de ses amies qui vivoit dans une retraite fort grande et dont la vertu estoit tout a fait extraordinaire ainsi elise fit voir par cette action qu'elle n'avoit pas dessein de voir autant de monde qu'elle en avoit veu durant la vie de straton mais afin qu'elise pust faire paroistre tout ce qu'elle avoit de grand et d'heroique dans le coeur les dieux voulurent abaisser la fortune pour eslever sa gloire par un chemin ou beaucoup ont accoustume de la perdre comme straton avoit eu de grands emplois sous le feu roy de phenicie tous ceux qui avoient eu quelque chose a demesler avec que luy inquitterent elise et s'emparerent mesme de tout son bien mais avec tant de violence et tant d'injustice qu'il s'en falut peu qu'elise ne fust aussi pauvre que belle cependant quoy qu'elle se vist dans un embarras effroyable son ame ne s'esbransla point et elle sceut suporter la mauvaise fortune avec autant de fermete qu'elle avoit eu de moderation dans 
 la bonne elle n'en fut pas mesme moins fiere et lors que poligene agenor et phocilion furent gueris et voulurent la revoir elle le leur deffendit avec la mesme authorite que si elle eust este sur le throne et qu'ils eussent este ses subjets il sembloit encore qu'elise affectast d'estre plus severe qu'auparavant et qu'elle voulust faire voir qu'estant maistresse de sa conduite elle vouloit suivre les reigles les plus exactes de la bienseance et de la vertu mais madame pour vous faire voir quelle est la sienne il faut que vous scachiez qu'asiadate que lyriope avoit espouse devint en ce temps la si esperduement amoureux d'elise qu'il en pensa perdre la raison et pensa faire perdre patience a cette belle personne qui s'en vit encore plus importunee qu'elle ne l'avoit este de poligene et d'agenor asiadate est un homme de beaucoup d'esprit mais d'un esprit violent et d'un naturel ardent qui fait qu'il veut tout ce qu'il veut avec une impetuosite qu'on ne scauroit exprimer vous pouvez donc juger qu'estant amoureux d'elise il estoit capable de faire beaucoup de choses pour posseder ce qu'il aimoit s'il en eust pu trouver les voyes comme elise ne recevoit plus de visites si ce n'estoit de ses amies ou de ses amis tres particuliers et qu'on ne pouvoit soupconner de galanterie il ne la pouvoit voir chez la dame avec qui elle demeuroit mais il la suivoit par tout ailleurs il fit mesme a la fin amitie avec une personne de qualite qui estoit 
 amie d'elise et comme il y a peu d'hommes en phenicie plus riches qu'asidiate et qu'il scavoit le desordre des affaires d'elise il creut qu'une fille dont l'ame estoit haute jusqu'a estre superbe ne pourroit souffrir la pauvrete et que peut estre une liberalite excessive faite avec toute l'adresse necessaire a une personne glorieuse et qui avoit beaucoup de vertu l'obligeroit a le souffrir comme son amy si elle ne le pouvoit endurer comme son amant il n'osa pourtant pas s'exposer a faire offrir des presens a elise avec nulle capitulation de donner son coeur pour toutes ses richesses mais il luy fit dire par cette amie a qui il persuada que la generosite le faisoit autant agir que l'amour que ne pouvant souffrir de voir la vertu malheureuse il luy offroit tout son bien sans vouloir autre chose d'elle que la grace de le recevoir mettant mesme une si prodigieuse quantite de pierreries entre les mains de cette dame pour les presenter a elise que toute autre qu'elle en l'estat qu'estoit sa fortune en auroit peut estre este esblouie car enfin elise subsistoit alors par la seule generosite de la personne avec qui elle logeoit cependant quelque eloquence qu'eust celle qui s'estoit chargee de luy faire accepter cette liberalite elle ne la persuada point ce n'est pas qu'elle ne conduisist son dessein avec beaucoup d'adresse car enfin ayant insensiblement engage elise a l'aller voir elle la fit entrer dans un cabinet ou elle vit sur la table cette abondance 
 de pierreries qu'asiadate vouloit luy donner de sorte qu'elise sans scavoir qu'elle y pust avoir nulle part se mit a les regarder a les trouver admirablement belles et a demander a cette dame a qui elles estoient scachant bien qu'elles n'estoient pas a elle auparavant que de vous respondre luy dit cette dangereuse amie il faut que je vous demande ce que vous penseriez d'un homme qui voudroit donner tout ce que vous voyez de perles de diamans de rubins et d'esmeraudes je dirois repliqua elise ou qu'il seroit bien amoureux ou bien liberal ou qu'il ne seroit guere sage car je ne scache que cela que je pusse dire de luy il y a pourtant quelque autre chose a dire respondit-elle de celuy qui veut faire ce present car enfin elise il faut avouer qu'asiadate est le plus genereux des hommes et le plus veritable amy que j'aye jamais connu et pour vous le tesmoigner poursuivit-elle scachez qu'il est si charme de vostre vertu que ne pouvant plus souffrir que la fortune vous traitte avec tant d'injustice il m'a chargee de vous conjurer qu'il face ce qu'elle ne fait point et qu'il vous enrichisse de ce qu'elle luy a donne il croit adjousta-t'elle que le bien qu'il possede n'est point a luy tant que vous n'en aurez pas et il est persuade que vous avez droit sur celuy de tous ceux qui en ont au reste ne pensez pas qu'il ait nulle mauvaise intention il ne vous verra point si vous ne le voulez et il ne pretend pas faire un eschange mais une liberalite 
 toute pure encore ne scay-je s'il aprouveroit ce que je dis et s'il ne croit point vous payer un tribut qui vous est deu ou vous faire une restitution au lieu d'un present c'est pourquoy elise n'ayez point de scrupule de recevoir assistance d'un homme de cette vertu qui vous l'offre par moy qui ne voudrois pas vous conseiller une chose qui vous pust estre prejudiciable et qui ne vous donnerois pas ce secours par autruy si j'estois en estat de vous le donner par moy-mesme tant que cette personne parla elise sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer tantost la colere la faisoit rougir et regarder avec mespris celle qui parloit tantost la confusion luy faisoit baisser les yeux et tantost l'estonnement mettoit sur son visage ce que la crainte et l'effroy ont accoustume de faire voir sur celuy de ceux qui en font capables mais a la fin ne pouvant plus s'empescher de parler je n'aurois jamais creu luy dit-elle que la fortune m'eust pu mettre en estat que quelqu'un eust eu la hardiesse de me faire une telle proposition mais comme il est certaines personnes qui font du venin des choses les plus innocentes je veux au contraire tirer de la gloire de la plus infame chose du monde et pour faire que vous ne croyez pas que je parle comme je fais par un sentiment de pauvrete arrogante je veux bien vous rendre raison de ce que je pense scachez donc que je suis fortement persuadee que les biens de nos amis peuvent estre les nostres en certaines occasions 
 mais je la suis encore bien d'avantage qu'a moins que de se vouloir rendre infame on ne doit jamais rien prendre n'y rien accepter d'un amant j'ay pourtant tousjours ouy dire reprit cette amie interessee que la liberalite et l'amour doivent estre inseparables et j'ay tousjours entendu assurer repliqua elise qu'une femme qui recoit des presens se donne ou pour mieux dire se vend ainsi quand un amant devroit estre liberal il faudroit que ce fust sans donner a sa maistresse il faudroit dis-je que ce fust en festes en habillemens en equipage magnifique et non pas en choses qui allassent a l'utilite de la personne qu'il aimeroit car enfin je ne scache rien de si bas de si lache de si oppose a la modestie ny qui donne des sentimens de mespris plus grands que de voir une femme prendre quelque chose d'un homme qui est amoureux d'elle et pour moy j'aimerois mieux sans comparaison recevoir une assistance de la nature de celle que vous m'offrez de la main d'un ennemy mortel que de celle d'un amant et la luy demander mesme a genoux que de l'accepter d'un homme amoureux de moy croyez donc s'il vous plaist que quelque malheureuse que je sois j'ay tousjours le coeur plus haut que ma fortune n'est basse et que quand je verrois la mort a mon choix ou toutes les magnifiques pierreries que je voy je la prefererois sans doute a ces perles et a ces diamans aimant beaucoup mieux mourir aveque gloire que de 
 viure avec honte mais reprit cette peu genereuse amie asiadate ne demande rien de vous il me demande insolemment toutes choses repliqua elise en me faisant offrir tant de richesses et je suis fortement persuadee que jamais femme n'a receu de present un peu considerable d'un amant qui n'y ait eu plusieurs heures ou cet amant mesme dans le plus fort de sa passion aura moins estime celle qui aura accepte ce qu'il luy aura offert et qui ne l'ait regardee comme estant a luy par le mesme droit que s'il avoit achete une esclave dittes donc poursuivit-elle a asiadate que je le trouve peu judicieux d'avoir sceu se servir si mal a propos de l'inclination qu'il a sans doute a estre liberal puis qu'au lieu d'acquerir mon estime par cette vertu il aquiert non aversion s'il vouloir montrer qu'il avoit de la liberalite il faloit donner sans interest il falloit dis-je enrichir tant d'honnestes gens mal-heureux dont toute la cour est remplie et non pas entreprendre de m'esblouir avec des diamans dittes luy encore que je le fuiray autant que la bien-seance me le permettra et que si je suivois mon inclination je me vangerois de luy aveque plus de colere et plus de plaisir que s'il m'avoit derobe toutes les richesses qu'il m'offre et pour vous adjousta-t'elle a celle a qui elle parloit je veux croire pour ma propre gloire que vous croyez les intentionsd'asiadate fore pures et fort innocentes mais puis qu'il a pu vous preocuper jusques au point 
 que vous l'estes je ne dois pas continuer de voir une personne qui pourroit se laisser persuader encore quelque autre chose opposee a la justice et a la vertu en disant cela elle se leva et sortit malgre tout ce que cette dame luy put dire la laissant avec une confusion si grande qu'elle n'osa jamais depuis voir elise qui de son coste esvita sa rencontre avec un soin estrange quoy que d'ailleurs elle luy eust de l'obligation cependant asiadate pensa mourir de douleur lors qu'il sceut comment elise avoit rejette sa liberalite il a pourtant advoue qu'il l'en estima d'avantage et qu'il l'en aima encore plus qu'auparavant mais ce qui fut de plus facheux pour luy fut que lyriope qui jusques alors n'avoit point creu qu'asiadate fust fort amoureux d'elise s'apercevant du grand chagrin qu'il avoit vint a en descouvrir la cause et a en avoir un despit et une jalousie estrange asiadate de son coste croyant que s'il n'eust pas este marie il eust pu posseder elise vint a hair lyriope si effroyablement qu'il ne la pouvoit endurer de sorte que sans en avoir le dessein elise rendit ces deux personnes les plus malheureuses de leur siecle par l'inquietude qu'elles se donnoient cependant poligene et agenor perdant tout a fait l'esperance de flechir le coeur d'elise se guerirent en partie de leur passion et conserverent toutesfois pour elle une estime qui les obligea a se la justifier l'un a l'autre en s'advouant leur imposture reciproque mais pour phocilion qui 
 estoit tout accoustume d'aimer sans esperance il continua de le faire comme auparavant et il s'opiniastra de telle sorte qu'en fin elise luy pardonna a condition qu'il demeureroit avec elle dans les simples termes de l'amitie sans luy parler jamais de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame ces choses estant donc en cet estat elise agit si vigoureusement pour ses affaires et avec un tel succes qu'elle retira une partie de son bien des mains de ceux qui l'avoient usurpe et se vit en estat de n'avoir plus besoin de personne et de vivre avec tout ce que la bienseance de sa condition demandoit elle ne demeura sans doute pas aussi riche qu'elle avoit creu l'estre mais l'estant assez pour se pouvoir passer de tout le monde elle fut contente de sa fortune et ne songea plus qu'a regler la conduite de sa vie elle eut pourtant encore un desplaisir bien sensible car elle perdit la dame chez qui elle logeoit apres quoy elle se resolut de demeurer tout a fait maistresse d'elle mesme et de jouir de la liberte toute entiere le reste de ses jours comme c'estoit la plus sociable personne de la terre elle songea a aporter autant de soin a se faire des amis et des amies qu'elle en aportoit a esviter d'avoir des amans et certes je ne pense pas que personne en ait jamais eu de plus illustres qu'elise ny que qui que ce soit ait jamais mene une vie plus douce ny plus agreable que celle qu'elle mena durant quelque temps apres qu'elle se fut deffaite de poligene 
 d'agenor et d'asiadate qui depuis son presant refuse n'osa plus la persecuter comme il faisoit auparavant quoy qu'il l'aimast tousjours ardemment
 
 
 
 
mais madame pour vous faire comprendre la felicite d'elise il faut que je vous despeigne une partie des amies et des amis qu'elle fit alors et que je vous represente quelle sonne de vie estoit la leur et la sienne car je suis assure que je ne pourray faire ce que je dis sans faire en mesme temps une chose fort glorieuse a ma patrie en vous faisant connoistre le nombre de personnes accomplies qui s'y trouvent vous scaurez donc madame qu'apres qu'elise vit sa fortune en meilleur estat elle eut le bonheur d'estre cherement aimee d'une des personnes du monde la plus illustre en toutes choses mais d'en estre aimee avec estime et avec tendresse de sorte que depuis cela elise fut inseparable de cette dame qui s'apelle cleomire mais comme je ne puis vous faire l'histoire des amis et des amies d'elise sans vous representer celle qui les unissoit tous et qui les attiroit tous les jours en un mesme lieu par les charmes qu'ils trouvoient aupres d'elle il faut que je vous apprenne que cleomire quoy qu'elle demeure a tyr est pourtant nee a athenes et que sa maison est si illustre qu'on conte des rois parmy ses devanciers mais comme ce n'est pas son histoire que je vous raconte et que je ne veux que vous faire connoistre le merite de sa personne je ne m'arresteray point a vous exagerer 
 la noblesse de sa race ny a vous dire mille choses qui luy dont fort glorieuses mais je vous diray seulement que cleomire a espouse un homme d'une des plus grandes maisons de phenicie et d'un merite proportione a sa qualite apres quoy je tascheray de vous donner une idee de ce qu'est cleomire imaginez vous donc madame la beaute mesme vous voulez concevoir celle de cette admirable personne je ne vous dis point que vous vous figuriez quelle est celle que nos peintres donnent a venus pour comprendre la sienne car elle ne seroit pas assez modeste ny celle de pallas parce qu'elle seroit trop fiere ny celle de junon qui ne seroit pas assez charmante ny celle de diane qui seroit un peu trop sauvage mais je vous diray que pour representer cleomire il faudroit prendre de toutes les figures qu'on donne a ces deesses ce qu'elles ont de beau et l'on en seroit peut estre une passable peinture cleomire est grande et bien faite tous les traits de son visage sont admirables la delicatesse de son teint ne se peut exprimer la majeste de toute sa personne est digne d'admiration et il sort je ne scay quel esclat des ses yeux qui imprime le respect dans l'ame de tous ceux qui la regardent et pour moy je vous advoue que je n'ay jamais pu aprocher cleomire sans sentir dans mon coeur je ne scay quelle crainte respectueuse qui m'a oblige de songer plus a moy estant aupres d'elle qu'en nul autre lieu du monde ou j'aye jamais este 
 au reste les yeux de cleomire sont si admirablement beaux qu'on ne les a jamais pu bien representer ce sont pourtant des yeux qui en donnant de l'admiration n'ont pas produit ce que les autres beaux yeux ont accoutume de produire dans le coeur de ceux qui les voyent car enfin en donnant de l'amour il sont tousjours donne en mesme temps de la crainte et du respect et par un privilege particulier ils ont purifie tous les coeurs qu'ils ont embrasez il y a mesme parmy leur esclat et parmy leur douceur une modestie si grande qu'elle se communique a ceux qui la voyent et je suis fortement persuade qu'il n'y a point d'homme au monde qui eust l'audace d'avoir une pensee criminelle en la presence de cleomire au reste sa phisionomie est la plus belle et la plus noble que je vy jamais et il paroist une tranquilite sur son visage qui fait voir clairement quelle est celle de son ame on voit mesme en la voyant seulement que toutes ses passions sont soumises a raison et ne sont point de guerre intestine dans son coeur en effet je ne pense pas que l'incarnat qu'on voit sur ses joues ait jamais passe ses limites et se soit espanche sur tout son visage si ce n'a este par la chaleur de l'este ou par la pudeur mais jamais par la colere ny par aucun dereglement de l'ame ainsi cleomire estant tousjours esgallement tranquille est tousjours esgallement belle enfin madame si on vouloit donner un corps a la chastete pour la 
 faire adorer par toute la terre je voudrois representer cleomire si on en vouloit donner un a la gloire pour la faire aimer a tout le monde je voudrois encore faire sa peinture et si l'on en donnoit un a la vertu je voudrois aussi la representer au reste l'esprit et l'ame de cette merveilleuse personne sur passent de beaucoup sa beaute le premier n'a point de bornes dans son estendue et l'autre n'a point d'esgalle en generosite en constance en bonte en justice et en purete l'esprit de cleomire n'est pas un de ces esprits qui n'ont de lumiere que celle que la nature leur donne car elle l'a cultive soigneusement et je pense pouvoir dire qu'il n'est point de belles connoissances qu'elle n'ait aquises elle scait diverses langues et n'ignore presques rien de tout ce qui merite d'estre sceu mais elle le scait sans faire semblant de le scavoir et on diroit a l'entendre parler tant elle est modeste qu'elle ne parle de toutes choses admirablement comme elle fait que par le simple sens commun et par le seul usage du monde cependant elle se connoist a tout les sciences les plus eslevees ne passent point sa connoissance les arts les plus difficiles sont connus d'elle parfaitement elle s'est fait faire un palais de son dessein qui est un des mieux entendus du monde et elle a trouve l'art de faire en une place d'une mediocre grandeur un palais d'une vaste estendue l'ordre la regularite et la proprete sont dans tous ses apartemens et a tous ses meubles tout est magnifique chez 
 elle et mesme particulier les lampes y sont differentes des autres lieux ses cabinets sont pleins de mille raretez qui sont voir le jugement de celle qui les a choisies l'air est toujours parfume dans son palais diverses corbeilles magnifiques pleines de fleurs sont un printemps continuel dans sa chambre et le lieu ou on la voit d'ordinaire est si agreable et si bien imagine qu'on croit estre dans un enchantement lors qu'on y est aupres d'elle au reste jamais personne n'a eu une connoissance si delicate qu'elle pour les beaux ouvrages de prose ny pour les vers elle en juge pourtant avec une moderation merveilleuse ne quittant jamais la bienseance de son sexe quoy qu'elle soit beaucoup au dessus il est vray que cleomire parmy tant d'advantages qu'elle a receus des dieux a le malheur d'avoir une sante delicate que la moindre chose altere ayant cela de commun avec certaines fleurs qui pour conserver leur fraischeur ne veulent estre ny tousjours au soleil ni toujours a l'ombre et qui ont besoin que ceux qui les cultivent leur fassent une saison particuliere pour elles qui sans estre ny froide ny chaude conserve leur beaute par un juste meslange de ces deux qualitez cleomire ayant donc besoin de se conserver fort beaucoup moins souvent de chez elle que les autres dames de tyr il est vray qu'elle n'a que faire d'en sortir pour aller chercher compagnie car depuis le roy il n'y a personne en toute la cour qui ait quelque esprit et quelque vertu qui n'aille 
 chez elle rien n'est trouve beau si elle ne l'a aprouve on ne droit point estre du monde qu'on n'ait este connu d'elle il ne vient pas mesme un estranger qui ne veuille voir cleomire et luy rendre hommage et il n'est pas jusques aux excellens artisans qui ne veuillent que leurs ouvrages ayent la gloire d'avoir son aprobation tout ce qu'il y a de gens qui escrivent en phenicie ont chante ses louanges et elle possede si universellement l'estime de tout le monde qu'il ne s'est jamais trouve personne qu'il l'ait pu voir sans dire d'elle mille choses avantageuses sans estre esgalement charme de sa beaute de son esprit de sa douceur et de sa generosite au reste elle ne fait pas seule l'ornement de son palais estant certain qu'elle a deux filles qui son en effet dignes d'estre les siennes l'aisnee qui s'apelle philonide est une personne dont la naissance est des plus heureuses du monde car elle a tout ensemble beaucoup de beaute beaucoup d'agreement beaucoup d'esprit et toutes les inclinations nobles et genereuses sa taile est des plus grandes et des mieux faites sa beaute est de bonne mine sa grace est la plus naturelle qui fera jamais son esprit est le plus charmant le plus aise et le plus galant du monde elle escrit aussi bien qu'elle parle et elle parle aussi bien qu'on peut parler elle est merveilleusement esclairee en toutes les belles choses et n'ignore rien de tout ce qu'une personne de sa condition doit scavoir et 
 elle dance bien jusques a donner de l'amour quand mesme elle n'auroit rien d'aimable que cela mais ce qu'il y a de merveilleux est qu'elle est tellement nee pour le monde pour les grandes festes et pour faire les honneurs d'une grande cour qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage la parure luy sied si bien et l'embarrasse si peu qu'on diroit qu'elle ne peut estre autrement et les plaisirs la cherchent de telle sorte que je ne pense pas qu'elle ait jamais este enrhumee en un jour ou il y ait eu un divertissement a recevoir et si je l'ay veue quelquesfois malade c'a este en certains temps melancoliques ou il n'y avoit rien d'agreable a faire encore ne l'estoit elle qu'autant qu'il le faloit estre pour attirer toute la cour dans sa chambre et non pas assez pour se priver de la conversation au reste elle a une multitude d'amies et d'amis si prodigieuse pour ne rien dire de ses amans qu'on est quelquesfois espouvente comment elle peut faire pour respondre a l'amitie de tant de personnes a la fois cependant elle ne laisse pas de les satisfaire toutes je suis pourtant persuade quoy qu'elle puisse dire qu'il n'est pas possible qu'elle aime autant de gens qu'il y en a pour qui elle semble estre obligee d'avoir de l'amitie et je suis assure qu'il faut qu'il y en ait un grand nombre pour qui elle n'a que de l'estime de la civilite et quelque reconnoissance cependant on ne laisse pas d'estre content d'elle et de l'aimer comme si elle 
 aimoit effectivement ce n'est pas que je ne croye qu'elle a un petit nombre d'amis et d'amies qui sont assez avant dans son coeur mais ce nombre choisi n'est pas aise a discerner d'avec les autres et je croy qu'elle seule scait positivement qui elle aime et combien elle aime elle a pourtant une tendresse generale pour tous ceux qui s'attachent a la voir qui fait qu'elle est la plus officieuse du monde ayant encore un charme si particulier dans la conversation pour peu que les gens qui sont avec elle luy plaisent qu'il suffiroit pour devenir amoureux de philonide de passer une apresdisnee a sa ruelle quand mesme on y seroit sans la voir et en un de ces jours d'este ou les dames sont une nuit artificielle dans leurs chambres pour esviter la grande chaleur mais madame si philonide est admirable et contribue a rendre la societe du palais de cleomire tout a fait charmante anacrise sa soeur merite bien d'y tenir sa place elle n'est pas si grande que philonide quoy qu'elle soit de fort belle taille mais l'esclat de son teint est si surprenant et la delicatesse en est extraordinaire que si elle n'avoit pas les yeux extremement beaux et merveilleusement fins on en seroit mille exclamations et on luy donneroit mille louanges mais il est vray que quoy que la personne d'anacrise soit toute belle et toute aimable il est pourtant certain qu'il y a je ne scay quoy dans sa phisionomie de spirituel de delicat de fin de fier de malicieux et de doux tout ensemble qui arreste les yeux agreablement 
 et qui la sait craindre et aimer en mesme temps et certes ce n'est pas sans raison si elle inspire ces deux sentimens a la fois car elle est tout ensemble une des plus aimables et une des plus redoutables personnes de toute la phenicie ce n'est pas qu'elle ne soit genereuse et qu'elle n'ait mesme de la bonte mais sa bonte n'estant pas de celles qui sont scrupule de faire la guerre a leurs amis anacrise est sans doute fort a craindre car je ne croy pas qu'il y ait une personne au monde qui ait une raillerie si fine ny si particuliere que la sienne il y a tout ensemble de la naisvete et un si grand feu d'imagination aux choses agreables et malicieuses qu'elle dit et elle les dit si facilement elle les cherche si peu et les dit mesme d'une maniere si negligee qu'on pourroit douter si elle y a pense si on ne la connoissoit pas cependant elle ne dit jamais que ce qu'elle veut dire et elle scait si parfaitement la veritable signification des mots dont elle se sert en raillant et scait encore si bien conduire le son de sa voix et les mouvemens de son visage selon que plus ou moins elle a dessein qu'on sente ce qu'elle dit qu'elle ne manque jamais de faire l'effet qu'elle veut au reste il y a une difference entre philonide et anacrise qui est considerable et qui en met beaucoup en leur bonheur car la premiere ne s'ennuye presque jamais elle prend de tous les lieux ou elle est ce qu'il y a d'agreable sans se mettre en chagrin de ce qui ne l'est pas et porte par tout 
 ou elle va un esprit d'accommodement qui luy fait trouver du plaisir dans les provinces les plus esloignees de la cour mais pour anacrise il y a si peu de choses qui la satisfacent si peu de personnes qui luy plaisent un si petit nombre de plaisirs qui touchent son inclination qu'il n'est presques pas possible que les choses s'ajustent jamais si parfaitement qu'elle puisse passer un jour tout a fait heureux en toute une annee tant elle a l'imagination delicate le goust exquis et particulier et l'humeur difficile a contenter anacrise est pourtant si heureuse que ses chagrins mesmes sont divertissans car lors qu'on luy entend exagerer la longueur d'un jour passe a la campagne ou celle d'une apresdisnee en mauvaise compagnie elle le fait si agreablement et d'une maniere si charmante qu'il n'est pas possible de ne l'admirer point et de ne pardonner pas a une personne d'autant d'esprit que celle-la d'estre plus difficile qu'une autre au choix des gens a qui elle veut donner son estime et accorder sa conversation voila donc madame quelle est cleomire et ses deux admirables filles jugez s'il vous plaist apres cela quelle joye devoit avoir elise d'avoir aquis l'amitie de trois personnes si illustres qui ne se contenterent pas de l'aimer mais qui voulurent encore que tous leurs amis l'aimassent il est vray qu'elise estoit si aimable qu'il ne faloit que la connoistre pour s'attacher a elle mais quand elle l'auroit este moins la 
 seule passion qu'elle avoit pour cleomire la luy auroit deu faire aimer estant certain que je ne croy pas que qui que ce soit ait jamais tant aime une autre qu elise aimoit cleomire et certes elle le luy tesmoignoit bien par son assiduite estant continuellement aupres d'elle partageant tous ses plaisirs et tous ses divertissemens et ne passant jamais un jour sans la voir elle cherchoit mesme avec soin quelque agreable invention de la divertir tantost par quelque serenade qu'elle luy faisoit donner dans les jardins de son palais ou qu'elle luy donnoit elle mesme tantost par quelque innocente tromperie ou par quelque deguisement agreable qu'elle faisoit avec quelques unes de ses amies et comme il n'y avoit jamais rien de rare ou de beau a voir qu'on ne le vist au palais de cleomire elise estoit en une joye continuelle mais la plus solide et la plus grande estoit sans doute que tous les soirs elle voyoit r'assemblez chez cleomire ses plus chers amis qui n'en sortoient que lors que la bienseance et la necessite de dormir vouloient qu'ils se retirassent mais madame il faut pour comprendre la douceur de cette societe que je vous fasse un leger crayon d'une partie de ceux qui la composoient j'entens toutesfois de ceux qui estoient amis particuliers d'elise car je serois trop long si je voulois vous parler de ce grand nombre d'honnestes gens qui se rencontroient tous les jours au palais de cleomire en effet je suis persuade que si je l'entreprenois il faudroit 
 que je vous fisse plus de portraits qu'il n'y a de statues d'or et d'argent dans les thresors de cresus de sorte que me renfermant dans des bornes plus estroites je vous seray seulement la peinture de cinq ou six de ceux qu'elise estime le plus et qui sont en effet les plus dignes d'estre estimez je vous diray donc pour commencer ces peintures qui ne donneront rien a ceux pour qui je les feray qu'on voyoit tous les jours en ce temps la au palais de cleomire ou chez elise un homme de tres grande qualite apelle megabate gouverneur d'une province de phenicie et dont le rare merite est bien digne d'estre connu de l'illustre cyrus qui m'escoute en effet celuy dont je parle n'est pas un homme ordinaire et l'on en voit peu en qui l'on trouve autant de bonnes qualitez qu'il en a megabate est grand et de belle taille ayant l'air du visage un peu fier et un peu froid et la phisionomie fort spirituelle au reste il a donne de grandes preuves de courage en toutes les occasions ou il s'est trouve qu'il en a acquis une reputation qui le couvre de gloire on luy a veu arracher au milieu d'un escadron d'ennemis une enseigne a celuy qui la portoit et apres la luy avoir arrachee le combatre le faire tomber mort a ses pieds et se demesler courageusement de cette multitude d'ennemis dont il estoit environne qui vouloient s'oposer a son passage et l'empescher de conserver la glorieuse marque qu'il avoit de la victoire qu'il venoit de remporter enfin madame quand magabate ne 
 seroit que brave et courageux il seroit sans doute fort illustre cependant ce n'est pas par la seulement que je le considere estant certain que la generosite de son ame merite autant de louanges que sa valeur quoy que sa valeur soit tout a fait heroique mais ce qu'il y a de plus considerable c'est que megabate quoy que d'un naturel fort violent est pourtant souverainement equitable et je suis fortement persuade qu'il n'y a rien qui luy peust faire faire une chose qu'il croiroit choquer la justice de plus megabate aime la gloire de son roy et le bien general de sa patrie n'estant pas de ceux qui ne s'en soucient point de renverser tout pourveu qu'ils regnent et qui sont indignes d'estre dans la societe des hommes par le peu de consideration qu'ils ont pour tout ce qui ne les regarde pas directement mais le mesme zele que megabate a pour la gloire et pour son prince il l'a encore pour ses amis il ne donne sans doute pas son amitie legerement mais ceux a qui il la donne doivent estre assurez qu'elle est sincere qu'elle est fidelle et qu'elle est ardente comme megabate est fort juste il est ennemy declare de la flatterie il ne peut louer ce qu'il ne croit point digne de louange et ne peur abaisser son ame a dire ce qu'il ne croit pas aimant beaucoup mieux passer pour severe aupres de ceux qui ne connoissent point la veritable venu que de s'exposer a passer pour flatteur ne l'a t'on jamais soubconne de l'estre de personne et je suis persuade que s'il eust este 
 amoureux de quelque dame qui eust eu quelques legers deffauts ou en sa beaute ou en son esprit ou en son humeur toute la violence de sa passion n'eust pu l'obliger a trahir ses sentimens en effet je croy que s'il eust eu une maistresse pasle il n'eust jamais pu dire qu'elle eust este blanche s'il en eust eu une melancolique il n'eust pu dire aussi pour adoucir la chose qu'elle eust este serieuse et tout ce qu'il eust pu obtenir de luy eust este de ne luy parler jamais de ce dont il ne pouvoit luy parler a son avantage mais il ne s'est pas trouve en cette extremite car comme il est esperduement amoureux de la belle philonide qui a toutes les graces du corps et toutes celles de l'esprit il n'est pas oblige a se contraindre et il luy peut donner mille et mille louanges sans craindre de la flatter au reste megabate en possedant toutes les vertus a encore cet avantage que ce sont des vertus sans aucun meslange de vices ny de mauvaises habitudes ses moeurs sont toutes innocentes ses inclinations sont toutes nobles et ceux qui cherchent le plus a trouver a reprendre en luy ne l'accusent que de soustenir ses opinions avec trop de chaleur mais a vous dire le vray il le fait si eloquemment et dit de si belles choses quand l'ardeur de la dispute l'anime que je ne voudrois pas que les autres fussent tousjours de son opinion ny qu'il fust tousjours de celle des autres car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que megabate a autant d'esprit que de coeur et 
 de vertu ce n'est pas seulement un esprit grand et beau mais un esprit esclaire de toutes les belles connoissances et je pense pouvoir assurer que depuis homere jusques a aristhee il n'y a pas eu un homme qui ait escrit dont il n'ait leu les ouvrages avec toute la lumiere necessaire pour en connoistre toutes les beautez et tous les deffauts il est certain qu'il y est un peu difficile et que les moindres imperfections le choquent mais comme cela est cause par la parfaite connoissance qu'il a des choses il faut souffrir sa critique comme un effet de sa justice de plus il escrit luy mesme si bien et en vers et en prose que c'est dommage qu'il ne le face pas plus souvent et qu'il soit d'humeur a en faire un mistere mais s'il est vray de dire qu'il escrit bien il l'est encore de dire qu'on ne peut pas parler plus fortement ny plus agreablement qu'il parle principalement quand il est avec des gens qui luy plaisent et qui ne l'obligent pas a garder un silence froid et severe qu'il garde quelquefois avec ceux qui ne luy plaisent pas au reste il entend si parfaitement les choses comme il les faut entendre et penetre si avant dans le coeur de ceux qu'il escoute qu'il ne repond pas seulement a leurs paroles il respond mesme encore bien souvent a leurs pensees de plus megabate malgre sa fierte est extremement civil et a tout a fait le procede d'un homme de sa condition il faut mesme luy donner cette louange qu'il est le plus regulier le plus exact et le plus constant amant du monde et 
 que soit qu'on juge de luy par l'illustre personne dont il est amoureux ou par ceux a qui il donne son amitie on en jugera tousjours avantageusement estant certain qu'on ne peut pas l'accuser d'aveuglement dans sa passion ny de mauvais choix en ses amis qui sont assurement dignes de l'estre mais madame je n'aurois jamais fait si je voulois vous dire tout ce que megabate a de bon c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux que j'acheve cette legere esbauche de sa peinture en vous assurant que cet homme est incomparable et qu'on n'en peut parler avec trop d'eloges jugez donc s'il vous plaist quelle gloire c'est a elise d'avoir un amy du merite de celuy-la un amy dis-je qui ne louant jamais que ce qui merite d'estre loue et louant avec chaleur et avec plaisir ce qu'il juge digne de l'estre luy donne tous les jours mille louanges qu'elle prefere sans doute a celles de cent mille autres parce qu'elle scait qu'elles sont sinceres et je me souviens de luy avoir ouy dire pour exagerer cette sincerite qu'elle ne croyoit pas si bien son miroir qu'elle croyoit megabate lors qu'il luy disoit qu'elle estoit belle cependant quoy qu'une personne qui n'auroit qu'un amy comme celuy-la deust s'estimer tres heureuse il est pourtant vray que megabate ne fait pas seul toutes les richesses d'elise et qu'elle a encore d'autres amis qui chacun en leur maniere et en leur profession sont dignes de porter cette glorieuse qualite le mage de sion entre les autres qui est le plus cher de ses 
 amis et qui a le plus de pan en sa confidence est sans doute un homme admirable il est nay avec un esprit si vif si ardent et si esleve qu'il n'est rien qui eschape a sa connoissance il est pourtant naturellement enjoue et d'une inclination si galante que devant que les dieux l'eussent attire a leur service il ne pouvoit parler sans dire une galanterie ayant une telle disposition a cela qu'il en disoit mesme sans y penser il est vray que c'estoit si agreablement qu'elise me disoit un jour en riant que c'avoit este dommage qu'en changeant de forme de vie il n'eust pu laisser cet agreable talent a quelque autre a qui la bienseance eust permis de s'en servir mais madame pour vous faire bien connoistre le mage de sidon il faut que vous scachiez que la solitude ou il se confina durant un si long temps lors qu'il changea de profession ne le rendit pas sauvage et que cet enjouement naturel qui estoit dans son esprit y est tousjours demeure mais il y est avec un fonds de honte et de modestie qui sent l'innocence des premiers siecles des sorte que comme il n'y a rien de plus agreable que de trouver ensemble un grand esprit et une grande douceur il n'y a rien de plus aimable que la conversation et la societe du mage de sidon il a pourtant quelque chose de brusque dans l'esprit et de precipite dans l'action mais cela ne l'empesche pas d'estre tel que je viens de le despeindre et cette agitation subite qui paroist en son corps et en son esprit est plus un effet de ce 
 temperamment ardent qui luy fait penser des choses si eslevees que de l'inquietude de son humeur au reste sa vertu quoy que tres parfaite n'a rien de rude ny rien d'austere que pour luy il s'attache solidement au bien et ne s'arreste pas a de fausses et trompeuses aparences d'esgalite de son humeur est encore un des charmes de sa societe on ne luy voit jamais ny chagrin ny rudesse pour ses amis il les aime avec tendresse et avec passion et les aime sans interest il passe de la solitude a la cour sans emportement de joye et de la cour a la solitude sans un ennuy excessif mais ce qu'il y a de plus admirable est que ce mage ne scait pas seulement tout ce qui concerne les dieux et les sacrifices qu'on leur fait il scait encore cent mille choses differentes il escrit en prose et en vers admirablement et avec une facilite si prodigieuse qu'on diroit que toutes les muses sont a luy et qu'elles ne sont occupees qu'a luy inspirer cette multitude de belles choses qu'il escrit son imagination dans ses ouvrages de poesie est d'une si vaste estendue qu'elle comprend tout l'univers estant mesme si belle si pompeuse et si fleurie qu'on peut dire qu'il donne une nouvelle fraischeur aux roses et une nouvelle lumiere au soleil lors qu'il les descrit il y a mesme un caractere passionne dans ses ouvrages qui les insinue dans le coeur comme dans l'esprit et qui fait qu'on profite beaucoup mieux des beaux enseignemens qu'il donne cependant cet homme dont 
 l'esprit est si esleve a la douceur et a la docilite d'un enfant il ne connoist ny la presomption ny la vanite et il charme de telle sorte ceux qui le connoissent bien qu'on ne peut s'empescher de l'aimer et de l'aimer tendrement il y a une modeste joye dans son me qui vient de son naturel et du calme de ses passions qui se communique a ceux qui le pratiquent souvent ce n'est pas que cette inclination passionnee qu'il a naturellement dans l'ame soit changee en luy en changeant de condition mais il a seulement change l'objet de sa passion et au lieu d'aimer comme autrefois tout ce qu'il voyoit d'aimable il aime seulement ce qu'il luy est permis d'aimer c'est a dire son devoir ses amis et ses amies il est aussi fort touche des beautez universelles de l'univers et sait un de ses plus ordinaires plaisirs principalement quand il est a un petit temple qui est aupres de sidon d'admirer la grandeur des dieux par les merveilles de leurs ouvrages le lever et le coucher du soleil luy donnant un divertissement dont tout le monde n'est pas capable une nuit tranquille semee d'estoilles bien brillantes occupe agreablement ses regards le bruit d'une fontaine charme doucement ses oreilles et la vaste estendue de la mer remplit son ame de je ne scay quel plaisir qui le porte a estre plus respectueux pour les dieux qui en sont les maistres ainsi les divertissemens du mage de sidon estans mesme une espece d'estude de sa sagesse il vous 
 est aise de comprendre quelles doivent estre ses occupations serieures cependant comme je l'ay desja dit sa conversation est tout a fait agreable enjouee libre et divertissante ayant mesme trouve l'art d'oster a la raillerie tout ce qu'elle a de piquant et d'aigre lors qu'il s'en sert sans luy oster pourtant ce qu'elle a d'agreable ce qui est assurement une chose plus difficile a faire que d'aprivoiser des lions jugez donc madame si le mage de sidon n'est pas digne d estre receu dans le palais de la grande cleomire d'estre estime de philonide et d'anacrise d'estre aime du genereux megabate et d'estre des amis d'elise aussi en est il de telle sorte que personne n'est si bien avec elle que luy apres cela madame il faut que je vous die qu'il y a encore un homme de condition dans cette aimable societe que le mage de sidon aime tendrement qui s'appelle clearque dont la peinture est si difficile a faire que je ne scay si je pourray venir a bout de la faire ressembler a celuy pour qui elle fera faite cependant il merite sans doute d'estre connu de vous et d'en estre connu avec beaucoup d'estime il n'est pas mesme jusqu'a sa personne qui ne soit difficile a representer il est pourtant bien aise de vous dire qu'il est de taille mediocre qu'il a les cheveux bruns et tous les traits du visage assez reguliers et mesme assez agreables mais pour son air et sa phisionomie je deffie qui que ce soit de les pouvoir bien depeindre car enfin madame il a quelque chose sur je visage de serieux 
 et de froid et ne laisse pourtant pas d'avoir je ne scay quoy de fin et de d'enjoue dans les yeux en effet il y a un certain meslange de joye et de melancolie en son temperamment qui fait que soit qu'elles se succedent l'une a l'autre ou qu'on les voye toutes deux a la sois sur son visage clearque plaist tousjours infinement il a pourtant un telle disposition a l'enjouement qu'au milieu des plus facheuses affaires du monde on le trouve presque tousjours prest a dire une chose agreable ou a prendre un divertissement mais madame devant que de m'estendre a vous parler de l'esprit de clearque il faut que je vous die qu'il a du coeur autant qu'on en peur avoir qu'il s'est signale a la guerre en mille occasions et qu'il a enfin toutes les qualitez qu'on peut desirer en un veritable homme d'honneur mais comme ce n'est pas par la qu'il a des choses particulieres puis que les vertus sont esgallement vertus en tous les hommes je ne m'arresteray pas a vous descrire les siennes exactement je vous diray toutesfois qu'il a une qualite eminente qui est celle de servir fidellement et ardemment ceux a qui il l'a promis et certes il a donne des marques de cela bien heroiques car toute la phenicie l'a veu hazarder mille et mille fois sa liberte de sa vie pour les interests d'un grand prince a qui il s'estoit attache mais pour suivre mon dessein il saut que je vous face connoistre clearque par ou il est le plus singulier imaginez vous donc madame 
 qu'il a esprit aussi esclaire et aussi delicat qu'on peut l'avoir et aussi capable des grandes choses lors qu'il s'y veut employer mais ce qu'il y a de merveilleux est qu'il n'y a pas un homme au monde qui scache dire une folie si agreablement que luy car il a un tour dans l'esprit si galant pour cela et si particulier que rien n'est plus spirituel ny plus divertissant que ce que dit clearque cependant ce qu'il dit ne tient rien de ce que disent ceux qui sont profession de dire des choses plaisantes et l'on peut assurer que jamais homme n'a este si esloigne de ces sortes de gens dont on voit tant par le monde et n'a pourtant jamais tant dit de plaisantes choses ce qui les rend plus agreables c'est qu'il les dit comme s'il n'y pensoit pas et qu'elles portent esgallement sur son esprit sur son imagination et sur la naisvete qui est inseparable de toutes ses paroles de plus il passe quelquefois si subitement d'une chose serieuse a une enjouee que l'esprit en est agreablement surpris et ne peut s'empescher d'y prendre un extreme plaisir au reste il y a certains jours ou on le voit avec une resverie qui donne lieu de croire qu'il me dite quelque grand dessein et il se trouve bien souvent qu'apres avoir garde un long silence il commencera a parler de bagatelles et de galanterie avec autant d'enjouement que s'il n'eust jamais resve cet enjouement s'adresse mesme aussi tost a la plus grave et a la plus serieuse personne du monde qu'a la 
 plus guaye et il scait si bien se rendre maistre de l'esprit de ceux avec qui il parle qu'il leur dit tousjours ce qu'il leur veut dire sans leur laisser la liberte de le trouver mauvais il se joue quelquesfois avec un enfant comme s'il l'estoit et avec autant d'application que s'il n'avoit autre chose a faire et il se joue mesme esgallement avec les vieux et les je unes les sages et ceux qui ne le sont pas les spirituels et les stupides lors qu'il est en humeur de se divertir car comme il aime fort a faire sa volonte et qu'il ne fait jamais guere autre chose quoy qu'il ne le semble pas il ne despend pas des autres de le faire parler s'il n'en a envie au reste il est nay avec l'ame fort amoureuse mais c'est encore d'une maniere qui n'est pas commune car enfin madame a parler veritablement et sans exageration on peut dire que clearque est tout a la fois le plus galant le plus coquet et le plus constant amant du monde et quoy qu'il semble que cette derniere qualite que je luy donne soit incompatible avec la seconde il est pourtant vray qu'elle ne l'est point dans son coeur et qu'il est tout ensemble et coquet et constant en effet on luy a veu une passion dans l'ame et on l'y voit encore que rien n'a jamais pu esbranler mais malgre cette amour constante il a eu cent petites amours passageres il n'a jamais veu de femme qui luy ait plu sans le luy dire il a mesme este jusques a rendre mille petits soins quand l'occasion s'en est presentee et a prendre 
 plaisir a regarder et a estre regarde cependant il avoit pourtant dans le coeur une passion dominante qui n'a jamais este affoiblie par cette multitude de galanteries qu'il a eues en sa vie en divers endroits du monde et il s'est tousjours trouve en estat de pouvoir quitter toutes ces maistresses pour celle a qui il a veritablement donne son coeur n'en ayant jamais eu pour qui il eust pu se resoudre d'abandonner celle-la de sorte qu'ayant trouve l'art d'accommoder l'inconstance et la fidelite il a dit des douceurs a toutes les belles qu'il a rencontrees il a eu autant de petits intrigues que l'occasion luy en a offert et a pourtant conserve sa veritable maistresse on diroit mesme que la fortune a voulu favoriser son inclination galante et enjouee car il a trouve des avantures partout et dans les occasions de guerre les plus esloignees en aparence de trouver dequoy employer ce talent qu'il a pour la galanterie il a rencontre des dames et de belles dames s'il a loge en quelque lieu a la fin d'une campagne c'a toujours este en quelque chasteau ou il y en avoit et je suis mesme persuade que s'il connoist des femmes qui soient vieilles ou qui ne soient point belles elles ont du moins quelque jolie esclave qu'luy rejouit les yeux lors qu'il les va voir tant il est vray que ses avantures sont proportionnees a son humeur au reste s'il dit les choses agreablement il les escrit aussi bien et je ne croy pas que personne ait jamais eu une plus aimable badinerie dans 
 l'esprit s'il m'est permis d'user de ce mot que celle que clearque met dans ses vers et dans ses lettres et il y a je ne scay quoy de si galant et de si plaisant cout ensemble que cela est inimitable car encore que tout ce qu'il escrit soit fort naturel il y a pourtant tousjours lieu de s'estonner conment il a pu penser ce qu'il dit ayant certaines visions qui luy sont particulieres que les autres n'auroient jamais et qu'ils n'exprimeroient mesme pas comme luy quand ils les auroient enfin madame clearque est un homme si extraordinaire que si separeroit tout ce qu'il a d'agreable et d 'enjoue dans l'esprit de toutes les autres bonnes qualitez qu'il a trouveroit sans doute dequoy faire deux fort honnestes gens d'un seul honneste homme aussi est il universellement aime et estime de tous ceux qui le connoissent mais particulierement de l'admirable cleomire et de tous ceux dont je vous ay fait les portraits mais madame il faut s'il vous plaist que pour suivre la loy que je me suis imposee je vous despeigne encore le sage theodamas qui fait partie de la societe dont je veux vous donner une idee celuy dont je parle madame estant infiniment estime de toutes les personnes dont je viens de vous donner la peinture doit raisonnablement l'estre de vous aussi ne doutay je point qu'il ne le soit des que je vous l'auray fait connoistre theodamas n'est pas originaire de phenicie mais il est d'une fort bonne naissance et d'une race ou la vertu depuis plus d'un siecle 
 a paru avec esclat au reste quoy que par la profession de theodamas il put estre mis parmy ceux qu'on apelle les honnestes gens de la ville il s'est pourtant mis par sa grande vertu et par son rare merite parmy les plus honnestes gens de la cour de qui il est universellement estime et traitte avec une civilite toute particuliere mais madame comme l'ame et l'esprit de theodamas meritent mille louanges je ne m'arresteray point a vous descrire sa personne et je vous diray seulement que pour vous faire bien comprendre ce qu'est theodamas il faudroit premierement vous despeindre la probite mesme la justice et la prudence et puis apres cela il faudroit vous assurer qu'on trouve ces trois vertus dans son coeur telles qu'elles sont en celles mesmes en effet je ne crois pas qu'il y ait un homme au monde plus sincere plus franc ny plus fidelle que celuy la qu'il y en ait un plus equitable en toutes choses mesme en celles ou il est interesse ny qu'il y en ait jamais eu qui ait merite avec plus de raison de porter la qualite de prudent que luy cependant il y a quelque chose dans son temperamment qui n'est pas ordinairement celuy qui a accoustume de faire la prudence car il est extremement ardent et si sa sagesse n'estoit accoustumee a vaincre toutes ses passions et a les soumettre a la raison la colere esbranleroit quelquesfois son ame mais ce mesme feu que luy donne en quelque occasion un peu de peine a se retenir produit 
 en luy mille bons effets car il sert a le faire aussi ardent qu'il est a servir ses amis il luy esleve le coeur et l'esprit tout ensemble et contribue encore extremement a luy donner cette vigueur de raisonnement qui fait qu'il va droit ou il faut aller soit en ses propres affaires ou a donner conseil a ses amis au reste il a cela de commun avec le genereux megabate que l'amour de sa patrie est si fortement imprimee dans son coeur qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'entreprist pour la sauver s'il s'en presentoit occasion de plus theodamas est le plus regulierement civil de tous les hommes et le moins capable de desobliger quelqu'un il est vray que son ame n'est ouverte qu'a un petit nombre de gens quoy qu'il n'ait pourtant le coeur dur pour personne mais madame si l'ame de theodamas est grande ferme et genereuse son esprit est aussi tout a la fois grand solide et merveilleusement esclaire cependant quoy qu'il scache presques tout ce qu'on peut scavoir il ne s'est pourtant pas donne la peine d'aprendre regulierement la langue greque bien que son nom soit d'un pais ou on n'en parle point d'autre il est vray que cette espece d'ignorance si ce mot peut convenir a un homme si habile et si scavant ne serf qu'a faire paroistre d'avantage le scavoir de theodamas car encore qu'il ne scache pas parfaitement le grec il scait pourtant tout ce que les grecs scavent et il n'est nulle sorte de science dont il ne parle admirablement mais s'il ne scait 
 point cette langue en eschange il scait parfaitement l'assirienne qui est une des plus universelles de toute l'asie et il scait si admirablement toutes les graces de sa langue naturelle qu'il n'y a point d'homme qui se mesle d'escrire en phenicie qui ne consulte theodamas qui escrit luy mesme si juste si poliment et d'une maniere si peu commune qu'on n'a peut-estre jamais trouve personne qui die si precisement ce qu'il faut dire ny qui le die en termes plus propres et plus nobles et plus naturels tout ensemble il y a mesme un caractere galant et civil dans ses lettres qui contribue encore a les rendre aussi agreables que belles il peint encore si bien qu'on jouit du plaisir de les lire sans que les yeux en ayent aucune incommodite et sans estre oblige d'avoir la peine d'en dechiffrer seulement une silabe ainsi l'on peut asseurer sans flatterie que la regularite paroist en toutes les choses dont il se mesle en effet la proprete est inseparable de tout ce qui luy apartient il est propre en ses habillemens il est propre en ses meubles et en sa maison mais de telle sorte que les cabinets magnifiques des autres ne le sont pas tant que le sont les lieux les moins considerables de chez luy mais ce qu'il y a de remarquable c'est que toutes ces petites choses sont l'effet d'un grand jugement qui ne peut rien souffrir qui ne soit a sa place cependant il y a un si prodigieux fonds de bonte dans son ame qu'encore qu'il connoisse jusques aux moindres imperfections 
 de ceux qu'il pratique on ne l'entend jamais parler des deffauts d'autruy s'il ne le peur faire innocemment en advertissant ceux qui les ont de s'en corriger il est vray que cette bonte n'est pas une fausse bonte capable de luy faire dissimuler une chose un peu facheuse lors qu'il juge necessaire de la dire a quelqu'un de ses amis car comme il se conduit tousjours par la droite raison il ne songe pas dans une affaire serieuse a chercher s'il plaira a ceux qu'il conseille mais il cherche a les servir utilement cependant il est doux il est civil il loue avec plaisir et mesme avec exageration ce qu'il juge digne de louanges et il est si fortement touche du merite et de la vertu qu'il est aise de connoistre seulement par cette espece de sensibilite qu'il faut qu'il ait une vertu extraordinaire mais ce qui m'estonne le plus est de voir qu'encore qu'il soit d'un temperamment violent et serieux tout ensemble sa conversation est pourtant douce facile agreable naturelle et mesme galante ne cherchant point a contester laissant parler ceux qui en ont envie et demeurant tousjours en pouvoir de le faire quand il veut ce n'est pas que quand il fait tant que de resoudre a disputer quelque chose il ne le face avec une ardeur et une force qui le rend pour l'ordinaire maistre de la raison des autres mais lors qu'il le fait il faut qu'il soit fortement persuade que la justice est de son party et qu'il croye mesme servir a quelqu'un en disputant avec chaleur au reste 
 theodamas fait encore voir par la curiosite qu'il a que ses plaisirs mesme sont dignes de louange car il a un cabinet remply des plus rares livres qu'on puisse voir s'estant mesme donne le soin de ramasser tout ce qu'on a escrit de joly de galant et de beau en phenicie depuis qu'il est au monde enfin madame j'ose vous assurer que soit par la beaute de l'ame la bonte du coeur ou la solidite de l'esprit theodamas est digne d'une louange infinie et d'estre du nombre de cette troupe choisie qu'elise prefere a tout le reste du monde il est mesme assure qu'elle prefere encore theodamas a beaucoup de ceux qu'elle estime le plus et qu'entre ceux qui sont dans son coeur il est des plus avantageusement placez aussi est-il d'un merite si rare qu'il est digne d'estre propose pour modelle lorsqu'on veut deffinir le veritable homme d'honneur apres cela madame il faut que je vous demande la grace de souffrir que je vous face encore deux portraits le premier sera d'un homme de vingt-deux ans appelle pherecide qui mourut il y a quelque temps et qui en cet age-la a eu la gloire d'avoir pour amis tout ce que la phenicie a de plus illustre et l'autre sera du fameux aristhee car encore qu'il soit a sardis je suis assure qu'on ne peut pas l'y connoistre particulierement mais pour revenir a pherecide il faut que vous scachiez qu'il estoit non seulement d'une taille avantageuse mais encore extremement beau mais d'une beaute de son sexe 
 qui n'auroit rien que de grand et de noble il avoit pourtant le taint delicat les yeux bleus et fins le tour du visage agreable mais avec tout cela il n'avoit rien qui ressemblast a la beaute des femmes au contraire sa mine estoit haute et quoy qu'il eust une douceur inconcevable dans l'air du visage il y avoit pourtant je ne scay quelle fierte douce qui luy donnoit une espece d'audace respectueuse qui le rendoit plus aimable au reste il avoit la plus belle teste du monde car ses cheveux faisoient mille anneaux sans artifice et estoient du plus beau brun qu'il estoit possible de voir pherecide estant donc tel que je viens de vous le representer c'est a dire ayant tout l'agreement de la beaute et tout l'enjouement la jeunesse n'en avoit pourtant ny le descontenancement ny la timidite ny la trop grande hardiesse ny l'inconsideration et l'on eust dit qu'il estoit venu au monde en scachant le monde tant il agissoit sagement et galamment tout ensemble le son de sa voix estoit infiniment aimable et il avoit cet avantage d'avoir en toutes ses actions un agreement inexplicable que la seule nature peut donner au reste il avoit l'ame si noble les inclinations si belles le coeur si tendre pour ses amis et si remply de zele et de chaleur pour eux qu'il en meritoit beaucoup de louange de plus il avoit naturellement l'esprit fort esclaire et il faisoit des vers si beaux si touchans et si passionnez qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il n'avoit pas l'ame indifferente et ceux du 
 grand therpandre son oncle qui a tant eu de reputation n'estoient pas plus beaux que les siens aussi suis-je persuade que jamais personne n'a eu le coeur si tendre a l'amitie ny si ardent a l'amour de pherecide car pour l'ordinaire ceux qui ont cette passion fort vive ont une amitie plus moderee et au contraire ceux qui sont capables d'une amitie fort ardente ne le sont pas si souvent d'une fort violente amour mais pour pherecide il aimoit ses maistresses et ses amis avec des ardeurs demesurees qui ne se destruisoient point les unes et les autres dans son coeur au reste il avoit un talent particulier dans les heures de son enjouement qui estoit de contre faire si admirablement et si plaisamment tout ensemble tous ceux qu'il vouloit representer qu'il devenoit presques ce qu'estoient ceux qu'il imitoit mais pour avoir ce plaisir la il faloit estre au palais de cleomire ou chez elise et y estre mesme en petite compagnie de plus jamais homme n'a este si propre que pherecide a une veritable galanterie et mesme a une feinte passion ny n'a sceu soupirer plus a propos ny d'une maniere plus propre a faire escouter ses soupirs sans colere car il avoit si bien sceu trouver l'art de faire un meslange de respect et de hardiesse en sa facon d'agir avec celles qu'il aimoit effectivement ou qu'il seignoit d'aimer qu'il n'estoit pas aise qui'l fust mal-traite enfin madame je pense pouvoir dire qu'il n'estoit pas possible de trouver un plus aimable galand que celuy-la 
 ny un plus agreable amy et je pense pouvoir assurer que s'il eust vescu plus long-temps il eust elle un aussi honneste homme qu'il y en ait jamais eu en phenicie mais la mort le ravit a tous ses amis a l'age que je vous ay dit ayant eu la gloire d'estre pleure par les plus beaux yeux du monde et par les plus illustres personnes de toute nostre cour enfin madame me voicy prest a vous parler d'aristhee de la personne duquel je n'ay point a vous entretenir puis que vous le connoissez il semble mesme que l'ayant entendu parler il y ait de la temerite a vous despeindre son esprit mais comme je scay qu'il est d'une si vaste estendue que vous ne scauriez l'avoir parfaitement connu en si peu de temps je pense que tans vous faire outrage je puis entreprendre de vous en parler et de vous dire ce qu'est aristhee comme si vous ne le connoissiez point du tout je vous diray donc madame qu'aristhee est un homme illustre en toutes choses et qui possede un si grand nombre de bonnez qualitez que ne pouvant leur donner nul ordre dans mon esprit je vous les monstreray selon que ma memoire me les raportera il faut pourtant que celles de l'ame aillent les premieres et que je vous assure que celle d'aristhee est telle qu'on n'y trouve rien a y desirer car enfin il l'a grande il l'a ferme il l'a genereuse et il l'a reconnoissante que si de son ame je passe dans son coeur je le trouveray tout rempli de mille beaux sentimens t'y verray de l'amour 
 pour la veritable gloire une bonte infinie de la tendresse pour ses amis et une solide passion pour la vertu mais si de son coeur je remonte jusqu'a son esprit que n'y trouverai je point en effet madame je ne pense pas qu'on en puisse trouver un peu esclaire plus grand ny plus esleve ny dont le scavoir soit plus universel que le sien car enfin je ne scache rien qu'aristhee ne scache pas si vous luy parlez des sciences les plus sublimes les plus espineuses et les plus esloignees de la societe ordinaire il en parle comme s'il ne parloit jamais d'autre chose s'il s'agit d'un discours de philosophie il le rend intelligible a ceux qui n'y scavent rien s'il parle des astres de leur situation et de leur eslevation c'est comme s'il y avoit un chemin ordinaire de la terre au ciel et qu'il eust visite toutes les maisons du soleil comme il a fait toutes celles qui sont aupres de tyr qui ont quelque chose de remarquable s'il parle de morale on voie qu'il est capable de l'enseigner par ses discours comme par ses moeurs s'il tombe sur un sujet de politique on croit qu'il a gouverne la plus grande partie de l'univers durant plusieurs siecles n'estant pas possible de s'imaginer que les livres sans une tres longue experience puissent luy avoir a pris ce qu'il scait en cette matiere il ne raisonne pas seulement sur les affaires publiques il penetre encore dans les conseils les plus secrets il remonte jusqu'a la cause des evenemens les plus surprenans et prevoit la suitte 
 des choses avec tant de justesse que tres rarement arrive-t'il qu'il se trompe que si de la politique on pane a la poesie il en parle comme s'il avoit instruit les mutes au lieu d'avoir este instruit par elles estant certain qu'on ne peur pas connoistre plus parfaitement ce merveilleux art qu'il le connoist mais ce qu'il y a d'admirable c'est qu'il a reduit cette sience en acte car il compote presentement un poeme de la naissance des dieux et que pour cette raison il apelle la theogonie qui est une chose si merveilleuse que depuis homere personne n'a entrepris un si grand ouvrage mais il n'est pas seulement grand il est encore admirable et a es que disent ceux qui s'y connoissent bien il y a plus d'ordre que dans homere plus jugement et plus de veritables beautez il a fait encore plusieurs autres beaux ouvrages qui rendent son nom illustre et que je serois trop long-temps a vous dire aussi bien que les autres choses que scait aristhee car enfin il scait plusieurs langues parfaitement il connoist tous les bons livres il scait l'histoire la geographie et pour vous dire tout en peu de paroles il n'ignore rien mais ce qu'il y a de plus merveilleux c'est qu'il scait aussi bi le monde que les sciences et qu'on ne trouve ny en sa conversation ny en son esprit je ne scay quoy d'insuportable que presques tous les scavans ont au contraire aristhee parle tellement comme un homme de la cour doit parler qu'on ne peut pas parler mieux car enfin il parle juste 
 il parle eloquemment il parle sans affectation et il parle pourtant avec force mais ce qu'il y a de plus remarquable est qu'encore qu'il ne soit pas ordinaire de trouver des gens qui parlent beaucoup qu'on ne puisse accuser de parler trop il n'en est pas de mesme d'aristhee qu'on trouve toujours qui ne parle jamais assez quoy que naturellement il ne haisse pas a parler au reste aristhee n'a pas une vertu severe ny un scavoir audacieux qui luy face mespriser la conversation des femmes au contraire il s'y plaist extremement et passe aussi agreablement les apresdisnees toutes entieres a parler de bagatelles que s'il ne scavoit parler d'autre chose il dit mesme des douceurs et des galanteries d'aussi bonne grace et peut estre de meilleure que ceux qui sont galans de profession n'ignorant pas une seule de toutes les flatteries qu'il faut dire aux dames mais principalement aux belles il est vray qu'on luy reproche quelquefois de louer un peu trop universellement celles a qui il parle mais a dire la verite je scay que cela part d'un si bon principe que je ne suis jamais de ceux qui luy font la guerre d'estre prodigue de ses louanges aristhee n'est pas seulement galant il fait mesme quelquefois entendre qu'il est amoureux d'une personne infiniment aymable qui est amie d'elise et qui ressemble si fort a la belle doralise qu'on les pourroit prendre l'une pour l'autre soit pour la beaute pour l'esprit ou pour l'humeur mais a dire les choses 
 comme elles sont je croy le coeur d'aristhee tout remply d'une amitie fort tendre mais pour la galanterie je croy qu'elle est toute dans son esprit car il la cache et la monstre quand il veut et il en est si absolument maistre qu'on ne peut pas croire que cela soit autrement ce n'est pas qu'il ne face et ne die cent choses que l'amour fait dire et faire mais selon moy il les fait et les dit trop bien ce n'est pas qu'assurement son amitie n'ait pour le moins un degre de chaleur pour cette personne au de-la de celle qu'il a pour ses autres amies mais apres tout quoy qu'il en puisse dire ce n'est point tout a fait amour et tout ce que je luy puis conceder est que ce qu'il a dans le coeur n'est pas aussi tout a fait amitie cependant cela produit cent agreables conversations qui servent a faire paroistre l'esprit d'aristhee on luy reproche mesme d'avoir eu une pareille affection pour trois ou quatre qui ont succede les unes aux autres a son amitie il ne peut pourtant pas souffrir qu'on luy reproche d'estre inconstant et pour s'en deffendre il dit qu'il n'a jamais chasse de son coeur pas une de celles qui y sont entrees et qu'il ne fait que les y charger de place qu'ainsi sans les abandonner et sans cesser de les aimer il fait seulement qu'il y en a tousjours quelqu'une qui est un peu plus puissante dans son ame que les autres encore trouve-t'il des paroles en nostre langue qui ne sont pas tout a fait si fortes que celles-la afin de ne desobliger pas une de ses amies qui se 
 disputent agreablement l'une a l'autre un empire qu'il n'a assurement jamais donne qu'a la raison qui governe son coeur comme son esprit et qui est sa veritable maistresse cependant cela fournit a la conversation et la rend plus enjouee de plus aristhee a une complaisance qui fait qu'il n'a jamais contredit personne volontairement mais ce que j'admire encore en luy est l'inclination qu'il a a faire valoir le merite des autres et a cacher leurs deffauts ne prenant jamais des choses que ce qu'il y a de bon aussi est il si generalement aime que personne ne le peut estre davantage en effet nous n'avons point de prince ny de princesse qui ne croye se faire honneur en l'honnorant et qui ne le traite avec beaucoup de civilite enfin madame apres avoir bien considere aristhee je n'y ay jamais trouve qu'une seule chose a y desirer qui est qu'il eust moins d'une vertu ou qu'il ne l'eust pas si excessive car il est vray qu'il a quelquesfois une modestie si grande que ceux qui connoissent bien ce qu'il merite ne la peuvent endurer car il rejette les louanges comme s'il n'en estoit pas digne et dit des choses de luy mesme qu'il n'est pas possible qu'il connoisse si parfaitement toutes les bonnez qualitez des autres et qu'il ignore les siennes propres estant aussi esclatantes qu'elles sont apres cela madame je pense que vous advouerez qu'un homme a qui on ne peut reprocher que d'avoir trop d'une vertu n'est pas un homme 
 me ordinaire et qu'il ne contribuoit pas peu a rendre la societe du palais de cleomire fort agreable en effet si vous voulez vous imaginer de voir aupres de cette miraculeuse personne l'adorable philonide la belle anacrise la merveilleuse elise le genereux megabate l'illustre mage de sidon l'agreable clearque le sage theodamas le divertissant pherecide l'admirable aristhee et cinq ou six autres encore dignes d'estre d'une si belle compagnie aussi bien que phocilion je m'assure que vous trouverez qu'elle devoit estre infiniment charmante et qu'elise avoit raison de mettre plus sa felicite en ses amies et en ses amis qu'en ses amans de plus madame il faut encore que je vous face comprendre que tous les amis d'elise n'ont pas pour elle une certaine amitie qui se contente d'estre civile et exacte et qui a si peu de chaleur qu'a peine ceux qui l'ont s'en appercoivent-ils au contraire c'est une amitie ardente et soigneuse jusques a l'empressement selon les occasions c'est mesme une amitie flatteuse et galante qui souffre qu'on luy donne des louanges et qui fait qu'on a dessein de luy plaire et de la divertir et a parler raisonnablement je pense que cette sorte d'affection qu'on a pour elise se pourroit nommer une amour sans desirs estant certain qu'elle est beaucoup plus ardente que l'amitie ordinaire quoy qu'elle n'ait aucune des inquietudes de l'amour mais enfin madame apres ce que je viens de vous dire 
 vous comprenez bien sans doute qu'elise estant tous les jours au palais de cleomite ou elle voyoit tant d'honnestes gens et ou l'on voyoit tout ce qu'il y avoit de digne d'estre veu menoit une vie fort douce car sa fierte s'estoit tellement mise au dessus de tous ses amans qu'ils n'osoient plus l'importuner asiadate avoit pourtant tousjours dans le coeur une passion si demesuree pour elise que n'osant luy donner des tesmoignages de son amour il cherchoit a adoucir ses chagrins en donnant des marques de haine a lyriope qui souffroit avec une inquietude effroyable qu'elise luy ostast le coeur de son mary apres luy avoir autrefois oste le coeur d'un amant
 
 
 
 
de sorte que pendant qu'elise ne songeoit qu'a se divertir agreablement et innocemment avec tant d'illustres personnes lyriope ne pensoit qu'a chercher les moyens de luy nuire et de guerir asiadate de la passion qu'il avoit elle fut pourtant quelque temps sans en imaginer les voyes mais comme il n'est rien qu'un esprit jaloux ne soit capable d'inventer lyriope qui scavoit qu'asiadate avoit de l'ambition aussi bien que de l'amour s'advisa pour essayer de le detacher d'elise de persuader au roy d'entreprendre cette conqueste croyant bien qu'asiadate n'oseroit pas estre rival de son maistre comme elle avoit elle eslevee chez la reine et qu'elle estoit de mesme age que le roy elle en avoit toute la familiarite ce je une prince ayant aussi 
 tousjours eu assez d'amitie pour elle de plus comme il n'avoit encore eu aucune passion elle jugea qu'il n'estoit peut-estre pas impossible de faire reussir son dessein et elle le jugea d'autant plustost qu'elle luy avoit entendu diverses fois louer elise avec assez d'exageration si bien que se servant de la disposition favorable qu'elle voyoit a ce qu'elle avoit envie de faire elle agit si adroitement qu'elle engagea un jour le roy a une assez longue conversation avec elle et en faisant la zelee pour sa gloire et pour ses interests elle luy persuada qu'il n'avoit pas une meilleure sujette qu'elle en suitte dequoy comme ce prince a toujours eu la curiosite de scavoir ce qu'on disoit de luy il se mit a la passer de luy apprendre sincerement ce qu'elle en entendoit dire lyriope voyant une si belle occasion ne la perdit pas et apres s'estre fait commander plus d'une fois de ne desguiser pas la verite elle commenca de luy faire un eloge le plus grand du monde en suitte de quoy affectant un descontenancement qui sembloit naturel et rougissant mesme a propos elle luy dit ce qu'elle ne luy auroit sans doute jamais dit si sa jalousie n'eust pas este plus forte que sa raison j'advoue seigneur luy dit-elle en rougissant et en portant la main sur ses yeux comme si c'eust este pour cacher cette rougeur qu'elle vouloit pourtant bien qu'il vist et qu'un reste de pudeur avoit sait monter sur son visage que le commandement que vous 
 m'avez fait m'embarrasse car enfin il faut que je vous die une chose que la bienseance voudroit que je ne vous disse pas et que mon devoir veut pourtant que vous scachiez comme je me confie en vostre sincerite reprit ce je une prince vous estes obligee de me dire ce que je veux scavoir de vous scachez donc seigneur luy dit-elle que la seule chose qu'on trouve a dire en vous est que vous estes un peu trop solitaire et trop particulier et que vous tesmoignez avoir trop d'indifference pour la conversation mais principalement pour la conversation des dames vous ennemis faisant mesme courir le bruit que c'est une marque que vous n'aurez pas je coeur si sensible aux services qu'on vous rendra adjoustant que pour peu que vous continuiez vous allez bannir les plaisirs de la cour et ce qui est le pis c'est qu'ils interessent les peuples dans tous ces beaux raisonnemens disant que les rois qui aiment la magnificence les festes et les galanteries esclatantes les enrichissent en les occupant ou au contraire ceux qui sont d'une autre humeur ne pensent qu'a les apauvrir si bien que comme vous scavez qu'ils sont capables de toutes sortes d'impressions ce bruit commence de s'espandre dans tyr et fera bientost dans toute la phenicie c'est pourquoy seigneur adjousta-t'elle je pense qu'il seroit bon que vous quittassiez quelquesfois les importantes occupations ou vous vous adonnez pour perdre quelques heures 
 a la conversation des dames et je ne scay mesme si pour imposer silence au peuple vous ne devriez point faire semblant d'estre amoureux de quelque belle personne mais poursuivit elle le voudrois que ce fust d'une personne qui fust de telle sorte que vous puissiez la quitter quand il vous plairoit et ne vous contraindre qu'autant de temps qu'il seroit necessaire pour faire cesser le bizarre bruit qui s'est esleve parmy le monde le roy entendant parler lyriope avec tant de tesmoignage de zele pour son service ne s'amusa point a examiner si ce qu'elle luy disoit estoit vray car il n'en douta point du tout de sorte que voulant croire son advis et le croire obligeamment il la remercia de le luy avoir donne mais pour vous tesmoigner luy dit-il que je ne suis pas de ceux qui veulent qu'on leur die leurs deffauts pou ne s'en corriger point je vous remets mon coeur entre les mains pour le donner a qui il vous plaira car je vous proteste qu'il n'est encore a personne j'ay sans doute des yeux qui scavent connoistre la beaute mais j'advoue que jusques a cette heure je l'ay adoree sans l'aimer avec une passion violente seigneur reprit lyriope je n'ay garde de vous conseiller de faire une liberalite aussi precieuse que celle-la faisons donc une tromperie luy dit-il en riant et faignons d'aimer puis que nous n'aimons pas encore mais du moins dit il aidez moy a choisir celle que vous voulez que je trompe lyriope se 
 trouva alors estrangement embarrassee car encore qu'elle eust resolu de faire que le roy fist semblant d'aimer elise afin de guerir son mary de la passion qu'il avoit pour elle quand elle se vit sur le point de la nommera l'envie se resveilla dans son coeur et combattant le sentiment jaloux qui la faisoit agir elle mit un trouble si grand dans l'ame de lyriope que le coeur luy batit la couleur luy changea et elle demeura un moment la bouche a demy ouverte sans pouvoir prononcer le nom d'elise pour persuader au roy de la choisir pour l'objet de cette feinte passion qu'elle luy conseilloit d'avoir lyriope a raconte depuis qu'elle souffrit des maux incroyables en cet instant et certes il est aise a concevoir que l'envie et la jalousie faisant un combat dans son coeur y mirent un estrange desordre d'un coste elle voyoit que selon ses sentimens elle alloit faire recevoir un grand honneur a elise qu'elle haissoit et de l'autre qu'elle feroit un sensible despit a asiadate et le forceroit a essayer de chasser de son ame une passion qui troubloit tout le repos de sa vie et qu'ainsi elle retrouveroit la tranquilite qu'elle avoit perdue mais quoy que la jalousie fust tres-puissante dans son esprit elle n'auroit peut-estre pas vaincu l'envie si elle n'est imagine qu'elle auroit un extreme plaisir lors qu'asiadate seroit guery de sa passion obliger le roy a cesser de faire l'amant d'elise car comme il est ordinaire a l'envie de preoccuper ceux qu'elle 
 le possede lyriope en estoit venue au point de ne croire pas qu'elise fust aussi aimable qu'elle estoit et de n'aprehender pas fortement que le roy en devinst effectivement amoureux de sorte que tout d'un coup cette esmotion tumultueuse qu'elle avoit dans l'ame se calmant elle nomma elise au roy mais a peine l'eut elle nommee que ce prince faisant un grand cry ha lyriope luy dit-il vous lisez assurement dans mon coeur estant certain qu'elise est la personne du monde qui me plaist le plus et de qui j'auray le moins de peine de faire semblant d'estre amoureux lyriope surprise d'ouyr parler le roy de cette sorte se mit a luy dire par un sentiment envieux plus fort que sa jalousie que comme elle seroit au desespoir d'avoir mis une veritable passion dans son ame elle le conjuroit de ne choisir point elise puis qu'il se sentoit quelque disposition a l'aimer plus qu'une autre mais il n'y eut pas moyen et ce fut en vain que lyriope voulut detruire ce qu'elle avoit estably car elle ne put faire changer d'advis au roy joint que la jalousie venant a son secours elle se determina enfin a demeurer dans son premier dessein ainsi il fut resolu que le roy feroit semblant de s'attacher a servir elise comme la grandes este de neptune devoit estre dans deux jours l'occasion de faire un grand esclat de cette galanterie se presenta bien tost telle qu'il la falloit pour l'apprendre a toute la phenicie 
 cependant elise sans rien scavoir de ce que lyriope tramoit contre la tranquilite de sa vie jouissoit de mille plaisirs innocens au palais de cleomire trouvant en la conversation de ses amis ce qu'elle n'avoit jamais pu trouver en la multitude de ses amans phocilion mesme tout amoureux qu'il estoit ne se trouvoit pas tout a fait miserable quoy qu'il ne fust pas aime de la maniere dont il l'est voulu estre parce que du moins il avoit la consolation d'esperer qu'aucun autre ne le seroit jamais plus que luy poligene et agenor s'estant gueris par raison et par desespoir de l'amour qu'ils avoient pour elise avoient conserve une estime infinie pour elle qui faisoit qu'ils estoient encore bien aises de l'entendre louer mais pour asiadate il souffroit des maux incroyables il avoit une passion violente sans esperance il recevoit cent rudesses d'elise la jalousie de lyriope ne luy donnoit point de repos et il ne s'en donnoit point a luy mesme parce qu'il passoit continuellement d'un dessein a un autre sans pouvoir prendre nulle resolution sa douleur augmenta pourtant encore de beaucoup le jour de la feste de neptune car le roy suivant le dessein qu'il en avoit forme affecta de louer plus elise qu'une autre et de luy parler davantage il la mena mesme dancer le soir au bal que l'on tint chez luy et il agit enfin d'une facon qui sit que des le lendemain le bruit estoit general dans tyr que le roy estoit devenu amoureux 
 d'elise mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut de voir avec quelle inquietude lyriope parla le jour de cette peste pour moy que le hazard sit trouver aupres d'elle le soir que cette pretendue amour du roy sit le plus d'esclat j'advoue que je n'ay jamais rien veu d'esgal car encore qui je ne sceusse pas alors la veritable cause des changemens de visage de lyriope et que je m'imaginasse que l'envie toute seule les causoit je ne laissay pas de l'observer je voyois donc que lyriope regardoit tantost le roy tantost elise tantost asiadate et tantost qu'elle ne regardoit rien quoy qu'elle eust les yeux ouverts estant toute renfermee en elle mesme a resver profondement je voyois encore qu'elle prononcoit quelquesfois quelque paroles a demy haut et quelquesfois aussi je voyois que s'apercevant du desordre de son ame elle faisoit ce qu'elle pouvoit pour se remettre sans en pouvoir venir a bout pour asiadate je luy ay ouy dire que jamais il n'a tant souffert qu'il souffrit lors qu'il commenca de connoistre que le roy devenoit son rival car encore qu'il n'esperast point d'estre jamais aime d'elise il ne laissoit pas d'estre aussi afflige que si ce prince luy eust oste le coeur de cette belle personne et l'eust empesche de la posseder pour phocilion il en eut aussi quelque douleur mais ce fut une douleur plus tranquile et il en fut d'autant moins trouble qu'il n'aprehenda pas qu'elise qui estoit accoustumee a mal traiter esgallement 
 des rois et des sujets se laissaist esblouir a la grandeur qu'elle avoit tant mesprisee mais madame ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette rencontre fut que le roy n'eut pas parle trois fois a elise qu'il en devint effectivement amoureux et amoureux autant qu'on le peut estre cette conqueste ne donna pourtant nulle joye a elise au contraire elle s'en affligea mais pour tirer du moins quelque bien d'une chose qu'elle regardoit comme un mal elle se resolut d'employer le credit qu'elle avoit sur l'esprit de ce prince a le porter a la vertu ou il avoit desja beaucoup d'inclination et en effet je pense pouvoir dire que toute la phenicie est redevable a elise de mille beaux sentimens qu'elle amis dans l'ame de ce je une roy cependant les festes et les plaisirs surent a la cour plus qu'ils n'y avoient jamais este car encore qu'elise depuis l'amour du roy affectast plus la solitude qu'elle se parast moins qu'a l'ordinaire et qu'elle agist comme une personne qui vouloit faire voir a toute la cour qu'elle ne contribuoit rien a l'amour de ce prince et qu'elle ne se rejouissoit point de si conqueste il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle ne se trouvast point aux grandes assemblees dont elle estoit la cause elle agit pourtant si sagement que tant irriter le roy elle luy persuada fortement qu'il ne devoit jamais attendre d'elle que du respect et de la reconnoissance mais de la reconnoissance renfermee dans son coeur sans luy en donner jamais d'autres marques 
 que celles de souhaitter ta gloire et le bonheur de son regne et en effet ce prince qui n'a pas les inclinations du feu roy son pere aime elise avec une purete admirable cependant lyriope se trouva estrangement trompee dans l'opinion qu'elle avoit eue que l'amour du roy pour elise destruiroit celle d'asiadate car au contraire voyant son choix authorise par celuy de ce prince il devint encore plus amoureux et mesprisa encore plus lyriope d'autre part cette envieuse personne voyant que le roy estoit effectivement devenu amoureux d'elise et que veu comme elle en usoit cette amour luy estoit glorieuse sit ce qu'elle put pour destruire ce qu'elle avoit estably voulant persuader a ce prince que s'il s'attachoit trop a aimer elise cela luy nuiroit encore plus dans l'esprit des peuples que son indifference mais elle ne le persuada pas cette seconde fois comme la premiere de sorte que s'abandonnant a cette violente et vertueuse passion qui le possedoit il ne longea plus qu'a acquerir l'estime d'elise et qu'a la meriter par mille actions de justice de clemence et de liberalite scachant bien que c'estoit par des vertus solides qu'on la pouvoit acquerir cela ne l'empeschoit pourtant pas de paroistre galant lors qu'il le falloit estre cependant elise quoy que naturellement bien faisante se mit dans la fantaisie de ne demander jamais rien au roy qui pust luy tenir lieu d'obligation de sorte qu'elle se voyoit 
 avec tout le credit imaginable sans s'en vouloir servir voulant garder toute sa vie la maxime qu'elle a tousjours eue d'esviter d'estre obligee a un amant cependant le roy qui est venu a l'aimer d'une amour dont l'estime est le veritable fondement a tellement le coeur remply d'elise qu'il ne sait ny n'entreprend rien ou elle n'ait quelque part il la consulte mesme dans les choses les plus importentes et quoy que la modestie d'elise l'oblige a rejetter l'honneur qu'il luy fait il ne laisse pas de continuer de luy demander les conseils qu'elle luy refuse ou qu'elle ne luy donne qu'avec une adresse qui fait qu'il ne semble pas qu'elle luy die son advis des choses qu'il luy demande ce prince a mesme ce respect pour elle de n'appeller point son affection amour lors qu'il luy parle et de ne nommer qu'estime et amitie une tres-violente passion il souffre mesme qu'elle luy refuse nulle choses indiferentes qu'elle pourroit accorder a sa qualite sans choquer la vertu en effet elle luy a refuse de se faire peindre avec une fermete estrange ce n'est pas qu'il n'y ait cent portraits d'elise a tyr mais comme ils sont faits du vivant de straton et que depuis qu'elle a este maistresse d'elle mesme elle n'a jamais este peinte ils ne luy ressemblent pas parfaitement et elle est plus belle que tous ses portraits cependant il ne l'a jamais pu obliger a cette complaisance pour luy cette resistance a pourtant plustost augmente sa passion 
 qu'elle ne l'a diminuee et certes il a bien paru par l'avanture de la statue car vous scaurez que ce jeune prince ayant fait achever une grande galerie que le feu roy son pere avoit fait commencer se mit dans la fantaisie de vouloir y mettre deux rangs de statues de femmes et de choisir pour cela toutes les belles de sa cour car comme il y avoit lois plusieurs disciples de dipoenus et de scillis a tyr il jugeoit aise d'executer son dessein qu'il avoit principalement forme dans la pensee d'eterniser la memoire de sa passion pour elise en mettant sa figure au lieu le plus eminent de cette galerie de sorte que tous les sculpteurs qui avoient quelque reputation furent tous employez mais quoy qu'on choisit le plus excellent pour faire la statue d'elise il n'y put toutesfois reussir et tout son art ne put mettre en la figure qu'il sit d'elle cette vivacite d'action qu'on remarque en elise non plus que ce grand air de beaute qu'on voit en toute sa personne pour moy je suis persuade que la trop grande envie qu'il eut de bien faire l'en empescha car tous les autres sculpteurs sirent fort bien ressembler toutes celles qu'ils representerent la statue de cleomire sut admirable celle de philonide ne pouvoit estre mieux celle d'anacrise fut aussi fort bien et l'on eust dit enfin que le hazard avoit voulu qu'il n'y eust que celle d'elise qui fust mal car toutes les autres ne l'estoient point de vous representer le chagrin du roy il ne seroit pas aise 
 de sorte que comme vous scavez qu'en une pareille occasion tout le monde cherche a satisfaire le prince quelqu'un s'advisa de luy dire qu'il scavoit un moyen de luy faire avoir une statue d'elise admirable a peine eut on dit cela au roy qu'il demanda avec empressement par qu'elle voye il la pourroit avoir en suitte dequoy on luy dit qu'on scavoit que cette admirable statue que dipoenus et scillis avoient faite d'elise et qu'ils avoient emportee apres la mort du feu roy son pere estoit entre les mains de cresus et qu'il n'estoit pas croyable que ce prince luy refusast de la luy rendre en luy rendant ce qu'elle luy avoit couste a peine cet advis fut il donne qu'il fut suivy et il le fut d'autant plustost que ceux qui se souvenoient d'avoir veu cette statue assurerent le roy qu'elle ressembloit encore plus a elise qu'elle ne faisoit lors qu'elle avoit elle faite et en effet il est certain que dipoenus avoit songe a representer elise comme il jugeoit qu'elle seroit plustost que comme elle estoit alors cela s'entend toutesfois principalement pour la taille car comme elle estoit fort je une il avoit bien juge qu'elle croistroit et avoit tenu cette figure un peu plus grande qu'elle et justement de la grandeur qu'elle est aujourd'huy ainsi ceux qui assuroient le roy que cette statue ressembloit parfaitement elise en l'estat qu'elle est presentement ne l'abuserent pas cependant comme l'amour est une passion qui ne s'amuse pas a deliberer sur les 
 choses qui la doivent satisfaire ce prince envoya aussi - tost vers cresus un peu devant la guerre pour luy demander la mesme grace que l'illustre cyrus luy a si genereusement accordee mais il la luy refusa opiniastrement de sorte que le roy de phenicie qui n'avoit point doute qu'il n'obtinst ce qu'il demandoit se trouva bien sur pris d'aprendre au retour de son ambassadeur que le roy de lydie l'avoir refuse il avoit si peu doute de l'heureux succes de son dessein qu'il avoit fait faire une superbe niche pour mettre cette statue qu'il croyoit qu'on luy deust raporter toutes les autres estant desja aux places ou elles devoient estre mais dans le desespoir ou il fut de n'avoir point cette d'elise il sit fermer cette galerie et ne voulut plus qu'on y entrast voila donc madame l'estat ou ont este les choses pendant cette guerre c'est a dire que le roy a tousjours este amoureux d'elise mais amoureux avec un respect inconcevable qu'elise a tousjours este insensible belle et vertueuse qu'asiadate l'a tousjours aimee jusqu'a la fureur que lyriope l'a tousjours haie avec route l'animosite que l'envie et la jalousie peuvent donner que phocilion l'a tousjours adoree sans esperance et que tout le monde l'a estimee autant qu'elle merite de l'estre sans en excepter ny poligene ny agenor et certes elle merite toute la reputation qu'elle a estant certain qu'il n'y a pas une personne au monde dont la vertu ait este mise a de plus difficiles espreuves cependant elle 
 ne peut mesme souffrir les louanges qu'on luy en donne elle dit qu'elle n'est que ce qu'elle est obligee d'estre et elle a si bien sceu accorder la fierte et la modestie dans son coeur qu'il en resulte le ne scay quoy de grand et de divin dans tous ses sentimens qui la rend infiniment aimable voila donc madame l'estat ou estoit l'amour du roy pour elise lors que le bruit de victoires de l'illustre cyrus en lydie commenca d'estre l'entretien ordinaire de toute la cour mais principalement au palais de cleomire car comme il n'y a point de lieu au monde ou l'on aime tant a celebrer les personnes heroiques qu'en celui la la valeur et toutes les vertus de cyrus estoient l'entretien ordinaire de cleomire de philonide d'anacrise d'elise de megabate du mage de sidon de clearque de theodamas de pherecide d'aristhee de phocilion et de tous les autres qui se trouvoient au palais de cleomire ou j'avois aussi l'honneur d'estre souffert je me souviens d'un soir entre les autres que la nouvelle vint que cresus avoit perdu la bataille et que l'illustre cyrus l'avoit gagnee et certes ce n'est pas sans raison si cet agreable soir est demeure dans ma memoire car je ne pense pas en avoir passe un avec plus de plaisir que celuy-la estant certain que la conversation fut la plus meslee et la plus divertissante qu'il est possible de s'imaginer on y parla de guerre et d'amour la victoire de cyrus et la passion qu'il a pour la princesse mandane 
 en fournirent le sujet megabate et aristhee disputerent un peu de politique en parlant de celle de cresus mais l'humeur enjouee de clearque et de pherecide sit bien-tost changer la conversation car comme on assura que sardis seroit sans doute bien tost assiege ils se mirent a dire a elise qu'elle alloit estre captive de cyrus entendant parler de sa statue qui est icy mais elle leur respondit qu'elle aimeroit encore mieux estre son esclave que d'estre prisonniere de cresus de sorte que passant insensiblement d'un discours a un autre et le roy de pont qui tenoit alors la princesse mandane dans la citadelle de sardis entrant dans le sujet de la conversation pherecide demanda a clearque lequel il aimeroit mieux d'estre tousjours comme estoit le roy de pont ou comme estoit l'illustre cyrus je ne voy pas repliqua clearque qu'il y ait de difficulte a choisi car j'aimerois bien mieux estre a la teste d'une armee de deux cens mille hommes a gagner des batailles a prendre des villes et a conquerir des royaumes que d'estre enferme dans une citadelle sans armee sans auctorite et sans couronne vous ne prenez pas la chose comme je l'entends reprit pherecide car ce que je vous demande en termes generaux est lequel vous croiriez le plus malheureux ou celuy qui ne verroit jamais la personne qu'il aimeroit ayant la certitude d'en estre aime et scachant que son rival la verroit continuellement ou celuy qui la verroit tousjours 
 jours en sa puissance sans pouvoir jamais toucher son coeur il ne me semble pas reprit clearque que cette question soit si difficile a resoudre car enfin puis qu'on n'aime que pour estre aime je choisirois sans doute de l'estre le pense pourtant adjousta-t'il en se reprenant que je n'aimerois pas trop que mon rival fust tousjours avec ma maistresse principalement n'y estant pas et n'y pouvant estre advouez donc reprit pherecide que le choix que je vous donne n'est pas si aise a faire j'aime sans doute mieux l'advouer repliqua t'il que d'estre oblige a choisir ny l'une ny l'autre de ces deux conditions car de l'humeur dont je suis j'aime fort a voir ce que l'aime et je n'ayme pas a voir ce qui ne m'ayme point pour peu que vous aimassiez a disputer reprit cleomire vous en auriez une belle occasion si je m'en aquittois aussi bien que megabate repliqua-t'il je ne la laisserois pas eschaper clearque n'eut pas plus tost dit cela que toute la compagnie tourna les yeux vers megabate comme vers le chef de la dispute et en effet apres avoir respondu a clearque que sa paresse et son indifference pour tout ce qui ne le touchoit point faisoient pour l'ordinaire la plus grande partie de sa condescendence aux sentimens d'autruy il commenca de soustenir que celuy qui estoit aime sans voir ce qu'il aimoit et qui scavoit que son rival estoit aupres de sa maistresse souffroit plus que celuy qui n'estoit pas aime et qui voyoit pourtant tousjours ce qu'il aimoit cependant 
 adjoustoit quoy que je conprenne bien toute la rigueur de la souffrance de cet amant absent ou de necessite la jalousie se mesle il est si naturel de desirer d'estre aime que dans le choix de ces deux sortes de suplices j'aimerois mieux souffrir celuy qu'endure l'illustre cyrus et les souffrir mesme tousjours que d'estre expose a celuy qu'endure le roy de pont apres cela toute la compagnie se partagea chacun soustenant le party qu'il choisit avec tant d'esprit que je ne me suis jamais trouve en une conversation plus spirituelle ny plus divertissante mais comme je desroberois sans doute beaucoup a ce que dirent toutes ces aimables personnes je n'entreprendray pas de le raconter et je me contenteray de vous dire pour finir mon recit que le roy estant venu chez cleomire a la fin de cette conversation ce fut-la qu'il eut la premiere pensee d'envoyer offrir son alliance a l'illustre cyrus et luy demander la statue d'elise s'il apprenoit qu'il attaquast sardis et en effet madame il ne sceut pas plustost que cette ville estoit assiegee que ne doutant point du tout qu'elle ne fust prise puis qu'elle estoit attaquee par un prince a la valeur duquel rien n'a jamais resiste il despescha l'ambassadeur avec qui je suis venu qu'aristhee voulut accompagner aussi bien que la pluspart de ceux qui l'ont suivy par la seule curiosite de voir cet illustre conquerant dont les conquestes sont encore plus grandes que celle d'elise et dont la gloire est espandue par toute la terre
 
 
 
 
 telamis ayant finy son recit laissa toute la compagnie extremement satisfaite et de luy avoir sait connoistre tant d'honnestes personnes en luy racontant l'histoire d'elise dont la rare vertu leur donnoit autant d'admiration que sa beaute mais a peine cyrus eut il commence de dire modestement a telamis que s'il eust retranche de son recit les louanges qu'il luy avoit donnees il l'auroit trouve trop court qu'aristee suivant sa parole revint mais il revint si change et avec tant de melancolie sur le visage que cyrus en fut surpris de sorte qu'ayant beaucoup d'impatience de scavoir ce qui causoit un si subit changement en luy il se mit a le presser de luy dire ce qu'il avoit helas seigneur dit-il avec une tristesse extreme qui m'eust dit lors que je suis party d'icy que ce seroit moy qui vous raconterois la fin de la vie d'elise je ne l'aurois pas creu cependant vous me voyez en estat de vous pouvoir aprendre sa mort quoy s'escria telamis transporte de douleur elise ne seroit plus eh de grace adjousta cyrus faites s'il est possible que nous ayons mal entendu je voudrois bien seigneur repliqua aristhee pouvoir veritablement vous dire ce que vous voulez mais il n'est que trop vray qu'elise est morte et morte d'une maniere si glorieuse qu'on peut dire que sa mort est digne de sa vie mais encore est-il possible dit timarete que les dieux ayent si peu laisse sur la terre une personne si pleine de vertu je m'y suis 
 de telle sorte affectionne adjousta la princesse de phrigie par le recit de telamis que je sens presques sa mort comme si je l'avois connue et comme il est naturel de vouloir scavoir les particularitez de la perte des gens que nous aimons ou que nous estimons je ne puis m'empescher d'avoir la curiosite d'aprendre celles de la mort d'elise en effet madame poursuit doralise je trouve que vous avez raison de vouloir donner des pleintes a une personne a qui vous avez donne tant de louanges ce n'est pas assez que des pleintes reprit timarete pour regretter une fille aussi admirable qu'elise mais pour exciter nos larmes il saut qu'aristhee se donne la peine de nous raconter sa mort elle est si digne de pitie et si digne d'envie repliqua-t'il qu'on ne peut l'aprendre sans pleindre elise et sans la louer cependant comme en l'estat qu'est cette merveilleuse fille je ne puis rien faire de plus glorieux pour elle que de vous obliger a luy donner quelques soupirs en m'oyant raconter sa mort je veux bien vous aprendre de quelle sorte elle est arrivee comme telamis ne parloit plus poursuivit aristhee lors que je suis revenu je presupose qu'il avoit acheve de vous raconter l'histoire de sa vie jusques a nostre de part de tyr et qu'ainsi vous scavez qu'asiadate estoit tousjours amoureux quoy que le roy fust son rival et que lyriope estoit tousjours jalouse et envieuse mais a ce que m'a apris un de mes amis qui a aporte cette funeste nouvelle 
 toutes ses diverses passions estoient encore augmentees et il m'a assure que l'amour du roy estoit devenue si forte pour elise qu'on commencoit de la regarder comme devant estre reine de la phenicie de sorte qu'asiadate desespere de se voir en estat de pouvoir craindre qu'elise ne fust possedee par un autre luy qui ne l'avoit jamais aprehende sentit ce qu'on ne scavoit s'imaginer et se resolut de troubler les desseins du roy a quelque prix que ce fust si bien que faisant servir l'ambition a detruire l'amour il commenca de cabaler avec quelques mescontens dont toutes les cours des rois sont tousjours remplies esperant que s'il pouvoit former un party dans l'estat sans qu'il parut pourtant d'abord qu'il en fust il pourroit guerir le roy de sa passion en l'occupant a dissiper la faction qu'il auroit faite d'autre part lyriope voyant le pouvoir d'elise si grand fut l'esprit du roy commenca de n'avoir guere moins d'envie que de jalousie et de concevoir le dessein de se delivrer de deux sentimens qui la tourmentoient continuellement quand mesme elle devroit employer les moyens les plus extraordinaires et les plus injustes comme elle estoit d'un sexe a qui l'inhumanite n'est pas naturelle elle ne se porta pas d'abord aux dernieres extremitez mais voyant que l'amour du roy augmentoit que celle d'asiadate devenoit tous les jours plus violente qu'il la mal-traitoit tousjours d'avantage et que si le roy venoit a aimer elise jusques a la vouloir 
 espouser elle se verroit sujette d'une personne qui luy avoit oste le coeur d'un amant et celuy d'un mary et d'une personne encore qu'elle auroit toujours haie quand mesme elle n'en eust point eu d'autre raison sinon qu'elle estoit plus belle qu'elle ne l'estoit elle se determina a faire une chose effroyable qui fut de chercher les voyes d'oster la beaute a elise croyant par la s'oster tout d'un coup la cause de tous ses malheurs en detruisant celle de l'amour du roy et de l'amour d'asiadate de sorte que sans differer d'avantage elle consulta un medecin arabe qui estoit a tyr dont la reputation n'estoit pas trop bonne du coste de la probite et l'interessant par des presens magnifiques il luy promit ce qu'elle voulut il est vray qu'il se trouva bien embarrasse a luy tenir sa parole car comme elise n'employoit nul artifice a sa beaute il ne pouvoit pas trouver les moyens de luy gaster le teint par des choses exterieures si bien que cet homme solicite par lyriope qui ne luy donnoit aucun repos prit la resolution puis qu'il n'y pouvoit faire autre chose de destruire la beaute d'elise en destruisant sa sante par une espece de poudre qui a une qualite si maligne qu'elle amaigrit en fort peu de jours ceux qui en prennent en leur causant une espece de fievre et pour l'ordinaire elle leur brusle tellement le sang qu 'ils n'en sont pas connoissables de sorte que comme elise se trouvoit assez souvent mal quoy qu'a la voir elle parust avoir une saute admirable 
 il fut plus aise a ce medecin arrabe de trouver les moyens de suborner celuy qui portoit d'ordinaire des remedes a elise il sit mesme la chose si adroitement qu'il ne sembla pas qu'il l'eust suborne pour faire un crime car il tesmoigna seulement avoir curiosite de voir quels estoient les remedes dont les medecins de tyr se servoient pour traiter une personne du temperamment d'elise si bien que s'estant fait monstrer diverses choses qu'elle devoit prendre il y mesla sans que celuy qui les luy monstroit s'en aperceust de cette dangereuse poudre dont l'effet a este si funeste car enfin soit qu'il se fust trompe en la composant soit qu'elise se trouvast d'un temperamment trop delicat ou qu'elle eust quelque disposition a devenir malade le lendemain qu'elle eut pris cette poudre la fievre la prit et la prit d'une maniere si extraordinaire qu'elle dit d'abord qu'elle estoit morte mais elle le dit avec une fermete incroyable faisant voir qu'elle avoir si peu d'attachement a la vie et si peu de regret a la quitter qu'elle en sur prit tout le monde elle tesmoigna pourtant avoir beaucoup de tendresse pour ses amis et pour ses amies mais ce fut une tendresse genereuse qui ne s'exprima point par des larmes et qui ne l'obligea pas a donner aucune marque de foiblesse je vous laisse a penser combien le mal d'elise affligea le roy et combien toute la cour en fut touchee mais particulierement cleomire et tous ceux qui estoient le plus ordinairement 
 chez elle ce fut en vain que les medecins chercherent a soulager elise car ne connoissant pas la cause de son mal ils n'avoient carde de le guerir cependant asiadate qui estoit sur le point de faire esclater le party qu'il avoit forme ne se soucia plus de rien que de la sante d'elise si bien que ceux qu'il avoit engagez dans sa faction estoient fort surpris de voir qu'il ne s'en mesloit plus pour le roy c'estoit en vain qu'on luy donnoit advis qu'on tramoit quelque chose contre son estat car la vie d'elise estant en danger il ne pouvoit penser a conserver nulle autre chose pour lyriope comme l'envie et la jalousie avoient oste de son ame tout sentiment de vertu elle estoit bien-aise de voir que selon les aparences elle alloit estre delivree d'elise qu'elle regardoit comme la cause de ses malheurs pour phocilion il estoit inconsolable et l'on n'a jamais veu un homme plus afflige mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que cette poudre qui selon l'intention de celuy qui l'avoit composee devoit oster la beaute a elise sans luy oster la vie luy osta la vie sans luy oster la beaute car on dit que jamais elle n'a este plus belle qu'elle l'estoit mesme en expirant cependant pour bien employer ses dernieres heures apres que les medecins du roy luy eurent annonce qu'elle ne s'estoit pas trompee lors qu'elle avoit creu que son mal n'avoit point de remede elle donna mille genereux advis au roy l'exortant a estre juste 
 a estre clement a estre liberal a aimer ses peuples et a ne se laisser jamais gouverner par ses passions l'assurant mesme obligeamment que la mort luy estoit agreable lors qu'elle regardoit sa vie comme une chose qui eust pu l'obliger a avoir des sentimens qu'on luy eust pu reprocher sinon comme un crime du moins comme une foiblesse en suitte elle donna cent utiles conseils a ses amis et a ses amies leur parlant avec une fermete et une generosite merveilleuse leur donnant mesme diverses choses qui avoient este a elle comme un gage qu'elle leur laissoit de son amitie apres quoy ne voulant plus qu'on luy parlast que des dieux le mage de sidon demeura aupres d'elle pour l'en entretenir il est vray que l'excessive douleur qu'il avoit de voit elise en cet estat ne luy permettoit pas d'avoir la raison bien libre mais en eschange celle de cette genereuse personne l'estoit tant qu'elle le consoloit et luy donnoit la force de luy dire des choses qu'il ne luy eust pu dire si elle ne les luy eust suggerees par sa constance et par sa fermete mais enfin pourquoy alonger ce funeste discours elise mourut comme elle avoit vescu c'est a dire aveque gloire et mourut en envisageant la mort avec le mesme courage que les plus grands heros la peuvent regarder dans les occasions les dangereuses et les plus glorieuses tout ensemble je ne vous representeray point quelle a este la douleur du roy car je ne pourrois l'exprimer mais je 
 vous diray que le desespoir de phocilion a este si grand qu'il en est mort trois jours apres elise ce n'est pourtant pas encore la chose la plus sur prenante que j'aye a vous dire car enfin il faut que vous scachies qu'asiadate voulant non seulement abandonner les desseins qu'il avoit mais abandonner la cour comme il estoit prest a partir et qu'il passoit d'une chambre a une autre il entendit fortuitement que lyriope remercioit ce medecin arrabe de quelque chose avec beaucoup d'exageration quoy qu'elle ne parlast pas haut de sorte que tout d'un coup luy venant quelque soubcon de la verite sur ce que la cause du mal d'elise n'avoit pas elle connue il sut droit a eux et comme il estoit tres violent il les interdit d'une telle sorte par son abord et par les menaces qu'il leur sit que trouvant dequoy fortifier le soubcon qu'il avoit desja il apella ses gens sit arrester ce medecin qui vouloit s'eschaper et sans perdre temps se mit a le faire tourmenter de tant de manieres differentes qu'il luy sit advouer la verite qu'il ne sceut pas plustost qu'il fut a la chambre de lyriope pour la poignarder mais elle s'estoit desja sauvee il est vray qu'elle n'eschapa pas a la justice des dieux car la barque dans laquelle elle s'estoit mise avec une de ses femmes seulement pour sortir de tyr s'entr'ouvrit en choquant contre un vaisseau comme elle vouloit sortir du port de sorte que lyriope fut noyee et punie en un seul instant de tous les desreglemens 
 de ses passions asiadate ne put pas mesme faire punir ce medecin arabe car comme il portoit tousjours du poison sur luy il en prit pour esviter la honte du suplice ainsi le violent asiadate s'en alla tour furieux et tout desespere apres avoir fait scavoir a quelques uns de ses amis la veritable cause de la mort d'elise cependant le roy fit faire des obseques magnifiques a cette merveilleuse fille toute la cour en fut en deuil aussi bien que luy le mage de sidon sit son epitaphe tous nos beaux esprits escrivirent a sa gloire on commenca de travailler au dessein d'un superbe tombeau que le roy luy fait faire et on regretta enfin euse comme une des plus admirables personnes de la terre depuis cela il n'y a point de jour que tous ses amis ne s'assemblent pour celebrer son nom et pour mesler leurs larmes et leurs soupirs cherchant a faire revivre leur illustre amie par leurs discours et par les eloges qu'ils luy donnent afin d'en eterniser la memoire mais pour faire voir seigneur poursuivit aristhee en adressant la parole a cyrus combien la connoissance humaine est bornee et pour exciter encore la pitie dans vostre coeur il faut que scachiez que le roy de phenicie qui ne doute pas que vous ne luy accordiez ce qu'il vous a demande a fait faire le dessein du tombeau d'elise de facon que la belle statue que vous luy rendez qui devoit estre l'ornement d'une gallerie sera sur le haut de cette superbe sepulture 
 aristhee ayant cesse de parler en soupirant sa douleur se communiqua aux illustres personnes qui l'escoutoient qui eurent beaucoup de compassion du pitoyable destin d'elise et qui prirent beaucoup depart au desplaisir qu'aristhee et telamis avoient de la perte d'une si genereuse amie doralise mesme toute dure qu'elle estoit trouva lieu d'en faire un compliment a aristhee apres quoy cette compagnie se separa en regretant elise cyrus remportant cette consolation des malheurs d'autruy l'estre contraint d'advouer en luy mesme que le roy de phenicie estoit encore plus malheureux dans sa passion que luy quoy qu'il eust accoustume de se trouver tousjours le plus malheureux amant du monde 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a peine cyrus fut il retourne a la citadelle que sa douleur reprit de nouvelles forces pour le tourmenter en voyant a l'entour de luy tous ces amans heureux a la felicite desquels il avoit pourtant aporte tous ses foins ce n'est pas qu'il eust voulu qu'ils ne l'eussent pas este mais il n'estoit pas possible que comparant l'estat de sa fortune avec la leur il ne soupirast en voyant la difference qu'il y avoit de l'une a l'autre ainsi apres s'estre advoue a luy mesme qu'il estoit moins malheureux que roy de phenicie il se disoit encore qu'il estoit bien plus infortune que tous ceux qu'il voyoit aupres de luy mais il se le disoit avec une douleur si sensible que si mandane eust pu scavoir ce qui se passoit dans son coeur elle eust chasse du sien l'injuste jalousie 
 qu'elle y avoit estant certain que jamais homme n'a sceu aimer si parfaitement que cyrus cependant l'ambassadeur de phenicie scachant le roy son maistre dans la douleur et n'ayant plus rien a faire a sardis se disposa d'en partir et il en partit en effet faisant emporter la statue d'elise que cyrus accompagna de presens qui estoient de beaucoup plus magnifiques que ceux qu'il avoit receus il escrivit aussi au roy de phenicie pour le remercier des trente mille hommes qu'il luy avoit offerts le priant de luy donner en eschange le plus de vaisseaux qu'il pourroit pour un dessein qui demandoit du secret et qu'il avoit confie a son ambassadeur et a aristhee ainsi tous ces pheniciens a la reserve d'aristhee partirent infiniment satisfaits de cyrus pour aristhee il demeura aupres de ce prince pour crois raisons la premiere parce que l'ambassadeur de phenicie et luy jugeant qu'il estoit avantageux au roy qu'ils servoient d'estre en bonne intelligence avec un si grand conquerant ils resolurent qu'il faloit qu'il demeurait quelqu'un aupres de luy pour cimenter cette liaison la seconde fut parce qu'en effet aristee estoit si charme de la vertu de cyrus qu'il n'estoit pas marry d'en estre un peu plus longtemps l'admirateur et la troisiesme estoit que la mort d'elise l'ayant fort touche il estoit bien aise de ne retourner pas si tost au lieu ou il l'avoit tant veue et ou il ne la verroit plus car encore qu'il 
 aimast cherement une des amies d'elise il se resolut a souffrir cette absence principalement trouvant en doralise une personne qui luy ressembloit si fort qu'il s'en faloit peu qu'elle ne le consolast de la privation de l'autre ainsi l'ambassadeur de phenicie partit et aristhee demeura et quelques jours apres l'equipage de sesostris et de timarete estant prest ces deux illustres personnes se separerent de cyrus pour s'en retourner en egipte laissant tous ceux qui les avoient connus si charmez de leur merite et si affectionnez a leurs interests qu'ils sirent mille voeux pour leur felicite la princesse de phrigie et la princes se timarete se dirent adieu en soupirant et toutes les dames qui estoient au palais de cresus en verserent des larmes pour sesostris en se separant de cyrus il luy tesmoigna avoir un regret extreme de le quitter devant qu'il eust delivre mandane luy laissant toutes ses troupes et luy offrant d'obliger amasis de luy en envoyer d'autres pour reconnoistre l'obligation qu'il luy avoit de luy avoir rendu sa chere timarete et de luy avoir sauve la vie cyrus de son coste dit a ce genereux prince les plus obligeantes choses du monde allant mesme conduire la princesse timarete jusqu'a une demie journee de sardis ou leur derniere separation se fit sesostris et timarete agissant si bien en cette rencontre et parlant d'une maniere si noble qu'il estoit assez difficile de s'imaginer qu'ils eussent 
 porte la houlette cyrus envoya mesme plusieurs personnes de qualite les conduire jusques aux vaisseaux qui les attendoient ayant donne un aussi grand nombre d'esclaves a timarete qu'elle en eust pu avoir si elle eust este a thebes ou a memphis apres le depart de sesostris l'inquietude de cyrus augmenta encore et il ne pouvoit qu'a peine souffrir nulle autre conversation que celle dont mandame estoit le sujet mazare de son coste estoit tousjours dans une agitation continuelle employant toute sa vertu a tascher de s'empescher de hair son rival et d'aimer trop sa maistresse pour cresus quelque joye qu'il eust d'estre remonte au throne il y avoit pourtant tousjours quelques instans au jour ou il sentoit la difference qu'il y a d'un roy vassal et tributaire a un roy souverain et independant quant a myrsile l'amour le tourmentoit plus que l'ambition et il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne trouvast qu'il luy estoit plus insuportable de n'oser parler de sa passion a doralise qu'il ne le luy avoit este de ne pouvoir parler a personne cependant il craignoit tellement d'irriter cette cruelle fille qu'il y avoit des jours ou sentant bien qu'il ne pourroit pas luy parler sans luy dire quelque chose de son amour il la fuyoit quoy qu'il ne pust durer ou elle n'estoit pas cependant le prince artamas et tous ces heureux amans dont les peines estoient changees en plaisirs n'avoient plus d'autre douleur que celle de pleindre 
 cyrus qui en effet meritoit bien d'estre pleint et par la grandeur de son merite et par la grandeur de son infortune quelques jours s'estant donc passez en de continuelles agitations d'esprit cyrus eut un grand redoublement de douleur car il sceut qu'harpage qui avoit eu ordre de luy de ramener l'armee qui avoit aide a thrasibule a reconquerir son estat avoit eu prise avec les principaux chefs de ses troupes et que la chose avoit este si loin que s'estant forme deux partis ils en estoient venus aux mains qu'il y en avoit eu beaucoup de tuez et que ceux qui n'avoient pas pery en cette occasion n'osant paroistre devant luy s'estoient presques tous des bandez le bruit courant que la plus part des soldats s'estoient allez jetter dans cumes dont on disoit que le prince armoit puissamment cyrus sceut aussi qu'au lieu de faire viure ses troupes dans l'exacte discipline harpage leur avoit donne toute la licence imaginable de sorte que les xanthiens et les cauniens quoy qu'ils eussent este tres satisfaits de cyrus au retour de leurs deputez ne trouvant pas ses effets respondans aux paroles s'estoient revoltez et avoient fait ligue offensive et deffensive avec le prince de cumes qui levoit une puissante armee cyrus aprenant donc qu'il en avoit perdu une et que son rival se fortifioit de jour en jour eut une douleur estrange mais ce qui la luy rendoit insupportable estoit qu'il ne pouvoit rien faire qu'il n'eust des 
 vaisseaux et qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'il en peust si-tost avoir cependant la saison de la guerre se passoit principalement ayant a faire un siege ou il falloit avoir une armee navale l'hyver qui s'approchoit n'estant pas propre pour cela mais enfin ne pouvant plus souffrir d'estre enferme dans une ville pendant qu'il avoit des ennemis en campagne il prit la resolution de s'en aller au camp et de commencer mesme de s'esloigner de sardis quoy qu'il n osast pourtant pas encore tourner teste vers cumes ny faire semblant de scavoir que sa princesse y estoit jusques a ce qu'il eust des vaisseaux cette resolution estant prise apres l'avoir communiquee a mazare et a ceux qui scavoient ses plus secrettes pensees il donna ordre a toutes choses il laissa une garnison considerable dans la citadelle de sardis cresus et myrsile se mirent en estat de le suivre et le roy de phrygie dont la sante estoit devenue assez mauvaise fut contraint d'obeir a cyrus qui voulant qu'il s'en retournast a apamee et qu'il y menast la prince ne palmis sa belle-fille car pour le prince artamas il n'eust eu garde de l'abandonner quand il l'eust voulu ainsi toute cette belle cour se separa mais pour faire voir combien cyrus estoit ayme de tous ceux qui le connoissoient il ne saut que scavoir que ligdamis trasimede menecrate parmenide et philistion quoy qu'ils fussent encore amans de leurs femmes les quitterent pour suivre ce 
 prince a la guerre bien qu'il voulust les en dispenser ainsi lycaste s'en retourna a patate avec sa troupe y remenant aussi arpalice jusques au retour de thrasimede candiope se changeant de la belle androclee jusques a la fin de la guerre ou lysias son frere fut aussi n'y ayant que menophile mary de lycaste pour les conduire bien est-il vray que cyrus leur donna une escorte cleomire s'en retourna aussi a ephese avec sa mere et toutes ses autres amies toutes ces belles personnes se separant avec beaucoup de douleur ainsi les derniers jours que cyrus fut a sardis il n'y avoit plus que doralise pherenice et arianite logees dans le palais de sorte que n'y voulant pas demeurer elles furent chez une tante de doralise or durant ces trois jours la cyrus fut visiter arianite pour parler avec elle de sa chere mandane marsile sur voir doralise pour luy tesmoigner son amour et aristhee la visita aussi pour l'entretenir de son amitie et du plaisir qu'il avoit de trouver en sa personne et en son esprit ce qu'il avoit accoustume d'admirer en une autre pour cyrus sa conversation avec arianite n'estoit jamais que de sa princesse tantost luy faisoit raconter comment elle avoit vesou avec le roy d'assire du temps qu'elle estoit a babilone et a sinope apres il se faisoit redire comment elle agissoit avec le roy de pont a suse et a sardis et quoy qu'il sceust toutes ces choses il ne laissoit pourtant pas de se les faire 
 redire luy semblant que tout le temps qu'il n'employoit point a servir mandane devoit du moins estre employe a parler d'elle pour le prince myrsile comme il se vit sur le point de s'esloigner de doralise il ne put se resoudre de partir sans luy avoir encore une fois parle de sa passion mais quelque dessein qu'il en eust des qu'il se vit aupres d'elle sa hardiesse le pensa quitter car il vit sur le visage de doralise je ne scay quelle froideur inquiete qui luy fut de mauvais presage et qui luy sit garder un silence ui n'embarrassa guere moins doralise qu'eussent pu faire ses paroles parce qu'elle jugeoit bien par le desordre de l'ame de ce prince que s'il ne venoit personne il luy diroit ce qu'elle ne vouloit pas entendre neantmoins pour l'en empescher elle se mit a luy faire cent questions de choses fort esloignees de celles qu'elle craignoit qu'il luy dist d'abord le prince myrsile y respondit mais a la fin s'ennuyant de tant de questions inutiles cessez aimable doralise luy dit-il cessez de me demander tant de choses ou vous ny moy n'avons aucun interest et souffrez qu'apres vous avoir respondu a tant de demandes peu necessaires je vous en face une a mon tour ou il importe de tout mon repos que vous respondiez et que vous respondiez favorablement pour y respondre seigneur dit-elle je vous le promets mais pour y respondre favorablement je ne m'y engage pas et je ne m'y dois pas engager sans scavoir auparavant ce 
 que vous voulez me demander je luy veux dit-il que vous me disiez devant que je parte mais que vous me le disiez sincerement si ce n'est que par cette fierte naturelle qui paroist en toutes vos actions que vous rejettez l'affection que je vous offre ou si c'est par quelque aversion dont la cause vous soit connue ou dont vous ne puissiez dire la raison de grace adjousta ce prince ne me refusez pas de me parler avec la mesme franchise que si vous parliez a la plus fidelle de vos amies je vous assure seigneur interrompit doralise que si je ne vous dis que ce que je dis a la meilleure de mes amies je ne vous diray pas de grands secrets estant certain que je n'aime point a parler de moy a personne et je ne scache rien qui me soit plus incomprehensible que ces faiseuses de confidences qui vont dire tous les mouvemens de leur coeur toutes les pensees de leur esprit et tous les sentimens de leur ame a tous ceux qui les veulent entendre car je suis persuadee qu'elles disent bien souvent qu'elles sentent et qu'elles pensent ce qu'elles n'ont jamais ny pense ny senty pour moy j'advoue que je ne suis pas de cette humeur et j'ay a vous dire que ceux qui veulent scavoir mes sentimens doivent les deviner ou les connoistre par mes actions sans m'obliger a les leur dire plus precisement car de penser m'engager a chercher dans le fonds de mon coeur ce qu'il y a c'est ce que je ne scaurois faire estant meme bien aise de ne 
 me connoistre pas tant et de ne me donner pas la peine de scavoir moy-mesme tout ce que je pense en effet adjousta-t'elle pour empescher le prince myrsile de luy parler je me suis apperceue plus d'une fois en ma vie que j'avois des amies et mesme quelquesfois des amis que j'aymois plus que je ne pensois les aimer et qu'il y avoit aussi d'autres personnes que je haissois plus que je ne croyois les hair ha doralise s'escria ce prince en l'interrompant je suis asseurement de ce dernier ordre mais de grace si cela est faites que je le scache precisement afin que je regle la fuite de ma vie selon les sentimens que vous avez pour moy la haine seigneur reprit doralise est un sentiment que je ne dois pas avoir pour un prince de qui selon les apparences je seray un jour sujette mais pour agir raisonnablement agissez pourtant comme si je n'aimois rien et que je ne pusse jamais rien aimer car selon mon sens vous en serez plus en repos et moy aussi je n'entends pas toutesfois adjousta t'elle perdre le respect que je vous dois au contraire je pretends en avoir plus que je n'en ay jamais eu le respect repliqua mirsile est un sentiment qui doit estre inseparable de toutes les actions d'un amant mais cette parole est la plus injurieuse qu'un homme amoureux puisse ouir de la bouche d'une personne qu'il aime on peut respecter son maistre ou son tiran mais respecter un esclave amoureux ha doralise c'est ce qui n'a point d'exemple 
 et l'on ne se sert jamais de cette cruelle parole que vous avez prononcee que pour cacher de la haine ou de l'aversion a un homme que le caprice de la fortune plustost que la raison a fait naistre au dessus de celle qu'il ayme mais seigneur interrompit doralise puis-je ne scavoir pas que vous estes sils du roy de lydie vous l'auriez sans doute oublie reprit-il si vous scaviez que je suis vostre esclave de la maniere dont je voudrois que vous le sceussiez car enfin puis que j'oublie lors que je suis aupres de vous ce que je suis veritablement et que je ne crois estre que vostre amant il me semble que vous pourriez bien faire la mesme chose et ne me regarder que comme je le veux estre me preservent les dieux repliqua fierement doralise de faire ce que vous dites car seigneur si je vous regardois comme mon amant sans vous regarder en mesme temps comme le sils de cresus et comme le prince myrsile je vous aurois desja dit plus de cent choses facheuses je vous aurois desja deffendu de me voir et je vous hairois desja horriblement vous ne me haissez donc pas encore reprit cet amoureux prince puis que je l'ay dit sans y penser repliqua doralise avec un sousrire le plus indifferent du monde je ne m'en veux pas desdire mais seigneur adjousta-t'elle en rougissant de despit il y a un grand intervalle entre la haine et l'amour pourveu que je fuse un peu au de la de l'indifference respondit-il je ne desespererois 
 pas de mon bon heur de tous les sentimens que la passion dont vous parlez peut inspirer dans le coeur d'un amant reprit-elle il n'y en a point qui me semble plus offencant pour la personne qu'on aime que l'esperance c'est pourquoy je ne vous conseille pas d'en avoir que voulez vous donc que je devienne reprit-il le veux dit-elle si ce mot n'est point trop libre que vous ne me disiez plus ce que je ne dois pas entendre et ce que je ne scaurois escouter qu'avec une colere estrange car enfin seigneur poursuivit-elle de la maniere dont j'ay l'esprit quand je ne hairois pas un homme qui m'aimeroit et que je ne ferois pas mesme marrie qu'il m'aimast il est constamment vray que je ne voudrois pas qu'il me le dist et que la chose du monde qui m'importuneroit le plus seroit un discours d'amour jugez donc si scachant comme je le scay que nulle bien-seance ne souffre que je vous regarde comme mon amant si je dois endurer que vous me parliez comme vous faites c'est pourquoy seigneur reglez s'il vous plaist vostre esprit afin de regler vos paroles et mettez moy en estat de me rejouir de la gloire que vous allez sans doute aquerir a la guerre et de souhaiter vostre retour pour estre en pouvoir d'acquerir de la gloire reprit-il et de songer a revenir il faudroit ne craindre pas de ne pouvoir aquerir vostre estime et de vous retrouver aussi fiere que je vous laisse comme ils en estoient la cyrus suivy 
 d'aristhee arriva qui venant de dire adieu a arianite venoit aussi faire sa derniere visite a doralise qui receut l'honneur qu'un si grand prince luy faisoit avec autant de respect que de joye cette aimable fille avoit pourtant une extreme desplaisir de le voir aussi mal heureux qu'il estoit aussi sit elle mille voeux pour la fin de ses infortunes et mille souhaits pour la liberte de mandane qu'il fut tout le sujet de cette conversation comme tous les momens sembloient des siecles a cyrus dans l'impatience ou il estoit de se voir a la teste de son armee et de commencer d'agir pour sa princesse sa visite ne fut pas longue mais comme il ne scavoit pas que le prince myrsile fust amoureux de doralise il luy rendit un mauvais office car il l'emmena aveque luy pour l'entretenir de quelque chose qu'il vouloir que le roy son pere fist devant que de partir de sardis ainsi doralise fut delivree d'une conversation qui l'embarassoit ce n'est pas qu'elle n'estimast extremement le prince myrsile mais c'est que naturellement elle avoit dans le coeur je ne scay quoy de fier qui estoit oppose a toutes sortes de galanteries estant certain qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus difficile que d'estre amant de doralise sans luy desplaire cependant aristhee qui avoit une estime tres particuliere pour elle luy sit ses adieux a part et luy rendit une visite le lendemain qui dura l'apresdisnee tout entiere comme cette conversation fut longue 
 elle fut extremement diversifiee et il connut si bien toute l'estendue de l'esprit de cette personne qu'il ne put s'empescher d'avoir pour elle cette espece d'affection dont son coeur estoit capable qui n'estant ny amour ny amitie avoit pourtant tout ce que la premiere a de galant et tout ce que l'autre a de tendre et de passionne mais jusques au point que s'il eust tarde davantage a sardis il luy eust sans doute donne le premier rang sur toutes celles pour qui il avoit eu de cette affection meslee qui n'a point eu de nom parce qu'il ne s'en est jamais guere trouve que dans le coeur d'aristhee en effet dans ce peu de temps qu'il la vit il luy dit plus de choses flatteuses et obligeantes qu'un autre ne luy en eust pu dire en toute sa vie et il les luy dit mesme d'une maniere qu'elle n'eut pas la force de s'en fascher mais encore qu'elle ne s'en faschast point lors qu'aristhee les luy dit elle ne pouvoit pourtant presques souffrir qu'arianite et pherenice luy fissent la guerre de cette illustre conqueste et entreprissent de luy soustenir qu'elle n'estoit pas marrie de l'avoir faite tant il y avoit quelque chose de particulier et de delicat dans son esprit en matiere d'affection galante aristhee se separa pourtant fort bien d'avec elle en fuite dequoy il se prepara a suivre cyrus jusques a ce qu'il eust eu des nouvelles du roy de phenicie apres l'arrivee de l'ambassadeur qui luy devoit rendre la statue d'elise pour andramite il ne fut pas si heureux 
 qu'aristhee car il ne put dire adieu en particulier a doralise qui l'esvita avecque soin cependant cyrus apres avoir laisse hidaspe pour commander dans la citadelle de sardis en partit accompagne de cresus et de myrsile ainsi on voyoit les vaincus aller a la guerre pour leur vainqueur le peu de soldats lydiens qui estoient encore en estat de servir furent distribuez en diverses troupes de l'armee de cyrus qui ne fut pas plustost au camp qu'il en sit faire la reveue mais il fut bien afflige de trouver qu'excepte les troupes persanes il n'y en avoit aucune qui fust complete et il trouva enfin que le repos avoit plus sait deperir son armee que n'auroient pu faire deux batailles de sorte qu'aprenant que la ligue qui se formoit contre luy en avoit une qui commencoit d'estre extremement forte et voyant la sienne affoiblie et par les soldats desbandez et par les garnisons qu'il falloit qu'il laissast a toutes les places conquises il en eut une affliction inconcevable de plus venant a considerer le dessein d'assieger cumes il le trouva bien plus difficile que son amour ne le luy avoit d'abord represente il scavoit qu'il faudroit qu'une grande partie de son armee campast sur des sables mouvans qui l'incommoderoient extremement et que l'autre fust en des lieux marescagieux et parmy des eaux croupies et des terres bousbeuses il scavoit encore qu'a l'entour de cumes on ne trouvoit rien de tout ce qui est 
 necessaire pour le campement d'une armee que la sterilite du lieu feroit que les soldats qui n'auroient point de tentes n auroient ny bois ny aucune chose pour se faire des huttes que la cavalerie n'auroit nul logement commode ny aucun fourrage et de la facon dont on luy representoit les choses on eust dit que son armee ne pourroit estre trois jours devant cumes sans y perir la difficulte d'avoir des vivres sembloit encore rendre ce dessein la impossible car il n'en pouvoit venir par terre que d'un coste que la mer inondoit quelquesfois et pour la voye de la mer elle n avoit rein d'assure a cause que la plage estoit sans ports et que durant la tdmpeste on ne pouvoit aborder ainsi ce grand prince voyoit que si la tourmente venoit et duroit seulement trois jours il faudroit lever le siege outre toutes ces considerations il voyoit encore qu'il n'y avoit nulle esperance de prendre cumes si ce n'estoit en bouchant le port ny d'empescher que le roy de pont n'enlevast mandane une troisiesme fois cependant il craignoit estrangement qu'en la saison ou il estoit les vaisseaux qu'il auroit ne pussent tenir la mer si pres de la terre sans faire naufrage a cause des vents qui soufflent d'ordinaire a la fin de l'automne de plus la place estoit d'elle mesme extremement forte la garnison l'estoit aussi et comme en toutes les villes maritimes les peuples sont plus agueris qu'aux autres lieux celuy de cumes l'estoit extremement 
 tous les habitans estoient munis les magasins publics estoient pleins et ce qui estoit le plus considerable c'est qu'outre que cette place devoit estre deffendue par le roy de pont qui estoit vaillant et amoureux et par le prince de cumes qui avoit du coeur et qui aimoit la gloire c'est qu'il y avoit un homme aupres de ce dernier qui avoit soustenu un siege avec une valeur inouie et qui scavoit si admirablement tout ce que l'art militaire enseigne pour garder les places qu'il avoit ose se vanter qu'il arresteroit les conquestes de vanqueur de l'asie et qu'il auroit l'avantage d'empescher de vaincre celuy a qui rien n'avoit pu resister et qui ne pouvoit conter le nombre de ses combats sans conter celuy de ses victoires quelques grandes que fussent ces difficultez l'amour que cyrus avoit pour mandane et pour la gloire les surmonta il est vray pourtant que la sterilite du lieu ou il falloit qu'il menast son armee l'inquietoit par la crainte qu'il avoit qu'elle n'y pust subsister autant qu'il faudroit pour prendre cumes que celle d'oster a ceux de cette ville la communication qu'ils avoient avec une autre qui pourroit leur fournir des vivres l'affligeoit joint aussi qu'il aprehendoit qu'esloigant son armee de thybarra qu'il avoit conquise au commencement de la campagne les ennemis ne la reprissent et ne luy ostassent la communication de sardis mais apres tout quand ce prince eut bien considere tous ces inconveniens 
 il se resolut d'y aporter les remedes qui s'y pourroient apporter en effet il donna ordre pour la subsistance de son armee que l'on pourveust toutes les places qu'il tenoit c'est a dire celles qui estoient le plus proche de cumes il disposa ses troupes en facon que faisant plusieurs petits corps qu'il detacha de son armee il cachoit son dessein aux ennemis et estoit pourtant tousjours en estat de les pouvoir r'assembler facilement quand il voudroit selon les besoins qu'il en pourroit avoir et pour assurer thybarra il se resolut en attendant qu'il eust des nouvelles de thrasibule en qui il se fioit plus qu'en aucun autre pour luy envoyer des vaisseaux de la faire fortifier ce dessein ne fut pas plustost pris que marchant vers cette ville il l'executa avec une capacite et une diligence si prodigieuse qu'on peut dire que les fortifications de thybarra furent plustost achevees par cyrus qu'un autre n'en eust pu regler le dessein il choisit luy mesme tous ceux qu'il destina a ce travail et pour l'avancer d'avantage il voulut que les soldats y servissent il ordonna qu'en chaque quartier il y eust un homme de commandement qui eust l'oeil sur ceux qui travailloient et pour ne perdre point de temps la cavalerie alla couper du bois pour faire des pieux afin de soustenir la terre qu'on remuoit et pour mesnager encore mieux les heures et les momens il commanda que durant qu'on fortifieroit la ville on la munist pour 
 cet effet tous les paisans des environs de thybarra eurent ordre d'y aporter du fourrage et des vivres il choisit des gens pour les faire conduire d'autres pour en tenir conte et d'autres encore pour les mettre dans des magasins publics jamais on n'a veu tant de diligence ny tant d'ordre car on voyoit en un mesme temps une grande armee une ville toute entiere et presques tout un pais agir pour une mesme chose et suivre les volontez d'un seul homme mais avec tant d'exactitude et tant de regularite que jamais on n'a ouy parler d'une telle chose il est vray que cyrus y estoit luy mesme present conduisant les travaux avec une capacite merveilleuse aussi sut-il si bien obei qu'en quatorze jours thybarra fut fortifie et muny de toutes choses et ce prince prest a marcher des qu'il auroit eu la responce de ciaxare et qu'il auroit des vaisseaux l'impatience qu'il avoit d'achever une entreprise qui devoit luy faire delivrer mandane et le couvrir de gloire si elle reussissoit faisoit que les heures luy sembloient des siecles il n'attendit pourtant que huict jours les nouvelles qu'il souhaitoit avec tant d'ardeur car il receut en mesme jour les ordres de ciaxare qui ne luy prescrivant rien positivement sembloit laisser toute cette entreprise a sa conduite et il receut aussi les assurances que thrabule luy donnoit qu'il iroit en personne avec dix vaisseaux s'anchrer dans le canal de cumes a un jour qu'il luy marquoit l'assurant que 
 ce nombre suffisoit pour en fermer le port sans qu'il employast le prince de mytilene de sorte que cyrus ravy de joye communiqua aussi tost ces deux nouvelles au prince mazare mais comme cyrus craignoit que ce nombre de vaisseaux que thrasibule luy donnoit ne suffit pas pour empescher que le roy de pont ne pust faire sortir mandane de cumes en faisant couler la nuit quelque barque le long de la terre il donna ordre qu'on eust plusieurs petits vaisseaux des ports les plus proches dont il estoit maistre et en effet les soins qu'il en prit sirent qu'il en eut douze d'un coste deux d'un autre et un d'un autre encore faisant aussi rassembler le plus de barques qu'il put de sorte que faisant une assez grande flotte de tous ces petits vaisseaux il l'envoya joindre thrasibule ordonnant que leontidas la commandast sous le prince de millet apres cela cyrus ne faisant plus un secret de son dessein tint conseil de guerre ou le roy de lydie celuy d'hircanie le prince artamas mazare myrsile persode gobrias gadate anaxaris et tous ceux qui avoient accoustume d'en estre se trouverent pas un n'osant insister sur la difficulte de l'entreprise voyant que c'estoit une chose resolve et que cyrus souhaitoit avec tant d'ardeur de sorte qu'ayan seulement tenu conseil sur les moyens de la faire reussir tout le monde eut ordre de se tenir prest a partir dans un jour durant lequel il arriva une chose a cyrus qui luy fut d'un heureux 
 presage car le vaillant megabate et le genereux clearque poussez d'un violent desir de gloire estans partis de phenicie des qu'ils sceurent par les lettres de l'ambassadeur de leur roy que cyrus devoit bien tost se mettre en campagne arriverent au camp voulant partager les perils ou un si grand prince devoit s'exposer afin d'avoir aussi quelque part a l'honneur qu'il aqueroit aristhee estant donc agreablement surpris de l'arrivee de deux hommes dont il estoit cherement aime sit scavoir a cyrus qui ils estoient bien que ce prince les connust desja admirablement par ce qu'il en avoit ouy dire a telamis lors qu'il avoit raconte l'histoire d'elise aussi les receut il avec beaucoup de joye et avec la civilite qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir pour les hommes d'un merite extraordinaire il est vray qu'en gagnant megabate et clearque il perdit aristhee qui receut en mesme temps ordre du roy de phenicie de remercier cyrus de la grace qu'il luy avoit accordee et de s'en retourner a tyr n'estant plus besoin qu'il demeurast aupres de cyrus pour les raisons qu'il luy en escrivoit de sorte que cet excellent homme se separa de ce grand prince plustost qu'il n'en avoit eu le dessein mais il s'en separa si satisfait de son esprit de sa generosite et de sa courtesie qu'il advouoit que depuis qu'il estoit au monde il n'avoit point veu d'homme n'y avoit point ouy dire qu'il y en eust eu de si propre a faire concevoir la grandeur des 
 heros et mesme celle des dieux que cyrus adjoustant que la connoissance de ce prince luy serviroit extremement a luy eslever l'esprit et a luy faire encore achever son poeme mieux qu'il ne l'avoit commence cependant aristhee apres avoir pris conge de cyrus et dit adieu a tous ces princes donc il estoit connu et infiniment estime partit de thybarra et encore que ce ne fust pas son droit chemin de s'en retourner par sardis l'estime qu'il avoit pour doralise luy persuadant que c'estoit le plus court ce fut par la qu'il s'en retourna a tyr mais si l'arrivee de ces deux vaillans pheniciens fut d'un heureux presage a cyrus celle d'un des esclaves qu'il avoit donnez a celuy qu'il avoit renvoye a cumes luy fut presques une assurance certaine de l'heureux succes de son entreprise car enfin il receut par luy un billet de martesie ou il trouva ces paroles
 
 
 martesie a l'illustre cyrus 
 
 
 l'enlevement de la princesse araminte que j'ay fait scavoir a la princesse mandane vous ayant justifie dans son esprit j'ay creu que je devois vous m advertir afin que vous agissiez avec plus de joye pour la liberte d'une personne qui se repent de l'injustice qu'elle vous a 
 faite c'est pourtant sans sa participation que je vous donne de ses nouvelles mais je suis toutesfois assuree que quand elle le scauroit elle me pardonneroit aisement la liberte que je prends de vous escrire estant certain que si elle ne le fait pas elle mesme c'est que son grand coeur ne peut consentir qu'elle vous advoue qu'elle a eu tort cependant seigneur soyez s'il vous plaist sans inquietude du coste du roy de pont et soyez fortement persuade que si cumes estoit au si imprenable que le coeur de mandane est invincible pour luy vous ne la delivreriez jamais 
 
 
 martesie 
 
 
la lecture de cette lettre donna une si grande joye a cyrus qu'il en oublia presques tous ses malheurs passez et l'esperance s'emparant de son esprit malgre tous ses funestes oracles qu'il avoit receus et malgre toutes ces difficultez qu'il avoit preveues au siege de cumes il ne douta presques plus que tout ne luy reussist heureusement cependant il s'informa de cet esclave qui estoit fort intelligent comment il avoit eu ce billet et de l'estat ou estoient les choses dans la ville pour le premier il luy dit que son maistre le luy avoit donne sans luy aprendre comment il l'avoit eu et pour le reste il luy donna une ample instruction de tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir car par la il sceut l'ordre qu'on gardoit dans la ville et comment on gardoit la princesse qui n'estoit plus inconnue dans cumes comme elle y avoit este non plus que le 
 roy de pont il aprit aussi par cette mesme voye que l'armee ennemie se preparoit a secourir cumes lors que le siege se formeroit et que pactias et un apelle lycambe la commandoient adjoustant a l'instruction qu'il avoit donne a cyrus que par l'ordre qu'on devoit establir aux portes de cette ville le jour qu'il en estoit party il seroit desormais presques comme impossible que son maistre pust luy donner de ses nouvelles apres cela cyrus delibera en luy mesme s'il montreroit la lettre de martesie au prince mazare mais il resolut de ne luy faire voir que l'instruction qui luy aprenoit l'estat de choses car encore que le bonheur d'un rival face pour l'ordinaire mourir l'amour dans le coeur d'un amant mal traite cela n'arme pas tousjours et il y a certaines occasions ou la jalousie resveille cette passion et la fait renaistre au lieu de l'estouffer de sorte que pour ne se redonner pas un rival aussi amoureux qu'il l'avoit este et pour n'exposer pas mazare a un aussi cruel suplice qu'estoit celuy de scavoir qu'il estoit tousjours bien dans l'esprit de mandane il ne luy monstra point la lettre qu'il avoit receue
 
 
 
 
cependant le jour du despart estant arrive et armee estant rassemblee cyrus trouva a propos de la diviser en trois corps avec intention d'occuper plus de pais et d'investir d'autant plustost cumes reglant sa marche de facon que les vaisseaux de thrasibule eussent bouche le port de cette ville devant qu'il y fust ainsi par ce moyen 
 sa marche se faisoit avec plus de facilite plus de diligence etplus d'ordre ces trois corps pouvant mesme arriver presques en mesme temps devant la placer l'investir en un instant cyrus voulut prendre le coste de la mer comme celuy ou il y avoit le plus de peril parce que c'estoit vers cet endroit que les ennemis estoient campez il avoit de son coste les troupes persanes medoises capadociennes et tous les homotimes la cavalerie hircanienne estoit aussi aupres de luy ce prince ayant force clearque d'en commander une partie a la place d'un capitaine qui estoit mort de maladie car pour megabate il voulut combatre comme volontaire et s'attacher a la personne de cyrus comme toutes ces troupes qu'il avoit choisies avoient courageusement et fidellement servy sous luy a toutes les conquestes qu'il avoit faites il y avoit une extreme confiance l'autre corps commande par le prince mazare qui fut a la gauche de cyrus estoit compose de troupes assiriennes armeniennes et egiptiennes le troisiesme commande par le prince artamas estoit forme de troupes ciliciennes de celles de la susiane et de toutes celles qu'on avoit levees aux pais nouvellement conquis pour les machines elles estoient conduites par persode cyrus n'ayant pas juge a propos que cresus eust nul commandement dans son armee et n'ayant pas voulu aussi que le roy d'hircanie y en eust de peur que cela ne mist de la jalousie entr'eux de 
 sorte que ces deux rois s'attacherent au quartier de cyrus pour estre a tous les conseils qui s'y tiendroient la marche de ces trois corps fut si esgalle et si juste qu'ils arriverent presques en mesme temps a la veue de cumes dont la situation estoit fort particuliere en effet cette fameuse ville estoit situee entre de grands bancs de sable qui s'eslevoient au bord de la mer et qui sembloient des montagnes couvertes de neige a ceux qui les voyoient de loin a l'orient elle regardoit thybarra elle avoit millet au midy xanthe au couchant et la mer la bornoit et l'enformoit du coste du nort son terroir n'estant pas d'une grande estendue aussi l'abondance et la commodite de cumes luy venoit elle de la mer cette ville estoit mesme separee en deux les habitans les distinguant sous les noms de vieille et de nouvelle ville mais ce qui la rendoit plus considerable estoit qu'elle avoit un port et un canal capable de contenir un si grand nombre de vaisseaux qu'une grande armee navale y pouvoit estre en seurete et c'estoit principalement par la que cette ville s'estoit rendue redoutable a tous ses voisins des que cyrus aperceut un superbe temple de neptune qui estoit a cumes et qui s'eslevoit si haut qu'on le descouvroit de fort loin il sentit une joye extreme c'est en ce lieu la dit-il en luy mesme qu'il faut mourir ou delivrer ma princesse apres quoy ce prince n'oubliant rien de tout ce qui luy pouvoit 
 faire rem porter la victoire distribua les quartiers a son armee mais ce fut avec tant de jugement que selon les aparences les ennemis ne pouvoient ny secourir la ville ny forcer son camp demeurant mesme en estat de gaigner une bataille durant qu'il feroit un siege ce prince ayant soigneusement reconnu tous les environs de cumes et remarque qu'il y avoit des endroits qui se deffendoient d'eux mesmes et d'autres qui estoient de tres difficile garde il donna tous les ordres necessaires pour fortifier par art les lieux que la nature n'avoit point fortifiez il sit en mesme temps construire un pont sur un canal qui se rencontroit dans l'enceinte du camp afin de faciliter la communication des quartiers et pour faire passer des vivres plus commodement de sorte que les vaisseaux de thrasibule fermant deja le port cumes se vit assiegee en un instant le lendemain cyrus sit commencer la circonvalation ou tous les soldats travaillerent avec une ardeur incroyable la presence de ce prince les animant de telle sorte qu'ils travalloient mesme sans se lasser mais afin que l'ouvrage fust plus ferme il sit gazonner le bord des lignes et par ce moyen il empeschoit que le sable ne s'esboulast il voulut mesme qu'il y eust une seconde ligne qui fortifiast l'autre mais comme les bancs de sable qui se trouvoient en ce lieu la estoient de hauteur inesgale et qu'il y en avoit mesme le long des lignes qui pouvoient incommoder 
 le camp parce qu'ils le commandoient il sit occuper toutes ces hauteurs et fut force par cette raison d'estendre ses travaux fort loin il se rencontra mesme qu'il y avoit une de ces colines sabloneuses au quartier de mazare qui estant beaucoup plus haute que les autres pouvoit aussi incommoder d'avantage le camp si les ennemis s'en fussent emparez c'est pourquoy ce prince s'en saisit et mazare par ses ordres fit faire un port sur la cime de cette coline et l'environna de deux lignes qui joignirent celles de la circonvalation mais apres tous ces travaux le rivage de la mer n'estoit pas encore fortifie et il estoit d'autant plus important qu'il le fust que tous les autres endroits estoient inutiles si celuy-la ne l'estoit pas cependant le sable estant plus mouvant en ce lieu la que par tout ailleurs on ne scavoit comment faire car il arrivoit mesme qu'encore que cette mer n'ait ny flus ny reflus comme l'occean elle s'avancoit pourtant plus au moins selon les vents qui souffloient y en ayant qui la poussoient quelquesfois si impetueusement contre le rivage qu'on ne pouvoit pas songer a y reremuer le sable sans l'apuyer par quelque chose de solide c'est pourquoy cyrus a qui rien n'estoit impossible s'advisa de faire planter des pieux pour fermer le passage aux ennemis les faisant mettre aussi pres qu'il faloit pour resister a leur effort et pour les empescher de passer mais non pas aussi de telle sorte que 
 les vagues ne pussent s'y faire un passage sans les esbranler lors que la mer passoit ses bornes ordinaires ce ne fut pourtant pas encore la je plus difficile a faire car ceux de cumes s'adviserent de couper un assez grand rocher qui bornoit la mer a l'extremite de leur ville dans l'esperance que luy donnant un passage elle couvriroit entierement les chemins par ou l'armee de cyrus pouvoit avoir des vivres et en effet conme la terre avoit sa pente de ce coste la leur dessein avoit reussi et l'armee se fust tousjours veue en necessite de vivres si cyrus n'eust remedie a cet inconvenient en faisant enfoncer encore des pieux en faisant rouler de grandes et grosses pierres pour les apuyer et en y faisant porter tant de terre qu'en fin il donna une nouvelle barriere aux vagues qui s'espanchoient de ce coste la faisant une chose qui semble ne pouvoir estre faite sans une puissance surnaturelle qui est de donner des bornes a la mer ces soins de grande importance n'occupoient pas seulement ce prince les plus petites choses trouvoient encore leur place dans son esprit il se trouvoit luy mesme deux fois tous les jours au lieu ou l'on desbarquoit les vivres afin que le partage en sit juste que personne ne souffrist et n'eust sujet de se pleindre aussi avoit il accoustume de dire que les grandes entreprises ne pouvoient jamais s'executer heureusement si ceux qui les faisoient n'avoient soin de tout et n'estoient par tout mais ce qu'il 
 y avoit de merveilleux estoit de voir qu'au milieu de tant d'occupations differentes ce prince avoit une liberte d'esprit admirable et une tranquillite dans les yeux qui inspiroit de la joye a toute son armee et qui donnoit en effet une telle vigueur a ceux qui travilloient qu'en quatre jours malgre la pluye et le vent les lignes furent achevees le rivage de la mer fortifie l'inondation des vagues arrestee et tous ces bancs de sable mis en deffence comme si c'eussent este des forts bastis expres pour fortifier le camp en fin on n'a jamais veu de si grands travaux en si peu de temps et l'on peut dire que jamais prince n'a merite plus de gloire que cyrus ny eu plus de part a une grande action qu'il en eut a celle-la cependant l'amour occupoit tellement son ame qu'il ne donnoit nuls ordres qu'il ne songeast qu'il les donnoit pour mandane et lors qu'il pensoit en voyant travailler a ces lignes qu'il empeschoit son rival de pouvoir luy enlever sa princesse et que si son dessein reussissoit il verroit le premier d'ans ses chaines et mandane en liberte il sentoit ce qu'il ne pouvoit luy mesme exprimer mais si ce prince avoit la consolation de penser que ses peines n'estoient pas inutiles mazare au contraire avoit de la douleur de scavoir qu'en agissant contre un rival il travailloit pour un autre qu'il ne delivreroit mandane que pour la perdre et qu'enfin il ne devoit rien esperer aux fruits de la victoire cependant comme 
 il avoit fortement resolu de faire en sorte que la vertu surmontast tousjours l'amour dans l'on coeur il faisoit ce qu'il pouvoit pour fixer ses pensees et pour ne songer a autre chose sinon qu'il s'agissoit de delivrer mandane ainsi forcant son coeur et son esprit par un exces de generosite il vivoit aussi bien avec cyrus que cyrus vivoit bien aveque luy et ils parloient de l'estat du siege et de ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire comme s'ils eussent eu un esgal interest a la prise de cumes ce qui estonnoit fort ces deux princes estoit de voir que le roy d'assirie ne paroissoit point et ne leur mandoit rien tant que nous avons este a sardis disoit cyrus et que nous ne scavions ou estoit la princesse mandane je ne me suis pas estonne de n'entendre point parler de luy mais des que l'armee a marche qu'elle a este a thybarra et qu'elle a eu tourne teste vers cumes il a deu scavoir que nostre princesse y estoit et il a deu venir se joindre a nous afin d'avoir sa part a la gloire de l'avoir delivree pour moy repliqua mazare qui connois le roy d'assirie plus particulierement que vous j'advoue que je ne le comprends pas car enfin il n'est pas accoustume de vouloir laisser aucun avantage a ses rivaux c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'il voyant qu'il ne paroist pas je ne scay que dire ny que penser de son absence elle est sans doute bien difficile a comprendre reprit cyrus mais ne seroit-il point dans cumes adjousta ce prince avec un transport 
 de douleur estrange s'il y estoit respondit mazare celuy que vous y avez envoye l'auroit sceu et vous l'auroit mande par l'esclave qui en est venu ces jours passez concluons donc reprit cyrus que nous ne scaurions deviner ou il est et croyons en mesme temps qu'ou qu'il soit il cherche a nous nuire les choses estant en ces termes au camp de cyrus et l'armee ennemie ne pouvant plus mettre en doute que cumes ne fust assiegee s'assembla a un lieu que ceux qui la commandoient jugerent propre pour conferer sur ce qu'ils avoient a faire et pour l'executer quand ils l'auroient resolu comme ils estoient assez proche du camp ils espererent mesme pouvoir secourir cumes car veu l'incommodite du campement et la facheuse saison capable de detruire une armee ils croyoient que cette armee affoiblie par le grand travail qu'elle avoit eu et enfermee entre la leur et la garnison de la ville pourroit estre deffaite par des troupes toutes fraiches toutes fois le nom de cyrus leur estant redoutable ils resolurent pour ne rien hazarder d'envoyer une partie de cavalerie pour faire quelques prisonniers afin de scavoir un peu plus precisement l'estat des assiegeans mais en mesme temps ils sirent encore armer un assez grand nombre de vaisseaux avec intention de tascher de les faire entrer a force de voiles dans le port de cumes si le vent leur estoit favorable malgre la flotte de thrasibule cependant 
 comme cyrus prevoyoit en grand capitaine que si le duroit long temps son armee seroit destruite qu'elle pourroit estre batue et qu'il ne prendroit point cumes il prit la resolution d'accourcir le siege par la force et d'attaquer cette ville si vivement qu'elle ne luy pust resister et certes ce ne fut pas sans raison qu'il prit ce dessein car l'incommodite des vivres estoit grande et les barques qui en apportoient se brisoient bien souvent en abordant tant la mer estoit furieuse de plus la pluye estant continuelle et l'hyver commencant desja de venir les soldats souffroient beaucoup l'impetuosite du vent poussant quelquesfois une nue de sable sur tout le camp les aveugloit leurs huttes et leurs tentes en estoient mesme abatues et une partie des soldais couchoient dans la fange de plus outre toutes les fonctions de la guerre il faloit continuellement travailler ou a reparer ce que la mer gastoit aux travaux ou a refaire de nouveaux fossez parce que le vent combloit les lignes de sable en divers endroits de sorte que la faim le mauvais temps et le travail excessif commencoient desja de mettre diverses maladies dans le camp cependant cyrus sans s'estonner de tant de facheux obstacles parce qu'il les avoit preveus ne songea qu'a les surmonter en prenant la resolution d'attaquer cumes par force et d'acourcir par ce moyen la fatigue de son armee il jugea fort prudemment qu'il perdroit moins de 
 soldats en les bazardant au combat qu'en les laissant mourir par les incommoditez d'un long siege si bien que cette resolution estant prise cyrus ne songea plus qu'a l'executer pour cet effet le jour d'apres que les retranchemens furent achevez il fut reconnoistre tous les lieux par ou la ville pouvoit estre attaquee et il y fut suivy de mazare et d'artamas ce prince apres avoir bien examine la chose resolut qu'il seroit deux attaques des le soir mesme on se prepara pour executer un si grand dessein sans que les ennemis s'y opposassent parce qu'ils estoient fort occupez a mettre quelques dehors en deffence qu'ils estoient resolus de garder mazare et artamas furent les premiers qui combatirent en faisant un logement pour faciliter l'assaut mais enfin les ennemis s'estant resolus de les en desloger attaquerent les attaquans si vertement que jusques a trois fois ils revinrent cette nuit la a la charge mais avec tant de vigueur qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que ces soldats estoient commandez par des chefs qui estoient resolus a se bien deffendre anaxaris qui estoit en cette occasion y sit des merveilles et fut un de ceux qui contribua le plus a s'emparer de ce banc de sable ou l'on avoit fait ce logement mais au dernier effort que les ennemis sirent pour l'en chasser ce vaillant inconnu s'estant trop avance pour les repousser fut pris prisonnier et mene dans la ville mais enfin apres trois heures de combat fort opiniastre ou la 
 victoire fut tousjours douteuse elle le declara pour les assiegeans et le logement se trouva avant la nuit capable de plus de trois cens hommes il y eut des morts des blessez et des prisonniers de tous les deux partis mais le malheur d'anaxaris toucha sensiblement cyrus d'autre part la principale attaque avoit este bien plus promptement car en fort peu de temps les assiegeans avoient gagne la contr' escarpe et les choses y estoient aussi bien que cyrus l'eust pu souhaitter cependant on eut advis que l'armee ennemie marchoit et sembloit avoir dessein de combattre cyrus ne fut pas plustost adverty de ce bruit qui couroit qu'il se prepara a la bien recevoir mais afin de n'estre pas surpris il envoya aux nouvelles et sceut bien-tost apres que ce n'estoit qu'une fausse allarme fondee sur ce que quelques paisans avoient veu ce grand party que les ennemis avoient envoye pour faire quelques prisonniers et qu'ils avoient pris pour leur avant-garde mais ce qu'il y eut de merveilleux fut que ce bruit de la marche des ennemis et du secours qu'ils venoient donner a cumes n'esbranlant point l'ame de cyrus n'estonna point les soldats et que toutes choses demeurerent dans l'ordre ou elles devoient estre pour les bien recevoir l'attaque continua comme si ce bruit n'eut pas este et clearque qui se signala en cette occasion s'estoit desja advance jusques sur la contr'escharpe lors que les ennemis 
 sortant tout a coup de leurs retranchemens couvrirent les travailleurs d'une nue de traits en suitte dequoy mettant l'espee a la main il se sit un combat d'autant plus sanglant et d'autant plus terrible qu'il se faisoit de nuit et la chose en vint a une telle confusion qu'on ne scavoit qui estoient les vaincus ou les vainqueurs les amis ou les ennemis cyrus estant adverty de ce desordre y fut a l'heure mesme suivy de megabate de thrasimede de lygdamis d'aglatidas et de tous les autres volontaires mais il ne fut pas plustost au milieu de ce danger que sa presence le dissipa il redonna le coeur a ses soldats l'osta a ses ennemis restablit l'ordre et sit recommencer le travail apres l'avoir courageusement deffendu mais pendant que les choses estoient en cet estat du coste des assiegeans ceux qui commandoient l'armee ennemie se trouverent bien embarrassez car encore que leur armee fust assez nombreuse ils ne jugeoient pas apres avoir sceu des prisonniers qu'ils avoient faits l'estat ou estoient les lignes qu'ils pussent les forcer principalement ayant a faire a un prince aussi prudent que vaillant neantmoins comme pactias scavoit que le roy de pont ne luy pardonneroit jamais s'il n'entreprenoit rien pour le secourir et que lycampe croyoit qu'il iroit de son honneur de ne rien faire ils resolurent du moins d'agir comme s'ils eussent voulu faire quelque chose ce n'est pas que lors qu'ils pensoient 
 qu'ils avoient en telle le plus grand prince du monde et un prince accoustume a vaincre tousjours dont les troupes estoient admirablement disciplinees dont la reputation ostoit le coeur a leurs soldats et dont la capacite ne leur laissoit pas lieu d'esperer qu'il fist quelque faute qui facilitait leur dessein ils croyoient qu'il y avoit de la follie a vouloir rien entreprendre contre luy et ils advouoient qu'ils avoient eu tort de l'esperer mais enfin voulant donc faire semblant de vouloir faire quelque effort ils marcherent comme s'ils eussent voulu en effet attaquer les lignes en faisant eux mesme courir le bruit pour voir s'il n'arriveroit point quelque tumulte au camp qui leur en facilitast les voyes cyrus scachant la chose sortit des lignes avec un corps de cavalerie et quelques volontaires voulant les reconnoistre luy mesme devant qu'ils l'attaquassent mais il fut bien estonne de ne trouver au lieu ou on luy avoit dit qu'ils estoient que les marques de leurs logemens abandonnez aprenant par quelques soldats paresseux qu'il sit arrester que pactias et lycampe ayant sceu encore plus precisement l'estat des lignes avoient juge qu'il estoit impossible de les forcer et qu'il valoit mieux conserver leurs troupes pour conserver le reste du pais que de les perdre inutilement pour secourir cumes qu'ils ne pouvoient empescher d'estre prise de sorte que cyrus ayant vaincu sans combatre s'en retourna 
 au camp avec une nouvelle esperance d'emporter bien-tost la ville et de delivrer mandane cependant les assiegez se deffendoient avec une opiniastre valeur qui faisoit qu'un ne gagnoit pas un pied de terre sans un grand combat le roy de pont leur monstrant par son exemple a estre infatigables aut travail et a ne se lasser ny des veilles ny de toutes les peines qui sont inseparables des sieges le prince de cumes combatant pour sa liberte combatoit aussi avec un courage invincible de sorte que l'on peut dire que jamais assiegeans n'ont attaque avec tant de vigueur et que jamais aussi assiegez ne se sont deffendus plus vaillamment il est vray que le roy de pont avoit une douleur qui a tout autre qu'a luy auroit abatu le courage car enfin plus il rendoit de soumissions a mandane plus il la trouvoit inflexible son desespoir ne l'empescha pourtant pas de bien traiter anaxaris dans sa prison qui sceut se conduire avec tant d'adresse qu'il vint a obtenir toute la liberte du chasteau ou estoit la princesse mandane quoy qu'on ne luy donnait pas la permission de la voir mais comme il avoit conserve une idee de la beaute de cette princesse la plus avantageuse du monde depuis le jour qu'il l'avoit veue aupres du chaste au d'hermes lors que cyrus fut delivre par elle il chercha l'occasion de la revoir une seconde fois et la trouva mesme facilement car martesie l'ayant veu dans la cour du chasteau par 
 les fenestres de sa chambre et ayant sceu par ses gardes que c'estoit un prisonnier qu'on avoit fait eut une telle envie de luy parler et de scavoir des nouvelles de cyrus que se servant de cette adresse qu'elle avoit a gagner le coeur de ses gardes et a les persuader elle fit que sur quelques pretextes qu'elle inventa ils firent entrer anaxaris dans un petit jardin ou la princesse et elle avoient la liberte de se promener luy disant qu'il y avoit une dame de son party qui luy vouloit parler et en effet martesie suivie d'une esclave l'y attendit afin de scavoir de luy tout ce qu'elle avoit envie d'apprendre comme le roy de pont et le prince de cumes estoient continuellement occupez pour tout ce qui regardoit la deffence de la ville ils n'estoient pas si exacts aux autres choses joint qu'un prisonnier seul et desarme ne pouvant leur donner aucune defiance ils se reposoient entierement sur les gardes qu'il luy avoit donnez ainsi anaxaris estant entre dans le jardin ou martesie l'attendoit sans qu'on s'en aperceust il fut agreablement surpris d'y trouver une si aimable personne elle ne le vit pas plustost que s'advancant vers luy en rougissant quoy que je n'aye pas l'honneur de vous connoistre luy dit elle apres l'avoir salue je ne laisse pas d'estre en droit d'esperer d'obtenir une faveur de vous car enfin puis que vous avez bien expose vostre vie pour la princesse que je sers et que pour luy redonner la liberte il vous en a couste 
 la vostre je dois croire que vous ne me refuserez pas la grace de me dire des nouvelles d'un prince qui doit estre son liberateur et le nostre et que vous serez bien aise de m'aprendre en quel estat vous avez laisse l'illustre cyrus anaxaris entendant parler martesie de cette sorte luy respondit avec autant de civilite que d'esprit qu'il obeiroit tousjours aveque joye a une personne faite comme elle adjoustant que puis qu'il n'estoit plus en pouvoir d'employer son courage pour la princesse mandane il seroit du moins bien aise de luy aprendre tout ce que cyrus faisoit pour elle en suitte dequoy martesie luy faisant cent questions il luy apprit tout ce que cyrus avoit fait depuis la prise de sardis jusqu'a l'enlevement de la princesse araminte et depuis cet enlevement jusques au siege de cumes exagerant avec beaucoup d'eloquence tout ce qu'il creut estre avantageux a ce prince de sorte que martesie qui s'interessoit extremement au bon-heur de cyrus et qui estoit bien aise d'achever d'effacer de l'esprit de mandane le souvenir de l'injuste jalousie qu'elle avoit eue prit la resolution de tascher de faire en sorte qu'anaxaris la vist et en effet apres l'avoir remercie d'avoir satisfait sa curiosite et l'avoir oblige a luy dire son nom elle le pria de vouloir bien revenir le lendemain a la mesme heure et au mesme lieu afin que la princesse mandame pust aprendre de sa bouche tout ce qu'il venoit de luy dire a peine 
 eut elle fait cette priere a anaxaris qu'il en tesmoigna avoir une joye extreme l'assurant qu'elle luy faisoit le plus grand plaisir du monde de luy faire avoir l'honneur de voir mandane apres quoy estant sorty par ou il estoit entre martesie fut retrouver la princesse pour luy aprendre tout ce qu'elle avoit sceu mais particulierement tout ce qui regardoit l'enlevement d'araminte luy marquant comment cyrus s'estoit contente de donner cinquante chevaux a spitridate pour suivre son ravisseur sans y aller en personne afin de s'en retourner a sardis attendre ceux qu'il avoit envoyez a ephese a guide et a plusieurs autres lieux pour scavoir de ses nouvelles et ce qu'il y a de considerable madame adjousta martesie c'est qu'on ne peut pas mieux scavoir la chose que je la scay car cet aimable estranger qui me l'a contee estoit avec cyrus lors qu'il sceut l'enlevement d'araminte cette circonstance ayant donne une forte curiosite a mandane de voir anaxaris fut cause que cette princesse se resolut a tenir la parole que martesie avoit donnee a ce prisonnier mais encore luy dit candane qui est celuy que vous voulez que je voye madame reprit-elle quoy qu'il ne m'ait pas dit ce qu'il est qu'il ne m'ait dit que son nom et que son nom mesme me soit inconnu je ne laisse pas d'assurer que c'est un homme de haute qualite non seulement par sa bonne mine et par son action mais encore par cent facons de parler 
 qu'il a et je voy mesme adjousta-t'elle par les choses qu'il dit que cyrus luy a dites qu'il faut que ce prince le traite comme estant ce que je dis mais encore dit mandane croit-il que cyrus puisse prendre cumes et nous delivrer en verite madame reprit-elle j'ay tant eu de soin de scavoir tout ce qui regardoit araminte afin de justifier pleinement l'illustre cyrus dans vostre esprit que je ne luy ay guere parle du siege presuposant ce me semble avec quelque raison que puis que cyrus assiege cumes il la prendra infailliblement ha martesie s'escria mandane en rougissant en voulant justifier cyrus vous m'accusez estrangement puis qu'en le justifiant vous me reprochez la foiblesse que j'ay eue d'avoir je ne scay quelle sorte de despit dans le coeur qu'on pourroit nommer jalousie si vous scaviez martesie poursuivit-elle quelle est la honte que j'en ay vous ne m'en parleriez jamais car il est vray que je ne scaurois me pardonner a moy mesme la precipitation que j'eus a faire scavoir a cyrus la colere que j'avois de croire qu'il me preferoit araminte et qu'il me quittoit pour elle ce n'est pas que je ne croye que le desplaisir que j'en eus fust plustost cause par un sentiment de gloire que par nul mouvement de veritable jalousie mais enfin il n'aura tenu qu'a luy d'expliquer ce que je luy ay escrit comme il luy aura plu pour moy madame reprit martesie en souriant si j'avois este a la place 
 de ce prince je suis persuadee que j'aurois mieux aime croire pour ma consolation que vous auriez eu de la jalousie que de l'orgueil plus vous parlez reprit mandane plus vous me donnez de confusion et plus vous me faites voir qu'il y a bien de la follie a se confier a sa propre force car enfin martesie vous souvient-il du temps que cyrus n'estoit qu'artamene du temps dis-je que feraulas le croyant mort m'apporta cette declaration d'amour que je leus en respandant des larmes et sans m'en fascher parce que je pensois qu'artamene eust perdu la vie il m'en souvient bien madame reprit martesie et je n'ay pas oublie que la pitie vous empescha d'avoir de la colere vous n'avez donc pas perdu la memoire adjousta mandane de l'embarras ou je me trouvay lors qu'artamene ressuscita et combien j'apprehenday de le voir parce que je jugeois qu'il auroit sceu que j'avois leu sa lettre les yeux couvers de pleurs jugez donc je vous en prie s'il est avez heureux pour prendre cumes quelle confusion j'auray en le voyant lors que je me souviendray que je luy ay escrit des choses qui luy ont donne lieu de croire que j'ay eu quelques sentimens de jalousie tout de bon martesie adjoustoit-elle j'ay un despit si grand contre moy-mesme de ma propre foiblesse et de l'inconsideration que j'ay eue de la tesmoigner que je croy que plustost que de faire une semblable faute je verrois mille et mille fois cyrus 
 infidelle que je ne m'en pleindrois pas ha madame reprit martesie la passion dont vous parlez ne se cache pas comme l'on veut on la montre malgre soy et on la montre mesme quelquefois en la cachant il y a pourtant bien de la laschete et de l'imprudence a la faire voir respondit mandane car si la jalousie est bien fondee il faut en un instant faire succeder la haine a sa place et si elle est injuste il n'en faut point avoir ainsi il faut du moins tousjours ne la monstrer pas si on a le mal-heur d'en estre capable avec tout ce raisonnement qui paroist fort juste respondit martesie je suis pourtant assuree madame qu'encore que vous ne deviez plus douter de la fidelite de cyrus vous ne laisserez pas d'estre bien aise de scavoir de la bouche d'anaxaris qu'il laissa aller spitridate apres araminte et qu'il n'oublie rien pour vous delivrer impitoyable fille que vous estes reprit mandane quel plaisir prenez vous a me donner de la confusion et que ne croyez vous que si je suis bien aise de voir ce prisonnier c'est plustost pour scavoir veritablement l'estat du siege que pour la raison que vous dites car enfin je vous declare que je ne veux point me pouvoir reprocher a moy mesme d'avoir eu un sentiment presques esgallement injurieux a cyrus et a moy martesie qui estoit accustumee a vivre avec mandane comme avec une personne de qui elle avoit la derniere confiance disputa encore respectueusement avec elle scachant bien 
 qu'elle ne le trouveroit pas mauvais cependant le lendemain anaxaris suivant ce qui avoit este resolu vit la princesse qui fut si satisfaite de luy qu'elle ne pouvoit l'estre davantage d'abord que ne luy dit point anaxaris de cyrus et de toutes les choses qu'il faisoit pour elle il en parla avec chaleur et avec exageration et ne pensa jamais s'imposer silence mais a la fin il parla moins de ce prince et de toutes choses et martesie remarqua qu'il estoit il occupe a considerer la beaute de mandane qu'il ne pouvoit en destourner les yeux comme cette princesse vouloit l'obliger elle luy demanda d'ou il estoit et le luy demanda d'une maniere avantageuse mais anaxaris prenant la parole madame luy dit-il comme diverses raisons m'ont oblige de cacher ce que je suis veritablement j'ay refuse vingt fois a l'illustre cyrus ce que vous me faites l'honneur de me demander et ce que je suis bien marry de ne vous pouvoir dire quoy qu'il me fust peut-estre en quelque sorte avantageux que vous ne l'ignorassiez pas apres cela mandane s'informa tres particulierement de luy quelles nouvelles cyrus avoit de ciaxare luy parlant en suitte de tous ceux qu'elle connoissoit a l'armee de ce prince mais particulierement de chrysante et de feraulas anaxaris respondit sans doute a toutes les questions qu'elle luy fit mais ce fut comme un homme qu'une violente resverie avoit surpris quoy qu'il la regardast attentivement 
 comme il scavoit plus de nouvelles du siege par ses gardes que la princesse n'en scavoit par les siens il fut resolu entr'eux qu'il la verroit tous les jours ou du moins qu'il verroit martesie et en effet la chose alla ainsi tant que le siege dura cependant le roy de pont estoit dans un desespoir sans esgal principalement de ce qu'il voyoit le port de cumes si bien bouche par la flotte de thrasibule qu'il ne pouvoit esperer de pouvoir faire passer un vaisseau pour en enlever la princesse d'autre part le prince de cumes commencoit de s'apercevoir qu'il avoit pris un mauvais party donnant retraite au roy de pont mais durant qu'il s'en repentoit inutilement celuy que cyrus avoit envoye dans cette ville qui avoit parle deux fois a martesie qui avoit pris une lettre d'elle pour cyrus et qui l'avoit envoyee a ce prince par un esclave cabaloit autant qu'il pouvoit parmy le peuple pour le disposer a murmurer de ce qu'on l'engageoit a une facheuse guerre ainsi pendant que l'illustre cyrus estoit occupe aux penibles travaux du siege il y avoit des gens dans la ville qui songeoient a le servir cependant ce prince infatigable a toutes les peines qui pouvoient luy faire delivrer mandane estant alle visiter les nouveaux travaux comme il donnoit ses ordres a un ingenieur cet homme fut tue d'un coup de trait a ses pieds mais comme si ce jour eust este fatal a cyrus et qu'il y eust eu quelque constellation maligne qui eust 
 voulu faire perir le plus grand et le plus illustre prince du monde comme il s'en retournoit le soir a son quartier il luy prit envie d'aller encore donner quelques ordres a un lieu ou il creut qu'ils estoient necessaires mais a peine fut il dans la tranchee que les ennemis se servant d'une espece de machine qui poussoit des pierres avec une impetuosite a laquelle rien ne pouvoit resister il y eut un esclave de cyrus qui le suivoit qui en eut la teste emportee cet effroyable coup passa si pres de celle de ce grand prince que le crane de cet esclave se brisant endivers esclats le blessa au visage et au col en cinq ou six endroits de sorte que cyrus se vit tout couvert de son propre sang et du sang de ce malheureux cependant dans un peril si grand ce prince demeura avec une tranquilite sur le visage qui r'assura tous les siens et qui fit bien voir qu'il avoit un courage intrepide que rien ne pouvoit esbranler megabate et persode eurent leur part de ce glorieux peril car ils estoient fort pres de luy d'autre part pactias et lycambe voyant qu'ils ne pouvoient entreprendre de secourir cumes par terre se resolurent de le tenter par la mer esperant que la facheuse saison obligeroit peutestre cyrus a lever le siege pour cet effet ayant fait avancer tous leurs vaisseaux comme s'ils eussent voulu forcer thrasibule a leur donner passage la veue de cette flotte qui parut aux habitans de cumes leur donna autant de joye qu'elle 
 causa de douleur a mandane qui voyant la pleine mer de ses fenestres vit avec un desespoir inconcevable cette armee qui sembloit vouloir combatre celle de thrasibule car outre que cette princesse consideroit que si cette armee deffaisoit l'autre cumes seroit secourue elle craignoit encore que la mer estant libre le roy de pont ne la remenast en quelque autre lieu d'ou cyrus ne la pourroit delivrer elle ne fut pourtant pas long temps dans cette aprehension car a peine cette flotte ennemie eut elle veu que celle de thrasibule appareilloit pour aller a elle que la frayeur s'emparant de l'esprit de ceux qui la commandoient leur osta le coeur de sorte qu'ils tournerent la proue et s'abandonnerent a la fuite et au vent qui ne leur estoit pas favorable pour combatre leontidas qui commandoit les petits vaisseaux et les barques les suivit quelque temps et les deroba a veue du roy de pont qui regardoit avec une douleur extreme le desordre de cette flotte mais en eschange mandane voyant ses liberateurs demeurer ferme et ses ennemis fuir en eut une consolation extreme cependant cyrus voyant l'opiniastre resistance du roy de pont et du prince de cumes qui ne perdoient pas un pied de terre sans le disputer avec une valeur extraordinaire voyant dis-je que toutes les machines ne pouvoient le mettre en estat de donner un assaut decisis qui pust luy faire emporter la ville parce qu'il n'y avoit point de breche raisonnable 
 s'avisa d'une chose que l'amour seulement pouvoit luy faire inventer et voicy ce qui fut le fondement de cette invention cyrus fut adverty qu'en un endroit du fosse qui regardoit le logement qu'on avoit fait le plus proche de la ville il y avoit une grande caverne dont ceux de cumes avoient bouche l'ouverture qui par plusieurs destours s'estendoit fort avant sous terre de sorte qu'en cet endroit les murailles et les fortifications portoient sur cette caverne cyrus n'eut pas plustost sceu cela qu'il resolut de faire un grand effort pour traverser le fosse et pour se loger au pied de murailles et justement a l'embouchevre de cette caverne et en effet la chose luy reussit ce logement ne fut pas plustost en deffence que cyrus faisant desboucher la caverne y fit enter en une nuit quantite d'ouvriers avec des instrumens propres a tailler et a creuser la pierre du haut de cette grote souteraine qui soutenoit une partie de la ville si bien que les faisant tous travailler avec une ardeur incroyable ils vinrent enfin a descouvrir les premieres pierres des murailles de cumes mais de peur qu'elles ne s'ebranlassent trop tost et qu'eux mesmes ne fussent accablez dans la caverne ils n'avoient pas plustost descouvert une pierre du fondement de ces murs qu'ils mettoient un pilotis dessous pour la soustenir ainsi mettant autant de pilotis qu'ils descouvroient de pierres la muraille de la ville demeuroit ferme quoy qu'ils ostassent 
 ce qui en soustenoit les fondemens mais afin que le bruit que faisoient les ouvriers ne fust pas bien entendu ny bien distingue par ceux de la ville cyrus fit donner un assaut du coste oppose avec intention d'y attirer et d'y occuper les assiegez commandant aux troupes qui estoient du coste ou l'on travailloit de faire souvent comme s'ils eussent eu de fausses allarmes c'est a dire de grands cris et de faire le plus de bruit qu'ils pourroient mais enfin apres qu'on eut assez descouvert des fondemens des murailles pour esperer d'en faire une breche raisonnable par la voye que cyrus en avoit imaginee et qu'on les eut apuyez avec autant de pilotis qu'il estoit necessaire pour les soustenir ce prince fit mettre une fort grande quantite de matieres combustines au pied de ces pilotis qui estoient d'un bois fort sec et qu'on avoit encore rendus plus capables d'estre aisez a s'embraser par diverses gommes dant on les avoit frottez de sorte que lors que l'heure de l'execution fut venue que les ouvriers se furent retirez et que toutes choses furent en estat cyrus environ a deux heures apres midy fit mettre le feu a ce grand amas de choses combustibles qu'il avoit fait placer au pied de ces pilotis si bien que le feu prenant tout d'un coup a tout ce qui estoit capable de brusler dans cette caverne et les pilotis venant a estre tous consommez presques en un mesme temps les fondemens des murailles n'estant 
 plus soustenus s'entr'ouvrirent et le poids des murs qu'ils ne pouvoient plus soustenir achevant de les esbranler on vit en un moment le plus terrible objet du monde car enfin on voyoit sortir de l'ouverture de la caverne un tourbillon de flammes de diverses couleurs ou une espaisse fumee se mesloit mais ce qu'il y eut de plus espouventable fut de voir lors que les pilotis et les fondemens des murailles manquerent l'horrible bouleversement qui se fit en un instant et des murs qui croulerent tout d'un coup et des remparts qui s'entr'ouvirent et qui s'esboulerent et des soldats ensevelis sous ces ruines ainsi l'on vit en un moment mille flammes ondoyantes s'eslever en l'air mille esclats de pierres faire un bruit terrible et la muraille tomber avec ceux qui la deffendoient les creneaux en roulant mesme en quelques endroits avec tant d'impetuosite qu'ils en furent jusques a la mer la poussiere que fit cette muraille en tombant fit qu'on fut quelque temps sans pouvoir voir si la breche estoit raisonnable ou non mais le vent qui souffloit alors l'ayant un peu dissipee on vit que cette breche estoit telle qu'on la pouvoit souhaiter de sorte que cyros faisant donner tout d'un coup et n'y trouvant point de resistance parce que cette prodigieuse invention avoit estonne les ennemis on commenca d'y faire un logement mais s'estant enfin reconnus et le roy de pont estant venu en cet endroit ils repousserent courageusement 
 les troupes de cyrus et les empescherent d'achever le logement qu'elles avoient commence le combat fut fort opiniastre et fort sanglant cependant quoy que la muraille en tombant a l'embouchevre de la caverne eust estousse le feu qui en sortoit il y avoit pourtant quelques ouvertures a ce grand monceau de ruines par lesquelles il sortit tout d'un coup une fumee si espaisse qu'elle deroba le jour et la connoissance aux combatans si bien que les soldats de cyrus et ceux du roy de pont sans scavoir ce qu'ils faisoient tomberent dans une telle confusion que ceux de cyrus creurent que les assiegez avoient l'avantage et que ceux de la ville creurent aussi que les assiegeans l'avoient de sorte que dans cette erreur et dans ce desordre ils se retirerent chacun de leur coste et laisserent le logement abandonne neantmoins la fumee s'estant enfin dissipee les premieres a se reconnoistre et a retourner au combat qui leur reussit si heureusement qu'elles acheverent le logement et le conserverent mais durant qu'on r'emportoit cet avantage de ce coste la clearque en r'emportoit un autre a l'attaque ou il combatoit et il se signala de telle sorte pendant ce siege qu'il merita de recevoir mille louanges de cyrus aussi bien que tous les volontaires principalement le genereux megabate les choses estant en ces termes pactias et lycambe voulurent faire une derniere tentative et pour en venir a bout ils 
 entreprirent de jetter quelques gens dans cumes par le coste qui regarde la mer et en effet ils avoient assez heureusement commence leur dessein n'ayant point este descouverts par les bateurs d'estrade mais cyrus ayant este adverty de cette estreprise monta a cheval a l'heure mesme suivi de mazare et de tous les braves de son armee et fut au devant des ennemis qui ayant sceu qu'ils estoient descouverts se retirerent avec tant de diligence que ce prince ne les put joindre de sorte qu'il s'en retourna au camp ou toutes choses estoient en si bon estat que cyrus pouvoit regarder cumes comme devant infailliblement bientost estre prise mais l'inquietude qu'il avoit estoit la crainte que le roy de pont ne trouvast les voyes d'enlever encore mandane c'est pourquoy advisant avec mazare sur ce qu'ils avoient a faire il creut que selon les aparences le prince de cumes se repentoit d'avoir donne asile a un roy qui l'envelopoit dans son malheur et que ce seroit donner des gardes a mandane que de le gagner en l'assurant de luy rendre son estat s'il vouloit luy rendre cette princesse et se contenter qu'il donnait la liberte au roy de pont afin de ne l'obliger pas a trahir un prince a qui il avoit donne retraite cyrus esperant mesme que si ce prince n'acceptoit pas ce qu'il luy vouloit offrir cela feroit soulever le peuple contre luy et l'armeroit pour empescher que le roy de pont n'enlevast mandane de sorte qu'ayant 
 envoye un heraut au prince de cumes pour luy dire qu'ayant quelques propositions a luy faire qui luy estoient fort avantageuses il eust bien voulu luy pouvoir envoyer une personne de confiance pour luy dire ses intentions ce prince respondir apres avoir consulte avec le roy de pont que n'ayant point d'interest separe de celuy de ce prince il ne pouvoit recevoir de parole sans sa participation mais qu'ils envoyeroient conjoinctement le lendemain aprendre qu'elles estoient ses volontez que cependant ils demandoient qu'il y eust sur seance d'armes or quoy que ce que respondoit le prince de cumes ne fust pas precisement ce que souhaitoit cyrus il ne laissa pas de le prendre au mot et pour arriver tousjours a ses fins il se resolut d'agir avec une esgale generosite pour son rival de sorte que le lendemain apres qu'on eut publie la treve et que celuy que le roy de pont et le prince de cumes envoyerent vers luy fut arrive au camp cyrus voulut afin que la negociation reussist mieux luy faire voir l'estat ou estoient tous ses travaux et en effet apres avoir fait mettre toute son armee sous les armes il le mena de ligne et ligne et de port en port et luy fit si bien connoistre que du coste de la terre cumes n'avoit nul secours a esperer que cet envoye fut en effet plus capable de se charger volontiers des paroles que cyrus luy donnoit a porter que s'il n'eust este qu'a la tente de ce prince joint que ce que luy dit cyrus 
 fut si plein de generosite qu'il n'eust pas este aise de trouver qu'on luy pust refuser ce qu'il offroit car il ne demandoit au prince de cumes que mandane seulement et offroit encore au roy de pont ce que la princesse araminte luy avoit autresfois offert de sa part c'est a dire une armee pour reconquerir son estat ce n'est pas disoit il a celuy a qui il parloit que je ne scache de certitude que j'auray bien tost pris cumes mais c'est qu'ayant eu de l'obligation au roy de pont du temps que je portois le nom d'artamene et qu'estimant fort le courage du prince de cumes je serois bien aise de donner lieu a deux princes qui ont de si bonnes qualitez de ne me forcer pas a les perdre joint qu'a dire encore la verite je souhaiterois aveque passion d'accourcir de quelques jours la captivite de mandane par une heureuse negociation apres cela cyrus interessant adroitement celuy a qui il parloit et sans luy faire pourtant nulle lasche proposition il le renvoya extremement satisfait de sa generosite mais plus les propositions qu'il fit furent raisonnables plus le roy de pont en fut afflige et il le fut d'autant plus qu'il connut bien quoy que le prince de cumes luy protestast qu'il vouloit demeurer inseparablement attache a ses interests qu'il trouvoit qu'il auroit tort s'il vouloit porter les choses a la derniere extremite car bien qu'il fust esperduement amoureux il ne laissoit pas de connoistre que ne pouvant conserver mandane 
 il y avoit de l'injustice a vouloir perdre inutilement un prince qui luy avoit donne asile mais quoy qu'il connust que cela estoit injuste sa passion ne pouvoit pourtant consentir qu'il escoutast nulle proposition d'accommodement lors qu'il s'agissoit de rendre mandane neantmoins n'osant pas dire positivement au prince de cumes que plustost que de se resoudre a remettre cette princesse entre les mains de cyrus il se resolvoit a le voir perir et a perir luy mesme il luy dit que dans les choses desesperees qui pouvoit gagner temps recouvroit quelquesfois l'esperance qu'ainsi il trouvoit qu'il estoit a propos de faire dire a cyrus qu'on ne pouvoit luy respondre sans avoir donne participation des propositions qu'il faisoit aux xanthiens et aux cauniens voulant mesme scavoir de pactias et de lycambe en quel estat estoient leurs troupes et que cependant la treve continueroit comme le prince de cumes trouvoit quelque apparence de raison a ce que luy disoit le roy de pont il y consentit de sorte qu'on renvoya cette responce a cyrus qui accepta la chose avec cette condition toutesfois qu'il y auroit un terme limite pour cette negociation et que ce terme ne seroit pas long ainsi la chose ayant este reglee la treve continua le roy de pont et le prince de cumes faisant sortir un des leurs pour envoyer vers les generaux de leur armee et un autre vers les xanthiens et les cauniens cyrus leur donnant des 
 herauts pour les mener et ramener cependant le roy de pont qui n'avoit consenty a cette negociation que pour avoir plus de temps a imaginer par quelle voye il pourroit se sauver ou pour reculer du moins sa perte de quelques jours ne faisoit autre chose que chercher dans son imagination quelque expedient qui pust faire sortir mandane de cumes mais pendant qu'il cherchoit inutilement une chose si difficile a trouver cyrus et mazare s'estonnant tousjours d'avantage de n'entendre point parler du roy d'assirie ne pouvoient comprendre ou il pouvoit estre ny comment il estoit possible qu'il fust vivant et qu'il ne fust pas devant cumes aussi y avoit il quelques momens ou cyrus le croyoit mort mais il y en avoit d'autres ou sa jalousie se ressuscitant dans son imagination luy faisoit craindre encore une fois qu'il ne fust dans cumes et qu'il n'y fustpour luy nuire quoy qu'il n'imaginast pourtant pas bien par quelle voye il le pourroit faire cependant la treve ayant este publiee dans l'armee navale comme dans le camp et dans la ville il y avoit une egalle oysivete parmi les soldats de tous les deux partis et quelque legere image de paix au milieu de trois armees et d'une ville assiegee les choses estant en cet estat et cyrus estant un matin au haut du fort qu'il avoit fait faire sur cette coline qui s'estoit trouvee au quartier de mazare il vit paroistre une flotte qui venoit a toutes voiles vers la sienne il n'eut pas plustost 
 veu cela que sa passion luy faisant craindre quelque supercherie il changea de couleur et voulut aussi tost envoyer a cumes pour s'esclaircir de ses soubcons mais comme il estoit prest de le faire on luy amena un envoye du roy de pont et du prince de cumes qui venoit luy demander de leur part si cette flotte venoit fortifier son armee et s'il ne vouloit pas demeurer dans les termes de la treve de sorte que scachant par la que cette flotte n'estoit pas pour ses ennemis il jugea qu'assurement elle estoit pour luy n'ignorant pas qu'il avoit demande des vaisseaux en divers lieux et en effet il ne se trompoit point apres cela il congedia cet envoye avec ordre d'assurer le roy de pont et le prince de cumes qu'il ne vouloit rien entreprendre jusques a ce que leur traite fust rompu et que pour la flotte qui paroissoit elle n'avoit garde d'avoir ordre de luy de s'aprocher puis qu'il ne scavoit pas seulement d'ou elle venoit que cependant il leur engageoit sa parole de ne s'en servir que lors qu'ils auroient refuse les propositions qu'il leur avoit faites mais apres que cet envoye fut party cyrus et mazare virent que thrasibule avoit fait detacher deux petits vaisseaux pour aller reconnoistre ceux qui venoient et que ces vaisseaux ayant joint les autres revenoient conjointement avec eux vers la flotte de thrasibule comme estant amis de sorte que se rejouissant devoir un nouveau secours qu'il jugeoit fort propre a faire que 
 le peuple de cumes se revoltast si ces princes n'acceptoient ce qu'il leur offroit il conceut encore de nouvelles esperances de revoir bientost sa chere princesse il avoit pourtant beaucoup d'impatience de scavoir d'ou venoit cette flotte qu'il voyoit aussi ne fut il pas long temps sans en estre informe car ces deux flottes ne furent pas plustost jointes et ceux qui les commandoient n'eurent pas plustost confere ensemble que thrasibule suivant la liberte de la treve envoya leontidas dans une barque avec philocles qui estoit le lieutenant de celuy qui commandoit la flotte qui venoit de joindre la sienne afin d'instruire cyrus de ce qui sepassoit de sorte que leontidas arriva au camp justement comme ce prince venoit de rentrer dans sa tente suivi de mazare de myrsile et de beaucoup d'autres mais afin qu'il sceust comment il devoit recevoir philocles il le devanca et fut luy aprendre qu'il estoit envoye par la princesse cleobuline qui estoit alors reine de corinthe par la mort du sage et vaillant periandre son pere et qu'il venoit luy offrir de la part de cette reine la flotte qu'il pouvoit avoir veue arriver cyrus ne sceut pas plustost ce que leontidas luy disoit qu'il se disposa a recevoir philocles avec une extreme civilite non seulement parce qu'il l'estimoit beaucoup parce qu'il luy amenoit un puissant secours mais encore parce qu'il venoit de la part d'une des plus illustres princesses du monde qu'il avoit y veue fort 
 jeune lors qu'il avoit passe a corinthe ayant donc ordonne a chrysante d'aller recevoir celuy qu'elle luy envoyoit et a leontidas de l'aller querir ils luy obeirent a l'heure mesme et luy amenerent philocles qui luy presenta une lettre de la reine de corinthe qui estoit conceue en ces termes
 
 
 la reine de corinthe a l'invicible cyrus 
 
 
 pour vous tesmoigner que le souvenir de l'illustre artamene m'est cher et que se m'interesse a la gloire qu'il a aquise et qu'il acquiert tous les tours sous un nom que la renommee a celebre par toute la terre je luy envoye les meilleurs vaisseux qui soient dans nos mers me pleignant de ce qu'il ne m'ait pas fait scavoir qu'il en eust besoin et de ce qu'il a demande ce secours a des princes qui ne le luy peuvent pas donner de si bon coeur que moy les soldats que un choses pour luy envoyer sont quelquesfois revenus couverts de lauriers sous le feu roy mon pere mais de peur qu'ils n'ayent oublie l'art de vaincre je seray bien aise qu'ils combatent sous un tel conquerant que vous me semblant que s'ils peuvent avoir l'advantage de vous avoir aide a delivrer la princesse mandane et d'avoir combatu sous vos enseignes j'en seray plus redoutable a mes voisins quand vous me les renvoyerez philocles qui scait mes 
 sentimens pour ce qui vous regarde vous les expliquera plus precisement et ne manquera pas de vous dire s'il suit mes intentions exactement que je n'ay eu nulle difficulte a croire toutes les merveilles qu'il m'a racontees de vostre vie et qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui au plus d'estime pour vostre vertu que moy ny qui souhaite vostre bonheur aveque plus de passion 
 
 
 cleobuline 
 
 
comme cette lettre estoit fort obligeante elle obligea aussi sensiblement cyrus qui tesmoigna a philocles tant de reconnoissance de la bonte que cette grande reine avoit pour luy qu'il estoit aise devoir qu'en effet son coeur estoit touche d'un procede si genereux en suite dequoy philocles aprit a cyrus que la reine qui l'envoyoit ayant sceu que le prince de cumes avoit envoye secrettement a corinthe pour y faire faire des vaisseaux de guerre elle avoit pris soin de s'informer par une correspondance qu'elle avoit dans sa ville pour quelle raison il vouloit armer et que parce moyen elle avoit sceu que c'estoit parce qu'il avoit donne retraite au roy de pont qui avoit enleve la princesse mandane et qui s'estoit sauve de sardis luy disant encore que cette grande reine presuposant qu'il ne pouvoit pas manquer de scavoir ou estoit cette princesse et ne doutant pas qu'il n'allast bientost assieger cumes avoit fait a l'heure mesme preparer la flotte qu'elle luy envoyoit qui n'avoit pu estre plus tost a 
 cumes a cause des vents contraites qui avoient souffle philocles exagerant apres cela l'estime que cleobuline faisoit de cyrus avec tant d'eloquence qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il venoit de la cour d'une princesse ou l'ignorance ne passoit pas pour une vertu comme en quelques autres cours du monde quoy que cleobuline fust extremement jeune lors que cyrus avoit passe a corinthe il se souvenoit pourtant bien qu'elle estoit desja admirable et par son esprit et par sa beaute mais ce qu'il en avoit ouy dire depuis en diverses occasions l'ayant oblige d'avoir une curiosite particuliere pour ce qui regardoit cette princesse il fit cent questions a philocles touchant sa forme de vie et son gouvernement mais plus philocles luy respondoit plus sa curiosite augmentoit car il luy disoit des choses si merveilleuses de cette reine soit en luy parlant de son grand coeur de son grand esprit de son equite de sa liberalite ou seulement de sa bonte que ce prince ne pouvoit les ouir sans admiration et sans une nouvelle envie d'en scavoir tousjours d'avantage cependant pour tesmoigner a cette reine combien il estimoit ce qui venoit d'elle il envoya chrysante vers celuy qui commandoit la flotte mais il le luy envoya avec diverses barques chargees de toutes les choses dont on a accoustume de faire des presens a la mer et de tous les refraichissemens necessaires a une flotte comme estoit la sienne retenant philocles aupres de 
 luy aussi bien que leontidas jusques a ce que le traite fust conclu ou que la treve fust finie le lendemain celuy qui commandoit la flotte nomme thimochare vint aussi visiter cyrus qui le traita avec une magnificence digne de luy et digne de la reine qu'il vouloir honnorer en honnorant celuy qui commandoit ses armes comme la treve luy donnoit assez de loisir et que l'esperance de voir bientost sa princesse en liberte avoit mis quelque tranquilite dans son ame sa civilite estoit encore plus exacte et plus reguliere c'est pourquoy toutes les fois que philocles et timochare estoient aupres de luy il leur parloit continuellement de leur reine de qui il aprenoit tousjours quelque chose d'admirable et il en aprit en effet tant de merveilles qu'il eust pu croire que la flaterie avoit quelque part aux louanges que timochare et philocles luy donnoient s'il n'eust pas connu ce dernier pour estre extremement sincere cependant ce prince qui croyoit tousjours qu'il faisoit un crime lors qu'il ne songeoit pas a mandane ne se seroit peutestre pas advise de vouloir scavoir tout le detail de la vie de cette reine si timochare suivant l'ordre qu'il en avoit receu d'elle ne luy eust demande de sa part s'il n'aprouvoit pas le dessein qu'elle avoit pris de ne se marier jamais je consultant encore en suitte sur diverses choses qui regardoient la conduite de son estat de sorte que cyrus ne pouvant assez s'estonner de la resolution 
 que cette jeune et belle reine avoit prise apres en avoir parle avec timochare en parla encore avec philocles qui souhaitant pour diverses raisons que cette reine ne demeurast pas dans la volonte qu'elle avoit se resolut de dire a cyrus ce que presques nul autre que luy ne luy pouvoit dire afin qu'entrant dans les sentimens qu'il souhaitoit qu'il eust il pust apres cela conseiller a timochare qui avoit quelque credit aupres de cleobuline de persuader a cette princesse de ne s'opiniastrer pas dans son dessein de sorte qu'apres avoir augmente la curiosite de cyrus par mille choses qu'il luy dit de cette reine et apres luy avoir mesme fait connoistre qu'il luy importoit qu'il luy racontait la vie de cette princesse cyrus qui avoit en effet envie de la scavoir et qui estimoit extremement philocles qui de son coste desiroit qu'il la sceust luy donna audiance un soir lors que tout le monde fut retire mais auparavant que de l'obliger a commencer le recit qu'il luy devoit faire il luy demanda des nouvelles de philiste et de son amour ha seigneur respondit il avec un souris qui luy fit connoistre qu'il estoit guery de sa passion ou qu'il estoit heureux l'estat de ma fortune est bien change depuis que je vous laissay en armenie comme je m'imagine reprit cyrus que ce changement est de mal en bien je seray fort aise de le scavoir seigneur repliqua philocles je vous suis trop oblige de me parler comme vous faites 
 mais pour reconnoistre cet honneur il n'est pas juste de m'amuser a vous faire un long recit de la suitte de mes avantures en ayant d'autres plus illustres a vous dire et il suffit que je vous die que ceux qui assurent que l'esperance est un bien qu'un amant ne doit jamais perdre ont raison puis qu'il est vray qu'on ne peut pas avoir moins de sujet d'en avoir que j'en avois lors que je fus a jalisse apres avoir sceu que le mary de philiste estoit mort cependant seigneur cette aversion que je croyois invincible se laissa surmonter par ma perseverance et ce coeur que tant de services tant de soupris et tant de larmes n'avoient pu flechir se laissa enfin toucher a mon opiniastrete de sorte que lors que je retournay a corinthe j'y retournay mary de philiste et l'y remenay a mon arrivee j'y trouvay une lettre de thimocrate qui m'aprit qu'il avoit espouse telesile ainsi seigneur deux de ces amans que vous vistes si malheureux a sinope qu'ils ne pouvoient souffrir que les autres comparassent leurs infortunes aux leurs ont enfin este heureux quoy qu'il n'y eust aucune aparence qu'ils le deussent estre je vous assure repliqua cyrus que j'en ay toute la joye que je suis capable d'avoir je vous suis bien oblige de ce sentiment la repliqua philocles mais pour en revenir a la reine de corinthe preparez vous seigneur a ne me soubconner point de flaterie lors que vous entendrez les choses que je vous diray d'elle car il est vray 
 que je suis assure que je luy deroberay beaucoup et que son merite est au dessus de toute louange elle estoit desja si aimable et si accomplie reprit cyrus lors que je passay a corinthe que je n'auray point de peine a croire qu'elle merite les louanges que vous luy donnerez c'est pourquoy ne vous amusez pas a me preparer l'esprit sur ce sujet apres cela philiocles commenca de parler de cette sorte
 
 
 
 
histoire de cleobuline reine de corinthe
 
 
encore que ce soit la coustume de quelqu'un de reprendre les choses d'assez loin et de ne parler gueres moins des peres de ceux de qui ils ont a narrer l'histoire que de ceux mesmes qui ont le plus d'interest a l'advanture qu'ils ont a dire je n'en useray pourtant pas ainsi c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous seray seulement souvenir en peu de mots que periandre pere de la reine de corinthe estoit de l'illustre race des heraclides que sa valeur l'avoit rendu conquerant de son estat quoy que la justice voulust qu'il y regnast paisiblement qu'il avoit eu plusieurs guerres glorieuses principalement contre ceux d'epidaure et que son grand esprit luy avoit fait meriter le nom de 
 sage aussi bien que son courage celuy de vaillant apres cela je vous diray encore qu'ayant perdu la reine sa femme et deux fils qu'il avoit il est mort et a laisse la princesse sa fille reine de corinthe dans un age ou il ne sembloit pas qu'elle pust avoir la force de soustenir l'authorite royale comme elle fait je scay bien encore seigneur que c'est l'usage afin qu'on ne soit pas surpris du merite extraordinaire d'une personne de dire comment elle a este eslevee comment elle a apris toutes choses qu'elle scait et de commencer l'histoire de sa vie des le berceau mais comme c'est de la reine de corinthe que je parle je ne veux vous la montrer que sur le throne et ne vous parler point de la princesse cleobuline tant qu'elle n'a pas porte la couronne neantmoins pour sa personne seigneur comme cette reine est fort embellie depuis que vous ne l'avez veue il faut que je vous en die quelque chose il est toutesfois vray qu'elle n'est guere plus grande qu'elle estoit quand vous passastes a corinthe et qu'ainsi sa taille ne peut estre mise qu'au rang des mediocres mais il est pourtant certain qu'il y a un caractere de grandeur et de majeste sur son visage qui ne laisse pas d'imprimer de la crainte et du respect quoy que ce soit un privilege qui semble estre reserve a celles a qui la nature a donne une taille fort haute et fort avantageuse mais si cleobuline n'est pas aussi grande qu'elle a le coeur esleve elle a en eschange 
 les plus beaux yeux bleus qu'on puisse voir les cheveux du plus beau blond du monde quoy qu'il n'y en ait guere en grece et la meilleure mine qu'il est possible d'avoir car comme elle a le nez un peu grand et l'air du visage fort noble il y a quelque chose d'heroique en sa phisionomie qui plaist infiniment et qui comme je l'ay desja dit inspire le respect dans le coeur de de ceux qui la voyent mais seigneur ce n'est pas toutesfois par les graces de sa personne que je pretens vous la rendre recommandable c'est par la grandeur de son ame par la noblesse de ses inclinations par la generosite de son coeur et par l'estendue de son esprit car enfin il est certain qu'on ne peut pas avoir de plus grandes qualitez que cette princesse en a elle parle a tous les ambassadeurs qui viennent a sa cour en la langue de leur nation mais avec tant d'eloquence tant de facilite et tant de grace qu'ils en sont surpris au reste son scavoir n'est pas borne par la connoissance des langues estrangeres qu'elle parle et qu'elle escrit comme la sienne car il n'est point de science dont elle ne soit capable mais ce que j'estime encore plus c'est qu'elle a une telle veneration pour toutes les personnes qui ont du scavoir ou de la vertu ou qui excellent seulement en quelque art qu'elle a presentement des intelligences par tous les lieux du monde afin de connoistre tous ceux qui ont quelque merite extraordinaire et que par ce moyen il 
 n'y en ait aucun qui ne recoive quelque marque de la liberalite car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que cette grande reine donne comme si les dieux l'avoient establie pour enrichir tout ce qu'il y a de gens scavans en toutes les parties du monde et certes elle a quelque raison de les regarder comme s'ils estoient ses sujets puis que je suis assure qu'il n'y en a aucun qui ne la respecte comme si elle estoit sa reine legitime elle ne donne pas seulement a ceux qui luy demandent elle donne mesme a ceux qui ne pretendent rien elle donne tost elle donne beaucoup elle donne de bonne grace elle donne aveque joye et la liberalite est une vertu qu'elle pratique d'une maniere si noble et si heroique et qu'elle porte si loin qu'on peur dire qu'elle ne pourroit la faire aller plus avant sans cesser d'estre vertu mais ce qu'il y a d'admirable c'est que cette vertu n'est pas une vertu aveugle qui la face agir sans choix et sans discernement puis qu'au contraite elle ne donne qu'a ceux qu'elle croit dignes de recevoir ses presens les mesurant pourtant tousjours plustost a sa propre generosite qu'a la vertu de ceux qui les recoivent aimant beaucoup mieux donner plus que ne meritent ceux a qui elle donne que de ne donner pas autant que sa condition et son inclination magnifique et liberale le demandent au reste cette vertu qui est proprement la vertu des rois n'est pas la seule qu'elle possede avec esclat 
 elle est bonne elle est prudente et elle est juste mais juste jusqu'a violenter toutes ses inclinations plustost que de faire la moindre injustice au moindre de ses sujets et si cette vertu qui est le fondement de toutes les autres vertus trouve quelquesfois quelque resistance a porter son esprit ou elle veut ce n'est que lors que la clemence la fait pancher a pardonner a quelque illustre criminel enfin elle a si bien sceu joindre dans son coeur la severite de la justice et la douceur de la clemence qu'il resulte de ces deux vertus mille bons effets qui la font craindre et aimer de tous ses peuples au reste cette princesse assiste a tous ses conseils connoist de toutes ses affaires et les entend si admirablement qu'il ne seroit pas aise de luy imposer quelque chose cependant quoy qu'elle suporte elle mesme tout le faix de son estat elle n'en paroist pas plus embarrassee et elle ne laisse pas d'avoir l'esprit aussi libre que si elle n'avoit rien a faire on ne voit que festes magnifiques dans sa cour et que divertissemens superbes mais apres tout la passion dominante de son ame est l'amour des sciences et on la peut aussi bien nommer la reine des muses que la reine de corinthe en effet on voit que de par tout elles luy rendent hommage ce ne sont qu'eloges et panegiriques ou en vers ou en prose le nom de cleobuline est celebre par tout ce qu'il y a de celebre au monde et sa gloire est si esclatante qu'elle ne le 
 peut estre davantage voila donc seigneur quelle est presentement cette princesse que vous vistes en passant a corinthe dont on ne connoissoit encore alors que l'esprit et la beaute n'estant pas en un age qui luy permist de faire paroistre cette multitude de vertus qui la rendent si aimable mais seigneur sans m'arrester a vous dire comment elle gouverne son estat puis que ce n'est pas de politique dont il s'agit il faut que je vous die qu'il y a un homme en cette cour la apelle myrinthe qui n'est pas originaire de corinthe puis que son ayeul estoit de lacedemone qui est sans doute extremement bien fait car non seulement il est grand beau blond et de bonne mine mais il a du coeur autant qu'on en peut avoir et a aussi beaucoup d'esprit il a mesme cet advantage que son ayeul et son pere ayant eu la fortune favorable ont eu les emplois les plus honorables de l'estat de sorte que par ce moyen il a eu des sa plus tendre jeunesse autant de familiarite avec la reine que les gens de la plus haute condition de corinthe en ont pu avoir il est vray que myrinthe est d'une race assez considerable en son pais toutesfois a dire les choses comme il les sont la fortune l'a porte plus loin que sa naissance mais en eschange on peut assurer qu'elle ne l'a pas porte plus loin que sa vertu il ne faut pourtant pas seigneur la regarder toute seule comme le fondement de l'honneur que je m'en vay vous aprendre qu'il a 
 receu estant certain que je suis persuade que la reine de corinthe a raison de dire qu'on n'aime jamais que parce qu'on ne scauroit s'empescher d'aimer et que parce qu'il y a quelque chose qui nous force malgre nous a aimer ou a hair sans le secours de nostre raison mais enfin seigneur puis que pour le dessein que j'ay je dois vous descouvrir un secret que peu de personnes scavent et un secret encore que la reine de corinthe ne voudroit sans doute pas que vous sceussiez il faut que je vous aprenne qu'il y a aussi en nostre cour un prince nomme basilide qui est sans doute assez aimable foit pour les qualitez de sa personne pour celles de son esprit ou pour celles de son ame de plus basilide regarde la couronne de si pres que selon les loix il doit succeder a cleobuline si elle ne se marie point or seigneur celuy dont je parle a tousjours eu une passion si respectueuse et violente pour cette princesse qu'on n'en peut pas avoir une plus forte mais comme elle se fait autant craindre qu'aimer le rang qu'elle tient luy a impose silence je scay pourtant bien que la reine a connu sa passion sans qu'il la luy ait dite et que si elle ne l'a pas aime ce n'a pas este parce qu'elle a ignore son amour mais parce que son ame avoit un engagement secret qu'elle mesme ne scavoit pas car enfin seigneur il faut que je vous die que cleobuline est nee avec une si forte inclination pour myrinthe qu'on n'en peut pas 
 avoir une plus violente mais afin que vous ne vous estonniez pas de ce que je scay tant de particularitez de choses si cachees et si secretes il faut que vous scachiez que stesilee qui demeure a corinthe dont vous entendistes assez parler a sinope et qui a espouse le frere de philiste a eu la confidence de la reine durant tres longtemps et que philiste mesme depuis son retour a corinthe l'a eue si particuliere que j'ay pu scavoir par elle tout ce que je m'en vay vous aprendre j'ay donc sceu seigneur comme je vous l'ay desja dit qu'on ne peut pas avoir une inclination plus puissante a aimer quelqu'un que cleobuline en a toujours eu a aimer myrinthe en effet cette affection est tellement nee avec elle qu'elle ne s'est aperceue de sa grandeur que lors qu'elle a este reine elle sentoit bien auparavant que la veue de myrinthe luy plaisoit plus que celle des autres qui l'aprochoient que sa conversation la divertissoit davantage qu'il luy sembloit estre de meilleure mine que tout le reste de la cour qu'elle trouvoit qu'il s'habilloit mieux qu'il avoit meilleure grace que les autres que son esprit estoit plus agreable et qu'elle l'estimoit plus que tous ceux qu'elle connoissoit mais elle croyoit que c'estoit un pur effet de sa raison de sa connoissance et du merite de myrinthe sans croire que son inclination y eust aucune part ainsi elle l'aimoit sans penser l'aimer et elle fut si longtemps dans cette erreur que cette affection ne fut plus en estat d'estre surmontee 
 lors qu'elle s'en aperceut pour myrinthe le grand intervale qu'il y avoit de luy a cette princesse fit que toute la veneration qu'il avoit pour sa vertu ne produisit point ce qu'elle eust peutestre produit si cleobuline eust este d'une condition esgalle a la sienne car enfin il scavoit si bien que la raison qu'il ne la regardast qu'aveque respect qu'il ne la regarda point avec amour il connoissoit bien qu'elle estoit une des plus accomplies personnes du monde mais cette connoissance ne luy donnoit que de l'admiration et s'il avoit de la passion c'estoit pour sa gloire et pour son service et non pas pour sa personne il rendoit pourtant des soins tres exacts et tres respectueux a cette princesse parce qu'ayant l'ame fort ambitieuse et scachant qu'elle devoit estre reine il jugeoit bien que sa fortune dependoit d'elle en peu de temps et en effet il ne se trompa pas car periandre estant mort cleobuline se vit en pouvoir de luy donner une des grandes charges de son estat elle creut pourtant encore en la luy donnant qu'elle ne la luy donnoit que parce qu'elle jugeoit qu'il la feroit mieux qu'un autre et qu'il importoit a son service que ce fust luy qui la fist mais elle ne fut pas longtemps dans l'ignorance de ce qui se passoit dans son coeur et elle s'aperceut bientost qu'elle n'en estoit plus maistresse comme myrinthe avoit beaucoup de veneration pour la reyne qu'il luy estoit oblige et qu'il attendoit toutes choses d'elle il 
 ne manquoit sans doute a rien de ce qu'il luy devoit comme reine de corinthe cependant elle a advoue depuis a stesilee et a philiste qu'il y avoit des jours ou sans qu'elle en sceust la raison elle n'estoit pas satisfaite de ses soins de ses respects et de ses services et ou elle avoit un chagrin estrange contre luy qu'elle cachoit parce que n'en pouvant scavoir la cause elle n'eust sceu dequoy se pleindre ainsi sans scavoir ce que son coeur demandoit de myrinthe elle scavoit seulement qu'il n'en estoit pas content mais quoy que ces chagrins luy prissent assez souvent sans qu'elle en tesmoignast rien elle ne creut pas encore qu'elle eust de l'amour pour myrinthe et elle aima mieux s'accuser d'estre bizarre que de s'accuser d'avoir une passion dans l'ame comme celle-la elle a pourtant advoue qu'elle en eut un jour quelques soubcons qu'elle rejetta avec une force estrange adjoustant qu'elle est persuadee que ce fut parce qu'elle ne vouloit pas tomber d'accord d'avoir dans l'ame des sentiments qu'elle seroit obligee de combatre et qu'elle sentoit peutestre desja qu'elle ne vaincroit pas aisement de sorte que se trompant elle mesme elle continua d'aimer myrinthe sans le vouloir scavoir elle ne demanda mesme plus conte a son coeur de ses plus secrets sentimens comme elle faisoit autrefois si bien que sa raison abandonnant en quelque facon sa conduite et ne se meslant plus de ce qui se passoit en luy cet illustre coeur s'engagea 
 d'une telle sorte a aimer myrinthe que lors que cette imperieuse raison voulut l'en desgager il ne fut plus en sa puissance cependant myrinthe estoit aussi heureux qu'un homme sans amour le pouvoit estre car enfin la reine le considerant comme elle faisoit il estoit considere de toute la cour et il jouissoit de toute la douceur de la liberte et de toute celle que l'ambition donne a ceux a qui tous les desseins eslevez reussissent myrinthe ne demandoit rien a la reine qu'il n'obtinst elle luy donnoit mesme souvent ce qu'il ne demandoit pas elle consideroit extremement ses prieres tous les amis de myrinthe estoient assurez de trouver protection aupres d'elle et l'on peut dire que sans qu'il sceust son plus grand bonheur il estoit infiniment heureux basilide de son coste quoy qu'il n'osast parler de sa passion a la reine et qu'il connust bien qu'il n'est estoit pas aime de la maniere dont il l'eust voulu estre n'estoit pourtant pas fort malheureux car outre qu'il esperoit que le temps et ses services toucheroient son coeur il avoit encore cette consolation de scavoir que si elle se marioit la raison et la politique vouloient qu'elle l'espousast ainsi se contentant de la civilite que cette princesse avoit pour luy il vivoit sans une violente inquietude adoucissant par l'esperance d'estre aime la douleur qu'il avoit de ne l'estre pas encore pour la reine l'on peut dire qu'elle n'avoit alors ny de roses ny les espines de l'amour s'il est permis de 
 parler ainsi car elle n'avoit pas la douceur d'estre aimee ny presques celle de scavoir qu'elle aimoit mais aussi n'avoit elle pas toute l'inquietude que donne souvent cette passion puis qu'elle n'avoit ny colere ny impatience ny jalousie il est vray qu'elle ne fut pas longtemps dans ce calme qui luy faisoit ignorer une partie de l'engagement de son ame et elle s'aperceut bientost que l'amour est une dangereuse passion mais pour vous faire scavoir seigneur ce qui fit parfartement connoistre a la reine de corinthe ce qui se passoit dans son coeur il faut que vous scachiez que basilide a une soeur nommee philimene qui estoit alors un des plus grands ornemens de nostre cour ce n'est pas que sa beaute soit si parfaite mais c'est qu'elle a un agreement qui vaut mieux qu'une grande beaute philimene est brune et mesme extremement brune philimene est plustost petite que grande et philimene n'a pas tous les traits du visage regulierement beaux mais apres tout philimene est belle et infinement charmante elle a les yeux brillans doux et animez la bouche infiniment belle les dents admirables et un embonpoint qui luy donne un air de jeunesse qui luy sied bien mais outre tout ce que je dis il y a je ne scay quoy de si galant en toute sa personne qu'elle plaist a tous ceux qui la voyent de plus elle a un esprit capable de tout attirer et de conserver les conquestes de sa beaute car elle l'a enjoue plein de seu et d'agreement 
 et ce qui est le plus considerable c'est que philimene est une des plus douces et des meilleures personnes du monde et de qui l'ame n'a rien que de noble et de grand vous pouvez juger seigneur qu'ayant l'honneur d'estre parente de la reine et qu'ayant autant de merite qu'elle en a elle estoit souvent aupres d'elle et qu'il ne se faisoit nulle feste dans la cour dont elle ne fust de sorte que parce moyen myrinthe voyoit tous les jours philimene ou chez la reine ou chez elle ou en quelque autre lieu mais enfin seigneur il la vit tant qu'il la vit trop car il en devint si amoureux qu'il ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage comme je vous ay dit que naturellement il a l'ame ambitieuse il ne s'opposa pas a une passion dont la cause estoit si noble et il ne songea pas mesmerencela cacher n'estant pas trop marry qu'on dist qu'il estoit amoureux de la soeur d'un homme qui selon toutes les aparences devoit espouser la reine de sorte que trouvant en une mesme personne dequoy contenter son amour et dequoy satisfaire son ambition il s'engagea hautement a servir philimene mais ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette rencontre fut qu'il fonda tout l'heureux succes de son dessein sur la faveur de la reine ne scachant pas quels estoient ses sentimens pour luy il n'agit pourtant pas d'abord comme pretendant espouser philimene mais comme un homme qui la preferoit a toute la cour et qui ne pouvoit s'empescher de 
 l'aimer comme il cruyoit qu'il luy importoit que la reine le creust fort amoureux de philimene esperant que l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour luy l'obligeroit a ne vouloir pas le rendre malheureux en s'opposant a sa passion il ne songeoit guere plus a faire connoistre a philimene qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle qu'a faire connoistre a la reine qu'il mouroit d'amour pour philimene scachant bien que basilide dans les desseins qu'il aboit n'estoit pas en termes de resister a cleobuline et qu'ainsi la possesion de philimene dependoit autant de cette princesse que de philimene mesme myrintlie estant donc dans ces sentimens la aportoit un soin tout extraordinaire a faire que la reine le creust aussi amoureux qu'il estoit et ne perdoit nulle occasion de luy persuader qu'il ne pouvoit vivre sans philimene je scay mesme qu'il a dit depuis a stesilee qu'il y avoit certaines heures ou de dessein premedite philimene estant aupres de la reine il perdoit une partie du respect qu'il devoit a cleobuline afin de luy mieux faire connoistre la grandeur de la passion qu'il avoit pour philimene je vous laisse a juger seigneur quel trouble la connoissance de cette passion excita dans l'ame de la reine il fut si grand qu'elle luy fit connoistre celle qu'elle avoit pour myrinthe qu'elle avoit ignoree ou feint d'ignorer jusques alors car elle n'a jamais pu bien dire ce qui c'estoit passe dans son coeur devant que myrinthe aimast philimene mais des qu'il 
 fit paroistre son amour il n'y eut plus moyen que cleobuline se pust cacher a elle mesme la forte passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame et elle se trouva assez embarrassee a la cacher aux autres elle ne voulut pourtant pas au commencement tomber d'accord de ses propres sentimens et elle voulut encore faire ce qu'elle pourroit pour croire que la raison pourquoy l'amour de myrinthe pour philimene la faschoit c'estoit parce que le dessein de cet amant estoit temeraire et mesme peu respectueux pour elle mais a peine avoit elle accuse myrinthe de temerite qu'elle sentoit que son coeur eust presques voulu qu'il en eust eu d'avantage tous ses sentimens estoient pourtant si brouillez qu'elle fut contrainte de les examiner l'un apres l'autre pour les connoistre d'ou vient disoit elle en elle mesme en se faisant rendre conte de ses propre pensees que je sens un si grand trouble dans mon coeur depuis que philimene a conquis celuy de myrinthe quel interest ay-je a cette conqueste pour m'y vouloir opposer et que veux-je d'un homme que la fortune a fait naistre tant au dessous de moy je ne scay reprenoit elle ce que je veux mais je scay bien que je ne veux pas qu'il aime philimene mais seroit il possible adjoustoit cette princesse un moment apres comme elle l'a raconte depuis que j'aimasse myrinthe plus que je ne le croyois aimer myrinthe qui est mille degrez au dessous de moy et myrinthe enfin qui ne m'aime point et qui graces 
 aux dieux ne scait pas seulement que je l'aime ha non non cleobuline ne scauroit estre capable de cette foiblesse elle aime trop la gloire pour aimer myrinthe quand mesme il l'aimeroit ardemment et a plus forte raison ne l'aimant point du tout et en aimant une autre a ces mots cleobuline s'arrestant fut quelque temps a s'examiner elle mesme comme voulant estre son juge et comme ne scachant pas ce qu'elle pensoit et ce qu'elle sentoit puis reprenant tout d'un coup la parole cependant dit-elle en rougissant cette cleobuline qui aime la gloire et qui croit n'aimer point myrinthe ne peut souffrir qu'il aime philimene et sent je ne scay quoy dans son coeur qui luy dit qu'elle ne seroit pas marrie qu'il l'aime mais que dis-je reprenoit elle suis-je bien d'accord avec moy mesme et puis-je advouer tous les sentimens de mon coeur non non desavouons les hardiment s'ils ne sont pas dignes de nous combatons nous nous mesme pour nostre propre gloire et ne souffrons pas que durant que toute la terre nous loue nous ayons sujet de nous blasmer surmontons donc dans nostre coeur cette foiblesse que nous y avons descouverte et ne consentons jamais que la fille du sage periandre soit capable d'une folie ny que celle d'un grand et vaillant roy le soit d'une laschete mais l'amour reprenoit cette princesse en elle mesme est donc une chose volontaire et n'est pas une passion puis que je parle comme s'il ne falloit 
 que n'en vouloir point avoir pour n'en avoir plus en effet on diroit veu la maniere dont je raisonne que je puis aimer et hair qui bon me semble ha justes dieux s'escrioit elle qu'il s'en faut bien que ce que je dis ne soit vray et qu'il s'en faut bien aussi que je ne puisse hair myrinthe cependant il vaudroit mieux que j'eusse de la haine pour luy que de l'amour et que je fusse injuste que foible paisons donc un grand effort sur nous mesmes adjoustoit elle imaginons nous pour nous vaincre plus aisement qu'il nous a fait une injure de nous respecter comme il a fait qu'il nous outrage d'estre amoureux de philimene qu'il estoit oblige de deviner les sentimens que nous avons pour luy et d'y respondre et faisons mesme passer pour un infidelle et pour un ingrat un homme qui ne nous a jamais aimee et qui ne scait point que nous l'aimons mais le moyen reprenoit elle de pouvoir accuser myrinthe il ne m'aime pas il est vray mais a t'il deu croire qu'il luy fust permis de m'aimer et n'est-il pas vray encore que s'il auoit soubconne que je l'aimasse il m'auroit fait un outrage dont j'aurois deu m'offencer et dont je me serois effectivement offencee quoy qu'il ne soit que trop vray pour ma gloire et pour mon repos que je l'aime plus que je ne dois dequoy donc puis-je accuser myrinthe l'accuseray je de temerite en aimant philimene moy qui l'estime assez pour abaisser les yeux jusques a luy si faut-il disoit-elle avec une 
 une confusion pleine de despit que je trouve en luy ou en moy dequoy je hair ou du moins dequoy ne l'aimer plus ne suffit-il pas poursuivoit cette princesse qu'il soit cause de la foiblesse dont je m'accuse pour avoir sujet de luy vouloir mal et n'est ce pas assez qu'il trouble le repos de ma vie pour avoir une juste cause de le chasser de mon coeur chassons le donc courageusement d'un lieu ou il ne pense pas estre et regnons du moins sur nous mesmes aussi absolument que nous regnons sur nos sujets apres une agitation si violente cette princesse croyant s'estre vaincue et s'imaginant que puis qu'elle ne vouloir plus aimer myrinthe elle ne l'aimoit plus en effet fit ce qu'elle put pour demeurer dans la resolution qu'elle croyoit avoir prise et pour gagner tout d'un coup la victoire et mettre son ame a la derniere espreuve elle fit durant plusieurs jours diverses parties de chasse et de divertissement ou philimene et myrinthe estoient tousjours elle donna mesme le bal plus d'une fois esperant qu'elle s'acconstumeroit a voir myrinthe aupres de philimene sans nulle douleur et sans nul interest ainsi cherchant detruire dans son coeur la passion qu'elle avoit pour myrinthe elle augmenta encore celle que myrinthe avoit pour philimene en luy donnant tant d'occasions de la voir et de la voir paree et elle fit mesme sans y penser que philimene respondit un peu plustost qu'elle n'eust fait a la passion de myrinthe car enfin comme cleobuline 
 avoit dessein de se surmonter durant ces jours de feste et de divertissment elle affectoit de tesmoigner autant d'amitie a myrinthe qu'il tesmoignoit d'amour a philimene de sorte que par ce moyen cette belle et jeune personne voyant son amant si bien avec la reine l'en considera d'avantage basilide de son coste qui ne craignoit rien tant que d'irriter cleobuline u'osoit tesmoigner qu'il n'estoit pas trop aise que myrinthe fist l'amant de sa soeur ainsi la reine sans se surmonter elle mesme servit a myrinthe a vaincre le coeur de philimene qui eut assurement pour luy toute l'estime et toute l'affection qu'une personne de sa vertu estoit capable d'avoir mais durant que cleobuline contribuoit plus qu'elle ne pensoit a la felicite de myrinthe elle achevoit de detruire la sienne car comme il est extremement adroit a toutes choses plus elle le voyoit moins elle se sentoit capable de cesser de l'aimer et de souffrir qu'il aimast philimene si elle le voyoit parler bas a cette belle personne elle en changeoit de couleur le coeur luy en batoit et s'imaginant qu'il luy disoit quelque chose de sa passion elle sentoit dans son ame ce qu'elle n'a jamais pu bien exprimer s'il arrivoit qu'en parlant a elle il louast philimene elle sentoit malgre qu'elle en eust un despit estrange et s'il arrivoit que philimene louast myrinthe cleobuline par un sentiment qu'elle ne pouvoit retenir avoit une envie extreme de la contredire quoy qu'elle estimast 
 plus myrinthe que tout le reste du monde cependant bien que la reine sentist une rebellion estrange dans son coeur et qu'il y eust une contrariete continuelle entre sa raison et luy elle s'obstina durant plusieurs jours a vouloir vaincre sa passion mais enfin elle connut que tous ses efforts estoient inutiles et que tout ce qu'elle pouvoit entreprendre estoit de la cacher encore creut elle qu'il ne luy seroit pas aise si ce n'estoit en se cachant elle mesme en effet cleobuline ne pouvant plus se contraindre feignit de se trouver mal afin de ne voir ny myrinthe ny philimene esperant mesme que durant cette petite absence sans esloignement elle se surmonteroit enfin et recouvreroit la liberte cette retraite ne fit pourtant pas ce qu'elle pensoit car des qu'elle ne vit plus myrinthe elle se l'imagina tousjours aux pieds de philimene de sorte qu'au lieu d'en detacher son esprit elle l'engagea d'avantage il advint mesme plus d'une fois que voulant scavoir ou estoit myrinthe elle luy envoya faire divers commandemens pour des choses qui regardoient sa charge mais on luy raporta presques tousjours qu'on l'avoit trouve chez philimene de sorte que la jalousie augmentant sa passion au lieu de la diminuer elle souffroit des maux incroyables et elle souffroit d'autant plus qu'elle s'accusoit elle mesme et de foiblesse et de folie comme stesilee avoit aquis beaucoup de part a son amitie et qu'il n'y avoit personne a la cour qui 
 en eust tant a sa confidence elle vouloit qu'elle fust tousjours aupres d'elle mesme dans les heures ou ses chagrins l'accabloient le plus
 
 
 
 
cependant comme cette princesse est naturellement guaye stesilee estoit fort surprise de la voir si melancolique ne pouuant pas conceuoir qu'elle en eust de cause legitime car enfin elle estoit adoree de tous ses peuples l'abondance et la paix estoient par tout dans son royaume tous les estats voisins la consideroient extremement sa reputation s'estendoit par toute la terre et rien apparamment ne pouvoit troubler son bonheur de sorte que stesilee voyant la reine si changee de ce qu'elle avoit accoustume d'estre se resolut de prendre la liberte de luy en demander la cause a la premiere occasion qu'elle en trouveroit mais elle ne fut pas en la peine de la chercher car la reine la luy donna d'elle mesme un soir qu'elle estoit seule aupres d'elle advouez la verite stesilee luy dit cette princesse vous estes bien en peine de scavoir ce qui me fait si melancolique si je scavois aussi bien l'art de deviner les sentimens de vostre majeste reprit elle qu'elle scait celuy de connoistre les miens je serois bien tost hors de la peine ou je suis de scavoir ce qui l'inquiete afin d'y prendre toute la part que je dois ouy madame il est certain que l'estat ou je vous voy me donne la plus douloureuse curiosite que personne ait jamais eue car enfin vous connoissant aussi sage et aussi prudente que vous elles je suis assuree que vous 
 n'estes pas triste sans sujet ainsi sans scavoir precisement ce qui vous inquiete je scay tousjours bien que je dois m'affliger pour l'amour de vous cleobuline entendant parler stesilee avec tant de tendresseet scachant bien que cette personne avoit une extreme affection pour elle se resolut de luy descharger son coeur ne luy estant pas possible de renfermer dans son ame tous les sentimens que luy donnoit l'amour qu'elle avoit pour la gloire celle qu'elle auoit pour myrinthe et la jalousie que luy donnoit philimene mais comme elle avoit une honte estrange de sa foiblesse elle abaissa un grand pavillon de drap d'or sous lequel estoit le lit sur quoy elle estoit a demy couchee afin que la lumiere ne luy donnant point au visage l'obscurite favorisast le dessein qu'elle avoit de dire a stesilee une partie des maux qu'elle souffroit apres avoir donc pris toutes les precautions que sa modestie voulut qu'elle exigeast de stesilee apres qu'elle l'eut preparee par cent paroles inutiles qu'elle luy eut dit plus de vingt fois la mesme chose et que stesilee luy eut promis une inviolable fidelite elle commenca de luy parler comme si elle eust commis un crime effroyable vous avez raison stesilee luy dit-elle de dire que je ne suis plus ce que j'estois car il est vray que je ne suis plus ce que j'ay este et que je ne suis plus ce que toute la terre me croit car enfin je scay que j'ay le bonheur d'avoir une reputation assez grande et assez belle et qu'il est peu de princesses 
 qui ne me regardent avec envie ou avec estime cependant je suis contrainte de dire que si on scavoit ce qui se passe dans mon coeur on me regarderoit ou avec pitie ou avec mespris ha madame reprit stesilee cette derniere chose ne peut jamais arriver elle pourroit plustost atriver que la premiere repliqua la reine s'il estoit possible qu'on sceust ce qui m'est arrive mais stesilee ce qui me console dans mon infortune c'est que j'espere que personne ne la devinera jamais et que la disant qu'a vous elle demeurera ensevelie dans un oubly eternel vous devez sans doute croire madame respondit stesilee que je n'ay garde d'estre capable de reveler un secret que vous m'aurez fait l'honneur de me confier c'est pourquoy j'ose suplier vostre majeste de me dire ce qui l'inquiete afin de voir s'il n'y a nulle voye de la soulager comme je scay que je ne puis recevoir autre soulagement repliqua cleobuline que celuy que je trouveray a me pleindre aveque vous je voudrais desja vous avoir dit la cause de ma douleur mais stesilee des que je veux ouvrir la bouche pour vous la descouvrir le despit et la honte me la ferment je ne trouve point de paroles qui puissent exprimer mes sentimens et je sens qu'il y a une telle confusion en toutes mes pensees que je n'y scaurois donner nul ordre tantost je vous veux dire tout ce qui pourroit excuser ma foiblesse devant que de vous l'aprendre tantost je veux attendre a m'excuser que je vous l'aye aprise 
 un moment apres je change d'advis et je me resous a vous dire precisement les choses comme elles sont et un instant en suitte je suis presques resolue de ne vous dire plus rien c'est pourquoy ma chere stesilee devinez si vous pouvez une partie de ma douleur mais non reprenoit cette princesse gardez vous bien de la deviner et quand vous en auriez quelques soubcons ne m'en dites rien je vous en conjure car si par hazard vous la deviniez je croirois que toute la terre la devineroit et je serois la plus malheureuse princesse du monde comme stesilee a naturellement l'ame passionnee elle connut bien en oyant parler la reine comme elle faisoit que l'amour estoit la cause de sa douleur mais elle n'imagina pourtant pas qui pouvoit luy en avoir donne c'est pourquoy prenant un biais adroit et complaisant comme je ne veux scavoir que ce qu'il vous plaist que je scache reprit elle je veux bien deffendre a mon esprit de raisonner sur tout ce que vous me dites et l'empescher de penetrer plus avant que vostre majeste ne le veut ce n'est pas que je sois persuadee qu'on peut dire toutes choses a une personne fidelle et puis madame adjousta stesilee pour luy donner lieu de luy confier son secret que pouvez vous avoir de si difficile a descouvrir toute la terre scait que toutes vos actions sont innocentes et illustres et si vous elles coupable vous estes sans doute seule qui pouvez deposer contre vous puis que ce ne peut estre tout au plus que d'avoir quelques 
 sentimens trop eslevez ha stesilee repliqua la reine l'ambition n'a point de part a mon crime et si les autres passions y en avoient aussi peu mon ame seroit bien tranquile mais puis qu'il faut que je vous die ce que je ne scaurois plus cacher et ce que j'euste tousjours cache si je l'eusse pu scachez stesilee que malgre moy et sans que je l'aye pu empescher il y a quelqu'un au monde qui a assez de part a mon coeur pour ne le pouvoir hair quand je le veux quoy que j'en aye une enuie estrange le pensois repliqua stesilee pour donner lieu a la reine de luy parler avec toute sorte de confiance que vostre majeste eust dessein d'enfraindre toutes les loix de son estat de commencer quelque injuste guerre de confondre les innocens et les criminels et d'establir quelque gouvernement tirannique veu la maniere dont elle s'accusoit mais a ce que je voy vous n'estes coupable que d'avoir souffert qu'on vous adorast et de n'avoir pas hai quelque illustre sujet qui vous aime sans doute tres respectueusement ha stesilee interrompit cleobuline mon sort est bien plus estrange que vous ne pensez car enfin puis qu'il faut vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur j'aime sans estre aimee j'aime sans qu'on le scache et j'aime une personne qui aime ailleurs et cependant je l'aime de telle sorte que je ne puis cesser de l'aimer ny souffrir qu'il en aime une autru quoy que je ne voulusse pas qu'il sceust que je l'aime ny qu'il me dist 
 jamais qu'il m'aimast quand mesme il pourroit arriver qu'il m'aimeroit jugez apres cela poursuivit elle si l'estat ou je me trouve n'est pas un estat deplorable et si je n'ay pas raison d'avoir une honte estrange de ma foiblesse comme je ne pourrois condamner vostre majeste reprit stesilee sans me condamner moy mesme elle trouvera bon s'il luy plaist que je ne l'accuse pas car enfin comme je scay qu'elle n'ignore point la cruelle avanture que j'eus a la lisse lors que je commencay d'aimer un homme qui me faisoit confidence de la passion qu'il avoit pour une autre je la crois trop bonne pour vouloir que je m'accuse et que je me condamne comme elle fait mais encore madame qui est ce bien heureux qui a fait une si illustre conqueste ce conquerant reprit cleobuline est l'esclave de philimene jugez donc stesilee si la confusion que j'ay est sans fondement car bien que je scache que vous avez este coupable de mesme crime que moy je ne scaurois m'excuser joint qu'a dire la verite il y a encore de la difference entre nous en effet celuy que vous aimiez estoit esgal a vous et vous ne deviez rendre conte de vos actions qu'a vous mesme mais stesilee je dois respondre des miennes a toute la terre j'ay une grande gloire a conserver que j'aime plus que ma vie et cependant j'aime un sujet infinement au dessous de moy je l'aime sans estre aimee et je l'aime en le voyant esperduement amoureux d'une autre encore si j'avois 
 le bonheur d'estre tout a fait preoccupee par la passion qui me possede et de croire que ce que je fais ne fust pas si criminel l'en serois moins malheureuse et mesme plus excusable mais il semble que pour me tourmenter d'avantage les dieux m'ayent laisse autant de raison qu'il m'en faut pour connoistre ma foiblesse sans m'en laisser assez pour la surmonter mais madame reprit stesilee afin de vous justifier par vos propres paroles ne suffit il pas que vous ayez fait tout ce que vous avez pu pour vaincre la passion que vous avez dans l'ame pour faire qu'on ne puisse vous en accuser car enfin madame je ne voy pas que la vertu consiste a n'avoir point de passions la nature les donne a tous les hommes on ne s'en scauroit deffaire qu'aveque la vie et je suis fortement persuadee que pourveu que ces passions ne nous facent rien faire contre la veritable gloire nous ne sommes point coupables de ne les pouvoir surmonter dans nostre coeur ainsi madame je trouve qu'au lieu de vous accuser comme vous faites il faudroit vous louer de ce que vous resistez si courageusement a la plus puissante de toutes les passions et il faudroit regarder avec un peu plus de tranquilite par quels moyens vous la pouvez vaincre ou par quelle innocente voye vous pouvez la rendre moins insuportable pour la vaincre reprit la reine je ne l'espere plus quoy que je sois pourtant resolue de la combatre toute ma vie et pour la rendre plus 
 il n'est pas aise d'en trouver les moyens de plus stesilee j'ay encore une chose dans l'esprit qui me tourmente d'une estrange sorte poursuivit-elle car enfin je suis persuadee que si myrinthe scavoit les sentimens que j'ay pour luy s'esbranlerois sa fidelite pour philimene il y a mesme des heures ou je croy que la couronne que je porte l'a empesche de m'aimer de sorte que par ce moyen j'en suis bien plus malheureuse car enfin je pense avoir une voye infaillible de le faire rompre avec philimene mais c'est une voye que je ne veux jamais prendre estant certain que je ne crains rien tant au monde que myrinthe scache que je l'aime mais madame respondit stesilee que faudroit-il donc pour vous contenter il faudroit que je n'eusse jamais aime myrinthe reprit elle car de dire qu'il faudroit que je cassasse de l'aimer c'est dire une chose que je crois aussi impossible que l'autre et que mon coeur et ma raison ne desirent pas esgallement mais madame repliqua stesilee il n'est pas aise de penser que vous puissiez estre en un estat si malheureux que vous ne puissiez mesme imaginer par quelle voye vous pourrez estre heureuse il est pourtant vray repartit cleobuline que ma fortune est en termes de ne scavoir que souhaiter car puis que myrinthe n'est pas ce qu'il faudroit qu'il fust pour estre roy je ne puis estre qu'infortunee il est toutesfois vray reprit-elle que je concoy quelque chose qui me l'endroit bien moins malheureuse 
 que je ne suis mais encore madame luy dit stesilee que voudriez vous pour souffrir moins je voudrois dit elle que myrinthe n'aimast plus philimene et qu'il m'aimast mais je voudrois qu'il m'aimast sans me le dire et sans qu'il sceust jamais que je l'aimasse et sans que personne sceust aussi la passion que nous aurions dans l'ame jugez apres cela stesilee si mon bonheur est possible aussi ne pretenday-je pas seulement de l'esperer et tout ce que je voudrois presentement seroit que myrinthe n'aimast plus philimene cependant adjoustoit elle je ne vous ay pas plustost dit ce que je veux que la honte me fait changer de sentimens je sens que l'amour que j'ay pour myrinthe devient haine contre moy mesme et que la jalousie que j'ay pour philimene devient fureur contre ma propre raison c'est pourquoy stesilee n'obeissez pas aux premiers commandemens que je vous feray et attendez tousjours qu'une seconde pensee examine la premiere et que je sois bien d'accord avec moy mesme de ce que j'auray resolu de faire ce qu'il y a pourtant de certain et d'infaillible est que je ne feray jamais rien de directement oppose a la veritable gloire et que myrinthe ne scaura jamais que je l'aime apres cela stesilee eut encore une longue conversation avec cleobuline a la fin de laquelle il n'y eut rien de resolu cette princesse ne laissa pourtant pas de se trouver l'esprit en quelque facon soulage d'avoir descharge 
 son coeur a stesilee de qui l'ame tendre et passionnee la rendoit toute propre a estre confidente d'une amour extraordinaire que celle-la aussi depuis cela devint-elle inseparable de la reine qui ne pouvoit vivre sans elle de sorte que comme c'est la coustume dans toutes les cours que l'on n'a pas plustost receu une caresse des rois ou des reines qu'on en recoit cent mille de tous ceux que l'on connoist stesilee se vit bientost accablee de civilitez pour sa nouvelle faveur basilide mesme aporta soin a estre bien avec elle mais entre les autres myrinthe tout puissant qu'il estoit aupres de la reine creut qu'il devoit aquerir l'amitie particuliere de stesilee afin qu'elle luy rendist office pour faire agreer a cette princesse le dessein qu'il avoit d'espouser philimene de sorte que par ce moyen elle estoit admirablement bien avec myrinthe qui ne scachant pas la cause de cette nouvelle faveur l'attribuoit aussi bien que toute la cour au merite de stesilee et la recomandation de la princesse eumetis aupres de qui elle avoit passe le commencement de sa vie ainsi myrinthe sans scavoir qu'il estoit la veritable cause de ce redoublement de faveur dont la reine honnoroit stesilee ne songeoit qu'a se la rendre favorable afin qu'elle favorisast son dessein de plus dans la pensee qu'il aboit il devint encore plus soigneux plus exact plus respectueux et plus attache aupres de la reine mais plus il s'aquitoit regulierement 
 de son devoir plus elle en avoit d'amour et de jalousie tout ensemble en effet plus il faisoit ce qu'il devoit plus le trouvoit elle aimable mais venant aussi a songer qu'il ne devenoit plus soigneux pour elle que parce qu'il devenoit tous les jours plus amoureux de philimene un despit jaloux s'emparoit de son coeur qui luy faisoit imaginer autant de plaisir a empescher myrinthe d'espouser philimene que cet amant en imaginoit a la posseder de sorte que consultant encore une fois avec stesilee elle la pria et la conjura de tascher de rompre la chose je scay bien luy dit elle que je le puis faire d'authorite mais il y a deux puissantes raisons qui m'en empeschent la premiere est que j'ay une si grande frayeur que myrinthe n'en devine la cause que je ne puis ni exposer a ce danger et la seconde est si je puis vous la dire sans rougir que je ne veux du moins pas que myrinthe me haisse comme il me hairoit sans doute s'il scavoit que ce fust moy qui rompist son mariage c'est bien assez poursuivit elle qu'il ne m'aime pas sans l'obliger encore a me hair c'est pourquoy stesilee employez toute vostre adresse a luy faire changer de sentimens pour philimene ou du moins a l'empescher de l'espouser ce n'est pas dit elle que quand vous serez venue a bout de ce que je veux je pretende que myrinthe scache que je l'aime mais c'est que c'est un si grand plaisir a une personne qui a de la passion dans l'ame de destruire 
 celle qui s'oppose a la sienne qu'il est peu de choses que je ne fisse pour avoir celuy de voir myrinthe sans amour pour philimene je vous proteste stesilee adjousta-t'elle que si vous pouviez la chasser du coeur de myrinthe vous auriez presques autant de part au mien qu'il y en a car il me semble qu'apres cela je pourrois sans peine cacher la passion que j'ay dans l'ame je m'imagine mesme que je la vaincrois plus aisement et que s'il n'aimoit plus philimene il me seroit plus aise ou de cesser de l'aimer ou de l'aimer moins stesilee oyantparler cleobuline avec tant d'empressement luy promit de faire tous ses efforts pour la satisfaire et en effet elle n'y oublia rien comme elle scavoit que myrinthe estoit extremement ambitieux elle entreprit un jour de luy persuader que c'estoit borner son ambition que de songer a se marier si tost puis qu'il estoit vray qu'il sembloit que la fortune aimast plus a favoriser ceux qui ne l'estoient pas que ceux qui l'estoient en suitte luy faisant une fausse confidence elle luy dit qu'il faisoit mal de songer a prendre l'alliance d'un prince que la reine n'aimoit pas et que s'il suivoit son conseil il s'attacheroit inseparablement a la reine sans s'engager a nuls autres interests mais comme myrinthe estoit fort amoureux la politique de stesilee ne s'accorda pas a la sienne et quoy qu'il fust tres ambitieux il ne put craindre ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il craignist il luy dit donc qu'il ne se separe 
 separaroit pas des interests de la reine en espousant philimene et qu'au contraire il s'y uniroit davantage puis qu'elle estoit soeur d'un homme qu'il faloit presques de necessite que la reine espousast si elle songeoit a se marier de sorte que stesilee voyant qu'elle ne gagnoit rien sur l'esprit de myrinthe fit semblant de ceder a ses sentimens afin qu'il la creust tousjours de ses amies et elle prit un autre dessein de troubler son amour qui fut de faire representer a philimene par une amie qu'elle avoit qui estoit fort bien avec elle qu'elle se faisoit tort d'espouser myrinthe qui quoy que tres honneste homme n'estoit pas d'une assez grande naissance pour elle mais comme philimene avoit l'ame plus sensible au merite de myrinthe qu'a l'ambition ce conseil luy fut inutilement donne de sorte que stesilee ne scachant plus que faire pour destruire cette affection songea du moins a rompre le mariage croyant en avoir trouve une bonne voye je vous ay desja dit seigneur que basilide cherchoit autant qu'il pouvoit l'amitie de stesilee afin qu'elle luy rendist office aupres de la reine de qui il estoit tousjours tres amoureux et je vous ay dit aussi que la raison pourquoy il ne s'opposoit pas a la passion de myrinthe pour philimene estoit qu'il craignoit d'irriter la reine en chose quant un homme qui estoit si bien aupres d'elle mais apres cela il faut que je vous die encore que stesilee creut ne pouvoir trouver 
 une meilleure voye de troubler les desseins de myrinthe que par basilide si bien que parlant un jour aveque luy elle tourna la conversation si adroitement qu'il commenca de luy parler le premier de l'amour de myrinthe pour philimene en suitte dequoy stefilee menagea si bien son esprit qu'elle l'engagea insensiblement ou elle vouloit et l'engagea jusques a la prier de luy dire quels estoient les sentimens de la reine sur ce sujet stesilee voyant basilide au point ou elle le souhaitoit acheva la chose avec autant d'adresse qu'elle l'avoit commencee d'abord elle luy dit qu'elle ne scavoit pas assez bien les sentimens de la reine en suitte que quand elles les scauroit elle ne devroit pas les dire apres quoy cedant peu a peu aux prieres que luy fit basilide elle luy fit faire mille sermens de luy estre fidelle et luy dit apres qu'elle scavoit de certitude que ce mariage ne luy plaisoit pas et que la reine eust bien souhaite qu'il se fust rompu sans qu'elle s'en fust meslee helas stesilee luy dit basilide la chose ne seroit pas ou elle en est si je n'avois eu peur de desplaire a la reine en m'opposant au dessein de myrinthe mais puis que vous m'assurez qu'elle n'aprouve pas ce mariage et que je ne l'irriteray point en le rompant il sera bien tost rompu stesilee entendant parler basilide avec tant de violence craignit qu'il n'arrivast quelque querelle entre myrinthe et luy pourquoy pour empescher ce malheur elle adjousta 
 qu'il ne falloit pas qu'il entreprist de traverser ses desseins avec esclat parce que la reine ne trouveroit pas bon qu'il choquast ouvertement myrinthe mais qu'il falloit qu'il se servist de la princesse sa mere pour faire commander a philimene de ne songer plus a myrinthe et de le traiter comme un homme qu'elle n'espouseroit jamais et en effet basilide suivit le conseil de stesilee a qui il rendit mille graces sans scavoir qu'en rompant le mariage de myrinthe il agissoit contre luy mesme puis qu'il flattoit la passion que la reine avoit pour luy qui estoit sans doute le plus grand obstacle qu'il y eust a la porter a satisfaire la sienne cependant l'artifice de stesilee ne fut pas long temps sans reussir car basilide ayant fait agir la princesse sa mere philimene se trouva en une estrange extremite puis qu'aimant tendrement myrinthe elle ne pouvoit le resoudre a le mal traiter et qu'aimant aussi fort la gloire elle avoit bien de la peine a desobeir au commandement qu'elle avoit receu de sorte que prenant un milieu elle se resolut pour ne perdre pas myrinthe et pour ne desobeir pas ouvertement de luy faire scavoir le commandement qu'on luy avoit fait d'abord elle eut quelque peine a s'y resoudre scachant bien qu'elle ne pouvoit luy dire cela sans le luy dire obligeamment mais enfin l'amour estant la plus forte elle le luy dit et le pria de ne la voir plus avec des paroles si engageants qu'elle ne l'eust 
 pas tant oblige a continuer de la voir si elle le luy eust commande absolument aussi luy protesta-t'il mille et mille sois qu'il la verroit malgre toute la terre et qu'il ne la quitteroit jamais philimene voulut pourtant qu'il ne la vist plus chez elle mais en eschange ils resolurent qu'ils se verroient tous les jours chez la reine ainsi stesilee en rendant un bon office d'un coste a cette princesse luy en rendit un mauvais de l'autre car elle fit qu'elle vit plus souvent durant plusieurs jours la chose du monde qui luy donnoit le plus de peine a voir c'est a dire myrinthe aupres de philimene mais a la fin basilide qui estoit tousjours assure par stesilee que la reine souhaitoit que ce mariage ne se fist pas obligea la princesse sa mere de mener philimene a la campagne de sorte que durant cette absence myrinthe souffrit des maux incroyables il est vray qu'il ne souffrit pas seul et c'est peut-estre la premiere fois que l'absence d'une rivale a cause de la douleur cependant il est certain que cleobuline ne pouvoit voir myrinthe aussi triste qu'il estoit pour l'absence de philimene sans en avoir une colere et une douleur extreme il y eut mesme une chose qui redoubla encore son chagrin car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'ayant este obligee de faire une grande feste pour quelques ambassadeurs qui estoient arrivez a la cour myrinthe y parut avec une telle negligence qu'on eust dit qu'il n'y devoit estre veu de personne luy semblant 
 semblant que puis que philimene n'y estoit point il ne devoit pas se parer joint aussi que scachant qu'elle avoit une amie qui luy mandoit toutes choses il espera d'estre recompense de sa negligence et ne craignit point du tout que la reine y prist nul interest cependant cette petite chose irrita tellement la douleur qu'elle avoit de ne pouvoir cesser d'aimer myrinthe qu'elle fut quelques instans ou elle espera de ne l'aimer plus mais ces instans passerent si viste qu'elle n'eut pas le loisir de jouir du calme que l'indifference donne qui vit jamais dit elle le soir a stesilee une plus bizarre avanture que la mienne tout ce que je fais pour me guerir ou pour me soulager augmente mon mal j'absence de philimene que je croyois me devoir estre fort douce m'est tout a fait rigoureuse et dans les sentimens ou je suis j'aime encore mieux voir philimene que de voir sur le visage de myrinthe la tristesse qu'il a de ne la voir point mais que dis-je reprenoit elle est-il bien possible que je me trouve capable de si bizarres sentimens je m'assure adjoustoit cette princesse que ceux qui me voyent si souvent entrer seule dans mon cabinet croyent que je medite de grandes choses qu'il s'agit de faire quel que alliance considerable et que le bien de l'estat est ce qui occupe toutes mes pensees cependant foible que je suis je m'amuse a observer si myrinthe est triste ou s'il est guay et si myrinthe est pare ou neglige ha cleobuline a quoy pense tu rapelle 
 dans ta memoire ce que tu estois autrefois lis tous les eloges qu'on te donne afin de te mettre en estat de les meriter et sois enfin pour toy mesme ce que tu parois dire aux autres on parle de toy par toute la terre comme si tu n'aimois que la vertu et la gloire et cependant tu aime myrinthe qui ne t'aime pas quoy que tu scaches bien que tu ne le peux faire sans faire une chose indigne de ta condition tu aimes dis-je myrinthe qui n'aime que philimene et qui ne devroit pas encore posseder son affection quand mesme il t'aimeroit autant qu'il l'aime et qu'il n'aimeroit que toy juge donc cleobuline juge quelle est la bassesse de ton ame de faire ce que tu fais et pense une fois en ta vie bien serieusement qu'il y a de la follie de se laisser vaincre par ses propres passions souviens toy que le sage periandre ton pere t'a dit mille et mille fois que la tranquilite de l'esprit estoit le plus grand de tous les biens et que cette tranquilite estoit a l'ame ce que la sante est au corps c'est a dire que sans elle on ne peut jouir de nulle sorte de plaisir rapelle encore en ton souvenir qu'il t'a dit que l'amour de la gloire estoit seule innocente et chasse de ton ame l'amour de myrinthe qui est la plus criminelle que tu puisse avoir quoy que tu n'ayes que de l'innocence dans le coeur enfin songe pour te surmonter toy mesme qu'il y va de tout son repos et de toute ta gloire car encore que son crimesoit cache il te donnera presques autant 
 de confusion que s'il estoit public en effet le moyen de recevoir sans rougir les louanges qu'on te donne dans la pensee que tu ne les memes pas et le moyen encore de se rejouir de l'estime qu'on a pour toy lors que tu ne t'estimes pas toy mesme mais pour achever de te guerir songe cleobuline songe que si myrinthe que tu estime tant et que tu aime si tendrement malgre toy scavoit quelle est ta foiblesse pour luy il t'en estimeroit moins et t'en mespriseroit peutestre cesse donc de croire comme tu l'as creu que s'il scavoit son affection il quitteroit philimens et pense au contraite pour te guerir qu'il t'osteroit tout a fait la sienne il paroist bien madame interrompit stesilee que l'amour est une passion que vous ne connoissez guere puis que vous croyez la vaincre par la raison et par la violence ha ma chere stesilee luy dit elle de quelles armes voulez vous donc que je me serve pour la surmonter voulez vous adjousta-t'elle que je me laisse vaincre sans combatre et que je me puisse accuser de m'estre laschement rendue sans faire aucune resistance non madame reprit stesilee mais je ne veux pas aussi qu'en voulant detruire vostre passion vous vous detruisiez vous mesme mais encore stesilee reprit elle que voulez vous que face une personne qui sent dans son coeur autant de honte que d'amour autant de jalousie que de honte et autant de colere que de jalousie que voulez vous dis-je que 
 devienne une princesse qui a mille sentimens opposez dans l'ame qui tantost voudroit tousjours voir myrinthe et tantost voudroit ne le voir jamais qui desireroit qu'il sceust qu'elle l'aime et qui croit un moment apres qu'elle mourroit de confusion si elle scavoit qu'il le sceust qui hait philimene avec autant de violence qu'elle aime myrinthe et qui bien souvent se hait elle mesme jusques a se desirer la mort il y a mesme des jours adjousta-t'elle en rougissant ou je surprens mon coeur dans des sentimens qui me font voir que je dois tout craindre de moy car enfin ma chere stesilee tout ce que l'histoire nous aprend d'evenemens extraordinaires causez par l'amour me repasse en la memoire je voy des rois d'egipte qui ont fait des esclaves reines et je m'imagine mesme avoir leu en quelque part qu'il y a eu des reines qui ont fait des esclaves rois de la ma raison s'esgarant entierement je songe que myrinthe est d'une condition plus noble et d'un merite extraordinaire je pense qu'il a la main assez forte pour soustenir la pesanteur du sceptre et que qui regne dans mon coeur pourroit bien regner dans mon royaume mais a peine ces basses et folles imaginations ont elle remply mon esprit que tout d'un coup ma raison faisant un grand effort pour se desveloper des nuages qui l'obscurcissent me donne une telle hourreur de mes propres pensees que je suis un instant a hair et celle qui les a et celuy 
 qui les luy fait avoir jugez donc stesilee quelle est la vie que je mene mais ce qu'il y a de plus inhumain est qu'a la fin de tous mes transports je voy tousjours myrinthe innocent et myrinthe digne de mon estime car enfin myrinthe a du coeur de l'esprit et de la fidelite et si je pouvois ne le regarder que comme mon sujet j'aurois tous les sujets du monde d'estre contente de luy cependant je m'en pleins sans scavoir pourquoy et je l'excuse et le justifie en une mesme temps comme je m'excuse et me condamne en un mesme moment il y a pourtant tousjours dans mon coeur je ne scay quel desir de gloire qui fait bien souvent que malgre la violence de ma passion je rends graces aux dieux de ce que myrinthe ne m'aime point quoy que ce soit la chose du monde qui m'afflige le plus mais a peine leur ay-je rendu grace d'une si cruelle faveur qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne leur demande celle de mettre dans le coeur de myrinthe ce qu'ils ont mis dans le mien ainsi passant tousjours d'un sentiment a un autre sans en avoir jamais que je ne veuille point combatre je ne trouve repos en nulle part apres une agitation si violente la reine se teut et apres avoir este quelque temps sans parler elle dit a stesilee qu'elle trouvoit quelque chose de si indigne d'elle a prendre tant de soins inutiles pour rompre le mariage de myrinthe qu'elle ne s'en vouloir pas mesler estant resolue de laisser la chose au hazard durant quelques 
 aussi bien dit-elle suis-je persuadee que l'augmente l'amour de myrinthe pour philimene par les obstacles que j'aporte a son dessein qui est la chose du monde que je crains le plus et qui me cause le plus de douleur cette resolution estant prise stesilee cessa d'agir cependant myrinthe a qui sa passion ne donnoit point de repos chercha tant de voyes de gagner basilide qu'enfin il luy fit comprendre par un de ses amis qu'il luy importoit extremement dans les desseins qu'il avoit pour la reine de n'irriter pas myrinthe qui paroissoit tousjours estre si bien avec elle il estoit pourtant assez embarrasse car il scavoit par stesilee qu'elle n'aprouvoit pas le dessein que myrinthe avoit pour philimene cependant il connoissoit par luy mesme qu'on ne pouvoit pas estre mieux avec elle qu'il y estoit et qu'ainsi il luy importoit de tout qu'il fust dans les interests de sorte que cherchant par quel moyen il pourroit ne paroistre pas faire un mariage que la reine n'aprouvoit point et ne choquer pas aussi myrinthe il se resolut a se confier a luy et a luy aprendre par quel motif il resistoit a son dessein ne se souciant pas de sacrifier sa soeur a son amour ainsi apres estre convenu du lieu ou ils se devoient voir en secret basilide aprit a myrinthe que la raison pour laquelle il s'estoit oppose a sa passion estoit parce que stesilee luy avoit assure que la reine ne l'aprouvoit pas en suitte dequoy se liant d'interests ensemble myrinthe 
 promit a basilide de le servir autant qu'il pourroit et basilide promit a myrinthe de ne luy nuire plus pourveu qu'il fist consentir la reine a ce qu'il vouloir cependant pour commencer de le favoriser basilide fit revenir philimene a corinthe sur le pretexte de quelque legere incommodite mais si la tristesse que la reine avoit veue sur le visage de myrinthe durant l'absence de philimene luy avoit donne de la douleur la joye qu'elle y vit pour son retour la pensa faire desesperer la satisfaction de myrinthe n'estoit pourtant pas tranquile car scachant que la reine n'ignoroit point son dessein il le trouvoit bien plus difficile a faire reussir que lors qu'il croyoit qu'il n'y avoit que basilide qui s'y opposast c'estoit pourtant en vain qu'il en cherchoit la cause dans son esprit car il se voyoit aussi bien avec elle qu'il y avoit jamais este et il ne soubconnoit point du tout qu'elle ne s'opposoit a sa felicite que parce qu'il estoit trop bien dans son coeur il creut neantmoins que le mieux qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de faire semblant de ne scavoir point qu'elle desaprouvast son amour et il pensa mesme que s'il pouvoit avoir la hardiesse de luy aller demander sa protection pour faire reussir le dessein qu'il avoit qu'elle n'auroit peutestre pas la force de le refuser ainsi apres avoir bien consulte la chose avec basilide et avec philimene il fut resolu qu'il en useroit de cette sorte et l'occasion s'en presentoit mesme d'autant 
 plus favorable que myrinthe venoit de rendre un service considerable a la reine ayant negocie avec tant d'adresse et tant d'esprit avec des ambassadeurs de lacedemone qui estoient alors a corinthe qu'on pouvoit dire qu'il avoit empesche une grande et dangereuse guerre myrinthe ne dit rien du dessein qu'il avoit a stesilee car comme elle ne s'estoit pas tant ouverte a luy qu'a basilide il ne creut pas a propos de luy en parler de peur qu'elle ne l'en dissuadast ou qu'en advertissant cleobuline elle ne luy donnait plus de moyen de le refuser en luy donnant le temps de se preparer a luy dire les raisons dont elle se voudroit servir pour ne luy accorder pas ce qu'il luy devoit demander enfin apres avoir bien songe a ce qu'il avoit a dire il fut un matin chez la reine qui estoit l'heure ou il scavoit qu'il pouvoit luy parler plus commodement mais il y fut avec beaucoup d'esperance car quand il se souvenoit des graces qu'il avoit receues de cette princesse des grandes charges qu'elle luy avoit donnees et de toutes les choses qu'elle avoit faites pour luy il ne pouvoit croire qu'elle voulust le rendre malheureux en luy refusant la seule chose qui pouvoit faire sa facilite c'est pourquoy il se resolut s'il trouvoit quelque difficulte a obtenir ce qu'il souhaitoit de luy exagerer la passion qu'il avoit pour philimene d'une telle sorte qu'elle ne pust douter qu'il ne pouvoit vivre sans elle ce n'est pas qu'il ne sceust bien qu'il n'estoit pas trop respectueux 
 d'entretenir la reine de l'on amour mais ne fondant l'esperance de la flechir que sur la connoissance qu'il luy donneroit de sa passion il se resolut de ne s'arrester pas a une simple bienseance en une chose d'ou dependoit tout le repos de sa vie myrinthe ayant donc forme ce dessein et estant arrive chez la reine agit avec elle comme il avoit accoustume de faire lors qu'il avoit a l'entretenir de quelque affaire importante de sorte que cleobuline luy donna lieu de luy parler en particulier sans soubconner rien de la verite s'imaginant qu'il vouloit luy dire quelque chose qui regardoit son service mais elle fut bien estonnee lors qu'elle connut par les premieres paroles de myrinthe qu'elle s'estoit abusee si je ne scavois madame luy dit-il que j'ay l'honneur d'estre connu de vostre majeste j'aurois sujet de craindre qu'au lieu de m'accorde la tres-humble priere que j'ay dessein de luy faire aujourd'huy elle ne me refusast en m'accusant de temerite et d'une ambition demesuree il me semble reprit la reine toute surprise qu'apres les choses que j'ay faites pour vous il en est peu qui me permissent de vous accuser d'estre temeraire et je vous advoue mesme que j'ay quelque peine a comprendre ce que vous pouvez desirer qui me puisse donner sujet de vous accuser d'estre trop ambitieux il est pourtant vray madame reprit myrinthe qu'ayant dessein de suplier vostre majeste de me permettre de servir philimene et de me 
 vouloir proteger aupres de basilide je crains estrangement qu'elle ne prenne une passion pour une autre et qu'elle ne croye que n'estant pas content de ses bienfaits je veuille en attirer d'autres par une si illustre alliance mais madame poursuivit-il je vous proteste que l'ambition n'est point ce qui fait ma temerite et que si je n'avois que cette passion dans l'ame je serois sans doute fort heureux car enfin madame vous m'avez honnore de tant de charges et de tant de glorieux emplois que de ce coste la je ne trouve pas dequoy former un desir mais madame s'il m'est permis de vous ouvrir mon coeur afin de vous faire excuser la hardiesse que je prens il faut que vous scachiez que l'amour est la passion qui me possede et la passion qui me fait vous suplier mais vous suplier avec ardeur de m'accorder ce que je vous demande si vous n'aviez que de l'ambition reprit cleobuline en rougissant il vous seroit plus aise d'obtenir de moy ce que vous souhaitez car comme je suis en possession de satisfaire une partie des desirs que cette passion vous peut donner je continuerois peut-estre encore mais de vouloir m'obliger a me mesler d'une amour et d'une amour telle que la vostre c'est myrinthe ce que je ne scaurois faire diverses raisons que je ne vous puis dire sont que ce mariage ne me plaist pas ce n'est pas toutesfois que je ne vous trouve digne de philimene et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'elle emportee par un transport d'amour que je ne 
 vous refuse pas mon consentement par un sentiment qui vous soit desavantageux je vous donne la plus considerable charge de mon estat que vous scavez qui vaque depuis quelques jours ha madame reprit myrinthe ordonnez moy plustost de vous rendre toutes celles que vous m'avez desja donnees et ne me refusez pas philimene comme l'amour n'est bien souvent qu'une passion passagere reprit elle vous oublierez peut estre avec le temps la rigueur que je vous tiens et comme l'ambition au contraire est une passion qui suit jusques a la mort ceux qui en sont possedez quand vostre amour sera passee vous serez bien aise que j'aye contente vostre ambition de grace madame repliqua myrinthe ne jugez pas de moy selon les regles ordinaires des autres et croyez je vous en conjure que j'ay plus d'amour que d'ambition et que je seray tousjours ainsi comme cette croyance ne vous seroit pas avantageuse respondit la reine je ne la veux pas avoir et je demereray dans les sentimens ou je suis je scay bien madame repliqua myrinthe que vous estes en droit de me tout refuser sans que je puisse jamais estre en droit de me pleindre mais comme la passion qui me possede n'est pas accoustumee a reconnoistre l'empire de la raison je ne scaurois m'empescher de dire a vostre majeste qu'apres m'avoir tant fait de graces que je ne luy ay pas demandees il en est quelque facon estrange qu'elle me refuse la seule que je luy demande et 
 sans laquelle toutes les autres me sont inutiles ouy madame poursuivit myrinthe emporte par la violence de son amour philimene est si absolument necessaire a la felicite de ma vie que je ne puis vivre si vous m'ostez l'esperance de la posseder pour l'esperance reprit cleobuline avec une douleur et un despit extreme je ne vous la puis pas oster car il est des gens qui la conservent bien souvent contre toute sorte d'aparence mais pour philimene je ne vous la donneray pas et si vous l'espousez vous l'espouterez sans mon consentement je scay bien dit elle qu'apres avoir eu la bonte d'agir aveque vous comme j'ay fait par le passe il vous doit sembler en quelque facon estrange que je vous refuse une chose que vous souhaitez si ardemment et que je vous la refuse sans vous en dire la raison mais myrinthe cette raison est de telle nature que je ne vous la scaurois dire cependant elle est si forte qu'elle est invincible et si vous la scaviez vous advoueriez que si vous estiez a ma place vous seriez ce que je fais en effet poursuivit elle je suis assuree que vous n'aurez pas plus de peine a vous resoudre de ne plus songer a philimene que j'en aurois a consentir que vous continuassiez d'y penser c'est pourquoy myrinthe ne me demandez plus ce que je ne vous puis accorder car vous le demande riez inutilement qu'il vous suffise que des deux passions de vostre ame je contente celle qui accoustume d'estre la plus difficile a contenter 
 et si vous voulez estre heureux surmontez l'autre courageusement ha madame s'escria t'il eu soupirant il paroit bien que vostre majeste n'aime que la gloire et ne connoist que l'amour de la vertu seulement puis qu'elle croit qu'on chasse si aisement de son coeur l'ardente passion qui me possede non non philimene n'en sortira pas si facilement je puis sans doute ne l'espouser pas et mourir mais je ne puis ny cesserde l'aimer ny vivre sans la posseder c'est donc a vous madame a choisir si vous aimez mieux me donner la mort ou philimene le respect que je dois a vostre majeste ne scauroit aller plus loin si vous me donnez la premiere je seray ce que je pourray pour la recevoir sans murmurer mais si vous m'accordiez la seconde que ne serois-je pas pour vous tesmoigner ma reconnoissance songez donc madame que des dernieres paroles que vous allez prononcer depend la vie ou la mort d'un homme que vous avez assez estime pour l'accabler de bien-faits et que vous estimez encore assez pour le vouloir combler de nouvelles faveurs pensez dis-je que si vous me dites je vous permets de servir philimene je vous serviray toute ma vie avec une ardeur incroyable et pensez en mesme temps que si vous me dites encore une fois je vous deffends de penser a philimene ces cruelles paroles seront des paroles empoisonnees qui passant de vostre bouche dans mon oreille et de mon oreille dans mon coeur y porteront infailliblement 
 la mort mais une mort la plus rigoureuse et la plus insuportable du monde puis qu'elle me sera donnee par la plus grande reine de la terre et par une reine pour qui j'ay tous les sentimens de respect que je dois avoir car enfin madame je puis vous protester aveque verite que j'ay autant de passion pour voistre gloire que pour philimene et que je vous suis aussi fidelle sujet que je luy suis fidelle amant obeissez donc reprit cleobuline aux ordres que je vous donne et obeissez de bonne grace plust aux dieux madame que je le pusse repliqua-t'il mais puis que je ne le puis sans mourir ne m'en demandez pas d'avantage contentez vous s'il vous plaist du souhait que je viens de faire d'aimer moins philimene que je ne l'aime et croyez je vous en conjure que si je pouvois m'arracher de l'ame la passion que vous n'approuvez pas je le serois sans doute aveque joye scachant bien qu'une princesse qui n'a le coeur sensible qu'a la gloire m'estimeroit d'avantage si le mien ne l'estoit pas a l'amour mais madame puis que je ne me puis changer c'est a vous a me dire encore une fois si je dois vivre ou mourir vivez luy dit cleobuline sans scavoir presques ce qu'elle luy disoit mais vivez sans philimene si vous voulez vivre sans me desplaire je vivray madame reprit-il si je le puis puis que vous le commandez mais comme je suis persuade que je ne le pourray pas je mourray avec le desepoir de ne scavoir pas mesme pourquoy je 
 meurs mais je mourray aussi avec la satisfaction d'estre le plus fidelle de vos sujets comme le plus malheureux apres cela myrinthe fit une profonde et respectueuse reverence a la reine mais avec tant de tristesse sur le visage qu'il en eust fait pitie a toute autre qu'a une amante et qu'a une amante que la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame irritoit et contre luy et contre elle mesme a peine myrinthe fut il sorty du cabinet de la reine que stesilee y entra et a peine y fut elle entree que cleobuline deffendit qu'on ne laissast entrer personne et se mit a luy raconter ce qui venoit de se passer entre myrinthe et elle mais avec tant d'agitation d'esprit qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle estoit la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame si vous scaviez luy disoit elle avec quelle ardeur myrinthe m'a demanda philimene vous seriez estonnee comment j'ay pu la luy refuser ou comment j'ay pu ne le hair pas ou comment j'ay pu cacher la jalousie que j'avois dans l'ame cependant pour mon malheur plus il m'a paru aujourd'huy amoureux de philimene plus ma passion a augmente pour luy helas disois-je en moy mesme durant qu'il parloit que je serois heureuse si myrinthe avoit pour moy la passion qu'il a pour une autre et lors qu'il m'a proteste qu'il en avoit autant pour ma gloire que pour philimene peu s'en est falu que je n'aye desire de luy pouvoir dire qu'il n'avoit pour estre heureux qu'a en avoir autant pour ma personne que pour mon service 
 mais graces aux dieux ma raison estant venue a mon secours j'ay en horreur d'une pensee si lasche et si foible et j'ay este quelques instans ou j'avois presques resolu d'accorder philimene a myrinthe afin de chasser tour a fait myrinthe du coeur de cleobuline mais quelques efforts que j'aye pu faire ma bouche n'a point voulu obeir a un commandement que mon coeur ne luy faisoit point et que ma raison mesme ne luy faisoit pas absolument ainsi ma chere stesilee j'ay refuse philimene a myrinthe et j'ay conserve myrinthe dans mon coeur malgre toute l'amour qu'il a pour philimene il y a pourtant eu des instans ou cette violente ardeur que je voyois dans son ame a mis tant de colere dans la mienne que je n'en aurois pas eu d'avantage si myrinthe eust este ingrat et infidelle mais un moment apres ma colere ayant cesse je me suis accusee moy mesme de la plus horrible injustice du monde en effet il faut que j'advoue a ma confusion qu'on ne peut pas estre plus injuste que je le suis en cette rencontre car enfin quelque sorte que soit la passion que j'ay pour myrinthe il est constamment vray que je ne veux pas qu'il en scache jamais rien et que quand il viendroit a en avoir pour moy je ne voudrois pas qu'il eust la hardiesse de m'en parler ainsi il faut advouer qu'il y a de la folie et de l'injustice de vouloir rendre myrinthe malheureux mais apres tout j'imagine une si grande consolation a le voir sans amour pour philimene et je trouverois un si grand 
 plaisir a pouvoir croire qu'il en auroit pour moy sans qu'il sceust que j'en eusse pour luy que je ne scaurois consentir qu'il continue d'aimer philimene ny qu'il l'espouse cependant dans la violence de son amour je suis persuadee qu'il l'espousera malgre ma deffence et que je me veray forcee apres cela de le bannir de ma cour de luy oster mes bien-faits et de le punir pour avoir mesprise mon authorite mais que dis-je poursuivit elle je parle de bannir myrinthe de ma cour moy qui ne le puis bannir de mon coeur quoy qu'il fust bien plus juste de le faire que de le chasser de mon estat pour moy madame reprit stesilee je ne suis pas de vostre sentiment et je suis persuadee que myrinthe n'espousera point philimene si vous n'y contentez quand il ne l'espousera pas sans mon consentement reprit elle il est tousjours vray qu'il m'en haira et qu'il continuera de l'aimer ainsi soit qu'il l'espouse on qu'il ne l'espouse point je seray tousjours malheureuse mais encore madame repliqua stesilee faudroit il que vostre majeste formast un dessein quel qu'il pust estre afin de voir si je pourrois contribuer quelque chose a le faire reussir je fais plus que vous ne pensez dit elle car au lieu de former un dessein j'en ay continuellement deux dans l'esprit il est vray poursuivit elle qu'ils sont un peu opposez et c'est a mon advis ce qui sera cause qu'ils ne reussiront jamais ny l'un ny l'autre car enfin j'ay continuellement dans le coeur celuy d'estre aimee de 
 myrinthe et celuy de cesser de l'aimer jugez stesilee si ayant deux choses a faire qui sont presques esgallement impossibles je dois avoir l'ame bien tranquile apres cela cleobuline dit encore cent choses a stesilee qui faisoient voir avec une esgalle force la grandeur de sa passion et la grandeur de sa vertu cependant elle devint si triste si inquieteet si chagrine depuis le jour que myrinthe luy eut demande la permission de servir philimene que stesilee aprehenda extremement qu'elle n'en tombast malade d'autre part myrinthe estoit dans un desespoir si grand qu'on n'a jamais veu un homme plus afflige car il scavoit bien que quelque liaison qu'il y eut alors entre basilide et luy il ne luy donneroit pas philimene sans le consentement de cleobuline joint aussi que devant autant a la reine qu'il luy devoit il connoissoient bien que ce seroit faire une laschete que de luy desobeir de plus ayant l'ame fort ambitieuse il n'estoit pas trop aise de se voir dans la necessite de perdre sa fortune pour contenter son amour de sorte qu'il souffroit des maux incroyables mais ce qui l'accabloit estrangement estoit de ne pouvoir deviner par quel motisla reine resistoit a son dessein et pour faire qu'il fust encore plus malheureux philimene ayant sceu par basilide a qui myrinthe en avoit dit quelque chose que la reine ne vouloir pas consentir a ce mariage dit a myrinthe pour esprouver sa fidelite qu'elle ne vouloir point qu'il perdist sa 
 fortune pour l'amour d'elle et qu'elle le conjuroit de n'y songer plus philimene dit cela a myrinthe d'une maniere qui fit qu'il ne devina point son dessein au contraite il creut qu'elle ne luy parloit ainsi que parce qu'elle craignoit de quitter la cour en suitte prenant la chose de plus loin il pensa que peut estre un rival qu'il avoit estoit il mieux avec philimene qu'il ne l'avoit creu de sorte qu'il fut presques aussi mal satisfait d'elle que de la reine il luy fit pourtant mille protestations d'amour les plus tendres et les plus passionnees du monde il se pleignit du soin qu'elle avoit de sa fortune il luy jura qu'il ne la considereroit point du tout si ce n'estoit qu'elle ne pust se resoudre d'attacher la sienne a celle d'un malheureux et il luy parla enfin si obligeamment que philimene pour avoir le plaisir de luy entendre dire des choses qui luy donnoient de si genereuses preuves de son amour s'obstina a luy resister quoy que ce fust pourtant avec le dessein de luy dire quand elle le reverroit que pourveu qu'il obtinst le contentement de ses parens elle ne se soucieroit pas de celuy de la reine cependant myrinthe qui ne scavoit pas son dessein la quitta peu satisfait et emporta dans son coeur beaucoup de douleur et un peu de jalousie
 
 
 
 
au sortir de chez elle il fut chez stesilee resolu de tascher de l'obliger a luy dire ce qui portoit la reine a luy estre si contraite apres luy avoir este si favorable en toutes choses le premier compliment fait myrinthe 
 qui ne pouvoit parler que de ce qu'il avoit dans le coeur se mit a la conjurer de luy vouloir rendre un office il y a tant de plaisir luy dit elle d'en rendre a un aussi honneste homme que vous que vous estes presques assure d'obtenir ce que vous me voulez demander si c'est une chose que je puisse ouy stesilee luy dit-il vous pouvez m'aprendre qui m'a detruit dans l'esprit de la reine je vous assure luy repliqua t'elle que je ne vous aprendray pas cela car je suis certaine que vous n'y estes point mal ha stesilee reprit il je ne croy pas possible que j'y sois bien car enfin elle me refuse la seule chose que je luy ay demandee et qui est de telle nature que je ne puis comprendre pourquoy elle ne me l'accorde pas je scay bien que philimene est au dessus de moy mais je suis tant au dessous des bien-faits que j'ay receus de la reine que je ne pensois pas que n'ayant garde nulle mesure aux honneurs que j'ay receus d'elle elle en voulut garder en une oceasion ou bien souvent on n'en garde point au nom des dieux poursuivit il aprenez moy ce qui cause mon malheur ay-je fait ou dit quelque chose qui puisse avoir desplu a la reine ay-je quelque ennemy cache qui me rende mauvais office aupres d'elle basilide m'auroit il trahi et l'auroit il priee en secret de me refuser une chose qu'il me tesmoigne souhaitter seroit ce que la reine creust que je ne fais l'amoureux de philimene que pour cacher mon ambition craint-elle qu'apres l'avoir espousee je la presse 
 trop elle mesme d'espouser basilide enfin me regarde-t'elle comme un factieux qui veut s'apuyer dans son estat pour y soulever les peuples et pour luy faire la guerre parlez donc stesilee parlez vous dis-je qui scavez tout ce que je veux scavoir en me croyant assez bien aveque la reine pour scavoir ses plus secretes pensees dit-elle vous avez sans doute bonne opinion de de moy mais tout ce que je puis vous dire est que je ne voy nuls sentimens pour vous dans son coeur qui ne vous soient avantageux quand je repasse en ma memoire reprit-il toutes les graces que j'ay receues de la reine je croy facilement ce que vous dites mais quand je songe a ce qu'elle me refuse je trouve avoir lieu de croire qu'elle a change de sentimens et qu'elle ne m'estime plus la nouvelle charge qu'elle vous a donnee repliqua-t'elle ne vous permet pas de parler comme vous faites aprenez moy donc luy dit il quel est le motif qui oblige la reine a ne vouloir pas que j'aime philimene vous scavez luy dit stesileeque la politique veut quelquesfois certaines choses dont on ne dit jamais la cause je scay reprit-il que la reine doit avoir assez bonne opinion de moy pour me faire l'honneur de me confier les raisons qui l'obligent a me refuser si la seule politique la faisoit agir ainsi de sorte que je conclus qu'il faut de necessite que ce soit qu'elle haisse philimene ou qu'elle me haisse c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire ce que vous en scavez au reste poursuivit il ne 
 craignez pas que je manque de discretion ny que je revele jamais ce que vous m'aurez confie un homme amoureux reprit elle n'est guere propre a garder un secret ha stesilee repliqua-t'il quelque amoureux que je sois on peut me confier toutes choses car enfin je suis persuade que l'amour ne doit rien faire faire contre l'honneur ny contre la probite ainsi soyez asseure que si je vous promets de ne dire point a philimene ce que vous me direz je ne le luy diray jamais de grace ayez donc pitie d'un malheureux qui a cette conformite aveque vous d'aimer autant la reine que vous l'aimez j'ay mesme le malheur reprit il de croire que si basilide traversoit mon dessein je serois moins infortune que je ne le suis mais de voir qu'une princesse pour qui je mourrois aveque joye et pour la gloire de qui j'ay une passion demesuree veuille me rendre le plus miserable de tes sujets c'est ce que je ne scaurois endurer sans m'en plaindre comme cleobuline poursuivit ilest d'une condition qui ne permet pas qu'on luy puisse dire les sentimens qu'on a pour elle je suis assure qu'elle ne scait les miens que tres imparfaitement elle croit bien sans doute que je suis attache a son service et que je suis un fidelle sujet mais elle croit peut estre que je n'y suis attachee que par honner par interest et par reconnoissance cependant il faut que je vous die pour vous obliger a me dire ce que je veux scavoir que je le suis cent fois plus par inclination ouy stesilee 
 j'aime la reine avec un attachechement si puissant que je n'ay pas plus d'amour pour philimene que j'ay de tendresse pour cleobuline je dis mesme plus adjousta-t'il car veu les sentimens que j'ay tousjours eus dans l'ame pour cette princesse je suis persuade que si elle fust nee un peu plus bas que lethrone ou elle est j'aurois peut estre eu la hardieste de lever les yeux jusques a elle jugez donc combien il me doit estre dur et sensible de voir que la mort me soit donnee par une main qui m'est si chere aprenez moy donc je vous en conjure la veritable cause de mon malheur afin que je face ce que je pourray ou pour le vaincre ou pour y soumettre mon esprit car je vous advoue que si vous ne m'aprenez ce que je veux scavoir je suis capable de m'emporter a quelque violence estrange pendant que myrinthe parloit ainsi stesilee estoit fort irresolue sur ce qu'elle devoit faire elle voyoit bien que la raison vouloit qu'elle ne descouvrist pas le secret de la reine mais d'autre coste elle la voyoit si affligee et si chagrine qu'elle craignoit qu'elle ne mourust d'affliction de plus quoy que cleobuline luy eust dit mille et mille fois qu'elle ne voudroit pas que myrinthe sceust sa passion elle croyoit pourtant que pourvcu que la connoissance qu'il en auroit pust l'empescher de continuer d'aimer philimeneet l'obliger a avoir de l'affection pour elle la reine se consoleroit de cette avanture de sorte que scachant que myrinthe avoit beaucoup 
 d'ambition et aprenant de sa propre bouche qu'il estoit nay avec beaucoup de disposition a aimer la reine elle ne douta quasi point que si elle luy aprenoit la raison pour laquelle elle s'opposoit a son dessein elle ne l'empeschast du moins de songer a espouser philimene si bien que stesilee regardant le repos de la reine et peut-estre aussi la grandeur de sa fortune qu'elle croyoit eslever par cette confidence quoy qu'elle ne l'aye pas voulu advouer elle delibera en elle mesme si elle tenteroit la chose ou non comme elle scavoit que myrinthe estoit fort discret elle en estoit un peu plus hardie et elle le fut d'autant plus qu'apres avoir bien considere la chose elle trouva qu'elle ne hazardoit rien car enfin disoit elle en elle mesme sans presques escouter ce que luy disoit myrinthe si ce que je luy diray n'esbranle point sa constance il n'aura garde pour son interest de faire jamais connoistre a la reine qu'il a sceu qu'elle a de la passion pour luy puisque ce seroit luy faire un outrage qui retomberoit sur luy mesme et si ce que je luy diray luy fait quitter philimene et le porte a aimer cleobuline je n'ay rien a craindre de sa colere quoy qu'elle dise tousjours qu'elle ne voudrait pas que myrinthe sceust qu'elle l'aime et qu'elle ne voudroit pas non plus que myrinthe luy dist qu'il l'aimast quand mesme il seroit vray qu'il l'aimeroit stesilee ayant donc conclu en elle mesme que veu le pitoyable estat ou elle voyoit 
 la reine elle devoit tout hazarder pour son repos et reveler mesme son secret pour son service qu'elle ne pouvoit la servir autrement chercha dans son esprit avec quelles paroles elle expliqueroit une chose si delicate et si difficile a dire cependant myrinthe ayant cesse de parler et voyant que stesilee songeoit plus a ce qu'elle pensoit qu'a ce qu'il luy disoit creut encore plus qu'auparavant qu'il y avoit quelque cause bien misterieuse au refus que la reine luy avoit fait et que le silence de stesilee n'en avoit point d'autre que l'incertitude ou elle estoit si elle la luy diroit ou si elle ne la luy diroit pas de sorte que redoublant ses prieres pour ne luy donner pas loisir de prendre une resolution contraite a ce qu'il souhaitoit de grace aimable stesilee luy dit-il ne deliberez plus si vous me devez accorder ce que je vous demande et dites moy precisement si la reine m'a refuse par haine par mespris ou par preocupation ce que vous me demandez reprit stesilee est de plus d'importance que vous ne pessez et ce secret poursuivit elle est de telle nature que je ne puis vous le confier si vous ne me jurez solemnellement de ne le reveler jamais a personne sans en excepter philimene voulant mesme que vous m'en faciez un serment particulier pour elle seule qui le doit moins scavoir que tout le reste de la terre myrinrhe entendant parler stesilee de cette sorte redoubla encore sa curiosite si bien qu'il luy fit plus de promesses et de plus fermens qu'elle 
 n'en vouloit qu'il ne diroit jamais rien de tout ce qu'elle luy alloit dire ny a philimene ny a aucune autre ce ne fut toutesfois pas encore assez pour assurer stesilee car elle voulut qu'il luy jurast qu'il ne seroit jamais connoistre a la reine ny par ses paroles ny par aucune de ses actions qu'il eust sceu ce qu'elle luy alloit dire myrinthe estant tousjours plus surpris et plus curieux promit encore a stesilee qu'elle vouloit apres quoy prenant un visage fort serieux et abaissant la voix quoy qu'il fust seul qui la pust entendre je ne doute pas luy dit elle que vous n'ayez quelque estonnement de voir que j'aporte tant de precautions a vous dire une chose ou vous pensez avoir seul interest mais vous serez encore bien plus estonne lors que vous scaurez que ce que je veux que vous cachiez avec tant de soin est la chose du monde qui vous est la plus glorieuse ouy myrinthe poursuivit elle ce qui vous donne tant de douleur ce qui vous oblige a vous pleindre de la reine ce qui fait que vous murmurez si aigrement et ce qui vous porte a croire qu'elle a change de sentimens pour vous est la plus glorieuse avanture de vostre vie et lors que cleobuline vous a donne tant de charges et tant de gouvernemens elle n'a rien fait pour vous de si obligeant que ce qu'elle a fait en vous refusant philimene ha stesilee luy dit il quelque esprit que vous ayez vous aurez bien de la peine a me persuader ce que vous dites pourueu que j'aye la force de vous dire ce que 
 je scay reprit elle vous en tomberez d'accord mais myrinthe poursuivit stesilee en rougissant ne scauriez vous m'espargner la peine que j'ay a vous dire ce que j'ay tant promis de ne dire jamais et ne scauriez vous deviner ce que vous voulez scavoir qu'il vous sur et se poursuivit elle que je vous die pour vous ouvir l'esprit que la politique ny la haine n'ont point de part a la resolution que la reine a prise de vous refuser philimene apres cela myrinthe dites vous a vous mesme ce que je n'ay pas la force de vous dire principalement quand je me souviens quelles sont les promesses que j'ay faites a la reine de ne le dire jamais myrinthe entendant parler stesilee de cette sorte commenca d'entendre ce qu'elle vouloit qu'il entendist mais il l'entendit avec tant d'estonnement et tant de trouble dans l'esprit qu'il creut qu'il n'avoit pas bien entendu il n'a pourtant jamais sceu dire precisement quels avoient este ses premiers sentimens en cette rencontre tant ils furent tumultueux cependant pour ne hazarder rien il respondit a stesilee en biaisant un peu ce qu'il semble que vous vouliez que l'entende luy dit il est si surprenant que je doute si je ne sais pas un crime de vous tesmoigner que je l'ay entendu non myrinthe reprit stesilee vous n'estes point criminel de m'entendre mais vous le serez estrangement si apres m'avoir entendue vous ne faites ce que je suis persuadee que vous estes oblige de faire 
 ha stesilee s'escria myrinthe je ne puis comprendre que je puisse vous croire sans manquer de respect pour la reine non non adjousta-t'il le refus qu'elle m'a sait n'a point este cause par la raison que vous luy voulez donner et je pense qu'il vaut mieux que je croye avoir mal entendu et que je vous accuse mesme d'une imposture que d'accuser la plus grande reine du monde d'un si mauvais choix stesilee voyant que myrinthe ne la croyoit point ou vouloit faire semblant de ne la croire pas se mit a luy parler avec tant de force et a luy circonstancier tellement les choses qu'elle luy racontoit qu'en fin elle ne le persuada que trop pour son repos que ce qu'elle luy disoit estoit vray joint aussi que r'apellant dans sa memoire cent choses passees et particulierement la maniere dont la reine luy avoit refuse philimene il ne douta plus du tout que ce qu'il aprenoit de stesilee ne fust veritable comme il n'estoit pas tout a fait content de la derniere conversation qu'il avoit eue avec philimene il ne put aprendre qu'il estoit aime de la plus illustre reine du monde sans en avoir quelques sentimens qui en luy eslevant le coeur luy donnerent quelques instans deplaisir et il y eut des momens ou l'ambition se resveillant dans son ne remplit son imagination que de thrones de sceptres et de couronnes la beaute l'esprit et la vertu de cleobuline y repasserent aussi avec esclat de sorte que durant quelques 
 instans il y eut une espece d'interregne dans son coeur pendant lequel il crut qu'il pourroit le donner a qui il voudroit et pendant lequel encore il s'imagina qu'il le donneroit tout entier a cleobuline et qu'il pourroit quitter philimene mais a peine ce tumulte interieur que l'amour de la gloire et l'ambition avoient excite dant son ame fut il un peu apaise que l'amour de philimene reprenant sa place luy fit considerer l'honneur que la reine luy faisoit comme la chose du monde qui le rendoit le plus malheureux le calme ne fut pourtant pas si tost restably dans son coeur et il dit tant de choses qui se contredisoient les unes les autres en parlant a stesilee qu'il estoit aise devoir quel estoit le trouble de son esprit de grace luy dit il auparavant que je vous die ce que je pense promettez moy a vostre tour je vous en conjure que la reine ne scaura jaimais que vous m'ayez apris l'honneur qu'elle me fait car stesilee si elle doit scavoir que je l'ay sceu je n'ay rien a faire qu'a mourir a vos pieds ne m'estant pas possible de pouvoir jamais me resoudre a paroistre devant elle apres luy avoir paru le plus ingrat et le plus injuste de tous les hommes je vous ay desja dit repliqua-t'elle que je ne veux pas que la reine scache que je vous ay descouvert son secret il est vray dit-il mais la honte que j'ay de ne sentir pas dans mon coeur la joye que je devrois avoir fait que je ne m'assure a rien car enfin je vous advoue poursuivit-il que la fidelite que j'ay pour 
 philimene me donne une confusion qui ne me rend guere moins criminel envers elle que je le suis envers la reine ouy stesilee de la facon dont je sens mon coeur presentement je suis assure que si cleobuline et philimene voyoient ce qui et s'y passe elles en seroient toutes deux presques esgallement irritees car enfin adjousta-t'il je suis contraint d'advouer que je puis aprendre l'obligation que j'ay a la reine sans une agitation d'esprit que je ne puis exprimer je voudrois mourir mille et mille fois pour son service je voudrois n'aimer plus philimene et n'adorer qu'elle seule je voudrois dis je luy sacrifier ma propre vie et luy rendre un eternel hommage mais un moment apres lors que je viens a penser a philimene oseray-je le dire stesilee je voudrois que la reine n'eust que de l'indifference pour moy et mesme qu'elle me haist pourveu que philimene m'aimast jugez donc je vous en conjure en quel estat est un coeur qui est remply de tant de divers sentimens qyoy qu'il en soit dit-elle je vous trouve oblige d'avoir ce respect pour la reine de ne songer plus a philimene plust aux dieux repliqua t'il qui je fusse en estat de suivre vostre conseil je ne vous demande pourtant rien d'injuste dit elle car comme la reine ne veut pas que vous scachiez jamais qu'elle vous aime et que quand vous l'aimeriez elle ne voudroit pas que vous le luy assiez je ne vous oblige pas de necessite a l'aimer mais seulement 
 a luy oster la douleur qu'elle a de vous voir amoureux d'une autre et c'est a mon advis le moins que vous devrez faire pour la plus accomplie princesse du monde ha stesilee s'escria-t'il il ne s'agit pas de scavoir ce que je dois car je scay bien que je dois toutes choses mais il s'agit de scavoir ce que je puis contre rnoy mesme et contre philimene et puis adjousta-t'il tout ce que vous medites n'est guere propre a esbranler ma constance et pour tascher de me rendre infidelle il ne faudroit pas me parler comme vous faites car enfin vous voulez m'obliger a quitter philimene pour la plus grande reine du monde il est vray mais pour une reine qui veut dites vous m'aimer sans que je le scache et qui voudroit que je l'aimaste sans que je le luy diste non non stesilee ce n'est pas avec une semblable passion qu'on peut faire un infidelle d'un homme accoustume a parler de la sienne a la personne qu'il aime d'un homme dis je a qui on a permis desoupirer qui a la liberte de faire voir son amour dans ses yeux et de chercher dans ceux de sa maistresse quelques sentimens avantageux que sa bouche n'oseroit exprimer mais quoy reprenoit il tout d'un coup il semble a m'entendre parler que je veux entrer en capitulation et que si la reine souffroit que je sceusse ses sentimens et que je luy disse les miens je quitterois philimene et l'on diroit enfin que je suis maistre de mon coeur et que je suis en droit 
 d'en disposer mais helas poursuivoit il en soupirant que je suis esloigne de le pouvoir faire et que je suis malheureux du moins si je pouvois estre innocent envers la reine ou enueis philimene j'aurois quelques instans de repos mais a parler veritablement comme je ne suis fidelle a philimene qu'apres avoir essaye de ne l'estre pas ma constance est presque criminelle et pour la reine quoy que je sois coupable envers elle avec tant de repugnance tant de honte et tant de repentir que j'en suis presques innocent je suis pourtant tousjours criminel ainsi sans scavoir moy mesme precisement ce que je suis je n'ose me justifier ny m'accuser et je demeure au plus pitoyable estat du monde puis qu'il est impossible reprit stesilee que vous puissiez estre heureux soyez du moins malheureux d'une maniere qui empesche la reine d'avoir toute la douleur que vous luy causez vous le pouvez aisement puis que vous n'avez qu'a ne songer plus a philimene je le puis aisement reprit myrinthe en regardant stesilee ha si je le pouvois je serois desja infidelle ouy stesilee poursuivit il depuis que vous m'avez apris la raison qui oblige la reine a me refuser ce que je luy ay demande il n'est rien que je n'aye fait dans mon coeur contre philimene je luy ay oppose toute la beaute de la reine tout son esprit toute sa vertu toute sa grandeur et toutes les obligations que je luy ay et pour la vaincre plustost j'ay porte mon imagination 
 jusqu'a la follie j'ay suppose des chosesqui ne fcavroient la mais arriver j'ay donne a mon ambition toute l'estendue que la vanite mesme luy pourroit donner et je me suis mis si pres du throne qu'une seconde pensee corrigeant la premiere m'a fait rougir de mon avdace et de ma temerite mais apres tout cela stesilee cette grande reine qui regne si absolument dans le coeur de tous ceux qui la connoissent et qui en effet a droit d'y regner n'a pu chasser philimene du mien c'est pourquoy si vous avez quel que generosite ayez pitie de ma foiblesse et de mon mal heur dites a la reine poursuivit-il comme de vous mesme que je suis indigne de son affection qu'elle s'abaisse trop en s'abaissant jusques a moy et que puis que je n'ay pas eu la hardiesse de lever les yeux jusques a elle je ne suis pas digne de ses regards mais de grace adjousta-t'il ne portez pas la chose trop loin et ne la faites pas passer de l'amour a la haine car enfin stesilee je vous declare que je serois presques aussi afflige d'estre hai de cleobuline que je le serois de n'estre pas aime de philimene c'est pourquoy laissez la agir par ses propres sentimens car puis qu'il ne me reste rien a faire qu'a mourir je veux du moins que ce soit avec la gloire d'estre regrette de cette princesse j'ay pourtant encore adjousta t'il une priere a vous faire qui est de l'empescher de hair philimene persuadez luy donc pour cela qu'elle ne peut 
 pas s'imaginer qu'en conquestant mon coeur elle luy ait pu desplaire et persuadez luy mesme encore si vous pouvez que je ne suis pas criminel de n'avoir eu que du respect pour elle et qu'au contraite je merite quelque louange d'avoir pu resider a ses charmes vous medites tant de choses opposees les unes aux autres reprit elle que je pense que pour ne point faillir il faut que je n'en face aucune de toutes celles que vous me dites le vous dis pourtant constamment reprit'il que l'aime toufjours philimene mais il est vray que je vous le dis en soupirant et en rougissant tout ensemble et que je ne puis songer au bien que je possede sans songer a celuy que je perds eh grands dieux s'escria t'il pourquoy n'est-il pas possible d'accorder la reine et philimene dans mon coeur pour moy adjousta t'il encore je trouve que la chose se pourroit car enfin de la facon dont vous me parlez de l'affection de la reine il me semble qu'elle pourroit estre satisfaite que j'eusse une extreme veneration pour elle que je la respectasse comme on respecte les dieux que tout mon esprit et toute ma raison reconnussent sa puissance que je luy vouasse tous mes services que mon courage fust tousjours employe pour sa gloire et qu'elle ne laissast a philimene que mon coeur seulement mais que dis-je reprenoit-il il paroist bien que ma raison s'egare de vouloir donner de nouvelles loix a l'amour et de vouloir 
 partager ce qui ne le scauroit estre advouons donc que la reine meriteroit que nous luy donnassions mille coeurs si nous les avions mais advouons en mesme temps que n'en ayant qu'un que nous avons desja donne il n'est plus en nostre puissance et qu'il ne peut estre qu'a philimene comme stesilee alloit respondre basilide entra qui fut assez surpris detrouver tant de marques d'agitation d'esprit sur le visage de myrinthe cette pensee l'inquieta mesme si fort que lors que myrinthe se leva pour s'en aller il se leva aussi quoy qu'il y eust peu qu'il fust entre afin de luy demander ce qu'il avoit myrinthe ne luy aprit pourtant pas mais pour luy dire quelque chose devray-semblable il luy dit qu'ayant prie stesilee de luy rendre office aupres de la reine elle luy avoit apris que cette princesse persistoit a ne vouloir point son mariage avec philimene de sorte que basilide ayant sujet de croire que l'inquietude qu'il remarquoir en l'esprit de myrinthe venoit seulement de l'obstacle qu'il trouvoit a son dessein luy fit encore de nouvelles protestations et l'assura de n'oublier rien de tout ce qui seroit en sa puissance pour le faire reussir apres quoy ils se separerent myrinthe emportant dans son coeur la plus violente inquietude que personne ait jamais eue comme il a l'ame fort ambitiense et que naturellement il avoit beaucoup d'affection pour la reine l'amour de cette princesse le flattoit et il se trouvoit si couvert de gloire lors qu'il se 
 consideroit comme estant aime d'une reine aussi belle aussi illustre et aussi charmante que celle-la qu'il ne luy estoit pas possible de n'en avoir point quelque joye et de ne desirer mesme pas de pouvoir estre infidelle a philimene toutesfois des qu'il venoit a penser qu'il faudroit pour conserver l'une perdre l'autre l'ambition et l'amitie cedant a l'amour il ne songeoit plus qu'a chercher les voyes de posseder philimene mais comme elles estoient difficiles a trouver la reine n'y consentant pas il avoit une douleur estrange de plus il avoit sujet de croire que s'il espousoit philimene malgre cleobuline elle l'abaisseroit autant qu'elle l'avoit esleve de sorte que craignant que philimene qui l'avoit aime lors qu'il avoit elle en faveur ne l'aimast plus quand il seroit disgracie il souffroit une douleur infinie et ce qui augmentoit encore son malestoit qu'il n'osoit faire scavoir a philimene pour luy enseigner a luy estre fidelle et a s'attacher a sa fortune quand mesme elle devrendroit mauvaise quelle estoit l'espreuve ou sa fidelite estoit mise de sorte que craignant tout et n'esperant presques rien il passa le reste du jour avec une inquietude extreme et toute la nuit suivante sans dormir mais afin qu'il ne fust pas seul malheureux il arriva une chose qui fit que basilide eut aussi beaucoup de chagrin car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que dans le dessein qu'il avoit pour la reine il avoit aporte un fort grand soin a se faire des 
 creatures dans sa maison soit parmy ses officiers ou parmy ses femmes et il y en avoit une entre les autres qui luy estoit entierement aquise cette personne ne cherchant donc qu'a avoir tousjours quelque chose a luy dire observoit la reine soigneusement principalement depuis qu'elle paroissoit plus chagrine qu'a l'ordinaire mais enfin elle l'observa si bien que le jour dont stesilee avoit veu myrinthe l'apresdisnee elle entendit tout ce qu'elle dit a la reine et tout ce que la reine luy dit ce n'est pas que stesilee luy aprist ce qu'elle avoit apris a myrinthe mais c'est que ne parlant jamais en particulier que de ce qui faisoit leur confidence cette femme en ouit assez pour comprendre que la reine ne refusoit philimene a myrinthe que parce qu'elle ne le haissoit pas d'abord elle pensa predre la resolutio de ne le faire point scavoir a basilide scachant bien que cela ne luy plairoit pas mais apres venant a considerer qu'il importoit bien souvent plus de scavoir les choses facheuses que les choses agreables elle changea d'avis et luy dit des le lendemain tout ce qu'elle avoit entendu parole pour parole la surprise de basilide fut si grande que s'il n'eust eu que le simple tesmoignage de cette femme il n'auroit pas adjouste foy a ce qu'elle luy disoit mais venant a se souvenir de cent actions de la reine des chagrins qu'elle avoit depuis que myrinthe estoit amoureux de philimene et venant principalement a considerer qu'encore 
 qu'elle refusast a myrinthe ce qu'il souhaitoit si ardemment il estoit toujours tres bien avec elle il ne douta point de ce qu'on luy disoit et par consequent il en eut une douleur excessive quoy disoit-il en luy mesme comme il me l'a dit depuis il est donc bien vray que cleobuline aime myrinthe qui ne l'aime point etqu'elle n'aime pas basilide qui l'aime plus que sa vie c'est donc myrinthe poursuivoit-il qui me combat dans le coeur de la reine et qui m'empesche de le conquerir ha si ce la est il faut donc que je sois son ennemy au lieu d'estre son protecteur car encore qu'il ne puisse estre mon rival puis que c'est luy qui me fait le mal que j'endure je dois le considerer comme tel detruire toutes ses pretentions et m'opposer a tous ses desseins mais que dis-je reprenoit il la douleur m'oste la raison et il paroist bien que l'entens mal mes interests puis que je ne comprens pas d'abord que la bizarrerie de mon destin veut que j'aporte tous mes soins a rendre heureux un homme que la reine me prefere dans son coeur cependant il m'importe presentement plus qu'a myrinthe qu'il espouse philimene ainsi il faut que je travaille pour le repos de celuy qui cause toutes mes inquietudes et que je face sa felicite de peur qu'il ne destruise la mienne basilide ayant encore bien examine la chose se resolut pour descouvrir mieux les sentimens de la reine de luy parler luy mesme du mariage de myrinthe avec 
 sa soeur faisant toutesfois dessein apres qu'elle l'auroit refuse de faire en sorte que philiste obligeast myrinthe a l'espouser sans le consentement de cette princesse esperant que cela l'irriteroit assez pour la porter a le bannir de sa cour n'ignorant pas qu'elle estoit foit jalouze de son authorite basilide estant donc dans cette resolution fut le jour suivant chez la reine mais en y allant il sceut que myrinthe apres avoir passe toute la nuit sans dormir s'estoit trouve assez mal le matin ne sorte que se servant de cette nouvelle pour parler de luy a la reine il ne fut pas plus tost aupres d'elle que prenant la parole en la regardant attentivement il luy aprit ce qu'il venoit d'apprendre comme la reine ne croyoit pas qu'il fust possible qu'il sceust les sentimens qu'elle avoit dans l'ame elle ne songea pas a se contraindre de sorte que ne pouvant retenir les premiers mouvements de son coeur elle ne put scavoir que myrinthe estoit malade sans quelque esmotion qui parut sur son visage s'informant mesme soigneusement par quelle voye il avoit sceu qu'il l'estoit et de quelle nature estoit son mal pour son mal madame luy dit-il je ne puis pas vous le dire precisement mais si vostre majeste me le commande je luy enseigneray pourtant l'art de l'en guerir en luy en aprenant la cause il me semble respondit la reine qui comprit bien ce que basilide luy vouloir 
 qu'il est assez difficile de concevoir qu'on scache la cause d'un mal qu'on ne connoist pas il est pourtant vray reprit il que je puis faire ce que je dis car enfin madame je suis assure que si vostre majeste permettoit a myrinthe d'espouser philimene il seroit bientost en sante estant certain qu'en cette rencontre les maux de l'esprit causent ceux du corps et que si vous gueriffiez les premiers les autres le seroient aussi comme ceux qui gouvernent des royaumes repliqua la reine avec uue raillerie un peu aigre n'ont pas accoustume de consulter les medecins de leurs sujets auparavant que de leur commander quelque chose ny d'accommoder leur politique a leur temperamment ce que vous me dites ne me sera pas changer la resolution que j'ay prise de ne donner pas mon consentement a un mariage que diverses raisons veulent que je n'aprouve pas et que je croyois aussi que vous n'aprouveriez point du tout vous avez pourtant deu croire madame repliqua basilide que je n'avois garde de trouver myrinthe indigne de philimene puis que vostre majeste le trouvoit digne de son estime la reine entendant parler basilide de cette sorte en rougit ce n'est pas qu'elle ne creust qu'il parloit ainsi sans scavoir ce qu'elle avoit dans l'ame mais c'est qu'une personne qui a une pensee cachee a l'imagination si vive et le coeur si sensible que la moindre chose trouble la premiere et esmeut 
 le second joint qu'elle ne se trouvoit guere moins embarrassee que basilide car pour authoriser le refus qu'elle faisoit a myrinthe il faloit en quelque facon qu'elle ne parlast pas avantageusement de l'homme du monde qu'elle estimoit le plus et il faloit aussi que basilide pour luy persuader de souffrir que ce mariage se fist luy donnast mille marques d'estime pour myrinthe qu'il eust souhaite ardemment qu'elle n'eust pas estime ainsi se voyant tous deux dans la necessite de trahir leurs sentimens ils estoient bien embarrassez ils resolurent pourtant chacun dans le sond de leur coeur de les trahir le moins qu'ils pourroient ne pouvant pas faire autrement la reine respondit donc a basilide qu'il estoit vray que myrinthe avoit mille bonnes qualitez qui luy avoient aquis beaucoup de part a son estime et beaucoup de credit aupres d'elle mais que n'estant pas originaire de corinthe elle n'avoit pas creu que cette raison ionte a quelques autres qu'elle ne luy pouvoit dire luy deust permettre de consentir que myrinthe espousast philimene je veux croire madame repliqua basilide que les raisons cachees que vostre majeste a de faire ce qu'elle fait sont extremement puissantes car pour celle qu'elle me fait l'honneur de me dire elle n'est pas ce me semble invincible en effet les peres de myrinthe ont este si fidelles qu'il peut pretendre de passer pour sujet naturel de vostre majeste je scay bien adjousta 
 malicieusement qu'il y a beaucoup d'inegalite entre ma soeur et myrinthe et que si vous ne l'aviez pas esleve par vostre faveur au dessus de sa condition il y auroit de la temerite dans son dessein mais madame cadjousta t'il en la regardant attentivement quoy que cette inesgalite deust estre en obstacle tres puissant a m'empescher de souhaiter ce mariage je vous advoue que l'estime que vostre majeste fait de luy et la violente passion que myrinthe a pour philimene fait que je ne le desire guere moins qu'il le souhaite car enfin madame cette passion est si ardente et il extraordinaire que je suis persuade que si myrinthe estoit roy et que ma soeur ne fust qu'une esclave il ne laisseroit pas de la faire reine c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de vouloir satisfaire son amour et de me scavoir quelque gre de ce que je veux bien sacrisier ma soeur pour conserver la vie a un homme que vous avez honnore de vostre estime pour reconnoistre un sentiment si genereux reprit la reine avec une douleur dans l'ame qu'elle avoit bien de la peine a cacher je dois sacrifier myrinthe pour vous et non pas souffrir que vous sacrifiyez philimene pour luy c'est pourquoy plus vous vous obstinerez a me prier pour myrinthe plus je m'opiniastreray a vous refuser pour l'amour de vous apres cela cleobuline changeant de discours tout d'un coup congedia basilide qui fut tente cent et cent fois de perdre le respect qu'il luy 
 devoit et de luy faire connoistre qu'il scavoit les sentimens qu'elle avoit dans l'ame mais la mesme passion qui luy donnoit de la hardresse luy ayant fait voir en suitte que s'il outrageoit la reine il la perdroit pour tousjours le retint et il se retira d'aupres elle sans luy rien dire qui pust luy faire croire positivement qu'il sceust l'amour qu'elle avoit pour myrinthe ce n'est pas qu'il ne se souvinst qu'il luy avoit parle de l'estime qu'elle avoit pour luy mais il jugeoit qu'elle ne l'expliqueroit pas ainsi et en effet cette princesse n'en eut pas alors la moindre pensee et le despit qu'elle eut de la conversation de basilide eut une autre chose car ensin elle n'avoit pu ouir sans une douleur extreme l'exageration qu'il luy avoit faite de la violente amour de myrinthe pour philimene ny entendre sans une confusion estrange ce qu'il luy avoit die de l'inesgalite de sa condition avec sa soeur mais ce qui la fachoit encore d'avantage estoit de voir que basilide souhaittant ce mariageelle demeuroit seule a ne le vouloir pas et qu'ainsi elle se verroit chargee de la haine de myrinthe qu'elle aimoit avec une tendresse si grande malgre elle que la seule pensee d'en estre haie luy causoit une douleur excessive elle en eut pourtant encore une plus sensible deux jours apres car myrinthe s'estant mieux porte et ayant este oblige d'aller parler a la reine pour une affaire importante qui regardoit l'estat elle le vit si change depuis qu'elle ne j'avoit veu que croyant 
 que ce changement estoit plustost un effet de la douleur qu'il avoit dans l'ame que du mal qu'il avoit eu elle en eut un displaisir extreme ce sentiment la n'estoit pourtant pas le seul qui avoit mis myriothe en l'estat ou elle le voyoit estant certain que l'ambition l'avoit aussi estrangement persecute car seigneur que de vous dire comment cette conversation se fit il faut que je vous die que myrinthe se voyant force d'aller chez la reine ou il n'avoit point este depuis que stesilee luy avoit apris la passion que cette princesse avoit pour luy sentoit dans son coeur ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer qu'en disant qu'il ne l'a jamais sceu faire comprendre quoy qu'il l'ait raconte a philiste qui me l'a dit ce qui l'inquietoit le plus estoit qu'il craignoit que la reine ne sceust que stesilee luy avoit dit quelque chose des sentimens qu'elle avoit pour luy et que toutes les precautions qu'elle avoit prises n'eussent este qu'une bien seance qu'elle eust voulu garder helas disoit il en luy mesme si cela est comment oseray-je regarder cette princesse et comment me regardera t'elle puis tout d'un coup la grande vertu de la reine le r'assurant il croyoit qu'en effet la chose estoit comme stesilee la luy avoit diteet il avoit l'ame un peu plus tranquile mais lors qu'il fut a la porte du palais de cette princesse qu'il vit les gardes qui y estoient cette multitude de monde qui entre et sort ordinairement de ce lieu la et qui marque si bien la grandeur des rois qu'il vit dis- je cette quantite de 
 gens de haute qualite qui estoient dans les sales dans les antichambres et dans les chambres de ce palais en attendant qu'on vist la reine et qu'il vit enfin tous ces magnifiques meubles dont tous ces apartemens sont ornez il fit comme s'il n'eust jamais vu toutes ces choses et son imagination estant remplie de mille idees de grandeur et de magnificence il trouva en suite quelque douceur a penser qu'il estoit aime de celle a qui estoient ces gardesce palais ces superbes meubles et a qui tant de gens venoient rendre hommage de sorte que l'ambition se reveillant dans son coeur il se refit un nouveau combat entre cette orgueilleuse passion et l'amour de philimene qui n'estoit pas encore fini lors qu'on luy dit que cleobuline le demandoit myrinthe n'eut pas plustost receu cet ordre qu'il se mit en estat d'entrer dans le cabinet de la reine ou elle estoit alors mais en y allant que ne sentit il point que ne pensa t'il pas il voulut chasser philimene de son coeur un moment apresil rapella son image afin de le deffendre mieux contre la reine et sans scavoir enfin s'il vouloit estre fidelle ou infidelle il entra au lieu ou estoit cleobuline mais il y entra avec tant de melancolie sur le visage et tant de trouble dans les yeux que la reine croyant comme je l'ay desja dit que le changement qu'elle voyoit en luy venoit plus de la douleur qu'il avoit de ce qu'elle luy refusoit philimene que du mal qu'il avoit eu ne put s'empescher d'en avoir 
 un secret despit qui l'obligea malgre qu'elle en eust a donner a myrinthe les ordres qu'il avoit a recevoir d'elle avec moins de douceur qu'elle n'avoit accoustume si bien que myrinthe recommencant de craindre que stesilee n'eust apris quelque chose a la reine de ce qu'il luy avoit dit se deconcerta d'une telle sorte qu'il ne luy respondoit point a propos la reine surprise du dereglement de l'esprit de myrinthe luy demanda d'ou venoit cette confusion de pensees et de paroles qu'elle n'avoit pas accoustume de remarquer en luy est-ce luy dit elle avec quelque esmotion que je ne m'explique pas clairement ou que vous ne m'escoutez point ce n'est madame ny l'un ny l'autre reprit il car vostre maieste ne parle jamais que bien et je l'escoute tousjours tres attentivement dans l'esperance qu'elle me commandera quelque chose pour son service mais c'est mais c'est reprit cleobuline en l'interrompant que vous avez laisse vostre esprit ou vous avez donne vostre coeur si j'avois este en pouvoir de le donner repliqua myrinthe tout interdit philimene ne l'auroit pas et je serois demeure en termes d'en disposer autrement mais madame dit-il encore philimene me l'arracha malgre moy comme le droit des gens reprit elle souffre qu'on repousse la force par la force et qu'on reprenne son bien ou on le trouve arrachez a philimene le coeur qu'elle vous arracha mais si vous m'en croyez adjousta t'elle ne prenez pas le sien 
 pour le vostre car vous perdriez beaucoup au change plust aux dieux madame luy dit-il que je puisse faire ce que je dois en faisant ce que vous voulez car dans les sentimens de respect que j'ay pour toutes vos volontez j'aimerois mieux estre obeissant sujet que d'estre si delle amant myrinthe prononca ces parolles d'un air qui surprit la reine y ayant eu certains sons dans le son de sa voix a l'exclamation qu'il avoit faite qui tesmoignoient qu'il y avoit quelque sens cache a ce qu'il luy disoit elle n'eut pas plustost cette pensee qu'elle en changea de couleur si bien que myrinthe la voyant rougir comme estant en colere passit de crainte et rougit un moment apres de confusion mais comme le changement du visage de la reine avoit cause celuy de myrinthe le nouveau desordre qui parut en l'esprit de myrinthe augmenta celuy de la reine ainsi la confusion de l'un redoublant la confusion de l'autre ils en vinrent au point de ne pouvoir plus souffrir leurs regards et de desirer ardemment d'entre separez aussi ne furent ils plus guere ensemble car la reine achevant en deux mots de dire a myrinthe les choses qu'il devoit faire le congedia par un signe de main sans le regarder et demeura dans une inquietude inconcevable myrinthe voulut pourtant faire un grand effort sur luy mesme et luy dire encore quelque chose sentant dans son coeur un chagrin estrange d'estre si mal sorty de cette conversation mais elle redoubla le signe 
 qu'elle luy avoit fait de s'en aller et il falut en effet qu'il s'en allast emportant dans son coeur deux violetes passions qui le tirannisoient estrangement et une inquietude extreme de l'esmotion qu'il avoit remarque sur le visage de la reine mais si myrinthe n'avoit pas l'ame tranquile cleobuline l'avoit cruellement tourmentee car comme on ne peut pas avoir l'esprit plus penetrant qu'elle l'a elle avoit connu parsaitement et par les regards et par les paroles et par le son de la voix de myrinthe qu'il scavoit ou qu'il deuinoit quelque chose des sentimens qu'elle avoit pour luy de sorte qu'elle en avoit une confusion estrange et une douleur pleine de colere contre elle mesme qui la faisoit souffrir infiniment est il possible disoit-elle que mes paroles ou mes yeux m'ayent trahie apres m'avoir este si long temps fidelles car enfin je scay bien que le jour que myrinche me vint demander philimene il n'avoit nul soupcon de ma passion mais que dis-je reprenoit elle mes yeux ny mes paroles n'ont garde d'avoir descouvert le secret de mon coeur a myrinthe puis que je ne l'ay point veu depuis cela cependant il n'y a que stesilee au monde qui scache mes sentimens stesilee qui m'a promis une fidelite inviolable stesilee dis-je qui n'ignore pas que je ne crains rien d'avantage sinon que myrinthe scache que je l'aime comme la reine estoit en cette inquietude philiste qui estoit arrivee a corinthe il y avoit desja quelques jours et pour 
 qui la reine avoit conserve toute l'amitie qu'elle avoit eue peur elle des le premier sejour qu'elle y avoit sait entra dans sa chambre de sorte que cette princesse qui l'aimoit cherement voulant se contraindre pour elle fit quelque treue avec sa douleur et se mit a luy parler de diverses choses ainsi passant d'un discours a un autre philiste qui ne scavoit rien ny de l'amour de la reine pour myrinthe ny de l'estroite considence que cette princesse faisoit a stesilee de ses plus secrettes pensees voulant luy marquer precisement quel jour estoit arrive un accident qu'elle luy racontoit luy dit que c'estoit un jour que stesilee n'avoit point este aupres d'elle que le soir d'abord cleobuline ne se souvenant pas que stesilee avoit este un jour sans la voir se mit a la contredire mais philiste qui s'en souvenoit fort bien luy dit pour luy circonstancier la chose que c'estoit un jour que myrinthe avoit passe l'apresdinee toute entiere avec stesilee chez qui nous logions alors adjoustant pour preuver encore ce qu'elle disoit que basilide y estoit venu vers la fin de cette conversarion de sorte que la reine entendant ce que disoit philiste entra en soubcon de la fidelitee de stesilee voyant qu'elle ne luy avoit point parle de la visite de myrinthe ses soubcons augmenterent encore bien d'avantage un moment apres car stesilee estant arrivee philiste qui vouloit faire voir a la reine qu'elle ne mentoit pas luy demanda s'il n'estoit pas vray que myrinthe l'eust este voir un 
 jour et si basilide n'y avoit pas este aussi cette demande ayant fort surpris stesilee principalement parce qu'elle avoit fait un secret de la visite de myrinthe a la reine elle en rougit d'une telle sorte en l'advouant qu'elle n'en derougit point de tout le jour si bien que la reine ne outant point du tout qu'elle ne fust coupable en eut une douleur excessive toutesfois comme il luy importoit extremement de scavoir precisement ce que scavoit myrinthe elle se resolut de cacher une partie de sa colere et de faire advouer la verite par adresse a stesilee mais ce qui l'embarrassoit extremement estoit que r'apellant en sa memoire ce que luy avoit dit basilide elle trouvoit avoir lieu de croire puis que myrinthe scavoit quelque chose de ses sentimens que basilide les scavoit aussi son dant cette croyance sur l'estroite liaison qui s'estoit faite entre myrinthe et luy depuis quelques jours de sorte que suivant l'usage des personnes passionnees elle croyoit tout ce qu'elle imaginoit qui pouvoit estre et ne doutoit presques point que si stesilee avoit dit son secret a myrinthe myrinthe ne l'eust dit a basilide vous pouvez juger seigneur si une princesse qui aime autant la gloire que cleobuline put avoir cette pensee sans une douleur extreme aussi celle qu'elle eut fut elle si grande que ne pouvant demeurer plus long temps dans l'incertitude ou elle estoit elle se desit de tout ce qui l'empeschoit d'entretenir stesilee en particulier apres quoy la faisant 
 tomber insensiblement sur le discours de myrinthe elle luy demanda sans luy tesmoigner d'estre en colere d'ou venoit qu'elle ne luy avoit rien dit de la visite qu'il luy avoit rendue stesilee n'ayant pas une bonne raison a luy dire luy dit qu'ayant remarque qu'elle ne pouvoit jamais pailer de myrinthe sans douleur elle esvitoit de le nommer autant qu'elle pouvoit si ce n'estoit qu'elle luy en parlait la premiere mais luy dit la reine en la regardant attentivement je vous en parlay tout le soir dont vous l'aviez veu l'apresdinee toute entiere stesilee se voyant pressee par la reine creut que pour l'empescher de luy vouloir mal de ce petit mensonge qui luy avoit desplu il luy estoit permis d'en dire un autre qui luy pust plaire de sorte que prenant la parole comme je scay madame luy dit elle que vostre majeste n'a point de plus violent desir que de vaincre la passion qu'elle a dans l'ame je ne voulois point luy dire la conversation que j'avois eue avec myrinthe de peur de l'accroistre au lieu de la diminuer car enfin madame myrinthe ne me vint voir que pour me protester qu'il estoit au desespoir de vous avoir desplu en pensant a philimene ne vous demanda t'il point luy dit la reine qui vouloit scavoir la verite pour quelle raison je m'opposois a son dessein ouy madame reprit stesilee en rougissant mais le luy assuray que je n'en scavois rien ha stesilee s'escria la reine emportee de colere et de douleur ou vous m'avez trahie ou vos paroles 
 vous ont trahie vous mesme car enfin myrinthe scait assurement plus qu'il ne devroit scavoir cependant adjousta t'elle en se reprenant de peur que stesilee ne luy advouast pas la verite il vous me dites sincerement tout ce que vous avez dit a myrinthe et tout ce qu'il vous a respondu je vous pardonneray la faute que vous avez faite mais stesilee je veux tout scavoir quand mesme vous auriez tout dit stesilee se trouvant alors bien embarrassee fut encore quelque temps a se deffendre mais enfin la reine luy parla avec tant d'authorite et luy promit tant de sois de luy pardonner si elle disoit la chose comme elle s'estoit passee qu'en fin elle se resolut de luy en advouer une partie elle luy dit donc seulement que myrinthe luy avoit dit comme il estoit vray mille choses avantageuses pour elle qu'en suitte il l'avoit fort pressee de luy aprendre par quelle raison elle s'opposoit a son mariage et que luy ayant seulement dit sans y penser que cette raison luy estoit glorieuse elle avoit bien connu qu'il avoit donne a ces paroles toute l'explication avantageuse qu'il leur pouvoit donner adjoustant qu'apres cela myrinthe luy avoit encore dit mille choses tendres pour elle car comme elle croyoit apaiser la reine en luy parlant ainsi elle ne luy cacha rien de tout ce que myrinthe luy avoit die d'obligeant et ne luy dit presque rien de ce qu'il avoit dit a l'advantage de philimene elle n'osa pourtant pas luy dire que myrinthe eust offert de la quitter 
 scachant bien que les actions de cet amant desmentiroient ses paroles mais elle en dit seulement assez a la reine pour luy persuader que si elle vouloit il ne seroit pas impossible de l'y obliger cet artisice ne luy reussit pourtant pas car apres que la reine eut fait dire a stesilee tout ce qu'elle en vouloit scavoir la colere la transporta d'une telle sorte quoy qu'elle eust resolu de n'esclater point contre elle parce qu'elle scavoit sa foiblesse qu'elle luy dit tout ce que cette violente passion peut faire dire quoy luy dit elle avec une douleur qui fit jetter un torrent de larmes a stesilee je vous ay confie une chose d'ou despend toute ma gloire et tout mon repos et vous l'allez reveler ou du moins vous donnez lieu de la deviner a l'homme du monde que je craignois le plus qui la sceust car enfin dans les plus violens transports de ma douleur je disois quelquesfois pour me consoler du moins si myrinthe ne m'aime pas je suis assuree qu'il m'estime mais helas vostre imprudence me prive de cette consolation et me met en estat de scavoir que myrinthe me mesprise il croit mesme sans doute adjousta t'elle que c'est par mes ordres que vous avez parle comme vous avez fait car quelle apparence y auroit il qu'il le creust autrement et qu'il pust s'imaginer qu'ayant autant d'esprit que vous en avez vous eussiez autant de foiblesse ou autant d'imprudence ha stesilee a quelle cruelle avanture m'exposez vous quoy s'escroit elle 
 myrinthe scait que je l'aime sans scavoir mesme que je ne veux pas qu'il le scache et myrinthe le scait par stesilee pour moy adjousta telle je croy que vous avez creu que je ne vous disois que j'aimois myrinthe que pour faire qu'il le sceust et que je ne vous deffendois de le luy faire scavoirqu'afin de vous obliger a le luy dire plustost mais si cela est vous vous estes estrangement abusee et vous m'avez fait un grand outrage aussi bien qu'une grande infidelite stesilee voulut alors dire quelques mauvaises excuses a la reine mais cette princesse l'en empescha taisez vous stesilee luy dit elle taisez vous ce n'est point par de meschantes raisons qu'il faut vous justifier et comme vostre crime est d'avoir trop parle c'est plustost par le silence que par de foibles excuses que vous devez esperer d'apaiser une partie de ma colere cependant donnez ordre que myrinthe ny par ses regards ny par ses actions ny par ses paroles ne me donne pas lieu de croire qu'il se souvienne de ce que vous luy avez dit de moy car s'il ne le sait je ne le banniray pas seulement de ma cour mais de mon royaume quand mesme je ne le pourrois bannir de mon coeur conduisez pourtant la chose avec tant d'adresse luy dit elle que myrinthe ne scache pas que je scay qu'il n'ignore point les sentimens que j'ay dans l'ame car si je m'apercoy que vous le luy ayez fait scavoir je ne vous verray jamais non plus que luy mais que fais-je adjousta t'elle je donne des ordres de silence 
 et de secret a une personne qui a revele tout ce qu'elle devoit cacher et qui n'est assurement pas maistresse de son esprit stesilee se jettant alors a genoux aux pieds de la reine le visage couvert de larmes luy dit des choses si touchantes que cette princesse dont l'ame est infiniment glorieuse croyant qu'il luy seroit honteux de pardonner si tost un semblable crime a stesilee et craignant que le desespoir de cette personne ne l'attendrist luy commanda de se retirer et de ne la voir plus qu'elle ne le luy ordonnait luy commandant encore une fois de faire que myrinthe vescust comme elle le vouloit et qu'il ne sceust jamais qu'elle scavoit ce qu'elle luy avoit dit
 
 
 
 
mais apres qu'elle fut partie cette princesse demeura en une inquietude qu'on ne peut concevoir et ce qui la rendait plus grande et plus forte estoit que comme on croit aisement ce qu'on desire elle avoit creu apres ce que stesilee luy avoit dit de myrinthe qu'en effet il ne luy seroit pas impossible si elle le vouloit de detacher myrinthe de philimene si elle joignoit l'ambition a l'amour et elle avoit mesme si bien connu par le desordre de l'esprit de myrinthe qu'il n'estoit pas d'accord avec luy mesme qu'elle ne doutoit point que si elle pouvoit luy offrir sa couronne il ne luy offrist son coeur et ne quittast philimene de sorte que voyant de la possibilite a empescher myrinthe de posseder philimene en le faisant roy cela redoubloit ses chagrins puis qu'il est permis aux 
 peuples disoit elle dans les momens ou l'amour estoit la plus forte dans son coeur de se faire un roy lors qu'ils n'en ont pas pourquoy ne peut il pas estre permis a une reine d en choisir un principalement le choisissant bien est il justeque parce que je suis nee sur le throne je suis privee de la liberte qu'ont tous mes sujets et que je sois plus esclave que mes esclaves en une chose d'ou depend toute la felicite de ma vie mais que dis-je reprenoit elle il semble a m'entendre parler que je pourrois estre heureuse sans gloire non non cleobuline ne t'egares pas tant du droit chemin de la raison ce n'est point a toy a examiner l'usage mais c'est a toy a le suivre myrinthe est digne du throfne par son merite mais qu'il ne l'est pas par sa naissance il faut que tu sois tousjours sa souveraine et qu'il soit tousjours ton sujet mais helas poursuivoit elle ce sujet que tu peux et que tu ne veux pas faire roy quoy que tous tes desirs t'y portent scait presencement que tu l'aimes plus que tu ne le dois aimer il est peut-estre a l'heure que je parle aux pieds de philimene a luy raconter ta foiblesse et a luy protester que quand tu luy offrirois ton coeur et sa couronne il les resuseroit sans peine pour la moindre de ses faveurs d'autre part si basilide scait comme je le croy quels sont les sentimens de son ame pour myrinthe il ne veut sans doute plus de son affection que parce qu'il veut estre roy et pour philimene je suis assuree qu'elle te regarde avec 
 mespris qu'elle croit te mener en triomphe et qu'elle a extreme joye de regner sur le coeur d'un homme qui regne dans le tien stesilee mesme adjoustoit elle ne pense rien de toy qui n'en soit indigne car puis qu'elle a revele son secret a myrinthe elle a sans doute creu que tu voulois lier une affection particuliere aveque luy et peut-estre mesme qu'elle a pense que cette affection seroit une affection criminelle vois cleobuline vois a quelles dangereuses suittes la folle passion que tu as dans l'ame te peut porter examine bien son coeur et demande toy a toy mesme si tu aurois la force de t'empescher route ta vie de faire myrinthe roy s'il demeuroir tousjours en estat de le pouvoir estre suppose encore pour prendre toutes tes seuretez contre toy mesme que myrinthe cesse d'aimer philimene et qu'il vienne a t'aimer et songe apres cela si la gloire seroit assez ruinante pour vaincre l'amour dans son coeur et pour faire que tu ne fisse pas pour myrinthe tout ce que tu pourrois faire innocemment apres cela cleobuline se taisoitet s'examinant elle mesme elle trouvoit si peu de fermete dans son ame que n'osant s'y asseurer c'en est fait dit elle c'en est fait il ne faut point se fier a ta propre vertu car avec toute la gloire il y auroit de la folie a te confier a tes propres forces mets toy donc cleobuline en estat de ne pouvoir faire une faute quand mesme tu la voudrois faire et cherches quelque expedient qui te justifie dans 
 l'esprit demyrinthe aussi bien que dans celuy de basilide et philimene et de stesilee rapelle toute ta vertu et toute ta force pour cela souviens toy de la gloire que tu as acquise et faits tout ce qu'il faut faire pour la conserver mais songe encore pour t'y resoudre plustost et plus facilement qu'il s'agit de recouvrer l'estime de myrinthe que tu as peut estre perdue mais helas poursuivit elle apres avoir bien cherche je ne trouve qu'une seule chose a faire par laquelle je puisse faire ce que je veux mais justes dieux s'escrioit cleobuline qu'elle est difficile et que j'auray de peine a m'y resoudre comme elle en estoit la philisle qui avoit a rendre conte a la reine de quelque chose qu'elle luy avoit commande lors qu'elle s'estoit deffaite d'elle pour entretenir stesilee en particulier vint luy dire ce qu'elle avoit fait et comme elle la trouva fort resveuse et fort triste des qu'elle luy eut dit ce qu'elle avoit a luy dire elle voulut se retirer mais la reine qui avoit tant de douleur qu'elle ne la pouvoit renfermer dans son coeur la retint et comme elle s'imagina que puis que stesilee avoit revele son secret a myrinthe elle l'auroit encore revele a philiste avec qui elle vivoit alors admirablement bien elle creut qu'il valoir mieux qu'elle luy en parlast et qu'elle luy donnait la commission d'empescher stesilee a l'advenir de faire de semblables fautes de sorte que consultant plus sa colere que sa raison elle se mit a se pleindre de stesilee en parlant a 
 mais comme elle ne pouvoit accuser stesilee sans s'accuser elle mesme elle fit scavoir a philiste le malheureux estat ou elle se trouvoit apres quoy continuant de parler ne pensez pas luy dit elle que quelque estime que j'aye pour vous je me fust resolue a faire une nouvelle considente de ma foiblesse si je n'avois pris une forte resolution de la surmonter quand mesme j'en devrois mourir ouy philist luy dit elle je pense avoir trouve un moyen qui me justifiera dans l'esprit de myrinthe dans celuy de philimene dans celuy de basilide dans celuy de stesilee et dans le vostre et je pense mesme dit elle l'avoir imagine si heureusement qu'il pourra estre que par luy j'arriveray au point ou j'ay tousjours souhaite d'estre pour avoir quelque repos qui est de voir myrinthe sans amourpour philimene je voy bien dit elle encore que vous avez peine a concevoir quelle peut estre cette invention mais pour vous la descouvrir scachez philiste que pour me mettre en estat de ne pouvoir jamais faire une faute je veux faire achever le mariage que j'ay si opiniastrement empesche quoy madame reprit philiste vous voulez que myrinthe espouse philimene ouy repliqua-t'elle je le veux et je le veux principalement afin de ne pouvoir jamais songer a espouser myrinthe ny a luy donner aucune marque d'amour mais je le veux encore afin de luy faire croire que celle que stesilee luy a dit que j'avois pour luy n'est 
 pas plus forte que ma vertu et pour persuader aussi a basilide que ce qu'on luy a peut-estre dit n'est pas vray jusques la madame reprit philiste je tombe d'accord de ce que vous avez dit et je ne puis que je ne loue infiniment un si genereux dessein mais j'advoue que je ne voy pas comment vous esperez de voir myrinthe sans amour pour philimene je l'espere luy dit elle par son mariage mesme car puis qu'il n'est point d'amour eternelle et que celle de myrinthe pour philimene s'est accreue par tous les obstacles que j'y ay aportez je suis fortement petsuadee qu'elle finira quand on ne luy resistera plus et que la possession de philimene detruira plus l'amour de myrinthe que toute mon authorite ne l'a pu faire de grace adjoutta cette princesse emportee par sa passion ne m'allez pas dire que philocles tout vostre mary qu'il est aujourd'huy est encore amoureux de vous car si je n'esperois trouver cette legere satisfaction de voir cesser l'amour de myrinthe pour philimene en la luy faisant espouser je n'aurois peut-estre pas la force d'achever un dessein d'ou despend toute la seurete de ma gloire tombez donc d'accord je vous en conjure que je puis esperer ce que je dis afin qu'apres cela j' execute courageusement ce que j'ay resolu ne pensez pourtant pas poursuivit elle que je desire que myrinthe soit sans amour apres avoir espouse philimene dans la pensee qu'il responde a celle que j'ay 
 pour luy mon philiste ce n'est pas la mon intention je n'ay sans doute pas la force de dire que je souhaite que myrinthe ne m'aime jamais mais j'ay bien celle de vous assurer que nulle de mes actions ne luy sera jamais connoistre que je l'aime quoy que je sois persuadee que je l'aimeray jusques a la mort cependant je ne laisse pas de trouver beaucoup de douceur a esperer de voir myrinthe sans amour lors que j'auray execute mon dessein mais dieux adjousta t'ells sans donner loisir a philiste de luy respondre pourray-je bien faire ce que je veux et suis-je mesme bien asseuree de le vouloir lors que je consulte ma raison je sens que je le veux absolument quand mesme il m'en devroit couster la vie mais lorsque je consulte mon coeur il s'en faut peu que je ne change de sentimens le lasche qu'il est me resiste et si la gloire ne venoit a mon secours je restomberois dans ma premiere foiblesse mais aussi des que je considere qu'il s'agit de m'oster la possibilite de faire une faute que ma passion me conseille mille sois le jour et que toute la terre me reprocheroit qu'il s'agit dis-je de forcer myrinthe a m'estimer et de faire peut-estre cesser la violente affection qu'il a pour philimene l'honneur et l'amour se joignant en semble me fortisient d'une telle sorte que je commence d'esperer une entiere victoire sur moy mesme quoy que je n'espere pas de n'aimer plus myrinthe et que je ne songe qu'a l'aimer sans craindre 
 que cette passion me face faire une laschete qu'a l'aimer sans qu'il le scache et sans qu'il aime philimene apres cela philiste qui eust bien souhaite que la reine eust espouse basilide luy dit que pour s'assurer encore plus contre la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame il luy sembloit qu'elle eust pu se resoudre a l'espouser luy disant en suitte toutes les raisonsd'estat qui l'y devoient obliger mais a peine eut elle acheve de parler que cleobuline prenant la parole ha philiste luy dit elle vous m'en demandez trop et vous m'en demandez plus que je n'en puis faire c'est bien assez poursuivit elle que je me resolue a rendre philimene heureuse en luy faisant espouser un homme que j'aime plus qu'elle ne l'aime sans vouloir m'obliger a en espouser un que je n'aime pas et que je n'aimeray jamais car enfin philiste quand il feroit possible que je cessasse d'aimer myrinthe ce que je ne croy point du tour je n'aimerois jamais rien ainsi contentez vous que je fasse ce que je croy devoir faire pour mon honneur et pour ma justification sans vouloir que je m'accable d'un nouveau supplice apres cela la reine congedia philiste ne voulant voir personne le reste du jour mais si cette journee luy fut insuportable la nuit luy fut encore plus fascheuse jamais coeur amoureux n'a plus souffert que fit le sien cent fois elle changea le dessein qu'elle avoit pris et cent fois elle se resolut de l'executer il y eut mesme des instans ou sa passion estoit 
 si forte qu'elle luy persuadoit que puis qu'elle pouvoit faire myrinthe roy elle feroit une aussi grande injustice de ne luy mettre pas la couronne sur la teste que s'il eust este roy legitime et qu'elle luy eust arrache le sceptre de la main enfin il se sit un si grand et si opiniastre combat dans son ame entre l'honneur et l'amour que le soleil ramena le jour dans sa chambre devant qu'il fust fini elle se leva mesme sans scavoir encore precisement ce qu'elle vouloit faire mais des qu'elle eut jette les yeux sans y penser sur un grand miroir devant lequel elle passa pour entrer dans son cabinet et qu'elle vit sur son visage le changement que l'inquietude et la mauvaise nuit qu'elle avoit eue y avoient aporte elle rougit de honte de sa foiblesse et sans considerer l'interest de sa beaute qu'elle destruisoit la seule gloire sit qu'elle eut une confusion estrange de se sentir si peu maistresse d'elle mesme ne diroit on pas avoir la douleur qui paroist dans mes yeux disoit elle en secret dans son coeur comme elle l'a raconte a philiste que je viens d'aprendre la perte d'une bataille d'ou despend celle de mon estat et le repos de tous mes peuples et cependant au lieu de veiller pour le bien de mes sujets je veille pour ma propre perte et toute cette douleur qui paroist sur mon visage a une cause si foible et si indigne de ma vertu que je ne scay pas comment je me puis en durer moy mesme sur mon sons nous donc courageusement et puis 
 que nous avons tant fait que de nous pouvoir combatre faisons tout ce qu'il faut pour remporter la victoire la reine sentant alors dans son coeur plus de force qu'elle n'y en avoit senty ne voulut pas perdre un si bon intervale et de peur de se repentir encore une fois elle se hasta de commander qu'on allast dire a basilide et a myrinthe qu'elle leur vouloit parler adjoustant qu'elle vouloit qu'ils vinssent ensemble mais a peine eut elle donne cet ordre qu'il s'esleva un nouueau tumulte dans son esprit qui mit un nouveau desordre dans son ame ce desordre s'apaisa pourtant bien tost car elle sut si satisfaite d'avoir pu gagner cela sur elle mesme de forcer sa bouche a dire des paroles si opposees a ce que son coeur devroit que la joye de s'estre vaincue la rendit capable d'executer son dessein avec quelque espece de tranquilite si bien que le desir de la gloire et l'envie de se justifier dans l'esprit de myrinthe et dans ce luy de basilide ayant affermi son ame elle se prepara a faire de bonne grace ce qu'elle vouloit absolument faire de sorte que faisant un grand effort sur elle mesme elle renferma sa douleur dans son coeur et composa si bien son visage qu'elle ne paroissoit qu'un peu malade et serieuse sans paroistre ni inquiette ni affligee cependant basilide et myrinthe estoient bien embarrassez a deviner ce que la reine leur vouloit ils ne se disoient pourtant pas l'un a l'autre tout ce qu'ils 
 pensoient car myrinthe par un sentiment de respect et de discretion n'avoit garde de dire a basilide ce qu'il scavoit de l'amour de la reine et basilide de son coste par un sentiment de jalousie n'avoit garde aussi de dire a myrin the ce qu'il ne pensoit pas qu'il sceust et ce qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'il peust jamais scavoir ils croyoient pourtant tous deux que la reine ne les voulust voir que pour leur deffendre absolument d'achever le mariage de philimene de sorte qu'encore que l'ambition eust fort agite le coeur de myrinthe comme l'amour de philimene estoit demeuree la plus forte dans son ame il alloit chez la reine avec autant de chagrin que de confusion d'autre part basilide croyant que la reine ne s'opposoit au mariage de myrinthe que parce qu'elle l'aimoit et craignant mesme qu'elle ne le voulust rompre que pour prendre le dessein de le faire peut estre roy avoit une douleur si forte que bien loin de regarder myrinthe comme devant estre mary de sa soeur il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne le regardait et ne le haist comme son riual quoy qu'il sceust bien qu'il n'estoit pas amoureux de cleobuline et qu'il l'estoit de phihmene ces deux amans estant donc en cette inquietude arriverent ensemble au palais car myrinthe ayant sceu l'ordre de la reine avoit este trouver basilide au sien ils n'y surent pas plustost que la reine scachant qu'ils y estoyent les fit entrer dans son cabinet ou elle estoit entree 
 des qu'on avoit eu acheve l'habillir mais depuis qu'elle eut donne cet ordre jusques a ce que basilide et myrinthe fussent aupres d'elle il se fit encore quelque mouvement dans son coeur et elle a advoue depuis qu'elle fut tentee de leur parler d'une autre affaire et de remettre a une autrefois l'execution de son dessein mais des qu'elle vit myruithe et qu'elle le regarda comme un homme qui scavoit sa foiblesse et qui peut-estre la blasmoit l'envie de se restablir dans son estime aussi bien que de se justifier aupres de basilide en cas qu'on luy eust dit quelque chose de sa passion fit qu'elle eut plus de force qu'elle n'en pensoit avoir et philiste que la reine enuoya querit pour estre presente a cette action m'a dit qu'elle n'eust jamais pense qu'une personne aussi passionnee eust pu se vaincre au point que cleobuline se vainquit elle ne vit donc pas plus tost basilide et myrinthe entrer dans son cabinet que les raisant aprocher elle commenca de leur parler d'une maniere qui les surprit sort comme je scay leur dit elle que l'affaire dont j'ay a vous entretenir vous touche tous deux et que vous la desirez avecque beaucoup de passion j'ay este bien aise de vous voir ensemble scachez donc poursuivit elle adressant alors la parole a basilide qu'apres avoir empesche jusques icy le mariage de philimene et de myrinthe par de puissantes raisons quoy je ne vous les aye pas dites il est arrive que ces raisons ayant change j'ay 
 aussi change de sentimens de sorte que voulant aujourd'huy ce que je ne voulois pas alors je ne consens pas seulement que ce mariage s'acheve mais je vous prie mesme qu'il s'acheve le plus promptement que les preparatifs d'une aussi grande feste que sera celle la le pourront permettre basilide et myrinthe furent si surpris du discours de la reine qu'ils ne penserent jamais y respondre et ce qu'il y eut de merveilleux fut que le frere de l'amante remercia la reine plustost que l'amant ce n'est pas que comme myrinthe estoit fort amoureux de philimene il n'eust bien de la joye d'aprendre qu'il la possederoit bien-tost mais comme il scavoit les sentimens de la reine pour luy il n'osoit la remercier avec exageration de la grace qu'elle luy faisoit de peur de l'irriter joint aussi que l'ambition agitant un peu son coeur il ne pouvoit gagner philimene en perdant la reine qu'il n'en eust l'ame un peu esmeue de sorte que ne scachant presques ce qu'il devoit faire il laissa parler basilide le premier qui ne trouvant rien que d'avantageux pour luy au dessein qu'avoit la reine en avoit une joye qui luy permettoit d'avoir la liberte de son esprit toute entiere aussi la remercia t'il avec des paroles malicieuses je vous assure madame luy dit-il que vostre maieste ne fait pas seulement une action de justice en accordant a myrinthe ce qu'il souhaitte si ardemment et qu'elle en fait une clemence en luy conservant la vie que l'exces 
 de sa passion luy auroit peut estre fait perdre myrinrhe oyant parler basilide de cette sorte n'osa le contredire quoy qu'il eust bien voulu par le respect qu'il avoit pour la reine qu'il n'eust pas tant exagere une passion qui luy desplaisoit c'est pourquoy prenant la parole et debiaisant ses sentimens adroitement comme je ne pourrois faire voir toute ma reconnoissance a la reine luy dit-il sans luy donner lieu de croire que j'aurois peut-estre murmure contre elle lors qu'elle me refusoit ce qu'elle m'accorde aujourd'huy j'aime mieux publier sa bonte a toute la terre que de l'en remercier elle mes me c'est pourquoy madame adjousta t'il je suplie vostre maieste de me dispenser des remercimens que je luy dois et de souffrir que je les change en mille et mille louanges que je luy donneray en parlant des graces que je recoy d'elle et en publiant que quand je mourrois mille fois pour son service je mourrois encore ingrat en disant que vous ne me dites rien reprit la reine en rougissant vous m'en dites trop cependant je ne vous dispense pas seulement des remercimens dont vous parlez mais mesme des louanges que vous me voulez donner et je vous tiens quitte de tout ce que vous me demandez pourueu que vous soyez fortement persuade que soit en vous resusant ou en vous donnant philimene j'ay tousjours fait pour vous tout ce que j'ay pu et que mesme je n'ay fait que ce que j'ay deu faire quoy 
 que les raisons que j'ay d'avoir eu deux sentimens si opposez vous soient si inconnues car comme je mets la justice au premier rang de toutes les vertus des rois je n'aime pas que mes sujets m'accusent d'estre injuste si on vous pouvoir accuser de l'estre reprit respectueusement myrinthe ce seroit de m'avoir fait plus de grace que je n'en merite mais comme la bonte est une vertu aussi bien que la justice j'espere que sans blasmer vostre majeste des graces qu'elle me fait on donnera a sa bonte ce qu'on ne pourroit donner a sa justice quoy qu'il en soit dit elle pour finir une conversation qui luy estoit insuportable comme les grandes joyes se redoublent lors qu'elles deviennent publiques il ne faut pas vous empescher plus longtemps d'aller publier celle que vous avez allez donc poursuivit elle l'aprendre a cetteprincesse vouloit dire a philimene mais elle pensa laisser ce discours imparfait et le trouble de son esprit fut si grand qu'au lieu de dire a philimene suivant son premier dessein elle dit a toute la cour et le dit mesme en rougissant de sorte que craignant que sa constance ne l'abandonnast elle congedia basilide et myrinthe qui se retirerent bien satisfaits le dernier eut pourtant quelque secret trouble dans le coeur car en sortant du cabinet de la reine apres l'avoir saluee comme il se retourna sans y penser il vit que croyant qu'il fust desja fort loin elle avoit leve les yeux au ciel en sou 
 pirant si bien que ne doutant pas qu'il ne fust la cause de la douleur de la plus illustre reinedu monde sa joye en fut de telle sorte moderee jusques a ce que les yeux de phillimene l'eussent ranimee qu'a peine pouvoit il parler a basilide il ne fut pourtant pas plustost aupres de cette belle personne que l'amour reprenant toute sa force dans son coeur y mit une joye extreme mais durant qu'il la goustoit avec toute la douceur que peut donner l'esperance d'un grand bien et d'un bien qu'il avoit ardemment et long temps souhaite la reine faisoit ce qu'elle pouvoit pour jouir avec quelque tranquilite de la victoire qu'elle avoit remportee sur elle mesme et elle fut en effet quelques momensou elle eut beaucoup de joye de s'estre surmontee et bien imperieuse passion disoit elle devant philiste qui elles accoustumee a vaincre presques tousjours la raison de ceux que vous possedez vous avez este vaincue par la mienne vous dis je qui avez fait faire mille fautes et mille crimes a des personnes fort illustres et qui mettez bien souvent le desordre dans tout l'vnivers cependant toute superbe que vous estes de vos triomphes un simple desir de gloire vous a surmontee dans mon coeur et vous n'en estes plus la maistresse sans mentir madame luy dit philiste cette victoire que vous venez de remporter sur vous mesme m'espouvante et je n'eusse jamais creu qu'ayant une violente passion dans l'ame on eust pu l'en chasser en si peu de temps 
 ha ma chare stesililee reprit la reine soupirant j'ay vaincu cette cruelle passion je l'advoue mais au lieu de chasser de mon coeur comme vous le dittes une si fiere ennemie ma raison n'a fait que l'enchaisner de sorte que je suis en une continuelle inquietude qu'elle ne brise les chaisnes qui la tiennent captive il me sem ble desja qu'elle fait ce qu'elle peut pour les rompre je sens pourtant bien adjoustoit elle qu'elle ne les rompra pas si tost si ma raison ne me trahit mais de grace philiste soustenez la par vos louanges dites moy que je fais la plus belle chose du monde et persuadez moy si vous pouvez qu'il y a plus de grandeur de courage a faire ce que je fais qu'il n'y a eu de foiblesse a me laisser vaincre il m'est aise madame reprit philiste de louer une action si heroique et dont si peu de personnes se trouvent capables il est vray interrompit la reine que le sacrifice que je fais a la gloire est grand il est si grand repliqua philiste que je tiens si par toutes vos autres actions vous meritez des statues par celle-cy vous meritez des temples et des autels puis que vous faites des choses que les dieux mesme ne font pas tousjours ha philiste reprit la reine ne me louez pas aveque tant d'exces car si par hazard je retombois dans mes premieres foiblesses et que je me repentisse de ce que j'ay fait j'aurois une grande confusion et vous aussi ddes louanges que vous m'auriez donnees c'est pourquoy encore que je vous 
 priee de me louer gardez pourtant quelque mesure a vos louanges car enfin philiste ce qu'il y a de constamment vray est que je n'ay jamais tant aime myrinthe que je l'aime ny tanthai philimene cependant je vay rendre philimene heureuse et je vay souffrir que myrinthe l'espouse et tout cela parce que l'honneur le veut ainsi et que de la condition dont je suis il ne suffit pas de ne faire point de crimes puis qu'il faut encore ne faire rien qui ne soit grand qui ne soit noble et qui ne soit souverainement juste au reste philiste ajousta cette princesse si vous scaviez la joye que j'ay de ce que myrinthe ne m'a point tesmoigne en avoir une excessivement grande de la permission que je luy donnois d'espouser philimene vous en seriez estonnee mais lasche que je suis reprit elle en rougissant apres avoir este un moment sans parler je me rejouis de ce qui devroit sans doute m'affliger et me couvrir de confusion car enfin il est a croire que myrinthe ne m'a cache ses sentimens que parce qu'il scait les miens cessons donc d'avoir une joye si mal fon dee et ne nous rejouissons plus que de la victoire que nous venons de remporter mais pour nous en rejouir justement il faut conserver l'avantage qu'elle nous a donne et ne nous mettre pas en estat d'estre vaincue par celle que nous venons de vaincre enfin seigneur la reine s'encouragea de telle sorte et se confirma si puissammet dans le dessein qu'elle avoit prisqu'en effet 
 elle l'executa aussi genereusement qu'elle l'avoit resolu ce ne fut pourtant pas sans avoir mille chagrins differens car comme toute la cour croyoit luy faire plaisir de s'interresser a la joye de myrinthe et de louer un mariage qu'elle faisoit on ne luy parloit d'autre chose les uns luy disoient mille biens de myrinthe et les autres mille louanges de philimene cependant comme elle ne se vouloir point fier a elle mes me elle pressa ce mariage comme si de son accomplissement eust despendu toute sa felicite et pour cacher mieux a myrinthe la passion qu'elle avoit pour luy elle fit mille caresses a philimene et des presens magnifiques quoyqu'elle ne luy dist pas une parole douce qui ne mist une amertume est range dans son coeur elle voulut mesme que la ceremonie de ces nopces fust a ses despens et extremement superbe elle s'y para comme si c'eust este le jour de son couronnement et elle acheva enfin son dessein avec tant de sermete et tant de courage qu'elle fut maistresse de tous les mouvemens de son visage et de toutes ses actions tant que cette feste dura quoy qu'elle ne le fust pas de ses propres sentimens et qu'elle eust une douleur inconcevable au milieu de cette rejouissance publique enfin elle agit de telle sorte que myrinthe creut qu'elle avoit change de sentimes pour luy que basilide pensa qu'on ne luy avoit pas dit la verite et que philiste mesme s'imagina que cleobuline estoit plus desgagee qu'elle 
 ne le croyoit estre et qu'elle aimoit moins myrinthe qu'elle n'avoit fait elle ne fut pourtant pas longtemps dans ce sentiment la car le lendemain des nopces de myrinthe estant passe la reine fit assembler toutes les personnes considerables de son estat comme elle eust voulu aporter quelque changement notable au gouvernement de ses affaires et sans communiquer son dessein a qui que ce soit elle parut a cette celebre assemblee avec une majeste qui inspira le respect dans le coeur de tous ceux qui la compoisoient basilide y tenoit le rang que sa condition vouloir qu'il y tinst et mirinthe celuy que ses charges luy donnoient cette assemblee se fit dans une grande sale voutee soustenue par des colomnes de marbre dont les bases et les chapiteaux estoient de cuivre de corinthe si celebre par tout le monde on voyoit tout a l'entour entre les colomnes et les philastres diverses enseignes gagnees a la guerre par le feu roy de corinthe et justement au milieu de cette sale paroissoit un superbe throne esloue de trois marches sur lequel estoit la reine sur la seconde marche estoit basilide et sur la derniere myrinthe le reste de l'assemblee faisoit un rond a double rang a l'entour de cette princesse qui apres avoir impose silence par ses regards a toute cette compagnie luy fit un discours si admirable et si eloquent qu'elle charma tous ceux qui l'entendirent mais en donnant de l'admiration la resolution qu'elle 
 dit avoir prise donna de l'estonnement car enfin apres avoir prepare les esprits de ceux qui l'escoutoient a bien recevoit ce qu'elle avoit a leur dire elle declara qu'elle estoit fortement resolue a ne se marier jamais adjoustant en suitte qu'elle vouloit que basilide fust reconnu comme celuy qui luy devoit succeder afin que son authorite en fust plus ferme et qu'il ne se formast nulle faction dans son estat adjoustant apres cela mille belles choses pour authoriser sa resolution vous pouvez juger seigneur combien ce discours surprit l'assembree et principalement basilide et myrinthe comme c'est la coustume que lors que la reine a cesse de parler il est permis a chacun de luy dire son advis a son tour soit pour aprouver ce qu'elle a dit ou pour la suplier d'y faire quelque reflection basilide parla le premier et quoy que la declaration de la reine luy fust avantageuse et qu'elle le confirmast dans les droits que sa naissance luy donnoit son amour le fit agir avec tant de force pour contredire les sentimens de cette princesse qu'on ne peut pas parler plus eloquemment ny plus respectueusement qu'il parla pour luy persuader de changer d'avis car encore que le lieu ne luy permist pas de mettre la passion qu'il avoit pour elle au nombre des raisons qui devoient l'obliger a se marier il ne laissa pas de toucher quelque chose de cela fort delicatement luy declarant qu'il ne vouloit jamais avoir de droit a la couronne qu'elle portoit 
 par une si funeste voye que celle qu'elle luy proposoit et il dit enfin tout ce qu'il eust pu dire quand mesme il eust elle prepare mais lors que ce fut a myrinthe a parler et qu'il commenca de le faire dans les sentimens de basilide la reine rougit et elle dit le soir a philiste que sa constance avoit pense l'abandonneren voyant celuy pour qui elle prenoit la resolution de ne se marier jamais la prier de se marier il est vray que le discours de myrinthe ne fut pas long car scachant ce qu'il scavoit de la reine il avoit l'esprit assez distrait il parla pourtant fort bien et mesla tant de louanges aux choses qu'il dit pour contredire cette princesse qu'on peut dire qu'en la louant il destruisoit toutes ses raisons et la confirmoit dans son dessein en suitte tous ceux qui parlerent la suplierent aussi de changer d'avis mais apres qu'ils eurent acheve de dire ce qu'ils voulurent elle reprit toutes leurs raisons en peu de mots et ferma l'assemblee par un discours plus fort encore que le premier qui luy fit voir que la resolution qu'elle avoit prise estoit inesbranlable de sorte que suivant l'usage on publia cette declaration au peuple et on fit tout ce qu'il faloit faire pour la rendre authentique de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la douleur de basilide et quel fut l'estonnement de myrinthe il ne seroit pas aise le premier ne scavoit que penser de ce dessein et taschoit de deviner si la reine l'avoit pris par amour pour myrinthe ou par aversion pour luy 
 mais pour le second il n'osoit croire estre la cause de cette resolution et ne scavoit a quoy l'attribuer cependant jamais rien n'a tant fait de bruit a corinche que cette declaration en fit jamais grand evenement n'a eu une cause si cachee l'opinion la plus generale fut pourtant que la reine estant fort jalouse de son authorite n'avoit point voulu la partager en se mariant il y en eut aussi qui dirent que l'amour des sciences luy avoit inspire de l'aversion pour le mariage mais personne ne dit que ce fust l'amour de myrinche philiste mesme ne se l'imaginant pas prit la liberte d'en demander la cause a la reine le soir qui suivit cette declaration lors que suivant sa coustume elle fut demeuree seule aupres de cette princesse de grace madame luy dit elle que dois-je penser du dessein de vostre majeste est-ce la politique qui vous l'asuggere non philiste repliqua-t'elle en soupirant et cette resolution qui paroist n'estre fondee que sur des raisons d'estat ne l'est que sur des raisons d'amour car enfin ma chere philiste en donnant philimene a myrinthe je n'ay pu chasser myrinthe de mon coeur ny par consequent le rendre capable d'y recevoir jamais nulle autre affection ny de souffrir celle de basilide ainsi pour jouir du moins en aparence d'une liberte dont je ne jouis pas en effet j'ay resolu de ne me marier jamais et pour empescher basilide d'en murmurer je luy ay assure ma couronne mais madame reprit 
 philiste si basilhie n'avoit que de l'ambition il pourroit estre qu'il ne seroit pas tout a fait mescontent mais ayant autant d'amour qu'il en a le pense qu'il doit estre bien afflige comme je suis sans doute reservee reprit la reine a n'avoir que des sentimens bizarres et extraordinaires j'en ay un pour ce qui regarde basilide qui est infiniment injuste pour luy car enfin philiste quoy que je scache bien que je ne l'aimeray jamais et que son affection m'importune il y a des instans ou je souhaite qu'il m'aime tousjours et qu'il m'aime mesme assez pour ne se marier de sa vie afin que la couronne que je porte punie tomber dans la maison de myrinthe ainsi croyant avoir trouve une innocente voye de le faire roy je ne desespere pas tousjours autant basilide que je ferois si cette bizarre raison ne me passoit pas dans l'esprit ce n'est pas que mon imagination ne soit estrangement blesse lors qu'elle me fait voir la couronne que je porte sur la teste de philimene mais apres tout la douceur que je trouve a penser que peute-estre le sceptre que je tiens passera aux mains de myrinthe l'emporte sur tout autre consideration et fait que je ne puis m'empescher de souhaiter que basilide m'aime tousjours afin d'assurer la couronne a myrinthe cependant pour vous tesmoigner que cette passion qui regne dans mon coeur est aussi pure qu'elle est bizarre remarquez je vous en conjure de quelle facon je vay vivre avec celuy qui la cause car apres avoir fait ce que je 
 biens de faire pour la gloire il faut porter la chose encore plus loin et persuader si fortement a myrinthe que je suis maistresse de mes sentimens qu'il soit contraint de m'estimer autant que je l'aime et en effet seigneur quoy que la reine ait tousjours fait depuis cela pour la fortune de myrinthe tout ce qui a elle en sa puissance elle ne luy a plus donne la familiarite qu'il avoit avec elle auparavant que stesilee luy eust apris les sentimens qu'elle a pour luy et ne luy a mesme jamais parle en particulier or seigneur ce qui a este le plus estrange de cette advanture c'est que myrinthe dont l'ame comme je vous l'ay dit est naturellement ambitieuse se delivra fort promptement de la passion qu'il avoit pour philimene car peu de temps apres son mariage on le vit si melancolique et si sombre qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle ne le rendoit plus heureux mais quoy qu'il soit naturel de prendre part a toutes les douleurs de la personne aimee celle qui parut sur le visage de myrinthe n'affligea pas cleobuline car comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit et que la passion qu'elle a est de sa nature fort clair-voyante cette princesse connut bien tost que myrinthe n'avoit plus d'amour pour philimene et qu'il en estoit mary et n'en estoit plus amant sa satisfaction n'en demeura pas encore la car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'apres que l'ambition eut destruit dans le coeur de myrinthe l'amour qu'il avoit pour philimene cette mesme ambition le 
 devenir amoureux de cleobuline mais amoureux juqu'a perdre la raison il fait toutesfois tout ce qu'il peut pour cacher sa passion et a basilide et a philimene n'osant pas seulement la faire deviner a la reine ayant sceu par stesilee combien elle est delicate en pareilles choses la reine de son coste desguise ses sentimens autant qu'elle peut et fait tout ce qui est en sa puissance pour faire que myrinthe ne s'apercoive point qu'elle l'aime tousjours et ne scache pas qu'elle s'apercoit qu'il est amoureux d'eux cependant la joye fait qu'il luy est plus aise de se desguiser qu'il ne luy estoit autrefois mais ce qu'il y a d'admirable est que plus elle connoist que myrinthe est amoureux d'elle plus elle s'en esloigne d'autre part basilide s'estant aperceu de la passion de myrinthe commence de le hair et philimene en ayant aussi quelques soubcons en veut un si grand mal a cleobuline qu'elle fait tout ce qu'elle peut pour obliger basilide a former un party dans l'estat il est pourtant certain que jamais myrinthe n'aura nulle autre satisfaction de son amour que celle de s'imaginer que la reine l'aime par ce qu'il scait qu'elle l'a l'aime et que la reine de son coste n'en pretend point d'autre que de connoistre qu'elle est aimee de myrinthe sans luy donner jamais aucune marque d'amour et sans vouloir jamais qu'il luy en donne car encore qu'elle soit fort aise de scavoir qu'il l'aime elle veut toutesfois ne le scavoir qu'en le devinant 
 cependant seigneur comme il est a craindre que la passion de basilide ne s'irrite et qu'il ne face a la fin une guerre civile je vous suplie de vouloir tesmoigner a timochare qui a assez de credit aupres de la reine que vous estes persuade que le dessein qu'elle a pris de ne se marier jamais peut avoir de dangereuses suites comme j'ay d'infinies obligations a basilide je seray sans doute bien aise de luy rendre office mais je vous proteste toutesfois seigneur que l'interest de la reine me porte plus a vous faire cette priere que celuy de basilide estant certain qu'il n'est pas possible de la connoistre et de ne s'arracher pas a son service plus qu'a celuy d'aucun autre car enfin seigneur pour finir l'histoire de cette princesse par ou je j'ay commence je puis vous assurer qu'il n'y en a point au monde qui puisse la surpadessen vertu philocles ayant cesse de parler cyrus fit un eloge de la reine de corinthe le plus beau qu'il estoit possible repassant toutes ses vertus les unes apres les autres et s'arrestant principalement a la force qu'elle avoit de cacher une violente passion et de luy refuser toutes choses car enfin dit-il je connois par la qu'il faut qu'elle ait l'ame beaucoup plus grande que moy estant certain que lors que j'estois a sinope et que j'y devins amoureux de mandane je ne pus jamais vaincre cette passion ny m'empescher de faire tout ce qu'elle voulut que je fisse quoy que j'eusse alors de plus sortes raisons de ne m'engager 
 pas a aimer cette princesse que cleobuline n'en a eu de ne tesmoigner pas a myrinthe l'affection qu'elle a pour luy ainsi philocles je conclus que la reine de corinthe est digne de toutes les louanges que vous luy avez donnees mais en mesme temps je vous assure que si je dis a thimochare ce que vous souhaitez que je luy die je le luy diray seulement pour l'amour de vous estant certain qu'a suivre les purs sentimens de mon coeur je ne corseillerois pas a une princesse qui aime d'espouser un prince qu'elle n'aime pas cependant comme je vous croy bien intentionne que vous connoissez mieux ses peuples que moy et en quels termes sont les esprits dans sa cour je vous promets de faire ce que vous desirez apres cela comme il estoit fort tard philocles se retira a la tente qu'on luy avoit donnee et laissa cyrus avec des sentimens d'envie pour myrinthe souhaitant avec une passion demesuree d'estre aussi tendrement aime de mandane qu'il l'estoit de la reine de corinthe 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 le lendemain au matin timochare estant alle au leuer de cyrus ce prince s'aquita de la promesse qu'il avoit faite a philocles mais en luy parlant il connut bien qu'il donnoit un conseil que la reine de corinthe ne suivroit pas cependant pour tesmoigner combien il estimoit cette princesse il redoubla encore ses civilitez pour timochare a qu'il fit voir tous ses travaux en suitte dequoy apres un magnifique repas thimochare s'en retourva a sa plotte ne voulant pas demeurer d'avantage au camp de peur de quelque accident impreveu quoy que la treue deust l'assurer a peine estoit il party qu'un de ceux que cyrus avoit donnez a spitridate arriva il ne le vit pas plustoit qu'ayant une extreme impatience de scavoir ce qui luy estoit 
 advenu il le pria de le luy aprendre mais auparauant que de luy dire ce qu'il en scauoit il luydonna une lettre de tygrane ou il trouira ces paroles
 
 
 tygrane a l'illustre cyrus 
 
 
 le prince spitridate estant biesse a la main droite il faut que ce soit de la mienne que vous scachsez qu'il est si malheureux qu'il n'est pas mesme en estat d'accenter les offres genereuses que vous luy auez faites car enfin apres auoir rencontre le rauisseur de la princesse araminte que je ne puis apeller mon frere apres s'estre batu contre luy durant que j'estois d'vn autre coste a chercher des nouvelles de cette princesse il a eschape a sa vangeance apres l'auoir legerement blesse a la main et s'est alle embarquer a un port de galatie ou nous l'auons suiuy a' ou nous nom embarquons aussi sans scauoir pourtant precisement la route qu'il a prise apres cela seigneur je n'ay plus qu'a vous dire que la reconnaissance que le prince spitridate a pour vous est aussi grande que sa douleur et que la colere ou te suis contre phraarte esgalle toutes les deux quoy quelle ne sur passe pas la passion que j'ay pour vostre gloire 
 
 
 tigrane 
 
 
apres la lecture de cette lettre cyrus s'insonna plus particulierement de celuy qui l'auoit 
 aportee comment spitridate auoit rencontre phraarte de sorte qu'il sceut par cet homme que c'auoit este dans un bois que d'abord phraarte l'ayant pris pour luy il auoit voulu l'esuiter mais qu'vn de ceux qui estoient avec spitridate luy ayant fait connoistre phraarte il l'auoit attaque le premier que leurs gens s'estoiet batus aussi bien qu'eux mais qu'a la fin phraarte voyant venir de loin tigrance avec sa brigade avoit lasche le pied et estoit alle par un chemin destourne qui le conduisoit dans l'espaisseur du boisou ils l'auoiet perdu de veue qu'en suitte ils auoient sceu qu' araminte estoit pendant ce combat dans une cabane de pastres a deux cens pas du lieu ou ils s'estoient batus et qu'elle y estoit avec ceux qui la gardoient ou phraarte l'estoit alle prendre et l'auoit menee a un port de mer qui n'estoit qu'a trente stades de la eu on luy auoit prepare un vaissean durant qu'il auoit este a cette cabane ayant sceu encore qu'il n'auoit pas este plustost arriue a ce port qu'il s'estoit embarque quelques vns ayat raporte qu'il estoit assez blesse cet homme adiousta encore que spitridate et tigrane ayant este a celieu la y estoient arriuez trop tard et qu'ils auoient pris la resolution de s'embarquer et de mener avec eux ceux qu'il leur auoit donnez apres quoy ils l'auoient enuoye luy dire ce qui c'estoit passe comme cyrus acheuoit d'escouter ce qu'on luy disoit de spitridate il sceut par feraulas qu'arianite ne doutant point qu'il 
 ne deust bien tost prendre cumes estoit partie de sardis et estoit venue a thybarra avec doralise dont la tance y avoit du bien et des affaires et qu'ainsi elle estoit en lieu ou elle pourrait facilement se rendre aupres de sa maistresse lors qu'elle seroit delivree feraulas luy disant encore que pherenice ne l'ayant point voulu quitter estoit aussi avec elle le prince myrsile qui estoit present lors que feraulas dit cette nouvelle a cyrus eut beaucoup de joye de pouvoir esperer de voir doralise a la fin du siege mais a peine cyrus eut il acheve d'entendre ce que feraulas luy disoit qu'on luy amena un envoye du prince philoxipe et un du prince de cilicie qui venoient l'assurer qu'ils luy envoyoient des vaisseaux de sorte que cyrus ne voyant alors que de nouvelles esperances de vaincre et de delivrer mandane avoit l'ame dans une assiete assez tranquile il est vray que ce calme ne fut pas long car mazare s'estant souvenu que le roy de pont pouvoit encore avoir les mesmes pierres d'heliotrope avec lesquelles il avoit fait sauver mandane de sardis en eut une douleur si sorte que ne pouvant souffrir de l'avoir sans que son rival l'eust aussi il fut a l'heure mesme la communiquer a cyrus qui demeura si surpris de ce que la pensee ne luy en estoit pas venue qu'il n'avoit guere moins d'estonnement que d'affliction ha mazare s'escria-t'il nous n'aimons point assez mandane de n'avoir pas songe plus 
 tost a craindre ce que nous craignons car enfin a quoy nous sert de former un siege d'eslever des travaux d'avoir une puissante armee navale d'emporter tous les dehors de cumes d'avoir fait une breche raisonnable d'avoir commence une negociation qui sera heureuse ou qui du moins en manquant causera un soulevement dans la ville qui la sera prendre plus tost si nostre rival est tousjours en pouvoir de se derober a nos yeux et de nous enlever nostre princesse ha mazare je le dis encore une sois je ne scay a quoy nous avons pense d'avoir une esperance si ferme sans songer a l'accident que nous craignons presentement et que nous craignons sans y pouvoir donner ordre justes dieux s'escrioit-il comment le peut il faire que j'aye este capable d'un tel oubly et d'un tel aveuglement moy qui ay accoustume de prevoir des malheurs qui ne m'arriveront peutestre jamais les dieux l'ont sans doute permis reprit mazare afin que vous fumez plus capable de faire le siege de cumes aussi glorieusement que vous l'avez fait mais helas repliqua cyrus que nous sert de l'avoir si heureusement avance malgre tous les obstacles que la nature et les hommes y ont aporte puis que la seule vertu d'une pierre va rendre tous nos travaux inutiles peutestre qu'a l'heure que je parle mandane n'est desja plus dans cumes et que nostre rival l'enleve une troisiesme fois mais a quoy bon entendre a une negociation reprit 
 mazare les choses estant aussi desesperees qu'elles sont s'il avoit cette voye de sortir de cumes c'est peutestre repliqua cyrus pour se servir du temps de la treue pour cela et pour abuser le prince qui luy a donne retraite enfin mazare je ne scay que dire ny que penser mais je scay bien que je ne me pardonneray jamais un si criminel oubly ce n'est pas que je ne juge que quand je me serois souvenu de ce qui me donne aujourd'huy de si mortelles aprehensions cela n'eust de rien servy a nostre princesse mais c'est que je ne puisse souffrir que j'aye este capable d'un tel endormissement d'esprit pour une chose qui occupe toutes mes pensees et d'ou depend toute l'infortune ou tout le bonheur de ma vie helas disoit il je commence de m'apercevoir que l'esperance est un bien dont je jouissois fort injustement lors que vous estes arrive car enfin poursuivit ce prince il faut que j'advoue que voyant toutes choses en si bon estat je commencois non seulement d'esperer mais de croire que j'avois mal explique les menaces que les dieux me faisoient par leurs oracles et que j'avois mal entendu la responce de la sibile aussi bien que celle de iupiter belus au roy d'assuie mais je voy bien que je me trompois en croyant que je m'estois trompe et que je ne suis pas encore a la fin de mes malheurs comme cyrus achevoit de prononcer ces paroles on luy amena un soldat qui dit qu'il avoit une lettre a luy rendre cyrus luy demanda alors 
 de qui elle estoit mais il luy respondit qu'il ne pouvoit le luy dire et que tout ce qu'il en scavoit estoit qu'elle luy estoit escrite par un prisonnier qui estoit fort soigneusement garde dans un chasteau de bithinie du coste qui touche la galatie et qu'elle luy auoit este donnee par un de ses gardes qu'il avoit suborneavec ordre de la luy aporter cyrus prenant donc cette lettre sans scavoir de qui elle venoit l'ouvrit et y trouva ces paroles
 
 
 le roy d'assirie a cyrus 
 
 
 la fortune qui veut m'accabler de toute sortes de malheurs n est pas encore satisfaite de ce que je vous dois la vie puis quelle vous que je vous doive encore la liberte mais souvenez vous pour n'avior pas autant de peine a l'accorder a vostre ennemy que j'en ay a la demander a mon rival que vous ne pouvez posseder mandane tant que je seray captif d'arsamone puis que vous ne me pouvez vaincre sans me delivrer ny sonder a la possession de cette princesse sans m'avoir vaincu puis que vous me le promistes a smope seuvenez vous donc que c'est a cyrus a tenir les promesses d'artamene et ne resusez pas a un malheureux amant la satisfaction d'esperer de se vanger ou de mourir et de n'estre jamais le spectateur du triomphe de son rival 
 
 
 le roy d'assirie 
 
 
 
 voyez genereux prince dit cyrus en donnant cette lettre a mazare apres avoir fait retirer celuy qui l'avoit aportee que nostre riual n'est pas mort et considerez en mesme temps je vous en conjure a quelles bizarres avantures la fortune m'expose mazare prenant alors cette lettre la leut et tomba d'accord apres l'avoir leue que le destin de cyrus estoit tout a fait extraordinaire mais quoy qu'il eust resolu d'aimer sans esperance et de ne pretendre plus rien a mandane il ne laissa pas d'avoir dans le fonds de son coeur quelque legere consolation de voir un nouvel obstacle au bonheur de cyrus il eut pourtant la generosite de cacher ce sentiment la a un rival qui vivoit si bien aveque luy et de se pleindre en aparence d'une chose dont il ne pouvoit s'empescher de se rejouir cependant quoy que ce fust une cruelle avanture a cyrus que d'estre oblige a delivrer un rival et uu rival encore qui ne vouloir avoir la liberte que pour luy disputer la possession de mandane ou il ne pouvoit avoir aucun droit il n'hesita pas un moment a prendre une resolution digne de son grand coeur car comme il avoit un autre rival pour tesmoin de sa force ou de sa foiblesse en cette rencontre il fit un grand effort pour surmonter la repugnance qu'il avoit a rendre un service a son ennemy quoy que je n'aye promis au roy d'assirie dit-il a mazare que de combatre contre luy et non pas de combatre pour luy je ne veux 
 pas laisser de luy accorder ce qu'il demande et de le luy accorder mesme le plustost que je pourray afin que si par un bonheur que je n'ose esperer se roy de pont ne pouvoit se servir de cette fatale pierre dont la prodigieuse vertu m'a donne tant de peine et que nous delivrassions mandane je fusse plustost ou vainqueur ou vaincu mazare entendant parler cyrus de cette sorte ne put s'empescher par un premier sentiment pour differer la liberte d'un de ses rivaux et le bonheur de l'autre de luy dire qu'il portoit la generosite trop loin mais cyrus trouvant que l'honneur et l'amour vouloient qu'il fist ce qu'il avoit resolu de faire ne changea point de sentimens non non dit il a mazare il ne faut pas mettre le roy d'assirie en estat de croire que sa valeur me soit redoutable ny donner lieu a mandane de penser que je veuille m'espargner un combat pour m'assurer sa conqueste apres cela ces deux princes tascherent de deviner comment le roy d'assirie pouvoit estre en bithinie et pourquoy arsamone l'y retenoit mais apres y avoir bien pense ils jugerent que ce prince en partant de sardis auroit eu quelques faux advis de mandane qui l'auroient conduit de ce coste la et qu'ayant este reconnu arsamone l'auroit fait arrester ils n'en comprenoient pourtant pas bien la raison car encore qu'ils sceussent que la princesse istrine que le roy d'assirie avoit tant mesprisee a babilone du temps de la reine nitocris estoit 
 niece d'arsamone et estoit aupres de luy aussi bien que le prince intapherne que le roy d'assirie avoit tant outrage ils ne comprenoient pas que cela fust une raison d'arrester ce prince et ils concevoient aussi peu pourquoy l'ayant arreste arsamone en faisoit un si grand secret mais enfin ne pouvant imaginer autre chose cyrus chercha par quelle voye il devoit donc songer a delivrer le roy d'assirie de sorte qu'apres y avoir bien pense il resolut de faire deux choses l'une d'envoyer ordre qu'on tirast de toutes les garnisons de galatie et de capadoce dequoy former un camp vollant qui s'avanceroit le plus pres de la frontiere de bithinie qu'il pourroit et l'autre d'envoyer demander le roy d'assirie a arsamone avec ordre de luy offrir une rancon proportionnee a la qualite du prisonnier et a la magnificence de celuy qui l'offroit en suitte dequoy si arsamone refusoit de le rendre celuy qui commanderoit les troupes sur la frontiere de bithinieavanceroit vers le chasteau ou on le gardoit et tascheroit de le surprendre cyrus ne trouvant pas juste d'affoiblir l'armee qui devoit delivrer mandane pour aller delivrer son rival ce dessein estant donc forme il jetta les yeux sur hidaspe pour l'aller executer luy commandant de mener aveque luy celuy qui avoit apporte la lettre du roy d'assirie mais afin que la chose se fist plus viste il envoya des le mesme jour ses ordres en galatie et en capadoce par 
 les courriers qu'il avoit establis par tout l'empire de ciaxare afin que quand hidaspe arriveroit il trouvast toutes choses prestes pour executer son dessein mais dieux s'escria cyrus en achevant de donner les derniers ordres pour cette entreprise faut il qu'estant oblige d'employer tous mes soins pour la liberte de ma princesse je metrouve dans la necessite de les partager pour mon rival encore si j'estois assure dit-il en luy mesme que je fusse bien toslen estat de le voir l'espee a la main je me consolerois de tant de disgraces mais connoissant la malignite de ma fortune je ne doute presques point que je n'aye le malheur de delivrer mon ennemy sans pouvoir delivrer mandane cependant mazare qui scavoit qu'il avoit enleve cette princesse au roy d'assirie lors qu'elle estoit a sinope se repentant de sa premiere pensee eust bien voulu pour reparer l'infidelite qu'il luy avoit faite contribuer quelque chose a sa liberte mais comme il avoit encore plus outrage mandane que le roy d'assirie et qu'il luyt importoit plus de reparer cette faute que l'autre il demeura au camp afin d'estre present a la prise de cumes ou a sa reddition ce n'est pas qu'il n'aprehendast presques esgallement que mandane s'y trouvast on ne s'y trouvast point et que la seule imagination de l'entreveue de cyrus et d'elle ne luy donnait une sensible douleur cependant comme une si la fortune eust voulu mettre la generosite de 
 cyrus a toutes sortes d'espreuves il arriva le lendemain un envoye d'arsamone qui luy ayant fait demander audiance en particulier l'obtint de ce prince qui receut de sa main une lettre d'arsamone mais comme elle n'estoit que de creance ce fut par celuy qui la luy rendit que cyrus sceut la proposition que le roy son maistre luy faisoit comme cet envoye estoit un homme entendu il prepara resprit de cyrus par un assez long discours luy exagerant quelle avoit este l'injuste usurpation des rois de pont sur ceux de bithinie et quelle avoit este la violence du roy d'assirie a autrager un prince et une princesse qui touchoient de si pres a arsamone en suitte dequoy voulant interesser cyrus a luy accorder ce qu'il desrroit le roy mon maistre luy dit-il apres avoir assez exagere les sujets de pleinte qu'il avoit contre ces deux princes s'est tenu heureux dans son malheur d'avoir du moins des ennemis qui sont les vostres et de n'avoir pas a aprehender que vous les protegiez contre luy aussi est ce dans ce sentiment la que scachant que le roy de pont sera bientost en vostre puissance il m'a ordonne de vous dire que le roy d'assirie est en la sienne et que si vous luy voulez remettre ce prince usurpateur entre les mains il remettra le roy d'assirie entre les vostres si ce n'est que vous aimiez mieux qu'il le garde prisonnier pour vous delivrer d'un ennemy je n'ay pas accoustume reprit cyrus de me servir de pareilles voyes pour me deffaire de mes rivaux et je m'estonne 
 qu'un prince qui a reconquis son royaume si glorieusement veuille se deffaire de son ennemy d'une maniere si peu glorieuse mais puis qu'arsamone a bien eu l'injustice de tenir spitridate dans une rigoureuse prison luy qui est un des plus illustres princes du monde je ne dois pas trouver si estrange qu'il y voulust tenir son ennemy cependant quoy le roy de pont soit le mien et que le roy d'assirie le soit aussi je ne veux ny livrer le premier au roy de bythinie ny m'assurer de l'autre comme il me conseille au contraite j'ay fait offrir diverses fois au roy de pont de luy reconquerir son estat s'il vouloit me rendre la princesse mandane et j'envoye demain pour des raisons que je ne suis pas oblige de dire offrir au roy vostre maistre de luy payer la rancon du roy d'assirie afin de le remettre en liberte jugez apres cela si je suis en pouvoir d'escouter la proposition que vous me faites mais seigneur reprit cet envoye ces deux princes sont vos rivaux vos ennemis et les ravisseurs de la princesse mandane il est vray repliqua cyrus qu'ils sont ce que vous dites mais suis d'autant plus oblige de me vanger d'eux par la belle voye et de ne leur donner pas sujet de noircir ma reputation qui graces aux dieux n'a receu aucune tache qu'on me puisse reprocher dites donc au roy vostre maistre que je ne puis ny ne dois faire ce qu'il veut et que s'il est bien conseille il rapellera le prince son fils aupres de luy et consentira 
 sentira qu'il espouse la princesse araminre dont la vertu est extreme afin d'avoir un droit legitime au royaume de pont si le sort des armes fait perir celuy a qui il appartient durant la suitte de cette guerre et pour le roy d'assirie je ne laisseray pas de suivre mon premier dessein et d'envoyer vers arsamone pour scavoir s'il n'en changera point cet envoye voulut encore dire quelques raisons a cyrus mais ce prince demeurant serme dans sa resolution luy imposa silence cependant il donna ordre qu'on eust soin de luy le retenant mesme deux ou trois jours au camp afin que les troupes eussent le temps de s'assembler durant qu'il y fut gadate ayant sceu qu'il estoit de bithinie et envoye par arsamone fut fort surpris de ne recevoir point par luy de nouvelles ny d'intapherne son fils ny de la princesse istrine sa fille mais cet envoye luy ayant dit qu'ils n'avoient pas sceu son voyage son estonnement cessa et il leur escrivit par luy lors qu'il partit avec hidaspe apres quoy cyrus demeura avec une inquietude dont il ne pouuoit estre le maistre car toutes les sois qu'il pensoit que peut estre mandane n'estoit plus dans cumes il avoit une douleur qu'on ne scauroit exprimer la cruelle avanture qu'il avoit eue a sinope et celle qu'il avoit eue a sardis luy faisoient si bien concevoir quel seroit son desespoir s'il arrivoit qu'il prist cumes sans delivrer mandane que la seule crainte qu'il en avoit ne l'affligeoir guere moins 
 que si ce malheur luy fust desja arrive cependant cette crainte qui luy paroissoit si bien sondee ne l'estoit pourtant pas et le roy de pont estoit aussi afflige d'avoir perdu les pierres d'heliotrope que cyrus l'estoit dans la croyance qu'il les avoit encore en effet toutes les fois qu'il se souvenoit qu'en s'embarquant au port d'atarme avec tant de precipitation lors qu'il avoit pris spitridate pour cyrus il avoit donne toutes ces pierres a porter a un des siens et qu'il se souvenoit encore que dans ce tumulte celuy a qui il les avoit baillees les avoit laisse tomber dans la mer il estoit en un desespoir sans esgal s'accusant d'une imprudence extreme d'avoir si mal choisi celuy a qui il les avoit confiees car plus la fin de la treve aprochoit moins il imaginoit d'aparence de trouvre les voyes de sauver mandane le prince de cumes qui voyoit son estat perdu si cette princesse en sortoit observoit mesme alors assez exactement le roy de pont de sorte que de quelque coste qu'il se tournait il ne trouvoit que des choses facheuses s'il regardoit mandane il la voyoit tousjours irritee contre luy s'il regardoit le prince de cumes il voyoit que son protecteur estoit presque devenu son espion s'il tourvoit les yeux vers la mer il y voyoit une puissante armee navale s'il les tournoit vers la terre il y voyoit des lignes des forts et des soldats resolus a vaincre ou a mourir s'il regardoit les murailles de cumes il y voyoit une breche en estat 
 estat de la faire prendre au premier assaut que cyrus seroit donner s'il observoit les habitans de cette ville il n'endoit que murmures contre luy et s'il se consideroit luy mesme il se voyoit le plus malheureux homme du monde soitnt qu'il se considerast comme amant ou seuleme comme un prince sans royaume et sans appuy ou mesme encore comme ennemy de cyrus car comme il luy avoit de l'obligation et qu'il luy en auroit encore pu avoir s'il eust voulu accepter les offres genereuses qu'il luy faisoit il en avoit un despit extreme de sorte que ce malheureux prince ne voyant comme je luy dit que des choses facheuses n'imaginant nulle voye de se sauver et ne pouvant se resoudre a perdre mandane enduroit des maux incroyables cependant ce fidelle agent que cyrus avoit dans la ville continuoit ses brigues et ses cabales parmy le peuple pour le disposer a la revolte en cas que le prince de cumes et le roy de pont n'acceptassent pas les offres de cyrus au retour de ceux qu'on avoir envoyez vers lycambe vers pactias vers les cauniens et les xanthiens cet homme apelle tiserne estoit si adroit et si propre a un pareil employ qu'en effet il avoit luy seul inspire un esprit de revolte dans toute cette ville il n'y avoit pas une place publique dans cumes ou il n'allast deux ou trois fois tous les jours s'il voyoit seulement deux hommes arrestez a parler ensemble il se mesloit a leur conversation et entrant d'abord 
 dans leurs sentimens quels qu'ils pussent estre ils les amenoit apres dans les gens avec tant d'adreste qu'ils croyoient plustost l'avoir persuade qu'ils ne pensoient qu'il les eust persuadez il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il ne debitast quelque nouvelle estonnante pour intimider le peuple et qu'il circonstancioit d'une telle sorte qu'elle ne manquoit jamais d'estre creue et de faire l'effet qu'il en attendoit d'autre part anaxaris n'estoit pas sans inquietude ce n'est pas qu'il ne fust traite avec toute la civilite qu'on a accoustume d'avoir pour des prisonniers de guerre aussi n'estoit ce pas de cette espece de prison dont il se pleignoit et si son ame n'eust pas este plus captive que son corps il n'auroit pas eu besoin de toute sa confiance pour suporter son infortune mais comme il n'y a rien de plus dangereux a voir qu'une belle affligee et que la princesse mandane estoit la plus belle insortunee qui sera jamais anaxaris donc l'ame estoit tendre et et passionnee ne la put voir sans l'aimer il attribua pourtant d'abord a la compassion qu'il avoit de ses malheurs tous les sentimens tendres qu'il avoit pour cette princesse il creut mesme durant quelques jours que c'estoit autant pour l'interest de cyrus que pour celuy de mandane qu'il s'interessoit si sensiblement a tout ce qui la touchoit mais a la fin sa passion augmentant non seulement de jour en jour et d'heure en heure mais de moment en moment il 
 en connut toute la grandeur et la connut sans avoir la force de luy resister comme il ne se passoit point de jour qu'il ne vist mandane les beaux yeux de cette princesse allumerent sans qu'elle y prist garde un feu si violent dans le coeur de ce veillant inconnu que toute sa raison ne le put esteindre ce n'est pas qu'il ne vist bien que jamais amour ne pouvoit naistre avec si peu d'esperance que la sienne mais c'est que n'estant plus maistre de son coeur il n'estoit plus en termes d'en regler les mouvemens et tout ce qu'il pouvoit faire estoit de connoistre que s'il eust pu il eust deu n'aimer point mandane il faut pourtant dire pour excuser sa passion qu'il voyoit mandane d'une maniere qu'il eust este fort difficile de ne l'aimer pas car enfin il la voyoit tous les jours il la voyoit en secret et avec quelque difficulte et comme c'estoit par luy qu'elle scavoit des nouvelles de l'estat du siege qu'elle le trouvoit admirablement honneste homme et qu'elle le consideroit comme un amy de cyrus et comme estant prisonnier pour ses interests elle avoit pour luy toute la civilite qu'elle estoit capable d'avoir de plus comme ils estoient tous deux captifs cette conformite faisoit je ne scay quelle esgalite entre eux qui rendoit la civilite qu'elle avoit pour luy plus douc et plus obligeante il faut mesme encore dire pour son excuse que jamais mandane n'avoit este plus belle qu'elle estoit alors en effet on eut dit que la prison n'avoit 
 fait que l'empescher d'estre halee et que conserver la fraischeur de son taint tant sa beaute estoit admirable il la voyoit donc belle douce civile et affligee et il la voyoit tous les jours comme je l'ay desja dit de sorte qu'ayant le coeur attendri par les larmes de mandane l'amour le blessa plus facilement et le blessa d'une fleche tellement envenimee que sa blessure fut incurable helas disoit-il en luy mesme lors qu'il consideroit le malheur ou il estoit tombe que pretenday-je dans ma passion et ne faut-il pas tomber d'accord qu'il y a de la folie dans mon esprit d'avoir tant d'amour dans le coeur pour une personne qui ne peut et qui ne doit jamais m'aimer quand mesme elle scauroit la violente passion que j'ay pour elle car enfin son coeur est a cyrus par tant de droits differens que ce seroit une extravagance effroyable que d'y pretendre quelque chose ses services le luy ont acquis l'inclination de mandane le luy a donne ciaxare luy a promis cette princesse et son incomparable valeur la luy a fait conquerir il fait plusieurs combats pour cela il a donne et gagne des batailles pour elle il a assujetti des provinces et des royaumes et il prendra bien tost cumes et luy redonnera la liberte iuge anaxaris apres cela ce que tu dois pretendre a mandane toy qu'elle ne connoist point qui n'oses te faire connoistre et qu'elle n'aimeroit mesme pas quand elle te connoistroit ne songe donc plus a conquerir un coeur que le 
 vainqueur de l'asie a desja conquis pense que tu ne ferois pas ce que le roy d'assirie le roy de pont et le prince mazare n'ont pu faire et resous toy de chasser de son coeur une princesse qui ne peut jamais te donner le sien mais helas reprenoit-il que me sert d'opposer la raison a une passion desreglee qui fait gloire de la mespriser plus je voy de rivaux malheureux plus je voy d'excuse a mon erreur et puis que le roy d'assirie le roy de pont et mazare ne se sont pu deffendre des charmes de mandane n'ayons point de honte de ne luy pouvoir resister le premier l'aima qu'il estoit inconnu comme nous le second en venant de perdre ses royaumes ne put sauver la vie a mandane en la retirant des flots sans redevenir son amant jusqu'a estre son ravisseur et le troisiesme quoy qu'il sceust qu'elle aimoit cyrus qu'il fust parent et amy du roy d'assirie ne laissa pas de l'aimer et de faire une double trahison pour l'enlever croyons donc pour nostre justification que les charmes de cette princesse sont inevitables et que faillir apres trois aussi grands princes que ceux que je viens de nommer n'est pas une laschete cedons donc a mandane puis que nous ne luy pouvons resister ainsi sans scavoir pourquoy nous aimons et sans considerer la suitte d'une si folle passion songeons seulement a luy plaire qui scait disoit-il encore si tous mes rivaux ne se destruiront point l'un l'autre et si je ne profiteray 
 point de leur perte aussi bien puis que je ne puis cesser d'aimer mandane ne me reste-t'il rien a faire qu'a me tromper le plus long-temps que je pourray joint que de la facon dont je sens mon ame je scay bien que quand je serois assure que cyrus devroit demain posseder cette princesse je ne pourrois cesser de l'aimer cependant quelque violente que fust l'amour d'anaxaris il luy demeura pourtant assez de raison pour comprendre qu'il ne faloit pas qu'il fist connoistre sa passion a la princesse qui la causoit de sorte que vivant avec elle avec un profond respect et une complaisance sans esgalle elle vint a avoir de l'amitie pour luy mais afin de se rendre plus necessaire et pour faire qu'il la pust voir tous les jours lors qu'il ne scavoit point de nouvelles il en inventoit mais comme il n'en pouvoit inventer ou cyrus ne fust mesle et que pour estre bien receu de mandane il faloit mesme qu'il y fust mesle avantageusement il avoit une peine estrange a s'y resoudre il avoit mesme encore une inquietude extreme que sa passion luy donnoit car comme il scavoit que le roy de pont ne songeoit a autre chosequ'a tascher de faire sortir mandane de cumes il ne scavoit lequel il devoit souhaiter ou que cyrus la delivrast ou que le roy de pont l'enlevast si le premier arrivoit il jugeoit bien que cyrus ne seroit pas longtemps sans estre heureux et qu'il verroit bien tost mandane en sa puissance mais de l'autre coste il voyoit 
 que si le roy de pont enlevoit mandane il ne la verroit peutestre jamais de sorte qu'aimant encore mieux la voir posseder par cyrus que de ne la voir de sa vie il apliqua tous ses soins a faire que ce prince ne pust executer son dessein joint qu'ayant sceu par persode que cyrus et le roy d'assirie se devoient battre devant que le premier espousast mandane son amour luy fit imaginer plus d'avantage pour luy que cyrus la delivrast que de la voir enlevee par le roy de pont si bien que se servant de l'intelligence qu'il avoit avec ses gardes que martesie avoit subornez il fit en sorte qu'il gagna pres de la moitie de la garnison mais comme il n'avoit rien a leur donner ce ne pouvoit estre qu'en leur parlant de la magnificence de cyrus et qu'en leur faisant esperer d'en estre liberalement recompensez s'ils luy conservoient la princesse mandane ainsi faisant servir une des vertus de son rival a son dessein il y reussit si heureusement qu'il estoit presques aussi puissant dans le chasteau ou estoit mandane que le roy de pont et le prince de cumes et s'il n'y eust eu qu'a s'en rendre maistre pour la delivrer il l'auroit sans doute tente mais comme ce chasteau ne commandoit qu'une petite partie de la ville cela ne suffisoit pas joint que cette entreprise n'estant pas infaillible il craignoit de rendre mandane plus malheureuse en pensant la delivrer de sorte que pour ne rien hazarder il differa son dessein jusques a ce qu'il 
 eust encore gagne davantage de soldats les choses estant en ces termes ceux qu'on avoit envoyez vers les xanthiens vers les cauniens vers lycambe et vers pactias revinrent et porterent au roy de pont et au prince de cumes apres avoir passe au camp de cyrus que les uns et les autres trouvoient qu'il n'y avoit rien a faire qu'a accepter les propositions que cyrus avoit faites pactias et lycambe mandoient que l'espouvante estoit dans leur armee et qu'ils estoient persuadez que si cumes estoit prise sans composition leurs troupes se dissiperoient des le lendemain par l'aprehension qu'elles auroient de voir celles de cyrus les aller attaquer et les combatre qu'ainsi ils ne pouvoient demeurer garands de l'evenement si on ne concluoit pas le traite pour les xanthiens et les cauniens ils ne demandoient autre chose sinon qu'on leur accordast promptement ce qu'on leur offroit ces envoyez estant donc chargez de paroles de paix si favorables et estant arrivez aux portes de cumes le peuple excite par tiferne s'amassa en un instant a l'entour d'eux et se mit a leur demander avec des cris tumultueux et violens quelles nouvelles ils aportoient de sorte que ces envoyez pour les apaiser leur dirent qu'ils aportoient la paix mais ce mot de paix ne fut pas plustost prononce que passant de bouche en bouche il fit faire des acclamations si grandes a tous ceux qui l'entendirent que de par tout le peuple 
 accourut au lieu ou ces cris de rejouissance faisoient retentir l'air de sons esclatans et agreables a des gens lassez des fatigues d'un siege si bien que ces envoyez se virent environnez de tant de gens qu'a peine pouvoient ils marcher a chaque pas qu'ils faisoient la foule augmentoit ils ne passoient pas un coing de rue que diverses troupes ne se joignissent aux autres et par ce moyen plus de la moitie du peuple de cumes se trouva rassemble en un instant en deux ou trois rues cependant tiferne qui ne perdoit pas une occasion si favorable alloit et venoit au milieu de cette presse pour amener les choses au point qu'il les souhaitoit aux uns il se contentoit d'augmenter dans leur coeur le desir de la paix aux autres il disoit avoir ouy dire que le roy de pont et le prince de cumes ne la voudroient point accepter adjoustant qu'il la faloit faire sans eux ou les y forcer les armes a la main qu'il ne faloit qu'ouvrir les portes a cyrus qui de leur ennemy qu'il estoit deviendroit leur protecteur s'ils luy faisoient delivrer la princesse mandane a peine tiferne avoit il pit cela que ceux a qui il parloit le redisoient a leurs compagnons qui le redisoient a d'autres et y adjoustant plus ou moins d'aigreur selon leur temperamment il s'excita enfin une telle esmotion parmy cette multitude qu'il estoit aise de comprendre par les cris qu'on entendoit de toutes parts que si on refusoit la paix le peuple se porteroit a la derniere violence 
 et entreprendroit de se la faire accorder de force des que quelqu'un de ceux qui estoient au roy de pont vouloit s'opposer a des sentimens si tumultueux on le menacoit de le tuer et il se voyoit contraint de se taire d'autre part le prince anaxaris estant adverti de ce qui se passoit dans la ville commenca d'agir parmi les soldats comme tiferne agissoit parmi le peuple continuant d'employer le nom de cyrus pour les porter a ce qu'il vouloit tantost il leur parloit de la recompense qu'il leur donneroit tantost de la gloire qu'ils auroient de combatre a l'advenir sous un si illustre conquerant leur persuadant qu'il ne borneroit par ses conquestes a cumes et qu'ils s'enrichiroient sous luy a d'autres pour leur oster le scrupule de la trahison il adjoustoit que par cette action ils feroient rendre l'estat au prince leur maistre et qu'il leur engageoit sa parole de le servir autant qu'il le pourroit de sorte qu'ostant la honte de leur action leur parlant de gloire de recompense et de richesses il les porta a luy promettre de faire absolument ce qu'il voudroit cependant ces envoyez ayant rendu leur responce au roy de pont et au prince de cumes le premier se trouva bien embarrasse car il connut clairement que l'autre souhaitoit la paix si bien que n'osant pas s'opposer directement aux sentimens de son protecteur il luy dit seulement qu'il le conjuroit pour derniere grace de tirer encore la chose en longueur durant quelques 
 jours sur le pretexte de la seurete du traite esperant que comme on alloit entrer en une lune ou d'ordinaire les vents sont fort grands et la mer fort esmeue et fort orageuse une tempeste pourroit desboucher le port en dissipant les deux flottes qui le fermoient et sauver peut-estre cumes ou du moins luy permettre d'enlever mandane comme le roy de pont parla avec beaucoup de chaleur il persuada le prince de cumes ce ne fut pourtant pas si tost et leur contestation fut si longue que le peuple eut lieu de croire que ces princes n'accepteroient pas la paix qu'on leur offroit d'autre part cyrus ayant veu ces envoyez en passant et ayant sceu par les herauts qu'il leur avoit donnez pour les conduire que selon ce qu'ils en pouvoient juger par les choses qu'ils avoient ouy dire aux lieux ou ils avoient este ces envoyez raportoient des paroles de paix il ne douta point que la chose ne fust ainsi de sorte que ce prince se voyant sur le point d'estre bientost heureux ou malheureux de delivrer mandane ou de la perdre de faire la paix ou de recommencer la guerre redoubla tous ses soins et commenca d'agir comme si la treve eust deu finir a l'heure mesme et de disposer toutes choses a un assaut general philocles et leontidas s'en retournerent diligemment a leurs flottes le prince mazare a son quartier le prince artamas au sien persode se tint au lieu ou estoient les machines et le genereux megabate aussi bien que 
 tous les volontaires aupres de cyrus qui attendoit avec une impatience extreme qu'on luy vinst rendre la responce des assiegez mais la plus cruelle inquietude qu'il eust estoit celle de penser que peutestre le roy de pont luy enleveroit il encore mandane en se servant de ces pierres d'heliotrope il esperoit pourtant quelquesfois que cette princesse se souvenant de son avanture de sardis seroit plus difficile a tromper mais apres tout il craignoit mille fois plus qu'il n'esperoit de sorte que les momens luy semblant des siecles et la contestation du roy de pont et du prince de cumes durant tres long temps comme il vit qu'on ne luy rendoit point de responce il l'envoya demander par un heraut croyant mesme que cela pourroit plus facilement porter le peuple a se revolter mais pour faire encore mieux reussir son dessein il commanda a ce heraut de dire a ces princes assiegez que s'ils ne luy rendoient a l'heure mesme une responce decisive il alloit faire donner l'assaut ordonnant aussi a ce heraut de semer ce bruit parmi le peuple en traversant la ville et en effet cet homme executant les volontez de cyrus s'aquita si adroitement de sa commission qu'en allant au chasteau il mit l'espouvante dans le coeur du peuple de sorte que tiferne se servant a propos de la matiere qu'on luy donna changea cette espouvante en fureur et fit que toute cette multitude se resolut si ce heraut apres avoir parle aux princes qui devoient 
 luy rendre responce ne la raportoit favorable de prendre les armes de s'assurer de leurs personnes de se saisir des portes de laisser entrer cyrus et d'aller aupres au lieu ou estoit mandane cependant anaxaris qui mouroit d'envie de se signaler et de faire que mandane luy eust quelque obligation de sa liberte aprenant que ce heraut estoit avec ces princes et craignant qu'ils ne conclussent la paix ou il n'auroit point de part il commenca de disposer a agir ces soldats qu'il avoit gaignez et a se rendre maistre de ce chasteau que le peuple apelloit pourtant le palais du prince de cumes afin que se saisissant et du roy de pont et de mandane il pust avoir la gloire qu'il pretendoit cependant ce heraut que cyrus avoit envoye n'ayant pas receu une responce aussi decisive qu'il la souhaitoit se mit en estat de s'en retourner mais a peine parut il a la porte du chasteau que le peuple qui attendoit sa sortie avec impatience se mit a luy demander si la paix estoit conclue de sorte que cet homme voyant combien ils la desiroient leur respondit hardiment pour les soulever que leurs princes ne la vouloient pas et que des qu'il seroit retourne au camp cyrus alloit faire donner un assaut general ces paroles ne furent pas plustost ouies qu'on entendit un tumulte de voix effroyable et en un moment la fureur passant d'esprit en esprit se communiqua a toute la ville si bien que tous les habitans prenant les armes ils commencerent de 
 perdre tout a fait le respect et de vouloir enfoncer les premieres portes du chasteau anaxaris oyant ce tumulte fit de son coste soulever la plus grande partie de la garnison de sorte que le roy de pont et le prince de cumes se trouverent en un estrange estat estant environnez d'ennemis de par tout s'ils vouloient sortir du chasteau ils trouvoient un peuple en fureur les armes a la main s'ils vouloient y demeurer ils voyoient qu'ils n'en estoient plus les maistres qu'une partie de leurs soldats combatoit contre l'autre et qu'ainsi ils ne trouvoient sevrete en nulle part le roy de pont voulut alors aller a l'apartement de mandane mais les gardes qui y estoient au lieu de luy obeir voulurent se saisir de sa personne joint qu'anaxaris estant survenu en cet endroit s'y opposa courageusement le roy de pont de son coste ayant ramasse quelques soldats voulut le sorcer a luy donner passage de sorte qu'il se fit un assez grand combat entre ces deux princes que la princesse mandane voyoit de ses fenestres il est vray qu'elle ne le regarda guere et que martesie le vit mieux qu'elle mais enfin elle en vit assez pour remarquer qu'anaxaris combatoit pour elle avec une ardeur heroique d'ailleurs le prince de cumes s'estant voulu montrer au peuple pour l'apaiser avoit este contraint de se retirer si bien qu'estant arrive ou le roy de pont et anaxaris combatoient la meslee devint encore plus sanglante mais a la fin le party d'anaxaris 
 estant le plus fort et le roy de pont estant blesse au bras droit il falut que l'autre cedast ce prince ne se rendit pourtant pas au contraire se souvenant alors d'un escalier derobe qui estoit a l'apartement de mandane et qui respondoit dans la cour de derriere il se mit en devoir d'y aller laissant le prince de cumes fort embarrasse avec ceux qui l'attaquoient mais anaxaris qui avoit eu toute la prudence imaginable en cette occasion y avoit pose des gardes de sorte que ce malheureux roy ne pouvant seulement avoir l'avantage de mourir aux pieds de mandane et aprehendant de tomber sous la puissance d'un rival dont il craignoit autant la generosite qu'il en eust deu craindre la rigueur si cyrus en eust este capable chercha du moins par quelle voye il pourroit se derober a la victoire de ce prince de sorte que sentant qu'il ne pouvoit plus combatre et trouvant un soldat a l'escart qui n'estoit pas de ceux qu'anaxaris avoit gagnez il se servit de luy pour luy aider a ouvrir une fausse porte qui estoit a ce chasteau qu'anaxaris n'avoit pas sceu qui y fust si bien que l'ayant ouverte il sortit resolu d'aller voir s'il ny auroit point moyen d'exciter le peuple a quelque resistance mais a peine fut il dehors qu'il entendit un bruit effroyable et qu'il aprit par celuy chez qui il avoit loge en arrivant a cumes que le hazard luy fit rencontrer en ce lieu destourne que le peuple s'estoit desja saisi des portes de la ville qu'il parloit 
 de faire entrer les troupes de cyrus que la plus parts des soldats se rangeoient de son coste et qu'il n'y avoit plus rien a faire pour luy qu'a ne se monstrer pas s'il ne vouloit estre pris ou tue le roy de pont desespere et voulant du moins cacher sa honte et sa mort accepta l'offre que luy fit cet homme de le faire entrer dans un jardin qu'il avoit qui estoit aupres des fossez de ce chasteau sur le bord desquels ils estoient et qui respondant vers la mer luy donneroit moyen de se sauver la nuit dans quelque barque de pescheur quand les choses seroient plus tranquilles et que la flotte de cyrus ne boucheroit plus le port si bien que cet infortune prince se laissant conduire ou son malheureux destin vouloit qu'il allast suivit cet homme mais avec tant de rage et de desespoir qu'il en eust fait pitie a ses plus fiers ennemis s'ils l'eussent veu en ce pitoyable estat l'abondance du sang qu'il perdoit avoit rougi tous ses habillemens il portoit son espee toute sanglante de ceux qu'il avoit tuez mais il la portoit de la main gauche ne pouvant plus la soustenir de la droite a cause de la blessure qu'il avoit receue de ce coste la et qui l'avoit mis hors de combat en marchant de cette sorte il pensoit des choses si tristes et si violentes que s'il eust eu la force de se tuer il se seroit delivre de tous ses malheurs par un seul coup mais estant trop affoibli par la perte du sang il fut contraint de vivre parce qu'il n'avoit pas la force de 
 mourir et il fut contraint de marcher en s'apuyant sur le soldat qui l'avoit suivi et d'entrer dans ce jardin qui luy servit d'asile cependant anaxaris n'ayant plus que le prince de cumes en teste ramassa toute sa valeur pour vaincre plustost mais quoy que ce vaillant ennemi eust este force de lascher le pied lors que le roy de pont s'estoit separe de luy il resista pourtant avec une valeur extreme seconde de celuy qui avoit pris anaxaris qui se nommoit thrasile ainsi on voyoit ce vaincu redevenir vainqueur et le captif en estat de faire son maistre prisonnier vaillant prince cria anaxaris au prince de cumes voyant qu'il s'opiniastroit a luy resister ne me forcez pas a vous perdre je ne veux que delivrer la princesse mandane et je ne veux pas vous detruire mais a la fin voyant qu'il ne rendoit pas il l'attaqua si vivement qu'apres l'avoir blesse en plusieurs endroits il tomba mort a ses pieds cette mort ne finit pourtant pas encore le combat car le vaillant thrasyle au lieu de ceder a la force voyant le prince de cumes mort r'anima son courage pour s'empescher d'estre captif de celuy qui estoit son prisonnier et pour vanger la mort de son prince mais ce fut inutilement qu'il voulut vaincre ou mourir car le premier estoit impossible et la generosite d'anaxaris empescha ce vaillant homme de se perdre en effet voulant reconnoistre la civilite qu'il avoit eue pour luy durant sa prison il deffendit a ceux de son party de le tuer 
 apres quoy l'ayant fait enveloper par dix ou douze il fut contraint de se rendre aussi bien que le peu de gens qui luy restoient il n'eut pas plustost pose les armes qu'anaxaris l'ayant laisse sous la garde de quatre soldats fut faire le tour du chasteau pour voir s'il en estoit absolument le maistre et pour chercher le roy de pont mais il vit qu'il faloit que ce prince se fust sauve par la fausse porte qu'il trouva ouverte et qu'il n'y avoit plus d'autre tumulte que celuy que faisoit le peuple a celle du chasteau qu'il vouloit enfoncer anaxaris s'estant alors presente a ces furieux et leur ayant impose silence il leur fit entendre que le roy de pont n'estoit plus dans le chasteau qu'il en estoit maistre que leur prince estoit mort et que la princesse mandane estoit en sa puissance que s'ils vouloient luy permettre d'envoyer advertir cyrus de ce qui s'estoit passe il leur promettoit de leur faire obtenir des conditions avantageuses que celles que prince leur avoit desja accordees a peine eut il dit cela que ces habitans sans affliger de la mort de leur prince qui eust pu les punir s'il eust vescu crierent tous d'une voix qu'ils feroient tout ce qu'il voudroit et qu'ils avoient desja eu dessein d'envoyer vers cyrus pour luy offrir de luy livrer les portes de la ville dont ils s'estoient rendus maistres anaxaris voulant alors depescher quelqu'un vers ce prince vit parmy la presse le heraut que cyrus avoit envoye a cumes et qui n'en ayant pu 
 sortir a cause de ce tumulte s'estoit tenu la a regarder a quoy ce desordre aboutiroit de sorte que voulant se servir de luy pour envoyer vers cyrus il commanda qu'on le fist aprocher anaxaris ne se resolut pourtant pas sans peine a faire faire ce message car dans la violente passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame s'il eust suivi ses sentimens il auroit entrepris de deffendre ce chasteau et contre les habitans et contre cyrus mais comme ce dessein estoit entierement esloigne de toute raison et absolument hors d'aparence de reussir il en rejetta la pensee et se determina d'achever ce qu'il avoit resolu mais des qu'il voulut parler a ce heraut le peuple apres s'estre atroupe par diverses bandes et avoir tenu un conseil tumultueux recommenca de crier et de dire qu'il vouloit voir la princesse mandane auparavant que d'envoyer vers cyrus ces habitans de cumes ne voulant pas ouvrir leurs portes a ce prince qu'ils ne fussent bien assurez de luy pouvoir rendre la princesse qu'il vouloit delivrer et que cette princesse ne leur promist qu'elle conserveroit leur ville anaxaris voulant donc les satisfaire leur dit qu'il alloit la querir et en effet il fut a la chambre de cette princesse qui attendoit avec beaucoup d'inquietude quel seroit le succes d'un si grand tumulte mais des qu'elle vit anaxaris elle conmenca d'esperer que ce succes seroit heureux principalement lors que s'aprochant tres respectueusement d'elle il prit la parole pour luy dire ce que le peuple souhaitoit 
 madame luy dit-il l'estat de vostre fortune est change car au lieu d'estre sous la puissance du roy de pont le peuple de cumes veut estre sous vostre protection et vous demande par moy qu'il puisse avoir l'honneur de vous voir genereux inconnu luy repliqua mandane que ne vous dois-je point que ne vous devra pas le roy mon pere et qu'elle reconnoissance ne devez vous pas attendre de l'illustre cyrus pour qui vous avez sans doute entrepris ce que vous venez d'executer avec tant de bonheur et tant de courage tant que j'ay este dans l'armee de cyrus reprit anaxaris en rougissant j'ay sans doute combatu pour vous pour l'amour de luy seulement mais madame ne luy donnez s'il vous plaist aucune part a ce que j'ay fait dans cumes estant certain que je l'ay fait pour la princesse mandane sans considerer qu'elle seule cependant adjousta-t'il pour ne luy donner pas loisir de faire quelque reflection sur ses paroles comme se peuple est impatient qu'il a les armes a la main et qu'il ne faut qu'un moment pour le faire changer de resolution venez s'il vous plaist madame venez travailler a vostre liberte afin que vous ne la deviez qu'a vous mesme ha genereux anaxaris repliqua-t'elle cela n'est pas possible et quoy que je puisse plustost dire que je la dois a cent mille hommes que de dire que je ne la dois qu'a moy je veux me renfermer dans des bornes plus estroites et vous assurer qu'il y en a deux dont vous en 
 estes un a qui j'en suis particulierement obligee apres cela mandane se laissant conduire par anaxaris fut a un balcon qui estoit sur la porte du chasteau suivie de martesie ou elle ne parut pas plustost que le peuple jetta des cris de joye estranges il ne se contenta pourtant pas de la voir mais deputant six d'entre eux anaxaris les fit entrer dans le chasteau et les presenta a la princesse mandane qui les receut comme des gens qui avoient dessein de la delivrer aussi furent-ils si charmez de sa douceur et si esblouis de sa beaute qu'ils ne scavoient presques ce qu'ils luy disoient les uns demandoient qu'on ne pillast point leur ville les autres que cyrus leur pardonnast et parlant tout ensemble confusement il n'estoit pas aise de leur respondre mais enfin mandane leur ayant non seulement promis que leur ville seroit conservee mais qu'elle auroit encore de nouveaux privileges les fit consentir qu'elle envoyast a cyrus ce mesme heraut qu'anaxaris y avoit voulu envoyer ce fut toutesfois a condition qu'elle escriroit a ce prince disant grossierement que peut-estre ne croiroit il pas a celuy qu'on luy envoyeroit adjoustant encore que pour plus grande seurete pour eux ils suplioient cette princesse de vouloir recevoir cyrus a la porte de leur ville et les presenter a luy pour luy en offrir les clefs
 
 
 
 
comme mandane ne jugea pas qu'il fust a propos de contredire des gens que la crainte pouvoit 
 rendre furieux elle leur accorda aisement ce qu'ils demandoient et sans differer d'avantage mertesie luy donnant des tablettes elle y escrivit ces paroles
 
 
 mandanea cyrus 
 
 
 la valeur d'anaxaris m'ayant mise en estat de pouvoir proteger les habitans de cumes je vous prie de n'escouter aujourd'huy que la clemence de pardonner a un peuple qui n'a fait qu'obeir a son prince de conserver leur ville d'oublier qu'elle a este ma prison et de marquer le jour de ma liberte par une grace generale vous estes si acconstume d'estre doux apres la victoire que je suis assuree que vous ne me refuserez pas et que vous tiendrez la parole que j'ay donnee aussi exactement que je vous tiendray celle que je vous donne d'estre toute ma vie tres reconnoissant des obligations infinies que je vous ay 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
ce billet ne fut pas plustost escrit que mandane le donna au heraut qui le devoit porter qui eut aussi ordre de dire a cyrus qu'il s'avancast avec des troupes vers la principale porte de la ville ou cette princesse le recevroit suivant la volonte des habitans de cumes et en effet ce heraut marchant avec toute la diligence 
 d'un homme qui porte une bonne nouvelle arriva aupres de luy comme ce prince s'impatientant de ce qu'il ne revenoit pas alloit en renvoyer un autre pour scavoir quel estoit le tumulte que ceux de ses soldats qui estoient le plus pres de la ville entendoient des que cyrus le vit il luy demanda d'ou venoit qu'il avoit tant tarde craignant estrangement qu'il ne luy dist que le roy de pont eust fait disparoistre mandane avec les pierres qu'il croyoit qu'il eust encore seigneur luy dit ce heraut quand vous aurez leu la lettre que je vous presente je vous en diray la raison mais a peine cyrus eut il ouvert les tablettes que ce heraut luy donna que reconnoissant l'escriture de mandane il en eut une surprise si agreable que la joye dissipant toute sa crainte et chassant toute la melancholie de son coeur parut dans ses yeux et sur son visage avec tant d'esclat que ceux qui le regardoient connurent aisement qu'il recevoit une agreable nouvelle mais lors qu'il vint a lire la lettre de sa princesse et qu'il connut qu'il avoit lieu d'esperer de la voir bien tost et de la voir en liberte il sentit que l'eloquence mesme toute puissante qu'elle est ne scauroit exprimer il luy passa pourtant dans l'esprit quelque leger chagrin qu'un autre eust quelque part a la liberte de mandane car dans les sentimens d'amour qu'il avoit pour elle il eust voulu s'il eust este possible l'avoir pu delivrer sans armee sans machines et sans que nul autre que luy 
 y eust rien contribue ce petit chagrin ne dura pourtant qu'un moment et apres qu'il fut passe il fut ravy que la gloire de servir cette princesse en une occasion si importante eust este reservee a anaxaris pour qui il avoit une estime infinie cependant des qu'il eut acheve de lire la lettre de mandane la joye qui avoit paru sur son visage passa presques en un moment dans le coeur de tous ses soldats lors qu'il eut publie cette grande nouvelle mais sans perdre temps il se fit dire par ce heraut comment tout s'estoit passe s'informant particulierement du roy de pont apres quoy il donna tous les ordres necessaires et commandant qu'on demeurast sous les armes il fut a la teste des volontaires et des homotimes jusques a une portee de trait de la porte ou il devoit voir mandane estant aussi suivi d'autant de troupes qu'il avoit juge necessaire d'en faire entrer dans cumes pour s'en assurer mais comme ce prince ne pouvoit aller vers cette porte sans passer dans le quartier de mazare il ne put refuser a ce genereux rival la grace qu'il luy demanda apres luy avoir apris l'estat des choses seigneur luy dit-il en soupirant quoy que la joye de la liberte de mandane parust dans ses yeux souffrez s'il vous plaist que pour me punir d'avoir enleve la princesse je sois aujourd'huy le tesmoin de vostre gloire et de vostre felicite et ne me refusez pas la grace d'assurer a l'incomparable mandane que mon repentir est veritable vous scavez seigneur poursuivit-il 
 qu'elle me sit l'honneur de me promettre son estime et son amitie si je ne venois combatre pour vous sommez la donc s'il vous plaist de sa parole mais pour vous y obliger et pour me forcer a vous tenir celle que je vous ay donnee de n'en pretendre jamais autre chose je veux seigneur poursuivit ce genereux et cet amoureux prince tout ensemble vous en faire un nouveau serment devant que la voue de cette princesse ait mis ma vertu a une nouvelle espreuve afin que je n'y puisse jamais manquer ha genereux rival interrompit cyrus que la princesse mandane seroit injuste de me preferer a vous si elle vous connoissoit aussi bien que moy cependant quoy que par un sentiment d'amour je deusse souhaiter que vous me fissiez mille sermens au lieu d'un de ne me pretendre jamais qu'a l'amitie de cette princesse je veux pour n'estre pas tousjours vaincu par vostre generosite m'y confier absolument et me contenter de vos premieres promesses sans en vouloir de secondes venez donc luy dit-il venez et soyez assure que si vous demeurez dans les bornes que vostre vertu vous a prescrites vous trouverez un veritable amy en la personne d'un rival et une gloire infinie en l'amitie de nostre princesse apres cela ces deux genereux rivaux marcherent ensemble et furent vers le lieu ou ils devoient voir mandane mais ils y furent avec des sentimens bien differens car la joye de cyrus n'eestoit troublee que par la seule impatience qu'il 
 avoit de voir cette princesse et celle de mazare l'estoit malgre luy et par celle de son rival et par celle qu'il prevoyoit bien que mandane auroit de revoir cyrus il resista pourtant si courageusement a la violence de son amour que sa vertu demeura enfin la plus forte cependant cyrus estant arrive comme je l'ay desja dit a une portee de trait des portes de cumes envoya sommer les habitans de cette ville de luy tenir leur parole si bien qu'a l'instant mesme ces gens qui ne pouvoient se resoudre de laisser entrer ce prince dans leur ville s'il n'avoit auparavant promis a la princesse mandane de les conserver furent la suplier de se laisser conduire a la porte par ou ils avoient dessein de faire entrer cyrus de sorte que n'estant pas en termes de leur rien refuser elle leur accorda ce qu'ils vouloient et monta dans un chariot suivie de martesie pour aller jusques a la porte de la ville anaxaris laissant pour commander dans ce chasteau l'adroit et courageux tiferne qui s'estoit fait connoistre a luy durant qu'on avoit envoye vers cyrus ce n'est pas que dans la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame il n'eust en quelque facon souhaite de n'estre pas present a cette entre veue mais ne pouvant se resoudre de laisser aller mandane sous la conduite d'un peuple en fureur il la suivit a cheval mais il la suivit avec des sentimens si inquiets qu'il eut beaucoup de peine a les retenir et a les cacher cependant comme un peuple craintif et mutine 
 et ne fait les choses que par caprice et sans aucune raison les habitans de cumes qui avoient envoye dire a cyrus qu'il s'aprochast se mirent dans la fantaisie de ne vouloir point que mandane le receust dans la ville au contraire ils voulurent qu'elle descendist de son chariot entre deux portes et qu'elle allast jusques au dela du pont pour presenter a ce prince ceux d'entre eux qui luy devoient offrir les clefs de leur ville d'autre part cyrus qui ne croyoit pas que mandane deust sortir de cumes pour le recevoir et qui croyoit au contraire l'aller trouver au chasteau et que le heraut avoit mal ententendu attendoit a cheval avec une impatience extreme qu'on luy ouvrist les portes il estoit ce jour la arme si avantageusement et d'une mine si haute si noble et si agreable qu'il attira sur luy les yeux de tout le monde estant donc avec toute l'impatience que peut donner l'esperance d'un grand bien et d'un grand bien fort proche il avoit les yeux attachez fixement sur la porte de cumes mazare la regardant aussi bien que luy quoy que ce ne fust pas avec une esperance si douce ny avec une impatience de pareille nature ces deux genereux rivaux ayant donc comme je l'ay desja dit les yeux fixement attachez sur cette porte la virent ouvrir tout d'un coup et paroistre aussi tost la princesse mandane conduite par anaxaris mais si belle et si charmante qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais tant este la joye de la liberte brilloit dans ses yeux 
 et celle de revoir cyrus remplissoit tellement son coeur que sa beaute en augmenta encore cependant cyrus et mazare ne la virent pas plustost qu'ils descendirent diligemment de cheval et furent vers elle mazare ayant cette force sur luy mesme de laisser marcher son rival trois ou quatre pas devant luy comme estant le victorieux et celuy pour qui la ceremonie se faisoit des que cyrus aprocha anaxaris autant pour cacher l'agitation de son esprit que par respect quitta la main de la princesse pour luy laisser la liberte de recevoir cyrus et de luy presenter douze habitans de cumes qui la suivoient un desquels portoit les clefs de leur ville dans un bassin magnifique de sorte que cyrus marchoit seul a la teste de tous les volontaires de son armee et mandane a celle de ces deputez de cumes derriere lesquels on voyoit aussi loin que la veue se pouvoit estrendre une foule de peuple qui remplissoit toute une grande rue qui aboutissoit a la porte de la ville apres que cyrus eut salue mandane avec tout le respect d'un veritable amant je viens madame luy dit-il pour tenir tout ce que vous avez promis pour vostre liberte quand mesme ce seroit ma mort vostre vie est trop glorieuse et m'est trop agreable reprit-elle pour estre capable de vouloir racheter ma librte si cher aussi seigneur ne me suis-je engagee qu'a vous obliger dit-elle en presentant ces habitans de cumes qui se mirent a genoux des 
 qu'elle parla d'eux a bien traiter ceux qui vous offrent leurs coeurs en vous offrant les clefs de leur ville et en vous assurant qu'ils seront plus obeissans a un prince juste qu'ils ne l'ont este a un qui ne l'estoit pas puis qu'il avoit protege le roy de pont madame reprit cyrus leur destin est plus en vos mains qu'aux miennes puis que je suis resolu de ne faire jamais que ce qu'il vous plaira et de faire toujours sans reserve tout ce que vous ordonnerez je vous conjure donc luy dit-elle de traiter les habitans de cumes comme vous traiteriez les plus fidelles sujets du roy mon pere je vous ay desja dit madame repliqua-t'il que je n'ay qu'a vous obeir c'est pourquoy si vous l'ordonnez ils garderont les clefs de leur ville qu'ils n'auront perdue que pour la rendre plus heureuse puis qu'elle est protegee par vous cyrus n'eut pas plustost dit cela que ces habitans jetterent des cris de joye qui allerent de rue en rue jusques a l'autre bout de la ville cependant mandane apres avoir confirme ce que le prince avoit dit presenta obligeamment anaxaris a cyrus pour s'aquiter de ce qu'elle luy devoit quoy que ce vaillant inconnu luy dit-elle veuille que je ne reconnoisse que vous pour mon liberateur il faut pourtant que je vous die qu'il a fait des choses incroyables pour ma liberte et que je luy dois plus que je ne scaurois vous le dire anaxaris se baissant alors modestement pour cacher l'esmotion de son 
 visage receut les louanges de mandane avec plaisir et les remerciemens que cyrus luy fit avec une douleur estrange apres quoy ce prince pour tenir sa promesse a mazare le presenta a la princesse mandane et le luy presenta avec une generosite ou mazare respondit admirablement madame dit cyrus a cette princesse vous auriez eu grand tort de dire que vous ne devez vostre liberte qu'a moy seul car la valeur du prince mazare a sans doute beaucoup contribue aux victoires que j'ay remportees cependant comme il m'a donne mille et mille marques d'un genereux repentir redonnez luy l'amitie que vous aviez pour luy a babilone je vous la demande madame reprit mazare aux conditions que je vous la demanday a sardis lors que vous ne voulustes pas que l'eusse la gloire de vous delivrer et je vous l'accorde repliqua-t'elle avec beaucoup de joye d'avoir recouvre un illustre amy que je croyois avoir perdu pour tousjours ainsi on vit cette fois la ce qui n'a peutestre jamais este veu car mandane presenta a cyrus un de ses rivaux et cyrus en presenta un autre a mandane cependant comme le lieu n'estoit pas commode pour faire une longue conversation cyrus suplia cette princesse de rentrer dans son chariot qu'il voyoit au dela de la porte mais comme il ne vouloit pas estre surpris ny qu'elle rentrast dans la ville que ses troupes n'y fussent il commanda que le chariot sortist la supliant adroitement 
 pour n'effrayer pas les habitans de cumes de vouloir voir passer les troupes qui avoient eu l'honneur de combatre pour elle et qui alloient avoir celuy de la garder mandane comprenant bien le dessein de cyrus remonta dans son chariot et martesie avec elle et ce chariot se rangeant pour laisser le passage des gens de guerre libre cyrus mazare et anaxaris remonterent a cheval et se rangerent aupres de cette princesse avec des sentimens bien differens en suitte dequoy les troupes commencant a filer vinrent passer aupres du chariot de mandane tous les chefs et tous les soldats la soluant en passant ou en baissant leurs javelots ou en croisant leurs fleches et leurs dards cependant cyrus estant le plus pres du chariot et estant le seul qui parloit a mandane sentoit un plaisir qui remplissoit tout son coeur tout son esprit et tout son ame mandane de son coste se voyant libre et voyant cyrus aupres d'elle avoit une satisfaction extreme mais comme il estoit infiniment modeste elle en cachoit une partie elle voulut mesme esvitur que cyrus luy parlast de sa passion en ce lieu-la c'est pourquoy prenant la parole la premiere des qu'il aprocha du chariot ou elle estoit pendant que ces troupes filoient seigneur luy dit-elle je veux esperer que vous ne me ferez pas passer pour ingrate si devant que de commencer a vous rendre graces de toutes les obligations que je vous ay je vous suplie de me dire 
 quelles nouvelles vous avez du roy mon pere vous ne devez pas craindre madame repliqua-t'il qu'un homme qui ne croit point que vous puissiez jamais luy estre obligee quelques services qu'il vous rende vous puisse accuser d'ingratitude mais j'ay bien sujet d'aprehender que vous m'accusiez d'incivilite de vous dire seulement en deux mots que le roy vostre pere est a ecbatane qui se prepare a se deffendre contre thomiris qu'on dit qui a dessein de l'attaquer que sa sante est fore bonne qu'il aura une joye infinie de vostre liberte et qu'il me fait tousjours l'honneur de m'aimer cependant quelque respect que j'aye pour vous et quelque envie que vous ayez d'en scavoir davantage il faut s'il vous plaist madame poursuivit il en abaissant la voix que durant plus de huit jours je ne vous parle que de moy car madame j'ay plus de mille choses a vous en dire qu'il m'importe estrangement que vous scachiez si vous me racontez toutes vos conquestes toutes vos victoires et toutes les belles choses que vous avez faites reprit elle obligeamment en souriant le terme que vous prenez ne sera pas assez long non madame repliqua-t'il je ne vous parleray ny de guerre ny de conquestes ny de victoires car si je vous en parlois adjousta t'il modestement ce seroit vous parler du roy vostre pere puis que ce sont ses armes qui ont vaincu mais je vous parleray madame de toutes les douleurs que j'ay eues 
 depuis le jour que je vous laissay a themisoire et de l'extreme joye que j'ay de vous retrouver a cumes apres ne l'avoir pu faire ny a sinope ny a artaxate ny a babilone ny a sardis mais madame pour faire que cette joye soit tout a fait tranquile faites moy l'honneur de de m'advouer que la plus illustre princesse qui soit au monde a este injuste une fois en sa vie en soubconnant d'infidelite le plus fidelle de tous les hommes ha seigneur reprit mandane en rougissant j'aime mieux vous advouer promptement que j'ay eu tort que d'entreprendre de me justifier d'une chose que je vous prie d'oublier pour l'amour de moy et dont je vous conjure de ne me parler jamais cependant poursuivit-elle comme il ne semble pas civil de regarder si peu ceux qui vous ont aide a cueillir les lauriers dont la victoire vous a couronne vous voulez bien que nous remetions a un lieu plus commode le recit de vos malheurs et des miens et que je tesmoigne du moins par mes regards a tant de braves gens que j'ay beaucoup de reconnoissance de toutes les fatigues que vous leur avez fait endurer pour l'amour de moy me semblant mesme que c'est le moins que je puisse faire pour ceux qui vous ont aide a vaincre vos ennemis et les miens comme je ne puis jamais vouloir que ce qu'il vous plaist madame repliqua t'il il faut bien que je vous obeisse quoy que je pusse peutestre me pleindre de ce que la joye laisse un si grand calme 
 dans vostre esprit qu'elle luy permet de garder une civilite si exacte mais comme ce seroit un crime de me pleindre en un jour ou j'ay tant de sujet de me louer de la fortune je veux m'imposer silence et puis vous voulez honnorer de vos regards les troupes qui ont eu la gloire de combatre pour vous je les tiens mieux recompensees que si je leur avois donne tous les thresors de cresus apres cela mandane sans respondre a la civilite de cyrus que par un souris obligeant se mit a luy demander les noms de chefs qui passoient que ce prince luy disoit et pour rendre justice a tant de braves gens qui l'avoient si courageusement suivi dans tous les perils ou il les avoit menez il ne disoit pas seulement a mandane les noms de ceux dont elle luy parloit mais il luy marquoit encore les occasions ou ils s'estoient signalez louant ainsi les uns apres les autres tous les chefs qui passoient et mesmes quelques uns des plus vaillans soldats mandane luy demanda aussi les noms des volontaires qui estoient les plus pres de son chariot et entre les autres de megabate dont cyrus luy dit mille biens la priant de le recevoir comme un homme extraordinaire lors qu'il le luy presenteroit cependant mazare et anaxaris estoient si occupez de la passion qu'ils avoient dans l'ame que de tant d'objets qui leur passoient devant les yeux ils ne voyoient que mandane et cyrus qu'ils regardoient avec des sentimens 
 bien differens anaxaris qui devant que d'estre prisonnier dans cumes et d'estre amoureux de mandane ne sentoit dans son coeur que de l'admiration pour cyrus y sentoit alors malgre luy de l'envie et presques de la haine et sentoit mesme accroistre son amour a mesure qu'il avoit moins de sujet d'esperer d'autre part mazare voyant mandane avec la mesme beaute et les mesmes charmes qui l'avoient force a l'aimer et qui l'avoient contraint de trahir le roy d'assirie avoit une peine extreme a ne se trahir pas luy mesme et a demeurer dans les bornes que sa propre vertu luy avoit prescrites il sentoit son esprit esmeu son coeur agite et tous ses desirs renaissant malgre qu'il en eust luy donnoient une inquietude estrange mais comme l'esperance ne ressuscita pas avec eux ils perdirent bien tost une partie de leur violence principalement quand mazare se ressouvint du pitoyable estat ou il avoit laisse cette princesse la derniere fois qu'il l'avoit veue lors qu'apres avoir fait naufrage avec elle l'escharpe avec laquelle il la soustenoit sur les flots s'estoit detachee quoy mazare disoit-il en luy mesme en regardant mandane pendant que cyrus luy parloit tu peux avoir pense estre cause de la mort de cette princesse quoy mazare adjoustoit-il ce fut toy qui apres l'avoir trompee qui apres l'avoir enlevee la vis engloutir dans ces ondes impitoyables ou elle auroit pery si les dieux ne l'eussent secourue 
 et tu serois encore assez hardy pour esperer autre chose d'elle que le pardon de son crime non non il n'en faut pas pretendre davantage il faut l'aimer comme nous l'avons aimee puis que nous ne scaurions nous en empescher mais il faut n'appeller cette amour qu'amitie de peur qu'on ne nous refusast celle qu'on nous a promise cependant les troupes estant toutes entrees dans cumes et cyrus ayant sceu qu'elles s'estoient emparees de toutes les portes des places publiques et du chasteau commanda que le chariot de mandane entrast ce prince le suivant accompagne de mazare d'anaxaris de tous les volontaires et de tous les homotimes mais comme ce chariot commenca de marcher et que cyrus eut salue mandane avec un profond respect cette princesse ayant destourne la teste il salua martesie et luy fit certains signes obligeans pour luy tesmoigner qu'il mouroit d'envie de l'entretenir apres quoy ce petit triomphe qui n'estoit orne que de la beaute de mandane et de la bonne mine de cyrus fut veu avec des acclamations du peuple de cumes qui n'eurent jamais de semblables car non seulement toutes les rues toutes les portes et toutes les fenestres estoient pleines de monde mais mesme tous les toits en estoient couverts l'air retentissoit de cris d'allegresse de louanges qu'on donnoit a mandane et a cyrus et de souhaits pour leur felicite cependant tiferne qui avoit bien preveu que 
 mandane retourneroit loger au chasteau en avoit fait oster le corps du prince de cumes qu'il avoit fait porter dans un temple et avoit aussi fait emporter tous ceux des soldats que la valeur d'anaxaris avoit sacrifiez en ce lieu la a la liberte de cette princesse ayant encore fait enfermer le vaillant thrasyle dans une de ses tours de sorte que lors que cette princesse y arriva n'y avoit plus d'objets funestes cyrus qui avoit sceu parle heraut qu'on luy avoit envoye quel estoit le service que tiferne luy avoit rendu le carressa extremement en entrant dans le chasteau ou il ne fut pas plustost que donnant la main a mandane pour luy aider a descendre de son chariot il se tourna apres obligeamment vers anaxaris et luy adressant la parole c'est a vous vaillant inconnu luy dit il a commander dans une place que vostre valeur a conquise et c'est a vous encore a m'aprendre ou je dois conduire la princesse seigneur reprit anaxaris avec beaucoup de confusion il n'apartient pas a un inconnu de commander en nulle part mais il apartient sans doute a un homme qui a eu l'honneur de porter les mesmes chaines que la princesse mandane a portees de vous enseigner le chemin de sa prison c'est pourquoy il faut s'il vous plaist luy dit-il entrer par ce perron que vous voyez a la main droite pour moy dit mandane a cyrus afin d'obliger anaxaris je ne m'estonne pas que cet illustre inconnu connoisse si bien le chemin 
 d'une prison dont il a sceu si courageusement ouvrir les portes mais il semble estrange adjousta-t'elle en regardant cyrus en souriant que mon liberateur cherche a m'y remettre et que le vainqueur de l'asie ait besoin d'un guide luy qui a sceu trouver la victoire par tout ou il l'a voulu chercher quoy que ce soit la chose du monde qu'on trouve avec le plus de peine vous me faites tort madame reprit-il si vous croyez que la victoire ait este le terme que je me suis propose dans mes entreprises puis que je ne l'ay regardee que comme un moyen qui me pouvoit conduire jusques a vous comme l'apartement de mandane estoit de plein pied lors qu'on estoit au haut du perron elle n'eut pas le temps de respondre a cyrus car des qu'elle fut dans sa chambre il luy presenta tous ces illustres volontaires qui l'avoient suivy et entre les autres megabate que cette princesse receut avec autant de civilite qu'il en meritoit cependant comme il estoit desja tard et que la prudence vouloit que cyrus songeast a la seurete de la ville pour s'assurer de mandane principalement scachant que le roy de pont ne se trouvoit pas il ne put avoir alors une longue conversation avec sa princesse il ne luy fut pourtant pas possible de se resoudre de la quitter sans luy avoir parle un quart d'heure en perticulier et sans luy avoir donne de nouvelles assurances de sa fidelle et respectueuse passion vous voyez madame luy dit-il ce mesme 
 artamene qui vous protesta la premiere fois dans les jardins de sinope qu'il vous aimeroit jusques a la mort et vous le voyez aux termes de vous assurer a cumes par de nouveaux sermens qu'il n'y manquera jamais vous m'avez rendu de si illustres marques de vostre affection reprit mandane qu'il n'est pas necessaire que vos paroles confirment ce que mille actions esclatantes et mille services importans m'ont persuade mais c'est a moy qui n'ay que des paroles a vous donner a choisir bien celles dont je me serviray pour vous assurer que j'ay toute la reconnoissance dont un coeur sensible et genereux peut estre capable ha madame reprit cyrus quoy que toutes vos paroles soient precieuses et que vous m'en puissiez dire les plus favorables du monde ce n'est point ce que je veux de vous et j'aime beaucoup mieux un sentiment de ce coeur que vous dites qui est sensible et genereux que mille paroles de remerciment de civilite et de reconnoissance ne vous amusez donc pas s'il vous plaist a les chosir comme il semble que vous en ayez le dessein et souffrez seulement que je puisse voir dans vos yeux que vous n'estes pas marrie de regner tousjours dans mon coeur souffrez dis-je que je croye pour ma felicite que la liberte dont vous jouissez ne fait pas toute la joye que je voy sur vostre visage et que si la fortune eust fait prendre cumes a un autre qu'a moy vous en seriez moins satisfaite quoy que vous ne 
 veuilliez pas de mes paroles reprit mandane en souriant je ne laisseray pas de vous dire que vous avez raison de croire que la liberte m'est plus douce de vostre main qu'elle ne me le seroit d'aucune autre et j'adjousteray mesme encore que comme j'ay este la cause de toutes vos douleurs je serois injuste si je ne vous permettois pas d'attribuer une partie de la joye que vous voyez dans mes yeux a la satisfaction que j'ay de vous revoir ha madame adjousta cyrus quand je vous ay dit que je ne voulois pas de vos paroles je ne scavois ce que je disois car vous venez de m'en faire entendre de si douces et de si glorieuses pour moy que je suis trop recompense de toutes les peines que j'ay souffertes pourveu que vous ne me les ayez pas dites par une civilite que vous avez peut estre creu devoir a un prince dont la fortune s'est voulu servir pour vous delivrer scaches donc madame adjousta-t'il que pour achever de me rendre heureux il faut s'il vous plaist que vous me faciez l'honneur de m'advouer que ce que vous m'avez dit d'obligeant s'adresse a moy comme a vostre esclave et non pas comme a un prince que les dieux ont voulu qui fust le vainqueur des autres si je pouvois reprit mandane en riant separer cyrus du vainqueur de l'asie je leur ferois des civilitez a part pour vous contenter mais puis qu'il n'y a pas moyen de le faire souffrez que sans les distinguer je leur parle 
 esgallement et que trouvant en une mesme personne un grand prince un grand conquerant et mon liberateur je luy rende tout ce que je croiray luy devoir de grace madame interrompit cyrus ostez moy ces deux premieres qualitez et donnez m'en une autre qui me convient mieux il y a si long temps repliqua mandane en raillant obligeamment que je suis avec des gens a qui j'ay este obligee de refuser tout ce qu'ils m'ont demande que vous ne devez pas estre surpris si ne pouvant perdre si promptement l'habitude que j'ay a tout refuser je ne vous accorde pas tout ce que vous me demandez car je vous assure adjousta t'elle que je ne suis pas encore si bien persuadee que je suis libre qu'il n'y ait quelques instans ou je m'imagine que je dois voir paroistre le roy de pont pour empescher que ce que vous dites ne puisse estre reprit cyrus il faut madame que je vous quitte afin d'aller donner ordre aux choses necessaires pour cela et en effet cyrus apres avoir tres respectueusement salue mandane sortit de sa chambre suivy de mazare d'anaxaris et de tous ceux qui l'y avoient accompagne ces deux premiers avoient trouve la conversation de cyrus et de mandane si longue quoy qu'elle eust fort peu dure que la vertu de mazare en avoit este mise a une difficile espreuve et que l'impatience d'anaxaris avoit pense esclater ils suivirent mesme cyrus avec assez de melancolie a tous les 
 lieux ou il fut pour donner ses ordres cependant quoy que la perte d'un rival soit une chose qu'il est assez difficile de s'empescher de causer quand on en a la puissance cyrus qui avoit obligation au roy de pont du temps qu'il portoit le nom d'artamene et qui malgre son amour le consideroit comme frere de la princesse araminte qu'il honnoroit extremement ne fut pas aussi fache qu'il eust este sans ces deux considerations de voir qu'il eschapoit a sa vangeance et qu'on ne le trouvoit point ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust resolu quand mesme il l'auroit trouve de ne changer pas la genereuse facon d'agir dont il avoit tousjours use aveque luy depuis qu'il fut son prisonnier et qu'il luy fit donner la liberte a sinope mais il ne fut pourtant pas marry que la fortune ne le mist pas dans la necessite qu'il s'estoit imposee de bien traiter ce rival s'il tomboit en sa puissance aussi fut-ce pour cela qu'il envoya des le soir une barque au prince thrasibule et a thimochare afin que des le lendemain au matin ils fissent entrer leurs flottes dans le port de cumes et que par ce moyen le roy de pont pust se sauver plus facilement s'il estoit cache dans cette ville comme il y avoit beaucoup d'aparence de plus cyrus pour empescher quelque remuement dans le peuple que les objets funestes touchent extremement commanda qu'on fist des la prochaine nuit les funerailles du prince de cumes et qu'on les fist sans bruit et avec peu de ceremonie 
 voulant pourtant qu'on mist ses cendres dans le tombeau de ses peres et qu'on luy rendist autant d'honneur que la conjuncture presente le pouvoit permettre mais apres avoir donne tous les ordres necessaires peur la seurete de mandane et pour la seurete de la ville il retourna au chasteau ou estoit cette princesse il ne put pourtant la voir qu'apres souper car il fut accable de tant de monde qu'il ne put y aller plustost tous les divers corps de la ville vinrent le saluer et furent apres chez la princesse mandane ou cyrus les envoya mais enfin apres s'estre desbarrassee de tout ce qu'il l'empeschoit de satisfaire l'extreme envie qu'il avoit d'entretenir sa chere princesse il fut a son apartement et il y fut sans estre accompagne que de chrysante et de feraulas car pour mazare il n'avoit pas senty son esprit en une assiette assez ferme pour revoir encore une fois la princesse mandane ce jour la et pour anaxaris l'amour la jalousie et le despit qui suit tousjours cette derniere passion l'avoient force de se retirer en un lieu ou il pust faire esclater son chagrin cyrus estant donc delivre et de ses rivaux et de ses amis qui en de pareilles occasions n'incommodent guere moins que des ennemis fut comme je l'ay desja dit a l'apartement de mandane mais ayant rencontre martesie dans l'anti-chambre de cette princesse il ne put qu'il ne s'arrestast un moment avec une personne a qui il scavoit qu'il avoit mille obligations 
 et principalement celle d'avoir soustenu sa fidelite lors que mandane l'accusoit avec tant d'injustice si vous ne scaviez pas luy dit-il avec une civilite extreme combien je dois a nostre princesse et quel est le pouvoir qu'elle a sur mon coeur j'aurois quelque sujet de craindre que vous ne vous pleignissiez de moy car enfin aimable martesie je ne vous ay presques pas encore regardee je ne vous ay rien dit et ce qu'il y a de plus estrange c'est que de la facon dont je me sens je pense que de plus de huit jours je n'auray assez entretenu ny assez veu mandane pour pouvoir ny parler ny voir nulle autre personne je vous proteste toutesfois adjousta-t'il que je scay bien que je vous estime autant qu'il est possible et que j'ay une reconnoissance extreme de ce que vous avez pris mon party et que j'ay mesme la plus grande envie qu'on puisse avoir de vous entretenir quoy que comme je vous l'ay desja dit je ne pense pas le pouvoir faire de plus de huit jours pour ne vous faire pas perdre le temps par une longue responce reprit martesie je croy seigneur tout ce que vous me faites l'honneur de me dire quoy que si je ne considerois que moy je deusse ne le croire pas cependant adjousta t'elle vous trouverez bon qu'en attendant que j'aye la satisfaction de vous entretenir je demande a feraulas tout ce que je voudray scavoir de vous feraulas reprit cyrus en riant aura tant de choses a vous dire de luy que je doute s'il vous parlera de moy 
 comme je luy en parleray la premiere repliquat'elle en rougissant il faudra bien qu'il me responde non non reprit cyrus je ne veux pas rendre un mauvais office a un homme qui m'a si bien servy c'est pourquoy martesie je vous dispense aujourd'huy de parler de moy a feraulas pourveu que vous en parliez a ma princesse et que vous luy persuadiez tousjours fortement que la violence passion que j'ay pour elle merite qu'elle la prefere a celle de tous mes rivaux apres cela cyrus quitta martesie et entra dans la chambre de mandane qu'il trouva sans avoir personne aupres d'elle que deux des femmes que le prince de cumes luy avoit donnees pour la servir elle ne le vit pas plustost que se levant pour le saluer elle le receut avec toute la civilite que meritoit le vainqueur de l'asie et avec toute la joye que luy devoit donner la veue d'un amant aussi respectueux et aussi fidelle que celuy-la et d'un amant encore qui estoit son liberateur comme il n'y avoit alors personne qui pust observer ses actions elle permit a ses yeux de faire voir a cyrus toute la satisfaction de son ame ce fut toutesfois avec tant de modestie que ce prince sentit quelque crainte en l'abordant qui se mesla au plaisir qu'il avoit d'estre aupres d'elle apres en avoir este si long temps et si cruellement separe car comme il n'avoit jamais eu la permission absolue de luy parler ouvertement de son amour et que lors qu'il estoit party de themiscire pour s'en 
 aller vers thomiris il n'avoit pu obtenir autre chose de mandane sinon que s'il ne trouvoit les moyens de se faire connoistre a ciaxare et de s'en faire agreer il faudroit qu'il s'esloignast pour tousjours il aprehendoit encore c'est pourquoy pour luy faire voir comment cet obstacle estoit leve apres la premiere civilite passee il eut dessein de faire venir a propos de parler de ciaxare afin de luy faire scavoir qu'il estoit fort bien avec ce prince mais il n'en fut pas a la peine car cette princesse qui vouloit regler ses sentimens selon ceux du roy son pere et qui avoit une envie extreme d'aprendre comment cyrus estoit aveque luy afin de scavoir si elle pouvoit sans crainte de luy desplaire suivre l'inclination qu'elle avoit pour ce prince luy en parla la premiere de grace luy dit-elle avant que de me raconter tout ce qui vous est arrive dites moy si vous estes content du roy mon pere et s'il a bien receu de vostre main tous les lauriers dont vous l'avez couronne j'en suis si satisfait madame repliqua cyrus et il m'a dit des choses si obligeantes et m'a fait des promesses si glorieuses pour moy que pourveu que vous les veuilliez tenir et que vous me les confirmiez je fuis le plus heureux de tous les hommes vous pouvez juger dit elle en rougissant si m'estant tousjours resolue a luy obeir mesme dans les choses les plus contraires a mon inclination et qui vous estoient les moins favorables je ne le feray pas a celles qui vous 
 seront avantageuses et qui me seront agreables mais quoy que je ne doute point de vos paroles adjousta-t'elle vous voudrez pourtant bien que je ne vous promette rien que je ne scache de sa bouche ce qu'il vous a promis et que je me contente de vous assurer que s'il est aussi reconnoissant que moy vous aurez sujet d'estre satisfait quoy que ce que vous me dires paroisse fort obligeant repliqua cyrus je pourrois sans doute y trouver quelque sujet de pleinte mais comme vous m'avez tousjours accoustume a une severite extreme je veux me contenter de ce qu'il vous plaist pourveu que vous enduriez madame que je vous raconte toutes mes souffrances comme je serois injuste reprit-elle de ne vouloir pas entendre les maux que je vous ay causez pendant une si longue guerre je seray ravie pour ne l'estre pas que vous m'apreniez toutes les peines que vous eustes en armenie toutes les fatigues que vous souffristes au siege de babilone toutes celles que vous avez endurees a celuy de sardis et a celuy de cumes sans en oublier une seule ha madame s'escria cyrus ce n'est pas de celles la dont je vous veux entretenir c'est de l'effroyable douleur que l'eus a vous quitter lors que je vous laissay a themiscire c'est de l'horrible affliction dont je me trouvay accable a mon retour quand j'apris que philidaspe vous avoit enleuee et que je luy avois sauve la vie c'est de l'excessive douleur que j'eus d'avoir pris babilone fans vous delivrer 
 c'est du desespoir ou je fus a sinope de croire en y arrivant que les flames vous avoient mise en cendre c'est de celuy que j'eus encore en ne trouvant que le roy d'assirie sur le haut de la tour de cette ville et en voyant la galere dans laquelle mazare vous enlevoit c'est dis-je de l'effroyable douleur que je sentis en aprenant de mazare que vous aviez fait naufrage et en croyant que vous aviez pery c'est de celle que t'eus lors qu'apres avoir sceu que vous estiez vivante j'apris que vous estiez en la puissance d'un autre rival c'est du chagrin qui s'empara de mon coeur a artaxate lors que je vy que je ne delivrois qu'araminte au lieu de delivrer l'incomparable mandane c'est de la douleur que j'eus encore de vous voir de l'autre coste d'une riviere fans vous pouvoir suivre lors que le roy de pont eut quitte le roy de la susiane c'est de celle que j'eus d'aprendre que vous vous estiez embarquee a un port de cilicie c'est du desespoir ou je fus de scavoir que vous soubconniez ma fidelite c'est encore de celuy que j'eus de prendre sardis et de ne vous y trouver plus c'est aussi de la fureur dont je me trouvay capable lors que j'apris que mon rival avoit trouve l'art de vous rendre invisible et c'est enfin du malheur que j'ay eu de m'estre tousjours veu environne de mes rivaux et tousjours esloigne de vous voila madame de quelle nature sont les douleurs dont j'ay a vous entretenir et dont je vous demande la permission 
 de vous parler dans l'esperance que j'ay que jugeant de la grandeur de mon amour par la grandeur de mes souffrances vous viendrez a la connoistre mieux que vous ne la connoissez il paroist bien reprit la princesse mandane en souriant modestement qu'il y a long temps que nous sommes separez puis qu'il ne vous souvient pas qu'encore que je souffrisse que vous m'aimassiez je ne pouvois endurer qu'aueque peine que vous me parlassiez de vostre amour mais madame reprit cyrus mon amour estoit alors un mistere fort cache a peine la scaurez vous a peine mesme m'osois je dire que je vous aimois et je ne croyois pas alors l'oser jamais avouer a personne mais aujourd'huy que toute la terre scait que je vous adore et que ciaxare l'aprouve il n'est pas juste que vous soyez seule qui ne scachiez pas combien je vous aime car enfin divine princesse il n'y a pas un soldat dans l'armee du roy vostre pere qui ne scache qu'il n'a combatu que pour vous on m'a console de toutes les victoires que j'ay gagnees parce que je ne vous avois pas delivree en les gagnant le parle mesme de la passion que j'ay pour vous a mes rivaux mazare m'en pleint quelquesfois et vous voudriez estre seule en tout l'univers a qui on n'en parlast point ha madame cela ne seroit pas juste parlez en donc luy dit-elle puis que je ne vous en puis empescher mais souffrez aussi apres cela que je vous raconte toutes mes douleurs je crains bien madame reprit il qu'elles 
 qu'elles ne soient extremement differentes des miennes car enfin il me semble desja que je vous entens exagerer vostre desespoir de vous voir enleuee et exposee a tant de peines a tant de voyages et a tant de facheuses advantures sans me donner nulle part a vos douleurs cependant je vous advoue que pour me combler de gloire et de plaisir il faudroit que j'eusse este la cause de vostre plus grande douleur mais helas je m'apercoy bien que vous n'aurez garde de me dire une chose si obligeante ny de me permettre de la penser je vous assureray pourtant repliqua-t'elle que la crainte que j'avois que vous ne succombassiez a quelqu'un des perils ou vous vous exposiez pour l'amour de moy et que ma liberte ne vous coustast la vie a este une de mes plus grandes douleurs ce que vous me dites madame repliqua-t'il est bien obligeant mais comme c'est un sentiment que la seule generosite peut vous avoir donne ce n'est pas encore de cette espece de douleur dont je voudrois avoir este la cause car enfin madame si vous scaviez aimer vous connoistriez que la seule absence de ce qu'on aime est un suplice effroyable mais puis que les dieux ne vous ont faite que pour estre aimee et qu'ils ont mis assez d'amour dans mon coeur pour me rendre capable d'endurer cette modeste froideur qui s'oppose tousjours dans vostre esprit a ma felicite je veux bien ne murmurer point de ne vous voir pas plus sensible a mon ardente passion 
 je veux mesme croire pour me consoler que vostre modestie me cache quelques uns de vos sentimens et que je ne voy pas dans vostre coeur tout ce qui m'est avantageux ayant autant de vertu que vous en avez reprit madame en rougissant et me connoissant comme vous me connoissez je ne fais nulle difficulte de vous permettre de croire que j'ay pour vous tous les sentimens d'estime de reconnoissance et de tendresse que raisonnablement je dois avoir pour un prince a qui le roy mon pere doit la vie et plusieurs victoires et a qui je dois la liberte et quelque chose de plus mais apres cela contentez vous et ne me demandez rien d'avantage car quelque accoustume que vous soyez a remporter des victoires vous ne me vaincriez pas a ces mots cyrus rendit mille graces a mandane de la permission qu'elle luy donnoit en suitte dequoy ils se raconterent en peu de paroles tout ce qui leur estoit arrive mais il se le raconterent d'une maniere differente car cyrus sentoit tant d'amour dans son coeur qu'il craignoit tousjours de n'en dire pas assez pour bien despeindre sa passion et mandane sentoit aussi dans son ame tant de tendresse pour cyrus qu'elle aprehendoit d'en dire trop ainsi cyrus cherchoit pour exprimer ses sentimens les termes les plus forts et les plus passionnez et mandane au contraire essayoit de trouver sans sa langue certaines paroles qui ne fussent ny trop ny trop peu obligeantes et qui sans trahir 
 la tendresse de ses sentimens conservassent entierement cette exacte et severe modestie dont elle faisoit profession cette conversation ne laissa pourtant pas d'estre fort douce et fort agreable a cyrus car comme mandane n'estoit pas aussi absolument maistresse de ses regards que de ses paroles ce prince qui connoissoit tous ses mouvemens de ses yeux y reconnut malgre qu'elle en eust quelque chose de si obligeant pour luy et qui luy marquoit si bien qu'elle n'avoit pas le coeur tout a fait insensible qu'il y eut des instans ou l'exces de sa joye luy imposant silence il la regarda fans pouvoir parler et il y en eut d'autres aussi ou il fit des exclamations si pleines de transport qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que l'amour estoit plus forte que sa raison de grace madame luy dit-il s'apercevant bien luy mesme du dereglement de son esprit pardonnez moy si je ne suis pas maistre de la joye qui me possede elle est si grande que plus je la considere plus je trouve que j'ay raison de luy abandonner mon coeur car enfin estre aupres de la divine mandane apres en avoir este si long temps esloigne apres l'avoir creue perdue et apres l'avoir pleuree comme morte est une joye si excessive que je suis presques criminel de n'en mourir pas quand je me souviens adjoustoit-t'il du malheureux estat ou j'estois lors que je vous aimois a sinope et que je le compare a celuy ou je me trouve presentement o dieux que j'y voy une difference avantageuse 
 car enfin le vous estois alors inconnu j'estois ce que je n'osois dire de peur d'estre hai quoy que je sceusse bien que je ne pourrois estre aime sans estre connu l'avois un rival maistre d'un grand royaume j'en avois un autre a la teste d'une puissante armee et je ne voyois rien qui ne me fust contraire mais aujourd'huy madame je voy le roy vostre pere pour moy je voy le roy de pont sans royaume fans armee et sans asile je voy le prince mazare mon amy au lieu d'estre mon rival et je voy le roy d'assirie prisonnier d'arsamone jugez apres cela madame si je ne suis pas excusable d'avoir une joye un peu desreglee comme je suis encore loin d'ecbatane reprit-elle j'advoue que j'ay la foiblesse de ne m'assurer pas tant que vous au bonheur dont je jouis et de craindre qu'il ne soit trouble par quelque chose que je ne prevois pas cependant comme il est juste de ne se faire pas des malheurs imaginaires je veux esperer que nostre bonheur fera durable et que la fortune sera aussi constante a nous favoriser qu'elle a este opiniastre a nous nuire apres cela mandane faisant apercevoir cyrus qu'il estoit fort tard ce prince se retira et il sortit de sa chambre l'esprit si occupe de sa passion qu'il ne vie ny martesie ny chrysante ny feraulas qui n'avoient bouge de l'antichambre s'en allant a l'apartement ou on le conduisit sans pouvoir detacher son esprit de l'admirable princesse qu'il aimoit il se laissa 
 mesme deshabiller sans que sa resverie changeast d'objet et le sommeil quelque puissant qu'il soit ne put effacer de sa fantaisie l'image de mandane il est vray qu'il ne s'abandonna pas si tost a luy car il fut assez long temps a gouster son bonheur present ce fut la qu'il s'accusa d'avoir mal interprete la responce de la sibile aussi bien que l'oracle que le roy d'assirie avoir receu et qu'il commenca d'esperer que celuy qu'on avoit rendu a la princesse de salamis s'accompliroit aussi heureusement pour luy que pour elle son ame se trouva donc alors avec une telle disposition a la joye qu'il ne regarda pas mesme le combat qu'il s'estoit engage de faire avec le roy d'assirie comme un combat dont l'evenement pouvoit estre douteux ny ne s'amusa point a considerer quelle seroit la douleur de mandane quand elle scauroit la chose au contraire ne s'entretenant que de la beaute et des charmes de sa princesse il s'endormit enfin l'imagination si remplie de mandane qu'il la vit en songe jusques a ce qu'il s'esveillast luy semblant qu'il la presentoit a ciaxare et que ciaxare la luy donnoit suivant sa parole pour recompence de ses travaux mandane d'autre coste s'entretenant avec sa chere martesie luy advoua ingenuement qu'elle n'avoit jamais veu cyrus si aimable qu'elle le trouvoit et qu'elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de s'estimer tres heureuse de regner dans le coeur du plus grand prince du monde mais durant que ces deux 
 illustres personnes abandonnoient leur ame a l'innocent plaisir qu'elles avoient de se revoir mazare anaxaris et le roy de pont avoient des sentimens bien differens le premier avoit dans son coeur une guerre dont la victoire sembloit tousjours estre douteuse car tantost sa vertu estoit plus foible que son amour et tantost son amour estoit surmontee par sa vertu mais pour le second la passion qu'il avoit pour mandane estoit si violente qu'il n'avoit pas seulement la moindre pensee de s'y vouloir opposer quoy qu'il ne pust imaginer aucune voye de la satisfaire jamais de sorte que s'abandonnant esgallement a son amour et a son desespoir il souffroit des maux incroyables mais pour le troisiesme ses malheurs surpassoient encore ceux de ces deux princes en effet le roy de pont estoit en un si deplorable estat qu'il eust pu faire pitie a mandane et a tous ses rivaux s'ils l'eussent pu voir comme celuy qui le cachoit ne connoissoit pas la vertu de cyrus il s'imaginoit que si ce prince eust sceu qu'il deroboit le ravisseur de mandane a sa vangeance il l'auroit fait punir severement de sorte qu'il avoit fait mettre ce malheureux roy pour plus grande seurete dans une petite cabane qui estoit a un coin de son jardin qui ne servoit qu'a loger un jardinier ce mauvais logement n'estoit pourtant pas une incommodite sensible a ce malheureux prince quoy qu'il fust blesse assez considerablement et qu'a peine pust il estre pense 
 mais lors qu'il songeoit que mandane recevoit cyrus comme son liberateur qu'il l'avoit perdue pour tousjours qu'elle le hairoit toute sa vie quoy qu'il la luy eust conservee qu'il estoit dans la mesme ville ou son rival estoit heureux qu'il ne scavoit comment en sortir et qu'il tomberoit peut-estre en sa puissance il sentoit ce qu'on ne scauroit dire et presques ce qu'on ne scauroit penser il eut mesme le lendemain au matin un redoublement de douleur estrange car comme mandane voulut aller rendre graces aux dieux aussi bien que cyrus ce prince voulut qu'elle allast au temple avec quelque ceremonie afin que le peuple la vist mieux mais comme on ne pouvoit aller du chasteau au temple de neptune qui estoit le plus celebre de cumes sans passer le long des murailles de ce jardin et sous les fenestres de cette cabane dans laquelle estoit le roy de pont cette magnifique pompe y passa de sorte que ce malheureux prince ayant entendu le bruit que faisoient les troupes qui marchoient et qui precedoient la princesse il demanda a ce soldat qui l'avoit suivy et qui le servoit ce que c'estoit qu'il oyoit si bien que luy ayant dit qu'il avoit sceu par le maistre de ce jardin que c'estoit que la princesse mandane alloit remercier les dieux au temple de neptune ce malheureux prince transporte d'amour la voulant voir encore une fois devant que de mourir s'assit sur le lit ou on l'avoit couche pour regarder par 
 une petite fenestre qui n'estoit fermee que par une espece de grille faite de jonc marins ou il se mit en effet a regarder a travers ceux qui passoient mais lors qu'apres avoir attendu quelque temps avec une impatience accompagnee de crainte de colere et de desespoir il vit paroistre mandane dans un chariot avec une joye sur le visage qui augmentoit merveilleusement sa beaute il eut une douleur qu'il n'avoit jamais sentie musques alors quoy qu'il crust auparavant avoir espouve toutes les douleurs ce qui la luy rendit encore plus sensible fut de voir cyrus a cheval aupres du chariot de mandane et de le voir avec une mine si haute et un port si majestueux que toute sa jalousie ne put l'empescher de trouver qu'il estoit digne de cette princesse mais ce qui acheva de l'accabler fut qu'il vie sur le visage de cyrus encore plus de joye que sur celuy de mandane de sorte que conjecturant de la qu'il en avoit este admirablement bien receu il supposa presques en un instant plus de mille choses favorables qu'il s'imagina qu'elle avoit dites a cyrus cette pensee mit un si grand trouble dans son esprit que l'amour la jalousie la rage et le desespoir luy faisant perdre la raison il arracha avec violence cette espece de grille qui le cachoit fans scavoir ce qu'il vouloit faire mais par bonheur pour luy puis qu'il ne vouloir pas tomber sous la puissance de cyrus en arrachant cette grille comme il estoit foible il tomba en arriere sur son lit 
 si bien que sa playe se r'ouvrant et commencant de seigner aveque violence safoiblesse l'empescha d'estre veu en l'empschant de se relever il voulut pourtant l'essayer quoy que ce soldat qui le servoit s'y opposast respectueusement jugeant bien que s'il regardoit a cette fenestre ou il n'y avoit plus de grille il pourroit estre connu cependant la douleur sit une si grande agitation dans son coeur qu'il tomba en une pasmoison de plus d'une heure au retour de laquelle il se retrouva avec un desespoir qui aprochoit fort de la fureur ainsi j'illustre cyrus avoit alors quatre rivaux qui n'estoient pas si heureux que luy mais quoy que l'estat de leur fortune fust different ils ne laissoient pourtant pas d'avoir de la conformite en leurs douleurs le roy d  assirie prisonnier et contraint de demander secours a son rival se croyoit estre le plus malheureux prince du monde le roy de pont vaincu blesse et cache dans une panure cabane ne pensoit pas que personne eust jamais eu tant d'infortunes que luy le prince mazare qui vouloit que sa vertu fust plus forte que son amour et qui se voyoit pourtant toujours en estat de pouvoir estre vaincu par sa passion estoit persuade qu'on ne pouvoit pas souffrir plus qu'il souffroit et anaxaris amoureux sans esperance et resolu pourtant d'aimer mandane jusques a la mort quoy qu'il luy en pust arriver ne pouvoit comprendre veu tout ce qu'il scavoit de l'estat de son ame et de celuy de 
 sa fortune qu'il y eust quelqu'un qui fust plus miserable qu'il se le trouvoit
 
 
 
 
ainsi pendant que cyrus et mandane remercioient les dieux de l'heureux estat ou ils se voyoient le roy de pont mazare et anaxaris avoient bien de la peine a ne murmurer pas de leur conduite qui les exposoit a tant d'evenemens facheux le malheur de ces trois rivaux n'empeschoit pourtant pas que la joye ne fust presque generale et dans la ville et dans le camp mais pour ne point perdre de temps au retour du temple cyrus apres en avoir pris l'ordre de mandane a qui il defferoit l'honneur de tous les commandemens qu'il faloit faire envoya vers pactias et vers lycambe pour leur aprendre l'estat des choses et pour les obliger a poser les armes envoyant aussi vers les xanthiens et les cauniens pour leur confirmer ce qu'il leur avoit fait offrir il depescha encore a ciaxare et a cambise la princesse escrivant au roy son pere pour luy rendre grace des soins qu'il avoit eus de procurer sa liberte et a la reine de perse pour luy tesmoigner la reconnoissance qu'elle avoit pour le prince son fils apres cela on vit suivant les ordres que cyrus avoit envoyez des le soir la flotte de thrasibule et celle de thimochare entrer dans le port de cumes et comme elle passerent a la veue de l'appartement de mandane ou cyrus estoit alors ses vaisseaux des deux flottes qui avoient le pavillon haut l'abaisserent pour faire honneur 
 a cette princesse des que thrasibule thimochare philocles et leontidas furent desbarquez ils allerent saluer mandane a qui cyrus les presenta vous voyez madame luy dit il en parlant de thrasibule un prince qui a este mon vainqueur et de qui la valeur me servit extremement a finir bien tost la guerre d'armenie en me disant reprit mandane que le prince thrasibule a vaincu le vainqueur des autres c'est m'en dire sans doute autant qu'il en faut pour m'obliger a l'estimer infiniment la victoirie que je remportay madame repliqua thrasibule me cousta si cher et la deffaite de l'illustre artamene luy fut si glorieuse que j'eusse este en estat de choisir j'eusse mieux aime estre le vaincu que le vainqueur comme cyrus alloit interrompre thrasibule et combatre sa modestie par la sienne le roy d'hircanie le prince artamas gadate gobrias persode et plusieurs autres personnes de haute qyalite entrerent dans la chambre de mandane qui les receut avec autant de douceur que de majeste cresus et myrsile vinrent un peu apres le premier luy demandant pardon d'avoir protege le roy de pont la conjurant de ne vouloir pas estre moins genereuse que ciaxare et cyrus avoient este genereux pour vous temoigner luy dit elle que je ne veux pas leur ceder tout l'advantage de cette vertu je vous assureray que j'ay beaucoup de joye de celle que vous douez avoir dit elle en monstrant artamas d'avoir acquis l'alliance 
 d'un prince aussi illustre que celuy la artamas entendant ce que mandane disoit de luy y respondit avec autant d'esprit que de civilite mais comme ces sortes de visites ne font jamais longues cette foule de personnes illustres qui estoient chez cette princesse se dissipa bien tost cyrus se vit mesme oblige d'en sortir pour aller a son apartement recevoir deux deputez de la susiane qu'orsane luy amenoit si bien que mandane se servant de cet intervale pour entretenir chrysante et feraulas a qui elle n'avoit encore rien dit entra dans son cabinet ou elle les fit apeller et ou martesie les conduisit ce fut la ou la gloire de cyrus luy fut exageree avec chaleur par ces deux hommes si zelez et si fidelles a leur maistre et ce fut par eux qu'elle aprit mieux toutes les obligations qu'elle avoit a ce prince qu'elle ne l'auroit pu faire par luy mesme cependant cyrus estant arrive a son apartement ou mazare se rendit aussi bien qu'hermogene pour aprendre des nouvelles de belesis y receut ces deputez qu'orsane y avoit conduits il aprit par eux que tous les grands du royaume de la susiane n'avoient pas plustost veu le testament d'abradate qui luy donnoit sa couronne qu'ils s'estoient disposez aveque joye a estre ses sujets et a le reconnoistre pour leur roy que le peuple s'y estoit soumis avec une satisfaction extreme que belesis l'avoit fort bien servy en cette occasion qu'adusius suivant ses ordres estoit demeure a suze 
 pour commander dans tout le royaume jusques a ce qu'il fust en pouvoir d'honnorer cet estat de sa presence que toutes choses y estoient tranquiles que les grands et les peuples luy avoient fait serment de fidelite entre les mains d'adusius et qu'enfin il estoit veritablement roy de la susiane ces deputez ayant cesse de parler cyrus les traita comme des gens qui luy aportoient une couronne et commenca d'agir avec eux comme avec de bons et fidelles sujets apres quoy ordonnant qu'on les logeast dans la ville il les congedia retenant orsane afin de luy demander des nouvelles de belesis qu'il estimoit infiniment scachant bien qu'il avoit tousjours confirme mazare dans les sentimens de vertu qu'il avoit dans l'ame voyant donc qu'il n'y avoit plus que mazare et hermogene aupres de luy et bien orsane luy dit-il le voyage de belesis a-t'il este aussi heureux pour luy que pour moy et cleodore l'a t'elle voulu reconnoistre pour son esclave d'aussi bonne grace que ceux de suze m'ont reconnu pour leur roy seigneur reprit orsane la chose n'a pas este ainsi quoy interrompit mazare cleodore avoit fait les derniers voeux que font les filles consacrees a ceres lors que belesis arriva a suze non seigneur repliqua orsane et nous y arrivasmes quelques jours auparavant celuy ou elle les devoit faire eh de grace dit cyrus racontez nous ce qui c'est passe en cette rencontre hermogene comprenant 
 par le discours d'orsane que belesis n'estoit pas heureux sentit augmenter sa curiosite et diminuer la douleur qu'il avoit eue dans la croyance ou il avoit este d'aller aprendre que belesis possedoit cleodore de sorte qu'il pressa attentivement l'oreille a ce que disoit orsane puis que vous me commandez de vous aprendre ce qui est arrive a belesis dit-il a cyrus je vous diray seigneur qu'estant arrivez a suze il s'informa a l'heure mesme si cleodore estoit encore en estat de pouvoir sortir du temple ou elle s'estoit retiree et si on croyoit qu'elle y demeurait il sceut que la derniere ceremonie qui la devoit attacher pour tousjours ne se devoit faire que dans un mois que l'opinion generale estoit qu'elle y demeureroit parce qu'elle y vivoit dans une retraite fort grande tout le monde luy disant qu'elle n'estoit pas de celles qui au lieu de chercher la solitude parmy les vierges voilees et d'y conserver leur innocence troublent la premiere perdent la seconde si se deshonnorent au lieu de se couvrir de gloire belesis ne s'affligea pourtant pas avec exces de ce qu'on croyoit que cleodore demeureroit a ce temple parce qu'il espera de la pouvoir faire changer d'avis de sorte que pour ne manquer a rien de ce qu'il vous deuoit et pour n'oublier rien encore de ce que son amour demandoit il escrivit a cleodore et donna sa lettre a alcenor pour la luy porter employant aussi plusieurs de ses amies 
 pour luy obtenir la permission de la voir et de luy parler mais durant qu'alcenor et ces dames faisoient ce qu'ils pouvoient pour luy il mit ordre en quatre jours a toutes les choses qui regardoient vostre service cependant il sceut que cleodore avoit refuse sa lettre qu'elle ne le vouloit point voir qu'elle avoit obtenu qu'on avanceroit la ceremonie qu'on deuoit faire pour elle et qu'elle se feroit le lendemain vous pouvez juger seigneur quelle fut la douleur de belesis il ne sceut pas plustost cette facheuse nouvelle qu'allant a ce temple de ceres il fit et dit tarit choses qu'enfin celle qui avoit droit de commander a cleodore luy ordonna de voir et de parler a belesis une heure avant que de s'engager pour le reste de sa vie belesis la vit donc et luy parla mais il la vit plus belle qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue et plus inexorable a ses prieres qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais elle et pour le rendre plus malheureux elle luy advoua qu'elle ne s'estoit portee a la resolution qu'elle alloit executer que parce qu'elle avoit eu la foiblesse de ne le pouvoir hair quand elle l'avoit voulu et elle luy dit cela d'une maniere qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle ne le haissoit pas encore et qu'elle agissoit plus comme elle faisoit par un sentiment de gloire qu'elle mettoit a ne pardonner jamais a belesis que parla haine qu'elle eust pour luy je ne vous diray point seigneur tout ce que dit ce malheureux amant a cleodore car connoissant le 
 naturel de beleses ardant et passionne comme il est et scachant quel est son esprit et son amour vous pouvez vous imaginer aisement qu'il luy dit les choses du monde les plus touchantes il ne la toucha pourtant point et cette belle personne malgre toute la douceur qui paroist sur son visage eut une opiniastrete invincible et on eust dit mesme que la douleur de belesis luy donnoit de la joye et que plus il s'obstinoit a la priere plus elle avoit de facilite a le refuser enfin seigneur cette belle personne se retira et malgre toutes les plaintes de belesis la ceremonie s'acheva et il perdit cleodore pour toujours car en effet depuis cela elle n'a voulu voir personne non pas mesme ses plus cheres amies de sorte que cleodore qui aimoit tant les nouvelles ne scait pas seulement aujourd'huy si l'asie est en paix ou en guerre et cette excellente fille a bien fait voir qu'elle estoit maistresse d'elle mesme quand elle le vouloit estre cependant le desespoir de belesis paroist tellement sur son visage et en toutes ses actions qu'il n'y a personne qui ne craigne des qu'il pourra se desrober d'alcenor qui l'observe tres soigneusement il ne s'en retourne habiter son desert et ne prive suze du plus honneste homme qui y soit pendant qu'orsane parloit ainsi cyrus et mazare s'interessoient a la douleur de belesis mais pour hermogene toute l'amitie qu'il avoit pour son amy ne put empescher qu'il n'eust quelque joye d'aprendre 
 qu'il ne possederoit point cleodore il fit pourtant tout ce qu'il put pour cacher un sentiment ou il y avoit plus d'amour que de generosite et il luy fut d'autant plus aise de la cacher que cyrus qui ne pouvoit plus vivre sans mandane se hasta de donner ordre qu'on comblast les lignes qu'on desmolist les forts et que l'armee se tinst pourtant tousjours comme si elle deuoit encore avoir des ennemis a combatre n'osant pas songer a faire partir mandane de cumes qu'il ne sceust que l'armee ennemie fust dissipee afin de ne hasarder pas une personne qui luy estoit si chere apres avoir donc fait ce que la prudence vouloit qu'il fist il retourna chez la princesse mandane ou toutes les dames de qualite de la ville estoient allees faire leur premiere visite comme la princesse parloit admirablement la langue greque et que celle de cumes n'estoit presques differente de l'autre que par la prononciation il luy fut aise de charmer l'esprit de tant de belles personnes par la douceur de sa conversation comme elle charmoit leurs yeux par sa beaute et comme elle scavoit que les louanges sont bien receues de tout le monde principalement quand elles sont donnees par une personne qui en merite beaucoup elle mesme mandane loua extremement toutes les dames a qui elle put trouver quelque fondement legitime de louange elle redoubla mesme celles qu'elle leur avoit desja donnees lors que cyrus fut arrive car 
 prenant la parole des qu'il eut pris sa place quoy que je scache bien luy dit-elle qu'artaxate babilone et sardis sont de plus grandes villes que cumes je ne laisse pas d'assurer que vous n'avez point fait une plus belle conqueste que celle la puis que je ne croy pas que vous ayez pris aucune ville ou il y ait tant de belles personnes qu'en celle cy il y a tant de raisons madame reprit cyrus qui veulent que vous vous connoissiez mieux en beaute que qui ce soit que quand mes yeux ne me diroient pas que vous avez raison de dire ce que vous dites je ne laisserois pas de vous croire cependant adjousta-t'il en se tournant vers ces dames que mandane louoit vous devez conter pour beaucoup les louanges que vous donne une princesse qui est accoustume de voir tous les jours la plus belle personne du monde mandane rougit du discours de cyrus mais elle n'eut pas le temps d'y respondre car une de ces dames nommee atalie prenant la parole si les louanges de la princesse dit-elle se pouvoient adresser a moy et que j'eusse le moindre sujet de m'en faire l'aplication je me tiendrois sans doute la plus glorieuse fille du monde d'estre louee par une personne qui voit tous les jours dans son miroir comme vous le dites dequoy luy faire meprises les plus grandes beautez de la terre ha aimable atalie reprit mandane vous scavez bien quelle part vous devez prendre aux louanges que j'ay donnees aux dames 
 de cumes en general et je scay bien aussi celle que raisonnablement je puis avoir a celles que vous me donnez cependant sans vous faire rougir par une louange particuliere tombez seulement d'accord aveque moy qu'il y a peu de lieux au monde ou il y ait tant de belles personnes qu'en celuy cy et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison que mandane parloit de cette sorte estant certain qu'il y avoit en ce temps la une quantite prodigieuse de belles femmes a cumes mais entre toutes celles qui estoient alors chez la princesse mandane il y en avoit quatre et de la premiere condition de la ville et de la derniere beaute atalie estoit grande et de bonne mine elle avoit les cheveux bruns les yeux bleus et doux le taint blanc et vif et d'un fort grand esclat paroissant estre assez serieuse la seconde nommee cleocrite estoit blonde blanche et vive elle avoit pourtant les yeux noirs et brillans mais d'un feu extremement vif ses regards quoy que doux n'avoient pourtant rien de fort passionne au contraire il y paroissoit si peu d'aplication qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle aimoit mieux se regarder dans son miroir que toute autre chose et qu'elle s'aimoit plus que tout le reste du monde cleocrite estoit de belle taille avoit de belle dents et une belle couleur aux levres elle avoit aussi le nez bien fait et tous les traits du visage agreables mais outre cela elle avoit un fonds de joye et de tranquilite dans la phisionomie 
 qui servoit encore a la rendre plus belle de sorte qu'on pouvoit assurer sans la flatter que cleocrite estoit une fort belle personne et qui eust este infiniment aimable si elle eust sceu aimer quelque chose la troisiesme qui se nommoit lysidice estoit de mediocre taille mais d'une grande beaute car non seulement elle avoit tous les traits du visage admirables mais toute sa personne estoit belle et charmante elle avoit une belle gorge de beaux bras et de belles mains aussi bien que de beaux yeux un beau teint et une belle bouche elle avoit mesme je ne scay quel petit air chagrin fier et superbe au coin des yeux et aux coins de la bouche quoy qu'elle eust pourtant de la douceur qui contribuoit encore a sa beaute et qui marquoit aussi quelque chose de l'inesgalite de son humeur bien que d'ailleurs elle fust tres aimable la quatriesme qui s'apelloit philoxene et qui estoit veusve estoit d'une taille au dessus de la mediocre mais fort bien faite ses cheveux estoient chastains elle avoit le tour du visage un peu en ovalle le taint blanc et uny le nez aquilin et bien fait les yeux grands noirs beaux doux et sourians la phisionomie noble et agreable et qui faisoit si bien voir la douceur et l'esgalite de son humeur aussi bien que la tendresse et la generosite de son ame qu'on ne pouvoit la voir sans l'estimer beaucoup et sans avoir une forte disposition a l'aimer ces quatre personnes 
 estant donc telles que je viens de les depeindre et estant meslees a quantite d'autres qui avoient aussi beaucoup de beaute ce n'estoit pas sans raison que mandane les louoit elle eut mesme bien tost autant de sujet de les louer de l'agreement de leur esprit que des charmes de leur visage car elles en sirent toutes tant paroistre en cette conversation que si cyrus eust este capable de pouvoir souffrir que quelqu'un partageast aveque luy celle de sa princesse il n'eust pas eu le chagrin qu'il avoit de ne l'entretenir pas seule ii le cacha toutesfois si bien que ces dames ne s'en aperceurent pas et la seule mandane put connoistre que routes aimables qu'elles estoient il eust ardamment souhaite qu'elles n'eussent pas este aupres d'elle il ne fut pourtant pas si tost en pouvoir de luy parler en particulier car outre toutes ces dames qui estoient desja chez mandane il y en vint une autre conduite par anaxaris qui quoy que fort avancee en age avoit extremement bonne mine et sentoit sa personne de qualite anaxaris en la presentant a mandane luy aprit qu'elle se nommoit nyside et luy dit aussi sa condition qui estoit des plus considerables de cumes apres quoy cette personne prenant la parole comme je scay madame dit-elle a la princesse mandane que vous pouvez tout sur l'esprit de l'illustre cyrus j'ay creu que je devois m'adresser a vous pour obtenir de luy la liberte d'un fils que j'ay qui est presentement son 
 prisonnier et que le sort des armes voulut qui prist le genereux anaxaris qui me presente a vous je n'aurois pas eu la hardiesse de vous demander la liberte d'un homme qui avoit fait prisonnier celuy qui a si courageusement combatu pour la vostre si ce mesme anaxaris ne m'eust promis genereusement de joindre ses prieres aux miennes pour obtenir de vous que le mesme homme de qui il fut captif et qui est presentement le sien puisse jouir de la grace generale que l'invincible cyrus a accordee a vos prieres aux moindres habitans de cumes en mon particulier adjousta anaxaris je puis vous aussurer madame dit il a la princesse mandane que vous m'obligerez extremement si vous souffrez que mon vainqueur jouisse de la liberte et je luis d'autant plus oblige a le servir poursuivit-il que si je ne fusse pas tombe en sa puissance je n'aurois pas eu la gloire de vous rendre le petit service que je vous ay rendu ainsi madame pour m'en recompenser pleinement faites s'il vous plaist que thrasyle soit bien tost libre et soyez persuadee que c'est un homme d'un si grand merite que si vous le connoissiez il seroit desja delivre il n'estoit sans doute pas necessaire repliqua mandane en parlant a nyside et a anaxaris de s'adresses a moy pour obtenir une grace de l'illustre cyrus qui est si accoustume d'en faire et il l'estoit encore moins madame interrompit ce prince de mesler mon nom en une chose qui despend 
 de vous absolument je ne laisseray pourtant pas reprit cette princesse de vous conjurer d'accorder la liberte de thrasyle a mes prieres thrasyle reprit cyrus est plus le prisonnier d'anaxaris que le mien mais je pense qu'il m'advouera bien de vous dire que vous avez droit de mettre en liberte qui bon vous semble ainsi madame vous n'avez qu'a commander pour estre obeie quoy que vous en puissiez dire reprit mandane je pretens que nyside vous doive plus la liberte de thrasyle qu'a moy pour finir une si genereuse contestation repliqua cette dame mon fils et moy vous la devrons esgallement a tous deux et nous la reconnoistrons et envers l'un et envers l'autre comme si nous ne la devions qu'a une seule personne vous ordonnez donc madame dit alors anaxaris a mandane que thrasyle soit delivre puis que l'illustre cyrus veut bien qu'il soit libre reprit-elle et que vous qui y avez un droit particulier y contentez vous me ferez plaisir de luy aller ouvrir les portes de sa prison et de faire que le premier usage qu'il aura de sa liberte soit employe a me faire connoistre un homme qui a este assez vaillant pour vous faire son prisonnier il est vray reprit cyrus sans soubconner qu'anaxaris fust son rival qu'il n'est pas possible d'avoir este vainqueur d'anaxaris sans estre fort brave et fort illustre anaxaris qui sentit dans son coeur un trouble dont il ne put estre le maistre 
 en s'entendant louer par son riual et par mandane tout a la fois fit semblant de ne les ouir pas et de dire quelque chose a nyside qui estant bien aise d'aller elle mesme ouvrir la prison de son fils prit la pretexte de sortir pour luy aller aprendre ce qu'il deuoit a cette princesse car madame luyt dit nyside je scay que thrasyle a une si forte disposition a reconnoistre un bien-fait qu'il se pleindroit de moy toute sa vie si je ne luy aprenois pas l'obligation qu'il vous a devant qu'il ait l'honneur de vous voir apres cela nyside se retira et fut conduite par anaxaris a la tour ou l'on avoit mis thrasyle des qu'elle fut partie il y eut quelques unes de ces dames qui eurent envie de s'en aller ne voulant pas estre en ce lieu la quand thrasyle y entreroit mais la princesse mandane sans penser qu'elles prissent interest a ce prisonnier leur ayant adresse la parole et recommence la conversation elles n'oserent l'interrompre de sorte qu'insensiblement elles se trouverent engagees a demeurer comme la valeur dit mandane a lysidice n'est pas tousjours accompagnee de toutes les qualitez qui sont necessaires a un fort honneste homme je voudrois bien scavoir si thrasyle a autant d'esprit que de courage comme il faut en avoir beaucoup repliqua lysidice pour connoistre si les autres en ont je ne suis sans doute pas capable de porter un jugement equitable en une pareille matiere et la belle 
 cleocrite qui en a infiniment et qui outre cela a toute l'indifference qu'on peut souhaiter en un equitable juge vous le dira mieux que moy cette indifference repliqua cleocrite en souriant que vous me reprochez et que vous croyez estre si propre a me faire juger equitablement l'est peut estre bien plus a me faire faire une injustice car selon vous je songe bien souvent aux choses qu'on me dit avec si peu d'aplication qu'il n'est pas aise que je les connoisse assez bien pour en juger justement c'est pourquoy si la princesse veut scavoir precisement ce qu'est thrasyle il faut qu'elle le scache par atalie ou par philoxene car l'une a este sa plus ancienne amie et l'autre est sa plus nouvelle connoissance selon vos propres paroles reprit atalie il y a si long temps que j'ay connu thrasyle que je ne le dois plus connoistre et en mon particulier adjousta philoxene il y a si peu que je le connois en comparaison de vous que je puis dire que je ne le connois pas encore pour moy dit alors cyrus en souriant et en adressant la parole a mandane en voyant tant de belles personnes se deffendre agreablement de juger de l'esprit de thrasyle je suis persuade qu'il en a beaucoup et je croirois mesme volontiers que ces dames en pensent plus de bien qu'elles n'en disent le discours de cyrus fit rougir atalie lysidice et philoxene mais pour l'indifferente cleocrite elle n'en changea pas de couleur la rougeur de ces trois belles personnes augmenta 
 pourtant encore car a peine cyrus eut il acheve de dire ce qui les avoit fait rougir qu'anaxaris revint suivy de thrasyle qui entra de si bonne grace et parut de si bonne mine et d'un air si noble et si galant que des que cyrus et mandant le virent ils eurent beaucoup de disposition a croire que ces dames qui ne l'avoient point voulu louer l'estimoient plus qu'elles ne l'avoient dit cependant thrasyle parla si bien si respectueusement et si a propos et a mandane et a cyrus qu'ils l'estimerent alors autant pour son esprit que pour son courage c'est estre bien genereuse madame dit a la princesse mandane de donner la liberte a un homme qui a fait tout ce qu'il a pu pour empescher la vostre quoy que ce ne fust pas le motif qui le fist combatre et que le service du prince de cumes et l'interest de sa patrie le fissent agir comme vous n'avez rien fait que l'honneur ne vous obligeait de faire reprit mandane je n'ay pas creu que tour ce que vous avez fait contre moy deust m'empescher de faire pour vous tout ce que la generosite vouloit que je fisse et c'est sans doute par la mesme raison que l'illustre cyrus m'a accorde vostre liberte si facilement et de si bonne grace comme j'ay sceu madame repliqua thrasyle que ce grand prince veut que je vous en aye toute l'obligation je n'ose en vostre presence luy tesmoigner quelle est la reconnoissance que j'ay pour luy quoy qu'elle soit infinie non non reprit cyrus il ne 
 faut point me donner de part a une chose ou je n'en ay pas en tous les lieux ou est en la princesse elle y fait tout ce qu'on y fait de bien c'est elle qui a la disposition de toutes les graces et c'est a elle enfin a qui il en faut rendre quand on en a receu quelqu'une pendant que mandane cyrus et thrasyle parloient atalie lysidice cleocrite et philoxene s'intreregardoient et regardoient aussi quelquesfois thrasyle qui de son coste n'estoit pas si attentif a ce qu'il disoit ou a ce qu'il escoutoit qu'il ne regardast philoxene et qu'il n'a portast aussi quelque soin a observer si atalie cleocrite et lysidice l'observoient mais quoy qu'il fust extremement aise de remarquer que toutes ces personnes avoient quelque chose a demesler ensemble anaxaris ne s'en apercevoit pas car la veue de mandane et celle de cyrus l'occupoient si fort qu'il ne songeoit qu'a sa propre passion sans passer a celle des autres mais ce qu'il y eut de particulier ce jour la a la conversation qui se fit chez mandane fut qu'elle fut fort longue quoy qu'elle fust presques toute composee de personnes qui auroient voulu n'y estre pas car enfin philoxene eust souhaite ne s'y estre pas trouvee lysidice avoit aussi un chagrin estrange d'y estre atalie en avoit beaucoup de despit et cleocrite mesme malgre son humeur indifferente eust mieux aime estre ailleurs que d'estre ou elle estoit pour thrasyle il estoit fort imbarrasse de se trouver au milieu de quatre personnes avec 
 qui il avoit eu tant de choses a demesler et pour anaxaris quoy que la veue de mandane fust le seul bien de sa vie il ne laissoit pas de desirer de n'estre point alors aupres d'elle puis qu'il n'y pouvoit estre sans son riual de sorte qu'excepte cyrus presques tout ce qui estoit dans la chambre de mandane eust voulu n'y estre pas il est vray que l'inquietude de ce prince n'estoit pas moindre que celle des autres car si cyrus n'eust pas voulu estre hors d'aupres de mandane il eust du moins voulu que tous ceux qui estoient aupres d'elle n'y eussent pas este ils y surent pourtant assez long temps mais enfin atalie cleocrite philoxene et lysicide s'en estant allees mandane demanda a thrasyle si ces dames estoient de ses amies et s'il ne les estimoit pas beaucoup mais quoy qu'elle pust faire il parut presques aussi reserve a en parler qu'elles avoient este reservees a parler de luy il les loua pourtant plus qu'elles ne l'avoient loue ce sut toutesfois d'une facon qui fit aisement connoistre qu'il ne louoit que philoxene avec chaleur apres quelques autres discours indifferens le reste de la compagnie se separa mais justement comme cyrus alloit estre en estat d'entretenir mandane anaxaris amena un habitant de cumes qui aportoit une lettre a la princesse que le roy de pont luy avoit donnee pour luy rendre mandane ne la vit pas plustost qu'elle reconnut en effet l'escriture de ce prince de sorte que la donnant a cyrus sans la 
 lire voulez vous bien luy dit elle m'empescher d'avoir de la colere en m'erspargnant la peine de lire une lettre qui selon les aparences m'en donnera je veux toujours tout ce qu'il vous plaist madame repliqua-t'il et quoy que ce ne soit pas une agreable chose que de lire la lettre d'un rival j'ayme pourtant encore mieux la lire que si vous la lisiez de peur qu'au lieu de vous donner de la colere elle ne vous donnast de la pitie apres cela cyrus ouvrit cette lettre et y leut ces paroles
 
 
 le plus malheureux de tous les hommesa la princesse mandane 
 
 
 comme la vengeance est la plus douce chose du monde j'ay creu madame que ne pouvant jamais vous donner nulle autre satisfaction en ma vie je devois du moins vous donner celle de vous prendre que jamais personne n'a este si pleinement vangee que vous l'estes car enfin madame je souffre plus que nul autre n'a jamais souffert je souffre sans esperance et je souffre sans estre pleint de vous qui est la plus grande de mes infortunes aussi est-ce pour tascher de me delivrer de celle la que j'ay pris la resolution de vous faire scavoir une partie de mes douleurs afin de vous forcer de pleindre 
 un ennemy qui ne peut plus vous nuire imaginez vous donc madame qu'apres avoir deux royaumes qu'apres avoir eu le desplaisir de voir renverser celuy de cresus pour l'amour de moy et d'avoir fait perir le prince ce de cumes imaginez vous dis-je qu'apres vous avoir aimee si long temps sans autre esperance que celle d empescher mon rival d'estre heureux je me voy dans la cruelle necessite de le laisser le plus satisfait et le plus glorieux de tous les hommes et de perdre mesme l'esperance de vous voir jamais je perts donc madame le plus infortune de tous les princes qui sont au monde le plus desespere amant qui sera jamais et le plus malheureux de tous les hommes comme je m'en vay seul chercher la mort sur le mesme element ou j'eus le bonheur de vous sauver la vie et que selon toutes les apparences ma fin aura peu de tesmoins j'ay voulu madame vous faire scavoir que malgre vostre insensibilite pour moy et tous les malheurs ou la passion que t'ay pour vous m'a precipite je mourray en vous adorant et sans me pouvoir jamais repentir de vous avoir adoree quoy que l'amour que j'ay pour vous soit cause de la plus grande partie de mes disgraces voila madame quelle est la passion que vous avez mesprisee qu'els seront mes sentimens pour vous lors que l'exces de ma douleur achevera de me faire mourir croyez donc je vous en conjure que vous serez l'unique objet lie ma derriere pensee et que mesme en expirant j'auray assez de passion pour faire que mon dernier soupir soit un soupir d'amour trop heureux si apres ma mort vous dites seulement que j'estois digne d'un destin plus favorable 
 
 
 apres que cyrus eut leu cette lettre il regarda mandane et prenant la parole j'avois sans doute raison luy dit-il madame de craindre que ce que le roy de pont vous escrit n'excitast plustost la pitie que la colere dans vostre coeur car tout son rival que je suis je n'ay pu de lire sans avoir de la compassion comme c'est un sentiment assez naturel aux personnes qui ont une generosite heroique reprit la princesse je ne m'estonne pas que vostre ame en soit capable mais comme je ne veux pas estre sensible a la pitie pour un prince qui n'en a point eu pour moy je veux m'oster les occasions d'en avoir pour luy c'est pourquoy dit elle en prenant la lettre du roy de pont et en la rompant je ne veux point lire ce qui m'en pourroit donner puis qu'il vous en a donne je ne scay madame dit alors cyrus en souriant si la crainte que vous avez d'avoir de la pitie ne seroit point un sujet de jalousie a un amant de temperamment jaloux et je ne scay dit-elle en souriant aussi a son tour si la compassion que vous avez eue n'en seroit point un a toute autre qu'a moy de vous accuser de peu d'affection ha madame reprit cyrus cette accusation seroit bien mal fondee elle ne seroit pas plus que l'autre repliqua-t'elle j'aime donc bien mieux vous advouer qu'elles le seroient toutes deux reprit cyrus que de disputer jamais rien contre vous apres cela ces deux illustres personnes tomberent pourtant d'accord que ce malheureux 
 prince estoit digne de pitie ils sceurent mesme ce jour la en quel heu il avoit este cache et ils aprirent que des que l'entree du port avoit este libre il avoit voulu sortir de cumes et s'estoit fait porter la nuit tout foible et tout blesse qu'il estoit dans une barque de pescheur sans avoir personne aveque luy que celuy qui conduisoit la barque et ce mesme soldat qui estoit sorty du chasteau avec cet infortune prince de sorte que cette nouvelle redoubla encore la compassion que mandane et cyrus avoient pour un roy qui leur avoit sauve la vie a tous deux car c'estoit luy qui avoit adverty artamene de la conjuration de ces quarante cavaliers qui le devoient faire perir et c'estoit luy aussi qui avoit empesche mandane de se noyer apres qu'elle eut fait naufrage ainsi ne pouvant moins faire pour celuy a qui ils devoient la vie ils le plaignirent dans son malheur quoy qu'il en fust seul la cause le lendemain au matin on sceut que pactias et lycambe avoient pose les armes mais que le premier ne voulant pas revenir dans une armee ou estoit cresus qu'il avoit trahi estoit alle s'embarquer pour passer a mytilene et qu'ayant fortuitement rencontre harpage qui n'osoit voir cyrus apres avoir este cause de la perte de l'armee qu'il commandoit ils s'estoient liez d'amitie et avoient choisi un mesme lieu pour leur exil de sorte que cyrus voyant qu'il n'avoit plus d'ennemis a combatre et que la campagne 
 estoit libre ne songea plus qu'a faire sortir mandane de cumes pour s'avancer tousjours vers la medie car encore qu'il eust promis au roy d'assirie de n'espouser point cette princesse qu'il ne se fust batu contre luy que ciaxare eust en quelque facon depuis consenty a la chose et quil fust absolument resolu de luy tenir sa parole il ne scavoit comment dire cette facheuse nouvelle a mandane il jugeoit pourtant qu'il seroit en quelque facon dangereux pour son honneur qu'il allast a ecbatane devant que de s'estre batu contre le roy d'assirie scachant bien que ce prince n'iroit pas mais comme le chemin estoit fort long de cumes a cette autre ville et que la princesse ne pourroit pas aller fort viste il espera que devant que d'estre en medie le roy d'assirie seroit delivre ou par la rancon qu'il faisoit offrir pour luy ou par la force ainsi estant encore dans les premiers transports de sa joye il rejetta toutes les facheuses pensees qui luy vinrent et se contenta d'ordonner a chrysante et a feraulas de ne rien dire a mandane du combat qu'il deuoit faire contre le roy d'assirie de sorte que ne pensant qu'a se mettre en estat de faire arriver cette princesse en triomphe a ecbatane il donna tous les ordres necessaires pour former sa maison et pour faire qu'elle eust un equipage magnifique ce fut alors que les soldats qu'anaxaris avoit subornez et qui s'estoient rendus maistres du chasteau demanderent pour recompense du service 
 qu'ils avoient rendu d'avoir la gloire d'estre gardes de cette princesse ce qui leur fut accorde mais ce qui surprit fort cyrus fut de voir qu'anaxaris qui avoit refuse dans son armee des emplois extremement considerable demanda d'estre capitaine des gardes de la princesse jusques la cyrus avoit creu qu'anaxaris estoit d'une qualite extraordinairement relevee mais voyant alors ou il bornoit son ambition il pensa qu'il avoit refuse les autres emplois par modestie et qu'il souhaitoit celuy cy comme plus proportionne a sa naissance si bien que le luy accordant aveque joye anaxaris se vit capitaine des gardes de la princesse qu'il aimoit et il s'y vit avec l'agreement de son riual et de ta maistresse qui sans scavoir quelle estoit la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame luy donnoient mille marques d'amitie mais pendant qu'on preparoit toutes choses pour le depart de mandane cette princesse avoit tous les jours chez elle toutes les dames de cumes qui faisoient ce qu'elles pouvoient pour la divertir et entre les autres cleocrite atalie philoxene et lysidice s'y attacherent extremement thrasyle alloit aussi fort souvent chez elle ou tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite et de gens d'esprit aupres de cyrus se rendoient pour ce prince il y avoit des heures ou cette presse l'importunoit tellement que quelque agreable que luy fust la veue de sa princesse il y avoit des instans ou pour cacher le chagrin qu'il avoit de ne pouvoir l'entretenir il estoit 
 contraint de sortir de sa chambre il est vray que pour s'en consoler il alloit quelquesfois a celle de martesie quand il se pouvoit derober de cette foule de monde qui l'accabloit afin d'avoir la satisfaction de parler de mandane avec une personne qui avoit tant de part a son amitie mais comme il droit un jour avec elle et qu'il luy faisoit redire une partie de ce qu'il avoit desja sceu on le vint querir de la part de la princesse aupres de qui il n'y avoit alors que cleocrite lysidice atalie et une autre dame nommee lyriane et thrasyle des qu'il parut dans la chambre de cette princesse ne pensez pas seigneur luy dit elle n'estre jamais employe qu'a estre l'arbitre de l'asie a ne connoistre que des interests des rois et des princes et a ne faire autre chose que d'oster et de rendre des couronnes c'est pourquoy preparez vous a estre juge d'un different ou l'ambition n'a point de part et sur lequel je vous advoue que je n'ay pas la hardiesse de porter un jugement decisif je pense madame repliqua cyrus que je ne connoistray pas ce que vous ne connoissez point et que vous ne me croyez pas assez presomptueux pour m'imaginer que j'ay plus de lumiere que vous puis qu'il faut que j'accommode mes paroles a vostre modestie repliqua-t'elle je vous diray qu'il y a beaucoup de choses que la bien-seance veut que vous scachiez mieux que moy car par exemple si je disois en certaines occasions tous les termes propres 
 et particulieres a la guerre et que j'en parlasse enfin aussi bien que vous n'est-il pas vray qu'il me seroit presques aussi honteux de parler trop bien de ces sortes de choses qu'il vous le seroit si vous en parliez aussi mal que moy en effet il est certaines rencontres ou il ne faut pas mesme qu'une personne de mon sexe tesmoigne scavoir ce qu'elle scait et il y a enfin une espece d'ignorance volontaire qui sied bien en quelques occasions c'est pourquoy vous pouvez sans rien entreprendre sur moy parler de la chose dont il s'agit puis qu'elle est d'une nature que je puis lignorer sans honte vous scaurez donc poursuivit elle sans donner loisir a cyrus de l'interrompre que cleocrite atalie et lysidice que vous scavez qui ne voulurent point parler de thrasyle le jour qu'anaxaris demanda sa liberte m'en ont parle aujourd'huy et me l'ont depeint comme le plus inconstant de tous les hommes apres m'en avoir pourtant dit mille biens mais comme elles m'en parloient ainsi thrasyle est arrive et la conversation s'est tournee de facon qu'elles luy ont dit en riant tout ce qu'elles m'avoient dit devant qu'il entrast cependant thrasyle soustient ardemment qu'il est le plus fidelle de tous les hommes mais ce qui m'embarrasse le plus est qu'il advoue qu'il a aime successivement atalie cleocrite lysidice et quelques autres et qu'il aime presentement philoxene ha thrasyle s'escria cyrus voila bien des amours differentes 
 pour pouvoir porter la qualite de fidelle amant et pour se pouvoir deffendre de meriter celle d'inconstant seigneur reprit thrasyle pour scavoir veritablement ce que je suis je pense qu'il faudroit scavoir toute ma vie connoistre parfaitement celles que j'ay aimees et se donner la peine d'examiner bien precisement ce que c'est que la constance et l'inconstance car je suis persuade qu'on peut avoir plusieurs amours sans estre infidelle et sans qu'on puisse dire qu'un homme soit inconstant en effet seigneur poursuivit-il je suis dis-je persuade que quand le roy d'assirie et le roy de pont se delivreroient de la passion qui les tourmente on ne les accuseroit pas d'inconstance au contraire on les loueroit de s'estre surmontez eux mesmes lors que la raison vouloir qu'ils le fissent ainsi il faut conclure qu'en certaines occasions on peut cesser d'aimer sans estre infidelle et recommencer d'aimer sans estre inconstant ainsi je pense pourrir dire qu'en quelques rencontres il y a plus d'opiniastrete que de constance a ceux qui s'obstinent d'aimer avec la certitude de ne pourrir estre aime de sorte que selon moy ces gens la au lieu d'avoir une vertu ont un vice qu'ils ne pensent pas avoir si c'est un vice reprit cleocrite en riant je vous assure qu'on ne vous en soubconnera jamais et qu'on ne vous accusera pas d'estre opiniastre en amour non adjousta lysidice mais en eschange on l'accusera de l'estre en inconstance 
 le mot d'opiniastre convient si peu a un inconstant dit atalie que je ne puis consentir qu'on l'aplique a thrasyle qui a considerer le nombre de ses amours est le plus inconstant des hommes pour moy dit lyriane qui n'avoit point encore parle j'advoue que je ne le puis absolument condamner et je pense que sans faire une injustice manifeste on ne peut raisonnablement le faire passer pour inconstant quoy qu'il ait aime plusieurs personnes vous estes bien genereuse luy repliqua cyrus d'entreprendre la deffence de thrasyle qui est attaque par trois ennemies si redoutables lyriane connoist si parfaitement reprit thrasyle quelles sont les raisons qui m'ont oblige de cesser d'aimer qu'elle ne peut pas m'accuser comme sont celles qui ne m'accusent que parce qu'elles ne se connoissent pas elles mesmes de plus seigneur il me semble que puis qu'il est des raisons qui peuvent permettre de cesser d'aimer sans estre inconstant la generosite veut qu'on presupose que j'en ay eu qui m'y ont oblige et qu'ainsi je ne dois pas estre regarde comme un infidelle car enfin seigneur je suis persuade que ce qu'on peut veritablement nommer inconstance est un certain desgoust et une espece de lassitude d'esprit s'il est permis de parler ainsi qui fait que les mesmes choses qui ont plu ne plaisent plus quoy qu'elles soient les mesmes qu'elles estoient auparavant et qui fait aussi que la nouveaute eu un charme inevitable si bien que 
 par ce moyen l'amour d'un inconstant s'allentit et vient mesme a se destruire sans autre cause que celle qui est en luy de sorte qu'il ne peut aimer long temps une mesme personne quelque accomplie qu'elle soit et quelque bien traite qu'il en puisse estre parce qu'il a dans le coeur une legerete naturelle qui l'en empesche mais pour moy je puis assurer sans mensonge que si la premiere personne que j'aimay se fust trouvee estre telle que je me l'estois figuree je n'aurois jamais aime celles qui me reprochent d'estre inconstant ne diroit on pas dit alors cleocrite que thrasyle doit avoir trouve des deffauts espouventables en toutes les personnes qu'il a aimees pour moy adjousta lysidice je trouve qu'il y va de nostre honneur que thrasyle parle comme il fait devant la princesse s'il ne dit par quelle raison il nous a quittees je pense dit alors atalie que ce recit ne nous seroit pas fort advantageux en sa bouche si vous voulez reprit lyriane et que la princesse ait la curiosite de le scavoir je m'offre a faire un recit fort exact et fort fidelle de tout ce qui est arrive a thrasyle vous me ferez beaucoup de plaisir repliqua mandane et vous ferez ce me semble une chose fort difficile a faire adjousta cyrus en riant si vous pouvez me persuader que thrasyle ait pu aimer et quitter trois aussi belles personnes que celles que je voy sans pouvoir estre accuse d'inconstance lyriane m'a tousjours paru si fort amie de thrasyle 
 dit lysidice que j'ay quelque peine a consentir que ce soit elle qui me face connoistre a la princesse pour moy adjousta cleocrite je suis si persuadee que lyriane ne peut rien dire a mon desavantage qu'il ne m'importe pas qu'elle soit plus des amies de thrasyle que des miennes l'indifference dont on vous accuse repliqua atalie paroist si fort a ce que vous dites que cela donnera lieu a la princesse de croire facilement tout ce qu'on luy en dira pour vous tesmoigner dit lyriane que je ne veux rien dire contre la verite je consens que vous soyez presentes a ce que je diray et que vous m'interrompiez si vous m'oyez dire un mensonge en mon particulier dit lysidice j'aime mieux reconnoistre thrasyle pour le plus constant de tous les hommes quoy qu'il soit un des plus inconstans que d'aller escouter moy mesme toutes les folies qu'il faut raconter pour faire scavoir ce qui c'est passe entre nous pour faire que la chose soit esgalle reprit thrasyle il faut que les personnes interessees n'y soient pas et que lyriane seule demeure aupres de la princesse lysidice qui jusques alors tuoit eu peine a se resoudre de consentir que lyriane racontast une histoire ou elle avoit quelque interest fut la premiere suivant l'inesgalite de son humeur qui trouva bon que lyriane fust seule aupres de mandane et en effet la chose ayant este resolue ainsi thrasyle passa avec cleocrite lysidice et atalie dans une autre 
 chambre ou martesie estoit et lyriane se disposa a faire le recit des amours de thrasyle apres lequel il deuoit estre declare inconstant ou estre restably dans le droit qu'il pretendoit avoir de se dire tres fidelle amant mais quoy que lyriane creust ne devoir parler que devant mandane et devant cyrus elle eut pourtant davantage d'auditeurs car le prince artamas estant arrive suivy d'aglatidas cyrus dit qu'ils estoient trop propres a estre juges d'une pareille chose pour les priver du plaisir d'aprendre le different qui estoit entre de si aimables personnes eux qui estoient les plus fidelles amans du monde de sorte qu'apres les avoir instruits de ce dont il s'agissoit et que chacun eut pris sa place lyriane commenca son discours en ces termes en adressant la parole a mandane
 
 
 
 
histoire de thrasyle
 
 
comme la verite doit estre inseperable de toutes les paroles de ceux qui entreprennent de raconter quelque chose je seray sans doute obligee madame dans la suitte de mon discours de ne louer pas esgallement toutes les personnes dont j'ay a vous parler quoy que d'ailleurs elles soient infiniment louables c'est pourquoy je vous suplie de ne croire pas que 
 pour justifier thrasyle je veuille accuser injustement cleocrite lysidice ny atalie estant certain que je ne vous diray rien que je ne leur face advouer et rien qui ne soit connu de tout ce qu'il y a de gens de qualite dans cumes apres cela madame je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire que thrasyle est d'une naissance fort illustre qu'il s'est signale a la guerre en plusieurs occasions et qu'il a infiniment de l'esprit car vous avez sans doute sceu ces deux premieres choses et vous ne pouvez pas manquer de vous estre aperceue de la derniere mais je vous diray madame ce qu'aparamment vous ne pouvez pas scavoir qui est que jamais homme n'a eu l'ame si passionnee que l'a thrasyle car enfin l'amour est tellement sa passion dominante qu'il ne peut vivre sans aimer mais pour vous tesmoigner qu'il n'a pas mesme le temperamment qu'ont ordinairement les inconstans y je vous diray encore que les amours qu'il a ne sont pas des amours simplement galantes et enjouees mais que ce sont des amours ardentes et violentes aussi bien que tendres et passionnees et selon mon sentiment si thrasyle avoir eu le bonheur d'aimer des la premiere fois une personne qui eust en quelque facon respondu a son affection je suis persuadee qu'il n'auroit jamais aime qu'elle seule et qu'il l'auroit aimee jusques a la mort et pour faire voir qu'il est capable d'estre constant il ne faut que juger de ses amours par son amitie estant 
 certain qu'il a un amy nomme egesipe qu'il aime des le berceau cependant la bizarrie de son destin a voulu qu'il ait aime en plusieurs lieux comme je m'en vay vous le dire vous scaurez donc madame que des que thrasyle fut hors de la conduite de ses maistres et qu'il commenca de faire des visites de son chef il devint aussi amoureux que l'age ou il estoit le luy pouvoit permettre mais comme vous scavez que les jeunes gens qui commencent d'entrer dans le monde n'y sont pas tout a fait traitez comme ceux qu'il y a desja long temps qui en sont si ce n'est par certaines femmes qui ne rebutent jamais lien et qui veulent des esclaves de toutes manieres thrasyle quoy que fort bien fait et de beaucoup d'esprit ne trouva pas d'abord une esgalle civilite parmy toutes les dames qui avoient alors la grande reputation de beaute et il remarqua aisement qu'on faisoit quelque difference des gens de sa volee et de son age a ceux qui estoient moins jeunes que luy de sorte que comme il estoit glorieux il ne devint point amoureux de celles qui ne les traitoient pas comme un homme a pouvoir devenir leur amant mais il le devint esperduement d'une daine de nostre ville qui estant de l'humeur de celles dont j'ay desja parle luy faisoit mille civilitez n'oubliant rien de tout ce que la coquetterie enseigne aux femmes qui en font profession pour enchaisner le pauvre thrasyle le peu d'experience qu'il avoit 
 du monde sit qu'il eut une joye extreme de se voir traite si favorablement et de voir que cette personne agissoit aveque luy comme avec les plus honnestes gens de la cour quand il faisoit quelque autre visite il n'y pouvoit durer car suivant l'usage qui veut qu'on traite les jeunes gens de cette sorte durant quelque temps ou on ne luy disoit rien ou on ne luy disoit que des choses qui le fachoient si bien qu'il se trouvoit fort embarrasse et il m'a proteste qu'il souffroit plus qu'on ne se le peut imaginer en effet il alloit souvent en des lieux ou des qu'il arrivoit on parloit bas sans luy parler ou si on luy parloit c'estoit de ses exercices ou de ses parens apres quoy on le laissoit la je vous laisse donc a juger quelle douceur il trouvoit lors qu'il alloit de ces lieu la chez cette dame qui les traitoit d'une maniere si differente qui luy adressoit la parole comme aux autres qui luy contoit des nouvelles qui luy parloit mesme bas et qui luy faisoit cent secrets de bagatelles aussi l'aima t'il si esperduement qu'on ne peut presques pas aimer davantage et il l'aima mesme si fort qu'il fut pres de six mois a se croire le plus heureux de tous les hommes d'estre regarde favorablement d'une dame qui avoit effectivement de la beaute et de l'esprit mais qui estoit la plus fourbe et la plus coquette personne qui sera jamais car enfin il faut vous l'imaginer capable d'escrire des lettres de galanterie a mille galans de souffrir d'estre aimee de tout ce 
 qu'elle connoissoit d'hommes a cumes de desirer de l'estre de toute la terre de faire esperer d'aimer tous ceux qui l'aimoient et de se moquer pourtant de tous sans exception je pense qu'apres cela madame vous ne vous estonnerez pas de ce que thrasyle estant fort jeune s'y laissa surprendre et l'aima et que vous vous estonnerez encore moins de ce qu'il ne l'aima plus apres en avoir descouvert toutes les fourbes et toutes les foiblesses et avoir sceu qu'elle ne l'aimoit pas plus que mille rivaux qu'il avoit si je croyois pourtant que pour justifier thrasile de ce changement il falust vous faire scavoir en detail tout ce qu'il descouvrit de cette personne je vous dirois qu'il surprit diverses lettres d'elle qu'il sceut qu elle montroit les siennes a plusieurs de ses rivaux qu'elle railloit de ta passion avec eux comme elle railloit de la leur aveque luy et que fort souvent elle luy faisoit dire qu'on ne la pouvoit voir durant qu'elle en entretenoit d'autres en particulier et qu'en fin c'estoit la plus foible et la plus folle personne de son sexe je vous laisse a juger madame si l'amour de thrasyle pouvoit subsister et si son changement en cette rencontre se peut nommer inconstance aussi ne m'arresteray je pas davantage a vous exagerer une chose qu'il suffit de dire simplement pour justifier thrasyle qui selon mon sens auroit este infiniment blasmable de continuer d'aimer une personne si mesprisable apres l'avoir 
 connue cependant comme cette disposition aimante qui est dans son coeur ne pouvoit luy permettre de vivre long temps sans aimer quelque chose au retour d'une campagne qu'il fit apres avoir rompu avec sa premier maistresse il en fit une seconde mais comme thrasyle s'estoit mis en fort peu de temps en estat de passer pour le plus honneste homme de nostre cour il s'y vit en une consideration differente de celle ou avoit este a son entree dans le monde n'y ayant pas une femme de qualite qui ne tinst a gloire d'avoir quelque part a son estime aussi ne choisit il pas mal en choisissant atalie pour l'objet de sa seconde passion car outre que vous voyez qu'elle a beaucoup de beaute et beaucoup d'esprit elle a encore de la generosite de la bonte et de la franchise thrasyle la trouvant donc infiniment aimable l'aima aussi infiniment et il l'aima d'autant plus qu'il la trouvoit d'une humeur fort differente de celle qui avoit aquis son aversion car enfin atalie n'aimoit ny la galanterie ny les galans elle fuyoit plustost le tumulte du monde qu'elle ne le cherchoit elle estoit propre sans affectation et d'une conversation douce facile et agreable quoy que d'humeur un peu serieuse ainsi trouvant mille bonnes qualitez en cette personne toutes opposee aux mauvaises qu'il mesprisoit en celle qu'il avoit quittee il s'attacha a la servir et s'y attacha fortement faisant durant tres long 
 temps tout ce que l'amour a accoustume de faire faire aux plus honnestes gens et aux plus magnifiques car enfin il fit plusieurs festes a sa consideration et l'amour qu'il eut pour elle ne fut pas seulement une amour violente ce fut une amour d'esclat il connoissoit bien que malgre tous ses soins atalie ne respondoit pas a sa passion et qu'au contraire elle le fuyoit autant que la civilite le pouvoit permettre mais il voyoit pourtant qu'elle ne le fuyoit pas avec aversion et avec mespris et que s'il n'avoit point de part a son affection il en avoit a son estime de sorte que sans se rebuter il s'opiniastra a la servir avec toute l'exactitude imaginable et il s'y opiniastra tellement qu'en fin cette personne qui l'estimoit effectivement et qui craignoit que ses parens ne la voulussent forcer a espouser un homme qu'ils estimoient fort se resolut de luy dire ce qui l'empeschoit de respondre a son affection un jour qu'il estoit donc seul aupres d'elle et qu'il voulut luy parler de son amour et la conjurer de ne la mespriser pas elle luy imposa silence et luy dit avec autant de sincerite que de bonte la veritable cause de sa froideur pour luy quoy que j'aye dessein luy dit-elle de vous donner une grande marque d'estime aujourd'huy je ne laisse pas de vous conjurer de vous preparer a m'entendre dire la chose du monde qui vous sera la plus facheuse si tout ce que vous m'avez dit est vray et si vous m'aimez autant que vous 
 voulez que je le croye mais apres tout thrasyle je serois indigne de l'honneur que vous me faites si je vous laissois engager dauantage en une affection dont vous ne pouvez jamais avoir satisfaction aucune quoy madame interrompit thrasyle je ne puis jamais esperer d'estre ny aime ny souffert non luy dit-elle vous ne le pouvez et si je puis obtenir de moy assez de force pour vous en aprendre la cause vous tomberez d'accord que sans vous faire ny outrage ny injustice je puis vous refuser mon affection car enfin thrasyle je ne puis vous donner ce qui n'est plus en ma puissance quoy madame s'ecria-t'il une seconde fois vous ne pouvez m'aimer parce que vous aimez quoy adjousta-t'il encore il y a quelqu'un au monde assez heureux pour estre aime d'atalie et quelqu'un au monde qui est si peu transporte de joye de la possession d'un si grand bonheur qu'il la peut cacher ha atalie cela n'est pas possible et s'il y avoit un homme dans la cour qui possedast cet honneur j'aurois veu dans ses yeux une partie de la joye de son ame en effet s'il y avoit de la verite en vos paroles je l'aurois veu aupres de vous et si je l'y avois veu j'aurois assurement connu son bonheur et sa passion vous pouvez pourtant aisement juger luy dit-elle que ce que je vous dis n'est pas une chose a inventer mais encore luy dit-il madame qui est ce bien-heureux qui m'empesche de l'estre et qui a la gloire d'estre aime de vous je ne vous ay 
 pas dit reprit atalie que j'aimois mais j'ay voulu vous faire entendre qu'il y avoit quelqu'un dont je souffrois d'estre aimee si la chose n'en est encore que la reprit thrasyle ce n'est pas assez pour m'empescher de vous aimer car enfin madame souffrez que je vous aime aussi bien que mon rival quel qu'il puisse estre et s'il arrive que vous l'aimiez a mon prejudice alors il pourra estre que le respect que j'auray pour vous m'empeschera d'esclater et me fera souffrir mon malheur en patience atalie se trouva alors bien embarrassee voyant qu'elle en avoit trop ou trop peu dit pour son repos de sorte qu'ayant resolu de tascher de s'y mettre tout a fait elle advoua a thrasyle qu'elle aimoit quoy qu'elle ne l'eust jamais absolument advoue a celuy pour qui elle avoit de l'inclination mais encore madame luy dit-il quel est ce rival invisible dont le bruit des soupirs n'est point venu jusques a moy quoy que je sois presques tousjours aupres de vous et qu'a-t'il fait qui puisse avoir gagne vostre coeur a mon prejudice il m'a aimee dit-elle devant que vous m'aimassiez et durant que vous en aimiez une autre et il m'aime avec une fidellite si grande et une obeissance si aveugle qu'il ne vous a jamais revele le secret qui est entre nous quoy madame reprit thrasyle fort estonne j'ay un rival que vous aimez et qui est mon amy ha madame cela n'est pas possible car enfin je n'ay qu'un veritable amy qui est 
 egesipe et je scay bien qu'egesipe me dit tout ce qu'il a dans l'ame et que s'il y a un de nous deux criminel c'est moy qui le suis de ne luy avoir jamais advoue que je vous aimois joint aussi qu'il y a trois mois qu'egesipe est absent il est vray dit-elle en rougissant qu'il y a trois mois qu'il est hors de cumes mais il est vray aussi qu'il y a plus d'un an qu'il est dans mon coeur c'est pourquoy thrasyle ne voulant pas vous exposer a perdre un amy inutilement je vous descouvre ce qu'il ne scait pas encore en vous aprenant que je n'aimeray jamais qu'egesipe qui scait seulement que je ne le hais pas mais qui ne scait point du tout que mon coeur soit aussi engage qu'il est ha madame s'ecria t'il je pense que j'aimerois mieux qu'il le sceust et que je ne le sceusse point mais helas adjousta-t'il sans attendre qu'atalie luy respondist peut il estre vray qu'egesipe soit mon rival sans que j'aye sujet de le hair n'en doutez pas dit atalie car enfin il ne scait non plus que vous estes le sien que vous scaviez il n'y a qu'un quart d'heure qu'il estoit le vostre cependant thrasyle poursuivit-elle en prenant un visage fort serieux j'ay a vous dire que si vous ne me gardez fidellite et si vous n'usez bien du secret que je vous ay confie je vous hairay horriblement mais encore madame reprit-il en soupirant que faut-il faire pour en bien user il faut dit-elle ne le dire jamais non pas mesme a egesipe et il faut ne cesser pas d'estre 
 son amy et cesser d'estre mon amant ha madame repliqua thrasyle que ce que vous voulez est difficile et qu'il est mal-aise d'aimer son riual et de cesser d'aimer sa maistresse quand on ne peut hair le premier sans injustice repliqua-t'elle ny continuer d'aimer l'autre avec esperance il faut pourtant se resoudre de prendre le party le plus raisonnable le plus genereux et le plus commode et ne s'opiniastrer pas inutilement a un dessein qui ne peut jamais reussir atalie eut pourtant beau parler elle ne persuada pas thrasyle ce jour la et il continua de l'aimer comme auparavant il pensa mesme se brouiller avec egesipe lors qu'il revint a cumes mais apres tout il connut si parfaitement que l'affection d'egesipe et d'atalie estoit indissoluble et qu'il s'obstineroit inutilement et injustement a vouloir detruire son amy dans le coeur de cette belle personne qu'en fin cessant de vouloir vaincre la rigueur qu'elle avoit pour luy il commenca genereusement de se combatre luy mesme il s'esloigna de cumes pour quelque temps et ne vit plus du tout atalie chez elle quand il y revint de sorte que l'absence il raison la generosite et l'amitie qu'il avoit pour egesipe ayant surmonte sa passion il cessa enfin d'aimer atalie dont il voyoit qu'il ne pouvoit jamais estre aime ainsi je pense pouvoir dire que quoy qu'il y eust une notable difference d'elle a la premiere personne qu'il avoit aimee il ne laissa pas de la pouvoir quitter sans 
 inconstance aussi bien que l'autre et que par consequent c'est avec beaucoup d'injustice que la complaisance qu'atalie a pour ses amies luy fait apeller thrasyle inconstant
 
 
 
 
cependant comme en changeant de sentimens pour elle il n'avoit pas change de temperamment et que cette inclination amoureuse qui est dans son ame ne pouvoit long temps demeurer oisive insensiblement il redevint amoureux de cleocrite qui en effet est bien capable de donner d'abord beaucoup d'amour mais qui est absolument incapable de faire un heureux amant tant il y a de choses dans son humeur et dans son esprit qui sont opposees a toute sorte d'attachement de quelque nature qu'il puisse estre comme l'amour que thrasyde a eue pour cette belle personne a este une de ses plus violentes passions je m'arresteray un peu plus a vous dire ce qui c'est passe entre eux que je n'ay fait aux deux premieres mais comme il importe extremement a thrasyle que vous connoissiez parfaitement cleocrite afin de ne l'accuser pas de l'avoir quittee il faut que je vous la despeigne telle qu'elle est pour sa personne je n'ay que faire de vous la representer puis que vous la connoissez mais je puis pourtant vous assurer que comme elle a este un peu malade ces jours passez vous ne la voyez pas en sa plus grande beaute estant certain que lors qu'elle est en sante parfaite elle est encore plus belle qu'elle ne l'est aujourd'huy quoy qu'elle soit beaucoup 
 car enfin madame cleocrite a un si grand esclat dans le taint et dans les yeux lors qu'elle est en un de ses jours de conqueste qu'elle attire sans doute l'admiration de ceux qui la voyent de plus cleocrite a beaucoup d'esprit et de l'esprit galant et mesme de l'esprit fort esclaire en effet elle parle agreablement et de bonne grace et anime fort la conversation ayant un enjouement plein de douceur qui plaist sans doute beaucoup et qui luy fait dire mille agreables choses d'une agreable maniere mais malgre tous les charmes de sa beaute et de son esprit et malgre toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'elle a cleocrite en a une qui fait desesperer non seulement tous ses amans mais tous ses amis et toutes ses amies et qui fait qu'il n'est presques pas possible de l'aimer longtemps ardamment on l'estime sans doute tousjours beaucoup et on l'aime mesme souvent malgre soy mais on l'aime en murmurant contre elle et en advouant qu'on a tort de l'aimer car enfin cleocrite a une indifference si universelle et si grande qu'elle fait desesperer ceux qui la connoissent et qui d'ailleurs l'estiment infiniment ne pensez pourtant pas madame que lors que je parle de son indifference je la borne a dire qu'elle n'est point capable de violente passion ny de violente amitie car j'entens qu'elle est incapable de nul attachement quel qu'il puisse estre et si elle aime quelque chose fortement c'est le plaisir en general n'y en ayant 
 pas mesme de particulier ou elle s'attache plus qu'a un autre en effet elle change de lieux sans peine les nouvelles connoissances ne l'importunent point elle se console aisement de l'absence de ses plus anciennes amies quoy qu'elle soit pourtant fort aise de les voir et l'on peur dire sans mensonge qu'elle s'accoustume a tout et desacoustume de tout comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit et qu'elle discerne fort bien les honnestes gens d'avec ceux qui ne le sont pas et les divers degrez de merite elle est sans doute plus satisfaite de voir sa chambre pleine de gens d'esprit que de stupides mais quand le hazard sait qu'il n'y a point des premiers pourveu qu'il se trouve quelque nombre de gens mediocres qui parlent et qui remplissent les sieges elle ne s'en trouve pas importunee comme une autre se la trouveroit je croy mesme que cleocrite toute spirituelle qu'elle est aime tant la multitude qu'elle aimeroit mieux la conversation de cinq ou six personnes d'un mediocre esprit que celle du plus honneste homme de la terre s'il estoit longtemps seul avec elle enfin madame on peut assurer que cleocrite pour estre contente ne demande autre chose que de voir beaucoup de monde ou chez elle ou ailleurs et que de passer continuellement de plaisir en plaisir et de feste en feste car pour la solitude elle luy est insuportable et elle ne la peut endurer il faut pourtant dire a la gloire de cleocrite 
 qu'elle sert ses amies de bonne grace quand il s'en presente occasion et qu'elle les recoit bien souvent comme si elle les aimoit tendrement mais a vous dire la verite c'est parce qu'elle scait que la bien-seance le veut ainsi et que lors qu'elle les voit elles la divertissent et de cette sorte aimant le plaisir comme je l'ay desja dit elle aime ce qui luy en donne autant que ce plaisir la dure cleocrite est mesme si indifferente que quoy qu'elle soit bien aise qu'on l'aime elle ne se soucie pourtant pas qu'on l'aime si tendrement ny si fortement et pourveu qu'on l'estime fort et qu'on l'aime assez pour la voir souvent pour beaucoup de complaisance pour elle et pour luy donner quelque divertissement elle n'en veut pas davantage cependant cette prodigieuse indifference qui donne de si mauvaises heures a ses amans et de si sensibles despits a ses amies n'empesche pas que cleocrite ne soit admirable et ne soit une des plus accomplies personne du monde estant donc telle que je viens de vous la representer thrasyle l'aima et il l'aima avec d'autant plus d'esperance qu'il creut du moins qu'il ne seroit pas expose au malheur qu'il avoit eu en aimant une personne qui en aimoit cent ny a celuy qu'il avoit esprouve en aimant atalie estant bien assure qu'elle ne luy aprendroit pas qu'elle avoit une affection particuliere qui l'empeschoit de recevoir la sienne puis qu'elle estoit accusee de ne rien 
 aimer il espera mesme que cette indifference luy pourroit estre avantageuse un jour s'il pouvoit la faire cesser pour ce qui le regardoit et qu'il seroit plus heureux d'aimer une personne qui n'avoit pas le coeur si sensible pourveu qu'elle l'eust pour luy enfin madame il aima cleocrite et il ne desespera pas mesme d'abord d'en pouvoir estre aime car comme elle a l'esprit naturellement assez ouvert et que quand elle recoit quelqu'un qui la divertit elle le recoit admirablement bien thrasyle s'y laissa abuser au commencement et il creut qu'elle faisoit pour l'amour de luy ce qu'elle ne faisoit que pour l'amour d'elle mesme si bien que s'engageant de plus en plus il vint a l'aimer plus qu'il n'avoit aime jusques alors comme thrasyle a l'inclination liberale il fit cent choses qui furent fort agreables a cleocrite car tantost il donnoit le bal une autre fois il la surprenoit par une musique si elle s'alloit promener et qu'il y fust il faisoit qu'elle trouvoit une colation magnifique et durant un este tout entier il n'est point de sorte de divertissement que thrasyle ne luy donnast vous pouvez juger madame que cleocrite n'ayant l'ame fortement sensible qu'a ce qui la divertit traitoit fort civilement un homme qui luy donnoit mille plaisirs un homme encore aussi accomply que thrasyle cependant quelque bien qu'il fust avec elle il n'avoit jamais pu luy parler de sa passion car comme 
 l'indifferente de cleocrite fait qu'encore qu'elle ait un discernement fort delicat et fort juste elle ne se resoud pourtant point a choisir ses connoissances et ne rebute jamais personne il y avoit tousjours tant de gens chez elle et bien souvent tant de gens incommodes qu'il ne luy avoit pas este possible de l'entretenir un moment en particulier mais a la fin il fit h bien un jour qu'il estoit dans un jardin avec elle et avec quatre ou cinq personnes peu divertissantes pour luy qu'il la separa de quelques pas de cette importune compagnie mais comme cleocrite aime naturellement mieux la conversation particuliere elle se tourna diverses fois pour regarder si ceux de sa troupe ne la suivoient pas et comme elle vit qu'ils marchoient lentement elle voulut les appeller comme si elle se fust envoyee avec thrasyle mais cet amant qui mouroit d'envie de descouvrir sa passion a celle qui la causoit l'en empescha et ne perdit pas une occasion qu'il y avoit si long temps qu'il attendoit quoy madame luy dit il ma conversation ne suffit pas a vous entretenir en un lieu ou la seule veue des arbres des fleurs et des fontaines occupe les yeux et divertit l'esprit pardonnez moy luy dit-elle obligeamment en souriant mais j'ay eu peur que la mienne ne suffist pas pour vous contenter c'est pourquoy j'avois voulu demander du secours de grace madame adjousta thrasyle ne me soubconnez pas de vouloir jamais d'autre 
 compagnie que la vostre en aucun lieu ou vous soyez et principalement aujourd'huy que j'ay une chose a vous dire qu'il y a tres long temps que je meurs d'envie que vous scachiez sans mentir thrasyle luy dit-elle avec ce peu d'aplication qu'elle a quelquefois aux choses qu'on luy dit vous avez grand tort d'avoir tant tarde a me dire ce que vous voulez que je scache thrasyle surpris du discours de cleocrite connut bien qu'elle ne songeoit pas trop a ce qu'elle disoit et en effet cleocrite sans attendre la responce de thrasyle se mit a luy demander s'il n'y auroit pas bal le lendemain chez le prince de cumes je ne scay madame dit-il s'il y aura bal demain mais je scay bien qu'il y aura aujourd'huy un grand chagrin dans mon coeur si vous n'escoutez ce que je vous veux dire et si vous ne l'escoutez favorablement car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que je suis au desespoir d'avoir descouvert dans mon ame un sentiment tout a fait oppose a celuy qu'on vous reproche dans la crainte que j'ay que vous ne m'en haissiez non non luy dit cleocrite je ne suis pas si injuste que vous pensez c'est pourquoy quand vous ne serez pas de mon opinion en quelque chose je ne vous en hairay point car la mesme indifference qu'on me reproche fait qu'il ne m'importe pas de quels sentimens sont les autres pourveu que je demeure dans les miens et que je face tousjours ma volonte ha madame s'escria t'il que vous 
 me donnez de joye et que j'aimeray pour aujourd'huy seulement cette humeur indifferente dont on vous fait tant la guerre si elle peut vous obliger a aprendre sans colere que je meurs d'amour pour vous cleocrite lut il surprise du discours de thrasyle que croyant que c'estoit peut-estre une simple galanterie qu'il luy disoit elle se mit a luy respondre en riant quand il seroit vray luy dit-elle quevous m'aimeriez et que je le pourrois aprendre sans colere je pense que vous n'en seriez guere plus heureux car je n'ay pas ouy dire que l'indifference fust une grande faneur il est vray reprit thrasyle que ce n'en est pas une mais je ne laisseray pas de me louer de ma bonne fortune si vous pouvez sans me hair aprendre que je vous aime il est vray encore adjousta-t'il que de la nature dont est ma passion vous seriez fort injuste de vous en offencer car enfin je ne veux que vous adorer et vous voir et s'il est possible vous parler quelquesfois avec moins de presse et plus de silence quoy thrasyle luy dit-elle vous estes assez hardy pour parler d'amour a une personne qui passe pour l'indifference mesme et vous croiriez qu'estant accusee de n'aimer pas tout ce que je dois aimer je commencerois d'avoir une affection galante et criminelle non non poursuivit-elle en riant et voulant esviter de se facher ce procede n'est pas judicieux et quand il seroit vray que vous m'aimeriez et que vous pretenderiez que je 
 vous aimasse il faudroit attendre pour m'y vouloir engager que vous vissiez que je fusse devenue ce qu'on dit que je ne suis point je veux dire sensible a l'amitie c'est pourquoy thrasyle je vous conseille comme vostre amie que je suis de continuer de vivre aveque moy comme vous y avez vescu jusques a ce que vous voyez que mon coeur soit attendry pour tout ce que je connois de gens car de penser me faire passer d'une extremite a l'autre en un moment en me faisant aller de l'indifference a l'amour c'est ce qui n'est pas possible je scay bien madame luy dit-il qu'il n'est pas aise de vous engager a aimer quelqu'un mais pour vous monstrer que je ne veux de vous que des choses possibles je ne demande pas aujourd'huy que vous m'aimiez je demande seulement que vous enduriez que je vous aime je suis si accoustumee reprit-elle a ne me soucier pas trop des sentimens qu'on a pour moy qu'il ne me semble pas que ce que vous me demandez soit fort difficile a obtenir cependant il est vray que comme vostre conversation me plaist infiniment je souhaite de tout mon coeur que vous ne me mettiez pas dans la necessite de m'en priver comme il faudrait que je fisse si vous m'alliez persecuter par une de ces opiniastres affections qui font desesperer et ceux qui les ont et celles pour qui on les a car enfin thrasyle pourquoy pensez vous que je fais tout ce que je puis pour conserver cette indifference dont on parle 
 tant c'est que je voy tous les gens qui ne l'ont pas estre malheureux en effet cette belle tendresse qu'on loue avec tant d'exces fait que ceux qui en sont capables sentent tous les malheurs de ceux qu'ils connoissent comme les leurs du moins le disent-ils ainsi de sorte que connoissant autant de monde que j'en connois si j'estois de cette humeur je serois toute ma vie en affliction en effet il n'y a point de jour en l'annee ou il n'y ait quelqu'une de mes amies ou absente ou malade ou affligee je vous laisse donc a penser si je ne passerois pas bien mon temps et si je ne suis pas plus raisonnable de ne m'affliger avec exces que de ce qui me touche directement ainsi madame reprit trasyle vous estes la plus heureuse personne du monde point du tout dit-elle et je ne laisse pas d'avoir des chagrins comme les autres car par exemple adjousta-t'elle quand j'ay fait dessein de me promener s'il arrive qu'il pleuve et que le tourne soit pas beau j'en ay un despit estrange si au contraire il fait trop sec et trop chaud et que la poudre rompe une partie de plaisir j'en ay un desespoir que je ne puis dire si quelque avare ne veut pas donner le bal j'en murmure et j'en gronde comme s'il m'avoit fait un grand outrage si je me trouve mal en un jour de divirtissement j'en suis aussi affligee que si j'estois malade a mourir ainsi quoy que je n'aye que mes propres douleurs poursuivit-elle en riant j'en ay encore autant qu'il m'en faut pour occuper 
 toute ma patience c'est pourquoy thrasyle ne me venez point accabler par la chose du monde qui m'embarresseroit le plus car si vous vous obstiniez a me parler comme vous venez de faire vous esprouveriez qu'encore que le ne sois pas capable d'amitie tendre je suis pourtant capable de colere toute indifferente que je suis thrasyle ne creut pourtant pas le conseil de cleocrite au contraire il se mit a luy protester tres serieusement et tres fortement qu'il avoit une passion demesuree pour elle et qu'il estoit resolu de surmonter son indifference par mille soins par mille soumissions et par mille services de sorte que cleocrite prevoyant qu'il faudroit qu'elle se privast de thrasyle qui luy donnoit cent plaisirs qu'elle ne souffiroit plus si souvent qu'auparavant qu'il fist des festes pour l'amour d'elle apres luy avoir descouvert sa passion et considerant encore qu'il seroit ce qu'il pourroit pour luy parler souvent seul et que cela l'empescheroit de parler a d autres elle en eut tant de chagrin que la colere s'emparant de son esprit elle luy dit beaucoup de choses facheuses qu'elle ne put retenir thrasyle ne put mesme pas y respondre pour tascher de l'apaiser car les amies de cleocrite l'ayant jointe il ne put plus luy parler de tout le jour comme la colere de cette belle personne est fore vive et qu'il ne l'avoit jamais esprouvee il creut qu'elle dureroit long temps ainsi n'osant presques la revoir il fut trois jours dans une solitude extreme 
 n'osant aller chez cleocrite et ne voulant pas aller ailleurs puis qu'il ne la voyoit pas toutesfois a la fin ne pouvant plus vivre sans la voir il se resolut d'aller chez elle mais il y fut en tremblant et avec une douleur peinte sur le visage qui tesmoignoient assez qu'il avoit mal passe son temps depuis qu'il ne l'avoit veue pour cleocrite il n'en estoit pas de mesme car elle avoit este tous les jours en promenade depuis celuy que thrasyle luy avoit parle de son amour et quoy que ce n'eust pas este avec d'aussi honnestes gens que luy cleocrite n'en estoit pas plus melancolique et n'avoit pas laisse de se divertir et d'en estre aussi guaye que thrasyle estoit triste ce malheureux amant allant donc chez elle avec l'air du visage aussi sombre que cleocrite l'avoit enjoue entra dans sa chambre dans la croyance qu'elle le recevroit fort mal mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre fut que cleocrite qui avoit este trois jours en feste et en plaisir et a qui cent personnes differentes avoient parle et avoient passe devant les yeux depuis qu'elle n'avoit veu thrasyle avoit tellement oublie qu'il luy eust parle d'amour qu'elle avoit eu de la colere et qu'elle luy avoit respondu aigrement qu'elle le receut avec un visage ouvert comme elle avoit accoustume de faire luy demandant ou il avoit este ce qu'il avoit fait et pourquoy il n'auroit point paru aux festes ou elle s'estoit trouvee l'assurant en suitte qu'elle s'estoit fort bien divertie et qu'elle 
 et qu'elle ne croyoit pas avoir jamais passe de plus heureux jours que ceux qu'elle venoit de passer thrasyle surpris du procede de cleocrite ne scavoit s'il deuoit s'en affliger ou s'en rejouir toutesfois ne pouvant comprendre qu'il fust possible qu'elle pust avoir oublie ce qui s'estoit pane entre eux il espera qu'elle se seroit repentie de l'avoir si mal traite de sorte que voulant profiter d'un temps qu'il croyoit estre si favorable pour luy si j'eusse pense madame luy dit-il que ma veue n'eust pas trouble vostre divertissement je n'aurois pas manque de me trouver a tous les lieux ou vous avez este mais apres les cruelles paroles que vous m'aviez dites j'advoue que je n'osois vous voir si tost et que je ne suis venu icy qu'avec une crainte qui vous seroit bien connoistre quelle est la passion que j'ay pour vous si vous pouviez scavoir quelle elle a este cleocrite entendant parler thrasyle de cette sorte se ressouvint tout d'un coup de ce qu'elle avoit oublie d'abord elle en rougit de confusion puis un moment apres elle se mit a rire d'elle mesme avec tant de force qu'elle n'en pouvoit parler thrasyle estant alors aussi surplis du grand enjouement de cleocrite qu'il l'avoit este de sa civilite demeura assez interdit mais a la fin cleocrite prenant la parole je vous demande pardon luy dit elle thrasyle de l'outrage que je vous ay fait d'avoir absolument oublie tout ce que vous me distes l'autre jour aussi bien que tout ce que je vous respondis et de ne 
 m'estre point souvenue que l'estois fort en colere contre vous car je connois enfin que la civilite que j'ay eue presentement est la plus injurieuse du monde mais je proteste adjousta-t'elle qu'il ne m'en souvenoit point du tout cependant pour reparer cette faute et pour vous tesmoigner que vous ne m'estes pas aussi indifferent que vous pensez je m'en vay rappeller toute ma colere et bannir toute ma civilite pendant que cleocrite parloit ainsi thrasyle estoit si surpris et si estonne qu'il ne scavoit ny que penser ny que dire mais a la fin ne pouvant plus se taire quoy madame luy dit-il vous pourriez avoir oublie que je vous dis que je vous aimois ouy dit-elle et de telle sorte que vous avez le plus grand tort du monde de m'en avoit fait souvenir car enfin j'aurois vescu aveque vous comme auparavant mais madame reprit-il est-il bien vray que cela soit pour vous en assurer dit-elle soyez seulement cinq ou six jours sans me voir et quand vous me reverrez ne me dites lien qui me puisse remettre vostre crime et ma colere en la memoire pour voir s'il m'en souviendra car si je ne me trompe il ne m'en souviendra point et il ne tiendra qu'a vous que nous ne soyons bien ensemble comme auparavant non non madame reprit thrasyle fort irrite je n'en useray pas ainsi car puis qu'il ne vous souvient point d'une chose qu'on a este trois jours sans vous dire je veux vous dire tous les jours que je vous aime et que 
 je vous aimeray malgre vous et malgre toute cette indifference dont vous faites gloire quoy que ce soit le seul deffaut que vous ayez comme thrasyle prononcoit ces dernieres paroles que l'entendis fort distinctement j'entray dans la chambre de cleocrite de sorte que les reprenant pour commencer la conversation je ne demande pas dis-je a cette belle personne quel est ce deffaut que thrasyle vous reproche car puis que vous n'en avez qu'un il est aise de le deviner principalement estant aussi grand qu'il est et aussi generalement connu de tout le monde sans mentir lyriane me dit elle en riant vous avez une sincerite excessive et je ne pense qu'il y ait personne en toute la terre a qui on reproche tes deffauts si franchement qu'a moy comme vous faites vanite du seul que vous avez repris-je on vous en parle sans craindre de vous facher mais aussi sans esperance de vous en corriger il faudroit donc ne m'en parler point repliqua t'elle vous prenez tant de plaisir qu'on vous en parle reprit thrasyle que c'est la moindre complaisance qu'on puisse avoir pour vous que de vous en parler ce qui fait que je ne m'en fasche point dit cleocrite c'est par la mesme raison que les tres belles personnes ne se mettent pas en colere lors qu'on les nomme laides car enfin a parler avec la mesme sincerite de lyriane si je n'ay que le deffaut qu'on me reproche je suis la plus accomplie personne du monde en verite luy 
 dis-je alors vous portez la hardiesse trop loin de vouloir nous persuader que c'est une bonne qualite que l'indifference peut-estre reprit cleocrite appellez vous indifference quelque chose que je ne connois point et qui n'est pas dans mon coeur mais je soutiens que tous mes sentimens sont justes et que la sorte d'amitie dont je suis capable est la plus commode et la plus raisonnable de toutes pour la plus commode pour vous reprit thrasyle l'en tombe d'accord mais pour la plus raisonnable je pense qu'on pourroit vous le disputer l'amitie la plus tendre repliqua-t'elle ne produit pointant rien de bon qu'on ne puisse attendre de la mienne car enfin y a t'il quelqu'un qui aime plus a servir ses amies ny qui soit plus aise de les voir que moy vous deviez adjouster repris je ny qui se console plus aisement de ne les voir point il est vray dit-elle que je m'en desespere pas et qu'en les perdant de veue je ne perds pas la raison mais de grace poursuivit-elle quel grand plaisir auroient mes amies quand j'aurois la plus grande douleur du monde de leur absence l'en suis sans doute faschee mais c'est sans me desesperer et sans ennuyer les amies qui me restent par un chagrin insuportable qui ne serviroit de rien a celles que je ne voy point qui incommoderoit celles que je voy et qui m'accableroit moy mesme sans en avoir autre advantage que d'avoir la reputation d'avoir le coeur tendre mais selon moy ce seroit avoir 
 l'ame foible veritablement si je n'estimois pas mes amies autant qu'elles meritent de l'estre que je ne les servisse pas quand elles ont besoin de mon assistance et que je leur fisse mauvais visage quand elles me viennent voir je souffrirois qu'on me condamnast comme on fait mais que parce que je ne donne pas mon coeur tout entier que je ne l'ay pas sensible de la derniere sensibilite et que je ne mesle pas dans tous mes discours les mots de tendresse d'ardente amitie et autres semblables je passe pour indifferente quoy qu'a parler veritablement je ne sois que comme il faut estre pour estre raisonnable c'est ce que je ne puis endurer en effet poursuivit-elle en riant n'est il pas vray que ces sages dont on parle tant par le monde sont consister la prudence en un detachement de toutes choses et que selon leurs preceptes je suis par temperamment ce qu'ils veulent qu'on devienne par leurs enseignemens ceux que vous dites repliqua thrasyle n ont jamais condamne l'amitie je ne la condamne pas aussi reprit-elle mais je la regle et luy donne des bonnes car de penser que l'amitie doive destruire et accabler ceux qui en ont c'est une chose trop injuste et j'aimerois mieux avoir de l'ambition de la haine et de la colere que d'avoir de l'amitie comme certaines personnes en ont estant assure que je croy que je souffrirois moins d'avoir ces trois violentes passions que si j'avois de cette espece d'amitie que 
 je pense qu'on apelle amitie tendre ou amitie heroique vous deviez encore souhaiter d'avoir de la jalousie reprit thrasyle pour porter l'exageration plus loin si on pouvoit avoir de la jalousie sans avoir de l'amour repliqua t'elle je l'aurois mise avec les autres mais si vous voulez j'y joindray l'envie qui ne tourmente guere moins que la jalousie afin de vous faire comprendre combien je croy que cette amitie tendre est incommode il est vray adjousta-t'elle que je suis persuadee qu'il y en a beaucoup moins qu'on ne pense et que si on voyoit le coeur de tous les gens qui en font profession comme je monstre le mien on ne le trouveroit guere plus tendre ny plus sensible et toute la difference qu'il y a de moy aux autres c'est que je ne dis que ce que je pense et que je ne veux pas passer pour ce que je ne suis point et pour ce que je ne veux pas estre eh de grace m'escriay-je contentez vous d'excuser vostre indifference et et n'entreprenez pas de condamner l'amitie qui est la chose du monde la plus innocente la plus juste la plus douce et comme vous l'avez dit la plus heroique car enfin cette amitie que vous mesprisez tant est de telle nature que sans elle il n'y a point de veritable satisfaction au monde tous les autres plaisirs sont des plaisirs imparfaits qui ne touchent tout au plus que les sens et l'esprit mais celuy d'aimer et d'estre aimee remplit et charme le coeur d'une douceur infinie c'est sans doute l'amitie qui adoucit 
 toutes les douleurs qui redouble tous les plaisirs qui fait que dans les plus grandes infortunes on trouve de la consolation et du secours et c'est elle enfin qui a fait faire mille actions heroiques par toute la terre en effet poursuivit thrasyle elle est en veneration parmy toutes les nations et excepte cleocrite il n'y a personne au monde qui ne s'offencast si on l'accusoit de n'avoir point d'amitie ne faites pas cette exception la pour moy repliqua-t'elle car je ne trouve pas bon qu'on die que je n'aime pas mes amies mais il est vray que je ne me soucie pas trop qu'on croye que l'amitie que j'ay pour elles n'est pas de celle a qui vous donnez tant d'eloges si vous scaviez ce que c'est que la veritable amitie repris-je vous rougiriez de honte d'apeller d'un nom si glorieux cette espece d'affection dont vostre coeur est capable quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle je m'en trouve bien et je ne voudrois pas changer de sentimens apres cela thrasyle et moy disputasmes encore longtemps inutilement contre cleocrite car nous ne pusmes ny l'obliger a se repentir ny a advouer seulement qu elle avoit tort cependant comme je n'avois nul autre dessein que de faire une visite a cleocrite quand la mienne eut elle de longueur raisonnable je sortis et laissay thrasile seul aupres d'elle qui ne pouvant se resoudre de la quitter sans luy avoir encore plus fortement dit qu'il l'aimoit qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors ne me vit pas plustost hors de la 
 chambre que reprenant la parole pour ne vous demander pas une grace madame luy dit-il qui soit opposee a vostre humeur je n'en veux point aujourd'huy d'autre de vous sinon qu'il vous soit indifferent que je vous aime et que vous ne vous en irritez pas je vous ny desja dit repliqua-t'elle tort ce que je vous pourrois dire la dessus mais pour ne vous refuser par toutes choses je vous diray pourtant encore que pourveu que vous viviez comme vous faisiez il y a huit jours que vous ne me disiez rien de cette pretendue passion que vous dites qui est dans vostre coeur et que pas une de vos actions ne m'en face rien connoistre je feray ce que je pourray pour oublier ce que vous me distes l'autre jour et ce que vous m'avez dit aujourd'huy et apres cela je vous proteste que je n'examineray jamais par quels sentimens vous me verrez et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'elle combien vostre veue m'est agreable je vous promets de n'attribuer jamais rien de ce que vous ferez pour moy a un sentiment d'amour ha madame s'escria thrasyle je ne veux point de cette derniere grace au contraire je vous conjure de croire que je ne feray ny ne diray jamais rien que ce ne soit l'amour que j'ay pour vous qui me l'inspire en effet quand vous me verrez chagrin croyez que je ne le feray que parce que je ne suis pas aime de ce que l'aime si vous me voyez de la joye ne doutez pas que ce ne soit seulement parce que je seray aupres de vous si je resue profondement imaginez vous 
 que vous seule occupez mon esprit si je vous regarde croyez que c'est avec intention d'estre regarde favorablement et si je ne vous regarde pas pensez encore que c'est parce que je crains de trouver vos yeux irritez enfin madame bien loin d'expliquer toutes mes actions comme des actions indifferentes croyez que je n'en feray aucune qu'avec un dessein forme d'estre aime de vous pour vous tesmoigner repliqua cleocrite que je suis aujourd'huy d'humeur accommodante je croiray si vous voulez ce que vous desirez que je croye quoy madame s'escria thrasyle serois-je bien assez heureux pour cela pour heureux dit-elle je ne scay pas si vous le serez et tout ce que je scay est que je vous dis encore une sois que si vous le voulez je croiray que vous m'aimez et que vous voulez estre aime de moy mais en mesme temps je vous declare que j'agiray aveque vous comme le croyant et c'est a dire que je ne vous verray plus que je vous fuiray avec tout le soin imaginable que vous serez cause que je me priveray de mille plaisirs et que par consequent je vous hairay horriblement ha madame s'escria thrasyle si vous ne pouvez faire autrement croyez donc que je ne vous aime point je le veux bien dit elle et je le feray avec un plaisir extreme mais madame reprit thrasyle pouvez vous croire ou ne croire pas ce que bon vous semble comme je croy tousjours facilement ce qui me plaist repliqua-t'elle je croiray sans 
 peine que vous n'avez point d'amour pour moy parce que je le souhaite extremement c'est pourquoy prenez vos mesures la dessus et croyez fortement que la chose du monde la plus propre a vous faire hair seroit que je me sentisse avec quelque disposition a perdre quelque chose de cette indifference qui fait tout le repos et toute la douceur de ma vie conteniez vous donc luy dit-elle de ma civilite accoustumee et n'entreprenez rien contre mon indifference que je suis resolue de deffendre opiniastrement et de ne perdre jamais thrasyle dit encore beaucoup de choses a cleocrite pour tascher de luy faire changer d'advis mais il n'y eut pas moyen et il falut qu'il luy promist de vivre avec elle comme auparavant pour obtenir la permission de la voir comme a l'ordinaire encore s'estima t'il bien heureux d'avoir pu luy faire scavoir qu'il l'aimoit sans estre banny car comme il ne pouvoit pas s'imaginer qu'elle pust croire qu'il ne l'aimoit point bien qu'il ne le luy dist plus puis qu'il le luy avoit dit il trouvoit quelque douceur a esperer qu'elle se le diroit a elle mesme quand il ne le luy diroit pas de sorte que reprenant une nouvelle esperance et une nouvelle joye il continua de rendre mille services a cleocrite et de luy donner mille plaisirs cette tranquilite ne sur pourtant pas long temps dans son coeur car plus il s'attacha a cleocrite plus il connut son indifference et il la connut d'autant mieux qu'ayant deux rivaux 
 qui n'estoient pas fort honnestes gens et qui donnoient aussi quelques divertissemens a cleocrite il remarqua qu'elle n'estoit pas plus indifferente pour eux que pour luy et que pourveu que la musique fust aussi bonne que le bal fust aussi beau et que la colation fust aussi magnifique elle ne se soucioit pas trop qui les luy donnoit et aimoit presques autant recevoir tous ces divertissemens d'un autre que de luy de sorte que cet amant souffroit tous les jours mille desplaisirs secrets de voir la maniere dont cleocrite vivoit cependant il ne pouvoit pas l'accuser d'estre coquette car enfin elle n'avoit intelligence avec personne et ne traitoit personne mieux que luy mais aussi ne le traitoit elle pas mieux qu'un autre quoy qu'elle eust mille raisons qui devoient l'obliger a faire une notable difference de thrasyle a tous ceux qui la voyoient il eut mesme le bonheur de rendre des services utiles a sa maison car comme il avoit beaucoup de credit il se presenta diverses occasions ou il signala hautement la passion qu'il avoit pour cleocrite mais quoy qu'il pust faire il ne toucha pas son coeur et il ne put jamais faire changer de sentimens a cette indifferente il l'accoustuma pourtant malgre qu'elle en eust a souffrir qu'il luy dist qu'il l'aimoit mais cela faisoit aussi peu d'effet dans son ame que s'il ne luy eust rien dit de sorte qu'il vint a estre si irrite contre l'indifference de cleocrite qu'il n'estoit pas 
 seulement desespere de ce qu'elle ne l'aimoit pas il estoit encore fache de ce qu'elle n'aimoit pas ses amis et ses amies et il m'a jure qu'il y avoit mesme des instans ou il luy sembloit qu'il eust este moins malheureux si cleocrite eust aime quelqu'un de les rivaux que de la voir aussi insensible et aussi indifferente qu'elle estoit du moins madame luy disoit-il un jour qu'il avoit eu quelque nouvelle marque de son indifference donnez moy un exemple qui me puisse persuader qu il n'est pas absolument impossible que vous aimiez quelque chose choisissez en tout l'univers qui bon vous semblera car pourveu que je sois assure que vous puissiez aimer je le seray sans doute de l'estre quelque jour n'estant pas possible qu'une personne qui auroit le coeur sensible peust connoistre ma passion sans y respondre mais de voir que rien ne vous touche que vostre ame ne s'attache a quoy que ce soit et qu'en discernant si parfaitement toutes choses vous ne choisissez pourtant rien c'est ce qui n'est pas suportable et ce que je ne puis endurer c'est pourtant repliqua-t'elle ce qu'il faut que vous enduriez car je ne me changeray pas et ne croiray pas mesme que je me doive changer et en effet cleocrite avoit raison de parler ainsi estant certain qu'elle ne changea pas et qu'elle ne changera jamais thrasyle ne laissa pourtant pas de continuer de l'aimer tout inconstant qu'on le dit estre et de s'opiniastrer 
 d'une telle sorte a la servir que pour moy je l'en pleignois et l'en blasmois tout ensemble je fus mesme obligee de redoubler ma compassion car l'indifference de cleocrite le toucha si sensiblement que le chagrin s'emparant de son esprit il en tomba malade et malade a l'extremite d'abord cleocrite qui sceut son mal et qui n'ignora pas qu'elle en estoit cause envoya scavoir de ses nouvelles et dit qu'elle en estoit bien marrie mais quoy que les medecins creussent durant quelques jours qu'il en mourroit elle ne perdit jamais un seul divertissement qui s'offrist ny n'en fut ny plus melancolique ny moins paree et certes cette nouvelle indifference pensa faire mourir thrasyle car comme il avoit sa raison toute libre et que l'ardeur de sa fievre n'avoit pas diminue celle de son amour il se faisoit informer soigneusement par un de ses gens de ce que faisoit cleocrite de sorte que tantost il aprenoit qu'elle estoit en promenade une autre fois qu'elle alloit a quelque festin manifique et presques toujours qu'elle estoit en joye et en divertissement mais un jour entre les autres qu'il estoit fort mal cleocrite ayant envoye scavoir de ses nouvelles il luy manda comme il le croyoit qu'elle alloit perdre le plus fidelle de ses serviteurs et qu'il ne croyoit pas avoir jamais l'honneur de la revoir cependant il sceut qu'un message si touchant ne l'avoit pas empeschee de faire des visites tout le jour et de ces visites encore qui ne sont que de plaisir et 
 de nulle necessite je vous laisse a penser madame combien cela toucha thrasyle cependant il guerit enfin malgre ses chagrins mais il ne guerit pas des maux de l'ame comme de ceux du corps et il se retrouva aussi amoureux de cleocrite qu'il l'avoit jamais este quoy qu'il eust l'esprit fort irrite du peu de sentiment qu'elle avoit eu de sa maladie elle l'apaisa pourtant facilement car comme elle revoyoit thrasyle en pouvoir de luy donner de nouveaux divertissemens elle le receut avec une joye sur le visage qui eust pu faire croire a quiconque ne l'auroit pas connue qu'elle avoit eu une douleur estrange de son mal aussi thrasyle s'y laissa t'il en quelque facon tromper de sorte qu'augmentant encore ses soins il fit des choses pour cleocrite capables de toucher la cruaute mesme cependant thrasyle ayant elle oblige d'aller a la guerre et le jour de son despart estant terme il luy demanda pour grace qu'il pust prendre conge d'elle mais parce qu'elle s'estoit engagee avec lysidice d'aller en je ne scay quel lieu pour quelque chose qu'il y avoit a voir qui ne valoit pas la peine de le regarder et ou mesme quelques rivaux de thrasyle devoient estre elle aima mieux ne se priver pas d'un fort mediocre plaisir que de donner la satisfaction a thrasyle de luy dire adieu vous pouvez juger madame dans quels sentimens il partit et vous pouvez penser aussi que cleocrite ne fut pas fort melancolique de son absence elle se 
 souvint pourtant quelquesfois de luy mais ce fut seulement pour regreter les divertissemens qu'il luy auroit donnez et non pas par un sentiment tendre et obligeant en effet madame ce que je m'en vay vous dire vous le sera bien connoistre et si je ne me trompe il achevera de justifier le changement de thrasyle vous scaurez donc que vers la fin de la campagne pendant laquelle il avoit donne cent fois de ses nouvelles a cleocrite il arriva qu'estant allee un matin chez elle pour luy demander si elle vouloit que nous fissions des visites ensemble ce jour la je la trouvay qui s'habilloit d'abord elle me dit qu'elle estoit engagee d'aller avec philoxene en un lieu ou il faloit de necessite estre paree mais apres se mettant a examiner si elle auroit plus de plaisir ou avec philoxene ou aveque moy elle pensa s'envoyer excuser pour venir ou je la voulois mener mais a la fin luy ayant dit que je ne voulois pas qu'elle rompist pour l'amour de moy une partie qu'elle avoit faite et que pour accommoder la chose et luy faire rien perdre nous heuerions la nostre le lendemain elle y consentit et se mit a s'habiller et a me demander conseil sur sa parure comme nous estions donc en contestation sur ce qu'elle devoit mettre ou ne mettre pas et qu'elle estoit a moitie coiffee une de ses femmes entra dans sa chambre avec un visage si melancolique qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'elle avoit quelque chose de facheux a dire elle n'y fut 
 pas plustost que prenant la parole ha madame luy dit elle vous allez estre bien surprise et bien fachee de ce que j'ay a vous aprendre cleocrite qui n'avoit alors dans l'esprit que le soin de se parer et qui ne songeoit guere a thrasyle creut qu'un habillement qu'on luy devoit aporter ce matin la n'estoit point fait ou qu'une guirlande de diamans qu'elle avoit pressee a une de ses amies et qu'elle avoit envoye luy redemander pour la mettre ce jour la estoit rompue de sorte que l'interrompant avec precipitation elle luy demanda si c'estoit l'une ou l'autre de ces choses qu'elle avoit a luy dire non madame repliqua cette fille mais c'est que thrasyle a este rue et que la nouvelle en vient d'arriver chez nyside thrasyle m'escriay-je avec une douleur extreme a este tue ouy me dit cette fille et je viens d'aprendre que tout le monde le pleine et je regrette infiniment de vous dire madame que cleocrite eust eu plus de douleur de scavoir que ce que cette fille avoit a luy dire estoit que sa guirlande de diamans estoit rompue que d'aprendre la mort de thrasyle je dirois peut-estre un mensonge mais peut-estre aussi une verite car enfin madame tout ce que fit cleocrite en cette rencontre fut d'envoyer chez nyside pour scavoir s'il estoit vray que cette funeste nouvelle fust arrivee pendant quoy elle se mit veritablement a regreter thrasyle mais ce fut a cause des divertissemens qu'il luy auroit donnez 
 s'il eust vescu et ce fut d'un esprit tranquile et sans en jetter seulement une larme ny un soupir helas me dit elle j'avois tant espere que le pauvre thrasyle nous donneroit mille plaisirs cet hiver que j'estois persuadee n'en avoir jamais passe de plus agreable que celuy que j'esperois passer pour moy luy dis je je regrete thrasyle pour l'amour de luy mesme et quand il n'auroit jamais deu me donner nul divertissement je le pleindrois autant que je le pleins pendant que nous parlions ainsi on vint nous confirmer la nouvelle de la mort de thrasyle en suitte dequoy je vy qu'un moment apres cleocrite jetta les yeux sur son miroir si bien que voyant qu'elle n'estoit qu'a moitie coiffee elle commanda a ses femmes d'achever de la coiffer et de l'habiller comme elle avoit eu dessein de l'estre devant que d'avoir receu cette funeste nouvelle pour moy j'advoue que je fus si surprise de l'indifference de cleocrite que j'en perdis la parole de sorte que la regardant faire avec autant d'estonnement que de douleur et autant de colere que d'estonnement je vy que de temps en temps elle rangeoit ses cheveux quand celle qui la coiffoit ne le faisoit pas a son gre qu'elle mit l'habillement neuf qu'on luy aporta aussi bien que la guirlande de diamans qu'on luy rendit et qu'elle se para enfin comme si elle eust voulu conquester ce jour la un autre amant a la place de celuy qu'elle avoit perdu apres avoir donc eu la patience de 
 la voir habiller sans luy rien dire comme ses femmes s'en furent allees la colere me faisant rompre le silence que j'avois garde quoy cleocrite luy dis-je mille plaisirs que thrasyle vous a donnez ne meritent pas que vous vous priviez d'un mediocre divertissement le jour que vous aprenez sa mort si cela le pouvoit ressusciter repliqua t'elle je le ferois aveque joye mais comme je me suis engagee a philoxene je ne veux pas luy manquer de parole vous avez bien pense luy en manquer luy dis je pour faire des visites aveque moy que ne luy en manquez vous donc pour pleindre seulement un jour le pauvre thrasyle je le pleindray bien mieux en compagnie qu'en solitude repliqua cette indifferente personne car j'en parleray a plus de gens joint adjousta t'elle pour m'apaiser qu'on pourroit peutestre m'accuser de regreter trop thrasyle si je me cachots aujourd'huy ha cleocrite luy repliquay-je vous n'estes pas en reputation d'estre n sensible pour craindre une semblable chose et certes on auroit grand tort de vous en croire capable quoy dit-elle vous croyez que je ne regrete point thrasyle je vous proteste en effet luy dis-je que vous ne le regretez guere et je vous proteste repliqua t'elle que je le regrete autant que je le puis et que je n'ay jamais tant regrete personne je le croy luy dis je en me levant mais c'est que vous n'aimez rien au monde que vous et que tant que vous 
 vous verrez dans vostre miroir aussi belle que vous estes vous n'aimerez jamais autre chose encore voudrois-je bien scavoir si vous sentiriez la perte de vostre propre beaute cleocrite voulut me dire alors quelques mauvaises raisons mais je la quittay ne pouvant plus souffrir une si effroyable indifference cependant elle fut avec philoxene au lieu ou elles devoient aller ensemble et ou elle trouva plus de divertissement qu'elle n'avoit creu car on y danca jusqu'a my-nuit mais madame ce fut heureusement pour thrasyle car il faut que vous scachiez que ce qui avoit cause la nouvelle de sa mort estoit qu'on s'estoit abuse au nom estant certain qu'il y avoit eu un thrasyle tue mais c'estoit un thrasyle qui estoit de xanthe et non pas de cumes car pour celuy qui aimoit cleocrite et que je regretois comme mort ayant este choisi parle prince de cumes pour aporter la nouvelle de la victoire qu'il avoit remportee il arriva a nostre ville le soir dont la pretendue nouvelle de sa mort y estoit arrivee le matin si bien que son premier soin ayant este de s'informer comment se portoit cleocrite il sceut qu'elle estoit au bal mais en mesme temps il aprit qu'on l'avoit creu mort et il sceut chez sa mere que cleocrite ayant envoye demander le matin si cette nouvelle estoit vraye on la luy avoit confirmee de sorte que par la il ne pouvoit pas douter que cleocrite n'eust pour luy toute l'indifference 
 imaginable cela le surprit si fort que s'imaginant que peut estre cleocrite n'estoit-elle pas ou on luy avoit dit et que peut-estre encore avoit elle sceu par quelque autre voye que la nouvelle de sa mort n'estoit pas vraye il se resolut d'aller ou on disoit qu'elle estoit de sorte que changeant d'habillement en diligence il se mit en estat de paroistre au bal mais en y allant par bonheur pour luy il luy prit envie en passant devant ma porte d'entrer chez moy pour me demander ce que je scavois de cleocrite de sorte qu'apres luy avoir tesmoigne la joye que j'avois de le voir ressuscite voulant le guerir de la passion qu'il avoit je luy dis que cleocrite avoit une indifference indigne de son affection et je luy mis enfin l'esprit en estat de souhaiter de ne l'aimer plus en suite dequoy il fut ou elle estoit avec une inquietude estrange comme il entra dans la sale elle dancoit et dancoit si bien et si juste qu'il estoit aise de voir que son esprit estoit tout entier a ce qu'elle faisoit et que la pensee de sa mort ne l'empeschoit pas de dancer en cadance je vous laisse a penser madame combien thrasyle fut touche de connoistre a quel point il estoit indifferent a cleocrite mais il le fut encore davantage lors qu'apres qu'elle eut acheve de dancer il la vit parler a deux de ses rivaux avec autant de joye sur le visage qu'il luy en avoit veu aux jours ou elle luy avoit paru la plus guaye comme il y avoit beaucoup de presse 
 en ce lieu la thrasyle ne fut pas aperceu d'abord mais tour d'un coup le despit s'emparant de son coeur et voulant reprocher a cleocrite son effroyable insensibilite il fendit cette presse qui estoit a l'entree de la sale et fut a l'endroit ou elle estoit en conversation vous pouvez juger madame quelle fut la surprise de cleocrite de voir thrasyle aupres d'elle qu'elle ne croyoit jamais voir elle rit un grand cry comme si c'eust este une apparition de sorte que tout le monde s'assembla a l'entour de thrasyle et se rejouit de le revoir pour cleocrite elle en parut aussi aise que si elle eust este fort affligee de sa mort et durant un quart d'heure cette conversation fut si tumultueuse qu'il ne fut pas possible que thrasyle pust rien dire en particulier a cleocrite mais enfin apres que tous ceux de sa connoissance luy eurent fait un compliment il trouva lieu de luy parler je veux croire madame pour ma satisfaction luy dit-il avec une raillerie piquante que vous estes de l'opinion de certains peuples qui sont au monde qui pensent qu'il faut se rejouir et se parer aux funerailles de leurs parens et de leurs amis et qui se moquent de ceux qui les pleurent et qui en portent le deuil car si je n'estois persuade de ce que je dis j'aurois lieu de m'estimer le plus malheureux de tous les hommes de n'avoir pu en toute ma vie vous obliger a jetter seulement un soupir en recevant la nouvelle de ma mort ny vous 
 empescher de vous donner toute entiere a la joye en un jour ou vous avez creu que je n'aurois jamais celle de vous voir cleocrite entendant parler thrasyle de cette sorte rougit toute indifferente qu'elle est il est vray que ce fut plus de despit que d'une confusion obligeante et l'on peut dire que si elle eut de la honte en cette rencontre ce fut de la mauvaise en effet au lieu d'advouer sa faute de s'en repentir et de chercher du moins quelques legeres excuses a ce qu'elle avoit fait elle luy respondit aigrement si vous n'estes ressuscite luy dit elle que pour me venir faire des plaintes eternelles de ce que je ne vous ay pas pleure vous me mettez dans la necessite de m'affliger plus de vostre vie que je n'ay fait de vostre mort c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez adjousta-t'elle avec un souris un peu force contentez vous que je vous tesmoigne que je suis bien aise de vous revoir sans vous informer si j'estois bien fachee de croire que je ne vous verrois plus ha madame s'escria thrasyle vous portez l'indifference trop loin et je serois sans doute le moins genereux de tous les hommes si je pouvois souffrir un semblable traitement je scay bien madame poursuivit-il que la perte de mon affection ne vous touchera guere puis que la perte de ma vie ne vous touchoit point aussi n'est-ce pas pour me vanger de vous que je prens la resolution de vous l'oster mais seulement pour me mettre en repos car 
 de continuer d'aimer plus longtemps une personne aussi indifference et aussi insensible que vous c'est ce qui n'est pas possible comme thrasyle s'estoit teu pour escouter ce que cleocrite alloit luy respondre on la vint prendre a dancer et elle y fut avec autant d'enjouement sur le visage que s'il n'eust pas este mal satis-fait d'elle n'aportant mesme aucun soin le reste du soir a luy donner occasion de luy parler et ne luy faisant enfin nulle excuse de son insensibilite je croy madame qu'apres ce que je viens de dire vous ne condamnerez pas thrasyle de ce qu'il prit la resolution de faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour n'aimer plus une personne qu'il connoissoit estre absolument incapable de rien aimer il ne luy fut pourtant pas aise d'en venir a bout et il fut encore assez longtemps a tascher par toutes les voyes imaginables de trouver quelque endroit par ou le coeur de cleocrite pust estre touche toutesfois a la fin perdant patience le depit fit en peu de tours ce que la raison n'avoit pu faire et il guerit enfin d'un mal qu'il avoit creu incurable mais ce qui le confirma dans la sante fut que cleocrite se soucia d'abord aussi peu de l'avoir perdu que si elle ne l'eust pas estime je pense pourtant que depuis cela un sentiment de gloire a fait qu'elle a este faschee que cet esclave luy toit eschape mais tousjours scay-je bien que si elle en a senty la perte ce n'a pas este par tendresse il me 
 semble madame qu'apres ce que je viens de dire thrasyle ne doit pas encore estre accuse d'inconstance puis qu'il ne paroist aucune legerete en toute sa conduite et que s'il a cesse d'aimer ce n'a este que parce qu'en effet il ne devoit plus aimer
 
 
 
 
comme l'amour de thrasyle pour cleocrite avoit fait un fort grand esclat on s'aperceut bien tost qu'ils estoient brouillez et comme il n'y avoit eu nul mistere entre eux tout le monde sceut ce qui les avoit mis mal ensemble et si je l'ose dire tout le monde en blasma cleocrite mais entre les autres lysidice ne pouvoit s'empescher de la condamner de sorte que comme il est assez naturel d'aimer a estre pleint et d'aimer ceux qui prennent nostre party thrasyle ayant sceu tout ce que disoit lysidice a son avantage et contre cleocrite me pria de le mener chez elle scachant que je la voyois souvent de sorte qu'estant bien aise de contribuer quelque chose a la consolation qu'il avoit de trouver quelqu'un qui condamnast l'indifference de cleocrite je luy recorday facilement ce qu'il souhaitoit n'ignorant pas que lysidice m'auroit de l'obligation de luy mener thrasyle qu'elle connoissoit assez pour l'estimer beaucoup quoy qu'il ne l'eust jamais veue chez elle mais comme je vous ay despeint les autres dames que thrasyle a aimees il faut que je vous represente encore celle-cy dont la personne comme vous le scavez est toute belle toute 
 aimable et toute charmante et dont l'esprit a mille beautez et mille graces admirables mais pour l'humeur c'est ce qu'on ne scauroit vous representer car enfin madame il n'en fut jamais une plus douce plus complaisante ny plus agreable en certains temps en certains jours en certaines heures et en certains momens mais il n'en fut aussi jamais une plus fiere plus imperieuse plus chagrine et plus insuportable en d'autres de sorte qu il y a une inesgalite si prodigieuse en l'humeur de lysidice qu'on peut a mon advis la comparer a un de ces premiers jours du printemps ou l'on voit le soleil dorer toute la campagne donner un nouveau verd aux prairies et aux arbres et faire esclorre mille fleurs et ou l'on voit un moment apres tomber une gresle effroyabe meslee de pluye et de neige ou le tonnerre se meslant quelques fois aussi bien que le vent fait que l'on voit presques en un seul jour toutes les beautez et toutes les rigueurs de toutes les saisons de l'annee en effet madame l'inesgalite de l'humeur de lysidice est si grande que le l'ay veue souvent fort guaye le matin fort chagrine l'apresdisnee et fort enjouee le soir sans avoir nul sujet d'estre ny plus guaye ny plus triste a un temps qu'a l'autre vous me demanderez peut-estre madame comment thrasyle put devenir amoureux d'une personne si inesgale mais j'ay a vous respondre que les bonnes heures de lysidice sont si agreables 
 et si charmantes qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si elle assujettit le coeur de thrasyle qui est si susceptible d'amour joint ainsi qu'il faut encore dire que lysidice prefere la conversation des hommes a celle des femmes et qu'elle est un peu moins inesgale pour les nouvelles connoissances qu'elle fait que pour les autres et qu'ainsi thrasyle ne la connut pas d'abord pour ce qu'elle est au contraire il ne fut jamais si satisfait de personne qu'il le fut de lysidice les premieres fois qu'il la vit car enfin elle entra dans tous ses sentimens pour ce qui regardoit cleocrite et elle blasma tellement son humeur qu'il eut lieu de croire qu'elle avoit le coeur aussi sensible que l'autre avoit l'esprit indifferent de sorte que s'accoustumant peu a peu a la voir il vint enfin a l'aimer comme il avoit desja aime trois personnes dans nostre cour il cacha quelque temps sa passion craignant qu'on ne luy fist l'injustice qu'on luy a faite depuis et qu'on ne le fist passer pour inconstant durant qu'il aimoit donc lysidice sans en rien dire il commenca de s'apercevoir de l'inesgalite de son humeur et je ne scay mesme si lors qu'il luy dit la premiere fois qu'il l'aimoit il n'eust pas desja souhaite ne l'aimer plus si la chose eust este en sa puissance toutesfois comme il croyoit qu'elle n'estoit pas insensible il contoit presques pour rien tous les autres deffauts qu'elle eust pu avoir puis qu'elle n'avoit pas celuy d'estre indifferente joint qu'a parler veritablement lysidice 
 n'a que celuy-la aussi ne fut-il pas assez puissant alors pour empescher thrasyle de s'engager a la servir mais ce qu'il y eut de particulier a la declaration d'amour qu'il luy fit fut que ce deffaut la que toutes les amies de lysidice luy reprochent continuellement aussi bien que l'indifference a cleocrite fut en partie cause qu'il luy descourit sa passion plustost qu'il n'eust fait car egesipe thrasyle et moy estans une apresdisnee chez elle il arriva que je me mis a luy faire la guerre de cette inesgalite d'humeur qui l'empeschoit d'estre sans aucun deffaut ce qui m'en donna sujet fut que lors que thrasyle et moy entrasmes dans sa chambre elle nous receut avec une gravite froide comme si elle n'eust pas este trop aise de nous voir ou qu'elle eust eu quelque chagrin cependant a un quart d'heure de la egesipe estant arrive elle passa tout d'un coup de la froideur a un procede tout contraire et elle devint carressante douce civile et enjouee cependant je scavois bien que ce n'estoit pas la veue d'egesipe qui luy avoit fait changer d'humeur n'ignorant pas qu'elle avoit plus d'amitie pour moy que pour luy et qu'elle estimoit plus thrasyle qu'egesipe de sorte que prenant le pretexte qu'elle me donnoit pour luy faire la guerre sans mentir luy dis-je lysidice je suis bien aise de n'estre pas venue vous voir seule aujourd'huy et je pense mesme adjoustay-je que thrasyle n'est pas marry que nous y soyons venus ensemble 
 car puis que vous nous deviez recevoir comme vous avez fait il nous eust este bien fascheux d'avoir a nous faire l'aplication de cette excessive froideur que nous avons veue sur vostre visage quand nous sommes arrivez principalement voyant avec quelle joye vous avez receu egesipe mais comme nous estions deux je me persuade que chacun de nous se flatte et croit que cette froideur ne le regardoit pas en mon particulier reprit thrasyle je respecte trop lysidice pour la soubconner d'avoir eu de la froideur pour vous et j'aime mieux la prendre toute pour moy quoy qu'il n'y ait personne au monde qui la souffre avec plus de douleur que je fais non non thrasyle reprit lysidice no prenez point de part a une chose ou vous n'en avez point et ne vous mettez pas mesme en peine de satisfaire lyriane car je vous assure qu'elle m'accuse sans se pleindre de moy et que c'est plus pour me corriger que pour recevoir des satisfactions qu'elle se pleine il est vray luy dis-je que je serois rouie que vous fussiez tousjours comme vous estes presentement et que vous ne fussiez jamais comme vous estiez quand thrasyle et moy sommes arrivez car enfin si vous scaviez combien vous elles plus belle et plus aimable quand vous n'avez pas vostre humeur chagrine vous la banniriez pour tousjours estant certain que je ne scache rien de si charmant que l'esgalite en mon particulier reprit lysidice se ne suis pas de vostre opinion et je suis persuadee 
 qu'il est plus agreable de trouver plusieurs personnes en une seule que de la voir tousjours dans une esgalite ennuyeuse qui ne vous montre jamais qu'une mesme chose croyez moy adjousta-t'elle en riant il est de l'humeur esgalle ou inesgalle comme des eaux en general ou celles qui sont tousjours tranquiles ne sont pas les plus divertissantes en effet je pense que personne ne me disputera que la mer avec ses tempestes et ses bourrasques ne soit pas plus agreable qu'un estang malgre sa tranquilite l'inesgalite et la fureur de la mer repliqua thrasyle sont sans doute divertissantes a voir du rivage mais elles sont bien facheuses a ceux qui y sont exposez il est vray repliquat'elle mais si la mer fait perir quelque malheureux elle en divertit cent mille qui la regardent en seurete de plus dit-elle encore cette esgalite qu'on vante tant n'est tres souvent qu'un bon effet d'une mauvaise cause car enfin si on observe bien a parler en general tous ceux qui sont dans cette grande esgalite d'humeur dont vous parlez on trouvera qu'il y a beaucoup de stupidite en quelques uns que les autres sont d'un temperamment si grave et si froid que c'est plus par paresse que par vertu qu'ils ne changent point d'humeur que quelques uns ont une gayete si esgalle et il continue qu ils en paroissent fous et que les autres encore ont une tiedeur insuportable dans l'esprit qui fait que cette belle esgalite ne sert qu'a les rendre esgallement 
 ennuyeux de plus je soustiens encore que bien souvent ces personnes si esgalles ont les sentimens de l'ame bas et rampans et qu'a parler encore en general ceux qui sont d'une humeur un peu egalle et mesme un peu capricieuse ont le coeur plus esleve et plus heroique je scay bien adjousta t'elle qu'il y a des gens qui ont toutes les vertus ensemble et en qui on trouve de l'esprit de la generosite de l'agreement et de l'esgalite mais cela est fort rare et je suis mesme persuadee que pour l'ordinaire si les gens d'un fort grand esprit ont de l'esgalite dans l'humeur elle leur vient par raison plus que par temperamment vous deffendez une mauvaise cause avec tant d'eloquence luy dis-je que si le mesme temperamment qui vous fait inesgalle est celuy qui vous la donne ce feroit grand dommage que vous fussiez d'un autre serieusement dit elle je pense ce que je dis et je ne pense pas me tromper en effet adjousta-t'elle d'ou croyez vous que vienne la bizarrerie et l'inesgalite dont on accuse ordinairement les poetes les musiciens les peintres et tous ceux qui sont profession des arts liberaux est ce a vostre advis que les regles de la poesie les instrumens de musique les couleurs et les pinceaux portent l'inesgalite avec eux nullement mais c'est que le mesme temperamment qui fait bien souvent les grands poetes les grands musiciens et les grands peintres fait aussi bien souvent les humeurs un peu 
 inesgalles et un peu bizarres au reste adjoustat'elle on s'abuse estrangement lors qu'on croit qu'on change tousjours d'humeur sans sujet et sans raison car il est tres vray que la pluspart du temps l'on en a des sujets qui ne paroissent point aux autres en effet quand on a l'imagination vive et l'esprit sensible il ne faut qu'une tres petite chose pour donner un grand chagrin en mon particulier mes propres pensees me mettent en mauvaise humeur et quand je ne suis pas satisfaite de moy je ne la suis de personne et je ne puis aussi satisfaire les autres mais luy dis-je comment est-il possible qu'ayant autant d'esprit qu'il en faut avoir pour parler comme vous faites vous ne l'employez pas a retenir ces mouvements de chagrin qui vous changent l'air du visage et qui sont quelquesfois que de la plus douceet de la plus aimable fille de la terre vous devenez la plus imperieuse et la plus chagrine c'est dit-elle que j'aime tellement la liberte que je ne puis me resoudre d'estre l'esclave de ma raison en une chose presques indifferente et qui ne m'expose point a faire un crime joint que ma raison mesme ne me dit pas que je sois obligee de changer de temperamment car comme je ne connois presques personne qui n'ait quelque chose qui seroit a desirer qu'elle n'eust point il faut que mes amis souffrent mes deffauts comme je souffre les leurs ce mot de deffaut est bien rude repliqua thrasyle pour exprimer une qualite qui se trouve 
 en lysidice si vous consultez lyriane reprit-elle je m'assure qu'elle le trouvera trop doux comme vous n'estes pas en vostre humeur chagrine luy repliquay-je et qu'on vous peut dire aujourd'huy toutes choses je vous assureray sans doute que je ne le trouve pas encore assez fort tant je trouve estrange que vous soyez capable d'une si grande inegalite vous dis-je qui voyez si clair a luger d'autruy qui choisissez si bien vos connoissances et qui avez tant de peine a souffrir ceux qui ne sont que mediocrement honnestes gens ha lyriane s'escria-t'elle que vous me voyez souvent des chagrins qui viennent de ce que je voy des gens qui ne me plaisent pas ou de ce que l'en ay veu ou de ce que je scay que j'en verray ou de ce que je crains seulement d'en voir de grace madame reprit thrasyle faites moy l'honneur de me dire laquelle de ces quatre choses causoit la froideur qui estoit sur vostre visage quand lyriane et moy tommes arrivez ha pour celle la dit elle en riant je suis contrainte d'advouer ingenument que je n'en scay point la raison apres un adveu si sincere nous continuasmes de faire la guerre a lysidice qui entendit si bien raillerie ce jour la qu'elle ne se facha point du tout un moment apres une de mes amies m'estant venu prendre chez lysidice j'y laissa y thrasyle qui y demeura seul car egesipe qui en vouloit sortir me mena au chariot qui m'attendoit j'ay scay depuis par thrasyle mesme que trouvant 
 une si favorable occasion il ne l'avoit pas voulu perdre ne scachant pas quand il pourroit trouver tout a la fois lysidice seule et lysidice en bonne humeur joint aussi que la derniere chose que je dis a cette aimable fille luy en donna encore sujet car vous scaurez qu'apres en avoir dit cent dont il ne me tournent point comme j'estois desja a la porte de la chambre de lysidice ou elle m'estoit venue conduire je me tournay vers thrasyle que je ne scavois pas qui eust de la passion pour elle de sorte que luy adressant la parole si pour vostre malheur luy dis-je en riant vous estes devenu amoureux de lysidice je vous conseillerois de le luy dire aujourd'huy car en l'humeur ou je la laisse je pense qu'on luy peut dire toutes choses sans craindre de la facher le conseil que vous me donnez repliqua thrasyle est peut estre plus dangereux a suivre que vous ne pensez point du tout repliquay-je en continuant de railler car comme lysidice se fache de tout quand elle est en chagrin je suis persuadee qu'elle ne se fache de rien quand elle n'y est pas je ne conseillerois pourtant pas a thrasyle respondit-elle de se fier a l'assurance que vous luy en donnez apres cela je sortis avec egesipe et thrasyle demeura j'ay sceu depuis par luy mesme comme je le disois il n'y a qu'un instant que des que lysidice et luy eurent repris leurs places il se resolut de se descouvrir de sorte que se servant du pretexte que je luy en avois donne 
 sans y penser quelque dangereux que soit le conseil que lyriane vient de me donner luy dit-il je pense pourtant madame que je feray bien de le suivre et'qu'apres vous avoir adoree long temps dans le silence il est juste que vous scachiez enfin quels sont les sentimens que vostre beaute m'a donnez de grace thrasyle repliqua-t'elle n'allez pas vous imaginer que les paroles de lyriane vous engagent e me dire des douceurs car je vous proteste que de l'heure que je parle elle ne scait pas ce qu'elle vous a dit ny ce que vous luy avez respondu je ne scay madame reprit-il si vous avez raison de parler de lyriane comme vous faites mais pour moy je vous proteste reprit il que je scay fort bien ce que je dis et qu'en toute ma vie je n'ay parle plus sincerement que je parle lors que je vous assure qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui ait tant de passion pour vous que j'en ay et que je n'en ay aussi jamais tant eu pour personne ha thrasyle luy dit elle vous m'en dites trop pour estre creu car je suis assuree que vous en avez aime trois plus que vous n'aimerez jamais qui que ce soit en effet poursuivit elle les premieres passions font tousjours les plus fortes et je pense qu'on peut dire que souvent plus on aime moins on scait aimer je ne scay pat madame reprit thrasyle si ce que vous dites arrive souvent mais je scay bien que cela ne m'est pas arrive car enfin j'aimay plus atalie que je n'aimois celle qui avoit cause 
 ma premiere passion j'aimay cleocrite beaucoup plus qu'atalie et j'aimay lysidice plus que je n'ay aime les trois autres apres m'avoir dit repliqua-t'elle en riant les divers degrez de passion que vous avez eus pour trois filles si aimables dites moy encore je vous en prie jusques a quel point vous avez este aime de ces trois belles personnes l'ay creu l'estre de la premiere reprit-il j'ay espere de l'estre des deux autres et je ne l'ay este de pas une cela n'empesche pourtant pas adjousta t'il que je ne me resolve a m'exposer a aimer encore sans esperance d'estre aime de la belle lysidice il faut donc poursuivit elle en souriant que n'estre point aime de ce qu'on aime ne soit pas un aussi grand mal qu'on dit puis que vous vous resolvez de le souffrir si souvent de grace madame reprit thrasyle escoutez un peu plus serieusement ce que je vous dis et faites moy l'honneur de m'aprendre comment vous voulez que je vive pour regler vostre vie respondit elle je n'ay garde de l'entreprendre mais pour regler vos paroles j'en seray bien aise car enfin thrasyle a telle heure me pourriez vous parler comme vous venez de faire que je vous mettrois en estat de desirer de n'avoir jamais parle c'est pourquoy contentez vous d'estre de mes amis sans entreprendre de me persuader que vous estes mon amant de plus j'ay encore a vous dire que vous ne seriez pas aussi heureux que vous pensez si je me resolvois de souffrir d'estre aimee 
 de vous car premierement vous devez estre assure qu'encore que je voulusse que vous m'aimassiez plus que tout le reste de la terre je ferois pourtant tout ce que je pourrois pour ne vous aimer point ou pour ne vous aimer guere mais madame luy dit il vous avez tant blasme l'indifference de cleocrite il est vray dit elle et je la blasme encore car enfin je voudrois qu'elle ne vous eust point aime mais je voudrois que ce fust par vertu et non pas par insensibilite cette distinction est bien delicate repliquat'il mais quoy que ce soit tousjours un estat tres malheureux que de n'estre point aime de la personne qu'on aime je voudrois pourtant madame poursuivit-il estre assure que la belle lysidice se trouvast un jour dans la necessite de faire quelque effort peur ne m'aimer pas vous voyez dit-elle en riant que je commence des aujourd'huy puis que je fais tout ce que je puis pour croire que vous ne m'aimez point et que vous ne me parlez comme vous faites que parce que lyriane vous y a engage ha madame reprit thrasyle ne me faites pas une si grande injustice car si vous me la faisiez je serois oblige de dire a toute la terre que je vous aime afin que vous ne pussiez l'ignorer gardez vous bien repliqua t'elle d'aller faire ce que vous dites car quand il seroit vray que vous m'aimeriez j'aimerois encore mieux estre seule a le scavoir que tant de gens le sceussent ce n'est pas adjousta t'elle que je voulusse faire un secret de 
 vostre passion qui vous fut avantageux mais c'est que la chose du monde que je hairois le plus seroit qu'il y eust quelqu'un qui fust connu de route la cour pour estre mon amant car si je le voulois mal traiter il seroit bon pour luy qu'on ne le sceust pas et si se le voulois souffrir il seroit aussi bon pour moy qu'on ne sceust pas qu'il m'aimast de peur qu'on ne me soubconnast de l'aimer ainsi thrasyle si vous ne m'aimez point il ne faut dire a personne que vous m'aimez puis que ce seroit dire un mensonge inutilement et si vous m'aimez il faut encore ne le dire pas car soit que je vous doive estre douce ou rigoureuse il est esgalement a propos que cette pretendue passion ne soit pas sceue mais madame dit thrasyle je ne la veux dire qu'a vous et pourveu que vous enduriez que je vous en parle je n'en parleray jamais a qui que ce soit de grace dit alors lysidice taisez vous thrasyle ou changez de discours car je sens que mon humeur chagrine me va prendre pour peu que vous continuyez il vaut donc mieux madame luy dit il que je vous quitte devant qu'elle vous prenne et en effet thrasyle voyant arriver compagnie comme il disoit cela se retira sans scavoir ce qu'il devoit craindre ou esperer il s'estima pourtant assez heureux d'avoir descouvert son amour a lysidice il est vray que son bonheur ne dura pas long temps car cette inesgale personne fut si mal satisfaite d'elle mesme apres que thrasyle fut 
 hors d'aupres d'elle et elle s'imagina si bien qu'elle luy avoit parle trop doucement que pour reparer ce manquement la elle se prepara a le traiter tres seurement la premiere fois qu'elle le verroit et en effet elle n'y manqua pas car a peine le regarda t'elle et a peine voulut-elle luy respondre lors qu'il luy parla thrasyle ne put pourtant ce jour la discerner parfaitement si le mauvais traitement qu'il recevoit de lysidice estoit un simple effet de l'inesgalite de son humeur ou de ce qu'il luy avoit dit la derniere fois qu'il l'avoit veue mais a quelques jours de la je luy donnay lieu d'en estre esclaircy par moy comme je m'en vay vous le dire vous scaurez donc madame qu'estant allee chez lysidice je la trouvay dans la chambre de sa mere ou il y avoit une si grande quantite de femmes qu'a peine y pus-je trouver place mais il n'y avoit pas un homme je ne scaurois vous dire de quelle maniere toutes ces dames avoient l'esprit tourne ce jour la quoy qu'il y en eust de fort spirituelles mais je suis contrainte d'advouer que la conversation ne fut pas fort divertissante car enfin on ne par la presques que d'habillemens et de bagatelles et je puis dire que de ma vie je n'ay tant entendu parler pour dire si peu de chose comme je me rencontray aupres de lysidice je pus aisement remarquer le chagrin ou elle en estoit il est vray que je le remarquay avec plaisir parce qu'il luy fit dire cent choses 
 plaisantes comme elle estoit fort ennuyee de cette conversation tumultueuse qui choquoit si fort son inclination il arriva un de ses parens mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut qu'encore que cet homme n'ait pas un de ces esprits eslevez qu'on trouve si rarement et qu'il ne soit que du rang des honnestes gens ordinaires la conversation changea tout d'un coup et devint plus reglee plus spirituelle et plus agreable quoy qu'il n'y eust nul changement a la compagnie sinon qu'il y estoit arrive un homme qui ne parla pas mesme extremement mais enfin sans que je vous en puisse dire la veritable raison on parla d'autre chose on en parla mieux et les mesmes personnes qui m'ennuyoient aussi bien que lysidice me divertirent extremement cependant toute cette compagnie s'en estant allee je demeuray seule avec lysidice qui ne se vit pas plustost en liberte que panant de son humeur chagrine a son humeur enjouee et bien lyriane me dit elle me condamnerez vous encore de preferer la conversation des hommes a celle des femmes et n'estes vous pas contrainte d'advouer que qui escriroit tout ce que disent quinze ou vingt femmes ensemble seroit le plus mauvais livre du monde j'advoue luy dis je en riant que si l'on avoit escrit de suitte tout ce que j'ay entendu dire aujourd'huy ce seroit un bizarre discours pour moy dit-elle il y a des tours ou je suis si irritee contre mon sexe que je suis au desespoir d'en estre principalement 
 quand je me suis trouvee en quelqu'une de ces conversations toutes composees d'habillemens de meubles de pierreries et d'autres semblables choses ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je veuille qu'on ne puisse jamais parler de cela car enfin je suis quelquelfois assez bien coiffee pour estre bien aise qu'on me le die et mes habillemens sont quelquesfois aussi assez beaux et assez bien faits pour trouver bon qu'on me les loue mais je veux qu'on parle peu de ces sortes de choses qu'on en parle galamment et comme en passant sans empressement et sans aplication et non pas comme font certaines femmes que je connois qui passent toute leur vie a ne parler que de cela et a ne penser a autre chose et qui y pensent mesme avec tant d'irresolution que je croy qu'a la fin de leurs jours elles n'auront pas encore determine dans leur esprit si l'incarnat leur sied mieux que le bleu ou si le jaune leur est plus avantageux que le verd j'advoue madame que le discours de lysidice me fit rire et je le trouvay d'autant plus plaisant qu'il est vray qu'il y a une dame a cumes qui n'employe tout son esprit qu'en de pareilles choses qui ne parle jamais que de cela et qui fait conuster sa plus grande gloire en tout ce qui l'environne seulement c'est a dire en la dorure de son palais en la magnificence de ces meubles en la beaute de ses habillemens et en la richesse de ses pierreries apres avoir donc ry de ce que disoit lysidice je voulus prendre 
 l'interest des femmes en general et luy dire que j'estois persuadee qu'il y avoit autant d'hommes que de dames dont la conversation estoit peu agreable il y en a sans doute reprit elle dont l'entretien est insuportable mais il y a cela d'avantageux qu'on s'en deffait plus facilement et qu'on n'est pas oblige d'avoir une civilite si exacte pour eux mais lyriane ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit car ce que se vous dis est que les plus aimables femmes du monde quand elles sont un grand nombre ensemble et qu'il n'y a point d'hommes ne disent presques jamais rien qui vaille et s'ennuyent plus que si elles estoient seules mais pour les hommes qui sont fort honnestes gens il n'en est pas de mesme leur conversation est sans doute moins enjouee quand il n'y a point de dames que quand il y en a mais pour l'ordinaire quoy qu'elle soit plus serieuse elle ne laisse pas d'estre raisonnable et ils se panent enfin de nous plus facilement que nous ne nous passons d'eux cependant cela me fait un despit que je ne vous scaurois dire pour moy repliquay-je il me semble que je pourrois vivre sans m'ennuyer quand je ne verrois jamais que de mes amies pourveu qu'elles fussent toutes faites comme lysidice je vous diray si vous le voulez repliqua-t'elle pour respondre a vostre civilite que je ne m'ennuyerois non plus que vous si toutes les miennes estoient comme lyriane mais il faut du moins encore y adjouster pourveu que je ne 
 les visse qu'une a une deux a deux on trois a trois tout au plus car de les voir douze a douze j'aimerois mieux ne voir personne ouy lyriane poursuivit-elle avec le chagrin le plus plaisant du monde quand il y auroit douze lyrianes au monde je ne les voudrois pas voir tous les jours toutes ensemble s'il n'y avoit deux ou trois hommes car quoy que vous ne disiez jamais une chose mal a propos je suis assuree que si vous estiez douze vous en diriez eu que du moins diriez vous comme les autres de ces sortes de choses qui ne veulent rien dire et qui font la conversation si languissante et si ennuyeuse enfin lyriane que voulez vous que je vous die sinon que si vous n'estes fort dissimulee vous serez contrainte d'advouer qu'il y a je ne scay quoy que je ne scay comment exprimer qui fait qu'un honneste homme rejouit et divertit plus une compagnie de dames que la plus aimable femme de la terre ne le scauroit faire je dis mesme encore plus adjousta-t'elle car je soustiens que quand il n'y a que deux femmes ensemble si elles ne sont en amitie l'une aveque l'autre elles se divertiront moins qu'elles ne seroient si elles parloient chacune avec un homme d'esprit qu'elles n'eussent jamais veu jugez apres cela si je n'ay pas raison de murmurer contre mon sexe en general mais je m'estonne luy dis-je alors en souriant puis que la conversation des honnestes gens vous est si necessaire que vous ne mesnagez un peu 
 mieux celle de thrasyle cependant adjoustay je je m'apercoy que vous le traitez avec autant de froideur que si vous le vouliez bannir thrasyle reprit lysidice en rougissant est sans doute un fort honneste homme et fort agreable mais il m'a donne un sujet de pleinte que je ne luy puis pardonner et que je luy pardonnerois plus facilement si je n'estois pas de l'humeur dont je suis comme j'avois fort envie de scavoir ce qui estoit entre thrasyle et lysidice et que ce qu'elle me disoit augmentoit encore ma curiosite je la pressay fort de me dire ce qu'il luy avoit fait de sorte que voulant se deffaire de moy sans me dire precisement ce qu'elle pensoit thrasyle reprit-elle a fait ou veut faire la chose du monde qui me fait le plus de despit mais luy dis je voila la plus plaisante accusation de la terre car vous ne scavez pas si thrasyle a fait une faute ou s'il ne veut seulement qu'en faire une quoy qu'il en soit dit elle il est criminel car enfin il faut que vous scachiez que selon toutes les aparences il me va faire perdre le plus cher de mes amis et l'homme du monde qui me divertit le plus et il me va brouiller de telle sorte aveque luy que je seray contrainte de ne le voir plus du tout jugez si une personne qui a tant de peine a s'accommoder de la conversation des femmes en general ne doit pas vouloir un mal estrange a thrasyle de luy oster celle d'un si honneste homme que celuy avec 
 qui je rompray bien tost parce qu'il luy plaist je vous advoue madame que lysidice me dit cela d'un air qu'elle augmenta ma curiosite sans me donner pourtant lieu de deviner ce qu'elle vouloit dire de sorte que me mettant a chercher qui pouvoit estre cet homme avec qui thrasyle la mettoit mal je luy nommay tous ceux que je scavois estre de ses amis lysidice me disant tousjours que je ne scauois pas deviner et pour m'embarrasser davantage elle faisoit semblant de s'estonner pourquoy je ne le devinois pas mais luy disois-je quel que soit cet amy avec qui vous devez rompre comment peut-il estre vray que thrasyle vous ait mite mal aveque luy ce n'est pas qu'il m'ait mise mal avec cet amy dont je regrette la perte repliqua-t'elle mais c'est qu'il le met mal aveque moy j'advoue luy dis-je que je ne comprens pas trop bien ce que vous dites car si thrasyle vous a apris des choses de cet amy qui vous donnent sujet de pleinte pourquoy vous pleignez vous du premier et pourquoy regretez vous l'autre c'est me respondit lysidice que j'aurois mieux aime ne scavoir jamais le crime que thrasyle m'a revele que de l'aprendre a condition de me priver de celuy qui l'a commis mais ne scauriez vous luy dis-je innocemment agir avec celuy que thrasyle a accuse comme si vous ne scaviez pas son crime car pourveu qu'il ne scache point que vous le scavez vous ne serez pas obligee 
 en honneur de l'en punir comme thrasyle scauroit repliqua t'elle que je serois capable de pardonner une semblable chose j'en aurois une confusion estrange mais repliquay-je encore si je ne puis scavoir le criminel ne scaurois-je scavoir le crime non me respondit elle en souriant vous ne le scaurez d'aujourd'huy je voudrois pourtant luy dis-je que thrasyle dont je vous ay donne la connoissance ne fust pas mal aveque vous joint que j'advoue que je ne voy pas encore bien clairement par vos propres paroles pourquoy vous le traitez comme vous faites si je parlois pour estre entendue reprit-elle en riant vous m'entendriez sans doute mais comme je parle afin que vous ne m'entendiez pas vous n'avez garde de m'entendre sans mentir luy dis-je lysidice vous estes admirable et l'on peut dire en cette rencontre que vous estes tout a la fois une des plus dissimulees et une des plus sinceres personnes de la terre comme vous me louez et me blasmez en mesme temps je pense reprit elle que je ne dois ny vous remercier ny me pleindre cependant adjousta t'elle ne pensez pas que si je ne vous dis point ce que vous avez la curiosite de scavoir ce soit que je ne vous estime pas assez pour cela mais c'est que suivant l'inesgalite que vous me reprochez si souvent il y a des jours ou je fais un secret de toutes choses et qu'il y en a d'autres ou je n'en fais presques de rien enfin madame je ne pus persuader 
 a lysidice de me parler plus clairement de sorte que n'estant pas obligee a garder fidelite a une personne qui ne se confioit pas en moy j'advoue que j'eus impatience de voir thrasyle afin de tascher de scavoir par luy ce que je n'avois pu aprendre par elle croyant mesme leur rendre office a tous deux de les remettre bien ensemble de sorte que des le lendemain le hazard ayant fait que thrasyle me vint voir je me mis a luy demander pour voir ce qu'il me diroit ce qu'il avoit fait a lysidice qu'elle se pleignoit tant de luy quoy reprit thrasyle lysidice vous a parle de moy en s'en pleignant ouy repliquay-je faisant semblant d'en scavoir plus que je n'en scavois mais aussi poursuivis-je pourquoy luy avez vous dit ce que vous luy distes l'autre jour ce que je luy dis repliqua thrasyle devoit plus l'obliger que la mettre en colere mais encore lyriane adjousta-t'il que vous a-t'elle dit de moy de grace ne me cachez pas la cause de sa froideur si vous la scavez precisement car j'advoue que ce que je luy ay dit ait deu la porter a me traiter comme elle fait je confesse madame qu'entendant parler thrasyle comme il faisoit je creus qu'en effet il avoit adverty lysidice que quelqu'un de ses amis avoit fait ou dit quelque chose qui la devoit facher et que c'estoit par cette raison qu'il disoit que ce qu'il luy avoit dit ne devoit pas l'obliger a le traiter comme elle faisoit de sorte que sans m'amuser a 
 tascher de luy faire dire ce que je pensois scavoir je luy dis que lysidice se pleignoit de ce qu'il estoit cause qu'elle alloit perdre un de ses plus chers amis d'abord cette accusation surprit thrasyle mais un moment apres il creut que lysidice ne m'ayant pas voulu dire qu'il luy avoit parle d'amour avoit invente ce petit mensonge si bien que n'adjoustant nulle foy a mes paroles il me dit qu'il n'estoit pas possible que lysidice pust croire ce qu'elle m'avoit dit car enfin adjousta-t'il bien loin de luy faire perdre un amy je luy en aquiers tous les jours et de la maniere dont je l'aime je voudrois que toute la terre l'adorast elle ne dit pas repliquay-je toute en colere de n'estre point creue que vous la mettez mal avec cet amy mais elle dit que vous avez frit ou dit certaines choses qui mettent cet amy mal avec elle je vous entens encore moins que je ne faisois reprit thrasyle car je scay bien que naturellement je ne suis pas malfaisant et je scay encore mieux que je n'ay dit mal de personne en parlant a lysidice il faut donc repris-je que quelqu'un vous ait rendu un mauvais office aupres d'elle mais lyriane interrompit-il avez vous bien entendu ouy thrasyle repliquay-je et je vous dis que si vous ne vous justifiez aupres de lysidice vous n'y elles pas trop bien et comment me puis-je justifier respondit il d'une accusation que je n'entens pas pour vous donner lieu de le faire repris-je je vous permets de luy dire que je vous ay apris 
 qu'elle se pleint de vous et qu'elle dit que vous elles cause qu'elle rompra bientost avec un de ses plus chers amis car comme elle ne m'a pas fait un secret de la pleinte qu'elle m'a fait de vous et qu'au contraire elle a fait un mistere d'une chose ou je ne m'imagine pas qu'il y en ait je veux bien que vous luy disiez ce que je vous ay dit afin de vous justifier ou de ce que vous luy avez dit ou de ce que quelqu'un vous a fait dire je dis cela si fortement a thrasyle qu'il n'osa ne me croire pas joint que trouvant plus de douceur a penser que lysidice s'estoit offencee de quelque autre chose que de la declaration d'amour qu'il luy avoit faite il ne s'amusa pas davantage a examiner si ce que je luy disois pouvoit estre ou n'estre pas et il se resolut d'aller lendemain chez lysidice comme en effet il y fut il fut mesme si heureux qu'il la trouva en estat de la pouvoir entretenir seule il ne fut donc pas plustost aupres d'elle que prenant la parole ayant sceu par lyriane luy dit-il que vous vous pleignez de moy et que vous m'accusez de vous faire perdre le plus cher de vos amis je viens madame vous suplier de me dire si ce qu'elle m'a dit est vray ouy repliqua-t'elle brusquement j'ay die tout ce que lyriane vous a dit mais je n'ay pas encore dit tour ce que j'ay pense la dessus quoy madame reprit thrasyle vous avez dit que je vous fais perdre un amy moy qui pane toute ma vie a dire mille choses de vous capables de vous faire aimer par 
 ceux mesmes qui ne vous connoissent point mais encore que vous ay-je dit de cet amy pour le mettre mal aveque vous vous m'avez dit la chose du monde repliqua-t'elle la plus propre a me faire rompre aveque luy du moins madame reprit-il voudrois-je bien scavoir quel est cet amy a qui j'ay rendu mauvais office sans en avoir le dessein vous le scaurez bien tost dit-elle car tout le monde scaura que je ne le verray plus mais madame respondit thrasyle si cet amy est criminel vous avez tort de le regreter et de me punir de sa faute lyriane m'a desja dit inutilement la raison que vous me dites reprit-elle car j'en ay une plus forte qui la destruit eh de grace madame reprit thrasyle dites moy qui est cet amy que je vous oste et avec qui vous voulez rompre a ma consideration c'est vous mesme repliqua t'elle en rougissant de colere qui polluiez jouir de mon amitie toute vostre vie et qui me forcez malgre que l'en aye a vous bannir et a me priver pour tousjours de vostre conversation qui m'estoit fort agreable et que je ne puis plus endurer quoy madame reprit thrasyle fort surpris je suis cet amy avec qui vous voulez rompre ouy respondit-elle vous l'estes mais de grace madame repliqua-t'il que vous ay-je dit contre moy mesme qui vous oblige a me hair vous m'avez dit que vous m'aimez respondit elle et cela suffit du moins voudrois-je bien scavoir reprit-il si vostre colere vient 
 de ce que je vous aime ou de ce que j'ay eu la hardiesse de vous le dire elle vient sans doute de ce que vous me l'avez dit respondit-elle car a parler avec sincerite on ne se fache guere d'estre aimee mais si la passion que j'ay pour vous repartit thrasyle n'est pas ce qui vous irrite et que ce ne soit que les paroles dont je me sers pour vous l'exprimer qui vous fachent je n'ay madame qu'a ne vous en parler plus et qu'a me contenter de vous la faire connoistre par mes regards par mes soins par mes services et par toutes mes actions si vous aviez fait ce que vous dites que vous voulez faire reprit elle nous serions encore bien ensemble mais le passe ne se pouvant rapeller il n'y a pas moyen que je me resolve a faire ce que vous voulez et en effet thrasyle ne put rien obtenir de lysidice ce jour la et il se separa d'avec elle dans la croyance qu'elle voit rompre aveque luy lysidice de son coste croyant aussi qu'elle ne le vouloit plus voir au sortir de chez elle thrasyle vint me trouver mais a peine le vis-je que mourant d'impatience de scavoir qui estoit cet amy avec qui lysidice vouloit rompre et bien luy dis-je scavez vous le nom de celuy a qui on dit que vous avez rendu de si mauvais offices ouy lyriane me die il je le scay et je viens icy pour vous le dire afin que vous le pleigniez vous voyez donc bien luy repliquay-je que je ne mentois pas du moins reprit-il froidement croiyez vous dire une verite 
 de grace luy dis-je expliquez moy donc cet enigme et ne l'embrouillez pas davantage thrasyle se voyant alors presse par moy et esperant quelque soulagement a estre pleint se mit a me dire quelle estoit la passion qu'il avoit pour lysidice et a me demesler en suitte tout ce qui c'estoit passe entre eux me faisant comprendre que cet amy que lysidice vouloit bannir et luy n'estoient qu'une mesme chose mais a peine thrasyle eut il acheve de parler que je m'escriay en le pleignant ha thrasyle luy dis-je que je vous pleins d'estre amoureux de lysidice pleignez moy dit-il y de ce que je n'en suis point aime et ne me pleignez pas de ce que je l'aime je vous assure luy respondis-je que de quelque facon que se considere la chose je vous trouve a pleindre et je ne scay mesme si vous ne seriez point moins malheureux si lysidice rompoit presentement aveque vous que si elle se resoud a souffrir que vous continuyez de l'aimer car enfin thrasyle veu l'inesgalite de son humeur je prevois que vous aurez d'estranges choses a souffrir pourveu qu'elle souffre que je l'aime repliqua-t'il je me resous a tout endurer apres cela j'advoue que je fis ce que je pus pour obliger thrasyle a se detacher de lysidice mais ce fut inutilement cependant il me demanda la grace de se pouvoir pleindre aveque moy des maux qu'il prevoyoit qu'il faudroit qu'il souffrist ce que je luy accorday et en effet depuis cela il y a tousjours eu beaucoup 
 d'amitie entre luy et moy et jusques au point que je me puis vanter d'avoir sceu ses plus secrettes pensees mais pour en revenir a lysidice vous scaurez qu'encore qu'elle creust avoir resolu de bannir thrasyle il y eut autant d'irresolution dans son esprit sur ce sujet qu'il y avoit d'inesgalite dans son humeur mais enfin madame pour ne m'amuser pas a dire tant de choses inutiles thrasyle ne fut point banny et lysidice se trouva un jour en humeur si douce pour luy qu'elle luy permit de l'aimer il est vray que je pense pouvoir dire qu'elle ne luy accorda cette grace que pour avoir droit de luy faire sentir avec plus de douleur toutes ses inegalitez en effet je ne pense pas que depuis cela thrasyle ait passe un jour entier sans s'apercevoir que je luy avois dit vray en luy predisant que la passion qu'il avoit pour lysidice luy donneroit bien de la peine je suis toutesfois obligee d'advouer que toutes ses heures n'ont pas este esgalement mauvaises mais je pense pourtant pouvoir dire qu'il a plus souffert en aimant lysidice qu'il n'avoit fait en aimant les trois autres personnes qui avoient desja regne dans son coeur et que la coquetterie de la premiere l'engagement de la seconde et l'indifference de la derniere ne luy ont pas donne tant de peine que l'inesgalite de lysidice car enfin il ne scavoit jamais quand il ne la voyoit point en quel estat il estoit avec elle et il ne pouvoit respondre en quelle disposition il trouveroit son esprit 
 quand il la reverroit il y avoit des jours ou il croyoit avoir beaucoup de part a son coeur elle luy disoit cent choses particulieres et les luy disoit obligeamment de sorte qu'il luy sembloit qu'il estoit prest d'estre assure d'en estre aime mais quelque bien qu'il se fust separe d'avec elle il luy est arrive plus d'une fois de la trouver la plus chagrine la plus fiere et la plus froide personne du monde quand il la revoyoit je dis mesme encore plus car il est arrive tres souvent que lysidice estant entree dans son cabinet en fort belle humeur en est ressortie en chagrin et pour porter son inesgalite encore plus loin elle a eu plusieurs conversations avec thrasyle qu'elle n'a pas finies en la mesme assiette d'esprit qu'elle les avoit commencees sans que les choses qu'il luy disoit deussent l'avoir fait changer d'humeur quand elle estoit douce elle louoit tout ce que faisoit thrasyle et ne se faschoit de rien et quand elle estoit en chagrin elle blasmoit tout ce qu'il disoit et se faschoit de toutes choses tantost elle se pleignoit que sa passion pour elle faisoit trop d'esclat dans le monde une autre fois elle vouloit qu'il fist cent choses capables de la faire connoistre a toute la terre et il est arrive tres souquent qu'il a este fort brouille avec elle pour avoir obei a quelque commandement qu'elle luy avoit fait parce qu'ayant change d'humeur depuis qu'il l'avoit receu elle avoit aussi change de sentimens je me souviens d'un jour entre les autres que lysidice 
 estoit la plus charmante personne de la terre et la plus complaisante et que venant a parler de festes de plaisirs et de promenades devant cinq ou six personnes qu'elle aimoit fort chacun proposa une espece de divertissement selon son goust de sorte que lysidice venant a parler a son tour apres avoir escoute tout ce que les autres avoient dit trouva a redire a tous les plaisirs qu'ils avoient proposez n'y en ayant aucun qu'elle ne trouvast accompagne de quelque incommodite pour le bal elle disoit que bien souvent la peine de se parer la presse qu'on y trouvoit le veiller extremement tard le depit qu'une autre dance davantage et recoive plus de louanges surpassoit le plaisir qu'on y avoit que pour la musique elle portoit la melancolie avec elle ou du moins attachoit si fort l'esprit que tant qu'elle duroit on ne pouvoit faire autre chose que l'escouter joint aussi que la peine de louer les musiciens suivoit tousjours le plaisir de la musique que pour les grands festins ils luy estoient insuportables par cette abondance rassasiante qui en est inseparable et par cette diversite prodigieuse qu'on y voit qui oste la liberte du choix en donnant trop a choisir avouant toutesfois que la promenade touchoit fort son inclination pourveu que ce fust en un beau lieu avec des personnes choisies et commodes que neantmoins pour conter tout le monde elle eust voulu imaginer une feste ou tous les plaisirs 
 qu'on avoit proposez se trouvassent sans estre accompagnez des incommoditez qui les suivent mais encore luy dis-je comment imagineriez vous la chose je voudrois premierement dit-elle choisir un de ces jardins admirables ou il y a des fontaines jalissantes des cascades des ruisseaux des allees sombres des allees discouvertes de grands parterres des cabinets solitaires et tout ce qu'on voit aux beaux jardins je voudrois encore qu'en ce lieu la il y eust une belle maison mais apres cela il faudroit que j'eusse la liberte de nommer toutes les personnes qui seroient de cette partie que je choisirois si bien que non seulement elles ne m'ennuyeroient pas mais que je ne les ennuyerois point et qu'elles ne s'ennuyeroient pas les unes avec les autres et suitte je voudrois pour n'estre point embarrassees a se parer que les dames fussent en deshabille qu'on eust autant de chariots qu'il en faudroit pour n'estre pas trop pressees que le partage de la compagnie se fist a propos que chaque chariot fust remply de ceux qui aimeroient le mieux a estre ensemble qu'on n'eust point la peine de se lever trop matin et qu'on arrivast au lieu ou on iroit justement pour avoit le loisir de voir la maison avant que de se mettre a table de plus je voudrois que ce repas la fust de choses exquises sans y avoir rien de superflu qu'il y eust de l'ordre et de la proprete et que l'odeur des fleurs purifiast 
 celle qui suit les festins je voudrois encore que durant le disner on entendist une de ces musiques rejouissantes que sont propres a esveiller l'esprit plustost qu'a attendrir le coeur et que cette musique fust dans une tribune afin d'estre delivree comme je l'ay desja dit de l'embarras des musiciens et des louanges qu'on est oblige de leur donner quand on les voit de plus pres en suitte se voudrois qu'on passast dans un apartement frais et propre ou la conversation se feroit jusques a ce que le soleil permist de se promener apres quoy chacun suivroit son inclination toute la compagnie choisissant les lieux qu'elle aimeroit le plus puis quand le soir seroit venu on souperoit comme on auroit disne mais en lieu ou l'on pourroit ouir le bruit des fontaines au sortir de table on retourneroit se promener pour contenter celles qui aimeroient fort a dance on feroit pendre deux ou trois cens lampes de cristal a tous les arbres d'une grande alice afin de la bien esclairer apres quoy celles qui auroient envie de dancer danceroient la musique estant dans quelque petit bois proche pour n'embarrasser point l'allee fans que cela peust empescher ceux qui voudroient s'aller asseoir deux a deux ou trois a trois au bord de quelque fontaine de suivre leur inclination en suitte dequoy sans partir de la ny de trop bonne heure ny trop tard je voudrois revenir a cumes apres avoir jouy de tous les plaisirs innocens sans 
 avoir eu la peine qui les suit d'ordinaire lysidice ayant acheve de parler tout le monde tomba d'accord qu'une journee passee de la maniere qu'elle venoit de dire seroit fort agreablement passee mais reprit thrasyle ce n'est pas assez que d'imaginer qu'on la peust passer ainsi car pour bien faire il la faut passer effectivement de cette sorte en mon particulier adjousta-t'il je m'offre a fournir le jardin la musique et les deux repas dont la superfluite doit estre bannie lysidice oyant l'offre que faisoit thrasyle fut la premiere a l'accepter et la chose alla de facon qu'elle fut resolue thrasyle se chargeant de tout le soin de feste et lysidice du choix des personnes qu'elle choisit en effet telles qu'il luy plut enfin madame elles furent toutes adverties le jour fut pris thrasyle disposa toutes les choses necessaires selon l'intention de lysidice excepte qu'il ne demeura pas dans les bornes qu'elle avoit prescrites pour ce qui regardoit la table car il fit preparer deux magnifiques repas ce jour de plaisir estant donc arrive toutes les dames estant prestes et tous les chariots attelez tout d'un coup la bizarrerie prend a lysidice et luy prend de telle sorte qu'apres s'estre fait faire un habillement neuf pour ce jour la qui estoit le plus galant et le plus joly du monde apres dis-je estre habillee et avoir mis son voile pour sortir elle change d'advis se deshabille se met au lit et m'envoye prier de faire ses excuses a la compagnie disant 
 qu'elle se trouvoit mal mais au lieu de faire ce qu'elle disoit je fus chez elle ou je la trouvay la plus despite et la plus chagrine que je l'eusse jamais veue comme je la connoissois bien et que j'avoit trouvee dans son anti-chambre qu'elle n'estoit point malade je me mis en aprochant de son lit a en retrousser les rideaux et a ouvrir toutes les fenestres voyons luy dis-je voyons dans vos yeux si le mal dont vous vous pleignez est feint on veritable car c'est d'eux et non pas de vostre bouche que je le veux scavoir mais madame au lieu de voir une personne abatue je vy un teint qu'on avoit eu soin qui eust toute sa fraischeur et tout son esclat et je vy encore aux boucles de ses cheveux qu'elle avoit pris la peine de se bien coiffer de sorte que sans attendre sa responce non non luy dis-je lysidice vous n'estes point malade c'est pourquoy vous n'avez qu a vous resoudre de venir car je ne vous laisseray point en repos si vous ne vous relevez promptement d'abord elle voulut me respondre avec une voix pleintive mais voyant que je ne croirois pas facilement qu'elle fust malade tout d'un coup elle m'advoua qu'elle ne l'estoit pas mais que c'estoit qu'elle ne vouloit pas aller ou nous allions quoy lysidice m'escriay-je apres avoir propose une partie apres l'avoir faite apres avoir choisi les personnes que vous avez voulu qui en fussent apres avoir engage thrasyle a une chose de cette nature apres qu'il en a fait la despense et qu'il 
 l'a faite seulement pour l'amour de vous vous luy feriez un tour comme celuy-la ha lysidice je ne le scaurois endurer et il faut absolument que vous veniez si cette feste estoit pour une autre reprit-elle j'irois mais comme je ne puis pas ignorer qu'elle est pour moy je n'y veux point aller et je n'iray pas car enfin je ne scay rien de plus de descontenancant que d'estre la dame pour qui la feste se fait mais luy dis-je quand elle fut resolue ne scaviez vous pas qu'elle se feroit pour vous ouy dit elle et je m'y engageay sans y penser et ce matin luy repliquay-je quand vous vous estes si bien coiffee vous n'y pensiez donc pas encore il est vray respondit-elle mais une de mes femmes en m'habillant m'ayant dit qu'une fille qui est a une des dames qui doivent estre de cette partie luy avoit dit que sa maistresse n'auroit point de part a l'obligation qu'on devoit avoir a thrasyle et que c'estoit moy qui la luy devois avoir toute entiere le despit m'a pris et j'ay veu qu'en effet j'avois este fort inconsideree d'aller souffrir que thrasyle fist cette feste et qu'il n'y a rien de plus impertinent que de s'aller mettre en estat de devoir a un homme tout le plaisir qu'il donne a une grande compagnie et de luy devoir tenir conte de tout ce qui s'y passe d'agreable et de toute la satisfaction qu'y recoivent des gens a qui on ne se soucie pas trop d'en donner en effet adjousta-t'elle il faudroit que je deusse a thrasyle toute la bonne 
 chere que seroient ceux qui sont de cette feste si j'y allois que je luy sceusse gre de tout le plaisir qu'ils auroient a la musique de celuy qu'ils prendroient a dancer que je contasse jusques aux lampes qui esclaireroient l'allee ou le bal se feroit et je ne scay mesme s'il ne faudroit pas encore luy avoir obligation de la fraischeur du soir et du bruit des fontaines ha lyriane je ne scaurois me resoudre a devoir tant de choses et j'aimerois mieux les payer que de les reconnoistre comme il faudroit que je fisse c'est pourquoy lyriane quelque amitie que j'aye pour vous je ne veux point devoir a thrasyle tout le plaisir qu'il vous donnera aujourd'huy mais est-il possible luy dis-je que ce soit lysidice qui parle ouy reprit-elle et je vous respons de plus que c'est lysidice plus opiniastre qu'elle ne le fut de sa vie vous voulez donc repliquay-je faire desesperer thrasyle il fera en si bonne compagnie respondit-elle qu'il se consolera aisement de ce que la mienne luy manquera vous seriez bien attrapee luy dis-je si cela estoit car je suis assuree que vous voulez bien qu'il sente l'affront que vous luy faites je ne scay ce que je veux dit elle si ce n'est que vous vous en alliez et que vous me laissiez en repos mais repris-je si vous ne considerez point thrasyle considerez vous vous mesme et pensez ce qu'on dira de vostre procede on en dira ce qu'on voudra repliqua-t'elle pourveu que je face ce que je veux en achevant de prononcer ces paroles 
 thrasyle qui croyoit la venir prendre entra dans sa chambre bien surpris de la trouver au lit comme il la connoissoit desja aussi bien que moy il s'imagina aisement que son humeur bizarre la tenoit neantmoins il n'en tesmoigna rien d'abord et se contenta de luy demander d'ou venoit qu'elle estoit si paresseuse adjoustant en souriant qu'il estoit pourtant en quelque facon juste se fist attendre afin de faire voir que c'estoit pour elle que la feste estoit faite il paroistra bien dit-elle que je n'y prens par toute la part que vous m'y voulez donner puis que je ne m'y trouveray point mais madame luy dit-il quel changement est-il arrive depuis hier au soir n'accusez point lysidice de changement repris-je toute en colere car je vous assure que la raison pourquoy elle ne veut point aller ou elle vous a promis n'est autre chose sinon qu'elle est tousjours elle mesme elle voulut alors soustenir a thrasyle qu'elle estoit malade mais il ne la creut pas et il n'est rien de tendre de fort et de persuasif qu'il ne luy dist pour l'obliger a ne luy donner pas la douleur qu'elle sembloit estre resolue de luy faire recevoir toutesfois ce fut inutilement qu'il parla thrasyle voyant donc qu'il me gagnoit rien luy proposa de remettre la partie a un autre jour mais elle s'y opposa avec une force estrange en suitte dequoy la colere prenant a thrasyle il luy dit qu'il n'iroit donc non plus qu'elle et je fus plus d'un quart d'heure a croire ny que celle pour 
 qui la feste estoit faite ny que celuy qui la faisoit n'iroient pas au lieu ou elle se devoit faire mais a la fin lysidice dit si fortement a thrasyle qu'elle vouloit qu'il y allast et qu'elle n'y vouloit point aller qu'il falut qu'il obeist ainsi nous laissasmes lysidice et nous fusmes ou elle voulut que nous allassions le vous laisse a penser madame en quelle humeur fut thrasyle tout le jour il suporta pourtant cette cruelle avanture avec une patience admirable et tout inconstant qu'on le dit estre il ne rompit pourtant pas encore avec lysidice quoy que selon moy il en eust des lors assez de sujet au contraire il me pria instamment de dire a la compagnie que lysidice se trouvoit effectivement mal de peur qu'on ne dist quelque chose d'elle qui ne luy fust pas avantageux mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que le lendemain cette injuste fille luy voulut persuader qu'il s'estoit fort bien diverti quoy qu'il eust paru fort melancolique et luy reprocha comme un crime d'avoir obei au commandement qu'elle luy avoit fait de ne rompre pas la partie et d'aller recevoir les dames qu'elle avoit choisies cependant son humeur chagrine estant dissipee elle apaisa thrasyle facilement il oublia ce qui s'estoit passe et continua de l'aimer mais comme il n'avoit pas este possible que la bizarrerie de lysidice n'eust esclate elle fit esclater l'amour de thrasyle pour elle et une ennemie de lysidice dit un jour malicieusement qu'une personne qui 
 croyoit avoir droit de faire un tour a thrasyle comme celuy-la vouloit sans doute bien regner dans son coeur de sorte qu'elle ne dit pas seulement que thrasyle aimoit lysidice elle dit encore que lysidice n'estoit pas marrie que thrasyle l'aimast cette personne dit cela devant tant de monde que quelques amies de lysidice l'en advertirent si bien que sans considerer que c'estoit son ennemie qui parloit ainsi elle agit comme si toute la cour en eust parle et ordonna a thrasyle de ne la voir plus du tout elle adoucit pourtant cet arrest et elle se contenta de obliger a ne la voir plus tant chez elle si bien que thrasyle ne pouvant faire autre chose que luy obeir chercha du moins pour se consoler toutes les occasions de la voir ailleurs soit au temple soit en promenade ou aux visites qu'elle faisoit ainsi quoy qu'il ne la vist pas chez elle il la voyoit pourtant fort souvent il ne jouit toutesfois pas long temps de cette douceur avec tranquillite car lysidice passant de sa bonne humeur a la mauvaise qui la tenoit si souvent commenca d'agir avec thrasyle comme si elle eust oublie qu'elle luy avoit commande de n'aller plus chez elle que rarement et qu'elle creust qu'il la negligeast et qu'il eust change de sentimens quoy qu'il fust vray qu'il ne l'eust jamais tant aimee cependant thrasyle se voyant si mal-traite ne scavoit a quoy en attribuer la cause et ne scavoit par ou la scavoir car elle ne la luy vouloit point dire et je pense 
 mesme qu'il eust este long temps sans la deviner si le hazard n'eust fait que m'estant venu voir durant que lysidice estoit aveque moy je vins fortuitement a dire parlant d'un homme de nostre cour qu'il estoit allez de mes amis de vos amis reprit brusquement lysidice et comment cela peut-il estre puis que je ne l'ay jamais veu chez vous je ne vous dis pas repliquay-je que ce soit le plus cher de mes amis mais cela n'empesche pas que le voyant presques tous les jours en cent lieux differens je ne puisse parler de luy comme je viens de faire ha lyriane s'escria-t'elle vous vous abusez estrangement car enfin selon mes sentimens quand je vous verrois tous les jours chez philoxene si je ne vous voyois dans ma chambre je vous regarderois tousjours comme l'amie de mon amie et non pas comme la mienne mais si lyriane ne cherchoit que lysidice chez philoxene reprit thrasyle qu'en diriez vous je dirois qu'elle perdroit sa peine repliqua t'elle parce que je ne luy en aurois nulle obligation car enfin poursuivit-elle il y a une si notable difference des gens qu'on voit chez soy a ceux qu'on voit chez les autres que je ne les puis mettre en comparaison ny les regarder jamais comme mes veritables amis mais seulement comme je l'ay desja dit comme les amis de mes amis et non pas comme les miens en effet adjousta t'elle tant qu'on est chez une autre on n'est pas maistresse de la conversation et il faut la laisser 
 aller comme il plaist a celle chez qui on est de plus tant que vous n'estes pas chez vous vous estes oblige a voir mille gens qui ne se soucient point de vous rencontrer et qui quelquesfois voudroient ne vous trouver pas ou ils vous trouvent de sorte que le chagrin me prenant bien souvent fait que je passe les apresdisnees entieres sans parler et il y a une si notable difference de lysidice chez autruy ou de lysidice dans sa chambre qu'on peut dire que ce sont deux lysidices il n'est pas tousjours besoin repris-je en riant que vous sortiez de chez vous pour estre differente de vous mesme quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle je suis assuree que vous ne me scauriez nier qu'il ne soit incomparablement plus doux d'avoir bonne compagnie chez soy que de la trouver ailleurs et qu'on n'ait mesme plus d'esprit dans sa chambre que dans celle d'un autre de sorte madame reprit thrasyle que suivant ce que vous venez de dire je ne suis plus que l'amy de vos amie n'en doutez nullement repliqua-t'elle et de l'heure que je parle je vous regarde comme un amy de lyriane chez qui je suis et point du tout comme estant le mien car enfin je vous declare que tous les gens que je trouve par tous les lieux ou je vay ne font jamais nulle impression particuliere dans mon coeur et que je les verrois un siecle sans les regarder comme ayant nul droit a leur amitie aussi quand je parle de ces sortes de gens je les mets au nombre de mes 
 connoissances et non pas au nombre de mes amis mais madame reprit thrasyle si une personne avoit deffendu a un de ses amis de la voir chez elle perdroit-il cette glorieuse qualite en suivant ses volontez ouy repliqua-t'elle s'il luy avoit obei sans peine en une chose ou l'on peut desobeir sans desobliger celle qui a fait le commandement je connois un de vos amis repliqua-t'il a qui je donneray ce conseil ne vous hastez pas tant dit-elle car peutestre le conseil que je donne en general n'est-il pas bon pour celuy dont vous parlez en particulier et en effet madame thrasyle s'en aperceut bien car ayant voulu aller le lendemain chez lysidice elle le mal traita horriblement et entreprit de luy vouloir persuader que puis qu'il avoit pu se resoudre a ne la voir presques plus chez elle il ne la devoit plus voir en nulle part de sorte qu'ils eurent un effroyable demesle qui finit pourtant aparamment a l'advantage de thrasyle car depuis cela il eut la permission de la revoir chez elle comme auparavant mais madame ce fut pour le faire plus souffrir que jamais estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il ait passe un jour sans que l'inesgalite de cette capricieuse fille luy ait fait endurer quelque nouveau suplice ce qu'il y avoit de plus cruel pour luy estoit qu'elle avoit de si bonnes et de si agreables heures qu'il ne pouvoit venir a bout de desgager son esprit car enfin me disoit-il un jour que je luy voulois persuader de 
 ne s'y attacher pas d'avantage si elle n'en avoit que de mauvaises il me seroit aise de rompre les liens qui m'attachent a son service mais lyriane si vous scaviez combien elle est aimable quand elle le veut estre vous ne vous estonneriez pas de ce que je l'aime malgre toute sa bizarrerie en effet disoit il encore on diroit qu'elle prend plaisir a me donner durant ces heureux instans autant d'amour qu'il en faut pour ne la hair pas quand son humeur chagrine la prend et pour la pouvoir souffrir avec patience cependant je m'apercoy bien que cette douceur ne sert qu'a me rendre plus miserable et qu'a me faire souffrir plus long temps voila donc madame de qu'elle facon lysidice vivoit avec thrasyle qui s'obstina si long temps a souffrir ses inegalitez que j'ose dire que tout autre que luy l'auroit abandonnee plustost je suis pourtant persuadee que sans la derniere chose qu'elle luy fit il l'aimeroit encore malgre ses caprices mais pour celle-la il ne la put endurer et certes je pense qu'il eut raison car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que thrasyle l'ayant trouve un jour en une de ces heures favorables ou il n'y avoit que de la douceur dans son esprit et que de la civilite en toutes ses paroles il fit tant qu'il l'obligea a luy permettre de faire parler a ses parens de son mariage avec elle il n'eut pas plustost obtenu ce qu'il demandoit que transporte de joye il fut trouver nyside car il y a long temps qu'il n'a 
 plus de pere et la pressa et la conjura d'agir pour luy si bien que nyside qui aime tendrement son fils ne songeant qu'a le satisfaire fit parler aux parens de lysidice qui trouverent que cette alliance luy estoit fort avantageuse de sorte que s'imaginant bien que thrasyle ne leur auroit pas fait parler sans scavoir ses sentimens auparavant veu comme il vivoit avec elle depuis long temps ils recevrent la proposition qu'on leur sit avec joye ne doutant nullement que lysidice ne la receust aussi bien qu'eux la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi car enfin madame cette inesgale fille ayant change d'humeur depuis que thrasyle l'avoit quittee ne vouloit desja plus ce qu'elle avoit voulu il est vray qu'elle luy escrivit un billet pour revoquer la permission qu'elle luy avoit donnee mais il ne le receut qu'un quart d'heure apres avoir receu la favorable responce que les parens de lysidice avoient rendue a nyside je vous laisse a penser madame quelle surprise deust estre celle de thrasyle mais il fut encore bien plus estonne lors qu'il sceut que lysidice avoit declare qu'elle ne vouloit point se marier et qu'il aprit par nyside que les parens de cette fille luy estoient venus faire des excuses de s'estre tant engagez sans scavoir la volonte de celle qui avoit le principal interest a la chose dont il s'agissoit vous pouvez juger madame combien thrasyle sentit l'affront que lysidice luy faisoit recevoir et si l'aimant autant qu'il l'aimoit 
 il ne devoit pas avoir assez de colere pour cesser affectivement de l'aimer aussi le despit qu'il eut de cette cruelle avanture fut-il si grand qu'il fit un serment solemnel de n'aller plus jamais chez lysidice et de rompre absolument avec elle je pense pourtant qu'il auroit viole son serment si je ne l'en eusse empesche mais comme je connoissois quelle estoit l'humeur de cette inesgale personne je le confirmay si puissamment dans le dessein de ne renouer point avec elle qu'il se resolut de l'executer comme il avoit desja esprouve que l'absence estoit un assez grand remede pour guerir de semblables maux il partit de cumes et en partant il me laissa un billet pour lysidice qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 thrasyle a lysidice 
 
 
 puis que je n'ay pu estre aime de vous en vous aimant avec une esgalle violence depuis que j'ay commence de vous servir il pourra estre qu'en changeant de sentimens vous en changerez aussi et que vous regreterez malgre vous ce que vous avez voulu perdre quoy qu'il en soit je parts avec la resolution de ne r'entrer jamais dans cumes que se ne vous aye bannie de mon coeur soyez donc assuree que si vous m'y revoyez quelque jour vous m'y reverrez sans vous aimer et que si vous 
 ne m'y revoyez pas ce sera parce que je n'auray pu me delivrer de la plus ardente passion dont personne ait jamais este capable 
 
 
 thrasyle 
 
 
lors que thrasyle me donna ce billet pour lysidice je connus qu'il eust bien voulu en avoir responce mais j'advoue que je creus que pour son repos je ne devois pas la presser de luy respondre de peur que si elle luy eust escrit a une de ses bonnes heures elle ne l'eust r'engage a l'aimer cependant comme il avoit souhaite qu'elle eust ce qu'il luy avoit escrit je le luy rendis et je le luy fis lire en ma presence apres quoy me mettant a luy faire mille reproches je le pressay estrangement de me dire pourquoy elle avoit accorde a thrasyle la permission qu'elle luy avoit donnee puis qu'elle estoit dans les sentimens ou elle disoit estre lors que je la luy donnay dit-elle je croyois en effet que je voulois ce que je luy disois mais apres venant a penser a cet engagement qui doit durer toute la vie j'ay connu qu'il y avoit de la folie a une personne qui ne pouvoit respondre le matin de quelle humeur elle sera le soir de croire que ce qui luy plaist aujourd'huy luy plaira a la fin de sa vie et qu'ainsi ce seroit me rendre peut estre malheureuse sans rien contribuer a la felicite de thrasyle car enfin lyriane me disoit-elle quand je songe a l'effroyable inquietude qui me prend quelquesfois lors que je suis en 
 conversation en des lieux d'ou je ne puis sortir quand la fantasie m'en prend et que je songe en suitte quel seroit mon desespoir si apres avoir espouse thrasyle je venois a changer de sentimens je vous proteste que quelque estime que j'aye pour luy je suis bien aise qu'il soit hors de cumes et qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne desire qu'il y revienne des demain par la raison qu'il me dit a la fin de son billet lysidice rougit pourtant en prononcant ces dernieres paroles et rougit d'une maniere qui me fit connoistre que son coeur ne les advouoit pas cependant comme elle est glorieuse elle ne m'en dit pas d'avantage et j'escrivis a thrasyle comme il luy faloit escrire pour achever de le guerir il ne fut toutesfois pas si tost delivre de la passion qui le tourmentoit mais pendant son absence je connus que lysidice se souvenoit de ce qu'il luy avoit escrit et qu'elle croyoit bien que ce qui l'empeschoit de revenir estoit qu'il estoit tousjours amoureux d'elle ce qui me le sit juger tut que philoxene s'en allant aux champs vers le lieu ou droit alors thrasyle vint ma dire adieu comme lysidice estoit dans ma chambre de sorte que venant a parler de la solitude ou elle alloit je luy dis que je la trouvois bien heureuse d'avoir un aussi honneste homme que thrasyle dans son voisinage il y a desja si long temps qu'il est hors de cumes reprit philoxene qu'il y a aparence qu'il ne sera plus guere a la campagne puis que vous y serez reprit lysidice en souriant 
 il y a lieu de croire qu'il n'en partira pas si tost pour moy repliquay-je malicieusement voulant faire connoistre a lysidice que je l'entendois bien je fuis d'opinion opposee a la vostre car je trouve que philoxene est bien propre a faire que thrasyle revienne plustost a cumes que vous ne pensez j'advoue dit alors philoxene que je n'entens pas trop ce que vous dites car il semble que vous me veuilliez louer toutes deux cependant vous me dites des choses toutes contraires c'est un enigme luy dis je que je vous expliqueray a vostre retour si elle ne revient que quand thrasyle reviendra repliqua lysidice en riant elle ne scaura de long temps ce que vous luy voulez dire apres cela nous dismes encore plusieurs choses dont il ne me souvient pas et philoxene s'en alla
 
 
 
 
mais un mois apres qu'elle fut partie comme nous estions encore ensemble lysidice et moy et que nous sortions de chez atalie nous vismes arriver thrasyle qui nous salua en passant fort civilement mais il ne s'arresta pas je ne le vy pas plustost que je regarday lysidice qui a peine l'eut aperceu qu'elle changea de couleur de sorte que me tournant vers elle et luy parlant bas afin que nos femmes ne m'entendissent point et bien lysidice luy dis-je vous croyez que thrasyle ne reviendroit jamais pourveu que ce ne soit point philoxene qui me le renvoye reprit-elle je ne me soucieray pas qu'il soit revenu pour moy repliquay-je il ne m'importe par quelle raison il revienne 
 pourveu qu'il se soit souvenu de la fin du billet qu il vous escrivit quoy qu'il en soit dit-elle vous me ferez un fort grand plaisir de dire a thrasyle que j'ay beaucoup de joye de son retour je vous le promets luy dis je quoy qu'a mon advis vous n'en soyez pas si aise que vous dites comme nous en estions la nous arrivasmes a la porte d'une dame chez qui nous allions ensemble mais apres que cette visite fut faite je ramenay lysidice chez elle et je m'en retournay chez moy ou thrasyle m'attendoit je ne le vy pas plustost que je luy tesmoigna avoir beaucoup de joye de son retour mais luy dis je je veux pourtant auparavant que de me rejouir tout de bon scavoir si vous revenez sans amour car si cela n'est pas au lieu de me rejouir je m'affligeray affligez vous donc me dit-il car il n'est que trop vray que je suis plus amoureux que je ne le fus de ma vie et que selon toutes les aparences je le seray jusques a la mort ha thrasyle luy dis je vous n'estes point assez genereux et je pense que je ne veux plus estre amie d'un homme qui oubliant si facilement les outrages peut aussi facilement oublier les bons offices mais thrasyle repris-je en je regardant il ne vous souvient donc plus que vous escrivistes a lysidice que vous ne reviendriez point a cumes tant que vous auriez de l'amour pour elle pardonnez moy me dit-il et je luy ay tenu ma parole vous n'estes donc pas amoureux connue vous le dites 
 repliquay-je je suis plus amoureux que je ne le dis respondit-il et mesme plus amoureux que je ne le puis dire mais lyriane c'est de philoxene et ce n'est plus de lysidice que le despit et la raison avoient desja bannie de mon coeur devant que philoxene vinst a la campagne quoy que ce ne soit pas ma coustume repris je d'estre bien aise de voir mes amis amoureux je vous proteste que je ne puis m'empescher d'avoir de la joye d'aprendre que vous l'estes de philoxene puis que c'est une preuve infaillible que vous ne l'estes plus de lysidice apres cela je me vantay a luy d'avoir predit sa passion et je luy racontay ce que lysidice et moy avions dit lors que cette belle personne m'estoit venu dire adieu en suite dequoy il m'aprit qu'ayant veu philoxene tous les jours depuis qu'elle estoit aux champs et l'ayant veue avec route la liberte que la campagne donne il l'avoit plus veue durant un mois que s'il l'eust veue une annee entiere a cumes et qu'enfin il avoit trouve en elle seule ce qu'il avoit cherche inutilement aux quatre personne qu'il avoit aimees auparavant quoy luy dis-je vous n'estes pas seulement amoureux vous estes desja aime nullement repliqua-t'il et vous n'expliquez pas bien mes paroles car ce que je veux dire est que philoxene a plus de bonnes qualitez que toutes les autres ensemble et certes madame ce n'estoit pas sans raison que thrasyle louoit cette aimable veusve estant certain 
 tain qu'un ne peut pas trouver une personne plus accomplie que celle-la on en trouve sans doute qui ont autant de beaute qu'elle en a et autant d'esprit maison n'en trouve guere qui n'aye aucun deffaut cependant il est tres vray que philoxene n'en a point car outre que sa beaute plaist infiniment qu'elle a lamine haute noble et modeste que sa phisionomie marque de la bonte et de la sincerite et qu'elle a sur le visage un certain enjouement mesle de serieux qui luy sied admirablement il est encore vray qu'elle a mille charmes dans l'humeur mille graces dans l'esprit et mille bonnes qualitez dans l'ame car enfin elle se propose tousjours la vertu en tout ce qu'elle fait elle aime la gloire elle est tendre pour ses amis elle les sert aveque joye et ne desoblige jamais personne elle est sans doute un peu sensible mais on peut dire que la colere ne fait que l'embellir en la faisant quelquesfois rougir agreablement car elle passe si viste qu'elle n'a pas loisir de luy faire faire une injustice de plus il ne faut que voir la conduite de philoxene pour juger favorablement d'elle car enfin elle est belle elle est jeune elle est riche et elle est veusve cependant elle a si bien sceu regler sa vie que sa reputation est la plus belle et la plus entiere qu'il est possible d'avoir quoy que u vertu ne soit ny sauvage ny austere et qu'au contraire elle soit douee et sociable voila donc madame quelle estoit philoxene lors que thrasyle commenca 
 de l'aimer et quelle elle est encore aujourd'huy cependant je sceu par luy qu'il n'avoit ose luy descouvrir sa passion mais il m'assura pourtant qu'il estoit persuade qu'elle la connoissoit ou que du moins elle en soubconnoit quelque chose comme il n'estoit venu a cumes que pour une affaire et pour faire connoistre par la a lysidice qu'il ne l'aimoit plus il n'y tarda que trois jours et s'en retourna aupres de philoxene de vous dire quel fut le despit de lysidice il ne seroit pas aise principalement apres que philoxene fut revenue a cumes ou thrasyle revint aussi le mesme jour estant certain que quand elle s'aperceut qu'il estoit amoureux de cette belle personne elle en eut un despit estrange ce fut alors que liane amitie avec cleocrite de la maniere qu'on la peut lier avec une fille aussi indifferente que celle la elles se mirent toutes deux a vouloir faire passer thrasyle dans le monde pour le plus inconstant homme de la terre esperant luy nuire dans l'esprit de philoxene et en effet je croy que ce bruit qu'elles ont fait courir ne luy a pas servy le grand obstacle que thrasyle a trouve et qu'il trouve encore dans l'esprit de philoxene n'est pourtant pas celuy-la car enfin depuis un an qu'il la sert avec une assiduite et une fidelite extreme elle a bien deu connoistre qu'il n'estoit pas inconstant mais madame l'amour qu'elle a pour la liberte fait qu'elle ne peut se resoudre a reconnoistre celle que thrasyle a pour elle 
 je scay bien qu'elle l'estime plus que tous les hommes qui la voyent se que si de necessite il falloit qu'elle se mariait elle le choisiroit sans doute mais quoy qu'elle soit dans une disposition si favorable en aparence pour luy elle ne le choisit pourtant pas et ne luy donne aucune esperance cependant thrasyle qu'on dit estre si inconstant ne se rebute point et ne se lasse point de souffrir parce qu'il ne trouve pas en philoxene de ces sortes de choses avec lesquelles l'amour ne scauroit subsister comme la coqueterie de sa premiere maistresse l'engagement de la seconde l'indifference de la troisiesme et l'inesgalite et la bizarrerie de la quatriesme de sorte qu'aymant constamment philoxene il semble estre resolu de l'aimer jusques a la mort quand mesme elle ne se pourroit resoudre a le rendre heureux et en effet madame je suis assuree que cela arrivera ainsi car enfin depuis que thrasyle aime philoxene sa constance a este mite a toutes sortes d'espreuves premierement il est certain que cleocrite et lysidice toit par vanite par malice ou par quelque autre raison ont tout fait ce qu'elles ont pu pour l'engager thrasyle a les servir nyside a aussi voulu opiniastrement durant quelque temps que son fils espousast une fille qui est une des plus belles personnes du monde et beaucoup plus riche encore que philoxene sa passion a mesme resiste a l'absence car il fut trois mois a millet ou sont les plus belles 
 femmes de la terre cependant il demeura fidelle et revint a cumes aussi amoureux qu'il en estoit party au reste on ne peut pas dire que philoxene le retient par des faveurs car on ne peut jamais vivre avec plus de retenue ny plus de severite qu'elle vit aveque luy quoy que ce soit sans rudesse et sans incivilite ainsi il faut conclure ce me semble que thrasyle ne doit pas passer pour un inconstant quoy qu'il ait aime plusieurs personnes toutesfois madame comme l'amitie pourroit m'aveugler et que c'est vous qui devez juger de luy je veux suspendre mon jugement jusques a ce que vous ayez prononce son arrest apres que lyriane eut acheve de parler mandane la loua extremement et la remercia de luy avoir fait un si agreable recit des avantures de thrasyle la louant principalement d'avoir si bien demesle cinq amours differentes en aussi peu de temps qu'il en eust falu a un autre a en raconter une seule apres quoy demandant a cyrus au prince artamas et a aglatidas quel rang elle devoit donner a thrasyle ils ne voulurent point la conseiller et il fallut qu'elle agist selon ses propres sentimens de sorte qu'ayant ordonne qu'on fist rentrer cleocrite lysidice atalie et thrasyle il se trouva que lysidice ayant change d'humeur depuis qu'elle estoit sortie de la chambre de mandane s'en estoit allee et avoit force atalie de s'en aller avec elle et qu'ainsi il n'estoit demeure que 
 thrasyle et cleocrite dont l'humeur indifferente faisoit qu'elle ne se soucioit pas trop si thrasyle passoit pour constant ou pour inconstant aussi r'entra-t'elle dans la chambre de mandane conduite par thrasyle avec tout l'enjouement d'une personne qui faisoit vanite de l'indifference dont elle jugeoit bien que lyriane l'auroit accusee vous voyez madame dit elle a la princesse mandane que route indifferente qu'on me dit je suis plus vindicative que lysidice ny qu'atalie puis que je reviens moy mesme vous amener celuy qui doit estre condamne que scavez vous reprit thrasyle si je ne seray point justifie nous le scaurois bien tost reprit elle puis que c'est la princesse qui doit m'aprendre ce que je dois penser de vous je vous allure repliqua mandane que vous n'en penserez rien qui ne luy soit avantageux si vous reglez vos sentimens parles miens car enfin adjousta cette princesse apres avoir considere les divers changemens de thrasyle j'advoue que je ne l'ay pas trouve tel que le me l'estois imagine c'est pourquoy je declare que sans luy faire ny grace ny injustice on peut le nommer l'inconstant sans incontance ce jugement est si equitable reprit cyrus que je ne pense pas que la belle cleocrite en murmure ny que thrasyle s'en pleigne puis 
 que le nom d'inconstant luy demeure repliqua cleocrite agreablement j'aurois grand tort d'en murmurer en mon particulier reprit thrasyle je trouve que puis que la plus judicieuse princesse du monde declare que je suis sans inconstance j'ay sujet d'estre satisfait et de me louer de la justice qu'elle m'a rendue puis que je vous ay contentez tous deux repliqua mandane j'ay plus fait que je ne pensois et j'ay sans doute fait tout ce que je souhaitois de faire comme elle disoit cela philoxene entra et cleocrite sortit mais comme mandane avoit remarque qu'anaxaris se tenoit oblige des graces qu'elle faisoit a thrasyle elle fit si bien qu'elle trouva lieu de parler a philoxene en sa faveur l'occasion s'en presenta mesme d'autant plus favorable que cette belle personne scachant que l'armee marcheroit bien tost venoit suplier la princesse mandane de vouloir luy faire donner des gardes par cyrus pour conserver une tres belle maison qu'elle avoit qui se trouvoit sur la route que les troupes devoient tenir cyrus en son particulier qui aimoit a rendre office a tous les amans malheureux dit beaucoup de choses a philoxene a l'avantage de thrasyle lors qu'elle le remercia de ce que la princesse avoit obtenu pour elle de sorte que philoxene qui jusques alors avoit opiniastrement deffendu sa liberte et contre thrasyle et contre sa propre inclination commenca de ceder au vainqueur de l'asie et 
 en effet thrasyle profita si bien de la protection de cyrus et de celle de mandane qu'en trois jours les parens de philoxene acheverent de la faire resoudre a le rendre heureux si bien que par ce moyen leurs nopces furent honnorees de la presence de mandane et de celle de cyrus mais quoy que toutes les dames de cumes en general en fussent conviees il n'y eut que cleocrite et lysidice de toutes les maistresses de thrasyle qui s'y trouverent la premiere parce que coures choses luy estant indifferentes excepte le plaisir elle ne put se resoudre a perdre une feste de rejouissance et lysidice parce qu'estant fortuitement ce jour la en sa plus belle humeur elle creut qu'il luy seroit glorieux de ne tesmoigner pas de douleur d'avoir perdu thrasyle
 
 
 
 
cependant ceux qu'on avoit envoyez vers les xanthiens et les cauniens estant revenus et ayant raporte qu'ils recevoient la paix aveque joye il n'y eut plus nul obstacle au depart de mandane car la diligence qu'on avoit aportee a preparer toutes choses pour son voyage avoit este telle qu'il ne et'en falloit plus qu'un jour que tout ne fust acheve pour ne perdre point de temps cyrus donna tous les ordres necessaires soit pour la marche des troupes ou pour faire partir les deux flotes qui estoient au port ou pour congedier les envoyez du prince philoxipe et du prince de cilicie afin qu'ils fissent ce qu'ils pourroient pour rencontrer leurs vaisseaux et les remener 
 a leurs maistres mais durant que l'esperance donnoit tant de joye a cyrus que l'inquietude de l'engagement ou il estoit avec le roy d'assirie ne la troubloit presques point mazare et anaxaris voyant aprocher le jour du depart de mandane en avoient une douleur extreme car quand ils venoient a considerer que la fin du voyage qu'ils alloient commencer seroit le commencement de la felicite de cyrus et la fin de tous ses malheurs ils souffroient ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer il y avoit pourtant bien de la difference dans les sentimens de ces deux rivaux et une mesme beaute et une mesme passion produisoit en eux des effets qui ne se ressembloient guere anaxaris sans rien esperer estoit tellement possede de l'amour qu'il avoit pour mandane qu'il ne pouvoit seulement former le dessein de la combatre mais pour mazare il combatoit continuellement contre luy mesme et contre sa passion anaxaris pour devenir encore plus amoureux s'il eust este possible voyoit la princesse autant qu'il le pouvoit et mazare au contraire craignoit tant la veue d'une beaute qui avoit este plus sorte que sa vertu qu'il fuyoit tres souvent les occasions de la voir en effet depuis que cette princesse estoit delivree il ne l'avoit point entretenue en particulier mais la veille de son depart cyrus estant occupe a escrire a la reine de corinthe au prince philoxipe a celuy de cilicie et a donner ses ordres pour la seurete de cumes et 
 aux deputez de la susiane qu'il renvoyoit il se rencontra que mazare estant alors aupres de mandane se trouva insensiblement engage a y demeurer seul d'abord il y eut un allez grand silence entre ces deux personnes car cette princesse se souvenant que ce prince en qui elle s'estoit confiee l'avoit trahie et qu'elle ne s'estoit point veue seule aveque luy depuis le jour qu'il l'enleva en rougit et mazare de son coste se voyant aupres d'une personne qu'il aimoit si ardemment et de qui il avoit cause les plus grandes infortunes sentit dans son coeur tant d'amour et tant de confusion tout ensemble qu'il fut quelque temps sans parler et sans pouvoir determiner ce qu'il luy vouloit dire mais a la fin sans prevoir quelle seroit la suitte de son discours il commenca de parler a cette princesse quoy que je ne doute pas madame luy dit-il puis que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de me promettre vostre amitie et de me la donner telle que je la possedois a babilone que vous ne soyez resolue de tenir vostre parole puis que je vous ay tenu la mienne je ne laine pas dis-je de vous conjurer de m'en donner de nouvelles assurances car enfin madame quand je me souviens combien je m'en suis rendu indigne je n'ose me fier ny a vos promesses ny a vostre generosite et j'ay ce me semble sujet de craindre que ne pouvant me redonner vostre estime vous ne puissiez me redonner vostre amitie puis que je vous retrouve a cumes reprit 
 mandane ce que vous estiez a babilone le veux absolument oublier ce qui s'est passe a sinope et vous considerer comme le plus cher de mes amis le crime que je commis contre vous fut si grand repliqua mazare que je n'oserois esperer que vous le puissiez oublier si vous ne scavez ce qui l'excuse car enfin madame il vous a deu paroistre encore plus effroyable qu'il n'estoit quoy qu'il le fust estrangement en effet poursuivit-il vous n'avez jamais sceu deux choses que je vous suplie tres humblement de vouloir aprendre aujourd'huy et qui serviront sans doute a vous obliger de me redonner plus volontiers cette estime et cette amitie que vous m'avez promise il suffit pour cela repliqua mandane que vous vous soyez repenti et que vous demeuriez dans les sentimens ou vous elles non madame reprit mazare mon repentir ne suffit pas puis qu'il ne fait que reparer mon crime et que les deux choses que j'ay a vous dire l'amoindrissent dites les donc reprit la princesse car je vous assure que j'auray tousjours beaucoup de joye que vous me donniez de nouveaux sujets de vous estimer puis que vous me le permettez madame repliqua mazare il faut donc que je vous die quelle fut la passion qui me rendit criminel et quelle fut la resistance que j'aportay pour m'oposer et a vous et a moy mesme ii me semble reprit mandane en rougissant que c'est un mauvais moyen de m'obliger a vous redonner 
 mon estime et mon amitie que de me faire souvenir d'une chose qui vous les avoit fait perdre de grace madame reprit mazare voyant l'esmotion qui paroissoit sur le visage de cette princesse ne craignez pas que je me repense de m'estre repenti et ne vous imaginez pas que je pretende que la passion dont je veux vous faire connoistre la grandeur me serve a autre chose qu'a diminuer le crime que je fis en vous enlevant non madame je vous proteste que je ne vous parleray jamais des sentimens qui seront dans mon coeur jusques a la more et que je ne demanderay jamais rien de vous que cette estime et cette amitie que vous m'avez promises mais au nom des dieux souffrez que je vous die une fois seulement avec quelle violence vous vous emparastes de mon coeur lors que vous en chassastes la vertu c'est une grace que cyrus mesme ne me refuseroit pas de vous demander pour moy si je l'en priois car enfin madame je ne veux pas vous parler de l'amour qui me rendit criminel pour en attendre recompence mais seulement pour m'empescher d'en recevoir punition et pour me justifier je ne vous lemande pas mesme la permission de vous dire que je vous aime et je ne veux que celle de vous faire scavoir que je vous aimois jusques a perdre la raison lors que je vous enlevay a sinope afin que ne me regardant pas comme un meschant qui se porte au mal sans y estre force et sans repugnance vous 
 puissiez me tenir vostre parole plus facilement s'il ne faut que croire que vous m'aimiez reprit la princesse j'aime mieux vous avouer que je n'en doute point afin de m'epagner la peine d'escouter un discours qui ne me scauroit plaire et qui ne vous peut estre avantageux du moins madame adjousta-t'il faites que la grandeur de mon crime serve a vous faire comprendre la grandeur de l'amour qui me fit commettre et a vous faire concevoir qu'il faloit qu'elle le surpassast de beaucoup de grace mazare interrompit mandane ne me mettez nul scrupule dans l'esprit pour l'amitie que je veux avoir pour vous et croyez que plus vous me persuaderiez que vous m'avez aimee plus je craindrois que vous ne m'aimassiez encore et moins vous auriez de part a mon amitie c'est pourquoy ne vous exposez pas a une chose qui vous la seroit peut-estre perdre eh de grace madame reprit mazare ne me menacez pas d'une si cruelle avanture et souffrez que je vous die quels sont mes veritables sentimens afin que vous n'en ayez jamais d'injustes pour moy croyez donc madame je vous en conjure que je ne vous diray jamais rien qui vous doive desplaire que je n'agiray aveque vous que comme si je n'avois eu et que je n'eusse encore que de l'amitie que je me combatray eternellement moy mesme a vostre consideration que je tascheray de regler mes pensees comme mes paroles que je deffendray a mes yeux 
 de vous monstrer les sentimens de mon coeur et que pour derniere preuve de mon respect je serviray cyrus comme si je n'avois pas este son rival jugez apres cela si vous n'avez pas quelque severite de me refuser la grace que je vous demande car enfin madame je vous proteste que voicy la derniere fois de ma vie que je vous parleray de moy je m'engage mesme a ne prononcer jamais le mot d'amour en vostre presence s'il vous est suspect en ma bouche mais souffrez du moins que je vous assure que depuis que l'amour fait faire des crimes il n'en a jamais fait commettre qui ait cite cause par une passion si violente nue celle que me forca d'oublier le respect que je vous devois mais apres cela madame j'ay encore a vous dire que jamais repentir n'a este plus veritable que le mien ny plus propre a reparer un grand crime car enfin il n'est rien que je ne fisse plustost que de vous donner jamais lieu de me soubconner d'estre capable d'avoir un sentiment qui me peust rendre indigne de cette glorieuse amitie que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de me promettre et que je vous demande avec toute l'ardeur imaginable et tout le respect possible mazare prononca ces paroles d'une maniere si touchante que mandane ne voulant pas insulter sur un prince que la seule passion qu'il avoit pour elle rendoit malheureux luy respondit avec autant de civilite que de vertu et luy parla d'une maniere si genereuse que si 
 l'amour de mazare eust este capable de devenir amitie il auroit fait ce changement la a sa consideration mais ne pouvant regler les sentimens de son coeur il regla du moins ses paroles et protesta si solemnellement a mandane de ne luy parler mesme jamais de la passion qu'il avoit eue pour elle a babilone qu'enfin elle luy donna de nouvelles assurances de son estime et de son amitie que mazare receut aveque joye quoy qu'il ne les pust recevoir qu'en soupirant car enfin si ce prince n'eust este que l'amy de mandane elle luy disoit assez de choses obligeantes pour le contenter mais conme il estoit tousjours son amant il n'estoit pas possible que l'amitie de cette princesse le put rendre heureux quoy que par raison et par vertu il regardait alors cette amitie comme le terme de tes desirs et la borne de ses esperances cependant le lendemain estant arrive et l'heure du despart estant venue mandane apres avoir receu les civilitez de toutes les dames de cumes monta dans un superbe chariot n'ayant que martesie avec elle toutes les autres femmes qu'on luy avoit donnees estant dans d'autres chariots qui alloient en suitte anaxaris commandant les gardes de cette princesse marcha immediatement apres le sien et pour cyrus mazare artamas et la plus part des volontaires ils allerent en gros quinze ou vingt pas devant mandane le prince thrasybule thimochare et philocles ne vouloient point s'embarquer qu'ils n'eussent este 
 conduire cyrus et mandane jusques a une journee de cumes mais ils ne le voulurent point endurer de sorte qu'ils furent contraints d'obeir la separation de cyrus et de thrasybule fut fort touchante et pour thimochare il le chargea de tant de choses obligeantes pour dire a la reine de corinthe qu'il estoit aise de connoistre quelle estoit l'estime qu'il faisoit de cette princesse il ne se contenta pas mesme de cela car il en dit encore plus a philocles qu'a thimochare cyrus voulut aussi que ligdamis thrasybule menecrate parmenide et philistion le quittassent et s'en allassent retrouver celles qu'ils avoient quittees pour luy aussi tost apres les avoir espousees n'y en ayant aucun d'eux a qui il ne fist mille carresses et des presens magnifiques aussi bien qu'au jaloux leontidas qui s'en retourna en chypre pour le genereux megabate quoy que la route que l'armee devoit tenir fust en quelque facon la sienne durant quelque temps cyrus ne voulut pas qu'il se contraignist a aller si lentement car se souvenant qu'il avoit sceu par l'illustre aristee qu'il estoit amoureux de l'admirable philonide il l'obligea de se separer de luy mais en s'en separant il luy fit tous les honneurs que sa condition et son rare merite vouloient qu'il luy rendist la princesse mandane luy faisant aussi toutes les civilitez possibles cependant cyrus qui aimoit son honneur plus que sa vie craignit que si le roy d'assirie 
 estoit delivre et qu'il le vinst chercher a cumes apres son despart il ne s'imaginast qu'il ne luy vouloit pas tenir sa parole puis qu'il prenoit le chemin d'ecbatane c'est pourquoy il laissa un des siens a cette ville avec ordre d'y attendre un temps qu'il luy prescrivit pour voir si le roy d'assirie y viendroit afin de luy rendre un billet qu'il luy donna par lequel il l'assuroit qu'il ne manqueroit pas a ce qu'il luy avoit promis de sorte que n'oubliant rien de ce qu'il devoit a sa gloire et de ce qu'il devoit a mandane il satisfaisoit esgallement a tous ces devoirs differens pour cet effet ce prince avoit dispose la marche des troupes de facon que mandane se trouvoit tousjours au milieu de son armee quoy qu'il creust n'avoir plus d'ennemis a craindre lors que cette princesse sortit de cumes tout le peuple estoit dans les rues qui apres avoir esprouve la clemence de cyrus les comblerent tous deux de louanges et d'acclamations de sorte que soit par la quantite de troupes par le grand nombre de chameaux qui portoient le bagage par la richesse de leurs couvertures par la beaute du chariot de mandane et par cette multitude de gens de qualite qui l'environnoient cette magnificence estoit digne d'estre veue et digne de celle pour qui elle estoit faite comme thybarra se rencontroit sur la route que cyrus avoit juge a propos de tenir il fut resolu que la princesse pour ne se fatiguer pas trop s'y reposeroit un jour dont le prince 
 myrsile eut beaucoup de joye dans l'esperance qu'il eut d'y trouver doralise avec qui estoit arianite que mandane fut aussi bien aise de revoir quoy qu'elle ne luy eust pas tousjours elle aussi fidelle que marcelle cette princesse eut encore beaucoup de satisfaction de scavoir qu'elle verroit deux personnes que panthee avoit fort aimees en voyant doralise et pherenice qui estoit avec elle jamais voyage n'a este fait avec plus de joye que celuy-la on voyoit sur le visage des soldats je ne scay quelle fierte gaye que le plaisir luy inspiroit ils marchoient d'un air qui faisoit connoistre qu'ils estoient bien aises d'estre a la fin de leurs travaux et l'on voyoit enfin quoy qu'ils ne fussent pas effectivement couronnez de laurier qu'ils venoient de vaincre et que rien ne leur avoit resiste mandane de son coste s'imaginant que chaque pas qu'elle faisoit la raprochoit du roy son pere sans l'esloigner de cyrus avoit une satisfaction estrange et trouvoit une notable difference de ce voyage la a ceux qu'elle avoit faits avec le roy d'assirie et le roy de pont cyrus en son particulier pensant que ciaxare ne luy pourroit refuser mandane qu'il luy rendroit n'avoit plus d'autre inquietude que celle de se voir bien tost vainqueur du roy d'assirie et a la reserve de mazare et d'anaxaris il n'y avoit personne dans toute l'annee qui ne fust bien aise de remener mandane en medie cependant ceux de thybarra firent une magnifique entree a cette princesse 
 a qui cyrus presenta doralise et pherenice qu'elle receut comme des personnes a qui elle avoit de l'obligation du temps qu'elle avoit este a suze carressant aussi fort arianite et ne se souvenant plus de son infidelite passee comme mandane estoit genereuse elle ne put voir doralise et pherenice sans donner quelques soupirs a la memoire de la reine de la susiane disant a toutes deux qu'elle les conjuroit de vouloir tenir aupres d'elle la place qu'elles tenoient aupres de panthee et en effet la chose alla ainsi car mandane obligea la tante de doralise de la luy donner et pherenice suivit volontiers une aussi grande princesse que celle-la qu'elle scavoit avoir este si cherement aimee de la reine de la susiane sa maistresse de sorte qu'au partir de thybarra le prince myrsile eut la joye devoir que doralise estoit du voyage et qu'il pourroit quelquesfois avoir le plaisir de luy parler mais pour andramite au lieu de s'en rejouir il pensa s'en affliger car ayant descouvert que le prince myrsile aimoit doralise il eust mieux aime ne la voir pas pourveu que son rival ne l'eust pas veue cependant comme la route que cyrus avoit fait tenir se rencontra estre assez pres du tombeau qu'il avoit fait bastir a abradate et a panthee et qu'un chasteau ou mandane logea n'en estoit qu'a trente stades il y fut de fort grand matin devant que cette princesse fust esveillee pour voir si l'on avoit bien execute ses ordres voulant rendre ce dernier 
 honneur a un roy qui en mourant pour ses interests luy avoit laisse son royaume et a une reine pour qui il avoit eu une particuliere estime comme il voulut aller fort viste afin d'estre revenu devant que la princesse mandane fust habillee et en estat de vouloir partir il ne mena qu'aglatidas chrysante feraulas et cinq ou six autres aveque luy estant donc arrive au lieu ou estoit le tombeau d'abradate il vit apres estre descendu de cheval qu'il avoit este bien obei que l'ordre en estoit beau l'architecture superbe les inscriptions telles qu'il les avoit ordonnees et qu'on n'y avoit rien oublie pour le rendre digne des illustres personnes dont il enfermoit les cendres et de la reconnoissance de celuy qui le leur avoit fait bastir la veue de ce tombeau ayant mis de la melancolie dans l'ame de cyrus une resverie assez forte le surprit et l'obligea de se promener quelque temps sans rien dire le long de ce tombeau apres l'avoir regarde de sorte que ceux qui l'accompagnoient n'osant l'interrompre se tinrent a dix ou douze pas de luy sans luy rien dire
 
 
 
 
comme cyrus resvoit donc profondement au desplorable destin d'abradate et de panthee et qu'il se souvenoit aussi du malheureux estat ou il estoit lors qu'il les avoit perdus tout d'un coup oyant un assez grand bruit de chenaux fort proche de luy il tourna la teste et vit dans un chemin qui estoit assez pres de l'endroit ou le tombeau d'abradate estoit basty cinq ou six hommes a 
 cheval a la teste desquels estoit le roy d'assirie qui n'estant guere moins surpris de trouver cyrus en ce lieu la que cyrus le fut de l'y voir descendit de chenal et s'avanca vers luy avec toute la civilite que devoit avoir un homme qui venoit d'estre delivre par ce prince mais pourtant avec tout le chagrin et toute la fierte d'un rival et d'un rival malheureux et irrite comme il sieroit mal a un prince dit-il a cyrus apres l'avoir salue qui pretend que vous luy devez tenir ce que vous luy avez promis de manquer a ce qu'il vous doit il faut que je commence ma conversation aveque vous par un remerciment et que tout vostre ennemy que je suis je vous rende grace de m'avoir redonne la liberte dont je jouis presentement je pense reprit cyrus que n'ayant fait que ce que j'ay creu estre oblige de faire vous ne me devez point de remercimens si ce n'est d'avoir fort recommande a hidaspe de vous redonner la liberte le plustost qu'il pourroit et de vous rendre tout l'honneur qu'il vous doit hidaspe repliqua le roy d'assirie a fort bien execute vos ordres car arsamone ayant refuse de me delivrer il m'a delivre en surprenant le chasteau ou l'on me gardoit comme il vous le dira quand vous le verrez de sorte que je suis contraint d'advouer que vous avez fait une action heroique et que si je pouvois cesser d'estre vostre ennemy ce devroit estre en cette occasion mais je m'assure que la passion que vous avez pour mandane 
 vous a aisement fait comprendre que je n'ay pas change de sentimens ny pour elle ny pour vous et que vous n'avez pretendu autre advantage de ma liberte que celuy de vous voir plus promptement en estat de me combatre je vous suis bien oblige reprit cyrus d'expliquer mes actions comme j'expliquerois les vostres en une pareille rencontre estant certain que lors que j'ay forme le dessein de vous delivrer c'a elle avec l'intention de vous laisser jouir de la liberte toute entiere et de ne vous demander nulle reconnoissance d'une chose que je n'ay faite que parce que l'honneur vouloit que je la fisse et pour vous tesmoigner poursuivit-il que je n'avois pas dessein de m'espargner un combat en vous delivrant vous scaurez qu'en partant de cumes j'y ay laine un billet pour vous afin de vous assurer si vous y alliez que j'estois toujours prest a vous tenir ma parole cela estant ainsi reprit le roy d'assirie c'est a vous a me dire quand vous me la voulez tenir car puis qu'il n'a pas plu a la fortune que je fusse delivre assez tost pour vous aider a delivrer mandane et que par ce moyen vous y avez un nouveau droit que je ne vous puis disputer il faut encore que pour en estre plus paisible possesseur le vainqueur de l'asie en general soit le mien en particulier c'est pourquoy si vous le voulez demain au matin nous acheverons aupres de ce tombeau d'abradate le combat que nous commencasmes a sinope aupres du temple 
 de mars les gens qui vous environnent et ceux qui me suivent ne souffrant pas que ce puisse estre a l'heure mesme je scay bien poursuivit-il que je vous dois la vie et la liberte mais je scay bien aussi qu'en l'estat ou vous m'avez reduit soit en m'arrachant le sceptre de la main ou en regnant dans le coeur de mandane vous m'avez fait deux biens inutiles puis que je ne puis jamais estre que malheureux je n'ignore pas aussi que je vous parle au milieu de vostre armee et que le peu de troupes que j'y ay ne me mettent pas en seurete mais comme je vous connois quand je serois capable de vouloir penser a ma conservation ce qui n'est point je ne craindrois encore rien c'est pourquoy sans chercher quelle sera la suite de nostre combat faites s'il vous plaist que ce soit le plustost que vous le pourrez que je vous voye l'espee a la main si je suivois mon inclination reprit fierement cyrus je contenterois vostre impatience en satisfaisant la mienne et je ne partirois point du lieu ou je suis que vainqueur ou j'y demeurerois vaincu mais quelque sorte que soit l'envie que j'ay de terminer un different qui commenca des que nous nous vismes a sinope il y a une puissante raison qui veut que malgre moy je vous demande quelque temps pour vous satisfaire et je le fais d'autant plustost que je ne manque pas a ma parole en vous le demandant car enfin je vous ay promis de me batre contre vous douant que d'espouser mandane 
 et je vous promets encore que je n'y manqueray pas mais je ne vous ay pas promis de me batre devant que de l'avoir mise en lieu de seurete vous scavez poursuivit-il combien il a falu donner de batailles pour la delivrer et vous voudriez que je la laissasse au milieu d'une armee composee de tant de nations differentes dans un pais qui vient d'estre conquis et au milieu de tant de princes nouvellement assujettis qui ne recherchent que l'occasion de se revolter ha non non l'amour ny l'honneur ne me permettent point d'en user ainsi c'est pourquoy il faut que vous enduriez que je remette la princesse en lieu de seurete mais si au mesme instant que je l'auray conduite en medie je n'en parts aveque vous pour m'aller battre ou il vous plaira tenez moy pour le plus lasche de tous les hommes joint qu'a parler raisonnablement vostre interest se trouve a ce que je propose aussi bien que celuy de mandane en effet si le sort des armes vouloit que vous fussiez vainqueur quelle seurete trouveriez vous au milieu d'une armee dont vous auriez tue le general non non interrompit brusquement le roy d'assirie ne meslez point mon interest avec celuy de mandane car enfin en perdant tout le repos de ma vie je n'ay pas perdu toute ma raison c'est pourquoy je scay bien que vainqueur ou vaincu je n'ay rien a esperer a mandane elle m'a hai dans babilone devant que vous m'eussiez arrache la couronne elle ne m'aimeroit pas 
 si je vous avois tue ainsi je ne veux point vous combatre pour la posseder mais je vous veux vaincre si je le puis pour faire que vous ne la possediez pas de sorte que quant a moy le lieu de nostre combat m'est indifferent puis que vainqueur ou vaincu je ne pretends plus rien a la vie ne pouvant rien pretendre a la princesse les dieux poursuivit ce prince violent m'ont abuse par leurs oracles ne me trompez pas par vos paroles et deffaites vous promptement d'un ennemy qui a une ingratitude effroyable pour les obligations qu'il vous a qui vous envie tout le bien dont vous jouissez qui ne peut souffrir vostre gloire et qui voudroit s'arracher le coeur pourveu qu'il vous pust oster celuy de mandane ne vous amusez donc pas a satisfaire si ponctuellement la raison en cette rencontre car enfin je connois bien qu'il y en a sans doute a ce que vous dites mais apres tout si vous estes vainqueur vous ne bazarderez rien pour elle et si vous estes vaincu il pourra estre qu'elle ne demeurera pas sans protecteur si vous scaviez interrompit cyrus avec quelle peine je m'opose a ce que vous desirez vous verriez bien que je le desire pour le moins autant que vous mais j'advoue que s'agissant de la seurete de la princesse je ne croy pas que je la doive exposer comme je scay quel est vostre coeur prit le roy d'assirie je n'en pense rien qui vous soit desavantageux mais je ne scay 
 adjousta t'il brusquement si quand on scaura par toute la terre que vous avez voulu differer nostre combat on en pensera ce que j'en pense et si on ne trouvera point estrange que vous veuilliez que nous allions a ecbatane ou pour m'y faire arrester ou pour faire qu'on vous y arreste je ne vous ay pas dit reprit cyrus en rougissant de colere que je voulois conduire la princesse jusques a ecbatane mais seulement en medie bien que vous ayez este en seurete dans l'armee de ciaxare lors qu'il y estoit en personne quoy qu'il sceust ce que je vous avois promis cessez donc injuste prince que vous estes de me dire des choses que je ne scaurois escouter sans fureur et sans me voir expose a preferer mon honneur a mon amour quoy qu'en cette rencontre je doive preferer mon amour a mon honneur cessez vous mesme repliqua le roy d'assirie de faire languir un malheureux prince qui n'a plus rien a esperer que vostre mort ou la sienne et ne le forcez pas a faire une laschete en le contraignant de dire dans son desespoir quel que mensonge qui vous seroit desavantageux ha c'est trop escria cyrus je ne scaurois plus resister ny contre moy mesme ny contre vous et je cede enfin malgre ma raison et malgre mon amour croyez donc que devant qu'il soit quatre jours vous serez mon vainqueur ou que je seray le vostre et c'est a dire poursuivit le roy d'assirie 
 que je seray mort ou que vous le serez nostre combat sera des demain poursuivit cyrus si je le puis mais comme je ne puis pas absolument en respondre j'ay pris un terme un peu plus long cependant afin que ceux qui nous voyent ne soubconnent rien de nostre dessein reprochons nous d'eux et allons ensemble a un chasteau ou est la princesse qui m'attend sans doute pour partir je le veux dit le roy d'assirie en soupirant quoy que ce soit une cruelle chose pour moy que d'aller voir mandane delivree par cyrus mais de grace souvenez vous pour justifier ma violence qu'un rival peut estre ingrat sans cesser d'estre genereux afin que si je suis vaincu par vous vous ne noircissiez pas ma reputation en parlant de moy a nostre princesse je ne scay repliqua cyrus s'il est permis en quelques rencontres d'estre ingrat mais je scay bien qu'il faut tousjours estre raisonnable et que ny vous ny moy ne le sommes guere aujourd'huy mais puis que vous l'avez voulu je vous le dis encore une fois devant qu'il soit quatre jours le sort des armes decidera de vostre fortune et de la mienne et en decidera pour tousjours apres cela ces deux fiers rivaux remonterent a cheval et reprenant un visage plus tranquile afin de cacher leur dessein a ceux qui les accompagnoient ils prirent le chemin du lieu ou estoit mandane qui sans prevoir le malheur 
 qui la menacoit achevoit de s'habiller et s'entretenoit agreablement avec doralise pherenice mazare et anaxaris 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 la princesse mandane ne fut pas plustost achevee d'habiller que suivant sa coustume elle voulut aller au temple devant que de partir de sorte que mazare luy donnant la main pour luy aider a marcher elle sortit de sa chambre mais a peine fut elle sur le haut du perron du chasteau ou elle estoit logee qu'elle vit le roy d'assirie qui descendoit de cheval a l'autre bout de la court et qui sans attendre cyrus se hastoit 
 de s'aprocher d'elle avant qu'elle eust le temps d'entrer dans son chariot la surprise de mandane fut si grande qu'elle s'arresta tout court au lieu d'avancer et donna loisir a ce malheureux prince de s'aprocher d'elle et de luy parler avec ce mesme respect qu'il luy avoit tousjours rendu malgre l'impetuosite de son humeur et la violence de sa passion je ne doute nullement madame luy dit-il apres l'avoir saluee que ma veue ne vous surprenne et ne vous desplaise et que je ne sois tousjours l'objet de vostre colere et de vostre haine mais puis que le roy vostre pere m'a bien souffert dans son armee tout criminel que j'estois et envers luy et envers vous et que cyrus m'endure bien dans celle qu'il commande tout son rival que je suis je dois ce me semble esperer que vous me permettrez de vous suivre jusques a ce que vous soyez ou vous voulez aller et qu'apres avoir perdu toutes choses pour l'amour de vous vous ne me refuserez pas la grace de souffrir que je vous serve d'escorte principalement ne la refusant pas au prince mazare bien qu'il soit plus criminel que moy le prince mazare reprit mandane ayant efface son crime par un genereux repentir est presentement au nombre de mes amis et n'est plus au rang de mes persecuteurs mais quoy qu'il en soit seigneur dit-elle je puis vous assurer que j'ay moins de chagrin de vous voir dans l'armee du roy mon pere que je n'en avois de vous voir 
 dans babilone en effet adjousta-t'elle la joye d'en estre sortie occupe encore si agreablement mon esprit que lors que vous estes arrive j'allois pour continuer de remercier les dieux de m'avoir ostee de vostre puissance et de m'avoir enfin redonne la liberte que vous seul m'aviez fait perdre si vous m'en croyez poursuivit-elle vous serez aussi reconnoissant que moy et vous les remercierez de vous avoir donne un ennemy assez genereux pour vous faire jouir d'un bien que vous m'aviez oste et que vous aviez perdu comme les dieux sont justes reprit fierement le roy d'assirie ils auront soin de recompenser mon rival de sa generosite c'est pourquoy vous me permettrez madame de ne leur demander autre chose que de me vanger de vostre excessive inhumanite les prieres injustes repliqua cyrus qui s'estoit aproche ne sont ordinairement escoutees par les dieux que pour punir ceux qui les font c'est pourquoy si vous m'en croyez ne leur demandez rien contre la princesse et si vous avez quelque vangeance a souhaiter ne souhaitez de vous vanger que de moy pendant que cyrus parloir ainsi la princesse monta dans son chariot ou elle fit mettre doralise pherenice et martesie apres quoy elle fut au temple suivie de cyrus du roy d'assirie de mazare de myrsile d'anaxaris d'andramite de chrysante de feraulas et de beaucoup d'autres tant que le sacrifice dura la princesse pria les 
 dieux avec une si grande attention qu'elle ne tourna ny la teste ny les yeux vers ceux qui l'accompagnoient qui n'estans pas tous si attentifs qu'elle a leurs prieres avoient des sentimens aussi differens que leurs interests l'estoient cyrus n'avoit alors dans le coeur que la perte de ce fier rival qui venoit troubler toute sa joye par sa presence le roy d'assirie quoy que fort impatient de se voir l'espee a la main contre ce prince avoit pourtant quelque espece de plaisir de voir mandane mais c'estoit un plaisir qui n'estoit pas tranquile et s'il songea aux dieux durant quelques instans pendant qu'il fut dans le temple ce fut pour leur demander tout a la fois la mort de cyrus la possession de mandane la couronne qu'il avoit perdue et d'estre vange de mazare et l'on peut mesme dire qu'il murmura plus contre eux qu'il ne les pria pour anaxaris dont la passion estoit d'autant plus violente qu'elle estoit plus cachee il souhaitoit que ces deux rivaux se pussent destruire l'un l'autre ou qu'il les pust perdre tous deux et sans pouvoir seulement imaginer par quelle voye il pourroit pretendre quelque chose a mandane il ne laissoit pas de l'aimer esperduement de desirer ardemment d'en estre aime et de le demander aux dieux pour mazare sa vertu s'estoit tellement confirmee que quelque amour qu'il eust tousjours pour la princesse de medie il ne leur demandoit plus rien que de pouvoir conserver son amitie car il 
 s'estoit si fort accoustume a combatre tous ses desirs qu'il n'osoit mesme plus faire de souhaits inutiles dans le plus profond de son coeur mais si mazare n'osoit presques rien souhaiter il n'en estoit pas de mesme du prince myrsile qui desiroit avec tant d'ardeur de pouvoir changer le coeur de la fiere et insensible doralise qu'il ne songeoit a autre chose et ne demandoit que cela pour andramite qui n'estoit pas moins amoureux que luy de cette belle personne il portoit ses desirs plus loin car il souhaitoit alors esgalement la perte d'un aussi redoutable rival que le prince myrsile et la possession de doralise pour chrysante et pour feraulas qui scavoient quel estoit l'engagement de cyrus avec le roy d'assirie ils consultoient entr'eux s'ils devoient en advertir la princesse mandane et demandoient aux dieux que cet invincible heros pust se tirer de cette dangereuse occasion aussi glorieusement qu'il avoit fait de toutes les autres ou il s'estoit trouvee pour doralise pherenice et martesie tous leurs voeux estoient pour la princesse qu'elles accompagnoient leur semblant que si elles la pouvoient voir heureuse elles le seroient aussi enfin toutes ces diverses personnes firent des prieres si differentes que les dieux qu'ils invoquoient n'eussent pu les leur accorder quand mesme ils eussent este ce qu'ils les croyoient et l'on peut dire en cette occasion que comme ceux qui sont sur la mer et qui ont dessein 
 d'aller en orient ou en occident demandent des vents tous contraires selon qu'ils en ont besoin de mesme mandane le roy d'assirie cyrus mazare et anaxaris demandoient aux dieux des choses toutes opposees les unes aux autres et par consequent impossibles le sacrifice estant acheve la princesse retourna au chasteau mais elle n'y tarda pas afin d'esviter la conversation du roy d'assirie elle voulut pourtant avant que de partir scavoir de cyrus ou il avoit trouve son rival et luy reprocher obligeamment la generosite qu'il avoit eue de delivrer son ennemy mortel s'il n'estoit pourtant que vostre ennemy luy disoit elle je n'aurois aucun droit de vous accuser mais comme il est mon persecuteur il me semble que j'ay sujet de me pleindre de ce que vous estes trop genereux le roy vostre pere m'en a donne un si grand exemple reprit cyrus que j'aurois este indigne de vostre estime si je ne l'avois pas imite et puis madame adjousta-t'il pour destourner la conversation si vous scaviez combien il y a de douceur pour moy a voir quelle difference vous mettez entre le roy d'assirie et cyrus vous ne trouveriez pas si estrange que j'eusse voulu me donner une si grande satisfaction mais de grace madame n'allez pas changer de sentimens et n'allez pas avoir trop de pitie du malheureux estat ou les armes du roy vostre pere l'ont mis car encore que la compassion soit un sentiment qui doive 
 estre dans un coeur aussi heroique que le vostre et qu'il m'importe mesme extremement que vous n'ayez pas l'ame dure je ne laisse pas de souhaiter que vous n'ayez aucune pitie de luy je vous assure reliqua mandane qu'il ne seroit pas aise que j'en pusse avoir pour un prince qui a cause tous les malheurs de ma vie mais pour vous poursuivit-elle je m'imagine qu'il y a quelques instans ou le regardant comme la cause de toutes vos conquestes et de cette grande gloire dont vous estes couvert vous le haissez un peu moins car enfin s'il ne m'eust point enlevee vous n'auriez point pris babilone vous n'auriez point soumis toute l'assirie vous n'auriez point conquis l'armenie vous n'auriez point dis-je vaincu cresus pris sardis assujetti toute la lydie non plus que les xanthiens les cauniens les joniens et les gnidiens et vous n'auriez point enfin pris cumes ny este le vainqueur de l'asie non madame repliqua cyrus mais j'aurois tousjours este a vos pieds pour vous adorer et il auroit pu estre que mes soins mes soupirs et mes services auroient un peu plus engage vostre coeur qu'il ne l'est de sorte que je puis dire qu'en faisant toutes les conquestes dont vous venez de parler j'ay manque a en faire une beaucoup plus glorieuse que toutes celles que les armes de ciaxare m'ont fait faire je pourrois si je voulois respondit la princesse mandane vous respondre assez obligeamment et vous 
 dire qu'en prenant babilone artaxate sardis et cumes vous avez peur estre plus gagne de part en mon coeur que vous n'eussiez fait par vos plaintes et par vos soupirs mais je suis trop mal satisfaite de vous pour en user ainsi ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je veuille que vous changiez aujourd'huy vostre facon d'agir avec le roy d'assirie puis qu'il est en liberte mais je vous advoue que je n'eusse pas este marrie que vous ne l'eussiez point delivre et que j'aurois mieux aime avoir a vous reprocher de n'estre pas assez genereux que de l'estre trop cependant je vous conjure poursuivit-elle de ne vous esloigner plus de moy car si vous alliez visiter quelque autre tombeau je croirois que vous me rameneriez encore le roy de pont c'est pourquoy je vous prie que cela n'arrive plus ce n'est pas que je ne juge bien que le roy d'assirie n'est pas en estat de rien entreprendre contre moy si ce n'est en entreprenant quelque chose contre vous mais apres tout sa presence m'inquiette d'une si estrange maniere et m'importune si fort que j'ay besoin que la vostre me console de l'ennuy que la sienne me donne cyrus entendant parler mandane de cette sorte craignit qu'elle ne soubconnast quelque chose de la verite c'est pourquoy afin de la rassurer il luy respondit comme un homme qui n'avoit rien de facheux dans l'esprit quoy madame luy dit-il vous voudriez que je ne me consolasse pas de la veue d'un ennemy 
 qui est cause que j'entens de vostre bouche des choses plus avantageuses pour moy que toutes celles que vous m'avez jamais dites quoy qu'il en soit repliqua cette princesse faites que je vous voye tousjours tant qu'il sera en lieu ou je le pourray voir et en lieu ou je ne le pourray faire bannir par le roy mon pere comme j'en ay le dessein car pour vous je ne veux nullement quelque importunite que sa presence me donne que vous entrepreniez de m'en delivrer puis qu'il est cause que je suis si bien traite de vous repliqua cyrus en souriant je vous obeiray sans peine apres cela la princesse se laissant conduire par ce prince entra dans son chariot ou elle ne fit mettre que doralise et martesie pherenice arianite et les autres femmes de la princesse estant dans d'autres chariots qui suivoient le sien cependant cyrus qui songeoit a tout ce qui regardoit la seurete de mandane et l'execution de son dessein changea l'ordre de la marche des troupes et fit que celles qui estoient assiriennes furent mises sur les ailes et le plus loin de la princesse qu'il fust possible il donna aussi un ordre particulier a anaxaris de veiller soigneusement a la garde de mandane ne scachant pas qu'en voulant se precautionner contre un rival il la confioit a un autre d'autre part chrysante et feraulas n'ayant pu parler a martesie tant l'heure du depart avoit este precipitee resolurent de luy dire le soir qu'il estoit 
 a propos qu'elle fist scavoir a la princesse quel estoit l'engagement de cyrus avec le roy d'assirie afin que par son authorite elle obligeast tous les princes qui estoient dans l'armee a devenir les gardes de ces deux redoutables rivaux cependant quoy qu'ils ne luy eussent pu parler comme cette fille avoit beaucoup d'esprit l'arrivee du roy d'assirie l'avoit rendue assez melancolique car elle connoissoit encore bien mieux la violence de son temperamment que ne faisoit mandane devant qui il avoit tousjours aporte soin de la cacher elle fit pourtant quelque effort sur elle mesme afin que son chagrin ne parust pas a cette princesse il est vray que l'agreable humeur de doralise servit a le luy faire cacher plus aisement car durant que mandane revoit et s'entretenoit elle mesme elle se mit a chercher dans l'air du visage de tous ces princes qui marchoient assez pres du chariot de mandane quelles pouvoient estre leurs pensees et elle leur en attribua de si plaisantes et qui convenoient si bien a leurs advantures et a la mine qu'ils faisoient alors que martesie ne pouvant s'empescher d'en rire retira mandane de sa resverie qui voulant scavoir ce qui la divertissoit tant se le fit redire par cette agreable fille qui luy redit en effet tout ce que doralise avoit fait penser a cyrus au roy d'assirie a mazare au prince artamas et a tous les autres dont elle avoit parle mais luy dit mandane qui vit alors le prince myrsile 
 et andramite assez pres de son chariot dites moy de grace ce que present ces deux esclaves que vostre beaute a faits et que l'amour a esgallez en les faisans rivaux quoy que l'un soit sujet et l'autre souverain ha madame repliqua doralise je ne puis dire ce qu'ils pensent et bien loin de songer a le scavoir je fais ce que je puis pour ne le deviner pas et pour n'entendre pas mesme ce qu'ils me disent lors qu'ils me parlent le plus intelligiblement mais madame adjousta-t'elle au lieu de vous dire ce qu'ils pensent je vous diray si vous le voulez ce que je pense d'eux je vous croy si peu sincere en pareille chose reprit mandane que je ne veux pas vous obliger a me dire un mensonge et j'aimerois mieux que vous me dissiez ce que vous croyez qu'ils pensent presentement de vous que ce que vous pensez d'eux puis que vous le voulez ainsi reprit doralise en riant je vous diray qu'avoir avec quel sombre chagrin andramite regarde le prince myrsile je croy qu'il est au desespoir de ce qu'il n'est plus muet et qu'a voir aussi je ne scay quel empressement qu'a ce prince aujourd'huy a parler a ceux qui sont aupres de luy je jurerois que s'il a parle d'amour ce n'a este que pour le seul plaisir qu'il a pris a dire une chose qu'il n'avoit jamais dite apres cela mandane se mit a luy faire la guerre et a la menacer de faire scavoir ce qu'elle disoit a myrsile si elle ne parloir un peu plus serieusement et plus obligeamment qu'elle 
 ne faisoit d'un prince aussi accomply que ce luy dont elle avoit assujetty le coeur mais pendant que doralise divertissoit mandane par son agreable humeur et qu'elle trouvoit lieu de dire mille agreables choses sur tous les objets qui luy passoient devant les yeux cyrus ne songeoit qu'a tenir sa parole au roy d'assirie le plus promptement qu'il luy seroit possible et qu'a imaginer comment il se pourroit desrober a tant de gens qui l'environnoient continuellement mais son plus grand soin estoit de songer a faire en sorte qu'en cas qu'il fust vaincu le roy d'assirie ne fust pas en estat de pouvoir disposer de la princesse cependant il s'y trouvoit bien embarrasse car de descouvrir un dessein de cette nature a beaucoup de gens l'honneur ne le permettoit pas c'est pourquoy pour prendre un milieu il fit seulement dire a tous les chefs de ses troupes que la presence du roy d'assirie luy donnant lieu de redoubler ses soins pour la seurete de mandane il les conjuroit de se souvenir de la fidellite qu'ils devoient a ciaxare et de n'en manquer jamais quoy qui peust arriver il ne creut pourtant pas encore que ce fust assez et dans la haute estime qu'il avoit pour anaxaris il fit dessein de luy confier son secret car comme il estoit capitaine des gardes de la princesse il creut que c'estoit principalement de luy dont il se faloit assurer et que c'estoit aussi par luy qu'il pourroit trouver lieu de s'aller battre contre le roy d'assirie c'est 
 pourquoy mandane ne fut pas plustost arrivee ou elle devoit coucher qu'apres qu'anaxaris suivant sa coustume eut pose les gardes aux lieux ou ils devoient estre cyrus l'envoya querir et se mit a luy parler en particulier d'abord anaxaris qui connut par l'action de ce prince qu'il avoit quelque chose d'important a luy dire et mesme quelque chose de fascheux s'imagina que ses yeux l'avoient peut-estre trahy que cyrus avoit penetre jusques dans le fonds de son coeur et qu'il y avoit descouvert son secret en descouvrant l'ardente passion dont il estoit possede il ne fut toutesfois pas longtemps dans cette erreur car a peine cyrus se vit il seul aveque luy que luy adressant la parole il faut sans doute luy dit-il que tout inconnu que vous m'estes je vous connoisse pour un homme d'une vertu extraordinaire et d'une fidelite non commune puis que je me resous a me confier a vous d'une chose qui m'importe mille fois plus que la vie puis qu'il y va de mon honneur mais comme je vous connois brave et genereux je ne puis mettre en doute que vous n'agissiez comme vous devez en une occasion aussi importante que celle qui se presente cependant quelque haute estime que j'aye pour vous et quelque grande opinion que j'aye de vostre probite je ne puis me resoudre a vous confier ce que j'ay a vous dire que vous ne m'ayez fait un serment particulier de ne le reveler point et de ne faire ny dire rien qui puisse 
 donner lieu a qui que ce soit de deviner la chose dont il s'agit mais principalement a la princesse qui la doit moins scavoir que tout le reste du monde seigneur reprit anaxaris assez surpris et fort impatient d'aprendre ce que cyrus avoit a luy dire comme l'honneur ne permet jamais de reveler les secrets d'autruy et qu'on ne doit estre maistre que de son propre secret il me semble que je pourrois me pleindre avec quelque justice de ce que vous voulez exiger de moy un serment particulier de ne dire pas ce que vous me voulez faire l'honneur de me confier neantmoins pour vous tesmoigner que je n'ay pas de peine a m'engager a faire tousjours ce que je dois je vous promets de ne dire que ce qu'il vous plaira et je vous le promets avec toute la sincerite d'un homme qui n'a jamais manque a sa parole apres cela cyrus embrassant anaxaris luy demanda pardon du leger outrage qu'il avoit fait a sa vertu en ne s'y confiant pas d'abord mais mon cher anaxaris luy dit-il si vous scaviez ce que l'amour de mandane et l'amour de la gloire font dans mon coeur et quelle est l'agitation que ces deux violentes passions y causent presentement vous m'excuseriez sans doute principalement si vous avez aime quelque chose mais afin que vous ne m'accusiez pas plus long temps il faut donc vous ouvrir mon ame et apprendre quelle est la cause de l'injure que j'ay faite a vostre fidelite en suitte de cela cyrus ayant repris 
 les choses d'assez loin apprit pourtant en peu de mots a anaxaris quelle estoit la promesse qu'il avoit faite au roy d'assirie sur le haut de la tour de sinope et quelle estoit aussi celle qu'il luy avoit faite aupres du tombeau d'abradate vous jugez bien adjousta cyrus que le secret que je vous confie est de nature a ne devoir pas estre revele non seigneur reprit anaxaris mais celuy qui le descouvre peut faire partager sa gloire a celuy a qui il le confie en luy donnant lieu de partager le peril ou celuy qui dit un si grand secret doit s'exposer ce n'est pourtant pas la mon dessein reprit cyrus et ce que je veux de vous genereux anaxaris est que vous me faciez un serment solemnel que si je suis vaincu par le roy d'assirie vous vous opposerez a luy de toute vostre puissance pour empescher que la princesse mandane ne tombe en la sienne car enfin comme je ne puis estre vaincu par luy sans mourir je ne doute nullement que s'il est mon vainqueur il ne fasse ce qu'il pourra pour exciter quelque soulevement parmy les soldats afin d'estre maistre de la princesse c'est pourquoy aprehendant qu'une armee composee de tant de nations differentes et de tant de peuples nouvellement conquis et ou il y a mesme des troupes assiriennes ne fust capable de se mutiner j'ay creu qu'il estoit necessaire que vous qui avez aquis beaucoup de credit parmy les soldats et qui avez un soin particulier de la garde de la princesse 
 fussiez adverty de l'estat des choses afin de redoubler vos soins de vous assurer de tous vos compagnons et de vous charger d'un ordre que je vous laisseray pour montrer a tous les chefs de l'armee que je commande si je succombe au combat que je dois faire et que je feray sans doute bien tost puis que n'ayant pris que quatre jours dont il y en a desja un de passe je ne veux pas attendre le dernier a tenir ma parole au roy d'assirie anaxaris entendant parler cyrus de cette sorte eut beaucoup de joye de voir qu'il ne desiroit rien de luy qu'il ne luy peust promettre sans peine et qu'il ne luy peust tenir quoy qu'il eust pourtant quelque confusion de sentir qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher d'estre rival d'un prince qui le traitoit si obligeamment mais enfin faisant effort sur luy mesme pour cacher l'agitation de son esprit il promit a cyrus avec toute l'ardeur d'un homme qui vouloit tenir sa parole de mourir mille fois plustost que de souffrir que le roy d'assirie eust mandane en sa puissance s'il arrivoit qu'il fust vaincu par luy ha mon cher anaxaris luy dit alors cyrus l'assurance que vous me donnez m'esleve si fort le coeur que je suis presque asseure de vaincre le roy d'assirie puis que je ne crains plus qu'il triomphe de mandane si le sort des armes vouloit qu'il triomphast de moy ouy mon cher anaxaris adjousta-t'il je vous devray toute la gloire que je remporteray d'avoir vaincu mon rival si je le surmonte car enfin 
 si je combatois avec la crainte que ma mort ne mist mandane en sa puissance je serois a demy vaincu devant que de combattre mais puis que vous me promettez d'employer pour cette princesse cette mesme valeur qui vous a fait faire tant de miracles dont j'ay este le tesmoin et l'admirateur je ne crains plus que mon rival puisse jouir du fruit de sa victoire et je ne crains plus mesme qu'il me surmonte mais encore une fois genereux anaxaris souvenez vous que mandane vous doit desja sa liberte et que ce que je veux de vous n'est pas plus difficile a faire que ce que vous avez desja fait dans le chasteau de cumes seigneur reprit anaxaris si vous pouviez voir mon coeur vous ne m'obligeriez pas a de nouvelles promesses et vous ne douteriez pas que je ne sois resolu de mourir pour le service de la princesse mandane croyez donc s'il vous plaist que tant que je seray vivant elle ne sera point sous le pouvoir du roy d'assirie mais seigneur reprit-il je ne pense pas que je me trouve en estat de la deffendre contre luy car si je ne me trompe sa valeur ne sera pas plus heureuse contre vous cette seconde fois que la premiere et vous le vaincrez comme vous l'avez desja vaincu si je le surmonte reprit cyrus je viendray vous rendre grace de ma victoire de sorte que soit que je sois vainqueur ou vaincu je vous seray tousjours oblige et la princesse vous devra toujours infiniment si c'est le premier adjousta-t'il 
 je vous promets de luy faire scavoir l'obligation qu'elle vous a et si c'est le dernier comme elle sera elle mesme le tesmoin et le juge de vostre valeur elle la reconnoistra sans doute comme elle merite de l'estre ainsi mon cher anaxaris vostre vertu ne peut manquer d'avoir un prix digne d'elle puis qu'elle ne peut manquer d'avoir l'estime de la plus illustre princesse du monde cependant souvenez vous sur tout poursuivit ce prince de me garder fidelite vous scavez combien l'honneur est une chose delicate et precieuse faites donc pour le mien ce que vous voudriez que je fesse pour le vostre mais adjousta cyrus ce n'est pas encore tout ce que je veux de vous car il faut que ce soit par vostre moyen que je me derobe de tant de gens qui m'accablent afin de m'aller battre contre le roy d'assirie ce qui vous sera fort aise par une voye que j'ay imaginee et que je vous diray quand il en sera temps ha seigneur reprit anaxaris si la princesse scavoit que j'eusse facilite vostre combat elle me hairoit estrangement comme elle ne le scaura pas reprit cyrus vous ne serez pas expose a ce danger mais quand elle le scauroit je m'engage a faire vostre paix si je ne suis pas vaincu apres cela cyrus et anaxaris se separerent le premier demeurant avec beaucoup de satisfaction de s'estre assure d'anaxaris et le second sentant dans son coeur tant de mouvemens differens qu'il ne pouvoit en estre le maistre la 
 confiance que cyrus avoit en luy faisoit qu'il avoit honte de n'y respondre pas sincerement mais la passion qu'il avoit pour mandane luy faisoit imaginer des choses si opposees a ce sentiment-la qu'il y avoit des instans ou il ne pouvoit s'empescher d'avoir de la joye de scavoir que deux de ses rivaux alloient estre en estat de se destruire l'un l'autre neantmoins comme il estoit brave et genereux il la retenoit autant qu'il pouvoit et condamnant ses propres sentimens quoy lasche anaxaris disoit-il en luy mesme tu te rejouis dans ton coeur de voir les deux plus vaillans princes du monde en termes de s'entre-tuer et de te deffaire de deux rivaux a la fois sans que tu sois en danger repens toy adjoustoit-il de cette honteuse foiblesse et si ces deux princes font obstacle a tes desseins desire qu'ils ne se detruisent point afin que tu ayes la gloire de les destruire mais helas poursuivoit-il en souspirant que tu fais de laschetez inutilement malheureux anaxaris car enfin quand cyrus et le roy d'assirie ne seroient plus mandane ne seroit pas pour toy et tu as lieu de croire qu'elle ne seroit jamais pour personne et que la mort de cyrus causeroit la sienne mais que dis-je reprenoit-il je m'accuse avec justice en effet poursuivoit cet amant passionne je ne pense pas que l'honneur deffende de se rejouir de la perte d'un rival quand on ne la cause point par un lasche voye attendons donc avec 
 esperance le succes de cet effroyable combat ou les deux plus grands princes du monde vont disputer la possession de la plus belle princesse de la terre mais helas adjoustoit-il encore que la fin de ce combat doit te causer de douleur infortune anaxaris car si cyrus est vaincu tu verras toutes les larmes que mandane respandra pour luy tu entendras toutes les pleintes et tous ses souspirs et tu verras toute sa douleur et si cyrus est vainqueur tu entendras aussi toutes les louanges qu'elle luy donnera tu seras tesmoin de toutes les marques d'estime qu'il en recevra et tu verras peut estre dans ses yeux autant d'amour pour luy qu'il y en a dans ton coeur pour elle pense donc anaxaris pense serieusement a te vaincre songe combien de grandes choses devroient occuper ton esprit et que l'amour n'est pas la passion qui devroit presentement regner dans ton ame ne te trompe pas toy mesme comme tu trompes les autres et ne crois pas estre anaxaris souviens toy que tu portes un nom plus illustre dont il faut soustenir la gloire et que celuy d'anaxaris que tu as emprunte ne te doit pas tousjours demeurer ne le signale donc point par une folie comme seroit celle de s'opiniastrer a aimer mandane qui ne t'aimera jamais mais qui scait reprenoit-il ce que les dieux ont resolu de toy peutestre t'ont ils reserve le fruit de toutes les victoires de cyrus la princesse que tu aimes ne te hait pas elle croit t'avoir de 
 l'obligation et elle t'en a en effet et le seul homme de toute la terre qui a quelque part a son coeur est prest d'estre expose a un grand peril laisse donc la conduite de ta vie a ces mesmes dieux qui t'ont inspire l'amour qui regne dans ton ame et sans rien faire de lasche ne fais rien contre toy ny contre la passion qui te possede mais durant qu'anaxaris s'entretenoit de cette sorte chrysante et feraulas cherchoient l'occasion de pouvoir parler a martesie afin de la disposer a dire a la princesse quelle estoit la promesse que cyrus avoit faite au roy d'assirie sur le haut de la tour de sinope mais quelque soin qu'ils y pussent aporter il leur fut impossible de la pouvoir voir parce que mandane pour esviter la veue du roy d'assirie ne vit personne ce soir la et voulut que martesie ne la quitast point d'autre part cyrus qui n'avoir alors rien de plus pressant dans l'esprit que de se batre contre son rival resolut que ce seroit le lendemain pendant que la princesse disneroit de sorte qu'il employa le reste du soir a s'assurer de ceux qu'il creut estre les plus propres a s'opposer a la violence du roy d'assirie si le sort des armes vouloit qu'il fust vaincu par luy ce fust pourtant avec tant d'adresse qu'il ne donna aucun lieu de soubconner qu'il eust aucun dessein cache pretextant seulement la chose de la presence du roy d'assirie mais afin que son rival sceust qu'il ne luy feroit pas attendre long temps la satisfaction qu'il luy avoit 
 promise il trouva lieu de luy dire que le jour suivant a la mesme heure ou il luy parloit il seroit vainqueur ou vaincu luy marquant mesme l'endroit ou il avoit dessein de le contenter de sorte que ce prince violent se voyant si pres de ce moment fatal qui devoit decider ce grand differend qu'il avoit avec cyrus depuis qu'ils se connoissoient sentit une agitation extraordinaire dans son coeur il aporta mesme quelque soin a reveiller toute sa haine toute sa jalousie et toute sa fureur afin d'estre mieux prepare a combatre il rapella dans sa memoire toutes les rigueurs de mandane et il fit tout ce qu'il put pour oublier qu'il devoir la vie et la liberte a son rival si bien que ramassant toute l'amertume de sa douleur et animant sa colere la fierte de son coeur parut encore plus dans ses yeux qu'elle n'avoit accoustume et il sentit en effet qu'il estoit si peu maistre de luy que craignant qu'on ne descouvrist son secret et qu'il ne fist luy mesme obstacle au dessein qu'il avoit s'il se laissoit voir il ne voulut pas qu'on le vist le lendemain au matin mais comme son humeur inquiette ne luy permettoit pas de pouvoir demeurer en une place des qu'il fut jour il monta a cheval pour s'aller promener jusques a l'heure ou il scavoit que mandane devoit partir de sorte que sans estre suivi que d'un escuyer il fut entretenir ses pensees au bord d'une petite riviere qui n'estoit pas loin de la cependant chrysante et feraulas 
 ne sceurent pas plustost qu'on pouvoit entrer a la chambre de martesie qu'ils y furent et luy aprirent ce qu'ils jugeoient necessaire qu'elle sceust la conjurant d'aprendre la chose a la princesse avec cette adresse qui luy estoit si naturelle helas leur dit-elle qu'il me seroit difficile de luy dire une si facheuse nouvelle sans l'affliger extraordinairement mais comme ce seroit la servir mal que de luy espargner cette douleur puis que ce seroit l'exposer a une beaucoup plus grande il faut que je vous quitte pour luy aller donner une affliction bien sensible comme martesie disoit cela et qu'elle se disposoit a quitter chrysante et feraulas afin d'aller a la chambre de mandane elle sceut par arianite que cyrus ayant eu des nouvelles de ciaxare venoit luy en dire et ne faisoit que d'entrer dans sa chambre de sorte qu'il n'y eust pas moyen que martesie peust alors parler a elle la conversation de cette princesse et de cyrus fut si longue qu'elle ne finit que lors qu'il falut aller au temple ou il la conduisit et d'ou il la ramena pendant qu'ils y furent cyrus fut un peu surpris de n'y voir point le roy d'assirie qui n'estoit pas accoustume de le laisser jamais seul aupres de mandane lors qu'il y pouvoit estre mais il fut bien plus estonne lors qu'au retour du temple estant sur le haut du perron du chasteau ou la princesse avoit couche et d'ou elle devoit partir dans une heure il vit cinq ou six soldats qui raportoient ce 
 prince extremement blesse son estonnement fut si grand qu'il ne put s'empescher de le tesmoigner de sorte que la princesse tournant la teste et voyant ce qu'il voyoit deumeura aussi surprise qu'il estoit surpris martesie qui estoit derriere mandane eut aussi sa part de l'estonnement mais ce fut un estonnement mesle de quelque joye voyant que cet accident mettoit cyrus en seurete anaxaris au contraire s'affligea du malheur arrive au roy d'assirie parce que cela reculoit du moins son combat avec cyrus ce n'est pas qu'il ne voulust s'opposer a un sentiment qu'il ne trouvoit pas genereux mais il ne put le retenir principalement parce que mandane et cyrus estoient alors ensemble et devant ses yeux cependant comme ceux qui portoient le roy d'assirie ne pouvoient aller a un pavillon ou ce prince avoit loge sans passer aupres du perron sur lequel estoit mandane et cyrus ce malheureux amant les aperceut de sorte que sentant une confusion et un depit extreme d'estre veu en cet estat par sa maistresse et par son rival il en rougit de colere quoy qu'il eust perdu beaucoup de sang il voulut mesme faire un effort pour paroistre moins blesse qu'il ne l'estoit c'est pourquoy tournant la teste du coste de la princesse il la salua le plus respectueusement qu'il put en l'estat ou il estoit affectant mesme d'eviter de rencontrer les yeux de cyrus afin qu'il ne prist point de part a sa civilite mais quoy qu'il eust dessein d'estre civil 
 il ne laissa pas de paroistre fier et furieux cependant comme la princesse ne vouloit pas insulter sur un malheureux elle rentra dans sa chambre ou elle ne fut pas plustost que cyrus luy demanda la permission d'aller scavoir qui avoit blesse le roy d'assirie car enfin madame luy dit-il cet ennemy est d'un rang qui demande que je luy rende cette civilite joint qu'ayant l'honneur de commander l'armee du roy vostre pere je dois scavoir tout ce qui s'y pane et empescher qu'il ne s'y passe rien que de juste je n'ay garde reprit mandane de m'opposer a une civilite raisonnable pourveu qu'elle ne soit pas trop longue et qu'elle ne m'empesche pas de partir dans une heure apres cela cyrus la quitta et fut ou l'on avoit porte le roy d'assirie mais comme on luy dit qu'on le pensoit il voulut attendre a le voir que les chirurgiens ne fussent plus aupres de luy comme ils sortirent de sa chambre cyrus leur demanda en quel estat il estoit et ils luy respondirent que de trois blessures qu'il avoit la plus dangereuse estoit au bras droit mais qu'elle l'estoit extremement et qu'ainsi ils n'en pouvoient respondre luy disant en suitte que ce prince les avoit fait prier de dire qu'il n'estoit pas en danger apres cela cyrus entra dans la chambre du roy d'assirie qui venoit d'apeller un des siens pour envoyer vers luy de sorte qu'il ne le vie pas plustost que faisant un grand effort pour ne paroistre ny foible ny dangereusement 
 blesse je suis bien aise luy dit-il que vous vous soyez donne la peine de me venir voir et je suis bien marry reprit cyrus que vous soyez en estat de m'obliger a vous faire la visite que je vous rends ne vous affligez pas tant de mon mal repliqua fierement ce prince en abaissant la voix de peur d'estre entendu de quelqu'autre que de cyrus car si je ne me trompe je seray guery devant que vous puissiez arriver a ecbatane quand j'y arriverois auparavant repliqua cyrus cela ne changeroit rien a ce que je vous ay promis je vous en conjure respondit le roy d'assirie et pour vous y obliger scachez que quand la blessure que j'ay au bras droit seroit plus grande qu'elle n'est et que j'en demeurerois estropie j'aprendrois a me battre de la main gauche plustost que de vous ceder volontairement la princesse car enfin il faut que vous soyez mon vainqueur ou que je sois le vostre pour vous tesmoigner repliqua cyrus que je ne souhaite pas m'espargner un combat par vostre perte ny me prevaloir de la foiblesse que vos blessures vous causeront prenez autant de temps qu'il vous plaira pour guerir et choisissez qui vous voudrez pour vous traitter mais apres cela dites moy quel heros ou quels assassins vous ont mis en l'estat ou je vous voy vous l'aprendrez sans doute bien tost de la bouche de mon vainqueur reprit brusquement le roy d'assirie car je ne doute pas qu'intapherne ne vienne bientost 
 vous demander recompense d'avoir pense vous deffaire d'un ennemy quoy qu'il n'ait combatu que pour ses interests il doit pourtant poursuivit-il vous rendre grace de sa victoire car si l'extreme envie que j'ay eue de le vaincre promptement afin de me pouvoir batre aujourd'huy contre vous ne m'eust fait precipiter dans ses armes il ne m'auroit pas vaincu si facilement tout brave qu'il est apres l'experience que j'ay faite de vostre valeur repliqua cyrus je croy aisement ce que vous dites cependant je puis vous assurer que si le prince intapherne n'estoit pas fils de gadate a qui j'ay de l'obligation j'aurois peine a le bien recevoir quelque accomply qu'il puisse estre voyant qu'il est cause que nostre combat est differe mais pour ne le differer pas moy mesme en augmentant vostre mal par une trop longue visite vous souffrirez que je me retire apres vous avoir promis encore une fois de ne manquer pas a ma parole et vous avoir assure que j'ordonneray ceux des miens qui demeureront aupres de vous de vous servir avec autant de respect que moy mesme et d'avoir autant de soin de vostre vie que si elle estoit aussi necessaire a ma felicite qu'elle y a este contraire ha trop heureux rival s'escria le roy d'assirie en levant les yeux au ciel ne m'accablez pas davantage de generosite et contentez vous d'avoir celle de me tenir exactement vostre parole apres cela ce prince violent n'estant plus maistre de luy 
 mesme se tourna brusquement de l'autre coste et se mit a accuser la fortune de l'opiniastrete qu'elle avoit a s'oposer a tout ce qu'il souhaitoit de sorte que cyrus n'ayant plus rien a luy dire sortit de sa chambre et commanda effectivement a ceux qui demeurerent aupres de luy d'en avoir beaucoup de soin ainsi ce genereux prince par un sentiment tout a fait heroique songeoit a conserver la vie d'un ennemy qui ne souhaitoit vivre que pour luy donner la mort mais a peine cyrus fut-il hors du pavillon ou son rival estoit loge que ce malheureux roy apella un des siens et l'envoya vers la princesse mandane pour luy dire qu'il estoit au desespoir de ne pouvoir l'accompagner comme il en avoit eu le dessein mais qu'il esperoit pourtant la rejoindre devant qu'elle arrivast a ecbatane la conjurant toutesfois s'il se trompoit en ses conjectures et qu'il mourust des blessures qu'il avoit de luy accorder la grace de ne se resjouir point de sa mort celuy qui fut charge d'un message si extraordinaire s'aquita de sa commission fort diligemment il trouva pourtant que la princesse estoit preste d'entrer dans son chariot pour partir cyrus estant alors aupres d'elle ou il luy rendoit compte de l'estat ou estoit le roy d'assirie mais a peine eut elle ouy ce que ce prince luy mandoit que prenant la parole pour respondre a celuy qui luy avoit parle vous direz au roy vostre maistre luy dit-elle que je ne me suis 
 jamais rejouie de la mort de mes plus grands ennemis parce que je ne l'eusse pu faire sans quelque espece d'inhumanite mais assurez-le en mesme temps que je me resjouirois extremement si j'aprenois qu'en guerissant de ses blessures il eust retrouve la sante de l'esprit aussi bien que celle du corps apres cela mandane suivie de doralise de pherenice et de martesie entra dans son chariot qui commenca de marcher a l'heure mesme en suite de quoy cyrus monta a cheval suivi de tous les princes qui l'accompagnoient a la reserve de mazare qui demeura un quart d'heure derriere les autres pour aller faire une visite au roy d'assirie mais il le trouva si chagrin et si inquiet qu'il fut contraint de le quitter bien tost de sorte qu'il luy fut aise de rejoindre la princesse mandane cependant cyrus avoit laisse ordre en partant a un des siens de luy mander exactement l'estat ou seroit le roy d'assirie et de le luy mander secretement pour une raison qu'il avoit dans l'esprit il avoit aussi envoye querir gadate pour luy aprendre que c'estoit le prince son fils qui avoit blesse le roy d'assirie et pour luy demander s'il avoit sceu qu'il deust venir seigneur luy dit-il en marchant toujours je luy escrivis par l'envoye d'arsamone et je luy commanday de venir m'aquiter envers vous par quelques services considerables des obligations que je vous ay scachant bien que le roy de bithinie n'avoit plus de guerre dans ses 
 estats et qu'il ne pouvoir pas l'empescher de venir mais depuis cela je n'en ay point eu de nouvelles il est croyable repliqua cyrus que nous le verrons bien tost car de la facon dont le roy d'assirie m'a parle je suis assure que le prince intapherne n'est pas blesse quoy que le roy d'assirie reprit gadate en soupirant ait autresfois donne mille sujets de pleintes a mon fils du temps que la reine nitocris vivoit et qu'il y ait aparence qu'il luy en ait encore donne d'autres en bithinie je ne laisse pas d'estre fort afflige de son combat et de sa victoire car enfin comme il est nay son vasal s'il n'a pas este force a se battre il sera batu legerement et mal a propos vous parlez avec tant de sagesse repliqua cyrus qu'il est croyable que le fils d'un homme aussi prudent que gadate ne se sera pas batu imprudemment du moins vous puis-je assurer adjousta-t'il qu'il n'a pas vaincu le roy d'assirie sans gloire pendant que cyrus et gadate s'entretenoient ainsi en marchant cresus et le roy d'hircanie parloient ensemble de la vertu de cyrus le prince myrsile et le prince artamas s'entretenoient aussi assez agreablement de la passion qu'ils avoient dans l'ame le premier soutenant qu'on pouvoit cesser d'esperer sans cesser d'aimer et le second qu'on ne cessoit point d'estre amant pour estre mary quand on aimoit veritablement pour mazare quand il eut rejoint la troupe il s'y mena sans parler a personne trouvant assez de quoy occuper son esprit dans 
 ses propres pensees sans avoir besoin de la conversation d'autruy d'autre part anaxaris dont l'ame estoit agitee de mille choses differentes cherchant alors a faire amitie particuliere avec quelqu'un pour luy pouvoir confier son secret parloit avec andramite de qui l'esprit luy plaisoit et qu'il connoissoit avoir une estime particuliere pour luy et en effet on peut dire qu'andramite n'avoit guerre moins d'envie d'aquerir l'amitie d'anaxaris qu'anaxaris en avoit de posseder celle d'andramite d'ailleurs chrysante et feraulas voyant le roy d'assirie blesse et scachant qu'il l'estoit assez dangereusement et qu'ils s'esloignoient de luy avoient dit a martesie devant qu'elle entrast dans le chariot de mandane qu'ils ne luy conseilloient pas de dire ce qu'elle scavoit a la princesse puis que ce seroit l'affliger inutilement veu l'estat ou estoit le roy d'assirie de sorte que martesie ayant repris son humeur ordinaire et doralise n'ayant pas perdu l'enjouement de la sienne le voyage se fit agreablement ce jour la on eust dit mesme que la campagne s'estoit paree pour plaire a tant d'honnestes gens que la fortune avoit assemblez car le pais qu'ils traversoient estoit si agreable et si beau qu'on peut dire qu'ils ne passoient presques en pas un lieu qui n'eust pu estre judicieusement choisi par un grand peintre pour en faire un admirable tableau s'ils trouvoient une riviere elle serpentoit agreablement dans 
 des prairies bordees de saules et d'alisiers s'ils traversoient une plaine elle n'estoit ny trop bornee ny d'une si vaste estendue qu'elle en parust trop solitaire s'ils trouvoient des valons c'estoit de ceux ou l'on voit des chuttes d'eaux des fontaines des ruisseaux et de l'ombrage et s'ils montoient des montagnes c'estoit encore de celles qui sont hautes sans estre rudes et qui en s'eslevant donnent lieu a ceux qui arrivent au sommet de voir tout a la fois des villes des villages des hameaux des rivieres plusieurs grands chemins qui se croisent des gens qui voyagent divers troupeaux qui paissent plusieurs bastimens magnifiques de grands rochers en loingtain et la mer en esloignement de sorte que quand la princesse mandane n'eust pas eu de quoy s'entretenir elle mesme et qu'elle n'eust pas eu avec elle trois personnes extremement aimables et fort divertissantes elle eust trouve en la seule diversite du pais qu'elle traversoit de quoy occuper ses yeux agreablement et de quoy resver sans chagrin aussi passa t'elle ce jour-la avec plus de plaisir qu'elle n'en avoit eu depuis long temps et il passa en effet si viste pour elle que lors qu'elle arriva ou elle devoit coucher elle ne pensoit pas avoir fait la moitie du chemin qu'elle devoit faire mais enfin que cette journee finist encore plus agreablement le hazard fit qu'en descendant de son chariot pour entrer dans la maison d'un sacrificateur 
 qui estoit la plus belle du bourg ou elle estoit elle vit sortir de cette maison ou elle alloit entrer un homme d'admirablement bonne mine et qui tesmoignoit assez par son habilement et par l'air de son visage qu'il estoit de grande condition mais ce qui la surprit fut de voir qu'il en sortoit par une porte desgagee et qu'au lieu de venir a elle il alloit prendre un assez grand tour sans qu'elle peust deviner pour quel dessein il est vray qu'elle ne fut pas long temps en cette peine car des qu'elle fut dans sa chambre cyrus luy amena cet estranger que gadate luy avoit presente je pense madame luy dit ce prince en luy presentant cet illustre inconnu qu'il suffit que je vous die que celuy que je vous amene est fils du sage et genereux gadate pour vous obliger a le recevoir comme un des princes du monde qui a le plus de merite il suffit en effet repliqua-t'elle de me faire scavoir que c'est le prince intapherne pour faire que j'aye une grande estime pour luy mais je ne scay adjousta-t'elle obligeamment en regardant cyrus si je dois adjouster foy a vos paroles car le moyen de croire qu'un homme qui a fait un grand combat et vaincu un ennemy aussi redoutable que le roy d'assirie puisse estre en l'estat ou je le voy comme c'est la fortune qui preside aux combats respondit modestement intapherne elle fait quelquesfois vaincre sans peine ceux qui devroient estre vaincus joint qu'a parler encore plus veritablement 
 je puis dire que je vous dois ma victoire aussi bien qu'a l'illustre cyrus puis que si le roy d'assirie n'a pas elle mon vainqueur c'est sans doute que les dieux n'ont pu souffrir qu'un prince qui est l'ennemy de l'un et le persecuteur de l'autre pust estre heureux en quelque chose ainsi madame ayant vaincu par vous j'ay presque vaincu sans gloire et si je n'esperois meriter vostre estime par quelque service considerable plustost que par cette action que vostre vertu et non pas ma valeur a rendue heureuse je serois inconsolable la modestie sied si bien avec la veritable valeur reprit mandane que je ne puis que je ne vous loue extremement de parler avec tant de moderation d'une chose qui pourroit rendre excusable un sentiment de vanite presques en tout autre coeur qu'en celuy du prince intapherne apres cela mandane pour faire changer d'objet a la conversation et pour faire que le roy d'assirie n'y eust plus de part se mit a luy parler de la princesse istrine sa soeur et de la princesse de bithinie et a luy demander si arsamone sembloit tousjours estre resolu de ne consentir jamais au mariage du prince spitridate et de la princesse araminte il en est si esloigne repliqua intapherne qu'il n'est rien que je ne le croye capable de faire plustost que de consentir a cette alliance et si vous scaviez tout ce qu'il a fait et pendant la prison du prince spitridate et pendant celle du roy d'assirie vous ne douteriez pas de ce 
 que je dis cyrus entendant parler intapherne de cette sorte eust bien voulu dire qu'arsamone avoit tort de ne vouloir pas que spitridate espousast une des plus vertueuses princesses de la terre mais se souvenant que mandane en avoit eu quelques sentimens de jalousie il n'osa la louer en cette rencontre et il se contenta de dire qu'arsamone estoit indigne de la grace que les dieux luy avoient faite de reconquerir son estat puis qu'il traittoit le prince son fils comme il faisoit luy qui estoit un des plus illustres princes du monde mandane voulut alors engager intapherne a luy dire comment arsamone avoit fait arrester spitridate pour la seconde fois comment il estoit sorty de sa prison et pourquoy le roy de bithinie avoit aussi fait arrester le roy d'assirie mais il luy respondit que ce n'estoit pas une chose qu'il peust faire en peu de paroles car enfin mandane luy dit-il pour vous dire tous les sentimens d'arsamone il faudroit presques vous dire tous les divers interests de quatre ou cinq personnes qui n'ont pas l'honneur d'estre assez connues de vous pour vous donner la curiosite de les scavoir en suite cyrus tascha de l'engager a dire du moins la cause de son combat avec le roy d'assirie mais il ne l'y put encore obliger ce prince luy disant que leur demesle ayant commence a babilone durant la vie de la reine nitocris il y auroit trop de choses a dire en un temps ou la princesse mandane avoit plus 
 besoin de se reposer que de se donner la peine d'escouter un si long recit intapherne en parlant ainsi augmenta la curiosite de mandane et celle de cyrus plustost que de la diminuer ils ne voulurent pourtant pas le presser davantage jugeant bien qu'il avoit peutestre beaucoup de choses a dire qu'il ne leur voudroit pas aprendre devant tant de monde de sorte que changeant de discours le reste de la conversation fut de choses indifferentes mais intapherne parut avoir tant d'esprit qu'il commenca des lors d'avoir beaucoup de part a l'estime de mandane et de cyrus et en suitte a celle de tous les princes qui estoient de ce voyage et qui se trouverent a cette premiere entre veue il eut aussi beaucoup de part a celle de doralise qui n'estoit pas une chose qu'elle donnast legerement mais pour martesie elle ne se contenta pas de l'estimer car elle eut encore de l'amitie pour luy ne luy estant pas possible de n'en avoir point pour un homme qui en vainquant le roy d'assirie l'avoit mise hors de la necessite de dire une chose a la princesse mandane qui l'eust extraordinairement affligee si bien que sans luy en dire la cause elle vescut aveque luy comme s'il eust este de sa connoissance il y avoit desja longtemps elle luy rendit mesme office aupres de la princesse mandane luy parlant avantageusement de luy mais a dire la verite il n'estoit pas difficile car intapherne estoit fort aimable et n'avoit pas moins d'esprit 
 que de coeur de sorte qu'il contribua encore beaucoup par sa presence a rendre la suite du voyage plus agreable cependant comme mandane remarqua aisement qu'il se lioit quelque sorte d'amitie entre intapherne et martesie et qu'elle avoit quelque curiosite d'aprendre la suitte de la vie de ce prince dont elle avoit sceu les commancemens a babilone elle luy commanda de tascher de scavoir ce qui luy estoit arrive d'autre part comme il importoit a cyrus de n'ignorer rien de toutes les choses ou son rival avoit interest il pria intapherne de luy dire precisement ce qui s'estoit passe en bithinie a la prison et a la liberte du roy d'assirie s'estonnant qu'hidaspe ne fust pas revenu aveque luy et ne luy eust rien mande seigneur luy dit-il ce que vous avez envie de scavoir est de telle nature que je suis assure que vous ne le scauriez aprendre sans quelques sentimens douloureux car enfin il est certain que je ne puis vous dire tout ce qui s'est passe en bithinie pendant la prison du roy d'assirie sans vous aprendre que jamais personne n'a donne de plus grandes marques d'amour que ce prince en a rendu a la princesse mandane jugez donc seigneur poursuivit-il si je n'avois pas raison de refuser a cette princesse de luy faire un recit que je n'eusse pu luy faire sans rendre office a vostre rival et a mon ennemy ha genereux intapherne s'escria cyrus que je vous suis oblige de m'avoir refuse ce que je vous demandois 
 puis que vous ne pouviez me l'accorder sans favoriser le roy d'assirie mais de grace demeurez s'il vous plaist dans les sentimens ou vous estes et pour l'amour de moy ne satisfaites jamais la curiosite de la princesse ce n'est pas poursuivit-il que je sois capable d'une jalousie qui luy soit injurieuse mais c'est que la plus dure chose du monde a souffrir est que la personne qu'on aime scache qu'un rival luy a donne quelque marque d'amour et je ne scay s'il n'y a point quelques instans ou j'aimerois mieux que mandane m'accusast de quelque faute que de scavoir que mon rival luy eust donne quelque grande preuve de sa passion il faut donc qu'elle ne scache jamais ce qui s'est passe en bithinie respondit intapherne je vous en conjure repliqua cyrus mais poursuivit cet amoureux prince je ne scay si je dois desiter moy mesme de le scavoir et si la douleur que j'auray d'aprendre qu'il aura este assez heureux pour trouver une occasion de signaler son amour ne sera pas plus grande que le plaisir que je recevray de contenter ma curiosite comme intapherne alloit respondre il arriva un second courier de ciaxare mais au lieu que le premier n'estoit venu que pour remercier cyrus de l'obligation qu'il luy avoit d'avoir delivre mandane celuy cy aprenoit a ce prince qu'enfin thomiris estant guerie de cette maladie languissante qui l'avoit pense faire mourir sembloit reprendre les premiers desseins qu'elle avoit eus 
 contre la medie et que le rendez-vous general de ses troupes estoit a trois journees de l'araxe cette nouvelle qui eust fort afflige cyrus si elle fust venue pendant le siege de cumes ne luy donna pas grande inquietude puis que mandane estoit delivree il pensa mesme que le bruit de la liberte de cette princesse feroit changer de dessein a cette reine irritee de sorte que sans s'en inquietter il ne songea qu'a cacher ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre a la princesse mandane de peur qu'elle ne s'en affligeast cependant le soin qu'il aporta a empescher intapherne de faire scavoir a cette princesse tout ce qu'il luy aprit a luy le lendemain devant qu'elle fust en estat de partir fut ce qui le luy fit plus tost scavoir car comme martesie en pressa diverses fois intapherne il s'en diffendit si opiniastrement que cela fit qu'elle s'opiniastra aussi davantage a vouloir qu'il le luy dist mais luy disoit-elle pourquoy ne voulez vous pas me faire l'honneur de me dire ce que je meurs d'envie d'aprendre pensez vous que je n'aye pas sceu les commencemens de vostre vie croyez seigneur croyez que j'ay trop este a babilone pour ne scavoir point de vos nouvelles et pour vous le tesmoigner je vous rediray si vous le voulez parole pour parole toute cette longue et aigre conversation que vous eustes avec le roy d'assirie du temps de la reine nitocris lors que vous sousteniez les beautez brunes au prejudice des blondes et qu'il vous dit certaines 
 choses qui vous obligerent a luy respondre d'une maniere qui faisoit voir que vous aviez le coeur un peu trop haut pour un sujet ou du moins pour un vassal mais puis que vous scavez toute ma vie reprit-il en la voulant refuser civilement que vous pourrois-je dire davantage vous pourriez m'aprendre ce qui vous est arrive en bithinie reprit elle ha pour cela aimable martesie luy dit-il ne me le demandez pas car je ne puis vous l'accorder intapherne dit ces paroles d'un air qui fit connoistre a martesie qu'en effet il faloit qu'il y eust quelques raisons qui l'obligeoient d'en user ainsi de sorte que sa curiosite redoubla de beaucoup mais ce qui l'augmenta encore fut que la princesse mandane l'ayant sommee de la promesse qu'elle luy avoit faite de scavoir ce qu'elle vouloit apprendre se mit a l'accuser malicieusement de peu d'adresse afin de l'obliger a employer toute la sienne en cette occasion et comme ce fut dans son chariot et en presence de doralise qu'elle luy fit cette guerre cette redoutable personne se joignant a mandane pour la tourmenter elle pensa desesperer ce jour la pour moy luy disoit doralise voyant qu'elle faisoit plaisir a cette princesse si je pouvois estre capable de prendre autant de soin a aquerir l'amitie de quelqu'un que je vous en ay veu avoir pour obliger intapherne a vous donner la sienne j'aurois une honte estrange d'y avoir si mal reussi cependant il faut que toute charmante 
 que vous estes vous n'ayez aucun pouvoir sur luy puis qu'il refuse de vous dire une chose que sans doute toute la bithinie scait ne diroit-on pas madame repliqua martesie en regardant mandane que j'ay eu dessein de donner de l'amour au prince intapherne veu comme doralise parle pour de l'amour reprit cette princesse je ne pense pas qu'on vous accuse d'en vouloir a ce prince mais enfin il faut tomber d'accord ou que vous ne m'obeissez pas exactement ou que le prince intapherne vous obeit mal mais madame repliqua martesie comme je n'ay aucun droit de luy commander il faut que je me contente d'avoir recours aux prieres ha martesie interrompit doralise intapherne vous traite encore plus mal que je ne pensois puisque selon moy on offence plus en refusant une priere qu'en desobeissant a un commandement en effet a parler avec sincerite je sens naturellement dans mon coeur tant de disposition a ne pouvoir souffrir qu'on me commande quelque chose que je pardonne plus volontiers a ceux qui resistent aux commandemens qu'a ceux qui refusent les prieres qu'on leur fait c'est pourquoy je trouve que puis que vous avez prie et prie inutilement il y va estrangement de vostre gloire d'avoir este refusee par le prince intapherne mais reprit mandane en parlant a martesie si vous n'avez employe que des prieres pour scavoir ce que je veux que vous scachiez vous n'avez pas agy comme il falloit agir 
 car enfin il est certaines choses qu'il faut ne tesmoigner pas avoir trop envie d'aprendre pour les scavoir si vous scaviez madame repliqua martesie tout ce que j'ay fait vous seriez satisfaite de mes soins plus vous dites en avoir pris reprit doralise plus vous vous couvrez de confusion puis qu'ils ont si mal reussi mais de grace dit alors martesie essayez a vostre tour de faire dire au prince intapherne ce que la princesse veut scavoir si la princesse me l'avoit commande comme a vous reprit elle je luy aurois desja obei mais comme elle ne m'a pas fait cette grace je n'ay garde de vouloir vous oster la gloire de luy rendre ce petit service c'est pourquoy puis que vous n'avez encore fait que prier le prince intapherne employez quelque autre moyen faites luy dire en diverses fois ce qu'il ne vous veut pas dire en une seule faites luy cent questions detachees les unes des autres afin de luy faire advouer plus qu'il ne voudra tesmoignez tantost de scavoir ce que vous luy demandez et tantost de ne vous en soucier plus faites tantost la douce et tantost la fiere et quand vous aurez tout essaye inutilement je scay encore une autre voye infaillible pour luy faire dire ce que la princesse veut scavoir vous n'avez donc qu'a me l'aprendre reprit martesie car j'ay fait tout ce que vous venez de me conseiller et mesme plus que vous n'avez dit c'est pourquoy dites moy promptement quelle est cette invention dont vous croyez l'evenement 
 si certain je m'assure repliqua doralise en souriant que la princesse tombera d'accord qu'un des plus seurs moyens qu'il y ait de scavoir les secrets de quelqu'un est de luy confier les siens je ne scay pas si ce que vous dites est vray interrompit martesie mais je scay bien que vous n'avez jamais sceu les secrets de personne en disant les vostres quoy qu'il en soit poursuivit doralise essayes ce que je dis et commencez des ce soir a dire au prince intapherne tout ce qu'il y a eu de particulier en vostre vie principalement depuis le jour que l'illustre cyrus arriva a sinope sous le nom d'artamene sans oublier mesme cette longue conversation que vous eustes hier avec feraulas et si apres cela intapherne ne vous dit tous ses secrets je m'engage a vous dire tous les miens qui est la chose du monde que je hais le plus et que je fais le moins mandane entendant parler doralise de cette sorte ne put s'empescher d'en rire principalement voyant qu'il s'en falloit peu que martesie ne fust en colere car encore qu'elle eust infiniment de l'esprit qu'elle entendist admirablement raillerie et qu'elle connust bien que la guerre qu'on luy faisoit estoit une guerre innocente le nom de feraulas l'ayant fait rougir elle en eut un depit estrange dont elle eust bien eu envie de se vanger sur doralise mais il n'y avoit pas moyen car de l'humeur dont elle estoit les noms de myrsile d'andramite et de tous ceux qui l'avoient aimee ne 
 luy eussent pas fait batre le coeur de sorte que martesie fut contrainte de souffrir ce jour sa tout ce qu'il plut a doralise cependant apres avoir assez raille la princesse mandane parlant plus serieusement dit a martesie que la resistance que luy faisoit intapherne augmentoit estrangement sa curiosite s'imaginant qu'il falloit que cyrus ou elle eussent quelque interest aux choses qu'il ne vouloir pas dire si bien que martesie pour satisfaire mandane et pour faire cesser les reproches que doralise luy avoir faits s'avisa qu'il y avoit un homme de condition nomme orcame aupres du prince intapherne qui estoit fort bien aveque luy par qui elle pourroit scavoir ce qu'elle avoit envie d'apprendre car a la derniere conversation qu'il avoit eue avec elle il luy avoit fait connoistre qu'il estoit attache aux interests de ce prince des le temps qu'il estoit a babilone et ce qui le luy fit esperer fut qu'orcame luy avoit plus d'une fois voulu dire ses propres secrets quoy qu'il n'y eust guerre qu'il la connust car comme c'estoit un des hommes du monde qui faisoit le mieux un recit il ne laissoit pas son talent inutile c'est pourquoy lors qu'il n'avoit plus rien a dire des avantures des autres il disoit volontiers les siennes martesie ayant donc espere de luy persuader de luy apprendre ce qu'il scavoit de son maistre et tout ce qui s'estoit passe en bithinie promit tout de nouveau a mandane de contenter sa curiosite et en effet 
 elle ne manqua pas a sa parole cependant comme elle ne pouvoit guerre parler que le soir a orcame il luy falut trois jous devant que d'avoir pu l'amener au point de luy persuader de luy dire les avantures d'intapherne quoy qu'il aimast assez a faire des recits de cette nature elle agit pourtant avec tant d'adresse qu'elle luy persuada qu'il estoit mesme important a intapherne que la princesse mandane sceust tous ses interests afin de le servir quand l'occasion s'en presenteroit de sorte qu'orcame qui ne scavoit pas que cyrus avoit prie son maistre de n'aprendre point a la princesse mandane ce qui s'estoit passe en bithinie et qui scavoit bien qu'il avoit raconte toute cette avanture a ce prince ne fit pas grande difficulte de faire scavoir a mandane ce que cyrus scavoit desja et il s'y resolut d'autant plustost qu'il n'avoit rien a dire qui ne fust glorieux au prince son maistre si bien que martesie luy ayant persuade ce qu'elle vouloit fut l'heure mesme trouver mandane aupres de qui doralise estoit elle ne fut pas plustost aupres de cette princesse que prenant la parole enfin madame luy dit-elle vous scaurez les secrets d'intapherne sans qu'il m'en couste les miens car orcame m'a promis de vous les dire quand il vous plaira de le luy ordonner ce sera des demain au soir dit la princesse car j'ay sceu que la journee que nous devons faire ne sera pas grande et que nous arriverons de bonne heure 
 ainsi je n'auray qu'a me retirer un peu plustost qu'a l'ordinaire pour luy en donner la commodite la chose ayant este ainsi resolue martesie advertit orcame et le jour suivant mandane feignant de se trouver un peu lasse du voyage ne se laissa pas voir tout le soir comme elle avoit accoustume elle eut pourtant quelque envie de dire a cyrus la veritable cause de cette lassitude dont elle se pleignoit et de faire qu'il fust present au recit qu'elle devoir escouter mais comme intapherne estoit alors aveque luy elle ne le put joint aussi que comme sa vertu estoit fort scrupuleuse et fort delicate quelque estime et quelque tendresse qu'elle eust pour cyrus elle ne voulut pas qu'il la vist lors qu'elle disoit qu'elle ne vouloit voir personne car pour orcame cela ne tiroit pas a consequence martesie voyant donc qu'il n'y avoit plus que doralise et pherenice aupres de mandane fit entrer orcame que la princesse receut comme un homme de qui elle alloit recevoir le plaisir de satisfaire sa curiosite vous ne devez pas trouver estrange luy dit elle que j'aye plustost voulu scavoir la vie du prince intapherne par vous que par luy car comme je la veux principalement scavoir afin de l'estimer encore davantage quoy que je l'estime desja beaucoup j'ay creu qu'il me cacheroit une partie de ses vertus et qu'il osteroit quelque chose a tous les plus beaux endroits de sa vie c'est pourquoy j'ay voulu que ce fust par 
 vous que j'apprisse tout ce qui luy est arrive mais de grace adjousta-t'elle faites que vostre recit ne soit pas borne par les seules avantures du prince intapherne et faites que celles de la princesse istrine y trouvent aussi leur place aussi bien ay-je sceu qu'il y a une si estroite liaison entre cet illustre frere et cette admirable soeur qu'il ne seroit pas juste de separer leurs histoires puis que leurs interests sont joints quand je le voudrois faire reprit orcame je ne le pourrois pas car madame la princesse istrine a tant de part a tour ce que j'ay a vous dire et a tout ce qui est arrive en asie et mesme a ce qui vous est arrive en vostre particulier qu'on peut presques la regarder comme la cause innocente de tant de guerres qui ont suivi ses premieres advantures en effet si la reine nitocris n'eust pas voulu absolument que le prince son fils l'eust espousee il l'auroit peutestre aimee ou du moins ne l'auroit-il pas haie et ne seroit-il pas sorty de son royaume et par consequent il n'auroit este ny ennemy ny rival de l'illustre cyrus il ne vous auroit point enlevee il seroit possible dans ses estats vous n'auriez point este sous la puissance ny du prince mazare ny du roy de pont cresus auroit encore tous ses thresors l'armenie ne seroit point tributaire le prince de cumes vivroit et tous ces grands changemens que l'on a veus en asie ne seroient point du tout arrivez sans la princesse istrine mais madame il ne faut pas seulement 
 que je vous parle du prince intapherne de la princesse sa soeur et de la princesse de bithinie mais encore du prince atergatis et du roy d'assirie et a parler raisonnablement j'ay tant de choses differentes a vous dire que je doute si je pourray donner assez d'ordre a mon recit pour faire qu'il ne vous ennuie pas la seule grace que je vous demande reprit la princesse est que vous ne fassiez pas comme ceux qui en faisant une narration n'ont autre dessein que de dire beaucoup de choses en peu de paroles car enfin il y a certains evenemens ou l'exageration est si agreable et mesme si necessaire pour les bien dire que je ne puis souffrir ces autres de paroles qui croyent avoir gagne beaucoup quand ils ont espargne quelques silabes c'est pourquoy ne renfermez point vostre esprit dans des bornes si estroites et ne songez a rien tant qu'a me dire tout ce que vous scavez orcame estant bien aise que la princesse mandane luy fist un commandement qui ne choquoit pas son inclination l'assura qu'il luy obeiroit exactement de sorte qu'apres que mandane l'eust fait placer vis a vis d'elle qu'elle eut fait donner des quarreaux a doralise a pherenice et a martesie aupres du lit sur lequel elle estoit assisse orcame commenca de parler en ces termes 
 
 
 
 
 histoire du roy d'assirie d'intapherne d'atergatis d'istrine de la princesse de bithinie
 
 
pour vous donner plus de facilite a croire que le prince intapherne et la princesse istrine ont toutes les vertus que des personnes de leur condition doivent avoir je devrois commencer mon recit par l'eloge de la reine nitocris aupres de qui ils ont este eslevez et de qui ils ont este cherement aimez l'un et l'autre mais madame cette princesse avoir tant de grandes et de rares qualitez que si j'entreprenois de vous en depeindre une partie il ne me resteroit pas assez de temps pour vous aprendre ce que vous desires scavoir joint qu'a parler raisonnablement je ne dois pas mettre en doute qu'une reine dont le nom a remply toute l'asie n'ait pu trouver quelque place dans la memoire d'une princesse dont la gloire remplit toute la terre je ne m'arresteray donc pas madame a donner des louanges inutiles a une grande reine dont je croy que vous avez estime la vert malgre les violences du roy son fils je ne m'amuseray pas non plus a reprendre les choses d'aussi loin qu'il l'eust falu faire si je n'avois pas sceu par martesie que vous n'ignores pas quelle fut 
 la passion de gadate pour nitocris et quelle fut la vertu de nitocris pour surmonter l'inclination qu'elle avoit pour gadate de sorte que je me contenteray de vous faire souvenir que n'ayant pas voulu mettre la courone sur la teste du prince qu'elle aimoit de peur de causer une guerre civile dans ses estats elle en espousa un autre qu'elle n'aimoit point et de vous dire encore qu'elle bannit celuy qui touchoit son coeur qu'elle luy commanda de se marier qu'il luy obeit et que dans la suite du temps voulant reconnoistre l'obeissance du prince gadate elle fit dessein de mettre la princesse istrine sur le throne d'assirie en luy faisant espouser le prince son fils apres cela madame je pense que vous n'aures pas de peine a croire que le prince intapherne et la princesse istrine ont este eslevez avec tous les soins imaginables estant aise de concevoir que la plus sage reine qui ait regne en assirie depuis semiramis ne destinoit pas au throne une princesse dont elle negligeast l'education et qu'elle ne manquoit pas de soins pour un jeune prince dont le pere avoit eu tant de part a son coeur et qu'elle croyoit devoir estre beau-frere du prince d'assirie et certes ses soins ne furent pas inutiles car je puis vous assurer que ces deux jeunes personnes devancerent leur age par leur beaute et par leur esprit et qu'ils furent l'admiration non seulement de toute la cour mais de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens 
 raisonnables a babilone qui comme vous le scavez est la plus grande ville du monde je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous decrire particuliement la beaute d'istrine car comme le prince intapherne en a un portrait vos yeux en pourront juger je vous diray seulement qu'on ne peut pas voir une beaute brune plus accomplie que la sienne ny qui ait plus de charmes pour l'on esprit il est tel que sa phisionomie le promet c'est a dire grand et beau et ce qui est le plus agreable c'est qu'elle a une douceur dans l'humeur qui luy gagne autant de coeurs que sa beaute cependant cette personne si douce a pourtant de l'ambition dans le coeur et elle l'a si sensible a la gloire qu'elle est tousjours en estat de luy sacrifier toutes choses jusques a ses propres plaisirs estant donc telle que je vous la depeins on luy fit esperer qu'elle seroit reine et on luy remplit tellement l'esprit de cette grandeur que des sa plus tendre jeunesse elle n'eut autre soin que d'obeir a la reine nitocris et de tascher de plaire au prince d'assirie qu'elle croyoit devoir espouser comme vous scaves madame toute la repugnance qu'il y eut sans en pouvoir dire d'autre raison sinon qu'il ne vouloit jamais ce que les autres vouloient je ne m'amuseray pas a vous l'exagerer et il suffira que je vous die que parce que la princesse istrine n'estoit pas blonde il vint a hair toutes les brunes quelques belles qu'elles pussent estre et a hair mesme 
 intapherne parce qu'il estoit son frere et en effet vous avez sceu comment il le traita un jour au retour d'une chasse ou le prince intapherne plus a droit ou plus heureux que luy avoit tue un lyon mais madame ce que vous ne scavez point du tout ou du moins ce que vous ne pouvez scavoir que fort confusement est que durant que toute la cour s'etonnoit de voir que le prince d'assirie avoit tant d'aversion a espouser la princesse istrine que tout le monde admiroit elle donna de l'amour a plusieurs mais entre les autres il y eut un jeune prince de cette cour nomme atergatis qui en devint esperduement amoureux et qui n'estoit pas moins propre a estre aime qu'a aimer le prince mazare qui le connoist vous pourroit dire s'il estoit icy que le prince atergatis est effectivement un des hommes du monde le plus aimable et le plus propre a faire un amant fidelle respectueux et discret pour sa personne elle plaist extremement et il est assez difficile de le voir longtemps sans l'aimer comme sa condition faisoit qu'il estoit de tous les plaisirs du prince d'assirie il estoit souvent le tesmoin de l'aversion qu'il avoit pour istrine et je luy ay ouy dire depuis que cette aversion avoit este en partie cause de son amour parce que ne pouvant concevoir qu'un prince d'autant d'esprit que celuy-la peut hair une aussi belle personne que la princesse istrine sans y avoir remarque quelques defauts particuliers 
 il s'estoit attache a luy parler afin de voir si c'estoit par son humeur ou par son esprit que sa beaute ne captivoit pas le coeur du prince d'assirie de sorte que la voyant tres souvent il la vit trop pour son repos car il l'aima avec tant de violence qu'on ne pouvoit pas aimer d'avantage cependant comme il scavoit que la reine nitocris vouloit absolument que le prince son fils l'espousast et qu'il remarquoit bien que la princesse istrine avoit de l'ambition il n'osoit se declarer et souffroit des maux incroyables mais ce qu'il y avoit de particulier dans son amour estoit qu'il y avoit des jours ou il entroit si fort dans les interests de la princesse istrine qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher de hair le prince d'assirie parce qu'il vivoit mal avec elle quoy qu'il n'eust rien tant aprehende que de l'en voir amoureux comme istrine n'avoit alors que de l'ambition dans le coeur et qu'elle voyoit qu'elle estoit consideree dans toute la cour comme devant estre reine d'assirie elle ne s'imaginoit pas que personne osast lever les yeux jusques a elle de sorte que quoy qu'elle vist tous les jours le prince atergatis qu'il luy parlast autant qu'il pouvoit et qu'il luy rendist mille petits services elle ne s'apercevoit point qu'il fust amoureux d'elle quoy que beaucoup de gens le remarquassant et quoy qu'elle eust beaucoup d'inclination a l'estimer le prince d'assirie le sceut mesme des premiers et en fut bien aise car dans les sentimens ou il estoit il eust ardemment 
 souhaite que la princesse istrine eust eu quelque amant qu'elle eust aime afin d'avoir un pretexte de ne l'aimer pas comme nitocris le vouloit et en effet ce prince violent voyant que les loix de l'estat vouloient qu'il espousast istrine parce qu'elle estoit seule de sa condition qu'il put raisonnablement espouser dans le royaume et que la reine nitocris s'y obstinoit et vouloit absolument qu'il luy obeist des que la paix de phrigie qu'on negocioit alors seroit faite il eust recours aux remedes les plus extremes il fit donc cent propositions bizarres au prince mazare qui ne les voulut pas escouter de sorte que scachant que le prince atergatis estoit fort amoureux d'istrine il l'envoya querir un jour pour luy dire qu'il le vouloir rendre heureux atergatis surpris du discours du prince d'assirie luy dit qu'il luy estoit en effet aise de le rendre heureux puis qu'il n'avoit pour le rendre tel qu'a luy donner l'occasion de luy rendre quelque service considerable non non reprit ce prince violent ce n'est pas en me servant que je vous veux rendre heureux mais c'est en vous servant moy mesme j'ay sceu luy dit-il sans plus grande preparation que vous estes amoureux de la princesse istrine ha seigneur interrompit atergatis je scay trop bien le respect que je vous dois pour avoir d'autres sentimens pour cette admirable princesse que ceux que je dois avoir pour une personne de qui je dois estre un jour sujet non non atergatis 
 luy dit-il ne me deguisez point la verite et advouez moy franchement que vous estes esclave de la princesse istrine sans craindre d'estre un jour son sujet car je vous assure que je ne luy mettray jamais la couronne sur la teste c'est pourquoy pour vous contenter et pour me delivrer de la persecution continuelle que la reine me fait d'espouser istrine puis que vous en estes amoureux souffres que je l'enleve pour vous et que je la mette en vostre puissance sans que je paroisse pourtant estre mesle en cet enlevement je vous donneray un azile inviolable pour retraite en attendant que la colere de la reine soit passee et que vous vous soyez fait aimer de la princesse istrine seigneur reprit atergatis fort interdit et fort embarrasse a respondre au prince d'assirie je vous ay desja dit que je n'ay pour la princesse istrine que les sentimens que je dois avoir quoy que je vous advoue que j'ay pour elle toute l'admiration dont je puis estre capable mais quand il seroit vray que j'aurois de l'amour pour cette admirable princesse je n'accepterois pas l'offre que vous me faites parce que n'aimant jamais que pour estre aime ce ne seroit pas le chemin de l'estre de cette illustre personne que de luy faire une violence comme celle-la et de luy faire perdre une couronne ainsi seigneur soit que je sois son amant ou que je ne le sois pas je ne dois point consentir a ce que vous me proposez ce que vous me dites reprit le prince d'assirie 
 me surprend si fort qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne croye qu'en effet je me suis trompe en croyant que vous estiez amoureux d'istrine car enfin je ne concoy pas qu'on puisse refuser de posseder ce qu'on aime quand mesme il faudroit faire les choses du monde les plus difficiles et mesme les plus injustes mais peutestre adjousta-t'il est ce que vous ne me croyez pas et que vous n'estes pas persuade que j'aye une aussi grande aversion pour la princesse istrine que celle que j'ay mais pour vous en assurer je vous proteste atergatis que je hais intapherne parce qu'il est son frere et que je vous hairois comme son amant si je n'esperois vous persuader d'estre son ravisseur ce n'est pas poursuivit-il que quand je force mes yeux a examiner sa beaute je ne m'estonne pourquoy je ne la trouve point belle et que ma raison ne me die aussi quelquesfois malgre moy qu'elle a de l'esprit mais apres tout elle m'ennuye et elle choque tellement mon inclination que je suis quelquesfois au desespoir de ce que je ne puis que la hair et de ce que dans le fonds de mon coeur je ne la scaurois m'espriser quoy seigneur repliqua atergatis qui avoit une peine estrange a souffrir qu'on parlast si peu avantageusement de ce qu'il adoroit il peut estre vray que la princesse istrine vous desplaise vous ennuye et choque vostre inclination quoy atergatis reprit le prince d'assirie il peut estre vray que la princesse istrine vous plaise vous charme et 
 touche sensiblement vostre coeur sans la vouloir posseder par la voye que je vous propose cependant adjousta-t'il vous l'aimez et j'ay si bien veu dans vos yeux la peine que vous aviez a souffrir que je ne parlasse pas d'elle avec admiration que je n'en doute plus du tout c'est pourquoy je vous declare qu'il faut que vous faciez de trois choses l'une ou que vous l'enleviez ou que vous vous en faciez aimer ou que vous m en facilez hair car autrement si le viens a ne vous regarder que comme un adorateur d'istrine je vous hairay peutestre avec plus de violence que si vous estiez mon rival comme atergatis cherchoit ce qu'il devoit respondre par bonheur pour luy le prince mazare et quelques autres entrerent qui rompirent cet entretien et qui luy donnerent moyen de sortir d'un lieu ou son ame avoit este a la gehenne mais pour achever de le tourmenter en sortant de l'apartement de ce prince il rencontra quelqu'un qui l'arresta assez longtemps a luy parler d'une affaire de sorte que pendant qu'il en parloit un des officiers du prince d'assirie passant aupres de luy et ayant demande a un autre ou il alloit il luy respondit tout haut que son maistre l'envoyoit querir un prince nomme armatrite si bien qu'atergatis qui scavoit que ce prince estoit amoureux d'istrine aussi bien que luy s'imaginant que le prince d'assirie n'envoyoit querir son rival que pour luy faire la mesme proposition qu'il luy avoit 
 faite en eut une inquietude si grande qu'il fut contraint de quitter celuy a qui il parloit et de s'en aller chez luy afin de resoudre en luy mesme quelle resolution il devoit prendre j'ay sceu depuis de sa propre bouche qu'il eut toutes les agitations dont un coeur amoureux peut estre capable tantost il estoit bien aise de voir que le prince d'assirie avoit de l'aversion pour istrine et tantost il en estoit en colere et il y eut mesme des instans ou il se repentit de n'avoir pas accepte l'offre qu'il luy avoit faite principalement craignant que son rival ne l'acceptast quel bizarre destin est le mien disoit-il en luy mesme en examinant cette estrange advanture j'aime une princesse qui ne scait pas que je l'adore parce que le respect que j'ay eu pour le prince a qui on la destine m'a empesche de le luy faire scavoir et ce mesme prince qui croit que ce qui seroit ma felicite feroit mon malheur m'offre de l'enlever pour moy et de la mettre en ma puissance pense atergatis disoit-il pense si tu ne dois point retourner dire au prince que tu te repens de l'avoir refuse car enfin puis qu'il ne la veut pas faire reine y a-t'il quelqu'un dans le royaume qui soit plus digne d'elle que ta violente et respectueuse passion te l'a rendu mais reprenoit-il un moment apres aurois tu bien l'insolence de faire une declaration d'amour en faisant un enlevement songe atergatis de quels yeux te regarderoit une princesse a qui tu ferois un 
 grand outrage et qui croyroit que tu luy osterois une couronne imagine toy istrine irritee pour empescher ta vertu de succomber sous ton amour pense que tu as creu toute ta vie aveque raison que qui bannit le respect de cette passion la destruit et qu'enlever une personne dont on ne possede pas le coeur est la plus injuste chose du monde et la plus grande folie qu'on puisse faire escoute donc cette raison malgre ton amour et suy ses conseils plustost que ceux du roy d'assirie mais helas s'escriroit-il si ton rival n'est pas aussi genereux que toy et qu'il accepte ce que cet injuste prince luy offrira en quel deplorable estat te trouveras tu et a quoy te servira ce respect que tu auras rendu a la princesse que tu adores qui ne scaura jamais que tu l'aimes et qui ne scauroit t'estre obligee d'une chose qu'elle ignorera toute sa vie examine donc bien atergatis quelle resolution tu dois prendre si tu ne fais point ce que veut le prince d'assirie ton rival le fera paroistre si tu enleves istrine elle te haira si tu ne l'enleve pas selon toutes les aparences un autre s'y resoudra que feras tu donc malheureux que tu es en un si estrange avanture laisseras-tu enlever ta princesse sans l'advertir du malheur qui la menace et luy auras tu rendu une si grande marque de respect et d'amour comme est celle que tu viens de luy rendre sans faire qu'elle la scache mais helas poursuivoit-il en soupirant le moyen de pouvoir aprendre en 
 un mesme moment a la princesse istrine que tu l'aimes que le prince d'assirie la hait que tu as refuse l'offre qu'on t'a faite de l'enlever pour toy et que tu es persuade que ton rival ne le refusera pas la moindre de toutes ces choses devroit te faire trembler en la luy disant puis qu'il n'y en a pas une qui ne doive luy donner de la douleur ou de la colere pense donc quel mauvais dessein est celuy de les luy dire toutes ensemble cependant il n'y a point a balancer car quand nulle autre raison ne te porteroit a luy descouvrir ce que tu scais son seul interest t'y devroit obliger quand mesme tu ne serois que son amy et que tu ne serois pas son amant mais de quels termes te pourras-tu servir adjoustoit-il pour dire des choses si difficiles a dire et qui la surprendront si fort elle ne t'a jamais regarde que comme devant estre un jour son sujet et tu vas luy aprendre qu'elle te doit regarder comme son amant et comme un homme qui souhaite de tout son coeur qu'elle ne soit jamais reine elle pense que le prince d'assirie luy mettra la couronne sur la teste et tu luy feras scavoir qu'il la veut enlever pour un autre et qu'il s'en trouvera peutestre quelqu'un qui acceptera une offre si injustice et qui choque si fort la generosite et mesme l'amour neantmoins le service que tu dois a la princesse istrine le veut et ta passion te l'ordonne mais encore une fois atergatis de quelles paroles te services tu je n'en scay 
 rien adjoustoit-il en soupirant cependant sans nous en mettre en peine laissons a nostre amour le loin de nous les suggerer telles qu'il les faudra pour persuader a la princesse que nous adorons que puis que le prince d'assirie ne l'adore pas il est indigne de son estime et que puis que nous l'aimons plus que personne n'a jamais aime nous meritons quelque part en son coeur apres cela atergatis s'estant fortement determine d'avertir istrine de ce qui se passoit et de luy donner du moins lieu de deviner son amour il attendit l'apresdisnee avec beaucoup d'impatience mais pendant ce temps-la sa raison luy representa que peutestre il s'exposoit a estre fort mal avec le prince d'assirie s'il arrivoit que la princesse istrine luy descouvrist ce qu'il luy auroit descouvert quoy qu'il luy eust dit qu'il voulust qu'il l'en fist hair cela ne l'empescha pourtant pas de suivre son premier dessein et d'aller chez la reine aussi tost que l'heure ou tout le monde y alloit fut arrivee comme la princesse istrine l'estimoit fort qu'elle le tenoit au nombre de ses amis les plus particuliers et que le prince intapherne l'aimoit cherement il espera qu'il luy seroit aise de trouver l'occasion de l'entretenir ou chez la reine ou chez elle car la maison de cette jeune princesse estoit desja faite il trouva pourtant encore cette occasion plus favorable qu'il ne l'avoit esperee car comme il faisoit alors fort chaud des que le soleil commenca de s'abaisser 
 cette princesse fut se promener dans ces admirables jardins que la fameuse semiramis fit faire autrefois et qui comme vous le scavez n'estant soustenus que sur des voutes et sur de hautes et magnifiques colomnes qui les portent ont la reputation par toute l'asie d'estre presques miraculeusement suspendus en l'air veu leur prodigieuse grandeur la princesse istrine ayant donc choisi ce jour la cette promenade y fut peu accompagnee parce que la reine n'y allant pas la foule du monde demeura chez elle comme estant celle de qui toutes les graces dependoient pour atergatis comme ce n'estoit pas la qu'il avoit affaire il se mit en estat de suivre la princesse istrine et il fut mesme si heureux que passant aupres de luy elle luy demanda s'il vouloit estre de sa promenade de sorte qu'acceptant aveque joye une si favorable occasion il luy aida a marcher comme il y a assez haut a monter pour estre dans ces merveilleux jardins qu'elle avoit choisis pour se divertir elle se trouva un peu lasse lors qu'elle y fut si bien que cherchant a se reposer quelque temps afin de se promener apres plus agreablement elle fut s'asseoir dans un cabinet qui est forme par quatre palmiers qui estant de ces deux especes qui se courbent pour s'aprocher les uns des autres lorsqu'ils en sont un peu esloignez se panchent en effet si a propos que leurs branches s'entre-croisant et se meslant les unes dans les autres font un ombrage 
 admirable en ce lieu-la dont on jouit fort agreablement et fort commodement tout ensemble y ayant des sieges de bois de cedre qui parfument ce cabinet pour peu que la chaleur soit grande la princesse istrine s'estant donc allee asseoir sous un bel ombrage le prince atergatis se vit avec toute la commodite qu'il eust pu desirer de l'entretenir car comme n'y avoit pas alors aupres d'elle d'autres personnes de sa condition que luy des qu'il commenca de parler a la princesse comme ayant a l'entretenir de quelque affaire tous ceux qui la suivoient se retirerent par respect de quelques pas seulement de sorte qu'atergatis se faisant un grand effort pour ne perdre pas des momens qui luy devoient estre si precieux madame luy dit-il avec une agitation de coeur extreme j'ay quelque chose a vous aprendre que je voudrois desja vous avoir dit parce qu'il vous importe extremement que vous le scachiez et que je n'ose pourtant vous dire si vous ne me le commandez istrine surprise du discours d'atergatis le regarda afin de tascher de diviner ce qu'il avoit a luy aprendre mais encore que ses beaux yeux rencontrassent ceux d'atergatis et qu'ils les vissent mesme tous pleins d'amour ils ne connurent point la passion qu'ils avoient fait naistre dans son coeur de sorte que ne scachant que penser j'advoue dit-elle a atergatis que j'ay quelque peine a comprendre que vous en ayez a vous resoudre 
 de me dire une chose qui m'importe car comme le vous ay tousjours creu fort de mes amis il me semble qu'au lieu de vouloir que je vous commande de parler vous devriez desja avoir parle puis que vous me l'ordonnez madame luy dit-il il faut donc que je vous obeisse et que je vous aprenne la chose du monde qui vous surprendra le plus eh de grace dit alors istrine ne m'obeissez pas encore et dites moy auparavant si ce que vous avez a me dire me doit donner de la colere de la douleur ou de la joye car comme vous le scavez on peut estre surpris par des choses agreables comme par des choses facheuses comme je suis sincer madame reprit-il je vous avoue que je n'ose croire que j'aye rien a vous dire qui vous puisse plaire et je suis mesme assure que je vous diray quelque chose qui vous desplaira mais si cela est adjousta-t'elle ne me dites donc rien du tout si ce n'est que ce que vous avez a me dire me puisse donner lieu d'esviter quelque grand malheur si ce n'avoit este par ce sentiment la reprit atergatis je me serois bien garde de former la resolution de vous dire ce que j'ay a vous aprendre mais madame il vous importe tellement de le scavoir que je puis vous assurer qu'il y va de tout le repos de vostre vie parlez donc luy dit elle et parlez mesme promptement car ce que vous venez de me dire met mon ame dans une inquietude sans objet determine qui me tourmente pourtant 
 desja estrangement je vous obeiray madame repliqua atergatis mais ce sera s'il vous plaist a condition que les premieres paroles que vous m'entendrez prononcer ne vous obligeront point a m'imposer silence et que vous souffrirez que je parle sans m'interrompre jusques a ce que j'aye acheve de vous aprendre ce qu'il importe que vous scachiez comme vous ne me scauriez ce me semble dire rien qui me fasche plus que l'incertitude ou vous me laissez repliqua-t'elle je vous escouteray comme vous voulez estre escoute car vous croyant aussi sage que je vous croy je n'ay pas lieu de craindre que vous me disiez ce que je ne dois pas entendre je vous diray donc madame luy dit-il qu'encore que toute l'assirie ait sceu que la reine vous destinoit a porter la couronne qu'elle porte en vous faisant espouser le prince son fils et qu'ainsi tous les sujets de cette grande prince n'ayant deu vous regarder que comme devant estre un jour leur reine il s'en est pourtant trouve un qui ne se croyant pas encore estre assez a vous par la qualite de sujet qui luy eust este commune avec beaucoup d'autres a voulu estre vostre esclave d'une facon plus particuliere quand je vous ay promis de ne vous interrompre pas interrompit istrine en rougissant j'ay creu qu'en effet vous aviez quelque chose d'important a me dire mais atergatis si je vous veux faire grace il faut que je croye que ce vous que me dites n'est qu'une 
 raillerie pour me divertir et qui par consequent ne merite pas que je vous tienne ma parole puis qu'elle ne me divertit point je le vous suplie madame repliqua atergatis de vous souvenir que je vous ay priee de ne m'imposer pas silence et de ne vous estonner pas des premieres choses que je vous diray mais afin de vous obliger a m'escouter paisiblement je me soumets a tous les suplices imaginables si vous ne tombez d'accord a la fin de mon discours que ce que je vous auray dit devoit estre sceu de vous et que je serois indigne de vivre si je ne vous aprenois pas ce qu'il importe tant que vous scachiez la princesse istrine connoissant alors en effet qu'atergatis avoit quelque advis important a luy donner se resolut de l'escouter sans l'interrompre ne s'imaginant mesme pas qu'atergatis et cet esclave dont il venoit de luy parler n'estoient qu'une mesme chose de sorte qu'ayant donne une nouvelle permission de parler a ce prince il reprit la parole avec autant de crainte que d'amour vous scaurez donc madame luy dit-il puis que vous me permettez de vous l'aprendre qu'il y a un homme a babilone qui a commence de vous admirer des qu'il a commence de vous voir et qui sans aucune esperance non seulement d'estre aime mais mesme de vous faire scavoir son amour n'a pas laisse de vous aimer mais de vous aimer d'une amour si pure et si detachee de tout interest que je suis assure que 
 hier a l'heure que je parle il ne croyoit pas que vous deussiez jamais scavoir sa passion cependant il vous aime plus que personne n'a jamais aime et s'il eust creu pouvoir pretendre a vous posseder sans vous faire perdre une couronne il y auroit long temps qu'il se seroit declare et qu'il vous auroit vangee de l'injustice du prince d'assirie s'il avoit mesme pense que la gloire d'estre reine n'eust pas este l'objet de vos plus ardens souhaits il vous eust sans doute fait scavoir que vous regniez plus absolument dans son coeur que vous ne pouviez jamais regner en assirie quand mesme il eust falu s'oposer directement a la reine et quand mesme le prince son fils eust eu autant d'amour pour vous qu'il en devroit avoir de sorte madame que si cet amant cache ne vous a pas descouvert sa passion c'est parce qu'il a eu autant de respect que d'amour c'est parce qu'il a creu qu'il ne devoit pas songer a vous faire perdre un royaume et qu'il n'a jamais ose esperer que vous puissiez preferer l'empire de son coeur a une couronne cependant comme sa passion est la plus violente donc jamais coeur amoureux ait este possede il a souffert et il souffre plus que personne n'a jamais souffert il auroit pourtant tousjours endure les maux dans le silence et sans se pleindre si le prince d'assirie ne luy avoit aujourd'huy dit une chose qui est cause que je vous descouvre les sentimens qu'il a pour vous car enfin madame si je puis le dire sans 
 vous offencer cet injuste prince ne vous connoist pas et ne veut point vous donner la couronne qu'il doit porter quoy que vous la meritiez mieux que luy il ne le contente pas mesme de ne vous adorer point et d'avoir des sentimens pour vous les plus injustes du monde car il veut aussi que cet amant qui vous adore en ait de tres criminels mais madame puis qu'il vous faut aprendre toute l'injustice du prince d'assirie il faut que je vous die qu'il a envoye querir celuy dont je parle qu'il luy a dit qu'il s'apercevoit bien de l'amour qu'il avoit pour vous qu'il luy a poteste qu'il ne vous pouvoit jamais aimer et qu'il luy a offert de vous enlever pour luy mais avec des paroles si fortes que c'estoit plustost un commandement qu'il luy faisoit qu'une simple proposition quoy interrompit la princesse istrine le prince d'assirie a pu estre capable de me vouloir enlever pour me mettre en la puissance de celuy que vous dites ha si cela est quand il seroit roy de toute la terre je desobeirois a la reine si elle me commandoit de l'espouser et si le respect que je porte a cette princesse ne retenoit je ferois connoistre des aujourd'huy a celuy qui me mesprise que je ne merite pas de l'estre et que j'ay le coeur aussi grand qu'il l'a fier injuste et superbe mais encore une fois atergatis dois-je croire que ce que vous dites est vray il l'est tellement madame repliqua-t'il que rien ne le peut estre d'avantage mais si cela est 
 adjousta-t'elle je suis donc la plus malheureuse personne de la terre car enfin si le prince d'assirie n'a fait cette proposition au plus genereus de tous les hommes il l'aura peut-estre acceptee je ne scay pas madame reprit modestement atergatis si celuy dont vous parlez si avantageusement sans scavoir qui il est merite d'estre mis au rang ou vous le mettez mais je scay bien que quoy qu'il vous aime avec une passion demesuree il a refuse de vous posseder par l'injuste voye que le prince d'assirie luy proposoit il a eu mesme ce respect pour vous poursuivit-il de ne luy vouloir pas advouer qu'il en fust amoureux mais il luy a dit si fortement que quand il le seroit il ne vous enleveroit jamais que ce prince violent s'en estant mis en colere luy a dit a la fin de leur conversation qu'il faloit qu'il fist de trois choses l'une ou qu'il vous enlevast ou qu'il se fist aimer de vous ou qu'il l'en fist hair cette derniere chose interrompit brusquement istrine est sans doute la plus aisee a faire de toutes les trois et mesme la plus juste cependant adjousta-t'elle en rougissant parce qu'elle connut par l'agitation qui paroissoit au visage d'atergatis que c'estoit luy qui l'aimoit le genereux procede de celuy qui a refuse l'injuste proposition du prince d'assirie m'oblige si sensiblement que je vous conjure de ne me le mom mer point de peur qu'estant obligee de le regarder comme un homme qui auroit de l'amour 
 pour moy la bienseance ne m'obligeast en suitte a esviter sa conversation c'est pourquoy comme ce ne peut estre qu'un fort honeste homme l'aissez moy la liberte de le traitter avec la civilite que j'ay pour tous ceux qui le sont et ne me le nommez jamais ha madame s'escrira atergatis voila une espece de reconnoissance que vous avez inventee et dont tout autre que vous n'auroit jamais pu s'aviser car enfin puis qu'il est vray que le procede de celuy que vous ne voulez jamais connoistre vous plaist et vous oblige pourquoy ne voulez vous pas scavoir qui il est c'est parce que je ne le puis reprit elle sans prendre en mesme temps la resolution de n'avoit nulle amitie particuliere aveque luy de sorte que pour m'oster une matiere d'ingratitude il faut que je m'en oste une de reconnoissance promettez moy donc madame luy dit atergatis en la regardant d'une maniere tres passionnee que vous chercherez du moins a deviner qui est celuy que vous ne voulez pas que je vous nomme car si vous ne me promettez ce qui je vous demande je pense madame que je ne vous diray point ce qui me reste a vous dire quoy que ce soit ce qui vous importe le plus de scavoir car enfin des l'heure que je parle je suis persuade que le prince d'assirie propose de vous enlever a un autre que je connois et qui n'estant peutestre pas si respectueux ny si equitable que celuy que vous ne voulez pas connoistre accepte ce qu'on 
 luy offre et se prepare desja a executer un si injuste dessein ha atergatis repliqua istrine je vous promets tout ce qu'il vous plaira pourveu que vous me mettiez en estat de pouvoir m'empescher d'estre enlevee en me nommant celuy que vous croyez qui peut estre capable d'entreprendre une semblable violence quoy madame s'escria atergatis en se reculant d'un pas et en la regardant fixement vous voules scavoir le nom de celuy qui vous outrage et vous ne voulez pas scavoir comment s'apelle un homme qui vous rend la plus grande marque d'amour et de respect que personne ait jamais rendue cependant puis que vous le voulez poursuivit-il en se raprochant et que vous me faites esperer que vous chercherez du moins a deviner qui il est je vous diray qu'armatrite est celuy que le prince d'assirie a envoye querir apres avoir este refuse par ce respectueux amant que vous ne voulez pas qu'on vous nomme ha atergatis repliqua istrine armatrite aura accepte ce qu'on luy aura offert car il n'est guere moins violent que le prince d'assirie ainsi je ne voy pas que je puisse trouver de seurete pour moy si ce n'est en quitant la cour et en advertissant la reine de ce qui se passe et c'est a dire en l'affligeant extraordinairement en divisant toute l'assirie et en causant peutestre la guerre entre la reine et le prince son fils non non madame luy dit atergatis il ne faut pas encore avoir recours a des remedes 
 si violens je scay que celuy qui a refuse l'injuste proposition que le roy d'assirie a luy faite a dessein d'observer soigneusement armatrite et j'ose mesme vous assurer que veu comme il a l'intention d'agir vous n'aves rien a aprehender de ce coste la c'est pourquoy vous n'avez seulement durant quelques jours qu'a ne sortir point du palais sans la reine et pourveu que cela soit vous n'avez rien a craindre car encore une fois je puis vous assurer que celuy que vous ne voulez pas connoistre mourra plustost que de souffrir qu'on vous face aucune violence l'amour qu'il a pour vous poursuivit il estant assez forte pour luy inspirer quelque adresse je ne pense pas que son rival le puisse tromper ainsi madame ne vous affligez pas avec exces car je serois bien malheureux si ayant eu dessein de vous faire esviter un grand mal je vous en avois cause un autre je scay bien adjousta-t'il que la perte d'une couronne est sensible principalement a une personne qui n'aime rien que la gloire et je scay mesme encore que celuy qui porte une si mauvaise nouvelle ne scauroit estre agreable je ne laisse pourtant pas de vous estre fort obligee interrompit istrine quoy que vous ne m'ayez apris que des choses facheuses vous mettez donc aussi au rang des choses fascheuses reprit atergaris en soupirant la violente et respectueuse passion qu'a pour vous cet amant inconnu qui a refuse de vous posseder par l'injuste voye qu'on luy a proposee 
 quoy que vostre possession soit la seule chose qui le peut rendre heureux et sans laquelle il sera tousjours infortune il me semble repliqua istrine que j'ay quelque sujet d'estre affligee d'avoir une obligation de telle nature que je ne puisse la reconnoistre comme celuy a qui je j'ay le desireroit je ne laisse pourtant pas de luy rendre justice dans mon coeur adjousta-t'elle et de souhaiter qu'il soit heureux pour le recompenser de la generosite qu'il a eue mais madame repliqua atergaris vous vous engagez a beaucoup de choses sans y penser puis que celuy dont vous parlez ne peut estre sans vous ce que vous desirez qu'il soit la princesse istrine connoissant alors de plus en plus qu'elle avoit sujet de croire que c'estoit atergatis qui estoit amoureux d'elle et qui avoit refuse le prince d'assirie se leva de peur qu'il ne luy dist plus qu'elle ne vouloit entendre et pour luy oster la hardiesse d'achever de se descouvrir comme je voy bien luy dit elle que cet homme genereux que je ne veux point connoistre est fort de vos amis je vous conjure de l'obliger a continuer d'avoir la generosite de m'advertir par vous s'il descouvre quelque injuste dessein du prince d'assirie ou d'armatrite ce sera sans doute tousjours par moy reprit atergaris que vous scaurez tout ce qu'aura a vous apprendre l'homme du monde qui vous adore avec le plus de respect et qui vous aime avec le plus de passion apres cela la princesse 
 istrine commencant de marcher appella quelques dames qui l'avoient accompagnee et fit le tour du jardin afin qu'on ne remarquast pas qu'atergatis luy eust dit quelque chose qui luy eust fait changer le dessein qu'elle avoit eu de se promener mais elle avoit l'ame si inquiette qu'elle ne put en faire un second de sorte que se retirant a son apartement sans retourner chez la reine elle feignit de le trouver mal afin d'avoir un pretexte d'estre quelques jours sans sortir atergatis en la quittant luy dit encore beaucoup de choses qui la confirmerent en l'opinion ou elle estoit mais il ne luy en dit pourtant aucune qui peust obliger istrine a changer sa facon d'agir aveque luy de sorte que se separant fort bien d'avec elle il s'en alla avec quelque consolation car encore que cette princesse luy eust dit qu'elle ne vouloit point scavoir le nom de celuy dont il luy parloit il ne s'en affligea pas au contraire comme il a infiniment de l'esprit il comprit aisement que la princesse istrine ne luy avoit deffendu de le luy faire connoistre que parce qu'elle le connoissoit si bien que se flattant dans sa passion il se creut plus heureux qu'il n'avoit espere de l'estre mais ce qui le tourmentoit pourtant estrangement estoit la crainte qu'armatrite n'acceptast ce qu'il avoit refuse et que le prince d'assirie n'enlevast istrine pour la luy donner et en effet quoy qu'on ne l'ait pas sceu a babilone et qu'au contraire on ait 
 dit qu'il avoit rejette cette proposition aussi bien qu'atergatis il est pourtant vray que le prince d'assirie la luy ayant faite apres avoit este refuse par ce genereux amant il l'accepta aveque joye et auroit mesme execute son dessein si son illustre rival n'y eust mis l'obstacle que je vous diray bien tost
 
 
 
 
d'autre part istrine avoit une telle douleur dans l'ame qu'elle n'en pouvoit estre maistresse elle voyoit bien apres ce qu'atergatis luy avoit dit qu'elle ne seroit jamais reine et que l'esperance qu'elle en avoit eue devoit estre destruite dans son coeur ce n'estoit pourtant pas encore la ce qui l'affligeoit le plus estant certain qu'elle sentoit plus aigrement le mespris que le prince d'assirie faisoit d'elle que la perte d'une couronne ce n'est pas qu'elle eust jamais eu pour luy aucune inclination mais elle sentoit si bien qu'elle ne meritoit pas d'estre traitee comme cet injuste prince la traittoit qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle n'eust une extreme haine pour luy principalement voyant comment il vivoit avec le prince intapherne cependant elle ne scavoit quel remede trouver a son mal elle n'ignoroit pas que la reine ne souffriroit point qu'elle quitast la cour parce qu'elle s'estoit mis dans l'esprit que le prince son fils changeroit a la fin de sentimens pour elle d'ailleurs de dire a intapherne ce qu'atergaris luy avoit dit elle aprehendoit que ce prince qui avoit desja l'esprit fort 
 irrite contre le roy d'assirie ne se portast a quelque dessein violent et qu'il ne s'y portast d'autant plustost qu'il avoit perdu l'esperance de luy voir la couronne sur la teste qui estoit la seule chose qui l'avoir oblige a demeurer a la cour apres tant de mauvais traitemens qu'il avoit receus du prince d'assirie istrine ne scachant donc que resoudre se resolut du moins d'attendre quelques jours a determiner absolument ce qu'elle vouloir faire et afin d'attendre ce temps la en seurete elle feignit comme je l'ay desja dit de se trouver mal pour n'estre pas obligee a sortir du palais mais apres avoir bien examine ce qui regardoit le prince d'assirie la generosite d'atergatis eut quelque place en sa memoire et quoy qu'elle n'eust alors que de l'estime et de l'amitie pour luy il ne luy passa pourtant rien dans l'esprit qui luy fin desirer qu'il ne fust point amoureux d'elle car comme elle a raconte depuis ses plus secrets sentimens au prince son frere je les scay comme si j'avois este dans son coeur elle ne desiroit pas aussi qu'il l'aimast et sans raisonner sur sa passion elle ne considera alors que l'action genereuse qu'il avoit faite sans examiner la chose de plus pres et sans en prevoir la suite cependant atergatis employant tous ses soins et toute son adresse pour descouvrir ce qu'il' vouloir scavoir sceut que le prince d'assirie avoit entretenu long temps armatrite qu'apres cela ils avoient paru tous 
 deux fort guays et il remarqua au contraire que le prince d'assirie ne le regardoit presques plus de sorte que raisonnant juste sur des conjectures si convainquantes il ne douta point du tout qu'armatrite n'eust accepte ce qu'il avoit refuse il sceut mesme divers ordres que ces deux princes avoient donnez qui le confirmereut en son opinion car le prince d'assirie avoit envoye secretement vers le gouverneur d'opis ou il vous mena madame lors qu'il vous eut enlevee et qu'armatrite faisoit sortir de babilone une partie de son train sur un pretexte qui n'estoit pas trop vraysemblable apres avoir donc bien cherche par quels moyens il pourroit rompre le dessein de son rival il n'en trouva point d'autre que de se battre contre luy et de chercher a le quereller sur quelque chose ou la princesse istrine n'eust point d'interest car comme le prince d'assirie estoit mesle au crime d'armatrite il n'y avoit pas moyen de le publier atergaris voyoit bien que n'ayant pas plus de certitude de ce qu'il craignoit l'exacte prudence eust voulu qu'il eust encore attendu quelque temps pour tascher de s'esclaircir mais comme il estoit fort amoureux il voyoit bien plus de danger a se vouloir batre trop tard contre armatrite qu'a se batre trop tost car enfin disoit il en luy mesme armatritre est tousjours mon rival de sorte que quand je ne le regarderois que comme tel sans 
 le regarder comme ravisseur de la princesse que j'adore je devrois tousjours estre son ennemy puis qu'il n'y a rien en tout l'univers ou il y ait naturellement plus d'antipathie qu'entre deux rivaux apres cela atergatis craignoit s'il estoit vainqueur qu'il ne fut contraint de s'esloigner d'istrine toutesfois comme il scavoit que nitocris n'aimoit pas armatrite il espera qu'il ne seroit point banny de la cour pour cela ou que du moins il ne le seroit pas pour longtemps joint que considerant l'enlevement de la princesse istrine il trouvoit encore qu'il vaudroit mieux qu'il en fust eslogne que de l'exposer a un si grand malheur de sorte qu'achevant de se determiner il prit la resolution de detruire armatrite pour detruire son injuste dessein mais afin que la princesse istrine ne pust douter que ce qu'il luy avoit dit ne fust veritable il fit adroitement que le prince intapherne luy conta en sa presence comme une nouveaute la nouvelle faveur d'armatrite aupres du prince d'assirie et la disgrace d'atergatis si bien que cette princesse faisant l'aplication de ce qu'on luy disoit de la facon qu'atergatis vouloit qu'elle la fist elle en rougit si fort que quoy qu'elle fust sur son lit ou il ne faisoit pas fort clair atergatis ne laissa pas de s'en apercevoir et d'estre bien aise de remarquer qu'il estoit entendu cependant sans differer davantage il chercha des le lendemain a rencontrer armatrite sans qu'il parust en avoir 
 eu le dessein comme c'estoit alors la saison de s'aller promener le long de l'euphrate il creut bien qu'il l'y trouveroit et que comme il estoit d'un naturel tres violent il luy seroit aise de trouver lieu de le quereller principalement estant naturellement aussi contredisant qu'il estoit car enfin madame armatrite l'estoit tellement que si deux personnes eussent dit deux choses toutes opposees il eust plustost entrepris de former un tiers party pour les contredire toutes deux que de se ranger jamais a l'opinion de quelqu'un atergatis le connoissant donc de cette humeur s'imagina qu'il luy seroit avantageux d'interesser la reine en la cause de sa querelle afin d'en estre protege contre le prince son fils s'il en estoit besoin de n'estre point exile s'il estoit vainqueur d'armatrite et par consequent de ne s'esloigner point d'istrine cherchant donc comment il pourroit faire pour faire reussir son dessein il s'advisa lors qu'il fut au bord de l'euphrate ou il ne manqua pas de trouver armatrite de louer ce grand et admirable ouvrage que cette illustre reine faisoit faire pour empescher la rapidite du fleuve en le faisant serpenter en aprochant de babilone s'imaginant bien qu'il ne manqueroit pas de le contredire et en effet atergatis ne se trompa point car des qu'il l'eut joint et qu'il eut commence de louer ce merveilleux travail armatrite se mit a le blasmer et a dire que la reine eust bien mieux fait 
 d'employer ce qu'elle despensoit pour changer le cours d'un fleuve a reculer les bornes de son estat en suite de quoy se mettant a blasmer en general tous les princes qui s'amusoient a faire des ouvrages publics il dit que celuy la mesme que nitocris faisoit faire et qui sembloit n'estre entrepris que pour la seurete de la ville et pour la rendre plus imprenable ne l'estoit que par la vanite de cette reine atergatis ne perdant pas une si favorable occasion luy dit d'un ton de voix un peu fier qu'il parloir avec si peu de respect d'une grande et illustre princesse qu'il ne pouvoit assez s'en estonner en suitte de quoy armatrite luy ayant respondu aigrement atergatis respondit de mesme engageant tousjours la reine dans son discours de sorte que s'aigrissant a peu il le pressa si vivement qu'il le forca mesme a luy demander de le voir l'espee a la main si bien qu'atergatis le prenant au mot aveque joye luy dit qu'ils n'avoient qu'a s'esloigner insensiblement quand ils auroient fait encore un tour de promenade de peur qu'on ne s'aperceust de leur dessein car au commencement de leur contestation diverses personnes avoient entendu qu'ils n'estoient pas d'un mesme advis comme armatrite estoit brave il fit ce qu'atergatis vouloit et ils parurent estre en effet si bien ensemble qu'on ne soubconna point qu'ils y fussent mal cependant comme ils se connoissoient tous deux pour amans de la princesse istrine quoy qu'ils ne se 
 le fussent jamais tesmoigne ils avoient une impatience estrange de se voir l'espee a la main si bien que pour la satisfaire apres qu'ils eurent remarque qu'on ne prenoit point garde a eux au lieu de retourner vers la multitude du monde qui se promenoit ils continuerent de remonter le long du fleuve comme des gens qui estoient d'humeur a s'entretenir et a vouloir choisir une promenade solitaire comme c'est la coustume en ce lieu-la que les escuyers attendant leurs maistres a la porte de la ville afin de n'embarrasser pas la promenade des dames par des gens inutiles a leur divertissement ceux de ces deux princes estoient avec les autres et par consequent ils ne virent point que leurs maistres s'esloignoient du monde cependant comme ces deux rivaux avoient chacun une espee il ne leur falut pas de plus grande preparation pour se batre de sorte qu'aussi tost qu'ils furent arrivez au dela d'un de ces tournoyemens du fleuve qui les deroboit a la veue de ceux qui se promenoient parce qu'en cet endroit la le terrain s'abaissoit extremement ils commencerent leur combat je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous en dire les particularitez car j'ay tant d'autres choses a vous aprendre que je ne dois pas m'arrester aux inutiles ny aux peu agreables il suffira donc que je vous aprenne qu'atergatis fut vainqueur d'armatrite sa victoire fut mesme sanglante et funeste pour son ennemy car comme il ne voulait pas estre empesche 
 de vaincre il se batit sans se mesnager si bien qu'estant aussi heureux que brave et adroit le grand courage d'armatrite ne put l'empescher de luy donner quatre coups d'espee dont il y en avoir deux qui luy entroient dans le corps de sorte que perdant une grande quantite de sang il s'affoiblit tout d'un coup et tomba aux pieds d'atergatis en voulant passer sur luy il voulut pourtant encore faire un effort pour se relever mais son genereux rival qui n'estoit point blesse l'en empescha et luy arracha son espee apres quoy ne voulant pas tuer un ennemy qui n'estoit plus en estat de se deffendre il voulut du moins s'assurer de luy s'il arrivoit qu'il eschapast c'est pourquoy il luy dit qu'il luy donnoit la vie pourveu qu'il fist trois choses qu'il luy diroit la premiere de publier qu'il s'estoient querellez en parlant de ce grand travail que la reine nitocris faisoit faire la seconde de luy advouer qu'il avoit eu dessein d'enlever la princesse istrine et la troisiesme de luy engager sa parole de ne penser de sa vie a executer un si injuste dessein je pourrois sans doute adjousta-t'il en l'estat ou je me trouve vous obliger a ne penser jamais a cette princesse mais comme je scay bien que l'amour n'est pas une chose volontaire je ne vous demande que ce qui est juste et possible comme armatrite qui se sentoit fort blesse entendit parler atergatis comme il faisoit il en fut fort surpris car le prince d'assirie ne luy avoit pas 
 dit qu'il luy eust offert la mesme chose qu'a luy de sorte que s'imaginant que son rival scavoit son injuste dessein ou par revelation des dieux ou par enchantement il ne s'amusa point a le luy nier mais en luy advouant qu'il estoit vray qu'il avoit eu le dessein d'enlever istrine il luy dit qu'il avoit bien fait de ne le vouloir pas forcer a luy promettre de ne penser plus a cette princesse luy soustenant avec une violence estrange que jamais homme amoureux ne devoit faire une promette qui prejudiciast a son amour comme ils en estoient la le prince intapherne qui estoit alle le matin a la chasse sans autre compagnie que ceux de sa maison arriva aupres d'eux de sorte qu'estant fort surpris de les trouver en cet estat il descendit de cheval et s'en aprocha mais s'il fut surpris de les rencontrer ils furent aussi fort surpris de le voir car ils ne l'avoient point entendu venir et ils le furent d'autant plus qu'ayant ouy le nom de la princesse istrine il prit la parole le premier et regardant le vaincu et le vainqueur seroit il bien possible leur dit-il que ma soeur fust cause que deux si braves gens se fussent battus atergatis qui avoit l'esprit irrite contre armatrite de ce qu'il venoit de luy dire et qui croyoit mesme que le prince intapherne en avoit plus ouy qu'il n'en avoit entendu forca son ennemy a avouer devant luy comme leur combat s'estoit fait et le dessein qu'il avoit eu d'enlever 
 la princesse istrine par les ordres du prince d'assirie mais en l'allouant il se fit une si grande violence et la colere fit couler son sang si abondamment qu'il en perdit la parole quelque criminel qu'il fust intapherne eut pourtant la generosite de commander a quelques uns des siens de le secourir et de le porter a la premiere habitation parce que babilone estoit trop loin mais comme ils voulurent obeir a leur maistre il expira entre leurs bras de sorte que changeant ce dessein la en celuy d'aller advertir ses gens qui estoient a la porte de babilone intapherne et atergatis qui avoient beaucoup d'amitie l'un pour l'autre quitterent le grand chemin et furent en prendre un fort destourne afin de se pouvoir mieux entretenir ils furent pourtant quelque temps sans parler car ils avoient tous deux l'esprit fort occupe en effet intapherne ne pouvant concevoir cette bizarre avanture cherchoit par ou atergatis pouvoit avoir sceu le dessein du prince d'assirie et par quel sentiment il s'estoit battu contre armatrite plustost que de l'advertir de la chose d'autre part atergatis ne comprenant pas qu'il pust dire ce qui luy estoit arrive pour faire connoistre a intapherne la passion qu'il avoit pour istrine se trouvoit bien embarrasse mais a la fin scachant quelle estoit la haine qu'il avoit pour le prince d'assirie et connoissant sa generosite et l'amitie qu'il avoit pour luy il se resolut de luy advouer la verite et il s'y resolut d'autant 
 plustost que la princesse istrine ne luy avoit rien dit qu'il fust oblige de cacher de sorte que prenant la parole le premier je ne doute point luy dit-il en s'arrestant sous des arbres qui se trouverent a leur chemin que vous ne soyez fort estonne de ce qui vient d'arriver et de ce que vous venez d'entendre mais avant que de vous particulariser toute l'injustice du prince d'assirie et toute celle d'armatrite il faut que je vous descouvre le fonds de mon coeur afin que vous ne soyez pas surpris de voir combien je m'y suis interesse je vous diray donc comme il est vray que vous avez tousjours este celuy de tous les hommes que je connois que j'ay le plus estime et le plus aime et que la princesse votre soeur a aussi tousjours este la personne de son sexe pour qui j'ay eu le plus d'admiration et le plus d'inclination tout ensemble ainsi sans pouvoir dire si j'ay eu de l'amitie pour vous parce que j'ay eu de l'amour pour elle ou si j'ay eu de l'amour pour elle parce que j'ay eu de l'amitie pour vous je scay seulement que vous avez occupe l'un et l'autre les premieres places dans mon coeur je pense toutesfois adjousta obligeamment ce prince que si j'examinois bien la chose je trouverois que quand je n'aurois pas eu l'honneur de la connoistre je n'aurois pas laisse d'estre vostre amy et que quand je n'aurois encore jamais eu le bonheur de vous voir je n'aurois pas laisse d'estre son amant ainsi ne 
 devant qu'a vostre propre merite l'estime extraordinaire que je fais de vostre vertu a tous deux si mon amitie estoit un bien vous ne vous la devriez point l'un a l'autre vostre amitie interrompit intapherne m'est si considerable que quand je la devrois plustost au merite de ma soeur qu'au mien je ne laisserois pas d'estre bien aise de la posseder et si j'ay a me plaindre de quelque chose c'est qu'elle ne m'ait pas appris l'illustre conqueste qu'elle avoit faite ha genereux intapherne s'escrira a atergatis la princesse istrine ne scait pas encore ce que vous scavez et je ne scay pas mesme si je dois souhaiter qu'elle le scache apres cela atergatis raconta a intapherne le dessein qu'il avoit fait de ne descouvrir jamais sa passion si ce n'estoit que le prince d'assirie se mariast a une autre qu'a la princesse istrine luy disant en suite comment cet injuste prince l'avoit envoye querir quelle estoit la proposition qu'il luy avoit faite comment il l'avoit refusee le dessein qu'il avoit pris d'en advertir istrine et il luy dit enfin la chose avec une ingenuite si obligeante qu'en effet intapherne s'en tint oblige de sorte qu'embrassant atergatis il y a quelque chose de si franc de si genereux et de si heroique a vostre procede luy dit il que je tiens qu'il est beaucoup plus glorieux a ma soeur de regner dans vostre ame que de regner en assirie puis qu'elle ne le pouroit sans estre femme du plus injuste prince du monde et si elle m'en croit 
 il ne tiendra pas a moy que vous ne soyez heureux s'il est vray qu'elle puisse faire vostre felicite atergatis entendant parler intapherne de cette sorte luy dit tant de choses et luy fit de si tendres protestations d'amitie et de reconnoissance qu'il luy estoit aise de s'imaginer quelle devoit estre la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse istrine mais enfin allant a ce qui pressoit le plus ils adviserent ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire en l'estat ou estoient les choses car disoit intapherne il est a croire que le prince d'assirie s'interessera secretement a la mort d'armatrite et il est a craindre qu'il ne se vange de ce que vous l'avez refuse en ayant une occasion si favorable mais apres avoir bien examine la chose ils resolurent qu'atergatis ne r'entreroit a babilone que de nuit qu'il iroit loger chez intapherne ou le prince d'assirie n'oseroit faire nulle violence a cause de la reine qu'on feroit sonner fort haut que le combat d'atergatis et d'armatrite avoit este cause parce que le premier soutenoit la gloire de nitocris contre l'autre et qu'on ne parleroit point du tout de ce pretendu enlevement d'istrine afin de n'irriter pas le prince d'assirie que cependant le prince intapherne iroit au palais prevenir la reine et dire a tout le monde l'estat ou il avoit trouve atergatis et armatrite et comment il avoit appris de la bouche du vaincu la cause de son combat et la generosite du vainqueur publiant aussi aveque soin qu'armatrite 
 estoit celuy qui avoit voulu se battre mais apres cela dit intapherne il faut que j'aille a l'apartement de ma soeur mais genereux prince luy dit atergatis que luy direz vous de cet homme qu'elle ne veut pas connoistre je luy diray reprit-il qu'elle le doit preferer a tout le reste de la terre et que luy devant autant qu'elle luy doit elle seroit digne des mepris que le prince d'assirie a pour elle si elle n'estoit pas aussi reconnoissante qu'atergatis est genereux apres cela voyant qu'il estoit assez tard et qu'il seroit nuit quand ils arriveroient aux portes de babilone ils recommencerent de marcher et arriverent si heureusement qu'ils ne furent connus de personne qui peust apprendre au prince d'assirie qu'atergatis s'estoit retire chez intapherne cependant des que ce prince l'eut mene dans sa chambre il le quitta atergatis le priant bien plus de songer a ce qu'il diroit de luy a la princesse istrine qu'a ce qu'il en diroit a la reine mais comme il estoit prest de sortir il vint un escuyer de cette princesse qui ayant ouy parler confusement du combat d'armatrite envoyoit scavoir si le prince son frere estoit revenu de la chasse et s'il scavoit contre qui armatrite s'estoit battu vous luy direz luy respondit intapherne que je la verray bientost et qu'en attendant que je luy die les particulairez de ce combat je luy mande que celuy dont elle ne veut point scavoir le nom est le vainqueur d'armatrite cet escuyer 
 retenant parole pour parole ce que le prince intapherne luy avoit dit fut retrouver la princesse istrine a qui il raporta exactement ce que le prince son frere luy mandoit mais elle en fut si surprise qu'elle ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage la cause de son estonnement ne fut pas seulement de scavoir que c'estoit atergatis qui s'estoit battu contre armatrite et qui l'avoit vaincu et de connoistre par la avec certitude que c'estoit atergatis qui estoit amoureux d'elle car elle en eut beaucoup davantage de voir que le prince intapherne scavoit la conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec ce prince ne pouant s'imaginer qu'un homme qui ne luy avoit jamais dit ouvertement qu'il l'aimoit eust parle de sa passion au prince son frere mais pendant qu'elle raisonnoit sur la nouveaute de cette avanture intapherne alla chez la reine a qui il raconta ce qu'il estoit a propos qu'il luy dist du combat d'atergatis luy faisant valoir le zele qu'il avoit eu a soustenir sa gloire contre celuy qu'il avoit vaincu l'assurant comme il estoit vray qu'armatrite en estoit tombe d'accord devant que de mourir joint que comme le commencement de la contestation de ces deux princes avoit eu quelques tesmoin le bruit s'en estoit desja espandu dans la cour et estoit alle jusques a la reine de sorte que le discours d'intapherne luy confirmant ce qu'on luy avoit desja dit il fut aise a ce prince de la disposer a proteger atergatis en effet quoy qu'elle ne voulust 
 pas authoriser de semblables actions elle ne laissa pas d'envoyer dire a ce genereux amant qu'elle eust souhaite qu'il n'eust pas entrepris de soustenir sa gloire avec tant d'ardeur que cependant quoy qu'elle fust marrie de l'accident qui estoit arrive elle ne laissoit pas de luy estre obligee de s'estre si fort interesse pour elle qu'il eust voulu hazarder sa vie pour cela adjoustant qu'elle le protegeroit autant que la justice et la bien-seance le luy permettroient mais si nitocris eut des sentimens avantageux pour atergatis qui en tuant armatrite avoit oste au prince son fils un homme qu'elle n'estoit pas trop aise qu'il aimast le prince d'assirie en eut de tous contraires et entreprit si hautement de proteger les parens du mort qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il estoit au desespoir d'avoir perdu ce pretendu ravisseur d'istrine joint que comme il a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit penetrant il craignit qu'atergatis n'eust fait advouer a son ennemy vaincu quelle estoit l'intention qu'il avoit eue et que le scachant il ne le fist scavoir a nitocris cependant intapherne l'ayant rencontre au sortir de chez la reine comme il s'en alloit chez istrine ce prince violent qui scavoit desja qu'intapherne parloit fort avantageusement d'atergaris l'arresta et sans luy demander les particularitez d'une chose dont luy seul pouvoit estre bien informe j'ay sceu luy dit-il d'un ton de voix un peu fier que vous prenez 
 hautement le party atergatis mais j'ai a vous apprendre pour vous en empescher que j'entreprens de vanger la mort d'armatrite comme atergatis reprit froidement intapherne n'a combatu armatrite que pour les interests de la reine je croyois seigneur que vous deviez estre son protecteur et je suis mesme persuade que vous le serez des que vous aurez parle a cette grande princesse c'est pourquoy vous me permettres s'il vous plaist de demeurer dans ses sentimens qui seront bientost les vostres non non reprit brusquement le prince d'assirie ne vous imaginez pas que je change jamais de sentimens ce que je n'aime point aujourd'huy je ne l'aimeray de ma vie et ce que je hais presentement je le hairay tousjours c'est pourquoy n'esperez pas que la reine me fasse changer de volonte ny pour ce qui regarde atergatis ny pour nulle autre chose et par consequent c'est a vous a vous conformer a la mienne je me conformeray tousjours a la raison reprit intapherne et ne manqueray jamais au respect que je vous dois non plus qu'a celuy que je dois a la reine jamais apres cela seigneur je n'ay rien a promettre car de cesser d'estre amy d'atergatis l'honneur ne me le permet pas soyez-le donc luy respondit brusquement le prince d'assirie mais preparez vous a me voir son ennemy et a ne vous voir plus au rang de mes amis apres cela ce prince violent quitta intapherne qui eut une 
 peine estrange a demeurer dans le respect qu'il luy devoit mais enfin s'estant fait une grande violence pour ne luy respondre pas aussi aigrement qu'il en avoit envie il donna a ses paroles toute la force dont la generosite respectueuse peut estre capable sans aller pourtant au dela en suitte de quoy il fut chez la princesse istrine qui l'attendoit avec une impatience qui estoit accompagnee de quelque espece de crainte et de confusion des qu'il fut dans la chambre de cette princesse il la pria d'entrer dans son cabinet ou il ne fut pas plustost qu'il voulut s'esclaircir et scavoit si en effet atergatis luy avoit dit la verite et si elle n'en scavoit pas plus que ce qu'il luy avoit advoue si bien que prenant la parole en la regardant attentivement il me semble luy dit-il qu'apres avoir vescu aveque vous comme j'ay fait toute ma vie qu'apres avoit sceu mes plus secrettes pensees et n'avoir pas ignore l'horrible haine que j'ay pour le prince d'assirie vous eussiez pu m'aprendre que vous regniez dans le coeur d'atergatis sans craindre que l'eusse voulu borner vos conquestes de ce coste la atergatis reprit la princesse istrine en rougissant m'a fait un si grand secret de sa passion s'il est vray qu'il en ait pour moy que je n'avois garde de vous dire ce que je ne scavois pas et ce que je n'ay fait que deviner depuis peu de jours encore ne scay je si je ne me suis point trompee en mes conjectures non non reprit intapherne 
 vous ne vous estes point abusee si vous avez creu qu'atergatis vous adore et il vient de vous donner une si grande marque d'amour que vous n'en pouvez plus douter mais de grace repliqua cette princesse apprenez moy qui vous a appris ce que vous scavez et comment il peut estre qu'atergatis vous ait pu dire a propos ce qu'il me dit dans les jardins de semiramis quand vous m'aurez raconte vostre conversation avec atergatis respondit intapherne je vous diray la mienne aveque luy istrine entendant parler le prince son frere de cette sorte commenca de luy dire ingenument tout ce qu'atergatis luy avoit dit si bien que ce prince le trouvant conforme a ce que son amy luy en avoit raconte dit en suite a istrine tout ce qu'il scavoit de son combat et de son amour et luy exagera tellement la generosite de ce prince et l'injustice du prince d'assirie qu'on peur dire qu'il fit tout ce qu'il pu pour luy faire aimer le premier et hair le second et certes il ne luy fut pas trop difficile de reussir dans son dessein car la princesse istrine se tenoit si obligee a atergatis d'avoir hazarde sa vie pour l'empescher d'estre enlevee par armatrite et elle se tenoit si mortellement offencee par le prince d'assirie qu'on ne pouvoit pas avoir de plus grandes dispositions a aimer et a hair qu'il y en avoit alors dans son coeur de sorte que ne resistans pas aux prieres qu'intapherne luy fit de ne songer plus a regner en 
 assirie et de se contenter de regner sur le coeur d'atergatis ils se mirent ensemble a adviser comment ils agiroient aupres de nitocris pour qui ils avoient beaucoup de respect et de reconnoissance mais comme ils scavoient bien qu'ils ne pouvoient luy aprendre la derniere injustice du prince son fils sans l'affliger extraordinairement et sans exposer atergatis a la violence de ce prince s'il venoit a scavoir la chose ils ne s'y pouvoient resoudre si bien que sans avoir rien arreste intapherne se disposa a s'en retourner trouver atergatis comme il estoit donc prest de quitter la princesse istrine elle le retint encore quelque temps mais mon frere luy dit-elle en rougissant advouerez vous a atergatis que vous m'avez dit qu'il m'aime il faut bien respondit-il que je le luy advoue si je veux estre bien receu de luy du moins reprit-elle ne luy dites pas que vous me l'avez persuade je ne scay pas repliqua-t'il en souriant si je pourray faire ce que vous voulez car il me semble qu'il ne me sera gueres avantageux de faire scavoir a atergatis que vous n'adjoustez point de foy a mes paroles pour mettre vostre gloire a couvert repliqua-t'elle vous luy direz que je ne doute des vostres que parce que je doute des siennes car enfin poursuivit-elle si vous m'alliez mettre dans la necessite de recevoir atergatis comme un amant et comme un amant declare vous m'exposeriez au plus grand embarras du monde mais 
 encore luy dit-il que souhaittez vous precisement que je luy die voulez vous que je le desespere tellement qu'il n'ose jamais vous dire qu'il vous aime et que mesme il en perde entierement le dessein ou si vous ne voulez seulement que m'obliger a ne vous priver pas du plaisir d'apprendre de sa bouche ce que vous ne scauriez pas si agreablement de la mienne vous scavez si bien ce que je dois vouloir et ce que je veux que vous disiez repliqua-t'elle qu'il n'est pas necessaire que je vous prescrive les paroles dont vous vous devez servir et tout ce que je veux de vous est que vous ne m'engagiez pas a une conversation de galanterie ouverte si vous ne voulez que je ne recoive pas trop bien un homme a qui je suis infiniment obligee apres cela intapherne ayant encore respondu quelque chose sortit de la chambre d'istrine et s'en retourna trouver atergatis a qui il dit ce qui s'estoit passe entre la reine et luy aussi bien que ce que le prince d'assirie luy avoit dit et ce que la princesse istrine luy avoit respondu afin qu'il se preparast quand les choses seroient en estat qu'il la pust voir a luy parler comme elle vouloit qu'il luy parlast cependant le prince d'assirie qui estoit alle chez la reine fit tout ce qu'il put pour luy persuader que le combat d'atergatis la devoit plus tost irriter qu'obliger mais il ne put venir a bout de son dessein au contraire la reine se servant de cette occasion pour luy dire qu'il 
 affectoit tousjours de hair tout ce qu'elle aimoit et tout ceux qui l'aimoient luy parla si aigrement qu'il en sortit tres mal satisfait aussi en fut il dans un si grand chagrin qu'il dit encore ce jour-la tant de choses facheuses a intapherne que ce prince tout sage et tout respectueux qu'il est luy en respondit aussi de fort aigres et jusques au point que le prince d'assirie luy deffendit de le voir
 
 
 
 
cependant la reine qui vouloit calmer cet orage fit dire a atergatis que connoissant la violence du prince son fils elle seroit bien aise qu'il s'esloignast de la coeur pour quelques jours jusques a ce qu'elle eust apaise les parens d'armatrite et que le temps eust adoucy l'esprit du prince d'assirie de sorte qu'atergatis ne pouvant refuser de rendre ce respect a la reine et de luy obeir il falut qu'il se disposast a sortir de babilone mais comme il ne pouvoit se resoudre de s'en esloigner sans dire adieu a la princesse istrine il pria le prince intapherne de luy en faire obtenir la permission non non luy respondit ce prince il ne faut pas faire ce que vous dites et il paroist bien que vous ne connoissez pas encore perfaitement la personne que vous aimez puis que vous croyez qu'il ne soit pas necessaire de la tromper pour l'obliger a vous accorder une pareille chose mais afin de vous faire recevoir la satisfaction que vous desirez il faut que je luy face une innocente tromperie atergatis remerciant alors intapherne luy 
 dit obligeamment qu'il craignoit qu'il ne vinst a avoir plus d'amitie pour luy que d'amour pour la princesse sa soeur du moins adjousta-t'il scay je bien que je vous suis plus oblige qu'elle ne m'obligera jamais cependant intapherne pour tenir sa parole a atergatis persuada le lendemain la princesse sa soeur d'aller se promener a un jardin qui est au bord de l'euphrate luy disant qu'elle ne devoit plus craindre de sortir du palais puis que le prince d'assirie n'avoit plus de gens pour qui il la voulust faire enlever istrine y resista pourtant assez longtemps mais intapherne s'y opiniastra si fort qu'il luy fit comprendre qu'il avoit quelque dessein cache si bien que la curiosite s'emparant de son esprit elle se resolut a se laisser tromper et a ceder peu a peu et en effet le jour suivant intapherne vint prendre la princesse sa soeur et la mena au jardin qu'il luy avoit propose ou atergatis s'estoit rendu des la pointe du jour et l'avoit attendue jusques au soir car comme le maistre de ce lieu-la estoit amy particulier d'intapherne il s'en estoit assure de sorte que cet homme ayant fait entrer atergatis dans un grand et magnifique cabinet il y avoit attendu la princesse istrine fort commodement cependant elle ne fut pas plustost arrivee dans ce jardin qu'intapherne luy proposa d'aller voir la maison mais luy dit elle vous m'avez propose de me venir promener et vous voulez que je 
 ne me promene pas pour moy adjousta t'elle il me semble que si je ne dois point prendre l'air j'eusse mieux fait de ne sortir point du palais qui est assurement plus beau que la maison ou vous voulez que l'entre ne le peut estre vous y verrez pourtant reprit intapherne ce que vous n'auriez pu voir chez la reine en disant cela ce prince fit entrer istrine dans une grande sale voutee et de la dans une chambre qui donnoit sur un canal au dela duquel estoit une grande prairie de sorte que trouvant cet aspect fort agreable elle fut s'apuyer sur une fenestre qu'elle vit ouverte afin de jouir mieux d'une si belle veue mais pendant qu'elle y estoit sans estre accompagnee que de deux de ses femmes le prince intapherne fut ouvrir la porte d'un cabinet pour faire entrer atergatis si bien que lors que la princesse istrine vint a se retourner elle fut estrangement surprise de le voir quoy qu'elle se fust attendue que le prince son frere ne la menoit pas la sans dessein je ne scay madame luy dit respectueusement atergatis si vous pardonnerez au prince intapherne la tromperie qu'il vous a faite en ma faveur mais le scay bien que je n'eusse pu obeir au commandement que la reine m'a fait de sortir de babilone si je n'eusse eu l'honneur de vous dire adieu il ne faut pas douter reprit-elle que je ne me pleigne estrangement de luy car enfin je ne puis jamais trouver bon qu'on 
 me trompe non pas mesme en me trompant a mon avantage cependant je luy pardonne volontiers la tromperie qu'il m'a faite parce qu'elle me donne lieu de vous remercier de m'avoir empeschee d'estre la plus malheureuse personne du monde en m'empeschant d'estre enlevee par armatrite il est vray interrompit intapherne que vous devez tant a atergatis que si vous estiez reine d'assirie je croirois que vous ne pourriez vous acquiter envers luy qu'en luy donnant la couronne que vous porteriez ha seigneur interrompit ce prince vous me couvrez d'une telle confusion que je n'oserois regarder la princesse apres ce que vous venez de dire c'est plustost a ceux qui sont obligez aux autres a en avoir reprit istrine qu'a ceux qui ont oblige ainsi je confesse que c'est moy qui dois rougir de ce que la fortune a voulu que je vous aye plus d'obligation que je ne puis avoir de reconnoissance les personnes de vostre merite reprit atergatis s'aquitent des services qu'on leur rend quels qu'ils puissent estre en les recevant agreablement ainsi madame si ce que j'ay fait pour vous ne vous desplaist pas je suis paye de ce leger service et de ce que je feray toute ma vie comme la princesse istrine alloit respondre le maistre de cette maison vint dire fort bas au prince intapherne qu'un officier de chez la reine le demandoit et sembloit avoir quelque 
 que chose de presse a luy dire si bien que ce prince estant sorty de cette chambre pour aller dans la sale ou on luy dit qu'estoit celuy qui luy vouloit parler atergatis demeura avec plus de liberte de dire ce qu'il pensoit a la princesse istrine quoy qu'il ne pensast rien qu'il ne pust dire a intapherne et qu'il ne luy dist en effect mais comme l'amour aime le secret et que les paroles d'un amant ne doivent estre ouies que de la personne qu'il aime lors qu'il luy veut parler de sa passion atergatis fut bien aise de cette rencontre de sorte que voulant en profiter quoy qu'il eust eu dessein de ne parler pas ouvertement de sa passion je rens graces aux dieux madame dit-il a la princesse istrine de ce qu'ils ne m'ont pas mis dans la necessite de vous dire le premier une chose que je n'eusse pu vous cacher longtemps et de ce que cet homme dont vous ne vouliez pas scavoir le nom ne vous est plus inconnu quoy qu'il n'ait pas desobei au commandement que vous luy fistes de ne se faire jamais connoistre a vous bien que je sois contrainte d'advouer repliqua istrine en rougissant que vous ne m'avez pas desobei et qu'a parler raisonnablement je n'ay pas un juste sujet de me pleindre je ne laisse pas de vous accuser quoy que je ne puisse toutes fois donner de nom au crime dont je vous accuse car enfin vous estant aussi obligee que je vous le suis et vous estimant autant que je fais je n'ose 
 vous dire que vous n'ayez pas parle sincerement au prince mon frere mais j'entreprens hardiment de vous soustenir que vous ne connoissez pas bien quels sont vos veritables sentimens que vous vous estes creu trop legerement que vous avez pris quelques mots l'un pour l'autre en parlant d'istrine a intapherne et que vous avez donne a quelque estime et a quelque legere amitie que vous avez pour elle des noms qui ne leur conviennent point quoy madame reprit atergatis vous pouvez croire qu'on vous peut estimer et aimer mediocrement puis qu'il y a un prince repliqua-t'elle qui trouve lieu d'avoir de l'aversion et du mespris pour moy il me semble que c'est bien assez de vanite de penser que vous ayez de l'estime ha madame reprit atergatis il ne faut pas mettre celuy dont vous voulez parles au rang des hommes bien loin de le mettre au rang des princes cependant comme un malheureux qui est prest de s'esloigner de vous a besoin de chercher quelque consolation s'il ne veut pas mourir en vous quittant je veux croire madame que vous n'avez parle comme vous avez fait qu'afin de me donner la satisfaction de vous dire moy mesme combien je vous adore non atergatis repliqua-t'elle ce n'est pas la mon dessein au contraire j'ay creu qu'en vous disant ce que je vous ay dit je vous obligerois a remettre au temps a me donner quelques marques 
 de vostre affection puis que c'est luy seul qui le peut bien faire je n'ignore pas adjousta cette princesse que vous avez desja fait beaucoup pour moy mais comme la seule generosite pourroit vous avoir oblige d'agir ainsi laissez moy s'il vous plaist la liberte de douter de ce que vous me dites puis qu'il ne vous en peut arriver de plus grand malheur que d'estre creu fort genereux ha madame s'escria atergatis ne donnez point a ma generosite ce qui apartient a mon amour ostez moy cette vertu si vous voulez mais ne m'ostez pas la passion qui possede mon coeur et puis que vous me l'avez donnee ne me la disputez pas je ne vous demande point que vous y respondiez coeur pour coeur ny soupirs pour soupirs mais je vous conjure seulement de recevoir l'un et d'escouter les autres car enfin madame puis que le prince intapherne a la bonte de s'interesser a mes maux je croy qu'il me doit estre permis de vous conjurer au nom de l'amitie que vous avez pour luy de souffrir sans me hair l'amour que j'ay pour vous si je n'eusse pas deu m'esloigner si tost poursuivit il j'aurois attendu que mes yeux mes soupirs mes larmes et mes services vous eussent donne mille preuves de ma passion devant que d'employer mes paroles a vous la persuader mais estant prest de partir il me semble madame qu'un homme qui vous a aimee si longtemps sans vous le dire doit 
 avoir la liberte de vous parler de son amour sans vous facher principalement ne vous en ayant parle qu'apres le prince intapherne vous vous servez d'un nom si puissant repliqua istrine que je me trouve assez embarrassee a vous respondre je vous diray toutesfois que comme je suis un peu plus difficile a persuader que le prince mon frere je ne m'engage pas a croire tout ce qu'il croit c'est pourquoy ne vous offences pas si je doute de vos paroles joint qu'a parler raisonnablement il y a lieu de penser qu'une amour qui commence par une absence ne durera pas longtemps ha madame interrompit intapherne vous me faites un tort estrange de dire que mon amour commence par une absence puis qu'il est vray que si vous l'aviez sceue des qu'elle a commence je serois en droit de vous accuser d'injustice si vous ne me regardiez comme le premier de vos adorateurs je ne vous demande pourtant aucune reconnoissance de tant de suplices secrets que j'ay endurez pour vous pourveu que vous me teniez conte de ceux que je souffriray a l'advenir je scay bien adjousta-t'il qu'apres que vous avez este regardee de toute la cour comme devant estre reine d'assirie c'est vous faire une offrande indigne de vous que de vous offrir le coeur d'un homme qui n'est pas roy mais du moins vous puis-je assurer qu'il est dans le dessein de vous obeir toute sa vie et que s'il avoit autant de couronnes que vous en meritez 
 il vous les donneroit avec plus je joye qu'il n'en auroit eu a les posseder ce n'est pas que si l'ambition est la passion dominante de vostre ame il n'aye lieu de croire qu'il ne peut jamais estre heureux puis qu'il aura lieu de craindre que vous n'aimiez encore mieux un roy qui est assez injuste pour ne vous aimer pas qu'un prince qui fait gloire d'estre vostre esclave et qu'ainsi l'authorite de la reine forcant le prince son fils a luy obeir vostre propre inclination ne vous empesche de luy resister de grace madame adjousta-t'il ne vous offencez pas si j'ay la hardiesse de vous parler comme je fais si l'ambition estoit une passion basse et criminelle je ne vous en soubconnerois point mais puis que le desir de regner est universel dans le coeur de cous les hommes que pour monter au throne on fait de longues et sanglantes guerres et qu'on renverse des royaumes et des empires il doit ce me semble m'estre permis de craindre que vous ne fassiez aucun scrupule de me perdre pour regner car enfin vous le pouvez mesme faire sans estre injuste envers moy puis qu'il est vray que je n'ay aucun droit de vous en empescher aussi vous puis-je assurer que je n'ay pas l'insolence de pretendre contraindre vostre inclination mais madame j'ay seulement a vous conjurer de souffrir que je vous die que quoy que je sois resolu d'estre vostre esclave jusques a la fin de mes jours je ne sens pas que je puisse vivre vostre sujet c'est 
 pourquoy je vous demande pour grace singuliere s'il arrive durant mon absence que le prince d'assirie se resolve d'obeir a nitocris de vous souvenir que vous ne pouvez monter au throne sans qu'il en couste la vie au malheureux atergatis comme je suis extremement sincere repliqua la princesse istrine je ne veux point que vous m'ayez nulle obligation de la resolution que j'ay prise de resister encore plus opiniastrement a la reine que le prince d'assirie ne luy resiste puis qu'il est vray que je la prens pour l'amour de moy seulement estant certain que je trouve bien plus de gloire a mespriser un prince qui me mesprise qu'a estre reine par une lache voye ainsi genereux atergatis vous pouvez estre assure que vous ne serez jamais mon sujet et que je n'auray autre pouvoir sur vous que celuy que vous m'y donnerez volontairement comme atergatis alloit respondre le prince intapherne r'entra mais avec tant de marques d'inquietude sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit apris quelque facheuse nouvelle depuis qu'ils les avoit quittez de sorte que la princesse sa soeur voulant s'en esclaircir luy demanda s'il avoit sceu quelque chose qui luy desplust j'ay sceu dit-il que la paix de phrigie est faire que la nouvelle en vient d'arriver que la reine a dit tout haut qu'il falloir se preparer a plus d'une rejouissance et que le mariage du prince d'assirie suivroit de bien pres la grande feste qu'elle vouloit qu'on 
 celebrast pour la paix qui vient d'estre conclue celuy qui me l'a dit le luy a entendu dire si bien que croyant me faire un plaisir signale de m'en advertir il m'a cherche en tant de lieux qu'en fin il m'a trouve en celuy-cy le discours d'intapherne surprit estrangement istrine et plus encore atergatis qui chergant dans les yeux de cette princesse a descouvrir les sentimens de son coeur la regarda avec une attention extreme d'abord elle rougit et parut un peu esmeue mais se remettant un moment apres je suis si assuree dit elle a intapherne de l'aversion du prince d'assirie pour moy et de celle que j'ay pour luy que si la cour n'est jamais en joye que pour son mariage et pour le mien elle sera tousjours en deuil ha ma chere soeur s'escria le prince intapherne que vous me donnez de consolation de parler comme vous faites car enfin quelque ambition qui soit dans mon coeur je ne puis me resoudre de vous voir reine a condition d'estre femme d'un prince qui m'a outrage et qui m'a outrage impunement parce que je dois estre son sujet et a qui je voudrois pouvoir aprendre que si la fortune a mis de la difference entre nous le sort des armes nous pourroit peut-estre esgaler atergatis oyant ce que disoit le prince intapherne en eut beaucoup de satisfaction et se rassura d'une partie de la crainte qu'il avoit eue mais non pas entierement car il scavoit bien que nitocris estoit absolument resolue 
 de presser le prince son fils jusqu'a la derniere extremite il n'ignoroit pas non plus que la couronne luy apartenoit qu'elle estoit tres absolue dans ses estats et que l'ancienne amitie qu'elle avoit eue pour gadate faisoit qu'elle vouloit qu'il regnast en la personne de sa fille de sorte que ne pouvant tout a fait se fier aux paroles d'intapherne et a celles de la princesse istrine il souffroit une peine estrange aussi leur fit-il cent propositions les unes apres les autres pour se mettre en seurete de ce qu'il craignoit intapherne de son coste vouloit que la princesse sa soeur sortist de la cour sans en parler a la reine mais elle ne le voulut pas disant qu'elle devoit trop de respect a cette princesse et a gadate pour faire une pareille chose joint aussi leur dit-elle qu'il pourra estre que sans me mettre dans la necessite d'irriter la reine le prince d'assirie tout seul luy resistera assez sans que je m'en mesle ha madame s'escria atergatis souffrez s'il vous plaist que je vous die que ceux qui ne veulent point combatre ne veulent pas vaincre et qu'ainsi puis que vous ne voulez pas vous opposer a la reine c'est que vous voulez luy obeir je vous assure reprit elle que je ne luy obeiray pas et si je suis jamais vostre reine je consens que vous soyez sujet rebelle aussi bien que le prince mon frere mais de grace qu'on me laisse la liberte de mesnager l'esprit de la reine j'avoue ma soeur dit alors intapherne 
 que vous luy devez toutes choses et c'est ce qui fait que j'ay raison de craindre que si elle persuade le prince son fils elle ne vous persuade aussi comme je connois mieux mon coeur que vous ne le connoissez repliqua t'elle j'ay plus de sujet de me fier a ma generosite que vous n'en avez mais pour vous tesmoigner que je ne veux pas que vous me soubconniez d'avoir la laschete de songer a espouser un prince qui vous a outrage et qui me mesprise je consens de changer le dessein que j'avois et de suplier la reine pourveu que vous y soyez present de ne me commander jamais d'espouser le prince son fils et de me permettre de me retirer apres cela intapherne et atergatis la remercierent presques egalement en suite de quoy ils luy donnerent mille louanges de la genereuse resolution qu'elle prenoit mais elle qui n'estoit pas bien aise que le prince son frere l'eust soubconnee de foiblesse luy en fit un reproche sans aigreur qui le confirma encore davantage dans la creance qu'il avoit de sa generosite cependant apres avoir resolu que le soir mesme il se trouveroit chez la reine y il falut se separer mais comme intapherne aimoit tendrement atergatis et qu'il croyoit que plus il engageroit istrine aveque luy plus il l'esloigneroit du prince d'assirie il la conjure de recevoir son affection de luy donner son amitie et de le regarder comme seul homme de la 
 terre qui fust digne d'elle atergatis de son coste luy dit cent choses tendres et passionnees quoy qu'ils pussent dire l'un et l'autre elle ne s'engagea qu'a avoir de l'amitie et de la reconnoissance pour atergatis mais a dire la verite je pense que son coeur promit plus que sa bouche et que des ce jour la elle commenca de mettre de la difference entre l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour ses amis et l'affection qu'elle avoit pour ce prince quoy qu'il en soit des qu'elle fut retournee au palais elle s'aperceut que ce que nitocris avoit dit estoit sceu de tour le monde et qu'on la regardoit desja comme devant estre reine car elle vit tant d'empressement a ceux qui l'aprocherent qu'il luy fut aise de connoistre ce qu'ils pensoient et que leur propre interest les faisoit agir ainsi d'autre part le prince d'assirie ayant sceu encore plus precisement d'intapherne combien la reine s'estoit expliquee nettement sur son mariage prit comme vous scaves madame une resolution qui vous a cause bien des malheurs puis que s'il n'eust point quitte la cour d'assirie il n'auroit pas este en celle de capadoce cependant sans deliberer davantage il ne dessein de se retirer de la cour de sortir du royaume et d'aller voyager inconnu jusques a ce que la reine sa mere eust change de sentimens et que la princesse istrine fust mariee mais comme le prince intapherne ny la princesse sa soeur ne scavoient pas son intention ils parlerent conjointement 
 a la reine et la suplierent de leur permettre de se retirer de la cour et de ne leur commander jamais d'y venir mais plus ils se plaignirent du prince d'assirie plus intapherne en son particulier tesmoigna de douleur d'en avoir este outrage et plus istrine suplia la reine de ne luy commander jamais de l'espouser plus la reine s'opiniastra a vouloir qu'ils demeurassent a la cour et plus elle se resolut a faire le mariage qu'elle avoir desire de faire depuis si long temps istrine joignit mesme les larmes aux prieres et intapherne sans perdre le respect qu'il devoit a la reine luy par la pourtant avec beaucoup de fermete mais il par la toutesfois inutilement ainsi sans ceder depart ny d'autre ils se parleront sans avoir change de sentimens d'ailleurs le malheureux atergatis aprenant par le prince intapherne comment cette conversation s'estoit passee ne put songer a s'esloigner si tost d'un lieu ou il avoit une affaire si importante de sorte qu'il prit la resolution de demeurer quelques jours cache a babilone jusques a ce qu'il sceust un peu mieux le biais que prendroient les choses mais il y demeura avec une inquietude si grande que si intapherne ne l'eust console elle auroit este plus forte que sa raison ce qui l'augmenta encore fut que le prince d'assirie ayant comme je l'ay desja dit fait le dessein de se desrober de la cour voulut pour tromper la reine paroistre le lendemain a la feste qu'on fit pour la paix de phrigie avec 
 une magnificence estrange il parut mesme moins chagrin qu'a l'ordinaire et moins incivil pour la princesse istrine si bien que toute la cour ne doutant point que ce prince n'obeist a la fin a la reine le bruit en fut jusques a atergatis et jusques a intapherne qui n'avoit pas voulu estre des divertissemens de cette journee de sorte que ces deux princes en eurent une douleur esgalle quoy que par des causes differentes intapherne escrivit le soir a la princesse sa soeur pour scavoir s'il estoit vray que le prince d'assirie eust eu moins d'incivilite pour elle qu'a l'ordinaire mais comme il alloit luy envoyer son biller il en receut un d'elle qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 istrine a intapherne 
 
 
 je ne puis me resoudre d'attendre a demain a vous dire qu'encore que le prince d'assirie ait change aujourd'huy sa facon d'agir aveque moy je ne changeray pas de sentimens et que si j'ay eu de la joye de le voir moins incivil c'a este par l'esperance de luy faire mieux connoistre l'aversion que je yeux tousjours avoir pour luy adieu ne me soubconnez plus de foiblesse et pensez tousjours de ma generosite ce que vous voudriez que se pensasse de la vostre en une pareille occasion 
 
 
 istrine 
 
 
 intapherne n'eut pas plustost leu ce billet qu'il fut le monstrer a atergatis qui en eut de la joye et de la douleur car il fut bien aise de voir que la princesse istrine persistoit dans sa premiere resolution mais il fut aussi bien marry d'aprendre la confirmation d'une chose qui l'avoit desja tant afflige de sorte que se faisant un meslange de ces deux sentimens dans son ame il ne trouvoit point de paroles qui pussent precisement exprimer ce qu'il sentoit pour le prince intapherne il ne scavoit que penser car il ne pouvoit comprendre qu'un prince qui l'avoit traitte si outrageusement eust change d'humeur en si peu de temps cependant il respondit a la princesse istrine pour l'exciter a continuer d'estre genereuse l'assurant qu'il la verroit le jour suivant mais madame cette princesse a advoue depuis au prince son frere qu'elle passa cette nuit avec beaucoup d'inquietude car enfin atergatis l'avoit sensiblement obligee atergatis estoit tres aimable atergatis l'aimoit infiniment et elle sentoit bien qu'elle ne le haissoit pas de plus le mespris du prince d'assirie avoit estrangement irrite son esprit contre luy et les mauvais traitemens que le prince intapherne en avoit receus luy estoient aussi tres sensibles mais d'autre part considerant quelle gloire elle auroit d'estre reine d'assirie de succeder a une des plus illustre princesse du monde de commander dans la plus grande ville de la terre de ne voir que les dieux au dessus d'elle et de n'avoir 
 qu'un tres petit nombre d'esgales en tout l'univers elle trouvoit quelque difficulte a demeurer dans la resolution qu'elle avoit prise elle n'avoit pourtant pas plustost escoute l'ambition que l'honneur et l'amour se joignant ensemble pour soustenir sa generosite elle revenoit dans ses premiers sentimens et y revenoit mesme avec opiniastrete mais durant qu'atergatis intapherne et istrine raisonnoient chacun en particulier sur leur avanture et que la reine se preparoit a parler le lendemain au prince son fils pour l'obliger a luy obeir ce prince sans estre accompagne que de trois des siens partit de babilone deux heures devant le jour
 
 
 
 
de vous dire madame quel effet fit son esloignement dans la cour il ne me seroit pas aise et ce sera bien assez que je vous die quels sentimens en eurent istrine intapherne et atergatis si ce n'est que le vous parle aussi de la douleur et de la colere qu'eut la reine de voir que le prince son fils l'eust si peu respectee elle dissimula pourtant une partie de son ressentiment mais pour istrine elle cacha si peu la joye qu'elle eut du depart de ce prince quoy que par un sentiment de gloire elle en eust aussi de la colere que tout le monde s'en aperceut car comme elle estoit encore alors fort jeune elle ne pouvoit pas renfermer tout a fait dans son coeur des sentimens si tumultueux pour intapherne quoy qu'il fust un peu plus maistre des siens et qu'il allast comme les autres chez la reine il estoit toutesfois 
 aise de remarquer que l'esloignement de ce prince ne l'affligeoit guere mais pour atergatis il en eut des transports de joye les plus grands du monde et si grands madame qu'encore qu'il n'eust jamais escrit a la princesse istrine il luy escrivit pour luy faire scavoir ses sentimens luy demandant pardon de ce qu'il se rejouissoit de ce qu'elle avoit perdu une couronne et luy disant enfin tant de choses spirituelles galantes et passionnees tout ensemble qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que le coeur qui avoit guide la main qui avoit escrit cette lettre estoit infiniment amoureux ce qui augmentoit encore la joye d'atergatis estoit qu'il esperoit que le prince d'assirie estant esloigne la reine revoqueroit peutestre le commandement qu'elle luy avoit fait ou accourciroit son exil cependant il se trouva trompe en ses esperances car il faut que vous scachiez madame que comme les parens d'armatrite ne cherchoient qu'a nuire a atergatis ayant sceu qu'il avoit veu la princesse istrine dans ce jardin ou intapherne l'avoit menee et ayant apris aussi qu'il estoit encore a babilone en advertirent la reine de sorte que cette princesse qui avoit l'esprit merveilleusement penetrant ayant remarque que la princesse istrine avoit eu de la joye du depart du prince d'assirie bien loin d'avoir eu de la douleur de perdre une couronne commenca de soubconner quelque chose de cette entre veue dont elle ne luy avoit rien dit et elle le soubconna d'autant 
 plus tost qu'elle scavoit avec quelle ardeur le prince intapherne luy avoit parle pour atergatis apres son combat avec armatrite si bien que faisant reflection sur toutes ces choses elle voulut s'en esclaircir et elle s'en esclaircit en effet sans beaucoup de peine car comme istrine la craignoit et la respectoit infiniment elle n'eut pas la force de luy nier cette entre-veue ne considerant pas dans le trouble ou elle estoit qu'apres l'avoir advouee il faudroit la pretexter aussi fut elle fort surprise lors que nitocris luy demanda pourquoy intapherne avoit voulu qu'elle vist atergatis madame repliqua istrine en rougissant comme ce prince est infiniment de ses amis et qu'il est aussi fort des miens il souhaita que je luy disse adieu et je ne le refusay pas ha istrine respondit la reine pour la faire parler on ne fait point un si grand mistere pour une chose ou il y en a si peu et cette entre-veue a une autre cause que je scay mais que je veux pourtant aprendre de vostre bouche plus particulierement la princesse istrine se voyant alors pressee par la reine respondit en biaisant de sorte que nitocris la pressant encore davantage et ne donnant nul loisir a l'esprit de cette jeune princesse de raisonner juste sur une chose si delicate elle la forca enfin de se resoudre tumultuairement a luy dire l'obligation qu'elle avoit a atergatis luy semblant qu'en aprenant a la reine l'injustice que le prince son fils avoit eue de la vouloir faire enlever et 
 quelle estoit la generosite atergatis elle voudroit encore plus de mal au premier et estimeroit plus le second mais la chose ne reussit pas comme istrine l'avoit espere car encore que cette jeune princesse n'eust pas dit a la reine qu'atergatis fust amoureux d'elle et qu'elle eust attribue l'action qu'il avoit faite a la seule generosite de son ame nitocris ne laissa pas de comprendre la verite car comme il s'estoit espandu quelque bruit de la passion d'atergatis elle avoit trop d'esprit pour n'entendre pas la chose comme elle devoit estre entendue mais le mal fut que s'imaginant qu'il y avoit longtemps qu'istrine scavoit l'amour d'atergatis elle creut que peutestre cette galanterie secrete avoit-elle este cause de l'opiniastre resistance du prince son fils ce n'est pas qu'elle ne connust la vertu d'istrine aussi bien que celle de toutes les femmes qu'elle luy avoit donnees mais enfin en imaginant plus qu'il n'y en avoit et regardant alors atergatis comme un obstacle a la chose du monde qu'elle desiroit avec le plus d'ardeur elle luy fit commander tout de nouveau de s'esloigner de la cour et de n'y revenir plus qu'elle ne l'a repellast intapherne a qui istrine n'avoit ose dire ce qu'elle avoit advoue a la reine voulut la suplier de ne traiter pas si rigoureusement un homme qui s'estoit battu pour soustenir sa gloire mais elle le refusa absolument luy disant en suite tout ce qu'elle scavoit et tout ce qu'elle s'imaginoit de l'amour 
 d'atergatis pour istrine de sorte qu'intapherne dont l'ame est toute sincere et toute genereuse advoua encore plus que la princesse sa soeur n'avoit fait car il dit positivement la chose comme elle s'estoit passee et la luy dit avec une ingenuite si grande que la reine connut qu'en effet elle s'estoit abusee lors qu'elle avoit creu que la princesse istrine scavoit l'amour d'atergatis il y avoit longtemps de sorte qu'estant bien aise qu'une princesse qu'elle aimoit si tendrement fust justifiee dans son esprit elle en souffrit avec plus de moderation la fermete qu'eut intapherne a luy exagerer l'injustice du prince d'assirie d'avoir voulu faire en lever sa soeur et pour atergatis et pour armatrite je scay bien luy dit alors la reine que le prince mon fils est tres injuste mais apres tout intapherne tant qu'il sera vivant je ne perdray pas l'esperance de voir istrine reine d'assirie c'est pourquoy je ne veux pas qu'atergatis y pense de sorte que quand les parens d'armatrite ne me presseroient pas comme ils font de l'esloigner d'icy il faudroit tousjours qu'ils s'en esloignast parce qu'il aime istrine et qu'il est assez honneste homme pour n'en estre pas hai cependant assurez-le que s'il veut changer de passion et faire succeder dans son coeur l'ambition a l'amour je songeray bien tost a la satisfaire en luy donnant un gouvernement si considerable que tout esloigne qu'il sera de babilone son exil passera plus tost pour une recompense que pour un chastiment 
 intapherne voulut alors s'opposer a la volonte de la reine mais elle luy imposa silence de sorte qu'il falut que la chose allast comme elle le voulut c'est a dire qu'atergatis s'esloignast mesme sans revoir la princesse qu'il aimoit car la reine la fit observer si soigneusement qu'intapherne ne put imaginer les voyes de donner cette satisfaction a son amy qui partit avec une douleur qui auroit este sans consolation si intapherne ne luy eust promis de faire recevoir de ses lettres a la princesse istrine et s'il ne luy eust fait esperer de l'obliger a luy respondre apres cela madame je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire precisement ce que fit le prince atergatis durant les premiers mois de son exil ny a vous exagerer avec quel soin il donnoit de ses nouvelles a istrine et a intapherne ny avec quelle exactitude intapherne luy respondit non plus que l'empressement avec lequel ce prince parloit d'atergatis a istrine afin qu'elle ne l'oubliast pas et qu'elle en haist encore un peu plus le prince d'assirie car je serois trop long temps a vous dire des choses si peu necessaires mais je vous diray qu'un parent d'armatrite ayant sceu qu'atergatis escrivoit souvent a intapherne en advertit la reine il est vray qu'il ne le fit pas si adroitement qu'intapherne ne le sceust c'est pourquoy il eut une conversation si aigre aveque luy qu'ils en vinrent aux mains et intapherne se batit avec tant de coeur qu'apres avoir mis son ennemy hors 
 de combat il se deffendit courageusement contre trois des siens qui voyant leur maistre mort voulurent du moins vanger sa perte mais quoy qu'ils fussent vaillans il en tua un blessa l'autre et mit le troisiesme en fuitte sans avoir personne de son coste parce qu'il avoit rencontre celuy contre qui il s'estoit batu dans une grande allee qui est au bord de l'euphrate au bout de laquelle il avoit voulu que ses gens l'attendissent si bien qu'ils ne purent estre si tost a luy qu'il n'eust desja vaincu ii est vray que sa victoire luy cousta assez cher car il fut blesse considerablement en deux endroits mais comme les chirurgiens assurerent d'abord qu'il n'y avoit nul danger a ses blessures on peut dire que la gloire qu'il acquit a ce combat valoit plus que le sang qu'il perdit cependant la reine voyant avec quelle ardeur le prince intapherne prenoit toutes les choses ou atergatis avoit interest se resolut de faire durer son exil non seulement aussi long temps que dureroit celuy du prince son fils mais aussi long temps que cet injuste prince ne voudroit point espouser istrine elle ne laissoit pourtant pas de favoriser atergatis en cent choses d'autre nature soit en sa personne soit en celle de ses proches ainsi ce malheureux amant sans voir d'autres bornes a son bannissement que le mariage de la personne qu'il aimoit avec un prince qui ne l'aimoit pas menoit la plus malheureuse vie du monde il avoit pourtant la consolation de recevoir 
 par intapherne quelques lettres d'istrine mais il avoit aussi la douleur de scavoir que cette sage princesse ne pouvoit se resoudre de dire rien a la reine qui luy put faire connoistre que l'affection d'atergatis ne luy estoit pas indifferente elle luy disoit bien qu'elle la suplioit de la renvoyer chez le prince son pere afin qu'elle ne fist point d'obstacle au retour du prince son fils mais elle n'osoit en dire davantage elle s'expliqua pourtant un peu plus clairement quelques jours apres le combat d'intapherne car le prince d'assirie envoya secretement un des siens a babilone comme il estoit prest d'aller a sinope afin de semer divers billets dans la ville par lesquels il declaroit qu'il ne r'entreroit point en assirie que la princesse istrine ne fust mariee adjoustant toutesfois qu'il suplioit la reine de ne la marier point a atergatis pour des raisons qu'il luy diroit un jour quand elle l'auroit mis en estat de se raprocher d'elle de sorte que ce prince par ce moyen la se vangeoit d'atergatis qui n'avoit pas voulu qu'il enlevast istrine pour luy car la reine scachant la chose se confirma encore d'avantage dans le dessein de laisser ce prince dans son exil cependant la princesse istrine qui jusques la n'avoit n'en dit qui peust faire connoistre qu'elle ne haissoit pas atergatis commenca d'esclater contre l'injustice du prince d'assirie qui ne se contentoit pas de refuser outrageusement de l'espouser et qui vouloit encore luy prescrire tiranniquement des 
 choses qui ne dependoient pas de luy et d'ou dependoit tout le repos de sa vie mais plus elle se pleignit plus elle recula le retour d'atergatis qui scachant ce qui se passoit a babilone en avoit une douleur inconcevable il se passoit pourtant quelque chose dans le coeur d'istrine qui luy eust donne bien de la joye s'il eust pu le scavoir estant certain que les billets du prin- d'assirie et le procede de la reine acheverent de la faire resoudre de regarder atergatis comme le seul homme du monde qui pouvoit meriter son affection mais madame pour n'abuser pas de vostre patience il faut que je passe en peu de mots toutes ces petites choses qui se passerent a babilone durant que le prince d'assirie sous le nom de philiadaspe estoit amoureux de vous a sinope et ennemy de l'illustre artamene car il faudroit trop de temps a vous exagerer quelle estoit la douleur de la reine de ne scavoir ou estoit le prince son fils quel estoit le desespoir d'atergatis d'estre tousjours esloigne de ce qu'il aimoit quel estoit le chagrin d'istrine de voir que le prince d'assirie tout absent qu'il estoit faisoit obstacle a son bonheur quelle estoit la colere d'intapherne d'avoir un ennemy de qui il n'osoit ny ne pouvoit se vanger et quelle estoit la peine qu'avoit le prince mazare a estre le mediateur universel qui apaisoit la reine lors qu'elle estoit irritee ou contre le prince son fils ou contre intapherne ou contre istrine ou contre atergatis 
 c'est pourquoy madame sans vous dire ce qui arriva a babilone durant que ce pretendu philidasphe suivit le roy vostre pere a la guerre qu'il avoit alors contre les rois de pont et de phrigie ny pendant le voyage de l'illustre artamene vers thomiris je reprendray seulement les choses au temps ou la reine sceut que le prince son fils vous avoit enlevee car enfin madame je dois ce tesmoignage a la vertu de cette grande princesse de vous assurer que cette nouvelle l'affligea si fort que sans le prince mazare elle eust oste la couronne au prince son fils ce fut alors que se repentant d'avoir voulu violenter les inclinations d'istrine elle luy dit mille choses obligeantes et tendres non seulement pour elle mais pour le prince intapherne qui estoit party quelque temps auparavant pour aller en bithinie ou arsamone faisoit la guerre qui l'a fait remonter au throsne de ses peres cependant atergatis qui s'interessoit a tout ce qui le touchoit suivit intapherne a cette guerre estant bien aise puis qu'il devoit estre exile de passer du moins le temps de son exil a servir un roy a qui la princesse istrine avoit l'honneur d'apartenir je suis mesme encore oblige de vous aprendre que si cette grande reine ne fust point morte elle auroit este assieger opis ou le prince son fils vous avoit conduite vous assurant qu'elle ne l'auroit assiegee qu'afin de vous pouvoir renvoyer au roy vostre pere mais madame la mort l'empescha 
 d'executer un si genereux dessein et qui vous eust espargne beaucoup de peines cependant comme cette grande princesse regarda la fin de sa vie sans effroy et qu'elle conserva l'usage de la raison tout entier jusques a son dernier soupir elle ne voulut pas exposer la princesse istrine a la violence du nouveau roy de sorte que scachant avec quelle affection j'avois tousjours este attache au prince intapherne elle me ne l'honneur de me choisir pour me confier la princesse istrine m'ordonnant de la conduite en bithinie des qu'elle seroit morte ne voulant pas qu'elle allast aupres de gadate son pere de peur qu'estant dans l'estat du prince son fils elle ne souffrist quelque violence c'est pourquoy luy choisissant un azile plus assure elle voulut que je la menasse vers arsamone aupres de qui comme je l'ay desja dit estoient le prince intapherne et le prince atergatis qui s'estoient tous deux hautement signalez a la guerre de sorte madame qu'acceptant la commission que la reine me donnoit et luy promettant de m'en aquiter tres fidellement cette grande princesse ne fut pas plustost expiree que je me mis en estat de luy obeir le prince mazare qui aimoit extremement intapherne qui estimoit tres fort atergatis et qui honnoroit infiniment istrine me donna escorte pour conduire cette princesse plus seurement l'accompagnant luy mesme jusques a trente stades de babilone je ne vous diray point madame quelle 
 fut la douleur d'istrine a la mort de nitocris car je n'ay point de paroles qui puissent vous l'exprimer mais je vous diray que regardant le prince d'assirie comme ayant cause sa perte par les chagrins que vostre enlevement luy avoit donnez elle fit autant d'imprecations contre luy que vous en pouviez faire vous mesme cependant comme le temps foulage toutes les douleurs et que les maux sans remede sont pour l'ordinaire plus capables de faire recevoir consolation a ceux qui les souffrent que ceux ou il y en peut avoir et ou pourtant on n'en trouve point lors que nous arrivasmes en bithinie ses larmes commencoient de couler plus lentement et sa douleur estoit plus tranquile des que nous fusmes sur la frontiere de ce royaume la et tout a fait hors de la puissance du roy d'assirie y ayant desja un autre estat entre luy et nous la princesse istrine s'arresta pour se reposer et pour me donner le temps d'advertir le prince intapherne et le prince atergatis de son arrivee vous pouvez juger madame que la mauvaise nouvelle que je leur donnay de la mort de nitocris qu'ils scavoient pourtant desja ne fut pas sans consolation principalement pour atergatis puis que je luy aprenois qu'il verroit bien tost la princesse istrine plus commodement qu'il ne l'avoit espere car madame il faut que vous scachiez que celuy que j'envoyay vers ces deux princes qui estoient alors a calcedoine ou la cour estoit les trouva prests a partir pour venir 
 deguisez a babilone afin de mettre la princesse istrine en seurete ne scachant pas que la reine y avoit pourveu par sa prudence de sorte qu'aprenant que celle pour qui ils craignoient tant la violence du nouveau roy d'assirie n'estoit plus en lieu de la devoir craindre et qu'ils la verroient beaucoup plustost qu'ils ne l'avoient espere la douleur d'intapherne en diminua et celle d'atergatis qui n'estoit pas si attachee a la reine depuis qu'elle l'avoit exile diminua encore davantage cependant pour ne perdre point de temps au lieu de respondre aux lettres de cette princesse et aux miennes ils surent en diligence trouver arsamone afin de l'advertir de l'arrivee d'istrine et de luy demander azile pour elle comme arsamone leur estoit oblige il embrassa avec plaisir une occasion de leur tesmoigner la reconnoissance qu'il avoit des services qu'ils luy avoient rendus a la guerre de sorte que leur accordant de bonne grace ce qu'ils desiroient de luy il fit a l'heure mesme scavoir la chose a la reine de bithinie qui pour honnorer davantage la princesse istrine luy envoya son chariot jusques a une journee de calcedoine la princesse de bithinie envoyant aussi vers istrine en son particulier pour luy faire un compliment d'autre part intapherne et atergatis qui avoient une envie estrange de la voir vinrent ou elle estoit avec une diligence incroyable l'amitie et l'amour donnant presques en cette occasion une esgale impatience a ces deux 
 princes qui nous surprirent bien agreablement estant certain que lors qu'ils arriverent ou nous estions nous ne croiyons pas qu'ils eussent pu seulement avoir le temps d'agir aupres d'arsamone ce n'est pas que comme la princesse istrine avoit une extreme envie d'avoir des nouvelles du prince son frere et peut-estre aussi d'atergatis le temps ne deust luy sembler plus long qu'il n'estoit mais c'est qu'en effet ils vinrent si viste qu'on ne pouvoit pas vray semblablement les attendre de vous dire madame quelles furent les diverses joyes de ces trois personnes en se revoyant il ne seroit pas aise intapherne et atergatis montrerent toute la leur mais pour istrine elle cacha une partie de la sienne ce n'est pas que leur conversation ne commencast par des plaintes mais enfin le plaisir de se revoir dissipant bien tost leur douleur ils se rendirent conte de ce qui leur estoit arrive depuis qu'ils ne s'estoient veus et ils se donnerent mesme la consolation de se plaindre du roy d'assirie avec cette espece d'exageration qui foulage quelquesfois si doucement ceux qui se pleignent en liberte de quelque injustice qu'on leur a faite ils ne se dirent toutesfois pas alors toutes leurs pensees car la passion d'atergatis luy en donnoit mille qu'il ne disoit pas il eut pourtant la satisfaction d'en dire une partie car apres s'estre entretenus assez long temps intapherne qui fut bien aise d'aprendre de moy beaucoup de choses que je devois mieux scavoir que la princesse 
 istrine me tira a part et laissa atergatis dans la liberte d'entretenir de sa passion celle qui la causoit je ne scay madame luy dit il si vous vous souvenez des cruelles paroles que vous me dites a babilone lors que vous assurant de l'amour que j'avois pour vous vous entrepristes de me persuader qu'il y avoit lieu de croire qu'une passion qui commencoit par une absence ne dureroit pas long temps il m'est arrive tant de choses facheuses depuis ce temps-la repliqua-t'elle qu'il ne me souvient pas de ce que vous dites mais il me semble adjousta cette princesse en souriant que quand je l'aurois dit je n'aurois pas parle deraisonnablement car puis que l'absence detruit quelquesfois les affections les plus solidement establies elle pourroit bien plus facilement detruire une affection naissante il paroist donc bien madame reprit atergatis que celle que j'ay pour vous n'est pas de la nature de ces sortes d'affections que le temps et l'absence ruinent puis qu'il est certain que j'ay plus de passion pour vous que je n'en avois quand je vous quittay ouy madame poursuivit-il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre je vous aime plus que je ne faisois et je puis dire qu'il ne s'est point passe de jour que mon amour n'ait pris de nouvelles forces pour me rendre plus malheureux car enfin plus j'ay veu de monde plus j'ay connu ce que vous valez et la cour de bithinie quoy que pleine de dames extremement accomplies m'a fait connoistre que vous n'estes pas 
 seulement la plus parfaite personne d'assirie mais encore la plus parfaite personne de la terre estant certain que je n'ay este en aucun lieu ou j'aye rien trouve qui vous puisse estre compare quoy que les louanges soient la plus douce chose du monde repliqua istrine principalement quand elles sont donnees par un homme qu'on estime je ne laisse pas de vous prier de ne m'en donner pas tant de peur que vous soubconnant de flatterie je ne vinsse a douter de tout ce que vous me diriez en suitte pourveu que vous ne doutiez point de mon affection reprit atergatis je ne crains pas que vous doutiez de la verite de mes paroles lors mesme qu'elles vous loueront plus qu'on n'a jamais loue qui que ce soit car enfin madame quand je vous diray que vous estes la plus belle personne du monde vous en croirez vostre miroir si vous ne m'en croyez pas si je vous dis que vous avez plus d'esprit que ceux qui en ont le plus ce mesme esprit qui connoist si parfaitement les autres vous fera connoistre a vous mesme et ne vous permettra pas de douter de ce que je vous auray dit il fera mesme encore que vous ne m'accuserez point de mensonge quand je loueray toutes vos vertus les unes apres les autres et si j'estois assure que vous creussiez aussi fortement que je vous aime que vous croyez que je vous estime infiniment je serois plus heureux que je ne suis en effet madame a moins que de ne m'estimer point du tout vous ne scauriez penser 
 que je ne vous admire pas je vous assure repliqua istrine que je me connois si peu moy mesme que je ne scaurois dire si on me fait grace ou injustice lors qu'on m'estime beaucoup ou lors qu'on ne m'estime guere ce pendant je vous prie encore une fois de ne me louer point trop et je vous conjure mesme de ne me parler plus de vostre affection car aussi bien adjousta-t'elle en souriant ne devrois-je pas en croire vos paroles quand mesme je voudrois croire que vous m'aimes c'est pourquoy vivez s'il vous plaist aveque moy comme le prince mon frere y vit car je puis vous asseurer qu'encore qu'il ne m'ait jamais dit qu'il m'aime je ne laisse pas d'estre fort assuree de son affection ha madame s'escria atergatis l'amitie et l'amour sont des choses bien differentes la premiere peut estre muette et la doit presques tousjours estre car enfin ce seroit une bizarre chose si tous les amis et les amies employoient toute leur vie a se dire qu'ils s'aiment mais pour l'amour madame il n'en est pas ainsi en effet bien loin de devoir estre muette comme vous voulez qu'elle le soit elle doit estre eloquente et l'exageration luy est si naturelle qu'on peut mesme dire qu'elle est au dessus de l'exageration estant certain qu'on ne peut jamais trop dire qu'on aime c'est un crime en amour poursuivit il de parler d'autre chose que de sa passion des qu'on est assez heureux pour se trouver seul avec la personne qu'on adore jugez donc madame si je 
 n'ay pas sujet de me pleindre du rigoureux commandement que vous me faites de ne vous parler point de ma passion et si vous ne me reduisez pas aux termes de m'en pleindre au prince intapherne j'aime encore mieux reprit elle que vous vous en pleigniez au prince mon frere qu'a moy j'espere pourtant repliqua t'il qu'il vous obligera a me rendre justice cependant souffrez que je vous demande si apres avoir deu raisonnablement regner en assirie vous pourrez vous contenter de regner dans mon coeur et si apres avoir pense avoir une multitude infinie de sujets vous pourrez estre satisfaite de n'avoir que le malheureux atergatis pour esclave comme istrine alloit respondre le prince intapherne se raprocha d'eux et commenca d'aprendre a la princesse sa soeur quelle estoit la cour ou elle alloit afin qu'elle sceust comment elle s'y devoit conduire il luy depeignit en peu de mots l'humeur violente et imperieuse d'arsamone et la vertu et la sagesse de la reine arbiane mais lors qu'il vint a luy parler de la princesse de bithinie il luy donna tant de louanges et la loua mesme d'une maniere qui faisoit si bien voir qu'il craignoit de ne la louer pas assez qu'istrine s'imagina qu'il l'aimoit autant qu'il l'estimoit de sorte que prenant la parole si je ne scavois dit elle au prince son frere que vous avez presques toujours este a l'armee depuis que vous estes en bithinie je croirois que la belle princesse dont vous me parlez 
 si avantageusement auroit un peu trop engage vostre coeur mais comme je scay toutes vos victoires je ne puis croire que vous vous soyez laisse vaincre nous avons sans doute este vainqueurs a la guerre repliqua intapherne mais j'ay este vaincu par l'amour et cette liberte que j'avois conservee au milieu de toutes les belles de babilone s'est perdue a chalcedoine en voyant la princesse de bithinie c'est pourquoy preparez vous ma chere soeur adjousta-t'il a me voir proteger atergatis aupres de vous avec plus d'ardeur que jamais car aujourd'huy que je scay par ma propre experience quelle est cette cruelle passion qui fait les plus grandes douceurs et les plus sensibles infortunes de la vie je m'interesse encore plus que je ne faisois a celle qu'il a pour vous je pensois repliqua istrine en souriant que ceux qui estoient amoureux estoient si occupez pour eux mesmes qu'ils n'avoient pas loisir de s'employer pour les autres mais a ce que je voy je me suis trompee en mon opinion cependant adjousta-t'elle je voy bien qu'il faut que je me prepare a avoir autant d'amitie pour la princesse de bithinie que vous avez d'amour si je veux estre bien aveque vous il est certain reprit-il que si vous ne l'aimiez pas vous me feriez un despit estrange mais cela n'a garde d'arriver n'estant pas possible de la connoistre sans l'aimer principalement ayant l'ame aussi sensible au merite extraordinaire que vous l'avez cette princesse a 
 mesme cette conformite aveque vous ajousta-t'il d'avoir pense estre reine de pont comme vous l'avez pense estre d'assirie quoy que la chose aye manque pas les causes differentes elle a aussi un frere qu'elle aime comme vous en avez un et qui l'aime aussi cherement il est absent d'elle comme j'ay este esloigne de vous et je trouve tant de rapport entre vostre fortune et la sienne que quand vous ne l'aimeriez pas par connoissance vous la devriez aimer par simpathie lors que nous serons a chalcedoine reprit-elle nous verrons ce qui en arrivera cependant dites moy s'il vous plaist en quel estat est la guerre car je vous advoue que je souhaiterois ardamment qu'elle fust finie quoy qu'arsamone ait tousjours vaincu reprit intapherne il a encore beaucoup a vaincre car le roy de pont apres avoit perdu deux batailles est presentement a la teste d'une armee ayant encore pour retraite la capitale de son estat qui n'est pas aisee a prendre car comme vous le scavez sans doute heraclee est forte a cause de la mer au bord de laquelle elle est scituee d'autre part araminte sa soeur est dans cabira entre les mains d'un de ses amans nomme artane qui l'enleva lors que le roy de pont revint a heraclee apres avoir obtenu sa liberte par la generosite de cet illustre estranger nomme artamene qui a rendu les armes de ciaxare si victorieuse et dont la reputation est si grande de sorte que quand on aura acheve de vaincre le 
 roy de pont que l'on aura deffait son armee et pris heraclee il faudra apres cela combatre artane et prendre cabira ha mon frere s'escria istrine que de perils a esviter et que d'inquietudes a souffrir devant que de voir la paix en bithinie et le repos dans mon coeur apres cela comme l'amour d'intapherne estoit nouvelle et violente il ne put estre longtemps sans en parler de sorte que la princesse istrine voulant avoir cette complaisance pour luy fit ce qu'il souhaittoit mais de grace luy dit-elle aprenez moy comment l'amour s'est empare de vostre coeur avez vous aime la princesse de bithinie des que vous l'avez veue est-ce par sa beaute toute seule ou par les charmes de son esprit que vous avez este vaincu et vostre passion a-t'elle este aussi violente qu'elle est des qu'elle a commence d'estre quand nous arrivasmes en bithinie atergatis et moy reprit intapherne nous allasmes droit a l'armee de sorte que n'ayant veu la princesse istrine qu'au retour de la campagne il n'y a pas encore long temps que mon coeur est engage il est vray qu'il faut conter sa captivite du premier moment que je vy la princesse de bithinie estant certain que mes yeux n'eurent pas plustost rencontre les siens que je sentis ce que je ne scaurois exprimer il me sembla que j'avois trouve ce que j'avois cherche longtemps sa beaute me donna de l'admiration mais je m'imaginay pourtant que je m'en estois forme une idee auparavant je creus d'abord 
 qu'elle avoit autant d'esprit que de beaute et autant de vertu que d'esprit si bien que me l'imaginant toute accomplie il me semble que je desiray de l'aimer et que je dis en moy mesme qu'un homme qui en seroit aime seroit bien heureux ne vous estonnez pas adjousta-t'il si vous m'entendez parler avec incertitude de ce qui se passa dans mon coeur car enfin ma chers soeur il s'y passa tant de choses differentes que je n'en puis presques parler aveque verite ce que je scay de plus certain est que j'eus pour elle toute l'admiration dont je suis capable mais ce qui acheva de me perdre fut que les premieres paroles que j'entendis de la bouche de cette admirable personne ne furent pas seulement pleines d'esprit et de civilite mais encore de louanges qu'elle me donna parce que la renommee m'avoit flatte durant la campagne de sorte que j'auray toute ma vie a me reprocher qu'elle m'a loue injustement avant que je l'aye pu louer avec justice depuis cela ne me demandez point ce que j'ay fait car je n'ay fait autre chose qu'aporter autant de soin a refferrer les chaines qui me captivent que les autres en aportent quelquesfois a rompre les leurs cependant je souffre mon mal sans me pleindre et si atergatis n'avoit donne lieu a cette princesse de deviner ma passion par une conversation qu'il eut avec elle elle ignoreroit encore que je suis l'homme du monde qui l'adore avec le plus de respect apres cela comme 
 il estoit desja assez tard il fut resolu qu'on ne partiroit que le lendemain ainsi ils eurent tout le reste du jour a s'entretenir mais enfin madame nous partismes du lieu ou nous estions qui estoit esloigne de trois journees de chalcedoine et nous trouvasmes en chemin le chariot d'arbiane qui nous attendoit avec un des principaux officiers de cette reine qui estoit charge de dire mille choses obligeantes a la princesse istrine en effet elle fut receue admirablement bien et d'arsamone et d'arbiane et de la princesse leur fille on la logea dans un des plus beaux apartemens du palais et on luy rendit tout l'honneur qui estoit deu a son merite aussi bien qu'a sa condition il arriva mesme que la princesse de bithinie eut autant d'inclination pour istrine qu'istrine en eut pour elle de sorte que cherchaut toutes deux a se faire aimer l'une de l'autre elles s'aimerent bien tost tendrement et l'amitie s'empara presques aussi promptement de leur coeur que l'amour s'estoit empare de celuy d'intapherne comme leurs apartemens estoient fort proches elles se voyoient a toutes les heures ou elles se pouvoient voir et elles furent bientost assez bien ensemble pour se confier toutes leurs avantures de sorte que la princesse de bithinie reprenant les siennes des sa plus tendre jeunesse aprit a istrine l'amour de sinnesis pour elle la mort de ce prince et tout ce qui luy estoit arrive jusques a l'heure qu'elle parloit istrine de son coste luy 
 racontant aussi ses malheurs et luy confiant mesme l'amour qu'atergatis avoit pour elle il se fit un eschange mutuel de secrets entre ces deux belles princesses cependant quoy que la princesse istrine fust encore assez triste de la mort de nitocris comme elle arriva en une cour ou la victoire avoit mis la joye il falut qu'elle se resolust a prendre sa part des divertissemens qu'on luy donna ce n'est pas que l'absence du prince spitridate n'affligeast extremement et la reine de bithinie et la princesse sa fille et tous les honnestes gens de la cour mais apres tout comme arsamone est un prince qui se fait craindre et qu'il vouloit jouir de tous les fruits de la victoire tous les plaisirs estoient alors a chalcedoine ce prince disant qu'il estoit bien juste que ceux qui avoient eu tant de peine a luy aider a vaincre eussent quelque divertissement a la fin de la campagne il ne faut pourtant pas madame s'imaginer cette cour comme celle d'un grand roy en paix ou tous ces hommes de fer et de sang ne se trouvent point mais il faut s'imaginer un meslange prodigieux de toutes sortes de gens d'officiers d'armee de volontaires de gens de la cour de soldats de fortune de magistrats de sacrificateurs et pour le dire en un mot de toutes sortes de conditions pour concevoir ce qu'estoit alors la cour de bithinie car comme la guerre met le desordre a tout et qu'il n'y a personne qui dans ces facheux temps ne veuille s'eslever au dessus 
 de ce qu'il est on voyoit alors dans la chambre du roy de bithinie des gens qui n'en eussent ose regarder la porte s'il eust este paisible dans son estat mais comme il avoit besoin de tout pour achever de vaincre il souffroit que les gens de la ville et de la plus mediocre condition se missent au rang des gens de la cour pour quelque temps afin que ne desobligeant personne tous ses sujets se trouvassent heureux qu'il fust remonte au throne cependant cette cour ou les veritables honnestes gens estoient meslez avec tant d'autres qui ne l'estoient point estoit pourtant magnifique et son tumulte mesme avoit quelque chose de si divertissant qu'il m'est arrive plus d'une fois de passer tout un jour dans le palais du roy en mauvaise compagnie sans m'ennuyer sans en avoir d'autre raison sinon que cette compagnie estoit grande et que la diversite occupoit mes yeux et mon esprit tout ensemble cette cour estant donc telle que je viens de vous la depeindre tous les plaisirs y estoient en foule on y faisoit des courses de chevaux des combats de barriere des jeux de prix des bals des musiques et des festins mais a toutes ces choses intapherne et atergatis paroissoient avec tant d'esclat qu'ils attiroient l'admiration de tout le monde ce qui estoit pourtant le plus avantageux pour eux c'est qu'ils aqueroient l'estime des princesses qu'ils adoroient n'estant pas possible qu'elles les pussent voir agir si esgallement bien en des 
 choses si differentes sans advouer qu'ils meritoient toutes les louanges qu'on leur donnoit je me souviens d'un jour entre les autres qu'il y avoit eu assemblee chez la reine de bithinie ou intapherne avoit dance de si bonne grace que tout la compagnie n'avoit parle d autre chose ce soir la en effet madame ce prince qui se bat comme un lyon quand il est a la guerre dance comme s'il n'avoit jamais fait autre chose qu'aller au bal ce n'est pourtant pas de cette espece de dance qui fait quelquesfois dire que des gens de qualite s'aquitent trop bien de cet agreable exercice car il le fait d'une maniere si noble et d'un air si libre si galant si aise et si naturel que c'est moins par les pas qu'il a pris que par sa bonne grace qu'il charme les yeux de ceux qui le voyent mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois un soir qu'il y avoit eu bal chez la reine arbiane la princesse istrine estant entree dans la chambre de la princesse de bithinie qui l'en pria afin de parler encore quelque temps ensemble quoy qu'il fust desja assez tard elles se mirent a s'entretenir de toutes ces sortes de choses qui font les nouvelles du bal et qui fournissent tant a la conversation de celles qui y vont et qui sont d'humeur a les remarquer apres avoir donc parle de celles qui estoient belles de celles qui ne l'estoient guere ou qui ne l'estoient point de celles qui avoient peu ou beaucoup dance et en avoir cherche la cause la princesse de bithinie se 
 mit a louer intapherne et atergatis en suitte de quoy voyant qu'istrine n'osoit presques ny la contredire ny tomber d'accord de ce qu'elle disoit elle se mit a luy en faire la guerre luy soustenant que puis qu'elle n'osoit louer atergatis il falloit qu'elle ne l'aimast guere moins que le prince son frere cependant adjousta-t'elle en sousriant si cela est vous faites grand tort a nostre amitie car je vous ay dit tout ce qui s'est jamais passe dans mon coeur et toutesfois vous me cachez ce qu'il y a dans le vostre puis que vous m'avez dit qu'atergatis vous aime sans m'advouer que vous l'aimez je suis mesme bien plus coupable que vous ne pensez reprit malicieusement istrine pour se vanger de la guerre qu'elle luy faisoit car j'ay plus d'un secret que je ne vous ay pas confie ha si cela est repliqua la princesse de bithinie vous n'avez qu'a vous preparer a ne dormir d'aujourd'huy si vous ne me les dittes ou si vous ne me promettez de me les dire si j'ay a vous les aprendre reprit istrine il faut que ce soit tout a l'heure car je pense que si je me donnois le loisir d'y songer je ne vous les dirois jamais vous avez donc d'estrange secrets reprit la princesse de bithinie en riant puis qu'ils sont si difficiles a dire j'en a y un entre les autres repliqua istrine que je ne vous dirois point si je ne scavois que vous le scauriez tousjours bien tost quand mesme je ne vous en dirois rien si cela est dit la princesse de bithinie je ne vous en auray pas grande obligation puis que vous 
 ne m'aprendrez que ce que vous ne m'aprendriez point si ce n'estoit que je le dois scavoir par un autre mais quoy qu'il en soit aprenez moy ce secret quel qu'il puisse estre puis que vous le voulez scavoir madame reprit-elle en riant je vous aprendray que vous estes la plus cruelle personne du monde de faire des esclaves de ceux qui viennent sacrifier leur vie pour faire remonter le roy vostre pere au throne car enfin intapherne est presentement si peu a luy et est si absolument a vous qu'on peut dire que vous elles seule capable de faire son bon ou son mauvais destin et de regler sa vie comme il vous plaira ha madame repliqua la princesse de bithinie vous estes trop vindicative et je ne vous ay pas mesme assez offencee pour vous obliger a me vouloir punir par une raillerie si forte et dont le fondement est si faux plust aux dieux repliqua istrine pour le repos d'intapherne que je ne fusse pas si veritable cependant madame adjousta cette princesse en prenant un visage plus serieux ce que je viens de vous dire en riant ne vous doit pas irriter ny contre le prince mon frere ny contre moy car je ne vous l'ay pas dit par ses ordres et je ne vous le dis pas pour luy faire scavoir que je vous l'ay dit mais seulement pour aprendre de vous de quelle facon vous voulez que je le conseille je pensois repliqua la princesse de bithinie que ce que vous me disiez ne m'estoit simplement dit que pour dire quelque chose 
 mais puis que vous me parlez plus serieusement et que l'amitie que j'ay pour vous ne veut pas que j'aye rien de cache dans le coeur je vous diray qu'estimant infiniment le prince intapherne je serois au desespoir qu'il s'engageast a m'aimer et plus encore qu'il s'y opiniastrast car enfin apres avoir esprouve quelle peine il y a a se combatre soy mesme je ne m'y veux plus exposer le roy mon pere est si attache a ses sentimens et veut si absolument tout ce qu'il veut poursuivit-elle que je me suis resolue a ne vouloir jamais rien de peur de vouloir quelque chose qu'il ne voudroit pas c'est pourquoy comme il seroit assez a craindre que je ne trouvasse quelque gloire a estre aimee d'un prince aussi accomply qu'intapherne et que je ne m'accoustumasse mesme a le souffrir agreablement il faut pour son repos et pour le mien que vous l'obligiez a n'avoir que de l'estime et de l'amitie pour moy en m'ordonnant madame repliqua istrine ce que vous voulez que je face il faut s'il vous plaist que vous m'enseigniez ce qu'il faut faire pour vous obeir afin que scachant comment je puis guerir le prince mon frere de l'amour qu'il a pour vous je puisse en suitte guerir atergatis de celle qu'il dit avoir pour moy comme atergatis aime une personne infiniment aimable repliqua la princesse de bithinie je ne pense pas qu'il soit si aise de le guerir qu'intapherne et comme intapherne reprit-elle adore une princesse incomparablement 
 plus accomplie qu'istrine il est a croire qu'il sera bien plus longtemps malade qu'atergatis serieusement repliqua la princesse de bithinie vous me feriez un plaisir signale si vous ostiez du coeur d'intapherne cette legere passion que je veux croire qu'il a pour moy agissez pourtant avec tant d'adresse adjousta-t'elle en rougissant que vous ne me faciez pas perdre son estime en verite madame repliqua istrine je pense que si j'entreprenois d'oster du coeur d'intapherne la passion que vous y avez fait naistre j'entreprendrois une chose impossible entreprenez du moins si vous le pouvez repliqua-t'elle de l'empescher de me parler de son affection car s'il ne m'en parle pas je vous promets de vivre aussi civilement aveque luy que je fais presentement et d'avoir pour luy a vostre consideration la mesme franchise que j'ay eue jusques icy sans mentir madame repliqua istrine vous estes admirable de parler comme vous faites car ne diroit-on pas que le prince mon frere vous a sensiblement outragee de vous adorer et qu'il est le plus criminel de tous les hommes de vous aimer plus que personne n'a jamais aime cependant adjousta-t'elle en souriant j'ay a vous dire pour vous empescher de traitter intapherne plus froidement qu'a l'ordinaire que si vous le faites je luy feray scavoir la conversation que nous venons de faire car encore qu'elle ne luy soit pas avantageuse je suis tousjours assuree qu'il seroit bien aise d'aprendre 
 que vous scavez son amour de grace repliqua la princesse de bithinie gardez vous bien de faire ce que vous dites si vous ne voulez que je m'en vange en aprenant a atergatis certains sentimens que j'ay descouverts malgre vous dans vostre coeur promettez moy donc de vivre en aparence avec le prince mon frere reprit istrine comme si vous ne scaviez point son affection et de ne laisser pourtant pas de luy en estre en quelque sorte obligee et de l'en hair un peu moins je ne scay repliqua la princesse de bithinie en souriant a son tour et en rougissant tout ensemble si la promesse que vous voulez que je vous face est fort necessaire car enfin a parler avec cette sincerite ingenue avec laquelle nous nous sommes dit toutes choses je ne pense pas qu'il soit fort aise de s'irriter d'estre aimee d'un fort honneste homme je comprens bien qu'on peut ne l'aimer pas et former mesme le dessein de ne l'aimer jamais mais j'advoue que je ne comprens point qu'on le puisse hair sans autre raison sinon qu'il aime et je suis persuadee au contraire que quand mesme on hairoit l'amant il pouvroit estre qu'on ne hairoit pas sa passion si ce n'estoit qu'elle le portast a perdre le respect car en ce cas la comme on ne peut selon mon sens apeller amour une passion qui n'est point respectueuse je croy que je hairois aisement ceux qui ne vivroient pas aveque moy comme ils devroient comme le prince mon frere respondit istrine ne peut jamais 
 manquer a rien de ce qu'il vous doit vous me faites le plus grand plaisir du monde de parler comme vous venez de parler car puis que vous dites qu'on peut n'aimer pas l'amant et ne hair point sa passion je suis assuree du moins que vous souffrirez celle d'intapherne et si vous voulez poursuivit-elle que je die tout ce que je pense je vous diray encore que je ne desespere pas tant que je faisois il n'y a qu'un moment du bonheur du prince mon frere car enfin madame adjousta-t'elle en riant il faut estre merveilleusement adroite pour separer comme cela l'amant et l'amour et pour moy je vous advoue franchement que je ne le scaurois faire en effet je ne comprens pas comment on peut aimer a estre aimee d'un homme qu'on ne veut jamais aimer et comment on peut souffrir agreablement une affection en haissant celuy qui aime en mon particulier je confesse que je n'ay pas cette sorte d'esprit qu'il faut avoir pour distinguer l'amant de la passion car quand la passion me plaist c'est parce que l'amant ne me desplaist pas ce n'est pas que je ne croye quelquesfois que l'amour sert a faire aimer l'amant aussi bien que l'amant sert a faire souffrir l'amour mais ce que je soustiens est qu'on ne peut pas long temps prendre plaisir a estre aimee de quelqu'un sans que la personne plaise aussi bien que sa passion car enfin on ne me persuadera pas aisement qu'on separe avec tant de facilite que vous dites l'amant et l'amour ny 
 qu'on puisse aimer l'un et hair l'autre si je ne scavois reprit la princesse de bithinie que vous ne parlez comme vous faites que pour en tirer une consequence avantageuse a intapherne et desavantageuse pour moy je m'estonnerois estrangement de vous voir soustenir une si mauvaise cause car enfin vous scavez aussi bien que moy qu'on n'est pas mesme marry d'estre estime par ses plus grands ennemis et il est si naturel d'aimer a estre aimee que je pense qu'on pourroit soustenir que jamais amour n'a irrite personne mais c'est sans doute que l'on confond les effets de cette passion avec elle aussi bien que les deffauts de ceux qui aiment avec leur amour estant certain qu'a la separer de tout ce qui la peut rendre nuisible ou incommode elle ne desplaira jamais quoy que ceux qui l'ont puissent quelquesfois desplaire extremement quoy qu'il en soit dit istrine je me contenteray pour le bonheur du prince mon frere que presentement sa passion ne vous irrite point car pour moy je suis persuadee que si vous le haissiez elle vous irriteroit je serois sans doute fort injuste reprit la princesse de bithinie si je haissois le prince intapherne qui a si glorieusement servy le roy mon pere mais madame il y a bien loin de la haine a l'amour ce pendant adjousta-t'elle pour faire finir cette conversation comme il est fort tard il est temps que vous alliez dormir de peur que vostre beau taint n'eust pas demain cette fraischeur qui vous 
 sied si bien et qui vous rend si belle et que le prince atergatis n'en fust en peine et ne creust vous avoir fait malade en vous faisant trop dancer je ne scay reprit istrine en riant si le conseil que vous me donnez n'est point un peu interesse et si vous ne songez point autant a avoir demain le taint repose et les yeux brillans et tranquiles qu'a conserver ma sante mais quoy qu'il en soie je le veux suivre et vous obeir en disant cela ces deux belles princesses se quitterent et furent jouir du repos qu'elles ne laissoient pas prendre aux autres car enfin intapherne et atergatis n'estoient jamais sans inquietude ce n'est pas que du coste des personnes qu'ils aimoient ils eussent lieu de se pleindre en effet intapherne trouvoit la princesse de bithinie la plus douce et la plus civile du monde et atergatis connoissoit bien malgre toute la retenue d'istrine qu'il n'en estoit pas hai mais comme ils ont tous deux infiniment de l'esprit ils connoissoient bien aussi que quand mesme ils n'auroient point trouve d'obstacle qui les eust empeschez d'estre aimez des princesses qu'ils aimoient ils ne seroient pourtant pas heureux sans peine car ils n'ignoroient pas qu'elles estoient trop sages pour vouloir jamais rien qui pust desplaire aux personnes de qui elles despendoient puis que la princesse de bithinie avoit autrefois refuse d'estre reine de pont plustost que de desobeir a arsamone et qu'istrine n'avoit pas aussi voulu sortir de babilone par la seule crainte 
 que le prince gadate son pere ne le trouvast mauvais de sorte que ne doutant point du tout que le roy de bithinie et gadate n'eussent des desseins opposez aux leurs ils ne pouvoient pas manquer d'avoir beaucoup d'inquietude car enfin intapherne scavoit bien que tant que la guerre dureroit arsamone feroit esperer a plusieurs princes de leur donner sa fille afin de les tenir dans ses interests et que tant que spitridate ne paroistroit point il ne songeroit pas a la marier car comme on ne scavoit alors ou estoit cet illustre prince que nous sceusmes depuis avoir este mene en perse comme estant cyrus on ne scavoit pas aussi si cette princesse seroit reine ou si elle ne le seroit pas et par consequent arsamone n'avoit garde de se determiner a disposer d'elle d'autre part atergatis estoit bien adverty que le prince gadate malgre toute l'aversion du roy d'assirie pour istrine et malgre toute l'amour qu'il avoit pour vous ne perdoit pourtant pas l'esperance de la voir reine car comme elle estoit la seule personne que selon les loix de l'estat ce prince pouvoit espouser il esperoit tousjours que les mauvais traitemens qu'on disoit qu'il recevoit de vous a babilone le guerissant de son amour le rendroient capable de revenir a la raison et de se marier apres cela par maxime d'estat s'il ne se marioit pas par affection
 
 
 
 
ainsi intapherne et atergatis prevoyant de grands obstacles a leurs desseins souffroient des maux qu'eux seuls 
 pourroient bien vous representer intapherne estoit pourtant le plus malheureux car comme il n'avoit pas la liberte de parler de sa passion a la princesse qui la causoit il estoit encore plus a pleindre qu'atergatis ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust pris la resolution de chercher les voyes de luy en parler mais il luy estoit tres difficile de la trouver seule en effet quand elle estoit chez la reine elle y estoit environnee de tant de gens et elle y estoit en veue a tant de monde qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de songer a l'entretenir en ce lieu la et quand elle estoit chez elle il y avoit encore un autre obstacle qui durant quelque temps luy parut invincible mais pour vous le faire comprendre madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y a a chalcedoine une dame nommee berise qui quoy qu'elle fist tous les jours cent choses differentes ne l'abandonnoit presques point aux heures ou on la pouvoit voir ce n'est pas que la princesse de bithinie l'aimast fort au contraire elle l'importunoit tres souvent mais c'est que cette personne s'empresse tellement aupres d'elle afin que les autres dames de la ville croyent qu'elle y est fort bien et qu'elle est fort aise de la voir qu'elle est devenue une des plus accablantes creatures du monde s'il est permis de parler ainsi car enfin madame elle ne songe point si elle importune pourveu qu'elle soit ou elle veut estre elle arrive presques tousjours devant les autres chez la princesse de bithinie et quoy qu'elle aille 
 apres en d'autres lieux elle y revient pourtant tousjours pour en sortir la derniere on a beau ne luy adresser point la parole elle ne laisse pas d'estre de la conversation et de le mesler a tout ce qu'on dit si la princesse se trouve mal elle envoye scavoir de ses nouvelles trois fois en un jour elle ne parle jamais que de ce qui s'est fait ou de ce qui s'est dit chez elle elle est de toutes ses promenades malgre qu'elle en ait mesme tousjours dans son chariot quand elle se promene quoy qu'il y ait d'autres femmes de plus grande qualite qu'elle qui n'y soient pas enfin madame elle agit avec tant de hardiesse et mesme avec tant d'adresse que comme la princesse de bithinie est douce et civile elle vient a bout de la voir plus que personne lors qu'elle est a chalcedoine quoy que ce soit une des femmes du monde qui l'importune le plus mais ce qu'il y a de plus particulier au procede de berise et mesme si vous le voulez de plus merveilleux est qu'elle n'est pas seulement de chez la princesse de bithinie elle est encore de chez la reine et n'est mesme guere moins de la ville que de la cour quoy qu'elle ne veuille pas passer pour en estre en effet je pense pouvoir dire sans mensonge qu'elle est de toutes les funerailles de toutes les nopces de toutes les festes qu'on fait pour la naissance des enfans et de tous les divertissemens publics et particuliers enfin madame il n'y a personne d'afflige qu'elle n'aille consoler ny 
 personne en joye avec qui elle n'aille se rejouir mais quoy qu'elle face cent choses differentes elle les fait toutesfois avec tant d'empressement et tant de diligence qu'on diroit qu'elle ne bouge de chez la princesse de bithinie puis qu'il est vray que de par tout elle retourne tousjours la d'ailleurs il est encore a remarquer que jamais berise n'a advoue qu'elle ne sceust pas une nouvelle qu'on ait dit en sa presence luy semblant qu'il iroit de son honneur si un autre scavoit quelque chose qu'elle ne sceust pas cependant quoy qu'elle die qu'elle scait ce qu'on luy veut dire bien qu'elle ne le scache point du tour elle ne laisse pas de trouver certains biais adroits afin qu'on luy raconte tout du long ce dont il s'agit mais pour faire croire qu'elle en est bien informee elle dit a ceux qui luy parlent qu'il y a encore quelques particularitez qu'elle scait et qu'ils ne scavent pas et qu'elle leur dira une autre fois apres quoy elle raconte a d'autres ce qu'elle s'est fait raconter assurant hardiment qu'elle l'a sceu la premiere de plus elle a encore la fantaisie d'avoir un secret ou pour mieux dire l'aparance d'un secret avec tous les gens qu'elle voit pourveu que ce soient des gens de la cour et il ne se passe point de jour qu'elle ne parle bas les uns apres les autres a tous ceux qu'elle rencontre soit de guerre soit d'affaires d'estat soit de nouvelles de cabinet soit de nouvelles de galanterie soit de medisance 
 ou de bagatelles enfin madame je puis vous assurer que jamais qui que ce soit n a eu un pareil empressement ny n'eut tant d'occupation sans avoir aucune affaire en effet madame je me souviens d'un jour entre les autres que le prince intapherne qui ne l'aimoit pas observa ce qu'elle fit qui vous fera connoistre combien elle estoit occupee en vous aprenant ce qu'elle fit ce jour la vous scaurez donc madame qu'il y a un temple a chalcedoine ou la devotion de toutes les belles les attire plustost qu'a aucun autre excepte les deux princesses qui vont a un petit temple qui est plus proche du palais de sorte que berise pour ne rien perdre fut d'assez bonne heure a celuy ou toutes les belles vont quand il fut un peu plus tard elle fut au lever de la reine de la a celuy des deux princesses qui estoient un peu plus paresseuses qu'elle en suite elle les suivit au temple ou elle les laissa pour s'en aller consoler un homme qu'elle ne connoissoit guere qui avoit perdu sa femme apres quoy elle fut disner chez une dame qu'elle n'aimoit pourtant pas trop au sortir de table elle fut se rejouir du mariage d'une fille de la connoissance et de la elle fut voir une de ses parentes en suitte elle retourna faire un tour chez la princesse de bithinie ou apres avoir ranconte tout ce qu'elle avoit apris ailleurs elle en ressortit pour aller voir mettre en mer pour la premiere fois une superbe gallere qu'un de ses amis avoit armee par les ordres du roy 
 apres cela elle fut faire deux ou trois de ces visites qui ne durent guere plus que le compliment qu'on fait en entrant ou en sortant et qui ne servent qu'a faire scavoir a ceux qui les font qui sont ceux qui sont dans les maisons ou ils entrent et sortent si promptement encore quand il s'y trouve beaucoup de monde ne scavent-ils pas trop bien qui ils y ont trouve et qui ils y ont laisse au sortir de ces visites berise fut faire un tour au bord de la mer ou l'on se promenoit en cette saison et de la elle retourna chez la princesse de bithinie a qui elle scavoit qu'on donnoit le soir une magnifique colation dans un jardin de sorte que l'y accompagnant elle eut sa part du plaisir ce ne fut pourtant pas encore assez car cette princesse estant retournee au palais d'assez bonne heure berise fut faire ses excuses elle mesme en un lieu ou elle s'estoit priee elle mesme de souper de la elle fut au bal chez une dame qui marioit sa fille et devant que de s'aller retirer elle fut encore au coucher de la princesse de bithinie vous pouvez juger madame que ce jour la fut bien employe et que toute autre que berise auroit eu de quoy s'en occuper deux il faut pourtant dire parce qu'il est vray que cette dame ne seroit pas trop desagreable ny de conversation trop ennuyeuse si elle ne s'empressoit pas tant d'aller par tout de parler de tout et d'estre de toutes choses mais en mesme temps il faut dire encore une fois qu'il y a peu 
 de personnes qu'elle n'inconmode pour le moins une fois le jour quoy qu'elle voye tout ce qu'il y a de gens de qualite a la cour puis qu'elle voit presques tousjours la princesse de bithinie qui en est le plus grand ornement et qui attire le plus de monde chez elle apres cela madame il vous est aise de juger qu'une personne qui incommode tant de monde importunoit estrangement intapherne en luy ostant les moyens de parler de son amour a la personne qu'il adoroit aussi vint-il a la hair de telle sorte qu'il n'aimoit guere plus la princesse de bithinie qu'il haissoit berise si bien qu'encore qu'il soit le plus civil de tous les hommes particulierement pour les dames il avoit une telle disposition a contredire celle-la qu'il le faisoit continuellement excepte quand elle louoit la princesse qu'il aimoit encore trouvoit-il quelquesfois lieu de contester ce qu'elle disoit en soustenant ou qu'elle ne la louoit pas assez ou qu'elle ne la louoit pas de la maniere dont elle le devoit estre et il avoit mesme bien de la peine quoy qu'il n'ait nulle inclination a medire a ne blasmer pas ouvertement la facon d'agir de berise de plus il avoit encore ce malheur la qu'elle l'accabloit plus qu'un autre car comme elle avoit remarque qu'il estoit fort bien et avec arsamone et avec arbiane et avec la princesse leur fille elle s'empressoit encore plus aupres de luy qu'elle ne faisoit aupres des autres de sorte qu'elle se tenoit bien plus assidument 
 chez la princesse lors qu'il y estoit que lors qu'il n'y estoit pas cependant la crainte de passer pour incivil et l'exemple de la princesse de bithinie faisoit qu'il la souffroit malgre qu'il en eust se contentant pour se vanger de la contredire continuellement parce qu'il ne s'en pouvoit empescher mais lors qu'il estoit avec istrine que ne luy disoit-il point de berise mais ma chere soeur luy disoit il un jour en ma presence que ne persuadez vous a la princesse de bithinie qu'il y va de sa gloire de ne se laisser pas eternellement obseder par cette personne empressee qui est par tout ou l'on peut estre et qui est pourtant toujours chez elle comme si elle n'en partoit point car enfin c'est aux personnes de sa condition a apeller celles qu'elles veulent voir tous les jours au contraire repliqua istrine il semble que c'est cette condition qui oste a la princesse de bithinie la liberte de choisir celles qu'elle veut qui la voyent souvent car enfin on s'est imagine que les portes des palais des rois doivent estre comme celles de temples ou tout le monde est receu et que parce qu'on est esleve au dessus des autres on doit tousjours estre en veue a toute la terre en effet que pensez vous que diroit berise si la princesse de bithinie luy faisoit dire qu'elle ne la vist plus tant et que pensez vous mesme qu'en diroient ceux que berise importune le plus ha pour moy interrompit intapherne je dirois que la princesse auroit admirablement 
 bien fait et qu'elle m'auroit fait un grand plaisir joint aussi que je ne comprens point du tout que parce qu'elle est princesse elle soit obligee de se laisser persecuter par une personne incommode je scay bien reprit istrine que cela est tres facheux mais il est pourtant vray que celles qui veulent trop choisir leurs connoissances se font cent ennemies qui les deschirent quand l'occasion s'en presente et qu'elles viennent mesme a passer ou pour estre trop partiticulieres ou pour estre trop difficiles ou pour estre inciviles de sorte que comme l'estat des affaires d'arsamone fait qu'il a besoin de tout la princesse sa fille n'auroit garde d'aller desobliger une personne comme berise qui allant en mille lieux feroit un vacarme estrange si on pensoit regler ses visites vous m'en direz ce qu'il vous plaira dit intapherne mais je ne puis trouver bon que berise soit tousjours ou je voudrois ne la trouver jamais pour moy dis-je alors a la princesse istrine je trouve que ce seroit mesme rendre un bon office a berise que de la renfermer dans son quartier car enfin si elle estoit ou elle doit estre ce seroit une personne assez aimable et qui n'auroit du moins rien de plus incommode qu'une autre mais parce qu'elle est tousjours ou on ne la demande point et quelle est ou elle ne devroit pas estre si souvent elle en paroist sans doute ce qu'elle n'est pas c'est pourquoy je voudrois qu'on luy fist comprendre qu'a moins que d'estre d'un 
 merite extraordinaire et d'estre mesme apellee avec empressement par les personnes de vostre condition celles de la sienne ne doivent jamais s'empresser d'aller opiniastrement chez celles de la vostre comme elle va chez la princesse de bithinie car enfin entre les personnes fort inesgalles en qualite il n'y a que le merite extraordinaire qui en puisse faire la liaison mais qui vous a dit repliqua istrine que berise ne croye pas en avoir beaucoup quand cela seroit repris je il faudroit encore qu'elle attendist que la princesse de bithinie luy donnast la familiarite qu'elle prend avec elle car si effectivement elle avoit du merite elle ne seroit pas assez peu genereuse pour avoir la laschete de s'empresser tant a l'aller faire paroistre mais apres tout adjoustay je encore faut-il excuser berise car puis qu'on excuse bien quelquesfois les plus funestes effets des passions les plus violentes et que l'amour l'ambition et la jalousie trouvent des gens qui s'en servent pour justifier leurs injustices je pense qu'on doit avoir quelque indulgence pour berise qui a assurement dans le coeur une passion qui n'est guere moins forte que celles dont je viens de parler et que beaucoup d'autres ont aussi bien qu'elle quoy qu'elles ne la facent pas tant paroistre ha orcame s'escria istrine n'allez pas insulter sur la pauvre berise ou l'accuser de quelque crime ou elle ne pensa jamais pour moy reprit intapherne je consens qu'on luy en suppose 
 mille au lieu d'un c'est pourquoy orcame dites nous promptement quelle est la passion de berise c'est seigneur repris-je celle de passer pour estre de la cour car enfin croyez s'il vous plaist que je ne m'esloigne point de la verite lors que je vous assure que cette sorte d'envie est une passion et mesme une passion violente en mon particulier je connois des femmes de la ville bien plus spirituelles et bien plus aimables que berise qui ont cette passion dans l'ame qui les tirannise d'une telle sorte qu'elle fait autant de changement en leur coeur que l'amour la jalousie ou l'ambition y en pourroient faire puis qu'elles en viennent au point de ne pouvoir souffrir tout ce qui n'est pas de la cour en effet les hommes qui ne sont point de profession d'aller a la guerre leur sont insuportables les femmes de leur condition leur font honte a voir souvent leur famille quand elles y sont quelquesfois les fait mourir d'ennuy elles ne scavent plus de quoy parler et la passion qui les possede est si forte qu'elles ne croyent vivre qu'ou elles ne devroient presques jamais estre si ce n'est comme je l'ay desja dit lors qu'on les y appelle de bonne grace car en ce cas la j'advoue que la cour est une douce et agreable chose et que de quelque condition qu'on soit on y peut tenir sa place avec bien-seance et avec honneur cependant ce que je viens de dire n'empesche pas que je n'excuse la pauvre berise estant certain que la passion de la 
 cour est une passion plus violente que vous ne la pouvez concevoir quoy qu'il en soit dit intapherne a istrine vous me ferez un plaisir signale si vous pouvez la bannir de chez la princesse de bithinie ne m'estant plus possible de me resoudre de voir eternellement une personne qui ne fait jamais rien de ce qu'elle devroit faire qui n'est jamais ou elle devroit estre qui parle de tout ce qu'elle ne devroit point parler et qui m'importune plus tout seul qu'elle n'importune tous les autres quoy qu'elle incommode toute la cour que si toutesfois vous ne la pouvez pas bannir faites moy donc du moins la grace de l'entretenir tant que je seray ou elle sera et ou vous serez car je vous advoue que je ne puis souffrir qu'elle me parle et moins encore qu'elle parle tousjours a la princesse que j'adore istrine entendant parler intapherne de cette sorte comprit aisement la raison pourquoy il haissoit tant berise si bien que ne pouvant s'empescher d'en rire elle luy dit en raillant que l'envie estoit une passion trop basse pour se trouver dans son coeur c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'elle laissez jouir la pauvre berise en repos d'un bien qu'elle prend tant de peine a aquerir comme intapherne alloit respondre a istrine la princesse de bithinie entra suivie de berise seulement ses femmes estant demeurees dans l'antichambre comme la princesse istrine avoit alors assez de disposition a rire la veue de berise l'augmenta de telle 
 sorte que tout le respect qu'elle vouloit rendre a la princesse de bithinie en la recevant ne la put empescher d'esclater si bien qu'estant obligee de luy en faire un compliment je vous demande pardon madame luy dit elle de ce que la joye que j'ay d'avoir l'honneur de vous voir m'a trouvee avec une disposition si enjouee pour ne dire rien davantage que je ne puis vous la tesmoigner plus serieusement je vous pardonne volontiers repliqua cette princesse a condition toutesfois que vous me direz la cause de cet enjouement que je voy bien dans vos yeux que vous voudriez renfermer dans vostre coeur car si je ne me trompe ce doit estre une agreable chose a scavoir n'estant pas trop accoustumee de rire mal a propos je vous assure madame reprit istrine en riant toujours que je voudrois que vous le sceussiez desja si ce n'estoit que je crains que le prince mon frere ne s'y oppose pour l'en empescher interrompit berise qui vouloit tousjours se mesler de toutes choses je vous promets de l'entretenir aussi long temps que vous voudrez il n'est nullement necessaire reprit-il que vous preniez cette peine car ne pouvant jamais m'opposer aux volontez de la princesse je consens qu'on luy die tout ce qu'elle voudra scavoir tousjours faut-il bi luy repliqua malicieusement istrine que vous entreteniez berise durant que j'obeiray a la princesse car vous n'ignorez pas que quand elle seroit seule je ne 
 pourrois pas mesme luy dire tout haut ce qu'elle veut scavoir de moy intapherne voulut encore dire quelque chose mais la princesse de bithinie luy ayant impose silence et luy avant ordonne d'entretenir berise il falut qu'il obeist ainsi la pauvre berise sans scavoir qu'elle estoit elle mesme la cause du secret qu'istrine avoit a dire a la princesse de bithinie se mit a parler a intapherne et a employer tout son esprit et toute son adresse a tascher de scavoir par luy ce qu'elle mouroit d'envie d'aprendre et ce qu'il ne luy aprit point du tout comme vous pouvez penser mais pendant qu'il s'ennuyoit avec berise la princesse de bithinie se divertissoit fort avec istrine car elle dit depuis qu'elle luy avoit si plaisamment raconte la conversation que le prince intapherne et moy avions eue avec elle qu'elle n'avoit jamais guere passe d'heure plus agreablement istrine fit pourtant ce recit d'une maniere qui luy fit comprendre la principale cause de la haine d'intapherne pour berise croyant qu'il estoit tousjours avantageux au prince son frere qu'elle sceust que l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle faisoit une partie de l'aversion qu'il avoit pour cette personne cela ne luy fut pourtant pas aussi avantageux qu'elle le pensoit car la princesse de bithinie qui ne cherchoit qu'a esviter les occasions d'estre seule avec intapherne prit la resolution de faire plus de carresses a berise qu'elle n'avoit accoustume quoy qu'elle n'en dist pourtant rien alors a istrine 
 cependant pour commencer de le tourmenter par berise elle parla si long temps a istrine qu'enfin ayant pitie de l'ennuy qu'elle voyoit qu'il avoit elle le remit de la conversation et bien madame luy dit-il trouvez vous que j'aye eu tort de parler comme j'ay fait je trouve dit-elle que vous avez raison et que vous avez tort tout ensemble je vous assure madame interrompit berise qui vouloit flatter intapherne que j'ay assez de peine a croire que le prince intapherne n'ait pas raison en toutes choses et si je devine bien adjousta-t'elle pour faire la personne fort esclairee il n'a pas tant de tort que vous pensez ha berise s'escria la princesse de bithinie en riant si vous deviniez ce que c'est vous le condamneriez plus que moy car encore poursuivit-elle je tombe d'accord qu'il a raison en quelque chose mais vous soustiendriez sans doute qu'il a tort en tout il faut pourtant repliqua t'elle que son crime ne vous fache guere puis que vous en riez de si bon coeur ne pensez pas dit alors istrine qu'encore que la princesse condamne le prince mon frere qu'il soit fort criminel puis qu'il est vray qu'elle le condamne injustement sans qu'elle ait pourtant interest en l'affaire dont il s'agit berise paroissant alors fort embarrassee a vouloir deviner ce que ce pouvoit estre rapella dans sa memoire tout ce qui s'estoit passe a la cour depuis quelques jours afin d'en tirer quelque consequence mais comme elle ne cherchoit pas en elle mesme 
 la cause de l'enjouement d'istrine et du secret qu'elle en avoit fait a la princesse de bithinie elle n'avoit garde de la trouver de sorte que plus elle resvoit plus elle divertissoit celles qui se divertissoient a ses despens cependant intapherne fut bien estonne de remarquer quelques jours apres cette conversation que la princesse de bithinie avoit plus de civilite pour berise qu'elle n'avoit accoustume car non seulement elle la souffroit mais elle luy parloit davantage et la retenoit avec empressement lors qu'elle s'en vouloit aller principalement quand intapherne y estoit vous pouvez juger madame qu'une personne qui alloit en cent lieux ou on ne la demandoit pas eut une assiduite estrange a demeurer a un lieu ou elle croyoit estre fort agreable et fort necessaire aussi s'attacha-t'elle si opiniastrement a cette princesse s'il est permis de parler ainsi qu'elle en devint presque inseparable elle ne laissoit pourtant pas de faire encore cent autres choses et d'aller en cent autres lieux mais elle mesnageoit si bien son temps qu'elle y alloit a des heures ou on ne voyoit point la princesse de bithinie ainsi il sembloit qu'elle ne l'abandonnast jamais intapherne voyant cette nouvelle faveur en fut estrangement surpris car il scavoit bien que cette princesse n'aimoit pas berise de sorte que s'en plaignant a istrine et la conjurant de luy dire si elle comprenoit la raison 
 pourquoy berise estoit plus en faveur qu'a l'ordinaire il trouva qu'elle en estoit aussi en peine que luy atergatis mesme tour plein d'esprit qu'il est ne penetroit point ce secret de sorte que ce prince en estoit en une inquietude extreme s'il eust pourtant sceu ce qui se passoit dans le coeur de la princesse de bithinie il n'eust pas este si inquiet car elle a advoue depuis a la princesse istrine que la principale raison qui faisoit qu'elle se servoit de berise pour oster toutes sortes d'occasions a intapherne de luy parler de sa passion estoit que l'estimant d'une facon toute particuliere et sentant dans son coeur je ne scay quelle disposition avantageuse pour luy elle ne vouloit pas se trouver dans la necessite de luy dire rien ny de trop facheux ny de trop favorable mais comme il ne pouvoit pas deviner ce qui se passoit dans l'ame de cette princesse il estoit tres inquiet et tres afflige istrine qui scavoit toutes les raisons qui vouloient que le prince son frere ne s'engageast pas trop a un dessein qui avoit beaucoup de difficultez fit ce qu'elle put pour l'obliger a ne songer pas encore a se declarer et a attendre a parler de son amour que la guerre fust terminee mais quoy qu'il fist semblant de ceder a son advis il demeura pourtant dans le sien et se resolut de descouvrir sa passion a la princesse de bithinie lors qu'il en pourroit trouver l'occasion favorable mais madame la difficulte fut de trouver cette occasion a cause de l'assiduite de 
 berise et de son empressement apres avoir donc cherche plusieurs jours inutilement par quelle voye il pourroit venir a bout de son dessein il s'advisa d'une invention qui luy reussit qui fut de faire que berise fust si occupee un jour tout entier qu'elle ne pust aller chez la princesse de bithinie si bien que me faisant l'honneur de me confier son secret je luy servis a tromper berise je fis donc en sorte comme j'ay beaucoup d'amis et beaucoup d'amies a chalcedoine que je liay une partie de divertissement a condition que berise en seroit ainsi quoy que peu de gens l'aimassent fort on ne me resista pourtant point principalement a cause que le bruit de sa nouvelle faneur s'estoit desja espandu dans le monde je fis donc tant que je l'engageay avec d'autres dames a me promettre d'aller disner a une assez belle maison qui est scituee au bord de la mer et qui n'est qu'a trente stades de la ville elle ne me fit pourtant cette promesse qu'a condition qu'on luy permettroit de revenir a chalcedoine aussi tost apres disner ou suivant son empressement ordinaire elle disoit avoir cent choses importantes a faire comme j'avois mon dessein cache je luy promis ce qu'elle voulut et je l'assuray qu'elle auroit un chariot tout prest pour la ramener quand elle voudroit je l'assuray mesme encore afin qu'elle ne me manquast point qu'il n'y auroit a cette partie pas un homme ny pas une femme de la ville et qu'ainsi j'osois me promettre qu'elle ne se repentiroit pas de 
 la promenade qu'elle auroit faite et en effet je luy nommay ceux qui en devoient estre dont elle fut fort contente parce qu'il n'y avoit que des gens de la cour mais apres tout la principale raison qui fit qu'elle en fut bien aise est qu'elle avoit remarque que le prince intapherne et le prince atergatis me faisoient l'honneur de m'aimer cette partie estant donc faite elle fut executee deux jours apres berise ne partit pourtant pas de chalcedoine sans aller faire un tour chez la reine et chez la princesse de bithinie a qui elle dit qu'elle seroit de retour d'aussi bonne heure que si elle eust disne a la ville mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'elle luy dit cela en ma presence car je j'avois accompagnee chez cette princesse afin de m'assurer d'elle et de ne la quitter point cependant je scavois bien qu'elle ne revindroit pas si tost qu'elle pensoit en effet madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'apres que tous ceux qui estoient de cette partie furent assemblez nous fusmes au lieu destine a la fourbe que je voulois faire qui est un lieu extremement agreable car enfin sans m'amuser a vous despeindre les jardins qui y sont qui sont tres grands et tres beaux je vous diray seulement qu'au bout d'une grande allee qui aboutit a la mer il y a une pointe de rocher qui se jette en dehors sur laquelle on a basty une sale ouverte des quatre costez et dont le toit est un dome magnifique mais madame ce qu'il y a de merveilleux en ce 
 lieu-la est que de trois faces en s'apuyant sur les fenestres on voit la mer dont les vagues viennent se briser au pied du rocher sur lequel cette sale est batie et qui s'eslevans quelquesfois selon l'agitation des vents qui soufflent viennent en bondissant jusques au bord de la fenestre sur laquelle on est apuye sans aller pourtant jamais plus avant retombant apres en escume blanchissante comme des flocons de neige qui en roulant les uns sur les autres sur les pointes du rocher font un murmure fort agreable pour la veue elle est si belle de ce lieu la qu'on ne s'y scauroit ennuyer mais enfin madame ce fut la que je menay berise et toute la belle troupe que j'avois assemblee seulement pour la tromper cependant pour faire que mon dessein reussist je fis qu'on disna fort tard et au hazard d'avoir la honte d'avoir employe de mauvais officiers les divers services vinrent si lentement qu'on eust eu loisir d'avoir disne des le premier en effet je voyois bien que berise trouvoit cela si long que du moins faisoit elle dessein pour s'en consoler de se moquer de moy quand elle seroit retournee chez la princesse de bithinie mais afin que cette longueur fust moins ennuyeuse j'avois voulu que ce qu'on servoit fust le meilleur qu'il pouvoit estre car a dire la verite s'il eust seulement este mediocrement bon c'eust este un grand ennuy des que le dernier service fut sur la table berise faisant l'empressee commenca de parler de s'en aller et de 
 me prier de commander qu'il y eust un chariot tout prest de sorte que sans la contredire je commanday qu'on en preparast un mais ce fut a des gens a qui j'avois ordonne en secret de ne m'obeir pas fort promptement si bien qu'apres qu'on fut hors de table et que je l'eus amusee a parler encore un quart d'heure malgre qu'elle en eust elle demanda ou estoit ce chariot qu'on luy avoit prepare et je le demanday aussi bien qu'elle mais avec beaucoup plus d'empressement afin de la mieux tromper et comme on me dit qu'il n'estoit pas prest je sis semblant de m'en mettre si en colere qu'elle mesme fit ce qu'elle put pour m'apaiser cependant comme j'avois fait preparer une barque couverte sur le pretexte de vouloir donner a cette belle troupe le plaisir de s'aller promener sur la mer je proposay a la compagnie de vouloir avancer ce divertissement que j'avois eu dessein de luy donner et d'aller remener berise par eau jusques a la moitie du chemin de chalcedoine ainsi luy dis je en me tournant vers elle vous n'aurez point de temps a perdre car durant qu'on attellera le chariot qui vous doit conduire nous irons tousjours vers le lieu ou vous voulez aller et quand ce chariot sera prest il viendra a moitie chemin pour vous prendre et il y viendra mesme bien plus viste que si vous estiez dedans comme je fis signe a un de mes amis d'apuyer cette proposition il me seconda si bien qu'enfin berise se laissa persuader luy semblant en effet 
 qu'elle seroit plustost a chalcedoine en faisant ce que je disois nous nous embarquasmes donc tout a l'heure et pour continuer la fourbe je commanday a mes gens que des que le chariot qui devoit remener berise seroit prest il partist pour la venir prendre a un endroit que je leur marquay ou je disois que nous la devions desbarquer comme il ne faisoit alors ny chaud ny froid on se pouvoit promener commodement au milieu du jour aussi estoit-ce sur cela que j'avois en partie fonde mon dessein des que nous fusmes dans la barque berise commenca de se pleindre qu'elle alloit trop doucement de sorte que joignant la rame a la voile nous commencasmes d'aller plus viste mais comme j'avois adverty celuy qui nous conduisoit au lieu d'aller le long du rivage il s'en esloigne et tourna la proue vers la pleine mer sans que berise y prist garde parce que je l'occupois a parler mais afin que mon intention reussist mieux devant que d'entrer dans la barque je dis a toutes les dames de la troupe qui n'aimoient pas trop l'humeur empressee de berise que ce seroit une plaisante chose si nous pouvions faire qu'elle manquast a cette assignation qu'elle disoit avoir donnee a chalcedoine si bien qu'aprouvant toutes mon dessein et les malices de cette nature ne passant jamais pour de grands crimes elles me servirent admirablement a faire que berise ne s'aperceust pas que nous nous esloignions tousjours du lieu ou elle 
 vouloit aller car il y en avoit deux ou trois qui se mettoient devant elle afin qu'elle ne vist pas le rivage dont nous nous esloignions les autres l'occupant a parler aussi bien que moy en luy faisant cent questions les unes apres les autres et pour faire qu'elle y prist plaisir et qu'elle ne prist pas si tost garde a la route que nous tenions nous luy faisions la guerre de sa nouvelle faveur si bien que la traittant tousjours de favorite de la princesse de bithinie et de personne qui estoit bien avant dans la cour nous luy donnions tant de joye qu'elle ne s'ennuyoit pas et ne s'apercevoit point que nous aprochions pas du lieu ou j'avois dit que le chariot l'attendoit mais afin que quand elle s'apercevroit qu'elle n'alloit pas ou elle vouloit aller elle ne s'en prit point a moy j'estois a genoux devant elle et je luy parlois avec une attention estrange des qu'elle tournoit la teste du coste par ou elle eust pu voir qu'on la trompoit un autre du coste oppose l'apelloit et luy disoit quelque chose ainsi madame les uns luy parlant les autres luy ostant la veue de la mer et du rivage dont nous estions desja fort loing et tous ensemble la voulant tromper nous la trompasmes et il y avoit plus d'une heure que nous nous esloignions du lieu ou elle pensoit aller lors que se levant tout d'un coup comme croyant devoir bientost aborder a l'endroit ou le chariot l'attendoit elle se mit a regarder ou elle estoit de sorte que voyant qu'il n'y avoit plus moyen de luy cacher la verite je 
 fus le premier a faire un grand cry pour tesmoigner l'estonnement que je disois avoir de nous voir si avant vers la pleine mer pour berise elle en fut si surprise que si je n'eusse gronde le premier je pense quelle m'auroit estrangement querelle mais je fis tant de bruit qu'elle n'osa croire d'abord que je l'eusse voulu tromper le pilote dit qu'il avoit mal entendu et qu'il croyoit qu'on ne devoit aller que le soir au lieu ou on luy avoit dit qu'il y avoit un chariot cependant tous ceux qui estoient dans cette barque avoient une celle envie de rire qu'ils ne s'en purent jamais empescher ils esclaterent mesme d'une maniere qui fit soubconner quelque chose de la verite a berise qui pensa s'en facher tout de bon mais comme je vy que la colere commencoit de s'emparer de son esprit je m'aprochay d'elle et prenant un biais assez destourne pour l'apaiser si l'aimable berise luy dis-je pour la flatter de la maniere dont elle aimoit a estre flattee estoit une de ces personnes de la ville qui ne scavent point le monde et qui ne scachant jamais si elles se doivent facher ou ne se facher pas se fachent presques tousjours mal a propos j'aurois lieu de craindre qu'elle ne se mist en colere mais estant autant de la cour qu'elle en est je suis assure que quand quelqu'une de ces dames pour jouir plus longtemps de sa conversation auroit suborne le pilote pour luy faire changer sa route elle entend assez bien raillerie pour ne s'en offencer pas et pour estre mesme obligee a celle qui l'auroit 
 trompee si agreablement en mon particulier adjoustay-je j'aurois bien de la peine a ne prendre pas son party contre vous estant certain que j'ay tant de joye de vous voir icy que je ne pourrois m'empescher de deffendre celle qui seroit cause que j'ay la satisfaction de vous pouvoir entretenir car enfin luy dis-je en abaissant la voix il faut que l'aimable berise scache que cette partie n'estant faite que pour elle il y a quelque justice quelle donne le jour tout entier a celuy qui ne se souciera plus guere du reste de la compagnie des qu'elle n'y sera plus berise m'entendant parler de cette sorte s'appaisa un peu disant qu'elle pardonneroit volontiers a ceux qui l'avoient trompee pourveu qu'on aportast autant de diligence a la raprocher de la terre qu'on en avoit aporte a l en esloigner mais le pilote entendant ce qu'elle disoit et scachant bi que ce n'estoit pas mon intention dit qu'il ne luy estoit pas possible d'aller en ligne droite gagner le rivage parce qu'y ayant en ce lieu la des rochers cachez sous les vagues qui les repoussoient impetueusement vers la pleine mer il ne pourroit entreprendre d'y aborder sans s'exposer a faire naufrage il n'eut pas plustost dit cela que toute la troupe dit qu'il n'y faloit pas songer et berise elle mesme toute empressee qu'elle estoit ne s'y opiniastra pas et se contenta de prier qu'on la remenast seulement le plus viste qu'on pourroit par la route la plus seure mais a peine eut elle acheve de me faire cette priere 
 que faisant signe a quelques-unes des dames de la compagnie de me seconder fortement nous la pressasmes si long temps de nous accorder le reste de la journee qu'elle ne se trouva plus en pouvoir de nous refuser tant cette contestation dura et en effet nous la remenasmes ou nous avions disne en luy persuadant tousjours qu'elle nous devoit avoir beaucoup d'obligation de la violance que nous luy faisions si bien que comme apres y estre retournez il falut renvoyer querir le chariot qui l'attendoit a moitie chemin de chalcedoine que j'ordonnay a ceux qui y furent de n'y aller pas viste et de le ramener lentement il fut presques nuit quand il arriva de sorte que toute la troupe se disposant a s'en aller aussi bien qu'elle il falut qu'elle eust encore la patience de faire colation avant que de partir n'ayant pas mesme la liberte de pouvoir s'en retourner aussi viste qu'elle eust voulu ainsi madame je fis si bien pour favoriser le prince intapherne que berise ne r'entra que de nuit a chalcedoine cependant ce prince pour profiter mieux de son absence avoit oblige atergatis d'aller de fort bonne heure chez istrine afin de l'empescher adroitement d'aller chez la princesse de bithinie ce n'est pas que cette princesse ne sceust sa passion et ne l'aprouvast mais comme il scavoit qu'elle ne jugeoit pas a propos qu'il se descouvrist encore il luy fit un secret de son dessein qui luy reussit heureusement en effet madame 
 il fut si diligent que lors qu'il entra chez la princesse de bithinie elle ne faisoit que de sortir de table de sorte que comme cette heure la est celle ou il y a tousjours le moins de monde chez cette princesse et ou les personnes de la cour font le moins de visites il eut autant de temps qu'il luy en falut pour l'entretenir lors qu'il entra dans sa chambre elle fut surprise de le voir je pensois luy dit elle en souriant qu'il n'y eust que berise au monde qui me visitast a l'heure qu'il est mais a ce que je voy elle vous a laisse commission de venir occuper sa place du moins scais-je bien que vous estes aujourd'huy aussi diligent qu'elle a accoustume d'estre diligente je suis pourtant persuadee adjousta cette princesse que vous ne l'occuperez pas long temps sans elle car elle m'a promis d'estre aussi tost icy que si elle y avoit disne berise est de si bonne compagnie reprit intapherne en souriant aussi bien que cette princesse que j'ay peine a croire que les dames avec qui elle est la laissent revenir si tost mais madame poursuivit-il apres qu'elle fut assise et luy aussi comme je suis persuade que berise ne vous parle point de moy lors qu'elle est seule aupres de vous souffrez aussi que je ne vous parle pas tousjours d'elle aujourd'huy que j'ay le bonheur d'y estre sans qu'elle y soit je vous assure reprit cette princesse qui vouloit destourner la conversation que vous faites injustice a la pauvre berise d'avoir autant d'aversion pour elle que j'ay remarque que vous en avez 
 car enfin quoy qu'elle ait un peu trop d'empressement il y a de la preoccupation a la haine que vous avez pour cette personne ha madame s'escria intapherne si vous scaviez le mal qu'elle m'a fait vous advoueriez que j'ay raison de ne l'aimer pas le mal qu'elle vous a fait repliqua-t'elle n'est autre sinon que vous vous estes mis dans la fantaisie qu'elle ne vous peut jamais divertir et qu'a cause quelle veut estre de toutes choses vous voulez qu'elle ne soit jamais de rien cependant adjousta cette princesse je n'aime point qu'on ait l'esprit si delicat parce qu'il est bi difficile qu'on ne l'ait pas fort souvent injuste puis que vous ne voulez point que je me pleigne de berise reprit intapherne je veux avoir ce respect la pour vous et pour m'accommoder encore plus a vos sentimens et vous donner pourtant lieu de m'appeller le plus injuste de tous les hommes il faut que je vous aprenne que j'ay cette obligation a berise de m'avoir empesche plus de cent fois en sa vie d'estre expose a vostre colere car enfin madame puis que je suis resolu de vous confesser tous mes crimes il faut que vous scachiez que si ce n'avoit este l'opiniastre assiduite de berise aupres de vous je vous aurois desja dit plus de cent fois que je suis l'homme du monde qui vous admire le plus et qui vous aime avec le plus de passion et le plus de respect ha pour cent fois reprit brusquement cette princesse en rougissant il n'est pas possible que cela ait jamais pu estre car si vous me l'eussiez dit la premiere vous 
 ne me l'eussiez pas dit la seconde cependant adjousta-t'elle puis que vous avez plus d'obligation a berise que je ne pensois faites qu'elle ne vous aye rendu cet office inutilement et parlez moy encore que berise n'y soit pas comme si elle y estoit car si vous ne le faites vous vous trouverez peut-estre dans la necessite de regretter que berise n'ait pas este icy aujourd'huy quoy que sa presence ne vous divertisse guere quand j'ay pris la resolution de vous dire que je vous adore repliqua intapherne j'ay bien creu madame que je ne serois pas assez heureux pour estre escoute favorablement mais je vous advoue que n'ayant pas perdu l'esperance d'obtenir le pardon d'un crime que je ne puis me repentir d'avoir commis et dont je ne serois pas coupable si vous n'estiez pas la plus belle personne du monde je n'ay pas laisse de prendre la resolution de vous dire que je vous aime mais je vous le dis madame sans autre pretension que celle d'obtenir de vous la grace de n'estre point banny pour vous l'avoir dit vous me parlez d'un ton si serieux reprit la princesse de bithinie que je ne voy pas que je puisse avoir lieu de vous respondre comme si vous ne me disiez qu'une simple galanterie joint aussi que selon moy celles qui se servent de cet artifice pour ne respondre pas precisement a une pareille chose veulent sans doute qu'on la leur die plus d'une fois c'est pourquoy pour m'espagner beaucoup de colere et pour faire tout ce que je pourray pour vous conserver mon amitie je 
 vous diray ingenument que j'ay pour vous toute l'estime dont je puis estre capable et que vous estes l'homme du monde de qui je souhaite le plus d'estre estimee mais je vous dis en mesme temps que pour faire qu'il soit possible que nous continuyons de nous estimer tous deux il faut que vous ne me disiez plus ce que vous venez de me dire et que je n'escoute aussi jamais ce que je viens d'escouter si vous en usez ainsi adjousta-t'elle vous m'obligerez sensiblement et pour l'amour de vous et pour l'amour de moy mesme j'oubliray ce que vous m'avez dit aujourd'huy ha madame repliqua intapherne ce n'est pas le moyen de m'imposer silence que de parler comme vous faites car enfin madame si vous voulez que je ne vous die plus ce que je viens de vous dire il faut que vous me fassiez l'honneur de me promettre que vous ne l'oublirez jamais vous protestant que si vous me faites la grace de m'assurer qu'il vous en souviendra tousjours je ne vous le diray plus vous scavez si bien reprit cette princesse que ce que vous demandez n'est pas une chose que je vous doive ny que je vous puisse accorder que je n'ay pas ce me semble besoin d'y respondre mais ce que j'ay a vous dire est que si vous ne faites ce que je veux je feray sans doute ce que vous ne voudrez pas car je vous osteray si absolument les occasions de me parler que vous ne trouverez jamais celle de me dire rien qui me plaise ny rien qui me fasche comme intapherne alloit respondre 
 il arriva beaucoup de monde chez cette princesse qui l'en empescha et il y eut tant de presse chez elle le reste du jour que cette conversation ne se put renouer mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que lu princesse de bithinie se trouva le soir chez istrine lors que berise a son retour a chalcedoine voulut que je l'y menasse de sorte qu'intapherne s'y trouvant aussi avec beaucoup d'autres ce fut une plaisante chose de voir qu'elle fut l'exageration avec laquelle berise parla de la tromperie que je luy avois faite ha madame luy dit elle en l'abordant si vous n'obligez le prince intapherne a me vanger d'orcame je ne scay si je ne me plaindray point de vous aussi bien que de luy car enfin il est cause que je n'ay pu revenir comme j'en avois le dessein et que j'ay passe tout le jour sans avoir l'honneur d'estre aupres de vous je vous assure repliqua la princesse de bithinie scachant bien qu'intapherne entendroit le sens cache de ses paroles que je vous ay estrangement regrettee aujourd'huy et que de vostre vie vous ne m'avez este si necessaire il me semble madame reprit intapherne que quelque merite qu'ait berise vous faites injustice a grand nombre d'honnestes gens qui ont este tout le jour chez vous de parler comme s'ils vous avoient fort ennuyee quoy qu'il en soit dit cette princesse je voudrois que berise y eust tousjours este principalement depuis disner je vous assure madame reprit berise pour se justifier qu'il n'a pas tenu a moy et qu'il 
 n'est rien que je n'aye fait pour me rendre icy de fort bonne heure en suitte de cela berise racontant la chose avec toutes les circonstances que je vous ay dittes sans en oublier aucune fit aisement comprendre a la princesse de bithinie qu'elle avoit este trompee elle comprit mesme que cette tromperie n'avoit pas une cause aussi obligeante que berise la croyoit car elle scavoit bien que je ne l'aimois pas assez tendrement pour avoir pris tant de peine a l'empescher de revenir a chalcedoine de sorte que raisonnant que celuy qui avoit trompe berise avoit beaucoup de part aux secrets d'intapherne elle ne douta point que ce prince ne l'eust oblige a la tromper principalement se souvenant des choses qu'il luy avoit dittes d'elle l'apresdisnee d'abord a ce qu'elle dit depuis a istrine elle eut quelque leger despit de la tromperie qu'on avoit faite a berise mais un moment apres ce despit s'estant dissipe elle ne put s'empescher de trouver quelque chose de plaisant a s'imaginer l'empressement de berise et l'impossibilite ou elle s'estoit trouvee de faire ce qu'elle vouloit en suitte de quoy trouvant qu'il y avoit lieu de croire qu'il faloit que l'amour d'intapherne fust bien sorte puis qu'elle l'avoit force d'avoir recours a cet artifice pour luy pouvoir parler de sa passion elle le creut sans s'en irriter ne laissant pourtant pas de dire a berise qu'il n'y avoit jamais de tromperie innocente pour celle a qui on la faisoit du moins madame reprit intapherne m'advouerez 
 vous qu'il y en a qui ne sont pas fort criminelles pour ceux qui les font je vous advoueray repliqua t'elle qu'il peut y en avoir de plaisantes mais je ne vous advoueray qu'aveque peine qu'il puisse y avoir des trompeurs sans estre coupables envers quelqu'un il est certains crimes reprit istrine qui sont si aisez a pardonner que je ne scay si ce n'est point estre injuste que d'apeller criminels ceux qui les commettent et s'il ne seroit point a propos d'inventer un mot qui signifiast precisement je ne scay quelle sorte de gens qui ne sont ny tout a fait innocens ny tout a fait coupables pour moy repliqua la princesse de bithinie qui ne connois point de cette espece de personnes dont vous parlez et qui ne mets point d'intervale entre l'innocence et le crime je ne me mettray point en peine d'enrichir la langue que je parle d'un nouveau mot dont je n'auray jamais besoin car enfin je vous declare que tous ceux que j'ay veus en ma vie tous ceux que je voy et tous ceux que je verray passent ou passeront tous dans mon esprit ou pour innocens ou pour criminels envers moy ne pouvant jamais m'imaginer qu'il puisse y avoir de milieu entre ces deux choses de sorte madame interrompit intapherne en la regardant attentivement que selon ce que vous dittes je suis presentement innocent ou criminel dans vostre esprit n'en doutez nullement reprit-elle avec precipitation puis que vous n'en pouvez douter sans me faire injure du moins 
 madame repliqua intapherne voudrois-je bien scavoir si vous aportez tous les soins necessaires a connoistre l'innocence ou le crime de ceux que vous condamnez ou que vous justifiez sans les entendre car enfin madame il ne faut qu'une petite circonstance pour changer la face des choses en effet interrompit berise si orcame m'avoit trompee pour se moquer de moy il meriteroit sans doute ma haine mais comme je suis persuadee que la tromperie qu'il m'a faite a une cause qui m'est plus avantageuse il ne s'en faut guere que je ne luy pardonne de bon coeur le mal qu'il m'a fait en m'empeschant de revenir a l'heure que je l'ay voulu je vous advoue madame que je ne pus entendre ce que disoit berise sans avoir envie de rire et sans regarder le prince intapherne si bien que la princesse de bithinie le remarquant se confirma dans l'opinion qu'elle avoit desja et ne douta point du tout qu'elle ne fust la cause de la tromperie que j'avois faite a berise cependant comme elle n'estoit pas bien d'accord avec elle mesme de ce qu'elle pensoit d'intapherne elle se retira mais la difficulte fut de se deffaire de berise car comme cette princesse luy avoit dit qu'elle l'avoit bien regrettee ce jour la elle ne pensa jamais s'en aller et il falut qu'elle luy dist qu'elle vouloit dormir pour l'obliger a sortir de sa chambre elle ne dormit pourtant pas si tost car malgre qu'elle en eust elle passa une partie de la nuit a chercher les voyes de faire en sorte qu'intapherne 
 continuast de l'aimer sans le luy dire et sans l'obliger a changer sa facon d'agir aveque luy mais apres tout madame sans m'amuser a vous particulariser si exactement la naissance et le progres de l'affection d'intapherne je vous diray que ses soins et ses services estant secondez de l'adresse d'istrine et soustenus par le propre merite de ce prince obligerent enfin la princesse de bithinie a souffrir qu'il l'aimast ce fut pourtant a condition qu'il soumettroit tousjours son amour a sa fortune et que s'il arrivoit qu'arsamone disposast d'elle contre sa volonte il ne l'accuseroit ny d'injustice ny d'infidelite et qu'il souffriroit ce malheur avec toute la patience dont il pourroit estre capable mais madame luy disoit-il un jour ne dois-je pas vous apeller injuste de vouloir que je vous promette des choses impossibles et croyez-vous qu'un amant qui promet de renoncer a la possession de la personne qu'il aime soit tenu de garder sa parole je le croy si fortement luy dit-elle et il vous importe si fort que je le croye que je ne doute point du tout que vous ne me teniez exactement la vostre quoy qui puisse arriver
 
 
 
 
voila donc madame l'estat ou estoient ces quatre illustres personnes qui forment l'histoire que je vous raconte qui comme vous pouvez penser n'estoit pas trop heureux car enfin intapherne et atergatis ne peurent jamais obliger les deux princesses qu'ils aimoient a leur promettre rien contre l'obeissance qu'elles devoient 
 a ceux qui devoient disposer d'elles ils ne laissoient pourtant pas de trouver de douces heures au jour lors qu'ils pouvoient parler avec liberte aux princesses qu'ils adoroient il est vray qu'ils ne le pouvoient pas aussi souvent qu'ils l'eussent souhaite et berise leur en faisoit perdre tant d'occasions qu'ils vinrent a la hair plus que jamais la princesse de bithinie en son particulier s'en trouva aussi a la fin importunee quelque complaisante qu'elle fust elle ne put pourtant se resoudre a la bannir de chez elle et je fus choisi pour chercher les voyes de faire que du moins elle n'y allast pas si souvent comme berise a assurement plus d'esprit qu'on ne luy en donne un sentiment de pitie s'estant joint dans mon coeur au dessein de servir deux princesses si illustres en les delivrant d'une personne qui les incommodoit je fis si bien qu'un jour que berise avoit l'esprit irrite de ce que ces deux princesses ne l'avoient pas menee a une promenade qu'elles estoient alle faire je l'engageay a m'en faire ses plaintes et a me confier tout le secret de son coeur d'abord je creus qu'on luy avoit fait le plus grand outrage qu'on pust faire a une personne de sa condition veu comme elle se pleignoit aigrement car elle repassa tout ce qu'elle avoit jamais fait d'obligeant pour la princesse de bithinie exagerant son assiduite aupres d'elle comme une chose qui devoit luy tenir lieu de mille services mais apres avoir bien parle et s'estre bien pleinte il se trouva 
 que l'injure qu'on luy avoit faite n'estoit que ce que je vous ay dit il est vray que cette partie de promenade s'estoit faite en sa presence et que veu comme on l'avoit traittee autrefois il y avoit eu quelque durete a ne la mener pas cependant pour ne perdre point une occasion si favorable apres qu'elle se fut pleinte autant qu'elle le voulut je me mis afin de la persuader mieux a murmurer encore plus fort qu'elle et contre les grands en particulier et contre la cour en general luy protestant que si je pouvois jamais retourner en ma patrie j'estois resolu de me confiner dans la province plustost que de souffrir tout ce qu'il faloit endurer a la cour en suitte de quoy luy faisant de grandes protestations d'amitie je me mis a luy conseiller de se renfermer dans sa famille ou dans son quartier ou du moins dans chalcedoine et de se retirer d'une vie si tumulteuse car enfin ma chere berise luy dis-je quand on a le malheur de n'estre point d'une condition a estre de la cour il ne s'y faut point mettre si avant ha orcame s'escria-t'elle je ne scay que trop ce que vous dittes mais apres tout je ne puis me resoudre apres avoir veu tant d'honnestes gens d'en aller voir qui le sont si peu et j'aime encore mieux estre mal traittee par des gens de la cour que de l'estre bien par des gens de la ville car de grace adjoustoit elle pour m'amener dans son sens remarquez un peu la difference qu'il y a entre les uns et les autres ne diroit-on pas quoy 
 qu'ils soient en mesme lieu qu'ils sont de deux pais fort esloignez en effet adjoustoit-elle bien qu'ils parlent une mesme langue et qu'ils pensent mesme quelquesfois les mesmes choses ils les disent si diversement que bien souvent ce qui est une galanterie aux gens de la cour est une sottise aux gens de la ville mais luy dis-je cette regle n'est pas generale et j'en connois qui sont fort honnestes gens du moins scay-je bien repliqua-t'elle que s'il y a exception il faut que ceux qu'on doit excepter ayent aquis dans le monde le merite qui fait qu'on les excepte car je ne croy point du tout qu'on puisse en aquerir ailleurs quand je vous concederay ce que vous dittes luy repliquay-je ce ne sera pas encore assez pour me persuader qu'une personne qui n'est point de la cour par sa naissance doive s'y attacher opiniastrement si ce n'est que la fortune l'y attire par quelque voye extraordinaire car enfin soit raison soit injustice la mesme difference que vous mettez entre les gens de la cour et les gens de la ville ceux qui sont effectivement de la cour l'y mettent aussi bien que vous de plus adjoustay-je pour arriver a la fin que je m'estois proposee c'est une raillerie d'esperer que les personnes d'une tres grande condition soient capables de reconnoissance car on leur dit tellement des le berceau qu'on leur doit toutes choses qu'elles ne s'obligent de rien elles vous aiment seulement parce qu'elles s'aiment et 
 mesurant l'affection qu'elles ont pour vous au divertissement que vous leur donnez il arrive infailliblement que des que vous ne les divertissez plus leur amitie cesse en effet adjoustay-je ne voyez vous pas que les deux princesses de toute la terre qui ont le plus de bonte en ont pourtant aujourd'huy use ainsi aveque vous car parce qu'elles ont eu assez de monde pour les divertir elles ne se sont pas souciees de vous mener et de grace ma chere berise poursuivis-je desabusez vous de la cour apres tout luy dis-je encore on s'en desaccoustume quand on veut et les yeux et l'esprit s'accoustument a tout quand on aporte quelque foin a leur en fermer l'habitude en effet adjoustay-je pensez vous que les provinces les plus esloignees n'ayent point de gens d'esprit et croyez-vous que ces gens d'esprit s'y ennuyent non non berise poursuivis-je sans luy donner loisir de parler il ne faut pas se l'imaginer et il faut que vous croiyez au contraire qu'ils sont plus heureux que vous car enfin ils trouvent de l'amitie parmy les personnes de leur condition on a autant de complaisance pour eux qu'ils en ont pour les autres et sans estre ny maistre ny esclave on passe sa vie plus doucement que vous ne pensez jugez donc ce que vous pourriez faire dans chalcedoine si vous le vouliez ha orcame me dit-elle je voy bien que vous ne faites guere de visites dans nostre ville puis que vous ne scavez pas mieux comment on y vit et 
 comment on s'y ennuye scachez donc orcame pour me justifier aupres de vous que la pluspart des gens qu'on trouve dans les compagnies de chalcedoine ou ne parlent point ou parlent trop ou parlent mal ils ont non seulement une prononciation differente de celle de la cour mais mesme presques toutes leurs facons de parler le sont aussi leur galanterie est il grossiere qu'ils ne comprennent point qu'il puisse y avoir d'autre amour que celle dont ils sont capables qui n'est ny galante ny spirituelle ou que celle qui inspire une certaine espece de coquetterie impertinente qu'on ne scauroit endurer enfin orcame s'ils parlent d'amour ils se font hair s'ils parlent de guerre ils font pitie tant ils en parlent mal et s'ils parlent des nouvelles generales du monde ils les scavent si peu et disent mesme quelquesfois des choses si esloignees de vray-semblance qu'on ne peut se resoudre a les escouter cependant vous me conseillez de ne voir plus que ma famille et de me renfermer dans mon quartier je vous le conseille en effet luy dis-je parce que les chagrins qui suivent les plaisirs qu'on trouve a la cour me semblent plus considerables que ceux que vous me representez que vous trouveriez dans la ville quand mesme il seroit vray ce qui n'est pas qu'il ne s'y trouvast point d'honnestes gens car enfin comme je vous l'ay desja dit il n'y a pour l'ordinaire point de reconnoissance a attendre des personnes de fort 
 grande qualite principalement quand on leur est fort inferieure l'amitie dont ils sont capables est toute renfermee en eux mesmes ils vous font mille carresses un jour et ne vous regardent point l'autre ils promettent bien souvent beaucoup plus qu'ils ne tiennent et leur delicatesse est quelquefois si grande que si vous ne les flattez pas assez vous leur faites un outrage croyez donc berise que quand il n'y auroit autre consideration a faire pour se guerir de la fantaisie de la cour lors qu'on n'en est pas par sa naissance et qu'on n'y est point attire fortement que celle de songer qu'il faut passer toute sa vie avec des gens qui sont beaucoup au dessus de vous et avec qui il faut avoir une complaisance continuelle et une obeissance aveugle je trouve qu'il y auroit lieu de former la resolution que je vous conseille de prendre il y va mesme adjoustay-je encore d'un interest de gloire qui n'est pas a mespriser car enfin berise vous scavez aussi bien que moy que lors qu'une femme de la ville donne de l'amour a un homme de la cour elle est bien plus exposee a la medisance qu'une autre estant certain que c'est une injustice qui est presques dans l'esprit de tous les hommes de cette condition et qui se trouve esgallement dans toutes les cours du monde de penser qu'une dame de la ville leur doit estre plus obligee de leurs soins et de leurs visites que si elle estoit de la cour de plus ce n'est point encore en ce lieu-la 
 qu'il faut que les dames de la ville cherchent des maris ny pour leurs filles ny pour leurs soeurs ny pour leurs parentes ny pour elles mesmes joint qu'a parler raisonnablement il n'y a rien qui face plus hair une femme de la ville de toutes celles qui en sont que d'estre trop de la cour c'est pourquoy berise si vous m'en croyez au lieu de faire la cour aux autres vous en formerez une dans vostre chambre de tout ce qu'il y a de gens raisonnables dans chalcedoine qui ne sont pas en si petit nombre que vous le pensez je ne vous conseille pas luy dis-je de vous laisser accabler par ces sortes de gens que le nom de la cour effraye et qui ont autant de peur de ceux qui en sont que les gens de la cour ont d'aversion pour eux mais comme il y a certains animaux adjoustay-je en riant qu'on dit qui vivent tantost a terre et tantost dans l'eau choisissez pour vos amis de ces honnestes gens meslez qui sont un peu de toutes choses et qui se tirent agreablement de par tout non non orcame reprit-elle vous ne me le persuaderez pas car encore que je connoisse bien qu'une partie des choses que vous me dires soient vrayes je ne laisse pas de vous assurer que je ne changeray point de sentimens en effet poursuivit-elle en souriant bien loin de me renfermer dans ma famille je vous proteste que si je pouvois m'en separer pour tousjours je le ferois de tout mon coeur pourveu que je sceusse seulement que tous-ceux qui 
 la composent fussent enfante puis que vous en estes la luy repartis-je faites du moins une chose que j'magine pourveu que ce ne soit pas de quitter la cour reprit berise je suivray volontiers vostre conseil essayez donc luy dis-je pour obliger la princesse de bithinie a ne vous oublier plus d'estre seulement trois ou quatre jours sans aller chez elle afin de la forcer par la a vous renvoyer querir mais si elle n'y envoyoit point repliqua-t'elle je serois bien embarrassee comment je ferois pour y retourner c'est pourquoy orcame j'aime mieux suivre mon inclination que vostre advis suivez-la donc adjoustay-je puis que je ne vous puis guerir de la passion de la cour mais si on vous oublie encore quelque autre fois lors qu'il y aura quelque divertissement a prendre ne vous en prenez pas a moy apres cela madame je quittay berise bien marry de ne pouvoir m'aquiter de la commission que j'avois receue de luy persuader de n'aller pas si souvent chez la princesse de bithinie mais il n'y eut pas moyen et tout ce que je luy dis contre la cour fit si peu d'impression dans son esprit que des le soir mesme malgre son despit elle vit cette princesse qui la receut avec assez de civilite car outre que naturellement elle est douce il y avoit encore une autre raison qui l'obligeoit d'en souffrir qui estoit que le pere de berise qui est fort considere du peuple de chalcedoine avoit beaucoup servy a arsamone lors qu'il s'en 
 estoit empare de sorte que ne scachant comment s'en delivrer apres m'avoir desja employe a la tromper et en suite a luy persuader de renoncer a la cour je fus encore choisi par intapherne et par atergatis pour faire semblant d'en estre amoureux et en effet madame quoy que je n'aime pas a desguiser mes sentimens et que je sois fort sincere je commencay de faire experimenter a berise que je ne luy avois pas menty lors que je luy avois dit que la cour n'estoit pas propre a toutes sortes de gens ainsi parlant eternellement a elle je donnay lieu a intapherne et a atergatis de parler plus souvent a la princesse de bithinie et a la princesse istrine voila donc madame comment la fin de l'atoumne et l'hiver se passerent mais le printemps ayant ramene la guerre il falut se resoudre a partir je ne mentiray pas madame quand je vous diray que l'adieu du prince intapherne et de la princesse de bithinie aussi bien que celuy d'atergatis et d'istrine fut plus touchant que celuy que je dis a berise la princesse de bithinie eut pourtant un pouvoir si absolu sur elle mesme qu'elle cacha la douleur que luy causoit le depart d'intapherne mais en eschange elle luy montra toute sa civilite et luy dit tant de choses obligeantes qu'il n'eut pas la force de se pleindre de ce qu'elle ne le pleignoit pas assez joint qu'a dire les choies comme elles sont je pense qu'il ne laissa pas de voir 
 dans les yeux de cette princesse malgre qu'elle en eust qu'encore qu'il ne parust point de douleur sur son visage il ne laissoit pas d'y en avoir dans son coeur pour atergatis il fut un peu plus heureux qu'intapherne car encore que je n'aye pu demesler parfaitement si les larmes de cette princesse furent toutes pour le prince son frere ou si atergatis y avoit part je puis vous assurer que de la maniere dont cet adieu se fit ce prince eut lieu de croire que s'il n'en avoit point a ses larmes il en avoit du moins a quelques-uns des soupirs qu'elle jetta en voyant partir deux personnes qui luy estoient si cheres pour aller s'exposer a tant de perils mais enfin madame nous partismes et nous laissasmes berise avec deux princesses qu'elle ne consola guere de l'absence d'intapherne et d'atergatis je ne m'arresteray point madame a vous particulariser tout ce qui se passa pendant cette guerre scachant bien que vous ne l'ignorez pas c'est pourquoy je me contenteray pour ne confondre pas les choses d'en marquer seulement les principaux evenemens je vous diray donc madame qu'arsamone fut tousjours heureux quoy qu'il eust en teste un des plus vaillans princes du monde mais a dire la verite il ne faut pas s'estonner s'il conserva ses avantages car outre qu'il avoit dans son party deux princes dont la valeur le fortifioit considerablement il est encore vray qu'arsamone a toutes les qualitez 
 necessaires pour venir a bout d'un grand dessein car non seulement il a de l'esprit de la capacite de l'experience du coeur et de l'ambition mais il a encore une espece de prudence temeraire s'il est permis de parler ainsi qui le rend capable d'entreprendre les choses les plus difficiles et qui les luy fait quelquesfois executer avec autant de bonheur que de hardiesse de plus la politique d'arsamone ne s'enferme pas dans les bornes ordinaires de la justice car je luy ay entendu dire quelquesfois que pour faire reussir une chose juste il n'y avoit point de moyens qui fussent injustes quels qu'ils pussent estre c'est pourquoy s'agissant de remonter au throne de ses peres je puis vous assurer qu'il se servoit de tout et qu'il employoit tout pour y parvenir au reste il ne faut pas s'imaginer qu'il pense jamais a autre chose qu'au dessein qu'il a ny qu'il perde aucune occasion de l'avancer aussi l'avanca-t'il tellement que le roy de pont apres plusieurs combats ou il eut tousjours du desavantage fut contraint de se retirer dans heraclee qui est la capitale de son estat et la seule ville qui luy restoit de ses deux royaumes pendant ces victoires intapherne et atergads dont la reputation estoit grande escrivoient tres souvent aux princesses qu'ils adoroient car ils en avoient obtenu la permission a condition toutesfois que leurs lettres ne seroient que des lettres de nouvelles et de civilite sans galanterie 
 aucune car madame il faut que vous scachiez que la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine se disant toutes choses se mirent dans la fantaisie chacune en leur particulier de ne faire pas plus l'une que l'autre pour ceux qui les aimoient et de se piquer esgallement de retenue et de severite de sorte qu'encore qu'atergatis eust le prince intapherne pour protecteur aupres d'istrine elle ne voulut faire pour luy que ce que la princesse de bithinie fit pour intapherne vous pouvez juger madame que cette contrainte estoit un peu facheuse et qu'il estoit bien difficile d'avoir tant d'amour et de n'en oser parler ce commandement qu'ils avoient receu ne leur fut pourtant pas desavantageux car comme ils escrivoient tous deux fort bien et que leurs lettres n'estoient pas de nature a estre cachees ceux a qui les princesses les monstrerent leur donnerent tant de louanges qu'on peut dire qu'elles ne laissoient pas de leur parler d'amour en ne leur en parlant point cependant comme leur passion n'estoit pas satisfaite ils trouverent invention de faire scavoir leurs sentimens sans desobeir au commandement qu'ils avoient receu car enfin comme istrine n'avoit pas prescrit au prince son frere ce qu'il luy devoit escrire que ce n'estoit qu'a atergatis qu'elle avoit deffendu de luy parler de son amour et que la princesse de bithinie de son coste ne s'estoit pas advisee de commander a intapherne de ne parler point de sa passion 
 dans les lettres qu'il escriroit a la princesse sa soeur ces deux amants resolurent qu'intapherne a qui istrine n'avoit rien prescrit ny rien deffendu luy escriroit tous les sentimens qu'il avoit pour la princesse de bithinie et tous ceux qu'atergatis avoit pour elle de sorte que par cette invention il arriva que ces deux princesses pouvoient montrer les lettres de leurs amants et qu'istrine n'osoit montrer celles du prince son frere comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit apres avoir receu cette premiere lettre et l'avoir montree a la princesse de bithinie elle y fit une response la plus adroite et la plus ingenieuse du monde ha orcame interrompit madane je n'aime point qu'on me loue tant une lettre qu'on ne me montre pas c'est pourquoy taschez du moins de vous souvenir du sens de ces deux lettre si vous n'en pouvez retrouver toutes les paroles je puis encore faire davantage pour vostre satisfaction reprit orcame car je pense en avoir des coppies sur moy que je derobay au prince intapherne qui ayant eu le malheur de perdre l'original de celle de la princesse en venant icy s'en est pleint avec tant d'empressement que pour le consoler j'ay resolu de luy advouer mon larcin afin de luy pouvoir redonner une partie de ce qu'il a perdu c'est pourquoy madame je puis vous monstrer ce que vous souhaitez devoir mandane estant fort aise d'aprendre que sa curiosite alloit estre satisfaite conjura orcame 
 came de ne differer pas davantage a la contenter de sorte que cherchant a s'esclaircir et a voir s'il ne se trompoit pas il trouva en effet qu'il avoit sur luy les coppies de ces deux lettres dont la premiere estoit telle
 
 
 intapherne a la princesse istrine 
 
 
 comme je scay que vous avez oblige le prince atergatis a vous mander toutes les nouvelles de l'armee et que je n'ignore pas qu'il vous obeit aussi exactement que j'obeis a l'admirable princesse qui m'a fait un pareil commandement vous m devez pas trouver estrange si je ne vous dis point les mesmes choses qu'il vous dit nous sommes donc convenus ensemble de partager nos nouvelles c'est pourquoy je luy laisse le soin de vous aprendre la deffaite des ennemis et les victoires d'arsamone et je me reserve seulement celuy de vous faire scavoir ce qui se passe dans mon coeur scachez donc ma chere soeur que l'admirable princesse que j'adore occupe si fort ma memoire que je ne scay si je n'aurois pas l'injustice de vous oublier si ce n'estoit que j'ay besoin de vous pour empescher qu'lle ne m'oublie car 
 comme elle ne vous a pas deffendu de luy parler de ma passion comme elle m'a deffendu de luy en escrire vous pouvez sans l'offencer luy protester que je ne pense qu'a elle que je l'adore continuellement que son absence m'est insuportable et que la rigueur quelle a eue de ne vouloir point que j'eusse la satisfaction de luy parler de mon amour dans mes lettres met ma vie en plus grand danger que toute la valeur du roy de pont de grace ne me refusez pas ce que je vous demande car si vous me le refusez il ne partira point de courrier que je n'accorde au prince atergatis la satisfaction de vous faire scavoir qu'il vous aime tousjours passionnement et qu'il n'y a point de jour que nous ne soyons prests a nous quereller tantost parce qu'il me soustient qu'il vous aime autant que j'aime la princesse de bithinie et tantost parce que je veux tousjours parler d'elle et qu'il veut toujours parler de vous enfin ma chere soeur je vous diray qu'il est aussi chagrin d'estre esloigne de ce qu'il aime que je le suis de l'estre de ce que j'adore parlez donc de moy a ma princesse si vous ne voulez que je vous parle d'atergatis et persuadez luy s'il est possible qu'il seroit beaucoup mieux qu'atergatis luy escrivist les nouvelles de l'armee et que je vous les escrivisse aussi afin que nous pussions tous deux vous en dire de ce qui se passe dans nostre coeur mais sur toutes choses faites que cette lettre ne passe pas pour une desobeissance et qu'atergatis et moy ne soyons pas declarez criminels ny envers elle ny envers vous adieux croyez 
 s'il vous plaist qu'intapherne a tousjours pour sa chere soeur toute l'amitie dont un coeur amoureux peut estre capable 
 
 
 intapherne 
 
 
j'advoue dit la princesse mandane que je n'eusse pas creu qu'un frere eust pu parler a une soeur de l'amour qu'on a pour elle sant choquer un peu la bien-seance mais intapherne l'a fait si adroitement et a sceu desobeir si respectueusement au commandement qu'on luy avoit fait que j'ay grande envie de voir comment la princesse istrine luy aura respondu orcame luy presentant alors la lettre de cette princesse et reprenant celle d'intapherne elle y leut ces paroles
 
 
 istrine au prince intapherne 
 
 
 je ne vous dis point que vostre lettre ma surprise car je suis persuadee que vous n'en doutez pas et que vous avez eu dessein de me surprendre en effet je l'attendois toute pleine d'amitie et je l'ay trouvee toute remplie d'amour mais pour vous tesmoigner que je ne veux pas que vous me parliez du prince atergatis je vous assureray que 
 j'ay parle de vous a la princesse de bithinie vous n'en estes pourtant pas plus heureux car elle vous traite de criminel comme je traite atergatis de desobeissant il est vray que je ne vous ay pas deffendu de me parler de vostre passion ny de la sienne mais c'a este parce que n'ay pas droit de vous deffendre rien aussi veux-je demeurer dans les bornes que je me suis prescrites et ne vous faire jamais que des prieres mais comme s'ay parle de vous a la princesse de bithinie je vous conjure de parler de moy au prince atergatis pour luy dire que si j'ay sur luy tout le pouvoir que vous dites que j'y ay je luy deffends aussi absolument de vous obliger a me parler de sa passion que la princesse de bithinie vous deffend par moy de me parler de celle que vous avez pour elle car enfin vous avez bien deu penser que puis qu'elle n'en vouloit rien scavoir par vous et que je n'en voulois aussi rien aprendre par atergatis c'estoit que nous n'avions pas autant de curiosite de scavoir ce qui se passe dans vostre coeur que d'aprendre ce qui se passe a la guerre obeissez donc a cette princesse et faites qu'atergatis m'obeisse et s'il est possible ne signalez pas tous deux vostre passion par une desobeissance inutile adieu croyez s'il vous plaist que j'ay tousjours pour vous toute l'amitie dont un coeur sans amour peut estre capable et que par consequent istrine en a pins pour le prince intapherne que le prince intapherne n'en a pour 
 
 
 istrine 
 
 
 
 sans mentir orcame dit la princesse mandane en luy rendant la letre de la princesse istrine si on escrivoit tousjours d'amour aussi spirituellement que les admirables personnes dont vous me racontez la vie il seroit presques a souhaiter qu'on n'escrivist d'autre chose mais pour ne vous empescher pas de me donner de nouveaux sujets de les louer en les louant trop longtemps continuez s'il vous plaist l'agreable recit de leurs avantures puis que vous me l'ordonnez madame reprit orcame je vous diray que le prince intapherne ayant receu la lettre d'istrine luy manda encore fort galamment qu'il douteroit toujours du commandement qu'elle disoit que la princesse de bithinie luy faisoit jusques a ce qu'elle le luy eust escrit de sa main et que pour ce qui regardoit atergatis il ne croyoit pas encore qu'il fust oblige de croire positivement ce que le frere de la personne qu'il aimoit luy disoit si elle ne le luy confirmoit elle mesme enfin madame il mena la chose si adroitement que ces deux princesses qui n'aimoient pas a hazarder de semblables lettres se resolurent d'escrire chacune un billet de deux lignes pour faire qu'on ne leur escrivist plus rien qui ne pust estre veu celuy de la princesse de bithinie ne contenoit que ces paroles si ma memoire ne me trompe 
 
 
 
 je deffends au prince intapherne d'escrire jamais rien a la princesse istrine que ce que je luy ay permis de m'escrire a moy mesme a peine d'estre aussi de m'escrire a moy mesme a peine d'estre aussi mal avec la personne dont il luy a parle qu'il y sera bien s'il s'impose silence et s'il obeit 
 
 
voila madame quel fut le billet de la princesse de bithinie pour intapherne poursuivit orcame et voicy si je ne m'abuse comment estoit celuy de la princesse istrine pour atergatis
 
 
 si vous voulez que je croye que je puis vous commander quelque chose faites que le prince intapherne ne me parle point de vous dans ses lettres puis qu'il est vray que je n'en veux scavoir que ce que je vous ay permis de m'en escrire et que si vous n'obeissez a ce second commandement comme au premier vous n'aurez pas mesme la permission de me parler des victoires d'arsamone 
 
 
vous pouvez juger madame que ces deux billets n'estoient pas excessivement obligeans et vous voyez mesme que comme ils estoient fort coures et qu'il ne s'agissoit que de faire un simple commandement ils ne pouvoient pas passer pour le dernier effort de l'esprit de ces deux princesses cependant quoy qu'intapherne et atergatis eussent un fort grand nombre de tres belles lettres delles comme ces deux billets n'estoient point signez qu'ils n'avoient point de suscription 
 et que c'estoit des billets qu'il faloit cacher ils en eurent plus de joye et ils leur furent plus chers que les plus belles lettres qu'ils eussent des mesmes personnes qui les leur avoient escrits en effet madame je voudrois pouvoir vous representer avec quel foin intapherne conserva le sien il ne le mit pas seulement au mesme lieu ou estoient toutes les autres lettres de la princesse de bithinie car il fut encore plus precieusement place pour moy qui n'avois pas l'esprit si delicat que luy et qui ne raisonnois pas si finement sur les sentimens d'amour j'adovoue que je ne pus m'empescher d'avoir quelque estonnement de remarquer que ce billet qui luy faisoit un conmandement fascheux fust prefere a tant de belles et agreables lettres qu'il avoit de la mesme main et qui estoient mesme pleines de louanges de sa valeur et de civilitez pour luy mais a peine voulus je luy en faire la guerre et prendre la librte de luy en demander la raison que se scriant comme si j'eusse dit la chose du monde la plus desraisonnable ha orcame me dit il que vous estes ignorant en amour puis que vous ne scavez pas la difference qu'il y a de la plus belle lettre du monde qu'on peut montrer a toute la terre a un simple billet qu'on est oblige de ne montrer a personne cependant il y en a une si notable qu'il n'y a nulle comparaison a faire entre ces deux choses quoy seigneur luy dis-je vous pouvez preferer ces deux ou trois lignes 
 que la princesse de bithinie vous a escrites a tant de belles et longues lettres que vous avez d'elle et ces deux ou trois lignes qui vous deffendent de parler de l'amour que vous avez pour elle a la princesse istrine vous sont plus cheres que tant d'agreables lettres ou elle vous ordonne de luy escrire tres souvent et de luy mander toutes les nouvelles de l'armee ouy orcame reprit-il ce billet qui ne contient que peu de paroles qui paroist negligeamment escrit dont le carractere n'est pas trop lisible et qui me deffend de parler de ma passion m'est mille et mille fois plus cher et plus agreable que ces belles lettres de ma princesse ou il paroist qu'elle a choisi toutes les paroles qu'elle a employees dont le carractere est si bien forme et qui m'ordonnent de luy escrire souvent et si vous scaviez aimer vous connoistriez si bien la distinction qu'il faut faire d'une lettre indifferente a une lettre misterieuse que je n'aurois pas besoin de chercher des raisons a vous le faire comprendre mais seigneur luy dis-je ces belles lettres que vous mettez tant au dessous de ce billet qui vous est si cher ne sont elles pas escrites de la mesme main qui vous rend l'autre si precieux ouy orcame reprit-il mais elles ne sont pas dictees d'un mesme esprit car quand ma princesse me prie obligeamment de luy mander les nouvelles de l'armee elle ne fait rien pour moy qu'elle ne 
 pust faire pour tout ce qu'il y a de gens de qualite aupres d'arsamone mais lors qu'elle me deffend de parler de la passion que j'ay pour elle cette princesse advoue tacitement qu'elle a droit de me commander elle me reconnoist pour estre son esclave elle tesmoigne scavoir que je l'aime et elle me donne enfin quelque marque de confiance puis que sans me deffendre de l'aimer elle me fait l'honneur de m'assurer que je seray bien avec elle si je puis m'imposer silence enfin orcame ce rigoureux billet qui vous paroist moins obligeant que tant de belles lettres qui me louent avec tant d'eloquence a pourtant je ne scay quoy qui est bien plus propre a satisfaire le coeur d'un amant que ne le sont toutes ces belles choses dont ces autres lettres qui vous plaisent tant sont remplies le nom mesme de ma princesse qui m'est si cher que je ne puis l'entendre prononcer sans une esmotion de coeur que je ne puis retenir oste pourtant selon moy quelque chose du prix de ces admirables lettres ou elle le met tousjours et ce billet ou elle n'a ose le mettre non plus que le mien a quelque chose que je ne puis exprimer qui me le rend plus considerable car enfin je suis persuade qu'une dame qui escrit une lettre avec le foin de cacher qui l'escrit et a qui elle est escrite a du moins dans le coeur quelque leger sentiment de tendresse qu'elle ne veut pas 
 qu'on scache et puis orcame lamour aime de sa nature tellement le secret et le mistere qu'on peut dire que tout ce qui n'est ny secret ny misterieux n'est point amour et si vous voulez scavoir precisement la difference que je mets entre les lettres de civilite que j'ay de ma princesse et le billet que je viens de recevoir je vous diray que l'y en mets presques autant qu'entre les lettres d'une amie et le billet d'une maistresse apres cela madame je cessay de disputer contre le prince intapherne connoissant bien qu'il estoit plus scavant que moy en amour et que je ne le persuaderois pas cependant comme il connoissoit quelle estoit la retenue et la severite de la princesse de bithinie il falut qu'il luy obeist et qu'il imposat silence a son amour aussi bien qu'atergatis je suis pourtant assure qu'encore que le mot d'amour ne fust jamais dans leurs lettres ils trouverent pourtant l'art d'y en mettre d'autres qui signifioient la mesme chose sans desobeir toutesfois au commandement qu'on leur avoit fait mais ce qui les affligea extremement fut que des que le roy de pont se fust retire dans heraclee arsamone songea a l'assieger et commenca de l'investir de sorte qu'il leur fut aise de prevoir qu'ils ne verroient de longtemps les princesses qu'ils aimoient ce qui obligea arsamone de precipiter le siege d'heraclee malgre sa facheuse saison fut que scachant avec quelle ardeur l'invincible 
 cyrus sous le nom d'artamene pressoit babilone il craignit que s'il la prenoit devant qu'il eust pris heraclee il ne protegeast un prince qu'il avoit desja protege en le delivrant a sinope c'est pourquoy il s'occupa tout entier a ce grand dessein et il s'y occupa si utilement qu'en fort peu de jours le siege d'heraclee fut forme comme il importoit a arsamone de scavoir ce qui se passoit a babilone et qu'intapherne atergatis et istrine haissoient assez le roy d'assirie pour avoir la curiosite de scavoir tous les malheurs qui luy arivoient on scavoit a chalcedoine et au camp toutes les victoires de ciaxare et on y scavoit mesme madame qu'elle estoit cette heroique resistance que vous aportiez a la violente passion du roy d'assirie si intapherne et atergatis n'eussent pas este amoureux en bithinie ils eussent este aveque joye se vanger de cet injuste prince en se rangeant aupres de gadate qui avoit desja pris le party de l'illustre artamene mais comme intapherne n'eust pu abandonner arsamone en l'estat ou estoient les choses sans abandonner le dessein de pretendre a la princesse sa fille il se resolut de demeurer aupres de luy puis qu'il le pouvoit avec honneur veu la guerre ou il estoit engage et pour atergatis comme en changeant d'armee il se fust esloigne d'istrine il aima mieux satisfaire son amour que sa haine puis qu'il estoit en lieu ou il trouvoit la gloire aussi bien qu'il l'eust pu trouver en assirie pour la princesse istrine je luy ay ouy 
 dire que toutes les fois qu'on luy aprenoit avec quelle noble fierte vous traittiez le roy d'assirie elle avoit une joye inconcevable de se voir si pleinement vange de ce prince et par vostre beaute et par vostre rigueur et par la valeur d'artamene il est vray qu'elle estoit un peu modere par la crainte ou elle estoit que le siege d'heraclee ne fust funeste ou a intapherne ou a atergatis qu'elle scavoit qui s'exposoient avec tant de coeur a toutes les occasions dangereuses cette crainte que la princesse de bithinie partageoit avec elle n'estoit pas encore la seule douleur qu'elle avoit car l'absence du prince son frere et le malheureux estat ou estoit la princesse araminte qu'elle aimoit beaucoup luy donnoient de fascheuses heures mais apres tout ces deux princesses en avoient aussi d'assez douces par la satisfaction qu'elles avoient de la gloire qu'intapherne et artegatis aqueroient a la guerre mais principalement de celle qu'ils aquirent au siege d'heraclee comme la prise de cette ville estoit une chose decisive et qui devoit achever d'affermir le throne d'arsamone ce prince n'y oublia rien et si je n'avois encore beaucoup d'autres choses a vous dire qui sont plus essentiellement necessaires a scavoir pour entendre l'histoire que je vous raconte je vous ferois sans doute advouer en vous particularisant le siege d'heracle qu'a la reserve des fameux sieges de bablione de sardis et de cumes il ne s'en est jamais fait de plus beau que celuy de cette importante 
 ville ny ou il se soit fait des actions plus esclatantes comme il ne s'en falloit plus que cette ville qu'arsamone ne fust roy de deux royaumes il l'attaqua avec une vigeur extreme et comme il ne s'en falloit plus aussi que cette mesme ville que le roy de pont ne fust un roy sans royaume ce grand prince la deffendit avec un courage si heroique que s'il eust eu un ennemy d'une valeur moins opiniastre qu'arsamone il n'auroit pas este vaincu et il fit des choses si prodigieuses pour se deffendre que s'il n'avoit pas terny la gloire de tant de belles actions par la violence qu'il vous a faite il pourroit estre mis au rang des heros mais ce qui acheva de le perdre fut que le bruit estant au camq que l'illustre artamene avoit pris babilone et que le roy d'assirie vous en avoit fait sortir et vous avoit menee a sinope arsamone voulut se haster de vaincre devant qu'artamene eust tout a fait vaincu si bien que pressant la ville plus vivement qu'il n'avoit encore fait et la valeur d'intapherne et d'atergatis secondant puissamment la sienne il avanca plus ses travaux en huit jours qu'il n'avoit fait de puis que le siege estoit commence enfin madame sans abuser davantage de vostre patience a vous parler de ce qui se passa devant heraclee je vous diray que les dieux qui avoient resolu que le roy de pont fust contraint d'en sortir afin de vous aller sauver la vie en vous empeschant d'estre noyee se servirent de la valeur d'intapherne et de celle d'atergatis 
 pour vaincre ce vaillant et malheureux roy qui fut contraint de s'enfuir dans un vaisseau ne scachant pas alors que la perte de ses deux royaumes seroit cause qu'il vous empescheroit de mourir apres avoir fait naufrage avec le prince mazare vous pouvez juger madame que la prise d'heraclee fit un grand bruit dans toute la bithinie aussi bien que dans le pont mais elle rejouit particulierement les deux belles princesses qui estoient a chalcedoine principalement parce qu'elles scavoient bien qu'intapherne et atergatis avoient beaucoup de part a l'heureux succes de ce siege mais ce qui les empescha de se rejouir pleinement fut quelles sceurent que la guerre n'estoit pas encore tout a fait finie parce qu'artane estant dans cabira ou il tenoit la princesse araminte arsamone ne vouloit point d'accommodement aveque luy s'il ne luy remettoit la ville et araminte en sa puissance et qu'ainsi il avoit dessein de le vaincre et d'assieger encore cabira cependant des que ce prince eut restably le calme dans heraclee il voulut que la reine arbiane et les deux princesses y allassent afin de tesmoigner a tous ses nouveaux sujets qu'il ne vouloit pas moins estre roy de pont dont heraclee estoit la capitale que roy de bithinie dont chalcedoine estoit la principale ville
 
 
 
 
il est aise de s'imaginer madame que cette resolution fut aussi agreable a intapherne et a atergatis qu'elle fut facheuse pour la pauvre berise qui voyant que la cour 
 partoit de chalcedoine pour aller a heraclee en eut une douleur si forte qu'elle en pensa mourir ne pouvant pas comprendre comment elle pourroit vivre sans la cour et en effet nous sceusmes qu'on l'estoit alle consoler comme ayant perdu tout ce qu'elle aimoit elle fit mesme tout ce qu'elle put pour avoir un pretexte d'aller a heraclee mais sa famille l'en empescha ainsi elle se vit contrainte de demeurer a chalcedoine ou elle se mit si bien dans la fantaisie que pour faire la personne de la cour il falloit qu'elle s'ennuyast qu'elle ne parloit que de son ennuy et si elle fit des visites pour satisfaire son humeur empressee ce fut pour aller dire de maison en maison qu'elle s'ennuyoit estrangement de sorte qu'elle s'en fit tellement hair a chalcedoine qu'il n'y avoit pas une dame qui n'eust voulu qu'elle eust este a heraclee mais enfin madame apres vous avoir dit que le dessein qu'arsamone prit de faire aller la reine arbiane a cette superbe ville fut aussi agreable a intapherne et a atergatis qu'il fut facheux a berise je vous diray encore qu'il ne desplut pas mesme a la princesse de bithinie ny a la princesse istrine je suis pourtant oblige de dire a la gloire de la premiere qu'elle fut assez genereuse malgre toutes les victoires d'arsamone pour soupirer en entrant dans le palais d'heraclee ne pouvant pas se souvenir de l'estat ou elle y avoit veu le prince sinnesis la princesse araminte et spitridate sans avoir de la douleur de la mort du premier aussi bien que de la captivite de la princesse 
 araminte et de l'absence du prince son frere cette admirable personne porta mesme encore sa generosite plus loin car elle ne voulut point loger a l'apartement de la princesse de pont comme je scay bien disoit-elle a la reine arbiane qui le luy avoit propose que la princesse araminte m'a tousjours consideree comme princesse de bithinie dans le temps mesme ou il n'y avoit nulle esperance que le roy mon pere pust jamais se voir sur le throne je veux aussi la traitter encore en princesse de pont quoy que le roy son frere n'en possede plus le royaume vous pouvez juger madame qu'une princesse qui rendoit justice a la vertu malheureuse ne fut pas injuste a la vertu victorieuse et triomphante et qu'elle receut intapherne avec toute la civilite possible atergatis ne fut pas moins favorablement traitte d'istrine et comme on ne leur avoit pas deffendu de parler comme on leur avoit deffendu d'escrire ces deux princes trouverent enfin l'occasion de dire tout ce qu'ils n'avoient pas escrit et de faire scavoir a leurs princesses tous les suplices qu'ils avoient endurez pendant leur absence ils ne furent pourtant pas longtemps en semble car arsamone voulant achever de vaincre en prenant cabira les obligea de se rendre a l'armee il est vray que comme elle n'estoit pas alors fort loin d'heraclee ils en avoient si souvent des nouvelles que cette seconde absence leur estoit moins regoureuse que la premiere arsamone ne 
 put pas toutesfois marcher aussi viste qu'il le vouloit contre artane parce qu'il tomba malade mais madame je pense qu'il est a propos que je retranche de mon recit l'arrivee du prince spitridate a heraclee et tout ce qui se passa a la deffaite d'artane n'estant pas possible que la princesse araminte ait este si long temps captive de cyrus et que le prince spitridate ait este aussi quelques jours a sardis sans que vous ayez ouy dire depuis que vous estes libre une partie des avantures d'un prince qui a l'advantage de ressembler assez a vostre illustre liberateur pour vous avoir donne la curiosite de les scavoir j'ay sceu en effet par martesie qui l'a sceu de feraulas reprit mandane tout ce qui est arrive de plus remarquable a cet illustre prince ainsi je scay qu'il arriva a heraclee le jour qui preceda celuy ou la reine arbiane et les deux princesses devoient aller au camp parce qu'arsamone estoit malade je scay de plus que la reine ne de bithinie prit d'abord spitridate pour cyrus comme elle avoit autrefois pris cyrus pour spitridate et je n'ignore point enfin tout ce que ce prince fit pour flechir arsamone afin qu'il luy permist de continuer d'aimer araminte et je n'ignore pas non plus ce que firent intapherne et la princesse de bithinie pour le mesme dessein enfin orcame je scay l'opiniastrere d'arsamone a les refuser la deffaite d'artane l'entre-veue de spitridate et d'araminte sur le pont de cabira la genereuse resolution de ces deux personnes 
 et par quelle maniere spitridate fit sortir araminte de cette ville assiegee la desrobant a la victoire d'arsamone qui la vouloit tenir captive quand il l'auroit prise je scay aussi que spitridate s'en alla avec cette princesse jusques en armenie ou ils se separerent et qu'en partant du camp il escrivit au roy son pere et a la princesse sa soeur mais ce qui m'estonne est qu'on ne m'ait rien dit d'atergatis en me disant toutes ces choses ce qui a sans doute cause le silence de ceux qui vous ont raconte l'histoire d'araminte pour ce qui regarde le prince atergatis repliqua orcame est qu'en effet il n'eut aucune part a la deffaite d'artane ny a tout ce qui se passa a cabira parce que le jour mesme que les princesses arriverent au camp il falut l'emporter malade a heraclee ou il fut tousjours jusques apres la fuitte de spitridate et d'araminte ainsi il ne put lier amitie avec ce prince comme fit intapherne ny par consequent donner sujet de parler de luy a ceux qui ne vouloient vous raconter que l'histoire d'araminte et de spitridate mais enfin madame puis que vous scavez tout ce qui se passa jusques a la prise de cabira je ne vous en diray rien et reprenant les choses au point ou elles en estoient alors je vous diray qu'arsamone fut si irrite de l'action de spitridate qu'il dit tout haut qu'il ne vouloit point que ce prince luy succedast et qu'il vouloit qu'on regardast la princesse sa fille comme devant estre 
 un jour reine de pont et de bithinie en effet madame il s'emporta avec tant de violence qu'on eut lieu de croire que c'estoit la son dessein mais si ce fut celuy d'arsamone ce ne fut pas celuy de la princesse sa fille qui tesmoigna si hautement et si genereusement qu'elle ne vouloit pas profiter du malheur du prince son frere qu'arsamone ne fut guere moins irrite contre elle que contre luy de sorte qu'intapherne se vit contraint de s'affliger avec cette princesse de ce qu'on luy vouloit donner deux royaumes il est vray que son amour eut sa part a cette douleur car ce prince jugeoit bien que tant qu'arsamone demeureroit dans ces sentimens la il n'auroit rien a pretendre a la princesse qu'il aimoit luy estant aise de prevoir qu'il ne la luy donneroit pas quand il n'y auroit point eu d'autre raison sinon qu'il aimoit tendrement spitridate mais si intapherne avoit cette augmentation d'inquietude atergatis qui avoit recouvre la sante avoit aussi celle de scavoir que gadate qui n'ignoroit pas son amour pour istrine avoit envoye ordre a une dame qui estoit aupres d'elle d'observer toutes ses actions et de luy en rendre conte ce prince ayant toujours dans l'esprit qu'a la fin de la guerre que faisoit l'illustre cyrus il pourroit peutestre y avoir quelque traite de paix par le quel on obligeroit ce prince a espouser istrine en luy rendant une partie de son royaume car madame quoy que ce dessein ne fust pas trop bien fonde il est pourtant vray que le prince gadate 
 l'avoit et qu'il la encore en effet parce que la reine nitocris dont il avoit este si amoureux a tesmoigne souhaiter ardamment tant qu'elle a vescu que ce mariage se fist il croit qu'il doit ce respect a cette grande princesse de ne souffrir point qu'istrine soit mariee tant que le roy d'assirie sera en estat de la pouvoit espouser apres cela madame vous pouvez juger que la vie d'intapherne et d'atergatis ne fut pas trop agreable puis qu'aimer sans esperance est la plus difficile chose du monde je suis pourtant assure que s'ils n'esperent point ils ne desesperent pas aussi tout a fait mais du moins craignirent ils beaucoup et toute la consolation qu'ils avoient estoit de scavoir qu'ils n'estoient pas mal avec les princesses qu'ils adoroient pour intapherne il avoit encore le bonheur que le roy n'avoit nul soubcon de son amour et qu'ainsi il pouvoit voir et entretenir sa princesse autant qu'il vouloit mais comme tous les grands changemens qui arrivent dans les royaumes et qui remueut toutes les parties des estats ou ils arrivent font que ces estats sont sujets a estre mal affermis durant quelque temps il y eut plusieurs soulevemens qui furent cause qu'il falut diviser l'armee en deux corps qu'intapherne et atergatis commanderent arsamone demeurant tantost a heraclee et tantost a chalcedoine pour donner les ordres aux lieux qui en avoient besoin voila donc madame comment ces deux princes et ces deux princesses vescurent pendant 
 que l'illustre cyrus apres avoir sceu que vous n'estiez pas morte comme il l'avoit creu faisoit la guerre en armenie croyant que vous y estiez et voila comment ils vescurent jusques a ce que ce genereux prince estant sur les frontieres de lydie il arriva une chose que vous n'avez pas ignoree mais dont vous ne pouvez avoir sceu ny la cause ny la suitte je vous diray donc madame que lors que le vaillant anaxaris qui est aujourd'huy capitaine de vos gardes arriva au camp de cyrus j'ay sceu qu'il luy aprit qu'il avoit sauve la vie au prince spitridate et qu'il fut mesme trompe d'abord a la ressemblance qui est entre ces deux grands princes mais madame vous ne scavez pas sans doute ny qui avoit mene spitridate dans les bois de paphlagonie ou anaxaris le trouva ny qui l'y retenoit ny qui le fit partir du lieu ou le mesme anaxaris le conduisit apres l'avoir si vaillamment deffendu c'est pourquoy reprenant en peu de mots les choses d'un peu plus loin puis que vous scavez toute l'histoire d'araminte je vous diray que lors que cette princesse voulut que spitridate la quittast en armenie et qu'elle luy commanda d'errer de province en province jusques a ce que les dieux eussent change l'estat de leur fortune spitridate ne put toutesfois se resoudre de sortir d'armenie puis que sa princesse y estoit quoy qu'elle luy eust deffendu d'y demeurer parce qu'elle croyoit que le roy son frere le pourroit faire arrester et qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'un prince qui l'avoir 
 empeschee de tomber sous la puissance du roy son pere tombast sous celle du roy de pont qui ne l'aimoit pas de sorte que spitridate cherchant un lieu ou il pust facilement aprendre des nouvelles de ce qui se passeroit a artaxate quand la princesse araminte y seroit creut qu'il ne pouvoit mieux faire que d'aller en quelque habitation sur le bord de l'araxe qui passe a artaxate car comme les grands fleuves font le grand commerce des grandes villes il pensa qu'il y seroit plus commodement pour son intention qu'en nul autre lieu qu'il pust choisir et en effet le village ou il s'arresta est d'un si grand passage qu'il eust aisement este instruit d'une partie des choses qu'il vouloit scavoir s'il y fust demeure mais madame comme la prudence humaine est extremement bornee il arriva que ce que spitridate faisoit pour scavoir des nouvelles de sa princesse et pour ne s'en esloigner pas fut ce qui l'en esloigna car enfin madame comme il estoit un soir a se promener seul le long de l'araxe estant assez loin de la maison ou il logeoit un estranger l'aborda et luy parlant un langage assez corrompu il luy parla comme le croyant estre artamene et comme l'ayant veu a la cour de thomiris spitridate s'apercevant de son erreur voulut le desabuser mais il n'y eut pas moyen car cet estranger estoit si persuade que ce prince se vouloit cacher qu'il n'aporta mesme aucun foin a examiner si ses yeux ne le trompoient pas et en effet sans adjouster foy a ses paroles il acheva 
 le dessein qu'il avoit eu de s'assurer de la personne de ce prince et il l'acheva mesme facilement car comme spitridate estoit seul et sans armes et que cet estranger fut seconde de dix hommes qui estoient cachez derriere des buissons il leur fut aise de le forcer d'entrer dans une barque qui n'estoit qu'a quatre pas de la et il leur fut d'autant plus facile que celuy qui luy parloit luy ayant dit qu'il le vouloit conduire vers une grande reine ou il ne recevroit aucun outrage pourveu qu'il se repentist de sa fuitte spitridate creut qu'il luy seroit plus facile de le desabuser en raisonnant aveque luy qu'en se deffendant inutilement puis qu'il estoit seul et sans armes contre dix hommes armez croyant que ce seroit en effet luy persuader qu'il estoit celuy qu'il croyoit qu'il fust s'il se deffendoit si opiniastrement de sorte qu'entrant dans cette barque sans pouvoir empescher que six hommes qui ramoient avec violence ne l'esloignassent du lieu ou il avoit eu dessein de demeurer quelque temps il se mit a protester mille fois a cet estranger qu'il n'estoit pas celuy qu'il croyoit mais ce fut inutilement de grace luy dit spitridate demandez a tous ceux que vous trouverez ce que la renommee dit de cet artamene dont le nom est si celebre et je suis asseure qu'elle vous aprendra qu'il ne peut estre en paphlagonie je n'ay que faire reprenoit cet homme de m'informer d'une chose dont mes yeux m'assurent assez c'est pour quoy seigneur sans murmurer de la violence que je 
 vous fais souffrez que je vous conduise vers une princesse de qui j'ay l'honneur d'estre sujet et croyez qu'il ne tiendra qu'a vous d'en estre receu favorablement j'allois par ses ordres poursuivit-il m'informer des causes de vostre prison dont la nouvelle a este portee a la reine thomiris afin de tascher de vous faire scavoir que si vous vouliez changer de sentimens pour elle elle viendroit avec une armee de cent mille hommes pour vous tirer des fers de ciaxare et pour vous faire passer de la prison sur le throne pour cet effet cette princesse m'avoit donne de quoy suborner vos gardes et de quoy entreprendre toutes choses pour vostre liberte mais a ce que je voy seigneur vous l'avez desja recouvree spitridate voulut alors luy protester tout de nouveau qu'il n'estoit point artamene et qu'il croyoit que cet homme illustre fust tousjours prisonnier de ciaxare mais il ne le creut point du tout et s'opiniastra tellement a se vouloir tromper et a ne chercher pas mesme a s'esclaircir si ce qu'on luy disoit estoit vray ou faux qu'il fallut que spitridate cestast ce qui empeschoit cet estranger de se desabuser estoit qu'encore qu'il eust veu cent fois l'illustre artamene aupres de thomiris il ne luy avoit jamais parle a ce qu'il disoit luy mesme ainsi le son de la voix de spitridate ne le desabusoit pas quoy qu'il y ait quelque difference entre celle de ce prince et celle de cyrus cependant l'estonnement de spitridate n'estoit pas petit de voir qu'on le prenoit tousjours pour un 
 autre car comme il ne scavoit pas alors que cyrus et artamene n'estoient qu'une mesme personne quoy qu'il en eust quelques soubcons il ne pouvoit trouver assez estrange qu'apres qu'on l'avoit autrefois voulu mener a cambise comme estant cyrus on voulust encore le mener vers thomiris comme estant artamene il falut toutesfois qu'il se laissast conduire car on le gardoit si exactement qu'il n'y pouvoit faire autre chose mais disoit-il un jour a cet homme qui luy faisoit une si grande violence il ne me paroist pas par ce que vous m'avez dit que thomiris vous ait ordonne de faire ce que vous faites comme elle ne pouvoit pas prevoir repliqua-t'il que je vous trouverois en l'estat que je vous ay trouve elle ne pouvoit pas me commander de m'assurer de vostre personne avec dix hommes seulement mais puis qu'elle m'a fait l'honneur de me dire qu'elle en vouloit armer cent mille pour vous avoir en sa puissance c'est m'avoir commande indirectement de vous y mettre si je le pouvois par toutes les voyes que la fortune m'en pourroit offrir aussi ay-je este huit jours apres vous avoit veu fortuitement dans un temple a vous suivre et a attendre l'occasion de vous trouver seul comme je vous ay trouve au bord de l'araxe voila donc madame comment parloit celuy qui conduisoit cet illustre captif qu'il ne connoissoit pas et afin de le conduire plus seurement il le fit tousjours coucher dans la barque sans le laisser mettre pied a terre jusques a ce qu'il fust arrive a 
 l'endroit ou l'araxe borne le pais des massagettes mais a peine y fut-il que ce luy qui le menoit le logeant chez un homme de sa connoissance qui avoit une tente assez magnifique sur le bord de ce fleuve il envoya un de ceux qui l'accompagnoient pour advertir thomiris qu'il luy amenoit artamene et pour scavoir d'elle ce qu'il luy plaisoit qu'il fist n'osant pas le conduire ou elle estoit sans en avoir un ordre particulier mais pendant que celuy qu'il envoya faisoit son voyage spitridate remarquant que le maistre de la tente ou il logeoit avoit de l'esprit et qu'il entendoit mesme passablement ce grec corrompu qui est si generalement entendu de toute l'asie parce que contre la coustume des massagettes il avoit assez voyage il se mit a luy demander des nouvelles de la reine et a s'informer de ce qu'on disoit seigneur luy dit il la reine est une princesse admirable et si ses passions estoient un peu moins violentes elle seroit toute accomplie et toute vertueuse mais il est vray qu'elle les a si for tes que sa raison n'en est pas souvent la maistresse car soit que l'ambition la colere ou l'envie la possedent elle s'y abandonne sans resistance en effet poursuivit-il ce qu'elle a fait contre le prince ariante son frere pour regner a son prejudice ce qu'elle a fait contre le prince aripithe qui est amoureux d'elle depuis si long temps et ce qu'elle a fait pour cet ambassadeur de ciaxare qui se deroba de la cour et qu'on appelle artamene fait voir assez clairement 
 qu'elle n'est pas maistresse de ses passions et que l'ambition la colere et l'amour s'emparent facilement de son coeur et y regnent avec tyrannie car enfin poursuivit cet homme il court bruit que cette princesse veut faire une armee formidable ou pour se vanger d'artamene ou pour s'en faire aimer comme si le coeur de cet ambassadeur se pouvoit conquerir comme un royaume je scay bien adjousta t'il que cet artamene a ce que disent ceux qui l'ont veu est un homme admirable et que si les massagettes avoient un tel roy ils pourroient pretendre de se rendre maistres des deux scithies mais apres tout puis que la reine a un fils et qu'artamene s'est derobe de sa cour je croy que c'est entreprendre une injuste guerre dont l'evenement ne scauroit estre heureux spitridate entendant parler cet homme avec tant de sagesse se resolut de se confier a luy afin de tascher de se sauver de sorte que pendant que ceux qui le gardoient estoient a l'entree de la tente qui estoit extremement spacieuse il luy dit la chose comme elle estoit mais madame spitridate estoit tellement destine a estre pris pour cyrus qu'encore que cet homme ne l'eust jamais veu il ne laissa pas de croire que celuy qui luy parloit estoit artamene car enfin seigneur luy disoit-il si vous ne l'estiez pas vous ne seriez pas dans la crainte d'estre arreste par thomiris puis que vous seriez bien assure que des qu'elle vous verroit elle vous laisseroit aller ainsi je ne songerois pas a 
 vous donner la liberte mais luy respondit spitridate ce qui fait que je vous la demande est que je crains que cette reine ne soit trompee comme celuy qui m'a arreste est trompe quoy qu'il en soit seigneur repliqua-t'il le mieux que vous puissiez faire pour m'obliger a chercher les voyes de faciliter vostre fuitte c'est de m'advouer que vous estes effectivement artamene car si vous l'estes je vous confesse que j'aime assez la gloire de la reine pour luy oster les moyens de faire une chose qui la deshonnoreroit par toute la terre s'il arrivoit qu'elle allast vous retenir prisonnier enfin madame le prince spitridate n'y pouvant faire autre chose trompa ce vertueux massagette puis qu'il vouloit estre trompe et luy dit qu'il estoit artamene afin qu'il luy trouvast les moyens d'eschaper des mains de ceux qui le gardoient et en effet cet homme agit si bien qu'en une nuit il fit que spitridate sortit de sa tente par un petit degagement qui y estoit que ceux qui le gardoient ne scavoient pas mais pour le faire fuir plus seurement il ne voulut pas qu'il entreprist alors de traverser le fleuve qui est extremement large en cet endroit parce qu'il n'avoit pas de pescheurs a qui il se pust fier c'est pourquoy il le fit conduire dans une pauvre tente de bergers qui despendoient de luy ou il fut plus de huit jours cache pendant lesquels il aprit quel avoit este le desespoir de celuy qui l'avoit pris quelle avoit este la joye de thomiris lors qu'elle avoit creu avoir 
 artamene en sa puissance et quel avoit aussi este son desespoir quand elle avoit apris que celuy qu'elle croyoit estre artamene s'estoit desrobe ce desespoir fut si grand madame que perdant toute sorte de consideration elle fut elle mesme sur le bord de l'araxe pour faire chercher artamene dans toutes les tentes qui y estoient si bien que spitridate scachant que cette reine et ceux qui la suivoient devoient venir vers le lieu ou il estoit et craignant qu'elle ne s'abusast aussi fortement a la ressemblance qu'il avoit avec artamene que tant d'autres s'y estoient abusez et qu'il ne pust de long temps scavoir des nouvelles d'araminte se resolut enfin aide par son liberateur d'entre prendre de suborner un pescheur ce qu'ils firent avec beaucoup de precipitation mais quoy qu'ils eussent resolu que cette fuitte ne se feroit que de nuit il falut la faire de jour parce qu'ils furent advertis que thomiris estoit fort proche de sorte que precipitant encore leur dessein le pescheur s'apresta diligemment et spitridate entra dans sa barque avec un cheval que son hoste luy avoit baille et y entra justement comme thomiris qui estoit ce jour la a cheval parut suivie de beaucoup de monde a deux cens pas du lieu ou spitridate s'estoit embarque d'abord le pescheur qui estoit occupe a sa barque n'y prit pas garde et rama le plus deligemment qu'il put mais lors qu'il fut assez avant vers le milieu du fleuve il vit cette foule de monde qui suivoit cette reine et jugea que c'estoit cette 
 princesse qu'on avoit dit qui devoit venir si bien que la frayeur le saisissant au lieu de continuer de traverser le fleuve il voulut remener spitridate ou il l'avoit pris mais ce prince qui s'estoit fait donner un cimeterre avant que de s'embarquer le mit fierement a la main et le menacant fortement de le tuer s'il ne ramoit diligemment pour le conduire a l'autre bord du fleuve la crainte la plus forte l'emportant sur la plus foible il rama avec une violence extreme et s'esloigna fort promptement du rivage ou estoit thomiris en s'aprochant de celuy qui luy estoit oppose mais madame pour achever de faire que cette avanture fust toute extraordinaire il arriva que cette reine avoit les yeux attachez sur la barque du pescheur dans la quelle estoit spitridate lors que ce prince mit le cimeterre a la main de sorte que comme ce qu'elle voyoit estoit assez surprenant et qu'elle n'avoit l'imagination remplie que d'artamene elle s'imagina en effet que s'estoit luy luy semblant mesme comme il estoit vray qu'il en avoit la taille et l'action et qu'elle reconnoissoit aussi les traits de son visage quoy que d'assez loin si bien que la colere et la fureur s'emparant de son esprit lors qu'elle vit que ce pretendu artamene menacoit ce pescheur de le tuer afin de s'esloigner d'elle elle fit et dit des choses indignes de son grand coeur et de sa vertu comme spitridate le sceut depuis par la voye que je vous diray bien tost quoy disoit-elle tout haut cet ingrat peut scavoir que j'ay eu 
 dessein d'armer cent mille hommes pour le delivrer et il peut se resoudre a menacer un innocent de le tuer plustost que de te revoir et tu l'endures thomiris et tu le souffres ha non non il ne le faut pas endurer puis qu'il y auroit trop de laschete a le souffrir apres cela seigneur cette princesse fit vingt commandemens differens car tantost elle commandoit qu'on allast chercher une barque pour aller apres celle qu'elle monstroit de la main avec une action menacante et tantost emportee par la violence de sa passion elle y vouloit aller elle mesme une autrefois craignant que ceux qui estoient alle prendre une barque a cent pas du lieu ou elle estoit ne pussent joindre celle ou elle croyoit qu'estoit artamene elle commandoit a ses gardes qu'ils fissent pleuvoir une gresle de fleches sur ce pescheur qui conduisoit spitridate afin d'arrester la barque sans considerer qu'elle estoit desja trop loin pour le pouvoir faire puis un instant apres craignant qu'on ne tuast artamene au lieu du pescheur elle deffendoit ce qu'elle avoit commande un moment auparavant aimant encore mieux qu'artamene vescust que de se vanger par sa mort mais ses sentimens estoient pourtant si tumultueux que je suis persuade qu'elle n'eust pu dire quels ils estoient cependant ceux qu'elle envoya apres ce pretendu artamene ne le pouvant joindre elle eut la douleur de le voir aborder de ses propres yeux de le voir descendre de la barque de le voir monter sur le cheval que 
 ce vertueux massagette luy avoit baille et de le perdre bientost de veue cette avanture l'irrita de telle sorte que celuy qui avoit aide a spitridate a se sauver fut contraint de se sauver luy mesme parce qu'on eut quelque subcon de la verite si bien qu'ayant depuis rencontre ce prince dans la colchide il luy aprit ce que je viens de vous aprendre et luy dit aussi que thomiris l'avoit fait suivre par diverses personnes adjoustant que cette princesse avoit eu une douleur si violente de cette avanture qu'elle en estoit tombee dans une maladie que les medecins disoient devoir estre fort longue spitridate ayant eu le bonheur de retrouver fortuitement son escuyer eut lieu de recompenser son liberateur s'il eust este d'humeur a s'enrichir mais ce vertueux massagette ennemy declare des richesses se contentant d'avoir sacrifie sa fortune pour la gloire de sa reine refusa ce que spitridate luy offrit qui n'estoit pas peu considerable car il avoit retrouve grand nombre de pierreries entre les mains de ce fidelle domestique qui l'avoit cherche avec tant d'envie de le recontrer toutesfois ce genereux massagette comme je l'ay desja dit ne voulut recevoir aucun present disant au prince spitridate qu'il se contentoit d'adorer le soleil qui produisoit de si belles choses sans s'enrichir de ses plus precieux ouvrages cependant comme spitridate n'avoit qu'araminte dans le coeur il s'informa d'elle autant qu'il put mais n'en aprenant que des choses tres incertaines il s'embarqua 
 fur le pont euxin avec dessein d'aller en paphlagonie d'ou il jugeoit qu'il en pourroit aprendre des nouvelles plus certaines car pour son escuyer il n'en scavoit autre chose sinon qu'on ne disoit pas qu'elle fust a artaxate non plus que le roy de pont et qu'au contraire on assuroit que vous y estiez et que ciaxare y alloit porter la guerre seconde de l'illustre artamene qui avoit este reconnu pour estre cyrus spitridate s'estant donc embarque dans un vaisseau marchand il fut si malheureux dans sa navigation et eut le vent si contraire que la tempeste apres l'avoir balote de cap en cap et de rivage en rivage sans pouvoir aborder en nulle part le poussa enfin vers le palus meotide ou il fit naufrage mais un naufrage si funeste que le vaisseau la marchandise et tous les hommes de l'equipage a la reserve de cinq ou six perirent pitoyablement spitridate se seroit pourtant console de cet accident si la tempeste eust fait briser le vaisseau ou il estoit le long des costes de capadoce ou de quelque autre pais ou il eust pu scavoir des nouvelles d'araminte mais se voyant en un lieu si esloigne de celuy ou il avoit affaire il en eut un desespoir estrange ce n'est pas que comme le pont euxin n'est pas extremement large on ne pust le traverser en peu de jours avec un vent favorable mais il ne luy estoit pas aise estant sans vaisseaux sans connoissance mesme sans ses pierrieries puis que son escuyer avoit este noye et que tout ce qu'il 
 avoit a luy avoit pery avec ce malheureux de plus comme la guerre estoit par toute l'asie le commerce estoit rompu et les peuples qui habitent le long du palus meotide n'y envoyoient ny barques ny vaisseaux de sorte que l'infortune spitridate fut contraint de se resoudre d'aller par terre jusques ou il vouloit aller s'estant seulement trouve encore assez de pierreries sur luy pour avoir un cheval et pour faire ce voyage sans aucun train mais madame ce chemin fut si long et il y trouva mesme tant de divers obstacles que je ne croy pas necessaire de vous dire que lors qu'il arriva en paphlagonie la guerre d'armenie estoit achevee il est vray madame comme vous le scavez qu'elle ne fut pas longue aussi l'illustre cyrus estoit-il desja sur les frontieres de lydie lors que spitridate apres avoir tant erre par le monde arriva en paphlagonie mais pour son malheur comme il y fut il sceut qu'il couroit bruit parmy le peuple qui ne scait et qui ne dit presques jamais que des mensonges en matiere d'affaires d'estat il sceut dis-je qu'on disoit que pour moyenner la paix le roy de pont vous espouseroit et que l'illustre cyrus espouseroit araminte d'abord spitridate n'adjousta point de foy a une semblable chose mais ayant rencontre un soldat qui s'en retournoit a son pais riche du butin qu'il avoit fait a la guerre d'armenie il sceut par luy quelle estoit la civilite de l'illustre cyrus pour cette princesse de sorte qu'encore que ce soldat ne luy dist 
 pas qu'il eust ouy dire a l'armee que vous deviez espouser le roy de pont ny que cyrus devoit espouser araminte il ne laissa pas de croire esgallement ce que ce soldat luy disoit et ce que le peuple de paphlagonie luy avoit dit ne voulant pas mesme douter de la chose du monde qui l'affligeoit le plus si bien que la douleur s'empara si fortement de son esprit qu'on ne pouvoit pas estre plus malheureux qu'il estoit l'avanture qu'il venoit d'avoir sur les bords de l'araxe contribuoit encore a le rendre plus infortune car enfin disoit il puis que la plus grande reine du monde n'a pu resister aux charmes de cyrus quoy qu'elle ne sceust pas alors qu'il fust fils de roy et puis qu'elle l'aime sans en estre aimee le moyen qu'araminte ne se laisse pas gagner s'il est vray que le vainqueur de l'asie soit tous les jours a ses pieds apres cela madame comme presques tous les amants croyent tousjours qu'il est tres difficile de voir ce qu'ils aiment sans l'aymer aussi bien qu'eux spitridate fit cette injustice a l'illustre cyrus de ne douter point qu'il ne fust infidelle de sorte que son ame souffrant des maux incroyables il n'est point de resolution violente qu'il ne luy passast dans l'esprit tantost il vouloit aller dans l'armee de cyrus pour luy aller demander a luy mesme au milieu de toutes les troupes s'il estoit vray qu'il fust son rival et tantost prenant une voye moins violente il vouloit seulement aller ou estoit araminte et scavor de sa propre bouche si elle estoit coupable 
 ou innocente ce qui le faisoit desesperer estoit qu'il n'estoit pas en pouvoir d'aller inconnu dans l'armee de cyrus pour s'esclaircir pleinement car comme il scavoit la prodigieuse ressemblance qu'il avoit avec ce prince il jugeoit bien qu'il ne pouvoit aller dans cette armee sans estre remarque et sans estre bientost connu comme il estoit en cette inquiettude il rencontra fortuitement un homme de qualite nomme democlide qu'il avoit laisse avec la princesse araminte lors qu'il se separa d'elle en armenie et que cette princesse avoit envoye chercher des nouvelles du roy son frere lors qu'elle avoit este arrestee prisonniere a artaxate cette rencontre luy fut d'une grande consolation mais ce qu'il y eut pourtant de cruel pour luy fut que democlide ayant pitie de voir un aussi grand prince que celuy-la en un aussi malheureux estat voulut luy persuader de s'en retourner aupres du roy son pere et pour l'y obliger plustost il tesmoigna croire aussi bien que luy qu'il y avoit de la verite au bruit qui couroit en bithinie quoy qu'en effet il ne le creust pas et pour faire encore quelque chose de plus democlide creut qu'il devoit advertir la princesse de bithinie du lieu ou estoit le prince son frere afin qu'elle advisast ce qu'elle jugeroit a propos de faire pour le rendre moins malheureux il est vray qu'il eut une occasion de l'en advertir plus favorable qu'il ne pensoit car comme spitridate ne pouvoit rien entreprendre en l'estat ou il estoit 
 il se resolut d'envoyer secretement vers la princesse sa soeur pour luy demander de quoy se mettre en equipage soit qu'il prist la resolution d'aller a l'armee de cyrus ou de s'aller jetter dans le party du roy de lydie s'il aprenoit effectivement avec une certitude infaillible que cyrus fust son rival mais il voulut pourtant ne faire point scavoir a la princesse de bithinie le lieu ou il estoit c'est pourquoy il deffendit expressement a un esclave de democlide qu'il envoya vers elle de luy dire ou il l'avoit laisse mais democlide escrivant en son particulier a cette princesse luy dit la verite des choses par sa lettre cependant spitridate et democlide demeurerent logez a un village qui n'estoit pas loin d'une forest ou ils s'alloient promener presques tous les jours en attendant que celuy qu'ils avoient envoye fust de retour car comme il n'y a qu'un coin de la galatie entre la paphlagonie et la bithinie ou arsamone estoit alors son voyage ne devoit pas estre long mais enfin madame pour ne vous dire pas tout ce que vous scavez desja un jour qu'ils estoient dans cette forest ils furent attaquez par des voleurs et secourus par le vaillant anaxaris qui laissa le prince spitridate fort blesse et le laissa sans le connoistre car democlide qu'anaxaris creut estre escuyer de spitridate ne le luy voulut pas dire d'autre part l'esclave de democlide estant arrive aux portes de chalcedoine y fut arreste pour scavoir qui il estoit d'ou il venoit et ou il alloit 
 car madame il faut que vous scachiez que quoy qu'arsamone fust assez paisible dans ses estats il agissoit pourtant comme s'il eust deu craindre toutes choses ayant pour maxime que tout prince conquerant doit se defier toute sa vie de la fidellite de ses nouveaux sujets et que ce n'est qu'a son successeur a qui la confiance peut n'estre pas imprudente ainsi on faisoit encore garde a chalcedoine et on la faisoit presques aussi exactement que pendant la guerre de sorte que cet esclave de democlide ayant respondu en biaisant et s'estant contredit en quel que chose il fut arreste afin de luy faire dire la verite qu'on vouloit scavoir mais ce qui acheva de perdre tout fut qu'un officier d'arsamone l'avant reconnu pour estre un esclave de democlide qu'on scavoit qui estoit party de cabira avec le prince spitridate creut qu'il pourroit peut-estre scavoir ou estoit ce prince et pensa mesme que quelque imite qu'arsamone pust estre contre luy il s'apaiseroit s'il le revoyoit et qu'ainsi il devoit l'advertir de ce qu'il scavoit et en effet madame cet officier advertit arsamone qui fit venir devant luy l'esclave de democlide qu'il intimida de telle sorte que ce malheureux plus foible que meschant luy remit entre les mains la lettre de spitridate pour la princesse sa soeur et celle de democlide pour cette mesme princesse si bien que scachant par cette derniere lettre et par la bouche mesme de cet esclave l'endroit ou estoit spitridate il le fit garder tres 
 exactement et sans dire rien de la verite de la chose qu'a ceux dont il eut besoin pour executer la violente resolution qu'il prit il ne s'en espandit aucun bruit dans la cour arsamone ne laissant pas mesme de partir de calcedoine pour aller a heraclee comme il en avoit eu le dessein cependant il choisit un homme qui luy estoit extremement fidelle et luy donnant vingt de ses gardes en qui il s'assuroit extremement il luy dit qu'il allait au lieu ou estoit spitridate qu'il luy designa luy donnant aussi l'esclave de democlide pour l'y conduire plus seurement avec ordre toutesfois de le garder soigneusement de peur qu'il ne s'enfuist et qu'il n'allast advertir son maistre mais afin que le commandement qu'il fit de s'assurer de spitridate a celuy qu'il employoit a un si grand dessein fust plus ponctuellement execute il luy dit qu'il ne vouloit avoir spitridate en sa puissance que pour le forcer d'estre heureux ainsi cet homme ne croyant pas moins agir pour le prince spitridate que pour arsamone luy protesta qu'il n'escouteroit ny prieres ny menaces du prince son fils et qu'il le luy ameneroit infailliblement
 
 
 
 
apres cela arsamone luy commanda encore s'il luy amenoit ce prince de ne le faire entrer en aucune ville de s'arrester a une journee d'heraclee et de l'envoyer advertir de l'estat des choses mais enfin madame sans m'amuser a vous particulariser tous ce que dit arsamone il suffit que vous scachiez que celuy qu'il envoya arriva au lieu ou 
 estoit spitridate dont il luy fut fort aise de s'assurer car il le trouva au lit n'estant pas encore entierement guery de ses blessures quoy qu'il fust tout a fait hors de danger de plus le lieu ou il fut arreste estoit loin des villes et puis le prince de paphlagonie estant alors dans l'armee de cyrus spitridate n'eust sceu a qui demander protection mais ce qui facilita encore la chose fut que democlide estant persuade que ce prince ne seroit pas si malheureux dans son propre pais qu'il l'estoit et qu'il l'avoit este pendant son voyage luy conseilla de ceder a la force sans murmurer contre le roy son pere puis qu'il n'estoit pas en pouvoir de luy desobeir spitridate ne cela pourtant pas sans avoir employe toute son eloquence pour obliger celuy qu'arsamone avoit envoye pour l'arrester a le laisser en liberte mais enfin ne le pouvant flechir ny par l'esperance des recompenses ny par les menaces il falut qu'il se resolust de se laisser conduire ou on le vouloit mener n'estant pas en estat de resister a vingt hommes qui ne luy laisserent aucunes armes ny a luy ny a democlide qui ne pouvant pardonner a son esclave la foiblesse qu'il avoit eue quoy qu'il ne fust pas marry qu'on forcast spitridate a retourner a heraclee le chassa avec une violence estrange n'ayant pas toutesfois la liberte de le mal traitter davantage parce que ceux qu'il avoit conduits l'en empescherent comme spitridate estoit fort foible l'on fut contraint de le mettre dans un chariot de sorte 
 qu'encore que ce prince soit un des plus vaillans princes du monde il fut bien aise de le conduire aussi arriva-t'il a une journee d'heraclee sans aucun obstacle il n'y fut pas plustost que celuy qui commandoit les gardes d'arsamone envoya l'advertir de ce qu'il avoit fait de sorte que ce prince violent voulant executer sa violence seurement commanda qu'on n'amenast spitridate a heraclee que de nuit de peur que le peuple ne s'en esmeust envoyant encore des gens de guerre a cinquante stades d'heraclee du coste que spitridate viendroit afin que sa garde fust plus forte cependant cela fut fait avec tant de secret qu'il ne s'espandit aucun bruit de la verite mais comme la politique d'arsamone n'est pas de ces politiques foibles et chancelantes qui faute de punir quelquesfois severement ceux qui faillent sont cause que tout le monde devient criminel on estoit si accoustume d'ouir parler de prisonniers qu'on ne s'estonna pas d'ouir dire qu'on en avoit amene de nuit a heraclee de sorte qu'encore que le prince intapherne et atergatis y fussent alors ils ne sceurent rien de la prison de spitridate non plus que la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine mais enfin madame le prince spitridate fut mis dans une tour qui donne sur la mer et y fut mis avec seure garde democlide estant aussi le compagnon de sa prison quoy qu'il luy eust fort persuade de se laisser conduire a heraclee cependant arsamone ordonna qu'on servist ce prince fort soigneusement 
 mais un si petit nombre de gens le voyoient et ces gens estoient si fidelles au roy de bithinie que durant quelques jours on n'en sceut pas plus de nouvelles que le premier neantmoins ce qui commenca de faire soubconner quelque chose d'extraordinaire de ces prisonniers fut que ce prince fut un matin a cette tour ou estoit spitridate d'ou il ne sortit que deux heures apres y estre entre mais il en sortit avec tant de marques de fureur sur le visage que ceux qui l'avoient accompagne jusques a la porte de la tour et qui l'avoient entendu le remarquerent et le publierent ainsi on conjectura qu'il faloit que ces prisonniers fussent des prisonniers d'importance mais on n'en sceut pas encore davantage de sorte qu'atergatis et istrine ne scavoient pas la part qu'ils avoient eu a la conversation d'arsamone et de spitridate car madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'arsamone n'avoit pas este seulement parler a spitridate pour luy proposer de ne songer plus a la princesse araminte mais encore pour luy proposer d'espouser istrine ne doutant nullement que cette princesse ne se resolust sans peine a estre reine de deux royaumes et a ne penser plus a atergatis qu'il scavoit bien que gadate ne vouloit pas qu'elle espousast mais comme spitridate avoit une passion pour araminte que rien ne pouvoit esbranler il rejetta la proposition que luy fit arsamone avec une force estrange bien que ce fust aveque respect quoy spitridate disoit arsamone vous avez la laschete 
 de renoncer aux royaumes de pont et de bithinie que je viens de conquerir plustost que de renoncer a la possession de la fille d'un usurpateur et de la soeur d'un prince qui vous a tousjours hai et qui vouloit autrefois qu'araminte vous preferast pharnace songez spitridate songez de quel prix sont les deux royaumes que vous pouvez gagner ou perdre en faisant ce que je veux ou en me desobeissant il y a vingt ans que je travaille pour vous faire remonter au thro- il m'en a pense couster la vie plus de cent fois pendant cette guerre et il en couste celle du prince vostre frere et celle de plus de vingt mille hommes qui ont pery pour rompre les chaisnes dont vous estiez accable et pour vous couronner cependant vous aimez mieux aimer une esclave et estre esclave vous mesme que de jouir du fruit de mes victoires car de penser adjousta-t'il sans donner loisir a spitridate de l'interrompre que je souffre jamais qu'araminte soit reine de pont et de bithinie c'est me faire un outrage que je ne scaurois endurer puis qu'il est vray que quand un sentiment de haine de vangeance et mesme de gloire ne m'empescheroit pas d'y consentir la politique toute seule ne voudroit pas que j'allasse par cette alliance donner un nouveau droit a la posterite de mes ennemis je scay bien qu'araminte est belle et qu'elle a de l'esprit et de la vertu mais puis qu'il n'est pas possible qu'elle ne soit fille et soeur de mes ennemis et des destructeurs de ma maison il faut ou que vous deveniez 
 mon ennemy vous mesme ou que vous ne songiez plus a cette princesse celle que je vous propose poursuivit arsamone est aussi belle et aussi vertueuse qu'araminte et elle est de plus fille d'un prince qui aime ma gloire et soeur d'un autre qui a affermy le throne ou je pretens vous faire monter un discours si pressant n'esbranla pourtant point la constance de spitridate et comme je l'ay desja dit il refusa la proposition que luy fit arsamone avec une fermete incroyable quoy qu'il eust alors l'esprit fort irrite contre araminte cependant arsamone ne desesperant pas encore tout a fait de le faire changer de sentimens prit la resolution de faire trois choses la premiere de faire scavoir a ce prince l'entreveue d'araminte et du roy de pont avec la permission de cyrus la seconde de luy faire dire le bruit qui couroit alors parmy le peuple d'heraclee aussi bien que parmy celuy de bithinie de l'amour de cyrus pour araminte quoy qu'il sceust bien que c'estoit un faux bruit et la troisiesme que quand il auroit excite la jalousie dans son coeur de faire scavoir a la reine arbiane la prison de spitridate afin qu'elle l'allast voir et qu'elle y menast istrine esperant que la beaute de cette princesse seroit plus propre a le faire changer de sentimens pour araminte que toutes ses persuasions et toute sa politique et en effet madame arsamone fit dire tant de choses a spitridate que la jalousie qui estoit desja dans son coeur s'augmenta de telle sorte que ce prince 
 n'avoit pas un moment de repos il avoit mesme l'esprit si occupe de la douleur qui le possedoit qu'ayant pu trouver les moyens d'escrire a la princesse araminte il ne se servit pas de cette mesme voye pour faire scavoir sa prison a la princesse sa soeur mais si le premier dessein d'arsamone reussit bien le second reussit mal comme je vous le diray bien tost cependant depuis le jour qu'arsamone avoit este a la tour ou estoit spitridate et qu'il en estoit sorty si irrite tout le monde cherchoit la verite sans la pouvoir trouver mais a la fin ce prince aprenant que spitridate estoit fort inquiet et scachant mesme par quelques-uns de ses gardes qu'il se pleignoit continuellement d'araminte lors qu'il parloit a democlide creut qu'il estoit temps de luy faire voir la princesse istrine de sorte qu'aprenant a arbiane la passion du prince son fils il luy permit de l'aller visiter et de mener avec elle la princesse sa fille et istrine a condition qu'elles feroient tout ce qu'elles pourroient pour luy persuader de ne s'opiniastrer pas davantage a vouloir espouser araminte mais il ne leur dit pas la proposition qu'il avoit faite a spitridate pour ce qui regardoit istrine comme arsamone est redoutable a tous ceux qui le connoissent arbiane et ces deux belles princesses qui la devoient accompagner a la prison de spitridate promirent tout ce qu'il voulut afin de pouvoir voir cet illustre prisonnier de sorte que des le mesme jour elles y surent conduites vous pouvez aisement juger 
 qu'arbiane et la princesse sa fille ne peurent voir spitridate en prison sans une douleur extreme et qu'au contraire ce prince ne put voir ces deux princesses sans en recevoir quelque consolation quoy qu'il eust des maux qui ne laissoient dans son coeur aucune place a la joye pour istrine elle eut aussi beaucoup de compassion de voir ce prince en l'estat ou il estoit mais pour luy quelque estime qu'il eust conceue pour cette princesse dans le peu de temps qu'il l'avoit veue lois qu'il avoit passe a heraclee devant que d'aller a cabira il eut beaucoup de douleur de la voir parce que croyant qu'elle scavoit la proposition qu'arsamone luy avoit faite il expliquoit les choses obligeantes qu'elle luy disoit a un dessein premedite de je rendre infidelle et de chasser araminte de son coeur de sorte que la considerant presques comme une ennemie qui venoit l'attaquer a force ouverte il eut beaucoup de peine a cacher l'agitation de son esprit de plus comme arbiane avoit promis a arsamone de le porter autant qu'elle pourroit a ne songer plus a araminte et qu'en effet elle eust souhaite puis qu'arsamone ne pouvoit changer de sentimens que spitridate en eust change elle voulut avec le plus de douceur et le plus d'adresse qu'il luy fust possible luy dire quelque chose afin de luy persuader que la constance estoit une vertu qui devoit avoir ses bornes comme les autres et que lors qu'on s'aheurtoit a vouloir une chose impossible c'estoit plustost opiniastrete que constance 
 qu'ainsi elle le conjuroit de considerer exactement si cette fermete qu'il avoit a refuser arsamone estoit de la nature qu'il faloit qu'elle fust pour meriter le nom de vertu spitridate entendant parler arbiane de cette sorte en fut fort esmeu et la suplia treshumblement de ne l'accabler pas de nouveaux suplices en la forcant de resister a ses volontez aussi bien qu'a celle du roy son pere car enfin madame luy dit-il je suis si absolument determine a n'abandonner jamais le dessein de posseder araminte que non seulement je seray tousjours rebelle a la volonte du roy et a la vostre mais je vous declare encore que si je pouvois sortir de cette prison je n'employerois la liberte qu'on me donneroit qu'a aller trouver cette princesse quand mesme le vainqueur de l'asie en seroit aime comme on me le veut persuader car enfin je ne puis vivre sans elle au reste c'est bien assez que le roy ait chasse le roy son frere de son propre royaume sans vouloir encore que je la chasse de mon coeur c'est pourquoy madame je suplie vostre majeste de croire que quand le roy voudroit se demettre de l'authorite royale et me faire monter au throne des demain je ne le ferois pas si ce n'estoit a condition que la premiere action de mon regne seroit de couronner araminte ainsi madame tout ce que je puis faire est de vous suplier de persuader au roy et de vous persuader a vous mesme que je suis au desespoir de ce que la fortune et l'amour m'ont mis dans la necessite de luy desobeir 
 et de vous resister spitridate prononca ces paroles d'une maniere si touchante qu'arbiane et les deux princesses qui l'accompagnoient en eurent le coeur attendry mais comme elles scavoient bien qu'arsamone ne leur permettoit de le voir que parce qu'il esperoit qu'elles le pourroient persuader la princesse de bithinie dit a spitridate qu'il faloit du moins qu'il endurast qu'elles dissent a arsamone qu'elles luy parloient comme il le vouloit j'y consens repliqua-t'il pourveu que vous luy disiez tousjours que je ne change point de sentimens et que je n'en changeray jamais apres cela la conversation changeant d'objet spitridate demanda des nouvelles du prince intapherne et souhaita ardemment de le pouvoir voir adjoustant qu'il avoit quelque chose dans l'ame qu'il voudroit luy avoir dit istrine l'entendant parler ainsi luy dit qu'elle pouvoit l'assurer qu'il y avoit une si parfaite intelligence entre le prince son frere et elle qu'il pouvoit luy confier tout ce qu'il souhaitoit qu'il sceust et qu'ainsi dans l'incertitude qu'il y avoit de scavoir si arsamone voudroit qu'intapherne le vist elle seroit bien aise de luy rendre cet office ce que j'ay a dire au prince intapherne reprit-il en changeant un peu de visage est de nature a ne vous pouvoir estre dit tout a fait clairement et tout ce que je puis est de vous suplier avec la permission de la reine que s'il arrive qu'il y ait une des personnes du monde la plus accomplie qui se pleigne de moy en sa presence de 
 l'asseurer que je ne suis point coupable et que je mets au rang de mes plus grandes infortunes le malheur que j'ay d'agir avec elle comme si je ne l'estimois pas quoy qu'il soit vray que je l'estime infiniment comme istrine ne scavoit pas la proposition qu'arsamone avoit faite a spitridate elle ne comprit rien a ce qu'il luy disoit mais pour ce prince qui estoit persuade qu'elle la scavoit il comprit qu'elle l'entendoit bien et que c'estoit le moins qu'il pust faire que de la refuser de bonne grace mais si istrine ne l'entendoit pas arbiane et la princesse de bithinie ne l'entendoient pas mieux istrine ne laissa pourtant pas de luy promettre de dire au prince intapherne ce qu'il souhaitoit d'autre part spitridate qui vouloit et qui nosoit demander a la reine sa mere ce qu'il devoit croire d'araminte fut assez longtemps irresolu mais a la fin un sentiment jaloux l'emportant sur tous les autres il trouva les biais de luy en demander des nouvelles indirectement mais comme cette princesse s'imaginoit que plus il croiroit araminte fidelle plus il s'opiniastreroit a l'estre elle luy dit simplement les bruits qui en couroient et ne luy dit pas qu'elle ne les croyoit point et qu'il n'y avoit nulle aparence de les croire apres quoy arbiane se retira et les princesses aussi en retournant au palais elles resolurent que pour gagner temps il ne faloit pas faire ce que vouloit spitridate et qu'au contraire il faloit entretenir arsamone d'esperance autant qu'on pourroit cependant ce prince qui agissoit 
 tousjours violemment en toutes choses avoit envoye querir intapherne durant qu'elles estoient avec spitridate afin de luy descouvrir le dessein qu'il avoit de faire espouser la princesse sa soeur au prince son fils vous pouvez juger madame qu'une semblable resolution surprit et embarrassa fort intapherne car en fin l'amour qu'il avoit pour la princesse de bithinie vouloit une chose et l'amitie qu'il avoit promise a atergatis en vouloit une autre joint aussi que scachant jusques a quel point le coeur d'istrine estoit engage et engage par son consentement il ne croyoit pas possible quand mesme il eust voulu abandonner la protection d'atergatis aupres d'elle de luy persuader de preferer l'ambition a l'amour de plus il pensoit bien encore que le prince spitridate n'obeiroit pas a arsamone et ne se resoudroit jamais a quitter ses pretentions pour la princesse araminte cependant il scavoit bien que s'il resistoit directement a arsamone c'estoit s'exposer a l'irriter estrangement et a estre banny de sa cour de sorte que prenant un milieu entre luy accorder et luy refuser ce qu'il souhaitoit il luy dit que la proposition qu'il luy faisoit estoit extremement glorieuse a la princesse sa soeur mais que dependant absolument de gadate et point du tout de luy il croyoit estre oblige de luy dire qu'il ne pensoit pas qu'il consentist au mariage d'istrine tant que le roy d'assirie ne seroit pas marie joint aussi qu'il ny avoit aucune aparence qu'estant dans le party de cyrus il allast donner 
 sa fille a un prince qui ne la pouvoit espouser sans abandonner la princesse araminte que cyrus protegeoit hautement mais apres cela intapherne luy dit mille choses obligeantes pour adoucir les premieres qui bien que justes et raisonnables ne laisserent pas de mettre dans son esprit quelque disposition a la colere si la princesse istrine repliqua-t'il estoit dans le camp de cyrus il pourroit arriver que le prince vostre pere me la refuseroit mais comme elle est a heraclee il sera peut estre plus prudent que vous ne pensez et ne preferera pas l'esperance incertaine de luy faire espouser un roy sans royaume a la certitude de la voir femme d'un prince qui en doit posseder deux c'est pourquoy tout ce que je veux de vous est que vous disposiez la princesse istrine a m'aider a chasser araminte du coeur de spitridate puis qu'elle le peut plus facilement que personne que je connoisse ayant sans doute tout ce qu'il faut pour l'obliger a m'obeir et a l'aimer apres cela arsamone sans donner loisir a intapherne de luy respondre le quitta et le laissa dans un embarras estrange cependant apres avoir bien agite la chose dans son esprit comme l'amour se trouva plus forte que tout autre sentiment il se resolut de parler a la princesse de bithinie avant que de dire a istrine et a atergatis la nouvelle persecution qui se preparoit pour eux et en effet sans differer davantage il fut chez elle et trouva facilement l'occasion de l'entretenir n'y ayant pas a heraclee de dames 
 aussi empressees que berise pour l'en empescher il n'eut donc pas plustost la liberte de luy dire ce qu'il vouloit qu'elle sceust qu'il luy aprit la proposition que le roy son pere luy avoit faite luy demandant en suitte comment elle vouloit qu'il agist la conjurant comme elle estoit infiniment bonne et infiniment sage de bien considerer les divers interests du prince intapherne d'atergatis d'istrine et de luy adjoustant encore qu'il la prioit d'examiner bien soigneusement si elle mesme n'avoit nul interest a cette proposition j'y en ay tant repliqua cette princesse que personne n'y en a ce me semble plus que moy car enfin aimant aussi tendrement le prince mon frere que je l'aime et ayant promis une fidelite inviolable a la princesse araminte je dois sans doutes faire toutes choses possibles pour faire que ri ne les puisse separer ainsi quand il n'y auroit que ce seul motif je m'opposerois tousjours autant que je le pourrois a la volonte du roy jugez donc adjousta-t'elle ce que je dois faire scachant que le dessein qu'il a detruiroit la felicite de la princesse istrine et celle d'atergatis mais madame reprit intapherne vous ne dittes rien de l'interest que j'ay a cette facheuse resolution comme je ne vous parle point de celuy que j'y puis avoir repliqua cette princesse en rougissant vous ne vous en devez pas offencer je pense pourtant reprit il qu'il seroit a propos que vous eussiez la bonte de considerer que si je resiste fortement au roy il me bannira peutestre de sa cour et m'exposera 
 peutestre encore a estre banny de vostre memoire n'ayant pas l'audace de dire de vostre coeur comme la princesse de bithinie alloit respondre la princesse istrine entra dans sa chambre conduit par atergatis si bien que n'ayant eu le temps que de dire a intapherne qu'elle jugeoit a propos de les advertir de l'estat des choses cette conversation commenca avec plus de tranquilite qu'elle ne finit car atergatis et la princesse istrine furent si surpris de scavoir le dessein d'arsamone qu'a peine pouvoient-ils parler d'abord atergatis regarda istrine pour tascher de connoistre ce qu'elle pensoit un moment apres il regarda intapherne semblant luy demander protection par ses regards et un instant en suite il chercha aussi dans les yeux de la princesse de bithinie si elle agreoit le dessein d'arsamone et il chercha encore en luy mesme quels remedes il pourroit trouver a tous les maux qu'il craignoit d'autre part istrine aprehendant que l'amour d'intapherne ne l'emportast sur l'amitie ne regarda que luy seulement et le regarda si fixement et avec tant d'aplication qu'elle penetra en effet jusques dans le fonds de son coeur et connut la peine ou il estoit la princesse de bithinie de son coste qui aimoit assez intapherne pour ne vouloir pas qu'il fust banny cherchoit quelque expedient qui sans choquer les interests de tant de personnes qui luy estoient si cheres pust empescher spitridate d'irriter arsamone contre luy mais enfin apres qu'ils eurent fait 
 chacun en leur particulier quelque reflection sur leur avanture presente ils commencerent d'examiner la chose dont il s'agissoit et de s'en pleindre selon les divers interests qu'ils y avoient mais apres avoir parle assez long temps en general insensiblement sans en avoir eu dessein forme la conversation se partageant intapherne parla bas a la princesse de bithinie et atergatis a istrine vous voyez madame dit ce dernier a la princesse qu'il aimoit que la fortune vous offre des couronnes par tout et que je suis destine a faire tousjours des voeux contre vostre propre grandeur mais de grace ne soyez pas plus injuste a heraclee que vous l'estiez a babilone et permettez moy de faire des voeux contre vous en souhaitant ardamment que le dessein d'arsamone ne reussisse pas mieux que celuy de nitocris bien loin de m'opposer aux voeux que vous voulez faire reprit istrine je vous assure que je joindray les miens aux vostres ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je n'estime autant le prince spitridate que je mesprise cet injuste roy qui m'a tant mesprisee mais c'est enfin eh de grace interrompit atergatis ne me dittes pas une raison ou je n'aye point d'interest et ne me refusez pas la consolation de me donner lieu de croire que si la possession de deux royaumes vous est indifferente c'est parce que le malheureux atergatis ne vous est pas tout a fait indifferent comme le prince spitridate repliqua-t'elle ne voudra non plus de moy que le roy d'assirie 
 quoy que ce ne soit pas d'une maniere outrageante il n'est pas ce me semble necessaire que je m'explique aussi clairement que vous le voulez car enfin je suis persuadee qu'il ne faut jamais descouvrir tout le secret de son coeur en certaines occasions et qu'il y a une espece de sentimens qu'on ne doit jamais scavoir qu'en les devinant permettez moy donc luy dit-il de deviner les vostres comme un homme qui se persuade aisement ce qu'il desire je vous permets dit-elle en rougissant de penser tout ce qui peut estre a vostre avantage pourveu qu'il ne me soit pas desavantageux cependant adjousta cette princesse pour destourner la conversation considerez un peu je vous prie quel bizarre destin est le mien ne diroit-on pas que la fortune prend plaisir a vouloir me persecuter par les mesmes choses qui ont accoustume de faire la felicite des autres il est vray que c'a este aussi le destin du prince mon pere qui apres s'estre veu tout prest d'estre roy se vit exile de la cour pour tousjours par la mesme princesse qui l'avoit voulu faire regner depuis cela on m'a regardee comme devant estre reine quoy que le prince d'assirie me regardast comme une esclave cependant apres m'estre guerie d'ambition on vient encore me parler de royaumes et de couronnes seulement pour me tourmenter et pour m'empescher de regner paisiblement sur moy mesme mais comme je ne dois pas autant de respect a arsamone que j'en devois a nitocris si 
 ce prince violent fait changer de nature a la grace qu'il me veut faire en s'opiniastrant a vouloir que je veuille ce qu'il veut je luy resisteray avec plus de force qu'il ne pense pourveu que le prince mon pere ne se range pas de son party ha madame s'escria atergatis quelles cruelles paroles venez vous de prononcer apres m'en avoir dit de si favorables atergatis dit cela si haut sans en avoir le dessein que la princesse de bithinie qui estoit bien aise que le prince intapherne ne luy dist pas tant de choses obligeantes de peur d'y respondre trop obligeamment demanda a atergatis quelle injustice luy faisoit istrine de sorte que la conversation devenant generale ils adviserent tous ensemble ce qu'il estoit a propos de resoudre ils ne tomberent pourtant pas d'accord facilement car lors qu'intapherne pour l'interest de son amour disoit qu'il trouvoit qu'il ne faloit pas qu'il s'opposast directement a arsamone parce qu'il scavoit bien que gadate y resisteroit assez atergatis ne pouvoit trouver que son advis fust bon au contraire il disoit pour attirer la princesse de bithinie dans sons sens qu'il importoit mesme extremement au prince spitridate qu'intapherne fist voir d'abord a arsamone que son dessein estoit impossible afin qu'il laissast du moins ce prince en repos dans sa prison s'il ne le vouloit pas delivrer mais a peine avoit-il dit cela qu'intapherne s'opposant civilement a l'opinion de son amy luy disoit que s'il en usoit ainsi arsamone qui avoit infiniment 
 de l'esprit croiroit qu'il ne luy resisteroit que pour favoriser la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse sa soeur et qu'ainsi cela l'obligeroit peut estre a les bannir tous deux de sa cour et a y retenir istrine c'est pourquoy dit alors la princesse de bithinie je trouve qu'il faut pour tascher de moyenner la liberte du prince mon frere et le repos d'atergatis que ce soit la princesse istrine qui s'oppose fortement au roy mon pere et que je tasche aussi d'obliger spitridate a ne s'y opposer pas tant afin d'apaiser le roy contre luy ha madame reprit atergatis il me semble que cette feinte seroit bien suspecte au roy c'est pourquoy je trouve qu'il vaudroit mieux que la princesse istrine et le prince spitridate resistassent a arsamone avec une esgalle fermete pour moy dit alors istrine je suis toute preste a m'opposer toute seule au dessein du roy mais je suis pourtant persuadee que si tout le monde s'y opposoit esgallement nostre party en seroit plus fort je ne scay ma soeur reprit intapherne s'il n'en seroit point plus foible car si arsamone est irrite contre la princesse contre spitridate contre atergatis contre vous et contre moy qui sera le mediateur pour apaiser un si grand different la raison d'intapherne ayant fait revenir les autres a son opinion ils resolurent donc premierement de tirer la chose en longueur autant qu'ils pourroient et que s'il arrivoit qu'arsamone ne changeast point de sentimens intapherne luy diroit que la princesse sa soeur 
 protestoit qu'elle mourroit plus tost que d'espouser un prince qui ne pouvoit estre son mary sans manquer de foy a une des plus vertueuses princesses du monde cette resolution estant prise intapherne ne songea qu'a mesnager avec beaucoup d'adresse l'esprit d'arsamone afin de gagner temps et de donner loisir a la tendresse paternelle a la raison de ce prince de surmonter cette opiniastre politique et ce desir de vangeance qui faisoit qu'il s'opposoit a l'amour de spitridate pour araminte et en effet durant quelque temps il vint a bout de son dessein car comme arsamone esperoit plustost le changement de spitridate de la beaute d'istrine que de toute autre chose il voulut estre quelques jours sans presser le prince son fils afin que les beaux yeux de cette princesse eussent le temps d'en faire un infidelle cependant comme la princesse de bithinie songeoit autant a donner quelque consolation au prince son frere qu'a sa propre satisfaction elle l'alloit voir tous les jours mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'il falut que la princesse istrine y allast aussi parce qu'arsamone ne donna la permission de voir spitridate a la princesse sa fille qu'a condition qu'istrine seroit avec elle quand elle iroit le visiter si bien que par ce moyen intapherne et atergatis n'en furent pas plus heureux et cet ordre d'arsamone brouilla mesme si fort les choses en peu de jours que ces cinq personnes si sages si raisonnables et qui s'estimoient tant en furent 
 en quelque sorte de division en effet madame spitridate se pleignoit en secret de la princesse de bithinie de ce qu'elle sembloit avoir dessein de chasser araminte de son coeur en luy menant tousjours la princesse istrine car comme ces deux princesses ne luy parloient jamais sans tesmoins elles ne purent pas le desabuser de sorte que murmurant dans son coeur il accusoit intapherne d'estre peu genereux istrine d'estre peu glorieuse atergatis d'estre mauvais amant et la princesse sa soeur de n'estre pas assez dans ses sentimens et de n'aimer plus araminte pour atergatis il souffroit des maux incroyables puis qu'il est vray qu'il craignoit esgallement que spitridate ne devinst infidelle a araminte en voyant istrine et qu'istrine par le desir d'estre reine ne la devinst pour luy il n'estoit mesme pas trop satisfait d'intapherne croyant qu'il devoit obliger istrine a n'accompagner pas la princesse de bithinie lors qu'elle alloit a la prison de spitridate murmurant aussi fort contre luy de ce qu'il recevoit les visites d'une personne qu'on luy vouloit faire espouser et se pleignant encore estrangement de la princesse de bithinie qui sans considerer ny ses interests ny ceux de la princesse araminte a qui elle avoit promis tant d'amitie ne se resolvoit pas a estre du moins un jour sans voir spitridate mais toutes ces pleintes n'estoient rien en comparaison de celles qu'il faisoit en luy mesme contre istrine de ce qu'elle n'aprehendoit pas seulement de l'affliger en allant tous les 
 jours voir un prince qu'elle scavoit qu'arsamone pretendoit qu'elle espousast d'autre part la princesse de bithinie se pleignoit de ce qu'intapherne l'avoit pressee plus d'une fois de retrancher quelqu'une des visites qu'elle faisoit a spitridate en faveur d'atergaris et de ce qu'istrine elle mesme ne l'y accompagnoit qu'aveque peine elle murmuroit aussi de remarquer qu'atergatis se pleignoit d'elle mais elle sentoit bien plus aigrement je ne scay quelle froideur chagrine qu'elle remarquoit dans l'esprit de spitridate pour istrine elle n'estoit pas plus satisfaite que les autres car aimant autant le repos d'atergatis qu'elle faisoit elle eust ardamment souhaite que le prince son frere l'eust empeschee d'authorite absolue d'accompagner la princesse de bithinie a la prison de spitridate de sorte que ne le faisant pas elle en murmuroit contre luy et ne se pleignoit guere moins de ce que la princesse de bithinie exigeoit cette complaisance d'elle cependant quoy que cela fust ainsi elle ne laissoit pas d'estre en colere de remarquer qu'atergatis avoit l'esprit irrite de ce qu'elle voyoit trop spitridate et elle porta mesme son chagrin si avant qu'elle eut aussi quelque espece de colere de ce que cet illustre prisonnier conservoit quelque civilite pour elle d'ailleurs intapherne trouvoit qu'atergatis avoit tort scachant la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse de bithinie de pretendre qu'il devoit opiniastrement luy resister il ne trouvoit pas aussi trop bon qu'istrine accompagnast 
 cette princesse avec tant de marques de repugnance quoy qu'il n'eust pas voulu qu'elle eust rompu avec atergatis mais il trouvoit bien plus mauvais que la princesse qu'il aimoit ne luy donnast nulle esperance d'estre heureux en une conjoncture ou il luy sembloit qu'elle luy eust pu permettre d'essayer de l'estre en descouvrant son dessein a arsamone ainsi ces cinq illustres personnes estant quelques jours a s'accuser en secret sans se pleindre ouvertement ils en vinrent insensiblement au point de ne scavoir que se dire quand elles estoient ensemble cependant arsamone apres avoir donne autant de temps qu'il croyoit en faloir a la beaute d'istrine pour chasser araminte du coeur du prince son fils recommenca de parler en prince qui vouloit estre obei et de declarer et a arbiane et a la princesse sa fille et a spitridate et a tous ceux a qui il en parloit qu'il n'estoit pas moins fortement resolu a faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour obliger istrine a espouser spitridate qu'a empescher spitridate d'espouser araminte vous pouvez juger madame combien cette resolution d'arsamone affligea toutes les personnes interessees en la chose ce fut alors que la princesse de bithinie istrine intapherne et atergatis estans tous ensemble commencerent de se justifier en s'accusant chacun a leur tour et en rejettant leur malheur les uns sur les autres mais a peine ce venin cache qui s'estoit renferme dans leur coeur et qui leur avoit fait passer de si facheuses heures eut-il commence 
 de s'exhaller par des pleintes qu'ils en sentirent quelque soulagement d'abord ils se pleignirent en tumulte et en confusion mais peu a peu donnant quelque ordre a leurs sentimens ils se justifierent facilement et leur propre passion leur enseignant a excuser celle des autres ils firent la paix et n'accuserent plus qu'eux mesmes de cette division secrette qui avoit pense les mettre si mal ensemble de sorte que l'estime l'amour et l'amitie se retrouvant dans leur coeur sans estre accompagnees de colere de despit et de plusieurs autres sentimens meslez et tumultueux ils eurent la consolation de se plaindre de leurs malheurs sans se pleindre les uns des autres mais quoy que cette paix parust solidement establie atergatis dont l'amour estoit tres violente ne trouva point lieu d'esperer nul repos jusques a ce qu'il eust imagine les voyes de faire qu'il y eust de l'impossibilite au dessein d'arsamone cependant bien que toutes ces personnes eussent infiniment de l'esprit elles se trouverent fort embarrassees car disoit la princesse de bithinie quand il seroit possible qu'on pust trouver les voyes de faire finir la passion du prince mon frere je pense que je ne devrois pas y consentir en effet poursuivoit-elle quand je songe qu'il ne se serviroit de la liberte que pour estre exile qu'il luy en cousteroit peut estre la vie et que du moins je le perdrois pour long temps j'advoue que je n'ose tourner la teste de ce coste la c'est pourtant le seul remede reprit atergatis 
 qu'on peut trouver pour soulager cet illustre prince et pour forcer peutestre arsamone a se lasser de le persecuter car enfin madame quelle consolation avez vous de voir le prince spitridate charge de chaines et de le voir eternellement tourmente par le roy vostre pere quand il seroit vray repliqua-t'elle qu'il seroit plus avantageux au prince mon frere d'estre errant et fugitif que d'estre prisonnier il y a une puissante raison qui fait que je ne devrois pas encore songer a procurer sa liberte quand je le pourrois car puis que le roy pendant l'exil du prince mon frere avoit declare qu'il vouloit que je fusse reine je ne dois pas m'exposer a pouvoir estre soubconnee d'une injuste ambition ha madame s'escria istrine vostre generosite est trop scrupuleuse en effet adjousta-t'elle le moyen de penser que le prince spitridate pust vous soubconner de vouloir regner a son prejudice vous dis-je qui avez l'ame si grande si noble et si desinteressee et qui ne connoissez point d'autre ambition que celle de vous rendre digne d'estre plus estimee que personne ne l'a jamais este pendant qu'istrine parloit ainsi intapherne sans escouter presque ce qu'elle disoit examinoit en luy mesme si la liberte de spitridate luy seroit avantageuse ou non mais apres y avoir bien pense il trouva que tant qu'arsamone seroit en estat de vouloir desheriter spitridate il n'auroit rien a pretendre a istrine de sorte que jugeant alors des interests de ce prince par les siens il trouvoit 
 effectivement qu'il valoit mesme mieux pour luy qu'il fust tousjours prisonnier que de s'en retourner encore errer par le monde comme il avoit fait pendant son exil si bien qu'entrant dans les sentimens de la princesse de bithinie et istrine n'osant plus les contredire atergatis se trouva seul de son party ainsi il falut qu'il cedast en aparence cependant comme il estoit persuade que la violence d'arsamone iroit plus loin qu'ils ne pensoient et qu'il n'y avoit point d'autre remede ny pour spitridate ny pour luy que celuy qu'il avoit propose il fie dessein de ne laisser pas de chercher toutes les voyes possibles de delivrer ce prince afin de s'en pouvoir servir quand il le jugeroit a propos mais pendant que ces quatre personnes raisonnoient chacun a leur maniere spitridate n'ayant point de response d'araminte a qui il avoit escrit en eut une douleur extreme dans la pensee que son silence estoit cause par son infidellite car madame il ne scavoit pas que celuy qui avoit porte sa lettre a cette princesse et qui luy en devoit raporter la response avoit este arreste par les troupes de cresus et mene dans sardis comme nous le sceusmes apres la liberte de spitridate de sorte que ce malheureux prince sevoyant tous les jours force par sa passion a donner mille preuves de fidellite a une princesse qu'il croyoit infidelle il estoit quelquesfois dans un desespoir si grand qu'il souhaitoit de pouvoir hair araminte mais quoy qu'il pust faire il l'aima tousjours avec une constance 
 inesbranlable et certes il le tesmoigna bien quelques jours apres que la paix fut restablie entre intapherne atergatis istrine et la princesse de bithinie car arsamone estant en une colere estrange de la fermete avec laquelle il luy resistoit retourna le voir et luy dit des choses si dures et si menacantes que tout autre coeur que celuy de spitridate en auroit du moins este esmeu il demeura pourtant dans les termes qu'il s'estoit prescrits et sans se relascher ny peu ny point de la fidelite qu'il vouloit avoir pour araminte et du respect qu'il devoit au roy son pere il luy resista sans aigreur et sans se pleindre mais plus il fut patient et sage dans sa douleur plus arsamone fut violent et injuste dans sa colere de sorte que comme il fut prest de le quitter apres avoir tant parle inutilement scachez luy dit-il lasche que vous estes que puis que vous ne voulez pas paroistre fils de roy que je veux en effet que vous ne le soyez pas je vous declare donc que pour vous pouvoir priver du droit le succeder aux deux royaumes que je possede je veux renoncer a celuy que j'ay au royaume de bithinie et n'y en pretendre point d'autre que celuy des conquerans regarde moy donc poursuivit ce prince irrite comme un usurpateur et non pas comme un roy legitime mais comme un usurpateur qui peut disposer souverainement de ce qu'il a usurpe et qui ne le donnera pas a un homme qui s'en rend indigne par une foiblesse qui le couvrira 
 d'une honte eternelle s'il ne s'en repent dans un mois qui est le dernier terme que je luy donne pour choisir s'il veut estre roy ou esclave apres cela ce prince violent l'ayant quitte il demeura avec la liberte de se pleindre de son injustice mais madame pourquoy m'arrester plus longtemps a vous dire toutes les inquietudes d'un prince a qui les dieux en ont tant fait souffrir d'autres depuis cela il vaut donc mieux que je vous aprenne qu'atergatis aprehendant tousjours que spitridate se lassant de souffrir ne se resolust d'obeir a arsamone et qu'istrine ne se laissast enfin toucher a l'ambition d'estre reine de deux royaumes se resolut comme je l'ay desja dit a tenter toutes choses pour le delivrer comme il est fort liberal et plein d'esprit il avoit sans doute toutes les qualitez necessaires pour une semblable entreprise mais madame ce qui la fit reussir heureusement fut que durant qu'il faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour suborner ceux des gardes de spitridate qui estoient a la porte de la tour afin qu'ils subornassent ceux qui estoient plus proches de sa personne ce genereux prisonnier faisoit aussi de son coste tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour gagner ceux qui estoient dans sa chambre afin qu'ils gagnassent les autres qu'on avoit mis a la porte de cette tour ainsi madame encore qu'atergatis et spitridate n'eussent aucune intelligence ensemble ils firent pourtant comme s'ils y en eussent eu de sorte que le hazard ayant fait qu'ils eussent persuade 
 en un mesme temps ceux qu'ils avoient entrepris de persuader il arriva que lors que les gardes du dedans de la tour proposerent a ceux de dehors de delivrer spitridate ceux de dehors avoient dessein de faire la mesme proposition a ceux de dedans si bien que trouvant une esgalle facilite a s'entre persuader la chose fut bien tost conclue et mesme bien tost executee car comme cette tour est au bord de la mer atergatis ayant donne ordre qu'il y eust une barque preste la nuit qu'il choisit pour delivrer cet illustre prisonnier il fut aise aux gardes subornez qui estoient beaucoup plus forts en nombre que ceux qui ne l'estoient pas de faire main basse sur eux de delivrer ce prince de le conduire a la barque qui l'attendoit et de s'embarquer aveque luy mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que spitridate fut delivre sans qu'il sceust qui le delivroit jusques a ce qu'il fust sur le bord de la mer car alors le prince atergatis qui avoit voulu assurer l'execution de la chose par sa presence se fit connoistre a luy et pour achever la generosite toute entiere il luy donna un escuyer et l'assura comme il estoit vray qu'il trouveroit dans cette barque toutes les choses dont il pouvoit avoir besoin pour un long voyage apres quoy spitridate remerciant son liberateur avec toute la precipitation d'un homme qui craignoit de perdre le bien qu'il venoit d'aquerir et de ne pouvoir aller s'esclaircir si araminte estoit fidelle ou infidelle il se separa de luy et faisant ramer 
 avec diligence il fut ou je ne scaurois vous dire car nous n'avons point encore sceu ou il alla d'abord au partir d'heraclee nous avons bien sceu qu'il avoit este a atarme ou vous le pristes pour cyrus et qu'en suitte il vous avoit veu embarquer avec le roy de pont mais nous n'avons pu aprendre encore comment il avoit este d'heraclee a atarme cependant quoy qu'il aimast fort democlide qui estoit en mesme prison que luy il ne fut pourtant pas delivre car la chose fut faite avec tant de precipitation que les gardes de spitridate ne songerent point a aller a la chambre de democlide et spitridate luy mesme avoit sans doute l'esprit si remply d'araminte qu'il ne pensa qu'a ce qui le pouvoit aprocher d'elle mais madame ce qu'il y eut encore de remarquable a la liberte de spitridate fut que le prince atergatis n'en fut point du tout soubconne et s'il ne l'eust advoue de luy mesme a la princesse istrine et a intapherne nous ne le scaurions point de vous dire madame quel fut l'estonnement et la colere d'arsamone lors qu'il sceut la fuitte de spitridate ce seroit entreprendre une chose impossible pour arbiane elle en fut bien aise car elle commencoit de craindre la violence du roy pour la princesse de bithinie elle en eut de la joye et de la douleur prevoyant bien que cet exil seroit encore plus facheux que l'autre pour intapherne s'il s'en rejouit pour spitridate il s'en affligea pour luy mesme parce qu'il creut que la liberte de ce prince feroit obstacle 
 a son dessein et pour atergatis il en eut toute la joye qu'il en pouvoit esperer mais ce qui la luy rendit plus sensible fut qu'il connut avec certitude qu'istrine estoit bien aise de la fuitte de spitridate cependant comme la fierte d'arsamone ne luy permet jamais de se pleindre longtemps il affecta de tesmoigner qu'il se consoloit facilement de l'esloignement du prince son fils qu'il disoit hautement ne vouloir jamais reconnoistre pour son successeur ainsi il y eut en peu de jours un aussi grand calme a la cour que si cet accident ne fust point arrive car comme on craignoit fort arsamone on n'osoit ny se rejouir ny s'affliger ouvertement de la liberte ny de la fuitte de spitridate et tout ce que la reine put faire fut d'obtenir que democlide seroit delivre a condition qu'il s'esloigneroit d'heraclee mais apres avoir este quelques jours de cette sorte on sceut que le gouverneur d'un chasteau qui est scitue sur les frontieres de bithinie qui touchent la galatie avoit envoye un courier a arsamone pour luy donner quelque advis important et qu'arsamone avoit renvoye deux fois vers luy mais ce qui surprit un peu toute la cour fut qu'arsamone voulut que la reine les deux princesses intapherne et atergatis le suivissent sur la frontiere de bithinie de sorte que sans aller ny a chalcedoine ny a chrysopolys qui en sont les deux principales villes nous fusmes a un bourg qui n'est qu'a cinquante stades du chasteau dont le gouverneur avoit donne 
 cet advis que nous ne scavions pas alors et que nous sceusmes bien tost apres en effet madame il faut que vous scachiez que le roy d'assirie apres estre party de sardis pendant que l'illustre cyrus estoit alle pour mener spitridate a la princesse araminte et en estre party avec intention d'aller tascher de scavoir en quel lieu de la terre le roy de pont vous menoit eut un faux advis qui fut cause de sa prison car vous scaurez qu'on l'assura que le roy de pont dont le pere avoit regne assez souverainement en bithinie pour y avoir des creatures y avoit des amis qui avoient trame une grande conjuration contre arsamone qui devoit bien tost esclatter et qu'ainsi ce prince ayant este adverty de la chose apres vous avoir enlevee de sardis vous avoit conduite en bithinie chez le chef des conjurez dont la maison estoit tres forte et qu'il vous y avoit conduite avec intention d'y estre cache et de vous y cacher vous mesmes jusques a ce que les choses fussent disposees a le faire remonter au throne bien que cet advis qu'eut le roy d'assirie ne fust pas trop vray-semblable toutesfois comme il avoit quelque aparence de possibilite ce prince ne creut pas qu'il deust le negliger de sorte qu'il se resolut d'aller en bithinie pour tascher de s'en esclaircir mais comme je vous ay dit qu'arsamone faisoit faire une garde aussi exacte dans tous ses estats que si le roy qu'il avoit vaincu et chasse eust encore este a la teste d'une armee le roy d'assirie voulant passer un pont a la riviere 
 de sangar fut arreste par ceux qui le gardoient pour scavoir ou il alloit et d'ou il venoit mais comme il est d'un naturel imperieux au lieu de respondre a ce qu'on luy demandoit il se mit en colere si bien que comme ceux qui luy parloient luy respondirent insolemment il mit l'espee a la main et en blessa deux ou trois et comme il n'avoit qu'un escuyer qu'il se trouva qu'il y avoit vingt soldats en ce lieu-la et que le peuple d'un grand bourg qui est au bout de ce pont s'esmeut et l'environna il fut arreste apres en avoir encore blesse plusieurs en suitte de quoy il fut mene a ce chasteau dont je vous ay parle mais a peine celuy qui y commandoit l'eut-il regarde qu'il le reconnut pour l'avoir veu a l'armee sous le nom de philidaspe du temps que cyrus sous celuy d'artamene remportoit victoire sur victoire a la guerre qu'il faisoit alors contre les rois de pont et de phrigie de sorte que cet homme jugeant de l'importance de ce prisonnier le regardoit tres soigneusement et en advertit arsamone qui ne sceut pas plustost la chose qu'il partit d'heraclee pour aller ou je vous ay desja dit afin de penetrer mieux dans les desseins que le roy d'assirie pouvoit avoir eus en entrant en bithinie mais comme c'est un prince qui ne dit jamais ce qu'il pense s'il n'est necessaire qu'il le die il fit un grand secret de l'advis qu'il avoit receu si bien qu'encore que le bourg ou la cour estoit ne fust qu'a cinquante stades de ce chasteau nous ne scavions pourtant point 
 qui y estoit ny pourquoy nous estions la cependant comme arsamone devoit prendre interest a tous les mauvais traittemens que le roy d'assirie avoit faits autrefois a intapherne et a istrine il ne devoit pas avoir grande disposition a bi traitter ce prince mais comme il regle toutes ses actions par son interest seulement il n'a jamais d'amis avec qui il ne puisse rompre s'il croit qu'il luy fort avantageux de le faire ny point d'ennemis aussi avec qui il ne puisse se reconcilier par la mesme raison de sorte que voyant ce prince en sa puissance il chercha a quoy il pourroit luy estre propre il aprehenda donc que lors que cyrus vous auroit delivree le desir d'assujettir toute l'asie ne j'obligeast a luy faire la guerre et que la princesse araminte ne l'y portast car il ne scavoit pas encore alors que le prince phraarte leust enlevee arsamone considerant donc toutes ces choses jugea a propos de donner quelque autre employ a la valeur de l'invincible cyrus et de s'aquerir un allie brave et courageux comme estoit le roy d'assirie il fit donc dessein de luy proposer de se resoudre a espouser istrine et de luy faire offrir pour cela de faire faire un soulevement dans babilone par une intelligence qu'il y avoit et de se joindre a luy contre tous ses ennemis car comme il scavoit que gadate souhaitoit ardemment ce mariage et qu'il ne pensoit plus a celuy d'istrine avec spitridate depuis que ce prince estoit hors de prison il creut qu'il luy seroit aise de faire obeir cette princesse 
 de plus comme il avoit enfin descouvert qu'intapherne estoit amoureux de la princesse sa fille il fit aussi dessein de la luy donner a condition qu'il obligeroit istrine a espouser le roy d'assirie et a condition aussi qu'il declareroit solemnellement qu'il ne rendroit jamais a spitridate ny le royaume de pont ny le royaume de bithinie mais afin que la chose se fist mieux il envoya atergatis a chalcedoine sur le pretexte de quelque esmotion populaire qui y avoit este et qui estoit pourtant desja apaisee afin que sa presence ne fist point d'obstacle a son dessein atergatis ne fut donc pas plustost party qu'arsamone fut voir le roy d'assirie qu'il traitta avec la mesme civilite que s'il n'eust pas este renverse du throne mais madame je ne scay si je dois continuer mon recit et si vous trouverez bon que je vous parle si particulierement de l'amour d'un prince qui a cause tous les malheurs de vostre vie cependant les sentimens du roy d'assirie sont si meslez a la fin de l'histoire d'intapherne d'atergatis d'istrine et de la princesse de bithinie que je ne puis vous la dire sans vous parler autant de luy que de tous les autres puis que cela est inseparable repliqua mandane j'aime encore mieux ouir parler d'un prince que je n'aime pas que de ne scavoir point la suitte des avantures de quatre personnes que j'estime infiniment joint que comme vous le scavez adjousta-t'elle on peut mesme quelquesfois avoir la curiosite d'aprendre ce que font ses 
 ennemis aussi bien que ce que font ses amis c'est pourquoy orcame dites moy tout ce qui s'est passe en bithinie comme si je n'y avois aucun interest et que je n'eusse aucun sujet de hair le roy d'assirie la princesse mandane ayant parle de cette sorte orcame reprit son discours en ces termes arsamone estant donc avec le roy d'assirie et le traittant comme je l'ay desja dit avec toute la civilite possible le pleignit d'abord de son malheur et apres plusieurs choses obligeantes il luy dit qu'il ne tiendroit qu'a luy d'estre moins malheureux qu'il n'estoit en suitte de quoy il luy proposa de faire revolter babilone de luy donner une armee considerable et de s'attacher inseparablement a luy pour s'opposer aux conquestes de cyrus et pour luy aider a s'en vanger pourveu qu'il espousast istrine comme la reine nitocris l'avoit souhaite mais a peine arsamone eut-il acheve de parler que le roy d'assirie luy respondit fierement que des quatre choses qu'il luy proposoit il en acceptoit volontiers trois mais que pour la derniere il estoit bien esloigne d'en avoir la pensee car enfin luy dit il puis que je n'ay pu aimer istrine en un temps ou je n'aimois rien je ne l'aimeray pas aujourd'huy que j'aime la plus belle et la plus admirable personne de la terre c'est pourquoy adjousta ce prince violent ne vous obstinez pas a me proposer une chose que je n'accepteray point et laissez moy aller chercher le roy de pont qui a enleve 
 la princesse que j'adore afin qu'en la delivrant je puisse pour reconnoistre la liberte que vous m'aurez donnee vous deffaire d'un ennemy qui pourroit tousjours vous troubler dans les conquestes que vous avez faites sur luy comme cyrus le cherche avec cent mille hommes reprit arsamone il y a aparence qu'il le trouvera plustost que vous c'est pourquoy cela ne vous doit pas empescher d'escouter une proposition qui vous est avantageuse le roy d'assirie entendant parler arsamone en ces termes creut qu'il luy reprochoit sa deffaite et commenca de se mettre en colere de sorte que comme arsamone est aussi violent que luy il arriva que cette conversation qui avoit commence par des civilitez pensa finir par des injures le roy de bithinie creut pourtant qu'il viendroit a bout de son dessein et que le desir de la liberte porteroit a la fin le roy d'assirie a faire ce qu'il vouloit si bien que voulant porter intapherne a ce qu'il souhaitoit il le tira a part le soir mesme et apres luy avoir apris que le roy d'assirie estoit en sa puissance il commenca de luy proposer le mariage d'istrine aveque luy mais a peine arsamone eut-il acheve de prononcer ces paroles qu'intapherne s'emportant aveque violence quoy seigneur luy dit-il je consentirois que ma soeur espousast un prince qui m'a sensiblement outrage et qu'elle en abandonnast un autre qui est mon amy particulier ha non non cela n'est pas possible et je ne pense pas qu'istrine ait le coeur assez bas pour se 
 resoudre a une pareille chose quand mesme le roy d'assirie seroit encore en possession de son royaume n'allez pas si viste reprit froidement arsamone et pour vous faire voir que je scay un moyen de vous faire executer plus favorablement la proposition que le vous fais scachez que si vous portez istrine a ce que je veux et a ce que vous scavez bien que le prince vostre pere souhaite je consentiray que vous espousiez ma fille que je scay que vous ne haissez pas a condition toutesfois que vous me promettiez de ne rendre jamais ny le royaume de pont ny celuy de bithinie au lasche spitridate cette proposition surprit tellement intapherne qu'il fut quelque temps sans y pouvoir respondre mais comme il le voulut faire arsamone le quitta et luy dit qu'il voyoit tant d'agitation dans son esprit qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'il luy respondist en tumulte et qu'il luy conseilloit de ne le faire point qu'il n'eust bien consulte son amour et son ambition apres quoy il le quitta ou pour mieux dire il l'abandonna aux plus violentes inquietudes qu'il eust encore jamais senties car d'un coste il trouvoit une douceur infinie a penser qu'il n'y avoit pas d'impossibilite pour luy a posseder la princesse qu'il adoroit mais lors qu'il venoit a considerer que pour jouir d'un si grand bonheur il faudroit donner sa soeur a son ennemy trahir son amy et usurper les estats du frere de sa princesse en les acceptant son ame estoit a la gehenne de plus il jugeoit bien encore que la 
 princesse de bithinie ne le voudroit pas espouser a cette condition quand mesme il luy promettroit de ne vouloir point se prevaloir de la declaration qu'il faisoit car il luy avoit entendu dire des choses qui luy donnoient lieu de le penser ainsi de sorte que soit qu'il considerast la haine qu'il avoit pour le roy d'assirie l'amitie qu'il avoit pour atergatis l'aversion d'istrine pour le premier son inclination pour le second ou qu'il considerast encore ce qu'il devoit a spitridate et la haute generosite de la princesse de bithinie il voyoit qu'arsamone luy avoit offert un bien dont il ne pourroit jouir aux conditions qu'il le luy offroit quand mesme il les eust voulu accepter et par consequent sa douleur ne fut pas mediocre cependant il ne scavoit s'il ne devoit dire la chose qu'a la princesse de bithinie ou s'il la devoit dire aussi a istrine mais enfin estant alle a l'apartement de la premiere et les ayant trouvees toutes deux ensemble il ne put renfermer davantage dans son coeur un secret aussi facheux que celuy qu'il y avoit il vous est aise de comprendre madame quelle fut la surprise de ces princesses lors qu'elles aprirent que le roy d'assirie estoit prisonnier d'arsamone et de scavoir aussi la proposition que le roy de bithinie avoit faite a intapherne elle fut si grande qu'elles en rougirent toutes deux avec exces quoy que par des causes differentes mais comme istrine avoit des sentimens de haine dans le coeur extremement vifs pour le roy d'assirie et qu'elle y en 
 avoit aussi de fort tendres pour atergatis elle fut la premiere a parler bien que ce n'eust pas este a elle que le prince intapherne eust adresse la parole quoy s'escria-t'elle avec precipitation arsamone penseroit me pouvoir forcer a espouser le roy d'assirie ha madame adjousta istrine en regardant la princesse de bithinie pardonnez moy si je vous dis que je ne luy obeiray pas il est bien juste reprit cette genereuse princesse que je vous pardonne une faute que je suis resolue de commettre aussi bien que vous car enfin quelque estime que l'aye pour le prince intapherne et quoy que j'aye este capable de luy donner une place en mon coeur que personne n'y a jamais occupee je vous assure que je ne consentiray point qu'il oste deux royaumes au prince mon frere ny qu'il soit heureux en vous rendant malheureuse du moins madame reprit intapherne en soupirant faites moy l'honneur de me dire quelque chose pour me consoler de ce qu'on m'offre un bien que vous ne voulez pas que j'accepte que l'honneur mesme me defend d'accepter et que ma soeur ne souffriroit pas non plus que j'acceptasse puis qu'elle ne pourroit souffrir ny d'estre femme du roy d'assirie ny de ne l'estre point d'atergatis advouez moy du moins poursuivit-il que la seule generosite de vostre ame m'est contraire et que si elle estoit un peu moins grande vous consentiriez que je fusse heureux j'advoue dit elle en rougissant que je voudrois que vous le fussiez 
 mais si vous estiez capable de le vouloir estre par l'injuste voye qu'on vous propose au lieu de souhaiter vostre bonheur je pense que je desirerois que vous fussiez aussi infortune que selon mes sentimens vous meriteriez de l'estre mais enfin madame sans m'arrester a vous redire tout au long la conversation de ces trois illustres personnes il fut resolu qu'on escriroit a atergatis pour l'obliger de revenir et que cependant istrine se chargeroit de toute la resistance qu'il faloit faire a arsamone intapherne n'ayant pas la force d'aller irriter un prince qui luy avoit fait une proposition qui l'eust pu rendre heureux s'il n'y eust point mis de conditions injustes et mesme impossibles mais ce qui les inquiettoit le plus estoit qu'ils ne scavoient pas que le roy d'assirie avoit refuse arsamone au contraire ils avoient lieu de penser que cela n'estoit point et que le desir de la liberte l'avoit fait changer d'avis cependant le roy de bithinie qui n'estoit pas accoustume de ne faire point faire ce qu'il vouloit demanda le lendemain a intapherne s'il avoit songe a la proposition qu'il luy avoit faite de sorte que ce prince suivant ce qu'il avoit resolu de dire l'assura qu'elle avoit quelque chose de si glorieux pour luy qu'il croyoit qu'il pourroit estre mesme capable de faire des crimes plustost que de ne l'accepter pas mais qu'en mesme temps il estoit oblige de luy dire qu'il ne croyoit point du tout que la princesse istrine luy obeist s'il luy commandoit d'espouser son ennemy a 
 cela arsamone respondit qu'un prince qui avoit sceu soumettre deux royaumes scauroit bien se faire obeir par istrine de sorte que se croyant assure de ce coste la il employa tous ses soins a persuader le roy d'assirie il est vray qu'il les employa inutilement ce prince disant tousjours que vous regniez et regneriez toute sa vie seule dans son coeur qu'il n'avoit que faire de royaume qu'il n'avoit point besoin d'armee et qu'il ne voulait que la liberte adjoustant pourtant tousjours quelques paroles qui marquoient une aversion terrible et pour istrine et pour intapherne dont il parloit avec un mespris insuportable comme nous l'avons sceu depuis par un des gardes qui estoient dans sa chambre de plus arsamone ayant un jour fort presse intapherne pour ce qui regardoit la declaration qu'il vouloit qu'il fist de ne rendre jamais a spitridate les royaumes de pont et de bithinie il connut si clairement malgre toutes les responces adroites de ce prince que ce n'estoit pas son intention que la colere s'emparant de son esprit et trouvant le dessein qu'il avoit pris impossible il en forma un autre qu'il creut plus aise et par lequel il pensa se vanger mieux de la resistance de spitridate et empescher qu'araminte ny personne de sa maison eust aucune part a ses estats et voicy quelle fut sa resolution il fit donc dessein de ne parler plus d'istrine au roy d'assirie croyant que l'aversion qu'il avoit pour elle estoit principalement ce qui l'empeschoit d'accepter ce 
 qu'il luy offroit ne pouvant pas comprendre qu'estant aussi mal traitte de vous qu'il l'estoit il pust s'opiniastrer long temps a ne vouloir point jouir de la liberte aux conditions qu'il luy fit offrir par un homme de mes amis qui me le raconta apres cependant il faut que je vous die qu'arsamone voulut que la reine allast faire une visite a ce roy prisonnier qu'elle y menast la princesse sa fille et qu'elle n'y menast point istrine et en effet arbiane y fut et la princesse de bithinie aussi qui ne devinant pas le dessein d'arsamone fut bien aise de voir un prince dont on parloit tant par toute l'asie et dont les avantures estoient si extraordinaires comme vous estes fort equitable madame je m'assure que vous souffrirez sans colere que je vous dise qu'il receut ces princesses de bonne grace et qu'il leur dit d'abord beaucoup de choses ou il paroissoit beaucoup d'esprit beaucoup de generosite et beaucoup d'amour pour vous car il les pria instamment d'obliger le roy a luy donner la liberte afin d'aller tascher de vous faire recouvrer la vostre et pour les y obliger plus fortement il se mit a leur parler de vous avec des eloges admirables mais apres cela comme l'impetuosite de son humeur ne se peut cacher long-temps la reine ayant nomme intapherne sans y penser ce prince violent en parla avec colere aussi bien que de la princesse istrine et en dit des choses aussi injustes qu'outrageantes de sorte que ces deux princesses ne pouvant les endurer et ne voulant pas aussi quereller 
 un prince dont la prison leur sembloit assez injuste elles se retirerent en luy promettant de faire ce qu'elles pourroient aupres d'arsamone pour luy faire recouvrer la liberte 
 
 
 
 
mais des qu'elles furent hors de sa chambre le roy de bithinie luy envoya dire qu'il ne luy parleroit plus d'istrine mais qu'il envoyoit luy offrir la princesse sa fille et ses deux royaumes se soumettant encore a luy faire recouvrer babilone par une intelligence qu'il y avoit adjoustant qu'il l'assuroit que dans quinze jours il luy donneroit une puissante armee pour resister a cyrus s'il luy vouloit faire la guerre vous direz au roy vostre maistre repliqua ce prince a celuy qu'arsamone avoit envoye luy porter cette parole que si je pouvois cesser d'estre rival de cyrus je commencerois sans doute d'estre son amy car outre qu'il a toutes les qualitez necessaires pour estre digne de mon amitie je suis encore contraint d'advouer que je luy dois la vie plus d'une fois de sorte que si je n'estois plus son rival je n'aurois que faire d'armee pour m'opposer a luy ny pour l'attaquer mais assurez arsamone en mesme temps que quoy que la princesse sa fille soit extremement accomplie et que j'aye pour elle autant de disposition a l'estimer que j'ay tousjours eu d'aversion pour istrine je n'escoute pas plus favorablement cette seconde proposition que la premiere car enfin comme je ne puis jamais cesser d'estre amant de la princesse mandane je ne puis jamais estre mary de la princesse de bithinie mais 
 seigneur repliqua celuy qui luy parloit si vous pouviez raisonnablement esperer d'estre aime de la princesse que vous aimez je ne trouverois pas si estrange de vous voir refuser ce que vous refusez mais j'avoue que lors que je considere que vous avez perdu vostre estat que la princesse mandane ne vous aime point et que cependant vous refusez deux royaumes et une des belles princesses du monde pour une personne qui vous hait je suis dans un estonnement si grand que je ne puis l'exprimer quoy qu'il en sort reprit brusquement le roy d'assirie ce sont mes veritables sentimens et si l'on m'offroit l'empire de toute l'asie a condition de ne pretendre plus rien a la princesse mandane je le refuserois comme je refuse les royaumes de pont et de bithinie mais dieux s'escria-t'il qui vit jamais un destin esgal au mien arsamone veut me donner deux royaumes et une princesse qui vaut encore plus que ses estats et il ne veut pas me rendre la liberte qu'il m'a ostee en violant le droit des gens est il possible adjousta-t'il que je sois seul en tout l'univers a qui il puisse donner ses royaumes et la princesse sa fille je voy bien poursuivit ce prince violent qu'il me choisit plustost qu'un autre parce qu'il scait bien que si je les acceptois je ne les rendrois pas au roy de pont ny a personne de sa maison et qu'ainsi la haine qu'il a pour ses ennemis est la cause du choix qu'il fait de moy mais puis que son seul interest le porte a m'offrir ce qu'il m'offre il ne 
 trouvera pas mauvais que le mien me porte aussi a le refuser vous luy direz donc encore adjousta-t'il que si j'avois pu n'aimer plus la princesse mandane et me vaincre moy mesme je l'aurois chassee de mon coeur avant qu'on m'eust chasse de babilone et que je me serois surmonte devant que cyrus m'eust vaincu ou pour mieux dire encore que si j'avois eu a n'aimer plus cette princesse c'auroit este lors qu'elle m'en a prie cent fois les yeux couverts de larmes et non pas pour suivre les mouvemens de vangeance et de haine qui portent arsamone a me faire des propositions bizarres que je ne suis pas en termes d'accepter quoy qu'elles paroissent m'estre avantageuses dites luy donc que je puis estre son amy mais que je ne puis estre mary de la princesse sa fille et qu'ainsi il ne doit point s'obstiner inutilement a me persecuter pour une chose que je ne puis faire car enfin j'aime sans estre aime et je suis resolu d'aimer tousjours ainsi jusques a ce que la mort ou la fortune changent mon destin mais si apres cela arsamone s'opiniastre a me vouloir retenir prisonnier et a m'empescher d'aller delivrer la princesse mandane dittes luy encore que ce roy sans royaume qu'il tient en ses mains et qu'il croit si foible et si abandonne de toute sorte de protection est peut-estre assez puissant pour causer le renversement de sa nouvelle domination et pour luy faire perdre les deux royaumes qu'il luy offre puis qu'il a un rival assez genereux pour le delivrer quoy qu'il soit son plus 
 mortel ennemy apres cela le roy d'assirie fit signe de la main a celuy a qui il parloit qu'il n'avoit plus rien a dire et qu'il allast retrouver le roy son maistre mais il le fit avec la mesme fierte que s'il eust encore este sur le throne aussi celuy qui fut tesmoin de sa violence et de sa colere en fut-il si surpris qu'apres avoir raporte a arsamone comment le roy d'assirie avoit receu ce qu'il luy avoit dit il ne put renfermer dans son coeur un secret qui luy donnoit tant d'estonnement si bien que me l'ayant confie je fus estrangement estonne d'aprendre qu'arsamone avoit change de resolution cependant je creus qu'il falloit advertir les personnes interessees a ce bizarre dessein car je vous avoue madame que quelque ferme que fust la responce du roy d'assirie je creus pourtant qu'il pourroit changer d'avis c'est pourquoy je me resolus de faire scavoir l'estat des choses a ceux qui pouvoient y chercher quelque remede estant donc alle chez intapherne je trouvay qu'atergatis qui estoit revenu plustost qu'on ne pensoit estoit aveque luy mais si afflige de ce qu'on luy avoit dit qu'arsamone vouloit qu'istrine espousast le roy d'assirie qu'intapherne n'estoit pas peu empesche a le consoler aussi m'apella-t'il des qu'il me vit pour luy aider a remettre quelque tranquilite dans l'esprit d'atergatis helas seigneur luy respondis-je je ne suis que trop propre pour vostre repos a le consoler puis que je suis assure que des que je vous auray dit ce que je viens d'aprendre 
 le prince atergatis n'aura plus d'autre douleur que celle qu'il aura de la vostre car enfin seigneur ce n'est plus istrine qu'arsamone veut que le roy d'assirie espouse c'est la princesse de bithinie a peine eus-je dit ces paroles que ces deux princes firent chacun un grand cry pour marquer leur surprise mais dieux que le ton de leur voix fut different et qu'il y eut un son douloureux dans celle du prince intapherne enfin madame apres leur avoir dit ce que je scavois je vy sur le visage de ces deux amans ce que je ne vous scaurois representer en effet je vy en un instant le desespoir passer du coeur d'atergatis dans celuy d'intapherne je vy la fureur s'apaiser dans l'ame du premier et s'esmouvoir dans celle du second je vy la douleur s'effacer des yeux de l'un et paroistre dans les yeux de l'autre et je vy en ce mesme instant le consolateur devenir l'afflige et l'afflige devenir le consolateur je ne vous diray pourtant pas toutes les pleintes qu'ils firent ny comment atergatis employa toutes les paroles que son illustre amy avoit employees a consoler sa douleur afin de soulager la sienne car j'abuserois de vostre patience je ne vous diray pas non plus tout ce que dirent istrine et la princesse de bithinie lors qu'elles sceurent la chose puis que vous ayant fait connoistre aussi particulierement que j'ay fait leur vertu et l'innocente passion qu'elles avoient dans l'ame il vous est aise de penser qu'elles dirent tout ce qui ne pouvoit blesser ny l'une ny l'autre et tout ce qui 
 pouvoit exprimer leur douleur cependant ces facheuses advantures produisirent pourtant un bien a ces deux amans estant certain que cela obligea les princesses qu'ils aimoient a leur dire des choses plus tendres que si leur ame eust este plus tranquile n'y ayant sans doute rien de plus propre a porter une personne qui aime a ne cacher pas son affection que l'infortune et la douleur comme les choses estoient en cet estat on sceut que le roy de pont vous avoit menee a cumes et que cyrus l'alloit assieger de sorte que cette nouvelle ayant mis d'autres sentimens dans l'esprit d'arsamone qui estoit fort irrite contre le roy d'assirie de ce qu'il l'avoit refuse on fut estrangement surpris de scavoir qu'il vouloit qu'on s'en retournast a heraclee on le fut pourtant encore davantage de voir que sans en dire la raison il ordonna seulement a tous ceux a qui il avoit dit que le roy d'assirie estoit en sa puissance de se garder bien d'en parler apres quoy on partit ce prince ayant laisse autant de gens qu'il jugea a propos d'en laisser pour la garde de ce chasteau ou estoit ce roy prisonnier n'osant pas toutesfois y en laisser autant qu'il l'eust souhaite de peur de faire subconner ce qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'on sceust comme ce prince a l'esprit extremement cache nous ne penetrasmes point alors ce que nous avons sceu depuis car enfin madame ce fut en ce temp-la qu'arsamone pour se vanger du roy d'assirie et pour avoir le roy de pont en son pouvoir s'advisa 
 fa d'envoyer dire a l'illustre cyrus que s'il vouloit luy promettre de remettre ce malheureux prince en ses mains lors qu'il auroit pris cumes il remettroit le roy d'assirie en sa puissance mais comme vous le scavez madame l'illustre cyrus ayant receu une lettre de ce roy captif qui avoit trouve moyen de la luy faire tenir prit une resolution plus heroique et refusa arsamone cependant intapherne et atergaris n'estoient pas heureux car arsamone laissant arbiane et les princesses a heraclee les mena a cabira ou il fut si chagrin lors que par le retour de son envoye et par l'arrivee d'hidaspe il aprit la generosite de l'invincible cyrus qu'il y tomba malade il ne voulut pourtant pas que la reine y menast les princesses lors qu'elle l'y fut trouver au contraire il luy commanda qu'elle les laissast a heraclee car dans la fureur qu'il avoit dans l'ame il n'eust pu souffrir qu'intapherne ny atergaris eussent eu la consolation de voir les princesses qu'ils aimoient cependant sa maladie fut si longue qu'elle facilita la liberte du roy d'assirie car encore qu'on luy dist qu'hidaspe apres estre party de cabira estoit alle en galatie et en capadoce qu'il tiroit toutes les garnisons des places frontieres et qu'il en formoit un corps il ne creut point que cyrus luy eust commande d'entreprendre de delivrer son ennemy par la force et il pensa plustost que c'estoit une recreue pour son armee que de s'imaginer que ce prince eust tant d'envie de la liberte de 
 son rival de sorte que la politique participant a la foiblesse que son mal luy causoit s'endormit cette fois la s'il est permis de parler ainsi et donna le temps a hidaspe de surprendre le chasteau ou estoit le roy d'assirie et de delivrer ce prince il est vray que comme intapherne et atergaris craignoient toujours que la fantaisie ne reprist a arsamone de luy faire espouser ou istrine ou la princesse de bithinie ils n'aporterent pas grand foin a luy donner les advis necessaires pour sa seurete et ils en vinrent aux termes qu'encore qu'ils haissent horriblement le roy d'assirie ils souhaitoient pourtant sa liberte aussi en eurent-ils autant de joye qu'arsamone en eut de fureur lors que la nouvelle en vint a cabira de sorte que comme istrine ne put cacher la sienne ce prince violent la soubconna d'avoir donne des advis a hidaspe pour luy faire surprendre le chasteau ou il estoit et il le soubconna d'autant plustost qu'il sceut que le prince gadate luy avoit escrit une lettre qu'il n'avoit pas voulu monstrer parce que luy ordonnant de venir icy et intapherne ne pouvant se resoudre de s'esloigner si tost de la princesse de bithinie ne vouloit pas qu'arsamone la vist de peur qu'il ne l'obligeast d'obeir a gadate plustost qu'il ne le vouloit cependant quoy que ce prince fust innocent de ce dont le roy de bithinie l'accusoit il ne laissa pas de le traitter comme coupable sur de simples conjectures et de le bannir non seulement de sa cour mais de ses royaumes arbiane fit 
 pourtant ce qu'elle put pour l'apaiser mais ce fut inutilement ce prince ne donnant mesme autre terme a intapherne pour rentrer dans ses estats que lors qu'il luy ameneroit ou le roy de pont ou araminte ou spitridate vous pouvez juger madame quelle douleur fut celle de ce prince qui apres avoir rendu mille services a arsamone se voyoit traite avec tant d'ingratitude et tant d'injustice intapherne par un sentiment de gloire eust bien eu envie de demander qu'on luy permist d'emmener istrine mais luy semblant qu'il luy seroit avantageux qu'elle demeurast aupres de la princesse qu'il aimoit il rejetta cette pensee cependant il falut qu'il obeist non seulement parce qu'il n'estoit pas en pouvoir de n'obeir point mais encore parce que la princesse de bithinie le luy commanda il eut pourtant la satisfaction malgre arsamone de luy dire adieu car comme elle estoit a heraclee il y fut desguise au sortir de cabira et la vit en presence d'istrine d'atergatis qui l'y suivit et de moy je ne vous diray pourtant pas madame tout ce que se dirent des personnes qui avoient des sentimens si tendres dans le coeur mais je vous assureray que jamais l'amour et l'amitie n'ont fait trouver a qui que ce soit des expressions si touchantes ny si passionnees que celles dont ils se servirent pour se tesmoigner l'un a l'autre la douleur qu'ils avoient de se quitter et de se quitter encore sans scavoir quand ils se reverroient ce fut alors que la princesse de bithinie promit au 
 prince intapherne de n'estre jamais a personne si elle ne pouvoit estre a luy et ce fut alors aussi que le prince atergatis estant sur le point de perdre son protecteur aupres d'istrine l'obligea de contraindre cette belle princesse a l'assurer en sa presence qu'elle ne le chasseroit jamais de son coeur istrine et intapherne se firent a leur tour de nouvelles protestations d'amitie aussi bien qu'intapherne et atergatis de sorte qu'achevant de serrer tous les noeuds qui les attachoient les uns aux autres je pense pouvoir assurer qu'ils les rendirent indissolubles mais enfin madame il falut partir et je partis en effet avec le prince intapherne pour venir ou il y avoit si longtemps que gadate le desiroit mais ayant sceu que cumes estoit pris et que vous marchiez nous changeasmes nostre toute afin de vous couper chemin cependant comme les dieux disposent malgre nous de tous les evenemens le prince intapherne s'estant accoustume pendant ce voyage a vouloir souvent marcher assez loin de ceux qui l'accompagnoient afin de s'entretenir mieux de sa passion s'egara dans une forest sans estre suivy que d'un escuyer seulement car bien que j'eusse accoustume de luy tenir souvent compagnie dans cette espece de solitude qu'il s'estoit establie en voyageant je n'estois point alors aupres de luy m'estant arreste avec un des siens pour luy dire que j'aprehendois estrangement que nous ne trouvassions le roy d'assirie aupres de vous mais pendant que je 
 craignois qu'intapherne ne rencontrast ce prince les dieux qui sont accoustumez a n'accommoder pas leur volonte a celle des hommes et a se moquer bien souvent de la prudence humaine le conduisirent justement au bord de cette petite riviere ou le roy d'assirie s'estoit alle promener pendant que vous estiez au temple attendant aparamment en cet agreable lieu que l'heure ou vous deviez partir fust venue j'ay sceu depuis par l'escuyer qui avoit suivy intapherne et par intapherne luy mesme comment cette rencontre se fit c'est pourquoy comme j'ay sceu par martesie que vous ne le scavez pas et que vous avez envie de l'aprendre je vous en diray toutes les particularitez joint que ce ne seroit pas vous avoir dit exactement la vie d'intapherne si je vous en cachois une action si esclattante vous scaurez donc madame que ce prince marchant le long de cette petite riviere dont je vous ay parle alloit assez lentement esperant toujours que nous pourrions le rejoindre et qu'il ne seroit pas contraint d'arriver sans train et sans equipage au lieu ou on luy avoit dit en chemin que vous estiez mais comme l'amour qu'il avoit dans l'ame l'occupoit tousjours tant qu'il estoit seul il marchoit en resvant sans scavoir presques ce qu'il voyoit d'autre part le roy d'assirie qui ne paroissoit pas moins resveur que le prince intapherne quoy que suivant son impetuosite naturelle il allast d'un pas aussi precipite que s'il eust eu un grand voyage a faire estoit aussi le long de cette riviere 
 suivy d'un escuyer seulement si bien que le hazard ayant fait que le roy d'assirie vint vers intapherne comme intapherne alloit vers luy il arriva malheureusement que resvant tres profondement tous deux ils passerent si pres l'un de l'autre que leurs chevaux bondissant en mesme temps firent qu'ils penserent se choquer si bien que revenant tous deux de leur resverie et voulant retenir la bride a leurs chevaux ils s'entre-regarderent fierement cherchant chacun en son particulier a connoistre qui estoit celuy qui l'avoit pense pousser de sorte que se reconnoissant tous deux le roy d'assirie creut sans doute de son coste qu'intapherne avoit eu dessein de le choquer comme intapherne creut du sien que ce prince avoit eu intention de luy faire un nouvel outrage si bien que la colere s'emparant de leur esprit ils se regarderent d'abord comme des gens qui avoient grande disposition a se quereller intapherne ne laissa pourtant pas de le saluer mais ce fut avec tant de marques d'indignation sur le visage que ce respect qu'il rendit au roy d'assirie ne diminua rien de la fureur de ce prince au contraire il sembla qu'elle en prit encore de nouvelles forces car a peine intapherne l'eut-il salue que s'estant recule de deux pas seulement il prit la parole avec ce ton de voix fier et superbe que la colere luy donne et qui marque si bien la violence de son humeur a ce que je voy luy dit-il brusquement et en le regardant d'une maniere mesprisante vous estes aussi insolent icy 
 que vous estiez ambitieux a babilone et que vous avez este injuste en bithinie lors que vous avez eu l'audace de m'y faire arrester prisonnier par arsamone afin de me faire espouser une personne que je ne croy pas digne d'estre esclave de la princesse que j'adore ha seigneur s'escria intapherne ne m'outragez pas si cruellement et ne me forcez point a oublier malgre moy que je vous ay veu sur le throne de peur que si j'en perdois la memoire je ne fisse a la fin ce que j'aurois desja fait si un autre que vous m'avoit parle comme vous venez de me parler car enfin seigneur je n'ay point manque icy au respect que je vous dois je n'ay point eu a babilone d'ambition que je ne deusse avoir et bien loin de vouloir vous forcer en bithine a espouser ma soeur j'ay a vous aprendre qu'elle a plus resiste a arsamone que vous ne luy avez resiste n'estant pas assez lasche pour songer jamais a estre femme d'un prince qui l'a tant mesprisee et qui m'a si cruellement outrage c'est pourquoy je vous suplie encore une fois avec tout le respect que je dois au fils de la reine nitocris de ne me forcer point a le perdre de peur que m'imaginant que la fortune en vous renversant du throne m'auroit aproche de vous je ne creusse estre oblige a des choses que je me reprocherois apres toute ma vie si je les avois faites je ne scay pas repliqua fierement le roy d'assirie si tu te repentiras toute ta vie de ce que tu viens de me dire mais je scay bien que je ne me reprocheray jamais a moy mesme 
 d'avoir endure l'insolence d'un sujet qui me doit autant de respect dans les fers que si j'estois encore sur le throne a ces mots le roy d'assirie mettant l'espee a la main forca intapherne a l'y mettre aussi mais ce fut pourtant d'abord avec intention de se contenter de parer les coups du roy d'assirie et en effet ce genereux prince faisant un grand effort sur luy mesme pour vaincre son ressentiment se recula de quelques pas en parant tousjours et prenant encore une fois la parole au nom des dieux seigneur luy dit-il ne me pressez pas davantage car je sens que la patience m'abandonne souhaite seulement que ta valeur ne t'abandonne pas repliqua le roy d'assirie en le pressant encore plus vivement si tu veux te garantir de la mienne apres cela madame intapherne n'estant plus maistre de luy mesme ne combatit pas seulement pour deffendre sa vie mais encore pour se vanger et son escuyer m'a dit qu'il fit des choses si prodigieuses qu'on ne scauroit les concevoir a moins que de les avoir veues car enfin madame quand le roy d'assirie se seroit battu contre l'illustre cyrus et que vous eussiez deu estre le prix du combat ce prince violent n'eust pu se battre avec plus d'ardeur mais comme intapherne a toute la sincerite d'un homme veritablement brave il a dit a tous ceux a qui il a raconte son action que si le roy d'assirie se fust mesnage il auroit encore eu beaucoup plus de peine a le vaincre et sa modestie luy a mesme fait dire que si ce vaillant prince 
 ne se fust de luy mesme precipite dans ses armes en voulant finir son combat plus promptement il ne l'auroit pas vaincu en effet madame le roy d'assirie s'estant enferre luy mesme en voulant luy gagner la croupe son espee s'estant rompue et se trouvant fort blesse au bras droit sans que son ennemy le fust en nulle part son grand coeur fut contraint de ceder intapherne ne voulut pourtant pas abuser de sa victoire en insultant sur un malheureux tout injuste qu'il estoit au contraire il luy dit plusieurs choses genereuses et luy demanda ou il luy plaisoit qu'il le conduisist se mettant mesme en posture d'aider a le vouloir soustenir voyant qu'il ne pouvoit plus se tenir a cheval mais ce fier ennemy ne voulant que son escuyer pour luy aider a descendre deffendit a intapherne de s'aprocher de luy et luy ordonna de se retirer comme tu es tousjours mon sujet quoy que tu sois mon vainqueur luy dit ce prince violent je te commande de t'oster de ma presence ne m'estant pas possible de souffrir davantage celle d'un homme qui vient de detruire toutes mes esperances de renverser tous mes desseins et de reculer ma mort ou mon bonheur ces paroles ambigues ou intapherne ne comprit rien luy faisant croire que la douleur d'estre vaincu ostoit la liberte de l'esprit au roy d'assirie firent qu'il en eut plus de compassion et qu'il voulut s'obstiner a le secourir mais il s'en mit en une si grande colere qu'intapherne voyant de loin venir quelques soldats 
 qui pourroient aider a l'escuyer de ce prince a le porter fut contraint de se retirer cependant au lieu de continuer d'avancer vers le chasteau ou vous estiez il retourna quelque temps sur ses pas estant resolu de ne se presenter point a vous ny a cyrus ny au prince son pere que vous n'eussiez marche jugeant bien qu'en l'estat ou il avoit mis le roy d'assirie il ne pourroit vous suivre et en effet madame ce prince nous ayans rencontrez heureusement a quatre stades de l'endroit ou il s'estoit battu nous prismes la route que nous scavions que vous deviez tenir et nous fusmes vous attendre a la mesme maison ou vous estiez attendue et ou le prince intapherne eut l'honneur de vous estre presente le soir par l'illustre cyrus orcame ayant cesse de parler mandane le remercia de la peine qu'il avoit prise de luy aprendre ce qu'elle avoit eu envie de scavoir et pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle l'avoit escoute avec attention elle repassa les principaux evenemens qu'il luy avoit racontez mais comme les dernieres choses qu'orcame avoit fait dire au roy d'assirie avoient fait quelque impression dans l'esprit de mandane elle se mit a demander a doralise ce qu'elle croyoit qu'il eust voulu dire lors qu'apres avoir este vaincu par intapherne il avoit dit qu'il venoit de destruire toutes ses esperances de renverser tous ses desseins et de reculer sa mort ou son bonheur car enfin adjoustoit-elle il n'est pas aise de concevoir qu'en l'estat ou sont 
 les choses il pust raisonnablement rien esperer ny former aucun dessein qui luy pust estre avantageux ny craindre de mourir de la main d'un rival qui vient de le delivrer ny s'imaginer qu'il peust estre heureux par moy cependant il est a croire qu'il n'a pas dit toutes ces choses sans sujet je vous assure madame repliqua doralise que je suis persuadee que quand on est aussi brave aussi glorieux aussi violent et aussi amoureux qu'est le roy d'assirie et qu'on a este battu a deux stades de son rival et de sa maistresse on ne scait pas trop bien ce qu'on dit et qu'ainsi vous ne seriez pas aussi raisonnable que vous estes si vous faisiez quelque fondement sur les paroles de ce prince pendant que doralise parloit ainsi et que pherenice et orcame disoient qu'elle avoit raison martesie ne disoit rien car comme elle scavoit l'engagement de ce prince avec le roy d'assirie elle entendoit mieux ces paroles que les autres ne les entendoient toutesfois comme ce prince estoit demeure derriere et qu'il n'estoit pas en estat qu'il y eust rien a craindre elle ne tesmoigna pas les entendre et la princesse mesme tonbant dans le sens de doralise n'y fit plus aucune reflection et continua de repasser les avantures d'atergatis d'istrine et d'intapherne apres quoy le reste de la conversation ne fut plus que de choses agreable et divertissantes dont la pauvre berise fut le sujet car apres en avoir parle et avoir bien examine tout ce qu'orcame en avoit dit la princesse mandane conclut qu'il n'y avoit 
 point de cour au monde qui n'eust quelque berise et mesme quelquesfois plusieurs berises assurant qu'elle scavoit qu'il y en avoit a themiscire et a sinope doralise dit qu'en son particulier elle en connoissoit aussi a sardis pherenice la fit souvenir qu'il y en avoit plusieurs a suse et orcame protesta qu'il en connoissoit plus de douze a babilone en suitte de quoy la princesse se souvenant qu'elle avoit resolu de partir matin le lendemain congedia orcame et se retira gardant mesme cette fidellite a cyrus de ne vouloir pas r'apeller dans sa memoire ce qu'elle avoit apris du roy d'assirie si bien que destachant son esprit de toutes sortes d'objets elle s'endormit avec toute la quietude d'une personne qui ne croyoit plus avoir rien a craindre 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pendant que la princesse mandane jouissoit d'un repos qui n'estoit pas mesme trouble par de facheux songes et que cette multitude de troupes qui la conduisoient se delassoit du travail du jour durant les tenebres de la nuit pendant dis-je que le sommeil qui est accoustume aussi bien que la mort d'esgaller les rois aux bergers et les heureux aux malheureux regnoit souverainement sur une partie de l'univers et qu'il soulageoit presques tous les miserables cyrus mazare et anaxaris sans se pouvoir laisser assujetir par une si douce tirannie employoient tous les momens de la nuit a penser a mandane ce n'est pas qu'en l'estat ou 
 estoient les choses cyrus n'y pust penser agreablement et qu'il n'y pensast en effet avec autant de plaisir que d'esperance mais outre que les plaisirs que la seule esperance donne sont tousjours accompagnez d'inquietude il y avoit encore je ne scay quoy dans son ame qui temperoit une partie de sa joye ce n'estoit pourtant pas que son grand coeur luy fist aprehender pour l'amour de luy le combat qu'il devoit faire avec le roy d'assirie avant que de posseder mandane au contraire la haine qu'il avoit pour ce prince luy faisoit trouver beaucoup de satisfaction a penser qu'il se verroit l'espee a la main contre luy et en estat de s'en pouvoir vanger pleinement mais c'estoit enfin qu'il estoit si peu accoustume d'estre heureux qu'il ne pouvoit croire qu'il fust a la fin de ses malheurs ainsi sans scavoir precisement ce qui faisoit obstacle a sa satisfaction il sentoit pourtant dans son coeur une resistance a la joye que raisonnablement il devoit avoir mais si l'illustre cyrus avoit une espece de chagrin dont il ne scavoit pas la cause il n'en estoit pas ainsi du prince mazare qui ayant tousjours a se combatre luy mesme se voyoit a tous les instans dans la crainte que sa vertu ne fust vaincue par son amour anaxaris estoit toutesfois plus malheureux que luy car il avoit une passion si violente qu'elle avoit absolument soumis la raison a son empire et l'on peut dire aveque verite que mandane ne regnoit pas plus souverainement sur le coeur d'anaxaris que la passion d'anaxaris regnoit 
 tiranniquement sur sa propre raison et sur sa propre vertu elle ne l'aveugloit pourtant pas jusques au point qu'il ne connust bien que mille raisons eussent voulu qu'il eust este amy de cyrus et qu'il n'eust pas este son rival mais apres tout quand il s'estoit dit a luy mesme qu'il ne luy estoit pas possible de cesser d'aimer mandane il se croyoit justifie et pensoit apres cela que tout ce que son amour luy inspiroit n'estoit plus un crime puis qu'il ne la pouvoit vaincre cependant quoy qu'il n'eust pas la peine de se combatre luy mesme il n'en estoit pas plus heureux car en abandonnant son ame a la passion qui le possedoit il connoissoit bien qu'il l'abandonnoit a tous les suplices imaginables veu l'estat ou estoient les choses mais il ne laissoit toutesfois pas d'aimer mandane et de la vouloir aimer ce qu'il y avoit encore de plus estrange c'est qu'il ne laissoit pas mesme d'esperer quoy que raisonnablement il ne le deust pas et quoy qu'il connust bien luy mesme que cette esperance estoit mal fondee il est vray que pour trouver quelque consolation a son mal il cherchoit soigneusement a faire un amy particulier ce n'est pas qu'apres y avoir bien pense il eust dessein de luy confier alors les secrets de son coeur car il en avoit de plus d'une espece qu'il ne jugeoit pas encore a propos de reveler a qui que ce soit mais il vouloit du moins avoir une personne a qui il les pust dire s'il en estoit besoin aussi fust-ce pour cela qu'il mesnagea aveque soin l'esprit d'andramite et comme 
 il n'y a rien de plus seur que de tenir les secrets des autres devant que de confier les siens il engagea insensiblement andramite a luy dire tout ce qu'il pensoit et lier une amitie si particuliere aveque luy que quand ils se fussent connus toute leur vie elle ne l'eust pas este davantage anaxaris agit mesme si adroitement qu'en remettant tousjours de jour en jour a aprendre a andramite quelle estoit sa vie et sa fortune il estoit maistre de ses secrets sans avoir hazarde les siens et sans qu'andramite soubconnast qu'il ne luy deust pas confier mais pendant que cyrus mazare et anaxaris avoient des sentimens si differens quoy qu'une mesme passion regnast dans leur coeur il y avoit une curiosite estrange dans l'esprit de mandane de martesie de chrysante et de feraulas de scavoir l'estat ou estoit le roy d'assirie la princesse mandane par un sentiment genereux n'osoit pourtant s'en informer mais pour martesie elle en demandoit des nouvelles a tout le monde d'autre part maza- et anaxaris s'en informoient aussi soigneusement principalement ce dernier de sorte que quand ce prince eust este l'amy particulier de ses rivaux le liberateur de mandane et le protecteur de martesie de chrysante et de feraulas ils n'eussent pu avoir plus d'envie de scavoir l'estat de ses blessures qu'ils en avoient mais quelque forte que fust leur curiosite ils n'en scavoient que ce qu'il plaisoit a cyrus qu'ils en sceussent parce que ce n'estoit directement qu'a luy 
 que ceux qu'il avoit laissez aupres du roy d'assirie en rendoient conte de sorte que cyrus disant tousjours qu'il estoit fort mal ils n'en sceurent alors autre chose cependant comme ce voyage estoit un voyage de victoire et de joye cyrus ne donna pas seulement ordre que mandane n'eust nulle incommodite mais il fit encore tout ce qu'il put pour faire qu'elle eust tous les plaisirs qu'on peut avoir en voyageant pour cet effet elle n'alloit en pas une ville qu'on ne luy fist entree si elle s'y reposoit un jour ce jour estoit employe a voir ce qu'il y avoit de plus remarquable en ce lieu-la on y assembloit les dames on y dancoit on y entendoit des musiques on y faisoit des festins on y adjugeoit des prix et l'on eust dit enfin que cyrus ne menoit mandane par tous les lieux de ses conquestes que pour les luy offrir et que pour la faire jouir de tous les fruits de ses victoires ainsi il sembloit que depuis cumes jusques a ecbatane ce deust estre un triomphe continuel en effet les peuples estoient si persuadez de la vertu de cyrus que ce n'estoit que des acclamations universelles par tous les lieux ou il passoit aussi aportoit-il un foin estrange a empescher que la marche de tant de troupes ne ruinast les pais qu'elles traversoient et l'on peut dire aveque verite que comme il ne passoit presques en auc lieu qu'il n'eust signale par sa valeur durant la guerre il ne passa presques aussi en aucun endroit pendant ce voyage ou il ne signalast quelqu'une de ces vertus qui le rendoient le 
 plus accomply prince du monde car en une ville il donnoit des marques d'humanite en soulageant les peuples en une autre il faisoit voir sa justice en punissant les soldats insolens en cent autres lieux il donnoit des marques esclatantes de sa liberalite selon les occasions qui s'en presentoient et en quelque endroit qu'il fust comme il estoit tousjours luy mesme il estoit tousjours incomparable mandane de son coste pendant cette marche donna diverses preuves de sa piete en restablissant des temples destruits ou en fondant de nouveaux selon les prieres que luy en faisoient les peuples et l'on peut assurer sans mensonge que cyrus et mandane n'eurent point a se reprocher durant ce voyage d'avoir passe un jour sans faire du bien a quel qu'un aussi le prince intapherne estoit il si charme de leur vertu que ne se contentant pas d'en estre le tesmoin il se faisoit raconter par tous ceux a qui il parloit tout ce qu'il n'en scavoit pas ainsi soit qu'il parlast au prince artamas au prince myrsile a mazare a anaxaris ou a tant d'autres avec qui il fit connoissance il parloit toujours de cyrus et de mandane ne pouvant se lasser d'aprendre les merveilles de leur vie il arriva pourtant une chose qui luy donna assez de sujet de parler de ce qui se passoit sans parler de ce qui s'estoit passe car cyrus ayant voulu que mandane fist une assez petite journee ce jour-la parce qu'elle ne l'eust pu faire 
 plus grande sans estre incommodement logee elle fut a un lieu ou il luy arriva une avanture qui luy donna de la compassion et qui fournit a intapherne une nouvelle matiere de s'entretenir de sa vertu cyrus ayant donc resolu que cette princesse iroit coucher a une petite ville qui se rencontroit sur sa route et qui n'estoit pas fort esloignee du lieu d'ou elle partoit cela fut cause qu'elle partit tard et qu'elle n'arriva guere de meilleure heure que si la journee qu'elle avoit faite eust este plus longue elle arriva pourtant assez tost pour remarquer comme une chose extraordinaire l'agreable et bizarre scituation de cette petite ville ou elle alloit coucher elle vit donc en s'en aprochant qu'elle estoit haute et basse entre des montagnes des vallees et des rochers de plus elle vit encore qu'il y avoit un antique et superbe chasteau qui s'eslevoit sur la pointe d'un de ces rochers qui regardoit vers une forest au coste opposite elle vit trois grandes et profondes vallees environnees de rochers dans lesquelles on descendoit par un sentier tournoyant pratique dans la roche et pour achever de rendre ce paisage plus beau et plus extraordinaire on voyoit au pied d'une montagne et au bord d'un torrent deux superbes tombeaux dont il y en avoit un basty a l'egiptienne et l'autre a la greque de sorte que le soleil se couchant ce soir la sans aucun nuage on peut presques dire qu'il donna a tout ce paisage une partie de l'or de ses rayons en donnant 
 effectivement un lustre dore a toute la campagne qui la faisoit paroistre plus belle aussi ce magnifique objet fit-il une si grande impression dans l'esprit de mandane que lors qu'elle fut a ce superbe chasteau ou elle fut loger elle ne parla d'autre chose s'informant mesme fort curieusement de qui estoient les tombeaux qu'elle avoit veus en passant et pourquoy il y en avoit un basty a l'egiptienne et l'autre d'architecture greque ce que vous demandez madame repliqua de maistre de ce chasteau nomme eucrate qui estoit un homme d'esprit fort avance en age et qui avoit fort voyage est sans doute digne de curiosite car enfin l'amour n'est pas moins la cause de ces tombeaux que la mort estant certain que si celuy qui les a fait bastir n'eust pas este amoureux ils n'orneroient pas le paisage qui environne ce chasteau la princesse mandane entendant parler ce vieillard de cette sorte eut encore plus de curiosite qu'auparavant si bien que le pressant de dire ce qu'il scavoit il aprit en peu de mots a cette princesse qu'un homme de qualite et de grand merite nomme menestee qui estoit de la race de ces premiers phocenses qui quitterent la phocide pour aller bastir phocee que le prince thrasibule avoit pris s'estant resolu de voyager apres avoir perdu sa femme qui luy avoit laisse un fils et une fille estoit alle en egypte ou il estoit devenu esperdument amoureux d'une fille d'aeliopolis qu'il avoit enlevee de son consentement qu'apres cela estant 
 repasse en asie il avoit en suitte passe a ce chasteau ou cette belle egiptienne estant morte quatre jours apres y estre arrivee il n'en avoit point voulu partir et luy avoit fait bastir ce magnifique tombeau qui estoit a l'usage de son pais de sorte poursuivit eucrate que comme menestee n'a jamais voulu abandonner celle qui avoit suivy sa fortune et quitte sa patrie pour l'amour de luy il a fait bastir son propre tombeau aupres du sien qui est devenu son habitation et son palais en attendant la mort qui doit finir ses peines et l'y enfermer pour tousjours quoy interrompit mandane celuy qui a fait bastir ces deux tombeaux vit encore et demeure dans celuy qui est basty a la grecque ouy madame repliqua-t'il mais il y vit d'une maniere si digne de compassion qu'on peut plustost dire qu'il acheve de mourir que de dire qu'il soit vivant car enfin il passe les journees entieres dans le tombeau de la personne qu'il a perdue et ne se retire dans le sien qu'aux heures ou le sommeil le force de faire treve avec sa douleur si bien que je pense pouvoir assurer que jamais la mort et l'amour estant mesme joints ensemble n'ont cause un si long desespoir que celuy de menestee cependant on diroit que les dieux prennent plaisir a ses souffrances et qu'ils veulent le laisser vivre pour rendre un tribut eternel de larmes et de soupirs a la personne qu'il a perdue y ayant desja plus de dix huit ans qu'il mene cette triste vie sans pouvoir achever de mourir je m'estonne dit alors 
 mandane qu'estant de la condition dont il est ceux qui luy sont proches ne l'ont force de changer cette funeste demeure je vous assure madame reprit eucrate que l'illustre peranius son fils qui seroit aujourd'huy prince de phocee apres la mort violente de celuy qui l'estoit si les armes de l'invincible cyrus n'avoient pas conquis son estat a fait tout ce qu'il a pu pour obliger menestee a changer de vie mais il ne l'a jamais pu persuader et tout ce qu'il a pu obtenir de luy a este de souffrir qu'il commandast a deux de ses esclaves de demeurer a l'habitation la plus proche de son tombeau afin de luy porter une fois le jour seulement les choses qui luy sont d'une absolue necessite au nom de peranius cyrus qui estoit present a ce que disoit eucrate chercha un moment dans sa memoire puis prenant la parole quoy luy dit-il celuy dont vous parlez seroit effectivement un neveu du prince de phocee que j'ay sceu par thrasybule estre un des hommes du monde le plus brave et le plus accomply ouy seigneur repliqua-t'il et c'est ce mesme peranius fils d'une soeur du prince de phocee qui plustost que de se resoudre a se soumettre voyant que le prince son oncle et alexidesme l'avoient abandonne persuada a tous les habitans de sa ville de quitter leur patrie de s'embarquer de le reconnoistre pour leur chef et d'aller tascher d'estre les vainqueurs des autres en portant la guerre en quelque part plustost que d'estre les esclaves de thrasybule 
 ou pour mieux dire les vostres puis que c'estoit avec vos armes que ce prince faisoit la guerre pour luy tesmoigner qu'il a eu tort de craindre que je fisse porter des fers trop pesans a un homme aussi brave que luy reprit cyrus je veux demain visiter le prince son pere afin qu'il puisse scavoir un jour en quelque lieu qu'il soit que celuy qui honnore mesme les tombeaux des hommes vertueux ne pourroit pas manquer de les honnorer eux mesmes quand la fortune les auroit fait ses esclaves comme cyrus eut dit cela et que ce vieillard entendit que mandane disoit aussi qu'elle vouloit aller voir le malheureux menestee il leur dit avec adresse qu'ils augmenteroient sa douleur par leur presence adjoustant mesme pour les empescher d'y aller que le chemin de ces tombeaux estoit tres-difficile a cause des rochers et du torrent aupres de qui ils estoient bastis mais voyant qu'il ne se rebutoient pas pour cette difficulte il se teut et se retira cependant comme la chambre ou coucha mandane donnoit justement du coste ou estoient ces deux tombeaux elle ne fut pas plustost levee que ce magnifique objet la faisant souvenir du dessein qu'elle avoit eu renouvella sa curiosite si bien qu'envoyant demander a cyrus s'il n'avoit point oublie ce qu'il avoit resolu le soir ce prince vint luy dire que bien loin d'en avoir perdu la memoire il avoit desja envoye voir si l'abord de ces tombeaux estoit si difficile et qu'on luy avoit raporte an contraire que le 
 chemin en estoit si aise qu'elle pouvoit y aller mesme en chariot de sorte que sans differer davantage elle se mit en chemin mais comme cyrus respectoit l'amour par tout ou il la trouvoit excepte dans le coeur de ses rivaux il eut cette consideration pour menestee de ne vouloir pas l'accabler par une multitude de monde qui eust augmente son chagrin il ne permit donc qu'a mazare qui se trouva alors aupres de luy au prince intapherne et a aglatidas de l'accompagner et pour mandane elle ne mena que doralise martesie anaxaris et une partie de ses gardes cette petite troupe estant conduite par eucrate quoy qu'il n'eust pas eu envie de la conduire en ce lieu la le soir auparavant arriva aupres de ces tombeaux dont il y en avoit un beaucoup plus superbe que l'autre celuy qui estoit basty a la greque estoit d'une simeterie admirable mais il avoit bien moins d'ornemens que celuy qui estoit basty a l'egiptienne dont l'architecture estoit aussi fort reguliere en effet quoy que la pyramide qui formoit ce tombeau ne fust que d'une mediocre grandeur elle estoit presques comparable par sa beaute a celles qui estoient aupres de memphis sa forme estoit triangulaire et elle estoit si admirablement faite que les yeux les plus clairs-voyans ne pouvoient apercevoir la jointure des pierres dont elle estoit bastie mille feuillages entrelassez formoient des ovales en basse taille ou l'on voyoit des inscriptions en carracteres hieroglifiques qui ornoient les trois 
 de la pyramide et qui faisoient connoistre a ceux qui la regardoient et qui pouvoient les entendre quelle avoit este la beaute de la personne pour qui elle estoit eslevee et quelle estoit l'amour de celuy qui l'avoit fait eslever sur le haut de cette pyramide estoit une figure de cet admirable cuivre de corinthe qui n'estoit desja guere moins celebre en ce temps-la qu'il le fut depuis apres l'embrasement de cette superbe ville de sorte que comme cette statue representoit la renommee et qu'elle tournoit sur un pivot selon que les vents tournoient on eust dit qu'elle n'estoit posee sur cette pyramide avec sa trompette a la bouche que pour annoncer a tout l'univers la mort de cette belle personne qui estoit dans ce tombeau cette trompette estant mesme faite avec un tel artifice que lors que le vent estoit un peu fort il en sortoit un son gemissant et pleintif qui avoit quelque chose de lugubre cette renommee avoit les aisles desployees comme si elle eust voulu commencer de voler et le bas de sa robe sembloit estre agite par le vent si bien qu'ayant une partie des jambes descouvertes cela donnoit bonne grace a cette figure et la destachoit davantage de la pointe de la pyramide dont la base magnifique servoit de tombeau a la belle personne que cet illustre solitaire regrettoit tant pour celuy de menestee il estoit en dome la voute en estoit soustenue par douze colomnes entre lesquelles on voyoit sur la frise au dessous de la corniche ces paroles gravees en caracteres grecs
 
 
 
 l'amour et la mort m'ont basty 
 
 
comme cyrus et mandane arriverent aupres de ces tombeaux ils virent menestee qu'eucrate avoit adverty des le soir qui venoit au devant d'eux mais avec un air si triste et si languissant qu'il estoit aise de voir que le temps ne l'avoit point console de la perte qu'il avoit faite il ne laissoit pourtant pas d'avoir la mine haute et noble ses habillemens estoient simples mais propres et ce triste solitaire sembloit plus tost alors un philosophe melancolique qu'un amant desespere des qu'il fut asses pres de cyrus qui aidoit a marcher a mandane pour en pouvoir estre entendu je rends graces aux dieux luy dit il de ce que la beaute de l'admirable princesse que je voy a apris au vainqueur de l'asie a respecter les tombeaux de ceux que l'amour avoit mis sous son empire et de ce qu'au lieu de craindre les ravages d'une armee victorieuse je me trouve dans la necessite de remercier le victorieux de l'honneur qu'il me veut faire en honnorant de sa presence les cendres d'une illustre morte ce n'est pas seulement repliqua cyrus pour honnorer une illustre morte que la princesse a voulu venir icy mais pour honnorer aussi un illustre vivant que je voudrois bien pouvoir retirer du tombeau qu'il habite en mon particulier adjousta mandane j'aurois une extreme joye de pouvoir aporter quelque moderation 
 a une aussi violente et aussi longue douleur que la vostre comme vous n'en pouvez jamais connoistre la cause repliqua menestee je ne m'estonne pas madame que vous ne croiyez point mon mal incurable cependant je ne laisse pas d'estre sensiblement oblige a cette generosite bienfaisante qui vous fait souhaiter que je fusse capable de consolation apres cela menestee qui craignoit que le soleil n'incommodast la princesse mandane luy ouvrit un superbe portique qui estoit pratique dans la base de la pyramide qui de chaque face en avoit un esgallement magnifique quoy qu'il n'y en eust qu'un qui s'ouvrist mais a peine mandane et cyrus furent-ils entrez dans ce tombeau qu'ils furent contraints de dire qu'il faloit que l'amour de celuy qui l'avoit basty fust bien forte pour l'avoir oblige a faire une telle sepulture en effet ce tombeau estoit si magnifiquement orne que les lieux destinez aux plus belles festes ne le sont pas davantage on voyoit au milieu un cercueil de bois incorruptible couvert de lames d'or d'un travail inestimable et pour marquer que celle dont le corps y reposoit avoit este l'astre de la beaute dans heliopolis on voyoit au dessus de ce cercueil un soleil couchant represente avec des pierreries dont les couleurs vives et rougeastres le faisoient presques voir tel qu'il est lors qu'il est prest de se plonger dans les flots et de derober sa lumiere a la moitie du monde pour en aller illuminer l'autre a l'entour de ce mesme 
 cercueil on voyoit douze jeunes amours merveilleusement representez qui d'une main sembloient essuyer leurs larmes et qui de l'autre tenoient sur leurs testes de magnifiques cassolettes dont s'exhalloient des parfums qui ressembloient plus a cette douce exhalaison qui sort d'un jardin plein de jasmin et d'orangers qu'a ceux que l'art compose si imparfaitement en comparaison de ceux que la nature fait toute seule de plus cent lampes de cristal estant pendues au haut de la voute avec ordre et proportion faisoient voir agreablement entre les pilastres qui soustenoient cette voute douze superbes niches dans lesquelles on voyoit douze figures de femmes qui sembloient pleindre et pleurer la perte de celle pour qui ce tombeau estoit esleve et qui par les differens airs de leurs visages et par les diverses choses qu'elles tenoient representoient une partie des vertus de celle qu'elles sembloient regretter le sculpteur ayant donne a chacune de ces figures une marque si connoissable de la vertu qu'elle representoit que les moins esclairez les pouvoient connoistre mandane ne pouvant donc assez admirer un si beau travail advouoit qu'il faloit qu'il y eust quelque chose de grand dans le coeur d'un amant aussi fidelle et aussi magnifique que menestee mais pour cyrus apres avoir admire tout ce qui estoit digne d'admiration en ce lieu-la il s'attacha fortement a considerer cet amant afflige qui des qu'il fut dans 
 ce tombeau fut si absolument possede de sa douleur que sans regarder presques ny cyrus ny mandane ny ceux qui les accompagnoient il se mit a regarder fixement ce cercueil soupirant de temps en temps avec une amertume de coeur inconcevable il arriva mesme que la beaute de mandane renouvellant dans son esprit l'image de celle qu'il avoit perdue renouvella aussi sa melancolie de sorte que cyrus admirant encore plus la douleur de menestee que le tombeau qu'il avoit fait bastir le regardoit attentivement joint que dans la violente passion qu'il avoit pour mandane il comprenoit si parfaitement quelle doit estre l'affliction de perdre ce que l'on aime qu'il s'en faloit peu qu'il ne louast le desespoir de menestee au lieu de le blasmer comme eussent fait ceux qui n'auroient pas eu l'ame possedee d'une ardente passion mais pendant que menestee soupiroit et que cyrus le regardoit soupirer mandane s'estant aprochee de ce cercueil pour lire quelques inscriptions qui estoient sur les lames d'or qui le couvroient voyant qu'elles estoient en carrecteres egyptiens apella cyrus pour les luy expliquer de sorte que ce prince s'en estant aproche se mit en effet a luy dire ce que l'amour de menestee luy avoit fait graver sur ces lames d'or mais comme il voulut aller d'un bout de ce cerveil a l'autre il vit de magnifiques tablettes au dessus desquelles il vit escrit en gros carrecteres et en langue capadocienne 
 a la princesse mandane cyrus n'eut pas plustost veu ces tablettes qu'il en changea de couleur car a peine eut-il jette les yeux sur ce carractere qu'il luy sembla qu'il le connoissoit pour estre du roy de pont si bien que dans le tumulte qui s'esleva dans son esprit il auroit assurement pris ces tablettes pour les cacher a mandane si cette princesse voyant dans ses yeux l'agitation de son ame n'eust veu presques en mesme temps ce qui la causoit de sorte que ce prince s'apercevant par un incarnat qui parut sur le visage de mandane qu'elle voyoit ce qu'il avoit veu il prit respectueusement ces tablettes et les luy presentant comme c'est a vous madame luy dit-il a qui ces tablettes s'adressent c'est aussi a vous a voir ce qu'on veut que vous scachiez mais pendant que vous le verrez vous me permettrez s'il vous plaist de demander a menestee en quel lieu est presentement celuy qui a escrit ce que je vous presente la princesse mandane n'estant pas moins estonnee que cyrus le pria de vouloir lire aussi bien qu'elle ce qu'il y avoit dans ces tablettes si bien que les ouvrant ils se mirent a lire sans que menestee y prist garde il est vray que ce ne fut pas seulement son chagrin qui l'empescha de le remarquer car come doralise ne pouvoit croire qu'il pust y avoir une si longue douleur et une si longue solitude sans quelque esgarement 
 d'esprit elle s'estoit mise a luy parler et avoit engage dans cette conversation et le prince intapherne et aglatidas et eucrate et martesie car pour mazare ce tombeau rapellant en sa memoire la triste vie qu'il avoit menee dans sa grote lors qu'il croyoit que mandane fust morte il estoit assez occupe a s'entretenir luy mesme sans entretenir les autres et pour anaxaris il ne l'estoit guere moins que mazare de sorte que mandane et cyrus lisant ce que le roy de pont avoit escrit dans ces tablettes ils y trouverent ces paroles
 
 
 c'est trop madame c'est trop que de me poursuivre jusques dans le tombeau d'une illustre morte et de me chasser d'un azile que toutes les loix divines et humaines veulent qui soit inviolable mais puis que vous le voulez ainsi il le faut vouloir si j'avois pu esperer de vous y voir sans cet heureux rival qui vous accompagne je vous y aurois attendue afin d'avoir la gloire d'expirer de douleur et d'amour en vous voyant partir mais comme c'est bien assez que vous triomphiez de mon coeur sans qu'il triomphe de moy je m'esloigne de vous pour m'esloigner de luy ne m'estant pas possible de faire autrement quoy que je luy doive la vie et la liberte je le conjure toutesfois s'il est permis de faire une priere a son rival et si je le puis faire sans perdre le respect que je vous dois de ne s'opposer point a quelque leger sentiment de pitie si vous en estes capable en considerant qu'apres avoir perdu deux royaumes pour l'amour de vous seulement vous 
 
 me chassez encore d'un tombeau que j'avois dessein de partager avec le plus fidelle amant du monde de grace madame obligez mon rival a ne me faire ny suivre ny chercher et pour l'y porter plus facilement faites le souvenir que si je n'avois pas eu le bon-heur de vous sauver des flots irritez qui estoient prests de faire perir la plus belle princesse du monde je n'aurois pas aujourd'huy la gloire d'en estre regarde favorablement mais helas je m'egare dans ma douleur car apres les traittemens rigoureux que vous m'avez faits je pense que je ferois mieux d'escrire a mon rival pour obtenir une grace de vous que de vous escrire pour obtenir quelque chose de luy quoy qu'il en soit madame si vous me faites chercher pour m'attacher au char de mon ennemy vous le ferez inutilement puis que qui est encore maistre de son espee est encore maistre de sa vie et de sa liberte je ne demande donc plus rien madame si ce n'est de croire que si je vy encore ce n'est pas avec intention ny de me consoler ny de cesser de vous aimer car je proteste que tant que je vivray je seray en droit de soustenir avec justice a tous mes rivaux qu'il n'y en a point qui vous aime si ardemment ny si respectueusement que moy toute rigoureuse et toute inexorable que vous m'estes 
 
 
 le roy de pont 
 
 
apres la lecture de cette lettre qui estoit assez touchante pour meriter d'estre leue sans colere cyrus n'osant presques regarder mandane de peur de voir de la compassion dans ses yeux pour les malheurs de son rival prit la parole le 
 premier pour m'espargner la douleur madame luy dit-il de voir que vous me demandiez une grace pour un tel rival que le roy de pont je veux prevenir vos prieres et vous dire qu'en l'estat ou sont les choses je consens volontiers qu'un roy qui a eu le malheur de perdre deux royaumes et de vous perdre vous mesme n'ait pas encore celuy de tomber sous la puissance de son ennemy et d'un ennemy encore a qui il croit avoir quelque obligation mais apres cela madame je vous demande du moins la permission de demander a menestee combien ce prince a este icy quand je ne vous le permettois pas pour l'amour de vous reprit mandane je vous en prierois pour l'amour de moy estant certain que cette advanture me donne de la curiosite et mesme de l'inquiettude car enfin quand je songe que ce fut aupres du tombeau d'abradate que vous rencontrastes le roy d'assirie et que je considere qu'il s'en est peu falu que nous n'ayons trouve le roy de pont dans celuy de cette belle egiptienne il s'en faut peu aussi que je ne croye que je trouveray des persecuteurs dans ecbatane quand vous m'y aurez conduite pourveu qu'ils ne soient pas plus en pouvoir de vous nuire que le roy de pont repliqua cyrus il sera aise de vous garantir de leur violence apres cela mandane s'aprocha de menestee qui soustenoit avec autant d'ardeur a doralise qu'il y avoit de la foiblesse a se consoler qu'elle luy soustenoit qu'il y en avoit a ne se consoler pas mais la presence 
 de mandane ayant fait cesser leur dispute elle se mit a luy monstrer les tablettes que cyrus avoit trouvees sur ce cercueil et a luy demander ou estoit celuy qui avoit escrit ce qui estoit dedans et s'il le connoissoit bien menestee surpris de voir ces tablettes qu'il n'avoit point sceu qui fussent sur ce cercueil fut un instant a revenir de l'estonnement qu'il en avoit mais apres s'estre determine a respondre je vous assure madame repliqua-t'il que je ne connois celuy qui a laisse ces tablettes dans ce tombeau que pour un des hommes du monde qui a le plus de douleur et le plus d'esprit et qui paroist mesme avoir le plus de vertu mais apres cela madame ne m'en demandez pas davantage car je ne scay ny sa condition ny la cause de sa melancolie ny ou il est presentement joint que quand je le scaurois je pense qu'apres vous avoir dit qu'il m'auroit fait promettre de ne le descouvrir pas vous auriez bien la generosite de ne m'en presser pas davantage cyrus connoissant alors par ce que disoit menestee qu'il aprehendoit qu'on eust dessein de faire quelque violence a celuy a qui il avoit donne-retraite se mit a luy dire d'une maniere a devoir estre creu qu'il luy engageoit sa parole que quand mesme celuy qu'il disoit ne connoistre point seroit dans le tombeau qu'il n'avoit pas encore veu il ne luy seroit fait aucun outrage de sorte qu'eucrate entendant ce que cyrus disoit s'aprocha et sans attendre que menestee respondist seigneur luy dit-il comme c'est moy qui 
 ay fait connoistre cet illustre inconnu a menestee il me semble que c'est aussi a moy a vous dire ce que j'en scay qui ne vous esclaircira pourtant guere davantage que ce qu'il vous en a desja dit car enfin seigneur tout ce que je vous puis dire de celuy dont je ne scay point le nom est qu'il y a huit jours que suivant le droit d'hospitalite qui est fort soigneusement garde en ce pais il vint au chasteau qui a l'honneur de vous loger presentement pour me demander retraite parce qu'ayant este fort malade et l'estant mesme encore il ne se sentoit pas en estat de continuer son voyage il n'avoit aveque luy qu'un seul homme qui sembloit plus tost un simple soldat qu'un escuyer et il me parut si triste que je luy accorday aveque joye ce qu'il me demandoit rendant graces aux dieux de m'avoir mis en pouvoir d'assister un homme aussi bien fait que celuy-la et qui me paroissoit aussi afflige de sorte que le logeant le plus commodement que je pus et ayant veu des fenestres de ce chasteau ces deux tombeaux qui paroissent de si loin quoy qu'ils ne soient pas en un lieu fort esleve il me demanda de qui ils estoient et je pense que c'est la seule chose pour qui je luy aye veu avoir quelque curiosite aussi crois-je que c'estoit seulement parce qu'un obier si funeste avoit quelque raport a la melancolie qu'il paroissoit avoir dans l'ame si bien que luy ayant apris la retraite de menestee et la vie solitaire qu'il menoit il en fut si touche que quoy qu'il ne pust presques se soustenir tant il estoit 
 foible il voulut que je l'amenasse icy et je le l'y amenay en effet mais depuis cela il y est venu tous les jours car bien que menestee eust accoustume de fuir toutes sortes de conversations la melancolie de cet estranger le luy rendit plus suportable qu'un autre joint qu'il entra si fort dans ses sentimens que menestee souhaita mesme qu'il le visitast tous les jours tant qu'il fut chez moy et en effet la chose s'est faite ainsi mais lors que la nouvelle vint hier que j'aurois l'honneur de vous recevoir dans ma maison il en parut fort esmeu et se prepara a partir a l'heure mesme quoy qu'il ne fust pas trop en estat de cela cependant je croy que l'agitation qu'il eut d'aprendre que vous deviez venir icy fut la veritable cause qui fit que deux blessures qu'il disoit avoir receues a la guerre et qu'il croyoit estre entierement consolidees se r'ouvrirent si bien que ne luy estant pas possible alors de s'engager a faire un long chemin a cause du sang qu'il perdoit et ne voulant pas aussi demeurer en un lieu ou vous deviez bien tost arriver je m'advisay de luy proposer de se venir cacher dans ces tombeaux ne prevoyant pas que vous auriez la curiosite de les voir et en effet il y vint des qu'on l'eut pense et il y a este jusques a ce qu'ayant sceu hier au soir que vous aviez resolu d'y venir j'en envoyay advertir menestee qui vous pourra dire mieux que moy comment il receut cette nouvelle c'est donc a vous dit alors cyrus a menestee a nous aprendre ce qui nous reste a scavoir 
 et a nous dire encore quelle cause donnoit celuy dont nous parlons a la crainte qu'il tesmoignoit avoir que je ne le trouvasse icy seigneur reprit menestee il dit a eucrate aussi bien qu'a moy que s'estant trouve engage dans le parti qui vous estoit oppose il ne vouloit pas s'exposer a devenir vostre esclave mais il nous le dit avec tant de desespoir sur le visage que je suis assure qu'estant aussi genereux que vous estes vous ne l'auriez pas enchaisne si vous l'aviez veu en l'estat ou je le vy quand mesme il auroit este vostre plus mortel ennemy des qu'il sceut que la princesse mandane viendroit icy et que vous y viendriez avec elle il me dit qu'il faloit donc qu'il partist aussi tost que la lune qui esclairoit alors seroit couchee afin de pouvoir s'esloigner sans estre veu de sorte que feignant a mon advis de vouloir se reposer deux heures afin d'avoir le temps d'escrire ce qui est dans ces tablettes il me demanda pour grace de pouvoir passer ce temps-la dans ce tombeau luy semblant me disoit-il qu'il estoit plus seur que l'autre et en effet luy ayant fait porter quelques quarreaux par celuy qui le servoit pour se pouvoir reposer plus commodement je l'y laissay jusques a l'heure qu'il m'avoit dit qu'il vouloit partir si bien que luy ayant apris que la lune estoit couchee il se disposa a partir au mesme instant sans me dire rien des tablettes qu'il laissoit mais enfin seigneur il est parti en un estat si deplorable que j'ay bien connu alors que sa fuite avoit quelque 
 cause plus pressante que ce qu'il m'avoit dit car bien que ses blessures qui s'estoient r'ouvertes le matin ayent recommence de seigner il a voulu partir malgre toutes les prieres que je luy ay faites de ne partir pas l'assurant que je trouverois moyen de le cacher dans le tombeau que j'habite mais lors que le voyant resolu de s'en aller en un estat si peu propre a faire voyage et a fuir diligemment je l'ay presse de me dire la cause de sa precipitation il m'a dit en m'embrassant et en soupirant tout ensemble que la mesme passion qui m'enfermoit dans ce tombeau l'en faisoit sortir et qu'il me prioit de croire que si j'eusse sceu ses malheurs je n'eusse pas creu estre le plus malheureux home du monde apres cela seigneur il est monte a cheval avec une peine extreme et sans estre suivy que de cet homme qui le sert il a pris un chemin qui est le long du torrent malgre l'obscurite de la nuit et malgre la foiblesse ou il estoit de sorte que selon toutes les aparences il se sera precipite dans le torrent ou esgare dans la forest ou tombe mort de foiblesse et de desespoir pendant que menestee parloit ainsi mandane tenoit le yeux baissez ne pouvant s'empescher d'avoir quelques sentimens de pitie d'estre la cause innocente des malheurs d'un prince qui eust este un des hommes du monde le plus vertueux s'il ne l'eust point trop aimee ou que sa passion n'eust pas este plus forte que sa raison cyrus mesme tout son rival qu'il estoit en fut touche de quelque pitie et il en eust sans doute 
 encore eu davantage s'il n'eust pas remarque que mandane en avoit quelque compassion il demeura pourtant dans les bornes qu'il s'estoit prescrites malgre l'agitation de son coeur de sorte qu'encore qu'il jugeast bien que s'il eust donne ordre de suivre et de chercher le roy de pont il l'eust pu avoir en sa puissance il ne le voulut pas faire et par sa propre generosite et parce qu'il creut que mandane l'en blasmeroit et parce qu'il avoit promis a araminte de retenir une partie de sa vangeance a sa consideration si bien que prenant la parole et l'adressant a menestee quoy que le roy de pont que vous avez assiste luy dit-il soit un des persecuteurs de la princesse mandane et un de mes plus grands ennemis puis qu'il est un de mes rivaux je ne laisse pas de vous dire que je vous loue de l'assistance que vous luy avez rendue et de vous assurer que pour faire que l'azile que vous luy avez donne ne luy soit pas inutile je ne le feray point suivre en effet adjousta mandane avec autant de douceur que de generosite je trouve que des qu'un ennemy ne nous peut plus nuire il faut laisser la vangeance de les crimes aux dieux seulement et ne s'en mesler plus du tout cependant si l'estonnement de meneste et d'eucrate fut grand d'aprendre que c'estoit le roy de pont qu'ils avoient assiste celuy de mazare et d'anaxaris le fut encore davantage et celuy d'intapherne d'aglatidas de doralise et de martesie ne fut guere moindre cet estonnement produisit pourtant 
 des effets differens dans l'esprit de mazare et d'anaxaris car le premier considerant que s'il n'eust point enleve mandane lors qu'elle estoit a sinope le roy de pont ne seroit pas reduit au pitoyable estat ou il estoit il en devint plus melancolique luy semblant mesme que la princesse mandane ne pouvoit rapeller le souvenir de son avanture avec le roy de pont sans repasser aussi en sa memoire la tromperie que l'exces de sa passion luy avoit fait faire et sans l'en accuser encore dans son coeur mais pour anaxaris il luy passa dans l'esprit un des plus bizarres sentimens que l'amour ait jamais inspire car enfin dans l'esperance qu'il avoit eue que le roy de pont seroit peut estre mort de ses blessures apres s'estre sauve de cumes dans une barque de pescheur il eut quelque espece de joye de voir que cyrus avoit encore plus d'un rival qu'il n'avoit pense si bien que sans considerer que le roy de pont ne pouvoit estre rival de cyrus sans estre aussi le sien il pensoit seulement que peutestre tout malheureux qu'il estoit trouveroit-il encore moyen de faire quelque obstacle a la felicite de cyrus de sorte que s'il eut de la douleur de cette avanture ce fut seulement celle de s'imaginer que peutestre ce malheureux roy se feroit mourir par une fuitte si precipitee et ne pourroit plus faire ce qu'il souhaitoit qu'il fist pour intapherne quoy qu'il eust fort aide a arsamone a renverser le roy de pont du throne par les belles choses qu'il avoit faites a la guerre et qu'ainsi il 
 n'eust nulle liaison avec ce prince il ne laissa pas de louer infiniment cyrus et mandane de la generosite qu'ils avoient de ne faire point suivre ce malheureux roy cependant comme cette avanture estoit fort surprenante elle fit que la conversation fut si longue qu'avant que mandane et cyrus eussent veu le second tombeau que menestee habitoit qu'ils eussent un peu fait parler cet illustre solitaire sur sa passion et sur sa douleur qu'ils fussent retournez au chasteau et qu'ils eussent disne il estoit si tard qu'il fut resolu qu'on passeroit le reste de la journee en ce lieu la et qu'on ne partiroit que le lendemain mais pendant que cyrus fut quelque temps occupe a donner divers ordres sur la marche des troupes et sur la route qu'il vouloit qu'on tinst en aprochant de capadoce mandane ayant apelle martesie dans un cabinet qui estoit a la chambre ou on l'avoit logee se mit a luy parler de l'avanture qui luy venoit d'arriver sans mentir martesie luy dit-elle je suis reservee a d'estranges choses car enfin ne diroit-on pas que les dieux ont entrepris de m'oster la consolation de pouvoir hair tous ceux qui m'ont outragee et de me priver du plaisir de m'en voir vanger en effet poursuivit cette princesse si l'examine les choses passees vous verrez que j'ay raison de parler comme je fais si je regarde le roy d'assirie mazare et le roy de pont comme des princes qui m'ont enlevee et qui ont cause tous les malheurs de ma vie ne dois-je pas penser que les 
 dieux ne scauroient trouver mauvais que je les haisse et que je m'en vange cependant ces mesmes dieux font que j'aprens des choses d'eux capables d'amoindrir ma haine et qui ne semblent pas me permettre de pouvoir innocemment souhaiter leur perte car que n'ay je point apris du desespoir et du repentir de mazare lors qu'il me croyoit morte que n'ay je point sceu par orcame de la puissante et violente passion que le roy d'assirie a pour moy et que ne viens-je point d'aprendre par menestee de celle qu'a tousjours dans le coeur un prince a qui je dois la vie aussi bien que celle de cyrus et a qui je couste deux royaumes en verite martesie adjousta t'elle je ne pense pas qu'il soit jamais arrive que trois aussi grands princes que ceux que je nomme se soient trouvez capables d'une aussi grande injustice que celle qu'ils ont eue en m'enlevant et se soient trouvez en mesme temps aussi dignes de pitie ce que je trouve de plus admirable reprit martesie et mesme de plus glorieux pour vous c'est madame qu'il n'y a pas un de ces princes qui n'eust pu estre digne de vous posseder s'il ne s'en fust pas rendu indigne par un injuste enlevement et si les dieux n'eussent pas fait naistre en leur siecle un prince qui a plus de grandes qualitez tout seul qu'ils n'en ont tous trois ensemble et de qui la respectueuse passion ne vous a jamais donne aucun sujet de pleinte il est vray reprit mandane que je serois fort ingrate et par consequent fort injuste si je n'avois pas pour cyrus 
 toute l'estime toute la reconnoissance et toute l'amitie dont je suis capable et si je ne m'estimois pas heureuse de regner sur le coeur d'un homme que les dieux ont juge digne de regner sur toute l'asie comme cette princesse achevoit de prononcer ces paroles cyrus qui avoit acheve de donner ses ordres entra au lieu ou elle estoit mais a peine le vit elle qu'elle rougit comme si elle eust eu peur qu'il eust entendu ce qu'elle venoit de dire de sorte que cyrus s'en estant aperceu chercha a donner une cause a cet agreable incarnat qui faisoit un si bel effet sur l'esclatante blancheur du beau teint de mandane car comme il n'est point d'actions indiffererentes en la personne aimee il eut quelque esmotion de celle qui paroissoit sur le visage de la princesse qu'il adoroit si bien que ne pouvant s'empescher de luy en dire quelque chose quoy que cette agreable rougeur qui vient de m'aparoistre luy dit-il semble donner un nouvel esclat a vostre beaute je ne laisse pas madame d'en avoir quelque inquietude par la crainte que j'ay de l'avoir causee en vous interrompant mal a propos je pourrois peutestre si je le voulois reprit mandane en souriant et en rougissant encore davantage tomber d'accord de la moitie de ce que vous venez de dire et vous l'advouer mesme sans vous desobliger mais comme l'injuste soubcon que vous avez eu de m'avoir interrompue mal a propos merite quelque punition vous n'en scaurez pas davantage si vous scaviez madame repliqua 
 cyrus quel suplice est celuy de ne scavoir point ce qui se passe dans le coeur d'une personne qu'on adore quand on s'est mis dans la fantaisie de le scavoir vous trouveriez sans doute que la punition que vous me donnez est plus grande que le crime dont vous m'accusez car enfin il faut que je vous advoue ma foiblesse en vous assurant qu'il est peu de chose que je ne fisse pour scavoir bien precisement ce qui vous a fait rougir je scay bien adjousta-t'il que cette bizarre curiosite est une de ces folies qu'on reproche a la passion qui me possede mais apres tout je la trouve bien fondee en effet poursuivit-il en souriant puis qu'il est permis a la guerre d'avoir des espions dans une place qu'on veut prendre il doit ce me semble bien aussi estre permis de tascher d'en avoir dans un coeur qu'on veut conquester et d'essayer de faire en sorte qu'il ne s'y passe rien dont on n'ait quelque connoissance comme on n'employe des espions reprit mandane que pour scavoir ce qui se passe chez ses ennemis vous n'en avez point de besoin pour scavoir ce qui se passe dans mon coeur puis que la guerre n'est pas declaree entre nous quoy qu'il en soit madame reprit cyrus je puis vous assurer qu'on a quelquesfois bien plus de curiosite de scavoir ce que pense une personne qu'on aime que d'aprendre les desseins des ennemis qu'on doit combatre quelques redoutables qu'ils soient et en mon particulier j'aimerois mieux avoir un espion bien fidelle dans 
 vostre coeur que d'en avoir plusieurs aupres du roy d'assirie ny aupres du roy de pont quand mesme ils seroient maistres de babilone ou de sardis et qu'ils auroient des troupes pour s'y deffendre ne pensez pourtant pas madame poursuivit-il que cette curiosite ait nul panchant a la jalousie ny que je sois de ces amans qui cherchent avec un foin estrange ce qu'il ne veulent pas trouver mais c'est madame puis qu'il vous le faut advouer qu'il y a une notable difference entre un sentiment d'estime qu'on exprime par des paroles quelques obligeantes qu'elles soient et un de ces sentimens cachez dont on se fait presques un secret a soy mesme et que les autres ne scavent jamais qu'en les devinant ne trouvez donc pas estrange madame si encore que je n'aye pas l'audace de penser que vous pensiez rien a mon avantage que vous ne me faciez l'honneur de me dire je ne laisse pas de desirer de pouvoir penetrer jusques dans le fonds de vostre coeur joint que dans la haute estime que j'ay pour vous je suis persuade qu'il s'y passe de si belles choses que c'est desirer de voir toutes les vertus ensemble que de souhaiter comme je fais de voir vostre coeur a descouvert et d'y connoistre tous vos sentimens toutes vos pensees et mesme tous vos desirs pour satisfaire une partie de vostre curiosite repliqua mandane afin de destourner cette conversation je vous diray que je souhaiterois estrangement de scavoir tout ce qu'a pense menestee depuis dix-huit ans qu'il regarde le 
 tomberu de cette belle personne qu'il aimoit et qu'il a perdue ha madame s'escria cyrus en feignant de vouloir satisfaire ma curiosite vous ne me dites rien de ce que je voudrois scavoir cependant adjousta-t'il ce n'est pas a moy a vous prescrire des loix c'est pourquoy puis que vous ne voulez pas que je penetre plus avant dans vostre ame et que vous aimez mieux que je vous parle de menestee que de vous ny de moy je vous diray que je n'ay pas beaucoup de peine a concevoir ce qu'il pense depuis dix-huit ans puis qu'il est vray que l'amour et la douleur jointes ensemble sont deux sources inespuisables de pensees s'il est permis de parler ainsi pour exprimer cette multitude de sentimens qui naissent en foule dans un esprit amoureux et afflige et qui l'occupent obsolument tant que sa passion et sa douleur subsistent mais ce qui m'estonne est qu'il ait pu vivre fi long temps apres avoir veu mourir la personne qu'il aimoit car enfin madame sans exagerer la douleur que j'eus a sinope lors que j'eus lieu de craindre que vous n'eussiez este noyee je puis vous protester sans mensonge que lors que je sceus que vous estiez vivante je n'avois pas encore un jour a vivre je vous suis bien redevable repliqua mandane d'avoir eu une douleur si obligeante quoy que je ne veuille pas croire qu'elle ait este si violente que vous la representez de peur d'avoir a me reprocher d'estre ingrate cependant poursuivit elle sans luy donner loisir de 
 l'interrompre je tombe d'accord aveque vous que la plus sensible douleur de toutes les douleurs est celle de voir mourir ce qu'on aime et je suis il fortement persuadee de cette verite que toutes les fois que je m'imagine qu'il faut d'une necessite absolue que j'aprenne un jour la mort des personnes que j'aime ou qu'ils aprennent la mienne j'en deviens si melancolique que je ne me connois plus ha madame s'escria cyrus quelle funeste image faites vous passer de vostre esprit dans le mien je vous en demande pardon luy repliqua-t'elle et je pense mesme que vous estes oblige de me l'accorder car puis que je ne puis songer sans douleur qu'il faut que vous apreniez un jour ma mort ou que j'aprenne la vostre c'est ce me semble une marque d'amitie qui merite que vous me pardonniez le mal que je vous ay fait de vous entretenir d'une chose si funeste ce que vous me dites est si obligeant reprit cyrus que je devrois vous en rendre mille graces mais apres tout madame je pense que je ne vous pardonneray d'aujourd'huy le mal que vous m'avez fait en supposant que je puis aprendre vostre mort a peine cyrus eut il acheve de prononcer ces paroles qu'eucrate vint l'advertir qu'il y avoit un homme de qualite de phocee nomme thryteme que le fils de menestee avoit envoye vers son pere qui demandoit a luy parler et qui estoit arrive un moment apres qu'il estoit sorty du tombeau de la belle egiptienne adjoustant qu'il estoit accompagne de deux etrangers 
 dont on ne connoissoit ny l'habillement ny le langage comme mandane jugea bien que cet homme ne pouvoit avoir rien a dire a cyrus que sa presence pust empescher de luy aprendre elle pria ce prince d'escouter thryteme devant elle de sorte que cyrus ayant ordonne a eucrate de le faire entrer et eucrate luy ayant obei thryteme suivy de ces estrangers qui l'accompagnoient entra dans la chambre de mandane qu'il salua avec un profond respect aussi bien que cyrus apres quoy luy ayant presente une lettre de celuy qui l'envoyoit qui n'estoit que de creance il prit la parole en ces termes seigneur luy dit-il en grec je suis envoye vers vous de la part d'un prince dont vous pouvez faire la bonne ou la mauvaise fortune mais comme il a eu le malheur d'estre engage dans un party qui vous estoit oppose et d'estre contraint de conserver sa liberte en abandonnant sa partie a vos armes victorieuses et en ayant recours a la fuite je ne scay seigneur si l'esperance qu'il a conceue de n'estre pas refuse est bien fondee mais tousjours scay-je de certitude que le prince menestee son pere a qui je viens de parler est si charme de vostre generosite qu'il ne doute point du tout que je n'obtienue ce que j'ay a vous demander pour vous tesmoigner repliqua cyrus que j'ay toutes les dispositions necessaires a ne refuser rien a un prince du merite de celuy qui vous envoye je ne veux pas me servir du droit des vainqueurs qui ne donnent plus a leurs ennemis 
 vaincus les noms des pais qu'ils ont conquestez sur eux au contraire quoy que peranius n'ait jamais este apelle prince de phocee parce que celuy qui luy en a laisse le droit n'a peri que depuis son esloignement je veux l'appeller ainsi le premier et vous prier aussi de ne le nommer pas autrement car enfin apres les choses que le prince thrasybule m'a dites de sa vertu et de sa valeur je ne puis me resoudre a le traiter moins favorablement que tant d'autres qui ne le meritoient pas mieux que luy ha seigneur repliqua thryteme je n'ay plus rien a vous demander car puis que vous reconnoissez en presence de ces estrangers peranius pour prince et pour prince de phocee vous faites tout ce que j'avois ordre de vous suplier de faire et vous le rendez le plus heureux prince du monde si toutesfois il est permis d'apeller ainsi un homme qui n'a pas la gloire d'estre particulierement connu du plus grand prince de la terre comme ce que thryteme disoit surprenoit esgallement mandane et cyrus et qu'ils voyoient de la joye sur le visage d'un de ces estrangers qui accompagnoient thryteme et de la douleur dans les yeux de l'autre ils eurent une fort grande curiosite de scavoir la cause de cette avanture de sorte que mandane prenant la parole et parlant aussi agreablement grec que si c'eust este sa langue naturelle elle demanda obligeamment a thryteme l'explication de ce qu'elle n'entendoit pas et la veritable cause de son voyage cyrus adjousta a cette curiosite 
 celle de scavoir ou estoit le prince de phocee le priant de luy dire encore tout ce qu'il avoit fait despuis qu'il avoit este esleu chef de cette trouppe fugitive qui estoient ces estrangers dont il ne connoissoit point l'habillement quel interest ils pouvoient avoir a la condition du prince de phocee et comment il estoit possible que trois ou quatre paroles avantageuses qu'il venoit de dire en sa faveur peussent le rendre heureux ce que vous me demandez seigneur reprit thryteme n'est pas une chose que je puisse vous aprendre en peu de mots no plus que ce que la princesse mandane veut scavoir mais quand mesme vous auriez la bonte et le loisir d'escouter le recit d'une advanture aussi extraordinaire qu'est celle du prince de phocee puis qu'il vous plaist que je luy donne son veritable nom il faudroit encore seigneur que je vous demandasse auparavant une grace en mon particulier qui est celle de vouloir employer vos persuasions et vostre authorite a obliger le prince menestee de quitter le tombeau qu'il habite et de se laisser conduire a un lieu ou par les paroles que vous venez de dire vous establissez une nouvelle domination au prince son fils plus vous me parlez repliqua cyrus moins je vous entends et plus vous me donnez de curiosite c'est pourquoy connoissant que la princesse en a pour le moins autant que j'en ay je vous declare que je ne vous accorderay rien si vous ne m'accordez la grace de luy dire toute la vie du prince qui vous envoye mais comme il ne seroit 
 pas juste de vous obliger a faire peutestre une longue narration sans vous estre repose je prie eucrate d'avoir foin de vous et de ceux qui vous accompagnent et de vous ramener icy vers le soir que la princesse passera sans doute fort agreablement si vous ne la refusez pas il importe tant au prince qui m'envoye repliqua thryteme que vous ne le refusiez point que je le servirois mal si je vous refusois de vous aprendre une advanture qui luy est infiniment glorieuse c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous obeiray quand il vous plaira apres cela cyrus et mandane luy ayant dit encore plusieurs choses obligeantes il se retira suivy des estrangers qui l'accompagnoient qu'on voyoit bien qui entendoient parfaitement ce qu'on disoit mais qu'on connoissoit bien aussi qui ne scavoient pas assez le grec pour l'oser parler devant un prince et une princesse qui le parloient si admirablement comme thryteme fut sorty de la chambre de mandane mazare myrsile artamas andramite et plusieurs autres y entrerent qui ne pouvant assez s'estonner de la nouveaute de l'habillement de ces estrangers qu'ils avoient rencontrez demanderent a cyrus d'ou ils estoient pour moy dit artamas apres que cyrus eut respondu qu'il ne le scavoit pas encore je pensois qu'il faudroit que vostre valeur mist bien tost des bornes a vos conquestes parce qu'elle ne trouveroit plus rien a conquerir mais a ce que je voy il y a encore des peuples que le vainqueur de l'asie ne connoist 
 pas comme nous n'avons combatu reprit modestement cyrus que pour la liberte de la princesse nous avons mis des bornes a nos conquestes en la delivrant si ce n'estoit adjousta-t'il galamment qu'il luy prist fantaisie d'obliger tant de braves gens qui l'ont delivree a faire rendre justice a son merite en la faisant reine de toute la terre ou qu'elle voulust seulement se faire de nouveaux sujets de ces estrangers que nous ne connoissons pas et que vous venez de voir je vous assure repliqua mandane que quoy que je vous croye digne d'estre maistre de tout le monde et que je vous croye mesme capable de le conquerir vostre vie et celle de tant de grands princes qui vous ont aide a vaincre m'est si chere que si vous ne faites jamais la guerre que pour satisfaire mon ambition vous serez tousjours en paix pendant que mandane parloit ainsi doralise et pherenice qui avoient joint martesie et qui parloient a andramite en un coin de la chambre qui n'estoit pas grande entendoient ce que disoient cyrus et mandane de sorte que doralise qui trouvoit je ne scay quoy de barbare a l'air de ces estrangers dont on parloit se mit a dire a andramite qui s'estoit aproche d'elle que la princesse avoit raison de ne vouloir pas de pareils sujets en suitte de quoy elle se mit a despeindre si plaisamment l'air la mine la reverence et l'habillement de ces deux hommes que quoy qu'il y eust quelque injustice a l'agreable raillerie qu'elle en faisoit ceux qui l'entendoient 
 ne laissoient pas d'y prendre un fort grand plaisir si bien que martesie pherenice et andramite en rioient de fort bon coeur mais ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette rencontre fut que mandane qui avoit l'esprit merveilleusement penetrant devina la verite et s'imagina en effet que doralise avoit trouve matiere de se divertir en voyant ces estrangers quoy qu'ils fussent magnifiques et mesme bien faits c'est pourquoy voulant donner une marque de sa bonte et trouver un sujet de conversation qui la desgageast des louanges qu'on avoit commence de luy donner elle dit ce qu'elle pensoit a cyrus et a myrsile qui estant toujours bien aise d'avoir occasion d'ouir parler doralise suplia la princesse en souriant de la vouloir corriger d'une partie de ses injustices de sorte que mandane voulant accorder a myrsile ce qu'il luy demandoit fit aprocher doralise et luy adressant la parole n'est-il pas vray luy dit elle que ce qui faisoit rire pherenice martesie et andramite lors que vous leur parliez estoit que vous leur faisiez une peinture plaisante de ces estrangers qui viennent de sortir d'icy je vous assure madame reprit elle que je ne merite pas grande louange d'avoir si facilement excite la joye dans leur esprit puis que ces estrangers sont si plaisans a voir qu'il ne faut que s'en souvenir pour avoir envie de rire sans mentir repliqua mandane vous estes une malicieuse personne car enfin comme me ils n'ont point parle qu'ils sont magnifiques 
 qu'ils sont mesme assez bienfaits vous ne leur pouvez reprocher que la forme de leur habillement et je ne scay quel air qui est different de celuy des gens que vous voyez tous les jours de sorte que comme ils vous trouvent sans doute aussi differente des dames qu'ils ont accoustme de voir que vous les trouvez differens des hommes que vous voyez il peut estre que toute aimable que nous estes ils pensent de vous ce que vous pensez d'eux je vous assure madame repliqua-t'elle en riant que si je les divertis autant qu'ils me divertissent nous nous avons beaucoup d'obligation l'un a l'autre de nous faire passer le temps si agreablement ha doralise s'escria cyrus en souriant vous me faites la plus grande frayeur du monde de parler comme vous parlez en effet poursuivit-il comme je suis nay en perse et que vous estes nee a sardis je puis dire que ces estrangers ne vous ont pas deu paroistre plus estrangers que moy la premiere fois que vous m'avez veu c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire serieusement combien il y a que vos yeux sont acoustumez a me voir ha seigneur reprit elle avec cette vivacite d'esprit qui luy estoit si naturelle les conquerans comme vous ne sont estrangers en nulle part et je pense pouvoir dire qu'apres avoir assujetty tant de royaumes vous n'estes pas plus de persepolis que de babilone de sardis d'ecbatane d'artaxate de suse de themiscire et de cumes et qu'ainsi je croy pouvoir assurer que vous estes du pais de tout le monde 
 mais que tout le monde n'est pas du vostre quoy que vous vous soyez tiree avec beaucoup d'esprit d'un pas assez difficile reprit mandane en souriant je ne laisse pas d'entreprendre de vous persuader que c'est n'avoir pas assez de bonte que de manquer d'indulgence pour les estrangers car quoy que je voulusse si je suivois mon inclination qu'on excusast toutes sortes de personnes neantmoins pour ne rendre pas inutile cette agreable critique qui vous fait remarquer si judicieusement et si finement les plus petits deffauts d'autruy je vous abandonne tous les gens de vostre patrie et de vostre connoissance mais pour ces estrangers qui vous ont tant fait rire je les prends en ma protection et je vous declare de plus que s'il vient des ethiopiens des indiens ou des scithes a ecbatane quand nous y serons je les deffendray contre vous avec une fermete estrange car je vous advoue que je ne puis souffrir cette espece d'injustice quoy qu'elle soit presque universelle mais madame reprit doralise souffrez s'il vous plaist avec tout le respect que je vous dois que je tasche de me justifier en examinant un peu la chose en elle mesme je le veux bien dit mandane estant bien assuree que quelque esprit que vous ayez vous aurez peine a prouver qu'il n'y ait pas quelque inhumanite a railler d'un etranger seulement parce qu'il est estranger pour moy dit cyrus je suis de l'opinion de la princesse cette opinion est si equitable adjousta mazare 
 qu'il ne semble pas qu'on en puisse avoir d'autre si je parlois fins interest dit alors le prince myrsile en regardant mazare je dirois sans doute comme vous que la princesse a raison mais comme je ne suis pas estranger a doralise je craindrois si fort que si on l'obligeoit a faire la paix avec les estrangers elle ne me declarast la guerre que je n'ose me declarer contre elle en cette occasion pour moy adjousta artamas qui ay une raison contraire a la vostre puis que je ne suis pas du pais de doralise il faudroit tousjours que je me rangeasse par interest du party de la princesse quand mesme la raison n'en seroit pas jugez donc ce que je dois faire puis que son party est celuy de la justice et de la bonte a ce que je voy reprit doralise sans s'estonner vous m'avez mise en estat de ne pouvoir manquer de sortir de cette dispute avec honneur car il y a tant de gens illustres contre moy que si je suis vaincue je le seray sans honte et si je ne le suis pas j'auray plus de gloire que personne n'en a jamais eu puis que personne n'a jamais vaincu quelques-uns de ceux que j'auray surmontez mais encore dit mandane que pouvez vous dire pour excuser l'injustice dont je vous accuse car enfin n'est-il pas vray que celuy qui est ne a athenes ne peut pas estre ne a babilone et n'est-il pas vray encore que non seulement chaque nation et chaque royaume a ses coustumes particulieres mais que mesme chaque province et chaque ville a ses bien-seances 
 differentes soit pour les habillemens pour les ceremoniez pour les civilitez pour la grace du corps et pour toutes ce petites choses exterieures qui frapent les yeux et qui ne tiennent point du tout ny a l'ame ny a l'esprit je l'advoue madame repliqua doraise mais j'advoue en mesme temps que c'est cette difference qui par sa nouveaute et par sa bizarrerie me surprend et me divertit sans que pour cela je face injustice a cet estranger qui sert a mon divertissement puis que je luy donne la mesme liberte que je prends et que sans me soucier de ce qu'il pense de moy je pensez de luy ce que je veux mais vous n'en pensez pas equitablement reprit mandane si vous le blasmez de ce qu'il est aussi bien habille a la mode de son pais que vous l'estes a celle du vostre quoy qu'elle ne vous plaise pas je ne l'en blasme pas aussi en son particulier repliqua doralise mais je blasme toute sa nation en general vous estes encore plus injuste que je ne pensois reprit cyrus en riant de railler de trois ou quatre cens mille hommes a la fois parce qu'il y en a un ou deux qui ne vous plaisent point de plus adjousta mandane n'est-ce pas estre deraisonnable de vouloir qu'un egiptien soit persan lors qu'il sera a persepolis qu'un persan soit egiptien quand il sera a memphis et que se changeant de ville en ville il face ce qu'on dit que fait cet animal qui prend toutes les couleurs sur quoy il passe car doralise il faut sans doute que vous veueilliez que 
 cela soit ainsi ce que je veux madame reprit-elle est qu'un estranger se conforme en effet autant qu'il peut aux coustumes des pais ou il est et qu'il ne surprenne pas les yeux par ces habillemens bizarres ou l'on n'est point accoustume si ce n'est en quelque magnifique entree ou il soit mesle dans une grande troupe je veux encore qu'il parle peu s'il n'est assure de parler bien je veux de plus qu'il se contente de paroistre liberal et magnifique sans pretendre de passer pour poly ny pour galant puis qu'il est vray que la politesse et la galanterie sont des choses de mode et d'usage et qui ont leur bien-seance particuliere en chaque nation dont un estranger n'est guere souvent capable hors de son pais mais outre ce que je viens de dire je veux plus que toutes choses qu'il me laisse la liberte de rire innocemment de tout ce qu'il pourra faire ou dire qui choquera mes yeux mon imagination ou mon esprit car enfin madame je puis vous assurer que quand il ne me la laisseroit point je ne laisserois pas de la prendre et je le ferois d'autant plustost que je le ferois sans l'offencer estant certain qu'il y a une notable difference entre la raillerie qu'on fait d'un homme de son pais et celle qu'on fait d'un estranger pourveu qu'on ne raille de luy que de ces sortes de choses qui sont particulieres a sa nation puis qu'il est vray que la premiere a presques tousjours de la malice et qu'il n'arrive presques jamais qu'on estime beaucoup ceux qui nous donnent souvent sujet de nous 
 divertir a leur despens mais pour l'autre madame je vous proteste que cela ne destruit point du tout dans mon esprit les estrangers qui me donnent sujet de rire car encore que ces deux hommes que j'ay veus aujourd'huy m'ayent fort divertie je ne laisse pas de croire qu'ils peuvent estre fort honnestes gens et mesme fort galans en leur pais ainsi n'attaquant ny leur esprit n'y leur probite ny leur courage il ne me semble pas que je sois aussi criminelle que vous me le faites en effet madame poursuivit-elle si on examine bien de quelle nature est le rire qui me surprend en ces occasions on trouvera qu'il n'est pas si malicieux que celuy dont presque tout le monde se trouve capable lors qu'a quelque course de chevaux on voit quelquesfois le cheval du meilleur de ses amis broncher lourdement et le renverser par terre car enfin il y a bien plus de malignite a rire de ces sortes de choses qui font tres souvent un grand mal et un grand despit a ceux a qui elles arrivent que de se divertir comme je fais d'un habillement bizarre d'une reverence contrainte ou d'un mot mal prononce cependant vous scavez madame avec quelle inhumanite on rit de semblables accidens et je ne scay si toute sage et toute pitoyable que vous estes vous n'en avez jamais eu d'envie en pareille rencontre doralise dit cela d'une maniere si plaisante que mandane et tous ceux qui estoient aupres d'elle ne purent s'empescher d'en rire et d'advouer en mesme temps qu'elle 
 meritoit qu'on luy abandonnast non seulement tous les estrangers mais tous ceux qu'elle connoissoit et pour vous tesmoigner luy dit cyrus que je pense ce que je dis je vous donne droit de me reprendre de tout ce qu'il vous plaira et de vous divertir a mes despens quand vous en trouverez l'occasion si je ne me devois jamais divertir reprit elle que lors que vous m'en donneriez sujet je n'aurois qu'a me preparer a m'ennuyer toute ma vie mais seigneur adjousta-t'elle en riant puis que vous avez la bonte de m'abandonner ces deux estrangers je n'en veux pas davantage pour ne m'ennuyer de huit jours apres cela toute la compagnie tomba pourtant d'accord qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'injustice a n'avoir pas beaucoup d'indulgence pour les estrangers et a faire passer quelquesfois les bien-seances de leurs pais pour des incivilitez ou pour des marques de deffaut d'esprit concluant tout d'une voix que puis qu'on pouvoit estre fort peu honneste homme quoy qu'on fust admirablement habille qu'on fist bien la reverence a la mode de son pais et qu'on eust l'accent de la cour extremement pur il pourroit estre aussi qu'un estranger qui n'auroit rien de toutes ces petites choses qui ne changent ny le coeur ny l'esprit ne laisseroit pas de pouvoir meriter beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup de louange quoy que son habillement parust bizarre que se reverence fust contrainte et que son accent fust mauvais et qu'ainsi il faloit tousjours faire grace aux 
 estrangers de tout ce qu'ils ne pouvoient pas aquerir facilement et se donner la peine de chercher dans leur esprit et dans leur ame leurs bonnes qualitez ou leurs deffauts pour en pouvoir juger avec equite en suitte de quoy la conversation ayant change d'objet et estant encore arrive beaucoup de monde elle dura jusques a l'heure du souper que toute cette foule de princes et d'honnestes gens suivirent cyrus qui laissa la princesse mandane dans la liberte de manger en particulier mais a peine ce prince sceut-il qu'elle estoit hors de table que prenant thryteme qu'il avoit fait souper aveque luy aussi bien que les estrangers qui l'avoient accompagne il le somma de sa promesse et le mena a l'apartement de mandane laissant ceux qui estoient venus aveque luy en la compagnie d'eucrate parce que thryteme fit connoistre a cyrus qu'il avoit beaucoup de choses a dire qu'il seroit bien aise qu'un de ces deux estrangers n'entendist pas apres quoy allant a l'apartement de mandane ils la trouverent qui les attendoit avec toute la curiosite necessaire pour donner de l'attention au recit que thryteme luy devoit faire et avec beaucoup de disposition a croire qu'il la satisferoit agreablement comme cyrus scavoit bien qu'on n'aime pas trop a faire une longue narration devant beaucoup de monde il n'avoit mene personne chez mandane de sorte qu'a la reserve de doralise de martesie et d'anaxaris qui furent soufferts dans la chambre de cette 
 princesse il n'y eut que mandane et cyrus qui entendissent le recit que leur fit thryteme qu'il commenca en ces termes aussi tost que les premiers complimens furent faits et que chacun eut pris sa place
 
 
 
 
histoire de peranius prince de phocee et de la princesse cleonibe
 
 
comme il importe extremement au prince dont j'ay a vous entretenir que vous connoissiez aussi parfaitement ses bonnes qualitez que sa vie je vous demande la permission madame aussi bien qu'a l'invincible prince qui m'escoute de vous faire connoistre celuy dont vous voulez scavoir les avantures car puis que pour son interest et pour sa gloire je me suis resolu a vous raconter une partie de ses glorieuses actions il faut que je trahisse une de ses vertus pour vous faire paroistre toutes les autres et que sans me souvenir de sa modestie je vous parle de son grand coeur de son esprit de sa generosite de sa probite et de toutes les autres qualitez esclatantes de son ame et de sa personne je vous diray donc madame puis que vostre silence semble m'accorder ce que je vous demande que le prince de phocee est veritablement digne d'estre descendu de cet illustre grec qui formant une colonie des plus braves gens de la 
 phocide passa en asie et y fonda la ville de phocee dont tous ses descendans ont joui paisiblement et aveque gloire jusques a ce que les armes victorieuses de cyrus l'ayant assujettie et en ayant chasse un prince oncle de celuy dont je parle dont l'injuste violence l'avoit rendu indigne d'avoir un tel neveu mais madame sans chercher parmy le phocences de quoy louer l'illustre prince dont j'ay a vous raconter la vie il faut que je vous aprenne qu'il est nay avec toutes les inclinations grandes et nobles et que je ne croy pas que la grece qui a donne tant de grands hommes au monde en ait eu un dont le coeur ait este plus heroique comme il est ne d'un pere qui a d'excellentes qualitez il eut un soin extreme de l'education de son fils de sorte que ne se contentant pas de celle qu'il eust pu luy faire donner a phocee il voulut qu'il allast a athenes pour y aprendre toutes les choses necessaires a un homme de sa condition et a un homme encore dont l'inclination guerriere sembloit des sa plus tendre enfance le devoir porter a de grandes choses et il le voulut d'autant plustost que ne voulant pas quitter son tombeau qu'il a choisi pour sa demeure il aima mieux qu'il fust a athenes qu'a phocee ce fut donc la madame qu'il receut tous les enseignemens dont son age le rendoit capable il ne voulut pas toutesfois aprendre l'art militaire devant que de le mettre en usage car il soustint tousjours que la guerre estoit une chose dont il faloit aprendre les regles 
 en les pratiquant et non pas par de simples preceptes et en effet il fut a la guerre a quinze ans et il s'y signa la si hautement que sa reputation donna de la jalousie aux plus braves en un temps ou il sembloit ne devoir estre connu que de ses maistres je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous dire exactement tout ce qu'il fit aux diverses guerres ou il se trouva de puis l'age de quinze ans jusques a vingt-quatre car outre que cela n'est pas necessaire il pourroit encore arriver que je vous obligerois a douter de mes paroles par la multitude des actions heroiques que ce prince a faites mais aussi ne puis-je me resoudre de faire comme ceux qui louant en general donnent lieu de soubconner que c'est qu'ils n'ont rien de particulier a dire de sorte que pour prendre un milieu entre ces deux extremitez et vous faire connoistre l'inclination guerriere du prince de phocee des sa plus grande jeunesse il faut que je vous die comment il fit sa premiere campagne afin que vous puissiez juger de la quel est son courage je vous diray donc madame qu'estant a athenes et estant en sa quinziesme annee les atheniens en general estant las de cette longue et facheuse guerre qu'ils avoient contre les megariens pour la possession de salamine firent un edit par le quel il deffendirent a tous ceux qui avoient voix au conseil des affaires publiques de proposer seulement de continuer cette guerre si bien que solon dont je scay madame que le nom et le merite ne vous 
 sont pas inconnus ayant une colere estrange de voir qu'on abandonnoit une guerre si importante d'une maniere si honteuse chercha avec un foin extreme les moyens d'enfreindre l'edit qu'on avoit fait sans s'exposer a faire perdre a sa patrie l'assistance qu'elle pouvoit attendre de luy mais il l'auroit cherchee inutilement si le grand coeur du jeune prince de phocee ne luy en eust fourny les moyens vous scaurez donc madame que comme il luy estoit fort recommande par menestee qui le connoissoit et qui luy escrivoit souvent le prince de phocee le voyoit presques tous les jours et estoit aussi amy particulier de pisistrate de sorte que s'estant un jour trouve chez selon comme on parloit de cet edit qui deffendoit de proposer de continuer la guerre ce jeune prince en parut si afflige que solon prenant garde a cette heroique tristesse l'en estima davantage principalement quand apres luy en avoir demande la cause il entendit la responce qu'il luy fit car comme solon luy demanda precisement pourquoy il estoit fache de cette deffence quoy seigneur repliqua-t'il vous ne comprenez pas la raison qui fait que je ne puis aprendre sans colere qu'on abandonne une entreprise de cette nature d'une maniere si lasche qu'il semble que ce mesme edit qui deffend de proposer de continuer la guerre deffende aussi d'estre vaillant en effet poursuivit-il si les atheniens abandonnent une guerre juste parce qu'on ne la peut faire sans peril a quoy leur servira la valeur 
 pour moy adjousta-t'il si cet edit est observe j'aime mieux m'en retourner a phocee de peur qu'on ne m'envelope avec cette multitude d'hommes de peu de coeur que je voy qui se resolvent a l'endurer ce n'est pas poursuivit-il que je ne connoisse pourtant beaucoup de jeunes gens qui en murmurent en secret aussi bien de sorte seprit solon que si quelqu'un estoit assez hardy pour proposer la continuation de cette guerre au peuple d'athenes vous le suivriez volontiers n'en doutez nullement repliqua-t'il et je suis mesme bi asseure que pisistrate le suivroit aussi que nous le ferions bien tost suivre par la plus grande partie de tous les braves de la ville solon entendant parler le jeune peranius de cette sorte loua hautement son courage et sans luy dire precisement son dessein a cause qu'il le croyoit trop jeune pour le luy confier il se contenta de donner de grands eloges a sa generosite luy disant en suitte beaucoup de raisons qui faisoient voir que cet edit estoit honteux et desavantageux aux atheniens ne doutant nullement qu'il ne les redist apres a tous ceux a qui il parleroit de la chose et en effet ce prince seconda si bien l'intention de solon qu'en trois jours pisistrate et luy mirent une disposition a la revolte dans toute la jeunesse de la ville si on ne revoquoit cet edit qui alloit rendre leur valeur oisive si bien que selon aprenant que les choses estoient en l'estat qu'il les souhaitoit se resolut de se servir de cette invention qui a tant donne d'estonnement a toute 
 la grece en voyant que cet homme qui est repute souverainement sage eut recours a la folie pour faire reussir ce qu'il projettoit mais apres tout ce dessein qui eust passe pour une extravageance s'il eust mal reussi passa pour une invention admirable parce qu'il reussit bien mais comme je ne doute pas madame que vous n'ayez sceu cette action de solon je ne vous la particulariseray point et je vous diray seulement en deux mots qu'ayant conpose des vers propres a exciter toute la jeunesse a demander qu'il continuast la guerre contre les megariens il feignit d'avoir perdu la raison et fut dans la grande place d'athenes ou il scavoit que pisistrate et le prince de phocee se promenoient avec grand nombre de leurs amis des qu'il y fut il monta sur un quarre de pierre releve de trois marches ou les crieurs publics avoient accoustume de se mettre pour annoncer au peuple les ordres qu'il devoit garder mais a peine eut-il commence de reciter ces vers qu'il avoit composez pour inspirer le desir de la guerre que pisistrate et le prince de phocee battant des mains aprouvant tout ce qu'il disoit et le faisant aprouver aux autres furent apres dans toutes les rues et dans toutes les places criant qu'il faloit faire revoquer cet edit si honteux a la gloire des atheniens et si contraire au bien public et en effet ils parlerent avec tant d'efficace qu'en moins de deux heures tout ce qu'il y avoit de jeunes gens dans athenes soit qu'ils fussent braves ou qu'ils ne le fussent pas se joignirent 
 a eux n'y en ayant aucun qui pust avoir la hardiesse de ne les suivre point tant ils parloient avec vehemence et avec authorite tous jeunes qu'ils estoient de sorte madame qu'il falut de necessite revoquer l'edit pour apaiser ce tumulte et recommencer la guerre ainsi je pense pouvoir dire que solon pisistrate et peranius la firent cependant le dessein de solon ayant si bien reussi il redevint sage des le lendemain et fut si bien reconnu pour tel qu'on luy donna la conduite de cette guerre ou le jeune prince de phocee le suivit et fit des choses prodigieuses mais comme solon sceut que les riches d'athenes murmuroient encore de la despence qu'il faloit faire pour continuer cette guerre il chercha un moyen de l'accourcir par une ruse ou le prince de phocee se signala hautement aussi bien que pisistrate il s'en alla donc par mer a un celebre temple de venus ou il scavoit qu'il avoit accoustume d'aller beaucoup de femmes de qualite d'athenes de sorte que choisissant un homme adroit et fidelle il l'envoya vers les megariens qui n'estoient pas loin de la avec ordre de faire semblant d'estre traistre et de leur offrir de leur faire prendre toutes les femmes de qualite d'athenes en les assurant qu'elles estoient a ce temple de venus ou ils les surprendroient facilement et en effet la chose s'executa ainsi car les megariens creurent cet homme et vinrent avec un vaisseau plein de gens de guerre au lieu qu'on leur avoit marque cependant solon pour tronper 
 ceux qui devoient venir fit diligemment retirer les dames qui estoient en ce lieu la et faisant habiller en femmes tout ce qu'il y avoit de jeunes gens parmy les braves qu'il avoit amenez le prince de phocee fut de ce nombre car estant aussi jeune qu'il estoit et aussi vaillant qu'on pouvoit l'estre il estoit tel qu'il le faloit pour une semblable expedition de sorte que se mettant a la teste de toutes ces pretendues dames qui avoient toutes des espees cachees sous de grands manteaux volans qu'elles portoient par dessus leurs robes il fut suivant les ordres de solon le long du rivage faisant semblant de se promener en attendant que l'heure du sacrifice fust venue comme c'estoit la coustume de celles qui arrivoient trop tost ainsi lors que les megariens les virent ils vinrent a voiles et a rames aborder au lieu ou ils croyoient voir tant de dames de qualite en suitte de quoy sautant diligemment a terre ils se mirent en devoir d'aller enlever celles qu'ils voyoient ou qu'ils croyoient voir pensant bien apres cela qu'il faudroit que les atheniens traittassent avec eux et fissent la paix pour empescher leurs femmes d'estre leurs esclaves mais ils furent bien estonnez lors que le prince de phocee qui fut le premier attaque voyant qu'on alloit a luy jetta ce grand manteau qui cachoit son espee et que se desgageant du voille qu'il avoit sur la teste de peur qu'il ne l'embarassast il se mit en posture de se deffendre cette estrange metamorphose qui se fit en un instant 
 les surprit terriblement car comme il estoit tres beau en ce temps la on peut dire qu'en un moment venus se changea en mars cependant ce changement ne fut pas particulier au prince de phocee car en un instant tous ceux qui le suivoient ayant a son exemple fait la mesme chose les megariens furent estrangement espouvantez de se voir de si redoutables ennemis a combatre apres avoir creu n'avoir rien a faire qu'a enlever des dames aussi voulurent-ils tascher de regagner leur vaisseau mais le prince de phocee seconde de pisistrate s'estant mis entre la mer et eux ils les passererent presques tous au fil de l'espee en suitte de quoy s'emparant de leur vaisseau ils s'en servirent a faire une seconde tromperie qui leur reussit aussi bien que la premiere ayant donc fait embarquer tous leurs soldats et attache le peu qui restoit des ennemis ils furent vers salamine comme s'ils eussent este megariens et qu'ils y eussent conduit ces pretendues dames atheniennes qu'ils avoient eu dessein d'enlever si bien que les habitans de l'isle ne faisant nulle difficulte de les laisser aborder et se preparant au contraire a recevoir ceux qui estoient dans ce vaisseau comme des gens qui venoient de leur rendre un grand service ils furent bien surpris de voir qu'ils avoient laisse aborder leurs ennemis et plus surpris encode remarquer avec quelle prodigieuse valeur le jeune prince de phocee les attaqua aussi l'espouvante fut-elle si grande dans cette isle que 
 solon estant arrive dans un vaisseau peu de temps apres acheva de porter la frayeur parmy ce peuple qui croyant que ce vaisseau seroit suivy d'une grande flotte s'espouvanta a un tel point que pisistrate et le prince de phocee s'emparerent de l'isle avec beaucoup de facilite et retournerent a athenes avec beaucoup d'honneur aussi bien que solon de qui la sage folie fut heureusement couronnee par leur valeur et par sa conduite voila donc madame quelle fut la premiere campagne de peranius depuis cela il a fait cent mille autres belles choses n'y ayant pas eu une occasion en toute la grece ou il ne se soit trouve mais ce qu'il y a d'admirable est qu'il est aussi experimente sur la mer que sur la terre et qu'il ne scait mesme pas moins estre pilote que capitaine des vaisseaux qu'il commande enfin madame il n'est rien dont la valeur de ce prince n'ait este capable on l'a veu aller attaquer des galeres qui estoient a couvert sous les ramparts d'une place dont tous les creneaux estoient bordez d'archers et malgre une gresle de fleches et de dards y aller porter le feu et embraser toute la flotte ennemie on l'a veu avec un seul vaisseau donner la chasse a trois autres et en prendre deux et on l'a veu au contraire estre poursuivy par cinq quoy qu'il n'en eust qu'un et ne se laisser point prendre de plus que n'a-t'il point fait en des combats particuliers et en des combats generaux et sur la terre et sur la mer cependant cet homme qui a toute la fureur de la 
 guerre dans le coeur et dans les yeux quand il est dans l'occasion a toute la douceur imaginable dans l'air du visage et dans l'esprit quand il n'y est pas et je puis assurer sans mensonge qu'il n'aime gueres moins la conversation des dames que la gloire et c'est assurement en sa personne qu'on peut voir que la guerre et l'amour ne sont pas incompatibles en effet il aime toutes ces jolies choses qui sont les divertissemens de la paix je veux dire les beaux vers la musique la peinture et en general tout ce qui est de l'apartenance des muses il escrit mesme fort juste et fort eloquemment soit qu'il s'agisse d'affaires ou de galanterie et je suis assure qu'il descriroit esgallement bien une bataille ou il seroit trouve et un combat d'amour qui se seroit passe dans son coeur s'il vouloit declarer sa passion pour sa personne elle plaist infiniment quoy que les voyages qu'il a faits sur la mer ayent diminue cette grande beaute qu'il avoit dans sa premiere jeunesse il est grand et de belle taille il a la mine haute et noble l'air du visage souriant et serieux tout ensemble mais il a de plus une si grande douceur et une si grande civilite qu'on n'en peut pas avoir davantage la premiere fois qu'on le voit il parle d'ordinaire peu mais il paroist tant de jugement a ce peu qu'il dit qu'il est aise de concevoir que s'il vouloit il en diroit davantage et le diroit bien au reste on ne l'entend jamais parler de guerre parmy des femmes s'il n'y est force et bien moins des belles choses 
 qu'il a faites car il ne peut pas mesme souffrir qu'on l'en loue mais en eschange il loue avec chaleur et avec plaisir la valeur des autres quand l'occasion s'en presente sans faire mesme injustice a ses plus grands ennemis de plus il est le plus ardent amy du monde et le plus violent amant qui sera jamais estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'on puisse aimer avec plus d'emportement que le prince de phocee outre ce que je viens de dire il a encore une autre qualite excellente c'est qu'il est aussi liberal que brave mais en eschange il est aussi capable d'ambition que d'amour et n'est pas moins jaloux de sa gloire que de sa maistresse apres cela madame je n'ay plus qu'a vous dire que le prince de phocee paroist sage en tout ce qu'il entreprend et que toute l'impetuosite de son humeur ne se fait jamais voir qu'en amour et a la guerre car hors de la il est tellement concerte qu'on ne diroit pas qu'il y eust jamais nulle agitation dans son coeur ny nul trouble dans son esprit voila donc madame quel est le prince de phocee et voila quel il estoit lors qu'aprenant que sa patrie alloit estre en guerre il y revint pour la deffendre ce n'est pas qu'il ne connust bien que le prince son oncle s'estoit engage dans un mauvais party et qu'il ne trouvast les pretentions du prince thrasybule justes mais apres tout comme il y a quelquesfois de la justice a deffendre ceux qui sont injustes il se rendit a phocee et y fit ce que l'illustre cyrus a sceu par le prince thrasibule 
 c'est pourquoy je ne m'y arresteray pas a son retour a sa patrie il trouva qu'une soeur qu'il a nommee onesicrite estoit devenue une des plus belles personnes qu'on pust voir et une des plus aimables mais il la revit pourtant sans en avoir de la joye parce qu'il la trouva toute en larmes par la crainte qu'elle avoit de voir sa patrie destruite elle eust bien voulu si elle eust pu sortir de la ville ou elle estoit quand mesme elle eust deu venir s'enfermer avec menestee dans le tombeau qu'il habite mais la campagne n'estoit plus libre et il y auroit encore eu alors plus de danger a sortir de phocee qu'a y demeurer ainsi elle fut contrainte d'avoir patience joint aussi qu'y ayant un homme de haute qualite et d'un grand merite qui est fils d'un nomme sfurius et qui s'apelle menodore qui estoit amoureux d'elle et qu'elle ne haissoit pas je pense qu'elle eust plus d'une raison de demeurer a phocee cependant cette ville se vit en un deplorable estat lors que le feu prince de phocee accompagne d'alexidesme et suivy de toutes ces personnes criminelles qui avoient attire la punition des dieux sur nostre ville l'abandonnerent en une nuit sans en advertir personne et sans laisser un soldat pour la deffendre vous pouvez juger madame quel estonnement fut celuy des habitans apres une telle avanture d'abord ils tournerent les yeux vers le prince peranius qui voulut les exhorter a se deffendre mais la peur de la servitude s'estant emparee de leur esprit il n'y 
 eut pas moyen de les r'assurer de sorte que prenant tumultuairement la resolution de quitter leur patrie pour conserver leur liberte ils prierent ce prince de vouloir estre leur chef luy disant que comme ses predecesseurs avoient conduit en asie la colonie qui avoit basty phocee il falloit qu'il les conduisist en quel que autre pais luy promettant de luy obeir exactement il voulut encore une fois leur persuader de deffendre leurs murailles mais il n'y eut pas moyen de les obliger a se resoudre a une mort certaine de sorte que ce prince estant contraint de ceder et aimant encore mieux fuir que de se rendre sans combattre comme il eust falu a ce qu'ils vouloient il amusa le prince thrasibule par une fausse negociation durant deux jours pendant quoy il fit equiper tout ce qu'il y avoit de vaisseaux au port qui n'estoient pas en petit nombre et en une nuit les ayant fait charger de tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus precieux dans phocee jusques aux statues des temples tout le peuple de cette magnifique ville s'embarqua mais madame il s'embarqua avec tant de desordre et tant de confusion que jamais on n'a rien veu de plus pitoyable que de voir ces malheureux habitans chargez de leurs meubles et de leurs enfans suivis de leurs femmes et de leurs esclaves abandonner leur ville en pleurant et en faisant des cris les plus lamentables du monde il y en eut mesme plusieurs qui voulant entrer avec precipitation dans ces vaisseaux s'entrepousserent et se firent 
 tomber dans la mer ou la mort leur fit esviter la servitude qu'ils craignoient pour moy j'advoue que je ne croy pas qu'on puisse jamais voir une chose plus extraordinaire que de voir un semblable embarquement car au lieu de ces invocations que font les pilotes en quittant le port afin que les dieux leur donnent le vent favorable on entendoit un bruit confus d'enfans qui pleuroient de femmes qui se pleignoient d'hommes qui maudissoient leur mauvaise fortune et de matelots qui crioient d'autre part on voyoit les familles entieres tascher de se mettre en mesme vaisseau aussi bien que les amis et les amies les amans et les amantes afin d'avoir du moins la consolation de perir ensemble s'ils faisoient naufrage cependant ce genereux prince qui estoit chef de cette flotte ayant r'assemble la plus grande partie des femmes de qualite les fit mettre dans le vaisseau qui devoit estre le sien avec la princesse sa soeur choisissant trois cens hommes des mieux faits d'entre ce grand nombre d'habitans pour luy servir de soldats pour menedore il quitta sfurius son pere et se rangea aussi aupres du prince de phocee afin d'avoir la satisfaction dans cette infortune generale d'estre aupres de la personne qu'il aimoit et de pouvoir mesler ses soupirs aux siens mais enfin madame ce funeste embarquement estant fait les anchres estant levees et le jour estant prest de paroistre le prince de phocee commanda qu'on prist la route de 
 l'isle de chio n'y ayant pas moyen en l'estat qu'estoit alors toute l'asie de songer a aborder en terre ferme de ce coste la joint aussi qu'esperant que ceux de cette isle voudroient bien luy vendre des isles inhabitees qui estoient deux il jugea a propos de prendre cette route mais pour vous faire voir combien fortement la peur de la servitude s'estoit emparee de l'esprit des habitans de phocee vous scaurez qu'ils sirent un voeu public pour tous leurs concitoyens par lequel ils s'engagerent a ne revenir jamais a leur ville et pour s'y engager plus estroitement ils jetterent dans la mer une grosse masse de fer avec serment de ne rentrer jamais dans leur ville que ce fer ne fust revenu sur l'eau faisant mille imprecations contre ceux qui en feroient la premiere proposition ce terrible voeu estant fait la flotte desanchra comme je l'ay desja dit mais a peine le jour commenca-t'il de permettre de discerner les objets que toute cette flotte ou il y avoit tant de vaisseaux ou trop chargez ou mal equipez commenca de s'apercevoir que le vent contraire se levoit avec le soleil pour moy qui estois dans le vaisseau du prince de phocee j'admiray son experience a connoistre les presages de la tempeste car a peine eut-il jette les yeux vers la pleine mer qu'il jugea par sa couleur seulement que l'orage estoit proche et en effet la mer grossissant tout d'un coup il y eut lieu de croire que cette malheureuse flotte alloit estre dispersee cependant comme on ne s'est jamais 
 servy en nostre ville que de vaisseaux a rame on ne laissa pas d'aller malgre le vent qui n'estoit pas favorable je ne vous diray point madame quelle fut la frayeur de ce grand nombre de femmes qui n'avoient jamais este sur la mer que pour se promener pendant un temps fort tranquile car ce ne fut pas encore la derniere tempeste que nous esprouvasmes mais enfin madame nous fusmes en l'isle de chio mais au lieu d'y estre receus avec humanite l'on nous refusa l'entree des ports et bien loin de vouloir entendre a vendre au prince de phocee les isles inhabitees qui sont aux habitans de chio et qui s'appellent les isles enusses ils nous regarderent presques comme ennemis et nous dirent qu'ils ne vouloient point se faire des voisins qui pourroient devenir plus puissans qu'eux et qui pourroient ruiner leur commerce de sorte que tout ce que nous pusmes faire fut de les obliger a nous bailler quelques rafraichissemens dont nous avions besoin ainsi nous nous trouvasmes en un deplorable estat le grand coeur du prince de phocee le portoit sans doute a vouloir rendre pitoyables par la force ceux qui avoient la cruaute de luy refuser un azile qu'ils pouvoient nous accorder si facilement mais tous les vaisseaux de sa flotte estans pleins de femmes d'enfans et d'esclaves et n'ayant aucuns soldats il n'y avoit pas moyen de rien entreprendre car encore qu'il eust este facile de s'aller emparer des isles enusses il n'y falloit pas songer parce qu'il eust este impossible 
 de les pouvoir conserver ainsi il falut donc se remettre en mer sans avoir pu determiner precisement quelle route on devoit prendre mais comme on estoit prest de lever les anchres au lever de la lune parce que c'est l'heure ou la mer est pour l'ordinaire la plus tranquile les pilotes des vaisseaux dirent qu'ils avoient entendu une voix qui leur avoit dit qu'il falloit aller a ephese et qu'en ce lieu-la la deesse qu'on y adoroit leur enseigneroit ou ils trouveroient un azile a peine ces pilotes eurent-ils dit ce qu'ils avoient entendu que dans chaque vaisseau on ouit un bruit confus de voix qui disoient qu'il falloit aller obeir a cette voix du ciel qu'on avoit entendue de sorte qu'encore que le prince de phocee ne creust pas d'abord ce que ces pilotes disoient avoir ouy il fut contraint de ceder au nombre si bien qu'il fallut aller a ephese mais comme ce n'estoit pas un lieu ou toute cette flotte pust aborder seurement ny ou on la deust recevoir je fus choisi pour aller conduire la princesse onesicrite qui voulut aller elle mesme offrir un sacrifice a diane et en effet nous fusmes a ephese dans une barque et en suitte a ce fameux temple ou cette deesse est adoree afin de luy demander ce que nous devions faire mais a peine le sacrifice fut il acheve que celle qui commandoit alors les vierges voilees et qui se nomme aristonice vint trouver onesicrite pour luy dire que la deesse luy avoit apparu pendant le sacrifice et luy avoit fait entendre qu'elle nous 
 prenoit sous la protection qu'elle vouloit que nous prissions la route de l'isle de cyrne et que de la nous nous laissassions conduire au gre des vents et des flots adjoustant que quand nous serions arrivez a l'azile ou elle nous conduiroit elle vouloit y estre adoree sous la figure d'une statue qu'elle nous monstra et qui estoit presques semblable a celle qui estoit au milieu du temple excepte qu'elle n'estoit pas si grande et pour vous tesmoigner nous dit aristonice que vous ne devez pas douter des paroles de la deesse que je sers et que je suis fortement persuadee de ce que je vous veux persuader j'ay encore a vous dire que m'ayant commande absolument d'aller moy mesme fonder un temple a son honneur au lieu ou elle doit mener vostre flotte je suis preste de vous suivre et de vous aprendre par mon exemple a vous confier a ses promesses j'advoue madame que le discours d'aristonice me surprit aussi bien qu'onesicrite et me donna une confiance que je n'avois pas auparavant car enfin je voyois une personne que je scavois estre d'une grande vertu et qui avoit un grand esprit qui se resolvoit a quiter son pais pour suivre des estrangers qu'elle ne connoissoit pas de plus il faut encore que vous scachiez qu'aristonice a une phisionomie si noble et si sage et qu'elle a tant de majeste sur le visage qu'elle attire le respect de tous ceux qui la voyent aussi trouva-t'elle en la princesse onesicrite une disposition extreme a la reverer et a 
 la croire de sorte que la prenant au mot aristonice ayant assemble toutes les vierges voilees elle leur dit que la deesse luy avoit commande de luy aller bastir un autre temple en une terre qu'elle mesme ne connoissoit pas en suitte de quoy elle se desmit de son authorite entre les mains d'une autre et apres avoir examine la vision qu'elle avoit eue et que toutes ces vierges eurent entendu qu'elle estoit de la nature a y adjouster foy elles le laisserent venir aveque nous suivie de deux de ses compagnes ainsi nous en retournasmes vers la flotte qui nous receut avec une joye que je ne vous puis representer la statue de diane fut regardee de tout le peuple avec des transports qu'on ne scauroit exprimer et aristonice fut reveree de toute la flotte comme la deesse qu'elle servoit l'eust pu estre si elle leur eust apparu il falut mesme pour la satisfaction de la multitude mettre cette figure de diane sur la poupe du vaisseau du prince de phocee afin qu'elle fust en veue a toute la flotte leur semblant qu'elle empescheroit les vagues de se souslever pour le prince de phocee comme tout guerrier qu'il est il craint et respecte les dieux il honnora aristonice comme une fille qui leur estoit consacree et l'admira bien tost apres comme une personne extraordinaire lors qu'il connut la grandeur de son esprit et de sa vertu cependant quand il eust pu douter de l'apparition qu'elle disoit avoir eue il n'eust pas este en pouvoir de ne suivre point les ordres qu'elle avoit 
 donnez tant la multitude avoit de confiance a tout ce qu'elle disoit nous singlasmes donc vers l'isle de cyrne sans aucun obstacle car comme nostre flotte sembloit une armee et mesme une assez grande armee nous n'estions pas en estat de craindre les pirates et le vent nous fut si favorable depuis l'isle de chio que nous arrivasmes a celle de cyrne sans avoir seulement veu la mer irritee jusques la le prince de phocee s'estoit laisse conduire par aristonice sans aucune resistance mais lors qu'apres avoir pris a cette lue les choses dont nous avions besoin elle voulut luy persuader qu'il faloit que les pilotes se laissassent conduire aux vents et aux flots sans chercher d'autre route que celle que le vent qui souffloit alors leur monstroit sa foy devint chancelante et il ne s'y fust jamais resolu si la multitude plus forte que luy ne l'y eust contraint sfurius qui estoit le plus considerable de la flotte apres le prince de phocee avoit aussi bien de la peine a y consentir menedore en murmuroit aussi estrangement et j'advoue que je fis tout ce que je pus pour m'y opposer mais le peuple estant pour aristonice et estant le plus fort dans tous les vaisseaux il falut ceder et abandonner la conduite de la flotte a celle de la fortune cependant au milieu de ces contestations aristonice estoit tranquile et avoit une si ferme confiance en la deesse qu'elle adoroit qu'elle ne doutoit point du tout de l'effet de ses promesses nous voila donc madame en un estrange 
 estat puis que nous allions sans scavoir ou et sans avoir autre dessein que d'aller ou le vent nous menoit nous fusmes pourtant encore en un bien plus deplorable car les dieux voulant sans doute nous punir de nostre peu de confiance firent que la tempeste devint si furieuse que je ne pense pas qu'il y en ait jamais eu d'esgalle depuis que les hommes ont eu la hardiesse de s'exposer sur la mer car enfin madame le vent estoit si fort qu'il sembloit venir de tous les costez et les vagues estoient si hautes qu'elles passoient par dessus tous les vaisseaux de plus l'obscurite le tonnerre et la pluye se meslant aux vagues et aux vent foisoient un bruit si terrible qu'on ne pouvoit destinguer le mugissement de la mer d'avec tant de bruits espouventables ce fut alors que chacun creut qu'il faloit perir et que presques tout le peuple de phocee se repentit de s'estre abandonne a la conduite du hazard mais pour aristonice au plus fort de la tempeste et lors qu'il y avoit aparence que toute la flotte alloit estre dispersee et qu'elle estoit preste a faire naufrage elle parut tousjours et la mesme tranquilite et la mesme confiance pour le prince de phocee il paroissoit ferme et constant mais c'estoit par grandeur d'ame seulement et parce qu'il ne craignoit pas la mort et point du tout par esperance d'eschapper pour menedore quoy qu'il n'aprehendast pas le peril pour l'amour de luy il n'avoit 
 pas la mesme fermete du prince de phocee car la frayeur de la princesse onesicrite luy faisoit une si grande compassion et il estoit si afflige de la voir en danger que sil eust creu pouvoir calmer la tempeste en se jettant dans la mer il eust volontiers este la victime qui eust apaise neptune irrite mais au milieu de tant de murmures aristonice avec sa tranquilite ordinaire parloit avec la mesme liberte d'esprit que si la mer n'eust point este agitee pauvres gens que vous estes disoit-elle aux matelots qui murmuroient ne scauriez vous vous fier a mes paroles et croire fortement que les mesmes dieux qui ont excite la tempeste l'apaiseront et s'en serviront peutestre a vous conduire au port laissez vous guider a leur providence et sans abandonner le gouvernail laissez vous pourtant gouverner par eux puis qu'ils sont plus sages que vous mais enfin madame apres avoir este battus de l'orage trois jours entiers nostre mast estant rompu et l'antenne brisee tout d'un coup le vent cessa les vagues s'abaisserent la pluye deminua le ciel s'esclaircit et le soleil parut si bien que passant presques en un instant d'une grande agitation a une profonde bonace l'esperance commenca de reprendre place en nostre coeur il est vray qu'elle estoit encore bien foible car nostre vaisseau estoit en mauvais estat et toute nostre flotte estoit estrangement dispersee en effet madame elle couvroit une si grande estendue de mer qu'il n'y avoit pas deux vaisseaux 
 ensemble aussi fut-ce sans doute ce qui les conserva car si les vents ne les eussent pas esloignez les uns des autres ils se fussent infailliblement brisez en s'entrechoquant des que le calme fut revenu aristonice montant sur le tillac se mit a genoux devant l'image de diane et remercia cette deesse pour toute la flotte de l'avoir conservee en suitte de quoy se relevant elle fut la premiere qui descouvrit terre mais a peine l'eut elle descouverte que prenant la parole avec authorite comme si elle eust este inspiree des dieux courage dit-elle au prince de phocee qui estoit aupres d'elle je voy je lieu ou diane veut avoir un nouveau temple et ou elle nous fera trouver un azile inviolable des qu'elle eut dit cela le prince de phocee et tous ceux qui estoient a l'entour de luy virent en effet quelques rochers qui paroissoient devant eux et qui sembloient borner la mer de ce coste la en voyant aussi d'autres a la main gauche de sorte que sans scavoir plus precisement si cette terre leur seroit amie ou ennemie ils ne penserent a autre chose qu'a faire tout ce qu'ils pourroient pour y arriver ainsi toute la flotte songeant a se r'assembler et a tascher de racommoder dans chaque vaisseau ce que la tempeste y avoit rompu on fut assez longtemps sans pouvoir guere avancer car l'orage les avoit tellement farcassez qu'ils ne pouvoient qu'a peine esperer de pouvoir gagner le rivage dont ils estoient encore assez esloignez mais enfin comme 
 l'industrie des matelots est admirable et que le desir de sauver sa vie donne de l'adresse et de l'invention a ceux qui sont le moins capables nous commencasmes d'aprocher et de discerner parfaitement que nous estions proche d'un tres beau pais ce fut alors que nous vismes assez pres de nous trois petites isles scituees presques en esgale distance les unes des autres qui forment une espece de triangle irregulier et qui font que la plus grande mettant la plus petite a l'abry du mauvais vent il y a un port capable de tenir qu'inze ou vingt galeres seulement de sorte que le prince de phocee songea a tascher de gagner ces isles qui sont esloignees de la terre ferme environ de trente stades afin d'y pouvoir r'assembler toute la flotte et d'envoyer scavoir de la quel pais estoit celuy qu'il voyoit et qui luy sembloit si beau quoy qu'il ne le vist encore que de loin ainsi comme son pilote n'avoit pas perdu son gouvernail quoy qu'il n'eust plus ny antenne ny mast il fit ramer avec force et laissant tous les autres vaisseaux assez loin derriere il s'aprocha de ces isles la mer estant alors aussi calme qu'un estang mais comme il en estoit desja assez proche et qu'il pouvoit discerner qu'elles n'avoient aucun arbre il vit sortir d'entre ces trois isles une grande barque peinte et doree dont les voiles estoient de la couleur du ciel aussi bien que tous les cordages et qui avoit sur la poupe une tente magnifique sous la quelle on voyoit plusieurs dames y ayant aussi quelques 
 hommes qui leur parloient mais si la veue de cette barque resjouit tous ceux qui estoient dans le vaisseau du prince de phocee celle de ce vaisseau fracasse donna de la compassion a ceux qui estoient dans la barque il est vray que cette compassion fut accompagnee de quelque estonnement car ayant aperceu presques en mesme temps cette grande flotte qui venoit derriere nostre vaisseau nous vismes qu'au lieu de continuer d'avancer vers nous ils envoyerent trois hommes dans un esquif pour nous reconnoistre comme cette rencontre estoit assez surprenante et assez agreable pour nous veu l'estat ou nous estions et le besoin que nous avions d'assistance la princesse onesicrite et tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite dans ce vaisseau monterent sur le tillac et se mirent a regarder cette barque avec autant de curiosite que ceux de la barque nous regardoient mais lors que cet esquif qui venoit vers nous fut arrive a nostre bord apres que nous luy eusmes fait les signes de paix dont on a accoustume de se servir en nos mers quoy que nous ne sceussions pas s'ils les entendoient nous vismes que l'habillement de ces trois hommes qu'on nous envoyoit nous estoit absolument inconnu aristonice mesme qui croyoit avoir veu des gens de toutes les nations du monde au temple d'ephese advoua qu'elle ne connoissoit pas d'ou pouvoient estre ceux qu'elle voyoit cependant quoy que leur habillement fust un peu barbare il ne laissoit pas d'avoir quelque 
 chose de beau comme vous l'avez pu juger par ceux de cette nation qui m'ont accompagne mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'abord de plus facheux fut que lors qu'ils comencerent de parler nous ne les entendismes pas de sorte que ne croyant point que des gens que nous n'entendions pas nous pussent entendre nous commencasmes de leur vouloir faire comprendre par signes quel estoit nostre malheur mais comme un de ces trois hommes qui estoit dans l'esquif nous entendit parler les uns aux autres nous fusmes agreablement surpris d'ouir que quittant le langage dont il s'estoit servy d'abord il nous demanda en grec qui nous estions ou nous allions et quelle flotte estoit celle qu'il voyoit paroistre de vous representer madame la joye que nous eusmes il ne seroit pas aise et il me suffira de vous dire qu'elle fut si grande qu'elle nous fit en quelque facon perdre la raison car encore que ce ne fust qu'au prince de phocee a respondre il n'y eut presques personne sur ce tillac qui ne respondist quelque chose aristonice luy dit donc que diane les conduisoit a leur pais onesicrite que la guerre les avoit bannis de leur patrie le prince de phocee que la peur de la servitude les en avoit chassez menodore que la tempeste les avoit uoussez vers leur terre et je pense que je leur dis aussi que jamais les dieux ne leur avoient donne une si belle matiere d'exercer toutes les vertus ensemble disant encore quelque chose pour faire connoistre la condition du prince 
 de phocee d'onesicrite de menedore et d'atistonice
 
 
 
 
mais enfin madame ces responces tumultueuses estant faites le prince de phocee s'enquit de celuy qui luy parloit quel estoit le pais qu'il voyoit et qui estoit dans cette magnifique barque qui estoit arrestee aupres de ces isles comme celuy a qui il faisoit cette demande est un homme de beaucoup d'esprit il luy aprit en peu de mots que les peuples qui habitoient le lieu ou il alloit aborder s'apelloient les segoregiens que leur pais estoit borne d'un coste par d'autres peuples qu'on apelle les gaulois saliens d'un autre par les tectosages qui habitent le long d'une riviere tres rapide qui s'apelle le rhosne d'un autre par un pais qu'ils nomment la gaule celtique et d'un autre encore par la mer qui regarde l'afrique qu'ils ont au midy il luy aprit en suitte que le roy des segoregiens s'apelloit senan qu'il estoit veuf qu'il s'estoit venu divertir pour quelques jours a un chasteau qui estoit assez pres du rivage qu'il voyoit et que la princesse sa fille qui se nommoit cleonisbe ayant voulu se promener sur la mer estoit dans cette barque et l'avoit envoye pour scavoir toutes les choses qu'il luy avoit demandees le prince de phocee ayant ouy ce que cet homme luy disoit le pria de vouloir luy obtenir de la princesse dont il venoit de luy parler la grace de la pouvoir voir afin de la conjurer de luy faire obtenir du roy son pere un azile pour tant de malheureux adjoustant qu'il le conjuroit de vouloir 
 estre son truchement non non seigneur repliqua cet homme je n'auray point besoin d'expliquer vos paroles a la princesse cleonisbe car encore qu'elle vive en un climat assez esloigne de celuy ou les sciences et la politesse regnent je puis vous assurer qu'elle scait assez bien le grec pour le pouvoir parler dans athenes cependant adjousta-t'il comme je n'oserois vous conduire vers elle sans ses ordres vous me permettrez de luy aller rendre conte de ce qu'elle veut scavoir le prince de phocee ayant consenty a ce qu'il vouloit l'esquif qui l'avoit amene vers nous le remena vers la princesse cleonisbe d'autre part tous nos vaisseaux voyans le nostre arreste firent force pour nous joindre et nous joignirent en effet avant que l'esquif fust revenu vers nous mais madame il faut que vous scachiez que celuy qui nous avoit parle n'estoit pas ne parmy les segoregiens et que c'estoit au contraire un illustre grec qui ayant autresfois suby les loix de l'ostracisme avoit este pousse par la fortune en cette bien-heureuse terre ou il s'estoit arreste de sorte qu'allant rendre conte a la princesse cleonisbe de tout ce qu'il avoit apris du prince de phocee il luy dit comme nous l'avons sceu depuis que s'il estoit ce qu'il disoit estre comme il n'en doutoit point du tout il estoit sans doute un des plus vaillans princes du monde adjoustant mille choses a la louange de sa personne de sorte que cet officieux grec qui s'apelle hipomene prevenant avantageusement 
 cleonisbe pour le prince de phocee comme il avoit prevenu le prince de phocee pour cleonisbe on peut assurer qu'ils commencerent de s'estimer sans se connoistre cependant la princesse onesicrite scachant qu'elle alloit paroistre devant une personne de cette qualite cammanda a ses femmes de redonner quelque ordre a ses beaux cheveux negligez dont l'impetuosite du vent avoit esparpille toutes les boucles durant la tempeste mais enfin madame hipomene ayant receu les ordres de cleonisbe nous le vismes non seulement revenir vers nous mais nous vismes encore que la barque s'aprochoit aussi le prince de phocee n'osa pourtant avancer jusques a ce qu'il eust receu la responce d'hipomene mais des qu'il eut apris par luy que la princesse cleonisbe venoit elle mesme pour le prendre dans sa barque avec la princesse onesicrite aristonice et tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite dans son vaisseau il commanda de ramer avec diligence et d'avancer vers la barque qui s'aprochoit commandant a toute la flotte de mettre le pavillon bas et d'attendre ses ordres jusques a ce qu'il eust receu ceux de la princesse vers qui il alloit et pour luy rendre encore un plus grand respect il se jetta dans l'esquif d'hipomene afin d'estre plustost aupres d'elle et de tesmoigner plus de confiance ainsi l'esquif se separa de nostre vaisseau et alla vers la barque qui s'avancoit comme nous nous avancions mais de grace madame figurez vous un peu je vous prie quel objet devoit 
 estre celuy de voir cette barque peinte et doree avec sa tente magnifique ses flames ondoyantes et ses banderoles volantes en comparaison de ce vaisseau desmate battu de la tempeste et fracasse de toutes parts a la reserve de la poupe sur laquelle estoit la figure de diane il est vray que son tillac estoit orne de trois personnes admirables et qui par leur beaute ou par leur bonne mine estoient bien capables de donner beaucoup de plaisir a les voir en effet aristonice par la majeste de son visage onesicrite par sa rare beaute et menodore par l'agreement de sa personne estoient bien capables de se faire admirer mais madame sans m'amuser davantage a vous parler d'eux il faut que je me haste de vous parler de cleonisbe et que je vous die quelle fut nostre admiration pour elle lors que nous fusmes assez pres de la barque ou elle estoit pour pouvoir seulement juger de sa belle taille et de sa bonne mine comme elle avoit la curiosite de voir comment estoient faits ceux qu'elle venoit sauver elle s'estoit avancee un pas hors de sa tente pour nous voir de plus pres de sorte qu'estant un peu separee de toutes les dames qui estoient aupres d'elle nous la discernasmes facilement devant qu'on nous l'eust nommee imaginez vous donc madame une grande personne dont la taille haute et noble a quelque chose de si aise et de si majestueux qu'on ne peut s'empescher de croire qu'il falloit que pentasilee l'eust ainsi mais imaginez vous en mesme temps 
 qu'encore qu'elle ait la taille de cette belle et jeune amazone qui mourut de la main d'achille elle n'en a pourtant pas la fierte au contraire elle a tant de douceur et tant de charmes dans l'air du visage quoy qu'elle ait la mine tres haute qu'on peut dire que si on ne la peut aimer sans la craindre on ne la peut aussi craindre sans l'aimer puis qu'il est vray que personne n'a jamais eu tant de charmes ny tant de modestie ny plus de beaute ne vous imaginez pourtant pas madame que le taint de cleonisbe ait cette blancheur esblouissante qui cache bien souvent tant de deffauts ou du moins qui les amoindrit au contraire cleonisbe a le taint un peu brun mais il est vray que tout brun qu'il est il est si uny et si lustre que c'est un des plus beaux taints du monde pour ses cheveux ils sont de cette admirable couleur qui sied bien a toutes sortes de taints et qui sans avoir cette asprete de ceux qui sont du dernier noir ny le jaunastre de ceux qui sont veritablement chatains ont un esclat brun et cendre tout ensemble qui les rend beaux en eux mesmes et qui sert a faire paroistre la beaute de celle qui les a de cette sorte de plus cleonisbe a le visage de la plus agreable forme du monde car encore qu'on ne puisse pas dire qu'il soit en ovale on ne peut pas dire aussi qu'il soit tout a fait rond ainsi on peut assurer qu'il a toutes les graces que ces deux sortes de tours de visages sont capables de donner a la beaute mais madame ce n'est pas encore tout 
 car outre ce que je vous ay desja dit cleonisbe a une des plus belles bouches que je vy jamais car enfin elle ne l'a pas seulement bien faite et ses levres ne sont pas seulement de ce bel incarnat qui anime la beante mais elle y a encore un charme inexplicable qui vous persuade mesme quoy que vous ne regardiez que cette seule partie de son visage qu'il faut qu'elle soit eloquente et qu'elle ait infiniment de l'esprit estant certain qu'il y a je ne scay quelles petites enfonceures au coin de sa bouche et je ne scay quel sourire spirituel et melancolique tout ensemble qui y paroist presque tousjours qui forcent ceux qui la voyent a croire ce que je viens de vous dire mais madame apres vous avoir represente imparfaitement la bonne mine le taint les cheveux le tour du visage et la bouche de cleonisbe comment feray-je pour vous representer ses beaux yeux il faut pourtant puis que je me suis engage a vous la despeindre que je vous die qu'ils sont noirs grands brillans et doux en effet ils ont un feu si vif une modestie si grande et une douceur si passionnee qu'ils inspirent l'amour jusques dans le fonds du coeur de ceux qui les voyent au reste ce ne sont pas de ces yeux qui ont une certaine agitation tumultueuse qui ne permet pas qu'on puisse juger d'eux equitablement parce qu'ils ne souffrent presques point qu'on les voye bien tant ils sont petillans et sujets a changer d'objet au contraire quoy que cleonisbe ait les yeux tres vifs et qu'elle ait les 
 regards tres penetrans elle a pourtant les yeux tranquiles elle regarde avec aplication ce qu'elle veut regarder et sans abandonner cette profonde modestie qui est inseparable de toutes ses actions elle n'esvite pas les yeux de ceux qui luy parlent et souffre par consequent qu'on admire dans les siens mille charmes que je ne vous scaurois descrire car enfin il y paroist tout ensemble de l'esprit de l'amour de la langueur de la modestie de la passion de la vivacite de la vertu de la bonte de l'enjouement de la melancolie de la beaute et des charmes de sorte madame que si vous joignez des yeux tels que je vous les despeins a toutes les autres belles choses que je vous ay descrites et a un embonpoint ou la jeunesse est peinte vous n'aures pas de peine a croire que des gens qui venoient de voir durant une tempeste de trois jours l'image de la mort errer a l'entour d'eux furent bien agreablement surpris de voir l'admirable cleonisbe sur le bout de la barque ou elle estoit aussi vous puis je assurer que je ne pense pas que ceux de l'isle de chypre qui virent aborder venus dans cette magnifique coquille qui fut son berceau et son navire tout ensemble eussent plus d'admiration pour elle que nous en eusmes pour cleonisbe elle estoit ce jour la coiffee a l'africaine c'est a dire les cheveux a demy espars dont une partie estant r'atachez avec des cordons d'une couleur fort vive s'entortilloient en diverses tresses au derriere de sa teste d'ou pendoit un grand voile 
 de gaze rayee de diverses couleurs qu'elle avoit releve pour nous voir mieux son habillement qui estoit incarnat et blanc estoit d'une forme agreable et galante qui sans cacher la beaute de sa taille avoit pourtant de la majeste la ceinture de cette robe estoit marquee par des escailles couvertes de diamans aussi bien que le tour de la gorge le devant de la robe le tour des espaules et tout ce qui marquoit la taille de cet habillement dont les manches a demy retroussees faisoient voir que cleonisbe avoit d'aussi belles mains qu'elle avoit une belle gorge qu'on entre-voyoit a travers une legere gaze qui la couvroit mais pour adjouster encore quelque chose de galant a ce petit triomphe maritime tout le dessous de la tente sous laquelle estoit cleonisbe estoit couvert d'une agreable ramee dont l'odeur vint jusques a nous devant que nous eussions joint la barque car enfin madame on voyoit mille branches d'orangers chargees de fleurs entrelassees avec des branches de myrthe et de jasmin qui faisant une espece de berceau sur la teste de cleonisbe pour parfumer l'air et la rafraischir tout a la fois adjoustoit encore quelque chose a la beaute d'un objet si merveilleux par cet agreable meslange de feuillages de fleurs d'estoffes magnifiques et de diamants cependant quoy que nous fussions fort occupez a regarder cleonisbe nous remarquasmes pourtant qu'il y avoit plusieurs dames bien faites aupres d'elle et qu'entre les hommes 
 qui y estoient il y en avoit un qui paroissoit estre de grande qualite soit par sa mine par son habillement ou par la maniere dont la princesse cleonisbe agissoit aveque luy je vous demande pardon madame de m'estre tant arreste a vous dire ce que me parut cleonisbe des la premiere fois que j'eus l'honneur de la voir mais je l'ay fait parce que je ne puis vous dire precisement ce qu'en pensa le prince de phocee n'ayant pu trouver de termes en toutes les langues qu'il scait parler pour exprimer parfaitement ce qui se passa dans son coeur en cette premiere entre veue mais pour vous aprendre du moins ce qui se passa dans la barque de cleonisbe je vous diray que l'esquif nous ayant devancez des qu'il fut assez pres de cette princesse pour faire que le prince de phocee la pust voir distinctement et en estre veu il la salua avec autant de grace que de respect apres quoy hipomene le faisant entrer dans la barque par l'endroit le plus esloigne de cleonisbe et y entrant aussi bien que luy il le mena vers cette princesse qui le receut avec beaucoup de civilite vous voyez madame luy dit-il en grec ayant sceu par hipomene qu'elle le parloit un malheureux prince qui vient vous rendre grace d'avoir empesche de perir tout le peuple d'une grande ville qui compose la flotte qu'il commande car je ne doute pas poursuivit il galamment que ce ne soit vous qui par vostre presence avez calme les flots irritez et fait cesser la tempeste qui nous a pense faire faire 
 naufrage mais madame apres vous avoir remerciee d'avoir sauve la vie a tant de personnes malheureuses et innocentes je vous suplie encore de la leur vouloir conserver en obtenant du roy vostre pere l'entree de ses ports pour tant de vaisseaux battus de l'orage et de l'obliger aussi a vouloir escouter la cause de nostre exil et le recit de tous nos malheurs afin de luy inspirer apres le desir de les soulager et de faire en sorte une les promesses qu'une grande deesse nous a faites ne demeurent pas inutiles il y a une si grande satisfaction repliqua cleonisbe de trouver accasion d'assister des malheureux et des malheureux encore aussi illustres que vous que j'ay quelque peine a m'affliger de vostre infortune puis qu'elle me donne lieu d'estre en pouvoir de vous rendre quelque office et de vous faire connoistre que nostre nation n'est pas aussi barbare qu'on le croit cependant adjousta t'elle comme j'ay sceu par hipomene qu'il y a des dames dans vostre vaisseau il faut s'il vous plaist que nous les allions prendre afin de les oster d'un lieu qui ne leur peut estre agreable puis qu'elles y ont pense perir et quand elles seront dans cette barque poursuivit-elle vous envoyerez ordre a vostre flotte de se mettre a l'abry de ces isles jusques a ce que je vous aye presente au roy mon pere et que j'aye obtenu de luy ce que vous en desirez car encore une fois je tiens qu'il est si glorieux de faire tout le bien qu'on peut que je suis asseuree 
 que l'auray plus de joye a vous proteger que ma protection ne vous scauroit estre utile ha madame s'escria le prince de phocee en la regardant avec admiration est-il possible qu'a l'extremite de la terre on trouve une personne comme vous et est-il possible encore que la renommee ne vous ait pas fait connoistre a toute la grece et ne vous y ait pas fait adorer malgre cette grande estendue de mer qui vous en separe ceux qui m'ont enseigne le grec repliqua-t'elle en souriant m'ont aussi enseigne en mesme temps qu'il faloit quelquesfois se defier des flatteries de ceux de vostre nation c'est pourquoy sans adjouster foy aux louanges que vous me donnez je me prive equitablement du plaisir qu'il y a d'en recevoir d'un homme qui connoist sans doute admirablement toutes choses puis qu'il est orginaire d'un pais d'ou l'ignorance qui regne au nostre est bannie apres cela cleonisbe voyant que le vaisseau du prince de phocee estoit fort proche commanda que sa barque le joignist et pria cet homme de qualite qui estoit aupres d'elle et qui s'appelle bomilcar d'aller recevoir la princesse onesicrite et aristonice et de les luy amener de sorte que bomicar luy obeissant tousjours aveque joye luy obeit cette fois la avec diligence et fut pour donner la main a onesicrite mais comme cette princesse voulut qu'aristonice marchast la premiere pour rendre plus de respect a la deesse qu'elle servoit ce fut elle que bomilcar conduisit si bien que menodore 
 en estant plus heureux aida a descendre du vaisseau a la princesse qu'il adoroit qui estant suivie des deux compagnes d'aristonice de plusieurs femmes de qualite de ses filles et de moy fut vers la princesse cleonisbe qui continuoit de parler au prince de phocee j'oubliois de vous dire qu'aristonice ne sortit pourtant pas du vaisseau sans avoir fait mettre la statue de diane en lieu seur et sous la garde de gens capables d'en avoir soin et de la conserver et que le prince de phocee envoya aussi ses ordres a toute la flotte que le pere de menodore commanda en son absence de vous dire apres cela madame combi fut grande l'admiration reciproque de cleonisbe d'onesicrite et d'aristonice il ne seroit pas aisee non plus que de vous raconter parole pour parole tout ce que ces admirables personnes se dirent c'est pourquoy madame vous m'en dispenserez s'il vous plaist et vous vous imaginerez sans doute facilement ce que je ne vous dirois pas si bien que vous vous le direz a vous mesme pour moy j'estois si surpris de voir cleonisbe et si estonne de l'entendre parler que je ne pouvois concevoir qu'elle ne fust pas nee ou a athenes ou a corinthe ou a delphes ou a thebes je voyois mesme que sa politesse se communiquoit presques a tout ce qui l'environnoit et que la plus grande partie des dames qui estoient avec elle n'avoient rien de barbare bomilcar me sembloit aussi avoir tout l'air d'un homme d'esprit et d'un homme de grand coeur de sorte que 
 ne pouvant me lasser d'admirer ce que je voyois j'admirois et regardois sans rien dire durant que la barque reprenant la route du port nous aprochoit du rivage pendant ce petit trajet je remarquay qu'il y avoit entre ces dames une fille nommee glacidie que cleonisbe preferoit a toutes les autres car elle luy adressoit souvent la parole soit en louant la beaute d'onesicrite soit en parlant d'aristonice et je m'aperceus aussi que cette personne n'estoit pas une personne d'un mediocre merite je ne l'observay pourtant pas si long temps que je n'eusse le loisir de remarquer l'agitation qui estoit dans le coeur du prince de phocee et de voir en suitte que bomilcar la remarquoit aussi bien que moy l'entendis mesme que s'estant aproche de glacidie il luy dit a demy bas et en souriant que veu comme cet estranger regardoit cleonisbe il avoit lieu de craindre qu'apres estre eschape de la tempeste il ne fist naufrage au port si ce malheur luy arrive reprit glacidie en souriant aussi bien que bomilcar je m'imagine que la conformite de vostre fortune vous obligera a lier amitie aveque luy ha glacidie repliqua-t'il vous scavez bien que ce n'est pas la conformite de ces especes de malheurs qui fait que les malheureux s'aiment ainsi madame j'apris sans y penser que bomilcar estoit amant de cleonisbe mais je n'apris pas alors s'il en estoit bien ou mal traitte parce que glacidie ayant pris garde que je pouvois les entendre a cause qu'ils parloient 
 grec se tourna vers moy et commenca de me parler et de m'obliger a luy dire en peu de mots l'estat de nostre fortune cependant plus nous aprochions du rivage plus le pais ou nous allions nous sembloit agreable car parmy mille arbres differens dont le paisage est seme on voit a la droite de greffes roches steriles qui sont paroistre davantage la fertilite des autres endroits on voit aussi de ce mesme coste une montage dont le bas est couvert de grands pins et sur le sommet qui est fort droit est une tour d'une structure irreguliere qui toute antique qu'elle est donne beaucoup d'ornement a cet endroit du paisage de l'autre coste est un pais plus uny mais qui ne laisse pas d'estre entremesle de colines de valons de rochers de prairies de fontaines et de ruisseaux et de faire cent agreables inesgalitez de scituations differentes qui rendent les maisons qu'on y a basties tout a fait charmantes de plus on y voit une si grande quantite d'oliviers de grenadiers de mirthes et de lauriers et tous les jardins y sont si pleins d'orangers de jasmins et de mille autres belles et agreables choses que je ne croy pas qu'il y ait un pais plus aimable que celuy-la ny ou le soleil donne de plus agreables printemps de plus longs estez de plus riches automnes ny de plus courts hyvers le ciel y est tousjours si clair l'air y est si pur les fruits y sont si admirables la mer y est si poissonneuse et les chasseurs y trouvent une si abondante matiere a l'innocente guerre 
 qu'ils font que de quelque condition ou de quelque humeur qu'on soit on trouve de quoy s'y satisfaire mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois il faut que je rentre dans la barque d'ou je suis sorty malgre moy pour faire cette petite description je vous diray donc madame que la barque estant dans le port nous vismes plusieurs cabanes de pescheurs le long du rivage et plusieurs habitations esparses dans tout cet agreable terroir dont la veue est bornee par des montagnes assez esloignees sur le sommet desquelles on voit de la neige quoy qu'on n'en voye presques jamais tomber au lieu ou nous abordasmes comme la princesse cleonisbe avoit plusieurs chariots qui l'attendoient sur le bord du rivage elle avoit dessein d'obliger les dames qui estoient avec elle de se presser afin que nous y pussions tous avoir place pour aller jusques a trente stades de la ou estoit le chasteau ou elle avoit laisse le roy mais a peine les princesses furent-elles a terre qu'entendant tout d'un coup un grand bruit que faisoient des hommes qui sonnoient d'une espece de cor qui nous estoit inconnu nous vismes arriver un grand equipage de chasse qui quoy qu'un peu barbare ne laissoit pas de plaire et d'avoir quelque chose de magnifique tous les chiens avoient de grands coliers d'argent a gros cloux dorez ceux qui les suivoient a pied tenoient une espece de grandes et belles coquilles qu'on apelle des trompes dont ils sonnoient au lieu de cor et dont ils faisoient 
 un bruit si retentissant que les tritons n'en scauroient faire davantage a l'entour du char de neptune les chasseurs a cheval avoient des arcs des fleches et des javelines et pour leurs habillemens ils estoient bigarrez de tant de belles et vives couleurs que cela ne pouvoit manquer de rejouir la veue tout le monde tournant donc la teste du coste que venoient ces chasseurs nous vismes qu'il y en avoit un qui paroissoit le maistre des autres et qui se separant de cette grande troupe qui le suivoit vint droit a la princesse cleonisbe qui aprit au prince de phocee que celuy que nous voiyons estoit le prince carimante son frere a peine eut-elle dit cela que ce prince qui estoit descendu de cheval pour la venir joindre s'aprocha d'elle et nous fit voir qu'il avoit admirablement bonne mine n'ayant pas alors plus de vingt-quatre ans mais comme il fut assez pres pour discerner ceux qui estoient avec cleonisbe il en fut surpris et plus surpris encore de voir vers les isles cette grande flotte qui y paroissoit il ne fut pourtant pas long-temps en cette inquiettude car la princesse cleonisbe luy presentant cette belle et malheureuse troupe qui s'estoit mise sous sa protection quelque heureuse qu'ait este vostre chasse luy dit elle en souriant je suis assuree que ma promenade sur la mer l'a este beaucoup davantage et que vous n'avez pas tant eu de plaisir tout le jour que vous en aurez sans doute a m'aider a servir aupres du roy les admirables personnes 
 que vous voyez et que je vous conjure de proteger comme onesicrite est une des plus belles princesses qu'on puisse voir elle attacha si fort les yeux du prince carimante qu'a peine entendit-il ce que cleonisbe luy dit il est vray qu'il ne laissa pas de faire comme s'il l'eust bien entendu car il fit tant de civilite et a onesicrite et au prince de phocee et a aristonice et a menodore qu'ils eurent sujet d'en estre tres satisfaits cependant comme le lieu n'estoit pas propre a une longue conversation carimante mit onesicrite dans le chariot de cleonisbe disant au prince de phocee et a menodore et a moy que nous irions a cheval aveque luy car comme on luy menoit tousjours plusieurs chevaux en main a toutes les chasses qu'il faisoit il y en eut autant qu'il nous en faloit de sorte qu'apres que le prince de phocee eut mis cleonisbe dans le mesme chariot ou onesicrite estoit desja et que bomilcar eut aussi aide a aristonice a y monter ils saluerent ces dames et des que leur chariot eut commence de marcher ils monterent tous a cheval et le suivirent et pour celles qui avoient este de la promenade de cleonisbe aussi bien que les compagnes d'aristonice et toutes les autres dames elles furent dans d'autres chariots tant que ce chemin dura le prince de phocee entretint carimante et luy aprit la desolation de sa patrie le bonheur de vos armes la grandeur de vos conquestes la resolution des habitans de phocee le commandement de la 
 deesse qu'on adore a ephese la tempeste que nous avions eue et la rencontre de la princesse cleonisbe qui de son coste aprenoit aussi ces mesmes choses par onesicrite et les aprenoit plus particulierement qu'elles ne les avoit sceues par hipomene pour moy je parlois tantost a cet officieux grec et tantost a bomilcar car pour tous les autres ils ne m'entendoient point et je ne les entendois pas quoy que le chemin ne fust pas long j'eus loisir de remarquer que bomilcar avoit beaucoup d'esprit mais un esprit si plein d'activite qu'on voyoit mesme par sa phisionomie qu'il faloit qu'il y eust dans son coeur plus d'une passion violente il s'informa aveque soin du prince de phocee et m'en demanda cent choses differentes je trouvay pourtant moyen de demander aussi a mon tour a hipomene tout ce qui me donnoit de la curiosite me semblant que puis qu'il estoit grec j'avois quelque droit d'attendre toutes sortes d'offices de luy mais entre les choses que je luy demanday je le priay de me dire ce qu'estoit bomilcar il est si considerable dans cette cour me dit-il qu'on le regarde comme un homme qui seul a termine la guerre entre les carthaginois et les segoregiens car comme il est tres puissant au pais d'ou il est originaire c'est assurement par luy que ces deux peuples guerriers et ennemis sont presentement en paix quoy luy dis-je bomilcar n'est pas originaire de ce pais cy non repliqua-t'il et la superbe carthage est le lieu d'ou son pere estoit 
 apres cela passant d'un discours a un autre je sceus que le roy des segoregiens n'avoit point d'autres enfans que carimante et cleonisbe et je sceus mesme encore que je ne m'estois pas trompe lors que j'avois creu que glacidie estoit fort bien aupres de cette princesse car il m'aprit qu'elle estoit la personne du monde pour qui elle avoit le plus d'estime et le plus d'amitie adjoustant que c'estoit un bien dont elle jouissoit avec justice et dont elle jouissoit mesme sans qu'on le luy enviast parce qu'elle ne se servoit du credit qu'elle avoit aupres de cleonisbe que pour rendre office a tous les honnestes gens mais enfin madame nous arrivasmes au chasteau ou estoit le roy qui est en une des plus belles scituations que je vy jamais car encore qu'il soit en un lieu ou il y a cent sources admirables et des prairies merveilleuses il y a une veue d'une si vaste estendue du coste de la mer que les yeux n'y trouvent point d'autres limites que leur propre foiblesse qui ne leur permet pas de discerner ce qu'ils voyent au dela des bornes que la nature leur a prescrites en y arrivant nous vismes une grande allee de lauriers de plus de huit cens pas de long et en passant le long d'une balustrade rustique nous vismes aussi un grand verger ou il y avoit mille orangers plantez par ordre entremeslez de grenadiers et de citronniers qui contentant plus d'un sens a la fois parfumoient agreablement l'air que nous respirions nous vismes encore qu'il y avoit une source admirable 
 au milieu de ce jardin qui parmy mille bouillons d'eau que la seule nature faisoit eslever en murmurant formoient un grand rondeau a l'entour d'eux qui se deschargeoit par un ruisseau dans une prairie qui estoit au dela de ce jardin nous remarquasmes encore en aprochant du chasteau que toutes les murailles de la cour estoient couvertes de mirthe et qu'il y avoit encore un grand parterre forme d'herbes odoriferantes derriere le chasteau et qu'on y voyoit des cabinets de lauriers des fontaines et des ruisseaux mais ce qui nous surprit davantage fut de voir la magnificence du dedans de cette superbe maison et particulierement de la chambre du roy en effet madame quoy qu'il n'y eust ny peintures ny tentures de tapis de sidon ny de pourpre ce que nous y vismes estoit beaucoup plus riche et beaucoup plus beau que tout ce que j'ay veu ailleurs car enfin il faut vous imaginer que cette chambre dont le haut est en dome est l'objet le plus ravissant qui puisse tomber sous les yeux et pour vous le faire comprendre je n'ay qu'a vous dire que toutes les murailles et toute la voute en sont couvertes d'une espece d'arabesque irreguliere de piece de raport toutes de nacre et de coral mais de nacre qui fait de si belles reflections que l'arc en ciel n'a pas des couleurs si esclatantes ny si bien nuees que celles qu'on y voit de sorte qu'estant entremeslee a du coral de toutes les couleurs dont la nature en produit en cette mer ou 
 en la mer lygustique qui n'en est pas loin cela fait le plus bel effet du monde car comme il y en a de blanc de noir de couleur de feu d'incarnat de couleur de rose et de tout a fait pasle cela fait un meslange avec de la nacre que je ne vous scaurois representer c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux que je ne m'y arreste pas et que je vous die comment le roy des segoregiens nous receut comme cleonisbe n'a pas moins de jugement que d'esprit j'avois oublie de vous dire qu'elle avoit envoye advertir ce prince de l'advanture qu'elle avoit eue des qu'elle estoit descendue de la barque afin qu'il ne fust pas si surpris aussi nous receut-il admirablement lors que nous fusmes a l'entree du chasteau carimante donna la main a onesicrite qui ne put faire cette fois la passer aristonice devant elle de sorte que bomilcar fut celuy qui la conduisit car pour le prince de phocee il aida a marcher a cleonisbe qui luy dit obligeamment que comme c'estoit au prince son frere a presenter onesicrite au roy c'estoit aussi a elle a luy rendre cet office pour menodore il donna la main a glacidie et tout te reste des hommes conduisirent celles qu'ils voulurent de ce grand nombre de dames qui estoient en ce lieu-la soit des nostres soit de celles du pais comme le roy scavoit la langue greque aussi bien que carimante et cleonisbe il fut sensiblement touche de ce que luy dit le prince de phocee apres que la princesse sa fille le luy eut presente car quoy 
 qu'il ne s'estendist pas extremement en son discours il luy dit pourtant toute nostre fortune et r'enferma si adroitement tous nos malheurs en peu de mots que le roy qui les escoutoit les put facilement retenir il choisit mesme si bien les paroles dont il se servit que l'exageration la plus estendue et la plus eloquente n'auroit pas tant attendry le coeur que ce que dit le prince de phocee attendrit celuy de ceux qui l'escouterent enfin seigneur luy dit-il a la fin de son discours vous voyez des malheureux que la crainte de la servitude a force d'abandonner leur patrie qui n'ont plus de terre qu'ils puissent habiter sans qu'on la leur donne ou sans qu'ils l'usurpent que la tempeste a battus que la douleur a accablez et qui n'ont plus que la liberte et l'esperance en partage encore ne jouissons nous de ce dernier bien que depuis que la princesse cleonisbe nous a fait la grace de nous promettre de nous proteger aupres de vous et qu'elle a obtenu pour nous la mesme faveur du prince carimante ainsi seigneur c'est de vous de qui depend nostre destin puis que si vous ne nous accordez pas l'entree de vos ports pour nostre flotte nous n'aurons plus rien a faire qu'a nous resoudre de mourir constamment comme le roy alloit respondre aristonice s'avancant et prenant la parole seigneur luy dit-elle souffrez qu'avec tout le respect que je vous dois je vous die que la tempeste qui nous a poussez sur vos costes ne nous y a jettez que pour faire que vous nous y receussiez 
 comme des gens qui donnent une ample matiere a vostre vertu car afin que vous n'en doutiez pas c'est une grande deesse qui nous y a conduits et qui voulant avoir un temple sur vos terres et estre reconnue parmy vos peuples m'a commande de faire ce que j'ay fait prenez donc garde de l'irriter en ne recevant pas favorablement des malheureux qui tous malheureux qu'ils sont ont dans leurs vaisseaux des thresors inestimables puis qu'ils y ont un grand nombre d'hommes vertueux de gens habiles et scavans d'excellens artisans en toutes sortes de choses et qui par ce moyen peuvent se vanter d'avoir tous les arts et toutes les sciences enfermees dans leurs navires qu'ils peuvent communiquer a vos peuples si vous leur donnez seulement un coin de terre pour bastir un temple et pour pouvoir jouir de la liberte qui leur couste leur patrie mais encore une fois seigneur poursuivit-elle songez bien a ne refuser pas les graces que les dieux vous font et scachez que la deesse que je sers vous promet par moy de rendre vostre pais si celebre et si fameux par toute la terre si vous nous recevez favorablement qu'il n'y en a point au monde qui le soit davantage aristonice prononca ces paroles avec tant de grace et tant d'authorite que toute la compagnie s'en sentit esmeue et remarqua mesme que le roy en estoit touche aussi respondit-il avec toute la douceur imaginable et au prince de phocee et a aristonice leur accordant d'abord l'entree 
 ses ports pour toute la flotte a condition qu'il n'y auroit qu'un certain nombre de gens armes dans chaque vaisseau et pour ce qui estoit de leur donner un lieu propre pour leur habitation il leur dit qu'il assembleroit les sarronides pour en conferer avec eux et qu'en attendant il leur permettoit d'esperer que sa responce seroit favorable comme je ne doute pas madame que ce mot de sarronides ne vous surprenne je pen- qu'il est a propos que je vous die que les sarronides sont a peu pres entre les gaulois en general ce que sont les mages en perse il y a pourtant cette difference que les mages ne se meslent que des choses de la reugion et que les sarronides connoissent aussi des affaires publiques et des differens des particuliers cette espece de philosophes de sacrificateurs et de magistrats tout ensemble furent instituez par le troisiesme roy des gaules nomme sarron qui voulut que de son nom ils s'apellassent sarronides il y a pourtant quelques parties des gaules ou ils les nomment druides a cause que sous le regne d'un de leur rois nomme druys il voulut qu'on les appellast ainsi ils sont mesme divisez en divers ordres et sous divers noms car ceux qui ne s'occupent qu'aux sacrifices s'apellent vacies ceux qui ne s'adonnent qu'a la connoissance des choses naturelles se nomment eubages et ceux qui sont destinez a chanter les actions heroiques des hommes vertueux sont apelles bardes car pour ceux qui portent le nom de sarronides ou 
 celuy de druydes comme ils sont les plus scavans de tous ils se meslent comme je l'ay desja dit de conseiller les rois de rendre la justice d'enseigner les peuples et d'instruire particulierement la jeunesse il est vray que parmy les segoregiens on ne se sert pas de tous ces noms differens dont on se sert dans la gaule celtique dans la gaule belgique et parmy les allobroges qui sont encore d'autres gaulois mais seulement du nom de sarronides qui parmy ces peuples les comprend tous le roy ayant donc remis la deliberation de la chose dont il s'agissoit a son conseil qui estoit compose de ces sarronides la princesse cleonisbe tesmoigna en avoir beaucoup de satisfaction assurant onesicrite qu'elle ne doutoit pas que des gens qui enseignoient l'humanite aux autres ne conseillassent le roy son pere comme elle le souhaitoit luy promettant mesme de les soliciter en nostre faveur carimante de son coste luy promit la mesme chose en suitte de quoy le roy parlant les uns apres les autres au prince de phocee a aristonice a onesicrite et a menodore en fut si satisfait qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher de le tesmoigner et de leur donner beaucoup de louanges au reste madame nous eusmes encore le bonheur de plaire si fort a tous ceux de sa cour que je pense pouvoir dire que jamais estrangers n'ont este si peu estrangers que nous le fusmes en ce lieu-la car il y avoit un tel empressement a nous rendre office qu'il y a sujet de croire que les 
 dieux avoient dispose les coeurs de tous ceux qui nous virent a nous bien traitter cependant le roy jugeant que des gens battus de l'orage avoient besoin de repos commanda qu'on menast la princesse onesicrite a un bel apartement qui touchoit celuy de cleonisbe et qu'on logeast toutes les dames qui estoient avec elle le plus commodement qu'on pourroit aussi bien que le prince de phocee et menodore commandant en suitte qu'on allast aux isles pour faire venir toute la flotte au port qui estoit beaucoup plus grand qu'il ne faloit pour la contenir apres cela madame je ne vous diray point quels furent les soins de cleonisbe et de carimante a faire bien obeir le roy car il ne seroit pas croyable que des personnes de cette qualite en eussent eu de si officieux pour des estrangers qu'ils ne connoissoient pas en effet ils commanderent si expressement a tous les officiers du roy de servir respectueusement et magnifiquement ceux aupres de qui ils les mirent qu'il estoit aise de voir que leur merite et leur malheur les avoit touchez glacidie en son particulier fit tant de choses obligeantes et pour onesicrite et pour aristonice et pour toutes les autres dames qui les accompagnoient qu'il me fut aise de connoistre des le premier jour que je la vy qu'hipomene avoit eu raison de me dire qu'elle meritoit l'amitie que cleonisbe avoit pour elle car elle agit avec tant de bonte et avec tant d'esprit tout ensemble qu'elle commenca des lors d'avoir beaucoup de 
 part a l'estime du prince de phocee il arriva mesme une chose des le soir qui a bien fait voir depuis que les dieux avoient resolu qu'il y eust en peu temps beaucoup d'amour beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie entre toutes ces personnes qui se connoissoient si peu et qui s'aimerent tant peu de jours apres car madame il saut que vous scachiez que des que le prince de phocee sceut que cleonisbe que nous avions laissee chez le roy estoit a son apartement il y fut pour luy rendre la premiere visite et y fut accompagne de menodore pendant que carimante estoit aussi alle voir onesicrite pour la premiere fois accompagee de bomilcar pour moy qui avois suivy le prince de phocee je fus tesmoin de sa conversation avec cleonisbe qui fut assez longue mais comme en y allant j'avois apris a ce prince que glacidie estoit la favorite de cleonisbe et que des ce premier jour la il chercha aveque soin a ne luy dire que des choses qui luy pussent plaire apres plusieurs autres discours ou il la loua avec beaucoup d'adresse il se mit aussi a luy dire du bien de glacidie comme ayant desja remarque que c'estoit une personne qui avoit de l'esprit et de la bonte eh de grace luy dit elle ne jugez pas encore de glacidie car je suis assuree que vous n'en pouvez juger en si peu de temps sans luy faire beaucoup d'injustice n'estant pas possible quelque esprit que vous ayez que vous puissiez encore connoistre toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'elle a je vous assure reprit 
 le prince de phocee que je suis persuadee qu'elle a toutes celles qu'on peut avoir puis que vous l'aimez autant que vous faites cette raison ne seroit pas fort convainquante repliqua modestement cleonisbe mais pour vous faire voir adjousta-t'elle qu'encore que je vive parmy des gens que les grecs apellent barbares je ne laisse pas de connoistre ceux qui ont du merite il faut que je vous despeigne qu'elle est glacidie je ne vous diray rien de sa personne puis que vous la connoissez desja et que ce n'est pas par sa beaute que je la trouve la plus louable quoy que conme vous le voyez elle soit blonde blanche agreable et de belle taille je ne vous parleray pas mesme des graces de son esprit ny de l'estendue qu'il a me contentant de vous obliger a l'entretenir seulement deux heures en particulier afin que j'aye le plaisir d'en entendre l'eloge de vostre bouche je ne vous diray pas non plus qu'elle scait cent choses dont elle ne se vante pas et qu'elle cache par modestie mais je vous diray que sa naissance est tres noble et qu'il n'y eut jamais une personne plus solidement genereuse qu'elle ny qui eust une plus veritable bonte ce que j'aime toutesfois le plus en glacidie c'est qu'elle est capable d'une amitie tendre et constante et qu'il ne fut jamais une fille qui eust l'ame si desinteressee qu'elle l'a comme sa fortune a este assez traversee elle a donne mille marques de fermete qui meriteroient des louanges de tous vos sages si elle en estoit connue ce pendant ses propres chagrins nous jamais cause 
 les chagrins des autres car elle les scait si bi renfermer dans son coeur qu'ils ne paroissent ny en ses yeux ny en ses actions ny en ses paroles au contraire elle est toujours d'une humeur si esgalle qu'il n'est point de divertissement qu'elle ne semble prendre avec plaisir lors mesme qu'elle a le plus de douleur dans l'ame au reste la vertu de glacidie n'est ny severe ny sauvage et cette personne qui paroist si serieuse est pourtant une des personnes du monde qui connoist le mieux toutes les choses galantes mais ce que je loue encore le plus en elle c'est l'equite qu'elle garde mesme pour ses plus grands ennemis car elle les loue avec autant de sincerite lors qu'il y a lieu de les louer de quelque chose que s'ils ne l'avoient pas desobligee de plus j'ay encore a vous aprendre que si vous devenez de ses amis vous estes assure qu'on n'osera pas mesme ne vous louer que mediocrement en sa presence en effet elle est si sensible et si zelee pour ceux qu'elle aime qu'elle trouve qu'on ne les loue jamais assez ainsi elle n'est pas de ceux qui souffrent qu'on en die des choses facheuses et qui croyent que ce n'est pas manquer a l'amitie que d'endurer qu'on die une petite raillerie de leurs amis car je puis vous assurer que c'est ce qu'elle ne scauroit faire aussi n'y a t'il pas une personne au monde qui en ait plus eu qu'elle en tous les lieux ou elle a este car comme sa fortune l'a portee a la cour du roy des celtes ou elle a este longtemps et que de puis elle a encore demeure en beaucoup de lieux differens je puis vous assurer qu'en tous ces divers 
 endroits elle a tousjours eu pour amis tout ce qu'il y a eu de gens illustres je suis pourtant assure repliqua le prince de phocee que son me rite ne luy a aquis l'amitie de personne qu'elle estime tant que vous il est vray respondit cleonisbe qu'elle m'aime assez pour estre capable d'avoir une erreur dans l'esprit a mon avantage et je suis mesme persuadee que quand elle seroit au dessus de moy ce que je suis au dessus d'elle elle m'aimeroit autant qu'elle m'aime parce que la grandeur ne la scauroit esblouir et qu'ainsi elle me rendroit justice comme je la luy rends elle s'empresse mesme si peu adjousta-t'elle qu'il a falu que je luy aye fait quelque violence pour l'obliger a faire ce petit voyage de divertissement aimant beaucoup mieux estre chez elle que d'estre dans le tumulte de la cour qu'elle ne souffre que pour l'amour de moy seulement vous me representez glacidie si avantageusement reprit le prince de phocee que je suis force de croire qu'elle est aimee de tout le monde elle l'est sans doute de tous ceux qui la connoissent bien repliqua-t'elle mais elle n'est pourtant pas prodigue de son amitie quoy qu'elle ne soit ingrate pour personne car je ne pense pas qu'on puisse avoir plus de reconnoissance qu'elle en a haissant sans doute autant l'ingratitude que le mariage quoy qu'elle y ait une aversion estrange puis qu'elle vous doit l'amitie que vous avez pour elle reprit le prince de phocee elle a besoin d'avoir l'ame bien reconnoissante si elle veut s'aquiter 
 d'une obligation si sensible mais madame adjousta-t'il souffrez que je vous demande pardon au nom de tous les grecs de l'outrage que vous dites qu'ils font a vostre nation de l'apeller barbare car enfin apres ce que je voy en vous voyant ils sont barbares eux mesmes d'en parler ainsi non non reprit cleonisbe ne les accusez pas injustement car j'advoue que nous le sommes et j'ay mesme interest de l'advouer pour ma propre gloire puis qu'enfin si je merite quelque louange c'est seulement de ce qu'estant nee en un pais d'ou toutes les belles connoissances sont bannies je ne laisse pas d'avoir quelque lumiere et quelque inclination pour les belles choses mais pour vous qui estes d'un pais ou tous les esprits sont cultivez aveque soin ou l'ignorance est un crime ou la politesse est generale et ou la conversation n'est ny grossiere ny stupide ny sauvage comment pourrez vous vous accoustumer dans une cour ou il y a si peu de personnes sociables vous voyez adjousta-t'elle en souriant qu'en fort peu de temps vous avez fait un grand progres dans mon esprit puis que tantost je vous disois que vous ne nous trouveriez pas si barbares qu'on nous le croit et que presentement je vous advoue que nous le sommes encore plus qu'on ne le pense ha madame s'escria le prince de phocee il ne faut pas estre barbare pour se le dire comme vous faites et je suis assure que toute la grece ensemble advoueroit si elle avoit l'honneur de vous voir que vous 
 la surpassez en toutes choses comme le prince de phocee disoit cela carimante entra qui conduisoit onesicrite qui n'avoit pas voulu attendre au lendemain a visiter cette princesse a son apartement de sorte que glacidie estant entree avec elle et le hazard ayant fait qu'elle se trouva assise aupres du prince de phocee insensiblement il se mit a luy parler bas durant que cleonisbe entretenoit onesicrite et a luy dire que cette princesse luy avoit fait un portrait d'elle si admirable qu'il ne croyoit pas que son miroir representast plus parfaitement son visage qu'elle luy avoit represente la beaute de son ame et celle de son esprit je ne doute nullement reprit glacidie que la princesse n'aye fait une fort belle peinture mais je doute avec beaucoup de raison que cette peinture me ressemble car comme les plus grands peintres ne sont pas ceux qui s'amusent le plus a faire des portraits je pense que sans offencer la princesse je puis croire qu'elle a tellement songe a faire que l'art corrigeast la nature qu'elle aura mal reussi au mien mais pour moy seigneur qui ne suis pas si scavante qu'elle en cet art admirable et qui ne songe qu'a imiter ce que je voy je ferois bien mieux sa peinture qu'elle n'a fait la mienne pour scavoir si vous avez raison reprit le prince de phocee il faudroit que vous me l'eussiez fait voir car il me semble adjousta t'il que je connois desja assez l'admirable cleonisbe pour en estre juge equitable vous connoissez sans doute sa beaute repliqua 
 glacidie et mesme une petite partie de celle de son esprit mais seigneur il s'en faut bien que vous ne puissiez connoistre jusques ou va le merite de cette merveilleuse princesse c'est pour quoy comme il n'arrive pas souvent qu'elle puisse estre estimee icy par un aussi honneste homme que vous je veux bien pour luy avancer cette gloire vous aprendre ce que vous ne pourriez scavoir qu'avec le temps ce n'est pas encore assez repliqua le prince de phocee de me dire ce qu'elle est car il faut s'il vous plaist encore me faire scavoir comment il peut estre qu'elle soit ce que je la voy ha pour cela seigneur reprit glacidie il faut le demander aux dieux car on peut assurer que cleonisbe s'est faite toute seule le hazard a sans doute fait passer quelquesfois a cette cour d'assez honnestes gens de tous les lieux du monde et depuis la paix que bomilcar nous a fait faire avec les carthaginois il y a tousjours eu grand nombre de gens de cette magnifique ville qui ont este parmy nous mais apres tout comme l'inclination dominante de ceux de nostre nation est la guerre et la chasse je puis vous assurer que cleonisbe merite toute la gloire du peu de politesse qu'on y voit estant certain que les seules lumieres de son esprit ont esclaire toute la cour en effet seigneur je suis assuree que vous n'y verrez personne qu'elle ait pu imiter et que vous connoistrez au contraire que tous ceux qui ont quelque chose de bon ne l'ont que parce qu'ils ont eu dessein de luy ressembler 
 ou de luy plaire en fin seigneur il faut s'imaginer qu'elle n'a l'obligation de ce qu'elle est qu'a elle mesme que par un prodige elle a devine tout ce qu'on ne luy a point apris et que toutes les vertus sont nees avec elle quand je vous dis toutes les vertus poursuivit glacidie je le dis sans exageration aucune car il est vray que je suis persuadee qu'elle les a toutes sans exception vous me faites un si grand plaisir de parler comme vous parlez reprit le prince de phocee que je ne vous le scaurois exprimer car je vous proteste aimable glacidie que je suis desja tellement affectionne a la gloire de cette princesse que je serois au desespoir si j'y descouvrois un deffaut je vous assure reprit elle que vous n'aurez jamais cette espece de douleur puis qu'il est vray que je suis bien assuree que vous n'y en trouverez pas en effet cleonisbe est genereuse de la derniere generosite elle aime la gloire plus qu'elle mesme elle est pitoyable jusques a troubler son repos pour causer celuy des autres elle est bonne de la bonte la plus tendre et ne laisse pas d'avoir le coeur grand ferme et tout a fait heroique de plus elle parle de toutes choses avec autant de jugement que d'esprit et autant d'eloquence que de jugement le son de sa voix exprime mesme une partie de sa bonte car elle y a je ne scay quoy d'affectueux et de passionne qui fait voir que son coeur n'est ny fier ny superbe au reste quoy que l'amitie ne trouve guere souvent de place dans l'ame des personnes de sa naissance 
 il n'en est pas ainsi de cleonisbe puis qu'elle aime d'une maniere si attachante ceux qu'elle juge digne de cet honneur que c'est une des choses du monde dont je la loue le plus en effet elle n'est pas de celles qui croyent que leur condition les dispence des veritables loix de l'amitie et de cette espece d'esgalite qui doit estre dans les sentimens de ceux qui aiment parfaitement au contraire cleonisbe croit qu'elle est obligee d'aimer autant qu'on l'aime elle permet mesme qu'on croye avoir droit de luy faire des reproches si elle manquoit a quelques-uns des devoirs de la veritable amitie et elle scait enfin si bien faire la difference qu'il y a entre la fille du roy des segoregiens et cleonisbe qu'on ne la scauroit assez admirer au reste quoy que le temperamment de cette princesse ait quelque leger panchant a la melancolie c'est pourtant une des personnes du monde qui a le plus agreable enjouement dans l'esprit et qui donne le plus de plaisir a ceux a qui elle fait la grace de se communiquer avec liberte en effet elle est si propre a scavoir tourner spirituellement et plaisamment les choses qu'elle voit ou qu'elle entend que je ne pense pas que les personnes du monde les plus enjouees le scachent si bien faire au reste elle est liberale d'une maniere si noble et elle scait donner avec tant de grace et tant de choix que ses presens n'ont jamais fait murmurer que les injustes et les envieux comme glacidie disoit cela bomilcar qui estoit aupres d'elle et qui entendoit 
 une partie de ce qu'elle disoit parce que parlant aveque zele elle avoit insensiblement parle plus haut qu'elle ne le vouloit s'aprocha de son oreille et prenant la parole eh de grace glacidie luy dit-il laissez au temps a faire connoistre cleonisbe a un homme que je crains qui ne la connoisse desja que trop ce discours de bomilcar ayant fait rire glacidie l'obligea de le gronder de la crainte qu'il avoit mais comme elle voulut se retourner vers le prince de phocee cleonisbe luy ayant adresse la parole leur conversation fut interrompue pour tout le reste du soir et quelque temps apres cette belle compagnie s'estant separee chacun se retira a son apartement il est vray qu'hipomene et moy ne nous separasmes pas si tost car comme en parlant de grece nous estions venus a faire connoissance et a connoistre que son pere et le mien avoient este amis nous eusmes encore beaucoup de choses a dire
 
 
 
 
mais comme je scavoir qu'il nous importoit extremment de scavoir quel estoit l'estat de la cour ou nous estions puis que c'estoit la que nous pretendions trouver un azile je le menay a l'apartement du prince de phocee qui le pressant avec plus de liberte qu'auparavant de luy aprendre ce qu'il vouloit scavoir fit qu'hipomene contenta sa curiosite vous venez icy luy dit-il en un temps fort propre pour voir cette cour au plus grand esclat qu'elle puisse estre mais pour la voir aussi le plus en trouble si les dieux n'y donnent ordre car seigneur 
 il faut que vous scachiez que les segoregiens ont une coustume qui leur est tres particuliere qui est que ce ne sont pas les hommes qui choisissent celles qu'ils veulent espouser car ce sont les filles qui choisissent ceux qui doivent estre leurs maris et selon les loix du pais un pere ne peut jamais violenter sa fille ces mesmes loix veulent aussi que les filles des rois ayent la mesme liberte que les autres et que lors qu'elles ont dix-huit ans accomplis elles choisissent celuy qu'elles veulent espouser pourveu qu'il soit de condition proportionnee a la leur de sorte que comme il ne s'en faut presques plus que deux mois que cleonisbe n'ait l'age necessaire pour faire ce choix tout ce qu'il y a de gens de qualite dans le royaume et dans les estats voisins qui y pretendent sont presentement icy attendant cette journee ou par le choix de cleonisbe il doit y en avoir tant de malheureux et un seul heureux car enfin pour ne vous rien cacher bomilcar qui a l'ame fort ambitieuse en est fort amoureux un prince du pais nomme britomarte l'est aussi et un autre prince de la gaule celtique nomme galathe ne l'est pas moins que luy de sorte que selon toutes les aparences ces trois rivaux vont diviser toute la cour cependant ce ne sont que plaisirs et divertissemens en attendant cette grande feste qui doit estre si triste pour plusieurs pendant qu'hipomene parloit ainsi le prince de phocee l'escoutoit avec une attention estrange comme s'il se fust desja interesse 
 au choix que clonisbe devoit faire mais de grade luy dit-il aprenez moy si on devine point qui la princesse doit choisir nullement seigneur reprit hipomene parce qu'elle a vescu jusques icy d'une manier a ne donner pas lieu de croire qu'elle en puisse choisir aucun avec plaisir au contraire elle paroiste estre assez melancolique depuis qu'elle a veu que le temps ou elle devoit faire ce choix aprochoit il est pourtant certain que comme elle a beaucoup d'obligation a bomilcar il semble que ce doit estre luy qui doive estre choisi car enfin il a fait mille belles choses a la guerre soit sur la terre soit sur la mer pour la service du roy son pere c'est par luy que la paix est restablie comme je le disois tantost a trytheme entre les carthaginois et nous son pere fut mesme cause d'une autre paix qui donna le nom a la princesse cleonisbe car l'ayant fait conclurre par son adresse il arriva que la reine des segoregiens estant accouchee ce jour la de cette princesse le roy voulut pour rendre l'alliance de ces deux peuples plus solemnelle et plus estroite qu'on luy donnast deux noms tout a la fois c'est a dire un du pais qui fut giptis et l'autre de carthage qui fut cleonisbe mais comme ce dernier luy a este plus agreable que le premier elle a souhaite qu'on l'apellast tousjours ainsi de sorte que les carthaginois s'en son encore tenus plus obligez bomilcar mesme a eu beaucoup de joye de voir que la princesse ait porte un nom de son pais mais 
 pour elle seigneur je croy qu'elle n'aime que la gloire et qu'encore qu'elle ait la liberte de choisir elle ne choisira que ce qu'il plaira au roy qu'elle choisisse aussi voit-on que bomilcar britomarte et galathe songent autant a negocier aupres du roy et aupres de carimante qu'a se faire aimer de cleonisbe ils sont aussi fort soigneux de plaire a glacidie mais a dire les choses comme elles sont leurs soins sont fort inutiles de ce coste la car ce n'est pas une personne a donner un conseil qu'elle ne croiroit pas bon comme il y avoit beaucoup de monde avec le roy reprit le prince de phocee je ne scay si vous pourriez me faire connoistre lesquels estoient britomarte et galathe de tous ceux qui l'environnoient ce premier reprit hipomene estoit ce grand homme brun et bien fait qui a la mine fiere et superbe qui estoit derriere le roy lors que vous parliez a luy et galathe qui le touchoit est celuy qui avoit une espee pendue a des chaines d'or ratachees avec des mufles de lion de mesme metal qui est de taille deschargee de mediocre grandeur qui a les cheveux blonds l'air du visage assez doux et la mine assez noble si ces deux rivaux de bomilcar reprit le prince de phocee ont l'esprit aussi bien fait que le corps et le coeur aussi grand que leur mine est haute je trouve qu'ils ont tous trois sujet d'esperer et de craindre ils ont assurement tous trois de l'esprit et du coeur reprit hipomene quoy qu'ils ne se ressemblent pourtant pas britomarte 
 a du courage de la probite et de l'esprit mais parmy cela il y a quelque sorte de ferocite gauloise qui ne plaist pas pour galathe il a sans doute du coeur mais il a en mesme temps de la finesse et je ne scay si ce gaulois ne seroit point capable de tromper un grec il est doux flateur et civil et quoy qu'il ait sur le visage toute la sincerite que ceux de sa nation s'attribuent c'est pourtant un des hommes du monde qui descouvre le moins ses sentimens mais pour bomilcar seigneur on peut dire que qui luy osteroit une partie de son ambition ne luy laisseroit aucun deffaut car il est vaillant autant qu'on le peut estre il est genereux et ardent amy il est liberal et civil il est exact a tenir tout ce qu'il promet cherchant mesme a faire plus qu'il n'a promis et aimant a faire son devoir en toutes choses il a aussi beaucoup d'esprit car encore qu'il ne se soit pas donne la peine de joindre les lettres et les armes le grand usage du monde ses voyages et la disposition naturelle de ses inclinations font qu'il parle bien de tout ce qu'il parle mais apres tout l'activite de son temperamment s'estant jointe dans son coeur aux deux plus violentes passions de toutes les passions fait qu'il a une inquietude continuelle qui fait qu'il ne peut presques durer long temps en nulle part si ce n'est aupres de cleonisbe ou chez glacidie pour qui il a beaucoup d'estime tout ce que vous me dites de bomilcar repliqua le prince de phocee me semble bien propre a le faire preferer aux autre 
 je suis pourtant assure reprit hipomene qu'il ne laisse pas de craindre de n'estre point choisi apres cela comme il estoit desja tard nous laissasmes le prince de phocee qui ne se coucha pourtant pas sans avoir sceu que nostre flotte ne partiroit des isles pour venir au port que le lendemain au matin ou en effet elle aborda heureusement un peu apres que le soleil fut leve cependant comme carimante avoit este sensiblement touche de la beaute d'onesicrite et qu'a sa consideration il s'affectionnoit a proteger toute cette grande colonie de phocenses qui avoient abandonne leur patrie il ne sceut pas plustost que cleonisbe estoit esveillee qu'il fut la trouver a sa chambre pour luy dire que scachant combien elle avoit de credit aupres du premier des sarronides il la prioit de vouloir le prevenir avant que le roy l'eust consulte pour scavoir s'il devoit recevoir ces estrangers dans son pais ou ne les recevoir pas la conjurant de l'obliger a luy persuader de souffrir qu'ils s'habituassent sur ses terres comme cleonisbe avoit bien remarque que la beaute d'onesicrite avoit extraordinairement plu a carimante elle le regarda en souriant et prenant agreablement la parole comme je l'ay sceu depuis il me semble luy dit elle qu'au lieu de me prier d'obliger le premier des sarronides a persuader au roy de donner retraite a ces estrangers vous eussiez mieux fait de me prier de faire en sorte qu'il l'obligeast a retenir parmy nous cette belle 
 estrangere que vous regardastes hier avec tant d'admiration il est vray repliqua-t'il que j'eusse parle plus sincerement que je n'ay fait si je vous euffe parle ainsi puis qu'il est certain que je sens bien qu'une partie de la compassion que j'ay de tant d'illustres malheureux vient de l'admiration que j'ay pour onesicrite dont j'advoue que la beaute m'a surpris et charme vous pouvez pourtant bien penser adjousta-t'il que je n'en suis pas devenu esperduement amoureux en si peu de temps du moins ne le crois-je point mais je vous advoue que je le suis desja assez pour ne pouvoir endurer qu'une personne de cette condition et de cette beaute fust reduite a se voir encore une fois exposee a la tempeste et a se retrouver sur la mer sans scavoir quelle terre habiter c'est pourquoy comme l'admiration que j'ay pour elle a fait naistre une pitie dans mon coeur qui trouble mon repos et qui m'inquiete plus que vous ne scauriez penser je vous conjure de vouloir faire ce que je vous demande car je vous proteste que j'ay une telle envie que ce dessein reussisse que je voudrois que vous eussiez autant de compassion des malheurs du prince de phocee que j'en ay de ceux d'onesicrite pour de la compassion reprit cleonisbe en souriant encore une fois je vous assure que j'en ay autant qu'on en peut avoir mais je ne voudrois pas qu'elle fust de la nature de la vostre qui est plustost causee par la grandeur de la beaute d'onesicrite que par la grandeur de ses infortunes 
 cependant adjousta-t'elle croyez s'il vous plaist que j'ay autant de pitie qu'il en faut avoir pour vous accorder facilement ce que vous desirez joint que selon moy il seroit mesme avantageux au roy que des gens aussi civilisez que sont ceux que la tempeste nous a donnez adoucissent une partie de la ferocite de ce peuple maritime qui habite le long de cette coste comme carimante est d'un naturel ardant et plein d'impatience il dit a la princesse sa soeur qu'il n'y avoit point de temps a perdre et qu'ainsi il faloit agir tout a l'heure adjoustant que ce qui l'embarrassoit estoit qu'il ne faloit pas que le roy sceust qu'elle auroit veu celuy qu'ils vouloient employer de sorte qu'apres avoir examine la chose ils resolurent que cleonisbe envoyeroit querir glacidie et la prieroit d'aller trouver le premier des sarronides qui demeuroient une partie de l'annee a cette tour qui est bastie sur cette montagne que je vous ay dit que nous avions veue a la main droite en venant des isles au port mais comme carimante vouloit qu'onesicrite et le prince de phocee sceussent ce qu'il faisoit pour eux il fit en sorte par le moyen d'hipomene que je fus avec glacidie afin d'estre present a ce qu'elle diroit et que je pusse le faire scavoir a ceux en faveur de qui elle auroit parle si bien qu'apres qu'elle eut sceu de la bouche de la princesse ce qu'elle avoit a dire je fus avec elle ou elle avoit ordre d'aller et me mettant dans son chariot sans estre accompagnez que d'une 
 fille seulement et de deux esclaves qui suivoient a pied nous fusmes jusques au bas de cette montagne qui comme je vous l'ay dit est toute couverte de pins d'une grandeur demesuree des que nous y fusmes il falut mettre pied a terre car comme cette montagne est toute de roches et de roches inegales il n'y avoit pas moyen d'y aller en chariot mais pour esviter une partie de l'incommodite d'un chemin si difficile nous trouvasmes des chevaux qui nous porterent par un petit sentier tournoyant jusques hors du bois et jusques a bien plus de la moitie de la montagne dont le sommet est si droit que les chevaux mesmes n'y peuvent aller qu'avec peine de sorte que glacidie voulant descendre nous fismes le reste du chemin a pied qui n'est pas si incommode qu'on pourroit se l'imaginer parce qu'on a taille un grand escalier dans la roche qui en rend la montee plus facile y ayant mesme de distance en distance de petits domes soustenus sur des colomnes pour faire que ceux qui montent cette montagne puissent se reposer a l'ombre allant donc par ce chemin qui est si particulier j'aiday a monter a glacidie qui m'entretint si agreablement que je montay la montagne toute entiere sans tourner la teste du coste que je venois quoy que ce soit une action assez naturelle que de regarder en montant le lieu d'ou l'on vient ainsi comme nous ne nous reposasmes qu'au dernier de ces petits domes qui n'est plus qu'a vingt pas du pied de la tour ce ne fut que 
 la que je jouis de la plus belle veue du monde en effet madame je ne pense pas qu'on puisse jamais voir un plus bel objet que celuy que je vy du haut de cette montagne car enfin il faut vous imaginer que j'eus en aspect un port admirable plein d'une quantite prodigieuse de vaisseaux et ce qui rend encore cet aspect plus beau c'est que ce port est borde de tant de maisons de pescheurs que ce grand amas de cabanes semble une grande et longue ville au de la de la quelle est je plus beau paisage de la terre d'un autre coste c'est la pleine mer ou ces trois isles dont je vous ay parle font le plus agreable effet du monde un peu plus a gauche on voit des rochers si steriles un endroit si solitaire et un pais si scabreux et si sauvage qu'on diroit qu'on est dans un desert esloigne de cent mille stades de toute sorte d'habitation mais lors que de ce coste la on se tourne vers celuy qui luy est oppose on voit qu'en effet il luy est oppose en toutes choses car on descouvre un pais aussi fertile que l'autre est sterile et aussi agreable que l'autre est affreux on y voit des jardins pleins d'orangers des prairies des colines des valons et tout ce qui peut rendre un paisage agreable au de la du quel on voit des montagnes en esloignement qui semblant estre entassees les unes sur les autres font des figures bizarres qui ne laissent pas de plaire a la veue et de la borner agreablement de ce coste la mais ce qui rend encore le coste de la mer tres divertissant a regarder c'est qu'on la voit presques 
 tousjours toute couverte de barques de pescheurs je vous demande pardon madame de ce que je vous arreste aussi longtemps sur cette belle montagne que je m'y arrestay avec glacidie c'est pourquoy pour reparer cette faute il faut que je ne vous die rien de ce que je vy dans cette tour qui servoit de demeure a celuy que nous allions chercher et que nous trouvasmes prest d'aller trouver le roy qui luy avoit desja fait donner ordre de se rendre aupres de luy ce sage sarronide dont la mine grave et serieuse avoit quelque chose de grand et d'agreable tout ensemble receut glacidie avec toute la civilite possible tesmoignant assez par les choses qu'il luy dit qu'il avoit beaucoup d'estime pour elle mais apres que les premiers complimens furent faits que glacidie m'eut presente a ce sarronide qu'elle luy eut narre nostre infortune en peu de mots et qu'elle luy eut dit la raison pourquoy cleonisbe l'ennoyoit vers luy elle joignit ses persuasions aux prieres et dit de si belles choses a celuy qu'elle vouloit persuader que quand il eust eu l'ame la plus dure du monde elle l'auroit oblige d'avoir pitie de tant de malheureux ne pensez pas luy dit-il apres qu'elle eut cesse de dire tout ce qu'elle vouloit que toutes vos paroles ayent este necessaires pour me porter a ce que la princesse souhaite de moy car je vous declare que des que vous avez commence de parler j'ay este resolu de faire ce que vous voulez que je face mais je vous advoue qu'il y a tant de plaisir 
 a vous entendre que je n'ay pu me resoudre a vous imposer silence joint aussi adjousta-t'il flateusement que je n'ay pas este marry de m'instruire en vous escoutant afin de scavoir les choses que je dois dire au roy pour luy persuader ce que vous m'avez persuade ha mon pere reprit glacidie car par respect elle le nommoit ainsi ne craignez vous point de me donner de la vanite en me parlant comme vous faites vous dis-je dont toutes les paroles passent pour sinceres non reprit-il je ne le crains pas et je connois si bien la solidite de vostre vertu que je ne dois pas aprehender que vous soyez capable d'aucune foiblesse cependant assurez s'il vous plaist la princesse que j'ay beaucoup de joye de voir qu'elle me fait un commandement ou je puis obeir avec plaisir dites luy encore que j'ay une satisfaction extreme de connoistre qu'elle est sensible aux miseres des malheureux parce que l'humanite est une des qualitez la plus difficile a trouver parmy les personnes de sa condition c'est pour quoy ma fille adjousta-t'il je vous exhorte autant que je le puis de contribuer tous vos soins a entretenir dans son coeur une disposition si louable ne perdez donc nulle occasion de la louer lors qu'elle donnera des marques de sa bonte et de sa compassion et ne manquez aussi jamais de blasmer avec hardiesse toutes les actions de durete de coeur et d'inhumanite que vous entendrez raconter en sa presence car enfin on ne scauroit avoir trop de soin d'entretenir 
 la pitie dans l'ame des grands qui s'en peuvent servir si utilement puis qu'ils sont en pouvoir de soulager la plus grande partie des maux dont ils ont compassion je scay bien poursuivit-il que cleonisbe n'a pas besoin de mes preceptes pour cela mais apres tout je suis tellement ennemy de tous ceux qui ne sont point sensibles ny aux malheurs publics ny aux infortunes particulieres que je me dis tous les jours a moy mesme ce que je vous prie de dire a cleonisbe de peur qu'insensiblement je ne vinsse a n'estre pas assez pitoyable c'est pour quoy adjousta t'il en se tournant vers moy ne croyez pas que l'exhorte glacidie a louer la princesse cleonisbe de bonte parce qu'elle n'en a pas assez mais croyez seulement que je ne le fais que parce que je suis persuade que les princes et les princesses n'en peuvent jamais trop avoir car pour rendre justice a cleonisbe j'ay a vous assurer qu'elle possede toutes les vertus en un souverain degre et que sa compassion s'estend si loin qu'elle ne connoist jamais de malheureux qu'elle ne pleigne et mesme qu'elle ne soulage si elle le peut apres cela glacidie ayant confirme ce qu'il disoit je luy dis aussi tost toutes les choses qui pouvoient estre avantageuses au prince de phocee a la princesse onesicrite a aristonice a sfurius a menodore et a toute la flotte en general ainsi madame nostre negociation ayant bien reussi nous nous en retournasmes au chasteau rendre conte de nostre voyage a la princesse cleonisbe qui 
 envoya a l'heure mesme assurer carimante que le premier des sarronides feroit ce qu'il souhaitoit m'ordonnant en suitte de faire scavoir au prince de phocee et a la princesse onesicrite ce qu'elle avoit fait pour eux cependant la chose ne fut pas si tost resolue car le roy voulant assembler plusieurs sarronides pour deliberer sur une chose si importante il falut huit jours pour cela ce n'est pas qu'il n'en conferast des le premier avec ce sage vieillard a qui glacidie avoit parle mais il ne voulut pourtant rien determiner qu'il n'eust assemble le conseil ou il avoit accoustume de resoudre les choses de grande consequence en attendant que cela fust il nous traitta pourtant admirablement et receut fort bien toutes les personnes de qualite qui estoient dans tous nos vaisseaux lors que le prince de phocee les luy presenta et principalement sfurius de sorte madame que comme il y avoit un nombre infiny de personnes dans nostre flotte on vit toutes les cabanes de pescheurs pleines de grecs et de grecques qui souhaitant estrangement d'estre receus en un pais si agreable flattoient si doucement leurs hostes et les recompensoient si liberalement des services qu'ils leur rendoient que le peuple commenca de devancer par ses suffrages la resolution du roy et de dire qu'il faloit nous permettre d'habiter en leur pais que nous rendrions beaucoup meilleur qu'il n'estoit car comme nos vaisseaux estoient mieux faits que les leurs nos armes plus belles et mieux 
 travaillees que nous leur enseignions des facons de pescher plus commodes que celles dont ils se servoient et que nous leur aprenions mesme a se servir utilement de cette abondance d'oliviers dont leur pais est remply et dont ils ne se servoient jusques alors que pour ornement il se trouva qu'en huit jours tout le peuple se vit si dispose a vouloir que nous demeurassions a leur pais qu'ils disoient desja tout haut que si le roy ne le vouloit pas ils mettroient plustost le feu a nos vaisseaux afin de nous empescher de partir mais ce qui les portoit encore dans cette resolution estoit qu'il couroit bruit qu'il y avoit une grande deesse qui avoit assure que si on nous recevoit ils seroient heureux et qu'au contraire si on ne nous recevoit point ils seroient accablez de toutes sortes d'infortunes cependant nous estions a ce superbe chasteau du roy qui ayant un assez grand bourg fort proche fit que toutes les personnes de qualite qui estoient des nostres et qui suivoient ce prince y furent assez commodement logees de sorte madame que lors que tout cela fut joint on vit a ce chasteau une des plus belles choses du monde mais au lieu que c'est la coustume que les estrangers s'habillent a la mode du pais ou ils vont il n'en fut pas de mesme de nous au contraire nos habillemens plurent tellement qu'en trois jours toute cette cour fut habillee a la greque car comme il y avoit dans nos vaisseaux des gens de toutes sortes de professions il ne falut pas davantage de 
 temps pour satisfaire l'envie que le prince carimante et la princesse cleonisbe eurent de quitter l'habillement de leur pais pour prendre le nostre qui en effet leur sieyoit beaucoup mieux que le leur cependant ce ne furent que plaisirs et divertissemens durant les huit jours que le roy prit pour rendre une responce decisive aristonice n'en eut pourtant pas sa part car elle employa tout ce temps la avec ses deux compagnes a prier les dieux de toucher le coeur du roy de sorte qu'ayant fait mettre dans son apartement la statue de diane qu'elle avoit aportee d'ephese elle fut tousjours en retraite durant que nous nous divertissions admirablement il est vray que le prince de phocee et menodore ne jouirent pas avec tranquilite de tous les plaisirs qu'on tascha de leur donner car le premier sentit naistre l'amour dans son coeur et le second commenca d'avoir de la jalousie de voir avec quel empressement carimante songeoit a plaire a la princesse onesicrite bomilcar de son coste s'apercevant aussi que le prince de phocee regardoit cleonisbe comme un homme qui commencoit d'en estre amoureux en eut quel que legere inquietude qui le porta a souhaiter que le roy ne voulust pas nous permettre de demeurer sur ses terres il eut pourtant la generosite de ne vouloir pas nous nuire joint qu'a mon advis il aprehenda de desplaire a carimante et a cleonisbe s'il le faisoit d'autre part carimante ayant descouvert que menodore estoit amoureux 
 d'onesicrite et ayant mesme remarque qu'il n'en estoit pas hai avoit un despit extreme de ne pouvoir imaginer les voyes de retenir la personne qui luy plaisoit sans retenir en mesme temps celuy qui ne luy plaisoit pas mais a la fin voyant qu'il ne pouvoit perdre l'un sans perdre l'autre il aima mieux souffrir la veue de menodore que de perdre celle d'onesicrite pour cleonisbe elle jouissoit avec un plaisir tranquile de la conversation du prince de phocee qui luy plaisoit fort et de celle de tant de personnes agreables qui estoient avec onesicrite se trouvant extremement heureuse de voir dans la cour du roy son pere tant de gens qu'elle trouvoit estre faits de la maniere qu'elle avoit imagine qu'il faloit que les honnestes gens fussent pour britomarte et pour galathe ils ne songeoient qu'a continuer leurs brigues pour pouvoir estre choisis par cleonisbe quand le temps en seroit venu car encore que ce dernier s'aperceust aussi bien que bomilcar que le prince de phocee avoit le coeur touche de la beaute de cleonisbe il ne craignit pourtant pas qu'un prince que la tempeste avoit jette dans cette cour pust jamais luy nuire ainsi il connut qu'il avoit un rival sans en avoir grande inquietude de sorte madame que je puis vous assurer que bomilcar et galathe ne surent pas si affligez de descouvrir que le prince de phocee devenoit amant de cleonisbe que le prince de phocee le fut de sentir qu'il estoit amoureux de cette princesse ce qui le luy fit le 
 plus connoistre fut l'inquietude qu'il eut lors qu'il sceut que tous les sarronides estoient arrivez et que ce devoit estre le lendemain au matin que le roy resoudroit s'il leur permettroit de demeurer dans son pais ou s'il leur refuseroit la permission qu'ils luy en demandoient lors qu'il aprit cette nouvelle il estoit aupres de cleonisbe qu'il avoit entretenue avec beaucoup d'assiduite durant les huit jours que nous avions passez et il y estoit mesme sans autre compagnie que glacidie qui fut celle qui dit la chose a la princesse j'ay sceu par cette sage fille que le prince de phocee aprenant que ce seroit le lendemain que son arrest seroit prononce il en changea de couleur et j'ay sceu par luy qu'il sentit dans son coeur une agitation qu'il n'avoit jamais esprouvee lors qu'il vint a penser que peutestre le jour suivant a la mesme heure qu'il parloit il seroit banny pour toute sa vie du lieu ou il estoit et qu'il se verroit en estat de ne voir jamais l'admirable personne qu'il voyoit et qu'il prenoit tant de plaisir a regarder cette pensee ne donna pas seulement de l'agitation a son coeur car elle le forca encore de descouvrir une partie de ses sentimens enfin madame dit il a cleonisbe ce sera demain que je seray heureux ou malheureux que j'auray recouvre une patrie qui me sera plus chere que la mienne puis qu'elle est la vostre ou que je seray errant et fugitif mais ce qui est encore plus ce sera demain que je pourray vous regarder avec la joye de pouvoir esperer de 
 vous voir toute ma vie ou avec la douleur d'estre en estat de ne vous voir jamais en verite madame adjousta t'il si cette derniere chose arrive je me pleindray de la pitie que vous avez eue de tant de malheureux et je regretteray que le port ou vous nous avez fait aborder n'ait pas este un escueil pour toute nostre flotte afin que ceux qui fussent eschapez du naufrage n'eussent pu partir d'un pais ou l'on voit ce qu'on ne scauroit sans doute voir en nul autre lieu du monde ne pensez pourtant pas madame luy dit-il que ce soit la purete de vostre air vostre soleil vos orangers vos grenadiers vos lauriers et vos mirthes que je regretteray si je suis banny non madame ce ne sera point tout cela mais ce sera l'admirable cleonisbe que je suis assure qu'on ne scauroit trouver en nul autre endroit de la terre je vous suis sensiblement obligee reprit cleonisbe de me preferer a tant de belles choses qui rendent nostre pais agreable et de ce que l'obligation que vous croyez m'avoir de vous avoir donne quelque assistance vous porte a avoir quelque amitie pour moy mais aussi vous puis-je assurer que cette reconnoissance que vous portez beaucoup au dela de ce qu'elle devroit aller fait que l'en ay autant que je dois des marques d'estime que vous me donnez et que je souhaite avec passion que le roy mon pere face ce que je ferois si j'estois en sa place et ce que je veux croire qu'il fera en verite madame reprit glacidie je ne mets guere la chose en doute car 
 apres les soin que vous avez pris et ceux que le prince carimante a eus pour le mesme sujet je suis persuadee qu'il ne se trouvera point d'obstacle a la satisfaction du prince de phocee je le souhaite de tout mon coeur repliqua-t'il mais je ne laisse pas de craindre que cela ne soit pas du moins scay-je bien que j'auray demain autant d'inquietude que d'impatience de scavoir quelle aura este la resolution du roy vous assurant madame dit-il a cleonisbe que je n'ay jamais rien desire avec tant d'ardeur que je desire d'estre assure de n'estre point banny d'un pais qui m'est si cher ha seigneur reprit cleonisbe vous en dittes trop pour estre creu car enfin je suis assuree que de l'heure que je parle s'il arrivoit un vaisseau de vostre pais qui vous aportast nouvelles que vos vainqueurs auroient este vaincus que vostre patrie seroit hors de servitude et que vous n'auriez qu'a retourner a phocee vous y retourneriez avec plaisir et vous nous quitteriez aveque joye ha madame s'escria t'il il s'en faut bien que je ne sois aussi genereux que vous le pensez et que l'amour de la patrie ne regne aussi absolument dans mon coeur que vous le croyez c'est pourtant un sentiment fort naturel reprit glacidie et mesme fort juste joint qu'a parler sincerement il me semble qu'il y a lieu de penser qu'un prince qui cherche la liberte par un chemin aussi dangereux que celuy que vous avez pris pour la trouver peut estre soubconne de preferer celle de sa patrie a toutes choses il est vray 
 dit-il que lors que je partis de phocee j'estois dans les sentimens ou vous dites que je devrois estre et ou vous semblez croire que je suis mais il est encore plus vray s'il est possible d'imaginer quelque difference a la verite que je ne suis plus ny phocence ny grec asiatique et que je ne sens plus dans mon coeur que ce que je devrois sentir si j'estois nay parmy vos orangers et vos mirthes si quelqu'un de nos gaulois reprit cleonisbe en souriant est quelque jour pousse par la fortune ou en asie ou en grece je vous assure que sa civilite et sa complaisance ne luy feront pas faire ce que vous faites et qu'il aura la sincerite de regretter son pais devant tout le monde cependant adjousta t'elle je m'apercois qu'on a une telle disposition a aimer d'estre flatte qu'encore qu'on scache bien que ce que l'on entend d'obligeant ne soit pas positivement vray on ne laisse pas d'estre bien aise de l'entendre et il y a sans doute plusieurs veritez qui ne me donnent pas tant de plaisir que cet obligeant mensonge que vous venez de dire m'en donne mais madame reprit le prince de phocee si ce que j'ay dit n'est pas veritable il n'y a point de verite au monde comme on ne s'est jamais dedit des louanges qu'on a donnees en parlant a la personne qu'on a louee reprit-elle je ne veux pas vous presser davantage en vous obligeant de confirmer cet agreable mensonge par un autre ou a vous en dedire c'est pourquoy j'aime mieux croire que comme vous 
 n'avez laisse personne dans phocee et que tous nos amis et toutes vos amies ont suivy vostre fortune vous regardez comme vostre patrie le lieu ou vous le voyez quel qu'il puisse estre je vous advoue madame repliqua-t'il que si ces mesmes personnes estoient a l'isle cyrne et mesme si vous le voulez a celle de chypre qui est une des plus belles du monde je ne parlerois pas comme je fais et que je regretterois estrangement phocee glacidie connoissant bien que cleonisbe seroit fort aise qu'elle destournast cette conversation parce qu'elle n'aimoit pas qu'on la louast en sa presence commenca de le faire avec beaucoup d'adresse il me semble dit-elle que ce que la princesse vient de dire merite qu'on y face beaucoup de consideration et que la distinction qu'elle a faite est digne de curiosite car enfin je voudrois bien scavoir si cette violente passion qu'on a pour sa patrie est causee par ceux qui l'habitent ou si c'est la terre le soleil la mer les rivieres les villes et les villages a qui on s'attache et si c'est la patrie vivante s'il est permis de parler ainsi ou la patrie inanimee qui cause cette grande tendresse je scay bien adjousta-t'elle en adressant la parole a cleonisbe qu'a parler en general ce sont ces deux choses jointes ensemble mais pais qu'il paroist par l'exemple du prince de phocee que la fortune peut les separer puis qu'il a icy tous les habitans de phocee et que phocee n'y est pas je voudrois dis-je bien scavoir presuppose 
 qu'il trouvast une habitation aussi belle et aussi commode que celle qu'il a quittee si le desir de revoir son pais natal demeureroit encore dans son coeur car si cela est madame il faut conclurre que ce ne sont pas seulement les parens et les amis qui donnent l'amour de la patrie mais encore le lieu ou l'on est ne pour moy repliqua cleonisbe je suis persuadee qu'il y a un instinct naturel qui nous attache au lieu ou nous naissons aussi bien qu'aux personnes qui l'habitent et que nostre ciel nostre soleil nostre mer et nostre terre sont encore plus effectivement nostre patrie que nos parens nos amis et nos concitoyens en effet adjousta t'elle nos parens meurent nos amis cessent bien souvent de l'estre nos concitoyens sont quelquesfois mechans et quelquesfois nos persecuteurs mais pour ces autres choses que j'ay nommees elles ne changent point pour nous et nous ne devons aussi point changer pour elles ainsi je conclus qu'encore qu'a parler de la patrie en general ce qui en fait une grande partie soit cet assemblage de peuples qui vivent sur mesme terre et sous mes loix je ne laisse pas de soustenir que l'attache la plus indissoluble de la patrie est celle des lieux plustost que celle des personnes parce que l'une peut se rompre par des causes estrangeres et que l'autre ne peut jamais recevoir de changement puis qu'il est vray que le mesme soleil qui donne des rubis a nos grenades et de l'or a nos orangers leur en a 
 donne des qu'il a commence de luire et leur en donnera eternellement ce que vous dites madame repliqua le prince de phocee est plein de beaucoup d'esprit et je suis mesme persuade que cela doit estre ainsi cependant mon experience m'enseigne que cela n'arrive pas tousjours car je vous proteste que si l'obtiens la liberte de demeurer icy je ne regretteray de ma vie ny la beaute de mon pais ny la magnificence de cette belle ville que j'ay quittee ny rien de toutes ces choses que font cette partie de la patrie qui ne recoit point de changement en mon particulier dit glacidie je n'en suis pas de mesme car je sens dans mon coeur qu'il y a une liaison si estroite entre mon pais et moy que j'en deffends jusques aux moindres choses me semblant que si je vivois ailleurs j'y vivrois tousjours avec quelque sorte d'inquietude ce n'est pourtant pas adjousta-t'elle que je ne me passasse encore plus facilement de nos orangers que de mes amis mais ce que je soustiens est qu'assurement la princesse a raison de dire que nous sommes attachez aux lieux aussi bien qu'aux personnes et que le pais natal est preferable a tous les autres quand mesme ils seroient plus agreables je devrois avoir grande confusion reprit le prince de phocee de sentir dans mon coeur des sentimens opposez a ceux d'une princesse si esclairee en toutes choses et a ceux d'une personne aussi judicieuse que glacidie cependant bien loin d'avoir honte de n'estre pas d'un advis qui doit sans doute estre le 
 bon il me semble que je merite quelque gloire de m'estre fait un chemin un peu plus particulier et de n'estre pas capable de cette amour de la patrie qui s'attache aux rochers et aux forests et de m'en estre fait une qui me tient lieu de toutes choses comme le prince de phocee disoit cela bomilcar entra a qui la princesse fit la proposition qu'elle avoit desja faite sans luy dire quel estoit son advis ou quel estoit celuy de glacidie non plus que celuy du prince de phocee de sorte que ne songeant qu'a respondre a propos et selon les sentimens qu'il avoit pour la princesse cleonisbe pour moy madame luy dit-il je suis persuade qu'on aime naturellement la terre ou l'on est ne et que la patrie comprend aussi bien l'air qu'on y respire que les personnes avec qui l'on y vit et je croy mesme adjousta t'il que cette liaison est si forte qu'elle ne se peut jamais rompre que par quelque violente passion comme l'ambition ou l'amour de sorte reprit froidement le prince de phocee que selon vos sentimens on ne peut se trouver heureux en un pais estranger si une raison d'ambition ou d'amour ne rompt les liens qui attachent a la patrie j'en suis si fortement persuade reprit bomilcar que des que je voy qu'un estranger oublie entierement son pais et qu'il ne le regrette plus je conclus qu'il a quel qu'une de ces deux passions dans l'ame a peine bomilcar eut il dit cela que cleonisbe en rougit malgre qu'elle en eust et que le prince de phocee la regarda si bien que voyant 
 le changement de son visage il en eut quelque joye s'imaginant qu'elle luy faisoit l'aplication de ce que bomilcar venoit de dire ainsi au lieu de le contrarier il aprouva fortement ce qu'il disoit mais ce fut pourtant d'une maniere si adroite qu'on eust dit qu'il n'avoit nul dessein cache en tombant si facilement d'accord d'une chose ou il estoit si aise de trouver des raisons pour s'y opposer de sorte madame que bomilcar sans y penser fut le premier qui fut cause que cleonisbe soubconna quelque chose de l'amour qu'elle avoit fait naistre dans le coeur du prince de phocee et le premier aussi qui donna moyen a ce nouveau rival de faire deviner sa passion a celle qui la causoit cependant apres qu'il fut retire a son apartement il commenca de sentir que bomilcar avoit eu raison de dire que rien n'estoit si propre a faire oublier sa patrie que de devenir amoureux en un pais estranger car il se trouva avec une aprehension si grande d'estre banny de celuy ou il estoit qu'il n'en put dormir sa raison voulut pourtant s'opposer a cette passion naissante mais elle se trouva desja trop forte pour estre vaincue que fais-je disoit-il en luy mesme comme il me le dit apres de souhaiter si ardemment de demeurer en un lieu ou se trouve une personne aussi dangereuse que cleonisbe ne dois-je pas plus tost en partir avec precipitation et me resoudre d'aller esteindre par un naufrage la flame qui commence de me brusler que de m'exposer a esprouver tous les suplices d'une amour 
 sans esperance ne scay-je pas que dans deux mois ou un peu plus les loix du pais veulent que cleonisbe choisisse celuy qu'elle voudra qui soit heureux et puis-je avoir perdu la raison jusques au point que de penser que je pusse estre choisi moy dis-je qui suis un malheureux exile qui n'ay ny patrie ny terre ou je puisse habiter qui ne luy ay rendu aucun service et qui ne suis qu'a peine connu d'elle que veux je donc faire en un pais ou il faudra que j'aye la douleur de voir posseder ce que j'aime ou par bomilcar ou par britomarte ou par galathe et de le voir mesme sans en oser murmurer car avec quel droit pourrois-je m'opposer a leurs pretentions non non poursuivit-il nous n'en avons aucun c'est pourquoy si nous sommes sages nous nous esloignerons d'un lieu ou nous ne pourrions estre heureux et sans donner la peine au roy des segoregiens de consulter les sarronides nous irons prendre conge de luy et nous partirons le plus promptement qu'il nous sera possible nous partirons reprit-il le plus promprement qu'il nous sera possible ha malheureux que tu es adjousta ce prince tu parle de partir et ton coeur parle de demeurer inseparablement attache a l'admirable cleonisbe et pendant que ta raison garde encore quelque aparence de souverainete sur ton ame tes desirs se revoltent ta volonte se mutine et ton coeur porte tous tes sentimens a la rebellion c'estoit ainsi madame que le prince de phocee taschoit de resister a la puissance 
 inevitable des charmes de cleonisbe mais comme je l'ay desja dit sa passion estoit devenue trop sorte pour estre surmontee aussi ne le fut-elle pas au contraire elle s'accrut encore par la resistance que sa raison y fit et il attendit le lendemain avec une inquietude qui ne luy permit pas d'avoir un moment de repos carimante de son coste n'estant guere moins impatient que luy ne souhaitoit pas avec moins d'ardeur qu'onesicrite demeurast ou elle estoit que le prince de phocee souhaitoit d'y demeurer d'autre part menodore eust voulu qu'on les eust bannis bomilcar n'en eust pas este marry et galathe en eust este bien aise pour cleonisbe elle en eust este fachee aussi bien que glacidie et le seul britomarte estoit indifferent en cette rencontre d'ailleurs quoy que galathe ne craignist pas fortement que le prince de phocee luy pust nuire quand il deviendroit son rival il ne laissa pas de soliciter un des sarronides qui devoit estre du conseil du roy et qui estoit fort de ses amis afin de l'obliger a s'opposer au dessein du prince de phocee luy suggerant toutes les raisons qui pouvoient porter le roy a ne recevoir pas tant d'estrangers dans son pais de sorte que les uns solicitant pour faire que nous demeurassions et les autres brigant afin de tascher de faire qu'on nous refusast on peut assurer que jamais sentimens n'ont este plus divisez qu'estoient ceux de toutes ces illustres personnes
 
 
 
 
cependant l'heure du conseil estant arrivee aristonice suivie de 
 ses compagnes fut parler a tous les sarronides les uns apres les autres mais au lieu de les soliciter comme des gens qui pouvoient beaucoup contribuer a faire qu'on accordast ou qu'on refusast a toute cette flotte la grace qu'elle demandoit elle leur dit au contraire qu'il ne seroit pas en leur puissance d'empescher le roy de recevoir tant d'illustres malheureux que la deesse qu'elle servoit leur avoit envoyez pour la gloire et pour la felicite de leur pais et qu'ainsi elle venoit seulement pour les advertir que la premiere grace qu'elle demanderoit des que le roy nous auroit receus estoit qu'on luy donnast une place pour commencer de bastir un temple a l'honneur de diane aristonice parla a tous ces sarronides avec tant de marques de confiance sur le visage et avec tant de majeste qu'ils la regarderent avec plus de respect qu'auparavant ce n'est pas que comme leur coustume estoit de ne faire leurs grands sacrifices que sous des chesnes la proposition d'aristonice ne les embarrassast par la crainte qu'ils avoient de desplaire aux dieux qu'ils adoroient en establissant une nouvelle religion dans leur pais mais enfin sans scavoir eux mesmes quel seroit leur advis ils entrerent au lieu ou le roy les attendoit et ou il avoit resolu de tenir ce conseil d'ou dependoit le destin de tant de gens aussi voyoit on une si grande multitude de toutes sortes de personnes dans ce chasteau qu'il n'y avoit aucun lieu ou il n'y eust des phocences mais ce qui rendoit nostre party plus 
 fort c'est que tous les pescheurs qui habitent le long de la coste ou nous avions aborde ayant sceu que c'estoit ce matin la qu'on devoit nous recevoir au nous bannir vinrent par grandes troupes dans la basse cour du chasteau demander a parler au roy disant tout haut qu'il faloit nous retenir et qu'ils ne souffriroient jamais que des gens qui pouvoient leur aprendre tant de choses qui leur seroient utiles sortissent de leur pais mais enfin les officiers qui estoient de garde les ayant obligez d'attendre la fin du conseil cette foule de grecs sceu depuis par un des sarronides que le roy apres avoir expose la chose dont il s'agissoit tesmoigna a l'assemblee qu'il seroit fort aise si le bien de l'estat le permettoit de pouvoir assister tant de malheureux et de donner un azile a tant de personnes illustres comme il y en avoit parmy nous adjoustant toutesfois qu'il ne vouloit pas preferer son inclination au bien de ses peuples et que s'ils jugeoient qu'il y eust du danger a nous recevoir il tascheroit de se vaincre et ne nous recevroit pas d'abord les advis furent partagez mais comme le premier des sarronides nous estoit favorable et que c'est un des hommes du monde qui a l'esprit le plus adroit il ramena tous ceux qui nous estoient contraires a la reserve de celuy que galathe avoit solicite mais 
 pour celuy-la comme il avoir le pretexte du bien public pour favoriser les desseins de son amy il s'en servit avec une ardeur estrange contre nous et si le premier des sarronides n'eust este encore plus ferme que l'autre ne sut opiniastre nous aurions este bannis pour moy seigneur disoit-il au roy je scay bien qu'a ne considerer que le malheur de ceux qui vous demandent un azile il semble qu'il y ait de la cruaute a leur refuser ce qu'ils veulent mais je scay encore mieux qu'a considerer les facheuses suittes que la grace qu'ils demandent peut avoir si on la leur accorde il y a lieu de ne la leur pas accorder legerement en effet ce n'est pas un particulier qui vous demande retraite c'est un grand peuple qui non seulement par sa multitude vous doit estre redoutable mais encore par toutes les bonnes qualitez qu'on luy attribue car enfin plus ces grecs ont d'esprit plus ils sont a craindre n'estant pas mesme a propos que vos sujets qui sont tres fidelles dans leur simplicite deviennent plus esclairez par la conversation de ces estrangers de peur qu'ils n'en deviennent plus mutins vous voyez desja seigneur adjousta-t'il que tous les pescheurs de cette coste qui n'avoient accoustume de se mesler que de leurs lignes et de leurs hamecons se meslent d'affaires publiques et reulent qu'on recoive ces estrangers qui commencent desja de partager vostre authorite de plus ces estrangers sont riches ils sont d'un pais aguerry l'abondance a sans doute estably 
 le luxe et la volupte parmy eux et il est bien a craindre que ceux qu'on dit qui peuvent aprendre tous les arts a vos sujets ne leur communiquent aussi tous les vices de leur pais l'ignorance et et la pauvrete seigneur adjousta-t'il ne sont pas mal propres a faire des sujets obeissans c'est pourquoy je trouve qu'il ne faut pas recevoir sans y bien penser des gens qui peuvent oster aux vostres ces deux qualitez qui rendent le souverain si absolu de plus la nouvelle religion de ces estrangers ou renversera la nostre ou mettra du moins des scrupules ou des erreurs dans l'ame de tous vos peuples et je ne scay seigneur si vostre throne n'en sera point esbranle de sorte que selon mon sens pour satisfaire au droit d'hospitalite sans exposer vostre royaume il faudroit permettre a ces grecs de remettre leur flotte en estat de voguer leur donner toutes les choses necessaires pour se deffendre de la tempeste et pour aller chercher un autre azile que celuy qu'ils demandent et ne leur permettre point du tout de s'habituer icy comme cet amy de galathe parla avec vehemence il y eut une partie de ceux que le premier des sarronides avoit ramenez dans son sens qui commencerent d'hesiter et de retourner a leur premier sentiment mais ce sage et vertueux vieillard voyant que leur esprit estoit mal affermi reprit la parole pour s'opposer a toutes les raisons que cet amy de galathe avoit avancees je n'ignore pas dit-il au roy qu'a considerer la chose 
 dont il s'agit d'un certain biais il n'y ait lieu de faire une partie des reflections que je viens d'entendre mais je scay aussi qu'a la considerer a fonds et a ne se laisser pas tromper par les aparences il y a sujet d'estre de l'advis dont je suis car enfin seigneur dit-il le plus ancien de tous les droits et celuy qui doit estre le plus inviolable est sans doute celuy de l'hospitalite et je ne craindray pas de dire qu'en certaines occasions un roy est plus criminel de mal-traitter des estrangers que ses propres sujets au reste cette multitude dont on se sert pour empescher vostre majeste d'estre pitoyable est ce qui doit l'obliger a l'estre davantage puis qu'il est bien plus glorieux de soulager beaucoup de miserables que de n'en assister qu'un petit nombre mais pour respondre positivement au sujet de crainte que cette multitude de personnes vous peut donner je n'ay qu'a dire qu'eu esgard au nombre de vos sujets ces estrangers sont si foibles qu'il n'y a rien a craindre joint qu'estant d'un pais aussi esloigne du nostre et d'un pais encore ou ils n'ont plus de pouvoir on n'a pas lieu d'aprenhender qu'ils osent entreprendre rien contre vous puis qu'ils ne peuvent estre secourus de nulle part et qu'il vous seroit aise de les accabler des qu'ils vous auroient irrite au reste comme tous ces grecs ont leurs familles entieres sur vos terres on peut dire que vous avez des ostages tres seurs de leur fidellite et qu'ainsi c'est en quelque facon cette multitude nombreuse qui fait que vous les pouvez 
 recevoir avec moins de danger que vous ne feriez s'ils n'avoient pas avec eux tant de personnes qui leur sont cheres et qui sont incapables de porter les armes de plus c'est encore une estrange chose a entendre que d'ouir dire que plus ces grecs ont d'esprit plus ils sont a craindre et que la pauvrete et l'ignorance sont deux qualites necessaires pour faire de fidelles sujets car enfin seigneur je suis d'un sentiment si oppose a celuy la que j'ose entreprendre de soustenir a vostre majeste qu'un prince ne devroit employer tous ses soins qu'a mettre l'abondance dans son estat et qu'a aprendre a tous ses sujets quel est leur devoir envers leur roy en effet si la stupidite est quelquefois capable de se laisser conduire sans resistance elle l'est beaucoup plus souvent de se mutiner sans sujet de faire que les peuples s'opiniastrent sans raison qu'ils facent des tumultes et des seditions qu'ils entendent mal leurs interests qu'ils se ruinent en ruinant l'estat et que faute de scavoir ce qui leur est avantageux ils renversent des royaumes perdent le respect qu'ils doivent a leur souverain et mesme celuy qu'ils doivent aux dieux de sorte que le lien de la societe estant une fois rompu entre tant de personnes que la raison ne peut jamais reunir il s'enfuit de necessite une confusion universelle qui est esgallement nuisible et aux princes et aux sujets croyez donc seigneur que plus ces grecs ont d'esprit et de lumiere plus vous devez vous porter a les recevoir 
 puis que quand ils ne produiroient autre bien a vos peuples que leur communiquer une partie de cet esprit et de cette lumiere ils vous en feroient sans doute un tres grand puis qu'ils leur aprendroient a connoistre ce qu'ils vous doivent joint aussi qu'en aprenant a vos sujets tant d'arts admirables dont ils ont la connoissance ils banniront encore l'oisivete de ce pais qui est la cause la plus abondante des revoltes et quant a ce qu'on dit que les pescheurs qui habitent le long de cette coste commencent desja de se mesler des affaires publiques j'adjousteray a ce que j'ay desja dit que ce commencement d'esmotion est encore une raison qui fait qu'il est a propos de ne donner pas sujet a un peuple brutal de connoistre ses forces c'est pourquoy quand il n'y auroit que cette seule consideration je conclurois qu'il faudroit recevoir ces phocences de peur qu'en irritant les segoregiens ils ne vinssent a connoistre ce qu'ils peuvent sans connoistre ce qu'ils doivent qui est la plus dangereuse division qui se puisse trouver parmy les peuples au reste pour les vices qu'on craint que l'abondance ne face naistre parmy nous il me semble que c'est porter la crainte trop loin que de la porter jusques a aprehender que le plus grand de tous les biens ne produise quelque mal dans un siecle ou deux et qu'il y auroit beaucoup d'injustice de refuser des gens en qui l'on voit esclatter mille vertus parce qu'on craindroit que les richesses qu'ils nous auroient aportees ne fissent 
 naistre quelques-uns des vices qui les suivent quelquesfois mais qui ne les accompagnent pas tousjours joint aussi que je puis dire que si l'abondance a ses vices la pauvrete a les siens puis que si l'une fait des voluptueux l'autre est bien souvent cause qu'il y a des gens qui trompent leurs voisins qui desrobent et qui assassinent ceux qui sont moins pauvres qu'eux maintenant seigneur pour ce qui regarde la religion adjousta ce sage sarronide j'ay a dire a vostre majeste que quoy que j'aye autant de zele a deffendre la mienne que personne en scauroit avoir je ne laisse pas de croire que l'humanite se devant trouver en toutes les religions du monde il y auroit de la cruaute a rendre tant de gens malheureux seulement parce que leur religion est differente de la nostre au contraire si nous sommes zelez au service de nos dieux nous souhaiterons avec ardeur de les faire adorer par des peuples qui ne les reconnoissent pas de la maniere dont nous les reconnoissons et de leur pouvoir persuader que nos sacrifices sont plus parfaits que les leurs ainsi ce mesme zele de religion qu'on veut employer pour faire refuser un azile a tant d'illustres miserables fait encore qu'il le leur faut accorder joint aussi que selon le sentiment le plus universel de tous les sarronides ce n'est point aux hommes a juger souverainement de ce qui passe leur connoissance et c'est a eux a croire que puis que les dieux souffrent qu'en un lieu on leur offre des victimes innocentes 
 qu'en un autre on leur sacrifie des hommes qu'en d'autres lieux encore on ne mette sur leurs autels que des fleurs des fruits et de l'encens qu'en quelques endroits on leur bastisse des temples et qu'en quelques autres il soit deffendu d'en bastir et commande de sacrifier dans les bois c'est qu'ils se plaisent a estre adorez de cent manieres differentes car enfin apres avoir bien examine la chose et estre convenus que tous les peuples croyent que les dieux qu'ils adorent sont maistres du ciel et de la terre il faut conclurre de necessite que tous les peuples adorent une mesme divinite sous des noms differens et par des manieres differentes et que comme il n'y a qu'un soleil au monde il n'y a aussi qu'une mesme puissance qui soit adoree par toute la terre ainsi seigneur il y auroit sujet de craindre d'irriter les dieux si vostre majeste refusoit un azile a des gens qui ont desja donne mille marques de piete depuis qu'ils sont parmy nous de sorte que soit que je considere leur malheur leur vertu le bien de vos peuples ou la gloire de vostre majeste je trouves qu'il faut recevoir ces illustres malheureux et les recevoir mesme comme un bien que les dieux vous envoyent a peine ce sage sarronide eut-il acheve de parler que le roy aprouvant ce qu'il avoit dit et l'aprouvant fortement la chose ne fut plus mise en contestation si bien que le conseil estant finy le roy fit entrer le prince de phocee sfurius menodore et huit ou dix autres des plus considerables 
 de la flotte pour leur dire qu'il leur accordoit la permission demeurer sur ses terres et qu'il leur permettoit de s'habituer au mesme lieu ou ils avoient aborde ce prince ayant creu qu'il estoit plus seur pour luy de nous laisser tous ensemble que de nous permettre de nous disperser dans tout son estat parce que plus facilement nous eussions pu aporter quelque changement a la religion de son pais de vous dire madame quelle fut la joye du prince de phocee et celle de tous les phocences a la reserve de menodore il ne seroit pas aise non plus que de vous depeindre celle de carimante de cleonisbe de glacidie et de tous les honnestes gens de cette cour excepte bomilcar et galathe mais si leur satisfaction fut grande celle des pescheurs de cette coste fut extreme aussi en jetterent ils des cris d'allegresse qui sirent connoistre an roy que le premier des sarronides l'avoit prudemment conseille mais entre tant de personnes qui avoient de la joye de la resolution que le roy avoit prise aristonice fut celle qui en eut le plus luy semblant qu'elle avoit quelque part a la gloire de la deesse qui nous avoit si heureusement conduits mais enfin madame sans m'amuser a vous particulariser tant de choses inutiles je vous diray que des le lendemain le roy marqua luy mesme au prince de phocee quelle estoit l'estendue de terre ou il nous permettoit de bastir et que des ce jour la pour commencer par une action de piete a fonder cette ville 
 aristonice traca de sa main assez pres du bord de la mer non seulement le lieu ou elle pretendoit eslever un temple a diane mais encore l'endroit ou elle vouloit que la statue qu'elle avoit de cette deesse fust posee pour le prince de phocee comme il avoit tousjours eu une veneration particuliere pour minerve parce qu'il avoit este long temps a athenes il marqua aussi un autre endroit pour en bastir un a cette deesse apres quoy toute cette multitude d'artisans qui estoient parmy nous commencant de travailler sous les ordres du prince de phocee on vit en peu de jours ce qu'on ne pouvoit croire qu'on pust voir en plusieurs mois en effet madame les grecs travaillerent avec tant d'ardeur les segoregiens leur aiderent avec tant d'empressement et tous ensemble avancerent si diligemment leur ouvrage qu'en un mois et demy nous eusmes basty deux temples et une grande ville ce qui facilita la chose fut que ce pais quoy que tres fertile est pourtant si pierreux que nous n'eusmes qu'a amasser les pierres dont nous eusmes besoin de plus comme il y a un certain vent qui bat quelquesfois effroyablement cette montagne ou je vous ay dit que demeure une partie de l'annee le premier des sarronides il estoit arrive que quelque temps avant que nous fussions a ce pais-la l'impetuosite de ce vent avoit abatu une si prodigieuse quantite de grands arbres dans les bois qui sont au pied de cette montagne que nous n'eusmes presques que faire d'en abatre davantage 
 pour nostre travail joint qu'enfermant dans l'enclos de nos murailles cette longue file de cabanes de pescheurs que je vous ay dit estre le long du rivage a l'endroit ou nous avions aborde cela servit a commencer de former cette nouvelle ville vous pouvez aisement vous imaginer madame qu'elle n'est pas superbement bastie comme babilone ou comme on dit qu'est ecbatane mais enfin il n'y a pas un grec qui ne soit loge assez commodement il y a mesme trois places publiques dans cette ville qui est beaucoup plus longue que large parce qu'y ayant enferme comme je viens de le dire toutes ces cabanes de pescheurs qui estoient desja basties il a falu la bastir ainsi elle a aussi des fontaines et un port admirable et quoy que sa scituation soit en penchant et par consequent un peu incommode parce que les rues de traverse vont en montant elle est pourtant tres agreable bien que l'architecture greque n'ait pas eu lieu d'y employer tous ses ornemens car comme on n'a d'abord songe qu'a se loger on peut dire que ce sont plustost des cabanes regulierement basties que des maisons elles sont toutesfois assez commodes et mesme assez belles pour sembler des palais a des exilez mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut de voir avec quel soin les grecs tascherent d'aprendre la langue des segoregiens et avec quel empressement les segoregiens aprirent aussi celle des grecs et certes ils ne perdirent pas leur peine car ils vinrent a s'entendre si 
 parfaitement les uns les autres que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait presentement un sujet du roy qui n'entende le grec ny pas un grec aussi en ce pais la qui n'entende la langue du lieu qu'il habite presentement pour aristonice elle s'enferma avec ses compagnes dans l'enceinte du temple qu'elle avoit fait bastir des qu'il fut acheve et sans se mesler plus d'autre chose que de prier les dieux elle vescut dans une retraite admirable cependant comme le prince de phocee scavoit bien que ce n'est pas assez de bastir une ville si on n'en regle la police il commenca d'y songer de sorte que pour esviter l'envie parmy ceux qui l'avoient reconnu pour leur chef il voulut en apeller un grand nombre a la connoissance des affaires publiques si bien qu'il en nomma six cens qui avoient voix deliberative au conseil il est vray que pour adviser aux affaires pressees il voulut qu'il y en eust quinze qui fussent destinez pour cela sans qu'il fust necessaire d'assembler le conseil general et que de ces quinze encore il y en eust trois avec qui il pust prendre les resolutions secrettes selon les occurrences ainsi madame ce conseil des six cens qui de six cens a quinze et de quinze a trois et de trois a un ne forme qu'une seule authorite est ce qui gouverne cette nouvelle ville dont j'ay este bien aise de vous tracer le plan avant que de m'engager a continuer de vous parler de l'amour du prince de phocee il me semble interrompit mandane que 
 vous avez oublie une chose qui merite quelque curiosite qui est de nous aprendre si cette ville s'apelle la nouvelle phocee ou si on luy adonne un nom du pais ce que vous demandez madame reprit thryteme est encore plus digne de curiosite que vous ne pensez puis qu'il est vray qu'il est peutestre arrive la plus bizarre chose du monde en cette rencontre car enfin madame il n'a jamais este au pouvoir du prince de phocee de faire apeller cette ville de diane comme il en avoit le dessein et il a falu ceder a la multitude qui s'est accoustumee a la nommer marseille sans qu'on en puisse trouver autre raison si ce n'est qu'ils ont forme ce nom de deux mots grecs qu'ils ont joints ensemble en les corrompant car la moitie de ce nom qu'ils ont forme veut dire pescheur en langue eolienne et l'autre moitie veut dire lier en langue purement greque mais madame pour vous expliquer encore mieux cette bizarre chose il faut que vous scachiez que lors que toute nostre flotte arriva au port il se trouva qu'il y avoit une grande quantite de pescheurs sur le rivage qui s'y estoient assemblez pour la voir aborder de sorte que les mariniers de chaque vaisseau leur jettant leurs cables et connoissant qu'ils estoient pescheurs parce que quelques-uns tenoient des lignes et d'autres des filets ils prierent ces pescheurs de lier les cables qu'ils leur jettoient a des pieux qui estoient sur le rivage afin que cela leur servist 
 d'anchre si bien que les deux premiers mots qu'ils prononcerent en arrivant a cette terre qui leur a este si favorable ayant este celuy de pescheur et celuy de lier qui en nostre langue forment le nom de marseille en les corrompant un peu ils ont voulu en former le nom de cette ville quoy qu'il en soit madame l'usage a este plus fort que la raison et le peuple plus puissant que le prince puis qu'encore qu'il soit le fondateur de la ville il n'a pu luy donner le nom qu'il vouloit et qu'il a falu qu'il ait endure que deux mots grecs corrompus qui n'ont aucune signification raisonnable formassent le nom d'une ville dont l'ordre est entierement conduit par la raison et par la prudence cependant il faut madame que je retourne d'ou je suis party et que je reprenne l'amour du prince de phocee celle de carimante de bomilcar de menedore de britomarte et de galathe au point qu'elle estoit le jour que le roy nous permit de demeurer dans son pais je vous diray donc madame que des ce jour la l'amour du prince de phocee pour cleonisbe et celle de carimante pour onesicrite devinrent beaucoup plus fortes qu'elles n'estoient car regardant alors les personnes qu'ils aimoient comme les devant voir toute leur vie leur passion en augmenta mais en mesme temps que l'amour faisoit ce progres dans leur coeur la jalousie se fortifioit dans celuy de bomilcar de galathe et de menodore d'ailleurs l'estime que cleonisbe avoit desja 
 pour le prince de phocee s'accreut de beaucoup en le connoissant davantage et l'amitie de ce prince avec glacidie devint si forte en peu de jours qu'elle n'en avoit pas plus pour bomilcar qui estoit un de ses plus chers amis qu'elle en avoit pour luy cependant le roy des segoregiens estant retourne a la capitale de son estat qui n'estoit qu'a une demie journee du lieu ou nous avions aborde il voulut que le prince de phocee apres avoir donne tous les premiers ordres pour la structure de nostre nouvelle ville l'y accompagnast aussi bien que menodore quelques autres et moy sfurius demeurant pour la conduite de l'ouvrage il est vray que comme c'estoit fort proche le prince de phocee y alloit tres souvent mais il faisoit ces petits voyages avec tant de diligence et choisissoit si bien ses heures qu'il ne passa jamais un jour sans voir cleonisbe aupres de qui estoit onesicrite qui en fut bientost cherement aimee une patrie des dames de qualite de phocee l'y suivirent aussi de sorte que cette cour devint une des plus belles du monde pour le prince de phocee il estoit si agreable au roy et universellement a tous ceux qui le voyoient qu'on ne parloit d'autre chose que de son merite il aquit mesme si promptement la familiarite de la princesse cleonisbe que bomilcar qui l'avoit veue toute sa vie ne l'avoit pas davantage il est vray que glacidie contribua beaucoup a la luy faire obtenir en effet comme elle estimoit infiniment le prince de phocee et que c'est une des 
 personnes du monde qui aime le plus a louer ses amis elle parloit continuellement de luy a cleonisbe ce n'estoit toutesfois pas seulement a elle qu'elle en parloit car comme elle seroit bien aise si elle le pouvoit d'unir tous ses amis et de faire qu'ils s'aimassent autant qu'elle les aime elle en parloit continuellement a bomilcar parlant aussi tres souvent de bomilcar au prince de phocee afin que faisant naistre l'estime dans leur coeur elle y pust en suitte faire naistre l'amitie mais madame elle n'a pu reussir qu'a la moitie de son dessein car vous scaurez qu'encore qu'ils ayent l'un pour l'autre toute l'estime imaginable ils ont pourtant dans le coeur une antipatie invincible et je ne pense pas que de puis que l'amour et l'ambition ont fait des rivaux il y en ait eu deux qui ayent eu plus de haine l'un pour l'autre ny qui ayent pourtant si bien vescu ensemble que le prince de phocee et bomilcar il est certain que la vertu de cleonisbe et la prudence de glacidie ont beaucoup contribue a conserver la civilite entre ces deux ennemis mais enfin il est constamment vray que s'ils n'estoient pas tres honnestes gens ils n'en auroient pas use comme ils ont fait cependant des que nous fusmes arrivez au lieu ou le roy fait ordinairement son sejour ce ne furent que festes et que plaisirs et comme les estrangers ont ce privilege par tout que c'est principalement a eux qu'on fait voir les divertissemens des pais ou ils se trouvent c'estoit a onesicrite et au prince de phocee que le roy 
 carimante et cleonisbe affectoient de faire voir tous les divertissemens de leur cour il ne faut pourtant pas madame vous imaginer que les festes en soient aussi magnifiques que celles qu'on fait aux superbes cours d'asie ny aux principales villes de grece mais apres tout quoy qu'elles conservent quelque chose de rustique de leur premiere institution elles sont pourtant belles et divertissantes joint que l'admirable esprit de la princesse cleonisbe y a mesme adjouste beaucoup de choses qui servent a les rendre magnifiques quoy que de leur nature elles ne semblent pas le devoir estre car enfin leurs plus grandes festes sont celles des taureaux des bergers et des pescheurs et une autre qui est la plus galante de toutes qu'ils apellent la feste des fleurs ou le triomphe du soleil la plus grande beaute de la premiere de ces festes consiste a voir passer quatre ou cinq cens taureaux d'une grandeur prodigieuse dont les cornes sont peintes et dorees qui ont sur le dos des housses de mille couleurs differentes et a l'entour du col et sur les hanches des festons de fleurs qui les environnent de par tout de sorte que ces fiers animaux marchant deux a deux et leur fierte naturelle estant encore augmentee par une espece d'harmonie champestre que font ceux qui les conduisent ils vont d'un pas si superbe qu'ils donnent quelque plaisir a voir lors qu'ils passent devant le palais du roy ou toute la cour se rend ce jour la apres quoy par une superstition du 
 pais on les mene tout a l'entour de la ville ou le peuple s'empresse a leur offrir de petits faisseaux d'herbes fraichement cueuillies s'imaginant que s'ils les mangent la recolte sera abondante et que s'ils les refusent elle ne sera pas heureuse la feste ne finit pourtant pas encore la car des que ces taureaux ont acheve le tour de la ville on en choisit douze des plus beaux et des plus forts et on les remene dans une place qui est devant le palais du roy ou on les fait combatre pour la feste des pescheurs elle est sans doute fort divertissante aussi bien que celle des bergers car comme ce sont des personnes de qualite qui contrefont les uns et les autres il y a mille agreables choses a voir a ces deux sortes de festes je ne m'arresteray pourtant pas madame a vous les decrire mais pour le triomphe du soleil il faut s'il vous plaist que je m'y estende un peu davantage parce que ce fut cette feste qui donna lieu a tous ceux dont je vous raconte l'histoire de connoistre les sentimens qu'ils avoient dans l'ame comme nous estions alors a la saison ou l'on avoit accoustume de la celebrer toutes les dames du pais ne nous parloient d'autre chose souhaitant toutes que ce pust estre a la princesse cleonisbe a en recevoir les honneurs car madame il faut que vous scachiez que comme en ce pais la on voit le soleil plus clair qu'ailleurs parce qu'il n'est presques jamais obscurcy par des nuages et qu'il y a plus de fleurs qu'en nul autre endroit du monde ceux qui l'habitent 
 ont creu qu'ils devoient rendre un hommage particulier a l'astre qui les esclaire si favorablement de sorte que tous les ans on grave sur de petites coquilles le nom de toutes les belles de la cour et les jettant toutes dans un grand vase de nacre on les y mesle confusement apres quoy le roy portant la main dans le vase en presence de toute la cour il en tire une de sorte que la dame dont le nom se trouve grave sur cette coquille que le roy a tiree est celle qui est destinee a representer le soleil et a recevoir tous les honneurs qu'on fait a l'astre qu'elle represente le jour de cette premiere ceremonie estant donc arrive le hazard secondant les voeus de toute l'assemblee ce fut le nom de cleonisbe qui se trouva grave sur la coquille que le roy tira si bien que ce fut a cette princesse a recevoir les honneurs de cette belle feste qui se celebra huit jours apres de la maniere que je vay vous le dire imaginez vous donc madame de voir toutes les grandes rues d'une grande ville et une grande place entierement ornees de festons de fleurs depuis le toit des maisons jusques en bas et imaginez vous encore de voir toute la terre semee de ces mesmes fleurs et vous concevres sans doute que cela doit faire un assez bel objet je suis pourtant assure que vous ne scauriez le concevoir aussi beau qu'il est cependant la chose estant telle que je la dis toutes les dames qui ne servent pas a la ceremonie se mettent aux fenestres qui sont a l'entour de la place 
 ou elle se doit faire au milieu de la quelle on voit un throne de fleurs esleve de trois marches et au dessus est un grand dais soutenu par quatre colomnes revestues de fleurs et entortillees de mirthe qui fait que ce sont des colomnes torces mais ce qu'il y a encore d'agreable est que le dais tout entier n'est qu'un tissu de fleurs par compartimens au milieu desquels on voit a chaque face un soleil represente pour moy madame j'advoue que tout ce que je vy ce jour la me fut si nouveau et me divertit si fort que je n'ay guere passe de journee plus agreable en ma vie mais enfin l'heure de commencer la ceremonie estant venue je vy ouvrir la grande porte du palais qui donne sur cette place et paroistre un petit char dans lequel estoit onesicrite qui representant l'aurore qui devance toujours le soleil avoit un habillement proportionne a ce qu'elle representoit son char et ses chevaux estoient aussi peints de cet incarnat mesle de ces rayons d'or et d'argent que le soleil espanche sur les nues un peu avant que de paroistre sur l'orison de sorte que comme onesicrite est blonde jeune et belle elle parut effectivement plus brillante que l'aurore qu'elle representoit principalement aux yeux de carimante et de menodore qui en eurent tous deux et plus d'amour et plus de jalousie mais apres que le char eut fait le tour de la place et qu'il commenca de disparoistre celuy de cleonisbe qui representoit le soleil parut et parut 
 avec tant d'esclat qu'on peut assurer sans mensonge que cette princesse esblouit les yeux de toute l'assemblee car encore qu'il ne semble pas qu'une beaute brune soit fort propre a representer le soleil il est pourtant vray que les cheveux bruns de cleonisbe faisoient ce jour la a sa beaute le mesme effet que fait au soleil cet azur bruny qui l'environne lors que le ciel est fort serain et fort clair que cet astre est le plus brillant estant certain qu'ils donnerent un nouvel esclat a sa beaute et qu'ils redoublerent le beau feu qui brilloit dans ses yeux le char ou estoit cleonisbe estoit tout marquete de nacre avec des filets d'or mais fait avec tant d'adresse par quelques artisans grecs qui furent employez cette annee la que ce char par les diverses reflections des nacres differentes et de quelques topases qu'on y avoit enchassees en divers endroits n'estoit guere moins lumineux que le soleil mesme pour cleonisbe elle avoit tant de pierreries a son habillement qu'a peine en pouvoit on souffrir l'esclat et pour marquer l'astre qu'elle representoit elle avoit un soleil de diamans sur la teste au dessous duquel pendoit un grand voile de gaze rayee d'or qui estoit r'atache sur l'espaule avec un noeud de pierreries d'une main elle tenoit un vase de nacre plein de fleurs comme estant le chef-d'oeuvre de ce bel astre et de l'autre elle tenoit les renes de ses chevaux dont la beaute estoit effectivement digne de conduire le char du soleil cleonisbe 
 estant donc en l'estat que je viens de vous la depeindre et mesme estant ce jour la en un de ses plus beaux jours fit le tour de cette place comme si elle eust fait le tour du monde mais elle le fit avec tant d'acclamations que l'air en retentissoit de cent mille cris a la fois pour le prince de phocee il fut si charme de la voir que quand il n'en eust pas desja este amoureux il le seroit devenu mais enfin apres que le tour de la place fut fait cleonisbe alla descendre de son char au pied du throne qui luy estoit prepare sur lequel elle monta aidee par quatre hommes de qualite qui estoient aux quatre coins des plus basses marches les habillemens de ces hommes qui representoient les quatre saisons estoient magnifiques le premier estoit bomilcar le second britomarte le troisiesme galathe et le quatriesme le prince de phocee ainsi lors que cleonisbe fut sur ce throne elle vit a ses pieds quatre esclaves que le hazard avoit assemblez et que l'amour avoit blessez d'un mesme trait vous me demanderez peut-estre madame pourquoy on choisit des hommes a representer ces quatre saisons mais je vous respondray que pas une belle ne voulant se resoudre de representer l'hiver cette coustume s'est introduite de faire qu'il y ait quatre hommes qui soient de cette belle feste cependant cleonisbe ne fut pas plustost sur ce throne des fleurs que le grand portique du palais s'estant ouvert on vit trente belles personnes qui estoient chacune dans un petit 
 char qui marchant lentement furent les unes apres les autres rendre hommage a cleonisbe mais madame pour vous faire comprendre de quelle nature est cet hommage il faut que vous scachiez que ces belles personnes representent chacune une fleur qu'elles choisissent entre elles selon leur inclination de sorte que ces dames pour marquer la fleur qu'elles representent en ont une couronne sur la teste et une autre a la main leur chariot en ayant aussi des festons tout a l'entour et pour achever la galanterie de cette invention leurs habillemens sont de la couleur des fleurs qu'elles representent et les couronnes qu'elles portent a la main sont ratachees d'un noeud d'ou partent des banderolles ou l'on voit a chacune une espece de devise qui convient ou a la personne qui la porte ou a celle qui represente le soleil ainsi chaque banderole a une fleur peinte et quelques paroles escrites au dessous de sorte madame que comme en la saison ou l'on celebre cette feste on voit presques en ce pais-la de toutes sortes de fleurs a la fois je ne pense pas qu'on puisse rien voir de plus agreable que ce que je vy car enfin madame ces trente petits chars peints et dorez et ornez de festons de fleurs font un objet admirable et ces trente belles personnes dont les habillemens sont galans et magnifiques et qui sont toutes couronnees de fleurs differentes sont encore une chose merveilleuse elles gardent mesme cet ordre d'entremesler les couleurs des 
 fleurs qu'elles portent en reglant leurs rangs en effet la premiere qui sortit du palais pour venir rendre hommage a cleonisbe estoit couronnee de fleur d'orange la seconde de roses la troisiesme de jasmin la quatriesme d'oeillets la cinquiesme de jonquilles la sixiesme de fleurs de grenade la septiesme de lis la huictiesme d'amaranthe la neufiesme d'iris et ainsi des autres de sorte que ce meslange de couronnes de fleurs portees par de belles dames fait un objet le plus galant qu'on se puisse imaginer des que ces petits chars arriverent vis a vis du throne du soleil ces dames qui representoient la fleur dont elles estoient couronnees s'inclinerent pour luy rendre hommage et presentant la couronne qu'elles tenoient a la main a un de ces hommes qui estoient aupres du throne et qui representoient les quatre saisons il la receut civilement et la porta respectueusement au pied du throne gardant mesme cet ordre que chacun de ces hommes n'offrit au soleil que les fleurs dont on voyoit particulierement durant la saison qu'il representoit ainsi comme il y a de la fleur d'orange en hiver ce fut britomarte qui offrit la couronne qui en estoit faite parce qu'il representoit cette saison ce fut le prince de phocee qui offrit celle des roses a cause que c'estoit luy qui representoit le printempts ce fut galathe qui offrit la couronne d'oeillets parce qu'il representoit l'estee et ce fut bomilcar qui offrit l'amaranthe parce qu'il representoit l'automne 
 car comme je vous l'ay desja dit madame il y a une saison en ce pais la ou il s'en faut peu que l'on ne voye des fleurs de toutes les saisons ensemble cependant a mesme que ces dames avoient passe devant le throne de cleonisbe qu'elles l'avoient saluee et qu'elles avoient offert leurs couronnes on les entassoit les unes sur les autres avec tant d'art que lors que la derniere de ces dames eut offert la sienne il se trouva qu'il y avoit un trophee de couronnes esleve a la gloire de cleonisbe dont toutes les banderoles estant adroitement mises en dehors laissoient voir par ce moyen les divises qui estoient dessus a ceux qui en estoient assez pres pour les pouvoir lire mais pendant que tous ces petits chars passoient devant la princesse cleonisbe et que celles qui estoient dedans luy rendoient hommage une musique composee de plusieurs instrumens imposoit silence au peuple qui ne pouvoit pas faire de confusion a cette feste parce qu'il y avoit des barrieres a l'entour de la place qui l'en empeschoient le soleil mesme n'incommoda point l'assemblee car outre qu'on ne commence cette ceremonie que lors qu'il commence de s'abaisser et que de plus le palais et les maisons qui environnent la place ou elle se fait sont d'une hauteur si excessive qu'elle en est presques toute ombragee il arriva encore contre la coustume du pais qu'il y eut quelques legers nuages qui le couvrirent de sorte qu'on eust dit que ce bel astre pour favoriser sa feste vouloit laisser 
 luire cleonisbe en sa place cependant a mesure que ces petits chars passoient ils s'alloient ranger aupres de celuy de cleonisbe ou elle remonta des qu'elle eut receu le dernier hommage des fleurs les quatre saisons faisant porter devant elle ce trophee de couronnes qu'elles avoient forme de toutes celles qu'on luy avoit offertes apres quoy ces saisons la suivirent aussi chacune dans un chariot magnifique r'entrant avec elle dans la court du palais d'ou elles ressortirent en ordre par une porte opposee pour aller faire le tour de la ville de sorte qu'onesicrite reparoissant la premiere comme representant l'aurore les quatre saisons suivirent le soleil et les fleurs les quatre saisons en suitte de quoy cleonisbe estant allee offrir ce trophee de couronnes a un temple qui estoit a l'extremite de la ville s'en retourna au palais ou il y eut une colation proportionnee a la feste car elle ne fut que de fruits la coustume ne voulant pas qu'elle soit composee de nulle autre chose elle ne laissa pourtant pas d'estre admirablement belle par la rarete des fruits par leur beaute par leur abondance par leur diversite et par l'ordre avec lequel ils furent servis la colation estant faite on passa dans un autre lieu ou je vy la plus belle chose qu'on se puisse imaginer car enfin madame toute cette belle troupe suivie de toute la cour entra dans une grande sale dont la beaute me surprit plus que je ne scaurois vous le dire imaginez vous donc madame toutes les murailles de cette sale 
 dont le haut est en dome couvertes d'une arabesque de fleurs et de voir ce dome soutenu par cent pilastres que les fleurs dont ils estoient faits faisoient sembler estre de marbre et vous imaginerez sans doute que cet objet devoit estre tres agreable mais ce qui le rendoit encore plus beau c'est que de ce dome pendoient mille festons et mille couronnes de fleurs tontes les lampes qui devoient esclairer cette admirable sale en estoient ornees en divers endroits et le plancher estoit si couvert de fleurs d'orange et de jasmin qu'a peine l'entrevoyoit on voila donc madame quel fut le lieu ou le bal qui suivit cette belle ceremonie se fit aussi l'assemblee s'y trouva-t'elle si bien qu'elle ne se separa que tard parce que ce fut moitie bal et moitie conversation car comme toutes ces devises qui estoient attachees a ces couronnes de fleurs fournissoient assez de sujet de parler tous les hommes chercherent selon leur inclination a louer celles qui les avoient si bien imaginees comme en effet il y en avoit de fort jolies mais entre les autres celle de glacidie qui avoit voulu representer l'amaranthe ayant extremement plu au prince de phocee il se mit a la louer en parlant a cleonisbe et a luy dire que glacidie avoit eu raison de choisir cette admirable fleur qu'elle avoit voulu representer puis qu'elle luy avoit donne lieu de marquer la fermete de son affection pour elle mais est-il possible interrompit mandane que 
 de ces trente dames qui representoient trente fleurs et qui portoient trente devises il n'y en ait pas eu une que vous ayez assez estimee pour vous obliger a retenir celle qu'elle portoit pardonnez moy madame reprit thryteme et si j'eusse eu l'honneur de vous voir peu de jours apres cette belle feste j'eusse pu vous les dire toutes mais presentement tout ce que je pourray faire sera de vous en dire une ou deux il me semble donc poursuivit-il que celle de glacidie qui representoit l'amaranthe estoit conceue en ces termes je ne change jamais car comme cette fleur a ce privilege de ne perdre point sa beaute et de ne se flestrir pas glacidie s'en servit a exprimer la duree de son affection pour cleonisbe et la fermete de son coeur apres cela madame je vous diray encore qu'une fille de qualite nommee amathilde qui portoit une couronne de roses ce jour la et qui estoit alors jeune belle et brillante avoit tellement la fantaisie de la beaute qu'elle disoit souvent qu'elle ne se soucieroit pas de ne vivre que jusques a vingt ans pourveu qu'elle fust assuree d'estre la plus belle personne du monde soustenant mesme hautement qu'elle eust beaucoup mieux aime mourir jeune que de vivre longtemps puis qu'elle ne le pourroit sans perdre sa beaute de sorte que proportionnant sa devise a son humeur et au peu de duree de la fleur qu'elle representoit elle estoit telle 
 mon regne est court mais il est beau apres cela madame vous me dispenserez de vous en dire davantage car je suis contraint d'advouer a ma confusion que ma memoire ne m'en fournit plus quoy que je scache bi que celles que j'ay oubliees estoient encore plus jolies que celles que je vous ay dittes
 
 
 
 
cependant pour en revenir ou j'en estois je vous diray que le prince de phocee s'estant mis a louer glacidie en parlant a cleonisbe en verite madame luy dit'il apres plusieurs autres choses je trouve glacidie bienheureuse d'estre aimee d'une personne qui connoist si parfaitement ceux qu'elle aime et qui proportionne si equitablement son estime au merite de ceux qui l'aprochent mais en mesme temps madame je trouve que ceux qui scavent qu'ils ne la meritent pas sont bien malheureux et que d'estre contraint de vivre sans esperance d'estre estime de vous est un suplice effroyable ceux qui ne sont pas dignes de mon estime reprit cleonisbe en souriant s'en soucient si peu qu'il n'y a pas aparence que la privation les en afflige c'est pourquoy vous employeriez mal vostre compassion si vous aviez pitie des gens qui ne souffrent point et que vous ne connoissez mesme peutestre pas je vous assure madame reprit-il que j'en connois qui ont une aprehension estrange de ne pouvoir a querir cette glorieuse estime dont je parle il faut donc qu'ils ayent bien mauvaise opinion ou de moy ou d'eux mesmes repliqua 
 cleonisbe je ne scay pas reprit le prince de phocee s'ils ont mauvaise opinion d'eux mais je scay qu'ils l'ont tres bonne de vous comme cleonisbe alloit respondre bomilcar suivant la liberte du bal la vint prendre a danser ce qui fascha sensiblement le prince de phocee quoy qu'il n'eust aucun droit de s'en irriter il ne fut pourtant pas longtemps sans s'en vanger de la mesme facon car apres que cleonisbe eut dance comme il vit que bomilcar l'entretenoit il pria glacidie de le prendre sans luy en dire la raison mais des qu'il eut remis glacidie a sa place il fut prendre cleonisbe et l'oster a bomilcar comme bomilcar la luy avoit ostee cependant galathe et britomarte qui avoient aussi leurs pretentions remarquerent aisement de quel air bomilcar et le prince de phocee avoient agy en cette rencontre de sorte que pour leur nuire esgallement a tous deux et pour s'obliger eux mesmes ils s'aprocherent de la princesse et ne la quitterent plus si bien que de tout le reste du soir pas un des quatre ne luy put parler en particulier quoy que le prince de phocee soit tout a fait maistre de luy mesme quand il le veut estre si ce n'est quand il est amoureux il parla peu de peur de parler trop et d'en dire plus qu'il ne vouloir que sa maistresse et ses rivaux n'en sceussent mais pour bomilcar il parla davantage et dit mesme plusieurs choses qui firent comprendre a cleonisbe qu'il croyoit que le prince de phocee fust amoureux d'elle quoy qu'il n'en dit pourtant aucune 
 dont elle se pust facher ny luy aussi pour britomarte qui avoit l'esprit plus sincere et plus incapable de chercher un sens cache a ce qu'on disoit il n'y prenoit pas garde de si pres mais pour galathe le prince de phocee remarqua aisement qu'il entendoit bomilcar aussi bien que luy et que sa passion ne luy estoit pas inconnue d'autre part menodore n'estoit pas sans inquietude car le prince carimante qui avoit assurement trouve ce jour la l'aurore plus belle que le soleil estoit aupres d'onasicrite et l'entretenoit avec beaucoup d'attention et de plaisir sans que menodore l'osast interrompre onesicrite qui remarquoit l'inquietude de menodore eust bien voulu pouvoir rompre cet entretien mais il n'y avoit pas d'aparence qu'elle pust avoir de l'incivilite pour le fils d'un roy qui leur avoit donne un azile de sorte que ne souffrant guere moins que menodore carimante s'aperceut qu'elle avoit l'esprit distrait en luy parlant et en devina mesme le sujet il ne voulut pourtant pas faire connoistre a onesicrite qu'il connoissoit la cause de cette legere inquietude qui paroissoit malgre elle dans ses yeux et dans son esprit au contraire voulant luy en attribuer une autre je voy bien madame luy dit-il que nos divertissemens ne vous plaisent pas tant que ceux de vostre pais et que leur simplicite est trop peu spirituelle et trop peu galante pour vous joint adjousta-t'il que vous avez encore un juste sujet de vous pleindre du sort qui preside a la feste que nous celebrons aujourd'huy 
 car enfin c'estoit a vous a estre a la place de cleonisbe ha seigneur reprit onesicrite vous me faites le plus grand tort du monde de penser que je ne sois pas infiniment satisfaite de tout ce que je voy icy et vous estes mesme fort injuste de dire que je devois occuper la place de la princesse estant certain que vous seriez bien plus equitable si vous disiez que je ne merite pas celle que je tiens en effet adjousta-t'elle l'aurore est une si belle chose qu'on peut dire que j'ay eu beaucoup de vanite d'oser entreprendre de la representer pour moy repliqua carimante je soustiens hardiment que si l'aurore estoit aussi belle que vous elle auroit plus de sacrifices que le soleil aussi veux-je croire adjousta-t'il en souriant que vous ne parlez comme vous faites que parce que vous ne la voyez pas souvent il est vray repliqua onesicrite que je voy plus souvent le soleil que l'aurore et que je pourrois mesme juger plus equitablement de la beaute de la nuit que de la sienne cessez donc reprit carimante de vous faire une injustice et croye de vous ce que j'en croy si vous voulez estre equitable mais de grace poursuivit-il en croyant que vous estes la plus belle et la plus aimable personne du monde croyez en mesme temps que je suis l'homme de toute la terre qui vous admire le plus je voudrois bien seigneur poursuivit elle pouvoir me laisser persuader ce que vous dittes mais des que je tourne les yeux sur tant de belles personnes qui sont icy et que je me souviens du peu 
 de beaute que mon miroir me fait voir tous les jours sur mon visage il n'y a pas moyen que je me donne la joye de me laisser tromper agreablement par vos flatteries de sorte seigneur que me trouvant contrainte de ne vous croire point j'ay la douleur de voir que je ne puis jamais estre ce que vous dittes que je suis madame interrompit carimante si vous n'avez jamais d'autre douleur que celle de ne vous trouver pas assez aimable vous serez toujours la plus heureuse personne du monde eh veuillent les dieux adjousta-t'il que vous puissiez aussi bien connoistre ceux qui vous aiment que vous connoissez les charmes qui les forcent de vous aimer carimante prononca ces paroles avec tant de vehemence qu'il fut aise a onesicrite de prevoir que la passion de ce prince luy donneroit de la peine mais comme elle n'y vouloit pas respondre et que le hazard fit qu'amathilde apres avoir dance vint se mettre aupres d'elle sit si bien qu'elle la mit de la conversation ou menodore se mesla aussi mais avec tant de chagrin dans l'esprit qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que cette feste ne luy donnoit pas grande joye cependant cleonisbe ayant a l'entour d'elle le prince de phocee bomilcar galathe et britomarte connut si clairement les sentimens les plus cachez de leur coeur qu'elle en eut de l'inquietude elle remarqua mesme qu'encore que ces quatre rivaux cuffent de l'aversion l'un pour l'autre il y en avoit une beaucoup plus puissante entre bomilcar 
 et le prince de phocee qu'ils n'en avoient pour leur autres rivaux ny que les autres n'en avoient pour eux quoy qu'elle remarquast pourtant qu'ils s'estimoient infiniment de plus glacidie qu'elle avoit apellee aupres d'elle le connut aussi comme elle le connoissoit ainsi cette feste des fleurs servit a faire accroistre de beaucoup l'amour et la jalousie entre tous ces rivaux et a faire connoistre leurs sentimens a cleonisbe mais enfin l'heure de se retirer estant venue cette belle compagnie se separa chacun emportant dans son coeur des sentimens bien differens au reste madame comme c'est l'ordinaire des choses du monde que la joye et la douleur se succedent on eut nouvelle le lendemain que les gaulois saliens qui touchent les segoregiens et qui armoient sur le pretexte de vouloir faire la guerre aux tectosages avoient fait une irruption sur la frontiere et s'estoient emparez d'un chasteau assez considerable de sorte que le roy qui n'avoit point de troupes que celles qui estoient dans ses places se trouva un peu surpris neantmoins comme tous les gaulois naissent soldats on peut dire qu'il ne faut que les assembler pour pouvoir se vanter d'avoir une armee aguerrie d'ailleurs le prince de phocee qui ne voulut pas perdre une si favorable occasion de signaler son zele et son courage fut offrir au roy tous les grecs qui habitoient sa nouvelle ville luy disant qu'il estoit bien juste que des gens qu'il avoit sauvez du naufrage exposasseut leur vie pour 
 son service et en effet le roy esperant beaucoup de secours de nous parce que nous estions mieux armez que ses sujets et mieux aussi que ses ennemis ne le pouvoient estre il accepta l'offre du prince de phocee dont bomilcar ne fut pas trop aise non plus que galathe et britomarte neantmoins comme le temps ou la princesse cleonisbe devoit choisir celuy qu'elle devoit espouser estoit fort proche ils ne creurent pas que le prince de phocee en pust avoir assez pour se mettre en estat de pouvoir estre choisi ny que la princesse mesme l'osast faire quand elle en eust eu la volonte car enfin madame quoy que la loy en donne le pouvoir a celle qui choisit pour l'ordinaire elle ne choisit que celuy qu'on luy ordonne mais pour ne m'arrester pas long temps en cet endroit je vous diray que le prince de phocee eut une telle envie de servir le roy des segoregiens qu'il ne laissa a marseille que les femmes les vieillards et les enfans contraignant tous les autres de quel que profession et de quelque qualite qu'ils fussent a prendre les armes et a le suivre quoy que nostre nouvelle ville ne fust pas encore achevee d'ailleurs le roy carimante bomilcar galathe et britomarte assemblant diligement le plus de gens qu'ils purent firent une armee assez considerable mais comme nous scavions un peu mieux l'art militaire qu'eux a la reserve de bomilcar le prince de phocee aquit beaucoup de reputation au premier conseil de guerre ou il se trouva sfurius 
 et menodore servirent aussi dignement en cette occasion mais enfin madame sans m'amuser a vous particulariser une guerre qui ne dura que quinze jours je vous diray que l'armee marcha contre les ennemis que le roy reprit le chasteau qu'ils avoient pris qu'il les deffit et qu'entrant dans leur pais il les forca a demander la pais qu'ils avoient rompue car suivant le naturel de cette nation ils s'apaisent et s'irritent facilement et ceux qui feroient un grand fondement sur leurs divisions s'y trouveroient fort souvent trompez cependant madame j'ay a vous dire que le prince de phocee fit des choses si admirables qu'il en aquit la reputation d'estre un des plus vaillans princes du monde bomilcar en fit aussi de si merveilleuses que le prince de phocee l'estima autant que bomilcar l'estimoit mais au lieu que cette estime devoit diminuer l'aversion qu'ils avoient l'un pour l'autre leur haine en augmenta encore britomarte se signala aussi en cette occasion aussi bien que galathe caramante et menodore combatirent comme des gens qui vouloient chacun en leur particulier que la renommee parlast avantageusement d'eux a onesicrite et je puis vous assurer madame que tous ces princes retournerent chargez de gloire aupres de cleonisbe aussi leur dit-elle galamment lors qu'elle les vit qu'encore que les lauriers fussent fort abondans en son pais elle ne croyoit pas qu'il y en eust assez pour leur faire autant de couronnes qu'ils en meritoient cependant 
 malgre l'aversion du prince de phocee et de bomilcar ils parlerent dignement l'un de l'autre et rendirent une esgale justice a leur valeur mais pour galathe dont les sentimens estoient differens et qui croyoit qu'on ne devoit jamais louer un rival il n'en parloit point et donnoit toutes ses louanges au prince carimante pour britomarte comme il est sincere il dit les choses comme il les connoissoit joint que croyant que ce seroit luy qui seroit choisi parce qu'il estoit du pais comme il avoit plus d'esperance il avoit moins de jalousie mais ce qui fut le plus avantageux au prince de phocee fut que le roy creut effectivement luy devoir le bon succes de cette guerre non seulement par sa propre valeur mais encore par celle de ses troupes en effet tous ceux de qui elles se trouvent composees eurent une telle envie de tesmoigner leur reconnoissance au roy qui leur avoit donne un azile si agreable qu'ils sirent ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer aussi en parla t'il si avantageusement a cleonisbe qu'elle creut estre obligee d'en parler au prince de phocee mais comme il n'y a jamais eu d'homme qui ait eu plus souverainement que luy cette modestie qui est une marque infaillible de la valeur heroique il rejetta si respectueusement les louanges qu'elle luy donna et il luy en donna d'autres d'une maniere si passionnee qu'elle se repentit de l'avoir loue quoy qu'elle ne se repentist pas de l'avoir estime et qu'au contraire elle l'en estimast davantage 
 mais madame il faut que je vous die avant toutes choses que depuis nostre retour il se lia une amitie si forte entre le prince de phocee et glacidie et bomilcar qu'on peut dire que cleonisbe ne l'aimoit pas plus que ce deux rivaux l'aimoient et qu'elle n'aimoit aussi guere plus cleonisbe qu'elle les aimoit on eust dit mesme que la fortune vouloit que la chose fust ainsi car elle fit naistre vingt occasions differentes ou ils l'obligerent de facon qu'elle n'eust pu refuser son amitie a pas un des deux sans ingratitude apres cela madame vous jugez bien qu'a moins que d'avoir une prudence extreme il n'estoit pas aise d'estre longtemps amie de deux hommes qui estoient rivaux ennemis et ambitieux qui souhaitoient tous deux les mesmes choses et qui sembloient ne pouvoir estre heureux qu'en s'entre-destruisant cependant glacidie en a use si admirablement qu'elle n'a jamais este brouillee avec pas un d'eux en effet elle a garde une fidellite si exacte et a l'un et l'autre et a tousjours este si fidelle a cleonisbe qu'encore qu'elle ait sceu ce que cette princesse pensoit du prince de phocee et de bomilcar qu'elle n'ait pas ignore ce que ces deux rivaux pensoient l'un de l'autre et qu'elle ait encore sceu quelle estoit la passion qu'ils avoient dans l'ame elle n'a jamais rien dit que ce qui pouvoit contribuer a leur repos et a leur gloire agissant mesme avec tant d'exactitude qu'elle ne leur a jamais donne lieu de deviner les sentimens qu'elle vouloit cacher 
 et je puis assurer que sans elle il seroit arrive quelque estrange malheur entre deux hommes dont l'amour et la haine estoient presques egalement fortes mais ils la respectoient tellement que lors qu'ils se rencontroient chez elle ils y vivoient aussi civilement que s'ils eussent este amis ils avoient pourtant bien de la peine a estre d'un mesme sentiment mais comme le prince de phocee est assez froid quand il le veut estre il disputoit doucement afin d'avoir du moins la satisfaction de n'estre pas de l'advis de son rival puis qu'il ne pouvoit avoir celle de le quereller ouvertement il me souvient d'un jour entre les autres ou j'eus lieu de remarquer admirablement cette antipatie qui est entre deux rivaux car madame il faut que vous scachiez que glacidie s'estant trouvee un matin assez mal pour ne s'habiller pas et pour garder la chambre eut fort bonne compagnie chez elle mais entre les autres amathilde dont je vous ay desja parle y fut une grande partie de l'apresdisnee je pense madame que vous n'avez pas oublie que je vous l'ay despeinte belle jeune et brillante que je vous ay dit que c'estoit elle qui estoit couronnee de roses le jour de la feste des fleurs et que la fantaisie de la beaute estoit alors si fort dans sou esprit qu'elle ne pouvoit concevoir qu'on deust vivre apres l'avoir perdue ny qu'on deust par consequent souhaiter de vivre longtemps si ce n'estoit que par un privilege particulier on pust estre vieille et belle mais avant que de vous dire 
 cette conversation que je vous veux raconter parce qu'elle servit a me faire connoistre quelle est l'aversion que la jalousie et l'amour mettent dans le coeur des rivaux les plus raisonnables il faut que je vous despeigne amathilde un peu plus particulierement et que je vous die que non seulement elle ne pouvoit concevoir qu'on pust vivre apres qu'on n'estoit plus belle mais qu'elle estoit encore de l'humeur de celles qui parce qu'elles n'ont que seize ou dix-sept ans mettent la vieillesse dans leur imagination des que l'on en a vingt-quatre ou vingt-cinq et qui sont tellement aveuglees de la jeunesse qu'elles possedent qu'elles parlent de celles qui ont cinq on six ans plus qu'elles comme si elles estoient d'un autre siecle qu'elles n'eussent plus de part a la beaute et qu'elles ne deussent pretendre tout au plus qu'a la gloire d'avoir este belles cependant amathilde ne laissoit pas d'estre infiniment aimable avant l'accident qui luy est arrive car enfin il est peu de plus grandes beautez qu'estoit celle de cette jeune personne apres cela madame je vous diray qu'amathilde estant venue chez glacidie comme j'y entrois je suis tesmoin de la conversation que je m'en vay vous raconter a peine y fut elle entree que bomilcar y entra qui s'interessant extremement a la sante de glacidie s'en informa soigneusement mais amathilde sans donner loisir a glacidie de respondre prit la parole et dit a bomilcar que puis que le mal de glacidie ne l'avoit point changee elle n'estoit 
 assurement guere malade et n'estoit par consequent guere a pleindre car pour moy dit elle suivant son humeur- et son enjouement je ne mesure jamais ma compassion qu'au changement du visage de mes amies quand elles sont malades c'est pourquoy puis que glacidie n'a ny le teint jaune ny les yeux batus ny l'air du visage melancolique et qu'elle n'a de toutes les marques de maladie que je ne scay quelle petite langueur qui sied bien songeons plustost a la divertir qu'a la pleindre puis que selon mon sentiment quand on a un mal qui n'oste ny la beaute ny l'embonpoint on n'est pas trop malheureuse il est pourtant certains maux repliquay-je qui sont courts et violens et qui n'ont poit de peril qui meritent quelque compassion parce qu'ils sont fort douloureux quoy qu'il en soit dit elle ce que je dis est mon sentiment quand on a beaucoup a perdre comme vous reprit bomilcar je concois bien qu'on craint les maux qui en une nuit flestrissent plus de lis et plus de roses sur un beau teint que le printemps n'en peut faire esclorre pour moy interrompit glacidie il s'en faut peu que pour guerir amathilde de la passion qu'elle a pour sa propre beaute je ne luy desire pour huit jours seulement une de ces maladies qui n'ont point de nom ou sans fievre et sans douleur on amaigrit de moment en moment ou l'on devient jaune et verte ou les yeux s'enfoncent dans la teste ou les levres deviennent pasles et ou il se fait enfin un changement ai subit 
 que de belle on devient laide ha glacidie s'escria-t'elle avec le plus agreable chagrin de la terre vous me faites la plus grande frayeur du monde car il me semble que vous me donnez cette terrible maladie en me la souhaitant et que je sens desja je ne scay quoy que je ne scaurois dire qui doit pour le moins m'avoir fait changer de couleur amathilde en disant cela se leva et fut se regarder a un miroir comme si c'eust este pour s'esclaircir si ce qu'elle disoit estoit vray quoy que ce ne fust que pour racommoder quelque chose a sa coiffure apres quoy s'estant remise a sa place graces aux dieux dit-elle a glacidie vostre sauhait n'est pas encore accomply et je veux mesme esperer qu'il ne s'accomplira pas mais pour vous empescher d'en faire souvent de semblables scachez s'il vous plaist cruelle glacidie que si ce malheur que vous me souhaitez m'arrive je ne m en prendray qu'a vous car tomme je n'ay jamais este malade qu'une fois il me semble que j'ay un assez grand fond de sante pour croire qu'a moins que de m'empoisonner je ne puis jamais avoir aucun mal mais celuy que vous eustes repris-je fut-il de ceux qui changent terriblement au contraire repliqua amathilde en riant il me fie le plus grand bien du monde car comme l'estois alors un peu trop rouge il me fit justement devenir aussi pasle qu'il faloit pour n'estre pas mal et ne me changea qu'a mon avantage c'est estre bien heureuse reprit bomilcar 
 que d'estre malade pour en devenir plus belle elle a pourtant beau faire repliqua glacidie car cette mesme sante qui la fait si belle a dix-sept ans sera cause qu'on la verra laide quelque jour puis qu'elle la fera pour le moins vivre un siecle ha glacidie reprit amathilde que vous estes une cruelle personne de me presager un si grand malheur quoy m'escriay-je fort supris vous apellez malheur de vivre un siecle comme elle alloit respondre le prince de phocee entra et un instant apres britomarte et galathe mais comme la guerre que glacidie faisoit a amathilde estoit trop agreable pour la finir si tost et que d'ailleurs elle fut bien aise que cette conversation fust de choses enjouees afin d'empescher ces quatre rivaux d'en lier une plus serieuse qui les auroit peutestre embarrassez elle la recommenca et prenant la parole en regardant ceux qui venoient d'arriver elle leur dit le sujet de la contestation et la pleinte qu'amathilde faisoit d'elle de ce qu'elle luy avoit predit qu'elle vivroit un siecle si on vivoit un siecle sans changer reprit-elle et qu'on demeurast tousjours comme on est a dix huit ans j'aurois patience mais de m'imaginer sans douleur qu'il est possible que je devienne ce qu'il faudroit que je devinsse si je vieillissois c'est ce qui n'est pas en mon pouvoir cependant repliqua glacidie je vous declare que vous ne serez jamais plus belle que vous estes et que dans quelques annees il n'y aura pas un instant de vostre vie qui ne vous 
 desrobe quelque chose pour moy dit le prince de phocee je croy que c'est une grande prudence de se preparer a ce malheur et de s'y resoudre a peine eut-il dit cela que quoy que ce fust le sentiment de bomilcar il s'y opposa comme si c'eust este seulement pour se ranger de ce luy d'amathilde quoy que ce ne fust que pour n'estre pas de celuy du prince de phocee et ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que galathe et britomarte par un mesme sentiment de jalousie et d'amour ne songerent pas tant a chercher la raison de ce qu'ils vouloient dire qu'a n'estre pas de l'advis des deux autres ainsi le prince de phocee pensoit aveque soin a n'estre pas de celuy de bomilcar de britomarte et de galathe bomilcar songeoit aussi a contrarier le prince de phocee galathe et britomarte galathe de son coste employoit tout son esprit a contredire britomarte bomilcar et le prince de phocee et britomarte s'occupoit tout entier a ne paroistre pas de l'opinion de galathe du prince de phocee et de bomilcar ainsi quoy qu'il semble qu'on ne puisse guere avoir que deux sentimens opposez sur une mesme chose ils trouverent pourtant moyen d'en imaginer quatre qui estoient si differens qu'on pouvoit dire qu'ils estoient esgallement opposez les uns aux autres si bien que cela fit durant quelque temps une conversation la plus bizarre du monde car a peine un de ces rivaux avoit il dit une raison pour soustenir l'opinion dont il estoit que les trois autres s'empressoient a le contredire 
 mais comme ils se contredisoient par des raisons differentes parce que leurs advis estoient differens la dispute s'embrouilla d'une si plaisante facon qu'a peine s'entendoient ils de sorte que glacidie amathilde et moy ne pusmes nous empescher d'en rire et eux mesmes s'en estant aperceus en rirent aussi bien que nous cependant pour redonner quelque ordre a la dispute glacidie leur imposa silence et leur dit que dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de corriger amathilde il ne faloit pas que tant de gens luy parlassent a la fois et qu'il suffiroit qu'apres qu'elle l'auroit accusee de toutes les foiblesses dont elle la trouvoit coupable et qu'elle se seroit deffendue ils dissent ce qu'il leur en sembleroit mais encore interrompit amathilde que me pouvez vous reprocher je vous reproche repliqua glacidie l'erreur ou vous estes de croire qu'il ne faille vivre que cinq ou six ans car enfin selon vous on ne commence a vivre qu'a quinze et on meurt des qu'on commence d'estre moins belle il est vray respondit-elle que cet age ou la beaute n'est point formee et ou l'on ne s'occupe qu'a des bagatelles ne doit pas estre repute heureux non plus que celuy ou la jeunesse et la beaute commencant d'abandonner celles qui en ont commence de les priver des seules choses qui rendent la vie agreable mais de grace reprit glacidie examinons exactement vos maximes et considerons je vous en conjure combien peu vous avez vescu heureuse jusques icy et 
 combien peu vous avez a vivre car enfin selon vos sentimens vostre vie n'a commence qu'a quinze ans encore scay-je bien que vous n'avez pas vescu avec une entiere satisfaction car je me souviens que vous ne vous trouviez pas assez grasse en ce temps-la et que vous craigniez mesme de n'estre pas assez grande mais aujourd'huy que vostre taille est admirable et que vostre embonpoint est merveilleux n'est-il pas vray que pour peu qu'il augmente vous aurez autant de peur d'estre trop grasse que vous en aviez d'estre trop maigre mais quand cela ne seroit pas il est tousjours certain que puis que vous mettez la vieillesse a vingt-cinq ans vostre jeunesse passera bien tost de sorte que si vous ostez du temps que vous avez vescu et de celuy que vous vivrez jusques a ce que vostre beaute diminue les jours ou vous aurez mal dormy ceux ou vous aurez porte quelque habillement qui n'aura pas este tout a fait bien ceux ou vous n'aurez pas este coiffee avantageusement ceux ou vous n'aurez veu personne ou ceux ou vous aurez veu des gens a qui vous ne vous serez pas souciee de plaire il se trouvera que vostre vie aura este si courte qu'a peine aura t'elle dure une annee entiere quand je vous concederois ce que vous dites repliqua amathilde je ne changerois pas d'advis car enfin puis que le plus bel age de la vie ne peut estre tout a fait agreable comment voulez vous que je vous accorde que la vieillesse soit une chose a desirer pour moy je vous le dis ingenument je 
 suis si persuadee du contraire qu'encore que je n'aye guere de beaute je ne souhaite de vivre que jusques a certain temps ou l'on ne me puisse pas mettre au rang de celles qui n'en ont plus du tout car quand je m'imagine seulement que le mesme miroir qui me fait voir quelques marques de jeunesse sur mon visage m'y feroit voir toutes celles que la vieillesse aporte si je vivois long temps la mort avancee me paroist un bien tout a fait souhaitable et pour moy je vous declare que quand je songe a la difference qu'il y a d'une fille de quinze ans a une femme de soixante j'ay bien moins de peine a me resoudre a mourir a vingt qu'a aller seulement jusques a cinquante je vous ay desja dit repliqua glacidie que la mesme sante qui vous fait aujourd'huy si belle vous fera vivre pres d'un siecle et qu'ainsi vous n'avez qu'a vous preparer a n'estre plus ny belle ny jeune ha si ce malheur m'arrive repliqua-t'elle je casseray tous mes miroirs je fuiray autant le monde qu'il me fuira et je pense mesme que je ne vous regarderay plus de peur de me voir dans vos yeux car enfin mon imagination ne peut souffrir cette estrange metamorphose j'ay mesme assez de peine adjousta-t'elle a endurer dans le monde ces meres et ces tantes qui menent leurs filles et leurs nieces en compagnie et comment voudriez vous donc que je me pusse endurer moy mesme si ce changement arrivoit tout d'un coup repliqua glacidie en riant aussi bien que nous de ce qu'amathilde venoit de dire 
 j'advoue que cela seroit surprenant en effet adjousta-t'elle si apres vous estre couchee le soir jeune et belle comme vous estes vous alliez vous lever le lendemain au matin vieille et laide je serois contrainte de vous permettre de casser quelques miroirs mais amathilde cela n'arrivera pas ainsi et des que vous serez venue au point ou la beaute commence de diminuer chaque instant comme je le disois tantost vous en derobera quelque chose de sorte que comme ce changement arrivera imperceptiblement et que vous croirez vous voir chaque jour ce que vous vous serez veue celuy qui aura precede vous vous trouverez insensiblement changee et vous vous trouverez mesme accoustumee a l'estre ha glacidie reprit elle cela ne peut jamais arriver et j'aime mesme beaucoup mieux mourir jeune que cela m'arrive en effet quel plaisir pourrois-je trouver en un age ou tout ce que je fais aujourd'huy seroit ridicule a faire ou il faut changer de forme de vie ou le monde vous fuit ou l'on change d'habillemens et de coiffure et ou le choix des couleurs n'est mesme plus permis non non glacidie je ne scaurois m'y resoudre car enfin quoy que vous me reprochiez que je veuille que celles qui ont vingt-cinq ans commencent desja d'agir comme si elles n'estoient plus jeunes je suis contrainte d'advouer que je ne concois point comment on peut se resoudre a changer de forme de vie et a renoncer a tous les plaisirs et si vous voulez que je vous ouvre mon 
 coeur je vous diray ingenument que si je vivois longtemps je ne serois pas seulement exposee a estre laide je le serois encore a estre ridicule puis qu'il est vray que je suis persuadee que je dancerois a soixante ans quand mesme devrois dancer toute seule que je porterois des pierreries et de l'incarnat je jusques a la mort et que je ferois enfin tout ce que je fais aujourd'huy car a parler sincerement je ne scache nulle autre chose a faire qui me pust divertir sans mentir dit glacidie en riant vous estes admirable de parler comme vous faites cependant j'ay a vous dire pour vous oster de l'aprehension ou vous estes de dancer a soixante ans que comme vous ne vous divertissez plus des mesmes choses qui vous divertissoient dans vostre enfance vous ne vous divertirez plus aussi un jour de ce qui vous divertit aujourd'huy ainsi changeant de plaisirs en changeant de visage vous trouverez malgre vous quelque douceur a vivre apres avoir perdu vostre beaute car en mon particulier je concoy bien que si je vay jusques a la derniere vieillesse je souhaiteray encore de vivre quand mesme il n'y auroit plus d'autres plaisirs pour moy que de voir esclorre des roses et de sentir de la fleur d'orange et du jasmin au reste adjousta-t'elle puis que la vieillesse vous fait tant de peur ne la donnez pas si promptement aux autres et songez qu'il y a des femmes qui sont bien souvent plus belles a vingt-cinq ans qu'a quinze cessez donc je vous en conjure pour vostre interest 
 d'en parler comme vous faites bien souvent car pour l'ordinaire quand vous estes quatre ou cinq jeunes personnes ensemble vous parlez comme si vous deviez tousjours n'avoir que dix-sept ans cependant le temps que vous employez a dire celle-cy n'est plus belle et celle-la n'est plus jeune vous aproche de celuy ou vous ne le serez plus vous mesme mais de grace reprit amathilde enseignez moy donc comment il faut vivre il faut reprit glacidie jouir de la jeunesse et de la beaute comme de deux choses qu'on doit perdre infailliblement et il faut mesme se mettre en estat de pouvoir encore estre aimable quand on les aura perdues je veux pourtant bien qu'on en jouisse avec plaisir mais je veux que ce soit sans orgueil et qu'on les puisse perdre sans se desesperer je consens encore poursuivit-elle qu'on gouste tous les avantages de la jeunesse mais je veux que ce soit sans blasmer celes qui ne l'ont plus puis que c'est selon mon sens la plus folle et la plus injuste chose du monde car enfin s'il est permis d'establir quelque loy a ceux qui veulent se moquer impunement des autres il faut que ce soit celle de ne railler que des choses qu'on ne leur pourra jamais reprocher en effet adjousta-t'elle si vous vous divertissez aux despens d'un stupide vous qui avez tant d'esprit vous le faites sans craindre qu'on vous le puisse rendre et ainsi de cent autres choses mais de vous moquer de ce qu'une femme est moins belle qu'elle n'estoit et de ce qu'elle n'est plus jeune 
 et de vous en moquer avec la certitude que vous serez un jour ce qu'elle est c'est ce que je ne scaurois endurer si ce n'est que celles qui ne sont plus jeunes agissent comme si elles l'estoient car enfin quand on arrive a cet age qui est entre la jeunesse et la vieillesse et ou il semble qu'on ait encore le choix de passer pour jeune ou pour vieille selon l'humeur dont on est je veux qu'on panche plus vers la retenue que vers l'enjouement mais je ne veux pas toutesfois qu'on se desespere ny qu'on passe l'extreme de joye a de l'extreme chagrin je veux donc qu'on renonce a toutes ces choses qui sont de si mauvaise grace quand on est plus jeune je veux qu'on soit propre sans estre paree qu'on ait le plaisir de la conversation raisonnable qu'on ne songe plus a aquerir des amans mais qu'on pense a conserver ses amis qu'on ait la liberte de se promener qu'on ait encore des yeux pour les beaux objets et des oreilles pour la musique quand une occasion de bienseance s'en presente ainsi amathilde ne vous ostant presques que quelques rubans et que quelques amans dont la pluspart ne sont pas trop fidelles il me semble que vous ne devez pas tant vous desesperer quand je vous predis que vous vivrez longtemps quand je vous escoute reprit amathilde il s'en faut peu que je ne croye que vous avez raison mais quand je m'escoute moy mesme je trouve aussi que je n'ay pas tant de tort qu'on se l'imagine et je sens si bien que des que je ne vous verray plus je penseray ce que je pensois devant 
 que vous eussiez parle que j'ay la plus grande frayeur du monde que vous ne trouviez fort mauvais que j'use si mal de vostre conseil amathilde dit cela si agreablement que glacidie et toute la compagnie en rirent mais comme le prince de phocee bomilcar galathe et britomarte alloient dire ce qu'il leur sembloit de cette agreable contestation une tante de glacidie entra qui estoit fort avancee en age et qui avoit sans doute sur le visage tout ce que la vieillesse y peut imprimer de plus horrible de sorte qu'encore qu'elle fust suivie de deux filles qui estoient fort belles amathilde ne pouvant souffrir cet objet se prepara a s'en aller mais auparavant elle s'aprocha de glacidie et luy parlant bas quoy luy dit elle vous soustiendrez encore qu'on doit desirer de vieillir en voyant cette dame ouy repliqua glacidie comme elle nous le redit apres je le soustiendray et je soustiens mesme que vous se desirerez des que vous serez un peu moins jeune ha si cela m'arrive repliqua-t'elle tout haut je veux devenir des demain ce que vous dittes que je seray un jour apres cela amathilde galathe et britomarte s'en allerent et la princesse cleonisbe estant arrivee quelque temps apres cette dame qui avoit tant sait de peur a amathilde sortit si bien qu'il ne demeura que le prince de phocee bomilcar et moy a peine cleonisbe fut-elle assise que glacidie luy raconta la dispute qu'elle avoit eue avec amathilde et a peine la luy eut-elle racontee qu'elle demanda au 
 prince de phocee de quel advis il estoit mais apres qu'il luy eut respondu qu'il estoit de celuy de glacidie elle se tourna vers bomilcar et luy demanda s'il n'en estoit pas aussi non madame reprit-il car j'ay veu tant de gens contre amathilde que j'ay voulu estre de son party sans examiner s'il estoit raisonnable ou non un motif si genereux repliqua-t'elle merite qu'on vous pardonne d'avoir soustenu une mauvaise cause j'advoue toutesfois aujousta cette princesse que je n'aime pas trop cette espece de generosite qui consiste seulement a proteger les foibles quoy qu'ils ayent tort je veux sans doute qu'on ne les accable pas mais j'aime si fort la raison que je ne puis souffrir qu'on soit contre elle et je veux qu'en ces sortes de disputes on parle centre ses plus chers amis s'ils sont d'un advis qui luy soit contraire et qu'on suive celuy de ses plus grands ennemis lors qu'il est juste cette derniere chose reprit bomilcar est un peu difficile a faire et je pense madame qu'il me seroit plus aise d'estre de l'advis de mes amis quoy qu'ils eussent tort que de ne contrarier pas mes ennemis quand mesme ils auroient raison pour moy repliqua le prince de phocee je suis persuade que j'aurois quelque peine a m'opposer directement a la raison mais j'advoue que j'ay beaucoup de joye en pareilles occasions quand ceux que je n'aime pas ne sont point du bon party quoy qu'il y ait encore quelque espece d'injustice a ce que vous dittes reprit cleonisbe vous estes pourtant plus 
 raisonnable que bomilcar du moins madame reprit il scay-je bien qu'il est plus heureux puis que vous le trouvez plus raisonnable que moy je le suis sans doute infiniment repliqua le prince de phocee d'avoir un sentiment dans l'ame que la princesse aprouve elle dis-je qui scait faire un discernement si delicat et si juste de toutes les choses qu'elle voit ce que l'admire le plus interrompit glacidie c'est que je scay que bomilcar est un des hommes du monde qui blasme le plus dans son coeur tout ce qu'il a deffendu aujourd'huy aussi suis-je assuree qu'il ne s'est range du party d'amathilde que parce qu'il est quelquesfois de l'opinion de ceux qui croyent que rien ne fait la conversation plus languissante que lors qu'on est tous d'un advis je vous assure reprit il que je ne puis dire ce qui m'a oblige a parler comme j'ay fait bomilcar dit cela d'un air qui fit aisement connoistre a glacidie la raison qui faisoit qu'il ne pouvoit dire pourquoy il avoit este d'un mauvais party mais comme elle jugea a propos de destourner la conversation elle demanda a cleonisbe si elle avoit veu onesicrite ce jour la de sorte que passant apres cela d'une chose a une autre je vins a dire sans pouvoir prevoir quelle suite auroit ce discours que j'avois veu le matin des branches de coral d'une grandeur prodigieuse et d'une beaute admirable cleonisbe me demandant alors ou je les avois veues je luy apris que c'avoit este entre les mains d'une personne qui les luy devoit offrir le jour 
 qui estoit destine au choix important qu'elle devoit faire car c'est la coustume que des que ce choix est fait toutes les personnes de qualite offrent des presens magnifiques a la princesse qui a choisi a peine eus-je dit cela qu'il parut un incarnat sur le visage de cleonisbe aussi beau et suffi vif que celuy du coral que j'avois veu de sorte que le prince de phocee et bomilcar l'ayant remarque imaginerent aisement que ce qui la faisoit rougir estoit qu'elle n'avoit pu se souvenir qu'elle estoit si pres d'un jour d'ou dependoit son bonheur ou son malheur sans en avoir quelque esmotion mais comme bomilcar esperoit autant qu'il craignoit il ne sut pas si inquiet que le prince de phocee qui ne voyant nulle apparence d'esperer ne pouvoit songer a ce jour de rejouissance sans une douleur extreme cependant comme bomilcar est d'un naturel ardent et que son imagination persuade quelquesfois facilement sa raison il se resolut de parler de cette feste a cleonisbe car comme il croyoit qu'elle ne pouvoit rien dire a l'avantage du prince de phocee il imagina quelque sorte de plaisir a parler devant son rival d'une ceremonie qu'il croyoit luy devoir oster toute sorte d'esperance c'est pourquoy prenant hardiment la parole en verite madame dit il a cleonisbe je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une feste si cruelle que celle qu'on doit bientost faire car enfin on assemble un grand nombre de gens illustres avec la certitude qu'il n'y en peut avoir qu'un heureux et que tous les 
 autres seront miserables il est vray reprit froidement le prince de phocee que cette feste est sans doute bien melancolique pour ceux qui ont pretendu d'estre choisis et mesme bien funeste pour ceux qui sans pretendre a cet honneur ont seulement la hardiesse de le souhaiter quoy qu'il en soit dit cleonisbe je trouve cette feste plus triste et plus embarrassante pour celle qui choisit que pour ceux qui ne sont pas choisis ha madame s'escria bomilcar il faut donc conclurre que celle qui se trouve si embarrassee d'une pareille chose ne l'est que parce qu'elle ne trouve rien digne de son choix car si cela n'estoit pas son esprit se determineroit aisement je vous assure reprit-elle que tout choix est difficile a faire il est vray repliqua glacide que la princesse a raison de parler comme elle fait car pour moy adjousta-t'elle en riant qui n'ay jamais eu que des fleurs a choisir je ne scay quelquesfois ce que je veux et ma main hesite comme mon esprit sans scavoir si elle doit cueillir des roses ou des oeillets jugez donc si ayant un choix aussi important a faire la princesse n'a pas raison de dire que celle qui choisit doit estre aussi embarrassee que ceux qu'elle ne choisit pas cela est tellement vray repliqua cleonisbe que si les loix de l'estat le permettoient je renoncerois solemnellement a cette coustume et dans les sentimens ou je suis aujourd'huy j'aimerois mieux obeir aveuglement au roy que d'avoir la liberte de choisir encore un fois madame reprit bomilcar 
 avec une douleur extreme vous ne trouvez rien digne de vostre choix cependant adjousta-t'il la loy veut que vous choisissiez et il y a mesme aparence que vostre jugement a desja choisi celuy que vostre bouche doit nommer le jour de la ceremonie quoy que je ne sois pas obligee repliqua-t'elle de vous reveler un si grand secret je vous assureray toutesfois que ce choix n'est point fait et que si j'ay a choisir quelqu'un ce sera celuy que les dieux m'inspireront lors que je seray au temple la princesse dit ces paroles d'une maniere qui persuada esgallement au prince de phocee et a bomilcar qu'elle disoit vray de sorte que le premier en eut quelque joye et le second en eut beaucoup de douleur car comme le prince de phocee n'osoit pretendre d'estre choisi il trouvoit quel que douceur a penser qu'un autre ne l'estoit pas encore mais pour bomilcar comme il croyoit avoir droit de l'estre et que mesme il l'esperoit il eut un desespoir estrange de voir qu'il avoit sujet de croire que la princesse n'avoit pas encore resolu qui elle choisiroit le chagrin qu'il en eut augmenta mesme la haine qu'il avoit pour le prince de phocee parce qu'il s'imagina que puis qu'il n'estoit pas encore choisi il le pourroit estre aussi bien que luy comme des sentimens aussi tumultueux que ceux-la ne pouvoient pas luy laisser la liberte de son esprit il ne parla presques plus le reste du jour mais en recompense le prince de phocee parla davantage et dit mesme beaucoup de choses 
 qui firent connoistre une partie des sentimens qu'il avoit dans le coeur quoy qu'il ne dist rien qui ne pust recevoir une autre explication mais enfin cleonisbe s'en estant allee ces deux rivaux la mirent dans son chariot apres quoy le prince de phocee s'en alla chez le roy et bomilcar r'entra chez glacidie d'ou je sortis un moment apres mais comme j'ay este assez heureux pour aquerir une place assez particuliere en l'amitie de cette aimable fille et qu'il a mesme este en quelque facon necessaire que j'aye sceu tout ce qui s'estoit passe entre toutes ces personnes j'ay sceu depuis par elle que bomilcar ne se vit pas plustost avec la liberte de l'entretenir que prenant la parole de grace aimable glacidie luy dit-il si vous avez dessein de m'obliger faites de deux choses l'une j'ay sans doute toute la disposition imaginable a vous rendre office repliqua t'elle c'est pourquoy dittes moy promptement quelles sont les deux choses dont vous me donnez le choix c'est respondit-il de faire en sorte que le prince de phocee ou ne soit plus mon rival ou ne soit plus vostre amy car enfin je ne puis plus souffrir ny qu'il aime cleonisbe ny que vous l'aimiez mais si le prince de phocee repliqua glacidie en souriant me prioit de faire en sorte que bomilcar n'aimast plus la princesse et que je n'eusse plus nulle amitie pour luy que voudriez vous que je luy respondisse je voudrois que vous luy respondissiez repliqua-t'il ce que je ne veux pas que vous me respondiez ha bomilcar 
 reprit-elle vous n'estes pas equitable mais comme je ne veux pas estre injuste a vostre exemple je vous respondray ce que je respondrois au prince de phocee s'il me disoit ce que vous me dittes scachez donc poursuivit-elle que comme je ne puis jamais cesser d'estre vostre amie quoy que vous soyez ennemy du prince de phocee je ne cesseray pas aussi d'estre la sienne quoy qu'il ne soit pas vostre amy et pour ce qui regarde la passion que vous avez pour la princesse comme je ne veux ny vous y nuire ny vous y servir je ne feray autre chose que vous exhorter tous deux a combatre vostre amour s'il est vray que vous en ayez pour elle car pour cleonisbe je ne luy conseilleray jamais rien que de suivre ce que sa raison luy dira qui est beaucoup plus esclairee que la mienne ainsi bomilcar je puis estre vostre amie sans nuire au prince de phocee et je puis estre la sienne sans vous porter aussi prejudice quand l'amitie que vous avez pour luy reprit-il ne me feroit autre mal que celuy de me forcer a le voir souvent aupres de vous et a l'y voir avec civilite j'aurois un grand sujet de m'en pleindre mais reprit glacidie si vous le voyez il vous voit aussi et s'il aime la princesse comme vous le croyez vostre veue l'importune autant que la sienne vous irrite cependant il vit bien aveque vous ne soyez donc pas adjousta-t'elle moins raisonnable que luy car si vous me donniez sujet de croire qu'il eust plus de complaisance pour moy que vous il pourroit 
 estre que rendant amitie pour amitie j'en aurois plus pour le prince de phocee que pour bomilcar ha cruelle glacidie luy dit-il j'aime encore mieux souffrir la veue de mon ennemy que de me voir expose a vous voir estre plus de ses amies que de miennes tant que vous vivrez comme vous devez repliqua t'elle je demeureray comme je suis mais si vous pensiez m'obliger a estre injuste vous vous tromperiez car comme je vous l'ay desja dit si le prince de phocee vous attaquoit je vous deffendrois et si vous l'attaquez je le deffendray je scay qu'il vous estime comme vous l'estimez je scay de plus qu'il m'aime comme vous m'aimez et je scay encore que le premier de vous deux qui s'emportera contre l'autre perdra toute l'amitie que je luy ay promise et que je la donneray a son rival ha glacidie reprit bomilcar quand vous seriez ma maistresse vous ne pourriez me faire un commandement plus tirannique dittes plustost repliqua-t'elle en souriant que quand je serois le plus sage des sarronides je ne pourrois vous parler plus equitablement que je fais car enfin vous n'avez aucun sujet legitime de hair le prince de phocee il ne fait ny brigue ny cabale dans la cour il a veu la princesse et il l'a trouvee aimable qu'y a t'il d'estrange a cela joint que soit qu'il l'aime ou qu'il ne l'aime pas c'est a elle a choisir et elle choisira sans doute sans considerer ny si vous l'aimez ny s'il l'aime en effet comme elle ne se conduit jamais 
 par la raison toute seule je puis vous assurer que quoy que la loy luy permette de choisir si son inclination ne s'accordoit pas avec la raison elle la combatroit et la vaincroit sans doute ainsi vostre bonheur et vostre infortune dependant absolument de la princesse et point du tout du prince de phocee vivez civilement avecque luy comme il vit civilement avecque vous ne me forcez pas a prendre party entre deux personnes que j'estime infiniment et a qui j'ay beaucoup d'obligation et soyez fortement persuade que je ne vous dis rien d'obligeant pour luy que je ne sois capable de luy dire pour vous si l'occasion s'en presente ha glacidie s'escria-t'il encore une fois vous estes trop sage pour estre amie d'un amant et d'un amant encore qui est en termes de perdre l'a raison car enfin adjousta-t'il apres ce que j'ay tantost entendu dire a cleonisbe je suis fortement persuade qu'elle ne scait point encore qui elle choisira cependant il me semble que cela ne devroit pas estre ainsi et qu'apres luy avoir rendu mille services et l'avoir adoree si respectueusement je devrois estre prefere et a britomarte et a galathe et au prince de phocee qui n'est qu'un malheureux exile si le prince de phocee reprit-elle me disoit en parlant de vous que vous n'estes qu'un miserable carthaginois je le blasmerois de parler de vous en ces termes comme je vous blasme de reprocher l'exil a un grand prince et un exil encore dont la cause luy est glorieuse puis que c'est pour conserver 
 sa liberte qu'il est esloigne de sa patrie au reste j'ay encore a vous dire que je ne scay point si la princesse scait qui elle doit choisir ou si elle ne le scait pas mais quand je le scaurois je vous declare que vous ne le scauriez point car enfin je suis fidelle non seulement a la princesse a qui je dois toutes choses non seulement a vous et au prince de phocee qui estes mes plus chers amis mais je le suis encore a mes ennemis ainsi bomilcar croyez que comme je ne dirois pas a cleonisbe ny au prince de phocee une chose que vous m'auriez confiee je ne vous diray pas aussi tout ce qu'ils me pourront confier qu'il vous suffise adjousta-t'elle que je vous promette de ne vous nuire jamais et de vous rendre tous les offices que les loix d'une amitie prudente et genereuse peuvent m'obliger de vous rendre mais afin que vous ne vous y trompiez pas ce que je vous promets je le promettray au prince de phocee si l'occasion s'en offre et pour vous tesmoigner que je suis sincere de la derniere sincerite je vous advertis encore qu'entre la princesse et vous je ne balancerois jamais a prendre party s'il le faloit prendre non plus qu'entre cleonisbe et le prince de phocee mais comme j'espere qu'elle ne me mettra pas dans cette necessite et que vous ne m'y mettrez pas vous mesme vous pouvez attendre de moy tous les offices que je vous pourray rendre pourveu que je le puisse sans offencer l'amitie que j'ay pour la princesse et pour le prince de phocee encore une fois glacidie luy dit 
 bomilcar vous estes si sage que vous m'en faites desesperer car enfin en m'offrant tout vous ne m'ostrez rien estant certain que puis que vous ne pouvez nuire a mon plus redoutable rival vous ne me pouvez servir il me semble pourtant reprit-elle que vous en avez encore deux qui sont assez a craindre et que si vous considerez que britomarte est du pais et que galathe est un assez grand intrigueur vous trouverez qu'il y a lieu de les aprehender il est vray dit-il mais comme vous ne pouvez leur estre contraire sans rendre office au prince de phocee aussi bien qu'a moy je ne scay si je le dois souhaiter je n'aurois jamais fait madame si je voulois vous dire tout ce que dit bomilcar a glacidie mais a la fin il s'en separa avec tant d'estime pour sa vertu qu'il n'avoit pas moins d'amitie pour elle que d'amour pour cleonisbe cependant conme le prince de phocee mouroit d'envie de scavoir un peu mieux s'il estoit bien vray que cette princesse n'eust pas encore resolu qui elle devoit choisir il fut le lendemain de si bonne heure chez glacidie qu'il la trouva seule et comme il n'estoit pas moins fach de trouver bomilcar chez elle que bomilcar l'estoit de l'y rencontrer il se mit a luy dire que c'estoit une cruelle chose pour luy de ne pouvoir presques jamais voir une des personnes du monde qu'il aimoit le plus sans voir en mesme temps un des hommes du monde qu'il aimoit le moins mais madame n'ayant pas comme glacidie l'art de dire deux fois une mesme chose en termes si differens qu'elle luy donne la grace de 
 la nouveaute je ne vous rediray pas la plus grande partie de ce qu'elle dit au prince de phocee parce que ce fut a peu pres ce qu'elle avoit dit a bomilcar mais je vous diray madame que ce prince ne pouvant plus renfermer dans son coeur toute l'ardeur de sa passion la descouvrit ce jour la toute entiere a glacidie vous voyez bien luy dit-il apres plusieurs autres choses que je suis persuade que vous estes aussi sincere que genereuse puis qu'apres m'avoir dit que vous avez autant d'amitie pour mon rival que pour moy je vous descouvre tout le secret de mon coeur je vous suis infiniment obligee de cette confiance reprit elle parce que je la regarde comme une grande marque d'estime aussi vous puis-je assurer que je voudrois vous pouvoir guerir de la passion qui vous tourmente puis que je ne vous y dois servir ha glacidie repliqua le prince de phocee ne souhaitez pas ma guerison car j'aime mieux le mal qui m'accable que la sante que vous me desirez au reste poursuivit-il pour imiter en quelque sorte vostre generosite je ne veux pas vous obliger a nuire a bomilcar quoy que ce soit la chose du monde que je souhaite le plus apres la possession de cleonisbe mais comme entre deux amis qu'on aime esgallement on est oblige d'avoir plus de soin de celuy qui est malheureux que de celuy qui ne l'est pas faites s'il vous plaist que la compassion que vous devez avoir de mon malheur vous oblige a mettre quelque difference entre bomilcar et son ennemy 
 ainsi glacidie ne me servez pas puis que vous ne le servez point mais pleignez moy puis que je suis plus a pleindre que luy car enfin il luy est permis de paroistre parmy ceux qui pretendent estre choisis il a rendu mille services au roy et a cleonisbe vous avez dit mille fois en vostre vie mille biens de luy a la princesse il a eu plusieurs annees a la voir et a s'en faire connoistre le roy l'aime et mille raisons font qu'il a lieu d'esperer qu'il sera choisi et qu'il sera heureux mais pour moy glacidie je suis un miserable qui ne puis rien esperer j'aime peut estre sans qu'on le scache ou du moins ne le scait-on qu'imparfaitement j'aime sans oser pretendre d'estre ny aime ny choisi et j'aime mesme avec le malheur de connoistre qu'en effet la prudence ordinaire ne veut pas qu'on me choisisse cependant je sens pourtant quelque chose dans mon coeur qui n'est ny vanite ny orgueil qui me dit souvent que je ne dois pas me resoudre de cedera cleonisbe ny a bomilcar ny a britomarte ny a galathe de sorte que changeant de sentimens je fais ce que je puis pour esperer et si je n'espere pas tout a fait d'estre heureux du moins y a-t'il quelques instans ou je ne croy pas aussi qu'il soit absolument impossible que je le sois il est vray dis-je quelques fois que je suis exile mais je le suis avec un grand peuple qui m'obeit et je puis me vanter d'avoir un estat qui tout petit qu'il est peut estendre ses limites plus loin que la puissance de bomilcar 
 puis que j'ay des vaisseaux des hommes pour les remplir et assez de richesses pour soustenir une longue guerre et pour faire quelque conqueste importante enfin glacidie je pense que j'ay pour le moins autant de naissance que bomilcar que mon coeur n'est pas moins noble que le sien et que la passion que j'ay dans l'ame est assurement plus forte que la sienne mais apres tout cette foible esperance dure si peu que je suis bien plus souvent en estat de desesperer de tout que d'esperer quelque chose c'est pourquoy je vous conjure pour soulager ma douleur de me dire si vous ne croyez pas que lors que la princesse dit hier qu'elle ne scavoit encore qui elle choisiroit elle parloit sincerement car si cela est j'en auray une consolation que je ne vous puis exprimer quoy que je ne comprenne pas trop bien moy-mesme que cette consolation ait un fondement raisonnable comme je suis fort sincere reprit glacidie et qu'en cetaines occasions flatter ses amis est une espece de tromperie qui leur peut estre nuisible je vous diray ingenument que je souhaiterois avec ardeur que vous n'eussiez pas dans l'ame la passion que je voy qui vous tourmente car encore que je vous trouve digne de la princesse j'ay pourtant sujet de croire que quand cleonisbe mesme vous le trouveroit comme je vous le trouve et vous prefereroit dans son coeur et a bomilcar et a britomarte et a galathe elle n'oseroit vous choisir de peur d'exciter quelque trouble dans l'estat mais apres 
 cela ne m'en demandez pas davantage car comme je ne dois pas reveler les secrets de cleonisbe et que si bomilcar me les demandoit je ne les luy dirois point je ne dois pas non plus vous les dire puis que j'ay le malheur de me trouver en une conjoncture si facheuse que je ne puis vous servir sans luy estre contraire ny le servir aussi sans vous nuire joint qu'a parler sincerement je ne suis pas mesme en estat de vous pouvoir rien aprendre de fort particulier quand la consideration de bomilcar ne m'en empescheroit pas parce que je n'ay pas creu que je deusse penetrer jusques au fonds du coeur de cleonisbe ainsi vous n'avez qu'a consulter vostre propre raison sans me consulter puis que je ne pourrois vous conseiller fidellement sans faire infidellite ou a la princesse ou a bomilcar ha glacidie reprit le prince de phocee si je me conseille moy mesme je feray d'estranges choses vous estes si sage repliqua t'elle que je ne puis rien craindre de vous je suis si amoureux reprit-il que vous en devez tout aprehender ainsi je ne vous respons pas que je ne sois capable de parler fortement de mon amour a celle qui l'a fait naistre donner quelques marques de haine a bomilcar de cabaler contre galathe et de m'opposer a britomarte avec autant de fierte qu'il en a enfin glacidie je suis capable de tout plustost que de renoncer a la possession de cleonisbe comme je n'ay pas la liberte toute entiere reprit-elle de vous dire 
 tout ce que je pense je me trouve fort embarrassee mais apres tout je croy que sans vous estre suspecte de vouloir favoriser bomilcar a vostre prejudice je puis vous conseiller de vous consulter plus d'une fois devant que de prendre des resolutions si tumultueuses et dont les suites vous pourroient nuire plus que vous ne pensez cependant souvenez vous s'il vous plaist de vivre tousjours de facon avec bomilcar que je puisse conserver entre vous deux cette neutralite que je me suis imposee de peur que si vous me mettiez de son party le vostre n'en devinst plus foible mais madame ce ne fut pas encore assez que glacidie sceust les sentimens les plus cachez du prince de phocee et de bomilcar et il falut encore qu'elle aprist ceux de cleonisbe s'estant donc trouvee assez bien pour pouvoir sortir le soir elle fut le passer chez cette princesse qui n'ayant voulu voir personne ce jour-la la fit entrer dans son cabinet afin de l'entretenir en particulier mais comme elle paroissoit assez melancolique glacidie prit la liberte de luy en demander la cause je vous assure luy repliqua-t'elle que je ne puis vous respondre precisement car j'ay tant de choses diferentes dans l'esprit qui ne me plaisent pas que je ne scay a la quelle je dois attribuer mon chagrin je pense pourtant adjousta cleonisbe que le plus grand sujet que j'en aye est de ce que je me verray bientost dans la necessite de faire un choix qui n'est pas si facile a faire qu'on le pense mais madame reprit glacidie il me semble que 
 je vous ay veu autrefois l'esprit assez prepare a ne vous en inquieter point et a ne choisir que ce que le roy vous ordonneroit de choisir je suis encore dans cette resolution reprit-elle mais je n'y suis pas avec la mesme tranquilite parce que je crains qu'il ne me conseille pas comme je voudrois l'estre mais madame respondit glacidie puis que la loy vous donne la liberte du choix choisissez celuy que vostre raison vous conseille sans consulter celle du roy ha glacidie repliqua-t'elle la question est de scavoir si c'est ma raison qui me conseille d'avoir une aversion estrange pour bomilcar glacidie surprise du discours de cleonisbe fut quelque temps sans parler afin de mettre son esprit en termes de ne nuire ny a bomilcar ny au prince de phocee de sorte que pour le pouvoir faire elle se resolut de tascher de scavoir precisement d'ou pouvoit venir cette aversion qu'elle avoit pour bomilcar faisant dessein si c'estoit qu'elle voulust luy preferer galathe ou britomarte de leur nuire autant qu'elle pourroit parce qu'en effet elle croyoit que ce n'estoit pas l'advantage de cleonisbe d'en choisir pas un des deux et qu'elle le pouvoit faire sans offencer ses deux amis de sorte que prenant la parole j'advoue madame luy dit elle que j'ay tousjours remarque que vous n'aviez pas grande inclination pour bomilcar quoy qu'il ne me semblast toutesfois pas que vostre aversion fust si forte mais madame adjousta-t'elle n'est ce point que galathe ou britomarte 
 en vous plaisant plus que luy font qu'il vous desplaist davantage nullement repliqua cleonisbe en rougissant et je puis vous assurer qu'ils ne sont aucun prejudice a bomilcar cependant glacidie poursuivit-elle vous devez m'avoir quelque obligation de la violence que je me suis faite a cacher cette aversion naturelle que j'ay pour luy car il est vray que s'il n'avoit pas este de vos amis je vous aurois dit il y a longtemps tout ce que j'en pense je connois bien toutesfois poursuivit-elle que j'ay tort et je ne suis pas assez preoccupee pour ne connoistre point que c'est un fort honneste homme ny assez aveugle aussi pour ne m'apercevoir pas qu'il m'aime mais apres tout il y a quelque chose dans mon coeur qui resiste a son merite qui luy en deffend l'entree et qui me porte a avoir pour luy je ne scay quel sentiment qu'on peut presques aussi tost apeller haine qu'aversion cependant je connois bien encore que la raison veut que je le choisisse et que selon toutes les aparences le roy m'ordonnera de le preferer aux autres jugez donc glacidie si je dois avoir l'ame en repos de me voir si proche d'un jour si facheux pour moy car enfin poursuivit cleonisbe bomilcar m'est devenu si insuportable principalement depuis quelque temps que je ne le puis presques plus souffrir et puis adjousta-t'elle en rougissant ne diroit-on pas aussi qu'il contribue quelque chose a faire durer mon aversion car considerez un peu je vous prie avec quelle injustice il s'oppose tousjours 
 au prince de phocee avec qui il voit que le roy le prince mon frere et moy vivons avec tant de civilite je n'ay garde madame repliqua glacidie d'aprouver ce que sait bomilcar contre le prince de phocee et tout ce que je puis faire pour luy est de dire qu'assurement il ne merite pas le malheur qu'il a d'estre hai de vous mais encore dit cleonisbe ne scavez vous point ce qui fait que bomilcar agit ainsi et ce qui fait encore que le prince de phocee n'aporte pas de soin a faire que bomilcar vive mieux aveque luy car comme ils sont tous deux vos amis il me semble que vous devez scavoir tous leurs sentimens je vous assure madame repliqua-t'elle que j'ay fait toutes choses possibles pour les mettre bien ensemble mais il n'y a pas moyen et la haine qu'ils ont l'un pour l'autre si je ne me trompe a une cause trop forte pour faire que cela puisse jamais estre et elle est de telle nature que je ne pense pas madame que vous ne la deviniez point ouy glacidie je la devine reprit elle en changeant encore une sois de couleur et c'est ce qui fait que je suis estrangement irritee contre bomilcar car enfin je ne puis souffrir qu'il ait l'audace d'avoir de la jalousie du prince de phocee ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que ce prince n'ait assurement toutes les qualitez necessaires pour en donner mais c'est qu'on n'en doit jamais avoir pour une personne faite comme moy aussi bomilcar doit il estre assure que si le roy mon pere ne me commande pas absolument de 
 le choisir je ne le choisiray point cependant poursuivit elle en se reprenant et en soupirant s'il arrive que j'aye le malheur que ce soit luy que le roy choisisse de grace ma chere glacidie soustenez ma raison en cette rencontre et dites moy tant de choses qu'enfin je puisse luy obeir comme vous pourriez croire reprit glacidie que je ne vous parlerois a l'avantage de bomilcar que parce qu'il est de mes amis je vous declare madame que je ne vous en parleray jamais ha glacidie reprit brusquement cleonisbe ne m'abandonnez pas je vous en conjure en l'occasion de ma vie la plus importante car encore une fois ma raison a besoin d'estre soustenue parla vostre mais encore madame reprit glacidie voudrois je bien scavoir pourquoy vous parlez comme vous faites en effet poursuivit-elle pour descouvrir ses veritables sentimens si vous avez trop d'aversion pour bomilcar que ne priez vous le roy de vous permettre de choisir ou galathe ou britomarte ha glacidie repliqua-t'elle avec precipitation je ne les estime pas assez pour me porter a desobeir au roy et si t'en estois capable ce ne seroit pas pour eux et ce seroit sans doute pour a ces mots cleonisbe rougit et se teut ne pouvant achever de dire ce qu'elle avoit pense mais comme elle en avoit pourtant assez dit pour estre entendue de glacidie elle en eut une confusion estrange quoy qu'elle ne luy eust jamais cache aucun de ses sentimens mais a la fin se determinant a luy ouvrir son coeur elle 
 luy advoua que si elle eust suivy son inclination elle auroit prefere le prince de phocee et a bomilcar et a britomarte et a galathe et luy advoua mesme qu'elle avoit autant de disposition a l'aimer qu'elle en avoit a hair bomilcar jugez donc apres cela luy dit elle ma chere glacidie si j'ay tort lors que je dis que j'ay besoin de vostre raison pour soustenir la mienne c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de faire continuellement deux choses jusques au jour ou cette funeste ceremonie se fera l'une de faire tout ce que vous pourrez pour amoindrir l'aversion que j'ay pour bomilcar et l'autre de faire tout ce qui sera en vostre pouvoir pour diminuer le commencement d'affection que j'ay pour le prince de phocee quoy qu'il semble que je ne puisse jamais estre en droit de vous desobeir repliqua glacidie il faut pourtant que je vous conjure de me dispenser de le faire en cette rencontre car enfin madame je me suis si fortement determinee a demeurer neutre entre deux hommes que j'honnore esgallement que je ne puis me refondre ny a leur nuire ny a les servir en une occasion ou je n'en puis obliger un sans desobliger l'autre ainsi ne trouvez pas mauvais si je ne vous obeis point et je m'y resous d'autant plustost que quelque choix que vous puissiez faire vous ne pouvez mal choisir entre le prince de phocee et bomilcar veritablement si vous leur vouliez preferer ou britomarte ou galathe je m'opposerois a vous de toute ma force mais cela n'estant 
 pas je n'ay rien a dire si vous surmontez l'aversion que vous avez pour bomilcar vous rendrez justice a son merite et a son amour et si vous suivez l'inclination que vous avez pour le prince de phocee vous la rendrez aussi a sa vertu et a sa passion ainsi madame quoy que vous fassiez vous le ferez bien et quoy que vous puissiez faire j'auray lieu de me resjouir et de m'affliger puis que n'en pouvant faire un heureux sans en faire un miserable il faudra que j'aye de la joye du bonheur de celuy qui sera choisi et de la douleur de l'infortune de celuy qui ne le sera pas cependant faites moy l'honneur de ne m'obliger point a contribuer quelque chose au malheur de celuy que les dieux ont destine a souffrir un suplice si effroyable mais glacidie reprit cleonisbe en pensant n'y contribuer pas vous y contribuez estrangement car si vous ne me representez fortement que si je desobeis au roy et que si je prefere ce prince exile a tant d'autres je me des-honoreray et je mettray peutestre la guerre dans le royaume bomilcar ne sera pas choisi il sera ce qu'il vous plaira qu'il soit repliqua glacidie sans que je m'en mesle car enfin madame ny je ne le puis ny je ne le dois et si j'ose le dire vous ne voulez pas mesme que je vous obeisse j'en tombe d'accord glacidie reprit cleonisbe en soupirant car il est certain qu'en vous priant de diminuer l'aversion que j'ay pour bomilcar je l'ay sentie augmenter cependant j'advoue que je ne scay ce que je veux quoy 
 que je scache bien que je ne veux rien faire contre ma propre gloire mais de grace ma chere glacidie adjousta-t'elle apres vous avoir confie l'aversion que j'ay pour bomilcar et la favorable disposition que je sens dans mon coeur pour le prince de phocee gardez vous bien de donner lieu ny a l'un ny a l'autre de deviner mes veritables sentimens car il y a tant d'injustice a la haine que j'ay pour bomilcar et tant de foiblesse a la tendresse que je sens pour le prince de phocee que ce seroit me couvrir d'une confusion estrange
 
 
 
 
vous pouvez juger madame que glacidie promit a cleonisbe ce qu'elle voulut et vous pouvez croire qu'elle ne manqua pas a sa promesse cependant comme carimante estoit d'un naturel ardent et qu'il avoit une passion violente dans le coeur il prit une resolution qui embarrassa fort menodore et qui affligea aussi onesicrite car enfin comme il remarqua qu'il y avoit quelques sentimens favorables pour menodore dans le coeur de cette princesse il fit dire secretement a sfurius qu'il le prioit d'obliger son fils a ne penser plus a onesicrite luy faisant entendre qu'apres luy avoir donne une seconde patrie c'estoit la moindre difference qu'il pouvoit avoir pour luy adjoustant qu'il la reconnoistroit par tant de bons offices qu'il auroit lieu d'estre satisfait de sa reconnoissance comme sfurius est d'humeur a preferer tousjours le bien public au particulier quoy qu'il eust aprouve la passion que menodore avoit pour onesicrite il n'hesita point a promettre 
 a celuy qui luy parla de commander a son fils de ne pretendre plus rien a cette princesse l'assurant mesme que quand menodore voudroit luy desobeir il l'en empescheroit bien et en effet celuy qui estoit charge de cette negociation ne fut pas plustost party qu'il envoya querir son fils d'abord il entreprit de luy persuader par raison qu'ayant un rival a qui ils avoient tant d'obligation et un rival qui seroit bien tost en pouvoir de le detruire si on l'irritoit puis qu'il seroit bien tost roy il faloit qu'il luy cedast n'estant pas juste que pour satisfaire son amour il exposast a la violence de ce prince tant de personnes innocentes adjoustant encore que puis qu'il s'agissoit de l'interest general de leur ville il faloit qu'il sacrifiast ses plaisirs pour sa seurete et qu'il le fist d'autant plustost qu'il n'estoit pas en pouvoir de refuser d'obeir quelques fortes que fussent les raisons dont sfurius se servit elles ne persuaderent point menodore si bien que joignant alors l'authorite a la persuasion il luy deffendit absolument de continuer de penser a onesicrite luy disant que quand il luy voudroit desobeir il luy en osteroit bien la puissance vous pouvez juger madame que menodore se trouva sensiblement afflige son amour ne ceda pourtant pas et il parut si ferme a sfurius qu'il s'emporta de colere et luy dit beaucoup de choses facheuses de sorte qu'il eust peut estre este contraint de ceder s'il n'eust pas este soustenu par galathe car madame il faut 
 que vous scachiez que ce prince suivant son humeur intrigueuse avoit cabale avec plusieurs grecs et avoit une intelligence particuliere avec un amy de menodore si bien que comme il craignoit extremement que carimante ne fust favorablement traitte d'onesicrite parce qu'il s'imaginoit que cela le porteroit a favoriser le prince de phocee il fit dire a menodore qu'il n'avoit qu'a tenir ferme et qu'il l'assuroit qu'il scavoit avec certitude que le roy n'approuvoit pas la passion de carimante et que par consequent il n'avoit rien a craindre puis qu'il seroit soustenu par luy ainsi madame menodore malgre toutes les raisons et toutes les menaces de son pere ne changea point de sentimens cependant sfurius ne laissa pas d'assurer le prince carimante qu'il empescheroit bien menodore de troubler ses desseins le conjurant seulement d'avoir un peu de patience et de luy donner quelques jours pour le guerir d'un aussi grand mal que le sien et en effet sfurius y chercha un remede bien douloureux pour menodore car il faut que vous scachiez madame qu'il fut trouver le prince de phocee a qui il aprit ce que carimante luy avoit fait dire le conjurant d'employer l'authorite qu'il avoit sur onesicrite pour l'obliger a rompre avec menodore car enfin seigneur luy dit-il quelque glorieuse que soit vostre alliance c'est un bien ou je ne veux plus songer puis que je ne le pourrois sans vous nuire et sans exposer tous les grecs qui sont icy a la violence d'un 
 prince amoureux c'est pourquoy puis que les dieux ont voulu que nostre protecteur le devinst encore davantage par l'amour qu'il a pour la princesse vostre soeur je vous conjure d'estre aussi ferme a resister a la princesse onesicrite que je le seray a m'opposer a menodore le prince de phocee entendant parler sfurius de cette sorte eut beaucoup de joye de voir qu'il pouvoit avec honneur favoriser les desseins de carimante et traverser ceux de menodore luy semblant que puis que ce prince trouvoit onesicrite digne de luy cleonisbe pourroit aussi ne le trouver pas indigne d'elle il respondit donc tres civilement a sfurius luy protestant qu'il eust volontiers prefere son alliance a celle de carimante mais que puis qu'il estoit assez genereux pour preferer le bien public a la satisfaction du prince son fils il ne seroit pas digne de son amitie s'il estoit moins genereux que luy et s'il ne se privoit d'un bien qu'il avoit tant souhaite afin de n'exposer pas leur nouvelle patrie a estre detruite de sorte qu'apres cela ils consulterent ensemble des moyens qu'ils devoient tenir et resolurent qu'il faloit d'abord tascher de persuader onesicrite par la douceur afin de n'irriter pas menodore que pour cet effet il faloit employer aristonice qui avoit grand credit sur son esprit et pour qui elle avoit beaucoup de respect ainsi il fut resolu qu'on chercheroit les voyes d'obliger onesicrite a faire un petit voyage a marseille sans qu'elle pust prevoir pourquoy elle iroit et en effet le 
 prince de phocee agit si adroitement qu'elle se porta d'elle mesme a ce qu'il souhaitoit ou du moins elle le creut ainsi mais afin que la chose reussist mieux le prince de phocee m'ayant fait l'honneur de me confier tout le secret de sa vie et de me dire l'estat des choses m'envoya le soir auparavant vers aristonice afin de la prevenir de sorte que lors qu'onesicrite la fut voir elle agit d'une maniere si adroite que cette princesse ne creut point du tout que le prince de phocee eust nulle part aux conseils qu'elle luy donna d'abord qu'elle fut avec elle ce ne furent que marques de joye et tesmoignages d'amitie reciproques en suitte de quoy aristonice dont la conversation tendoit tousjours a rendre ceux qui la pratiquoient plus parfaits se mit a luy dire obligeamment qu'ayant receu une aussi grande beaute du ciel et tant de charmes en toute sa personne elle craignoit qu'en l'age ou elle estoit elle ne vinst a abuser des graces que les dieux luy avoient faites en effet ma fille luy dit elle car elle la nommoit ainsi ce n'est pas assez pour paroistre toute vertueuse que de ne commettre point de ces crimes effroyables dont les personnes bien nees ne se peuvent jamais trouver capables mais il faut encore faire tout le bien qu'on peut et sur toutes choses ne prophaner pas les dons qu'on a receus du ciel si l'on n'en veut estre puny ainsi ma fille celles qui comme vous ont receu des dieux une beaute extraordinaire doivent bien prendre garde de n'abuser pas d'une 
 si grande faveur car enfin la beaute d'helene fut fatale a toute l'asie et tous les siecles a venir reprocheront l'embrasement de troye au feu de ses yeux c'est pour quoy je vous conjure de vous souvenir toujours que les dieux ne vous ont donne la beaute que pour en causer du bien et non pas pour en faire du mal souvenez vous donc lors qu'elle vous acquerra pouvoir sur quelqu'un de vous informer s'il n'y a point quelque malheureux qui ait besoin du credit de celuy sur qui vous en aurez afin que tirant un bien de la foiblesse d'autruy vous meritiez que les dieux vous empeschent d'en avoir par exemple adjousta-t'elle comme j'ay ouy dire dans ma solitude que le prince carimante a beaucoup d'estime pour vous il faut que vous songiez a la mesnager seulement pour l'obliger a continuer de proteger tous les grecs qu'il a desja si genereusement protegez onesicrite entendant parler aristonice de cette sorte rougit et rougit avec tant de marques d'esmotion dans les yeux qu'on peut dire qu'elle luy montra son coeur a descouvert en un instant comme onesicrite est douce et un peu timide quoy qu'elle ait beaucoup d'esprit le discours d'aristonice l'ayant fort touchee elle se resolut de se confier a elle et de luy demander comment elle se devoit conduire pour se deffaire de l'amour de carimante sans s'exposer a l'irriter et a le porter a entreprendre quelque chose contre menodore de sorte qu'apres luy avoir dit tout ce qu'elle creut propre a luy faire 
 excuser sa foiblesse elle luy raconta la passion que menodore avoit pour elle elle luy advoua l'inclination qu'elle avoit pour luy et luy dit en suitte l'amour que le prince carimante luy tesmoignoit et ce que sfurius avoit dit a son fils adjoustant toutesfois encore tout ce qu'elle pensa qui pouvoit porter aristonice a luy conseiller de ne se desgager pas de l'affection de menodore et a tascher de se deffaire de celle de carimante mais elle fut bien surprise lors qu'aristonice apres l'avoir escoutee paisiblement luy respondit comme elle fit je loue les dieux luy dit-elle qui vous ont conduite icy car comme il paroist qu'ils vous aiment cherement je serois au desespoir si vous abusiez des graces qu'ils vous font je ne veux point adjousta-t'elle vous blasmer de la complaisance que vous avez eue pour l'affection de menodore car comme elle a este toute vertueuse je ne la veux pas condamner quoy qu'a parler raisonnablement il eust este mieux de recevoir son coeur sans donner le vostre mais enfin puis que vos parens et les siens approuvoient esgallement l'affection que vous aviez l'un pour l'autre je n'ay rien a dire mais ma fille les choses ont bien change de face car puis que sfurius ne veut plus que menodore vous espouse et que le prince carimante vous veut espouser il n'y a pas lieu d'hesiter un moment a prendre la resolution de n'escouter plus le premier et d'escouter le second quoy ma mere s'escria onesicrite vous croyez que les dieux me pardonneroient 
 si j'avois change de sentimens pour menodore quoy ma fille reprit aristonice vous croyez que les dieux vous pardonneroient si vous aviez cause la perte de cette multitude de peuple qu'ils ont conduite icy et que si carimante avoit detruit cette ville qu'on nous a permis de bastir vous n'en respondriez pas non non onesicrite poursuivit elle il ne faut pas vous tromper et quoy qu'en cette occasion je ne puisse vous dire de verite qui vous soit agreable j'aime mieux vous desplaire que vous trahir scachez donc ma fille que le premier devoir emporte tous le autres et que comme il n'y en a pas de plus puissant que celuy qui nous attache a la patrie nul autre ne nous en peut jamais dispenser car enfin nous sommes a elle devant que nous puissions estre a qui que ce soit vous estes greque devant que menodore fust vostre amant ainsi vous ne pouvez luy avoir promis rien qui puisse prejudicier a vostre patrie et quand vous le luy auriez promis vous ne devriez pas le luy tenir cependant puis qu'il faut que je vous die tout ce que je pense le destin de marseille est en vos mains vous pouvez la conserver ou la perdre si vous conservez l'affection de menodore elle est detruite si vous recevez celle de carimante elle est sauvee ainsi le salut de tant de personnes innocentes despendant de vous vous serez tres criminelle si vous ne vous surmontez pas vous mesme et menodore sera indigne de vous s'il est assez peu genereux pour preferer 
 sa satisfaction particuliere au bien public et puis ma chere fille adjousta-t'elle estes vous en pouvoir de faire ce qu'il vous plaira vous estes en un pais ou vous n'avez aucun droit que celuy que vous y donne le prince que vous voulez mal traitter car vous n'ignorez pas que sans luy le roy ne nous eust pas receus de plus il ne peur sortir aucun vaisseau du port de nostre ville sans la permission du prince de phocee ou de sfurius croyez vous qu'ils vous la donnent et qu'ils aillent irriter un prince qui sera roy dans peu de jours seulement parce qu'il vous veut faire reine et quand mesme ils vous permettroient de partir d'icy ou que vous trouveriez les voyes de vous desrober en quel lieu de la terre pourriez vous aller phocee est aujourd'huy pleine de persans et nous n'avons plus d'autre terre ny d'autre patrie que marseille que vous voulez detruire une personne de vostre sexe de vostre vertu et de vostre qualite ira-t'elle errer de rivage en rivage et de mer en mer sans autre raison sinon qu'elle aime ne vous souvient-il plus de la frayeur que vous aviez pendant la tempeste dont la deesse que j'adore se servit pour vous conduire au port voulez vous encore nous y exposer et voulez vous enfin qu'on vous reproche d'avoir eu la foiblesse de ne pouvoir vous opposer a une passion dont on n'est jamais obsolument vaincu quand on luy veut resister fortement et qui a parler avec sincerite n'a point d'autre force que celle qu'on luy donne 
 mais pour vous prendre par les interests de la personne aimee songez ma fille songez a quel peril vous exposez menodore si vous souffrez qu'il continue d'estre rival de carimante premierement il passera dans le monde pour imprudent et aupres de ce prince pour ingrat mais quand il seroit vray que la qualite de fidelle amant pourroit le faire passer par dessus toute autre consideration ce n'est pas a vous a exposer sa vie comme vous l'exposerez sans doute si vous ne rompez aveque luy et si vous ne l'obligez de cesser d'agir aveque vous comme vostre amant car enfin carimate est jeune et d'un naturel ardent de plus il est fils de roy et fils d'un roy a qui vous avez de l'obligation et menodore aussi craignez donc onesicrite craignez pour vostre amant si vous ne voulez pas craindre pour tous les grecs il vaut mieux adjousta-t'elle qu'il luy en couste quelques larmes que s'il luy en coustoit la vie et qu'il vous en coustast vostre reputation ainsi ma fille puis qu'il y va de l'interest de vostre nouvelle patrie qu'il y va de vostre gloire et de la vie de vostre amant faites un grand effort sur vous mesme et prenant une genereuse resolution detachez vous absolument de l'affection de menodore mais de grace ma fille ne vous amusez pas a vouloir desnouer peu a peu les noeuds qui vous attachent puis qu'ils sont d'une telle nature qu'il les faut rompre tout d'un coup aveque violence afin qu'ils ne se puissent renouer car autrement en pensant les desnouer 
 doucement on les embrouille on les serre et on les rend indissolubles prenez donc ma fille une resolution digne de vous je vous en conjure par vostre patrie par vostre gloire et mesme par menodore et pour y joindre une conjuration plus puissante je vous en conjure par la deesse que je sers qui n'ayant jamais aime vous puniroit sans doute tres severement si vous alliez perdre tout ce grand peuple qu'elle a sauve parce que vous aimez menodore tant qu'aristonice parla onesicrite tint les yeux baissez et soupirant de temps en temps elle luy fit assez connoistre qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'agitation dans son coeur mais enfin lors qu'elle se vit contrainte de respondre ses larmes devancerent ses paroles et quelque violence qu'elle se pust faire il luy fut impossible de les retenir mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable en cette rencontre fut que cette marque de foiblesse qu'elle ne put s'empescher de faire voir a aristonice fut la cause de la force qu'elle eut pour se surmonter car elle en eut une si grande confusion que voulant reparer cette foiblesse par une action de courage apres qu'elle eut essuye ses larmes et qu'elle eut este quelque temps sans parler elle dit a aristonice qu'elle luy promettoit de faire tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour se rendre capable de suivre son conseil je ne vous promets pourtant pas encore de me vaincre adjousta t'elle mais je vous promets de me combatre qui est ce que je n'eusse jamais creu pouvoir faire mais ma mere adjousta-t'elle n'y a-t'il 
 point de milieu entre ces deux extremitez et ne puis-je pas renoncer a l'affection de menore sans recevoir celle de carimante recevez moy au nombre de vos compagnes poursuivit elle et faites par ce moyen que le malheureux menodore n'ait pas sujet de me soubconner d'ambition ou d'inconstance ha ma fille s'escria aristonice en souriant les vierges consacrees a diane ne doivent point craindre de donner de la jalousie a leurs amans et ses nimphes mesmes n'ont point de chasseurs pour galans et puis pour parler plus serieusement si vous vouliez detruire le temple que je viens de bastir il ne faudroit que vous y enfermer c'est pour quoy sans vous amuser a chercer des remedes a un mal qui n'en a point d'autre que celuy que je vous propose sacrifiez vostre passion a vostre patrie vous estes d'un pais ou il y a mille exemples de gens illustres qui ont sacrifie leur propre vie pour sauver la leur cependant je ne vous oblige pas a une chose si dure au contraire je vous conseille de vivre et de vivre heureuse ha ma mere repliqua-t'elle je ne croy pas que cela puisse estre cependant quoy que vous me conseilliez de rompre aveque violence les noeuds qui m'attachent a menodore je vous demande pour grace de me permettre d'essayer de les desnouer plus doucement et de me donner quelques jours pour cela aristonice voyant qu'elle avoit plus obtenu qu'elle n'avoit espere consentit a ce qu'elle voulut luy disant encore beaucoup de choses 
 pour la confirmer dans la resolution qu'elle prenoit mais madame comme onesicrite fut retournee a la cour menodore fut fort surpris de la voir si melancolique et plus supris encore lors qu'a la premiere occasion qu'il eut de s'entretenir en particulier elle le conjura d'obeir au commandement que son pere luy avoit fait ce fut alors qu'il luy dit tout ce qu'une passion violente peut faire dire il l'assura qu'il scavoit que le roy ne voudroit jamais qu'elle espousast carimante et qu'ainsi elle luy faisoit une infidellite inutilement en suitte il employa tantost les prieres et tantost les pleintes pour l'obliger a ne changer pas de sentimens pour luy de sorte qu'onesicrite se sentant le coeur attendry et sa resolution un peu esbranslee se separa d'aveque luy sans avoir la force ny de rompre ny de renouer et durant quelques jours la chose fut en ces termes cependant comme le temps de la ceremonie du choix que cleonisbe devoit faire estoit fort proche cette cour devint la plus tumultueuse du monde en effet ces quatre pretendans avoient un tel empressement pour tascher de faire reussir le dessein qu'ils avoient d'estre choisis qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'une telle chose car enfin ils alloient continuellement ou chez le roy ou chez carimante ou chez cleonisbe ou chez glacidie pour britomarte il estoit le moins empresse parce que comme il est fier et qu'il estoit du pais il croyoit assurement qu'il seroit prefere aux autres quant a galathe ne se fiant ny a son 
 merite ny a sa condition ny a quoy que ce soit il agissoit aupres du roy ou y faisoit agir afin d'y detruire tous ses rivaux pour cet effet il luy faisoit representer que bomilcar estant originaire de carthage ne seroit pas agreable a ses peuples que britomarte estant desja assez puissant dans son pais le deviendroit trop par cette alliance et que pour le prince de phocee il n'y avoit pas d'aparence qu'il deust souffrir que la princesse espousast un homme qui n'avoit point d'azile que celuy qu'il luy avoit donne d'autre part il faisoit ce qu'il pouvoit pour gagner le prince carimante par des soumissions pour plaire a cleonisbe par un profond respect et pour s'aquerir glacidie par mille sortes de soins et de complaisance cependant il continuoit d'entretenir intelligence avec menodore et il suborna mesme quelques segoregiens pour les faire murmurer contre les grecs afin que cela fust un obstacle et au roy et a carimante et a cleonisbe de jetter les yeux sur le prince de phocee pour bomilcar sans songer presques a se precautionner contre galathe et contre britomarte il ne songeoit qu'a observer le prince de phocee qui de son coste n'occupoit tout son esprit qu'a tascher de nuire a bomilcar ainsi ils avoient tous deux une assiduite estrange aupres de cleonisbe et aupres de glacidie et pendant les deux derniers jours qui precederent cette ceremonie sans la prudence de cette fille ils se fussent mis vingt fois en termes d'en venir aux dernieres extremitez 
 ils ne cherchoient pas seulement dans leurs yeux a pouvoir deviner les sentimens de leur coeur ils cherchoient encore dans ceux de la princesse quel devoit estre leur destin bomilcar n'y cherchoit pourtant pas seulement comment il estoit avec elle il y cherchoit encore a connoistre comment y estoit son plus redoutable rival mais lors qu'ils estoient avec glacidie que ne luy disoient-ils point de grace luy disoit un jour le prince de phocee se trouvant seul aupres d'elle s'il est vray que je sois assez malheureux pour faire que la princesse ait des sentimens assez avantageux pour bomilcar pour qu'il doive estre choisi faites en sorte qu'il n'en scache rien qu'a l'extremite et taschez de luy differer du moins cette satisfaction jusques au dernier moment de la ceremonie afin qu'estant surpris par un si grand bonheur j'aye la consolation en mourant de douleur de le voir expirer de joye car enfin glacidie si bomilcar est choisi sans qu'il scache devoir l'estre et qu'il ne meure pas de plaisir il n'aime point assez cleonisbe d'autre part bomilcar par un mesme sentiment faisoit une autre priere a glacidie car il la conjuroit ardemment si elle scavoit que le prince de phocee n'eust rien a pretendre a cleonisbe de vouloir luy annoncer son malheur des qu'elle le verroit imaginant le plus grand plaisir du monde a luy pouvoir faire sentir son infortune de quelques momens plustost mais comme glacidie estoit inebranlable elle refusa constamment 
 ses deux amis toutes les fois qu'ils luy firent des prieres l'un contre l'autre demeurant exactement dans les bornes qu'elle s'estoit prescrites soit en leur parlant soit en parlant a cleonisbe cependant le prince de phocee ayans este assez heureux pour se trouver un soir dans les jardins du palais comme la princesse s'y fut promener sans autre compagnie que celle de ses femmes il la joignit respectueusement et luy aidant a marcher il la conduisit le long d'une grande allee d'orangers au bout de laquelle il y avoit des sieges de gason de sorte que comme c'estoit a la saison que les orangers ont le plus de fleurs ce gason en estoit si couvert et la terre en estoit tellement semee qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de n'avoir point envie de s'arrester en un lieu ou l'on sentoit si bon et ou l'on pouvoit se reposer si commodement et en effet la princesse cleonisbe s'y estant assise et y ayant fait asseoir le prince de phocee leur conversation commenca d'abord par des choses fort esloignees de celles par ou elle finit car madame ce fut par le choix des odeurs des fleurs cleonisbe examinant quel rang on devoit donner a l'odeur des violettes a celle des roses a celle des oeillets a celle du jasmin et a celle de la fleur d'orange dont ils estoient environnez mais apres que cette agreable contestation dont la matiere estoit si delicate et si subtile eut dure quelque temps la princesse dit que le seul deffaut des parfums soit qu'il fussent composez ou naturels 
 estoit qu'on s'y accoustumoit trop tost car enfin dit elle en les possedant on ne les possede plus et si on veut en avoir du plaisir il faut s'en priver pour quelque temps puis qu'autrement si on les porte tousjours on les porte pour les autres et on ne les porte plus pour soy il est vray dit-elle encore que cette regle est presques universelle car puis qu'on vient mesme a s'accoustumer a porter des fers et qu'on voit des esclaves qui ne sentent pas la pesanteur de leurs chaines je ne dois pas trouver estrange que le plaisir cesse d'estre sensible par l'habitude puis que la douleur mesme cesse presques d'estre douleur quand elle a dure longtemps cette regle que croyez si generale repliqua le prince de phocee ne l'est toutesfois pas tant qu'il n'y ait de l'exception car enfin madame je connois un malheureux qui souffre un mal de telle nature qu'encore qu'il ne soit plus en estat de s'accroistre il luy devient pourtant tousjours plus sensible et l'habitude toute puissante qu'elle est ne diminue point sa douleur au contraire plus il souffre moins il s'accoustume a souffrir et au lieu qu'il enduroit son mal sans s'en pleindre durant les premiers jours qu'il en fut atteint il s'impatiente aujourd'huy d'une telle sorte que non seulement il s'en pleint mais il en murmure la patience reprit froidement cleonisbe est pourtant une espece de remede aux grandes douleurs qui s'irritent plus par l'inquietude quelles ne se soulagent par les pleintes je suis 
 pourtant persuade madame repliqua-t'il qu'il y a beaucop de douceur a se pleindre et que les soupirs qui partent d'un coeur afflige emportent avec eux une petite partie de la douleur dont il est remply mais lors qu'il faut estouffer tous ses soupirs et renfermer en soy mesme toute sa douleur croyez madame qu'on est en un estat bien deplorable il est vray adjousta-t'il qu'on n'y peut pas estre longtemps et qu'il faut de necessite ou se pleindre ou mourir il me semble que le choix de ces deux choses reprit cleonisbe en souriant est assez aise a faire puis que vous le trouvez ainsi madame repliqua le prince de phocee avec precipitation vous ne trouverez donc pas mauvais si me voyant aujourd'huy dans la necessite de mourir ou de me pleindre je choisis le dernier et je vous conjure de me permettre non seulement de me pleindre a vous mais encore de vous et de me pleindre de moy mesme car enfin madame vous m'avez reduit au plus pitoyable estat du monde je ne pensois pas repliqua cleonisbe en rougissant avoir jamais donne aucun sujet de pleinte a qui que ce soit et moins a vous qu'a nul autre mais puis que je me suis trompee il faut que je vous die en general que je n'ay eu de ma vie aucune intention de vous nuire mais de grace apres cela n'attendez pas d'autre satisfaction de moy car de l'humeur dont je suis je ne crains rien davantage que les esclaircissemens me preservent les dieux madame repliqua le prince de phocee d'avoir la hardiesse 
 de traitter de cette sorte aveque vous non madame ce n'est pas comme cela que je pretens me pleindre et tout ce que je veux est que vous m'escoutiez sulement et que vous m'escoutiez sans colere si vous me devez dire des choses capables de m'en donner reprit-elle il vaut mieux et pour vous et pour moy que je ne vous escoute pas ha madame s'escria-t'il aux termes ou est mon esprit il ne peut rien arriver de plus facheux que de ne vous dire pas quel sera le malheureux estat ou je me trouveray le jour de cette ceremonie ou vostre choix couvrira de gloire celuy que vous en jugerez digne car enfin madame je suis assure que je ne suis pas mesme dans vostre esprit au nombre de ceux qui peuvent raisonnablement pretendre de l'estre cependant je vous proteste aveque verite que j'ay plus d'amour pour vous que n'en ont tous ceux qui vous adorent ce que vous dittes me surprend si fort repliqua cleonisbe que je ne scay comment y respondre car enfin je pensois que vous me deussiez mieux connoistre que vous ne me connoissez je vous connois madame reprit-il pour la plus belle et pour la plus accomplie princesse de la terre mais comme il m'importe estrangement que vous me connoissiez pour le plus malheureux homme du monde il faut que je vous die ce que j'ay souffert depuis le premier moment que je vous vis car puis qu'il me fut bien permis adjousta-t'il de solliciter tous les sarronides les uns apres les autres lors 
 qu'il s'agit de deliberer si on nous recevroit ou si on ne nous recevroit pas vous ne me devez pas deffendre de vous dire mes raisons puis que dans peu de jours vous devez juger souverainement d'une chose qui selon toutes les apparences causera ma mort car enfin je suis persuade que vous ne connoissez point assez la grandeur de ma passion pour me rendre la justice que vous me devez et que me regardant comme un malheureux exile vous croiriez peutestre faire une chose indigne de vous de mettre seulement en doute si je puis estre choisi pour vous tesmoigner respondit cleonisbe que j'ay beaucoup d'estime pour vous je ne veux pas m'arrester scrupuleusement a cette exacte bienseance qui veut qu'on rejette absolument tout ce qui se peut nommer amour ainsi je veux bien raisonner aveque vous sur une chose qui m'importe de tout mon bonheur et que je ne pensois pas qui vous importast et je le fais d'autant plustost que les loix de l'estat m'imposant celle de choisir me permettent en mesme temps de pouvoir parler du choix que je dois faire sans choquer la bien-seance je vous diray donc ingenument que vous avez autant de merite qu'il en faut pour pouvoir pretendre a toutes choses mais seigneur quoy que la loy me permette de choisir je ne m'estime pas assez moy mesme pour me croire en une occasion de cette nature ainsi je choisiray en aparence mais le roy choisira en effet puis que je ne feray que ce qu'il luy 
 plaira de sorte que quand il seroit vray que vous m'aimeriez et que je ne serois pas marrie que vous m'aimassiez vos plaintes ne vous serviroient de rien puis que je ne despens pas seulement de moy mesme et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'elle que j'ay beaucoup de confiance en vostre vertu je veux bien vous advouer que parmy ceux qui doivent estre a cette ceremonie comme pretendans estre choisis il y en a de trois ordres dans mon esprit en effet poursuivit-elle en rougissant il y en a qui me sont indifferens il y en a que je hais et il y en a peutestre quelqu'un que je ne hairois pas s'il m'estoit permis de l'aimer cependant quoy que je sois persuadee que le roy m'ordonnera d'en choisir peutestre un de ceux que je hay et que je scache de certitude qu'il ne m'ordonnera pas de choisir celuy que je choisirois si je suivois mon inclination je ne laisse pas d'estre resolue de luy obeir aveuglement ainsi seigneur c'est de luy de qui mon bon ou mon mauvais destin despend c'est pourquoy ne nous opinastrez pas a me faire des pleintes inutiles car puis que je ne considere pas mon propre repos au chois que je dois faire il n'y a pas apparence que je doive considerer le vostre pendant que cleonisbe parloit ainsi le prince de phocee cherchoit a deviner dans ses yeux de quel ordre il estoit et son esprit fut si cruellement agite que presques en un moment il creut qu'il estoit au rang des indifferens a celuy de ceux qui estoient hais et a celuy de ceux qui pourroient 
 estre aimez mais encore madame luy dit-il ne scaurois-je scavoir de quel ordre je suis vous ne scaurez pas seulement si vous estes de quelqu'un des trois repliqua-t'elle en se levant du moins adjousta-t'il accordez moy la grace de m'assurer que je ne suis pas de ceux que vous haissez vous n'en estes pas sans doute reprit-elle mais vous en serez peut-estre si vous me mettiez encore une fois dans la necessite d'escouter ce que je viens d'entendre et de parler d'une chose ou je ne puis songer sans douleur le prince de phocee eust bien voulu la retenir encore quelque temps mais il n'y eut pas moyen au contraire ayant apelle une de ses femmes pour racommoder quelque chose au voile qu'elle avoit sur la teste elle ne voulut plus luy donner occasion de luy parler de sa passion de sorte que comme il ne pouvoit se resoudre a luy parler d'autre chose et qu'il n'osoit pourtant luy desobeir il se teut et la remena a son apartement ou il vint tant de monde un moment apres qu'il n'y eut pas moyen qu'il pust se retrouver seul avec elle cependant on faisoit les preparatifs de cette feste et quoy qu'il ne deust y avoir qu'un de ces princes choisi ils ne laissoient pas de se faire des habillemens aussi magnifiques que s'ils eussent este tous assurez de l'estre toutes les dames ne songeoient aussi qu'a inventer quelque nouvelle parure et amathilde entre les autres estoit aussi occupee a choisir la couleur qui luy sieroit le mieux que cleonisbe l'estoit a se resoudre a se soumettre 
 a la volonte du roy ou a prendre la resolution de suivre la sienne puis que la loy le luy permettoit c'estoit en vain qu'elle pressoit glacidie de la conseiller car elle demeuroit si ferme dans son premier dessein que rien ne la pouvoit faire changer de sorte que sa raison agissant toute seule contre la haine qu'elle avoit pour bomilcar et contre l'inclination qu'elle avoit pour le prince de phocee elle n'estoit pas sans inquietude mais enfin la veille de cette grande feste estant arrivee l'aprehension de ces quatre rivaux redoubla d'une telle maniere qu'on eust dit qu'ils avoient perdu la raison ils n'estoient pas plus tost en un lieu qu'ils alloient a un autre ils se rencontrerent vingt fois en divers endroits et la haine que bomilcar et le prince de phocee avoient l'un pour l'autre redoubla de la moitie et fut sur le point d'esclater pour cleonisbe elle estoit si triste qu'elle en faisoit pitie il falut pourtant qu'elle se contraignist et qu'elle endurast tour le soir que toute la cour fust chez elle cette multitude luy causa pourtant un bi durant quelque temps car cela fut cause que pas un de ces quatre amans qui l'environnoient ne purent luy parler en particulier mais ce ne fut pas pour tousjours parce que le prince carimante estant arrive apres un quart d'heure de conversation il s'en alla et emmena le prince de phocee de sorte que la compagnie ayant change de place bomilcar fit si bien qu'il se trouva aupres de cleonisbe et il s'y trouva mesme sans britomarte et sans galathe car 
 le dernier estoit alle chez menodore afin de tramer quelque grand dessein aveque luy et le premier estoit alle chez le roy estant sortis tous deux avec carimante ainsi bomilcar profitant de l'occasion agit si adroitement qu'il engagea cleonisbe malgre qu'elle en eust a souffrir qu'il luy parlast bas de grace madame luy dit-il comme elle la raconte a glacidie ne me refusez pas la faveur que je vous demande et faites moy l'honneur de me dire si je dois esperer que vous soyez demain capable de faire un mauvais choix quant au merite de la personne mais un choix tres equitable si vous considerez la grandeur de la passion de celuy qui a l'audace de vous demander la permission d'esperer d'estre choisi le vous ay desja dit une fois reprit-elle que je ne choisirois que celuy qu'il plairoit aux dieux de m'inspirer et je vous le redis encore ainsi je puis vous assurer que c'est plus a eux qu'a moy qu'il faut demander ce que vous semblez desirer puis qu'il est vray que je ne scay point encore quel sera ny vostre destin ny le mien quoy madame reprit-il vous ne scavez point qui vous voulez rendre heureux ha si cela est poursuivit-il je scay bien qui vous voulez rendre miserable car enfin apres tant de services que je vous ay rendus et tant de marques d'amour que je vous ay donnees si vous deviez me rendre justice vous ne me parleriez pas comme vous faites cependant madame il me semble que si vous avez resolu ma perte vous deuriez du moins me faire 
 la grace de me le dire afin que prevenant vostre choix par ma mort je m'espargnasse la douleur de voir un de mes rivaux heureux et que je vous empeschasse aussi de pouvoir estre accusee d'inhumanite pour moy en effet madame ny britomarte ny galathe n'ont point autant de droit de pretendre a vostre affection que j'en ay je vous ay adoree devant qu'ils songeassent seulement a vous admirer et pour le prince de phocee adjousta-t'il il y a si peu qu'il a l'honneur d'estre connu de vous et il vous doit estre si oblige de ce que vous avez fait pour luy qu'il seroit fort injuste s'il osoit pretendre a mon prejudice que vous fissiez plus pour luy que pour moy quoy qu'il en soit interrompit cleonisbe vous scaurez demain a l'heure ou je parle si je suis equitable ou injuste et je le scauray moy mesme comme bomilcar alloit respondre le roy arriva qui l'en empescha il eut pourtant beaucoup de joye d'estre interrompu parce qu'il espera que ce prince ne venoit voir cleonisbe que pour luy parler en sa faveur de sorte que se retirant par respect le roy se mit a parler bas a la princesse sa fille pendant quoy bomilcar se mit a entretenir glacidie et a la conjurer de ne s'opiniastrer pas jusques a la fin a demeurer dans les sentimens ou elle avoit tousjours este entre le prince de phocee et luy comme je ne change jamais d'opinion par caprice repliqua-t'elle je ne puis faire ce que vous voulez que je face puis que la mesme raison que j'ay eue de n'estre ny pour luy ny contre 
 luy ny contre vous subsiste encore et n'est pas moins forte aujourd'huy qu'elle estoit hier c'est pour quoy ne trouvez pas mauvais que je ne change point puis que c'est une chose que je ne fais presques jamais n'y ayant rien de plus difficile a faire pour moy que de cesser de vouloir ce que j'ay voulu si ce n'est que la raison me convainque fortement que ce que je voulois n'estoit pas juste quand le prince de phocee reprit bomilcar ne m'auroit fait autre mal que celuy de vous empescher de me proteger aupres de cleonisbe je ne scaurois jamais assez le hair car enfin n'est-il pas vray que s'il ne fust pas venu icy vous auriez favorise mon dessein autant que vous l'eussiez pu je l'advoue repliqua t'elle mais je vous declare en mesme temps que si vous n'estiez point rival du prince de phocee il n'est point d'offices que je ne luy eusse rendus aupres de cleonisbe ha glacidie reprit-il vous luy en rendez assez en ne m'en rendant pas je vous assure repliqua-t'elle que je ne luy en rends pas plus que je vous en rends en ne le servant point quoy qu'il en soit dit-il je suis contraint de vous dire que quelque defference que j'aye pour vous si je ne suis pas choisi je ne pense pas que je puisse demeurer dans les bornes que vous m'avez prescrites ainsi il me semble que vous devriez souhaiter que je fusse heureux de peur que si je ne le suis point je ne me porte a quelque estrange violence pour vous en empescher repliqua glacidie preparez des aujourd'huy vostre 
 esprit a estre malheureux demain afin que vostre ame n'estant pas surprise par le malheur n'en soit pas esbranlee ha glacidie s'escria t'il je crains estrangement que vous ne scachiez que je le dois estre nullement dit-elle mais je vous conseille comme je voudrois l'estre si j'estois en vostre place et comme je conseillerois le prince de phocee s'il me parloit comme vous faites comme elle disoit cela celuy qu'elle nommoit entra qui voyant que le roy parloit bas a cleonisbe et bomilcar a glacidie fut ou estoit son rival afin d'avoir la satisfaction de l'interrompre et de luy oster les moyens d'essayer de persuader leur amie a son prejudice pour bomilcar il en fut si en colere que craignant de s'emporter et d'irriter glacidie il aima mieux se retirer et laisser son rival seul avec elle que d'y demeurer aveque luy mais a peine se fut-il esloigne que le prince de phocee se mit a conjurer glacidie de ne changer pas de sentimens et de ne luy estre pas infidelle du moins luy disoit-il puis que vous ne voulez pas m'estre favorable ne me soyez pas contraire et si je puis obtenir quelque chose de plus faites s'il est possible que la princesse choisisse plustost britomarte ou galathe que bomilcar afin que si j'ay a n'estre pas heureux il ne le soit non plus que moy comme ce que vous me demandez n'est pas juste repliqua-t'elle je ne vous l'accorderay point au contraire je vous declare que je fais ce que je puis pour persuader a la princesse qu'il n'y a que vous et bomilcar 
 qui soyez digne d'elle afin que si elle ne vous choisit pas elle le choisisse et que si elle ne le prefere pas vous soyez prefere ainsi vous rendant office a tous deux je nuis a vos autres rivaux et je fais sans doute ce que je dois puis que je dis en effet a cleonisbe ce que je croy luy estre avantageux et que je ne luy dis pourtant rien qui soit plus avantageux a bomilcar qu'a vous ny qui vous le soit aussi plus qu'a luy comme glacidie achevoit de prononcer ces peroles le roy quitta cleonisbe mais en la quittant il me parut qu'il devoit luy avoir dit quelque chose qui ne luy plaisoit pas car il me sembla qu'elle avoit encore plus de melancolie dans les yeux qu'elle n'en avoit avant qu'il arrivast et certes je ne me trompay pas car apres que ce prince fut party glacidie aprit que la cause de la visite qu'il avoit faite a cleonisbe ne luy estoit pas agreable cependant le prince de phocee qui estoit revenu chez cette princesse avec esperance de pouvoir trouver occasion de luy pouvoir parler un moment en particulier fut contraint de se retirer sans luy pouvoir dire une seule parole parce que de l'air dont cleonisbe agit il se trouva engage a suivre le roy mais des que tout le monde fut hors de sa chambre elle fit entrer glacidie dans son cabinet pour luy aprendre que le roy apres luy avoir exagere toutes les raisons qu'elle avoit de preferer bomilcar a tous ceux qui pretendoient estre choisis luy avoit si absolument commande de le choisir qu'il ne luy avoit jamais rien 
 dit si fortement a peine cleonisbe eut elle dit cela a glacidie qu'on luy dit que le prince carimante la vouloit voir et en effet glacidie estant repassee dans la chambre carimante entra dans le cabinet ou il ne fut pas plustost que prenant la parole vous aviez tantost tant de monde dit-il a cette princesse que je n'ay pas creu qu'il fust a propos de vous entretenir d'une chose d'ou despend tout vostre bonheur aussi bi que le mien mais presentement que je vous trouve seule je vous conjure de me dire qui vous avez dessein de choisir comme le roy reprit-elle ne m'a pas laisse la liberte ny de vous en demander advis ny de suivre mon inclination je pense que je choisiray malgre moy celuy qu'il veut que je choisisse et qu'ainsi bomilcar sera prefere ha ma soeur s'escria le prince carimante comme le roy n'a point de droit legitime de vous commander absolument en cette occasion et que sans enfreindre la loy il ne peut employer aupres de vous que des prieres je vous conjure mais je vous en conjure de tout mon coeur de vouloit choisir le prince de phocee et de ne choisir pas bomilcar cleonisbe entendant parler carimante de cette sorte en fut si surprise qu'elle en rougit cependant comme elle n'estoit pas marrie que le prince son frere luy parlast comme il faisoit et qu'elle eust mesme este bien aise qu'il l'eust persuadee et qu'il luy eust dit tant de raisons qu'elle en eust este convaincue elle luy resista afin qu'il luy resistast elle luy dit donc 
 que le prince de phocee avoit assurement beaucoup de merite mais que puis que le roy ne le choisissoit pas elle ne croyoit point le devoir choisir principalement estant venu en leur pais comme il y estoit arrive a peine eut-elle dit cela que carimante qui parle fortement quand il le veut luy dit que c'estoit contrevenir aux loix que de faire un semblable choix par obeissance que pour ce qui estoit du prince de phocee qu'il croyoit qu'il luy estoit plus avantageux d'estre grec que d'estre carthaginois que de plus la cause de son exil estoit glorieuse qu'il avoit plus de sujets que bomilcar n'avoit de vassaux et de plus encore il estoit d'un merite a pouvoir faire passer par dessus toute consideration et puis ma chere soeur adjousta-t'il outre tout ce que je viens de dire le prince de phocee est frere de la princesse onesicrite aupres de qui il m'a promis ce soir de me rendre m'ayant fait esperer de chasser menodore de son coeur ha seigneur s'escria t'elle je crains bien que ce que vous dites que je dois faire et qui vous paroist si raisonnable ne vous le paroisse que parce que vous y estes interesse car enfin quelle raison dirois-je au roy si je ne faisois pas ce qu'il veut vous luy direz reprit brusquement carimante que je vous l'ay conseille plustost que de consentir que vous ne choisissiez pas le prince de phocee je connois trop les dangereuses suittes que pourroit avoir un semblable discours reprit-elle pour estre capable de le faire et j'aimerois encore 
 mieux adjousta t'elle en rougissant luy donner lieu de croire que j'aimerois un peu trop le prince de phocee que de luy donner sujet de penser qu'il eust lieu de vous accuser d'avoir manque de respect pour luy mais apres tout poursuivit-elle en soupirant ce que le roy m'a dit ne me donne pas la liberte d'escouter ce que vous me dittes car de la facon dont il m'a exagere les choses si je ne choisissois pas bomilcar je serois cause qu'il romproit la paix qu'il nous a fait faire avec les carthaginois et que nous recommencerions d'avoir la guerre contre de si redoutables ennemis et il m'a dit enfin que je ruinerois ma patrie si je ne le faisois pas et qu'il vouloit absolument que je le fisse ha ma soeur reprit ce prince violent j'ay a vous aprendre qu'il y a encore moins de danger a avoir une guerre estrangere qu'une guerre civile cependant puis que le roy vous dit que si vous ne choisissez pas bomilcar vous serez cause que nous aurons la guerre avec les carthaginois j'ay a vous dire que si vous ne choisissez pas le prince de phocee vous verrez la guerre dans vostre propre pais car enfin des demain je quitte la cour je me jette dans marseille et me mettant a la teste de tous les grecs et a celle des segoregiens qui me suivront qui ne seront pas en petit nombre j'en ressortiray pour venir faire rendre justice au prince de phocee et pour vous faire faire un choix legitime et volontaire et non pas un choix force car enfin adjousta ce prince en la regardant je 
 ne suis pas si peu esclaire que je ne me sois aperceu que vous estimez assez le prince de phocee pour le choisir si le roy ne vous en empeschoit pas et que vous haissez assez bomilcar pour ne le choisir jamais si vous suiviez vostre inclination c'est pourquoy songez s'il vous plaist a vous satisfaire et a me contenter puis que vous le pouvez sans choquer les loix de l'estat je scay bien seigneur reprit-elle que je le puis mais je ne scay pas si bien si je le dois c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de ne vous porter pas a des choses aussi violentes que celles que je voy qui vous passent dans l'esprit mais pour vous faire voir que si je ne vous promets pas de faire ce que vous voulez c'est parce que je croy que l'honneur ne me le permet point je veux bien vous advouer ingenument que si je suivois les purs mouvemens de mon coeur je prefererois la vertu du prince de phocee a toutes choses et je vous l'advoue seigneur afin que vous connoissiez que puis que je ne considere pas mon propre interest vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si je ne sacrifie pas ma gloire pour le vostre et je le puis faire d'autant plustost que je suis persuadee qu'encore que le prince de phocee ne soit pas choisi il ne laissera pas de vous rendre office aupres de la princesse onesicrite puis qu'il le doit pour l'amour de luy et pour l'amour d'elle aussi bien que pour l'amour de vous mais reprit carimante quand vous aimeriez bomilcar que pourriez vous faire davantage que ce que vous faites je vous assure 
 pourtant reprit elle que les sentimens que j'ay pour luy sont bien esloignez de pouvoir dire que je l'aime mais seigneur comme j'aime la gloire plus que toutes choses vous me permettres d'examiner toute la nuit toutes les raisons que le roy m'a dittes et toutes celles que vous venez de me dire dittes moy du moins luy dit-il si vous luy avez promis positivement de faire ce qu'il vouloit je n'en ay pas eu la force reprit-elle mais en ne luy respondant que par un silence fort respectueux je pense que je luy ay donne lieu de croire que je luy obeirois si vous luy obeissez repliqua carimante vous me forcerez a luy estre rebelle et a faire tout ce que la passion du prince de phocee desirera afin qu'il favorise la mienne c'est pourquoy puis qu'en obeissant a la loy vous empescherez une dangereuse guerre vous rendrez justice a un prince qui vous adore vous contribuerez a me rendre heureux et vous vous empescherez vous mesme d'estre malheureuse obeissez luy plustost qu'au roy apres cela carimante estant sorty cleonisbe fit r'entrer glacidie a qui elle fit scavoir ce que le prince son frere luy avoit dit comme elle luy avoit desja apris le commandement que le roy luy avoit fait et pour faire qu'elle n'ignorast rien de tout ce qui causoit ses inquietudes elle luy dit encore que deux hommes de la plus grande qualite de ce pais la luy avoient dit que si elle ne choisissoit pas britomarte qui estoit seul du pais de tous ceux qui pretendoient ouvertement a l'honneur 
 d'estre choisis d'elle toute la noblesse du royaume prendroit son party adjoustant encore qu'hipomene l'avoit advertie que galathe tramoit quelque grand dessein avec menodore en cas qu'il ne fust pas choisi de forte dit elle a glacidie que de quelque coste que je regarde la chose je me trouve au plus pitoyable estat du monde car enfin si j'obeis au roy je choisis bomilcar que je n'aime pas je ne choisis point le prince de phocee que je ne hais point j'irrite le prince mon frere je desoblige toute la noblesse de l'estat en desobligeant britomarte et je m'expose a la violence et aux artifices de galathe qui est le plus fin de tous les hommes mais aussi de penser seulement a choisir ny britomarte ny galathe il n'y a point d'apparence car encore que j'aye naturellement plus d'aversion pour bomilcar que pour eux comme je n'ay pas perdu la raison je connois bien que si je dois faire une injustice a bomilcar il faut que ce soit en faveur du prince de phocee joint qu'en choisissant un de ces deux j'irriterois esgalement et le roy et le prince mon frere cependant ils sont tous deux redoutables l'un peut former un party dans l'estat et l'autre qui est tres puissant dans la cou du roy des celtes peut nous causer une facheuse guerre d'autre part si je fais ce que le prince mon frere veut et ce que je veux peut estre autant que luy adjousta-t'elle en soupirant j'irrite encore plus britomarte et galathe que si je choisissois bomilcar mais ce qui est je plus considerable 
 c'est que j'irrite le roy et que je fais ce que je ne croy point que je puisse faire sans me des honnorer apres cela glacidie adjousta cleonisbe aurez vous encore l'inhumanite de refuser de me donner conseil en une conjoncture si facheuse non madame repliqua-t'elle et puis que vous me l'ordonnez je prendray la liberte de vous dire que pour vous delivrer de la moitie de la peine que vous avez a examiner la chose dont il s'agit ne songez s'il vous plaist point du tout ny a galathe ny a britomarte et sans craindre ny les celtes ny les segoregiens n'occupez vostre esprit qu'a bien connoistre lequel vous devez choisir de bomilcar ou du prince de phocee ha glacidie s'escria cleonisbe en me laissant a faire un pareil choix vous ne me soulagez guere je fais pourtant tout ce que je puis et tout ce que je dois repliqua t'elle car estant fortement persuadee que vous ne pouvez bien choisir qu'en choisissant un des deux que je vous nomme j'ay deu vous parler comme j'ay fait mais je ne dois pas vous en dire davantage puis que je ne le pourrois sans nuire ou a bomilcar ou au prince de phocee ainsi madame c'est a vous a examiner ce que le roy et le prince carimante vous ont dit et a faire ce que vous trouverez je plus a propos si j'escoute ma raison reprit-elle je choisiray bomilcar et si je suy les purs mouvemens de mon coeur je choisiray la prince de phocee mais apres tout adjousta-t'elle en soupriant comme je ne pense 
 pas que ma raison soit assez forte pour surmonter cette puissante inclination qui me porte a choisir le prince de phocee et que je ne croy pas non plus que cette inclination toute puissante qu'elle est puisse vaincre ma raison et me donner la hardiesse de la satisfaire je pense que si la loy veut que je choisisse que je desobeiray au roy et au prince mon frere et que sans choisir ny bomilcar ny le prince de phocee ny britomarte ny galathe je choisiray en ne choisissant point et je nommeray le premier homme de qualite que je verray au temple afin qu'irritant tout a la fois et le roy et carimante et le prince de phocee et bomilcar et galathe et britomarte ils m'accablent de reproches et me facent mourir de douleur et de confusion devant que de sortir du temple cleonisbe prononca ces paroles avec une agitation d'esprit qui donna une veritable douleur a glacidie elle demeura pourtant dans les termes ou elle s'estoit resolue de demeurer ainsi elle fit ce qu'elle pu pour calmer cet orage qui s'eslevoit dans le coeur de cleonisbe sans pancher plus du coste de bomilcar que de celuy du prince de phocee ny sans favoriser aussi le prince de phocee contre bomilcar elle se trouva pourtant bien embarassee car apres que cleonisbe eut encore bien agite la chose dans son esprit et qu'elle eut este quelque temps sans parler tout d'un coup se tournant vers glacidie s'en est fait dit elle je suis resolue de vaincre tout a la fois les deux plus violentes 
 passions de toutes les passions je veux dire adjousta-t'elle en rougissant la haine et la passion qui luy est opposee mais pour le pouvoir faire il faut du moins que vous sousteniez ma foiblesse par quelques louanges et que vous me disiez que je fais bien de choisir bomilcar et que je ferois mal de choisir le prince de phocee avec vostre permission madame reprit glacidie je ne vous donneray ny louange ny blasme en cette rencontre et je vous diray ce que je vous ay desja dit une autre fois que vous ne pouvez mal choisir entre le prince de phocee et bomilcar mais j'y adjousteray encore que comme vous ne pouvez faire justice a l'un sans faire injustice a l'autre vous ne scauriez trop examiner une chose aussi importante que celle puis que vous m'abandonnez a mon propre sens reprit cleonisbe pour ne me tromper point je veux prendre le party le plus difficile et par consequent le plus glorieux de plus je connois bien que je ne dois pas faire de fondement sur les conseils du prince mon frere car puis que c'est sa passion qui le fait parler tout ce qu'il me dit me doit estre suspect et je dois plustost croire le roy que luy joint que puis que mon coeur a eu la foiblesse de se laisser engager plus que je ne voulois il faut pour le punir de l'injustice qu'il a de hair bomilcar que je luy oste tout ce qu'il aime et que je le soumette a tout ce qu'il hait voila glacidie luy dit-elle les sentimens ou vous me laissez je ne scay si ce seront ceux ou vous me trouverez demain au matin 
 cependant apres m'avoir refuse vos conseils ne me refusez du moins pas de prier les dieux qu'ils me donnent la force d'executer ce que je croy que j'ay resolu
 
 
 
 
apres cela glacidie dit cent choses tendres a cleonisbe en suite de quoy elle la laissa s'en retourna chez elle mais elle s'y en retourna avec beaucoup d'inquietude de voir qu'elle se trouvoit dans la necessite de devoir infailliblement se voir obligee le jour suivant de s'affliger avec le prince de phocee de la mesme chose dont elle se devroit resjouir avec bomilcar car elle connut bien que cleonisbe avoit effectivement resolu de le choisir elle ne creut pourtant pas qu'il fust a propos d'en parler et en effet elle n'en dit rien le lendemain au matin ny a bomilcar ny au prince de phocee qui furent tous deux chez elle et qui s'y rencontrerent au contraire elle se tint si ferme et elle composa son visage de telle sorte que le dessein qu'ils avoient eu de tascher d'avoir quelque connoissance de leur destin en la voyant ne leur reussit point car comme ils avoient sceu qu'elle avoit este fort tard avec cleonisbe ils avoient espere pouvoir tirer quelque lumiere de ce qu'ils vouloient scavoir mais estant trompez en leurs esperances ils furent chacun de leur coste faire tout ce qu'ils creurent leur devoir servir bomilcar fut chez le roy et le prince de phocee chez carimante pour britomarte il avoit aveque luy un nombre fort grand de gens de qualite afin de le suivre au temple galathe de son coste ne songeoit pas moins a 
 chercher les moyens de nuire a celuy qui seroi- choisi s'il ne l'estoit pas qu'a estre choisi luy mesme de sorte que carimante et menodore agissant aussi chacun selon leurs interests on peut dire qu'ils estoient tous fort occupez cleonisbe estoit pourtant la plus a pleindre et l'estat ou elle se trouvoit estoit si pitoyable qu'on ne peut se l'imaginer car enfin madame depuis qu'il fut permis d'entrer dans sa chambre jusques a l'heure qu'elle fut au temple on luy dit cent choses differentes ou de la part du roy ou de celle de carimante ou de celle du prince de phocee ou de celle de ses trois rivaux cependant au milieu de tout cela il falut qu'elle se laissast habiller et il falut mesme pour ne faire rien contre la bien seance qu'elle souffrist qu'on la parast suivant la coustume elle avoit pourtant un air si triste qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que son coeur souffroit estrangement aussi le prince de phocee et bomilcar le sceurent-ils bien remarquer car ayant accompagne le prince carimante qui fut la voir un moment devant que d'aller au temple ou le roy la devoit conduire ils s'aprocherent de glacidie chacun a leur tour et expliquerent cette tristesse selon leurs sentimens helas glacidie luy dit-le prince de phocee que vois je dans les yeux de la princesse en voyant tant de melancolie et ne dois-je pas craindre si je l'aime veritablement d'estre le malheureux qu'elle a resolu de choisir puis qu'elle y a tant de repugnance plustost que de souhaiter un bien qui luy cause 
 de chagrin d'autre part bomilcar raisonnant a sa mode et tirant un bon presage de cette foiblesse dit a glacidie que n'ignorant pas que le prince de phocee estoit mieux avec cleonisbe que luy il luy advouoit qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher d'avoir de la joye de voir quelque melancolie sur le visage de cette princesse parce que c'estoit une preuve que le choix qu'elle alloit faire ne la satisfaisoit pas pleinement et qu'ainsi il avoit lieu d'esperer que puis que le prince de phocee ne seroit pas choisi il le seroit mais madame il arriva encore une chose un moment apres qui fit bien voir qu'on raisonne presques tousjours plus selon ce que l'on craint ou selon ce qu'on desire que selon la droite raison car comme le prince carimante vint a sortir et qu'il fut suivy de tous ceux qui estoient venus aveque luy entre lesquels estoient le prince de phocee et bomilcar ce dernier remarqua que cleonisbe avoit rougi en regardant son rival et un instant apres le prince de phocee vit aussi qu'elle avoit change de couleur en rencontrant les yeux de bomilcar de sorte que l'un en concevant de la crainte et l'autre de l'esperance une mesme chose fit deux effets bien differens dans leur coeur en effet bomilcar creut qu'elle rougissoit en regardant le prince de phocee parce qu'elle ne le chosiroit pas et le prince de phocee creut qu'elle avoit rougi en regardant bomilcar parce que le devant choisir un sentiment de modestie avoit cause cette rougeur ainsi sans scavoir ny l'un ny 
 l'autre la veritable cause de ce changement de couleur ils en tiroient des conjectures mal fondees car la princesse a advoue depuis a glacidie que lors qu'elle rougit en regardant bomilcar ce fut par un sentiment de haine mesle de colere de se voir contrainte de le choisir et que lors qu'elle changea de couleur en voyant le prince de phocee ce fut de la confusion qu'elle eut de l'injustice qu'elle alloit faire a son amour et de la violence qu'elle faisoit a son inclination cependant suivant la coustume carimante suivy de ces quatre rivaux et de tout ce qu'il y avoit d'hommes de qualite a la cour fut au temple ou tous les sarronides du royaume estoient ce jour-la je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous despeindre ny cette foule de monde qui se trouva dans les rues et dans le temple ny a vous parler de la magnificence de ces quatre rivaux ny de la parure de cleonisbe ny de celle de toutes les dames qui la suivoient car j'abuserois de vostre patience mais je vous diray seulement que le prince de phocee et bomilcar furent les deux dont les habillemens furent les mieux entendus et qu'entre ces deux le prince de phocee eut l'advantage pour cleonisbe toute melancolique qu'elle estoit elle parut pourtant admirablement belle mais apres cette princesse amathilde fut la plus paree et elle l'emporta sur toutes les belles et sur toutes les jeunes aussi le connoissoit elle si bien elle mesme qu'elle dit en raillant a glacidie se souvenant de leur dispute 
 que pourveu qu'elle fust assuree d'estre seulement six ans comme elle estoit ce jour-la elle quitteroit volontiers sa part de la vie et n'en demanderoit pas davantage mais enfin madame la princesse estant achevee d'habiller le roy la vint prendre et la faisant monter dans une espece de char de triomphe ou elle entra seule aveque luy ils furent au temple ou toutes les dames les suivirent dans d'autres chariots comme il y a beaucoup d'ordre en ce pais la en ces sortes de festes des que le roy et la princesse cleonisbe furent placez au milieu du temple sur un throne assez esleve toutes les dames se rangerent sur des eschaffauts afin de voir mieux la ceremonie et a droit et a gauche du throne un peu en avant estoient tous les hommes de qualite entre lesquels estoient les quatre rivaux car pour le prince carimante il s'alla mettre sur un eschaffaut aupres d'onesicrite se placant en facon que cleonisbe le pust voir et qu'il pust luy faire signe en luy monstrant la princesse qu'il aimoit que son bonheur despendoit du choix qu'elle alloit faire aussi bien que le sien mais madame j'oubliois de vous dire qu'a l'entree du temple un noeud de pierreries qui r'attachoit une escharpe de gaze que cleonisbe avoit a l'entour de la gorge s'estant detache glacidie qui se trouva la plus proche d'elle s'avanca pour le luy remettre pendant que le roy escoutoit ce que luy disoit le premier des sarronides qui l'estoit 
 venu recevoir a la porte du temple de sorte que pendant qu'elle luy rendit ce petit service cleonisbe luy parlant bas il est encore temps de me conseiller ma chere glacidie luy dit elle mais il ne le sera plus dans un quart d'heure et si je ne me repens point de la resolution que j'ay prise j'auray prefere ce que je hais le plus a tout ce que j'aime le mieux vous n'avez donc pas change de dessein depuis hier repliqua glacidie en parlant bas aussi bien qu'elle non respondit cleonisbe en soupirant mais j'ay tant eu de peine a y demeurer que je n'ose encore me vanter de m'estre vaincue puis que de l'heure que je parle je me combats moy mesme avec une force que je ne vous puis exprimer comme la princesse disoit cela ce noeud de diamans estant r'attache et le roy commencant de marcher glacidie ne luy respondit pas et fut se mettre sur l'eschaffaut de la princesse onesicrite d'ou elle pouvoit voir cleonisbe le prince de phocee et bomilcar car ces deux rivaux estoient du coste oppose au lieu ou estoit glacidie elle voyoit aussi britomarte et galathe mais comme ils estoient vis a vis des deux autres elle ne leur voyoit pas le visage joint que ne s'interessant que pour bomilcar et pour le prince de phocee elle ne songeoit qu'a les observer et ne se soucioit pas de ce que les autres pensoient mais enfin madame des que le roy et la princesse sa fille furent sur ce throne qui estoit au milieu du temple le premier des sarronides commenca de lire la loy 
 qui vouloit que ce choix se fist et qu'il se fist avec la liberte toute entiere de la personne qui choisissoit pourveu qu'il n'y eust nulle disproportion de qualite en son choix en suitte de quoy une musique moitie greque et moitie gauloise fit retentir les voutes du temple pendant que tous les sarronides prioient les dieux d'inspirer la princesse et de faire que son choix fust heureux pour elle et heureux pour l'estat mais madame durant que ces prieres se faisoient que d'agitations differentes dans le coeur de cleonisbe aussi bien que dans celuy de ces quatre pretendans et dans l'esprit de carimante de menodore et mesme de glacidie mais entre les autres que ne sentirent point le prince de phocee et bomilcar pour moy qui devinois une partie de leurs sentimens en les voyant seulement ils me faisoient pitie car tantost ils regardoient la princesse d'une maniere a luy demander grace tantost ils se regardoient malgre qu'ils en eussent avec quelques marques de fureur dans les yeux et tantost ils regardoient glacidie avec une melancolie extreme cependant cleonisbe souffroit encore plus qu'eux car se voyant sur le point de prononcer son arrest et de se condamner elle mesme a passer toute sa vie avec un homme qu'elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de hair et a se separer pour tousjours d'un prince qu'elle ne pouvoit t'empescher d'aimer elle sentit ce qu'elle n'a jamais pu representer a glacidie quoy qu'elle ait employe pour cela les paroles les plus significatives 
 les expressions les plus fortes d'abord sa raison voulut agir avec son coeur comme avec un rebelle qu'elle avoit dompte mais ce rebelle ayant rompu les chaisnes que sa raison luy avoit donnees cette guerre qu'elle croyoit finie recommenca et recommenca avec plus de violence qu'auparavant de sorte que pendant qu'on prioit les dieux qu'ils l'inspirassent elle se vit dans une agitation si grande qu'elle ne scavoit que leur demander elle n'avoit pas plustost forme la pensee de les prier qu'ils l'affermissent dans la resolution de choisir bomilcar qu'elle sentoit qu'elle ne scavoit plus si elle le devoit choisir cependant elle n'avoit pas la force de les prier qu'ils luy donnassent la hardiesse de luy preferer le prince de phocee et par une foiblesse qu'elle a racontee elle mesme a glacidie elle fut quelque temps sans pouvoir se resoudre a les prier qu'ils l'inspirassent selon leur volonte luy semblant que c'estoit renoncer a sa propre liberte que de les prier ainsi mais a la fin sa piete estant la plus forte elle contraignit son coeur a vouloir s'abandonner a leur conduite et les pria ardamment de vouloir la faire choisir comme il estoit a propos qu'elle le fist pour sa gloire plustost que pour sa satisfaction mais plus elle pria moins elle sentit de quietude en son ame et moins elle fut resolue qui elle devoit choisir au contraire l'aversion naturelle qu'elle avoit pour bomilcar et la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour le prince de phocee reprenant de nouvelles forces pour la tourmenter 
 il se fit un nouveau combat dans son esprit de plus toutes les menaces de guerre civile et de guerre estrangere que le roy et carimante luy avoient faites en luy parlant ne remplissant son imagination que d'evenemens funestes faisoient encore un bouleversement terrible dans son coeur d'ailleurs la crainte d'irriter le roy et celle de porter carimante a prendre quelque resolution violente la troubloient encore mais la veue du prince de phocee estoit ce qui la touchoit le plus en effet madame il y eut des instans ou il parut une douleur si sensible sur le visage de ce prince qu'estant aise a cleonisbe de conclurre qu'il y avoit autant d'amour dans son coeur que de melancolie dans ses yeux elle sentit redoubler son irresolution et son desespoir de sorte que lors que la musique eut cesse et que le premier des sarronides eut fait un beau discours sur l'importance du choix que cleonisbe alloit faire elle ne scavoit encore ce qu'elle vouloit ou ce qu'elle ne vouloit pas cependant suivant la coustume le roy donna une bague d'un prix tres considerable a la princesse sa fille qui apres l'avoir receue de sa main descendit du throne et fut la mettre entre les mains du premier des sarronides qui apres l'avoir receue d'elle prit la parole avec autant d'authorite que si elle n'eust pas este fille du roy dont il estoit sujet apres avoir receu la bague que je tiens luy dit-il c'est a vous madame a me nommer celuy que vous jugez digne de vostre choix afin que 
 je la luy donne mais auparavant souvenez vous encore une fois que ce choix doit estre libre doit estre raisonnable et doit estre digne de vous pour cet effet ne consultez que vostre propre raison et faites en forte que la crainte n'y ait point de part et que nul respect humain ne vous face enfraindre la loy qui veut que vous choisissiez equitablement dittes moy donc s'il vous plaist madame qui vous jugez digne de vostre choix a ces mots suivant la coustume la princesse voulut prononcer le nom de celuy qu'elle croyoit vouloir choisir et elle voulut effectivement dire bomilcar mais sa langue n'ayant seulement pu prononcer la premiere silable de ce nom quelque violence qu'elle se fist au lieu de respondre elle se teut et palissant tout d'un coup et rougissant un moment apres elle sentit un trouble si grand dans son ame que l'agitation de l'esprit agissant sur le corps elle ne scavoit presques plus ce qu'elle voyoit ny ou elle estoit de sorte que ne pouvant plus estre maistresse d'elle mesme ny calmer un si grand orage en si peu de temps elle porta la main sur ses yeux et feignant de se trouver mal elle agit comme une personne qui se sentoit foible et qui n'estoit pas en estat d'achever la ceremonie si bien que le premier des sarronides qui a infiniment de l'esprit ayant connu qu'assurement cet accident estoit cause par l'irresolution de son ame fut le premier a dire qu'il faloit remettre la chose a une autre fois ainsi cleonisbe acceptant 
 cet expedient l'en conjura instamment vous pouvez aisement madame vous imaginer quelle rumeur cela fit dans le temple et quel estonnement cela causa dans l'esprit de ces quatre rivaux comme le prince carimante vit l'estat ou en estoit le chose il descendit de l'eschaffaut ou il estoit et allant droit a cleonisbe il s'aprocha d'elle et luy parlant bas eh de grace luy dit il ne differez pas vostre bonheur et le mien et songez qu'un mot est bien tost prononce il le seroit peut estre trop tost pour vous aujourd'huy repliqua-t'elle en soupirant c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux remettre la chose a une autre fois cependant ces quatre rivaux ne scavoient ce qu'ils devoient penser bomilcar concluoit pourtant en luy mesme qu'il devoit estre afflige de ce que la princesse n'avoit pu choisir et le prince de phocee eut quelque consolation de penser que puis que cleonisbe n'avoit pas prononce le nom de bomilcar c'estoit un signe presque certain qu'elle ne l'aimoit pas car il n'ignoroit point que le roy vouloit qu'elle le choisist pour britomarte et pour galathe comme ils esperoient plus par les brigues qu'ils faisoient que par nulle autre raison ils ne furent pas si fachez que bomilcar de ce que le choix de cleonisbe estoit differe mais durant qu'ils raisonnoient chacun en leur particulier cette princesse continuant d'agir comme une personne qui se trouvoit mal fut remenee au palais ou elle eut une telle confusion de ne s'estre pu vaincre elle mesme qu'apres avoir 
 feint d'estre malade elle le devint effectivement de vous dire madame tout ce que die cette princesse lors qu'elle se vit seule avec glacidie il na seroit pas aise et bien cruelle personne que vous estes luy dit cette prince affligee ne vous avois-je pas bien dit que j'avois besoin que vostre raison soutinst la mienne vous voyez poursuivit-elle de quelle confusion je me voy couverte j'ay veulu nommer bomilcar mais mon coeur se rebellant contre moy a empesche ma bouche de prononcer ce nom et je me suis veue en estat que si je ne me fusse impose silence j'eusse nomme son rival au lieu de le nommer mais de grace glacidie faites moy tant de honte de ma foiblesse que je m'en puisse repentir car je vous advoue qu'elle est si grande que malgre la confusion que j'en ay j'ay quelque espece de joye de ce que je suis encore libre et de ce que je n'ay pas nomme bomilcar puis qu'il est vray que si je m'estois vaincue moy mesme cette victoire m'auroit desja plus couste de larmes que ma deffaite ne me couste de soupirs cependant je ne laisse pas de vous prier de me blasmer d'estre si peu maistresse de mon coeur si j'avois a prendre la liberte de vous blasmer de quelque chose reprit-elle ce seroit madame du commandement que vous me faites de condamner quelqu'une de vos actions car enfin je trouve juste que vous choisissiez le prince de phocee je trouve juste que vous choisissiez bomilcar et je trouve juste encore que vous ne puissiez presques vous resoudre a choisir 
 ny l'un ny l'autre ainsi trouvant de la raison a tout ce que vous faites je ne puis vous condamner et tout ce que je puis est de pleindre celle qui ne peut choisir aussi bien que ceux qui ne sont pas choisis cependant comme je l'ay desja dit cette princesse ne fut pas si tost en estat de recommencer la ceremonie car il luy prit une fievre lente qui luy dura plus de douze jours pendant lesquels elle ne voulut voir ny le prince de phocee ny bomilcar ny britomarte ny galathe mais comme elle ne pouvoit pas empescher que carimante ne la vist le prince de phocee eut cet avantage d'avoir un puissant protecteur aupres d'elle bomilcar se nuisit pourtant plus a luy mesme que carimante ne servit au prince de phocee car comme en effet il avoit lieu de croire qu'on luy feroit injustice s'il n'estoit pas choisi il se pleignit non seulement de la princesse mais encore du roy s'imaginant que ce prince ne l'avoit pas protege assez hautement aupres de cleonisbe de sorte que comme galathe craignoit encore plus bomilcar que le prince de phocee il fit si bien que la princesse sceut les pleintes que bomilcar faisoit d'elle et que le roy sceut aussi celles qu'il faisoit de luy pour britomarte il agissoit d'une autre maniere car il disoit tout haut que si on ne luy rendoit justice il s'uniroit avec tous ses amis a ceux de ses rivaux qui ne seroient pas plus heureux que luy pour troubler la felicite de celuy qui le seroit si bi qu'il n'y avoit que le prince de phocee qui ne se pleignoit pas 
 ouvertement quoy qu'il fust pour le moins aussi afflige que les autres mais quand il estoit seul avec glacidie que ne luy disoit il point pour tascher de scavoir precisement quels avoient este les sentimens de cleonisbe le jour de cette ceremonie qui avoit eu au commencement toutes les apparences d'une feste de resjouissance et dont la fin avoit este si melancolique il sembla mesme qu'elle devoit estre universellement triste car il arriva cent accidens extraordinaires et entre les autres choses facheuses dont on parla alors ce fut que la belle et jeune amathilde tomba malade ce jour-la mais d'une maladie si terrible et si estrange que les medecins qui la virent assurerent que quand elle en eschaperoit sa beaute n'en eschaperoit pas on se garda pourtant bien de luy dire d'abord le danger ou elle estoit exposee au contraire connoissant son humeur on l'assura qu'elle recouvreroit sa beaute en recouvrant la sante dont elle disoit hardiment qu'elle n'avoit que faire si elle devoit demeurer laide come elle estoit cependant la violence de bomilcar ayant desplu au roy le prince carimante profita de cette occasion de sorte que l'allant trouver un matin sans en rien dire a cleonisbe il le suplia de luy donner audiance et en effet ce prince l'escoutant paisiblement il se mit a luy representer avec tant de hardiesse et tant d'eloquence tout ensemble qu'il ne devoit pas songer a souffrir que cleonisbe espousast un homme qui avoit l'audace de pretendre a cet honneur comme a un 
 bien qu'on luy devoit qu'en effet le roy tomba d'accord que bomilcar avoit tort en suitte de quoy poussant la chose plus loin il luy fit voir qu'il y avoit beaucoup d'inconveniens a craindre si cleonisbe choisissoit ou britomarte ou galathe et qu'il y en avoit beaucoup moins si elle preferoit le prince de phocee a touts les autres d'abord carimante trouva assez de resistance dans l'esprit du roy ce n'est pas qu'il n'estimast et qu'il n'aimast extremement le prince de phocee mais comme il estoit arrive en son pais comme un prince exile cela avoit quelque chose qui choquoit son imagination toutesfois comme carimante ne se rebuta pas il en vint au point d'obliger le roy a luy dire qu'il y penseroit de sorte qu'allant porter cette agreable nouvelle au prince de phocee il luy donna une joye extreme et obtint de luy une confirmation de la promesse qu'il luy avoit faite d'obliger onesicrite a recevoir favorablement l'honneur qu'il luy vouloit faire enfin madame le prince carimante et le prince de phocee estant joints rien ne leur put resiter et ils se trouverent plus forts que bomilcar britomarte et galathe ensemble je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire comment cette importante negociation se fit mais je vous diray seulement que durant que cette fievre lente qu'avoit la princesse estoit le pretexte qui faisoit qu'elle ne vouloit voir personne carimante luy mena le prince de phocee et la forca de luy advouer qu'elle ne seroit pas marrie que le roy luy permist 
 mist de rendre justice a son merite de vous dire madame quelle fut sa joye il ne seroit pas aise elle fut pourtant encore plus grande lors qu'il sceut que carimante avoit si bien agi aupres du roy qu'il consentoit qu'il fust heureux et qu'il vouloit bien aussi que le prince son fils espousast onesicrite cependant ces choses se passerent si secrettement qu'il ne s'en espandit aucun bruit dans la cour car comme les entre-veues du roy du prince de phocee de cleonisbe et de carimante se firent toujours avec beaucoup de precaution on n'en sceut rien alors de plus aristonice escrivant presques tous les jours a onesicrite pour l'exhorter a preferer le bien public a sa satisfaction particuliere elle se resolut en effet de sacrifier sa passion a sa patrie et elle le promit si affirmativement a cete illustre vierge de diane qu'il n'y eut plus lieu de douter qu'elle ne se fust surmontee de sorte que le prince de phocee qui estoit adverty par aristonice de ce qu'elle avancoit sur son esprit luy proposa de rompre avec menodore puis que sfurius ne vouloit plus qu'il l'espousast et qu'il la pria en suitte de recevoir favorablement l'affection du prince carimante elle luy dit qu'elle luy obeiroit il est vray qu'elle le luy dit en soupirant mais ce fut pourtant d'une maniere a faire voir qu'elle vouloit tenir ce qu'elle promettoit et en effet des ce jour la elle pria menodore de se detacher de l'affection qu'il avoit pour elle luy disant toutes le raisons qui la portoient a luy faire cette priere 
 mais quoy qu'elle luy parlast avec toute la douceur imaginable il eut tant de chagrin et tant de colere qu'il ne put dissimuler son ressentiment il l'accusa d'inconstance et d'ambition et menaca si hautement et le prince carimante et le prince de phocee qu'onesicrite toute douce qu'elle est se mit en colere de voir qu'il perdoit le respect qu'il luy devoit de sorte que renfermant dans son coeur toute la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour menodore elle luy deffendit absolument de luy parler jamais si bien que cet amant irrite commencant de luy obeir en la quittant il fut trouver galathe pour luy dire toute sa douleur comme galathe luy disoit toute la sienne cependant comme la princesse cleonisbe commenca de se mieux porter le roy et le prince carimante resolurent que pour empescher autant qu'ils pourroient qu'il n'arrivast quelque mouvement facheux dans l'estat il faloit que cleonisbe se resolust de mesnager l'esprit de ces trois malheureux amans qui ne devoient point estre choisis et de leur dire nettement ses intentions devant le jour de la ceremonie afin qu'ils n'en fussent pas surpris et que mesme ils ne s'y trouvassent point cette princesse eut quelque peine a s'y resoudre mais le roy le luy ayant commande absolument elle se determina a luy obeir et luy obeir en effet car comme la fievre l'eust quittee et qu'il fut permis de la voir ces trois amans infortunez ne manquerent pas d'aller luy tesmoigner la joye qu'ils avoient de sa sante 
 de sorte que se servant de cette occasion elle leur annonca leur malheur les uns apres les autres mais quoy qu'elle employast tout son esprit a faire qu'ils ne receussent pas aigrement ce qu'el- leur disoit elle n'en put venir a bout pour britomarte comme il est fier et superbe il luy parla hautement apres qu'elle l'eust prie de ne pretendre poinst d'estre choisi parce que diverses raisons faisoient qu'elle ne pouvoit rendre justice a sa condition et a sa vertu car comme elle luy disoit pour adoucir la chose que ce n'estoit pas qu'elle ne l'estimast beaucoup il l'arresta en l'interrompant et prenant la parole puis que cela est madame luy dit-il c'en est assez pour authoriser tout ce que je veux entreprendre car enfin puis que vous ne me jugez pas indigne de vous j'ay a vous dire que je ne croiray rien faire contre le respect que je vous dois lors que je feray tout ce que je pourray pour posseder un honneur dont vous advouez que je pourrois jouir sans injustice ainsi madame je chercheray les voyes d'empescher s'il est possible que vous ne puissiez mal choisir voila donc madame comment britomarte receut son arrest pour galathe comme il est plus dissimule il feignit de recevoir avec un profond respect ce que cleonisbe luy dit et se contentant de luy donner mille marques d'amour sans luy en donner une de colere il luy dit seulement qu'il feroit tout ce qu'il pourroit pour luy obeir mais qu'il craignoit bien de ne le pouvoir pas cependant 
 bomilcar estant revenu chez cleonisbe qui avoit l'esprit fort irrite contre luy des pleintes qu'il avoit faites d'elle et de la maniere dont il avoit parle du roy ne put se resoudre de luy annoncer son malheur avec des paroles qui eussent quelque chose capable de l'amoindrir au contraire elle luy parla si fierement toute douce qu'elle est qu'il pensa perdre patience quoy madame luy dit-il apres qu'elle luy eut deffendu absolument de pretendre d'estre choisi vous pouvez vous souvenir de la violente et constante passion que j'ay pour vous et me traitter comme vous faites il est vray poursuivit-il que je me suis pleint et de vous et du roy mais madame le moyen de ne se pleindre pas en voyant l'injustice qu'on me fait et ne faut-il pas advouer que ma passion n'auroit pas este digne de vous si mon ressentiment avoit este moins violent et que ma colere eust este plus sage car enfin que n'ay-je point fait pour vous meriter et que ne m'a point dit le roy pour me donner une esperance raisonnable d'estre prefere a tous mes rivaux de plus madame adjousta-t'il pensez vous qu'il soit aise de souffrir qu'un prince exile m'oste un bien que je pensois avoir aquis par mille services et que parce qu'il a este batu de la tempeste et qu'il la trouve un asile aupres de vous il faille que ce soit moy qui face naufrage pensez y madame pensez-y et ne me reduisez pas au desespoir cleonisbe connoissant alors qu'elle avoit tort d'irriter un homme qui en effet avoit sujet de 
 se pleindre quoy qu'il eust eu tort luy mesme de s'estre emporte a se pleindre avec tant de violence apres la ceremonie ou il n'avoit pas este choisi elle se resolut pour esviter le malheur qui pourroit arriver de tascher de luy persuader de se resoudre a estre malheureux pour vous tesmoigner luy dit-elle que vous ne douez point accuser le prince de phocee de ce que vous n'estes pas dans mon esprit comme vous y voudriez estre je veux bien vous ouvrir mon coeur et vous advouer toute ma foiblesse et toute mon injustice je vous diray donc que comme je ne suis pas tout a fait stupide je connois admirablement tout ce que vous valez je scay que vostre naissance est tres grande et que si vos predecesseurs ont donne d'illustres citoyens a carthage ils ont aussi donne des rois a la numidie je scay de plus que vous avez beaucoup d'esprit beaucoup de coeur et beaucoup de generosite et je scay mesme que je vous ay de l'obligation puis que vous m'avez rendu mille services mais je scay aussi en mesme temps qu'il y a tousjours eu dans mon coeur je ne scay quoy que je ne scaurois exprimer qui a fait que je n'ay jamais pu me resoudre a souffrir agreablement que vous m'aimassiez cependant malgre cette antipathie naturelle que j'ay combatue inutilement depuis j'avois resolu de vous choisir et je vous eusse nomme le jour de la ceremonie si mon coeur eust voulu obeir a ma raison et si ma bouche eust voulu prononcer bomilcar quelque douleur qu'il y ait repliqua-t'il 
 en soupirant a aprendre qu'on est hai de vous je ne laisse pas de vous estre en quelque facon oblige de me dire plustost que vous ne m'avez pas choisi parce que vous m'avez hai que de m'advouer que vous ne l'avez pas fait parce que vous aimez mieux le prince de phocee que moy et plust aux deux madame s'escria t'il en levant les yeux au ciel que vous me haissiez la moitie plus que vous ne faites pourveu que vous l'aimassiez la moitie moins car enfin madame je scay bien que s'il n'estoit pas plus heureux que moy je ne serois pas aussi malheureux que je le suis cependant adjousta-t'il pais que tout hai que j'estois vous me vouliez bien choisir pourquoy ne le voulez vous plus je ne le veux plus dit-elle parce que je trouve que j'avois tort de le vouloir et que j'aurois mal reconnu l'affection que vous avez pour moy de vous attacher inseparablement a la fortune d'une personne qui ne vous eust jamais aime ainsi sans accuser ny le roy ny le prince de phocee de mon injustice ny sans m'en accuser moy mesme attribuez la a une puissance souveraine a la quelle rien ne scauroit resister et qui fait que je ne suis pas maistresse de mon propre destin vous avez une amie adjousta-t'elle qui vous peut tesmoigner que je ne ments pas et qui vous peut assurer que j'ay fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour vous contre moy mesme quoy madame reprit bomilcar glacidie scait que vous m'avez tousjours hai je le luy ay cache long temps reprit-elle mais j'advoue que je luy ay 
 enfin advoue que je ne vous pouvois aimer et que je luy en ay demande pardon afin qu'elle ne m'en haist pas apres cela madame luy dit-il je n'ay plus rien a dire si ce n'est que comme vous n'avez pu cesser de me hair il me pourra aussi estre permis de ne pouvoir cesser de vous aimer bomilcar ayant parle ainsi se leva et s'en alla si afflige et si en colere qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage un moment apres qu'il fut party le prince de phocee arriva si bien que la trouvant seule il se mit a l'entretenir de sa passion avec un plaisir extreme car comme elle estoit alors approuvee parle roy et par carimante elle estoit agreablement soufferte par cleonisbe de sorte que passant insensiblement d'une chose a une autre cette princesse luy fit connoistre sans y penser que glacidie avoit sceu les sentimens avantageux qu'elle avoit pour luy en luy racontant quelque conversation qu'elle avoit eue avec elle touchant bomilcar ainsi il se trouva que ce jour-la les deux amis de glacidie furent luy faire des pleintes bien differentes car bomilcar se pleignit estrangement a elle de ce qu'elle ne luy avoit pas dit que la princesse le haissoit et le prince de phocee murmura fort de ce qu'elle luy avoit cache que cleonisbe ne le haissoit pas mais cette sage fille leur fit si bien connoistre qu'elle ne l'avoit pas deu faire qu'ils continuerent de l'admirer et qu'ils cesserent de s'en pleindre car enfin desoit-elle a bomilcar tout hai que vous estiez il s'en falut peu que vous ne fussiez 
 heureux et tout aime que vous estes disoit-elle au prince de phocee il s'en est peu falu que vous n'ayez este malheureux ainsi ne voulant ny vous nuire ny vous servir je n'ay pas deu vous dire des choses que vous n'eussiez pu scavoir sans en tirer de l'advantage l'un sur l'autre qui est ce que je ne voulois et ce que je ne devois pas faire mais enfin madame pour ne m'arrester pas davantage sur des choses de peu de consequence il fut resolu que le premier jour que la princesse seroit en estat de sortir la ceremonie s'acheveroit ce qu'il y avoit de facheux est qu'elle ne se pouvoit faire en particulier parce que la loy vouloit que le temple fust ouvert ce jour la a tout ce qui se trouveroit de gens de qualite dans le royaume soit qu'ils fussent estrangers ou non ainsi on craignoit estrangement qu'il n'arrivast quelque tumulte on y donna pourtant tout l'ordre qu'on y put donner car outre qu'on aprehendoit ceux qui pretendoient a cleonisbe on craignoit encore le desespoir de menodore toutefois comme on scavoit bien que la coustume estoit que les nopces de celle qui choisissoit ne se faisoient que quinze jours apres cette premiere ceremonie on espera qu'elle se pourroit passer sans desordre et que s'il y avoit quel qu'un de ces amans qui eust dessein d'entreprendre quelque chose ce seroit durant cet intervale mais on pensa se tromper car l'humeur imperieuse de britomarte le portant a prevenir la honte qu'il avoit de n'estre pas choisi fit qu'il se resolut de tascher de descouvrir 
 couvrir qui estoit celuy que la princesse cleonisbe avoir dessein de choisir afin de le voir l'espee a la main main comme il ne fut pas bien informe et que parce que selon la prudence ordinaire elle devoit plustost choisir bomilcar que ses deux autres rivaux il creut que c'estoit luy qui l'empeschoit d'estre heureux si bien que sans differer davantage il fut chercher occasion de le rencontrer et il le rencontra en effet mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que dans le mesme temps qu'il aborda bomilcar pour luy dire qu'il se vouloit battre contre luy bomilcar premeditoit de se battre contre le prince de phocee il est vray que comme il vouloit pouvoir estre a la ceremonie parce qu'il luy demeuroit encore une raison d'esperer il cachoit son dessein et glacidie toute clair voyante qu'elle est n'en soubconna rien britomarte de son coste voulut aussi mesnager encore un reste d'espoir qu'il avoit dans le coeur et ne precipiter pas son combat de sorte qu'apres qu'il eut trouve bomilcar en lieu ou il luy pouvoit parler sans estre entendu que de luy comme vous n'ignorez pas sans doute luy dit-il quelles sont les justes pretentions que j'ay pour la princesse je n'ignore pas aussi celles que vous y avez mais comme a mon advis nous ne scavons pas si bien ny vous ny moy lequel de nous deux sera choisi je viens vous proposer une chose que l'honneur ne vous permet pas de me refuser si la chose est comme vous me le dites respondit bomilcar vous estes 
 assure que je ne vous refuseray pas promettez moy donc repliqua britomarte que si la princesse vous choisit vous vous battrez contre moy des le lendemain et je vous promettray que si je le suis je me battray contre vous des le mesme jour si vous le voulez je vous le promets reprit bomilcar mais britomarte adjousta-t'il en vous le promettant je ne vous promets rien car ny vous ny moy ne serois pas choisis eh plust aux dieux que vous fussiez dans la necessite de me voir l' espee a la main bomilcar dit cela d'un air qui persuada effectivement a britomarte qu'il croyoit ce qu'il disoit de sorte que ce fier gaulois apres luy avoir fait promettre de se battre contre luy en cas qu'il deust estre heureux se resolut pour ne manquer point a se pouvoir vanger de celuy qui le seroit d'aller dire la mesme chose et a galathe et au prince de phocee ainsi il apella trois de ses rivaux en un jour quoy qu'il ne se deust battre que contre un seul
 
 
 
 
mais enfin madame le jour de la ceremonie estant venu cleonisbe n'eut plus l'irresolution qu'elle avoit eue l'autre fois et son inclination estant authorisee de la volonte du roy et de celle de carimante elle prononca hautement le nom du prince de phocee lors que le premier des sarronides luy demanda qui elle jugeoit digne de son choix de sorte que ce sage sarronide l'ayant fait aprocher et luy ayant donne la bague qu'il avoit receue de cleonisbe ce prince la luy rendit respectueusement suivant l'usage et luy fit un compliment 
 digne de son esprit et de son amour en suitte de quoy le roy ayant aprouve le choix de cleonisbe on entendit mille cris d'allegresse qui firent retentir les voutes du temple mais enfin la musique ayant fait cesser tous ces cris de joye tumultueux on remercia les dieux d'un si heureux choix cependant bomilcar galathe et britomarte se retirerent sans prendre part a l'allegresse publique emportant chacun dans son coeur le dessein qu'il avoit pour le prince de phocee il eut une si grande joye de son bonheur qu'il contoit pour rien le combat qu'il scavoit qu'il estoit oblige de faire contre britomarte et il parut si gay tout ce jour la qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre plus cependant glacidie pour demeurer dans les bornes qu'elle s'estoit prescrites s'affligea avec bomilcar et se resjouit avec le prince de phocee mais ce ne fut pas comme ceux qui desguisent leurs sentimens selon ceux a qui ils parlent car elle eut effectivement de la joye et de la douleur et pour porter la sincerite et la generosite aussi loin qu'elle peut aller elle advoua a bomilcar que quoy qu'elle fust tres marrie de le voir afflige elle ne pouvoit pourtant s'empescher d'estre bien aise que le prince de phocee fust heureux et elle dit aussi au prince de phocee qu'encore qu'elle fust tres satisfaite de son bonheur elle ne laissoit pas d'estre fort touchee de voir bomilcar miserable ainsi elle sceut si bien partager son coeur entre ces deux amis qu'elle ne leur fit aucune injustice comme l'honneur et l'amour 
 ne sont pas incompatibles dans un coeur le prince de phocee ne voulut pas attendre que britomarte l'envoyast sommer de sa promesse car il luy envoya un billet des le soir pour luy dire qu'il estoit prest de luy tenir sa parole et en effet des le lendemain au matin ils se battirent et le prince de phocee desarma britomarte quoy que ce soit un des plus forts et un des plus vaillans hommes du monde mais comme il revenoit de se battre il rencontra bomilcar dans une grande place solitaire qui ayant sceu la chose s'aprocha de luy et prenant la parole comme je ne veux pas luy dit-il vous contraindre de me satisfaire comme vous avez satisfait britomarte que vous ne vous soyez deslasse de la peine que vous devez avoir eue a vaincre un si redoutable ennemy je ne veux point vous obliger presentement a mettre l'espee a la main mais comme vous estes brave je m'imagine que vous vous serez assez repose pour me donner cette satisfaction demain a l'heure ou je vous parle le prince de phocee voyant alors un jour de faire esclater cette haine secrette qu'il avoit pour bomilcar sans offencer ny cleonisbe ny glacidie puis que c'estoit luy qui l'attaquoit le premier luy respondit avec une fierte qui faisoit assez voir qu'il ne l'aimoit pas pour vous tesmoigner luy dit-il que ma victoire ne m'a pas mis en estat d'avoir besoin de me reposer pour vous vaincre nous ne differerons pas davantage a vuider tous les differens que nous avons ensemble en disant cela le prince de phocee 
 mit l'espee a la main et bomilcar aussi car comme ils n'avoient chacun qu'un escuyer et qu'ils estoient en un lieu ou il n'y avoit personne il leur fut aise de satisfaire et leur haine et leur amour et certes madame ils commencerent de se battre avec tant de fureur que si les dieux n'eussent permis qu'hipomene et moy fussions arrivez pour les separer je pense que ce combat eust este funeste a tous les deux car enfin depuis le lieu ou nous commencasmes de les voir jusques a ce que nous fussions a eux qui ne prenoient pas garde a nous je vy qu'ils ne se mesnageoient point et qu'ils combatoient comme des gens qui avoient plus d'une passion dans l'ame et qui vouloient vaincre ou mourir en effet quoy que nous pussions faire ils estoient desja blessez lors que nous fusmes ou ils estoient il est vray que le prince de phocee l'estoit moins que bomilcar car il n'avoit qu'une legere blessure a la main gauche et bomilcar l'estoit assez considerablement au coste droit cependant la surprise d'hipomene et de moy fut la plus grande du monde car lors que nous les rencontrasmes nous cherchions le prince de phocee parce qu'on nous avoit dit que britomarte l'avoit fait apeller ainsi vous pouvez penser que nous fusmes bien estonnez de le voir aux mains avec bomilcar vous pouvez encore juger madame que ces deux combats firent un grand bruit dans la cour et qu'ils couvrirent le prince de phocee de beaucoup de gloire il est vray qu'il arriva divers accidens ce jour-la qui 
 firent que toutes les conversations ne furent que de choses funestes car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que britomarte qui a l'ame fiere eut une telle douleur de perdre sa maistresse et d'avoir este vaincu par son rival qu'il se voulut tuer de la mesme espee que son ennemy luy avoit rendue et si ses amis ne l'eussent garde soigneusement dans les premiers transports de sa fureur il n'auroit pas survescu deux heures a sa deffaite d'autre part on sceut qu'il y avoit eu a marseille un vieillard qui ayant passe pour sage toute sa vie avoit voulu se precipiter afin de se delivrer du chagrin qu'il avoit de ce qu'il ne luy estoit pas permis d'esperer de mourir aux lieux ou il avoit pris naissance et on sceut encore qu'amathilde se portant beaucoup mieux s'estoit fait donner un miroir de sorte que se trouvant en estat de connoistre sans qu'on le luy dist qu'elle ne redeviendroit jamais belle elle en avoit eu un desespoir si grand que feignant qu'on luy avoit enseigne un remede pour son visage ou il faloit une espece de mineral qui estoit un dangereux poison elle s'en estoit fait aporter par une de ses femmes qu'elle avoit trompee et qu'au lieu de l'employer a l'usage qu'elle avoit dit elle s'en estoit empoisonnee il est vray que comme elle ne scavoit que la vertu de ce mineral sans scavoir la quantite qu'il en faloit prendre pour mourir on ne luy en avoit pas aporte assez pour executer son dessein et qu'ainsi la chose estant descouverte on avoit pris garde a elle et qu'on luy 
 avoit donne malgre qu'elle en eust des remedes pour la guerir du mal qu'elle s'estoit fait vous pouvez juger madame combien ces trois accidens arrivez en un mesme jour semblerent estranges mais ce qui acheva d'espouventer tout le monde et de faire voir qu'il y avoit une constellation funeste qui n'inspiroit alors que des pensees violentes il y eut encore un homme de qualite qui estoit de lygurie qui ayant eu dessein de demeurer parmy les segoregiens avoit donne ordre de faire venir par mer tout ce qu'il avoit de bien mais il fut si malheureux que le vaisseau qui le luy aportoit perit nous sceusmes pourtant qu'il avoit suporte cette perte fort constamment durant une annee mais que depuis un jour il s'estoit voulu jetter dans h mer ainsi madame ces quatre accidens arrivez par des causes si differentes et arrivez en un mesme jour furent cause que tous les sarronides s'assemblerent et que le conseil des six cens s'assembla aussi car comme l'esprit du peuple se trouva dispose a louer hautement le courage de ceux qui avoient recours a la mort pour se delivrer de quelque infortune on eut peur que cela ne tirast a consequence et que si on ne donnoit quelque ordre a une semblable chose ces exemples ne fussent suivis par d'autres malheurs pour les sarronides leur advis fut qu'il faloit pour empescher ce desordre oster toute la gloire de cette action et y attribuer plustost quelque marque ignominieuse de foiblesse soustenant qu'en effet ceux qui 
 se tuoient parce qu'ils estoient malheureux tesmoignoient qu'ils n'avoient pas l'ame assez ferme puis qu'ils ne pouvoient supporter leur malheur mais pour le conseil des six cens qui s'assembla avec la permission du prince de phocee il raisonna d'une autre sorte et dit que comme cette action pouvoit estre lasche ou genereuse selon les divers sujets qui la causoient il ne faloit pas la condamner generalement joint que pour empescher qu'elle ne devinst trop frequente il estoit a propos de ne la deffendre pas absolument qu'ainsi pour ne priver pas les hommes de la liberte de mourir que les dieux leur avoient laissee et pour empescher aussi qu'ils ne se portassent trop legerement a perdre la vie il falloit establir une loy par la quelle toute personne qui viendroit proposer a l'assemblee les causes qui l'obligeoient de vouloir mourir seroit receue a les dire et pourroit hardiment demander le poison aux juges qui le luy accorderoient ou le luy refuseroient selon qu'ils le trouveroient a propos concluant que comme il n'estoit pas juste qu'un homme fust juge et partie en sa propre cause il ne l'estoit pas aussi qu'un afflige jugeast luy mesme s'il devoit disposer de sa vie enfin madame cette loy s'establit on choisit deux hommes de l'assemblee pour garder le poison dans un vase d'or afin de l'accorder s'ils le jugeoient a propos ou de le refuser a ceux qu'ils ne trouveroient pas en estat de devoir avoir recours a cet extreme remede vous comprenez 
 aisement madame combien ces accidens arrivez si pres l'un de l'autre et cette nouvelle loy fournirent a la conversation cependant je puis vous assurer que le prince de phocee estoit plus en estat de mourir de joye que de poison il eut mesme le plaisir de scavoir que glacidie estoit irritee contre bomilcar de cc qu'il l'avoit oblige a se battre car elle luy dit que s'il eust este un peu moins malheureux elle luy auroit oste son amitie adjoustant toutesfois avec beaucoup de generosite qu'elle le prioit puis qu'il n'avoit plus rien a desirer de souffrir qu'elle pardonnast a bomilcar l'injure qu'il luy avoit faite en l'attaquant mais pour rendre encore la satisfaction de ce prince plus grande il sceut que cleonisbe vouloit aller a marselle voir aristonice avec intention d'y estre quelques jours le roy trouvat mesme a propos qu'elle y demeurast jusques a la veille de ses nopces afin que bomilcar et le prince de phocee ne fussent pas en mesme lieu joint aussi que le prince carimante qui estoit de ce voyage fut bien aise qu'onesicrite qui en estoit aussi fust aupres d'aristonice afin qu'elle la confirmast dans la resolution qu'elle avoit prise mais pour faire que la presence de menodore ne nuisist pas a son dessein sfurius luy commanda de demeurer aupres du roy de sorte que ce voyage eut tout ce qu'il faloit pour estre agreable onesicrite avoit pourtant dans le coeur des sentimens bien douloureux car ce n'estoit pas sans peine qu'elle se resolvoit a recevoir l'affection de carimante et a oublier celle de menodore 
 et je puis dire que peu de personnes ont fait des choses plus difficiles pour leur patrie que ce que faisoit onesicrite pour la sienne elle se contraignit pourtant autant qu'elle put afin que le prince carimante ne s'aperceust pas du trouble de son esprit et en effet elle fut a marseille avec quelque apparence de joye sur le visage vous pouvez juger madame que le prince de phocee y fit recevoir cleonisbe avec tous les honneurs imaginables et qu'aristonice tesmoigna aussi a cette princesse avoir beaucoup de reconnoissance de l'honneur qu'elle luy faisoit comme glacidie fut de ce voyage elle contribua encore a le rendre plus agreable et durant trois jours je puis assurer qu'a la reserve d'onesicrite il n'y eut pas un de toutes ces illustres personnes qui n'en trouvast tous les momens agreablement passez ce n'est pas qu'il ne nous vinst divers advis que bomilcar et galathe tramoient quelque grand dessein et que le premir seroit bientost guery de sa blessure mais le prince de phocee devant espouser cleonisbe aussi tost que les choses necessaires pour cette feste seroient achevees nous ne craignions pas que rien pust troubler sa felicite comme nous estions donc sans autre soin que celuy de chercher tous les jours quelque nouveau plaisir on dit a la princesse cleonisbe qu'il y avoit une dame qui avoit envoye demander audience au conseil des six cens afin de leur demander le poison suivant la nouvelle loy qu'ils avoient establie de sorte que comme cette 
 avanture estoit assez extraordinaire pour donner de la curiosite puis que jusques alors on n'avoit jamais entendu parler qu'il y eust des luges qui fussent arbitres de la vie et de la mort de ceux qui ne vouloient plus vivre cleonisbe eut une extreme envie d'estre presente a cette funeste ceremonie il est vray que ce fut avec une intention digne de sa generosite car ce fut avec le dessein de voir si celle qui disoit vouloir mourir n'avoit point quelque espece de malheur qu'elle pust faire cesser afin de luy redonner l'envie de vivre onesicrite eut aussi une esgalle curiosite et pour glacidie elle en eut une si forte de scavoir de quelles raisons on pouvoit se servir pour prouver qu'il faloit renoncer a la vie qu'elle contribua encore beaucoup a porter ces deux princesses a vouloir estre presentes lors que cette dame demanderoit le poison au conseil des six cens si bien que cleonisbe ayant fait scavoir au prince de phocee l'envie qu'elle en avoit il trouva facilement un expedient pour cela car comme on a basti un lieu expres pour tenir ce conseil il y a une petite tribune par ou le prince de phocee va de cette sale du conseil a son apartement de sorte qu'ayant choisi ce lieu la pour mettre les princesses le prince carimante et ceux qui devoient estre de leur troupe il fut resolu que le lendemain le conseil des six cens s'assembleroit pour escouter les raisons de cette dame affligee et pour mettre en pratique pour la premiere fois cette loy qu'ils avoient faite 
 mais nous fusmes bien surpris le soir d'ouir dire qu'il y avoit encore deux autres personnes qui avoient demande audiance pour une pareille chose ainsi la curiosite redoublant encore dans l'esprit de ceux qui en avoient desja on attendit l'heure de cette triste ceremonie avec beaucoup d'impatience je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous descrire avec quel ordre cette celebre assemblee se faisoit car ce seroit perdre du temps inutilement je vous diray donc seulement qu'apres que tous ces juges dont les habillemens sont a peu pres tels qu'on les donne a la justice lors qu'on la peint en grece eurent pris leurs places que le prince de phocee comme estant chef du conseil eut pris la sienne et que le prince carimante cleonisbe onesicrite glacidie quelques autres dames et moy fusmes a cette tribune d'ou nous devions voir et entendre tout ce qui se passeroit a ce conseil nous vismes entrer un esclave de bonne mine et qui par la grace dont il parut dans cette assemblee tesmoignoit estre quelque chose au dessus de sa condition ce qui nous surprit extremement fut de voir qu'il avoit a la main le portrait d'une dame mais quoy que ce portrait fust assez grand comme il n'estoit pas tourne droit vers nous nous ne faisions que l'entrevoir cependant nous ne laissions pas de connoistre qu'il faloit qu'il fust fort beau car comme les plus jeunes gens de ce conseil estoient les plus proches de l'esclave qui le tenoit nous voiyons par leurs actions qu'ils 
 admiroient la beaute de cette peinture mais enfin apres que cet agreable esclave eut obtenu la liberte de parler il fit scavoir au conseil des six cens que la belle personne dont ils voyoient le portrait ayant eu le malheur de perdre cette admirable beaute qu'ils admiroient en sa peinture et qui avoit encore este beaucoup plus grande en sa personne qu'on ne l'avoit pu representer les envoyoit suplier par luy de vouloir luy accorder le poison conme le seul remede qu'elle pouvoir trouver pour la consoler de cette perte et pour vous tesmoigner seigneurs leur dit-il que si on doit accorder ce secours a quelques malheureux ce doit estre a la personne qui m'envoye je n'ay qu'a vous dire que quoy qu'elle desire la mort plus que qui que ce soit n'a jamais desire la vie elle n'a pu se resoudre de vous la venir demander elle mesme parce qu'elle ne l'auroit pu faire sans estre obligee de se monstrer en l'estat qu'elle est ce qui luy auroit este un suplice plus grand que vous ne vous le scauriez imaginer enfin seigneurs elle m'a commande de vous dire que comme elle a perdu tout ce qu'elle aimoit et tout ce qu'elle croit qui la rendoit aimable vous ne luy peuvez refuser sans injustice le seul remede des grandes infortunes elle m'a encore ordonne de vous assurer qu'il y a de l'humanite et de la douceur a l'empescher de vivre parce que ne voulant plus voir ny estre veue et ne pouvant ny quitter la solitude ny demeurer sans se desesperer c'est l'exposer a des tourmens incroyables 
 que de la contraindre de vivre cependant on l'observe de si pres que si vostre authorite ne la delivre elle souffrira plus que personne n'a jamais souffert car enfin seigneurs des qu'elle regarde ses portraits elle fong en larmes et des qu'elle jette les yeux sur son miroir la fureur la prend et elle n'est plus maistresse d'elle mesme c'est donc a vous seigneurs poursuivit-il a juger equitablement de la vie ou de la mort de la personne qui vous demande le poison mais auparavant que de prononcer cet arrest souffrez s'il vous plaist qu'apres avoir obei a celle de qui je suis esclave je vous dise hardiment que je ne l'aurois pu faire si elle ne m'avoit promis la liberte pour recompense du service que je luy rends mais afin que ce service ne luy soit pas funeste j'ose prendre la hardiesse de vous dire que n'estant pas ce que je parois estre et ayant este esleve dans une autre condition que celle ou la guerre m'a mis en me faisant esclave du pere de la personne qui m'envoye je puis vous assurer que celle qui veut mourir parce qu'elle n'est plus belle a tant de beautez dans l'esprit qu'elle merite que vous luy refusiez ce qu'elle vous demande et ce que je ne vous ay demande pour elle qu'afin de jouir du plus grand de tous les biens qui est la liberte et de luy pouvoir tesmoigner un jour qu'elle peut estre aimee sans estre belle comme ce genereux esclave parloit ainsi il destourna la peinture qu'il tenoit de sorte que nous connusmes que c'estoit le portrait d'amathilde 
 fi bien que nous interessant encore plus au jugement qu'on alloit donner nous attendismes avec beaucoup d'impatience que tous les juges eussent opine mais a la fin apres avoir examine la chose ils dirent a cet esclave que lors que les dieux ostoient aux hommes des biens qu'ils estoient assurez de perdre ce n'estoit pas une cause legitime de vouloir mourir parce qu'on devoit s'estre resolu des le commencement de sa vie a ne les posseder plus que neantmoins pour avoir quelque esgard au grand attachement qu'amathilde avoit eu a sa beaute et pour ne la desesperer pas en pensant l'empescher de le faire ils ordonnoient que si dans six ans elle venoit declarer au conseil des six cens que le temps ne luy auroit donne nulle consolation de la perte de sa beaute on luy accorderoit alors ce qu'on luy refusoit aujourd'huy cet arrest fut trouve si judicieux et par celuy qui le receut et par tous ceux qui l'entendirent qu'on en loua autant le conseil des six cens qu'on blasma le desespoir d'amathilde apres cela madame nous vismes entrer ce viellard que je vous ay dit qui avoit voulu mourir parce qu'il ne pouvoit vivre hors de son pais mais il entra avec tant de gravite que jamais homme n'a eu moins l'air d'un desespere que luy aussi parla-t'il avec tant d'eloquence et tant de force contre l'exil et il dit de si belles choses en faveur de l'amour de la patrie qu'il attendrit le coeur de tous ceux qui l'escoutoient mais enfin comme il estoit fort vieux la foiblesse 
 de sa voix le forca a s'imposer silence cependant les juges sans se laisser esblouir par son eloquence luy dirent que la plus forte raison de toutes les raisons pour obliger a accorder le poison estoit lors qu'on voyoit un malheureux dont les maux devoient durer longtemps mais qu'en l'age ou il estoit il devoit croire que le remede qu'il leur demandoit estoit si proche qu'il n'estoit pas a propos de changer le decret des dieux ainsi l'ayant renvoye doucement apres l'avoir exhorte a se vaincre luy mesme nous vismes paroistre cet homme de qualite de lygurie que je vous ay dit qui avoit perdu tout son bien il y avoit un an et qui n'avoit pourtant voulu se faire mourir que depuis peu de jours mais madame je ne vy de ma vie un homme plus chagrin que me parut celuy-la il avoit pourtant bonne mine et sa phisionomie toute melancolique qu'elle estoit avoit toutesfois quelque chose de fort spirituel des qu'il fut arrive au lien ou il devoit parler et qu'il eut salue les juges seigneurs leur dit-il quoy que je par le a des hommes dont l'esprit est fort esclaire je ne laisse pas de croire que j'ay besoin de leur dire toutes les raisons qui me font desirer la mort car seigneurs comme il faut estre devenu pauvre pour connoistre que la pauvrete est le plus grand des maux et que je scay que ce malheur ne vous est pas arrive il faut que je vous conjure de souffrir que je vous despeigne mon infortune ne pensez pourtant pas seigneurs poursuivit-il que je mette au nombre des raisons qui 
 me doivent porter a mourir celles que vous pourroit dire un avare ou un voluptueux qui seroit devenu pauvre car enfin ce n'est ny l'abondance des richesses que je regrette ny tous les plaisirs qui les suivent je scay habiter une cabane comme un palais je scay me persuader que moins j'ay de domestiques moins j'ay d'ennemis je scay vivre sans faire des festins je scay trouver des divertissemens qui ne coustent rien et le bruit d'un ruisseau et le chant des oiseaux m'en donnent que je prefere a ceux de ces spectacles qui sont d'une si grande despence mais seigneurs si je puis vivre sans toutes ces choses je ne puis vivre sans amis cependant je les ay tous perdus depuis que j'ay este en estat qu'ils ont pu croire que je pouvois leur demander quelques services utiles je pensois en avoir plus que personne n'en a jamais eu et je trouve au contraire que personne n'en a jamais eu moins que moy je suis devenu un autre pour eux des que la fortune m'a eu abandonne d'agreable que je leur estois je leur ay semble importun et j'ay si bien connu qu'ils n'avoient aime en moy que ce qui les divertissoit que je ne puis m'empescher de hair en eux un sentiment aussi lasche qu'est celuy de cesser d'aimer la vertu parce qu'elle est malheureuse et pour vous tesmoigner seigneurs que ce n'est que la perte de mes amis qui me desespere ou pour mieux dire que ce n'est que leur laschete qui me met en fureur contre moy mesme il ne faut que considerer que j'ay vescu 
 un an apres la perte que j'ay faite cependant j'estois aussi pauvre le premier jour du naufrage qui me fit perdre mon bien que je le suis presentement neantmoins parce que je croyois encore estre riche de la seule richesse qui touchoit mon coeur je supportois constamment mon infortune mais aujourd'huy que j'ay connu par une experience d'une annee entiere que les malheureux n'ont jamais d'amis et que je ne puis vivre sans en avoir je viens seigneurs vous conjurer de me permettre de mourir et je vous en conjure d'autant plus tost qu'il importe mesme pour la societe civile et pour ma propre gloire que je ne vive plus car enfin j'ay conceu une telle horreur contre ceux qui m'ont abandonne parce que je ne suis plus heureux que je viendrois a en hair tous les hommes et a estre aussi injuste envers les autres que les autres l'ont este envers moy a peine ce genereux afflige eut-il acheve de parler que cleonisbe qui avoit este touchee de son discours envoya prier l'assemblee de ne prononcer point son arrest qu'elle ne luy eust fait scavoir quelque chose qu'elle pensoit de sorte que le conseil ayant depute six de leur corps pour aller aprendre de la bouche de cleonisbe ce qu'elle vouloit qu'ils sceussent cette princesse leur dit qu'elle trouvoit celuy qui venoit de parler si honneste homme que pour le rendre heureux et pour l'obliger a vivre elle luy offroit de luy faire donner par le roy plus de bien qu'il n'en avoit 
 perdu et que pour le consoler de la perte de ces lasches amis qui l'avoient abandonne elle luy offroit aussi son amitie qui seroit plus genereuse que la leur vous pouvez aisement juger madame quel bruit fit dans l'assemblee cette grande action de cleonisbe et combien le prince de phocee qui en estoit le chef la fit valoir ainsi au lieu de donner un arrest ils firent un eloge de la vertu de cette princesse ils ne laisserent pourtant pas d'en prononcer un et de dire a ce genereux lygurien que si la princesse cleonisbe n'eust pas trouve un remede a son mal plus grand que le mal mesme ils luy auroient accorde le poison qu'il avoit demande puis qu'ils estoient contraints d'advouer que la pauvrete suivie de la perte de ses amis estoit la plus dure chose du monde mais que puis que l'amitie de la princesse luy donnoit mille fois plus qu'il n'avoit perdu ils luy ordonnoient de vivre pour la servir puis qu'il ne pouvoit plus vouloir mourir sans ingratitude d'abord cet homme qui s'estoit dispose a quitter la vie eut quelque peine a se resoudre de ne songer plus a la mort mais comme il a l'ame genereuse il fut sensiblement touche de la generosite de cleonisbe et il advoua que puis qu'il y avoit une personne au monde comme celle-la il n'estoit pas juste de la quitter de sorte que se laissant conduire ou elle estoit il luy rendit grace de l'honneur qu'elle luy faisoit mais madame adjousta-t'il il faut pour justifier le dessein que j'ay eu de mourir que je n'accepte que la moitie de 
 ce que vous me faites l'honneur de m'offrir et que recevant a genoux la grace d'avoir quelque part a vostre bien-veillance je refuse cette abondance de richesses que vous m'offrez qui ne me serviroient peut-estre qu'a m'aquerir de nouveaux amis aussi peu genereux que les premiers ainsi madame m'estimant assez riche de vostre amitie laissez moy en estat de faire voir que je la merite en faisant voir que la vertu peut surmonter la pauvrete et la suporter constamment pourveu qu'elle ne soit pas suivie du mespris qui l'accompagne presques tousjours je ne vous diray point madame ce que cleonisbe luy respondit car je ferois tort a cette admirable princesse en changeant quelqu'une de ses paroles mais je vous diray seulement qu'elle voulut qu'il acceptast esgallement les deux choses qu'elle luy avoit offertes et qu' effet elle luy tint sa parole et luy fit donner plus de bi qu'il n'en avoit perdu soit par le roy par le prince son frere ou par le prince de phocee luy en donnant aussi elle mesme quoy qu'elle eust beaucoup de peine a le luy faire accepter mais madame pour en revenir ou j'en estois et pour achever de vous dire tout ce qui se passa au conseil des six cens vous scaurez qu'apres que ce lygurien eut fait son compliment a cleonisbe nous vismes paroistre dans l'assemblee un homme que personne ne connoissoit qui presentant des tablettes au chef de ce conseil luy dit qu'il le suplioit d'ordonner que ce qui estoit escrit dedans fust leu tout haut parce que c'estoient 
 les raisons d'un malheureux amant qui demandoit le poison et en effet madame un de l'assemblee ayant ouvert ces tablettes commenca de lire ce qu'on y avoit escrit et si je pouvois vous redire ce que j'entendis vous trouveriez sans doute que celuy qui parloit meritoit qu'on luy accordast la mort qu'il demandoit estant certain que je ne pense pas que jamais il y ait eu douleur despeinte avec une exageration plus touchante que celle la aussi cleonisbe onesicrite et carimante apporterent-ils une attention extreme a cette lecture je vous diray donc seulement madame pour vous en faire comprendre quelque chose que cet amant commencoit le recit de son malheur par un grand eloge de la beaute et du merite de la personne qu'il aimoit qu'en fuite il disoit l'avoir aimee des le berceau adjoustant qu'il avoit eu le bonheur de n'en estre pas hai apres cela il exageroit toutes les preuves d'amour qu'il luy avoit rendues et faisoit voir si adroitement qu'il avoit eu lieu d'esperer d'estre aime et d'estre aime constamment que l'esprit des auditeurs estoit tout dispose a blasmer cette amante si elle estoit devenue infidelle si bien madame qu'ayant prepare de cette sorte le coeur de ses luges il exposoit en suitte que sans luy avoir jamais donne sujet de pleinte un sentiment d'inconstance ou d'ambition avoit oblige cette personne a rompre aveque luy et que pour comble de malheur il avoit une obligation infinie au rival qu'elle favorisoit a son prejudice de 
 sorte que l'honneur ne luy permettant pas de s'en vanger et l'amour ne souffrant pas aussi qu'il pust le laisser vivre ny qu'il pust vivre luy mesme il demandoit la permission de mourir et il la demandoit d'autant plustost disoit-il qu'il sentoit dans son coeur des sentimens si tumultueux qu'il estoit persuade que plus tost que de souffrir que son rival possedast sa maistresse il se resoudroit a faire une chose qui causeroit peut-estre la mort a un nombre infiny de personnes innocentes qu'il engageroit dans ses interests enfin il faisoit voir si fortement qu'il estoit capable de faire tout ce que l'amour l'ambition et la jalousie peuvent inspirer de plus violent et il faisoit encore si bien comprendre par certaines paroles ambigues que sa mort empescheroit de tres-grands malheurs et le delivreroit de fort grands tourmens que quelque pitie qu'on eust de luy on sentoit dans son coeur qu'il avoit raison de disirer la mort et qu'il y avoit sujet de la luy accorder et en effet la plus grande partie des juges dirent que puis qu'il paroissoit que la mort de malheureux amant seroit avantageuse et a luy et aux autres il sembloit qu'on ne pouvoit plus a propos donner un exemple qu'ils n'avoient pas fait une loy inutile en faisant celle qu'ils avoient faite et qu'ainsi il faloit ne refuser pas la mort a un homme qui en mourant conserveroit la vie de plusieurs autres sfurius en son particulier fut un de ceux qui insista le plus a accorder le poison a celuy qui le demandoit et qui fit que la chose 
 passa ainsi mais ce fut a condition que cet amant desespere se presenteroit a l'heure mesme a l'assemblee car la loy portoit qu'il falloit voir celuy qui devoit mourir afin de connoistre si sa raison estoit tout a fait libre et s'il scavoit bien ce qu'il demandait de sorte que celuy qui avoit parle ayant dit aux juges qu'il viendroit rendre la responce de celuy qui l'envoyoit dans un moment il sortit pour aller dire l'estat de la chose a cet amant qui vouloir mourir pendant quoy on aporta un grand vase d'or dans quoy on gardoit le poison mais a peine ceux qui en avoient la charge l'eurent-ils place sur une table destinee a ce funeste usage qu'on vit entrer menodore qui se presentant hardiment aux juges leur dit que c'estoit luy a qui ils avoient fait la grace d'accorder le poison les remerciant avec une constance admirable de la justice qu'ils luy avoient rendue je vous laisse a penser madame quelle surprise fut celle de carimante de voir son rival quel fut l'estonnement de sfurius de connoistre qu'il avoit accorde le poison a son fils et quel fut celuy d'onesicrite de voir que c'estoit son amant qui vouloit mourir et qui vouloit mourir pour elle je laisse a vostre imagination madame a vous representer le tumulte qui s'esleva dans l'assemblee qui n'ignoroit pas l'amour de menodore pour onesicrite car il ne me seroit pas passible de le faire mais je vous diray seulement une chose fort remarquable qui fut que sfurius a qui l'amour de la patrie tenoit 
 lieu de tout apres avoir apaise dans son coeur la premiere esmotion que la nature y avoit excitee eut une telle colere de voir que menodore ne s'estoit pas surmonte luy mesme qu'il surmonta la tendresse paternelle et dit a l'assemblee que son fils ne meritoit pas seulement le poison comme malheureux mais comme criminel puis qu'il n'avoit pu sacrifier sa satisfaction particuliere a l'interest du bien public et qu'ainsi il falloit executer promptement un arrest qui ne pouvoit estre revoque pendant que sfurius parloit menodore qui avoit tourne la teste vers onesicrite rencontra ses yeux dans les siens mais il les vit tout pleins de larmes et un moment apres cette belle personne ne pouvant plus suporter l'exces de la douleur qui l'accabloit se pancha vers glacidie qui estoit derriere elle et demeura esvanouie entre ses bras de sorte que durant qu'on faisoit ce qu'on pouvoit pour la faire revenir carimante la voyant en cet estat ne scavoit ce qu'il devoit penser ny ce qu'il devoit faire la douleur d'onesicrite luy faisoit si bien voir qu'elle aimoit menodore et qu'elle ne l'aimoit pas que sa raison luy disoit qu'il ne la devoit plus aimer et le desespoir de son rival luy faisoit aussi connoistre si parfaitement quelle estoit la grandeur de sa passion qu'il voyoit bien qu'il y avoit de l'injustice a s'y opposer mais d'autre part son amour s'opposant a sa propre raison ne luy donnoit pas la liberte de la suivre d'ailleurs le prince de phocee quoy que fort fache de la resolution violente de menodore 
 n'osoit tesmoigner toute la compassion qu'il avoit du luy de peur d'irriter carimante cependant menodore voyant le vase ou estoit ce qui devoit faire cesser son tourment s'avanca vers la table sur laquelle il estoit pour achever son destin mais un des juges prenant la parole luy dit qu'il n'estoit pas encore temps et qu'en son particulier il ne trouvoit pas qu'il fust en estat qu'on deust luy accorder le poison et qu'ainsi l'arrest qu'on avoit prononce estoit nul car enfin dit-il puis qu'il paroist par la douleur de la princesse onesicrite que vous ne luy estes pas indifferent vous n'estes pas assez malheureux pour avoir recours a la mort et vous l'estes d'autant moins qu'ayant avance a la conpagnie que vous n'estiez plus aime il paroist que vous ne scaviez pas vous mesme le veritable estat de vostre fortune et qu'ainsi ayant donne un arrest sur un fondement qui ne subsiste plus l'arrest ne doit aussi plus subsister cet advis ayant donne beaucoup de joye a l'assemblee tout le monde s'y rangea a la reserve de sfurius qui ne se desmentit point de cette fiere generosite qu'il avoit dans l'ame pour menodore il s'opposa fortement a la pitie des juges et il s'y seroit encore davantage oppose si le prince carimante ne luy eust envoye dire qu'il avoit trouve une voye plus noble de finir ses peines de sorte que toute la compagnie croyant que ce prince s'estoit vaincu luy mesme on mit menodore entre les mains de quelques uns de ses amis on porta onesicrite a son apartement ou 
 carimante la suivit et toute l'assemblee se separa cependant des qu'onesicrite commenca d'entr'ouvrir les yeux et qu'elle commenca de pouvoir parler elle pria carimante sans scavoir encore a qui elle parloit qu'on luy donnait autant de poison qu'a menodore de sorte que ce prince ne pouvant plus souffrir cet objet sortit de cette chambre et sans communiquer le violent dessein qu'il prit il envoya dire secrettement a menodore que pour luy tesmoigner qu'il connoissoit bien qu'en effet il avoit droit de luy disputer la possession d'onesicrite il luy engageoit sa parole de se battre contre luy s'il ne se pouvoit surmonter luy mesme et en effet madame sans differer davantage des le lendemain au matin ils resolurent que leur combat se feroit au bord de la mer mais conme carimante est genereux et qu'il scavoit bien que si menodore le tuoit il ne seroit pas en seurete il fit tenir une barque assez pres de l'endroit ou ils se devoient battre afin que si cela arrivoit ainsi il pust se sauver ainsi madame sans m'amuser plus longtemps a vous dire ce qui se passa entre carimante et menodore avant leur combat je vous diray que ce dernier s'estant desrobe de ceux qui le gardoient fut au lieu ou carimante l'attendoit qu'ils se batirent que carimante fut legerement blesse a la main gauche et que menodore fut desarme si bien que ce malheureux amant prenant la barque qui estoit preparee pour sa seurete en cas qu'il fust vainqueur s'en servit a s'esloigner de marseille 
 apres avoir este vaincu mais comme la mer s'estoit esmeue durant qu'ils se battoient et qu'il s'embarqua avec un desespoir qui ne luy permit pas de s'amuser a consulter les vents ny a escouter les conseils du pilote qui le vouloit dissuader de partir les flots devinrent si agitez et le vent devint si furieux qu'il poussa cette barque contre une pointe de rocher qui s'avance dans la mer a la main gauche de marseille de sorte que se brisant avec impetuosite le malheureux menodore se noya presques dans le port ou les vagues vinrent jetter son corps et comme si les dieux eussent voulu forcer onesicrite a l'arroser de ses larmes ils permirent que le corps de ce malheureux amant fut jette par la mer vis a vis des fenestres de cette princesse qui le vit en effet de ses propres yeux et qui sentit cette mort avec une douler inconcevable cependant onesicrite qui comme je vous l'ay desja dit a l'ame douce et facile ne put resister a aristonice qui luy sceut si bien persuader qu'il y alloit de sa gloire de ne changer pas la resolution qu'elle avoit prise qu'elle se resolut en effet de cacher une partie de sa melancolie et de se laisser conduire par ceux qui avoient droit de la conseiller pourveu qu'on ne la forcast pas a espouser si tost carimante d'autre part ce prince faisant faire mille excuses a sfurius de ce qu'il estoit cause de la mort de son fils il luy respondit selon cette generosite qu'il avoit commencee d'avoir apres quoy on s'en retourna aupres du roy dans la pensee que 
 le mariage du prince de phocee et de cleonisbe se feroit bientost mais madame a nostre retour nous aprismes que les choses n'en estoient pas encore la car vous scaurez que galathe a qui menodore avoit donne la connoissance de plusieurs grecs en suborna quelques-uns qui dirent a quelques segoregiens que le prince de phocee n'estoit pas ce qu'il disoit estre de sorte que cette faussete passant de bouche en bouche le bruit en fut si grand parmy le peuple qu'on ne parloit d'autre chose car comme galathe n'avoit pas moins suborne de segoregiens que de phocences on dit bientost cent choses differentes de la condition du prince de phocee si bien que comme la loy qui permettoit a cleonisbe de choisir celuy qu'elle devoit espouser ne le luy permettoit qu'a condition qu'elle choisiroit un homme de qualite proportionne a la sienne il se trouvoit que si le prince de phocee n'estoit pas ce qu'il disoit estre le choix de la princesse estoit nul aussi estoit-ce pour le rendre tel que galathe avoit fait semer ce mensonge parmy le peuple mais madame il l'avoit fait avec tant d'art que ceux qu'il employa pour cela ne furent pas seulement soubconnez d'avoir nulle part a cette fourbe cependant afin qu'on ne creust pas qu'il en fust l'autheur il ne voulut pas former obstacle au mariage de cleonisbe le premier ne doutant pas que bolmicar et britomarte ne se servissent de l'occasion qu'il leur donnoit pour le faire du moins differer esperant durant ce temps 
 la trouver les voyes d'enlever cleonisbe comme nous le sceusmes apres et en effet madame britomarte et bomilcar aprenant ce grand bruit dirent que pour eux ils vouloient croire que le prince de phocee estoit ce qu'il disoit estre mais que quis que la chose estoit mise en doute par un grand peuple ils n'endureroient pas que la princesse l'espousast c'estoit en vain que les amis du prince de phocee disoient qu'il avoit pour tesmoins de sa condition tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens dans marseille car comme le peuple de ce pais-la est mutin et qu'on avoit suborne grand nombre de ces gens a qui on persuade bien plus facilement de faire une sedition que de l'apaiser ils prirent les armes et se rangerent du coste de britomarte de bomilcar et de galathe qui se rangea aussi ouvertement de leur party le roy ny le prince carimante qui ne doutoient point de la condition du prince de phocee ne furent pas en pouvoir d'agir selon leur inclination et ils y furent d'autant moins que dans ce mesme temps les amis de menodore firent un soulevement a marseille reprochant a sfurius qu'il avoit eu trop de cruaute pour son fils et accusant aussi le prince de phocee de ce qu'il consentoit au mariage de carimante et d'onesicrite durant cela glacidie fit ce qu'elle put pour obliger bomilcar a ne s'opiniastrer point a faire obstacle a celuy de cleonisbe puis qu'il estoit assure qu'il ne pouvoit jamais estre aime de cette princesse mais il luy respondit que 
 puis qu'il ne luy restoit plus autre consolation que celle de nuire a son rival il falloit qu'elle souffrist qu'il le fist luy soustenant qu'il le pouvoit faire sans luy donner sujet de pleinte puis qu'il ne faisoit que ce que faisoient britomarte et galathe cependant quelque soin qu'on prist d'observer tous ces rivaux aussi bien que le prince de phocee bomilcar et luy se batirent une seconde fois et furent tous deux blessez mais avec cette difference que lors qu'on les separa le prince de phocee qui estoit aux prises avec son ennemy se trouva estre dessus mais enfin madame ce combat ayant encore irrite le peuple les choses en vinrent a une grande extremite car comme galathe est fin et adroit il avoit encore fait insinuer dans l'esprit d'une partie des segoregiens que nostre ville leur devoit estre redou- rable que nous rendrions leur pais meilleur mais que ce seroit pour nous seulement et qu'apres nous avoir receus comme leurs amis nous deviendrions leurs tirans et qu'ils deviendroient nos esclaves en fin madame le desordre et la confusion estant par tout on s'advisa pour apaiser la fureur du peuple de parler de negociation scachant bien que c'est tousjours beaucoup faire que d'arrester sa premiere impetuosite ainsi on demanda a ce peuple irrite et a ces trois rivaux qui estoient leurs chefs quelle preuve ils vouloient de la condition du prince de phocee mais ils se trouverent assez embarrassez a respondre car comme il n'estoit demeure personne dans 
 phocee il eust este inutile d'y envoyer de sorte qu'apres y avoir bien pense ils convinrent qu'il falloit que le vainqueur de phocee decidast la chose et que si l'illustre cyrus dont ils nous avoient tant entendu parler disoit a ceux qu'ils envoiroient vers luy qu'il avoit sceu que peranius estoit de la maison des princes de phocee et que c'estoit luy qui commandoit la flotte en partant de la ville que ses armes avoient conquise ils cederoient leurs pretentions et tomberoient d'accord que le choix de cleonisbe seroit legitime quoy que cette proposition deust sembler estrange au prince de phocee voyant qu'on faisoit despendre son destin du tesmoignage d'un prince dont il n'a pas l'honneur d'estre connu et qui le devoit mesme tenir pour son ennemy il ne s'y opposa pourtant pas car comme il scavoit bien que le prince thrasybule le connoissoit et que l'action qu'il avoit faite estoit assez extraordinaire pour avoir este jugee digne d'estre racontee a son invincible vainqueur il creut bien que l'illustre cyrus scauroit la chose et qu'il seroit assez genereux pour rendre un tesmoignage sincere en sa faveur ainsi madame il accorda ce qu'on luy demandoit et il fut resolu que je viendrois vers luy que le roy envoyeroit aveque moy une personne de qualite et que ces trois rivaux envoyeroient aussi un homme de creance afin d'ouir ce que le vainqueur de l'asie diroit sur ce que j'avois a luy demander mais avant que de nous faire partir on fit jurer solemnellement 
 toutes les personnes interessees qu'elles se raporteroient absolument a ce que nous raporterions qu'apres cela ils ne troubleroient plus la tranquilite publique et que durant nostre voyage ils n'entreprendroient rien les uns contre les autres de sorte qu'apres avoir promis ce qu'on vouloit on nous prepara un vaisseau et le roy et les trois rivaux du prince de phocee ayant choisi ceux qu'ils vouloient envoyer vers j'illustre cyrus nous nous disposasmes a partir nous ne partismes pourtant pas sans avoir sceu que cet esclave qui avoit este demander le poison pour amathilde et qui avoit este pris a la guerre par le pere de cette belle fille s'estoit fait connoistre pour estre de tres grande qualite parmy les tectosages que de plus il avoit declare a amathilde qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle depuis qu'il la connoissoit et qu'encore qu'elle eust perdu sa beaute il n'avoit pas perdu son amour adjoustant que si elle vouloit le recevoir favorablement elle estoit encore assez aimable pour le rendre heureux de sorte madame que comme amathilde n'avoit voulu mourir apres avoir perdu sa beaute que parce qu'elle croyoit qu'il estoit impossible qu'on la pust aimer en l'estat qu'elle estoit elle changea de sentimens voyant qu'elle s'estoit trompee et elle se resolut a vivre et a aimer celuy qui l'aimoit lors qu'elle ne pensoit pas se pouvoir seulement aimer elle mesme apres cela madame nous partismes et nous partismes avec ordre du 
 prince de phocee de tascher de mener le prince son pere a marseille si bien madame que l'illustre cyrus ayant fait de luy mesme tout ce que l'eusse pu desirer qu'il fist je me voy en estat de confondre les rivaux du prince de phocee et de le rendre heureux et de contribuer mesme au bonheur de carimante car le peuple qui s'estoit mutine ne vouloit pas non plus souffrir qu'il espousast onesicrite si elle n'estoit point de sa condition ainsi madame si le prince menestee pouvoit se resoudre a vostre persuasion de venir ou j'ay ordre de le conduire je n'aurois plus rien a souhaiter 
 
 
 
 
thryteme ayant acheve sa narration laissa cyrus et mandane esgallement satisfaits aussi luy promirent ils de n'oublier rien de tout ce qui pouvoit servir a la felicite du prince de phocee et en effet cyrus parla le lendemain a ces deux segoregiens qui estoient venus avec thryteme d'une maniere tres avantageuse pour ce prince a qui il respondit avec une civilite extreme il donna mesme une declaration authentique de sa condition ou il mesla tant de louanges de sa valeur et de sa vertu qu'on ne luy pouvoit pas faire un eloge plus avantageux mais comme il estoit prest d'envoyer chrysante vers menestee afin de l'obliger a quitter le tombeau qu'il habitoit ce triste solitaire vint le remercier et mandane aussi de l'honneur qu'ils luy avoient fait et rendre grace au premier de la justice qu'il rendoit au prince son fils de sorte qu'il leur fut 
 plus aise de faire ce que thryteme souhaitoit mais quoy qu'ils pussent luy dire pour luy persuader d'aller a marseille il ne le voulut jamais et ils furent contraints de le laisser retourner dans son tombeau si bien que thryteme et ces deux segoregiens qui l'accompagnoient prirent la resolution de s'en retourner des que cyrus seroit party et d'aller retrouver le vaisseau qui les avoit amenez au port ou ils l'avoient laisse cependant la princesse mandane apres avoir remercie eucrate continua son chemin avec la plus favorable disposition du monde a se divertir aussi le fit elle tres agreablement durant plusieurs jours il sembloit mesme que chaque jour luy donnoit une nouvelle joye en effet quand elle pensoit qu'elle s'esloignoit du roy d'assirie et qu'elle s'approchoit du roy son pere qui recevroit cyrus comme l'ayant delivree elle ne pouvoit assez abandonner son coeur au plaisir qu'elle sentoit apres avoir tant souffert de maux aussi arriva t'elle vers les frontieres de capadoce du coste qui regarde la cilicie sans avoir nulle incommodite de son voyage et elle eut mesme la satisfaction de voir encore faire a cyrus une action digne de son grand coeur il vint donc un soir un courrier de babilone qui l'advertit qu'il y avoit eu un soulevement dans cette grande ville le plus grand qu'on se le pust imaginer et que dans ce tumulte le peuple avoit fait un si grand effort pour aller piller les vases du temple de jerusalem qu'on y avoit autresfois transportez apres que les 
 assiriens l'eurent prise que si le peuple hebreu qui estoit captif dans babilone depuis soixante et dix ans ne s'y fust oppose ils s'en fussent rendus les maistres ce courrier aprit en suitte a cyrus que le gouverneur de babilone ayant eu peur qu'il n'arrivast encore une pareille chose et qu'il ne pust conserver la ville s'estoit resolu de luy envoyer tous ces vases precieux qui avoient este possedez par salomon et que ce peuple captif ne pouvant souffrir qu'on prophanast des choses qui avoient este employees a leurs sacrifices suivoit ceux qui conduisoient les chameaux qui portoient toutes ces richesses ce courrier adjoustant que comme il estoit tombe malade en chemin il n'avoit pu venir promptement et qu'il croyoit que ceux dont il parloit arriveroient le lendemain et en effet a peine le soleil commenca-t'il de paroistre que cyrus qui se levoit tousjours matin pour donner les ordres necessaires a toutes choses et particulierement pour la marche des troupes sceut que ceux qu'il attendoit arrivoient ainsi on voyoit ce grand peuple captif qui avoit este vaincu par l'ayeul du roy d'assirie avoir recours au vainqueur de celuy dont ils avoient este esclaves mais comme en arrivant aupres de cyrus deux de ces chameaux qui portoient ces vases s'estant entrepoussez renverserent leurs charges et firent voir combien elles estoient precieuses cyrus commanda qu'on luy monstrast tout le reste car comme il n'avoit pas trouvue mandane a babilone 
 lors qu'il la prit il ne s'estoit pas amuse a se faire monstrer tout ce riche butin de sorte que ses officiers luy obeissant on luy fit bientost voir le plus magnifique objet du monde car enfin apres que tout fut en veue il vit soixante vases d'or d'un prix inestimable mille vases d'argent d'une merveilleuse beaute et d'une grandeur extraordinaire un fort grand nombre de cousteaux qui servoient aux sacrifices et dont la garniture estoit aussi riche que rare quatre cens autres vases d'argent d'une grandeur mediocre et mille autres vaisseaux de mesme metal de grandeurs differentes si bien que voyant ensemble plus de cinq mille vaisseaux de matiere tres precieuse et de forme tres agrable cela faisoit le plus bel objet du monde cyrus ne fut pourtant pas esbloui par la veue de tant de richesses au contraire il sembla qu'il voyoit encore mieux les choses conme il les faloit voir en effet le plus considerable d'entre ce peuple hebreu qui avoit suivy ceux qui portoient ce qui avoit este l'ornement du plus celebre temple du monde s'estant presente a cyrus il l'escouta avec une attention tres obligeante de sorte que ce genereux captif voyant que cyrus luy prestoit une si favorable audience luy parla avec autant de hardiesse que de zele il luy exagera autant qu'il put quelle estoit la grandeur de dieu de ses peres quelle avoit este la sagesse d'un de leurs rois et la vertu de quelques autres il luy despeignit la magnificence du temple de jerusalem 
 devant qu'il fust destruit il luy representa l'enormite du sacrilege de ceux qui l'avoient abattu il luy descrivit les malheurs de leur captivite il luy demanda comme au plus genereux prince du monde la liberte de sa nation la permission de rebastir leur temple et la grace de faire en sorte que des vases qui avoient este consacrez au seul dieu de l'univers ne fussent pas prophanez par d'autres usages enfin ce prince des hebreux parla avec tant de force que cyrus estant sensiblement touche de tout ce qu'il luy dit luy accorda tout ce qu'il luy demandoit et plus mesme qu'il n'avoit demande car il assigna encore un fonds considerable pour faire rebastir le temple de jerusalem de sorte que ce prince hebreu faisant passer de bouche en bouche parmy la multitude qui le suivoit qu'elle estoit la grace qu'on luy accordoit on entendit tout d'un coup cent mille cris de joye qui esveillerent mandane qui dormoit encore mais cyrus pour jouir pleinement de la grande action qu'il faisoit pria cette princesse de vouloir tarder un jour au lieu ou elle estoit afin de voir passer le lendemain cette multitude de peuple captif qu'il venoit de delivrer et en effet le jour suivant mandane estant sur un balcon et cyrus aupres d'elle accompagne de tous les princes qui estoient alors aupres de luy vit passer plus de quarante mille personnes de toutes conditions qui de rang en rang luy rendoient mille graces par leurs actions de la liberte qu'il leur donnoit de 
 sorte que joignant a ce grand nombre de monde les chevaux les chameaux et toutes les autres bestes de charge qui portoient le bagage et les enfans de ce peuple delivre cela tenoit une si grande estendue de pais qu'il faloit de necessite conclurre qu'un prince qui estoit assez grand pour pouvoir donner tant de richesses et pour pouvoir accorder la liberte a tant de captifs devoit estre en effet le plus grand prince du monde et il l'estoit d'autant plus que le bien qu'il faisoit il le faisoit tousjours aveque joye aussi en eut il une si sensible d'avoir eu une occasion de rompre tant de chaines en un seul coup et de soulager tant de miserables que trouvant une matiere d'en faire un compliment a mandane il luy demanda pardon de la satisfaction que cette avanture luy avoit donnee luy semblant disoit-il que comme elle avoit este la seule cause de toutes ses douleurs elle devoit aussi estre la seule cause de tous ses plaisirs et que c'estoit manquer a son devoir et offencer son amour de se trouver capable de nulle autre sorte de joye que de celle de la voir et de la voir en liberte 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 l'heroique joye qu'avoit l'illustre cyrus d'avoir redonne la liberte a tant de captifs ne fut pas la seule dont il se trouva capable car estant arrive un envoye du prince sesostris et de la princesse timarete il eut aussi beaucoup de satisfaction de scavoir par luy qu'amasis les avoit admirablement bien receus et qu'il avoit consenti a leur mariage qui avoit este celebre avec une magnificence digne d'un roy d'egypte dans la superbe ville de memphis la seule cause du voyage de cet egiptien estoit pour venir remercier cyrus de la felicite dont jouissoient sesostris et timarete et pour venir luy offrir au nom d'amasis toutes 
 les forces de son royaume s'il en avoit besoin mais comme cyrus ne pensoit plus estre en estat de devoir donner de batailles il n'accepta pas ce qu'on luy offroit et il se contenta d'assurer cet envoye qu'il prenoit beaucoup de part a la joye de la princesse timarete et du prince sesostris et pour luy tesmoigner que la nouvelle qu'il luy avoit aportee de leur mariage luy avoit este tres-agreable il luy fit un present tres-magnifique en le renvoyant il est vray que cyrus ne fut pas seul qui eut de la yoye du bonheur de sesostris car tous ceux qui l'avoient connu dans cette armee en eurent beaucoup particulierement les egyptiens qu'il y avoit laissez mais si la nouvelle du bonheur de ce prince fut agreable a tous ceux qui l'avoient veu ou qui avoient seulement entendu parler de luy celle qu'on publia de l'augmentation du mal du roy d'assirie ne produisit pas un effet esgal dans l'esprit de tous ceux qui la sceurent car beaucoup de gens deplorant le malheur d'un si grand prince en eurent de la pitie quelques autres en eurent de la joye et anaxaris en eut de la douleur quoy qu'il le haist et quoy qu'il condamnast luy mesme un sentiment qu'il avoit eu plus d'une fois mais apres tout la passion dominante de son coeur l'emportant sur tout autre sentiment il ne pouvoit s'empescher de craindre la mort d'un rival hai parce qu'il pouvoit troubler la felicite d'un rival aime cependant le bruit de l'augmentation du mal du roy d'assirie estoit si grand que personne ne doutoit que la 
 chose ne fust ainsi et on en doutoit d'autant moins que cyrus a qui ceux qu'il avoit laissez aupres de ce prince en rendoient conte disoit luy mesme quand on le forcoit d'en parler qu'il estoit tres mal et donnoit lieu de penser que la premiere nouvelle qu'on en auroit seroit qu'il ne vivroit plus il en parloit pourtant avec tant de retenue qu'on ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de la moderation qu'il avoit de ne se resjouir point de la perte d'un ennemy tel que celuy-la pour mandane comme elle avoit l'ame toute grande et toute genereuse elle ne pouvoit pas estre capable de se resjouir de la mort d'un prince qui ne luy pouvoit plus nuire et elle sentit bien plus de disposition a la pitie qu'a la joye en cette rencontre ce fut pourtant une compassion qui ne troubla pas le divertissement d'un voyage qui avoit presques tous les plaisirs d'une cour tranquile car de la maniere dont les journees estoient disposees on n'estoit guere plus las le soir que si on eust este a une simple promenade joint aussi que ce grand nombre d'honnestes gens que la familiarite du voyage unissoit encore davantage faisoit un si agreable meslange de gens de toutes sortes de conditions d'humeurs et de nations differentes qu'il eust falu estre fort stupide ou fort chagrin pour s'ennuyer en un lieu ou il y avoit tant de personnes divertissantes et qui pour la plus part n'avoient alors autre dessein que de se divertir il en faut pourtant excepter ceux a qui l'amour donnoit de facheuses heures car enfin intapherne 
 avoit tousjours dans l'esprit la princesse de bithinie artamas estoit fache d'estre si longtemps esloigne de la princesse palmis mazare avoit bien de la peine a s'accoustumer a n'estre que l'amy de mandane et a n'estre plus son amant myrsile n'estoit pas peu afflige de voir qu'il ne faisoit nul progres dans l'esprit de doralise et andramite estoit au desespoir de connoistre qu'il n'y avoit nulle apparence qu'il pust jamais flechir son coeur pour aglatidas il estoit encore trop amoureux d'amestris pour n'avoir pas une impatience inquiette de la revoir et pour ne s'ennuyer pas quelquesfois de la longueur de ce voyage quoy qu'il s'aprochast tousjours d'elle ainsi tout ce qu'il y avoit d'amans dans cette armee avoient chacun leur chagrin mais comme ils aportoient quelque foin a le cacher ils ne laissoient pas de contribuer beaucoup au plaisir de la conversation principalement les soirs que toute la compagnie se r'assembloit chez mandane anaxaris mesme tout inquiet qu'il estoit ne laissoit pas aussi de faire un grand effort sur son esprit afin de ne monstrer pas son inquiettude car dans le dessein qu'il avoit de plaire a mandane il ne jugeoit pas que le chagrin qu'il avoit dans l'ame deust paroistre sur son visage de sorte qu'il le cachoit si bien et il arriva si parfaitement a la fin qu'il s'estoit proposee qu'il y avoit peu d'hommes au monde pour qui mandane eust plus d'estime que pour anaxaris aussi luy en donnoit elle mille marques obligeantes soit en disant mille biens de 
 luy a cyrus soit en l'assurant qu'elle obligeroit le roy son pere a reconnoistre les services qu'il luy rendoit soit en sa facon de vivre aveque luy car enfin elle luy commandoit avec une authorite si douce et si civile qu'on peut assurer que ces commandemens estoient plus obligeans que les prieres de beaucoup d'autres mais si anaxaris aportoit foin a se faire aimer de mandane il en aportoit aussi a se faire aimer et craindre de ceux a qui il commandoit et il en estoit en effet tellement aime et tellement craint qu'il estoit peu de choses qu'il n'eust pu leur faire faire cependant cette illustre troupe s'avancant tousjours cyrus et mandane arriverent un soir a une petite ville scituee au bord de ce grand et fameux fleuve halis qui a sa source parmy les montagnes d'armenie et qui apres avoir serpente dans tant de pais differens separe en cet endroit la capadoce de la paphlagonie n'estant esloigne du pont euxin que de trois cens stades seulement comme la journee avoit este assez grande et que mandane trouvoit quelque douceur a penser qu'elle estoit en capadoce ou tous les peuples la recevoient avec une joye incomparable et des acclamatios continuelles elle fit dessein de s'y reposer un jour dont martesie eut beaucoup de joye parce qu'elle se souvint qu'elle avoit une tante qui demeuroit d'ordinaire a themiscire qui avoit une fort belle maison a quarante stades de la se souvenant de plus qu'elle avoit toujours accoustume d'y estre a la saison 
 qu'il estoit de sorte qu'elle s'en envoya informer a l'heure mesme afin que si elle s'y trouvoit elle demandast permission a mandane de luy aller faire une visite le lendemain puis qu'elle ne marcheroit pas si bien que dans cette esperance elle passa le soir avec beaucoup de disposition a se divertir comme feraulas estoit celuy qui s'estoit charge de scavoir si sa tante seroit chez elle il s'en aquita avec tant de diligence que lors que martesie s'eveilla le lendemain elle sceut que celle qu'elle vouloit voir estoit ou elle pensoit qu'elle fust et qu'elle y estoit mesme avec une belle et grande compagnie martesie ne sceut pas plustost cette agreable nouvelle que se levant en diligence elle fut trouver mandane pour la suplier de luy permettre d'aller faire cette visite d'abord cette princesse ne se ressouvint pas bien qui estoit cette parente de martesie mais un moment apres s'estant remis en la memoire qu'elle estoit soeur de celle qu'avoit espouse artucas qui avoit livre une porte de sinope a cyrus lors qu'il avoit este pour la delivrer et qu'il n'avoit delivre que le roy d'assirie elle luy dit obligeamment que pour ne se priver pas du plaisir qu'elle avoit de la voir aupres d'elle et pour ne la priver pas aussi de celuy qu'elle esperoit recevoir en voyant une personne qui luy estoit si proche elle vouloit envoyer faire un compliment a sa tante et luy envoyer mesme un chariot quoy qu'elle sceust bien qu'elle en avoit un afin de l'obliger a 
 la venir voir martesie n'osant pas resister a une proposition si obligeante remercia mandane de la bonte qu'elle avoit pour elle et se voulut charger du foin d'envoyer vers sa parente qui se nommoit amaldee mais cette princesse voulut que ce fust un des siens qui y allast et en effet la chose s'executa ainsi il est vray que martesie chargea celuy qui y fut d'un billet pour amaldee apres quoy elle retourna dans la chambre de mandane que ses femmes habilloient et ou doralise et pherenice estoient de sorte que cette princesse prenant la parole des qu'elle la vit entrer mais martesie luy dit-elle je ne scay si ma memoire me trompe mais il me semble que du temps que nous estions a themiscire vostre tante qui est une des plus honneste personne du monde avoit une amie qui a mon gre estoit la plus insuportable femme de la terre quoy que ce fust une des plus vertueuses du coste de la galanterie il est vray madame reprit martesie que je n'en connus de ma vie une qui eust plus de part a mon aversion que celle que vous dittes mais comment en pouvoit elle donc avoir a l'amitie d'amaldee reprit doralise car pour moy je trouve qu'il n'est pas ordinaire qu'une personne qui a du merite ait des amies qui n'en ont point on ne peut pas dire reprit mandane que celle dont je parle n'ait point de bonnes qualitez puis qu'il est vray qu'elle a este admirablement belle et qu'elle l'estoit encore extremement quand je partis de themiscire de plus elle a de la vertu 
 autant qu'on en peut avoir et elle a mesme assez d'esprit mais avec tout cela si martesie vouloit vous la representer je suis assuree que vous tomberiez d'accord qu'elle n'est point du tout aimable ha madame s'escria martesie vous parlez encore trop favorablement d'une personne qui ne merite pas d'estre aussi vertueuse qu'elle est puis qu'elle se sert si mal de sa vertu car enfin dit-elle en se tournant vers doralise puis que la princesse veut que je vous despeigne cette amie d'amaldee qui se nomme isalonide il faut vous l'imaginer comme elle vous l'a despeinte c'est a dire belle et vertueuse et mesme assez pleine d'esprit mais d'un esprit si remply d'un sot orgueil que je ne scay comment vous le representer en effet parce qu'elle scait qu'elle a de la modestie elle croit qu'il n'est pas necessaire qu'elle ait de l'humilite et que parce qu'elle n'est ny coquette ny galante et que de ce coste la on ne luy peut rien reprocher elle a un privilege particulier d'estre chagrine bizarre grondeuse colere medisante et imperieuse et elle croit enfin que parce qu'elle a une vertu toute seule il luy doit estre permis d'avoir tous les vices et pour moy de la facon dont elle en use si j'estois son mary je pense que j'aimerois mieux qu'elle fust un peu galante et qu'elle eust un peu de toutes les autres vertus qui luy manquent que de n'en avoir qu'une et avoir un peu de toutes les mauvaises habitudes qu'on peut avoir en mon particulier reprit doralise je ne trouve rien de 
 plus desraisonnable que de voir une femme qui conte pour quelque chose de ce qu'elle est ce qu'elle doit estre isalonide le conte tellement repliqua martesie que je suis persuadee que comme il y a certains braves insolens grossiers et stupides qui croyent que la valeur toute seule suffit a faire un honneste homme isalonide croit aussi qu'il ne faut que n'estre point galante pour estre la plus vertueuse femme de son siecle cependant il resulte de cette belle opinion qu'elle fait enrager son mary par ses caprices qu'elle met le desordre dans toute sa famille par sa severite et par son orgueil qu'elle reprend avec aigreur tout ce qu'elle a de parentes qui sont jeunes qu'elle censure toutes les femmes de la ville ou elle est quelle mesprise tout ce qui l'aproche qu'elle fait cent jugemens injustes qu'elle ne met point de difference entre estre un peu galante ou estre tres criminelle et qu'elle condamne enfin tout ce qu'elle voit et tout ce qu'elle ne voit pas luy semblant qu'il n'apartient qu'a elle seule de se vanter d'estre vertueuse aussi paroist-il une telle presomption dans son esprit qu'on ne la scauroit endurer il est vray reprit mandane que cette vanite est tres mal fondee puis que s'il est excusable d'en avoir de quelque chose il faut que ce soit lors qu'on possede quelque bonne qualite qu'on n'est pas absolument oblige d'avoir et il ne faut pas trouver qu'il y ait sujet d'avoir de l'orgueil de ce qu'on possede une vertu sans laquelle on seroit infame car par exemple si une femme qui aura 
 de la beaute de l'esprit et de la vertu se donne la peine de cultiver les lumieres que la nature luy a donnees et que soit dans les sciences ou dans les arts elle aquiere quelques connoissances extraordinaires dont elle scache user avec toute la retenue qui est necessaire a nostre sexe elle a sans doute quelque sujet de pretendre qu'on la doit plus louer qu'une autre je dis mesme plus adjousta t'elle puis que je tombe encore d'accord qu'une grande partie des vertus qu'isalonide n'a pas peuvent en quelque facon estre un juste sujet de vanite a celles qui les possedent parce qu'on peut manquer d'en avoir quelqu'une et ne laisser pas de meriter d'estre louee mais de tirer vanite d'une vertu dont on ne peut manquer sans estre indigne de vivre c'est une chose si honteuse a tout le sexe en general que je n'y puis penser sans quelque sentiment de confusion car enfin il faut croire que cette sorte de vertu dont isalonide tire tant de vanite est si essentiellement necessaire a une femme qu'il ne faut pas mesme presuposer qu'il s'en puisse trouver qui ne l'ayent pas et il vaut beaucoup mieux estre en hazard de mettre quelques criminelles au rang des innocentes que de croire qu'il puisse y en avoir beaucoup de coupables ainsi selon mon sentiment isalonide a un orgueil tres mal fonde et je suis persuadee qu'un homme qui pretendroit de grands eloges sans autre raison sinon qu'il n'auroit ny empoisonne ny assassine personne seroit aussi bien fonde qu'elle qui ne fait consister sa 
 gloire qu'en ce qu'elle n'a point eu de galanterie il faut sans doute reprit doralise qu'elle ne scache pas que n'avoir point un vice n'est pas avoir une vertu et qu'entre l'avarice et la liberte il y a un grand intervale ce que vous dittes de l'avarice et de la liberalite repliqua mandane se peut presques dire de toutes les autres vertus et de tous les autres vices n'y en ayant guere ou l'on ne trouve cet intervale dont vous parlez qui fait que tant qu'on y demeure on ne merite ny blasme ny louange pour moy reprit doralise en souriant je croirois volontiers qu'isalonide ne merite peutestre pas mesme qu'on luy attribue la vertu dont elle se vante tant car si elle est aussi grondeuse aussi chagrine aussi medisante et aussi orgueilleuse que vous la representez je ne pense pas qu'elle ait eu beaucoup d'adorateurs en mon particulier adjousta martesie je trouve que vous avez raison du moins scay-je bien que je ne trouve rien de plus insuportable que ces sortes de femmes qui ont l'ame si basse qu'elles se contentent d'une seule vertu et qui ont toutesfois tant d'orgueil qu'elles mesprisent celles qui outre cette vertu qu'elles ont aussi bien qu'elles possedent encore toutes les autres et ce qui est le plus facheux c'est que l'exemple de cette fiere et sauvage vertu ne sert de rien pour porter les jeunes personnes au bien au contraire toutes les reprimandes de ces sortes de femmes severes et arrogantes irritent leur esprit et font qu'elles ont tant de peur de 
 leur ressembler qu'il arrive quelquesfois qu'elles ne leur veulent pas mesme ressembler en ce qu'elles ont de bon quoy qu'il en soit reprit mandane nous scaurons du moins par amaldee si isalonide est tousjours de mesme humeur et si une jeune soeur qu'elle avoit sera devenue de la sienne si cela est repliqua martesie j'advoueray que je ne me connois point en phisionomie car je vous assure madame que cette jeune soeur qui se nomme clorelise avoit je ne scay quoy dans les yeux qui me faisoit croire qu'elle avoit l'inclination fort galante il est vray qu'isalonide l'observoit de si pres quoy qu'elle ne demeurast pas avec elle qu'elle n'estoit pas en pouvoir de suivre ses propres sentimens si cette personne reprit doralise est aussi jolie que son nom est joly elle est plus aimable que sa soeur comme je ne l'ay guere pratiquee repliqua martesie je scay seulement qu'elle a l'air galant qu'elle est belle et qu'elle a beaucoup d'esprit sans que je puisse pourtant vous dire si elle est fort aimable mais en eschange adjousta mandane vous pouvez l'assurer qu'elle a un frere nomme belermis qui est aussi persuade de sa valeur que son autre soeur l'est de sa vertu du moins poursuivit-elle en regardant martesie me semble-t'il qu'on l'accusoit de faire un peu trop le brave quoy qu'il le fust en effet il est vray madame reprit martesie que belermis qui a cela pres est un assez honneste homme a tousjours un peu trop affecte de paroistre ce qu'il 
 est et qu'on l'a accuse aveque raison d'avoir toutes les grimaces de la bravure car enfin il est certain qu'il a une desmarche trop guerriere que son action a quelque chose de trop fier et que lors qu'il entre dans une compagnie il a plus l'air d'un homme qui seroit prest a donner une bataille qu'a faire une conversation de galanterie ses habillemens mesme ont tousjours quelque chose qui ne sent point la paix et le son de sa voix est si retentissant qu'on a peine a s'imaginer que les prieres qu'il fait ne soient pas des commandemens et mesme des commandemens militaires tant il est vray que tout ce qu'il fait et tout ce qu'il dit persuade qu'il affecte de faire le brave en toutes choses cependant il est certain qu'il est ainsi naturellement si cela est reprit doralise il a grand sujet de se plaindre de la nature car je vous assure que ces hommes qui sont tousjours guerriers en temps de paix ne sont guere moins ridicules que ces femmes qui sont de l'humeur d'isalonide comme doralise parloit ainsi la princesse mandane estant acheve d'habiller se disposa d'aller au temple ou elle fut en effet accompagnee de cyrus et de tous ceux qui formoient cette belle cour errante s'il est permis de parler ainsi mais comme le sacrifice fut un peu long lors que mandane retourna au lieu ou elle avoit couche elle y trouva la tante de martesie qui venoit d'y arriver mais elle l'y trouva avec une des plus belles et des plus agreables compagnies du monde car enfin elle 
 avoit avec elle dix ou douze femmes bien faites et autant d'hommes fort honnestes gens de sorte que mandane estant agreablement surprise par une si belle troupe elle la receut avec toute la civilite possible et elle receut d'autant mieux toutes ces personnes qu'il y en avoit peu qui luy fussent inconnues car elles estoient presques toutes de themiscire cyrus en son particulier eut aussi beaucoup de satisfaction de voir que cette belle compagnie venoit tout a propos pour faire passer le jour agreablement a mandane et tous ceux qui estoient aveque luy furent aussi bien aises de voir tant de dames en un lieu ou il n'y avoit pas aparence d'en devoir trouver de si aimables pour martesie elle estoit si satisfaite de voir tant de personnes de sa connoissance que la joye en paroissoit dans ses yeux mais ce qui luy en donna le plus fut de voir avec sa tante cette fille d'artucas nommee erinice avec qui elle avoit fait une amitie si particuliere a sinope durant qu'elle avoit este logee chez son oncle pendant la prison d'artamene aussi ne se vit elle pas plustost en liberte de l'entretenir durant qu'amaldee parloit a mandane que se souvenant qu'elle avoit este presente lors que ces quatre amans qui pretendoient chacun estre le plus malheureux amant du monde furent jugez par elle en presence de cyrus que prenant la parole helas ma chere erenice luy dit-elle que de choses me sont arrivees depuis ce jour ou j'estoit si occupee a examiner qui de l'indifference de la 
 mort de l'absence ou de la jalousie estoit la plus rigoureuse et que je serois encore si je voulois vous dire qui m'a donne le plus d'inquietude ou la peine de ne vous plus voir ou la crainte d'estre oubliee de vous mais pendant que martesie parloit ainsi et qu'erenice luy respondoit avec beaucoup d'esprit et beaucoup de tendresse mandane regardoit avec admiration une personne qu'elle voyoit parmy ces autres dames car encore qu'elles fussent presques toutes bien faites il n'y avoit pas de comparaison de celle-la a toutes les autres en effet cette fille qui se nommoit telamire avoit tous les charmes de la beaute et sa beaute estoit mesme si particuliere qu'on ne pouvoit luy assigner de rang car comme elle n'estoit ny grande ny petite ny blonde ny paffe ny rouge ny brune et qu'elle tenoit je juste milieu entre toutes ces choses on eust dit que la nature l'avoit voulu separer de toutes les autres afin qu'on ne la pust jamais confondre dans ces divers ordres de beautez qui font quelquesfois de si grands partis lors qu'il s'agit de soustenir les beautez blondes ou les beautez brunes de plus telamire outre qu'elle estoit belle estoit encore de bonne grace et avoit un certain air de qualite en toute sa personne qui sans avoir rien de superbe avoit pourtant de la majeste au reste comme telamire n'estoit ny brune ny blonde il sembloit encore par l'air de son visage qu'elle n'estoit ny melancolique ny enjouee et qu'ayant fait un juste meslange de ces deux choses il 
 en avoit resulte une humeur agreable et douce qui sans tenir rien de la trop grande gayete ny du chagrin devoit estre fort divertissante mais si telamire charma les yeux de la compagnie un homme qui estoit aupres d'elle merita d'arrester aussi les regards de tout le monde estant certain qu'il avoit aussi bonne mine que telamire estoit belle on voyoit mesme en sa phisionomie qu'il avoit beaucoup d'esprit et il escoutoit ce qu'on disoit d'un certain air qu'il estoit aise de connoistre par les mouvemens de son visage qu'il entendoit les choses comme il les faloit entendre mais ce qui le rendit encore plus considerable a mandane fut d'aprendre qu'il estoit fils d'amaldee et parent de martesie car comme il n'estoit pas a themiscire lors qu'elle y estoit elle ne le connoissoit point elle se souvenoit bien qu'amaldee avoit un fils qui se nommoit artaxandre mais elle ne scavoit pas que ce fust celuy qu'elle voyoit aussi ne le sceut elle pas plustost qu'elle luy fit un compliment sort obligeant ou il respondit comme un des hommes du monde qui parloit le mieux et qui disoit tousjours le plus precisement tout ce qu'il devoit dire de sorte que la conversation se liant peu a peu entre tant d'agreables personnes le temps passa si viste qu'il sembloit qu'il n'y eust qu'un moment que mandane fust revenue du temple lors qu'on l'advertit qu'on avoit servy si bien que toute cette belle troupe se separant cyrus emmena tous les hommes aveque luy et mandane retint toutes les dames a 
 disner avec elle il est vray qu'elle ne les retint pas seulement pour cela car elle leur declara qu'elles ne retourneroient point chez elles que le lendemain mais pour respondre a la civilite de cette princesse amaldee luy dit qu'elles feroient encore plus parce qu'elles estoient resolues de l'aller conduire jusques a deux journees du lieu ou elle estoit de sorte que toute cette belle troupe se joignant a tant d'honnestes gens qui suivoient mandane fit qu'on passa ce jour-la avec beaucoup de plaisir il arriva mesme une chose qui fit qu'elle ne put pas se separer si tost et que la princesse mandane ne put partir comme elle en avoit le dessein parce que pendant la nuit ce grand fleuve au bord duquel estoit scituee la petite ville ou elle estoit alors s'enfla d'une telle sorte et commenca de se desborder avec tant d'impetuosite que la campagne prochaine en estoit toute inondee car enfin les torrens ne grossissent pas avec plus de precipitation que cette grande riviere se desborda il est vray que durant douze heures il tomba une pluye si abondante que cela ne servit pas peu a la grossir quoy que selon les aparences ce desbordement fut principalement cause par la chutte de plusieurs torrens qui descendant tout d'un coup dans cette riviere qui a sa source parmy les montagnes d'armenie la forcerent de sortir de son canal ordinaire et de s'espancher par la plaine cependant comme il faloit que mandane la traversast pour continuer son chemin il falut de 
 necessite attendre qu'elle se fust retiree et il falut mesme que toute cette belle troupe qui l'estoit venue visiter s'arrestast aussi long temps aupres d'elle qu'elle demeura en ce lieu-la parce que la maison d'amaldee estoit de l'autre coste de l'eau car encore qu'il y eust un pont et que le pont ne fust pas rompu on ne pouvoit s'en servir a passer le fleuve parce qu'on ne pouvoit y aller a cause que le debordement alloit plus de douze stades au de la des deux bouts de ce pont de sorte que toute cette agreable compagnie demeurant jointe il sembla qu'elle n'eust autre dessein que de faire passer ce temps-la sans ennuy a la princesse mandane qui de son coste faisoit aussi ce qu'elle pouvoit pour contribuer au divertissement de tant de personnes agreables mais martesie disoit-elle un matin a cette aimable fille qui peut avoir assemble toutes ces dames qui sont avec vostre tante je vous assure madame luy repliqua-t'elle que je ne le scay encore que fort confusement car depuis qu'elles sont icy je n'ay fait autre chose que de parler de vous et de satisfaire la curiosite qu'elles ont eue de scavoir toutes vos avantures ce n'est pas que la renommee ne leur en eust apris une partie mais c'est qu'elles les scavoient si mal que j'ay este bien aise de leur aprendre la verite et de la separer de tous les mensonges qu'on leur avoit fait passer pour des veritez constantes mais aujourd'huy que je leur ay dit tout ce qu'elles vouloient scavoir il faudra que je les oblige a leur tour a 
 me dire tout ce que je voudray qu'elles m'aprennent car enfin tout ce que je scay est qu'il y a une grande avanture entre cette belle fille qui s'apelle telamire et artaxandre et que l'amour fait des heureux et des malheureux par tout telamire reprit mandane est bien propre a produire deux effets si differens puis qu'il est vray que je n'ay guere veu de personnes en ma vie qui me plaisent davantage c'est pourquoy martesie informez vous un peu plus particulierement de sa fortune afin de me la faire scavoir il me sera bien aise de vous obeir madame repliqua-t'elle puis qu'en mon particulier j'ay beaucoup de curiosite de l'aprendre et en effet des le soir mesme erenice s'estant trouvee avec martesie sans autre compagnie que celle de doralise durant que toutes les autres dames estoient avec mandane elle s'aquita de sa commission mais ma chere parente luy dit-elle apres vous avoir raconte les plus belles avantures du monde en vous racontant celles de nostre princesse et de l'illustre cyrus ne pensez vous pas ne me dire ri des vostres quand je vous auray dit reprit erenice qu'apres vostre depart de sinope mon pere m'envoya a themiscire aupres d'amaldee et que j'y ay tousjours este avec beaucoup de chagrin de ne scavoir bien souvent ou vous estiez ou de scavoir que vous estiez prisonniere je vous auray sans doute dit les plus importantes choses de ma vie dites moy du moins repliqua martesie ce qui est cause que tant d'aimables personnes 
 qui n'avoient autrefois nulle societe entr'elles ont fait un voyage ensemble pour vous aprendre ce que vous voulez scavoir reprit-elle il faudroit que je vous disse toute la vie d'artaxandre et toute celle de telamire quoy qu'artaxandre soit mon parent comme le vostre reprit martesie la fortune nous a si souvent separez que nous ne nous connoissons presques point mais comme il me semble un fort honneste homme je seray bien aise de le connoistre par vous c'est pourquoy ma chere erenice il faut que vous vous disposiez a m'aprendre toute sa vie puis que vous la scavez et que doralise ait sa part du divertissement que vostre recit me donnera les avantures des personnes ou l'on ne s'interesse point repliqua erenice divertissent si peu qu'il faut ce me semble attendre que nous soyons seule a nous entretenir d'une pareille chose ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que ce que j'ay a vous dire ne soit assez extraordinaire mais c'est comme je l'ay desja dit que si on ne s'interesse un peu a la fortune de ceux de qui on entend raconter l'histoire on n'y scauroit prendre plaisir s'il ne faut que s'interesser au bonheur d'artaxandre et a celuy de telamire reprit doralise pour avoir quelque satisfaction en oyant le recit de leurs avantures j'ay assurement tout ce qu'il faut pour en estre agreablement divertie car enfin il n'est pas possible de les voir sans desirer qu'ils soient heureux et pour vous tesmoigner poursuivit elle qu'ils ne me sont pas indifferens 
 je vous assure que je souhaite de tout mon coeur que si artaxandre a des rivaux qu'ils soient mal traitez et que si telamire doit aimer quelque chose que ce soit artaxandre mais peutestre adjousta-t'elle est-ce que vous avez quelque secret a dire a martesie que vous ne voulez pas que je scache c'est pourquoy poursuivit doralise en se levant comme ayant dessein de s'en aller il vaut mieux vous laisser en liberte ha doralise s'escria erenice en la retenant gardez vous bien de faire une pareille chose car je suis persuadee que si j'avois prive martesie de vostre veue la mienne ne luy donneroit pas grande satisfaction de plus je puis vous assurer que toute douce que vous la voyez c'est une des plus vindicatives personnes du monde lors qu'il s'agit d'une pareille chose et pour vous le prouver je me souviens qu'ayant eu un jour le malheur de luy oster une compagnie agreable sans y penser elle n'eut point de repos qu'elle ne s'en fust vangee en m'accablant une apresdisnee toute entiere de la conversation de la plus incommode personne qui sera jamais c'est pourquoy ne songez donc pas s'il vous plaist a vous en aller songez donc a me satisfaire reprit martesie en riant puis que je suis si vindicative car je vous declare que si vous ne me dittes toute la vie d'artaxandre et de telamire je diray tout ce que je scay de la vostre a doralise quoy que comme vous scavez je n'ignore pas que vous avez fait plus d'un malheureux depuis que nous nous connoissons 
 comme ce recit repliqua erenice en rougissant seroit moins divertissant que celuy que je dois faire quoy que vous parliez plus agreablement que moy j'aime mieux vous obeir que vous resister obeissez donc reprit martesie mais pour faire que ce mot soit place a propos obeissez a doralise et adressez luy la parole car comme elle est estrangere a themiscire il faut que ce soit a elle que vous expliquiez beaucoup de choses que vous ne me diriez pas si vous ne parliez qu'a moy apres cela doralise respondit encore quelque chose et erenice luy repliqua mais a la fin martesie leur ayant impose silence a toutes deux et ayant donne ordre qu'on ne les vinst point interrompre erenice commenca de parler en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire d'artaxandre et de telamire
 
 
comme ceux dont j'ay a vous raconter la vie n'ont qu'a peine le bien d'estre connus de vous je devrois sans doute commencer mon recit par leur eloge afin que nous engageant dans leurs interests par un sentiment d'estime vous eussiez plus d'attention a ce que j'ay a vous dire mais outre que le merite de ces deux personnes est assez esclatant pour l'avoir desja acquise je craindrois encore de ne les louer pas assez bien il faut pourtant que je vous die que telamire est une des plus charmantes personnes du monde a ceux qui la connoissent particulierement estant 
 certain qu'encore qu'elle soit tousjours tres aimable pour tous ceux qui l'aprochent en general elle l'est beaucoup plus pour ceux qui ont sa confiance toute entiere et l'on peut dire qu'elle est autant au dessus d'elle mesme lors qu'elle est avec ses amies particulieres qu'elle est au dessus de beaucoup d'autres lors qu'elle est en une conversation generale aussi luy dit-on en luy faisant la guerre qu'elle a deux esprits au lieu d'un et quand on voit a themiscire une personne stupide on dit qu'il faut l'envoyer a telamire afin qu'elle luy donne ce dont elle a trop tant il est vray que son merite est universellement connu au reste telamire est douce et genereuse et sa beaute est assurement la moins bonne qualite qu'elle ait pour artaxandre il suffit pour le louer en ne le louant pas que je vous die que martesie le peut hardiment advouer pour son parent puis qu'il a toutes les qualitez qui peuvent faire un honneste homme apres cela je vous diray que telamire est une fille de condition dont le pere se nommoit algaste et dont la mere estoit une personne tres vertueuse qui aimoit tendrement amaldee mere d'artaxandre sous la conduite de qui il a toujours este parce que son pere mourut qu'il estoit encore au berceau et pour vous faire entendre ce que j'ay a vous dire dans la fuite de mon discours il faut que vous scachiez qu'algaste n'avoit jamais eu qu'une fille qui est telamire et que des sa plus tendre enfance sa femme qui se nommoit cleossonte 
 dit tousjours a amaldee qu'elle vouloit que sa fille espousast un jour le jeune artaxandre son fils qui pouvoit avoir alors cinq ou six ans plus que telamire qui n'en avoit pas encore douze en ce temps-la mais quoy que ce dessein ne fust sceu que de peu de personnes et qu'algaste luy mesme ne le sceust point il ne fut pas si secret que la jeune telamire n'en sceust quelque chose par les femmes qui avoient foin d'elle de sorte que des lors elle disposa son coeur a obeir un jour a cleossonte et je ne scay si on ne doit point attribuer une partie du merite de telamire a l'innocent dessein qu'elle eut dans son enfance d'estre bientost en estat de meriter l'estime d'artaxandre en effet je ne pense pas qu'on puisse estre plus aimable estant enfant que telamire l'estoit car non seulement sa personne estoit tres jolie mais c'est qu'outre qu'elle avoit desja le plus beau teint du monde et qu'elle estoit desja tres belle elle donnoit de l'admiration a ses maistres soit a celuy qui luy montroit a dancer ou a celuy qui luy enseignoit la langue assirienne qu'elle parloit desja tres agreablement estant certain qu'on ne pouvoit pas dancer mieux qu'elle dancoit des ce temps la ny parler plus joliment une langue estrangere qu'elle parloit celle qu'elle avoit aprise de plus elle avoit desja la taille si bien formee et la phisionomie si fine que tous les gens d'esprit qui alloient chez cleossonte ne la traittoient plus d'enfant quoy qu'elle le fust encore au contraire on la 
 louoit comme une grande fille et on luy parloit presques de toutes choses comme si elle eust eu dix-huit ans aussi y respondoit-elle si a propos et avec tant de marques d'esprit sur le visage qu'on avoit lieu de croire que si elle ne s'empressoit pas fort a parler c'estoit parce qu'elle scavoit qu'elle n'avoit pas douze ans et que la bien-seance ne vouloit pas qu'elle monstrast encore tout son esprit quoy qu'elle en monstrast assez pour se faire admirer de sorte qu'ayant toutes les graces de l'enfance sans en avoir toutes les foiblesses on peut assurer qu'elle estoit desja infiniment aimable et infiniment charmante je vous dis cecy aimable doralise pour vous faire scavoir le premier fondement de l'affection de telamire et d'artaxandre il est vray que cela ne se pouvoit pas nommer affection en ce temps-la car comme amaldee envoya artaxandre voyager des qu'il eut dix-sept ans et que son voyage fut long il ne se souvenoit presques plus qu'il avoit ouy dire a sa mere qu'elle eust souhaite qu'il eust espouse telamire et telamire elle mesme quoy qu'elle se souvinst du dessein qu'avoit eu cleossonte ne pensoit pas qu'il deust jamais reussir car il faut que vous scachiez que cette vertueuse personne mourut que telamire n'avoit que quatorze ans de sorte que demeurant sous la conduite de son pere qui mit une femme d'esprit et de vertu aupres d'elle elle ne songea qu'a devenir tousjours plus accomplie sans penser a artaxandre n'ignorant pas que le dessein qu'avoit 
 cleossonte n'estant fonde que sur l'amitie qu'elle avoit pour amaldee ne pouvoit plus avoir nulle suitte puis qu'elle estoit morte et qu'algaste son pere bien loin de songer a la marier ne pensoit qu'a trouver une autre femme car comme il estoit fort riche il ne desespera pas d'en trouver une quoy qu'il fust vieux et quoy qu'il la voulust jeune belle et de bonne condition amaldee de son coste ne pensoit plus aussi a ce mariage car outre qu'elle scavoit bien qu'algaste ne songeoit pas encore a marier sa fille comme elle le voyoit en estat d'avoir d'autres enfans en se remariant elle ne trouvoit plus que ce parti la fust aussi avantageux qu'il avoit este du vivant de cleossonte ainsi cette affaire estoit comme si jamais on n'y eust pense cependant les jours s'avancant les uns apres les autres et artaxandre devenant aussi honneste homme durant ses voyages que telamire devint belle durant son absence il se raprocha de themiscire mais comme il n'avoit jamais este en un lieu ou l'on dit que demeuroit autrefois la seconde reine des amasones nommee orithie du temps qu'elle regnoit en capadoce il eut la curiosite de l'aller voir et en effet c'est un des plus beaux lieux du monde aussi est-il tellement celebre qu'il est presques honteux a un homme d'esprit de n'y avoir point este et de ne scavoir pas tout ce qu'on y monstre et tout ce qu'on en dit cependant comme le hazard se mesle de toutes choses il faut que vous scachiez qu'artaxandre trouva en ce 
 lieu-la une troupe de dames de themiscire qui y estoient pour le mesme sujet que luy c'est a dire par curiosite seulement mais entre ces dames il y avoit une fille nommee clorelise qui estoit tres jolie et qui l'est encore quoy qu'elle ait bien eu des chagrins depuis ce temps-la mais aimable doralise il faut que je vous die pour l'intelligence de ce que j'ay a vous aprendre que clorelise qui n'avoit plus de pere ny de mere demeuroit avec un frere qu'elle avoit nomme belermis n'ayant pas voulu demeurer avec une soeur qu'elle a qui s'apelle isalonide parce que c'est la plus imperieuse personne du monde pour vous espargner la peine de faire son portrait interrompit martesie il faut que je vous die que je l'ay representee a doralise telle qu'elle est c'est a dire avec ce sot orgueil qu'elle tire de ce qu'elle n'est pas accusee d'estre trop galante il n'est pas aussi necessaire poursuivit-elle que vous disiez comment est belermis car je ne scay s'il est vivant ou mort puis que je luy ay dit tout ce que j'en scay et qu'elle l'a dans l'imagination tel qu'on represente le dieu mars mais pour clorelise vous me ferez plaisir de me dire de quelle humeur elle est presentement clorelise reprit erenice est opposee a isalonide en beaucoup de choses et luy ressemble en quelques-unes car enfin elle a l'inclination galante et elle est aussi tres capable d'un attachement particulier et d'un attachement fort puissant mais quoy qu'elle paroisse tres civile et 
 que mesme quand elle le veut elle soit assez complaisante pourveu que cette complaisance puisse servir a ses interests il est pourtant vray qu'elle est aussi imperieuse en galanterie que sa soeur l'est en sa maniere de plus elle est vindicative autant qu'on le peut estre puis qu'il n'est rien qu'elle ne soit capable de faire pour se vanger n'estant pas de ceux qui disent qu'il ne faut jamais se vanger sur soy mesme car de l'humeur dont elle est elle aime bien mieux se faire du mal pourveu qu'elle en face a ceux qu'elle hait que de n'en souffrir point et de ne se vanger pas cependant comme clorelise est belle qu'elle a de l'esprit et que ce qu'elle a d'imperieux dans l'humeur ne paroist pas a ceux qui n'ont rien a demesler avec elle il est difficile de la voir sans l'aimer de sorte qu'artaxandre la rencontrant a ce bourg ou sont les ruines de ce chasteau d'orithie il eut pour elle toute la civilite qu'un aussi honneste homme que luy devoit avoit pour une belle personne et pour une personne qui n'estant qu'un enfant quand il estoit parti de themiscire avoit pour luy toute la grace de la nouveaute aussi s'attacha-t'il plus a luy parler qu'a toutes celles avec qui elle estoit mais comme ces sortes de parties en font bien souvent naistre d'autres apres avoir veu ensemble tout ce qu'il y avoit a voir au chasteau de cette grande reine des amazones ils firent dessein d'aller a un autre lieu ou l'on dit qu'hercule et thesee aborderent lors qu'ils 
 deffirent ces vaillantes guerrieres et ou l'on voit l'endroit ou les deux soeurs de cette reine dont l'une se nommoit hipolite et l'autre menalipe furent faites prisonnieres par ces deux heros de sorte qu'artaxandre et clorelise estant plusieurs jours ensemble et des jours encore ou ils avoient toute la familiarite du voyage et ou l'on ne parloit que de choses divertissantes et galantes il se trouva qu'en parlant de l'amour d'hercule et de celle de thesee il se fit entre ces deux personnes une espece de liaison que je ne scay comment apeller car enfin j'ay sceu depuis par artaxandre que son coeur ne fut point effectivement touche d'amour et que l'affection qu'il eut pour clorelise fut toute dans son esprit en effet me disoit-il un jour que je le pressois de me dire ce qu'il avoit senty pour elle pour vous tesmoigner que mon coeur estoit libre c'est que j'aimay clorelise parce que je la voulus aimer et que je l'aimay sans nulle inquiettude mais apres tout aimable doralise artaxandre durant ce voyage luy dit toutes les galanteries que son esprit luy suggera s'il luy parla d'hipolite dont thesee devint amoureux apres l'avoir prise ce fut pour luy faire entendre qu'il auroit eu le mesme destin que luy si hipolite luy eust ressemble et s'il luy parla d'hercule lors qu'on luy monstra ou il avoit vaincu les amazones ce fut pour luy dire encore qu'elle estoit plus vaillante qu'elles ne l'avoient este puis que sans armes elle ne laissoit pas de r'emporter des victoires et de faire 
 des prisonniers enfin pour ne m'amuser pas en choses inutiles quoy qu'artaxandre n'eust que de l'estime pour clorelise il fit presques comme s'il en eust este amoureux de sorte que clorelise qui a assez bonne opinion d'elle pour croire facilement d'estre aimee creut qu'il en pensoit plus qu'il n'en disoit et le regarda en effet comme son esclave si bien que s'en retournant a themiscire toute glorieuse de sa conqueste il n'y eut personne qui a son retour ne trouvast qu'elle estoit embellie tant il est vray que la joye sied bien a la beaute mais aimable doralise avant que de m'engager a vous dire combien artaxandre fut estime a themiscire il faut que je vous die que comme nostre ville est assez divisee il y avoit une maison ennemie de celle d'artaxandre dont le fils aisne nomme tysimene estoit de mesme age que luy de sorte que le hazard ayant fait que ses parens l'avoient envoye aux mesmes lieux ou estoit artaxandre il estoit arrive que comme ils estoient tous deux fort jeunes tous deux fort bien nez et qu'ils n'avoient jamais rien eu a demesler ensemble se trouvant en un pais estranger et engagez dans les mesmes occupations et dans les mesmes plaisirs et fort esloignez de ceux qui eussent pu entretenir la haine dans leur esprit ils vinrent enfin a s'aimer la fortune faisant naistre mesme plusieurs occasions ou ils eurent besoin l'un de l'autre et ou ils se servirent avec une esgalle generosite si bien que ces deux ennemis reconciliez se promirent 
 une affection inviolable et furent a la guerre ensemble contre polycrate lors qu'il avoit de si grands interests a demesler contre les mylesiens et ceux de prienne je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire qu'ils se signalerent tous deux mais je vous diray que depuis cette guerre comme artaxandre fut r'apelle par amaldee et que tysimene ne le fut pas par ses parens ils se separerent et qu'artaxandre revint a themiscire comme je l'ay desja dit mais en quittant son amy ils convinrent qu'il ne publieroit point leur reconciliation qu'il ne revinst a themiscire car comme le pere de tysimene estoit bizarre et violent il craignit qu'il ne s'en irritast et qu'il ne luy envoyast plus ce qu'il avoit accoustume de luy donner pour sa subsistance ainsi cette amitie ayant quelque chose d'aussi misterieux que l'amour elle en fut plus forte et plus tendre cependant cette reconciliation ne fit aucun bruit a themiscire et au retour d'artaxandre on dit bien qu'il estoit devenu amant de clorelise au chasteau d'orithie mais on ne dit pas qu'il fust devenu amy de tysimene durant son voyage or pour en revenir a la joye qu'avoit clorelise de croire qu'elle avoit assujetty le coeur d'artaxandre je vous diray qu'elle ne parloit d'autre chose il est vray que cette joye fut un peu moderee par une reprimende tres aigre que luy fit isalonide du voyage qu'elle venoit de faire car quoy qu'elle l'eust fait avec la permission de son frere et qu'elle fust avec de fort honnestes personnes 
 elle ne laissa pas de faire un vacarme estrange luy reprochant qu'il y avoit cent temples celebres en capadoce ou elle n'avoit jamais eu la curiosite d'aller et que cependant elle alloit faire des parties de galanterie pour voir un lieu ou il n'y avoit rien de plus remarquable sinon qu'on y avoit enleve des amazones toutesfois comme clorelise estoit accoustumee a sa severite elle se consola bientost de tout ce que sa soeur luy dit de facheux car comme telamire se trouvoit un peu mal et qu'elle gardoit la chambre elle ne laissa pas de l'aller visiter ce n'est pas qu'il y eust une grande amitie entre elles mais comme elles estoient de mesme condition et a peu pres de mesme age elles se voyoient assez souvent joint que clorelise dans les sentimens ou elle estoit eust volontiers cherche a faire de nouvelles connoissances afin d'avoir plus d'occasion de raconter le voyage qu'elle venoit de faire et de parler d'artaxandre il y avoit mesme encore une autre raison qui obligeoit clorelise a voir souvent telamire car vous scaurez que belermis son frere en estoit fort amoureux et qu'il la pressoit tous les jours de lier amitie avec cette aimable fille afin de se pouvoir mettre en estat de luy pouvoir rendre office aupres d'elle apres avoir donc quitte isalonide elle fut chez telamire ne scachant pas que la mere de cette belle personne avoit eu dessein qu'elle espousast artaxandre car il ne s'en estoit espandu aucun bruit hors de la famille de sorte 
 qu'apres que les premiers complimens furent faits que clorelise eut dit a telamire que son mal ne l'avoit presques point changee et que telamire luy eut dit aussi que le soleil ne l'avoit point hallee clorelise s'informa des nouvelles de la ville et telamire luy en demanda de son voyage si bien qu'ayant une voye si facile de suivre son inclination elle se mit a le luy raconter exactement exagerant avec un plaisir estrange la rencontre que leur troupe avoit faite d'artaxandre comme il y a quelques jours que je n'ay point sorty dit alors telamire et que je ne voulus hier voir personne je n'avois pas sceu qu'artaxandre fust revenu mais encore adjousta-t'elle l'avez vous trouve propre a rendre vostre voyage plus agreable le vous assure repliqua clorelise que je l'ay trouve si honneste homme que je ne pense pas qu'il y en ait un a themiscire qui le soit davantage ny peut-estre autant quand on est en humeur de se divertir reprit telamire on se divertit de tout et ceux qui sont mediocrement honnestes gens plaisent quelquesfois plus que ceux qui le sont beaucoup davantage ne scauroient faire quand on n'y est pas non non telamire reprit clorelise ce n'est point sur ma belle humeur qu'il faut fonder l'estime que je fais d'artaxandre c'est sur son propre merite qui est tel que pour justifier le jugement que j'en fais si vous estes encore un jour malade je vous le veux amener aussi bien sommes nous tombez d'accord que ce sera moy qui 
 luy choisiray ses connoissances et qui luy donneray des amies car comme vous le scavez il est parti si jeune de themiscire qu'il est presques estranger en son propre pais il faut sans doute reprit telamire en souriant qu'artaxandre vous ait trouvee aussi belle que vous le trouvez accompli puis qu'en si peu de temps il vous estime assez pour luy choisir ses amies et ses connoissances quoy qu'il en soit repliqua-t'elle n'ayez pas mauvaise opinion d'artaxandre de ce que je vous advoue qu'il l'a fort bonne de moy car enfin les plus honnestes gens sont capables d'une erreur une fois en leur vie et il peut estre que je suis celle d'artaxandre ha clorelise reprit telamire je croirois plustost qu'artaxandre seroit la vostre que de penser que vous fussiez la sienne puis que je connois trop vostre merite et que je connois trop peu le sien pour dire une semblable chose pour faire que vous en jugiez equitablement repliqua clorelise je vous l'ameneray demain car adjousta-t'elle en souriant puis que je vous le dois amener il faut que je n'attende pas que vous soyez tout a fait guerie de peur que je n'exposasss cet amy qui m'est si cher a un fort grand danger s'il vous voyoit tout a fait en sante puis qu'il vous a veue reprit telamire il n'a plus rien a craindre a themiscire estant certain qu'il n'y a rien de si redoutable que vous vous avez beau me vouloir flatter repliqua clorelise car je vous assure que toutes les douceurs que vous me direz aujourd'huy n'effaceront pas 
 l'outrage que vous m'avez fait en me disant que je ne me connois paint en honnestes gens puis que vous avez presupose que je m'y pourrois tromper mais pour vous en punir adjousta t'elle si la fantaisie m'en prend je diray a artaxandre que vous n'avez pas voulu croire qu'il fust ce que je vous ay dit qu'il est ha clorelise s'escria telamire gardez vous bien de me faire ce tour la car je ne vous le pardonnerois de ma vie comme clorelise alloit respondre il arriva des dames qui firent changer la conversation et qui l'obligerent a s'en aller parce que ce n'estoient pas des femmes qui luy plussent cependant comme artaxandre n'avoit nulle habitude particuliere qu'avec elle et avec les dames avec qui elle avoit fait le voyage qui avoit cause leur connoissance il la voyoit tous les jours et il s'estoit mesme fait presenter a belermis de sorte qu'il la voyoit chez elle aussi bien que chez ses amies ainsi il fut aise a clorelise de tenir sa parole a telamire mais comme elle avoit sans doute dessein de conserver soigneusement la conqueste qu'elle croyoit avoir faite elle dit a artaxandre en le menant le jour suivant chez telamire qu'elle l'alloit mener chez une maistresse de son frere mais elle le luy dit a mon advis afin que la regardant comme une personne ou un autre estoit desja engage il ne fust pas capable d'y songer quand mesme les charmes de telamire pourroient plus toucher son coeur que les siens mais pour faire qu'il ne fust pas surpris de 
 la beaute de telamire elle la luy loua avec exces scachant bien que c'est une fort bonne voye pour deminuer quelque chose de l'admiration qu'une grande beaute donne la premiere fois qu'on la voit que de faire qu'on s'attende a la trouver telle du moins m'imaginay-je que ce fut son intention et ce qui me le fait croire est que quand elle parloit de la beaute de telamire a d'autres gens elle ne la louoit pas avec empressement quoy qu'il en soit ils furent chez cette belle malade qui meritoit sans doute le nom que je luy donne car comme je la vy ce jour-la je puis vous assurer qu'artaxandre la vit avec tous ses charmes estant certain que je ne l'ay pas veue mieux dans sa plus grande sante il est vray que le mal qu'elle avoit estoit peu de chose joint qu'elle estoit si bien en deshabille et il y avoit je ne scay quoy de neglige et de propre a sa coiffure qui luy estoit si avantageux qu'il n'estoit pas possible de la voir sans la louer ou du moins sans en avoir envie cependant clorelise qui depuis le retour d'artaxandre avoit beauconp plus de foin d'elle qu'a l'ordinaire estoit assez paree ce jour la mais malgre toute sa parure la negligence de telamire l'emporta et elle parut mille fois plus belle que clorelise quoy que clorelise le soit extremement comme j'avois desja beaucoup de part a l'amitie de telamire elle m'avoit envoyee prier ce matin la de vouloir passer l'apresdisnee aupres d'elle et en effet j'y fus de si bonne heure que clorelise n'y estoit pas encore mais a peine fus je assise 
 qu'elle me demanda comment j'estois avec artaxandre car dit elle comme nous pouvons quelquesfois avoir des amis qui ne sont pas nos parens nous pouvons aussi tres souvent avoir des parens qui ne sont pas nos amis tout ce que je vous puis dire luy repliquay-je c'est qu'artaxandre est assurement assez honneste homme pour estre mon parent et mon amy tout ensemble mais comme il y a fort peu qu'il est arrive et que depuis qu'il est icy il a tousjours este avec clorelise ou avec les dames avec qui elle a este au chasteau d'orithie je ne scay encore s'il me tient pour son amie ou s'il ne me regarde que comme sa parente comme je disois cela artaxandre qui aidoit a marcher a clorelise entra de sorte que clorelise l'ayant presente a telamire cette belle fille le receut avec beaucoup de civilite et il la salua avec beaucoup de respect d'abord je remarquay qu'il fut surpris de voir telamire et que malgre toutes les louanges que clorelise luy avoit donnees il ne se l'estoit pas imaginee si belle mais comme clorelise le remarqua sans doute aussi bien que moy elle en rougit de despit et elle en eut d'autant plus qu'ayant jette les yeux sur grand miroir qui estoit vis a vis de nous elle y vit telamire et s'y vit aussi et connut a mon advis elle mesme et malgre la bonne opinion qu'elle avoit de sa beaute qu'artaxandre auroit raison quand il trouveroit telamire plus belle qu'elle du moins me parut-il je ne scay quel petit chagrin sur son visage que 
 j'expliquay de cette sorte joint aussi que je remarquay qu'apres s'estre veue dans ce miroir aupres de telamire elle voulut changer de place et en changea effectivement disant que le jour luy faisoit mal aux yeux mais ce fut sans doute pour en faire changer a artaxandre et pour se placer de facon qu'il ne les pust voir toutes deux a la fois comme il faisoit auparavant et qu'ainsi il ne remarquast pas si aisement la difference qu'il y avoit entre telamire et elle et en effet des qu'elle fut ou elle pensoit estre mieux ce petit chagrin qui m'avoit paru se dissipa de sorte que voulant assurement reparer par son bel esprit le desavantage qu'elle connoissoit que sa beaute avoit aupres de celle de telamire elle se mit a dire cent choses agreables et divertissantes mais quoy que telamire n'y respondit pas avec le mesme empressement que clorelise avoit a les dire elle y respondit pourtant si a propos et d'une maniere si spirituelle qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'elle avoit l'esprit aussi beau que le visage d'abord la conversation fut du voyage de clorelise de la rencontre inopinee qu'elle avoit faite d'artaxandre et de l'amitie qu'elle avoit aveque luy pour moy disois-je je suis persuadee que c'est ainsi qu'il se faut connoistre pour s'estimer et pour s'aimer plus en six jours que les autres gens qui se connoissent d'une autre maniere ne s'aiment en six mois car enfin quand on se connoist par une tierce personne qui prepare l'esprit de ceux qui se doivent connoistre par de grands 
 eloges on a l'imagination si remplie d'une grande idee qu'on se forme soy mesme qu'il est bien difficile que quand on vient a se voir on ne trouve ce qu'on a pense beaucoup plus beau que ce qu'on voit ce que vous dittes reprit artaxandre arrive sans doute tres souvent mais il n'arrive pas tousjours et pour vous le tesmoigner adjousta-t'il je n'ay qu'a vous dire qu'encore que clorelise m'eust dit que telamire estoit une des plus belles personnes du monde et que je m'en fusse forme une image que je trouvois admirable je ne laisse pas d'advouer que si je vous la pouvois faire voir vous verriez que ce seroit un mauvais portrait comme ce qu'on apelle un mauvais portrait reprit telamire est une peinture qui ne ressemble point a la personne pour qui elle est faite un portrait qui flatte est aussi mauvais qu'un portrait qui enlaidit ainsi je puis croire ce que vous dittes sans en tirer vanite parce qu'il peut estre que vous trouvez l'idee que vous aviez de moy beaucoup plus belle que je ne suis ha telamire s'escria clorelise je ne suis point de vostre opinion en une chose et je ne tonberay jamais d'accord qu'un portrait qui flatte soit un mauvais portrait comme telamire repliqua artaxandre n'en a sans doute jamais eu d'elle qui l'ait flattee parce qu'on ne la peut jamais peindre aussi belle qu'elle est je ne m'estonne pas qu'elle ne scache point cette difference mais je m'estonne dit-il en se reprenant voyant qu'il louoit trop telamire et trop peu clorelise que vous la scachiez 
 puis qu'assurement vous ne pouvez pas non plus avoir de portraits de vous qui ne vous derobent beaucoup de grace artaxandre luy dit-elle en riant et en rougissant tout ensemble n'entreprenez point tant de choses a la fois louez telamire toute seule et ne me louez point ou louez moy et ne la louez pas car enfin cet encens partage n'oblige personne mais pour ne vous embarresser pas adjousta-t'elle a faire un choix qui ne me seroit peutestre pas avantageux il vaut mieux que puis que vous venez de dire ce que vous pensez de telamire que telamire die aussi ce qu'elle pense de vous et si l'idee qu'elle s'en estoit formee est plus grande que ce qu'elle en trouve car pour vous dire les choses comme elles sont je luy dis hier autant de bien de vous que je vous ay dit de bien d'elle mais a mon advis la chose n'aura pas este ainsi et je croy qu'elle vous doit encore plus admirer que vous ne l'admirez parce que n'ayant pas aussi bonne opinion de moy que vous l'avez elle n'adjousta pas au tant de creance a mes paroles lors que je vous louois que vous y en avez adjouste lors que je l'ay louee ha clorelise s'escria telamire vous estes la plus cruelle personne du monde de parler comme vous faites comme je ne dis rien repliqua-t'elle que je ne vous eusse menacee de dire vous n'en devez pas estre surprise telamire craignant alors qu'artaxandre ne creust qu'elle avoit dit quelque estrange chose en parlant de luy se mit a luy raconter sa conversation du jour precedent avec 
 clorelise luy advouant ingenument que sans en pouvoir dire la raison elle n'avoit pas creu qu'il fust aussi honneste homme que clorelise le luy avoit represente cependant adjousta-t'elle j'espere que nous serez assez raisonnable pour ne vous offencer pas de ce que j'ay pense de vous autant que de vous connoistre et que vous vous contenterez de la justice que je vous rends aujourd'huy que je vous connois mieux je ne m'offenceray pas sans doute reprit artaxandre de ce que vous avez pense de moy en ne me connoissant pas mais je crains bien d'avoir sujet d'estre afflige de ce que vous en pensez apres m'avoir connu plust aux dieux dit clorelise sans donner loisir a telamire de respondre qu'elle pust estre capable de se tromper puisqu'il est vray que j'aurois le plus grand plaisir du monde de pouvoir luy reprocher qu'elle ne se connoist point en honnestes gens mais je crains bien adjousta-t'elle en souriant que je n'aye pas cette satisfaction et qu'au contraire vous ne deveniez tant de ses amis que j'en devienne un peu moins de vos amis car enfin comme je nous ay fait connoistre a telamire je ne trouverois nullement bon qu'elle fust plus des vostres que moy pourveu qu'artaxandre ne soit pas plus mon amy que le vostre reprit telamire en souriant a son tour que nous importe si je suis plus son amie que nous ne l'estes que m'importe reprit clorelise ha telamire il m'importe estrangement car je suis assuree que nous ne serez jamais 
 plus des amies d'artaxandre que moy s'il n'est plus de vos amis que des miens mais aimable clorelise luy dit artaxandre en souriant aussi bien qu'elles quand vous m'avez fait la grace d'accepter la commission que je vous ay donnee de me choisir des amies et que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'amener icy avez vous eu dessein que je fusse ennemy de telamire non repliqua-t'elle mais je n'ay pas eu aussi intention que vous fussiez si bien ensemble que nous en fussions mal cependant je suis la plus trompee du monde si cela n'arrive quelque jour quoy que clorelise dist cela en riant je suis pourtant assuree qu'elle craignoit en effet que cela n'arrivast ainsi mais enfin apres que sa visite eut este assez longue elle s'en alla mais elle s'en alla sans scavoir que ce qu'elle aprehendoit estoit desja arrive estant certain qu'artaxandre fut si touche de la beaute de telamire qu'il eut besoin de toute la force de sa memoire pour se souvenir tousjours qu'il ne faloit pas qu'il la louast trop en parlant a clorelise mais comme il avoit beaucoup de peine a parler d'autre chose parce que son imagination n'estoit remplie que de cela il parla moins qu'a son ordinaire le reste du jour ce que clorelise remarqua avec assez de chagrin comme elle l'a redit depuis mais ce qui luy en donna bien davantage le lendemain fut qu'elle sceut par une des dames qu'artaxandre avoit veues avec elle la premiere fois qu'il la vit qu'il avoit loue la beaute de telamire avec tant d'exces qu'elle n'avoit 
 jamais tant entendu louer qui que ce soit de sorte que considerant qu'il ne luy en avoit presques rien dit elle conjectura que c'est qu'il en pensoit plus encore qu'il n'en avoit die a son amie neantmoins comme elle a bonne opinion d'elle et qu'en ce temps-la elle n'avoit point eu d'esclave qui eust rompu ses chaines elle ne creut pas tout a fait qu'artaxandre pust rompre les fers qu'elle pensoit luy avoir donnez si bi que sans luy tesmoigner rien de son inquietude elle vescut aveque luy comme elle avoit commence c'est a dire avec beaucoup d'amitie mais quelque temps apres ayant sceu qu'artaxandre avoit este plusieurs fois chez telamire sans qu'il luy en eust rien dit elle en eut un despit estrange car enfin je pense pouvoir dire sans mensonge que clorelise dans l'opinion qu'elle avoit d'estre aimee d'artaxandre l'aimoit desja plus qu'il ne l'aimoit il est vray pourtant qu'il faut dire pour excuser la creance ou elle estoit que comme artaxandre s'estoit insensiblement engage a agir avec elle comme s'il en eust este amoureux il ne scavoit comment s'en desdire si bien qu'encore qu'il sentist dans son coeur une passion naissante pour telamire qui luy donnoit desja beaucoup d'inquietude il ne laissoit pas de continuer de parler a clorelise comme a l'ordinaire et il le faisoit d'autant plustost qu'en effet il avoit dessein de s'opposer a l'affection qu'il avoit pour telamire et de deffendre son coeur et contre elle et contre 
 toute autre s'imaginant que la simple galanterie sans amour estoit une chose bien plus agreable qu'une passion violente ne le pouvoit estre ainsi il continuoit encore de dire a clorelise toutes ces sortes de choses que disent ceux qui sans parler ouvertement d'amour ne laissent pas de faire entendre qu'ils en ont il est vray qu'il ne continua pas long temps sans beaucoup de peine cependant clorelise dont le coeur estoit veritablement engage raisonnant sur l'estat ou elle se trouvoit songea quelle voye elle pourroit prendre pour empescher artaxandre de voir telamire ou du moins de lier amitie avec elle d'abord elle creut qu'il faloit qu'elle rompist avec telamire et qu'elle obligeast artaxandre a le faire aussi et a prendre son parti mais tout d'un coup venant a croire que peutestre ne pourroit elle pas l'obliger a faire une chose comme celle-la elle craignit que si elle ne la voyoit plus qu'il ne continuast de la voir et qu'elle ne fust plus en estat de troubler leur conversation par sa presence de sorte qu'un sentiment de jalousie luy faisant prendre un dessein tout oppose elle se resolut de faire semblant d'avoir une amitie tres tendre pour telamire et de la voir si souvent qu'artaxandre ne pust jamais la voir sans elle et pour l'embarrasser encore davantage a quelque temps de la elle obligea belermis son frere a descouvrir a artaxandre l'amour qu'il avoit pour telamire et a le prier de l'y servir luy disant qu'elle scavoit que telamire l'estimoit infiniment et qu'il 
 n'y avoit pas un homme qui fust plus propre que luy pour en faire son confident en effet belermis fit tout ce qu'il put pour aquerir l'amitie d'artaxandre et suivant les conseils de clorelise il luy confia tout le secret de son coeur et luy descouvrit la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame le conjurant quand il en trouveroit occasion de luy vouloir estre favorable vous pouvez juger qu'artaxandre se trouva fort embarrasse car de dire sincerement a belermis qu'il estoit son rival il n'y avoit pas d'aparence veu les termes ou il en estoit avec sa soeur et de luy promettre de faire ce qu'il vouloit qu'il fist il ne luy estoit pas possible cependant belermis luy demandant cette grace avec toute cette fierte guerriere qui luy estoit si naturelle il ne scavoit presques que luy dire neantmoins comme artaxandre a l'esprit adroit il s'en deffendit le mieux qu'il put je vous suis bien oblige luy dit-il de la confiance que vous avez en mon amitie mais belermis si vous voulez que je vous die tout ce que je pense il faut que je vous advoue qu'il n'y a pas au monde un plus mauvais agent que moy en pareille occasion et la raison qui fait que je ne scay point servir mes amis en amour c'est que je suis fortement persuade que je leur nuis plus que je ne les sers et qu'en ces sortes de choses il ne faut employer que soy car enfin un amy en ces occasions fait quelquesfois plus de mal qu'un rival en effet poursuivit-il pensez vous que si telamire scavoit que vous me dissiez tout ce que vous 
 luy dites et tout ce qu'elle vous dit qu'elle pust jamais se resoudre de vous parler moins rigoureusement qu'elle ne fait non non belermis ne vous trompez pas et croyez que le moyen d'avoir une maistresse severe c'est qu'elle scache que son amant a un confident puis qu'il est vray que telle personne seroit capable de se confier a un homme qu'elle aimeroit qu'elle ne se confieroit pas a son amy ainsi tout ce que je puis vous promettre poursuivit-il est de parler de vous a clorelise selon les sentimens que j'en ay quand l'occasion s'en presentera car encore une fois si j'en usois autrement je vous nuirois plus que vous ne pensez comme belermis n'avoit nul soubcon qu'artaxandre fust son rival et qu'au contraire il le croyoit amoureux de clorelise il se laissa persuader et le pria seulement de vouloir bien que du moins il luy rendist conte de tout ce qu'il luy arriveroit et qu'il luy en demandait conseil comme artaxandre ne pouvoit avoir un pretexte de le refuser il luy accorda ce qu'il vouloit et il le luy accorda d'autant plustost qu'il trouvoit quel que douceur a entendre toutes les pleintes qu'il faisoit de la rigueur de telamire ce fut mesme un plaisir qu'il eut souvent car comme il n'y avoit presques point de jour que belermis ne receust quelque nouvelle marque de la cruaute de cette belle fille il cherchoit continuellement artaxandre pour la luy conter d'autre part clorelise executant son dessein eut des complaisances inouies pour telamire et luy 
 rendit tant de soins qu'en effet telamire creut d'abord qu'elle l'aimoit tendrement clorelise avoit mesme encore un avantage en la voyant tous les jours car comme elle avoit une reputation de vertu admirable la severe isalonide ne trouvoit pas si mauvais qu'elle la vist que beaucoup d'autres aussi la voyoit elle si souvent qu'elle ne voyoit autre chose vous pouvez juger que dans la passion qu'avoit artaxandre ce luy fut un grand suplice de se voir tousjours oblige de parler d'amour a une personne pour qui il n'en avoit pas et de n'en parler point a une autre pour qui il en avoit beaucoup cependant il se trouvoit aussi embarrasse a cesser de dire a clorelise qu'il l'aimoit qu'a commencer de dire a telamire qu'il avoit de l'amour pour elle de plus la confidence de belermis vint encore a l'importuner et il devint a la fin si amoureux et si chagrin que tout luy estoit insuportable en effet sa passion devint si forte en peu de jours qu'il ne se soucia plus trop de ce que penseroit clorelise ny de ce que penseroit belermis quand ils viendroient a scavoir qu'il aimoit telamire mais toute l'inquietude de son esprit estoit de faire scavoir a cette belle personne les sentimens qu'il avoit pour elle comme clorelise et belermis estoient tousjours avec telamire il ne luy estoit pas aise de la trouver seule et je pense qu'il en eust cherche long temps l'occasion si clorelise ne se fust trouvee assez mal pour garder la chambre durant quelques jours encore n'eust il pas peu de peine 
 a trouver telamire chez elle car dans les sentimens de jalousie que clorelise avoit dans l'ame elle n'avoit pas plus tost les yeux ouverts qu'elle envoyoit prier telamire d'avoir pitie d'elle durant son mal et de la venir voir des qu'elle auroit disne luy mandant que quand elle ne la voyoit pas elle en avoit une inquietude estrange de sorte que telamire qui pensoit que clorelise l'aimoit cherement alloit en effet chez elle de fort bonne heure et violentant son inclination qui ne la portoit pas a aimer clorelise elle respondoit a cette amitie aparente par mille sortes d'offices et de petits soins et particulierement par la diligence qu'elle avoit a se tenir assiduement aupres de clorelise quand elle estoit malade si bien que durant les premiers jours de son mal il fut impossible a artaxandre de la trouver ailleurs que chez clorelise car a cause d'algaste pere de telamire il n'osoit pas aller chez elle devant l'heure ou la bien-seance souffre qu'on face des visites mais enfin ayant bien pris son temps il entra un jour dans la chambre de telamire comme elle estoit devant son miroir et qu'elle mettoit son voile pour aller chez clorelise de sorte que comme elle avoit desja beaucoup de familiarite aveque luy elle ne laissa pas de continuer de le mettre apres l'avoir salue presuposant qu'il voudroit bien aller chez clorelise et en effet voulant luy en faire la proposition civilement si je ne scavois luy dit-elle que clorelise est vostre amie devant que je fusse la vostre 
 que vous ne pouvez jamais trouver mauvais qu'on luy rende une partie de ce qu'on doit a son merite au lieu de continuer a mettre mon voile je l'osterois et je recevrois regulierement vostre visite mais comme je m'imagine que vous voudres bien que nous allions ensemble pour soulager le chagrin de cette aimable malade vous voyez que j'en use avec toute la liberte dont clorelise elle mesme pourroit user aveque vous je serois bien malheureux respondit-il si j'estois assez mal dans vostre esprit pour vous obliger a rompre un dessein que vous auriez fait mais madame luy dit-il malicieusement pour l'empescher d'aller si tost chez son amie si vous aimez le repos de clorelise vous n'irez pas encore la voir car comme je viens tout a l'heure d'envoyer scavoir de sa sante j'ay sceu qu'elle ne fait que de s'endormir mais si vous le souhaitez poursuivit-il j'envoyeray un de mes gens attendre qu'elle s'esveille afin de vous en venir advertir puis que selon mon opinion vous attendrez plus commodement chez vous que dans son anti-chambre telamire qui creut ce qu'il luy disoit commanda a une de ses femmes d'aller dire a un des gens d'artaxandre qu'il allast chez clorelise mais artaxandre faisant semblant que c'estoit par civilite et que de plus il avoit quelque autre ordre a donner s'avanca diligemment a la porte de la chambre de telamire et ordonna a celuy qu'il envoya chez clorelise d'estre deux heures sans revenir et que s'il alloit quelqu'un 
 des gens de telamire pour scavoir si clorelise seroit esveillee il ne le laissast pas parler a ceux du logis et qu'il luy dist qu'il venoit de scavoir qu'elle ne l'estoit pas encore artaxandre prevoyant bien que l'impatience prendroit a telamire cet ordre donne artaxandre retourna aupres de cette belle personne qui luy faisant donner un siege se mit a luy parler de clorelise croyant qu'elle ne pouvoit l'entretenir de rien qui luy pust estre plus agreable car encore qu'en cent occasions differentes elle eust remarque qu'artaxandre avoit agi comme un homme qui auroit eu quel que inclination pour elle il ne luy estoit pourtant pas possible de comprendre que clorelise l'eust aime s'il ne l'eust aimee de sorte que comme elle ne doutoit point que clorelise n'aimast artaxandre elle croyoit qu'artaxandre aimoit clorelise et elle le croyoit si bien que dans cette opinion elle se mit comme je vous l'ay dit a luy parler d'elle cependant quoy qu'il se fust determine a descouvrir sa passion a telamire il eut tant de peur d'estre mal receu qu'il fut assez long temps sans oser dire ce qu'il pensoit mais comme il ne put si bien cacher son inquietude que telamire ne la remarquast elle s'alla imaginer que c'estoit qu'il estoit peutestre empire tout d'un coup a clorelise et qu'il en estoit peine de sorte que prenant la parole mais artaxandre luy dit-elle vous me semblez bien melancolique ne seroit ce point que clorelise seroit plus mal qu'elle n'estoit ce matin non madame 
 luy dit-il emporte par sa passion mais c'est qu'artaxandre est encore beaucoup plus mal aujourd'huy qu'il n'estoit hier et je croy mesme qu'il luy empirera tous les jours si artaxandre est malade reprit-elle en souriant les apparences sont bien trompeuses elles le sont en effet repliqua-t'il et pour vous en donner un exemple n'est-il pas vray madame que tout le monde croit a themiscire que je suis amoureux de clorelise cependant il est constamment vray que je ne le fus jamais d'elle et si je ne l'estois pas plus d'une admirable personne que je n'oserois vous nommer je serois plus heureux que je ne suis telamire entendant parler artaxandre comme il faisoit soubconna alors quelque chose de la verite c'est pourquoy pour l'empescher de luy en dire davantage elle destourna agreablement la chose non non artaxandre luy dit elle ne prenez pas tant de soin a me vouloir tromper car je suis bien plus complaisante pour mes amis que vous ne le pensez en effet des que je voy qu'ils ont dessein que je croye une chose j'agis comme s'ils me l'avoient persuadee ainsi je vous diray si vous le voulez que je croy que vous n'aimez point clorelise et que vous en aimez une autre je serois pourtant bien marrie pour vostre repos que cela fust adjousta-t'elle estant persuadee que vous auriez bien de la peine a persuader a cette autre que vous n'aimassiez pas clorelise cependant poursuivit telamire vous trouverez bon que j'envoye 
 a mon tour quelqu'un qui soit a moy pour scavoir si elle ne s'esveille point car je croy que celuy que vous y avez envoye doit estre encore plus endormy qu'elle et en effet telamire ayant apelle une de ses femmes afin qu'elle y envoyast cette femme apella un esclave qui fut s'aquiter de sa commission mais comme la prudence d'artaxandre avoit preveu l'impatience de telamire celuy qu'il avoit envoye a la porte de clorelise voyant cet esclave qu'il connoissoit fort s'avanca vers luy et luy demanda ou il alloit si bien que cet esclave le luy ayant fait scavoir l'autre luy dit qu'il luy espargneroit la peine d'entrer chez clorelise en l'assurant qu'il venoit tout a l'heure de parler a une de ses femmes qui luy avoit assure que sa maistresse n'estoit point esveillee si bien que cet esclave sans s'informer davantage retourna dire a telamire que clorelise dormoit encore sans dire pourtant qu'il ne le scavoit que par un des gens d'artaxandre de peur d'estre gronde de sorte qu'apres qu'il eut fait son message il se retira et telamire prenant la parole voila un assoupissement bien long dit-elle en regardant artaxandre et ce qui m'en fache c'est que clorelise n'est pas d'un de ces temperamens endormis dont on voit quelques personnes dans les yeux de qui il semble qu'on voye tousjours errer le sommeil au contraire on diroit que de la facon dont est clorelise elle ne doive jamais dormir tout a fait et je suis si persuadee de ce que 
 je dis que je croy que du moins ne dort elle jamais sans songer et que de l'heure que je parle elle est aveque moy quoy que je ne sois pas avec elle si cela est madame repliqua artaxandre elle est avec une personne qui pourroit si elle le vouloit s'esclaircir pleinement si j'aime clorelise ou si je ne l'aime pas je vous ay desja dit repliqua telamire que je suis assez complaisante pour croire ou pour faire semblant de croire ce que mes amis veulent croyez donc seulement aujourd'huy pour suivit-il que je n'ay jamais aime clorelise et demain si je suis assez hardi pour vous le dire je vous conjureray de croire que je suis le plus amoureux de tous les hommes de la plus belle personne du monde et d'une personne encore sur qui vous avez plus de pouvoir que je ne voudrois que vous en eussiez comme telamire alloit respondre un esclave de clorelise entra qui luy dit que sa maistresse s'ennuyant estrangement de ce qu'elle ne l'alloit pas voir envoyoit scavoir ce qu'elle faisoit et quelle raison l'empeschoit de luy donner la satisfaction de l'entretenir telamire surprise de ce qu'on luy disoit regarda artaxandre qui sans s'estonner dit a cet esclave que c'estoit luy qui avoit empesche telamire d'aller chez clorelise parce qu'un de ses gens luy avoit dit qu'elle n'estoit pas esveillee ce qui embarrassoit telamire estoit qu'elle y avoit envoye un esclave qui estoit a elle de sorte que cet esclave ne s'estant pas trouve au logis pour scavoir de luy a qui il avoit parle elle creut que c'estoit 
 un mal entendu entre les gens de clorelise et ceux qu'on avoit envoyez chez elle si bien que se disposant d'y aller a l'heure mesme elle donna la main a artaxandre presuposant qu'il n'auroit pas change de dessein et pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle ne se faisoit pas l'aplication de ce qu'il luy avoit dit quand je croirois luy dit-elle que vous n'estes pas amoureux de clorelise je ne laisserois pas de croire que vous luy voudriez bien faire une visite puis que vous ne pouvez luy denier l'advantage d'estre la premiere amie que vous ayez a themiscire et je soustiens d'autant plus son droit poursuivit-elle que je pretens conserver celuy que j'ay d'estre la seconde ha madame s'escria-t'il soit que je sois amoureux ou que je ne le sois pas clorelise n'est pas en mesme rang que vous dans mon esprit quoy que ce soit une personne pour qui j'ay beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie comme la maison de telamire estoit assez pres de celle de clorelise ils n'eurent pas loisir d'en dire davantage joint que comme une fille qui estoit a telamire les pouvoit entendre artaxandre fut contraint de parler d'autre chose cependant des qu'ils entrerent dans la chambre de clorelise elle fit mille reproches a telamire et les y fit avec une esmotion de coeur estrange car comme elle voyoit artaxandre avec elle elle jugeoit bien qu'il avoit este la cause de son retardement mais elle en eut bien davantage lors que telamire pour se justifier luy dit la chose comme elle s'estoit passee artaxandre 
 luy soustint pourtant hardiment qu'on luy avoit assure qu'elle dormoit mais comme clorelise avoit l'esprit trop engage pour estre capable de se laisser tromper elle poussa la chose jusques au bout et faisant venir toutes ses femmes les unes apres les autres elles dirent toutes qu'elles n'avoient veu personne ny de la part d'artaxandre ny de celle de clorelise artaxandre luy dit alors que c'estoit assurement quelqu'un des gens de belermis qui pour s'espargner la peine de r'entrer chez elle avoit fait ce mensonge mais enfin quoy qu'il pust dire clorelise ne s'en satisfit pas et elle creut bien plus fortement qu'artaxandre avoit fait cette fourbe que telamire ne le creut mais en mesme temps elle creut aussi que telamire y avoit quelque part car comme elle luy assuroit fortement avoir envoye chez elle et que ses femmes assuroient au contraire qu'on n'y estoit point venu de sa part elle ne pensa pas seulement qu'artaxandre estoit amoureux de telamire mais elle pensa encore que telamire avoit plus d'intelligence avec artaxandre qu'elle ne l'avoit pense de sorte que la jalousie s'emparant de son esprit elle souffrit ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer et cette personne qui avoit envoye querir telamire avec tant d'empressement ne scavoit plus que luy dire pour l'entretenir comme j'arrivay quelque temps apres que cet esclaircissement si mal esclairci fut fait je pus voir toutes les agitations d'esprit de clorelise et je ne pus remarquer aussi 
 la confusion d'artaxandre et la prudence de telamire car enfin cette sage fille sans faire semblant de s'apercevoir ny de l'amour d'artaxandre ny de la jalousie de clorelise parla de toutes choses avec une tranquilite merveilleuse et certes j'arrivay fort a propos pour contribuer a la conversation cependant j'ay fait advouer depuis a telamire qu'elle n'avoit pu s'empescher de trouver quelque douceur a penser qu'encore que clorelise aimast artaxandre il ne laissoit pas de l'aimer et que la gloire d'estre preferee a une si aimable personne luy avoit donne quelque plaisir pour moy j'en eus ce jour-la beaucoup car outre qu'il y en avoit sans doute a voir l'embarras ou clorelise et artaxandre avoient l'esprit j'en eus encore extremement a voir belermis avec sa mine fiere qui scachant que telamire estoit dans la chambre de sa soeur y vint pour la voir mais aimable doralise il y vint comme s'il eust este son vainqueur au lieu d'estre son esclave ce n'est pas que ce qu'il luy disoit ne fust civil et respectueux mais c'est que l'air dont il agissoit changeoit le sens de ses paroles et qu'il sembloit qu'il vouloir donner des fers a celle dont il disoit porter les chaines de plus comme il ne pouvoit s'empescher de parler aussi souvent de guerre que d'amour il nous dit tant de choses que j'apris ce jour-la assez de termes miliaires pour pouvoir raconter toutes sortes de conbats car il les engagea tous dans cette conversation si bien que le soir je trouvay que je scavois 
 ce que c'estoit que campement que j'entendois ce que vouloit dire se poster avec avantage que je n'ignorois pas ce que c'estoit que la premiere et la seconde ligne que je comprenois ce que vouloit dire faire demy tour a droit et demy tour a gauche et que j'en scavois du moins assez pour faire perdre une bataille si j'eusse commande une armee car a vous parler sincerement il nous dit tant de ces mots qui sont particuliers a la guerre que tout ce que je pus faire fut de les retenir sans scavoir pourtant bien precisement ce qu'ils signifioient tous mais pour faire que mon divertissement fust entier la severe isalonide entra qui trouvant d'ordinaire a redire a tout ne trouva pas bon que clorelise fust si propre puis qu'elle estoit malade disant tout haut que ces maladies qui ne servoient qu'a attirer la compagnie chez soy et qu'a estre encore plus propre que quand on se porte bien estoit une affectation tres dangereuse car enfin disoit-elle si on est malade il faut ne voir que ceux qui peuvent guerir le mal qu'on a ou ses amies particulieres et il les faut mesme voir sans tous ces grands ajustemens qui ne servent de rien a guerir du plus petit mal du monde et non pas faire ce que font la plus part des femmes aujourd'huy qui quand elles sont malades consultent bien plus soigneusement leur miroir devant que l'heure de la compagnie arrive que leur medecin et qui envoyent bien plus soigneusement advertir toutes leurs connoissances qu'elles 
 garderont la chambre que ceux qui les pensent soulager aussi a dire la verite suis-je persuadee qu'elles ont bien plus d'envie qu'on leur vienne conter cent bagatelles que de conter leur mal a ceux qui le peuvent guerir mais luy dis-je pour faire plaisir a clorelise si vous scaviez combien le chagrin augmente tous les maux de quelque nature qu'ils soient vous ne diriez pas qu'une compagnie divertissante ne puisse pas estre mise au rang des remedes les plus infaillibles si vous demandiez l'advis de ma soeur me respondit-elle d'un ton imperieux je suis assuree qu'elle seroit de vostre opinion et qu'elle soustiendroit que tout ce qu'il y a de simples employez dans medecine ne valent pas la conversation de cinq ou six de ces discours de choses innutiles qui sont bien aises de trouver tousjours quelqu'une de ces malades galantes qui ne le sont qu'afin qu'on les aille voir je vous advoueray interrompit clorelise en rougissant de despit que j'ay este quelquesfois comme vous dittes mais pour aujourd'huy je me trouve si mal que s'il me venoit une grande compagnie cela m'embarrasseroit fort comme telamire entendit ce que disoit clorelise elle se leva pour s'en aller mais clorelise la retenant par un sentiment de jalousie plustost que d'amitie luy dit que ce n'estoit pas pour elle qu'elle parloit ainsi ny pour moy non plus il faut donc que ce soit pour moy reprit artaxandre mais si cela est adjousta-t'il vous n'avez s'il vous plaist madame qu'a obliger telamire 
 de me commander de m'en aller car comme j'ay eu l'honneur de l'amener icy c'est a elle a me faire ce commandement il vous est ce me semble aise de juger combien clorelise sentit le discours d'artaxandre elle ne put toutesfois y respondre car sa soeur estant tres aise de voir qu'une fois en sa vie elle eust souhaite de n'avoir pas compagnie se mit a prier telamire d'obliger artaxandre de s'en aller et belermis luy mesme croyant en effet que clorelise se trouvoit mal s'en alla et artaxandre aussi ce ne fut toutesfois qu'apres que telamire luy eust dit qu'elle le dispensoit de la civilite qu'il luy avoit voulu rendre de sorte que le despit de clorelise augmentant encore elle eut l'esprit si peu libre le reste du jour que telamire et moy ne jugeasmes pas qu'il fust a propos d'y tarder davantage ainsi nous la laissasmes avec isalonide qui a mon advis l'importuna fort cependant comme je m'en allay chez telamire et que je ne pouvois parler que de clorelise je luy dis que je croyois qu'elle craignoit qu'artaxandre ne devinst amoureux d'elle de sorte que dans la confiance qu'elle avoit en mon amitie quoy que je fusse parente d'artaxandre elle ne laissa pas de me dire ce qui s'estoit passe entre elle et luy adjoustant qu'elle seroit au desespoir que clorelise allast se mettre la jalousie dans la teste et qu'artaxandre eust de l'amour pour elle pour cette derniere chose repliquay-je il ne la faut pas mettre en doute et pour la premiere si je ne me trompe vous n'avez 
 qu'a vous y resoudre et en effet l'evenement fit voir que je ne me trompois pas car clorelise eut autant de jalousie qu'artaxandre eut d'amour pour telamire il arriva mesme cent autres petites choses qui seroient trop longues a vous dire qui firent que cette dangereuse passion augmenta dans le coeur de clorelise de sorte que ne pouvant plus vivre dans l'incertitude ou elle estoit elle mit artaxandre dans la necessite de ne voir plus telamire ou de ne la voir plus elle mesme si bien que choisissant le dernier clorelise joignit a la jalousie et a l'amour qu'elle avoit desja dans l'ame un effroyable desir de vangeance aussi fut-ce pour cela qu'elle ne voulut pas cesser de voir telamire quoy qu'elle la haist autant qu'elle haissoit artaxandre car c'est la coustume de celles qui ont de la jalousie de hair presques esgallement les amans qui les abandonnent et celles pour qui elles sont abandonnees cependant afin de faire despit a artaxandre elle continua de voir telamire il est vray que telamire ne se tint guere obligee de ses visites car elle sceut qu'en parlant d'elle a diverses personnes elle en avoit parle desavantageusement neantmoins comme elle est sage elle n'en voulut pas faire d'esclat et elle se contenta de dissimuler comme l'autre dissimuloit il est vray que je suis persuadee que le despit qu'elle eut contre clorelise contribua quelque chose a faire qu'elle ne s'obstina pas tant a rejetter la passion d'artaxandre pour qui elle avoit 
 beaucoup d'estime si bien que r'apellant dans son coeur le souvenir du dessein que feue sa mere avoit eu de la luy faire espouser elle creut qu'elle pouvoit innocemment souffrir qu'il l'aimast puis qu'elle n'avoit aporte aucun soin a faire naistre la passion qu'il avoit pour elle de sorte que s'accoustumant peu a peu a souffrir qu'il luy parlast plus clairement de son amour qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors ils vinrent enfin a estre assez bien ensemble pour faire que telamire luy permist de croire qu'elle ne le haissoit pas et que pourveu que ses parens et les siens y consentissent il pouvoit esperer d'estre heureux ce ne fut pourtant pas sans peine qu'elle se resolut a luy faire une declaration si favorable car il faut que vous scachiez qu'artaxandre ne trouva pas tant de difficulte a luy persuader qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle qu'a luy faire croire qu'il ne l'avoit point este de clorelise elle luy disoit pourtant toujours que s'il avoit este inconstant elle ne vouloit point de son affection ainsi durant un assez longtemps artaxandre ne faisoit autre chose que luy protester qu'il n'avoit jamais aime clorelise que comme son amie et qu'il n'estoit coupable que de ne luy avoir pas dit sincerement qu'elle expliquoit ses sentimens autrement qu'ils ne le devoient estre mais comme artaxandre a infiniment de l'esprit et qu'il avoit une passion violente il luy dit tant de choses touchantes et persuasives qu'enfin comme je l'ay desja dit il la persuada cependant artaxandre se detacha peu 
 a peu de belermis et cessa d'estre son confident il n'avoit pourtant alors nulle inquietude de ce coste la mais c'est qu'estant resolu d'aimer telamire jusques a la mort il ne trouvoit pas qu'il fust a propos qu'il continuast de le tromper ainsi estant tout a fait detache et du frere et de la soeur il s'attacha de telle sorte a aimer telamire qu'il ne croyoit vivre que lors qu'il la voyoit il y avoit pourtant une chose qui l'affligeoit sensiblement qui estoit qu'amaldee qui scavoit qu'algaste pere de telamire cherchoit a se remarier n'aprouvoit plus un mariage qu'elle avoit autresfois tant souhaite neantmoins comme il esperoit ou de la vaincre ou de persuader a telamire de ne se foncier pas de son consentement il avoit d'assez douces heures malgre toute la jalousie de clorelise y ayant peu de jours qu'il ne trouvast moyen de luy parler sans estre entendu que d'elle
 
 
 
 
les choses estant donc en ces termes et clorelise prevoyant bien que si elle ne faisoit obstacle au dessein d'artaxandre il espouseroit bientost telamire prit la plus bizarre resolution du monde car enfin dans le dessein qu'elle eut de se vanger elle ne fit difficulte aucune de sacrifier toute sa vie a sa vangeance et voicy quelle fut l'invention qu'elle imagina je vous ay desja dit qu'algaste quoy qu'assez vieux s'estoit mis dans la fantaisie de se remarier et d'espouser mesme une jeune et belle personne ne se souciant pas qu'elle fust riche pourveu qu'elle fust de qualite mais comme il estoit fort avance en age il ne s'en estoit 
 point trouve jusques alors qui l'eust voulu espouser cependant il ne laissoit pas d'employer tousjours a luy chercher une femme ces sortes de gens dont il y a par tout le monde qui passent toute leur vie a faire des miserables puis qu'ils l'employent tout ensemble a tascher de marier ceux qu'ils connoissent et ceux qu'ils ne connoissent pas de sorte que clorelise scachant cela prit la resolution de faire ce qu'elle pourroit pour espouser algaste afin qu'estant belle mere de sa rivale elle bannist artaxandre de chez elle et employast le credit qu'elle avoit aupres de son mary pour l'empescher de consentir qu'artaxandre l'espousast si bien que trouvant de quoy satisfaire sa vangeance et son ambition parce qu'algaste estoit tres-riche elle se resolut sans peine a passer toute sa vie avec un homme pour qui elle ne pouvoit avoir que de l'aversion car lors qu'elle venoit a penser quelle seroit sa joye d'empescher artaxandre non seulement d'espouser telamire mais de la voir chez elle la vieillesse d'algaste n'estoit plus un obstacle assez puissant pour l'obliger a hesiter un moment a executer ce bizarre dessein et en effet clorelise voyant son frere au desespoir de ne pouvoir flechir le coeur de telamire fit semblant de songer seulement a trouver les moyens de le rendre heureux de sorte que luy proposant le dessein qu'elle avoit pris pour se vanger comme si elle ne l'eust eu que pour le servir il luy en rendit mille graces et il fit mesme quelque difficulte tout fier 
 qu'il estoit de la rendre malheureuse pour sa satisfaction neantmoins comme il voyoit qu'il y avoit grande apparence que si elle espousoit algaste elle aquerroit assez de pouvoir sur luy pour luy faire espouser telamire ou pour empescher du moins que son rival ne fust heureux a son prejudice il songea tout de bon a tascher de faire reussir son dessein de plus comme isalonide reprenoit eternellement clorelise de ce qu'elle aimoit trop la galanterie elle luy dit que pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle estoit capable d'y renoncer tout a fait quand il le faudroit elle l'assuroit que si elle pensoit a luy faire espouser algaste elle changeroit entierement sa forme de vie mais afin qu'elle creust de la possibilite a ce dessein elle luy dit qu'une personne de sa connoissance luy avoit propose la chose et l'avoit assuree que si on mesnageoit bien l'esprit d'algaste et qu'on gardast un grand secret a cette negociation elle reussiroit heureusement comme isalonide fut fort satisfaite de la promesse que luy fit clorelise elle employa tout son esprit a faire que le dessein qu'elle avoit ne fust pas destruit de sorte que comme elle connoissoit particulierement toutes les femmes de themiscire qui estoient de son humeur et qui croyoient comme elle que quand on avoit de la vertu il faloit avoir de l'austerite en toutes ses actions elle en choisit une dont l'age la mine et l'habillement n'avoient rien qui ne convinst a une prudence severe dont le son de la voix estoit grave dont toutes les paroles 
 estoient concertees et dont la facon de marcher estoit mesme si composee qu'on pouvoit croire qu'elle contoit tous ses pas de sorte qu'apres avoir choisi cette personne pour proposer clorelise a algaste elle fut la trouver et raisonnant avec elle sur ce dessein elles conclurent que c'estoit faire une action de grande vertu que de faire ce mariage puis que par ce moyen on gueriroit clorelise de la passion qu'elle avoit pour la galanterie si bien que ces deux femmes agissant conjointement et faisant en suitte agir toute la cabale vertueuse de themiscire on proposa clorelise a algaste qui estant accoustume de ne parler jamais de ses desseins de mariage a sa fille luy fit un grand secret de celuy-la comme il luy en avoit fait de tous les autres d'abord il ne respondit pas trop favorablement a la proposition qu'on luy fit parce qu'il eut peur que clorelise ne fust trop galante pour luy mais a la fin toutes ces dames a mine severe qui se mesloient de ce mariage l'assurerent tellement que clorelise estoit lasse du monde et qu'elle vivroit bien aveque luy qu'enfin il se resolut a la voir chez une de celles qui estoient employees a cette negociation ce n'est pas qu'il ne l'eust veue cent fois mais c'est qu'il vouloit luy parler avant que de rien conclurre et en effet cette entre-veue se fit des le lendemain vous pouvez juger que clorelise ne devoit pas avoir l'esprit tranquile mais apres tout ne se souciant pas de se vanger sur elle mesme pourveu qu'elle se vangeast d'artaxandre 
 elle vit algaste et sceut si bien se contraindre en luy parlant qu'il creut qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle je dis qu'il le creut aimable doralise parce que je vous advoue que je fais quelque scrupule d'apeller amour cette bizarre fantaisie qui se met dans l'esprit d'un vieillard lors qu'il se resout d'espouser une jeune et belle personne me semblant que cette passion et la vieillesse ont si peu de raport qu'on peut l'apeller follie sans luy faire injustice et douter mesme aveque raison s'il est possible qu'elle soit dans le coeur de ceux qui la pensent avoir mais enfin pour en revenir a algaste soit qu'il creust aimer clorelise ou qu'il l'aimast en effet ce fut une affaire conclue en peu de jours et elle fut menee si secrettement par toutes les personnes qui s'en meslerent que telamire ny artaxandre n'en sceurent rien que la veille des nopces d'algaste encore le sceurent-ils d'une maniere si surprenante qu'elle augmenta la douleur qu'ils en eurent car conme clorelise ne se marioit que pour se vanger elle voulut se charger de faire scavoir la chose a telamire assurant algaste qu'elle se tenoit si assuree de son amitie qu'elle ne doutoit nullement qu'elle n'en fust bien aise et en effet clorelise parla a telamire comme si elle l'eust creu ainsi mais afin de gouster toute la douceur de la vangeance elle manda un matin a cette aimable fille qu'elle luy demandoit une audience particuliere pour l'apres-disnee parce qu'elle avoit une nouvelle a luy dire qui luy donneroit beaucoup de 
 joye quoy que tout ce qui venoit de la part de clorelise fust tousjours suspect a telamire elle creut pourtant qu'elle avoit quelque chose a luy dire qui ne luy desplairoit pas de sorte qu'elle l'attendit chez elle donnat ordre qu'on ne laissast entrer nulle autre personne n'exceptant pas mesme artaxandre si bien que clorelise estant arrivee avec autant d'enjouement dans les yeux que si elle eust effectivement eu dans l'ame la plus grande et la plus tranquile joye qu'on puisse avoir elle se mit a dire cent flatteries a telamire apres quoy affectant d'avoir une certaine confusion modeste qui l'empeschoit de parler en verite telamire luy dit-elle je me trouve plus embarrassee que je ne pensois a vous dire ce qu'il faut que vous scachiez ce n'est donc pas une si agreable nouvelle comme vous me l'avez mande reprit telamire pardonnez moy repliqua clorelise car enfin je suis assuree que m'aimant autant que vous faites vous aurez beaucoup de joye de ce que j'ay a vous aprendre aussi vous puis-je assurer qu'il est juste que vous me scachiez quelque gre de la resolution que j'ay prise puis qu'il est vray que sans vous je ne l'aurois jamais pu prendre pour faire que j'aye de la reconnoissance repliqua telamire il faut m'aprendre quelle est la nouvelle obligation que je vous ay je le veux bien repliqua clorelise pourveu que j'aye la force de vous le faire scavoir en suitte de cela elle se mit a luy dire quoy qu'il ne fust pas vray qu'il y avoit tres longtemps qu'algaste avoit 
 songe a l'espouser mais que l'ayant refuse il avoit fait parler d'un autre mariage avec une personne qu'elle luy nomma qui estoit la plus bizarre et la plus capricieuse du monde adjoustant hardiment que la chose avoit este tres avancee de sorte luy dit-elle qu'algaste qui m'a tousjours fait la grace de me preferer a toutes celles qu'on luy a proposees s'estant advise d'envoyer demander a ma soeur si je n'avois pas change d'advis afin que si cela estoit il rompist le mariage qu'il alloit faire j'ay creu que puis qu'algaste estoit absolument resolu de se remarier vous ne pourriez avoir une plus grande douleur que de scavoir qu'il espouseroit une personne capricieuse ny une plus grande joye que de scavoir au contraire que ce seroit moy qu'il espouseroit aussi vous puis-je assurer que je ne m'y suis pas tant resolue pour obeir a tous mes parens qui l'ont voulu et pour mon establissement que pour vous empescher d'avoir une belle mere qui ne vivroit pas aveque vous comme je pretens y vivre c'est pourquoy comme je vous ay tousjours veu l'esprit prepare a en avoir une j'ay creu que vous seriez bien aise que je le fusse aussi ay-je voulu vous dire moy mesme que c'est demain que la ceremonie de mes nopces se fait mais encore une fois ma chere telamire adjousta-t'elle c'est vous seule qui faites mon mariage et ce n'est que par vous que je pretens adoucir toutes les choses facheuses qui sont inseparables de cette condition tant que clorelise parla telamire 
 la regarda avec beaucoup d'attention afin de voir dans ses yeux si elle parloit serieusement de sorte que comme elle n'y vit rien qui ne luy persuadast qu'elle luy disoit la verite elle en eut une douleur estrange ce n'est pas que comme clorelise n'a pas l'ame interessee qu'elle se souciast que son pere se remariast mais de penser qu'elle auroit le lendemain a obeir a clorelise c'estoit une chose qu'elle ne pouvoit concevoir neantmoins comme elle est infiniment sage elle fit ce qu'elle put pour cacher sa douleur et pour faire paroistre quelque joye dans ses yeux mais tout ce qu'elle put fut d'obtenir d'elle d'obliger sa bouche a trahir les sentimens de son coeur en disant a clorelise qu'elle estoit bien aise du choix qu'algaste avoit fait car pour ses regards ils furent si melancoliques et ils firent si bien connoistre a clorelise qu'elle avoit trouve un excellent moyen de se vanger que sa joye en devint de la moitie plus grande mais comme elle avoit impatience qu'artaxandre partageast le desplaisir de telamire elle la quitta se doutant bien qu'elle luy feroit scavoir la chose des qu'elle seroit en liberte elle ne fut pourtant pas dans la peine de chercher les voyes de luy aprendre la douleur qu'elle avoit parce qu'a peine clorelise fut elle sortie qu'il entra dans la chambre de telamire qui le receut avec une tristesse qui passant de ses yeux dans son coeur y excita une inquiettude extreme mais cette inquietu de fut bien encore plus forte lors qu'apres avoir force 
 telamire de luy dire pourquoy elle estoit si triste elle luy aprit qu'algaste alloit espouser clorelise quoy s'escria-t'il clorelise doit espouser algaste ouy repliqua telamire et demain a l'heure que je parle elle sera en pouvoir de me commander et je ne pourray luy desobeir sans faire une chose contre la bienseance quoy que clorelise soit ma plus mortelle ennemie et que je prevoye avec certitude qu'elle me va rendre la plus malheureuse personne du monde helas s'escria artaxandre je crains bien qu'elle ne me rende plus malheureux qu'elle ne vous rendra malheureuse et qu'estant si souvent avec une personne qui me hait elle ne vous inspire ses sentimens et ne porte mesme algaste a me hair si elle vous haissoit repliqua telamire je ne la craindrois pas comme je la crains mais artaxandre clorelise ne vous hait point et je suis si persuadee qu'elle ne se resout a espouser mon pere que pour se vanger de moy et que parce qu'elle vous aime encore malgre elle que si vous le voulez vous me delivrerez de la persecution que je vay avoir plut aux dieux madame luy dit-il que je pusse imaginer les voyes de vous empescher d'estre sous la puissance de mon ennemie et de la soeur de mon rival mais j'advoue que je ne le comprens pas il vous est pourtant bien aise de le faire reprit telamire car je suis assuree que si vous vouliez espouser clorelise et que vous le luy envoyassiez offrir qu'elle n'espouseroit point algaste quand mesme 
 elle seroit desja dans le temple et qu'elle auroit commence de prononcer ce terrible mot qui engage pour toute la vie ha madame s'escria artaxandre quelle proposition me faites vous et est-il possible que je sois assez malheureux pour que vous me la puissiez faire car enfin me dire que j'espouse clorelise c'est me dire que vous ne voulez jamais espouser artaxandre c'est m'assurer que vous ne l'aimez pas qu'il est mal dans vostre esprit et que vous luy souhaitez tous les maux imaginables puis que vous desirez qu'il espouse une personne qui vous hait et que vous haissez ha telamire poursuivit-il est-il bien vray que j'aye bien entendu et est-il possible que vostre coeur ne desavoue pas vostre bouche ouy artaxandre reprit-elle il la desavoue mais en mesme temps je vous assure que je me trouve en un pitoyable estat car enfin je prevoy de si facheuses suittes de ce mariage que je puis dire que je sens en un seul moment tous les suplices de plusieurs annees je ne voy pas seulement clorelise me commander je voy encore isalonide me reprendre de toutes choses et belermis me persecuter et me regarder comme le prix de sa valeur plustost que comme celuy de son amour cependant c'est un mal sans remede et c'est un mal dont je n'auray pas mesme la consolation de me pleindre au contrarie il faudra que je tesmoigne avoir de la joye de la chose du monde qui me causera le plus de douleur et il faudra enfin que j'obeisse a une personne 
 qui me hait et que je n'aime pas il ne le faudroit pas madame si vous le vouliez repliqua artaxandre mais pour le vouloir il faudroit que vous voulussiez que je fusse heureux car enfin conme je suis persuade qu'un pere qui se marie perd quelque chose de l'authorite legitime qu'il a sur ses enfans je le suis aussi que comme algaste ne songe qu'a sa satisfaction sans penser a la vostre vous pourriez chercher les voyes d'esviter la tirannie de clorelise non non artaxandre interrompit telamire je ne suis point capable de faire ce que je concoy bien que vous me voulez proposer puis qu'il n'est pas juste de desobeir a la raison plustost que d'obeir a clorelise apres cela artaxandre luy dit tout ce que sa passion luy suggera de plus tendre et de plus touchant pour luy persuader de se resoudre a l'espouser sans le consentement d'algaste comme il estoit prest de le faire sans celuy d'amaldee mais telamire luy respondit tousjours qu'elle ne feroit jamais rien qu'on luy pust reprocher et qu'elle seroit encore moins malheureuse en faisant son devoir qu'en ne le faisant pas cependant plus elle luy fit voir de vertu dans son coeur plus il luy monstra de douleur et d'amour dans ses yeux car lors qu'il venoit a penser qu'il estoit cause de l'affliction que telamire avoit dans l'ame la sienne en redoubloit de la moitie d'autre part algaste estant revenu chez luy apres avoir sceu de clorelise qu'elle avoit apris son mariage a telamire artaxandre fut contraint de s'en aller parce qu'il envoya querir 
 fa fille ainsi ces deux personnes se separerent avec une douleur extreme il falut pourtant que telamire aportast quelque foin a cacher la sienne de peur que son pere ne creust qu'un sentiment d'interest faisoit qu'elle s'affligeoit de son mariage aussi se contraignit-elle si bien qu'il ne s'aperceut pas du chagrin qu'elle avoit dans l'esprit au contraire il creut qu'elle estoit bien aise puis qu'il avoit a se remarier qu'il eust choisi clorelise et il en fut si persuade qu'il l'obligea a partager aveque luy une partie des soins qu'il avoit pour faire que la feste de son mariage fust magnifique et en effet telamire donna ses ordres pour toutes choses comme si elle eust deu recevoir une grande satisfaction de cette nopce ou il n'y eut personne que la famille d'algaste et celle de clorelise car outre que l'age d'algaste ne souffroit pas que cette assemblee fust plus grande c'est qu'isalonide ne le voulut point de sorte que cette compagnie estoit composee de facon que quand telamire n'auroit pas eu de raisons particulieres d'avoir de la douleur elle auroit tousjours deu s'ennuyer estrangement de passer tout un jour en une feste ou il y avoit deux familles assemblees depuis les bisayeuls jusques aux arrieres nepueux pour artaxandre il passa tout ce jour-la aveque moy a se pleindre de son malheur qu'il trouvoit d'autant plus grand qu'il scavoit que belermis alloit demeurer chez algaste de sorte qu'encore que jusques alors il n'eust eu nulle jalousie de luy il commenca d'en avoir 
 et de craindre que clorelise ne portast algaste a commander a telamire d'espouser belermis mais luy disois-je je consens bien que vous vous pleigniez de ce que telamire va estre sous la puissance de clorelise qui est sa rivale et son ennemie mais je ne puis souffrir que vous soyez jaloux de belermis vous scavez bien adjoustay-je qu'il est plus propre a se faire craindre qu'a se faire aimer et que telamire a une aversion estrange pour ces hommes qui ont la mine d'estre tousjours tous prests a donner bataille ha erenice me dit-il je ne crains pas encore que telamire aime belermis et jusques a cette heure je n'aprehende pas son inconstance mais je vous advoue que je crains estrangement sa vertu car je suis assure que si elle se met dans la fantaisie qu'il ne luy est pas permis de desobeir a algaste qu'elle espousera belermis malgre sa mine guerriere quand mesme elle seroit assuree d'en mourir de douleur et puis erenice qui scait si elle ne s'accoustumera point a voir belermis et si elle ne se desaccoustumera point de me voir mais pendant qu'artaxandre se pleignoit aveque moy des malheurs de telamire et des siens et qu'il s'en faisoit luy mesme par la crainte qu'il avoit de l'advenir telamire estoit en une contrainte estrange elle ne pensoit pourtant pas moins a artaxandre qu'artaxandre pensoit a elle car elle me dit le jour suivant qu'elle n'avoit pu penser a autre chose soit qu'elle eust regarde belermis ou clorelise d'autre part cette nouvelle 
 mariee avoit de facheux momens et la joye de se voir en estat de se vanger d'artaxandre n'estoit pas si tranquile qu'elle en pust jouir avec une douceur sans aucun meslange de mal et une de ses amies m'a dit depuis qu'elle luy advoua qu'elle ne pouvoit regarder algaste qu'elle avoit espouse sans se souvenir d'artaxandre ny se souvenir d'artaxandre sans un chagrin inconcevable elle eut mesme un autre redoublement de douleur car isalonide la tirant a part luy fit une lecon de la vie qu'elle devoit mener la plus severe du monde elle luy regla toutes ses actions les unes apres les autres elle borna ses visites ordinaires a voir ses parentes malades ou tout au plus a les visiter en cas de resjouissance ou d'affliction et a n'en faire enfin presques point d'autres que de funerailles ou de nopces elle luy dit qu'il faloit oster de ses habillemens toute la magnificence et la superfluite elle luy deffendit la promenade le bal et la musique elle luy choisit jusques aux temples ou elle jugeoit a propos qu'elle allast et elle luy marqua mesme comment elle devoit composer son visage et conduire ses yeux elle auroit pourtant eu beau luy faire cette severe lecon avant qu'elle l'eust suivie si un sentiment de vangeance ne luy eust persuade qu'il estoit en effet a propos de faire une partie de ce qu'isalonide luy disoit afin d'aquerir credit sur l'esprit d'algaste et de le pouvoir porter a tout ce qu'elle voudroit et contre artaxandre et contre telamire de sorte que se 
 resolvant de se contraindre non seulement elle promit a isalonide de faire ce qu'elle luy conseilloit mais elle en fit une partie puis qu'il est vray qu'elle affecta une retenue estrange et une retraitte si grande qu'algaste l'aima avec une tendresse extreme d'ailleurs durant les premiers jours elle vescut assez civilement avec telamire quoy qu'elle agist pourtant avec authorite des qu'elle fut sa belle mere car ne faisant pas semblant de scavoir qu'elle avoit quelque attachement particulier avec artaxandre elle se mit a luy faire une fausse confidence de luy supposant cent raisons au lieu d'une qui vouloient qu'elle ne le vist pas et qu'elle ne souffrist pas qu'il vinst dans une maison ou elle estoit ce n'est pas luy disoit cette vindicative femme que je pretende regler vos connoissances mais vous scavez que quand une personne de mon age a espouse un homme de celuy d'algaste on est oblige a vivre avec beaucoup plus de retenue c'est pourquoy ne trouvez pas estrange si je vous oste quelques divertissemens afin de me les oster comme ce que clorelise disoit estoit pretexte de vertu telamire ne s'y osoit opposer quoy que dans son coeur elle connust bien que ce que faisoit clorelise avoit une cause cachee ou la vertu n'avoit aucune part d'ailleurs clorelise pour mieux executer son dessein dit a algaste de la maniere la plus artificieuse du monde qu'artaxandre ayant autrefois eu quelque pensee pour elle elle le suplioit de vouloir commander a telamire de n'avoir 
 plus nul commerce aveque luy car luy disoit-elle il faut si peu de chose pour blesser la reputation d'une femme de mon age que je seray bien aise de n'en laisser aucun pretexte vous pouvez juger qu'algaste ne refusa pas a clorelise une chose qu'elle sembloit ne luy demander que par un principe de vertu de sorte qu'un matin telamire estant mandee par son pere receut un commandement absolu de ne voir plus du tout artaxandre vous pouvez juger veu comme je vous ay despeint telamire qu'elle ne resista pas a algaste mais dans le fond de son coeur elle en eut une douleur estrange cependant comme elle creut a propos qu'artaxandre sceust la chose comme elle estoit elle me choisit pour la luy faire scavoir et pour luy annoncer qu'elle le conjuroit de n'aller plus du tout chez elle et d'attendre a la voir que le hazard la luy fist rencontrer ce qui n'estoit pas fort aise veu la retraitte ou vivoit clorelise qu'elle n'osoit quitter et elle dit cela avec tant de douleur dans les yeux que si artaxandre eust pu la voir il auroit eu quelque consolation mais comme il aprit son malheur par une personne qui ne pouvoit l'en consoler il le sentit avec une violence que je ne vous puis exprimer quoy me dit il apres que je luy eus dit ce que telamire vouloit qu'il fist clorelise porte sa vengeance jusques au point que de n'avoir espouse algaste que pour se vanger de moy et pour persecuter telamire quoy telamire adjousta-t'il se peut resoudre a obeir a son ennemie 
 et elle se resoudra a ne me voir point durant qu'elle verra eternellement belermis car enfin poursuivit cet amant afflige on ne le trouve plus en nulle part depuis qu'il demeure chez algaste et cet homme qui alloit eternellement de rue en rue de temple en temple et de maison en maison comme s'il eust voulu tous les jours monstrer sa mine guerriere a toute la ville ne bouge plus de la chambre de clorelise ou de celle de telamire et cependant telamire se resout d'obeir a mon ennemie quoy qu'elle ne le puisse faire sans m'exposer a mourir du moins me dit-il ne me refusez pas la grace de donner un billet a telamire car si on me refuse tout je feray peutestre des choses dont telamire s'offencera et dont je me repentiray apres inutilement comme je vy l'esprit d'artaxandre fort aigry je n'osay l'irriter encore davantage en le refusant de sorte que je fus assez complaisante pour luy dire que pourveu que son billet fust ouvert je le ferois voir a telamire ainsi sans differer davantage il me pria de luy donner de quoy escrire et sans partir de ma chambre il luy escrivit non pas un billet comme il en avoit eu le dessein mais une tres longue lettre pour l'obliger a luy permettre de chercher du moins les moyens de la voir ailleurs puis qu'il ne la pouvoit plus voir chez elle en suitte il luy dit cent choses contre belermis et contre clorelise et il luy en dit tant que j'advoue que ma memoire ne me les peut redonner pour vous les dire et tout ce que 
 je scay est qu'encore que cette lettre fust escrite avec beaucoup de precipitation elle estoit pourtant fort belle aussi toucha t'elle sensiblement telamire a qui je la monstray mais quoy qu'elle en eust le coeur attendry et l'esprit afflige elle ne respondit que par ces paroles a la grace qu'il luy demandoit de la pouvoir entretenir l'amitie que j'ay pour vous est assez forte pour ne vous deffendre pas de chercher les occasions de me rencontrer et pour m'obliger a estre bien aise que vous les trouviez mais ne vous offencez pas si je vous dis qu'elle ne l'est point assez pour faire que j'y contribue quelque chose puis que je ne le pourrois sans faire plus que je ne dois quoy que cette responce ne fust pas aussi favorable qu'artaxandre l'auroit pu souhaiter il ne laissa pas d'en recevoir quelque consolation durant quelques momens mais comme sa passion estoit tres violente il r'entra bientost dans son premier desespoir cependant comme il ne pouvoit plus vivre sans voir telamire il chercha tant d'inventions qu'en fin il sceut qu'il y avoit un jardin solitaire ou clorelise alloit assez souvent prendre l'air sans estre jamais accompagnee que de belermis d'isalonide et de telamire de sorte que s'informant eternellement de la seule chose qui occupoit son esprit il sceut encore que belermis estoit aux champs pour quelques jours si bien que se resolvant 
 d'aller au lieu ou il scavoit qu'alloient clorelise et telamire il mena un de ses amis aveque luy et le pria s'ils trouvoient telamire et clorelise en ce lieu la d'aller droit a la derniere et de l'occuper a parler durant qu'il entretiendroit l'autre car enfin disoit-il clorelise n'oseroit pas faire un insulte a telamire devant celuy que je meneray et telamire elle mesme n'oseroit pas me refuser de luy parler et en effet sans examiner davantage si ce dessein estoit bien ou mal fonde il advertit son amy il sceut avec adresse l'heure ou ces dames se devoient promener et il fut au lieu ou elles estoient il est vray qu'il n'y fut qu'un demy quart d'heure apres qu'elles y furent arrivees parce qu'il n'avoit pas voulu estre le premier dans ce jardin de peur que clorelise n'y fust pas entree si elle eust sceu qu'il y estoit mais aimable doralise cette entre veue se passa d'une plaisante maniere car imaginez vous que lors qu'artaxandre et son amy entrerent dans ce jardin clorelise et telamire estoient au bout d'une allee qui estoit vis a vis de la porte et venoient vers eux comme ils alloient vers elles de sorte qu'ayant eu les uns et les autres quelque temps a penser comment ils agiroient en s'abordant ils furent un peu moins desconcertez lors qu'ils s'aprocherent d'abord clorelise eut dessein de retourner sur ses pas mais comme il n'y avoit point d'autre porte a ce jardin que celle par ou artaxandre venoit d'entrer elle jugea que cela seroit inutile 
 c'est pourquoy ne songeant plus a esviter sa rencontre elle ne pensa qu'a faire qu'il ne parlast point a telamire d'autre part artaxandre prioit celuy avec qui il estoit d'aller droit a clorelise comme il avoit dessein d'aller droit a telamire mais comme il y a une notable difference entre une personne qui agit pour satisfaire son amy et une qui songe a se satisfaire elle mesme cet amy d'artaxandre ne fut pas si diligent a aborder clorelise que clorelise le fut a aborder artaxandre qui tout adroit et tout amoureux qu'il estoit ne put joindre telamire devant que clorelise l'eust joint parce qu'elle s'estoit arrestee deux pas derriere a dire quelque chose a une femme de clorelise de sorte qu'encore que clorelise eust une haine estrange pour artaxandre et qu'il y eust long temps qu'elle ne luy eust parle elle l'aborda la premiere comme je l'ay dit n'estant pas mesme alors trop marrie d'avoir une occasion de luy dire une partie de ce qu'elle pensoit si bien que prenant la parole des qu'elle fut assez pres de luy pour pouvoir en estre entendue comme nous n'avons plus nulle societe ensemble luy dit-elle je ne pensois pas estre assez heureuse pour trouver une occasion de vous dire quelque chose qu'il importe que vous scachiez mais puis qu'elle s'est presentee sans que j'aye eu la peine de la chercher il ne faut pas qu'elle m'eschape et en disant cela clorelise se mettant entre telamire et artaxandre fit si bien qu'il ne put en effet ny esviter de luy parler ny parler a telamire 
 joint que luy passant dans l'esprit que peut-estre clorelise se repentoit-elle de ce qu'elle avoit fait il espera qu'il pourroit en agissant civilement avec elle obtenir la liberte de revoir telamire ainsi artaxandre apres avoir salue telamire d'une maniere tres passionnee et tres respectueuse se mit en estat d'escouter ce que clorelise disoit avoir a luy dire pendant que celuy qu'il avoit amene entretenoit telamire mais artaxandre fut bien surpris lors que clorelise l'eut adroitement esloigne de trois ou quatre pas de telamire d'ouir de quel ton elle luy parla je m'imagine luy dit elle qu'il n'est pas necessaire que je vous die pour quelle raison je vous ay aborde car vous avez trop d'esprit pour ne comprendre pas que je ne l'ay fait que pour vous empescher de parler a telamire mais afin poursuivit-elle que vous ne vous donniez plus la peine d'en chercher une autre fois l'occasion il faut que je vous aprenne que vous la chercheriez inutilement car enfin artaxandre je n'ay pas espouse algaste pour vous faire espouser telamire au contraire je vous declare que je ne m'y suis resolue qu'afin de vous rendre malheureux ha madame s'escria-t'il vous avez porte la vangeance trop loin puis que vous l'avez portee jusques a telamire qui ne vous a jamais outragee puis que je l'ay bien portee jusques a moy mesme reprit-elle je la puis bien porter jusqu'a elle c'est pourquoy si vous aimez son repos ne songez plus ny a la chercher ny 
 a la voir car je vous declare que tous les soins que vous aporterez pour cela redoubleront ceux que j'ay de vous nuire et comme je ne le puis jamais mieux faire qu'en la personne de telamire je vous assure que je n'y oubliray rien si ce n'est que vous preniez la resolution de l'oublier entierement ou d'agir du moins comme si vous l'aviez oubliee ne pensez pourtant pas adjousta-t'elle que je vous parle ainsi par nul autre interest que celuy de me vanger car je vous proteste que je n'en ay point d'autre que celuy de vous empescher d'estre heureux je ne veux point madame luy dit-il chercher d'excuses aupres de vous mais je veux seulement vous demander pourquoy vous confondez telamire avec artaxandre c'est parce reprit-elle qu'artaxandre vit plus en telamire qu'en luy mesme et que je ne puis luy nuire que par cette voye neantmoins adjousta-t'elle avec un sourire plein d'aigreur pour vous tesmoigner que je garde quelque mesure en ma vangeance je vous promets que des que telamire sera mariee ou que vous le ferez a quelque autre de luy donner plus de liberte que je ne luy en donne mais jusques alors je vous le dis encore une fois vous ne scauriez trouver une voye plus infaillible de rendre telamire malheureuse que de chercher les occasions de luy parler et pour vous tesmoigner que je dis vray je vous declare encore que ce que vous venez de faire aujourd'huy coustera huit jours de solitude a telamire car afin que vous ne vous y trompiez pas 
 j'ay tout le credit qu'on peut avoir sur l'esprit d'algaste ainsi algaste veut que telamire m'obeisse et telamire n'ose me desobeir de sorte que par la je voy que le dessein que j'ay eu de me vanger de vous en me mariant a heureusement reussi mais madame luy dit-il est il possible que vous ayez pris un si bizarre dessein je scay bien que je merite en quelque facon vostre haine quoy que je ne sois pas aussi criminel que vous l'avez creu mais apres tout je ne comprendray jamais qu'il vous soit permis de vous vanger d'artaxandre sur telamire je ne scay pas s'il m'est permis reprit-elle mais je scay bien que c'est une fort douce chose que de se voir en pouvoir de commander a une personne qu'on n'aime pas et dans les sentimens ou je suis je vous proteste que j'aime beaucoup mieux commander a telamire qu'a un grand royaume mais madame luy dit-il alors emporte de colere puis que vous trouvez juste de vous vanger d'artaxandre sur telamire vous ne trouverez pas injuste que je me vange de clorelise sur belermis j'ay un ostage si considerable en ma puissance en la personne de telamire repliqua-t'elle que je ne crains rien pour belermis et pour vous oster la volonte de penser a rien entreprendre contre luy je n'ay qu'a vous obliger de considerer de quoy peut estre capable une personne qui s'est resolue d'espouser algaste pour vous empescher d'espouser telamire car je suis assuree que si vous faites une serieuse reflection sur ce 
 que je dis vous n'exposerez pas telamire a la vangeance d'une femme qui a recours a des voyes si extraordinaires pour se vanger et qui ne fait nulle difficulte de se vanger sur elle mesme pour se pouvoir vanger des autres lors qu'elle ne le peut faire autrement 
 
 
 
 
apres cela clorelise quitta artaxandre et apella telamire avec toute l'authorite qu'une belle mere imperieuse peut avoir et avec toute la fierte d'une rivale irritee ce n'est pas qu'elle eust accoustume d'en user ainsi avec elle quand artaxandre n'y estoit point parce qu'elle la vouloit gagner pour luy faire espouser belermis mais c'est qu'elle trouva tant de douceur a donner ce chagrin la a artaxandre qu'elle ne put se refuser cette satisfaction cependant telamire sans faire semblant de trouver mauvais qu'on luy fist un commandement si rude suivit clorelise apres avoir quitte celuy qui luy parloit et avoir salue artaxandre elle eut mesme cette sagesse de luy deffendre par un signe de main et par ses regards de songer a l'aborder malgre clorelise comme il sembloit par son action en avoir le dessein mais pour le consoler de cette facheuse avanture elle luy fit voir quelque chose de si doux et de si tendre dans ses beaux yeux lors qu'elle se separa de luy qu'il en devint encore et plus amoureux et plus afflige cependant depuis ce jour la clorelise redoubla encore les soins qu'elle avoit de se vanger et non seulement elle songea a empescher qu'artaxandre ne vist telamire mais elle rompit avec tous ceux 
 qui avoient quelque amitie particuliere aveque luy et obligea mesme telamire a ne me voir plus sur un pretexte si mal fonde que ce seroit perdre du temps inutilement que de m'amuser a vous le redire et ce qu'il y avoit de rare en cette avanture c'est que tout ce que clorelise faisoit par jalousie luy aqueroit un nouveau credit sur l'esprit d'algaste et passoit dans le monde pour estre fait par vertu car isalonide et toute la cabale de ces dames severes qui estoient ses amies faisoient sonner si haut la retraite de clorelise qu'on la proposoit pour exemple a toutes les jeunes personnes qui aimoient un peu trop les divertissemens cependant artaxandre n'avoit autre consolation que de me raconter les maux qu'il souffroit et d'escrire a cet ennemy reconcilie nomme tysimene qu'il avoit fait devenir son amy durant ses voyages car de voir telamire il n'y avoit pas moyen si ce n'estoit quelquefois au temple mais c'estoit sans luy parler et par consequent avec peu de satisfaction il n'avoit pas mesme le plaisir de voir des gens qui la vissent chez elle parce que comme je vous l'ay desja dit clorelise en avoit banny tous ses amis et toutes ses amies de sorte qu'il menoit la plus malheureuse vie du monde mais ce qui acheva de le rendre plus miserable fut que ne pouvant s'empescher de quereller belermis ils en vinrent jusques a mettre l'espee a la main l'un contre l'autre et ils se battirent avec un si funeste succes qu'ils se blesserent tous deux considerablement 
 en effet si on ne les eust separez il y a aparence qu'il en auroit couste la vie a l'un et a l'autre apres cela vous pouvez ce me semble aisement comprendre quelle fut la douleur de telamire d'aprendre le pitoyable estat ou estoit artaxandre cependant il falut aller avec clorelise a la chambre de celuy qui l'avoit blesse et agir comme si elle n'eust este affligee que des blessures de belermis quoy qu'elle ne le fust que de celles d'artaxandre cette contrainte ne fut pas seulement pour un jour car tant qu'il fut malade algaste voulut qu'elle fust toujours aupres de clorelise qui ne sortit point de la chambre de son frere elle eut mesme encore la persecution d'entendre cent reproches facheux que clorelise luy fit l'accusant d'estre cause des blessures de belermis mais ce ne fut rien en comparaison du desespoir ou elle se trouva quelques jours apres car il faut que vous scachiez que comme artaxandre avoit gagne un esclave de telamire qui l'advertissoit de tout ce qu'elle faisoit sans qu'elle en sceust rien il fut luy dire quelle estoit l'assiduite de telamire apres de belermis de sorte qu'il s'en affligea avec tant d'exces que ses blessures empirerent extremement et durant quelques jours les medecins desesperent de sa vie cependant comme belermis se porta mieux telamire eut la douleur de voir guerir celuy qu'elle croyoit avoir donne le coup mortel a artaxandre si bien que ne pouvant plus se contraindre ny cacher ses larmes elle feignit de se trouver 
 mal afin de ne sortir point de sa chambre et de n'aller plus a celle de belermis cette invention ne la delivra pourtant pas de cette importunite car comme belermis commencoit de se lever clorelise le mena aupres de telamire qui n'ayant pas la liberte de se plaindre de jour employoit toute la nuit a pleurer ses larmes redoublerent pourtant encore car cet esclave qu'artaxandre avoit suborne luy aporta un billet ou elle ne trouva que ces paroles
 
 
 je ne puis me refuser la satisfaction de vous dire que les foins que vous avez de ressusciter belermis me font mourir et que c'est moins par sa main que par vous que vous allez perdre le plus passionne et le plus fidelle amant qui sera jamais 
 
 
 artaxandre 
 
 
ce billet toucha si sensiblement le coeur de telamire que quoy qu'elle n'aimast pas a hazarder des lettres elle y respondit par ces paroles si ma memoire ne me trompe
 
 
 vous m'accusez avec beaucoup d'injustice et si vous scaviez ce qui se passe dans mon coeur vous connoistriez que si j'avois le pouvoir de ressusciter quelqu'un ce seroit artaxandre et non pas belermis ne jugez donc pas de moy sur des aparences et s'il est possible mettez vous en estat que je vous puisse reprocher de n'avoir pas bien connu 
 
 
 telamire 
 
 
 quoy que ce billet n'eust pas toute la tendresse que telamire avoit dans le coeur parce qu'elle n'avoit ose j'y confier il fit pourtant un si grand effet dans l'esprit d'artaxandre qu'apres avoir calme l'agitation de son ame l'ardeur de sa fievre diminua et en peu de jours il guerit aussi bien que son rival mais il se trouva encore plus embarrasse qu'avant son combat parce que clorelise avoit plus de pretexte d'observer telamire ce qui le fachoit encore extremement estoit que ceux qui s'estoient meslez d'empescher qu'il n'arrivast un second malheur entre belermis et luy les avoient si solemnellement engagez a ne se battre plus qu'il contoit entre ses plus grands malheurs celuy de n'avoir pas la liberte toute entiere de quereller son rival les choses estant en ces termes artaxandre receut un nouveau desplaisir car clorelise chassa cet esclave par qui il pouvoit scavoir des nouvelles de telamire mais en mesme temps il receut beaucoup de consolation en recevant une lettre de tysimene qui luy aprenoit qu'il alloit revenir a themiscire et qui le prioit d'aller secrettement une journee au devant de luy afin de concerter ensemble comment ils pourroient faire pour faire scavoir leur reconciliation a leurs parens sans qu'ils s'en irritassent des qu'artaxandre eut receu cette lettre il se disposa a partir et partit en effet pour aller au devant de son amy qu'il trouva encore plus honneste homme qu'il ne l'estoit lors qu'ils s'estoient separez aussi reconfirma-t'il puissamment 
 l'amitie qu'il avoit liee aveque luy neantmoins au lieu de chercher les voyes de la publier comme tysimene en avoit le dessein artaxandre le conjura de ne la publier pas et de la cacher soigneusement mais afin que cette priere ne l'offencast point il luy aprit la passion qu'il avoit pour telamire et le malheur qu'il avoit aussi de ne pouvoir ny la voir ny voir mesme personne qui la vist parce que clorelise l'avoit non seulement banny de chez elle mais encore tous ses amis et toutes ses amies de sorte mon cher tysimene luy dit-il apres luy avoir raconte toute son avanture que je suis persuade que si vous passez encore pour estre mon ennemy vous pourrez facilement devenir amy de clorelise et avoir la liberte de voir telamire qu'elle refuse a tous ceux qu'elle croit qui ont quelque commerce aveque moy si bien que par ce moyen je pourray du moins scavoir ce que fait telamire et vous pourrez mesme si vous voulez achever de m'obliger luy parler de moy lors que vous vous trouverez seul avec elle comme la plus forte raison qui me faisoit souhaiter qu'on sceust nostre reconciliation reprit tysimene estoit afin de trouver plus facilement les voyes de vous donner des marques sensibles de mon amitie je ne dois plus le souhaiter puis que vous me faites connoistre que je vous en donneray plus en la cachant que je ne ferois en la publiant en effet artaxandre et luy resolurent de faire un grand secret de l'affection qu'ils avoient l'un pour l'autre afin de 
 voir si clorelise qui bannissoit de chez elle tous les amis d'artaxandre n'y souffriroit point un homme qu'elle croiroit estre son ennemy ils convinrent mesme d'un lieu ou ils pourroient se voir secrettement et ils choisirent pour cela la maison d'un amy de tysimene qui avoit deux portes qui donnoient dans deux rues opposees tombant d'accord chacun en particulier de celle par ou ils entreroient afin que les mesmes personnes ne les pussent voir entrer en un mesme lieu joint que pour plus grande seurete ils convinrent aussi qu'ils n'iroient que les soirs chez cet amy de tysimene de la fidelite duquel il respondit a artaxandre ainsi apres estre convenus de toutes choses ces deux amis se separerent et arriverent par des chemins differens a themiscire ou l'on ne sceut en effet rien de leur reconciliation car artaxandre n'avoit mene qu'un des siens a ce petit voyage de qui il estoit assure et tysimene n'avoit que des domestiques estrangers aveque luy parce que ceux qu'il avoit menez de capadoce estoient morts si bien que ceux qu'il avoit alors n'estoient pas en estat de reveler le secret de leur maistre quand ils l'auroient voulu puis qu'ils ne scavoient pas la langue du pais ou ils alloient comme tysimene estoit de la premiere condition de la ville et qu'il estoit tres aimable son retour ne fit guere moins de bruit qu'avoit fait celuy d'artaxandre et toute la ville craignit mesme qu'il n'arrivast bientost quelque demesle facheux entre ces deux hommes que 
 tout le monde croyoit estre ennemis car comme ils estoient de mesme age qu'ils pouvoient pretendre aux mesmes choses et qu'ils avoient droit de pouvoir disputer de merite il y avoit en effet lieu de craindre qu'ils ne se brouillassent ils agissoient mesme ensemble lors qu'ils se rencontroient en quelque part avec une froideur qui sembloit si propre a faire naistre une querelle entre eux qu'un ne doutoit point qu'ils n'en vinssent bien tost la ainsi leur innocente fourbe reussit si bien que tout se monde y fut trompe mais si elle reussit bien en general elle reussit encore mieux a artaxandre en particulier car il faut que vous scachiez que comme clorelise aimoit naturellement la conversation et haissoit la solitude elle ne fut pas trop marrie de trouver quelqu'un a voir qui ne fust pas amy d'artaxandre et elle imagina mesme quelque plasir a lier amitie avec un homme qui passoit pour estre son ennemy croyant aussi que cela luy feroit despit de sorte que lors que tysimene fut luy faire sa premiere visite elle ne le receut pas avec cette severite qu'elle affectoit d'avoir depuis son mariage au contrarie elle l'engagea de civilite avec son frere qui se trouva dans sa chambre lors qu'il y fut et l'obligea mesme adroitement a aller voir tysimene et a le presenter en suitte algaste mais s'il fut bien receu de clorelise parce qu'elle le croyoit ennemy d'artaxandre il le fut mal de telamire par cette mesme raison car comme elle estoit en chagrin 
 de voir tousjours ce qu'elle haissoit et de ne voir jamais ce qu'elle aimoit elle ne put s'empescher d'avoir quelque despit de voir traitter si civilement un homme pour qui elle pensoit qu'artaxandre eust de la haine elle luy a pourtant advoue depuis qu'elle n'avoit pas laisse de connoistre des cette premiere fois qu'il avoit beaucoup d'esprit mais elle luy dit qu'elle en avoit eu quelque leger despit il est vray qu'elle ne fut pas long temps dans cette erreur et voicy comment elle en fut detrompee comme tysimene n'avoit alors rien dans l'esprit de plus pressant que de satisfaire son amy il mesnagea si bien l'esprit de belermis et celuy d'algaste qu'ils prierent tous deux clorelise de vouloir bien qu'il la vist souvent car comme presques tous les vieillards aiment qu'on leur raconte des voyages afin d'avoir pretexte de dire les leurs tysimene l'entretint selon son gre et l'escouta aussi attentivement qu'il le faloit pour luy plaire et pour belermis tysimene luy parla tant de combats et luy loua si souvent sa valeur qu'il vint a l'aimer tendrement de sorte qu'en trois ou quarte visites il aquit la liberte toute entiere dans cette maison comme clorelise a infiniment de l'esprit elle remarqua aisement que telamire avoit despit d'estre obligee de voir si souvent un ennemy d'artaxandre si bien que pour luy en faire encore davantage elle affectoit de le placer tousjours aupres d'elle mais comme il ne la voyoit pourtant point sans que clorelise y fust parce que 
 telamire l'esvitoit aveque soin il se trouva au commencement un peu embarrasse a luy faire scavoir qu'il n'estoit plus ennemy d'artaxandre et qu'au contrarie il estoit le confident de sa passion mais a la fin scachant la langue assirienne que clorelise ne scavoit pas et qu'artaxandre et luy scavoient fort bien il fit que son amy escrivit une lettre en cette langue qui s'adressoit a telamire si bien que la portant sur luy il fut chez clorelise qui suivant sa coustume le placa aupres de telamire avec intention de luy faire despit et en effet elle ne se trompoit pas cependant comme ceux qui sont adroits tournent aisement la conversation du coste qu'ils veulent sans qu'on s'en apercoive tysimene fit qu'insensiblement celle qu'il eut ce jour la avec ces dames fut une de ces conversations de bel esprit ou l'on ne parle ny de nouvelles ny d'habillemens et dont la belle prose et les beaux vers sont le plus ordinaire sujet de sorte qu'apres qu'il leur en eut recite quelques-uns en leur langue et qu'il leur en eut promis d'autres il dit a clorelise qu'il estoit au desespoir de ce qu'elle ne scavoit point la langue assirienne parce qu'il en avoit la plus jolie lettre d'amour du monde qu'il commenca de faire semblant de luy expliquer apres qu'il l'eut tiree de sa poche puis tout d'un coup feignant de se souvenir que telamire entendoit cette langue il luy bailla cette lettre qu'il tenoit et la forca de la voir pendant qu'il faisoit semblant d'achever d'en dire le sens a clorelise si bien 
 qu'encore que telamire n'eust pas grande curiosite de voir rien de tout ce qui venoit d'un ennemy d'artaxandre elle ne laissa pas de prendre cette lettre n'osant pas faire une incivilite ouverte a tysimene mais elle fut bien surprise de voir qu'elle estoit escrire de la main d artaxandre et plus surprise encore lors qu'elle y leut ces paroles
 
 
 souffrez s'il vous plaist que je vous die que celuy qui vous rend cette lettre n'est plus ce qu'il paroist estre puis que bien loin d'estre mon ennemy il est l'unique confident de la passion que j'ay pour vous agissez donc s'il vous plaist aveque luy comme avec le plus cher de mes amis dittes luy tout ce que vous voudrez que je scache comme je luy diray tout ce que je voudray que vous scachiez car ce n'est que pour favoriser mon amour qu'il tesmoigne avoir de la haine pour moy scachant bien qu'au lieu ou vous estes on n'y peut estre souffert sans me hair recevez donc tous les soins qu'il vous rendra comme si je vous les rendois croyez tout ce qu'il vous dira comme si je vous le disois et s'il est possible dittes luy quelque chose d'assez favorable pour moy pour m'empescher de mourir de la douleur que j'ay de ne vous voir pas je vous demanderois pardon de luy avoir confie mon amour sans vous en avoir demande la permission si j'avois este en pouvoir de vous la demander mais comme cela n'est pas j'advoue que j'ay mieux aime qu'il sceust que je vous aime que de me voir expose au malheur de ne pouvoir scavoir si vous me haissez et que vous ne sceussiez pas que je vous aime 
 
 encore beaucoup plus que je ne faisois lors que je vous jurois aveque verite que je vous aimois plus que personne n'avoit jamais aime 
 
 
 artaxandre 
 
 
pendant que telamire lisoit cette lettre avec une agitation de coeur estrange tysimene songeoit a occuper si fort clorelise qu'elle ne la put observer si bien que cherchant a inventer une lettre sur le champ qu'il disoit estre celle que telamire lisoit il attachoit autant qu'il pouvoit l'esprit de clorelise mais comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'il l'inventast il belle d'improviste qu'elle meritast toutes les louanges qu'il luy donnoit clorelise luy dit qu'il faloit sans doute que la beaute de cette lettre consistast en la grace de la lange ou elle estoit escrite ne luy semblant pas que les pensees en fussent tant au dessus de l'ordinaire ha madame luy dit- il vous avez raison de dire ce que vous dittes car je vous assure que je connois bien moy mesme qu'il n'y a nul raport entre ce que je dis et la lettre que tient telamire et en effet dit-il en la reprenant voyant que telamire avoit acheve de la lire il y a des endroits dans cette lettre qui vous surprendroient si je pouvois vous les dire comme ils sont et je m'assure adjousta-t'il que telamire qui connoist sans doute admirablement toute la delicatesse de la langue ou elle est escrite tombera d'accord de ce que je dis il est vray reprit telamire que cette lettre est tout a fait surprenante 
 que l'explication que vous aviez commence d'en faire ne m'a pas empesche d'en estre surprise vous la louez si fort reprit clorelise que vous me faites envie pour m'occuper dans ma solitude d'aprendre la langue ou elle est escrite aussi bien y a-t'il desja quelque temps qu'algaste qui la scait fort bien me l'a propose comme elle disoit cela algaste entra dans sa chambre de sorte que tysimene craignant que clorelise n'allast parler de cette lettre a son mary et ne voulust l'obliger a la luy monstrer feignit d'avoir une affaire dont il venoit de se souvenir et sortit avec beaucoup de precipitation je pense pourtant qu'il n'avoit pas grand sujet de l'aprehender car comme cette lettre estoit une lettre d'amour clorelise n'eust pas voulu dans la severite qu'elle affectoit la faire voir a son mary mais le hazard ayant fait qu'un parent qu'elle avoit et qui scavoit fort bien l'assirien la vint voir ce jour la elle luy parla de cette lettre et envoya chercher tysimene afin qu'il la luy prestast car pour moy disoit-elle je ne puis croire qu'elle soit aussi belle que telamire et tysimene le disent veu comme on me l'a expliquee vous pouvez juger que tysimene ne l'envoya mais pour se tirer de cet embarras il fit semblant de la chercher et dit qu'elle estoit perdue soustenant mesme a celuy que clorelise avoit envoye la luy demander qu'il faloit qu'elle fust demeuree dans sa chambre cependant telamire estoit si surprise de cette lettre qu'elle ne scavoit encore 
 si elle devoit croire ses yeux mais le jour suivant ayant veu artaxandre au temple elle connut dans les siens que cette lettre estoit veritablement de luy parce qu'il luy fit certains ignes en regardant tysimene qui estoit aupres d'elle qui acheverent de la disposer a croire qu'elle ne s'estoit pas trompee de sorte que ne fuyant plus l'occasion de parler a tysimene il trouva bien tost celle de luy faire scavoir comment artaxandre et luy s'estoient reconciliez pendant sieur voyage en effet quoy qu'artaxandre eust veu cent fois telamire en particulier devant que d'avoir rompu avec clorelise il ne luy avoit pas revele ce secret car outre qu'un amant qui est seul avec sa maistresse ne luy parle jamais guere que de sa passion il est encore vray que comme il ne faisoit alors un secret de l'amitie qu'il avoit avec tysimene que pour l'amour de tysimene il n'en auroit pas parle a telamire quand mesme il en auroit eu l'occasion cependant de puis cela la vie d'artaxandre et de telamire fut beaucoup plus douce et ce qu'il y avoit d'admirable est que celle de clorelise en estoit aussi plus agreable car elle trouvoit tant de plaisir a imaginer qu'elle faisoit despit a artaxandre de voir tysimene qu'elle ne faisoit autre chose que chercher de nouvelles occasions de le voir encore davantage de plus quoy qu'elle remarquast que telamire n'avoit plus tant d'aversion a parler a tysimene elle n'en soubconna rien au contraire comme elle creut qu'artaxandre seroit encore 
 plus fache qu'elle espousast tysimene que belermis et que d'ailleurs elle n'eust pas este trop marrie qu'elle n'eust pas este sa belle soeur elle souhaitoit qu'il en devinst amoureux et elle luy dit mesme un jour parlant de la haine qu'elle croyoit qu'il eust pour artaxandre que si elle eust este a sa place elle auroit songe a prendre celle que son ennmy disoit qu'il avoit occupee dans le coeur de telamire et comme il luy respondit qu'il l'honnoroit trop pour devenir rival de belermis elle luy dit en riant que belermis aimoit si fort la guerre que selon son opinion on luy feroit plaisir de le guerir par force de son amour adjoustant apres parlant d'un ton de voix plus serieux qu'effectivement elle ne pensoit pas que telamire et belermis pussent jamais estre heureux ensemble et que c'estoit pour cela qu'elle eust bien desire qu'il eust aime telamire et que belermis ne l'eust plus aimee d'autre part artaxandre aprenant par tysimene tout ce que faisoit et presques tout ce que pensoit telamire aprenoit qu'elle haissoit tousjours belermis et qu'elle ne le haisoit pas telamire de son coste avoit aussi la consolation de scavoir qu'artaxandre estoit constant et qu'encore qu'il ne la vist presque pas et qu'il ne luy parlast point du tout il ne laissoit pas de penser continuellement a elle en effet il ne voyoit que ceux qu'elle vouloit qu'il vist il n'entreprenoit rien que tysimene n'eust consulte avec elle s'il le devoit entreprendre et ce fidelle amy durant 
 tres long temps unit si parfaitement les deux coeurs de ces deux personnes que leur propre merite ne les unissoit pas davantage que les soins de tysimene car enfin lors qu'il raportoit a artaxandre les paroles de telamire il songeoit a ne leur oster rien de ce qu'elles avoient d'obligeant et lors qu'il disoit a telamire ce qu'artaxandre luy avoir dit il pensoit aussi a n'oster pas a toutes ses paroles cette impression amoureuse que sa passion y avoit mise ainsi tysimene trouvant d'abord sa satisfaction en celle de ces deux personnes avoit en suitte assez de plaisir a tromper clorelise algaste et belermis isalonide voulut alors se mesler de retrancher les visites de tysimene a clorelise et de luy dire qu'il estoit encore plus dangereux de ne voir qu'un homme galant et de le voir tousjours que d'en voir mille et ne les voir pas si souvent mais clorelise luy ayant dit que tysimene estoit plus des amis de son mary que des siens il falut que sa severite s'imposast silence car en effet elle avoit agi avec tant d'adresse qu'algaste croyoit qu'elle ne souffroit tysimene que par la complaisance qu'elle avoit pour luy cependant cette petite societe solitaire devint assez agreable parce qu'artaxandre sous le nom de tysimene donna tous les divertissemens imaginables a telamire car comme algaste avoit fort aime tous les plaisirs durant sa jeunesse c'estoit a luy a qui tysimene proposoit tantost une promenade tantost une musique et tantost une colation si bien que 
 toutes ces parties qui devant le monde passoient pour des parties de famille l'estoient d'une galanterie fort delicate puis qu'en fin c'estoit tousjours artaxandre qui donnoit la musique et les colations quoy que ce fust sous le nom de tysimene ainsi sans que belermis et clorelise en eussent de la jalousie artaxandre rendoit tous les jours mille soins et milles preuves d'amour a telamire de sorte que comme j'ay ouy dire que la tromperie est un des plaisirs de cette passion ils avoient tout celuy dont elle peut estre capable puis qu'ils avoient celuy de scavoir qu'ils s'aimoient et celuy de tromper clorelise et belermis il est vray qu'ils ne se parloient pas mais comme ils s'escrivoient et qu'ils se voyoient quelquesfois cela adoucistoit la douleur qu'ils en avoient ainsi clorelise en pensant se vanger d'artaxandre le servoit agreablement et luy donnoit lieu de se vanger d'elle mesme elle ne laissoit pourtant pas alors de gouster tout le plaisir de la vangeance car enfin elle commandoit a sa rivale elle l'empeschoit de parler a son amant elle estoit en pouvoir d'empescher qu'il ne l'espousast elle croyoit l'observer si soigneusement qu'elle n'en avoit nulle nouvelle et elle croyoit mesme qu'elle commencoit d'aimer l'ennemy d'artaxandre et qu'il en mourroit de douleur et de despit cependant comme telamire est tres modeste quoy qu'elle eust pour artaxandre toute la tendresse imaginable qu'elle receust de ses lettres et qu'elle y respondist il est 
 pourtant vray qu'elle ne disoit ny n'escrivoit jamais rien qui pust raisonnablement persuader a tysimene qu'elle eust une violente passion pour artaxandre et veu comme elle conduisit la chose elle pouvoit nommer reconnoissance et amitie ce qu'on pouvoit pourtant apeller amour car pour le secret de cette amitie elle l'attribuoit a la necessite de contenter l'humeur bizarre de clorelise plustost qu'a la nature de cette affection d'ailleurs comme il estoit vray que clorelise eust ardemment souhaite que tysimene eust espouse telamire pour faire plus de despit a artaxandre elle fit si bien pour amuser belermis qu'elle luy persuada que tysimene agissoit pour luy lors qu'il parloit a telamire ainsi tysimene avoit autant de temps qu'il en vouloit pour l'entretenir clorelise disposa mesme algaste a luy donner sa fille si elle pouvoit l'engager a y penser de sorte que pour en venir a bout plus aisement elle se servit de toute l'authorite qu'elle avoit sur telamire pour faire qu'elle fust plus paree qu'elle ne le vouloit estre quoy qu'elle ne vist presques que tysimene car enfin disoit-elle comme nous l'avons sceu depuis tysimene ne voit que telamire telamire est belle tysimene est jeune et d'un esprit passionne et par consequent il faut conclurre qu'il aimera telamire et certes aimable doralise le raisonnement de cette jalouse et vindicative personne ne se trouva pas mal fonde car insensiblement sans que tysimene s'en aperceust l'amour s'empara 
 de son coeur et comme il avoit passe pour artaxandre de la haine a l'amitie il passa pour telamire de l'indifference a l'estime et de l'estime a l'amour et la premiere marque qu'il en eut fut qu'il s'aperceut d'un changement considerable qui estoit arrive en luy car au commencement qu'il avoit en cette negociation d'amour a faire il avoit une joye estrange quand il avoit une parole favorable de telamire a raporter a artaxandre ou qu'il avoit quelque sensible marque de la passion d'artaxandre a donner a telamire mais quand son coeur fut un peu engage il sentit au contraire une secrette melancolie de la joye qu'il donnoit a son amy en luy disant quelque chose qui luy pouvoit donner de la satisfaction il connoissoit bien encore que malgre luy il affoiblissoit autant qu'il pouvoit le sens obligeant de toutes les paroles de ces deux personnes lors qu'il leur raportoit ce qu'ils disoient l'un de l'autre et si artaxandre le prioit de dire a telamire qu'elle se souvinst tousjours qu'il estoit le plus fidelle et le plus passionne amant du monde il cherchoit quelques paroles moins tendres et quelques termes moins significatifs sans qu'il eust pourtant un dessein forme de les chercher d'autre part il trouvoit tant de plaisir a voir telamire qu'il ne put douter long temps de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame il s'y opposa pourtant avec une generosite incroyable et il s'y opposa presques autant parce qu'il avoit este ennemy d'artaxandre que parce qu'il estoit son amy 
 car enfin disoit-il en luy mesme conme nous l'avons sceu depuis artaxandre comme ton amy est aussi oblige d'avoir pitie du mal que tu souffres que tu l'es d'en avoir de celuy qu'il endure mais s'il te regarde conme ayant este son ennemy il semble qu'il ait lieu de te soubconner de laschete de trahison et de perfidie car si tu es son amy tu ne dois pas estre son rival et si tu es son ennemy tu ne dois pas estre son agent aupres de sa maistresse choisis donc tysimene disoit il choisis ce que tu veux estre si tu veux estre ennemy d'artaxandre ne luy en fais pas un secret et si tu veux estre son amy cache luy ta passion et cache la a telamire mesme s'il est possible mais helas adjoustoit-il je sens que tu ne veux estre ny l'un ny l'autre et que tu ne peux estre ny amy ny ennemy d'artaxandre cependant il faut estre l'un des deux et l'indifference n'est plus en ton choix estre son amy et son rival sont deux choses impossibles estre son ennemy et le confident de sa passion sont encore deux qualitez incompatibles et estre amant de telamire et amy ou ennemy d'artaxandre est encore un estat bien deplorable pour toy car si elle te regarde comme son amy c'est comme un amy perfide c'est comme un homme indigne de son estime puis qu'il trahit l'amitie qui est la chose du monde qui doit estre la plus inviolable et si elle te regarde comme l'ennemy d'artaxandre ce sera seulement pour te hair et pour entrer dans tous ses interests contre toy tu te flattes disoit-il 
 encore de l'esperance que telamire n'a peutestre pas une violente passion pour artaxandre mais si elle ne l'a pas pour luy comment l'aura-t'elle pour toy qui ne peux luy descouvrir ta passion pour elle sans luy descouvrir ta trahison pour artaxandre o le pitoyable destin qu'est le tien disoit-il d'estre assure de deux choses l'une ou que la personne que tu adores ne scaura jamais que tu l'aimes ou que si elle le scait elle aprendra en mesme temps que tu es un fourbe et un infidelle amy comment voudrois tu donc qu'elle creust a tes paroles toy qu'elle convaincroit de perfidie par les mesmes mots dont tu te servirois a luy descouvrir ton amour car enfin que ne luy as tu point dit d'artaxandre de la violence de sa passion de sa fidellite pour elle et de l'obligation qu'elle luy a iras tu luy dire que tu luy disois des mensonges te dementiras tu toy mesme et quand tu aurois la laschete de le faire pense tu que telamire te creust joint que quand elle croiroit que tu luy aurois desguise la verite en luy parlant favorablement d'artaxandre tu n'en serois pas plus heureux puis qu'elle auroit en effet lieu de croire que qui luy auroit menti pour un autre pourroit bien mentir pour soy mesme et puis adjoustoit-il encore pense tysimene pense quelle est la haine qui a este entre la maison d'artaxandre et la tienne souviens toy que tes peres et les siens ont tousjours songe a se surpasser en gloire et en vertu et ne vas pas donner l'advantage a ceux de sa maison qui 
 te haissent encore de te reprocher qu'artaxandre est plus vertueux que toy considere encore tysimene que si tu trahis ton amy il fera scavoir a toute la terre que tu t'estois reconcilie aveque luy mais il adjoustera en suitte que ce n'estoit que pour faire une laschete pense donc que la gloire ne souffre pas que tu donnes cet avantage sur toy a tes ennemis et que l'amitie ne peut endurer que tu sois le rival de ton amy et d'un amy encore qui a eu la force de surmonter dans son coeur la haine qu'il avoit pour toy songe encore une fois que l'amour n'est pas une passion plus violente que la haine et que puis que tu as pu cesser de hair artaxandre tu peux bien cesser d'aimer telamire tu peux cesser d'aimer telamire dit-il en se reprenant ha si tu le pouvois tu serois un lasche de ne le faire pas mais aussi si cela n'est point en ta puissance tu ne dois pas estre repute coupable que ferons nous donc disoit-il encore aimerons nous ou n'aimerons nous pas nous aimerons sans doute poursuivoit cet amant afflige mais pour aimer raisonnablement nous aimerons et artaxandre et telamire cependant il n'est pas aise de les aimer tous deux il le faut toutesfois reprenoit-il ou du moins il faut agir en secret dans ton coeur comme amant de telamire et en public comme amy d'artaxandre ainsi ne trahissant que toy tu seras seul a te reprocher toutes tes foiblesses et tu n'auras pas le malheur de perdre tout a la fois l'estime de ton amie de ta maistresse 
 de ton rival et de ton ennemy car tu trouves toutes ces cinq personnes en telamire et en artaxandre voila a peu pres aimable dorolise ce que pensa tysimene lors qu'il s'aperceut qu'il estoit amoureux de telamire car nous avons sceu par luy mesme jusques a ses plus secrettes pensees cependant apres avoir bien agite dans son esprit quelle resolution il prendoit il fut assez genereux pour se determiner a mourir plustost que de faire une infidellite a artaxandre de sorte que je pense pouvoir assurer que jamais vertu n'a este mite a une si difficile espreuve que la sienne car enfin il scavoit que clorelise souhaitoit qu'il espousast telamire et il sceut par elle qu'algaste y consentiroit aveque joye d'ailleurs en l'estat ou estoient alors les choses il n'y avoit nulle apparence qu'artaxandre la peust jamais espouser si bi que sans voir que son amy pust estre heureux il se resolut a estre le plus malheureux de tous hommes il est vray qu'il ne s'y resolut pas sans peine et qu'il souffrit plus de maux que personne n'en a jamais endure il eut cent fois envie de s'esloigner ou de prier artaxandre de le dispenser de continuer d'estre son agent aupres de telamire afin de n'avoir du moins pas la douleur de dire si souvent des choses facheuses pour luy en leur en disant d'agreables pour eux mais lors qu'il vint a faire comparaison entre ce qu'il souffroit en servant a leur affection et ce qu'il souffriroit en ne voyant plus cette belle personne il trouva qu'il valoit encore 
 mieux qu'il parlast d'artaxandre a telamire et de telamire a artaxandre que de se priver de la veue de la personne qu'il aimoit ainsi sans cesser d'estre amant de telamire il continua d'estre confident d'artaxandre mais a dire la verite il ne le fut pas sans douleur et ce qui luy en donna encore davantage fut que telamire ayant conceu beaucoup d'estime pour luy s'accoustuma a luy cacher un peu moins ses veritables sentimens de sorte qu'a mesure qu'il devenoit plus amoureux d'elle il aprenoit qu'elle aimoit tousjours davantage son rival ils eurent mesme un jour une conversation qui l'embarrassa estrangement car pendant qu'isalonide estoit venue prendre clorelise pour aller faire je ne scay quelle visite d'obligation et que belermis estoit alle visiter un homme qui avoit eu querelle quoy qu'il ne le connust presques point tysimene demeura seul aupres de telamire qui venant insensiblement a luy parler de l'erreur ou tout le monde estoit a themiscire touchant artaxandre et luy se mit a exagerer autant qu'elle put le danger qu'il y avoit de juger des choses sur des apparences car enfin dit-elle toute la ville croit que vous estes ennemy d'artaxandre clorelise mesme le pense ainsi aussi bien qu'algaste et belermis de plus on commence de s'imaginer qu'artaxandre m'a oubliee et que j'ay oublie artaxandre on croit aussi que c'est par vertu seulement que clorelise ne voit personne et isalonide mesme n'en doute pas cependant il 
 n'y a rien de plus mal fonde que l'opinion qu'on a de toutes ces choses quoy qu'elles paroissent toutes vray-semblables a ceux qui les croyent c'est pourquoy selon mon sentiment il ne faut jamais parler affirmativement que de ce que l'on scait d'une certitude infaillible il est vray reprit tysimene que les apparences sont bien trompeuses et je suis si fortement persuade de cette vente adjousta-t'il en changeant de couleur que je pourrois peut-estre dire que ce que vous pensez vous mesme le mieux scavoir n'est pas encore positivement comme vous l'imaginez ha pour cela reprit telamire je suis bien assuree que je ne me trompe pas comme les autres se trompent et que lors que je croy qu'artaxandre est vostre amy et que vous estes le sien je ne croy que la verite je suis mesme assuree poursuivit-elle qu'en pensant que clorelise a de l'amour de la haine et de la jalousie je pense ce que je dois penser et qu'en me persuadant que vous avez de l'estime pour moy je ne nie persuade que ce que vous m'avez persuade vous mesme par mille paroles flateuses et par mille agreables offices que j'ay receus de vous ainsi tysimene quoy que j'aye avance que les apparences sont fort trompeuses je ne laisse pas d'assurer que je ne me trompe point en croyant tout ce que je viens de vous dire vous ne vous trompez pas sans doute reprit-il en croyant que j'ay beaucoup d'estime pour vous mais vous vous trompez peut-estre en n'imaginant pas que cette 
 estime soit aussi grande qu'elle est au contraire repliqua t'elle j'ay plustost sujet d'aprehender que je ne croye que vous ayez trop bonne opinion de moy et que vostre civilite ne veuille pas me desabuser d'une erreur qui m'est si agreable car enfin dit-elle en souriant quand j'y pense avec aplication j'ay lieu de craindre qu'un homme qui scait si bien cacher ses veritables sentimens ne soit pas trop sincere en effet poursuivit-elle ne diroit-on pas a vous voir agir et a vous entendre parler devant le monde que vous n'avez nulle affection pour artaxandre et que vous estes effectivement tousjours tout prest a le quereller pour moy adjousta-t'elle en souriant encore je conclus que si vous scaviez aussi bien cacher l'amour que l'amitie vous feriez bien propre a avoir une de ces intelligences misterieuses qu'on ne scait que lors qu'elles ne sont plus si j'avois une passion que je voulusse cacher repliqua-t'il je la cacherois encore bien mieux que je ne cache l'amitie que j'ay pour artaxandre j'ay pourtant ouy dire respondit-elle que l'amour ne se peut cacher long temps je l'ay ouy dire comme vous reprit-il mais je suis bien desabuse de cette erreur car je connois un amant qu'on ne soubconne pas de l'estre et qu'on ne pense pas mesme qui le puisse devenir puis que vous le connoissez reprit-elle sa passion n'est pas si cachee que vous le dittes je le connois dit-il parce qu'il n'est pas possible que je ne le connoisse point mais il est constamment vray que je suis 
 seul au monde qui scache l'amour qu'il a dans l'ame et celle qui luy en a donne repliqua telamire ne scait pas quelle est la passion qu'elle a fait naistre elle ne le scait non plus que vous reprit-il et ce qui est le plus estrange c'est que cet amant a des rivaux qui ne pensent pas qu'il soit le leur ce que vous me dittes me surprend si fort repliqua telamire et j'aurois une telle envie de scavoir qui est cet amant qui scait si bien cacher sa passion a sa maistresse et a ses rivaux que si je voyois artaxandre je le prierois de vous le faire nommer afin de me le faire connoistre dans le choix des deux repliqua tysimene j'aimerois encore mieux vous le dire qu'a artaxandre mais hors d'y estre force je ne le diray s'il vous plaist non plus a vous qu'a luy et je ne reveleray point un secret qui est le secret le plus cache qui sera jamais comme je suis persuadee reprit-elle qu'il n'y eut jamais de secret qui n'ait cesse de l'estre je le suis encore que quelque jour ce que vous ne voulez pas que je scache sera sceu de toute la ville je vous assure reprit-il que si j'ay a le reveler un jour ce sera a vous plus tost qu'a personne que je connoisse mais a vous dire la verite je ne pense pas que cela arrive il ne faut pas parler si affirmativement reprit-elle puis que je pose pour fondement qu'il faut en certaines occasions regarder toutes les choses possibles comme pouvant arriver facilement car enfin quand vous partistes de themiscire et artaxandre aussi il n'y avoit apparence aucune 
 que vous pussiez jamais estre bien ensemble et cependant vous estes devenu son amy et il est devenu le vostre il est vray dit-il que ce changement a este grand et subit et qu'on ne peut gueres passer plus promptement de l'indifference a l'amour que je passay pour artaxandre de la haine a l'amitie pour l'amitie dit telamire je concoy bien qu'elle peut naistre longtemps apres avoir connu une personne mais pour l'amour je ne pense pas que cela puisse estre ainsi et je croy que quand on doit devenir amoureux on commence du moins de le devenir des la premiere fois qu'on voit la personne qu'on doit aimer je suis bien marry madame luy dit-il de vous contredire tousjours aujourd'huy mais il faut pourtant que je ne tombe pas d'accord de ce que vous dittes et que je vous je que je connois encore un amant qui n'estoit qu'amy de la personne dont il est amoureux durant les premiers temps de sa connoissance et qui cependant l'est devenu si esperduement qu'il ne peut presentement concevoir comment il estoit possible qu'il n'eust que de l'amitie pour la personne qu'il adore si cet amant repliqua-t'elle en riant n'a point de nom no plus que le premier dont vous m'avez parle je ne veux de ma vie disputer contre vous car enfin j'a me mieux des raisons que des exemples quand on ne me nomme point les gens dont on m'allegue les avantures mais a dire la verite je pense qu'il seroit un peu difficile de me faire coprendre comment il peut estre qu'un homme qui aura vu une 
 femme tres longtemps sans l'aimer s'advise tout d'un coup d'en devenir amoureux et en mon particulier je croirois plus facilement qu'un homme qui ne m'auroit veue qu'un quart d'heure seroit amoureux de moy que de croire qu'un autre qui m'auroit veue une annee avec indifference se trouveroit capable d'amour il est pourtant si vray reprit-il que cela est possible et que cela est arrive qu'il n'est pas plus veritable que je suis tysimene qu'il est veritable que je connois un amant qui apres n'avoir eu que de l'estime de l'admiration et de l'amitie pour une personne que vous connoissez est venu a avoir de l'amour mais de l'amour si tendre que qui que ce soit n'en a jamais eu davantage si je parlois a celuy que vous dittes repliqua-t'elle je luy ferois assurement advouer ou que ce qu'il a dans le coeur n'est qu'une amitie qui est devenue un peu plus ardente qu'elle n'estoit ou que ce qu'il avoit dans l'ame des le commencement qu'il vit la personne qu'il aime estoit desja amour mais une amour un peu tiede et qu'il ne connoissoit pas alors pour ce qu'elle estoit car encore une fois je ne tiens pas possible qu'on aille devenir amoureux d'une femme deux ans apres qu'on la connoist et qu'on la pratique de sorte madame luy dit-il que si vous aviez jamais quelque amy qui s'advisast de devenir vostre amant il ne luy seroit pas aise de vous persuader qu'il seroit amoureux de vous s'il ne vous disoit qu'il l'auroit este des le premier moment qu'il 
 vous auroit veue il est vray dit-elle qu'il ne me le persuaderoit pas facilement mais graces aux dieux et a clorelise adjousta-t'elle en riant je ne suis pas exposee a ce danger la veu la solitude ou je vy mais madame reprit tysimene en souriant quoy qu'il fust fort interdit on diroit a vous entendre parler que je n'ay point de coeur capable d'estre touche et que je n'ay point d'yeux par ou l'amour puisse entrer dans mon ame cependant poursuivit-il comme il est arrive cent et cent fois que des amis sont devenus rivaux de leurs amis que scavez vous si je ne le deviendray point d'artaxandre ou si je ne le suis point desja devenu tout de bon dit-il pour fonder ses sentimens je pense que je vous surprendrois estrangement si au lieu de vous dire suivant ma coustume qu'artaxandre meurt d'amour j'allois vous protester que j'aurois plus de passion pour vous que luy il est vray repliqua-t'elle que vous m'espouventeriez terriblement mais encore luy dit-il que me respondriez vous et que feriez vous si vous me voiyez a vos pieds vous protester avec mille sermens que j'aurois fait tout ce que j'aurois pu pour n'estre pas rival d'artaxandre et si j'adjoustois encore que je vous aimerois infiniment plus qu'il ne vous aime premierement dit-elle je ne vous croirois point et secondement j'agirois pourtant comme si je vous croyois puis que je vous traitterois d'amy infidelle de fourbe de perfide et d'homme sans jugement car enfin apres vous 
 avoir ouvert mon coeur comme j'ay fait pour ce qui regarde artaxandre il faudroit que vous eussiez perdu la raison pour me venir faire un pareil discours quand il seroit vray que vous auriez beaucoup d'amour pour moy mais adjousta-t'elle en se reprenant je ne suis pas trop sage moy-mesme de m'amuser a dire ce que je ferois en une occasion qui graces aux dieux ne se presentera jamais vous estes pourtant reprit il froidement aussi belle qu'il faut l'estre pour faire un amant fidelle d'un infidelle amy et j'ay peut-estre le coeur aussi sensible et l'ame aussi tendre qu'il la faut avoir pour ne pouvoir ny vous resister ny me vaincre apres cela tysimene craignant d'en avoir trop dit fit un grand effort sur luy mesme pour remettre quelque enjouement dans ses yeux afin d'affoiblir le sens de ses paroles et en effet son dessein reussit si bien que telamire ne soubconna pas seulement qu'il pust y avoir nulle verite a la chose qu'il avoit supposee et elle pensa que c'avoit este un simple jeu d'esprit de sorte que de la venant a parler plus serieusement a tysimene elle se mit a luy parler d'artaxandre le chargeant de luy dire quelque chose d'obligeant qu'elle vouloit qu'il sceust ce jour la si bien que tysimene tout amant qu'il estoit agit pourtant comme agent de son rival et promit a telamire de luy dire tout ce qu'elle luy avoit dit et effet au sortir de chez elle il se mit en devoir d'aller chez cet amy ou il voyoit tous les soirs artaxandre mais pour ce soir la il y fut par 
 le chemin le plus long luy semblant que c'estoit tousjours gagner quelque chose que de differer de quelques momens la joye qu'auroit artaxandre de pouvoir parler de telamire et d'aprendre ce qu'elle luy mandoit de sorte que tysimene faisant un fort grand tour eut loisir de se vaincre plus d'une fois car a vous dire la verite il eut une si forte agitation dans l'ame qu'il fut tantost amy et tantost ennemy d'artaxandre mais il fut tousjours amant de telamire toutesfois la vertu estant la plus forte dans son coeur il acheva de se determiner a demeurer fidelle a son amy et a cacher son amour a sa maistresse aussi bien qu'a son rival apres quoy il fut s'aquiter de sa commission il est vray qu'il s'en aquita avec beaucoup de peine il ne prononca pas une fois le nom de telamire sans avoir un batement de coeur estrange il ne put l'entendre prononcer a son rival sans esmotion et il ne put mesme penser a elle sans estre desconcerte cependant comme artaxandre ne pouvoit parler que de telamire et que de plus il avoit ce soir la je ne scay quel empressement extraordinaire a s'en vouloir entretenir avec tysimene il le retint autant qu'il put car comme il estoit seul a qui il eust descouvert son coeur ce ne pouvoit estre qu'aveque luy qu'il pouvoit trouver cette consolation de grace luy disoit-il mon cher tysimene flattez moy dans ma passion afin d'en soulager les souffrances et dittes moy que telamire est digne qu'on souffre pour elle toutes 
 les peines que j'endure car enfin quoy que vous n'en soyez point amoureux poursuivit-il je ne tiens pas qu'il soit possible que vous ne connoissiez point que j'ay raison de l'aimer autant que je l'aime puis qu'il ne faut qu'avoir des yeux et de l'esprit pour connoistre qu'elle est admirable en toutes choses il est vray reprit tysimene que telamire est fort accomplie et si je voulois m'opposer a la passion que vous avez pour elle ce ne seroit nullement par le deffaut de son merite puis qu'il est vray qu'on n'en peut pas avoir davantage qu'elle en a ha tysimene reprit artaxandre on voit bien la difference qu'il y a de l'amour a l'amitie car parce que vous n'estes que l'amy de telamire vous vous contentez de dire qu'il n'est pas possible de trouver une personne qui ait plus de merite qu'elle mais parce que je suis son amant je dis qu'il n'est pas possible d'en trouver une qui en ait autant si nous ne disputons jamais que pour cela repliqua tysimene nous serons tousjours d'accord puis que j'advoue aussi bien que vous que telamire est incomparable et que je ne connus jamais une personne si aimable qu'elle si je scavois que vous fussiez amoureux reprit artaxandre je me serois bien garde de vous obliger a une declaration si avantageuse peur telamire et j'aurois eu ce respect pour nostre amitie et pour vostre amour de ne vouloir pas vous obliger a mettre la personne que j'aime au dessus de celle que vous auriez aimee mais comme je scay que cela n'est 
 pas et que vous n'aimez encore que la gloire et vos amis j'ay creu que je devois vous obliger a rendre justice au merite de telamire en advouant que vous n'avez jamais connu personne qui l'esgalle mais en mesme temps luy dit-il encore il faut advouer que je suis aussi malheureux qu'elle est belle principalement depuis quelques jours car enfin dit il vous ne me parlez plus de sa part comme vous aviez accoustume et je voy je ne scay quoy dans vostre esprit qui me fait craindre que vous ne voiyez quelques sentimens dans le sien qui ne me soient pas avantageux tysimene entendant parler artaxandre de cette sorte eut peur qu'il ne descouvrist ou qu'il ne soubconnast quelque chose de sa foiblesse de sorte que rapellant toute sa vertu il forca sa bouche a dire a son rival qu'il s'abusoit et qu'il n'avoit jamais este mieux avec telamire qu'il y estoit mais a peine eut-il prononce ces paroles qu'il sentit qu'il estoit mal avec luy mesme et qu'il y avoit un si grand desordre dans son coeur qu'il seroit fort difficile qu'il n'en parust quelque chose dans ses yeux s'il ne quitoit bien tost artaxandre aussi le quita-t'il le plus promptement qu'il put cependant belermis commencant de s'apercevoir que clorelise ne souhaitoit plus tant qu'il espousast telamire observa telamire de plus pres de sorte que venant a avoir de la jalousie des longues conversations de tysimene il le querella et si leurs amis communs ne les eussent empeschez d'en venir aux mains il seroit peut-estre 
 arrive quelque malheur si bien que clorelise voyant les termes ou en estoient les choses et ne remarquant pas que tysimene eust en effet dessein de songer a telamire elle se resolut de se priver du plaisir de la faire espouser a un ennemy d'artaxandre et elle se contenta de la luy oster en la faisant espouser a son frere ce fut donc alors qu'employant tout le credit qu'elle avoit sur l'esprit d'algaste pour le porter a favoriser le dessein de belermis elle le porta en effet a commander absolument a telamire de se preparer a estre femme de belermis dans huit jours d'autre part clorelise apres avoir fait l'accommodement de belermis et de tysimene le pria puis qu'il ne pretendoit rien a telamire de luy vouloir persuader d'obeir de bonne grace a son pere si bien que telamire apres avoir veu algaste et tysimene se trouva tres affligee et elle se le trouva d'autant plus que quelque envie qu'elle eust de desobeir a algaste elle n'en avoit pas la force d'ailleurs elle disoit a tysimene qu'elle ne vouloir pas qu'artaxandre se batist contre belermis et elle luy declaroit au contraire que s'il faisoit une action d'esclat pour l'amour d'elle elle ne le verroit jamais de sorte qu'apres qu'artaxandre sceut la chose il en eut un desespoir incroyable tysimene avoit aussi beaucoup de douleur il en avoit toutesfois moins qu'artaxandre quoy qu'il n'eust pas moins d'amour que luy il fut pourtant agent fidelle en cette occasion car comme il n'avoit que des choses facheuses a dire 
 a artaxandre il les luy dit sans peine quoy qu'il fust pourtant son amy mais c'est que l'amour est une passion qui ne se soumet a rien et a qui au contraire toutes choses se soumettent il est vray que lors qu'artaxandre luy donna commission de persuader a telamire de desobeir a algaste il n'employa pas toute son eloquence et il parla sans doute beaucoup plus fortement et beaucoup plus juste lors qu'il s'agit de consoler artaxandre de la perte de telamire que lors qu'il entreprit de persuader a telamire de se donner a artaxandre il est vray qu'il l'auroit entrepris inutilement car comme telamire est une des plus glorieuses personnes du monde elle n'auroit pas voulu faire une chose qui eust pu estre condamnee d'autre part ce luy estoit une cruelle avanture de penser qu'elle ne verroit jamais artaxandre et qu'elle seroit femme de belermis et de belermis encore qui estoit frere de clorelise aussi ne put elle un jour cacher ses larmes en parlant a tysimene mais helas que ces larmes le toucherent sensiblement aussi en fit il un secret a artaxandre a qui il se contenta de dire que telamire estoit triste sans luy dire qu'elle avoit pleure luy semblant qu'il gagnoit beaucoup en luy cachant quelques larmes de telamire cependant comme artaxandre avoit une passion violente il dit a tysimene qu'il faloit de deux choses l'une ou qu'il se batist contre belermis malgre la deffence qu'on luy en faisoit ou qu'il enlevast telamire le conjurant de vouloir se servir 
 soit a l'une soit a l'autre de ces deux choses de sorte que tysimene se trouvant dans une si facheuse necessite dit a artaxandre qu'il ne luy conseilloit pas de songer a enlever telamire luy disant tant de raisons pour l'en empescher que si artaxandre avoit eu l'esprit tranquile il eust aisement pu remarquer que tysimene prenoit plus d'interest a telamire qu'il ne devoit car tysimene luy mesme s'aperceut qu'il parloit avec trop d'ardeur mais apres l'avoir dissuade d'enlever telamire et qu'artaxandre luy mesme s'en fut repenty il luy offrit par un sentiment d'honneur de se battre aveque luy contre belermis qui n'alloit jamais guere sans estre accompagne de quelqu'un de ses amis mais comme ils estoient prests de prendre cette resolution un esclave de tysimene entra qui donna a son maistre un billet qu'il dit qu'une femme de telamire luy avoit donne en pleurant et ne scais tu point dit alors tysimene quelle douleur elle avoit tout ce que j'en scay dit il est qu'algaste clorelise isalonide telamire et belermis sont partis de themiscire un peu apres que le soleil a este couche et que j'ay veu monter telamire dans le chariot de clorelise mais elle avoit tant de tristesse sur le visage que je crois que ce voyage ne luy plaist pas ha tysimene s'escria artaxandre en luy montrant le billet qu'il tenoit je crains bien que ce voyage qu'on commence de nuit ne soit bien funeste pour moy apres cela continuant diligemment de lire le billet qu'il avoit pris a tysimene il y trouva ces paroles 
 
 
 
 telamire a tysimene 
 
 
 il n'y a qu'un moment que je ne croyais pas devoir sortir de themiscire cependant l'en parts sans scavoir quand j'y retourneray et tout ce que je scay du voyage que je vay faire est que mon pere m'a dit qu'il me menoit a la campagne afin que mon mariage avec belermis se fist avec moins de bruit je vous prie de dire cette facheuse nouvelle a artaxandre de la maniere que vous croirez qui luy doive estre la moins douloureuse assurez le que je resisteray autant que la bien seance me le permettra et disposez le a se resoudre d'estre malheureux en cas que je ne puisse l'empescher de l'estre adieu j'ay une douleur dans l'ame que je ne voudrois pas qu'il sceust mais quelque grande qu'elle soit je consens pourtant qu'il se pleigne de ma foiblesse si mon affection cede a la bien-seance pourveu qu'il s'en pleigne en secret encore une fois j'ay une melancolie que rien ne scauroit esgaller si ce n'est la joye de clorelise qui paroist aussi visible dans ses yeux que le desespoir paroist dans les miens 
 
 
 telamire 
 
 
vous pouvez juger aimable doralise que la douleur d'artaxandre ne fut pas petite apres la lecture de ce billet elle fut pourtant encore plus grande lors qu'apres s'estre informe diligemment du lieu ou estoit alle algaste il sceut que c'estoit a un chasteau qui estoit a isalonide ou il ne seroit pas aise de rien entreprendre ny pour 
 delivrer telamire ny contre belermis car il est extremement fort joint que pour belermis il scavoit bien que quand il trouveroit les voyes de luy faire scavoir qu'il vouloit le voir l'espee a la main il respondroit qu'il se battroit quand il auroit espouse telamire artaxandre ne laissa pourtant pas de prendre la resolution de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour le piquer d'honneur quoy qu'il n'esperast pas le faire changer d'avis de sorte qu'estant sorty de themiscire avec un escuyer seulement parce qu'il ne voulut pas engager tysimene en une chose ou il n'en avoit pas affaire il prit le chemin de ce chateau mais ce fut avec une melancolie estrange car lors qu'il pensoit que peut-estre devant qu'il fust ou il alloit belermis possederoit telamire il sentoit ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer et il m'a dit depuis qu'il n'estoit pas maistre de son esprit et que sans son escuyer il se seroit esgare cent fois tant son ame estoit agitee comme il estoit donc dans une affliction incroyable il vit paroistre de loin deux chariots qui venoient vers luy et qui venoient tres doucement et il luy sembla mesme qu'il reconnoissoit un escuyer de belermis qui marchoit a cheval trente pas devant si bien qu'ayant commande au sien qui estoit amy de celuy de belermis de luy demander qui estoit dans ces deux chariots qui le suivoient il sceut par ce moyen que comme algaste estoit party un peu devant la nuit tant pour esviter la grande chaleur qu'il faisoit alors que pour faire qu'on ne sceust pas son 
 voyage le chariot ou il estoit avoit verse si lourdement qu'il en estoit considerablement blesse a la teste luy aprenant encore qu'algaste n'ayant pas voulu continuer son voyage s'en retournoit a themiscire apres s'estre fait mettre le premier appareil a un bourg qui s'estoit trouve pres du lieu ou cet accident estoit arrive de sorte qu'artaxandre aprenant la chose comme elle estoit prit un chemin qu'il trouva a sa droite afin de ne passer pas si pres de ces deux chariots il n'en passa pourtant pas si loin qu'il ne pust voir telamire et qu'il n'en fust veu mais comme elle estoit alors aussi triste de l'estat ou elle voyoit son pere qu'elle l'avoit este en partant de themiscire elle ne luy fit qu'un petit signe de teste oui ne fut pas mesme aperceu de clorelise parce qu'elle estoit tournee de l'autre coste pour parler a belermis mais enfin pour ne m'amuser pas a des choses peu necessaires algaste fut remene chez luy ou on le mit au lit les chirurgiens furent appeliez et des ce premier jour la ils jugerent sa blessure tres dangereuse si bien que lors qu'artaxandre rentra a themiscire il aprit qu'on croyoit qu'algaste mourroit artaxandre ne jugeant pas alors veu l'estat des choses qu'il deust se mettre en hazard d'irriter telamire en se battant contre belermis se contenta de prier tysimene de voir telamire et ce qu'il y eut de rare en cette rencontre fut que tysimene fut sensiblement touche du mal d'algaste pour clorelise elle en paroissoit inconsolable mais 
 je suis persuadee que c'estoit bien plus parce que la more d'algaste osteroit telamire de sa puissance et l'empescheroit de la faire espouser a belermis que par nulle tendresse qu'elle eust pour luy cependant isalonide faisoit valoir toutes ses larmes aupres d'algaste et jamais mary n'a creu estre plus cherement aime de sa femme qu'algaste creut l'estre de la sienne quoy qu'elle pleurast plus de jalousie et de despit que d'une veritable douleur de sa perte pour telamire il n'en fut pas de mesme car elle eut toute l'affliction qu'une fille bien nee doit avoir de son pere lors qu'elle le voit en cet estat de sorte qu'il falut que tysimene la consolast cependant ce mal fut si violent qu'en quatre jours algaste fut a l'extremite et ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que clorelise qui pouvoit se faire donner tout le bien de son mary si elle eust voulu y songer n'eut point du tout cette pensee mais elle le conjura les larmes aux yeux feignant que ce fust par tendresse de vouloir commander absolument a telamire d'espouser belermis afin que leurs deux maisons demeurassent unies mais soit que la veue des larmes de clorelise esmeust trop algaste ou que cette priere luy attendrist le coeur il parut fort interdit puis tout d'un coup voulant faire effort pour parler il ne le put et un moment apres il perdit tout a fait la connoissance et mourut sans qu'on pust scavoir s'il auroit accorde ou refuse a clorelise ce qu'elle luy demandoit si bien que par ce moyen clorelise se vit sans authorite fur 
 telamire telamire se vit libre belermis se trouva en mauvais estat artaxandre eut lieu d'esperer toutes choses et tysimene ne sceut ce qu'il devoit penser tant ses sentimens se trouverent confus dans son esprit il continua pourtant d'estre genereux mais comme il ne luy estoit plus possible de continuer d'estre agent d'artaxandre et amant de telamire il fut trouver son amy pour luy dire qu'aujourd'huy qu'il ne s'agissoit plus de tromper clorelise il le prioit de ne l'obliger plus aussi a continuer de voir telamire pretextant la chose de l'adversion qu'il disoit avoir pour belermis et pour clorelise il falut pourtant encore qu'il se chargeast du compliment d'artaxandre pour telamire sur la mort de son pere et qu'il luy demandast si elle trouveroit bon qu'il la visitast mais comme telamire estoit trop sage pour faire si promptement un changement si considerable en sa forme de vie elle ne le voulut pas il est vray que cette contrainte ne dura pas long temps car ayant este advertie que clorelise la devoit faire enlever par fou frere elle assembla secrettement tous ses parens qui a l'heure mesme furent conjoinctement la demander a clorelise qui eut encore bien plus de douleur de voir sortir telamire de sa puissance que d'avoir veu encrer algaste au tombeau aussi cette grande reputation de vertu qu'elle avoit aquise par sa solitude et par sa retraite que la jalousie avoit causee commenca t'elle de diminuer car elle agit d'une facon qui 
 fit bien voir qu'elle ne pleuroit pas la mort d'algaste en effet le desespoir qu'elle eut de ne se pouvoir plus vanger d'artaxandre apres avoir este en estat de le rendre malheureux mit un tel desordre dans son esprit qu'il fut aise de remarquer a tous ceux qui la virent qu'il y avoit quelque violente passion dans son ame elle ne pouvoit jamais nommer telamire sans changer de couleur elle s'en pleignoit sans pouvoir dire pourquoy le nom d'artaxandre la mettoit en fureur des qu'elle l'oyoit prononcer et on disoit cent fois celuy d'algaste en sa presence sans qu'elle en eust aucune esmotion de sorte que toute la ville commenca de se desabuser de la grande vertu de clorelise isalonide disoit pourtant que c'estoit que l'exces de la douleur que clorelise avoit de la mort d'algaste troubloit sa raison mais elle ne trompoit que les simples d'autre part amaldee souhaitant alors autant le mariage d'artaxandre avec telamire apres la mort d'algaste qu'elle l'avoit desire du vivant de cleossonte agit si bien aupres des parens de cette aimable fille qu'elle conclut la chose en peu de jours mais comme on craignoit que belermis n'y fist obstacle ils en firent un grand secret
 
 
 
 
cependant comme la reconciliation de tysimene et d'artaxandre fut sceue amaldee pria cet amy de son fils de ne l'abandonner point qu'il n'eust espouse telamire afin d'empescher que belermis ne l'obligeait a se battre une seconde fois luy aprenant l'estat ou elle avoit mis la 
 chose et luy faisant scavoir que dans peu de jours ce mariage se feroit et en effet amaldee ayant apris a artaxandre ce qu'elle avoit fait pour luy et les parens de telamire luy ayant dit ce qu'ils avoient resolu ils se trouverent tous deux aussi heureux qu'ils avoient este miserables mais en eschange tysimene se trouva si afflige qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage ce n'est pas qu'il ne se combatist luy mesme avec une generosite admirable mais la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame estoit si forte qu'il ne la pouvoit surmonter des qu'artaxandre sceut son bon-heur il fut trouver tysimene pour le luy dire mais il fut fort surpris de le trouver si melancolique et plus surpris encore de voir qu'il ne luy disoit pas la cause de sa tristesse comme il luy disoit celle de sa joye tysimene pretexta pourtant son chagrin de quelques affaires domestiques qu'il disoit n'aller pas comme il le souhaitoit de sorte que comme artaxandre n'avoit l'ame remplie que de la joye qui le possedoit il ne s'amusa pas a examiner de si pres la tristesse de tysimene cependant elle estoit si excessive qu'apres que son amy fut party il en pensa expirer et il en fut si presse qu'il a advoue depuis qu'il pensa prendre vingt resolutions violentes en un quart d'heure il est donc bien vray disoit-il en luy mesme comme il le redit apres que telamire va espouser artaxandre et qu'artaxandre va estre aussi heureux que tu vas estre infortune cependant c'est toy qui as contribue a son bon-heur et c'est pourtant toy qui 
 ne le peux voir sans douleur mais graces aux dieux adjoustoit-il en soupirant je ne voy rien a esperer a telamire car je sens bien malgre toute ma vertu que si je pouvois y pretendre quel que chose j'aurois bien encore plus de peine a me vaincre je n'ay pas mesme la consolation de me pouvoir pleindre ny de ma maistresse ny de mon rival et je ne dois accuser que moy mesme de ma foiblesse toutesfois quoy qu'artaxandre soit mon amy poursuivoit-il et que je sois resolu d'agir comme si je n'estois point son rival je ne puis me resoudre d'estre spectateur de sa felicite et je sens tant d'esmotion dans mon coeur quand je pense seulement que dans quatre jours il possedera telamire que je pensois qu'il ne deust jamais posseder que si je m'exposois a le voir tout a fait heureux je m'exposerois a faire des choses qui seroient esgallement esloignees de la raison et de la vertu laissons donc artaxandre en paix puis que nous n'y pouvons jamais estre mais pour l'y laisser il faut ne voir jamais telamire il faut t'esloigner de ta patrie adjoustoit-il il faut te bannir pour tousjours du lieu ou tu laisseras artaxandre heureux et il faut aller chercher la mort en quelque lieu si desert que tu n'aprenne jamais la felicite de la vie de deux personnes qui font tout le malheur de la tienne et en effet tysimene s'afermit tellement dans la resolution de partir de themiscire et de ne voir jamais ny telamire ny artaxandre que rien ne la put esbranler il feignit donc d'avoir une affaire 
 pressee qui l'apelloit ailleurs et sans bien expliquer la cause de son voyage il dit a artaxandre qu'il falloir qu'il partist le jour qui devoit preceder celuy de ses nopces dont belermis et clorelise ne scavoient encore rien d'abord artaxandre fit tout ce qu'il put pour obliger tysimene a attendre a partir qu'il fust heureux et il luy fit cette priere avec des paroles si touchantes et si pleines de tendresse que tysimene en eut une confusion si grande qu'il se resolut encore plus fortement a s'en aller puis qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre a voir artaxandre posseder telamire sans envier son bonheur et sans en estre afflige cependant comme il ne pouvoit songer a partir sans avoir eu encore une fois la satisfaction de voir telamire il luy fit une visite mais on peut veritablement dire qu'il la fut voir puis qu'il la vit presques sans luy pouvoir parler et s'il n'y eust eu du monde chez elle qui fournit a la conversation il se seroit trouve fort embarrasse mais a la fin il la quita et luy dit adieu sans luy dire ny ou il alloit ny pourquoy il partoit au sortir de chez elle il fut chez artaxandre avec qui il ne put estre qu'un demy quart d'heure seulement tant sa passion luy donna de violens transports de douleur artaxandre fit encore alors ce qu'il put pour l'obliger a differer son voyage de deux jours seulement car comme il ne scavoit pas qu'il en estoit la cause il ne pouvoit se lasser de le presser de vouloir estre tesmoin de sa felicite mais a la fin croyant que tysimene ne le pouvoit pas et que 
 l'affaire qu'il disoit avoir estoit quelque secret de famille qu'il ne luy pouvoit confier il ne le pressa plus et luy dit adieu avec mille marques d'amitie luy disant qu'il luy devoit la possession de telamire et qu'il en auroit une reconnoissance eternelle mais aimable doralise apres que tysimene eut quitte artaxandre et qu'il fut retourne chez luy il se trouva plus malheureux encore qu'auparavant car il avoit trouve telamire si belle et artaxandre luy avoit dit des choses si tendres que l'amour et l'amitie recommencant un nouveau combat dans son ame il souffrit encore plus qu'il n'avoit souffert il demeura pourtant dans sa resolution mais comme l'amour est une passion qui de sa nature ne cherche qu'a se faire connoistre il ne put se resoudre d'aller chercher a mourir sans que celle qui causoit son mal sceust du moins ce qu'il faisoit contre luy mesme pour ne faire rien contre artaxandre de sorte que s'estant resolu de luy escrire il luy escrivit en effet et comme il fut prest de partir il donna sa lettre a un homme en qui il se fioit de toutes choses avec ordre de l'aller porter a telamire une heure apres son depart et de choisir le temps qu'artaxandre ne fust point avec elle apres quoy montant a cheval il partit sans estre suivy que d'un escuyer seulement et fut a la maison d'un de ses amis a trente stades de la afin d'adviser quelle route il devoit tenir et quelle terre il choisiroit pour son exil cependant celuy a qui il avoit laisse la lettre qu'il escrivoit a telamire 
 n'ayant pas manque de luy obeir et de la luy rendre elle fut fort estonnee de la trouver telle que je m'en vay vous la lire car comme elle m'en a depuis donne une copie et que je la monstray hier a une de ces dames qui sont avec amaldee je pense que je l'ay encore sur moy en disant cela erenice ayant effectivement trouve qu'elle avoit la copie de la lettre de tysimene se disposa a la monstrer a doralise et a martesie mais avant que de la lire elle leur aprit que telamire apres l'avoir leue avec beaucoup d'estonnement et n'avoir pu resoudre si elle la devoit monstrer a artaxandre ou ne la luy monstrer pas l'avoit mise dans sa poche parce qu'elle l'avoit veu entrer et qu'a quelque temps de la ayant oublie qu'elle y avoit une lettre qu'elle ne vouloit pas qu'il vist elle l'avoit laisse tomber sans s'en appercevoir et qu'il l'avoit trouvee durant qu'elle estoit allee dans l'anti-chambre parler a quelqu'un qui la demandoit si bien qu'ayant d'abord reconnu l'escriture de tysimene et n'ayant pu s'empescher de l'ouvrir il y avoit leu ces paroles qu'erenice leut a doralise et a martesie en leur lisant la copie de cette lettre
 
 
 tysimene a telamire 
 
 
 je ne doute pas madame que vous ne soyez estrangement surprise d'aprendre qu'un homme qui vous a si long temps parle de l'amour d'artaxandre et qui 
 
 a este si fidelle confident de sa passion ose vous dire qu'il est son rival et que dans le mesme temps qu'il vous protestoit qu'artaxandre mouroit d'amour pour vous il en avoit autant dans le coeur qu'il y en pouvoit avoir cependant il est certain que je commencay de vous aimer peu de jours apres que je commencay de vous dire qu'artaxandre vous aimoit et que je vous ay aimee avec tant de violence qu'on ne peut pas aimer davantage vous scavez toutesfois madame que j'ay tousjours fait pour artaxandre tout ce que te luy avois promis et que je n'ay trahy que moy en tant de conversations que j'ay eues aveque vous ne pensez pourtant pas que je me sois vaincu sans peine au contraire je vous conjure de m'accorder pour recompence de ma respectueuse passion la grace de croire que je ne vous ay jamais dit une parole avantageuse a l'amour d'artaxandre sans sentir dans mon coeur une douleur que je ne scaurois exprimer mais quoy que j'aye fait pour luy contre moy mesme je seray bien aise qu'il ne scache pas toute l'obligation qu'il m'a et qu'il n'y ait que vous seule au monde qui connoissiez mon malheur et ma foiblesse si je devois vous revoir vous pourriez peut-estre vous offencer de ce que je vous dis mais ne vous declarant que je vous aime qu'a la veille que vous devez espouser artaxandre et que lors que je suis party de themiscire pour n'y r'entrer jamais vous feriez impitoyable si vous vous offenciez de ce que je n'ay pu me refuser la consolation de pouvoir penser en mourant que vous scaurez la cause de ma mort et que vous advouerez peut-estre qu'excepte artaxandre il n'y avoit point d'homme au monde qui eust plus de droit 
 
 a vostre affection que la mienne m'y en eust pu donner si la fortune eust voulu ou qu'il n'eust pas este vostre amant ou que j'eusse encore este son ennemy au reste madame comme je ne vous demande point de responce scachant bien que je n'en puis ny n'en dois avoir de favorable souffrez encore que je vous conjure de vous souvenir de tout ce que je vous ay dit pour artaxandre et de croire que si j'eusse ose vous dire tout ce que je sentois je vous en aurois beaucoup plus dit pour moy mesme que je ne vous en disois pour luy au reste je suis contraint de vous advouer parce qu'il est vray que l'amitie la vertu et la gloire ne sont pas les seules choses qui m'ont fait estre fidelle a artaxandre et que si je n'eusse pas descouvert que je ne pouvois traverser son bonheur sans traverser le vostre j'aurois eu beaucoup de peine a demeurer dans les justes bornes de la generosite ainsi madame m'estant combatu moy mesme pour l'amour de vous je merite ce me semble que vous ayez quelque compassion d'un malheureux amant qui va chercher la fin de ses malheurs par la fin de sa vie et qui sans vouloir troubler la felicite de son rival se contente de faire scavoir lu cause de sa mort a celle qui la luy donne 
 
 
 tysimene 
 
 
vous pouvez juger aimable doralise qu'artaxandre fut extremement surpris de la lettre de tysimene neantmoins comme il l'aimoit veritablement il aprit avec beaucoup de douleur qu'il estoit amoureux de telamire mais il l'aprit sans jalousie sans haine et sans colere il est vray 
 qu'il estoit si estonne de ce qu'il venoit de voir que ne pouvant presques se croire luy mesme il se mit a recommencer de lire cette lettre comme voulant s'esclaircir s'il avoit bien leu de sorte que telamire r'entrant devant qu'il eust acheve elle fut presques aussi surprise de le trouver lisant cette lettre qu'elle reconnut d'abord qu'artaxandre estoit surpris de ce qu'il y lisoit aussi en changea-t'elle de couleur car comme elle en avoit fait un secret a artaxandre elle ne scavoit comment il prendroit la chose mais a la fin prenant la parole j'avois eu dessein luy dit-elle de vous cacher cette lettre de peur que vous ne m'accusassiez de vous avoir fait perdre un amy qui a sans doute mille bonnes qualitez mais a ce que je voy mon dessein a mal reussi puis que vous l'avez trouvee le dessein que vous aviez reprit artaxandre eust este fort juste si vous l'eussiez eu seulement pour m'espargner la douleur que j'ay de ce que je suis cause que mon amy est malheureux mais il ne l'estoit pas de penser que je pusse jamais me pleindre de vous car enfin je serois fort injuste de vouloir que vous fussiez moins aimable que vous n'estes ainsi madame je ne vous accuse point et je n'accuse pas mesme tysimene puis que veu la maniere dont il en use je luy suis plus oblige de ce qu'il est mon rival que s'il n'avoit este que mon amy mais il est vray que je m'accuse moy mesme estrangement d'avoir oblige tysimene a vous voir tousjours et d'avoir fait cet outrage a vostre merite de croire 
 qu'on vous pust voir souvent sans vous aimer cependant j'advoue a ma confusion que tysimene est plus genereux que je ne l'eusse este car je sens bien que la passion que j'ay pour vous est si forte que si je fusse devenu son rival de la maniere dont il est devenu le mien je serois en mesme temps redevenu son ennemy et que je vous aurois dit pour moy tout ce qu'il ne vous a pas dit pour luy c'est pourquoy madame pour reconnoistre sa vertu je vous demande la permission de le pleindre et de tascher de le persuader de vivre je vous demande de plus poursuivit-il le pardon de la hardiesse qu'il a eue de vous descouvrir sa passion et je vous demande encore vostre amitie pour luy avec autant d'ardeur qu'il vous a autresfois demande vostre affection pour moy mais de grace madame faites que ma negociation soit aussi heureuse que la sienne et comme je vous demande moins pour tysimene qu'il ne vous demandoit pour artaxandre ne me refusez pas je vous en conjure et souffrez qu'a la veille d'estre le plus heureux de tous les hommes je songe a empescher mon amy tout mon rival qu'il est d'estre le plus malheureux de tous les amans ce que vous me demandez est si juste et si facile a vous accorder repliqua-t'elle que vous avez bi deu croire des que vous avez commence de parler que je ne vous le refuserois pas je vous l'accorde pourtant a condition que vous ne m'obligerez point a voir tysimene qu'il ne soit entierement guery de sa folie si je juge de fa 
 passion par la mienne reprit artaxandre vous ne le verrez donc jamais car a vous dire la verite je ne puis concevoir qu'on puisse cesser de vous aimer joint que de la maniere dont je connois tysimene je suis persuade que j'auray mesme bien de la peine a luy persuader de vivre car enfin il a une ame passionnee qui s'attache fortement aux choses et qui ne scait ny aimer ny hair avec mediocrite comme artaxandre disoit cela une tante de telamire chez qui elle demeuroit alors entra dans sa chambre qui luy vint dire que clorelife et belermis ayant enfin descouvert quelque chose de son mariage en faisoient un si grand bruit qu'elle trouvoit a propos de le differer de quelques jours afin d'avoir le loisir de faire voir a tout le monde que clorelife avancoit un mensonge lors qu'elle disoit qu'algaste avoit deffendu a telamire d'espouser artaxandre puis qu'il estoit vray qu'il ne luy avoit deffendu de le voir que parce que clorelife l'en avoit prie apres luy avoit dit que c'estoit a cause qu'il avoit este amoureux d'elle d'abord artaxandre s'opposa fortement a ce qu'on luy proposoit mais la tante de telamire luy ayant dit que la famille toute entiere concluoit que la chose fust ainsi et telamire elle mesme estant de cette opinion il falut qu'il consentist que son bonheur fust differe de huit jours seulement cependant des qu'il fut retourne chez luy il envoyas informer avec beaucoup de soin du lieu ou pouvoit estre alle tysimene et il s'en informa fi 
 soigneusement luy mesme qu'il sceut qu'il n'estoit encore qu'a trente stades de themiscire mais qu'il en devoit partir a la pointe du jour de sorte que sans perdre temps quoy qu'il fust presques nuit il monta a cheval et fut ou estoit tysimene qu'il trouva seul dans une chambre a s'entretenir de son malheur il estoit si occupe par sa douleur qu'artaxandre estoit a un pas de luy sans qu'il l'eust ny veu ny entendu entrer mais lors que se retournant en levant les yeux au ciel comme pour l'accuser de son infortune il entrevit artaxandre il en fut si surpris qu'il s'en recula d'un pas pour le regarder mieux et pour voir s'il ne se trompoit point mais artaxandre s'avancant encore plus qu'il ne s'estoit recule l'aborda en l'embrassant et soupirant alors comme l'autre soupiroit il commenca de luy parler le premier je viens mon cher tysimene luy dit-il je viens vous demander pardon d'estre cause de vostre exil et je viens pour vous empescher de vous bannir vous assurer que telamire apres avoir leu vostre lettre donne plus de louanges a vostre generosite qu'a ma constance et que si elle m'aime plus que vous elle vous estime plus que moy si telamire m'estimoit veritablement repliqua tysimene fort surpris elle ne m'auroit pas refuse la grace que je luy demandois de ne vous descouvrir point ma foiblesse mais a ce que je voy elle aura voulu pour se vanger de mon audace me faire perdre un amy et me priver encore de la consolation que j'avois de pouvoir penser 
 que vous ne scauriez jamais mon infidellite car enfin artaxandre dans mon infortune j'avois imagine quelque douceur a faire en sorte que telamire sceust mon amour et que vous ne la sceussiez jamais de peur qu'en la scachant vous ne m'ostassiez vostre amitie mais puis qu'elle en a dispose autrement il faut se resoudre a estre hai et de ma maistresse et de mon amy ha tysimene reprit artaxandre si je vous haissois je ne vous aurois pas dit que telamire vous estime si vous ne me haissez pas reprit tysimene il faut donc que ce soit parce que vous scavez bien que telamire ne m'aimera jamais et qu'encore que je sois vostre rival vous agissez aveque moy comme si je ne l'estois pas puis que je ne vous puis en effet non plus nuire que si je ne l'estois point mais quoy qu'il en soit vous en faites plus que vous ne devez et je ne ferois pas tout ce que je dois si je ne m'esloignois promptement d'un lieu ou je ne pourrois demeurer sans envier vostre bonheur que scay-je mesme poursuivit-il emporte par sa passion si je pourrois conserver tousjours dans mon coeur et l'amour que j'ay pour telamire et l'amitie que j'ay pour artaxandre car pour ne vous mentir pas adjousta-t'il je suis oblige de vous dire que je n'ay jamais pu effectivement vouloir en chasser l'amour que j'ay pour telamire et que j'ay voulu mille et mille fois en bannir l'amitie que j'ay pour artaxandre jugez apres cela si vous auriez raison de vouloir que je demeurasse a themiscire presupose que 
 je fusse en estat de pouvoir vivre et pour ne vous rien cacher scachez artaxandre que je sens des mouvemens si estranges et si tumultueux dans mon coeur que je n'oserois respondre de ne redevenir pas vostre ennemy si je vous voyois possesseur de telamire cependant comme je suis encore ce que je dois estre pour vous je vous conjure d'avoir quelque indulgence pour moy et de souffrir que dans le dessein que j'ay de ne retourner jamais a themiscire vous me permettiez de ne combatre point la passion que j'ay pour l'admirable personne qui vous va rendre heureux car enfin mon cher artaxandre s'il m'est encore permis de vous nommer ainsi un rival absent et qui n'est point aime n'est guere a craindre et en m'accordant ce que je veux vous ne m'accorderez que la satisfaction de pouvoir aimer telamire sans vous faire outrage je vous accorde plus que vous ne voulez reprit artaxandre puis que je consens que vous l'aimiez et que vous la voiyez car la vertu de telamire m'est si connue que je sens bien que le puis continuer d'estre vostre amy quand mesme vous continuerez d'estre son amant non non reprit tysimene je n'accepteray pas ce que vous m'offrez parce que je n'ose me fier a moy mesme et que je ne sens pas que je pusse vous voir tout a fait heureux ou sans mourir ou sans cesser d'estre vostre amy c'est pour quoy pour conserver et l'amour que j'ay pour telamire et l'amitie que j'ay pour vous il faut que j'execute le dessein que j'ay de me bannir 
 pour tousjours je n'aurois jamais fait si je voulois vous redire tout ce que ces rivaux amis se dirent car ils se dirent tant de choses qu'ils passerent la nuit toute entiere a parler mais comme ils s'estoient aussi peu persuadez l'un que l'autre de ce qu'ils avoient entrepris de se persuader on vint dire tout haut a tysimene qu'un homme qui n'avoit pas voulu dire son nom demandoit a parler a artaxandre de sorte que s'imaginant que peut-estre estoit-ce de la part de belermis il ne voulut pas par un exces de generosite qu'artaxandre allast parler a luy et il commanda qu'on le fist entrer sans luy dire ce qu'il pensoit mais a peine cet homme fut-il dans la chambre qu'il le reconnut pour estre un amy de belermis si bien qu'artaxandre jugeant alors ce que ce pouvoit estre s'avanca diligemment vers luy pour luy donner commodite de luy parler sans que tysimene le pust entendre mais tysimene s'estant avance en mesme temps l'amy de belermis qui estoit un de ces braves de profession qui passent toute leur vie en esclaircissemens en querelles et en combats particuliers voyant qu'il ne luy seroit pas possible qu'il pust parler a artaxandre sans que tysimene y fust se resolut plustost que de manquer a satisfaire son amy a enganger celuy d'artaxandre dans la chose dont il s'agissoit c'est pourquoy sans differer dautange il dit a artaxandre qu'il scavoit trop bien choisir ses amis pour faire difficulte de luy dire en presence de tysimene que belermis 
 ayant sceu qu'il estoit sorti de la ville en estoit sorti aussi et l'attendoit a cent pas de la maison ou il luy parloit pour le voir l'espee a la main et pour luy disputer la possession de clorelife adjoustant que si tysimene ne pouvoit pas se resoudre a estre le spectateur de ce combat il luy offroit de se battre contre luy vous pouvez juger qu'artaxandre se trouva tout prest de satisfaite belermis et que tysimene qui ne cherchoit que la mort ne songea pas a esviter un peril mais pour artaxandre il s'opposa autant qu'il put au combat de tysimene toutesfois comme il vit qu'il luy disoit qu'il ne se battroit donc pas contre belermis s'il ne luy permettoit de suivre sa fortune il falut par un sentiment d'honneur qu'il y consentist ainsi ils furent ou estoit belermis je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire ce qu'ils penserent car il est aise de se l'imaginer je ne m'amuseray pas non plus a vous descrire ce combat dont le succes fut tres funeste car enfin tysimene tua l'amy de belermis mais il est vray que ce fut apres en avoir este blesse mortellement tysimene eut pourtant encore la force apres avoir vaincu d'aller vers son amy qui apres avoir blesse belermis avoit eu le malheur que son espee s'estoit rompue de sorte que belermis sans s'en estre aperceu ayant passe sur luy estoit prest de le tuer lors que tysimene aprochant tout blesse qu'il estoit luy cria qu'il n'estoit guere genereux de vouloir tuer un homme sans espee 
 belermis tournant alors la teste et le voyant venir a luy l'espee a la main se releva et artaxandre se desgagea de dessous luy si bien que belermis s'apercevant alors que l'espee d'artaxandre estoit rompue eut honte de l'action qu'il avoit voulu faire et promit d'avouer la chose comme elle s'estoit passee ainsi tysimene sauva la vie a son amy et a son rival tout ensemble car encore qu'artaxandre ne fust pas blesse et que belermis le fust comme il avoit eu le malheur de broncher et que son espee s'estoit rompue belermis l'auroit aisement tue sans tysimene mais ce qu'il y eut de deplorable fut qu'apres qu'il fut arrive du monde que belermis se fut retire et qu'on eut emporte le corps de celuy que tysimene avoit tue tysimene luy mesme tomba de foiblesse et on fut contraint de le reporter a themiscire au plus pitoyable estat du monde n'y ayant point de lieu plus proche ou on le pust penser vous me dispenserez s'il vous plaist aimable doralise de vous dire tout ce que dit tysimene a artaxandre et tout ce que dit artaxandre a tysimene en cette occasion car je ne le pourrois faire sans pleurer et pour vous espargner la douleur que vous auriez si je vous disois tout ce qu'ils se dirent je vous diray en deux mots que tysimene ne vescut que cinq jours que tant qu'il vescut il ne parla que de telamire et qu'artaxandre fut tousjours aupres de luy avec une douleur inconcevable que telamire elle mesme fut sensiblement touchee 
 de cet accident et qu'enfin le jour destine aux nopces d'artaxandre fut celuy des funerailles de tysimene aussi cette feste fut elle differee et durant quelques jours toutes les conversations d'artaxandre et de telamire ne furent que de tysimene cependant comme artaxandre ne se consoloit pas de n'avoir point vaincu belermis et qu'il croyoit de plus devoir vanger la mort de son amy et se battre encore une fois contre luy autant par un sentiment d'amitie pour tysimene que d'amour pour telamire il se battit pour la troisiesme fois contre belermis des qu'il fut guery de la blessure qu'il avoit mais a ce second combat qui se fit seul a seul il eut l'avantage tout entier car il blessa belermis en deux endroits et le desarma de sorte que clorelife pensa desesperer de voir que rien ne pouvoit plus troubler son bon heur elle trouva pourtant encore une invention de le differer car elle fit tant de bruit par le monde de ce que telamire avoit consenty a ce que ses parens avoient voulu qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'un tel vacarme que celuy qu'elle fit non seulement de ce qu'elle espousoit artaxandre mais de ce qu'elle estoit encore en deuil de son pere lors qu'elle pensoit a se marier de sorte que telamire qui craint estrangement ces bruits de ville quelques mal fondez qu'ils puissent estre se mit dans la fantaisie de ne se vouloir plus marier qu'elle n'eust quite le deuil si bien que pour laisser passer ce temps la seurement qui n'estoit pas fort long les 
 deux familles se sont jointes et comme la tante de telamire a une maison fort proche de celle d'amaldee il fut resolu que toute cette troupe y viendroit de sorte que depuis un mois nous avons tousjours este toutes ensemble tantost a une maison et tantost a l'autre mais comme le deuil de telamire finit avant hier on la mariera sans doute a artaxandre des qu'il plaira au desbordement du fleuve qui nous arreste icy de nous permettre de nous en retourner et ce qui fera haster la chose c'est que nous avons eu nouvelle que belermis est guery de ses blessures et que clorelife est plus enragee que jamais et contre artaxandre et contre telamire 
 
 
 
 
comme erenice eut acheve son recit et que doralise se preparoit a la remercier du plaisir qu'elle avoit eu a l'escouter amaldee entra qui aprit a erenice que le corps de belermis venoit d'estre trouve au bord du fleuve et qu'un escuyer qu'il avoit que son cheval avoit sauve a la nage luy avoit apris que son maistre estant party de themiscire avec intention de venir encore troubler le mariage d'artaxandre avoit este droit a la maison d'amaldee ou ayant sceu qu'elle estoit de l'autre coste du fleuve et qu'artaxandre y estoit aussi il l'avoit voulu traverser malgre son desbordement et tascher de gagner a cheval le bout du pont de peur qu'il avoit que telamire ne fust mariee devant qu'il arrivast aupres d'elle elle luy aprit encore que son cheval s'estant abatu sous luy il estoit tombe 
 dans l'eau sans s'en pouvoir degager et qu'il avoit este noye quoy que belermis ne fust pas amy d'aucune de ces dames qui estoient avec amaldee et qu'au contraire il fust l'ennemy d'artaxandre qui estoit parent et amy de toutes ces aimables personnes cet accident ne laissa pas de mettre quelque tristesse dans une si belle troupe pour artaxandre tout son ennemy qu'il estoit il prit soin de ses funerailles qui furent aussi belles que s'il fust mort du temps qu'il estoit amy de clorelife cependant comme cet accident fut cause que cyrus et mandane sceurent toute l'avanture d'artaxandre et de telamire voyant que le fleuve n'estoit pas encore en estat de leur permettre de partir de quatre ou cinq jours ils obligerent la tante de telamire et la mere d'artaxandre a consentir que les nopces de ces deux aimables personnes se fissent en leur presence de sorte que ne pouvant pas refuser un si grand avantage cyrus et mandane firent les honneurs de cette feste qui bien que ce fust avec precipitation fut pourtant belle et magnifique et digne des personnes qui la faisoient et de celles pour qui elle estoit faite il est vray qu'il y eut plus d'hommes au bal que de dames mais le peu qu'il y en avoit estoient si aimables qu'il ne laissa pas d'estre tres divertissant joint que quand il n'y auroit eu autre ornement que celuy de voir mandane et cyrus il auroit tousjours este tres beau principalement quand on les voyoit dancer ensemble n'estant pas possible de 
 voir deux personnes mieux faites ny dancer de meilleure grace ny d'un air plus noble aussi charmerent-ils tellement tous ceux qui les virent qu'a la reserve de telamire dont la dance parut admirable mesme a mandane on n'admiroit qu'eux seulement il paroissoit mesme une gayete extraordinaire sur le visage de cyrus et on eust creu a le voir qu'il avoit receu quelque nouvelle qui luy donnoit beaucoup de satisfaction mais ce qui surprit fort tout le monde fut que le lendemain au matin il s'espandit un grand bruit que le roy d'assirie estoit mort de ses blessures et cyrus dit luy mesme qu'il venoit d'en estre assure si bien que tous ceux a qui cette mort pouvoit donner de la melancolie ou de la satisfaction verserent des larmes de douleur ou des larmes de joye selon l'interest qu'ils y avoient ainsi anaxaris s'en affligea mazare en eut de la compassion mandane en eut quelque pitie chrysante martesie et feraulas en furent bien aises et chacun regarda alors cyrus comme estant a la fin de tous ses malheurs puis qu'il n'avoit plus un rival qui tout vaincu qu'il estoit ne laissoit pas d'estre encore redoutable de sorte qu'anaxaris dans la violente passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer de ce qu'il ne prevoyoit plus que le bonheur de cyrus pust estre traverse car veu l'estat ou l'on disoit que le roy de pont estoit party du tombeau de menestee il n'esperoit pas qu'il pust faire nul obstacle a la felicite de son rival cependant 
 il n'en pouvoit souffrir la pensee et quoy qu'il connust toute l'injustice de ses sentimens il ne les pouvoit toutesfois regler et il desiroit tousjours tout ce qu'il ne pouvoit pas desirer mais apres avoir conclu qu'il ne pouvoit non seulement esperer d'estre heureux mais qu'il ne pouvoit mesme penser que cyrus pust estre infortune du moins disoit-il en luy mesme me sera-t'il permis d'esperer que les dieux qui destruisent tous les rivaux de cyrus ou qui leur changent le coeur me destruiront ou me changeront comme ils ont destruit et comme ils ont change les autres ouy justes dieux poursuivoit-il vous me donnerez le destin du roy d'assirie ou celuy de mazare et je seray sans doute bien tost dans le tombeau comme le premier ou aussi vertueux que le second mais dans le choix des deux adjoustoit il je desire plustost le destin du roy d'assirie que celuy du prince mazare et j'aime beaucoup mieux mourir en aimant mandane que de vivre avec la certitude de n'en estre jamais aime de la maniere dont je le voudrois estre mais pendant qu'anaxaris raisonnoit de cette sorte sur la mort du roy d'assirie et sur sa passion on luy vint dire que cyrus le demandoit si bien que sentant dans son coeur une emotion extraordinaire il eut une peine estrange a luy obeir mais a la fin se faisant une extreme violence il fut le trouver a son apartement ou il ne fut pas plustost que cyrus le faisant entrer dans un grand cabinet qui estoit dans sa chambre il luy parla 
 avec autant de confiance que de tendresse vous scavez mon cher anaxaris luy dit-il que je vous ay desja confie mon honneur et tout ce qui me peut faire vivre avec felicite ou mourir avec consolation de sorte que pour vous tesmoigner que je n'ay pas change de sentimens pour vous il faut que je vous revele un secret que je ne diray qu'a vous seulement et que feraulas mesme ce cher confident de ma passion ne scaura pas car comme il est amoureux de martesie je ne veux pas qu'il scache que le roy d'assirie n'est pas mort le roy d'assirie n'est pas mort reprit anaxaris tout surpris non repliqua cyrus et lors que vous avez entendu dire qu'il estoit fort mal de ses blessures et que vous avez creu qu'il n'estoit plus vivant c'estoit lors qu'il se portoit le mieux ou qu'il estoit entierement guery car dans le dessein que j'ay eu de luy tenir ma parole et de me battre contre luy devant que d'arriver a ecbatane j'ay creu qu'il faloit dire ce mensonge en effet j'ay bien remarque que tant que ce prince a este en sante tous mes amis m'ont observe si soigneusement qu'il m'eust este impossible de satisfaire mon ennemy de sorte que pour m'empescher d'estre prive moy mesme du plaisir de me voir en estat de me vanger de tous les suplices qu'il a fait souffrir a la princesse et de tous ceux que j'ay endurez j'ay creu qu'il faloit tromper tout le monde et publier la mort du roy d'assirie afin que je fusse en pouvoir de faire peut-estre changer cette fable en histoire en me battant 
 contre luy sans craindre d'en estre empesche le roy d'assirie luy mesme l'a voulu ainsi poursuivit-il si bien que lors qu'il m'a mande que dans trois jours il seroit a cinquante stades d'icy aupres d'un vieux chasteau ruine qu'il m'a marque precisement j'ay fait publier qu'il estoit mort et je voy que tout le monde en est si pleinement persuade que des deux raisons qui m'obligeoient a vous descouvrir mon dessein il n'y en a plus qu'une qui subsiste car enfin je pensois avoir besoin de vous pour me desgager de tant de gens qui m'accablent par une voye que j'avois imaginee mais vous ne m'estes plus necessaire que pour empescher mon rival d'avoir mandane en sa puissance si je succombe au combat que je dois faire puis que comme je vous l'ay dit une autre fois je ne me suis engage qu'a me battre contre luy devant que de la posseder et que je ne luy ay pas promis de l'en rendre possesseur ainsi mon cher anaxaris je vous conjure si je suis vaincu de faire voir cet ordre que je vous laisse escrit de ma main et que je remets entre les vostres a tous les chefs et a tous les princes qui sont dans cette armee afin qu'ils voyent que je remets entre les mains de mandane toute l'authorite que ciaxare m'avoit donnee et qu'ainsi ils luy obeissent et qu'ils s'opposent au roy d'assirie car enfin il y auroit lieu de craindre que tant de princes nouvellement assujettis ne se joignissent avec le roy d'assirie pour sortir de servitude s'ils n'en estoient empeschez par vostre fidelite je 
 scay combien vostre rare valeur vous a aquis de credit sur l'esprit des soldats je scay que la princesse vous aime assez pour estre bien aise que vous soyez une seconde fois son liberateur et je scay que vostre fidellite ne me peut estre suspecte et que vous m'avez promis de mourir plustost que de laisser mandane en la puissance du roy d'assirie je vous l'ay promis seigneur luy respondit anaxaris et je vous le promets encore vous assurant qu'il n'est rien que je ne sois capable de faire pour m'opposer a son dessein cyrus estant tres satisfait de voir avec quel zele anaxaris luy promettoit ce qu'il vouloit luy dit cent choses obligeantes en suitte de quoy il luy donna encore divers ordres soit de ce qu'il diroit a la princesse mandane soit de ce qu'il faudroit qu'il fist pour la mettre en seurete en cas qu'il fust vaincu ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il mon cher anaxaris que je n'espere fortement que je vous donne des ordres inutiles et que le roy d'assirie ne sera pas mon vainqueur mais c'est que la passion que j'ay pour mandane est si violente et que la haine que j'ay pour mon rival est si forte que je voudrois pouvoir combattre ce fier ennemy jusques dans le tombeau et qu'ainsi je ne dois rien oublier pour la seurete de ma princesse c'est pourquoy je vous conjure encore une fois de vous assurer de tous vos compagnons de mesnager l'esprit de tous vos amis et de flatter les soldats autant que vous le pourrez cyrus adjousta encore a toutes ces 
 choses une autre prevoyance considerable car il fit mettre entre les mains d'anaxaris plus de richesses qu'il n'en faloit pour s'assurer des plus mutins de sorte que n'oubliant rien de tout ce qui pouvoit luy donner la satisfaction de penser que la victoire ne pourroit mesme mettre mandane en la puissance du roy d'assirie il passa les trois jours qu'il y avoit jusques a son combat dans des soins continuels c'estoit pourtant des soins qui ne paroissoient qu'a anaxaris seulement et cyrus estoit tellement maistre de son esprit que soit qu'il parlast a mandane a doralise a martesie ou a toutes ces dames que le debordement du fleuve arrestoit en ce lieu la il n'y avoit nulle marque ny dans ses yeux ny dans sa conversation qu'il eust rien dans l'ame qui l'inquietast au contraire comme la riviere s'abaissoit et qu'il y avoit apparence que dans peu de jours on pourroit passer sur le pont qui estoit en ce lieu la il sembloit qu'il s'en resjouist et qu'il n'y eust point d'autre obstacle a la continuation de son voyage que l'inondation du fleuve d'autre part anaxaris paroissoit assez empresse mais comme cyrus croyoit en scavoir la cause bien loin de s'en inquietter il estoit bien aise d'avoir trouve un protecteur de mandane si diligent si zele et si fidelle cependant comme ce prince avoit tous les jours des nouvelles du roy d'assirie il sceut qu'il estoit arrive pres du lieu ou il se devoit battre et que ce seroit le lendemain au matin de sorte que renouvellant tous 
 ses ordres et toutes ses prieres a anaxaris et anaxaris reconfirmant aussi toutes ses promesses cyrus ne songea plus qu'a se desrober le jour suivant un peu devant le jour afin que son combat fust finy avant qu'on eust eu loisir de s'apercevoir qu'il ne paroissoit pas il fut pourtant le soit fort tard chez mandane ou la conversation fut extremement enjouee il y eut toutesfois quelques instans ou quand cyrus pensa que peut-estre le lendemain a la mesme heure le roy d'assirie verroit cette princesse et qu'il ne la verroit plus il eut une douleur excessive quoy qu'elle ne parust pas mais il y en eut d'autres aussi ou pensant que peut-estre le jour suivant il auroit vaincu son rival et se reverroit vainqueur aupres de sa princesse il sentit un plaisir extreme de sorte que la quittant avec cette agreable esperance il se retira chez luy et ne se confiant qu'a ortalque seulement il fit si bien qu'il eut un cheval et une espee telle qu'il la faloit pour son combat mais afin que ceux qui le servoient a la chambre ne fussent pas surpris de le voir sortir devant le jour et si peu accompagne il dit le soir tout haut en se couchant qu'il vouloit aller de grand matin au quartie du prince artamas ou on luy avoit assure qu'on pourroit trouver un gue pour passer la riviere tesmoignant avoir beaucoup d'impatience de recommencer a marcher de sorte que ceux qui le servoient qui estoient aussi accoustumez de voir cyrus agir en soldat qu'en general d'armee et en particulier 
 qu'en fils de roy ne s'estonnerent pas trop de ce qu'il partoit si matin de ce qu'il ne vouloit qu'ortalque aveque luy et de ce qu'il leur commandoit de dire qu'il dormoit encore a tous ceux qui demanderoient a luy parler ainsi cet illustre prince apres avoir gagne tant de batailles assujety tant de provinces et soumis tant de royaumes vit encore toute sa felicite despendre de la fortune et de sa seule valeur de sorte qu'un roy qu'il avoit vaincu et qu'un roy sans royaume estoit encore en estat de le vaincre de le mettre au tombeau et de posseder la princesse pour qui cyrus avoit fait de si grandes choses aussi tant que le chemin dura ce prince eut l'ame remplie de tant de pensees differentes qu'il eust eu bien de la peine a les redire avec quelque ordre ce fut alors qu'il fit ce qu'il avoit desja fait une autre fois c'est a dire qu'il r'apella dans son souvenir les sujets de haine qu'il avoit eus contre le roy d'assirie du temps qu'il portoit le nom de philidaspe et tous les demeslez qu'il avoit eus aveque luy sous celuy d'artamene il se ressouvint de ce sanglant combat qu'ils avoient fait aupres du temple de mars proche de sinope et son imagination luy representa le lieu ou il luy avoit sauve la vie a son retour des massagettes de sorte que n'oubliant rien des obligations que ce prince luy avoit quoy qu'il fust accoustume a oublier ses propres bien-faits il s'en servit a irriter sa haine aussi bien que par le souvenir de tant de maux que mandane avoit endurez parce qu'il 
 l'avoit enlevee mais enfin estant arrive au soleil levant au lieu ou le roy d'assirie l'attendoit avec un escuyer seulement ces deux rivaux s'aborderent avec une civilite qui avoit quelque chose de si fier qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'ils ne se cherchoient que pour s'entre-destruire cependant comme ils avoient resolu de se battre a pied afin que leur combat fust plus court et qu'ils fussent plus maistres d'eux mesmes ils laisserent ceux qui estoient avec eux avec leurs chevaux sous des arbres et ils furent assez pres d'un vieux chasteau ruine ou le terrain paroissoit fort uny pour terminer ce grand different qui avoit mis toute l'asie en armes mais en y allant ils parlerent peu le roy d'assirie dit pourtant a cyrus qu'il avoit tousjours bien creu qu'il aimoit trop la gloire pour manquer a sa parole mais qu'il ne laissoit pas de luy en avoir toute l'obligation qu'un ennemy peut avoir le desir de la vangeance reprit brusquement cyrus est si doux que je ne scay si ce n'est point autant a luy qu'a l'amour de la gloire que vous devez la satisfaction que vous allez avoir et que je vay me donner a moy mesme quoy qu'il en soit dit le roy d'assirie je ne laisse pas de vous louer de faire ce que j'eusse fait si j'avois este a vostre place et de vouloir bien oublier que je vous dois la vie et la liberte pour demeurer dans les termes de nos conditions car enfin je suis contraint d'advouer qu'apres m'estre veu si malheureux dans vostre armee j'ay quelque consolation de ne vous voir plus a la teste 
 de deux cens mille hommes sur qui je n'avois aucun pouvoir et de nous voir armes esgalles a ces mots comme ces deux redoutables ennemis arriverent au lieu qu'ils avoient destine pour se battre ils se separerent et se mettant en presence sans s'amuser a mesurer leurs espees ils commencerent leur combat mais ils le commencerent avec la mesme fierte qui a accoustume de finir celuy des autres en effet on eust dit qu'ils avoient desja dans l'ame toute la fureur de ceux qui dans un combat voyent couler leur sang sans voir celuy de leur ennemy car ils s'attaquerent avec la mesme impetuosite que s'ils eussent voulu terminer tous leurs differens par un seul coup c'est enfin aujourd'huy s'escria cyrus en s'eslancant sur le roy d'assirie qu'il faut vaincre ou mourir pour mandane c'est par ce coup repliqua fierement ce vaillant prince en luy portant de toute sa force que tu scauras lequel des deux doit arriver la chose n'alla pourtant pas si viste car cyrus ayant pare le coup que le roy d'assirie luy porta comme le roy d'assirie para celuy que cyrus luy avoit porte ils ne se toucherent pas de sorte que ces fiers ennemis employant alors toute leur valeur et toute leur adresse l'un contre l'autre ils s'attaquerent et se deffendirent si vaillamment que leur propre valeur fut un obstacle a leur victoire car il se la disputerent durant tres long temps avec tant d'esgallite qu'ils ne pouvoient avoir aucun avantage l'un sur l'autre comme cyrus conservoit plus de jugement 
 dans le combat que le roy d'assirie qui estoit d'un temperamment plus impetueux il choisissoit sans doute mieux les endroits ou il portoit mais d'autre part le roy d'assirie frapoit de si grands coups qu'il n'y avoit que cyrus au monde qui les eust pu parer comme il faisoit tantost cyrus s'abandonnoit et donnoit tout au hazard afin de pouvoir vaincre plustost un moment apres il mesnageoit un peu mieux ses avantages et taschoit de profiter du desespoir du roy d'assirie qui quelquesfois se moquant des preceptes de ce mestier n'employoit que sa force toute seule mais ce qu'il y avoit d'estrange estoit que ces deux vaillans princes qui avoient une agilite merveilleuse s'ils eussent voulu s'en servir firent pourtant ce combat dans un tres petit espace parce que pas un des deux ne voulant lascher le pied devant son ennemy ils se serroient tousjours de si pres qu'ils n'estoient jamais hors de portee et qu'ils estoient a tous les instans en estat de tuer tous deux mais a la fin cyrus eut non seulement l'avantage de voir couler le sang de son ennemy par une legere blessure qu'il luy fit au bras gauche mais il arriva encore que le roy d'assirie ayant pare de l'espee pour porter au mesme instant tomba sur un genouil de sorte que cyrus levant la sienne pour pouvoir passer sur le roy d'assirie celle de ce malheureux prince luy tomba des mains il se releva pourtant si promptement que cyrus ne put passer sur luy comme il en avoit eu le dessein mais il ne put 
 toutesfois reprendre son espee parce que cyrus s'en saisit de sorte que se voyant a la mercy de son rival et de son vainqueur il sentit un desespoir qui n'eut jamais d'esgal il est vray qu'il ne dura pas long temps car comme cyrus n'estoit pas capable de vouloir tuer va homme desarme et que leur combat ne devoit finir que par la mort d'un des deux il prit l'espee de son rival par la pointe et la luy presentant par la garde comme je ne veux pas luy dit il devoir la victoire a vostre malheur que je ne la veux devoir qu'a moy mesme et que je ne puis combattre que ceux qui sont en estat de me resister reprenez vostre espee et vous en servez plus heureusement que vous n'avez fait s'il est en vostre puissance ha c'est trop s'escria ce prince violent en la reprenant et quand vous ne m'auriez point fait d'autre mal que celuy de m'accabler de generosite je ne pourrois souffrir vostre veue je suis pourtant honteux adjousta-t'il en reprenant haleine d'employer l'espee que vous me rendez contre vous mais l'amour de mandane le veut et puis qu'elle ne peut estre qu'a un seul il faut qu'il n'y en ait qu'un qui vive apres cela ces deux redoutables ennemis recommencerent un nouveau combat plus violent que le premier mais comme ils estoient prests de se vaincre l'un ou l'autre et peutestre de perir tous deux quoy qu'il parust pourtant que cyrus eust assez d'avantage parce que la fureur avoit trouble la raison du roy d'assirie feraulas parut qui venant a toute bride droit a eux s'escria des qu'il fut assez pres de son maistre pour en pouvoir estre entendu ha seigneur que faites vous icy pendant qu'on enleve la princesse mandane a ces mots ces deux vaillans princes suspendant leur fureur se retirerent de quelques pas seulement pour s'esclaircir s'ils avoient bien entendu de sorte que feraulas s'estant aproche il leur dit encore une fois que mandane estoit enlevee et enlevee par anaxaris et que s'ils n'alloient diligemment apres ils ne la delivreroient pas quoy s'escrierent ces deux rivaux anaxaris a enleve mandane ouy seigneur reprit feraulas en adressant la parole a cyrus et il y a une telle esmotion dans les troupes a cause de cet accident et du bruit qui a couru que le roy d'assirie n'estoit pas mort 
 et qu'il vous avoit tue que si vostre presence ne le calme et ne donne ordre a faire suivre la princesse vous ne la retrouverez pas ces deux rivaux entendant ce que disoit feraulas se regarderent fierement et comme s'ils eussent este poussez d'un mesme esprit ils se dirent qu'il falloit donc remettre leur combat jusques a ce qu'ils eussent delivre mandane de sorte que renouvellant leurs conditions en deux mots ils furent diligemment vers leurs chevaux qu'ils monterent a l'heure mesme car comme la blessure du roy d'assirie estoit fort legere il se fit seulement bander le bras avec une escharpe et fut avec cyrus vers le lieu d'ou mandane avoit este enlevee parce qu'il falloit y repasser pour la suivre pour se montrer aux siens et pour prendre des troupes mais en y allant il fut rencontre par un nombre infiny de gens de qualite qui le cherchoient entre lesquels il fut fort surpris de voir le prince indathirse cet illustre scythe avec qui il estoit sorty des estats de thomiris quelque afflige qu'il fust il ne laissa pas de le recevoir civilement et de luy parler en la langue qu'il entendoit pour luy dire son malheur et pour luy demander pardon s'il ne le recevoit pas avec toute la joye que sa presence luy eust donnee en un autre temps mais luy dit-il quand vous considrerez que la princesse mandane vient de m'estre enlevee et enlevee par un inconnu dont je ne scay pas seulement la patrie vous excuserez mon incivilite et vous ne trouverez pas mauvais si n'ayant l'esprit remply que de l'infidelite du traistre anaxaris je ne rends pas ce que je dois au genereux indathirse ha seigneur reprit cet illustre scythe vous ferez bien plus surpris quand vous scaurez qu'anaxaris n'est pas anaxaris et plus surpris encore quand le vous auray dit qui il est quoy s'escria cyrus vous le connoissez ouy seigneur reprit-il et je vous le diray s'il vous plaist en particulier alors cyrus se separant de quelques pas du reste de la troupe et marchant toujours pour ne perdre point de temps escouta ce que luy dit indathirse avec tant de marques d'estonnement sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'il en estoit et fort surpris et fort afflige 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 quoy s'ecria cyrus apres avoir entendu le veritable nom d'anaxaris qu'indathirse luy aprit il peut estre vray qu'anaxaris soit le prince aryante frere de thomiris qui estoit alle au royaume des issedons avec le jeune spargapise lors que ciaxare m'envoya vers cette princesse ouy seigneur reprit indathirse anaxaris est veritablement aryante frere de la reine des massagettes 
 et le voyage qu'il estoit alle faire lors que vous estiez aupres de cette princesse est cause qu'il a pu demeurer inconnu dans vostre armee car comme vous ne l'aviez jamais veu il luy a este aise de passer pour ce qu'il a voulu mais encore dit cyrus quel dessein peut-il avoir eu en se cachant si long temps et en me rendant de si grands services pour me rendre apres le plus malheureux de tous les hommes est-ce qu'il attendoit une occasion de vanger thomiris en m'enlevant la princesse que j'adore et dois-je regarder la violence qu'il vient de faire comme un effet de la vangeance de cette reine irritee ou de l'amour qu'il a pour mandane seigneur reprit indathyrse je ne puis vous dire quelle a este l'intention du prince aryanthe mais je scay avec certitude qu'il y a tres long temps qu'il n'est pas assez bien avec thomiris pour estre le ministre de sa vangeance mais comment scavez vous dit cyrus qu'anaxaris est aryante car je vous advoue que ce que vous me dites me surprend si fort que je ne puis m'empescher de vous demander toutes les circonstances d'une chose qui me paroistroit tout a fait incroyable si tout autre que vous me la disoit seigneur reprit indathirse je scay si bien qu'anaxaris est aryante qu'on ne peut pas le scavoir mieux car un escuyer que j'ay icy en qui je me fie de toutes choses et qui l'a veu des annees entieres l'a veu de ses propres yeux aupres de mandane en effet comme je voulois estre 
 asseure du lieu ou vous estiez pour vous joindre je l'avois envoye s'en informer avec ordre de me le revenir dire en une ville ou je me suis arreste un jour pour me mettre en estat de pouvoir paroistre devant la princesse mandane que je scavois que vous conduisiez de sorte que cet escuyer qui a de l'esprit estant arrive hier au lieu ou vous estiez et ou nous allons il y vit anaxaris faire la fonction de capitaine des gardes de la princesse mandane mais comme il le vit sans en estre veu parce qu'il estoit mesle dans la presse du peuple qui regardoit cette princesse en allant au temple il ne dit rien de l'estonnement qu'il avoit de le voir joint que ne connoissant personne de ceux qui l'environnoient il n'avoit pas lieu de pouvoir tesmoigner la surprise ou il estoit il trouva pourtant moyen de se faire entendre pour demander comment se nommoit celuy qu'il regardoit avec tant d'attention si bien que luy ayant este respondu qu'il s'appelloit anaxaris mais qu'on ne pouvoit luy dire ny qui il estoit ny d'ou il estoit il comprit aisement comme il a de l'esprit que le prince ariante ne vouloit point estre connu de sorte que se taisant il revint diligemment vers moy non seulement pour m'asseurer que je vous trouverois encore au bord du fleuve halis mais pour me dire qu'il avoit veu le prince aryante qui se faisoit nommer anaxaris et qu'il estoit capitaine des gardes de la princesse mandane d'abord je luy dis qu'il s'abusoit a quelque ressemblance 
 imparfaite toutesfois il me soustint si fortement qu'il ne se trompoit pas que je fus contraint de ne resister plus et de me contenter de mettre la chose en doute dans mon esprit sans luy en parler davantage mais seigneur lors qu'en arrivant au lieu ou je croyois vous trouver j'ay sceu que cet anaxaris avoit enleve mandane je n'ay plus doute qu'il ne fust le prince aryante et j'en suis presentement aussi persuade que si je l'avois veu moy-mesme ha mon cher indathirse s'escria cyrus je le suis pour le moins autant que vous car en fin si anaxaris n'estoit pas de la condition que vous le croyez il n'auroit asseurement jamais eu l'audace d'enlever ma princesse il me semble mesme luy dit-il encore aujourd'huy que vous m'avez dessille les yeux que je me remets qu'il y a quelque ressemblance imparfaite entre thomiris et luy et qu'il y a mesme je ne scay quoy dans le son de sa voix et dans son accent qui me devoit du moins faire connoistre qu'il estoit scythe mais c'est asseurement que les dieux qui ont resolu que je perisse m'aveuglent et m'ostent la raison afin que je contribue moymesme a la perte de mandane et a ma propre perte apres cela cyrus se taisant continua durant quelque temps de marcher en soupirant puis tout d'un coup appellant feraulas a qui le roy d'assirie parloit il luy demanda comment on s'estoit apperceu que mandane estoit enlevee seigneur luy dit-il anaxaris a conduit la chose si finement qu'on ne l'a 
 sceu que plus de quatre heures apres son depart car en fin seigneur il est party avec la princesse plus d'une heure devant le jour cependant ce n'a este qu'une heure devant que je sois party pour venir icy qu'on a sceu qu'elle n'estoit plus a son apartement et ce qui est le plus surprenant est qu'aryanite qu'elle a laissee avoit ordre de cacher son depart aussi bien que pherenice de toutes ses autres femmes car pour doralise et martesie elles sont avec elle ha feraulas s'ecria cyrus ce que vous dites ne peut estre et je ne croiray jamais que mandane se soit fait enlever et enlever par anaxaris seigneur reprit feraulas je ne le croy pas non plus que vous mais ce qu'il y a de vray est que la princesse ny les deux filles qui sont avec elle n'ont appelle personne a leur secours que tous les gardes de mandane l'ont suivie et qu'andramite et ses amis l'accompagnent et ce qui est encore le plus estonnant c'est qu'arianite dit qu'anaxaris est venu faire esveiller martesie afin qu'elle esveillast mandane et qu'apres qu'elle a eu fait ce qu'il vouloit qu'il a eu parle a la princesse qu'il luy a eu leu quelque chose qui estoit escrit dans des tablettes qu'il tenoit et qu'il luy a eu monstre une escharpe qu'elle n'a fait qu'entre-voir elle a jette des cris de desespoir estranges et verse des torrens de larmes avec une amertume de coeur extreme arianite dit encore qu'apres cela mandane ayant fait approcher martesie et envoye esveiller doralise elles ont pleure 
 quelque temps avec elle et qu'en suitte cette princesse se levant avec diligence pendant qu'anaxaris estoit alle donner ordre au depart elle s'est laisse habiller sans faire autre chose qu'essuyer ses larmes elle dit aussi que comme elle a este preste a partir et a monter dans un chariot qu'on avoit fait venir au pied d'un escalier derobe qui donne a une cour de derriere martesie luy a commande de la part de la princesse de faire que ses femmes n'ouvrissent point la porte de sa chambre qu'il ne fust fort tard de sorte qu'arianite pressant alors martesie de luy dire ou alloit la princesse quelle estoit sa douleur et pourquoy elle ne menoit pas toutes celles qui estoient a elle vous aurez bien-tost ordre de venir ou elle sera luy a replique martesie mais cependant ma chere arianite luy a-t'elle dit repentez vous encore une fois d'avoir tant servy le roy d'assirie puis que vous estes peut-estre cause qu'il a tue l'illustre cyrus et que nostre princesse mourra de la douleur que sa perte luy donne vous pouvez juger seigneur qu'une fille qui croyoit le roy d'assirie mort a este bien surprise d'entendre qu'il vivoit et qu'il vous avoit tue elle n'a pourtant pu tesmoigner sa surprise a celle qui la causoit car martesie et doralise ont suivy mandane avec autant de diligence que de douleur cependant comme cette nouvelle a fort touche arianite elle l'a dite aux autres femmes de la princesse et a este esveiller pherenice pour la luy dire si bien qu'ayant passe le 
 reste de la nuit et une partie du matin a raisonner sur une si estrange avanture arianite a envoye chercher chrysante par un esclave il n'a toutesfois pu sortir d'assez long temps parce que quatre gardes qu'anaxaris avoit laissez a la porte du chasteau ne vouloient laisser sortir personne a cause qu'il le leur avoit deffendu mais a la fin s'estans laissez gagner cet esclave a trouve chrysante qui venoit de scavoir que vous n'estiez pas chez vous si bien qu'aprenant en mesme temps par arianite qu'il a este trouver que la princesse estoit sortie il a eu un estonnement qu'il n'a pas cru devoir cacher de sorte qu'ayant a l'heure mesme adverty le prince artamas mazare intapherne myrsile et quelques autres il s'est en un moment esleve un si grand bruit de vostre mort et du depart de la princesse que je ne scaurois vous representer le desordre que cette funeste nouvelle a cause et parmy tous vos amis et parmy les soldats et ce qu'il y avoit d'estrange c'est qu'on ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre ny de qui recevoir les ordres les uns disoient qu'il faloit aller au roy d'hyrcanie les autres a cresus et tous ensemble parlant de vanger vostre mort et d'aller apres mandane on ne faisoit pourtant ny l'un ny l'autre tant on avoit l'esprit trouble quelques uns disoient mesme que peut-estre anaxaris n'enlevoit-il pas cette princesse veu la maniere dont on scavoit qu'elle estoit partie mais le prince myrsile ayant sceu alors par un des siens qu'il y avoit plus de 
 quatre jours qu'andramite s'estoit assure de quelques uns de ses amis pour un grand dessein qu'il disoit avoir il n'a plus doute que ce n'eust este comme scachant qu'anaxaris en enlevant mandane enleveroit aussi doralise qu'il aime de sorte que presuposant qu'il les a enlevees en les trompant ce prince sans faire nul fondement sur le bruit qui couroit que le roy d'assirie estoit vivant et qu'il vous avoit tue a assemble quelques uns de ses amis et est alle diligemment pour tascher de descouvrir quelle route a tenue anaxaris le prince mazare a aussi pris le mesme dessein mais il a pris un autre chemin et pour le prince artamas intapherne chrysante aglatidas et moy nous nous sommes partagez avec intention de vous chercher en tant de lieux que nous peussions vous trouver en quelqu'un de sorte qu'ayant sans doute este conduit par les dieux a l'endroit ou vous estiez j'ay lieu de croire qu'ils vous conduiront aussi bien tost ou est mandane non non reprit ce prince afflige il ne faut plus rien esperer et il faut au contraire craindre toutes choses apres cela la responce que la sibille luy avoit rendue par ortalque luy revenant dans la memoire il ne douta plus qu'il ne fust destine a de funestes avantures et que thomiris ne fust celle qui le devoit perdre il crut mesme alors que l'oracle du roy d'assirie auroit son effet a l'avantage de son rival et il n'osa esperer que celuy que la princesse de salamis avoit receu et qui luy estoit si avantageux 
 deust plus estre interprete a son avantage de sorte que la douleur s'emparant de son esprit il ne parla plus du tout qu'il ne fust arrive au lieu ou estoit arianite de la bouche de qui il voulut aprendre plus precisement tout ce que feraulas luy avoit desja dit il trouva avec elle pherenice amaldee telamire et toutes ces autres dames qui l'accompagnoient mais il les trouva toutes en larmes sa veue les consola pourtant extremement leur semblant que puis qu'il estoit vivant il n'y avoit plus a craindre pour mandane cedant leur estonnement n'estoit pas petit non plus que celuy de tous ceux qui apres avoir cru le roy d'assirie mort et avoir ouy dire en fuite qu'il avoit tue cyrus les voyoient tous deux vivans et les voyoient mesme agir comme ils faisoient autrefois car apres qu'ils eurent sceu d'arianite tout ce qu'ils en pouvoient scavoir qu'ils eurent interroge les quatre gardes qu'anaxaris avoit laissez et qui ne scavoient rien autre chose sinon qu'il leur avoit commande de ne laisser sortir personne du chasteau qu'il ne fust extremement tard et que le roy d'assirie eust este pense de la legere blessure qu'il avoit au bras gauche ils aviserent ensemble ce qu'il estoit expedient de faire en une si fascheuse rencontre il est vray que ce conseil fut souvent interrompu car de tous les quarties de cette grande armee ce n'estoient que gens qui venoient pour s'esclaircir si ce grand bruit qui s'estoit si promptement espandu et de la vie du roy d'assirie et de la 
 mort de cyrus et de l'enlevement de mandane avoit quelque verite mais a la fin comme la chose pressoit extremement cyrus avec le conseil de tous ses amis et de son rival apres avoir sceu qu'anaxaris n'avoit pas plus de cent hommes aveque luy resolut que le roy d'assirie le prince artamas le prince intapherne et luy prendroient deux cens chevaux chacun et se partageroient pour tascher de trouver la route qu'avoit tenue anaxaris dont il ne put alors avoir nulle lumiere mais comme il estoit bien aise que quelques uns de ses amis fussent avec le roy d'assirie de peur que s'il trouvoit mandane et qu'il la tirast des mains d'anaxaris il n'eust quelque tentation de manquer a sa parole et de l'enlever pour luy il agit avec tant d'adresse malgre toute sa douleur qu'il fit que plusieurs de ses amis suivirent son rival comme araspe aglatidas et quelques autres ainsi ces quatre princes prenant les gens dont ils avoient besoin se separerent apres estre convenus des diverses routes qu'ils devoient tenir et du lieu ou ils se donneroient des nouvelles les uns des autres en cas qu'ils en eussent de mandane mais lors que ces quatre troupes eurent pris chacune le chemin incertain qu'elles devoient prendre et que cyrus continuant de marcher en se faisant informer continuellement de ce qu'il cherchoit et en s'en informant luy mesme vint a considerer qu'apres avoir pris sinope artaxate babilone sardis et cumes qu'apres avoir assujety 
 tant de royaumes et qu'apres avoir delivre mandane qui avoit este enlevee par le roy d'assirie par le prince mazare et par le roy de pont il la voyoit encore enlevee par le prince aryante il estoit dans un desespoir aussi grand que legitime car enfin il se voyoit aussi malheureux qu'il s'estoit veu sous le nom d'artamene lors qu'a son retour des massagettes il aprit en aprochant de themiscire que le roy d'assirie qui portoit alors le nom de philidaspe avoit enleve mandane il y avoit pourtant des instans ou il vouloir s'imaginer que peut-estre aryante ne l'enlevoit-il pas mais il n'y avoit pas moyen de le croire fortement car comme il luy avoit confie tout son secret il luy avoit dit l'heure ou il se devoit batre contre le roy d'assirie de sorte que voyant qu'il avoit enleve mandane devant qu'il eust pu seulement s'estre batu contre son ennemy il n'y avoit pas moyen de pouvoir conserver cette esperance ainsi sans scavoir precisement ce qu'il devoit croire de cette fascheuse avanture il voyoit tousjours bien qu'elle estoit tout a fait cruelle pour luy cependant quelque foin qu'il prist de trouver quelque lumiere de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir il n'en avoit aucune le prince artamas de son coste n'estoit pas plus heureux qu'il l'estoit et intapherne ne l'estoit pas aussi davantage mais si ces trois princes chercherent aryante inutilement et le prince myrsile comme eux il n'en fut pas de mesme du roy d'assirie au contraire il sembloit que la 
 fortune le conduisoit sur les pas de mandane car il trouva la route qu'elle avoit tenue des qu'il fut a cinquante stades du lieu ou il s'estoit separe de cyrus si bien que la suivant diligemment et aprenant toujours des nouvelles du passage de ceux qu'il cherchoit il sceut que le chariot ou estoit cette princesse s'estant rompu on avoit este long temps a le racommoder de sorte qu'esperant alors de la joindre il marcha si viste qu'il arriva enfin sur une petite eminence qui n'estoit qu'a trente stades du pont euxin d'ou il vit a l'entree d'un petit bois des gens a cheval un chariot arreste une dame couchee sous des arbres la teste appuyee sur les genoux d'une autre et qui par son action sembloit essuyer ses larmes y ayant encore une autre femme a genoux devant elle qui agissoit aussi comme si elle eust pleure de sorte que scachant que mandane n'avoit avec elle que doralise et martesie il ne douta plus que ce ne fust elle qu'il oyoit si bien que sans hesiter un moment j'couragea les siens a bien faire il leur commanda de songer principalement a prendre garde de ne combatre pas si pres de mandane de peur qu'ils ne la peussent blesser sans y penser apres quoy il leur ordonna de marcher et de couper d'abord les resnes des chevaux qui estoient au chariot de cette princesse afin qu'aryante ne s'en peust servir ne doutant nullement qu'il n'y fust neantmoins comme il n'estoit pas assez pres pour connoistre les visages de ceux qu'il voyoit il ne le pouvoit 
 scavoir que par conjecture cependant les aparences le trompoient car ce prince ayant laisse mandane sous cet ombrage estoit alle luy mesme reconnoistre si son chariot pouvoit passer a un lieu qui luy accourciroit deux heures de chemin pour aller a un port ou il avoit envoye s'assurer d'un vaisseau des qu'il avoit sceu que cyrus se devoit battre contre le roy d'assirie de sorte qu'andramite estant demeure a commander l'escorte de mandane ne vit pas plus-tost paroistre ce gros de cavalerie a la teste duquel estoit le roy d'assirie qu'il ne douta pas qu'il n'allast estre attaque mais afin de pouvoir du moins scavoir qui l'attaquoit il commanda a quelques uns des siens d'aller reconnoistre qui commandoit ceux qu'il voyoit et commandant aux autres de se preparer a une vigoureuse deffence il en mit une partie aupres de mandane et posta les autres a la teste de ce petit bois qui estoit assez aise a deffendre parce qu'il n'y pouvoit pas estre facilement envelope comme cela ne se put faire sans que mandane s'en aperceust et qu'elle n'avoit l'imagination remplie que du roy d'assire qu'elle croyoit avoir tue cyrus elle se releva avec precipitation conjurant andramite si c'estoit luy qui paroissoit de la deffendre contre ce prince obligeant mesme doralise d'employer le pouvoir qu'elle avoit sur andramite pour le porter a mourir plustost que de soufrir qu'elle tombast sous la puissance d'un homme 
 qu'elle croyoit avoir tue cyrus ce jour la mais a peine eut-elle dit cela que ceux qu'andramite avoit envoyez reconnoistre le roy d'assirie revenant au galop l'assurerent que ce prince estoit effectivement a la teste de ceux qui venoient a luy de sorte que mandane redoublant ses prieres a andramite et ses commandemens a ses gardes elle mettoit elle mesme obstacle a ceux qui venoient pour la delivrer ne croyant pas alors estre plus dangereusement enlevee par anaxaris qu'elle ne scavoit pas estre aryante qu'elle ne l'avoit este par le roy d'assirie par mazare ou par le roy de pont 
 
 
 
 
cependant andramite apres l'avoir assuree de mourir pour son service et apres avoir envoye vers aryante pour l'advertir de ce qui se passoit s'avanca vers le roy d'assirie comme le roy d'assirie s'avancoit vers luy si bien qu'il se fit alors un combat terriblement funeste entre ceux qui attaquoient et ceux qui estoient attaquez comme le roy d'assirie avoit en marchant destache plusieurs des siens en diverses petites parties de peur d'estre trompe et que les avis qu'il avoit receus de la marche de mandane ne fussent pas vrais il n'estoit guere plus fort en nombre que ceux qu'il avoit en teste ainsi ce combat n'estant pas fort inegal fut aspre et sanglant mais pendant qu'ils estoient aux mains et qu'andramite faisoit tous ses efforts pour empescher le roy d'assirie de percer son escadron et de pouvoir arriver jusques ou estoit mandane cette princesse voulut aller gagner 
 son chariot afin d'y monter durant qu'andramite feroit ferme mais comme le roy d'assirie avoit este bi obei elle vit que quelques uns des siens avoient coupe les resnes de ses chevaux de sorte que revenant au pied d'un arbre environnee de ceux qu'andramite avoit laisse pour la garder elle sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer principalement lors qu'elle reconnut le roy d'assirie et qu'elle le vit combatre avec une ardeur incroyable car comme elle pensoit le voir avec la mesme espee dont elle croyoit qu'il avoit tue cyrus elle eut une douleur qu'on ne scauroit representer quoy dit elle en levant les yeux au ciel et en soupirant il peut estre vray que je sois destinee a me voir sous la puissance de celuy qui a fait perdre la vie au plus grand prince du monde et a l'homme de toute la terre a qui j'avois le plus d'obligation ha justes dieux s'escria-t'elle les yeux baignez de larmes puis que la mort de cyrus doit infailliblement causer la mienne ne la differez pas davantage et faites que j'expire de douleur presentement et si vous voulez achever de m'estre favorables faites encore que ceux qui me deffendent vangent la mort de cyrus par celle du roy d'assirie ou que du moins cet injuste prince ne soit pas seulement maistre de mon tombeau bien loin de l'estre de ma personne mais pendant que mandane poussoit ces voeux au ciel on oyoit un bruit estrange de voix d'armes et de chevaux ce gros si ferre s'eclaircissoit pourtant 
 de moment en moment parce qu'il en mouroit plusieurs a la fois il n'en estoit neantmoins pas plustost tombe un de quelqu'un des deux partis qu'un autre prenoit sa place et se resserrant tous comme auparavant ils refaisoient un nouvel effort soit pour attaquer soit pour se deffendre le roy d'assirie en son particulier y fit des choses au dessus de l'homme et il en tua presques autant de sa main que tous ceux qui le suivoient en tuerent ensemble d'autre part andramite combatant autant par amour que par honneur fit aussi tout ce qu'un homme de coeur pouvoit faire mais comme le roy d'assirie estoit puissamment seconde par aglatidas et par araspe il pressa si vivement ceux qu'il attaquoit qu'ils commencerent d'estre contraints de reculer de sorte que mandane doralise et martesie croyant alors qu'elles alloient tomber sous la puissance du roy d'assirie pousserent des cris de douleur qui furent entendus par andramite mais a peine cet amant eut-il discerne la voix de la personne qu'il aymoit que prenant de nouvelles forces et animant tous les siens et par son exemple et par ses paroles il poussa ceux qui l'avoient pousse et cherchant alors le roy d'assirie malgre la confusion du combat il l'attaqua vigoureusement et l'attaqua dans le mesme temps que quatre des siens qui le suivoient ayant resolu ensemble de l'environner l'avoient aussi attaque de sorte que ce prince qui estoit las du combat qu'il avoit fait le matin contre cyrus 
 qui l'avoit legerement blesse au bras gauche n'ayant pas toute sa force accoustumee ne put soustenir tant d'ennemis a la fois joint que dans le dessein qu'il avoit eu de rompre d'abord ceux qui l'attaquoient il avoit espuise une partie de ses forces dans le commencement de ce combat si bien que ne pouvant se demesler de ceux qui l'environnoient il fut blesse en divers endroits il est vray qu'il ne le fut pas sans en blesser d'autres et si son cheval n'eust pas este tue sous luy on n'auroit pas acheve de le vaincre si facilement il ne se rendit pourtant pas apres estre desmonte au contraire redoublant alors toutes ses forces il fit ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer car enfin malgre toute la valeur de ceux qui l'attaquoient de toutes parts il se fit faire jour en depit qu'ils en eussent et se sentant peut-estre affoiblir il fit un dernier effort pour percer ceux qui s'opposoient a son passage et il le fit avec tant de vigueur qu'en effet il les perca et fut droit a ceux qui gardoient mandane mais au lieu de se trouver en estat de les pouvoir attaquer comme il sembloit en avoir eu le dessein par son action il tomba apres avoir receu un coup a la cuisse qui l'empeschoit de se pouvoir soustenir de sorte que ces gardes s'avancant l'eussent acheve si andramite qui l'avoit veu tonber ne le leur eust deffendu et ne le leur eust donne en garde apres s'estre saisi de son espee qui luy estoit eschapee de la main en tombant cependant aglatidas et araspe qui combatoient pour cyrus et non pas 
 pour le roy d'assirie ne laissoient pas de continuer le combat et de le continuer avec la plus opiniastre valeur du monde mais durant qu'andramite leur resistoit le roy d'assirie ayant fait quelque effort pour se relever a demy vit que mandane detournoit la teste pour ne le pas voir et qu'elle vouloit s'esloigner de quelques pas de sorte que l'amour luy faisant faire un dernier effort il acheva de se relever et traversant ceux qui gardoient la princesse qui avoient aussi ordre de le garder il fit trois pas seulement et retomba a ses pieds et de peur qu'elle ne s'esloignast il la prit par sa robe mais a peine l'eut-il prise que cette princesse s'imaginant qu'il la tenoit de la mesme main dont il avoit tue cyrus fit un grand effort pour la luy faire quitter et prenant la parole avec autant de colere que de douleur ha c'est trop luy dit-elle que d'oser approcher de moy apres avoir mis cyrus au tombeau cyrus dis-je a qui vous deviez la vie et la liberte et pour qui seul je voulois vivre cependant vous avez eu s'audace de paroistre devant mes yeux avec une espee teinte de son sang et vous avez la hardiesse de me retenir de la mesme main qui luy a donne le coup de la mort le roy d'assirie surpris de ce que mandane luy disoit et voulant du moins mourir sans en estre hai eh de grace madame luy dit-il n'inventez point de nouveau sujets de haine pour moy je n'ay point tue cyrus et bien loin d'estre son vainqueur il auroit assurement este mien si la nouvelle de vostre enlevement 
 n'eust finy notre combat et pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'il que j'ay autant de sincerite que d'amour je vous advoue qu'il m'a encore une fis donne la vie sans que l'aye pu me resoudre de vous ceder a luy quoy s'escria mandane cyrus n'est pas mort non mandane repliqua-t'il mais ce mal-heureux prince que vous voyez a vos pieds va mourir et va mourir desespere si vous ne luy pardonnez tous ses crimes et si vous ne luy promettez de luy donner quelques soupirs pour tout le sang qu'il vient de respandre pour tascher de vous remettre en liberte mandane jugeant bien alors veu la maniere dont le roy d'assirie luy parloit qu'en effet cyrus n'estoit point mort et croyant qu'anaxaris qu'elle ne scavoit pas estre aryante auroit este abuse commanda a ses gardes de crier a andramite que cyrus estoit vivant afin qu'il fist cesser le combat mais le roy d'assirie l'interrompant non non madame luy dit-il ne vous trompez pas et croyez que si ceux qui combatent pour moy sont vaincus cyrus vous perdra peut-estre pour tousjours car enfin anaxaris est frere de la reine des massagettes et il vous enleve ou par vangeance pour elle ou par amour pour luy cependant vous avez excite andramite a combattre vos liberateurs et c'est par vos ordres madame que je suis au deplorable estat ou je me trouve je n'en murmure pourtant pas et je connois trop tard que puis que cyrus vous aimoit je ne vous devois plus aimer et 
 que je me devois resoudre a la mort puis qu'il est vray que je suis force de dire tout mon rival qu'il est qu'il vous merite mieux que personne ne vous scauroit meriter comme le roy d'assirie disoit cela et que mandane estoit dans un estonnement estrange et dans une douleur inconcevable quoy qu'elle eust pourtant beaucoup de joye de scavoir que cyrus n'estoit point mort le prince aryante qu'andramite avoit envoye advertir arriva et fut droit ou estoit mandane durant qu'andramite avec ceux qui luy restoient soustenoient l'effort d'aglatidas d'araspe et des leurs mais il y fut avec intention de faire mettre par force mandane doralise et martesie sur les chevaux de deux qui le suivoient afin de les mener au port ou un vaisseau l'attendoit durant qu'andramite seroit forme pour empescher qu'il ne fust suivy mais a peine parut-il que le roy d'assirie tout blesse qu'il estoit et quoy qu'il ne peust plus se soustenir que sur un genouil fit un dernier effort de courage qui sur passe toute croyance car s'estant jette sur l'espee d'un garde qui le touchoit il la luy arracha et se tenant sur un genouil comme je l'ay desja dit il prit la robe de mandane de la main gauche et cette espee de la main droitte en fuite de quoy regardant aryante qui s'aprochoit avec une action menacante quoy que je n'aye plus guere de part a la vie luy dit-il d'un ton de voix qui avoit tout ensemble de la foiblesse et de la fierte j'y en ay encore assez 
 pour deffendre la liberte de cette princesse et pour la conserver a mon rival mais si tues sage poursuivit-il aprens par mon pitoyable destin a ne t'opiniastrer pas a estre le persecuteur de cette princesse car si tu ne le fais je te declare qu'il faut achever de me tuer devant que de m'obliger a la laisser aller le roy d'assirie prononca ces paroles avec une fierte si genereuse qu'elle imprima quelque respect pour luy dans l'ame de tous ceux qui l'entendirent et mesme dans celle d'aryante joint que le roy d'assirie tenant la robe de mandane il se trouvoit bien embarasse a l'en separer par la crainte ou il estoit qu'il ne blessast cette princesse en voulant forcer le roy d'assirie a la quitter cependant mandane voulant s'eclaircir de sa propre bouche s'il estoit vray qu'il ne fust pas son protecteur et qu'il n'eust pas creu que cyrus estoit mort elle se mit a luy commander qu'il fist cesser le combat puis qu'elle avoit sceu que cyrus estoit vivant mais elle connut bien par si responce que le roy d'assirie luy avoit dit la verite et mieux encore par son action car enfin craignant qu'il ne vinst encore du monde et qu'andramite ne fust vaincu il commanda qu'on separast mandane du roy d'assirie mais ce malheureux prince ne vit pas plus tost qu'on s'avancoit vers luy pour cela que sans quitter la robe de mandane il porta un si furieux coup a ce luy qui s'avanca le premier qu'il le fit tomber a demy mort aux pieds de cette princesse de sorte 
 qu'aryante irrite de sa resistance alloit luy mesme tascher de luy faire quitter mandane lors qu'il vit aglatidas qui ayant laisse araspe a commander ceux qui combatoient encore venoit avec cinq ou six des siens pour l'attaquer si bien qu'ayant este contraint de se mettre en deffence il se recula de quelques pas du roy d'assirie a qui deux des gardes qu'il laissa aupres de luy dont l'un estoit frere de celuy que ce malheureux prince avoit blesse le dernier luy donnerent chacun un coup par derriere et luy arracherent son espee malgre tout ce que mandane leur put dire car cette princesse voyant les termes ou estoient les choses fit ce qu'elle put pour deffendre celuy qui la deffendoit alors sans interest veu le pitoyable estat ou il estoit et elle prit autant de foin de conserver sa vie qu'elle en avoit pris a causer sa mort lors qu'elle pensoit qu'il avoit tue cyrus il est vray que ses foins furent inutiles parce que les derniers coups que cet infortune prince avoit receus l'affoiblirent tellement en un instant que ne se pouvant plus soustenir sur un genouil il se laissa tomber sur le bras dont il tenoit la robe de mandane et s'apuya foiblement dessus de sorte que cette princesse voyant qu'il alloit mourir et estant touchee d'une extreme compassion s'assit sur l'herbe pendant que le combat continuoit a quinze ou vingt pas de la si bien que ce malheureux prince a qui la force defailloit d'instant en instant penchant negligemment la teste s'apuya sur les 
 genoux de mandane de sorte que cette genereuse et pitoyable princesse voyant qu'il alloit bien tost expirer ne se retira pas de luy comme elle avoit fait un quart d'heure auparavant et ne voulut pas luy refuser la consolation de recevoir son dernier soupir comme la grande perte du sang luy avoit assurement oste une partie de sa fierte en luy ostant toute sa force et que d'ailleurs il avoit sa prison toute libre parce qu'il ne craignoit point la mort il ne dit rien que de tendre et de touchant a mandane il est vray qu'il parla peu mais ce peu qu'il dit fit beaucoup d'effet dans le coeur de cette princesse et pour faire voir la liberte de son esprit il ne faut que scavoir qu'il se souvint de cet oracle qui luy avoit este rendu a babilone dans le temple de jupiter belus et qui luy disoit
 
 
 il t'est permis d'esperer 
 
 
 de la faire soupirer 
 
 
 malgre sa haine 
 
 
 car un jour entre ses bras 
 
 
 tu rencontreras 
 
 
 la fin de ta peine 
 
 
de sorte que ce prince se souvenant selon toutes les apparences de cet oracle leva languissamment les yeux pour rencontrer ceux de cette princesse aupres de qui doralise et martesie estoient a genoux si bien qu'y voyant quelque tristesse et l'entendant soupirer de grace madame 
 luy dit-il d'une voix mourante faites que j'aye quelque part au soupir que je viens d'entendre afin que mourant entre vos bras j'y puisse trouver le repos que les dieux m'avoient promis par leurs oracles je vous assure luy dit elle en soupirant de nouveau que ce que vous venez de faire pour moy me cause une veritable douleur de l'estat ou je vous voy et que si je pouvois conserver vostre vie comme vous avez voulu conserver ma liberte je le ferois de tout mon coeur c'en est assez madame reprit-il d'une voix fort basse et je meurs plus heureux que je n'ay vescu puis que je meurs sans estre hai de l'admirable mandane en disant cela ce malheureux prince fit un effort pour prendre respectueusement la main de cette princesse mais en la prenant il perdit la parole et luy fit seulement entendre en la luy ferrant doucement ce que sa langue ne pouvoit plus prononcer de sorte que ce deplorable roy expirant un moment apres eut en effet la gloire d'avoir fait soupirer mandane et de luy avoir donne une veritable compassion de sa mort quoy qu'il eust trouble tout le repos de sa vie 
 
 
 
 
cependant le combat continuoit tousjours mais comme la presence d'aryante avoit redonne un nouveau coeur aux siens les choses avoient change de face et aglatidas et araspe qui s'estoient rejoints avec toute leur valeur ne purent empescher que les leurs ne fussent presques entierement deffaits si bien que ne pouvant plus payer que de leur personne et le 
 cheval d'aglatidas ayant este tue et luy blesse au bras et araspe ayant aussi este blesse a la main droite aryante et andramite laisserent une partie des leurs pour s'oposer au peu de gens qui resistoient encore et furent en personne avec le reste au lieu ou estoit mandane de sorte que quoy qu'elle put dire il fallut qu'elle cedast a la force et qu'elle se laissast conduire malgre qu'elle en eust ce n'est pas qu'aryante ne parust estre au desespoir d'estre contraint par sa passion a perdre le respect qu'il luy devoit mais quoy qu'il luy demandast pardon de la violence qu'il luy faisoit en la contraignant d'aller ou il vouloit qu'elle allast il ne laissoit pas d'agir comme un homme qui vouloit executer son dessein et en effet il conduisit mandane doralise et martesie au port ou un vaisseau l'attendoit et comme il se souvint qu'il avoit ouy dire que mazare en enlevant mandane a sinope avoit fait mettre le feu a tous les vaisseaux qui estoient dans le port il se resolut a faire la mesme chose de peur d'estre suivy ce qui luy fut assez aise parce qu'il n'y en avoit que trois ou quatre en ce lieu la que le port estoit separe du bourg qui estoit proche et qu'il avoit la force a la main n'y ayant alors dans ces trois ou quatre vaisseaux que deux ou trois hommes a chacun ainsi mandane doralise et martesie ayant este mises dans le vaisseau qui les attendoit et aryante andramite et ceux qui estoient avec eux y estans entrez ils commencerent de voguer sans 
 attendre ceux qu'ils avoient laissez aux mains avec les gens du roy d'assirie car encore qu'aryante eust laisse un de ses plus chers amis parmy ceux qui combatoient il ne voulut pas hazarder de perdre mandane pour le conserver tant sa passion estoit forte si bien que s'eloignant de ce port un peu apres que le soleil fut couche mandane se trouva plus malheureuse qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais este mais pendant que cette princesse s'affligeoit avec tant de raison cyrus estoit dans un desespoir aussi grand que sa douleur estoit juste car apres avoir cherche mandane inutilement le hazard le conduisit au lieu d'ou elle venoit d'estre enlevee et l'y conduisit justement comme le reste des gens d'aryante apres avoit este presque defaits en achevant de deffaire les autres n'estoient plus en estat de rendre combat de sorte que cyrus trouvant en cet endroit toute la campagne couverte de morts et de mourans il y vit le chariot de mandane dont les chevaux erroient par la plaine il y trouva aglatidas blesse aussi bien qu'araspe et il y vit le roy d'assirie mort si bien que ne doutant pas que mandane n'eust este en ce lieu la et que ceux qui avoient combatu pour sa liberte n'eussent succombe il eut une douleur extreme des le premier instant qu'il vit tant de choses surprenantes mais elle augmenta encore lors qu'il sceut par aglatidas et par araspe comment la chose s'estoit passee et qu'il aprit en peu de mots par un des gardes de mandane qui estoit 
 demeure blesse aupres du lieu ou le roy d'assirie estoit mort une partie des choses que ce prince luy avoit dites en mourant et tout ce qu'il avoit fait pour sa liberte de sorte que ce genereux rival imitant la compassion qu'on luy disoit que mandane avoit tesmoigne avoir de la perte d'un si vaillant prince eut en effet quelque pitie du pitoyable destin d'un si grand roy quoy que ce fust son plus mortel ennemy mais sans s'amuser toutesfois a des pleintes inutiles il commanda a quelques-uns de ceux qui le suivoient de mettre le corps de cet illustre rival dans le chariot de mandane de tascher d'en reprendre les chevaux et de le conduire au lieu d'ou il estoit party jusques a ce qu'il eust resolu l'honneur qu'il luy vouloit faire rendre apres quoy visitant les blessez pour voir s'il ne s'en trouveroit point quelqu'un qui peust luy aprendre quelle route aryante tenoit le prince indathirse qui estoit avec cyrus reconnut parmy ces blessez un homme de qualite qui estoit de son pais et qui s'appelloit adonacris de sorte que s'avancant vers luy et s'en faisant connoistre il le surprit autant par sa veue qu'indathirse estoit surpris de le voir mais enfin apres la premiere civilite ce prince luy ayant demande ce que cyrus vouloit scavoir il luy aprit qu'il croyoit qu'il luy seroit inutile de suivre aryante parce qu'assurement il seroit embarque avant qu'il peut estre au port ou il s'estoit assure d'un vaisseau quoy qu'il ne fust pas loin du lieu ou ils 
 estoient neantmoins cyrus ne laissa pas de se mettre en estat d'y aller diligemment apres qu'a la priere d'indathirse il eut commande qu'on eust un foin particulier d'adonacris qui tout blesse qu'il estoit avoit tout a fait l'air d'un honneste homme et d'un homme de qualite mais quelque diligence que put aporter cyrus il estoit nuit lors qu'il arriva au port d'ou aryante estoit party un peu apres que le soleil avoit este couche de sorte qu'il n'y trouva que ces vaisseaux ou son rival avoit fait mettre le feu et il n'eut pas mesme la consolation de pouvoir aprendre quelle route tenoit le navire qui enlevoit sa princesse parce que comme la nuit estoit fort obscure on ne pouvoit rien descouvrir vers la pleine mer il ne put mesme le scavoir par ces hommes qui avoient veu mettre le feu a leurs vaisseaux a cause que la douleur de cet accident les avoit tellement occupez qu'ils n'avoient songe qu'a tascher d'esteindre le feu sans penser quelle route tenoit celuy qui leur avoit cause un si grand mal ainsi l'illustre cyrus ne put pas seulement scavoir ce jour la si aryante avoit pris le chemin de son pais ou s'il avoit tourne la proue vers la thrace vers le palus meotide ou vers la colchide de sorte qu'il se trouva au plus pitoyable estat du monde car comme il n'y avoit point de port qui ne fust a une journee du lieu ou il estoit il jugeoit bien qu'il y envoyeroit inutilement pour faire suivre aryante 
 principalement ne scachant pas la route qu'il tenoit il ne laissa pourtant pas d'y envoyer feraulas avec cinquante hommes et de luy ordonner de prendre autant de vaisseaux qu'il y en trouveroit de separer ses gens dans tous ces vaisseaux ou il mettroit diligemment le plus de monde qu'il pourroit des habitans du lieu afin d'aller apres cela croiser le pont-euxin en toute son estendue pour tascher d'avoir des nouvelles d'aryante et de scavoir en quel lieu de la terre il devoit aller chercher mandane il voulut mesme y aller en personne mais ses amis l'en empescherent en luy faisant considerer que ne pouvant alors faire autre chose que s'informer du lieu ou alloit aryante puis qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de l'attaquer il seroit beaucoup mieux qu'il en attendist des nouvelles que d'aller errer sur la mer avec tant d'incertitude de la route qu'il devoit tenir mais ce qui acheva de l'y faire resoudre fut qu'indathirse luy dit que peut-estre adonacris scavoit il plus de nouvelles d'aryante qu'il ne luy en avoit dit en sa presence et qu'ainsi il pourroit arriver que sans attendre davantage il scauroit bien tost ou il devroit trouver mandane de sorte que cyrus se laissant enfin persuader s'en retourna au lieu d'ou cette princesse estoit partie ou l'on avoit porte le corps du roy d'assirie et ou l'on avoit aussi porte adonacris apres l'avoir pense jugeant qu'il y seroit mieux qu'ailleurs mais en s'y en retournant il trouva 
 a un vilage ou on le contraignit de se reposer deux ou trois heures un escuyer d'andramite qui s'y estoit arreste parce qu'il avoit este blesse qui scavoit tout le secret de son maistre si bien que chrysante qui le connoissoit fort ayant adverty cyrus qu'il pourroit aisement scavoir beaucoup de choses de cet homme s'il vouloit le contraindre a dire ce qu'il scavoit ce prince employa pour celaet les prieres et les menaces et les promesses de recompense pour l'obliger a luy dire tout ce qu'il scavoit et d'aryante et d'andramite seigneur luy dit-il si ce que je scay pouvoit mettre la personne de mon maistre en vostre puissance quoy que je connois bien que le dessein du prince aryante est fort injuste je ne vous en dirois rien quelques menaces que vous me pussiez faire et quelques recompenses que vous me pussiez faire esperer mais seigneur comme cela n'est pas si vous me voulez faire la grace de me promettre de pardonner un jour a mon maistre si la passion qu'il a pour doralise l'a engage dans un dessein aussi injuste qu'est celuy du prince aryante je vous diray tout ce qui s'est passe entre eux comme il y avoit de la generosite au discours de cet escuyer et qu'il ne demandoit rien pour aryante cyrus luy promit ce qu'il vouloit a condition qu'il luy dist tout ce qu'il scavoit du dessein d'aryante et qu'il luy aprist comment il avoit pu tromper mandane et venir a bout de l'enlever seigneur luy dit-il alors apres l'avoir remercie de la promesse qu'il luy 
 avoit faite comme j'ay este assez heureux pour estre aime de mon maistre et qu'en cette derniere occasion je luy ay este necessaire je scay tout ce que vous voulez scavoir c'est pourquoy je vous diray que le prince aryante ayant lie une amitie tres particuliere avec andramite luy descouvrit enfin qui il estoit et quelle estoit la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse mandane et il le luy descouvrit le jour mesme que vous luy apristes que le roy d'assirie n'estoit pas mort qu'il viendroit dans trois jours vous trouver aupres des ruines d'un vieux chasteau et que vous deviez vous battre contre luy et le jour mesme aussi que vous luy donnastes un ordre pour montrer a tous les chefs de vos troupes en cas que vous succombassiez a ce combat afin qu'ils obeissent a la princesse mandane mais seigneur apres que le prince aryante eut dit toutes ces choses a mon maistre et qu'il luy eut fait scavoir que vous luy aviez mesme baille de quoy s'assurer de tous ses compagnons il luy dit les choses du monde les plus passionnees et si je puis l'excuser sans vous irriter je puis vous assurer qu'il ne vous a pas trahi sans peine et que sa generosite a combatu sa passion plus d'une fois mais a la fin cette passion estant la plus forte il pria andramite de l'assister dans le dessein qu'il imaginoit d'enlever mandane la nuit mesme qu'il scavoit que vous deviez partir pour aller vous battre contre le roy d'assirie et pour l'y engager par interest il luy dit qu'en enlevant 
 mandane il luy enleveroit doralise de sorte que mon maistre qui jusques alors avoit resiste au dessein d'aryante ne put plus resister luy mesme a sa propre passion car venant a considerer quel estoit le rival qu'il avoit en la personne du prince myrsile il jugeoit bien qu'il n'avoit rien a pretendre a doralise et que si elle avoit jamais a aimer quelqu'un ce seroit bien plus tost ce prince que luy si bien que le dessein d'aryante qu'il avoit trouve si injuste lors que son amour n'y avoit nul interest ne le luy sembla plus assez pour ne s'y engager pas de sorte que ne le combattant plus ils ne songerent tous deux qu'a l'executer pour cet effet je fus appelle par ces deux amans afin de leur trouver des gens fidelles pour un grand dessein et en effet je m'assuray de vingt soldats determinez pour joindre aux gardes de la princesse dont aryante estoit asseure et aux amis d'andramite dont il s'assura ainsi seigneur ayant conduit la chose avec un grand secret il y eut plus de cent hommes disposez a faire aveuglement tout ce qu'aryante voudroit mais enfin le jour estant venu et aryante scachant que vous deviez partir une heure apres que la lune seroit levee ils resolurent pour faire cet enlevement sans bruit de tromper mandane pour cet effet aryante fut faire eveiller martesie afin qu'elle esveillast cette princesse luy disant que c'estoit pour une affaire de telle importance que la chose ne souffroit pas un moment de retardement et en 
 effet martesie s'estant levee et estant allee esveiller mandane cette princesse fit entrer aryante qui luy parla avec une melancolie sur le visage proportionnee a la funeste nouvelle qu'il vouloit luy dire et qu'il vouloit qu'elle creust mains enfin seigneur sans m'amuser a vous dire precisement ce qu'il dit a cette princesse pour la tromper je vous diray seulement que suivant ce qu'il avoit resolu avec mon maistre il luy aprit que le roy d'assirie n'estoit pas mort il luy dit ce que vous luy aviez promis a sinope et il luy montra l'ordre que vous luy aviez laisse pour s'en servir en cas qu'il sceust que vous fussiez vaincu au combat que vous deviez faire contre ce prince de sorte que la princesse lisant un ordre escrit de vostre main qu'elle voyoit qui ne luy devoit estre montre qu'apres vostre mort elle en tira une consequence aussi funeste que le prince aryante le vouloit et elle ne douta point du tout que le roy d'assirie ne vous eust tue elle en douta mesme d'autant moins que le prince aryante trouva moyen par un escuyer qu'il a qui est le plus adroit du monde de luy faire prendre le soir a vostre apartement l'escharpe que vous aviez portee le jour auparavant qui est la mesme a ce que j'ay ouy dire que cette princesse vous avoit refusee en capadoce et que vous eustes du prince mazare lors qu'il pensa mourir apres avoir fait naufrage avec cette princesse si bien que comme elle demanda au prince aryante comment il scavoit que vous estiez mort il luy 
 dit qu'ortalque qui vous avoit suivy luy en estoit venu aporter la nouvelle et luy avoit mesme aporte l'escharpe qui avoit este a elle adjoustant qu'il luy auroit amene ortalque n'eust este que ce fidelle serviteur n'ayant pu souffrir vostre perte l'avoit voulu vanger sur l'escuyer du roy d'assirie si bien que s'estant battu contre luy il avoit este si blesse que tout ce qu'il avoit pu faire avoit este de le venir advertir de ce funeste accident suivant l'ordre qu'il en avoit receu de son maistre devant son combat aryante adjousta encore que tout blesse qu'il estoit il le luy auroit amene n'eust este qu'il avoit eu peur que si les gardez du chastean l'eussent veu il ne se fust espandu quelque bruit de la chose avant qu'elle eust eu le temps de songer a sa seurete apres cela mandane luy demanda en soupirant ce qu'ortalque avoit lait du corps de son maistre et aryante luy respondit que le roy d'assirie qui avoit sans doute dessein de s'assurer d'une partie des gens de guerre devant qu'on sceust la chose n'avoit pas voulu qu'ortalque l'eust fait raporter et qu'il avoit mesme falu qu'il se fust derobe de luy pour revenir de sorte madame luy dit il que c'est a vous a penser ce qu'il est expedient de faire pour vostre seurete car je vous avoue que je crains un peu que les commandemens d'un roy vivant et victorieux ne soient plus puissans que les ordres d'un prince vaincu et mort quoy que ce prince fust le plus grand prince du monde vous pouvez 
 juger seigneur combien cette nouvelle affligea la princesse mandane aussi dit elle en un demy quart d'heure tout ce que la plus violente douleur peut faire dire car je l'ay entendu raconter ce matin en marchant au prince aryante qui le disoit a mon maistre mais enfin apres que cette princesse eut fait des plaintes fort touchantes elle dit au prince aryante qu'elle luy demandoit conseil le conjurant de tenir la parole qu'il vous avoit donnee et de mourir plustost que de la laisser sous la puissance du roy d'assirie madame luy dit-il vous n'avez que faire de m'exhorter a vous deffendre contre ce prince car j'y suis assez resolu mais la difficulte est d'imaginer de le faire utilement et de ne mourir pas sans vous mettre en liberte cependant je vous le dis encore une fois je ne croy point que l'ordre que j'ay de l'illustre cyrus suffise pour tenir tous les chefs et tous les soldats dans leur devoir car enfin cresus et le prince myrsile voyant leur vainqueur mort seront peutestre bien aises d'aider au roy d'assirie a remonter au throne afin d'y remonter eux mesmes le prince artamas tout genereux qu'il est ne sera peut-estre aussi pas marry de cesser d'estre tributaire de ciaxare a qu'il n'a pas autant d'obligation qu'a cyrus le roy d'hircanie sera sans doute dans les mesmes sentimens et je ne scay si gobrias et gadate ne seront point ce qu'ils pourront en cette occasion pour faire oublier au roy d'assirie tout ce qu'ils ont 
 fait contre luy en fin madame tant de peuples nouvellement conquis sont fort propres a se rebeller et je pense que j'ay lieu de craindre que les ordres de l'illustre cyrus ne soient mal suivis si on ne trouve du moins lieu de mettre vostre personne en seurete avant que la mort de ce prince soit divulguee mandane entendant parler aryante de cette sorte et trouvant que ce qu'il disoit avoit beaucoup d'aparence elle luy dit que la douleur troubloit si fort sa raison qu'elle n'estoit pas capable de resoudre ce qu'elle devoit faire pour ne tomber pas en la puissance du roy d'assirie qu'ainsi elle le prioit de luy dire ce qu'il croyoit a propos qu'elle fist puis que vous me l'ordonnez madame luy respondit il je vous diray que selon mon sentiment il faudroit que vous partissiez diligemment pour aller a un port du pont euxin que je scay qui n'est qu'a une journee d'icy que des que vous y seriez on s'assurast d'un vaisseau en cas de besoin qu'apres cela estant en lieu ou le roy d'assirie ne pourroit estre maistre de vostre personne vous envoyassiez commander a tous ceux qui commandent les troupes de venir recevoir vos ordres suivant celuy qu'on leur feroit voir de leur general mort que s'ils obeissoient et que le roy d'assirie ne les en empeschast pas vous continuassiez vostre voyage et que s'ils n'obeissoient pas vous vous embarquassiez a l'heure mesme pour vous mettre en lieu d'assurance afin que le roy d'assirie ne 
 peust tout au plus que reprendre une partie de ses estats sans estre en pouvoir de vous faire une seconde violence mandane trouvant ce qu'aryante luy disoit fort raisonnable se resolut de le croire elle voulut pourtant qu'il envoyast querir chrysante et aglatidas mais aryante luy ayant dit qu'ils logeoient loin du chasteau et que l'importance de ce dessein estoit le secret et la diligence elle ne s'y opiniastra pas joint aussi qu'elle avoit une affliction si sensible et qu'elle avoit tant de peur de tomber sous la puissance du roy d'assirie qu'elle n'avoit l'esprit remply que de douleur et de crainte si bien que ne pouvant pas ne se confier point a un homme a qui vous aviez confie vostre honneur et a qui vous l'aviez confiee elle voulut pourtant luy faire de grands reproches avec le roy d'assirie mais pour les faire cesser qu'il luy avoit donne l'ordre qu'il luy avoit montre de sorte que cette princesse se resolvant a suivre ses advis elle l'a envoye donner ordre a son depart elle s'est levee en diligence et elle est partie avec deux filles seulement croyant qu'aryante n'avoit autre dessein que de la mettre en seurete mais seigneur j'oubliois de portee d'elle mesme a suivre les advis d'ariante il l'eust enlevee de force et qu'il luy eust dit qu'il 
 avoit eu ordre de vous d'en user ainsi et de la remener au roy son pere mais seigneur il n'en a pas este a la peine car comme je l'ay desja dit cette princesse se confiant a celuy a qui vous vous estiez confie et ne soupconnant pas qu'on fust amoureux d'elle elle a elle mesme aide a son enlevement en effet lors que le roy d'assirie est arrive elle croyoit encore que vous estiez mort qu'aryante se nommoit anaxaris et qu'il estoit son protecteur mais encore interrompit cyrus quel est le dessein d'aryante et en quel lieu va-t'il mener mandane seigneur repliqua cet escuyer d'andramite s'il ne change point d'avis il va aborder a un port de la colchide et demeurer cache dans cette province jusques a ce qu'il ait fait de deux choses l'une ou qu'il ait negocie avec la reine sa soeur ou qu'il luy ait declare la guerre car j'ay sceu que depuis peu de jours il estoit venu un homme de qualite desguise luy dire qu'en fin ses amis avoient forme un grand parti contre thomiris et que les choses estoient en estat que pourveu que vous voulussiez luy donner de secours il pourroit forcer thomiris a luy rendre le royaume des issedons qu'il pretend que cette princesse possede injustement a son prejudice ce scythe qui est venu advertir aryante reprit indathirse en adressant la parole a cyrus est assurement celuy pour qui je vous ay demande protection si cela est repliqua cyrus il pourroit peut-estre encore nous donner quelque lumiere de ce que nous voulons scavoir 
 s'il en scait quelque chose reprit indathirse j'espere qu'il me le dira car il est fort de mes amis et m'a mesme quelque obligation de sorte que comme c'est un tres honneste homme j'ay lieu d'esperer qu'il ne me cachera pas ce que je voudray scavoir de luy s'il me le peut dire sans trahir son amy eh de grace dit cyrus a indathirse faites que je scache d'aryante tout ce que vous en pourrez scavoir je n'y manqueray pas seigneur respondit ce genereux scythe car je vous assure que j'aurois autant de joye de vous aider a delivrer mandane que j'en eus lors que je fus assez heureux pour vous faciliter les voyes de sortir du pais des massagettes apres cela cyrus l'ayant remercie et ayant reconfirme la promesse qu'il avoit faite a cet escuyer d'andramite il s'en retourna au lieu d'ou mandane estoit partie mais en y allant il rencontra le prince myrsile qui avec un desespoir qui n'eut jamais de semblable luy dit en l'abordat seigneur puis qu'il s'est trouve un sujet du roy mon pere capable de favoriser l'enlevement de la princesse mandane il me semble que je n'en suis pas innocent mais si vous me faites la grace de considerer ce qu'il fait contre moy mesme vous connoistrez sans doute que je n'en suis pas coupable comme il disoit cela mazare les joignit mais avec tant de tristesse sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'encore qu'il ne pretendist plus rien a mandane il ne laissoit pas de s'interesser tres fort a tous ses malheurs aussi a peine cyrus 
 eut-il respondu civilement a ce que le prince myrsile luy avoit dit que mazare le conjura de luy dire s'il avoit apris quelque chose de mandane de sorte que cyrus qui l'estimoit fort et qui l'eust aime tendrement s'il n'eust pas este son rival luy rendit conte de ce qui s'estoit passe avec beaucoup d'exactitude mais des qu'il eut acheve de parler ha seigneur luy dit-il vous estes bien genereux de satisfaire ma curiosite car enfin quoy que je n'aye enleve mandane qu'une fois on peut pourtant dire que j'ay beaucoup de part et a la violence que le roy de pont luy a faite et a l'enlevement du prince aryante puis qu'il est vray que si je ne l'eusse pas enlevee ces deux princes ne seroient pas ses ravisseurs aussi vous puis-je assurer que j'employeray mon sang et ma vie aveque joye pour luy faire recouvrer la liberte que je luy ay fait perdre helas s'ecria cyrus apres ce qui s'est passe que devons nous attendre de l'advenir et s'il faut encore donner autant de batailles prendre autant de villes et qu'il en couste la vie a plus de cent mille hommes nous ne vivrons pas assez long temps pour la delivrer en suitte de cela cyrus recommencant de marcher s'entretint luy mesme jusques a ce qu'ayant aussi rencontre artamas il luy redit tout ce qu'il avoit desja raconte a mazare apres quoy il fut droit au chasteau ou les femmes de mandane estoient demeurees avec toutes les dames de themiscire qui s'en retournerent le lendemain 
 au matin car la riviere qui s'estoit debordee se retira assez pour les laisser passer mais comme arianite estoit de leur connoissance elle s'en alla avec elles aussi bien que pherenice et toutes les autres femmes de mandane cyrus priant amaldee d'en avoir foin jusques a ce que cette princesse fust en liberte et de les mener a themiscire ou il donneroit ordre qu'elles eussent toutes les choses dont elles auroient besoin cependant indathirse pour ne perdre point de temps fut visiter adonacris afin de scavoir de luy tout ce qu'il en pourroit apprendre devant que cyrus resolust ce qu'il avoit a faire mais pendant qu'il y fut cyrus donna ordre non seulement qu'on rendist au corps du roy d'assirie tous les honneurs qu'on luy eust pu rendre si ce prince fust mort sur le throsne mais encore qu'on le portast au superbe tonbeau que la reine nitocris sa mere avoit fait bastir sur une des portes de babilone et en effet trois jours apres son corps fut mis dans un chariot couvert d'un grand drap noir brode dor dont les chevaux qui le tiroient avoient des housses magnifiques de plus ce chariot estoit suivi de deux cens hommes en deuil et a cheval dont la moitie alloit devant et l'autre moitie derriere cependant comme cyrus aimoit tousjours beaucoup mieux faire cent choses inutiles pour le service de mandane que de manquer a en faire une necessaire il fit partir des espions pour la colchide ou l'escuyer d'andramite luy avoit dit qu'aryante alloit aborder et il envoya 
 secrettement ortalque desguise vers gelonide qui luy avoit este si favorable du temps qu'il estoit aupres de thomiris mais comme c'avoit este chrysante qui avoit eu le plus de commerce avec elle cyrus voulut qu'il luy escrivist aussi et qu'aglatidas qui estoit neveu de cette sage personne fist la mesme chose faisant dessein de marcher lentement vers ce pais-la jusques a ce qu'il sceust precisement ou estoit mandane mais durant que cyrus pensoit a tant de choses indathirse ayant este voir adonacris et l'ayant trouve en estat de pouvoir l'entretenir sans l'incommoder il le conjura de luy dire ce qu'il scavoit du dessein du prince aryante ce que j'en scay reprit adonacris est que je me suis oppose autant que j'ay pu depuis trois jours que je suis icy a l'injuste dessein qu'il vient d'executer et peu s'en est falu genereux indathirse que je n'aye trahi le prince aryante afin de le servir et de l'empescher de destruire un grand dessein que j'ay trame pour luy depuis qu'il est aupres de cyrus mais comme j'ay eu peur de le perdre en le voulant sauver je n'ay ose me confier a un prince de qui je n'ay pas l'honneur d'estre connu et si les dieux eussent voulu que vous eussiez este icy le jour que j'y arrivay les choses ne seroient pas aux pitoyables termes ou nous les voyons pour le prince aryante car enfin seigneur il perd un royaume pour enlever mandane et il a mieux aime en estre le ravisseur que d'estre roy des issedons j'entens si 
 peu tout ce que vous me dittes reprit indathirse que je n'y scaurois respondre car comme depuis que j'ay quitte thomiris j'ay tousjours este en grece ou j'allois chercher anacharsis qui comme vous scavez est mon oncle je ne scay que fort confusement ce qui s'est passe dans toutes les deux scythies parce que voulant tascher d'oublier l'ingrate thomiris je ne voulois pas seulement me souvenir du pais qu'elle habite ni en demander des nouvelles il est vray que depuis que je suis passe en asie j'ay sceu qu'aussi tost apres mon depart des massagettes il y avoit eu guerre entre aryante et thomiris pour une pretention que ce prince avoit a la couronne mais j'ay sceu cela si confusement que vous me ferez plaisir de me dire non seulement tout ce que vous scavez d'aryante et de thomiris mais encore tout ce qui vous est arrive et si vous voulez achever de m'obliger vous souffrirez que l'illustre cyrus scache tout ce que vous me ferez scavoir mais pour vous le persuader je vous assure qu'il importe au prince aryante que vous aimez que vous obligiez un prince qui asseurement sera un jour son vainqueur car puis qu'il est son ennemy il ne peut manquer d'en estre vaincu comme je n'ay rien a dire du prince aryante qui luy puisse nuire repliqua adonacris et qu'au contraire tout ce que j'en scay peut servir a l'excuser je serois volontiers ce que vous desirez si je le pouvois mais il faudroit faire un si long discours pour dire a l'invincible cyrus 
 tout ce qui regarde aryante et tout ce qui me touche que je ne croy pas que je le peusse faire en l'estat ou je me trouve il est vray que j'ay un amy qui est arrive icy ce matin qui scait toutes ces choses comme je les scay moy mesme et qui parle si agreablement grec qu'il fera ce recit beaucoup mieux que je ne ferois indathirse voyant en effet qu'il seroit difficile qu'il peust paler long temps sans se faire mal quoy qu'il se portast assez bien de ses blessures accepta l'offre qu'il luy faisoit de sorte qu'adonacris ayant envoye appeller son ami qui se nommoit anabaris il luy fit saluer indathirse et luy ayant dit l'office qu'il luy pouvoit rendre il se disposa a obeir de sorte qu'indathirse luy ayant dit qu'il prendroit l'heure de cyrus et puis qu'il la luy envoyeroit dire il quitta ces deux illustres scythes et fut retrouver ce prince qui sans vouloir differer davantage a aprendre tout ce qui regardoit aryante obligea indathirse a luy amener anabaris des ce soir mais comme indathirse estoit bien aise d'obliger adonacris il luy en fit une peinture qui donna beaucoup d'estime pour luy a cyrus et qui le disposa a croire tout ce qu'on luy diroit de sa part et a estre bien aise de scavoir la vie d'un si honneste homme puis qu'il ne pouvoit aprendre bien precisement tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir d'aryante sans scavoir en mesme temps la fortune d'adonacris si bien que pressant indathirse de luy tenir sa parole il envoya querir anabaris qu'il presenta a cyrus 
 qui apres l'avoir receu avec beaucoup de civilite le pria de faire ce que son ami desiroit de luy de sorte que cyrus indathirse et luy ayant chacun pris la place qu'ils devoient occuper il prit la parole en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire du prince aryante d'elybesis d'adonacris et de noromate
 
 
lors que je considere seigneur par quelles voyes les dieux font arriver les evenemens les plus surprenans etquel est cet indissoluble enchainement des petites choses aux grandes et des grandes aux petites je ne puis que je n'admire leur conduite et que je n'avoue que ce n'est point aux hommes a la vouloir penetrer en effet seigneur qui pourroit penser que la violence que le prince aryante vient de faire a la princesse mandane eust sa premiere cause dans les avantures que je m'en vay vous raconter et que devant mesme qu'aryante la connust il eust fait cent choses qui eussent mis dans son esprit la disposition pour commettre le crime qui vous afflige aujourd'huy cependant il est certain que durant que vous estiez aupres de thomiris et que le prince aryante estoit au royaume des 
 issedons avec le prince spargapise il s'y passoit des choses qui auroient empesche celle qui vient d'arriver si elles ne fussent pas arrivees apres cela seigneur je pense qu'il est a propos que je vous die pour l'intelligence de ce que j'ay a vous raconter que le pere de thomiris n'estoit pas ne roy et que lors qu'il le devint il estoit desja marie en effet thomiris qui estoit alors sa fille unique avoit quatre ans lors que le prince lypacaris son pere par ses brigues et par sa valeur s'empara du royaume des issedons apres la mort du dernier des anciens rois de sorte que par ce moyen le prince aryante n'estant venu au monde que deux ans apres que lypacaris fat monte au throne thomiris a six ans plus que le prince aryante je vous dis cela seigneur pour vous faire comprendre par quel droit thomiris regna au prejudice de ce prince car il faut que vous scachiez que les issedons sont tellement persuadez que la prudence ne se peut trouver avec la jeunesse que sans faire nulle consideration sur la difference des sexes ils ont une loy qui porte que lors que leur roy vient a mourir il faut que ce soit l'aisne de ses enfans qui regne ainsi s'il a une fille plus agee que ses fils c'est a elle a qui apartient la couronne la chose estant donc de cette sorte et le pere de thomiris venant a mourir cette jeune princesse qui avoit quatorze ans fut proclamee reine parce que le prince aryante n'en avoit que huit et elle le fut d'autant plus facilement que 
 le fils du feu roy des massagettes qui estoit alors a issedon et qui estoit fort amoureux de cette jeune princesse appuya la chose par sa presence et pour son interest afin d'unir en sa personne deux royaumes sous une mesme authorite et en effet la chose alla comme il le souhaitoit car thomiris fat declaree reine et il l'espousa peu de temps apres il est vray qu'ils ne tarderent guere a issedon qui est la capitale de nostre royaume parce que le roy des massagettes estant mort le prince son fils mena la reine sa femme en son pais et l'y mena doublement en deuil a cause que la reine sa belle mere mourut aussi de sorte que ce prince menant le jeune aryante aveque luy il l'osta par ce moyen de la veue de ces peuples de peur que venant a murmurer de n'avoir plus de roy qui demeurast dans leur royaume il n'y eust quelque remuement sous son nom cependant cette jeune princesse ayant donne des la premiere annee un successeur au roy son mary ce prince qui avoit eu tant de foin d'unir deux royaumes sous une seule puissance mourut subitement et laissa thomiris regente du royaume des massagettes pendant la jeunesse de spargapise et maistresse de deux estats quoy que cette reine fust fort jeune elle regna pourtant absolument et avec beaucoup de gloire et elle se rendit mesme si redoutable et aux grands et aux peuples qu'il n'y eut alors nul souslevement dans 
 les deux royaumes dont elle avoit la conduite cependant quoy qu'elle fust nee a issedon que ce royaume la soit plus civilise que celuy des massagettes que nous y ayons de belles villes et que toutes les habitations de l'autre ne soient que des tentes elle prefera pourtant ce peuple guerrier a celuy qui est plus poly et de moeurs plus douces de sorte que se contentant d'envoyer des lieutenans a issedon elle demeura tousjours aux tentes royales et elle avoit mesme tousjours voulu que le prince aryante y demeurast jusques a ce que ces peuples ayant enfin un peu murmure contre l'injuste violence de ceux qu'elle envoyoit pour les gouverner elle se resolut d'y envoyer le jeune spargapise son fils quoy qu'il ne fust qu'un enfant afin que sa presence appaisast ce tumulte mais comme ce jeune prince aimoit fort aryante il falut que thomiris souffrist qu'il fist ce voyage aveque luy qui fut plus long qu'elle ne pensoit or seigneur ce voyage dont je parle estoit celuy qu'estoient alle faire ces deux princes lors que vous arrivastes aupres de thomiris pendant lequel il n'est sorte de divertissement qu'on ne leur donnast pour tascher d'obliger spargapise a se plaire parmy nous afin que nous ne fussions pas tousjours privez de la veue de celuy qui devoit estre nostre roy comme issedon est une des plus agreables villes qu'on puisse voir ce fut celle ou spargapise et aryante tarderent le plus apres avoir fait le tour du royaume ce n'est pas que 
 spargapise fust encore en age de gouster tous les plaisirs mais comme aryante avoit huit ans plus que luy c'estoit veritablement pour ce prince que les divertissemens ou il y avoit le plus d'esprit estoient ainsi la dance les festins le bal et les exercices du corps estoient pour spargapise mais les promenades galantes la conversation des dames et la societe raisonnable estoient pour le prince aryante qui estoit sans doute desja un des princes du monde le plus agreable aussi se forma-t'il une cour tres magnifique et tres belle pendant qu'il fut a issedon n'y ayant pas un homme de qualite ny un homme d'esprit dans le royaume qui ne s'y rendist en ce temps-la ny mesme pas une femme de condition qui ne s'y trouvast aussi de sorte que par ce moyen issedon devint un des plus agreables sejours du monde du moins scay-je bien que dans toutes les deux scythies il n'y avoit point de cour comme celle la en effet nous faisons une si grande difference des autres scythes a nous que nous les appellons barbares aussi bien que les autres mations et ce qui fait que nous sommes plus polis qu'eux est que comme nous ne sommes pas extremement esloignez du pont euxin et que nous sommes fort pres de la mer caspie nous avons plus de commerce avec les estrangers que les scythes qui sont au dela de ces terribles montagnes qui separent les deux scythies si bien que le meslange de tant de peuples differens qui le 
 sont habituez parmy nous a adoucy la ferocite des anciens scythes et nous a plus civilisez que les autres ne le sont joint que la plus part tiennent aussi parmy nous que nous sommes descendus des grecs aussi bien que les callipides qui sont d'autres peuples qui sont pourtant reputez veritablement scythes aussi bien que nous de sorte que soit par les premieres raisons que j'ay apportees ou par celle de nostre origine nous sommes sans doute plus polis que nos voisins comme je l'ay desja dit mais pour en revenir ou l'en estois je vous diray qu'adonacris a la priere de qui je parle et qui est un aussi honneste homme qu'il y en ait en aucun lieu de la terre fut un de ceux qui eut le plus de part a l'amitie des deux princes mais particulierement a celle d'aryante et certes seigneur ce n'estoit pas sans raison qu'il en estoit aime puis qu'il est vray qu'il seroit difficile de trouver un homme plus aimable que luy car non seulement il est bien fait et a du coeur et de l'esprit mais il a de plus une tendresse pour ses amis la plus engageante qu'il est possible et il a tellement l'air du monde qu'il plaist infiniment des la premiere fois qu'on le voit ainsi il ne se faut pas estonner s'il plut au prince aryante mais seigneur si adonacris plut a ce prince une soeur qu'il a qui s'apelle elybesis luy plut encore davantage et il fut si fort touche de la beaute de cette personne que je ne scay comment il est possible qu'une si violente passion ait pu cesser 
 et faire place a une autre dans son coeur quelque legitime sujet qu'il en ait eu mais seigneur avant que de m'engager a vous descrire la naissance la fuite et la fin de cette amour il faut que je vous aprenne qu'avant que le prince aryante vinst a issedon il y avoit un homme de qualite de cette ville-la nomme agathyrse qui estoit devenu fort amoureux d'elybesis et qui avoit mesme este assez heureux pour n'estre pas mal dans son esprit de sorte qu'on peut dire qu'aryante attaquoit une place qui estoit desja rendue lors qu'il entreprenoit de toucher le coeur elybesis mais comme cette passion estoit assez cachee ce prince ne sceut pas d'abord l'engagement de la personne qu'il aimoit cependant agathyrse a pourtant tout ce qu'il faut pour faire qu'on scache bien tost s'il aime ou s'il n'aime pas car il est d'un temperamment ardent et passionne il veut tout ce qu'il veut fortement il est magnifique en toutes choses plus qu'on ne le scauroit penser et infiniment propre en ses habillemens il a la taille bien faite les cheveux bruns les yeux vifs et petillans et son visage montre tellement ses sentimens de son ame qu'il est aise de connoistre en le voyant seulement qu'il a le coeur grand et fier et qu'il l'a mesme beaucoup au dessus de sa condition mais pour achever de vous faire connoistre ce rival d'aryante je vous diray encore qu'il a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit esclaire et qu'il a une imagination vive qui luy donne 
 cent visions agreables qui fournissent sort a la conversation il est vray qu'il a quelque chose d'inegal dans l'humeur pour ne dire rien de plus car il est quelquefois si dissemblable a luy mesme qu'il y a des jours ou il ne parle point et d'autres ou il parle presques tousjours il faut pourtant avouer que cette inegalite vient tres souvent de ce qu'il n'est pas avec des gens qui luy plaisent egalement et tres souvent aussi par un pur effet de son temperament mais apres tout si on peut dire de luy qu'il est tantost gay tantost triste tantost complaisant et tantost un peu contredisant on est aussi oblige de dire en mesme temps qu'il est egallement genereux n'y ayant pas un homme au monde plus officieux que luy car en fin quoy qu'il aime les plaisirs aveque passion il les quitte tous aveque joye pour rendre office non seulement a ses amis particuliers mais a quiconque a de la vertu au reste comme la musique est naturelle a tous les hommes puis qu'il n'y en a point qui ne chantent ou qui ne puissent chanter je pense pouvoir dire que la poesie l'est aussi et qu'il n'y a point de peuples au monde ou l'on ne trouve l'usage de ces paroles mesurees qui sont un il agreable effet a l'oreille et qui donnent tant de grace aux pensees de ceux qui escrivent en vers de sorte que les scythes et particulierement les issedons ont une espece de poesie qui ne deplaist pas a ceux qui entendent la naivete de nostre langue ainsi je puis vous assurer que si 
 vous l'entendiez et que vous vissiez des vers d'agathyrse vous seriez espouvante qu'un scythe en sceust faire de si eslevez et de si passionnez de plus quand il se trouve en belle humeur son enjouement a je ne scay quelle impetuosite surprenante qui divertit extremement et qui le rend tres agreable il est vray que toutes les dames luy font un peu la guerre de n'estre pas assez respectueux envers nos dieux car enfin si l'occasion s'en presente il raillera de vesta que nous appellons tabiti de jupiter et de son aigle de vulcan et de son enclume de neptune et de son trident d'hercule et de sa massue de mars et de ses amours et ainsi des autres divinitez que nous adorons ou que les autres peuples adorent ce n'est pas que je ne pense qu'il croit tout ce qu'on nous oblige de croire mais comme presques toutes les religions sont establies sur des choses qui ne sont pas de la vrai-semblance ordinaire agathyrse s'est fait une habitude d'en railler dont nos dames auront bien de la peine a le corriger de plus quoy qu'il ait de l'ambition il je soucie pourtant aussi peu de ceux que la fortune a mis sur sa teste que s'il estoit ne sur la leur et fait une profession si ouverte d'independance absolue qu'il est aise de connoistre qu'il ne peut jamais s'assujetir qu'a sa propre volonte si ce n'est qu'il soit amoureux mais enfin pour le definir en peu de paroles agathyrse est un tres honneste homme et un honneste homme encore d'un 
 carractere fort particulier voila donc seigneur quel est celuy qui se trouva estre aime elybesis avant qu'aryante en fust amoureux pour cette belle personne il me seroit assez difficile de vous depeindre precisement son humeur et son esprit c'est pourquoy apres vous avoir dit qu'elle est grande de belle taille qu'elle est fort blanche qu'elle a les cheveux bruns qu'elle a de beaux yeux et l'air du visage noble languissant et agreable je vous diray seulement qu'elle est nee avec autant d'esprit que d'ambition quoy qu'elle en ait une demesuree ainsi bien qu'on die qu'on ne peut avoir deux violentes passions a la fois elle ne laissoit pas d'avoir de l'amour pour agathyrse quoy qu'elle eust l'ame tres ambitieuse apres cela seigneur il vous est aise de juger qu'aryante ne fut ny bien ny mal receu elybesis lors qu'il commenca de luy faire connoistre la passion qu'il avoit pour elle car l'engagement qu'elle avoit avec agathyrse estoit cause qu'elle ne pouvoit pas le recevoir tout a fait agreablement et l'inclination ambitieuse de son ame faisoit aussi qu'elle avoit quelque peine a se resoudre de mal-traiter un homme de la condition d'aryante ainsi prenant d'abord un milieu assez difficile a tenir on peut dire qu'elle n'eut ny complaisance ny rudesse pour ce prince mais seigneur avant que de m'engager davantage dans la suitte de cette histoire il faut que je vous die que durant que toute la cour n'avoit les yeux attachez que sur le 
 prince aryante et sur elybesis adonacris a la faveur de cette galanterie esclatante qui occupoit tout le monde en commenca une avec une fille de haute qualite nommee noromate qui estoit venue a issedon avec son pere pour une affaire importante mais il la commenca sans que personne s'en aperceust et il la conduisit avec tant d'adresse et il se trouva une si grande conformite d'humeur entre ces deux personnes qu'ils n'eurent presques pas besoin de se dire qu'ils s'aimoient pour se le persuader noromate est pourtant une des femmes du monde qui a le plus de retenue en toutes choses et pour vous interesser en sa fortune il faut seigneur que je prenne la liberte de vous la representer telle qu'elle estoit alors et telle qu'elle est encore aujourd'huy imaginez vous donc une grande fille de belle taille mais j'entens de la plus belle et de la plus noble qui a l'air grand et modeste le teint blanc vif et uny les yeux noirs brillans et doux le visage rond la bouche bien faite le nez un peu grand et la mine haute sans avoit rien de rude ny d'altier de plus noromate a l'esprit proportionne a sa beaute elle parle de bonne grace et persuade avec une eloquence si douce qu'on ne luy scauroit resister elle paroist bonne flatteuse civile et sincere et quoy que ses ennemies luy disputent cette derniere qualite en matiere d'amitie elles tombent pourtant d'accord que quand elle ne seroit pas aussi sincere qu'elle le paroist 
 il seroit plus agreable d'estre trompe par elle que d'estre fidellement aime par beaucoup d'autres joint qu'a parler veritablement je suis persuade que noromate ne se sert jamais de cette prudence accommodante qui est necessaire a ceux qui n'ont pas une veritable sincerite que pour s'empescher d'estre trompee car en effet je la tiens une des meilleures et des plus sinceres personnes du monde pour ceux qu'elle aime effectivement de plus elle a tellement tout ce qu'il faut avoir pour imprimer du respect a ceux qui l'aprochent que je ne scay comment adonacris put se resoudre de luy dire qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle aussi le hazard eut-il sa part a la hardiesse qu'il eut de luy descouvrir sa passion et je pense que si aryante n'eust point este amoureux elybesis adonacris n'eust ose dire a noromate qu'il l'aimoit en effet il y avoit desja quelque temps qu'adonacris aimoit esperdument noromate sans luy en avoir rien dit lors que cette belle fille luy parlant un jour qu'il l'estoit alle voir se mit a luy raconter le plus agreablement du monde quelle estoit l'envie que toutes les autres belles d'issedon portoient a elybesis sa soeur de ce qu'elle avoit assujetti le coeur d'aryante car il estoit effectivement vray qu'elles en avoient un depit estrange pour moy disoit-elle apres avoir exagere avec beaucoup d'eloquence toutes les marques d'envie qu'elle avoit remarquees dans l'esprit de toutes nos dames je ne trouve pas qu'il y ait une plus grande 
 blesse que celle de se mettre en chagrin pour une pareille chose car si la personne qu'on prefere a toutes les autres a plus de merite qu'elles il y a de l'injustice d'en murmurer et si celuy qui luy donne la preference fait un mauvais choix c'est n'estre guere glorieuse ny guere raisonnable que de s'affliger de n'avoir pas acquis l'estime d'un homme qui ne scait point bien choisir joint aussi poursuivit-elle que selon moy l'amour ne doit pas toujours estre une preuve convainquante du merite extraordinaire de celles qui en donnent puis qu'il est vray que c'est plus un effet de l'inclination que de la raison il est certain reprit adonacris que je suis persuade que la raison toute seule ne fit jamais naistre l'amour mais je le suis en mesme temps que l'amour que la raison authorise est mille fois plus forte que celle que la raison combat et que pour aimer fortement il faut que celuy qui aime se puisse dire a luy mesme qu'il auroit deu choisir ce qu'il a aime sans choix et qu'il n'y ait aucune guerre civile entre son coeur et sa raison je comprens bien sans doute respondit noromate que s'il estoit possible que la chose fust ainsi que l'amour en seroit plus forte mais je croy que cela n'arrive pas souvent je ne scay pas s'il arrive souvent repliqua adonacris mais je scay bien qu'il arrive quelquesfois et que cela est arrive a un homme que vous connoissez il faut donc que ce soit au prince aryante reprit elle qui trouve en effet en la personne qu'il aime 
 de quoy empescher sa raison de s'opposer a son amour nullement respondit adonacris et quand il n'y auroit en ma soeur que l'inegalite de naissance avec le prince qui l'aime ce seroit assez pour faire que la raison d'aryante s'opposast a sa passion mais enfin luy dit-il aimable noromate je veux bien vous confier mon secret et vous dire que c'est de moy dont je parle de moy dis-je qui devant que de rien aimer ay tousjours eu dans la fantaisie de me former une idee d'une personne telle que je l'eusse voulu trouver pour me donner de l'amour et en effet adjousta-t'il cette bizarre imagination s'estoit tellement mise dans mon esprit que je n'allois en aucun lieu sans chercher si je trouverois celle dont ma raison m'avoit fait une image ha adonacris interrompit malicieusement noromate qui soupconnoit deja quelque chose de sa passion que je m'imagine que cette image devoit estre belle pour moy adjousta-t'elle je me figure qu'on verroit la plus admirable chose qu'on vit jamais si vous la pouviez faire voir car enfin je suis assuree qu'en formant la beaute de cette personne que vous vouliez aimer vous luy aviez donne des cheveux du plus beau blond du monde des yeux bleux l'air fort enjoue et je m'imagine en suitte que vous avez eu beau chercher et que vous ne l'avez trouvee en nulle part pardonnez moy aimable noromate luy dit-il si je vous contredis en tout car premierement je n'ay jamais cru qu'il fust possible 
 que je deusse avoir de l'amour pour une beaute blonde et je n'ay pas este si malheureux que vous pensez car enfin poursuivit-il en souriant apres m'estre forme une idee de la plus grande beaute du monde et d'une beaute brune et apres l'avoir cherchee inutilement en plus d'un royaume je la trouvay justement le jour que vous arrivastes a issedon et precisement lors que l'eus l'honneur de vous voir la premiere fois il faut assurement que vostre memoire vous trompe reprit noromate en rougissant car je me souviens bien que le premier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir j'estois seule dans ma chambre lors qu'agathirse vous y amena je m'en souviens bien aussi reprit adonacris en souriant encore une fois mais cela n'est pas incompatible avec ce que je vous ay dit car enfin puis qu'il faut vous parler plus clairement ce fut dans vos yeux que je trouvay ce beau feu que je cherchois pour me brusler et ce fut en vostre personne que je trouvay cette beaute parfaite que je desesperois de pouvoir jamais rencontrer en nulle part j'avoue reprit noromate que ce que vous me dittes me surprend et m'embarrasse car ou je ne scay point le monde ou si je croy ce que vous dittes il faut que je vous responde comme a un homme qui m'a parle avec trop de hardiesse c'est pourquoy le mieux que je puisse faire et pour vous et pour moy est de ne vous croire pas et de m'imaginer 
 pour vous excuser que vous estes de l'opinion de ceux qui pensent qu'on ne peut jamais estre seul aupres d'une dame qui n'est pas encore fort proche de la vieillesse sans luy dire quelqu'une de ces sortes de galanteries qui conviennent esgalement aux blondes et aux brunes aux grandes et aux petites et que les levres de ceux qui les disent prononcent bien souvent sans que leur coeur les avoue et sans que leur esprit y pense ha madame interrompit adonacris ce que je viens de vous dire n'est point de cette nature et ne peut jamais convenir qu'a vous seule de plus je vous declare que mon coeur avoue tout ce que ma bouche vous a dit et que s'il l'accuse de quelque chose c'est de n'avoir ose vous descouvrir entierement la grandeur de l'amour qu'il a pour vous vous m'en dittes tant repliqua-t'elle que je puis assurer que vous m'en dittes trop car enfin quelque estime que j'aye pour vous il faut que je resiste a l'inclination que j'avois a vous traiter comme un de mes plus chers amis il faut dis-je que j'esvite vostre rencontre que j'observe toutes mes paroles et mesme tous mes regards et il faut enfin que je me contraigne d'une telle sorte que je commence deja de craindre que je ne vienne a vous hair comme noromate disoit cela le prince aryante qui menoit elybesis entra qui rompit cette conversation dont ils furent tous deux bien aises car adonacris craignoit que noromate ne le mal-traitast et noromate n'estoit 
 assurement pas faschee de n'avoir pas le temps de le maltraiter mais a peine aryante et elybesis furent ils entrez qu'agathyrse arriva qui commencant de remarquer qu'elybesis ne fuyoit pas la conversation d'aryante n'estoit pas trop satisfait d'elle aussi fut-il ce jour la fort chagrin c'estoit pourtant un chagrin fier et superbe qui ressembloit plus a la colere qu'a la simple douleur car ou il ne parloit point ou s'il disoit quelque chose il le disoit seulement en deux mots et toujours en contredisant de plus on voyoit dans les mouvemens de son visage que le depit qu'il avoit dans le coeur n'estoit pas d'une nature a luy permettre de dire tout ce qu'il pensoit pour moy qui estois arrive avec le prince aryante je ne vy de ma vie personne dans les yeux de qui il fust plus aise de connoistre les sentimens de l'ame aussi elybesis les connut elle bien pour aryante il estoit si occupe a regarder la personne qu'il aimoit qu'il ne regarda point agathyrse et pour achever de le desesperer le jeune spargapise arriva qui ne scachant pas encore trop bien ce qu'il falloit dire a des dames se mit a luy parler en particulier un moment apres qu'il fut entre mais comme agathyrse est adroit et hardi il ne souffrit pas long temps cette contrainte c'est pourquoy inventant sur le champ je ne scay quelle plaisante nouvelle dont il fit un grand secret a ce jeune prince et qu'il jugea luy devoir donner beaucoup 
 de curiosite il luy dit qu'elybesis en scavoit tout le detail et que s'il vouloir le luy demander tout bas sans que le prince aryante l'entendist elle le luy diroit sans doute mais seigneur adjousta-t'il il faut la presser estrangement et longtemps car de l'humeur dout je la connois elle ne dit jamais ce qu'elle voit qu'on veut scavoir que la centiesme fois qu'on l'en prie ha s'il ne tient qu'a cela respondit innocement le jeune spargapise je la prieray plus de mille et je ne la quitteray d'aujourd'huy qu'elle ne m'ait dit ce que je veux scavoir et en effet il changea de place a l'heure mesme et fut se mettre aupres d'elybesis comme aryante devoit beaucoup de respect a spargapise il se retira pour le laisser parler en liberte ainsi agathyrse le separa d'elybesis sans qu'il sceust qui l'en separoit mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'elybesis qui n'avoit garde de scavoir une chose qu'agathyrse avoit inventee sur le champ en la disant a spargapise ne scavoit ce que ce jeune prince luy demandoit et luy protestoit qu'elle ne l'entendoit pas d'ailleurs comme agathyrse luy avoit dit qu'elle ne disoit jamais ce qu'on vouloit scavoir d'elle qu'on ne le luy eust demande cent fois plus elle disoit ne scavoir rien de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir plus il s'opiniastroit a luy soustenir qu'elle le scavoit mais a la fin elle le luy nia si fortement qu'il pensa la croire et ne la tourmenter plus neantmoins comme agathyrse luy avoit assure affirmativement qu'elle scavoit 
 ce qu'il luy avoit dit il se mit a luy dire tout haut qu'elybesis luy assuroit tellement qu'elle ignoroit absolument ce qu'il luy demandoit qu'il croyoit qu'il faloit que ce fust luy qui se trompast je vous proteste seigneur repliqua hardiment agathyrse qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui scache ce que vous voulez scavoir si elybesis ne le scait et en effet il ne mentoit pas car comme c'estoit une chose qu'il avoit inventee personne n'avoit garde de la scavoir cependant il joua si bien que le dessein qu'il avoit eu de separer aryante d'elybesis reussit admirablement car il engagea si adroitement le jeune spargapise a s'opiniastrer de presser elybesis de luy dire ce qu'elle ne scavoit pas que cela dura tout le jour qu'il avoit interrompu son rival mais ce qui luy donna encore le plus de satisfaction fut que sur la fin de cette opiniastre curiosite de spargapise il remarqua qu'elybesis commencoit de soupconner quelque chose de la malice qu'il luy avoit faite de sorte qu'il se retira moins chagrin qu'il n'avoit este au commencement de la conversation il ne se crut pourtant pas encore entierement satisfait s'il n'avoit une audience particuliere d'elybesis pour luy parler de sa nouvelle conqueste c'est pourquoy des le lendemain il fut chez elle de si bonne heure qu'estant accoustumee de n'achever de se coiffere s'habiller qu'apres disner elle ne l'estoit pas tout a fait lors qu'il entra dans sa chambre de sorte que la trouvant encore fort occupee 
 a consulter son miroir il luy demanda pardon de l'interrompre mais il le luy demanda d'une maniere qui n'estoit pas trop soumise et qui fit bien connoistre a elybesis qu'il avoit quelque chagrin dans l'esprit c'est pourquoy achevant de ranger un peu plus negligemment les boucles de ses cheveux du coste qu'elle n'estoit pas achevee de coiffer qu'elles ne l'estoient de l'autre afin que ses femmes se retirassent elle se hasta de se mettre en estat d'apaiser agathyrse si elle le pouvoit car elle se doutoit bien de ce qui causoit son depit mais a peine celles qui l'habilloient furent elles a l'autre coste de la chambre qu'agathyrse prenant la parole avec une raillerie piquante et un sourire malicieux le prince aryante est bien heureux luy dit-il de ce que je suis venu aujourd'huy vous voir car madame si nous eussiez continue de vous habiller avec le mesme foin que vous aviez commence d'avoir quand je suis entre il vous auroit trouvee si belle qu'il seroit assurement mort d'amour avant que vous eussiez pu avoir loisir d'avoir compassion de luy en me disant repliqua-t'elle en rougissant de depit que le prince aryante m'eust trouvee belle s'il m'eust veue comme j'eusse este si vous ne fussiez pas venu c'est me dire tacitement que vous ne me la trouvez guere comme je suis presentement mais soit que je ne sois pas fort jalouse de ma beaute poursuivit elle ou qu'en effet je ne croye pas qu'elle despende de deux ou trois boucles negliges si vous avez 
 pense me fascher vous vous estes extremement trompe si vous dites vray respondit brusquement agathyrse j'en suis bien marry car madame vous vous souciez si peu de faire depit aux autres que je croy qu'il est permis de souhaiter de vous en faire quelquefois mais en fin luy dit alors elybesis sans nous amuser a faire voir que nous avons de l'esprit en disant des choses piquantes comme nous en avons quand il nous plaist a en dire d'agreables de quoy vous pleignez vous le me pleins madame reprit il puis que vous voulez bien que je vous le die de ce que la grande qualite vous esblouit et de ce que vous croyez que je doive plustost souffrir que le prince aryante vous aime que si un homme de ma condition vous aimoit cependant j'ay a vous dire qu'en cas de rivaux la qualite n'y fait rien et que depuis esclave jusques a roy je n'en puis jamais avoir que je puisse souffrir patiemment je respecte les princes autant que je le dois en toute autre chose quoy que je les voye le moins que je puis mais en amour je vous proteste madame que je ne considere point du tout leur condition et que si vous continuez de faire une si grande distinction d'aryante aux autres je n'y en feray point du tout et j'agiray aveque luy comme avec mon rival sans considerer s'il est oncle de spargapise ny frere de thomiris et afin que vous n'en doutiez pas poursuivit il avec une violence estrange je vous le jure par vesta par hercule par 
 mars par venus par neptune et par tous les dieux que nous adorons comme il est permis de se dedire de ses premiers sentimens en certaines occasions reprit elybesis j'espere que quand vostre colere sera passee vous changerez ceux ou vous estes ha pour cela madame reprit-il je n'en changeray jamais c'est pourquoy prenez vos mesures la dessus car en fin je ne puis endurer que vous soyez capable de cette foiblesse je vous proteste luy dit-elle alors que vous avez le plus grand tort du monde de vous pleindre et si vous voulez que je vous descouvre mon coeur je vous avoueray ingenument qu'il est vray que l'ambition en est la passion dominante et que la seule cause de la legere complaisance que j'ay pour le prince aryante est que je scay que je fais un depit estrange a toutes les belles d'issedon d'occuper si fort ce prince qu'il ne leur parle jamais je comprens bien madame repliqua-t'il que vous leur faites depit en faisant que le prince aryante ne leur parle jamais mais vous devriez comprendre aussi que vous m'en faites un espouventable de ce que vous luy parlez tousjours comme il ne doit pas tarder icy reprit elle il me semble que vous ne devriez pas agir comme vous faites car enfin comment concevez vous que je puisse faire une incivilite a un homme de cette condition ha madame s'ecria t'il vous me desesperez de parler de la condition d'un amant lors qu'il s'agit de vous justifier a son rival car je vous l'ay desja dit et 
 je vous je dis encore je ne pretens point que la qualite soit une cause raisonnable d'inconstance et quant a l'ambition croyez madame croyez qu'il y auroit bien plus de gloire a mal-traiter un prince qu'a l'escouter favorablement et puis le moyen que je pusse m'assurer de vostre esprit et le moyen que le prince aryante luy mesme s'en assurast quand mesme vous me quiteriez pour luy car enfin c'est un prince sans principaute et il y en a mille au monde que vous luy pourriez preferer si la fortune vous les faisoit connoistre ainsi si le hazard vouloit que spargapise aprist a aimer par vous vous quitteriez aryante qui ne peut estre roy pour spargapise qui montera bien-tost au throsne et si apres cela poursuivit-il avec une raillerie piquante cette mesme fortune vous faisoit voir ou le roy de phrigie ou le roy des medes ou le roy d'hircanie vous quiteriez celuy des issedons et allant ainsi de roy en roy s'il prenoit encore fantaisie a jupiter d'envoyer quelqu'un des dieux a vos pieds ou de venir luy mesme sur son aigle pour vous rendre hommage vous feriez infidellite aux plus grands rois de la terre pour recevoir mesme le plus petit de tous les dieux eh de grace agathyrse luy dit-elle n'employez point des noms si dignes de respect a exagerer la folie que vous avez dans l'esprit si vous voulez que je vous appaise il ne s'agit pas de m'apaiser luy dit-il mais il s'agit de vous justifier ou de vous repentir de l'injustice 
 que vous me faites si j'avois failly je me repentirois luy dit elle mais cela n'estant pas je ne puis que vous protester que vous avez tort de vous pleindre que le prince aryante ne vous oste point la place que je vous ay donnee dans mon coeur et qu'a moins qu'il me pust faire reine je ne seray jamais pour luy que ce que je suis jugez donc si un prince sans principaute comme vous le dites se verra en pouvoir de me donner une couronne comme selon toutes les apparences reprit il en souriant la fortune ne rendra pas justice a vostre merite jusqu'au point que de trouver un roy qui vous fasse monter au throsne il me semble que vous pouviez sans rien hazarder me parler plus obligeamment que vous n'avez fait et me dire que quand mesme on vous auroit voulu faire reine et la plus grande reine du monde vous n'auriez pas voulu me rendre le plus malheureux homme de la terre mais apres tout poursuivit il pourveu que vous m'assuriez fortement que quiconque ne sera point roy ne me destruira point dans vostre esprit j'auray l'ame en quelque repos je vous promets tout ce que vous voulez repliqua-t'elle pourveu que vous ne m'obligiez pas a changer ma forme de vie avec aryante durant le peu de temps qu'il sera encore icy car enfin je vous declare que je ne puis me resoudre a m'exposer a la medisance de toutes celles qui me portent envie qui diroient sans doute que je ne changerois ma forme de vivre avec le prince aryante 
 que pour l'amour de vous et qui en tireroient des consequences tres fascheuses pour moy joint adjousta-t'elle qu'il y va aussi de vostre interest et de vostre fortune ha pour ma fortune madame repliqua-t'il ce n'est pas une raison a m'alleguer puis que de l'humeur dont je suis je ne la fais guere despendre d'autruy et que tant que je le pourray elle ne despendra que de moy mesme vous scavez madame poursuivit-il que dans les choses ou ma passion n'est point interessee je n'ay jamais pu m'assujettir a toutes ces laschetez que ceux qui cherchent a se mettre en faveur appellent foins et soumissions et qui les obligent a renoncer a tous leurs sentimens pour s'attacher a suivre ceux des autres jugez donc si en une occasion ou il s'agit de vous perdre ou de vous conserver je dois penser a mesnager quelqu'autre chose que vous non non madame ne vous y abusez pas ce n'est point par ce coste-la que vous m'amenerez dans vos sentimens c'est pourquoy soyez s'il vous plaist persuadee que tant qu'il ne s'agira que de ma fortune je la sacrifieray toute entiere aveque joye pour avoir la satisfaction de vous voir mal - traiter le prince aryante mais en mesme temps je vous avoue que s'il y va de vostre gloire je dois y songer autant que vous mesme ainsi je consens que vous continuyez d'avoir quelque civilite pour ce prince pourveu madame que vous apportiez 
 quelque foin a me consoler du desespoir que j'en auray et que vous redoubliez la bonte que vous avez eue pour moy car si vous ne le faites je suis capable de perdre patience et de faire des choses qui vous deplairont et qui me deplairont a moy-mesme quand je les auray faites pensez donc madame pensez a mesnager un peu l'esprit d'un amant qui a le coeur haut et sensible et qui dans le fonds de son ame ne met rien au dessus de luy que ceux qui ont plus de vertu et plus de merite qu'il n'en a en effet madame poursuivit-il avec impetuosite si vous voulez bien y songer vous trouverez que la qualite ne fait pas dire les choses avec plus d'esprit quelle ne change ny le sens ny les paroles de celuy qui parle et qu'elle ne contribue rien a la conversation c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas s'estonner si je trouverois aussi mauvais que vous me fissiez infidelite pour aryante tout prince qu'il est que s'il n'estoit que mon egal apres cela agathyrse revenant peu a peu de la violence qu'il avoit eue dans l'esprit parla a elybesis avec une soumission estrange et luy dit des choses si passionnees qu'il l'obligea enfin a luy en dire de si tendres qu'il se resolut effectivement alors de souffrir qu'elle continuast de vivre avec aryante comme elle avoit commence durant le peu de temps qu'il croyoit qu'il seroit a issedon de sorte qu'ils se separerent fort bien ils ne demeurerent pourtant pas long temps en cet estat et je pense pouvoir dire qu'il ne se passa point de jour 
 qu'ils ne se brouillassent et ne se racommodassent plus d'une fois cependant aryante estant tousjours plus amoureux et n'estant pas satisfait de la seule civilite qu'elybesis avoit pour luy se resolut de luy dire tout ce qu'il pensoit mais comme elle ne cherchoit qu'a ne le perdre pas et qu'elle ne vouloit pas effectivement alors s'engager a rien elle esvitoit de se trouver seule avec que luy de sorte que par ce moyen elle satisfaisoit agathyrse et arrivoit a la fin qu'elle s'estoit proposee qui estoit d'estre aimee de ce prince tant qu'il seroit a issedon sans avoir rien hazarde que quelque complaisance et quelques civilitez ainsi quelque envie qu'eust aryante de luy dire tout ce qu'il avoit dans l'ame il ne luy fut pas si facile et il le luy fut d'autant moins qu'elibesis s'estant confiee a une fille de ses amies nommee argyrispe elle la pria qu'elles ne se quittassent que le moins qu'elles pourroient tant que le prince aryante seroit a issedon si bien que comme ces deux filles estoient presques tousjours ensemble il n'estoit pas aise que cet amant peust trouver l'occasion qu'il attendoit d'ailleurs comme rien ne peut estre longtemps cache il vint a scavoir qu'agathyrse n'estoit pas hai d'elybesis mais au lieu que cela devoit diminuer sa passion elle en augmenta encore et elle devint si forte qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'eust este capable de faire pour la contenter aussi chercha-t'il si soigneusement l'occasion d'entretenir elybesis en particulier qu'il la trouva 
 enfin malgre qu'elle en eust peu de jours apres qu'il eut commence de la chercher j'ay depuis sceu par elle mesme que ce prince luy dit des choses si passionnees qu'on n'en a jamais dit de semblables car apres luy avoir exagere la grandeur de son amour et tout ce qu'elle estoit capable de luy faire faire pour la posseder il luy fit connoistre qu'il n'ignoroit pas qu'agathyrse n'estoit pas mal dans son esprit en fuite de quoy il prit un biais tout particulier pour l'obliger a le preferer a cet amant au reste madame luy dit-il apres beaucoup d'autres choses ne pensez pas que je vous blasme de l'estime que vous avez pour agathyrse et de ce que vous l'avez prefere a tous ceux qui vous ont approchee car enfin c'est un choix que vous avez fait devant que j'eusse eu le bonheur d'estre connu de vous et agathyrse est un fort honneste homme ainsi je ne condamne point tout ce que vous avez fait pour luy devant que je vous connusse et devant que je vous aimasse et pour vous montrer que je suis equitable je ne blasme pas mesme agathyrse de continuer de vous aimer quoy qu'il scache que je vous aime parce que je scay bien que vous ne le luy avez pas deffendu mais madame apres vous avoir rendu justice et l'avoir rendue a agathyrse je pretens que vous me la rendiez aussi et que vous vous donniez la peine d'examiner quelle est ma passion et quelle est la sienne afin que sans considerer l'inegalite de nos conditions 
 vous vous donniez seulement au plus amoureux des deux mais de grace examinez la chose aveque foin demandez luy des preuves d'amour difficiles a rendre et m'en demandez aussi et si vous ne trouvez qu'il y a encore plus de difference de la passion d'agathyrse a la mienne que de ma naissance a la sienne je consens que vous ne croiyez pas que je vous aime et que vous me haissiez seigneur reprit elybesis je ne m'amuse point a vous dire qu'agathyrse n'a nulle affection particuliere pour moy et que je n'en ay point du tout pour luy car l'honneur que vous me faites merite que j'aye plus de sincerite pour vous mais je vous diray que quand je serois capable de vouloir faire ce que vous dites et que j'aurois trouve que vous m'aimeriez mieux qu'agathyrse ne m'aime je ne devrois pas rompre aveque luy car enfin seigneur nous sonmes de mesme qualite et il a plu a la fortune que je ne fusse pas de la vostre ainsi ne pouvant imaginer qu'il puisse y avoir d'affection innocente encre deux personnes de condition fort inegalle je dois sans doute pour future la raison faire injustice a vostre merite et faire tout ce que je pourray et contre vous et contre moy pour ne faire rien contre agathyrse et pour ne me laisser pas esblouir par la gloire qu'il y a d'avoir assujetti un coeur comme le vostre vous ne pouviez sans doute reprit aryante me dire plus civilement que vous ne voulez pas rompre avec agathyrse mais trop charmante elybesis 
 poursuivit il scachez qu'il n'est point de paroles qui puissent me faire recevoir sans douleur et sans colere une si cruelle response l'eloquence peut sans doute adoucir les nouvelles les plus fascheuses on l'employe mesme quelquesfois utilement a annoncer la mort des personnes les plus cheres mais lors qu'il s'agit d'oster l'esperance a un amant elle ne se trouve point assez forte pour la luy oster sans qu'il en ait une affliction estrange mais afin que vous ne vous amusiez pas a me la vouloir faire perdre je vous declare que vous ne le scauriez jamais faire car enfin je sens une telle impossibilite a pouvoir vivre sans esperer d'estre aime de vous que je force ma raison malgre qu'elle en ait a conserver l'esperance dans mon coeur puis que cela est seigneur reprit elybesis en souriant il ne me serviroit de rien de vouloir vous desesperer c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux que je vous laisse la liberte de croire ce qu'il vous plaira pourveu que je conserve celle de faire ce que je dois et ce que je veux si vous faites ce que vous devez reprit aryante vous ne ferez rien contre moy car enfin quand il seroit vray que vous auriez donne lieu a agathyrse d'esperer d'estre heureux c'auroit este en un temps ou son bonheur ne m'eust pas rendu miserable mais aujourd'huy que vous ne pouvez faire sa felicite sans me faire mourir ny vous ne le devez vouloir ny je n'y dois consentir c'est pourquoy songez serieusement madame a ce que vous devez resoudre de plus 
 adjousta-t'il je ne connois pas si peu vos inclinations que je ne scache que l'ambition est la passion dominante de vostre ame de sorte que si le peu de merite de ma personne ne vous touche pas faites que ma condition me serve a quelque chose et faites qu'agathyrse soit un jour oblige de rendre encore plus de respect a la princesse elybesis par le rang qu'elle tiendra si elle veut qu'il n'en rend a elybesis comme son amant seigneur repliqua-t'elle fort embarrassee tout ce que vous me dittes est le plus obligeant du monde et touche sensiblement mon coeur et mon esprit mais en fin puis qu'il faut ne vous deguiser rien j'ay dit assez de choses obligeantes a agathyrse pour luy donner lieu de croire qu'a moins que de pouvoir estre reine je ne dois jamais rompre aveque luy c'est pourquoy seigneur comme je ne suis pas vostre sujette que vous ne me pouvez commander absolument et que je me suis engagee a luy promettre une affection eternelle ayez s'il vous plaist la bonte de me laisser en repos si vous m'y laissiez repliqua-t'il apres avoir resve un moment le vous y laisserois sans doute mais puis que vous ne m'y laissez pas ne trouvez pas mauvais que je ne vous y laisse point aussi et que je vous conjure du moins de me promettre deux choses la premiere que vous ne songerez point a espouser agathyrse que dans un an et h seconde que si dans ce temps la il vient un roy apporter sa couronne a vos pieds et vous conjurer de l'accepter 
 vous l'accepterez et vous vous resoudrez de monter au throsne et de rompre avec agathyrse eh de grace seigneur reprit elybesis en riant que voulez vous que je responde a une supposition impossible car enfin je n'iray jamais a la cour d'aucun roy estranger thomiris qui est nostre reine vivra long temps et spargapise est si jeune que je seray vieille devant qu'il puisse avoir de l'amour ainsi je vous avoue que je ne puis que vous respondre mais puis que la chose est si esloignee de possibilite reprit aryante vous ne vous exposez a rien d'y respondre comme si elle pouvoit arriver en effet repliqua-t'elle je pense que vous avez raison c'est pourquoy seigneur je vous diray quant a la premiere chose dont vous m'avez parle que sans vouloir avoir ce respect la pour vous agathyrse ne peut songer a m'espouser devant le temps que vous m'avez prescrit parce que ses affaires ny les miennes ne nous le permettent pas et pour l'autre je vous diray encore puis que vous le voulez que s'il venoit un roy m'offrir une couronne et qu'agathyrse ne me conseillast pas de l'accepter je pense que je l'accepterois parce que je croirois qu'il ne m'aimeroit pas s'il ne me le conseilloit point et que je pourrois par consequent rompre aveque luy et moy je trouve interrompit aryante que s'il vous conseilloit de l'accepter vous pourriez encore l'accuser de peu d'amour de vous donner un semblable conseil et qu'ainsi soit qu'il vous 
 conseillast de le preferer au throsne ou de luy preferer une couronne vous devriez tousjours preferer le roy au sujet et cesser d'estre maistresse d'agathyrse pour estre sa reine serieusement dit alors elybesis vous me donnez beaucoup de joye de parler comme vous faites car enfin je ne puis avoir de plus grande satisfaction que de connoistre que tout ce que vous m'avez dit n'est qu'un enjouement d'esprit le temps vous l'aprendra mandame reprit aryante cependant souvenez vous que vous m'avez promis que vous ne songerez d'un an tout entier a espouser agathyrse et que si dans ce temps-la il vient un roy vous demander a genoux que vous veuilliez estre reine vous luy ferez la grace d'accepter la couronne qu'il vous offrira ces deux choses reprit elybesis en riant sont assez faciles a vous promettre car seigneur je ne puis jamais avoir envie d'espouser qui que ce soit que le plus tard que je pourray et je suis et seray toute ma vie en disposition de souhaiter ardemment de pouvoir estre reine si c'estoit une chose que je pusse desirer sans folie apres cela estant arrive du monde la conversation changea et elybesis se trouva extremement embarrassee car le prince aryante luy avoit dit des choses si tendres au commencement de leur conversation et il luy en avoit dit d'autres en fuite ou il y avoit si peu d'aparence qu'il y eut des instans ou elle craignit qu'il ne se moquast d'elle mais d'ailleurs elle avoit si bonne opinion de 
 son merite qu'elle a dit depuis que ces instans passerent viste et qu'elle trouva plus d'aparence de croire que la violence de l'amour qu'aryante avoit pour elle luy faisoit dire des choses peu raisonnables que de penser qu'il pust ne luy parler pas serieusement lors qu'il luy disoit qu'il l'aimoit quoy qu'il en soit elle ne dit rien a agathyrse de tout ce que le prince aryante luy avoit dit car encore qu'elle ne crust pas qu'il y eust nulle possibilite a la proposition qu'il luy avoit faite comme elle ne vouloit pas perdre ce prince bien qu'elle voulust conserver agathyrse elle ne voulut pas connoissant la sensibilite de ce dernier luy aprendre quelle estoit la conversation qu'elle avoir eue avec l'autre 
 
 
 
 
mais seigneur afin que vous ne soyez pas aussi en peine qu'elybesis de ce qui avoit oblige aryante a luy parler comme il avoit fait il faut que vous scachiez qu'un homme d'issedon de fort haute qualite avoit este le matin trouver aryante pour luy persuader de songer a se faire roy et pour luy en offrir les moyens d'abord cette proposition surprit ce prince non seulement comme injuste mais comme impossible neantmoins comme il ne voulut pourtant pas rejetter la chose sans l'aprofondir il pressa celuy qui luy parloit qui s'apelle octomasade de luy dire sur quoy il fondoit un si grand dessein seigneur reprit-il comme je l'ay sceu par luy mesme je le fonde premierement sur la justice et secondement sur vostre courage et sur l'extreme envie que le peuple de 
 ce royaume a de se voir un roy qui demeure dans issedon car enfin seigneur la loy par laquelle thomiris regne a vostre prejudice porte que le fils aisne ou la fille aisnee du roy des issedons doit monter au throsne preferablemenr aux autres enfans qui en sont exclus cela estant interrompit aryante thomiris regne avec justice car elle a six ans plus que moy nullement reprit octomasade et voicy seigneur sur quoy je me fonde la loy du royaume dit donc que l'aisne des enfans du roy des issedons regnera or est-il que lors que thomiris nasquit le prince lipacaris vostre pere et le sien n'estoit pas encore roy et selon toutes ses apparences il ne le devoit jamais estre de sorte qu'elle ne peut veritablement se dire la fille aisnee du roy des issedons puis que quand elle vint au monde son pere ne l'estoit pas si bien seigneur que comme vous n'avez veu le jour que deux ans apres que lypacaris a porte la couronne c'est vous veritablement qui estes le premier ne du roy quoy qu'il eust desja une fille et a parler equitablement thomiris est fille du prince lypacaris et vous estes fils du roy des issedons apres cela seigneur je pense que vous ne douterez pas que vostre droit ne soit bien fonde ou que du moins le pretexte ne soit extremement plausible de plus tous les peuples murmurent de l'esloignement de cette princesse qui prefere ses tentes a nos plus belles villes si bien que je suis assure que si vous voulez 
 penser a monter au throsne il vous sera facile de le faire et je m'offre de hazarder ma vie pour vostre service et de vous donner tous mes amis qui ne sont pas en petit nombre aryante entendant parler octomasade de cette sorte fut quelque temps sans respondre mais comme il a l'ame naturellement genereuse quand l'amour ne change pas ses inclinations il escouta ce que luy disoit octomasade comme une subtilite pour le porter a se revolter contre thomiris plustost que comme une raison effective de pretendre au trone qu'elle occupoit ainsi n'acceptant pas l'offre qu'il luy faisoit il se contenta de le remercier du zele qu'il tesmoignoit avoir pour luy mais admirez seigneur la puissance de l'amour par ce que je m'en vay vous dire aryante qui avoit escoute octomasade de la maniere que je l'ay dit changea de sentimens pendant la conversation qu'il eut avec elybesis car ayant descouvert dan son ame qu'elle avoit une ambition demesuree il se resolut a entreprendre par amour ce qu'il n'avoit pas voulu entreprendre par cette mesme ambition si bien qu'on peut dire que le seul desir de regner dans le coeur d'elybesis le porta a vouloir regner sur des issedons en effet ce fut dans ce sentiment la qu'il parla a elybesis comme il fit lors qu'il l'engagea a luy promettre de ne songer d'un an a espouser agathyrse et a accepter une couronne si on la luy presentoit s'imaginant que ce temps la suffiroit pour executer ou pour destruire 
 son entreprise mais seigneur ce ne fut pas seulement une pensee que son amour luy donna ce fut un dessein fortement resolu et un dessein qu'il songea a commencer d'executer a l'heure mesme pour cet effet il renvoya querir octomasade et cette raison qu'il avoit escoutee comme une subtilite luy parut alors un droit le plus equitable du monde de sorte que conferant aveque luy ils conclurent la chose et resolut qu'aryante sur quelque pretexte laisseroit retourner spargapise quand thomiris le rapelleroit que cependant aryante s'aquerroit le plus d'amis qu'il pourroit qu'octomasade s'assureroit des siens qu'il faudroit divertir le peuple par des festes publiques et avoir des gens qui sceussent luy insinuer adroitement les sentimens qu'il estoit a propos qu'il eust pour l'execution d'un si grand dessein de plus ils songerent qui ils choisiroient pour faire un manifeste afin de faire voir que la guerre qu'aryante vouloir entreprendre estoit juste et ils penserent principalement a se rendre maistres d'issedon mais durant qu'aryante estoit occupe a satisfaire son amour par son ambition adonacris qui n'avoit que de l'amour dans l'ame aqueroit de jour en jour sans qu'on y prist garde une nouvelle estime dans le coeur de la belle et charmante noromate de sorte que comme ceux qui n'ont qu'un dessein l'executent bien mieux que ceux qui sont obligez de partager leurs foins pour plusieurs choses 
 differens adonacris n'ayant autre envie que celle d'estre aime de noromate il n'est pas estrange s'il en vint a bout en peu de temps car enfin il n'est sorte de soins qu'il n'eust pour elle et il aporta une assiduite si grande a la voir qu'il la voyoit a toutes les heures ou la bien-seance le permettoit noromate de son coste ayant une violente inclination pour adonacris n'y resista que foiblement et laissa insensiblement engager son coeur a une affection qu'elle ne vouloit effectivement apeller qu'amitie de peur d'estre obligee de la combattre et de la vaincre il est vray que cette amour en avoit toute la purete et que je ne croy pas qu'on puisse trouver une passion plus pure ny plus vertueuse que la leur noromate ne voulut pas mesme accoustumer adonacris a luy parler de son affection quoy qu'elle voulust bien qu'il aimast et qu'il luy rendist mille innocentes preuves d'amour mais enfin sa modestie fut si scrupuleuse qu'elle ne voulut pas qu'il soulageast sa douleur par des pleintes cependant comme elle scavoit que son pere n'aimoit pas le sejour d'issedon elle n'osoit esperer que quand adonacris la luy feroit demander qu'il la luy accordast et adonacris qui avoit un pere d'humeur bizarre et imperieuse se trouvoit aussi bien embarrasse a luy proposer son mariage avec noromate qui bien que d'une tres grande et tres illustre race n'estoit pas assez riche pour luy cependant quoy qu'ils n'esperassent guere tous deux de pouvoir vivre ensemble ils ne laissoient 
 pas de s'aimer et de s'aimer sans se le dire adonacris n'estoit pourtant pas tousjours si obeissant qu'il ne fist connoistre adroitement qu'il se pleignoit du moins de ce qu'on luy deffendoit de se pleindre et la belle noromate malgre toute sa retenue souffroit aussi quelquesfois qu'adonacris devinast dans ses beaux yeux les sentimens de son ame de sorte que pendant qu'aryante avoit le coeur dechire par l'amour et par l'ambition qu'il y avoit jointe qu'agathyrse l'avoit rempli de jalousie et qu'elybesis ne scavoit precisement ni ce qu'elle vouloit perdre ni ce qu'elle vouloit conserver adonacris et noromate menoient une vie infiniment douce car ils s'aimoient presques egallement ils s'aimoient sans qu'on le sceust et ils se voyoient tous les jours neantmoins comme l'amour est une passion inquiette et qui ne peut jamais laisser h tranquilite dans un coeur qu'elle possede adonacris avoit des heures ou il avoit de la douleur et mesme du chagrin en effet quand il venoit a songer que pour estre tout aime qu'il estoit de sa chere noromate il ne pourroit estre heureux il se trouvoit desja tres miserable par la seule apprehension de le devenir mais apres tout si la crainte d'un mal incertain l'affligeoit quelques fois la possession de l'estime de noromate le consoloit et le rendoit capable de jouir avec plaisir d'un bien qui luy estoit si cher de sorte que ces deux personnes n'ayant rien de cache dans l'ame l'un pour l'autre faisoient un fi 
 doux et si innocent eschange de secrets et une si agreable et si sincere communication de pensee que leurs coeurs s'en unissoient encore plus estroitement en effet ils ne scavoient pas seulement combien ils s'estimoient ils scavoient encore jusques a quel point ils estimoient les autres leur semblant qu'ils eussent commis un crime s'ils ne se fussent fait un secret d'une seule de leurs pensees si bien qu'ayant presques tousjours la satisfaction de connoistre qu'ils estimoient les mesmes choses ils s'en estimoient apres davantage eux mesmes n'y ayant sans doute rien qui lie plus fortement une affection que l'egalite de sentimens entre ceux qui s'aiment adonacris obtint mesme la permission d'escrire quelquefois a noromate ce n'est pas qu'il ne la vist tous les jours mais comme il arrivoit souvent qu'il ne la voyoit qu'en compagnie il avoit voulu avoir la liberte de luy pouvoir dire par des billets ce qu'il ne luy osoit dire devant le monde de sorte que comme il est encore plus aise a une personne modeste de lire une lettre pleine de tendresses que de les escouter adonacris escrivoit des choses passionnees a noromate qu'elle n'eust pas voulu entendre et elle luy en respondoit aussi quelquesfois qu'elle n'eust oze luy dire mais si adonacris et noromate jouissoient d'une si agreable tranquillite il n'en estoit pas de mesme d'agathyrse et d'elybesis car encore que cet amant luy eust promis de souffrir qu'elle continuast d'avoir de la civilite pour aryante 
 durant qu'il seroit a issedon il ne s'y pouvoit accoustumer et il y avoit des jours ou il s'en faloit peu qu'il n'oubliast egallement ce qu'il avoit promis a elybesis et le respect qu'il devoit a aryante cependant spargapise sans avoir ny amour ny ambition s'occupoit a toutes les choses que les princes de son age ont accoustume d'aimer et durant qu'aryante songeoit a luy oster une couronne afin d'oster a agathyrse le coeur d'elybesis il se divertissoit autant qu'il pouvoit les choses estant donc en ces termes on sceut a issedon non seulement que vous estiez aupres de thomiris mais aussi tout ce qui vous y arriva de sorte seigneur qu'octomasade voulant profiter d'une chose qui estoit si favorable a son dessein fit adroitement publier parmy le peuple la passion que la reine avoit pour vous luy aprenant aussi qu'elle avoit voulu vous faire arrester et que vous estiez sorty de sa puissance par le moyen du prince indathyrse adjoustant encore beaucoup de choses a la verite afin de destruire l'estime que le peuple avoit pour elle scachant bien qu'il n'y avoit pas de plus seur moyen pour le porter a la revolte que de luy oster le respect qu'il devoit a cette princesse en effet le dessein d'octomasade reuissit car apres que le peuple d'issedon sceut ce qui se passoit aux tentes royales il en murmura du murmure il vint a en parler insolemment et de l'insolence il passa bien tost a avoir une fort grande disposition a la sedition ainsi on peut 
 asseurer que des qu'il pensa ce qu'il ne devoit jamais dire il executa ce qu'il ne devoit jamais penser et se porta a la derniere extremite au reste seigneur il ne faut pas s'imaginer qu'octomasade agist en cette occasion par affection pour aryante ny par haine pour thomiris car ce fut seulement par son ambition particuliere mais certes il agit si bien qu'en fort peu de temps il remua toutes les parties de nostre estat changea ou divisa tous les coeurs et sceut si adroitement le servir des amis et des ennemis qu'il amena enfin le dessein qu'il avoit jusques au point d'estre tout prest d'eclatter et d'esclatter apparamment sans peril car thomiris estoit si occupee de la douleur qu'elle avoit de vostre depart et de ce qui se passoit dans son coeur qu'elle ne songeoit guere a ce qui se passoit dans ses estats cependant avant que d'executer la chose octomasade crut qu'il estoit a propos d'attendre que thomiris rappellast spargapise et en effet le sage terez que vous vistes aupres de cette princesse l'ayant obligee d'envoyer ses ordres afin de faire revenir aupres d'elle le prince son fils et le prince aryante spargapise obeit et aryante demeura a issedon feignant de se trouver mal et assurant le jeune prince son neveu qu'il le suivroit bien-tost mais seigneur a peine fut-il party qu'aryante songea a faire reussir son dessein et comme octomasade avoit cabale dans la ville que tous ses amis estoient persuadez que si aryante estoit roy ce seroit 
 qui regneroit sous son nom et que le peuple estoit irrite de tant de choses desavantageuses qu'on luy avoit dites de la reine il luy fut aise d'exciter une sedition contre celuy a qui cette princesse avoit confie son authorite de le chasser de la ville et de faire que le prince aryante en fust maistre en effet comme il n'y avoit point d'armee qui peust venir promptement apaiser ce desordre ny soustenir ceux qui eussent voulu soustenir les interests de thomiris octomasade executa heureusement le dessein qu'il avoit de s'emparer d'issedon et de commencer la guerre par le milieu de l'estat je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous particulariser le detail de cette action car j'ay tant d'autres choses moins ennuyeuses a vous dire qu'il vaut mieux me contenter de vous raconter en deux mots que le peuple s'emeut par l'artifice d'octomasade que quelques uns dirent suivant ce qu'on leur avoit inspire que c'estoit aryante qui estoit leur roy legitime et que thomiris avoit usurpe la couronne des issedons sur luy que les autres les suivirent qu'ils furent querir aryante a son palais qui se mit a la teste de ses amis et a celle de ce peuple qui le proclama roy et qu'il fut les armes a la main faire sortir celuy qui commandoit dans ce royaume la pour la reine et s'asseurer de tous les lieux forts de la ville ce qu'il fit en peu de temps et ce qu'il eust fait sans resistance aucune si agathyrse n'eust fait quelque obstacle a son dessein mais seigneur comme ce qui arriva 
 alors est assez extraordinaire il faut que je m'y arreste un peu davantage vous scaurez donc qu'agathyrse qui n'avoit que l'amour et la jalousie dans l'esprit voyoit elybesis autant qu'il pouvoit non seulement parce qu'il avoit tousjours un grand plaisir a la voir mais encore pour empescher qu'aryante ne l'entretinst seule de sorte que lors que ce grand tumulte se fit a issedon agathyrse estoit avec elybesis qui logeoit a un quartier de la ville qui estoit fort esloigne de celuy ou la sedition commenca si bien qu'aryante estoit desja maistre d'une partie d'issedon qu'on n'en scavoit encore rien chez cette ambitieuse personne le desordre fut pourtant a la fin si grand et si universel que le bruit en fut jusques la et qu'il interrompit agathyrse qui entretenoit elybesis de son amour et de sa jalousie tout ensemble mais a peine eurent ils loisir d'estre surpris par un si grand bruit et d'avoir la curiosite de scavoir ce qui le causoit qu'une des femmes d'elybesis entra toute effrayee et vint dire a sa maistresse que tout estoit en armes dans la ville qu'aryante se vouloit faire roy et qu'il l'alloit bien tost estre puis que personne n'osoit luy resister vous pouvez juger seigneur quel fut l'estonnement d'agathyrse et celuy d'elybesis agathyrse crut pourtant qu'elybesis faisoit plus l'estonnee qu'elle ne l'estoit et qu'elle avoit sceu quelque chose de ce dessein car j'oubliois de vous dire que le soir auparavant ce prince l'avoit entretenue deux heures 
 de sa passion et qu'agathyrse l'avoit sceu de sorte que cet amant venant a considerer que son rival alloit estre roy et qu'il seroit peut estre son sujet devant que le jour fust passe il en eut une douleur incroyable et il en eut d'autant plus qu'il crut ou qu'il craignit du moins qu'elybesis n'eust sceu le dessein d'aryante et ne l'eust approuve si bien que ne scachant ce qu'il devoit croire ou ne croire pas il regarda elybesis fixement et la regarda avec des yeux capables de penetrer par leurs regards jusques dans le fonds de son coeur tant ils avoient d'activite a ce que je voy madame luy dit il vous scaviez desja quelque chose des injustes desseins du prince aryante lors que vous me dittes un jour que hors de pouvoir estre reine je n'estois pas expose a vous perdre mais scachez madame adjousta-t'il que comme je suis aussi fidelle sujet que fidelle amant et aussi redoutable ennemy que redoutable rival le prince aryante n'est pas encore en estat de vous offrir une cocronne en l'ostant a thomiris et que du moins s'il doit vous faire monter au throsne ce ne sera qu'apres m'avoir fait descendre au tombeau souffrez donc madame pour suivit-il que je vous quitte pour aller chercher la mort ou pour la donner a celuy qui m'a chasse de vostre coeur car je vous declare que je ne puis jamais me resoudre de vivre sujet ny de mon rival ny de ma maistresse et je vous jure non seulement par tous les dieux que les issedons adorent mais encore pas 
 tous les dieux qu'on adore par toute la terre que je ne seray jamais vostre sujet ny celuy d'aryante apres cela agathyrse se disposa a s'en aller et s'en alla en effet quoy qu'elybesis voulust le retenir car enfin bien qu'elle eust de l'ambition et qu'elle eust voulu conserver aryante elle aimoit pourtant agathyrse mais elle eut beau le rappeller parce que comme le bruit augmentoit tousjours agathyrse transporte de rage et de fureur voulut aller voir s'il ne trouveroit point moyen de s'opposer au dessein de son rival si bien qu'il sortit par une porte de derriere afin de ne se trouver pas envelope dans la foule des seditieux sans scavoir ce qu'il pourroit faire mais a peine fut il sorty qu'il rencontra un de ses amis qui vouloir s'aller jetter avec cent hommes seulement dans une tour dont aryante n'estoit pas encore maistre de sorte qu'agathyrse sans hesiter davantage prit des armes en passant devant son logis qui estoit proche de la et fut avec ceux qui tenoient encore le party de thomiris pour s'oposer au prince aryante mais avant qu'ils peussent se jetter dans cette tour qu'ils vouloient deffendre ils rencontrerent ce prince qu'il falut combatre et qu'ils combatirent d'abord avec une ardeur incroyable pour agathyrse on peut dire qu'il fit tout ce qu'un homme vaillant et jaloux qui combatoit son rival pouvoit faire en effet il fit si bien qu'il fendit la presse et se fit faire jour pour arriver jusques au prince aryante qui le 
 voyant venir a luy avec tant de fierte le receut avec la mesme vigueur que l'autre l'attaqua luy demandant mesme malgre le tumulte s'il combatoit comme sujet de thomiris ou comme amant d'elybesis je combats repliqua-t'il fierement pour vous empescher d'estre roy pour empescher elybesis d'estre reine et pour m'empescher d'estre son sujet et le vostre apres cela agathyrse porta un coup au prince aryante qui le blessa legerement au bras gauche et aryante en porta un a agathyrse qui luy effleura le coste droit et qui l'auroit tue s'il ne l'eust pare avec autant de force que d'adresse mais a la fin aryante estant douze fois plus fort en nombre que ceux qu'il combatoit agathyrse ne put seulement avoir la consolation de retarder les desseins de ce prince car comme tous ceux a la teste de qui il estoit n'estoient pas des gens de guerre ny des gens de qualite ils se disperserent des qu'ils en virent dix ou douze des leurs de tuez de sorte qu'agathyrse ne voulant pas tomber sous la puissance de son rival et ne craignant pas moins d'estre son prisonnier que son sujet fut contraint de se retirer par une rue destournee mais il le fit avec tant de douleur et tant de rage que jamais homme amoureux n'a este plus desespere cependant tout ce qu'il put faire fut de se retirer dans la maison d'un de ses amis car comme il avoit attaque aryante il n'osoit pas aller chez luy d'ailleurs il eut la douleur d'aprendre que rien ne luy resistoit plus et de 
 scavoir que le lendemain au matin on avoit fait dans la ville une assemblee tumultueuse ou l'on avoit declare que thomiris n'estoit que fille du prince lypacaris et qu'aryante estoit fils unique du feu roy des issedons et par consequent roy luy mesme selon les loix du royaume mais ce qui l'affligea le plus sur d'aprendre qu'au sortir de cette assemblee aryante dont la blessure estoit si legere qu'il portoit le bras en escharpe plus par bien-seance que par necessite avoit passe chez elybesis et avoit este une demie heure avec elle en effet seigneur comme l'ambition de ce prince avoit este causee par son amour il ne vit pas plustost son dessein execute qu'il voulut malgre toutes les affaires qui l'occupoient voir la personne qu'il aimoit et il le put d'autant plus facilement qu'octomasade le deschargeoit de la plus grande partie des foins d'une si hardie entreprise j'ay sceu depuis que lors qu'il entra dans la chambre d'elybesis elle estoit assez triste et que neantmoins elle ne laissa pas de le recevoir tres civilement enfin madame luy dit-il ce roy qui vous doit offrir une couronne sera bien tost en estat de vous la mettre sur la teste et de rendre justice a vostre merite mais c'est pourtant vous madame poursuivit il que je dois remercier de celle que je me suis fait rendre par mes sujets puis que si je n'avois point este vostre esclave j'aurois tousjours este sujet de thomiris cependant comme je ne voudrois pour faire monter sur un throne 
 mal affermi je ne viens aujourd'huy que pour vous suplier de vous preparer a y monter bien tost et a ne faire pas de voeux contre moy qui pourroient obliger les dieux a m'abandonner et a proteger thomiris a mon prejudice et a l'avantage d'agathyrse je vous avoue seigneur repliqua-t'elle que ma raison est si peu a moy presentement que je ne suis pas capable de vous respondre et si vous me forcez de le faire ce sera a condition de me pouvoir dedire si je le veux de tout ce que je vous diray c'est pourquoy je pense qu'il vaut mieux que vous me donniez quelque temps non seulement pour me souvenir de ce que vous dites que je vous ay dit mais encore pour resoudre ce que je vous dois dire car encore une fois seigneur je scay si peu ce que je veux ou ce que je ne veux pas que je ne scay pas mesme bien encore si je parle au prince aryante ou au roy des issedons vous le scaurez bien tost madame luy dit il et si vous ne vous opposez vous mesme a vostre bonheur et au mi vous connoistrez que je suis veritablement roy en cessant d'estre sujette et en conmencant d'estre reine apres cela aryante se retira et laissa elybesis dans une fort grande incertitude car enfin quoy qu'elle aimast agathyrse il ne luy estoit pas possible d'imaginer qu'elle pouvoit estre reine sans que sa constance en fust esbranlee mais conme le trosne du nouveau roy luy sembloit encore un peu chancelat elle ne delibera rien et elle se laissa la liberte de pouvoir deliberer ce qu'elle voudroit selon l'evenement des choses ainsi 
 scavoir si elle avoit plus d'ambition que d'amour ou plus d'amour que d'ambition elle ne voulut pas faire cesser l'incertitude qu'elle sentoit dans son esprit sur ce qu'elle devoit faire cependant agathyrse qui estoit cache chez un de ses amis estoit dans un desespoir incroyable quoy disoit il je pourrois souffrir que mon rival devinst roy je pourrois estre son sujet et je pourrois l'estre aussi d'elybesis ha non non reprenoit il je ne suis pas assez lasche pour cela et il faut absolument que je trouve les moyens d'empescher que mon rival ne soit roy que ma maistresse ne soit reine ou que je meure desespere en suitte se mettant a resver profondement sur ce qu'il pouvoit faire il se souvint qu'il y avoit quelques endroits des murailles d'issedon ou elles estoient rompues et qu'il y avoit des bresches assez grandes pour en pouvoir sortir facilement et y faire mesme passer des chevaux de sorte que jugeant bien que dans le grand nombre de choses qu'aryante et octomasade avoient a faire ils ne songeoient pas encore a faire reparer ces bresches ny mesme a les faire garder il ne jugea pas son dessein impossible car comme il n'y avoit point d'armee a craindre ils avoient plus de besoin de penser a faire des levees et a s'assurer du dedans du la ville qu'a aprehender rien du dehors si bien qu'agathyrse crut que si elybesis vouloit il pourroit la faire sortir d'issedon par quelque une de ces breches avec l'aide de ses amis et par ce moyen se mettre en repos et n'estre pas sujet 
 de son rival et de sa maistresse mais afin de ne luy faire pas une proposition inutile il s'assura sans perdre temps d'autant de gens qu'il luy en eust falu pour escorter elybesis il envoya reconnoistre l'endroit par ou il jugeoit qu'il pourroit la faire sortir plus commodement et il fit si bien que selon les apparences il ne manquoit plus que le consentement d'elybesis pour luy donner un moyen infaillible de lavoir hors de la puissance d'aryante et de se voir luy mesme hors de son pouvoir de sorte qu'ayant mis la chose en cet estat il escrivit le soir a elybesis pour luy demander une audience particuliere qu'elle n'oza luy refuser veu la conjoncture ou elle se trouvoit car comme elle le connoissoit tres violent elle craignit qu'il n'entreprist quelque chose ou il perist ou qu'il ne fist perir aryante et bien que croyant qu'elle pourroit du moins l'obliger a avoir patience jusques a ce qu'elle eust veu ce qu'elle devoit resoudre elle se resolut d'aller le lendemain au matin faire une visite a la femme de celuy chez qui agathyrse estoit cache afin de le voir plus seurement que s'il eust este chez elle mais seigneur avant que de vous dire ce que ces deux personnes se dirent il faut que je vous fasse scavoir la cruelle separation d'adonacris et de noromate et que je vous apprenne que des que le tumulte commenca le pere de cette belle fille qui estoit tres fidelle serviteur de thomiris voyant quels estoient les desseins d'aryante ne voulut pas se trouver enferme 
 dans une ville rebelle si bien que des qu'il vit que le dessein de ce prince luy reussissoit et qu'il ne s'y pouvoit opposer il se servit du desordre qui estoit dans issedon pour en sortir et pour en faire sortir sa fille de sorte qu'avant qu'il y eust garde a toutes les portes et durant le plus fort du tumulte il fat monter noromate dans son chariot et il la fit sortir d'issedon sans qu'elle pust donner ordre a qui que ce fust de rien dire a adonacris vous pouvez donc juger seigneur quelle surprise fut la sienne lors qu'apres avoir suivi tout le jour le prince aryante et avoir essuye tout le peril de cette journee il aprit que noromate n'estoit plus a issedon neantmoins comme il jugea bien que son pere la meneroit chez luy il se consola d'une partie de sa douleur dans l'esperance d'en avoir des nouvelles en y envoyant expres et en effet il luy escrivit a l'heure mesme et fit partir un des siens pour aller vers sa chere noromate car veu l'estat ou il voyoit les choses l'honneur ne luy permettoit pas d'y aller luy mesme puis qu'il s'estoit trouve engage dans le party d'aryante mais pour en revenir a elybesis et a agathyrse il faut que vous scachiez seigneur que suivant ce que je vous ay dit elybesis fut chez cette dame dans la maison de qui elle devoit voir agathyrse et ou elle le vit en effet mais afin que cette entre-veue fust secrette elybesis ne mena qu'une fille avec elle et comme si le hazard eust voulu que cette conversation eust este plus libre 
 celle chez qui elle se faisoit s'estant trouve mal la nuit ne put voir elybesis qu'un moment et la laissa avec agathyrse sans autre compagnie que la fille qui la suivoit mais des que cet amant se vit en liberte de dire ce qu'il pensoit je ne scay madame dit il a elybesis si vous pourrez m'escouter sans me hair mais je scay bien que vous ne pourrez me refuser ce que je vous demanderay sans meriter que je cesse de vous aimer car enfin pour ne m'amuser pas a vous preparer l'esprit par un grand discours si vous refusez de sortir d'issedon et de vous oster de la puissance de mon rival j'auray lieu de croire que vous le preferez a moy et que vous luy voulez obeir sans resistance mais afin que vous ne vous arrestiez pas a faire difficulte sur difficulte je vous diray en deux mots que je scay une voye infallible de vous faire sortir d'issedon la nuit prochaine que j'ay des gens pour vous escorter qu'une dame de vos amies qui ne veut pas demeurer enfermee dans une ville rebelle en sortira aveque vous et que je vous conduiray toutes deux aupres de la reine sans demander autre chose de vous que la grace de ne vous exposer pas a la tyrannie d'un usurpateur qui succombera sans doute bien tost et qui vous accableroit sous le throsne ou il vous auroit fait monter si vous aviez l'injustice de m'abandonner pour luy je vous asseure reprit elybesis toute surprise que je voudrois de tout mon coeur estre hors d'issedon mais comme je ne le puis avec honneur il faut se 
 resoudre d'y demeurer car enfin avec quelle bien-seance en pourrois-je sortir ayant un pere et un frere dans le parti du prince aryante le ne scay pourtant adjousta t'elle finement pour l'appaiser si j'aurois assez de force pour vous refuser ce que vous souhaittez si j'estois assuree que ce dessein peust reussir mais imaginez vous s'il y a apparence qu'aryante ne sceust pas mon depart que le scachant il ne me fist point suivre et qu'envoyant des gens apres moy je ne fusse pas reprise et je ne scay mesme si je n'aurois point la douleur ou de vous voir tuer de mes propres yeux ou de vous voir du moins prisonnier c'est pourquoy il vaut beaucoup mieux ne bazarder pas une chose dont la fuite pourroit estre si funeste non non madame reprit brusquement agathyrse vous ne me tromperez pas et vous ne me persuaderez jamais que la bien seance veuille qu'une personne qui a autant de beaute que vous en avez demeure sous la puissance d'un usurpateur qui est amoureux d'elle lors qu'elle s'en peut tirer et pour porter la chose plus loin je dis madame que quand je ne serois point vostre amant que vous ne m'auriez pas promis comme vous avez fait une affection eternelle et que vous n'auriez nul autre engagement a sortir d'issedon que celuy de vostre propre gloire vous devriez desja en estre sortie si vous l'aviez pu et vous estre desrobee de tous vos parens s'ils avoient voulu s'oposer a vostre dessein si ce n'est que vous eussiez pris 
 la resolution d'obeir aveuglement au prince aryante mais je dis obeir en toutes choses et sans exception aucune car enfin madame vous scavez bien qu'il vous aime autant qu'il peut aimer et vous voulez apres cela demeurer sous sa puissance eh de grace madame adjousta-t'il dites moy un peu quelle seurete vous avez pour vostre personne estant sous je pouvoir d'un prince qui pour arracher la couronne a la reine sa soeur viole toutes sortes de droits estouffe dans son coeur tous les sentimens de la nature et de la justice et qui ne se soucie pas de mettre le feu dans deux royaumes et de faire des ruisseaux de sang et des montagnes de morts pour satisfaire son ambition jugez donc madame ce qu'il fera pour satisfaire son amour qui est une passion plus vive et plus piquante que l'autre cependant vous vous croyez en seurete sous la puissance d'un tel amant et vous n'aprehendez pas qu'il se porte a la derniere violence si vous luy resistez ha madame si vous ne l'aprehendez point c'est que vous ne luy voulez point resister car si la chose estoit autrement vous m'auriez desja pris au mot et vous fortinez d'issedon la nuit prochaine cependant j'ay a vous dire avant que vous preniez une resolution decisive qu'estre femme d'un usurpateur malheureux qui sera sans doute bien tost escrase sous les ruines du mesme throsne ou la fortune l'aura fait monter est une pitoyable chose et que selon toutes les apparences aryante sera 
 bien tost en cet estat mais il est vray adjousta t'il en levant les yeux au ciel avec fureur que s'il ne doit estre miserable qu'apres que vous l'aurez rendu heureux il mourra tousjours aveque gloire et que je mourray avec un desespoir qui n'eut jamais d'egal c'est pourquoy songez bien je vous en conjure a ce que vous me devez respondre et pensez bien serieusement a tout ce que peut vouloir un tyran amoureux qui est maistre de ce qu'il aime afin que vous ne veuilliez rien que de juste et rien qui me desespere au reste madame je vous jure par toutes les divinitez de la terre que si vous ne voulez ce que raisonnablement vous devez vouloir je voudray tout ce que l'amour la rage la jalousie la haine et la vangeance voudront que fasse un amant desespere ou pour perdre son rival ou pour se vanger de sa maistresse car je vous le dis encore une fois il ne sera jamais dit que je sois sujet d'aryante ny celuy d'elybesis vous me parlez avec tant de violence luy dit elle que je ne scay que vous respondre vous me respondez si froidement repliqua t'il que je devrois desja vous avoir entendue mais comme j'ay plus d'amour que de raison je veux bien ne croire pas ce que vos yeuz me disent ce que l'air de vostre visage me fait connoistre et ce que vos paroles me font entendre c'est pourquoy pour vous donner un moment de temps a vous repentir songez madame songez quelle est la passion que j'ay pour vous je suis violent il est vray mais 
 ce mesme feu qui fait ma colere quand on m'outrage est ce qui fait mon amour si ardente ainsi ne me reprochez pas mon impetuosite je vous en conjure si vous ne voulez l'augmenter et s'il est possible guerissez vostre esprit de la foiblesse dont il est capable lors qu'il se laisse esblouir par un esclat trompeur comme est celuy de la grandeur quand mesme c'est une grandeur legitime et non pas une grandeur usurpee comme celle d'aryante qui ne sera plus rien dans peu de jours pensez donc trop ambitieuse elybesis a ne rien faire contre vous en ne pensant agir que contre moy et ne desesperez pas un homme qui n'est plus maistre de ses sentimens des qu'on outrage son amour parlez donc madame puis qu'il faut que vous parliez poursuivit-il mais s'il est possible parlez comme vous devez parler je parleray sans doute comme je dois repliqua t'elle mais je ne pense pas que je parle comme vous le voulez car enfin je ne puis me resoudre de me laisser enlever ha madame interrompit agathyrse ce mot d'enlever ne convient point a ce que je vous propose puis que bien loin de vous faire une violence je veux que vous en esvitiez une mais c'est assurement que vous ne craignez pas que le prince aryante soit maistre d'issedon apres l'avoir rendu maistre de vostre coeur mais madame puis qu'il m'en a chasse vous ne trouerez pas mauvais que je fasse du moins tout ce que je pourray 
 pour le faire sortir du throsne qu'il occupe si je ne le puis faire sortir de vostre coeur c'est pourquoy vous me permettrez de m'en aller faire le devoir d'un fidelle sujet et d'un fidelle amant en me rangeant aupres de la reine cependant j'ay a vous advertir que des que vous entendrez dire qu'il y aura des troupes qui marcheront contre issedon je seray infailliblement a leur teste que des qu'on combatra je combatray et que lors que vous apprendrez qu'aryante aura este blesse ou qu'il aura este en danger de l'estre vous devrez estre assuree que j'auray fait ce que j'auray pu pour le tuer enfin madame croyez que si la guerre dure vous aprendrez infailliblement ou la mort de mon rival ou la mienne et que de plus je feray tout ce qui sera en ma puissance pour cesser de vous aimer et pour n'agir plus que par haine et par vangeance voila madame quels sont les sentimens que vous inspirez a un homme qui n'en auroit point d'autre que de vous adorer si vous n'eussiez point change pour luy vous estes si violent repliqua-t'elle que je ne scay que vous dire vous estes si deraisonnable respondit-il que le plus patient de tous les hommes s'emporteroit plus que je ne m'emporte car enfin madame que me dittes vous d'obligeant je vous dis respondit elle que je vous estime autant que je vous ay jamais estime mais cela n'empesche pas que je ne croye qu'il faut soumettre son esprit a sa fortune et agir tousjours 
 avec prudence quoy qu'on n'agisse pas tousjours selon son inclination c'est pour cela qu'encore que je fusse bien aise de sortir d'issedon il faut que j'y demeure puis que je ne le pourrois sans faire une faute et sans exposer peut-estre et mon pere et mon frere a estre mal traitez par le prince aryante qui les pourroit soupconner d'avoir sceu ma fuite vous estes bonne fille et bonne soeur madame reprit froidement agathyrse mais vous estes mauvaise amante eh de grace luy dit elle ne vous pleignez point avec injustice et resolvez vous d'attendre l'evenement des choses vous dittes poursuivit elybesis que le prince aryante sera bien tost escrase sous le throsne ou il vient de monter attendez donc sa chutte avec patience afin qu'apres cela vous me puissiez laisser vivre en repos et que vous y viviez aussi je vous entens bien madame reprit il avec precipitation vous voulez que je vous laisse en estat de choisir selon la conjoncture des choses ainsi c'est a dire que si le dessein d'aryante luy succede bien vous vous refondrez sans peine a estre la premiere de ses sujettes et a me regarder comme vostre sujet et que s'il luy succede mal vous me ferez peutestre l'honneur de souffrir que je sois encore vostre esclave mais madame le coeur d'agathyrse n'est pas assez lasche pour s'accommoder au temps d'une maniere si basse je vous ay aimee et vous ne m'avez pas hai demeurons dans ces sentimens la s'il vous plaist ou si vous 
 n'y pouvez demeurer souffrez que de mon coste je fasse aussi tout ce que je pourray pour n'y demeurer pas car enfin madame poursuivit il avec impetuosite je veux qu'hercule m'atterre avec sa massue que neptune m'enfonce dans les abismes de la mer avec son trident et que jupiter m'ecrase avec sa foudre si je suis jamais capable de souffrir que mon destin depende du bon ou du mauvais succes de la guerre ainsi madame choisissez des aujourd'huy ce que vous voulez choisir mais considerez je vous prie qu'aryante n'est qu'un usurpateur de vingt-quatre heures dont le throne n'est encore appuye que sur du fable mouvant et que je fais un fidelle sujet de la reine et le plus fidelle amant du monde de plus aryante ne vous aime que depuis peu de jours et je vous aime depuis plusieurs annees aryante ne vous aimera que jusques a ce qu'il vous possede et je vous aimeray si vous le voulez jusques a la mort mais pour m'y obliger madame il faut sortir d'issedon si les dieux dont vous defiez la puissance reprit elybesis n'avoient une extreme bonte et s'il ne connoissoient dans vostre ame que vous les croyez plus que vous ne le tesmoignez ils vous puniroient sans doute de toutes profanations et de toutes vos injustices mais apres tout pour respondre precisement a ce que vous voulez scavoir je vous diray positivement que je ne puis me resoudre a sortir d'issedon et puis que vostre violence authorise tout ce que je 
 pourrois vous dire de plus violent je vous diray encore que tout autre que vous qui auroit aime sans interest m'auroit dit qu'il ne m'auroit pas voulu empescher d'estre reine et auroit mieux aime estre mon sujet que mon mary car enfin ce n'est pas un grand exces d'amour que de vouloir posseder ce que l'on aime et de ne pouvoir souffrir qu'un rival le possede ce n'est pas estre fort amoureux reprit agathyrse avec estonnement que de vouloir posseder ce que l'on aime et de ne pouvoir souffrir qu'un rival le possede et ce seroit l'estredavantage que de vous conseiller d'estre reine ha madame je ne scay point aimer ainsi et je ne connois point l'amour ou quiconque peut se resoudre de perdre ce qu'il aime n'aime que tres imparfaitement mais enfin madame comme vous ne voulez pas faire ce que je veux je voy bien qu'il faudra que je fasse ce que vous ne voudrez pas apres cela elybesis sentent dans son coeur un reste d'amour qui combatoit son ambition dit alors a agathyrse tout ce qu'elle crut capable de l'apaiser de l'adoucir et de le tromper sans luy dire pourtant jamais qu'elle sottiroit d'issedon ni sans luy promettre precisement qu'elle n'espouseroit point aryante s'il devenoit roy de sorte que comme agathyrse a infiniment de l'esprit il connut les sentimens de son coeur comme si elle les luy eust dits ingenument et il vit si bien qu'elle ne vouloit en effet ni le perdre ni le conserver qu'il 
 s'emporta encore plus qu'il n'avoit fait de sorte qu'elybesis se mettant en colere a son tour le quitta brusquement ainsi ils se separerent tous deux tres mal satisfaits l'un de l'autre agathyrse m'a dit depuis qu'il fut tente de prier celuy chez qui il estoit loge de vouloir retenir elybesis chez luy afin de l'enlever la nuit suivante malgre qu'elle en eust mais outre que ce dessein eust este tout a fait imprudent parce que devant qu'il eust este nuit aryante eust pu descouvrir ou elle eust este retenue il scavoit de plus que son amy ni sa femme n'y eussent jamais consenty de sorte qu'il falut qu'il rejettast cette pensee comme une chose dont l'execution estoit impossible cependant apres avoir tente inutilement de persuader a elybesis de sortir d'issedon il songea a en sortir du moins luy mesme et il y songea d'autant plustost qu'il fut adverty que le prince aryante le faisoit chercher pour s'assurer de sa personne c'est pourquoy sans differer davantage il le deguisa et la nuit qui suivit le jour qu'il avoit parle a elybesis il sortit d'issedon par me des breches des murailles et en sortit si heureusement que s'il eust differe seulement d'un jour il n'eust pu sortir parce qu'octomasade les fit reparer des le lendemain mais en partant il escrivit a elybesis et luy escrivit d'une maniere si particuliere que je ne pense pas que depuis qu'on escrit des lettres d'amour il y en ait jamais eu une qui ait este du carractere de celle la aussi y en a-t'il eu mille copies apres la fin de la 
 guerre en mon particulier je pense en avoir donne cent et je l'ay escrite tant de fois que je puis vous la reciter sans y changer que fort peu de paroles voicy donc a peu pres ce que cet amant desespere escrivit a cette ambitieuse amante
 
 
 agathyrse a elybesis 
 
 
 je ne scaurois m'empescher de vous dire en partant que depuis que la fortune et l'amour se sont meslez de faire des malheureux il n'y en a jamais eu qu'ils ayent laissez dans une si cruelle incertitude que celle ou nous sommes vous et moy car enfin madame vous demeurez a issedon sans scavoir si vous ferez reine quoy que vous ayez une envie demesuree de l'estre et j'en parts sans pouvoir precisement prevoir si je pourra empescher mon rival d'estre roy et si je vous pourray bannir de mon coeur comme vous m'avez banny du vostre ce qu'il y a de constamment assure est que si je continue de vous aimer je vous aimeray malgre que j'en aye mais tousjours est il bien vray que quand je vous aimerois le reste de mes jours avec la mesme violence que je vous aimais lors qu'aryante arriva a issedon je ni vous le tesmoigneray de ma vie ainsi madame voicy la derniere marque d'amour que vous recevrez 
 de moy mais ce que je m'en vay faire pour le service de thomiris en levant des gens de guerre ne sera pas la derniere marque de haine que mon rival en recevra adieu madame je ne scay si la fortune vous donnera des sujets mais je scay bien que l'amour vous avoit donne un esclave assez fidelle pour meriter d'estre conserve et que les chaines qu'il portoit vous estoient peut estre plus glorieuses que la couronne que vous pretendez porter ne vous le fera 
 
 
 agathyrse 
 
 
quoy que cette lettre fust un peu fiere elybesis ne laissa pas d'en estre touchee neantmoins comme l'ambition estoit alors la plus forte dans son coeur elle n'y voulut pas respondre si bien qu'agathyrse scachant qu'elle avoit dit a celuy qui la luy avoit rendue qu'elle n'avoit rien a luy mander entra dans un nouveau desespoir qui servit a le faire passer pour un des plus fidelles sujets du monde car seigneur il fut aux tentes royales offrir a thomiris de faire des levees a ses despens et d'employer et son bien et sa vie pour son service de sorte que comme cette princesse eust eu peine a trouver un homme de plus de coeur et de plus d'esprit que luy elle resolut de le faire un des lieutenans generaux de l'armee qu'elle pretendoit mener contre issedon et quelle n'y mena pas parce qu'elle tomba malade du regret qu'elle avoit de vostre depart mais durant que thomiris songeoit a 
 empescher aryante de se faire roy aryante de son coste pensoit a conserver la couronne dont il s'estoit empire et a faire qu'elybesis pust bien tost estre reine durant dis-je qu'adonacris attendoit avec impatience le retour de celuy qu'il avoit envoye vers sa chere noromate cette belle et admirable personne se trouvoit en une conjoncture estrange car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que son pere qui s'appelle targitas et qui est un homme imperieux et violent apres estre arrive dans sa maison ne songea qu'a signaler sa fidellite pour thomiris si bien que comme cette maison est tres forte il y mit des gens de guerre pour la garder et se disposa a aller a l'arme des que la reine en auroit une sur pied mais seigneur comme au commencement de ces grands remuemens tout est ennemy et que chacun prend garde a soy celuy qu'adonacris avoit envoye vers noromate ne put agir si adroitement que le pere de cette belle fille ne descouvrist qu'il avoit quelque dessein cache de sorte que le faisant arrester on luy trouva la lettre qu'adonacris escrivoit a noromate qui a ce qu'il m'a dit depuis estoit fort longue fort tendre et fort touchante car comme il prevoyoit qu'il seroit long temps esloigne d'elle et qu'il ne scavoit pas s'il luy pouvroit escrire souvent il avoit voulu qu'elle eust entre les mains une lettre qui luy pust renouveller le souvenir de la grandeur de sa passion lors qu'elle la reliroit cependant cette lettre dont il attendoit un si favorable 
 succes luy en produisit un bien facheux en effet seigneur le pere de noromate ne l'eut pas plustost veue qu'il en eut une colere estrange car il connut bien par elle que sa fille ne haissoit pas celuy qui la luy escrivoit si bien que s'imaginant cette affection d'une autre nature qu'elle n'estoit il chercha a y apporter les remedes les plus violens pour la rompre car encore qu'il estimast fort adonacris il n'eust pas voulu qu'il eust espouse noromate quand il n'y auroit eu autre raison que celle qu'il estoit engage dans le parti d'aryante dont targitas ne pouvoit jamais estre de sorte que cet homme violent sans deliberer davantage prit la resolution de marier sa fille a un homme de qualite nomme sitalce qui en estoit amoureux il y avoit long temps et qui la luy avoit fait demander avant qu'il allast a issedon mais il l'avoit prie d'attendre sa response jusqu'a son retour ainsi se resolvant de faire que la premiere nouvelle qu'adonacris auroit de noromate seroit celle de son mariage il retint celuy qui avoit aporte la lettre qu'il avoit veue comme un homme qui alloit dans sa province pour negocier quelque chose contre le service de la reine et il rendit a sitalce la plus favorable responce qu'il eust pu attendre apres quoy il fut trouver noromate a sa chambre pour luy commander de se preparer a recevoir sitalce comme un homme qu'elle devoit espouser dans huit jours sans aucune ceremonie n'estant pas a propos luy disoit-il de faire des festes au commencement 
 d'une guerre civile vous pouvez juger seigneur que noromate fut bien surprise et bien affligee de ce commandement car comme elle est naturellement douce et modeste elle ne scavoit comment resister a targitas neantmoins comme sitalce qu'on luy proposoit d'espouser estoit un de ces braves de profession qui se trouvent tousjours des premiers a toutes les occasions dangereuses elle supplia son pere de vouloir considerer que la marier a sitalce au commencement d'une guerre aussi sanglante que le devoit estre elle qu'on alloit faire c'estoit l'exposer a porter peut-estre bien tost le deuil qu'ainsi elle le conjuroit de vouloir attendre qu'on vist s'il ne se seroit point d'accommodement entre thomiris et aryante mais comme targitas scavoit bien la veritable raison qui faisoit parler ainsi noromate il se fascha de ce qu'elle luy disoit et luy dit qu'il n'y avoit point a hesiter et qu'il failloit obeir et obeir tost et de bonne grace mais afin que vous vous y resolviez plus promptement luy dit-il emporte de colere j'ay a vous dire que quand vous n'espouseriez pas sitalce vous n'espouseriez jamais adonacris vous pouvez penser seigneur quel fut l'estonnement de noromate de voir que son pere scavoit quelque chose de ce qui s'estoit passe a issedon mais il redoubla encore lors qu'elle voulut se justifier ou s'excuser car il luy deffendit de parler luy disant qu'elle ne pouvoit se justifier d'avoir aime adonacris sans sa permission qu'en 
 aimant sitalce par son commandement noromate ne se rendit toutesfois pas encore mais il falut pourtant a la fin qu'elle se rendist et qu'elle souffrist que sitalce la visitast comme un homme qui la devoit espouser en effet il l'espousa huit jours apres malgre qu'elle en eust car enfin seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que targitas est un homme si absolu et qui porte sur le visage je ne scay quoy de si propre a se faire craindre que noromate fut excusable de n'avoir pu luy resister et elle le fut d'autant plus qu'elle ne luy obeit qu'avec une douleur extreme et une repugnance estrange ce qui la rendoit encore plus a plaindre estoit qu'elle avoit autant d'aversion naturelle pour sitalce qu'elle avoit d'inclination pour adonacris cependant un sentiment de vertu et de crainte fit qu'elle obeit a targitas mais pour achever de la desesperer le lendemain de ses nopces son pere fut la trouver en particulier dans sa chambre pour luy montrer la lettre qu'adonacris luy avoit escrite apres quoy prenant la parole je n'ay pas voulu luy dit il vous faire voir ce qu'adonacris vous escrivoit que je ne vous eusse mise en estat d'y respondre comme je l'entens mais aujourd'huy que vous estes femme de sitalce je ne pense pas que vous veuilliez estre maistresse d'adonacris c'est pourquoy afin que cette galanterie finisse tout d'un coup et n'ait aucune suitte fascheuse escrivez luy en ma presence mais escrivez luy comme je le veux et comme la vertu veut que vous 
 luy escriviez c'est a dire que vous estes femme de sitalce que vous ne voulez plus qu'il vous escrive et que vous luy deffendez de vous voir jamais en quelque lieu de la terre que vous soyez de vous dire seigneur quelle fut la douleur de noromate de voir la lettre d'adonacris et de comprendre quel seroit ton estonnement et son desespoir lors qu'il scauroit son mariage il ne seroit pas aise cependant comme son pere n'estoit pas un homme avec qui on peust deliberer long temps il falut resoudre si elle escriroit ou si elle n'escriroit pas si elle eust suivy son inclination elle ne luy eust pas escrit puis qu'elle ne luy pouvoit plus escrire que des choses fascheuses mais venant a considerer que puis qu'elle avoit espouse sitalce il faloit n'avoir plus nul commerce avec adonacris elle creut qu'il faloit achever de se vaincre et n'irriter pas son pere qui estant aussi violent qu'il estoit eust pu donner quelque connoissance de la chose dont il s'agissoit a celuy qu'elle avoit espouse ainsi seigneur quoy que la belle noromate eust l'ame toute remplie d'amour pour adonacris qu'elle eust les yeux pleins de larme le coeur palpitant et la main tremblante elle escrivit ce que targitas voulut il est vray que malgre l'agitation de son esprit elle ne laissa pas de choisir si bien les paroles dont elle se servit pour exprimer ce que son pere vouloit qu'elle dist qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'elle avoit beaucoup de douleur dans l'ame cependant des que 
 cette lettre fut escrite targitas delivra celuy qu'adonacris avoit envoye et la luy donnant sans qu'il peust voir noromate il le fit conduire par deux des siens jusques a une journee du lieu ou il estoit or durant que noromate souffroit des maux incroyables adonacris estoit dans une inquietude extreme de ce que celuy qu'il avoit envoye ne revenoit pas mais helas son retour l'affligea bien encore davantage lors qu'il sceut par luy comment il avoit este arreste et comment targitas avoit eu la lettre mais il le fut bien plus encore lors qu'il aprit que noromate avoit espouse sitalce et qu'il vint a lire la lettre qu'elle luy escrivoit comme je fus le confident de sa douleur je puis vous asseurer qu'il n'en a jamais este une plus grande que la sienne cependant comme il scavoit bien que noromate avoit aversion pour sitalce il ne pouvoit pas l'accuser d'inconstance et il ne pouvoit tout au plus l'accuser que de foiblesse encore estoit-ce d'une foiblesse que la vertu excusoit puis qu'elle ne l'avoit eue que pour obeir a son pere mais comme c'estoit un mal sans remede il s'en pleignoit quelquefois avec des paroles si touchantes qu'il m'en faisoit beaucoup de pitie helas me disoit il le jour mesme qu'il receut la lettre de noromate a quel estrange destin suis-je reserve si j'avois douze rivaux et douze rivaux qu'on me preferast je serois moins malheureux que je ne le suis quoy que noromate ne me haisse pas et qu'elle ait un mary qu'elle n'aime point car enfin 
 ce mal quoy que grand ne seroit pas sans remede mais de scavoir que noromate est femme d'un homme qu'elle hait et qu'elle a une vertu que rien ne scauroit esbranler est une chose qui ne me laisse rien a faire qu'a me pleindre et qu'a la pleindre elle mesme il faut pourtant bien reprenoit-il que l'affection qu'elle avoit pour moy ne fust pas bien forte puis qu'elle a obei si promptement et pleust aux dieux adjoustoit il que celle que j'ay dans l'ame ne fust pas plus violente cependant seigneur adonacris voulut que noromate sceust sa douleur c'est pourquoy il renvoya un des siens au lieu ou elle estoit des qu'il sceut que targitas et sitalce estoient allez vers thomiris trois jours apres son mariage et qu'ils l'avoient envoyee a une ville qui s'appelle typanis pour y estre tant que la guerre dureroit mais seigneur quoy que celuy qu'il envoya vers noromate luy parlast il n'en fut pas plus console car elle ne voulut point lire sa lettre et la luy renvoya toute fermee avec ce billet sans nom et sans subscription
 
 
 comme je ne suis plus ce que j'estois lors que je vous permettois de m'escrire n'escrivez plus a une personne a qui la bienseance ne permet pas seulement de voir vos lettres bien loin d'y respondre je n'ay point ouvert celle que je vous renvoye parce que je n'aime point a aprendre des maux que je ne suis ni ni ne dois soulager ainsi je vous conjure de tout mon coeur de ne m'escrire de vostre vie et de croire fortement 
 que je ne puis jamais rien faire de plus avantageux pour vous que de ne m'excuser point et de vous permettre de m'hair si vous ne pouvez cesser de m'aimer sans passer de l'amour a la haine apres cela ne m'en demandez pas davantage car je vous declare que je vous escris pour la derniere fois et que je ne vous aurois pas mesme escrit si ce n'avoit este pour vous prier de ne m'escrire jamais 
 
 
apres la lecture de cette lettre seigneur le malheureux adonacris n'eut plus rien a faire qu'a combatre sa douleur et a la souffrir sans y chercher de remede il fut pourtant encore accable d'une nouvelle inquietude car il faut que vous scachiez qu'apres que thomiris eut mis des troupes sur pied et qu'aryante en eut aussi a la premiere occasion qui se presenta agathyrse tua le frere d'une fille de tres grande qualite nommee argyrispe que je vous ay dit estre amie d'elybesis de sorte que cette personne estant par ce moyen devenue la plus riche fille d'issedon le pere d'adonacris et d'elybesis nomme tyssagette se mit dans la fantaisie que son fils l'espousast et l'en persecuta si terriblement qu'il ne luy laissa aucun repos il employa mesme le prince aryante et octomasade pour le faire resoudre d'y songer et pour la luy faire espouser car comme en ces temps tumultueux l'on n'observe nulle bienseance en toutes choses le deuil d'argyrispe n'estoit pas un obstacle a son mariage et pour argyrispe 
 elle n'avoit garde de refuser d'espouser un fort honneste homme qui estoit frere d'une fille qu'on croyoit qui devoit bien tost estre reine de sorte que la famille d'adonacris estant jointe pour le persecuter et pour luy dire qu'il n'aimoit pas la grandeur de sa maison il fut si accable de reproches qu'enfin il leur dit qu'ils fissent ce qu'ils voudroient ainsi ce mariage fut fait en quatre jours par l'authorite d'aryante mais a dire la verite il se fit principalement parce que je persuaday a adonacris qu'il falloit a quelque prix que ce fust qu'il taschast de guerir d'une passion sans esperance et parce qu'il espera que la beaute d'argyrispe pourroit peut-estre effacer peu a peu de son coeur celle de noromate ainsi quoy qu'adonacris aimast toujours noromate et qu'il n'aimast point argyrispe il ne laissoit pas de vivre civilement avec elle il est vray que par bonheur pour luy le prince aryante qui avoit fait la reveue de ses troupes partit d'issedon avec intention d'aller droit vers l'armee de thomiris qui s'avancoit avec le dessein de decider la chose par une bataille et par ce moyen adonacris se vit delivre de la contrainte qu'il auroit eue avec argyrispe de sorte que sitalce et adonacris se trouverent dans deux partis opposez car sitalce avoit suivy son beau pere qui estoit alle trouver thomiris trois jours apres le mariage de noromate et adonacris s'estoit trouve engage avec aryante si 
 bien qu'ils estoient de parti contraire aussi bien qu'aryante et agathyrse qui comme je l'ay desja dit fut lieutenant general dans l'armee de thomiris que le jeune spargapise commanda conseille par le sage terez a cause de l'indisposition de la reine mais a dire la verite comme spargapyse n'estoit qu'un enfant et qu'on n'employoit son nom que pour empescher les pretensions de plusieurs et que d'ailleurs agathyrse agissoit plus fortement que les autres parce que l'amour la haine et la vangeance le faisoient agir ce fut luy qui fut veritablement general de l'armee et qui fit le plus de choses durant cette guerre cependant le prince aryante avant que de partir d'issedon donna des gardes a elybesis de peur que durant son absence les amis d'agathyrse n'entreprissent quelque chose contre elle mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire qu'avant que de partir il fit ce qu'il put pour l'obliger a l'espouser car bien qu'il luy eust dit que son throsne estoit encore trop mal affermy pour l'y vouloir faire monter neantmoins son amour estant augmentee il l'en pressa autant qu'il put mais il l'en pressa inutilement car enfin elybesis ne le vouloit espouser que roy et que roy paisible dans ses estats estant certain que sujet pour sujet elle eust mieux aime agathyrse qu'aryante tout prince qu'il estoit ainsi trouvant divers pretextes qui n'irriterent point ce prince elle luy refusa ce qu'il souhaittoit et il fut contraint de partir sans 
 l'avoir espousee de sorte que par ce moyen agathyrse n'estoit pas si malheureux qu'adonacris car du moins il avoit un rival a combattre dont la mort luy pouvoit estre avantageuse mais pour adonacris quand sitalce eust este tue il ne s'en fust pas trouve plus heureux puis qu'argyrispe estoit sa femme de sorte que je ne pense pas qu'on puisse estre plus triste qu'il fut durant toute cette campagne je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous particulariser cette guerre bien exactement de peur d'abuser de vostre patience je vous diray toutesfois que lors que les deux armees furent en presence et qu'on vit tant de sujets d'une mesme princesse estre prests de s'entre-tuer les plus sages et les plus desinteressez des deux partis s'entremirent de parler de quelque accommodement et d'examiner la chose dont il s'agissoit par la douceur avant que de la decider par la force des armes
 
 
 
 
ainsi le sage terez et targitas firent si bien malgre octomasade et agathyrse qui vouloient tous deux la guerre le premier par ambition et l'autre par amour qu'ils mirent l'affaire en quelque sorte de negociation si bien que quelques jours apres il fut resolu qu'on conviendroit d'un lieu pour conferer et pour dire de part et d'autre les raisons qui pouvoient soustenir le droit de thomiris et celuy d'aryante afin d'aviser aux expediens qu'on pourroit trouver pour accommoder la chose et en effet le lieu de la conference estant resolu aryante nomma octomasade pour 
 y aller accompagne de six autres et agathyrse fit si bien qu'il se fit nommer chef de la deputation par thomiris afin d'avoir du moins la consolation d'agir contre aryante aussi bien durant la conference que durant la guerre et certes on peut dire qu'il s'en aquita dignement cas je ne pense pas qu'on puisse parler avec plus de force qu'agathyrse parla pour soustenir qu'encore que thomiris fust nee avant que son pere fust monte au throne elle devoit pourtant estre consideree comme fille aisnee du roy des issedons et non pas seulement comme fille de lypacaris et que par consequent puis que les loix du royaume portoient que l'aisne des enfans du roy devoit regner sans considerer la difference du sexe thomiris estoit reine legitime et aryante devoit estre declare usurpateur octomasade de son coste soustenoit aveque force que si les loix de l'estat disoient que c'estoit a l'aisne des enfans du roy a regner ce devoit estre au prince aryante puis qu'il estoit seul fils du roy des issedons et que thomiris n'estoit que fille d'un sujet quoy qu'elle fust sa soeur aisnee et par consequent incapable de regner puis que c'estoit a l'aine des enfans d'un roy a monter au throsne des issedons en effet disoit il pour soustenir le droit du prince aryante ce n'est nullement comme fils du prince lypacaris qu'aryante pretend a la couronne c'est comme fils de roy seulement car enfin il ne faut pas donner 
 une explication forcee a la loy qui luy donne le sceptre il faut l'entendre au pied de la lettre et croire que ceux qui l'ont faite ont eu des raisons pour authoriser certainement je trouve qu'il est equitable que les peuples qui ne scauroient jamais avoir trop de respect pour ceux a qui ils doivent obeir ne se souviennent point d'avoir veu que la personne qui leur doit commander ait este de mesme condition qu'eux c'est a dire incapable de regner et assujettie a la mesme obeissance qui les assujettit de sorte que pour esviter cet inconvenient il ne faut pas que ce soit thomiris qui regne puis que tous les peuples l'ont veue naistre dans une condition privee lors que son pere n'estoit pas roy et il faut au contraire que ce soit le prince aryante que ces mesmes peuples ont veu naistre sur le throsne mais me dira-t'on le prince lypacaris son pere avoit este sujet et n'avoit pas laisse de se faire roy il est vray adjousta-t'il que la chose est ainsi mais ce n'est pas de la mesme maniere car le prince lypacaris se fit roy par le droit des conquerans en s'assujettissant toutesfois aux loix de l'estat mais pour ses successeurs ils ne le peuvent estre que selon ces mesmes loix ainsi il faut estre fils ou fille de roy pour succeder legitimement et non pas fils ou fille d'un sujet de plus il y a encore une raison qui donne lieu d'expliquer la loy de cette sorte car enfin je ne doute point 
 que les grandes charges n'eslevent le coeur de ceux qui les possedent je ne doute point dis-je que le throsne ne donne un nouveau carractere de grandeur a ceux qui y sont montez et que ceux qui naissent d'un roy n'ayent les inclinations plus royales et plus dignes du sceptre que ceux qui sont nez dans une autre condition joint qu'a parler raisonnablement le premier jour de la vie d'un homme qui se fait roy est le premier qu'il monte au throsne de sorte que tout ce qui a precede semble n'estre plus a luy et ce n'est assurement que depuis qu'il est pere de ses sujets qu'il peut estre dit pere de ses enfans ainsi je conclus que la loy qui dit que c'est au premier ne du roy des issedons a regner devroit estre expliquee comme je l'explique quand mesme lypacaris auroit eu un fils aisne d'aryante au lieu de thomiris a plus forte raison donc le doit elle estre ainsi puis qu'il semble plus avantageux aux peuples d'avoir un roy que d'avoir une reine d'autre part toutes choses sont favorables pour le parti que je soustiens car enfin thomiris en cedant la couronne des issedons au prince aryante demeure encore reine des massagettes ou au contraire il se trouve que le fils du roy des issedons qui seul doit regner sur eux n'a point de royaume il se trouve mesme que les issedons n'ont ny roy ny reine puis qu'il est vray que depuis le mariage de thomiris elle n'a point retourne a issedon et qu'elle a assez fait connoistre que la 
 nature ne luy avoit pas mis dans le coeur cette amour tendre que les rois doivent avoir pour leurs peuples puis qu'elle ne les a pas honnorez de sa presence et l'on peut plustost dire qu'elle les a traitez en peuples qu'elle auroit assujettis par usurpation que comme des sujets qu'un droit legitime et successif luy auroit acquis puis qu'elle s'est contentee de leur envoyer des lieutenans pour les gouverner sans y venir elle mesme mais sans employer des raisons ou la seule authorite de la loy suffit je soustiens que puis que c'est a l'aisne des enfans du roy des issedons a regner ce doit estre au prince aryante et je soutiens encore qu'il seroit plus glorieux a thomiris d'estre femme mere et soeur de roy que d'avoir une couronne de plus et d'avoir un frere sujet du prince son fils de sorte que je conclus que si elle veut faire cesser la guerre il faut qu'elle restitue la couronne des issedons a celuy a qui elle appartient legitiment et qu'elle se contente qu'il soit son frere par la nature et son allie par l'interest de sa couronne sans qu'il soit son sujet apres cela seigneur l'eloquence d'octomasade poussa encore la chose beaucoup plus loin car il s'estendit sur les louanges du prince aryante et dit enfin qu'il falloit s'attacher indispensablement a la loy qui vouloit que ce fust l'aisne des enfans du roy des issedons qui regnast je consens volontiers luy repliqua agathyrse apres qu'il eut cesse de parler qu'on 
 s'atache ponctuellement a la loy qui veut que ce soit l'aisne des enfans du roy des issedons qui regne puis ce n'est que par elle que je pretens que thomiris regne legitimement et qu'aryante ne peut estre regarde que comme un usurpateur en effet pour prouver que thomiris est veritablement la fille aisnee du roy des issedons quoy qu'elle soit nee du temps qu'il n'estoit que le prince lypacaris je n'ay qu'a dire que lypacaris et le roy des issedons n'estant qu'une mesme personne thomiris ne peut pas estre fille de l'un sans estre fille de l'autre et si vous me dittes qu'elle n'est pas fille du roy des issedons je vous diray qu'aryante est fils de lypacaris sans que vous me le puissiez contester car enfin lypacaris en montant au throsne ne cessa pas d'estre le mesme qu'il estoit pour toutes les choses qui regardoient directement sa personne il fut encore brave et genereux il fut mary de sa femme pere de sa fille parent de ses parens et le mesme enfin qu'il estoit avant que d'estre roy car apres tout l'elevation de la fortune ne renverse point l'ordre de la nature ni ne la destruit pas elle ne rompt point les liens de la proximite et toute sa puissance ne scauroit faire que ce qui est n'ait jamais este ainsi puis que lypacaris avoit une fille avant que d'estre roy elle a encore este sa fille apres qu'il a este sur le throsne pour moy j'avoue que je voudrois bien scavoir si elle n'est pas fille du roy des issedons de qui elle le peut estre 
 car enfin des que le roy son pere monta au throsne il n'y eut plus de prince lypacaris et il fut tellement confondu avec le roy des issedons que personne ne s'est jamais avise de les separer de sorte que puis que lypacaris est le roy des issedons que le roy des issedons est lypacaris et qu'ils n'ont este qu'une mesme chose il s'enfuit de necessite absolue que thomiris est la fille aisnee du roy et que c'est a elle a qui la loy donne la couronne que le prince aryante est son sujet et qu'il prend les armes avec beaucoup d'injustice pour donner une explication aux loix de l'estat qu'elles ne sont pas capables de recevoir car de dire que les peuples devant avoir beaucoup de respect pour ceux qui doivent estre leurs maistres il faut que ce soit aryante qui regne au prejudice de thomiris parce qu'ils l'ont veue sujette comme eux a l'age de deux ans c'est selon moy la plus estrange de deux ans c'est selon moy la plus estrange chose du monde en effet puis que ces mesmes peuples apres avoir veu durant trente ans lypacaris sujet comme eux n'ont pas laisse de croire qu'ils estoient obligez de luy obeir puis que les dieux l'avoient fait monter au throne a plus forte raison doivent ils penser qu'ils doivent obeir a la fille de leur roy a qui la loy donne plus de droit a la couronne des issedons que la force n'en donnoit alors a lypacaris de plus il n'est pas encore plus raisonnable d'aporter pour raison que thomiris possede 
 plus d'une couronne puis que quand elle en auroit cent cela n'empescheroit pas que celle des issedons ne luy appartinst et qu'elle ne la deust conserver les particuliers peuvent sans doute quelquesfois ceder quelque chose de la succession de leurs peres quand ils le veulent mais les rois ne doivent jamais ceder des royaumes et quoy qu'on die il est plus glorieux a thomiris d'estre fille de roy que de n'estre que soeur de roy ainsi elle doit disputer opiniastrement le droit qu'elle a la couronne des issedons qu'elle a portee avec tant de gloire que sa presence n'a pas mesme este necessaire pour faire obeir ses peuples tant elle les a gouvernez sagement mais sans considerer s'il est plus advantageux aux peuples d'avoir un roy qu'une reine je dis ce que j'ay desja dit une fois que puis que lypacaris et le roy des issedons n'ont este qu'une mesme personne et que thomiris est soeur aisnee d'aryante elle est veritablement fille de roy et doit continuer de regner comme elle a commence puis que les loix de l'estat le veulent et que du consentement de tous les peuples elle est montee au throsne qu'elle occupe en effet a parler raisonnablement quelle division chimerique peut on faire entre lypacaris et le roy des issedons car n'est-il pas vray que ce sont les vertus de lypacaris qui l'ont fait roy et qu'il a plus fait de grandes choses pour monter au throsne qu'il n'en a fait apres y estre monte ainsi on peut 
 dire ce me semble qu'il y auroit beaucoup d'injustice a vouloir mettre une si grande difference entre ce qu'il estoit lors qu'il meritoit d'estre roy et ce qu'il a este apres l'estre devenu joint que selon moy quiconque est assez heureux pour se pouvoir faire roy peut estre regarde comme tel lors qu'il n'est plus depuis son berceau jusques a sa mort car enfin comme on dit que ce sont les dieux qui donnent les couronnes a qui bon leur semble on peut dire aussi que des qu'un homme qui doit estre roy a commence de naistre ils l'ont tousjours considere comme roy parce qu'ils scavoient qu'ils avoient resolu qu'il le fust ainsi encore que les hommes n'ayent pas sceu que lypacaris devoit l'estre jusques a ce qu'il l'eust este cela n'empesche pas qu'on ne puisse assurer qu'il l'a tousjours este puis qu'outre que des sa naissance il a eu toutes les grandes qualitez qui le devoient faire regner il estoit mis au nombre des rois par cette fatalite qui ne se trompe jamais par cette puissance dis-je qui dispose souverainement des monarchies et des empires et qui de l'heure que je parie scait avec certitude qui de thomiris ou d'aryante regnera lypacaris ayant donc este mis par les dieux au rang des rois des qu'ils l'eurent mis au rang des hommes quand on concederoit que thomiris ne seroit fille que de lypacaris il s'ensuivroit de necessite qu'elle seroit tousjours fille du roy des issedons puis qu'il a este marque comme tel par ceux qui ont droit de donner 
 a tous les hommes tel carractere qu'il leur plaist mais sans chercher des subtilitez pour soustenir l'equite d'une cause que rien ne scauroit affoiblir je diray seulement en deux mots que la loy dit que le royaume appartient a l'aisne des enfans du roy sans considerer la difference du sexe que thomiris a cinq ans plus que le prince aryante que des que lypacaris a cesse d'estre sujet et commence d'estre roy thomiris a aussi cesse d'estre fille d'un sujet et a commence d'estre fille de roy et qu'a moins que de dire que son pere ne fut jamais roy des issedons on ne peut pas luy oster la qualite de fille de roy puis qu'elle n'a pu changer de pere lors qu'il a change de fortune de sorte que s'stant eslevee aveque luy elle a este ce qu'il est devenu et est par cette raison reine legitime selon les loix de l'estat et par consequent je ne voy pas que le prince aryante puisse pretendre autre chose que l'oubly de son crime et que d'estre le premier des sujets de cette grande reine il vous est ce me semble aise de juger seigneur qu'une conference qui se faisoit par des gens qui ne vouloient pas la paix ne servit pas a la faire et qu'au contraire elle aigrit encore davantage les esprits car comme agathyrse haissoit aryante il dit beaucoup de choses qui l'offencerent et comme octomasade ne craignoit rien davantage que de se revoir sous l'authorite d'une reine qu'il avoit outragee il s'emporta aussi a dire beaucoup de choses fascheuses 
 fur la passion qu'elle tesmoignoit avoit dans l'ame afin d'empescher que la guerre ne finist aussi apres avoir este trois jours de part et d'autre a dire tout ce qui pouvoit faire obstacle a la paix plus tost que ce qui la pouvoit avancer la conference cessa et la guerre commenca tout de bon mais seigneur ce qu'il y eut de remarquable pendant qu'octomasade et agathyrse conferoient ensemble fut qu'adonacris ayant accompagne octomasade et sitalce suivy agathyrse le malheureux adonacris eut la douleur de voir le possesseur de sa chere noromate qu'il ne connoissoit point encore car sitalce estoit un de ces grands seigneurs de province qui sont contents de leur condition qui vont a la guerre quand il y en a et qui ne vont a la cour qu'en passant de sorte que le hazard n'avoit pas fait qu'adonacris l'eust veu et ce qui l'embarrassa davantage fut que comme sitalce ne scavoit pas qu'il eust eu nulle intelligence avec sa femme qu'il en eust este amoureux ni qu'il le fust encore il s'adressoit tousjours a luy pour luy proposer quelque expedient qu'il imaginoit si bien que comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'il peust voir le possesseur de sa chere noromate sans en avoir une douleur extreme il souffrit un mal incroyable et ce mal fut d'autant plus fascheux que son amour en augmenta car comme sitalce n'estoit pas de ceux qui croyent qu'on ne peut jamais parler a propos de sa femme et qu'il y avoit si peu qu'il estoit marie 
 qu'il pouvoit encore aussi tost passer pour estre l'amant de la sienne que le mary il arriva un jour pendant que les deputez conferoient que ceux des deux partis qui les accompagnoient parlant ensemble un amy de sitalce luy dit en presence d'adonacris qu'il avoit plus d'interest qu'un autre a persuader a agathyrse d'accommoder les choses et de faire finir la guerre car enfin luy dit il c'est une assez cruelle avanture a un homme qui a este des annees entieres amoureux d'une des plus belles personnes du monde de s'en separer trois jours apres l'avoir espousee il est vray reprit sitalce que cette avanture est fascheuse et que je suis contraint d'avouer que je souhaitte autant la fin de la guerre pour revoir noromate que pour voir la tranquillite dans l'estat pendant que sitalce parloit ainsi adonacris ne disoit mot et soupiroit en secret mais comme cet amy de sitalce estoit un de ces hommes qui sont eternellement des questions a ceux a qui ils parlent et que sitalce quoy qu'il eust de l'esprit ne l'avoit pourtant pas assez delicat pour scavoir qu'il y a beaucoup de choses ou il ne faut pas respondre precisement a ceux qui les demandent il se fit une conversation entre eux qui pensa faire desesperer adonacris car enfin ce curieux amy de sitalce l'obligea non seulement a luy raconter sa passion pour noromate et tout ce qui luy estoit arrive avant que de l'avoir espousee mais encore toute la joye de son mariage que sitalce exagera avec 
 des paroles qui mirent une si sensible douleur dans l'ame d'adonacris qu'il pensa perdre patience et dire des choses qui l'eussent fait connoistre pour amant de noromate s'il ne s'en fust empesche cependant il ne pouvoit se retirer du lieu ou il estoit parce que par un sentiment d'amour il vouloit entendre tout ce qu'on diroit de noromate il est vray qu'il trouva a la fin quelque consolation a ce que dit sitalce car comme son amy luy demanda apres cent choses qui ne sont pas dignes de vous estre racontees si noromate n'avoit pas eu autant de douleur de le voir partir qu'il avoit eu de joye a la posseder et si elle n'avoit pas bien fait des cris et bien repandu des larmes sitalce luy respondit qu'il paroissoit bien qu'il ne connoissoit guere noromate puis qu'il croyoit qu'elle put estre capable de n'estre pas maistresse d'elle mesme en toutes choses car enfin dit il elle l'est tellement que je puis vous assurer que je l'ay espousee sans voir nulle marque de joye dans ses yeux et que je m'en suis separe sans voir aussi une excessive douleur sur son visage et je suis si fort persuade que noromate ne montre de ses sentimens que ce qu'elle veut qu'on en scache que je croy qu'elle pourroit aimer et hair avec exces si elle le vouloit sans qu'on s'en aperceust ainsi comme sa modestie luy a fait croire qu'il ne falloir point qu'il parust de joye dans ses yeux en l'espousant je n'y en ay point veu et comme cette mesme vertu luy a fait penser qu'il ne faloit 
 pas aussi s'affliger avec exces de l'eloignement d'un homme avec qui elle n'avoit encore vescu que trois jours elle m'a si bien cache ses sentimens que je puis dire que je ne l'ay veue ny guaye ny triste et que je ne l'ay veue que modeste et serieuse a peine sitalce eut il dit cela que la conversation changeant d'objet adonacris se retira pour jouir de la consolation qu'il trouvoit a penser que sitalce n'avoit veu aucune joye dans les yeux de noromate depuis qu'il l'avoit espousee et il trouvoit cette pensee d'autant plus douce que se souvenant de tant d'heureux jours qu'il avoit passez aupres d'elle il se souvenoit parfaitement qu'il avoit veu cent et cent fois la joye peinte dans les yeux de cette belle personne lors qu'il luy donnoit quelques marques d'amour et qu'il l'y avoit veue telle qu'on la voit lors qu'elle part d'un coeur amoureux pour paroistre dans les yeux de la personne qui aime et pour passer apres dans le coeur de la personne aimee par une simple communication de regards sans que les paroles s'en meslent de sorte que ne doutant nullement que neromate ne fust capable de joye et scachant mesme par fou experience que quand elle en avoit elle n'en estoit pas tousjours la maistresse puis qu'elle avoit plus d'une fois inutilement voulu luy cacher celle qu'elle sentoit en le voyant il creut pour sa satisfaction qu'elle n'en avoit point eu en espousant sitalce et qu'elle l'aimoit peut-estre encore on du moins qu'elle 
 le regrettoit si bien que son amour en augmentant il vint a avoir un tel despit d'estre marie qu'il avoit presques autant de peine a s'empescher de hair argyrispe qu'a s'empescher d'aimer trop noromate car enfin disoit il en luy mesme comme la passion que j'ay eue pour noromate n'a pas este une passion brutale qui n'ait eu son fondement que dans les sens si j'estois assure que noromate m'aimast comme je l'aime toute femme de sitalce qu'elle est et tout absent que j'en suis j'aurois encore de doux momens et d'agreables pensees mais helas le moyen que noromate croye que je l'aime encore adjoustoit il apres avoir espouse argyrispe elle qui ne scait pas de quelle maniere on m'y a contraint et qui ne scait pas non plus que la passion que j'ay pour elle est cause que je m'y suis resolu afin de tascher de m'en guerir ainsi il peut estre qu'elle est bien aise que le dessein que j'avois de l'espouser n'ait pas reussi puis que je devois estre capable de changer si tost de sentimens pour elle mais helas noromate vous estes bien abusee si vous croyez que la chose soit ainsi car enfin je n'aime point argyrispe et je vous aime tousjours mais que fais-je disoit il et que veux-je de noromate sitalce la possede elle est vertueuse et je ne la verray peutestre jamais gueris toy donc adonacris adjoustoit il d'une passion qui ne peut que te tourmenter et n'ayes pas la folie de desirer eternellement des choses impossibles et d'aimer sans 
 esperance adonacris eut pourtant beau consulter sa raison pour affoiblir son amour car je vous assure seigneur qu'il l'augmenta en luy resistant et qu'il ne la combatit que pour en estre vaincu cependant la conference ayant cesse comme je l'ay desja dit octomasade et agathyrse se separerent bien aises de n'avoir rien fait mais comme adonacris passa aupres d'agathyrse ce dernier s'aprocha de l'autre et prenant la parole avec ce ton de voix audacieux qu'il a quand il veut railler d'une maniere piquante de grace adonacris luy dit il faites moy la faveur de dire a la belle elybesis qu'il n'a pas moins tenu a octomasade qu'a moy que la paix n'ait este conclue et que si j'ay empesche aryante d'estre roy c'a este par une passion moins interessee que celle qui fait qu'octomasade veut empescher thomiris d'estre reine puis qu'il le fait par ambition et que je l'ay fait par vangeance comme il pourra estre que vous serez sujet du prince aryante malgre vous reprit adonacris je vous rendray office de ne dire pas a ma soeur une chose qui la pourroit offencer et je m'en rendray a moy mesme ha pour sujet d'aryante repliqua brusquement agathyrse en s'en allant si je le suis jamais soyez assure que je seray sujet rebelle apres cela adonacris respondit quelque chose d'assez fier mais agathyrse ne l'entendit pas joint qu'a dire la verite il condamnoit tellement le procede d'elybesis avec agathyrse qu'il retenoit la moitie de son ressentiment 
 par la pensee qu'en effet elle avoit tort cependant comme en l'estat ou estoient alors les choses une bataille eust decide l'affaire et eust entierement detruit le party de celuy qui l'auroit perdue ils songerent de chaque coste a le mesnager et a ne la donner pas qu'ils n'eussent lieu d'esperer de la gagner mais comme ces deux armees avoient des officiers qui scavoient admirablement la guerre qu'aryante d'un coste et agathyrse de l'autre songeoient a tout et negligeoient rien il ne leur estoit pas aise de s'entre surprendre de plus comme thomiris esperoit tousjours guerir de ce mal languissant que la douleur de vostre depart inopine luy avoit cause elle ne vouloit pas qu'on hazardast son armee joint qu'a dire les choses comme je les pense je suis persuade qu'elle songeoit plus a conserver ses troupes pour un autre dessein que pour punir aryante quelle croyoit tousjours pouvoir ranger dans son devoir quand elle en auroit envie de sorte que spargapise et agathyrse ayant divers ordres de thomiris qui leur deffendoient de rien entreprendre legerement ils estoient contraints de hazarder moins qu'ils n'eussent fait ainsi toute cette campagne se passa en diverses rencontres et en plusieurs combats sans donner de bataille decisive d'ailleurs comme l'armee n'estoit pas fort loin d'issedon aryante se deroboit quelquesfois un jour pour aller voir elybesis dont l'ame n'estoit pas tranquille car enfin elle aimoit agathyrse malgre 
 qu'elle en eust mais comme l'ambition estoit encore plus forte dans son ame que l'amour elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a mal-traitter aryante dans l'esperance qu'elle avoit qu'il la pourroit faire reine aussi le recevoit elle avec toute la douceur possible quand il l'alloit voir elle ne laissoit pourtant pas de s'informer adroitement d'agathyrse et de dire mesme quelquesfois a un de ses amis particuliers qui estoit demeure a issedon beaucoup de choses obligeantes pour luy dans la pensee de le ramener un jour a elle s'il arrivoit qu'aryante ne fust pas roy d'autre part argyrispe qui aimoit plus adonacris qu'elle n'en estoit aimee et qui estoit d'un temperamment a se faire des malheurs de toutes choses estoit en une inquietude continuelle qu'il ne mourust ou que du moins il ne fust blesse car comme elle n'avoit point sceu qu'il eust aime noromate avant son mariage et qu'il vivoit fort civilement avec elle elle n'avoit point de jalousie quoy qu'elle fust d'un temperamment fort jaloux aussi bien que sitalce pour noromate elle menoit une vie fort melancolique elle trouvoit pourtant quelque consolation de n'avoir point son mary aupres d'elle et de pouvoir estre triste sans se contraindre a ne la paroistre car enfin il y avoit dans son ame une tendresse pour adonacris que toute sa vertu ne pouvoit surmonter elle avoit pourtant eu un despit bien sensible de scavoir qu'il s'estoit marie ce n'est pas qu'elle ne 
 comprist bien que ce despit estoit mal fonde que dans le dessein qu'elle avoit forme de ne voir jamais adonacris il ne luy importoit nullement s'il estoit marie ou s'il ne l'estoit pas mais apres tout comme l'amour est une passion qui n'est pas assujettie a la raison noromate toute raisonnable qu'elle estoit murmuroit en secret de ce qu'adonacris s'estoit marie aussi bien qu'elle mais elle en murmuroit sans le hair et en s'accusant d'injustice de ce qu'elle l'accusoit pour sitalce il n'avoit point d'autre douleur que celle d'estre esloigne de ce qu'il aimoit il est vray qu'il avoit cette douleur non seulement par un sentiment d'amour mais encore par un sentiment jaloux qui faisoit qu'il ne pouvoit jamais estre absent d'une personne dont il estoit amoureux sans avoir une inquietude qu'on pouvoit nommer jalousie quoy qu'elle n'eust pas d'objet determine mais pour agathyrse il estoit plus malheureux que tous les autres car il avoit de l'amour de la haine de la jalousie et un si effroyable desir de vangeance qu'il n'avoit pas un moment de repos et ce qu'il y avoit de plus estrange estoit qu'agathyrse faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour cacher l'amour qu'il avoit tousjours dans le coeur pour elybesis et pour persuader a ceux a qui il en parloit qu'il n'avoit plus que de la haine pour son rival et du mespris pour sa maistresse mais a la fin je luy fis pourtant advouer qu'il l'aimoit encore et je le luy fis advouer d'une maniere assez particuliere 
 imaginez vous donc seigneur que luy ayant dit un jour que je le croyois tousjours amoureux d'elybesis il m'interrompit fierement comme si je luy eusse dit la chose du monde la plus outrageante quoy anabaris me dit-il vous pouvez croire que je suis encore amoureux d'elybesis apres qu'elle m'a prefere aryante comme vous scavez bien luy dis-je que ce n'est pas la personne d'aryante qu'elle vous prefere et que ce n'est que l'esclat de la couronne qu'il luy promet qui l'esblouit vous n'en estes pas si irrite et vous la regardez plustost comme foible que comme inconstante je la regarde repliqua-t'il brusquement comme inconstante comme foible et comme infidelle tout ensemble et je la regarder enfin comme une personne que je suis au desespoir d'avoir aimee que je ne veux plus aimer ou pour mieux dire que je n'aime plus du tout si vous haissiez un peu moins vostre rival repliquay je je croirois que vous aimeriez moins vostre maistresse mais tant que je vous verray avec des sentimens de haine si vifs et des desirs de vangeance si opiniastres je croiray tousjours ou que vous desguisez vos sentimens lors que vous dittes que vous n'aimez plus elybesis ou que vous ne les connoissez pas vous mesme car enfin des que l'amour cesse la jalousie cesse aussi et la haine qu'elle a fait naistre diminue du moins si elle ne meurt pas tout a fait tant qu'on dispute contre moy reprit agathyrse il ne faut point m'alleguer de regles generales 
 car le vous declare que je suis presques l'exception de toutes estant certain que je ne me regle sur rien que sur moy mesme principalement en amour ainsi sans m'informer si la jalousie cesse dans le coeur des autres lors que l'amour cesse et si la haine diminue je scay seulement qu'encore que je n'aime plus elybesis je ne laisse pas de hair horriblement aryante de souhaiter ardemment sa perte et de me pouvoir voir en estat d'aller demander a elybesis s'il luy aura este plus avantageux d'estre accablee sous les ruines d'un throsne abatu que d'estre demeure au pied de ce throsne en repos et en joye et pour comble de bonheur je voudrois que malgre toute son ambition il fust demeure dans le fonds de son coeur quelque petite estincelle de ce feu que ma bonne fortune y avoit mis autrefois et qu'il se r'allumast plus vif que jamais afin d'avoir le plaisir de me vanger de sa foiblesse et de son inconstance en luy advouant ingenument que je ne l'aimerois plus le temps vous aprendra luy dis-je qui de nous deux a raison et si je vous connois mieux que vous ne vous connoissez apres cela je ne dis plus rien a agathyrse parce que je pris la resolution de le detromper et de luy faire voir qu'il aimoit encore elybesis quoy qu'il ne la pensast plus aimer et en effet quatre jours apres cette dispute comme j'estois un soir a sa tente je me fis aporter une lettre par un de mes gens que je m'estois escrite moy mesme en contrefaisant mon escriture 
 que je receus en sa presence et que je fus lire en un coin de sa tente apres luy en avoir demande la permission de sorte que comme il scavoit que j'avois trouve moyen d'avoir des nouvelles d'issedon il me demanda si c'en estoit si bien que comme j'estois alors seul aveque luy je luy dis que cette lettre venoit effectivement d'issedon et j'adjoustay avec un visage assez serieux que je souhaitois pour son repos que ce qu'il m'avoit dit il y avoit quatre jours fust vray a peine eus-je dit cela qu'agathyrse s'aprocha de moy avec empressement et me demanda ce qui me faisoit parler ainsi avant que de vous respondre luy dis-je il faut que vous me disiez si vous estes bien assure de n'aimer plus elybesis car si vous ne l'aimez plus vous pouvez lire la lettre que je tiens mais si vous l'aimez encore ne la lisez pas si vous ne voulez vous exposer a mourir d'affliction s'il ne faut que vous donner cette assurance reprit-il fort brusquement en changeant de couleur donnez moy promptement cette lettre et en effet en disant cela agathyrse me l'arracha des mains et se mit a y lire a peu pres ces paroles si ma memoire ne me trompe
 
 
 nous ne scavons pas encore icy si la fortune voudra qu'aryante soit roy mais tousjours y a-t'il grande apparence que les dieux ne veulent pas qu'elybesis soit reine car elle est malade a l'extremite et te ne scay mesme si a l'heure que je parle la mort n'a point casse l'ambition de fin coeur quelques uns disent 
 que la douleur de voir tant d'incertitude a la fortune du prince qu'elle a prefere a agathyrse est la cause de sa maladie et de sa mort mais pour moy je croy que son esprit n'a point de part aux maux de son corps et je puis enfin vous assurer que peu de gens scavent si elle regrete le throsne ou agathyrse quoy qu'il en soit vous en aurez des nouvelles a la premiere occasion 
 
 
tant qu'agathyrse leut cette lettre ou il y avoit encore beaucoup d'autres choses afin de le mieux tromper je l'observay soigneusement de sorte que je remarquay qu'il changea vingt fois de couleur en la lisant neantmoins comme il a une ame fiere et superbe quoy qu'il sentist une douleur estrange dans son coeur il me rendit cette lettre sans me la tesmoigner et me dit seulement qu'il commencoit d'estre vange apres quoy il se teut et se mit a se promener mais a peine eut-il fait un tour dans sa tente qu'oubliant que j'estois la il se mit a lever les yeux au ciel avec fureur a battre la terre du pied a marcher tantost viste et tantost lentement et a donner toutes les marques qu'un homme d'un temperament ardent et violent peut donner lors qu'il a quelque chose dans l'ame qui l'inquiete mais comme je voulois jouir de tout le plaisir que j'avois attendu de ma fourbe et que je voulois qu'il sceust que je m'apercevois de son desespoir je luy dis que j'estois bien marry qu'il se fust trompe se de luy avoir monstre une lettre qui luy donnoit tant de douleur a peine eusie 
 je dit cela qu'agathyrse de qui l'esprit fier et opiniastre ne se vouloit pas encore rendre s'arresta et me dit que je connoissois mal ses sentimens si je croyois que sa douleur vinst de la tendresse qu'il avoit pour elybesis et puis qu'il vous la faut expliquer dit-il scachez que la rage que j'ay vient de ce que ce n'est pas plustost aryante qu'elybesis qui soit prest d'entrer au tombeau je le croy repliquay - je froidement mais comme aryante pourra mourir durant cette guerre je ne voy pas comment vous vous affligez si fort aujourd'huy de ce qu'il n'est point mort car il ne l'estoit pas hier et vous n'estiez pas si afflige que vous estes ainsi je conclus que c'est le mal d'elybesis qui vous afflige et je le conclus ce me semble aveque raison ouy cruel amy me dit-il alors avec autant de colere que de tristesse c'est le mal d'elybesis qui m'afflige puis que vous voulez opiniastrement penetrer jusques dans le fonds de mon coeur et que je ne le scaurois plus cacher ouy encore une fois c'est le mal d'elybesis qui me desespere et sa mort me fera mourir si elle arrive car enfin puis qu'il le faut advouer toute foible toute inconstance et toute infidelle qu'elle est elybesis est encore assez puissante dans mon coeur pour ne la pouvoir voir entrer au tombeau sans y entrer aussi bien qu'elle des que j'y auray fait descendre mon rival i'eusse pu la voir vivre sans l'aimer poursuivit il mais je ne puis la voir mourir sans sentir renouveller 
 ma flame apres cela impitoyable amy triomphez de ma foiblesse et reprochez moy aveque raison que je suis le plus foible de tous les hommes je ne vous reprocheray pas vostre foiblesse luy dis-je mais je vous reprocheray le secret que vous m'en avez fait cependant adjoustai-je en souriant je vous avoueray que je me trompois aussi bien que vous puis que je ne pensois pas que vous aimassiez encore autant elybesis que vous l'aimez car si je l'eusse creu je me serois bien garde de vous faire la fourbe que je viens de vous faire en supposant la lettre que je vous ay montree quoy s'escria t'il il n'est pas vray qu'elybesis soit malade a l'extremite non repliquay-je mais il n'est que trop vray que vous n'estes pas guery du mal qui vous tourmente depuis si long temps ha cruel amy que vous estes me dit il dites moy sincerement ce que je dois croire m'avez vous effectivement trompe ou me trompez vous presentement parlez donc je vous en conjure puis qu'il m'importe de scavoir l'estat ou est elybesis afin de regler mes sentimens car si elybesis meurt je sens bien qu'il faut que ma passion revive dans mon coeur et que je meure moy mesme mais si elybesis est vivante et en sante il faut que je la haisse si je le puis ou que j'agisse du moins comme si je la haissois j'avoue que je ne pus m'empescher de rire d'ouir parler agathyrse comme il faisoit et que je ne pus aussi m'empescher de luy 
 tesmoigner l'estonnement que j'avois de l'entendre parler comme il parloit en effet luy dis-je si vous aimez elybesis vous l'aimerez vivante aussi bien que morte et si vous la haissez vous hairez sa memoire comme sa personne nullement reprit il et vous n'estes guere scavant en amour si vous ne scavez pas faire la distinction de ces deux choses car enfin elybesis dans le tombeau ne peut plus estre possedee par mon rival de sorte que la compassion attendrissant mon coeur je la regarderois comme une personne qui auroit cesse d'estre infidelle en cessant de vivre et comme une personne qui m'auroit aime qui n'aimeroit plus aryante et qui ne le pourroit plus aimer mais elybesis vivante est une inconstante qui m'a abandonne et que je dois abandonner comme une personne qui peut rendre mon rival heureux par sa possession et qui ne se soucie pas de me rendre miserable pour satisfaire son ambition et sa vanite ainsi je conclus que je puis aimer elybesis au tombeau et que je la dois hair si elle est vivante vous conclurrez ce qu'il vous plaira luy dis-je mais a parler veritablement vous aimez elybesis toute vivante qu'elle est et vous le scavez presentement aussi bien que je le scay ouy repliqua-t'il brusquement je l'aime plus que je ne pensois l'aimer et je suis tellement irrite contre moy et contre elle mesme du pouvoir qu'elle a encore sur mon ame malgre que j'en aye que j'espere que la honte que j'en ay achevera de 
 me guerir et la chassera plus absolument de mon coeur qu'elle ne m'a chasse du sien et puis quand il n'y auroit nulle autre raison poursuivit-il pour m'obliger a me combattre moy mesme que ce que vous scavez ma foiblesse je dois pour mon honneur m'en guerir afin de vous faire connoistre que j'ay encore plus de generosite que d'amour ouy adjousta-t'il vous ferez cause que je gueriray de ma folie et je veux estre tenu pour le plus foible et le plus lasche de tous les hommes si devant la fin de la guerre vous ne me voyez hair elybesis si la guerre ne finit qu'avec vostre amour repris-je en riant nous ne verrons de long-temps la paix apres cela je luy demanday pardon serieusement de la douleur que je luy avois causee et il me pria avec un empressement estrange de ne dire a qui que ce fust qu'il aimoit encore elybesis car enfin adjousta-t'il la passion que j'ay encore pour elle est de telle nature que quand j'aurois renverse aryante de ce throsne qu'il s'est esleve que je l'aurois tue que j'aurois pris issedon et qu'elybesis seroit en ma puissance j'aimerois mieux estre mort que de luy avoir donne nulle marque d'amour quand il seroit vray que je l'aimerois plus que je ne l'ay jamais aimee je pense que vous le croyez comme vous le dittes repliquay-je mais en mon particulier je ne le croy pas car enfin quiconque aime veut estre aime et fait assurement toutes choses possibles pour se faire aimer ainsi je puis ce me semble assurer 
 aveque beaucoup de raison que si la fortune veut que vous soyez vainqueur d'aryante vous vous trouverez encore esclave d'elybesis apres cela seigneur nostre conversation cessa et je fus depuis ce jour la le confident de ses plus secrettes pensees quoy qu'il sceust que l'estois amy d'adonacris il est vray qu'il n'estoit pas directement mal aveque luy car il scavoit bien qu'elybesis ne suivoit pas les conseils de son frere en toutes choses et qu'elle ne croyoit qu'elle mesme mais enfin sans m'amuser a vous particulariser cette guerre je vous diray que la fin de la campagne aprochant les deux partis songerent chacun a prendre leurs quartiers d'hiver en terre ennemie de sorte que cela fut cause qu'il y eut plus de sang respandu qu'il n'y en avoit eu pendant toute la campagne en effet seigneur il y eut un combat si aspre au passage d'une petite riviere dont spargapyse vouloit s'emparer que ses eaux en furent toutes ensanglantees mais a la fin pourtant il falut qu'aryante abandonnast ce passage a ses ennemis et qu'il retirast ses troupes vers issedon neantmoins comme la victoire avoit couste cher a spargapyse et qu'il y avoit eu plus de gens tuez de nostre coste que de celuy d'aryante il disoit qu'il estoit vray qu'il avoit perdu son bagage et une riviere mais que nous avions tant perdu de sang pour la gagner que s'il en perdoit seulement encore une de la mesme sorte nous serions perdus nous mesmes il est pourtant vray malgre cette raillerie que 
 ce passage que nous gagnasmes fut cause de la perte de ce prince parce que cela l'obligea a se poster si pres d'issedon que tous les lieux d'alentour en furent ruinez que les habitans en murmurerent et que cela nous donna moyen d'avoir un pais tres fertile pour loger toute nostre armee cependant seigneur il arriva un cas fortuit estrange qui fut qu'a ce combat la adonacris fut fait prisonnier par agathyrse et que sitalce le fut par aryante de sorte que comme on ne garde pas les prisonniers au camp aryante envoya sitalce a issedon et spargapise envoya adonacris a une ville nommee typanis qui estoit du party de la reine et ou ce prince devoit passer l'hiver a cause qu'il ne vouloit pas retourner aux tentes royales parce qu'il eust este trop loin de son armee 
 
 
 
 
ainsi seigneur la fortune r'assembla adonacris et noromate qui comme je l'ay desja dit avoit eu ordre de son mary de demeurer dans cette ville la jusques a la fin de la guerre comme j'estois amy d'adonacris je luy rendis tout l'office que je pus il est vray que je n'en eus pas grand besoin car agathyrse le fit si bien traiter par le prince spargapyse qu'il fut remis sur sa foy des qu'il fut a typanis vous pouvez juger seigneur qu'adonacris ne trouvoit pas sa prison fort rigoureuse puis qu'elle le raprochoit de sa chere noromate et vous pouvez penser au contraire que sitalce qui aimoit fort sa femme et qui 
 estoit d'humeur jalouse sentit la sienne avec une extreme douleur adonacris avoit pourtant beaucoup de chagrin de la perte de son bagage parce que toutes les lettres qu'il avoit eues de noromate devant qu'elle eust espouse sitalce y estoient neantmoins comme il l'avoit retrouvee elle mesme il s'en consola et n'apprehenda point que les soldats qui l'avoient volle pussent luy en rendre de mauvais office ou s'il le craignit ce fut comme une chose qui n'avoit aucune vray-semblance et qu'il n'apprehendoit que par exces d'amour argyrispe fut aussi fort touchee de la prison d'adonacris mais pour noromate seigneur il faut que je vous die un peu plus particulierement comment elle sceut que son mary estoit prisonnier d'aryante et que son amant l'estoit d'agathyrse car enfin ce merveilleux cas fortuit produisit une si belle avanture qu'il est ce me semble a propos que je n'en oublie aucune circonstance vous scaurez donc seigneur que la nouvelle du grand combat qui s'estoit fait ayant este portee a typanis on l'y publia d'abord comme on a accoustume de publier toutes les premieres nouvelles des grandes actions c'est a dire avec mille circonstances fausses car comme vous le scavez seigneur on tue quelquesfois des gens qui se portent bien on en blesse mortellement qui ne sont que prisonniers on en fait de prisonniers qui sont en liberte et il y en a d'autres aussi dont on ne parle point qui sont ou prisonniers ou blessez 
 ou morts de sorte que suivant cet ordre de nouvelles confuses et incertaines ou la verite et le mensonge sont si bien meslez qu'on ne les scauroit demesler des qu'on dit a typanis qu'il y avoit eu combat entre l'armee d'aryante et l'armee de spargapyse on y dit que sitalce estoit blesse et prisonnier qu'adonacris estoit mort vous pouvez juger seigneur veu la maniere dont je vous ay represente noromate que cette nouvelle la surprit et l'affligea sensiblement et qu'y ne personne aussi vertueuse qu'elle d'une ame aussi tendre que la sienne et possedee d'une passion aussi forte ne put scavoir son mary blesse et prisonnier sans quelque espece de douleur quoy qu'elle ne l'aimast pas ny aprendre qu'adonacris estoit mort sans un desespoir extreme encore fust-ce quelque chose d'avantageux pour elle qu'elle eust un pretexte raisonnable d'estre triste et une cause apparente de s'informer curieusement des nouvelles et de s'esclaircir aveque soin si ce qu'on disoit estoit de la maniere qu'on le publioit aussi le faisoit-elle avec un empressement extreme de sorte que comme il n'y avoit point de lieu ou on sceust si tost ny si assurement les nouvelles de l'armee que chez la femme du gouverneur de typanis qui s'apelle eliorante et qui est une des femmes du monde la plus accomplie et la plus genereuse elle y fut a l'heure mesme mais comme elle ne fut pas encore esclaircie de ce qu'elle vouloir scavoir elle resolut d'y retourner 
 tous les jours jusques a ce qu'il fust venu des nouvelles assurees de ce qui s'estoit passe a l'armee elle n'osoit pourtant pas demander des nouvelles d'adonacris car encore qu'elle sceust que leur affection avoit este tres cachee elle n'avoit toutesfois pas la hardiesse de s'en informer mais elle esperoit qu'en demandant des nouvelles des morts des prisonniers et des blessez en general et de son mary en particulier elle en aprendroit quelque chose de plus assure que ce qu'elle en scavoit de sorte que dans cette pensee elle fut comme je l'ay desja dit chez eliorante non seulement le jour mesme que ce funeste bruit fut espandu mais encore le lendemain et le jour d'apres comme elle estoit donc avec cette dame il arriva un courrier qui confirma la nouvelle du combat et de la victoire de spargapyse et qui assura a noromate que sitalce estoit prisonnier sans estre blesse si bien qu'eliorante s'en rejouissant avec elle luy dit qu'elle devoit avoir beaucoup de joye de voir que de deux choses fascheuses qu'on luy avoit dittes de son mary il n'y en eust qu'une vraye et que ce fust encore la moins funeste car enfin luy dit elle il y a ce me semble lieu de se consoler d'un malheur qui met la personne qui le souffre en seurete de sa vie tant que ce malheur la dure comme noromate est fort raisonnable elle seroit tombee d'accord de ce que luy disoit eliorante si elle n'eust point eu d'autre inquietude dans l'esprit mais comme elle en 
 avoit une tres sensible qu'elle n'osoit faire paroistre elle fut bien aise de garder un pretexte a la melancolie qu'elle ne pouvoit chasser de ses yeux quelque effort qu'elle y fist c'est pourquoy elle dit a eliorante qu'encore qu'elle eust beaucoup de consolation d'aprendre que sitalce n'estoit pas blesse il luy restoit pourtant beaucoup de douleur de ce qu'il estoit prisonnier cependant elle ne songeoit pas tant a ce qu'elle disoit a eliorante qu'elle ne prestast attentivement l'oreille a ce que disoit ce courrier au gouverneur de typanis qui s'appelle aritaspe et qui estoit alors dans la chambre de sa femme de sorte qu'elle entendit confusement qu'il alloit arriver des prisonniers et qu'il y en avoit un que spargapyse vouloit qui fust laisse sur sa foy et qu'il le traitast fort bien mais a peine eut elle entendu cela qu'on entendit un grand bruit de gens qui parloient dans une grande place qui est devant la maison de ce gouverneur un moment apres ce bruit passant de la place dans la cour de la cour dans l'escalier et de l'escalier dans l'anti-chambre on vint dire a aritaspe que les prisonniers que spargapyse luy envoyoit estoient arrivez et que ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite parmy eux estoient dans son anti-chambre mais a peine celuy qui parloit eut-il dit cela que toutes les dames qui estoient aupres d'eliorante a la reserve de noromate se mirent a la presser d'obliger 
 aritaspe de faire entrer ces prisonniers dans sa chambre mais pour noromate comme elle s'imaginoit tousjours qu'elle alloit ouir la confirmation de la mort d'adonacris elle ne l'en pressa pas au contraire ne se fiant pas assez a sa constance elle voulut s'en aller disant qu'elle n'avoit plus d'interest aux nouvelles puis qu'elle scavoit de sitalce tout ce qu'elle en pouvoit scavoir mais eliorante la retint et luy dit fort galamment que c'estoit plus a elle qu'a une autre a luy aider a bien recevoir ces prisonniers puis qu'elle avoit un mary prisonnier car enfin dit-elle il est croyable que le mesme traittement que nous ferons a ceux qu'on nous envoye le prince aryante le fera a ceux qui sont sous sa puissance de sorte que noromate n'osant resister davantage demeura si bien qu'eliorante ayant prie aritaspe de satisfaire la curiosite de toutes ces dames qui avoient envie de voir ces prisonniers il leur dit en souriant que quoy que ce fust les exposer a estre plus leurs prisonniers que ceux de spargapyse il vouloit bien les contenter et en effet ayant ordonne qu'on les fist entrer le lieutenant des gardes de spargapyse qui les conduisoit parut le premier apres quoy adonacris entra a la teste de dix ou douze officiers et entra de si bonne grace et avec un air si noble qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit la satisfaction de scavoir qu'il avoit vendu sa liberte bien cher et que sa captivite ne luy estoit pas honteuse imaginez vous donc seigneur quelle 
 surprise fut celle de noromate de voir adonacris qu'elle avoit creu mort et de voir adonacris qu'elle n'avoint point veu depuis qu'ils estoient si bien ensemble depuis qu'ils s'estoient tous deux mariez et depuis qu'ils s'estoient escrit dans la pensee de ne s'escrire jamais et de ne se voir de leur vie adonacris de son coste eut aussi une surprise fort grande car encore qu'il sceust que noromate estoit a typanis il ne scavoit pas qu'il la trouveroit au lieu ou il la trouva de plus il arriva mesme que le hazard fit que la premiere personne que vit adonacris dans cette chambre fut noromate et qu'il la vit assez triste mais encore qu'il ne sceust pas qu'il estoit cause de la tristesse qui paroissoit sur son visage il ne laissa pas d'avoir quelque satisfaction de ce qu'elle ne paroissoit pas estre fort satisfaite de sa fortune car il ne songea pas alors qu'elle pouvoit estre melancolique de la prison de sitalce au contraire cherchant a rendre ce moment tout a fait heureux pour luy il expliqua encore a son avantage la rougeur qui parut sur le visage de noromate des qu'elle l'eut aperceu et en effet j'ay sceu par une dame de mes amies qui se trouva a cette entre-veue et qui a sceu tout le secret de cette affection que noromate rougit d'une maniere qu'il estoit aise de connoistre que ce qui la faisoit rougir ne luy desplaisoit pas car ses yeux en devinrent plus vifs et malgre qu'elle en eust il y eut je ne scay quelle impression de joye qui s'espandit sur son visage 
 et qui passa en un instant de ses yeux dans le coeur d'adonacris enfin seigneur il y eut je ne scay quoy de si passionne et de si significatif dans les regards de ces deux personnes en cette entre-veue inopinee ou leur raison ne les put contraindre qu'ils se dirent sans en avoir le dessein qu'ils s'aimoient encore qu'ils s'aimeroient tousjours et qu'ils estoient tres-miserables cependant ce premier sentiment involontaire qui ne dura qu'un instant estant passe la vertueuse noromate rougit de honte de sa foiblesse apres avoir rougi d'amour et se fit un si grand effort qu'elle esvita les yeux d'adonacris et remit a peu pres dans les siens la mesme tristesse qui y paroissoit devant qu'il arrivast et elle le fit d'autant plus facilement que la joye qu'elle avoit de voir adonacris vivant apres l'avoir creu mort estoit temperee par la douleur qu'elle avoit de ce qu'il n'estoit plus possible qu'elle pust innocemment ny l'aimer ny souffrir d'en estre aimee aussi fit-elle une reflection la dessus pendant qu'adonacris parloit a sitalce qui cousta bien des soupirs a ce malheureux amant pense noromate dit-elle alors en elle mesme pense bien a ce que tu veux et a ce que tu dois adonacris est aimable il est vray et tu l'aimes plus que tu ne le devrais faire mais apres tout puis que tu l'aimes tans pouvoir cesser de l'aimer tu l'aimeras sans estre criminelle pourveu qu'il ne le scache pas que tu ne le luy tesmoignes jamais et qu'au contraire tu le fuyes comme 
 si tu le haissois songe noromate qu'il y va de ta gloire et songe encore pour soustenir ta vertu que ton pere scait qu'adonacris t'a aimee a issedon et que si tu souffrois qu'il te vist chez toy il n'en pourroit penser que des choses a ton desavantage mais pense principalement qu'adonacris t'estimeroit moins si tu luy donnois des marques de ton affection que si tu luy en donnes d'indifference et pour agir encore par un sentiment plus noble pense que tu t'estimerois moins toy mesme et que qui ne s'estime point ne peut jamais estre heureux ny meriter l'estime des autres pendant que noromate raisonnoit ainsi on eust dit qu'elle resvoit si profondement que sa resverie n'avoit plus d'objet tant ses yeux tesmoignoient que son esprit estoit esloigne de tout ce qui l'environnoit de sorte qu'apres qu'aritaspe eut parle a tous ces prisonniers et qu'il eut dit a adonacris qu'il avoit ordre de le loger chez luy de luy donner toute la ville de typanis pour prison et de l'y laisser sur sa foy il se tourna vers noromate qui comme je l'ay desja dit sembloit resver fort profondement et prenant la parole a ce que je voy madame luy dit-il vous ne songez guere aux prisonniers du prince spargapyse et je m'assure que vous songez plus a ceux du prince aryante et que de l'heure que je parle vous pensez plus a sitalce que vous ne voyez pas qu'adonacris que vous voyez quoy qu'il me semble 
 que vous l'ayez connu a issedon il est vray seigneur reprit noromate avec une esmotion de coeur estrange quoy qu'elle ne parust point que je pensois a sitalce mais je pensois aussi a adonacris adjousta-t'elle avec une fermete incroyable mais c'estoit pour chercher par quelle voye je pourrois trouver les moyens de le faire eschanger contre sitalce le discours de noromate surprit si fort adonacris qu'il n'y put respondre il est vray que son silence ne fut pas remarque car eliorante ayant pris la parole luy donna le temps de se remettre le dessein que vous avez de delivrer deux fort honnestes gens a la fois dit elle a noromate est si louable et si digne de vous que je croy qu'il n'y a personne qui ne vous y serve aupres de thomiris et aupres de spargapyse de sorte que comme en cette rencontre les amis d'adonacris solliciteront esgallement avec les vostres il est a croire que nous pourrons bientost avoir la joye de revoir sitalce et la douleur de ne voir plus adonacris quand la prison n'est pas plus rigoureuse que la mienne dit alors adonacris avec beaucoup d'adresse on ne souhaite pas la liberte au desavantage de son parti de sorte madame que comme sitalce est plus considerable dans celuy de thomiris que je ne le suis dans celuy d'aryante je ne murmureray point quand on ne me voudra pas eschanger contre un homme qui pourroit plus nuire a mon parti par sa valeur que je n'y pourrois servir par la mienne c'est pourquoy je 
 ne solliciteray point ma liberte et j'en laisseray la disposition au prince que je sers cette responce est si modeste si genereuse et si galante reprit aritaspe en souriant qu'elle ne pourroit estre plus adroite quand mesme il y auroit quelqu'une de ces belles dames dit-il en les montrant de la main a qui vous voudriez faire entendre que vostre prison vous seroit agreable cependant adjousta-t'il sans attendre sa responce quoy que les fers que vous portez ne soient pas si pesans que ceux qu'elles pourroient vous faire porter je pense qu'il est a propos que je vous mene en lieu ou vous puissiez vous reposer et en effet aritaspe se disposant a sortir fit passer adonacris devant luy tout prisonnier qu'il estoit et le conduisit a un fort bel apartement apres quoy il fut donner les ordres necessaires pour les autres prisonniers qui n'estoient pas laissez sur leur foy comme adonacris mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire que noromate se tint si ferme lors qu'adonacris la salua en sortant de la chambre d'eliorante qu'il ne vit plus rien dans ses yeux de ce qu'il y avoit veu en entrant car enfin il n'y put voir autre chose qu'une civilite froide et serieuse qui l'eust fait desesperer s'il ne se fust souvenu de la tendresse passionnee qu'il y avoit veue un quart d'heure auparavant il pensa mesme que peut-estre la presence de tant de personnes l'avoit elle obligee a se contraindre mais il fut bientost prive de cette consolation parce que 
 comme on l'avoit loge a un apartement qui donne sur la cour ou il y a un balcon avance qui n'est pas extremement esleve il s'y estoit apuye esperant voir encore noromate quand elle sortiroit et en effet son esperance ne fut pas trompee car comme elle avoit une inquietude dans l'ame dont elle n'estoit pas tout a fait maistresse elle sortit bientost apres qu'adonacris fut sur ce balcon mais quoy qu'il commencast de la saluer des qu'elle fut sur le perron de cette maison qu'il la saluast avec tout le respect imaginable et qu'il la suivist des yeux non seulement jusques a ce qu'elle fust dans son chariot mais jusques a ce que ce chariot fust hors de la cour il n'en put avoir autre chose qu'une reverence civile sans pouvoir rencontrer ses yeux ny sans aucun signe de teste ny de main qu'il pust expliquer a son avantage de sorte qu'il se retira de ce balcon tres afflige cependant les premiers regards de noromate l'avoient si sensiblement touche et luy avoient si bien persuade qu'elle ne le haissoit pas encore qu'il ne pouvoit comment entendre cette derniere froideur quoy qu'il en soit disoit-il en luy mesme comme il me le dit depuis le mieux que je puisse penser est que noromate ne veut pas que je scache qu'elle ne me hait point mais helas ma chere noromate adjoustoit il si je suis assez heureux pour n'estre pas hai de vous c'est en vain que vous me voulez mal-traiter puis que malgre vous je scauray bien discerner si les marques 
 de haine que vous me donnerez seront causees par une veritable aversion ou par prudence seulement apres cela adonacris se mit a penser comment il feroit pour la voir et pour la voir en particulier car enfin il l'avoit retrouvee si belle que sa passion en estoit encore augmentee cette passion estoit pourtant toute pure toute violente qu'elle estoit et adonacris connoissoit si parfaitement la vertu de noromate que l'impossibilite eust tousjours mis des bornes a ses desirs quand mesme son amour n'eust pas este detachee de tous sentimens criminels de sorte qu'estant persuade de l'innocence de son affection il l'estoit en mesme temps que noromate y pouvoit et y devoit respondre si bien qu'imaginant encore une joye inconcevable s'il pouvoit seulement ouir une fois en sa vie de la bouche de noromate qu'il n'estoit pas hai qu'il ne pensa a autre chose qu'a trouver les voyes de luy parler sans estre entendu que d'elle mais durant qu'il ne pensoit qu'a la pouvoir entretenir et qu'a luy escrire pour en obtenir la liberte noromate ne songeoit qu'a esviter sa conversation car pour sa veue elle voyoit bien qu'elle ne le pourroit pas en effet elle ne pouvoit sortir de typanis durant la guerre elle ne pouvoit pas non plus cesser de voir eliorante et toutes ses autres amies sans donner sujet d'en demander la cause et tout ce qu'elle pouvoit estoit de ne voir point adonacris chez elle et d'esviter quand elle le trouveroit ailleurs qu'il 
 luy peust parler en particulier elle sentoit pourtant dans son ame une si grande repugnance a prendre cette resolution que toute autre vertu que la sienne auroit succombe sous une passion si tendre et si forte cependant noromate se surmonta elle mesme sans surmonter son inclination quoy qu'elle fist tout ce qu'elle put pour la vaincre jusques alors elle s'estoit contentee d'essayer de n'aimer plus adonacris mais pour faire encore davantage en voyant le danger plus grand elle fit tout ce qu'elle put pour forcer son coeur a aimer sitalce mais il n'y eut pas moyen ainsi sa vertu trouvant une ample matiere de se faire esclater elle resolut de faire pour sitalce tout ce qu'elle eust pu faire si elle l'eust aime plus qu'elle mesme de ne faire rien pour adonacris et de n'oublier chose aucune pour tascher effectivement de le faire echanger contre son mary quoy que sa presence deust luy estre tres facheuse et que celle d'adonacris luy fust tres agreable noromate ne prit pourtant pas cette resolution tumultuairement puis qu'elle employa toute la nuit a l'examiner sans pouvoir dormir qu'une heure seulement encore fut-ce que la propre lassitude de son esprit l'assoupit mais a peine fut elle eveillee qu'elle receut en une quart d'heure trois lettres d'un stile bien different et qui venoient aussi de trois personnes bien differentes car enfin un courrier d'agathyrse qui venoit advertir aritaspe que le prince spargapise et luy arriveroient 
 bien tost a typanis luy en aporta une que sitalce luy avoit donnee a issedon ou agathyrse l'avoit envoye demander des nouvelles d'un de ses amis qu'on n'avoit point trouve ny parmy les blessez ny parmy les morts ny parmy les vivans de son party la seconde estoit d'argyrispe qui la conjuroit de solliciter aussi ardemment a typanis pour la liberte d'adonacris qu'elle sollicitoit a issedon pour celle de sitalce et la troisiesme estoit d'adonacris qu'un esclave de cet amant prisonnier avoit donnee a une de ses femmes sous un autre nom que celuy de son maistre et sans en vouloir attendre la responce car adonacris avoit eu peur que noromate ne la luy renvoyast toute fermee des qu'elle auroit connu le carractere de la subscription de sorte que la vertueuse noromate se trouvant en mesme temps une lettre de son amant une de son mary et une d'argyrispe se trouva en un embarras estrange car enfin si elle eust suivi son inclination elle eust ouvert celle d'adonacris et n'auroit du moins veu celle de sitalce que la derniere cependant cette vertueuse personne se surmontant elle mesme resolut d'abord de n'ouvrir point la lettre d'adonacris et de voir celle de sitalce et en suitte celle d'argyrispe si bien que jettant sur sa table cette lettre qui venoit d'une main qui luy estoit si chere elle se mit a ouvrir celle de son mary mais elle l'ouvrit en soupirant malgre 
 qu'elle en eust et fut quelque temps sans la pouvoir lire tant la douleur la pressoit toutesfois a la fin l'ayant leue elle y trouva d'abord quelques marques d'affection et quelque civilite mais comme sitalce avoit plus de coeur que de politesse a escrire quoy qu'il eust de l'esprit cette civilite n'avoit ny tendresse ny galanterie et elle estoit enfin telle qu'un mary qui n'estoit pas naturellement fort galant la pouvoit avoir et telle qu'un homme qui songeoit plus a sa liberte qu'a toute autre chose en pouvoit estre capable il y avoit pourtant quelques marques d'amour dans cette lettre mais c'estoit d'une maniere peu obligeante car il luy faisoit entendre sans aucune adresse qu'il avoit quelque inquietude de ce qu'il avoit sceu que spargapyse et toute sa cour iroit passer l'hiver a typanis et de ce qu'elle auroit trop bonne compagnie adjoustant apres cela divers ordres pour sa liberte et pour ses affaires avec la mesme familiarite que s'ils eussent este mariez dix ans quoy qu'ils n'eussent este que trois jours ensemble de sorte qu'apres que noromate l'eut leue en soupirant et qu'elle vint a jetter les yeux sur la lettre d'adonacris qu'elle avoit mise sur sa table helas dit-elle en elle mesme malgre qu'elle en eust que cette lettre est sans doute differente de celle que je tiens cependant adjousta telle en se reprenant il faut ne la point voir et il faut faire tout ce que celle que je viens de lire m'ordonne apres cela elle se trouva assez embarrassee 
 comment elle feroit pour la faire rendre a adonacris sans l'avoir leue mais apres y avoir bien pense elle trouva qu'il y auroit trop de danger a se confier a quelqu'un pour la luy reporter et que le mieux qu'elle pouvoit faire estoit de la luy rendre adroitement elle mesme la premiere fois qu'elle le trouveroit chez eliorante ou elle s'imaginoit bien qu'elle le rencontreroit souvent de sorte que prenant cette lettre elle la mit dans sa poche et se mit a lire celle d'argyrispe mais a ce qu'elle a advoue depuis elle la leut avec une esmotion de coeur estrange car toutes les fois qu'elle y trouvoit le nom d'adonacris elle en changeoit de couleur et ne pouvoit s'empescher d'avoir des sentimens qui tenoient quelque chose de la haine et de la jalousie ou de souhaiter du moins dans ses premiers mouvemens qu'adonacris n'aimast pas plus argyrispe qu'elle aimoit sitalce elle se condamna pourtant elle mesme un moment apres et sans rien relascher de sa vertu et de la resolution qu'elle avoit prise elle fut a un sacrifice public qu'on faisoit ce jour la sur une petite coline couverte d'arbres qui est enfermee dans la ville car comme vous le scavez seigneur nous ne sacrifions jamais qu'a ciel ouvert nos peres ayant creu que les hommes ne pouvoient bastir de temples qui fussent dignes d'y honnorer les dieux mais aussi ne sacrifions nous pas si souvent que les autres peuples et ce n'est qu'une fois tous les mois que ces actes publics de piete 
 se sont si bien que noromate ne voulant pas manquer ce jour la au sacrifice qu'on faisoit et y voulant aller principalement pour demander aux dieux qu'ils luy donnassent la force de resister a la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame elle fut comme je l'ay desja dit au pied de cette coline a l'entour de laquelle on a basty de grandes et magnifiques galeries couvertes ou les dames se mettent pour esviter le soleil nostre religion n'obligeant que les sacrificateurs et ceux qui les assistent a estre a ciel ouvert neantmoins celles de nos dames qui ont une piete un peu scrupuleuse ne s'y mettent que quand il fait excessivement chaud ou excessivement froid de sorte que noromate qui est de celles qui s'attachent le plus indispensablement a tout ce qu'elle croit estre de son devoir ne s'y mit point ce jour la et se mesla dans la multitude avec beaucoup d'autres dames de qualite sa devotion ne fut pas mesme interrompue par la presence d'adonacris car comme aritaspe n'assista point au sacrifice public et qu'il en fit un particulier il avoit retenu adonacris aveque luy aussi pria-t'elle les dieux avec tant de tranquilite d'esprit qu'il luy sembla qu'elle en avoit acquis une nouvelle force et elle s'en retourna chez elle dans la pensee d'aller chez eliorante aussi tost qu'elle auroit disne afin de chercher occasion de rendre a adonacris la lettre qu'il luy avoit escrite et en effet elle ne fut pas plustost 
 hors de table qu'elle dit a ses gens qu'elle vouloit sortir de bonne heure et qu'on tinst son chariot tout prest mais afin qu'adonacris ne creust pas qu'elle eust dessein de renouveller sa passion dans son coeur elle voulut estre plus negligee qu'a l'ordinaire pretextant la chose a ses femmes de la prison de son mary mais quoy que son habillement fust un habillement tout simple et que ses cheveux n'eussent que cinq ou six boucles negligees de chaque coste comme elle ne pouvoit pas cesser d'estre propre elle ne laissoit pas d'estre aussi belle sans parure que si elle eust este paree cependant comme elle fut a son miroir pour voir si elle estoit aussi negligee qu'elle le vouloit estre elle cacha encore sous son voile quelques boucles de ses cheveux qu'elle r'atacha avec un cordon noir luy semblant qu'elle estoit encore trop galemment coiffee pour une personne qui vouloit qu'on creust quelle ne vouloit pas plaire quoy que dans le fonds de son coeur elle n'eust pas voulu qu'adonacris l'eust haie mais durant qu'elle consultoit son miroir afin de voir si elle n'estoit point encore trop ajustee elle en soupira se souvenant du temps ou elle l'avoit quelquesfois si soigneusement consulte lors qu'elle estoit a issedon et qu'elle n'estoit pas marrie de plaire a adonacris mais a la fin apres avoir este un demy quart d'heure a croire tantost quelle estoit trop mal et tantost qu'elle 
 estoit encore trop bien et avoir range et derange les boucles de ses cheveux plus d'une fois elle s'osta avec chagrin de devant son miroir et entrant dans son cabinet pour pouvoir regarder sans estre veue de ses femmes si elle n'avoit pas tousjours dans sa poche la lettre qu'elle y avoit mise le matin elle trouva que les tablettes dans quoy elle estoit escrite s'estoient ouvertes dans la presse ou elle avoit este durant le sacrifice et qu'ainsi elle ne pouvoit plus les rendre fermees a adonacris d'abord elle en eut un depit estrange contre elle mesme et elle fut encore assez longtemps a les tenir ouvertes sans vouloir voir ce qu'il y avoit d'escrit mais enfin considerant que quand elle rendroit cette lettre a adonacris sans la voir il ne le croiroit pas elle se resolut de la lire elle ne s'y resolut pourtant pas tout d'un coup et elle se demanda plus d'une fois a elle mesme pourquoy elle la vouloit voir car enfin disoit elle tu peux bien penser noromate qu'adonacris ne t'escrit pas pour te dire des injures et pour te donner sujet de le hair et tu n'as que trop veu dans ses yeux que la mesme passion qui est tousjours dans ton coeur malgre toy est encore dans le sien que veux tu donc faire en lisant cette lettre veux tu toy mesme attaquer ta vertu et la mettre a la derniere espreuve tu scais bien que tu as resolu de mourir mille fois plustost que de rien faire indigne de ce que tu es et cependant tu vas lire une lettre d'un homme que tu scais qui est amoureux 
 de toy et ce qui est encore le plus estrange d'un homme que tu scais bien que tu ne hais pas apres cela noromate fut quelque temps a resver comme elle l'a redit depuis en suitte de quoy se determinant a demeurer ferme dans sa resolution quelque tendresse qu'elle peust trouver dans cette lettre elle la leut et y trouva a peu pres ces paroles
 
 
 adonacris a noromate 
 
 
 si je ne scavois que je n'ay pas un sentiment dans l'ame qui soit indigne de vostre vertu je n'aurois pas la hardiesse de vous demander une audience particuliere pour vous dire tout ce qui s'est passe dans mon coeur depuis l'injustice que vous m'avez faite mais comme je suis assure que je n'ay pas une pensee qui vous puisse offencer je vous conjure madame de m'accorder la grace de me permettre de vous dire une fois en ma vie tout ce que j'ay souffert et tout ce que je souffre pour vous et pour vous obliger a ne me refuser pas je vous proteste madame que je vous aime sans desirs et sans esperance et que si vous le voulez je ne vous parleray jamais de la passion que j'ay dans l'ame et que j'y auray jusques a la mort pourveu que vous me permettiez seulement de vous faire souvenir de ce 
 qu'elle estoit dans un temps ou vous la trouviez innocente ainsi ne vous demandant rien ny pour le present ny pour l'avenir et ne voulant autre grace que de vous parler d'une chose passee vous seriez sans doute trop injuste si vous me refusiez mais apres tout madame quand mesme vous me voudriez refuser il faudroit du moins ne me refuser pas la faveur de me defendre vous mesme de vous dire que je vous aime tousjours plus que personne n'a jamais aime car madame si vous vous contentez de me faire entendre par vostre silence que vous ne voulez pas que le vous le die je ne vous obeiray point non pas mesme quand vos beaux yeux tous puissans qu'ils sont me diroient mille et mille fois avec ce muet et rigoureux langage qu'ils scavent trop bien que vous ne voulez pas que le me pleigne en effet madame c'est une chose si difficile de ne dire point le mal qu'on endure a la personne pour qui on le souffre que j'ay besoin de recevoir ce commandement d'une maniere que le fou force d'y obeir vous scavez madame quel pouvoir vous avez tousjours eu sur moy je vous proteste qu'il n'est point diminue et que quoy que ce soit que vous me commandiez je vous obeiray pourveu que je recoive ce commandement de vostre bouche et que vous ne me deffendiez pas de vous aimer jusques a la mort 
 
 
 adonacris 
 
 
comme cette lettre estoit tendre respectueuse et touchante noromate ne la put lire sans soupirer et elle a dit depuis que de sa vie elle ne s'estoit trouvee en une inquietude plus 
 embarrassante mais apres tout il se trouva qu'elle leut trois fois cette lettre qu'elle ne vouloir point lire et qu'elle la leut avec des sentimens qu'elle n'a jamais pu bien exprimer car enfin elle avoit de la douleur en la lisant mais c'estoit pourtant une espece de douleur ou il y avoit je ne scay quelle secrette satisfaction qui faisoit que la mesme chose qui l'affligeoit ne luy desplaisoit pas cependant apres avoir donne un quart d'heure a l'amour d'adonacris elle revint de sa foiblesse comme d'une lethargie d'esprit et rompant cette lettre avec violence plust aux dieux dit-elle qu'il me fust aussi aise d'oster de mon coeur la tendresse que j'ay malgre moy pour adonacris que d'oster de ma veue ce tesmoignage de sa passion apres cela changeant le dessein qu'elle avoit eu d'aller chez eliorante elle dit qu'elle ne vouloit plus sortir et qu'elle ne vouloit mesme voir personne ne se trouvant pas en estat de s'exposer a voir si tost adonacris mais pour achever de l'accabler on luy vint dire de la part d'eliorante que si elle vouloit escrire a sitalce elle luy en donneroit une voye pourveu que ce fust a l'heure mesme de sorte que noromate qui n'avoit l'imagination remplis que de la lettre d'un amant qu'elle aimoit se vit contrainte de respondre a celle d'un mary qu'elle n'aimoit pas aussi le fit elle avec une peine estrange elle recommenca cinq on six fois sa lettre avant que de 
 la pouvoir achever car encore qu'elle eust devant elle celle de sitalce afin d'y respondre article pour article celle d'adonacris estoit si fort dans sa pensee qu'il ne luy venoit dans l'esprit que de quoy respondre a adonacris et il ne luy venoit rien pour respondre a sitalce mais a la fin se mettant en colere contre elle mesme elle se surmonta et escrivit a son mary avec beaucoup de respect et respondit aussi a argyrispe avec beaucoup de civilite apres quoy ne pouvant mesme plus souffrir la lumiere elle se deshabilla et se mit au lit afin d'avoir un pretexte de ne voir personne et de ne voir pas mesme ses femmes pour cet effet elle leur dit qu'il venoit de luy prendre un mal de teste le plus incommode du monde qu'elle vouloit tascher de guerir par le silence par l'obscurite et par le dormir si bien que ses femmes tirerent tous les rideaux de ses fenestres et abaissant un magnifique pavillon qui couvroit son lit elles la laisserent dans la liberte de sentir le mal qui la tourmentoit de vous dire seigneur tout ce que noromate fit et contre fit et contre elle mesme et contre adonacris il ne seroit pas aise car enfin tout ce qu'une personne de grand esprit de grand coeur et de grande vertu peut penser pour surmonter une violente passion noromate le pensa et le pensa avec intention d'executer sa pensee et d'agir de facon avec adonacris qu'il ne peust seulement deviner qu'elle souhaitoit qu'il l'aimast tousjours quoy qu'elle le luy deffendist cependant 
 comme elle jugea qu'il estoit a propos qu'elle luy fist connoistre d'abord par son procede qu'elle fuyoit sa veue elle continua le lendemain de dire qu'elle se trouvoit mal et qu'elle ne vouloit voir personne de sorte que parce moyen adonacris fut plusieurs jours sans la voir et sans pouvoir scavoir seulement si elle avoit receu sa lettre il ne laissa pourtant pas de se l'imaginer lors qu'il aprit chez eliorante qu'on disoit qu'elle se trouvoit mal et il craignit alors estrangement de s'estre trompe lors qu'il avoit creu que noromate ne le haissoit pas d'autre part aritaspe estant adverty que le jeune spargapyse arriveroit le lendemain fut au devant de luy avec tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite a typanis mais encore que ce fust a luy qu'on rendist tous les honneurs de la victoire agathyrse estoit pourtant celuy qui les meritoit car spargapyse estoit si jeune qu'on ne pouvoit raisonnablement le louer que d'avoir de belles inclinations et d'estre desja assez raisonnable pour croire conseil et pour faire tout ce que le sage terez et agathyrse luy conseilloient de sorte que des qu'il fut arrive a typanis agathyrse qui estoit bien aise d'obliger adonacris dans la pensee de couvrir elybesis de plus de confusion le presenta a spargapyse qui le receut aussi bien qu'on le luy avoit conseille ainsi le vainqueur et le vaincu vescurent apres ensemble avec une extreme civilite adonacris eut mesme plus d'obligation a ce jeune prince que s'il luy eust 
 donne la liberte car il faut que vous scachiez qu'agathyrse luy ayant dit qu'il estoit a propos qu'il rendist une visite a noromate dont le mary estoit prisonnier pour ses interests il y fut a l'heure mesme pour luy tesmoigner la part qu'il prenoit a son affliction et pour luy offrir tout ce qui pourroit servir a faire recouvrer la liberte a sitalce si bien que comme adonacris avoit eu le soir une grande conversation avec agathyrse qui luy avoit fait connoistre qu'il n'avoit rien contribue a l'ambition d'elybesis ils estoient si bien ensemble qu'agathyrse luy proposa de suivre spargapyse chez noromate ainsi adonacris acceptant aveque joye une proposition qui luy estoit si agreable accompagna ce jeune prince chez cette belle personne qui feignant tousjours de se trouver mal se mit sur son lit pour recevoir cette visite ne devinant pas qu'adonacris en deust estre mais lors qu'elle le vit avec ceux qui accompagnoient ce prince et qu'elle rencontra ses yeux elle en eut une esmotion si grande qu'elle en changea de couleur s'imaginant qu'il devineroit en la regardant tout ce qu'elle avoit pense a son avantage cependant comme elle a l'esprit ferme et l'ame tout a fait grande elle se remit un instant apres et sans faire semblant d'avoir pris garde a adonacris elle respondit a la civilite que spargapyse luy faisoit sur la prison de son mary mais pour le faire d'une maniere qui fist connoistre a adonacris qu'elle voyoit qui l'escoutoit attentivement qu'elle 
 avoit tous les sentimens qu'une honneste femme est obligee d'avoir en une pareille occasion elle remercia spargapyse des offres qu'il luy faisoit avec une civilite tres respectueuse le conjurant en suitte avec une ardeur extreme de faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour le remettre en liberte mais seigneur adjousta-t'elle ce n'est pas icy ou je dois vous faire cette priere et le premier jour que je sortiray j'iray vous suplier de me vouloir donner un des prisonniers que vous avez faits afin d'offrir au prince aryante de delivrer sitalce pour luy il n'est point necessaire reprit agathyrse voyant que spargapyse ne scavoit pas precisement s'il se devoit engager a faire ce que noromate vouloit que vous attendiez que vous soyez en sante car je m'imagine que le prince a qui vous parlez vous accorde desja ce que vous luy avez demande spargapyse jugeant alors par ce qu'agathyrse disoit qu'en effet il devoit ne refuser pas noromate luy confirma ce qu'agathyrse luy avoit dit et luy demanda le nom du prisonnier qu'elle jugeoit qu'aryante voudroit bien eschanger contre sitalce seigneur luy dit elle alors en rougissant je pense que vous tomberez d'accord que j'auray lieu d'esperer la liberte de mon mary si vous m'accordez celle d'adonacris n'estant pas croyable qu'aryante ne veuille pas le delivrer pour faire que le frere de la belle elybesis ne soit plus prisonnier comme noromate 
 ne put nommer adonacris sans rougir adonacris ne put aussi s'entendre nommer sans changer de couleur et s'entendre nommer encore en une conjoncture aussi facheuse pour luy cependant il ne scavoit comment s'opposer directement a sa liberte et la galanterie qu'il avoit ditte dans la chambre d'eliorante lors que noromate avoit parle de l'eschanger contre sitalce n'estoit pas propre a dire serieusement neantmoins comme ce n'estoit pas une chose dont il peust tomber d'accord et qu'il ne pouvoit aussi rejetter qu'en raillant a demy il prit la parole apres que spargapyse eut accorde a noromate ce qu'elle luy avoit demande et qu'il luy eut promis d'envoyer offrir cet eschange au prince aryante mais en la prenant il eut des sentimens si tumultueux dans l'ame qu'il eut une peine extreme a les retenir toutefois s'estant a la fin fait un grand effort en verite madame dit-il a noromate en souriant je croy que vous ferez desavouee par sitalce et qu'il aimera mieux demeurer prisonnier l'y que d'estre eschange aveque moy cette modestie est si excessive reprit noromate sans le regarder que j'aurois peut-estre lieu de croire que vous parlez comme vous faites par un sentiment qui luy est tout oppose mais quoy qu'il en soit puis que le prince a qui j'ay demande cet eschange me l'a accorde ce sera au prince aryante a decider la chose qui a mon advis la decidera comme je le souhaite n'estant pas croyable qu'il puisse refuser 
 a la belle elybesis de rompre vos chaisnes qui l'en conjurera sans doute avec ardeur ainsi laissez moy s'il vous plaist la liberte d'esperer que vous serez bien tost libre et que je reverray bien tost sitalce apres cela comme spargapyse en l'age ou il estoit ne faisoit guere de longues visites principalement quand elles estoient de ceremonie et de consolation il se leva sans donner loisir a adonacris de respondre a noromate et s'en alla en suitte visiter quelques endroits de la ville qu'agathyrse trouvoit a propos de fortifier de sorte qu'adonacris ne jugeant pas qu'il le deust suivre en ce lieu la demeura avec quelques autres a la porte de la maison de noromate mais comme c'est la coustume des hommes de se quitter sans ceremonie en semblables occasions il se trouva que ceux qui s'estoient arrestez quelque temps a parler avec adonacris ayant quelque visite a faire le quitterent et le laisserent seul avec ses gens a la porte ou il estoit si bien que la voyant encore ouverte et jugeant que noromate n'auroit pu prevoir qu'il devoit prendre la resolution de r'entrer chez elle tout a l'heure et qu'elle ne pourroit luy refuser l'entree de sa chambre il r'entra hardiment et remontant l'escalier il trouva en effet la porte de la chambre de noromate ouverte ainsi sans perdre temps il se raprocha du lict sur quoy elle estoit mais pour tromper deux de ses femmes qui estoient aupres d'elle et pour la tromper elle mesme afin qu'elle souffrist qu'il luy 
 parlast madame luy dit-il en l'abordant respectueusement le prince spargapyse me renvoye vers vous pour vous communiquer chose qu'il importe que vous scachiez avant qu'il envoye proposer au prince aryante l'eschange que vous voulez qu'il face pour delivrer sitalce c'est pourquoy je vous suplie de me donner un quart d'heure d'audience noromate fut si surprise de revoir adonacris que ne trouvant pas dans le trouble ou elle estoit un pretexte vraysemblable de refuser de l'escouter et craignant au contraire que ses femmes ne creussent qu'elle ne faisoit pas tout ce qu'elle pouvroit pour la liberte de son mary si elle ne l'escoutoit point elle fut contrainte de luy respondre comme si elle eust effectivement creu ce qu'il luy disoit quoy qu'elle ne le creust nullement joint que je suis persuade que malgre toute la vertu de noromate elle ne fut pas marrie d'avoir une occasion de parler une fois en sa vie en particulier a adonacris sans y avoir rien contribue de sorte que feignant comme je l'ay desja dit de croire qu'il estoit envoye par spargapyse elle le fit asseoir et se mit en estat de l'escouter mais ce qui fit que cette conversation fut plus libre fut seigneur que ces deux femmes de noromate qui mouroient d'envie de conter diligemment aux autres que spargapyse avoit promis de faire delivrer leur maistre passerent tout doucement dans la garde-robe de leur maistresse pour en parler 
 avec d'autres femmes qui y estoient si bien qu'en laissant la porte ouverte afin de pouvoir entendre si noromate les appelleroit elles estoient assez pres d'elle pour l'ouir si elle eust eu besoin d'elles mais elles en estoient aussi assez loin pour faire qu'adonacris qui les avoit veu sortir de la chambre et entrer dans la garde-robe eust toute la liberte qu'il desiroit d'entretenir sa chere noromate qui sans prendre garde a ses femmes avoit une si cruelle agitation dans le coeur qu'elle ne scavoit presques ny ce qu'elle voyoit ny ce qu'elle pensoit elle mesme mais a la fin apres qu'adonacris eut este quelque temps sans parler en la regardant avec autant de douleur que d'amour quoy madame luy dit-il en soupirant il peut estre vray que la fortune m'ait r'aproche de vous et que vous m'en veuilliez bannir eh de grace madame songez bien a l'injustice que vous avez de me traitter comme vous faites si j'estois encore ce que j'estois a issedon reprit modestement noromate je serois sans doute fort injuste mais puis que je ne suis plus ce que j'estois et que vous n'estes plus aussi ce que vous estiez je ne fais assurement rien que je ne doive faire cependant s'il vray que j'aye encore quelque pouvoir sur vous je vous conjure de tout mon coeur de vous en aller de ne me voir plus chez moy de me fuir ailleurs autant que vous le pourrez et de travailler a vostre liberte avec la mesme ardeur que je vay la soliciter vous pouvez tellement toutes choses 
 fur moy reprit-il que si vous voulez positivement tout ce que vous venez de me dire je me mettray du moins en estat de faire ce que je pourray pour vous obeir mais madame il faut s'il vous plaist auparavant que vous escoutiez toutes mes raisons que vous connoissiez l'estat present de mon ame que vous examiniez un peu celuy de la vostre et que vous vous souveniez du passe pour pouvoir regler l'advenir equitablement au reste madame ne pensez pas me refuser ce que je vous demande car je vous declare que quand je le voudrois je ne scaurois vous obeir vous m'avez donc escrit un mensonge repliqua-t'elle lors que vous m'avez mande que pourveu que je vous deffendisse moy mesme de me voir vous ne me verriez plus je vous le dis encore madame adjousta-t'il mais avant que de me rien deffendre il me faut escouter pourveu que ce soit pour la derniere fois reprit elle je consens que vous disiez ce qu'il vous plaira je diray donc madame reprit-il que vous m'avez fait la plus horrible injustice du monde lors que vous m'avez abandonne pour sitalce car enfin madame je suis persuade que quand j'avois l'honneur de vous voir a issedon vous ne desguisiez pas vos sentimens lors que vous aviez la bonte de me tesmoigner que ceux que j'avois pour vous ne vous desplaisoient pas il me souvient mesme adjousta-t'il que le dernier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir vos yeux me dirent plus de choses obligeantes qu'ils ne m'en 
 avoient jamais dit et si l'entendis bien leur langage ils me permirent d'esperer que je pourrois estre heureux cependant des que la fortune m'eut separe de vous vous me rendistes le plus malheureux de tous les hommes et sitalce qui ne connoist sans doute pas le prix du thresor qu'il possede me fut prefere si je vous avois prefere volontairement sitalce reprit-elle je serois assurement tres coupable quand mesme vous seriez mille fois moins honneste homme que luy car enfin apres vous avoir donne cent marques innocentes de mon affection et avoir receu la vostre je pourrois passer pour inconstante et pour infidelle mais helas adonacris poursuivit-elle en soupirant la chose n'est pas allee ainsi puis que je serois sans doute plus heureuse que je ne suis si j'estois plus criminelle et je ne scay mesme adjousta-t'elle emportee par sa passion si je ne puis point assurer que si j'estois plus coupable envers vous je serois plus innocente en effet poursuivit-elle j'ay mille choses a me reprocher qui font que vous n'estes pas en droit de me faire des reproches car enfin j'ay obei a mon pere avec tant de peine et j'ay espouse sitalce avec tant de repugnance que j'ay connu sans en pouvoir douter que vous aviez un peu trop engage mon coeur et j'ay d'autant plus de sujet de blasmer ma foiblesse que j'ay eu lieu de connoistre que vous avez este bien tost console de ma perte par les charmes de la belle argyrispe quoy madame s'ecria-t'il vous pouvez 
 m'accuser d'avoir espouse argyrispe apres que vous avez eu espouse sitalce je ne vous en accuse pas comme d'un crime repliqua-t'elle mais je m'accuse moy mesme de peur que vous ne m'accusiez non non madame reprit-il je ne veux pas m'excuser j'advoue donc qu'encore que je n'aye point aime argyrispe en l'espousant et que je ne l'aye espousee qu'apres que vous avez eu espouse sitalce et que vous m'avez eu cruellement abandonne j'advoue dis-je que je ne la devois point espouser et que je devois desobeir au prince aryante et a mon pere et me moquer du conseil de tous mes amis j'advoue mesme que je vous fis un outrage lors que j'esperay que peut-estre la possession d'argyrispe pourroit me consoler de vostre perte et que je ne devois point esperer d'en estre jamais console mais apres tout madame si j'ay failly j'ay failly en desespere et j'ay failly sans estre ny inconstant ny infidelle quoy qu'il en soit interrompit noromate puis que vous estes mary d'argyrispe et que je suis femme de sitalce je ne dois plus souffrir vostre affection ny vous donner aucune marque de la mienne et je dois s'il est possible me mettre en estat de ne vous voir jamais ha madame s'escria adonacris ou vous ne m'avez jamais aime ou vous ne m'aimez plus si vous pouvez ce que vous dittes pour tesmoigner repliqua noromate que je ne veux rien de si difficile de vous que je ne sois capable de faire je vous 
 advoueray en rougissant que je vous ay plus aime que je ne vous l'ay dit et que vous ne m'estes pas encore aussi indifferent que vous le pensez et que vous me le devriez estre mais apres tout quand je vous aimerois plus que personne n'a jamais aime et que je hairois sitalce plus que personne n'a jamais hai je serois par un pur sentiment d'honneur ce que je suis resolue de faire aujourd'huy et je le devrois mesme faire par une autre raison quand je ne le serois pas par gloire car enfin adonacris luy dit elle quelle douceur trouveriez vous a me voir tousjours miserable et quel plaisir aurois-je de vous voir tousjours malheureux c'est pourquoy il vaut bien mieux faire ce que je dois quelque fascheux qu'il soit que de ne le faire pas car puis qu'il a plu a la fortune que je ne puisse estre heureuse il faut du moins que je sois innocente et que j'aye la satisfaction de scavoir que je n'ay pas merite la cruelle avanture qui m'est arrivee mais madame luy dit-il on diroit a vous entendre parler que je suis capable d'avoir une affection criminelle pour vous mais scachez s'il vous plaist que celle que j'ay dans l'ame n'est pas de cette nature que je suis effectivement capable de vous aimer sans autre pretention que celle de n'estre point hai je consens encore si vous le voulez que l'affection que vous aurez pour moy ne soit qu'une amitie un peu tendre pourveu que vous enduriez que 
 j'aye pour vous la plus ardente passion que personne ait jamais eue vivez bien aveque sitalce puis que les dieux ont voulu que vous fussiez a luy et je vivray bien avec argyrispe si je le puis puis que mon mauvais destin a voulu que j'y fusse oblige mais madame souffrez que ne luy pouvant jamais donner mon coeur je vous le conserve souffrez dis-je ce que vous ne scauriez empescher et ne me mettez pas dans la necessite de vous desobeir ce que je veux de vous madame est ce me semble peu de chose puis que je me contente que vous ne soyez que mon amie pourveu que vous me permettiez d'estre tousjours vostre amant vous donnerez mesme a mon amour adjousta-t'il tel nom qu'il vous plaira vous l'appellerez estime amitie ou tendresse si bon vous semble pourveu que vous enduriez que je vous voye que je vous aime et que je mette mon souverain bien a estre aupres de vous de tant de beautez que sitalce possede en vous possedant je ne veux que quelques-uns de ces favorables regards qui m'ont autrefois donne de si agreables momens eh de grace madame adjousta-t'il en soupirant songez bien a ce que je vous demande vos yeux pour m'avoir regarde favorablement n'en seront pas moins beaux pour sitalce et il n'y verra mesme plus mon image quand il les regardera si je voulois madame poursuivit il ce que je pourrois peut-estre vouloir sans estre fort criminel vous auriez quelque pretexte de me refuser car enfin si 
 je vous conjurois de me donner tres souvent des occasions de vous entretenir en particulier et de me donner de ces assignations qui paroissent si suspectes quoy qu'elles puissent estre tres innocentes vous pourriez dire que je voudrois hazarder vostre reputation mais je ne veux autre chose de vous sinon que vous n'essayez point de me hair que vous ne me desguisiez point vos sentimens que vous enduriez que je vous aime et que vous ne destourniez point vos beaux yeux quand le hazard fera qu'ils rencontreront les miens enfin madame ne me cherchez point ne me fuyez point et souffrez seulement que je vous cherche et je ne me plaindray pas souffrez dis-je que je vous voye sans affectation comme mille autres vous voyent et que je vous parle quand le hazard le voudra si vous le voulez mesme je ne vous diray de ma vie que je vous aime et je me contenteray de vous dire que je vous ay aimee au reste madame si vous me desesperez je suis capable de faire des choses qui vous desplairont c'est pourquoy ne solicitez pas avec tant d'ardeur la liberte de sitalce car il y a de l'inhumanite de vouloir rompre les chaisnes qui m'attachent presentement aupres de vous comme prisonnier de guerre puis que vous ne pouvez rompre celles qui m'y attachent comme prisonnier d'amour laissez faire la fortune sans vous opposer a la consolation que j'ay de vous revoir vous en avez assez fait comme femme de sitalce et si vous faites ce que vous devez 
 vous ne ferez plus rien pour luy puis que vous ne le pourriez sans agir contre moy avec une inhumanite estrange encore une fois madame je mourray si vous me delivrez et j'aime beaucoup mieux la mort que la liberte puis que je n'en pourrois jouir sans vous perdre durant qu'adonacris parloit ainsi noromate avoit les yeux baissez et souffroit plus qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer cependant comme la gloire s'opposoit puissamment a la tendresse qu'elle avoit dans l'ame elle ne se laissa pas persuader et elle dit si fortement a adonacris qu'elle n'oublieroit aucune chose pour delivrer sitalce qu'il connut bien qu'il ne gagneroit rien sur son esprit mais madame luy dit-il encore puis que vous voulez que sitalce soit delivre travaillez a sa liberte sans demander la mienne il y a tant d'autres prisonniers dans vostre party dont vous pouvez demander l'eschange qu'a moins que de me vouloir opiniastrement refuser toutes choses vous m'accorderez ce que je vous demande ha adonacris reprit-elle je voy bien que vous ne connoissez pas le fonds de mon coeur car enfin si je le puis dire sans rougir je vous advoueray que si la bienseance le vouloir je chercherois les voyes de vous renvoyer a issedon sans faire revenir sitalce a typanis et que je me passerois aisement de sa veue pourveu que je ne vous visse jamais cependant bien loin de murmurer de ce que je vous dis vous m'en devez avoir beaucoup d'obligation mais adonacris 
 apres vous avoir advoue que vostre presence m'est redoutable et qu'il ne me seroit pas aise de vous voir et de vous hair il faut me mettre en estat de ne vous voir de ma vie que lors que je ne le pourray empescher c'est pourquoy pour commencer des aujourd'huy allez vous en je vous en conjure je ne m'en iray pas du moins luy dit-il sans que vous m'ayez promis que vous ne vous opposerez pas si fortement a quelque legere inclination que vous dittes avoir pour moy et que vous ne vous offencerez point si je ne sollicite pas ma liberte avec autant d'ardeur que vous mais si vous ne la solicitez point reprit noromate on auroit raison de s'en estonner et de chercher la cause d'une chose si extraordinaire c'est pourquoy adonacris il faut que vous la solicitiez ha pour cela madame s'escria-t'il vous ne m'y obligerez pas et puis qu'en me refusant tout vous me mettez en droit de vous refuser quelque chose je vous assure que je ne seray point ce que vous voulez et que si je suis delivre ou pour mieux dire si je suis banny je ne le seray que par vous apres cela adonacris dit encore tant de choses touchantes a noromate que cette belle et vertueuse personne ne les pouvant plus escouter sans en avoir le coeur attendry s'en irrita contre elle mesme et commanda si absolument a adonacris de se retirer qu'il fut contraint de luy obeir mais encore madame luy dit-il en se levant quand me permettrez vous de vous parler je vous per 
 mettray de me dire adieu luy dit-elle le jour que vous devrez partir de typanis pour retourner a issedon lors que sitalce sera delivre ha madame luy dit-il vous portez la vertu au dela des bornes ou elle doit aller et il y a de la cruaute a me parler comme vous faites je ne scay s'il y a de la cruaute dit-elle mais je scay que pensant ce que je pense il faut que je parle comme je fais du moins madame luy dit-il dittes moy comment je dois expliquer vos paroles expliquez les comme il vous plaira reprit elle pourveu que vous vous en alliez tout a l'heure que vous ne reveniez plus icy et que vous ne me cherchiez point ailleurs je vous promets madame repliqua-t'il de faire tout ce que je pourray pour vous obeir mais en vous promettant tout je ne vous promets pourtant rien car je sens bien que je ne pourray pas ne chercher point les occasions de vous voir apres cela noromate ayant redouble le commandement qu'elle luy avoit fait de sortir de sa chambre il falut qu'il obeist mais il n'obeit pourtant qu'apres avoir regarde noromate quelques momens sans parler et qu'apres avoir veu dans ses beaux yeux que son coeur n'estoit pas d'accord avec sa bouche et qu'elle le bannissoit a regret cependant il s'en alla le plus amoureux et le plus afflige de tous les hommes et laissa aussi noromate avec une tristesse extreme car enfin elle n'avoit jamais plus cherement aime adonacris qu'elle l'aimoit mais apres tout comme elle a 
 l'ame grande et vertueuse elle surmonta la tendresse de son affection et des le lendemain elle fut sommer spargapyse de sa parole et soliciter agathyrse afin qu'il envoyast diligemment offrir au prince aryante d'eschanger sitalce pour adonacris si bien que cet amant ayant sceu avec quel empressement noromate solicitoit sa douleur devint encore plus forte mais comme l'amour est une passion qui fait trouver des expediens a toutes choses adonacris en trouva pour empescher sa liberte et celle de sitalce car dans la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame il trouvoit quelque consolation qu'il fust esloigne de noromate et il trouvoit tousjours beaucoup de douceur a en estre proche quand mesme il n'eust deu la voir qu'irritee de sorte que pour empescher sitalce d'estre heureux et pour estre luy mesme un peu moins miserable en empeschant sa liberte il trouva moyen d'envoyer secrettement a issedon et d'escrire au prince aryante pour luy dire qu'il scavoit que spargapyse devoit luy envoyer offrir de l'eschanger contre sitalce mais que dans la passion qu'il avoit pour son service il se croyoit oblige de le conjurer de ne le delivrer qu'au commencement de la campagne lors qu'il faudroit combattre pour ses interests parce que veu la conjoncture des choses il jugeoit que pendant l'hiver s'il demeuroit prisonnier il descouvriroit beaucoup de particularitez des desseins des ennemis qui luy pourroient estre tres utiles il disoit encore a ce prince qu'il esperoit 
 mesme luy aquerir quelques creatures dans typanis adjoustant en suitte qu'il luy importoit aussi de ne delivrer sitalce qu'a la fin de l'hiver parce que s'il estoit delivre plustost il scavoit que comme il estoit extremement riche il avoit dessein de faire de nouvelles levees qui fortifieroient l'armee de spargapyse de plus il luy disoit encore qu'il luy rendroit ce service sans beaucoup de peine parce que sa prison estoit assez douce mais afin que la chose reussist tout a fait bien il luy disoit aussi qu'il ne falloit pas qu'argyrispe et tyssagete eussent nulle connoissance de ce secret et qu'il falloit seulement tirer la chose en longueur sans l'accorder ny la refuser de sorte que comme l'hiver est assez long en ce pais la adonacris espera une assez longue consolation par la longueur de sa prison et en effet cette invention luy reussit admirablement comme je vous le diray bien tost de plus il escrivit a argyrispe comme s'il n'eust pas doute d'estre bien tost delivre quoy qu'il creust bien qu'il ne le seroit pas si promptement car il ne doutoit point que la lettre qu'il escrivoit au prince aryante ne produisist l'effet qu'il en attendoit mais pendant que celuy que spargapyse envoya a issedon pour la liberte de sitalce et d'adonacris se preparoit a partir que noromate en demandant que son mary revinst et qu'adonacris s'en allast en avoit une douleur extreme parce qu'elle demandoit deux choses toutes opposees a ses inclinations pendant 
 dis-je qu'adonacris faisoit tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour s'empescher d'estre delivre et pour empescher qu'on ne delivrast sitalce agathyrse dont la passion estoit tousjours tres violente ne s'ocupoit qu'a faire que tout le monde creust qu'il n'estoit plus amoureux d'elybesis afin que le bruit s'en espandist jusques a issedon et qu'elybesis mesme peust croire qu'il ne l'aimoit plus luy semblant que c'estoit faire une chose indigne de luy que de continuer d'aimer une personne qui avoit prefere l'ambition d'estre reine a son affection de sorte qu'il eut un soin estrange d'instruire celuy qui fut a issedon afin qu'il ne dist rien de contraire a ses sentimens et pour cet effet il choisit un homme qui despendoit absolument de luy mais dans le mesme temps qu'il luy ordonnoit de ne dire que des choses qui pouvoient faire croire qu'il n'aimoit plus elybesis et qu'il n'agissoit contre aryante que comme ridelle sujet de thomiris il luy donnoit pourtant ordre de s'informer tres soigneusement de quelle maniere vivoit elybesis avec aryante
 
 
 
 
cependant conme il ne croyoit pas que ce fust encore assez pour se vanger d'elle que de luy persuader qu'il ne l'aimoit plus s'il ne faisoit encore qu'elle crust qu'il estoit amoureux d'un autre il prit la resolution pour satisfaire toute sa vangeance et toute sa fierte de faire semblant d'estre amoureux de quelqu'une des dames de typanis si bien que comme il n'y en avoit point de plus grand esclat de beaute 
 que noromate ny qui fust plus propre a faire croire qu'il en estoit effectivement amoureux il fit dessein de feindre de l'estre d'elle de sorte qu'il resolut de faire pendant tout l'hiver des festes continuelles pour cette belle personne et de renfermer si bien tout son chagrin dans son coeur qu'il ne parust que de la joye sur son visage et en effet il commenca de visiter noromate tres souvent et de faire diverses parties avec la femme du gouverneur de typanis chez qui toutes les dames se trouvoient cependant comme noromate croyoit qu'une femme qui avoit son mary prisonnier ne pouvoit avec bienseance prendre part a tant de divertissemens elle s'en voulut d'abord excuser mais comme spargapyse solicite par agathyrse s'opiniastra a vouloir qu'elle en fust il falut qu'elle fust moins solitaire qu'elle ne le vouloit estre car tous les amis de sitalce luy dirent que ce ne seroit pas estre assez prudente d'irriter un prince qui pouvoit ne delivrer pas son mary de sorte que noromate toute melancolique qu'elle estoit se vit obligee d'estre continuellement en plaisirs et en conversations divertissantes ainsi quoy qu'adonacris ne la pust voir chez elle si ce n'estoit lors qu'il y alloit avec le jeune spargapyse il la voyoit si souvent ailleurs malgre qu'elle en eust qu'il en avoit quelque consolation il agissoit mesme si adroitement que sans qu'elle y contribuast rien il trouvoit moyen de luy parler quelque demy quart d'heure sans estre entendu que 
 d'elle si bien qu'encore qu'elle luy dist tousjours des choses dignes de sa vertu il ne laissoit pas de luy en dire tousjours quelqu'unes qui exprimoient sa passion mais ce qui embarrassa estrangement adonacris fut la feinte passion d'agathyrse car enfin depuis qu'il se fut mis cela dans la fantaisie il ne quittoit presques plus noromate et par consequent il estoit bien plus difficile a adonacris de luy pouvoir parler en particulier d'ailleurs quelque belle et quelque charmante que fust noromate agathyrse ne trouvoit pourtant autre plaisir a la voir et a l'entretenir que celuy qu'il avoit a penser qu'il seroit despit a elybesis car il la connoissoit assez pour ne douter pas qu'elle ne fust en colere qu'il fust capable d'aimer quelque autre personne qu'elle apres l'avoir aimee ainsi il troubloit le repos de deux personnes sans en avoir une fort grande satisfaction du moins n'estoit-ce pas une satisfaction tranquile mais luy disois-je un jour voyant la contrainte ou il vivoit je ne voy pas bien pourquoy vous vous contraignez tant car que vous importe ce qu'elybesis croye de vous que m'importe reprit-il brusquement il m'importe tellement qu'elle ne croye pas que je l'aime encore que je serois au desespoir qu'elle ne creust pas que je suis amoureux de noromate car enfin je ne puis souffrir qu'elle puisse jamais me soubconner de la foiblesse et de la laschete dont je suis capable et je veux au contraire qu'elle s'imagine que je suis mille sois 
 plus amoureux de noromate que je ne le fus jamais d'elle mais luy dis-je en contentant vostre fantaisie vous rendrez un mauvais office a vostre party car croyez vous que sitalce quand il sera delivre trouve fort bon que vous fassiez l'amoureux de sa femme pourveu qu'elybesis le trouve mauvais reprit-il brusquement je ne me soucie guere de ce que sitalce en trouvera je n'aurois pourtant pas choisi noromate adjousta-t'il s'il y en avoit eu quelque autre a typanis dont la beaute eust este assez esclattante pour persuader fortement a elybesis que je l'aurois quittee pour elle mais puis qu'il n'y en a pas de si belle ny de si charmante que noromate il faut que ce soit elle qui soit l'objet de cette pretendue amour qui doit servir a ma vangeance et je veux mesme faire encore davantage poursuivit-il car je veux affectivement faire tout ce que je pourray pour me persuader que j'aime noromate et l'aimer mesme si je le puis comme noromate est tres-vertueuse luy dis-je je pense que vous ne seriez pas plus heureux que vous estes si vous en deveniez amoureux ha mon cher anabaris me dit-il la rigueur qui est causee par la vertu de la personne qu'on aime ne cause pas une douleur aussi sensible que l'inconstance d'une ambitieuse qui n'aime qu'une chimere de grandeur qu'elle s'est mis dans la fantasie ainsi quand noromate me mal-traitteroit je serois bien moins miserable que je ne le suis et j'aurois tousjours 
 la satisfaction de scavoir que ce que j'aimerois meriteroit d'estre aime au lieu qu'en continuant d'aimer elybesis j'ay le desespoir de continuer d'aimer une personne que je n'estime plus si vous ne l'estimiez plus luy dis-je vous ne l'aimeriez plus aussi car je ne croy point que l'amour puisse subsister sans l'estime je l'estimois quand je commencay de l'aimer poursuivit-il et je l'ay estimee long temps depuis mais je vous dis encore une fois que je ne l'estime plus et que je ne l'estimeray jamais quoy que je craigne estrangement de l'aimer tousjours je voy bien encore adjousta-t'il qu'elle est belle autant qu'on le peut estre qu'elle a autant d'esprit qu'on en attribue au plus fin des dieux et qu'elle a de plus je ne scay quoy d'engageant quand bon luy semble dont il est bien difficile de se deffendre mais apres tout on peut dire que j'estime en elle ce qu'il y a d'estimable sans qu'on puisse dire veritablement que je l'estime car enfin des que je la regarde comme une personne que la grandeur esblouit et qui prefereroit un homme qui auroit tous les deffauts du corps et de l'esprit pourveu qu'il fust sur le throne a l'homme de toute la terre le plus accomply je ne la scaurois estimer mais luy dis-je le prince aryante n'est pas de ceux que vous dites il est vray reprit-il mais ce n'est pas a son merite qu'elle se donne et elle luy fait injustice aussi bien qu'a moy mais si elle est si ambitieuse repliquay-je pensez vous quelle se soucie fort que 
 vous ne l'aimiez plus et qu'elle ait une fort grande douleur quand vous en aimerez une autre du moins repliqua-t'il n'aura-t'elle pas la joye de penser que je l'aime encore de sorte que quand je ne pourray l'affliger j'auray tousjours l'avantage de l'empescher d'avoir le plaisir de penser que je ne puis cesser de l'aimer c'est pourquoy quand sitalce devroit changer de party je ne changeray pas de sentimens et en effet seigneur je puis vous assurer qu'agathyrse commenca cette galanterie d'une maniere si esclatante qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle ne fist un grand bruit car comme il est tres magnifique ce ne furent que festes et divertissemens mais au milieu de tout cela il luy prenoit des chagrins effroyables dont il ne pouvoit estre le maistre et qui paroissoient malgre qu'il en eust en mon particulier je l'ay veu une fois qu'il avoit assemble toutes les dames pour dancer passer ce soir la tout entier a un coin de la sale sans regarder ce qu'on y faisoit et sans regarder mesme noromate cependant cela ne desabusoit pas ceux qui l'en croyoient amoureux car on pensoit que c'estoit qu'il estoit chagrin de ce que noromate ne respondoit pas a son affection elle mesme le croyoit ainsi et durant qu'il avoit le coeur tout remply d'elybesis on le croyoit desespere de la rigueur de noromate d'autre part adonacris eut d'abord une douleur si excessive de cette galanterie que si je ne l'en eusse console je pense qu'il en seroit mort mais comme j'estois son 
 amy particulier et que je pouvois reveler le secret d'agathyrse sans luy nuire je luy fis scavoir qu'en effet il n'aimoit pas noromate mais qu'il vouloit seulement faire ce qu'il pourroit pour l'aimer ha mon cher amy me dit adonacris si agathyrse veut aimer noromate il l'aimera infailliblement car elle est trop belle et trop aimable pour ne l'aimer pas des qu'il le voudra comme vous ne pourriez pas aimer elybesis quand vous le voudriez luy dis-je quelque belle qu'elle soit quand mesme elle ne seroit pas vostre soeur agathyrse n'aimera pas aussi noromate encore qu'il la veuille je le souhaite de tout mon coeur reprit-il mais je crains bien que mon souhait n'arrive pas mais luy dis-je j'advoue que je ne comprens pas ce sentiment jaloux qui vous passe dans l'esprit presentement car enfin il me semble que quand on est amoureux d'une personne qui a un mary on ne doit point avoir de jalousie d'un amant qui n'est point aime helas anabaris s'escria adonacris que vous estes ignorant en amour si vous ne scavez point la difference qu'il y a de la jalousie d'un rival a celle d'un mary je ne scay si je suis ignorant en amour repliquay-je mais il ne me semble pas que j'aye tort lors que je dis qu'il est plus facheux de voir posseder la personne qu'on aime par un mary que de la voir seulement aimee par un rival si ce mary estoit son amant quand il l'espousa reprit-il j'advoue qu'il n'y a rien de si difficile a souffrir niais des que cet amant 
 est devenu mary la chose change de face et un rival qui ne le sera point me donnera plus d'inquietude si je le voy seulement parler a noromate que ne fait sitalce en la possedant car enfin un mary qui n'est point aime ne le sera jamais et un amant hai peut cesser de l'estre et estre aime quelque jour ainsi vous voyez bien qu'il est vray qu'il y a beaucoup de difference entre un mary et un rival c'est pourquoy je vous ay une obligation infinie de m'avoir apris qu'agathyrse n'est pas encore le mien voila donc seigneur en quels sentimens estoient ces trois personnes agathyrse aimoit tousjours elybesis et vouloit faire semblant de ne l'aimer plus et d'aimer noromate adonacris aimoit tousjours ce qu'il avoit commence d'aimer sans oser le tesmoigner et sans qu'on luy permist de le dire et noromate de pouvant cesser d'aimer adonacris agissoit pourtant comme si elle ne l'eust point aime et qu'elle eust fort aime sitalce cependant celuy qu'agathyrse avoit envoye au nom de spargapise vers le prince aryante n'estant arrive a issedon qu'apres que celuy qu'adonacris envoyoit vers ce prince luy avoit rendu la lettre qu'il luy escrivoit par laquelle il luy disoit plusieurs choses pour l'obliger a ne le delivrer qu'au commencement de la campagne prochaine il ne fit pas tout ce qu'il avoit espere car le prince aryante croyant effectivement tout ce qu'adonacris luy mandoit tira la chose en longueur et renvoya cet 
 envoye de spargapyse sans luy refuser ny luy accorder ce qu'il luy avoit demande de sorte qu'argyrispe scachant qu'aryante n'accordoit pas aussi promptement l'eschange de sitalce et d'adonacris comme elle l'avoit espere elle fut trouver sa belle soeur pour la prier d'employer son credit aupres du nouveau roy pour obtenir la liberte de son mary mais elybesis luy dit qu'elle en avoit desja parle a aryante qui luy avoit seulement demande un peu de temps pour delivrer adonacris adjoustant qu'elle auroit tout le soin imaginable de l'en soliciter mais seigneur il faut que vous scachiez qu'en effet elybesis avoit parle au prince aryante de la liberte d'adonacris de sorte que comme il avoit eu peur de l'irriter s'il luy refusoit de delivrer son frere sans luy en dire la raison il luy avoit monstre ce que ce prisonnier luy escrivoit a condition qu'elle n'en parleroit a argyrispe ny a nulle autre si bien que scachant que son frere consentoit de n'estre delivre qu'a la fin de la campagne et qu'il pretendoit que son sejour a typanis peust avancer les affaires du nouveau roy et nuire a celles de la reine elle fut la premiere a luy dire qu'il ne falloit pas le delivrer et elle le pria de la refuser opiniastrement toutes les fois qu'a la priere de sa belle soeur elle se verroit obligee de le soliciter pour la liberte d'adonacris de sorte que par ce moyen le dessein de cet amant prisonnier reussit admirablement 
 d'autre part sitalce aprenant que le prince aryante faisoit quelque difficulte de l'eschanger contre adonacris eut une telle inquietude d'estre esloigne de sa femme dans un temps ou il y avoit tant d'honnestes gens a typanis que la jalousie l'obligea de luy escrire en respondant a la lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite qu'il luy ordonnoit d'offrir toutes choses a agathyrse pour contribuer a la continuation de la guerre pourveu qu'il le fist delivrer d'ailleurs argyrispe ne se contentant pas de la responce qu'elybesis luy avoit faite escrivit a son mary qu'elle estoit resolue d'offrir plustost la moitie de son bien pour le mettre en liberte que de luy laisser passer l'hiver tout entier en prison car comme elle estoit naturellement d'humeur inquiete et jalouse et qu'elle aimoit son mary son absence luy estoit insuportable de sorte que sans que sitalce sceust qu'adonacris estoit amoureux de sa femme et que noromate ne le haissoit pas et sans qu'argyrispe le sceust aussi ils estoient tous deux fort inquiets ils se tesmoignerent mesme une partie de leur inquietude car comme sitalce estoit sur sa foy aussi bien qu'adonacris il la visitoit quelquefois afin de conferer avec elle des moyens de faire recouvrer la liberte a son mary en recouvrant la sienne ainsi ils vinrent a avoir quelque confiance l'un pour l'autre par l'egalite de leurs interests mais durant que ces deux personnes cherchoient des expediens pour faire reussir leur dessein elybesis se trouvoit un 
 peu embarrassee a resister au prince aryante et a refuser de l'espouser sans l'irriter cependant comme elle ne le vouloit espouser que roy et qu'elle ne voyoit pas encore son throsne assez solidement apuye pour y vouloir monter il n'est forte d'artifice dont elle ne se servist pour mesnager son esprit car enfin elle avoit tousjours dans la pensee si aryante n'estoit point roy de renouer avec agathyrse ne doutant nullement qu'il ne l'aimast assez pour revenir a elle des qu'elle voudroit retourner a luy et en effet elle agit avec tant d'adresse avec aryante qu'il creut mesme que c'estoit pour son interest qu'elle ne vouloit pas l'espouser pendant la guerre car comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit elle luy disoit que comme il ne pouvoit l'espouser qu'en s'abaissant ce seroit un grand pretexte au party contraire de dire plusieurs choses qui luy pourroient nuire ainsi agissant avec beaucoup de finesse aryante luy estoit oblige de ce qu'elle le refusoit d'autre part celuy que spargapyse avoit envoye vers ce prince estant retourne a typanis avec une responce qui n'avoit rien de decisif noromate n'en fut pas peu estonnee car elle ne pouvoit comprendre qu'aryante ne voulust pas delivrer le frere de la personne qu'il aimoit en delivrant sitalce il luy vint bien alors quelque soupcon qu'adonacris mettoit peutestre luy mesme obstacle a sa liberte mais comme elle n'imaginoit pas bien par quelle voye il le pouvoit faire elle le pensa sans le croire fortement 
 cependant quoy qu'elle esvitast la rencontre d'adonacris autant qu'elle pouvoit et qu'elle eust resolu de n'oublier rien pour l'esloigner d'elle en le delivrant elle ne fut pourtant pas trop marrie dans le fonds de son coeur que sans qu'elle y eust rien contribue sitalce fust encore a issedon et qu'adonacris fust aussi encore a typanis neantmoins des qu'elle eut receu la lettre de son mary qui luy ordonnoit si pressamment d'offrir toutes choses a agathyrse afin de l'obliger d'offrir plustost trois prisonniers au lieu d'un pour faire qu'on le delivrast elle se mit en devoir de luy obeir d'ailleurs adonacris voyant que son dessein avoit si heureusement reussi en eut une joye extreme mais afin qu'aryante ne descouvrist pas sa fourbe et qu'il le laissast prisonnier pendant tout l'hiver il s'informa en effet si soigneusement des desseins d'agathyrse et de tout ce qui se passoit a typanis et mesme aux tentes royales qu'il donna effectivement divers advis importans a ce prince de sorte qu'il ne fut plus dans la necessite de luy dire de nouvelles raisons pour l'obliger a ne le delivrer pas parce que son propre interest l'en solicita assez d'autre part agathyrse en continuant de faire semblant d'estre amoureux de noromate n'y employoit pas tellement tous ses foins qu'il ne songeast a faire descendre aryante du throsne mais ce qui le faisoit desesperer estoit que durant le mal languissant dont thomiris 
 estoit attaquee ses ordres avoient tousjours tant d'ambiguite qu'il estoit aise de connoistre qu'elle avoit quelque autre chose dans l'ame qui l'occupoit plus que cette guerre et qu'elle avoit quelque autre dessein qui faisoit qu'elle ne vouloit pas hazarder ses troupes en effet le pere de noromate qui estoit aupres d'elle escrivit un jour qu'elle avoit dit qu'elle aimeroit mieux avoir perdu le royaume des issedons que son armee cependant quoy qu'elle pust mander agathyrse ne laissa pas de resoudre de faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour donner une bataille des que l'hiver seroit passe ou de forcer aryante a se renfermer dans issedon mais comme l'hiver est assez long en ce pais la il falut qu'il esprouvast un long supplice il avoit pourtant eu quelque consolation d'aprendre par le retour de cet envoye de spargapyse qu'on disoit a issedon qu'elybesis ne vouloit point espouser aryante qu'a la fin de la guerre neantmoins comme la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame est accoustumee d'inspirer quelques fois des sentimens tous opposez il y avoit des jours ou il souhaitoit qu'aryante eust espouse elybesis ouy me disoit-il un soir je vous jure par tous les dieux que si j'estois asseure de vaincre aryante le lendemain de ses nopces je voudrois qu'il espousast elybesis des aujourd'huy car je vous advoue que j'aurois le plus grand plaisir du monde de voir tomber le sceptre de la main a cette infidelle car je ne seray point assez vange si la 
 chutte du throsne d'aryante n'accable que luy et si je ne voy elybesis reine sans royaume ou pour mieux dire encore veusve d'un usurpateur vaincu et par consequent sans bien sans honneur sans rang sans appuy et dans la necessite d'avoir recours a moy pour luy faire obtenir un asile en quelque coin de ce royaume qu'elle pretend posseder si vous la voyez jamais en ce deplorable estat luy dis-je je suis bien assure que la joye que vous en aurez fera accompagnee de beaucoup de pitie ha anabaris me dit-il je n'ay point de pitie de ceux qui n'en ont point de moy et puis que mes malheurs n'ont point touche elybesis les siens ne me toucheront jamais du moins scay-je bien que je ne veux point avoir de compassion de ses infortunes et que si je ne l'accablois pas tout a fait ce seroit par pure generosite et pour avoir la satisfaction de luy faire connoistre qu'un sujet comme moy meritoit mieux son affection qu'un souverain comme aryante cependant noromate pour ne manquer pas aux ordres de son mary parla a agathyrse comme il le souhaitoit mais comme il faisoit semblant d'estre amoureux d'elle il creut qu'il faloit luy respondre en termes un peu ambigus quoy qu'il eust pourtant dessein de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour delivrer sitalce et comme il vouloit qu'elle peust penser qu'il estoit effectivement son aman tafin qu'estant trompee la premiere les autres le fussent aussi il luy dit avec beaucoup d'adresse que l'envie de voir sitalce 
 delivre l'aveugloit en voulant qu'on fist des propositions pour luy qui luy seroient honteuses car enfin dit-il si on scavoit que vous offrez tant de choses pour faire qu'on donne plus d'un prisonnier pour sa liberte on pourroit croire qu'on ne l'estimeroit pas assez dans son parti c'est pourquoy il faut un peu mieux mesnager sa gloire et donner temps a aryante de s'aviser la response qu'il a donnee n'estant pas si claire qu'il n'y ait lieu de renvoyer une seconde fois vers luy sans faire de propositions nouvelles ainsi madame donnez vous quelque patience et laissez au temps a faire reussir un dessein qui se ruineroit peut-estre en le precipitant voila donc seigneur quelle fut la responce d agathyrse qui en effet estant bien aise d'avoir un pretexte de renvoyer a issedon pour scavoir tousjours des nouvelles d'elybesis et pour y faire publier qu'il estoit amoureux de noromate obligea spargapyse d'y renvoyer une seconde fois de sorte que noromate escrivit a sitalce tout ce qu'agathyrse luy avoit dit adonacris de son coste respondit aussi a argyrispe et luy manda qu'elle se gardast bien d'offrir pour luy tout ce qu'elle luy mandoit parce qu'en cas qu'on ne l'eschangeast point il avoit une voye assuree de recouvrer sa liberte qu'il ne pouvoit luy escrire cependant durant que cette negociation qui avoit tant d'obstacles secrets se faisoit adonacris cherchoit avec un foin extreme les occasions de voir et de parler a noromate qui de son coste le 
 fuyoit autant qu'elle pouvoit quoy qu'elle l'aimast tendrement mais lors que le hazard tout seul faisoit qu'il se trouvoit aupres d'elle et qu'elle pouvoit croire qu'adonacris ne la pouvoit soubconner de luy avoir voulu donner occasion de l'entretenir elle ne pouvoit s'empescher d'en avoir de la joye et de trouver baucoup de douceur a l'entendre parler cette douceur n'estoit pourtant pas tout a fait sans amertume car elle aportoit un si grand foin a ne luy dire rien de trop obligeant que la contrainte qu'elle se faisoit de condamner tous les premiers sentimens de son coeur qui luy estoient tousjours favorables ne luy donnoit pas peu de peine en effet elle craignoit si fort qu'on ne vinst a scavoir qu'il l'avoit aimee et qu'il l'aimoit encore que de peur que cela n'arrivast elle le contredisoit bien souvent aux choses les plus justes et s'il disputoit quelquefois contre quelqu'un elle se rangeoit du party de celuy qui luy estoit oppose tant cette vertueuse personne s'observoit soigneusement et prenoit toutes les precautions qu'il faloit prendre pour conserver sa reputation adonacris connoissoit pourtant bien toutes les fois qu'elle paroissoit luy estre contraire qu'elle ne le faisoit pas par haine neantmoins comme la trop grande prudence de noromate le privoit de cent plaisirs innocens en le privant de sa conversation particuliere il se mit un jour a disputer contre eliorante en presence de noromate sur un sujet qui avoit indirectement quelque rapport a l'avanture 
 qui l'affligeoit il faut donc que vous scachiez qu'il y avoit alors deux dames a typanis dont la vertu et la reputation estoient tres differentes car il y en avoit une qui se nommoit menopee qui avoit une passion tres violente dans le coeur et une galanterie secrette avec un fort honneste homme mais elle vivoit pourtant avec tant de prudence tant de retenue et tant de modestie qu'a la reserve d'un tres petit nombre de personnes qui scavoient la verite tout le monde croyoit que menopee estoit la plus vertueuse femme de la terre et la moins capable d'avoir une intelligence galante avec quelqu'un et il y en avoit une autre nommee orique dont la vertu estoit la plus solide que personne aura jamais qui estoit pourtant fort exposee a la medisance parce qu'elle s'estoit mis dans la fantaisie qu'il suffisoit d'estre vertueuse sans se mettre en peine de se contraindre pour faire paroistre sa vertu de sorte que ne prenant garde qu'a faire que nulle de ses actions ne fust essentiellement criminelle et ne se souciant pas de sauver toutes les aparences quoy que ce ne soit que sur cela que le general du monde juge et de ce qu'il voit et de ce qu'il ne voit pas elle en estoit venue au point de donner tant de prise sur sa reputation a la medisance et a l'envie qu'a la reserve de ceux qui connoissoient le fond de son ame comme ils se connoissoient eux mesmes toute la ville croyoit que des gens qui n'estoient effectivement que ses amis estoient ses amants et mesmes 
 ses amants favorisez ainsi celle qui faisoit galanterie passoit pour severe et pour vertueuse et celle qui estoit vertueuse passoit pour estre capable de faire beaucoup de choses contraires a la vertu estant donc venu a propos de parler de ces deux personnes que si peu de gens connoissoient bien un jour qu'eliorante noromate et adonacris estoient ensemble et qu'agathyrse y vint aussi noromate se mit a blasmer cette dame vertueuse qui se fioit trop a sa vertu et qui ne songeoit pas assez a observer toutes ses actions je n'eusse jamais creu dit alors adonacris en souriant que la belle noromate ayant a prendre parti entre deux personnes dont l'une se contente de paroistre vertueuse sans l'estre et une autre qui l'est effectivement elle eust este de celuy de celle qui ne l'est pas je ne suis pas du parti de celle qui n'a point de vertu repliqua noromate mais je suis contre celle qui en a et qui ne se soucie pas de le faire paroistre car enfin si une femme n'aime sa reputation je ne suis pas satisfaite de sa vertu et je ne scay mesme si on luy peut veritablemens donner le nom de vertueuse joint que selon mon opinion il est assez dangereux de mettre son esprit au dessus de tout ce qu'on peut penser et dire a son desavantage car encore qu'on ne doive pas estre vertueuse seulement parce qu'on en fera louee et qu'il le faudroit tousjours estre quand mesme on ne le devroit pas croire je ne laisse pas de soustenir que si on ne l'est point il faut du moins tascher 
 de le paroistre jugez donc si l'estant effectivement on n'est pas oblige de faire voir qu'on l'est quand on a l'avantage de l'estre pour moy reprit adonacris je suis persuade qu'il doit suffire de scavoir qu'on ne fait rien qui choque la vertu sans se mettre si scrupuleusement en peine d'oster toutes fortes de pretextes a la medisance car puis qu'on accuse bien souvent d'hipocrisie ceux qu'on voit assister a nos sacrifices avec une assiduite extraordinaire il faut conclurre qu'il est impossible d'empescher les medisans de medire quand ils en ont envie et qu'ainsi ne pouvant jamais leur oster toute forte de sujets de parler selon leur malice il est fort injuste d'aller contraindre toute sa vie de peur qu'ils ne parlent et il est beaucoup plus a propos de se mettre l'esprit au dessus de ce qu'ils peuvent dire que d'aller estre continuellement en garde pour les empescher de trouver a dire a nos actions en mon particulier dit alors agathyrse je trouve qu'adonacris a raison car de penser pouvoir venir a bout d'agir de facon qu'on ne puisse jamais trouver a reprendre a ce que l'on fait c'est vouloir faire une chose impossible en effet nous voyons tous les jours une mesme action estre louee ou blasmee selon les gens qui en parlent et pour justifier ce qu'a dit adonacris j'appelle effectivement bien souvent hipocrisie ce que d'autres appellent piete vous n'en faites pas mieux interrompit noromate et cela n'empesche pas qu'on ne doive songer a sauver les apparences autant qu'on 
 peut et a tascher de faire que tout le monde scache ce que l'on est quand on n'a point de mauvaises habitudes a cacher vostre opinion me semble si raisonnable luy repliqua eliorante que je ne croy pas qu'on la puisse contredire je la contredis pourtant reprit agathyrse car a dire la verite je ne scache rien de plus indigne d'une ame heroique que d'estre capable d'avoir foin de faire que tout le monde scache le bien qu'on fait cependant selon vos sentimens il faut qu'un homme ne face jamais nulle grande action sans tesmoins qu'il ne soit jamais liberal qu'en public et qu'il face tout le bien dont il est capable seulement afin qu'on le scache et qu'on en parle nullement reprit noromate et vous expliquez mal mes paroles comment les faut il donc expliquer repliqua-t'il il faut respondit elle pour m'entendre parfaitement comprendre que je ne veux pas qu'on ait generalement le dessein de faire qu'on scache tout le bien qu'on fait mais ce que je veux est que dans les choses d'ou depend la reputation on ne face jamais rien qui puisse donner lieu de la noircir par exemple je veux qu'un homme regle sa vie de facon qu'on ne puisse pas penser qu'il n'a point de coeur je veux aussi qu'une femme vive avec tant de prudence qu'on ne puisse pas soupconner qu'elle ne soit pas vertueuse et je veux enfin que ne se contentant pas simplement de l'estre elle songe a esviter toutes les choses qui pourroient faire croire qu'elle ne le seroit pas quelques divertissantes 
 et quelques innocentes qu'elles puissent estre ha madame s'escria adonacris vous establissez la une regle bien severe car enfin toute la douceur de la vie ne consiste presques qu'en ces fortes de choses indifferentes qu'on peut bien ou mal expliquer selon l'humeur dont on est je l'advoue dit elle mais puis qu'on ne les peut faire sans exposer sa reputation je soutiens que la douleur de l'avoir perdue est infiniment plus grande que le plaisir de faire toutes ces choses indifferentes ne peut estre grand mais si vous faisiez ce que vous dittes reprit plaisamment agathyrse vous ne feriez rien en toute vostre vie qu'estre seule dans vostre chambre encore ne scay-je si une si grande retraite ne donneroit pas encore lieu a la medisance car on pourroit dire que vous ne vivriez ainsi que parce que sitalce seroit jaloux il est vray dit-elle en souriant mais on ne diroit du moins pas que je luy donnerois sujet de jalousie de sorte adjousta agathyrse que selon vous il faut qu'une dame esvite soigneusement d'avoir nulle conversation particuliere avec des hommes qu'on peut penser qui l'aiment il faut qu'elle ne se promene jamais qu'avec cent femmes a la fois il faut encore quand elle est dans un jardin qu'elle soit tousjours dans les grandes allees avec le gros de la compagnie et qu'elle ne tourne ny a droit ny a gauche pour aller entretenir un quart d'heure quelqu'un de ses amis il faut mesme sans doute qu'elle parle tousjours tout haut et qu'elle ne 
 parle encore que de la beaute du temps et de la fraischeur de l'ombre de peur qu'on ne s'imagine qu'elle parle d'amour il faut aussi assurement qu'elle parle plus aux gens qu'elle hait qu'aux gens qu'elle aime de peur qu'on n'en medise et je ne doute nullement que vous ne veuilliez aussi que cette dame si soigneuse de sa reputation vive sans amies aussi bien que sans amis de crainte qu'on ne die que ce sont ses confidentes et ses amans je ne veux rien de tout ce que vous dittes repliqua-t'elle car je veux qu'on ait des amis et des amies mais je veux qu'une femme vive de facon qu'on ne puisse raisonnablement l'accuser d'avoir des amans favorisez et c'est pour cela que je veux que des qu'une dame scait qu'on dit par le monde qu'un homme est amoureux d'elle qu'elle occupe tout son esprit non seulement a ne faire et a ne dire rien dont il puisse tirer avantage mais encore a vivre avec tant de retenue qu'on ne puisse pas soubconner qu'elle luy soit favorable car enfin je pose pour fondement que des qu'on dit qu'un homme est amoureux d'une femme on a disposition a dire qu'il en est aime pour peu qu'on voye d'aparence de le penser et pour moy qui suis la moins medisante personne de la terre j'advoue que je ne puis scavoir qu'un amant ait eu une longue audience de sa maistresse sans croire qu'il ne luy parloit ny de guerre ny d'affaires d'estat de sorte que je conclus qu'estant fort aise de se faire un grand tort pour un fort petit plaisir il ne s'y 
 faut jamais exposer car pour me servir de l'exemple de la belle orique qui est cause de nostre dispute tout le monde scait qu'on a horriblement medit d'une conversation particuliere qu'elle eut avec un fort honneste homme dans un jardin ou ils s'estoient donne assignation cependant je scay d'une certitude infaillible que cet homme n'employa tout le temps qu'il fut avec elle qu'a luy raconter une passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame pour une fille qui est aupres de thomiris jugez donc si quelque agreable que fust ce recit le plaisir qu'elle en eut meritoit qu'elle exposast sa reputation en passant une apresdisnee toute entiere avec un homme qu'on s'estoit mis dans la fantaisie qui avoit quelques sentimens tendres pour elle j'advoue dit alors adonacris que puis que cet homme n'estoit point aime d'orique et qu'il n'avoit a luy dire que des choses dont elle n'avoit que faire elle eust mieux fait de ne luy donner pas une assignation qui a ce que j'ay ouy dire avoit toutes les marques d'une assignation criminelle mais je dis en mesme temps que lors qu'une femme estime un honme d'une maniere un peu particuliere qu'il y a de la foiblesse a se priver du plaisir de luy parler en secret parce que peut-estre on en parlera et qu'il luy doit suffire de scavoir qu'elle ne fait rien contre la vertu puis qu'il est vray que si elle aime fortement le plaisir d'entretenir en liberte la personne pour qui elle a de l'affection surpassera de beaucoup le depit qu'elle aura lors qu'elle scaura 
 qu'on en aura dit quelque chose on diroit a vous entendre parler repliqua noromate que vous n'avez jamais aime la gloire et que vous ne comprenez pas quelle doit estre la douleur de ceux qui scavent qu'on les deshonnore dans le monde et qu'on les deshonnore avec injustice cependant il est certain qu'il n'y a rien de si dur a souffrir que la medisance qui s'attaque directement a l'honneur car pour celle qui n'en veut qu'a l'esprit et a la beaute je suis la personne de toute la terre qui en suis la moins touchee en effet on peut dire que je suis stupide et que je suis laide sans que je m'en fasche mais on ne pourroit m'accuser de faire galanterie et d'estre coquette sans m'affliger sensiblement c'est pour quoy je trouve qu'il vaut bien mieux me contraindre en mille petites choses indifferentes que de m'exposer a estre le sujet d'une raillerie outrageante de sorte agathyrse que pour vivre a vostre mode quand on fait une chose il faut penser qu'en pensera-t'on qu'en peut-on dire quelle consequence en peut on tirer mes amis et mes ennemis en feront-ils esgalement satisfaits ceux qui l'entendront dire et qui le diront apres a d'autres ne le diront-ils point de quelque maniere qu'on puisse mal expliquer et ce que je seray enfin ne peut-il point servir de matiere a quelque imposture vous exagerez cela d'une si plaisante facon reprit noromate en riant qu'il est aise de comprendre que vous ne vous contraignez guere 
 et que quand vous faites quelque chose vous ne songez qu'a vous satisfaire sans penser a satisfaire les autres comme les autres ne songent guere a me contenter repliqua-t'il il est vray que je n'embarasse guere mon esprit de ce qui les contente car enfin excepte l'interest de la personne que j'aime ou celuy de mes amis qui m'est tousjours plus cher que le mien ny ceux qui sont au dessous de moy ny ceux qui sont au dessus ne m'empeschent pas de faire tout ce que je veux quand il me paroist honneste aussi bien est-ce une folie d'entreprendre de pouvoir agir selon la fantaisie de tous ceux qui nous connoissent en effet les gens de la cour et les gens de la ville voyent pour l'ordinaire les choses d'une maniere differente les jeunes en sont autant les melancoliques et les enjouez ne sont pas d'une mesme opinion ceux qu'on appelle libertins et les gens de piete pensent des choses toutes contraires les femmes qui sont belles et les femmes qui sont laides ont aussi tres souvent des sentiment fort esloignez les uns des autres de sorte que qui voudroit contenter tant de personnes a la fois s'exposeroit sans doute a passer fort mal son temps en mon particulier reprit noromate je le passerois encore bien plus mal si toutes ces personnes dont vous parlez s'unissoient pour dechirer ma reputation comme elle seroient sans doute si je leur en fournissois le sujet estant certain qu'il y a je ne scay quelle malignite qui regne dans l'esprit de tout le monde en general qui fait qu'on est 
 tousjours tout prest a expliquer en mal toutes les choses qui sont capables de recevoir une explication de cette nature mais quand il seroit vray repliqua adonacris qu'une entre-veue particuliere pourroit estre mal expliquee par quelqu'un quel mal vous fait ce qui se dit hors de vostre presence et ce qu'on ne vous dit jamais a vous mesme quand je n'aurois autre desplaisir repliqua-t'elle que celuy de croire qu'on dit tousjours tout le mal qu'on peut dire et que celuy de penser qu'on pourroit dire de moy ce que j'ay ouy dire de tant d'autres j'en aurois tousjours assez pour troubler le plaisir que me donneroit la presence de la personne du monde que j'aimerois le mieux et puis adjousta eliorante je suis persuadee qu'il n'y a point de medisance qu'on puisse faire de nous que nous ne scachions ou par nos ennemis ou par nos veritables amis ou par certaines amies qui ne nous disent pas tant le mal qu'on dit de nous pour nous en advertir que pour avoir la satisfaction de nous l'aprendre mais apres tout dit agathyrse vivons nous pour les autres et ne vivons nous pas pour nous mesme et si cela est pourquoy ne nous contentons nous pas du tesmognage secret de nostre propre conscience sans nous tourmenter de ce que mille gens que nous n'aimons point que nous n'estimons point et que nous ne connoissons point en pensent ou en peuvent penser c'est parce que nous vivons pour nous mesme repliqua noromate qu'il faut vivre comme je l'entens car enfin je 
 ne trouve rien de plus estrange que de vouloir perdre sa reputation sans sujet et de l'humeur dont je pardonnerois plus volontiers le manquement de conduite a une personne dont les moeurs seroient effectivement desreglees que je ne le pardonne a une personne qui a de la vertu en effet je ne concoy point pourquoy on veut si mal menager sa reputation lors qu'on scait qu'on merite de l'avoir bonne et pourquoy on ne veut pas se donner la peine de sauver toutes les apparences puis qu'il est si aise de le faire et qu'il est si dangereux de ne le faire pas quand vous les aurez toutes sauvees repliqua agathyrse vous ne ferez pas encore a couvert de la medisance car puis que nous scavons par experience que menopee qui paroist si vertueuse ne l'est pas je diray si je le veux que tout ce que vous faites n'est que deguisement et que je scay des choses qui dementent toutes vos actions quand j'auray fait tout ce que j'auray pu reprit-elle je n'auray rien a me reprocher du moins auray-je tousjours l'advantage de ne m'estre pas exposee a mille perils ou celle qui se sont mis l'esprit au dessus de tout ce qu'on peut dire et penser s'exposent car enfin quand on a perdu cette honneste et scrupuleuse honte qui fait trouver de la difficulte aux choses les plus innocentes lors qu'on ne les peut sans mistere et sans secret il est sans doute bien plus aise de passer d'une assignation d'amitie a une assignation d'amour que lors qu'on a peur seulement de la 
 moindre aparence du crime en effet on peut dire qu'on est desja accoustume a une des plus difficiles choses du monde qui est de ne garder plus nulle bien-seance et de se mettre au dessus des loix ordinaires de la societe de sorte que passant insensiblement d'une mauvaise habitude a une autre on vient a ne se soucier plus de rien que de ce qui plaist si bien que comme il n'arrive pas tousjours que ce qui plaist soit permis il arrive quelques fois qu'apres s'estre mis au dessus de ce que pensent les autres on se met en suitte au dessus de ce qu'on pense soy mesme et que sans considerer si ce qu'on fait est innocent ou criminel on fait seulement ce qu'on veut faire sans en aprehender les suittes du moins ay-je tousjours a vous dire reprit agathyrse que vous aurez mal mesnage tous les momens de vostre vie puis que vous l'aurez passee en contrainte l'exemple de menopee et celuy d'orique adjousta-t'il vous le montrent clairement puis qu'encore que menopee aime et soit aimee et que par consequent elle ait tout ce qu'il faut pour estre la plus heureuse personne de la terre et de quoy jouir de tous les plaisirs imaginables cette belle retenue dont elle s'est servie pour cacher l'intelligence qu'elle a avec son amant luy fait tout les jours mille maux en effet elle n'ose ny regarder ny parler a celuy qu'elle aime qu'avec des precautions insuportables et je suis asseure que de la maniere dont elle vit de mille heures elle n'en passe pas une tout a fait 
 agreablement au contraire menopee quoy que sans amour et sans attachement particulier mene la plus douce vie du monde seulement parce qu'elle fait ce qu'elle veut faire sans se contraindre si vous aimez plus la liberte que la gloire reprit noromate vous avez raison de dire ce que vous dittes mais pour moy qui aime plus la gloire que la liberte je n'ay pas tort de parler comme je fais et de soustenir fortement qu'une femme qui ne se soucie point de sa reputation et qui se contente de sa propre estime sans se soucier de celle des autres est bien plus exposee a pouvoir faire des choses contre la vertu qu'une autre qui aimera la gloire de la maniere que je l'entens car apres tout comme il n'y a point d'homme qui de son bon gre se mette en estat de pouvoir estre soubconne d'avoir fait un vol ou un assassinat je veux aussi qu'une femme ne se mette pas en estat qu'on puisse croire qu'elle favorise un amant lors qu'elle est en condition de ne le pouvoir faire sans se des honnorer enfin dit agathyrse vous voulez que nos dames soient plus severes que quelques-unes de nos deesses car je veux principalement interrompit noromate sans luy donner loisir de continuer de parler que vous ne me disiez jamais rien contre le respect que l'on doit aux dieux et que vous perdiez s'il est possible cette mauvaise coustume d'employer tousjours le nom de quelqu'une de nos divinitez lors qu'il s'agit seulement d'assurer quelque nouvelle de bagatelle car si vous 
 croyez que nos dieux soient ce que nous les croyons vous faites une prophanation terrible et si vous ne le croyez point je ne voy pas que ce soit assurer fort affirmativement une chose que de jurer par leur nom qu'elle est veritable et j'aimerois mieux jurer par agathyrse et par eliorante poursuivit elle en souriant que par mars et par hercule si j'estois de l'opinion de la plus grande partie de la jeunesse de la cour qui croit a peine qu'ils ayent este des hommes bien loin de croire qu'ils soient des dieux a ce que je voy reprit agathyrse se souriant a son tour vous me croyez un libertin determine nullement repliqua-t'elle car si je vous le croyois vous ne feriez pas de mes amis mais je vous accuse aveque raison de vous laisser aller a la mauvaise coustume de ceux qui ne parlent pas tousjours serieusement ny respectueusement des choses de nostre religion et qui parce qu'elle choque leur raison ne peuvent s'assujetir a l'opinion generale et veulent se faire un chemin particulier c'est pourtant selon moy un mauvais raisonnement que de dire qu'il ne faut croire que ce qu'on peut comprendre puis qu'il est vray qu'il y a mille choses en la nature qui sont effectivement et que nous ne comprenons pas en effet j'ay ouy dire que cresus a parmy ses tresors une pierre qui rend ceux qui la portent invisibles y a-t'il donc plus de difficulte a croire ce qu'on nous dit de la puissance de nos dieux que ce qu'on nous raconte de la vertu de cette merveilleuse 
 heliotrope cependant quoy que pour l'ordinaire ceux qui raillent des choses les plus dignes de respect ne scachent qu'imparfaitement ce qui durcit la gresle et ce qui blanchit la neige dont nos montagnes sont couvertes et qu'ils ne scachent point du tout ce qu'est ce terrible vent qui desracine si souvent les plus grands et les plus vieux arbres de nostre pais quoy qu'il les touche et les renverse eux mesmes quelquefois ils pretendent insolemment penetrer dans les abismes de l'eternite reformer les religions les mieux establies et renverser par leurs caprices tous les temples et tout les autels du monde et tout cela parce que des qu'on ne croit point qu'il y ait des dieux on croit que tout ce qui plaist est permis mais pour vous agathyrse adjousta noromate dont les moeurs sont innocentes et vertueuses et qui n'avez que faire de vous persuader que les dieux ne punissent ny ne recompensent afin de vivre aveque plus de liberte je vous conseille comme vostre amie de ne vous laisser pas emporter au mauvais usage du monde vostre zele est si eloquent reprit agathyrse que je ne luy scaurois resister et je vous promets charmante noromate que je m'en vay faire tout ce que je pourray pour croire que mars est jaloux que vulcan est boiteux et que venus les trompe tous deux esgallement ou que si je ne le puis je n'en parleray point du tout comme agathyrse disoit cela le jeune spargapyse entra qui rompit cette conversation 
 et qui empescha noromate de respondre a agathyrse mais comme il ne fut pas long temps chez eliorante il emmena agathyrse aveque luy lors qu'il sortit et la fortune fut si favorable a adonacris que quelqu'un ayant eu a parler d'affaires a eliorante elle entra dans son cabinet et pria noromate comme son amie particuliere d'entretenir adonacris jusques a ce qu'elle revinst d'abord noromate luy dit qu'elle la suplioit de l'en dispenser parce qu'il faloit qu'elle s'en allast mais elle dit cela d'une maniere si peu affirmative qu'eliorante ne concevant pas qu'elle eust de raison effective de s'en aller si tost luy dit obligeamment avec toute la liberte de leur amitie qu'elle ne luy vouloit point dire adieu et que si elle ne la trouvoit encore avec adonacris lors qu'elle sortiroit de son cabinet elle auroit une querelle de sorte que noromate qui ne se fust pas separee d'adonacris sans douleur n'eut pas la force de resister a eliorante qui sans attendre sa responce entra dans son cabinet et la laissa seule avec son amant mais a peine eliorante les eut elle laissez qu'adonacris prenant la parole je m'estonne madame luy dit-elle en souriant que vous ne vous exposez plustost a avoir une querelle avec eliorante qu'a demeurer avec un homme qui vous adore je le serois sans doute luy respondit-elle en rougissant et en souriant tout ensemble si je ne craignois qu'eliorante ne devinast ce qui m'obligeroit a vous quitter et qu'elle n'en pensast plus que je ne 
 veux qu'elle en pense ha madame s'escria adonacris tant que le soin que vous avez de vostre gloire ne vous obligera qu'a faire des choses de cette nature je n'en murmureray pas mais madame adjousta-t'il en prenant un visage plus serieux pour ne perdre pas des momens qui me font si chers et pour parler plus serieusement pourquoy vous obstinez vous a vouloir me bannir en me delivrant sitalce vous verra toute sa vie et je ne vous verray peut-estre jamais des que vous m'aurez delivre souffrez donc une chose que la fortune a faite sans vostre consentement car aussi bien madame ne me delivrerez vous pas si facilement que vous le pensez faites donc je vous en conjure que le temps que je feray aupres de vous ne soit plus employe a me pleindre de vostre rigueur je ne veux que vous voir et vous parler sans estre entendu que de vous ne me respondez pas mesme si vous le voulez et pour me contraindre autant que je le puis souffrez comme je vous l'ay ce me semble desja dit une fois que je vous die que je vous ay aimee sans vous dire que je vous aime puis que je vous puis entretenir aujourd'huy luy dit-elle sans me pouvoir reprocher de vous en avoir donne l'occasion je veux bi vous l'accorder mais adonacris ce sera pour vous dire tousjours la mesme chose et pour vous assurer que puis que je ne puis vous bannir de mon coeur je feray ce que je pourray pour vous bannir de typanis conme j'espere que la fortune me sera plus favorable que 
 reprit adonacris et qu'elle ne m'en bannira pas si tost je veux bien que vous continuyez de soliciter pour la liberte de sitalce et par consequent pour la mienne mais ce que je vous demande madame et ce que je vous demande avec ardeur est que vous enduriez que durant que je seray icy je vous voye et je vous parle le plus souvent que je pourray je ne l'endure que trop luy dit-elle et si vous scaviez les reproches que je me fais l'indulgence que j'ay pour vous ha madame interronpit adonacris qu'appelleriez vous rigueur si vous appellez indulgence vostre facon d'agir aveque moy puis que je souffre que vous vous pleigniez repliqua-t'elle je fais sans doute plus que je ne dois car enfin adonacris cette affection qui pouvoit estre innocente a issedon est devenue criminelle a typanis et sans que mon coeur ait change de sentimens je suis plus coupable que je n'estois et je puis dire que je suis plus criminelle en souffrant que vous m'aimiez que je ne l'estois alors en vous aimant aussi ay-je le dessein adjousta-t'elle en soupirant de vous conjurer de ne le faire plus mais je ne scay adonacris si j'auray la force de l'excuter comme il alloit respondre eliorante revint qui rendit autant de graces a noromate de ce qu'elle ne s'en estoit pas allee qu'adonacris luy en eust deu rendre de ce qu'elle l'avoit retenue s'il eust ose le faire il est vray que le chagrin qu'il avoit de ce qu'elle estoit revenue trop tost diminua quelque chose de l'office qu'elle luy avoit rendu sans y 
 penser et que s'il eut envie de la remercier il eut aussi envie de se pleindre
 
 
 
 
mais seigneur durant que ces choses se passoient a typanis il en arriva d'autres a issedon qui changerent bien la face des affaires car enfin il faut que vous scachiez que lors qu'adonacris fut fait prisonnier il creut conme je vous l'ay desja dit que tout son bagage avoit este pille par les soldats de sorte qu'encore qu'il fust tres afflige d'avoir perdu les lettres qu'il avoit de sa chere noromate qui estoient parmy les choses qui luy estoient les plus precieuses il espera du moins qu'elles seroient perdues pour le reste du monde comme pour luy et que ceux qui auroient pille son bagage ne s'estant pas amusez a conserver une chose qui ne les pouvoit enrichir les auroient ou rompues ou bruslees et qu'ainsi si elles ne luy pouvoient plus servir a consoler elles ne luy pourroient du moins jamais nuire mais la fortune qui n'estoit pas lasse de le presecuter en disposa autrement et fit que malheureusement pour luy un escuyer qu'il avoit qui estoit tres affectionne a son service voyant la deroute de l'armee et la perte du bagage assuree se resolut de tascher de mettre ce qu'il scavoit que son maistre avoit de plus precieux en seurete de sorte qu'executant son dessein il sauva un des chariots de son bagage en faisant semblant d'estre de l'autre party cependant des que la nuit fut venue il se tira d'avec les ennemis mais estant tombe malade a extremite au lieu ou il fut coucher les habitans 
 du village volerent durant sa maladie tout ce qu'il y avoit de considerable parmy ce qu'il avoit sauve et ne luy laiserent qu'une petite cassette de peau de serpent qui estoit belle sans estre riche dans quoy estoient les lettres de noromate si bien que cet escuyer apres avoir este tres malade et estre guery creut comme il estoit beaucoup plus pres d'issedon que de typanis qu'il estoit a propos qu'il allast demander a argyrispe ce qu'elle vouloir qu'il fist afin qu'il sceust s'il devoit aller retrouver son maistre qu'il avoit sceu qui estoit prisonnier et si elle n'avoit rien d'important a luy faire scavoir de sorte qu'executant un dessein qui en effet estoit raisonnable il retourna a issedon mais pour faire voir sa fidellite a argyrispe il luy reporta cette cassette qu'on luy avoit laissee sans scavoir ce qui estoit dedans car il est a croire que ceux qui avoient desrobe tout ce que cet escuyer avoit sauve du bagage de son maistre l'ayant trouvee trop petite et trop legere pour croire qu'il y eust rien de fort riche ne l'avoient pas ouverte et l'avoient laissee ou oubliee comme une chose qui ne leur pouvoit estre utile mais enfin seigneur comme il est fort nature a toutes les personnes qui sont d'un temperamment jaloux d'avoir une curiosite universelle quoy qu'elles n'ayent aucun sujet particulier de jalouse argyrispe avoit une inclination naturelle a ouvrir toutes les lettres qui luy passoient par les mains et a chercher 
 tousjours sans scavoir quoy en effet j'ay ouy dire a une de ses amies qu'elle ne pouvoit se trouver seule dans une chambre lors qu'elle alloit pour faire quelque visite qu'elle ne regardast les lettres qu'elle voyoit sur la table ou qu'elle n'eust du moins envie de les voir sa curiosite alloit mesme si loin qu'elle n'y pouvoit seulement voir une boiste sans l'ouvrir ny voir un cabinet ouvert sans y regarder curieusement il vous est donc aise de juger qu'argyrispe estant de l'humeur que je vous la depeins ne put voir cette cassette sans l'ouvrir mais seigneur le mal fut que lors que cet escuyer la luy reporta sitalce que je vous ay dit qui la voyoit souvent estoit alors avec elle si bien que comme de son naturel elle estoit fort impatiente elle fit ouvrir cette cassette en sa presence mais celuy qu'elle employa pour l'ouvrir ne le pouvant faire sans violence il arriva qu'elle s'ouvrit tout d'un coup lors qu'il n'y pensoit pas et qu'elle s'ouvrit si brusquement que toutes les lettres de noromate s'eparpillerent en tombant de sorte qu'en estant tombe malheureusement une sur sitalce il la prit pour la rendre a argyrispe sans penser d'abord quelle fust de sa femme mais lors que pour la luy rendre plus respectueusement il fit comme s'il eust voulu baiser cette lettre et qu'il vint a jetter les yeux sur la suscription qui estoit encore malheureusement tournee vers luy il fut estrangement surpris de reconnoistre 1 'escriture de noromate 
 et il le fut de telle forte que changeant le dessein qu'il avoit eu de la rendre a argyrispe lors qu'il pensoit n'y avoir nul interest il prit celuy de la voir quoy qu'il ne sceust pas trop bien sur quel pretexte il le pourroit faire il est vray qu'il ne fut pas en la peine de le chercher car comme argyrispe avoit ramasse toutes les autres lettres elle en avoit reconnu l'escriture et elle l'avoit d'autant plus facilement reconnue qu'il n'y avoit pas long temps qu'elle avoit receu la responce que noromate avoit faite a la lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite si bien qu'estant fort surprise de ce qu'elle voyoit et la jalousie s'emparant de son coeur un moment apres que la curiosite s'en fut emparee je n'avois jamais sceu dit elle a sitalce qu'il y eust eu un commerce assez estroit entre noromate et adonacris pour s'escrire tant de lettres mais je m'imagine adjousta-t'elle en le regardant que vous en estes mieux instruit que moy sitalce entendant ce que luy disoit argyrispe se trouva fort embarrasse car il ne scavoit que luy respondre neantmoins comme il ne pouvoit pas luy cacher que ces lettres estoient de sa femme et qu'il n'osoit aussi dire qu'il eust sceu ce qu'il n'avoit pas sceu parce qu'il ne scavoit pas en effet ce qu'elles contenoient il se resolut de luy advouer ingenument qu'il ne scavoit non plus qu'elle que noromate eust escrit a adonacris mais il le luy advoua avec une agitation de coeur estrange et sans scavoir presques ce qu'il pensoit toutesfois a la fin ces deux 
 personnes qu'une esgale passion agitoit convinrent qu'elles liroient chacune une de ces lettres pour voir de quelle nature elles estoient car enfin dit argyrispe a sitalce il est juste puis que ces lettres sont escrites par vostre femme que vous les voiyez et il est equitable aussi puis qu'elles sont escrites a mon mary que je les voye mais seigneur admirez un peu je vous en conjure la bizarrerie du destin en cette rencontre et pour le pouvoir faire il faut que vous scachiez qu'encore que toutes les lettres de noromate ne fussent que civilles elles l'estoient pourtant d'une maniere qui leur donnoit le carractere de lettres d'amour de plus elles n'estoient point dattees de sorte que sitalce et argyrispe ne pouvoient scavoir precisement si elles estoient escrites devant ou apres leur mariage outre ce que je viens de dire il estoit encore arrive malheureusement qu'adonacris qui ne vouloit conserver que ce qui pouvoit entretenir l'amour de noromate dans son coeur avoit brusle les deux lettres qu'il en avoit receues depuis qu'elle avoit espouse sitalce par lesquelles elles luy deffendoit de luy escrire et luy ordonnoit de ne la voir jamais ne voulant pas disoit-il avoir rien en sa puissance qui pust combattre sa passion ny luy faire voir que noromate ne luy avoit pas tousjours este favorable si bien seigneur que par ce moyen sitalce et argyrispe avoient entre leurs mains tout ce qui pouvoit accuser noromate et n'avoient 
 point ce qui l'eust pu justifier mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois argyrispe et sitalce se mettant donc a lire bas avec les sentimens que vous pouvez vous imaginer la premiere lettre qu'il leut estoit a peu pres conceue en ces termes
 
 
 noromate a adonacris 
 
 
 il paroist bien que je ne suis pas si sincere que vous car je ne voudrois pas que vous pussiez deviner tous mes sentimens comme vous semblez desirer que je devine tous les vostres ne pensez pourtant pas que j'en aye qui vous soient desavantageux ny qui soient aussi trop a vostre avantage mais c'est que de l'humeur dont je suis je n'aime pas qu'on ait autant de pouvoir sur moy que moy mesme contentez vous donc de celuy que je vous donne et sans vouloir penetrer dans mes pensees qu'il vous suffise que je consens que vous expliquiez toutes mes paroles de la maniere la plus obligeante que vous les pourrez expliquer 
 
 
 noromate 
 
 
quoy que cette lettre ne fust a parler veritablement que civile et galante elle excita pourtant 
 un si grand trouble dans l'ame de sitalce qu'elle y mit tout a la fois de la jalousie de la haine et de la fureur mais si elle fit un si fascheux effet dans le coeur de sitalce celle que leut argyrispe ne luy causa pas moins de desordre dans l'esprit et voicy si ma memoire ne me trompe ce qu'elle contenoit
 
 
 noromate a adonacris 
 
 
 si je pouvois vous escrire que je consens que vous m'aimiez sans vous dire tacitement en mesme temps je vous aime je le serois sans doute mais comme cette permission pourrait estre expliquee de cette forte je ne vous la donneray point et toute la grace que vous recevrez de moy fera que je vous laisserai la liberte de m'aimer ou de ne m'aimer pas sans vous le permettre ny sans vous le deffendre 
 
 
 noromate 
 
 
apres la lecture de cette lettre argyrispe regarda sitalce et vit si bien dans ses yeex que celle qu'il avoit leue estoit de la naturel de celle qu'elle venoit de lire qu'elle ne crut pas necessaire de le luy demander j'ay sceu depuis par une fille 
 qui estoit a elle et qui estoit en un coin de sa chambre pendant la conversation qu'elle eut avec sitalce qu'ils avoient tous deux le visage si change les yeux si pleins de fureur et l'ame si troublee qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'ils avoient plus d'une passion dans le coeur je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous raporter exactement ce qu'ils se dirent quoy que cette fille me l'ait raconte car ce fut une conversation si peu liee et si pleine de colere et de fureur que je ne vous donnerois pas grand plaisir cependant ils acheverent de lire toutes les lettres de noromate mais quoy qu'ils n'en trouvassent point de plus engageantes que les deux que je vous ay recitees ils ne laisserent pas d'en tirer toutes les consequences les plus facheuses pour sitalce dans la violence de son transport il disoit a argyrispe que connoissant noromate comme il la connoissoit il faloit conter toutes ses civilitez pour de grandes marques d'amour et argyrispe disoit aussi a sitalce que scachant quelle estoit la discretion de son mary elle estoit bien assuree qu'il avoit brusle les lettres les plus obligeantes de noromate et qu'il n'avoit garde que les plus indifferentes enfin il y eut des temps ou ils penserent les mesmes choses il y en eut d'autres aussi ou ils se contredirent et l'exces du depit qu'ils avoient et contre adonacris et contre noromate fit qu'ils en eurent aussi l'un contre l'autre en effet argyrispe disoit presques clairement a sitalce que sa femme luy desroboit le 
 coeur de son mary parce qu'il n'avoit pas assez de merite pour avoir acquis le sien et il s'en faloit peu aussi que sitalce ne fist entendre a argyrispe qu'adonacris n'aimoit noromate que parce qu'il ne la trouvoit pas assez aimable neantmoins comme leurs interests estoient esgaux et qu'ils pouvoient s'entre-servir pour se vanger apres que leur premiere fureur fut un peu allentie ils s'unirent pour rendre malheureuses les deux personnes qui causoient leur douleur et ils se trouverent enfin en estat de considerer la difficulte que faisoit aryante de faire l'eschange qu'on luy proposoit le peu de soin qu'elybesis aportoit a soliciter la liberte de son frere et le peu de douleur qu'adonacris luy mesme tesmoignoit par ses lettres de n'estre pas delivre de sorte que concluant que c'estoit qu'adonacris avoit escrit a sa soeur qu'il vouloit qu'on ne le delivrast pas ils conclurent en suitte que noromate scavoit la chose et y consentoit et qu'adonacris et elle passoient les journees entieres ensemble a se divertir a leurs despens et a se moquer de toutes leurs inquietudes et de tous les foins qu'ils prenoient pour faire que l'eschange se fist sitalce en son particulier ne doutoit nullement que la raison pourquoy agathyrse n'obligeoit pas spargapyse a offrir deux prisonniers au lieu d'un au prince aryante estoit que sa femme l'en empeschoit et n'agissoit pas comme il luy avoit mande qu'elle agist et argyrispe croyoit aussi que lors que son mary luy 
 avoit mande qu'elle n'offrist rien pour le delivrer parce qu'il avoit une voye seure de recouvrer sa liberte c'estoit parce qu'en effet il ne vouloit pas qu'on le delivrast de sorte qu'estant tous deux dans ces sentimens il n'est point de resolution violente qu'ils ne prissent mais enfin apres avoir bien examine ce qu'ils avoient a faire ils conclurent qu'il faloit qu'ils fissent scavoir a adonacris et a noromate qu'ils scavoient leur affection et qu'ils le leur fissent scavoir en des termes si forts que cela les pust obliger a faire cesser les obstacles qu'ils presuposoient qu'ils mettoient a l'eschange qu'on negocioit se resolvant apres cela de pouffer la chose plus loin quand ils auroient veu l'effet de leurs lettres si bien que comme ce second envoye de spargapyse estoit prest de repartir d'issedon sans avoir rien fait non plus que la premiere fois ils escrivirent par luy mais seigneur j'avois oublie de vous dire que comme cet envoye d'agathyrse avoit eu un ordre secret de luy de publier adroitement a issedon qu'on disoit a typanis qu'il estoit amoureux de noromate afin qu'elybesis le pust scavoir il arriva que le pauvre sitalce le sceut aussi si bien que croyant alors que sa femme avoit deux amans au lieu d'un il en fut encore plus malheureux mais si cette nouvelle l'affligea il n'en fut pas autant du prince aryante lors qu'il la sceut au contraire il en eut de la joye et pensant qu'il luy seroit avantageux qu'elybesis ne l'ignorast 
 point il fut luy faire une visite expres pour le luy aprendre mais seigneur son dessein ne reussit pas aussi heureusement qu'il l'avoit espere car enfin elybesis ne put entendre sans douleur qu'agathyrse ne l'aimoit plus et en aimoit une autre aryante luy dit mesme la chose d'une maniere si suprenante que ne pouvant luy cacher ses premiers sentimens il remarqua aisement que la nouvelle passion d'agathyrse l'affligeoit de sorte que ne pouvant s'empescher de luy en tesmoigner quelque chose si j'en croy vos yeux madame luy dit-il la perte du coeur d'agathyrse vous afflige autant que si j'avois perdu une bataille et que vous eussiez perdu une couronne si mes yeux vous ont monstre de la douleur reprit adroitement elybesis en rougissant ils ont mal explique les sentimens de mon esprit puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'y a que du depit dans mon ame ou agathyrse mesme n'a nulle part mais je vous advoue que comme je n'aime pas noromate je ne suis pas bi aise qu'un homme que j'ay tant veu l'aille entretenir de nos conversations passees il ne me semble pourtant pas reprit aryante que vous ayez jamais rien eu a demesler avec noromante du temps qu'elle estoit icy il est vray repliqua elybesis un peu embarrassee que nous n'avons pas eu de querelle qui ait esclate mais seigneur adjousta-t'elle avec une vivacite d'esprit merveilleuse quand on est a peu pres de mesme age de mesme condition qu'on pretend a la mesme estime 
 et aux mesmes louanges et qu'on n'est ny vieille ny laide il ne faut guere demander s'il y a quelque chose a demesler entre deux filles de cette sorte lors qu'on ne voit pas qu'elles soient amies particulieres car encore qu'elles vivent avec civilite ensemble croyez moy seigneur que si on cherchoit bien avant dans leur coeur on y trouveroit peu d'amitie ha madame s'ecria aryante en la regardant fixement que le soin que vous prenez de me persuader que vous estes capable d'envie m'est suspect et que je crains bien que ne veuilliez cacher une passion par une autre cependant adjousta-t'il ce me seroit une cruelle avanture si je descouvrois que toute vostre amour fust pour agathyrse et que je ne fusse souffert de vous que par ambition seulement car enfin madame il n'est pas juste qu'apres estre devenu rebelle a thomiris pour l'amour de vous qu'apres avoir entrepris la guerre seulement pour vous couronner je me voye en estat de pouvoir penser que la perte d'une bataille me feroit perdre vostre estime et que si je perdois la couronne je perdrois l'esperance de vous posseder de grace madame puis qu'agathyrse ne vous aime plus et en aime une autre faites que j'occupe toute la place qu'il possedoit et n'ayez pas l'injustice d'aimer qui ne vous aime point et de n'aimer pas un prince qui vous aime plus que luy mesme je vous ay desja dit seigneur repliqua-t'elle qu'agathyrse n'a nulle part au depit que mes yeux vous ont monstre 
 malgre moy mais je vous dis encore une fois pour vous empescher de vous pleindre que si vous m'eussiez apris qu'agathyrse eust este amoureux d'une autre que de noromate vous eussiez veu moins d'emotion sur mon visage le voudrois vous pouvoir croire madame reprit-il mais si je ne me trompe j'ay bien entendu vos yeux et vous ne me dittes rien de plus obligeant que ce que je viens d'entrendre et que vous me persuadiez que je ne suis point aime je suis capable d'abandonner le soin de la guerre et de ne songer plus a couronner une personne qui s'amuse a regretter un esclave qui a rompu ses chaisnes lors que je hazarde ma vie pour la faire monter au throsne en verite seigneur repliqua artificieusement elybesis dont l'ambition la fit revenir a elle vous estes estrangement pressant mais puis qu'il faut vous satisfaire je veux bien vous dire la veritable cause de la douleur et de l'agitation que vous avez veue dans mes yeux quoy que je ne le puisse faire sans rougir car enfin puis qu'il vous le faut advouer je n'ay pu aprendre qu'agathyrse avoit pu cesser de m'aimer sans penser en mesme temps que le prince aryante pourroit peut-estre un jour faire la mesme chose et sans penser aussi encore au desespoir que l'en aurois jugez apres cela si vous avez sujet de vous pleindre et si vous avez bien entendu mes yeux ce que vostre bouche me dit m'est si favorable reprit aryante que j'aime mieux accuser voy yeux de mensonge 
 que de penser qu'elle ne soit pas veritable ainsi madame quand je devrois estre trompe je veux croire ce qui me plaist et ne croire point ce qui m'afflige cependant il est certain que quoy qu'elybesis pust dire a aryante elle avoit un sensible despit de scavoir qu'agathyrse ne l'aimoit plus et que l'esperance qu'elle avoit qu'il feroit un jour son sujet ne la consoloit pas entierement de ce qu'il n'estoit plus son esclave bien qu'elle n'eust pourtant alors aucune intention de le rendre heureux mais durant qu'elybesis avoit des sentimens dont elle ne pouvoit estre maistresse et que l'amour et l'ambition deschiroient son coeur presque avec une esgalle violence elle ne scavoit pas qu'agathyrse en feignant de ne l'aimer plus l'aimoit encore avec ardeur estrange malgre qu'il en eust et qu'il souffrit plus en l'aimant qu'elle ne pouvoit souffrir en croyant qu'il ne l'aimoit plus mais quelque grande que fust sa souffrance elle estoit petite en comparaison de ce que souffrit noromate lors qu'elle receut la lettre de son mary en effet seigneur cette lettre estoit escrite d'une si cruelle maniere qu'il n'y en a jamais eu une ou il y eust plus de marques d'une violente jalousie et d'une extreme colere car non seulement il luy faisoit connoistre qu'il scavoit l'intelligence qu'elle avoit eue avec adonacris mais il luy disoit avec des paroles tres rudes qu'il croyoit fortement qu'afin de ne le voir point et de voir adonacris avec plus de liberte elle 
 empeschoit qu'il ne fust delivre adjoustant qu'il ne doutoit point aussi qu'elle ne le vist a toutes les heures et qu'elle ne l'aimast autant qu'il l'aimoit en fuite il luy disoit encore quelque chose de la pretendue amour d'agathyrse meslant toutesfois parmy tous ces reproches injurieux quelques sentimens d'amour et finissant enfin sa lettre par une declaration qu'il luy faisoit que si elle ne trouvoit les voyes de faire qu'on renvoyast dans peu de jours adonacris a issedon et qu'on le fist retourner a typanis il ne la verroit jamais et feroit scavoir a tout le royaume que c'estoit parce qu'elle aimoit adonacris vous pouvez juger seigneur combien cette lettre toucha la vertuese noromate et qu'une personne qui aimoit la gloire avec passion ne put voir la sienne en si grand hazard sans une douleur extreme ce fut veritablement alors qu'elle connut qu'il ne suffit pas d'estre innocente pour avoir l'esprit tranquile puis qu'encore qu'elle n'eust rien fait qui peust choquer la vertu elle ne laissoit pas d'estre tres affligee de ce que son mary soubconnoit la sienne et de ce qu'elle estoit en estat de craindre qu'il ne publiast ses soubcons et qu'il ne ruinast sa reputation mais ce qui rendoit son suplice plus grand estoit que malgre cette injuste persecution elle aimoit tendrement adonacris qui de son coste avoit autant de colere que noromate avoit de douleur car enfin argyrispe en luy escrivant luy faisoit connoistre 
 qu'elle scavoit sa passion pour noromate qu'elle avoit les lettres de cette belle personne entre ses mains qu'elle croyoit qu'il en estoit cherement aime qu'elle ne doutoit point qu'il ne mist obstacle aux foins qu'elle prenoit pour le delivrer et qu'il n'aimast mieux estre prisonnier aupres de noromate que d'estre en liberte et estre aupres d'elle adjoustant en suitte mille prieres de se repentir de son infidellite et autant de menaces de se vanger sur noromate en la faisant mal-traiter par sitalce s'il ne changeoit de sentimens mais ce qui l'affligeoit le plus estoit qu'argyrispe luy faisoit connoistre que sitalce scavoit l'amour qu'il avoit pour sa femme et qu'il avoit mesme veu ses lettres car comme il aimoit de la maniere la plus noble qu'on puisse aimer et qu'il n'estoit pas de ces amans qui ne se soucient point de mesnager la gloire des personnes qu'ils aiment il eut une douleur inconcevable de voir que celle de noromate estoit exposee a sa consideration mais ce qui mit sa patience a la derniere espreuve fut de penser que cette vertueuse personne qui luy avoit este si severe et qui avoit agy avec tant de retenue lors qu'elle n'avoit qu'elle mesme a satisfaire ne le voudroit plus seulement voir des qu'elle aprendroit que son mary scauroit quelque chose de la passion qu'il avoit pour elle de plus il aprehendoit encore qu'elle ne le haist horriblement de ce que ses lettres estoient tombees en de si dangereuses 
 mains car il ne doutoit nullement que sitalce qu'il scavoit luy avoir escrit par le mesme homme qui luy avoit aporte la lettre d'argyrispe ne luy en eust dit quelque chose de sorte que quelque agreable que luy fust la veue de noromate il l'aprehenda alors estrange ment par la crainte qu'il eut de la voir d'autre part agathyrse recevant une lettre d'un de ses amis d'issedon qui luy aprenoit qu'on disoit qu'elybesis estoit en colere de ce qu'on asseuroit qu'il ne l'aimoit plus en eut une joye presques aussi grande que celle qu'il avoit eue autrefois lors qu'elle luy avoir donne des marques d'estre persuadee de son affection en effet comme je fus le voir le lendemain qu'il eut eu cette nouvelle il ne me vit pas plustost que venant vers moy avec une gayete extraordinaire enfin mon cher anabaris me dit-il je suis arrive au point que je voulois et je viens de recevoir la plus agreable nouvelle du monde est-ce que nous aurons bien tost la paix ou la victoire luy dis-je non non me repliqua-t'il et je puis vous assurer que la paix ny la guerre n'ont point de part a ce que je vous veux dire et que l'amour seulement a sa part a ce que je veux vous apprendre c'est donc repliquay-je que vous avez sceu que le prince aryante est brouille avec sa maistresse et qu'elybesis s'est enfin persuadee que la couronne qu'on luy veut donner ne vaut pas l'affection que vous avez pour elle nullement dit-il mais 
 c'est qu'elybesis croit que je ne l'aime plus et qu'elle en a un despit estrange mais luy dis-je si du despit elle passe a la haine ferez vous aussi satisfait que je vous le voy je ne scay ce que je seray dit il si cela arrive mais je scay que j'ay la plus grande joye du monde de l'avoir pu facher et que je n'eus jamais plus de plaisir a luy persuader que je l'aimois que j'en ay a luy avoir fait croire que je ne l'aime plus et si apres cela je puis renverser le throsne ou elle pretend monter et avoir la satisfaction de la voir sans roy sans royaume sans sujets et sans esclave je vivray le plus heureux de tous les hommes ouy repliquay-je si vous pouvez venir a bout de la hair ou du moins de ne l'aimer plus car si vous vous vangez d'elle en l'aimant tousjours croyez moy luy dis-je encore en le regardant fixement que vous vous vangerez sur vous mesme quand cela seroit me dit-il je ne laisserois pas de faire comme si j'estois heureux car je vous declare que je mourrois mille et mille fois plustost que de souffrir qu'elybesis sceust jamais que je ne la pourrois hair de sorte que si je sentois en ce temps bien heureux que je souhaite que je ne pusse cacher mon amour je me cacherois plustost moy mesme joint qu'a vous parler sincerement il y a desja long-temps que j'ay resolu des que je me seray vange de mon rival de recommencer ma premiere forme de vie de me r'enfermer parmy mes amis et de laisser la tous ces 
 gens qu'il a plu a la fortune de mettre sur ma teste aussi bien suis-je si las de me voir au dessous d'eux que je ne les puis endurer qu'aveque peine car enfin de l'humeur dont je suis je ne suis point propre ny a les flatter ny a me soumettre de plus j'ay une fantaisie dans l'esprit qui me tourmente cent fois le jour malgre que j'en aye et puis qu'il faut que je vous descouvre toutes mes foiblesses scachez qu'il n'y a pas un de ces gens la qui face une chose mal a propos que je n'enrage contre la fortune de ce qu'elle les a placez ou ils sont en effet je suis assure que vous m'avez veu mille fois sombre et chagrin et que vous avez cru que j'avois quelque grand sujet d'affliction que je n'en avois point d'autre sinon que ceux que je dis avoient fait ou dit quelque chose indigne d'eux ce n'est pourtant pas par tendresse adjousta-t'il que je m'interesse a leurs deffauts au contraire c'est plustost par un sentiment d'aversions naturelles que j'ay pour tout ce qui est au dessus de moy qui fait que je ne puis voir de princes ou faibles ou timides ou avares ou stupides que je n'en veuille mal a la fortune et que je ne voulusse les pouvoir mettre dans une condition proportionnee a leur peu de merite en effet je suis si peu capable poursuivit-il de souffrir des hommes mal faits au dessus de moy que j'ay mesme bi de la peine a endurer qu'on mette vulcan au nombre des dieux jugez donc si je puis mettre au rang de princes 
 ceux qui ont le coeur d'un esclave la rusticite d'un pescheur le langage d'un bas artisan et le procede tout a fait oppose a celuy du monde raisonnable si elybesis vous avoit entendu parler comme vous venez de faire luy dis-je en souriant elle vous auroit accuse de profanation suivant sa coustume et je pense qu'elle auroit eu raison je ne scay si elle auroit eu raison me dit-il mais je scay bien que je n'ay pas tort de trouver fort mauvais qu'elle m'ait trahy et d'estre bien aise de luy avoir fait despit mais seigneur pour en revenir a noromate je vous diray que cette vertueuse personne apres avoir passe toute la nuit a s'affliger et a chercher quel remede elle pourroit trouver a un mal si pressant eut encore un nouveau sujet de douleur car elle receut une lettre de son pere qui estoit aupres de thomiris qui scachant qu'adonacris estoit a issedon et n'ignorant pas l'intelligence qu'il avoit eue avec noromate avant son mariage luy mandoit que s'il aprenoit qu'elle le vist chez elle il la rendroit la plus malheureuse personne de son sexe de sorte que se trouvant accablee de tous les costez elle prit la plus genereuse resolution du monde malgre toute la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour adonacris et toute l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour sitalce car enfin seigneur comme elle jugeoit bien qu'elle ne viendroit pas a bout de faire eschanger son amant contre son mary elle se resolut pour se justifier pleinement dans son esprit et pour luy faire voir qu'elle ne 
 mettoit pas d'obstacle a sa liberte pour ne le voir point et pour voir adonacris elle se resolut dis-je de se derober de typanis et de s'en aller a issedon trouver sitalce mais seigneur elle ne prit pas cette resolution sans larmes et elle ne l'executa pas sans peine neantmoins comme elle n'en pouvoit prendre d'autre qui mist sa gloire a couvert elle s'y opiniastra malgre toute la repugnance qu'elle avoit a quitter ce qu'elle aimoit pour aller trouver ce qu'elle n'aimoit pas la tendresse qu'elle avoit dans le coeur pour adonacris luy eust bien fait souhaiter de luy pouvoir parler encore une fois en sa vie joint qu'elle eust bien mesme voulu scavoir avant que de voir son mary par quelle cruelle avanture ses lettres estoient en sa puissance mais comme elle n'eust pu en chercher l'occasion sans luy faire une faveur qu'elle ne vouloit pas se pouvoir reprocher a elle mesme elle ne le fit point il est vray que la fortune qui ne vouloit pas qu'ils se separassent sans se parler fit la chose sans qu'elle s'en meslast comme je vous le diray bien tost cependant comme noromate chercha a imaginer les voyes de pouvoir sortir de typanis et de traverser seurement les troupes de spargapyse qui estoient en leurs quartiers d'hyver elle en imagina effectivement une qui luy reussit elle fut donc chez eliorante a qui elle dit comme il estoit vray qua son mary avoit un escuyer qu'il aimoit sort qui avoit este fait prisonnier aveque luy et qui s'estoit marie peu de temps avant sa 
 prison mais pour faire reussir son intention elle adjousta un mensonge a cette verite et luy dit que la femme de cet escuyer ayant sceu que son mary estoit tombe malade a issedon et qu'il souhaitoit ardemment de la voir elle eust bien desire d'y pouvoir aller en suitte de quoy noromate exagerant la douleur de cette femme pria eliorante de vouloir luy faire obtenir un passeport pour elle la conjurant de vouloir obliger son mary a le luy faire donner sans qu'on sceust qu'elle s'en meslast car luy dit-elle avec beaucoup de finesse j'ay tant de choses a demander a spargapyse et a agathyrse pour la liberte de sitalce que je seray bien aise de ne les accabler pas pour les interests d'autruy et pour une chose qui leur paroistra de fort petite importance eliorante qui estoit bien aise de trouver occasion d'obliger noromate ne s'amusa point a examiner de si pres les raisons qu'elle luy disoit et luy dit que si elle vouloit l'attendre une demie heure dans sa chambre elle luy rendroit l'office qu'elle desiroit mais a peine eut elle dit cela qu'adonacris qui sembloit estre destine a ne pouvoir parler a noromate que chez eliorante arriva de sorte que cette dame luy adressant la parole comme je priay noromate il y a quelque temps de vouloir vous entretenir durant que je serois dans mon cabinet luy dit-elle il faut que je vous prie aujourd'huy de l'empescher de s ennuyer pendant que j'yray faire une chose qu'elle desire de moy je ne scay madame repliqua 
 adonacris si je pouray faire ce que vous dittes mais je scay bien que si je ne la divertis pas j'auray du moins dessein de ne luy rien dire qui luy desplaise et de ne l'ennuyer point apres cela eliorante sortit pour aller prier son mary qui s'en alloit trouver spargapyse de luy faire obtenir ce que noromate souhaitoit sans qu'il sceust qu'elle s'en meslast si bien que ces deux personnes qui avoient une si violente inclination a s'aimer et qui avoient pourtant alors des pensees bien differentes demeurerent dans la liberte de s'entretenir elles ne se dirent toutesfois pas ce qu'elles pensoient car noromate n'eut garde de dire a adonacris le dessein qu'elle avoit d'aller trouver sitalce de peur qu'il ne l'en empeschast et adonacris ne dit rien aussi a noromate de la lettre qu'argyrispe luy avoit escrite de crainte de l'affliger noromate de son coste ne voulut pas luy parler de ces lettres qui avoient este veues de sitalce quoy qu'elle en eust bien envie car comme elle scavoit que le bagage d'adonacris avoit este perdu elle jugeoit bien que ce desordre avoit cause l'autre et qu'il n'en estoit pas coupable joint que ne luy en pouvant parler sans luy faire une confidence de la jalousie de son mary elle ne s'y put resoudre luy semblant qu'elle ne pouvoit le faire sans choquer sa gloire et sans faire mesme quelque chose de trop obligeat pour adonacris mais conme dans la pensee qu'elle avoit elle croyoit qu'elle ne se retrouveroit jamais aveque luy dans la liberte de luy 
 pouvoir parler comme elle l'avoit alors elle ne put s'empescher d'en soupirer de sorte qu'adonacris qui y prit garde le regarda avec des yeux ou la curiosite estoit peinte et prenant la parole je scavois bien madame luy dit-il que je m'aquiterois mal de la commission qu'eliorante me donnoit de vous divertir et je ne connois que trop par le soupir que je viens d'entendre que ma conversation n'est pas assez agreable pour vous empescher de penser des choses facheuses j'en pense sans doute repliqua-t'elle qui ne me plaisent pas mais comme je suis fort equitable je ne vous en accuse point cependant adjousta-t'elle je vous demande pardon de ce que je ne me contraints pas pour vous et de ce qu'un reste d'habitude a ne vous deguiser point mes sentimens fait que je n'aporte pas autant de soin a vous les cacher que j'en aporte a ne les monstrer pas aux autres ha madame s'escria adonacris que ce pardon que vous me demandez est injurieux en effet madame je trouve que j'ay bien plus de sujet de me pleindre de ce que vous ne me dittes par ce qui vous fait soupirer que de ce que vous soupirez devant moy car enfin il me semble que la moindre part que je puisse pretendre a vostre confidence est celle de vos douleurs mais madame pour vous tesmoigner que je suis aise a contenter dans ma passion je vous demande moins que jamais amant n'a demande je vous declare toutesfois que si vous me l'accordez je ne me pleindray point de vous quoy que vous 
 me puissiez demander comme mon amant reprit-elle vous ne l'obtiendrez jamais je vous le demande donc comme vostre amy repliqua-t'il puis que le nom d'amant vous offence mais c'est du moins comme un amy qui n'aime que vous et qui n'aimera jamais autre chose ainsi madame sans m'amuser a disputer sur un no qui ne change pas mon coeur je vous demande seulement pour toute grace que je scache toutes vos douleurs cachez moy toutes vos joyes si vous en avez mais pour vos deplaisirs madame faites que je les partage aveque vous et ne me cachez pas s'il vous plaist ce qui vous a fait soupirer apres cela je m'assure que vous ne direz pas que je demande trop et que mon affection soit difficile a satisfaire puis que je ne veux que partager un soupir et qu'en scavoir la cause en demandant ce que vous demandez repliqua noromate vous demandez peut-estre plus que vous ne pensez et plus que je ne dois vous accorder en effet poursuivit-elle il est certaines douleurs qu'on ne peut dire sans s'enganger trop et de l'humeur dont je suis la chose la plus obligeante que je puisse faire pour ceux que j'aime est de leur confier toutes les miennes et de vouloir bien qu'ils les partagent dittes moy donc je vous en conjure ce qui vous a fait soupirer repliqua adonacris car je vous advoue que je ne puis comprendre que vous ne le deviez pas sans examiner si je le dois ou si je le puis reprit-elle je vous assure que je ne le seray point car enfin adonacris la 
 raison ne veut pas que j'aye nulle confidence avec un homme que je ne dois plus voir et a qui je ne devrois mesme pas parler comme je fais si je demeurois dans les bornes que l'exacte vertu demande aussi suis-le resolue adjousta-t'elle que ce soit aujourd'huy la derniere conversation particuliere que j'auray aveque vous et de vivre de facon que vous n'y en puissiez plus avoir ne voulant plus me pouvoir reprocher a moy mesme que je fais plus que je ne devrois faire ha madame s'escria adonacris si vous faites plus que vous ne devez on peut dire que vous ne devez rien puis qu'il est vray que vous ne pouvez pas faire moins que vous faites mais madame si vous estes resolue que je ne vous parle plus en particulier qu'aujourd'huy il faut donc que ce soit aujourd'huy que vous regliez toute ma vie que vous me disiez ce que vous voulez que je face et que vous m'ordonniez ce que vous voulez que je pense car je vous declare que je ne veux faire dire ny penser rien qui vous desplaise puis que cela est ainsi reprit noromate je veux bien encore une fois en ma vie me servir du pouvoir que vous m'aviez donne sur vous et que je pensois autrefois pouvoir garder innocemment le reste de mes jours mais adonacris je m'en serviray a vous ordonner de vivre aussi bien avec argyrispe que je suis resolue de vivre bien avec sitalce a vous conjurer de ne vous dire pas seulement a vous mesme que vous m'ayez aimee et de ne penser plus a tout ce qui pourroit renouveller 
 dans vostre coeur le souvenir de la tendresse de nostre amitie ha madame reprit adonacris quand on veut estre obeie il faut commander des choses qu'on puisse faire cependant il est certain que des trois que vous m'ordonnez il y en a une tres difficile et deux impossibles en effet madame le moyen de ne m'entrenir pas continuellement du passe pour me consoler du present qui m'est si rigoureux et pour me donner la force de pouvoir suporter l'advenir que vous me representez si terrible lors que vous me dittes que vous avez resolu que je ne vous parle plus il faut donc bien madame malgre vostre deffence que je me die du moins a moy mesme que je vous aime puis que vous ne voulez plus que je vous le die et il faut bien encore que je m'entretienne de vous puis que vous ne voulez pas que je vous entretienne vous mesme ouy madame il faut que je pense a vous et que je parle de vous puis qu'il m'est impossible de penser a autre chose ce n'est pas que je n'aye fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour vous oublier mais je l'ay fait inutilement car en quelque lieu que j'aille et quoy que je face mon imagination n'est remplie que de vous je me suis veu a la guerre et dans les occasions les plus dangereuses sans pouvoir detacher mon esprit de son objet ordinaire si je suis en conversation en lieu ou vous n'estes pas je regrette la vostre et je ne songe guere a celle des autres si je me promene je pense agreablement a mille choses que je vous ay veu faire 
 ou que je vous ay entendu dire et si je dors mes songes ne me monstrent que vous mais madame si je le puis dire sans vous faire souvenir de mon crime je n'espousay pas mesme argirispe sans penser a noromate toute infidelle qu'elle m'avoit este et si je pouvois vous bien representer l'estat de mon ame lors qu'a vostre exemple je m'engageay pour tousjours vous verriez bien que mon coeur desavoua toutes les paroles d'engagement que je prononcay et que je pensois plus a ce que j'avois perdu qu'a ce que je gagnois cependant vous avez l'injustice de m'ordonner de ne penser plus a vous mais madame adjousta-t'il si les deux sont justes ils vous forceront de penser a moy et ils m'accorderont la grace d'estre assez bien dans vostre esprit pour vous causer quelques facheux instans en souhaitant comme je fais reprit-elle qu'ils vous donnent tout le repos que je desire pour moy mesme je suis plus equitable que vous ne l'estes et par consequent j'ay lieu de croire que les dieux m'exauceront plustost que vous mais enfin madame luy dit-il quel mal vous peut faire une passion toute pure renfermee dans mon coeur et que vous importe quand je ne vous voy point que je pense a vous ou que je n'y pense pas pourveu que je puisse penser que vous ny pensiez pas repliqua-t'elle il ne m'importe sans doute pas pour mon interest mais il m'importe tousjours pour le vostre afin que vous soyez plus en repos de sorte madame 
 luy dit-il en la regardant avec beaucoup d'amour que je puis esperer quand je ne vous voy point que vous pensez du moins a tascher de deviner si je pense a vous ou si je n'y pense pas ainsi je ne suis pas tout a fait si malheureux que je le croyois car encore est-ce quelque legere consolation de scavoir que vous ne m'ayez pas banny de vostre memoire comme de vostre coeur eh de grace madame adjousta-t'il avec une passion infiniment tendre ne refusez pas toutes choses a un amant qui n'est pas de l'humeur de ceux qui ne se font des fellicitez que des choses les plus essentiellement favorables et qui au contraire scait l'art de multiplier les plaisirs par le prix qu'il donne aux plus petites faveurs permettez moy donc seulement madame de penser a vous et souffrez que je croye que vous me faites quelquesfois l'honneur de penser a moy et je ne murmureray point de vostre rigueur il me semble madame que je ne vous demande rien qui vous puisse offencer et que je pourrois mesme sans vous donner sujet de pleinte vous prier de prononcer quelquesfois le nom du malheureux adonacris en mon particulier je vous proteste que celuy de noromate est tres souvent en ma bouche et qu'il a un son si agreable pour moy que je ne puis jamais l'entendre sans esmotion et sans plaisir mais je m'assure madame qu'il n'en est pas ainsi du mien et que vous l'entendez dire mille et mille fois sans en changer de couleur comme adonacris 
 disoit cela noromate qui se reprochois en secret en elle mesme qu'elle n'estoit pas aussi insensible qu'il le disoit ne put s'empescher de rougir de sorte qu'adonacris le remarquant reprit la parole et eut autant de curiosite de scavoir la cause de la rougeur qu'il en avoit eu de scavoir celle de ce soupir qui luy estoit eschape mais la modestie de noromate ne luy permettant pas de le faire elle luy donna seulement lieu de deviner qu'il ne se passoit rien dans son coeur a son desavantage car comme il la pressa de luy dire un peu plus precisement ses sentimens et qu'elle vint a considerer que si elle executoit le dessein qu'elle avoit d'aller trouver sitalce et de s'esloigner d'adonacris puis qu'elle ne pouvoit le delivrer la tendresse de son ame parut dans ses yeux plus qu'elle ne le vouloit et ses paroles mesmes eurent quelque chose qu'elle n'eust pas advoue si ses secondes pensees eussent pu empescher que les premieres n'eussent desja passe de son esprit dans celuy d'adonacris car enfin comme il la pressoit de luy dire un peu plus clairement ce qu'elle pensoit et ce qu'elle vouloit de luy elle luy respondit plus favorablement qu'elle n'eust pense luy respondre un quart d'heure auparavant vous me pressez d'une telle sorte luy dit-elle que pour vous obliger a me laisser en paix je veux bien vous advouer que je ne suis pas aussi absolument maistresse de mon coeur que de mes actions que toutes mes pensees ne respondent pas a mes paroles et que 
 lors que je vous commande de m'oublier je ne serois pas bien aise que vous m'obeissiez quoy que je veuille pourtant estre obeie enfin adonacris tout ce que je vous puis dire est que quelque resolution que j'aye prise de faire tousjours tout ce que je dois je sens bien que je vous pardonneray plus aisement si vous ne m'oubliez pas que je ne me pardonneray a moy mesme si je ne puis vous oublier cependant soit que je vous chasse de mon coeur ou que je ne vous en chasse pas j'agiray aveque vous comme si vous n'y aviez jamais eu aucune part apres cela adonacris ne m'en demandez pas davantage je viens de vous dire plus de choses obligeantes que je ne voulois et les paroles que je viens de prononcer me feront sans doute rougir toutes les fois que je m'en souviendray mais apres tout l'infidelite que le respect que je dois a mon pere m'a obligee de vous faire merite sans doute que je m'en punisse et que je vous en console c'est pourquoy bien que je vous aye dit plus que je ne devois je ne m'en repens pas encore quoy que je fente bien que je m'en repentiray des que je ne vous verray plus vous aurez raison madame reprit adonacris quand vous vous repentirez de ce que vous venez de dire car il est si peu obligeant pour moy que vous aurez en effet sujet de vous en repentir comme adonacris prononcoit ces paroles eliorante revint de sorte que noromate craignant qu'elle ne dist tout haut devant luy quel estoit l'office 
 qu'elle venoit de luy rendre et que son amour ne luy fist deviner le dessein cache qu'elle avoit elle s'avanca vers elle et sceut que devant que le jour fust passe elle auroit ce qu'elle souhaitoit eliorante l'assurant qu'il ne tiendroit pas a cela que la femme de cet escuyer de sitalce qu'elle luy disoit vouloir aller trouver son mary malade ne partist des le lendemain noromate ayant donc obtenu ce qu'elle avoit souhaite remercia eliorante de l'office qu'elle luy avoit rendu et la quitta un moment apres mais lors qu'elle se tourna vers adonacris pour le saluer et qu'elle vint a penser que peut-estre ne le reverroit elle jamais une si profonde melancolie s'empara tout d'un coup de son esprit que les larmes luy en vinrent aux yeux cependant a peine eut elle senty quelle estoit sa foiblesse qu'elle se hasta de sortir de peur qu'on ne la remarquast de sorte qu'abaissant diligemment son voile comme si elle eust eu peur de se hasser elle cacha plus facilement cette impression de douleur qui avoit passe de son coeur sur son visage mais si elle eut assez d'adresse pour la cacher elle n'eut pas assez de force pour la vaincre et elle passa le reste du jour et la nuit suivante avec des transports d'affliction si violents qu'elle a advoue depuis qu'elle ne s'estoit jamais trouvee si malheureuse qu'elle se le trouvoit alors
 
 
 
 
toutesfois sa vertu estant encore plus forte que sa tristesse elle demeura dans la resolution qu'elle avoit prise d'aller trouver son mary pour luy 
 faire connoistre qu'elle ne s'opposoit pas a sa liberte afin de pouvoir voir adonacris puis qu'elle s'en esloignoit pour cet effet elle prit deux anciens domestiques de la maison de sitalce pour la conduire et une femme avec elle donnant ordre qu'il y eust un chariot prest a la pointe du jour et un chariot qui ne fust pas a elle pour mieux cacher son dessein mais afin qu'on ne pust scavoir son depart que lors qu'elle seroit assez loin de typanis pour faire qu'on ne la pust joindre quand agathyrse envoyeroit apres elle cette vertueuse personne ordonna aux femmes qu'elle laissa a typanis de ne laisser entrer personne dans sa chambre durant trois jours et de dire mesme a ses propres domestiques qu'elle se trouvoit mal ayant pour cet effet confie son dessein a un vieux medecin qui estoit fort son amy et qui luy promit d'aller chez elle comme si elle eust effectivement este malade et pour faire qu'il ne pust estre mal traitte de spargapyse et d'agathyrse quand la chose seroit descouverte il fut resolu qu'il diroit alors qu'il auroit este trompe le premier et qu'une fille qui estoit a elle auroit contrefait sa voix se seroit mise dans son lit et auroit fait semblant d'estre malade de plus elle escrivit une lettre pour eliorante laissant ordre de la luy porter trois jours apres son depart et la chose fut enfin si bien conduite que noromate sortit mesme de chez elle sans que ses gens le sceussent a la reserve de ceux qui estoient de 
 l'intelligence de sorte que faisant mettre cette femme qui la devoit suivre a la place la plus considerable du chariot ce fut elle qui par a la porte de la ville et qui monstra le passeport qu'elle avoit afin qu'on la laissast sortir avec une fille et deux hommes pour l'escorter si bien que comme il estoit si matin qu'a peine commencoit on de voir elle sortit sans difficulte et sans qu'on la reconnust mais a dire vray elle ne sortit pas sans douleur car apres qu'elle fut hors de la ville et qu'elle vint a penser encore une fois qu'elle ne verroit peut-estre jamais adonacris qu'elle aimoit cherement et qu'elle alloit voir sitalce qu'elle n'aimoit pas et en recevoir mille reproches elle sentit ce qu'elle n'a jamais sceu bien exprimer et fit ce voyage avec une melancolie qui n'a jamais eu d'esgale il y avoit pourtant quelques instans ou la joye de s'estre vaincue elle mesme et de faire une action de vertu si heroique luy donnoit quelque satisfaction mais il y en avoit aussi plusieurs autres ou elle trouvoit que cette victoire luy coustoit trop cher cependant elle fit son voyage sans aucun obstacle car tout ce qu'elle rencontra des troupes de spargapyse obeirent a l'ordre qu'elle avoit et des qu'elle arriva aux premiers quartiers des troupes d'aryante elle se fit connoistre aux chefs pour ce qu'elle estoit et se fit donner escorte pour aller a issedon ou elle arriva plustost qu'elle ne le vouloit quoy qu'elle y voulust pourtant arriver 
 mais seigneur avant que de vous dire comment sitalce la receut il faut que je vous die ce qui se passa a typanis vous scaurez donc que les ordres de noromate furent si bien suivis qu'on creut qu'elle estoit chez elle durant les trois jours qu'elle avoit ordonne qu'on celast son depart et qu'adonacris luy mesme le creut non seulement comme les autres mais plus fort que les autres car comme il scavoit la conversation qu'il avoit eue avec elle il s'imagina qu'elle faisoit dire qu'elle se trouvoit mal afin de ne sortir point de ne voir personne et d'esviter de le rencontrer de sorte qu'il passa ces trois jours sans autre inquietude que celle que luy donnoit la privation de sa veue et celle que luy donnoit aussi la connoissance qu'il avoit de cette austere vertu qui l'obligeoit a faire scrupule de luy parler seulement cependant ces trois jours estans passez eliorante receut la lettre de noromate qui luy demandoit pardon de l'avoir trompee en luy cachant le dessein qu'elle avoit eu et qui luy apprenoit qu'elle alloit trouver son mary afin de soliciter elle mesme aryante pour sa liberte puis que l'obstacle ne venoit que de luy mais ce qu'il y eut de considerable fut que lors qu'eliorante receut cette lettre adonacris estoit avec elle de sorte que ne pouvant cacher la surprise qu'elle en eut elle dit a l'heure mesme ce qui la causoit vous pouvez juger seigneur que l'estonnement d'adonacris fut plus grand encore que celuy d eliorante 
 aussi fit il un cry si haut lors qu'elle luy aprit qu'il y avoit trois jours que noromate n'estoit plus a typanis qu'eliorante qui a infiniment de l'esprit commenca de soubconner qu'il prenoit plus d'interest a cette personne qu'elle n'avoit pense quoy madame luy dit-il noromate n'est plus icy vous le verrez par la lettre qu'elle m'ecrit luy dit-elle en la luy donnant et vous direz sans doute comme moy apres l'avoir leue que noromate est la meilleure femme du monde adonacris prenant alors cette lettre la leut avec autant de douleur que d'estonnement et avec autant d'admiration pour la vertu de noromate que d'amour pour sa beaute comme il achevoit de la lire agathyrse arriva qui aprenant la chose comme elle s'estoit passee crut qu'il importoit pour continuer de faire croire a elybesis qu'il estoit amoureux de noromate de faire semblant qu'il estoit au desespoir de son depart de sorte qu'affectant de tesmoigner qu'il en avoit un extreme douleur il fit bien plus l'empresse qu'adonacris qui n'osoit tesmoigner la sienne cependant la chose n'avoit point de remede car il estoit aise de juger que devant qu'on pust avoir joint noromate elle seroit dans les quartiers de l'armee d'aryante ou il n'y auroit pas moyen de l'arrester si bien qu'adonacris voyant qu'il n'y avoit rien a faire qu'a se pleindre se retira a son apartement mais ce fut avec tant de douleur que te pense pouvoir dire qu'il n'est 
 jamais arrive un changement si subit que celuy que je vy sur son visage en effet adonacris ne fut plus le mesme qu'il estoit une heure auparavant et le desespoir estoit si visible dans ses yeux et il y avoit une pasleur si mortelle sur son visage qu'on eust dit qu'il estoit non seulement tres afflige mais qu'il estoit prest a mourir il se trouva pourtant encore bien plus malheureux une heure apres qu'il fut sorty de chez eliorante mais seigneur pour scavoir ce qui augmenta son chagrin il faut que vous scachiez que par une bizarrerie de la fortune qui n'a jamais eu d'exemple il estoit arrive que dans le mesme temps que noromate formoit le dessein d'aller trouver son mary par un sentiment de vertu argyrispe par un sentiment de jalousie avoit forme celuy de venir trouver le sien car encore qu'elle n'eust pas eu responce de la lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite elle n'avoit pas laisse de prendre cette resolution qu'elle avoit communiquee a sitalce et elle n'avoit pas laisse de l'executer ainsi lors que noromate estoit preste d'arriver a issedon argyrispe arriva a typanis et y arriva justement dans les premiers transports de la douleur qu'adonacris avoit du depart de noromate si bien que comme elle estoit conduite par un officier de l'armee de spargapyse qui l'avoit amenee a typanis et qui fit scavoir a ce prince et a agathyrse qui elle estoit ils la receurent avec beaucoup de civilite de sorte que croyant qu'adonacris seroit 
 agreablement surpris de la voir ils la firent conduire a son apartement sans l'en advertir comme j'estois alors avec l'afflige adonacris je puis vous dire cette entre-veue comme en ayant este le tesmoin mais seigneur je ne vous puis pourtant representer quel fut l'estonnement de ce malheureux amant lors qu'entendant assez de bruit dans son anti-chambre il tourna la teste pour voir qui alloit entrer s'imaginant tant sa passion le possedoit que c'estoit peutestre quelqu'un qui luy venoit dire que noromate estoit arrestee ou qu'elle estoit mesme revenue en effet seigneur l'estonnement qu'eut adonacris de voir entrer argyrispe dans la chambre fut si grand et son ame en fut tellement surprise qu'il ne fut pas maistre de ses premiers sentimens de sorte qu'au lieu d'essayer de cacher la douleur qui paroissoit sur son visage la colere s'y joignit a la melancolie et il y eut un instant ou il estoit aise de voir qu'il auroit eu plus d'envie de la quereller que de l'embrasser neantmoins se souvenant alors que pour l'interest de noromate il faloit qu'il se contraignist l'amour luy fit faire ce que la raison toute seule n'eust pu luy persuader si bien que se faisant une violence estrange il fit ce qu'il put pour faire que sa douleur ne parust qu'estonnement et pour persuader a argyrispe que sa tristesse estoit un effet de sa prison il la salua donc fort civilement et luy dit tout ce que la bienseance vouloit qu'il luy dist en une pareille 
 rencontre mais comme argyrispe avoit de l'esprit et que de plus elle avoit de la jalousie elle penetra dans son coeur quelle estoit la cause de son affliction des qu'elle jetta les yeux sur son visage car comme agathyrse luy avoit dit d'abord comme une chose surprenante le merveilleux cas fortuit de l'egalite du dessein de noromate avec le sien elle comprit facilement que son mary n'estoit afflige que de l'absence de cette belle personne de sorte qu'encore que le depart de noromate la mist en quelque doute de ce qu'elle devoit penser la tristesse d'adonacris ne laissa pas de la confirmer dans sa jalousie aussi puis-je vous assurer que l'entre-veue de ces deux personnes n'eut rien de doux ny rien d'agreable cependant comme eliorante estoit venue offrir a argyrispe tout ce qui dependoit d'elle adonacris prit ce temps la pour aller en quelque lieu ou il peust se pleindre si bien que me tirant a part nous passasmes un moment apres dans un cabinet ou nous ne fusmes pas plustost qu'il dit tout ce qu'une violente douleur peut faire dire pour exagerer le pitoyable estat ou il se trouvoit ce qui faisoit son plus grand embarras estoit que comme c est un fort honneste homme il ne pouvoit pas se refondre d'agir imperieusement avec argyrispe et de se delivrer par cette voye de la persecution ou il jugeoit bien qu'il alloit estre expose et certes il ne se trompas pa car des qu'eliorante fut retiree 
 et qu'il fut seul avec argyrispe cette jalouse personne luy fit tous les reproches imaginables car enfin luy dit-elle si apres m'avoir espousee vous estiez devenu amoureux de noromate vous auriez cet avantage qu'on ne pourroit vous accuser que de foiblesse et d'inconstance mais ayant eu de la passion pour elle avant nostre mariage on peut aveque raison vous accuser de perfidie de trahison et mesme d'imprudence en effet comment avez vous pu concevoir de pouvoir vivre heureux avec une personne que vous n'aimiez pas et de pouvoir rendre heureuse une femme que vous n'aimiez point ne vous amusez pas luy dit-elle a me nier l'amour que vous avez pour la femme de sitalce car j'ay entre mes mains toutes les lettres qu'elle vous a escrites et je scay que vous n'estes prisonnier de spargapyse que parce que vous estes esclave de noromate encore ne scay-je adjousta-t'elle si vous ne vous fistes point prendre de dessein premedite afin de vous esloigner de ce que vous n'aimiez pas et de vous raprocher de ce que vous aimiez pour vous tesmoigner luy respondit il que je suis sincere je vous advoueray que j'ay aime noromate et que j'ay encore pour sa vertu la mesme admiration que j'ay tousjours eue mais apres cela madame je vous protesteray que je n'ay nulle intelligence avec elle que les lettres que vous avez de cette personne ont toutes este escrites devant qu'elle fust mariee et par consequent devant que vous le fussiez 
 que depuis cela a peine ay-je receu de noromate une simple civilite et que selon toutes les apparences je ne la verray de long temps et que peutestre mesme je ne la verray jamais de plus quand il seroit vray que j'aurois dans l'ame une passion dont je ne pourrois estre le maistre je n'en serois pas plus coupable puis que je ne la pourrois vaincre et que je n'en vivrois pas moins bien aveque vous ainsi madame pouvant vous assurer que je ne recevray jamais la moindre faveur de noromate et que vous ne recevrez aussi de vostre vie nulle rudesse n'y nulle incivilite de moy je pense avoir droit de vous suplier de vivre en repos et de m'y laisser argyrispe ne fit pourtant pas ce qu'adonacris luy demandoit au contraire elle s'irrita de ce qu'il ne luy avoit pas nie positivement qu'il eust de l'amour pour noromate luy disant fierement que puis qu'il ne l'estimoit pas seulement assez pour se vouloir donner la peine de la vouloir tromper qu'elle agiroit aussi de son coste comme une personne qui n'estoit pas trompee et qui connoissoit toutes ses foiblesses et toutes ses infidellitez mais ce qui la mit le plus en colere fut de voir que tout ce qu'elle disoit a adonacris ne l'y mettoit pas et qu'il avoit l'esprit si occupe de la douleur qu'il avoit du depart de noromate qu'a peine entendoit-il ce qu'elle luy disoit de sorte que s'emportant de plus en plus elle dit a la fin des choses si facheuses a adonacris qu'il fut contraint de s'en aller dans 
 une autre chambre cependant comme il n'avoit voulu demeurer prisonner que parce que noromate estoit a typanis il n'eut plus dessein de l'estre puis qu'elle n'y estoit plus si bien que des le lendemain il envoya secrettement vers le prince aryante a qui il escrivit pour le suplier de ne faire plus d'obstacle a sa liberte parce qu'il croyoit scavoir si precisement tous les desseins de ses ennemis qu'il luy seroit inutile a typanis mais seigneur apres vous avoir dit comment adonacris receut argyrispe il faut que je vous die en deux mots comment sitalce receut noromate je m'assure seigneur que vous jugez que l'action qu'elle faisoit estoit assez genereuse pour obliger son mary a estre satisfait d'elle et a estre capable de recevoir ses justifications il n'en usa pourtant pas ainsi au contraire il la receut fort mal et sans vouloir expliquer en bien la resolution qu'elle avoit prise il luy reprocha les lettres qu'elle avoit escrites a adonacris il luy dit qu'elle avoit abandonne le soin de sa liberte et qu'elle n'estoit sans doute esloignee de typanis que parce qu'elle scavoit qu'adonacris n'y seroit plus guere et qu'il seroit delivre par quelque autre voye que par l'eschange qu'on avoit propose cependant quelque injuste que fut cette accusation noromate la souffrit sans s'emporter contre sitalce se contentant de luy dire sans aigreur tout ce qui la pouvoit justifier quoy qu'elle eust dans l'ame autant de despit que de douleur de voir 
 son innocence traitee avec tant d'injustice mais enfin seigneur pour abreger le plus que je le pourray un si long recit le prince aryante ayant receu la lettre d'adonacris ne fit plus d'obstacles a sa liberte et agathyrse de son coste qui vouloit tousjours persuader a elybesis qu'il estoit amoureux de noromate pressa plus qu'il n'avoit fait l'eschange de sitalce et d'adonacris afin de luy faire croire que c'estoit pour revoir noromate qu'il le faisoit et en effet elybesis creut non seulement qu'il ne pressoit la chose que pour noromate mais elle creut encore que cette personne de qui elle connoissoit la vertu n'estoit sortie de typanis que pour esviter la persecution qu'elle recevoit de l'amour d'agathyrse de sorte qu'en ayant une douleur estrange elle se fust volontiers opposee a la liberte de son frere pour empescher sitalce d'estre delivre et de remener sa femme a typanis mais comme la bien-seance ne luy permettoit pas de le faire il falut qu'elle dissimulast son chagrin de peur qu'aryante n'en devinast la cause et il falut aussi qu'elle vist conclurre cet eschange qu'elle croyoit qui alloit redonner a agathyrse l'objet de sa nouvelle passion en effet toutes choses estant conclues de part et d'autre on resolut que le mesme jour que sitalce et sa femme partiroient d'issedon pour aller a typanis adonacris et argyrispe partiroient aussi de typanis pour retourner a issedon et que pour trouver une esgale 
 seurete a cet eschange ces quatre personnes se rencontreroient a un lieu qui estoit justement entre les quartiers des deux armees afin que l'escorte qui auroit amene de typanis adonacris et argyrispe y remenast sitalce et noromate et que celle qui auroit aussi amene d'issedon noromate et sitalce y remenast argyrispe et adonacris si bien seigneur que par ce moyen ces quatre personnes le virent et furent contraintes de se parler car il y avoit trop de gens tesmoins de leur entreveue pour oser faire esclatter les sentimens cachez qu'ils avoient dans l'ame cependant sitalce et argyrispe avoient un desespoir estrange de cette avanture il falut pour tant qu'ils se resolussent a disner ensemble car comme celuy qui faisoit executer ce traitte de la part du prince aryante estoit un homme tres magnifique il fit un festin superbe a ces prisonniers et a ces dames de sorte que la contrainte de sitalce et d'agarispe fut assez longue elle fut mesme d'autant plus grande que ces deux personnes que la jalousie avoit unies n'oserent s'entretenir en particulier de peur de donner le temps a adonacris de parler a noromate ils n'avoient neantmoins que faire de l'aprehender car noromate dont la haute vertu ce se dementit point en cette occasion quelque mal traittee qu'elle fust de sitalce esvita avec beaucoup de soin non seulement de se trouver aupres d'adonacris mais mesme de rencontrer ses yeux elle ne le put toutes fois faire si soigneusement 
 qu'il ne trouvast moyen de voir dans les siens qu'elle avoit beaucoup de douleur dans l'ame et il agit mesme si adroitement que durant que celuy qui les traittoit parloit a sitalce et a argyrispe il trouva moyen de dire tout bas a noromate qu'il la conjuroit de luy vouloir advouer que la fortune estoit bien injuste de ne faire pas que sitalce emmenast argyrispe a typanis et qu'il la remenast a issedon mais comme noromate ne vouloit luy dire ny douceurs ny rudesses elle ne luy respondit pas et sans faire semblant de l'avoir entendu elle changea de place sans vouloir mesme luy respondre seulement par tes regards adonacris ne douta pourtant qu'elle n'eust ouy ce qu'il luy avoit dit et qu'elle n'en fust tombee d'accord car elle ne put s'empescher de rougir et de soupirer en s'ostant d'aupres de luy cependant l'heure de leur separation estant venue cet injuste partage se fit ainsi adonacris qui n'aimoit point argyrispe et qui aimoit noromate prit le chemin d'issedon et noromate qui n'aimoit point sitalce et qui aimoit adonacris prit celuy de typanis et suivit son persecuteur en s'esloignant du plus respectueux amant du monde elle s'en esloigna mesme avec tant de fermete qu'elle ne tourna pas seulement la teste du coste qu'il estoit apres s'en estre separee mais il n'en fut pas de mesme d'adonacris car encore qu'il eust eu dessein de se contraindre de peur d'irriter argyrispe il regarda noromate aussi long temps qu'il le put et 
 il tourna encore vingt fois la telle lors mesme qu'il ne la pouvoit plus voir je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous exagerer les divers sentimens de toutes ces personnes puis qu'il suffit de scavoir l'estat de leur fortune pour comprendre facilement celuy de leur ame mais je vous diray que la fin de l'hiver estant venue chacun pensa de son coste a commencer la campagne avec avantage agathyrse avoit pourtant le desplaisir de scavoir que thomiris vouloit tousjours qu'on mesnageast ses troupes et qu'on ne donnast pas la bataille si on n'y estoit force parce qu'elle avoit quelque grand dessein qu'on ne disoit pas car dans les sentimens de haine qu'il avoit pour aryante il eust voulu le pouvoir renverser du throsne en un moment et ne pas faire durer cette guerre aussi persuada-t'il si fortement au sage terez qui avoit credit sur l'esprit de thomiris qu'on ne pouvoit destruire le party d'aryante que par le gain d'une bataille que cette princesse permist enfin qu'on en hazadast une si l'occasion s'en presentoit favorable de sorte qu'agathyrse ne voulant pas perdre un moment fit que spargapyse tira le premier ses troupes hors de leurs quartiers d'hiver et qu'il s'aprocha d'issedon qui commencoit de souffrir beaucoup parce que l'armee d'aryante avoit este presque a ses portes pendant toute la rigoureuse saison aryante de son coste aprenant la diligence de ses ennemis se mit aussi en campagne et fut prendre conge d'elybesis avec 
 une melancolie extraordinaire qui ne luy stoit pas de bon presage ce qui causoit pourtant alors son chagrin estoit qu'il connoissoit presques avec certitude qu'elybesis ne souffroit son amour que par un sentiment d'ambition si bien qu'ayant le coeur tout remply de cette cruelle pensee il ne put s'empescher de luy en temoigner quelque chose en luy disant adieu comme je ne scay madame luy dit il si la fortune me sera favorable ou contraire je pense pouvoir dire aussi que je ne scay ce que vous ferez pour moy quand j'auray l'honneur de vous revoir et je ne scay madame adjousta-t'il en soupirant si vous le scavez vous mesme et si mon bon ou mon mauvais destin ne despend point plus du sort des armes que de toute autre chose cependant puis que vous n'avez pas voulu que je fusse heureux avant la fin de la guerre je voudrois bien du moins que vous me fissiez la grace de m'assurer que je puis perdre une bataille sans vous perdre car si vous le faites je vous assure que je ne seray pas vaincu facilement mais si vous ne le faites pas je le seray mesme devant que d'avoir combatu du moins seray-je tellement accable de douleur que je ne seray pas difficile a vaincre il me semble seigneur respondit elybesis avec beaucoup d'adresse et sans s'engager a rien que je puis vous respondre en ne vous respondant pas et en vous supliant seulement de vous respondre a vous mesme tout ce que je vous respondrois si je voulois 
 m'arrester a vous demesler exactement tout les sentimens de mon ame c'est pourquoy seigneur puis qu'il suffit que vous pensiez a ce que je vous dois dire pour scavoir ce que je vous dirois si je voulois avoir un esclaircissement aveque vous il vaut mieux que l'employe le peu de temps que j'ay encore a vous voir a vous assurer que je passeray celuy de vostre absence a faire des voeux pour vostre retour et a souhaiter ardemment que je vous voye bientost revenir tout couvert de gloire quand vous aurez vaincu vos ennemis apres cela seigneur ne m'en demandez pas davantage si vous ne voulez que je croye que vous cherchez un pretexte pour me quereller je n'en cherche point de vous quereller madame luy dit-il mais vous en cherchez un pour ne me respondre pas precisement cependant puis qu'il vous plaist que je fois aussi incertain de ce qui se passera dans vostre coeur que de ce qui se passera durant cette campagne il faut s'y resoudre et vous obeir quoy que je ne vous obeisse pas sans peine en fuite de cela aryante quitta elybesis qui pour le tenir aux termes ou elle vouloit qu'il fast permit a ses yeux de luy en dire plus que sa bouche afin que s'il estoit vainqueur il fust tousjours son captif et qu'elle pust estre reine en effet elle mesnagea il adroitement l'esprit d'aryante et par ses regards et par la maniere dont elle luy dit le dernier adieu qu'il se repentit presque du soubcon qu'il avoit eu et se separa 
 d'avec elle sans en estre mal satisfait quoy qu'elle ne luy eust rien dit qui l'engageast a suivre sa fortune s'il estoit malheureux mais enfin seigneur le prince aryante partit d'issedon pour se rendre a son armee qui en estoit assez proche et adonacris eut du moins la consolation en le suivant de s'esloigner d'argyrispe qui l'accabloit de reproches continuels quoy qu'il vescust tres civilement avec elle malgre sa jalousie d'autre part noromate eut aussi la douceur de voir partir sitalce pour aller a l'armee et d'estre delivree par son absence de la plus terrible persecution que l'on se puisse imaginer estant certain que depuis qu'elle l'eut este trouver a issedon jusques a ce qu'il la laissa a typanis pour aller a la guerre il ne passa pas un jour sans luy donner quelque nouveau sujet de pleinte mais seigneur sans m'amuser a vous descrire les sentimens jaloux de sitalce et d'argyrispe ny les sentimens tendres et vertueux de noromate non plus que ceux que l'amour inspiroit a adonacris je vous diray qu'agathyrse ayant tousjours dans le coeur le dessein de destruire son rival n'y oublia chose aucune car non seulement il pensa a mesnager tous les avantages que le sort des armes luy presenta mais il entretint avec beaucoup d'adresse diverses intelligences dans issedon afin d'obliger les habitans de cette ville a se soulever contre aryante durant son absence la fortune luy fut mesme si favorable que des le 
 commencement de la campagne il mit l'avant-garde d'aryante en deroute de sorte qu'encore que cette occasion ne fust pas fort sanglante ce premier avantage ne laissa pas d'abatre le coeur de ceux du party de ce prince et d'eslever celuy du party oppose ce n'est pas que spargapyse n'y eust presques perdu autant de gens de qualite qu'aryante mais enfin le champ de bataille luy estant demeure la renommee le declara victorieux cependant seigneur ce qu'il y eut de remarquable en cette rencontre fut que sitalce y fut tue et que noromate ne laissa pas d'agir comme si elle n'eust pas eu sujet de se rejouir de sa mort elle ne fit pas aussi comme si elle en eust este extraordinairement affligee et elle garda un si juste temperamment en toutes ses actions qu'on ne put y trouver rien a redire elle eut mesme la consolation de scavoir qu'elle ne pouvoit pas soubconner adonacris d'avoir tue sitalce parce qu'il n'estois pas au lieu ou il avoit combatu en effet comme le sage terez commandoit l'avant-garde ce jour la et qu'agathyrse commandoit le gros de reserve ce fut terez qui tua sitalce de sa main il est vray qu'il vangea sa mort par le dernier coup qu'il luy porta car il le blessa si dangereusement que ce sage et experimente capitaine en est demeure estropie et ne peut presques plus monter a cheval mais seigneur cette mort de sitalce qui donna d'abord quelque satisfaction a adonacris par la pensee que noromate seroit en repos et en liberte 
 ne laissa pas de redoubler son suplice car quand il venoit a penser que s'il n'eust point espouse argyrispe il eust pu espouser noromate il sentoit des maux incroyables de sorte que pour les adoucir il voulut du moins que noromate les sceust si bien qu'envoyant un des siens secrettement a typanis il luy escrivit avec autant de respect que d'amour esperant que noromate qui n'avoit plus de mary a craindre ne seroit pas une si grande difficulte de recevoir une lettre de luy en un temps ou la bien-seance l'obligeoit a en recevoir de tous ses amis absens mais certes son esperance se trouva tres mal fondee car noromate bien loin de recevoir sa lettre et d'y respondre la refusa et s'en irrita quoy qu'elle eust tousjours dans l'ame une tendresse infinie pour adonacris d'autre part argyrispe fut sensiblement touchee de la mort de sitalce luy semblant qu'elle avoit fait une perte considerable puis que la personne qu'adonacris aimoit avoit perdu un des plus jaloux maris du monde mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut qu'argyrispe se trouvant un peu mal quand elle sceut la mort de sitalce eut alors une telle crainte de mourir de peur qu'adonacris n'espousast noromate qu'elle s'en donna la fievre dont elle mourut effectivement du moins une de ses amies particulieres m'a-t'elle dit depuis qu'elle avoit remarque ces sentimens la dans l'esprit d'argyrispe durant sa maladie je ne vous dis point comment adonacris receut cette mort 
 car vous ayant dit que c'est un fort honneste homme vous jugez bien qu'il n'en tesmoigna pas de joye mais vous l'ayant aussi represente tres amoureux vous pouvez encore penser qu'il n'en fut pas extraordinairement afflige cependant agathyrse poussant plus loin sa victoire fit si bien par ses conseils que spargapyse suivoit en toutes choses qu'il le fit resoudre a donner une bataille decisive de sorte qu'encore que les interests d'aryante ne fussent pas de la hazarder legerement il falut pourtant qu'il la donnast parce qu'il sceut par octomasade que s'il ne vainquoit promptement il arriveroit quelque sedition a issedon dont le peuple commencoit de se lasser de la guerre mais seigneur quoy que ce prince fist tout ce qu'un grand capitaine et un vaillant soldat pouvoit faire il perdit la bataille et fut contraint non seulement de se sauver luy quatriesme mais de se cacher dans une miserable cabane de berger qui estoit au milieu d'un bois si espais qu'on ne la voyoit point qu'on n'en fust tout contre de sorte que le hazard luy ayant fait trouver cet asile dans sa fuite il s'y arresta pour desrober du moins sa personne a la victoire de son rival et pour tascher quand la nuit seroit venue de s'aller jetter dans issedon cependant pour le pouvoir faire plus seurement il envoya un des siens reconnoistre les routes du bois afin qu'apres cela il luy pust servir de guide mais seigneur le retour de cet homme luy donna un estrange surcroist de douleur 
 leur car il luy amena un officier que ce prince avoit laisse dans issedon et que cet homme avoit fortuitement rencontre qui luy aprit que dans le mesme temps qu'il combatoit il s y estoit fait une sedition que les amis d'agathyrse avoient fomentee et que la chose avoit pris un si mauvais biais pour luy que ceux qui luy estoient contraires s'estoient rendus maistres des portes de la ville apres un assez grand combat en fuite de quoy ils avoient envoye vers spargapise pour luy dire que si thomiris leur vouloit pardonner leur rebellion ils estoient prests de rentrer dans l'obeissance de sorte seigneur adjousta cet officier que je suis persuade que de l'heure que je parle spargapyse est maistre d'issedon car j'ay veu de loin des troupes qui en prenoient le chemin aryante aprenant une si mauvaise nouvelle en eut toute la douleur qu'il estoit capable d'avoir mais comme l'amour estoit tousjours plus forte dans son coeur que l'ambition il ne s'amusa point a se faire dire les particularitez de ce desordre et il demanda diligemment des nouvelles d'elybesis seigneur respondit celuy a qui ce prince parloit le pere d'elybesis n'a pas plustost sceu le biais que prenoient les choses qu'il est party de la ville avec toute sa maison et a par consequent emmene sa fille aprehendant sans doute de tomber sous la puissance de spargapyse avant que les choses soient plus tranquiles en suitte aryante luy demanda s'il ne scavoit point quel chemin elybesis 
 avoit pris si bien que luy ayant dit qu'il pensoit que c'estoit celuy d'un chasteau que tyssagette avoit a trois cens stades d'issedon ce prince qui n'avoit plus ny armee ny lieu de retraite se resolut du moins d'aller ou son amour l'appelloit croyant bien aussi que le pere d'elybesis ne luy refuseroit pas de le recevoir dans sa maison qui estoit tres sorte afin de tascher de r'assembler le debris de son armee et d'en former un corps qui peust l'empescher d'estre accable mais seigneur ce prince fut bien trompe dans ses esperances car le pere d'elybesis ne le receut chez luy qu'a condition qu'il en partiroit le lendemain luy disant que sa maison n'estant pas assez forte pour resister a une armee victorieuse il ne jugeoit pas a propos de s'exposer a l'y voir perir et a y perir luy mesme inutilement avec sa famille mais seigneur ce qui acheva de le desesperer fut que lors qu'il fut voir elybesis il la trouva bien differente de ce qu'il l'avoit veue a issedon et bien esloignee de vouloir s'attacher a sa fortune dans un temps ou elle la voyoit si malheureuse ce prince l'aborda pourtant d'une maniere si touchante a ce que j'ay sceu par une de ses femme que toute autre qu'elle en eust eu le coeur attendry et bien madame luy dit-il apres l'avoir saluee avec une melancholie extreme sur le visage je viens scavoir de vous si j'ay perdu vostre effection en perdant la bataille et si vous m'avez chasse de vostre coeur 
 comme on m'a chasse d'issedon en verite seigneur reprit-elle j'ay encore l'ame si troublee de la frayeur que j'ay eue que je ne vous puis dire ce que je sens joint aussi adjousta-t'elle qu'en l'estat qu'est vostre fortune je ne juge pas que mon affection vous importe beaucoup car enfin quand vous m'auriez accablee sous le ruines du throsne ou vous pretendiez me faire monter vous n'en feriez pas plus heureux c'est pourquoy seigneur songez s'il vous plaist a vostre seurete et ne songez plus a moy quoy madame s'escria-t'il en la regardant avec estonnement vous avez l'inhumanite de me descouvrir toute l'indifference de vostre ame en une occasion comme celle cy quoy madame luy dit-il encore apres n'avoir commence cette guerre que pour vous faire reine vous m'abandonnez des que la fortune m'abandonne et vous ne voulez pas seulement me faire la grace de me desguiser une partie de vos sentimens ha madame ce que vous faites est si estrange que je ne puis encore croire que j'aye bien entendu ce que vous avez dit c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de m'expliquer vos paroles et de me dire ce que je dois effectivement penser de vous vous devez penser seigneur repliqua-t'elle que si je pouvois vous faire remonter au throsne je n'y oublierois aucune chose mais vous devez croire aussi que ne pouvant changer vostre fortune je ne dois pas m'opinastrer inutilement a la suivre et je ne scay seigneur 
 adjousta-t'elle s'il est fort obligeant pour moy que vous me le proposiez je ne scay si ce que je pense est obligeant repliqua-t'il avec beaucoup de colere mais je scay bien que ce que vous me dittes n'est guere genereux et que si je ne suis le plus lasche de tous les hommes je vous hairay autant que je vous ay aimee vous en userez comme il vous plaira respondit-elle car de l'humeur dont je suis je scay m'accommoder au temps et changer avec ceux qui changent du moins scavez vous changer avec la fortune repliqua-t'il fierement je ne scay si vous me pensez blasmer reprit-elle mais pour moy je prens ce que vous me dittes pour une grande louange puis que selon mon opinion la sagesse ne consiste qu'a faire ce que vous dittes que je fais mais encore une fois madame luy dit-il est-il bien possible que vous ne compreniez pas que ce que vous faites est si peu digne de vous et si estrange que si agathyrse le pouvoit scavoir il vous en estimeroit moins et je suis mesme assure que tout fier qu'on le voit il me traitteroit mieux que vous ne me traitez si je tombois sous sa puissance tout mon ennemy qu'il est et tout mon rival qu'il a este mais madame adjousta-t'il pour luy faire despit puis que son exemple m'aprend qu'on peut cesser de vous aimer je ne desespere pas de ne vous aimer plus au contraire je veux esperer que si j'ay le malheur de ne pouvoir estre roy j'auray du moins l'avantage de n'estre plus vostre esclave et je ne scay madame 
 veu comme je vous connois si je ne gagneray point plus en sortant de vostre puissance que je ne perdray en perdant une couronne apres cela elybesis qui mouroit d'envie que ce prince fust hors de la maison de son pere de peur qu'agathyrse scachant qu'il y estoit ne l'y vinst chercher et qu'elle ne tombast sous le pouvoir d'un homme qu'elle croyoit qui ne l'aimoit plus continua de luy parler avec tant de durete que ce prince ne pouvant plus l'endurer la quitta brusquement et des qu'il fut nuit il sortit de ce chasteau et fut chercher un autre asile chez un parent d'octomasade ou il demeura quelque temps cache pour voir si son malheur n'auroit point de remede et s'il ne pourroit pas du moins se mettre en estat de pouvoir taire son accommodement cependant l'ambitieuse elybesis qui avoit un desespoir estrange de voir qu'elle avoit perdu agathyrse inutilement et que son ambition avoit si mal reussi n'esvita pas le malheur qu'elle avoit aprehende lors qu'elle avoit craint qu'agathyrse ne sceust que le prince aryante estoit chez son pere et qu'il ne l'y allast chercher car pour la punir mieux de son inconstance de son ambition et de sa durete de coeur pour aryante agathyrse ayant sceu que ce prince s'estoit retire chez le pere d'elybesis n'eut pas plustost mene spargapyse a issedon dont les habitans luy ouvrirent les portes qu'il y fut avec des troupes imaginant qu'il auroit un plaisir extreme s'il pouvoit avoir en sa puissance et 
 son rival et sa maistresse de sorte que comme aryante estoit sorty de nuit de ce chasteau agathyrse ne sceut point qu'il n'y fust plus si bien qu'il y fut avec des troupes comme je l'ay deja dit et il y fut dans l'esperance de se vanger pleinement de tous les maux qu'il avoit endurez mais il fut bien surpris lors qu'estant arrive devant ce chasteau et qu'il fit dire par un heraut a tyssagette pere d'elybesis qu'il luy demandoit le prince aryante de la part du prince spargapyse il fut dis-je bien estonne lors qu'on luy respondit qu'il n'y estoit plus d'abord il ne le creut pourtant pas mais il fut bien tost contraint de le croire car comme tyssagette s'estoit retire en tumulte dans ce chasteau et qu'il y estoit tombe malade il n'estoit pas en estat de s'y pouvoir deffendre si on l'eust attaque si bien que jugeant que le plustost qu'il pourroit ceder seroit le mieux pour luy il se resolut de le faire et de tascher d obtenir seulement sa liberte et celle de sa fille car pour adonacris il ne scavoit alors ou il estoit pour cet effet croyant qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'un homme qui avoit este si amoureux d'elybesis n'eust encore quelque defference pour elle il luy commanda de se resoudre de parler a agathyrse puis qu'estant au lit il ne le pouvoit pas faire et d'employer toute son adresse a l'obliger de ne les remettre pas sous la puissance de thomiris apres quoy ayant fait scavoir a agathyrse qu'il vouloit parlementer et agathyrse 
 le luy ayant accorde les troupes se retirerent pour laisser un espace vuide devant la porte du chasteau au devant de laquelle estoit une espece de portique qui servoit de corps de garde en temps de guerre de sorte que ce lieu estant choisi pour conferer agathyrse suivy d'un tres petit nombre des siens s'y avanca mais il fut bien surpris lors qu'au lieu de voir paroistre tyssagette il vit seulement sa fille accompagnee de quelques hommes et de ses femmes car comme il l'aimoit encore malgre qu'il en eust il ne la put voir sans esmotion neantmoins il s'estoit tellement resolu de ne luy donner jamais nulle marque d'amour que pour cacher mieux sa foiblesse il affecta de paroistre un peu fier joint qu'il sentoit dans son coeur une si grande joye de voir qu'elybesis au lieu d'estre reine estoit en estat d'avoir besoin de sa protection que surmontant alors facilement la tendresse de son amour il agit comme un homme qui vouloit gouster la vangeance avec plaisir en effet il n'eut pas plustost apaise le premier trouble de son coeur qu'apres avoir salue elybesis il parut sur son visage je ne scay quelle fiere joye qui pensa la faire desesperer lors qu'elle la remarqua et ce qui l'affligea encore davantage fut que sans luy donner le loisir de parler il parla le premier enfin madame luy dit-il en la regardant fixement vous voyez que je ne me trompois pas lors que je vous disois autrefois que la fortune ne rendroit pas justice 
 a vostre merite et ne vous seroit jamais reine mais le mal est que je ne puis guerir celuy que vous vous estes fait a vous mesme et qu'il faut qu'apres avoir creu estre reine vous redeveniez sujette et sujette encore d'une princesse que vous avez irritee comme c'est a vostre valeur reprit elybesis que thomiris doit la victoire que le prince son fils a remportee je veux croire qu'elle ne vous peut rien refuser et je veux penser en suitte que vous ne me refuserez pas de luy demander la grace de mon pere et d'obtenir d'elle que toute sa famille soit libre comme ce seroit une trop cruelle chose reprit agathyrse pour la faire desesperer que de faire une esclave d'une reine je vous promets madame d'obliger thomiris a trouver bon que je vous donne la liberte et a vous permettre mesme de suivre la fortune du prince aryante et de vous faire conduire au lieu ou il s'est retire c'est pourquoy si vous le scavez madame comme je n'en doute point vous n'avez qu'a me l'aprendre afin que je me dispose a vous faire escorter jusques la ha agathyrse s'escria elybesis vous portez la vangeance trop loin de me parler comme vous faites quoy madame reprit il avec un feint estonnement vous trouvez mauvais que je vous propose de vous faire conduire aupres d'un prince pour qui vous m'avez abandonne il est vray reprit-il qu'il n'est plus roy qu'il ne le sera jamais et que selon toutes les apparences il faudra qu'il passe toute sa vie a errer de 
 royaume en royaume chez les princes estrangers mais apres tout il est croyable que lors que vous liastes amitie aveque luy et que vous mesprisastes mon amour pour recevoir favorablement la sienne vous considerastes quelle pourroit estre la fuite de sa fortune et que vous vous resolustes a la suivre car enfin je vous le dis avec ingenuite je ne trouverois guere plus beau que vous abandonnassiez un prince parce que la fortune l'a abandonne que ce que vous fistes lors que vous m'abandonnastes parce ce que vous le voiyez plus heureux que moy si vous n'aimiez pas noromate et que vous ne haissiez pas elybesis reprit-elle vous ne parleriez pas comme vous faites et vous vous resoudriez a oublier une foiblesse que l'ambition avoit causee et a vouloir tascher de regagner ce que vous auriez perdu comme cette entre-veue luy dit-il est une entreveue de guerre ou l'amour ne doit point avoir de part je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous expliquer exactement mes sentimens et il me suffira de vous dire ce que je vous ay escrit autrefois qui est que quand je vous aimerois malgre que j'en eusse autant que je vous ay jamais aimee vous ne recevriez jamais nulle marque d'amour de moy joint madame adjousta-t'il que quand vous feriez d humeur a vous repentir de ce que vous avez fait je ne vous en aurois nulle obligation puis que vous ne changeriez que parce que la fortune auroit change or est il madame que je ne veux pas 
 qu'on me souffre comme le plus heureux mais comme le plus aime et le plus aime encore pour des choses qui soient purement a moy et non pas par des raisons estrangeres ou le merite effectif de la personne n'a aucune part c'est pourquoy madame adjousta-t'il brusquement sans vous informer si je vous aime ou si je ne vous aime plus et sans que je m'informe aussi si vous aimez encore aryante ou si vous avez cesse de l'aimer je vous demande seulement ce que tyssagette veut de moy si vous eussiez este un peu plus curieux repliqua-t'elle vous ne vous en feriez peut-estre pas repenty mais puis que cela n'est pas je vous dis de la part de mon pere qu'il vous prie de faire que thomiris luy pardonne et le prince spargapyse aussi et qu'il luy soit permis de vivre en repos dans sa maison avec sa famille comme sa maison est trop forte reprit-il pour la laisser entre les mains d'un rebelle il faut madame que la chose aille autrement et qu'en attendant que le calme soit entierement restably dans l'estat tyssagette et vous alliez a issedon si ce n'est comme je vous l'ay desja dit que vous aimiez mieux suivre la fortune d'aryante comme nous ne sommes pas en estat de vous resister reprit-elle il faut vouloir ce qui vous plaist ha madame s'escria-t'il si vous eussiez voulu sortir d'issedon lors que je vous le proposay vous y feriez rentree plus agreablement que vous n'y rentrerez mais enfin adjousta-t'il le passe ne se pouvant rapeller il faut 
 que l'advenir aille comme je l'entens et que vous n'ayez non plus de pouvoir sur mon coeur qu'aryante en aura dans le royaume des issedons il paroist bien en effet que je n'y en ay plus du tout respondit elle puis que me voyant aussi malheureuse que je le suis vous me parlez avec tant de fierte et que vous ne vous informez pas seulement si je serois capable de me repentir je ne m'en informe point madame repliqua-t'il parce que quand vous vous repentiriez je ne me repentirois pas de la resolution que j'ay prise de ne vous donner jamais nulle marque d'amour puis que cela est dit-elle brusquement en le voulant quitter donnez m'en donc de vostre haine et de la mesme main dont vous avez renverse le throsne d'aryante abbatez encore si vous le pouvez ce chasteau ou je vay rentrer afin que m'accablant sous ses ruines je trouve la fin des malheurs qui me persecutent non non madame luy dit-il en la retenant je ne seray pas ce que vous dittes et tout violent que je suis je n'abatray pas l'autel ou l'on m'a veu sacrifier madame quoy que je sois fortement resolu de ne vous donner de ma vie aucune marque d'amour je ne laisseray pas de vous en donner de ma generosite car pour me vanger d'une maniere plus noble je vous protegeray si hautement que je vous forceray peutestre a vous repentir toute vostre vie de la facon dont vous avez vescu aveque moy et pour commencer madame luy dit-il faites s'il vous plaist scavoir a 
 tyssagette que pourveu qu'il veuille se laisser conduire a issedon et que vous l'y accompagniez il rentrera bientost aux bonnes graces de thomiris et de spargapyse et qu'il ne perdra aucune chose de tout le bien qu'il possede de sorte madame qu'excepte le coeur que vous m'avez rendu et que je ne vous rendray jamais vous vous retrouverez au mesme estat que vous estiez avant que vous connussiez aryante puis que ce coeur a pu s'eschaper de mes mains reprit elybesis il pourra bien sortir de celles de noromate je ne vous diray point repliqua-t'il si noromate le tient ou ne le tient pas mais je vous diray que quand il seroit en ma disposition il ne seroit jamais en la vostre car enfin madame adjousta-t'il si je vous l'avois rendu il viendroit peutestre quelque autre usurpateur qui vous promettant une couronne vous obligeroit une seconde fois a me le rendre je n'eusse jamais creu dit-elle que vous eussiez pu estre capable de me dire des choses si dures mais comme je suis contrainte a ma confusion d'advouer que j'en merite une partie je les souffre plus patiemment que je ne serois si j'estois plus innocente elles m'ont pourtant assez irrite l'esprit pour souhaiter que mon pere aime mieux perir dans sa maison que d'avoir de l'obligation a un homme qui ne l'oblige que pour se vanger mieux de moy apres cela elybesis se retira quoy qu'agathyrse voulust encore la retenir cependant comme tyssagette n'avoit 
 pas l'esprit aussi aigri que sa fille il accepta ce que luy proposoit agathyrse et en effet des le lendemain il se mit dans un chariot a cause de son incommodite et prit le chemin d'issedon elybesis le suivant dans un autre avec ses femmes mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire que devant que de partir agathyrse qui leur donna escorte et qui s'empara du chasteau eut une conversation particuliere avec elybesis mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut qu'il la trouva encore changee depuis le jour auparavant car il faut que vous scachiez qu'aryante qui avoit receu une lettre d'octomasade qui luy avoit donne de nouvelles esperances et qui avoit en effet ramasse quelques troupes du debris de son armee luy envoya un esclave d'adonacris qui l'avoit rejoint et luy escrivit que comme il n'avoit pas encore perdu toute esperance il la conjuroit puis qu'elle ne pouvoit estre sensible qu'a l'ambition de ne le regarder pas encore comme ne pouvant jamais la faire reine de sorte seigneur que cette personne reprenant d'autres sentimens parla plus fierement a agathyrse qu'elle n'avoit fait quoy qu'elle luy dist pourtant tousjours quelque chose qui luy faisoit voir qu'elle avoit un despit estrange de ce qu'elle croyoit qu'il ne l'aimoit plus mais pas bonheur pour agathyrse comme elle montoit dans son chariot cette lettre d'aryante tomba de sa poche si bien qu'agathyrse qui luy tenoit la main l'ayant veue la releva sans qu'on s'en 
 aperceust et la leut aussi tost que le chariot ou estoit elybesis fut party de sorte que comprenant que cette nouvelle esperance qu'aryante luy avoit donnee estoit ce qui avoit cause ce redoublement de fierte qu'il avoit trouve dans son esprit il en fut si terriblement irrite que s'il eust suivy les premiers mouvemens de sa colere il eust renvoye apres tyssagette et apres elybesis et les eust envoyez prisonniers aux tentes royales mais comme je me trouvay alors aupres de luy et qu'il me dit la cause de sa fureur je l'empeschay de la suivre et je luy dis que s'il m'en croyoit il seroit seulement ce qu'il pourroit pour n'aimer plus elybesis je n'ay plus que faire de me combatre pour cela reprit-il brusquement car je vous declare que cette derniere foiblesse vient d'arracher de mon coeur toute l'amour que j'avois pour elle et d'y faire entrer une espece de haine accompagnee de mespris qui si je ne me trompe ne sera guere moins violente que la passion qui l'a precedee il me semble desja adjousta-t'il que je voy elybesis autrement que je ne l'ay veue toute ma vie et que je commence de connoistre qu'elle n'a effectivement ny autant de beaute ny autant d'esprit que je croyois qu'elle en eust mais anabaris quand elle seroit plus belle qu'on ne peint venus et qu'elle auroit plus de charmes que personne n'en a jamais eu je la hairois encore vous estes si en colere luy dis-je que vous ne scaves vous mesme si vous aimez ou si vous haissez 
 elybesis ha anabaris me dit-il ce n'est pas comme l'autre fois que vous me fistes advouer que je l'aimois quoy que je creusse ne l'aimer plus et pour vous le tesmoigner je vous proteste que de l'heure que je parle je voudrois si c'estoit une chose possible qu'elle fust aussi laide que si elle avoit cent ans et qu'elle n'eust jamais este belle et je pense que je souhaiterois qu'elle fust morte si ce n'estoit que je suis persuade que la mort est le remede de toutes sortes de malheurs et qu'ainsi elle ne seroit point exposee a tous ceux que je luy desire je n'aurois jamais fait seigneur si je voulois vous redire tout ce que dit agathyrse dans sa colere c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux pour me haster de finir que je vous die que pour ne donner pas le temps a aryante de r'assembler davantage de troupes il fut droit ou il aprit qu'il estoit et qu'il acheva si pleinement de le vaincre qu'il fut contraint tout brave qu'il est de se sauver avec octomasade adonacris et quelques esclaves dans une forest fort espaisse ou ils trouverent quelque habitation
 
 
 
 
cependant apres avoir songe a ce qu'ils feroient ils resolurent de demeurer quelque temps cachez en ce lieu la et qu'ils envoyeroient s'informer de l'estat des choses mais seigneur ils sceurent bien tost que tout obeissoit a spargapyse et qu'aux termes ou estoient les affaires il n'y avoit plus rien a esperer ils scavoient pourtant bien que la plus grande partie du monde murmuroit toujours fort contre 
 thomiris a cause de la passion qu'on disoit quelle avoit dans l'ame et qu'ainsi il y avoit tousjours dans les esprits une disposition a la revolte mais comme la conjoncture n'estoit pas propre alors pour en profiter et que selon les apparences elle ne le devoit estre de long temps ils resolurent scachant que tyssagette avoit fait sa paix qu'adonacris se rendroit secrettement aupres de son pere afin qu'il menageast la sienne et qu'il peust en fuite selon l'occasion entretenir tous les amis qu'il avoit a issedon dans les dispositions necessaires a un nouveau remuement ils resolurent encore qu'octomasade s'en iroit chez le prince des callipides pour tascher d'en obtenir quelques troupes quand il en seroit temps et qu'aryante qui scavoit que nous aviez este mal traite par la reine sa soeur viendroit servir dans vostre armee et vous aider a delivrer la princesse mandane qu'on nous disoit alors estre en armenie afin qu'aquerant vostre estime et vostre amitie il pust apres cela obtenir un puissant secours de vous si adonacris pouvant mettre les choses en estat de faire un nouveau soulevement mais comme il importoit extremement au prince aryante que thomiris ne sceust pas ou il estoit de peur que si elle descouvroit ses desseins elle ne les destruisist et ne vous empeschast de l'assister il resolut de changer son nom et de prendre celuy d'anaxaris et il s'y resolut d'autant plustost qu'il scavoit que vous ne le pouviez pas connoistre ny 
 personne de vostre cour car comme ou ne voit guere de scythes dans les cours des autres nations on ne voit aussi guere de gens des autres nations dans les cours de scythie de sorte seigneur que la chose ayant este executee ainsi aryante devint anaxaris et vous joignit en lydie ou il sceut que vous estiez alle lors qu'il arriva en armenie octomasade de son coste s'en alla aupres du prince des callipides et adonacris s'en alla chez un de ses amis jusques a ce qu'il eust fait sa paix qui fut en effet bien aisee a faire car pour pacifier les choses plus promptement on accorda un pardon general a tous les rebelles excepte au prince aryante et a octomasade qu'on scavoit avoir este le premier motif de la revolte mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire que durant qu'aryante fut cache dans cette forest il escrivit encore une fois a elybesis qui ayant sceu sa derniere infortune luy respondit si durement que ce prince commenca des qu'il eut leu sa responce de guerir de la passion qu'il avoit pour elle et il a dit a adonacris dont je le scay que lors qu'il vit la princesse mandane aupres d'un chasteau qui s'appelle le chasteau d'hermes fi ma memoire ne me trompe et ou il dit que cette princesse vous delivra il commenca d'esperer qu'il cesseroit absolument d'aimer elybesis parce que jusques alors il n'avoit jamais veu de femme qui luy eust semble si belle que celle qu'il aimoit et que cependant il fut 
 si charme de la beaute de mandane qu'il s'advoua a luy mesme qu'elle estoit mille fois plus belle qu'elybesis quoy interrompit cyrus aryante qui s'apelloit alors anaxaris et qui estoit prisonnier aussi bien que moy lors que mandane me delivra aupres du chasteau d'hermes commenca des ce jour la d'aimer mandane il ne dit pas seigneur qu'il commenca de l'aimer des ce moment la repliqua anabaris mais il dit qu'il acheva de cesser d'aimer elybesis cependant pour en revenir ou j'en estois et pour vous aprendre l'estat present des affaires d'aryante je vous diray qu'agathyrse ayant l'ame toute remplie de la haine qu'il avoit pour elybesis voulut quoy que je luy pusse dire des qu'il fut a issedon luy aller reporter la lettre d'aryante qu'elle avoit laisse tomber en montant dans son chariot afin de luy pouvoir parler pour la derniere fois et en effet comme il scait hair avec autant de violence qu'il scait aimer il fut chez elle de fort bonne heure de sorte qu'elybesis qui l'aimoit tousjours malgre toute son ambition s'imagina que peutestre revenoit il a elle car encore qu'elle se fust bien aperceue qu'elle avoit perdu la lettre d'aryante elle ne pensoit pas qu'il l'eust trouvee mais elle ne fut pas longtemps dans cette erreur puis que des qu'il fut aupres d'elle il luy rendit cette lettre apres quoy prenant la parole je vous demande pardon madame luy dit-il 
 de ne vous l'avoir pas rendue plustost mais comme ce fut en la lisant que je sentis que mon ame se disposoit a vous hair autant que je vous ay aimee je l'ay voulu lire tant de fois qu'enfin je ne vous aimasse plus car apres tout foible et ambitieuse que vous estes je vous aimois encore lors que je vous disois que je ne vous aimois plus mais graces a mon propre depit j'en suis venu au point non seulement de ne vous aimer plus mais de vous hair et de vous hair de la haine la plus tranquile dont jamais personne se soit trouve capable j'ay bien ouy dire repliqua-t'elle fierement qu'on parle de son amour aux personnes pour qui l'on en a mais je ne pensois pas qu'on entretinst de sa haine celles que l'on n'aime pas puis qu'on parle bien de sa jalousie reprit - il avec un sourire outrageant je croy qu'on peut parler de sa haine puis que c'est une passion comme l'autre du moins scay-je bien que je n'eus jamais tant de plaisir a vous dire autrefois que je vous aimois que j'en ay aujourd'huy a vous dire que je ne vous aime plus et que je ne vous aimeray de ma vie au reste ne vous imaginez pas que ce soit parce que j'aime noromate car je vous proteste que je ne l'ay point aimee et que vous serez cause que je n'aimeray jamais rien en effet poursuivit-il on me verra toute ma vie regarder toutes les belles femmes en general comme de beaux objets sans nul attachement mais je vous regarderay en particulier comme 
 la plus foible la plus ambitieuse et la plus infidelle personne du monde apres cela madame poursuivit-il je n'ay plus rien a vous dire pleust aux dieux dit-elle que vous m'en eussiez moins dit mais puis que vous avez porte la hardiesse jusques au point que de me dire que vous me haissez je n'ay plus qu'a vous hair j'y consens madame reprit-il en se levant mais je vous assure que si vous ne scavez pas mieux hair que vous scavez aimer vostre haine ne me sera pas grand mal a ces mots agathyrse la quitta et sortit de chez elle si satisfais de ce qu'il luy avoit dit qu'il me fut aise de connoistre qu'en effet il ne l'aimoit plus de sorte que cette personne qui avoit tout a la fois de l'amour et de l'ambition ne satisfit ni l'une ni l'autre de ces deux passions et l'on peut dire que pour avoir voulu regner sur les issedons elle ne regna plus dans le coeur d'agathyrse ainsi apres avoir perdu deux amans les mesmes passions qu'elle avoit eues luy demeurant dans le coeur elle en devint si chagrine et si mal faine qu'elle en devint laide de plus adonacris luy fit encore mille reproches de sa facon d'agir et avec agathyrse et avec aryante si bien qu'elle se trouva accablee de toutes sortes de malheurs par sa propre faute cependant adonacris n'eut pas plustost la liberte de faire ce qu'il vouloit et le calme ne fut pas plustost restably qu'il se disposa d'aller a typanis mais il n'en fut pas a la peine car noromate ayant une affaire tres importante a issedon y 
 vint comme il estoit prest d'en partir vous pouvez juger seigneur que l'entre veue de ces deux personnes fut plus agreable que lors que la fortune les avoit fait rencontrer a typanis puis qu'alors adonacris estoit mary d'argyrispe comme sitalce l'estoit de noromate et qu'en l'estat qu'estoient les choses ils estoient tous deux libres noromate fit pourtant quelque scrupule de se remarier si tost mais son pere ayant change d'avis pour adonacris parce qu'il le croyoit alors entierement destache des interests d'aryante ce mariage ce fit a son retour des tentes royales et se fit avec une magnificence extreme ainsi les avantures d'agathyrse et celles d'adonacris finirent bien diversement car celle d'agathyrse finit par le recouvrement de sa liberte et celle d'adonacris par la possession de sa maistresse cependant ce premier ne laisse pas de soustenir qu'il est plus heureux de se posseder luy mesme que s'il eust possede elybesis or seigneur depuis cela quand toutes choses furent paisibles spargapyse s'en retourna aupres de thomiris et agathyrse apres avoir fait un voyage aupres d'elle pour recevoir les louanges de la victoire qu'il avoit obtenue retourna a issedon ou il vescut comme avant la guerre c'est a dire sans se soucier de tout ce qui estoit au dessus de luy et sans avoir autre chose a faire qu'a voir ses amis et se divertir d'autre part adonacris n'oublia pas dans la grandeur de sa joye ce qu'il avoit promis au 
 prince aryante au contraire il agit avec tant d'adresse apres que spargapyse fut retourne aupres de thomiris et que terez s'y fut fait reporter en chariot qu'il trama un dessein qui a este si judicieusement conduit qu'on n'en a descouvert aucune chose il est vray que ce qui le rendit plus facile fut que les issedons et les massagettes murmuroient presque esgallement de voir avec quelle negligence thomiris pensoit aux affaires de ses deux royaumes depuis qu'elle s'estoit mis une passion dans l'ame qui estoit plus forte que sa raison et ce qui servoit encore a irriter ces peuples estoit qu'on faisoit continuellement des preparatifs de guerre sans qu'il parust que cette princesse eust d'ennemis a combatre de sorte seigneur qu'adonacris profitant d'une disposition si favorable n'est party d'issedon pour venir querir aryante qu'apres avoir laisse les choses en estat de se pouvoir emparer en un mesme jour de la capitale du royaume et de typanis et de faire entrer en mesme temps une armee du prince des callipides qu'octomasade a engage dans ses interests et qui a leve des troupes sur un autre pretexte si bien que par ce moyen aryante hazarde de ruiner ce dessein la en enlevant mandane car il a dit a indathyrse que lors qu'il sera sur la frontiere des massagettes s'il n'aprend que le dessein de remonter au throsne soit presque infallible il essayera avant que de le tenter de negocier avec thomiris scachant bien que dans la passion 
 qu'elle a pour vous c'est presque une voye plus assuree de faire sa paix avec elle que de luy remettre la princesse mandane en sa puissance et que de luy demander sa protection pour l'espouser et pour la deffendre contre vous et certes seigneur je ne doute pas que cette negociation ne luy reussisse car cette princesse a l'esprit tellement remply du dessein qu'elle a de vous faire changer de sentimens ou de se vanger de vous en vous declarant la guerre qu'ayant sceu que l'avois blasme une si injuste entreprise elle en a este si irritee qu'il a fallu pour mettre ma personne en seurete que je sois sorty de ses estats bien que conme le bruit de la gloire de vos armes remplit toute la terre j'ay pris le dessein d'employer le temps de mon exil a estre le tesmoin de tant de belles actions dont la renommee porte le bruit par tout le monde mais comme le hazard assemble ou desunit les amis et les ennemis comme bon luy semble en arrivant icy j'ay rencontre l'escuyer d'adonacris qui m'a mene ou estoit son maistre de qui j'ay sceu les dernieres choses que je vous ay dittes apres avoir renoue nostre ancienne amitie anabaris s'estant teu cyrus luy tesmoigna qu'il luy estoit oblige de luy avoir apris beaucoup de choses qui pourroient luy servir utilement pour prevenir les desseins d'aryante il le pria aussi d'assurer adonacris qu'il le serviroit aveque joye et il dit encore a indathyrse qu'il le conjuroit de luy aider a s'aquiter envers 
 ces deux illustres scythes en suitte de quoy voulant commencer de profiter de ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre il depescha un autre courrier vers gelonide pour l'instruire de tout ce qui luy pouvoit servir a empescher thomiris d'avoir mandane en sa puissance 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 apres que cyrus eut bien examine tout ce qu'il avoit sceu d'aryante par l'amy d'adonacris il conclut qu'il falloit en effet executer la resolution qu'il avoit prise et commencer de marcher vers le pais des massagettes des qu'il seroit pleinement esclaircy de l'estat des choses afin qu'il peust tourner teste ou vers thomiris si elle recevoit mandane pour la retenir ou vers aryante 
 s'il la conduisoit a issedon de sorte que donnant des le lendemain au matin tous les ordres necessaires et reglant luy mesme la route que ses troupes devoient tenir il partit deux jours apres mais avant que de partir il visita adonacris suivy d'indathyrse avec qui il eut une conversation qui luy fit bien connoistre qu'anabaris avoit eu raison de luy donner toutes les louanges qu'il luy avoit donnees en racontant ses avantures cette visite ne fut pas seulement une visite de civilite car cyrus dit a adonacris que connoissant sa vertu par indathyrse il le conjuroit des qu'il seroit guery de vouloit aller trouver le prince aryante pour tascher de le ramener a la raison et de luy persuader de se repentir de l'injuste resolution qu'il avoit prise seigneur repliqua adonacris quand vous ne m'auriez pas propose de faire ce que vous dittes je vous aurois suplie de me donner la liberte afin d'aller faire ce que vous voulez que je face mais seigneur puis que la haute estime que je scay que le prince aryante a pour vous et les obligations qu'il vous avoit comme anaxaris ne l'ont pu empescher de suivre aveuglement sa passion je crains bien que je ne sois pas plus puissant que je l'ay este lors que je l'ay voulu empescher de faire ce qu'il a fait je ne laisseray pas toutesfois de faire ce que je dois et pour vous et pour luy des que mes blessures me le permetront apres cela cyrus embrassa aussi anabaris qui s'offrit a le servir en toutes les choses qui despendroient 
 de luy pour luy faire delivrer mandane scachant bien que c'estoit empescher la desolation de sa patrie que de travailler a la liberte de cette princesse de sorte que luy offrant tous les amis qu'il avoit aupres de thomiris il partit avec ce prince afin de pouvoir agir pour luy et pour son pais quand il seroit en lieu de le pouvoir faire pour indathyrse quoy qu'il fust guery de la passion qu'il avoit eue pour thomiris elle ne luy estoit pas indifferente au contraire il ne pouvoit s'empescher quelque genereux qu'il fust de souhaiter que rien ne luy succedast heureusement ainsi meslant un sentiment de vangeance aux interests de cyrus qu'il aimoit fort il le suivit aveque joye estant bien aise aussi de voir qu'il estoit notablement amende a adonacris et qu'il y avoit aparance qu'il les joindroit avant qu'ils fussent sur les frontieres des massagettes et en effet indathyrse ne se trompa pas car cyrus estoit encore a trois journees de l'araxe lors qu'adonacris le joignit comme cette marche avoit assez fatigue son armee cyrus avoit juge a propos de faire alte en ce lieu la avant que de s'aprocher davantage de thomiris qu'il scavoit en avoir une tres grande et tres nombreuse joint que ne scachant encore ou estoit alors mandane il pensa qu'il falloit tascher d'en avoir quelques nouvelles avant que d'aller plus avant il est vray qu'il n'attendit pas long temps car le troisiesme jour apres qu'il fut campe comme il parloit avec 
 mazare et le prince myrsile feraulas revint qui tesmoigna d'abord avoir tant d'empressement que cyrus ne douta point qu'il ne sceust des nouvelles de sa princesse si bien que prenant la parole afin de l'obliger plus diligemment a l'aprendre eh de grace mon cher feraulas luy dit il en s'avancant vers luy dittes moy promprement ce que vous scavez de mandane car je connois bien dans vos yeux que vous en scavez quelque chose il est vray seigneur reprit-il que je scay une grande partie de ce que vous voules scavoir mais le mal est que je ne scay rien qui vous puisse estre agreable car enfin il faut que vous scachiez qu'ayant obei a vos ordres je fus au port le plus proche de celuy ou je vous laissay mais seigneur au lieu d'y trouver plusieurs vaisseaux pour aller apres le prince aryante je n'y en trouvay qu'un en estat de faire voile a l'heure mesme de sorte que m'y embarquant avec vingt de ceux que vous m'aviez donnez je laissay les autres pour se mettre dans deux vaisseaux qu'on preparoit et je dis au pilote avec qui je traitay que je n'avois autre dessein que de croiser la mer en tirant tousjours vers la colchide afin de tascher d'avoir des nouvelles d'un vaisseau que je cherchois et en effet seigneur je fus si heureux que des le soir nous sceusmes par des pescheurs que nous trouvasmes qu'ils avoient veu un navire a peu pres tel qu'estoit celuy que je suivois qui encore qu'il n'eust pas le vent fort favorable n'avoit pas laisse 
 de faire force pour avancer tousjours si bien qu'esperant que c'estoit celuy que je voulois trouver je me sis dire la route qu'il avoit tenue et je la suivis et a dire la verite seigneur il a bien paru que les dieux vouloient que vous sceussiez ou est mandane car depuis cela je trouvay tousjours des barques ou des vaisseaux qui avoient rencontre celuy que je suivois mais ce qui acheva de me confirmer dans l'opinion que ce navire estoit celuy du prince aryante fut que j'en trouvay un dont le capitaine me dit que l'eau ayant manque a ce vaisseau qu'il avoit rencontre il luy en avoit demande si bien que s'estant aproche afin qu'il pust rendre cet office qu'on ne refuse point a la mer quand on le peut il avoit veu a la porte de la chambre de poupe deux fort belles personnes qui paroissoient estre fort affligees et qu'il avoit entreveu dans cette mesme chambre une autre dame dont il n'avoit pu voir le visage parce qu'elle essuyoit ses yeux comme ayant pleure de sorte seigneur que ne doutant plus alors que ce vaisseau que je suivois ne fust celuy que je devois suivre j'en eus une joye extreme mais ce qui acheva de me donner lieu de le joindre fut que j'apris encore que le pilote qui le conduisoit avoit confere avec celuy de ce capitaine avec qui je parlois afin de scavoir s'il y avoit seurete d'aborder aupres de l'endroit ou le phase se jette dans le pont euxin parce qu'il ne le vouloit pas faire a un port de la colchide qui n'estoit 
 pas esloigne de la si bien que ce pilote luy ayant assure qu'il le pouvoit pourveu qu'il prist au dessus de l'emboucheure du fleuve et qu'il esvitast un rocher qui est cache sous l'eau en cet endroit je me servis des mesmes enseignemens et je fus en effet au lieu ou le prince aryante avoit aborde mais comme il avoit eu beaucoup de temps d'avance quelque diligence que je pusse faire il estoit desja desbarque lors que j'y arrivay il est vray que j'apris qu'il avoit conduit mandane a un chasteau qui n'est qu'a six stades de la et qui est scitue au bord du phase mais ce qui m'embarrassoit estoit que je n'osois me monstrer de peur d'estre reconnu par ceux qui suivoient aryante et andramite ainsi il falut me contenter d'envoyer a terre pour tascher d'aprendre des nouvelles ceux que j'avois pris au port ou je m'estois embarque mais comme me ils estoient assez grossiers je n'en estois guere mieux informe et tout ce que je scavois estoit qu'il ne m'estoit pas possible de rien entreprendre pour delivrer la princesse car aryante etandramite la faisoient garder soigneusement par leurs gens et le chasteau ou elle logeoit estoit tres fort de sorte que n'ayant que vingt hommes de main je ne pouvois qu'estre espion encore ne l'eussay-je pas este trop bon si je ne me fusse advise apres plusieurs jours de patience de tascher de faire venir dans mon vaisseau un de ceux qui estoient a la suite d'aryante afin d'avoir quelque lumiere de son dessein et de ce 
 qui le retenoit la si bien qu'ayant chosi trois soldats determinez je les fis habiller en matelots apres quoy suivant l'usage de ceux qui sont abordez en mesme lieu ils turent faire conversation avec ceux de ce vaisseau qu'ils rencontrerent sur le rivage car dans l'oisivete ou estoient ceux qui n'estoient point de garde ils ne faisoient autre chose que de se promener sur le bord de la mer ou d'aller a la chasse de ces beaux oyseaux a qui le phase donne son nom et dont il y a une quantite prodigieuse sur ses rives si bien qu'apres s'estre abordez avoir chasse ensemble et avoir parle de plusieurs choses indifferente qu'ils se demanderent les uns aux autres ceux du vaisseau d'aryante prierent ceux a qui ils parloient d'y entrer a leur retour de sorte que pour leur rendre civilite pour civilite et pour arriver aussi a la fin qu'ils scavoient que je m'estois proposee ils les prierent en suitte d'aller au leur cependant comme le hazard fit que presques tous ceux a qui ils le proposerent avoient alors quelques chose a faire a leur bord il n'y en eut qu'un qui les suivit mais admirez seigneur l'ordre de la providence car enfin cet homme qui les suivit se trouva estre un des gardes de mandane et celuy de tous qui avoit le plus de connoissance de ce que je voulois scavoir de sorte seigneur que des que je le vy dans mon vaisseau je me montray a luy et je le surpris si fort par ma veue que s'imaginant que vous estiez cache dans ce navire et que vous l'alliez 
 faire jetter dans la mer pour le punir de son crime il se jetta a mes pieds et prenant la parole eh de grace feraulas me dit-il sauvez moy la vie car si nostre prince me la donne je luy diray des choses qui luy aideront peut-estre a delivrer mandane vous pouvez juger seigneur que je luy promis de vous prier pour luy pourveu qu'il me dist tout ce qu'il me promettoit et en effet je me servis si bien de la crainte et de l'esperance qu'il me dit tout ce qu'il scavoit et il scavoit tout ce qu'il y avoit a scavoir car comme andramite ne s'estoit plus trouve son escuyer apres le combat il avoit pris celuy a qui je parlois pour luy en servir en attendant qu'il retrouvast le sien ou qu'il en eust un autre de sorte que s'estant intrigue aupres de luy il avoit ouy plusieurs conversations d'aryante et d'andramite qui luy avoient apris leurs desseins dittes les moy donc promptement interrompit cyrus si vous les scavez je vous diray donc seigneur reprit feraulas que j'ay sceu par ce garde qu'encore que le prince aryante sceust qu'il y avoit de grandes dispositions a le faire roy des issedons il a mieux aime songer a conserver mandane qu'a conquerir un royaume se mettant au hazard de la perdre ne doutant nullement qu'il ne se vist attaque tout a la fois et par vous et par thomiris s'il la menoit a issedon si bien que ne songeant qu'a avoir mandane en sa puissance il ne fut pas plustost aborde qu'il escrivit a thomiris et a ceux de ses amis 
 qui estoient alors aupres d'elle afin de la suplier d'oublier le passe a condition de renoncer solemnellement a la couronne des issedons et de ne pretendre de sa vie a autre qualite qu'a celle de son sujet pourveu qu'elle voulust recevoir mandane dans sa cour et s'engager a ne vous la rendre jamais et a faire tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour la luy faire espouser ainsi seigneur il vous est aise de juger que dans les sentimens ou est thomiris pour vous elle n'a pas refuse une proposition qui luy assure un royaume et qui remet en sa puissance une personne qu'elle croit qui est seule cause que vous ne l'aimez pas aussi ce garde me dit-il que la responce estoit venue aussi favorable qu'aryante l'eust pu souhaiter que thomiris oublioit le passe et offroit telle seurete qu'il voudroit pour sa personne et pour celle de mandane et qu'elle s'engageoit solemnellement a ne vous la rendre jamais et en effet me dit encore ce mesme garde elle a envoye deux hommes de qualite a aryante luy dire que s'il veut son fils en ostage elle le luy donnera pourveu qu'il mette mandane en son pouvoir mais comme aryante scait bien que thomiris a un interest qui l'empeschera de luy manquer de parole pour ce qui regarde mandane il a creu qu'il devoit se confier absolument a elle c'est pourquoy il part demain pour aller par terre traverser la colchide et de la droit vers cette princesse mais en mesme temps il a envoye vers un homme qui s'appelle ce me 
 semble octomasade pour luy dire qu'il ne songe plus a le faire roy et il a envoye aussi a issedon vers ceux qui se devoient soulever en sa faveur pour leur dire la mesme chose du moins ay-je entendu tout ce que je viens de dire de la bouche d'aryante ou de celle d'andramite lors qu'ils ont parle ensemble sans qu'ils croyent que je les aye entendus car l'amour les occupe tellement tous deux qu'a peine scavent-ils ce qu'ils voyent ou ce qu'ils ne voyent pas apres cela seigneur je creus que ce garde ne me pouvoit plus rien aprendre et je creus mesme que le mieux que je pouvois faire estoit de gagner absolument cet homme et de le renvoyer afin qu'il vous pust donner des nouvelles de mandane et en effet je luy inspiray tant d'horreur de la perfidie de ceux qui vous avoient trahi que j'ose assurer qu'il sera fidelle espion cependant je ne le renvoyay pas sans luy demander comment aryante vivoit avec la princesse mais il me dit que c'estoit avec tant de respect qu'elle ne pouvoit avoir autre sujet de s'en pleindre que celuy de l'avoir enlevee il m'assura pourtant qu'elle estoit dans une affliction incroyable et que si elle n'eust eu martesie pour la consoler il ne scavoit ce qu'elle auroit fait parce que doralise estoit elle mesme si affligee et si irritee d'estre enlevee par andramite qu'elle n'estoit pas en estat de la soulager mais seigneur pour ne me fier pas tout a fait a ce garde je fis voile des que je l'eus remis a terre de peur 
 que s'il me trahissoit il ne me fist arrester et ne m'empeschast de vous venir advertir neantmoins comme je voulois scavoir effectivement si le prince aryante partiroit le lendemain je ne m'esloignay pas extremement et j'envoyay informer dans un esquif s'il estoit vray qu'il fust party bien marry de n'estre pas en estat de pouvoir l'empescher d'emmener mandane mais comme j'avois trop peu de gens pour en avoir seulement la pensee je creus qu'il valoit mieux venir diligemment vous advertir de ce que je scavois que de tenter une chose impossible cependant je n'ay pu y venir aussi tost que je l'eusse voulu parce que j'ay eu le vent contraire de sorte que si gelonide qui vous estoit autrefois si favorable l'a voulu elle a eu le temps de vous faire scavoir des nouvelles de mandane mais seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire que ce garde de la princesse qui m'a promis fidellite me promit aussi de luy dire a la premiere occasion qu'il en trouveroit que je luy avois parle et qu'il lassureroit que vous la retireriez aussi bien de la puissance de thomiris que vous l'aviez retiree de celle du roy d'assirie et de celle du roy de pont ha feraulas s'escria cyrus vous m'avez rendu un signale service de faire parler de moy a la princesse cependant dit-il en se tournant vers mazare et vers le prince myrsile je ne voy pas qu'il y ait plus rien a attendre comme il disoit cela ortal que parut de sorte que cyrus admirant sa diligence le receut aveque joye 
 dans l'esperance d'aprendre encore quelque chose de mandane et en effet il ne se trompa pas dans l'esperance qu'il en eut car ortalque luy dit que comme il estoit alle par terre il n'avoit pu arriver aux tentes royales que le jour qui avoit precede celuy ou mandane y estoit arrivee et y avoit este receue avec beaucoup de magnificence quoy s'escria cyrus vous avez este en mesme lieu que mandane ouy seigneur repliqua ortalque et gelonide a qui j'avois donne vostre lettre des le soir voulut que je visse arriver cette princesse myrsile ne pouvant alors s'empescher de demander des nouvelles de la personne qu'il aimoit fit si bien que sans choquer la civilite il engagea ortalque a parler de doralise et a dire qu'elle et martesie suivoient tousjours la princesse mais encore dit alors cyrus que me mande gelonide vous le scaurez seigneur reprit ortalque quand vous aurez veu ce que je vous presente en effet en disant cela ortalque donna un paquet a cyrus qui estoit assez gros pour luy donner la curiosite de l'ouvrir diligemment aussi le fit-il avec une promptitude estrange mais il fut-bien agreablement surpris lors qu'il vit que la lettre de gelonide estoit accompagnee de deux autres dont l'une estoit de mandane et l'autre de la princesse araminte cependant quelque surprise que luy donnast la veue de cette derniere il n'hesita pas a choisir laquelle il devoit ouvrir la premiere et quoy qu'il semblast que pour entendre mieux les deux autres il 
 falust lire celle de gelonide avant que de les voir puis que c'estoit elle qui les envoyoit il leut pourtant celle de mandane ou il trouva ces paroles
 
 
 mandane a cyrus 
 
 
 c'est par la bonte et par l'adresse de la vetueuse gelonide que j'ay la liberte de vous dire que si te ne me souvenois de tant de grandes choses que vous avez faites pour me delivrer j'aurois desja perdu l'esperance s'estre jamais libre mais comme je n'en puis perdre la memoire je ne puis aussi cesser d'esperer de vous voir encore rompre les chaines que te porte mesnagez pourtant vostre vie et ne m'exposez pas en l'exposant trop a la plus grande de toutes les infortunes ortalque vous dira comment j'ay este receue de la reine des massagettes mais je vous diray que j'ay eu beaucoup de consolation de trouver la princesse araminte icy car puis qu'elle ne doit pas encore estre heureuse je suis du moins bien aise que nous soyons malheureuses ensemble estant certain que dans le peu que je l'ay veue j'ay desja plus d'amitie pour elle que je ne vous accusois d en avoir voila tout ce que vous peut dire presentement une personne qui aura bien tost le bonheur d'estre delivree encore une fois par vous si la fortune rend justice a vostre valeur comme je la rends a vostre vertu et a vostre affection 
 
 
 mandane 
 
 
 la lecture de cette lettre donna de la joye et de la douleur a cyrus car il fut bien aise d'y voir quelques marques de tendresse mais il fut suffi bien afflige dans la pensee qu'il eut que l'illustre personne qui les luy donnoit n'estoit pas libre et estoit sous la puissance d'une rivale irritee et d'une rivale encore qui avoit une armee aussi nombreuse que la sienne pour s'opposer a tout ce qu'il voudroit entreprendre pour delivrer mandane cependant apres avoir fait cette reflection ou la joye et la douleur avoient leur part il ouvrit la lettre d'araminte qui estoit conceue en ces termes
 
 
 araminte a cyrus 
 
 
 je voy bien que la fortune veut que je fois tousjours delivree ou comme estant la princesse mandane ou comme estant captive avec elle cependant pour reconnoistre les obligations que je vous ay et celles que je vous auray encore je vous assure que je seray tout ce qui me sera possible pour rendre sa prison moins rude et que je ne songeray pas tant a adoucir mes propres malheurs que les siens en eschange je vous conjure seigneur de prendre quelque soin du malheureux spitridate en quelque lieu de la terre qu'il soit et d'obliger 
 le prince tygrane a blasmer l'injuste phraarte son frere de la violente resolution qu'il aprise je vous demande pardon de vous parler de quelque autre chose que de la princesse mandane en un temps ou elle doit occuper tout vostre esprit mais comme vous estes assez malheureux vous mesme pour n'ignorer pas combien les maux que je souffre sont difficiles a suporter sans s'en pleindre j'espere que vous me pardonnerez et je l'espere d'autant plustost que je vous en conjure par la princesse mandane de qui la merveilleuse beaute et le rare merite m'ont donne tant d'admiration que je suis fortement persuadee que vous ne pouvez rien refuser de tout ce qu'en vous demande en son nom 
 
 
 araminte 
 
 
quelque amitie qu'eust cyrus pour l'excellente princesse qui luy escrivoit cette lettre il l'eust sans doute leue avec precipitation en l'estat ou estoit son ame si elle n'eust pas eu l'adresse d'y parler au commencement et a la fin de la princesse mandane mais comme il y trouvoit en mesme temps des choses qui regardoient sa maistresse et son amie il la leut avec loisir et avec beaucoup de satisfaction en suitte de quoy il ouvrit celle de gelonide ou il leut ce qui fuit 
 
 
 
 gelonide a l'invincible cyrus 
 
 
 avant juge plus a propos de confier a ortalque qu'a cette lettre tout ce qu'il est necessaire que vous scachiez je ne vous l'escriray point et je vous diray seulement seigneur que vous devez estre assure que je serviray la princesse mandane en toutes choses car puis que c'est servir la reine que je fers que de s'opposer a ce qu'elle veut faire contre vous et que je vous puis rendre office sans la trahir croyez seigneur que je le feray avec toute l'adresse dont je suis capable et avec toute l'affection possible 
 
 
 gelonide 
 
 
comme cyrus achevoit de lire cette lettre chrysante et aglatidas arriverent aupres de luy de sorte que comme ce prince scavoit qu'ils avoient escrit a gelonide il demanda a ortalque si elle ne leur avoit pas respondu et l'obligea a luy bailler les lettres qu'il avoit pour eux apres qu'il luy eut dit qu'elle leur avoit fait responce car comme ce n'estoit que pour mandane qu'ils avoient escrit il avoit plus d'interest qu'eux a tout ce qu'elle leur respondoit aussi fut il fort aise de voir par ces deux lettres qu'elle avoit 
 effectivement dessein de rendre tous les offices qu'elle pourroit a cette princesse cependant des qu'il eut acheve de les lire tout haut et qu'il les eut baillees a ceux a qui elles estoient escrites il obligea ortalque de luy dire tout ce qu'il scavoit de mandane et de le luy dire en presence de mazare de myrsile d'aglatidas de chrysante et de feraulas seigneur reprit ortalque j'ay sceu par gelonide que le prince aryante apres avoir enleve mandane fut aborder a la colchide et que de la il a si bien negocie avec thomiris que cette reine pour avoir mandane en sa puissance luy a promis d'oublier le passe de ne vous rendre jamais cette princesse et de la luy faire espouser puis que je l'ay bien ostee de la puissance du roy de pont reprit cyrus avec impetuosite j'espere que je l'osteray bien de celle de thomiris et que ses tentes ne seront pas si difficiles a forcer que sinope babilone sardis et cumes mais achevez ortalque poursuivit il de me dire ce que je veux scavoir et aprenez moy principalement comment la reine des massagettes traitte mandane et si vous l'avez veue seigneur repliqua ortalque pour satisfaire vostre curiosite il faut que je vous die que j'ay sceu que des que le traite du prince aryante fut fait l'on vit une joye sur le visage de thomiris qui n'y avoit point paru depuis que vous partistes d'aupres d'elle et que la pensee de voir la princesse mandane en sa puissance luy donna une satisfaction incroyable mais afin que le 
 traite du prince son frere et d'elle fust plus solidement fait il y eut une entreveue d'aryante et de thomiris au bord de l'araxe ce prince ayant laisse mandane sous la garde d'andramite pendant qu'il fut vers la reine des massagettes j'ay sceu de plus par gelonide qui se trouva a cette entre-veue qu'il se fit une reconciliation solemnelle entre ces deux personnes aryante agit pourtant si adroitement qu'il ne parla point a thomiris de la passion qu'il scavoit qu'elle avoit pour vous et elle agit aussi avec tant de retenue malgre la violence de son temperamment qu'elle ne luy dit pas que c'estoit moins parce qu'il estoit son frere que parce qu'il estoit vostre rival qu'elle le traittoit si bien ce n'est pas qu'ils ne s'entendissent tous deux parfaitement mais aryante eut ce respect pour celle a qui il demandoit protection de ne le faire pas rougir de sa foiblesse et thomiris eut ce respect la pour elle mesme de ne la descouvrir pas ouvertement mais afin de porter plus facilement la princesse mandane a desesperer de sa liberte et a ne desesperer pas aryante ils resolurent qu'il falloit qu'elle traversast toute l'armee de thomiris et en effet seigneur lors que cette princesse fut conduite par le prince aryante vers la reine sa soeur thomiris fit ranger son armee en bataille dans une grande plaine de sorte que mandane a qui elle avoit envoye un superbe chariot et un compliment par un de ses officiers passa au milieu de toutes ces troupes 
 dont la multitude et la magnificence donnerent beaucoup de chagrin a cette princesse du moins martesie me l'a-t'elle raconte ainsi cependant aryante et andramite alloient a cheval avec leurs gens apres le chariot de mandane qui fut d'abord conduite dans une superbe tente qui touchoit celle ou l'on avoit mis la princesse araminte des que phraarte apres l'avoir enlevee fut demander asile et protection a la reine des massagettes mais seigneur elle n'y fut pas si tost qu'on y mit des gardes et elle n'y eut pas este une heure que thomiris fut la visiter car le prince aryante en traittant avec elle l'avoit obligee a luy rendre tous les honneurs imaginables joint aussi a ce qu'on en peut juger que quand elle n'auroit eu autre raison de visiter cette princesse que celle de sa propre curiosite elle l'auroit este voir de vous dire seigneur comment cette entre-veue se fit il ne me sera pas aise de le faire bien exactement car martesie me l'a racontee avec tant de precipitation que je ne scay si je n'en oublieray point quelque circonstance quoy que je face pourtant tout ce que je pourray pour n'en oublier aucune je vous diray donc seigneur que lors que thomiris arriva mandane se pleignoit avec doralise et martesie de la cruaute de sa fortune et que des qu'elle sceut que cette princesse arrivoit elle fut au devant d'elle jusques a l'entree de sa tente ou elle la receut avec autant de tristresse sur le visage que civilite en toutes 
 ses paroles mais seigneur cette tristesse n'empescha pas que thomiris ne fust surprise de la beaute de la princesse du moins ceux qui la virent remarquerent-ils que des qu'elle la vit elle rougit et qu'il parut tant d'admiration dans ses yeux par la surprise que l'esclat de la beaute de mandane luy donna que doralise ne doute pas qu'il n'y eust alors un instant ou elle trouva que vous n'aviez pas eu tort de n'estre point infidelle a une personne qui avoit une beaute si merveilleuse mandane de son coste trouva aussi thomiris si belle quoy qu'elle ne soit plus dans cette premiere jeunesse qui a je ne scay quelle fraischeur qu'on ne trouve que rarement au dela de dix-sept ans que martesie m'a charge de vous dire qu'elle ne doute nullement que la princesse ne vous eust en cet instant une nouvelle obligation d'une chose passee voyant que vous aviez pu refuser l'affection d'une aussi belle reine que celle-la en effet seigneur il est certain que thomiris ne paroist pas avoir plus de vingt-deux ou vingt-trois ans mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois la reine des massagettes ne vit pas plustost mandane que cette princesse prenant la parole je ne scay madame luy dit elle en assirien scachant que thomiris le parloit si je me dois pleindre ou louer de l'honneur que vous me faites neantmoins comme la renommee m'a parle de vous avec beaucoup d'avantage je veux esperer pour vostre gloire et pour ma satisfaction que vous me protegerez et je veux croire 
 que les gardes que vous m'avez donnez font plus ma seurete que pour me retenir captive en fin madame je veux encore me persuader que vostre raison esclairera celle du prince aryante et qu'il se repentira de l'injuste resolution qu'il a prise comme il est mon frere repliqua thomiris il ne seroit pas juste que je fusse absolument contre luy et tout ce que je vous puis dire de plus equitable adjousta-t'elle en souriant c'est que des que vous l'aurez mis en liberte je vous y metray aussi de sorte que vous promettant que des qu'il ne sera plus vostre esclave vous ne serez plus prisonniere c'est vous promettre autant que je dois mais madame adjousta-t'elle sans luy donner loisir de respondre ce qui m'amene icy principalement est pour vous dire que vostre captivite n'aura rien de rude et que vous serez servie avec tout le respect qu'on doit a vostre condition et a vostre merite quoy que ce que vous me dittes reprit la princesse n'ait rien qui ne semble civil et obligeant je ne laisse pas de le trouver infiniment rude car enfin madame par quel droit le prince aryante m'a-t'il amenee icy et par quel droit m'y pouvez vous retenir par celuy de la force reprit thomiris qui est le mesme qui a rendu cyrus vainqueur d'une grande partie de l'asie cependant adjousta-t'elle comme il y a fort peu que vous estes icy et que je n'ay pas encore eu le temps d'examiner toutes les raisons du prince mon frere ne parlons point s'il vous plaist aujourd'huy ni de 
 liberte ni de prison joint aussi poursuivit-elle que je ne pense pas que vous vous en mettiez guere en peine car la victoire est tellement accoustumee a suivre cyrus que quand vous ne devriez estre libre qu'apres qu'il m'auroit vaincue vous espereriez sans doute de l'estre bientost en effet adjousta-t'elle encore avec un ton de voix ou il y avoit quelque fierte tout languissant qu'il estoit qu'elle aparence y a-t'il qu'une reine pust resister a un prince qui a vaincu tant de rois car enfin je n'ay ny villes ny places fortifiees qui me puissent servir d'asile et je n'ay que la valeur de mes propres sujets jugez donc madame si une princesse pour qui cyrus n'a mesme aucune estime pourra se deffendre longtemps contre luy ha madame interrompit prudemment mandane je ne tomberay pas d'accord de ce que vous dittes car je scay que cyrus vous estime infiniment je scay mieux que vous ce qu'il pense de moy repliqua thomiris en rougissant de confusion mais apres tout madame adjousta-t'elle toute foible que je suis je puis vous assurer qu'encore que les massagettes n'ayent point de villes ils ne sont pas aisez a vaincre car comme ils combatent seulement pour la gloire et qu'ils ne craignent pas que la longueur de la guerre destruise leurs villes et leurs maisons puis qu'ils n'en ont point ils combatent opiniastrement et ne se rendent jamais qu'a l'extremite mais madame poursuivit-elle ne parlons s'il vous plaist ny de victoire ny de 
 guerre laissons l'advenir dans le secret de dieux et songeons seulement a faire que le present n'ait rien de fascheux pour vous c'est pour cela madame que je souffriray que la princesse de pont qui est icy vous voye car comme elle est d'un pais ou il y a plus de politesse que vous n'en trouverez dans le nostre je croy qu'elle vous divertira et qu'elle se tiendra bien hereuse d'estre avec une personne comme vous mandane estant alors fort surprise d'ouir dire qu'araminte fust au lieu ou elle estoit ne put s'empescher de tesmoigner son estonnement et de demander comment elle y pouvoit estre de sorte que thomiris qui n'estoit sans doute pas marrie de changer ce discours luy dit en peu de mots que le prince phraarte la luy avoit amenee et luy avoit demande protection apres quoy thomiris ne pouvant demeurer plus longtemps avec une personne qu'elle trouvoit plus belle qu'elle n'eust voulu la trouver se retira apres luy avoir encore fait quelque civilite a peine fut elle sortie que la princesse araminte conduite par celuy qui commandoit ceux qui la gardoient entra dans la chambre de la princesse mais seigneur cette entreveue fut plus agreable que celle de mandane et de thomiris car encore que ces deux princesses ne se fussent jamais veues elles ne laisserent pas de s'aborder comme si elles eussent este amies et l'esgallite de leur fortune jointe a la haute estime qu'elles avoient l'une pour l'autre sur le rapport de ceux qui leur avoient parle 
 de leur merite lia en un instant une tres estroite amitie entre ces deux admirables personnes d'autre part hesionide fit la mesme chose avec martesie pour doralise son destin a este si heureux en cette occasion qu'elle est la consolation de ces deux princesses car encore qu'elle soit tres affligee et du malheur de mandane et de celuy qu'elle a de voir andramite aupres d'elle c'est une espece de douleur despite s'il est permis de parler ainsi qui luy a fait dire cent plaisantes choses au plus fort de son desespoir depuis qu'elle est en ce lieu la mais seigneur pour achever de vous dire tout ce que je scay vous scaurez que la vertueuse gelonide agit si adroitement qu'elle me fit le lendemain au soir parler a martesie qui me fit aussi voir un moment la princesse qui m'ordonna de vous dire tout ce que je scavois de sorte seigneur que gelonide trouvant qu'il estoit a propos que vous sceussiez promptement l'estat des choses me donna le paquet que je vous ay presente me fit partir des le lendemain et me donna un guide afin qu'on ne m'arrestast point en passant l'araxe mais en me congediant elle m ordonna de vous dire qu'elle alloit faire tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour tascher de remettre la raison dans l'ame de thomiris s et dans celle d'aryante adjoustant toutes fois qu'a dire les choses comme elle les pensoit elle craignoit fort de ne le pouvoir pas apres cela ortalque s'estant teu cyrus luy fit encore beaucoup de questions ou il respondit 
 dit selon ce qu'il scavoit ou ne scavoit pas et il se retira quand il eut satisfait la curiosite de son maistre mais comme le prince myrsile n'avoit ose l'interrompre il n'estoit pas assez esclaircy de tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir de doralise c'est pourquoy a la premiere occasion qu'il en trouva il quitta cyrus afin d'aller entretenir ortalque avec plus de loisir 
 
 
 
 
cependant comme il n'y avoit plus rien a attendre cyrus resolut avec mazare qu'il faloit s'avancer jusques au bord de l'araxe et que de la pour garder quelque bien seance avec une reine qui n'estoit injuste que parce qu'elle l'aimoit trop il envoyeroit quelque personne de consideration vers elle pour luy demander la princesse mandane et la princesse araminte avant que de la combatre et qu'en attendant il donneroit ordre d'avoir des bateaux pour faire un pont sur l'araxe de sorte qu'ayant le jour suivant tenu un conseil plus pour la forme que par necessite on y resolut ce qu'il proposa et son armee commenca de marcher et marcha en effet sans aucun obstacle jusques au bord de l'araxe ou il campa mais a peine y fut-il qu'il sceut que la princesse onesile femme de tigrane estoit arrivee a une petite ville qui estoit un de ses quartiers et qu'elle s'estoit avancee jusques la pour luy venir demander des nouvelles de son mary car comme l'araxe prend sa source dans la mantiane et qu'il traverse l'armenie elle avoit suivy le fil de l'eau scachant la marche de cyrus 
 afin de scavoir de sa bouche tout ce qu'il scavoit de tigrane de sorte que comme cyrus estimoit fort cette princesse et qu'il scavoit quelle estoit l'affection que tigrane avoit pour elle et celle qu'elle avoit pour luy il ne voulut pas luy accorder la permission qu'elle luy envoya demander de le venir trouver et il voulut luy faire une visite puis qu'il le pouvoit sans prejudicier a son dessein car comme il ne devoit envoyer que le jour suivant vers thomiris il eut ce jour la tout entier a rendre cette civilite a la princesse d'armenie et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison que cyrus avoit beaucoup d'estime pour elle car cette princesse n'estoit pas d'un merite ordinaire en effet onesile avoit tout ce qu'on peut souhaiter en une femme soit pour les graces du corps pour celles de l'esprit ou pour les qualitez de l'ame onesile estoit grande de belle taille et de bonne mine elle avoit les cheveux bruns les yeux noirs le trait blanc et uny la peau delicate la bouche incarnate et souriante et le tour du visage fort agreable quoy que d'une forme assez particuliere car on ne pouvoit veritablement dire qu'il fust tout a fait en ovalle et on ne pouvoit pas dire aussi qu'il fust rond de plus elle avoit le nez tres bien fait et sans estre ny trop grand ny trop petit il avoit tout ce qu'il falloit pour contribuer a la bonne mine d'onesile et pour ne gaster point cet assemblage de belles choses qui la faisoit une des plus belles et des plus charmantes personnes du 
 monde car non seulement elle avoit tout ce que je viens de descrire mais elle avoit de plus un si grand et un si bel esclat dans les yeux un air si fin si noble et si spirituel en sa phisionomie une beaute si particuliere a la bouche une gorge si admirablement belle et un carractere de grandeur en toutes ses actions qui plaisoit si fort que quand elle n'auroit eu de merveilleux que les seules graces de sa personne elle auroit este digne de beaucoup d'admiration cependant son esprit brilloit encore plus que ses yeux et l'on peut asseurer que qui que ce soit n'en a jamais eu un plus penetrant plus esclaire plus agreable plus solide ny d'une plus vaste estendue car encore que son imagination fust si prompte et si vive qu'elle derobast jusques dans le coeur les pensees de ceux qui luy parloient et qu'on peust quelquefois appeller divination la maniere dont elle entendoit les choses il est pourtant certain que quelque prompte que fust son imagination elle ne devancoit jamais son jugement qui agissant aussi diligemment qu'elle faisoit que cette princesse jugeoit equitablement de tout ce n'est pas qu'on ne pust quelquesfois luy reprocher qu'elle n'estoit pas tousjours ou elle paroissoit estre car il est certain qu'il y avoit peu de gens au monde qui peussent occuper assez son esprit pour l'empescher longtemps de penser a autre chose qu'a ce qu'ils luy disoient mais elle revenoit si a propos et si agreablement de ces legeres distractions 
 dont ses amies particulieres luy faisoint la guerre qu'elle respondoit aussi juste a ce que l'on ne croyoit pas qu'elle eust entendu que si son esprit n'eust point fait plusieurs petits voyages durant la conversation et qu'il ne fust pas separe de celles qui la formoient joint qu'a parler veritablement ce qui paroissoit quelquesfois distraction et resverie estoit un pur effet de l'estendue de son esprit qui ne pouvant se refermer en un seul objet se partageoit en tant d'objets differents qu'il n'estoit pas possible que durant qu'il estoit partage il n'en parust quelque chose ou au son de sa voix ou en ses yeux ou en quelqu'une de ses actions et je pense mesme qu'on en pouvoit accuser sa generosite estant certain que tres souvent en escoutant une de ses amies elle pensoit encore comment elle en serviroit quelque autre ainsi on peut dire sans flatterie que la seule petite chose dont on pouvoit quelquesfois accuser la princesse d'armenie servoit a la rendre plus aimable et plus parfaite et estoit un pur effet de la grandeur de son esprit et de celle de sa bonte joint aussi que lors qu'elle revenoit tout de bon a ceux qui estoient aupres d'elle sa conversation estoit la plus agreable du monde et la plus capable de satisfaire pleinement les plus delicats et les plus difficiles n'y ayant rien de si esleve dont elle ne parlast a propos ny rien de si bas dont elle ne pust parler noblement de plus on peut encore dire que jamais personne serieuse n'a eu un enjouement plus aimable que 
 celuy qu'elle avoit quelquesfois dans l'esprit ny n'a sceu faire un si agreable meslange de l'air modeste et de l'air galant que cette princesse ny n'a entendu les choses du monde plus finement mais si onesile parloit eloquemment elle escrivoit aussi bien qu'on pouvoit escrire et l'on peut dire enfin que peu de femmes ont aussi bien escrit qu'elle mais apres tout il falloit pourtant encore que son esprit cedast a sa generosite a sa bonte et a sa vertu en effet on peut assurer qu'on ne peut pas avoir l'ame plus solidement genereuse qu'onesile l'avoit et que qui que ce soit n'a jamais sceu obliger d'une maniere plus noble plus desinteressee ny plus heroique car non seulement elle accordoit de bonne grace a ses amis tout ce qu'ils desiroient d'elle mais elle leur rendoit mesme des offices qu'ils ne luy demandoient pas et qu'ils n'eussent ose luy demander de plus quiconque avoit de la vertu estoit assure de sa protection et elle estoit si fort touchee du merite extraordinaire qu'elle ne pouvoit voir un honneste homme malheureux sans en avoir de la douleur quoy qu'il ne fust pas de ses amis particuliers enfin onesile avoit le coeur si grand et si noble que quoy qu'elle fust destinee a occuper le throsne d'armenie on peut encore dire qu'elle estoit au dessus de sa fortune et qu'elle en avoit moins qu'elle ne meritoit d'en avoir aussi tout le monde la pleignoit avec tendresse de ce que sa sante n'estoit pas tousjours aussi bonne que tous ceux 
 qui la connoissoient l'eussent desire ce n'est pas qu'elle ne fust tout a la fois agissante et delicate et qu'elle ne fist bien souvent autant de choses que ceux qui se portoient le mieux principalement quand il s'agissoit de servir quelqu'un de plus onesile estoit aussi liberale qu'on peut l'estre et l'on peut assurer sans mensonge qu'elle avoit toutes les vertus ensemble et qu'elle estoit si respectee et si tendrement aimee de tous ceux qui avoient l'honneur de l'aprocher qu'il n'estoit pas estrange que le merite d'une personne si extraordinaire eust fait assez d'impression dans l'esprit de cyrus pour luy donner la pensee d'agir avec elle avec toute la civilite possible et pour obliger a l'aller trouver des qu'il sceut qu'elle avoit dessein de venir vers luy aussi y fut il avec empressement suivy d'indathyrse qui le quitoit le moins qu'il pouvoit et de cinq ou six autres seulement des qu'onesile sceut que cyrus estoit arrive au lieu ou elle estoit elle fut au devant de luy mais comme il avoit monte l'escallier fort viste elle ne fut que jusques a la porte de sa chambre ou des que le premier compliment fut fait et que cyrus eut aussi salue une parente d'onesile qui estoit avec elle il luy presenta indathyrse dont il luy dit la condition et le merite en peu de mots en suitte de quoy onesile luy tesmoigna la douleur qu'elle avoit de ce que le prince phraarte son beau-frere avoit fait et l'inquietude ou elle estoit de ne scavoir ou pouvoit estre tygrane qu'elle avoit 
 sceu estre alle avec spitridate pour chercher son frere et pour tascher de l'obliger a rendre la princesse araminte je m'assure seigneur luy dit elle apres beaucoup d'autres choses que vous trouverez que la peine ou je suis n'est pas mal fondee et qu'ayant sceu que phraarte estoit alle demander retraite a thomiris j'ay eu lieu d'entreprendre de faire le voyage que j'ay entrepris afin que si tigrane venoit icy je pusse tascher d'empescher que les deux freres ne se tuassent car comme phraarte a tousjours tesmoigne avoir beaucoup d'amitie pour moy il m'est reste quelque esperance de le ramener a la raison si je le pouvois voir plust aux dieux madame reprit cyrus que vous pussiez persuader a phraarte et au prince aryante de mettre les deux princesses qu'ils ont enlevees en liberte et que le bruit d'une si belle avanture ramenast tigrane aupres de vous mais madame adjousta-t'il sans m'amuser a faire des souhaits inutiles je vous diray seulement qui je ne doute point du tout que nous ne voiyons bien-tost le prince tigrane icy car comme il n'est pas possible qu'il ne scache par la renommee que la princesse araminte est aupres de thomiris et que je suis aupres de l'araxe il est a croire que je ne me tronpe pas lors que je vous assure que vous le reverrez dans peu de jours pendant que cyrus entretenoit la princesse d'armenie indathyrse et les autres gens de qualite qui avoient suivy cyrus parloient a cette parente d'onesile qui s'appelloit 
 telagene et qui estoit d'une des plus illustres maisons d'armenie car comme cette belle fille scavoit le grec et qu'indathyrse l'avoit apris parfaitement durant le voyage qu'il avoit fait en grece pour aller chercher anacharsis il eut un fort grand plaisir a l'entretenir et certes ce ne fut pas sans raison que cette belle personne luy plut pais qu'elle avoit beaucoup de choses a plaire telagene estoit de taille mediocre mais bien faite elle avoit les yeux grands et bleus et d'un esclat languissant et doux qui plaisoit infiniment elle avoit le taint uny et vif le visage en ovale et les cheveux d'un chastain si clair et si beau qu'on eust pu les dire blonds sans leur faire grace de plus telagene n'avoit pas seulement beaucoup de beaute beaucoup de douceur et beaucoup d'esprit car elle avoit encore la memoire remplie de tout ce qu'on avoit escrit d'agreable par toute la grece et depuis hesiode jusques a sapho qui vivoit alors rien n'avoit eschape a sa curiosite de tout ce que les muses avoient produit d'excellent aussi cette grande lecture avoit elle donne a telagene un facilite de bien escrire et d'escrire galamment qu'on mettoit avec raison entre les bonnes qualitez qui la rendoient aimable sa conversation estoit douce flatteuse et complaisante mais ce qui estoit encore fort estimable en telagene c'est qu'elle avoit l'ame infiniment tendre a l'amitie et toutes les inclinations si nobles et si portees a la veritable vertu qu'elle estoit incapable de faire 
 jamais rien qui l'en pust tant soit peu esloigner de sorte qu'il n'est pas fort estrange si durant que cyrus entretenoit onesile indathyrse prit tant de plaisir a entretenir telagene qu'il ne croyoit pas qu'il y eust un quart d'heure qu'il luy parlast lors que cyrus partit d'aupres de la princesse d'armenie qui se resolut d'attendre en ce lieu la l'effet de l'esperance que ce prince luy avoit donnee de revoir bien tost tigrane car comme la ville ou elle estoit alors estoit a un prince allie du roy d'armenie et du roy des medes elle y pouvoit estre seurement joint que cyrus estant maistre de la campagne au deca de l'araxe et toutes les troupes de thomiris estant de l'autre coste du fleuve elle estoit en seurete cependant conme cyrus s'en retournoit le long de la riviere avec ceux qui l'avoient suivy il vit d'assez loin douant luy un honme qui entroit dans un batteau qui estoit si perit que ne pouvant contenir son cheval il l'avoit laisse aller par la plaine et estoit debout sur le bord de ce batteau a faire signe a un homme a cheval qui venoit vers luy comme s'il eust voulu le faire haster de sorte que dans le mesme temps que cyrus observoit ce que je viens de dire ce cheval abandonne estant venu passer en bondissant aupres de ce prince il put remarquer qu'il estoit fort beau et que son maistre devoit estre un homme de qualite si bien qu'ayant beaucoup de curiosite de scavoir quelle pouvoit estre la raison qui obligeoit cet homme a perdre un si beau cheval et rien ne luy 
 pouvant estre indifferent de tout ce qui passoit en un pais ou sa princesse estoit captive il poussa son cheval a toute bride apres avoir dit a indathyrse ce qui l'y obligeoit et fut vers l'endroit ou ce petit batteau estoit a bord attendant que cet homme qui venoit au galop fust arrive mais comme il en estoit encore a plus de cinquante pas et que celuy qui estoit dans ce batteau vit l'action de cyrus et le reconnut il changea le dessein qu'il avoit d'attendre cet homme qui estoit a luy en celuy de faire ramer diligemment pour s'esloigner du rivage et en effet deux pescheurs qui avoient entrepris de le passer ramerent avec tant de force qu'ils l'esloignerent assez du bord pour ne pouvoir plus estre arreste il ne fut pas mesme reconnu par cyrus parce qu'ayant tourne la teste du coste ou il vouloit aborder il ne luy put voir le visage il ne laissa pourtant pas de scavoir qui il est car comme cet homme qui venoit si diligemment pour entrer dans ce batteau vit que son maistre ne l'attendoit pas il voulut se retirer si bien que retenant son cheval tout court il voulut prendre plus a droit pour esviter la rencontre de ceux qu'il voyoit mais comme cette avanture avoit donne beaucoup de curiosite a cyrus il fut droit a luy suivy de ceux qui l'accompagnoient et il y fut si diligemment que cet homme l'ayant reconnu fut si surpris de sa veue qu'il n'eut plus la force de fuir au contraire descendant de cheval en diligence il se mit a genoux devant cyrus qui d'abord 
 ne le reconnut pas mais un moment apres il se remit que c'estoit un de ces quarante cavaliers qui avoient autrefois conspire contre luy et a qui il avoit pardonne cependant ce malheureux se voyant sous la puissance d'un prince a qui il devoit la vie et a qui il l'avoit voulu oster prit la parole en tremblant c'est avec beaucoup de confusion seigneur luy dit-il que je parois devant vous et que j'y parois ingrat mais seigneur si vous considerez par quelle pitoyable avanture je suis a un maistre qui est vostre ennemy vous me le pardonnerez car enfin seigneur j'estois ne sujet du prince de cumes et j'estois retourne dans cette ville lors que vous l'assiegeastes si bien qu'ayant este choisi pour la garde du chasteau lors qu'anaxaris s'en rendit maistre et qu'il en chassa le roy de pont ce malheureux prince m'ayant commande de le suivre dans sa fuite je le suivis en effet et je ne l'ay point abandonne depuis cela quoy s'escria cyrus en tournant la teste vers le fleuve celuy que je voy dans ce bateau est le roy de pont ouy seigneur reprit-il et je ne craindray point de vous dire que c'est le plus malheureux prince de la terre apres cela cyrus regarda vers le haut et vers le bas de la riviere pour voir s'il n'y avoit point quelque bateau dont il se pust servir pour executer un dessein qui luy vint dans l'esprit mais n'en ayant point veu il se retourna vers cet homme qui luy avoit apris que celuy qui traversoit l'araxe estoit le roy de pont et continua d'informer 
 de ce qu'il avoit envie d'aprendre bien qu'apres vous avoir sauve la vie luy dit cyrus je deusse vous punir severement d'avoir porte les armes contre moy je ne laisse pas de vous prometre de vous pardonner encore une fois pourveu que vous me disiez veritablement ce qu'a fait le roy de pont depuis qu'il partit du tombeau de menestee et quel peut estre son dessein en passant dans le pais des massagettes seigneur reprit cet homme avec beaucoup de joye d'entendre ce que cyrus luy disoit pour vous dire ce que vous voulez scavoir il faut que vous scachiez que ce malheureux roy dont les blessures s'estoient r'ouvertes estant party de nuit et allant le long d'un torrent fut cent fois expose a perdre la vie mais a la fin le jour commencant de poindre il marcha assez viste tout foible qu'il estoit et gagna un bois assez espais ou il descendit de cheval et se coucha au pied d'un arbre parce qu'il n'en pouvoit plus mais a peine y fut il que la perte du sang l'ayant extraordinairement affoibly il s'esvanouit de sorte que je me trouvay alors en un pitoyable estat mais par hazard ayant entendu le chant de divers oyseaux domestiques je conclus qu'il falloit qu'il y eust une habitation assez proche si bien qu'allant vers le lieu ou j'entendois de temps en temps le chant des oyseaux je trouvay en effet a deux cens pas du lieu ou j'avois laisse le roy de pont une cabane de bergers ou ayant trouve un bon et charitable viellard je luy dis 
 l'estat ou estoit mon maistre sans luy en dire la condition si bien que cet officieux berger assemblant toute sa famille vint aveque moy au pied de cet arbre ou j'avois laisse ce malheureux prince esvanouy de sorte qu'estant touche de compassion en le voyant il le fit non seulement transporter dans sa cabane mais il pensa ses blessures luy mesme me disant qu'ayant este blesse en sa jeunesse avec un fer de houlette un vieux pasteur luy avoit apris a connoistre un herbe qui croissoit dans le bois ou il demeuroit qui arrestoit la perte du sang et qui consolidoit le playes en peu de temps et en effet seigneur ce sage berger ayant pense le roy de pont le fit revenir de sa foiblesse et le traita si soigneusement qu'il luy sauva la vie cependant comme la fievre le prit il n'a pu estre en estat de partir de cette cabane que lors qu'il a sceu que mandane avoit este enlevee et que vous marchiez vers les massagettes si bien que ne doutant pas que le lieu vers ou vous alliez ne fust celuy ou estoit la princesse mandane il a tousjours tenu la mesme route en marchant de nuit seulement jusques a ce qu'ayant sceu avec certitude que cette princesse estoit aupres de thomiris il a pris la resolution d'y aller mais seigneur je vous puis asseurer qu'il ne l'a pas prise sans peine car encore que je ne sois pas d'une condition a devoir estre le confident de la douleur d'un si grand prince je n'ay pas laisse de scavoir une partie de ses sentimens en effet comme il 
 s'est tenu oblige des soins que j'ay eus de luy depuis son depart de cumes et que j'ay este seul a qui il ait pu parler plustost que de ne se pleindre point il s'est accoustume a se pleindre quelquefois a moy de sorte qu'apres avoir apris ou estoit la princesse mandane et qui estoit celuy qui l'avoit enlevee j'ay sceu une partie de ses inquietudes se voyant donc dans la necessite de resoudre quel parti il devoit prendre il s'est trouve si embarrasse qu'il n'a jamais pense choisir il y avoit des instans ou il eust bien voulu combatre contre le prince qui a enleve la princesse mandane mais comme il ne le pouvoit qu'en se rangeant dans vostre armee il ne s'y est pu resoudre et il a mieux aime s'aller jetter dans le parti de thomiris avec la resolution de servir dans son armee sans estre connu et avec le dessein en cas qu'il le soit de dire au prince aryante qu'il ne pretend plus rien a mandane et qu'il ne veut autre chose que vous empescher de la posseder car comme il est persuade que cette princesse ne consentira jamais qu'aryante l'espouse il croit ne luy ceder rien en luy cedant tout ainsi il va sans autre esperance que celle de voir mandane encore un fois en sa vie et de trouver la mort pendant cette guerre voila seigneur poursuivit cet homme quel est le dessein du roy de pont a qui j'ay ouy dire mille et mille fois des choses de vous infiniment touchantes lors qu'il s'est souvenu de l'obligation qu'il vous avoit et qu'il s'est pleint de ce que la violence de sa passion le forcoit d'estre 
 injuste et ingrat apres cela cyrus voyant qu'il ne pouvoit plus rien aprendre de cet homme luy dit qu'il luy pardonnoit et pour vous le tesmoigner adjousta ce prince je consens que vous alliez passer le fleune a l'endroit le plus proche ou vous le pourrez que vous retourniez vers vostre maistre et que vous luy disiez de ma part que c'est estre mauvais amant que de se ranger du party du ravisseur de sa maistresse vous luy direz aussi que s'il est veritablement genereux il viendra employer sa valeur pour sa liberte et combatre dans mon armee dittes luy encore que je luy offre tousjours ce que la princesse araminte sa soeur luy offrit en lydie et que les dieux n'ont pas voulu que son merite peust toucher le coeur de mandane il devroit plus tost me la ceder qu'au prince aryante mais pour luy dire encore quelque chose de plus fort dittes luy que mandane le haira s'il combat pour son ravisseur et qu'elle luy redonnera son amitie s'il combat pour sa liberte cyrus ayant prononce ces paroles quitta ce cavalier des qu'il luy eut promis de luy obeir et continuant de marcher il se pleignit a indathyrse de ce que la fortune mettoit un si vaillant homme dans le parti de son ennemy il est vray qu'il n'eut pas grand loisir de se pleindre car comme il estoit descendu de cheval et qu'il estoit desja assez pres de sa tente quelques cavaliers luy presenterent quatre hommes qu'ils avoient arrestez comme ils cherchoient a passer le fleuve mais a peine jetta-t'il les yeux sur 
 le plus age de ceux qu'on luy presentoit qu'il connut que ce n'estoit pas un homme ordinaire son habiliement estoit pourtant simple et neglige et son visage mesme se pouvoit plustost dire laid que beau neantmoins malgre tout cela il y avoit tant d'esprit en sa phisionomie et il paroissoit tant de tranquilite sur son visage que des ce premier abord cyrus en conceut une haute opinion les autres estrangers qui accompagnoit celuy la estoient des hommes de fort bonne mine et qui estoient encore au plus bel age de la vie car pour luy il paroissoit avoir plus de cinquante ans cependant ces quatre prisonniers n'eurent pas loisir de parler ni cyrus non plus car indathyrse qui suivoit ce prince s'estant aproche comme on les luy presentoit vit que le plus age des quatre estoit anacharsis de sorte que ce digne neveu d'un oncle si illustre prenant la parole en regardant cyrus j'espere seigneur luy dit-il que ces prisonniers seront favorablement traitez par vous des que vous scaurez que ce fameux anacharsis que j'ay cherche inutilement en grece est presentement sous vostre puissance comme mes troupes reprit obligeamment cyrus n'ont droit de faire des prisonniers que sur mes ennemis et que je ne pretens pas que le sage anacharsis soit de ce nombre je declare qu'il est libre et que bien loin de pretendre qu'il soit mon prisonnier je tiendray a gloire qu'il veuille bien souffrir que je sois son amy vous avez raison seigneur 
 repliqua anacharsis de ne me mettre pas au nombre de vos ennemis puis que je fais une profession trop ouverte d'estre amy particulier de tous ceux qui ont une vertu extraordinaire pour ne m'estimer pas heureux d'estre le vostre mais seigneur poursuivit-il je vous demande pour grace singuliere de croire que ce n'est nullement comme au vainqueur de l'asie que je vous donne mon amitie mais comme au vainqueur de tous les vices et comme au possesseur de toutes les vertus si vous me connoissiez par vous mesme reprit cyrus et que vous me louassiez comme vous venez de faire je me tiendrois le plus glorieux de tous les hommes mais comme vous ne me connoissez que par la renommee qui s'est accoustumee depuis long temps a me flatter je ne sens qu'imparfaitement le plaisir qu'il y a d'estre loue par un des hommes du monde qui merite le plus de louanges apres cela cyrus qui n'estoit pas en lieu qui fust propre a faire une longue conversation prit anacharsis par la main pour le faire entrer dans sa tente mais comme il faisoit toujours les choses obligeamment il luy demanda des qu'il fut entre qui estoient ceux qui estoient aveque luy et qui paroissoient plustost estre grecs que scythes seigneur repliqua anacharsis celuy qui est le plus pres de vous est en effet un illustre grec qui s'apelle chersias qui est nay sujet du sage bias prince de priene dont je scay que vous connoissez la reputation et qui est un assez 
 honneste homme pour avoir este juge digne tout jeune qu'il est aussi bien que mnesiphile et diocles d'estre de ce fameux banquet des sept sages ou ma bonne fortune me fit rencontrer et dont on a tant parle par tout le monde estre nay sujet du sage bias repliqua cyrus estre amy du sage anacharsis et l'avoir este de periandre de solon de pittacus de thales de cleobule et de chilon est un si grand avantage qu'il est facile de se persuader qu'il faut que chersias merite de le posseder je vous assure seigneur repliqua chersias que si ceux que vous nommez avoient souvent aussi mal choisi leurs amis qu'ils ont fait en me choisissant ils n'auroient pas merite le nom de sage qu'on leur donne par toute la grece avec tant de justice mais a dire vray cela ne leur est sans doute arrive qu'a mon avantage du moins scay-je bien que solon en choisissant mnesiphile que vous voyez pour estre un de ses meilleurs amis dit-il a cyrus en luy montrant un de ces autres grecs qui estoient avec anacharsis ne s'est pas trompe au choix qu'il a fait non plus que le roy de corinthe en aimant diocles que vous voyez aupres de ce genereux athenien en mon particulier repliqua diocles je suis oblige pour justifier la memoire du grand prince dont j'ay eu l'honneur d'estre aime de dire que ce fut la possion que j'avois pour sa gloire qui luy fit excuser tous mes deffauts et je puis dire aussi adjousta mnesiphile que c'est l'amour que j'ay pour ma 
 patrie qui a oblige solon a me donner son amitie quoy qu'il en soit dit cyrus je veux bi estre trompe apres de si excellens hommes et vous assurer que je vous estime desja beaucoup quoy que je ne vous connoisse pas assez pour en juger par moy mesme mais encore adjousta-t'il quelle peut estre la cause qui a oblige trois illustres grecs a venir en scythie qui n'est sans doute pas un pais aussi agreable que la grece seigneur reprit anacharsis en souriant ces illustres grecs m'ont voulu persuader qu'ils y venoient plus pour l'amour de moy que par la seule curiosite de voyager mais je ne scay si je serois digne d'avoir eu l'amitie de tant de sages si je me laisois tromper si facilement pour moy repliqua diocles je n'ay point eu de plus puissant motif en faisant ce voyage que celuy de voir le pais ou est nay un homme que les plus sages hommes de la grece ont admire et pour ce qui me regarde adjousta chersias je n'ay pas tant songe a voir la patrie d'anacharsis qu'a voir anacharsis luy mesme et a tascher de profiter de sa sagesse en ne me separant pas si tost de luy comme je suis fort sincere dit alors mnesiphile j'advoueray seigneur que ce qui m'a fait traverser la mer et passer d'europe en asie a este non seulement pour suivre anacharsis mais encore pour pouvoir avoir la gloire de me vanter d'avoir este tesmoin de quelqu'une de ces grandes actions dont la renommee parle par toute la terre et de voir en vostre personne 
 l'homme du monde pour qui l'illustre solon a le plus d'estime aussi m'a-t'il charge seigneur de vous tesmoigner la joye qu'il a eue lors qu'il a sceu la genereuse action que vous fistes en faisant descendre du bucher le roy de lydie qui se souvenant de ce qu'il luy avoit dit autrefois prononca son nom comme se repentant des sentimens qu'il avoit eus vous me donnez la plus grande satisfaction que je puisse recevoir en l'estat ou je me trouve repliqua cyrus de m'aprendre que solon se souvient encore de moy et je vous asseure que je ne perdray nulle occasion de vous faire voir combien j'honore la vertu d'un homme si sage apres cela cyrus interrompant anacharsis et indathyrse qui parloient ensemble dit mille choses obligeantes a ce fameux scythe qui luy respondit avec toute la civilite dont un grec eust pu estre capable ce n'est pas qu'il n'eust quelque severite naturelle et qu'il ne fust ennemy declare de toutes ces ceremonies inutiles qui font une partie de la bien-seance du monde mais apres tout les voyages qu'il avoit faits par toute la grece et par toute l'egypte avoient un peu adoucy la severite de son naturel et avoient civilise sa philosophie de sorte qu'encore qu'il fust un peu austere il ne laissoit pas d'estre doux et de plaire infiniment aussi cyrus luy fit il tous les honneurs imaginables en effet il voulut qu'on le logeast a une de ses tentes il le fit servir par ses officiers et il traitta si bien chersias diocles 
 et mnesiphile qu'ils furent charmez de la generosite de cyrus cependant comme ce prince ne pouvoit jamais destacher son esprit des interests de mandane et que qui que ce fust qu'il vist il cherchoit aussi tost s'il ne luy pourroit ny nuire ny servir il luy vint dans la pensee de prier anacharsis de vouloir estre mediateur entre thomiris et luy car dans le dessein qu'il avoit d'envoyer vers cette princesse devant que d'entrer dans son pais il crut que ce sage scythe seroit plus propre a la persuader qu'un autre a peine cette pensee luy fut elle venue qu'il la dit a mazare qui l'aprouva si bien que sans perdre temps il rut a la tente ou il avoit fait conduire anacharsis qu'il tira a part afin de luy proposer ce qu'il souhaitoit de luy pour vous tesmoigner luy dit cyrus combien j'honnore vostre vertu et combien je suis persuade de tout ce que la renommee dit de vostre suffisance et de vostre probite je viens sage anacharsis vous conjurer de vouloir estre l'arbitre des interests que j'ay a demesler avec la reine des massagettes et vous prier de vouloir aller vers elle pour l'obliger a delivrer la princesse mandane qu'elle ne peut retenir sans violer toutes sortes de droits car apres tout je veux rendre ce respect a cette princesse de ne luy faire la guerre qu'apres qu'elle m'aura refuse ce que je luy demande avec tant de justice seigneur luy repliqua anacharsis je ne scaurois estre l'arbitre de vos differens car comme je ne puis jamais 
 estre d'un party injuste je vous declare que tout scythe que je suis je ne suis point de celuy de thomiris et que je suis du vostre mais si vous voulez m'honnorer de la qualite de vostre ambassadeur j'iray aveque joye trouver cette princesse pour tascher de remettre la raison dans son ame et d'empescher une guerre qui ne peut manquer d'estre tres sanglante car enfin seigneur adjousta modestement ce sage scythe je scay mieux la langue de thomiris que ceux qui sont aupres de vous ne la scavent et j'entens assez bien le grec pour comprendre toutes vos intentions apres cela cyrus sans perdre temps luy dit l'estat des choses et sans luy dire que thomiris avoit de l'amour pour luy il luy dit tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour l'instruire des raisons qu'il estoit a propos d'employer pour persuader cette reine cyrus luy parla aussi de la princesse araminte afin qu'il taschast de moyenner sa liberte et apres l'avoir entretenu plus de deux heures en particulier il resolut comme les affaires pressoient qu'anacharsis passeroit le fleuve le lendemain et iroit vers thomiris et en effet la chose s'executa comme elle avoit este resolue cyrus voulut donner un esquipage a anacharsis digne de sa naissance mais il luy dit que graces aux dieux il y avoit long temps qu'il s'estoit desembarrasse de tant de choses inutiles et qu'il le suplioit de le laisser aller aveque luy mesme sans luy donner autre compagnie car comme chersias diocles et 
 mnesiphile estoient grecs et que les massagettes n'aimoient pas trop ceux de cette nation il ne jugea pas a propos de les mener cyrus ne put toutesfois souffrir qu'il allast comme il vouloit aller et il falut du moins qu'il endurast qu'ortalque et deux esclaves le suivissent et ce qui fit que cyrus choisit ortalque fut que ce prince escrivit par luy a la princesse mandane a araminte et a gelonide dont il estoit desja connu mais afin que le voyage de ce sage scythe reussist plus heureusement cyrus laissa aller adonacris sur sa foy par un autre chemin pour tascher de persuader aryante a ne s'opiniastrer pas dans son injustice anabaris donna aussi plusieurs lettres a ortalque pour quelques amis qu'il avoit aupres de thomiris afin de les obliger a porter cette princesse a rendre mandane de sorte que tant de gens agissant a la fois il y avoit lieu d'esperer que le voyage d'anacharsis ne seroit pas tout a fait inutile cependant ce sage scythe ayant passe l'araxe dans un bateau fut arreste par des gens de guerre qui estoient a l'autre coste du fleuve et qui apres avoir sceu de luy ce qui l'amenoit le conduisirent vers thomiris mais durant qu'anacharsis s'en alloit vers cette reine cyrus faisoit des voeurs pour l'heureux succes de son voyage et souhaitoit ardemmer que thomiris fuit aussi touchee des raisons d'anacharsis qu'il l'estoit de sa vertu toutesfois comme il scavoit bien que durant les negociations les 
 moins douteuses il ne faut pas laisser de songer a faire la guerre il donna ses ordres pour avoir bien tost toutes les choses necessaires a faire un pont de bateaux il partageoit pourtant si bien son temps qu'il en trouvoit encore a faire civilite a ces trois amis d'anacharsis qui luy paroissoient si dignes de l'estre de sorte qu'a toutes les heures qu'il pouvoit donner a des choses non necessaires il les entretenoit avec toute la satisfaction imaginable tantost il parloit a diocles du feu roy de corinthe et de la reine sa fille tantost il parloit de solon de policrite et de pisistrate a mnesiphile et tantost il prioit chersias de l'entretenir du sage bias dont il estoit sujet mais principalement il leur parloit a tous trois d'anacharsis car comme il estoit alors le negociateur de la liberte de mandane il luy sembloit qu'il devoit prendre plus d'interest a luy qu'aux autres si bien qu'ayant un matin aupres de luy indathyrse chersias diocles et mnesiphile il les conjura de vouloir luy dire tout ce qu'ils en scavoient indathyrse luy apprit donc qu'il avoit este sage des le berceau qu'on pouvoit assurer qu'il n'avoit jamais este enfant que devant que d'avoir rien apris il avoit presques sceu toutes choses que ses moeurs avoient tousjours este innocentes et que sa facon de vivre avoit aussi tousjours este fort esloignee de tout ce qu'on apelle volupte que des sa jeunesse il s'estoit moque de la grandeur et qu'il n'avoit mis aucune distinction entre les 
 hommes que celle que la vertu y met voila seigneur adjousta indathyrse ce qu'estoit anacharsis des qu'il partit du pais des thauroscites jugez donc ce qu'il doit estre apres avoir este tant d'annees en egipte et en grece qui sont les deux lieux de la terre ou les sciences sublimes sont en plus grand esclat et apres avoir eu l'amitie de tant d'excellens hommes en mon particulier dit mnesiphile je puis vous asseurer que solon fut charme de la vertu d'anacharsis lors qu'il vint a athenes et certes leur premiere entre-veue eut quelque chose d'assez extraordinaire car comme anacharsis croyoit qu'il suffisoit d'estre ce qu'il estoit pour estre bien receu de solon il ne chercha point de gens pour le presenter a luy et il fut seul luy faire sa premiere visite de sorte que comme il avoit un habillement encore plus neglige que celuy que vous luy avez veu et que solon avoit quelque chose dans l'esprit qui l'occupoit dont il n'estoit pas trop aise d'estre destourne il luy demanda assez brusquement qui il estoit je suis luy respondit-il un pauvre estranger qui ne viens a athenes que pour vous connoistre et pour faire amitie aveque vous je ne scay repliqua solon quel avantage vous recevrez de ma connoissance mais je scay bien qu'il vaut mieux aquerir des amis en son pais qu'en celuy des autres puis que cela est respondit anacharsis en souriant faites donc amitie aveque moy vous qui estes dans vostre pais et dans vostre maison 
 cette responce si prompte surprit solon de sorte que regardant mieux anacharsis il vit dans sa phisionomie je ne scay quoy de grand qui l'obligea a se repentir de la maniere dont il l'avoit receu si bien que l'embrassant des qu'il eut cesse de parler il luy demanda pardon de ne l'avoir pas traite assez civilement et pour reparer cette faute il voulut qu'il logeast ches luy mais seigneur pendant qu'il y fut il dit mille belles choses qui faisoient bien connoistre sa capacite car comme anacharsis est tout a fait pour le gouvernement monarchique il fit voir mille inconveniens en tous les autres et dit hardiment en pleine assemblee voyant que les deliberations des affaires publiques se faisoient par la multitude qu'il s'agissoit du bien general les sages proposoient les choses et que ceux qui ne l'estoient pas les decidoient voulant parler de cette quantite de jeunes gens qui surpassant tousjours de beaucoup les vieux dans toutes les grandes assemblees et qui par leur peu d'experience sont assurement pour l'ordinaire incapables de raisonner juste sur la conduite des grandes affaires enfin seigneur anacharsis parut si admirable a solon qu'il le consulta avec defference et avec soumission sur les choses les plus importantes et le fit connoistre a tout ses amis en effet adjousta chersias ce fut solon qui escrivit a bias ce qu'estoit anacharsis lors qu'il vint a priene et ce fut luy aussi poursuivit diocles qui fut cause que periandre le convia a 
 cette celebre feste ou a la reserve de moy qui y fus souffert par grace il n'y avoit que des gens illustres aussi ce magnifique festin a-t'il este nomme par excellence le banquet des sept sages sans y comprendre les autres qui s'y trouverent parce qu'en effet il n'estoit fait que pour euu seuiement comme diocles disoit cela l'on vint advertir cyrus que la princesse d'armenie arrivoit de sorte que voulant luy rendre tout les honneurs possibles il fut au devant d'elle jusques a l'entree de sa tente ou il la receut avec beaucoup de civilite luy disant que si elle desiroit quelque chose de luy elle avoit eu tort de luy ordonner pas de l'aller trouver comme il ne m'apartient pas luy dit-elle en souriant de donner des ordres a un prince qui en donne a la plus grande partie de l'asie je pense seigneur que j'ay eu raison de ne vous rien ordonner et de vous venir dire moy mesme que j'ay eu des nouvelles de spitridate et de tigrane a peine onesile eut elle dit cela que cyrus ayant beaucoup d'impatience de scavoir ce qu'ils avoient fait depuis qu'ils estoient partis et ou ils estoient la pressa de le luy dire de sorte que cette princesse luy aprit que depuis que tigrane s'estoit embarque en galatie avec le prince spitridate pour aller apres phraarte qui enlevoit araminte ils avoient continuellement erre de mer en mer sans en pouvoir aprendre de nouvelles jusques a ce qu'estant enfin abordez a la colchide ils avoient sceu que phraarte avoit 
 mene araminte dans les estats de thomiris que mandane y estoit aussi et qu'il marchoit avec son armee vers l'endroit de l'araxe qui borne les massagettes de ce coste la si bien seigneur poursuivit-elle que tigrane qui m'escrit ce que je viens de vous dire adjouste en suitte que des que l'esquipage qu'ils font faire au lieu ou ils ont aborde sera prest ils viendront vous joindre tigrane me disant encore que je l'obligeray si je veux me resoudre de venir au lieu ou je suis venue de moy mesme cyrus tesmoigna alors a onesile avoir beaucoup de joye de ce que tigrane et spitridate seroient bien tost dans son armee car enfin madame luy dit-il je conte ces deux princes pour dix mille hommes et je ne doute point que je ne delivre bien tost mandane puis qu'ils combatront pour elle ils seront bien heureux seigneur repliqua-t'elle s'ils peuvent contribuer quelque chose a la liberte de cette illustre princesse du moins scay-je bien pour tigrane il ne desire rien aveque plus d'ardeur que d'avoir la gloire de vous servir apres cela cyrus aprit a onesile qu'il avoit envoye vers thomiris en fuite de quoy comme il scavoit qu'onesile estoit d'une illustre maison originaire d'une republique greque il luy presenta ces trois grecs avec qui il s'entretenoit quand elle estoit arrivee et les luy presenta comme des gens qui estoient estimez de tout ce qu'il y avoit de grands hommes en grece de sorte que comme cette princesse estoit 
 tres civile elle leur fit le meilleur accueil du monde la belle melagene qui estoit avec elle ne leur en fit pas moins et ils se tirerent tous trois si bien de cette conversation qu'ils aquirent des cette premiere veue l'estime de cette princesse et de son aimable parente cependant l'heure de disner estant venue cyrus dit a onesile que c'estoit a elle a choisir qui elle vouloit qui eust l'honneur de manger avec elle ne s'en exceptant pas luy mesme je vous ay desja dit seigneur repliqua t'elle que je ne dois rien prescrire au vainquer de l'asie il est vray madame luy dit-il mais j'ay a vous respondre que vous me pouvez pourtant prescire toutes choses apres cela cyrus agit si adroitement et onesile aussi qu'ils ne se surpasserent point en civilite mais pendant qu'ils parloient la plus grande partie de ceux qui estoient la s'estans retirez par respect il n'y eut qu'indathyrse et ces trois grecs qui mangerent avec cyrus onesile telagene et deux autres femmes de qualite qui avoient suivy cette princesse a ce voyage si bien que comme la derniere chose dont s'estoit entretenu cyrus avec diocles mnesiphile et chersias avoit este du banquet des sept sages des qu'on fut hors de table il se tourna vers eux et leur adressant la parole quoy qu'il n'y ait pas eu tant de sages a ce disner leur dit il qu'a celuy ou vous vous trouvastes a corinthe je ne laisse pas de dire qu'il a eu un avantage que l'autre n'avoit pas car a mon advis il n'y avoit 
 point de dames puis que celles qui sont icy reprit diocles n'y estoient pas et que vous n'y estiez point il luy manquoit sans doute le plus grand ornement du monde mais seigneur cette feste fut pourtant plus galante que vous ne l'imaginez et ce ne sut pas seulement une assemblee de philosophes c'en fut une dont les dames firent la plus agreable partie car la feue reine de corinthe y estoit celle qui regne aujourd'huy s'y trouva aussi et la princesse eumetis qu'on apelle autrement la princesse des lindes y fut avec le sage cleobule son pere de plus il s'y trouva un ambassadeur du roy d'egypte apelle niloxenus les amis particuliers de periandre y estoient encore l'agreable esope qui a son depart de lydie estoit venu a corinthe y estoit aussi et cette assemblee enfin estoit si meslee que de quelque humeur qu'on fust on pouvoit trouver de quoy s'y satisfaire en effet adjousta mnesiphile on peut assurer qu'on y parla de toutes choses il y eut des questions agitees sur tous les sujets imaginables on s'y entretint de politique de morale d'oeconomie de plaisirs d'enigmes et de musique on y railla agreablement on y fit mille questions galantes sur l'amour on y raconta mesme des histoires amoureuses et on y raconta aussi l'advanture d'arion qui ne faisoit que d'arriver enfin seigneur cette belle feste merite sans doute le bruit qu'elle a fait par toute la grece en mon particulier dit onesile j'ay tousjours eu la plus grande envie 
 du monde d'en scavoir toutes les particularitez depuis qu'un fort honneste homme grec qui passa a artaxate m'en eut parle mais comme il ne s'y estoit pas trouve et qu'il n'estoit pas mesme de corinthe il m'en dit assez pour me donner la curiosite d'en scavoir davantage mais il ne m'en dit pas assez pour me satisfaire puis que cela est madame reprit cyrus il ne tiendra qu'a mnesiphile a diodes et a chersias de vous contenter car ils estoient tous trois a cette fameuse feste aussi bien n'est il pas a propos que vous partiez de si bonne heure de sorte que je ne pense pas que vous puissiez employer plus agreablement le temps qu'a aprendre ce que dirent les plus sages hommes du monde et ce que dirent aussi deux des princesses de la terre qui ont le plus de merite car enfin madame la princesse cleobuline est une personne toute merveilleuse et la princesse des lindes m'a este representee si aimable par un fort honneste homme que le recit de tout ce que tant d'honnestes personnes dirent en un jour ou elles n'avoient sans doute pas le dessein de cacher leur esprit ne peut manquer d'estre infiniment agreable apres cela onesile ayant presse diocles mnesiphile et chersias de leur apprendre tout ce qui s'estoit fait et dit en une si celebre assemblee ces trois amis disputerent alors entre eux de civilite a qui feroit ce recit mais a la fin estant convenus que ce seroit mnesiphile qui le commenceroit et 
 que chersias le finiroit le premier commenca de parler en ces termes en adressant la parole a onesile suivant l'ordre qu'il en receut de cyrus 
 
 
 
 
le banquet des sept sages 
 
 
avant que de m'engager a commencer le recit de cette celebre feste que les grecs appellent simposiaque il faut que je vous die madame qu'encore que je l'aye racontee cent fois en ma vie je ne l'ay pourtant pas tousjours dite precisement de la mesme sorte quoy que je n'aye jamais menty mais c'est que lors que j'ay parle a des gens qui ne sont profession que d'estre scavans je ne leur ay dit que ce qui se passa entre les sages et que les choses qui leur estoient propres et je ne leur ay point parle de ce qui se passa dans le jardin entre les princesses chersias esope et moy durant que ces sept sages parloient de la philosophie la plus eslevee avec anacharsis niloxenus et quelques autres mais puis que c'est a vous a qui je dois faire ce recit je m'imagine que je ne dois pas mesme obmettre ce qui se passa d'agreable le jour qui preceda cette feste je vous diray donc madame que comme on ne parloit alors a corinthe que de ces hommes illustres qui s'y estoient rencontrez en mesme temps et de cet 
 ambassadeur d'amasis qu'on disoit estre envoye vers ces sept sages de grece on avoit assez de curiosite de scavoir ce qu'il avoit a leur demander de la part du roy son maistre on parla pourtant encore beaucoup plus d'une prevoyance extraordinaire qu'eut un de ces sages appelle chilon qui tenant quelque chose de la severite de lacedemone dont il est n'est nullement de l'humeur de solon ny de celle de la pluspart de ces autres sages qui ont accoustume leur philosophie a l'usage du monde car pour chilon il veut que le monde s'accommode a la sienne de sorte que voulant regler toutes les actions de sa vie par la droite raison il songe autant qu'il peut a ne converser qu'avec des gens qu'il estime et il ne veut jamais s'exposer a se trouver avec ceux qu'il n'estime pas si bien que pour empescher que cela ne luy arrive toutes les fois que ses amis le convient d'aller manger chez eux il s'informe avant que de promettre d'y aller qui seront ceux qui s'y trouveront disant qu'un homme qui voyage par mer peut se trouver dans un mesme vaisseau avec des gens qui ne luy plaisent pas aussi bien qu'un vaillant soldat sous une mesme tente avec un qui l'est point parce que la necessite de naviger et de camper avec ceux avec qui la fortune nous assemble fait qu'on le peut faire sans imprudence mais que lors qu'il ne s'agit que d'aller a un festin c'est manquer de sagesse que de se mesler indifferemment avec toutes sortes de gens 
 si bien que suivant sa coustume lors que periandre l'envoya convier de se trouver a ce fameux banquet chilon demanda avant que de promettre d'y aller qui y devoit estre d'abord comme on luy nomma thales solon pittacus bias cleobule anacharsis il en fut fort content et il souffrit mesme encore agreablement qu'esope en fust mais quand on luy dit qu'il y auroit des dames il pensa refuser d'y aller et il auroit refuse absolument de s'y trouver si on ne les luy eust nommees toutefois a la fin voyant qu'il n'y en auroit que trois dont la premiere estoit melisse femme de periandre la seconde la princesse sa fille la troisiesme la princesse des lindes et qu'ainsi ces trois dames estoient femmes ou filles de sages comme luy il promit qu'il s'y trouveroit car pour diodes mnesiphile et moy il nous fit la grace de ne refuser pas nostre compagnie neantmoins comme il n'avoit jamais parle a la princesse des lindes quoy qu'il eust promis a celuy qui l'avoit convie esope sceut qu'il ne laissoit pas de s'en informer curieusement de sorte que profitant de cette occasion il en railla tout le soir chez la princesse des lindes mesme luy racontant la severite de chilon de la plus agreable maniere du monde soustenant hardiment qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus dangereux que d'estre trop sage pour moy disoit - il en souriant il paroist bien que je ne suis pas de l'humeur de chilon du moins la fable que j'ay 
 composee d'un rat de village qui va souper chez un rat de ville fait elle bien voir que ma philosophie n'est pas si severe que celle de ce lacedemonien mais luy dit alors eumetis vostre rat de village se repentit si fort d'avoir quitte le gland dont il vivoit pour vous faire meilleure chere lors qu'il entendit ouvrir la porte du lieu ou le rat de ville luy faisoit festin que je ne scay si chilon n'est pas plus raisonnable que vous et s'il n'a pas en effet raison de vouloir prendre ses seuretez de peur de se trouver en mauvaise compagnie en se trouvant a la mienne cependant adjousta-t'elle je serois bien faschee d'estre cause qu'il ne fust point a la feste de demain car j'ay ouy dire que c'est un fort agreable homme tout severe qu'il est et que mesme il n'y en a point qui soit plus sensible a la joye quoy qu'il soit melancolique comme il est fort mal repliqua cleobuline il n'est pas aise qu'il vous puisse voir avant la feste j'ay pourtant ouy dire repliqua-t'elle que chilon ne juge jamais de rien par le raport de la renommee et qu'il ne se fie qu'a luy mesme il faudroit donc reprit cleobuline que la princesse eumetis escrivist quelque galanterie qu'on luy fist voir et que pour luy monstrer qu'il y a quelque chose qu'elle fait mieux que luy elle fist quelqu'une de ces agreables enigmes qu'elle invente si heureusement afin de la luy envoyer pour qu'il la devinast et que du moins il pust connoistre par luy mesme qu'elle a infiniment de l'esprit des que cleobuline 
 eut dit cela toute la compagnie suivit son advis et condamna eumetis a faire un enigme de sorte qu'esope qui portoit tousjours des tablettes en tira diligemment de sa poche et s'offrit d'estre le secretaire de ceste princesse qui entendant admirablement raillerie dit a esope qu'elle soufriroit une autre fois qu'il fust son secretaire pourveu qu'il voulust aussi qu'elle fust le sien en quelque autre occasion de sorte que faisant semblant de resver un moment elle escrivit dans les tablettes d'esope une enigme qu'elle avoit fait il y avoit desja quelque temps et que personne n'avoit encore veue mais au lieu de l'adresser a chilon elle l'adressa a la princesse cleobuline si bien qu'elle eut acheve d'escrire et qu'elle eut rendu ces tablettes a esope il y leut tout haut ces paroles
 
 
 enigme a la princesse de corinthe 
 
 
 je ne flatte non plus les rois que les bergers je fers a corriger les deffauts d'autruy sans les connoistre je ne parla point et je conseille 
 souvent quand je veritable on ne me croit point et quand je flatte on me croit tousjours une partie du monde se sert de moy a conquerir l'autre je me multiplie par ma ruine 
 
 
pour moy dit esope en pliant les espaules apres avoir acheve de lire j'alloue que j'entens bien mieux le langage de mes corbeaux que les paroles de la princesse des lindes quoy que leur voix ne soit pas si charmante que la sienne et je confesse a ma confusion que le ne scaurois deviner cette enigme car je ne suis pas resolu de dire pour moy adjousta-t'il en souriant ce que je fais dire a mon renard lors qu'il dit que le fruit qu'il ne peut atteindre est trop vert et qu'il n'en veut pas ainsi sans avoir l'audace de dire que je ne veux point deviner cette enigme j'advoue franchement que je ne le puis et que je suis persuade que tous les sept sages de grece s'y trouveront bien embarrassez sans mentir esope dit alors la princesse de corinthe en prenant les tablettes qu'il tenoit ce vous sera une grande honte si vous n'entendez point cette enigme apres avoir si bien entendu ce que nul autre n'auroit jamais entendu sans vous comme ma honte sera glorieuse a la princesse eumetis dit-il vous vous en rejouirez sans doute je l'advoue repliqua-t'elle mais je m'en rejouiray encore bien davantage si je puis avoir la gloire de deviner 
 ce que vous ne devinez pas du moins repliqua eumetis ne la devinez pas que chilon n'ait essaye de le faire puis que ce n'est que pour luy donner quelque bonne opinion de moy que je l'ay faite si vous le voulez dit esope j'iray tout a l'heure la luy faire voir car je scay qu'il est a la chambre de periandre d'abord eumetis s'y opposa mais cleobuline estant de l'advis d'esope elle la luy donna pour l'aller monstrer a chilon quoy que la princesse des lindes pust dire mais il ne partit pourtant pas pour y aller qu'apres que toute la compagnie eut advoue qu'elle ne l'entendoit point cependant esope s'aquitta de sa commission et fut trouver chilon dans la chambre de periandre a qui il demanda permission de proposer quelque chose d'important comme on estoit accoustume a l'agreable humeur d'esope et qu'on attendoit tousjours quelque chose de divertissant de son esprit il luy accorda facilement ce qu'il demandoit quoy qu'il eust alors aupres de luy solon thales chilon et pittacus de sorte qu'apres que periandre luy eut permis de parler il dit a chilon que scachant qu'il n'aimoit pas a aller a un festin s'il n'en connoissoit tous les conviez et n'ignorant pas qu'il n'avoit jamais parle a la princesse des lindes il luy en aportoit une enigme afin qu'il connust une partie de son esprit et qu'il n'eust aucune repugnance a se trouver le jour suivant avec elle apres quoy luy ayant presente l'enigme et chilon tout severe qu'il 
 est ayant entendu raillerie il se mit a la lire tout haut a la priere de periandre advouant apres l'avoir leue qu'il ne l'entendoit pas et que si elle estoit aussi juste qu'elle estoit obscure elle estoit admirablement belle en mon particulier dit periandre je dis la mesme chose que chilon et pour moy adjousta thales je pense pouvoir dire que j'ay eu moins de peine a observer le cours du soleil et a regler celuy des saisons et des annees que je n'en aurois a deviner cette enigme pour solon il n'en fut pas de mesme car il la devina des qu'il eut acheve de l'ouir mais comme il est naturellement civil pour les dames et que la galanterie n'est incompatible avec sa philosophie il ne volut pas faire connoistre qu'il la devinoit afin de donner la joye a la princesse des lindes que son enigme n'eust pas este devinee de sorte qu'esope s'en retourna avec ordre de periandre de luy revenir dire l'explication de cette enigme car enfin luy dit-il on ne peut la louer avec justice sans cela puis qu'il ne suffit pas pour estre bonne qu'elle ne soit point entendue et qu'il faut encore qu'elle soit juste en toutes ses parties et qu'on s'estonne soy mesme lors qu'on scait la chose pourquoy on ne l'entendoit pas si bien qu'esope s'en retournant tout console de ce qu'il n'avoit pas devine l'enigme dit a eumetis en la luy rendant qu'elle avoit confondu tous les sages et qu'ils ne l'endoient point du tout comme c'est quelques fois autant le hazard que 
 l'esprit dit modestement la princesse de corinthe qui fait qu'on devine ces sortes de choses la plustost qu'un autre j'auray peut estre fait ce que de plus habiles que moy n'ont pu faire et en effet adjousta-t'elle en adressant la parole a esope si vous voulez jetter les yeux sur ce miroir que vous voyez sur cette table je m'assure que vous connoistrez qu'il ne flatte non plus la princesse des lindes que cet esclave qui est derriere elle et qu'ainsi il est fort juste de dire qu'il ne flatte non plus les rois que les berges et qu'il ne l'est pas moins de dire aussi qu'il sert a corriger les deffauts d'autruy sans les connoistre du moins scay-je bien que le mien m'a rendu mille fois ce bon office sans le scavoir il est encore esgallement vray poursuivit-elle que ce miroir conseille et ne parle point puis que c'est luy qui m'a dit que l'incarnat me sied mieux que le vert et il ne l'est pas moins encore qu'on croit tousjours un miroir qui flatte et qu'on ne croit pas trop un qui ne flatte pas de plus la princesse des lindes a dit si galamment en faisant parler le miroir que la moitie du monde se sert de luy pour conquerir l'autre qu'on ne l'en scauroit trop louer car enfin comme c'est par les conseils de leurs miroirs que les belles qui veulent faire des conquestes adjoustent de nouvelles graces a leur beaute elle ne pouvoit exprimer sa pensee plus noblement et si vous voulez adjousta-t'elle en riant voir encore combien le dernier article de cette enigme est juste vous n'avez 
 qu'a laisser tomber mon miroir afin que se cassant en plusieurs pieces vous voiyez qu'en effet eumetis a raison de faire dire au sien qu'il se multiplie par sa ruine puis qu'il y aura autant de miroirs qu'il y aura de morceaux au miroir que vous aurez brise sans mentir s'ecria esope je ne scay qui merite le plus de louange ou de celle qui a fait l'enigme ou de celle qui l'a devinee pour moy dit eumetis je soustiens que c'est la princesse cleobuline et que l'explication qu'elle en a faite est plus ingenieuse que l'enigme mesme quoy qu'il en soit dit esope ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit et le principal est qu'il faut que j'aille promptement dire a periandre que la princesse sa fille a fait ce qu'il n'a pu faire et en effet esope sans attendre davantage fut dire au roy de corinthe l'explication de l'enigme mais il la luy dit a sa mode c'est a dire en raillant car des que periandre le vit et bien esope luy dit-il qu'est-ce qui ne flatte non plus les rois que les bergers c'est seigneur luy dit-il une chose qui fait voir tous les jours a la princesse de corinthe lors qu'elle s'habille qu'elle est la plus belle princesse du monde et qui me fait voir aussi quelques fois que je suis le plus laid homme de la terre a peine esope eut-il dit cela que periandre solon thales pittacus et chilon en rirent et advouerent que cette enigme estoit tres ingenieuse et tres galante apres quoy esope se mit a louer l'explication que la princesse de corinte en avoit faite et a demander a chilon 
 s'il ne trouvoit pas qu'eumetis fust digne de se trouver en un festin aveque luy il faut sans doute repliqua-t'il qu'elle ait l'esprit fort esclaire mais esope assurez-la pourtant s'il vous plaist que ce qu'on m'a dit de la beaute de son ame me charme beaucoup plus que ce que je voy de la beaute de son esprit en suitte de ce que dit chilon esope dit encore cent agreables choses pour le railler de la severite de sa philosophie et de l'exces de sa prudence mais apres les avoir dittes il retourna trouver les princesses qu'il entretint si agreablement qu'elles ne se retirerent que fort tard cependant le lendemain au matin periandre se rendit au lieu ou il avoit resolu de faire ce magnifique banquet car afin que cette feste fust plus agreable il avoit voulu que ce fust hors de la ville a un lieu qui s'apelle le port de lecheon assez pres d'un temple de venus et en effet ce lieu est le plus beau du monde car outre que la maison est magnifiquement bastie et qu'il y a une grande et superbe sale a pilastres fort propre pour une grande assemblee il y a de plus des jardins admirables et un si agreable bocage le long de la mer avec de si belles allees qui aboutissent toutes au rivage qu'il eust este difficile de trouver un lieu plus propre que celuy-la a faire passer un jour agreablement a une compagnie comme celle que periandre y devoit recevoir mais comme c'estoient des hommes souverainement sages qu'il devoit traitter il retint une partie de sa magnificence 
 de peur d'irriter leur moderation il est vray que s'il en bannit la superfluite il y laissa l'abondance l'ordre et la proprete il y eut mesme une musique excellente et il voulut aussi que des phrygiennes qui estoient alors a corinthe dancassent apres le repas mais pour faire toutes choses aveque splendeur il envoya un chariot a chacun des conviez a l'heure ou il estoit a propos de partir et il les receut sous le portique de la maison ou il les devoit traitter comme s'il n'eust este qu'un particulier leur declarant a tous a mesure qu'ils arrivoient qu'il ne vouloit point estre roy ce jour la et que la derniere action d'authorite qu'il vouloit faire pendant toute la journee estoit de leur ordonner de ne le considerer que comme leur amy et point du tout comme roy de corinthe si j'eusse donne un tel roy a mes grenouilles me dit alors esope a demy bas et en souriant elles ne luy auroient pas desobei et ne se seroient pas revoltees comme elles firent lors que je leur en donnay un qui ne leur plut pas ha esope reprit periandre en souriant car il l'avoit entendu quand vous m'auriez fait roy de vos grenouilles elles n'auroient pas laisse d'estre rebelle et vous avez si admirablement connu le naturel des peuples qui murmurent presques esgallement contre les princes clemens et contre les princes severes que vous meritez aveque beaucoup de raison d'estre aujourd'huy en societe avec tout ce que la grece a de plus admirable comme esope alloit 
 respondre la reine de corinthe la princesse sa fille et la princesse des lindes arriverent un moment apres solon estant venu et chilon aussi toute la troupe fut assemblee car thales pittacus bias cleobule anacharsis niloxenus un homme de corinthe apelle cleodeme ardale ce fameux musicien et moy estions desja arrivez je ne m'amuseray point seigneur a vous dire les premiers complimens que se firent tant de personnes illustres puis que ce n'est pas par de semblables choses qu'on les peut distinguer du commun des hommes je ne m'arresteray pas non plus a vous descrire le festin et il me suffira de vous dire que tout ce qu'on y servit fut exquis que la musique fut excellente que les phrygiennes dancerent miraculeusement et que la conversation pendant le repas fut infiniment agreable en effet il y eut un certain esprit de joye qui s'espandit dans toute l'assemblee qui en bannit le serieux qu'il sembloit que tant de personnes serieuses y devoient causer cet enjouement n'eut pourtant rien qui ne fust digne de ceux qui composoient la compagnie on y railla esope et il railla les autres avec son agreement ordinaire et anacharsis luy mesme entendit si bien raillerie aveque luy qu'il n'est point de grec qui l'eust pu mieux entendre qu'il l'entendit les princesses contribuerent aussi beaucoup au plaisir de cette conversation meslee qui changeoit d'objet selon ceux qui prenoient la parole et periandre voulut mesme 
 que la princesse sa fille donnast de sa main un chapeau de fleurs a chacun des conviez suivant la coustume cependant comme ce n'estoit pas une assemblee de galands mais de sages seulement cleobuline et eumetis ne s'estoient pas parees comme pour aller au bal elles estoient pourtant si propres que je ne les ay jamais veu mieux que ce jour-la mais madame des qu'on fut hors de table niloxenus ambassadeur du roy d'egipte qui n'estoit envoye que pour consulter les sept sages sur certaines propositions que le roy d'ethiopie faisoit au roy son maistre fit changer la conversation car apres avoir leu la lettre de ce roy et que bias eut si agreablement respondu a cette bizarre proposition que le roy d'ethiopie luy faisoit et que je ne vous redis point parce que toute la terre l'a sceue ils passerent a des choses plus serieuses en effet ils examinerent ce qui pouvoit rendre un prince le plus glorieux solon dit si ma memoire ne me trompe qu'un prince ne pouvoit se le rendre davantage qu'en communiquant son authorite cleobule dit a son tour qu'il trouvoit un prince sage qui ne se fioit a personne pittacus dit qu'il le trouveroit plein de gloire s'il pouvoit faire que ses sujets craignissent plus pour luy qu'ils ne le craindroient et chilon adjousta qu'il l'en trouveroit tout couvert s'il aimoit plus l'honneur que toutes choses pour les autres sages j'advoue seigneur que je ne me souviens pas precisement de ce 
 qu'ils dirent mais pour esope je me souviens bien qu'il dit qu'il trouveroit un roy bien glorieux qui auroit la valeur d'un lion la finesse d'un renard et pour ses sujets l'amour d'un pellican pour ses petits car pour moy adjousta-t'il avec une action admirable je ne puis me passer de mes bestes et de mes oyseaux non plus en comparaisons qu'en fables mais apres que chacun eut respondu quelque chose a la raillerie d'esope ils vinrent a parler des republiques et thales dit qu'il trouvoit que pour faire qu'une republique fust bien policee il falloit qu'il n'y eust point d'hommes ny trop pauvres ny trop riches anacharsis que c'estoit celle ou le vice et la vertu faisoient seulement la distinction entre les habitans pittacus que s'estoit celle ou les vertueux commandoient et ou les vicieux n'avoient nulle authorite cleobule que c'estoit celle ou les citoyens craignoient encore plus l'infamie que la loy solon que c'estoit celle ou ceux qui n'estoient point oppressez protegeoient ceux qui l'estoient et poursuivoient les oppresseurs comme leurs propres ennemis bias dit que c'estoit celle ou le peuple craignoit la loy comme un tyran chilon que c'estoit celle d'ou l'ambition estoit bannie et periandre soustint que c'estoit celle ou l'interest de la patrie l'emportoit sur l'interest particulier dans le coeur de tous ceux qui la composoient en suitte de quoy ils s'entretinrent de plusieurs autres choses en effet apres avoir parle des 
 monarchies et des republiques ils parlerent du gouvernement particulier des familles et chilon soustint que celle qui estoit la mieux gouvernee estoit celle qui ressembloit le plus a l'estat monarchique et dont l'authorite absolue estoit entre les mains d'un seul en mon particulier dit esope je prendrois grand plaisir a estre comme le roy des abeilles c'est a dire le seul maistre dans ma maison mais je vous advoue que quand j'estois autrefois esclave j'eusse bien mieux aime estre dans la maison de mon maistre comme les fourmis sont dans la leur c'est a dire avec esgallite de toutes choses apres quoy cet ambassadeur d'amasis les ayant jettez dans des matieres plus eslevees ils se mirent a definir ce que c'est que le temps la lumiere et la verite et a parler de la mort de la fortune et des dieux de sorte que ces trois princesses ne voulant pas par modestie se mesler dans cette conversation quoy que la princesse de corinthe et la princesse eumetis pussent parler de toutes choses se retirerent et furent se promener dans cet agreable bocage que je vous ay dit qui est le long de la mer ainsi elles laisserent ces sept sages avec anacharsis niloxenus cleodeme et diocles dans la liberte de s'entretenir des sciences les plus sublimes cependant comme esope aime naturellement mieux la conversation des dames que celle des hommes et que chersias et moy fusmes obligez de donner la main a ces princesses nous leur aidasmes 
 a marcher et a dire la verite comme nous n'estions ny si sages ny si scavans que ceux que nous quittions nous ne fusmes pas trop marris de suivre des personnes aussi admirables que celles avec qui nous estions cette troupe devint mesme encore plus grande car comme il y avoit eu beaucoup de curiosite a corinthe de voir ensemble les sept plus sages hommes de la grece et de voir aussi ce fameux scythe dont on parloit avec tant d'eloges ces princesses avoient donne ordre a ceux qui gardoient les portes du jardin avec la permission de periandre de laisser entrer l'apresdisnee dix ou douze dames de qualite de sorte que les princesses au sortir de la sale les ayant trouvees ces dames les suivirent dans ce bocage cleobuline leur assurant qu'elle leur feroit voir ces gens illustres qu'elles avoient envie de connoistre mais que comme ils estoient alors fort occupez il falloit attendre qu'ils sortissent de la sale ou ils estoient pour aller a la promenade apres quoy prenant le chemin de ce bocage elles arriverent en un lieu ou il s'avance vers la mer en forme de demy lune y ayant tout a l'entour des sieges de gazon de sorte que comme ces sieges sont au pied des arbres une grande compagnie y peut estre assise commodement puis quelle y peut estre a l'ombre ces princesses estant donc arrivees en cet endroit elles s'y assirent et firent asseoir celles qui estoient de condition a le devoir estre en leur presence les autres se tenant 
 debout ou se mettant par terre sur la plus belle herbe du monde pour esope il se mit derriere la princesse eumetis en s'apuyant contre l'arbre au pied duquel estoit le siege de gazon sur quoy elle estoit assise avec la princesse de corinthe car pour melisse elle en avoit un separe et entretenoit en particulier deux de ces dames qui estoient venues si bien que c'estoit une assez plaisante chose que de voir la teste d'esope entre celles de deux aussi belles princesses que sont celles la cependant il est certain que tout laid qu'est esope il donne plaisir a voir car malgre sa laideur il y a je ne scay quoy de si fin en sa phisionomie et toutes ses actions sont ou si ingenues ou si plaisantes qu'on peut assurer qu'il plaist autant par sa propre personne et par la maniere dont il dit les choses que par les choses mesmes et pour chersias et moy nous estions devant ces princesses avec quelques autres hommes qu'elles avoient aussi fait entrer avec ces dames dont je vous ay parle comme toute cette belle troupe estoit donc en cet estat une de ces dames se mit a dire qu'elle avoit bien du regret qu'un prince apelle basilide n'estoit pas alors a corinthe une autre regretta extremement un fort honneste homme nomme myrinthe qui n'y estoit pas aussi souhaitant qu'il pust voir ce qu'on ne reverroit peutestre jamais n'estant presques pas possible que la fortune fist revoir tant de grands hommes ensemble pour moy dit alors la princesse eumetis 
 ce qui m'a fachee aujourd'huy icy est cet ambassadeur d'egipte car encore qu'il soit fort honneste homme je voudrois qu'il ne s'y fust point trouve puis que s'il n'eust point eu de questions a faire la conversation n'eust pas este tout a fait si serieuse car je vous advoue qu'il y a mille belles choses que je suis bien aise de lire qui me choquent a entendre dire en conversation peut estre adjousta-t'elle est-ce une delicatesse d'esprit mal fondee mais apres tout j'eusse bien voulu qu'au lieu de parler du temps de la lumiere et de la verite on eust propose quelques questions galantes a ces hommes si sages pour solon repliquay-je je vous puis assurer qu'il vous auroit donne grand plaisir principalement si on l'eust oblige a parler d'amour ha pour l'amour repliqua cleobuline j'advoue que j'aurois quelque peine a en entendre parler a des gens aussi graves que le sont ceux dont nous parlons car bien que cette passion soit une passion comme une autre et que mesme elle ait plus besoin du secours de la sagesse que toutes les autres passions si on veut l'empescher de desregler l'esprit de ceux qu'elle possede il est pourtant vray que selon moy pour en pouvoir parler long temps avec bien-seance et en pouvoir parler agreablement il faut estre en estat d'en pouvoir prendre ou d'en pouvoir donner mais madame repliqua chersias qui vous a dit que tous ces sages ne peuvent pas devenir amoureux pour moy dit eumetis a la 
 princesse de corinthe je voudrois qu'anacharsis fust amoureux de vous afin qu'il ne retournast point en scythie et qu'il demeurast tousjours en grece s'il estoit amoureux de moy en l'age ou il est repliqua la princesse de corinthe vous ne souhaiteriez plus qu'il demeurast icy car si cela estoit il ne seroit sans doute pas aussi sage qu'il est il est vray dit la princesse des lindes qu'a parler raisonnablement l'amour est une ridicule chose a un vieil homme elle l'est encore plus a une vieille femme reprit cleobuline elle l'est sans doute encore davantage respondit eumetis mais il y a pourtant cette difference que comme l'amant est oblige de faire plus de choses que l'amante il est plus souvent dans la necessite de paroistre ridicule a peine eumetis eut-elle dit cela que toute la compagnie tombant d'accord de ce qu'elle disoit on se mit a faire une plaisante peinture d'un vieil amant que tout le monde connoissoit en mon particulier dit une de ces dames je ne luy vy jamais d'habit a la mode quoy qu'il en change souvent de plus il veut marcher comme s'il estoit jeune et il marche pourtant comme un vieil honme qu'il est il dit des galanteries qu'on n'entend plus et il parle enfin comme un homme qui ne scauroit plus guere parler et cependant il parle d'amour et ne peut parler d'autre chose je voudrois bien scavoir dit eumetis s'il se trouve quelque dame qui l'escoute il s'en trouve sans doute qui l'escoutent pour se moquer de luy 
 repliqua cleobuline mais il ne s'en trouve sans doute point qui luy respondent favorablement mais encore adjousta-t'elle en tournant la teste vers esope faut-il vous demander ce que vous dites de ce que nous disons je dis madame repliqua-t'il ce que mon loup dit a des bergers qui mangeoient un mouton dans leur cabane car il ne les vit pas plustost qu'il leur dit en son langage de loup et en s'aprochant d'eux voyez quel bruit vous meneriez si je faisois ce que vous faites je m'assure madame adjousta-t'il que vous ferez facilement l'aplication de ce que je dis car enfin si c'estoit moy qui disse tout ce que vous dites je serois un faiseur de fables mordantes et satiriques mais parce que vous estes de grandes princesses il vous est permis de dechirer un pauvre homme tout vivant avec plus de cruaute que ces bergers ne deschiroient ce pauvre mouton mais je pense dit alors eumetis en riant aussi bien que toute la compagnie que vous vous interessez pour ce vieil amant parce que vous avez dessein d'aimer toute vostre vie n'en doutez nullement madame repliqua-t'il mais vous ne considerez pas que j'ay un avantage que les autres n'ont point qui est que comme j'ay este aussi laid a quinze ans que je le feray a cent je ne seray pas aussi ridicule qu'un autre quand j'aimeray jusques au tombeau comme vous estes persuade aveque raison reprit cleobuline que c'est par l'agreement de vostre esprit plus que par celuy de vostre personne 
 que vous pouvez estre aime vous avez assurement plus de droit qu'un autre de pretendre d'avoir le privilege d'aimer long temps mais adjousta eumetis puis que nous parlons d'amour et que nous parions a esope il faut que je luy demande s'il est tousjours amoureux de cette fameuse rhodope qu'on dit estre presentement en egipte non madame luy dit-il je n'en suis plus amoureux depuis que le frere de la celebre sapho l'est devenu et je veux que toutes les bestes que j'ay fait parler me devorent si je le suis jamais d'elle s'il est effectivement vray que vous ne l'aimiez plus reprit chersias en liant il n'estoit pas besoin de faire une si grande imprecation contre vous car je suis persuade qu'on ne peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne et qu'il est plus aise d'en aimer vingt les unes apres les autres que de recommencer d'aimer une femme avec qui on aura rompu absolument cette regle n'est pas si generale repris-je qu'elle n'ait eu son exception en la personne d'un de mes amis qui a aime deux fois une mesme fille avec une esgalle ardeur mais scavez vous bien repliqua chersias que vostre amy s'est bien connu luy mesme car il peut estre qu'il n'a aime qu'une fois ce qu'il croit avoir aime deux et qu'il n'a jamais cesse d'aimer puis qu'il est vray qu'il y a certains instans ou la colere fait un si grand bouleversement dans le coeur d'un amant que l'amour y est sans qu'il le scache en effet il s'imagine bien souvent qu'il 
 hait lors qu'il aime encore et il pense mesme qu'il a oublie celle a qui il pense tousjours de sorte que lors que je dis qu'il n'arrive presques jamais qu'on aime deux fois une mesme personne j'entens qu'effectivement on ait cesse d'aimer et que bien loin d'y avoir encore quelque estincelle cachee sous la cendre il n'y ait plus mesme aucun reste de chaleur car si cela est ainsi je suis persuade que ce feu ne se rallumera jamais pour moy reprit cleobuline je ne pense pas qu'il y ait autant d'impossibilite a aimer deux fois une mesme personne que vous le pensez car enfin quoy qu'un flambeau soit esteint et que mesme il le soit depuis long temps il est certain qu'il a plus de disposition a se r'allumer que s'il n'avoit jamais este allume ainsi je conclus qu'une premiere amour est une disposition a une seconde et qu'il est plus aise de recommencer d'aimer une personne qu'on a desja aimee que d'en aymer une autre en mon particulier madame repliqua chersias je scay par l'experience qu'en a fait un neveu du sage bias qui est un des plus honnestes hommes du monde qu'il est bien plus difficile que vous ne pensez de relever un autel qu'on a batu et de sacrifier deux fois un mesme coeur a une mesme divinite cette question est si curieuse reprit la princesse eumetis en souriant qu'il me semble que pour faire voir que nous voulons imiter ceux avec qui nous avons passe le jour nous devrions l'examiner conme ils ont examine tant de choses plus eslevees plus 
 difficiles s'il ne faut qu'un exemple a soustenir mon opinion repliquay-je je vous prouveray facilement qu'on peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne et s'il n'en faut qu'un reprit chersias pour montrer qu'on ne peut recommencer d'aimer une mesme dame quand on a une fois absolument cesse de le faire je suis assure de gagner ma cause comme chersias disoit cela melisse s'estant levee pour s'aller promener et ayant fait signe de la main qu'elle ne vouloit estre suivie que de celles a qui elle parloit les princesses et toutes ces autres dames demeurerent aussi bien que chersias esope quelques autres et moy de sorte que la princesse des lindes a qui cette question plaisoit et sembloit digne de curiosite proposa a cleobuline de nous obliger chersias et moy a raporter deux des exemples dont nous leur avions parle et a soustenir apres chacun avec des raisons que nostre opinion estoit juste adjoustant qu'en suitte on conteroit les voix de la compagnie afin de juger a l'avantage de celuy qui en auroit le plus je le veux bien dit cleobuline mais il me semble adjousta eumetis qu'il faut que la voix d'esope en vaille deux si cela est reprit-il brusquement je les donne desja toutes deux a celuy qui soustiendra qu'on ne peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne ha esope repliqua eumetis en riant vous dittes vostre advis trop tost puis que vous voulez qu'on prononce l'arrest devant qu'on ait plaide la cause comme j'ay fort frequente avec certains 
 oyseaux babillars reprit-il en souriant il ne faut pas s'estonner si j'ay ce deffaut la joint aussi que je suis si fortement persuade que tout ce que dira mnesiphile ne me persuadera pas qu'on puisse aimer deux fois une mesme personne que j'ay juge qu'il n'y avoit pas grand inconvenient de dire des le commencement ce que je scay bien que j'eusse tousjours dit a la fin quelques belles choses que mnesiphile pusse dire quoy qu'il en soit dit cleobuline vous ne laisserez pas d'escouter si vous ne voulez que je vous reproche d'estre moins sage que ces oyseaux qui portent des pierres a leur bec pour s'empescher de crier apres cela ces deux princesses nous ayant ordonne a chersias et a moy de raporter chacun nostre exemple et de dire en suitte nos raisons il fut resolu que je reciterois le premier l'histoire de mon amy ce que je fis en ces termes en adressant la parole a la princesse des lindes par le commandement de cleobuline comme je vay vous l'adresser par le commandement du grand prince qui m'escoute
 
 
 
 
 histoire de phylidas et d'anaxandride
 
 
comme il n'est pas a propos presentement madame de faire un fort long recit je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire ce qu'estoient les peres de ceux dont j'ay a vous raconter l'histoire et je me contenteray de vous assurer que philidas et anaxandride dont je vous veux aprendre l'avanture en peu de mots son tous deux nais a megare et qu'ils sont des plus anciennes et des plus illustres races de cette fameuse ville la fortune n'a pas mesme seulement voulu mettre de l'esgallite en leur naissance elle en a mis aussi en leur merite et en leur personne car phylidas est aussi bien fait qu'anaxandride est belle et anaxandride a autant d'esprit que phylidas quoy qu'il en ait infiniment de plus il y a encore un merveilleux raport dans leur humeur et leur age mesme est proportionne car anaxandride peut presentement avoir dix-neuf ans et phylidas vingt-six mais outre toutes ces choses il faut encore que vous scachiez qu'ils se sont veus des le berceau que leurs maisons se touchoient et que leurs peres estoient amis apres cela madame je m'assure que quand je vous auray dit que phylidas devint fort amoureux d'anaxandride des qu'il fut en age de pouvoir avoir de l'amour et 
 que cette belle fille ne rejetta pas son affection vous le trouverez le plus heureux amant du monde en effet on peut assurer que tant que sa premiere passion dura il n'eut que des roses sans espines et qu'il jouit de toutes les douceurs que cette passion peut donner sans en sentir les amertumes car enfin il estoit aussi estime qu'il estimoit et je pense qu'il n'estoit aussi guere moins aime qu'il aimoit il voyoit et entretenoit anaxandride autant qu'il vouloit leurs parens voyoient leur inclination sans s'y opposer et si quelque chose empeschoit phylidas de presser les siens de penser a luy faire espouser sa maistresse c'estoit qu'il scavoit de certitude qu'on ne vouloit point songer a la marier tant qu'un oncle dont elle devoit heriter seroit absent de sorte que comme il estoit alle en un voyage dont il ne devoit revenir d'un an il ne pensoit qu'a donner le plus de divertissement qu'il pouvoit a sa maistresse cependant cet estat si heureux et si tranquile le fut trop et cette esperance qui n'estoit meslee d'aucune crainte vint a estre si peu sensible a phylidas qu'on peut presques dire qu'il esperoit la possession de sa maistresse sans plaisir et il s'accoustuma tellement a ne la voir jamais que douce civile et complaisante pour luy qu'insensiblement il vint a n'avoir plus guere de sensibilite pour toutes les graces qu'elle luy faisoit ce n'est pas qu'il ne l'aimast encore et qu'il ne la vist tres souvent mais comme il pensoit estre assure de son affection et qu'il 
 n'avoit plus rien a luy demander de ce coste la on peut assurer qu'il n'avoit bien souvent plus rien a luy dire en effet il m'a jure qu'il estoit contraint de luy parler de nouvelles et de choses indifferentes lors mesme qu'il estoit seul avec elle parce que son amour ne luy donnoit plus nul sujet de parler enfin madame cette esperance tranquile et cette esgalite de bonheur jointe a la certitude d'estre aime mirent peu a peu une telle tiedeur dans l'affection de phidias qui estant oblige au printemps d'aller aux champs il eut plus de joye d'aller voir le nouveau vert dont la campagne estoit paree qu'il n'eut de douleur de quitter son ancienne maistresse cependant quoy qu'il y eust beaucoup de raport d'humeur entre philidas et anaxandride il y eut pourtant une notable difference dans leur coeur en cette occasion car a mesure que l'amour de phylidas diminuoit celle d'anaxandride augmentoit malgre qu'elle en eust mais ce qu'il y eut de fascheux pour elle fut que lors qu'il luy fut dire adieu elle s'aperceut bien qu'il le luy disoit avec trop d'indifference neantmoins comme ce n'estoit pas un temps propre a faire une querelle elle ne luy donna nulle marque du mescontentement secret qu'elle avoit depuis qu'elle s'estoit aperceue du changement qui estoit arrive en son esprit de sorte qu'il la quitta sans qu'ils eussent eu rien a demesler et sans qu'il eust eu un moment d'inquietude depuis qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle cependant 
 comme il luy avoit demande la permission de luy escrire et qu'il l'avoit obtenue il luy escrivit comme il luy avoit promis mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que cette lettre ne fut qu'une belle description de la beaute de la campagne et des douceurs qu'il trouvoit a escouter a l'ombre d'un bois le chant des oyseaux il luy disoit pourtant a la fin qu'il eust souhaite qu'elle eust este au lieu ou il estoit mais cela estoit dit d'une certaine maniere qu'on voyoit clairement qu'il l'y souhaitoit autant pour luy faire avoir le plaisir d'ouir le chant des rossignols que pour l'entretenir de sa passion toutesfois anaxandride qui estoit persuadee qu'il estoit dangereux de quereller un amant absent lors qu'on le veut conserver luy escrivit comme si elle n'eust pas pris garde au changement de son coeur mais cette continuation de bonte continuant de faire son effet ordinaire dans l'ame de phylidas il attendoit sans impatience le jour qu'il avoit accoustume d'avoir des nouvelles d'anaxandride et j'ay sceu de sa propre bouche que son amour s'alentit d'une telle sorte qu'il receut un matin une lettre de cette belle personne qu'il ne leut que le soir en se couchant phylidas estant donc dans une si grande tiedeur apres avoir aime autrefois si ardamment le hazard fit que son pere luy ayant escrit qu'il s'en allast a salamine pour quelques affaires qu'il y avoit il y vit une fort belle fille qui s'appelle timoxene de sorte que comme le pere de cette personne devoit aller demeurer 
 a megare il fut bien aise de faire amitie avec un homme de qualite qui en estoit si bien qu'en peu de jours philidas eut toute la liberte possible dans cette maison mais madame comme la trop grande douceur d'anaxandride et la trop grande esgallite du bonheur de phylidas avoient attiedy son amour on peut dire que la bizarrerie de timoxene fit son inconstance pour cette belle fille car enfin madame il trouva en celle la tout le contraire de l'autre estant certain que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu personne dont l'humeur ait este plus inesgalle ny qui ait plus aime a avoir des demeslez avec ses amans et des esclaircissemens avec ses amies ou ses amis car on entend dire continuellement timoxene a dit une telle chose ou timoxene dit qu'on la luy a ditte ou timoxene pleint ou on se pleint d'elle ou thimoxene est mal avec celuy-cy ou celuy-la est mal avec timoxene et timoxene enfin par son inesgallite d'humeur embrouille si fort les choses et se brouille elle mesme tellement avec tout le monde qu'on peut dire qu'elle bannit la paix de tous les lieux ou elle se trouve puis qu'il est vray qu'elle donne de l'amour a tous ceux qui sont en estat d'en prendre ou qu'elle met de la division entre ceux qui pensent avoir une amitie la plus solidement liee ce n'est pourtant pas que timoxene soit meschante et c'est son inesgalite toute seule qui l'oblige a faire ce qu'elle fait car enfin il y a des jours ou elle dit tout ce qu'on 
 luy a dit de plus secret il y en a d'autres au contraire ou ses meilleurs amis ne peuvent luy faire dire la moindre chose et il y en a d'autres aussi ou elle songe si peu a ce qu'elle dit qu'elle parle contre ses propres interests cependant timoxene ne laisse pas d'estre aimable et d'estre aimee il est vray qu'elle a eu plus d'amans que d'amis et qu'il est plus aise d'avoir de l'amour que de l'amitie pour elle aussi a-t'elle cause de grandes passions en sa vie toute bizarre qu'elle est estant certain qu'encore qu'elle soit fort inesgalle on peut pourtant dire qu'elle ne l'est qu'autant qu'il faut pour irriter l'amour et non pas pour la destruire puis qu'il est vray que ses caprices ne sont pas longs et que lors qu'elle est en sa belle humeur elle est la plus charmante personne du monde et la plus caressante en effet il y a des instans ou l'on jureroit qu'on ne la verra jamais que douce et flatteuse si bien qu'on luy donne alors tant de pouvoir sur son coeur que l'on n'est plus apres cela en estat de l'oster de sa puissance timoxene estant donc telle que je vous la represente se trouva estre en une de ses heures agreables lors que phylidas la vit la premiere fois de sorte que comme l'amour qu'il avoit pour anaxandride s'estoit allentie par la trop grande esgallite de son bonheur l'image qu'il devoit en avoir dans le coeur ne l'empescha pas de trouver timoxene fort belle et de trouver qu'elle avoit infiniement de l'esprit de plus il apprit des ce premier jour 
 la qu'elle avoit plusieurs amans et il sceut aussi qu'il n'y avoit pas une personne au monde dont il fust plus difficile d'acquerir l'affection ny de qui il fust plus malaise de la conserver quand mesme on l'auroit aquise mais enfin madame sans m'amuser a vous exagerer la bizarrerie de cette avanture je vous diray que phylidas s'ennuyant d'estre heureux ou pour mieux dire ne sentant plus son bonheur parce qu'il y estoit trop accoustume chercha a se rendre malheureux en pensant chercher sa felicite car il vit tant timoxene qu'il en devint amoureux et qu'il cessa par consequent d'aimer anaxandride ainsi on ne peut pas dire qu'il l'aimoit encore quoy qu'il ne pensast plus l'aimer puis que la plus grande marque qu'on puisse avoir de n'aimer plus une personne est d'en aimer une autre mais a dire la verite phylidas ne fut pas plustost amant de timoxene qu'il sortit de cette lethargie amoureuse ou la douceur d'anaxandride l'avoit jette car depuis le premier jour qu'il eut de l'amour pour cette bizarre personne il ne s'en passa aucun qu'il n'eust autant de jalousie que d'amour et autant de colere que de jalousie toutesfois ce qui devoit affoiblir sa passion l'augmenta et il devint plus amoureux de timoxene qu'il ne l'avoit este d'anaxandride mais comme la renommee se charge volontiers de semblables nouvelles cette belle fille sceut bien tost a megare que son amant estoit infidelle et qu'il 
 aimoit a salamine de sorte que comme elle l'aimoit effectivement elle en eut une douleur incroyable ce fut pourtant une douleur glorieuse si bien que prenant la resolution de mespriser celuy qui la mesprisoit elle se resolut de n'oublier rien pour tascher de se mettre l'esprit en repos mais a dire la verite la haine qui succeda dans son coeur a l'amour qu'elle y avoit eue ne luy donna pas moins de peine que cette amour luy en avoit donne cependant comme je vous ay dit que le pere de timoxene avoit dessein d'aller habiter a megare il y fut avec sa famille et phylidas s'y en retourna aveque luy de sorte que comme c'est la coustume de ce lieu la que lors qu'il y arrive des dames estrangeres toutes celles de la ville les visitent il falut qu'anaxandride allast chez timoxene avec sa mere et qu'elle allast faire civilite a une personne qui luy avoit oste le coeur de son amant elle fut mesme si malheureuse que phylidas s'y trouva je luy ay pourtant ouy dire depuis qu'elle avoit eu plus de plaisir a cette visite qu'elle n'avoit eu lieu d'en esperer parce que comme elle ne vouloit pas trouver que timoxene fust belle son imagination fut si complaisante a sa passion qu'en effet elle vit timoxene toute autre qu'elle n'estoit car elle trouva que ses cheveux estoient d'un blond trop dore quoy qu'ils fussent d'un blond cendre le plus beau du monde elle luy trouva le taint brouille quoy qu'il fust fort repose les yeux rudes quoy qu'ils fussent plus tost languissans 
 sans les levres pasles bien qu'elles fassent vermeilles et la taille desagreable quoy qu'elle l'eust fort bien faite de sorte que donnant sans doute autant a sa propre beaute qu'elle ostoit a celle de sa rivale elle se l'imagina mille fois moins belle qu'elle n'estoit et elle se creut plus belle qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais creu estre du moins m'a t'elle advoue depuis que c'estoient la ses sentimens mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut la joye qu'elle eut d'estre persuadee que phylidas n'avoit nulle excuse dans son inconstance et qu'il avoit perdu en la changeant pour timoxene en effet me disoit-elle un jour je pense que je serois morte de despit si j'eusse trouve que timoxene eust este beaucoup au dessus de moy en toutes choses il me sembla mesme adjousta-t'elle tant le despit avoit change mon coeur que phylidas n'estoit plus aussi honneste homme qu'il estoit du temps qu'il m'aimoit et que je ne le haissois point et j'estois si estonnee d'avoir trouve si aimable ce qui ne me le sembloit plus que j'en avois une confusion estrange car enfin phylidas me sembloit tout un autre homme je luy trouvois la mine moins haute l'esprit moins divertissant l'action plus contrainte et il me sembloit mesme encore que son accent estoit change et qu'il avoit aquis a salamine je ne scay quel accent rustique qu'on reproche a tous les insulaires enfin adjoustoi-t'elle encore je trouvay mon ancien amant si peu agreable ce jour la sa nouvelle maistresse si 
 peu aimable et je me trouvay tant au dessus d'eux que je sortis moins chagrine de cette visite que je ne l'avois pense mais apres tout poursuivit elle quoy que je n'eusse pas voulu que phylidas m'eust encore aimee j'avois pourtant tousjours un despit estrange de ce qu'il aimoit timoxene cependant madame par un sentiment de gloire anaxandride se resolut de ne faire jamais nul reproche a phylidas et de se contenter d'esviter sa rencontre et de le traitter avec beaucoup de froideur en quelque lieu qu'elle le trouvast et en effet la chose alla de cette sorte pendant quelque temps mais madame comme timoxene n'avoit pas change d'humeur en changeant de lieu elle fut a megare ce qu'elle estoit a salamine et elle y fit mesme beaucoup plus de desordre parce que comme on ne l'y connoissoit pas tous les hommes et toutes les femmes qui la virent y furent attrapez car comme elle est assurement fort aimable plus de la moitie de sa vie on fit d'abord societe avec elle comme avec une personne qu'on estimoit on voyoit bien sans doute qu'elle estoit inegalle mais on ne scavoit pas le defaut qu'elle avoit d'estre sujette a avoir des jours ou elle ne pouvoit rien taire de sorte que comme c'est la coustume de celles qui veulent faire amitie avec une nouvelle venue de l'instruire peu a peu de toutes les nouvelles de la ville afin qu'elle n'y soit plus estrangere il y eut quelques hommes et quelques femmes qui luy ayant rendu 
 cet office ne s'en trouverent pas fort bien non plus que phylidas car s'estant trouve en un de ces jours ou elle disoit tout ce qu'elle scavoit elle les brouilla tellement avec toute la ville qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'une telle chose ny veu tant d'esclaircissemens en si peu de temps ce qui faisoit le plus grand embarras estoit que comme elle escoutoit bien souvent toutes ces sortes de choses avec peu d'aplication elle les confondoit en les redisant ainsi elle faisoit dire a phylidas ce qu'un autre luy avoit conte et a cet autre ce que phylidas luy avoit dit si bien que devant qu'on eust seulement demesle le vray d'avec le faux et qu'on fust convenu de ceux qui avoient dit ce que timoxene redisoit il se passoit un temps estrange de sorte que bien souvent en voulant s'esclaircir on se donnoit de nouvelles matieres d'esclaircissement et on entassoit quelquefois querelle sur querelle mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que timoxene ne se soucioit non plus de toutes les brouilleries qu'elle faisoit que si elle n'y eust eu aucune part et elle scavoit mesme si bien s'en demesler qu'elle se racommodoit avec tout le monde sans beaucoup de peine mais le mal estoit qu'elle ne racommodoit pas si facilement les autres comme phylidas est un fort honneste homme et dont l'esprit est tout a fait esclaire il voyoit bien quelque amoureux qu'il fust que timoxene avoit de mauvaises qualitez parmy les bonnes mais apres tout comme il estoit d'humeur a 
 aimer a surmonter les choses difficiles on peut dire que les espines servoient a luy faire trouver les roses de meilleure odeur estant certain que l'inesgalite de timoxene durant tres longtemps augmenta sa passion toutes-fois a la fin cette inesgalite produisit un effet qui luy donna bien du chagrin parce que timoxene n'estoit pas seulement tantost guaye et tantost triste car son inesgalite estoit aussi dans les sentimens de son coeur et ceux qu'elle aimoit aujourd'huy n'estoient pas tousjours asseurez de l'estre demain si bien que par son propre changement elle ne regarda plus phylidas ny comme son amant ny comme son amy et elle en regarda un autre beaucoup plus favorablement que luy de sorte qu'apres que phylidas eut essaye toutes choses pour se remettre bien avec elle il voulut voir si la jalousie ne la rameneroit point si bien que faisant dessein de faire semblant de vouloir renouer avec anaxandride il chercha occasion de la revoir et se fit remener chez elle par un parent de cette belle fille qui estoit fort son amy mais madame ce qu'il y eut de fort extraordinaire en cette avanture fut que lors que phylidas retourna chez anaxandride il estoit fort amoureux et fort jaloux de timoxene et n'avoit plus aucune tendresse pour cette premiere aussi ce qui faisoit qu'il se resolvoit a faindre d'aimer celle-la plustost qu'une autre estoit premierement que la chose estoit plus vray-semblable et que de plus il avoit tousjours 
 trouve anaxandride si douce qu'il croyoit qu'il pourroit la quitter quand il voudroit sans qu'il en arrivast rien davantage que ce qui en estoit desja arrive la chose n'alla pourtant pas comme il avoit pensee car comme anaxandride estoit glorieuse aussi bien que douce elle avoit senty si aigrement l'inconstance de phylidas que ce n'avoit este que pour l'amour d'elle mesme qu'elle n'en avoit pas fait plus d'esclat mais lors qu'il se fit remener chez elle et qu'il voulut luy parler en particulier il fut bien surpris de trouver que son esprit n'estoit pas aux termes qu'il avoit creu car il s'estoit imagine qu'anaxandride le recevroit tousjours aveque joye toutes les fois qu'il le voudroit cependant elle luy parla si fierement des cette premiere visite qu'il ne put douter qu'il ne l'eust effectivement perdue et qu'il ne luy fust encore plus difficille de regagner le coeur d'anaxandride s'il en eust eu envie que celuy de timoxene de sorte que comme son amour s'estoit allentie par la facilite qu'il avoit eue a estre heureux elle commenca des ce jour la a se reveiller par la difficulte qu'il trouva a le pouvoir jamais estre enfin madame sans que j'en puisse comprendre la raison il est certain que la rudesse d'anaxandride commenca de remettre dans le coeur de phylidas ce que sa trop grande douceur en avoit oste il ne passa pourtant pas d'une extremite a l'autre en un instant mais il est vray qu'en fort peu de jours il cessa d'aimer timoxene et recommenca 
 d'aimer anaxandride avec plus d'ardeur qu'il ne l'avoit jamais aimee et il est mesme vray que cette passion eut pour luy toutes les graces de la nouveaute ce fut alors que se souvenant de l'estat ou il avoit este avec anaxandride il en fut encore plus infortune et il se trouvoit si coupable d'avoir pu ne sentir pas son bonheur qu'il en estoit beaucoup plus malheureux d'autre part anaxandride quoy qu'elle n'aimast plus phylidas ne laissoit pas par un sentiment de gloire d'estre fort aise de le revoir dans ses chaisnes si bien que comme elle avoit esprouve que la rigueur estoit fort propre a accroistre sa passion elle en eut autant qu'il en eust falu pour faire cesser l'amour dans tout autre coeur que le sien cependant plus anaxandride le mal traitoit plus il estoit amoureux d'elle et plus il avoit de repentir de son inconstance mais luy disois-je un jour voyant le chagrin ou il estoit comment peut il estre vray que vous ayez cesse d'aimer anaxandride sans sujet et que vous ayez recommence sans raison car enfin quand vous la quittastes elle estoit aussi aimable qu'elle avoit jamais este et quand vous la reprenez elle ne l'est pas plus qu'elle estoit quand vous la quittastes ainsi je pense avoir droit de vous demander pourquoy vous cessastes de l'aimer ou pourquoy vous avez recommence je cesse de l'aimer repit-il parce que je m'estois tellement accoustume a estre heureux que je ne le croyois plus estre et j'ay recommence de l'adorer 
 parce que je suis las d'estre miserable et que je connois bien que je ne puis estre heureux sans elle mais luy disois-je elle est ce qu'elle estoit quand vous en aimiez une autre et ce qu'elle estoit quand vous l'abandonnastes ha mnesiphile me dit-il qu'il s'en faut bien qu'anaxandride ne soit ce qu'elle estoit lors que je l'abandonnay car elle estoit douce et elle est fiere elle m'aimoit et elle me hait j'advoue luy dis-je alors en riant que cette difference ne me semble guere propre a faire naistre l'amour et qu'il eust este bien plus raisonnable de continuer de l'aimer lors qu'elle estoit douce et lors qu'elle vous aimoit que de recommencer d'avoir de l'amour pour elle lors qu'elle vous mal traite et qu'elle ne vous aime plus j'en tombe d'accord dit il mais puis que je ne suis pas maistre de mon coeur que voulez vous que j'y face joint que comme anaxandride ne me peut jamais maltraiter que je ne regarde plustost sa rigueur comme un effet de sa vangeance et de sa colere que comme une marque de son mespris pour moy je trouve encore quelque douceur a penser qu'elle ne me hait que parce qu'elle m'a aime et a esperer que comme elle a pu passer de l'amour a la haine elle pourra encore passer de la haine a l'amour si vous estiez devenu amoureux d'une autre luy repliquay-je et que mesme apres avoir aime anaxandride et timoxene vous en eussiez encore aime cent je ne serois pas si surpris que de vous revoir 
 amant d'anaxandride car enfin luy dis-je je comprens bien qu'on peut avoir brouillerie avec sa maistresse et renouer avec elle je comprens bien mesme que la croyant infidelle on la peut hair et que venant en suitte a connoistre qu'elle est innocente on peut recommencer de l'aimer mais j'advoue que je ne puis concevoir qu'ayant quitte anaxandride sans avoir aucun sujet de le faire il soit possible que vous en soyez redevenu amoureux je le suis pourtant d'une telle sorte repliqua-t'il qu'on ne peut pas l'estre davantage et je le suis d'autant plus que je puis assurer que j'ay presentement autant de haine contre moy que j'ay d'amour pour elle en effet toutes les fois que je songe au bien que j'ay perdu et que je pense en suitte a l'incertitude ou je suis si je le pourray posseder une seconde fois je souffre plus que nul autre amant n'a jamais souffert car enfin les autres amans qui desirent destre favorisez desirent des faveurs dont ils n'ont pas joui et dont ils ne scavent pas toute la douceur mais pour moy je suis bien plus miserable puis que je souhaite un bien dont je connois la grandeur et un bien que j'ay possede mais luy dis-je vous vous trouviez si peu heureux en le possedant que je ne scay pourquoy vous desirez si ardemment de le posseder encore je le desire repliqua-t'il parce que je connois bien mieux le prix de ce que j'ay perdu que je ne le connoissois en le possedant enfin madame ce n'est pas encore assez pour vous prouver 
 qu'on peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne de vous dire que phylidas aima deux fois anaxandride si je ne vous dis encore qu'anaxandride ayma aussi deux fois phylidas cependant il est certain que cet amant s'opianiastra de telle sorte a reconquerir le coeur qu'il avoit perdu qu'enfin anaxandride ayant cesse de le hair recommenca de l'aimer et ils s'aiment encore de l'heure que je parle avec tant de tendresse qu'ils se doivent espouser dans peu de jours apres cela madame il ne faut pas dire qu'on ne peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne puis qu'en une seule histoire je vous en fournis deux exemples et certes a dire vray je trouve qu'il y a plus d'apparence qu'on soit capable de recommencer d'aimer ce qu'on a une fois trouve aimable que d'aimer une nouvelle maistresse quelque plaisir qu'il y ait a vous entendre parler me dit alors flateusement la princesse de corinthe il faut pourtant que je vous interrompe car il me semble qu'il seroit plus a propos avant que vous disiez vos raisons que chersias racontast l'histoire qui donne un exemple oppose a celuy que vous venez de rapporter afin que raisonnant apres esgalement sur tous les deux la chose en fust mieux esclaircie et la dispute plus agreable comme ce que la princesse de corinthe disoit estoit fort raisonnable eumetis et toute la compagnie l'ayant aprouve il falut que je m'imposasse silence et que chersias 
 racontast l'avanture qu'il avoit promise de sorte qu'apres que toute la compagnie eut renouvelle son attention et qu'eumetis luy eut dit agreablement qu'elle seroit bien aise qu'un grec asiatique exagerast un peu plus les choses que moy qui avois disoit-elle fait plustost ce recit en lacedemonien qu'en athenien chersias commenca son discours comme il s'en va le commencer et en effet mnesiphile s'estant teu chersias prit la parole en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire d'aglatoniceet d'iphicrate
 
 
avant que de vous rien dire madame de l'avanture que j'ay a vous raconter je pense qu'il n'est pas hors de propos que je vous die quelle est la maniere de vivre de nostre cour de peur que ne vous imaginant pas la ville de priene telle qu'elle est vous ne creussiez que j'imposerois quelque chose a la verite en introduisant de personnes galantes dans mon recit c'est pourquoy madame il faut que vous scachiez que le sage bias qui gouverne nostre estat l'a rendu si celebre tout petit qu'il est qu'il n'y a aucun des estats voisins a qu'il ne soit considerable et j'ose dire hardiment que de tant de fameuses colonnies greques qui ont 
 passe en asie et qui s'y sont rendues puissantes il n'y en a point qui ait conserve avec tant de purete la politesse de son origine que la nostre de plus comme le sage bias n'a point d'enfans il tousjours regarde un neveu qu'il a comme estant son successeur de sorte que comme cet illustre neveu qui s'apelle iphicrate est un admirablement honneste homme il a encore contribue a faire que toute nostre cour fust pleine d'honneste gens car si l'oncle y a attire beaucoup d'hommes scavans le neveu y a fait beaucoup de braves par l'exemple de sa valeur et beaucoup de gens genereux par celuy de sa generosite pour nos dames je puis assurer sans mensonge que peu de villes asiatiques en ont de plus belles ny de plus aimables mais ce qui rend encore cette cour plus galante est que bias a une niece qui est aussi accomplie qu'iphicrate est accomply elle n'est pourtant pas sa soeur car elle est fille d'une soeur de bias et il est fils d'un frere cependant comme le mary de cette personne estoit du sang des princes qui regnoient a xanthe devant que cette ville eust change la forme de son gouvernement on luy donne la qualite de princesse quoy que xante soit destruite et c'est chez elle que tout ce qu'il y a de gens de qualite et de gens d'esprit s'assemblent et que toutes les dames vont aussi au reste madame je puis vous assurer que la cour de policrate n'est pas plus galante 
 que la nostre et qu'on ne se divertit pas mieux a milet ny a lesbos qu'a priene apres cela madame il faut que je vous die qu'iphicrate n'est pas seulement un fort honneste homme parce qu'il a du coeur et de l'esprit mais encore parce que c'est le plus sincere de tous les hommes de plus sa personne plaist extremement car il est de belle taille et de bonne mine et ses plus grands ennemis ne peuvent effectivement luy reprocher aucun deffaut il est vray que sa sincerite est cause qu'il dit quelquesfois les choses d'une maniere un peu seiche mais apres tout il a tousjours este estime de tout le monde et aime de tous ceux qui l'ont connu a la reserve de la personne de toute la terre de qui il eust mieux aime l'estre apres cela madame il faut que je vous die quelle est cette belle et juste personne dont j'entens parler vous scaurez donc madame que pour le malheur d'iphicrate apres avoir este plusieurs annees absent il revint justement a priene un soir qu'il y avoit bal chez la princesse de xanthe de sorte que comme il estoit en un age ou on ne perd guere une semblable occasion il se mit diligemment en estat d'aller a cette assemblee qui estoit sans doute digne de sa curiosite estant certain que je ne vy jamais toutes nos dames plus belles qu'elles l'estoient ce soir la puis qu'il n'y en avoit pas une ny trop rouge ny mal habillee en effet celles d'entre elles qui se connoissoient le mieux en semblables choses advouerent qu'elles n'avoient 
 jamais este a nulle assemblee plus agreable que celle dont je parle car elle n'avoit pas la presse et l'incommodite des grandes festes et elle n'estoit pas aussi de ces petites assemblees ou il faut que celles qui en sont dancent tousjours ou que personne ne dance tant il y a peu de monde et ou l'on dance beaucoup sans en pouvoir tirer vanite parce que les hommes n'ont point a choisir de plus la sale estoit bien esclairee et les maistres de l'harmonie estoient mesme en si bonne humeur ce jour la qu'il n'eust pas este aise de ne dancer point en cadence iphicrate estant donc entre au lieu ou l'on dancoit avec toute la joye d'un homme qui estoit bien aise de trouver un divertissement des le premier soir de son arrivee il fut a un bout de la sale ou il vit trois ou quatre de ses anciens amis qui parloient a des dames qui ne dancoient pas alors de sorte qu'ayant autant de satisfaction de le revoir qu'il en avoit de les trouver ils se firent mille civilitez de part et d'autre la princesse de xanthe en son particulier luy tesmoigna avoir beaucoup de joye de son retour et il y eut mesme des hommes et des dames qui dancoient qui ne laisserent pas de luy faire voir ou dans leurs yeux ou par quelque signe de teste qu'ils avoient impatience que leur dance fust finie pour luy dire qu'ils estoient bien aises qu'il estoit revenu mais enfin apres ces premieres civilitez iphicrate eut la liberte de regarder les belles du bal et de voir qu'il y en avoit une fort 
 aimable qu'il ne croyoit pas avoir jamais veue a aucune assemblee avant que de partir de priene et a dire vray il ne se trompoit pas car elle estoit encore si jeune quand il estoit party qu'elle n'alloit pas au bal en ce temps-la joint que le hazard avoit mesme fait qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue enfant de sorte qu'estant surpris de la voir il me demanda qui elle estoit comme estant un de ceux qui estoient le plus pres de luy et qu'il honoroit le plus de son amitie et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison si cette dame se nomme aglatonice luy donnoit de la curio-qui site puis qu'il est vray que c'est une des plus charmantes personne du monde en effet elle a la taille si noble et si bien faite et l'air si galant et si aise que toute brune qu'elle est elle efface le plus grand esclat de toutes les beautez blondes de priene il s'en trouve sans doute qui ont tous les traits du visage aussi beau qu'elle et mesme plus beaux mais il ne s'en trouve pourtant point qu'on puisse veritablement dire plus belle puis qu'il ne s'en trouve pas qui plaise davantage aglatonice estant donc telle que je le dis iphicrate me demanda comme je l'ay desja dit qui elle estoit et si je la voyois chez elle je m'imagine luy dis-je apres luy avoir dit son nom que vous ne me demandez cette derniere chose que parce que vous avez dessein de la connoistre mais iphicrate adjoustay-je aglatonice est une dangereuse personne a voir en la voyant aussi belle qu'elle est repliqua-t'il 
 il est aise de comprendre qu'on ne la peut voir sans danger quoy que ce que vous dittes soit vray repris-je de la maniere dont vous l'entendez ce n'est toutesfois pas encore comme je l'entens et comment l'entendez vous donc repliqua-t'il ce que je veux dire luy dis-je est que cette personne qui semble n'estre nee que pour se faire aimer tant elle est aimable est la moins aimante creature de l'univers a ce que disent ceux qui la pensent le mieux connoistre mais pour moy je suis persuade qu'on ne la connoist pas trop bien et qu'il y a encore beaucoup d'endroits dans son coeur ou qui que ce soit n'a jamais penetre de grace me dit-il faites moy le portrait de cette personne si je le fais sans la flatter luy dis-je alors en souriant vous n'en deviendrez pas amoureux quoy que je luy donne mille louanges faites le donc promptement respondit-il en souriant aussi bien que moy car je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes s'il n'y a desja quelque legere disposition dans mon coeur a l'aimer je vous diray donc luy dis-je qu'encore qu'aglatonice ait infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit du monde elle vit presques pourtant avec tous ceux qui l'aprochent comme si elle ne faisoit aucune distinction de ceux qui sont mediocrement honnestes gens a ceux qui le sont autant qu'on le peut estre et de ceux qui le sont mediocrement a ceux qui ne le sont point du tout de sorte que je puis vous assurer qu'aglatonice toute vertueuse qu'elle est n'a encore jamais 
 refuse un adorateur cependant on ne dit point par le monde qu'elle soit coquette et elle a si bien fait qu'elle a trouve l'art de pouvoir avoir mille amans et de n'en refuser aucun sans qu'on die pourtant autre chose d'elle sinon qu'elle aime les plaisirs et la galanterie en general sans qu'on l'accuse jusques a cette heure d'aimer aucun galant en particulier aussi y a-t'il tousjours une presse si grande chez elle que je ne vous la puis representer car comme aglatonice souffre qu'on la regarde et qu'on soupire et qu'elle n'a jamais deffendu a qui que ce soit de l'aimer on voit aupres d'elle un nombre infiny de rivaux qui parce qu'ils ne sont pas plus favorisez les uns que les autres vivent en repos sans se quereller et presques sans se hair d'autant que comme les yeux d'aglatonice ne mettent point de difference entre eux ils ne se portent point d'envie comme il faudroit donc reprit iphicrate en riant que je fusse bien malheureux si j'estois rebute par aglatonice vous me donnez beaucoup de joye car encore est-ce quelque satisfaction que d'estre assure de n'estre pas mal traite d'abord il est vray repliquay-je mais c'est aussi une cruelle chose de ne pouvoir presques esperer d'estre mieux avec elle apres dix ans de service qu'on y est des le premier jour et de n'y estre pas mieux que cent autres qui n'ont ny merite ny agrement mais est-il possible me dit-il qu'une personne comme celle-la puisse souffrir d'estre aimee de quelqu'un 
 qui soit absolument sans merite je vous proteste luy dis-je que j'en connois qui l'aiment qui n'en ont point du tout et je vous proteste de plus que depuis philosophe jusques a insense et depuis brave jusques a poltron elle a des amans de toutes les manieres quand ce ne seroit donc que par curiosite reprit iphicrate je vous prie menez moy des demain chez aglatonice si ce n'est grand hazard luy dis-je cette curiosite vous coustra cher car encore que je vous aye dit des choses fort capables de vous empescher de vous engager a l'aimer je suis fortement persuade quoy que je vous aye dit le contraire que si vous n'aimez point ailleurs vous l'aimerez estant bien certain veu comme je vous connois qu'elle vous plaira plus que nulle autre femme ne vous scauroit plaire de sorte que comme vous estes d'un temperamment oppose au sien vous serez si je ne me trompe le plus malheureux de tous les hommes si vous devenez son amant vous me la representez si peu rigoureuse repliqua-t'il en souriant que je ne voy pas qu'il y ait tant de malheurs a aprehender quoy luy dis-je vous croyez que ce ne soit pas la plus cruelle chose du monde d'aimer une personne qui vous confond avec mille autres et de qui il n'y a jamais rien a attendre que ce qu'elle fait pour vous des le premier jour et que ce qu'elle fait pour quiconque veut porter ses chaisnes car enfin on peut dire sans mensonge qu'elle les escoute tous et qu'elle ne respond 
 a pas un ny assez favorablement pour le rendre heureux ny assez rudement pour le desesperer quoy qu'il en soit il la faut voir me dit-il et vous me ferez plaisir de m'y mener des demain voila donc seigneur quelle fut la premiere conversation que j'eus avec iphicrate touchant aglatonice a qui il n'eust pu parler ce soir la quand il l'eust voulu car a peine avoit elle cesse de dancer qu'ils estoient dix ou douze a ses pieds et a peine ces dix ou douze estoient ils a l'entour d'elle que quelque autre la revenoit prendre mais enfin madame pour ne m'amuser pas a des choses inutiles je menay le jour suivant iphicrate chez aglatonice qui le receut avec cette civilite galante et universelle qu'elle a pour tous ceux qui la visitent de sorte que comme elle a la meilleure grace du monde a tout ce qu'elle fait et qu'elle ne peut jamais rien dire qui ne plaise il fut charme de l'avoir veue et il sortit de chez elle plus amoureux que tous ceux qu'il y laissa il ne me le dit pourtant pas alors mais je m'en aperceus malgre luy si bien que comme je craignois qu'il ne sengageast je luy dis encore mille choses pour l'en empescher quoy que je ne pusse pourtant luy dire d'autre mal d'aglatonice que celuy que je luy en avois desja dit car il est vray qu'a cela pres elle est une des plus accomplie personne du monde c'estoit pourtant en vain madame que je pretendois empescher qu'il n'aimast aglatonice car j'ay bien connu depuis que cette amour estoit 
 une amour de constellation ou la raison ne se pouvoit opposer en effet si la chose n'eust pas este ainsi iphicrate n'eust du moins pas aime aglatonice si long temps et il auroit cesse des l'horrible injustice qu'elle luy fit mais pour faire que vous la scachiez il faut vous dire ce qui la preceda vous scaurez donc qu'iphicrate apres cette premiere visite retourna tout seul chez aglatonice et y retourna si souvent qu'enfin on ne le trouvoit plus ailleurs cependant il n'est pas aise de concevoir ce qui l'y attacha car il est certain que cette personne qui n'avoit jamais en toute sa vie refuse une adoration ny un adorateur ne receut pas trop bien la declaration d'amour que luy fit iphicrate au contraire il vit je ne scay quoy de mesprisant dans ses yeux et je ne scay qu'elle negligence indifferente a la responce qu'elle luy fit qui l'auroit guery de sa passion s'il eust este en estat de l'estre mais comme il avoit desja le coeur trop engage pour se pouvoir desgager par une premiere difficulte au lieu de s'attiedir son amour en devint plus ardente et si jusques alors il avoit aime par inclination seulement il aima par opiniastrete et se resolut de vaincre tout ce qui pourroit s'oposer a son bonheur il trouva mesme d'abord quelque avantage a estre plus mal traite que mille autres qui ne le valoient pas et il pensa qu'il n'estoit plus mal receu que parce qu'on le trouvoit peut estre plus redoutable enfin il se flatta comme un homme 
 qui vouloit continuer d'aimer et qui ne s'en pouvoit empescher il y avoit pourtant des heures ou cette indulgence galante qui faisoit qu'aglatonice laissoit soupirer pour elle tous ceux qui en avoient envie luy estoit insuportable et ou la rudesse qu'elle avoit pour luy le mettoit au desespoir en effet un jour que le hazard fit qu'il se trouva seul avec elle parce qu'il s'obstina a y demeurer le dernier il ce mit a luy en faire des reproches et a se pleindre de la rigueur qu'elle luy tenoit car enfin madame luy dit-il apres plusieurs autres choses je ne scay pas comment vous pouvez avoir l'inhumanite de me deffendre de vous aimer apres l'avoir permis a mille rivaux que vostre beaute m'a faits si parmy ce grand nombre poursuivit-il vous en aviez choisi un qui fust effectivement digne de vostre choix et que vous bannissiez tous les autres je serois sans doute tres afflige de n'avoir pas este choisi mais apres tout je me retirerois dans la multitude des malheureux et si je me pleignois ce seroit en secret et ce seroit plus de mon peu de merite que de vous mais madame la chose n'est pas ainsi vous n'en choisissez point et vous en endurez mille et entre ces mille vous me choisissiez pour me mal-traiter cependant je ne voy pas qu'ils soupirent plus doucement ny plus respectueusement que moy de sorte madame que vous ne pouvez sans estre injuste souffrir qu'ils vous aiment si vous me le deffendez c'est pourquoy choisissez s'il vous plaist de deux 
 choses l'une ou de leur deffendre de vous aimer comme vous me le deffendez ou de me le permettre comme vous le leur permettez la proposition d'iphicrate ne fut pas pourtant acceptee quelque equitable qu'elle fust car aglatonice continua malgre toutes ses pleintes de souffrir d'estre aimee de tous ceux qui j'aimoient et de luy deffendre opiniastrement de l'aimer de sorte que ne pouvant plus alors r'enfermer toute sa douleur dans son ame il me choisit pour estre le confident de sa passion d'abord je voulus ne la pleindre pas et je luy reprochay d'avoir neglige mes conseils mais a la fin il me fit tant de pitie que je pris beaucoup de part a sa douleur en vente me disoit-il un jour il faut que je sois bien malheureux ou bien haissable de ne pouvoir estre souffert par aglatonice qui souffre des gens pour ses amans que jamais personne n'a voulu pour ses amis en effet adjoustoit-t'il en les repassant tous les uns apres les autres n'est-ce pas une chose estonnante de voir que je sois plus mal traite que le plus mal fait de mes rivaux cependant je ne puis trouver de remede au mal qui me tourmente car si je n'avois qu'un rival ou deux on pourroit trouver les voyes de s'en delivrer mais a moins que de vouloir faire cinquante combats ou de donner une bataille en assemblant autant d'amis qu'aglatonice a d'amans je ne voy pas qu'il soit possible de me deffaire de mes rivaux joint que quand je m'en serois deffait je 
 pense que je n'en serois pas mieux avec elle puis qu'il est a croire qu'elle s'ennuyeroit estrangement de n'avoir plus cette foule d'adorateurs qui l'environnent et qu'elle se trouveroit encore plus importunee de me voir seul aupres d'elle que lors que j'y suis en la compagnie de tant de gens que je n'aime pas mais luy disoisie puis que vous ne pouvez combatre vos rivaux combatez vous vous mesme et taschez de vous vaincre ha chersias me dit-il je n'ay pas attendu vostre conseil a le faire mais a vous dire la verite je l'ay fait inutilement et aglatonice est si puissante dans mon coeur malgre son indulgence pour les autres et sa cruaute pour moy que je ne puis jamais esperer de pouvoir cesser de l'aimer apres cela iphicrate passant tout d'un coup d'un sentiment a un autre encore adjousta-t'il est-ce tousjours quelque consolation de voir qu'aglatonice ne fait point de choix parmy ceux qu'elle endure car il est vray que bien qu'elle ne face presque rien que regarder et escouter ceux qui l'aiment si elle faisoit seulement pour un seul ce qu'elle fait pour tous je serois mille fois plus miserable que je ne le suis parce que je pourrois croire qu'elle aimeroit effectivement celuy avec qui elle vivroit d'une facon si particuliere et si obligeante mais comme elle en escoute cent a la fois il est si aise de connoistre qu'elle aime la galanterie sans aimer les galans que j'en suis a demy console si elle aime la galanterie en general repliquay-je 
 par quelle raison ne souffre-t'elle pas la vostre comme celle des autres ha cruel amy s'escria-t'il pourquoy destruisez vous une legere consolation que je me donnois en me trompant c'est luy dis-je parce que je ne veux point flatter un mal que je veux guerir non non me dit-il ne vous obstinez pas a chercher les voyes de me faire cesser d'aimer aglatonice car je vous declare que je ne la scaurois hair et que mesme je ne la voudrois pas hair faites vous en donc aimer luy dis-je car je vous advoue que d'aimer sans estre aime ou sans esperer de l'estre est une chose que je ne serois jamais et que je ne scaurois vous conseiller de faire voila donc madame en quels termes iphicrate avoit l'eprit lors qu'il luy arriva une augmentation de malheur qui comme je croy vous l'avoir dit pensa le faire desperer il faut donc que vous scachiez que comme il n'y avoit presques point de jour qu'aglatonice ne fist quelque nouvelle conqueste il y eut un homme de qualite qui ne j'avoit point encore aimee qui s'advisa a mon advis parce que c'estoit alors la mode d'aimer aglatonice de luy dire qu'il l'aimoit et d'accroistre le nombre de ceux qui luy offroient de l'encens mais madame il faut que vous scachiez en mesme temps que ce nouvel amant d'aglatonice qui s'apelle chrysipe estoit le moins honneste homme de tous ses amans quoy qu'elle en eust qui ne le fussent guere en effet 
 chrysipe a une sorte d'esprit qui n'a ny estendue ny profondeur ny vivacite ny agrement et qu'on peut veritablement appeller un esprit de bagatelle et de qui l'enjouement mesme a quelque chose de si bas et de si peu galant qu'on ne peut l'endurer a moins que d'avoir le goust fort mauvais et de ne se connoistre point du tout en honnestes gens cependant chrysipe estant tel que je vous le represente et iphicrate estant aussi tel que je vous l'ay depeint il y eut autant de difference a leur destin qu'il y en avoit a leur merite il est vray que ce ne fut pas d'une maniere equitable car enfin aglatonice toute pleine d'esprit qu'elle est fit une injustice effroyable non seulement en continuant opiniastrement de refuser l'affection d'iphicrate mais encore en recevant plus favorablement celle de chrysipe qu'elle n'avoit jamais receu celle de pas un autre ainsi par une bizarrerie qui n'eut jamais d'esgalle le plus honneste homme de tous ses amans fut le seul mesprise et le moins honneste homme de tous fut effectivement prefere a tous les autres d'abord on ne s'aperceut pas de l'injustice d'aglatonice car il y avoit si peu d'aparence que chrysipe peust jamais estre prefere qu'on ne la soubconna pas d'une si grande foiblesse mais comme un amant mal traite observe bien sa maistresse de plus pres qu'un autre iphicrate vit bien tost que chrysipe non seulement estoit souffert comme les autres mais qu'il estoit mesme regarde plus favorablement 
 car comme aglatonice se trouva avoir une aussi puissante inclination pour luy qu'elle avoit une forte aversion pour iphicrate elle donna plus de marques d'affection a celuy qu'elle aimoit effectivement qu'a ceux qu'elle ne faisoit que souffrir de sorte que le malheureux iphicrate en eut une douleur qu'on ne scauroit exprimer ce fut alors qu'il fit tout ce qu'il put pour n'aimer plus aglatonice mais comme il y avoit quelque chose d'aussi puissant dans son coeur pour le forcer a l'aimer qu'il y avoit quelque chose de puissant dans celuy d'aglatonice pour la porter a le hair il ne put se vaincre et il fut contraint de l'aimer malgre luy cependant comme il voyoit de jour en jour ce nouvel esclave se mettre en estat de regner bien tost souverainement dans le coeur d'aglatonice et qu'il s'en espandoit desja quelque bruit il se resolut de luy en parler et de luy dire enfin une fois en sa vie tout ce qu'il pensoit de sorte qu'il se determina a chercher opiniastrement l'occasion de l'entretenir en particulier il fut pourtant assez long temps sans la pouvoir trouver car chrysipe qui faisoit naturellement l'empresse des plus petites choses l'estoit estrangement aupres d'aglatonice mais enfin iphicrate m'ayant communique son dessein je luy promis de le delivrer le lendemain de la persecution de chrysipe et en effet je l'engageay le jour suivant assez adroitement a une partie de chasse qui l'occupa presques jusques au soir si bien qu'iphicrate qui estoit alle de tres 
 bonne heure chez aglatonice eut toute la commodite de l'entretenir qu'il eust pu souhaiter lors qu'il entra dans sa chambre elle lisoit de sorte que n'osant pas continuer de lire elle jetta negligemment le livre qu'elle tenoit sur sa table sans le fermer comme si elle eust eu dessein de recommencer bien tost sa lecture et elle l'y jetta mesme d'une maniere qui fit si bien connoistre a iphicrate qu'il ne l'interrompoit pas agreablement que cela le confirma encore dans la resolution qu'il avoit prise de se pleindre d'elle neantmoins comme il ne voulut pas d'abord commencer la conversation par des pleintes il la salua tres respectueusement et prenant la parole en s'asseyant quel que soit le livre que vous quitez luy dit-il madame je pense que je puis assurer que ma conversation ne vous divertira pas tant que sa lecture vous divertissoit et que j'ay sujet de craindre que vous ne haissiez encore plus qu'a l'ordinaire celuy qui vous interrompt il est a croire en effet dit-elle que je ne m'ennuyois pas en lisant car il n'est d'un mauvais livre comme d'un facheux amy puis qu'on n'a qu'a cesser de lire pour cesser d'estre importune et qu'il n'est pas si aise de se deffaire d'une conversation incommode comme je suis persuade que vous avez plus d'amans que d'amis repliqua-t'il en souriant je croy madame que vous n'avez guere esprouve cette sorte d'importunite quand je tomberois d'accord de ce que vous dittes reprit-elle cela ne concluroit pas 
 que je ne pusse estre importunee puis qu'il est des amans importuns aussi bien que des amis incommodes je scay bien madame repliqua-t'il la part que je dois prendre a ce que vous dites mais je scay en mesme temps qu'a parler des choses equitablement il y a quelquesfois aupres de vous un amant qui ne devroit pas vous importuner qui ne laisse pas de vous estre importun et qu'il y en a un aussi qui ne vous importune pas qui vous devroit importuner du moins scay-je bien qu'il importune tous ceux qui le connoissent excepte vous a peine iphicrate eut-il dit cela qu'aglatonice en rougit de colere et de confusion car il n'estoit pas possible malgre toute son aversion pour iphicrate et toute son inclination pour chrysipe qu'elle ne connust la difference qu'il y avoit entre ces deux hommes de sorte qu'iphicrate s'apercevant qu'il luy avoit fait autant de despit qu'il luy en avoit voulu faire en devint encore plus hardy quoy qu'il se resolust pourtant de ne sortir pas du respect qu'il luy vouloit rendre si bien que reprenant la parole sans donner loisir a aglatonice de luy respondre je vous demande pardon madame luy dit-il de l'exces de ma sincerite mais comme vous le scavez c'est une vertu dont je ne me scaurois ny ne me voudrois deffaire c'est pourquoy il faut s'il vous plaist que vous enduriez aujourd'huy que je vous die tout ce que je pense comme on n'a aucun droit reprit elle froidement de prendre une liberte qu'on ne 
 donne pas aux autres je veux croire qu'en vous disposant a me dire tout ce que vous pensez vous vous preparez aussi a me laisser dire tout ce que je penseray si la fantasie m'en prend vous pouvez bien juger madame reprit-il qu'un homme a qui vous refusez toutes choses n'a garde de s'imager qu'il soit en droit de vous imposer des loix ainsi madame quand je vous auray dit tout ce que je veux que vous scachiez vous me direz tout ce qu'il vous plaira que je scache vous declarant mesme par avance que vous ne pourrez me rien dire de fascheux qui me surprenne mais enfin adjousta-t'il pour ne perdre pas un temps si precieux ce que j'ay a vous dire est que quelque violente que soit la passion que j'ay pour vous j'ay si bien fait que je j'ay rendue capable de s'accommoder a ma mauvaise fortune et de subsister mesme sans esperance ouy madame poursuivit-il je puis continuer de vous aimer sans esperer d'estre aime et je puis faire par exces d'amour ce que nul autre amant que moy n'a jamais fait vous scavez madame qu'il y a quelque temps que je vous priay de vouloir m'escouter comme vous en escoutiez cent autres ou de n'escouter pas les autres puis que vous ne me vouliez pas escouter mais aujourd'huy estant devenu plus raisonnable et connoissant qu'il n'est pas juste d'imposer des loix si rudes a celle de qui j'en dois recevoir je consens madame que vous escoutiez ceux que je ne voulois pas que vous escoutassiez si vous ne 
 m'escoutiez point et je consens mesme que vous ne m'escoutiez jamais et pour porter encore ma moderation plus loin je vous declare que de tous les services que je vous ay rendus de tous ceux que je vous rendray et de tous ceux que j'ay envie de vous rendre je ne vous demanderay de ma vie autre recompence que celle que je m'en vay vous demander en vous conjurant avec tout le respect imaginable et toute la passion possible de vouloir seulement n'escouter plus chrysipe aussi bien madame ne merite-t'il pas d'estre escoute je vous laisse tous mes autres rivaux poursuivit-il sans luy donner loisir de l'interrompre pourveu que vous mal traitiez celuy-la et je vous proteste madame adjousta-t'il qu'il y va autant de vostre gloire que de mon repos et que vous ferez autant pour vous que pour moy en faisant ce que je vous conjure de faire il faut estre bien hardy luy dit-elle en rougissant de despit pour dire ce que vous dittes il faut estre bien preoccupee reprit-il pour ne m'accorder pas ce que je vous demande mais a ce que je voy adjousta-t'elle vous croyez donc que chrysipe est fort bien aveque moy je croy sans doute repliqua-t'il qu'il y est mieux qu'il n'y devroit estre puis qu'il n'y est pas mal et je suis si persuade de cette verite qu'on ne peut pas l'estre plus fortement vous devez prendre si peu d'interest respondit-elle a tout ce qui me regarde que je ne vous conseille pas de vous opiniastrer a me prescrire des loix car enfin je pense 
 avoir droit d'escouter qui bon me semble et d'imposer silence a qui il me plaist sans que qui que ce soit ait sujet de le trouver estrange joint que n'escoutant rien que je ne puisse entendre je suis satisfaite de moy et je ne me soucie nulle ment que vous n'en soyez pas satisfait mais madame luy dit-il alors est-il possible que vous ne connoissiez pas que vous estes encore plus injuste en escoutant chrysipe qu'en ne m'escoutant point mais que vous importe repliqua-t'elle que j'escoute celuy-cy ou celuy-la puis que j'ay fortement resolu de ne vous escouter jamais joint qu'a parler veritablement adjousta-t'elle toute la difference qu'il y a entre ces gens que vous dittes que j'escoute et vous que je n'escoute point c'est que je les escoute sans les aimer et que j'ay la bonte de vouloir vous espargner la peine de me dire cent choses inutiles ha madame s'escia-il ce que vous dittes seroit bon a dire a un homme qui ne vous aimeroit pas mais pour moy qui vous aime avec une ardeur demesuree et qui ne pense qu'a vous il n'est pas possible que vous me puissiez tromper et puis quand mesme il seroit vray que vous pourriez me desguiser vos sentimens je verrois le bonheur de chrysipe en toutes ses actions puis qu'il est vray madame que je puis vous dire sans vous flatter qu'il n'a pas tant d'esprit que vous c'est pourquoy je vous conjure pour vostre propre gloire de ne choisir personne ou de ne le choisir pas car je vous declare que je ne scaurois 
 endurer que vous l'enduriez quoy que je n'aime pas chrysipe plus qu'un autre repliqua-t'elle je puis vous assurer que vous luy rendez un bon office en m'aprenant que vous le haissez puis que quand je n'aurois autre intention que celle de vous faire despit je le recevrois plus civilement que je n'ay jamais fait car enfin iphicrate je pretens estre libre et je pretens que vous n'avez aucune raison de vous mesler de ma conduite et que j'ay autant de droit de choisir mes connoissances que de choisir les couleurs dont je m'habille puis qu'en effet il vous importe aussi peu que je voye chrysipe ou que je ne le voye pas qu'il vous importe que je fois habillee d'incarnat ou de vert comme l'incarnat vous sied encore mieux que le vert reprit-il en souriant le choix des couleurs que vous portez ne m'est pas aussi indifferent que vous le pensez car comme je m'interesse a la gloire de vostre beaute aussi bien qu'a celle de vostre esprit je suis plus aise que vous portiez celle qui vous sied le mieux que celle qui vous est la moins avantageuse ainsi madame il n'est pas vray de dire qu'il ne m'importe que vous voiyez chrysipe ou que vous ne le voiyez pas puis que quand je n'y aurois nul interest directement pour moy j'y aurois tousjours celuy que je prens a vostre gloire que vous diminuez d'une estrange forte en souffrant un tel amant de grace iphicrate luy dit-elle ne mettez point ma patience a la derniere espreuve et soyez fortement persuade 
 que quoy que vous puissiez dire vous ne me persuaderez pas en effet poursuivit-elle si vous estes destine a n'estre jamais aime vous ne scauriez changer vostre destin et si celuy de chrysipe est de n'estre pas hai il ne le fera pas non plus quoy que vous puissiez dire ainsi mettez vous l'esprit en repos de ce coste la et pour vous rendre toute la justice que je puis je vous advoueray ingenument que je connois bien qu'il y a quelque chose pour vous dans mon coeur qui n'est pas tout a fait equitable mais apres tout puis que je ne me rends pas justice a moy mesme vous n'avez pas sujet de vous pleindre quoy madame luy dit-il vous voulez que je ne me pleigne pas de ce que vous me preferez chrysipe ha madame cela n'est pas en ma puissance et a ne vous en mentir point j'en ay l'esprit si irrite que je pense qu'en l'humeur ou je suis vous me donneriez la plus grande joye du monde si vous m'assuriez que vous aimez fortement quelqu'un de mes autres rivaux et que vous ne l'aimez point puis qu'il ne sert de rien de vous parler serieusement repliqua-t'elle en souriant a demy je vous advoueray plus que vous ne voulez car je vous assureray qu'il n'y a pas un de ceux que vous nommez vos rivaux que je n'aime mille fois plus que vous sans en excepter chrysipe si vous l'eussiez excepte repliqua-t'il je me serois pleint en secret de mon malheur mais puis que vous ne l'exceptez pas je m'en pleindray si haut que peut-estre serez 
 vous obligee d'avouer que vous avez eu tort de me desesperer comme aglatonice alloit respondre la plus chere de ses amies entra qui luy fit le plus grand plaisir du monde de rompre cette conversation aussi ne la vit-elle pas plustost qu'elle fut au devant d'elle avec une civilite extraordinaire mais comme iphicrate n'estoit pas alors d'humeur a parler de choses indifferentes il se retira il est vray que ce fut avec tant de marques de depit sur le visage que cette dame qui venoit d'entrer qui s'appelle parthenopee s'en aperceut et en demanda la cause a aglatonice des qu'il fut sorty au nom des dieux luy respondit-elle ne me pressez point de vous dire ce que j'ay eu a demesler avec iphicrate car je n'y puis songer sans colere je n'arrache jamais par force les secrets de mes amis repliqua parthenopee comme elle me l'a dit depuis mais pour vous tesmoigner que je suis effectivement plus la vostre que toutes celles qui se le disent adjousta-t'elle et qu'ainsi je devrois avoir un privilege plus particulier aupres de vous que toutes vos autres amies il faut que je vous donne un advis au hazard de vous deplaire et que je vous die qu'il commence de s'espandre je ne scay quel petit bruit qui ne vous est pas avantageux c'est pourtant une chose qui ne se dit encore qu'a l'oreille poursuivit elle et qu'on ne dit pas mesme tout a fait affirmativement mais apres tout je voudrois qu'elle ne se dist point aussi ay-je soutenu aujourd'huy 
 hautement a ceux qui me l'ont ditte qu'ils se trompoient et que ce qu'ils disoient estoit absolument faux cependant je vous advoueray que je crains pourtant un peu qu'ils ne se trompent pas tant que je le leur ay dit comme je ne scay pas l'art de deviner reprit aglatonice en changeant de couleur je ne scay ce que vous voulez dire et je ne scay mesme si je dois souhaiter de le scavoir neantmoins adjousta-t'elle un moment apres comme j'ay l'esprit prepare a toutes ces fortes de choses qu'on invente par le monde je veux bien que vous me disiez ce qu'on dit de moy puis que vous m'en donnez la permission repliqua parthenopee je vous diray que selon mon jugement on dit la chose du monde que vous devez le plus desavouer car enfin on dit que de ce grand nombre d'amans que vostre beaute a faits vous en avez choisi deux pour estre l'objet de deux passions bien differentes puis qu'on assure qu'iphicrate qui est le plus honneste homme de ceux qui vous aiment est hai de vous et qu'il s'en faut peu que chrysipe qui est le moins agreable de tous n'en soit aime jugez apres cela aglatonice si j'ay raison de vous dire que vous ne devez pas advouer que cela soit vray je n'advoueray pas sans doute repliqua-t'elle que j'aime chrysippe mais j'advoueray sans beaucoup de peine que je n'aime pas iphicrate puis que vous estes assez injuste reprit parthenopee en la regardant fixement pour n'aimer pas le plus honneste homme de 
 tous ceux qui vous aiment je crains estrangement que vous ne le soyez encore assez pour aimer celuy de tous qui en est le moins digne car enfin qui fait injustice au merite peut bien faire grace a celuy qui n'en a point vous me parlez si fortement repliqua aglatonice que quand vous feriez amie particuliere d'iphicrate vous ne pourriez dire que ce que vous dittes je ne suis point amie particuliere d'iphicrate reprit parthenopee mais je suis la vostre et c'est en cette qualite que je vous conjure de me vouloir ouvrir vostre coeur afin que je scache s'il faut vous justifier ou vous excuser mais comme nous pourrions estre interrompues adjousta-t'elle si vous le voulez nous irons nous promener en quelque jardin solitaire de sorte qu'aglatonice la prenant au mot elles furent toutes deux dans le chariot de parthenopee se promener a un jardin qui est au bord de la mer mais quoy qu'aglatonice soit d'une humeur assez gaye elle y fut en resvant et fut mesme tout le long de la grande allee de ce jardin sans parler et lors qu'elles furent arrivees au bout elles s'assirent sur des sieges de gazon apres quoy parthenopee parlant la premiere si nous n'estions venues icy que pour voir la mer luy dit elle et pour entendre l'agreable murmure qu'elle fait contre ces rochers vous feriez comme il faudroit estre pour cela car vous la regardez bien attentivement et vous faites comme si vous l'escoutiez quoy qu'a mon 
 advis vous n'y songiez pas je vous assure repliqua aglatonice que je pense que je serois mieux d'escouter la mer que vous il n'en est pas de mesme de moy reprit parthenopee car j'aime aujourd'huy mieux vous entendre que la mer c'est pourquoy dittes moy de grace quels sont vos sentimens pour iphicrate et pour chrysipe quels qu'ils puissent estre et pour commencer par le premier que j'ay nomme dittes moy si vous le pouvez pourquoy vous le haissez ou du moins pourquoy vous ne l'aimez pas en verite respondit aglatonice je ne le scay pas moy mesme car enfin quand j'y songe bien je suis contrainte d'advouer qu'il a mille bonnes qualitez et qu'il n'en a point de mauvaises mais apres tout comme il y a je ne scay quoy qui fait aimer je suis persuadee qu'il y a aussi je ne scay quoy qui fait hair quand je tomberay d'accord de ce que vous dittes respondit parthenopee je ne vous concederay pas que la raison ne puisse surmonter ce je ne scay quoy chimerique a qui vous donnez le pouvoir de regler vostre haine ou vostre amitie car en mon particulier je scay bien que si ma raison me disoit iphicrate a mille bonnes qualitez et chrysipe en a mille mauvaises je la croirois plustost que ce je ne scay quoy qu'on ne peut dire comment il est fait qu'on cherche par tout et qu'on ne trouve en nulle part et qui est enfin d'une si bizarre nature qu'on ne le scauroit deffinir vous parlez d'une si plaisante facon de ce je ne scay quoy reprit 
 aglatonice qu'il est a croire que personne ne l'a jamais eu pour vous puis que vous n'en connoissez pas la puissance pour vous monstrer que ce que vous dittes n'est pas reprit parthenopee en souriant je vous declare que vous l'avez pour moy et qu'outre tout ce que vous avez d'aimable il y a encore je ne scay quel air en toute vostre personne et je ne scay quel tour en vostre esprit qui me plaist et qui me charme mais malgre tout cela je connois fort bien que vous avez tort et si j'estois a la place d'iphicrate je suis assuree que ce je ne scay quoy que vous avez pour luy ne m'empescheroit pas de cesser de vous aimer mais puis qu'il ne me peut hair repliqua-t'elle doit il trouver si estrange si je ne puis me forcer a avoir de l'affection pour luy car s'il est vray qu'on puisse aimer par raison on peut aussi hair par prudence pour moy reprit parthenopee je suis persuadee que cela se peut et que cela se doit mais quand mesme la raison ne seroit pas assez puissante pour regler tous les sentimens de vostre coeur il faut du moins qu'elle le soit assez pour regler toutes vos actions ainsi puis que tout le monde condamne la rigueur que vous avez pour iphicrate il faut sans doute vous contraindre et changer vostre facon d'agir aveque luy il faudroit donc changer mon coeur et mon esprit repliqua-t'elle ou changer iphicrate car a moins que cela je vous assure que je vivray aveque luy comme j'y ay vescu mais pour iphicrate repliqua parthenopee qu'y voudriez 
 vous changer et quelle est la qualite que vous luy voudriez oster je vous assure reprit aglatonice que je serois assez embarrassee si je voulois faire ce que vous dittes car lors que l'examine iphicrate et que je trouve qu'il est bien fait qu'il a du coeur et de l'esprit qu'il parle fort juste qu'il est sincere et genereux je trouve que chacune de ces choses la en particulier me plaist mais en mesme temps je trouve aussi que le tout ensemble ne me plaist point et qu'iphicrate enfin est un honneste homme qui ne l'est pas de la maniere qu'il faudroit l'estre pour estre aime de moy mais repliqua parthenopee apres m'avoir dit avec assez d'ingenuite ce que vous pensez d'iphicrate dittes moy aussi ce que vous pensez de chrysipe mais de grace dittes le moy sincerement comme vous en penseriez peut-estre plus qu'il n'y en a repliqua aglatonice si je vous en faisois un mistere je veux bien vous advouer que je ne scay pas trop bien ce qui me donne de l'aversion pour iphicrate je ne scay guere mieux ce qui me donne quelque legere inclination a ne hair pas chrysipe car enfin pour vous monstrer que je ne suis pas aveugle adjousta-t'elle en rougissant je connois bien lors que l'examine tout ce que chrysipe a de bon qu'il n'a pas une seule qualite esclatante et qu'il a mesme beaucoup de choses que je voudrois qu'il n'eust pas mais apres tout quand je le regarde sans l'examiner j'advoue qu'il ne me desplaist pas tant que beaucoup d'autres 
 qu'on estime plus dans le monde qu'il n'y est estime ha sans mentir aglatonice reprit parthenopee ce que vous dittes n'est pas suportable car enfin si vous estiez tout a fait preocupee que vous ne connussiez point du toute ce qu'iphicrate a de bon et ce que chrysipe a de mauvais je vous plaindrois au lieu de vous accuser mais de voir que par vostre propre confession vous mesprisez ce que vous scavez qui merite d'estre estime et que vous aimez ce que vous connoissez qui n'est point aimable c'est une chose si estrange que je ne puis souffrir que vous en soyez capable il faut pourtant bien que vous l'enduriez repliqua-t'elle car je vous proteste que je ne scaurois faire autrement vous serez donc la plus grande injustice que personne n'a jamais faite respondit parthenopee puis que je feray ce qu'il me plaira reprit aglatonice je ne m'en tourmenteray pas davantage mais luy respondit-elle il faut donc que je ne nie plus si fortement ce que j'ay nie aujourd'huy et que vous me prescriviez ce que vous voulez que je die a ceux qui vous accuseront de hair iphicrate et d'aimer chrysipe ha pour chrysipe reprit aglatonice brusquement je ne veux pas que vous advouyez que je l'aime car vous scavez bien qu'on n'avoue guere de semblable choses mais ce que je voudrois que vous fissiez feroit de faire en forte qu'on ne me blasmast pas tant de l'aversion que j'ay pour iphicrate pour faire qu'on ne vous en puisse blasmer 
 repliqua parthenopee il faudroit que vous traitassiez chrysipe moins favorablement que vous ne faites et que vous n'escoutassiez plus aussi tous ces amans qui vous accablent car on diroit alors que vous auriez change d'humeur et que n'aimant plus la galanterie vous auriez banni tous les galans en general mais de voir que vous en enduriez cent et qu'entre ces cent vous choisissiez le moins honneste homme et que vous ne puissiez souffrir iphicrate c'est la plus deraisonnable chose que personne ait jamais faite quoy qu'il en soit respondit aglatonice je ne suivray pas vostre conseil car je hai la solitude et j'aime le monde et puis quand ceux qui m'environnent ne feroient autre chose que faire du bruit a l'entour de moy ce seroit tousjours quelque divertissement puis qu'a vous dire la verite je n'aime le silence que dans les forests encore aimay-je mieux y entendre le chant des corbeaux tout desagreable qu'il est que de n'y entendre rien c'est pourquoy je continueray de voir ceux que je voy iphicrate me desplaira tant qu'il plaira a son mauvais destin et chrysepe me plaira aussi longtemps que sa bonne fortune le voudra car je vous assure que je ne puis me resoudre de m'opposer directement a moy mesme aussi bien suis-je persuadee que depuis qu'il est des hommes on a tousjours hai et aime plus par caprice que par raison et qu'ainsi quand j'aimerois chrysipe plus que je ne l'aime je ne serois pas si coupable que vous me le faites joint 
 que comme je suis bien assuree que je ne feray rien pour chrysipe contre ce que je me dois a moy mesme je ne trouve pas qu'il soit juste d'aller troubler toute la tranquillite de ma vie pour mettre iphicrate en repos ainsi ma chere parthenopee faites seulement que cette injustice que vous me reprochez ne me fasse pas perdre vostre estime et vostre amitie pour mon amitie reprit elle je vous la laisse mais pour mon estime comme je ne pourrois vous la laisser toute entiere sans vous faire grace il faut que je vous advoue que vous y avez un peu moins de part que lors que je suis arrivee chez vous car enfin quand je pense que vous mesprisez le plus honneste homme de tous ceux qui vous aiment et que vous luy preferez le moins estimable de tous ceux qui vous voyent je vous croy capable d'estre aussi injuste en amitie qu'en galanterie et de me preferer les plus desagreables femmes de toute la cour puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'y a pas il loin de moy a elles que d'iphicrate a chrysipe ce qui me console dans vostre colere repliqua aglatonice en souriant quoy qu'elle eust quelque depit est que je m'apercoy bien que vous ne croyez pas que j'aime si fort chrysipe puis que si vous le croiyez vous ne m'en parleriez pas si meprisamment au contraire reprit parthenopee c'est parce que je croy que vous l'aimez que j'en parle comme je fais car si je ne le croyois pas je n'en parlerois point du tout et je le laisserois comme cent mille autres dont 
 je ne parle jamais parce que je n'en scaurois bien parler mais j'advoue que vous voyant aussi aimable que vous estes j'ay une peine estrange a souffrir que vous aimiez quelque chose qui soit indigne de vous et que vous mesprisiez un amant qui en effet en est digne c'est pourquoy afin qu'on ne puisse vous reprocher ces deux choses a la fois faites quelque effort sur vous mesme ou pour cesser de mespriser iphicrate ou pour cesser d'aimer chrysipe en verite parthenopee luy dit-elle en rougissant je serois bien embarrassee si je voulois choisir une de ces deux choses pour essayer de la faire car il est vray qu'elles me paroissent a peu pres esgallement difficiles mais comme je n'aime la difficulte a rien vous me pardonnerez si je n'entreprens ny l'une ny l'autre voila donc madame quelle fut la conversation d'aglatonice et de parthenopee qui ne finit pourtant pas encore la car il faut que vous scachiez que comme le jardin ou elles estoient avoit trois portes iphicrate qui cherchoit a entretenir son chagrin y entra par une ou le chariot de parthenopee n'estoit pas si bien que ne pouvant soubconner qu'aglatonice y fust il se mit a resver a la bizarrerie de son avanture et fut justement en resvant jusques au lieu ou aglatonice et parthenopee estoient assises mais pour rendre encore ce cas fortuit plus extraordinaire il se trouva que comme chrysipe avoit voulu revenir de la chasse ou je l'avois mene de meilleure heure que je ne voulois je 
 luy proposay pour donner plus de temps a mon ami comme nous passions devant une des portes de ce jardin de descendre de cheval et d'y faire un tour car aussi bien luy dis-je ne sommes nous pas en estat apres avoir tant chasse d'aller voir des dames de sorte que chrysipe ne penetrant pas mon dessein et n'osant resister a un honme qui l'avoit diverty tout le jour descendit de cheval et entra le premier dans ce jardin mais a peine eusmes nous fait trente pas que nous vismes aglatonice parthenopee et iphicrate ensemble sans qu'ils nous vissent car il avoit este contraint de les joindre parce que parthenopee l'avoit arreste comme je ne scavois pas en quels termes iphicrate et aglatonice estoient alors je creus que je ferois encore plaisir a mon amy de le deffaire le reste du jour de son rival si bien que je voulus persuader a chrysipe que puis que ces dames ne nous voyoient pas nous devions nous retirer n'y ayant pas trop d'aparence de nous monstrer a elles aussi negligez que nous estions mais comme chrysipe estoit amoureux et que de plus il avoit un certain esprit esvapore qui faisoit que des qu'il pensoit une chose il l'executoit sans escouter ce qu'on luy disoit au lieu de me respondre il fut droit vers aglatonice ne songeant alors non plus a moy que si je n'eusse pas este aveque luy mais madame en l'abordant il luy dit tant de ces petites choses qui ne veulent rien dire et qui ne sont ny galantes ny serieuses ny enjouees que 
 parthenophee regardant alors malicieusement aglatonice la fit rougir au contraire iphicrate parla si a propos et railla si finement son rival qu'aglatonice dans l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour luy n'eut guere moins de despit de ce qu'iphicrate parloit bien que de confusion de ce que chrysipe parloit si mal de sorte que pour n'avoir plus la douleur d'estre contrainte de louer en secret iphicrate ny la honte d'estre forcee de blasmer chrysipe elle prit la parole et parla presques tousjours si bien que parthenopee qui a infiniment de l'esprit s'estant aperceue qu'aglatonice ne parloit que pour faire taire les autres s'aprocha de son oreille et prenant la parole vous avez beau faire luy dit elle car quand vous empescheriez chrysipe de dire des bagatelles et que vous empescheriez iphicrate de dire de jolies choses vous n'empescheriez pas encore qu'il n'y eust de la difference entre eux car enfin vous n'avez seulement qu'a regarder comment ils vous escoutent et comment ils vous entendent pour en faire la distinction en verite parthenopee repliqua-t'elle tout haut vous me persecutez cruellement aujourd'huy mais apres tout reprit parthenopee en parlant haut aussi bien qu'elle n'est-il pas vray que j'ay raison pour moy dit alors iphicrate qui vouloit contre dire aglatonice sans scavoir pourtant de qui ces deux personnes parloient je suis persuade que parthenopee a raison et pour moy adjousta chrysipe pour estre oppose a iphicrate je 
 croy que c'est aglatonice je vous assure repliqua parthenopee en souriant que vous avez le plus grand tort du monde de le croire et qu'il n'y eut jamais rien de si injuste que ce qu'elle pense je suis donc bien heureux luy repliqua iphicrate de m'estre range de vostre parti car puis que je ne suis pas de celuy d'aglatonice il faut du moins que je fois de celuy de la raison quand mesme le parti de parthenopee reprit aglatonice seroit le plus equitable vous ne laisseriez pas d'estre injuste puis que vous le prenez sans scavoir pourquoy du moins madame repliqua-t'il si je suis injuste chrysipe l'est aussi bien que moy puis qu'il prend aussi vostre parti sans en scavoir la cause apres cela chrysipe voulut dire quelque chose et il commenca de parler comme s'il eust deu dire la raison du monde la plus convainquante pour pouver qu'il estoit plus juste qu'iphicrate mais comme tout ce qu'il dit ne concluoit rien et que parthenopee ne put s'empescher d'en rire aglatonice qui ne pouvoit plus demeurer la dit qu'elle craignoit fort le serain et se retira mais le mal fut pour iphicrate que cette inhumaine personne malgre la difference qu'elle venoit de remarquer entre luy et chrysipe se tourna obligeamment vers ce dernier et luy tandant la main comme vous estes de mon parti luy dit-elle il faut que ce soit vous qui me meniez jusques a la porte du jardin et qu'iphicrate qui est de celuy de parthenopee luy rende cet office je vous 
 assure repliqua parthenopee en riant que comme iphicrate estoit aveque vous avant que chrysipe y fust que je ne veux pas qu'il perde un plaisir qu'il eust eu si chrysipe ne fust point arrive c'est pourquoy il vous menera aussi bien que luy et pour moy chersias me sera la grace de me conduire et en effet madame la chose se fit ainsi iphicrate et chrysipe aiderent tous deux a marcher a aglatonice et je donnay la main a parthenopee qui tant que nous fusmes dans l'allee qui aboutissoit a la porte du jardin ou estoit son chariot fit si bien que malgre toute l'adresse d'aglatonice elle fit dire cent follies a chrysipe et cent agreables choses a iphicrate car comme il avoit l'esprit aigry quoy que naturellement il soit serieux il ne laissa pas de railler son rival d'une fort agreable maniere mais a la fin nous nous separasmes parthenopee fut remener aglatonice chez elle chrysipe s'en alla chez luy et je m'en allay avec iphicrate qui des que nous fusmes dans sa chambre me rendit conte de sa conversation avec aglatonice et bien luy dis-je apres l'avoir escoute a quoy vous resolvez vous a estre le plus malheureux de tous les hommes repliqua-t'il pour moy luy dis-je il me semble que vous devriez prendre une resolution plus genereuse et qu'il vaudroit bien mieux cesser d'aimer aglatonice que de vous opiniastrer plus long temps a la servir le l'advoue dit-il mais il faudroit le pouvoir faire il est si naturel repliquay-je de n'aimer 
 pas qui ne nous aime point et de hair qui nous hait que je suis estrangement estonne que vous aimiez encore aglatonice que vous connoissiez bien qui ne vous aimera jamais eh cruel amy me dit-il alors contentez vous de me dire qu'elle ne m'aime point sans m'aller dire qu'elle ne m'aimera de sa vie comme je scay qu'il n'y a rien de plus propre a faire cesser l'amour que de faire cesser j'esperance repliquay-je je suis bien aise de ne vous en donner point de fausse et de vous guerir tout d'un coup d'un mal dont vous ne pouvez jamais estre soulage que par vous mesme tout ce que vous me dittes reprit-il est le plus raisonnable du monde mais avec tout cela il y a dans mon coeur une si puissante inclination pour aglatonice que je suis persuade que je l'aimerois encore entre les bras de mon rival car enfin je ne laisse pas de l'aimer quoy qu'elle face mille choses qui me desesperent en effet je n'aime point trop qu'aglatonice ait une passion si demesuree pour tout ce qui s'apelle plaisir et divertissement je ne suis pas trop aise qu'elle aime la presse et la multitude je le suis encore moins qu'elle recoive de l'encens de tous ceux qui luy en veulent donner je suis dans un chagrin estrange qu'elle n'ait jamais refuse de coeur que le mien et je suis au desespoir qu'elle ait receu plus favorablement celuy de chrysipe qu'elle n'en a receu mille autres qui ont passe par ses mains depuis que ses yeux ont commence de 
 donner de l'amour mais malgre tout cela je l'aime et si je ne me trompe je l'aimeray toute ma vie je suis pourtant si rebute de mon advanture d'aujourd'huy adjousta-t'il que je suis resolu d'essayer tous les remedes qu'on a accoustume de conseiller a ceux qui sont amoureux afin de n'avoir point a me reprocher a moy mesme de n'avoir pas fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour m'empescher de faire une laschete de sorte que comme j'ay ouy dire que l'absence est le remede le plus puissant de tous je veux m'esloigner d'aglatonice et je veux mesme partir sans luy dire adieu a peine iphicrate eut-il dit cela que le confirmant dans son dessein je luy dis tant de choses que je l'obligeay a se resoudre fortement de quiter priene pour quelque temps et en effet trois jours apres iphicrate partit et partit sans voir aglatonice je suis pourtant assure qu'il se repentit cent fois de la resolution qu'il avoit prise mais apres tout il l'executa malgre son amour et il s'en alla passer le temps de son exil a samos afin qu'estant en une cour fort galante il guerist plustost de sa passion de plus pendant son absence je luy escrivis tout ce que je creus propre a chasser l'amour de son coeur car aglatonice ne receut pas un nouvel amant que je ne le luy mandasse ny ne fit pas une nouvelle faveur a chrysipe que je ne luy escrivisse elle dit mesme diverses choses peu avantageuses a iphicrate que je luy fis scavoir et je n'oubliay rien enfin de tout ce qui pouvoit servir a sa 
 guerison mais apres tout madame mes remedes furent inutiles et l'absence toute puissante qu'elle est ne changea rien au coeur d'iphicrate de sorte que se trouvant tousjours aussi amoureux qu'il l'avoit este et l'absence le rendant encore plus miserable a samos qu'il ne l'estoit a priene il m'escrivit la lettre que je m'en vay vous reciter au hazard d'y changer quelques paroles quoy qu'elle ne soit pas longue
 
 
 iphicrate a chersias 
 
 
 enfin mon cher chersias je connois a ma confusion que je suis le plus lasche de tous les hommes puis que je connois avec certitude que je ne puis cesser d'aimer aglatonice cependant puis que je suis assez foible pour ne le pouvoir faire il faut du moins que je me contente d'avoir le malheur d'aimer sans estre aime sans avoir encore celuy d'estre amoureux et absent c'est pourquoy je m'embarquer ay dans trois jours pour aller du moins chercher a me consoler en rendant quelque mauvais office a chrysipe et en vous disant toutes mes douleurs 
 
 
 iphicrate 
 
 
j'advoue madame que quelque amitie que j'eusse pour iphicrate je receus sa lettre sans aucune joye et que j'apris son retour avec douleur car enfin comme j'avois fait amitie particuliere 
 avec parthenopee et qu'elle avoit l'esprit fort aigry de l'injustice d'aglatonice je scavois par elle que chrysipe devenoit tous les jours plus heureux ce n'est pas qu'il eust le credit de faire chasser les autres amans de sa maistresse mais c'est qu'il estoit sans comparaison mieux dans son esprit qu'aucun autre sans qu'elle en pust dire la raison de sorte que lors qu'iphicrate revint a priene il trouva encore les choses en plus mauvais estat qu'elle n'estoient quand il en estoit parti et certes il s'en aperceut bien luy mesme car estant alle faire sa premiere visite a aglatonice elle le receut avec une froideur qui n'eut jamais d'esgalle et elle tourna la conversation d'une certaine maniere qu'elle ne parla d'abord a ceux qui estoient la que de choses arrivees depuis le depart d'iphicrate affectant mesme d'en parler obscurement afin qu'il n'y eust que ceux qui scavoient ce qui s'estoit passe qui l'entendissent et qu'iphicrate ne l'entendant pas ne pust prendre de part a la conversation mais comme il a infiniment de l'esprit il connut bientost la malice de cette injuste personne de sorte que ne voulant pas garder un si profond silence au milieu de tant de rivaux et n'estant pas marri de l'imposer a aglatonice des qu'il put trouver l'occasion de parler il la prit et inventant sur le champ une avanture qui convenoit a ce qu'il venoit d'entendre il se mit a passer d'une chose a une autre et a parler autant de ce qui s'estoit 
 passe a samos durant qu'il avoit este a la cour de polycrate qu'aglatonice avoit parle de ce qui s'estoit passe a priene durant son absence mais la difference qu'il y eut fut qu'il le fit d'une plaisante maniere car comme il estoit bien aise de luy faire voir qu'il connoissoit le dessein qu'elle avoit eu il parla pres d'une heure le plus agreablement du monde il est vray que ce fut de choses si esloignees de la connoissance d'aglatonice qu'elle n'y pouvoit non plus prendre de part qu'il en avoit pris a ce qu'elle avoit dit auparavant et ce qui facilita son dessein fut qu'il y avoit un de ceux qui estoient chez aglatonice qui avoit este a samos si bien que comme il y estoit arrive un cas fortuit merveilleux d'un cachet que polycrate avoit laisse tomber dans la mer pendant une pesche qu'il faisoit avec des dames et qu'on avoit retrouve quelques jours apres il adressoit toujours la parole a celuy-la et meslant dans son discours les noms d'alcidamie de meneclide et d'acaste qui estoient des dames de cette cour il parla en suitte de ces superbes edifices publics qui y sont et il enchaisna toutes ces choses si adroitement qu'aglatonice ne put trouver moyen de l'interrompre a propos comme il l'avoit interrompue mais a la fin perdant patience et ne pouvant souffrir qu'iphicrate luy rendist malice pour malice elle luy coupa la parole brusquement et l'arrestant tout court j'avois tousjours bien ouy dire luy dit-elle que c'estoit une 
 dangereuse chose que les premieres visites d'un homme qui vient d'un voyage mais je ne l'avois jamais esprouve qu'aujourd'huy car enfin adjousta-t'elle avec une raillerie piquante iphicrate n'a este qu'a samos et il a autant d'envie de conter tout ce qu'il y a veu que s'il venoit de perse d'egypte de babilone d'ecbatane et de scythie et qu'il y eust veu des choses si extraordinaires qu'on n'en eust jamais entendu parler comme je suis persuade reprit-il en souriant a demy que vous scavez tontes les regles de l'exacte bienseance et que vous n'y manquez jamais j'ay creu madame que puis que vous trouviez qu'il estoit bien de parler plus d'une heure de ce que je n'entendois point il ne seroit pas mal que je parlasse aussi de ce que vous n'entendiez pas et je lay creu d'autant plustost que ceux qui viennent d'un voyage ont assurement un privilege particulier de se faire escouter pour moy reprit chrysipe je ne trouve pas qu'ils le doivent avoir car je n'aime a scavoir que ce qui arrive au lieu ou je suis c'est sans doute une grande moderation d'esprit repliqua froidement iphicrate que de renfermer toute sa curiosite au lieu qu'on habite et c'est le moyen aussi d'estre bien informe de tout ce qui s'y passe quoy qu'il paroisse respondit aglatonice que vous ne soyez pas de l'opinion de chrysipe je ne laisse pas dedire que la chose du monde que je crains le plus est de trouver de ces grands faiseurs de voyages et de ces grands 
 conteurs de prodiges qui vous font passer des journees entieres a vous dire qu'en tel lieu il y a une riviere qui se jette dans un abisme et qui ressort a cent stades de la qu'en un autre on trouve des montagnes qui sont au dessus des nues qu'en egipte le grand prestre a diverses tuniques avec des franges et des houpes tout a l'entour que le throne du roy des medes est d'or et qu'en phrygie le noeud gordien est la plus merveilleuse chose qu'on y voye car enfin poursuivit-elle avec le plus agreable emportement d'esprit que je vy jamais qu'ay-je affaire de cette riviere de cette montagne de ce grand prestre de ce throne d'or et de ce noeud qu'on ne scauroit desnouer et ne vaudroit-il pas mieux parler des choses de sa connoissance et de celles dont on peut avoir affaire que de s'instruire si particulierement de ce dont on n'aura jamais besoin cependant adjousta-t'elle il y a des gens qui ont cette fantaisie la d'ignorer tout ce qui les touche et de ne scavoir que ce qui ne les touche point en mon particulier poursuivit-elle je connois un homme qui scait faire le denombrement de tous les monstres du nil qui scait a ce qu'il dit comment sont fait le phoenix et les alcions et qui ne connoist pas la moitie des animaux domestiques de son pais quoy qu'iphicrate eust l'esprit irrite contre aglatonice il ne laissa pas de trouver ce qu'elle disoit plaisant cependant comme j'estois present 
 a cette conversation et que j'estois bien aile de la tourner en raillerie je pris la parole et je dis a aglatonice que si je faisois jamais un voyage je me garderois bien de la voir que je ne fusse las de conter a d'autres tout ce que j'aurois veu en verite dit-elle vous me serez plaisir ce que vous dittes pourtant luy dis-je n'est pas aussi raisonnable que vous le croyez car enfin je suis persuade que c'est borner sa connoissance de trop pres que de ne vouloir scavoir que les choses de son pais et qu'il y beaucoup de plaisir d'aprendre ce qu'il y a de beau dans tous les autres je l'advoue dit elle et je comprens bien que ceux qui voyagent ont beaucoup de satisfaction mais je veux qu'au retour de leurs voyages ils n'accablent pas ceux qu'ils voyent par des recits continuels et qu'ils attendent que l'occasion de parler a propos de ce qu'ils ont veu s'offre a eux naturellement sans qu'ils la cherchent avec trop de foin pour moy dit alors chrysipe je n'ay jamais compris qu'il peust y avoir une fort grande satisfaction a estre dans des pais estrangers dont on n'entend point la langue d'estre oblige de changer tous les soirs de logement et d'estre souvent incommode comme vous n'avez jamais voyage reprit froidement iphicrate vous ne connoissez sans doute guere ny les peines ny les plaisirs de ceux qui voyagent mais du moins devriez vous estre bien aise d'aprendre commodement chez aglatonice 
 ce que ceux qui ne craignent pas tant la fatigue que vous la craignez ont apris en mon particulier dit aglatonice pour empescher chrysipe de dire quelque chose de mal a propos j'advoue que je ne suis pas marrie de scavoir comment on vit dans les autres cours mais a vous dire la verite je ne scache rien ou il faille plus de jugement qu'a raconter ce que l'on y a veu comme je suis equitable madame reprit iphicrate je tombe d'accord de ce que vous dittes puis qu'il est vray qu'il faut choisir les gens a qui on parle de ces fortes de choses et qu'il ne faut pas mesme en parler long temps si ce n'est qu'on s'y trouve engage par la curiosite particuliere de ceux qu'on entretient car en ce cas la on peut descrire toute la terre sans choquer la bien-seance mais ce que je soustiens madame est que la plus agreable estude qu'on puisse faire sont le voyages et qu'une des plus divertissantes choses du monde est d'aprendre du moins par le recit d'un homme d'esprit ce qu'il y a de rare et de digne d'estre remarque en tous les lieux ou il a este pourveu qu'il le die sans affectation et sans s'estendre sur des choses peu divertissantes et peu necessaires car j'advoue que lors qu'on trouve de ces gens qui s'amusent a dire mille circonstances qui ne servent de rien a ce qu'ils racontent et qui sont fort ennuyeuses il feroit presques a souhaiter qu'ils n'eussent point parti de chez eux afin 
 que ne scachant rien ils parlassent moins de plus il est certain qu'il y a encore des gens qui ne remarquent que ce qu'il faut oublier et qui ne prennent point garde a toutes les choses qui sont dignes de consideration mais apres tout quand mesme je devrois scavoir ce qui ne seroit pas digne d'estre sceu j'aime encore mieux qu'on me die quelques choses inutiles pourveu qu'il y en ait quelqu'une de divertissante que de ne me dire rien du tout joint adjousta-t'il que tres souvent il est mesme bien plus agreable de parler de ce qui est esloigne de nous que de ce qui en est fort proche en effet il y a quelquesfois de si bizarres nouvelles par le monde qu'il vaut mieux les ignorer et s'entretenir d'autre chose que de les scavoir car enfin poursuivit-il malicieusement de l'heure que je parle j'en scay une qui est si effrange qu'elle en est incroyable comme j'aime autant a scavoir ce qui se passe a priene repliqua chrysipe que je hais a aprendre ce qui arrive ailleurs je voudrois bien que vous m'eussiez dit quelle est cette estrange nouvelle en tel jour me la pourriez vous demander respondit iphicrate que je vous la dirois mais pour aujourd'huy je ne la puis dire qu'a aglatonice si elle a la curiosite de l'aprendre chrysipe entendant ce que disoit iphicrate se mit a presser aglatonice de la vouloir scavoir dans la pensee qu'il la scauroit apres par elle mais comme elle a autant d'esprit que chrysipe en avoit peu elle connut bien qu'elle 
 avoit interest a ce qu'iphicrate vouloit dire de sorte qu'elle dit a chrysipe qu'elle n'estoit pas si curieuse que luy et qu'elle ne vouloit point qu'iphicrate luy dist ce qu'il ne disoit point aux autres mais plus elle s'opiniastra a resister a chrysipe plus il la pressa et il s'obstina d'une telle forte a vouloir qu'iphicrate luy dist cette estrange nouvelle qu'elle fut contrainte pour faire cesser la sotte importunite de chrysipe de souffrir qu'iphicrate luy parlast bas et ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que durant qu'il l'entretenoit son rival en avoit la plus grande joye du monde s'imaginant bien que le jour ne passeroit pas sans qu'il sceust ce qu'il avoit dit a aglatonice la chose ne fut pourtant pas ainsi car ce que dit iphicrate a cette belle et injuste personne n'estoit pas de nature a pouvoir estre dit a chrysipe en effet madame des que cet amant mal traite eut obtenu la permission de parler bas il s'aprocha de l'oreille d'aglatonice et prenant la parole la bizarre nouvelle qu'on m'a aprise en arrivant icy luy dit-il est que vous ne vous lasssez point d'estre injuste et que chrysipe tout desraisonnable qu'il est est mieux aveque vous qu'il n'y fut jamais et que j'y suis plus mal que je n'y fus de ma vie mais a peine iphicrate eut-il dit cela qu'aglatonice avec une inhumanite estrange et une hardiesse incroyable prit la parole et dit tout haut a iphicrate qu'il ne luy aprenoit rien de nouveau qu'il y avoit longtemps qu'elle scavoit ce qu'il luy disoit et 
 qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus vray que ce qu'il luy venoit de dire je vous laisse a juger madame combien cette cruelle responce irrita iphicrate il ne s'emporta pourtant point et se contenta de dire a aglatonice qu'il estoit au desespoir de ce qu'elle scavoit ce qu'il luy venoit de dire et qu'il eust eu la plus grande joye du monde si elle ne l'eust point sceu apres quoy ne pouvant plus demeurer la il en sortit et j'en sortis aussi bien que luy ainsi nous laissasmes chrysipe presser aglatonice de luy dire ce qu'iphicrate luy avoit dit mais seigneur ce malheureux amant avoit l'esprit si inquiet que de ma vie je n'ay veu plus de marques de colere sur le visage de qui que ce soit aussi dit-il tout ce que la fureur peut faire dire des qu'il fut seul dans sa chambre aveque moy mais luy dis-je alors que ne profitez vous de vostre despit et que ne vous en servez vous a hair aglatonice je vous proteste me dit-il que je sens dans mon coeur ce que je n'y avois jamais senty car jusques a cette heure je croyois que je pouvois aimer aglatonice dans les bras de mon rival mais presentement je sens bien que si elle l'espouse je la hairay si vous estes bien assure de ce que vous dittes repliquay-je il faut donc servir vostre rival au lieu de luy nuire car puis que vous ne pouvez estre aime il vaut beaucoup mieux hair que de continuer d'aimer qui ne vous aime point et guerir enfin par la haine que d'estre eternellement miserable en souffrant un mal dont on ne vous soulagera jamais 
 quoy que je ne doute point presentement repliqua-t'il que ce remede la ne me guerist je vous proteste toutesfois que je ne le chercheray pas et qu'au contraire je m'empescheray de le prendre autant que je le pourray ce n'est pas que mon esprit ne voulust que je pusse guerir mais mon coeur y resiste et je suis enfin le plus miserable amant qui ait jamais este apres cela madame je dis encore cent choses a iphicrate contre aglatonice et il me sembla enfin si bien connoistre que si chrysipe l'espousoit il ne l'aimeroit plus que je pris la resolution de faire tout ce que je pourrois pour haster le bonheur de chrysipe ainsi pour servir mon amy je servis son rival et je fis pour son ennemy tout ce que j'eusse pu faire pour luy mesme mais enfin madame pour ne m'arrester pas plus long temps aux pleintes d'iphicrate je vous diray que pour contenter sa passion par la vangeance il se batit contre chrysipe qu'il desarma et que tout vaincu qu'il fut aglatonice le prefera tousjours a iphicrate qu'elle hait encore plus qu'auparavant depuis ce combat de sorte que me resolvant de faire agir alors sans luy en rien dire un parent d'aglatonice que je connoissois fort je fis si bien que le mariage de chrysipe et d'elle se fit j'ay pourtant sceu depuis par parthenopee que quoy qu'aglatonice aimast chrysipe elle avoit toutesfois eu quelque peine a se resoudre de l'espouser mais enfin madame il l'espousa sans qu'on sceust alors qu'elle y eust eu aucune repugnance 
 joint que la repugnance qu'elle y eut n'avoit rien d'avantageux pour iphicrate car ce n'estoit pas tant parce qu'elle connoissoit bien que chrysipe n'estoit pas un fort honneste homme que parce qu'elle aprehendoit de changer sa forme de vie cependant a peine eut on dit que chrysipe alloit espouser aglatonice qu'on dit qu'il l'avoit espousee car ce mariage ne fut que quatre jours a estre resolu de sorte qu'iphicrate qui estoit alle a une journee de priene ne sceut la chose que lors qu'elle fut faite mais madame il receut cette nouvelle d'une maniere si particuliere que je ne pense pas que jamais il y ait rien eu d'esgal en effet comme je me trouvay fortuitement a sa porte lors qu'il revint chez luy des qu'il fut descendu de cheval et que nous fusmes entrez dans sa chambre il me dit qu'il venoit de passer devant le logis de chrysipe et qu'il y avoit veu tant de monde qu'il pensoit qu'il eust querelle me demandant en suitte si je scavois contre qui c'estoit je n'ay pas sceu luy dis-je que chrysipe ait querelle mais je scay bien qu'il espousa hier aglatonice et qu'estant presentement chez luy il doit y avoir grande compagnie quoy s'escria iphicrate aglatonice a espouse chrysipe ouy repliquay-je et je suis en estat de vous sommer de vostre parole et de vous demander si vous ne la voulez pas hair ouy me repliqua-t'il brusquement je le veux et je le veux si fortement que si je ne la hais je me hairay moy mesme car enfin 
 chersias me dit-il je ne dois plus aimer une personne qui s'est resolue de se donner toute entiere au dernier de tous les hommes si elle n'eust fait que me mal traiter disoit-il je vous proteste que je l'aurois aimee toute ma vie si elle n'eust mesme fait que me preferer simplement chrysippe sans l'espouser j'aurois encore souffert son injustice sans l'en hair mais de s'abandonner elle mesme pour satisfaire la passion d'un homme comme chrysipe c'est ce que je ne scaurois luy pardonner et il faut assurement que cette personne ait quelque chose de bien injuste dans l'esprit et de bien foible dans le coeur pour ne s'estre pas opposee a l'inclination qu'elle avoit pour un amant aussi indigne d'elle qu'est chrysipe pour moy adjousta-t'il je vous advoue que je trouve ce qu'a fait aglatonice si estrange qu'il n'est rien que je ne face contre moy mesme plustost que d'avoir la moindre tendresse pour elle ouy chersias poursuit-il tenez moy pour le plus lasche de tous les hommes si je suis amant de la femme de chrysipe a ces mots iphicrate s'arresta et fut quelque temps sans parler comme s'il se fust demande a luy mesme s'il estoit bien vray qu'aglatonice fust ce qu'il venoit de dire qu'elle estoit puis tout d'un coup reprenant la parole c'en est fait me dit-il je n'aimeray bien tost plus aglatonice car je sens que j'ay desja une grande disposition a la mespriser vous pouvez juger madame que je le confirmay autant que je pus dans ce dessein 
 la et en effet iphicrate prit une si ferme resolution de chasser aglatonice de son coeur qu'en peu de jours il commenca de sentir que la colere l'emportoit sur l'amour mais ce qui servit encore beaucoup a sa guerison fut qu'il n'alloit en aucun lieu ou l'on ne blasmast aglatonice de sorte que se guerissant par un sentiment de despit il passa de la colere a la haine et quelque temps apres de la haine a l'indifference et il en vint enfin au point de pouvoir voir aglatonice sans esmotion cependant cette injuste personne fut bien punie de son injustice car comme chrysipe n'estoit capable que d'une amour terrestre et grossiere et que c'estoit l'esprit le plus esvapore que je connus jamais des qu'aglatonice fut sa femme il ne fut plus du tout son amant si bien que comme il n'estoit pas aise qu'elle remarquast ce changement sans douleur et qu'une personne qui avoit accoustume de recevoir de l'encens pust recevoir du mespris sans colere elle eut non seulement de la colere et de la douleur mais elle eut en fuite de la honte d'estre femme d'un tel mary neantmoins comme elle est glorieuse elle ne voulut pas le tesmoigner et elle continua de voir autant de monde qu'a l'ordinaire tous ses amans mesme a la reserve d'iphicrate continuerent de la voir et en ne se disant plus estre que ses amis ils furent pourtant tousjours ses amans mais comme chrysipe n'avoit qu'un petit esprit borne qui n'estoit capable d'aucun discernement quoy 
 qu'il menast une vie estrangement desreglee il s'advisa d'avoir de la jalousie il est vray que ce ne fut pas une jalousie d'amour qui au milieu de tous les caprices qu'elle inspire fait qu'on conserve encore quelque respect pour la personne dont on est jaloux et qui fait qu'on la peut veritablement nommer une jalousie d'amant mais ce fut d'une espece de jalousie d'honneur qui pour l'ordinaire ne fait faire que des extravagances de grand esclat a ceux qui en sont capables si bien que l'injuste aglatonice se vit exposee a toutes fortes de malheurs j'ay mesme sceu par parthenopee qu'elle estoit venue a connoistre tellement l'injustice qu'elle avoit eue en preferant chrysipe a iphicrate qu'a mesure qu'elle chassoit le premier de son coeur elle y recevoit le second et se repentoit de l'avoir traite comme elle avoit fait toutesfois comme elle a de la vertu tout cela se passoit dans son esprit sans qu'on s'en aperceust elle n'estoit pourtant pas si malheureuse qu'une autre car comme elle aimoit le divertissement elle ne laissoit pas de se divertir malgre la bizarrerie de chrysipe si bien que faisant chacun de leur coste tout ce qui leur pouvoit deplaire ils vinrent a se hair plus qu'ils ne s'estoient aimez de sorte madame qu'iphicrate eut la satisfaction de voir que son rival le vangea de sa maistresse et que sa maistresse le vangea de son rival il eut mesme l'avantage de gouster la vangeance avec tranquilite et de sentir son coeur si pleinement 
 desgage de la passion qui l'avoit possede qu'il ne pouvoit pas estre plus libre qu'il estoit mais enfin madame pour venir a ce qui vous prouvera qu'il n'est pas aise d'aimer deux fois une mesme personne quand on a effectivement cesse de l'aimer il faut que vous scachiez que chrysipe s'estant trouve engage en une facheuse affaire se batit et fut tue de sorte qu'aglatonice se trouva delivree d'un si estrange mary et en estat et en disposition de rendre justice a iphicrate si iphicrate eust este ce qu'il estoit autrefois en effet madame apres qu'elle eut quitte le deuil le hazard fit que changeant de maison elle fut loger tout contre celle de son ancien amant si bien que la civilite l'obligeant a la voir il la visita et il le fit d'autant plustost qu'il sentoit son coeur si absolument desgage qu'il n'avoit ny haine ny affection pour elle dans cette disposition tranquile iphicrate revit donc aglatonice et la revit sans que sa tranquilite en fust troublee aglatonice estoit pourtant plus belle qu'elle n'avoit jamais este et il connoissoit bien que s'il eust voulu il eust tenu alors aupres d'elle au prejudice de tous ses amans la place qu'y tenoit autrefois chrysipe cependant il ne recommenca point de l'aimer et il se trouva si esloigne de le pouvoir faire que je luy ay entendu dire qu'il auroit plutost aime une personne qui n'eust pas este aimable que de recommencer d'aimer aglatonice estant certain que son ame estoit tellement affermie dans cette insensibilite 
 qu'il luy parloit souvent des choses qui s'estoint passees entre eux et luy en parloit mesme en raillant en effet lors qu'il vouloit luy marquer le temps ou quelque chose estoit arrivee il luy disoit sans aucune esmotion que c'estoit du temps qu'il l'aimoit ou peu de temps apres qu'il avoit commence de la hair cependant je vous advoue que je n'estois point bien aise qu'il la revist et j'en estois si inquiet que je luy en dis un jour quelque chose par la crainte ou j'estois qu'il ne se r'engageast car comme il a les passions fort violentes je souhaitois pour son repos qu'il ne redevinst point amoureux de sorte que le pressant un soir de n'aller plus tant chez aglatonice de grace me dit-il ne craignez pas qu'elle me r'engage jamais elle est pourtant aussi belle luy dis-je qu'elle l'estoit la premiere fois qu'elle vous engagea et elle est mesme plus douce pour vous qu'elle ne l'estoit alors il est vray dit-il mais chersias l'amour que j'avois pour elle ayant cesse elle ne scauroit plus m'en donner si je la haissois encore adjousta-t'il il ne seroit pas impossible que je recommencasse de l'aimer car comme la haine est une passion ardante aussi bien que l'amour le feu de la premiere peut se changer en celuy de la seconde lors que l'amour l'a precedee mais quand on a passe de l'amour a la haine de la haine au mespris et du mespris a l'indifference tenez pour asseure qu'on ne se r'engage jamais et en effet madame l'evenement a bien monstre qu'iphicrate 
 ne se trompoit pas car il n'a point recommence d'aimer aglatonice quoy qu'il l'ait veue mille fois depuis la mort de chrysipe au contraire je l'ay veu confident d'un des amans de cette belle personne et je j'ay veu en espouser un autre par interest de famille quoy qu'il fust assurement en pouvoir d'espouser aglatonice s'il y eust voulu songer et quoy qu'il connust bien qu'elle n'eust plus este injuste pour luy apres cela madame je m'asseure que vous trouverez que l'exemple que je raporte est aussi fort pour prouver qu'on ne peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne que l'est celuy que mnesiphile a raporte pour faire voir qu'une mesme personne peut inspirer plus d'une fois de l'amour dans une mesme coeur 
 
 
 
 
lors que j'eus cesse de parler la princesse de corinthe et la princesse des lindes advouerent que ces deux exemples estoient fort opposez mais comme les raisons sont tousjours plus fortes que les exemples dit alors eumetis a toute la compagnie il s'agit de scavoir si celles de chersias le feront plus que celles de mnesiphile mais madame comme j'allois prendre la parole on vit paroistre tous ces sages accompagnez de niloxenus de diocles et de cleodeme qui apres avoir agite de tres belles et de tres serieuses questions estoient sortis de la sale ou ces princesses les avoient laissez et venoient prendre l'air au mesme lieu ou elles estoient cependant comme elles avoient envie d'ouir les raisons de mnesiphile 
 et de moy elles ne les virent pas plustost aupres d'elles qu'eumetis adressant la parole a periandre luy dit qu'il venoit fort a propos pour estre juge d'une question galante dont toute la compagnie devoit dire son sentiment car seigneur adjousta-t'elle quoy qu'il ne s'agisse ny de gouverner des royaumes ny de regler des republiques je ne pense pas qu'elle soit indigne de la curiosite de tant de sages puis qu'il s'agit de connoistre tous les bizarres effets d'une passion qui est si puissante et si generale periandre s'estant alors informe quelle estoit cette question solon qui le touchoit la trouva si curieuse qu'il dit qu'il estoit tout prest d'en dire son advis et se tournant vers les autres les uns par inclination et les autres par complaisance se disposerent a donner leurs voix si bien que melisse s'estant alors r'aprochee et chacun ayant pris sa place sans qu'esope quitast la sienne cleobuline m'ordonna de dire mes raisons permettant a mnesiphile de m'interrompre quand il le voudroit de sorte qu'apres avoir un peu songe a ce que j'avois a dire j'adressay la parole a mnesiphile comme a celuy contre qui je disputois il me semble luy dis-je que pour juger equitablement de la question dont il s'agit et pour scavoir veritablement si ce n'est pas une chose extremement rare pour ne pas dire impossible qu'on aime deux fois une mesme dame il faut considerer ce qui fait naistre l'amour afin de voir si cela le rencontre en une personne 
 qu'on a desja aimee puis que c'est la mesme personne repliqua mnesiphile il s'enfuit de necessite qu'on trouve en elle la seconde fois ce qu'on y avoit trouve la premiere c'est a dire la mesme beaute le mesme esprit et le mesme agreement qu'ainsi puis qu'on a pu estre touche une fois de toutes des choses on le peut estre une seconde nullement repris-je car toutes ces choses quoy qu'elles soient les mesmes manquent d'un charme particulier qui en redouble le prix qui est la nouveaute puis qu'il est certain que pour l'ordinaire il faut estre surpris du merite de la personne de qui on devient amoureux ce qui ne peut pas se trouver en elle qu'on a desja aimee puis qu'on est si accoustume a l'esclat de ses yeux qu'ils n'esblouissent plus en effet je suis persuade que tous les sens s'accoustument a ce qui les touche et qu'ils cessent d'y estre sensibles des qu'ils y sont accoustumez ainsi on se forme un habitude de la beaute comme des parfums qui luy oste une partie de sa puissance et qui fait qu'elle ne peut faire deux fois une mesme conqueste de plus comme il faut de necessite que l'esperance naisse avec l'amour je tiens bien difficile qu'elle ressuscite lors qu'on a cesse d'aimer par raison ou par desespoir ou parce que de foy mesme l'amour s'est allentie et je suis persuade que lors qu'on a cesse de desirer une chose parce qu'on ne la croit plus digne d'estre desiree il n'est pas aise qu'on recommence de la desirer cependant il est impossible 
 que l'esperance naisse sans desirs et que l'amour subsiste sans esperance le comprens bien adjoustay-je qu'on peut avoir des querelles pendant lesquelles on peut s'imaginer qu'on n'aime plus quoy qu'on aime encore mais je ne concoy point que quand on a effectivement cesse d'aimer on puisse recommencer d'aimer la mesme personne il est pourtant vray reprit mnesiphile qu'un flambeau esteint se r'allume bien plus facilement que s'il n'avoit jamais este allume et qu'encore qu'il ny reste aucune chaleur il y reste toutefois je ne scay qu'elle disposition qui le rend plus capable de se r'allumer et en effet je ne doute nullement que lors qu'on a aime fortement une personne il ne demeure tousjours quelque legere impression de chaleur dans le coeur d'un amant qui le rend plus dispose a estre touche des charmes de cette personne qu'il a desja aimee que de toute autre car enfin il demeure pour constant qu'elle a ce qu'il faut pour luy plaire puis qu'elle luy a desja plu et qu'ainsi elle est plus propre qu'une autre a l'engager une seconde fois pour moy repliquay-je j'advoue que je ne comprens point qu'une personne dont les charmes n'auront pas este assez puissans pour empescher qu'on n'ait cesse d'avoir de l'amour pour elle en ait assez pour se faire aimer une seconde fois par le mesme amant car je suis persuade que comme il est plus aise d'empescher le feu de s'esteindre que de le r'allumer il est aussi 
 plus aise de conserver l'amour que de la faire renaistre de sorte que selon mon opinion des qu'une dame voit que sa beaute ne peut retenir son amant elle ne doit plus songer a le renchainer s'il a veritablement rompu ses chaines estant certain que pour l'ordinaire tous ceux qu'on dit qui ont recommence d'aimer une mesme personne n'avoient effectivement point cesse de le faire quoy qu'ils ne le creussent pas et il faloit sans doute que ce feu fust cache sous la cendre et qu'ils se trompassent en leurs propres sentimens en effet il y a des amans jaloux qui ont la hardiesse de dire dans leurs transports qu'il n'aiment plus quoy que toute la terre scache qu'il n'est point de jalousie effective sans amour il y en a d'autres encore qui parce qu'ils sentent quelques effet de la haine dans leur esprit pensent qu'ils haissent car enfin on voit quelquesfois qu'un simple depit leur fait faire des imprecations terribles contre celles qu'ils servent cependant il arrive tres souvent qu'ils ne croyent hair que parce qu'ils aiment mais outre ces deux fortes d'amans qui aiment sans le scavoir et qui croyent quelquesfois recommencer d'aimer lors qu'ils ne font que continuer d'avoir de l'amour il y en a encore d'une trosiesme espece qui pensent comme les autres qu'ils ne sont plus amoureux parce que leur amour s'est allentie par le temps et par l'habitude se qu'elle a cesse de leur estre sensible soit par la joye soit par la douleur mais apres tout cette affection n'est 
 qu'endormie et n'est pas morte et lors que cette espece d'amour se reschauffe par quelque accident estranger on peut dire qu'elle se resveille et non pas qu'elle ressuscite ainsi je ne m'estonne point du tout s'il y a beaucoup de gens persuadez qu'on peut aimer deux fois une mesme personne puis que ceux mesmes qui ont cette espece de passion dont je parle y sont trompez les premiers et trompent apres les autres cependant il est constamment vray que sans un prodige on ne peut avoir deux fois de l'amour pour une mesme beaute j'advoue pourtant que lors que l'amour cesse par une cause tout a fait estrangere et tout a fait injuste on peut cesser et recommencer d'aimer car par exemple si un homme amoureux pensoit avoir este trahi et que dans la violence de son ressentiment il passast de l'amour a la haine et puis qu'a quelque temps de la il sceust aveque certitude qu'il se seroit trompe je croy qu'il seroit facile de faire renaistre dans son coeur la passion qu'il en auroit bannie parce qu'il retrouveroit la mesme personne qu'il auroit aimee ainsi ce seroit plus tost continuer que recommencer de l'aimer mais de toute autre maniere dont on peut rompre avec sa maistresse je tiens impossible qu'il puisse jamais arriver qu'on l'aime deux fois puis qu'il est arrive en la personne de phylidas reprit mnesiphile il peut encore arriver en celle d'un autre et puis qu'il n'est point arrive en celle d'iphicrate repris-je il n'est pas vray-semblable 
 qu'il arrive une autre fois car enfin toutes choses vouloient qu'il recommencast d'aimer aglatonice l'interest de sa fortune s'accordoit avec celuy de son amour s'il en eust pu avoir elle n'estoit plus rigoureuse iphicrate n'estoit point engage ailleurs il la voyoit tous les jours il luy parloit a toutes les heures il a l'ame naturellement tres passionnee il l'avoit plus opiniastrement et plus ardemment aimee que personne n'aimera jamais et cependant il ne la put aimer une seconde fois et il ne la put aimer sans doute parce qu'il est constamment vray qu'il est de l'amour comme de toutes les autres choses du monde qui lors qu'elles sont une fois destruites ne reviennent plus ce qu'elles ont este et puis quand on n'auroit autre raison que l'amour propre on n'aimeroit pas volontiers a dire qu'on auroit eu tort de cesser d'aimer ainsi on continueroit mesme de n'aimer plus quand il n'y auroit nulle autre cause que celle que je viens de dire par cette mesme raison reprit mnesiphile on recommenceroit infailliblement d'aimer afin qu'on ne pust pas estre accuse de s'estre trompe en son premier choix mais chersias adjousta-t'il j'ay bien des raison plus fortes a dire car enfin comme je suis persuade que la cause la plus essentielle de l'amour est cette liaison invisible qui attache si fortement les coeurs et qu'on apelle simpathie je le suis aussi que cette simpathie ne peut jamais finir puis que nous voyons que toutes les inclinations naturelles ne changent 
 jamais soit parmy les choses inanimees soit parmy les animaux soit parmy les hommes car enfin l'aimant garde la qualite d'attirer le fer tant qu'il est aimant le lion craint le chant de cet oyseau qui annonce le jour tant qu'il est lion et les hommes conservent jusques a la mort les premieres inclinations que la nature leur a donnees en effet un avare ne sera jamais liberal sans se faire violence un envieux ne louera jamais personne sans quelque chagrin et un ambitieux ne se soumetra jamais sans douleur or est il que selon mon opinion toutes ces diverses inclinations ne sont pas plus puissantes dans nostre coeur que la simpathie qui nous fait aimer une personne plustost qu'une autre de sorte que comme toutes ces inclinations subsistent tant que nous subsistons nous mesmes il s'enfuit de necessite absolue que la simpathie qui nous fait aimer subsiste aussi si bien que comme nos inclinations peuvent estre quelquesfois forcees par la raison quoy que nous les ayons tousjours de mesme l'effet de cette simpathie dont je parle peut estre suspendu par quelque cause estrangere mais apres tout comme elle ne peut cesser d'estre puis qu'elle a este je conclus qu'il y a tousjours une grande disposition a aimer ce qu'on a une fois aime puis que la cause n'en cesse jamais de sorte que comme il y a certaines choses qui empeschent l'effet de l'aimant il peut y en avoir qui empeschent l'effet de la simpathie et comme 
 en esloignant l'aimant de ce qui suspent sa vertu on la luy redonne de mesme en ostant les obstacles a la simpathie elle recommence d'agir et je suis si persuade de ce que je dis que je suis bien plus estonne de voir qu'on cesse d'aimer ce qu'on a desja aime que de voir qu'on aime deux fois une mesme personne et puis a dire la verite je trouve encore que l'habitude qui est si puissante en toutes choses fait aussi que l'eprit a une pente naturelle a recommencer d'aimer ce qu'il a aime long temps les branches des arbres qu'on a pallisadees s'accoustument tellement au ply qu'on leur a tait prendre que lors mesme qu'elles ne sont plus attachees elles demeurent a la scituation ou elles sont tant il est vray que l'habitude est une chose puissante ainsi il ne faut pas s'estonner s'il y a de la facilite d'aimer une seconde fois une personne qu'on a desja aimee puis que c'est faire ce que l'on a desja fait et a n'en mentir pas l'exemple de phylidas et d'anaxandride que j'ay raporte fait assez voir que les raisons dont je me fers sont effectives car s'il n'y eust pas eu une puissante simpathie entre eux ils n'auroient pas recommence de s'aimer phylidas avoit trop outrage anaxandride pour songer a redevenir son amant s'il n'y eust este force et anaxandride avoit este trop injustement abandonnee par luy pour se fier a son affection cependant ils s'aimerent plus cette seconde fois qu'ils ne s'estoient aimez la premiere et soit par simpathie ou par habitude ou par 
 toutes les deux ensemble ils s'aiment encore avec autant d'ardeur que de fidellite et selon toutes les aparences ils s'aimeront toute leur vie apres cela mnesiphile s'estant teu la princesse des lindes qui estoit cause que cette question avoit este agitee pria toute cette illustre assemblee d'en vouloir dire son advis mais comme il y avoit des gens trop scavans pour dire leur opinion sans en dire la raison cette question fit que tous ces sages remontant a la source firent une definition de l'amour la plus agreable du monde mais enfin apres avoir dit mille belles choses la pluralite des vois de toute l'assemblee qui se partagerent entre ces sages fut a l'avantage de mnesiphile car ils conclurent non seulement qu'on pouvoit aimer deux fois une mesme personne mais que mesme il estoit plus aise de retourner a sa premiere maistresse que d'en faire une nouvelle ils advouerent pourtant que cela n'arrivoit pas aussi souvent qu'il devroit arriver adjoustant que c'estoit sans doute que la plus part de ceux qu'on voyoit cesser d'aimer n'avoient jamais aime fortement ou n'avoient mesme jamais aime pour moy dit esope qui ne fut pas de leur advis je scay bien que j'ay aime rhodope plus que personne n'aimera jamais et je scay mieux encore que je ne l'aimeray plus et que je ne fortifieray point le parti de mnesiphile par mon exemple aussi bien adjousta-t'il ne trouve je pas trop bon que les hommes soient moins 
 raisonnables que les tourterelles qui n'aiment qu'une fois en leur vie apres cela passant d'une chose a une autre on demanda pourquoy la beaute ne produisoit pas necessairement l'amour dans l'ame de tous ceux qui la voyoient on examina pourquoy il y avoit quelquesfois des femmes qui n'estoient point du tout belles qui ne laissoient pas de faire naistre de grandes et violentes passions et on considera la jalousie en toute son estendue raportant mesme beaucoup d'exemples de ses plus bizarres effets solon dit que si l'esperance nourrissoit l'amour la jalousie l'augmentoit pourveu qu'elle ne fust pas trop forte et qu'elle fust mal fondee periandre au contraire soustint que cette passion estoit ennemie de l'amour quoy qu'elle en fust compagne inseparable bias prenant un tiers parti dit qu'il falloit qu'un amant fust capable de jalousie et qu'il ne fust pourtant jamais jaloux pittacus soustint qu'il ne faloit point estre jaloux parce que si la personne qu'on aimoit ne donnoit point sujet de jalousie il n'en faloit point avoir et que si elle en donnoit il la faloit hair cleobule et thales au contraire dirent que l'amour sans jalousie estoit trop tiede et chilon suivant son austerite naturelle dit qu'il ne faloit estre jaloux que de sa propre gloire quant a anacharsis il dit qu'il le faloit estre de tout ce qu'on aimoit soustenant qu'on ne pouvoit rien aimer sans craindre d'en perdre la possession et qu'on ne pouvoit 
 craindre de la perdre sans quelques sentimens jaloux pour esope comme il mesloit toujours ses bestes ou ses oyseaux en toute sa philosophie il dit que comme le pellican donnoit la vie a ceux qui luy devoient donner la mort de mesme la jalousie estoit une passion qui faisoit mourir l'amour qui la faisoit naistre pour les princesses elles demeurerent dans toute la modestie de leur sexe se contentant de se ranger de l'avis de quelques-uns de ces sages et de faire voir qu'elles s'y rangeoient par raison sans entreprendre d'en proposer de nouveaux comme les choses en estoient la on vint advertir periandre de l'accident arrive a arion de sorte que faisant raconter cette merveilleuse avanture a toute la compagnie par celuy qui la luy aprenoit ce recit la divertit fort estant certain que celuy qui le fit representa si admirablement comment le dauphin sauva arion et le vint mettre sur le rivage aupres du port de tenare qu'il faisoit voir la chose qu'il descrivoit mais comme cette avanture est sceue de toute la terre je ne m'arresteray pas madame a vous la raconter et je vous diray seulement que periandre s'estant souvenu qu'il avoit autrefois ouy dire a thales qu'il faloit dire les choses vray-semblables mais qu'il ne faloit jamais dire celles qui ne l'estoient pas quoy qu'elles fussent vrayes luy demanda pardon de n'avoir pas suivy sa maxime en faisant raconter une chose qui sembloit presques impossible il est vray dit alors 
 le sage bias que thales a dit ce que vous dittes mais il est vray aussi que je luy ay entendu dire qu'il ne faloit jamais croire ses ennemis des choses qui paroissoient mesme les plus croyables ny ne croire pas ses amis de celles qui paroissoient les plus incroyables c'est pourquoy vous ne douez pas craindre qu'il vous accuse en suitte on raporta divers exemples de l'amour des dauphins pour les hommes solon raconta celuy d'hesiode dont un dauphin porta le corps jusques a un cap qui est aupres de la ville de molycrie et qui fut cause que ceux qui avoient tue ce fameux poete furent punis pittacus raconta aussi un autre exemple de la bonte des dauphins en la personne d'un appelle enalus qui estoit fils d'un des fondateurs de mytilene a qui des dauphins sauverent la vie et bien interrompit alors esope en souriant vous moquerez vous encore de mes geays et de mes corbeaux qui parlent aprenant que les dauphins sont des choses si merveilleuses en mon particulier dit cleobuline je n'ay garde de m'en moquer car ils parlent si bien qu'il est difficile de parler mieux si ce n'est vous reprit-il ce sont de ces gens qui jugent sur les apparences et qui parce qu'ils voyent que ce ne sont que des bestes que j'introduis ne jugent pas que c'est un homme qui les fait parler ce n'est pas dit-il encore qu'ils ayent grand tort car on ne connoist guere la verite si ce n'est par les apparences vous avez donc oublie vostre renard reprit 
 agreablement anacharsis car lors que vous le fistes entrer en contestation avec le leopard pour scavoir lequel des deux avoit le plus de taveleures il pria son juge de ne considerer pas tant les mouchetures exterieures que le leopard avoit sur la peau que celles qu'il avoit dans la teste l'assurant que s'il consideroit bien les siennes il les trouveroit plus diverses que celles de celuy qui luy disputoit l'avantage d'estre le mieux tavele il est vray dit esope que je me suis contredit mais a vous dire la verite adjousta-t'il en riant je fais tant parler de bestes que je crains qu'en leur aprenant mon langage je ne vienne a la fin a aprendre le leur et que les faisant devenir ce que je suis je ne devienne ce qu'elles sont ha esope s'escria eumetis quelque esprit que vous ayez inspire a toutes vos bestes et a tous vos oyseaux vous en avez encore plus que vous ne leur en avez donne apres cela chacun suivant son inclination se separa par diverses troupes dans cet agreable bocage chilon fut se promener avec anacharsis periandre fut suivy de thales de niloxenus de bias de pittacus de cleobule et de cleodeme mais pour solon comme il a l'inclination naturellement galante il demeura avec les dames et rendit cette conversation si agreable que de ma vie je n'ay eu plus de plaisir que j'en eus alors en effet cet homme si sage et si scavant scait pourtant si admirablement s'accommoder au temps et aux personnes a qui il parle qu'il 
 n'est rien dont il ne scache parler il est vray qu'il n'estoit pas dans la necessite d'abaisser son esprit car estant avec la princesse de corinthe et la princesse des lindes il pouvoit parler des choses les plus eslevees sans craindre de n'estre pas entendu aussi leur raconta-t'il tout ce qui s'estoit dit entre tant d'hommes illustres depuis qu'elles estoient sorties de la sale et il le fit avec tant d'art qu'en peu de paroles il r'assembla tout ce qu'ils avoient dit d'excellent et c'est a dire tout ce que la morale et la politique peuvent enseigner de plus beau en fuite passant d'un discours si serieux a un autre solon dit a ces deux princesses qu'elles devoient s'estimer infiniment heureuses d'estre tant au dessus de toutes celles de leur sexe et d'avoir pourtant la moderation de demeurer dans les bornes que la modestie veut que les dames conservent tousjours en matiere de sciences et de n'avoir aucune des foiblesses dont on accuse les femmes car enfin leur dit-il en souriant il s'en trouve peu qui n'ayent du moins celle de souhaiter d'estre aimees de plus de gens qu'elles n'en veulent aimer pour moy dit cleobuline je comprens bien qu'on peut souhaiter d'estre estimee de tout le monde mais j'advoue que je n'ay jamais compris que l'on deust desirer de donner de l'amour a des gens pour qui l'on n'en veut point avoir c'est neantmoins un sentiment assez general a toutes les belles personnes reprit solon et c'est mesme un sentiment plus 
 dangereux qu'elles ne pensent il y en a toutesfois beaucoup repliqua eumetis qui ne l'ont que par vanite et qui ne souhaittent d'estre aimees que parce qu'elles croyent que l'estime de la beaute est l'amour il est vray reprit solon que la chose est souvent ainsi mais apres tout peu de dames aimeroient si elles n'estoient jamais aimees ainsi lors qu'elles souhaitent qu'on les aime elles cherchent a se mettre en estat d'aimer pour moy dit alors esope je ne croy point qu'il soit aussi necessaire qu'on se l'imagine d'aimer une dame autant qu'elle aime car puis qu'il se trouve un nombre infiny d'hommes qui aiment les premiers je croy qu'il se peut aussi touver un nombre infiny de femmes qui aiment les premieres et quand tous les sept sages qui sont dans ce jardin me diroient le contraire j'aurois bien de la peine a les croire car enfin on aime celles qu'on doit aimer des qu'elles plaisent et par consequent elles peuvent aimer des qu'on leur plaist ha esope s'escria eumetis quelle injustice faites vous a nostre sexe je vous assure reprit-il que je ne suis pas si injuste que vous pensez car de grace par quelle raison pouvons nous aimer sans qu'on nous aime si vous ne pouvez pas aimer sans estre aimees les dames ont-elles le coeur different de celuy des honmes l'amour n'est-elle pas une mesme passion dans leur ame que dans la nostre est-ce un acte de leur volonte d aimer ou de n'aimer pas et n'ay-je pas raison de dire que si on ne dit pas aussi souvent qu'elles aiment 
 sans estre aimees comme on dit que nous aimons sans estre aimez c'est parce seulement que la bien-seance qui est establie dans le monde veut qu'un homme puisse sans honte aimer sans estre aime et qu'elle ne souffre qu'a peine qu'une dame aime lors mesme qu'elle est aimee a plus forte raison donc ne le veut-elle pas lors qu'on ne l'aime point mais apres tout toute la difference qu'il y a entre nous est que celles qui aiment sans qu'on les aime ne le disent point et ne s'en pleignent pas et que nous le disons et nous en pleignons hautement car enfin puis qu'elles ont des yeux de l'esprit et un coeur capable d'estre touche il faut conclure qu'elles peuvent aimer sans qu'on les aime et pour le prouver fortement il ne faut que considerer que l'amour toute seule quelque ardente qu'elle soit ne les oblige point a aimer et qu'il faut de plus que l'amant leur plaise estant certain que si cela n'est pas on les aime inutilement comme esope parloit ainsi et que solon alloit luy respondre le hazard fit que toutes ces diverses troupes qui s'estoient separees s'estant rejointes en un endroit ou six allees se croisent cette grande compagnie se rassembla si bien que solon qui trouvoit la question qu'esope avoit fait naistre trop digne de curiosite pour n'en parler pas davantage la proposa a cette illustre assemblee qui se disposa a en dire son advis pour moy dit la princesse des lindes qui ne trouve rien de plus estrange que d'aimer sans estre aimee j'auray bien de la peine 
 a endurer qu'on accuse le sexe dont je suis d'une pareille foiblesse mais enfin dit esope encore faut-il qu'il y en ait un des deux qui commence d'aimer et puis que cela est pourquoy ne voulez vous pas que ce soit aussi tost l'amante que l'amant c'est parce reprit eumetis que la bienseance ne le soufre point mais repliqua esope comme la nature est plus ancienne que la bienseance ce n'est pas de cela dont il s'agit il est certain dit alors solon qu'a parler veritablement il peut estre qu'une femme aimera sans estre aimee aussi bien qu'un homme aime sans estre aime mais il est pourtant vray que cela n'arrive pas si souvent et une des plus fortes raison qu'il y en ait est que les dames ayant la beaute en partage et toutes les graces du corps et de l'esprit plus attirantes et plus engageantes que les hommes leur merite produit un effet plus pronpt que le nostre si bien que pour l'ordinaire on les aime devant qu'elles ayent eu loisir d'aimer de plus il est encore vray que les femmes sont nees avec plus de vanite et qu'ainsi elles ont moins de disposition a faire les premiers pas en amour joint que de la maniere dont on les esleve elles ne sont pas en estat de suivre les purs sentimens de la nature parce que des le berceau on leur dit tellement qu'il ne faut point qu'elles aiment sans estre aimees qu'elles sont en garde continuelle contre elles mesmes mais apres tout je suis persuade qu'il n'est nullement impossible que cela arrive je m'assure reprit esope que chilon avec sa severite croiroit s'estre 
 deshonnore s'il avoit aussi bien parle d'amour que solon il est vray repliqua-t'il que je le trouve bien scavant en galanterie pour un homme qui a fait de si belles loix du moins scay-je bien qu'il n'y a personne a lacedemone qui en scache autant que luy comme les atheniens reprit solon ne sont pas si severes que les lacedemoniens j'advoue sans confusion que je connois l'amour comme toutes les autres passions mais pour en revenir a la question dont il s'agit qu'en semble t'il a la compagnie en mon particulier dit thales je croy qu'une femme peut aimer la premiere mais je croy en mesme temps que peu de femmes peuvent aimer long temps sans estre aimees et mesme sans passer bien tost de l'amour a la haine pour moy je croy reprit periandre que cela peut arriver mais je crois en mesme temps qu'il faut qu'une dame ne soit guere aimable si elle ne se fait aimer en aimant je suis si persuade dit alors cleobule en souriant que les dames sont plus propres a estre aimees qu'a aimer que bien loin de croire qu'elles puissent aimer les premieres j'ay bien de la peine a croire qu'elles aiment lors qu'on les aime il n'en est pas ainsi de moy dit bias car je croy que quand elles aiment elles aiment plus ardemment et plus opiniastrement que les hommes mais j'avoue que j'ay quelque difficulte a concevoir qu'elles aiment les premieres parce qu'a parler equitablement de mille femmes il n'y en aura pas une qui n'aime mieux les tesmoignages 
 esclatans que l'amour a accoustume de produire que l'amant qui les donne de sorte que comme cela ne se trouve pas en aimant la premiere je suis persuade ou qu'il n'y en a point ou qu'il y en a peu qui en soient capables pour moy dit pittacus je croy que l'amour n'estant pas un acte de volonte elle naist aussi bien dans le coeur d'une femme sans estre aimee que dans celuy d'un homme qui n'est point aime en mon particulier dit anacharsis je ne scay pas quelle est la puissance de l'amour en grece mais en scythie ny les hommes ny les femmes n'aiment point sans estre aimez ou sans croire du moins qu'on a disposition a les aimer et sans esperer qu'ils le seront bien tost car enfin je ne croy point possible que l'amour puisse subsister sans toutes ces conditions ce n'est pas dit-il qu'il ne puisse y avoir de l'exception mais a parler en general la chose est comme je le dis quoy que l'egipte reprit niloxenus soit bien esloignee de la scythie en toutes choses on y croit ce que vous dittes mais enfin dit solon il demeure tousjours pour constant qu'il n'est nullement impossible qu'une dame aime sans estre aimee en verite dit la princesse des lindes s'il n'est impossible il y a du moins bien de la difficulte ouy a celles qui ont l'ame comme vous l'avez reprit solon mais ce seroit faire trop de grace a vostre sexe adjousta-t'il et le mettre trop au dessus du nostre d'attribuer a toutes les femmes les sentimens que vous avez 
 dans le coeur comme eumetis alloit respondre a la civilite de solon on entendit un agreable concert au milieu de ce bocage qui imposa silence a toute cette illustre compagnie qui apres l'avoir escoute quelque temps se separa encore une fois par diverses troupes mais comme le soleil estoit prest de se coucher et que thales estoit accoustume a observer le ciel il s'arresta a regarder ce bel astre qui ayant respandu tout l'or de ses rayons dans la mer sembloit luy avoir communique une partie de sa lumiere pour solon s'estant arreste pour escouter la musique avec les dames le hazard fit qu'il vit au pied d'un arbre qui estoit fort proche une longue file de fourmis qui par cent occupations differentes travailloient toutes avec ordre diligence et affection a l'utilite publique de sorte qu'admirant l'ordre qu'elles gardoient a leur travail il le consideroit attentivement mais comme esope estoit aupres de luy il comprit aisement ce qui attachoit ses regards et ce qu'il pensoit si bien que prenant la parole advouez la verite luy dit-il en souriant vous voudriez bien estre assure que les atheniens gardassent aussi bien vos loix que ces fourmis gardent les leurs je l'advoue esope repliqua solon en riant aussi bien que tous ceux qui l'entendirent et je l'advoue a la confusion de ma patrie puis qu'elle a un honme qui luy a donne des loix si justes reprit cleobuline elle ne peut manquer d'estre fort glorieuse elle le feroit bi davantage si elle les scavoit garder reprit-il qu'elle ne l'est 
 d'avoir donne la naissance a un homme qui ne les garde peut-estre pas luy mesme apres cela solon s'engageant en un discours du gouvernement des peuples dit des choses admirables de sorte que toute la compagnie se r'assemblant une trosiesme fois la conversation devint tout a fait serieuse chacun raportant les plus louables coustumes de sa ville thales parla de la piete des milesiens pittacus de l'humeur guerriere des habitans de mytilene bias de la politesse de ceux qui habitent priene cleobule de la probite des lindiens periandre de l'ambition du peuple de corinthe solon de l'humeur remuante et seditieuse des atheniens et chilon de l'inclination severe et vertueuse des lacedemoniens apres quoy examinant les vices et les vertus de tous ces peuples differens ils en parlerent tant qu'il fut temps de partir pour s'en retourner a corinthe en effet les discours de ces grands hommes attachoient si agreablement l'esprit de ceux qui les escoutoient que si esope qui vit une quantite innombrable d'oyseaux qui venoient choisir les branches sur lesquelles ils vouloient passer la nuit ne les eust monstrez agreablement a toute la compagnie pour l'advertir qu'il estoit temps de se retirer elle se seroit retiree trop tard aussi reprocha-t'il alors plaisamment a tous ces sages que ces oyseaux estoient plus sages qu'eux puis qu'ils scavoient mieux l'heure ou il faloit se retirer qu'ils ne la scavoient mais enfin madame tout le monde jugeant 
 qu'esope avoit raison et qu'il feroit nuit quand on arriveroit a corinthe on se disposa a s'en aller et on s'en alla en effet chacun emportant dans son coeur tant de satisfaction de s'estre trouve avec tant d'excellens hommes qu'on estoit contraint d'advouer qu'on n'avoit jamais passe un jour plus agreable que celuy-la ne jugez pourtant pas madame du plaisir de cette journee par le recit que je vous en ay fait car j'advoue avec beaucoup de confusion qu'en mon particulier je ne vous ay raconte que tres imparfaitement ce qui se passa a ce fameux banquet des sept sages
 
 
 
 
chersias ayant acheve de parler receut mille louanges de cyrus et mille civilitez d'onesile aussi bien que mnesiphile apres quoy disant qu'elle vouloit profiter de l'advis qu'esope avoit donne a ces sages elle se leva pour s'en aller de peur d'arriver de nuit a la petite ville ou elle s'en retournoit mais comme cyrus luy fit offrir une colation magnifique avant qu'elle partist on ne parla tant qu'elle dura que de ce que mnesiphile et chersias avoient raconte et je ne scay si ce que dirent cyrus et onesile pendant cette colation ne valoit point ce qu'avoient dit ces sept sages pendant leur banquet telagene dit aussi mille jolies choses a indathirse apres quoy onesile montant dans son chariot partit avec escorte et laissa cyrus avec une impatience estrange de scavoir quel seroit le succes du voyage d'anacharsis cependant quoy qu'il eust volontiers 
 donne quelques heures a s'entretenir luy mesme il se contraignoit afin d'entretenir dans le coeur des chefs et des soldats cette noble ardeur qui leur avoit fait r'emporter de si illustres victoires de sorte que parlant tantost a l'un et tantost a l'autre il inspiroit effectivement a ceux a qui il parloit une partie de cette ardeur heroique qu'il avoit dans l'ame mazare de son coste contribuoit aussi tous ses soins a disposer les soldats a bien combatre quand il en seroit temps quoy que le peu d'interest qu'il avoit a la victoire luy donnast tousjours de fascheuses heures et que sa vertu eust besoin de toute sa force pour resister a son amour myrsile en son particulier n'estoit pas moins zele que mazare quoy qu'il n'eust nulle seurete de l'affection de doralise mais du moins avoit-il cet avantage de scavoir que s'il n'estoit point aime nul autre ne l'estoit et qu'andramite estoit hai cependant apres avoir attendu le retour d'anacharsis avec beaucoup d'impatience ce fameux scythe revint sans avoir pu rien obtenir de thomiris et sans qu'ortalque eust pu voir mandane parce qu'elle estoit alors bien plus rigoureusement gardee qu'elle n'estoit au commencement toutesfois comme il avoit veu gelonide cette princesse n'avoit pas laisse d'avoir la lettre de cyrus et d'y respondre mais cette response estoit si touchante qu'elle affligea plus ce prince qu'elle ne le consola araminte luy avoit aussi respondu d'une maniere si propre a exciter la 
 tristesse que cyrus fut beaucoup plus malheureux apres le retour d'anacharsis qu'il ne l'estoit auparavant mais enfin dit ce prince afflige a cet illustre scythe apres qu'il luy eut fait comprendre qu'il n'avoit rien obtenu que peut dire thomiris pour pretexter la guerre ou elle veut s'engager en retenant la princesse mandane elle dit seigneur reprit-il tout ce que peut dire une personne qui ne veut pas dire la veritable raison qui la fait agir avec tant d'injustice et que j'ay sceue par indathyrse devant que de vous quitter en effet elle a fait publier un manifeste parmy ses peuples et dans toutes les cours des deux scythies par lequel elle dit que vous aspirez a la monarchie universelle que la princesse mandane n'est qu'un pretexte qui couvre vostre ambition que quand celuy-la vous manqueroit vous en trouveriez un autre et que c'est pour cette raison qu'elle ne veut pas vous la rendre puis que c'est tousjours quelque seurete pour elle que de l'avoir en sa puissance apres quoy elle convie tous les peuples et tous les princes qui ne reconnoissent pas encore vostre authorite de s'unir courageusement pour tascher d'arrester le cours de vos victoires ainsi seigneur comme les grandes conquestes que vous avez faites donnent quelque vray-semblance a ces raisons ce manifeste a sans doute este assez bien receu du peuple qui voyant qu'elle se resout de vous faire la guerre commence comme il est greffier a ne croire plus que ce soit la passion qu'elle 
 a dans l'ame qui la fait agir comme elle fait de sorte que les massagettes semblent tous estre resolus a se deffendre jusques a l'extremite les autres rois de scythie a qui l'aproche de vostre armee donne de l'ombrage se liguent aussi contre vous et il n'y en a aucun qui ne face des levees et qui ne se dispose a se joindre a thomiris mais seigneur le plus facheux de ce que j'ay a vous dire est que comme aryante en faisant la guerre dans vostre armee a acheve de s'y rendre tres scavant il a juge que quand vous auriez passe l'araxe vous ne pourriez aller vers les tentes royales que par un chemin ou il y a plusieurs defilez si bien que pour mettre une barriere a vostre passage il fait construire un fort qui est presque acheve afin de deffendre cet endroit scachant bien que si vous preniez le chemin de la plaine vostre armee y periroit a cause qu'il y a fort peu d'eaux de sorte que jugeant qu'il faut de necessite que vous alliez par le lieu qu'il fait fortifier il semble que vous ne soyez pas en estat de vaincre facilement et en effet thomiris se soucie si peu de faire garder les passages de l'araxe qu'elle m'a charge de vous dire qu'elle ne veut point de paix que la victoire ne la luy donne et que pour vous tesmoigner qu'elle ne veut pas faire durer cette guerre elle consentira si vous le voulez que vous entriez dans son pais et que pour cela elle retirera ses troupes a trois journees de l'araxe si ce n'est que vous veuilliez le luy laisser passer 
 et faire de vostre coste ce qu'elle vous offre de faire du sien ouy sage anacharsis reprit cyrus puis que la reine des massagettes le veut j'entreray dans sont pais et quand le fort qu'elle fait faire seroit plus difficile a prendre que babilone il n'arresteroit pas mes desseins seigneur reprit ce sage scythe quoy que thomiris m'ait paru fort fiere et fort opiniastre dans sa resolution je ne desespere pourtant pas de la voir changer d'avis si les premieres occasions de cette guerre luy succedent mal c'est pourquoy il ne faut pas que vous en perdiez l'esperance apres cela ortalque dit a cyrus qu'un des gardes de madane qui disoit avoir veu feraulas au bord du phase et luy avoit promis de l'advertir de tout ce qu'il scauroit l'avoit charge de luy dire que thomiris ne luy offroit de luy laisser passer l'araxe que pour l'engager a donner bataille en un poste desavantageux qu'elle ne luy demandoit aussi a le passer que dans la pensee qu'il ne l'accepteroit pas et que hors de faire surprendre le fort qu'aryante faisoit bastir il seroit difficile qu'il peust vaincre thomiris ny approcher seulement des tentes royales mais pour pouvoir surprendre ce fort repliqua cyrus il faudroit avoir passe l'araxe et il faudroit que je sceusse precisement sa scituation de plus gelonide m'a charge de vous dire reprit ortalque qu'aryante a fait ce qu'il a pu pour empescher thomiris de vous mander par anacharsis qu'elle vous offre de vous 
 laisser passer l'araxe parce qu'il disoit que c'estoit le pis qui luy pouvoit arriver mais comme cette princesse ne songe a rien tant qu'a vous engager dans son pais elle pretend a ce que dit gelonide quand vous y serez entre de faire tous efforts pour faire rompre ou brusler le pont de bateaux sur quoy vous aurez passe l'araxe afin de pouvoir vous avoir en sa puissance si elle gagne la victoire comme elle l'espere a cause des passages difficiles ou il faut de necessite que vous vous trouviez engage aussi est-ce pour cela qu'elle m'a dit que thomiris ne fait pas avancer son armee et qu'elle se contente d'avoir seulement quelques troupes le long du fleuve afin que quand vous l'aurez passe ce soit a vous a l'aller chercher elle m'a dit de plus qu'aripite qui est tousjours amoureux de cette princesse luy amene un puissant secours mais ce qu'il y a de plus surprenant est qu'on dit que jamais on n'a entendu parler d'une diligence esgalle a celle de ceux qui bastissent ce fort qu'aryante fait faire et qui s'apelle le fort des sauromates parce que ce sont en effet des sauromates qui le font car comme ces peuples sont accoustumez a travailler aux mines qui sont en leur pais ils remuent la terre avec tant d'adresse et tant de diligence qu'ils ont fait en un mois ce que d'autres ne seroient pas en quatre de plus gelonide m'a apris qu'elle avoit descouvert qu'il y a desja quelque temps qu'arsamone a envoye secrettement 
 vers thomiris et qu'il trame quelque chose avec elle qui doit estre de grande importance mais seigneur elle m'en eust encore bien dit davantage si on ne la fust pas venue querir diligemment de la part de thomiris et il faloit sans doute qu'il se fust fait quelque combat entre quelques personnes de consideration car celuy qui luy vint dire que la reine la demandoit luy dit qu'il y avoit bien du desordre pour une querelle mais comme il ne luy expliqua pas la chose et que je fus contraint de la quiter et de partir tout a l'heure avec anacharsis je n'ay point sceu ce que c'est il est vray que comme adonacris a voulu demeurer encore un jour ou deux pour voir s'il ne gagnera rien sur l'esprit d'aryante vous pourrez scavoir a son retour si ce grand desordre vous peut estre utile a quelque chose et anabaris scaura aussi par luy ce que ses amis luy mandent car il a confere avec eux et s'est charge de leur responce apres cela cyrus voulant en une chose aussi importante que celle-la avoir l'advis de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens habiles aupres de luy tint conseil de guerre ou il pria anacharsis de se trouver mais ce sage scythe luy dit qu'il se contentoit d'estre tousjours tout prest d'executer ses ordres sans se mesler d'un mestier ou il y avoit long temps qu'il avoit renonce si bien que cyrus assemblant alors cresus artamas mazare myrsile intapherne gadate gobrias indathyrse et tous les autres qui avoient accoustume 
 d'estre du conseil il leur proposa l'estat des choses d'abord la pluralite des voix fut que cyrus mandast a thomiris qu'il estoit prest de se retirer a trois journees de l'araxe pourveu qu'elle vinst en personne a la teste de son armee qu'elle fist aussi passer l'araxe a la princesse mandane qu'elle promist de la rendre si elle estoit vaincue et qu'elle s'engageast a donner la bataille trois jours apres qu'elle auroit passe le fleuve mais comme cyrus n'estoit pas accoustume a reculer et qu'il ne pouvoit se resoudre de s'esloigner du lieu ou il devoit delivrer mandane on vit bien que cette proposition ne luy plaisoit pas aussi fut-il bien aise de voir que cresus et mazare n'estoient pas de cette opinion et qu'ils estoient de la sienne en effet dit-il a toute l'assemblee ce seroit decrediter nos armes que de reculer devant une reine apres avoir eu le bon-heur de vaincre tant de vaillans rois de plus qui sciat si ceux que nous aurions vaincus nous cederoient le fruit de la victoire quand mesme ils nous l'auroient promis et si repassant le fleuve dont ils feroient les maistres ils ne le deffendroient pas avec le debris de leur armee et s'ils ne nous empescheroient pas de delivrer mandane ainsi je conclus que pour agir prudemment et glorieusement tout ensemble il ne faut point s'amuser a accepter l'offre que fait thomiris de nous laisser passer l'araxe car il faut le passer quand mesme elle le deffendra mais seigneur luy dit 
 indathyrse l'advis qu'on vous a donne merite quelque reflection car enfin vostre armee ne peut avancer vers celle de thomiris par la plaine a cause qu'elle y periroit faute d'eau et le coste des bois ou elle fait bastir un fort a tant de defilez que je n'oserois respondre de l'evenement si vous entrepenez de les passer devant son armee quand nous serons au dela du fleuve reprit cyrus nous irons reconnoistre les passages car enfin il ne s'agit pas de capituler avec thomiris et de luy dire que si elle est vaincue elle rendra la princesse mandane puis qu'il s'ensuivroit de la que si elle ne l'estoit pas on ne la luy pourroit plus demander cependant la chose n'est pas en ces termes puis qu'il est vray que quand j'aurois este batu et que mon armee seroit destruite j'en referois une autre pour recommencer la guerre et que tant qu'il y auroit un homme dans toute l'estendue des pais que j'ay conquis ou dans ceux de ciaxare ou dans ceux du roy mon pere je combatrois tousjours pour delivrer mandane c'est pourquoy il faut passer l'araxe de quelque facon que ce puisse estre j'ay sceu ce matin adjousta-t'il que les bateaux et toutes les choses necessaires pour faire un pont sont prestes ainsi sans nous amuser a attendre des responces de thomiris on commencera ce pont des demain car puis que l'araxe n'en a point qui ne soient trop loin de nous il faut necessairement en faire un cependant j'envoyeray chrysante dire a thomiris que j'iray 
 bien tost luy porter ma responce a la teste de mon armee cyrus dit cela d'un ton de voix si ferme qu'il n'y eut personne qui s'osast opposer a sa volonte de sorte que tout le monde s'y conformant ce prince assura ceux a qui il parloit qu'il esperoit que la resolution qu'il leur faisoit prendre luy succederoit heureusement et a dire vray il ne manqua pas a sa parole car il agit avec tant de diligence il donna ses ordres avec tant de jugement et ils furent executez avec tant de promptitude que le pont qu'il fit faire sur l'araxe sembla estre fait par enchantement en effet les bateaux furent amenez si diligemment et furent attachez les uns aux autres en si peu de temps qu'a peine les troupes que thomiris avoit de l'autre coste du fleuve sceurent elles que ce pont estoit fait lors que l'avant-garde de l'armee de cyrus commenca de passer il est vray que ce qui les abusa fut que ce prince pour les tromper fit amener quelques bateaux vis a vis du lieu ou elles estoient et fit travailler comme si en effet c'eust este en ce lieu-la qu'il eust eu dessein de faire un pont mais pendant qu'il les amusoit par cette feinte il en faisoit faire un beaucoup au dessus de cet endroit en un lieu ou il n'y avoit de l'autre coste du fleuve que des bruyeres sans aucune habitation de sorte qu'encore que ceux qui commandoient ces troupes fussent advertis par quelques bergers qu'il y avoit beaucoup de bateaux en cet endroit et qu'il y avoit beaucoup de gens qui y 
 travailloient ils creurent que c'estoient des bateaux que cyrus faisoit descendre le long du fleuve pour joindre a ceux qu'ils voyoient qu'on attachoit les uns aux autres et que ce que ces bergers disoient de plus estoit un effet de la peur qu'ils avoient qui leur avoit fait croire ce qu'ils leur raportoient ils envoyerent pourtant quelques un des leurs pour s'en esclaircir mais comme la nuit les surprit ils retournerent sans en scavoir davantage et dirent qu'ils n'avoient rien veu sans dire qu'ils n'avoient pas este assez avant de sorte que le pont estant fait sans aucun obstacle il se trouva qu'a la pointe du jour il y avoit desja deux bataillons formez au dela de l'araxe pour faciliter le passage de l'armee si quelques troupes s'y fussent voulu opposer mais cyrus ne fut pas en cette peine car l'espouvante fut si grande parmy celles de thomiris lors qu'elles sceurent avec certitude que l'armee de cyrus passoit le fleuve qu'elles ne scavoient ce qu'elles devoient faire les chefs apres les avoir un peu r'assurees les forcerent pourtant de marcher vers le lieu ou cette armee passoit mais lors qu'elles y arriverent les choses n'estoient plus en estat de leur permettre de rien entreprendre car l'avant-garde toute entiere estoit passee et rangee en bataille les massagettes firent neantmoins quelques escarmouches mais elles leur succederent si mal qu'ils furent contraints de prendre le party de se retirer et d'envoyer diligemment 
 aux tentes royales ou ils pensoient qu'estoit thomiris afin de l'advertir du passage de cyrus cependant ce prince apres avoir employe toute la nuit et tout le jour a faire passer son armee et avoir donne ordre a son campement resolut sans donner temps a thomiris d'estre advertie de son passage et d'envoyer des troupes vers luy d'aller en personne reconnoistre les defilez dont on luy avoit parle car comme il scavoit que cette princesse dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de l'engager parmy ces passages difficiles ne faisoit pas avancer son armee il voulut voir s'il ne seroit point possible de surprendre le fort des sauromates devant qu'elle se fust emparee des avenues des bois et devant que ce fort fust acheve de sorte que prenant des guides il fut accompagne de mazare d'indathyrse d'araspe d'aglatias de ligdamis et de douze ou quinze autre pour reconnoistre ces passages si bien que comme il partit au milieu de la nuit et qu'il prit a la droite en tirant tousjours vers le fort des sauromates il arriva au commencement des bois a la pointe du jour et il y arriva sans craindre d'y trouver aucun obstacle car il jugeoit bien que si thomiris estoit encore aux tentes royales ou anacharsis l'avoit laissee elle ne pouvoit avoir la nouvelle de son passage et qu'elle n'auroit pas lait garder las defilez qu'il alloit renconnoistre puis qu'elle le croyoit encore au dela du fleuve ainsi se confiant en sa prudence et en sa bonne 
 fortune il entra dans les bois conduit par des guides qu'il avoit mais a peine y eut-il fait cent pas qu'il entendit a sa gauche un bruit de chevaux et a peine eut-il le loisir de raisonner sur ce qu'il entendoit qu'il vit au milieu de deux routes du bois qui se croisoient la reine des massagettes a cheval qui venoit droit a luy a la telle de trente cavaliers cette veue surprit d'une telle sorte cyrus qu'au lieu d'avancer vers elle son premier sentiment fut de retenir la bride de son cheval et de l'empescher d'aller si viste quoy qu'il n'est rien qu'il n'eust fait pour avoir thomiris en sa puissance il n'a pourtant jamais pu dire precisement quel avoit este le sentiment qui luy avoit faire faire cette action pour thomiris elle n'en usa pas de mesme car des qu'elle aperceut cyrus la fureur s'emparant de son esprit elle se retourna fierement vers ceux qui la suivoient et leur parlant avec authorite vaillans massagettes leur dit-elle en leur monstrant cyrus de la main vous pouvez aujourd'huy finir la guerre et vanger vostre reine si vous pouvez mettre dans mes fers le redoutable ennemy que je vous montre a ces mots ceux qui suivoient thomiris s'avancerent vers cyrus et cette belle reine irritee qui avoit ce jour la une espee pendue a des chaisnes d'or dont les boucles estoient ornees de diamans la tira fierement du fourreau et par une action menacante fit signe a cyrus qu'elle se croyoit estre en estat de se vanger de son 
 mespris d'autre part ce prince a qui une honte heroique donnoit quelque repugnance a tirer l'espee contre une femme et contre une femme dont il avoit este aime et dont il l'estoit encore quelque irritee qu'elle fust voyant que les siens venoient l'attaquer et songeant que s'il pouvoit avoit thomiris en sa puissance la guerre en seroit bien moins longue puis qu'aryante n'auroit pas tant d'authorite sur ses peuples et qu'ainsi mandane en seroit plustost delivree il se tourna vers ceux qui le suivoient et apres les avoir encouragez a bien faire et leur avoir deffendu de tuer thomiris et de tascher pourtant de la prendre il s'avanca vers ceux qui venaient l'attaquer et il les attaqua si rudement qu'encore qu'ils fussent plus forts en nombre ils eurent lieu de croire par ce premier choc qu'ils ne vaincroient pas sans peine aussi thomiris envoya-t'elle diligemment un des siens advertir aryante qui estoit alle reconnoistre le bois par un autre coste de la venir joindre le plus viste qu'il pourroit cependant le combat commencant asprement cyrus esclaircit bien tost le premier rang de ceux qu'il avoit en teste de sorte que poussant les autres et se faisant faire jour il n'estoit plus guere esloigne de thomiris lors qu'un sentiment de fureur et de jalousie tout ensemble obligea cette princesse de s'avancer vers luy l'espee haute mais cyrus ne se vit pas plustost devant elle que baissant la pointe de la sienne et suspendant 
 sa valeur eh de grace madame luy cria-t'il ne me forcez pas d'employer mon espee contre une reine que je voudrois servir si elle n'estoit pas injuste a peine ces paroles furent elles entendues de thomiris qu'elle commanda aux siens de cesser le combat si bien que cyrus faisant la mesme chose de son coste et tous ayant obei on vit dans ces bois un objet qui avoit quelque chose de terrible et de beau tout ensemble car enfin on voyoit huit ou dix hommes morts ou mourans quelques autres blesses et tous ceux qui ne l'estoient pas avoient quelque chose de si fier sur le visage qu'ils imprimoient de la terreur par leurs regards seulement pour cyrus quoy qu'il eust de la fierte dans les yeux de la colere et de la fureur dans l'ame et qu'il eust une espee toute sanglante a la main son action estoit pourtant si pleine de respect et il paroissoit si clairement qu'il eust voulu pouvoir delivrer mandane sans perdre thomiris qu'il n'y eut personne de ceux qui le virent quine connust qu'il avoit ce genereux sentiment dans le coeur pour thomiris elle estoit si belle ce jour la qu'il n'y avoit que mandane au monde qui eust pu disputer un coeur avec elle sans s'exposer a le perdre cette princesse estoit montee sur un beau cheval noir dont le harnois estoit d'or l'habit de thomiris estoit d'un drap d'or a compartimens vers meslez d'un peu d'incarnat et il estoit de la forme qu'on le donne a pallas lors qu'on la peint armee la robe 
 estant ratachee sur la hanche avec des agraphes de diamans laissoit voir des brodequins a mufles de lyon qui avoient raport au reste de son habit son habillement de teste estoit orne de pierreries et grand nombre de plumes incarnates blanches et vertes pendoient sur ses beaux cheveux blonds qui volant au gre du vent se mesloient confusement avec ces plumes selon qu'elle tournoit la teste et par mille boucles neglignees donnoient un merveilleux lustre a sa beaute de plus comme elle avoit ses manches retroussees et ratacees sur l'espaule et qu'elle tenoit la bride de son cheval d'une main et son espee de l'autre on luy voyoit les plus beaux bras du monde la colere luy avoit mesme mis un si bel incarnat sur le teint qu'elle en estoit encore plus belle qu'a l'ordinaire et la joye de revoir cyrus et de le voir en une action respectueuse pour elle effaca tellement de ses yeux toutes les marques de fureur qu'elle y avoit un moment auparavant qu'il n'y put rien voir que d'aimable et de charmant joint que l'esperance qu'elle avoit de le prendre si aryante pouvoit venir assez viste a son secours luy donna encore un plaisir extreme et luy fit prendre la resolution de parler moins fierement a cyrus afin de l'amuser plus long temps de sorte qu'apres qu'ils eurent fait cesser le combat de part et d'autre comme je l'ay dit et que cyrus eut baisse la pointe de son espee pour tesmoigner a cette princesse 
 qu'il ne vouloit pas la tremper dans son sang et qu'il l'eut priee de ne le forcer pas a perdre une reine qu'il voudroit servir cette belle guerriere prenant la parole luy respondit que puis que c'estoit luy qui commencoit la guerre elle la pouvoit faire sans injustice la guerre sera bientost finie madame luy dit-il si vous voulez delivrer la princesse mandane elle sera sans doute bien tost delivree repliqua-t'elle si vous le voulez car pourveu que vous vous remettiez prisonnier en sa place je m'engage a forcer aryante de consentir que je la delivre et a la delivrer mesme malgre luy quand vous l'aurez renvoyee dans mon camp reprit cyrus je m'engage a passer dans le vostre pourveu que mandane y consente car je vous proteste madame qu'il n'est rien que je ne sois capable de faire pour sa liberte et pour n'estre plus vostre ennemy respondit-elle en abaissant la voix vous scavez bien qu'il ne faudroit plus estre son amant car tant que vous le serez adjousta-t'elle en parlant tout haut elle sera ma prisonniere et je me vangeray sur elle de l'injure que vous me fistes en sortant de mes estats sans ma permission ha madame s'escria cyrus si c'est pour vous vanger de moy que vous retenez la princesse mandane captive delivrez la et je vous promets que je me puniray moy mesme du crime dont vous m'accusez et dont je ne me puis repentir a ces mots le hazard ayant fait venir aryante en cet endroit avec sa troupe quoy qu'il n'eust pas receu 
 l'ordre de thomiris cette princesse qui le vit paroistre avant que cyrus l'aperceust ne doutant pas qu'elle ne vist-bientost ce prince dans ses fers aussi bien que mandane luy dit alors qu'il n'estoit plus temps de parler de la liberte de cette princesse mais qu'il estoit temps qu'il luy rendist son espee et qu'il devinst son esclave a peine eut elle dit ces paroles que cyrus et tous ceux qui le suivoient voyant venir aryante et andramite a la teste de quinze ou vingt chevaux ne douterent presques plus de leur perte cependant comme cyrus vit qu'il n'y avoit pas de temps a perdre et que bien loin de prendre thomiris il se voyoit en danger d'estre pris il se jetta plus a droit avec sa troupe de peur d'estre envelope mais ce qu'il y eut de plus beau en cette rencontre fut que dans l'instant qu'il se separa de thomiris il fut en son pouvoir de la tuer et il vit la chose si facile qu'il n'y eut que sa seule vertu qui retint son bras il fut mesme si absolument maistre de luy en cette occasion et il s'imagina qu'il luy seroit si honteux d'avoir tue une reine qu'il ne fit pas la moindre action qui pust faire soubconner qu'il en eust la pensee au contraire en la quittant aprenez madame luy dit-il par le respect que je vous porte a respecter la princesse mandane et a faire du moins ce que vous devez puis que je fais presques plus que je ne dois d'autre part thomiris qui vit que cyrus par son respect luy donnoit lieu de luy pouvoir porter un coup leva 
 le bras dans le premier mouvement de sa fureur mais un second sentiment ayant retenu le premier elle laissa retomber negligemment son espee et regarda si aryante ne venoit pas cependant ce rival de cyrus voyant que ce prince par sa diligence ne pouvoit plus estre envelope joignit sa troupe a celle de thomiris de sorte qu'il estoit alors plus fort de la moitie que son ennemy il est vray que la repugnance qu'il avoit a combatre un prince a qui il avoit tant d'obligation diminua quelque chose de sa valeur ordinaire et fit qu'il l'attaqua plus foiblement mais thomiris en deffendant aux siens de tuer cyrus en leur commandant de le prendre et en leur promettant de grandes recompenses s'ils le prenoient les encouragea tellement qu'on peut dire que jamais le vainqueur de l'asie ne s'estoit trouve si pres d'estre prisonnier depuis qu'il le fut aupres du chasteau d'hermes toutesfois comme son grand coeur fut puissamment seconde par mazare par indathyrse par aglatidas par ligdamis par araspe par feraulas et par les autres qui l'avoient suivy ils se serrerent tous afin d'estre plus difficiles a rompre et se tenant ferme en un endroit du bois ou ils ne pouvoient estre envelopez ils soustinrent le premier choc d'aryante si vigoureusement que ceux qui les vouloient rompre se rompirent de sorte que cyrus s'enfoncant alors dans le gros des ennemis joignit aryante car pour thomiris elle donnoit ses 
 ordres sans combatre et redoubloit continuellement aux siens le commandement de ne tuer point cyrus et de le prendre cependant des que ce prince fut assez pres d aryante pour en estre entendu ha infidelle anaxaris luy dit-il en s'eslancant sur luy rends moy la princesse que je t'ay confiee je ne scay si anaxaris te la rendra repliqua ce prince en parant le coup que cyrus luy avoit porte mais je scay bien qu'aryante ne te la rendra pas quoy qu'il n'ignore pas qu'il a tort et qu'il scache bien qu'il est ingrat apres cela ces deux fiers ennemis ne se parlant plus que de la main leur combat fut tel que deux des plus vaillans princes du monde et qui estoient rivaux le pouvoient faire et si le nombre eust este un peu moins inesgal cyrus se fust assurement deffait de ce rival tout brave qu'il estoit mais comme il ne perdit pas le jugement en cette rencontre il vit bien que s'il s'opiniastroit a vouloir vaincre aryante il seroit vaincu par les siens et qu'il tomberoit en la puissance de thomiris de sorte qu'apres avoir assez considerablement blesse ce prince sur le haut de l'espaule et avoir veu qu'il n'avoit autre parti a prendre que celuy de se retirer il se desgagea du milieu des ennemis et r'assemblant tous les siens il se retira en combatant et en combatant si heureusement qu'il fit perdre coeur a ceux qui le suivoient car comme aryante a cause de sa blessure n'entreprit pas de le suivre et que thomiris ne le suivit aussi pas long temps 
 parce qu'elle craignit que la retraite de ce prince ne l'engageast dans quelque embuscade cyrus par sa conduite et par sa rare valeur se retira sans avoir perdu que trois cavaliers il est vray qu'en s'en retournant il s'aperceut qu'il estoit legerement blesse au coste droit de sorte que hastant sa marche des qu'il ne vit plus d'ennemis afin de se faire penser il arriva heureusement a son camp ou il estoit attendu avec beaucoup d'impatience et laissa thomiris dans un desespoir incroyable 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 des que cyrus fut arrive a sa tente il changea l'ordre qu'il avoit donne a chrysante d'aller vers thomiris et il se fit rendre conte en peu de mots de l'estat des choses pendant qu'on estoit alle appeller ses chirurgiens et donna ses ordres a tous en si peu de temps qu'il n'avoit plus rien a faire lors qu'ils arriverent pour visiter sa blessure qu'ils trouverent estre tres favorable et sans aucun danger mais ils dirent pourtant a cyrus qu'il estoit absolument necessaire qu'il gardast le lit deux jours et qu'il en fust sept ou huit sans 
 monter a cheval a cause que sa blessure estant assez pres de la hanche elle ne pourroit se consolider en peu de temps s'il ne se donnoit du repos adjoustant que s'il ne le faisoit pas il s'exposeroit a estre force d'y estre malgre luy beaucoup davantage d'abord cyrus ne vouloit pas leur obeir regardant alors sept ou huit jours comme sept ou huit siecles car il n'ignoroit pas que tant qu'il ne seroit point en estat d'agir il ne pourroit rien faire entreprendre a son armee toutesfois a la fin voyant que les advis de ceux qu'il devoit croire en cette occasion estoient conformes il leur obeit mais a peine eut-il eu loisir de se reposer deux heures qu'adonacris qui estoit demeure aux tentes royales apres anacharsis arriva et fut luy rendre conte de son voyage il est vray que cyrus n'eut pas eu grande impatience de luy en demander des nouvelles veu la disposition ou il scavoit par luy mesme qu'estoient thomiris et aryante si ce n'eust este parce qu'il avoit beaucoup d'envie de scavoir qui pouvoit les avoir fait partir si tost des tentes royales apres le depart d'anacharsis et ce qui les avoit fait aller dans les bois ou il les avoit rencontrez car il scavoit bien qu'ils ne pouvoient pas alors avoir eu nouvelles du dessein qu'il avoit fait de passer l'araxe de sorte que des qu'adonacris fut aupres de luy ce prince prit la parole le premier afin de l'obliger plustost a luy aprendre ce qu'il vouloit scavoir je ne vous demande point luy dit-il genereux 
 adonacris ce que vous avez gagne sur l'esprit d'aryante car apres l'avoir veu l'espee a la main je scay la responce qu'il vous a faite mais je vous demande pourquoy thomiris est venue si promptement dans les bois qui sont au deca du fort des sauromates seigneur repliqua adonacris pour satisfaire vostre curiosite il faut vous dire beaucoup de choses importantes c'est pourquoy encore que ma negociation n'ait pas este heureuse je ne laisseray pas de vous suplier de me permettre de vous dire tout ce que j'ay fait afin de vous dire en suite tout ce que j'ay apris je vous diray donc seigneur puis que vostre silence semble m'en donner la permission qu'il est vray que je n'ay pu rien obtenir d'aryante il est pourtant certain que j'ay veu une fois son esprit esbranle et que se souvenant de toutes les obligations qu'il vous a je luy ay veu autant de confusion que d'amour ouy mon cher adonacris me dit-il lors que je le pressois le plus fortement tout ce que vous dittes est vray et j'advoue qu'anaxaris est un lasche un ingrat et un perfide que cyrus doit hair horriblement et qu'il est esgallement indigne et de l'amitie de cyrus et de l'amour de mandane mais adonacris quand aryante voudroit reparer le crime d'anaxaris il le voudroit inutilement et mandane est si peu en sa disposition adjousta-t'il qu'a peine thomiris souffre t'elle qu'il la voye bien loin d'estre en estat de la pouvoir rendre a cyrus ainsi comme je me repentirois 
 en vain puis que je ne pourrois la delivrer quand je le voudrois il vaut autant que je ne me repente pas aussi bien poursuivit-il suis-je persuade que je me repentirois bienstost de m'estre repenti c'est pourquoy faites seulement ce que vous pourrez pour faire que mon rival me haisse sans me mespriser et taschez de diminuer la grandeur de mon crime par la grandeur de mon amour apres cela seigneur je redoublay mes raisons et mes prieres et j'ose vous assurer que mon affection me fit dire tout ce qu'un beaucoup plus habille homme que moy eust pu penser en cette occasion mais comme j'estois avec ce prince on le vint querir de la part de thomiris qui venoit de recevoir advis que le prince phraarte qui estoit alle voir le travail du fort des sauromates s'estoit batu contre un estranger qu'il avoit rencontre et qu'il estoit blesse a mort aussi bien que son ennemy de sorte que comme phraarte estoit en tres grande consideration aupres de thomiris elle ne sceut pas plustost l'estat ou il estoit qu'elle partit des tentes royales pour aller le voir au fort des sauromates ou on l'avoit porte parce qu'il s'estoit batu assez pres de la si bien que partant deux heures apres qu'anacharsis fut parti et menant le prince aryante et andramite avec elle je les suivis esperant que je pourrois peutestre gagner quelque chose sur l'esprit d'aryante par mon opiniastrete ainsi je fus avec eux jusques au fort des sauromates ou 
 nous ne fusmes pas plustost arrivez que thomiris et aryante furent visiter phraarte qu'ils trouverent a l'extremite toutesfois comme il avoit sa raison toute libre il les pria qu'il leur pust parler sans tesmoins et en effet il les entretint pres de demie heure apres quoy ayant perdu la parole ils le quitterent mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que depuis qu'il eurent parle a phraarte ils consulterent assez long temps ensemble paroissant mesme qu'aryante avoit quelque chose dans l'esprit qui ne luy plaisoit pas en suitte de quoy thomiris le quittant fut voir celuy qui s'estoit battu contre phraarte qu'on avoit porte au mesme lieu de sorte qu'il est aise de juger qu'il faut que cet inconnu fust fort considerable cependant je n'ay pu en scavoir davantage et tout ce que je vous en puis dire est qu'ils sont tous morts et qu'on leur a rendu les mesmes honneurs mais seigneur pour achever men recit je vous diray encore qu'aryante et thomiris dans le dessein que j'ay sceu qu'ils ont de vous engager parmi les defilez qui sont dans les bois qui environnent le fort des sauromates furent les reconnoistre pour voir ou ils posteroient des gens de guerre si vous passiez l'araxe mais comme il auroit falu trop de temps a les voir tous en un jour s'ils les eussent veus ensemble thomiris et aryante prirent chacun une partie du bois pour en reconnoistre les passages sans scavoir que vous aviez passe l'araxe car comme ceux qui estoient au 
 bord de ce fleuve croyoient que thomiris estoit aux tentes royales il est a croire que c'est la qu'ils envoyerent pour luy porter cette nouvelle aussi vous puis-je assurer qu'on n'en a rien sceu au fort des sauromates jusques au retour de thomiris et a celuy d'ariante qui apres vous avoir rencontre dans les bois et vous avoir combatu ont este esclaircis de la verite par plusieurs advis qu'ils en ont eus cependant quoy qu'aryante soit blesse il a voulu qu'on le reportast aux tentes royales aupres de qui est le gros de l'armee mais il n'a pas voulu que je luy parlasse de sorte que je suis revenu vers vous bien-marry seigneur de n'avoir pu rien faire pour vostre service non plus que les amis d'anabaris qui m'ont promis de ne perdre aucune occasion de toutes celles que la fortune leur offrira pour tascher de moyenner la liberte de mandane comme adonacris achevoit de prononcer ces paroles on vint dire a cyrus qu'un homme a qui il avoit parle aupres de l'araxe le jour qu'il estoit revenu de voir la princesse onesile de mandoit avec empressement a luy parler de sorte que cyrus jugeant bien que c'estoit celuy qu'il avoit charge de dire au roy de pont qu'il seroit mieux de venir combatre dans son armee que d'aller combatre pour le ravisseur de mandane il commanda qu'on le fist entrer si bien qu'adonacris s'estant retire et cet homme estant entre cyrus luy demanda ce qu'il avoit a luy dire de la part du roy son maistre seigneur 
 respondit-il en soupirant je vous damande pardon de ne pouvoir vous cacher la douleur que j'ay de la mort d'un prince qui estoit vostre rival mais ce qu'il m'a charge de vous dire me rendra peut-estre excusable et vous obligera vous mesme a pleindre le malheur d'un si grand prince quoy s'escria cyrus le roy de pont est mort ouy seigneur repliqua-t'il et il est mort avec des sentimens bien opposez a ceux du prince qui luy a fait perdre la vie ce que vous me dittes reprit cyrus me surprend d'une telle sorte que pour m'obliger a vous croire il faut que vous me racontiez cet accident avec toutes ses circonstances pour le pouvoir faire seigneur respondit cet homme il faut que je vous die qu'apres que je vous eus quitte je sus passer le fleuve a l'endroit le plus proche ou je le pus passer et que je fus si heureux que le lendemain je rencontray le roy mon maistre qui s'estoit arreste a la premiere habitation afin d'avoir un cheval en donnant une bague qu'il avoit encore mais seigneur quoy que je luy disse tout ce que vous m'aviez fait l'honneur de me dire et que mesme il en fust sensiblement touche il ne laissa pas de continuer son voyage trois jours apres de sorte que comme on luy dit que le chemin des bois estoit le plus court pour aller au lieu ou estoit l'armee il le prit et fut en passant au fort des sauromates ou il aprit fortuitement en s'informant des nouvelles generales que phraarte qu'il avoit sceu a cumes avoir enleve la 
 princesse sa soeur estoit aux tentes royales avec araminte et il sceut de plus qu'il devoit arriver ce jour la au fort ou nous estions de vous dire seigneur ce que ce deplorable prince pensa en cette occasion il ne me seroit pas aise ha fortune s'escria-t'il c'est trop d'opiniastrete a me persecuter et il faut a la fin que ma constance succombe en effet poursuivit-il n'est-ce pas estre bien malheureux que d'estre accable de tant de disgraces a la fois j'aime sans estre aime j'ay perdu deux royaumes que mes ennemis possedent j'ay de l'obligation au rival qu'on me prefere je l'estime mesme autant que la princesse qui le prefere a moy le peut estimer je hais aryante et comme mon rival et comme le ravisseur de mandane et comme mon vainqueur et cependant je me resous a combatre pour luy plustost que de combatre pour cyrus et pour achever de m'accabler je trouve en cette cour le ravisseur d'araminte songe donc adjoustoit-il si l'honneur te permet de voir un prince qui a enleve ta soeur sans te vanger de cet affront et pense enfin que n'ayant jamais rien fait de lasche que l'amour ne t'ait force de faire tu n'auras pas cette excuse en cette occasion apres cela seigneur ce grand prince se teut et m'ayant fait signe qu'il vouloit estre seul je sortis du lieu ou il estoit mais comme le hazard se mesle de tout il se trouva qu'a la tente qui touchoit celle ou j'estois il y avoit des estrangers qui parloient une langue qui ne 
 m'estoit pas inconnue car j'ay trop este en pont et en bithinie pour n'en scavoir pas le langage qui est celuy dont ces estrangers se servoient l'entendis donc que deux hommes qui estoient dans cette tente parloient assez haut parce qu'ils ne croyoient pas qu'on entendist leur langue mais comme je prestay l'oreille j'entendis qu'un des deux disoit a l'autre qu'arsamone auroit une grande joye de voir araminte en sa puissance et qu'il ne doutoit pas que les princesses qu'il devoit donner en ostage a thomiris n'arrivassent bientost il est vray repliqua celuy a qui il parloit qu'arsamone en aura bien de la joye mais spitridate en aura aussi bien de la douleur quand il le scaura et je ne scay si nous sommes bien sages de servir si aveuglement arsamone dans toutes ses violences et si quand le prince son fils viendra a regner nous ne nous en repentirons point apres cela seigneur ces deux hommes ayant change de place je n'entendis plus ce qu'ils dirent cependant comme je creus qu'il importoit que mon maistre sceust ce que j'avois entendu je fus le retrouver et le luy dire si bien qu'ayant une forte curiosite d'en scavoir davantage et ne doutant pas que ceux que je venois d'entendre ne fussent nais ses sujets il se resolut de se montrer a eux et en effet sans se consulter davantage luy mesme il sortit de la tente ou il estoit loge et fut a celle ou ces gens estoient qu'il surprit d'une telle sorte par sa veue que quoy qu'ils le vissent en un estat 
 bien different de celuy ou ils l'avoient veu ils ne laisserent pas de trembler en le voyant et d'avoir du respect pour luy si bien que comme il connut leurs sentimens par leur action il profita du desordre de leur esprit et sceut leur parler avec tant d'authorite qu'il les obligea a luy dire ce qu'ils faisoient au lieu ou il les trouvoit de sorte qu'il sceut par eux qu'arsamone qui avoit sceu que phraarte en partant de la colchide avoit pris la route des massagettes avoit envoye vers thomiris luy offrir de faire une puissante diversion en attaquant ciaxare et en faisant mesme soulever une partie de l'assirie pourveu qu'elle remist araminte en son pouvoir s'engageant mesme de luy faire espouser phraarte et luy offrant pour la seurete de ce traite de remettre entre ses mains la princesse sa fille et la princesse sa niece a condition qu'elle luy promettroit aussi que si spitridate tomboit sous sa puissance pendant la guerre qu'elle alloit avoir avec cyrus elle le remettroit sous la sienne en suite de cela ces deux hommes qui estoient tous deux d'heraclee dirent que thomiris avoit accepte la chose et que phraarte y avoit consenti se tenant encore plus assure d'espouser araminte par force a la cour d'arsamone qu'a celle de thomiris adjoustant qu'ils estoient demeurez en ce pais la pour tenir les choses en l'estat qu'elles estoient et que bien tost la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine y arriveroient apres cela ils luy dirent encore qu'ils estoient 
 venus voir ce fort par curiosite et qu'ils venoient d'aprendre que phraarte y arriveroit ce jour-la et en effet seigneur a peine ces sujets du roy de pont eurent-ils dit a ce prince ce qu'il avoit voulu scavoir qu'on dit que phraarte alloit arriver et qu'il estoit alle voir les travaux du dehors de la place de sorte que le roy de pont deffendant a ces deux hommes de dire qui il estoit et le leur deffendant avec la mesme authorite que s'il eust encore este sur le throne il monta a cheval et j'y montay aussi sans scavoir quel estoit son dessein mais enfin seigneur sans m'amuser a des circonstances inutiles il fut ou l'on luy avoit dit que phraarte estoit il ne se monstra pourtant pas a luy d'abord au contraire apres se l'estre fait montrer il fut aut galop dans un bois qui n'en est pas loin et me donnant ses tablettes dans quoy il avoit escrit quelque chose il me chargea de les donner a phraarte qui regardoit travailler et de ne luy dire pas qui il estoit et en effet obeissant au roy mon maistre je portay ces tablettes phraarte leut ce qui estoit escrit dedans et me demanda tout bas qui estoit celuy qui les luy envoyoit et ou il estoit seigneur luy dis-je il est a deux cens pas d'icy mais pour son nom il m'a deffendu de vous le dire et je n'oserois luy desobeir apres cela comme phraarte estoit brave et que sa valeur estoit un peu inconsideree il ne s'opiniastra pas davantage a vouloir scavoir le nom de celuy qui le vouloit voir l'espee a la 
 main et il ne songea qu'a contenter cet inconnu qui luy demandoit satisfaction d'un outrage joint que s'imaginant a ce qu'il dit apres que c'estoit peut-estre spitridate il ne voulut pas differer davantage a le satisfaire si bien que comme il estoit alle peu accompagne il se defit aisement des siens sur divers pretextes et apres m'avoir renvoye assurer mon maistre qu'il seroit bien tost a luy il me suivit un quart d'heure apres et vint a l'endroit que je luy avois marque en le quitant sans autre compagnie que celle d'un esclave seulement et sans autres armes que son espee car mon maistre comme je l'ay sceu depuis luy avoit mande qu'il faloit que l'espee seule decidast leur different mais seigneur il fut bien estonne lors qu'arrivant au lieu ou estoit son ennemy il vit qu'il ne le connoissoit pas il est vray qu'il sortit bien-tost de cet estonnement pour rentrer dans un autre car des que le roy de pont le vit il mit l'espee a la main et s'avancant vers luy c'est en cet estat luy dit il que je vous dois dire que je suis frere de la princesse araminte et que je suis en pouvoir de vous empescher de la remettre entre les mains de l'usurpateur de mes royaumes si vous estes celuy que vous dittes reprit brusquement phraarte en mettant aussi l'espee a la main vous ne devez pas vous pleindre d'un prince qui veut oster araminte a spitridate que vous n'aimez pas il est vray que je ne l'aime pas reprit-il mais je l'estime et il n'en est pas autant de vous 
 pour un ravisseur de mandane repliqua brusquement phraarte vous estes bien sensible a un enlevement a ces mots le roy de pont sans respondre davantage s'avanca vers luy avec une valeur incroyable phraarte de son coste se batit comme un homme desespere d'estre force de se batre contre le frere de sa maistresse neantmoins comme il avoit une valeur un peu brutale a ce que disent ceux qui le connoissoient il ne laissa pas de se batre contre le roy de pont avec la mesme opiniastrete que s'il eust este son rival pour moy je fus contraint d'estre spectateur de ce combat car comme phraarte n'avoit qu'un esclave aveque luy je ne pouvois faire autre chose mais enfin seigneur apres s'estre batus tres long-temps et s'estre blessez mortellement en divers endroits le roy de pont pressant vivement le prince phraarte luy donna un si grand coup a travers le corps qu'il tomba de cheval et laissa tomber son espee dont le roy de pont se saisit parce qu'il se jetta a terre au mesme instant ainsi il fut vainqueur de phraarte mais a peine sceut-il qu'il avoit vaincu qu'il tomba de foiblesse a quatre pas de son ennemy de sorte qu'estant contraint de me servir de l'esclave du vaincu pour secourir le vainqueur je l'envoyay advertir ceux du fort de cet accident si bien qu'estant venu du monde on porta ces deux blessez dans les tentes du fort des sauromates et on envoya advertir thomiris et aryante de ce qui estoit arrive cependant quoy qu'un chirurgien 
 qui se trouva la dist que les blessures de mon maistre estoient mortelles aussi bien que celles de phraarte je ne dis pourtant pas qui il estoit de peur qu'on ne l'arrestast et qu'on ne hastast sa mort par cette violence mais lors que thomiris et aryante arriverent j'ay sceu que phraarte le leur dit et qu'ils les pria de luy promettre de tenir le traite qu'ils avoient fait avec arsamone afin qu'araminte estant sous la puissance de ce prince n'espousast jamais spitridate mais seigneur apres que phraarte eut fait cette injuste priere a thomiris et a aryante il perdit la parole et peu de temps apres la vie cependant thomiris ayant sceu de phraarte la qualite de mon maistre le vint voir suivie seulement d'un homme de condition de lydie apelle andramite car pour aryante il est a croire qu'il ne put se resoudre a faire une visite a son rival seigneur ce malheureux prince a qui les aproches de la mort avoient donne ses sentimens plus justes et pour vous et pour mandane dit a cette reine des choses si touchantes pour l'obliger a vous rendre cette princesse et pour la porter a persuader a aryante de se repentir de la violence qu'il luy avoit faite que si je pouvois vous les redire vous seriez charme de sa vertu je vy pourtant bien seigneur adjousta cet homme que thomiris ne se laissoit pas persuader aussi ne fut-elle pas long temps aupres de luy mais comme elle l'assuroit qu'encore qu'il eust un ennemy qui luy estoit fort considerable 
 elle ne laissoit pas de le considerer aussi extremement et de vouloir qu'on eust beaucoup de soin de luy j'ay si peu de part a la vie luy repliqua-t'il que je ne vous demande rien pour moy non pas mesme un tombeau car je n'ay pas dessein d'eterniser la memoire de mes malheurs mais madame poursuivit il en soupirant je vous demande toutes choses pour la princesse mandane apres cela thomiris estant sortie sans luy respondre precisement et ce malheureux roy sentant bien qu'il ne pouvoit plus guere vivre me commanda de faire scavoir a la princesse mandane quand je le pourrois qu'il s'estoit repenti de sa violence sans se pouvoir repentir de l'avoir aimee et de la conjurer de ne hair point sa memoire pour vous seigneur il me chargea de vous dire qu'il estoit au desespoir de mourir ingrat et de ne pouvoir s'empescher de mourir vostre rival et qu'il vous prioit d'avoir soin de la princesse araminte adjoustant en suite qu'il vouloit mourir amy de spitridate et qu'il me conmandoit de l'en assurer apres cela seigneur sa raison s'estant esgaree il passa la nuit suivante a parler continuellement de mandane mais a en parler sans suitte et sans aucune liaison puis s'estant affoibly tout d'un coup il mourut a la pointe du jour ainsi le vainqueur et le vaincu moururent presques en mesme temps et receurent apres leur mort les mesmes honneurs parles ordres de thomiris cependant conme cette princesse estoit sur les lieux elle voulut aller reconnoistre les bois qui sont a l'entour 
 de ce fort avant que de s'en retourner mais durant qu'elle y fut et que nous combatiez aryante un escuyer d'andramite que son maistre avoir laisse en ce lieu la pour quelque commission qu'il luy avoit donnee vint m'aborder par curiosite pour scavoir qui estoit le maistre dont je regrettois la perte car seigneur j'oubliois de vous dire que thomiris n'avoit point publie sa condition mesme apres sa mort et je m'imagine qu'elle en via ainsi afin que la nouvelle de la mort du roy de pont ne fust pas portee a la princesse sa soeur avant qu'elle fust retournee aux tentes royales mais enfin seigneur cet escuyer d'andramite ne m'eut pas plustost aborde que nous nous reconnusmes pour avoir porte les armes ensemble au siege d'ephese du temps que le prince artamas s'apelloit cleandre de sorte que nous embrassant aveque joye nous nous rendismes conte de nos avantures et nous renouasmes nostre ancienne amitie qui avoit este fort estroite mais pour la renouer fortement il me confia le dessein qu'il a de vous servir et je luy dis aussi qui estoit mon maistre et ce qu'il m'avoit charge en mourant de vous venir dire de sorte que nous excitant l'un l'autre dans le dessein de reparer les fautes que nous avions faites contre vous en taschant de vous rendre quelque service considerable nous fusmes nous promener ensemble a l'entour du fort mais seigneur en nous y promenant nous remarquasmes que l'endroit par ou 
 il n'est pas encore entierement acheve est si facile a surprendre qu'avec cinq cens hommes seulement on s'en peut rendre maistre si bien que souhaitant alors ardamment que vous eussiez passe l'araxe pour pouvoir former cette entreprise nous creumes faire des souhaits inutiles parce que nous ne scavions pas encore que vous l'eussiez passe mais seigneur nous sceusmes bien tost par le retour de thomiris et par aryante qui revint blesse que vous estiez plus pres de nous que nous ne pensions si bien que cet escuyer d'andramite et moy regardant alors la chose que nous avions imaginee comme une chose possible nous l'examinasmes aveque soin et pour faciliter nostre dessein thomiris partant de la et aryante aussi andramite laissa heureusement pour nous cet escuyer dans ce fort par les ordres d'aryante avec commandement d'aller les advertir quand il seroit acheve et il l'y laissa mesme avec quelque authorite sur les travailleurs car comme cet homme s'intriguoit autant qu'il pouvoit pour faire reussir le dessein que nous avions forme il persuada a son maistre qu'il avoit autre fois servy le prince de cumes aux fortifications de sa ville et qu'il s'y entendoit extremement or seigneur depuis le depart de thomiris et d'aryante cet escuyer et moy ayant considere l'assiette des lieux et l'estat present de la place nous avons resolu que je viendrois vous advertir que si vous voulez diligemment envoyer 
 cinq cens hommes par un chemin qu'un guide que j'ay pris m'a fait prendre vous surprendrez le fort et vous en serez bientost maistre mais seigneur ce dessein veut de la diligence car on dit que des que thomiris sera retournee aux tentes royales et qu'elle aura donne quelque ordre a la seurete de la princesse mandane et au despart d'araminte qu'elle doit renvoyer a arsamone des que les deux princesses qu'il baille en ostage seront arrivees elle reviendra avec toute son armee afin de s'emparer des passages qu'elle a reconnus et de vous engager a la combatre en un poste desavantageux pour vous c'est pourquoy seigneur il faut se haster et il ne faut pas mesme plus de gens que ce que je vous en demande de peur que si on separoit un plus grand corps de vostre armee ceux du fort n'en fussent advertis vous me dittes tant de choses surprenantes dit alors cyrus voyant que cet honme n'avoit plus rien a dire que je ne scay a laquelle respondre la premiere je vous diray toutesfois que je pleins le pitoyable destin du roy de pont que je loue la fidellite que vous avez eue pour luy et que je reconpenseray le zele que vous avez pour moy
 
 
 
 
apres cela cyrus luy ayant fait dire le veritable estat de la place il trouva qu'il en parloit si pertinemment qu'il y avoit apparence que le dessein qu'il luy vouloit faire prendre n'estoit pas mal fonde pourveu qu'il fust execute avec diligence neantmoins comme il estoit fort important il envoya querir mazare et indathyrse seulement pour en 
 conferer avec eux ne voulant pas proposer la chose au conseil de guerre de peur qu'elle ne fust sceue de sorte qu'ayant expose en peu de mots a ces deux princes l'affaire dont il s'agissoit et leur ayant dit qu'il trouvoit a propos de hazarder cinq cens hommes pour tenter cette entreprise ils furent de son advis si bien que sans differer davantage cyrus ayant choisi feraulas pour cette hardie action il l'envoya querir il choisit en suite les troupes qu'il devoit commander il luy donna tous les ordres necessaires et tous les conseils qu'il creut luy devoir donner et l'ayant fait conferer avec celuy qui luy avoit donne cet advis il fut resolu qu'ils partiroient a l'entree de la nuit que quand ils seroient assez pres du fort ils feroient aveque du feu un signal qui advertiroit cet escuyer d'andramite suivant qu'il en estoit demeure d'accord avec son amy afin qu'il respondist par un autre et qu'ils sceussent precisement l'endroit par ou ils devoient surprendre le fort car ces deux hommes en se separant avoient pris toutes leurs mesures comme ne doutant pas que cyrus ne hazardast la chose et ne l'entreprist et en effet les troupes que ce prince avoit choisies partirent a l'entree de la nuit comandees par feraulas et conduites par cet honme qui avoit este au roy de pont et par le guide qu'il avoit mais apres qu'ils furent partis cyrus se mit a considerer avec plus de loisir la pitoyable mort du roy le pont et a deplore le malheur d'un prince que la fortune avoit persecute toute sa vie avec une opiniastrete estrange de sorte que 
 rapellant en suite dans sa memoire la mort du roy d'assirie il se trouva estre capable de compassion pour ces deux illustres rivaux aussi bien que d'amitie pour mazare si bi que r'assemblant toute la haine qu'il avoit eue pour eux en la personne d'aryante il le hait autant tout seul qu'il les avoit hais tous ensemble c'estoit pourtant une haine accompagnee d'estime mais qui estoit d'autant plus forte qu'il avoit eu beaucoup d'amitie pour luy apres les grandes actions qu'il avoit faites et a sardis et a cumes mais ce qui affligeoit sensiblement cyrus estoit de se voir oblige de n'agir point durant quelques jours cependant il ne laissoit pas d'ordonner de tout et de voir tous ceux qui avoient quelque chose a luy dire et mesme de souffrir la veue de tous ceux qui n'avoient qu'a se donner le plaisir de le voir il est vray que l'envie qu'il avoit de scavoir le succes de cette entreprise partageoit fort son esprit et qu'il ne l'avoit pas tout a fait libre il ne laissoit pourtant pas de parler a tous ses amis comme s'il n'eust ri eu d'extraordinaire dans l'ame et de s'informer obligeamment de leurs interests en effet il demandoit quelquefois des nouvelles de palmis au prince artamas de celles d'amestris a aglatidas et de celles de cleonice a ligdamis mais pour intapherne il ne luy voulut point dire ce qu'il avoit apris du traite qu'arsamone avoit fait avec thomiris de peur de l'affliger il commanda seulement aux chefs qui avoient leurs quartiers le plus pres de l'araxe que s'ils rencontroient 
 quelque cavalerie qui conduisist des dames qu'on les respectast et qu'on les amenast au champ il est vray que ce prince n'ignora pas longtemps son malheur car comme il estoit un matin au bout du pont de bateaux que cyrus avoit fait faire sur l'araxe a regarder passer quelques troupes qui estoient nouvellement arrivees et que ciaxare envoyoit a cyrus il vit paroistre le prince atergatis mais a peine le vit il que l'impatience le prenant il fut droit a luy et sans descendre de cheval parce que le lieu ne le permettoit pas ils se donnerent la main l'un a l'autre et se la ferrant estroitement ils se confirmerent leur amitie mais comme intapherne avoit beaucoup de choses a demander a atergatis et qu'atergatis en avoit beaucoup a dire a intapherne ils s'esloignerent promptement du pont et se separant de la presse intapherne vit tant de melancolie dans les yeux de son amy que cette tristesse passa bien tost dans son coeur et y mit une certaine curiosite accompagnee de crainte qui faisoit qu'il avoit une envie extreme de demander des nouvelles de la princesse de bithinie sans qu'il osast s'en informer mais a la fin ne pouvant plus s'en empescher et bien mon cher atergatis luy dit-il estes vous banny par arsamone pour m'avoir voulu rendre office aupres de la princesse sa fille helas reprit atergatis en soupirant que vous allez estre surpris de la cause de mon voyage et que vous serez estonne et afflige tout ensemble quand vous scaurez que la princesse de bithinie 
 et la princesse istrine sont presentement en la puissance de thomiris ou y seront bien tost et que la princesse araminte sera bientost aussi en celle d'arsamone quoy s'escria intapherne il peut y avoir de la verite a ce que vous dittes eh de grace adjousta-t'il ne me tenez pas plus long temps en peine et dittes moy quelle peut estre une si bizarre avanture apres cela atergatis luy aprit ce que cyrus scavoit desja c'est a dire le traite de thomiris et d'arsamone il est vray qu'il luy dit de plus le commencement de l'execution de ce traite par le despart des princesses mais luy dit intapherne comment avez vous pu souffrir une si injuste chose sans vous y opposer comme arsamone jugea bien que je m'y opposerois si j'en avois connoissance repliqua atergatis il agit avec tant de secret que je ne sceus point du tout quelle estoit la negociation qu'il faisoit avec thomiris et pour m'empescher de faire obstacle au depart de ces princesses il m'envoya a heraclee durant qu'il les fit embarquer a chrysopolis pour les envoyer a la reine des massagettes mais comme ces princesses sceurent quel estoit leur destin elles en furent si affligees que touchant le coeur d'un de ceux qui estoient dans le vaisseau ou on les mit il leur promit de me venir advertir si ce vaisseau prenoit terre de sorte que comme le lendemain il falut de necessite aborder parce que la princesse de bithinie demanda pour grace qu'on luy permist d'envoyer faire un sacrifice a un temple qui est 
 au bord de la mer a la pointe d'un cap qu'il faloit que ce vaisseau doublast cet honme que ces deux princesses avoient gagne sortit du vaisseau et n'y r'entra pas au contraire il vint diligemment me trouver et m'advertir en peu de mots de ce que les princesses scavoient de l'estat de leur fortune de sorte que ne jugeant pas ny que je les pusse joindre ny que je deusse retourner trouver arsamone ny que je deusse m'arrester a faire ce qu'il m'avoit ordonne je suis venu diligemment vous trouver et j'ay joint a trois journees d'icy les troupes avec lesquelles je suis venu mais en venant j'ay sceu que ces princesses sont menees par un chemin assez long afin de ne passer pas l'araxe si pres du lieu ou cyrus est campe ainsi si elles sont aupres de thomiris ce ne peut estre que depuis un jour seulement intapherne aprenant une si facheuse nouvelle en eut une douleur inconcevable et ces deux illustres amis se plaignirent avec tant de violence de la rigueur de leur destin qu'il ne falloit que les voir sans les entendre pour connoistre qu'ils avoient quelque grand sujet d'affliction mais a la fin intapherne ayant dit a atergatis qu'il faloit donc mettre leur esperance en la valeur de cyrus qui en delivrant mandane delivreroit leurs princesses il se disposa a le mener a sa tente apres l'en avoir fait advertir de sorte que comme ce prince n'ignoroit ny son nom ny sa qualite ny son merite ny ses advantures ny l'amitie qui estoit tre intapherne et luy il le receut avec toute la civilite possible mais lors qu'intapherne voulut 
 luy aprendre le traite qu'arsamone avoit fait il l'arresta et sans luy donner la peine de luy dire une chose qu'il scavoit desja il luy dit qu'il ne l'ignoroit pas et qu'il luy en avoit fait un secret pour luy espargner quelques soupirs adjoustant que des qu'il avoit receu cet advis il avoit donne ordre a ceux qui commandoient les quartiers les plus esloignez s'ils rencontroient des dames de les respecter et de les amener dans son camp en suite de quoy ces deux amans estant esgallement satisfaits des soins de cyrus le remercierent avec une esgalle civilite atergatis en son particulier le fit de si bonne grace que cyrus connut bien qu'il meritoit toutes les louanges que celuy qui luy avoit apris son histoire luy avoit donnees mais pour commencer leur amitie par une confiance ils se pleignirent ensemble et cyrus repassant ses principales avantures en se pleignant fit un abrege de ses malheurs qui suspendit la douleur des deux amans a qui il parloit parce qu'ils le trouverent encore plus infortune qu'eux car enfin leur dit-il vous n'avez point de rivaux qui tiennent les personnes que vous aimez captives et thomiris n'a point d'interest de les mal traiter mais pour mandane adjousta-t'il elle est sous la puissance d'un amant et sous le pouvoir d'une reine qui croit avoir raison de la retenir cependant comme cyrus avoit apris plus precisement la route qu'on faisoit prendre a ces deux princesses qui venoient de bithinie il commanda divers 
 partis pour aller en remontant le long de l'araxe jusques a ce qu'ils eussent perdu l'esperance de les rencontrer ou de trouver du moins la princesse araminte que thomiris devoit renvoyer a arsamone quand les autres seroient arrivees aupres d'elle car il jugeoit bien qu'elle l'envoyeroit avec la mesme escorte et par le mesme chemin de sorte que comme intapherne et atergatis ne pouvoient pas s'empescher d'y aller en personne veu l'interest qu'ils y avoient il falut que cyrus leur permist d'y aller leur disant obligeamment qu'il estoit bien marry de n'estre pas en estat d'y aller luy mesme et de leur aider a delivrer leurs princesses comme il esperoit qu'ils luy aideroient a delivrer mandane cependant anacharsis qui estoit charme de la vertu de cyrus le voyoit avec beaucoup d'assiduite disant a ceux a qui il en parloit que jusques alors il avoit apris a parler de la sagesse mais qu'en voyant agir cyrus il vouloit aprendre a la pratiquer ce prince de son coste trouvoit en la conversation de ce sage scythe une sincerite qui luy plaisoit infiniment et une grandeur de sentimens qui touchoit fort son inclination aussi l'entretien d'anacharsis servit-il beaucoup a luy faire suporter le chagrin qu'il avoit d'estre contraint d'estre quelques jours sans agir et a luy faire attendre avec moins d'impatience le succes de son entreprise mais enfin il en eut une nouvelle plus heureuse qu'il n'avoit ose l'esperer et ce garde de mandane qui 
 estoit devenu escuyer d'andramite et qui avoit forme ce hardy dessein vint luy mesme pour mieux obtenir son pardon aporter a cyrus la nouvelle de son execution et luy dire qu'il estoit maistre du fort mais pour luy particulariser cette grande action il luy dit que feraulas conduit par cet homme qui avoit este au roy de pont avoit fait sa marche si diligemment et si heureusement que ceux du fort n'en avoient eu aucune connoissance que le signal avoit este fait si a propos et que l'attaque avoit tellement surpris la garnison qu'elle avoit pris l'espouvante et avoit este taillee en pieces que de plus feraulas apres s'en estre rendu maistre avoit si bien r'assure les travailleurs et leur avoit promis de si grandes recompenses s'ils achevoient ce qui restoit encore a faire que ces gens qui avoient ouy parler de la liberalite de cyrus s'y estoient resolus et avoient promis d'achever leur travail en deux jours cette grande nouvelle eust donne une joye extreme a ce prince s'il eust este en estat d'avancer avec toute son armee mais outre que sa blessure ne le luy permettoit pas il arriva un accident qui l'empescha d'y songer qui fut que l'araxe ayant este fort agite par un grand vent qui dura toute la nuit rompit le pont et que le courant du fleune emporta avec impetuosite plusieurs des batteaux destachez et fracassa presques tous les autres de sorte que comme l'armee de cyrus ne pouvoit tirer sa subsistance que du pais qui estoit 
 au de la du fleuve il n'y avoit pas moyen de s'en esloigner que le pont ne fust refait afin de faire passer les munitions pour toute l'armee car tout ce qu'on pouvoit faire le pont estant rompu estoit d'en avoir assez chaque jour en employant ce qu'il y avoit de bateaux dont on se pouvoit servir pour la faire subsister au poste ou elle estoit ainsi il falut de necessite que cyrus se resolust d'attendre a entreprendre quelque chose qu'il pust monter a cheval que le pont fust refait et que les munitions necessaires durant sa marche fussent passees cependant il fit travailler avec une diligence incroyable a racommoder ce pont et renvoya celuy qui luy avoit aporte la nouvelle de la prise du fort des sauromates pour dire a feraulas que si on l'attaquoit qu'il se deffendist avec l'esperance d'estre bientost secouru mais enfin apres avoir garde quatre jours le lit les chirurgiens luy permirent de se lever pourveu qu'il ne sortist point de sa tente de quatre ou cinq jours de sorte que comme il y estoit un matin avec mazare artamas et myrsile on luy dit que le prince intapherne et le prince atergatis arrivoient et qu'ils amenoient des dames cette nouvelle surprit extremement cyrus il creut pourtant apres y avoir pense que peut-estre auroient-ils rencontre leurs princesses et qu'il les auroient tirees des mains de ceux qui les menoient a thomiris si bien que scachant que ces deux princes luy demandoient la permission de luy amener ces dames il la leur 
 donna promptement et leur manda dans la croyance que c'estoient celles qu'il pensoit que s'il eust este en estat de leur aller aider a descendre de leur chariot il eust este au devant d'elles mais ce prince fut bien surpris lors qu'intapherne et atergatis luy amenerent la princesse araminte suivre d'hesionide au lieu de la princesse de bithinie et d'istrine qu'il avoit creu voir il est vray qu'il la vit si triste que jugeant bien qu'elle scavoit la mort du roy son frere il n'osa luy tesmoigner la joye qu'il avoit ny commencer de la traitter en reine joint que venant a penser que mandane avoit perdu une grande consolation en perdant la presence de cette princesse il ne luy fut pas difficile de retenir le premier mouvement de joye qu'il avoit eu en la voyant mais il ne laissa pourtant pas de luy faire voir dans ses yeux qu'il avoit tousjours pour elle l'amitie qu'il luy avoit promise cependant comme cette princesse qui avoit autant de jugement que d'esprit jugea que cyrus se trouveroit peut-estre embarrasse a luy parler de la mort du roy son frere elle resolut de luy en parler la premiere en l'abordant en effet elle ne fut pas plus tost dans sa tente a l'entree de laquelle il la receut que prenant la parole je pense seigneur luy dit-elle que pour justifier la tristesse qui paroist sur mon visage en un jour ou la joye de la liberte et l'honneur de vous revoir n'y devroient mettre que des marques de satisfaction il faut que je vous die que la mort du roy mon 
 frere est la cause de ma douleur et je pense aussi que pour justifier sa memoire aupres de vous il faut que je vous aprenne que j'ay sceu par thomiris qu'il s'est repenti en mourant de la violence qu'il avoit faite a la princesse mandane et que s'il n'a merite que vous le pleigniez il a du moins merite que vous me permettiez de le pleindre j'ay desja bien fait davantage madame reprit cyrus car j'ay pleint moy mesme le pitoyable destin d'un si grand prince et j'ay loue les dieux tout mon rival et tout mon ennemy qu'il estoit de ce que vous ne pouvez pas me reprocher sa mort aussi vous puis-je assurer que si je pouvois le ressusciter quand mesme je devrois ressusciter la passion qu'il avoit pour la princesse mandane je le ferois aveque joye pour faire cesser vostre douleur et pour faire tarir vos larmes mais madame adjousta-t'il force de son amour que n'ameniez vous la princesse mandane afin que j'eusse l'obligation au prince intapherne et au prince atergatis de l'avoir delivree comme je leur ay celle de vous avoir mise en liberte helas seigneur reprit-elle je n'ay que faire de respondre a ce que vous me dittes car vous y respondrez bien vous mesme mais je vous diray apres vous avoir loue de la generosite que vous avez de pleindre la mort de vostre ennemy que cette princesse est presentement gardee avec tant d'exactitude qu'on ne la scauroit delivrer qu'en destruisant thomiris elle est pourtant servie avec beaucoup de respect et elle scait si bien 
 l'art de se rendre redoutable a ses ravisseurs que le prince aryante ne l'aborde jamais qu'en tremblant et ne luy parle qu'avec autant de soumission que s'il ne la tenoit pas sous sa puissance mais seigneur poursuivit-elle en faisant violence a sa douleur pour rendre office a cyrus la nouvelle de la prise du fort des sauromates a fort estonne la reine des massagettes et si le prince aryante n'eust pas este blesse je croy qu'elle l'auroit desja assiege mais comme ce prince n'est pas en estat d'agir a cause de sa blessure je croy que ce dessein est differe de quelques jours apres cela seigneur adjousta-t'elle il faut malgre ma tristesse que je vous parle de la generosite du prince intapherne et de celle du prince atergatis qui scachant que ceux qui me conduisoient me menoient vers arsamone ennemy mortel du feu roy mon frere n'ont pas laisse de le combatre et de m'amener aupres de vous quoy que par plus d'une raison ils doivent considerer ce prince quand vous les connoistrez bien reprit cyrus vous verrez que vous leur estes encore plus obligee que vous ne pensez car si vous leur devez la liberte vous devez aussi celle de spitridate au prince atergatis quand on ne fait que ce qu'on est oblige de faire reprit ce prince on ne doit pas apeller obligation ce qui n'est simplement que satisfaire a son devoir c'est par cette raison adjousta intapherne que je declare que n'ayant fait que ce que je devois faire je n'ay point 
 droit de pretendre qu'on m'en soit oblige quoy qu'il en soit dit cyrus vous nous permettrez d'en penser ce qu'il nous plaira mais madame adjousta-t'il je ne puis tarder plus long temps a vous dire que nous attendons de jour en jour que le prince spitridate arrive vous scavez donc reprit araminte en rougissant et en soupirant ou est ce prince infortune je ne scay pas precisement ou il est madame repliqua cyrus mais je scay qu'il doit arriver bien tost et qu'il estoit a un port de la colchide lors que le prince tigrane a escrit a la princesse onesile et qu'ainsi il ne peut tarder longtemps a avoir l'honneur de vous entretenir apres cela cyrus demanda a intapherne et a atergatis en quel endroit ils avoient rencontre cette princesse et il demanda aussi a araminte apres que ces princes luy eurent dit qu'ils l'avoient trouvee comme elle alloit passer le fleuve si les deux princesses qu'arsamone devoit bailler en ostage a thomiris estoient arrivees de sorte qu'elle luy respondit ce qu'elle avoit desja respondu a intapherne et a atergatis c'est a dire qu'elles estoient arrivees un jour avant qu'elle partist et quelle avoit encore eu la douleur de ne pouvoir obtenir la permission de voir la princesse de bithinie qu'elle aimoit depuis si long temps en suite cyrus luy dit que quoy que le malheur du roy son frere fust cause qu'il ne luy avoit laisse que le titre de reine il ne laissoit pas de vouloir qu'on 
 la traitast comme s'il luy eust laisse les deux royaumes qu'il avoit perdus car enfin madame luy dit-il le prince spitridate vous les rendra et je suis assure qu'il ne pretend pas jouir de l'usurpation d'arsamone et qu'il vous traittera luy mesme en reine de pont des qu'il sera icy quoy que son pere en possede le royaume et puis madame s'il plaist a la fortune que je delivre mandane arsamone ne se trouvera pas en estat de refuser de rendre justice a ceux a qui il la doit araminte charmee de la civilite de cyrus luy respondit avec autant de generosite que d'esprit et autant de tristesse que de generosite apres quoy cyrus donna ordre qu'on la menast a une superbe tente en attendant qu'il y eust des bateaux prests pour la faire passer a la mesme ville ou estoit onesile afin qu'elle y fust plus commodement et plus seurement d'abord quoy qu'araminte estimast infiniment cette princesse elle fit beaucoup de difficulte d'estre avec elle lors qu'on le luy proposa parce qu'elle estoit belle-soeur de phraarte mais cyrus luy ayant fait representer que cette princesse l'avoit estrangement blasme de la violence qu'il luy avoit faite et que le prince tigrane son mary estoit le meilleur amy de spitridate et le plus grand ennemy de son frere depuis qu'il l'avoit enlevee elle s'y resolut joint que ne voyant rien a son choix que d'estre dans une armee ou d'estre avec la plus vertueuse princesse du monde elle ne balanca plus 
 et elle y fut conduite par chrysante des le mesme jour cyrus ayant fait scavoir a onesile et la mort du roy de pont et celle de phaarte et l'arrivee d'araminte afin qu'elle sceust comment elle la devoit recevoir l'entre-veue de ces deux princesses fut fort touchante et elles se dirent si precisement ce qu'elles se devoient dire qu'il estoit aise de voir quelles avoient toutes deux autant de jugement que d'esprit et autant de vertu que de jugement cependant le pont estant racommode et cyrus estant en estat de sortir de sa tente et de monter a cheval resolut de faire passer diligemment toutes les munitions qui luy estoient necessaires durant sa marche et de decamper aussi tost qu'elles seroient passees donnant de plus divers ordres pour faire qu'il y eust des convois continuels pour la subsistance de son armee de sorte que devant partir dans deux jours il resolut d'en employer un a aller faire une visite a la reine de pont et a aller dire adieu a la princesse d'armenie comme il s'agissoit de consoler une affligee et que de plus cyrus aimoit fort la conversation d'anacharsis il l'obligea a faire cette visite aveque luy si bien que cyrus estant parti un matin accompagne de cet illustre scythe d'indathyrse d'araspe de ligdamis d'aglatidas de mnesiphile et de chersias il fut s aquiter de ce qu'il devoit a la bien-seance et a l'amitie qu'il avoit pour les princesses qu'il alloit visiter comme araminte 
 estoit en deuil et que de plus il voulut la traiter en reine cyrus la vit la premiere et ne fut chez la princesse onesile qu'apres l'avoir veue mais il ne prit pas garde en y entrant qu'anacharsis ne l'y suivoit pas et qu'il avoit este arreste par un estranger au bas de l'escallier par ou on alloit a l'apartement d'araminte il est vray que des qu'il fut dans sa chambre il s'en aperceut et le demanda mais chersias luy ayant dit qu'il s'estoit arreste a un homme qui sembloit avoir beaucoup de choses a luy dire cyrus fit sa visite et s'engagea si fort a parler de mandane avec araminte qu'il oublia anacharsis car comme il y avoit peu de jours qu'elle avoit veu cette princesse il luy sembloit que c'estoit presques luy parler que de l'entretenir en effet sa passion luy faisoit trouver un si grand plaisir a voir une personne qu'elle avoit veue et avec qui elle avoit parle de luy qu'il ne pensa jamais s'en separer pour aller chez onesile il la quita pourtant a la fin pour aller chez la princesse d'armenie mais ce fut en luy disant qu'il la reverroit pour luy dire adieu cependant en passant d'un apartement a l'autre il vit un homme de bonne mine qu'il ne connoissoit pas et qui paroissoit estre grec qui se promenoit dans une antichambre avec anacharsis et qui ne vit pas plustost mnesiphile qu'il s'en aprocha neantmoins comme cyrus estoit tout contre l'apartement d'onesile il y entra sans s'arrester ayant encore l'esprit si 
 rempli de mandane qu'il ne voulut pas interrompre ses propres pensees pour demander a anacharsis ce qui l'avoit empesche de le suivre mais lors qu'il fut au milieu de l'anti-chambre de cette princesse anacharsis l'ayant rejoint le suplia de souffrir qu'un des amis de solon de mnesiphile et de luy qui s'apelloit silamis eust l'honneur de le saluer de sorte que cyrus s'estant arreste et ce grec s'estant aproche il le salua tres civilement et luy dit que comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'il fust amy de tant d'honnestes gens sans estre luy mesme un fort honneste homme il estoit bien aise de le connoistre apres quoy luy demandant quel estoit le sujet de son voyage silamis luy respondit qu'ayant eu diverses raisons de s'eloigner d'athenes il avoit pris la resolution de passer en asie et d'aller a artaxate pour y voir onesile de qui il avoit l'honneur d'estre allie de sorte que solon l'ayant oblige a tascher de rencontrer anacharsis qu'il scavoit estre passe en asie avec mnesiphile diocles et chersias afin de l'assurer de sa part qu'il avoit autrefois eu raison de luy dire ce qu'il luy avoit dit lors qu'il composoit ses loix il avoit eu bien de la joye en aprenant de la princesse d'armenie que ce sage scythe estoit dans son armee si je ne craignois reprit cyrus de faire trop attendre cette princesse je vous prierois de me dire a l'heure mesme ce que dit anacharsis a solon car puis qu'il s'en est souvenu si long 
 temps il faut que ce soit une chose considerable elle l'est tellement repliqua silamis que depuis qu'il l'a ditte tout le monde s'en sert lors qu'il s'agit de parler de la mesme chose dont il parloit ce que je dis fut pourtant si simplement dit reprit anacharsis qu'il ne merite pas l'honneur qu'on me fait de s'en souvenir comme la princesse d'armenie a l'esprit infiniment esclaire repliqua cyrus en commencant de marcher elle en jugera car je prieray silamis de me le dire en sa presence et en effet apres que cyrus eut salue cette princesse qu'il luy eut presente anacharsis et qu'il luy eut parle de silamis qu'elle luy dit n'estre arrive que le jour auparavant il luy dit que pour luy donner une grande marque de son estime il vouloit quelle jugeast si solon et tout ce qu'il y avoit d honnestes gens a athenes avoient raison de se souvenir de quelques paroles qu'anacharsis avoit dittes a ce sage legislateur du temps qu'il estoit a cette fameuse ville les atheniens reprit onesile ont la reputation d'avoir l'esprit si delicat qu'il est a croire que ce qu'ils ont juge digne d'estre retenu merite de l'estre de tout le monde apres cela cyrus se tournant vers anacharsis le pressa de dire ce qu'il avoit dit a solon en verite seigneur luy dit-il ce que je luy dis luy parut alors si desraisonnable qu'il faut qu'il soit arrive un grand changement dans son esprit pour avoir change d'advis il en est tant arrive a athenes reprit silamis que vous ne devez pas vous estonner 
 s'il a change de sentimens et s'il a connu que vous connoissiez mieux que luy le naturel des peuples qu'il pretendoit gouverner par la seule authorite de ses loix il est vray seigneur reprit alors anacharsis que voyant quelles estoient les moeurs des atheniens et considerant mesme tous les hommes en general je trouve estrange qu'un homme aussi sage que solon et qui connoissoit aussi parfaitement l'impetuosite de toutes les passions qui desreglent la vie des hommes et qui connoissoit aussi quelle est l'audace et la stupidite de la multitude pretendist restablir l'ordre dans un si grand peuple et y faire regner la concorde et la vertu par ses loix seulement de sorte que comme il m'alleguoit tousjours ses loix pour remedes a tous les maux de sa patrie ha solon m'escriay-je en le regardant fixement les loix sont comme les toiles de ces ingenieux animaux qui les filent et qui les font avec tant d'art car enfin elles n'arrestent que les plus foibles moucherons qui s'y prennent et sont facilement rompues par ceux qui ont plus de force ainsi je prevoy avec toute la certitude que la sciences des conjectures peut donner que les foibles observeront vos loix et que les puissans les enfreindront bien tost et les mettont mesme en estat de n'estre plus gardees par personne si ce n'est que ce soient des loix armees et que la crainte et l'authorite les facent plustost observer que la justice je ne m'estonne pas dit alors cyrus si l'on 
 a retenu ces paroles car pour moy je ne les oublieray jamais elles sont sans doute dignes d'estre retenues dit la princesse onesile et elles le sont d'autant plus repliqua silamis que l'evenement a fait voir qu'anacharsis avoit raison en effet les loix de solon en son absence ont este mal observees et depuis son retour les choses ont este si en desordre qu'enfin pisistrate qui n'estoit que citoyen d'athenes en est aujourd'huy le maistre il n'est donc plus amy de solon reprit anacharsis pardonnez moy repliqua silamis mais je ne scay si solon est tousjours le sien quoy qu'il le voye encore quelquesfois et qu'il luy donne mesme des conseils il me semble reprit onesile que c'est une chose fort nouvelle que d'entendre dire qu'athenes ne soit plus libre et il l'est encore plus repliqua cyrus de scavoir que ce soit pisistrate qui l'ait assujettie puis que veu l'humeur dont il estoit lors que je le connus a athenes je ne comprens pas qu'il ait pu s'apliquer assez aux affaires pour faire reussir un si grand dessein car enfin pisistrate quand je l'ay veu sembloit n'aimer que les plaisirs il est vray adjousta cyrus que je tarday peu a athenes et qu'ainsi je n'en puis juger equitablement seigneur reprit silamis pisistrate ne peut estre connu aussi facilement qu'un autre estant certain qu'on peut dire qu'il est trois ou quatre hommes differens a la fois cependant quoy que les plus zelez pour la liberte l'apellent le tiran d'athenes je ne 
 laisse pas de soustenir que c'est un des hommes du monde qui a le plus de merite et que si la republique avoit a perdre sa liberte il luy est avantageux qu'elle soit assujettie a pisistrate dont la vie est si meslee qu'on en pourroit faire divers recits qui seroient tous veritables et qui ne se ressembleroient pourtant point en effet adjousta-t'il qui ne conteroit que les actions de valeur qu'il a faites donneroit l'idee de la valeur mesme qui ne raporteroit que ses intrigues et toutes les factions dont il a este feroit le portrait d'un ambitieux remuant et inquiet qui ne raconteroit que ses bontez sa sincerite les generositez qu'il a eues ses liberalitez et sa magnificence feroit la peinture d'un veritable homme d'honneur et qui ne reciteroit que ses amours et ses galanteries donneroit le modelle d'un amant fort agreable et fort galand ce que vous dittes de pisistrate reprit onesile me donne la plus grande curiosite du monde de scavoir toutes ses avantures silamis les scait si bien repliqua mnesiphile qu'il ne les scait pas mieux luy mesme puis que cela est dit cyrus je le prierois de les vouloir raconter a la princesse d'armenie s'il y avoit seulement un jour entier que je fusse son amy puis qu'il y a bien plus longtemps que je suis a vous sur le raport de la renommee reprit silamis je vous assure seigneur qu'il n'est rien que vous ne me puissiez commander comme je ne fais jamais que des prieres a mes amis 
 respondit ce prince je ne vous seray point de commandement mais je vous prieray au nom de la princesse d'armenie de vouloir luy dire toute la vie de pisistrate cependant comme il y a aparence adjousta-t'il que le sage anacharsis ne croiroit pas avoir assez bien employe son temps s'il l'avoit passe a entendre une histoire amoureuse il vaut mieux qu'il aille faire une visite a la reine de pont chez qui je l'iray retrouver lors que j'iray dire adieu a cette princesse d'abord anacharsis ne vouloit pas s'en aller disant que tout ce qui estoit digne d'estre escoute par cyrus l'estoit de l'estre de tout le monde mais comme silamis luy avoit donne une lettre de solon qu'il avoit impatience de relire parce qu'il l'avoit leue avec precipitation il ne fut pas marry d'avoir un pretexte de sortir afin de pouvoir revoir ce que luy mandoit un homme pour qui il avoit tant d'estime de sorte qu'obeissant a cyrus il se retira et fut satisfaire son envie avant que d'aller chez araminte conduit par un des officiers d'onesile cependant anacharsis ne fut pas plustost sorty que cette princesse solicitant silamis de tenir sa parole et cyrus l'en pressant aussi il se disposa a satisfaire leur curiosite si bien qu'apres avoir rapelle dans sa memoire ce qu'il avoit a dire et avoir tasche d'y donner quelque ordre il commenca son recit de cette sorte en parlant a onesile parce que cyrus le voulut ainsi
 
 
 
 
 histoire de pisistrate
 
 
comme je scay madame que je parle a une personne qui ne scait pas seulement ce qui se passe au pais qu'elle habite mais qui n'ignore rien de tout ce qu'une grande princesse doit scavoir je retrancheray beaucoup de choses de mon recit que je serois oblige de dire si je parlois a une personne moins instruite qu'elle de l'estat des affaires de la grece car puis qu'elle a la gloire d'avoir donne l'origine a vostre illustre maison je veux croire qu'elle ne vous est pas si indifferente que vous ne vous informiez quelquesfois des changemens que la fortune y apporte joint aussi que comme c'est l'histoire de pisistrate que je vous raconte et non pas celle d'athenes je ne suis pas oblige de m'arrester longtemps a vous parler des affaires generales de nostre republique et je ne vous en diray que ce qu'il est necessaire que vous en scachiez pour entendre parfaitement tout ce qui regarde pisistrate mais madame comme la naissance illustre est un avantage fort grand quand on a assez de vertu pour en soustenir l'esclat je vous diray que la sienne est aussi digne de luy qu'il est digne de ceux dont il est descendu car enfin il vient en droite ligne d'un fils d'aiax appelle philaeus qui fut fait citoyen d'athenes avec 
 son frere nomme eurisace et qui donna l'isle de salamine aux atheniens je puis pourtant vous assurer que son coeur est encore plus grand que sa naissance et qu'il y a peu d'hommes en grece qui ayent de plus grandes qualitez que luy pour sa personne elle plaist infiniment car pisistrate est grand et bien fait et il a tous les trais du visage beau il est vray qu'il a le nez un peu grand et esleve vers le milieu mais cela sert tellement a sa bonne mino qu'il luy est avantageux de l'avoir ainsi estant certain qu'on ne peut pas avoir l'air plus grand et plus noble que l'a pisistrate principalement quand il n'est point neglige et qu'il n'est point en un de ces jours ou il est si different de luy mesme qu'a peine le connoit-on en effet quand il est en une de ces humeurs chagrines et paresseuses qui luy prennent quelquesfois il n'est pas seulement neglige en ses habillemens il semble mesme encore qu'il soit un autre homme les cheveux qu'il a si beaux paroissent fort bruns et ne sont plus frisez la taille qu'il a si bien faite est moins agreable et il y a un certain abandonnement en toute sa personne qui fait qu'on diroit que son esprit ne soustient plus son corps ou que ce n'est plus le mesme pisistrate mais aussi quand il est en un de ces jours ou il est avec luy mesme et ou il est propre et magnifique tout ensemble il n'est pas possible de voir un homme de plus grande mine ny d'un air plus noble et plus agreable 
 que luy de plus madame il n'est pas seulement different de luy mesme selon les jours ou on le voit mais il a encore dans le coeur des choses toutes contraires et des inclinations toutes opposees car pisistrate est enjoue et chagrin et d'un naturel ardent quoy qu'il aime l'oisivete au reste il faut encore dire a sa louange qu'il a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit du monde et de l'esprit cultive mais il faut dire aussi qu'encore qu'il soit d'humeur paresseuse il ne laisse pas d'estre le plus agissant de tous les hommes quand la fantasie luy en prend car il est capable de renverser tout l'ordre de sa vie de dormir quand il faut veiller et de veiller quand il faut dormir cependant il aime pourtant naturellement le repos et quand il en jouit il en jouit avec plus de tranquillite qu'aucun autre cette amour du repos n'empesche pourtant pas qu'il ne se jette facilement dans le tumulte des affaires parce qu'il a dans l'esprit une certaine droiture delicate qui fait qu'il ne peut souffrir le gouvernement de qui que ce soit et qu'il se pleint continuellement de ceux qui ont l'administration des affaires quels qu'ils puissent estre si bien qu'encore qu'il ait le bien public pour objet et que ses intentions soient les meilleures du monde ils ne laisse pas de faire quelques fois comme ceux qui ne les ont pas et de se mesler parmy ceux qui sont les plus remuans dans la republique cela ne l'empesche pourtant pas d'aimer tous les plaisirs avec passion non 
 seulement ceux qui sont d'un grand esclat mais encore les plaisirs rustiques et champestres car il n'a pas de plus grande satisfaction que de voir dancer des bergeres au son des haut-bois et a l'ombre des saules dans une prairie il se joue mesme avec un enfant quand il est ioly et se trouve capable de se divertir des petites choses quand les grandes luy manquent et de s'amuser du moins sans ennuy quand il ne peut faire autrement au reste l'accoustumance est si puissante sur son esprit qu'elle luy tient quelquesfois lieu de raison de merite et de beaute en effet il s'accoustume aux lieux qu'il habite aux rues ou il passe aux maisons ou il va aux portiers qui luy en ouvrent les portes aux esclaves qu'il y rencontre et aux personnes qu'il y visite plus que qui que ce soit ne s'y est jamais accoustume et cette accoustumance est si forte que je suis assure que des yeux gris qu'il sera accoustume de regarder luy plairont quelquefois davantage que les plus beaux yeux bleus ou les plus beaux yeux noirs du monde qu'il ne verroit pas souvent et qu'il faudroit qu'il allast chercher en quelque autre quartier que celuy ou il va d'ordinaire cependant il ne laisse pourtant pas d'estre quelquesfois fort changeant dans ses plaisirs car il y a des temps ou la peinture est sa passion dominante et ou il ne parle que de tableaux ne faisant autre chose que d'aller de peintre en peintre de cabinet en cabinet et de parler de la diversite des manieres mais il y 
 en a d'autres aussi ou la musique a son tour et ou sans se souvenir plus de sa premiere passion il se donne tout entier a l'harmonie en un autre temps la dance l'occupe et il n'a l'imagination remplie que de bals et d'assemblees une autre fois l'amour des liures et des vers le possede entierement et il a la memoire si pleine de tout ce qu'on a escrit de beau que ceux qui ont fait ces belles choses ne scavent pas si precisement les beaux endroits de leurs ouvrages qu'il les scait de sorte que passant ainsi d'une passion a une autre solon luy disoit un jour agreablement en luy reprochant cette espece d'inconstance qu'il avoit aime toutes les muses les unes apres les autres depuis melpomene jusques a ptersichore au reste madame pisistrate n'aime pas seulement les vers il en fait aussi de fort jolis et de fort galands et j'ay entendu dire souvent a solon qu'il eust voulu avoir fait ceux qu'il luy montroit quoy qu'il en face tres bien mais ce qui rend pisistrate le plus louable c'est qu'il est bon autant qu'on le peut estre qu'il est ardent et fidelle amy qu'il est magnifique et liberal qu'il est brave et genereux et que quoy qu'il ait plus d'ambition qu'il n'en croit avoir il n'a pourtant pas l'ame interessee ainsi la seule chose qu'on peut reprocher a pisistrate c'est d'estre un peu trop attache a ses opinions et de croire un peu trop facilement que ce qu'il a pense arrivera comme il l'a imagine au reste pisistrate a encore une chose que j'oubliois de vous 
 dire qui est que quand il a este une fois accoustume avec quelqu'un l'absence ne peut jamais faire qu'il s'en de sa coustume et quand il auroit este dix ans sans voir un de ses amis ou une de ses amies si la fortune les luy fait revoir il leur parle avec la mesme familiarite que s'il les avoit veus tous les jours et il est aussi aise de leur parler des choses passees que s'il ne pouvoit vivre sans eux cela n'empesche pourtant pas qu'il ne soit apres cela encore tres longtemps sans les voir et sans s'en desesperer ainsi je pense avoir eu raison de dire au commencement de mon discours qu'il a cent choses dans l'humeur et dans l'esprit qui semblent estre incompatibles mais apres tout il n'en a aucune qui l'empesche d'estre un fort honneste homme je m'assure madame qu'apres vous avoir despeint pisistrate vous avez quelque peine a comprendre qu'il ait songe a se rendre maistre d'athenes n'y ayant pas trop d'aparence qu'un homme qui aime tant les plaisirs qui a l'ame si desinteressee et qui aime solon si tendrement ait pu penser a entreprendre d'usurper l'authorite souveraine mais madame quand je vous auray raconte ses avantures vous en serez encore bien plus surprise et vous aurez peine a concevoir comment un mesme coeur pouvoit contenir tant d'ambition et tant d'amour je ne m'amuseray point madame a vous dire tous les commencemens de la vie de pisistrate quoy qu'ils ayent este tres beaux car 
 il se signala a l'entreprise de salamine et fit plusieurs autres belles choses je vous diray aussi en peu de mots qu'a dix-sept ans son pere le forca de se marier et que trois ans apres sa femme mourut car conme ce fut un mariage sans amour et une obeissance qu'il voulut rendre a son pere il ne s'y passa rien digne de vous estre raconte mais madame apres avoir sacrifie cette premiere fois sa liberte a sa famille il la voulut sacrifier pour luy mesme comme vous le scaurez dans la suite de mon discours cependant il est a propos que vous scachiez que sa mere et celle de solon estant fort proches parentes il receut des le berceau des enseignemens de cet homme illustre cela ne l'empescha pourtant pas d'estre galant car outre que solon n'est pas ennemy de l'amour il est encore vray que par le desir de la liberte de sa patrie il aimoit beaucoup mieux que la jeunesse d'athenes penchast a la galanterie qu'a l'ambition car enfin disoit-il un jour a thales du temps qu'il estoit a nostre ville durant que pisistrate et tous les autres de sa volee sont esclaves de nos belles ils ne songent pas a faire que nous soyons les leurs de sorte madame que pisistrate estant naturellement galant et n'estant retenu par nulle consideration non pas mesme par les conseils d'un homme qu'il croit aveque raison souverainement sage il se donna tout entier a ce qu'on apelle plaisir ne trouvant nulle occasion de se divertir ou de divertir les autres qu'il 
 ne la prist il est vray qu'il y en a qui disent que des ce temps la il songeoit a se rendre maistre d'athenes et qu'il n'agissoit ainsi que pour mieux cacher son dessein mais pour pisistrate il n'en tombe pas d'accord et il dit que la fortune l'a porte ou il est par un des caprices sans une longue premeditation quoy qu'il en soit pisistrate ne fut pas plutost maistre absolu de luy mesme qu'il sembla ne songer qu'a passer le temps agreablement et certes il estoit en lieu commode pour cela car madame quoy qu'il semble que les cours des rois soient plus propres aux grands divertissemens que les republiques parce que les palais des princes reunissent plus les honnestes gens qu'ils ne le peuvent estre en un lieu ou la puissance est divisee il est pourtant vray qu'athenes estoit alors en un si grand esclat qu'il est peu de lieux au monde ou on se pust mieux divertir car outre qu'il sembloit que de par toute la grece on eust affaire a athenes et qu'ainsi il y eust un fort grand abord d'estrangers il est encore vray que par une constellation favorable il y avoit tant de femmes aimables et tant de gens d'esprit en un mesme temps qu'on eust dit que les dieux les avoient proportionnez en merite afin qu'ils honnorassent leur patrie et qu'ils s'estimassent les uns les autres joint qu'il sembloit alors que la paix et la tranquillite y fussent establies pour un siecle a peine se souvenoit on de toutes les factions qui 
 l'avoient divisee du temps que ceux qu'on accusoit d'estre descendus de ces citoyens qui avoient este de la conjuration cylonienne qui a tant fait de bruit par toute la terre y estoient encore et servoient de pretexte a toutes nos divisions les loix de solon estoient alors religieusement gardees quoy qu'il y eust eu quelque desordre depuis son absence et la paix l'abondance et les plaisirs estoient dans athenes plus qu'en aucun lieu du monde ce n'est pas qu'a cause de toutes les divisions passees il n'y eust encore quelque disposition a la nouveaute dans la plus part des esprits mais comme il y avoit fort peu que le dernier desordre estoit apaise il y avoit un calme assez grand en apparence pour faire esperer a ceux qui aimoient le repos qu'il dureroit longtemps ainsi il sembloit qu'on n'eust plus autre soin que d'empescher que l'oysivete de la paix ne devinst ennuyeuse mais entre les jeunes gens de qualite qui tenoient le premier rang pisistrate estoit le plus considerable lycurgue et theocrite qui estoient de la premiere condition et qui estoient fils d'un homme appelle aristolas avoient de fort grandes qualitez quoy que d'humeur differente et il y en avoit un autre appelle ariston qui estoit aussi infiniment agreable pour les dames entre ce grand nombre qui faisoit l'ornement de nostre ville cleorante qui est fille d'un homme fort considerable a athenes apelle megacles tenoit le premier rang aussi bien que cerinthe 
 fille d'un autre homme de qualite apelle philombrote et euridamie parente de solon mais madame il faut s'il vous plaist que je ne vous les face connoistre que selon l'ordre que pisistrate les connut je vous diray donc qu'encore que nostre ville soit sous la protection de minerue nous ne laissons pas d'avoir une veneration particuliere pour ceres en effet elle a un temple fameux a athenes et on celebre tous les ans deux festes a son honneur que nous appellons thesmophories ou les femmes principalement font le plus de ceremonies car non seulement elles font diverses austeritez mais elles vont veiller neuf soirs de suitte dans le temple de cette deesse et ce qu'il y a de particulier a cette feste c'est que pour honnorer ceres elles y vont parees comme pour aller au bal de sorte que comme ce temple est fort beau et qu'il est esclaire de mille lampes c'est une fort belle chose que d'y voir les dames durant les neuf soirs qu'elles y vont veiller jusques a my-nuit aussi a dire la verite n'y a-t'il guere d'hommes de qualite qui ne s'y trouvent car ceux qui ne sont plus jeunes y vont pour honnorer la deesse seulement et ceux qui le sont partageant leur dessein y vont autant pour voir les dames que pour prier ceres estant donc en un de ces temps ou on celebre cette feste pisistrate de qui j'estois assez amy me proposa d'aller ou tout le monde alloit si bien que comme il n'eust pas 
 este aise que j'eusse pu trouver autre chose a faire j'y fus aveque luy pisistrate n'ayant alors nul engagement particulier non plus que moy de sorte que n'ayant point de place affectee a chercher nous nous mismes ou le hazard voulut que nous fussions mais a peine fusmes nous placez que l'aimable cerinthe fille de philombrote qui suivoit sa mere vint se mettre aupres de nous et s'y mit d'une maniere si agreable que quoy qu'elle ne nous parlast point elle ne laissa pas de nous tesmoigner par l'air dont elle receut nostre falut qu'elle n'estoit pas marrie que nous fussions aupres d'elle car madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'il n'y a pas une personne au monde qui ait des actions si significatives que celle la en effet d'un clein d'oeil d'un signe de teste ou de main elle fait des satyres ou des eloges et fait entendre mille choses differentes quand elle veut au reste cerinthe quoy que brune et quoy que petite est infiniment aimable car elle a tous les traits du visage delicats et beaux le teint vif les yeux fins l'air fort spirituel et fort enjoue et la taille fort agreable pour sa grandeur mais ce qu'elle a encore d'avantageux c'est que sa phisionomie n'est pas trompeuse estant certain qu'elle a infiniment de l'esprit et qu'elle est infiniment gaye estant donc telle que je vous la depeins vous jugez bien madame que nous n'estions pas mal placez puis que nous estions aupres d'elle neantmoins comme elle 
 a une mere assez severe des que nous voulusmes luy dire quelque chose pour nous louer de nostre bonne fortune elle nous imposa silence sans nous rien dire mais ce fut d'une maniere si obligeante quoy qu'elle ne nous parlast que des yeux pour s'en excuser que nous connusmes aisement que si elle n'eust pas autant craint sa mere que la deesse elle n'eust pas este trop marrie de nous respondre de sorte que ce premier soir s'estant passe ainsi nous nous retirasmes pisistrate et moy en murmurant fort contre la mere de cerinthe car nous avons bien connu que sans elle nous eussions pu faire un peu de conversation durant certains intervales de la ceremonie ou l'on ne fait pas grand scrupule de parler cependant quoy que cerinthe eust semble plus belle ce soir la a pisistrate qu'il ne l'avoit jamais veue il n'y songea plus le lendemain et ne retourna pas mesme au temple mais le troisiesme jour y estant alle seul et de fort bonne heure le hazard fit qu'il se retrouva aupres de cerinthe quoy que ce ne fust pas au mesme lieu qu'il l'avoit veue la premiere fois et pour achever sa bonne fortune elle estoit ce soir la sans sa mere et estoit avec une de ses parentes qui n'estoit pas si severe qu'elle de sorte que pisistrate ne la vit pas plustost aupres de luy que prenant la parole en s'aprochant respectueusement de son oreille vous me deffendites l'autre jour si cruellement de vous dire que j'estois ravi d'avoir l'honneur d'estre aupres de vous luy 
 dit-il que je ne scay si vous l'endurerez aujourd'huy on est si heureux repliqua-t'elle en souriant quand on est destine a estre mesle dans la multitude de se trouver aupres d'un honneste homme que je pense que ceres me pardonnera si j'employe un moment a recevoir la civilite que vous me faites un moment est si court aupres de vous reprit-il que si vous ne m'en donnez pas davantage je ne seray pas trop satisfait si vous y aviez passe un jour tout entier reprit-elle en souriant vous trouveriez peutestre les momens bien longs il y a pourtant quelque chose dans vos yeux repliqua-t'il qui est fort propre a faire que j'y pusse passer toute ma vie avec beaucoup de plaisir ha pisistrate luy dit-elle en destournant agreablement la teste et luy imposant silence avec la main je ne vous escoute plus cerinthe ne fit pourtant pas ce qu'elle disoit car de temps en temps elle escouta ce que luy dit pisistrate il est vray que ce fut tousjours en luy deffendant de parler et en ne luy respondant point mais madame depuis ce soir la pisistrate s'accoustuma a voir cerinthe et ce que le hazard avoit fait en faisant qu'il la rencontrast au temple de ceres il le fit apres avec beaucoup de soin tant que la ceremonie des neuf jours dura de sorte qu'a la fin de cette feste ils estoient desja assez bien ensemble ce qui fachoit pisistrate estoit que tant qu'elle dure les dames ne recoivent point de visites si bien que quelque envie qu'il eust de voir cerinthe chez 
 elle il falut qu'il attendist que les neuf jours fussent passez mais aussi des qu'ils le furent pisistrate se fit mener chez la femme de philombrote qui le receut tres bien et qui voulut que sa fille le receust aussi avec beaucoup de civilite car elle scavoit que son mary songeoit a s'aquerir des amis tels que pisistrate comme cerinthe est fort guaye et qu'elle aime naturellement a railler des cette premiere visite pisistrate et elle furent en grande familiarite car comme il vint beaucoup de personnes serieuses qui occuperent la mere de cerinthe pisistrate luy parla plus librement qu'il n'eust fait si la conversation eust este plus generale comme il estoit donc aupres d'elle il l'engagea adroitement a n'entretenir que luy ce n'est pas qu'il creust en estre amoureux ny qu'il le fust en effet bien fort mais on peut dire qu'il avoit desja pour elle cette espece d'accoustumance amoureuse dont je vous ay dit qu'il est capable et qu'elle avoit aussi pour luy cette premiere disposition favorable qui est quelquefois suivie d'une violente amour et qui ne precede aussi quelquesfois qu'une grande amitie ou une grande estime de sorte que pisistrate estant ce jour la en un de ses jours d'enjouement et cerinthe ayant tousjours le sien ordinaire ils ne s'ennuyerent pas d'abord ils parlerent de tout ce qu'ils avoient veu au temple durant les neuf jours de la feste et de tout ce qu'ils y avoient remarque soit des amans qui avoient este mal placez puis 
 qu'ils estoint loin de celles qu'ils aimoient ou de quelques maris jaloux qu'ils y avoient veus et qu'ils s'imaginoient n'y avoir este que pour voir qui estoit aupres de leurs femmes si bien qu'apres avoir fait tantost quelque innocente satire et tantost quelque plaisante description tout d'un coup pisistrate interrompant cerinthe mais encore luy dit-il n'est-il pas juste que vous parliez de tout ce que vous avez veu au temple de ceres durant neuf jours et que vous ne disiez pas un mot de moy sans mentir pisistrate luy dit-elle en riant vous estes admirable de parler comme vous faites car enfin que voulez vous que je vous puisse dire de vous si ce n'est que vous m'obeistes mal quand je vous deffendis de parler et que vous estiez le moins deuot de toute l'assemblee tout ce que vous dittes la est vray repliqua-t'il mais ce n'est pas encore tout ce que vous m'en pourriez dire car je suis assure que vous ne vistes pas mieux qu'il y avoit des amans qui ne pouvoient estre aupres de leurs maistresses et des maris qui vouloient voir qui estoit aupres de leurs femmes que vous vistes que vous estiez desja assez avant dans mon coeur je vous proteste luy dit-elle en riant que je ne me vy pas seulement dans vos yeux il ne tint pas a moy repliqua pisistrate car je cherchay a rencontrer les vostres autant qu'il me fut possible et a vous faire voir dans les miens que je vous rendois justice et que je vous trouvois 
 la plus belle de toutes celles que je voyois puis que vostre bouche peut bien dire des flatteries reprit-elle vos yeux m'eussent bien pu dire un mensonge mais pour vous en punir adjousta-t'elle en riant je voudrois presques que ce que vous dittes fust vray et que mesme vous m'aimassiez plus que personne n'a jamais aime aussi bien y a-t'il long temps que j'ay la curiosite de voir un homme effectivement amoureux ha madame luy dit-il vous n'estes guere sincere car il n'est pas possible que vous n'ayez point veu d'amans puis que vous n'avez este ny aveugle ny invisible mais pour parler selon vos termes je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes si vostre curiosite n'est bien tost satisfaite car si je ne suis amoureux de vous il s'en faut si peu que j'ose asseurer que vous ne m'aurez pas encore regarde deux fois que je le seray ne pensez pas luy dit-elle en entendant admirablement raillerie que lors que je dis que j'ay la curiosite de voir un amant je veuille dire de ces amans qui se le disent sans l'estre puis que ce n'est pas de ceux-la que j'ay envie de voir au contraire c'est de ces amans qui font ou qui sont capables de faire tout ce que la plus violente passion peut inspirer mais encore adjousta-t'il qu'entendez vous par ce que vous dittes j'entens dit-elle que si l'occasion s'en presente on se tue on se precipite et on s'empoisonne de desespoir du moins madame reprit pisistrate faut il que vous choisissiez une de ces trois marques d'amour 
 que vous voulez qu'on vous rende si vous en faites naistre l'occasion car enfin poursuivit-il en riant on ne peut pas se tuer se precipiter et s'empoisonner tout a la fois et puis a dire la verite adjousta-t'il il me semble qu'il y a trop de joye dans vos yeux pour vouloir des marques d'amour aussi tragiques que celles-la et je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes si vous ne preniez plus de plaisir a entendre une serenade qu'un amant vous donneroit qu'a en voir precipiter un ainsi advouez moy du moins que vous voulez qu'on ne vous rende ces funestes marques d'amour qu'a l'extremite car je vous advoue qu'il y a tant de plaisir a vous voir que s'il faloit me tuer des le premier jour que je serois vostre amant j'aurois bien de la peine a vous obeir ha pisistrate s'escria-t'elle que vostre sincerite me plaist cependant il faut pourtant que vous ne soyez que mon amy puis que si je voulois avoir un amant je vous le dis encore une fois je voudrois que ce fust un de ceux que j'entens qu'il fust pasle sombre et chagrin qu'il fust tousjours inquiet et resveur et qu'il fust enfin le plus malheureux homme du monde car je n'en veux point de ceux qui se divertissent de tout et qui se font des plaisirs de toutes choses quoy qu'il en soit dit pisistrate recevez moy pour vostre amant et puis nous verrons si je seray tel que vous en voulez un mais poursuivit il ne pensez pas que je puisse estre maigre pasle sombre et chagrin en vingt-quatre 
 heures non non luy dit-elle en riant je ne suis pas si desraisonnable et je vous donne quinze jours pour devenir amoureux de moy et quinze autres pour estre ce miserable amant que je veux voir par curiosite car comme je n'ay pas une de ces grandes beautez qui agissent en un instant il vous faut bien ce temps la pour m'aimer assez pour en estre seulement un peu resveur mais si au bout d'un mois que je vous donne adjousta-t'elle vous n'estes le plus malheureux amant du monde je veux pour mon honneur que vous me permettiez de croire qu'il n'en est point et qu'il n'en fut jamais mais madame luy dit-il comme il dependra de vous que je sois heureux ou malheureux ce n'est pas a moy a vous promettre de l'estre ou de ne l'estre pas mais c'est a moy a m'engager d'estre plus amoureux de vous que personne ne l'a jamais este et a parler sincerement si mon amour croist a mesure de ce qu'elle a cru depuis un quart d'heure je n'auray pas besoin de quinze jours pour vous faire voir le plus passionne amant du monde serieusement pisistrate luy dit-elle je serois bien faschee que vous dissiez vray car a vous descouvrir le fonds de mon coeur j'aime le monde et les plaisirs mais je n'aime ny les veritables amants ny ceux qui le croyent estre et qui ne le sont point et qui font pourtant beaucoup plus de bruit que les autres car enfin je suis persuadee que c'est fonder mal sa gloire que de l'establir 
 sur cette foule d'adorateurs dont il y a tant de femmes qui font vanite il me semble pourtant reprit pisistrate qu'il y a beaucoup de gloire a regner souverainement sur le coeur de tant de gens je vous assure qu'il y en a bien moins qu'on ne pense repliqua cerinthe car a vous dire la verite je suis fortement persuadee que quand on est jeune et qu'on n'est pas tout a fait laide on est en pouvoir avec un mediocre merite pourveu qu'on ait un peu d'adresse de se faire suivre et de se faire une troupe d'amants des plus assidus estant certain que cela n'est point un effet ny de la grande beaute ny du grand esprit et que cela depend seulement de certaines petites indulgences affectees et d'un certain air de vivre qui est propre a les attirer et qui fait qu'un homme n'oseroit estre amy de ces sortes de femmes et n'oseroit mesme les voir sans leur dire des douceurs et au contraire je soustiens que la plus belle personne du monde et mesme la plus charmante n'aura point cette multitude d'amans si elle ne la veut avoir de sorte qu'estant persuadee que les amans ne sont nullement un effet du merite extraordinaire de celles qui en ont un si grand nombre mais bien plustost de leur foiblesse qui leur fait prendre soin de les attirer je serois bien marrie d'en avoir ainsi quoy que je vous aye dit que j'avois la curiosite d en voir un il est pourtant vray que j'aimerois mieux n'en voir de ma vie que de me voir importunee 
 des pleintes de ces sortes de gens qu'on ne peut jamais contenter et je crains tellement adjousta-t'elle d'en trouver quelqu'un que de peur d'avoir des amans je ne veux mesme faire gueres d'amis par la crainte que j'ay que cette affection ne s'allast adviser de changer de nature et ne devinst a la fin amour a ce que je voy madame repliqua pisistrate mon destin est change en peu de temps puis qu'il n'y a qu'un quart d'heure que vous me priyez presques de vous faire voir un amant et il s'en faut peu que vous ne me deffendiez d'estre vostre amy je vous asseure luy dit-elle en riant que je me trouve si bien de n'avoir que des connoissances que ce seroit me rendre un mauvais office que de me faire changer d'avis car enfin de la maniere dont je vy la mauvaise fortune ne me peut toucher sensiblement si elle ne me touche moy mesme joint que je ne trouve rien de plus doux que de se reserver la liberte de penser des autres tout ce que l'on veut et de pouvoir mesme en dire son advis quand l'occasion s'en presente pour moy reprit pisistrate je ne m'oppose point au dessein que vous avez de ne faire guere d'amis et de n'aimer pas a estre accablee d'un nombre infiny d'amans mais j'avoue que je ne puis souffrir que vous n'en veuilliez pas avoir un et que je ne sois pas celuy-la comme cerinthe alloit respondre ces dames qui parloient avec sa mere s'en estant allees leur conversation fut interrompue et il falut que pisistrate changeast de 
 discours cependant comme cerinthe est naturellement fort guaye et qu'elle aime a railler elle sceut si bien conduire la chose que sans dire ny ouy ny non a pisistrate il continua de la voir et de la voir avec joye parce qu'il estoit aussi amoureux de cerinthe qu'il le falloit estre pour prendre un grand plaisir a l'entretenir et pour se trouver mieux aupres d'elle qu'en nul autre lieu du monde et qu'il ne l'estoit pas assez pour avoir toutes les inquietudes de ceux qui ont de violentes passions au contraire il estoit en une joye continuelle car il voyoit tous les jours cerinthe qui le choisissant pour le confident des railleries qu'elle faisoit luy donnoit aussi tous les jours mille plaisirs par mille agreables choses qu'elle luy disoit sur tous les sujets qui s'offroient mais madame pour comprendre mieux ce qui contribua a leur divertissement durant quelque temps il faut que vous scachiez que theocrite dont je vous ay parle qui estoit le second fils d'aristolas estoit fort amoureux de cerinthe mais il l'estoit d'une maniere qui la divertissoit extremement et qui luy faisoit dire cent agreables follies a pisistrate ce n'est pourtant pas que theocrite ne fust bien fait et qu'il n'eust du coeur et de l'esprit mais c'est que comme il estoit naturellement sage grave et serieux il parloit d'amour comme s'il eust parle d'une negociation de politique et il observoit religieusement jusques aux moindres petites choses de la plus exacte civilite amoureuse en 
 effet madame c'estoit un de ces amans qui demanderoient pardon s'ils avoient soupire trop haut et qui quand ils devroient estre heureux ne le seroient qu'a la fin de leur vie tant ils prennent un long destour vous pouvez donc juger qu'une semblable matiere donnoit assez de quoy parler a cerinthe cependant toute guaye qu'elle estoit la fille de toute la ville qui la voyoit le plus souvent estoit euridamie parente de solon qui est une personne serieuse et froide qui a une langueur melancolique dans les yeux qui est un de ses plus grands charmes quoy qu'elle en ait beaucoup d'autres car euridamie est belle et a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit doux et flateur de sorte qu'il sembloit que la fortune eust pris plaisir d'opposer la guayete de cerinthe au serieux d'euridamie et a la gravite de theocrite pour la faire paroistre davantage et qu'elle eust aussi mis en pisistrate diverses choses qui avoient du raport avec le serieux d'euridamie et l'enjouement de cerinthe aussi vint-il insensiblement a s'accoustumer presques esgallement avec toutes les deux et l'on peut mesme dire qu'elles luy plaisoient toutes deux plus ou moins chacune a leur tour selon l'humeur ou il estoit car lors qu'il estoit chagrin il se mettoit plus volontiers aupres d'euridamie qu'aupres de cerinthe et quand il estoit guay il cherchoit plus la conversation de cerinthe que celle d'euridamie cependant il est 
 certain qu'il fit d'abord plus de progres dans le coeur de la melancolique que dans celuy de l'enjouee quoy qu'elle estimast pourtant plus pisistrate qu'aucun autre pour moy qui me trouvois presques tous les jours mesle a leurs conversations j'avois un plaisir estrange de voir combien bizarrement l'amour avoit dispose les choses entre ces quatre personnes car enfin il sembloit que theocrite estoit fait pour aimer euridamie et qu'euridamie devoit aimer theocrite par le seul raport de leur melancolie il sembloit aussi que cerinthe deust estre fortement touchee du merite de pisistrate et que pisistrate ne le deust estre que du sien cependant il avoit plu a l'amour que le chagrin aimast la guaye que la serieuse aimast l'enjoue que pisistrate aimast presque et la serieuse et la guaye et que la guaye n'aimast presques rien en mon particulier j'estois le plus heureux de la troupe car j'estois si bien aveque toutes ces personnes qu'elles me faisoient toutes leurs pleintes selon les occasions qui s'en presentoient en effet pisistrate se pleignoit quelquesfois de ce qu'il trouvoit trop souvent theocrite chez cerinthe cerinthe se pleignoit aussi des trop frequentes visites de cet amant serieux parce qu'elle disoit qu'il ne luy donnoit pas le temps de pouvoir railler de sa facon de faire l'amour theocrite se pleignoit de son coste d'estre force d'aimer une personne d'humeur si opposee a la 
 sienne et euridamie accusoit aussi quelquesfois cerinthe de railler trop indifferemment de toutes sortes de gens sans espargner ses amis il est vray que pour cette pleinte elle la faisoit devant elle aussi bien qu'en son absence et je me souviens d'un jour que cerinthe estant en une de ses plus agreables humeurs se mit a contrefaire theocrite et a representer et sa facon de parler et son action et mesme jusques a ses regards de sorte qu'euridamie voyant le plaisir qu'elle donnoit a pisistrate ne put s'empescher de la reprendre de sa raillerie peut-estre autant par un sentiment jaloux que par un sentiment d'equite en verite cerinthe luy dit-elle vous avez une horrible injustice de traiter thocrite comme vous le traitez en verite reprit cerinthe en riant vous estes bien plus injuste que je ne le suis de vouloir rendre tout a la fois un fort mauvais office a theocrite et a moy car enfin je vous declare que s'il ne m'estoit pas permis de rire en son absence de cent choses qu'il fait je ne le souffrirois point du tout c'est pourquoy si vous croyez qu'il m'aime et que ma presence luy soit agreable il faut que vous enduriez que je me rejouisse de son chagrin car apres tout cela n'empesche pas que je ne die que theocrite est un fort homme d'honneur mais de vouloir que je le voye grave depuis le matin jusques au soir que j'escoute serieusement ses soupirs des journees entieres et qu'apres cela je ne m'en divertisse pas c'est n'estre ny amie de theocrite 
 ny la mienne puis que vous luy voulez causer un grand chagrin et que vous voulez m'oster un fort grand plaisir pour moy dit alors pisistrate je trouve que la belle cerinthe a raison en mon particulier adjoustay-je je suis de l'opinion d'euridamie et il me semble que c'est estre trop inhumaine que de railler d'un amant et je ne scay si je ne luy pardonnerois pas plus tost de railler d'un amy a parler sincerement dit alors euridamie je pense qu'il n'est guere de raillerie innocente je suis donc bien souvent coupable reprit cerinthe car j'advoue que je ne trouve point de conversation plus douce que celle ou il y a je ne scay quelle agreable malice meslee qui la rend plus divertissante et plus animee joint qu'a parler veritablement s'il y a jamais eu une raillerie innocente c'est celle qu'on fait d'un amant serieux et grave car il est vray que la galanterie sans enjouement est une si extravagante chose que je ne scay comment on peut trouver mauvais que j'en raille puis qu'il est certain qu'il ne seroit pas plus estrange lors que le conseil general de la grece est assemble de voir dancer tous les amphictions en parlant du bien public que de voir un galant a mine severe et grave comme vous n'ignorez pas que vous raillez de bonne grace repliqua euridamie avec depit voyant que pisistrate rioit de ce que disoit cerinthe vous vous persuadez facilement qu'il n'y a pas de scrupule a faire de railler comme vous faites et je suis assuree que vous croyez 
 fortement qu'il est permis de dire sans exception en matiere de raillerie tout ce qu'on peut dire agreablement ha euridamie reprit elle vous en dittes trop il est pourtant vray adjousta-t'elle en se reprenant qu'il est assez difficile de renfermer dans son esprit une chose qu'on aura pensee plaisamment et qu'on scait qu'on ne dira pas trop mal car enfin a n'en mentir pas je suis persuadee qu'il faut plus de delicatesse d'esprit a railler de la belle maniere qu'il n'en faut a faire des choses qui paroissent bien plus difficiles il faut advouer adjousta pisistrate qu'il en faut infiniment pour tourner les choses comme vous les tournez quand il vous plaist et qu'il y a quelquesfois plus de plaisir a estre raille de vous qu'a estre loue d'une autre il est certain adjoustay-je que cerinthe est admirable quand elle veut mais il est vray aussi qu'il y a mille personnes qui se meslent de railler qui ne s'en devroient pas mesler pour moy dit euridamie je vay bien plus loin que vous car je dis encore une fois qu'il n'est presques point de raillerie innocente et que quiconque s'en fait une trop grande habitude s'expose a renoncer a l'amitie a la probite et la bonte ha sans mentir s'escria cerinthe en riant vous me traitez bien cruellement je vous traite comme vous meritez de l'estre repliqua euridamie ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je ne concoive bien qu'il y a une espece de raillerie galante qui a moins de malignite que l'autre 
 mais ce que je soustiens est qu'elle ne scauroit plaire s'il n'y en a que c'est marcher sur des precipices que de s'accoustumer a railler souvent et que la plus difficile chose du monde est de le faire tout a fait bien sans choquer ou l'amitie ou la bienseance ou la probite ou la bonte ou sans se faire tort a soy-mesme car enfin il n'est presques pas possible de faire profession de raillerie sans se faire hair ou du moins sans se faire craindre joint qu'a parler raisonnablement il n'y a presques personne dont il doive estre permis de railler en effet adjousta-t'elle je ne scache guere de gens qui puissent estre un juste sujet de railliere quoy s'escria cerinthe vous voudriez deffendre tout ce qu'il y a de gens au monde je vous assure repliqua euridamie qu'il n'y en a guere que je voulusse vous abandonner premierement poursuivit-elle je ne veux point qu'on raille non seulement de ses amis particuliers mais mesme de ses connoissances car enfin choisissez les bien et soyez si delicate qu'il vous plaira en les choisissant mais quand vous les aurez choisies je ne veux plus que vous en railliez et je ne scaurois nullement estre de l'opinion de ceux qui s'espargnent pas les personnes du monde qu'ils aiment le mieux puis qu'il est vray que selon mon sentiment il est bien dangereux de se divertir aux despens de ses amis mais du moins dit pisistrate abandonnez vous a cerinthe ses ennemis si elle en a en verite repliqua euridamie 
 je ne trouve guere plus beau de railler de ses ennemis que de ses amis car lors qu'on a de la haine c'est se vanger foiblement que de ne se vanger que par une raillerie qu'on vous peut rendre enfin dit cerinthe veu la maniere dont vous parlez je pense que vous ne voulez pas seulement qu'on raille de soy mesme je vous assure reprit-elle qu'encore que ce soit la plus innocente raillerie qu'on puisse faire si elle n'est faite avec beaucoup de jugement elle n'est pas trop divertissante et il est assurement encore plus difficile de parler agreablement de soy que des autres de plus adjousta-t'elle je trouve encore qu'il ne faut jamais railler des gens qui n'ont nul merite parce que la raillerie en ces occasions n'a presques jamais nulle grace et je trouve aussi qu'il ne faut point railler de ceux qui en ont parce qu'il y a beaucoup d'injustice de s'attacher a un leger deffaut au prejudice de mille bonnes qualitez du moins veux-je que si on veut railler de quelqu'un ce soit en parlant a luy mesme et qu'on ne die jamais que des choses qui ne peuvent effectivement facher et qui ne font simplement qu'animer un peu la conversation car en ce cas la j'advoue qu'il peut estre permis de faire la guerre a ses meilleurs amis mais cerinthe qu'il se trouve peu de gens qui scachent railler ny agreablement ny innocemment et certes je ne m'en estonne pas car enfin il faut que la naissance donne ce talent la estant certain que l'art ne 
 le scauroit donner et que quiconque veut forcer son naturel reussit si mal a divertir les autres qu'il donne luy mesme une ample matiere de raillerie en pensant railler il n'en est pas de mesme de toutes les autres qualitez agreables de l'esprit poursuivit-elle puis qu'il n'en est point qu'on ne puisse aquerir par estude mais pour celle-la il faut que la nature la donne et que le jugement la conduise en effet ce n'est pas assez de penser plaisamment les choses il faut encore qu'il y ait je ne scay quel tour a l'expression qui acheve de les rendre agreables et il faut mesme que l'air du visage le son de la voix et toute la personne en general contribuent a rendre plaisant ce qui de luy mesme ne l'est quelques fois pas tant je n'eusse jamais creu dit alors pisistrate qu'une personne aussi serieuse qu'euridamie eust si bien parle d'une chose qu'elle ne fait jamais au contraire repliqua-t'elle c'est parce que je ne raille point que je dois estre creue en matiere de raillerie car comme je n'y ay nul interest j'en parle sans passion et j'examine toutes les differentes railleries de ceux que je connois sans faire injustice a personne mais a vous dire la verite a la reserve d'un de mes amis qui a une delicatesse admirable dans l'esprit et une malice galante dans l'imagination qui plaist malgre qu'on en ait je ne connois que cerinthe a qui je pardonne de railler il est vray dis-je alors qu'il n'y a rien de plus insuportable que ces sortes de gens qui sans y penser medisent horriblement 
 en ne pensant que railler et qui croyent que parce qu'ils parlent des deffauts d'autruy et qu'ils en parlent grossierement ce soit une raillerie il y en a encore d'une autre espece reprit pisistrate qui me font desesperer quand je les trouve car enfin ils font consister toute leur plaisanterie en une facon de parler populaire et basse qui ne remplit l'imagination que de vilaines choses qui met dans leur bouche tout ce qui n'est que dans celle des plus vils esclaves et qui fait voir que pour avoir apris tout ce qu'ils disent il faut de necessite qu'ils ayent passe la plus grande partie de leur vie avec la plus mauvaise compagnie du monde ha pisistrate s'escria cerinthe vous me faites un plaisir extreme de hair ces sortes de gens dont vous parlez car bi que je deffende la raillerie en general j'abandonne presques toute la plaisanterie s'il est permis de parler ainsi et celle-la en particulier car enfin je veux que la raillerie soit galante et mesme un peu malicieuse mais je veux qu'elle soit modeste et delicate qu'elle ne blesse ny les oreilles ny l'imagination et qu'elle ne face jamais rougir que de despit il est encore d'une autre sorte de railleurs reprit euridamie qui m'accablent quand je les trouve en quelque part parce qu'ils se sont mis dans la fantaisie qu'il faut qu'ils raillent sur tout de sorte que comme ils ont tousjours l'esprit a la gehenne pour trouver ce qu'ils cherchent ils disent mille chose ennuyeuses pour une divertissante ainsi il se trouve 
 que pour trois ou quatre railleries suportables qu'ils auront dittes en toute leur vie il en aura falu entendre cent mille mauvaises pour moy repris-je je rencontre quelquesfois un homme qui me fait desesperer par les redittes continuelles de ce qu'il croit avoir plaisamment dit car je puis vous jurer qu'il y a telle raillerie que je luy ay ouy dire plus de mille fois je crains encore estrangement adjousta pisistrate ces faiseurs de meschans contes qui en rient les premiers et qui en riroient tousjours tous seuls s'ils ne les contoient jamais a d'autres qu'a moy apres tout dit euridamie il y en a encore d'une autre sorte qui est la plus ennuyeuse de toutes puis que selon moy je ne scache rien de plus incommode qu'une certaine raillerie fade et froide qui n'est propre a rien car enfin quand on voit que ceux qui parlent ont dessein d'estre plaisans et que pourtant ils ne le sont point il n'y a rien de plus ennuyeux ces grands faiseurs de longs recits repris-je qui disent mille choses non necessaires devant que d'en dire une agreable ne sont pas encore trop divertissans quoy qu'ils pretendent l'estre beaucoup et il est si difficile de ne dire ny trop ny trop peu en matiere de recits soit qu'ils soient plaisans ou non que peu de gens au monde les font bien ces grands allegueurs de proverbes reprit euridamie sont encore fort a craindre ce n'est pas que quand ils sont placez a propos ils ne puissent estre fort agreables mais aussi quand ils 
 le sont mal ils font un mauvais effet et il vaudroit mieux dire une mauvaise chose tout a fait de soy-mesme que d'en choisir une peu judicieusement et de la placer mal pour moy adjousta cerinthe j'en connois encore qui tous sots qu'ils sont ne laissent pas de me divertir car enfin quand je trouve de ces gens qui croyent que pour railler il ne faut qu'estre fort guays parler beaucoup rire de ce qu'ils disent et de ce qu'ils pensent que faire grand bruit et que dire brusquement des choses facheuses je ne puis m'empescher d'en rire d'aussi bon coeur que s'ils estoient les plus agreables du monde mais ce qui fait que vous en riez reprit euridamie c'est que vous estes naturellement malicieuse et que vous trouvez une ample matiere de railler agreablement en ceux qui raillent de mauvaise grace cependant adjousta pisistrate il se trouve que sans y penser nous sommes de l'opinion d'euridamie car puis que la raillerie est une chose si difficile a bien faire je pense qu'elle a raison de dire qu'il est dangereux de s'en servir souvent je consens bien dit cerinthe qu'elle condamne la mauvaise raillerie et qu'elle ne puisse souffrir ny la satirique ny la grossiere ny la froide ny l'extravagante mais pour la galante et la delicate je m'y oppose autant que je le puis et il faut absolument qu'euridamie soit de mon opinion ou qu'elle me die precisement a quelle sorte de raillerie elle me permet de prendre plaisir le vous ay desja dit reprit euridamie qu'il n'y 
 en a guere que j'aprouve quoy qu'il y en ait qui me plaise dittes nous du moins celle qui vous plaist dit pisistrate car a mon advis peu de choses vous plaisent qui ne doivent plaire a tout le monde et quand ce ne seroit que pour corriger cerinthe de sa malice adjousta-t'il je vous conjure de vouloir establir des loix pour la raillerie vous protestant que je les garderay plus exactement que les loix de solon ha pour moy interrompit cerinthe en riant je n'en dis pas de mesme et je suis bien trompee si l'on ne peut dire des loix qu'elle va faire ce qu'anacharsis a dit de celles de nostre legislateur quoy qu'il en soit dit euridamie puis que pisistrate les suivra je ne laisseray pas d'en faire je vous promets aussi de ne les enfraindre jamais luy dis-je pourveu que vous nous les donniez a l'heure mesme le mot de loix m'espouvante pourtant si fort dit alors euridamie que je n'ose presques ouvrir la bouche c'est pourquoy pour parler un peu plus modestement je veux seulement vous dire mon opinion et la soumettre mesme a vostre jugement je vous diray donc adjousta-t'elle que je veux qu'on soit nay a la raillerie et qu'on ne s'y force jamais je veux mesme qu'on ne la cherche point car assurement si elle ne vient toute seule et si elle ne vient sans peine elle ne vient jamais agreablement de plus il faut qu'il y ait un si grand intervale entre la raillerie et la satire qu'on ne puisse jamais prendre l'une pour l'autre je scay bien 
 qu'on dit que si la raillerie n'est un peu piquante elle ne plaist pas mais pour moy je la considere autrement en effet je veux bien qu'elle soit surprenante et qu'elle touche mesme sensiblement ceux a qui elle s'adresse mais je ne veux pas que les piqueures en soient profondes et je ne veux tout au plus qu'elles facent au coeur de ceux qui les ressentent que ce que font les espines a ceux qui cueillent des roses en resvant enfin je veux que la raillerie parte d'une imagination vive et d'un esprit plein de feu et que tenant quelque chose de son origine elle soit brillante comme les esclairs qui esblouissent mais qui ne bruslent pourtant pas au reste je veux encore qu'on ne raille pas tousjours car outre qu'il est peu de longues railleries qui ne soient mauvaises c'est encore qu'il ne faut pas que l'esprit de ceux qui doivent en avoir le plaisir y soit trop accoustume de peur qu'il n'en soit plus surpris mais ce que je veux principalement est que chacun connoisse son talent et s'en contente c'est pourquoy je veux que ceux a qui la nature a donne une certaine naivete soit en leurs actions soit aux mouvemens de leur visage soit mesme en leurs expressions ne se meslent point de vouloit faire plus qu'elle puis qu'il est vray que l'art qui la perfectionne quelquefois gaste tout en ces occasions ainsi il faut simplement suivre son genie sans vouloir prendre celuy des autres estant certain qu'il n'est pas de la raillerie comme de la peinture car on peut quelquesfois faire une coppie 
 pie si juste d'un tableau qu'elle fait douter ceux qui s'y connoissent le plus parfaitement mais on ne peut jamais que mal imiter la raillerie d'un autre c'est pourquoy il ne le faut jamais entreprendre cependant pour repasser une partie des mauvais railleurs que nous avons blasmez selon que ma memoire m'en fera souvenir je veux que ceux qui font un conte ne l'annoncent point comme fort plaisant devant que de le faire je veux de plus qu'il soit ou fort naif ou plein d'esprit que le commencement n'en soit pas plus plaisant que la fin et sur toutes choses je veux qu'il soit nouveau et qu'il soit fort court je veux encore que ceux qui font un recit de plus longue estendue le facent avec art et avec agreement qu'ils suspendent l'esprit de ceux qui les escoutent et s'il est possible qu'ils les trompent en disant a la fin de leur discours ce qu'ils n'avoient pas preveu mais je veux principalement qu'ils ne disent rien d'inutile et que leur eloquence ne soit ny trainante ny embrouillee et qu'au contraire ils passent d'une chose a une autre sans embarras et sans confusion et qu'ils ne s'interrompent pas trop souvent eux mesmes pour dire j'avois oublie ou je n'ay pas dit ou je devois dire et mille autres choses semblables que disent ceux qui n'ont point d'ordre dans leurs pensees et de qui le jugement n'aide point a la memoire lors qu'ils font un long recit au reste je ne veux nullement que ceux qui raillent cessent de parler le langage des honnestes gens comme ceux 
 que pisistrate a si judicieusement repris si ce n'est que ce soit de ces gens qui ont le talent de contrefaire les autres et qu'on ne peut pas mettre precisement au rang de ceux qui raillent puis qu'en ce cas la celuy qui voudra contrefaire un esclave en colere qui se plaint aura tort s'il le fait parler comme son maistre car comme l'imitation est son objet plus il aprochera de celuy qu'il imite et plus il meritera d'estre loue au reste je veux encore que ceux qui raillent ne soient point avares de leurs pensees et qu'ils songent autant qu'ils pourront a ne redire point ce qu'ils ont dit pour ce qui est de ceux qui se servent de proverbes en raillant j'ay desja dit qu'il les faut bien placer et je dis encore qu'il faut qu'ils viennent si naturellement a la chose ou on les aplique que ceux qui les entendent s'estonnent pourquoy ils ne leur estoient pas venus dans l'esprit car alors plus ils sont populaires et meilleurs ils sont mais enfin pour parler de ce qu'on apelle positivement raillerie je dis que pour bien railler il faut avoir l'esprit plein de feu l'imagination fort vive le jugement fort delicat et la memoire remplie de mille choses differentes pour s'en servir selon l'occasion il faut de plus scavoir le monde et s'y plaire et il faut avoir dans l'esprit un certain tour galant et naturel et une certaine familiarite hardie qui sans rien tenir de l'audace ait quelque chose qui plaise et qui impose silence aux autres ha euridamie qu'il faut avoir d'esprit pour dire ce que 
 vous dittes reprit pisistrate pour moy dit cerinthe je croy que si elle vouloit quiter son humeur serieuse il n'y auroit personne en grece qui raillast si agreablement qu'elle le serieux reprit euridamie n'est pas un aussi grand obstacle que vous pensez a railler finement et j'ay connu un homme qui n'est plus qui avec un air languissant et melancolique et mesme avec une mine assez niaise et assez langoureuse a plus dit de jolies choses et de railleries galantes que personne n'en dira jamais cependant adjousta-t'elle quoy que je vous aye fait comprendre que je concois a peu pres comment il faut railler il faut que je redie encore ce que j'ay dit et que je soustienne qu'on doit bien prendre garde principalement comment on raille ses amis il y a pourtant une regle generale a suivre adjousta-t'elle ou l'on ne se scauroit tromper qui est de ne dire jamais rien d'eux que l'on ne veuille bien qu'ils entendent et de ne leur dire jamais rien a eux mesmes qui soit assez piquant pour les empescher de prendre plaisir a ce qu'on leur dit car il n'est nullement juste que vous disiez rien a vos amis qui divertisse plus les autres qu'eux ny qui les mette dans la necessite de vous dire a vous mesme des choses qui vous divertissent aussi moins que les autres qui les entendent car enfin l'amitie est si delicate qu'on ne peut avoir trop de crainte de la blesser et puis a parler raisonnablement ce ne sont nullement les choses piquantes qui font la belle raillerie et le plaisir 
 qu'y prennent ceux a qui elles plaisent vient assurement plus de la malignite de leur inclination que de l'art de la raillerie qui les divertit estant certain qu'une simple bagatelle tournee plaisamment est bien plus propre a faire une raillerie divertissante qu'une invective satirique de qui on change seulement le nom en l'appellant raillerie joint que quand mesme on railleroit moins bien en raillant moins malicieusement il faudroit encore le faire car apres tout ce n'est pas un deffaut de ne scavoir point railler pourveu qu'on entende raillerie mais s'en est un fort grand de n'estre pas scrupuleux dans ses amitiez et d'aimer mieux s'exposer a fascher un amy qu'a perdre une chose plaisante ce que vous dittes repliqua cerinthe est tellement d'une parente de solon que je croy qu'il vous a laisse toute sa sagesse en partant d'athenes quoy qu'il en soit dit pisistrate elle ne dit rien ou la raison se puisse opposer je ne le connois que trop pour ma satisfaction repliqua cerinthe car si je voulois regler mon esprit selon ce qu'elle vient de dire il faudroit que je ne parlasse de ma vie ce seroit pourtant grand dommage de vous imposer silence repris-je puis qu'il est peu de personnes qui parlent aussi agreablement que vous comme je disois cela theocrite entra avec une gravite majestueuse qui changea la conversation et qui separa mesme bien tost la compagnie parce qu'euridamie s'en estant allee pisistrate a qui elle avoit fort plu ce jour la 
 et que theocrite importunoit luy donna la main si bien que les suivant un moment apres nous laissasmes cerinthe avec son amant melancolique qu'elle n'endura que dans l'esperance de s'en divertir le lendemain en nous racontant combien serieusement il l'auroit entretenue
 
 
 
 
cependant pisistrate sans scavoir s'il estoit amant ou amy de cerinthe et d'euridamie s'il avoit de l'amour pour l'une et de l'amitie pour l'autre ou de l'amour pour toutes les deux se plaisoit presques esgallement avec ces deux filles il est vray comme je l'ay desja dit que c'estoit selon l'humeur ou il estoit car par exemple quand il estoit en un de ces jours ou il trouvoit mauvais tout ce qu'on faisoit dans la republique il n'alloit point chez cerinthe et il cherchoit euridamie aupres de qui il se pleignoit de la mauvaise conduite des affaires les examinant a fonds en remarquant tous les deffauts et en cherchant tous les remedes comme si ce qu'il en disoit avec euridamie eust deu estre suivi en effet il s'eschauffoit l'esprit et l'imagination conme s'il eust eu a persuader tout le peuple d'athenes et portant la chose encore plus loing il prevoyoit tous les biens et tous les maux de la republique selon sa pensee et faisoit quelquesfois un si grand renversement de toutes choses que si la fortune eust execute ses volontez personne ne seroit demeure dans athenes a la place ou il estoit cependant pisistrate ne laissoit pas d'entremesler quelques douceurs galantes a sa politique 
 de sorte qu'euridamie l'escoutoit paisiblement et il estoit aussi tres satisfait d'en avoir este escoute mais lors qu'il estoit en un de ses jours d'enjouement il se donnoit tout entier a cerinthe avec qui il faisoit des projets de plaisirs et de divertissemens qui alloient aussi loin que ses prevoyances de politique car non seulement il faisoit dessein de faire quelque partie de promenade de bal ou de musique mais ils passoient quelquesfois une apresdisnee toute entiere a regler les divertissemens qu'ils auroient l'este qui devoit suivre celuy ou nous estions et a imaginer mille plaisirs qu'ils scavoient bien eux mesmes qu'ils n'auroient jamais cependant durant ces jours d'enjouement theocrite et euridamie ne se divertissoient pas trop bien cet amant grave estoit pourtant plus malheureux que cette amante serieuse car pour elle comme elle a infiniment de l'esprit elle connoissoit bien que cerinthe n'avoit guere plus de pouvoir sur le coeur de pisistrate qu'elle y en avoit mais pour theocrite il connoissoit si parfaitement qu'il n'en avoit point du tout sur celuy de cerinthe qu'il en estoit fort afflige il voyoit pourtant bien que cette personne n'estoit pas capable d'un grand attachement neantmoins comme pisistrate luy plaisoit plus qu'un autre il en estoit fort jaloux mais madame si cerinthe avoit raison de dire qu'un amant serieux estoit une bizarre chose je pense que je n'ay pas tort d'assurer qu'un jaloux grave ne l'est guere moins 
 en effet madame il n'y avoit rien de plus estrange a voir que theocrite lors qu'il eut de la jalousie car comme c'est une passion qui porte le chagrin avec elle jugez quel devoit estre celuy d'un amant qui l'estoit naturellement mais ce qu'il y avoit de plus estrange estoit de voir cet homme si serieux et dont toutes les actions estoient ordinairement si concertees estre capable de toutes ces sortes de petits soins et de curiositez impertinentes que la jalousie inspire a la plus grande partie de ceux qu'elle possede cependant je me divertissois du chagrin des autres et de leur joye aussi car j'estois de toutes les parties de divertissement que faisoit pisistrate comme ayant alors beaucoup de part a son amitie de sorte que luy parlant un jour de cerinthe et d'euridamie je le pressay de me dire comment elles estoient dans son esprit elles y sont toutes deux si bien reprit-il que je suis persuade que si je n'en connoissois qu'une j'en serois terriblement amoureux mais parce que je les estime esgallement mon coeur ne se determine point tout a fait il bien que je pense qu'on peut dire que je les aime beaucoup plus que je n'aime mes autres amies et un peu moins qu'une maistresse pour qui on auroit un grand attachement cette responce est si extraordinaire repliquay-je en riant que je croy que vous me la faites plustost parce que vous la trouvez plaisante que selon vos veritables sentimens je vous proteste me dit-il que je vous dis ce que je sens 
 et ce qui est effectivement dans mon coeur car si euridamie ne fust point tant venue chez cerinthe au commencement que je la connus je sentois bien que j'en allois estre amoureux tout de bon et si j'eusse connu euridamie sans connoistre cerinthe je pense aussi que je l'eusse aimee tendrement enfin silamis me dit il l'enjouement de cerinthe me plaist si fort et la melancolie passionnee d'euridamie me charme tellement que je suis persuade que s'il y en avoit une des deux qui s'en allast aux champs pour un mois je serois infalliblement tout a fait amoureux de celle qui demeureroit a athenes ha sans mentir m'escriay-je vous estes admirable de parler comme vous faites quoy qu'il en soit dit-il la chose est comme je le dis mais luy dis-je le moyen que vostre esprit puisse estre suspendu entre deux personnes d'humeur si opposee comme ces deux personnes d'humeur si opposee reprit-il ne laissent pas d'estre d'un merite esgal chacune en sa maniere il n'y a pas tant de quoy s'estonner de ce que mon esprit ne se determine pas et il est d'autant moins estrange poursuivit-il que cerinthe et euridamie ne se ressemblent point car si elles estoient toutes deux guayes ou toutes deux melancoliques je choisirois sans doute celle dont la guayete ou la melancolie me plairoit le plus mais parce que ce que je trouve en l'une je ne le trouve point en l'autre je suis contraint de partager mon estime et mesme mon affection ainsi on peut presques 
 dire que je les aime toutes deux ou que du moins j'ay une esgalle disposition a les aimer et en effet madame pisistrate ne mentoit pas puis que selon toutes les apparences sans l'inclination qu'il avoit pour euridamie il eust este fort amoureux de cerinthe et que sans celle qu'il avoit pour cerinthe il l'eust este d'euridamie cependant ces deux filles s'estant a la fin aperceues qu'elles se faisoient un esgal obstacle dans le coeur de pisistrate commencerent de s'en aimer un peu moins de sorte que cerinthe qui avoit accoustume en parlant d'euridamie de dire seulement qu'elle estoit serieuse dit en diverses occasions quelle estoit trop chagrine et euridamie de son coste qui n'accusoit autrefois cerinthe que d'aimer un peu trop a railler l'accusa d'aimer a medire si bien que cette petite division produisit diverses querelles entre ces deux filles qui embarrasserent estrangement pisistrate parce qu'elles vouloient tousjours le forcer a prendre party entre elles il agit pourtant si adroitement qu'en condamnant tantost l'une et tantost l'autre il s'establit juge de leurs differens et ne se declara point mais pendant tous ces demeslez theocrite continuant d'agir gravement selon son humeur continuoit aussi de n'estre pas mieux avec cerinthe qu'a l'ordinaire et d'estre par consequent aussi malheureux qu'il avoit accoustume de l'estre les choses estant donc en ces termes et pisistrate disant tousjours que sans euridamie il eust aime cerinthe 
 et que sans cerinthe il eust aime euridamie je sceus que philombrote s'en alloit aux champs et qu'il y menoit toute sa famille de sorte que je ne le sceus pas plus tost que je fus chercher pisistrate que je scavois bien qui ne le scavoit pas mais a peine fus-je aupres de luy que luy adressant la parolle enfin luy dis-je en riant nous verrons bien tost si vous dittes vray et si vous deviendrez amoureux d'euridamie des que vous ne verrez plus cerinthe car je viens d'aprendre qu'elle s'en va a la campagne quoy dit-il cerinthe s'en va aux champs ouy luy respondis-je et je viens de scavoir que philombrote a pris cette resolution la ce matin je suis donc bien a pleindre me dit-il car je scay des hier qu'euridamie s'en va aussi demain et lors que vous estes arrive je disois en moy mesme que je n'avois qu'a me disposer a devenir tout a fait amoureux de cerinthe durant l'absence d'euridamie mais a ce que je voy je suis hors de ce peril puis qu'elles s'en vont toutes deux comme il n'est pas possible repliquay-je en riant que le mesme hazard qui fait qu'elles partent d'athenes en mesme temps les y fasse revenir en mesme jour je ne desespere pas encore de voir bien tost ma curiosite satisfaite car enfin nous verrons si vous aimerez celle qui reviendra la premiere cependant pisistrate fut effectivement fort touche de l'absence de ces deux personnes neantmoins comme il avoit plustost pour elles une simple disposition amoureuse qu'une 
 veritable amour il s'en consola joint qu'estant oblige de faire luy mesme un voyage peu de jours apres leur depart le changement de lieu acheva de dissiper son chagrin mais madame comme j'estois alors celuy de tous ses amis avec qui il avoit le plus de familiarite il m'engagea a faire le voyage ou il alloit me disant pour m'y obliger que comme il alloit assez proche de ces fameux bains qui sont au pied de la montagne des thermopyles nous irions nous y divertir quelques jours quand il auroit acheve ses affaires car madame il faut que vous scachiez que ces bains sont si celebres que trois mois durant il y a un nombre infiny de personnes de qualite de toute la grece qui y vont et ce qui fait que cette assemblee est plus agreable c'est qu'elle n'est pas composee de personnes malades et languissantes au contraire l'opinion de ceux qui pensent estre les mieux instruits de la vertu de ces bains est qu'ils sont plus propres a conserver la sante qu'a la restablir ainsi tous ceux qui s'y trouvent se portant bien sont en estat de songer a se divertir de plus comme les dames se sont mis dans la fantaisie que ces bains augmentent la beaute ou du moins qu'ils la conservent il n'y a point d'annee qu'il n'y en ait une quantite estrange qui y vont sur le pretexte de vouloir s'empescher d'estre malades quoy que ce soit effectivement ou pour estre plus long temps belles ou du moins pour se divertir car un des preceptes 
 de ceux qui ordonnent ces bains est de bannir toute sorte de melancolie durant qu'on les prend et de se rejouir autant qu'on peut ainsi madame comme je n'y avois jamais este et que j'avois ouy dire qu'on s'y divertissoit fort bien j'acceptay aveque joye l'offre que me fit pisistrate je ne m'arresteray point a vous dire quelle estoit l'affaire qui le mena aupres des thermopyles car j'advoue qu'il m'en fit un secret j'ay pourtant creu que c'estoit pour conferer avec quelques bannis d'athenes qui luy pouvoient servir au changement qu'il a fait depuis en les y faisant rapeler quoy qu'il ne me l'ait pas voulu confesser mais enfin je le suivis a ce voyage de sorte qu'apres m'avoir laisse deux jours chez un de ses amis pendant quoy il fut faire ce qu'il ne me dit pas il me revint prendre et nous fusmes aux thermopyles dont nous n'estions qu'a une demie journee mais madame il faut s'il vous plaist que je vous represente et le lieu et la maniere dont on y vit durant trois mois de l'annee que la saison des bains dure vous scaurez donc madame qu'assez pres de cette montagne des thermopyles qui partage la grece et qui ne laissant qu'un passage estroit et difficile par ou l'on peut aller d'une partie de la grece a l'autre semble la vouloir esgalement fortifier il y a un bourg qui s'apelle alpene ou il y a grand nombre de maisons assez commodes pour loger tous ceux qui sont aux bains mais pour l'endroit ou ils sont et ou l'on va se baigner il a sans 
 doute quelque chose de sauvage et d'agreable tout ensemble en effet quand on est a ce passage estroit par ou l'on peut aller d'une partie de la grece a l'autre ou voit du coste de l'occident une montagne inaccessible environnee de precipices effroyables qui s'estend jusques au mont eta et du coste de l'orient on voit la mer et une espece de marescage maritime si plein de sources et si fangeux qu'on n'y peut aller il est vray que descendant un peu plus bas du coste qui regarde artemision il y a une prairie infiniment agreable car outre qu'elle a la veue de cette affreuse montagne et que de l'autre coste elle a la mer pour objet elle a encore un nombre infini d'arbres qui la bordent de plus comme c'est la que sont les bains on a eu soin d'en ramasser les eaux qui eussent pu la rendre fangeuse comme le marescage qui la touche de sorte qu'ayant conduit en cet endroit par divers canaux ces eaux celebres qui doivent servir aux bains on a fait aux deux bouts de la prairie plus de cent cuves de marbre dans lesquelles on fait quand on le veut venir autant d'eau qu'il en faut pour se baigner si bien que comme tous ceux qui vont a ces bains ont chacun une tente magnifique pour couvrir la cuve qu'on leur donne ces diverses tentes dans cette prairie font un objet tres agreable mais madame j'oubliois de vous dire que la raison pourquoy cela est ainsi est que ces eaux qui sont tiedes naturellement perdent leur vertu estant 
 transportees ainsi il faut de necessite se baigner au lieu mesme ou elles coulent cependant cela n'empesche pas que les dames n'y soient autant en particulier que si elles estoient dans leur chambre car outre que les tentes destinees pour les hommes sont a l'autre bout de la prairie et que ce seroit passer pour extravagant que de perdre le respect qu'on doit aux dames il y a encore une grande balustrade qui la partage et ou il y a des gardes tant que l'heure des bains dure de sorte que les hommes conduisent ces dames jusques a cette balustrade seulement apres quoy elles s'en vont dans leurs tentes ou elles sont en pleine liberte joint aussi que les hommes ne se baignent jamais en mesme heure qu'elles car ils se baignent le matin et les dames le soir si bien qu'apres qu'ils les ont conduites a la balustrade ils se promenent dans la prairie en attendant qu'elles sortent du bain afin de les aller reprendre au mesme lieu ou ils les ont conduites pour les remener a leurs chariots qui sont rangez le long de la prairie a cause qu'il n'en peut aller qu'un de front par ce chemin la ou pour se promener le long de la mer si elles ne veulent pas retourner si tost a alpene car la commodite de ces bains la est qu'ils n'obligent a nul regime particulier qu'a celuy de se divertir aussi le fit on admirablement l'annee que j'y fus avec pisistrate parce que le bonheur voulut pour nous qu'il n'y avoit jamais eu tant de monde en effet il y avoit des dames de toutes 
 les parties de la grece il y en avoit d'athenes de thebes de megare d'argos de corinthe de chalcis de delphes et de cent autres lieux et je croy effectivement qu'excepte de lacedemone il y en avoit de toutes les principales villes de la grece de plus il y avoit des musiciens de tous les endroits de la terre ou la musique a quelque reputation et il n'y a enfin nul plaisir qu'on ne trouvast en ce lieu la et qu'on n'y trouvast plus pur qu'en nul autre parce qu'il n'y avoit que des gens qui vouloient se divertir et qui n'avoient ny affaires ny soins domestiques qui les occupassent
 
 
 
 
mais madame il faut que vous scachiez que comme l'heure du bain des femmes est un peu devant que le soleil se couche comme celle des hommes est un peu apres qu'il est leve nous arrivasmes aux thermopyles pisistrate et moy que les dames estoient encore dans leurs tentes de sorte que comme pisistrate y avoit este une autre annee et qu'il en scavoit l'usage nous descendismes de cheval au bord de la prairie et nous allasmes nous y promener comme beaucoup d'autres que nous y voiyons car comme nous ne venions pas de loin nous pouvions paroistre devant des dames avec bien-seance joint que pisistrate qui n'estoit pas par bonheur en une de ses humeurs de negligence avoit un habillement de campagne le plus magnifique et le plus galant qu'il estoit possible de voir mais a peine eusmes nous fait vingt pas dans cette prairie qu'un homme de 
 qualite d'athenes nomme ariston que nous ne scavions pas qui fust aux bains nous nomma a ceux avec qui il estoit et vint au devant de nous avec eux car comme c'est la coustume en ce lieu-la que les premiers venus font honneur aux autres qui arrivent ils nous receurent fort civilement pour moy qui y estois tout a fait estranger je regardois ces diverses tentes avec beaucoup de plaisir et je me faisois instruire par ariston de ce que je voulois scavoir mais enfin apres la premiere civilite pisistrate et moy nous estant separez des autres avec ariston nous luy demandasmes s'il y avoit de belles femmes cette annee la au lieu ou nous estions de sorte qu'apres qu'il nous eut dit qu'il y en avoit de fort belles d'autres qui ne l'estoient plus d'autres qui ne l'estoient gueres et d'autres qui ne l'estoient point du tout je vy entre ces tentes des dames une personne qui se promenoit seule en resvant dont la taille estoit extremement noble et dont l'habillement estoit fort galant en effet madame j'oubliois de vous dire qu'on s'habille d'une facon particuliere en ce lieu la qui plaist infiniment car enfin l'habit des dames ressemble si fort a celuy que les peintres donnent aux nimphes de diane qu'il n'y a presques point de difference et ce qui a estably cette coustume est que comme elles se deshabillent pour se baigner il a falu inventer un habillement galant et commode tout ensemble mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois je vous diray qu'ayant 
 donc veu cette personne qui se promenoit seule et dont je ne voyois pourtant pas le visage je demanday a ariston qui elle estoit quoy me dit-il vous ne connoissez pas a la voir marcher seulement que c'est une de nos belles d'athenes a ces mots pisistrate la regardant plus attentivement et cette personne ayant tourne la teste de nostre coste il la reconnut pour estre cleorante dont je vous ay parle au commencement de ce discours et qui est fille de megacles un des principaux d'athenes mais a peine l'eut-il reconnue qu'il la salua quoy qu'il ne luy eust jamais parle car comme son pere avoit este d'une faction opposee a la sienne il n'y avoit nulle familiarite entre leurs familles neantmoins comme athenes estoit alors tranquile pisistrate et megacles estoient en civilite quoy qu'ils ne se vissent pas l'un chez l'autre mais comme ce dernier n'estoit pas a ces bains et qu'il n'y avoit que sa femme qui s'apelle erophile cela facilita la connoissance de pisistrate et de cleorante cependant cette belle personne luy rendit son falut si civilement que cela obligea pisistrate de parler plus longtemps d'elle et de demander a ariston combien il y avoit qu'elle estoit aux bains il y a si peu repliqua-t'il que si vous vous estiez veus particulierement a athenes je croirois que vous auriez intelligence ensemble car erophile et elle n'y sont que depuis deux jours seulement mais d'ou vient dis-je a ariston que cleorante ne se baigne 
 point car je la trouve assez belle pour vouloir conserver sa beaute c'est qu'elle est si belle reprit-il qu'elle croiroit se faire tort de faire une chose qui a la reputation d'embellir je pense en effet dit alors pisistrate que cleorante est fort belle du moins me souviens-je bien que du temps des divisions d'athenes je la vy un jour au temple de plus pres que je ne la voy et que je dis a quelqu'un que j'estois bien marry que megacles eust une si belle fille vous parlez de cela d'une si plaisante sorte repliqua ariston qu'on diroit que vous n'avez point d'yeux je vous assure nous dit-il que je n'en ay pas tousjours pour tout ce que je regarde car si mon esprit et mes yeux ne regardent d'intelligence je ne scay pas trop bien ce que je voy comme pisistrate disoit cela nous vismes plusieurs dames sortir de leurs tentes apres s'estre baignees qui ayant joint cleorante se mirent a se promener en s'aprochant de la balustrade de sorte que comme elles en furent assez proches nous les saluasmes mais comme elles voulurent retourner sur leurs pas en attendant que les autres dames fussent hors du bain ariston prenant la parole a la priere de pisistrate eh de grace madame dit-il a cleorante dont il rencontra les yeux ne nous privez pas si tost du plaisir de vous voir et souffrez que je vous presente deux atheniens qui sont au desespoir d'avoir besoin de mon entremise pour vous les faire connoistre et de ce qu'ils n'ont pas eu plut tost le bonheur d'estre 
 connus de vous comme ariston estoit amy particulier de cleorante elle s'arresta et retint une de ses amies avec elle nommee cephise de sorte que s'aprochant alors de la balustrade avec autant de grace que de civilite si ces illustres atheniens dit-elle me connoissoient mieux qu'ils ne font ils vous desavoueroient de la civilite que vous venez de me dire il paroist bien madame reprit pisistrate que je n'ay pas l'honneur d'estre connu de vous puis que vous me pouvez soubconner de desavouer ce que vous a dit ariston en mon particulier adjoustay-je je croy qu'il suffit que la belle cleorante se connoisse pour ne douter nullement que des qu'on la voit on ne soit au desespoir de ne l'avoir pas veue plustost du moins vous puis-je assurer luy dit ariston que silamis vous trouve si belle qu'il ne comprend pas pourquoy vous ne vous baignez point puis que les bains des thermopyles ont la reputation de conserver la beaute comme je me connois admirablement reprit-elle en souriant j'ay lieu de croire que voyant le peu d'agreement que j'ay sur le visage vostre amy a creu que j'avois tort de m'exposer a le perdre dans la pensee qu'il ne me resteroit plus rien qui me peust faire endurer ha sans mentir cleorante luy dit cette dame qui estoit avec elle c'est estre bien hardie de parler comme vous venez de parler avec une aussi grande beaute que la vostre de grace reprit cleorante en souriant ne m'accablez point de louanges car 
 comme pisistrate et silamis ne me connoissent presques point ils croiront que l'aime fort qu'on me loue oyant une de mes amies me dire tant de flatteries cependant il est certain que je n'aime point du tout les louanges qu'on me donne en parlant a moy quoy que j'aime fort qu'on me loue en parlant aux autres mais madame reprit pisistrate quelle satisfaction vous peuvent donner des louanges que vous n'entendez point et que bien souvent vous ne scavez pas car par exemple adjousta-t'il je suis assure que quand je partirois des demain et que je ne vous verrois de ma vie j'en parlerois plus de cent fois sans que vous en sceussiez rien vous en parleriez peut-estre si peu a mon advantage reprit-elle en souriant qu'il me seroit avantageux de ne scavoir pas ce que vous en auriez dit je vous assure madame luy dis-je que si vous connoissiez bien pisistrate vous croiriez facilement qu'il ne parle pas tant de ce qui ne luy plaist pas et elle connoistroit aussi adjousta-t'il que je parle tousjours de ce qui me plaist comme pisistrate disoit cela erophile et presques toutes les autres dames qui se baignoient estant sorties de leurs tentes cleorante nous quita et fut rejoindre sa mere qui a sans doute este une des plus belles personnes d'athenes et qui l'est mesme encore extremement ceux qui l'ont veue jeune disent pourtant qu'elle ne fut jamais si aimable que cleorante qui a en effet une des plus charmantes beautez de toute la terre car outre 
 que sa beaute est une beaute de grand esclat elle a un air de jeunesse admirable un enjouement modeste le plus aimable du monde et je ne scay quoy de si attirant qu'il n'est pas aise de luy resister mais madame des qu'elle nous eut quittez nous fusmes comme tous les autres hommes qui se promenoient dans la prairie attendre ces dames a la porte de la balustrade pour leur donner la main car en ce lieu la on y est avec la liberte du bal ou il n'est pas necessaire de se connoistre pour se parler et pour dancer ensemble cependant comme ariston estoit le plus pres de la porte et que comme je l'ay desja dit il estoit amy particulier de cleorante lors qu'elle vint a sortir elle luy tendit la main mais des qu'il la luy eut prise il se tourna vers pisistrate et luy dit que pour luy donner une grande preuve de son amitie il luy donnoit sa place aussi bien adjousta-t'il en adressant la parole a cleorante il la merite mieux que moy et il la tiendra mieux aussi vous avez donc envie repliqua-t'elle en riant que pisistrate s'ennuye icy et qu'il s'en aille des demain au contraire madame respondit pisistrate c'est pour m'y retenir qu'ariston veut que j'aye l'honneur de vous parler quoy qu'il en soit dit ariston en les quitant vous me direz tous deux des nouvelles l'un de l'autre a la fin de la promenade apres cela ariston donna la main a une autre dame et j'aiday a marcher a cette amie de cleorante a qui j'avois desja parle lors que nous estions appuyez 
 fur le bord de la balustrade de sorte que comme il faisoit fort beau ce soir la on se promena fort long temps et pisistrate et cleorante eurent assez de loisir de s'entretenir pour connoistre qu'ils avoient tous deux infiniment de l'esprit mais enfin comme l'heure de retourner a alpene fut venue ariston les rejoignit parce que la dame qu'il avoit conduite s'en estant allee des premieres des qu'il leut mise a son chariot il fut demander a cleorante et a pisistrate que cephise et moy avions joints comme ils se trouvoient l'un de l'autre en mon particulier dit pisistrate en riant ce que je vous en puis dire est que je ne fus de ma vie si tost accoustume avec qui que ce soit qu'avec cleorante car enfin il me semble que je la connois depuis qu'elle a commence de vivre pour moy dit cette belle personne pisistrate m'est si peu estranger que je pense que si j'avois un secret je le luy confierois enfin adjousta pisistrate pour vous tesmoigner qu'en effet nous ne nous sommes point trouvez embarrassez comme le sont d'ordinaire ceux qui se voyent pour la premiere fois nous avons tousjours parle et nous ne nous sommes pourtant point entretenus ny de la beaute du temps ny de celle du lieu ny de toutes ces sortes de choses qu'on dit quand on ne scait que se dire comme pisistrate disoit cela erophile s'estant tournee pour apeller sa fille ariston s'avanca et luy dit a la priere de son amy que pisistrate avoit dessein d'aller chez elle de sorte 
 que s'estant arrestee il la salua et elle le receut fort bien parce que comme elle aimoit la paix et les plaisirs elle eust este bien aise de pouvoir faire qu'il se fust lie amitie entre megacles et pisistrate cette conversation ne fut pourtant pas longue car comme il estoit tard nous ramenasmes ces dames a leur chariot apres quoy nous nous promenasmes encore quelque temps pisistrate ariston et moy cependant a peine les eusmes nous quitees que je dis en riant a pisistrate que je trouvois qu'il estoit bien tost accoustume avec cleorante mais prenez garde adjoustay-je durant qu'ariston donnoit quelque ordre a un de ses gens pour nostre logement que vous ne soyez desja desaccoustume de cerinthe et d'euridamie nous serons si peu icy repliqua-t'il en riant que je n'auray pas loisir de m'accoustumer tout a fait avec cleorante et nous retournerons si tost a athenes que je n'auray pas non plus le loisir de me desaccoustumer de cerinthe et d'euridamie mais euridamie et cerinthe luy dis-je n'y seront pis quand nous y retournerons puis qu'elles sont toutes deux a la campagne vous avez raison me dit-il et je resvois si fort que je ne m'en souvenois pas ha sans mentir luy dis-je en riant je ne veux point d'autre preuve que ce que vous venez de dire pour me faire croire que vous n'estes point amoureux car enfin il est sans exemple bon seulement qu'un amant mais qu'un amy oublie qu'il a dit adieu a son amie et qu'il ne 
 scache pas seulement s'il en est absent ou s'il ne l'est pas comme je riois fort haut ariston qui vint nous rejoindre me demanda de quoy c'estoit mais pisistrate sans en scavoir precisement la raison me deffendit si fort de le dire que je ne le luy dis point apres quoy recommencant de parler de cleorante nous luy demandasmes si elle avoit autant de bonte que de beaute elle en a sans doute autant qu'on en peut avoir repliqua ariston mais elle a de plus une chose bien particuliere adjousta-t'il car c'est qu'elle est inesgalle sans estre bizarre et qu'elle est en mesme temps une des plus esgalles personnes de la terre en beaucoup de choses ce que vous dittes repris-je n'est pas trop aise a comprendre il ne laisse pourtant pas d'estre vray repliqua-t'il car il est certain que cleorante est tousjours une des meilleures personnes du monde et qui aime ses amis avec le plus d'esgallite mais en quoy est elle donc inesgalle reprit pisistrate elle l'est respondit-il parce qu'elle est tantost guaye et tantost serieuse sa guayete ne luy cause pourtant jamais un trop grand enjouement ny son serieux une trop grande melancolie mais apres tout elle ne laisse pas d'estre d'humeur fort differente quoy qu'elle soit tousjours egalement bonne de plus les mesmes plaisirs ne luy plaisent pas esgallement car il y a des jours ou ce luy est un suplice estrange d'aller au bal et il y en a d'autres ou elle y va avec empressement cependant soit qu'elle soit guaye ou serieuse 
 elle est esgallement aimable pour ses amis car elle n'a jamais nul caprice pour eux quelque differente qu'elle soit d'elle mesme et l'on diroit enfin qu'elle n'a de l'inesgalite qu'afin de plaire davantage et de faire voir qu'elle a tous les charmes qui se peuvent trouver en deux temperammens si opposez vous me representez cleorante d'une maniere a me donner beaucoup de curiosite de la connoistre plus particulierement reprit pisistrate et je pense que si je n'avois point d'affaires a athenes je demeurerois icy tant qu'elle y demeurera mais comme je n'ay dessein d'y estre que sept ou huit jours il faut du moins en mesnager tous les momens et la voir le plus que je pourray si vous avez ce dessein la reprit ariston il faut donc nous retirer car ce sera ce soir chez sa mere que toutes les dames se trouveront et que l'on dancera a peine ariston eut-il dit cela que pisistrate prit le chemin d'aller vers nos chevaux qui estoient avec celuy d'ariston au bord de la prairie apres quoy montant a cheval nous fusmes a alpene et nous logeasmes chez ariston qui donna sa chambre a pisistrate et qui en partagea une autre aveque moy car il y avoit cette annee la tant de monde aux bains que sans luy nous eussions este bien embarrassez cependant comme pisistrate avoit ses gens et son esquipage il se mit en habit de bal et il s'y mit sans doute sans avoir encore aucune pensee de pouvoir devenir amoureux de cleorante 
 au contraire estant entre dans sa chambre durant qu'ariston estoit dans celle qu'il avoit prise il me parla de cerinthe et d'euridamie comme a l'ordinaire et les souhaita au lieu ou nous estions me demandant laquelle je croyois qui deust revenir la premiere a athenes adjoustant qu'il avoit dessein des que nous y serions retournez de leur escrire tout ce qui nous seroit arrive aux bains et de leur en faire une ample relation apres quoy ariston estant entre pour nous dire qu'il estoit temps d'aller et nous ayant apris l'estat de la galanterie des bains afin que nous n'y parussions pas estrangers nous fusmes chez erophile qui nous receut avec beaucoup de civilite aussi bien que cleorante qui s'estant fait recoiffer au retour de la promenade et ayant adjouste des pierreries a sa parure eut encore un nouvel esclat de beaute aux yeux de pisistrate d'ailleurs comme il la connoissoit plus que les autres quoy qu'il ne la connust guere et que c'estoit la seule dame de toute cette assemblee excepte cephise a qui il eust jamais parle cela fit qu'il s'attacha assiduement aupres d'elle et qu'il la mena dancer beaucoup plus qu'aucune autre car comme le hazard fit qu'ils avoient tous deux ce soir la leur humeur d'enjouement et de bal ils dancoient si bien ensemble que toute la compagnie les admiroit et prestoit une attention toute extraordinaire des que pisistrate alloit prendre cleorante ou que cleorante alloit prendre pisistrate enfin madame on peut 
 dire qu'ils passerent le soir en particulier au milieu d'une grande compagnie tant ils furent peu separez l'un de l'autre pour moy quoy que je me fusse aussi assez attache a parler a cephise je ne laissois pas de remarquer sur le visage de pisistrate qu'il ne s'ennuyoit point et sur celuy de cleorante qui ne l'importunoit pas et je voyois enfin que les grandes festes d athenes n'avoient jamais mieux diverty pisistrate que cette assemblee le divertissoit en effet elle estoit telle qu'il faloit pour plaire car les femmes y estoient fort belles elles y estoient en un habillement plus galant que celuy que nos dames portent d'ordinaire et il y avoit je ne scay quelle liberte plus grande qu'aux bals qu'on donne dans les villes mais l'heure de se retirer estant venue et la compagnie se separant nous sortismes comme les autres il est vray qu'en nous en retournant je remarquay que pisistrate estoit extremement guay de sorte que m'aprochant de luy pendant qu'ariston parloit a d'autres hommes il faut sans doute luy dis-je que vous ayez trouve beaucoup de satisfaction aupres de cleorante pour estre d'aussi belle humeur que je vous voy en une heure ou tout le monde a envie de dormir et est las de dancer ou de veiller ha silamis me dit-il si vous scaviez mon advanture vous en seriez surpris mais encore luy dis-je quelle peut elle estre c'est dit-il en me parlant avec empressement que j'ay trouve cerinthe en cleorante ha pisistrate luy dis-je 
 elles ne se ressemblent point il est vray dit-il que cleorante est grande et blonde et que cerinthe est petite et brune et il faut mesme advouer que la blonde est beaucoup plus belle que la brune mais ce qu'il y a de vray est que tous les charmes de l'esprit et de l'enjouement de cerinthe sont dans l'enjouement et dans l'esprit de cleorante et que s'il y a de la difference c'est que cleorante raille sans malice et que je suis fort trompe si elle n'a l'ame un peu plus tendre que cerinthe mais luy dis-je en riant s'il est vray qu'il n'y avoit que la presence d'euridamie qui vous empeschast d'aimer cerinthe quand nous estions a athenes je pense donc que rien ne vous empeschera d'aimer cleorante icy puis que vous luy trouvez les mesmes charmes de cerinthe et mesme beaucoup davantage comme nous n'y tarderons que huit jours repliqua-t'il en souriant je ne seray infidellite ny a cerinthe ny a euridamie il est vray pourtant adjousta-t'il que comme cleorante me fait souvenir de cerinthe je ne scay si elle n'aura point quelque avantage sur l'autre comme j'allois luy respondre ariston nous ayant rejoints il se mit a demander a pisistrate s'il avoit bien fait son profit de ce qu'il nous avoit dit devant que d'aller au bal et s'il avoit bien remarque l'attachement qu'avoit un homme de corinthe pour une dame d'argos celuy qu'avoit un autre amant de thebes pour une fille de sa ville et ainsi de plusieurs autres dont il nous 
 avoit parle vous ne serez pas mal de demander a silamis repliqua pisistrate s'il a veu ce que vous dittes car pour moy je n'ay veu que cleorante qui me semble si belle et si aimable que je ne comprens point pourquoy je ne me suis point mis du party de megacles pour estre amy de sa fille comme il est plus aise d'estre son amant que son amy reprit ariston il vous est peutestre avantageux de ne l'avoir pas veue plustost au contraire reprit pisistrate si mon destin estoit d'estre amant de cleorante je voudrois l'avoir este des qu'elle a commence de pouvoir donner de l'amour car outre que je luy aurois rendu mille services qu'elle me devroit que scay-je si de l'heure que je parle je n'en serois point desja recompense du moins aurois-je empesche qu'elle n'eust eu des amans qui eussent rien fait a mon prejudice elle en a pourtant un bien opiniastre reprit ariston il me semble adjoustay-je que c'est un frere de theocrite apelle lycurgue ouy repliqua ariston et il y a si longtemps qu'il aime sans estre aime que je croy qu'il aimera toute sa vie pourveu que cela soit tousjours ainsi reprit pisistrate il n'incommodera pas trop ses rivaux je vous assure repris-je qu'un rival importune tousjours quand mesme il seroit hai comme je disois cela nous nous trouvasmes au logis d'ariston si bien que comme il estoit fort tard apres avoit conduit pisistrate a sa cambre nous fusmes a la nostre cependant comme pisistrate 
 est magnifique et que sa fantaisie du bal luy duroit encore il dit a ariston en le quitant qu'il le vouloit donner de sorte que comme cephise estoit parente d'ariston il se chargea de l'obliger a vouloir bien que ce fust chez elle et pisistrate se resolut de l'en aller prier luy mesme et d'employer toute l'apresdisnee du jour suivant a visiter une partie des femmes les plus considerables mais comme il voulut commencer par erophile a cause de cleorante nous ne fismes pas tant de visites qu'il avoit dessein d'en faire car je vous proteste madame que le lendemain nous n'en sortismes qu'a l'heure du bain et qu'il fallut que ce fust en ce lieu-la que pisistrate fist sa priere a cephise en attendant qu'il l'a vist chez elle ce n'est pas que nous n'eussions este de fort bonne heure chez erophile mais c'est que s'estant trouve aupres de cleorante durant qu'ariston quelques dames et moy entretenions sa mere il s'y trouva si bien que luy qui devoit regler la longueur de la visite la fit durer tout le jour cependant je ne voyois pas qu'ils parlassent avec le mesme enjouement que le soir auparavant au contraire cleorante me paroissoit assez serieuse il est vray que de ma vie je n'ay veu personne avoir une melancolie plus douce ny une modestie plus charmante que la sienne je pense mesme qu'il faudroit inventer un mot pour exprimer l'air de son visage quand elle n'est pas dans cet agreable enjouement qui luy prend quelquesfois car celuy de melancolie 
 est trop fort le mot de serieux donne aussi l'idee d'une personne trop grave et il faudroit qu'il y en eust un qui pust faire entendre que cleorante sans estre precisement ny serieuse ny melancholique a quelque chose de languissant de doux et de modeste qui plaist et qui imprime du respect mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'apres que nous l'eusmes conduite dans le chariot de sa mere et que nous fusmes arrivez a la prairie ou nous nous promenasmes durant le bain des dames pisistrate me tirant a part avec un empressement que je ne vous puis exprimer si je ne craignois me dit-il que vous vous moquassiez de moy je vous dirois la plus surprenante chose qui soit jamais arrivee a personne car enfin poursuivit-il je trouvay hier cerinthe en cleorante et je vous proteste que j'y ay aujourd'huy trouve euridamie mais une euridamie sans chagrin et une euridamie mille fois plus charmante que l'autre sans mentir luy dis-je en riant c'est estre bien heureux que de retrouver deux amies ou deux maistresses absentes en une seule personne et de les retrouver mesme plus aimables que celles dont l'on est esloigne quoy qu'il en soit dit-il la chose est comme je le dis car cleorante serieuse est euridamie et cleorante enjouee est cerinthe et cela est tellement vray que si vous voulez l'observer vous mesme vous trouverez que j'ay raison la chose est si digne de curiosite repliquay-je en riant que je n'ay garde de 
 manquer de l'observer mais cependant luy dis-je je ne voy pas comment vous pourrez resister a une personne qui a les charmes de deux dont vous eussiez este vaincu si vous les eussiez veues l'une sans l'autre je vous dis des hier reprit-il que nous serons si peu icy que je n'auray pas loisir de m'attacher a cleorante ny de me detacher de cerinthe et d'euridamie comme j'allois luy respondre nous fusmes interrompus par diverses personnes et de tout le reste du jour je ne luy parlay plus car des que les dames sortirent de la balustrade qui enferme leurs tentes il aida a marcher a cleorante et ne la quita point qu'elle ne fust dans le chariot de sa mere de plus a peine fusmes nous hors de table que nous fusmes chez une dame d'argos chez qui la compagnie devoit passer le soir et ou nous ne fusmes pas si tost que pisistrate se mit aupres de cleorante au sortir de la il fit si bien qu'il assembla tout ce qu'il y avoit alors de musiciens a alpene pour donner disoit-il une serenade a toutes les dames mais a dire la verite nous commencasmes par cleorante et nous fusmes si longtemps devant ses fenestres que le soleil se levoit quand nous revinsmes de tous les lieux ou il s'estoit engage d'aller encore vous puis je assurer qu'il y eut une partie des maisons ou nous fusmes ou nous tardasmes si peu qu'on peut dire que nous y tardions seulement assez pour esveiller les dames mais non pas assez pour les divertir puis qu'a peine les musiciens avoient-ils 
 fait une certaine harmonie basse et confuse qui precede tousjours les serenades qu'ils pensoient desja a finir ce qu'ils n'avoient pas encore commence mais enfin comme pisistrate est tres magnifique le dessein qu'il avoit eu de donner le bal s'executa il fut voir cephise qui se chargea de prier les dames et il joignit a l'harmonie une colation admirable il s'engagea mesme a faire souvent de pareilles festes tant qu'il seroit a alpene et veu la maniere dont je l'entendis parler ce soir la je connus bien que nous y serions plus de huit jours quoy qu'il m'eust dit le contraire l'apresdisnee et en effet madame je ne me trompay pas car au lieu de huit jours nous y fusmes deux mois tous entiers cependant ce huictiesme jour ou nous devions partir estant arrive je vis qu'au lieu d'y songer pisistrate donnoit ordre de faire venir diverses choses pour une grande feste qu'il vouloit faire de sorte que ne pouvant m'empescher de luy en faire la guerre a ce que je voy luy dis-je en riant nous ne retournerons donc pas si tost a athenes mais du moins adjoustay-je devriez vous faire ce que vous disiez que vous feriez faites m'en donc souvenir repliqua-t'il car j'advoue qu'il ne me souvient pas de ce que vous voulez dire quoy luy dis-je il ne vous souvient plus que vous vouliez escrire a cerinthe et a euridamie et leur faire de grandes relations de tous les divertissemens des bains et de tout ce que vous y auriez veu quand j'avois ce dessein la 
 repliqua-t'il en riant je ne scavois pas que je trouverois cerinthe et euridamie a alpene et puis silamis a parler plus serieusement et plus sincerement tout ensemble je ne scay si je les divertirois fort si je leur mandois tout ce qui se passe icy et principalement ce qui se passe dans mon coeur car enfin silamis je ne l'ay ce me semble jamais veu si pres de n'estre plus a moy a dire la verite repris-je ce seroit une assez estrange nouvelle a leur mander que de leur escrire que vous estes amoureux de cleorante ou que du moins vous estes tout prest de l'estre car je suis bien assure qu'il n'y en a pas une des deux qui ne croye qu'elle a droit d'esperer de vous assujettir et je ne scay mesme s'il n'y a point quelques jours ou elles pensent vous avoir assujetty cependant apres y avoir bien songe dit-il soit que je devienne amoureux de cleorante ou que je ne le devienne pas je crois qu'il seroit a propos que vous leur escrivissiez effectivement une relation des divertissemens des bains et que vous leur mandassiez comme une nouvelle que vous croyez que je suis amoureux de cleorante puis que si je le deviens la chose ne les surprendra pas quand nous retournerons a athenes et que si je ne le deviens point nous tournerons la chose en raillerie je le veux bien luy dis-je mais quelle aparence que j'escrive a ces deux filles sans que vous leur escriviez aussi n'escrivez donc point me dit-il car je sens bien que je ne trouverois rien a leur dire presentement 
 ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que je ne les estime tousjours beaucoup mais cleorante est tellement dans ma fantaisie que je ne puis penser a autre chose et en effet madame il s'accoustuma tellement a voir cleorante qu'il ne pouvoit plus durer ailleurs qu'aupres d'elle il ne luy disoit pourtant pas tout a fait qu'il l'aimoit mais ses actions le luy disoient pour luy et je suis assure que pisistrate craignoit encore de devenir amoureux de cleorante lors qu'il y avoit desja plus d'un mois qu'il l'estoit aussi n'y avoit-il personne aux bains qui ne s'en aperceust et qui ne le dist et certes il eust este difficile de ne s'en apercevoir pas car soit qu'il la vist ou qu'il ne la vist point on voyoit tousjours qu'il estoit son amant d'autre part cleorante estimoit fort pisistrate et il estoit aise de voir qu'elle ne voyoit point d'homme qui luy plust tant que luy il est vray qu'il prenoit un si grand soin de la divertir qu'il n'est pas estrange s'il toucha son coeur plus sensiblement qu'elle ne le vouloit et qu'elle ne le pensoit car il fit tout seul tous les divertissemens des bains depuis qu'il y fut comme il y avoit cette annee la beaucoup plus de femmes que d'hommes je sceus par cephise que lors que nous y estions arrivez les dames se preparoient a faire une partie de la despense des musiciens et de toutes les choses necessaires pour leur divertissement parce qu'il y avoit eu quelques hommes qui avoient cherche de mauvais pretextes pour s'en excuser mais depuis 
 que pisistrate s'en mesla personne n'eut plus que faire de s'en mesler cependant comme il ne se rencontroit pas tousjours que les inesgalitez de sentimens de cleorante et de pisistrate se rencontrassent ils avoient quelquesfois les plus plaisantes disputes du monde mais aussi quand ils se trouvoient tous deux de mesme opinion c'estoit une chose admirable que de les voir ensemble pour moy disois-je un jour en riant a pisistrate je trouve qu'il vous estoit plus commode d'avoir separement une amie enjouee et une amie serieuse que de ne les avoir qu'en une mesme personne car quand cleorante est en son humeur languissante et que vous n'y estes pas vous ne scavez ou prendre son enjouement ou au contraire vous pouviez trouver a point nomme la joye ou la melancolie selon l'humeur ou vous estiez au lieu que ces deux sentimens opposez se trouvant en une mesme personne vous ne la pouvez pas partager vous vous divertissez si bien a mes despens me dit il que vous devriez estre bien aise de ce que j'aime a voir cleorante car je vous rendrois un mauvais office si je ne la voyois plus pisistrate me dit cela d'un air si depit que je connus aisement que sa gayete n'estoit pas en jour et certes je m'en aperceus bien car je le vy resveur et en colere mesme chez cleorante et j'eus le plaisir de voir deux personnes qui s'estimoient infiniment estre de sentimens opposez il est vray que cela leur arrivoit souvent en effet quand pisistrate avoit 
 la peinture dans la teste et que cleorante y avoit la musique ils faisoient des eloges et des satires admirables de ces deux arts et ainsi de tous les autres quand l'occasion s'en presentoit mais pour ce jour la dont je parle la politique et les affaires de la republique firent leur contestation car comme nous avions apris le matin que depuis nostre depart d'athenes il y avoit eu quelque rumeur pisistrate qui avoit alors son humeur sombre et sa fantaisie de regler la republique se mit a dire cent plaisantes choses contre ceux qui avoient l'authorite dans nostre ville de sorte que cleorante qui avoit son humeur enjouee et qui n'eust pas este bien aise d'employer tout le jour en reflections de politique se mit a le contredire et elle le fit d'autant plus tost qu'erophile estant occupee dans son cabinet a escrire a megacles il n'y avoit que cephise pisistrate et moy avec elle si bien qu'apres qu'elle eut endure pres d'une demie heure que pisistrate se fust pleint avec exageration des desordres de la republique elle l'interrompit brusquement et prenant la parole mais est-il possible pisistrate luy dit-elle que vous ne compreniez pas que depuis que la force ou les loix ont mis de la distinction entre les hommes il y en a presques tousjours eu qui ont mal commande ou mal obei et qu'ainsi c'est perdre le temps inutilement que de s'amuser a des pleintes continuelles qui ne servent a rien quoy dit-il vous voulez que je ne me pleigne point 
 de voir tant de choses faites contre toute raison de voir dis-je que les atheniens qui croyent estre libres parce qu'ils n'ont point de roy sont pourtant esclaves de cent tirans qui ont l'authorite entre les mains et qui ne s'en servent que pour s'enrichir et pour apauvrir les autres quoy adjousta-t'il vous pouvez souffrir sans en rien dire mille injustices qu'on voit tous les jours et qu'athenes qui est la plus fameuse ville de toute la grece soit en estat de perir parce que ceux qui la gouvernent la gouvernent mal je vous assure luy dit elle que plustost que de m'en tourmenter comme vous faites il n'est rien que je ne fisse car enfin si vous la pouvez gouverner gouvernez la mieux et vous serez fort bien mais s'il ne plaist pas a la fortune de vous donner la conduite des affaires croyez moy pisistrate laissez les aller comme elles pourront et soyez fortement persuade que comme ce que les autres font ne vous plaist pas ce que vous feriez ne plairoit point aux autres si vous estiez a leur place s'il ne leur plaisoit pas il leur devroit plaire repliqua-t'il car je suis assure que je ne serois rien d'injuste quand mesme vous ne feriez rien d'injuste reprit cleorante on se plaindroit encore de vous car enfin soit royaume soit republique il faut qu'on se pleigne c'est pourquoy comme a parler generalement ces sortes de pleintes se doivent plustost faire par le peuple que par les gens de qualite je voudrois me pleindre le moins que je pourrois je vous assure 
 reprit cephise que pisistrate n'est pas seul de sa condition qui se pleint et qu'il y en a beaucoup d'autres s'il estoit seul reprit cleorante je ne me pleindrois pas tant de ses pleintes car comme il est fort de mes amis je luy imposerois silence ou je le prierois de ne me venir point voir quand son humeur politique le tiendroit mais tous les gens de sa volee ont fait depuis quelque temps une si grande habitude de parler eternellement de bien public et d'affaires d'estat qu'ils en sont devenus insuportables car enfin on en voit qui a peine sont hors de la conduite de leurs maistres et qui aprennent mesme encore a dancer qui pretendent pourtant estre les reformateurs de la republique et on voit aussi des femmes qui n'ont pas seulement assez d'adresse pour se bien coiffer qui disent aussi hardiment leurs sentimens sur les affaires d'estat les plus difficiles que si elles avoient la sagesse et l'experience de solon cependant il seroit bien moins estrange de voir tous les sept sages de grece occupez a choisir des rubans que de voir tant de jeunes personnes de l'un et de l'autre sexe se mesler de regler l'estat il est vray dit cephise en riant aussi que pisistrate et moy que la politique est une importune chose quand elle est le sujet d'une conversation d'une apresdisnee entiere pour moy adjoustez-je pour me ranger de l'advis de ces dames je n'en parle jamais guere avec des femmes si je n'y suis force et pour moy reprit brusquement pisistrate j'en 
 parle toutes les fois que l'envie m'en prend car je suis ennemy declare de toutes sortes d'injustices et tres zele pour le bien public mais a quoy servent toutes les pleinte que vous faites et que font les autres repliqua cleorante quand mesme elles seroient justes puis que quand vous auriez employe tout un jour a parler on ne seroit rien de tout ce que vous auriez dit vous auriez mesme bien souvent raisonne des journees entieres sur des fondemens faux adjousta-t'elle parce que vous auriez sceu les chose sans scavoir les motifs ainsi vous auriez preveu des inconveniens qu'il ne plairoit pas a la fortune de faire arriver vous auriez propose cent expedients qu'on ne suivroit point et que ceux qui les pourroient suivre ne scauroient mesme jamais jugez donc apres cela si ce n'est pas bien employer son temps que de passer toute sa vie a parler de maux ou ceux qui en parlent ne scauroient remedier joint poursuivit-elle que quand il seroit possible d'y trouver quelques remedes en changeant toute la forme du gouvernement j'ay ouy dire a de plus habiles gens que moy qu'il vaudroit encore mieux vivre dans un desordre estably que de s'exposer a remuer toutes les parties d'un estat pour le regler c'est pourquoy pisistrate si vous m'en croyez ne faisons autre chose que prier les dieux qu'ils mettent d'habiles gens au gouvernement des affaires mais quand il leur plaira d'y en mettre qui ne le soient point voyons leurs fautes sans en faire et ne passons 
 pas toute nostre vie a parler de politique et a nous pleindre inutilement si ce n'est adjousta-t'elle en riant que vous ayez quelque dessein cache que vous ne nous disiez pas et qu'en voulant descrier le gouvernement vous veuilliez faire soulever le peuple et vous faire tiran d'athenes comme je ne le pourrois estre sans estre le vostre repliqua-t'il brusquement j'ay presques envie de tascher de le devenir car pour avoir une telle sujette que vous je suis persuade que le nom de tiran ne doit point estre odieux aussi bien dit-il ne voy-je pas que vous ayez un zele si ardent pour la liberte de vostre patrie que vous me haissiez beaucoup si je la luy avois fait perdre en verite dit-elle en riant pourveu qu'en vingt-quatre heures vous restablissiez le calme dans athenes qu'il n'y eust ny guerre civile ny guerre estrangere et que vous fissiez un edit par lequel vous deffendissiez de parler d'affaires d'estat a tous ceux qui n'en ont que faire et particulierement a tous les galans et a toutes les dames je pense que je ne m'en soucierois pas trop parce qu'en effet je suis persuadee qu'il y a plus de repos et moins de brigues dans un estat monarchique que dans une republique mais comme cela n'arriveroit pas ainsi et que vous ne pourriez regner sans nous rejetter dans le trouble et dans la division tenez vous en repos je vous en conjure et si vous m'en croyez parlons plustost de bal de musique de vers et de peinture que de politique 
 comme vous ne voulez pas parler de ce que je veux reprit pisistrate je ne parleray pas aussi aujourd'huy de ce que vous voulez mais je vous demanderay lequel vous aimeriez mieux que je fusse ou tiran d'athenes ou le vostre comme vostre amant ou comme vostre mary cleorante est si genereuse reprit cephise que je devine desja ce qu'elle va respondre pour moy repris-je je ne le devine pas il aisement vous avez pourtant tort de ne le faire pas repliqua-t'elle car il me semble qu'il n'est pas trop difficile de s'imaginer que j'aimerois mieux que tous les atheniens fussent sujets de pisistrate que d'estre son esclave mais cleorante luy dit cephise que de deviendroit l'amour de la patrie mais cephise repliqua cleorante que deviendroit l'amour de mon propre repos non non adjousta-t'elle ne nous y trompons pas nostre interest particulier va tousjours devant l'interest general et tous ces zelez pour la patrie ne le sont bien souvent que pour leur propre bien ainsi je vous declare que j'aimerois mieux mille et mille fois que pisistrate fust tiran d'athenes que d'estre le mien je suis si esloigne de l'estre reprit-il en la regardant avec beaucoup d'amour que je suis persuade qu'il n'y a rien de plus impossible si vous n'y prenez garde dit alors cephise en souriant et en se tournant vers cleorante en deffendant a pisistrate de parler de politique vous l'obligerez a vous parler peut-estre d'amour quoy que je n'aimasse pas trop 
 qu'on m'en parlast reprit cleorante en riant je pense que si on m'en parloit galamment et qu'on ne m'en parlast guere je l'aimerois mieux que d'estre obligee d'entendre parler tout un jour d'affaires d'estat principalement a certaines gens qu'il y a dans le monde car enfin on en voit a qui il ne doit importer qui gouverne parce qu'ils n'y ont interest aucun qui s'en tourmentent comme s'ils avoient autant de droit de pretendre a tout que pisistrate mais y a-t'il quelqu'un interrompit-il qui n'aye point d'interest au gouvernement et les esclaves mesmes peuvent-ils estre heureux quand leurs maistres ne le sont pas je ne scay en verite luy dit-elle avec le plus agreable chagrin du monde s'ils le peuvent estre ou ne l'estre pas mais je scay bien qu'on n'est pas trop heureux de vous voir quand vous avez vostre humeur politique dans la teste si vous voulez luy dit-il alors je ne vous en parleray de ma vie si vous le pouvez faire sans en mourir reprit-elle en souriant vous me serez un fort grand plaisir mais adjousta-t'il je ne m'y engage qu'a condition que je vous diray de vous et de moy tout ce qu'il me plaira a peine pisistrate eut-il dit cela que cephise et moy la condamnasmes a accepter ce que pisistrate luy offroit elle s'en deffendit pourtant quelque temps fort agreablement car enfin disoit elle que me peut-il dire de luy et de moy s'il me dit mes deffauts il me sera despit et s'il me loue il ne me divertira pas trop car je n'aime pas les 
 louanges qu'on me donne en ma presence de plus s'il se loue luy mesme je l'en estimeray moins et s'il se blasme je croiray encore que c'est un orgueil desguise si bien que ne prevoyant pas quel plaisir je puis avoir a souffrir qu'il me parle souvent de luy et de moy il faut conclurre que je hais bien la politique si j'accepte la proposition qu'il me fait mais enfin madame ce plaisant traite fut acheve et pisistrate s'engagea a ne parler plus d'affaires d'estat a cleorante et cleorante promit aussi a pisistrate d'endurer qu'il luy dist d'elle et de luy tout ce qu'il luy plairoit ne luy donnant pourtant cette liberte que lors qu'il seroit en une de ses humeurs de politique mais madame depuis cela je suis assure qu'il ne s'en passa point qu'il ne jouist de son privilege qu'il ne luy dist qu'elle estoit la plus belle personne qu'il eust jamais veue et qu'il ne luy donnast lieu de deviner qu'il l'aimoit plus que personne n'avoit jamais aime de sorte que comme cleorante avoit un pretexte de souffrir qu'il luy parlast ainsi sans prendre la chose serieusement elle mesnagea si adroitement cette galanterie que lors qu'erophile parla de partir pour s'en retourner a athenes pisistrate n'avoit encore pu dire a cleorante qu'il ne railloit pas quand il luy disoit qu'il l'aimoit ou s'il le luy avoit dit c'avoit este avec peu de loisir cependant comme pisistrate n'estoit aux bains que parce que cleorante y estoit il s'offrit a erophile de luy servir d'escorte si bien 
 que nous nous en retournasmes avec elle cephise fut encore de la partie et ariston revint aussi aveque nous mais madame il faut que vous scachiez que le hazard fit une avanture qui embarrassa estrangement pisistrate car il arriva malheureusement que comme nous estions assez pres d'athenes nous nous esgarasmes et pour achever la disgrace comme la nuit estoit proche le chariot d'erophile rompit et rompit justement aupres d'une grande route qui aboutissoit a la porte d'une bassecourt qui sembloit devoir estre celle d'une maison de qualite si bien que n'y ayant point d'autre party a prendre que celuy de demander assistance au maistre de cette maison s'il y estoit nous descendisme de cheval et les dames descendirent de leur chariot et se mirent a se promener dans l'allee pendant que pisistrate comme le plus hardy et le plus soigneux d'empescher que ces dames ne receussent de l'incommodite se chargea d'aller prier ceux qui estoient dans la maison que nous voiyons de vouloir loger cette belle troupe afin que durant la nuit on peust racommoder le chariot rompu ou en envoyer querir un autre a athenes dont nous n'estions qu'a demy journee de sorte que s'avancant a pied a la porte de la basse-court pour scavoir a qui estoit cette maison que pas un de nous ne connoissoit parce qu'il y avoit peu qu'elle estoit a philombrote il y frapa et on la luy ouvrit mais a peine l'eut - on 
 ouverte qu'il vit a deux pas de luy philombrote sa femme cerinthe euridamie et lycurgue qui les estoit venus voir qui ayant dessein d'aller se promener dans les champs prenoient le chemin de la route ou ce chariot s'estoit rompu vous pouvez juger madame combien pisistrate dans les sentimens ou il estoit alors se trouva surpris de cette veue neantmoins comme il estoit si pres de philombrote qu'il ne pouvoit avoir nul loisir de raisonner sur ce qu'il avoit a faire et ne voyant pas qu'il peust mesme changer le dessein qu'il avoit eu il s'avanca hardiment vers luy en le saluant aussi bien que les dames qui le suivoient apres quoy leur disant l'accident qui estoit arrive au chariot d'erophile philombrote prevint la priere qu'il luy vouloit faire et offrit de bonne grace de loger cette belle compagnie vers qui il s'avanca avec la sienne si bien que ces deux belles troupes se joignant droit au milieu de cette grande allee il vous est aise de concevoir madame en quelle inquietude pisistrate se trouva car outre qu'aimant alors incomparablement plus cleorante qu'il n'avoit jamais aime ny cerinthe ny euridamie leur veue l'embarrassoit et celle de lycurgue ne luy plaisoit pas parce qu'il avoit sceu par ariston qu'il estoit fort amoureux de cleorante aussi observa-t'il soigneusement cette entre-veue il est vray qu'il eut la satisfaction de remarquer que cleorante receut son rival assez froidement cependant comme cerinthe et 
 euridamie n'avoient point eu de relations des bains qui leur eust apris la conqueste de cleorante elles regardoient toutes deux pisistrate comme pouvant estre la leur de sorte qu'elles luy firent chacune a leur maniere mille civilitez pisistrate de son coste leur en fit aussi beaucoup mais il connut veritablement alors que ces deux filles dont il croyoit autrefois pouvoir devenir amoureux n'estoient et ne seroient jamais que ses amies et il s'aperceut aussi par les sentimens qu'il eut pour licurgue qu'il ne faloit plus qu'il se demandast a luy mesme de quelle nature estoit l'affection qu'il avoit pour cleorante puis qu'il ne pouvoit plus douter que ce ne fust amour cependant comme cerinthe et euridamie trouverent cleorante admirablement belle ce jour la parce qu'elles ne scavoient pas qu'elle leur avoit oste pisistrate elles ne purent s'empescher de la louer durant que philombrote et sa femme parloient a erophile en verite dit cerinthe a cleorante je vous trouve encore si embellie que vous me persuaderez qu'en effet les bains des thermopyles ont la vertu qu'on leur attribue non non interrompit hardiment pisistrate ne donnez point aux bains ce qui ne leur appartient pas car cleorante en revient sans s'estre baignee et toute cette fraischeur que vous voyez sur son teint n'est qu'un pur effet de sa jeunesse et de sa propre beaute et je vous proteste de plus adjousta-t'il que d'un fort grand nombre de fort belle dames qui se baignoient 
 tous les jours il n'y en a pas eu une seule dont elle n'ait efface les charmes puis que vous n'estiez pas allee pour vous baigner reprit cerinthe en rougissant de despit des louanges que pisistrate venoit de donner a cleorante il est donc a croire que vous n'y alliez que pour embrazer tous les coeurs de ceux qui vous y verroient vous voyez du moins reprit-elle en montrant pisistrate ariston et moy que j'ay espargne ceux de ma patrie car ils sont trop guais pour avoir eu le coeur blesse il est des blessures si douces repris-je voyant l'embarras ou estoit pisistrate qu'on auroit mesme de la joye de les avoir ainsi celle qui paroist sur le visage de pisistrate d'ariston et de moy n'est pas une preuve convainquante que vous ne nous avez pas blessez au contraire reprit euridamie en regardant pisistrate je trouve qu'il seroit si glorieux d'estre blesse d'une si belle main qu'il seroit bien difficile de n'en avoir point de joye quoy qu'il en soit dit alors cephise sans scavoir l'interest que cerinthe et euridamie prenoient a pisistrate je puis vous assurer qu'il n'y a pas tant eu de gens cette annee a qui les bains ont fait du bien qu'il y en a eu a qui les yeux de cleorante ont fait du mal pour moy dit cerinthe en raillant pour descouvrir si le soubcon qu'elle avoit estoit bien fonde je ne me soucie point trop du mal qu'elle aura fait a des gens de thebes de delphes d'argos ou de megare pourveu que nos atheniens soient 
 libres mais pour ceux-la je vous advoue que je n'aimerois point trop qu'elle nous les ramenast esclaves et que tout le reste de la ville les perdist parce qu'elle les auroit gagnez pisistrate ariston et silamis paroissent estre si bien ensemble reprit euridamie qu'il n'y a pas apparence qu'ils soient rivaux en mon particulier dit ariston je declare hautement que je n'ay ose estre amoureux de cleorante et que je ne suis que son amy pour moy dit pisistrate je ne diray pas si precisement ce que je suis car je suis persuade qu'il ne faut jamais dire devant tant de monde si on a de l'amour ou si on n'en a pas cette responce que pisistrate fit assez brusquement ne fut pas interpretee d'une mesme maniere car cerinthe en se flattant changea d'avis et creut que pisistrate n'avoit parle comme il avoit fait que parce qu'il n'avoit pas trouve qu'il fust civil de dire a une belle personne qu'il ne l'aimoit pas euridamie de son coste n'ayant pas veu qu'elle peust avoir de part a ce que pisistrate avoit dit ne scavoit si le sens cache de ces paroles regardoit cleorante ou cerinthe mais pour lycurgue les regards de cleorante luy esclaircirent l'obscurite du discours de pisistrate car cette belle fille ayant tourne sans y penser les yeux vers luy lycurgue vit qu'elle les destourna d'une maniere qui luy fit juger qu'elle scavoit que pisistrate l'aimoit plus qu'il ne le luy disoit de sorte que les mesmes paroles diminuerent la jalousie 
 dans le coeur de cerinthe la mirent dans celuy de lycurgue firent douter euridamie de ce qu'elle devoit penser et assurerent cleorante de la discretion de pisistrate cependant philombrote et sa femme qui parloient a erophile ayant commence de reprendre le chemin de leur maison et commande a quelques-uns de leurs gens de faire travailler a ce chariot rompu cephise cleorante euridamie cerinthe pisistrate lycurgue ariston et moy les suivismes et le hazard disposa les choses si favorablement pour pisistrate que sans qu'il parust y avoir nulle affectation il aida a marcher a cleorante parce que comme cerinthe estoit chez elle il fallut que les dames estrangeres allassent devant ainsi lycurgue mena cephise ariston euridamie et je donnay la main a cerinthe il est vray qu'elle ne me parla guere car elle avoit tousjours quelque chose a dire a pisistrate ou a cleorante euridamie de son coste n'entretint guere mieux silamis et lycurgue ne divertit pas beaucoup cephise enfin madame de la maniere dont les choses estoient disposees si nous eussions este long temps ainsi il nous eust fort ennuye car encore que pisistrate fust ou il vouloit estre comme il n'y estoit pas avec liberte il n'y estoit pas tout a fait heureux et la presence de son rival et de ses deux amies qui pretendoient estre ses maistresses luy ostoit la plus grande partie de son plaisir mais enfin estant arrivez dans la maison de philombrote 
 on mena erophile cephise et cleorante dans un fort bel apartement ou on les laissa quelque temps dans la liberte de se reposer de sorte que par ce moyen pisistrate se trouva engage avec cerinthe et euridamie sans que cleorante y fust il se tira pourtant assez bien de cette conversation car comme en effet il avoit tousjours de l'estime et de l'amitie pour elles et qu'il ne les vit qu'ensemble il ne leur dit rien sur quoy elles pussent croire qu'il fust change et si elles ne l'eussent veu que hors de la presence de cleorante elles eussent creu avoir retrouve pisistrate tel qu'il estoit quand elles estoient parties d'athenes mais elles ne furent pas long temps dans ce sentiment la lors qu'erophile cephise et cleorante sortirent de leur apartement apres s'estre recoiffees et qu'elles vinrent dans une grande sale qui donne sur un beau jardin ou cerinthe euridamie et tout le reste de la compagnie estoient car des que cleorante parut pisistrate s'avanca vers elle et oublia si absolument que cerinthe et euridamie l'observoient qu'il luy donna autant de marques de joye de la revoir quoy qu'il n'y eust qu'un quart d'heure qu'il l'eust veue que s'il y eust eu six mois qu'il eust este separe d'elle de sorte que pour cette fois la melancolique et l'enjouee penserent la mesme chose et ne douterent plus que pisistrate ne fust amoureux de cleorante cette pensee mit pourtant des sentimens differens dans leur ame car cerinte eut du depit et 
 euridamie eut de la douleur elles eurent neantmoins toutes deux une esgalle consolation dans une si facheuse avanture car cerinthe aimoit mieux perdre pisistrate par cleorante que par euridamie et euridamie aimoit mieux aussi que cleorante luy ostast pisistrate que si cerinthe le luy eust oste cette consolation n'empescha pourtant pas qu'il ne fust aise de remarquer qu'elles avoient quelque chose dans l'esprit qui ne leur plaisoit pas car cerinthe ne dit pas une raillerie qui ne fust un peu trop piquante et euridamie fut si melancolique qu'elle se pouvoit dire chagrine si bien que comme cleorante a infiniment de l'esprit elle s'aperceut bien tost qu'il falloit que ces deux filles eussent pretendu quelque chose au coeur de pisistrate de sorte qu'ayant une assez grande curiosite de le scavoir avec certitude et n'ignorant pas que je scavois tout ce que pisistrate avoit dans le coeur elle fit si bien qu'apres le souper elle m'engagea a l'entretenir afin de tascher de me faire dire ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir d'autre part cerinthe et euridamie ayant une envie demesuree d'aprendre ce qui s'estoit passe aux thermopyles entre pisistrate et cleorante se mirent chacune de leur coste sans se communiquer leur dessein a chercher les voyes d'en estre informees si bien que voyant que cleorante me parloit cerinthe se mit a entretenir ariston pour tascher d'en aprendre quelque chose et euridamie parla a cephise avec la mesme intention de sorte que 
 comme philombrote et sa femme parloient alors bas a erophile pisistrate et lycurgue se trouverent forcez de parler ensemble quoy qu'ils n'y eussent pas grande inclination car des ce soir la lycurgue sceut aussi bien par luy mesme que pisistrate estoit son rival que pisistrate avoit sceu par ariston que lycurgue estoit le sien de sorte madame que je ne pense pas que jamais il y ait eu un soir passe moins agreablement quoy qu'il n'y eust que de fort honnestes gens dans la compagnie en effet veu comme elle estoit disposee on s'y divertit fort mal car pisistrate et lycurgue s'ennuyerent estrangement cleorante ne se divertit pas trop parce que je ne voulus point luy dire ce qu'elle vouloit scavoir et cerinthe et euridamie se divertirent encore bien moins parce que cephise et ariston leur dirent a chacune en particulier plusieurs choses qui leur firent connoistre qu'ils croyoient que pisistrate estoit amoureux de cleorante mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'ariston n'eut pas plustost dit a cerinthe qu'en effet il pensoit que cleorante avoit conquis le coeur de pisistrate que cette malicieuse fille qui ne scavoit pas ce que cephise avoit dit a euridamie eut une impatience estrange de luy faire scavoir ce qu'ariston luy venoit d'aprendre afin de luy faire depit et de luy persuader mesme qu'elle ne s'en soucioit pas et en effet renfermant alors toute sa colere dans son coeur et rapellant dans ses yeux cet enjouement qui 
 leur est si naturel elle tira euridamie a part et luy dit comme une agreable nouvelle qu'elle venoit de scavoir par ariston que pisistrate estoit fort amoureux de cleorante adjoustant qu'elle le luy avoit voulu dire afin qu'elle ne dist rien ny a l'un ny a l'autre qui les peust facher mais pour pousser sa malice encore plus loin elle dit cela si haut a euridamie que lycurgue l'entendit et si pisistrate n'eust pas resve il l'eust entendu aussi bien que luy car je l'entendis de la place ou j'estois quoy que je fusse plus esloigne de cerinthe qu'il ne l'estoit cependant comme euridamie scavoit bien ce que cerinthe avoit dans le coeur elle luy rendit malice pour malice et luy exagera tellement ce que cephise luy avoit dit de l'amour de pisistrate pour cleorante qu'elle luy fit autant de mal qu'elle luy en avoit voulu faire ainsi ces deux rivales en se vangeant sur elles mesmes se vangerent aussi de celuy qu'elles avoient perdu car lycurgue sceut si bien que pisistrate estoit son rival que des lors la jalousie et la heine s'emparerent de son coeur cependant apres toutes ces conversations particulieres il s'en fit une generale qui ne fut pas non plus trop divertissante car comme chacun ne disoit pas ce qu'il pensoit et qu'une partie de ceux qui la faisoient ne pensoient rien qui leur plust elle fut peu liee et fort languissante aussi ne se retira-t'on pas extremement tard car des que philombrote proposa a erophile de se retirer de bonne heure comme 
 s'estant levee matin personne ne s'y opposa et chacun se separa volontiers a la reserve de pisistrate qui ne pouvoit jamais se separer agreablement de cleorante cependant pour achever cette avanture a peine le soleil estoit-il leve que theocrite arriva chez philombrote avec qui il venoit disner mais en y arrivant il trouva son frere que la jalousie avoit reveille qui se promenoit desja dans la grande route par ou erophile estoit arrivee le soir auparavant de sorte que mettant pied a terre il luy demanda des nouvelles de cerinthe qu'il aimoit tousjours ardemment quoy qu'elle raillast autant de son serieux et de sa gravite qu'elle avoit jamais fait si bien que lycurgue qui avoit l'esprit tout remply de son propre chagrin et qui n'ignoroit pas que son frere avoit eu quelques sentimens jaloux de pisistrate avant qu'il partist pour aller aux bains se mit a luy dire qui estoit chez philombrote quoy s'escria theocrite fort afflige de trouver en ce lieu la un homme qu'il croyoit estre son rival pisistrate est icy ouy repliqua lycurgue il y est mais il a plu a la fortune qu'il fust plus mon rival qu'il ne fut jamais le vostre vous estes donc devenu amoureux de cerinthe depuis que vous estes icy reprit theocrite avec autant d'estonnement que de chagrin nullement repliqua lycurgue mais c'est que pisistrate l'est devenu de cleorante durant qu'il a este aux bains avec elle ha mon frere reprit theocrite je vous demande pardon de ne pouvoir m'affliger 
 de vostre affliction mais je sens un si grand soulagement d'aprendre que pisistrate n'est plus mon rival que je ne puis m'affliger de ce qu'il est le vostre pour un melancolique repliqua brusquement lycurgue c'est estre bien sensible a la joye que de vous rejouir de ce qui m'afflige quand pisistrate aura este aussi long temps vostre rival qu'il a este le mien respondit theocrite vous me pardonnerez le plaisir que j'ay d'aprendre qu'il ne l'est plus il est vray adjousta-t'il que vous ne serez peut-estre pas aussi malheureux que moy et qu'il ne sera pas aussi bien avec cleorante qu'il estoit bien avec cerinthe ha mon frere s'escria lycurgue il y a une grande difference entre cerinthe et cleorante car la premiere n'est guere capable ny de haine ny d'amitie et vous ne deviez craindre tout au plus si non que pisistrate la divertist plus qu'un autre et que vous la divertissiez moins que qui que ce soit parce que vostre humeur est tout a fait opposee a la sienne mais pour cleorante quoy qu'elle ait quelquesfois quelque raport d'esprit avec cerinthe elle n'en a pas le coeur et je suis assure qu'elle scait aimer et hair et que je suis expose a estre le plus malheureux homme du monde comme lycurgue disoit cela pisistrate ariston et moy arrivasmes ou ils estoient de sorte que nous fusmes obligez de saluer theocrite que nous n'avions point encore veu mais madame ce qui nous surprit fort fut que cet homme grave et melancolique nous aborda en 
 souriant a demy aussi regarday-je ce souris comme une chose si extraordinaire que m'aprochant de pisistrate je luy dis que je croyois que theocrite avoit devine qu'il ne seroit jamais son rival cependant comme nous scavions que le chariot d'erophile estoit racommode et qu'elle vouloit partir de bonne heure apres les premiers complimens nous reprismes le chemin de la maison ou nous trouvasmes toutes les dames ensemble que theocrite salua avec je ne scay quel air un peu moins grave qu'il n'avoit accoustume de l'avoir je pense pourtant que cerinthe dans le despit secret qu'elle avoit dans l'ame n'y eust pas pris garde si je ne luy eusse dit comme une chose fort extraordinaire que j'avois presques veu rire theocrite quand nous l'avions aborde en verite me dit elle malicieusement j'aurois une grande joye en l'humeur ou je me trouve si theocrite pouvoit devenir aussi enjoue que pisistrate et que pisistrate devinst aussi melancolique que theocrite eh de grace luy dis-je en souriant que vous a fait pisistrate que vous luy souhaitiez un si grand chagrin pisistrate reprit-elle en souriant aussi n'a rien fait ou je prenne interest mais j'ay tant d'obligation a theocrite que le moins que je puisse faire pour luy est de luy souhaiter de la joye serieusement luy dis-je je suis persuade que si vous luy donnez celle d'aimer il ne sera plus melancolique mais le mal est pour luy repliqua-t'elle qu'il faudroit que mon affection precedast 
 son enjouement et que je voudrois au contraire que sa belle humeur precedast mon affection mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'en effet theocrite fut presques le moins chagrin de la compagnie quoy qu'il soit le plus melancolique de tous les hommes car comme cerinthe avoit plus de depit du changement de pisistrate qu'elle n'eust jamais creu estre capable d'en avoir elle n'estoit plus ce qu'elle avoit accoustume d'estre euridamie de son coste avoit aussi quelque redoublement de melancolie cleorante en son particulier avoit quelque sentiment de colere de voir que lycurgue osoit luy donner par ses regards et mesme par ses paroles quelques marques de jalousie et pisistrate n'avoit pas aussi toute sa joye non seulement parce qu'il estoit un peu embarrasse entre cerinthe et euridamie mais encore parce que connoissant lycurgue comme il le connoissoit il ne doutoit pas qu'il ne s'opiniastrast a l'amour de cleorante et pour cephise ariston et moy nous avions tant de peur de desobliger quelqu'un en riant trop de ce que nous voiyons que pour esviter cet accident nous demeurions froids et serieux le plus qu'il nous estoit possible mais enfin madame quand il plut a erophile nous partismes il est vray que nous ne partismes pas sans lycurgue qui feignant de se souvenir qu'il avoit une affaire pressee a athenes y revint aveque nous et nous incommoda estrangement quoy que ce soit un fort honneste homme parce 
 qu'il nous empescha de nous divertir de tout ce que nous avions remarque de plus pisistrate et luy n'estant jamais de mesme advis disputerent une fois si aigrement que nous eusmes peut qu'ils ne se brouillassent mais a la fin pourtant la chose s'estant passee doucement nous arrivasmes a athenes nous remenasmes les dames chez elles et nous nous separasmes tous cependant comme l'absence d'euridamie et de cerinthe dura encore assez long temps l'amour de pisistrate pour cleorante devint si forte et il s'accoustuma tellement a la voir et a l'aimer et a ne les voir plus qu'il ne leur eust pas este aisee de l'obliger a changer sa forme de vie mais madame ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que cerinthe estant revenue a athenes devant euridamie et ayant apris a son retour que pisistrate ne bougeoit plus de chez cleorante qu'il avoit fait diverses festes magnifiques pour elle et que tout le monde l'en croyoit fort amoureux devint la plus soigneuse amie qui fut jamais pour euridamie car elle luy escrivit des le lendemain et continua de le faire presques tous les jours tant qu'elle fut aux champs afin de luy pouvoir mander tout ce qu'elle scavoit de pisistrate et certes elle ne manquoit pas de matiere car il ne se passoit point de jour qu'il ne donnast quelque divertissement esclatant a cleorante ou qu'il n'eust quelque demesle avec lycurgue si bien que cerinthe croyant aveque raison qu'elle ne pouvoit estre mieux instruite de ce qui se passoit 
 entre pisistrate et cleorante que par un amant jaloux elle traita un peu plus favorablement theocrite afin qu'il fust son espion et qu'il luy dist tout ce qu'il scauroit de son frere pretextant sa curiosite de l'envie qu'elle avoit de scavoir si cleorante qui faisoit disoit-elle la personne sans attachement n'en avoit point de sorte que theocrite qui estoit bien aise d'une semblable commission luy disoit non seulement tout ce qu'il aprenoit de son frere mais encore tout ce qu'il s'imaginoit estre propre a esloigner tousjours de plus en plus pisistrate de son coeur ainsi par son moyen cerinthe faisoit tous les jours de grandes relations a euridamie de tout ce qui se passoit entre pisistrate et cleorante luy mandant exactement toutes ces choses jusques aux moindres circonstances afin de se vanger sur elle puis qu'elle ne pouvoit se vanger ny sur cleorante ny sur pisistrate car s'imaginant que sans euridamie elle eust acheve d'assujettir pisistrate avant qu'il allast aux bains elle luy en vouloit un mal estrange ce n'est pas que cerinthe fust d'humeur a s'engager a aimer jamais fortement ny s'affliger avec exces d'une semblable perte mais si elle n'en avoit de la douleur elle en avoit du despit et de la confusion et on pouvoit presques dire que sans avoir ny amour ny jalousie cerinthe ne laissoit pas d'agir comme si elle eust eu ces deux passions la dans l'ame cependant depuis le retour de cleorante 
 pisistrate trouva plus d'une occasion de luy parler de son amour de sorte que comme il luy plaisoit infiniment plus que lycurgue ny que tous ceux qui la voyoient elle ne le mal-traita pas et si elle ne receut pas son affection aussi favorablement qu'il l'eust souhaite ce ne fut pas par aversion mais seulement par modestie et par prudence estant certain qu'elle l'estimoit desja infiniment au reste madame il ne faut pas s'imaginer que pisistrate soit un de ces soupireurs eternels qui ne font que se pleindre et se tourmenter ny que ce soit un de ces amans qui ne font jamais que parler de leur amour sans pouvoir parler d'autre chose au contraire il n'en parle jamais long temps et n'en parle que de deux facons ou en simple galanterie enjouee ou en faisant des protestations d'amour si fortes et qui sont exprimees en des termes si affirmatifs et si passionnez qu'on n'oseroit presques douter de ce qu'il dit tant il paroist de sincerite et de vehemence en ses discours cependant des qu'euridamie fut revenue de la campagne cerinthe luy fit une visite afin de voir sur son teint et dans ses yeux si tout ce qu'elle luy avoit mande avoit fait l'effet qu'elle en avoit attendu elle n'eut pourtant pas tout le plaisir qu'elle en avoit espere car cleorante y estant allee luy sembla si belle ce jour-laque je suis assure que ces deux rivales advouerent en elles mesmes qu'elles luy devoient ceder et que pisistrate avoit une belle 
 excuse quand mesmes elles eussent eu quelque droit de l'accuser d'inconstance cependant quoy qu'elles connussent sans doute que cleorante estoit digne de l'amour de pisistrate elles ne laissoient pas de le croire coupable bien qu'a parler veritablement il ne le fust point puis qu'il n'avoit eu qu'une grande disposition a les aimer et qu'il n'avoit lie affection particuliere avec pas une d'autre part cleorante descouvrant a la fin la verite des sentimens de ces deux filles en eut plus d'obligation a pisistrate dont elle souffrit alors l'amour et par gloire et par reconnoissance elle ne tomboit pourtant pas d'accord en parlant a luy ny qu'il fust fort amoureux d'elle ny qu'elle l'aimast et je ne pense pas que depuis qu'il est des amans il y ait jamais eu une conversation esgalle a celle qu'ils eurent un jour et que pisistrate me raconta le lendemain car imaginez vous madame que se trouvant une apresdisnee seul avec cleorante comme il voulut luy protester qu'il l'aimoit plus que personne n'avoit jamais aime en verite luy dit elle en l'interrompant je ne pense pas que vous scachiez bien si vous m'aimez aussi fortement que vous le dittes car a n'en mentir pas il y a des jours ou je croy que vous m'aimez beaucoup et il y en a d'autres aussi ou il me semble que vous ne m'aimez point ou que vous ne m'aimez guere je voy bien luy dit-il alors que vous ne parlez comme vous faittes que parce que vous trouvez quelque sorte de plaisir a me dire une chose facheuse 
 mais madame j'ay vous aprendre que ce que vous me dittes de moy en raillant je le puis dire de vous serieusement car enfin je vous advoue si je le puis advouer sans presomption qu'il y a certains momens ou je croy que vous avez quelque estime pour moy et ou je voy dans vos yeux je ne scay quel esclat amoureux qui ne me deffend pas d'esperer d'estre aime mais il y en a d'autres aussi ou je ne scay ou j'en suis et ou il s'en faut peu que je ne croye que je vous suis tout a fait indifferent c'est pourquoy madame adjousta-t'il vous me feriez le plus grand plaisir du monde si vous vouliez me faire la grace de me descouvrir sincerement le secret de vostre coeur afin que je visse comment j'y suis si je scavois precisement repliqua-t'elle en souriant comment je suis dans le vostre il me seroit plus aise de vous aprendre comment vous estes dans le mien car a dire les choses comme elles sont je ne scay guere mieux comment vous estes aveque moy que je scay comment je suis aveque vous en effet adjousta-t'elle mes sentimens despendent tellement des vostres en cette occasion que je ne scay effectivement si j'ay beaucoup d'amitie pour vous ou si je n'en ay que mediocrement c'est pourquoy il faudroit que je fusse convenue de l'affection que vous avez pour moy avant que de vous dire precisement si j'en ay pour vous mais pour en convenir reprit-il avec precipitation il faudroit donc que vous vous donnassiez la peine d'examiner toutes mes actions 
 toutes mes paroles et mesme tous mes regards afin de voir si toutes ces choses ne vous disent pas que je vous aime car je vous proteste madame adjousta-t'il que je ne sortiray point de vostre chambre que vous ne m'ayez dit positivement que vous croyez que je vous aime plus que qui que ce soit n'a jamais aime et que vous ne m'ayez dit aussi comment je suis dans vostre esprit pour vous tesmoigner que je veux vous rendre justice luy dit-elle en riant je veux bien examiner tout ce que vous faites et que vous examiniez aussi tout ce que je fais afin que nous scachions tous deux ce que nous devons penser l'un de l'autre et en effet madame ils se mirent a parler d'eux mesme comme s'ils eussent parle de gens ou ils n'eussent point eu d'interest et a examiner effectivement leurs propres sentimens comme s'ils ne les eussent pas connus mais enfin apres que pisistrate eut force cleorante d'advouer qu'elle pensoit avoir sujet de croire qu'il l'aimoit elle se deffendit encore de luy dire s'il estoit aime d'elle en luy disant que quand elle tomberoit d'accord qu'il l'aimast elle auroit encore a luy reprocher qu'il ne l'aimoit que pour l'amour de luy et que son affection n'estoit pas assez desinteressee ha madame s'escria-t'il je suis moins difficile que vous a contenter car je vous proteste que bien loin de trouver mauvais que vous m'aimassiez pour l'amour de vous je me tiendrois bien plus glorieux 
 que vous m'aimassiez ainsi que si vous m'aimiez pour l'amour de moy seulement vous estes si peu sage luy dit elle que je ne scay que vous respondre vous estes si peu pitoyable repliqua-t'il que je ne scay plus que vous dire si ce n'est que si vous ne me dittes comment je suis dans vostre esprit je feray tout ce que je pourray pour me tromper et pour croire que je n'y suis pas si mal que je me l'estois imagine mais enfin madame sans m'arrester a vous redire toute cette conversation je vous diray qu'a la fin ils convinrent qu'ils ne se haissoient pas et que cleorante sans dire precisement qu'elle aimoit choisit si bien toutes les paroles dont elle se servit en cette occasion qu'elle fit entendre du moins qu'elle estoit bien aise d'estre aimee ils eurent pourtant diverses petites querelles pendant quoy il faisoit comme s'il eust voulu retourner a cerinthe ou a euridamie mais il revenoit aussi tost a cleorante et s'il donnoit un moment de jalousie a theocrite il en donnoit des mois entiers a lycurgue d'autre part comme cerinthe a de l'esprit et de l'esprit malicieux elle fit si bien qu'elle donna un jour quelques sentimens jaloux a pisistrate car elle fit que cleorante fut d'une partie de divertissement sans qu'elle luy en dist rien parce que la dame qui l'avoit priee d'en estre luy en avoit fait un grand secret cependant il se trouva que lycurgue estoit celuy qui faisoit la feste quoy que cleorante ne l'eust pas 
 sceu lors qu'elle s'estoit engagee d'y aller et d'y aller encore sans en parler a personne cerinthe n'eut pourtant pas toute la satisfaction qu'elle s'estoit imaginee car madame quoy que pisistrate eust durant quelques jours quelque espece de jalousie il ne voulut point par un sentiment d'orgue la faire paroistre parce qu'il estoit alors persuade qu'il faut de necessite avoir mauvaise opinion de soy ou de la personne qu'on aime pour estre longtemps jaloux mais madame ce qu'il y avoit encore de particulier en pisistrate est que je luy ay fait confesser que sa jalousie mesme estoit journaliere et que sans qu'il arrivast rien de nouveau il y avoit non seulement des jours mais mesme des heures ou il estoit plus ou moins jaloux selon la disposition de son esprit sans que son rival ny sa maistresse y contribuassent rien au reste les querelles que pisistrate avoit quelquesfois avec cleorante estoient si courtes qu'il ne luy avoit pas plustost dit qu'il luy declaroit la guerre qu'il songeoit desja a faire sa paix et il estoit si accoustume a aimer cleorante et a la voir qu'il luy est arrive tres souvent d'aller chez elle sans en avoir eu le dessein quoy qu'il eust mesme affaire ailleurs mais madame pour porter l'exageration de l'accoustumance aussi loin que l'imagination la peut faire aller il ne faut que vous dire qu'il est certain que ce qui fit en quelque facon passer la jalousie de pisistrate plustost fut qu'il s'accoustuma tellement a voir son rival qu'il n'en fut 
 presques plus jaloux ainsi ce qui auroit augmente la jalousie d'un autre diminua la sienne durant quelque temps du moins luy en faisois-je la guerre et ne s'en deffendoit-il pas trop cependant si une seule passion n'avoit pu obliger pisistrate a hair fortement lycurgue avec qui cleorante l'avoit oblige de vivre civilement deux passions unies ensemble le firent car il sceut que lycurgue cabaloit de nouveau pour renouveller les anciens mouvemens d'athenes qui avoient mis tout le pais d'attique en division de sorte que l'ambition se joignant a l'amour lycurgue luy devint insuportable si bien que pour s'opposer autant a luy en l'un qu'en l'autre il cabala de son coste parmy ceux avec qui il avoit credit qui n'estoient pas en petit nombre car madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y avoit tousjours trois partis parmy le peuple d'attique qui ne manquoient jamais d'estre tous prests de remuer des qu'il se trouvoit des chefs qui vouloient les soustenir en effet ceux de la marine ont tousjours fait un corps separe ceux de la plaine en ont fait autant et ceux des montagnes et les bas artisans ont tousjours este unis des qu'il y a eu quelque division a athenes mais madame ce qui embarrassa fort pisistrate fut qu'en taschant de descouvrir ce que lycurgue tramoit parmy ceux de la plaine il sceut que ceux de la marine remuoient aussi sans qu'il pust penetrer qui les faisoit agir quelque soin qu'il y aportast outre cela il y avoit encore une 
 autre chose qui l'inquietoit fort car enfin quelque soin qu'il eust peu avoir de se reconcilier tout a fait avec megacles pere de cleorante il n'avoit pu l'obliger a renouer sincerement aveque luy quoy qu'il y vescust avec civilite de sorte qu'il ne scavoit comment faire ny pour posseder sa maistresse ny pour destruire son rival mais ce qu'il craignoit le plus estoit que megacles ne s'unist avec lycurgue parce que si cela eust este il eust este egalement malheureux en amour et en ambition puis que son party eust este le plus foible et qu'il eust perdu sa maistresse vous pouvez donc juger madame que pisistrate n'estoit pas alors sans occupation d'autre part lycurgue s'estant resolu de faire exiler pisistrate afin de l'esloigner de cleorante insinuoit secretement dans l'esprit de cette partie du peuple sur laquelle il avoit credit que pisistrate aspiroit a la tirannie et theocrite pousse par cerinthe luy nuisoit aussi autant qu'il pouvoit mais pour euridamie comme elle estoit plus prudente que cerinthe elle dissimula ses sentimens et se guerit mesme de sa foiblesse par celle de son amie
 
 
 
 
cependant je voyois alors que pisistrate avoit quelque chose d'extraordinaire dans l'esprit qu'il ne me vouloit pas dire il me disoit pourtant encore ce qui regardoit cleorante mais je ne voyois pas qu'il eust lieu d'estre inquiet de ce coste la au contraire il estoit alors si bien avec elle qu'il n'y avoit jamais este mieux mais apres tout il ne voulut point me descouvrir 
 le fonds de son coeur et si je fus le confident de son amour je ne fus pas celuy de son ambition car comme il connoissoit que j'aimois fort le repos de ma patrie il ne pensa pas que j'aprouvasse ses sentimens et ne voulut pas sans doute que je les contredisse inutilement d'ailleurs comme il scavoit ce que l'ignorois il prevoyoit bien que si une fois les choses alloient a l'extremite et qu'on en vinst aux armes ce ne seroit pas un temps propre pour songer a espouser cleorante de sorte que voulant faire tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour cela avant que les choses se brouillassent davantage il fut la trouver pour luy demander la permission d'employer tout ce qu'il avoit d'amis a athenes pour persuader megacles de la luy donner car pour erophile il estoit asseure qu'elle consentiroit volontiers a ce mariage si bien que pour preparer l'esprit de cleorante a ce qu'il vouloit luy demander il luy dit tout ce que l'amour peut inspirer de plus tendre et il le luy dit si fortement qu'en effet cleorante en eut le coeur esmeu et luy advoua que son affection l'obligeoit sensiblement et qu'elle y respondoit autant que la bien-seance le luy permettoit mais lors qu'il vint a la presser de consentir qu'il fist ce qu'il pourroit pour l'espouser bientost elle changea de couleur et l'arrestant tout court ha pisistrate luy dit-elle que me demandez vouslie vous demande madame a estre heureux reprit-il dittes plustost repliqua-t'elle que vous 
 demandez a ne m'aimer plus et a perdre volontairement toute la douceur que ma conversation vous donne car enfin pisistrate l'amour peut au dela du tombeau mais elle ne va guere au dela du mariage c'est pourquoy je suis persuadee que quiconque veut tousjours aimer doit n'espouser jamais la personne aimee et qu'il n'y a point d'obstacle plus raisonnable pour s'empescher de songer a s'espouser que de scavoir qu'on s'aime il faut sans doute s'estimer en s'espousant adjousta-t'elle mais il ne faut point qu'il y ait de violente passion entre ceux qui se marient s'il ne veulent s'exposer a ne s'aimer plus et a estre malheureux l'amour peut naistre entre des gens qui s'espousent et durer mesme apres leur mariage mais elle ne peut subsister long temps lors qu'elle est nee avant leurs nopces du moins l'experience l'a-t'elle monstre mille et mille fois c'est pourquoy pisistrate puis que vous m'aimez et que je seray bien aise que vous m'aimiez tousjours ne parlons point de mariage et attendons du moins que mon pere veuille me forcer a espouser quelqu'un car en ce cas la malheur pour malheur je pense que j'aimeray mieux m'exposer a voir mourir vostre amour qu'a vivre avec tout autre que vous ce que vous dittes madame repliqua pisistrate a quelque chose de si doux et de si rude tout ensemble que je ne scay si je dois me louer de vostre bonte ou me pleindre de vostre rigueur en verite dit-elle vous n'avez aucun sujet de pleinte puis que 
 je n'ay aucun sentiment dans l'esprit qui vous soit desavantageux mais je vous advoue que je craindrois tellement de voir en vous le changement que je voy en tous les amans qui deviennent maris que je ne puis rien craindre davantage car enfin tous ceux que j'ay veus en ma vie n'ont pas plustost commence d'estre maris qu'ils ont cesse d'estre amans et j'en scay mesme qui ont quelquesfois cesse d'estre civils pour celles qu'ils avoient adorees et qui ne se sont pas contentez de n'avoir plus d'amour pour leurs maistresses parce qu'elles estoient leurs femmes car ils en ont eu pour d'autres et pour d'autres qui ne les valoient pas je scay bien madame luy dit-il que ce que vous dittes est arrive quelquesfois mais je scay bien mieux encore que cela ne m'arrivera jamais tous ceux a qui il est arrive reprit-elle ne pensoient pas pouvoir estre capables de cesser d'aimer celles qu'ils espousoient c'est pourquoy vous ne pouvez me donner nulle seurete de vostre affection je vous advoue luy dit-elle que je suis persuadee que vous m'aimerez tant que nous serons l'un et l'autre en l'estat ou nous sommes mais je le suis en mesme temps que vous ne m'aimeriez plus ou que vous m'aimeriez moins si vous m'espousiez cependant je ne vous dis pas que je ne vous espouseray jamais car je vous ay desja dit que plustost que d'en espouser un autre et d'estre obligee de rompre aveque vous je m'exposeray a perdre vostre affection de plus adjousta-t'elle quand 
 mesme je ne serois pas dans les sentimens ou je suis je ne vous conseillerois pas presentement de faire une semblable proposition a mon pere car depuis quelques jours il est si inquiet que je pense qu'il seroit difficile qu'on luy pust proposer rien qui luy fust agreable comme cette derniere raison reprit pisistrate est une raison solide je ne m'y scaurois opposer mais pour l'autre madame je m'y oppose de toute ma force et je vous proteste avec autant de verite que d amour que quand je seray assez heureux pour devenir vostre mary je seray toute ma vie vostre amant il falut pourtant que pisistrate obeist a cleorante et qu'il ne fist point parler a megacles dans un temps ou il paroissoit si chagrin de peur de n'en avoir pas de responce favorable mais enfin madame les choses estant en cet estat solon revint a athenes ou il ne fut pas marry de trouver que pisistrate avoit de l'amour parce qu'il espera que cette passion l'empescheroit d'estre trop ambitieux il eut neantmoins un assez grand sentiment de douleur lors qu'estant alle voir euridamie qui comme je l'ay dit est sa parente fort proche il y vit cleorante car madame il faut que vous scachiez que solon trouva qu'elle ressembloit il prodigieusement a une fille qu'il a qui s'apelle policrite et qui a espouse un prince de l'isle de chypre qui se nomme phyloxipe qu'a peine son miroir la representoit-il mieux or madame ce qui faisoit son chagrin estoit que 
 du temps que ce fameux epimenides que tout le monde connoist de reputation estoit a athenes il luy dit pousse par un esprit de divination que sa femme qui estoit grosse alors acoucheroit d'une fille et qu'il faloit qu'il ne l'eslevast point a athenes parce que si elle y demeuroit il seroit expose a avoir la douleur de voir qu'elle donneroit de l'amour au tyran de sa patrie de sorte que solon voyant cleorante chez euridamie et la voyant si ressemblante a policrite fut alors extremement surpris de l'amour que pisistrate avoit pour elle car il conjectura aveque raison que puis qu'il aimoit cleorante il eust bien pu aimer policrite qui luy ressembloit si parfaitement de sorte que commencant de craindre que pisistrate ne se rendist maistre d'athenes il l'observa avec assez de soin il ne dit pourtant rien alors de sa crainte ny de ce qui la causoit mais il l'a dit depuis a plusieurs de ses amis particuliers cela n'empescha pourtant pas cet homme illustre de louer la beaute de cleorante et de la louer mesme galamment car comme quelqu'un luy dit que ses loix avoient reuny tous les coeurs des atheniens durant long temps il se tourna vers elle et luy adressant la parole on vous fait tort madame luy dit-il car je suis persuade que ce qui fait presentement la tranquilite d'athenes est que tout ce qu'il y a de braves et d'ambitieux ne songent qu'a conquerir vostre coeur et ne pensent plus a faire de sedition c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'il 
 en se disposant a s'en aller je vous les donne tous en garde avec esperance que de plus de douze printemps il n'y en aura pas un qui ait plus d'ambition que d'amour ny qui songe a faire d'autre desordre dans la ville que celuy de nuire a ses rivaux aussi vous protestay-je poursuivit-il en souriant que si vous ne leur inspirez l'amour de la patrie je me prendray a vous de tous les maux qu'ils feront et que je m'en plaindray peut-estre plus qu'ils ne se pleignent de vos rigueurs solon dit cela d'un air si noble et si convenable a un homme comme luy que personne ne comprit qu'il y eust de sens cache en ses paroles aussi cleorante y respondit-elle comme a une simple civilite luy protestant qu'elle n'avoit pas la vanite de croire qu'elle pust faire ce que ses loix n'avoient pas fait cependant madame solon s'en alla chez luy et s'y en alla assez resveur car il avoit tousjours trouve epimenides si veritable en toutes les choses qu'il luy avoit predittes qu'il craignoit estrangement qu'il ne se trompast pas en celle-la de plus comme il fut bien tost informe de tout ce que faisoient lycurgue theocrite et pisistrate et qu'il sceut aussi que ceux de la marine remuoient aussi bien que ceux de la plaine et des montagnes il connut que la prudence humaine est estrangement bornee car enfin il aprit que l'amour de pisistrate de lycurgue et de theocrite estoit alors la veritable cause des divisions d'athenes quoy que cela ne parust pas aux yeux 
 du peuple et qu'ainsi il avoit eu tort de se rejouir d'aprendre que pisistrate estoit amoureux et d'avoir dit que durant que les braves de nostre ville seroient esclaves de nos belles ils ne songeroient pas a estre nos maistres ce qui l'affligeoit encore estoit que ses voyages l'avoient affoibly et que l'aage ou il estoit ne luy permettoit plus d'agir avec la mesme vigueur pour le bien commun qu'il avoit eu autrefois car il n'avoit plus la force de haranguer en public neantmoins il ne laissa pas de faire tout ce qu'il put pour calmer cet orage qui ne faisoit encore que menacer la republique pour cet effet il parla a tous les chefs de party et il s'adressa le premier a pisistrate pour luy persuader de se tenir en repos et de n'aspirer point a d'autre gloire qu'a celle d'estre le protecteur de la liberte d'athenes pisistrate receut apparamment si bien ce que luy dit solon que tout autre que luy auroit creu qu'il n'avoit nulle ambition cachee dans le coeur et qu'il n'avoit autre dessein que de s'opposer a lycurgue solon n'y fut pourtant pas abuse et il ne douta presques plus que soit par haine pour son rival par amour pour cleorante ou par ambition pour luy mesme il n'aspirast a estre maistre d'athenes de sorte que tout ce que l'eloquence et la raison jointes ensemble peuvent avoir de fort et de persuasif solon l'employa a persuader pisistrate qui sans s'opposer directement a ce qu'il luy disoit l'assuroit seulement en general sans rien particulariser qu'il ne 
 seroit jamais rien qui pust nuire aux atheniens luy protestant qu'il ne songeoit qu'a nuire a lycurgue d'autre part solon qui scavoit le fonds de la chose parla au rival de pisistrate pour tascher de le porter a ne songer plus a cleorante et a sacrifier cette passion au repos de sa patrie luy exagerant fortement la grandeur du crime de ceux qui commencent les seditions dans les estats car enfin luy disoit-il ce feu que vous allez allumer ne s'esteindra pas quand vous le voudrez et cette haine que vous avez pour pisistrate et que pisistrate a pour vous passant dans le coeur de tous ceux qui suivront vos differens partis va diviser les freres d'avec les freres les peres d'avec les enfans et mettre un si grand desordre dans athenes que vous aurez vous mesme horreur de ce que vous aurez fait quand vous en verrez les funestes suites de plus ne considerez vous point que vous ne pouvez estre que de deux choses l'une ou l'esclave de vostre rival si son party est plus fort que le vostre ou le tiran d'athenes si le vostre est plus fort que le sien jugez donc apres cela si n'ayant a choisir que d'estre tiran ou esclave il ne vaut pas mieux que vous soyez bon citoyen cleorante adjousta-t'il n'est pas seule belle a athenes et si vous considerez bien tous les malheurs qui viennent en foule dans un estat divise vous trouverez que la possession de cleorante qui aime mieux vostre rival que vous ne merite pas que vous vous chargiez de tous les 
 crimes qui se commettront pendant les desordres que vous aurez causez enfin madame solon parla si fortement que lycurgue luy dit que pourveu que pisistrate renoncast a la possession de cleorante aussi bien que luy il cesseroit d'estre son ennemy mais comme solon scavoit bien que pisistrate ne le feroit pas il s'avisa d'un autre expedient qui fut d'aller trouver megacles pour luy persuader de faire une declaration publique de ne donner jamais sa fille ny a pisistrate ny a lycurgue mais megacles qui avoit ses desseins cachez receut si mal ce que luy dit solon qu'il luy fut aise de connoistre qu'il avoit part aux divisions d'athenes et en effet il descouvrit que c'estoit luy qui pour la seconde fois estoit chef de ceux de la marine mais la connoissance qu'il en eut n'empescha pas que les choses ne s'aigrissent de plus en plus cependant pisistrate estoit fort embarrasse a trouver qui estoit celuy qui faisoit ce tiers party dans athenes car encore que solon le sceust il ne le luy disoit pas aimant beaucoup mieux qu'il y eust trois partis de revoltez que s'il n'y en eust eu qu'un et il employoit alors toute son adresse a empescher qu'il n'y en eust deux qui se joignissent et qu'ainsi il n'y en eust un si fort qu'il accablast l'autre il n'aprehendoit point scachant ce qu'il scavoit que pisistrate et lycurgue se pussent joindre parce qu'il n'ignoroit pas que deux rivaux ne peuvent guere estre de mesme party mais il craignoit que megacles ne se joignist 
 a un des deux neantmoins apres s'estre bien informe des choses il ne l'aprehenda plus guere parce qu'il sceut que quand megacles l'eust voulu ceux de la marine dont il estoit le chef n'y eussent pas consenty et l'eussent abandonne en effet il y a une haine si forte entre ce peuple maritime et celuy qui ne l'est pas qu'ils ne peuvent jamais estre unis car outre qu'il est plus grossier que l'autre et plus mutin il est encore vray que tous ces gens de mer se sont mis dans la fantaisie que ce sont eux qui ont fait la gloire d'athenes et qui en font la force si bien que mesprisant les autres il ne peut jamais y avoir de veritable reunion entre eux de sorte que solon ne pouvant reunir toute la ville eut du moins quelque consolation de pouvoir esperer que nul de ces trois partis ne se pourroit joindre a pas un des autres d'autre part cerinthe faisoit tousjours agir theocrite aupres de lycurgue afin qu'il la vangeast de pisistrate si bien que comme sa gravite n'estoit pas si incompatible avec l'employ qu'elle luy donnoit qu'avec la galanterie il luy plaisoit plus en negociant avec lycurgue que l'entretenant de son amour d'ailleurs philombrote qui ne scavoit pas les desseins cachez de pisistrate et qui pensoit qu'il ne remuast que pour s'opposer a ceux qui vouloient troubler le repos public fut le trouver pour s'offrir a luy avec tous ses amis et pour luy aprendre qu'il avoit sceu que megacles estoit le chef de ceux de la marine adjoustant qu'il 
 scavoit qu'ils luy estoient encore plus opposez qu'a lycurgue vous pouvez juger madame quelle surprise fut celle de pisistrate lors qu'il aprit par le pere d'une fille qu'il n'aimoit plus que celuy de celle qu'il aimoit estoit chef d'un party oppose au sien et quel estrange combat il se fit dans son coeur entre son amour et son ambition d'abord il ne voulut pas croire ce que luy disoit philombrote mais il luy particularisa tellement les choses qu'il avoit sceues qu'il n'en put douter il a dit depuis que son premier sentiment fut de sacrifier son ambition a son amour et de ne songer plus a nulle faction mais que venant a considerer combien celle de son rival estoit puissante et a penser a l'impossibilite qu'il y avoit de joindre la sienne a celle de megacles il trouva que son ambition servoit a son amour et qu'ainsi il ne la faloit plus combatre neantmoins comme il luy vint quelque scrupule de generosite de se servir du pere de cerinthe et de ses amis veu les termes ou il en estoit avec cette fille il n'accepta pas ce que philombrote luy offrit mais il ne le refusa pas aussi tout a fait de peur qu'il n'allast se jetter dans un des deux autres partis si bien que sans s'ouvrir a luy de son dessein il le pria seulement de l'advertir de ce qu'il scauroit mais apres l'avoir quite il se trouva estrangement embarrasse par la crainte qu'il eut que cleorante ne luy voulust mal quand elle scauroit la verite cependant il n'y avoit pas apparence de luy confier 
 son dessein et de luy aller dire qu'il estoit d'un party oppose a celuy de megacles aussi bien qu'a celuy de lycurgue de sorte que pour prendre un milieu afin que quand cleorante scauroit ce qui se seroit passe elle en fust moins irritee il employa quelques-uns de ceux qui estoient alors dans sa confidence pour proposer a megacles l'union de son party et du sien quoy qu'il sceust bien que c'estoit une chose presques impossible aussi le fit-il seulement afin d'avoir quelque excuse a dire a cleorante pour sa deffence quand elle seroit en estat de le pouvoir accuser et en effet cette proposition qu'il fit faire a megacles ne servit de rien qu'a le confirmer dans le dessein de regarder son ambition comme le seul moyen de satisfaire son amour car megacles dit a celuy qui luy parla qu'il n'avoit point party et qu'il n'avoit pas creu que pisistrate en eust mais que puis qu'il en avoit il le prioit de n'aller plus chez luy parce qu'il ne vouloit pas qu'on dist qu'il fust amy d'un homme qui vouloit brouiller la republique vous pouvez donc juger madame quelle douleur fut celle de pisistrate de se voir prive de la veue de cleorante et vous pouvez juger aussi en quel embarras il se trouva lors que l'ayant este chercher le lendemain de cette responce chez une de ses amies elle luy dit que son pere luy avoit deffendu de le voir et qu'elle luy en demanda la cause neantmoins comme il estoit vray qu'il avoit fait proposer a megacles d'estre de son 
 party il luy dit la proposition qu'il luy en avoit fait faire et la cruelle responce qu'il avoit faite mais du moins madame luy dit-il ne soyez pas aussi injuste que megacles et ne me haissez pas je ne vous hairay pas sans doute si vous ne m'en donnez sujet reprit-elle mais je me pleindray de vous si vous elles ennemy de mon pere plust aux dieux luy dit-elle qu'il ne formast aucune factions dans athenes mais puis que je ne suis pas en pouvoir de l'en empescher je vous conjure du moins de ne vous opposer pas a la sienne je ne vous demande point adjousta-t'elle que vous vous y joigniez malgre luy mais je vous demande de ne faire rien que ce qui peut conserver la paix mais madame luy dit-il lycurgue faisant tout ce qu'il fait pour la troubler et pour me perdre je ne suis pas en estat de ne rien faire ainsi tout ce que je puis vous promettre est de ne songer qu'a m'opposer a mon rival sans penser a nuire a megacles ny a faire la guerre mais apres tout madame poursuivit-il j'ay a vous dire que si la fortune embrouille si fort les choses que je ne puisse vous posseder sans estre tiran d'athenes je suis capable de songer a le devenir plustost que de souffrir que lycurgue le soit et qu'il vous possede ha pisistrate luy dit-elle vous me dittes d'estranges choses je me trouve en un si facheux estat reprit-il que le souhait le plus innocent que je puisse faire est que je sois assez puissant pour ne trouver rien qui me puisse resister ny m'empescher de me vanger de 
 lycurgue et de forcer megacles a vouloit estre heureux et a me le rendre en se resolvant de vouloir bien que je vous aime mais madame je vous le dis encore une fois ne craignez rien pour luy je vous en conjure pourveu que vous abandonniez lycurgue a ma vangeance ne vous obstinez pas a vouloir que je vous l'abandonne reprit-elle et contentez vous que je ne le deffende pas et que je vous demande instamment d'agir tousjours de la facon avec mon pere que vous ne me mettiez pas dans la necessite de ne vous voir jamais et de faire comme si je vous haissois quand mesme je ne vous pourrois hair car enfin pisistrate ne vous y trompez pas et croyez fortement que je ne puis jamais estre a vous que du consentement de celuy qui peut disposer de moy je vous ay peut-estre un peu trop engage mon coeur sans sa permission poursuivit-elle mais ne croyez pas s'il vous plaist que cette premiere foiblesse soit suivie d'une seconde car si je n'ay pu m'empescher d'aimer un peu plus que je ne l'ay deu je scauray bien m'empescher de faire plus que je ne dois voila donc madame comment cette entreveue de pisistrate et de cleorante se passa ils eussent bien eu beaucoup d'autres choses a se dire mais comme cleorante estoit allee sans sa mere chez la dame ou pisistrate l'avoit este chercher et qu'erophile la renvoya querir de fort bonne heure ils se separerent plustost qu'ils n'eussent voulu et se quiterent avec beaucoup 
 de douleur d'autre part cerinthe ayant sceu que philombrote vouloit s'attacher au party de pisistrate en eut une affliction estrange car comme elle avoit beaucoup contribue par le moyen de theocrite a rendre celuy de lycurgue puissant et a l'animer contre pisistrate elle voyoit qu'elle avoit agy contre son pere et qu'elle avoit par consequent travaille a sa propre ruine mais quoy que cette pensee fust tres facheuse celle de voir son pere servir pisistrate luy estoit pour le moins aussi douloureuse ainsi elle ne scavoit plus ce qu'elle devoit deffendre ou commander a theocrite car de luy dire qu'il continuast d'agir comme il avoit fait c'estoit chercher a perdre son pere et a se perdre elle mesme de luy dire qu'il fist le contraire c'estoit fortifier le party de pisistrate ou du moins affoiblir celuy de son ennemy de sorte qu'elle estoit encore plus embarrassee que cleorante qui du moins avoit la satisfaction de scavoir qu'elle n'avoit aucune part au desordre qui estoit prest d'esclater d'ailleurs theocrite quoy que bien aise de nuire a pisistrate puis que cela le mettoit bien avec cerinthe et qu'il servoit a son frere ne laissoit pas d'aprehender que lycurgue ne se vist en estat d'espouser cleorante de peur que pisistrate ne revinst a cerinthe et qu'en cessant d'estre rival de son frere il ne redevinst le sien et pour lycurgue ses desseins n'estoient point douteux car ils alloient tous a la perte de son rival mais pendant que toutes ces personnes 
 avoient des sentimens dans l'ame si tumultueux je voyois quelquesfois euridamie qui s'estant guerie de la foiblesse qu'elle avoit eue me parloit avec assez de sincerite des choses passees et assez de confiance des choses presentes au commencement elle croyoit que j'avois quelque connoissance de ce qu'on disoit que tramoit pisistrate mais je luy dis si fortement que je n'avois este confident que de son amour qu'elle me creut et me parla apres comme une personne qui scavoit que j'aimois fort le repos de la patrie ainsi nous deplorions quelquesfois ensemble le malheur ou nous nous imaginions qu'elle alloit estre exposee car enfin tout le monde se disoit a l'oreille qu'on tramoit quelque chose de funeste qui esclatteroit bientost et il y avoit alors une certaine consternation dans tous les esprits de ceux qui n'estoient d'aucun des trois partis qui les empeschoit de chercher quelque remede a tous les maux qu'ils prevoyoient ils employoient les journes entieres a se dire les uns aux autres que tout estoit perdu et que la republique alloit perir mais ils en demeuroient la et durant que tous les factieux cabaloient chacun de leur coste tous ceux qui ne l'estoient pas demeuroient enfermez dans leurs maisons si ce n'estoit pour s'aller pleindre chez quelques-uns de leurs amis qui estoient dans leurs sentimens pour moy comme je voyois bien que pisistrate ne me vouloit pas ouvrir son coeur et que je connoissois qu'ariston estoit le confident de 
 son ambition comme je l'avois este de son amour je ne luy demandois rien et il ne me disoit aussi ne me parlant mesme plus de cleorante a cause qu'en l'estat ou estoient alors les affaires il n'eust pu me dire ce qui se passoit entre eux sans me dire en mesme temps beaucoup d'autres choses qu'il ne vouloit pas que je sceusse parce qu'il scavoit bien que j'estois ennemy de toute nouveaute et qu'il m'avoit entendu dire plus d'une fois que j'aimerois mieux obeir a un tiran qui regneroit en paix que de faire la guerre pour le destruire cependant comme pisistrate est tres habile c'estoit celuy de tous ceux qui remuoient dans la republique qui paroissoit le moins empresse il ne laissoit pourtant pas d'agir autant que les autres il est vray que les assemblee des principaux de chaque party se faisoient plus de nuit que de jour ainsi je puis assurer que pisistrate lycurgue et megacles ne dormoient presques point durant ce temps-la les choses estant donc en ces termes pisistrate ayant resolu une conference secrette avec quelques nouveaux seditieux qui se devoit faire hors la ville resolut apres avoir passe une partie de la nuit a aller de maison en maison pour s'assurer de ceux de son party de sortit d'athenes dans un chariot afin d'estre moins suspect et d'en sortir a la pointe du jour et en effet il en sortit sans avoir qu'un esclave aveque luy mais madame a peine fut-il a quinze stades de la porte 
 qu'il fut attaque par quatre hommes contre qui il se deffendit si courageusement qu'ils ne purent le tuer il est vray que ce qui les en empescha fut qu'ils virent de loin venir assez de monde vers eux joint que voyant couler le sang de pisistrate qu'ils avoient blesse en divers endroits ils creurent sans doute qu'il l'estoit mortellement quoy qu'en effet ses blessures fussent legeres cependant comme cette action n'eut de tesmoins que celuy qui menoit le chariot de pisistrate et l'esclave qui le suivoit ses ennemis ont dit que c'estoit une feinte et ils l'ont dit d'autant plustost que ceux qui en effet empescherent ces assassins de tuer pisistrate ne les virent point parce que s'estant jettez dans un petit bois qui estoit tout contre eux ils n'eurent pas le loisir de les voir mais il est pourtant vray que ce ne fut pas une feinte car un homme qui est a moy et qui venoit des champs vit la chose de cent pas loin et me dit que pisistrate avoit fait des miracles en se deffendant toutesfois parce que j'estois son amy ses ennemis ne me creurent pas quand je le dis mais pour en revenir ou j'en estois pisistrate se voyant tout couvert de sang et sentant pourtant bien qu'il n'estoit pas blesse dangereusement voulut tirer quelque avantage de sa disgrace de sorte que se remettant dans son chariot il fut reprendre le chemin de la ville ou il r'entra en un estat fort propre a esmouvoir le peuple car il estoit ensanglante de toutes parts il arriva mesme heureusement pour luy qu'il y 
 avoit une fort grande quantite de monde amasse dans la grande place d'athenes lors qu'il la traversa et qu'il y en avoit mesme beaucoup de sa faction si bien que pisistrate ayant dit au peuple que c'estoient ses ennemis et les ennemis de la republique qui l'avoient mis en cet estat il s'esleva alors un estrange murmure et contre lycurgue et contre megacles il y eut mesme plusieurs de ceux du party de ces deux derniers qui se mirent de celuy de pisistrate il y eut encore beaucoup de ceux qui n'estoient d'aucun party qui le suivirent et cet objet qui avoit quelque chose de pitoyable toucha tellement la plus grande partie du peuple qu'en un quart d'heure pisistrate se vit environne de gens de tous les partis qui estoient prests a prendre les armes pour sa deffence cependant lors qu'il vit que ce peuple estoit assez esmeu il se retira chez luy pour se faire penser mais il s'y retira suivy d'une foule qui augmentoit de rue en rue chacun racontant cet accident selon sa fantaisie ou sa passion car les uns disoient que c'estoit megacles qui l'avoit blesse de sa propre main les autres que c'estoit lycurgue et les autres encore que c'estoit theocrite il y en eut pourtant quelques-uns des deux autres partis qui voulurent dire que pisistrate s'estoit luy mesme ensanglante pour esmouvoir le peuple mais bien loin d'estre creus par ceux qui estoient alors du sien on n'adjousta pas mesme nulle foy au reproche ingenieux que luy fit solon qui le rencontra en 
 cet estat lors qu'il luy dit fierement qu'il jouoit mal le personnage d'ulisse dans homere car enfin luy dit-il tu t'es blesse pour tromper les citoyens et il se blessa pour abuser les ennemis mais madame ny solon ny aucun autre ne fut escoute et ce fut en vain que ce sage legislateur voulut remettre le calme dans la ville il fit pourtant si bien qu'on s'assembla au prytanee qui est le lieu ou l'on delibere des affaires publiques afin de voir quel remede on aporteroit a un si grand tumulte pour lycurgue et pour megacles ils songerent a s'empescher d'estre surpris et a se purger d'une action comme celle qu'on leur imputoit de sorte que megacles estoit au port de pyree a la teste d'un grand nombre de ceux de son party et lycurgue estoit aupres du temple de minerue avec beaucoup de ses amis cependant comme le conseil general fut assemble ariston qui s'y trouva parlant avec vehemence contre ceux qui avoient voulu assassiner pisistrate et representant alors toutes les belles choses qu'il avoit faites pour le service de la republique et particulierement a la prise de megare et a celle de nysee dit en suite qu'il falloit luy donner des gardes pour la seurete de sa personne a quoy le plus grand nombre aplaudissant aussi tost solon s'y opposa fortement et fut haranguer le peuple avec une vigueur incroyable quoy qu'il aimast tendrement pisistrate afin qu'il s'opposast a ce que vouloit ariston il parla pourtant inutilement 
 et le conseil n'ayant pas la hardiesse de solon n'osa s'opposer au peuple qui dit qu'il vouloit que pisistrate eust des gardes sans luy en regler mesme le nombre il est vray qu'ils croyoient alors qu'il n'y avoit pas grand danger d'accorder des gardes a pisistrate et que le plus necessaire estoit d'appaiser le desordre present ainsi il fut dit que pisistrate avoit des gardes et en effet on luy en donna a l'heure mesme et ariston les choisit mais madame vous pouvez juger en quel estat estoient cleorante et cerinthe durant un si grand tumulte pour la premiere on peut dire qu'elle sentit toute l'inquietude dont une personne sensible peut estre capable car une de ses femmes qui n'avoit sceu la chose que par un esclave luy fut dire que pisistrate avoit este assassine par son pere et que son pere estoit en estat de l'estre par les amis de pisistrate apres cela madame il vous est aise de concevoir quelle estoit la douleur d'une personne qui croyoit son amant mort qui pensoit que son pere l'avoit tue et qui le croyoit luy mesme en danger de l'estre elle fut pourtant bientost esclaircie pour ce qui regardoit la vie de pisistrate mais comme elle ne sceut pas qui l'avoit blesse et qu'elle ne scavoit ce qui arriveroit de megacles elle demeura encore avec beaucoup d'inquietude elle ne pouvoit pourtant croire que son pere eust pu estre capable d'un assassinat et elle n'en soubconnoit pas mesme bien fort lycurgue aussi suis-je 
 persuade que cette meschante action fut faite par de ces gens determinez a qui le zele de la liberte devient fureur et pisistrate luy mesme le croit ainsi pour cerinthe vous pouvez aussi juger qu'elle eut des sentimens bien meslez car elle sceut que philombrote estoit alle chez pisistrate ainsi dans l'aparence qu'il y avoit que les choses se porteroient a la derniere extremite elle le voyoit dans un party que par un autre interest elle eust voulu qui se ruinast quoy qu'elle n'eust pourtant pas voulu que pisistrate y eust pery cependant comme ses blessures estoient fort legeres quoy qu'il eust perdu beaucoup de sang il parut bien-tost en public mais il y parut avec des gardes dont il augmenta le nombre de jour en jour jusques a ce qu'ayant sceu que lycurgue et megacles traitoient ensemble et que peut-estre ils pourroient se joindre et luy faire perdre tout a la fois et la souveraine puissance ou il aspiroit et cleorante il les prevint en s'emparant du chasteau qui commande tonte la ville mais madame comme il ne pensoit pas moins a estre maistre de cleorante que d'athenes il donna ordre que des qu'il seroit dans le chasteau il y eust des gens qui allassent a la maison de megacles pour arrester sa maistresse avec sa mere mais ayant agy plus promptement que ceux a qui il avoit donne cet employ erophile et cleorante ne s'y trouverent plus car megacles n'eut pas plustost sceu que pisistrate estoit dans le chasteau et que tous ses amis 
 avoient les armes a la main qu'il ne songea plus qu'a s'enfuir de sorte qu'il manda diligemment a sa femme de l'aller trouver avec sa fille au port de pyree ou il estoit alors elle ne put pourtant pas luy obeir car le tumulte estoit si grand dans la ville que son chariot ne pouvant passer elle se resolut de se retirer dans le temple de minerue qui est un asile inviolable et d'y demeurer elle et cleorante avec les vierges voilees et en effet erophile y fut receue avec sa fille et elle envoya dire a megacles la resolution qu'elle avoit prise si bien que n'y pouvant faire autre chose il se retira diligemment lycurgue de son coste aprenant que son rival estoit maistre d'athenes fut a la maison de megacles pour luy oster du moins cleorante mais ne l'y trouvant plus il eut encore la douleur de s'imaginer que sa maistresse estoit en la puissance de son rival et theocrite eut celle d'estre force de s'esloigner de cerinthe en sortant d'athenes et d'avoir luy mesme fort avance les choses qui l'en esloignoient pour satisfaire son frere et sa maistresse cependant lycurgue et luy n'avoient point d'autre party a prendre que celuy de se retirer car la consternation estoit si grande par toute la ville qu'on n'a jamais veu une telle chose en effet on voyoit tous les gens des deux partis opposez fuir avec une esgale precipitation ceux du party victorieux maistres de toutes les places publiques et tous les citoyens qui aimoient la paix s'enfermerent 
 dans leurs maisons sans oser s'opposer a la perte de leur liberte solon ne laissa pourtant pas au milieu d'un si grand tumulte d'aller encore dans les rues exhorter le peuple a prendre les armes pour s'empescher d'estre esclave et de tascher de l'encourager a ne recevoir point le joug qu'on luy vouloir imposer il luy fit mesme des reproches de sa laschete et il n'oublia rien de tout ce qu'il creut le devoir porter a s'opposer a pisistrate mais il n'y eut pas moyen et il aima mieux en cette occasion recevoir des fers que prendre les armes pour sa liberte de sorte qu'apres cela solon se retira chez luy disant a tous ceux qu'il rencontra qu'il avoit fait tout ce qu'il avoit pu et qu'il avoit du moins la satisfaction d'avoir soustenu le dernier a la liberte d'athenes quelques-uns de ses amis luy conseillerent de s'enfuir mais il ne le voulut pas leur disant qu'il ne serviroit de rien a sa patrie s'il fuyoit et qu'il pourroit luy servir encore s'il y demeuroit cependant quoy que pisistrate deust avoir beaucoup de satisfaction de voir son rival en fuite et tous ses ennemis hors d'athenes il se creut tres malheureux durant deux jours parce qu'il creut que megacles ou lycurgue avoient emmene cleorante mais a la fin ayant descouvert qu'elle estoit au temple de minerue il l'y fut visiter des qu'il eut donne tous les ordres necessaires pour la seurete d'athenes et pour faire voir que quoy qu'il eust usurpe la souveraine puissance il ne pretendoit pas que 
 son gouvernement eust rien de tirannique il envoya demander la permission de voir erophile et cleorante comme s'il n'eust este qu'un simple citoyen et il envoya en mesme temps dire a solon qu'il l'assuroit que le changement de gouvernement ne changeroit rien aux loix qu'il avoit faites et qu'il les garderoit le premier mais solon respondit si genereusement et si fierement a ce que luy mandoit pisistrate qu'un de ses amis qui ne l'avoit point voulu abandonner luy dit qu'il avoit tort de parler comme il faisoit car enfin luy dit-il a quoy vous fiez vous en parlant aussi hardiment que vous faites en ma vieillesse respondit-il car j'ay si peu de temps a vivre que je ne hazarde pas beaucoup en m'exposant a perdre la vie et je perdrois bien davantage si je perdois mon honneur en flattant mon ancien amy aujourd'huy qu'il est devenu tiran cependant comme pisistrate n'estoit pas alors en un estat ou on luy pust rien refuser celle qui gouvernoit les vierges voilees du temple de minerue luy accorda ce qu'il luy avoit envoye demander il est vray qu'il ne put voir que cleorante parce qu'erophile se trouvoit mal de la peur qu'elle avoit eue lors qu'elle avoit eu dessein d'obeir au commandement que megacles luy avoit fait de l'aller trouver d'abord cleorante fit mesme quelque difficulte de voir pisistrate mais sa mere le luy ayant commande afin qu'elle luy parlast pour son pere elle luy obeit sans repugnance de vous 
 dire precisement madame tout ce que ces deux personnes se dirent en cette entreveue il ne seroit pas aise car ils se dirent tant de choses qu'eux mesmes ne s'en souviennent pas j'ay pourtant sceu que cleorante receut pisistrate assez froidement qu'elle commenca de luy parler en l'accusant d'ambition et qu'elle luy reprocha que s'il eust eu beaucoup d'amour il n'auroit pas este si ambitieux ha madame luy dit-il que vous entendez mal les choses si vous croyez ce que vous dittes car enfin quoy que je fusse las d'obeir a tant de gens qui scavoient si mal commander je vous proteste que si lycurgue n'eust rien entrepis je serois demeure en repos mais madame comme je me voyois en estat de vous perdre et d'estre esclave de mon rival si je n'eusse porte les choses a la derniere extremite il a falu s'y resoudre au reste madame il n'a pas tenu a moy que megacles ne soit demeure a athenes car j'ay fait toutes choses possibles pour estre de son parcy et si je n'eusse sceu qu'il traitoit avec lycurgue et que vous estiez l'ostage qu'il devoit mettre entre les mains de mon ennemy pour l'assurance de leur traite athenes seroit encores dans cet estat malheureux ou se trouvent toutes les villes qui sont gouvernees par la multitude quoy qu'il en soit luy dit cleorante mon pere est exile d'athenes il parle de vous comme de son ennemy et il vous regarde comme un homme qui a fait perdre la liberte a sa patrie c'est pourquoy n'ayant 
 pas mesme celle d'examiner si on vous peut excuser je n'ay que trois choses a vous demander la premiere de n'attribuer point ce que vous avez fait a l'affection que vous avez pour moy la seconde de me permettre aussi bien qu'a ma mere de sortir d'athenes pour aller trouver mon pere et la troisiesme de vous contenter d'avoir chasse vos ennemis et de n'oster pas la liberte aux atheniens c'est estre bien malheureux madame luy respondit-il d'estre oblige de vous resuser tout ce que vous me demandez cependant je ne puis vous rien accorder car enfin je ne puis dire sans mensonge que mon amour ne m'ait pas plustost rendu maistre d'athenes que mon ambition je ne puis non plus vous permettre d'en sortir puis que vous n'en sortiriez que pour tomber sous la puissance de mon rival avec qui megacles achevera sans doute le traite qu'il avoit commence et je ne puis encore me demettre de l'authorite que les dieux ont mise en mes mains puis que ce n'est que par la que j'espere obliger megacles a consentir que je sois heureux en souffrant que je vous la face partager ainsi madame quand je n'aurois nulle ambition et que je ne serois pas persuade comme je le suis qu'il est avantageux aux atheniens que la forme du gouvernement de leur ville soit change mon amour toute seule voudroit que les choses demeurassent comme elles sont car a n'en mentir pas j'aime mieux estre tiran d'athenes que de perdre l'esperance 
 de vous posseder et que de vous voir possedee par mon rival mais pour vous tesmoigner adjousta-t'il que j'ay plus d'amour que d'ambition si vous aimez tant cette pretendue liberte d'athenes je suis prest d'en sortir pourveu que ce soit aveque vous ouy madame poursuivit-il apres m'estre rendu maistre de la plus fameuse ville de la grece apres en avoir chasse tous mes ennemis et m'estre mis en estat de rendre tous les atheniens heureux en les gouvernant mieux qu'ils ne l'ont este je ne laisse pas de vous offrir d'abandonner tout pourveu que vous suiviez ma fortune et que vous veuilliez bien que nous allions vivre ensemble en quelque royaume d'asie car je vous advoue madame que j'ay une telle aversion pour l'authorite divisee que j'aimerois mieux estre l'esclave d'un grand roy que d'estre citoyen d'une republique ainsi madame c'est a vous a resoudre ce que vous voulez que je face le remede que vous me proposez repliqua-t'elle estant beaucoup pire que le mal que je voudrois pouvoir guerir je n'ay garde de l'accepter car apres tout graces aux dieux je n'ay aucune part ny au malheur de mon pere ny a ce que vous avez fait mais j'en aurois beaucoup a la chose que vous me proposez si sans le consentement des personnes qui peuvent disposer de moy je m'attachois a vostre fortune cependant adjousta-t'elle il me semble que j'ay beaucoup de sujet de me pleindre de vous de ce que vont me refusez toutes choses demandez 
 m'en quelqu'une reprit-il qui ne m'expose point a vous perdre et si je vous la refuse quelque difficile qu'elle soit tenez moy pour le plus lasche de tous les hommes mais madame des qu'il s'agit de vous conserver je ne suis plus en pouvoir de rien escouter au reste adjousta-t'il je vous conjure que ce nom de tiran que mes ennemis me donnent ne m'empesche pas d'estre juge digne d'estre encore vostre esclave vous promettant de n'oublier rien pour obliger megacles a vouloir revenir a athenes et vous assurant de plus que je ne luy demanderay autre condition pour son retour que celle de consentir a mon bonheur apres cela madame cleorante dit a pisistrate tout ce qu'elle se creut obligee comme de luy dire non seulement comme fille de megacles mais encore comme citoyenne d'athenes neantmoins comme en cette occasion l'amour et l'ambition de pisistrate se trouvoient inseparablement jointes clorante ne put rien obtenir que la liberte de demeurer au lieu ou elle estoit jusques a ce que megacles eust change de sentimens mais lors qu'en suite pisistrate voulut luy demander la permission de la voir tous les jours elle la luy refusa luy disant qu'elle ne vouloit point se mettre en estat de pouvoir estre soubconnee d'avoir sceu son dessein et en effet elle luy dit cela si fortement que tout maistre d'athenes qu'il estoit il falut qu'il luy obeist il est vray qu'il ne luy obeit pas sans peine neantmoins comme il ne craignoit rien tant que de luy desplaire 
 il se contenta de scavoit de ses nouvelles tous les jours et en effet et pisistrate et cleorante se sont conduits si prudemment dans leur affection que le bruit general de toute ta grece ne mesle aucune amour dans l'usurpation de pisistrate et dans la haine de lycurgue et de luy cependant ce nouveau souverain d'athenes agit avec tant de moderation qu'on eust dit qu'il n'avoit voulu avoir la souveraine puissance que pour faire mieux observer les loix de solon et que pour rendre justice a tous les gens d'honneur et a tous ceux qui avoient du merite il fut mesme diverses fois visiter ce grand homme et il vescut aveque luy d'une maniere si obligeante qu'il le forca d'advouer qu'il ne luy manquoit que d'estre nay fils de roy pour estre un des plus grands princes du monde et de dire en suite que si le peuple d'athenes eust pu oublier qu'il avoit este sans maistre c'eust este le plus heureux peuple de toute la terre pisistrate sceut mesme agir si adroitement que solon l'assista souvent de ses conseils et il se presenta une occasion ou pisistrate voulut volontairement se soumettre a estre puny pour une de ses loix qu'il avoit enfreinte cependant il se souvint de l'estime qu'il avoit tousjours eue pour cerinthe et pour euridamie car il protegea hautement tous ceux de leur maison d'autre part megacles et lycurgue desesperez de leur malheur s'unirent et firent tant de leurs menees et par leurs brigues qu'en une nuit quelques-uns de 
 leur intelligence leur livrerent une des portes de la ville en suite de quoy ils surprirent le chasteau et forcerent pisistrate a sortir d'athenes quoy qu'il fist tout ce qu'un homme tres habile et tres vaillant pouvoit faire ainsi les vaincus furent les vainqueurs et le vainqueur fut le plus malheureux homme du monde il est vray que son rival ne fut pas aussi heureux qu'il le croyoit estre car comme megacles pretendit tirer sa femme et sa fille du temple de minerue afin de faire des le lendemain espouser cette derniere a lycurgue cleorante avec la permission de sa mere qui haissoit lycurgue et qui aimoit pisistrate se servit du privilege du temple qui est un lieu inviolable a quiconque s'y retire de sorte que cleorante fit dire a son pere par erophile qu'elle avoit resolu d'y demeurer beaucoup de gens ont creu que megacles y avoit consenty et qu'il n'avoit promis sa fille a lycurgue que parce qu'il avoit alors besoin de luy mais quoy qu'il en soit lycurgue eut beau se pleindre et beau presser megacles de luy tenir sa parole cleorante demeura dans le temple cependant theocrite estant revenu aupres de cerinthe luy demanda recompense d'avoir si bien fait reussir son dessein mais comme tous les desordres d'athenes ne la divertissoient guere elle le receut presques aussi froidement que s'il n'eust pas fait tout ce qu'elle avoit voulu d'autre part megacles et lycurgue s'accommodoient si mal ensemble et leur gouvernement estoit si 
 tirannique qu'ils se haissoient horriblement et estoient estrangement hais de tout le monde de sorte que megacles scachant que tous les honnestes gens d'athenes disoient tout haut que s'il faloit obeir a quelqu'un il faloit que ce fust a pisistrate et que le peuple estoit dans ces mesmes sentimens commenca de se repentir de ce qu'il avoit fait et il s'en repentit d'autant plustost qu'il fut adverty que lycurgue avoit dessein de faire enlever cleorante du temple ou elle estoit puis qu'il ne la luy vouloit pas donner et de faire mesme tout ce qu'il pourroit pour rendre sa faction plus forte que la sienne il sceut de plus qu'il s'estoit resolu pour venir plus facilement a bout du dessein qu'il avoit d'exiler pisistrate pour tousjours de renoncer effectivement a son ambition et de rendre la liberte a athenes afin qu'ayant fait cette grande action la republique luy pardonnast la violence qu'il auroit faite a cleorante et qu'elle ne rapellast jamais pisistrate de sorte que megacles scachant cela ne se trouvoit pas en une petite peine d'autre part pisistrate qui s'estoit retire avec grand nombre de ses amis aux environs d'athenes estoit en un desespoir incroyable il eut pourtant beaucoup de consolation d'aprendre la resolution que cleorante avoit prise neantmoins il ne laissa pas de souffrir tout ce qu'un homme amoureux et ambitieux peut souffrir lors que tout luy succede mal pour moy comme je fus tousjours malade durant 
 tous ces grands desordres je ne fus d'aucun party et j'attendis en repos ce que la fortune decideroit d'un si grand different cependant il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il n'arrivast ou quelque querelle ou quelque esmotion en quelque quartier d'athenes car outre que le peuple estant aussi divise qu'il estoit y avoit assez de disposition il est encore certain que les amis de pisistrate y contribuoient beaucoup en mon particulier je scay qu'ariston vint desguise dans athenes et qu'il y fit plusieurs soulevemens a un desquels theocrite fut tue mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que cerinthe en fut si peu affligee que lors qu'euridamie la fut voir pour la consoler elle luy dit cruellement qu'elle se donnoit trop de peine et qu'elle se la donnoit mesme inutilement parce qu'il estoit vray qu'elle gagnoit plus a la mort de theocrite en perdant ses visites qu'elle n'y perdoit en perdant son affection mais enfin les desordres augmentant tous les jours et megacles et lycurgue se brouillant tousjours davantage les choses en vinrent un si pitoyable estat qu'il y avoit tousjours lieu de croire de moment en moment que la ville alloit estre cantonnee et que tout le monde s'alloit entre-tuer durant ce temps-la erophile qui souhaitoit avec une passion estrange que sa fille espousast pisistrate ne perdoit point de temps et faisoit tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour persuader a son mary de se racommoder aveque luy 
 il est vray que comme megacles n'avoit point d'autre party a prendre veu l'estat ou il se trouvoit avec lycurgue il ne luy fut pas si difficile qu'elle avoit pense de l'amener dans ses sentimens car megacles scavoit bien alors que quand il eust pu forcer sa fille a consentir d'espouser lycurgue il n'auroit pu souffrir qu'il eust regne a son prejudice et il n'ignoroit pas mesme qu'estant de la race d'alcmeon qui n'est pas aimee a athenes il seroit difficile qu'il y pust regner veu le point ou estoient alors les affaires cependant comme il ne scavoit comment se dedire de cette opiniastre aversion qu'il avoit tesmoignee avoir pour pisistrate il y en a qui disent qu'il fit une feinte pour avoir sujet de le rapeller et qu'il voulut qu'il parust que c'estoit un dessein que minerue luy avoit inspire l'on assure donc que pour cet effet il obligea une femme de la tribu peanee qui estoit d'une excessive grandeur et qui estoit admirablement belle de s'habiller comme on peint minerue et qu'il la fit mettre dans un char peint et dore a quelques stades d'athenes qu'en suite elle s'aprocha de nos murailles au soleil levant qui est l'heure ou il y a le plus de peuple qui entre et qui sort de la ville et que son char estant precede de quatre trompettes elle dit a tous ceux qui la purent entendre qu'elle estoit minerue et qu'elle commandoit aux atheniens de recevoir pisistrate et de luy obeir quoy qu'il en soit madame il est certain qu'en un matin il s'espandit 
 un grand bruit que minerue s'estoit apparue a plusieurs atheniens et qu'elle avoit commande qu'on receust pisistrate et qu'on luy obeist megacles mesme dit que cette deesse s'estoit apparue a luy comme aux autres de sorte que le scrupule s'emparant facilement de l'esprit des peuples il fit ce que la raison n'avoit pu faire car il reunit et ceux de la plaine et ceux de la montagne et ceux de la marine si bien que tout le monde demandoit alors pisistrate et ce mesme homme qu'une partie du peuple avoit apelle tiran quelques jours auparavant et qu'il avoit chasse comme tel fut regarde par luy comme un prince legitime que minerue luy donnoit cependant megacles qui aparemment avoit desja envoye traiter avec pisistrate l'envoya querir quoy que lycurgue s'y voulust opposer de sorte que le mesme jour que pisistrate rentra triomphant dans athenes son rival en sortit par une porte opposee a celle par ou il entra et ce premier y fut receu avec tant d'acclamations et tant de joye que pour moy je ne pouvois assez m'estonner de la legerete des peuples mais pour achever son bonheur il se vit tout a la fois maistre d'athenes et possesseur de cleorante qu'il espousa le lendemain avec beaucoup de satisfaction et en huit jours il restablit une si grande tranquilite dans la ville que les estrangers qui y venoient ne pouvoient croire qu'elle eust este au pitoyable estat ou elle avoit este reduite en effet on ne parla plus que de festes 
 et de rejouissances et les nouvelles ordinaires de la ville estoient toutes de la generosite de la liberalite et de la bonte de pisistrate estant certain qu'il ne scavoit pas plustost qu'il y avoit un honneste homme malheureux qu'il ne l'estoit plus il honoroit aussi tous les arts et tous ceux qui les pratiquoient il commenca le premier une grande bibliotheque a athenes il fit mettre par ordre les livres d'homere ou le temps avoit aporte quelque confusion et il maria mesme cerinthe avec ariston qui en devint amoureux et euridamie avec un parent de cerinthe si bien que tous les desordres que l'amour et l'ambition avoient faits estant appaisez athenes se revit plus tranquile qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais este et pisistrate se trouva le plus heureux de tous les hommes principalement parce que ses plus grands ennemis advouoient qu'il meritoit son bonheur
 
 
 
 
silamis ayant fini son recit fut extremement loue de ceux qui l'avoient entendu en suitte de quoy ils parlerent quelque temps de l'inconstance des choses et de la legerete des peuples qui ne peuvent jamais respondre de leur propre volonte qui despend bien plus de celle d'autruy ou de leur propre caprice que de leur raison mais comme il estoit desja assez tard et que cyrus vouloit dire audieu a araminte devant que de s'en retourner au camp il se separa d'onesile et retourna chez la reine de pont ou il trouva anacharsis charme de la solidite de l'esprit de 
 cette princesse que ce prince quitta pourtant bien tost parce que son amour vouloit qu'il allast diligemment donner tous les ordres necessaires a la marche de son armee mais il ne la quita pas sans luy parler encore une fois de spitridate et de mandane qui occupoit si fort son esprit qu'il trouvoit tousjours invention d'en parler a propos cependant comme silamis estoit brave il ne put scavoir qu'il se presenteroit bientost une grande occasion sans s'y trouver c'est pourquoy il quita onesile et suivit cyrus qui luy tesmoigna obligeamment estre bien aise d'avoir fortifie son armee d'un aussi honneste homme que luy mais a peine ce prince fut-il arrive a sa tente qu'hidaspe dont il y avoit si longtemps qu'il estoit en peine y entra comme gobrias estoit aveque luy des que cyrus le vit il luy tesmoigna l'estonnement ou il avoit este de la longueur de son absence car enfin luy dit-il je fus estrangement surpris de voir le roy d'assirie sans vous voir lors qu'apres que vous l'eustes delivre il me trouva aupres du tombeau d'abradate et je le fus d'autant plus qu'il ne me sceut dire ce que vous estiez devenu c'est pourquoy c'est a vous a me l'apprendre seigneur reprit hidaspe je ne vous diray point ce que je fis aupres d'arsamone ny ce qui se passa a la surprise du chasteau ou le roy d'assirie estoit garde car je juge bien que vous ne l'ignorez pas mais je vous diray que lors que ce prince fut delivre et que nous eusmes pris le 
 chemin de cumes ou nous croiyons vous trouver comme nous fusmes sur la frontiere de galatie nous traversasmes un bois qu'il n'estoit pas encore jour car l'impatience du roy d'assirie nous avoit fait partir plus de trois heures devant que l'aurore parust de sorte que m'estant esgare dans ce bois qui est extremement espais je m'y trouvay seul quand le soleil se leva il est vray que je n'eus pas fait mille pas que j'entendis quelque petit bruit a ma droite puis un moment apres je vis paroistre deux femmes dont il y en avoit une qui sembloit estre la maistresse de l'autre et sur le visage de qui on voyoit beaucoup de crainte et beaucoup de douleur si bien que marchant lentement je la saluay avec le plus de civilite que je pus me preparant mesme a luy demander si elle avoit besoin de mon assistance mais seigneur cette belle affligee ne m'en donna pas le temps car m'ayant reconnu en s'aprochant elle me parla la premiere pour me demander secours et elle n'eut pas plus tost parle que sa voix me la fit mieux connoistre que mes yeux qui d'abord l'avoient meconnue de sorte que connoissant alors que celle que je voyois estoit la belle arpasie fille du sage gobrias devant qui je parle je descendis de cheval avec precipitation et je fus a elle avec tout le respect que je luy devois quoy s'escria gobrias qui ne put s'en empescher cette personne que vous trouvastes dans ce bois estoit ma fille que je laissay dans un chasteau sous la conduite d'une 
 tante qu'elle a avec ordre d'y demeurer tousjours pendant mon absence qui m'a encore escrit depuis peu de jours comme si arpasie estoit tousjours aupres d'elle quoy dit cyrus a son tour en parlant a hidaspe sans luy donner loisir de respondre cette arpasie que vous avez trouvee est la mesme que je vy chez gobrias au commencement de la guerre d'assirie qui fit si bien les honneurs de chez luy et qui estoit desja une des plus belles personnes du monde ouy seigneur repliqua hidaspe celle dont je parle est la mesme que celle dont vous parlez qui ne me vit pas plustost descendu de cheval qu'apres la premiere civilite elle m'aprit en peu de mots qu'elle avoit este enlevee par un homme apelle astidamas qui ayant este suivy par un rival qui l'avoit attaque avoit este contraint de la laisser au pied d'un arbre avec la fille qui la suivoit elle adjousta encore que pendant qu'ils se battoient avec une animosite estrange elle s'estoit enfoncee dans l'espaisseur du bois sans qu'ils s'en apperceussent et qu'elle avoit este si heureuse qu'elle y avoit trouve une caverne ou elle estoit entree et ou elle avoit passe le reste du jour et la nuit entiere pendant laquelle elle avoit tousjours entendu du bruit mais que n'en ayant plus ouy depuis que le soleil estoit leve la peur des bestes sauvages et de la faim l'en ayant fait sortir elle s'estoit cachee entre les feuilles assez pres de la route du bois ou j'estois attendant qu'il passast 
 quelqu'un a qui elle jugeast qu'elle pust demander assistance louant les dieux de ce qu'ils m'avoient envoye pour la secourir mais est-il possible dit alors gobrias qu'astidamas ait enleve ma fille luy qui est fils d'une belle-soeur que j'ay luy qui m'a mille obligations et qui ne peut avoir este capable de cette violence sans estre le plus ingrat et le plus lasche de tous les hommes ouy seigneur respondit hidaspe mais il a este puny de son crime par un autre qui n'est guere plus innocent que luy car comme vous le scaurez bientost il a este tue par un homme de qualite apelle licandre contre qui il se battoit lors que la belle arpasie s'enfonca dans le bois elle ne scavoit pourtant pas sa mort lors qu'elle me parloit mais elle la sceut bien tost apres car comme j'estois dans un embarras estrange d'imaginer comment je ferois pour mettre cette personne en seurete principalement estant seul et n'ayant qu'un cheval il arriva par bon-heur comme je luy parlois qu'il passa un chariot vuide de sorte que parlant a celuy qui le conduisoit je sceus qu'il estoit a une femme de qualite qui l'avoit preste a une de ses amies qui le luy renvoyoit et que la maison de cette dame qui estoit veusve n'estoit qu'a quinze stades de la si bien que sans hesiter davantage je proposay a arpasie de se mettre dans ce chariot avec la fille qui la suivoit et d'aller demander retraite a la dame a qui il estoit jusques a ce qu'elle eust resolu de ce qu'elle devoit faire 
 comme il n'eust pas este aise d'imaginer rien de mieux que ce que je luy proposois elle y consentit aveque joye et je promis une si grande recompense a celuy qui conduisoit ce chariot qu'il fut mesme bien aise de faire ce que je souhaitois qu'il fist c'est pourquoy sans perdre temps la belle arpasie y entra diligemment et je l'assuray que je mourrois avant que de souffrir qu'on luy fist aucun outrage mais seigneur nous n'eusmes pas plustost fait trois ou quatre stades que nous vismes a nostre droite cinq ou six hommes morts entre lesquels estoit astidamas cette veue fit paslir d'horreur et de crainte la belle et affligee arpasie qui destournant la teste pour ne voir pas davantage ce funeste objet me dit que son ravisseur estoit parmy ces morts puis que cela est madame luy dis-je vous n'avez donc plus rien a craindre ha hidaspe s'escria-t'elle quoy qu'astidamas soit mort tous mes ennemis ne le sont pas et en effet seigneur a peine eut-elle dit cela qu'un homme de fort bonne mine suivy de quatre autres et qui venoit du milieu du bois sans suivre de route ne la vit pas plus tost que s'aprochant du chariot ou elle estoit quoy madame luy dit-il vous fuyez vostre liberateur si vous voulez meriter ce nom-la luy dit-elle laissez moy aller sous la conduite d'hidaspe dont vous connoissez le nom si vous n'en connoissez pas le visage et ne me suivez plus car en fin licandre je ne veux point estre sous vostre puissance comme il y a long temps que 
 je suis sous la vostre reprit-il vous ne devez rien craindre de moy et vous devez souffrir que je vous serve d'escorte aussi bien madame adjousta-t'il sans la regarder et en me regardant assez fierement ne suis-je pas resolu qu'un persan ait cette gloire a mon prejudice et qu'une creature du vainqueur d'assirie obtienne un honneur que vous me refusez puis que j'ay presentement plus d'un droit de pretendre de n'estre pas maltraite de vous comme tous les sujets du roy d'assirie luy dis-je ne sont plus que les esclaves du prince que je sers vous n'avez aucun droit sur la fille du vaillant gobrias qui est presentement sous sa protection c'est pourquoy je vous declare que je ne la quiteray point que je ne l'aye conduite ou elle veut aller comme vous estes seul me dit-il et que je suis accompagne je ne scay que vous respondre mais je scay bien que vous ne me suivrez pas longtemps si la belle arpasie ne me le deffend point repliquay-je je vous suivray tant que vous la suivrez a ces mots arpasie ayant la bonte de craindre qu'il ne se servist de l'avantage qu'il avoit sur moy et aprehendant aussi de tomber sous sa puissance luy dit tout ce qu'elle creut capable de luy persuader ce qu'elle vouloit mais il n'y eut pas moyen de sorte que venant a un endroit du bois ou il y avoit divers chemins qui se croisoient licandre voulut forcer celuy qui conduisoit le chariot a prendre le chemin qu'il vouloit quoy que ce ne fust pas celuy qui le pouvoit conduire ou nous 
 voulions aller si bien que ne pouvant pas souffrir la violence que cet injuste amant faisoit a la belle arpasie quoy que je visse presques ma perte assuree je mis l'espee a la main le premier et je fus droit a licandre que je blessay legerement au bras gauche des le premier coup que je luy portay comme je suis sincere j'advoue que licandre en se mettant en posture de se deffendre et en se deffendant courageusement deffendit aux siens de m'attaquer voulant disoit-il estre tout seul a me vaincre mais seigneur il fut si mal obei qu'ils fondirent tous a la fois sur moy quelque deffence qu'il leur en fist je fus pourtant si heureux que je me demeslay d'eux assez viste et j'en blessay un si dangereusement qu'il tomba entre les jambes de nos chevaux mais comme j'en avois encore trois sur les bras et que licandre voyant un des siens hors de combat ne deffendit plus aux autres de m'attaquer quelque effort que je fisse je ne pus faire autre chose qu'en blesser encore un car dans le mesme temps que je me defaisois d'un autre ennemy licandre me donna un si grand coup a travers le corps que je tombay comme mort apres quoy j'entendis seulement les cris de la belle arpasie sans voir rien de ce qui se passa j'ay pourtant sceu depuis que licandre avoit force celuy qui menoit le chariot ou elle estoit d'aller ou il vouloit qu'il allast et qu'ainsi il avoit pris une route contraire a celle que nous devions tenir cependant comme la perte du sang et la douleur de ne 
 pouvoir secourir arpasie me firent perdre toute sorte de sentiment je ne revins a moy que lors que quelques bergers qui me trouverent en ce pitoyable estat m'eurent porte chez cette dame a qui estoit le chariot dans quoy estoit arpasie comme c'est une personne de beaucoup de vertu elle eut beaucoup de soin de moy mais comme ma premiere pensee fut pour arpasie apres luy avoir rendu grace de l'assistance que l'en avois receu en me faisant penser je luy dis en deux mots l'accident qui estoit arrive je luy apris la qualite et le merite d'arpasie et je la priay d'envoyer quelqu'un apres pour tascher de la secourir ou si elle ne pouvoit pas trouver assez promptement des gens propres a cela de faire du moins qu'on la suivist afin que je pusse scavoir quel lieu de retraite choisiroit ce ravisseur vous advouant ingenument que je ne songe point alors au roy d'assirie mais enfin seigneur cette dame n'ayant pu faire la premiere chose que je luy demandois fit la seconde avec beaucoup de diligence et elle choisit un homme adroit et hardy a qui ayant dit la route que je croyois que ce chariot avoit tenue parce que je scavois celle que licandre vouloit qu'il tinst lors que je m'y estois oppose il partit avec ordre de suivre tousjours arpasie jusques a ce qu'elle fust arrestee en quelque lieu ou aparemment licandre deust tarder longtemps or seigneur depuis cela j'ay souffert des maux incroyables car comme les blessures que j'avois receues estoient fort 
 grandes et que je n'estois pas en lieu ou il y eust de fort habiles gens pour me penser j'ay este vingt fois en danger de mourir je n'ay pourtant pas laisse d'envoyer vers vous mais il faut qu'il soit arrive quelque accident a ceux que je vous envoyois puis que vous n'avez pas receu les excuses que je vous faisois de n'avoir pas suivy le roy d'assirie mais encore interrompit cyrus n'avez vous rien sceu davantage d'arpasie et n'avez vous point apris adjousta gobrias en quel lieu le traistre licandre l'a menee ouy seigneur repliqua hidaspe et celuy que cette dame chez qui j'estois loge avoit envoye pour la suivre s'aquita si admirablement de sa commission et agit avec tant d'adresse qu'il fut mesme quelques jours au service de licandre mais sans m'amuser a vous dire comment cela arriva je vous diray seulement qu'il est revenu que j'ay sceu que d'abord licandre qui avoit autrefois connu le prince atergatis en assirie eut dessein de choisir la cour d'arsamone pour sa retraite parce qu'il y estoit mais qu'aprenant qu'elle estoit en desordre a cause de la liberte du roy d'assirie il avoit change d'avis et s'estoit embarque sur le pont euxin ou la tempeste l'avoit accueilly et l'avoit jette en la colchide ou il s'estoit arreste et ou il m'assura qu'il avoit dessein de demeurer assez long temps joint que la belle arpasie estant tombee malade d'une maladie languissante sans aucun danger il ne sembloit pas qu'il en pust partir si tost quand il le voudroit 
 de sorte seigneur qu'aprenant cela comme je commencois d'esperer de pouvoir estre bientost en estat de monter a cheval et aprenant quelque temps apres et l'enlevement de la princesse mandane et la mort du roy d'assirie et peu de jours en suite vostre marche vers les massagettes j'advoue que le dessein de servir arpasie me fit aller droit ou je croyois qu'elle estoit afin de tascher de ne revenir aupres de vous qu'apres l'avoir tiree des mains de licandre n'ignorant pas seigneur que c'est vous servir que de rendre service a ceux que vous aimez mais j'ay sceu a mon grand regret que licandre a pris la resolution de se jetter dans le parti de thomiris et d'aller passer l'araxe et en effet je l'ay suivy jusques a ce que j'ay sceu que je le suivois inutilement et qu'a moins que de me vouloir faire prendre par les ennemis il n'y avoit plus d'esperance de delivrer arpasie qu'en delivrant mandane car enfin selon ce que j'ay sceu licandre et arpasie arriveront aujourd'huy aupres de thomiris ce ne m'est pas une legere consolation repliqua gobrias de scavoir que ma fille peut esperer que le vainqueur de l'asie luy redonnera la liberte je vous assure respondit cyrus que je regarderay cet avantage comme un des plus doux fruits de la victoire si je la puis remporter et qu'apres la liberte de mandane rien ne me peut estre plus agreable que celle de la belle arpasie en disant cela cyrus observa hidaspe et se souvenant qu'il l'avoit autrefois 
 soupconne d'estre amoureux de cette belle fille il creut qu'il ne s'estoit pas trompe et il pensa que la generosite toute seule ne luy eust pas donne tant de zele il n'eut pourtant pas grand loisir de faire cette reflection car comme il avoit envoye plusieurs espions parmi les ennemis il en revint un qui luy aprit que l'armee de thomiris grossissoit tous les jours que terez qui estoit fort experimente a la guerre y estoit quoy qu'il fust fort incommode de ses anciennes blessures qu'octomasade estoit arrive avec les troupes que le prince des callipides luy avoit permis de lever dans son pais lors qu'il songeoit a faire aryante roy des issedons et qu'il n'avoit amenees au service de cette reine qu'apres qu'ariante avoit eu fait sa paix il luy dit de plus qu'agathyrse estoit aussi arrive avec un puissant secours d'issedon que les scythes royaux avoient aussi envoye de fort belles troupes et qu'aripithe arriveroit dans peu de temps avec un corps d'armee d'autant plus considerable que les sauromates estoient des gens fort aguerris mais ce qui le fascha le plus fut d'aprendre que le prince aryante avoit este plustost guery qu'il ne pensoit et que selon toutes les apparences le fort des sauromates estoit investy ou le seroit si tost qu'il n'y pourroit estre a temps pour l'empescher
 
 
 
 
et en effet il sceut le lendemain au matin avec certitude que les ennemis en commencoient le siege mais il receut en mesme temps un advis qui venoit des frontieres 
 de medie par ou l'on assuroit que ciaxare estoit mort quoy que cette nouvelle l'affligeast sensiblement il creut de telle importance de ne la publier pas de peur d'abatre le coeur des soldats par un si funeste commencement de campagne qu'il renferma toute sa douleur dans son coeur cependant pour ne perdre point de temps il donna ordre a toutes choses et pria anacharsis de vouloir demeurer aupres de la reine de pont et de la princesse d'armenie afin que s'il avoit besoin de luy il pust l'y envoyer querir mais comme cyrus scavoit bien que les resolutions hardies se doivent prendre aveque peu de gens il confera aveque mazare seulement et luy ouvrant son coeur il luy descouvrit que quoy qu'on luy pust dire quand il tiendroit conseil de guerre il avoit resolu de donner la bataille de sorte que mazare estant dans son sentiment et ne s'agissant plus que de scavoit aveque certitude quels estoient les defilez que cyrus n'avoit pu reconnoistre parce qu'il n'avoit pas este assez avant dans les bois a cause que la rencontre de thomiris l'en avoit empesche ce prince resolut qu'il feroit sa marche comme s'il n'eust eu autre dessein que de secourir le fort des sauromates et que cependant mazare avanceroit avec des troupes non seulement pour reconnoistre les passages mais pour tascher de jetter quelque secours dans la place qui donnast moyen a feraulas d'arrester quelques jours les ennemis et en effet le jour suivant toute l'amee de cyrus 
 commanca de marcher comme si ce n'eust este que pour aller secourir le fort des sauromates c'estoit toutesfois une chose tres difficile parce que ce fort quoy que scitue proche d'une forest estoit pourtant au milieu d'une espece de plaine environnee de bois et de bois si touffus et si marescageux qu'il estoit impossible d'esviter des defilez tres longs de quelque coste qu'on y vinst il est vray que du coste de l'araxe le bois n'avoit pas plus de douze ou quinze stades de profondeur mais apres avoir trouve un chemin estroit et difficile il s'eslargissoit insensiblement et l'on descouvroit la plaine peu a peu a mesure qu'on avancoit ce chemin n'en devenoit pourtant pas plus aise car comme tout cet endroit n'estoit qu'une bruyere fangeuse a cause de la grande quantite d'eaux qui s'y amassoient en divers lieux il n'estoit pas possible d'y marcher en bataille rangee et ce n'estoit pas mesme sans difficulte qu'on y pouvoit faire passer des escadrons il est vray qu'en s'aprochant du fort des sauromates toutes ces difficultez cesserent car conme le terrain estoit plus esleve il estoit aussi plus sec et il y avoit enfin assez d'espace pour y pouvoir ranger deux grandes armees en bataille cependant mazare suivant la resolution que cyrus et luy avoient prise marcha si diligemment avec la partie qu'il commandoit qu'a peine le prince aryante s'estoit-il poste devant le fort des sauromates quand il arriva au conmencement des bois ce fut 
 alors que ce prince rappellant dans son coeur l'amour de la gloire et l'amour de mandane se resolut quelque obstacle qu'il pust trouver de faire toutes choses possibles pour faire entrer quelque secours dans la place afin que feraulas qui la deffendoit pust donner le temps a cyrus de forcer les ennemis ou a combatre ou a se retirer il y avoit pourtant quelques instans ou quand il pensoit que l'heureux succes de son entreprise seroit plus pour son rival que pour luy et que la victoire enfin luy feroit posseder mandane il retenoit la bride de son cheval et m'archoit un peu plus lentement sans en avoir le dessein mais lors qu'il s'en apercevoit sa vertu combatant son amour et la surmontant il prenoit de nouvelles forces et regagnant par une diligence extraordinaire le temps qu'un sentiment jaloux luy avoit fait perdre il fit ce que presques nul autre que luy n'eust pu faire en effet il ne fut pas plustost arrive a l'entree des bois qu'il detacha cent cinquante chevaux du petit corps qu'il commandoit et leur ordonna d'aller se jetter dans la place mais pour le pouvoir faire il leur commanda d'aller par le derriere des bois afin d'en estre couverts et pour faire reussir plus seurement son dessein il leur deffendit expressement d'entreprendre de se jetter dans ce fort jusques a ce qu'ils entendissent qu'il donnast une forte allarme au camp ennemy avec toutes les troupes qu'il avoit leur ordonnant de plus de prendre ce temps la pour se jetter 
 dans la place et en effet mazare passa heureusement le defile que les ennemis n'avoient pas encore eu le temps d'occuper ainsi au milieu de la nuit il attaqua la grande garde des massagettes et il la poussa avec tant de vigueur qu'il la renversa jusques dans leur camp ou l'allarme fut si forte et si generale que les cent cinquante chevaux que mazare avoit commandez pour se jetter dans h place et qui estoient en embuscade en attendant cette occasion le firent facilement car ils n'ouirent pas plustost le grand bruit des trompettes ennemies qui sonnoient l'allarme de toutes parts qu'ils avancerent diligemment vers le fort il est vray qu'ils trouverent un petit corps de garde de massagettes qui voulut les arrester mais ils le forcerent si facilement que cela ne les empescha pas de se jetter dans la place ou ils entrerent sans avoir perdu un seul homme cependant des que mazare eut apris par un signal qu'on luy fit du fort des sauromates suivant l'ordre qu'il en avoit donne que le secours y estoit entre il songea a se retirer et il y songea d'autant plustost qu'il connut que toute la cavalerie du camp de thomiris se mettoit sous les armes cette retraite sembloit sans doute estre difficile a faire et elle eust asseurement este tres perilleuse si par une diligence extraordinaire mazare n'en eust oste tout le danger mais en se retirant comme le jour commencoit de poindre il remarqua l'importance du defile qu'il avoit passe et jugea tres prudemment 
 que de ce passage difficile dependoit le bon ou le mauvais succes de cette guerre ainsi le dessein de mazare ayant este aussi heureusement execute que hardiment entrepris il en fut rendre conte a cyrus qui le receut avec toutes les carresses imaginables luy donnant tant de louanges de ce qu'il avoit fait qu'on n'eust pu s'imaginer qu'il louoit son rival si on n'eust pas sceu que ce prince l'avoit este et l'estoit encore malgre luy mais apres que mazare luy eut rendu conte de son action cyrus luy aprit qu'il avoit sceu depuis son depart que thomiris avoit laisse mandane aux tentes royales avec une garde tres forte que la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine avoient la liberte de la voir qu'en suitte thomiris estoit venue dans son armee qu'aryante commandoit sous ses ordres que le vaillant et sage terez tout estropie qu'il estoit des blessures qu'il avoit receues a la bataille qu'agathirse avoit autrefois gagnee contre aryante estoit lieutenant general dans cette armee que tout ce qu'il y avoit de braves gens parmy les massagettes et d'officiers experimentez y estoient et qu'elle estoit fort nombreuse il luy dit de plus qu'il avoit encore sceu qu'aryante avoit partage ses troupes en six quartiers tout a l'entour du fort des sauromates qu'il avoit mis ses principales forces a ceux qui estoient du coste de l'araxe et qu'il n'avoit point voulu s'amuser a faire une circonvalation par des tours ny par des lignes esperant qu'il emporteroit le 
 fort en peu de temps il luy dit encore qu'aryante avoit place ses corps de garde fort judicieusement comme il le pouvoit juger par celuy qu'il avoit trouve a l'advenue du defile qui estoit du coste de l'araxe adjoustant encore que ce prince avoit si bien dispose ses sentinelles et donne un si bon ordre a ses bateurs d'estrade que de tous les autres costez il ne pouvoit rien entrer dans cette plaine enuronnee de bois qu'il n'en fust adverty mais apres que cyrus eut dit a mazare tout ce qu'il scavoit il adjousta qu'il ne faloit point hesiter et qu'il faloit absolument donner la bataille et en effet ayant tenu conseil de guerre a l'heure mesme ou tous les hauts officiers de son armee se trouverent il leur dit ce que mazare avoit fait et ce qu'il avoit sceu d'ailleurs leur disant fortement en suite qu'il estoit absolument resolu de secourir le fort des sauromates que pour cet effet il pensoit qu'il estoit d'une absolue necessite de s'avancer diligemment au defile qu'il faloit passer pour aller aux ennemis car enfin leur dit-il si les massagettes entreprennent de le vouloir deffendre il seront forcez de desgarnir leurs postes et de nous laisser par consequent un passage libre pour secourir le fort et s'ils nous le laissent passer sans nous combatre nous entrerons dans la plaine sans difficulte et nous serons alors en estat de leur presenter la bataille avec avantage esgal joint adjousta-t'il pour les amener plus facilement dans ses sentimens que quand mesme on ne trouveroit pas alors a 
 propos de la donner il ne faudroit pas laisser de faire ce que je dis puis qu'on pourroit tousjours gagner divers postes et les fortifier et forcer par la les ennemis a changer les leurs et a nous laisser quelque passage pour secourir le fort apres cela cyrus pour les porter encore plus fortement a ce qu'il vouloit leur parla de l'advis qu'il avoit receu de la mort de cyaxare adjoustant que cette funeste nouvelle estoit encore une raison qui devoit les obliger de se haster de vaincre car enfin dit-il avec une grace admirable il faut s'il est possible n'aprendre cette mort a nos soldats que sur le champ de bataille apres avoir remporte la victoire du moins suis-je bien asseure que je ne laisseray pas prendre le fort des sauromates a la veue de mon armee sans m'exposer plus tost a perir qu'a recevoir cet affront et qu'a retarder la liberte de la princesse mandane par un exces de prudence cyrus ayant cesse de parler tous ceux qui l'avoient escoute se rangerent de son opinion et cresus luy mesme fut de cet advis ce n'est pas qu'encore qu'il eust este de celuy de passer l'araxe il ne trouvast alors qu'il y avoit beaucoup de danger a hazarder la bataille mais comme il pensa que les massagettes se seroient emparez du defile depuis l'action de mazare et qu'ils le disputeroient il ne s'opposa point au sentiment de cyrus parce qu'il creut que la chose n'iroit pas a un combat decisis et qu'il n'y auroit tout an plus qu'une grande escarmouche a l'entree 
 des bois pendant laquelle on pourroit peut-estre faire entrer un secours considerable dans le fort et qu'ainsi toute l'armee n'estant point engagee au dela de ces passages difficiles cyrus seroit luy mesme force par sa propre prudence de se retirer et de n'engager pas son armee a estre contrainte de combatre en des postes desavantageux ainsi n'y ayant aucune contestation cyrus resolut que son armee avanceroit des le mesme jour jusques a un lieu que les habitans du pais appellent la plaine des gelons parce que des peuples de ce nom la y furent autrefois batus et que le jour suivant il marcheroit droit aux ennemis mais avant que de partir cyrus commenca de donner tous les ordres de regler le rang de toutes ses troupes de distribuer les divers postes a ses officiers de resoudre l'ordre general de la bataille et d'exhorter tous les siens a combatre si courageusement qu'il pust sortir avecque gloire d'une occasion ou il paroissoit y avoir tant de peril que tous ceux qu'ils avoient surmontez jusques alors n'estoient rien en comparaison a cause des passages difficiles ou il faloit s'engager pour aller aux ennemis il est vray que la joye que cyrus vit dans toutes ses troupes lors qu'il partit de la plaine des gelons sembla luy presager la victoire estant certain que quand tous les soldats eussent este assurez de vaincre ils n'eussent pas marche avec plus d'allegresse que celle qu'ils tesmoignoient avoir en allant partager les perils ou le plus grand 
 prince du monde alloit s'exposer cependant cyrus resolut que son armee combatroit sur deux lignes que ces deux lignes seroient appuyees d'un corps de reserve qu'hidaspe commanderoit qu'aglatidas seroit a la teste de l'infanterie que cresus et le roy d'hircanie commanderoient l'aisle gauche et que mazare commanderoit sous luy a l'aisle droite ou le prince artamas intapherne atergatis gobrias gadate myrsile indathirse persode et tous les autres braves qui n'avoient point d'employ combatroient aupres de sa personne mais comme cyrus estoit aussi grand capitaine que vaillant soldat il creut que parce qu'aparamment il faudroit combatre les massagettes dans des passages difficiles il faloit mesler quelque infanterie a de la cavalerie pour cet effet il mit entre chaque intervale de ses escadrons un peloton de cent archers commandez par un capitaine ordonnant en suite que les archers a cheval les gardes de cresus ceux du roy d'hircanie les siens et ce qui restoit de cavalerie assirienne se tinssent a droit et a gauche sur les aisles mais afin que rien ne l'embarrassast il envoya son bagage au bord de l'araxe et marcha apres cela a la teste de son armee qui semblant n'estre qu'un grand corps dont toutes les parties avoient raport au vaillant chef qui la conduisoit arriva au commencement des bois sans qu'il parust qu'aucun soldat eust quite son rang tant les ordres avoient este sagement 
 donnez par cyrus et exactement executez par ses officiers aussi commenca-t'il alors d'esperer un heureux succes et l'image de mandane remplit de telle sorte son esprit que celle de la crainte du grand peril dont il estoit fort proche n'y trouva point de place
 
 
 
 
mais pendant que ce grand prince avancoit avec une ardeur si heroique et qu'il employoit tous ses soins a secourir le fort des sauromates afin de pouvoir apres plus facilement delivrer mandane aryante sous les ordres de thomiris agissoit aussi avec beaucoup de vigueur pour prendre ce fort avant que son rival pust estre arrive en effet il le pressoit si vivement et ses attaques ses suivoient de si pres qu'on peut raisonnablement penser que sans le secours que mazare y avoit jette il n'eust pu tenir assez long-temps pour donner loisir a l'invincible cyrus d'executer le dessein qu'il avoit d'empescher qu'il ne fust pris ce fort estoit si mal muny de toutes les choses necessaires a soustenir un siege que quelque valeur qu'eust feraulas qui le deffendoit il ne pouvoit empescher que presques tout ne reussist aux massagettes aussi aryante n'avoit-il pas creu qu'il falust s'amuser a faire de circonvalation quoy qu'il eust apris sous cyrus comment il faloit assieger des places de plus comme les massagettes n'ont ny villes ny villages et que toutes leurs habitations sont des tentes portatives thomiris ny aryante n'estoient pas trop bien informez 
 ny de la marche de l'armee de cyrus ny de la grandeur car comme tous ceux qui estoient le long de l'araxe avoient fuy des que ce prince avoit eu passe ce fleuve ils n'en pouvoient avoir que des nouvelles fort incertaines aussi ne la croyoient-ils pas si nombreuse qu'elle estoit et ils ne sceurent veritablement sa force que lors qu'ils aprirent qu'elle estoit a l'entree des bois et que cyrus sembloit estre resolu de passer le defile de sorte qu'ils se virent contraints de resoudre en tumulte s'ils entreprendroient de le deffendre ou s'ils attendroient ce redoutable ennemy dans la plaine afin de terminer un si grand different par une bataille decisive l'advis d'aryante fut qu'il estoit a propos de s'opposer au passage de cyrus que pour cet effet il faloit jetter une partie de leur infanterie dans le bois et la faire soutenir d'un grand corps de cavalerie parce qu'apres cela il seroit presques impossible que cyrus pust executer son dessein qu'ainsi durant qu'on occuperoit son armee on prendroit aisement le fort avec peu de troupes car il estoit bien adverty qu'il ne pouvoit plus tenir que deux jours cet advis d'aryante fut celuy du sage et vaillant terez qui par tant d'experience qu'il avoit de la guerre devoit estre creu et ce fut en suite celuy d'agathyrse d'octomasade et de tous ceux qui se trouverent a cette deliberation mais comme thomiris songeoit plus a engager cyrus dans son pais qu'a le deffendre elle ne fut pas de cette opinion 
 au contraire elle dit que ce dessein seroit honteux et que si son armee ne faisoit autre chose que prendre un petit fort qui estoit a elle ce seroit n'avoir rien fait puis qu'apres cela ils auroient tousjours une puissante armee en teste concluant en suite qu'il valoit bien mieux donner promptement la bataille puis que de necessite il la faudroit tousjours donner que d'attendre que les massagettes fussent plus pleinement instruits de la force et de la valeur des ennemis qu'ils avoient a vaincre joint adjousta-t'elle qu'il nous sera bien plus avantageux de les combatre loin de l'araxe et dans cette plaine qui est au milieu de ces bois dont nous scavons tous les passages et tous les defilez que si nous les combations plus pres du pont qu'ils ont sur ce fleuve aryante s'opposa pourtant encore a ce que disoit thomiris mais sans luy dire de nouvelles raisons elle luy dit seulement qu'elle vouloit que la chose se fist ainsi et en effet il fut resolu qu'ils laisseroient entrer toute l'armee de cyrus dans la plaine sans s'y opposer il est vray que quand la resolution que thomiris prit volontairement n'eust pas este suivie ils eussent este forcez de la prendre parce que durant que l'interest de thomiris et celuy d'aryante leur donnoient des sentimens differens et les amusoient a deliberer sur ce qu'ils feroient ou ne feroient pas les premiers escadrons de cyrus commencerent de paroistre assez pres du camp des massagettes de sorte qu'aryante jugeant 
 bien alors que tout ce qu'il pourroit faire seroit d'avoir le loisir de rassembler tous ses quartiers il ne s'opiniastra plus a disputer sur une chose qui n'estoit plus en estat d'estre mise en contestation puis qu'il ne s'agissoit plus de scavoir si on combatroit mais seulement de se preparer a combatre cependant pour ne perdre point de temps thomiris et aryante envoyerent diligemment vers aripithe qui leur amenoit un puissant secours de sauromates afin qu'il hastast sa marche et qu'il les vinst joindre diligemment mais pour n'oublier rien de tout ce que fit un aussi grand prince que cyrus en une occasion si importante il faut scavoir que lors qu'il partit de la plaine des gelons pour avancer vers les bois il marcha en bataille sur deux colomnes jusques a l'entree du defile et que pour ne rien hazarder legerement il envoya mazare pour le reconnoistre et il le choisit pour cela parce qu'il connoissoit desja ces bois a cause que c'avoit este luy qui avoit jette le secours dans le fort mais ce genereux rival de cyrus n'ayant trouve ce defile deffendu que d'une garde de cinquante chevaux seulement il les poussa sans peine et fut retrouver ce prince pour luy dire qu'il estoit aise de s'emparer du passage et d'empescher mesme les ennemis de le disputer pourveu qu'il avancast diligemment de sorte que cyrus prenant cette resolution on connut alors qu'infailliblement il y auroit bataille puis que les ennemis ne gardoient pas le defile et que 
 cyrus voulut s'engager au dela des bois cresus qui n'estoit pas d'advis qu'il la falust donner alors voulut s'opposer a ce dessein et dire tout ce qu'il pensoit estre propre a le faire changer mais cyrus luy ayant dit en peu de mots les principales raisons qui le faisoient resoudre a la bataille luy commanda d'aller diligemment se mettre a la teste des troupes qu'il devoit conduire fit avancer son aisle droite passa le defile et y logea de l'infanterie pour s'en assurer l'ardeur que ce prince avoit de combatre et de pouvoir bien tost delivrer mandane estoit si forte que craignant que quelque chose ne fist obstacle au dessein qu'il avoit de donner la bataille il ne voulut pas suivre ce que sa prudence luy conseilloit au contraire il voulut par un exces d'amour et de desir de gloire s'avancer si pres des ennemis qu'il fust impossible de le desanganger que par un combat general il est vray que comme myrsile intapherne et atergatis avoient leurs maistresses aupres de mandane ils ne le le contrarierent pas dans uns dessein qui pouvoit haster leur liberte et qu'artamas et indathyrse non plus ne l'en destournerent point l'illustre cyrus ayant donc pris une si hardie et si genereuse resolution il fut avec toute sa cavalerie de l'aisle droite jusques sur une petite eminence qui estoit fort proche des ennemis ou il s'arresta il est vray que des qu'il y fut il envoya ordre sur ordre a tout le reste de ses troupes d'avancer avec toute la diligence possible et de le venir joindre 
 cependant comme cyrus scavoit admirablement la guerre il scavoit bien que l'amour de mandane et l'amour de la gloire luy ayant suggere le hardy dessein de s'avancer si pres des ennemis sans avoir toute son armee jointe l'avoient estrangement expose car il est certain que si dans ce temps la les massagettes l'eussent attaque avec toute leur cavalerie il eust este impossible qu'il eust pu estre soustenu par le reste de ses troupes ny qu'il eust pu soustenir l'effort de celles de thomiris mais pour faire reussir par sa conduite ce que son grand coeur luy avoit fait entreprendre et pour sortir glorieusement du peril ou il s'estoit jette il se tint en une posture si ferme et il disposa si adroitement le peu de troupes qu'il avoit qu'il en couvrit entierement le haut de la petite eminence sur laquelle il estoit de sorte que par ce moyen il osta aux massagettes la connoissance de ce qui se passoit derriere les troupes qu'il avoit si bien que ne pouvant concevoir qu'un aussi considerable corps de cavalerie que celuy qui leur paroissoit se fust avance tout seul si pres d'eux ils s'imaginerent qu'il estoit soutenu de toute l'armee et ne songerent point a l'attaquer ils eurent pourtant dessein de tascher de penetrer ce corps la pour voir ce qui se passoit derriere c'est pourquoy ils firent diverses escarmouches mais comme elles leur succederent mal ils ne s'y opiniastrerent point et ne penserent qu'a r'assembler tous leurs quartiers et qu'a se mettre en bataille il est 
 vray que comme chrysante qui estoit aupres de cyrus ne scavoit pas leur dessein il fut en une crainte continuelle jusques a ce que toutes les troupes de ce prince l'eussent joint car lors qu'il voyoit de dessus cette petite eminence ou ce grand prince estoit avec ce corps de cavalerie que si aryante eust sceu le veritable estat ou il estoit il eust este perdu il ne pouvoit estre maistre de son esprit en effet quand il regardoit du coste de l'armee ennemie il la voyoit si nombreuse en comparaison de ce petit corps qu'on pouvoit dire qu'aryante n'avoit qu'a vouloir vaincre pour estre vainqueur et quand il tournoit la teste vers les troupes de cyrus qui avancoient a peine les voyoit-il paroistre tant elles estoient encore loin mais en fin comme la fortune avoit resolu que ce grand prince ne perist pas pour avoir fait une action de courage ou il y avoit pourtant de la prudence toute hardie qu'elle estoit il ne luy en arriva que ce qu'il avoit espere de sorte que comme si ces deux armees fussent convenues de combatre elles s'occuperent esgalement a se ranger en bataille celle de cyrus a passer le defile avec ordre celle de thomiris a joindre diligemment ses quartiers et l'une et l'autre a prendre leurs postes avec avantage celuy dont cyrus s'estoit empare pour en faire son champ de bataille estoit d'une assez vaste estendue pour y ranger toute son armee dans l'ordre qu'il avoit resolu qu'elle combatist en effet il avoit choisi une hauteur 
 qui regnoit dans toute la largeur de la plaine principalement depuis un marais qui estoit a la gauche jusques a l'entree des bois qui n'estans point espais en cet endroit n'empeschoient pas que les escadrons ne s'y formassent sans peine d'autre part il y avoit a l'opposite du lieu ou cyrus s'estoit poste une hauteur esgale a celle dont il s'estoit empare ou les massagettes se posterent ainsi on voyoit entre les deux armees que le terrain ayant une pente esgallement insensible formoit une espece de petite plaine basse et enfoncee qui faisoit penser a ceux qui scavoient bien la guerre que le premier qui attaqueroit son ennemy se mettroit en danger d'estre vaincu de plus on voyoit encore au devant de l'aisle droitte des massagettes et sur le penchant du rideau un bois taillis fort espais qui s'estendoit jusques au fond de la vallee de sorte qu'il y avoit lieu de croire qu'aryante se servant de cette scituation avantageuse y logeroit des archers qui incommoderoient estrangement cyrus quand il iroit le combatre mais enfin voila quels estoient les postes que cyrus et aryante choisirent pour servir de champ de bataille aux plus belliqueuses troupes du monde et pour decider de la possession de la plus accomplie princesse de la terre cependant s'ils avoient bien choisi leurs postes ils ne rangerent pas moins bien leurs troupes et ils les rangerent mesme avec beaucoup de loisir et beaucoup de tranquilite car comme les uns 
 et les autres avoient resolu de donner la bataille ils ne s'escarmoucherent point pendant qu'ils se mettoient en estat de la donner ainsi de part et d'autre on voyoit les deux capitaines ranger diligemment leurs troupes a mesure qu'elles arrivoient comme s'ils en fussent demeurez d'accord il est pourtant vray que les machines de l'armee de thomiris firent plus de mal a l'armee de cyrus que celles de cyrus n'en firent a l'armee de thomiris parce qu'elle en avoit beaucoup davantage en effet l'invincible cyrus ne pouvoit desployer les aisles de son armee ny estendre ses bataillons sans les exposer a la batterie des machines des ennemis cependant sa fermete en donna une si extraordinaire a toutes ses troupes que malgre l'horrible fracas que firent ces machines elles demeurerent fermes a leur poste quoy qu'elles vissent beaucoup des leurs tuez ou blessez entre lesquels le vaillant araspe receut un coup a la cuisse mais enfin apres un travail incroyable et une vigilance inouie cyrus eut la satisfaction de voir que toute son armee avoit passe le defilee que son gros de reserve apres estre sorty du bois alloit prendre la place qu'il luy avoit assignee et qu'il luy restoit assez de temps pour combattre puis qu'il y avoit encore pres de deux heures de soleil de sorte qu'encore que ce vaillant prince connust bien qu'a cause de cet enfoncement qui estoit entre les deux armees il y avoit plus de difficulte a aller 
 attaquer qu'a attendre d'estre attaque ne laissa pas de s'imaginer dans l'impatiente ardeur qu'il avoit de combatre pour la liberte de mandane et pour sa propre gloire qu'il luy seroit avantageux de ne donner pas plus de temps a ses ennemis d'assurer leurs postes et qu'il luy estoit mesme plus glorieux d'estre l'attaquant que d'attendre d'estre attaque si bien qu'estant tousjours accoustume de suivre tous les mouvemens de son grand coeur quand ils n'estoient pas directement opposez a la prudence il donna l'ordre de marcher et se disposa a vaincre en se disposant a combatre il falut pourtant malgre luy qu'il changeast de dessein par une avanture si estrange qu'elle pensa estre funeste a toute son armee et qui la jetta dans un si effroyable peril que toute la hardiesse et toute la prudence de cyrus n'eurent pas peu de peine a l'en garantir en effet un sentiment d'envie et une valeur precipitee du roy d'hircanie pensa causer ce malheur qu'il n'estoit pas possible de prevoir car comme l'aisle gauche de l'armee de cyrus estoit le long d'un marais ce prince avoit lieu de croire qu'elle estoit en seurete de ce coste la et que ses ennemis n'y pouvoient rien entrependre de sorte qu'il avoit tousjours este a la droite comme a la plus dangereuse de plus comme il scavoit bien qu'il estoit l'ame de son armee et qu'il ne vouloit se fier qu'en luy mesme des choses essentiellement importantes il s'estoit fort occupe a observer tous les mouvemens de 
 l'armee des massagettes afin de regler ses desseins sur les leurs cresus de son coste qui scavoit qu'il n'y avoit rien a aprehender pour l'aisle gauche qu'il devoit conduire estoit alors aupres de cyrus et se reposoit sur le roy d'hircanie qui y estoit demeure mais comme ce roy avoit un depit estrange que cresus luy fust prefere parce qu'il disoit qu'il avoit este vaincu et que ce n'estoit plus qu'un roy enchaisne il eust este bien aise de faire quelque chose de grand en son absence joint qu'il vouloir aussi assez de mal a mazare qu'il pensoit avoir porte cyrus a traiter si bien cresus a son prejudice de sorte que portant beaucoup d'envie a la belle action qu'il avoit faite en jettant du secours dans le fort des sauromates il se resolut de faire tout ce qu'il pourroit pour aquerir une gloire que personne ne luy peust disputer et qui fust entierement a luy dans cette pensee il s'imagina que si l'aisle donc il avoit alors la conduite parce que cresus n'y estoit pas pouvoit traverser le marais qui la bornoit il luy seroit aise de jetter un secours considerable dans la place en gagnant le derriere des bois estant persuade que l'armee des massagettes qui avoit celle de cyrus en presence ne pourroit pas s'opposer a son dessein si bien que comme il estoit preoccupe par les passions qui tirannisoient son coeur il ne considera point les dangereuses suittes de cette marche et fit passer le marais a toute sa cavalerie et a une grande partie de son infanterie et il le fit mesme sans 
 en envoyer rien dire a cyrus ainsi par cette hardiesse excessive qui renversoit tous les ordres militaires il hazarda la gloire du plus grand prince du monde et exposa mandane a n'estre jamais delivree d'autre part cyrus qui ne scavoit rien de ce que faisoit le roy d'hircanie avoit donne l'ordre general de marcher droit aux ennemis si bien que comme il estoit accoustume d'estre obei proprement tous les differens corps qui composoient son armee estoient desja esbranlez lors qu'il fut adverty de ce que le roy d'hircanie faisoit cependant il ne le fut pas plustost que ce prince sans s'amuser a des pleintes inutiles qui n'eussent pas remedie a un mal si pressant fit faire alte a son armee et fut en personne avec une diligence incroyable pour remettre les choses en l'estat ou elles devoient estre mais en y allant que ne pensa point ce prince qui n'ayant eu un moment auparavant l'esprit remply que de l'esperance de vaincre se voyoit en estat de pouvoir estre vaincu et de le pouvoir mesme estre assez facilement en effet pendant cette fascheuse conjoncture cyrus eut lieu de croire que les massagettes vouloient tirer avantage d'un si grand desordre car on vit tout d'un coup tout le grand corps de leur annee s'esbranler on entendit un bruit esclattant de tous ces instrumens militaires qui ont accoustume d'exciter les soldats a combatre et l'on vit enfin marcher cette armee en bataille comme si elle eust eu dessein 
 d'attaquer celle de cyrus ce fut alors que ce grand prince creut que la funeste responce qu'il avoit receue de la sibille auroit son effet qu'il tomberoit infalliblement sous la puissance de thomiris que mandane demeureroit sous celle de cette reine et que son rival possederoit sa princesse neantmoins comme son grand coeur ne succonba pas en cette occasion il s'occupa diligemment a remedier au mal qu'il voyoit pour cet effet il fit avancer quelques troupes de la seconde ligne afin de remplir la place que celles que le roy d'hircanie avoit emmenees avoient laisse vuide mais quoy que cyrus agist en cette occasion avec autant de prudence que de promptitude il est pourtant certain que si aryante eust alors effectivement attaque l'armee de son rival ce prince qui n'avoit jamais este vaincu n'eust plus eu de part a la victoire ny peut-estre mesme a la vie mais il estoit trop favorise du ciel pour perdre une gloire si esclatante par la faute d'autruy et la fortune qui est accoustumee de faire despendre les evenemens les plus grands et les plus heroiques de certaines conjonctures favorables qui ne durent qu'un moment et qu'il faut prendre avec une diligence estrange ne permit pas que les massagettes profitassent de celle qu'elle leur avoit offerte car ils ne s'aperceurent point de ce que le roy d'hircanie avoit fait et l'incomparable cyrus remplit si diligemment tous les espaces vuides que les troupes qui avoient traverse le marais avoient 
 quittez que pas un de ceux qui avoient commandement dans l'armee de thomiris ne s'en aperceut aussi sceut-on avec certitude que l'esbranlement qu'on avoit veu dans leur armee n'avoit este cause que parce qu'ils avoient voulu eslargir leur champ de bataille et donner lieu a leur seconde ligne de se ranger plus commodement de sorte qu'apres avoir fait ce qu'ils vouloient faire ils firent connoistre en s'arrestant tout court a quatre cens pas de l'armee de cyrus qu'ils n'avoient pas eu dessein de l'attaquer d autre part ce grand capitaine qui vouloit a quelque prix que ce fust remettre les choses en l'estat ou elles devoient estre envoya au roy d'hircanie des ordres si precis et si absolus de revenir diligemment sur ses pas avec ses troupes et il luy fit dire si fortement en presence des siens quel estoit le peril ou il avoit expose toute l'armee que quand il n'eust pas voulu obeir il eust falu qu'il eust obei car les troupes qu'il conduisoit obeirent d'elles mesmes avec tant de diligence et elles tranverserent le marais si promptement qu'elles se retrouverent bien tost a leur premier poste ainsi par la sage conduite de cyrus toute l'armee se trouva dans l'ordre ou il vouloit qu'elle fust avant que la nuit fust venue ce prince eut mesme assez de pouvoir sur luy pour recevoir doucement les excuses que luy fit le roy d'hircanie de peur que s'il ne l'eust pas fait il n'eust pas aussi bien servy le lendemain qu'il le souhaitoit il avoit pourtant 
 un despit estrange de voir que cette sacheuse avanture avoit retarde la bataille neantmoins comme la chose estoit sans remede il songea diligemment a la seurete de son camp comme aryante pensa a la seurete du sien de sorte que s'estans assurez les uns contre les autres par divers corps de garde le silence ne laissa pas de regner dans toute l'estendue de cette campagne quoy que l'ombre de la nuit y couvrist deux grandes et nombreuses armees il est vray que son obscurite ordinaire fut diminuee par le grand nombre de feux que sirent les soldats dans les deux camps qui estoient si proches que ceux qui les voyoient de dessus les hauteurs un peu esloignees n'apercevoient nul intervalle qui les separast mais ce qu'il y eut d'extraordinaire sut que cette nuit ne fut troublee par nulle fausse ny veritable allarme et que le calme fut si grand et si universel qu'il n'y en a guere davantage dans les deserts les plus solitaires ceux qui estoient au camp de cyrus voyoient pourtant par dessus l'armee ennemie quelques feux d artifice que ceux qui deffendoient le fort des sauromates jettoient de temps en temps ce qui faisoit connoistre qu'on les attaquoit et que le silence qui regnoit alors n'estoit pas un silence de paix qui ne deuil estre trouble au lever du soleil que par le chant des oyseaux en effet il n'y avoit pas un simple soldat dans toutes les deux armees qui ne sceust avec certitude que le jour suivant il y auroit un combat general parce 
 que la scituation des deux camps estoit telle qu'il leur estoit esgallement impossible de se retirer a moins que de vouloir s'exposer a estre deffaits en s'exposant a estre forcez de combatre en desordre et en confusion car comme ils estoient enfermez dans une plaine environnee de bois on eust dit que la nature et la fortune estoient convenues ensemble de la necessite de cette grande bataille mais comme cyrus estoit incomparable en toutes choses il voulut aprendre a tous les siens par son exemple que pour estre veritablement brave il faut attendre les grands perils en repos et sans inquietude c'est pourquoy des qu'il eut visite tous les corps de garde qu'il avoit posez pour la seurete de son camp il fut passer le reste de la nuit sous une tente qu'on luy dressa a la teste de son infanterie il ordonna mesme que l'on l'eveillast une heure devant le jour comme s'il eust aprehende que le desir de la gloire ne l'eust pas assez tost esveille les siens ne purent pourtant luy obeir car quelques diligens qu'ils pussent estre il le fut beaucoup plus qu'eux et mazare myrsile intapherne atergatis et artamas ne furent gueres plus paresseux que le vaillant prince qu'ils suivoient mais si la nuit avoit este tranquile l'aurore fut plus tumultueuse les feux des deux camps s'esteignirent a mesure que les estoiles disparurent et il y eut alors dans les deux armees un certain bruit compose de tant de bruits et un certain murmure si retentissant que toute la campagne 
 en estoit remplie les oyseaux mesmes a la reserve de ceux qui ne vivent que de ce que la mort leur donne et qui suivent tousjours les armees en abandonnerent tous les bois d'alentour et si la nuit avoit donne quelque image de paix la naissance du jour en fit voir une de guerre qui toute fiere qu'elle estoit avoit toutesfois quelque chose de beau cependant quelque viste que soit le cours du soleil cyrus avoit pourtant desja donne ses derniers ordres pour le combat lors qu'il parut sur l'horizon et il les avoit donnez avec tant de jugement et les avoit si bien fait comprendre a ceux qui les avoient receus qu'on pouvoit dire qu'il leur avoit inspire l'esprit et le coeur necessaire pour les executer aussi vit-on en un instant toutes les parties de son armee s'ebranler tout d'un coup et s'esbranler avec tant de justesse qu'elle fut droit aux ennemis sans aucune confusion quoy qu'elle y allast avec cette espece d'impetuosite que la presence de cyrus inspiroit a ses troupes et qui sans tenir rien de la precipitation faisoit seulement voir de la vigueur et de l'impatience de combatre cependant on rencontroit du coste de l'aisle droite un bois taillis ou le vaillant et experimente terez avoit mis mille achers qui commencerent le combat il n'en tira pourtant pas tout l'avantage qu'il en avoit attendu car comme cyrus avoit bien preveu que les massagettes ne laisseroient pas ce poste desgarny il fit attaquer ces mille archers 
 par son corps de cavalerie et par cette infanterie qu'il avoit si judicieusement placee entre les intervales des escadrons de sorte que comme ils furent chargez vigoureusement ils furent contraints de ceder ils ne cederent pourtant pas en fuyant car ils furent tous tuez au mesme lieu ou on les avoit mis en embuscade mais comme la prudence de cyrus luy fit juger que si ses troupes passoient dans ce petit bois ses escadrons se romproient il commanda a mazare de tourner tout court a la droite du bois avec sa premiere ligne et d'en aller faire le tour pour esviter ce desordre si bien que ce genereux rival luy ayant obei cyrus se mit a la teste de la seconde ligne et prenant a la gauche du bois il fut droit aux ennemis suivy de tous les braves de l'armee et il y fut avec la mesmn valeur qui luy en avoit tant fait vaincre d'autres cependant mazare qui estoit aussi vaillant qu'amoureux et qui scavoit aussi admirablement la guerre fit le tour du bois sans confusion et pour ne perdre point de temps il fit que le corps qu'il commandoit s'estendit en marchant tout a fait sur la droite afin de pouvoir retomber sur les massagettes comme en effet il y retomba de sorte que par ce moyen il les attaquoit en flanc durant que cyrus les attaquoit de front l'ambitieux octomasade qui commandoit l'aisle gauche des massagettes se trouva estrangement surpris lors que contre son attente il se vit attaque par deux endroits car il s'estoit fort assure 
 sur les mille archers que terez avoit postez dans ce bois par lequel il scavoit qu'il faloit de necessite passer pour le venir combatre de ce coste la neantmoins la surprise ne l'empescha pas d'agir en homme de coeur et si on luy pouvoit reprocher de n'avoir pas eu assez de prevoyance on ne pouvoit l'accuser de n'avoir pas eu assez de courage en effet il opposa diligemment quelques escadrons a ceux qui le venoient attaquer il est vray qu'il le fit pourtant sans aucun succes car comme il n'y a rien de si dangereux que de changer l'ordre de ses troupes quand on a un redoutable ennemy en presence des le premier choc il y eut plusieurs escadrons de thomiris rompus par mazare de sorte que les troupes d'octomasade se renverserent les unes sur les autres des que cyrus les chargea en personne et fuyrent avec tant de precipitation qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'un tel desordre mais comme ce vaillant prince scavoit bien que des ennemis qui fuyent sont desja vaincus il ne s'amusa point a les suivre et voulant donner une plus noble matiere a sa valeur il se contenta d'ordonner a mazare d'achever de vaincre la cavalerie qu'il avoit desja rompue de peur qu'elle ne se r'alliast et fut droit a l'infanterie ennemie contre qui il fit des miracles de sa personne comme je le diray en suite mais pour faire mieux voir que la victoire suivoit cyrus et qu'elle n'estoit pas ou il n'estoit point il arriva que durant qu'il faisoit fuir tous les ennemis qu'il avoit 
 en teste l'aisle gauche de son armee ne combatit pas si heureusement car comme cresus avoit mene ses troupes a la charge avec un peu trop de precipitation elles furent rompues d'abord ce n'est pas qu'il ne se signalast en cette occasion et qu'il ne tesmoignast avoir beaucoup de coeur mais enfin apres avoir eu le bras droit considerablement blesse et avoir este mis hors de combat il eut la douleur de voir l'aisle qu'il commandoit entierement mise en fuite plusieurs bataillons de son infanterie taillez en pieces presques toutes les machines de son parti gagnees par les massagettes et de voir enfin qu'ils eussent fait perir tous les siens si le corps de reserve ne se fust avance pour servir de barriere a ceux qui poursuivoient les vaincus ainsi on pouvoit dire alors que la victoire estoit dans les deux partis et voloit sur les deux armees car l'aisle droite de cyrus ou il estoit en personne avoit mis en deroute l'aisle gauche de thomiris et l'aisle droite de thomiris ou aryante combatoit avoit rompu la gauche de cyrus mais pendant que cette double victoire se remportoit dans chaque parti et a l'aisle gauche et a l'aisle droite l'infanterie n'estoit pas oisive et celle de cyrus avoit avance contre celle des massagettes il y avoit mesme eu quelques bataillons qui avoient commence le combat mais comme aglatidas vit le desordre de l'aisle gauche et qu'il remarqua que l'infanterie de massagettes paroissoit plus ferme 
 que la sienne et attendoit le choc d'une contenance plus fiere il creut fort sagement qu'il estoit a propos de voir ce que la fortune decideroit du destin des deux cavaleries avant que de rien entreprendre c'est pourquoy il se contenta de faire de continuelles escarmouches jusques a ce que l'occasion luy parust plus favorable mais enfin cyrus apres avoir entierement deffait l'aisle gauche des ennemis comme je l'ay desja dit attaqua l'infanterie des massagettes et l'attaqua avec tant d'ordre et tant de vigueur que sans qu'aucun de ses corps fust rompu il renversa l'infanterie des callipides celle des issedons et mit entierement en deroute celle des scythes royaux mais lors qu'il estoit en ce glorieux estat ou il luy estoit permis de croire qu'il seroit bien tost vainqueur il vit tout d'un coup les pitoyables termes ou estoit son aisle gauche ainsi il connut avec certitude que le gain de la bataille dependoit absolument des troupes qu'il avoit aupres de luy de sorte que sans perdre temps et sans s'opiniastrer a achever de vaincre ceux qu'il avoit desja rompus il songea a vaincre les vainqueurs des siens et il espera mesme que leur victoire seroit la cause de la sienne car comme les massagettes n'avoient pu vaincre sans se mettre en quelque desordre et que ce qu'il avoit de trouppes estoient aussi serrees dans leurs rangs que si elles n'eussent point combatu il attendit un heureux succes du dessein qu'il prenoit d'aller combatre 
 cette aisle victorieuse si bien qu'apres avoir par ses regards seulement fait reprendre un nouveau coeur aux siens il abandonna sa nouvelle victoire et fut sans precipitation pour conserver l'ordre dans ses trouppes par le derriere de l'armee de thomiris afin d'attaquer cette cavalerie qui venoit de rompre la sienne de sorte que la trouvant encore tonte esbranlee et dans cette negligence que la victoire donne a ceux qui ne scavent pas tout a fait bien l'art de vaincre il la deffit entierement sans beaucoup de peine il delivra mesme par cette victoire le roy d'hircanie qui avoit este fait prisonnier lors que l'aisle ou il estoit avoit este rompue et il fut trouve blesse en plusieurs endroits il arriva encore que ceux qui eschaperent a la victoire de cyrus en s'enfuyant rencontrerent mazare qui acheva de les vaincre de sorte que l'illustre cyrus eut la gloire d'avoir vaincu les vainqueurs des siens d'avoir entierement deffait les deux aisles de l'armee ennemie et d'avoir mesme vaincu une grande partie des gens de pied de thomiris il ne restoit donc plus a combatre qu'un grand corps d'infanterie qui n'estant compose que de massagettes s'estoit poste aupres des machines de leur armee et qui paroissoit en une posture si fiere qu'il estoit aise de voir que ces massagettes vouloient deffendre leur vie et leur liberte jusques a la derniere goute de leur sang le vaillant terez commandoit ce corps mais parce qu'il estoit fort incommode a cause 
 des blessures qu'il avoit eues autrefois il ne pouvoit monter a cheval et il alloit tousjours a la guerre dans un petit char cet experimente capitaine estant donc a la teste de ces vaillans massagettes cyrus n'hesita point a les attaquer et il se resolut d'autant plustost a se haster de les vaincre qu'il avoit sceu par des prisonniers qu'il avoit faits que le prince aripithe avancoit avec un puissant secours de sauromates et qu'il estoit desja dans les bois joint qu'aprehendant que mazare qui suivoit ceux qu'il avoit mis en deroute ne rencontrast aripithe et n'en fust vaincu il croyoit qu'il faloit promptement achever de se deffaire de ce reste d'ennemis il avoit pourtant alors peu de cavalerie aupres de luy parce qu'apres cette derniere victoire elle s'estoit amusee a piller neantmoins sans attendre son gros de reserve il fut courageusement a la charge a la teste de son infanterie qu'il eust peu de cavalerie pour la soustenir mais il y fut avec le chagrin de n'avoir pu trouver aryante bien qu'il eust combatu tous les divers corps de l'armee de thomiris les uns apres les autres cependant terez voyant venir cyrus a luy avec toute la fierte d'un homme qui n'avoit jamais este vaincu ne s'esbranla point et commanda aux siens de ne tirer point leurs fleches que leurs ennemis ne fussent a la juste portee d'un trait et en effet cyrus avanca tousjours avec les siens sans que les massagettes tirassent mais lors qu'il fut a la distance que terez leur avoir marquee 
 ce vaillant capitaine fit ouvrir ses bataillons et fit faire une si furieuse descharge de toutes les machines de l'armee de thomiris et de toutes les fleches de son infanterie que l'air en fut obscurcy et que toutes les troupes de cyrus en furent non seulement couvertes mais espouvantees et si l'extreme valeur de ce grand prince n'eust rassure ses soldats ceux qui avoient vaincu par tout ailleurs eussent este vaincus en cet endroit mais comme par bonheur terez n'avoit point de cavalerie pour pouvoir les pouffer et profiter de leur desordre ils ne se reculerent pas fort loin et cyrus sceut si bien les assurer qu'il les remena au combat il est vray que comme terez avoit eu loisir de faire preparer de nouveau ses machines cette seconde attaque eut le mesme succes de la premiere et jusques a trois fois le vanqueur de l'asie attaqua ces fiers ennemis sans les pouvoir rompre quoy qu'il y fist des choses prodigieuses et que les princes qui le suivoient s'y signalassent par mille actions de courage cette opiniastre valeur de ces vaillans massagettes leur fut pourtant inutile car cyrus ayant fait avancer son gros de reserve et quelques autres troupes que ce prince avoit envoyees apres ceux qu'il avoit rompus estant arrivees il fit enveloper cette vaillante infanterie de tous les costez de sorte que ne restant plus rien a faire a ces courageux massagettes qu'a se rendre puis qu'ils le pouvoient faire aveque gloire ils firent les signes 
 qu'on a accoustume de faire lots qu'on veut demander quartier si bien que l'illustre cyrus qui ne cherchoit qu'a pouvoir sauver la vie a de si braves gens s'avanca pour leur donner sa parole et pour recevoir la leur mais comme il s'avanca sans leur faire aucun signe qui leur peust faire connoistre qu'il leur faisoit grace ils creurent qu'au contraire il alloit encore les attaquer de sorte que faisant une nouvelle descharge de leurs machines et tirant toutes leurs fleches tous ceux qui suivoient cyrus virent ce grand prince en un si grand danger que pouffez par l'amour qu'ils avoient pour luy ils allerent attaquer ces vaillans massagettes quoy qu'ils n'en eussent point receu d'ordre et ils les attaquerent par tant d'endroits a la fois qu'ils les rompirent de par tout et penetrerent leurs bataillons de part en part cependant cyrus qui fut veritablement touche d'une genereuse compassion de voir de si vaillans soldats en estat de perir fit une action aussi glorieuse en leur voulant sauver la vie que celle qu'il avoit faite le mesme jour en donnant la mort a tant d'autres car il se jetta malgre le tumulte et la confusion au milieu des vaincus et des vainqueurs criant aux siens avec une voix esclatante qui imprimoit du respect a ceux qui l'oyoient qu'il vouloit absolument qu'on donnast quartier aux massagettes menacant mesmes avec une fierte heroique ceux qui luy venoient d'aider a remporter la victoire s'ils ne 
 pardonnoient aux vaincus et s'ils ne luy obeissoient mais a peine ce commandement eut-il este entendu qu'en un mesme temps les soldats de cyrus cesserent de tuer et les massagettes charmez de la clemence de leur vainqueur poserent les armes et s'amasserent en foule et avec precipitation a l'entour de luy regardant alors comme leur protecteur celuy qu'un moment auparavant ils avoient combatu comme leur ennemy en effet il n'y eut pas un officier qui ne voulust avoir l'honneur de s'estre rendu a ce prince et il n'y eut pas un simple soldat qui ne fist du moins ce qu'il put pour s'en approcher il y eut mesme deux prisonniers considerables qui eurent la gloire d'estre pris de la plus illustre main du monde puis qu'ils le furent de celle de cyrus pour qui tous ces vaillans massagettes tesmoignoient avoir tant d'admiration qu'on eust dit qu'ils n'estoient pas marris d'avoir perdu la bataille puis qu'un si grand prince l'avoit gagnee estant certain qu'on leur voyoit un tel empressement a le regarder et qu'ils faisoient des actions si significatives pour exprimer les hauts sentimens qu'ils avoient de la valeur et de la clemence de ce heros qu'il n'estoit pas necessaire d'entendre leur langage pour entendre leurs pensees car enfin malgre le tumulte qui ne pouvoit pas estre entierement appaise en un instant on ne laissoit pas de connoistre que la joye de voir leur illustre vainqueur les consoloit en quelque facon d'avoir elle vaincus cependant 
 comme cyrus scavoit qu'il ne faut jamais que les vainqueurs s'endorment entre les bras de la victoire des qu'il eut sauve la vie a ces vaillans massagettes qu'il eut donne ordre a la seurete des prisonniers et qu'il eut commande qu'on prist soin du corps du vaillant terez qui fut tue en cette occasion il pensa diligemment a r'allier ses troupes victorieuses afin qu'elles fussent en estat de soustenir mazare s'il estoit pouffe par aripithe et d'aller mesme attaquer ce prince des sauromates s'il osoit sortir du bois et s'avancer dans la plaine mais comme il estoit occupe a ce r'alliement mazare qui venoit de donner la chasse aux ennemis arriva qui aprit a cyrus qu'aripithe n'ayant ose s'engager dans la plaine avoit tousjours este dans le bois ou il avoit receu dans le defile les troupes qu'il avoit rompues adjoustant que cela n'avoit pas empesche qu'on ne les eust poursuivies ardemment et qu'il avoit sceu par des prisonniers qu'il avoit faits assez avant dans le bois que les troupes d'aripithe qui n'avoient point combatu se retiroient avec tant deconfusion qu'on ne les pouvoit presques discerner d'avec celles qui avoient este deffaites mais encore luy dit cyrus apres l'avoir loue en peu de mots de tout ce qu'il avoit fait de grand en cette journee n'avez vous point sceu par ces prisonniers ce qui peut avoir fait que je n'ay pu rencontrer aryante de tout le jour quoy que je l'aye cherche soigneusement et n'avez vous point apris ou estoit thomiris pendant 
 le combat et en quel lieu le prince son fils a combatu pour aryante reprit mazare vous n'aviez garde de le rencontrer car durant que vous deffaisiez l'aisle gauche de son armee il combatoit a la droite et mettoit en deroute celle qui luy estoit opposee si bien que dans le mesme temps que vous estes alle attaquer son infanterie il a quite l'aisle qu'il commandoit pour venir soustenir ceux que je poursuivois mais comme il a veu qu'il ne le pouvoit et qu'il a sceu par ceux que vous aviez mis en deroute que vous aviez vaincu son aisle victorieuse il est alle joindre thomiris qui estoit demeuree assez pres de l'endroit des bois par ou aripithe devoit arriver de sorte qu'aprenant en ce lieu-la qu'ils n'avoient plus de part a la victoire ils ont envoye ordre aux troupes qui estoient encore aupres du fort de se retirer et ils se sont eux mesmes retirez aripithe les ayant couverts avec ses troupes qui se sont arrestees assez avant dans le bois si bien que ne jugeant pas a propos de m'engager dans le defile je suis venu vous dire qu'il n'y a plus rien qui vous puisse disputer la victoire mais pour spargapyse je ne vous en puis rien aprendre mazare n'eut pas plustost cesse de parler que cyrus voulant enseigner par son exemple a tous les siens que toutes les graces ne viennent que du ciel se mit a genoux et se tournant vers le soleil qui estoit le dieu des persans il le remercia d'avoir esclaire sa victoire ainsi on vit le victorieux au milieu 
 d'un champ de bataille tout couvert de morts et de mourans rendre hommage de sa valeur au dieu qu'il adoroit toutes ses troupes a son exemple firent la mesme chose et chacun a l'usage de son pais rendit graces aux dieux d'une victoire si signalee en effet il n'en fut jamais une plus complette toute l'armee ennemie avoit este vaincue partie a partie et presques escadron a escadron tant la deroute fut grande il s'en falut peu que tous les officiers de cette armee ne fussent tuez ou prisonniers le vaillant terez mourut a la teste de cette courageuse infanterie qui combatit la derniere et son corps fut trouve aupres du char dont il servoit a la guerre de puis qu'il avoit este estropie toutes les machines des ennemis furent prises toutes leurs enseignes servirent a eslever un trophee a leur vainqueur tout leur bagage enrichit tous les soldats de l'armee de cyrus et pour mieux marquer la victoire de ce grand conquerant il campa dans le camp de ses ennemis mais ce qui la luy rendoit plus glorieuse estoit que myrsile artamas intapherne atergatis gobrias gadate indathirse et tous ceux qui s'estoient trouvez a cette grande journee publioient tout haut que cyrus tout seul avoit gagne la bataille en effet en peut asseurer sans flatterie que la prudence avec laquelle il conduisit sa valeur la luy fit effectivement gagner estant certain que s'il n'eust retenu l'impetuosite de son courage et 
 celle de ses troupes lors qu'il eut rompu l'aisle gauche des massagettes il n'eust peut-estre pas vaincu mais comme il ne s'emporta point a les poursuivre et qu'il tourna tout court ses escadrons contre leur infanterie sans que pas un des siens sortist de son rang il se trouva en pouvoir d'aller par le derriere de l'armee de thomiris attaquer avantageusement cette aisle victorieuse qui avoit mis cresus en deroute ce qui fut en effet le point decisif de la bataille ainsi on peut dire que sa prudence et sa valeur la gagnerent presques egallement et forcerent la fortune a rendre justice a l'equite de sa cause cependant l'illustre cyrus ne jouissoit pas avec tranquilite de cette grande gloire qu'il avoit acquise et qu'il avoit si bien meritee car comme son rival estoit encore vivant et que mandane n'estoit pas delivree il ne se trouvoit pas tout a fait heureux il eut pourtant une grande consolation le jour mesme de cette victoire parce qu'il sceut que ce qu'on luy avoit mande de cyaxare n'estoit point vray ce bruit n'avoit toutesfois pas este sans quelque fondement estant certain que le roy des medes avoit eu une si grande douleur du dernier enlevement de mandane qu'il en avoit este malade a une telle extremite qu'on avoit creu dans ecbatane qu'il en mourroit et presques dans tout le reste de son estat qu'il estoit mort cyrus ne sentit pas seulement la joye de cette nouvelle parce qu'il aimoit cyaxare quoy qu'il l'eust tenu prisonnier mais encore 
 parce que sa princesse n'auroit pas la douleur d'aprendre la mort du roy son pere dans un temps ou elle estoit privee de toute consolation et accablee de toutes sortes de malheurs mais apres tout la pensee la plus douce qu'il eut en cette occasion fut celle qui luy fit imaginer que le bruit de sa victoire iroit jusques a mandane et qu'elle luy scauroit quelque gre de tout ce qu'il faisoit pour la delivrer
 
 
 
 
comme il jouissoit donc du plus doux fruit de sa victoire en s'entretenant de la joye qu'en auroit sa princesse chrysante vint luy dire avec empressement qu'il ve- uoit d'aprendre qu'un des prisonniers qui avoient eu l'honneur d'estre pris de sa main estoit le prince spargapyse quoy s'escria cyrus le fils de thomiris est mon prisonnier ouy seigneur repliqua chrysante mais ceux a qui vous avez donne tous les prisonniers en garde ayant remarque que ce jeune prince qu'ils ne connoissoient pas pour ce qu'il estoit avoit plus d'empressement que les autres a se vouloir eschaper et voyant qu'ils en avoient un trop grand nombre a garder ils l'ont lie afin d'avoir moins de peine a s'en asseurer mais un massagette qui m'avoit veu autrefois aveque vous aux tentes royales ne pouvant souffrir de voir le fils de sa reine en cet estat et scachant bien que je ne le pouvois pas connoistre parce qu'il estoit a issedon lors que vous estiez aupres de thomiris m'a apris qui il estoit dans l'esperance de le faire mieux traiter mais comme spargapyse l'a 
 entendu et qu'il a remarque que j'entendois et langue il m'a appelle et prenant la parole puis que je ne puis plus me cacher m'a-t'il dit je vous conjure de faire scavoir a cyrus que ses gens me traitent en esclave et que je luy demande pour grace d'estre traite en prisonnier de guerre se de n'estre point lie comme je le suis ce prince n'a pas plustost eu dit cela que m'aprochant de luy j'ay tasche le luy faire entendre que vous seriez au desespoir du traitement qu'il avoit receu et que j'ay voulu a l'heure mesme le faire delier mais comme le principal officier de ceux qui le gardent n'y estoit pas les soldats qui n'entendoient point ce que ce prince me disoit ne l'ont pas voulu de sorte que je suis venu diligemment vous advertir de l'estat de la chose afin que vous y donniez ordre cyrus n'eut pas plustost ouy ce que chrysante luy disoit qu'il s'imagina que mandane seroit chargee des mesmes chaisnes dont spargapyse estoit charge et que thomiris se vangeroit sur elle du mauvais traitement que son fils avoit receu si bien qu'ayant autant de douleur que de depit de ce que les siens avoient fait quoy qu'il eust pourtant beaucoup de joye d'avoir fait un tel prisonnier il envoya hidaspe avec chrysante pour le faire deslier et pour l'amener dans sa tente leur ordonnant de dire a spargapyse qu'il auroit este luy mesme le detacher s'il se fust senty capable de pouvoir voir un aussi grand prince que luy en un si facheux 
 estat et en effet hidaspe et chrysante executant les ordres de cyrus furent ou estoit spargapyse et le deslierent de leur propre main apres luy avoir dit ce que cyrus luy mandoit par eux tant qu'ils parlerent ce jeune prince qui estoit beau quoy qu'il eust la mine fort fiere les escouta sans les interrompre mais il les escouta avec une froideur chagrine qui leur fit connoistre qu'il suportoit son malheur avec beaucoup d'impatience de sorte que voulant le consoler ils adjousterent a ce que cyrus leur avoit ditqu'il ne devoit pas s'affliger avec exces de sa prison puis qu'aparamment elle ne seroit pas longue car enfin luy dit hidaspe si la reine des massagettes le veut elle a entre ses mains de quoy faire un eschange qui vous mettra bien tost en liberte si je ne devois estre libre repliqua-t'il fierement que quand mandane sera delivree je ne le serois pas si promptement mais j'espere adjousta-t'il que je le seray plustost et que cyrus connoistra qu'il n'est pas aise de garder long temps un prisonnier qui n'a pas le coeur d'un esclave et que je ne suis pas indigne de la grace qu'il me fait comme il disoit cela ses liens estant entierement deffaits il tira diligemment un poignard qu'on ne pensoit pas qu'il eust et se l'enfonca dans le coeur avec autant de fureur et d'impetuosite que de justesse car il se le perca de part en part si bien que tombant mort en un instant entre hidaspe et chrysante ils demeurerent si 
 estonnez de cette action et ils en furent si affligez qu'ils ne scavoient comment ils pourroient aprendre ce facheux accident a cyrus cependant il falut s'y resoudre de sorte qu'apres avoir laisse le corps de ce prince en garde a ceux qui l'avoient garde vivant ils retournerent vers cyrus qui racontoit a mazare la joye qu'il avoit d'avoir spargapyse en sa puissance s'imaginant que cela pourroit avancer la liberte de mandane on descrier du moins thomiris parmy ses peuples car enfin disoit-il a son genereux rival j'envoyeray des demain vers cette princesse pour luy offrir de luy rendre son fils si elle me veut rendre mandane ainsi adjoustoit-il si elle ne me la rend pas il est a croire que ses peuples en murmureront et qu'elle ne refera pas si facilement une autre armee pour s'opposer a nous et si elle la rend la guerre est finie comme cyrus achevoit de prononcer ces paroles hidaspe et chrysante estant arrivez il leur demanda aussi tost si on ne luy amenoit pas spargapyse plust aux dieux seigneur repliqua hidaspe qu'il fust encore en estat de vous pouvoir estre amene quoy s'ecria cyrus en l'interrompant on a laisse eschaper spargapyse non seigneur reprit chrysante mais il s'est delivre luy mesme en s'enfoncant un poignard dans le coeur aussi tost que nous avons eu detache les liens qui le retenoient et il a fait cette action de courage et de fureur tout ensemble avec tant de precipitation qu'on peut assurer que nous 
 n'avons veu le poignard dont il s'est tue qu'en le retirant de son corps ha chrysante s'ecria cyrus quel accident m'aprenez vous ha hidaspe s'escria mazare a son tour comment n'avez vous point empesche ce malheur qui est sans doute un des plus grands qui nous pouvoit arriver apres cela ces deux princes se firent dire precisement comment la chose s'estoit passee pour moy dit alors cyrus apres l'avoir sceu j'advoue que j'ay este trompe et que je pensois jouir de ma victoire avec quelque avantage puis que spargapyse estoit sous ma puissance mais je voy bien que la fortune a resolu que je sois eternellement malheureux et qu'elle ne m'a donne quelque esperance que pour me desesperer car enfin adjousta-t'il en regardant mazare imaginez vous un peu toutes les funestes suites que cette mort peut avoir et vous concevrez sans doute que je suis expose a estre le plus infortune prince du monde mais du moins poursuivit-il en parlant a chrysante ce malheureux prince s'est-il tue a la veue de tous les autres prisonniers non seigneur repliqua-t'il car durant que j'estois venu vous advertir qu'il estoit vostre prisonnier ceux qui le gardoient voyant que je l'avois traite en personne de qualite l'avoient separe des autres pour le mieux garder et l'avoient mene dans une tente particuliere acheve fortune acheve s'escria alors cyrus et pour m'accabler de la derniere douleur fais encore que thomiris m'accuse d'avoir fait mourir son fils 
 cette accusation seroit si peu vray-semblable reprit mazare que je ne pense pas que vous y soyez expose tout ce qui m'arrive repliqua cyrus est si extraordinaire qu'il n'y a rien de si estrange ou je ne doive tousjours estre prepare en effet y a-t'il rien de plus surprenant que de voir par quel bizarre moyen la fortune empoisonne le bien qu'elle vient de me faire et par quelle voye elle rend ma victoire inutile car enfin poursuivit-il emporte par sa douleur je luy voy une telle opiniastrete a me persecuter que je croy que je ne pourray demain entrer au fort des sauromates que tous les arbres de ces bois qui nous environnent se metamorphoseront en soldats que je me reverray en teste une armee plus nombreuse que celle que j'ay deffaite que je ne verray jamais mandane delivree et que je me verray battu et prisonnier de thomiris apres cela cyrus s'estant teu quelque temps son esprit se remit peu a peu en son assiette ordinaire en suitte de quoy il ordonna qu'on preparast toutes les choses necessaires pour renvoyer le corps de spargapyse a thomiris avec tous les honneurs imaginables il eut mesme soin des funerailles de terez et de celles de tous les morts de son parti et il envoya diligemment ortalque vers anacharsis pour le prier de vouloir aller le justifier aupres de thomiris en accompagnant le corps de son fils esperant que la sagesse de cet excellent honme luy feroit recevoir cet accident avec plus de moderation mais en envoyant 
 ortalque cyrus escrivit aussi a la reine de pont et a la princesse d'armenie pour leur faire part de sa joye et de sa douleur d'ailleurs feraulas qui se vit delivre envoya vers cyrus dans le mesme temps que ce prince avoit envoye vers luy pour luy dire qu'il iroit le jour suivant coucher au fort des sauromates et en effet ce prince apres avoir congedie celuy qui estoit venu de la part de feraulas et avoir passe le reste de la nuit avec des inquietudes estranges et donne des marques de son estime a tous les blessez de son armee qui estoient de quelque consideration il fut au fort des sauromates ou il fut receu par feraulas et par ceux qui avoient este cause que cette place estoit au pouvoir de cyrus avec tous les honneurs qu'ils devoient a leur liberateur mais a peine y fut-il qu'on luy vint dire qu'il y avoit un envoye de thomiris conduit par un trompette qui demandoit a luy parler de sorte que ne doutant pas que cette princesse ne luy envoyast demander des nouvelles du prince son fils il en eut une douleur inconcevable neantmoins comme il faloit de necessite l'escouter il commanda qu'on le luy amenast si bien qu'ayant este obei a l'heure mesme cyrus vit entrer dans sa tente un homme de qualite qu'il avoit veu aupres de thomiris qui luy parla en sa langue qu'il entendoit fort bien pour luy dire ce que cette princesse luy avoit ordonne je viens seigneur luy dit-il pour vous demander de la part de la reine si le prince son 
 fils n'est pas vostre prisonnier et pour vous dire s'il est en vos mains comme elle le croit que le mesme traitement que vous luy ferez elle le fera non seulement a tous ceux de vostre parti qui tomberont sous sa puissance mais encore a la princesse mandane et pour vous obliger seigneur adjousta-t'il a faire quelque consideration sur ce qu'elle vous mande elle m'a encore commande de vous dire qu'elle n'est pas en aussi mauvais termes que vous avez sujet de le croire apres avoir gagne la bataille car en s'en retournant aux tentes royales elle a sceu que les boristhenites luy envoyent un puissant secours qui est fort proche que les gelons font la mesme chose que les androphages en font autant et qu'ainsi toutes ces diverses troupes estant jointes a celles du prince des sauromates qui n'ont point combatu et a toutes les autres qu'elle a raliees elle se trouvera dans peu de jours en estat de se vanger de vous si le prince son fils n'en est pas bien traite comme cyrus scavoit que les massagettes tenoient a grand affront qu'on interrompist ceux qui parloient de la part de leurs princes il laissa parler cet envoye quoy que des le commencement de son discours il eust eu envie de luy dire ce qu'il scavoit du pitoyable destin de spargapyse joint que comme il ne vouloit pas donner un pretexte de plainte a une ennemie qui ne se plaignoit que trop il escouta paisiblement son envoye mais apres l'avoir escoute et avoir connu qu'il n'avoit plus rien a dire 
 pleust aux dieux luy dit-il que je fusse en estat de pouvoir bien traiter le prince spargapyse et de pouvoir enseigner par cet exemple a la reine des massagettes a bien traiter la princesse mandane mais enfin luy dit-il apres luy avoir raconte en peu de mots le funeste accident qui estoit arrive puis qu'il n'a pas plu aux dieux que je pusse tesmoigner a cette princesse en la personne du prince son fils que je la respecte encore toute mon ennemie qu'elle est je veux du moins sans m'arrester a respondre a ses menaces luy renvoyer le corps de spargapyse avec tout l'honneur qui luy est deu c'est pourquoy je ne vous donneray vostre responce que dans un jour ou deux afin que celuy que je veux qui luy porte cette funeste nouvelle puisse estre icy et que vous puissiez vous en aller ensemble et en effet la chose se fit de cette sorte cyrus eust bien voulu pouvoir avancer vers les tentes royales afin de ne donner pas le temps a thomiris de r'assembler ses troupes et de les joindre a d'autres mais comme il n'est pas possible de gagner une grande bataille sans que l'armee qui la gagne ait besoin de quelques jours pour se remettre en estat d'agir avec succes il n'y avoit pas moyen de l'entreprendre et il y en avoit d'autant moins qu'il faloit passer encore plus de bois et plus de defilez pour aller aux tentes royales qu'il n'en avoit passe pour secourir le fort des sauromates de sorte qu'il falut de necessite qu'il se resolust d'estre quelques jours sans 
 rien entreprendre cependant comme ortalque avoit fait une grande diligence et qu'anacharsis estoit aussi venu fort promptement il arriva lors que cyrus ne l'attendoit pas encore mais il ne le vit pas plustost qu'il luy dit l'office qu'il souhaitoit qu'il luy rendist et en effet des le lendemain cyrus congedia l'envoye de thomiris avec ordre seulement de dire a cette princesse qu'anacharsis scavoit tous ses sentimens et qu'il la conjuroit de croire tout ce qu'il luy diroit apres quoy on mit le corps de spargapyse dans un superbe cercueil qu'on avoit fait faire a la ville ou ortalque avoit este querir anacharsis et on mit ce cercueil dans un chariot qui avoit toutes les marques funebres dont on a accoustume d'honnorer ceux qui meurent a la guerre cyrus fit mesme suivre ce chariot par grand nombre de gens en deuil et il n'oublia rien de tout ce qui pouvoit persuader a thomiris qu'il auroit bien traite son fils vivant puis qu'il aportoit tant de soin a l'honnorer mort mais comme mandane occupoit tousjours son esprit il donna une lettre a ortalque pour elle et une pour gelonide afin qu'elle continuast de luy rendre office atergatis escrivit aussi a la princesse istrine et a la princesse de bithinie et intapherne fit la mesme chose gadate escrivit aussi a sa fille et luy escrivit mesme favorablement pour atergatis pour qui il avoit change de sentimens depuis qu'il estoit a l'armee de cyrus car comme il ne s'estoit autrefois oppose 
 a son affection que parce qu'il avoit espere qu'a la fin de la guerre istrine espouseroit le roy d'assirie ce prince ne vivant plus il avoit change d'avis favorablement pour cet amant d'istrine a qui comme je l'ay desja dit il escrivit par ortalque myrsile le chargea aussi d'une lettre pour doralise feraulas luy en donna mesme une pour martesie et hidaspe et gobrias le prierent de s'informer soigneusement s'il n'estoit point arrive une dame aupres de thomiris qui se nommoit arpasie et qui estoit conduite par un homme appelle licandre adonacris escrivit aussi par luy a agathyrse qu'il scavoit estre aupres de thomiris afin qu'il portast les choses a l'acommodement autant qu'il pourroit et anabaris escrivit encore pour le mesme dessein aux amis qu'il avoit a cette cour de sorte qu'ortalque estoit si charge de commissions differentes qu'il eut besoin de toute son adresse pour s'en bien aquiter mazare luy eust aussi volontiers donne une lettre pour mandane mais il se surmonta luy mesme et se contenta de penser a elle sans l'obliger a penser a luy cependant cyrus entretint long temps anacharsis en particulier en suite de quoy ce sage scythe s'en alla avec l'envoye de thomiris qui marcha immediatement apres le chariot qui porta le corps de son prince mais des qu'ils furent partis cyrus se donna tout entier a remettre bien tost son armee en estat d'avancer vers les tentes royales si thomiris ne changeoit point d'avis comme 
 il n'y avoit pas grande apparence car il scavoit qu'en effet il luy devoit venir des troupes de tous les lieux dont cet envoye luy avoit parle cependant durant que cyrus estoit en un estat si malheureux qu'on pouvoit dire qu'il avoit vaincu sans avoir la joye des vainqueurs thomiris et aryante souffroient des maux incroyables et mandane toute captive qu'elle estoit avoit alors de plus doux momens qu'ils n'en avoient car comme le bruit de la victoire de cyrus fut jusques a elle malgre les soins qu'aryante aporta pour l'empescher elle en eut une satisfaction extreme et s'en entretint agreablement avec doralise et martesie la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine en eurent aussi une joye que rien ne pouvoit esgaller car elles jugeoient bien qu'il leur seroit avantageux que cyrus fust vainqueur et la belle arpasie que licandre avoit conduite aux tentes royales estoit dans les mesmes sentimens cependant aryante employoit tous ses soins a r'assembler le debris de l'armee que cyrus avoit mise en deroute et donnoit tous les ordres necessaires pour faire garder les defilez des bois afin que son rival ne pust avancer vers les tentes royales que toutes les troupes que thomiris et luy attendoient ne fussent jointes aripithe de son coste qui avoit une haine effroyable pour cyrus parce qu'il estoit persuade que si thomiris ne l'eust pas aime il eust pu estre heureux ne songeoit qu'a borner les victoires de ce prince 
 ii eust pourtant ardemment desire que mandane n'eust plus este sous la puissance de thomiris et il avoit l'esprit si inquiet qu'il ne scavoit pas tousjours luy mesme ce qu'il souhaitoit comme ses troupes n'avoient point combatu ce furent elles qui demeurenent a l'entree des bois pour s'opposer a cyrus s'il s'avancoit de sorte qu'estant arrive que lors que spargapyse s'estoit tue il y avoit eu quelques soldats prisonniers qui s'estoient eschapez parce que cet accident avoit fait un si grand bruit que ceux qui les gardoient n'y avoient pas pris garde de si pres il y eut un de ces prisonniers qui apres avoir este deux nuits cache dans les bois rencontra aripithe qui donnoit quelques ordres et qui estoit prest de s'en aller recevoir ceux de thomiris aux tentes royales de sorte que ce prince l'arrestant et scachant par luy qu'il avoit este prisonnier de cyrus et qu'il s'estoit eschape luy demanda des nouvelles de cette armee si bien que ce soldat qui n'avoit sceu la mort de spargapyse que fort confusement luy dit que ce jeune prince avoit este pris que les gens de cyrus l'avoient lie et mene dans une tente separee qu'on l'estoit alle dire a ce prince qu'il avoit envoye deux des siens vers luy et que peu de temps apres qu'ils avoient este entrez dans la tente ou il estoit on avoit dit qu'il estoit mort adjoustant pourtant en suite que les soldats de cyrus disoient qu'il s'estoit tue luy mesme mais que comme il n'entendoit pas trop bien leur langue il n'osoit assurer 
 bien fortement cette derniere chose qu'il raportoit comme aripithe ne cherchoit qu'a chasser cyrus du coeur de thomiris il fit dessein de se servir du raport de ce soldat ce n'est pas qu'il pust soubconner ce prince d'avoir fait tuer spargapyse mais comme il scavoit que l'esprit de thomiris estoit violent et qu'il trouvoit le discours de ce massagette assez embrouille pour donner lieu a cette reine de croire du moins que cyrus avoit fort mal traite le prince son fils il obligea ce soldat par de grandes promesses de recompense de dire a thomiris ce qu'il venoit de luy raconter et de choisir le temps qu'il seroit aupres de cette princesse d'abord il eut quelque difficulte a s'y refondre car la valeur et la clemence de cyrus luy ayant gagne le coeur il ne pouvoit qu'aveque peine prendre la resolution d'aller donner lieu de le soubconner d'une action de cruaute mais a la fin aripithe luy ayant dit qu'il importoit que thomiris sceust precisement ce qu'il luy avoit raconte et joignant les menaces aux promesses il fit ce qu'il vouloit de sorte que des que ce prince fut arrive aux tentes royales et qu'il fut aupres de thomiris ce soldat se presenta et dit a cette reine ce qu'il avoit desja dit a aripithe c'est a dire que le prince son fils avoit este pris prisonnier qu'on l'avoit lie qu'on l'avoit mis en une tente separee et qu'aussi tost que deux hommes que cyrus y avoit envoyez y estoient entrez on avoit publie sa mort qui avoit fait un tel bruit etun 
 tel vacarme que pendant cela il avoit trouve l'occasion de se sauver thomiris n'eut pas plustost entendu ce que ce soldat disoit qu'aripithe adjousta qu'il l'avoit sceu par deux autres mais qu'il n'avoit ose le luy dire quoy s'escria thomiris mon fils seroit mort et mort par les ordres de cyrus quoy ce prince auroit este capable d'une action sanguinaire contre toutes les loix de l'honneur et de la guerre et la haine qu'il a pour moy seroit si forte qu'elle l'auroit oblige a violer toutes sortes de droits ha si cela est poursuivit-elle il n'est rien que je ne sois capable d'immoler a ma vangeance comme elle achevoit de prononcer ces paroles on luy vint dire qu'anacharsis arrivoit avec celuy qu'elle avoit envoye vers cyrus et qu'ils luy raportoient le corps du prince son fils a peine eut-elle entendu ce qu'on luy disoit que la fureur s'emparant de son esprit elle sortit du lieu ou elle estoit et passa de tente en tente jusques a une qui donnoit sur une grande place comme si elle eust voulu aller voir de ses propres yeux si ce qu'on luy disoit estoit vray mais des qu'elle fut a l'entree de cette tente magnifique elle vit le cercueil dans quoy estoit le corps du prince son fils car comme anacharsis et celuy qu'elle avoit envoye vers cyrus ne prevoyoient pas qu'elle deust venir en ce lieu la ils l'avoient fait oster du chariot dans quoy on l'avoit apporte pour le mettre dans une des tentes de cette princesse jusques a ce qu'ils eussent sceu d'elle 
 en quel lieu elle vouloit qu'il fust porte mais comme ce funeste objet estoit fort touchant et fort surprenant tout ensemble et que de plus thomiris avoit l'esprit irrite elle sentit en cet instant une espece d'affliction qui tenoit plus de la fureur que de la douleur ordinaire car dans la pensee qu'elle avoit que peut-estre l'homme du monde qu'elle aimoit le plus avoit fait mourir son fils elle n'estoit plus maistresse de sa raison aussi ne vit-elle pas plus tost ce cercueil qu'apres avoir jette un cry si douloureux qu'il auroit attendry l'ame la plus dure elle adressa la parole a anacharsis sans attendre qu'il luy parlast quoy luy dit-elle avec beaucoup de fureur dans les yeux vous osez me venir dire quelque chose de la part du bourreau de mon fils qui ne me renvoye sans doute son corps que parce qu'il veut que je ne puisse douter de sa mort ce nom que vous donnez au grand prince qui m'envoye vers vous luy convient si peu dit alors anacharsis que je suis contraint d'interrompre vostre majeste afin de l'empescher de faire injustice au plus genereux et au plus illustre prince de la terre ha anacharsis s'escria-t'elle il faut que je vous interrompe vous mesme car je ne puis souffrir les louanges d'un prince qui a mal traite mon fils qui l'a fait lier comme un esclave et qui l'a fait poignarder avec une inhumanite estrange eh de grace madame reprit anacharsis escoutez la verite qui vous parle par ma bouche et n'escoutez plus le mensonge qui vous a 
 parle par celle des ennemis de cyrus car enfin ce prince n'a point mal-traite spargapise au contraire il l'a envoye-delier aveque empressement et il a este au desespoir lors qu'il a sceu que ce jeune et genereux prince s'estoit poignarde aussi tost apres qu'on l'avoit eu destache comme je n'estois pas dans la tente ou cet infortune prince est mort repliqua-t'elle je ne puis scavoir precisement ce qui s'y est passe mais je scay pourtant avec certitude que selon toutes les apparences cyrus a fait tuer mon fils car enfin on l'a lie sans lier les autres prisonniers on l'a mis dans une tente separee et aussi tost apres que deux hommes de la part de cyrus y ont este on a publie sa mort joint que quand la chose seroit comme vous le dittes cyrus ne seroit pas innocent car si mon fils n'est pas mort par ses ordres il est du moins mort par la rigueur avec laquelle il l'a traite ainsi je vous deffends de me rien dire de sa part et je vous commande de luy dire de la mienne que je luy declare une guerre immortelle que pour vanger la mort de spargapyse je feray porter a mandane plus de fers qu'il n'en a fait porter a cet infortune prince et que dans peu de jours je luy renvoyeray le corps de la princesse qu'il adore dans le mesme cercueil ou il me renvoye celuy de mon fils comme elle disoit cela le prince aryante estant arrive aupres d'elle et ayant ouy ces dernieres paroles en paslit de crainte et d'estonnement de sorte que pouffe par un sentiment d'amour 
 pour mandane il se vit dans la necessite de tascher de justifier son rival aupres de thomiris de peur que cette violente princesse ne se portast a quelque estrange extremite aussi n'eut-elle pas plus tost acheve de prononcer ces terribles paroles qu'aryante s'aprochant d'elle luy parla avec autant de respect que de douleur vous scavez madame luy dit-il que la fortune m'a mis en estat de ne pouvoir jamais estre amy de cyrus et que par plus d'une raison il m'importe mesme que vous le haissez mais apres tout l'honneur veut que je die a vostre majeste que je ne croiray jamais que cyrus ait fait ny mal traiter ny tuer le prince spargapyse car outre qu'il aime trop la gloire pour avoir voulu faire une si lasche action j'ay encore a vous dire que mandane estant entre vos mains il n'est pas croyable qu'il se soit porte a une chose comme celle-la je scay bien luy dit-elle que la raison ne se trouve pas a ce que cet injuste prince a fait mais je scay encore mieux que de quelque facon que ce soit il est cause de la mort de mon fils et que je la dois du moins vanger sur mandane si je ne la puis pas vanger sur luy c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'elle emportee par sa fureur je trouve fort mauvais qu'a la veue du corps d'un prince dont vous deviez estre sujet vous veniez justifier son meurtrier et mettre des bornes a ma vangeance au nom des dieux madame dit alors anacharsis ne vous croyez d'aujourd'huy 
 je vous en conjure et donnez quelque temps a vostre raison pour pouvoir surmonter vostre douleur car je suis assure que vous vous repentirez demain de tout ce que vous pensez presentement je vous ay desja dit luy repliqua-t'elle brusquement que je ne voulois plus vous escouter mais je vous dis encore pour ne desesperer pas tout a fait le prince mon frere que je veux que vous disiez a cyrus que si dans trois jours il se vient mettre dans mes fers je donneray la vie a mandane mais que s'il ne s'y met pas je feray ce que je vous ay desja dit que je ferois et qu'ainsi bien loin de la voir bientost dans un char de triomphe comme il l'a sans doute espere apres m'avoir vaincue il ne la verra que dans le cercueil ou il a fait mettre spargapyse anacharsis et aryante la voyant si irritee voulurent encore luy parler pour apaiser sa fureur mais elle les quita brusquement apres avoir commande trois choses la premiere qu'on mist le corps de spargapyse dans une de ses tentes entre les mains de ceux qui estoient destinez a avoir soin de toutes les choses de sa religion la seconde qu'on redoublast les gardes de mandane et la troisiesme qu'on fist partir anacharsis a l'heure mesme sans souffrir qu'il parlast a personne et en effet ce sage et vertueux scythe se vit force d'obeir a cette injuste princesse et de s'en retourner porter a cyrus la plus triste et la plus facheuse nouvelle que ce 
 grand prince eust receue depuis que mazare luy dit aupres de sinope que mandane avoit fait naufrage 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a madame
 la duchesse
 de longueville
 madame
 cyrus veut finir par ou il a commence et vous rendre ses derniers devoirs comme il vous a rendu ses premiers hommages vostre altesse scait que dans la plus grande chaleur de la guerre et durant la plus aigre animosite des partis l'on a toujours veu vos chiffres vos armes vostre nom vos livrees et des inscriptions a vostre gloire sur ses drapeaux qu'il n'a point craint la rupture entre les couronnes et qu'il vous a este trouver en des lieux ou il ne 
 luy estoit pas possible d'aller sans estre oblige de faire voir de quelle couleur estoit son escharpe et sans qu'on luy demandast qui vive si bien madame qu'apres avoir passe a travers des armees royalles pour s'aquiter de ce qu'il vous devoit il n'a garde d'estre moins exact en un temps ou les choses ont aucunement change de face et ou l'on ne peut plus l'arrester sans violler le droit des gens aussi bien que l'amnistie il s'en va donc vous donner de nouveaux tesmoignages de la haute estime qu'il a pour vostre merite et au lieu de porter ses trophees a persepolis ou a ecbatane il les va porter a monstreuil-bellay afin qu'ils y soient tout a la fois des marques de sa servitude et de ses victoires comme je l'ay engage dans vos interests je n'ay garde de condamner ce que je ferois moy mesme et si vous honnorer et estre libre estoient des choses 
 incompatibles ce seroit de la bastille que je vous dirois que je suis et veux toujours estre
 madame
 de v a
 le tres humble tres-obeissant et tres-passionne serviteur
 de scudery
 
 
 
 
 au lecteur
 enfin me voicy au bout d'un fort long labeur et vous au bout d'une fort longue lecture j'espere que la dixiesme et derniere partie du grand cyrus ne sera pas moins heureuse que les neuf autres l'ont este et comme je ne m'y suis pas neglige cette esperance ne me semble pas mal fondee les ouvrages de la nature de celuy cy sont composez de tant de choses il faut tant d'art pour les bien faire et tant de travail pour les achever qu'apres en avoir donne deux au public j'avois resolu de n'en faire plus et de jouir en repos du plus noble fruit de ma peine je veux dire de quelque aprobation que j'ay obtenue mais que sert-il de le celer la gloire est une belle dame dont 
 la possession ne lasse point de qui les faveurs en font desirer de nouvelles et qui n'en donne jamais tant a ses amants qu'il ne luy en reste encore beaucoup a donner comme elle est adroite elle scait menager les graces et en donnant une couronne elle en montre une autre encore plus esclatante que ceux qui l'aiment taschent d'obtenir cela veut dire metaphore a part que le favorable accueil que vous avez fait a l'illustre bassa et au grand gyrus vous fera voir un troisiesme roman de moy que je tascheray de mettre au dessus des deux autres ou de faire du moins qu'il ne demeure pas au dessous le siecle que j'ay choisi est grand et illustre le lieu fameux les personnes celebres et les evenemens veritables si beaux que pour peu que l'invention ny adjouste ce livre 
 ne vous desplaira pas mais vous n'en scaurez pas d'avantage pour cette fois devinez le reste ou attendez que le temple vous explique cette enigme l'on commence d'imprimer un poeme heroique d'onze mille vers que j'ay fait pour cette grande reine de suede qui est aujourd'huy l'objet de l'admiration de toute la terre de sorte que pendant que j'en verry les espreuves je disposeray mes matieres et bien tost apres je m'aquiteray religieusement de la promesse que je vous fais
 
 
 
 
 comme ortalque n'avoit pas este avec anacharsis lors qu'il avoit parle a thomiris parce qu'il avoit d'abord songe a s'aquiter de toutes les commissions qu'on luy avoit donnees ceux qui obligerent ce sage scythe a partir a l'heure mesme des tentes royales et a s'en retourner vers cyrus ne songerent point a luy si bien qu'anacharsis s'en alla sans ortalque avec les mesmes gens qui avoient accompagne le corps de spargapise mais lors qu'il fut arrive 
 a la derniere garde des massagettes qui estoit au defile du bois et qu'il vint a penser a la douleur qu'alloit avoir cyrus quelles reflections ne fit-il point sur les malheurs de la vie et sur toutes les facheuses suittes qu'ont pour l'ordinaire toutes les grandes passions combien de fois s'estima-t'il heureux d'avoir entierement assujetty toutes les siennes a sa raison et de s'estre derobe a la puissance de la fortune en mesprisant tout ce qu'elle peut donner et en ne s'attachant qu'a l'amour de la vertu et a l'estude de la philosophie il eut pourtant besoin de toute sa sagesse pour s'empescher de murmurer contre les dieux qu'il adoroit en voyant un aussi grand prince que cyrus estre expose a tant de facheuses advantures mais il s'attacha principalement a chercher de quelles paroles il se pourroit servir pour adoucir une partie de l'aigreur de celles de thomiris qu'il estoit oblige de luy raporter il est vray qu'il n'en fut pas a la peine car comme cette vindicative princesses s'imagina qu'anacharsis ne diroit pas assez fortement a cyrus ce qu'elle l'avoit charge de luy dire de sa part elle envoya un des siens vers luy afin d'estre non seulement assuree qu'il scauroit ce qu'elle luy mandoit mais encore pour scavoir precisement sa responce si bien que quoy que cet envoye de thomiris fust party deux heures apres anacharsis comme il avoit fait plus de diligence que luy il le joignit avant qu'il fust arrive 
 au fort de sauromates ou cyrus l'attendoit ainsi ce sage scythe ne se vit pas dans la liberte de pouvoir diminuer sa douleur en luy cachant une partie de la fureur de thomiris car il ne douta point que celuy qu'elle envoyoit vers cyrus n'eust ordre de luy dire les mesmes choses qu'elle luy avoit dittes cependant ce grand et malheureux prince ne sceut pas plustost qu'anacharsis estoit revenu avec un envoye de thomiris qu'il sentit une agitation de coeur et desprit qu'il n'avoit jamais sentie il chercha diligemment a prevoir ce qu'il luy devoit dire et l'esperance et la crainte luy donnerent successivement de doux et de facheux momens il avoit alors aupres de luy mazare artamas atergatis intapherne hidaspe araspe et aglatidas mais quoy qu'il parust de l'inquietude et de l'impatience sur le visage de tous il estoit pourtant aise de discerner que cyrus et mazare avoient une curiosite de scavoir le sujet du voyage de cet envoye de thomiris qui ne pouvoit venir que d'une mesme passion en effet ils avoient tous deux une telle envie d'aprendre comment cette reine avoit receu la nouvelle de la mort du prince son fils et une telle aprehension qu'elle n'eust pris la resolution de s'en vanger sur mandane qu'ils exprimoient leur douleur et leur crainte par tous les mouvemens de leur visage ils se communiquoient mesme leur tristesse et leur impatience par leurs regards quoy que mazare fist pourtant toujours 
 tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour cacher une partie de ses sentimens afin de cacher une partie de son amour a ce genereux rival a qui il ne pouvoit ny ne vouloit plus disputer mandane mais a la fin cyrus ayant commande avec empressement qu'on fist entrer anacharsis et qu'on fist attendre l'envoye de thomiris dans une tente prochaine il se vit en estat d'estre instruit de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir et bien sage anacharsis luy dit ce prince des qu'il le vit paroistre comment thomiris vous a-t'elle receu helas seigneur repliqua-t'il en soupirant je voudrois bien que la fidellite que je vous dois me pust permettre de vous deguiser une partie de la fureur de cette princesse mais puis qu'il importe que vous la scachiez et que de plus il y a aparence que celuy qu'elle vous envoye ne vous la deguisera pas il faut que je vous die que cette injuste reine m'a receu d'une maniere si indigne de vous et si idigne d'elle que pour agir equitablement on en doit presques tout craindre et on n'en doit presques rien esperer ha anacharsis s'escria cyrus pourveu que je ne doive rien craindre pour mandane j'abandonne tout le reste au caprice de la fortune et je m'abandonne moy mesme a la fureur de thomiris mais encore adjousta-t'il de quoy se pleint elle et quelle injuste vangeance veut elle tirer de la mort de spargapise seigneur luy dit alors anacharsis comme il ne seroit pas impossible qu'elle eust change de sentimens 
 apres m'avoir congedie je pense qu'il est a propos que vous entendiez ce que son envoye vous dira autant que je vous die ce qu'elle m'avoit charge de vous dire de sa part car apres y avoir bien songe je ne puis croire qu'elle ait pu demeurer dans des sentimens si injustes et qu'elle n'ait pas eu horreur de sa propre injustice en ne me disant pas ce que vous a dit thomiris repliqua cyrus vous me donnez lieu de croire qu'elle veut la plus effroyable chose du monde et qu'elle a dessein d'accabler la princesse mandane sous la pesanteur de ses fers anacharsis estant bien aise que cyrus se portast de luy mesme a craindre tout ce qu'il pouvoit y avoir de plus funeste a aprehender luy fit encore deux ou trois responces peu precises afin que craignant tout il vinst a trouver moins a craindre a ce qu'il avoit a luy dire de sorte que cyrus venant enfin a s'imaginer que peutestre thomiris avoit elle fait tuer mandane il dit des choses si touchantes qu'anacharsis jugeant alors qu'il estoit temps de luy aprendre la verite luy die en peu de mots que thomiris l'accusoit d'avoir fait tuer son fils et qu'elle luy avoit ordonne de luy dire que s'il ne se remettoit en sa puissance dans trois jours elle luy renvoyeroit le corps de mandane dans le mesme cercueil ou il luy avoit renvoye le corps de son fils j'ay pourtant a vous dire pour vous consoler dans un si grand malheur poursuivit alors anacharsis que le prince aryante 
 a fait ce qu'il a pu pour vous justifier aupres de thomiris et que dans la disposition ou je l'ay veu vous devez estre assure qu'il s'opposera autant qu'il pourra a la fureur de cette reine ha anacharsis s'escria cyrus avec un desespoir estrange rien ne peut s'opposer a la vangeance d'une princesse de l'humeur de thomiris et je me voy en estat d'estre le plus malheureux homme du monde en mon particulier dit mazare avec beaucoup de douleur je suis persuade que thomiris pour son propre interest ne perdra pas mandane et je le suis fortement repliqua cyrus qu'elle la perdra pour se vanger de moy si je ne me perds moy mesme aussi suis-je bien resolu de le faire plustost que de hazarder la vie de cette admirable princesse cependant adjousta-t'il il faut escouter l'envoye de cette cruelle reine apres cela ayant commande qu'on le fist entrer ce massagette dit a cyrus que thomiris aprehendant qu'anacharsis ne luy dist pus positivement ce qu'elle l'avoit charge de luy dire il venoit l'assurer que si dans trois jours il ne se rendoit aupres d'elle elle feroit mourir mandane et luy en renvoyeroit le corps vous direz a vostre injuste reine repliqua brusquement cyrus que dans trois jours elle aura ma responce mais en attendant je luy declare que si elle fait souffrir quelque violence a la princesse mandane je ne pardonneray a aucun des prisonniers qui sont entre mes mains et que perdant le respect que je luy ay toujours 
 porte toute mon ennemie qu'elle est je la poursuivray opiniastrement jusques a ce que j'aye vange la princesse qu'elle aura outragee je veux pourtant esperer adjousta-t'il en retenant sa fureur par un sentiment d'amour pour mandane que vous trouverez que la reine des massagettes aura change de sentimens quand vous arriverez aupres d'elle et qu'elle se sera repentie d'avoir fait dire une si injuste et si cruelle chose a un prince qui ne l'a jamais offensee mais encore une fois dittes luy qu'elle songe a faire en sorte que la princesse mandane ne souffre aucune injure et assurez la qu'il y va de la vie de tous les prisonniers qui sont en ma puissance et de celle de tous ceux que je feray a l'avenir apres cela cyrus ayant congedie cet envoye il fut quelque temps sans parler examinant en luy mesme quelle resolution il devoit prendre d'abord il creut qu'il faloit marcher droit aux tentes royales forcer le defile et aller a la teste de son armee deffendre la vie de sa princesse mais tout d'un coup venant a penser que plus il presseroit thomiris plus il y auroit a craindre pour mandane et que plus la reine des massagettes se verroit pres de sa perte plus elle seroit capable d'avancer celle de cette princesse il ne scavoit que resoudre mais si son grand coeur luy conseilloit de combatre son amour luy persuadoit plus tost que d'exposer sa princesse de se mettre effectivement entre les mains de thomiris pourveu qu'elle voulust 
 delivrer mandane il est vray que comme il n'y avoit nulle aparence qu'elle pust se resoudre a la delivrer de bonne foy puis qu'elle n'avoit pas dit qu'elle la delivreroit quand mesme il se remettoit en son pouvoir il ne trouvoit pas son conte a cette pensee non plus qu'a l'autre cependant veu l'estat ou en estoient les choses il faloit ou se remettre prisonnier ou exposer la vie de mandane si bien que ne scachant que resoudre en luy mesme il avoit l'esprit si agite que ne pouvant plus renfermer toute sa douleur dans son coeur eh de grace dit-il a tous ceux qui l'environnoient dittes moy tous les uns apres les autres ce que vous croyez que je doive ou que je puisse faire pour n'exposer pas la vie de ma princesse mais au nom des dieux ne considerez qu'elle seulement et ne me considerez point conseillez moy donc precisement ce que vous pensez qui la puisse sauver sans considerer ny la conservation de mon armee ny celle de mes conquestes ny celle de ma vie car bien loin de considerer toutes ces choses je vous dis que je ne considere pas mesme la gloire en cette occasion et qu'encore qu'il soit honteux au vainqueur de thomiris de se remettre dans ses fers je suis prest de le faire si vous n'imaginez nulle autre voye d'empescher que la princesse ne perisse je scay bien poursuit-il qu'il n'y a aucun d'entre vous qui ose me dire qu'il faut que je recoive des fers des mains d'une reine que j'ay vaincue 
 mais je me le diray moy mesme si vous ne me dittes rien de meilleur en mon particulier dit anacharsis je suis persuade que le plus expedient est de tirer les choses en longueur en faisant une responce qui n'ait rien de precis afin de donner le temps au prince aryante de remettre la raison dans l'ame de thomiris ou de se mettre en estat de pouvoir s'opposer a sa violence ha sage anacharsis s'escria cyrus qu'il paroist bien que vous ignorez quelle est celle de la passion qui me possede puis que vous croyez qu'il soit possible que je puisse vivre quelques jours dans la cruelle incertitude ou je suis il est vray adjousta tristement mazare que les momens ou l'on peut douter de la vie de la princesse mandane semblent bien longs a ceux qui s'y interessent comme je connois la puissance de l'amour reprit intapherne je comprends aisement ce que vous dittes mais a dire les choses comme je les pense je ne croiray jamais qu'une reine qui ne fait la guerre que pour se faire aimer veuille donner un aussi grand sujet de haine a celuy dont elle veut estre aimee que seroit celuy de faire mourir une princesse qu'il adore comme on dit que thomiris est tres violente reprit atergatis je ne mets pas la plus grande seurete de la vie de la princesse mandane en ce que vous dites mais je la mets en l'amour d'aryante car enfin puis que sa passion a bien este assez forte pour luy faire oublier ce qu'il devoit a l'illustre cyrus et qu'elle a este 
 assez violente pour luy faire entreprendre le hardi dessein de l'enlever presques a ses yeux elle sera sans doute et assez forte et assez ingenieuse pour luy faire conserver la vie de mandane et pour luy faire trouver les moyens de s'opposer a la violence de thomiris quand il ne feroit pas ce que vous dittes reprit hidaspe je ne laisserois pas de croire que la reine des massagettes n'attenteroit pas a la vie de la princesse mandane en effet apres avoir este vaincue il y auroit beaucoup d'imprudence d'irriter son vainqueur par une si cruelle action et je ne croiray jamais qu'elle s'y puisse resoudre comme il luy vient de nouvelles troupes de divers endroits reprit araspe la consideration de la bataille qu'elle a perdue ne l'empescheroit pas de se vanger mais comme l'a fort judicieusement dit le prince atergatis aryante s'y opposera et s'y opposera mesme avec succes et sans beaucoup de peine car son parti paroistra si equitable que je croy que thomiris trouvera tous ses sujets rebelles si elle leur commande de perdre la princesse mandane pour moy adjousta aglatidas en adressant la parole a cyrus qui connois tous les sentimens que l'amour et la fureur peuvent inspirer je ne croy point que la reine des massagettes ait effectivement eu dessein de faire perir la princesse mandane mais elle a seulement pretendu par une si funeste menace empescher que vous n'avancassiez vers elle avant que les nouvelles 
 troupes qu'elle attend fussent jointes au debris de son armee et en effet poursuivit-il je suis persuade que si on la pressoit trop le desespoir pourroit la porter a toutes choses je croy mesme que si vous estiez sous sa puissance la vie de mandane seroit plus exposee qu'elle n'est mais je ne croy point qu'en l'estat ou sont les choses elle ose se vanger inutilement sur une princesse dont la mort luy feroit des ennemis de tout ce qu'il y a d'hommes raisonnables au monde l'entens bien repliqua cyrus que vous me dittes tous ce que vous croyez que je dois craindre ou esperer mais je n'entens pas que vous me disiez ce que je dois faire cependant il faut faire quelque chose je me suis engage a respondre a cette injuste princesse poursuivit-il et il le faut faire d'une maniere qui n'expose pas mandane ce que le sage anacharsis a propose repliqua artamas me semble si a propos que je ne pense pas qu'on puisse rien dire de mieux car enfin en ne donnant pas une responce decisive vous donnez loisir a la raison de cette reine de combatre sa fureur et vous donnez le temps au prince aryante de faire des brigues pour la seurete de mandane eh dieux s'escria alors cyrus en quel pitoyable estat suis-je reduit d'estre contraint d'attendre le falut de ma princesse d'un rival que je voudrois avoir tue et qui faut qui perisse si je ne veux la perdre et estre par consequent perdu moy mesme non non 
 adjousta t'il emporte par son amour je ne puis me resoudre de demeurer dans un estat si facheux et il faut des remedes plus violens au mal dont je suis tourmente car enfin quand j'auray rendu une responce ambigue a l'injuste princesse a qui je l'ay promise il faudra apres cela l'esclaircir et en revenir tousjours au mesme point ou j'en suis il est vray seigneur reprit anacharsis mais j'ay a vous dire pour vous amener dans mon sentiment que lors qu'il s'agit d'empescher quelqu'un de faire une meschante action et principalement une action de creaute il ne faut bien souvent que retenir le premier mouvement de ceux qui la veulent faire car je suis fortement persuade qu'il y a peu de gens au monde qui soient assez meschans pour vouloir opiniastrement executer une action d'inhumanite de plus il faut considerer que thomiris n'est pas meschante naturellement que la fureur qu'elle a dans l'esprit luy estrangere et qu'ainsi il y a aparence que si on luy donne loisir d'examiner ce qu'elle veut faire elle ne fera pas ce que vous craignez puis qu'elle ne pourroit rien faire qui fust plus oppose a ses interests en effet adjousta de sage scythe si mandane n'estoit plus sous la puissance de thomiris quelle seroit sa seurete si elle tomboit sous vostre pouvoir au lieu que l'ayant sous le sien elle tient la paix en ses mains et elle est assuree de desarmer les vostres toutes les fois qu'elle voudra vous rendre cette princesse 
 c'est pourquoy seigneur ne vous inquietez pas avec exces faites ce que la prudence veut que vous faciez et laissez faire le reste aux dieux qui ne souffriront pas qu'une princesse aussi vertueuse que mandane meure d'une mort si tragique ha sage anacharsis repliqua cyrus puis que les dieux souffrent qu'elle soit si malheureuse ils pourront bien souffrir sa mort aussi quelque confiance que j'aye en leur justice je n'ose m'assurer de la vie de ma princesse car enfin leur conduite est presques tousjours impenetrable a tous les hommes et nous voyons si souvent les innocens miserables et les criminels heureux que toute la vertu de mandane ne m'assure point contre l'injustice de thomiris neantmoins adjousta-t'il je veux croire vostre conseil et je luy respondray comme vous l'entendez quand le temps en sera venu apres cela cyrus ayant tesmoigne qu'il vouloit estre seul tout le monde se retira et le laissa dans la liberte d'entretenir sa propre douleur mais a peine furent-ils sortis que cette terrible menace de thomiris luy repassant dans l'esprit y mit un si grand desordre qu'il ne scavoit plus ce qu'il devoit resoudre et il y eut des instans ou il ne trouvoit rien a faire que de se remettre effectivement sous la puissance de cette reine irritee car lors qu'il s'imaginoit de voir le corps de mandane dans le cercueil de spargapise sa raison n'estoit plus maistresse de son esprit et son imagination luy representant 
 ce funeste objet comme si la chose eust este veritable il en estoit si esmeu qu'il sentoit presques la mesme douleur qu'il eust sentie si mandane eut este morte de sorte que son amour ne luy suggerant alors que des pensees tumultueuses il n'avoit pas plustost pris une resolution qu'il la condamnoit car comme il n'en pouvoit prendre on il pust voir une seurete infaillible pour la vie de mandane il ne pouvoit demeurer dans un mesme sentiment et la delicatesse de sa passion luy fit mesme imaginer que sa princesse auroit un jour lieu de faire des reproches s'il ne se resolvoit pas a se mettre en prison pour la sauver mais justes dieux disoit-il la difficulte n'est pas de porter des fers pour elle mais la difficulte est de ne pouvoir imaginer sa seurete en prenant des chaisnes car thomiris ne voudra pas la delivrer que je ne sois dans ses fers et je ne dois pas m'y mettre qu'elle ne soit en liberte mais helas adjousta-t'il en se reprenant cette injuste princesse ne m'a pas fait dire qu'elle delivrera mandane si je me mets sous sa puissance mais seulement qu'elle ne la fera pas mourir quoy cruelle thomiris poursuivit-il vous avez pu faire cette cruelle menace a un prince qui pouvant vous tuer baissa la pointe de son espee par un respect si grand qu'il fit peut-estre outrage a son amour quoy injuste princesse vous avez pu voir mandane sans l'aimer et sans advouer que je n'estois pas coupable 
 de ne luy estre point infidelle quoy vous avez pu la connoistre et prendre la resolution de menacer sa vie et vous avez pu concevoir qu'il pust estre possible que quelqu'un pust avoir assez de cruaute pour vous obeir si vous luy commandiez de la tuer cependant anacharsis a entendu de vostre bouche cette terrible menace et je l'ay entendue moy mesme par celle de vostre envoye apres cela ce prince afflige estant comme accablee d'une pensee si funeste n'eut plus que des images confuses dans l'esprit qui s'entremeslant les unes dans les autres ne luy laisserent pas la liberte de faire un raisonnement distinct durant quelque temps mais a la fin les ayant dissipees et voyant alors les choses comme il les faloit voir il connut qu'il n'y avoit rien de raisonnable a faire que ce qu'anacharsis luy avoit conseille neantmoins comme ce conseil satisfaisoit plus sa raison que son amour il resolut defaire plus qu'il n'avoit dit qu'il feroit et d'envoyer secrettement feraulas vers aryante pour luy dire qu'il luy donnoit la vie de mandane en garde luy declarant qu'il luy en respondroit en sa propre personne si thomiris la luy faisoit perdre et pour porter encore l'exces de son amour plus loin il prit effectivement la resolution selon ce que thomiris diroit apres la responce incertaine qu'il luy devoit faire de se remettre sous la puissance de cette reine pourveu qu'elle voulust non 
 seulement sauver la vie de mandane mais la delivrer de sorte que trouvant alors quelque espece de repos apres avoir pris cette resolution il se trouva capable d'imaginer ce qu'il manderoit a thomiris afin de tirer les choses en longueur ainsi apres y avoir bien pense il resolut d'envoyer chrysante le troisiesme jour dire a cette injuste princesse qu'avant que de songer a se remettre entre ses mains il faloit qu'elle luy fist scavoir quelle seurete elle pouvoit donner de la vie de mandane luy declarant qu'il n'y en avoit point d'autre a chercher que celle de la remettre en liberte et de la renvoyer au roy des medes mais afin de faire plus d'une chose a la fois il fit aussi dessein d'avancer avec toute son armee le mesme jour que chrysante partiroit et de s'aller poster a l'entree des bois afin que la responce de thomiris fust moins fiere mais quoy que cette resolution fust la plus raisonnable qu'il pouvoit prendre il n'en estoit point satisfait et il luy sembloit qu'il pouvoit mieux faire qu'il ne faisoit quoy qu'il ne le pust pourtant imaginer si bien que recommencant tousjours de se pleindre il estoit en un malheureux estat mazare de son coste souffroit des maux incroyables et il les souffroit avec d'autant plus de rigueur qu'il n'osoit les faire esclatter de peur qu'en monstrant sa douleur il ne monstrast son amour intapherne et atergatis avoient aussi beaucoup de redoublement d'inquietude car ils concevoient 
 bien que si les affaires se brouilloient davantage les princesses qu'ils aimoient ne seroient pas trop seurement entre les mains de thomiris gobrias et hidaspe pensoient la mesme chose d'arpasie ou le premier prenoit interest comme son pere et l'autre comme son amant myrsile par la passion qu'il avoit pour doralise avoit aussi beaucoup de douleur car comme il scavoit que mandane l'aimoit cherement son amour luy faisoit craindre que thomiris ne l'envelopast dans sa vangeance de sorte que soit par interest ou par compassion du malheur de cyrus il y avoit de gens dans cette grande armee que ne souffrissent et qui n'eussent de la douleur mais enfin le terme que cyrus avoit pris pour rendre sa responce estant arrive et chrysante et feraulas estant prests de partir le premier pour aller trouver la reine des massagettes et l'autre pour aller secrettement vers le frere de cette princesse on dit a cyrus qu'un homme que des soldats avoient pris a l'entree des bois demandoit a luy parler de la part d'aryante a ce nom cyrus sentit une esmotion extraordinaire non seulement par la haine qu'il avoit pour son rival mais encore par la crainte qu'il ne luy mandast quelque chose de funeste de la princesse mandane de sorte qu'ayant une impatience estrange de scavoir ce que son ennemy luy mandoit il commanda qu'on fist entrer celuy qu'il luy envoyoit et il le commanda avec tant de precipitation 
 qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il vouloir estre promptement obei aussi le fut il avec tant de diligence que sa crainte et son amour n'eurent pas le loisir de luy faire tout le mal qu'elles luy eussent fait s'il eust eu le temps de chercher a deviner quel estoit le nouveau malheur qu'il s'imaginoit qui luy alloit arriver car dans l'assiette ou estoit son ame il ne pouvoit prevoir que des maux comme il estoit donc dans cette impatience craintive qui luy faisoit souhaiter de scavoir ce qu'il craignoit pourtant d'aprendre cet envoye d'aryante s'estant aproche de luy et luy parlant bas s'aquita de sa commission avec beaucoup d'exactitude et beaucoup de respect seigneur dit-il a cyrus le prince aryante connoissant quelle est la passion que vous avez pour la princesse mandane a eu peur que vous ne vous resolussiez de faire ce que la reine des massagettes vous a mande et qu'ainsi vous n'exposassiez la vie de cette princesse c'est pourquoy pousse par un sentiment de reconnoissance pour les obligations qu'il vous a et par l'envie qu'il a de conserver la vie de la princesse qu'il adore il m'a commande de vous dire que vous vous gardiez bien de vous remettre sous la puissance de thomiris parce que tant que vous n'y serez pas il vous respond de la vie de la princesse que vous aimez ou au contraire si vous vous y mettiez il ne seroit peutestre plus en pouvoir de la auuer mais seigneur afin que mon message 
 ne vous soit pas suspect ne me renvoyez s'il vous plaist qu'apres qu'un des vostres qui s'apelle ortalque qui estoit demeure aux tentes royales sera arrive et vous ait apris l'estat des choses en vous aprenant ce que le prince aryante a fait pour la princesse mandane comme il arrivera ce soir adjousta-t'il je ne vous demande pas un grand temps et je vous assure que quand vous l'aurez veu vous ne douterez pas de la sincerite de l'advis que le prince aryante vous donne tout vostre rival et tout vostre ennemy qu'il est comme je puis aveque raison reprit cyrus douter de la probite d'un prince qui m'a si outrageusement trompe en enlevant la princesse mandane j'accepte l'of- re que vous me faites et puis qu'ortalque doit revenir ce soir je remettray a demain au matin a vous renvoyer apres cela cyrus ayant donne ce massagette en garde a ceux qui le luy avoient amene resolut d'attendre aussi jusques au jour suivant a envoyer chrysante et feraules vers thomiris y ayant encore autant de loisir qu'il en faloit pour rendre sa responce dans le temps qu'il l'avoit promise cependant au lieu que ce qu'aryante luy avoit mande deust le consoler son inquietude en redoubla car outre qu'il ne scavoit s'il le devoit fier a ce que son rival luy mandoit il avoit encore une telle impatience qu'ortalque fust arrive qu'il ne pouvoit durer en 
 nulle part et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison s'il avoit envie de scavoir ce qu'il avoit a luy aprendre car il s'estoit passe des choses aux tentes royales depuis le depart d'anacharsis et depuis celuy de l'envoye de thomiris en effet cette injuste reine n'eut pas plustost commande qu'on fist partir anacharsis sans le laisser parler a personne et qu'un redoublast les gardes de mandane qu'aryante a qui la vie de cette princesse estoit si chere qu'il eust mieux aime la voir posseder par cyrus que de la voir mourir alla diligemment pour s'assurer adroitement de ceux qui devoient redoubler la garde de la tente ou elle estoit et il le sit avec tant d'adresse et tant de bonheur que sans que thomiris le sceust il estoit plus maistre de ceux qui gardoient mandane que cette reine n'en estoit maistresse ce qui facilita le dessein de ce prince fut que celuy qui commandoit les troupes qui estoient destinees a la garde de mandane avoit un frere prisonnier de cyrus si bien que l'interessant a la conservation de la vie de cette princesse il luy fit voir clairement que son frere seroit perdu si thomiris perdoit mandane de sorte que soit par un sentiment d'honneur de compassion d'interest pour son frere ou d'amitie pour aryante il luy promit de mourir plustost que de souffrir que thomiris fist perdre la vie a la princesse mandane apres cela aryante estant en quelque repos cabala avec ses amis et songeant a s'assurer d'une partie des capitaines 
 qui avoient eschape de la bataille il leur dit ou leur fit dire tout ce qu'il creut capable de leur donner de l'honneur de la funeste resolution que thomiris sembloit avoir prise mais afin que la chose reussist mieux il jugea qu'il faloit justifier cyrus autant qu'il pourroit de la mort de spargapise afin que le dessein de la reine sa soeur parust plus injuste d'ailleurs ortalque qui estoit demeure cache chez un homme avec qui il avoit fait amitie du temps qu'il estoit aux tentes royales solicita les amis d'anabaris et ceux d'adonacris de s'opposer a thomiris si bien que se joignant en cette occasion au prince ariante il y eut un estrange vacarme dans cette cour de plus ortalque allant voir gelonide l'excita encore a servir mandane mais elle put pourtant alors luy faire donner les lettres qu'il avoit pour cette princesse et elle luy promit seulement de dire a thomiris tout ce qu'elle croiroit capable d'adoucir son esprit ortalque dans ce grand desordre ne put aussi donner toutes les autres lettres dont il estoit charge a la reserve de celles d'adonacris et d'anabris joint que n'ayant alors que la conservation de la vie de mandane dans l'esprit il ne pensa a autre chose cependant cette malheureuse princesse estoit bien estonnee de voir le redoublement de ses gardes et doralise et martesie ne l'estoient pas moins qu'elle elles furent mesme encore plus affligees car ayant oblige un de leurs gardes a leur 
 dire la cause de cette nouvelle rigueur il la leur aprit si bien que s'imaginant de moment en moment qu'on viendroit poignarder mandane entre leurs bras ces deux genereuses filles souffroient des maux incroyables et ne se trouvoient pas en estat de la consoler d'autre part la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine n'ayant plus la liberte de voir mandane et aprenant l'estat des choses par ceux qui les servoient en avoient une douleur extreme arpasie en son particulier se trouvoit tres malheureuse d'estre dans la cour d'une reine capable d'une aussi grande injustice et aripite luy mesme qui estoit cause de tout ce tumulte estoit au desespoir de connoistre qu'il faloit que thomiris eust autant d'amour que de fureur et d'estre oblige de croire que la mesure de l'une estoit la mesure de l'autre mais quoy que toutes ces diverses personnes souffrissent beaucoup ce n'estoit rien en comparaison de ce que souffroit thomiris car enfin l'amour la haine la vangeance et la jalousie dechiroient son coeur avec tant de violence qu'on peut assurer que jamais qui que ce soit n'a tant souffert que cette princesse souffroit en effet apres les premiers mouvemens de sa fureur elle connut mesme qu'il n'y avoit pas d'aparence de soubconner cyrus d'avoir fait tuer spargapise mais elle se garda pourtant bien de tesmoigner qu'elle avoit cette pensee car dans le dessein qu'elle 
 avoit de vanger son amour mesprisee sur mandane elle vouloit garder ce funeste pretexte a sa vangeance afin d'esblouir les yeux du peuple de sorte que ne voyant pas cyrus teint du sang de son fils elle ne vouloit respandre celuy de mandane qu'afin d'oster a ce prince la cause de son amour il y avoit pourtant d'autres instans ou cherchant a le noircir afin d'excuser son injustice elle doutoit de son innocence et le regardant comme le meurtrier de spargapise elle eust ce luy sembloit voulu l'immoler luy mesme sur le cercueil de son fils mais apres que des mouvemens si tumultueux avoient agite son esprit il y avoit quelquesfois des momens ou croyant que cyrus seroit capable de se remettre sous sa puissance une partie de sa fureur l'abandonnant elle songeoit desja comment elle pourroit faire et pour justifier cyrus envers ses peuples et pour se justifier elle mesme envers cyrus si bien que suprenant tantost dans des sentimens de vangeance et de haine et tantost dans des sentimens d'amour elle avoit quelquesfois honte de sa propre foiblesse et avoit mesme horreur de sa propre cruaute mais elle n'estoit pas souvent dans ces bons intervales et pour l'ordinaire la fureur estoit maistresse de sa raison pense thomiris pense disoit elle a te bien servir du grand pretexte que tu as de te vanger de ce er ennemy qui t'a si cruellement outragee et quand tu scaurois d'une certitude infaillible 
 qu'il n'a pas fait mourir ton fils regarde le pourtant tousjours comme la cause de sa mort car enfin quand il seroit innocent de ce coste la il est coupable de tant d'autres qu'il merite toute ta haine en effet poursuivoit elle il est venu troubler ton repos il t'a fait perdre toute l'innocence de ta vie et il t'a fait faire cent choses contre ta propre gloire poursuy le donc opiniastrement jusques a la mort et vange toy de luy sur la princesse qui est cause du mespris qu'il a pour toy pense que la passion qu'il a fait naistre dans ton coeur a mis ton fils dans le cercueil et que le feu de ton amour a allume une guerre qui ne s'esteindra peut-estre que par le sang de tous tes sujets immole donc mandane pour premiere victime de ta vangeance en attendant que cyrus soit luy mesme en estat d'estre immole a ton ressentiment mais que fais-je disoit elle en se reprenant et que dis-je dans ma fureur je parle d'immoler un prince qui regne dans mon coeur malgre moy et qui ne seroit pas plustost sous ma puissance que je dependrois absolument de la sienne quoy disoit-elle je pourrois voir cyrus se remettre prisonnier et je pourrois le regarder aveque haine ha ouy ouy adjoustoit elle je le pourrois car puis qu'il ne se seroit mis dans mes chaines que par un sentiment d'amour pour mandane je le hairois sans doute plus que je ne l'ay jamais aime c'est pourquoy affermissons nous donc dans les sentimens de cruaute ou 
 nous sommes et puis que nous ne pouvons plus nous signaler par nostre vertu signalons nous par nostre vangeance apres cela thomiris semblant s'estre fortement determinee a n'escouter plus que sa fureur resolut pour esmouvoir le coeur des peuples de faire faire le jour suivant les funerailles de spargapise afin que la veue de ce funeste objet animast les massagettes a la vangeance de la mort de leur prince et les preparast a celle qu'elle en vouloit prendre et en effet cette triste ceremonie se fit avec beaucoup de larmes aripithe en son particulier s'y trouva avec beaucoup de marques de douleur et aryante s'y trouva aussi mais apres la ceremonie il suivit thomiris a sa tente et comme il estoit desja assure de grand nombre de ses amis et particulierement d'octomasade et d'agathyrse il luy parla avec beaucoup de hardiesse en faveur de mandane afin de l'obliger a renvoyer vers cyrus de sorte que cette princesse s'en irritant luy respondit fort aigrement aryante dans sa fermete ne s'emporta pourtant pas mais il luy dit tout ce qu'il luy devoit dire et pour sa propre gloire et pour la conservation de la vie de la princesse qu'il aimoit car enfin madame luy dit il je vous declare que comme elle n'est sous vostre puissance que parce que je l'y ay mise il n'est rien que je ne face pour l'en tirer si vous faites quelque chose contre elle comme ce que vous pourrez faire luy dit elle fierement sera peu 
 de chose je ne m'en mets pas en peine cependant je vous commande de ne me voir point que je ne vous l'ordonne je vous obeiray madame repliqua aryante mais ne trouvez pas mauvais si je m'oppose a tout ce que vous entreprendrez contre mandane si cyrus se remet sous ma puissance repliqua t'elle vous n'avez rien a craindre pour cette princesse mais s'il ne s'y remet pas je feray ce que je me conseilleray moy mesme et je ne feray point du tout ce que vous me conseillerez apres cela ayant quitte aryante elle entra dans une tente qui luy servoit de cabinet ou elle apella aripithe afin de donner divers ordres pour s'opposer a ce qu'aryante voudroit entreprendre mais il n'estoit plus temps car non seulement ce prince avoit presques tous les capitaines et tous les soldats pour luy mais il avoit mesme envoye au douant des troupes qui venoient pour s'en asseurer en cas de besoin de plus aripithe quoy que bien aise de se voir employe par thomiris se trouvoit pourtant fort embarrasse dans la crainte ou il estoit que cyrus ne se remist prisonnier s'imaginant que si thomiris le voyoit toute sa fureur l'abandonneroit joint qu'estant bien adverty que le prince aryante avoit beaucoup d'amis et que la resolution que thomiris sembloit avoir prise de perdre mandane irritoit tous les gens d'honneur il ne se voyoit maistre que du corps qu'il commandoit encore cette action de cruaute sembloit elle si estrange 
 a tout le monde qu'il ne s'y fioit pas absolument cependant la sage gelonide qui connoissoit bien qu'il ne faloit jamais s'opposer d'abord a la fureur de thomiris creut qu'il estoit temps de commencer de parler et de tascher de la ramener a la raison c'est pourquoy cherchant a s'insinuer avec adresse dans l'esprit de cette reine irritee elle ne la contredit pas avec vehemence au contraire elle excusa sa violence par quelques foibles raisons afin que sans irriter cette reine elle pust apres luy dire aveque plus de force ce qu'elle vouloir luy persuader en effet lors qu'elle se vit seule aupres de thomiris elle pleignit cette princesse du pitoyable estat ou la fortune la mettoit et de la cruelle necessite ou elle se trouvoit reduite d'avoir a se vanger d'un aussi grand prince que cyrus car encore que gelonide eust ardemment souhaite que thomiris n'eust plus eu d'amour pour ce prince elle creut pourtant qu'en l'occasion qui se presentoit rien ne pouvoit empescher cette reine de tremper ses mains dans le sang de mandane que le seul interest de son amour c'est pourquoy prenant un assez long detour pour arriver a sa fin en verite madame luy die elle apres quelques autres choses je vous trouve bien a pleindre d'avoir a vous vanger d'un prince si favorise de la fortune et il estime de toute la terre car enfin quoy qu'on die que la vangeance soit douce le suis pourtant persuadee qu'une ame veritablement 
 genereuse ne se vange pas sans repugnance principalement quand elle ne se peut vanger sans respandre du sang mais du moins madame adjousta-t'elle avec beaucoup de finesse ay je la consolation de croire que vostre ame a change de passion et que si elle souffre toutes les inquietudes qui suivent la haine elle est delivree de celles qui suivent l'amour ha gelonide luy repliqua-t'elle je suis bien plus malheureuse que vous ne pensez et cette premiere passion n'a pas chasse l'autre de mon coeur mais madame reprit gelonide quelle aparence y a t'il que vous aimiez encore cyrus car a mon advis si cela estoit vous ne songeriez pas a vous en faire hair en persecutant mandane puis qu'il est vray que je suis fortement persuadee que cyrus vous hairoit beaucoup moins si vous le persecutiez luy mesme que de persecuter la personne qu'il adore ainsi madame s'il est vray que vous ne haissiez pas ce prince songez bien serieusement a ce que vous faites et si vous m'en croyez au lieu de menacer la vie de la princesse qu'il aime protegez la et forcez ce prince par vostre generosite a advouer que vous meritez qu'il vous donne son estime s'il ne peut vous donner son affection car enfin madame je suis assuree que si vous respandez le sang de mandane sans hair cyrus vous vous rendrez la plus malheureuse personne du monde c'est pourquoy examinez bien vos sentimens et si vous le haissez je consens 
 que vous contentiez vostre vangeance par les voyes les plus funestes et les plus creulles mais si vous ne le haissez pas retenez toute vostre fureur et pensez afin d'en avoir la force que si vous faites mourir mandane cyrus ne sera jamais en estat de vous voir que pour vous perdre en effet quand il seroit possible que l'amour de cyrus pour cette princesse mourust avec elle il n'oseroit jamais cesser d'estre vostre ennemy si vous l'aviez perdue et l'honneur l'engageroit tellement a vous faire la guerre qu'il seroit impossible quand mesme il viendroit a vous aimer qu'il osast jamais faire la paix aveque vous voyez donc madame apres cela quels sont vos veritables sentimens afin de ne vous tromper pas vous mesme mais pour le pouvoir faire fondez vostre coeur jusques au fonds et prenez garde que ne pensant avoir que de la haine vous n'ayez peutestre que de l'amour en effet adjousta t'elle j'ay ouy dire que ces deux passions toutes opposees qu'elles font se desguisent quelquesfois sous des aparences si trompeuses qu'on ne les connoist pas et que telle personne a creu agir par un pur mouvement de haine qui n'agissoit toutes fois que par un mouvement d'amour ha gelonide s'escria thomiris je n'esprouve que trop a ma confusion que ce que vous dittes est veritable car enfin je l'advoue aveque honte cyrus n'est pas hors de mon coeur et si je ne l'aimois plus je 
 ne chercherois pas a m'en vanger sur mandane cependant j'agis comme si je voulois vanger la mort de mon fils quoy qu'a dire la verite mon coeur ne l'en accuse pas comme ma bouche ouy gelonide puis qu'il faut que je vous descouvre toute ma foiblesse je le regarde bien plus comme un ingrat envers moy que comme le meurtrier de spargapise ainsi dans le mesme temps que je le noircis en public d'un crime si horrible je l'en justifie dans mon coeur autant que je le puis mais puis que cela est madame repliqua gelonide il faut donc agir tout autrement que vous n'agissez et ne vous mettre pas en estat de n'oser estre heureuse si la fortune vouloit que vous le pussiez devenir car enfin madame si vous ne portez pas les choses a la derniere extremite qui scait si vous ne pourrez pas un jour voir cyrus sous vostre puissance il peut estre vostre prisonnier par la guerre et il peut mesme estre vostre esclave par l'amour si vous traitez bien mandane ce prince du moins vous en estimera davantage et se trouvera peut-estre a la fin capable de rendre justice a vostre merite et a vostre affection qui scait mesme si les troupes qui vous viennent estant jointes aux vostres ne vous mettront pas en estat d'avoir autant d'avantage sur cyrus qu'il en a sur vous et si ciaxare ne se trouvera pas reduit a vous demander la paix sans autre condition que de 
 luy rendre la princesse sa fille en vous abandonnant cyrus et qui scait mesme encore si par cette heureuse paix la passion d'aryante ne pourroit pas estre satisfaite aussi bien que la vostre tout ce que vous dittes a si peu d'aparence repliqua thomiris en soupirant qu'il est bien difficile que je m'en laisse flatter du moins madame reprit gelonide si ce que je dis n'est vray-semblable il n'est pas impossible mais il l'est absolument si vous perdez mandane que cyrus puisse ny ose jamais vous aimer ny faire de paix aveque vous ha gelonide quel obstacle venez vous mettre a ma vangeance repliqua-t'elle pourquoy voulez vous m'empescher de jouir du seul plaisir que je puis jamais esperer cependant je sens malgre moy que ce que vous dittes fait impression dans mon coeur et que la crainte que j'ay de la haine de cyrus retient celle que j'ay pour mandane plust aux dieux madame repliqua gelonide que je pusse empescher vostre majeste de souffrir tout ce qu'elle souffre mais puis que je ne le puis je voudrois du moins pouvoir luy persuader si elle aime encore cyrus de ne le forcer pas a la hair eternellement en sacrifiant mandane a sa vangeance car par ce moyen je l'empescherois de detruire sa gloire et je ferois peut-estre quelque chose pour satisfaire la passion qu'elle a dans l'ame pour ma gloire reprit thomiris j'ay peu de chose a mesnager car puis que je ne 
 m'estime plus moy mesme je ne me soucie guere que les autres m'estiment ou ne m'estiment pas comme thomiris disoit cela un ancien officier de cette reine qui estoit fort affectionne a son service quoy qu'il blasmast sa violence vint luy donner advis qu'il scavoit de certitude qu'aryante estoit maistre des troupes qu'il avoit envoye vers celles qui venoient que celuy qui gardoit mandane estoit a sa disposition et que le peuple en general commencant de craindre l'ire des dieux si elle faisoit mourir une princesse innocente murmuroit fort haut et se porteroit peut-estre a quelque rebellion si elle persistoit dans le dessein qu'elle tesmoignoit avoir comme cet advis luy fut donne par un homme qu'il scavoit qui luy estoit tres fidelle il fit quelque impression dans son esprit joint que ce que gelonide luy avoit dit en interessant son amour dans fou discours avoit prepare son ame a le bien recevoir de sorte qu'apres avoir remercie celuy qui le luy avoit donne et l'avoir congedie elle demeura quelque temps sans parler et se mit a considerer le malheureux estat ou elle se trouvoit et a examiner principalement ce que gelonide luy avoit dit si bien que venant a penser que si effectivement elle faisoit mourir mandane il seroit absolument impossible que cyrus la pust jamais aimer elle en eut le coeur si touche qu'elle s'accusa elle 
 mesme de precipitation dans sa fureur et se repentit presques de ce qu'elle luy avoit mande neantmoins comme elle ne croyoit pas impossible que ce prince se remist prisonnier pour delivrer sa princesse elle se consola de ce qu'elle luy avoit envoye dire mais en mesme temps elle se resolut s'il ne le faisoit pas de chercher un pretexte pour moderer sa fureur toutesfois comme elle ne scavoit pas trop bien comment elle se pourroit desdire apres avoir porte la chose aussi loin qu'elle estoit elle demanda a gelonide comment elle pourroit faire pour suivre son advis si cyrus ne se remettoit pas dans ses fers eh madame luy dit alors gelonide il faut des pretextes pour faire une violence mais il n'en faut point pour faire une action de vertu et de bonte ainsi si vostre majeste par l'interest de la passion qu'elle a dans l'ame et pour sa propre gloire peut se resoudre a changer d'advis elle doit diligemment desabuser le prince aryante avant qu'il ait en loisir de rien faire esclatter contre elle car enfin madame qui scait si ce prince ayant un grand pretexte de vous accuser de cruaute envers la personne qu'il aime ne se servira pas de ceux qu'il armera contre vous pour vous arracher la couronne comme il l'a desja voulu faire une autre fois desarmez vous donc afin de le desarmer et si vous m'en croyez dittes luy confidemment que vous n'avez jamais eu dessein de faire ce que vous luy avez dit que vous feriez et 
 que vous n'avez agi comme vous avez fait que pour tascher de porter effectivement cyrus a se remettre sous vostre puissance afin de finir plus promptement la guerre et de luy assurer mieux la possession de mandane vous pourriez mesme madame luy faire valoir la resolution que vous prenez de ne vous vanger pas de cyrus sur cette princesse et luy dire que ce n'est que sa seule consideration qui vous en empesche non non luy dit thomiris je ne suis pas en pouvoir de luy dire ce que vous dittes car je luy ay parle trop fortement et tout ce que je puis est de luy dire que j'ay change de sentimens pour l'amour de luy mais gelonide adjousta t'elle quand j'auray dit cela au prince mon frere que diray-je a cyrus et a tous ceux qui scavent ce que je luy ay mande vous direz madame reprit gelonide que vous avez voulu vous servir d'une menace rigoureuse pour tascher de donner la paix a vos peuples mais que n'en ayant pas tire l'effet que vous en aviez attende vous ne voulez pas noircir vostre reputation par une action de cruaute ainsi en ne faisant rien contre l'interest de la passion que vous avez dans l'ame vous aquerrez beaucoup de gloire je ne scay si j'en aquerray beaucoup repliqua thomiris en soupirant mais je scay bien que je n'en meriteray guere et que je suis la plus criminelle et la plus malheureuse personne de la terre cependant apres avoir dit que je croyois que cyrus avoit fait tuer mon fils le 
 moyen de changer d'advis comme vous l'avez dit dans les premiers mouvemens de vostre douleur reprit gelonide on n'a pas fait un fondement solide sur vos paroles et tout le monde est si persuade que cela n'est point que personne ne vous accusera quand on croira que vous ne le croyez plus apres cela thomiris ayant encore resve quelque temps et considere fortement le danger ou elle s'exposoit et principalement tout ce que luy avoit dit gelonide touchant la haine de cyrus pour elle si elle faisoit mourir mandane elle se determina tout d'un coup et sans tarder d'avantage elle envoya querir aryante d'abord ce prince fut surpris de ce commandement et quelques uns voulurent le dissuader d'obeir a cette princesse s'imaginant qu'elle le vouloit faire arrester mais comme aryante estoit fort assure de ses amis et principalement de celuy qui gardoit mandane il fut vers thomiris avec beaucoup de hardiesse comme il fut aupres d'elle il luy demanda si c'estoit pour luy dire qu'elle avoit change de sentimens qu'elle l'avoit mande et elle luy respondit avec tant d'art que tout autre que luy eust este abuse par le discours qu'elle luy fit et auroit creu qu'en retenant sa vangeance elle n'avoit autre consideration que celle qu'elle disoit avoir aryante comprit pourtant bien qu'il faloit que sa passion fust la principale cause du favorable changement qui estoit dans son esprit il n'en tesmoigna toutesfois rien a cette 
 princesse et il voulut bien se charger de toute l'obligation qu'elle vouloit qu'il luy eust de ce qu'elle n'avoit pas fait dire a cyrus qu'elle rendroit mandane s'il se remettoit prisonnier mais seulement qu'elle luy sauveroit la vie elle adjousta mesme qu'elle n'avoit jamais eu positivement dessein de la faire mourir mais seulement celuy d'obliger cyrus a se remettre sous sa puissance cependant quoy qu'elle parlast avec beaucoup d'adresse aryante connut bien qu'elle avoit une haine estrange contre mandane et que si effectivement cyrus se fust remis sous son pouvoir elle auroit este capable de sacrifier la princesse qu'il aimoit si on ne l'en eust empeschee par la force de sorte que craignant alors par un sentiment d'honneur pour thomiris et par un sentiment d'amour pour mandane que cyrus par un transport de sa passion ne se portast a faire ce que thomiris luy avoit mande il se resolut de l'en empescher par adresse cependant il se fit alors une si grande reconciliation entre thomiris et aryante qu'avant que de se quitter ils resolurent tout ce qu'il faudroit dire au peuple quand cyrus auroit respondu et tout ce qu'il faudroit faire quand les troupes qu'ils attendoient seroient jointes apres quoy aryante ayant quitte cette princesse fut diligemment a sa tente afin de depescher un des siens vers cyrus mais comme il l'instruisoit de ce qu'il devoit dire a son rival il fut adverty qu'ortalque demandoit a luy parler et en effet 
 ce fidelle serviteur conseille par gelonide fut trouver ce prince pour luy dire de quelle maniere il estoit demeure aux fentes royales et pour le prier de luy donner moyen de s'en retourner vers son maistre le conjurant par sa propre gloire de vouloir luy faire l'honneur de le charger de quelque asseurance de la vie de la princesse mandane car enfin seigneur luy dit-il apres avoir sceu ce que vous avez desja fait pour elle j'ay lieu d'esperer que quoy que vous ne le faciez pas pour l'interest du grand prince a qui je suis vous ne laisserez pas de souffrir que je luy puisse donner la joye de scavoir que vous estes son protecteur aryante estimant fort la hardiesse d'ortalque le receut fort bien et luy dit obligeamment qu'il voyoit bien que cyrus estoit heureux en tout puis qu'il l'estoit jusques a ses domestiques apres quoy il luy dit encore que pour tesmoigner a cyrus qu'il estoit son rival et son ennemy sans estre ny ingrat ny lasche il vouloit bien reconnoistre les obligations qu'il luy avoit du temps qu'il estoit anaxaris par l'assurance qu'il luy donnoit de la seurete de la vie de mandane tant qu'il ne seroit point sous la puissance de la reine sa soeur et pour luy persuader mieux la chose il luy dit tout ce que la bien-seance luy permit de luy dire de ce qui le confirmoit dans l'opinion ou il estoit luy disant en suitte tout ce qu'il avoit fait pour conserver la vie a cette princesse apres quoy aryante luy dit aussi qu'il alloit envoyer vers son maistre 
 mais que de peur d'estre suspect a la reine des massagettes il falloir que celuy qu'il alloit envoyer et luy allassent separement et en effet la chose s'executa ainsi cependant ortalque apres avoir sceu que l'envoye de thomiris estoit revenu et avoir apris par gelonide le bon estat ou estoit la chose partit sans s'amuser inutilement a rendre les lettres dont il estoit charge mais il partit avec un habillement tel que les massagettes en portoient et avec un ordre d'aryante afin qu'il ne fust pas arreste par les troupes de sorte que ce fidelle serviteur arrivant aupres de cyrus justement dans le temps que l'envoye d'aryante avoit dit a ce prince qu'il arriveroit il le combla d'une joye infinie lors qu'il luy aprit tout ce qu'il avoit sceu de gelonide et d'aryante et qu'il connut qu'il luy estoit permis d'esperer que la vie de mandane n'estoit point exposee de sorte que voulant faire part de sa joye a ses plus chers amis et mesme a mazare tout son rival qu'il estoit il l'envoya querir aussi bien qu'anacharsis artamas myrsile intapherne et atergatis ces trois derniers furent pourtant bien fachez de scavoir que leurs lettres n'avoient point este rendues mais ils eurent du moins la consolation d'aprendre que les personnes qu'ils aimoient se portoient bien cependant cyrus changea la responce qu'il vouloit faire a thomiris il ne la changea pourtant pas sans bien examiner en luy mesme s'il se devoit fier et a aryante et a gelonide 
 mais apres avoir considere qu'aryante estoit amoureux de mandane il conclut qu'il faloit de necessite adjouster foy a tout ce qu'on luy disoit de sa part pour la conservation de la vie de cette princesse si bien que s'estant affermi dans cette resolution il dit a l'envoye d'aryante en le congediant et en le chargeant de presens magnifiques que le procede de son maistre estoit si genereux qu'il luy redonnoit toute son estime et qu'il ne desesperoit pas qu'il ne le mist un jour en termes de luy redonner aussi toute son amitie en redonnant la liberte a la princesse mandane qu'en attendant il le conjuroit par sa propre gloire de vouloir continuer d'estre son protecteur et de l'advertir de tout ce qui pouvoit assurer la vie de cette princesse car enfin dit-il a l'envoye de son rival j'ay conceu une telle estime d'ayrante par ce qu'il vient de faire que je pense que s'il me mandoit que mandane seroit en danger si je ne me mettois dans les fers de thomiris j'irois les prendre sur sa parole d'autre part ce grand prince chargea chrysante de dire a la reine des massagettes qu'il estoit trop assure de sa vertu pour craindre rien pour la vie de mandane qu'il estoit persuade qu'elle estoit en seurete aupres d'elle et qu'il l'estoit aussi que s'il avoit a se remettre sous sa puissance il faloit que ce fust lors qu'elle auroit remis mandane entre les mains du roy des medes adjoustant que comme elle n'en parloit pas il n'avoit autre chose a luy dire 
 sinon qu'il luy demandoit pardon de ce que lors que son envoye luy avoit parle il avoit creu dans les premiers mouvemens de sa douleur qu'en effet elle avoit quelque mauvaise intention contre la vie de cette princesse mais que pour reparer cette faute il s'engageoit par serment de traiter si bien tous les prisonniers qui estoient dans son armee et tous ceux qui y seroient pendant la suitte de cette guerre qu'elle auroit lieu de ne se repentir pas de ne s'estre pas portee a une action de cruaute contre une princesse aussi vertueuse et aussi innocente que mandane chrysante ayant donc receu cette instruction partit pour aller vers thomiris mais quoy que cyrus eust respondu a aryante par celuy qu'il avoit renvoye il voulut pourtant que feraulas accompagnast chrysante et qu'il dist encore quelque chose de sa part a son rival et en effet ces deux fidelles serviteurs d'un illustre maistre furent s'aquiter de leur commission comme la responce de cyrus a thomiris estoit douce et civile et qu'elle ne scavoit pas que ce prince eust este adverti du veritable estat de son ame ny par aryante ny par gelonide elle luy donna beaucoup de joye principalement parce que la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame luy fit croire que cyrus n'estoit pas aussi amoureux de mandane qu'elle l'avoit pense puis qu'il ne se remettoit pas sous sa puissance si bien que cette imagination flattant son esprit elle receut chrysante assez favorablement et luy dit qu'elle 
 commencoit de croire que cyrus n'estoit pas coupable de la mort de son fils adjoustant qu'elle feroit tout ce qu'elle pourroit pour l'en justifier entierement et que si elle l'en trouvoit innocent il n'avoit rien a craindre pour mandane que cependant elle esperoit le voir bientost sous la puissance malgre luy et d'estre en peu de jours en estat de remporter sur luy l'avantage qu'il avoit remporte sur elle
 
 
 
 
mais comme elle cherchoit a pouvoir gagner quelques jours afin de donner loisir d'avancer aux troupes qui luy venoient elle proposa a chrysante une petite treve pour traiter disoit elle de la liberte de quelques prisonniers engageant mesme dans son discours beaucoup de choses qui luy donnoient lieu depenser que peut-estre cette reine demandoit elle ce temps la pour achever de se vaincre et pour redonner la liberte a mandane de sorte qu'il s'en separa avec promesse de dire a son maistre tout ce qu'elle luy avoit dit feraulas de son coste vit aryante qui respondit a ce que cyrus luy mandoit avec beaucoup de civilite mais quelque adroit que fust feraulas il luy fut impossible de voir ny mandane ny doralise ny martesie ce n'est pas qu'il ne vist gelonide et qu'elle ne le favorisast autant qu'elle put mais comme celuy qui gardoit alors mandane estoit plus au prince aryante qu'a thomiris la garde de cette princesse estoit fort exacte il sceut pourtant qu'on la servoit avec beaucoup de respect et qu'elle n'avoit 
 autre souffrance que la solitude et les visites d'aryante qui luy estoient beaucoup plus facheuses quoy qu'il ne la vist qu'avec la mesme soumission que s'il eust este son esclave mais si feraulas ne put voir mandane il eut la permission de voir la princesse de bithinie la princesse istrine et la belle arpasie a qui il dit des nouvelles de gadate d'intapherne d'atergatis de gobrias et d'hidaspe en qui elles prenoient divers interests elles n'eurent pourtant pas la liberte d'escrire mais elles chargerent feraulas de tant de choses a dire qu'il eut besoin de toute sa memoire pour les retenir la princesse de bithinie s'informa aussi fort soigneusement de la princesse araminte ayant beaucoup de joye d'aprendre qu'on attendoit spitridate de jour en jour au camp de cyrus mais enfin l'heure du despart de chrysante prenant feraulas de les quitter il s'en separa apres avoir remarque qu'il y avoit desja beaucoup d'amitie entre arpasie et ces deux princesses avec qui elle estoit alors cependant cyrus suivant sa premiere resolution avoit marche jusques a l'entree des bois des que chrysante avoit este party et s'estoit poste si pres de la premiere garde des ennemis qu'ils estoient en de continuelles escarmouches de sorte que ce fut en ce lieu la que chrysante et feraulas luy rendirent conte de leur voyage la proposition que thomiris luy faisoit l'embarrassa car il jugea bien qu'elle pouvoit ne luy estre faite que pour gagner temps 
 mais d'ailleurs chrysante qui pensoit avoir bien descouvert les sentimens de thomiris assuroit ce prince qu'infailliblement cette reine avoit quelque incertitude dans l'esprit qui pourroit luy estre avantageuse si on donnoit loisir a sa raison de surmonter sa passion cyrus ne se seroit pourtant pas resolu a la treve et il auroit continue d'avancer pour forcer le defile que les sauromates gardoient sans une chose que luy vint proposer un ingenieur qui venoit d'arriver a son armee et qui avoit la reputation d'avoir des secrets admirables en effet comme ce defile estoit long et difficile a forcer cyrus se trouvoit assez embarrasse a l'entreprendre car comme il n'avoit pu gagner une bataille sans que son armee en fust affoiblie il craignoit de perdre beaucoup de gens en cette occasion et de se trouver apres trop foible quand il seroit au dela des bois pour avancer vers les tentes royales ou estoit le rendez-vous des nouvelles troupes qui venoient de toutes parts a thomiris c'est pourquoy il escouta favorablement cet ingenieur qui luy fut proposer un expedient pour luy faire passer ce defile aveque moins de perte pourveu qu'il pust faire une treve de quelques jours pendant laquelle il disposeroit les choses necessaires pour faire reussir le dessein qu'il avoit mais comme cyrus ne vouloit jamais rien hazarder sur la prudence des autres il voulut que cet homme l'instruisist a fonds de ce qu'il pretendoit faire cet ingenieur luy dit donc qu'apres 
 avoir remarque qu'il y avoit deux defilez dans les bois qui n'estoient qu'a quinze stades l'un de l'autre et que c'estoient les seuls endroits par ou l'on les pouvoit passer il avoit encore sceu qu'il y en avoit un des deux que les ennemis gardoient plus soigneusement que l'autre et ou ils avoient beaucoup plus de troupes parce qu'ils estoient persuadez que ce seroit par celuy la qu'il les attaqueroit il luy dit de plus que sur ce fondement il avoit resolu que durant une treve ou les soldats des deux partis auroient la liberte d'aller et de venir dans les camps les uns des autres avec la permission des capitaines il feroit en sorte que les soldats de cyrus commandez pour cela faisant semblant de se promener dans les distances des bois qui separoient les deux defilez jetteroient en divers endroits contre les troncs des arbres une certaine composition faite avec un tel artifice qu'elle s'attachoit a toutes les choses qu'elle touchoit et qui avoit une telle disposition a s'embraser et a faire brusler le corps ou elle estoit attachee qu'une seule estincelle suffiroit pour mettre le feu au premier arbre dont le tronc en auroit este frote et pour embraser apres toute la forest pourveu que de distance en distance il y eust des arbres preparez par le moyen de cette composition a recevoir le feu et a le communiquer de sorte seigneur dit encore cet ingenieur a cyrus que ce que je pretens est que lors que j'auray prepare ces arbres d'une 
 maniere dont on ne se peut apercevoir parce que la composition qu'on y jette et de la couleur de leur ecorce et de celle de la mousse qui les couvre je pretens dis-je que comme en cette saison il se leve presques tous les soirs un vent avez fort qui dure jusques a ce que le soleil paroisse vous choisissiez une nuit ou il en face et que vous avanciez vers le defile ou la garde est la moins forte mais afin que vous le puissiez passer sans peine il faut qu'il ne puisse y avoir nulle communication entre les quartiers des ennemis et que l'espouvente se mette parmy eux dans le mesme temps que vous commencerez vostre attaque pour cet effet je feray mettre le feu a douze des arbres preparez a le recevoir qui embraseront si subitement toute cette partie du bois qui est encre les deux defilez que les ennemis surpris par une chose ou ils ne se seront pas attendus ne scauront qu'elle resolution prendre et n'oseront aller a travers les flammes secourir ceux des leurs que vous attaquerez ainsi quand ceux que vous aurez en teste ne s'estonneront pas pour cet accident impreveu ils ne laisseront pas d'estre assez facilement vaincus puis qu'ils ne seront point soustenus par ceux de qui ils se seront attendus de l'estre mais luy dit alors cyrus ce feu quand nous l'aurons mis a ces arbres preparez a le recevoir sera aussi dangereux pour nous que pour les ennemis nullement seigneur repiqua cet homme car outre que le 
 vent qui souffle ordinairement en cette saison le poussera contre les troupes que vous ne voulez pas qui puissent venir secourir ceux que vous attaquerez il faudra encore ne preparer pas des arabes si pres du coste que vous voudrez aller que de l'autre ainsi la chose s'executera sans danger pour vos troupes joint que faisant passer le secret de la chose de bouche en bouche sur le point de l'execution vos soldats bien loin d'estre espouventez de cet embrasement comme vos ennemis le seront en prendront un nouveau coeur par l'esperance qu'ils auront que ces flammes combatront pour eux cyrus apres cela fit encore diverses questions a cet homme et voulut voir une experience de cette composition merveilleuse dont la matiere principale estoit du limon d'un lac qui est en comagene assez pres d'une ville qui s'apelloit samosate et qui estant fort gluant s'attachoit inseparable ment a tout ce qu'il touchoit et avoit en luy une telle disposition a s'embraser et a consommer le corps ou il estoit attache qu'une simple estincelle pouvoit faire un grand embrasement cet embrasement estoit mesme d'autant plus dangereux que l'eau n'esteignoit pas cette espece de feu n'y ayant point d'autre invention pour l'esteindre que de jetter beaucoup de terre dessus aussi cet ingenieur assuroit-il a cyrus d'en avoir fait des prodiges se vantant mesme de scavoir tirer un certain extrait du limon de ce lac qui s'apelloit maltha qui 
 auoit la mesme force de cette dangereuse composition dont medee se servit autrefois pour faire mourir creuse mais comme il scavoit bien que cyrus n'estoit pas capable de songer a une vangeance lasche il n'exagera que l'invention qu'il avoit de pouvoir facilement embraser une forest et en effet ce grand prince luy dit tout ce qu'il put pour l'exhorter a ne publier pas qu'il eust un si dangereux secret de peur qu'on ne mist sa probite a une trop difficile espreuve en suitte de quoy il luy fit encore plusieurs questions sur l'invention qu'il luy proposoit cependant comme cyrus escoutoit cette proposition clans le mesme temps que chrysante luy raportoit que thomiris demandoit une treve il se resolut plus facilement a la luy accorder puis qu'au lieu de reculer ses desseins elle les pourroit avancer son grand coeur avoit pourtant de la repugnance a toutes les ruses que la guerre permet niais mazare a qui il en parla le pressa tellement de se servir d'une invention qui pouvoit accourcir la guerre que craignant que mandane ne l'accusast un jour d'avoir considere trop scrupuleusement sa gloire en une chose d'ou despendoit peut-estre sa vie il s'y resolut si bien qu'apres avoir tenu conseil de guerre sur ce sujet et avoir conclu qu'il ne faloit pas refuser la treve a une princesse aussi vindicative que thomiris et qui tenoit mandane en sa puissance cyrus renvoya chrysante vers cette reine de sorte que la treve 
 fut conclue pour huit jours et commencee dans les deux partis des qu'on l'eut publiee dans les deux camps thomiris proposa alors diverses choses pour retirer les officiers de son armee qui avoient este faits prisonniers a la bataille qu'elle avoit perdue et pour abuser le peuple et luy faire croire que ce n'estoit pas la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame qui estoit cause de la guerre qui le ruinoit elle fit mesme faire quelques propositions de paix qui n'eussent pas este tout a fait deraisonnables n'eust este qu'elle demandoit pour la seurete du traite que mandane demeurast trois ans en ostage dans sa cour cependant cyrus qui vouloit tascher de profiter d'une proposition si bizarre pria anacharsis d'aller dire a thomiris qu'il ne pouvoit luy respondre precisement si elle ne luy permettoit de voir mandane pour scavoir de sa bouche si elle voudroit consentir a ce qu'elle proposoit mais elle ne le voulut pas quoy qu'anacharsis luy peust dire si bien que durant ces huit jours ce ne furent que negociations inutiles on ne laissoit pourtant pas d'avoir dans tous les deux partis durant cette treve je ne scay qu'elle esperance incertaine que peut-estre produiroit elle quelque changement dans le coeur de thomiris et on l'espera d'autant plustost que cette reine emportee par sa passion demanda a traiter elle mesme avec cyrus dans la pensee que sa presence pourroit toucher le coeur de ce prince qui n'osant refuser cette entre-veue 
 quoy qu'elle l'embarrassast fort demanda aussi a son tour de parler du moins a aryante puis qu'on ne vouloit pas le faire parler a mandane cyrus eust sans doute bien voulu ne voir pas thomiris et aryante eust bien souhaite aussi de ne voir pas cyrus mais leurs interests estoient si bizarrement meslez qu'ils n'oserent refuser ce qu'on desiroit d'eux ainsi on se disposa a ces diverses entre veues qu'on resolut de faire au milieu des bois justement entre les gardes avancees des deux armees atergatis et intapherne demanderent a voir la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine et hidaspe aussi bien que gobrias demanda a voir la belle arpasie mais quoy que leur demande ne fust-pas moins juste que celle des deux premiers thomiris refusa a ceux cy ce qu'elle accorda aux autres il est vray que ce fut a la priere de licandre de sorte que l'admirable arpasie eut la douleur de ne pouvoir voir ny son pere ny son amant si bien qu'elle s'affligea avec exces de cette rigueur qui luy estoit particuliere la princesse de bithinie et la princesse istrine qui l'estimoient desja infiniment tascherent de la consoler de cette facheuse avanture et luy offrirent de dire aux deux princes qu'ils devoient voir dans un jour ou deux tout ce qu'elle voudroit faire scavoir a son pere et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison si ces deux princesses s'interessoient pour arpasie qui n'estoit pas sans doute une personne ordinaire elle estoit grande et de belle 
 taille quoy qu'elle ne fust pas de cette grandeur au dela de laquelle une femme ne plairoit pas mais elle estoit justement comme il faut estre pour ne paroistre pas petite aupres des plus grandes et pour ne paroistre pas aussi excessivement grande aupres des plus petites de plus arpasie avoit les cheveux d'un chastain cendre si admirable qu'on n'eust pu les souhaiter plus beaux et ils avoient une telle disposition a se friser que le vent tout seul en les agitant y faisoit des boucles et des anneaux beaucoup mieux que l'art ne les eust pu faire le tour du visage d'arpasie estoit ovale elle avoit les yeux bleux grands et passionnez et elle avoit la bouche si belle et taillee d'un tour si particulier qu'il suffisoit de voir le bas de son visage pour la connoistre en effet il y avoit un certain sourire spirituel aux coins de sa bouche et ses levres estoient si unies et d'un incarnat si vif que leur beaute estoit incomparable elle avoit de plus les joues si agreablement arrondies et l'on voyoit en son embonpoint une fraicheur si aimable qu'encore que le teint d'arpasie n'eust pas le dernier esclat de la blancheur on pouvoit dire qu'elle avoit pourtant le teint fort beau parce qu'elle l'avoit fort uni et fort lustre arpasie n'avoit sans doute pas le nez aussi regulierement beau que le reste du visage mais il n'estoit pourtant pas de ceux qui gastent quelquesfois de beaux et de fort beaux traits et s'il avoit quelque diffaut il servoit 
 mesme a donner un air plus releve a cette personne qui ayant outre ce que je viens de dire de belles dents une belle gorge et de fort beaux bras estoit sans doute une des plus charmantes fille du monde en effet arpasie avoit la mine si haute l'air si noble et le marcher si agreable qu'on ne pouvoit la voir sans avoir beaucoup de disposition a l'aimer elle dancoit mesme d'aussi bonne grace qu'elle marchoit et il se faisoit en sa personne un certain meslange d'enjouement et de serieux qui plaisoit infiniment pour son humeur elle estoit aussi charmante que sa beaute car enfin elle estoit tousjours douce civile et complaisante elle avoit sans doute quelque penchant a railler ou a aimer du moins ceux qui railloient bien mais elle retenoit pourtant son inclination et paroissoit pour l'ordinaire plustost serieuse qu'enjouee elle aimoit toutesfois tous les plaisirs principalement la conversation et la conversation un peu galante ce n'est pas qu'elle ne fust capable de passer une apresdisnee seule avec une de ses amies particulieres sans s'ennuyer parce qu'elle avoit un certain esprit d'accommodement ennemy de toute sorte de chagrin qui la faisoit prendre plaisir a tout ce qu'elle faisoit au reste elle estoit nee magnifique liberale et bonne et avec une ame si tendre qu'on estoit presques assure de n'estre pas hai quand on luy persuadoit qu'on l'aimoit elle n'estoit neantmoins pas capable d'une violente passion et le plaisir d'estre aimee 
 faisoit quelquefois qu'elle souffroit de l'estre plustost qu'une veritable inclination arpasie n'estoit pourtant nullement coquette et le desir de plaire qui estoit dans son coeur avoit une cause plus noble au reste elle avoit l'esprit si bien tourne et elle entroit si adroitement dans les sentimens de ceux dont elle vouloit scavoir les desseins qu'on peut dire que les coeurs qu'elle ne prenoit pas elle les ouvroit du moins quand elle en avoit envie et en penetroit le secret c'estoit pourtant sans paroistre fine et en effet arpasie avoit un temperamment si oppose a la finesse qu'elle n'avoit point d'amie qui ne la pust tromper une premiere fois tant elle estoit capable de cette espece de confiance genereuse qu'ont tous ceux qui aiment mieux s'exposer a la tromperie des autres que de paroistre avec une certaine prudence trop subtile qui sert bien souvent autant a tromper qu'a s'empescher d'estre trompe enfin arpasie ayant de la beaute de l'esprit et de la bonte plut tellement a la princesse de bithinie et a la princesse istrine que pour l'obliger a leur donner commission de dire quelque chose pour elle aux deux princes qu'elles devoient voir elles la presserent de leur aprendre ses avantures car en effet luy disoit istrine apres plusieurs autres choses il n'est pas possible que nous vous puissions servir si nous ne scavons vos malheurs ils sont de telle nature reprit elle que je ne pourrois attendre autre avantage de vous de les avoir racontez 
 celuy de vous avoir donne de la pitie quand cela seroit repliqua la princesse de bithinie il ne faudroit pas laisser de nous les dire car pour moy je trouve beaucoup de soulagement a estre pleinre il y en a sans doute reprit arpasie mais je suis si incapable d'aller raconter moy mesme tous les accidens de ma vie que si vous les vouliez absolument scavoir il faudroit que vous les sceussiez de la personne que la fortune a attachee a ma disgrace car outre qu'elle les scait aussi bien que moy il est encore vray que je ne scaurois raconter avec nul ordre des choses qui ont mis tant de desordre dan mon esprit que je ne scay presques plus ce que j'ay senti je scay bien qu'on dit que je souvenir des malheurs est doux mais il faudroit que je fusse heureuse pour pouvoir me souvenir agreablement de mes infortunes passees c'est pourquoy comme je ne suis pas en cet estat la vous me dispenserez s'il vous plaist de vous dire tout ce qui m'est arrive nous vous en dispenserons facilement repliqua la princesse de bithinie pourveu que l'aimable nyside qui est aveque vous nous l'aprenne j'y consens respondit arpasie et l'y consens d'autant plus volontiers que je pourray apres cela avoir droit de vous conjurer de souffrir que je scache toutes vos avantures ce n'est pas que comme elles ont este fort esclatantes la renommee ne m'en ait apris une grande partie mais comme elle ne publie presques jamais certaines petites choses qui sont pour l'ordinaire 
 la veritable cause de tous les grands eve- mens je seray bien aise de scavoir plus precisement toutes les injustices que la fortune a faites a vostre verru en mon particulier dit la princesse bithinie je m'engage a vous dire tout ce qui est arrive a la princesse istrine car comme elle n'aime pas a se louer elle mesme vous le scaurez mieux par moy que par elle comme cette raison ne me convient pas repliqua modestement istrine il faut que je la place mieux que vous ne la placez et que je m'engage a dire toutes vos avantures a la belle arpasie de peur que vous ne luy derobassiez par un sentiment modeste les plus beaux endroits de vostre vie cependant pour ne perdre point de temps il faut que ce soit s'il vous plaist des aujourd'huy dit elle a arpasie que nyside nous aprenne la vostre car comme nous ne scavons pas precisement le jour que nous verrons les deux princes par qui nous pourrons faire dire a cyrus et a gobrias ce que vous jugerez qui vous pourra servir il est a propos que nous nous instruisions mieux que nous ne le sommes de l'estat de vostre fortune pour vous tesmoigner que je veux bien vous descouvrir tous mes malheurs respondit elle je m'en vay vous laisser nyside avec ordre de vous dire mesme toutes mes foiblesses c'est une fille dont la fortune n'a pu abaisser le coeur en abaissant sa maison et qui a une telle part au mien qu'elle en scait tous les sentimens c'est pourquoy vous pouvez adjouster 
 foy a tout ce qu'elle vous dira excepte aux louanges qu'elle me donnera sans doute parce que l'amitie qu'elle a pour moy la preocupe a mon avantage quand nous l'aurons escoutee repliqua la princesse de bithinie nous vous rendrons justice et nous croirons assurement de vous tout ce que nous en devrons croire apres cela arpasie s'estant retiree et nyside estant demeuree seule avec les deux princesses qui la devoient escouter elle leur demanda pardon par avance du peu d'art qu'elle aporteroit a faire le recit qu'elles alloient entendre et elle le leur demanda avec tant d'esprit qu'elles eurent lieu de croire qu'elle le feroit fort bien et qu'elle estoit digne de la confiance de la belle arpasie de sorte qu'apres luy avoir rendu civilite pour civilite elles la presserent de commencer sa narration ce qu'elle fit en ces termes en adressant la parole a la princesse de bithinie comme estant fille de roy
 
 
 
 
histoire d'arpasie
 
 
quoy que je sois persuadee que vous avez assez bonne opinion du jugement de l'admirable arpasie pour croire qu'elle ne m'auroit pas fait l'honneur de m'ordonnerde vous raconter ses avantures si je ne les scavois 
 assez bien pour vous dire precisement les choses comme elles se sont passees je ne laisseray pas madame de vous assurer qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui les scache si parfaitement que moy et j'oserois presques dire que je les scay mieux qu'elle mesme car enfin l'accablement de ses propres disgraces luy a quelquesfois oste le loisir d'observer beaucoup de choses que j'ay veues avec moins de trouble quoy que j'aye toujours pris beaucoup de part a toutes ses douleurs en effet la fortune ayant renverse la maison dont je suis sortie qui a autrefois tenu un rang assez considerable et ayant perdu ceux qui m'avoient donne la vie en un age fort tendre je fus mite aupres d'arpasie comme ayant l'honneur d'avoir quelque alliance avec elle du coste de ma mere si bien qu'ayant tousjours este depuis mon enfance aupres de cette admirable personne j'ay non seulement veu de mes propres yeux tout ce qui luy est arrive mais j'ay encore eu l'avantage de scavoir ses plus secrettes pensees apres cela madame je ne m'amuseray point a vous parler de la naissance d'arpasie car vous n'ignorez pas que gobrias son pere a un petit estat qui ne reloue que des dieux et de luy et que luy et gadate estoient les deux plus grands seigneurs de tous ceux qui pretendoient autrefois a espouser nitocris je m'arresteray pas non plus a vous exagerer les premiers malheurs de la belle arpasie qui commencerent par la mort d'un frere aisne 
 qu'elle avoit qui mourut d'une maniere si funeste a babilone par la violence du feu roy d'assirie qu'il n'est pas possible que vous ne l'ayez sceu joint qu'arpasie estoit si jeune en ce temps la qu'elle n'estoit pas encore capable d'une longue douleur mais madame ce qu'il faut que vous scachiez est que gobrias depuis la perte de son fils se detacha entierement des interests du prince d'assirie il cacha pourtant son ressentiment par le respect qu'il voulu rendre a la reine nitocris qui vivoit encore mais des qu'elle fut morte et que le prince son fils eut mene la princesse mandane a babilone le desir de vangeance qu'il avoit dans le coeur commenca d'esclater et il ne pensa plus a autre chose qu'a imaginer par quelle voye il pourroit nuire au roy d'assirie pour cet effet il songea a faire ligue contre luy non seulement avec les princes voisins mais il pensa encore a s'unir avec tous les mescontens de cette cour la mais madame avant que de passer outre il faut que je vous die que gobrias ayant perdu sa femme aussi bien que son fils ne faisoit plus consister sa satisfaction qu'en l'aimable arpasie qui commencoit alors sa quinziesme annee et il l'aimoit d'autant plus qu'il la regardoit comme une personne qui devoit contribuer a la vangeance qu'il vouloit prendre du roy d'assirie comme je le diray dans la suite de mon discours cependant il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y avoit alors un gouverneur 
 d'une province qui apartenoit a ce roy qui scachant bien qu'il ne l'aimoit pas et qu'assurement il luy osteroit son gouvernement ne cherchoit qu'une occasion de se revolter si bien que n'ignorant pas que gobrias avoit de grands sujets de pleinte il envoya un neveu qu'il avoit vers luy afin de sonder ses sentimens et il l'y envoya aussi tost apres la mort de nitocris mais madame comme celuy dont je parle qui se nommoit astidamas a este la principale cause de tous les malheurs d'arpasie il faut que je vous le depeigne tel qu'il estoit lors qu'il vint a la ville ou gobrias faisoit son plus ordinaire sejour et ou arpasie se plaisoit extremement et a dire vray ce n'estoit pas sans sujet car bien que ce ne soit pas l'ordinaire que les places sortes soient fort agreables celle la l'est infiniment et par sa scituation et par le beau pais qui l'environne et par la magnificence du chasteau qui fait sa principale force de plus quoy que cette petite cour n'eust pas le tumulte des grandes elle laissoit pas d'estre agreable et divertissante aussi astidamas s'y plut il d'abord extremement lors qu'il y vint mais pour vous le depeindre comme l'en ay eu le dessein il faut que je vous die qu'il estoit de taille mediocre mais bien faite qu'il avoit les cheveux et les yeux noirs et que sans qu'on pust dire qu'il fust ny beau ny laid il estoit infiniment agreable 
 principalement parce qu'il avoit tout a fait l'air du monde et qu'il y avoit en son procede un certain enjouement plein de liberte qui plaisoit fort au reste il estoit propre et magnifique en habillemens et il entendoit si bien ces sortes de choses qu'on ne luy a jamais veu de couleurs mal assorties de plus sa conversation estoit divertissante et commode et il tournoit les choses d'un certain biais qu'il n'estoit pas necessaire qu'il en dist de belles pour plaire parce que le seul air dont il disoit les plus communes faisoit cet effet la c'estoit pourtant un homme qu'il faloit plustost voir en conversation generale qu'en conversation particuliere car comme il avoit une espece d'enjouement inquiet dans l'esprit qui le faisoit eternellement passer d'objet en objet il ne pouvoit s'assujettir a parler long temps d'une mesme chose ny a une mesme personne ainsi plus la compagnie estoit grande plus la sienne estoit agreable il dancoit de fort bonne grace et il chantoit mesme passablement bien pour un homme de qualite mais madame apres vous avoir dit ce qu'astidamas avoit de bon il faut que je vous die ce qu'il avoit de mauvais et que je vous aprenne que ses moeurs n'estoient pas fort innocentes du coste de la valeur on ne luy pouvoit rien reprocher mais il avoit une ame si voluptueuse et il se faisoit des plaisirs de si bizarre maniere qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'aimer 
 des qu'on le connoissoit bien pour ses amours elles estoient toutes particulieres car il paroissoit tantost inconstant et tantost opiniastrement amoureux je pense toutefois qu'a le bien definir il aimoit plus a estre aime qu'il n'aimoit celles qui l'aimoient quoy qu'en certaines occasions il ait pourtant paru avoir effectivement de l'amour il est vray que je suis persuadee qu'on a quelquesfois attribue a cette passion des choses qu'il a faites qu'on ne luy devoit pas attribuer car je croy fortement qu'il suffisoit qu'astidamas eust voulu faire une chose pour l'engager a la pousser aussi loin qu'il estoit possible non pas tant pour la chose mesme que parce qu'il l'avoit entreprise cependant il paroissoit civil complaisant et tousjours tout prest a dire quelque galanterie a la premiere dame qu'il trouvoit astidamas estant donc tel que je viens de vous le despeindre vint comme je l'ay desja dit de la part de son oncle pour sonder les sentimens de gobrias et pour tascher de le porter a entreprendre quelque chose contre le nouveau roy d'assirie de sorte qu'il fut receu de luy avec beaucoup de joye et beaucoup de magnificence il commanda mesme a arpasie de luy faire voir toutes les dames chez elle il ne s'y fit pourtant point d'assemblee a cause de la mort de la reine nitocris mais on se promena souvent on fit quelques parties de chasse et la conversation fut le plaisir le plus 
 ordinaire d'abord astidamas plut a toutes les dames a la reserve d'arpasie car soit qu'elle connust plu s promptement que les autres tout ce qu'il y avoit a connoistre de mal en astidamas ou soit par une aversion naturelle elle se contraignit pour le louer cela ne parut pourtant pas alors parce que comme elle scavoit les intentions de son pere elle eut toute la civilite imaginable pour astidamas pour luy il parut estre si touche de la beaute de cette admirable fille de son esprit et de son merite que personne ne douta qu'il n'en fust amoureux et arpasie elle mesme le creut comme les autres neantmoins quoy qu'elle n'eust aucuns sentimens pour luy qui luy fussent avantageux elle vit cette passion naissante sans chagrin car outre qu'elle ne prevoyoit pas que cette amour pust avoir de suitte qui luy pust nuire puis qu'astidamas devoit s'en retourner dans peu de jours il est encore vray qu'elle estoit en un age ou l'on n'a guere souvent besoin de consolation pour avoir fait une nouvelle conqueste ainsi arpasie sans rebuter astidamas et sans faire semblant de s'apercevoir de sa passion vescut fort civilement aveque luy de sorte que comme il estoit d'humeur a esperer aisement il fut amant sans estre miserable quoy qu'il n'eust aucun sujet d'estre heureux cependant tout le monde parloit de la passion d'astidamas a arpasie et je 
 pense mesme pouvoir dire que les autres luy en parloient plus que luy en effet on en parla tant et il sceut si bien tout ce qu'on disoit de cette pretendue passion qu'il se servit du grand bruit qu'elle faisoit dans cette petite cour pour la descouvrir a arpasie et il le fit assurement d'une maniere assez galante et assez particuliere quoy qu'elle fust un peu brusque comme il estoit donc un jour chez elle il arriva que les choses de dispo- serent d'une certaine facon que la conversation fut tellement partagee entre toutes les personnes qui s'y trouverent alors que quoy qu'on fust place pour pouvoir parler tous ensemble on parloit pourtant deux a deux et astidamas avoit este si heureux que c'estoit luy qui parloit a la belle arpasie de sorte que voulant profiter d'une occasion si favorable il se mit a l'entretenir et a la louer scachant bien qu'il n'y a point de meilleure preparation que les louanges pour faire recevoir une declaration d'amour favorablement mais comme arpasie voulut par modestie changer de discours et destourner cette conversation de peur qu'elle n'allast plus loin qu'elle ne vouloit apres s'estre agreablement deffendue des choses flateuses qu'il luy avoit dittes elle luy fit remarquer que le hazard avoit justement amene autant de gens chez elle qu'il en faloit pour pouvoir s'entretenir deux a deux mais ce que j'admire le plus adjousta-t'elle 
 est que toutes les personnes qui sont icy se soient trouvees avoir toutes a dire chacune un secret a une de celles qui les touchent et que le hazard les ait si bien placees qu'elles avent pu s'entretenir en particulier plust aux dieux madame luy dit alors astidamas qui avoit ouy que deux dames qui le touchoient parloient de sa passion pour arpasie qu'apres avoir admire ce que le hazard a fait vous eussiez en suitte la curiosite de scavoir ce que toutes ces personnes se disent et que vous leur commandassiez absolument de vous le dire a l'heure mesme je vous assure repliqua-t'elle que si elles estoient d'humeur a satisfaire ma curiosite elles me feroient un grand plaisir elles m'en feroient peutestre plus qu'a vous reprit-il ce n'est pas que je ne croye que vous estes naturellement plus eurieuse que je ne suis curieux mais c'est que comme je devine assez aisement par les mouvemens du visage ce que des gens qui parlent bas disent je crois scavoir une partie de ce que vous voudriez qu'on vous dist ha sans mentir astidamas repliqua-t'elle vous portez la science des conjectures trop loin et si vous aviez celle de deviner tout ce que disent des gens qui parlent bas je pense que je vous prierois de me l'aprendre pour vous en donner l'envie repliqua-t'il et pour vous monstrer que je ne ments pas si vous le voulez je vous diray ce que les deux dames qui me touchent 
 viennent de dire et puis quand je vous l'auray dit vous leur demanderez si je m'esloigne de la verite je le veux bien respondit elle mais ce sera a condition que si vous avez mal devine vous ne vous meslerez jamais de deviner car je n'aimerois pas en mon particulier que vous m'allassiez faire dire des choses ou je n'aurois jamais pense je m'y engage volontiers repliqua-t'il parce que je scay bien que je ne me trompe pas dittes moy donc promptement reprit elle ce que vous pensez que ces dames ont dit elles ont dit madame respondit il en la regardant que je suis esperdument amoureux de vous c'est pourquoy vous ne devez pas trouver si estrange que je devine ce qu'elles disent puis qu'elles ont bien devine ce que je ne vous ay encore lamais dit quoy qu'il n'y ait rien de plus vray que ce qu'elles viennent de dire ha astidamas reprit arpasie en rougissant vous scavez mal deviner et ces dames devineroient aussi mal que vous si elles pensoient ce que vous dittes vous plaist il madame repliqua-t'il que je leur face advouer devant vous qu'elles ont dit ce que je viens de vous dire et que je vous face en suitte advouer a vous mesme que ce qu'elles pensent est vray ha pour cette derniere chose reprit elle il ne vous seroit pas aise de la faire et pour l'autre il n'est pas a propos de l'entreprendre pourveu que vous me veuilliez croire sur ma parole reprit-il 
 je n'auray que faire du tesmoignage de ces dames mais si vous ne les faites pas je pense que je prieray tous ceux qui parlent de mon amour de vous en parler comme ils en parlent aux autres et je vous suplieray madame de ne vous offencer non plus de ce que je vous en diray que vous vous estes offencee lors qu'on vous en a dit quelque chose car il ne seroit pas juste que vous vissiez tous les jours des gens que je scay bien qui vous ont dit que je vous aime et que vous me bannissiez parce que je vous aurois dit que je vous adore ce que vous dittes est si plaisamment pense pour une raillerie galante repliqua-t'elle que je n'ay garde de le prendre serieusement pourveu que tout en raillant vous croyez que ce que je dis est vray respondit-il vous en userez comme il vous plaira il vous seroit si peu avantageux que je le creusse reprit arpasie que vous feriez bien de ne le souhaiter pas cependant je vous declare que je n'aime pas mesme qu'on me die en raillant ce que vous venez de me dire et que si je vous pouvois soubconner d'avoir le dessein de me le dire une autre fois je ne vous parlerois de ma vie en particulier mais madame luy dit-il qu'elle injustice est la vostre de vouloir bien souffrir que tout le monde vous die que je suis amoureux de vous et de ne vouloir pas endurer que je vous le dise moy mesme quoy que je le scache bien mieux que ceux qui vous l'ont dit ne le scavent je vous assure repliqua-t'elle qu'on ne m'a 
 point dit que vous fussiez amoureux de moy et que si on me le disoit on ne me feroit pas plaisir je serois donc bien malheureux repliqua-t'il car depuis qu'il est des dames je suis assure qu'il n'y en a guere eu qui se soient offencees quand on leur a dit qu'elles avoient fait une nouvelle conqueste quoy qu'elles se soient fachees lors que ceux qui les aimoient le leur ont voulu dire c'est pourtant une injustice effroyable adjousta-t'il que celle qu'ont toutes les femmes en cette occasion comme je ne suis pas persuadee que vous ayez raison repliqua-t'elle tout haut pour rendre la conversation generale il faut que toute la compagnie juge si vous estes equitable de condamner toutes les dames comme vous faites tous ceux qui estoient aupres d'arpasie avant entendu ce qu'elle disoit interrompirent leur conversations particulieres et se mirent en estat d'escouter la proposition qu'elle leur vouloir faire en luy demandant qu'elle estoit l'injustice d'astidamas pour vous la faire connoistre dit elle je n'ay qu'a vous dire qu'astidamas avance hardiment qu'il n'y a point de femme qui ne trouve bon qu'on luy die qu'elle a fait une nouvelle conqueste et il trouve en suitte fort estrange que parce qu'on ne querelle pas tousjours outrageusement ceux qui font la guerre de ces sortes de choses on n'escoute pas aussi paisiblement ceux dont on est accuse d'avoir assujetti le coeur vous estes tousjours si equitable reprit 
 une des dames a qui elle parloit qui se nomme stenobire qu'on est assure d'estre du parti de la raison des qu'on est du vostre et vous estes si forte toute seule a soustenir mesme une mauvaise cause adjousta une autre qu'il n'est pas necessaire de se joindre a vous pour vous faire vaincre astidamas pour moy dit un homme de qualite appelle tirimene j'avoue que la plainte qu'astidamas fait des dames me paroist si raisonnable que j'ay murmure mille et mille fois contre l'injustice qu'elles ont en effet adjousta astidamas y a t'il rien de plus injuste que le procede de toutes les femmes car enfin a parler en general elles souffrent qu'on leur die qu'elles donnent de l'amour pourveu que ce ne soit pas ceux a qui elles en ont effectivement donne qui leur en parlent je suis pourtant persuade que si une dame a quelque droit de trouver mauvais qu'un homme luy die qu'il est amoureux d'elle elle en a beaucoup d'avantage de ne trouver pas bon que des gens qui ont l'aiment point l'entretiennent de ses conquestes toutesfois l'usage a presques fait une loy de cette injustice et il n'est point de femme a qui on ne puisse dire qu'elle fait bien des mal heureux que ses yeux mettent le feu par tout qu'on connoist des gens qui ont le coeur touche pour elle qu'on en scait d'autres qui en mourront et mille autres choses semblables cependant jamais femme n'a rompu avec ses amis 
 ny avec ses amies pour luy avoir parle de la puissance de sa beaute et ce qu'il y a de terrible et que si ces mesmes gens dont toutes les belles souffrent qu'on leur face la guerre pensent ouvrir la bouche pour leur dire seulement je vous aime elles les veulent bannir elles les mal-traitent elles leur imposent un silence eternel et elles les menacent de leur haine cette regle n'est pas si generale que vous le pensez repliqua stenobire en souriant car je connois des femmes qui s'offencent peut-estre plus quand leurs amies leur font la guerre d'avoir donne de l'amour a quelqu'un que lors que celuy a qui elles en ont donne leur en parle il est vray que ce que vous dittes arrive quelquefois repliqua tirimene mais cela n'arrive jamais que ce ne soit lors que la dame a une amitie liee avec celuy dont on luy parle ainsi cette colere n'est pas causee par un exces de severite en effet dit alors astidamas tirimene a raison et il n'y eut jamais que celles qui ont une galanterie qui se fachent qu'on leur parle de leurs conquestes car pour les autres quand elles ont dit negligeamment qu'on se trompe qu'on ne s'y connoist pas qu'on ne dit pas ce qu'on croit ou que du moins elles n'en croyent rien elles ne s'en tourmentent pas d'avantage mais si le pauvre amant s'en mesle la fureur les prend et elles ont autant de colere de ce qu'il leur dit que les autres dames qui escoutent paisiblement leurs amants en ont quand d'autres 
 leur en font la guerre cependant je ne pardonne ny aux unes ny aux autres car je ne trouve point bon qu'une dame qui escoute volontiers son amant trouve si mauvais que les autres s'apercoivent de l'amour qu'on a pour elle et luy en disent quelque chose mais je trouve encore bien plus mauvais que celles qui souffrent qu'on leur die des annees entieres qu'elles ont donne de l'amour a celuy cy et a celuy-la ne veuillent pas souffrir que ceux qui les adorent leur disent durant un quart d'heure seulement tous les maux qu'ils endurent pour elles s'il y avoit quelque reformation a faire a l'usage repliqua brusquement arpasie ce seroit sans doute celuy de faire qu'il n'y eust jamais de femmes qui escoutassent leurs amans et qu'il n'y en eust point suffi qui souffrissent que leurs amies leur fissent la guerre d'avoir donne de l'amour ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que la raison pourquoy on le souffre ne soit assez forte pour excuser celles qui en usent de cette maniere car enfin ce qui fait qu'on ne querelle pas ceux qui disent de ces choses-la c'est qu'on scait qu'ils ne les disent qu'avec l'intention de dire une flatterie s'imaginant qu'on ne peut dire fortement a une dame qu'elle est aimable si on ne luy dit qu'elle est aimee ainsi prenant en ces occasions ces sortes de choses la comme une flatterie de ceux qui parlent plustost que comme une verite on les escoute sans se facher mais lors qu'un homme perd le respect jusques 
 au point de dire a une femme ce qu'il scait bien qu'elle ne doit pas escouter cette colere est aussi juste que l'autre seroit mal sondee vous deffendez une mauvaise cause avec tant d'esprit reprit astadamas que tant que vous avez parle peu s'en est falu que je n'aye quitte mon parti pour estre du vostre mais madame vous n'avez pas plustost eu ferme la bouche que je suis revenu dans mon premier sentiment c'est pourquoy que je vous declare que si c'est un crime que de donner de l'amour il ne faut pas trouver bon que vos amies vous en accusent et que si ce n'en est pas un il ne faut pas trouver mauvais que celuy a qui vous en avez donne vous le dise aussi bien que les autres car il n'est pas juste que ceux qui ne souffrent ny peine ny inquietude de la passion dont ils vous parlent avent la liberte de vous en entretenir et que ceux qui la souffrent avec des tourmens incroyables n'osent seulement dire ce qu'ils endurent en mon particulier reprit arpasie en rougissant j'ay peu d'interest a cette dispute car je ne suis point de celles qui escoutent paisiblement leurs amans et qui se fachent contre leurs amies et je ne me souviens pas non plus qu'on m'ait jamais dit que personne ait eu de l'amour pour moy ha madame repliqua stenobire qui ne scavoit pas ce qui venoit de se passer entre astidamas et arpasie vous n'estes pas tout a fait sincere car il me semble que je vous ay dit que je connoissois 
 des gens a qui vostre beaute preparoit bien de suplices j'ay donc la memoire bien mauvaise repliqua t'elle froidement mais si vous dittes vray et que je veuille profiter de ce qu'astidamas a dit il faut que je me fache contre vous et en verite stenobire adjousta-t'elle je me facherois aisement si je vous pouvois croire apres cela arpasie proposant de s'aller promener la conversation changea mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que ces deux dames qui estoient aupres d'astidamas et qu'il avoit entendues lors qu'elles avoient parle de la passion qu'il avoit pour arpasie ne trouverent pas plustost une occasion d'entretenir cette belle personne durant la promenade que pensant luy faire plaisir elles luy dirent tout ce qu'elles avoient dit bas et l'assurerent tellement qu'astidamas l'aimoit et qu'elles n'avoient parle d'autre chose qu'elle comprit bien alors qu'il faloit qu'il eust entendu ce qu'elles avoient dit lors qu'il luy avoit parle comme il avoit fait cependant comme elle avoit naturellement aversion pour luy elle eut presques autant de chagrin d'estre obligee de croire qu'astidamas l'aimoit qu'elle en eust deu avoir si elle eust apris qu'une personne qu'elle eust aimee l'eust haie mais ce qui la confirma en l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour astidamas fut qu'on descouvrit que dans le mesme temps qu'il agissoit comme estant amoureux d'elle il ne laissoit pas de se derober pour 
 aller quelquesfois avec assez d'empressement chez une femme de qualite qui estoit fort belle mais qui avoit eu si peu de conduite en sa vie que celles qui estoient un peu soigneuses de leur reputation ne la voyoient point de sorte que comme arpasie avoit une aversion estrange pour ceux qui estoient capables de traiter presques esgallement toutes sortes de femmes pourveu qu'elles fussent belles elle conceut une espece d'aversion pour astidamas qui ressembloit si fort a la haine que si elle n'eust eu beaucoup de respect pour son pere elle n'eust pu la luy cacher toutesfois comme il est certain qu'astidamas estoit fort agreable quand on ne le connoissoit guere et qu'on n'avoit pas dans l'esprit une certaine purete delicate qui fait qu'on a l'imagination blessee de beaucoup de choses dont les autres ne l'ont pas la plus grande partie des femmes l'estimoit sort mais enfin astidamas apres avoir este un mois aupres de gobrias s'en retourna vers son oncle qui le consideroit comme son fils parce qu'il n'avoit point d'enfans et il s'y en retourna sans avoir aucun sujet ny de se louer ny de se pleindre d'arpasie car elle avoit vescu avec tant de prudence par la peur d'irriter son pere que l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour astidamas n'avoit para qu'a moy seulement a qui elle avoit fait la grace de la confier quelques jours apres son retour a alfene il vint un envoye de la part de protogene oncle d'astidamas et durant 
 quelque temps on entendoit tousjours dire que gobrias envoyoit vers protogene ou que protogene envoyoit vers gobrias on ne s'en estonnoit toutesfois pas car comme l'enlevement de la princesse mandane avoit mis alors toute l'asie en un esbranlement universel et que la mort de la reine nitocris avoit aussi aporte beaucoup de changement dans les esprits de ceux qui estoient attachez aux interests du roy d'assirie on jugeoit bien que chacun songeant a sa seurete et examinant quel parti on devoit prendre en une guerre qu'on prevoyoit avec certitude devoit bien tost estre il y avoit lieu de negociation entre gobrias et protogene on ne penetroit pourtant pas tout le secret de cette affaire mais nous le penetrasmes bien tost car madame il faut que vous scachiez que gobrias ayant traite avec protogene afin de se vanger du roy d'assirie ils resolurent qu'ils se rangeroient du parti de cyrus et qu'ils attendroient toutesfois a se declarer que ce prince eust une armee en campagne et qu'il avancast vers babilone comme il y avoit apparence qu'il feroit mais pour faire que leurs interests fussent plus unis et que leur traite fust plus solidement fait ils resolurent de faire le mariage d'arpasie et d'astidamas si bien qu'un matin que cette belle personne ne prevoyoit pas le malheur qui luy devoit arriver gobrias luy vint dire qu'il faloit qu'elle se disposast a partir dans huit jours pour l'aller 
 espouser a alfene qui estoit le lieu ou protugene faisoit son plus ordinaire sejour de vous dire madame qu'elle fut la douleur d'arpasie il ne me seroit pas aise cependant comme elle craignoit gobrias elle n'osa luy tesmoigner l'horrible aversion qu'elle avoit pour ce mariage n'ignorant pas qu'elle la tesmoigneroit inutilement car elle jugeoit bien que son pere ne rompoit pas un traite de la nature de celuy qu'il avoit fait quand mesme elle auroit employe toutes ses larmes pour l'y obliger si bien que se faisant une violence estrange pour cacher l'exces de sa douleur elle dit a son pere qu'elle luy obeiroit mais elle le luy dit avec une tristesse qui trahit son coeur et qui luy fit connoistre une partie de ce qu'elle ne vouloit pas monstrer neantmoins gobrias estant trop engage dans les desseins de vengeance qu'il avoit ne fit pas semblant de remarquer qu'elle obeissoit avec peine et donna tous les ordres necessaires pour faire ce voyage avec beaucoup de magnificence car comme il ne vouloir pas qu'on soubconnast rien de la ligue qu'il faisoit il publia le mariage de sa fille avec astidamas afin qu'on ne s'estonnast point de ce qu'il alloit a alfene et qu'on ne creut pas que ce fust pour conferer avec protogene qui n'estoit pas en estat de le venir trouver parce qu'il avoit quelques incommoditez qui l'en empeschoient de sorte que voulant donc pretexter son voyage du mariage de sa fille on en fit tous les preparatifs avec 
 beaucoup d'esclat et arpasie fut contrainte de recevoir toutes les visites de ceux qui venoient se rejouir avec elle de la chose du monde qui luy donnoit le plus de douleur ce qui augmentoit encore son affliction estoit qu'un de ceux que gobrias avoit envoye a alfene n'avoit dit mille choses d'astidamas qui n'estoient pas propres a luy aquerir l'estime d'arpasie si bien que ne prevoyant pas alors qu'elle le deust jamais espouser je les luy avois dittes pour la louer d'avoir sceu si bien connoistre ce que les autres n'avoient pas connu de sorte qu'ayant besoin de toute sa patience en cette rencontre elle estoit quelquesfois contrainte de chercher quelque consolation en se pleignant a moy de la rigueur de sa fortune cependant comme les affaires dont il s'agissoit vouloient de la di- gence toutes les choses necessaires pour ce voyage furent bientost prestes et nous partismes plustost que nous ne l'avions creu presques tout ce qu'il y avoit de jeunes gens de qualite aupres de gobrias luy suivirent pour luy faire honneur et cette petite cour errante s'il est permis de parler ainsi eust elle fort agreable si arpasie n'eust pas eu dans le coeur le chagrin qu'elle y avoit elle s'estoit mesme trouvee obligee par le commandement de son pere de respondre a une lettre qu'astidamas luy avoit escrite et d'y respondre avec toute la civilite d'une personne qui le regardoit comme devant estre son mary cependant 
 il est certain que la lettre qu'elle avoit receue qu'astidamas n'estoit pas trop obligeante en effet madame je ne croy pas qu'on en ait jamais escrit une telle car enfin elle estoit pleine d'esprit et bien escrite toutes les paroles en estoient civiles et respectueuses et toutesfois elles estoient disposees de telle sorte qu'elles n'obligeoient point car il y avoit je ne scay quel carractere de tiedeur en toute cette lettre qui faisoit qu'elle n'avoit rien de tendre ni de passionne et l'on eust dit enfin qu'elle estoit escrite par un homme qui n'estoit point amoureux et qui avoit pourtant voulu escrire une lettre d'amour parce qu'il estoit oblige vous pouvez donc aisement juger quels estoient les entretiens particuliers que j'avois avec arpasie durant ce voyage aussi vouloit elle bien souvent que je fusse seule dans son chariot afin de me pouvoir parler avec liberte pretextant la chose de l'incommodite du chaud qu'il faisoit si bien que pour l'ordinaire toutes les femmes qui la suivoient estoient dans d'autres chariots et j'estois seule avec elle suivant donc cet ordre je me trouvay un jour tout entier avec arpasie sans parler d'autre chose que de son malheur car a mesure que nous aprochions d'alfene sa melancolie augmentoit de sorte que comme nous n'en estions plus qu'a deux journees elle avoit un redoublement de chagrin estrange elle eut toutefois quelque consolation de scavoir que gobrias s'arresteroit quelques jours 
 a un bourg ou nous allions coucher afin d'envoyer encore vers protogene de qui il avoit eu des nouvelles en chemin qui mettoient quelque legere difficulte au traite qu'il avoit fait et qu'il vouloit terminer par negociation devant que d'avancer d'avantage nous ne sceumes pourtant par alors la veritable cause du sejour que nous devions faire a ce bourg au contraire gobrias dit a sa fille que c'estoit seulement parce que les choses necessaires pour la recevoir magnifiquement n'estoient pas encore prestes quoy qu'il en soit arpasie eut quelque legere consolation comme je l'ay dit de ce petit retardement bien qu'elle eust neantmoins tousjours beaucoup de douleur de s'aprocher d'un lieu ou elle croyoit devoir estre tres malheureuse mais madame il faut que je vous die ce qui nous arriva ce jour que nous nous entretenions d'une maniere si triste ce jour dis-je que nous estions si proche du bourg ou nous devions nous arrester qu'il n'y avoit plus qu'une petite riviere a passer sur laquelle il y avoit un petit pont de planches et de gazon soustenu sur des pilotis qui servoit a passer les gens de pied mais qui ne pouvoit servir a passer des chariots parce qu'il estoit trop foible et trop estroit vous scaurez donc que quelques gens du pais ayant adverti gobrias que depuis quelques jours la chutte d'un torrent dans cette petite riviere y avoit aporte tant de cailloux d'une montagne voisine qu'il estoit assez dangereux de la passer dans un 
 chariot jusques a ce qu'on eust remedie a ce desordre qui faisoit tant d'inesgalitez au fonds de l'eau il falut se resoudre a descendre et a passer cette riviere sur ce petit pont dont je viens de vous parler mais comme cette resolution ne fut pas si tost prise parce que gobrias vouloit voir luy mesme a travers l'eau si ces gens luy disoient la verite nous fusmes assez longtemps arrestez aupres de ce pont rustique au dela duquel nous voiyons un honme d'admirablement bonne mine qui se promenoit avec un autre au bord de cette petite riviere avant que nous fussions la comme je l'ay sceu depuis et qui s'estoit arreste a nous regarder des que nous nous estions arrestez comme arpasie n'avoit l'esprit remply que de ce qui causoit son chagrin elle ne vit pas plustost cet agreable inconnu que s'imaginant que c'estoit peut estre quelque amy d'astidamas qu'il envoyoit vers son pere elle en changea de couleur et se tournant vers moy ha niside me dit elle je seray au desespoir si cet estranger que je voy et qui a si bonne mine est envoye par astidamas car je vous advoue que dans l'aversion que j'ay pour luy je voudrois qu'il n'eust que de sots amis et que je devinsse moy mesme ce que je ne crois pas estre afin qu'il eust une femme digne de luy le souhait que vous faites est si injuste luy dis-je et l'execution en est si impossible que vous le faites inutilement mais pour cet estranger adjoustay-je il n'y a pas aparence qu'il soit la comme amy d'astidamas parce que si 
 cela estoit il se seroit desja avance et je suis assuree qu'il ne s'y arreste que pour avoir le plaisir de vous voir de plus pres quand vous passerez le pont car comme vous pouvez voir d'ou vous estes qu'il a fort bonne mine il peut aussi voir d'ou il est que vous estes digne d'arrester ses regards et peut-estre mesme luy dis je en riant pour detourner son esprit de son chagrin ordinaire que s'il vous regarde encore un quart d'heure il sera rival d'astidamas du moins a-t'il la mine assez haute pour estre de condition a le pouvoir devenir plust aux dieux repliqua brusquement arpasie que ce que vous dittes fust vray et que cet homme quel qu'il soit m'aimast assez pour troubler tous les desseins d'astidamas a condition toutesfois que je ne l'aimasse pas assez moy mesme pour troubler mon propre repos je pensois madame luy dis-je que la haine que vous avez pour astidamas fust assez forte pour vous obliger a ne faire nulle exception et que vous aimeriez mesme mieux aimer cet inconnu que d'estre femme de l'autre en verite repliqua-t'elle si c'estoit une proposition d'une chose possible on m'embarrasseroit estrangement si on me la faisoit car il est vray qu'il est peu de choses que je ne fisse pour n'espouser point astidamas pendant que nous parlions ainsi je voyois que cet estranger regardoit arpasie avec beaucoup d'attachement et que s'aprochant insensiblement du bout du pont ou il jugeoit bi qu'elle passeroit il agissoit come un honme qui la trouvoit fort belle de loin 
 et qui la vouloit voir de plus pres de sorte que nous continuasmes de parler de luy jusques a ce que nous descendissions du chariot ou nous estions pour passer le pont mais madame comme la veue est admirable de ce lieu la principalement quand on est au lieu de ce petit pont parce qu'on peut voir de droit fil le courant de l'eau arpasie a qui un de ces hommes de qualite qui acconpagnoient gobrias donnoit la main s'y arresta pou jouir un peu plus longtemps d'un si bel objet luy semblant mesme qu'elle differoit son malheur de quelques momens en ne se hastant pas de marcher et puis a dire la verite cet endroit est tout a fait agreable car d'un coste la riviere est aussi droite qu'un canal jusques a de superbes ruines d'un beau chasteau qui bornent la veue de ce coste la et de l'autre cette mesme riviere fait tant de tours et de detours dans de grandes prairies qu'elle arrose qu'on diroit qu'on voit cinq ou six rivieres au lieu d'une mais ce qui rend encore cet aspect plus agreable c'est qu'au dela de ces prairies on voit un rang de montagnes qui s'eslevant les unes sur les autres semblent aller jusques au nues et enfermer ce paisage de ce coste la et au contraire la veue est si libre de celuy qui est oppose au bourg qui est basty assez pres de cette petite riviere que les yeux se lasseroient dans une plaine d'une si vaste estendue s'ils n'estoient agreablement arrestez par diverses petites touffes de bois par de jolis hameaux par des cabanes de bergers et par un nonbre infini de 
 troupeaux dont cette plaine est couverte de sorte qu'arpasie estant au milieu de ce petit pont d'ou l'on descouvre toutes les beautez de ce paisage s'y arresta comme je l'ay desja dit et elle s'y arresta d'autant plus longtemps qu'une nue ayant cache le soleil elle y pouvoit estre sans incommodite joint qu'estant desja assez bas il n'avoit plus assez de chaleur pour incommoder considerablement si bien que par ce moyen cet inconnu qui estoit au bout du pont eut le loisir d'admirer la beaute d'arpasie qui ayant son voile leve me parut effectivement plus belle que je ne l'avois jamais veue en effet comme elle avoit un peu chaud sa beaute en estoit plus esclatante et la negligence de ses cheveux que le vent agitoit servit encore a faire voir a cet inconnu qui la regardoit qu'elle avoit de beaux bras et de belles mains parce que voulant les empescher de luy couvrir les yeux elle les remettoit de temps en temps en la scituation ou ils devoient estre mais enfin apres avoir assez regarde un si bel objet arpasie acheva de passer le pont sans que cet inconnu eust detourne ses regards de dessus son visage car je vous advoue madame que je le regarday autant qu'il regarda arpasie quoy que par une raison differente puis que je ne le regardois que parce que j'avois quelque joye de voir l'admiration qu'il avoit pour sa beaute et qu'il la regardoit sans doute parce qu'il la trouvoit la plus belle chose qu'il eust veue cependant 
 des qu'arpasie aprocha de luy il commenca de la saluer avec beaucoup de respect et il se sit de si bonne grace qu'il estoit aise de voir que c'estoit un homme de qualite et un homme qui avoit veu le monde mais apres qu'arpasie eut passe le pont elle s'assit sur une colomne renversee que le temps avoit a moitie enfoncee dans terre depuis qu'elle estoit tombee et elle s'y assit afin d'attendre plus commodement que ses chariots qui estoient alle chercher un gue plus commode eussent passe l'eau et fussent venus a l'endroit ou elle estoit de sorte que toutes les femmes qui la suivoient s'estant rangees aupres d'elle la plus grande partie des hommes ayant passe la riviere a cheval avec gobrias allerent avecque luy vers le bourg qui estoit assez proche si bien que n'en estant demeure que deux ou trois avec arpasie elle se mit a parler de diverses choses pendant quoy cet inconnu estant tousjours au mesme lieu avec son amy continua de la regarder comme un homme qui se fust volontiers aproche d'elle
 
 
 
 
et en effet la fortune favorisa son envie car comme arpasie a naturellement l'esprit curieux et qu'elle s'informe tousjours avec autant de jugement que de curiosite de tout ce qui merite la sienne elle s'estonna de voir une aussi belle colomne que celle sur quoy elle estoit assise en un lieu ou elle ne voyoit point de ruines de bastimens d'ou elle peust estre partie car ce superbe chasteau ruine qui faisoit une des beautez de ce 
 paisage estoit trop loin pour croire qu'elle en eust aussi este de sorte que ne pouvant alors parler que de choses indifferentes elle donna ordre a un des siens de demander a deux hommes qui estoient assez pres de cet agreable inconnu s'ils ne scavoient point a quoy avoit servy cette magnifique colomne mais comme ces deux hommes estoient deux marchands sans nulle curiosite ils respondirent qu'ils n'en scavoient rien et qu'ils ne l'avoient pas demande quoy qu'il y eust deux jours qu'ils fussent au bourg qui estoit proche de la pour quelque affaire qu'ils y avoient la curiosite d'arpasie ne laissa pourtant pas d'estre satisfaite car comme ils estoient fort pres de cet inconnu de bonne mine il entendit ce qu'on leur avoit demande et ce qu'ils avoient respondu si bien qu'estant alors fort aise d'avoir une occasion de parler a une personne dont la beaute luy donnoit tant d'admiration il dit a cet officier d'arpasie qu'il alloit satisfaire sa curiosite et en effet apres avoir demande le nom et la qualite de la personne a qui il alloit parler il s'aprocha d'elle fort respectueusement et prenant la parole en sa mesme langue je m'estime bien heureux madame luy dit-il de m'estre trouve assez curieux pour m'estre informe des hier de ce que vous voulez aprendre afin d'avoir aujourd'huy la gloire de contenter la curiosite de la plus belle personne du monde je merite si peu les louanges que vous me donnez repliqua-t'elle en se levant pour le saluer qu'il faut 
 assurement que vous soyez naturellement flatteur pour me parler comme vous faites du moins scay-je bien poursuivit elle en souriant qu'en me regardant dans la riviere que je viens de passer elle ne m'a rien fait voir sur mon visage qui ne me doive faire rougir des louanges que vous me donnez mais obligeant inconnu luy dit elle sans luy donner loisir de luy respondre puis que vous scavez a quoy a servy cette magnifique colomne dont le destin est si change faites moy la grace de me l'aprendre je pense pouvoir dire madame reprit il que le destin de cette colomne est encore plus grand que vous ne pensez car enfin c'est une des marques des victoires de ce grand sesostris qui fit autresfois plus de conquestes que tous les rois qui l'ont suivi n'en ont fait et qui avoit cette coustume de faire dresser des colomnes dans tous les pais qu'il avoit conquis et d'y faire graver non seulement son nom et celuy de sa patrie mais d'y faire mesme mettre des marques de la valeur ou de la laschete de ceux qu'il avoit vaincus ainsi il eternisoit la honte ou la gloire de ses ennemis avec sa propre gloire selon qu'ils avoient plus ou moins resiste a sa valeur en faisant eslever des colomnes comme celle sur quoy vous estiez assise il fit faire aussi quelques statues de luy car l'on en voit encore deux qui sont faites d'une pierre admirable dont il y en a une dans un grand chemin par ou l'on va d'ephese a phocee et l'autre est sur celuy 
 par ou l'on va de sardis a smyrne mais comme le temps detruit toutes choses successivement cette colomne a moins dure que ces statues dont je parle qui sont encore debout cependant madame adjousta-t'il galamment l'heureux destin de cette colomne ne l'a pas abandonnee dans sa chutte car puis qu'elle a eu le bonheur de servir a vous reposer elle meriteroit qu'on la revelast afin que nul autre ne la prophenast en s'y reposant apres vous et je ne scay poursuivit-il en souriant si on y faisoit graver vos conquestes si elles ne seroient pas aussi grandes que celles de sesostris si vous ne m'eussiez pas dit cette derniere flatterie repliqua-t'elle j'allois vous dire que j'estois bien marrie d'avoir trouve un aussi honneste homme que vous puis qu'il m'en faut separer si tost mais je pense que je vous dois dire que je suis bienheu- se de ne vous voir pas plus longtemps de peur de perdre l'equitable opinion que j'ay de moy cependant je ne laisseray pas de vous rendre grace de m'avoir apris ce que je voulois scavoir en suitte de cela arpasie considerant davantage cette colomne y vit encore quelque reste d'inscription que cet inconnu dechiffra et il agit enfin de telle sorte qu'il fut aise de connoistre que c'estoit un homme de beaucoup d'esprit aussi arpasie qui voulut luy tesmoigner la bonne opinion qu'elle en avoit conceue luy demanda qui il estoit d'une maniere fort oblegeante il me semble luy dit elle qu'on auroit 
 grand sujet de trouver estrange que j'eusse eu une si forte curiosite de scavoir a quoy a servy la colomne dont vous m'avez si bien instruite si ayant trouve un aussi honneste homme que vous je n'en avois pas de scavoir aussi quel pais est le sien et quel nom il porte c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me dire quelle est vostre patrie et quel est vostre nom je fais si peu d'honneur au lieu qui m'a donne la naissance repliqua-t'il modestement que je veux attendre que je me sois rendu digne de quelque louange a vous le faire scavoir ainsi madame il me suffira de vous dire qu'on m'apelle meliante sans vous aprendre d'ou je suis s'il ne faut qu'estre digne d'estre loue pour me dire vostre pais reprit elle vous n'avez qu'a me l'aprendre car encore que je ne vous connoisse que depuis un quart d'heure seulement je sens bien que je ne pourray parler de vous sans vous louer comme arpasie disoit cela son chariot estant arrive et meliante ayant respondu comme un homme qui avoit quelque sujet de ne dire pas d'ou il estoit elle ne l'en pressa pas davantage il est vray que meliante luy ayant dit que puis qu'elle devoit tarder au bourg ou elle alloit il auroit l'honneur de l'y voir elle remit a tascher de satisfaire sa curiosite quand elle le reverroit de sorte que se separant de meliante tres civilement elle remonta dans son chariot ou j'entray avec elle mais madame tant que dura le chemin 
 que nous avions encore a farie pour arriver au bourg ou nous allions coucher nous ne parlasmes que de meliante et nous ne fismes autre chose que louer sa bonne mine son air et son esprit j'ay sceu depuis que de son coste il n'avoit parle le reste du jour que de la beaute d'arpasie a celuy qui estoit aveque luy et qu'apres s'en estre encore entretenu assez long temps en se promenant au bord de l'eau il estoit retourne au bourg avec son amy et qu'il y estoit retourne avec intention de s'informer plus particulierement de la cause du voyage de gobrias et en effet il en trouva l'occasion comme je le diray bien tost d'autre coste arpasie avoit este si satisfaite de meliante qu'elle en parla a son pere des qu'elle l'eut rejoint luy racontant ce qu'il luy avoit apris de cette colomne de sesostris elle demanda mesme a celuy chez qui elle estoit logee s'il ne scavoit point qui estoit un estranger qu'elle luy depeignit et qu'elle luy dit avoir veu au bord de la petite riviere qu'elle avoit passee mais il luy dit qu'il ne le connoissoit pas qu'il y avoit trois jours qu'il estoit dans le bourg ou elle estoit alors et qu'apparemment c'estoit un homme de qualite adjoustant qu'il n'en scavoit autre chose sinon que le lendemain qu'il y estoit arrive avec un autre il avoit envoye en quelque part un escuyer qui se disoit estre a luy et que depuis cela il n'avoit fait que se promener continuellement 
 avec son amy et que s'informer des singularitez du pais mais madame pendant qu'arpasie s'informoit de meliante meliante s'informoit encore plus soigneusement d'arpasie a un escuyer de gobrias qu'il rencontra dans une grande place qui est devant le temple de ce lieu la car comme tous les estrangers ont un droit particulier de s'aborder quand ils se rencontrent en un pais qui leur est esgallement inconnu il fut aise a meliante de s'entretenir avec cet escuyer qui aimant naturellement a parler luy en dit plus qu'il ne luy en demandoit car non seulement il luy aprit que gobrias alloit a alfene mais il luy dit qu'il y alloit marier sa fille a astidamas et il luy fit mesme entendre qu'arpasie ne l'aimoit point et qu'elle n'estoit pas contente de ce mariage adjoustant en suitte par un exces de zele pour arpasie tout ce qu'il avoit sceu du dereglement des moeurs d'astidamas afin de justifier son aversion ainsi meliante sceut presque aussi parfaitement tout ce qui regardoit la fortune d'arpasie que s'il l'eust veue des le berceau si bien qu'estant confirme par ce mesme escuyer que gobrias devoit tarder quelques jours en ce lieu la parce qu'il avoit envoye a alfene il fit dessein de le visiter de lendemain au matin et en effet il n'y manqua pas car il y fut avec son amy qui se nommoit phormion de sorte que comme arpasie avoit parle avantageusement de meliante a son pere il le receut fort civilement 
 joint que sa personne plaist si fort et a quelque chose de si noble qu'il est aise de concevoir bonne opinion de luy des qu'on le voit car enfin il est grand de belle taille et de bonne mine mais j'entens de cette taille aisee qui persuade facilement qu'il faut qu'un homme soit adroit a toutes choses quand il l'a ainsi de plus meliante a les cheveux chastains le visage un peu long les yeux bruns les dents belles la bouche agreable et la phisionomie si sine qu'elle monstre presque tout son esprit sans qu'il ait la peine de parler cependant il parle galamment et juste tout ensemble bien qu'il ait quelque accent different du nostre et quoy que meliante sceust desja tant de choses differentes qu'on ne pouvoit comprendre en quel temps il les avoit aprises veu l'age qu'il avoit sa conversation estoit pourtant naturelle et aisee et il parloit avec une telle facilite qu'on connoissoit bien qu'il ne parloit jamais que de ce qu'il scavoit quoy qu'il parlast de toutes choses du moins suis-je assuree que je ne luy ay jamais rien entendu dire que j'eusse voulu qu'il n'eust pas dit il fait mesme de fort agreables vers et il escrit de fort belles lettres de plus meliante a l'imagination vive l'esprit brillant l'humeur enjouee le coeur tout a fait noble et les inclinations si genereuses qu'on ne les peut avoir davantage en effet il cherche avec un soint estrange a connoistre toutes les personnes qui ont un merite extraordinaire et a s'en faire aimer et il scait s'insinuer 
 si adroitement dans leur esprit qu'il n'a pas plustost aquis leur connoissance qu'il aquiert leur estime et leur affection ce qui contribue encore infiniment a le rendre agreable c'est que pour peu qu'on le connoisse on connoist qu'il a le coeur tendre et l'ame passionnee et il y a effectivement je ne scay quoy de si affectueux dans ses expressions qu'on peut presques dire qu'il parle d'amour en parlant d'amitie tant il est vray qu'il s'exprime obligeamment quand il veut obliger quelqu'un meliante estant donc aussi aimable que je vous le represente plut extremement a gobrias qui le pria de le voir pendant qu'il seroient en mesme lieu il le retint mesme a disner aveque luy aussi bien que phormion qui a sans doute beaucoup d'esprit et pour achever son bonheur gobrias ayant a escrire a alfene luy dit apres le repas qu'il allast faire une visite a arpasie qui avoit mange en particulier de sorte que meliante luy obeissant volontiers fut ou son inclination l'apelloit et vint en effet dans la chambre d'arpasie qui fut fort aise de le voir comme ils avoient desja assez d'estime l'un pour l'autre pour souhaiter de s'estimer encore davantage il parut en leur conversation qu'ils n'avoient pas dessein de se cacher leur esprit ils se le montrerent pourtant sans aucune affectation et leur entretien fut si agreable et si divertissant que tous ceux qui s'y trouverent eurent leur part de la joye qu'ils se donnerent 
 en se confirmant dans l'estime qu'ils avoient desja l'un pour l'autre ce qui fut le principal sujet de leur conversation fut cet enchainement universel de toutes les choses du monde qui fait que si on changeoit quelquesfois l'ordre d'une seule il y en auroit cent mille qui changeroient ou qui ne seroient mesme point du tout en effet disoit agreablement arpasie a meliante si sesostris n'eust jamais passe d'affrique en asie je ne vous aurois peut-estre jamais parle car il n'eust point fait eslever la colomne sur laquelle j'estois assise qui a fait le commencement de nostre connoissance et si le temps ne l'eust point destruite je ne vous aurois pas non plus connu puis que si elle eust este debout son inscription eust pu estre entendue par mon pere si bien que je n'aurois pas eu besoin de vous ainsi on peut dire que je dois le plaisir que j'ay de vous entretenir a deux choses bien differentes puis que je le dois a cet illustre conquerant qui fit eslever cette colomne et que je le dois aussi au temps qui l'a ruinee et qui l'a mise en estat d'avoir besoin de vous pour satisfaire ma curiosite de grace madame luy dit meliante en souriant souvenez vous bien de ce que vous venez de dire afin que si dans la suitte du temps ma connoissance vous donne quelque importunite vous en accusiez tousjours sesostris sans m'en accuser car je seray fort aise que vous soyez persuadee qu'il y a une certaine necessite 
 inevitable a toutes les choses du monde afin que vous vous plaigniez toujours du destin si mes visites vous incommodent je ne scay pas si je me pleindray de celuy qui a fait nostre connoissance repliqua t'elle mais je scay bien que je me pleindray de vous si vous ne voulez pas que je scache un peu plus precisement qui vous estes je vous ay desja dit madame repliqua-t'il une des raisons qui m'em empeschent et je ne desespere pas de vous dire peut-estre un jour les autres si je ne vous dis pas ce que vous voulez scavoir mais vous parlez respondit elle comme si nous devions demeurer toute nostre-vie ensemble et cependant veu la maniere dont nous nous sommes recontrez il y a aparence que nous nous separerons bientost comme vous ne scavez ny qui je suis ny quels sont mes desseins reprit-il en souriant qui vous a dit madame que mes affaires ne sont pas au lieu ou vous allez ce que je souhaite a si peu accoustume d'arriver repliqua-t'elle que je n'ay garde de croire que cela soit et je suis persuadee que bien loin d'attirer un aussi honneste homme que vous au lieu ou je vay je banniray plustost tous ceux qui y sont ce que vous me dittes est obligeant reprit meliante que quand je n'aurois point eu dessein d'aller a alfene j'y devrois aller pour me rendre digne de l'honneur que vous me faites mais madame pour vous dire quelque chose de ma fortune il faut 
 que vous scachiez qu'ayant eu la fantaisie des voyages j'ay este voir toute la grece et qu'ayant fait amitie particuliere avec phormion que vous voyez et a qui j'ay l'obligation de tout le plaisir que j'ay eu en son pais je viens luy faire voir toute l'asie comme il m'a fait voir toute la grece c'est pourquoy madame n'ayant autre dessein que celuy de luy montrer ce que l'asie a de plus beau et de plus rare je pense que je ne puis mieux faire que de vous suivre puis qu'il n'y a rien de si beau que vous mais madame adjousta t'il comme je me suis desja aperceu que vous estes aussi modeste que belle et que vos propres louanges vous font rougir je vous diray si vous le voulez que nous irons a alfene pour voir ce merveilleux lac d'arethuse que le tigre traverse sans mesler ses eaux avec les siennes ce dessein la estant plus raisonnable que l'autre repliqua-t'elle je seray bien aise que vous le preniez et que je puisse esperer de ne perdre pas si tost une si agreable conversation comme phormion n'avoit pas encore la facilite de la langue qu'arpasie parloit il ne dit que peu de chose a cette premiere visite mais le peu qu'il dit ne laissa pas de faire voir qu'il estoit digne d'estre amy de meliante cependant lors que le soir aprocha arpasie fut se promener dans un assez beau jardin et meliante luy donna la main de sorte qu'il la vit et luy parla l'apresdisnee toute entiere il retourna mesme le 
 le soir chez gobrias et le lendemain chez arpasie de qui il estoit charme et a qui il estoit fort agreable aussi m'en parloit elle avec beaucoup de marques d'estime il avoit mesme cet avantage que dans l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour astidamas il luy sembloit qu'elle trouvoit quelque douceur a estimer les autres plus que luy et qu'elle luy ostoit ce qu'elle leur donnoit mais nyside me disoit elle un soir que meliante avoit passe le jour tout entier aupres d'elle que dittes vous de cet inconnu et ne suis-je pas bien malheureuse de voir que la fortune qui me fait rencontrer de si honestes gens pour mes amis et des gens qui me plaisent si fort m'ait choisi un mary pour qui j'ay tant d'aversion mais helas adjousta arpasie que n'a-t'elle renverse l'ordre des choses et que ne m'a t'elle fait rencontrer astidamas au lieu ou j'ay trouve meliante en effet je n'aurois veu de luy que ce qu'il a d'agreable et quand mesme il ne l'auroit pas este je n'en aurois este guere importunee mais de vouloir que je passe toute ma vie avec un homme dont l'ame est beaucoup au dessous de son esprit et pour qui j'ay une antipathie invincible c'est une rigueur que je ne puis suporter aussi me semble-t'il poursuivit elle que je me vange de cette injustice en donnant mon estime a meliante et dans les bizarres sentimens ou je suis je voudrois trouver de moment en moment des gens que je pusse estimer et aimer 
 afin que quand j'arriveray a alfene j'eusse tellement donne toute mon estime et toute mon amitie que je ne pusse plus estre capable ny d'aimer ny d'estimer rien de tout ce que j'y trouveray pour l'amitie madame repliquay-je je concoy bien qu'elle peut avoir des bornes et qu'au dela d'un certain nombre de personnes on ne peut plus aimer fortement mais pour l'estime je vous assure que comme vous estes fort equitable vous estimerez malgre vous tout ce que vous croirez digne d'estre estime et que vous estimerez mesme en astidamas ce qu'il a d'estimable en verite nyside me dit elle les sentimens que j'ay pour luy sont bien esloignez de pouvoir rendre justice a ce qu'il a de bon ce n'est pas que je ne me condamne moy mesme mais je n'y scaurois que faire et je suis si peu maistresse des mouvemens de mon coeur que je pense que meliante a raison de me dire qu'il faut tout attribuer au destin car je suis en effet persuadee qu'il y a beaucoup de choses que nous pensons faire par choix que nous faisons par necessite voila donc madame en quelle assiete arpasie avoit l'esprit pendant le petit sejour que nous fismes au lieu ou nous avions trouve meliante ce sejour fut mesme plus long que nous ne l'anions pense car il y eut plusieurs envoyez de protogene qui vinrent vers gobrias et plusieurs envoyez de gobrias qui surent vers protogene pour des choses que je n'ay jamais 
 tout a fait bien sceues et qui ne regardoient que la ligue qu'ils vouloient faire contre le roy d'assirie sans laquelle le mariage d'arpasie n'eust point este resolu de sorte que meliante vit plus arpasie en douze jours que nous fusmes la qu'on n'a pour l'ordinaire accoustume de se voir en trois mois dans les grandes villes principalement quand on se connoist depuis peu aussi peut on dire qu'il la connut si bien qu'il la connut trop pour son repos car il en devint si amoureux qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage il n'en dit pourtant rien alors excepte a phormion a qui il fut contraint d'advouer son amour naissante afin qu'il ne s'opposast point au dessein qu'il avoit de tarder plus long temps a alfene qu'il n'en avoit eu l'intention joint que comme nous l'avons sceu depuis il se trouvoit en un embarras estrange car enfin madame il faut que vous scachiez que meliante s'apelle effectivement clidaris qu'il est d'une maison tres illustre d'une province d'assirie et qu'estant party fort jeune de la maison de son pere il avoit tousjours voyage jusques alors mais pour achever de vous bien esclaircir l'avanture que j'ay a vous raconter il faut que je vous die encore que lors qu'il partit il avoit une soeur nommee cleonide qui des l'age de trois ans avoit este envoyee a alfene par son pere qui avoit perdu sa femme et qui l'y avoit envoyee afin qu'elle fust eslevee aupres 
 d'une soeur qu'il avoit qui y estoit mariee de sorte que meliante avoit une soeur et une tante au lieu ou nous allions mais une soeur et une tante dont il n'estoit pas connu car sa tante avoit este mariee a alfene devant qu'il fust ne et sa soeur estoit si jeune quand elle estoit partie qu'il ne pouvoit ny en estre connu ny la connoistre mais ce qui faisoit son plus grand embarras estoit qu'en faisant voir l'asie a phormion il avoit este a samosate ou son amy estoit tombe malade et le mal estoit qu'il y avoit demeure assez long temps pour avoir aquis l'affection d'une soeur d'astidamas apellee argelyse car comme la mere d'astidamas s'estoit remariee elle demeuroit en ce lieu la avec sa fille si bien que meliante ayant fait plus de progres dans son esprit qu'il ne l'avoit espere lors qu'il s'estoit attache a la voir se trouvoit dans une inquietude estrange veu la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame aussi phormion fut il fort surpris lors qu'il s'aperceut de l'amour de son amy et qu'il luy proposa de demeurer a alfene le plus qu'ils pourroient de grace luy disoit il considerez bien l'estat des choses les suites facheuses de cette passion et le peu d'esperance que vous pouvez avoir car enfin vous aimez une personne qui va peur estre se marier dans huit jours a un homme dont la soeur croit que vous l'aimerez eternellement et en effet madame il est certain qu'argelyse estoit dans cette opinion il faut pourtant dire a la deffence de meliante qu'elle avoit plus contribue a son erreur 
 que luy car j'ay sceu depuis assez precisement que d'abord qu'il la vit a samosate il n'eut pour elle qu'une certaine civilite particuliere que beaucoup d'autres n'auroient pas appellee amour et qu'elle expliqua de cette sorte mais ce qui fait que cette fille croit si aisement qu'on l'aime est qu'elle scait si bien qu'elle est aimable et qu'elle est si persuadee que les hommes ne sont capables que d'amour et qu'ils ne le sont point d'amitie que des qu'on aporte quelque assiduite a la voir elle croit qu'on est amoureux d'elle si bien que comme elle plaisoit a meliante il la vit assez souvent a samosate pour luy persuader sans le luy dire qu'il avoit de l'amour pour elle de sorte que se trouvant avoir une puissante inclination pour luy elle le receut comme un homme dont elle croyoit estre aimee et dont elle n'estoit pas marrie d'avoir assujetty le coeur mais conme elle ne pouvoit pas agir ainsi sans que meliante connust ses sentimens il ne voulut pas luy dire qu'il n'avoit pas dans l'ame toute la passion dont il connoissoit qu'elle le croyoit capable joint qu'il pensa luy mesme que ce qu'il sentoit estoit amour car il la trouvoit belle elle luy plaisoit et il n'aimoit alors rien plus qu'elle neantmoins veu conme il a depuis examine ses sentimens la sorte d'affection qu'il avoit pour argelyse estoit plustost une amitie galante qu'une forte amour il a pourtant advoue que lors qu'il s'estoit separe d'elle il croyoit en estre amoureux et qu'il ne s'estoit desabuse de cette opinion que lors qu'il l'estoit 
 devenu d'arpasie cependant il estoit certain qu'en quitant argelyse il luy avoit dit beaucoup de choses obligeantes et je suis persuadee que s'il n'eust jamais veu arpasie il eust continue d'aimer argelyse en effet lors qu'il avoit pris la resolution d'aller a alfene pour faire voir le lac d'arethuse a phormion il avoit eu dessein de se faire aimer d'astidamas quoy qu'il n'eust pas eu l'intention de s'en faire connoistre alors ne luy semblant pas qu'il deust paroistre en ce lieu la ou sa soeur demeuroit qu'il n'eust un autre equipage aussi avoit il quite son veritable nom pour prendre celuy de meliante qu'il portoit en ce temps la afin de se desguiser a cleonide jusques a ce qu'il eust un train proportionne a sa condition car pour son visage elle ne pouvoit pas le connoistre comme je l'ay desja dit mais comme phormion avoit estropie son cheval en sautat par dessus un torrent le pretendu meliante avoit envoye son escuyer a une ville prochaine pour en avoir un autre et c'estoit le retour de cet escuyer qu'ils attendoient lors que la rencontre d'arpasie fit un si estrange renversement dans le coeur et dans les desseins de meliante que phormion ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de voir qu'il ne sembloit pas mesme penser a resister a la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame de sorte qu'il n'est rien de fort et de persuasif qu'il ne luy dist pour luy persuader de s'opposer a cette amour naissante j'aime mieux disoit phormion a meliante ne voir jamais le lac d'arethuse que d'aller a 
 alfene pour vous voir le plus malheureux de tous les hommes et l'aime mieux reprenoit meliante estre le plus miserable amant de la terre que de me separer d'arpasie au reste adjoustoit il ne pensez pas que je me sois rendu sans combatre et que je ne voye pas les malheurs dont je suis menace car je puis vous assurer qu'il n'est rien que je n'aye fait pour n'estre point amoureux d'arpasie et pour estre fidelle a argelyse de plus je voy bien qu'il n'y a jamais rien eu de si bizarre que le dessein que je prens et que le changement qui est arrive en mon coeur pour astidamas est la plus sur prenante chose du monde car enfin j'ay bien ouy dire qu'on aime ou qu'on hait des gens qu'on connoist et qu'on peut changer de sentimens pour tous ceux qu'on voit mais je ne pense pas qu'il soit jamais arrive qu'on ait aime et hai un homme sans l'avoir veu cependant il est certain que si je n'aimois astidamas lors que je suis venu icy j'avois du moins dessein d'en estre aime et de faire tout ce que je pourrois pour cela quand il me connoistroit j'ay pourtant bien change de sentimens sans l'avoir connu car j'ay presentement une telle disposition a la hair que je suis assure que je le hairay il est vray adjousta-t'il qu'il est arrive un grand changement pour luy dans le rang ou je le considerois puis qu'un moment avant que d'avoir veu la belle et charmante arpasie je le regardois comme le frere de ma maistresse et que je le regarde aujourd'huy comme 
 mon rival mais luy disoit phormion sans m'amuser a vous parier d'argelyse pour vous guerir de vostre nouvelle passion je ne veux seulement que vous demander sur quoy vous fondez vostre esperance je la fonde repliqua-t'il sur ce qu'arpasie hait astidamas et cette pensee a quelque chose de si doux pour moy que je ne vous le puis exprimer mais quoy qu'elle le haisse reprit phormion elle consent pourtant a l'espouser il est vray repondit il mais elle y consent avec repugnance et si vous voulez que je vous die combien ma passion est ingenieuse a se former une esperance chimerique qui n'a de fondement qu'en la seule grandeur de mon amour je vous diray mon cher phormion que comme je suis assure qu'arpasie hait astidamas malgre elle et qu'elle a fait tout ce qu'elle a pu pour l'aimer sans le pouvoir faire je le suis de mesme qu'il ne seroit pas impossible qu'elle aimast malgre qu'elle en eust et qu'il pourroit aussi arriver que je serois ce bien heureux qu'elle voudroit inutilement pouvoir hair ha meliante s'escria phormion qu'il faut avoir l'esprit puissamment touche d'amour pour se faire une esperance aussi mal fondee que celle-la je l'advoue repliqua-t'il et ma folie n'est pas encore si grande que je ne la connoisse bien cependant mon mal n'a point de remede et il faut que j'aime arpasie et que je la suive a alfene mais en l'y suivant reprit phormion vous vous trouverez a ses nopces et 
 vous y verrez peut-estre argelyse qui apparamment y viendra eh cruel amy dit alors meliante ne m'accablez point de facheuses predictions et laissez moy raisonner a ma mode mais comment pouvez vous raisonner a vostre avantage reprit-il ceux qui ne scavent point aimer repliqua brusquement meliante comme phormion me le dit depuis ne sont pas capables de trouver de la raison a ce que pense un homme amoureux et je suis fortement persuade qu'il seroit plus aise a un egiptien d'entendre le langage d'un persan sans l'avoir apris qu'a un homme qui n'a point aime d'entrer dans les sentimens d'un amant quoy qu'il en soit adjousta-t'il je veux du moins aimer arpasie jusques a ce que je scache qu'elle aime astidamas mais quand elle haira toute sa vie son mary luy dit phormion vous n'en serez pas plus heureux je ne scay ce que je seray repliqua-t'il mais je scay bien que je ne puis faire que ce que je fais et que quand argdise seroit icy je ne changerois pas de sentimens ce n'est pas encore une fois pour suivit-il que je ne connoisse bien que jamais passion naissante n'a este si mal fondee que la mienne mais quand ce ne seroit que pour faire voir que l'amour peut naistre et subsister sans esperance il saut que j'aime la belle arpasie du moins auray-je la consolation de scavoir que sa grande beaute servira d'excuse a ma foiblesse si elle ne la peut justifier joint qu'a parler raisonnablement c'est estre fort injuste que 
 de vouloir obliger quelqu'un de faire plus qu'il ne peut et la sagesse cesseroit d'estre sagesse si elle exigeoit des choses impossibles c'est pourquoy mon cher phormion puis que je ne puis me vaincre moy mesme flattez ma passion au lieu de la combatre et aidez moy a me tromper pour me rendre moins miserable voila donc madame en quelle assiette estoit l'ame de meliante phormion jugeant donc qu'il s'opposeroit inutilement a l'amour de son amy et qu'il n'estoit pas temps de vouloir guerir un mal qui augmentoit de moment en moment ceda quelque chose a meliante et se resolut d'aller a alfene suivant son premier dessein cependant comme meliante avoit une complaisance extreme pour gobrias il en fut bientost aime de sorte que profitant de cette amitie et voulant se rendre autant qu'il pourroit inseparable d'arpasie il le suplia de souffrir qu'il l'accompagnast a alfene et qu'ils passassent phormion et luy pour estre du nombre de ceux qui l'avoient suivy en ce voyage ou pour l'honnorer ou pour contenter leur curiosite vous pouvez juger madame que meliante ne fut pas refuse car comme ce qu'il demandoit estoit agreable a gobrias et luy faisoit honneur il le luy accorda aveque joye meliante agit mesme si adroitement que personne ne soubconna qu'il eust nul sentiment cache dans l'ame et arpasie elle mesme pensa qu'il n'avoit demande a suivre son pere qu'afin d'estre mieux receu dans cette 
 petite cour dont elle alloit faire la plus belle partie cependant comme elle estimoit fort meliante elle se rejouit du dessein qu'il prenoit et le regardant alors comme un amy qu'elle ne devoit pas si tost perdre elle vescut encore plus obligeamment aveque luy et il vescut de son coste si respectueusement avec elle qu'il eust este difficile qu'elle n'en eust pas este tres satisfaite aussi commenca t'elle de luy parler avec plus de sincerite si bien que se contraignant moins qu'a l'ordinaire elle soupiroit quelquesfois devant luy et sans luy en dire la cause elle ne laissoit pas de luy montrer une partie de sa tristesse mais madame que cette tristesse luy donnoit de joye par la pensee que c'estoit un effet de la haine qu'arpasie avoit pour son rival il arrivoit mesme souvent que cette belle personne me disoit beaucoup de choses en sa presence touchant son aversion pour astidamas dans la pensee qu'il ne les entendoit point mais comme il estoit mieux instruit qu'elle ne le croyoit il les entendoit aussi bien que moy et il en avoit tant de joye qu'on peut dire que la haine d'arpasie pour astidamas fit une partie de l'amour de meliante pour arpasie mais a la fin toute la negociation d'entre protogene et gobrias estant terminee ce dernier dit un soir a sa fille qu'il falloir partir le lendemain et qu'astidamas viendroit au devant d'elle jusques a une demie journee d'alfene vous pouvez juger madame que cette nouvelle ne fut pas fort 
 agreable a arpasie car elle avoit espere quoy qu'il n'y eust pas grande aparance que peut-estre protogene et gobrias se brouilleroient tout a fait pendant une si longue negociation et que son mariage avec astidamas seroit rompu meliante de son coste en eut une douleur extreme mais il en cacha si bien le sujet qu'arpasie la remarquant s'imagina qu'elle estoit causee par la sienne sans qu'il eust d'autre interest que la douleur qu'il voyoit sur son visage dont elle pensa bien alors qu'il pouvoit deviner la cause neantmoins par vertu et par prudence elle fit ce qu'elle put pour se contraindre il est vray que quand j'estois seule aupres d'elle elle soulageoit ses desplaisirs par ses pleintes et meliante en son particulier en faisoit autant lors qu'il estoit seul avec phormion cependant l'escuyer de meliante estant revenu fort a propos avec un tres beau cheval qu'il avoit achepte pour l'amy de son maistre il se disposa a suivre gobrias et arpasie et a aller vers son rival d'entreprendre de vous dire madame quels furent tous les sentimens de meliante et d'arpasie en cette occasion il y auroit de la temerite car je ne pense pas qu'a moins que d'avoir souffert ce qu'ils souffrirent il fut possible de les bien exprimer en effet comme le malheur qu'arpasie aprehendoit estoit plus proche elle eut un si grand redoublement de douleur le jour que nous devions rencontre astidamas et arriver a alfene que voulant du moins avoir la consolation de se pouvoir pleindre elle voulut que le 
 fusse seule avec elle dans son chariot je l'irritay pourtant plustost que je ne la consolay parce que comme je croyois qu'il faloit de necessite qu'elle espousast astidamas je voulus luy persuader que les qualitez agreables qu'il avoit devoient luy faire excuser les mauvaises car enfin luy disois-je madame il est sans doute assez bien fait il a de l'esprit et du coeur sa conversation est enjouee et si on ne scavoit rien du dereglement de ses moeurs on ne trouveroit rien a y desirer et puis madame adjoustoy-je ce n'est guere la coustume que les personnes de vostre condition ayent la liberte de se choisir des maris et pour l'ordinaire la fortune les donne plus tost que la raison ne les choisoit ha nyside me dit elle que ce que vous me dittes est foible pour me consoler car enfin je scay bien qu'astidamas a quelques qualitez agreables et s'il n'en avoit que quelques-unes un peu incommodes les premieres me feroient excuser les secondes mais comme tout ce qu'il a d'agrement est en la personne et son esprit et que tout ce qu'il a de mauvais est dans ses inclinations et dans le fonds de son ame je ne puis me consoler des unes par les autres et il y a enfin quelque chose de si oppose entre astidamas et moy que je ne scay encore si l'interest de ma propre gloire sera assez puissant pour m'obliger a luy sacrifier tout le repos de ma vie voila donc madame de quelle maniere s'entrenoit arpasie pendant le chemin que nous avions a 
 faire pour meliante il estoit encore plus malheureux car gobrias ce jour la luy par la tousjours et pensant luy faire grand plaisir il luy dit qu'il vouloit le presenter le premier a astidamas quand ils le trouveroient mais enfin madame sans vous faire attendre trop long temps une si cruelle entreveue comme nous entrasmes dans une plaine d'une assez vaste entendue nous vismes sortir d'un bois qui la borne un gros de cavalerie qui venoit a nous si bien qu'arpasie ne pouvant douter que ce ne fust astidamas qui venoit au devant d'elle cette veue pensa luy faire perdre toute la resolution qu'elle avoit prise de se contraindre et si la plaine eust este moins longue elle n'eust sans doute pu avoir le temps de se remettre d'autre part meliante sentit dans son coeur une agitation estrange se voyant sur le point de voir celuy qu'il croyoit devoir posseder la personne qu'il aimoit il fit pourtant un dernier effort contre luy mesme pour tascher de considerer plustost astidamas conme le frere d'argelyse que conme l'amant d'arpasie mais il n'y eut pas moyen aussi n'eut il pas plustost aperceu ce gros de cavalerie qui paroissoit que conme il n'estoit pas fort esloigne du chariot d'arpasie il tourna la teste pour voir si elle le voyoit et pour tascher de remarquer quels sentimens elle en avoit de sorte que ne voyant sur son visage qu'une esmotion pleine de chagrin il en eut une satisfaction extreme cependant gobrias sans prendre garde ny a la tristesse d'arpasie ny a l'inquietude de meliante luy dit 
 qu'il falloit un peu haster le pas de leurs chevaux afin d'aller aut devant de celuy qui venoit au devant d'eux et en effet il commenca de marcher un peu plus viste si bien qu'il falut que meliante le suivist comme les autres et qu'il se hastast d'aller voir un homme qu'il eust voulu ne voir jamais l'entreveue de gobrias et d'astidamas eut toutes les civilitez et toutes les ceremonies que l'usage a establies en de pareilles rencontres astidamas s'arresta le premier pour descendre de cheval gobrias fit la mesme chose des qu'il vit que l'autre descendoit et marchant en mesme temps l'un vers l'autre ils s'embrasserent avec beaucoup de marques de satisfaction apres quoy gobrias se tourna pour presenter meliante a astidamas croyant qu'il estoit encore aupres de luy mais comme cet amant cache pensoit que c'estoit toujours quelque chose de differer d'un moment a embrasser son rival il s'estoit mesle parmy ceux qui suivoient gobrias de sorte que par ce moyen il sut contraint de les presenter tous les uns apres les autres selon qu'ils s'avancoient mais quand ce fut a meliante gobrias fit un eloge plus particulier qu'aux autres pour rendre son merite recommandable a astidamas qui le receut en effet tres civilement si bien que ce malheureux amant se vit contraint de rendre a son rival civilite pour civilite phormion fut aussi bien receu d'astidamas et cette entreveue se passa mieux que celle d'arpasie et de luy mais pour vous la dire telle qu'elle fut il faut que vous scachiez 
 que pendant que gobrias presentoit tous ceux qui le suivoient a astidamas nostre chariot et les autres qui nous suivoient avancoient tousjours si bien que nous arrivasmes aupres du lieu ou ces complimens se faisoient justement comme astidamas les achevoit de sorte que venant alors droit a arpasie il faloit sans doute qu'elle commandast a celuy qui conduisoit son chariot d'arrester mais comme elle avoit l'esprit estrangement trouble elle ne luy dit pas si bien que cet homme qui ne scavoit pas ce qu'il faloit faire attendoit ce commandement et marchoit tous jours et je pense que si gobrias ne luy eust crie qu'il s'arrestast arpasie l'eust laisse aller sans luy rien dire quoy qu'elle vist bien qu'astidamas avancoit vers elle d'autre part il parut tant de desordre sur le visage de cet amant que de ma vie je n'ay rien veu de pareil pour moy je creu alors que c'estoit un effet du despit qu'il avoit de ce qu'arpasie n'avoit pas fait arrester son chariot des qu'elle l'avoit veu et de ce qu'il voyoit une si grande froideur sur le visage de cette belle personne cependant comme je voulois descendre de ce chariot pour luy laisser la liberte de parler plus commodement a arpasie il ne le voulut pas et il dit a gobrias qui l'avoit presente a sa fille que protogene les attendoit avec tant d'impatience qu'il ne vouloit pas luy retarder un bien qu'il souhaitoit si fort pour en recevoir un qu'il ne meritoit pas mais enfin madame astidamas dit cela avec une civilite qui avoit quelque chose 
 de si contraint quoy qu'il eust naturellement l'air fort libre qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit quelque inquietude dans l'esprit plusieurs de ceux qui remarquerent l'agitation de son ame creurent que c'estoit un effet de la grandeur de sa passion mais pour moy je creus tousjours que c'en estoit un de son despit cependant meliante qui s'estoit recule autant qu'il avoit pu lors que gobrias l'avoit voulu presenter a astidamas s'aprocha le plus qu'il luy fut possible pour voir l'entreveue d'arpasie et de luy et en effet il en fut si proche qu'il pouvoit observer tous les mouvemens de leur visage principalemet de celuy d'arpasie qu'il regardoit avec bien plus de soin que celuy d'astidamas car presuposant qu'il estoit fort amoureux d'elle il n'avoit rien a chercher dans ses yeux mais esperant de voir dans ceux d'arpasie quelques marques d'aversion pour astidamas il les regardoit avec tant d'attention qu'il eust aise de voir si on l'eust observe qu'il prenoit un grand interest a ce qui se passoit du moins phormion me l'a t'il dit depuis car pour moy je ne regardois presques qu'astidamas et j'avois un tel estonnement de voir que le despit que je pensois qu'il avoit estoit si grand qu'il l'empeschoit de faire paroistre une joye excessive sur son visage se voyant si pres d'estre heureux que je ne scavois qu'en penser cependant apres quelque complimens assez courts et assez peu liez le chariot marcha et gobrias astidamas et tous les autres remontant a cheval le devancerent de sorte que demeurant 
 dans la liberte de faire scavoir ce que je pensois a arpasie je pris celle de luy dire qu'il me sembloit qu'elle avoit eu tort de ne commander pas que son chariot s'arrestast ha nyside me dit elle je n'avois garde de faire ce commandement et si j'eusse suivy mon inclination j'en aurois fait une tout contraire mais adjousta-t'elle je trouve fort estrange qu'au lieu d'insulter sur la froideur avec la quelle astidamas m'a abordee vous m'acusiez sans l'accuser comme vostre incivilite a precede sa froideur luy dis-je avec la liberte qu'elle me donnoit aupres d'elle j'ay creu qu'il en falloit parler devant que de m'estonner du procede d'astidamas et qu'il le falloit d'autant plus que je suis persuadee que le despit qu'il a eu de ce que vous luy avez fait a cause l'embarras ou je l'ay veu quoy qu'il en soit dit elle il m'a fait un plaisir extreme de ne me recevoir pas mieux bien que j'en aye pourtant de la colere il n'est toutesfois pas aise repris je qu'on puisse avoir ces deux sentimens la pour une mesme chose il est pourtant vray que je les ay tous deux repliqua-t'elle car la joye que j'ay de ce qu'astidamas a fait vient principalement de ce qu'il m'a irritee en verite madame luy dis-je vous me faites une estrange pitie de voir que vous aportiez tant de soin a hair un homme avec qui vous devez passer toute vostre vie conme je suis bien assuree respondit elle qu'il est absolument impossible que je l'aime jamais il faut bien que je cherche quelque bizarre consolation dans la haine 
 que j'ay pour luy et que je me persuade du moins qu'elle est juste afin de n'avoir pas la douleur d'estre contrainte de m'accuser moy mesme cependant estant arrivez le long du tigre astidamas par les ordres de protogene nous fit prendre un chemin plus a gauche afin que nous ne vissions pas ce soir la en arrivant le lac d'arethuse dans le dessein de le faire voir a arpasie avec plus de plaisir si bien que tournoyant la ville nous y entrasmes par une porte du coste de la plaine ou gobrias et arpasie furent complimentez de la part de protogene je ne m'amuseray point a vous dire que presques tous les habitans de cette belle ville estoient en armes que toutes les rues estoient pleines de monde que les fenestres estoient remplies de dames de qualite et que protogene qui n'estoit point marie estoit a la porte de son palais ou il nous attendoit n'ayant pu aller plus loin a cause des incommoditez qu'il avoit alors comme cette entreveue n'eut rien de remarquable je ne m'y arresteray pas je vous diray toutesfois qu'astidamas ayant eu loisir de se remettre de l'agitation d'esprit qu'il avoit eue dont nous ne scavions pas la cause aida a arpasie a descendre de son chariot et que ce fut luy qui la conduisit a son apartement apres que protogene l'eut saluee de sorte que ce fut alors que le suplice de meliante redoubla et que celuy d'arpasie augmenta aussi astidamas ne l'importuna pourtant guere ce soir la car conme elle feignit d'estre extremement lasse 
 il la laissa dans la liberte de se reposer mais il falut le lendemain qu'elle se resolust a recevoir les visites de tout ce qu'il y avoit de personnes de qualite a alfene de l'un et de l'autre sexe il est vray qu'elle eut la consolation de n'avoir pas astidamas tout le jour aupres d'elle car comme protogene ne marchoit pas alors aisement et ne pouvoit aller a cheval a cause de ses incommoditez ce fut astidamas qui fut avec gobrias pour luy faire voir toute la ville mais en eschange meliante passa la journee toute entiere chez arpasie ainsi il fut tesmoin de toutes les visites qu'elle receut si bien que comme il scavoit le nom de sa tante et celuy de sa soeur qui demeuroient a alfene quoy qu'il ne les connust pas et qu'il n'en fust pas connu il demanda soigneusement comment s'appeloient les dames qui entroient dans la chambre d'arpasie et il le demanda durant long temps inutilement mais a la fin vers le soir il vint une dame assez avancee en age qui estoit suivie d'une jeune personne admirablement belle de qui il demanda diligemment le nom et a peine l'eut il demande qu'on luy dit que la premiere se nommoit ferinte et l'autre cleonide si bien qu'il connut par la que l'une estoit sa tante et l'autre sa soeur il ne voulut pourtant pas se faire connoistre a elles ny se confier a deux personnes dont il ne connoissoit pas l'esprit et il ne voulut pas mesme dire a phormion lesquelles de toutes ces dames estoient celles qui 
 luy estoient proches car comme il n'estoit pas de son pais et que le hazard avoit fait qu'il s'estoit contente de luy dire qu'il avoit une tante et une soeur a alfene sans luy en dire les noms il ne pouvoit scavoir qui elles estoient si meliante ne les y montroit cependant comme cleonide estoit plus belle et plus aimable que tout ce qu'arpasie avoit veu a alfene elle la receut avec une civilite aussi particuliere que si elle eust sceu qu'elle estoit soeur de meliante de sorte que cet amant cherchant a flatter sa passion s'imagina en remarquant les caresses qu'arpasie faisoit a cleonide que c'estoit plustost un effet d'une grande inclination que de sa beaute si bien que faisant en suite cette aplication a son avantage il voulut esperer qu'elle en auroit peut-estre pour le frere comme pour la soeur mais a dire la verite arpasie rendoit simplement justice au merite de cleonide en effet madame on ne peut guere estre plus aimable que l'est cette personne car non seulement elle a tous les traits du visage fort beaux mais elle a encore l'air de la grande beaute et tous les charmes que la douceur peut mettre dans de beaux yeux sont sans doute dans les siens elle y a mesme je ne scay quelle langueur passionnee qui fait croire des qu'on la voit qu'on seroit fort heureux d'estre aimee d'elle de plus elle parle juste et agreablement et elle est fort ennemie de toute sorte de medisance qu'elle dit 
 mesme du bien de ses ennemies quand elles ont du merite et si l'on peut trouver un deffaut en cleonide c'est celuy d'avoir l'ame capable d'un trop grand attachement et de se confier trop tost a ceux qui luy promettent amitie car comme elle ne voudrait tromper personne elle pense aussi que personne ne la voudroit tromper cependant cette espece de deffaut sert mesme a la faire paroistre plus aimable parce qu'elle a la sincerite peinte sur le visage et la confiance qu'elle prend en ceux qui la voyent la leur rend assurement plus charmante elle estoit pourtant un peu triste le premier jour qu'arpasie la vit et la loua tant mais comme elle la louoit ainsi astidamas apres avoir remene gobrias a la chambre de protogene entra dans celle d'arpasie qui redoubla encore ses louanges quand elle le vit luy disant qu'elle trouvoit fort estrange qu'il ne luy eust point parle de la beaute de cleonide du temps que protogene l'avoit envoye vers gobrias cette civilite obligeante d'arpasie fit non seulement rougir celle a qui elle s'adressoit mais elle fit mesme quelque changement sur le visage d'astidamas qui respondit a ce que luy avoit dit arpasie d'une maniere assez embarrassee neantmoins ceux qui y prirent garde creurent qu'il avoit respondu ainsi parce qu'il est tousjours assez difficile de louer une belle devant une autre belle pour meliante il sentoit bien a ce qu'il a dit depuis que s'il eust este a la place 
 d'astidamas il eust respondu autrement qu'il ne respondit et en effet il put si peu souffrir la responce qu'il avoit faite que des qu'il eut cesse de parler il prit diligemment la parole pour moy dit-il en parlant a arpasie je suis persuade madame qu'une beaute comme la vostre occupe si fort ceux qui la regardent qu'elle ne laisse pas la liberte de se souvenir de nulle autre chose vous avez raison de parler comme vous faites reprit cleonide avec quelque esmotion dans les yeux et je puis dire que j'aurois beaucoup d'obligation a une personne qui se souviendroit de moy aupres d'arpasie comme meliante scavoit que cleonide estoit sa soeur et qu'on le scauroit quelque jour il ne se soucia pas d'apaiser le despit qu'il voyoit qu'elle avoit de ce qu'il avoit si mal mesnage l'interest de sa beaute pour donner toutes ses louanges a arpasie s'imaginant bien que des qu'elle scauroit qu'il estoit son frere elle luy pardonneroit cependant comme elle ne le scavoit pas il est certain qu'elle ne put s'empescher d'avoir en suite quelque disposition a contredire meliante durant le reste de la conversation pour astidamas il dit si peu ce qu'il faloit dire d'obligeant a arpasie en cette occasion qu'il n'y eut personne qui n'y prist garde aussi s'en aperceut elle comme les autres et encore mieux de sorte qu'apres que la compagnie fut hors de sa chambre elle m'en parla avec tant de colere qu'elle m'en fit pitie n'eust on pas dit tantost 
 en oyant parler astidamas me dit elle qu'il estoit desja mon mary et qu'estant persuade qu'il ne faut jamais louer la beaute de sa femme il n'osoit me rien dire davantageux jugez donc ce qu'il pourra faire si les dieux veulent que je l'espouse en verite adjousta-t'elle avec un chagrin estrange il a agy si bizarrement que s'il y eust eu quelqu'un dans la conversation qui n'eust point sceu les noms de ceux qui la composoient et qu'on luy eust dit que j'avois un amant dans la compagnie qui me devoit bien tost espouser il n'auroit pas devine que c'eust este astidamas et il auroit bien plus tost creu que c'auroit este meliante et a parler veritablement de cette avanture poursuivit-elle astidamas a agy comme un mary descontenance des louanges qu'on donne a sa femme et meliante comme un galant adroit et civil quoy qu'il ne soit pas le mien pour moy luy dis-je bien que je ne creusse pas je pense que c'est qu'astidamas est si amoureux de vous qu'il en a perdu la raison car je ne le trouve point tel qu'il estoit la premiere fois que je l'ay veu ha nyside me dit elle si astidamas m'aimoit jusques a perdre la raison s'il faisoit des incivilitez elle ne seroient pas de cette nature et il auroit bien plustost desoblige toutes les belles d'alfene que de me desobliger comme il a fait en me louant aussi froidement qu'il m'a louee comme arpasie parloit ainsi elle receut une agreable nouvelle par un officier de 
 gobrias qui avoit assez de part a son secret car il vint luy dire que protogene et luy avoient resolu de ne faire point le mariage d'astidamas et d'elle sans en envoyer demander la permission an nouveau roy d'assirie pour ne rompre pas ouvertement aveque luy que cyrus n'eust des troupes en corps d'armee et qu'il ne fust desja assez pres d'eux pour se pouvoir declarer sans danger adjoustant que durant cela ils donneroient ordre secretement a s'assurer de gens de guerre afin que quand ils se declareroient ils fussent plus considerables au prince de qui ils devoient prendre le parti de sorte qu'arpasie aprenant que du moins son malheur estoit differe eut une joye incroyable d'autre part comme meliante avoit une passion qui luy aprenoit a connoistre celle des autres il luy sembla qu'astidamas n'estoit point fort amoureux d'arpasie si bien que voulant tascher de descouvrir les sentimens pour pouvoir le mettre encore plus mal avec elle qu'il n'y estoit il l'observa aveques soin s'imaginant bien qu'il falloit qu'il y eust quelque chose dans son coeur qu'on ne connoissoit pas en effet il est certain que lors mesme qu'astidamas se contraignoit le plus pour dire quelque chose de doux a arpasie en voyoit que son esprit n'avoit pas sa liberte ordinaire et qu'il estoit en une contrainte continuelle de plus la presence d'arpasie ne l'empeschoit pas de donner la plus grande partie de son temps 
 a tous les divertissemens qui touchoient son inclination quoy qu'elle n'en pust pas estre car il jouoit et le jour et la nuit a tous les jeux que les lydiens ont inventez il faisoit mesme plusieurs petites visites obscures et l'on ne scavoit la moitie du temps ny ou estoit astidamas ny ce qu'il faisoit ny ce qu'il avoit fait mais si astidamas estoit peu assidu meliante l'estoit d'une telle sorte qu'excepte les heures ou il s'attachoit aveques luy malgre qu'il en eust pour descouvrir ses sentimens il estoit toujours aupres d'arpasie de qui il aquit l'amitie et la confiance toute entiere
 
 
 
 
cependant comme protogene estoit magnifique ce ne furent que festes continuelles et comme il se porta mieux il en fit une pour faire bien voir toutes les raretez du lac d'arethuse qui fut extremement galante car il est vray que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait rien eu de plus beau que le lieu ou elle se passa mais madame pour vous la bien despeindre il faut que je vous die quelque chose de la source et du cours du fameux fleuve qui passe a alfene et qui traverse le lac d'arethuse en effet madame le tigre a cela de particulier qu'une seule fontaine qui sort du mont niphate suffit d'abord a le former en fleuve il est vray qu'il ne porte pas tousjours le mesme nom car comme il est fort lent en sa premiere course les habitans du pais l'apellent diglito qui veut dire tardif et paresseux et il ne prend le 
 nom de tigre qui veut dire fleche que lors que par le penchant des terres qu'il arrose il a en effet la rapidite d'un trait et pour vous le tesmoigner je n'ay qu'a vous dire que lors qu'il arrive aupres d'alfene ou est le grand et fameux lac d'arethuse il le traverse avec tant d'impetuosite que ses eaux ne se meslent point avec les siennes et que ses poissons mesme estans emportez par la violence de son cours ne se meslent point avec ceux du lac non plus que ceux du lac avec ceux du fleuve au contraire cette eau turbulente est si opposee au naturel des poissons que le lac nourrit qu'on n'en voit jamais bondir aupres de l'endroit ou il l'agite en le traversant ainsi on peut dire que le lac et le fleuve sont continuellement ensemble et sont pourtant tousjours separez puis qu'ils ne se meslent jamais ce fleuve a encore beaucoup d'autres singularitez dans sa course qui sont dignes de curiosite mais comme je ne vous ay parle de ce lac qu'a cause de la feste qui s'y fit je ne dois pas m'arrester a vous les dire et je dois seulement vous faire scavoir que protogene ayant voulu faire voir que tout ce qu'on disoit des merveilles de ce lac estoit veritable fit le dessein d'une feste fort galante puisque tous les divertissemens qu'on peut avoir en divers jours se trouverent en un seul il est vray que pour cette feste astidamas s'en mesla et en prit grand soin et s'il eust agy avec arpasie comme il devoit lors qu'il luy parloit 
 elle eust eu lieu d'estre satisfaite de cette magnificence il faut pourtant rendre justice a meliante en cette occasion car il est certain qu'il contribua beaucoup a donner l'invention d'une feste ou tous les plaisirs se trouverent mais madame pour vous la descrire il faut que vous scachiez que toutes les dames qui en devoient estre suivies de tous les hommes qui les devoient accompagner se rendirent aussi tost apres disner au bord du lac les dames dans des chariots et les hommes a cheval cependant avant que de vous dire ce que nous y trouvasmes et ce que nous y vismes il faut que je vous represente le grand et bel objet que ce lieu offre a la veue imaginez vous donc un lac d'une si vaste estendue qu'il semble presques une petite mer mais une mer pacifique qui n'a ny vagues ny agitation et ou le vent tout seul forme de petites ondes frisees qui ne menacent jamais de naufrage et imaginez vous en suite de voir en esloignement un grand et beau paisage arrose du tigre qui venant avec impetuosite se jetter dans ce lac le traverse comme je l'ay desja dit en conservant toute sa fierte naturelle de sorte qu'au milieu de cette eau paisible et dormante on voit bouillonner et bondir ce fleuve dont les ondes roulant les unes sur les autres avec precipitation vont ressortir du lac dans une prairie proche de l'endroit ou la ville d'alfene est bastie on voit mesme la 
 couleur de ces deux eaux si differente qu'on connoist clairement qu'elles ne se meslent point mais ce qui rend cet objet plus beau est qu'aux deux endroits par ou le fleuve entre et sort du lac on a basty deux pavillons magnifiques afin de voir plus commodement le passage merveilleux de ce fleuve et de voir plus agreablement un si bel obier mais madame pour en revenir ou j'en estois je vous diray que lors que la compagnies ut arrivee au bord du lac du coste d'alfene elle trouva trente petites barques peintes et dorees avec des tentes magnifiques pour garentir les dames du soleil et des tapis et des quarreaux pour les asseoir si bien que comme chaque barque pouvoit contenir sept ou huit personnes sans ceux qui la conduisoient il pouvoit y avoit en chacune assez bonne compagnie pour ne s'ennuyer pas car comme d'ordinaire ceux qui ne s'ennuyent point ensemble cherchent a s'y mettre il y avoit lieu de croire que tout le monde se divertiroit bien ce jour la en effet on ne craignoit personne et chacun se pouvoit martre ou il vouloit sans ceremonie et sans considerer aucun rang la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi car comme on se contraint bien souvent soy mesme par prudence il y en eut plusieurs qui ne furent pas ou ils vouloient estre comme cleonide plaisoit fort a ardasie elle la retint avec deux autres pour estre dans sa barque ou elle voulut aussi que je 
 fusse elle pria mesme meliante de s'y mettre et pour astidamas il s'y mit par plus d'une raison pour protogene et pour gobrias ils estoient dans une autre avec des gens proportionnez a leur age mais enfin madame apres que ces trente petites barques furent remplies et que cette belle et agreable flotte eut commence de voguer sur ce beau lac qui n'avoit presque point d'autre agitation que celle que les rames luy donnoient cela fit un objet le plus agreable du monde mais outre ces trente petites barques qui estoient destinees a estre remplies de tous ceux qui formoient la compagnie il y en avoir d'autres ou il n'y avoit que des musiciens qui par une harmonie moitie champestre et moitie maritime bannissoient le silence de dessus ce paisible lac en meslant leurs voix a l'agreable murmure qui faisoient les rames en battant l'eau et a celuy d'un petit vent frais qui temperoit la chaleur et qui agitoit les tentes dont les barques estoient couvertes outre celles la il y en avoit d'autres destinees a la pesche du fleuve et d'autres aussi destinees a la pesche du lac afin de faire voir effectivement que les poissons que l'on peschoit en l'un ne se peschoient point en l'autre quoy que le fleuve passast dans le lac et en effet madame nous observasmes cette merveille sans en pouvoit douter car nostre petite flotte voguant tantost sut le lac et tantost sur le tigre nous vismes 
 plus de vingt fois les filets pleins de poissons differens sans qu'on trouvast jamais un de ceux du lac dans les filets qu'on avoit jettez dans le fleuve ny un de ceux du fleuve dans les filets qu'on avoit jettez dans le lac quoy que cela se fist dans une distance si peu considerable qu'il n'estoit presques pas croyable que la chose fust comme nous la voiyons mais ce qu'il y avoit d'agreable estoit que nous estions quand nous voulions tantost dans le calme et tantost dans l'orage car lors que nous voguions sur je lac c'estoit si imperceptiblement que c'estoit plustost glisser que voguer mais lors que nous passions du lac dans le courant du fleuve nous sentions la mesme agitation que si nous eussions este sur la mer aussi tour le monde n'y fut il pas si long temps que sur le lac ou la promenaste estoit plus seure et plus agreable neantmoins il n'y eut personne qui n'eust la curiosite d'aller sur tous les deux et qui ne voulust esprouver le calme de l'un et l'agitation de l'autre mais enfin apres que toutes les barques eurent bien passe et repasse les unes devant les autres qu'elles se furent croisees de cent et cent facons et qu'on eut fait conversation de barque a barque on commenca de voguer vers le magnifique pavillon qui est basty a l'endroit ou le tigre se jette dans le lac d'arethuse apres y estre abordez toutes les dames furent conduites dans 
 une grande et magnifique chambre ouverte des quatre faces afin de jouir mieux de la belle veue mais pour les hommes ils monterent presques tous sur de beaux chevaux qui les attendoient au bord du fleuve apres avoir conduit les dames dans cette belle et agreable chambre en suite de quoy ils furent joindre un grand esquipage de chasse qui les attendoit a cinq cens pas de la car protogene avoit donne ordre qu'on enfermast dans des toiles diverses bestes sauvages afin de les lascher quand les dames seroient en lieu pour pouvoir avoir le plaisir de la chasse et en effet des que tous les hommes de qualite eurent joint ces chasseurs qui les attendoient et que les dames furent aux fenestres les bestes qui estoient enfermees dans les toiles furent lancees et la chasse commenca sans qu'elles peussent s'esloigner de la veue des dames car outre que le lac et le fleuve les en fermoient de divers costez protogene par des toiles et par grand nombre de gens armez avoit fait fermer les passages par ou les bestes qu'on chassoit eussent pu s'esloigner de sorte que cette chasse se faisant pour ainsi dire en champ clos elle passa vingt fois tout contre le pavillon ou estoient les dames si bien que comme tous les hommes avoient de fort beaux chevaux que leurs habillemens estoient magnifiques et qu'ils estoient fort adoits cette chasse donnoit grand plaisir 
 cependant afin qu'on en pust avoir plus d'un a la fois la pesche continuoit aussi bien que la chasse en effet lors qu'on regardoit du coste du fleuve et du lac on les voyoit tous couverts de barques de pescheurs qui par mille actions differents occupoient les yeux agreablement et lors qu'on regardoit vers la campagne la veue de la chasse et son harmonie rustique et guerriere divertissoient encore beaucoup mais apres que la chasse et la pesche furent finies et que les chasseurs et les pescheurs eurent offert et leur pesche et leur chasse a arpasie on fit monter toutes les dames a l'estage qui est au dessus de celuy ou elles estoient car comme ce pavillon est ouvert des quatre faces il ne peut pas y avoir de plein pied mais madame comme cela ne se fit qu'apres quelque conversation nous fusmes bien surprises de voir que tous les hommes avoient este insensiblement les uns apres les autres quiter leurs habillemens de chasse dans diverses chambres qui estoient en bas car il n'y a que le premier et le second estage qui n'en ont qu'une et pour achever nostre estonnement nous trouvasmes au lieu ou l'on nous mena une colation si belle et une colation si meslee qu'il y avoit de tout ce qu'on a accoustume de servir aux repas les plus magnifiques cependant ce ne fut pas encore la fin du divertissement car apres qu'on fut hors 
 de table on redescendit au mesme lieu d'ou l'on avoit veu la chasse que nous trouvasmes admirablement esclaire et ou le bal commenca je ne vous diray point precisement madame ce qui s'y passa ny combien astidamas y parut inquiet mais je vous diray seulement qu'arpasie y parut admirablement belle et que cleonide ne laissa pourtant pas de paroistre aussi ce qu'elle est car encore qu'il soit assez difficile de trouver deux grandes beautez qui ne se destruisent point il est pourtant vray que comme celles de ces deux personnes sont tres differentes elles conserverent leur esclat l'une aupres de l'autre mais pour toutes les autres dames d'alfene quoy que belles il falut qu'elles cedassent entierement et a arpasie et a cleonide parmy celles qui faisoient l'assemblee il y en avoit une dont il faut que je vous parle qui n'avoit sans doute aucun droit a la beaute mais qui s'en establissoit un sur tout ce qui tomboit sous sa connoissance car madame je ne pense pas que depuis qu'on a commence de mesdire il y ait jamais eu personne qui s'en soit si bien aquitee que celle-la et veu la haine universelle qu'elle a pour tout ce qu'elle connoist on diroit qu'elle se veut vanger sur tout ce qu'il y a de gens au monde de ce que les dieux ne l'ont pas faire plus belle qu'elle est cependant elle parle aussi hardiment des deffauts d'autruy que si elle n'en 
 auoit point il est pourtant certain quelle a a peu pres tout ce qu'il faut pour estre laide et desagreable neantmoins elle a une certaine hardiesse qui fait qu'on n'oseroit presques penser d'elle ce qu'elle merite qu'on en pense il se trouve mesme des gens et des gens qui paroissent raisonnables en toute autre chose qui la voyent et qui la cherchent bien est-il vray que je suis persuadee qu'il faut qu'ils ayent quelque secrette malignite dans l'esprit qui leur fait prendre plaisir aux medisances continuelles qu'elle fait au reste tout ce qu'il y a de gens malicieux dans alfene s'empressent tellement a luy aller conter toutes les nouvelles qui peuvent estre une matiere de medisance que personne n'est est si bien adverty qu'elle en effet comme il y a beaucoup de gens qui pour leur propre honneur ne voudroient pas parler aussi mal d'autruy qu'elle en parle et qui ne sont pourtant pas marris que l'on n'en dise point de bien parce qu'ils n'ont qu'une vertu apparente ils arrivent a leur fin en allant faire confidence a cette personne qui s'appelle alcianipe de ce qu'ils veulent publier ainsi et espargnant la peine et la honte de medire ils ne laissent pas de faire autant de mal que s'ils medisoient eux mesmes ils le font mesme plus grand estant certain que comme alcianipe ne fait autre chose que medire elle s'y est rendue merveilleusement ingenieuse et pour moy je ne scay comment 
 elle peut avoir mis dans sa memoire toutes les choses qu'elle y a car enfin madame s'il y a une maison dans alfene qui pretende passer pour ancienne elle en fait une genealogie a sa mode qui vous fait croire que ceux qui en sont ne sont pas ce qu'ils se disent de plus s'il y a eu quelqu'un dans une race il y a deux ou trois siecles qui ait fait une mauvaise action elle en noircit le sang de tous les successeurs de celuy qui l'a faite et elle va mesme chercher dans les familles des maux et des vices qu'elle assure qui sont hereditaires pour la beaute des femmes elle ne la loue jamais que lors que cela peut servir a faire croire plus facilement qu'elles font galanterie ou que leurs maris en sont jaloux si on l'en croit il n'y a personne riche a alfene il n'y a personne noble il n'y a pas un homme qui n'ait trahy son amy ou qui n'ait fait quelque laschete et il n'y a pas une femme qui n'ait eu quelque commerce criminel ou du moins quelque intelligence un peu trop particuliere au reste elle ne neglige pas mesme les petites medisances car je suis assuree qu'il n'y a pas une belle femme de vingt-cinq ans a alfene a qui elle n'en donne liberalement cinq ou six plus qu'elle n'en a cependant il est certain qu'elle a l'esprit si propre a dire toutes ces sortes de choses qu'a moins que d'estre ne avec des inclinations tout a fait opposees a la medisance on a peine a n'adjouster pas foy 
 a tout ce qu'elle assure car elle circonstancie tellement ses mensonges qu'on ne peut s'imaginer qu'elle ait pu se donner la peine d'inventer tout ce qu'elle dit aussi quoy qu'elle soit connue de tout le monde pour faire profession ouverte de ne dire jamais bien de qui ce soit sans exception il ne laisse pas d'y avoir des gens qui croyent du moins une partie de ce qu'elle conte de plus comme elle se fait craindre les femmes ne laissent pas de la voir quoy qu'elles scachent bien que des qu'elles seront hors de chez elle elle les deschirera devant celles qui y seront demeurees neantmoins comme elles s'imaginent qu'elle diroit encore pis si elle ne la voyoient pas elles la visitent sans l'estimer et sans l'aimer joint que comme il y a cent femmes qui ont presques plus de joye d'ouir dire du mal de celles qu'elles n'aiment pas qu'elles n'ont de douleur qu'os en die d'elles mesmes elles vont se donner cette satisfaction chez alcianipe au hazard de s'exposer a son humeur satirique de sorte que par ce moyen elle est aussi visitee que si elle estoit la meilleure personne de la terre pour moy j'advoue que j'en ay mille et mille fois gronde toutes les amies que j'ay faites en ce lieu la et que je ne trouve point qu'il soit beau d'aller visiter souvent une personne qu'on n'estime pas aussi n'ay-je jamais este chez elle si on ne m'y a menee par force car il est vray que je ne puis souffrir ces sortes de personnes 
 qui font du venin de toutes choses et qui ne disent jamais vray si ce n'est qu'elles scachent quelque verite facheuse mais encore une fois ce qu'il y a de cruel a alcianipe c'est qu'elle a un talent si particulier pour mesdire qu'elle conserve la vray-semblance dans toutes ses medisances et elle les dit mesme avec des circonstances si adroitement inventees qu'elle donne lieu de croire a ceux qui ne la connoissent pas bien qu'ils devinent mesme par ou elle peut avoir sceu ce qu'elle raconte de plus elle parle facilement et juste et choisit si admirablement tous les termes les plus forts lors qu'il s'agit d'insulter sur quelque malheureux qu'elle ne s'y trompe jamais alcianipe estant donc de l'humeur que je viens de vous la despeindre fut de cette belle feste que je vous ay representee mais elle en fut pour faire de faux portraits de tous ceux qui s'y trouverent a meliante que le hazard mit aupres d'elle durant qu'astidamas menoit dancer arpasie en effet madame il m'a dit depuis qu'il n'y eut personne a l'assemblee de qui il ne luy entendist dire quelque chose de facheux sans en excepter arpasie qu'elle disoit estre mal habillee ce jour la quoy qu'elle le fust admirablement bien cependant comme tous ces jeunes gens de qualite qui avoient suivy gobrias estoient bient aises de scavoir un peu plus precisement qui estoient ceux qu'ils voyoient dans cette petite cour il y en eut un 
 appelle pelinthe qui a mesure que quelque homme prenoit une dame a dancer luy en demandoit ou le nom ou la condition de sorte que comme elle respondoit tousjours selon son humeur meliante estant d'un coste et luy de l'autre ils se mirent apres s'estre fait un signe d'intelligence a luy faire questions sur questions de grace luy dit alors pelinthe voyant une femme d'assez bonne condition qui avoit la mine fort haute dittes moy qui est cette personne si vous en jugez par l'air de grandeur qu'elle a sur le visage repliqua-t'elle vous la croirez du sang des dieux et a dire vray adjousta alcianipe pour medire plus finement cette personne est admirable car il est vray qu'elle a tellement le procede d'une femme de la plus grande condition qu'elle ne fait pas une action ny ne dit pas une parole qui ne persuade qu'il y a eu des rois dans sa race cependant il est certain que son ayeul estoit un pauvre estranger sans aucu ne naissance et il y en a mesme qui disent que ceux qui la connoissent fort particulierement remarquent quelque chose dans ses inclinations qui sent la bassesse de sa premiere origine mais pour tout ce qu'on voit de cette personne il faut advouer qu'il sent plus la reine que la sujette il n'en est pas de mesme adjousta-t'elle d'une femme de la plus grande qualite d'alfene que vous voyez aupres de gobrias car imaginez vous qu'elle parle comme si elle estoit nee parmy le 
 peuple le plus bas et le plus grossier mais si elle parle mal elle agit de mesme et elle a une certaine civilite contrainte qui fait que toutes ses actions desplaisent elle ne fait pas seulement la reverence comme les autres elle s'habile autrement et elle a mesme une sorte de marcher que les personnes du monde n'ont pas mais a cela pres c'est une assez bonne femme eh de grace interrompit meliante en luy montrant un homme qui estoit en un coin de la sale et qui paroissoit assez resveur dittes moy qui est cet homme si triste et pourquoy il vient a une feste de joye puis qu'il est si melancolique en verite luy dit elle il ne faut pas s'estonner si celuy que vous me montrez est triste puis qu'a n'en mentir pas il ne se trouve guere d'hommes qui aiment que leurs femmes aiment tant le monde et tout galant que vous estes je suis assuree que si vous estiez a la place de celuy dont vous parlez vous feriez aussi embarrasse que luy car enfin cette jeune personne guaye et enjouee que vous voyez a l'autre coste de la sale et que tant de gens environnent est sa femme le croy bien qu'elle est vertueuse adjousta t'elle mais elle vit presques comme si elle ne l'estoit pas en effet elle ne se soucie point de son mary et se soucie trop des autres elle est eternellement hors de chez elle ou si elle y est c'est pour y estre accablee de tant de gens que le pauvre mary pour son propre honneur ne s'y oseroit montrer et bien souvent encore apres avoir este les 
 journees entieres sans la voir il la trouve le soir si accablee des divertissemens du jour ou si occupee des soins de sa parure du lendemain qu'elle n'a pas le loisir de luy dire un mot si bien qu'il est contraint de la laisser dormir sans pouvoir avoir un quart d'heure de conversation et sans qu'il puisse mesme esperer qu'il aura quelque part a ses songes car comme ils ne sont faits pour l'ordinaire que des pensees des choses qu'on a veues pendant le jour il auroit tort d'y pretendre cependant poursuivit alcianipe c'est luy qui faut qui donne les ameublemens magnifiques et qui paye les sieges sur quoy les galans sont assis c'est luy dis-je qui donne les habillemens qui parent sa femme pour plaire a autruy et je ne scay si ce n'est point luy encore qui paye les peintres qui font les portraits qu'elle donne a ses adorateurs c'est toutesfois fort grand donmage que cela soit ainsi adjousta cette malicieuse personne car c'est la plus jolie femme qu'il est possible de voir pour ceux qui ne sont que la visiter sans prendre interest a sa conduite et au malheur de son mary je m'assure repliqua pelinthe en luy montrant une autre dame qui paroissoit assez chagrine que celle que je voy ne donne pas tant de peine a son mary que celle que vous dittes du moins n'a t'elle pas la mine d'aimer la galanterie il est vray dit elle qu'elle ne luy donne point de jalousie mais elle le tourmente d'une autre maniere car parce qu'elle est honneste femme elle croit qu'il doit luy en avoir la plus grande obligation du 
 monde si bien qu'il n'est sorte de persecution qu'elle ne luy face souffrir car elle est jalouse jusques a hair toutes les femmes qu'il voit et a leur faire mille incivilitez cependant je ne pense pas qu'il luy doive estre si oblige de ce qu'elle ne fait pas galanterie puis qu'a mon advis on n'a pas mis sa vertu a une bien difficile espreuve j'en voy une autre aupres de celle dont vous parlez reprit meliante qui a assez la mine de mespriser son mary si elle en a un vous ne vous trompez pas dit elle car conme cette personne est de beaucoup meilleure maison que celuy qu'elle a espouse elle le traite tellement de haut en bas qu'il vaudroit mieux qu'il fust son esclave que son mary et ce qu'il y a de cruel c'est que durant qu'elle le mal traite parce qu'il n'est pas de si bonne condition qu'elle elle souffre des galans qui sont de plus mauvaise naissance que luy cette injustice est si grande repliqua pelinthe que je ne veux plus regarder celle qui en est capable et l'aime mieux vous demander qui est cet homme si magnifique que je voy derriere elle ne diroit-on pas adjousta-t'elle alors qu'il doit avoir tous les thresors de cresus il est pourtant certain qu'il n'a point de bi que celuy que le hazard luy donne sans qu'on puisse mesme dire d'ou cela vient il est vray que chacun en parle a sa fantaisie et il y en a mesme qui croyent que cette despence qu'il fait appauvrit des gens qui n'y pensent pas et je ne scay poursuivit-elle si un homme qui n'est pas trop loin d'arpasie n'a point plus de part a sa magnificence 
 qu'il n'y en croit avoir quoy qu'il en soit adjousta t'elle il y a bien du dereglement dans le monde et je ne connois quasi personne qui face ce qu'il doit en effet poursuivit alcianipe celuy que vous voyez aupres de protogene est un homme fort riche effroyablement avare cet autre qui le touche est prodigue jusqu'a la folie quoy qu'il soit pauvre cette jeune fille qui n'en est pas loin est coquette plus qu'on ne se le peut imaginer cette autre habillee de bleu est artificieuse jusques a estre meschante et cette autre qui a des rubans incarnats est la plus envieuse femme du monde car elle ne peut rien voir de beau aux autres sans despit en suite de cela alcianipe se mettant d'elle mesme a regarder tous ceux qui estoient dans la compagnie sans que meliante et pelinthe luy demandassent plus rien elle leur fit une histoire si satirique et si fausse de tout ce qu'il y avoit la de gens que s'ils eussent creu tout ce qu'elle leur en disoit ils fussent sortis de l'assemblee a l'heure mesme afin de s'oster d'un lieu ou il y avoit un si grand nombre d'estranges personnes de sorte que meliante voyant qu'elle disoit du mal de tous ceux dont elle parloir resolut de luy parler de son rival afin d'avoir quelque consolation de n'entendre pas louer un homme qu'il n'aimoit pas mais madame ce qu'il y avoit de particulier dans la haine que meliante avoit pour astidamas c'est qu'encore qu'il n'eust pas voulu qu'il eust este plus assidu qu'il estoit aupres 
 d'arpasie il ne laissoit pas de luy vouloir un mal estrange de ce qu'il n'estoit pas assez sensible a la bonne fortune qu'il avoit de se voir en estat de pouvoir esperer de posseder arpasie si bien qu'estant pousse par cette premiere adversion avoit pour luy il obligea adroitement alcianipe a parler de son pretendu rival et ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que pour parler plus mal d'astidamas elle parla peut-estre mieux d'arpasie qu'elle n'en eust parle sans cela car apres avoir seulement dit en passant que c'estoit dommage qu'elle n'estoit pas mieux habillee ce jour la elle se mit a la louer afin d'avoir plus de sujet de blasmer astidamas car enfin disoit elle a meliante on diroit qu'il ne scait pas qu'elle est belle veu comme il agit il est vray adjousta t'elle qu'il ne s'en faut trop estonner car il n'y a pas un homme au monde qui ait un plus grand desreglement dans l'esprit que celuy-la et si j'avois connu gobrias je l'aurois bien empesche de donner sa fille a un homme de cette humeur en suitte de cela alcianipe raconta a meliante tout ce qu'astidamas avoit jamais fait de mal a propos y adjoustant mesme cent choses qu'il n'avoit pas faites cependant poursuivit-elle ce qui m'espouvante dans le procede qu'il tient avec arpasie c'est que presentement il n'y a pas tant de desreglement en sa vie qu'il y en a eu autrefois il n'y a pourtant pas apparence 
 que ce soit l'amour qu'il a pour arpasie qui l'en empesche veu la tiedeur qu'il paroist avoit pour elle en cent rencontres et je suis la plus trompee du monde s'il ne faut qu'il ait quelque passion secrette car enfin je scay par deux ou trois de ces hommes d'avantures qui ne se couchent que quand le soleil se leve qu'on le voit souvent se retirer assez tard sans qu'on puisse descouvrir d'ou il vient et qu'on scait mesme qu'il va quelquefois a un temple escarte ou un esclave inconnu luy porte des lettres mais il a beau faire adjousta alcianipe car devant qu'il soit huit jours je scauray quel est cet intrigue quelque cache qu'il puisse estre et je luy ay donne tant d'espions que ce secret ne m'eschapera pas eh de grace luy dit alors meliante avec beaucoup d'empressement donnez moy quelque part a cette confidence je le veux luy dit elle a condition que de vostre coste vous observerez astidamas et que vous me direz tout ce que vous en aurez descouvert vous pouvez juger madame que meliante promit facilement a alcianipe qu'elle vouloit de sorte que leur traite estant fait justement comme la compagnie se retira ils se separerent cependant les mesmes barques qui nous avoient amenez servirent a nous remener car comme la lune estoit alors en son plain et que nous estions en une saison ou le ciel n'est pas souvent couvert protogene avoit bien preveu qu'on s'en retourneroit 
 commodement et agreablement a la seule clarte de la lune et en effet madame je ne pense pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une nuit si belle que celle-la ny rien de plus divertissant que d'estre sur le lac d'arethuse en une pareille heure car madame si je pouvois vous representer cette belle nuit vous advoueriez que le jour ne peut rien faire voir de si agreable en effet le silence qui regnoit alors et qui n'estoit interrompu que par le seul bruit des rames qui retomboient dans l'eau avoit un charme inexprimable de plus on sentoit un petit vent qui sans estre ny trop frais ny trop chaud faisoit qu'on respiroit un parfum qui exhaloit des prairies prochaines joint que la lune et les estoiles qu'on voyoit differamment selon qu'on les regardoit ou dans le fleuve ou dans le lac faisoient le plus bel objet du monde car comme l'eau du fleuve estoit la plus tumultueuse chaque estoile par cette agitation sembloit briller de mille feux ou au contraire conme celle du lac estoit plus tranquile tous les astres qu'on y voyoit la penetroient par de longs filets d'argent qui n'estoient point agitez par le tumulte des ondes ainsi on les voyoit dans la profondeur de ce beau lac avec la mesme tranquillite qu'on les voit au ciellors qu'il est fort serein de plus l'ombre de ce magnifique pavillon dont nous partions et celle des arbres du rivage qui les representoit dans l'eau adjoustoit encore quelque chose a la beaute de cette nuit mais ce 
 qu'elle eut pourtant de plus agreable fut sans doute la conversation d'arpasie de cleonide de meliante et d'astidamas car comme on c'en retourna dans le mesme ordre qu'on estoit venu ces deux rivaux estoient en mesme barque et j'y estois aussi avec les autres dames qui y avoient este en allant de sorte que comme on eut un peu abandonne le rivage et que durant quelque temps on eut parle de la beaute de la nuit arpasie qui avoit desja fort entendu parler de l'humeur d'aleianipe et qui avoit pris garde que meliante l'avoit entretenue assez long temps se mit a luy en faire la guerre et a luy dire qu'elle avoit quelque peine a luy pardonner le choix qu'il avoit fait car enfin dit elle en parlant a cleonide pour me servir d'une comparaison que le lieu ou je suis me fournit j'advoue que comme les poissons du tigre que nous voyons ne se meslent point avec ceux du lac sur qui nous sommes non plus que ceux du lac ne se meslent point aussi avec ceux du fleuve qui le traverse je voudrois de mesme qu'encore que dans le monde les bons et les meschans semblent estre meslez confusement je voudrois dis-je qu'ils ne se meslassent pourtant jamais et qu'a l'exemple de ces ingenieux poissons dont je parle ils sceussent l'art de se separer les uns d'avec les autres et qu'ainsi les personnes qui auroient de vertu n'eussent jamais nul commerce avec celles qui n'en auroient pas je voudrois donc que 
 les bons fussent avec les bons les meschans avec les meschans les facheux avec les facheux les agreables avec les agreables les stupides avec les stupides et les gens d'esprit avec les gens d'esprit car de cette sorte et les uns et les autres en seroient mieux et meliante qui est le moins medisant de tous les hommes n'auroit pas si long temps entretenu la plus medisante femme de la terre je vous suis bien oblige madame repliqua meliante de la justice que vous me rendez mais peut-estre madame dit alors gleonide qui se souvenoit tousjours du premier jour que l'avoit veue n'estes vous pas si equitable que vous pensez l'estre car pour moy je ne mers guere de difference entre celuy qui escoute le medisant avec plaisir et celuy qui fait la medisance c'est pourquoy il me semble que comme meliante a choisi alcianipe pour l'entretenir tout le soir c'est luy faire grace que de dire qu'il est le moins medisant de tous les hommes puis qu'a mon advis s'il haissoit autant la medisance que vous le pensez il auroit change de place en un lieu ou il en pouvoit trouver cent plus agreables que celle qu'il occupoit peut-estre repliqua froidement meliante en souriant que la belle gleonide se repentira de l'injure qu'elle me fait quand elle me connoistra mieux mais cependant pour me justifier je diray que le hazard m'a mis a la place ou je me suis rencontre et que la curiosite de scavoir si ce qu'on disoit 
 d'alcianipe estoit vray m'y a retenu dittes nous du moins repliqua astidamas ce que vous en avez trouve quoy que ce ne fust peut-estre pas passer pour medisant reprit meliante que de dire qu'alcianipe dit un peu trop franchement ses sentimens sur toutes choses je ne veux pourtant en rien dire et j'aime beaucoup mieux louer ce que la belle arpasie a dit que de blasmer ce que j'ay entendu dire a alcianipe car enfin il est vray que le souhait qu'elle a sait est tout a fait juste et que la plus grande injustice de la fortune est pour l'ordinaire d'enchainer indissolublement les interests de tant de personnes d'humeur opposee qui faut qui vivent ensemble et qui en pourroient trouver d'autres qui seroient plus conformes a leur humeur en effet adjousta arpasie je suis assuree qu'il n'y a point de ville au monde ou l'on ne pust faire un partage si equitable que chacun se plairoit a son quartier sans aller aux autres ou au contraire de la facon dont les choses sont disposees il y a peu de gens qui ne s'ennuyent de ce qu'ils sons obligez de faire et des personnes qu'ils sont obligez de voir ainsi il vaudroit bien mieux que chacun fust ou il se plairoit il est vray reprit astidamas que ce que vous dittes seroit agreable mais s'il estoit possible que cela arrivast poursuivit-il je pense que peu de gens demeureroient a la place ou ils sont et je ne scay mesme adjousta une des dames qui estoient de cette conversation 
 s'il y auroit une des barques qui sont presentement sur le lac ou il n'arrivast quelque changement je suis si peu digne d'estre en celle ou je suis repliqua modestement meliante en regardant arpasie que je devrois craindre d'en estre chasse vous avez tant entretenu alcianipe repliqua cette belle personne en souriant que vous meriteriez presques qu'on vous en bannist mais comme je croy que vous ne luy avez parle que pour luy persuader de ne parler plus mal d'autruy je vous assure que de mon consentement vous ne changeriez point de place pour moy adjousta astidamas sans regarder arpasie je me trouve si bien en celle ou je suis que plustost que de passer en une autre je pense que je me jetterois dans le lac cette preuve d'affection que vous rendriez a la compagnie ou vous estes repliqua cleonide en souriant et en rougissant ne seroit pas si grande que la belle arpasie peut se l'imaginer car comme le fer mesme ne peut aller au fonds de ce lac vous ne seriez pas en danger d'estre noye quand vous vous y jetteriez c'est pourquoy pour rendre cette marque d'estime plus esclatante il falloit dire que vous vous jetteriez dans ce fleuve qui n'a pas cette vertu merveilleuse qui rend ce lac si celebre ce lac est si pres du fleuve reprit astidamas en riant que vous ne deviez pas me faire une querelle pour si peu de chose si ce n'est que vous me veuilliez faire 
 entendre par la qu'il ne tiendroit pas a vous que je ne sortisse de la barque si le souhait d'arpasie pouvoit arriver cependant adjousta-t'il apres y avoir bien pense je suis persuade que si tous les bons estoient avec les bons tous les meschans avec les meschans tous les stupides avec les stupides et tous les gens d'esprit avec ceux qui en ont le monde seroit moins agreable qu'il n'est estant certain que ce meslange universel de tant d'humeurs differentes fait une partie de sa beaute je vous assure repliqua arpasie que si la diversite des gens qu'on voit fait une partie de la beaute du monde elle fait aussi bien souvent le suplice des honnestes gens car enfin il n'y a rien plus insuportable que de voir eternellement des personnes qu'on n'estime point cependant de la maniere dont les choses sont ordonnees on passe la moitie de sa vie avec des gens qu'on ne voudrait jamais voir j'avoue repliqua astidamas qu'on n'est pas tousjours ou l'on voudroit estre et de l'heure que je parle s'il estoit permis de faire le changement de toutes les barques qui sont sur ce lac on verroit que ce qui a desja este dit seroit vray mais encore reprit cleonide qui croyez vous qui changeast de place apres cela astidamas luy ayant respondu que pour pouvoir satisfaire sa curiosite il faloit aller de barque en barque pour voir qui y estoit arpasie commanda a celuy qui conduisoit la sienne d'aller croiser toutes les autres 
 si bien que les visitant toutes cette petite troupe se divertissoit a partager selon sa fantaisie les personnes qui les remplissoient mais comme astidamas cleonide et les autres dames qui estoient d'alfene scavoient mieux l'histoire de leur ville qu'arpasie ny meliante ce furent eux qui dirent que celuy-cy iroit aupres de celle-la et que celle-la iroit aupres de celuy-cy de sorte que changeant tout l'ordre de la compagnie en general il n'y avoit presques plus qu'alcianipe a qui ils n'eussent point assigne de place si bien qu'arpasie faisant agreablement cette remarque se mit a prier instamment cleonide de ne la mettre pas dans leur barque car enfin luy dit elle j'ay une telle horreur pour toutes les personnes medisantes que si vous l'y mettiez je pense que comme vous m'avez assure qu'on ne peut aller au fonds de ce lac je m'y jetterois plus tost que d'estre exposee a souffrir long temps la conversation d'une femme qui dechire tous ceux qu'elle connoist il vaudroit bien mieux la jetter dans le fleuve repliqua meliante que de vous exposer a vous jetter dans le lac en verite adjousta-t'elle il n'y a point de suplice dont ceux qui medisent ne soient dignes et pour dire les choses comme je les pense je trouve encore bien plus terrible de voir une femme medisante que de voir un homme medisant et si je pouvois souffrir la medisance je l'endurerois moins impatiemment en la bouche d'un homme qu'en 
 celle d'une femme en effet adjousta-t'elle comme il y a des vertus qui semblent estre encore plus necessaires aux femmes qu'aux hommes il y aussi des vices moins horribles aux hommes qu'aux femmes car comme on ne peut medire sans mentir et qu'on ne peut bien mentir sans insolence qui est une qualite qui ne se devroit jamais trouver en une femme je trouve que les hommes a qui la hardiesse est permise sont du moins plus propres a medire que les femmes qui ne doivent pas mesme faire une action de vertu avec trop de hardiesse si elles veulent demeurer dans les justes bornes de la modestie de leur sexe ainsi je conclus qu'une femme medisante est un monstre et qu'une personne qui aime a noircir la reputation d'autruy ne se soucie guere de la sienne et qu'elle pourroit aise ment estre soubconnee de tous les crimes qu'elle suppose aux autres apres cela dit astidamas je voy bien que nous ne scaurons que faire de la pauvre alcianipe et qu'il faudra la laisser seule dans quelque barque si on faisoit bien respondit arpasie on la laisseroit du moins seule chez elle car si on ne se divertissoit point a escouter ses medisances elle s'en corrigeroit mais le mal est que presques tout le monde prend plus de plaisir a entendre medire qu'a entendre louer comme arpasie disoit cela elle vit non seulement que la barque ou estoit alcianipe estoit preste de joindre la sienne mais elle entendit 
 que cette dame la conjuroit de luy permettre de dire un mot a meliante de sorte que quelque haine qu'elle eust pour la medisance comme elle n'estoit pas incivile elle n'osa devant tant le monde luy refuser ce qu'elle luy demandoit elle le luy accorda pourtant si froidement qu'il fut aise de connoistre qu'elle luy desplaisoit fort cependant meliante se trouvoit bien embarrasse neantmoins comme il ne pouvoit se deffendre de parler a une personne de cette condition et que de plus la promesse qu'elle luy avoit faite l'engageoit a la souffrir il se pancha vers la barque ou estoit alcianipe qui se panchant aussi vers celle ou il estoit luy dit pas a l'oreille que depuis qu'il l'avoit quitee elle avoit appris des choses qui l'obligeoient a luy promettre hardiment une seconde fois de luy demesler dans huit jours tout l'intrigue dont elle luy avoit dit qu'elle avoit quelque soupcon de sorte que meliante ne pouvant s'empescher de la remercier et de la conjurer de ne manquer pas a sa parole il le fit si haut qu'arpasie luy en fit une guerre estrange apres que la barque d'alcianipe se fut separe de la sienne d'autre part astidamas qui entendoit plus clair que personne n'entendra jamais ayant ouy qu'alcianipe avoit promis a meliante de luy demesler un intrigue le dit a arpasie sans penser y avoir interest si bien qu'apres cela ils se mirent tous ensemble a le presser de 
 dire du moins ce qu'alcianipe luy avoit promis il faudroit que ce qu'alcianipe me doit dire reprit il en souriant ne fust pas un secret de grande importance si je le pouvois dire a sept ou huit personnes a la fois choisissez en du moins une de la compagnie repliqua arpasie a qui vous puissiez dire ce que vous avez a demesler avec alcianipe afin de justifier le commerce que vous avez avec une si dangereuse personne si elle me tient sa parole respondit il et que vous veuilliez encore scavoir ce qu'elle m'aura dit je pense que j'auray bien de la peine a ne vous le dire pas et peut-estre mesme adjousta t'il que j'auray plus d'envie de vous le dire que vous n'en aurez de le scavoir si la belle arpasie reprit cleonide avoir moins de merite qu'elle n'en a toute la compagnie auroit lieu de s'offencer de ce que vous n'y trouvez personne que vous estimiez assez pour luy confier un secret qui ne peut mesme estre fort secret puis qu'alcianipe le partage aveque vous si ce n'est adjousta-t'elle que quelqu'un luy ait dit beaucoup de bien d'un autre mais si cela est je ne pense pas qu'elle vous le die car elle ne dit jamais bien de personne comma la barque ou nous estions aborda justement comme cleonide parloit ainsi meliante luy respondit civilement en deux mots et luy donna la main pour luy aider a en sortir et pour la conduire a son chariot car astidamas 
 ayant este oblige de la donner a arpasie la raison voulut qu'il la luy cedast et qu'il aidast a marcher a cleonide qui ne scavoit pas qu'elle estoit sa soeur mais madame pour ne m'amuser pas a tant de petites choses qui se passerent je diray que meliante fut si bien avec arpasie qu'insensiblement elle vint a luy faire confidence de l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour astidamas et a se pleindre aveque luy de la maniere dont il vivoit avec elle elle m'a pourtant dit qu'elle ne s'y seroit pas resolue n'eust este qu'elle n'avoit bien remarque que meliante s'apercevoit des sentimens qu'elle avoit dans l'ame si bien que jugeant qu'il valloit mieux l'obliger au secret par la confiance qu'elle prendroit en luy elle ne luy cacha point ce qu'elle pensoit joint que le hazard aussi contribua encore a cette confidence car meliante s'estant trouve une apresdisnee toute entiere a l'entretenir leur conversation se tourna d'un certain biais qu'ils se dirent cent choses qu'ils n'eussent pas creu se pouvoir dire en la commencant meliante ne dit pourtant rien a arpasie qui luy pust faire soubconner qu'il fust amoureux d'elle mais il luy dit tout ce qu'il falloir pour luy donner beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie pour luy car il entra si adroitement dans tous ses sentimens il trouva les pleintes qu'elle faisoit d'astidamas si justes et il la pleignit d'une maniere si obligeante que depuis cela 
 elle ne luy cacha plus aucune chose de tout ce qu'elle avoit dans l'esprit cependant phormion qui voyoit l'amour de meliante augmenter de moment en moment faisoit tousjours tout ce qu'il pouvoit pour tascher de remettre le souvenir d'argelyse dans son coeur afin d'affoiblir le pouvoir qu'arpasie y avoit mais il le faisoit inutilement car comme l'aversion qu'arpasie avoit pour astidamas et la confiance qu'elle prenoit en luy flattoient l'a passion l'amour de meliante estoit si forte qu'encore qu'il n'eust nulle esperance raisonnable il ne laissoit pas de croire qu'il n'avoit pas tout a fait tort de ne combatre point son amour d'autre part la promesse qu'alcianipe luy avoit faite n'estant pas hors de sa memoire il la fut voir precisement au bout des huit jours qu'elle luy avoit demandez il ne sceut pourtant pas encore tout ce qu'il avoit envie de scavoir mais il en sceut tousjours allez pour luy faire esperer d'avoir de quoy augmenter la haine qu'arpasie avoit pour astidamas car elle luy dit qu'elle scavoit d'une certitude infaillible qu'astidamas avoit une affection liee avec une fille de qualite depuis tres long temps et qu'elle scavoit de plus qu'il luy promettoit tous les jours de n'espouser point arpasie l'assurant en suite que dans quatre jours au plus tard elle luy en pourroit dire le nom vous pouvez juger madame que cette nouvelle fut infiniment 
 agreable meliante neantmoins comme il connoissoit alcianipe pour estre effroyablement medisante il craignoit estrangement que tout ce qu'elle luy disoit ne fust pas vray toutesfois comme on croit aisement ce qui flatte une violente passion il creut qu'il falloit qu'en effet astidamas fust amoureux de quel- une autre que d'arpasie et il le creut d'autant plus facilement qu'il ne voyoit pas que nulle autre raison l'eust pu faire vivre comme il vivoir avec cette admirable fille de sorte que conjurant instamment alcianipe de tascher de scavoir le nom de celle avec qui astidamas avoit un commerce si particulier elle le luy promit tout de nouveau cependant meliante estant venu au sortir de chez elle chez arpasie il sceut qu'astidamas n'y avoit point elle de tout le jour ny le soir auparavant de sorte qu'estant bien aise d'insulter sur luy il se mit a l'accuser d'une injustice effroyable d'avoir si peu d'assiduite aupres d'elle pour moy repliqua arpasie sa presence m'est si peu agreable que si je n'estois pas condamnee a passer le reste de ma vie aveque luy je serois bien aise de ne le voir guere mais il est certain que devant espouser astidamas c'est une cruelle chose que de voir la maniere dont il vit aveques moy c'est tousjours un grand malheur poursuivit elle de n'aimer pas celuy qu'on espouse mais c'en est un encore plus grand d'estre mesprisee de celuy qu'on doit espouser en effet si 
 astidamas m'aimoit sans que je l'aimasse je pourrois esperer que mon aversion passeroit aveque le temps et que ma raison la surmontant me feroit voir a la fin que j'aurois tort mais le haissant et en estant mesprisee quelle aparence y a-t'il que je puisse jamais vaincre la haine que j'ay pour luy car y a-t'il rien de si naturel que de n'aimer pas qui ne nous aime point principalement quand il ne nous paroist pas aimable meliante la voyant dans ces sentimens la voulut luy persuader de se resoudre de dire a gobrias l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour astidamas et de le conjurer de ne l'obliger point a l'espouser mais elle luy dit qu'il estoit hors d'aparence que son pere qui ne la marioit que pour affermir le traitee qu'il faisoit avec protogene afin de se vanger du roy d'assirie l'allast rompre pour une simple aversion sans avoir rien a luy dire sinon qu'astidamas ne luy tesmoignoit pas avoir assez d'affection pour elle et il faudroit adjousta-t'elle que je sceusse d'autres choses de luy que ce que j'en scay mais si vous scaviez qu'astidamas fust fort amoureux d'une autre personne luy dit il emporte par sa passion et qu'il luy promist tous les jours de ne vous espouser lamais ne prendriez vous pas la resolution de le faire scavoir a gobrias je la prendrois sans doute repliqua arpasie mais qu'elle apparence y a-t'il adjousta-t'elle qu'astidamas souffrist que son oncle envoyast vers le roy d'assirie s'il n'avoit pas dessein que nostre mariage s'achevast 
 comme on n'envoye vers ce prince repliqua meliante que pour l'amuser plustost que pour luy demander sa permission astidamas ne se soucie peut-estre pas de cela joint que s'il est assez injuste pour ne vous aimer pas et pour en aimer une autre il n'est pas estrange que sa prudence ait quelque irregularite mais encore luy dit alors arpasie quelle raison vous oblige a dire ce que vous dittes et ne seroit-ce point adjousta-t'elle cet intrigue qu'alcianipe vous avoit promis de vous descouvrir de grace meliante luy dit elle encore ne me cachez rien de ce qui peut nuire a astidamas je vous en conjure par nostre amitie cette conjuration est si forte madame reprit il que je ne vous puis rien refuser et en effet il se mit alors a luy dire ingenument ce qu'alcianipe luy avoit apris et ce qu'elle luy avoit promis de luy aprendre ha meliante luy dit elle tant qu'alcianipe ne vous particularisera pas davantage les choses et qu'elle ne vous dira pas le nom de celle a qui elle dit qu'astidamas promet tous les jours de ne m'espouser jamais je ne scaurois luy nuire aupres de mon pere joint qu'alcianipe est si suspecte de mensonge que cela ne suffiroit pas pour persuader gobrias de ce que je luy dirois ce n'est pas adjousta-t'elle que je ne croye qu'il faut en effet qu'astidamas ait une passion dans l'ame et que celle qui la luy donne soit a alfene car quand je le vy la premiere fois il ne vivoit pas aveque moy comme il y vit ainsi je conclus que la presence 
 de cette personne l'oblige d'en user comme il fait soit qu'il l'aimast des que je le connus ou qu'il soit devenu amoureux icy depuis qu'il m'eut quitee quoy qu'il en soit adjousta-t'elle il faut tascher d'en scavoir davantage c'est pourquoy encore que je haisse alcianipe ne laissez pas de la voir et de tascher de l'obliger a vous dire le nom de cette pretendue maistresse d'astidamas car peut-estre quand nous le scaurons viendrons nous a bout de descouvrir le reste de la chose sans alcianipe meliante charme d'ouir parler arpasie de cette sorte luy promit facilement ce qu'elle desiroit de luy et attendit avec une impatience incroyable le jour qu'alcianipe luy avoit assigne pour luy dire le nom de cette personne qu'astidamas aimoit comme je scavois toutes les pensees d'arpasie je n'ignorois pas la confiance qu'elle avoit en meliante et il scavoit aussi celle qu'arpasie avoit en moy si bien que lors que nous estions ensemble nous ne parlions que de ce qui regardoit cette admirable fille nous cherchasmes mesme a deviner qui pouvoit estre celle qu'astidamas luy preferoit mais toutes nos conjectures nous sembloient si mal fondees que nous n'en pouvions former un raisonnable soubcon cependant comme meliante ne s'observoit pas si soigneusement en parlant a moy que lors qu'il parloit a arpasie il me sembla un jour que le zele qu'il avoit pour elle estoit un peu trop ardent pour un amy et peu s'en falut que je ne le soubconnasse 
 d'estre son amant neantmoins veu le temps et la maniere dont arpasie l'avoit connu je me condamnay moy mesme et je ne pus comprendre qu'il n'eust pas resiste aux charmes d'une personne qu'il avoit sceu qu'on alloit marier des qu'il avoit sceu son nom
 
 
 
 
mais enfin le jour qu'alcianipe luy avoit marque estant arrive il fut chez elle pour la sommer de sa parole mais il y fut sans l'y rencontrer il est vray qu'on luy dit qu'elle avoit donne ordre en sortant de luy dire qu'elle s'en alloit chez la tante de cleonide et qu'elle luy donnoit le choix de l'y aller trouver ou de l'attendre chez elle ou elle reviendroit bien tost quoy que meliante ne pust craindre d'estre reconnu par sa tante ny par sa soeur chez qui estoit alors alcianipe il ne voulut pourtant pas y aller ce jour la quoy qu'il y eust este plusieurs autres fois et il aima mieux attendre qu'elle revinst luy semblant que s'il alloit faire cette visite il seroit plus long temps sans scavoir ce qu'il mouroit d'envie d'aprendre parce qu'il eust falu qu'alcianipe la luy eust laisse faire de longueur raisonnable si bien qu'entrant dans un jardin qui est a la maison de cette dame il se mit a s'y promener en l'attendant il est vray qu'il n'eut pas loisir de s'y ennuyer car a peine en eut il fait le tour qu'il vit entrer alcianipe mais avec un visage si guay qu'il ne douta point du tout qu'elle n'eust descouvert tout ce qui pouvoit satisfaire sa curiosite et qu'elle ne sceust enfin tout ce qu'il faloit scavoir pour nuire 
 a astidamas et bien madame luy dit il des qu'il la vit scavez vous le nom de cette belle qui fait qu'astidamas est injuste pour l'admirable arpasie je le scay si bien repliqua-t'elle qu'on ne peut le mieux scavoir mais a dire vray adjousta-t'elle en le menant dans un cabinet de verdure ou elle le fit asseoir je m'estonne que nous ne nous sommes aperceus plus tost de cet intrigue car on ne m'a pas plustost eu dit le nom de cleonide qu'il m'est souvenu de cent choses que j'avois veues qui me devoient faire connoistre qu'il y avoit une intelligence tres estroite entre astidamas et elle quoy s'escria meliante fort surpris d'ouir le nom de sa soeur c'est cleonide avec qui astidamas a un commerce de galanterie ouy repliqua-t'elle et a peine m'a-t'on eu dit que c'estoit elle qu'il aimoit que je suis sortie pour aller chez elle afin d'observer exactement son visage en luy parlant d'astidamas si bien que comme sa tante n'y estoit point j'ay eu une conversation avec elle qui ne me permet pas de douter de tout ce qu'on m'a dit car enfin je l'ay fait rougir cent fois en luy parlant d'arpasie ou d'astidamas et je suis assuree non seulement qu'elle a de l'amour mais qu'elle a mesme de la jalousie et qu'elle ne s'assure pas tant aux promesses qu'astidamas luy fait qu'elle ne craigne que la beaute d'arpasie ne le face inconstant ou que le respect qu'il a pour protogene ne l'oblige a luy obeir quand mesme il ne seroit pas infidelle mais alcianipe reprit meliante scavez vous bien que c'est avec 
 cleonide qu'astidamas a une intelligence car j'ay ouy dire qu'elle est assez solitaire et je m'apercoy bien qu'elle fuit plustost le monde qu'elle ne le cherche il est vray qu'elle le fuit repliqua-t'elle mais c'est principalement pour oster tout sujet de jalousie a astidamas et pour avoir plus de temps a luy donner au reste ce n'est pas une affection liee depuis peu car il estoit amoureux de cleonide devant que de voir arpasie neantmoins il ne laissa pas d'avoir le coeur assez fortement touche de sa beaute quand il la vit mais des qu'il ne la vit plus et qu'il revit cleonide cette amour passagere finit et l'autre devint plus forte que jamais ce n'est pas qu'elle ne soit souvent exposee a luy voir de ces sortes de passions qui l'occupent durant quelques jours mais qui ne le detachent pourtant pas de cleonide qui souffre ces frequentes inconstances avec tant de patience et tant d'adresse que je suis espouventee de tout ce qu'on m'en a raconte car dans le commencement elle fait semblant de ne s'en apercevoir pas et puis des qu'elle scait qu'il a quelque leger despit ou quelque desgoust de sa nouvelle passion elle le querelle si flatteusement s'il est permis de parler ainsi qu'elle le ramene aussi luy dit-il a ce qu'on m'a assure lors qu'il veut se justifier ou s'excuser qu'il n'y a que ses yeux qui soient infidelles et que son coeur n'est jamais inconstant car enfin luy dit-il je puis quelquesfois trouver qu'il est d'autres belles au monde que vous et quand je ne vous voy 
 pas je puis aussi prendre quelque plaisir a voir certaines beautez surprenantes que le hazard me fait rencontrer mais ce qui plaist a mes yeux ne charme jamais tellement mon coeur que vous n'en puissiez rompre l'enchantement par un regard favorable eh comment est il possible reprit meliante que vous puissiez scavoir toutes ces particularitez j'en scay bien encore d'autres adjousta-t'elle car enfin je scay que c'est chez une de ses amies qu'elle voit astidamas et qu'elle le voit a des heures ou ils ne peuvent estre interrompus parce que c'est ordinairement le soir mais cleonide repliqua brusquement meliante passe pourtant dans le monde pour une personne qui a de la vertu et de la conduite pour de la vertu reprit alcianipe je veux croire qu'elle en a et puis poursuivit-elle suivant son humeur quand elle n'en auroit pas naturellement elle en auroit par prudence car elle connoist assez astidamas pour scavoir que pour en estre aimee long temps il luy faut estre rigoureuse pour moy reprit meliante qui veux donner un plus noble motif a la vertu de cleonide je croy que quand astidamas ne seroit pas de cette humeur elle vivroit comme elle vit aveque luy quoy qu'il en soit dit alcianipe on ne peut pas accuser cleonide de ne conduire pas bien son affection avec astidamas car comme je l'ay desja dit elle le voit presques tous les tours chez une de ses amies et elle l'y voit le soir j'advoue que je ne comprends pas trop bien repliqua 
 meliante comment cela peut estre vous le comprendrez respondit alcianipe quand je vous auray dit que le jardin de la tante de cleonide et celuy de son amie se touchent qu'il y a une porte de communication de l'un a l'autre que cette amie est veusve et que la tante de cleonide qui ne soubconne rien de l'intelligence d'astidamas et de sa niece luy permet d'aller se promener le soir dans le jardin de son amie ne trouvant mesme pas mauvais qu'elle n'en revienne que long temps apres qu'elle est retiree ainsi astidamas la voit tant qu'il veut mais afin de la voir sans qu'on le scache il passe par la maison d'un de ses amis qui est dans une autre rue et qui a une porte de derriere qui donne justement vis a vis de la porte du jardin de cette amie de cleonide qui bien souvent la luy ouvre elle mesme si bien que les gens d'astidamas l'attendent a la porte de devant de son amy avec qui ils croyent qu'il est et de cette sorte il n'y a presques que le confident et la confidente de cette amour qui en scachent quelque chose mais il faut donc reprit meliante que cette confidente ou ce confident ayent trahy le secret de ceux qui se confient en leur discretion puis que vous scavez tout ce que vous me dittes nullement dit elle mais c'est que cette amie de cleonide a chasse une fille qui la servoit qui est soeur d'une femme qui est a moy qui scait toute cette avanture non seulement parce qu'elle en a veu mais encore par une fille qui est a cleonide 
 de qui luy en a conte toutes les circonstances que j'en scay cependant je puis vous assurer que cleonide a fait tout ce qu'elle a pu pour empescher son amie de se deffaire de cette fille de peur qu'elle ne dist a quelqu'un qu'astidamas la voit dans ce jardin et qu'elle n'a rien oublie pour persuader a son amie qu'il faloit qu'elle endurast autant de cette personne a sa consideration qu'elle endure de celle qui est a elle mais elle ne l'a pas voulu et certes elle n'a pas grand tort adjousta alcianipe car je ne pense pas qu'il y ait un plus grand suplice qu'est celuy des femmes qui ont une galanterie que quelques filles qui sont a elles scavent estant certain que des que ces sortes de personnes scavent un secret de cette nature leurs maistresses sont leurs esclaves et je scay en effet que cleonide endure des choses si estranges de la fille qui est a elle parce qu'elle scait son affection qu'il faut conclurre qu'elle aime bien la gloire ou astidamas puis que le service qu'elle en tire ou la crainte de l'obliger a dire ce qu'elle scait l'empeschent de s'en deffaire cependant comme son amie n'a pas este si patiente qu'elle parce qu'elle n'y a pas un si grand interest elle a congedie cette fille de la bouche de qui je scay tout ce que je viens de vous dire peut-estre reprit meliante adjouste-t'elle quelque chose a la verite au contraire repliqua alcianipe suivant son humeur medisante je connois bien qu'elle ne me dit pas tout et qu'il y en a encore plus qu'elle ne m'en a conte elle m'a pourtant 
 encore dit qu'elle est persuadee qu'astidamas quoy qu'il aime cleonide et qu'il n'aime point arpasie ne laissera pas de tromper la premiere et d'espouser la seconde parce qu'il n'ose desobeir a protogene de qui il attend toutes choses ainsi on peut dire qu'il les tronpe toutes deux et qu'il se trompe luy mesme apres cela meliante voyant qu'il n'y avoit plus rien a aprendre et qu'il en scavoit mesme plus qu'il n'en avoit voulu scavoir quita alcianipe apres l'avoir priee pour plus d'une raison de ne publier pas ce quelle scavoit pretextant la chose du dessein qu'il avoit de ne nuire pas a astidamas et de la crainte ou il estoit de ne pouvoir pas scavoir la suite de cette galanterie si on pouvoit soubconner par ou elle auroit este descouverte mais c'estoit en effet afin que la reputation de sa soeur ne fust pas exposee cependant des qu'il fut hors d'avec alcianipe il rencontra phormion qui le trouva si triste et si inquiet qu'il ne douta pas qu'il n'eust quelque chose de tres facheux dans l'esprit meliante se trouva alors dans un embarras estrange car d'un coste il avoit beaucoup de joye de voir qu'il pouvoit nuire a astidamas mais de l'autre il estoit au desespoir de scavoir l'intelligence qu'il avoit avec sa soeur et un sentiment d'amour et un sentiment d'honneur partagerent de telle sorte son ame que ne pouvant apaiser un si grand different tout seul il se resolut de confier son inquietude a son amy qui scavoit desja tout le secret de sa vie de sorte qu'apres que phormion luy eut demande ce qu'il 
 et qu'ils furent en lieu commode pour s'entretenir il luy conta ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre et luy dit en suite que ne prevoyant pas que cette fille avec qui alcianipe luy avoit dit qu'astidamas avoit une galanterie deust estre la soeur il s'estoit engage a arpasie de luy en dire le nom des qu'alcianipe le luy auroit dit voyez donc poursuivit il en quel embarras je me trouve car pour nuire a mon rival il faut que je die a arpasie qu'il promet tous les jours a cleonide qu'il ne l'espousera jamais et qu'il luy jure qu'il ne l'aime point et pour n'exposer pas la reputation de ma soeur il faut que je cache la galanterie d'astidamas avec elle toutesfois adjousta-t'il je pense qu'a bien raisonner l'honneur ne veut pas moins que l'amour que je rompe le mariage d'astidamas avec arpasie et quand je ne serois que le frere de l'une sans estre l'amant de l'autre je devrois sans doute advertir arpasie de ce qui se passe afin de l'obliger a n'espouser point astidamas et afin de forcer astidamas a espouser cleonide mais par quel droit reprit phormion pourriez vous vouloir forcer astidamas a espouser cleonide vous qui avez une intelligence aussi particuliere avec sa soeur que celle qu'il a avec la vostre ha phormion s'escria meliante il y a bien de la difference entre astidamas et moy car il a de l'amour pour cleonide et je n'ay que de l'estime et de l'amitie pour argelyse ainsi il luy est bien plus aise qu'a moy de luy tenir sa parole a moy dis-je qui ay une 
 passion si demesuree pour arpasie qu'il n'est plus en mon pouvoir de respondre a l'affection d'argelyse cependant adjousta-t'il je me trouve en de pitoyables termes car je connois bien a parler veritablement que si astidamas scavoit ce qui s'est passe a samosate il auroit presques autant de droit de se pleindre de l'intelligence que j'ay eue avec sa soeur que je pretends en avoir de celle qu'il a avec la mienne je connois bien encore qu'il est tres facheux d'aller publier moy mesme la galanterie d'une personne qui m'est si proche mais je connois encore mieux qu'aimant arpasie au point que je l'aime il faut que je ne considere que ce qui peut satisfaire mon amour et qu'ainsi sans considerer ny la justice ny la gloire ny l'interest de ma soeur ny celuy d'argelyse je me resolve seulement a faire ce que l'amour veut que je face ainsi mon cher phormion il faut que je die a arpasie l'amour d'astidamas pour cleonide et que je luy die mesme qu'elle est ma soeur afin de luy donner une plus grande marque d'affection et de l'obliger a user discretement du secret que je luy reveleray vous estes donc resolu luy dit phormion de luy aprendre vostre condition je suis bien resolu a davantage repliqua-t'il brusquement car je suis determine de luy descouvrir mon amour il est vray adjousta-t'il que je ne scay pas trop bien si je le pourray car j'ay une telle crainte de me mettre mal avec elle et de l'obliger a changer sa facon d'agir aveque moy 
 que je ne scay si j'auray la force de luy dire que je l'aime pour moy reprit phormion j'aimerois mieux attendre que son mariage fust entierement rompu avec astidamas mais si je suy vostre conseil reprit meliante elle croira que je ne traverseray les desseins d'astidamas que comme frere de cleonide et non pas pour ses interests si j'estois a vostre place repliqua phormion je ne dirois point encore a arpasie ce que vous voulez luy dire et je luy cacherois esgallement que je suis son amant et que je serois frere de cleonide ainsi ne vous croyant que son amy elle adjousteroit plus de foy a vos paroles et ne vous croyant pas frere de cleonide elle ne vous accuseroit pas d'avoir d'autre interest que le sien en cette affaire meliante trouvant de la raison a ce que luy disoit phormion se resolut de suivre ce conseil il est pourtant vray que phormion ne le luy donnoit que dans l'esperance que peut-estre gueriroit-il de sa passion s'il ne s'engageoit pas a la descouvrir de sorte que cela estant resolu ainsi meliante fut chez arpasie avec dessein de luy dire tout ce qu'il scavoit de l'affection d'astidamas pour cleonide se resoluant pourtant de luy en cacher ce qui pouvoit luy estre desavantageux et de luy parler plus fortement de l'amour d'astidamas pour cleonide que de l'affection de cleonide pour astidamas il ne put toutesfois luy parler aussi tost en particulier qu'il l'avoit espere parce qu'il trouva cet amant infidelle qui entroit chez arpasie comme luy joint aussi qu'il y trouva sa soeur mais a peine 
 furent ils assis qu'astidamas dit a demy bas a cleonide qu'il venoit de recevoir une lettre d'un de ses amis qui estoit a samosate qui luy aprenoit qu'elle connoistroit bien tost ce cher frere qu'elle avoit tant d'envie de connoistre conme arpasie entendit ce que disoit astidamas elle prit la parole et l'adressant a cleonide quoy qu'il semble qu'astidamas luy dit elle ne vous parle que pour estre entendu de vous seulement je ne laisse pas de me mesler dans vostre conversation et de vous demander comment il peut estre que vous ayez un frere que vous ne connoissiez pas comme je n'estois que dans ma troisiesme annee repliqua cleonide lors qu'on me fit partir de la province ou je suis nee pour venir demeurer a alfene avec ma tante et que je n'ay point veu mon frere depuis ce temps la je pourrois aisement le voir sans le connoistre car il doit estre arrive un grand changement en luy depuis que je ne l'ay veu et je m'en souviens mesme si confusement que quand il seroit possible que clidaris fust tel qu'il estoit je pense mesme que je ne le connoistrois point pour son escriture adsta-t'elle je la connois bien car il m'a escrit souvent et je luy ay respondu fort regulierement mais pour luy je le verrois sans doute sans le connoistre si je le rencontrois en quelque part sans l'entendre nommer s'il est tel que mon amy me le represente repliqua astidamas vous aurez bien de la joye de le voir car il me dit par sa lettre que c'est un des honmes du monde le mieux fait et qui a le plus d'esprit il m'aprend mesme 
 adjousta-t'il qu'il a fait grande amitie avec ma soeur qui demeure en ce lieu la et il me dit enfin tant de choses avantageuses de luy que je suis desja son amy sans l'avoir veu vous pouvez juger madame en quel embarras estoit alors meliante qui entendoit parler de luy en sa presence cependant comme il eut peur de se rendre suspect en ne disant mot il demanda hardiment a astidamas quand ce frere de cleonide devoit venir je ne vous le puis dire repliqua-t'il car malheureusement celuy qui m'escrit n'a point datte sa lettre de sorte que comme elle m'est venue par une voye detournee que je n'ay encore pu demesler je ne scay s'il y a long temps ou s'il n'y a guere qu'elle est escrite ainsi je ne puis connoistre quand cet aimable frere de cleonide doit venir pour moy reprit cleonide je voudrois qu'on ne vous eust pas escrit si avantageusement de mon frere car pour l'ordinaire on a bien de la peine a se rendre digne de ces grandes louanges qui precedent la connoissance des personnes a qui on les donne il est si vray semblable reprit obligeamment arpasie que la belle cleonide ait un frere fort honneste homme que je suis desja toute disposee a l'estimer quand il arrivera ce que vous dittes est bien obligeant repliqua-t'elle mais pour scavoir un peu mieux si je puis raisonnablement croire ce qu'on escrit a astidamas il faut que je luy demande si celuy qui fait ce portrait de mon frere est juge competent du veritable merite et si ce 
 n'est point un de ces grands faiseurs d'eloges qui ne mettent nulle difference entre les personnes mediocres et les personnes extraordinaires nullement reprit astidamas et je vous responds qu'il faut que clidaris soit un des hommes du monde le plus accomply puis que celuy qui m'escrit le loue comme il fait car si mon amy a un deffaut c'est celuy d'estre un peu trop difficile en gens et de donner son estime a trop peu de personnes ainsi je vous dis encore une fois qu'il faut que clidaris soit un homme admirable et qu'il ait mille bonnes et agreables qualitez puis que mon amy le loue en effet adjousta-t'il celuy qui m'escrit est si difficile a satisfaire qu'a peine trouve-t'il quatre honnestes gens en la province ou il est ne et pour vous le definir en peu de mots c'est un de ces hommes delicats qui font l'anatomie du coeur des autres et de leur esprit devant que de s'exposer a les louer qui examinent toutes les paroles et toutes les actions de ceux qu'ils voyent et qui veulent mesme deviner toutes leurs pensees devant que de se hazarder a en dire ny bien ny mal jugez donc apres cela si j'ay tort de soustenir qu'il faut que le frere de la belle cleonide soit digne de l'estre apres cela astidamas suivant sa coustume fit changer d'objet a la conversation dont meliante fut bien aise et il la diversifia tellement qu'il n'est presques rien dont on ne dist quelque chose mais quoy qu'il dist il ne dit rien d'assez obligeant pour arpasie cependant comme cleonide 
 s'en fut allee astidamas s'en alla de sorte que meliante estant demeure seul avec arpasie elle se mit a le regarder en resvant parce que faisant reflection sur ce qu'astidamas avoit dit du frere de cleonide elle s'imagina veu l'endroit ou elle l'avoit rencontre et veu le soin qu'il aportoit a cacher le lieu de sa naissance que ce pouvoit estre luy et elle se l'imagina d'autant plustost que toutes les louanges qu'on donnoit a ce frere de cleonide luy convenoient neantmoins ne voulant pas luy faire paroistre le soubcon qu'elle avoit jusques a ce qu'elle eust plus de certitude de la chose elle revint de sa resverie justement comme meliante l'alloit interrompre pour luy dire ce qu'il avoit sceu d'alcianipe et en effet prenant la parole veu l'estat ou sont les choses je suis bien marry madame luy dit-il de ne pouvoir vous dire autant de bien d'astidamas qu'on luy en escrit du frere de cleonide mais madame la fidellite que je vous ay promise et le zele que j'ay pour vostre service font qu'il faut que je vous die que je scay le nom de la personne qu'astidamas aime depuis long temps et a qui il promet de ne vous espouser jamais je souhaite de tout mon coeur repliqua-t'elle brusquement qu'il luy tienne sa parole mais encore meliante adjousta-t'elle qui est celle qui tient le coeur d'astidamas c'est cleonide madame reprit il et je scay des circonstances de son affection pour elle qui me font dire qu'il est le plus criminel de tous les hommes de s'estre engage au point 
 qu'il l'est aveque vous sans se degager du moins d'avec elle quoy s'escria arpasie en le regardant c'est cleonide avec qui astidamas a une intelligence ouy madame c'est cleonide respondit il et alcianipe m'en a dit des choses si particulieres que je n'en scaurois douter mais alcianipe est si meditante repliqua-t'elle qu'il n'y a pas grand fondement a faire sur ce qu'elle dit comme je scay assez bien discerner la verite du mensonge reprit il je vous assure madame qu'astidamas aime cleonide apres cela arpasie se teut durant quelque temps et faisant alors reflection sur le soubcon qu'elle avoit eu elle le perdit et elle ne pensa plus que meliante pust estre frere de cleonide puis qu'il luy disoit l'intelligence qu'elle avoit avec astidamas en suite le souvenant de cent choses ou elle n'avoit pas pris garde elle trouva en effet qu'il y avoit lieu de croire qu'alcidamas aimoit cleonide mais malgre l'aversion qu'elle avoit pour luy elle ne laissa pas d'avoir je ne scay quelle espece de despit d'aprendre qu'il estoit amoureux de cette belle fille ce leger sentiment passa pourtant si viste qu'un moment apres elle eut beaucoup de joye de pouvoir esperer que cette amour d'alcidamas pourroit rompre son mariage et elle en donna tant de marques a meliante qu'il en eut beaucoup de satisfaction neantmoins comme elle sembloit estre resolue d'attendre qu'astidamas rompist la chose parce qu'elle craignoit d'irriter son pere meliante se vit 
 contraint de luy dire qu'encore qu'astidamas aimast cherement cleonide et qu'il luy promist de rompre son mariage a sa consideration il scavoit que par un sentiment d'interest il estoit pourtant resolu de peur de perdre tout le bien qu'il attendoit de protogene de ne laisser pas de l'espouser et de tromper cleonide quoy dit alors arpasie astidamas pretendroit m'espouser sans m'aimer et n'espouser pas cleonide qu'il aime ha meliante je ne puis souffrir cette double perfidie et comme je serois encore plus malheureuse d'espouser un homme qui ne m'aime pas et que je n'aime point que cleonide ne le seroit de n'espouser pas un homme qui l'aime et qu'elle ne hait pas c'est a moy a faire tout ce que je pourray pour empescher que ce malheur ne m'arrive car enfin quand je n'aurois point d'aversion pour astidamas la seule infidellite dont il est capable pour cleonide m'empescheroit de l'espouser c'est pourquoy meliante il faut s'il vous plaist que vous m'aidiez a me tirer de l'embarras ou je me trouve et que vous taschiez de me faire avoir des preuves si convainquantes des promesses que ce trompeur fait a cleonide que je puisse les faire voir a mon pere et luy declarer en suite que je n'espouseray jamais astidamas meliante oyant ce qu'arpasie luy disoit se mit a resver pour tascher d'imaginer comment il la pourroit satisfaire apres quoy il luy demanda quelques jours la conjurant cependant de ne dire rien de ce qu'il luy avoit dit de 
 peur disoit il que si protogene aprenoit l'amour d'astidamas il ne precipitast son mariage avec elle ainsi meliante mettant la reputation de sa soeur a couvert avec un pretexte assez plausible dit en suite mille choses flatteuses tendres et obligeantes a arpasie qui croyant luy avoir une obligation infinie se mit alors a le presser de luy dire un peu plus precisement qui il estoit de grace disoit elle pour l'obliger a se faire connoistre dittes moy qu'elle justice il y a que vous scachiez jusques a mes plus secrettes pensees et que je ne scache pas seulement quel pais vous a donne la naissance quand je vous auray rendu quelque service considerable reprit-il je vous promets madame de vous dire qui je suis et pour donner un terme limite a ce que vous voulez aprendre je vous promets de vous dire ce que vous voulez scavoir de moy le jour que vostre mariage avec astidamas sera rompu mais en attendant madame adjousta-t'il emporte par sa passion faites moy seulement l'honneur de croire que j'ay autant de naissance qu'il en faut avoir pour n'estre pas indigne d'estre au nombre de vos amis et que si astidamas avoit dans le coeur les sentimens que j'y ay il n'auroit point d'amour pour cleonide quoy que ce que disoit meliante fust en effet une espece de declaration d'amour arpasie ne l'escouta pourtant point ainsi et elle creut qu'il n'avoit parle de cette sorte que pour luy faire comprendre qu'il l'estimoit tant que si alcidamas l'eust autant estimee 
 il n'eust pu avoir le coeur sensible pour cleonide de sorte qu'elle luy respondit fort civilement d'abord il fut fache qu'elle ne l'eust pas entendu mais un moment apres il en fut fort aise connoissant bien qu'il auroit pu luy rendre suspect tout ce qu'il luy avoit dit si elle eust sceu qu'il eust este amoureux d'elle si bien qu'apres s'estre dit encore de part et d'autre plusieurs choses obligeantes ils se separerent mais madame pendant que ces choses se passoient protogene ayant remarque qu'astidamas ne vivoit pas comme il devoit avec arpasie luy en parla fort aigrement et luy dit qu'il se preparast a y vivre mieux et a l'espouser bien tost car enfin luy dit il soit que le roy d'assirie y consente ou n'y consente pas vous l'espouserez astidamas qui avoit infiniment de l'esprit et qui en effet avoit resolu de trahir cleonide et d'espouser arpasie se demesla admirablement de cette pressante conversation disant hardiment a protogene que pour luy il n'avoit jamais creu qu'il fallust vivre avec une personne dont on devoit estre le mary avec la mesme sorte de galanterie qu'avec celles dont on est amoureux sans scavoir si on les espousera et en effet luy dit-il si vous vous informez de la maniere dont je vivois avec arpasie lors que vous m'envoyastes vers gobrias vous scaurez qu'elle estoit toute differente de celle dont je me serts et vous connoistrez que si j'ay change c'a este parce que je ne croy pas qu'il faille faire 
 en cette occasion toutes ces petites choses que la galanterie veut qu'on face en d'autres sortes d'amours cependant soyez assure que j'obeiray quand il vous plaira mais madame il faut que vous scachiez qu'un officier de protogene qui connoissoit alcianipe ayant entendu cette conversation la luy redit si bien que cette personne l'ayant fait scavoir a meliante il se trouva fort embarrasse qui vit jamais disoit-il a phormion qui me l'a redit depuis un malheur esgal au mien car enfin tous les autres amants ne sont ordinairement malheureux que parce qu'ils sont hais ou que parce qu'ils ont des rivaux et mesme des rivaux aimez cependant il est certain qu'arpasie m'estime que je n'ay point de rival que celuy qui pretend l'espouser sans amour en est hai et que malgre tout cela je suis pourtant le plus malheureux de tous les hommes puis que je me voy en estat de voir un homme que je hais posseder la personne que j'aime et de le voir trahir et abandonner ma soeur de sorte que par ce moyen il detruira en mesme temps mon amour et mon honneur si je ne destruits tous ses desseins il n'est pourtant pas aise de le faire car alcidamas obeira a protogene protogene voudra qu'il espouse arpasie et gobrias le voudra autant que luy si je ne luy fais voir la perfidie d'alcidamas pour cleonide et pour arpasie mais iray-je aussi publier moy mesme l'intelligence 
 qu'il a avec ma soeur sans estre assure de pouvoir venir a bout de l'obliger a l'espouser et puis a parler sincerement puis-je me souvenir de mon avanture avec la sienne et avoir la hardiesse de le quereller de ce qu'il n'est pas plus fidelle a cleonide que je le suis a argelyse il est vray que je suis moins inconstant que luy parce que je l'ay moins aimee mais cette excuse n'est pas assez bonne pour me justifier que feray-je donc mon cher phormion luy dit il en verite repliqua son amy je suis bien embarrasse a vous conseiller et je pense que pour vous conseiller bien il faudroit vous persuader de vaincre vostre passion comme alcidamas surmonte la sienne car enfin il est amoureux de cleonide mais il ne laisse pourtant pas de se refondre a en espouser une autre ainsi je conclurrois que vous rapellassiez le souvenir d'argelyse dans vostre coeur et que vous quitassiez le dessein de continuer d'aimer arpasie car pour l'interest de cleonide je vous advoue que hors d'estre assure de forcer astidamas a l'espouser il est bien plus a propos d'estouffer le bruit de l'intelligence qu'il a avec elle que de la publier mais vous ne songez pas repliqua meliante que la chose n'est pas en cet estat la puis que je ne scay cette intelligence que par alcianipe qui ne scait jamais rien qui puisse nuire a quelqu'un qu'elle ne le die a cent personnes en effet poursuivit il on m'a assure que quand elle scait quelque chose de facheux s'il ne vient pas de monde assez tost chez 
 elle a qui elle le puisse dire elle en sort diligement pour en aller chercher et on assure mesme que quand elle est malade rien ne la guerit si tost et ne luy fait plus promptement quiter le lit que d'avoir quelque medisance a aller faire chez quelqu'un a qui elle croit qu'elle donnera quelque plaisir ou a qui elle pense qu'elle fera despit car elle agit par divers motifs bien qu'ils soient presques esgallement mauvais et vous pretendriez apres cela qu'alcianipe ne dist pas a tout ce qu'elle connoist de gens ce qu'elle m'a dit ha non non phormion adjousta-t'il ne vous y abusez point alcianipe ne scait taire que des louanges ainsi il faut tenir pour assure que dans peu de jours toute la ville scaura qu'astidamas a trompe cleonide et comme alcianipe entasse tousjours malice sur malice peut-estre que d'une intelligence innocente elle en fera une tour a fait criminelle joint qu'a parler sincerement quand astidamas ne trahiroit point ma soeur je ne le hairois pas moins que je le hai et il suffit qu'il soit en estat de pouvoir espouser arpasie pour me porter a le perdre si je le puis mais arpasie reprit phormion ne scait pas seulement que vous l'aimez elle scait que je la voy et que je l'admire reprit il et je veux esperer qu'elle scaura bien tost que je l'aime sans que je le luy die car ma passion est trop force pour qu'elle ne la connoisse pas ainsi tout ce que j'ay a faire est de me mettre en estat de pouvoir destruire astidamas dans l'esprit du pere 
 d'arpasie en luy aprenant l'amour qu'il a pour cleonide et en la luy aprenant avec des circonstances qui facent paroistre astidamas ce qu'il est c'est a dire fourbe et perfide je voy bien par l'air de vostre visage adjousta-t'il que vous trouvez estrange que je donne des noms si terribles a astidamas dans l'opinion ou vous estes que je les merite aussi bien que luy mais phormion ne vous y trompez par car s'il y a quelque espece d'esgalite en nostre crime il n'y en a pas en nostre procede et en effet lors que j'ay creu estre amoureux d'argelyse c'a este parce que je ne connoissois pas encore l'amour mais je connois bien aujourd'huy que je n'avois que de l'estime et de l'amitie pour elle et si je la quite je la quite parce qu'une violente passion me force a la quiter et elle m'a mesme l'obligation d'avoir fait tout ce que j'ay pu pour luy conserver mon coeur mais pour astidamas il n'en est pas de mesme car il est fort amoureux de cleonide et malgre cette amour il l'abandonne par un sentiment d'interest de plus il a l'injustice non seulement de l'abandonner mais de la trahir en luy deguilant son inconstance de peur qu'elle ne nuise au dessein qu'il a d'espouser arpasie mais pour moy je n'en userois pas de cette sorte estant certain que si argelyse estoit icy je luy aprendrois moy mesme son malheur et le mien ha meliante interrompit phormion vous parlez comme vous faites parce qu'argelyse n'est pas 
 a alfene car je vous assure qu'il est plus difficile que vous ne pensez a un honneste homme d'aller dire a une femme pour qui il a tesmoigne avoir de l'amour qu'il ne l'aime plus et si vous voiyez argelyse vous vous trouveriez sans doute fort embarrasse je ne doute pas reprit il que je n'eusse une confusion estrange de la voir mais apres tout plustost que de la trahir comme astidamas trahit ma soeur je luy descouvrois ma foiblesse et je luy en demanderois pardon sans m'en pouvoir repentir cependant adjousta-t'il comme je voy bien que vous ne me conseilleriez pas comme je veux l'estre je suivray mon propre sentiment et en effet meliante apres avoir resve quelque temps sortit et sut faire une visite a cleonide a qui il en avoit desja fait plusieurs comme a toutes les autres dames de qualite d'alfene il ne put pourtant l'entretenir aussi tost qu'il eust voulu parce qu'il y avoit du monde avec sa tante et avec elle mais la compagnie estant partie a la reserve d'un homme qui avoit a parler d'affaires avec cette dame chez qui cleonide demeuroit il eut tout le loisir qu'il eust pu souhaiter et il l'eut d'autant plus grand que cette dame mena celuy qui luy parloit dans son cabinet
 
 
 
 
mais a peine fut il seul avec cleonide que tirant une des lettres qu'elle luy avoit autrefois escrites et dont je vous ay dit qu'elle avoit parle un jour chez arpasie il la pria de la voir et de luy dire si elle en connoissoit l'escriture 
 de sorte que cleonide la prenant avec impatience se mit a la lire sans penser que ce fust une lettre qu'elle eust escrite mais des qu'elle eut jette les yeux dessus elle reconnut son escriture et connut en suite un moment apres que c'estoit une lettre qu'elle avoit escrite a son frere d'abord elle le regarda attentivement mais il avoit si peu l'air de tous ceux qu'elle avoit veus de sa famille et elle luy ressembloit si peu que ne concevant pas pourquoy son frere se seroit cache a elle elle ne creut pas encore qu'elle estoit sa soeur et elle s'imagina seulement qu'il estoit amy de son frere eh de grace luy dit elle en quel lieu avez vous connu celuy a qui j'ay escrit cette lettre en quel lieu vous l'a-t'il donnee et pourquoy l'a-t'il mise entre vos mains je vous diray tout ce que vous me demandez luy repliqua meliante et mesme plus que vous ne me pouvez demander pourveu que vous me promettiez de ne dire rien de ce que je vous diray non pas mesme a astidamas adjousta-t'il en la regardant sixement a ces mots cleonide rougit et prenant la parole en racommodant quelque chose a sa coiffure pour tascher de cacher sa rougeur je ne m'estonne pas luy dit elle que vous me priyez de ne dire a qui que ce soit ce que vous me direz car comme je ne scay pas ce que vous me devez dire il peut estre que vous avez des raisons qui vous obligent a me faire cette priere mais je pense que je me dois offencer que vous me particularisiez astidamas 
 et que vous me parliez de luy comme si je ne pouvois rien scavoir sans le luy dire tout ce que je puis faire presentement pour vendre satisfaction reprit meliante est de vous assurer que des que je vous auray dit ce que je ne vous puis dire si vous ne me promettez ce que je veux vous connoistrez si clairement que je ne puis avoir dessein de vous offencer que vous vous repentirez de m'en avoir soubconne mais injuste cleonide poursuivit il pour pouvoir faire un esclaircissement de cette nature il faudroit estre assure qu'il ne vinst personne nous interrompre et pour vous obliger a me donner une audience particuliere je vous jureray par tout ce qui m'est de plus sacre que vous serez la plus malheureuse personne de vostre condition et de vostre sexe si vous ne m'escoutez et si vous ne faites positivement tout ce que je vous diray quand vous m'aurez escoute vous me dittes des choses si surprenantes repliqua-t'elle que bien qu'il semble que vous ne me deviez parler que pour m'en dire de facheuses j'advoue que je ne puis resister a la curiosite que j'ay de les scavoir c'est pourquoy si vous le voulez nous passerons dans ce jardin ou il n'y a que deux filles qui sont a moy qui se promenent et ou nous ne serons point interrompus parce que j'ordonneray que s'il vient quelqu'un on le mene a l'apartement de ma tante je le veux bien reprit meliante mais il faut me promettre de ne dire rien de ce que je vous diray a astidamas et me le promettre 
 solemnellement en vous promettant de ne le dire a personne respondit cleonide en rougissant encore c'est vous promettre tacitement de ne le dire point a astidamas c'est pourquoy ne vous amusez pas a une ceremonie inutile et qui selon moy m'est outrageuse ne vous amusez point vous mesme reprit-il a une delicatesse mal fondee et ne detruisez pas vostre repos pour une bien-seance imaginaire cleonide oyant parler meliante si fortement pensa se facher tout de bon et ne luy donner point d'audience mais comme la mesme chose qui la fachoit estoit ce qui luy donnoit la curiosite de scavoir ce qu'il avoit a luy dire elle surmonta son ressentiment et dit a meliante que pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle n'avoit pas une telle liaison avec astidamas qu'elle ne pust s'engager a ne luy dire jamais ce qu'il luy diroit quoy qu'il ne fust pas de ses amis particuliers elle vouloit bien le luy promettre encore que ce fust en quelque sorte choquer la bien-seance apres cela meliante ayant pris toutes les seuretez qu'il pouvoit prendre luy donna la main et sortant par un perron qui donne dans le jardin il la conduisit dans l'allee la plus esloignee de ces femmes de cleonide qui s'y promenoient mais ils n'y furent pas plustost que cleonide prenant la parole et bien meliante luy dit elle me direz vous qui vous a donne cette lettre que vous m'avez montree et si vous la tenez de la propre main de mon frere avant que de vous 
 respondre precisement repliqua-t'il il faut que je vous proteste que tout ce que je m'en vay vous dire est si constamment vray qu'il n'est pas plus veritable que vous estes ma soeur qu'il est vray qu'astidamas vous trahit a ces mots cleonide demeura si surprise qu'elle changea plus d'une fois de couleur d'abord elle regarda meliante puis un moment apres elle baissa les yeux avec beaucoup de confusion il y eut mesme des instans ou elle souhaita que meliante dist vray et il y en eut d'autres ou elle desira qu'il ne dist pas la verite n'imaginant rien de plus facheux que de commencer de connoistre son frere par une si cruelle avanture mais a la fin faisant quelque effort sur elle mesme pour s'esclaicir du doute ou elle estoit le nom de meliante que vous portez repliqua-t'elle ressemble si peu a celuy de clidaris que porte mon frere que je ne vous puis prendre l'un pour l'autre comme les noms repondit il ne sont pas si essentiellement attachez a ceux qui les portent qu'on ne les desguise quand on en a besoin et qu'on ne les change enfin selon l'occasion la raison que vous dittes n'est pas convainquante mais pour vous dire quelque chose de plus fort que tout ce que je vous ay dit je veux non seulement m'engager a vous montrer toutes les lettres que vous m'avez escrites mais encore a vous dire une grande partie de ce que je vous ay escrit et pour porter la chose plus loin j'escriray en vostre presence tout ce 
 qu'il vous plaira afin que confrontant mon escriture avec les lettres que vous avez de clidaris vous puissiez connoistre sans en pouvoir douter que meliante et luy ne sont qu'une mesme personne et en effet sans differer davantage il tira des tablettes de sa poche et se mit a escrire quelques lignes dedans qu'il donna a lire a cleonide mais elle ne fut guere moins surprise de voir qu'il avoit mis dans ces tablettes que si elle ne suivoit son conseil elle n'espouseroit jamais astidamas que de voir qu'en effet l'escriture qu'elle voyoit estoit si semblable a celle de toutes les lettres qu'elle avoit receues de son frere qu'elle ne pouvoit douter que la main qui les avoit escrites ne fust la mesme qui venoit d'escrire en sa presence une chose qui luy estoit si facheuse mais avant qu'elle fust revenue de l'estonnement ou elle estoit meliante prenant la parole luy dit tant de choses particulieres de sa famille et tant de choses qu'un autre n'eust pu luy dire qu'enfin ne pouvant plus douter qu'il ne fust son frere elle fit ce qu'elle put pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle avoit beaucoup de joye d'estre soeur d'un homme fait comme luy mais pour achever de s'esclaircir entierement elle luy demanda comment il pouvoit estre que cet amy d'astidamas eust escrit de luy comme l'ayant veu a samosate de sorte que meliante luy raconta alors le voyage qu'il avoit fait en ce lieu la et la rencontre qu'il avoit aussi faite de gobrias et d'arpasie mais de grace 
 dit alors cleonide aprenez moy pourquoy vous avez change de nom et pourquoy vous n'avez pas voulu que je vous connusse ce que vous me demandez ma chere soeur repliqua meliante est de telle importance que je ne devrois vous le dire qu'apres que vous m'auriez advoue qu'astidamas a de l'amour pour vous que vous ne le haissez pas qu'il vous promet de n'espouser jamais arpasie et que vous le croyez ainsi ha mon frere s'escria cleonide en rougissant je ne puis vous advouer des choses de cette nature pour vous empescher reprit meliante de vous amuser a me vouloir desguiser la verite scachez que je n'ignore presques rien de tout ce qui s'est passe entre vous et pour vous en dire une partie je scay que c'est dans le jardin d'une de vos amies qui touche celuy ou nous sommes ou vous voyez astidamas principalement depuis qu'arpasie est icy et que c'est la qu'il vous fait mille faux sermens en effet je scay d'une certitude infaillible que si vous ne croyez mon conseil il espousera arpasie au reste pour vous obliger a vous confier absolument en moy je m'en vay vous confier tout le secret de ma vie en vous aprenant que j'ay autant d'interest que vous a empescher ce mariage car enfin pour vous aprendre a me dire la verite et pour vous obliger a celer tout ce que je vous dis a astidamas il faut que je vous aprenne que je suis amoureux d'arpasie mais amoureux jusques au point que si la vie d'astidamas vous est chere il faut 
 que vous m'aidiez a faire qu'il vous soit fidelle et que vous faciez tout ce que je vous diray pour empescher qu'il n'espouse la personne que j'aime car je vous declare que si vous ne le faites vous vous exposerez a voir vostre frere tuer vostre amant ou a voir vostre amant tuer vostre frere pensez donc bien serieusement adjousta-t'il a ce que je vous dis et soyez fortement persuadee que vous avez autant d'interest que moy a suivre le conseil que je vous donneray vous me dittes tant de choses surprenantes repliqua cleonide que je ne scay qu'y respondre je vous en dis de si importantes reprit il qu'il y faut respondre precisement au reste adjousta meliante que je n'ay jamais pu m'accoustumer a nommer clidaris pour vous obliger a vous resoudre a me parler avec sincerite vous n'avez qu'a considerer que je ne me mesle pas de vous faire des reprimandes d'avoir lie affection avec astidamas car comme je suis persuade de vostre vertu et que je connois par mon experience que l'amour n'est pas une chose volontaire je serois injuste si je voulois que vous eussiez plus de force que je n'en ay mais apres avoir excuse vostre foiblesse comme je pretends que vous excusiez la mienne il faut me dire sincerement tout ce qui s'est passe entre astidamas et vous et tout ce qui s'y passe encore afin de le forcer apres a vous estre fidelle et de l'empescher de me rendre malheureux car si vous ne le faites je vous declare que devant 
 que vous puissiez revoir astidamas pour luy dire ce que je vous ay dit je le verray et luy diray des choses qui nous porteront a la derniere extremite c'est pourquoy ma chere soeur je vous conjure par vostre propre gloire et par l'affection que vous avez pour astidamas de vouloir m'empescher d'estre malheureux et de ne vous obstiner pas a me nier une chose que je scay avec autant de certitude que vous mesme vous me parlez d'une maniere si embarrassante repliqua cleonide que je n'ay pas la force ny de vous nier ny de vous advouer ce que vous me demandez il faut pourtant faire le dernier repliqua meliante si vous voulez conserver vostre gloire et vostre amant et ne detruire pas toute la fecilite d'un frere qui vous devra tout son repos si vous songez seulement a establir le vostre apres cela joignant encore mille conjurations tendres et obligeantes a tout ce qu'il luy avoit desja dit cleonide apres toutes les precautions que sa modestie luy put faire prendre afin que son frere pust croire son affection pour astidamas aussi innocente qu'elle l'estoit luy advoua d'abord qu'il y avoit long temps qu'il l'aimoit et en suite qu'il luy disoit tous les jours qu'il l'aimoit encore de sorte qu'apres avoir franchi la premiere difficulte d'advouer une semblable chose elle dit a meliante tout ce qu'il vouloit scavoir mais comme elle estoit persuadee que c'estoit se justifier que d'exagerer les soins 
 qu'astidamas avoit aportez a gagner son coeur elle n'en oublia aucun et elle aprit mesme a son frere qu'il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il ne luy escrivist si bien que meliante entrant avec beaucoup d'adresse dans ses sentimens la pressa de vouloir luy montrer les lettres d'astidamas et il l'en pressa si instamment que cette fille qui craignoit si elle luy refusoit de les luy faire voir qu'il ne creust qu'elles estoient de nature a ne pouvoir estre montrees sans luy faire tort eut impatience qu'il les eust veues car comme astidamas scavoit admirablement comment il falloit escrire des lettres passionnees toutes les siennes n'estoient que des pleintes continuelles de n'estre pas assez bien traite quoy qu'il sceust qu'il n'estoit pas hai de sorte que cleonide scachant que toutes les lettres d'astidamas la justifioient plustost que de l'accuser elle tira de sa poche les deux dernieres qu'elle avoit receues dont l'une estoit escrite du soir et l'autre du matin et les donna a meliante qui les ayant ouvertes y trouva tout ce qu'il eust pu desirer qui y eust este mais madame comme ces deux lettres ont beaucoup servy au desnouement de cette avanture et que je les ay eues si long temps entre mes mains qu'elles sont demeurees dans ma memoire il faut que je vous die que la premiere que vit meliante estoit telle 
 
 
 
 a l'incredulle cleonide 
 
 
 vous estes donc resolue de ne me croire jamais lors que je vous assure que je n'aime point arpasie et que je n'aime que vous et il semble que vous ayez dessein d'estre aussi injuste que vous avez tousjours este rigoureuse en doutant de la sincerite de mes paroles comme vous faites ne vous laissez donc plus abuser aux apparences et soyez fortement persuadee que je ne seray jamais mary d'arpasie et que je seray tousjours amant de la belle cleonide 
 
 
 astidamas 
 
 
vous pouvez juger madame que meliante fut bien aise de tenir cette lettre en son pouvoir c'est pourquoy dans l'esperance qu'il eut de trouver l'autre aussi favorable au dessein qu'il avoit il l'ouvrit diligemment et y trouva ces paroles
 
 
 a l'injuste cleonide 
 
 
 je ne scay pourquoy vous ne me croyez pas mais je scay bien que vous me devez croire lors que je vous 
 proteste que protogene avec toute l'authorite quil a sur moy ne me fera point faire d'infidellite a ma chere cleonide croyez donc que soit par le roy d'assirie ou par ma mere qui arrivera bi tost icy je rompray mon mariage avec arpasie et que si vous estes aussi constate que je suis fidelle nous aimerons eternellement 
 
 
 astidamas 
 
 
quoy que cette seconde lettre fust aussi propre que l'autre a nuire a astidamas elle ne donna pourtant pas a meliante une joye aussi tranquille que la premiere parce qu'il aprit par elle que la mere de son rival devoit venir et qu'il ne douta point qu'elle n'amenast argelyse avec elle de sorte que cette nouvelle precipitant encore le dessein qu'il avoit de nuire a astidamas fit qu'il se resolut de ne rendre point ces deux lettres a sa soeur et de s'en servir pour les faire voir a arpasie afin qu'elle les montrast a gobrias et qu'elle s'en pust servir aussi a rompre son mariage ce n'est pas que comme il scavoit que les autres choses qu'astidamas disoit par ses lettres estoient fausses il eust eu tout a fait lieu de croire celle la n'eust este qu'il y avoit en effet apparence que sa mere viendroit a ses nopces et qu'il ne parloit de son voyage a cleonide que pour la mieux tromper mais enfin apres avoir fait toutes ces reflections en tumulte au lieu de rendre ces deux lettres a sa soeur il les mit dans sa poche et luy dit que c'estoit d'elles d'ou despendoit tout son bonheur et tout le sien 
 d'abord cleonide voulut s'opposer a son dessein mais meliante prenant la parole non non ma soeur luy dit il je ne vous les rendray pas et elles sont si necessaires a vous conserver astidamas et a me faire aquerir arpasie que je vous servirois mal si je me resoluois a vous les rendre car enfin je vous l'ay desja dit astidamas vous trompe et il promit hier positivement a protogene d'espouser arpasie quand il luy plaira ainsi il ne continue d'agir aveque vous comme il fait que de peur que vous ne faciez quelque esclat qui rompe son mariage apres cela meliante luy ayant raconte encore plus exactement qu'il n'avoit fait et son amour pour arpasie et tout ce qu'il scavoit de la perfidie d'astidamas luy dit pour l'amener entierement dans ses sentimens que la chose n'avoit point de milieu et qu'il falloit absolument qu'il se batist contre astidamas ou qu'il rompist son mariage avec arpasie en se servant de ces deux lettres de sorte que cleonide aimant mieux la derniere voye que la premiere consentit qu'il les emportait apres luy avoir promis qu'il n'y auroit que gobrias et arpasie qui les verroient joint que quand elle n'y eust pas consenty elle n'eust pu l'en empescher cependant il luy fit promettre de son coste qu'elle ne descouvriroit pas a son amant qui il estoit jusques a ce que son mariage fust rompu avec arpasie et il luy fit voir si clairement qu'elle se destruiroit elle mesme si elle ne luy estoit pas fidelle et 
 qu'elle exposeroit la vie d'astidamas qu'il ne craignit pas qu'elle luy manquast de parole de sorte que s'estant separez apres s'estre promis une esgalle fidellite cleonide demeura seule dans le jardin ou elle estoit a s'entretenir sur l'avanture qui luy venoit d'arriver et meliante s'en alla chez arpasie avec intention de luy montrer les lettres d'astidamas et en effet des qu'il luy put parler en particulier elle luy donna occasion de les luy faire voir car comme elle n'avoit rien de si pressant dans l'esprit que ce qui regardoit son mariage elle luy demanda si alcianipe ne luy avoit rien apris si bien que ne voulant pas luy dire encore que cleonide estoit sa soeur de peur qu'elle ne creust qu'il nuisoit autant a astidamas par un interest d'honneur que pour le sien il la laissa dans l'opinion qu'il ne scavoit rien de l'amour d'astidamas que par cette femme et il le fit d'autant plustost que cela ne pouvoit rendre suspect de mensonge ce qu'il avoit a luy aprendre parce qu'arpasie connoissoit fort bien l'escriture d'astidamas de sorte qu'apres luy avoir prepare l'esprit a la lecture des deux lettres qu'il avoit il les luy donna a lire mais madame arpasie les leut avec des sentimens bien meslez car elle eut de la joye et de la colere et la haine qu'elle avoit desja pour astidamas augmenta d'une telle sorte en cet instant que meliante eust este bien heureux s'il eust este autant aime qu'astidamas estoit hai je vous proteste dit elle a meliante apres avoir leu ces deux 
 lettres que la perfidie d'astidamas pour cleonide me donne encore plus d'aversion pour luy que son insensibilite pour moy et je luy pardonnerois plus volontiers de ne m'aimer pas que de la trahir en mon particulier madame repliqua meliante je ne suis pas de vostre sentiment car je fais consister le plus grand crime d'astidamas a ne vous aimer point et le second a estre infidelle a cleonide sans estre amoureux de vous car enfin s'il avoit a luy dire que vostre beaute auroit efface la sienne dans son coeur il seroit fort excusable mais de la trahir sans vous aimer et de vous voir sans estre vostre amant ce sont des crimes incroyables en effet poursuivit il on ne peut comprendre qu'un amant de cleonide veuille estre mary d'arpasie et moins encore qu'un homme qui pretend estre mary d'arpasie ne soit pas son amant et je comprends si peu qu'on puisse vous voir sans vous aimer que si astidamas n'avoit signe de sa propre main son insensibilite pour vous dans les deux lettres que vous venez de voir j'aurois bien de la peine a la croire je trouve bien moins estrange qu'il soit insensible pour moy reprit elle que je ne le trouve qu'il soit infidelle a cleonide et comme vous l'avez fort bien remarque qu'il soit infidelle sans estre inconstant quoy que cela paroisse impossible mais enfin madame luy dit meliante quelle resolution prenez vous je prends celle de montrer ces deux lettres a mon pere repliqua-t'elle et de luy dire que je n'espouseray 
 jamais astidamas et pour vous descouvrir tout ce que je pense comme a l'homme du monde en qui je me confie le plus et pour qui j'ay le plus d'amitie je vous assure que quand l'interest de sa vangeance le voudroit porter a me forcer d'espouser astidamas je ne luy obeirois qu'a l'extremite j'espere pourtant poursuivit elle que comme il est fort sensible a l'honneur il aura des sentimens plus equitables et qu'il aimera mesme mieux ne se vanger pas du roy d'assirie que de s'en vanger par une lasche voye il scait bien sans doute que je n'aime pas astidamas mais il ne scait pas la raison que j'en ay et il a tousjours creu que mon aversion estoit une simple aversion naturelle que le temps et la raison surmonteroient mais je suis assuree qu'il n'aura pas plustost veu les deux lettres que vous me venez de donner qu'il changera de sentimens je pense madame reprit meliante qu'il sera a propos de ne dire pas a gobrias que vous scavez qu'encore qu'astidamas ne vous aime point et qu'il aime cleonide il ne laisse pas de vouloir vous espouser car il pourroit estre que l'interest d'estat l'emporteroit sur toute autre consideration au contraire repliqua-t'elle je pretends luy persuader par ces deux lettres qu'astidamas a dessein de ne m'espouser point et de luy faire recevoir un affront en me refusant ouvertement quand protogene l'en pressera trop et je pretens luy persuader en suite qu'il faut devancer astidamas et rompre aveque luy sans luy donner le temps 
 de ronpre aveque nous enfin meliante si je ne me trompe j'agiray de facon qu'il ne tiendra pas a moy que la belle cleonide n'espouse astidamas et que je ne parte bien tost d'alfene pour n'y r'entrer jamais il est vray adjousta-t'elle obligeamment que je n'en partiray pas sans douleur puis que je n'en pourray partir sans vous perdre mais du moins pretens-je bien ne nous separer pas sans vous connoistre un peu plus precisement que je ne fais comme je n'ay tarde a alfene que pour l'amour de vous repliqua meliante j'en partiray quand vous en partirez et si la fortune ne traverse point mon dessein je pense madame que j'iray ou vous irez car vous avez aquis un tel pouvoir sur moy que je ne croy pas que je pusse vivre esloigne de vous si j'avois autant de pouvoir sur vous repliqua-t'elle que vous voulez que je croye que j'y en ay vous me diriez qui vous estes et vous m'aprendriez tout le secret de vostre coeur conme je vous ay apris tout le secret du mien plust aux dieux madame luy dit-il en la regardant que vous pussiez le deviner sans que je vous le disse car il est vray que je n'ay rien dans l'ame que je ne voulusse que vous sceussiez mais il est vray en mesme temps que je ne vous diray pas sans peine tout ce que j'ay dans le coeur car enfin madame le moyen de vous oser descouvrir toutes mes foiblesses le moyen disie de vous oser dire que je n'ay pu me deffendre d'aimer une personne admirable et de l'aimer mesme sans esperance quelle apparence y auroit 
 il de vous exagerer toutes les peines que cette passion me fait souffrir a vous dis-je qui ne la connoissez pas et qui ne vous laissez conduire que par la raison toute seule ce n'est pas que la personne que j'adore n'ait tout ce qui peut faire excuser ma foiblesse car elle est belle de la derniere beaute elle a de l'esprit plus que nulle autre n'en scauroit avoir elle a de la vertu et de la bonte et elle a mesme quelque estime et quelque amitie pour moy mais apres tout madame je ne suis point assez hardy pour vous entretenir de ma passion ce qui m'en facheroit sans doute luy repliqua arpasie sans soubconner encore rien de son amour pour elle c'est que j'ay ouy dire qu'on ne peut estre amoureux sans estre miserable joint que si je considerois mon interest en cette rencontre je m'en devrois affliger puis qu'il n'y a pas d'apparence que nous pussions plus estre guere long temps en mesme lieu cependant adjousta-t'elle sans luy donner loisir de luy respondre puis que la personne que vous aimez a de la beaute de l'esprit de la vertu de la bonte et de l'amitie pour vous je ne voy pas que vous soyez tant a pleindre je ne serois sans doute pas trop malheureux reprit-il si elle aprenoit sans s'en facher que j'ay de l'amour pour elle mais comme je ne le luy ay jamais dit je suis dans une crainte continuelle qu'elle ne descouvre ma passion et je suis en mesme temps dans un desespoir estrange de ce qu'elle ne la devine point il faudra pourtant qu'elle la devine si elle la doit 
 scavoir adjousta-t'il car je sens bien que je n'oseray jamais luy dire ouvertement que je l'aime meliante dit ces paroles d'un certain au passionne qui fit qu'arpasie en rougit et qu'elle fut contrainte de se faire l'aplication de ce qu'elle venoit d'entendre mais comme elle ne put avoir cette pensee sans avoir une agitation qui parut dans ses yeux aussi bien que sur son visage meliante la remarqua et vit bien qu'il estoit entendu de sorte que craignant d'en dire trop et croyant en avoir assez dit pour taire soubconner sa passion a celle qui la causoit il changea de discours et reparlant d'astidamas de cleonide et de gobrias il tira arpasie d'un estrange embarras et s'en tira aussi luy mesme mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut qu'arpasie luy sceut si bon gre de la peur qu'elle voyoit qu'il avoit eue de luy en avoir trop dit que cela fit qu'elle ne s'offenca pas de cette demie declaration d'amour qu'il luy avoit faite cependant elle ne fut pas plustost retiree qu'elle me fit l'honneur de m'aprendre ce qui luy estoit arrive et de me dire l'opinion qu'elle avoit mais a peine m'eut elle raconte ce qui la luy faisoit avoir qu'entrant tout a fait dans son sens je luy dis que j'avois remarque cent choses en meliante qui me faisoient croire ce qu'elle croyoit car enfin luy disois-je il hait trop astidamas pour ne le hair que pour l'amour de vous seulement et il le hait mesme d'une certaine maniere qui me persuade qu'il faut qu'il soit de condition a pouvoir estre son rival 
 pour sa condition repliqua arpasie j'en doute beaucoup moins que de son amour car il est vray qu'il a tous les sentimens de l'ame si nobles et qu'il y a quelque chose de si grand dans son procede qu'il faut assurement qu'il soit de grande qualite mais apres tout niside me dit elle je ne dois le considerer que comme un agreable amy que la fortune m'a donne et qu'elle m'ostera bien tost et je devray estre satisfaire d'elle si elle fait seulement que je n'espouse point astidamas apres cela arpasie ayant change de discours nous ne parlasmes plus que de ce qu'elle diroit le lendemain au matin a gobrias et en effet a peine fut elle esveillee que se faisant habiller en diligence elle fut en suite trouver son pere a qui elle parla avec tant d'adresse tant de respect et tant de prudence qu'apres luy avoir montre les lettres d'astidamas dont il connoissoit parfaitement l'escriture il sembla se porter de luy mesme a consentir qu'elle ne l'espousast point il luy dit pourtant que pour rompre avec une raison specieuse il falloit attendre le retour de celuy que protogene et luy avoient envoye a babilone parce qu'aparamment le roy d'assirie n'aprouveroit pas cette alliance et leur fourniroit un pretexte a protogene et a luy de n'achever pas ce qu'ils avoient commence bien qu'ils eussent resolu de ne laisser pas de conclurre ce mariage quoy que le roy d'assirie n'y consentist pas en effet ma fille luy dit il je suis assure que protogene ne verra pas plustost les deux 
 lettres que vous me monstrez qu'il advouera que vous avez raison de ne vouloir pas espouser astidamas de sorte que comme les autres interests que nous avons ensemble nous unissent assez sans que cette alliance soit d'une absolue necessite puis qu'elle ne se peut faire sans vous rendre malheureuse je n'hesiteray pas un moment a la rompre quand il en sera temps si ce n'estoit qu'astidamas rompist avec cleonide cependant il faut dissimuler comme il dissimule jusques a ce que je juge a propos de tesmoigner mon ressentiment car enfin protogene est maistre d'alfene et il pourroit peut estre faire sa paix a mes despens avec le roy d'assirie si j'agissois imprudemment comme ce que gobrias disoit a arpasie paroissoit raisonnable elle l'en remercia et luy dit mille choses tendres pour le confirmer dans les sentimens ou il tesmoignoit estre si bien que n'osant le presser de luy rendre les lettres qu'elle luy avoit baillees parce qu'il disoit les garder pour les faire voir a protogene quand il le jugeroit a propos elle les laissa entre ses mains et s'en alla a sa chambre avec beaucoup de satisfaction elle n'avoit pourtant pas grand sujet d'en avoir car vous scaurez madame que gobrias n'avoit parle comme il avoit fait a arpasie que pour l'amuser et que pour l'empescher de faire esclatter son ressentiment en mal traitant astidamas et en effet nous sceusmes bien tost la chose d'une maniere assez surprenante puis que ce fut par 
 meliante qui la sceut d'une facon encore plus extraordinaire car imaginez vous madame que dans l'opiniastre dessein que gobrias avoit alors de se vanger du roy d'assirie il ne consideroit que cela seulement et ne consideroit point du tout la satisfaction d'arpasie de sorte que ne songeant qu'a faire que ce mariage s'accomplist il envoya prier meliante qu'il luy pust parler si bien que l'estant allee trouver en diligence il le trouva seul dans son cabinet et il l'y trouva tenant a la main les deux lettres d'astidamas qu'arpasie luy avoit baillees et que meliante avoit baillees a arpasie mais a peine fut il aupres de luy que gobrias prenant la parole pour vous tesmoigner luy dit-il quelle est l'estime que je fais de vostre esprit et de vostre amitie je veux bien vous confier tout le secret de ma famille et essayer s'il est possible de vous mettre dans le party que je tasche de former contre le roy d'assirie apres cela gobrias se mit a luy exagerer tous les sujets de pleinte qu'il avoit autrefois eus de ce prince a luy dire en suite le traite qu'il avoit fait avec protogene a luy aprendre que le mariage d'arpasie n'estoit fait que pour cela et a luy dire tout ce que cette admirable fille luy avoit dit et tout ce qu'il luy avoit respondu en suitte de quoy il continua de parler comme vous avez infiniment de l'esprit luy dit-il je m'assure que vous jugez bien que je n'ay pas respondu a ma fille comme j'ay fait avec intention de faire ce que je luy ay dit que je 
 ferois mais seulement de gagner temps car enfin ce seroit une estrange chose si j'estois capable de rompre avec protogene parce qu'astidamas est amoureux de cleonide et qu'il n'est pas amoureux de ma fille car les mariages des personnes de ma condition ne se font presques jamais que par des interests solides sans s'amuser a ces sortes de choses qui ne servent de rien a l'establissement des maisons joint que quand il seroit possible qu'astidamas n'aimast point cleonide et qu'il aimast arpasie les choses ne seroient pas long temps en cet estat et il arriveroit sans doute bien tost quelque changement en l'assiette de son ame puis que selon l'ordre estably par la nature et par la coustume peu de maris sont amans de leurs femmes c'est pourquoy comme astidamas a du coeur et de l'esprit et qu'il peut servir a ma vangeance il faut qu'arpasie se resolve a l'espouser neantmoins comme je voudrois bien que la facon d'agir d'astidamas l'obligeast a s'y porter plustost que mon authorite absolue je vous ay choisi pour luy persuader d'aporter un peu plus de soin a gagner son esprit et pour faire qu'il s'y resolve plustost et qu'il m'ait quelque obligation de la discretion avec laquelle j'use de la connoissance que j'ay de son amour avec cleonide montrez luy les deux lettres que je remets entre vos mains en disant cela gobrias bailla effectivement a meliante les mesmes lettres qu'il avoit baillees a arpasie et qu'arpasie avoit mises entre 
 les mains de son pere de sorte que les prenant et faisant semblant de les lire comme s'il ne les eust pas veues il dit en suite a gobrias qu'il luy sembloit qu'astidamas promettant aussi fortement qu'il faisoit a cleonide de n'espouser jamais arpasie il n'y avoit pas lieu de croire qu'il luy pust persuader de vivre mieux avec elle non non reprit gobrias ne vous y trompez point astidamas qui promet a cleonide de n'espouser jamais arpasie promet encore plus affirmativement a protogene de l'espouser quand il luy plaira et en effet pour vous descouvrir le secret de cette affaire je vous advoueray que celuy qu'on avoit envoye vers le roy d'assirie est revenu quoy qu'on ne le publie pas encore parce qu'on veut concerter une responce supposee qu'on fera faire a ce prince comme s'il consentoit a ce mariage quoy qu'il n'y consente pas et je vous diray en suite que des que la mere et la soeur d'astidamas seront arrivees les nopces de ma fille se feront c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien que pendant cet intervale qui ne sera pas long vous dissiez a astidamas que non seulement je scay son amour pour cleonide mais aussi que ma fille ne l'ignore pas car comme je scay d'une certitude infaillible qu'encore qu'il aime cleonide il ne laissera pas d'espouser arpasie je suis persuade que pour esviter la persecution qu'elle luy pourroit faire apres son mariage il se contraindra et rompra plustost avec cleonide qu'il ne feroit 
 s'il pensoit que cette galanterie ne fust sceue ny de moy ny de ma fille dittes luy donc que je la cacheray soigneusement a protogene pourveu qu'il se contraigne autant qu'il faut pour appaiser arpasie et que je la luy descouvriray s'il ne fait ce qu'il doit faire vous pouvez juger madame si cette commission pouvoit estre agreable a meliante soit qu'il se considerast comme amant d'arpasie ou comme frere de cleonide il se contraignit pourtant autant qu'il put et il se vit mesme contraint d'accepter un si facheux employ de peur que gobrias ne le donnast a quelque autre qui s'en aquitast mieux qu'il n'eust voulu il promit donc a gobrias de faire ce qu'il vouloit mais il ne le luy promit qu'apres avoir fait tout ce qu'il put pour luy persuader qu'il exposeroit arpasie a estre tres malheureuse s'il la forcoit a espouser astidamas puis qu'il estoit vray qu'elle avoit aversion pour luy mais enfin ne pouvant rien gagner sur son esprit meliante le quita et s'en alla avec plus de douleur qu'il n'estoit capable d'en suporter en effet ayant sceu qu'il y avoit beaucoup de monde avec arpasie il ne se sentit pas en estat d'entrer chez elle et il fut chercher cleonide qu'il trouva seule pour luy demander si elle avoit veu astidamas le soir auparavant au lieu ou elle avoit accoustume de le voir helas mon frere luy dit elle je ne l'ay que trop veu car depuis que vous m'avez 
 ouvert les yeux je voy son infidellite si claire dans les siens que je n'en scaurois plus douter ce n'est pas qu'il ne me promist encore hier de n'espouser jamais arpasie mais il me le promit plus foiblement qu'a l'ordinaire et il m'exagera tellement l'humeur imperieuse de protogene que je connus bien qu'il vouloit preparer mon esprit a l'obeissance qu'il luy veut rendre enfin mon cher frere astidamas est un infidelle qui vous desrobera arpasie et qui m'ostera son coeur si vous ne trouvez les moyens d'empescher vostre malheur et le mien il me dit hier adjousta-t'elle que sa mere et sa soeur arriveroient peut-estre demain mais qu'il craignoit estrangement que protogene ne les gagnast toutes deux et que sa mere n'eust pas la force de s'oposer a son mariage comme il l'avoit espere et comme il le souhaitoit quoy s'escria meliante argelyse soeur d'astidamas sera demain a alfene ha si cela est il faut que j'aye recours aux remedes les plus extremes cleonide surprise du discours de son frere luy demanda pourquoy il parloit ainsi mais meliante ne voulant pas luy dire le sujet qu'il en avoit luy dit que sa douleur estoit si forte qu'il ne faloit pas prendre garde de si pres a ce qu'il disoit de sorte qu'apres avoir este encore un quart d'heure avec elle il retourna chez arpasie pour voir si ce grand monde qui avoit este chez elle en estoit party si bien qu'ayant sceu qu'il n'y avoit plus qu'alcianipe 
 deux autres dames et un homme de qualite d'alfene nomme merose il creut qu'ils s'en iroient bien tost et ne laissa pas d'entrer son esperance se trouva pourtant mal fondee car alcianipe estoit tellement en humeur de parler ce jour la et en humeur de medire qu'elle ne pensa jamais s'en aller ce n'est pas qu'arpasie ne luy tesmoignast civilement qu'elle ne prenoit pas plaisir a la medisance mais comme elle croyoit que c'estoit par elle seulement que meliante scavoit toute la galanterie d'astidamas avec cleonide elle l'endura un peu moins impatiemment ce jour la qu'elle n'eust fait si elle n'eust pas creu que c'estoit par son moyen que son mariage avec astidamas seroit rompu de plus comme ce que gobrias luy avoit dit luy donnoit de la joye meliante la trouva aussi guaye qu'il estoit triste en effet elle faisoit alors agreablement la guerre a merose qui parloit aussi fort legerement d'autruy afin qu'en le corrigeant elle corrigeast indirectement alcianipe mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que ces deux personnes medisantes pour suivre chacune leur heumeur s'accuserent l'une l'autre tour a tour d'aimer trop a medire pour moy disoit merose comme je ne dis jamais de mal de personne si je ne le scay bien je ne pense pas pouvoir raisonnablement passer pour medisant mais pour alcianipe elle ne dit pas seulement ce qu'elle scait ny ce qu'elle a ouy dire mais elle dit encore 
 ce qu'elle s'imagine qui doit estre ou qui peut estre j'advoue repliqua-t'elle que je dis beaucoup de choses que je n'ay point veues mais si on ne parloit que de ce qu'on a veu on parleroit peu et si on bannissoit la science des conjectures il n'y auroit plus de nouvelles par le monde cependant il est certain qu'elle ne me trompe guere plus souvent que mes yeux en effet adjousta-t'elle quand on scait qu'une femme qui est jeune et belle a un mary qu'elle n'aime point et qu'elle a un amant qu'elle ne hait pas il est aise de s'imaginer de quoy ces deux personnes parlent quand elles sont cinq ou six heures ensemble a quelque assignation particuliere et l'on ne doit pas estre nommee medisante quand on dira que ces gens la ont une intelligence de galanterie il est sans doute permis de raisonner sur des conjectures reprit arpasie pourveu qu'on les explique le plus favorablement qu'on peut mais si on ne les peut bien expliquer repliqua merose que faut il faire et que faut il dire il faut alors reprit arpasie se contenter de penser le mal sans le publier car je suis persuadee qu'il n'est mesme pas permis de dire celuy qu'on scait avec certitude si ce n'est que ce soit une chose si generalement sceue qu'on ne puisse raisonnablement presuposer qu'on puisse l'aprendre a quelqu'un en la disant quoy madame s'escria alcianipe vous voudriez que je ne disse ny ce que je pense ny ce que je croy ny ce que 
 je scay je voudrois repliqua arpasie qu'on ne dist jamais d'autruy que ce qu'on voudroit qu'on dist de soy mesme je suis donc dans les termes ou vous voulez qu'on soit repliqua alcianipe en riant car si j'estois belle que j'eusse tousjours cent galans qui me suivissent aux temples aux promenades et aux visites et que je fusse comme il y en a cent qui sont je voudrois bien qu'on dist que je serois coquette c'est pourquoy comme je ne dis jamais que ce que je souffrirois qu'on dist de moy si je faisois ce que font ceux dont je parle je ne dois pas passer pour medisante pour vous tesmoigner que vous ne feriez pas ce que vous dittes dit alors merose n'est-il pas vray qu'encore que vous parliez plus d'autruy que personne n'en parla jamais vous ne voulez pourtant pas qu'on die que vous estes medisante et je suis assure poursuivit-il que la raison pourquoy vous ne le voulez pas c'est parce que vous craignez que cela n'empesche que l'on ne croye tout le mal que vous dittes de ceux dont vous parlez il y a grande aparence repliqua-t'elle que vous jugez d'autruy par vous mesme car pour moy je ne dis jamais rien qui ne soit tellement vray et tellement vray semblable tout ensemble qu'on n'en scauroit douter ainsi ce ne peut estre par le motif que vous dittes que je ne veux pas qu'on m'apelle medisante mais seulement parce que je dis tousjours la verite 
 car enfin adjousta-t'elle en repassant presques toute la ville et en designant precisement les gens dont elle entendoit parler quoy qu'elle ne les nommast point est-ce medire que de trouver qu'un homme qui devient amy particulier du galant de sa femme est trop bon mary qu'un mary qui a une femme jeune et belle qui ne voit personne est jaloux que des gens qui ont despense tout leur bien mal a propos sont des fous qu'un homme qui n'a point de naissance et qui veut contrefaire l'homme de haute qualite est ridicule qu'il y a de la temerite aux gens de la ville de se mesler trop avec les gens de la cour qu'un vieil homme qui espouse une jeune fille s'expose a tous les malheurs du mariage qu'une vieille femme qui espouse un jeune homme merite tous les mespris qu'elle en doit attendre qu'un mary avare hazarde sa femme si elle est belle pour peu qu'elle aime a estre paree et qu'elle n'aime pas trop la gloire et qu'une femme qui passe toutes les journees aux temples et qui ne laisse pas de donner des assignations ne se sert de la piete que pour couvrir sa galanterie comme vous avez bien de l'esprit reprit arpasie vous dittes quelques fois les choses d'une facon qu'on diroit que vous n'avez pas trop de tort mais apres tout alcianipe si vous emploiyez le mesme esprit que vous avez a dire du bien de tout le monde vous auriez mille amis que vous n'avez pas et vous avez peut-estre cent ennemis que vous n'auriez 
 n'auriez point pour des amis madame repliqua-t'elle en souriant il en est si peu que bien loin d'en pouvoir avoir mille comme vous le dittes je suis persuadee que quand j'aurois toute la lasche complaisance de ces sortes de gens qui louent indifferamment toutes choses et qui bien qu'ils trouvent a redire a tout font comme s'ils ne trouvoint a redire a rien j'aurois bien de la peine a en pouvoir aquerir un fidelle c'est pourquoy je trouve bien plus seur de se rendre un peu redoutable aux autres que d'estre en estat de les craindre et puis a quoy bon d'avoir l'esprit de discernement si je ne m'en serts a faire la distinction des gens que je voy et des gens dont je parle pendant qu'alcianipe raisonnoit ainsi meliante qui estoit entre il y avoit desja quelque temps ne disoit mot et paroissoit si resveur qu'arpasie y prenant garde s'imagina que le soubcon qu'elle avoit que meliante estoit amoureux d'elle n'estoit pas mal fonde de sorte qu'apres qu'alcianipe et les autres dames qui estoient chez arpasie en furent parties et que merose fut aussi sorty elle esvita autant qu'elle put de luy parler en particulier pour cet effet elle apella ses femmes les unes apres les autres pour leur donner quelque commission mais comme meliante avoit des choses trop importantes a luy dire pour ne luy demander pas audience il la suplia de la luy donner a l'heure mesme car enfin madame luy dit-il en soupirant il vous 
 importe de tout vostre bonheur que vous m'escoutiez et que vous m'escoutiez promptement arpasie connoissant bien alors qu'il falloit que meliante eust quelque chose de facheux a luy dire changea de couleur et sans pouvoir deviner quel changement il pouvoit y avoir en sa fortune elle le pressa de luy aprendre quel nouveau malheur la menacoit si bien que se hastant de luy raconter toutes les choses que gobrias luy avoit dittes de peur qu'il ne vinst quelqu'un les interrompre il luy aprit en peu de mots toute la conversation qu'il avoit eue avec son pere mais il la luy aprit avec tant de marques de douleur sur le visage qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il avoit un interest cache a celle d'arpasie quoy meliante s'escria cette admirable fille apres avoir entendu tout ce qu'il luy avoit dit mon pere a l'inhumanite de me vouloir sacrifier a sa vangeance en me rendant la plus malheureuse personne du monde et il peut vouloir que j'espouse un homme qui trahit une des plus aimables filles de la terre pour satisfaire son ambition quoy astidamas se resoudra de quitter cleonide qu'il aime pour obeir a protogene et j'espouseray astidamas que je n'aime point pour obeir a mon pere cependant poursuivit-elle la bien-seance que l'usage a establie veut que je ne luy desobeisse pas si mes larmes et mes prieres ne le peuvent flechir quoy madame reprit brusquement meliante vous pourriez vous resoudre d'espouser astidamas 
 je me resoudrois sans doute plus facilement a la mort repliqua-t'elle mais je pense que je m'y resoudray pourtant plustost que de me couvrir de la honte qu'il y auroit de desobeir a un pere tel que gobrias il faut pourtant adjousta-t'elle essayer toutes choses avant que de se rendre et je ne scay s'il ne seroit point a propos d'avertir cleonide de l'infidelite de son amant afin que songeant a l'empescher de la trahir elle m'empeschast d'estre malheureuse ha madame reprit meliante ce que vous dittes qu'il faut faire est desja fait inutilement quoy repliqua arpasie vous avez fait parler alcianipe a cleonide nullement madame respondit-il mais je luy ay parle moy mesme et puis qu'il vous importe aussi bien qu'a moy que vous n'ignoriez plus qui je suis scachez madame que je suis frere de cleonide vous estes frere de cleonide reprit arpasie avec beaucoup d'estonnement et vous estes celuy de qui un amy d'astidamas luy escrivoit de samosate si avantageusement ouy madame reprit-il je suis le malheureux clidaris sous le nom de meliante que cleonide mesme ne connoist que depuis deux jours je suis fort aise reprit elle de scavoir que je ne me suis point trompee lors que j'ay creu que vous estiez d'une naissance proportionnee a vostre merite et j'en ay d'autant plus de joye adjousta-t'elle qu'en aprenant que vous estes frere de cleonide j'aprens que vous avez presques autant d'interest que moy a faire que je n'espouse point astidamas quand 
 vous me connoistrez bien madame reprit-il vous verrez peut-estre que j'y en ay plus que vous et que quand cleonide ne seroit point ma soeur j'y en prendrois autant que j'y en prens car enfin madame pour ne vous desguiser plus rien je devins vostre conqueste en vous parlant des conquestes de sesostris des le premier jour que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir ouy madame poursuivit-il le premier moment de vostre veue fut le premier moment de ma passion et je vous aime d'une maniere si respectueuse que vous ne devez pas vous offencer si j'ay la hardiesse de vous le dire dans un temps ou je ne pretens nullement que vous attribuyez tout ce que je feray contre astidamas a l'interest de ma soeur je suis en un estat si malheureux repliqua arpasie que vous ne devriez pas me parler comme vous me parlez et me priver de la consolation que j'avois de vous pouvoir ouvrir mon coeur quoy madame s'escria-t'il vous croyez qu'il faille me fermer vostre coeur parce que je vous ay donne le mien et que vous ne soyez plus obligee d'avoir de l'amitie pour moy parce que j'ay de l'amour pour vous ha madame si vous le croyez ainsi vous estes injuste et vous estes mesme rigoureuse au reste la passion que j'ay pour vous n'est point incompatible avec vostre vertu puis que je ne vous demande rien presentement que de souffrir que je vous aime et que je m'oppose au dessein d'astidamas j'en ay un pretexte ou vous ne paroistrez point avoir 
 de part et je suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes si je ne vous mets en estat de ne l'espouser point sans vous mettre dans la necessite de desobeir a gobrias quoy que ce que vous dittes me fust fort avantageux repliqua-t'elle je ne voudrois pas que vous prissiez une voye qui vous pourroit estre funeste bien que vous m'ayez offencee et j'aimerois encore mieux estre femme d'astidamas que d'estre cause de la mort de quelqu'un non pas mesme de celle d'astidamas voyez donc si je voudrois m'exposer a causer la vostre au reste adjousta-t'elle pour vous tesmoigner que l'amitie que j'ay pour vous est assez forte puis qu'elle peut subsister apres une declaration d'amour je veux bien vous pardonner la hardiesse que vous venez d'avoir a condition que vous ne me parlerez plus que comme estant de mes amis et comme estant tousjours meliante laissez du moins a clidaris repliqua-t'il l'esperance de n'estre pas mal traite si les choses sont jamais en estat qu'il puisse faire connoistre a gobrias le sentiment qu'il a pour vous je luy permets d'esperer respondit-elle que s'il peut obliger mon pere a luy estre aussi favorable qu'il l'est a astidamas que je ne luy seray pas aussi contraire que je le suis a cet amant infidelle mais apres cela meliante ne m'en demandez pas davantage si vous ne voulez que je rompe aveque vous quoy que vous refacicz presques rien pour moy repliqua-t'il je ne laisseray pas d'estre satisfait de vostre bonte pourveu 
 que vous me permettiez encore de vous dire que personne n'a jamais aime avec plus d'ardeur que je vous aime que nul autre amant n'a jamais souffert plus que je souffre ny n'a eu une amour plus violente ny plus solide tout ensemble que celle que j'ay pour vous car enfin madame je vous aime avec la certitude de ne pouvoir jamais cesser de vous aimer et je vous aime sans que l'esperance ait rien contribue a faire croistre mon amour et sans que vous ayez serre les chaines qui m'attachent a vous par nulle complaisance pour ma passion naissante puis que vous n'avez pas mesme soubconne que je fusse amoureux de vous l'amour que j'ay dans l'ame estant sans doute une de ces amours de constellation que la raison ne peut jamais vaincre et qui vont au dela du tombeau resolvez vous a la souffrir et a recevoir favorablement tout ce qu'elle me fera faire contre astidamas
 
 
 
 
comme meliante disoit cela astidamas avec trois autres entra dans la chambre d'arpasie si bien qu'estant force de se taire et arpasie aussi il falut un moment apres changer de conversation en effet comme astidamas estoit ce jour la en un de ses jours d'enjouement et que de plus dans le dessein qu'il avoit d'espouser arpasie il avoit pris la resolution de changer sa forme de vie avec elle et de tascher de gagner son esprit il parla avec tout l'agrement qu'il avoit pour tous ceux qui ne le connoissoient guere mais comme je pense 
 vous avoir dit qu'il passoit continuellement d'un sujet a un autre sans aprofondir jamais rien je pense aussi pouvoir dire qu'en une heure de temps seulement il parla de toutes les choses dont on pouvoit parler alors car non seulement il raconta des nouvelles de ce qui se passoit a babilone mais il en dit de tout ce qui se passoit a alfene en suite il parla de tout ce qu'il avoit fait ce jour la il raconta mesme ce qu'on avoit dit aux lieux ou il avoit este et il demanda a arpasie ce qu'elle avoit fait apres il fit la guerre a meliante de son silence en suite il parla de musique et de peinture il proposa diverses parties de promenades et il dit tant de choses differentes qu'un homme de la compagnie prenant garde a cette grande diversite y fit en suite prendre garde aux autres avec intention de louer astidamas car enfin dit-il apres l'avoir fait remarquer il n'y a rien de plus ennuyeux que de se trouver en conversation avec ces sortes de gens qui s'attachent a la premiere chose dont on parle et qui l'aprofondissent tellement qu'en toute une apresdisnee on ne change jamais de discours car comme la conversation doit estre libre et naturelle et que tous ceux qui forment la compagnie ont esgallement droit de la changer comme bon leur semble c'est une importune chose que de trouver de ces gens opiniastres qui ne laissent rien a dire sur un sujet et qui y reviennent tousjours quelque 
 soin qu'on aporte a les interrompre pour moy reprit froidement meliante je ne croy pas qu'il faille faire une regle generale de ce que vous dittes car en mon particulier je scay des personnes avec qui je me divertirois bien mieux a ne leur parler jamais que d'une mesme chose que je ne ferois a entendre raconter toutes les nouvelles du monde si vous parliez d'amour a quelque belle personne reprit astidamas je pense que vous auriez raison de ne vouloir pas changer de discours mais encore faudroit il diversifier la maniere dont vous luy diriez vostre passion si vous ne vouliez pas l'ennuyer et vous ennuyer vous mesme ceux qui scavent bien aimer repliqua meliante ne s'ennuyent pas si aisement que les autres qui ne le scavent pas et cette passion a cela de particulier qu'elle occupe si doucement l'esprit de ceux qu'elle possede que bien souvent le silence mesme divertit et deux personnes qui s'aiment pourveu qu'elles soient ensemble ne seroient pas exposees a s'ennuyer quand mesme elles ne se parleroient pas quoy qu'il en soit dit astidamas j'aime la diversite en tout je la trouve belle aux fleurs d'une prairie dit arpasie avec une voix assez languissante mais je ne l'aime pas trop en beaucoup d'autres choses et soit par paresse ou par sterilite d'esprit je parle volontiers long temps de ce qui me plaist apres cela meliante poussant la chose encore plus loin obligea astidamas a luy respondre un peu brusquement de sorte que si arpasie 
 n'eust agy avec beaucoup d'adresse ils se fussent querellez en sa presence ils se separerent pourtant assez civilement et chacun s'en alla chez soy avec des sentimens bien differens arpasie de son coste demeura avec beaucoup d'inquietude car comme elle n'avoit rien conclu avec meliante elle craignoit qu'il ne se portast a quelque resolution violente et elle le craignoit d'autant plus qu'elle connoissoit bien qu'il n'y avoit nulle autre voye de rompre son mariage et qu'elle avoit connu parfaitement que meliante estoit fort amoureux d'elle si bien que m'apellant dans son cabinet des qu'elle fut en liberte de le pouvoir faire elle me dit la cause du redoublement de sa douleur en m'aprenant tout ce que gobrias avoit dit a meliante et tout ce que meliante luy avoit apris et de sa naissance et de sa passion apres quoy continuant de parler en soupirant elle exagera son infortune avec des paroles si touchantes qu'elle m'inspira toute sa douleur mais madame luy dis-je alors pour la consoler encore est-ce un avantage pour vous que meliante soit frere de cleonide et soit vostre amant c'en est un sans doute reprit-elle pour faire qu'astidamas ne m'espouse point mais nyside c'est un avantage qui me donne de l'inquietude car enfin j'estime assez meliante pour ne vouloir pas qu'il perisse pour me sauver et je l'estime mesme assez pour n'estre pas bien aise que cette estime soit secondee d'une grande obligation meliante estant de la condition 
 dont il est repris-je il ne me semble pas que vous deviez craindre de luy estre obligee et si en rompant le mariage d'astidamas il pouvoit vous espouser je ne voy pas que vous eussiez lieu d'accuser la fortune n'allons pas si viste nyside me dit-elle et ne concevons pas des esperances mal fondees meliante est sans doute un des hommes du monde qui a le plus de charmes dans l'esprit et de qui la personne plaist davantage mais apres tout quoy que je le connusse assez pour en avoir voulu faire mon amy je ne le connois pas autant qu'il faut pour souhaiter si precisement qu'il soit mon mary quoy que je connoisse bien qu'il est mon amant et quoy que j'aye sans doute pour luy une estime tres particuliere joint que comme je me connois tres malheureuse je n'ose rien souhaiter de peur de souhaiter mesme quelque chose a mon desavantage cependant durant qu'arpasie raisonnoit ainsi meliante n'avoit pas l'ame en repos car apres avoir sceu qu'astidamas estoit resolu d'espouser arpasie que gobrias forceroit sa fille a luy obeir et qu'elle estoit elle mesme en disposition de le faire quelque repugnance qu'elle y eust il voyoit bien qu'il n'y avoit point de remedes a son mal qui ne fussent tres violens de plus scachant encore avec certitude qu'argelyse devoit arriver il voyoit embarras sur embarras sans scavoir par ou une avanture si meslee se pourroit desmesler de sorte qu'apres avoir passe la nuit sans dormir et sans dire son inquietude 
 a phormion parce qu'il le trouvoit trop sage pour luy donner un conseil aussi violent que celuy qu'il s'estoit donne luy mesme il se leva diligemment et sans estre suivy que de son escuyer il fut en un lieu ou il scavoit qu'astidamas avoit accoustume de se promener le matin car com- il logeoit d'un coste de la ville ou il y avoit une porte qui donnoit a trente pas du lac astidamas y alloit souvent jouir de la purete de l'air a une de ces heures ou les gens de son age ne trouvent rien a faire parce que ce n'est pas encore l'heure des visites ny celle ou les dames vont aux temples mais comme meliante y fut tres matin astidamas n'y estoit pas encore si bien qu'il eut loisir d'examiner plus d'une fois ce qu'il alloit faire mais plus il examina l'estat present de son ame plus il trouva qu'il ne pouvoit faire autre chose que ce qu'il avoit resolu pense disoit- il en luy mesme comme il l'a redit depuis pense meliante a ce que tu vas faire astidamas est frere d'argelyse a qui tu as de l'obligation pour qui tu as de l'estime et pour qui tu as eu une espece d'amitie que tu croyois estre amour et que cette malheureuse et aimable fille croit estre encore dans ton coeur contente toy donc de luy estre infidelle sans quereller une personne qui luy est si chere mais helas adjoustoit il en se reprenant le moyen de ne considerer astidamas que comme frere d'argelise puis que je scay avec certitude qu'il veut espouser arpasie 
 et trahir cleonide encore pour ce dernier crime je serois assez equitable pour ne l'en accuser pas puis qu'il m'en pourroit accuser luy mesme mais pour l'autre il n'y a pas moyen de souffrir qu'il en soit capable non non poursuivoit-il je n'endureray point qu'astidamas espouse arpasie et puis que je ne le puis empescher qu'en prenant une resolution violente il la faut prendre et il la faut executer avec hardiesse et avec fermete comme il estoit dans ce sentiment la astidamas parut avec un des siens seulement de sorte que s'avancant vers luy comme si le hazard tout seul les eust fait rencontrer il le salua afin que leurs gens ne prissent pas garde a eux apres quoy astidamas prenant la parole le premier d'ou vient donc meliante luy dit-il que je vous trouve a une promenade que je pensois m'estre particuliere vous m'y trouvez reprit-il voyant qu'il ne pouvoit estre entendu que de luy parce que je suis venu vous y chercher pour vous aprendre une chose qu'il importe que vous scachiez et que je veux croire qui vous sera agreable car dans les sentimens que je scay que vous avez pour cleonide je ne veux pas douter que vous n'apreniez aveque joye que je suis son frere et que vous ne vous serviez des expediens que je vous donneray pour n'espouser pas arpasie que vous n'aimez point et pour espouser cleonide que je scay que vous aimez quoy reprit astidamas fort surpris et fort estonne vous estes clidaris qu'on m'a mande avoir passe a samosate 
 ouy repliqua-t'il je suis le mesme clidaris dont on vous a escrit trop avantageusement qui viens vous sommer de tenir la parole que vous avez donnee a ma soeur ce n'est pas qu'elle ne s'y assure absolument mais comme le bruit general de la ville est que vous allez espouser arpasie j'ay este bien aise pour l'interest de mon honneur qui est engage avec le sien en cette occasion d'aprendre de vostre bouche quel est vostre veritable dessein mais afin que vous ne croiyez pas que je prens un nom qui ne m'apartient point voyez luy dit-il en luy montrant les deux lettres qu'il avoit escrites a cleonide que je ne puis avoir ce que je vous montre que de la main de ma soeur et respondez apres cela precisement a ce que je vous demande quand j'ay escrit ces deux lettres a cleonide repliqua brusquement astidamas j'avois dessein de faire ce que je luy mandois mais aujourd'huy que je voy qu'elle doute de mes promesses qu'elle m'envoye faire un esclaircissement et qu'elle m'a cache que vous estiez son frere son infidellite me dispense de luy estre fidelle aussi bien n'ay-je pas un engagement si grand avec cleonide que sa reputation y soit engagee je l'ay aimee et elle m'a souffert favorablement mais il ne s'en est espandu nul bruit dans le monde et quand on scauroit mesme que j'en aurois este amoureux et que je n'en aurois pas este hai elle n'en seroit pas deshonnoree quand on ne le devroit jamais scavoir reprit meliante puis que je le scay 
 cela suffit pour faire que je face toutes choses possibles pour vous obliger a luy tenir ce que vous luy avez promis je le luy aurois tenu reprit artificieusement astidamas si elle s'estoit fie a ma parole mais je ne croy pas que je doive irriter protogene perdre toute ma fortune et faire recevoir un affront a gobrias et a arpasie pour une personne qui m'en fait un vous ne voulez donc pas espouser cleonide reprit froidement meliante et vous pretendez espouser arpasie comme la raison le veut je le veux aussi repliqua astidamas et je ne pense pas que rien m'en puisse empescher si je suivois mon inclination repliqua meliante je mettrois tout a l'heure l'espee a la main pour vous obliger de faire par la force ce que vous ne voulez pas faire par la seule consideration de la justice mais une puissante raison que je ne vous puis dire ne voulant pas que je me porte a cette extremite que je n'y sois force j'ay encore a vous aprendre pour vous obliger a faire ce que je veux que non seulement je suis frere de cleonide mais que je suis encore amant d'arpasie si bien que quand je pourrois consentir que vous abandonnassiez ma soeur je ne souffrirois pas que vous espousassiez ma maistresse c'est pourquoy ayant un double interest en cette affaire examinez la bien et resolvez vous de bonne grace a faire ce que vous devez puis qu'a mon advis il n'est pas bien difficile car puis que vous 
 n'aimez pas arpasie et que vous aimez cleonide il vous doit estre aise de me satisfaire comme l'aime mon honneur plus que toutes choses repliqua brusquement astidamas je ne suis plus en termes de deliberer et apres ce que vous venez de me dire il ne me reste rien a faire qu'a terminer nostre different par un combat et qu'a vous faire voir que ce n'est pas l'espee a la main qu'on me fait tenir ma parole c'est pourquoy esloignons nous insensiblement de ceux qui nous suivent car enfin je n'aime point arpasie et j'aimois encore tendrement cleonide quand vous avez commence de me parler mais il n'est rien presentement qui puisse m'empescher d'espouser celle que je n'aime pas et de quitter celle que j'aime nous le verrons bien tost reprit meliante avec precipitation puis que vous ne voulez point vous laisser vaincre a la raison et en effet madame ces deux ennemis s'estant esloignez de leurs gens et s'estant mesme dit plusieurs choses facheuses mirent l'espee a la main et commencerent de se battre avec autant d'animosite que de courage mais comme ils songeoient chacun a se vaincre et qu'ils estoient prests de s'entretuer un chariot plein de dames suivy de quelques hommes a cheval parut assez pres d'eux pour faire que ceux qui accompagnoient ces dames peussent separer ces combatans et ils arriverent si heureusement que ny l'un ny l'autre n'estoit encore blesse lors 
 qu'ils les forcerent de finir leur combat mais ce qu'il y eut de surprenant en cette rencontre fut que ce chariot estoit celuy de la mere d'astidamas dans lequel estoit argelyse si bien que le premier objet qu'eut cette belle personne fut de voir son frere l'espee a la main conrte son pretendu amant dont elle ne scavoit pas l'infidellite aussi ne les vit elle pas plustost qu'elle fit un grand cry pour tesmoigner son estonnement et sa douleur de sorte que comme dans ce temps-la on acheva de separer ces deux ennemis ils reconnurent sa voix malgre le trouble ou ils estoient et tournerent tous deux la teste du coste qu'ils l'avoient entendue si bien que les yeux de meliante ayant rencontre ceux d'argelyse il eut une telle confusion de penser qu'elle scauroit bien tost sa nouvelle amour qu'a peine put il souffrir ses regards il la salua pourtant aussi bien que sa mere fort civilement et luy demandant pardon de l'estat ou elle l'avoit trouve avec son frere il luy dit en deux mots que c'estoit un effet de son malheur dont il meritoit d'estre pleint cependant astidamas et meliante voyant encore venir du monde et leurs escuyers paroissant virent bien qu'ils ne pouvoient pas empescher qu'ils ne fussent conduits a la ville dont ils n'estoient qu'a deux cens pas et ou ils ne furent pas plustost que protogene leur donna des gardes en attendant qu'on sceust le sujet de leur querelle et qu'il eust veu gobrias car comme meliante estoit venu aveque luy il 
 luy sembla que c'estoit un respect qu'il luy devoit rendre que de ne rien ordonner de cette affaire sans sa participation vous pouvez juger madame quel bruit fit ce combat dans alfene et en quel estat estoient toutes les personnes qui y prenoient interest lors qu'arpasie en eut la nouvelle et qu'elle pensa au peril ou meliante s'estoit expose et quel esclat cette querelle alloit faire elle en eut beaucoup d'inquietude elle aprehenda mesme qu'on ne la soubconnast d'avoir contribue quelque chose a ce combat et elle craignit qu'au lieu de rompre son mariage cette querelle ne le fist achever plus promptement cependant elle ne scavoit comment s'esclaircir de la verite de la chose et il falut qu'elle eust patience et qu'elle attendist que le temps satisfist sa curiosite d'autre part cleonide estoit esgallement irritee et contre son frere et contre son amant elle croyoit que le premier n'avoit pas assez d'amitie pour elle de s'estre mis en estat de tuer un homme pour qui elle luy avoit advoue avoir beaucoup de tendresse et elle pensoit en mesme temps qu'il falloit qu'astidamas n'eust plus d'amour pour elle et qu'il fust effectivement un fourbe et un perfide puis qu'il avoit pu se resoudre a se batre contre son frere si bien qu'ayant tantost de la colere contre l'un et tantost contre l'autre elle estoit dans une impatience estrange de scavoir positivement comment ce combat s'estoit fait astidamas de son coste n'estoit pas dans un petit embarras car 
 comme il craignoit fort protogene parce que son establissement despendoit de luy il aprehendoit estrangement qu'il ne fust irrite lors qu'il aprendroit son engagement avec cleonide l'amour qu'il avoit aussi pour cette personne luy donnoit de la peine et de la confusion et l'estime qu'il avoit pour arpasie faisoit encore qu'il n'estoit pas bien aise qu'elle sceust son inconstance et sa double trahison meliante en son particulier estoit en une inquietude inconcevable par la crainte ou il estoit qu'arpasie ne s'offencast de l'esclat qu'il avoit fait et de ce qu'il avoit dit a astidamas qu'il estoit amoureux d'elle la presence d'argelyse luy donnoit aussi de la douleur et de la confusion quoy qu'il sentist pourtant quelque soulagement de pouvoir esperer qu'il romproit le mariage d'astidamas avec arpasie mais pour argelyse elle ne scavoit pas elle mesme ce qu'elle devoit penser du combat de son frere et de meliante aussi chercha-t'elle diligemment a s'en esclaircir avec adresse car bien qu'astidamas eust des gardes ils ne l'empeschoient pas de luy parler parce qu'elle ne pouvoit leur estre suspecte argelise tirant donc son frere a part durant que sa mere estoit avec protogene pour le soliciter d'accommoder cette affaire elle se mit a le presser de luy dire la cause de sa querelle avec meliante si bien qu'astidamas luy accordant ce qu'elle luy demandoit se mit a luy raconter son amour pour cleonide son voyage aupres de gobrias la passion qu'il avoit eue alors pour 
 arpasie son renouement avec cleonide apres son retour l'embarras ou il s'estoit trouve par la crainte de desplaire a protogene s'il luy advouoit cette passion et le dessein qu'il avoit pris par un sentiment d'ambition d'abandonner cleonide et d'espouser arpasie de sorte luy dit alors l'impatiente argelyse en l'interrompant que c'est comme frere de cleonide que meliante s'est batu contre vous c'est sans doute comme frere de cleonide repliqua-t'il mais c'est bien plus encore comme amant d'arpasie ha pour amant d'arpasie reprit argelyse avec precipitation et en rougissant je n'y voy guere d'apparence comme je le scay de sa propre bouche repliqua astidamas il ne m'est pas permis d'en douter quoy mon frere reprit argelyse avec estonnement et sans pouvoir cacher la douleur qu'elle avoit dans l'ame il seroit possible que meliante aimast arpasie et qu'il vous eust querelle par un sentiment d'amour pour elle plustost que par un sentiment d'honneur pour cleonide j'en suis si persuade repliqua-t'il que je n'en scaurois douter mais ma soeur adjousta astidamas en la regardant fixement pourquoy trouvez vous tant de difficulte a croire que meliante soit amoureux d'arpasie qui est une des plus belles personnes du monde seroit-ce que pendant son sejour a samosate il vous auroit persuade qu'il vous aimoit et aurois-je un interest d'honneur a vanger sur luy comme il pretend en avoir un sur moy de grace pour 
 suivit-il ne me desguisez pas une verite qui me seroit avantageuse en la conjoncture ou je me trouve et qu'il vous importe que je scache si la chose est comme l'agitation de vostre esprit et le changement de vostre visage me le persuadent parlez donc ma chere soeur luy dit-il encore mais de grace parlez avec sincerite helas mon frere luy respondit elle que voulez vous que je vous die je veux que vous me disiez la verite repliqua-t'il je vous diray donc reprit argelyse en portant la main sur ses yeux que meliante est un infidelle qui m'avoit persuade qu'il m'aimoit et qui m'avoit jure que le principal dessein qui l'amenoit a alfene n'estoit que pour tascher d'estre aime de vous mais a ce que je voy il a bien change de sentimens cependant adjousta-t'elle en soupirant je ne voy pas quel avantage je puis tirer de la connoissance que je vous donne de son infidelite et de ma foiblesse car enfin mon frere tant que vous serez resolu d'abandonner cleonide pour arpasie vous n'aurez aucun droit de trouver estrange qu'il me veuille aussi abandonner pour elle il est vray reprit astidamas mais il n'en aura pas aussi de pretendre qu'il luy soit permis d'estre amant d'arpasie non plus qu'a moy d'estre son mary et quand je n'aurois autre avantage de la tromperie qu'il vous a faite que celuy que je trouveray a l'empescher de continuer de faire l'amant d'arpasie je le trouverois encore assez grand et vous devez mesme vous estimer heureuse d'estre 
 arrivee assez a temps pour vous vanger de luy ha mon frere s'escria argelyse vous vous vangerez plus sur moy que sur luy si vous publiez l'innocente affection que j'ay eue pour cet infidelle mais si je ne la publie pas repliqua-t'il je ne doute point du tout que par un accommodement on ne trouve que je dois espouser cleonide et qu'il n'ait droit apres cela d'espouser arpasie c'est pourquoy pour empescher ce mariage et pour embrouiller les choses il faut qu'il paroisse aussi coupable envers vous que je parois coupable envers cleonide aussi est-ce pour cette raison que je vous conjure de me dire toutes les marques d'affection qu'il vous a donnees helas dit-elle en soupirant encore puis que je suis en estat de n'en recevoir plus je ne m'en veux plus souvenir comme ils en estoient la ils furent interrompus par diverses personnes de qualite qui venoient faire compliment a astidamas sur son combat si bien qu'argelyse estant contrainte de se retirer pour cacher sa douleur astidamas demeura avec ceux qui le visitoient mais des qu'ils furent partis il employa tous ses soins a gagner un de ses gardes pour l'obliger a faire en sorte que meliante receust un billet qu'il trouva invention d'escrire par lequel il luy mandoit que comme il l'avoit querelle comme estant frere de cleonide et amant d'arpasie il pretendoit avoir droit de l'exhorter a son tour comme frere d'argelyse et comme devant estre mary d'arpasie de se 
 deffaire de ses gardes la nuit prochaine comme il esperoit se deffaire des siens afin d'aller apres achever leur combat a un lieu qu'il luy marquoit si ce n'estoit qu'il se resolust de luy ceder arpasie et d'espouser argelyse mais madame ce billet ne fut pas rendu a meliante car comme protogene le faisoit encore garder plus exactement qu'astidamas celuy qui le devoit faire recevoir a meliante s'estant un peu trop empresse fut arreste et visite par ceux qui le gardoient si bien que ce billet ayant este trouve sur luy il fut porte a protogene durant que gobrias la mere d'argelyse et luy estoient ensemble vous pouvez juger madame quel desordre ce billet causa car par luy protogene connut qu'astidamas faisoit une infidellite a la soeur de meliante et que meliante en faisoit aussi une a la soeur d'astidamas gobrias de son coste vit mieux qu'il n'avoit fait jusques alors que sa fille avoit raison d'avoir aversion pour un homme qui ne l'aimoit pas et la mere d'argelyse aprit que le coeur de sa fille estoit plus engage qu'elle ne le pensoit cependant il n'y avoit pas moyen de faire un secret de cette bizarre avanture car ce billet avoit este leu tout haut per ceux qui l'avoient pris a celuy qui le vouloit rendre a meliante de sorte que ne s'agissant plus que de voir par ou cette grande affaire seroit terminee ils s'y trouverent s'y embarrassez qu'il falut deux jours a l'examiner devant que de rien resoudre si bien qu'il s'en espandit un bruit si grand et si 
 general dans alfene qu'on ne parloit d'autre chose vous pouvez juger qu'alcianipe ne fut pas des moins empressees a en dire son advis et que joignant l'imposture a la verite elle fit une estrange historie de celle de toutes ces personnes mais madame pour vous aprendre quelque chose de bien particulier il faut que je vous aprenne la douleur qu'eut la belle arpasie de scavoir que meliante estoit accuse d'infidellite pour argelyse quoy qu'il ne fust infidelle que parce qu'il l'aimoit cependant elle m'a tousjours soustenu que ce n'avoit este que par un pur sentiment d'estime et d'amitie qu'elle avoit eu cette douleur mais madame luy disois-je puis que meliante n'est infidelle qu'a vostre avantage il me semble qu'il merite d'estre excuse et que vous ne devez pas en estre affligee principalement en un temps ou il vous est permis d'esperer de n'espouser point astidamas et ou il pourroit arriver que vous espouseriez meliante qui est un des hommes du monde le plus accomply meliante reprit-elle est assurement infiniment agreable mais puis qu'il est infidelle il ne peut jamais estre mon amant avec nulle esperance d'estre aime il peut sans doute estre encore mon amy et en cette qualite je le puis pleindre et l'excuser mais il faut qu'il n'en pretende pas davantage d'autre part meliante scachant qu'arpasie scavoit toute son avanture avec argelyse et qu'argelyse scavoit aussi son amour pour arpasie pria 
 phormion de deux choses bien differentes car il le conjura d'aller l'excuser aupres de celle pour qui il estoit infidelle et aupres de celle qui luy avoit fait faire l'infidellite comme ceux qui le gardoient avoient ordre de laisser parler phormion a luy parce qu'on scavoit qu'il portoit les choses a la douceur autant qu'il pouvoit il eut la liberte de luy dire tout ce que les divers sentimens qu'il avoit dans l'ame luy inspirerent si bien que luy adressant la parole de grace mon cher amy luy disoit-il dittes a argelyse tout ce que vous croirez capable d'adoucir l'aigreur de son esprit pourveu que vous ne luy disiez pourtant rien qui offence l'amour que j'ay pour arpasie mais quand vous parlerez a l'admirable personne qui regne dans mon coeur employez tout vostre esprit a faire en sorte qu'elle ne m'oste pas son estime si arpasie estoit une personne ordinaire je devrois esperer qu'elle me scauroit gre de mon infidellite mais la connoissant comme je fais j'aprehende qu'elle ne luy rende ma passion suspecte dittes luy donc vous qui connoissez mon coeur que je suis moins infidelle qu'on ne me le croit puis qu'il est vray que je ne fus jamais amoureux d'argelyse au point qu'argelyse l'a creu n'insultez pourtant pas sur cette malheureuse personne mais protestez a arpasie qu'encore qu'argelyse ait este ma premiere affection elle est pourtant ma premiere amour dittes luy donc que mon coeur m'avoit trompe lors que je croyois estre amoureux 
 d'argelyse et que le peu d'experience que j'avois de cette passion faisoit que je disois des mensonges innocemment lors que j'assurois argelyse que j'avois de l'amour pour elle puis qu'il est constamment vray que la puissance des charmes d'arpasie m'a bien apris que je n'ay effectivement eu de l'amour que depuis que j'ay commence de la voir de sorte que cela estant ainsi je ne dois point estre regarde comme un infidelle dont l'amour doit estre suspecte phormion voulut alors tascher de porter son esprit a ne s'opiniastrer pas a l'amour d'arpasie mais il n'y eut pas moyen cependant cet adroit et fidelle amy qui en fort peu de temps avoit aquis a alfene beaucoup de facilite a s'expliquer en une langue qui ne luy estoit pas naturelle s'aquita exactement de la commission que meliante luy avoit donnee mais il trouva argelyse si en colere qu'il ne put adoucir son esprit quelque soin qu'il y aportast pour arpasie il la trouva fort douce et fort civile elle luy dit mesme qu'elle se tenoit fort obligee a meliante de ce qu'il avoit hazarde sa vie pour ses interests quoy qu'elle eust souhaite qu'il n'eust pas cherche un remede si violent mais elle luy dit qu'elle le prioit de le conjurer de sa part de ne s'opiniastrer point a vouloir avoir de l'amour pour elle puis qu'il s'y opiniastreroit inutilement phormion luy dit pourtant alors toutes les raisons que son amy luy avoit dittes mais elle luy dit tousjours si fortement qu'elle ne vouloit point 
 d'amant qu'on pust soubconner d'inconstance qu'il connut bien que meliante n'avoit rien a esperer d'autre part cleonide qui voyoit alors avec une certitude infaillible qu'astidamas avoit este capable de l'abandonner par un sentiment d'interest en eut l'esprit si irrite qu'elle declara hautement que quand il voudroit revenir a elle il y reviendroit inutilement et qu'elle n'espouseroit jamais un homme qui avoit eu plus d'ambition que d'amour cet exemple de generosite toucha le coeur d'argelyse qui n'esperant pas que meliante revinst dans ses fers dit la mesme chose que cleonide si bien que les sentimens de ces trois personnes estant bien tost sceus par protogene et par gobrias ils ne trouverent plus l'accommodement si difficile a faire ils estoient pourtant bien maris de voir qu'ils ne pouvoient achever le mariage d'arpasie et d'astidamas mais comme ils ne laisserent pas de s'unir d'interests contre le roy d'assirie ils se consolerent de cette avanture si bien que voyant alors que meliante et astidamas estoient presques esgallement coupables envers eux mesmes et envers leurs soeurs et que cleonide et argelyse ne pretendoient plus rien a leurs amants non plus qu'arpasie a meliante ils jugerent qu'il n'y avoit autre chose a faire qu'a empescher qu'il n'arrivast un second combat encre ceux qui s'estoient desja battus si bien qu'ayant employe tous leurs amis pour les persuader ces deux ennemis firent semblant 
 de ceder a leurs prieres pour se deffaire de leurs gardes et ils consentirent de s'embrasser promettant mesme de ne se quereller plus sans qu'on meslast les noms des dames dans cet accommodement mais ces deux ennemis qui se haissoient comme deux hommes qui s'estoient destruits l'un autre se firent en s'embrassant un appel reciproque pour le lendemain et ils se le firent si adroitement que personne ne s'en aperceut en effet estant tous deux partis d'alfene la nuit suivante ils se battirent a la pointe du jour sans qu'on les pust separer meliante blessa dangereusement astidamas et le desarma de sorte que n'y ayant pas d'aparence qu'il r'entrast dans alfene apres ce combat veu l'estat ou il avoit mis son ennemy il se retira apres l'avoir laisse entre les mains de l'escuyer qui l'avoit suivy et il envoya le sien a phormion pour l'advertir du lieu ou il l'alloit attendre le chargeant d'un billet pour arpasie qu'il escrivit dans des tablettes qu'il avoit sur luy ainsi madame un moment apres que cette belle personne eut sceu qu'on avoit raporte astidamas fort blesse cet escuyer trouva lieu de luy donner le billet de son maistre ou il n'y avoit que ces paroles si ma memoire ne me trompe 
 
 
 
 a la belle arpasie 
 
 
 j'avois bien ouy dire qu'on pouvoit mal traiter un amant infidelle mais je ne pensois pas qu'il fust juste de mal traiter un fidelle amant et je croyois enfin madame qu'argelyse me pouvoit hair sans injustice et que vous ne me pouviez hair sans cruaute cependant quoy que vous ne le croiyez pas ainsi je laisse pas de vous conjurer de vous souvenir que sans la passion que j'ay pour vous vous eussiez este femme d'astidamas et de croire qu'en quelque lieu de la terre que je sois je seray tousjours vostre amant et que je seray plus fidelle sous le nom de meliante que je ne l'ay este sous celuy de clidaris 
 
 
comme j'estois aupres d'arpasie lors qu'elle receut ce billet je vy qu'elle ne le put lire sans quelque esmotion elle ne voulut pourtant pas y respondre et elle se contenta de prier phormion quand il luy vint dire adieu de dire a son amy que comme elle estoit fort equitable elle ne perdroit jamais le souvenir de l'obligation qu'elle luy avoit le conjurant toutesfois de ne se souvenir d'elle que comme d'une personne qui ne pouvoit jamais estre que son amie mais madame apres que phormion eut rejoint meliante comme il luy fut aise de prevoir que gobrias s'en retourneroit bien tost il ne voulut pas s'esloigner extremement d'alfene afin de scavoir ce qui s'y passeroit joint que s'estant resolu de 
 parler a arpasie il voulut quoy que phormion pust luy dire attendre arpasie sur sa route cependant nous estions a alfene ou gobrias se trouva assez embarrasse car comme meliante estoit venu aveque luy et qu'il l'avoit presente a protogene cet homme afflige de voir son neveu en danger de mourir pretendit que gobrias deust scavoir le lieu ou il s'estoit retire et qu'il devoit le luy dire gobrias de son coste estant persuade que puis que ce combat s'estoit fait sans aucune supercherie et avec un egal avantage c'estoit choquer les loix de l'honneur que de vouloir poursuivre meliante dit assez fortement a protogene qu'il ne scavoit point ou il estoit mais que quand il le scauroit il ne le luy diroit pas dans les sentimens ou il le voyoit si bien que s'aigrissant insensiblement quoy que leurs interests les deussent unir ils se separerent assez mal et avec beaucoup de deffiance de part et d'autre il est vray que je croy que la medisante alcianipe servit fort a les brouiller car elle fit courir le bruit que protogene pour s'accommoder avec le roy d'assirie avoit dessein de luy descouvrir celuy qu'avoit gobrias de se jetter dans le party de ciaxare et qu'il avoit mesme intention de l'arrester et arpasie aussi afin de les envoyer a babilone mais en mesme temps elle disoit a d'autres que gobrias de son coste songeant a trahir protogene faisoit entrer des soldats secrettement dans alfene et qu'arpasie avoit commande a meliante de se battre contre 
 astidamas et ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que pensant dire un mensonge elle disoit en suitte une verite car elle assuroit que meliante estoit alle attendre arpasie sur le chemin qu'elle devoit prendre elle disoit de plus qu'elle scavoit qu'il y avoit une grande affection entr'eux elle vouloit mesme que ce combat n'eust pas este tout a fait franc et elle disoit des choses si facheuses de cleonide et d'argelyse qu'enfin sa medisance lassant la patience de ceux qui s'interessoient a ces deux belles filles et celle de tous ceux qui avoient de la vertu et de la bonte elle se vit exposee a de tres facheuses avantures et elle se descria tellement que lors que nous partismes d'alfene toutes les femmes avoient dessein de ne la voir plus et de la fuir comme la plus dangereuse et la plus detestable personne du monde cependant apres que nostre depart fut resolu et que gobrias et protogene en se deffiant l'un de l'autre eurent pourtant agy entre eux comme s'ils eussent este fort unis toutes les dames vinrent dire adieu a arpasie et luy tesmoigner la douleur qu'elles avoient de la perdre il en faut pourtant excepter argelyse qui feignit d'estre malade ne pouvant se resoudre de faire une civilite a une personne qui luy avoit oste le coeur de son amant et qu'elle croyoit estre cause de l'estat ou estoit son frere mais pour cleonide elle y vint et eut une grande conversation avec arpasie ou elles se dirent beaucoup de choses obligeantes cependant 
 comme arpasie luy dit qu'elle croyoit qu'astidamas reviendroit a elle quand il seroit guery cleonide luy respondit que graces aux dieux sa guerison avoit precede la sienne car enfin madame luy dit elle si astidamas avoit rompu aveque moy par un sentiment d'amour pour vous j'aurois excuse son inconstance par vostre rare beaute et par vostre extreme merite et j'aurois este capable de luy pardonner mais de voir qu'il m'ait quittee par un sentiment d'interest est une chose qui me donne un si grand mespris pour luy que je me console de la cruaute de mon avanture par la joye que j'ay d'avoir pu chasser astidamas de mon coeur et en effet madame cette belle personne voulant s'oster d'un lieu ou elle avoit receu un desplaisir si sensible obligea sa tante de la remener a son pere aupres de qui elle fut bientost mariee tres avantageusement cependant nous sceusmes devant que de partir qu'astidamas ne mourroit point de ses blessures et nous sceusmes encore qu'il estoit en un desespoir si grand de voir qu'il ne satisfaisoit ny son ambition ny son amour qu'il en avoit conceu une haine horrible contre son vainqueur car protogene estoit fort irrite contre luy cleonide s'en alloit et il voyoit bien qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de pretendre d'espouser arpasie mais enfin madame nous partismes et sans scavoir que nous deussions trouver meliante sur nostre route nous l'y trouvasmes il est vray qu'il ne vit pas gobrias et il est vray aussi 
 qu'il n'eust pas veu arpasie sans moy car enfin il faut que vous scachiez que comme nous arrivasmes au mesme bourg ou il l'avoit veue la premiere fois au bord de cette petite riviere ou il luy aprit que la colomne qu'elle y voyoit avoit este eslevee par sesostris un homme que je ne connoissois point me donna une lettre de meliante qui me conjuroit si tendrement de luy donner occasion de dire adieu a arpasie que croyant que puis qu'elle luy avoit l'obligation d'avoir rompu son mariage elle ne luy devoit pas refuser cette grace je creus que je devois ne refuser point a meliante ce qu'il me demandoit car connoissant arpasie comme je la connoissois je pensay qu'elle ne seroit pas marrie de voir meliante mais je ne creus toutesfois pas que je deusse luy demander cette permission y ayant certaines petites choses de bien-seance qu'on veut bien faire par force et qu'on ne veut pas faire volontairement par une vertu scrupuleuse de sorte que respondant a meliante qui estoit cache dans ce bourg ou nous couchions je luy manday que je ferois ce que je pourrois pour obliger arpasie a aller se promener dans un jardin qui est a la maison ou nous logions qui estoit la mesme ou nous avions desja loge en allant a alfene et que s'il vouloit se trouver a une porte de ce jardin qui est au bord d'un petit ruisseau je la luy ouvrirois quand arpasie y seroit et en effet la chose se fit ainsi car comme il est tousjours aise de persuader a arpasie de se 
 promener quand il fait beau parce qu'elle l'aime extremement il ne me fut pas difficile de l'obliger d'aller a ce jardin des qu'elle fut hors de table et d'y aller mesme peu accompagne arpasie fut donc ou je voulois qu'elle allast et meliante la vit et luy parla dans une allee ou j'estois seule avec elle sans qu'il fust besoin qu'elle donnast d'ordre pour cela car comme elle estoit fort accoustumee a me parler en particulier des qu'elle m'apelloit toutes ses femmes se retiroient je ne m'arreste point madame a vous dire la surprise qu'elle eut de voir meliante mais je vous diray qu'il ne fut pas plustost aupres d'elle que prenant la parole souffrez du moins madame luy dit-il que j'aye la satisfaction d'entendre de vostre bouche les raisons qui font ma condamnation et de scavoir par quel motif la meilleure et la plus douce personne de la terre est devenue la plus rigoureuse car enfin madame tant que j'ay este l'inconnu meliante vous avez eu pour moy de l'estime et de l'amitie mais des que vous avez sceu qui j'estois et que vous avez connu que je vous aimois autant qu'on peut aimer vous avez commence d'estre injuste pour vous tesmoigner que je ne le suis point repliqua arpasie je vous assure que je me souviendray tousjours des obligations que je vous ay et que je ne perdray jamais le souvenir du service important que vous m'avez rendu en m'empeschant d'espouser astidamas mais pour porter ma sincerite au dela de ce que peut estre elle 
 devroit aller je vous diray encore ingenument que si vous n'aviez aime argelyse ou que du moins vous ne luy eussiez pas promis une affection eternelle je vous aurois peut-estre permis de m'aimer de la maniere dont vous le desirez puis qu'a l'infidellite pres je trouve en vous toutes les choses que je pourrois souhaiter en un homme digne d'estre choisi par mon pere en effet vous avez de la naissance de l'esprit du coeur de la bonte de la generosite et mille qualitez a plaire mais apres tout vous avez este infidelle a argelyse qui est infiniment aimable et vous le seriez peut-estre a arpasie si elle s'engageoit a souffrir d'estre aime de vous ha madame luy dit-il je n'ay jamais eu qu'une amitie tendre pour argelyse en vous excusant d'un coste repliqua-t'elle vous vous accusez de l'autre car si vous avez eu de l'amour pour argelyse vous n'estes qu'inconstant et si vous n'en avez point eu vous estes quelque chose de pis de le luy avoit dit si serieusement et d'avoir engage son coeur sans que le vostre fust engage si phormion vous a dit a alfene repliqua meliante ce que je l'avois prie de vous dire il vous aura apris que je croyois avoir de l'amour lors que je n'avois que de l'amitie et qu'ainsi conservant encore beaucoup d'amitie pour argelyse quoy que j'aye de l'amour pour vous je ne dois pas passer pour infidelle dans vostre esprit bien que je doive passer pour inconstant dans celuy d'argelyse quoy qu'il en 
 soit dit arpasie vous ne pouvez jamais estre qu'au rang de mes amis c'est pourquoy reglez vostre esprit sur ce que je vous dis et croyez qu'il m'est tellement impossible de m'assurer en vostre affection que vous seriez le plus malheureux de tous les hommes fi je souffrois que vous m'aimassiez car enfin argelyse est belle et charmante et puis qu'elle n'a pu retenir vostre coeur il me pourroit bien eschaper et puis a parler raisonnablement en l'estat ou sont les choses je ne dois pas songer a disposer de moy en effet puis que mon pere m'auoit bien voulu sacrifier a fa vangeance il m'y sacrifiera bien encore une autrefois et selon toutes les apparences je suis destinee a celuy qui traitera avec le plus d'avantage aveque luy et je me regarde comme un ostage sans que je scache sous la puissance de qui je tomberay si je voulois madame repliqua meliante vous obliger a beaucoup de choses vous auriez sujet de m'oposer une partie des raisons dont vous vous servez mais je ne veux rien sinon que vous enduriez que je vous aime et que vous remettiez la connoissance de ma fidellite au temps qui est seul juge legitime des affections fidelles ou des affections inconstantes je vous demande mesme cette permission a la veille d'une rigoureuse absence et mon amour sera exposee d'abord a la plus dangereuse espreuve de toutes de sorte que fi je suis un inconstant je ne vous importuneray guere puis que je ne vous reverray jamais et 
 si je ne le suis point vous seriez injuste de ne vouloir pas que j'eusse l'honneur de vous revoir accordez moy donc madame la permission de vous aimer et considerez je vous prie combien peu de chose est ce que je vous demande car enfin quand vous ne me le permettrez pas je ne laisseray pas de vous adorer et quand mesme vous me le deffendriez je vous desobeirois sans scrupule mais apres tout quoy que je vous puisse aimer malgre vous je ne laisse pas d'imaginer une grande douceur a en obtenir la permission ne me la refusez donc pas je vous en conjure puis que je vous la demande sans condition je consens luy dit-elle que vous ayez encore de l'amitie pour moy mais pour de l'amour n'attendez pas que je vous permette d'en avoir si vous me desesperez madame luy dit-il vous me forcerez a vous suivre et a ne me separer point de vous que vous ne m'ayez accorde ce que je vous demande ha meliante reprit arpasie je vous croy trop genereux pour vouloir exposer ma gloire cependant vous scavez bien qu'apres que la medisante alcianipe a dit que je vous avois oblige a quereller astidamas il y auroit lieu de le croire si vous faisiez ce que vous dittes c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de tout mon coeur de n'en avoir pas la pensee et de ne vous obstiner pas inutilement a vouloir des choses qui choquent mon inclination separons nous donc puis que la raison le veut et laissez vous conduire a vostre destinee sans vouloir estre nous mesme l'arbitre de vostre fortune 
 si les dieux ont resolu que vous m'aimiez et que je change de sentimens ils le feront par des voyes qui nous sont inconnues et s'ils ne le veulent pas vous vous tourmenteriez inutilement faites donc je vous en prie ce que la prudence veut que vous faciez et sans vous pleindre de ma rigueur soyez assure que vous avez eu plus de part en mon estime et en ma confiance que je n'en ay jamais donne a personne helas madame s'escria alors meliante qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne sois heureux car enfin vous n'aviez qu'a adjouster quatre ou cinq paroles a celles que vous venez de dire pour me combler de gloire et de felicite apres cela il luy dit encore mille choses touchantes qui attendrirent effectivement le coeur d'arpasie mais qui n'esbranlerent pourtant pas sa resolution de sorte qu'elle se separa de luy sans qu'elle luy eust permis ny de l'aimer ny de la suivre et la crainte de l'irriter fit qu'il se resolut a la laisser partir le lendemain sans l'accompagner ainsi il s'en retourna chez luy avec une violente passion et peu d'esperance et arpasie s'en retourna aussi avec son pere avec beaucoup d'estime et d'amitie pour meliante
 
 
 
 
cependant comme ceux qui ne sont attachez que par des interests qui peuvent changer ne sont pas fort unis des que la raison qui les unissoit cesse protogene ayant trouve qu'il feroit mieux de demeurer en repos que de s'engager dans une guerre dont l'evenement seroit douteux se detacha de gobrias de sorte qu'il se vit 
 alors seul qui eust donne de justes soubcons de defiance au roy d'assirie si bien que la prudence voulant qu'il fist ce que le seul desir de se vanger luy avoit inspire il munit sa place et en augmenta la garnison et il se disposa enfin a se jetter dans le party de cyrus des que ce prince qui portoit alors le nom d'artamene aprocheroit du lieu ou nous estions cependant nous sceusmes qu'astidamas estoit tousjours mal de ses blessures qui le tinrent tres long temps au lit et nous aprismes aussi que meliante n'estoit pas guery de la passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame car il escrivit tres souvent a arpasie quoy qu'elle ne luy respondist pas il est vray qu'elle souffroit que je luy ecrivisse quelquefois mais c'estoit tousjours en m'ordonnant de luy deffendre de continuer de luy escrire s'il ne pouvoit regler son esprit il y avoit pourtant des jours ou il me sembloit que j'avois lieu de croire que si meliante eust este aupres d'arpasie et qu'il se fust attache a la voir et a la servir elle eust pu se resoudre a oublier l'infidellite qu'il avoit faite a argelyse mais le destin voulut que tant de choses arresterent meliante en son pais qu'il luy fut impossible d'en partir car outre que son pere l'y retint il se trouva encore engage dans une longue et facheuse querelle qu'avoit un de ses parents qui le mit en estat de ne pouvoir s'esloigner avec honneur d'un lieu il ou avoit des ennemis qui eussent tire avantage de son absence cependant toute l'asie estant en armes ou pour l'illustre artamene ou pour le roy d'assirie 
 on ne parloit d'autre chose et le nom d'artamene estoit si celebre qu'il estoit en la bouche des amis et des ennemis avec une esgalle admiration conme gobrias avoit resolu de se jetter dans son party il aprenoit avec beaucoup de douleur que son armee n'estoit pas si forte que celle du roy d'assirie mais il aprit aussi bien-tost avec beaucoup de joye l'heureux presage qu'il avoit eu lors qu'en commencant de marcher il vit voller une grande aigle a sa droite qui sembloit par la route de babilone qu'elle tenoit luy montrer le chemin qu'il devoit prendre et il aprit encore avec plus de plaisir qu'il avoit pousse les premieres troupes qu'il avoit rencontrees et qu'il les avoit forcees de repasser le fleuve du ginde mais madame nous aprismes peu de jours apres avec un estonnement estrange l'invention dont l'illustre artamene comme vous le scavez s'estoit servy pour faire passer ce fleuve a son armee en le divisant en cent soixante canaux et nous aprismes en suite avec beaucoup de satisfaction le desordre ou il avoit mis les troupes assiriennes apres avoir passe ce fleuve et conbien grande estoit la frayeur qu'elles avoient porte dans le corps de leur armee si bien que gobrias ne voyant plus de riviere entre luy et artamene dont il cherchoit la protection il se disposa a la luy aller demander en personne il se mit donc a la teste de trois cens chevaux seulement et fut au devant de ce heros pour luy offrir tout ce qui estoit en sa puissance je ne vous diray point madame comment l'illustre 
 artamene receut gobrias car je suppose que comme la vie d'un si grand prince est sceue de toute la terre jusques aux moindres circonstances vous ne pouvez ignorer avec combien de bonte il receut ce prince ny avec quelle magnificence gobrias le receut dans sa place il s'y passa pourtant des choses qui sont si essentiellement de l'histoire d'arpasie que je ne puis les obmettre je vous diray donc madame que le premier jour qu'artamene vit la belle arpasie un illustre persan apelle hidaspe estoit aveque luy de sorte qu'apres les premieres civilitez artamene s'estant trouve oblige d'entretenir gobrias qui avoit a luy parler d'une negociation qu'il avoit faite avec le prince gadate pour l'engager dans les interests de ciaxare ce fut hidaspe qui parla le plus a la belle arpasie mais ce qui la surprit fort fut d'entendre qu'il luy parla en sa langue avec une justesse admirable pour moy qui regarde tout ce qui se passa en cette entreveue j'advoue que je trouvay hidaspe infiniment aimable il n'est pourtant pas d'une taille fort haute mais sans estre ny grand ny petit il l'a admirablement bien faite de plus il a tous les traits du visage agreables et l'air infiniment noble car encore qu'hidaspe soit tres brave il n'a nulle ferocite ny dans l'humeur ny dans la mine et il a au contraire une douceur infiniment charmante en sa phisionomie hidaspe a aussi l'esprit adroit et flatteur et la fortune enfin ne pouvoit pas donner un plus dangereux rival a 
 meliante que celuy-la ce n'est pas que je veuille mettre le merite de l'un au dessus de l'autre car j'advoue que je me trouverois fort embarrasse si je devois juger du merite de deux hommes qui en ont tant mais c'est qu'en effet je suis persuadee qu'il n'y avoit qu'hidaspe qui pust entrer en concurrence aveque luy dans le coeur d arpasie le hazard fit mesme que leur premiere conversation eut quelque chose de desavantageux a meliante parce qu'il fut avantageux a hidaspe car enfin comme la conference d'artamene et de gobrias fut assez longue celle d'hidaspe et d'arpasie ne fut pas courte ainsi ils eurent loisir de parler de beaucoup de choses differentes de sorte qu'apres qu'hidaspe eut adroitement loue la beaute d'arpasie et qu'elle eut rejette ses louanges avec beaucoup d'esprit et beaucoup de modestie ils vinrent a parler des changemens que la guerre aportoit en toutes choses quand elle duroit long temps en effet dit alors hidaspe il arrive bien souvent que la guerre fait d'estranges reversemens mesme dans l'empire de l'amour car enfin dit il fort galamment comme elle separe beaucoup d'amans des personnes qu'ils aiment il y en a tousjours quelqu'un ou qui se guerit de sa passion ou qui change de maistresse en changeant de lieu il est vray adjousta-t'il que pour cette derniere chose elle n'arrive guere a des persans et l'infidellite en amour est un crime qu'on ne leur peut presques jamais reprocher avec justice comme 
 il est naturel reprit arpasie d'aimer a louer sa patrie je ne trouve pas fort estrange de vous entendre louer la vostre mais apres tout je croy qu'il est des infidelles de cette nature par toute la terre en verite madame luy dit-il je n'en connois point a persepolis et toute la cour de cambise ne vous donneroit pas un exemple pour me convaincre de mensonge quand vous la connoistriez comme je la connois il s'y trouve sans doute des gens poursuivit-il qui cessent quelquesfois d'aimer par raison parce que leurs maistresses sont trop severes ou pour quelque autre sujet mais il ne s'en trouve point qui change d'affection par inconstance naturelle ou parce qu'ils trouvent d'autres dames plus belles que celles qu'ils aiment et nous sommes si fortement persuadez que le changement sans sujet est une perfidie que nous mettons une partie de nostre honneur a ne changer pas de passion par caprice et a resister mesme a nostre propre inclination si elle vouloit nous faire changer d'affection sans une cause legitime comme hidaspe disoit cela le souvenir de meliante fit rougir arpasie du moins me l'a-t'elle dit depuis si bien que pour cacher ce petit desordre dont elle scavoit la veritable raison elle prit la parole et dit a hidaspe qu'elle vit qui prenoit garde a sa rougeur que pour luy donner bonne opinion d'elle il falloit qu'elle luy aprist la cause du changement de son visage car enfin luy dit elle je n'ay pu vous entendre blasmer l'infidellite 
 lite sans avoir quelque douleur de ce que j'ay un amy que j'accuse d'en avoir eu en mon particulier dit hidaspe j'advoue que si j'estois femme je ne donnerois jamais mon affection a un homme qui auroit oste la sienne a une autre parce que quiconque est infidelle une fois le peut estre deux j'ay sans doute tousjours este de cette opinion repliqua arpasie mais apres tout poursuivit elle je pense que pour agir raisonnablement il ne se faut fier ny a ceux qui ont este infidelles ny a ceux qui ne l'ont pas encore este puis que s'ils ne le sont ils le peuvent devenir ha madame s'escria-t'il il en faut excepter les persans et entre les persans il faut mettre hidaspe au premier rang de ceux qui sont le plus incapables de nul changement en leurs affections en effet madame adjousta-t'il j'aime si opimastrement ce que j'aime que rien ne m'en scauroit detacher ce que je trouve beau une fois je le trouve beau toute ma vie et je suis si jaloux de mes propres sentimens que je ne les puis jamais changer ainsi je puis vous assurer que puis que j'ay commence de vous estimer aujourd'huy je vous estimeray jusques a la mort car je ne pense pas adjousta-t'il obligeamment que je descouvre rien dans vostre ame qui ne soit aussi beau que vostre visage et je ne doute nullement que vous n'ayez autant de generosite que d'esprit apres cela ils dirent encore plusieurs autres choses dont il ne me souvient pas mais je me souviens positivement qu'arpasie ne me parla que d'hidaspe le reste 
 du jour et j'ay sceu depuis qu'hidaspe ne parla aussi que d'arpasie a tous ceux avec qui il se trouva apres l'avoir quittee le jour suivant il la vit encore et la loua plus que le premier jour et pour achever de se mieux connoistre gobrias ayant voulu remettre sa place entre les mains d'artamene afin de ne luy estre pas suspect et d'aquerir sa confiance toute entiere artamene y laissa hidaspe qui n'y demeura toutesfois qu'a condition qu'il l'iroit rejoindre des que gobrias auroit acheve le traite de gadate et qu'il le rapelleroit enfin aupres de luy avant que de donner la bataille ce n'est pas qu'hidaspe n'eust de la joye de demeurer en un lieu ou on laissoit arpasie sous sa puissance car enfin madame il se trouva entre ces personnes une si puissante simpathie que je pense pouvoir dire que depuis qu'on a commence d'aimer il ne s'est jamais trouve d'affection dont le progres ait este plus grand en peu de temps cependant gobrias laissa sa fille aupres d'une belle soeur qu'il a qu'il fit venir de la campagne ou elle demeure d'ordinaire pour estre aupres d'elle durant son absence car il suivit cyrus deux jours apres et ne l'a point quite depuis d'abord quelque inclination qu'arpasie eust pour hidaspe elle eut quelque inquietude de le voir maistre de la place ou elle estoit mais il usa si bien du pouvoir qu'il y avoit qu'elle eut tous les sujets du monde de se louer de luy et du respect qu'il avoit pour elle en effet madame comme il est impossible d'estre 
 amant sas estre respectueux il ne faut pas s'estonner de la deference qu'avoit hidaspe pour arpasie puis qu'il avoit eu de l'amour pour elle des qu'il l'avoit veue il n'osoit pourtant le luy tesmoigner de peur qu'elle ne s'imaginast que la hardiesse qu'il auroit ne fust un effet de l'authorite qu'on luy avoit laissee ainsi il soupiroit sans oser le dire lors que le hazard luy fit naistre l'occasion de parler de son amour ce n'est pas qu'il ne vist arpasie a toutes les heures ou la bien-seance le luy permettoit car comme il avoit peu d'occupation en ce lieu la et qu'il prenoit un fort grand plaisir a la voir et a luy parler il en estoit inseparable mais c'est comme je l'ay desja dit que la crainte de l'irriter luy fermoit la bouche cependant pour vous apprendre ce qui luy facilita les voyes de descouvrir sa passion vous scaurez que comme hidaspe songeoit soigneusement a conserver cette place qui estoit d'une fort grande consequence la garde en estoit fort exacte si bien qu'un de ceux qui avoient accoustume de venir aporter des lettres de meliante estant arrive a la porte y fut arreste mais comme il ne rendit pas un conte bien exact de la cause de son voyage a ceux qui la luy demanderent on le visita et on le trouva charge d'un paquet sans subscription qu'hidaspe ouvrit des qu'on le luy eut porte mais au lieu de trouver qu'il y eust un dessein forme sur la place ou il commandoit alors il vit qu'il ne s'agissoit que de la possession du coeur de quelque belle personne 
 et que bien loin de parler de guerre les lettres qu'il y trouva ne parloient que d'amour et d'une amour encore peu satisfaite et mal recompensee comme il y en avoit une fort respectueuse hidaspe s'imagina qu'elle devoit estre escrite a arpasie si bien que la passion naissante qu'il avoit dans l'ame luy donnant beaucoup de curiosite de s'en esclaircir il voulut voir celuy qui avoit aporte ce paquet a qui il dit tant de choses qu'enfin il l'obligea a luy advouer qui avoit escrit les lettres qu'il avoit aportees car il y en avoit aussi une pour moy et a qui elles estoient escrites mais madame ce qu'il y eut de rare fut qu'hidaspe eut une telle joye de connoistre par la lettre de meliante qu'il estoit mal traite et de pouvoir esperer qu'arpasie n'aimoit encore rien qu'il en devint plus amoureux qu'il n'estoit avant que de l'avoir veue il se trouva pourtant un peu embarrasse a resoudre ce qu'il feroit de cette lettre car il jugeoit bien qu'il falloit necessairement qu'arpasie sceust un jour qu'elle estoit tonbee en ses mains de sorte que pour se servir de cette occasion a plus d'un usage il dit a celuy qui luy avoit avoue de qui estoient ces lettres et a qui elles s'adressoient qu'il se gardast bien de dire jamais qu'il eust trahy le secret de son maistre en suitte de quoy il vint voir arpasie ayant ces lettres dans sa poche mais apres avoir parle quelque temps avec elle de diverses choses elle luy demanda s'il n'avoit point de nouvelles de ciaxare ou d'artamene non madame luy dit-il mais j'ay receu aujourd'huy 
 un paquet qui ne s'adresse pourtant pas a moy dont je vous veux faire confidence en disant cela il tira de sa poche les deux lettres de meliante et luy racontant comment les gardes de la porte avoient arreste celuy qui les portoit il luy dit en suite que n'ayant pas voulu dire a qui s'adressoient ces lettres il seroit bien aise devant que de les luy rendre de pouvoir scavoir qui estoit cette belle rigoureuse pour qui elles estoient escrites car enfin madame luy dit il en les luy donnant je suis assure que ce doit estre une personne de qualite arpasie se trouva alors fort embarrassee parce qu'elle ne vit pas plustost ces lettres qu'elle connut qu'elles estoient de meliante et qu'elles estoient pour elle si bien que pour se tirer adroitement d'un embarras si facheux elle dit a hidaspe qu'elle estoit si scrupuleuse en matiere de lettres qu'elle n'en vouloit jamais voir qui ne fussent a elle et qu'elle ne trouvoit pas que l'exacte probite permist seulement de tascher de deviner les secrets d'autruy arpasie dit pourtant cela d'une maniere qui fit bien connoistre a hidaspe qu'elle connoissoit l'escriture de meliante mais il eut tant de joye de voir le peu d'empressement qu'elle avoit de voir ces lettres qu'il ne put s'empescher de la faire paroistre dans ses yeux neantmoins comme arpasie ne croyoit pas qu'il sceust quelle estoit la part qu'elle y avoit et qu'elle eust este bien aise que ces lettres ne fussent pas demeurees entre les mains d'hidaspe elle l'affligea un moment apres car elle 
 entreprit de luy persuader de les rendre a celuy a qui on les avoit prises afin qu'il en fist ce qu'il voudroit ou de les rompre comme vous donnez vostre advis sans scavoir ce que ces lettres contiennent reliqua hidaspe je pense que quelque respect que je vous porte je puis ne le suivre pas s'il ne faut que les lire pour vous obliger a les brusler dit elle en les prenant j'aime mieux les voir et en effet arpasie qui avoit effectivement envie de scavoir ce qu'il y avoit dans ces lettres les prit et se tournant vers le jour pour les lire comme si elle n'eust pas veu assez clair elle tascha de cacher la rougeur de son visage elle ne le put pourtant faire car hidaspe se tourna comme elle et la regarda tousjours attentivement tant qu'elle leut ces deux lettres que je puis vous montrer parce que le hazard ayant fait que je les avois sur moy le jour de l'enlevement d'arpasie je les ay encore aujourd'huy c'est pourquoy pour ne me fier point a ma memoire je m'en vay vous les lire toutes deux afin que vous entriez mieux dans les sentimens d'hidaspe et arpasie voicy donc celle qui s'adressoit a moy ou il n'y avoit point de suscription qui me pust faire connoistre comme vous l'allez entendre 
 
 
 
 a la cruelle confidente de ma passion 
 
 
 je ne m'estonne pas tant de la cruaute de l'admirable personne que j'adore que de vostre et je ne m'estonne pas tant encore de ce qu'elle ne me respond point que on l'inhumanite que vous avez de m'escrire pour m'assurer qu'elle ne m'escrira jamais car enfin puis que je ne puis cesser de l'adorer il faudroit me tromper pour me faire vivre moins miserable et ne me desesperer pas comme vous faites aussi suis-je resolu d'aller bien tost voir si vos paroles ne me seront point plus favorables que vos lettres cependant ayez la bonte de faire voir celle que je vous envoye a la belle personne qui regne dans mon coeur et dittes luy tousjours qu'il m'est si absolument impossible que je puisse n'avoir que de l'amitie pour elle que je luy desobeiray toute ma vie si elle s'opiniastre a me faire un si injuste commandement 
 
 
tant que la lecture de cette lettre dura hidaspe regarda tousjours arpasie qui voyant qu'il n'y avoit rien qui pust estre mal explique se remit si bien de l'esmotion qu'elle avoit eue qu'elle leut celle que je m'en vay vous lire sans aucune agitation quoy qu'elle s'adressast a elle par ces paroles
 
 
 
 a la plus belle et a la plus inhumaine personne du monde 
 
 
 vous estes si injuste madame qu'il n'est point de patience qui puisse souffrir vostre injustice sans s'en pleindre car enfin vous ne vous contentez pas de ne me respondre point et de me faire escrire que vous ne voulez plus que je vous escrive mais vous me faites tousjours dire que vous voulez que mon amour devienne amitie et que si je ne le fais vostre amitie deviendra haine je ne scay madame si vous estes capable de faire quand il vous plaist des changemens si prodigieux dans vostre ame mais pour moy je scay bien que mon amour ne scauroit devenir amitie et ces deux sentimens sont si distincts et si separez dans mon coeur qu'ils ne peuvent jamais s'y confondre croyez donc s'il vous plaist madame que quelque merite que vous ayez vous ne pouvez m inspirer aucune amitie et croyez au contraire que j'auray tousjours de l'amour pour vous quelque rigueur que vous ayez pour moy 
 
 
apres qu'arpasie eut leu cette lettre elle dit a hidaspe que comme il paroissoit qu'elle estoit escrite a une personne qui avoit de la vertu elle ne pouvoit souffrir qu'il l'exposast a recevoir le desplaisir que cette lettre fust publique et qu'ainsi pour l'en empescher elle vouloit la retenir car aussi bien luy dit elle en souriant puis que celle a qui elle est escrite ne respond pas a 
 celuy qui luy escrit je change de sentimens et je trouve qu'il ne faut pas la rendre a celuy qui l'a aportee de peur que la luy rendant ouverte il n'en usast pas bien c'est pourquoy adjousta-t'elle il vaut mieux qu'elle demeure en mes mains que de retourner dans les vostres car comme il faut assurement que la personne a qui on escrit ait de la vertu et de la retenue veu comme on luy parle j'entre si fort dans ses sentimens que je veux luy espargner la douleur de voir qu'on sceust seulement qu'elle eust donne de l'amour je m'imagine madame repliqua hidaspe qu'il faut que vous connoissiez cette belle personne veu comme vous en parlez mais si c'est celle que je m'imagine adjousta-t'il en la regardant je veux bien vous laisser ces deux lettres a condition que vous me promettrez qu'elle n'y respondra jamais ou que du moins elle n'y respondra jamais favorablement sans mentir hidaspe dit arpasie en riant vous estes admirable de parler comme vous parlez car enfin vous ne scavez qui escrit ces lettres vous ignorez mesme a qui elles sont escrites et vous vous interessez pourtant a cet innocent intrigue je m'y interesse en effet de telle sorte reprit il que je ne me suis jamais tant interesse a nulle autre chose c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me faire l'honneur de me promettre que celle a qui cet amant cache escrit ne luy respondra point tout ce que je puis repliqua-t'elle est de vous promettre que si je 
 viens a la connoistre elle n'y respondra point de mon consentement cela suffit madame reprit-il car si cela est elle ne luy respondra jamais mais madame adjousta-t'il sans luy donner loisir de luy respondre je voudrois bien encore vous suplier de scavoir d'elle si tous ceux qui pourroient entreprendre de l'aimer seroient aussi malheureux que cet amant et si elle ne respond non plus quand on luy parle d'amour que quand on luy en escrit ce que vous me dittes est si peu raisonnable repliqua-t'elle que je ne scay qu'y respondre en effet poursuivit arpasie vous ne scavez pas si je connoistray jamais celle a qui cette lettre s'adresse et je ne le scay pas moy mesme et cependant vous voulez que je puisse descouvrir le secret de son coeur que je luy persuade vos sentimens et que je croye presques que vous avez de l'amour pour elle ha pour cette derniere chose madame repliqua-t'il avec precipitation je vous conjure de n'en douter pas et d'estre fortement persuadee que je suis bien plus amoureux de la personne a qui cette lettre est escrite que celuy qui l'escrit ne le scauroit estre car je le suis assurement plus que qui ce soit ne le fut jamais comme arpasie alloit luy respondre sa tante entra de sorte que cette conversation estant rompue les lettres demeurerent a arpasie qui me les bailla devant hidaspe pour luy tesmoigner qu'elle ne s'en soucioit guere car elle avoit bien connu par ces dernieres paroles qu'il scavoit ou qu'il 
 soubconnoit que c'estoit elle qui y devoit prendre le principal interest mais madame pour ne m'amuser pas a des choses inutiles apres un si long recit hidaspe agit si adroitement et si respectueusement aupres d'arpasie et il luy persuada si bien qu'il n'avoit jamais este infidelle et qu'il ne le pouvoit jamais estre qu'il fut plus heureux que meliante puis que la belle arpasie luy permit d'avoir de l'amour pour elle ainsi cette belle personne divisant toute la tendresse de son coeur conserva toute son amitie pour meliante et donna toute son amour a hidaspe qui luy rendit tant de soins pendant qu'il fut aupres d'elle que jamais aucun autre amant n'en a tant rendu que luy mais madame il arriva une chose fort surprenante car vous scaurez qu'hidaspe ayant renvoye celuy qui avoit aporte les lettres de meliante cet amant fut si afflige de cette avanture que precipitant son voyage il vint desguise dans la place mais comme on n'y laissoit entrer personne sans une fort exacte perquisition et qu'il avoit la mine si haute qu'il ne pouvoit se bien desguiser il fut arreste et reconnu pour ce qu'il estoit par des gens qui avoient suivy gobrias a alfene et qui le croyant dans les interests du roy d'assirie en advertirent hidaspe qui au lieu d'estre bien aise de voir son rival en sa puissance en fut bien fache des qu'il le vit car il le trouva si bien fait et si aimable qu'il craignit qu'il n'en fust moins aime cependant arpasie ayant sceu aussi tost que meliante estoit arreste 
 reste par hidaspe creut que l'obligation qu'elle luy avoit d'avoir rompu son mariage avec astidamas et l'amitie qu'elle avoit effectivement pour luy vouloient qu'elle priast hidaspe de le bien traiter mais pour le pouvoir faire sans luy donner de la jalousie elle le conjura de le vouloir mettre en liberte en le renvoyant avec escorte de peur qu'il ne tombast entre les mains d'artamene qui l'eust pu traiter d'ennemy quoy qu'il ne se fust pas encore declare d'autre part meliante qui avoit infiniment de l'esprit connut aisement par le procede d'hidaspe qu'il estoit amant d'arpasie car lors qu'il fut arreste comme ayant dessein sur la place meliante le pria de le vouloir faire conduire devant arpasie afin qu'elle pust respondre de son innocence s'assurant qu'elle ne le verroit pas plustost qu'elle luy diroit qu'il ne pouvoit jamais avoir un semblable dessein de sorte qu'hidaspe respondant a cela d'une maniere peu precise donna sujet a meliante de soubconner son amour et de croire mesme qu'il scavoit la sienne si bien qu'il fut plus malheureux qu'auparavant et il le fut d'autant plus qu'il sceut la chose avec certitude par un homme de sa connoissance qui estoit a arpasie mais il le fut encore davantage lors qu'hidaspe a la priere de cette belle personne luy dit qu'il pouvoit s'en aller ou il luy plairoit et qu'il luy donneroit escorte pour le conduire ou il voudroit mais il ne voulut pourtant pas partir sans voir arpasie et il s'y 
 opiniastra si fort qu'arpasie scachant la chose et craignant que meliante ne s'obstinast jusques a la faire trop esclatter pria hidaspe de souffrir qu'elle le vist jusques alors hidaspe avoit eu ce respect pour elle de ne luy tesmoigner rien de ce qu'il scavoit de la passion de meliante mais lors qu'elle voulut l'obliger a le luy laisser voir il ne put s'empescher de luy en parler il est vray qu'il le fit si respectueusement que bien loin de l'offencer il l'obligea a luy advouer toute son avanture avec meliante et a ne luy desguiser pas qu'elle avoit beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie pour luy mais madame luy dit hidaspe quelle seurete puis-je avoir contre un rival aussi honneste homme que celuy la si vous luy accordez l'honneur de vous revoir vous dis-je qui ne faites rien pour moy que l'amitie ne veuille que vous faciez pour luy de grace hidaspe luy dit elle en rougissant ne m'obligez point a vous dire quelle est la distinction que je fais entre meliante et vous et contentez vous de scavoir que je vous prie de luy accorder un bien dont il ne peut jouir sans me perdre puis que vous ne pouvez luy donner la liberte que je vous demande pour luy sans l'esloigner de moy enfin madame cette conversation se passa de sorte qu'hidaspe commanda luy mesme qu'on menast meliante a l'apartement d'arpasie devant que de le conduire hors de la ville mais comme elle ne pensoit pas que meliante pust avoir nul soubcon de l'amour d'hidaspe elle 
 n'aprehenda pas trop de le voir au contraire elle le desira dans l'esperance de luy persuader de ne songer plus a elle mais lors qu'apres le premier compliment elle voulut luy dire qu'il devoit se tenir oblige a hidaspe de ce qu'il n'advertissoit pas artamene avant que de le delivrer ha madame luy dit-il quand je n'auray nulle reconnoissance pour luy de la liberte qu'il me donne je ne seray pas ingrat et je pense qu'a parler raisonnablement de mon avanture je pourrois avec plus de justice me pleindre de ce qu'il me bannit que le remercier de ce qu'il me delivre car enfin madame hidaspe vous aime et si je ne suis le plus trompe de tous les hommes hidaspe est plus heureux que meliante tout ce que je vous puis dire reprit arpasie est que je vous faits justice a tous deux et que quelle que soit la place que vous tenez dans mon coeur vous l'y tiendrez tant que je vivray cependant adjousta-t'elle flatteusement elle n'est pas si mauvaise que vous pensez car enfin j'ay de l'estime de la reconnoissance et de l'amitie quelque glorieuse que soit cette place repliqua-t'il je la donnerois a hidaspe s'il me vouloit ceder la sienne qu'il ne merite peut estre pas mieux que moy du moins scay-je bien qu'il ne vous peut pas aimer avec une esgalle ardeur quoy qu'il en soit dit arpasie comme je ne vous puis jamais regarder que comme mon amy il vous importe peu qu'hidaspe soit mon amant 
 ou ne le soit pas mais si vous voulez conserver mon amitie il vous importe extremement de ne me dire rien qui m'offence c'est pourquoy je vous conjure pour vostre propre interest de regler vostre esprit sur les sentimens du mien et d'estre esgalement persuade de deux choses la premiere que vostre amitie peut vous conserver la mienne jusques a la fin de ma vie et la seconde que vostre amour pourroit vous aquerir ma haine car enfin meliante je ne vous ay point trompe et des que j'ay sceu vostre infidellite pour argelyse je vous ay dit que je ne pouvois jamais me confier a vostre affection mais madame repliqua meliante qui vous a dit qu'hidaspe qui est persan n'a pas fait mille infidellitez a persepolis et mille infidellitez qu'il n'a pas faites pour vous comme celle que vous me reprochez aussi cruellement que si je vous avois este infidelle meliante eut toutesfois beau parler et beau se plaindre il ne changea point le coeur d'arpasie elle luy dit pourtant tout ce que l'amitie la plus tendre peut inspirer de plus doux mais elle luy dit aussi tout ce qui luy pouvoit persuader que son amour ne seroit jamais recompensee ny soufferte et il fut contraint de se separer d'avec elle sans avoir pu seulement obtenir la permission de l'aimer sans esperance quoy qu'elle luy promist de luy conserver son amitie durant toute sa vie comme hidaspe avoit quelque curiosite 
 de scavoir comment sa conversation avec arpasie se seroit passee il voulut s'en esclaircir en le voyant et tascher de deviner dans ses yeux s'il avoit este bien ou mal receu et en effet il luy fut aise de connoistre par la tristesse de meliante qu'il avoit sujet de se resjouir l'entre-veue de ces deux rivaux fut assez froide et jamais prisonnier n'a receu la liberte avec moins de marques de reconnoissance voila donc madame de quelle sorte l'aimable et malheureux meliante sortit malgre luy d'un lieu ou il laissoit sa maistresse en la puissance de son rival il est vray qu'elle n'y fut pas longtemps car nous sceusmes bientost apres que gobrias avoit acheve le traite de gadate avec artamene que le roy d'hircanie et le prince des cadusiens ayant receu quelque mescontentement du roy d'assirie avoient aussi pris le party de ciaxare que le roy de chypre avoit envoye des troupes a artamene sous la conduite de deux illustres grecs dont l'un se nommoit thimocrate et l'autre philocles et que dans peu de jours on donneroit un bataille qui sembloit devoir estre une bataille decisive de sorte qu'hidaspe estant persuade qu'artamene luy tiendroit la parole qu'il luy avoit donnee de le rapeller des qu'il verroit les choses en cet estat commenca de se disposer a partir des qu'il en auroit receu l'ordre et de connoistre que l'amour et l'honneur ne veulent pas tousjours les mesmes choses car il eust bien 
 voulu aller ou la gloire l'appelloit et il eust bien voulu aussi demeurer ou sa passion le retenoit cependant artamene ayant alors une confiance toute entiere en gobrias qui avoit mis gadate dans ses interests voulut par un exces de generosite luy redonner l'authorite toute entiere dans sa place de sorte que nous fusmes fort surprises d'aprendre un matin qu'hidaspe avoit receu commandement d'aller a l'armee que les troupes qu'artamene avoit laissees dans la ville avoient aussi ordre d'en sortir et que gobrias envoyoit un de ses parens pour y commander a la place d'hidaspe je ne m'arresteray point madame a vous depeindre quels furent les sentimens d'hidaspe et d'arpasie en cette occasion car vous pouvez vous les imaginer puis que je vous ay dit qu'hidaspe estoit infiniment amoureux d'arpasie et qu'arpasie avoit une puissante inclination pour hidaspe elle ne s'engagea pourtant qu'a souffrir d'estre aimee de cet amant et qu'a trouver bon qu'il luy donnast de ses nouvelles pendant une absence dont il ne scavoit pas la duree mais madame la renommee nous en donna bien tost de fort glorieuses pour artamene et de fort avantageuses pour hidaspe car nous sceusmes que le premier avoit gagne la bataille contre le roy d'assirie et que le second ayant eu ordre d'aller attaquer le roy de phrigie qui sembloit encore vouloir faire ferme l'avoit vaincu et pris prisonnier 
 et ce qu'il y avoit de plus beau c'est qu'hidaspe en escrivant a arpasie ne luy disoit rien de luy et ne parloit que d'artamene seulement dont il disoit des choses si admirables qu'on avoit de la peine a concevoir que la valeur d'un homme pust aller jusques ou la sienne alloit apres cela madame n'attendez pas que je suive tousjours hidaspe a la guerre comme il suivit tousjours artamene car ce seroit vous dire des choses que personne n'ignore et qui passeront de siecle en siecle tant qu'il y aura des hommes mais je vous diray que la passion d'hidaspe luy fit donner un tel ordre pour avoir des nouvelles d'arpasie et pour luy donner des siennes qu'en quelque lieu qu'il ait este elle n'a jamais este plus de dix jours sans en avoir en effet durant le siege de babilone elle en eut regulierement tous les quatre jours et pendant qu'il fut a sinope elle en eut encore plus souvent qu'a l'ordinaire parce qu'il eut de fort grandes choses a luy mander enfin madame durant la guerre d'armenie et celle de lydie il y a eu un commerce si regle entre ces deux personnes que jusques a ce que l'illustre cyrus qui avoit quite le nom d'artamene envoya hidaspe au camp de cumes pour delivrer le roy d assirie il n'y a jamais eu aucune interruption mais madame j'oubliois de vous dire que lors que cyrus partit de sinope pour aller en armenie il y eut une maladie si contagieuse dans la place ou nous estions que la tante d'arpasie aupres 
 de qui elle estoit alors fut contrainte d'en sortir et de s'en aller a un chasteau tres fort qui estoit a gobrias afin d'esviter un air si dangereux et si infecte et que c'est en ce lieu la qu'elle a tousjours demeure jusques a l'accident qui est cause qu'elle est presentement sous la puissance de thomiris mais pour vous dire ce malheur en peu de paroles il faut que vous scachiez que cette tante d'arpasie avoit un fils d'un premier mary qui estoit esloigne depuis long temps et qui revint justement aupres d'elle lors que nous fusmes demeurer a ce chasteau mais a peine fut il arrive qu'il devint amoureux d'arpasie sans qu'il osast d'abord le luy dire ce n'est pas que cet homme qui se nommoit aussi astidamas ne fust naturellement audacieux mais c'est qu'arpasie estoit alors si solitaire qu'elle ne luy donnoit guere d'occasion de luy parler en particulier car comme j'estois seule qui scavois tout le secret de son ame elle n'avoit point plus de douceur que lors qu'elle me pouvoit parler sans tesmoins en effet nous avions tousjours cent choses a dire quoy que nous n'eussions rien a faire ce qui nous estonnoit quelquefois estoit de n'entendre rien dire de meliante et ce qui nous surprit encore davantage fut que quelque temps apres nous sceusmes qu'il ne paroissoit point en son pais et qu'on ne scavoit ou il estoit pour astidamas neveu de protogene nous fusmes mieux informees de luy car nous aprismes qu'apres qu'il 
 fut guery il chercha meliante pour se battre encore contre luy et que ne l'ayant pu rencontrer il retourna a alfene ou il fit tant de choses qui irriterent protogene qu'il le menaca de ne le reconnoistre point pour son successeur et il le bannit mesme de sa presence si bien que partant d'alfene il fut passer quelque temps a voyager ainsi lors que l'autre astidamas devint amoureux d'arpasie nous ne scavions ou estoit meliante et son ancien rival cependant comme la passion de ce nouvel amant augmenta et qu'il estoit impossible qu'il ne vist pas quelquesfois arpasie seule il luy descouvrit son amour mais il la luy descouvrit d'une maniere si fiere qu'arpasie s'en irrita estrangement et luy parla avec tant d'authorite pour luy deffendre d'oser jamais luy dire de pareilles choses qu'il connut bien qu'il n'y avoit pas grande apparence qu'il deust estre aime le peu d'esperance qu'il eut n'affoiblit pourtant pas sa passion au contraire elle en devint plus forte et le desespoir luy fit prendre une resolution aussi injuste que violente car enfin madame il fit dessein de tascher de suborner ceux qui gardoient le chasteau ou elle estoit alors et ou il estoit aussi parce que c'estoit avec sa mere qu'estoit arpasie et il resolut quand il les auroit gagnez de s'assurer de ce chasteau et d'obliger apres cela arpasie a l'espouser mais madame pendant qu'il formoit ce dessein l'autre astidamas en formoit aussi un comme nous l'avons sceu 
 depuis car comme il estoit mal avec protogene et qu'il s'estoit mesme brouille avec sa mere il ne scavoit quelle resolution prendre en effet comme il avoit sceu quelque chose de l'amour d hidaspe pour arpasie il ne pouvoit se resoudre de se jetter dans le parti ou il estoit et il ne pouvoit aussi plus rien entreprendre pour le roy d'assirie qui n'estoit plus en termes d'esperer de se revoir jamais sur le throne de sorte que dans cet embarras d'esprit ayant sceu qu'arpasie estoit dans ce chasteau ou je vous ay dit qu'elle s'estoit retiree il fit dessein de s'en emparer en le surprenant de se faire un azile en s'en rendant maistre et de se vanger de meliante en quelque part qu'il fust en possedant arpasie pour qui il y avoit alors dans son coeur des sentimens qu'a mon advis l'on ne pouvoit definir tant ils estoient meslez mais madame pour vous aprendre ce que nous ne scavions pas alors il faut que je vous die que meliante qui ne paroissoit en nulle part et dont on n'avoit aucunes nouvelles avoit eu un destin bien bizarre je pense madame que vous vous souvenez bien que je vous ay dit qu'hidaspe luy avoit donne escorte pour le conduire ou il voudroit lors qu'a la priere d'arpasie il le delivra et en effet elle l'accompagna jusques ou il voulut mais comme on ne peut esviter son malheur il arriva quelque temps apres que meliante voulant aller d'un lieu a un autre fut rencontre par des 
 troupes d'artamene qui n'estoit pas encore reconnu pour estre cyrus de sorte qu'il fut fait prisonnier et le hazard voulut que cet accident luy arrivast justement comme hidaspe avoit eu ordre d'artamene de l'aller trouver mais comme il luy obeissoit il rencontra ceux qui avoient pris meliante qu'il reconnut en passant si bien que comme c'estoit un rival qui luy estoit redoutable il ne fut pas marry de ce qu'il n'estoit pas en estat de pouvoir profiter de son absence et de retourner desguise dans la place ou estoit arpasie il se trouva mesme que l'officier qui commandoit les troupes qui avoient pris meliante estoit de ses amis particuliers de sorte que l'ayant aborde il luy demanda ce qu'il alloit faire de ce prisonnier et l'autre luy ayant respondu que tous les prisonniers appartenant a ceux qui les faisoient il l'alloit laisser a un petit chasteau dont il venoit de s'emparer avec les troupes qu'il menoit jusques a ce qu'il en eust adverti artamene et qu'il eust sceu la qualite de ce prisonnier mais a peine eut il dit cela qu'un sentiment d'amour et de jalousie obligea hidaspe de dire a son amy que ce prisonnier estoit son rival et que de peur qu'il ne prist avantage de son esloignement il ne seroit pas marry qu'il ne fust en liberte qu'a la fin de la guerre l'obligeant toutesfois a le bien traiter pendant une captivite qui devoit estre apparamment assez longue et en effet madame meliante fut mis dans ce petit chasteau ou on le devoit 
 conduire et laisse sous la garde de celuy qui commandoit les soldats qu'on y laissa mais madame pour en revenir au dernier amant d'arpasie et au neveu de protogene et pour me tirer promptement d'un embarras aussi estrange que fut celuy ou nous nous trouvasmes je vous diray en deux mots que le dessein qu'astidamas d'alfene avoit de surprendre ce chasteau et celuy que fit l'autre astidamas de faire souslever la garnison contre celuy qui la commandoit afin d'estre maistre d'arpasie se trouverent si estrangement conduits par le destin que l'execution s'en fit justement a la mesme nuit et a la mesme heure de sorte madame que jamais il n'y a eu un desordre pareil a celuy ou nous nous trouvasmes car enfin imaginez vous que durant que les soldats que ce nouvel amant avoit gagnez furent a la chambre de celuy qui les commandoit avec dessein de le mettre hors de la place ou de le tuer s'il resistoit trop astidamas d'alfene a la teste de trois cens hommes qu'un gouverneur d'une place voisine qui estoit son amy et qui se nomme licandre luy avoit baillez vint poser des eschelles contre les murailles du chasteau imaginez vous donc quelle surprise fut celle de celuy qui y commandoit de se voir attaque par ses propres soldats et quel estonnement fut celuy de l'autre astidamas qui estoit dans la place de voir que ce chasteau l'estoit par des gens qu'il ne connoissoit point cependant quels qu'ils fussent il falut songer a se 
 deffendre mais comme il ne vouloit pas avoir des ennemis au dehors et au dedans il fit poignarder celuy qui commandoit dans ce chasteau pour gobrias et fit tuer aussi les soldats qui n'estoient pas de son intelligence mais comme cette cruelle execution ne se put faire sans quelque temps cela donna loisir a astidamas d'alfene de faire entrer une partie de ses gens dans ce chasteau de sorte qu'il y eut alors un si terrible vacarme que je ne m'en puis souvenir sans en avoir une esmotion estrange cependant nous n'entendismes pas plustost ce grand bruit que nous nous levasmes diligemment sans pouvoir faire autre chose que prier les dieux et sans scavoir quel estoit le malheur qui nous alloit arriver mais madame pendant qu'astidamas d'alfene faisoit ce qu'il pouvoit pour se rendre maistre de ce chasteau et que l'autre le deffendoit opiniastrement on entendit un bruit de gens armez qui aprochoient si bien que tous les deux partis en prenant l'allarme astidamas d'alfene et l'autre astidamas ne songerent plus qu'a enlever arpasie de sorte que le premier s'estant fait dire par force ou estoit sa chambre et le second la scachant ils y vinrent tous deux mais ils y vinrent par deux escaliers differens de vous dire madame en quel estat nous nous trouvasmes il ne seroit pas aise car d'un coste nous entendions la voix du second astidamas que nous scavions qui avoit fait poignarder celuy qui 
 commandoit les soldats qui gardoient le chasteau et de l'autre nous entendions des voix que nous ne connoissions pas car astidamas d'alfene ne parloit point ou s'il parloit nous ne discernions pas sa voix mais ce qui nous embarrassoit estoit que de chaque coste nous entendions nommer astidamas de sorte que de cette facon nous n'ouvrions ny aux uns ny aux autres mais a la fin astidamas d'alfene ayant fait enfoncer la porte le premier nous le vismes entrer l'espee a la main et un moment apres trois des siens contraignirent arpasie de descendre par le grand escalier si bien que la suivant et m'attachant a elle nous fusmes menees dans la cour ou l'on nous mit par force sur des chevaux ou des hommes nous tenoient ainsi ils nous enleverent malgre nos cris et malgre nos pleintes sans que l'autre astidamas s'y pust opposer car comme il estoit engage dans un escalier estroit astidamas d'alfene y mit quelques uns des siens pour l'empescher d'en sortir jusques a ce qu'il fust hors de l'enclos du chasteau cependant ces gens armez qu'on avoit entendus et qui avoient precipite l'enlevement d'arpasie n'estoient pas ce qu'astidamas d'alfene les croyoit car il sceut par licandre qu'il rencontra que les habitans de la ville d'ou il avoit tire les troupes avec lesquelles il avoit surpris ce chasteau n'avoient pas plustost eu apris que la garnison estoit affoiblie qu'ils avoient pris les armes et l'avoient force a sortir 
 de leur ville avec ce qui luy restoit de gens de guerre ainsi madame c'estoit luy qui estoit venu pour joindre astidamas d'alfene qui aprenant le malheur qu'il avoit cause a son amy et que par ce moyen il n'avoit plus de retraite proche se trouva fort embarrasse et ils se le trouverent d'autant plus licandre et luy qu'ils s'aperceurent a la pointe du jour que leurs soldats les avoient quittez ainsi ne leur estant demeure que vingt chevaux ils nous firent faire une diligence inimaginable sans scavoir ou ils nous vouloient mener mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut qu'astidamas d'alfene en enlevant arpasie par un sentiment de vangeance et d'interest en redevint plus amoureux qu'il ne l'avoit este la premiere fois qu'il l'avoit veue et si elle eust este capable de se laisser toucher par des paroles flatteuses elle eust pardonne a cet injuste amant d'autre part licandre son amy qui n'avoit jamais veu arpasie fut si touche de sa beaute qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il en estoit surpris cependant nous marchions tousjours sans que nous sceussions ou l'on nous menoit mais a la fin apres plusieurs jours de chemin estant arrivez dans un bois nous vismes paroistre l'autre astidamas a la teste de dix ou douze chevaux qui vint attaquer celuy qui nous enlevoit car pour licandre il s'estoit alors separe de nous avec quatre ou cinq des siens pour aller reconnoistre le bois avant que de nous y enfoncer davantage de vous dire madame 
 combien ce combat fut aspre et sanglant il ne seroit pas aise et il me suffit de vous dire que les deux astidamas se trouverent en une telle necessite de songer a eux que je pense qu'ils ne penserent plus a arpasie en effet ceux qui la tenoient et moy aussi nous descendirent tumultuairement au pied d'un arbre ou ils nous laisserent pour aller deffendre la vie de leur maistre et l'autre astidamas estoit si occupe a vaincre son ennemy qu'il ne prenoit pas garde a nous de sorte que profitant d'une occasion si favorable nous nous enfoncasmes diligemment dans l'espaisser du bois durant qu'ils se battoient cependant comme nous l'avons sceu depuis le second astidamas fut tue par l'autre astidamas et ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut que licandre estant revenu sur ses pas au bruit qu'il avoit entendu fut accuse par son amy de luy avoir enleve arpasie durant qu'il se battoit car la passion de licandre pour cette belle personne estoit si visible qu'il la connoissoit cette accusation estoit pourtant mal fondee estant certain que puis que licandre retournoit vers luy avec ses gens il n'y avoit pas d'apparence que ce qu'il disoit pust estre vray mais apres tout ils se querellerent et en vinrent aux mains si bien que comme les gens qui estoient avec astidamas luy avoient este presques tous donnez par licandre il fut facilement vaincu par luy et tue de sa propre main cependant apres cette victoire il nous chercha inutilement tout le reste 
 du jour et toute la nuit car nous nous estions mises dans une caverne qui nous servit d'asile en cette occasion mais comme la peur des bestes sauvages et la faim nous en fit sortir le matin nous fusmes si heureuses que de rencontrer hidaspe qui apres avoir delivre le roy d'assirie qu'il accompagnoit pour s'en aller trouver cyrus a cumes s'estoit esgare dans le bois ou il nous trouva nyside estant arrivee a cet endroit de son recit raconta en suite plus particulierement qu'hidaspe n'avoit fait a cyrus la joye qu'arpasie avoit eue de le voir et celle qu'il avoit eue de la rencontrer disant apres en peu de mots comment le hazard avoit fait trouver un chariot vuide dans lequel hidaspe l'avoit fait mettre comment ils avoient veu cinq ou six hommes morts dans le bois entre lesquels arpasie avoit reconnu un de ses ravisseurs l'arrivee de licandre la contestation d'hidaspe et de luy leur combat et tout ce qu'hidaspe avoit raconte a cyrus jusques a ce qu'il tomba comme mort aupres du chariot d'arpasie en suite elle dit aux princesses a qui elle parloit que d'abord licandre qui avoit autrefois connu atergatis en assirie avoit en dessein de choisir la cour d'arsamone pour sa retraite mais qu'apres avoir sceu qu'elle estoit en trouble il avoit change de dessein et s'estoit embarque sur le pont euxin ou la tempeste l'ayant accueilly elle l'avoit jette a la colchide ou arpasie estoit tombee malade d'affliction 
 en effet madame poursuivit nyside elle eut une telle douleur de voir l'opiniastrete de sa mauvaise fortune et d'estre en estat de craindre la mort d'hidaspe que sa sante en fut considerablement alteree aussi ne faisoit elle autre chose que de s'entretenir aveque moy de toutes ses infortunes et que se souvenir de toutes ses disgraces entre lesquelles elle mettoit encore celle de ne scavoir point qu'estoit devenu le malheureux meliante cependant guerissant presques malgre qu'elle en eust nous sceusmes que licandre scachant que cyrus approchoit avoit pris la resolution de se jetter dans le parti de thomiris et en effet il nous a amenees dans sa cour apres avoir obtenu d'elle qu'elle le protegeroit mais ce qu'il y a encore d'admirable c'est que je croy avoir veu ce matin par l'ouverture d'une de nos tentes le malheureux meliante deguise en massagette de sorte madame que comme arpasie a encore trois amants vivans et qui sont tous braves je ne pense pas qu'elle soit a la fin de ses malheurs ny que vous luy puissiez donner d'autre secours que celuy de la pleindre et de faire scavoir a gobrias et a hidaspe le malheureux estat ou elle est et l'obligation qu'elle vous a de la part que vous prenez a ses disgraces
 
 
 
 
nyside ayant finy son recit les princesses qui l'avoient escoute luy tesmoignerent la satisfaction qu'elles en avoient et jugerent qu'il seroit a propos quand elles verroient intapherne et 
 atergatis de faire scavoir par eux a gobrias et a hidaspe le veritable estat de la fortune d'arpasie mais durant qu'elles se preparoient a une entre-veue qui leur devoit donner tant de consolation elles ne scavoient pas qu'il se passoit des choses dans le coeur de thomiris qui les penserent empescher de la recevoir en effet cette reine qui avoit desire la treve et qui avoir souhaite de voir cyrus se voyant sur le point de cette entre-veue sentit une agitation dans son coeur dont elle ne put estre maistre et comme toutes les personnes passionnees sont plus sujettes a changer d'avis que les autres parce qu'elles suivent tous les mouvements de la passion qui les possede thomiris se vit en estat de craindre ce qu'elle avoit desire et de ne vouloir mesme plus ce qu'elle avoit voulu en effet disoit elle que veux-je dire a cyrus et que puis-je esperer qu'il me die luy parleray-je de ma haine ou de mon amour paroistray-je devant luy comme amante ou comme ennemie et m'est il permis de croire qu'il puisse changer de sentimens pour moy puis que je n'en puis changer pour luy suis-je plus aimable que je n'estois lors qu'il se deroba de ma cour et qu'il me meprisa si cruellement au contraire adjousta-t'elle je suis si dissemblable de moy mesme que je ne me connois plus mon miroir me dit sans doute que mes yeux ne sont pas trop changez mais ma gloire est si flestrie et je me suis tellement deshonnoree qu'il est impossible que cyrus 
 m'estime encore quoy que je n'aye fait autre laschete en ma vie que celle de l'avoir trop aime ainsi puis qu'il est absolument hors d'aparence que je puisse changer son coeur par une entre-veue comme celle que j'ay souhaitee ne le voyons point ou ne le voyons du moins qu'apres qu'aryante l'aura veu car enfin s'il luy parle tousjours avec beaucoup d'amour pour mandane il faudra que je ne luy parle point du tout puis que si je l'avois veu et veu inutilement je ne pourrois apres cela recommencer de le traiter comme meurtrier de mon fils je scay bien que je pourrois dire que j'aurois apris des choses de cette mort que je ne scavois pas mais je scay bien aussi que je ne puis voir cyrus sans estre exposee a la plus cruelle avanture qui puisse arriver a une personne qui aime qui est de voir de la haine et du mespris dans les yeux de la personne aimee attendons donc a nous resoudre que cyrus ait veu son rival adjousta-t'elle et ne nous exposons pas legerement a estre mesprisee par un prince de qui la gloire est si solidement establie que toute la terre croit que ce qu'il mesprise est en effet digne d'estre meprise apres cela cette princesse s'affermissant dans cette resolution donna tous les ordres necessaires pour l'entreveue de cyrus et d'aryante et pour celle d'intapherne d'atergatis d'istrine et de la princesse de bithinie cyrus de son coste se disposa a voir son rival et a tascher de luy persuader de n'estre plus le persecuteur 
 de mandane apres avoir este son liberateur mais pour ne perdre point de temps pendant cette treve en cas que ses persuasions fussent inutiles cet ingenieur qui estoit cause que cyrus l'avoit accordee agit avec tant de diligence qu'il prepara autant d'arbres qu'il luy en faloit pour embraser tout l'endroit du bois qui estoit entre les deux defilez et il le fit avec tant d'adresse par le moyen des soldats que cyrus luy donna pour suivre ses ordres que personne de l'un ny de l'autre party ne sceut la chose excepte ceux qui estoient necessaires pour l'executer cependant le jour et l'heure ou ces entreveues se devoient faire estant pris on se disposa de part et d'autre a tout ce qu'il faloit pour cela ces deux entreveues se firent pourtant diversement car intapherne et atergatis furent conduits par les officiers de thomiris dans une tente ou l'on avoit mene les deux princesses qu'ils devoient voir et celle de cyrus et d'aryante se fit a cheval entre les deux gardes avancees des deux camps et precisement en un endroit ou le bois estant croise de trois routes differentes laissoit un assez grand espace vuide pour cette entreveue cependant intapherne et atergatis furent ou ils estoient impatiemment attendus et ils y furent chargez de tant de commissions differentes que s'ils les eussent toutes faites exactement ils n'auroient point parle de leur amour a leurs princesses en effet cyrus les pria de leur parler de mandane myrsile les conjura 
 de s'informer de doralise gobrias les obligea de luy promettre de scavoir des nouvelles d'arpasie et de la leur recommander et hidaspe les en conjura avec un empressement qu'ils connurent bien ne pouvoir estre cause que par la mesme passion qu'ils avoient dans l'ame de sorte que comme les amants servent plus volontiers leurs amis amoureux que les autres ils songerent plus a rendre office a arpasie a la consideration de son amant qu'a celle de son pere mais ils penserent principalement a la joye qu'ils alloient avoir aussi fut elle si grande que lors qu'ils entrerent dans la tente ou estoient les princesses qu'on leur permettoit d'entretenir ils n'eurent pas la force d'exprimer leurs sentimens par leurs paroles pour ces princesses elles furent plus maistresses d'elles mesmes que ces princes car encore qu'istrine eust peut-estre autant d'envie de parler a atergatis qu'a intapherne elle fut pourtant vers son frere plustost que d'aller vers son amant atergatis de son coste sans considerer le rang de la princesse de bithinie salua istrine la premiere il est vray que ce petit desordre ne parut pas et que la prudence d'istrine ne luy fit rien perdre car encore qu'elle allast vers son frere il ne fut pas vers elle parce qu'il fut ou son amour l'apelloit si bi qu'il falut de necessite qu'elle demeurait ou son inclination vouloit qu'elle fust la conversation de ces quatre personnes fut pourtant d'abord assez generale car comme ils scavoient tout le secret de leur coeur et que leurs 
 fortunes estoient si meslees qu'on ne les pouvoit separer ils repasserent tous les malheurs qui leur estoient arrivez depuis qu'ils ne s'estoient veus ils parlerent de spitridate et d'araminte de gadate et de gobrias ils s'entretinrent de cyrus et de mandane atergatis se souvint de la priere de myrsile et intapherne de celle d'hidaspe et les princesses de leur coste leur dirent tout ce qu'elles creurent devoir servir a arpasie mais apres cela partageant insensiblement leur conversation sans changer de place intapherne entretint la princesse de bithinie et atergatis la princesse istrine de sorte que durant une heure que dura cet entretien particulier ils renouvellerent leur affection et la lierent si estroitement qu'elle n'avoit jamais este si forte d'autre parc l'heure de l'entre-veue de cyrus et d'aryante estant arrivee ces deux rivaux s'avancant esgallement avec pareil nombre de gens se joignirent a cette petite esplanade que ces diverses routes dont j'ay desja parle faisoient au milieu des bois mais ils s'y joignirent a cheval suivant l'ordre qui en avoit este donne de part et d'autre ils ne laisserent pourtant pas de le pouvoir parler en particulier parce que ceux qui les accompagnoient leur laisserent autant d'espace qu'il leur en faloit pour cela cependant l'esprit de ces deux rivaux estoit en une assiette tres differente car comme aryante connoissoit bien qu'il avoit trahy cyrus il avoit beaucoup de confusion de le voir et s'il eust ose 
 desobeir a thomiris il n'eust pas consenty a cette entre-veue neantmoins comme l'amour est une passion qui accommode toutes choses a elle il pensa que n'estant criminel que par exces d'amour ce crime n'estoit pas si honteux qu'il l'avoit pense joint qu'il ne vit pas plustost cyrus que le regardant comme un rival et comme un rival aime la colere dissipa une partie de sa confusion pour cyrus il ne put voir aryante sans le regarder d'abord comme ce traiste et cet ingrat anaxaris qui avoit detruit toute sa felicite en luy enlevant mandane neantmoins considerant qu'il la tenoit en sa puissance il se contraignit par exces d'amour joint que la derniere generosite d'aryante luy donnoit encore quelque disposition a l'aborder moins fierement cyrus fut suivy en cette occasion de mazare de myrsile d'araspe d'aglatidas de silamis de mnesiphile de chersias de chrysante de ligdamis et de beaucoup d'autres et aryante le fut d'octomosade d'agathyrse d'andramite et de tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus considerable dans la cour de thomiris excepte d'aripithe qui ne put se resoudre de voir cyrus que les armes a la main car comme il estoit persuade que si thomiris n'eust pas aime ce prince il eust este heureux il avoit une haine terrible pour luy mais enfin cyrus et aryante s'estant joints et s'estant salues avec une civilite que la seule generosite leur fit avoir l'un pour l'autre cyrus parla le premier avant que de m'engager a 
 vous parler luy dit-il je voudrois bien scavoir de vostre bouche si je vous dois regarder comme ce vaillant anaxaris que j'ay si cherement aime ou comme le ravisseur de mandane que je suis oblige de hair s'il estoit possible repliqua t'il que je pusse encore estre ce mesme anaxaris que j'estois en lydie et que j'estois encore le jour que je fus fait prisonnier a cumes je croy que je le devrois souhaiter mais puis qu'il n'est pas possible que je ne sois pas amant de la princesse mandane je pense qu'il n'est pas aise que je sois amy de cyrus ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que je ne sois au desespoir que la fortune m'ait force d'estre ingrat mais apres tout puis que vous connoissez la puissance des charmes de mandane je n'ay point d'excuse a vous faire de la passion qui me possede puis qu'elle est plus forte que ma raison quoy que je sois le plus amoureux de tous les hommes reprit cyrus l'amour ne m'a pourtant jamais rien fait faire dont je me doive repentir ny qu'on me puisse reprocher il est si aise d'estre equitable quand on est heureux repliqua aryante et si difficile de n'estre pas injuste quand on est miserable qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner de la difference qu'il y a entre vous et moy en cette rencontre puis que vous ne voulez pas que je vous considere repliqua cyrus comme un honme qui soit oblige a escouter ny la raison ny la justice ny la generosite ny la reconnoissance mais seulement comme un homme que l'amour dispense de tous les devoirs de la societe raisonnable je vous dis 
 que vous regardant simplement comme amant de la princesse mandane vous faites tout ce que vous ne devriez point faire car enfin adjousta-t'il sans parler de la passion de thomiris par une discretion admirable en la tenant sous la puissance de la reine des massagettes qui m'accuse injustement de la mort du prince son fils vous l'exposez a toutes les rigueurs que la vangeance peut faire souffrir et vous estes le plus mauvais amant du monde puis que vous preferez vostre interest a la vie de la personne que vous aimez c'est pourquoy pour agir plus equitablement faites en sorte que mandane ne soit plus entre les mains de thomiris choisissez en toute la terre un asile qui luy soit inviolable et apres cela sans exposer vos protecteurs a estre detruits par une injuste guerre terminons nos differens par un combat singulier c'est une chose ou je m'engageay avec le roy d'assirie quoy qu'il fust mon prisonnier j'en puis donc bien faire autant avec un homme qui est a la teste d'une armee car enfin poursuivit-il avec une generosite inconcevable pour vous montrer que l'amour ne me rend pas injuste comme vous j'advoue que si ma fidelle passion ne m'avoit pas mis au dessus de tous mes rivaux ou que la mort m'eust fait perdre les droits que j'ay a la possession de la princesse mandane il n'y a que mazare au monde qui vous la deust disputer pour respondre precisement a la proposition que vous me faites repliqua aryante je 
 vous diray que je ne suis pas en estat de l'accepter car je suis sans doute assez puissant pour empescher thomiris d'entreprendre sur la vie de la princesse mais je ne le suis pas assez pour la tirer des mains de la reine des massagettes de plus pour vous tesmoigner que je ne suis injuste que dans les choses qui n'interessent pas directement mon amour je vous declare que me souvenant des obligations que je vous ay comme estant anaxaris je ne me battray contre vous qu'a la guerre et que lors que la fortune nous fera rencontrer comme elle le fit dans les bois du fort des sauromates ainsi tout ce que je vous puis dire est que je deffendray la vie de mandane contre la reine ma soeur comme si elle estoit mon ennemie et que je disputeray la possession de cette princesse contre vous comme si vous ne m'aviez jamais oblige pourveu que vous la deffendiez bien contre thomiris reprit brusquement cyrus il ne m'importe guere que vous preniez la resolution de la disputer contre moy car comme la guerre que je fais est juste que les dieux sont equitables et que mes armes n'ont pas accoustume d'estre malheureuses il pourra arriver que la reine des massagettes se verra en estat de se repentir de ses injustices et que vous vous repentirez vous mesme de ce que vous faites la fortune repliqua aryante se lasse quelquesfois de favoriser tousjours un mesme homme je ne scay si la fortune se lasse reprit cyrus mais je scay bien que les 
 dieux ne se lassent jamais d'estre equitables et que je ne me lasseray pas moy mesme de poursuivre les persecuteurs de mandane jusques a l'extremite de la terre pensez donc bien a ce que je vous propose devant que nous nous separions je vous offre encore une fois de me battre contre vous et de renoncer a tous les avantages que la guerre m'a donnez pourveu que mandane soit en assurance ouy adjousta cet illustre prince je m'engage a rendre le fort des sauromates a faire retirer mes troupes au dela de l'araxe et a ne faire jamais la guerre a thomiris pourveu que vous l'obligiez a mettre la princesse mandane en lieu de seurete ou que vous l'y mettiez vous mesme je vous ay desja dit reprit aryante que je puis deffendre la vie de mandane contre thomiris mais que je ne la puis pas tirer de sa puissance il n'y a donc point de negociation a faire repliqua brusquement cyrus et la treve doit finir tout a l'heure sans que je voye thomiris car puis que je ne puis vous persuader je ne la persuaderois pas cependant soyez du moins le protecteur de mandane contre la reine des massagettes et pour vous donner encore un exemple d'equite je vous declare que si mandane vous prefere a moy et veut effectivement vous rendre heureux je vous declare dis-je que je poseray les armes et que sans penser jamais a me vanger ny de thomiris ny de vous je ne songeray qu'a me guerir par la mort mais je veux entendre cette declaration 
 de sa bouche eh dieux s'escria aryante si vous n'aviez jamais fait d'action genereuse plus difficile que celle la vous ne meriteriez pas toute la gloire dont vous estes couvert car enfin vous ne scavez que trop que mandane ne prononceroit pas en ma faveur c'est pourquoy je n'ay rien a vous dire que ce que je vous ay desja dit puis que cela est repliqua fierement cyrus je n'ay qu'a me retirer et qu'a me preparer des que la treve sera expiree a vous aller combatre a la teste de mon armee puis que vous ne le voulez pas autrement quand je vous rencontreray de cette sorte reprit aryante je me deffendray comme je me suis desja deffendu et je vous vaincray peutestre adjousta cyrus en se retirant comme je vous ay desja vaincu comme ce prince prononca ces dernieres paroles avec impetuosite aryante ne les entendit pas distinctement de sorte qu'y faisant une responce douteuse que cyrus n'entendit pas ils se retirerent tous deux en se regardant fierement sans vouloir s'expliquer davantage on voyoit pourtant une notable difference en la fierte de ces deux princes car il paroissoit sur le visage d'aryante de la confusion et du chagrin parmy sa fierte mais pour celle de cyrus elle n'avoit rien que de grand et d'heroique car encore que le feu de la colere brillast dans ses yeux il avoit pourtant de la majeste sur le visage et il y avoit je ne scay quoy de si noble et de si grand en son action et une activite si penetrante dans ses regards que ne les pouvant soustenir 
 on estoit contraint de baisser les yeux tant la colere le faisoit paroistre redoutable il tourna mesme deux ou trois fois la teste vers son rival apres qu'il s'en fut separe mais pour aryante il n'eut pas la force d'en faire autant car comme il avoit naturellement les inclinations vertueuses il sentoit une repugnance estrange toutes les fois que son amour le forcoit a s'esloigner des sentimens que la vertu inspire cependant des que cyrus eut rejoint mazare et myrsile il leur dit tout ce qu'ils s'estoient dits aryante et luy car comme ils s'estoient tenus dans les routes du bois aussi bien que ceux qui suivoient aryante ils n'avoient pas entendu ce qu'ils se disoient mais il le leur dit avec une esmotion sur le visage qui leur persuada aisement qu'il ne songeoit plus qu'a combatre d'autre part thomiris qui attendoit le retour d'aryante avec impatience pour deliberer apres cela si elle verroit cyrus ou si elle ne le verroit point ne vit pas plustost le prince son frere qu'elle l'obligea de luy rendre conte de son entre-veue avec ce prince de sorte qu'aryante ne pouvant la luy redire tout a fait fidellement de peur de la porter a prendre quelque resolution violente contre mandane ne luy parla point de ce qui la regardoit directement touchant cet article mais quoy que par un sentiment d'amour pour la princesse qu'il aimoit il n'osast irriter thomiris contre son rival comme cette reine avoit infiniment de l'esprit elle connut bien que cyrus ne luy avoit rien dit qui 
 deust luy faire croire qu'il pust jamais avoir nuls sentimens qui pussent luy permettre d'esperer de luy voir cesser d'aimer mandane si bien que se voyant sur le point de voir cyrus elle ne comprenoit pas ce qu'elle pourroit luy dire de sorte que ne voyant plus les choses comme elle les avoit veues elle se condamna elle mesme et cherchant un pretexte a ne faire pas ce qu'elle avoit demande elle employa le temps de la treve a achever le traite de quelques prisonniers en suite de quoy elle feignit d'avoir surpris des lettres qui l'advertissoient qu'elle ne se devoit point exposer a l'entre-veue qui avoit este resolue avec cyrus si bien que par ce moyen ce prince fut delivre de la peine qu'il eust eue a s'empescher de s'emporter contre une reine et contre une reine dont il estoit aime il eut encore la consolation d'aprendre par le retour d intapherne et d'atergatis qui l'avoient sceu de leurs princesses que mandane n'estoit pas mal traitee et qu'excepte la solitude ou elle vivoit depuis la mort de spargapyse elle ne souffroit aucune violence cependant des que la treve fut finie cyrus ne songea plus qu'a executer son dessein de sorte que donnant tous les ordres necessaires pour cela il se trouva le lendemain au soir en estat de faire l'experience du rare secret de cet ingenieur qui devoit embraser cette partie des bois qui separoit les deux defilez et oster par la toute communication entre les deux quartiers des ennemis cyrus 
 ayant donc choisi les troupes qu'il avoit destinees a l'attaque du defile qui estoit le plus foiblement garde se disposa a l'execution d'une entreprise qui estoit d'une tres grande importance il ne desgarnit pourtant pas le poste qu'il occupoit le plus pres de l'autre defile de peur que les ennemis ne descouvrissent son dessein cependant celuy de l'ingenieur reussit admirablement car suivant qu'il l'avoit judicieusement preveu des que la nuit aprocha il se leva un vent aussi fort qui le falloit pour favoriser son entreprise il se leva mesme du coste qu'il l'avoit predit et du coste qu'il estoit a propos qu'il se levast pour pousser les flammes vers ceux des ennemis qui voudroient venir secourir ceux que cyrus attaqueroit et pour ne les pousser pas vers les troupes de ce prince en effet des que la nuit fut venue cyrus apres avoir range les divers corps de son armee se mit a la teste des premieres troupes qui devoient avancer vers le defile que les ennemis gardoient et qu'il vouloit attaquer mais avant que de marcher tous les capitaines ayant este instruits de l'embrasement qu'ils devoient voir a leur gauche en instruisirent leurs soldats si bien que la chose passant de bouche en bouche toutes les troupes se trouverent disposees en un quart d'heure a ne s'estonner pas d'un effet si extraordinaire et si surprenant et a croire au contraire qu'elles alloient en une occasion presques sans peril et ou la victoire leur estoit indubitable les choses 
 estant donc en ces termes cyrus a la teste des siens commenca de marcher vers le defile mais afin que l'attaque ne precedast pas l'embrasement de l'endroit des bois qui separoit les deux defilez des que ce prince marcha l'ingenieur suivant son premier dessein mit le feu a douze des arbres qu'il avoit preparez a le recevoir et il le mit si judicieusement que comme ces douze arbres estoient en divers endroits et au milieu de beaucoup d'autres qui avoient este frottez de la mesme composition qui les rendoit si susceptibles d'embrasement on vit presques en un instant toute cette partie des bois qui separoit les deux defilez estre entierement embrasee car encore qu'on n'eust mis de cette composition qu'aux troncs des arbres parce qu'on n'en eust pu mettre aux branches sans qu'on s'en fust aperceu les arbres tous entiers ne laisserent pas de s'embraser facilement car il sortoit d'abord une espaisse fumee des premiers arbres allumez qui mettoit en tous les autres une disposition estrange a brusler joint que pour l'ordinaire l'endroit qui avoit este touche de cette merveilleuse composition se consumoit si promptement que la plus part des arbres tomboient les uns sur les autres a moitie embrasez cyrus attaquant donc le defile dans le mesme temps que l'embrasement commenca les ennemis se trouverent estrangement surpris neantmoins comme celuy qui commandoit a ce poste la estoit brave il resista d'abord autant qu'il put 
 dans l'esperance que le feu ne gagneroit pas tout le bois et qu'il pourroit estre secouru par aripithe qui estoit a l'autre defile son esperance fut pourtant trompee car l'embrasement fut si grand et il se fit un tel embarras dans ces bois et des arbres enflammez qui tomboient et des arbres qui estoient tombez et de ceux qui brusloient encore sans tomber qu'on n'a jamais veu un plus terrible ny un plus surprenant objet que celuy-la cependant comme le vent poussoit les flammes vers le coste d'aripithe il les esloignoit de l'endroit par ou les troupes de cyrus marchoient ainsi elles avoient a leur gauche cet embrasement effroyable sans en estre incommodees au contraire il leur servoit a esclairer le chemin qu'elles tenoient et a leur faire voir l'espouvante des ennemis qu'elles avoient a combatre ce n'est pas comme je l'ay desja dit que d'abord celuy qui commandoit a ce poste qui estoit sauromate de naissance ne fist un grand effort pour soustenir celuy de cyrus aripithe de son coste estant adverty de l'attaque de ce defile voulut revenir en personne pour le deffendre mais cet embrasement terrible luy faisant obstacle il fut contraint de ne s'y opiniatrer pas et d'aller par un chemin fort long pour tascher de s'opposer au passage de cyrus mais ce grand prince ne luy en donna pas le temps car comme il vit que ce vaillant sauromate 
 qu'il avoit en teste avoit pris le party de perir plustost que d'abandonner ce defile il l'attaqua en personne et le poussa si vivement qu'il luy fit lascher le pied et comme ceux qui combatent en se retirant ne conservent pas tousjours l'usage de leur jugement ce vaillant sauromate recula du coste que le bois estoit embrase neantmoins comme cyrus jugea qu'en le poussant encore davantage il laisseroit le passage libre a ses troupes que mazare et myrsile faisoient filer diligemment pendant qu'il combatoit il le poussa avec tant de vigueur qu'on peut dire qu'il le poussa trop loin en effet ce vaillant sauromate se trouvant alors avec les siens en une extremite terrible changea sa valeur en desespoir et fit des choses si prodigieuses que cyrus ne s'estoit jamais trouve en un plus grand peril que celuy ou il se trouva alors mais pour pouvoir comprendre le danger ou un si grand prince fust expose il faut scavoir qu'en poussant ces vaillans sauromates vers les arbres embrasez il j'avoit fait sans craindre de se trouver engage dans l'embrasement et dans la pensee de les forcer a se rendre mais comme malheureusement les soldats qui avoient agy sous les ordres de l'ingenieur avoient prepare quelques arbres a recevoir le feu en un endroit ou il ne leur avoit pas commande et ou cyrus ne pensoit pas qu'il y en eust il arriva qu'un tourbillon d'estincelles qui sortirent d'un grand arbre embrase qui tomba pourtant assez loin s'espandirent 
 jusques a ces arbres preparez de sorte qu'en un moment cyrus qui combatoit ces sauromates se vit au milieu des feux et des flammes il avoit pourtant si fortement resolu d'achever de vaincre ce vaillant chef des sauromates que s'imaginant qu'il luy seroit aise de se retirer vers les siens des qu'il l'auroit vaincu avant que ces derniers arbres embrasez pussent tomber il s'opiniastra encore avec ceux qui l'avoient suivy a remporter cette victoire de sorte qu'il ne fut jamais rien de plus terrible que cette espece de combat cette grande lumiere qui s'espandoit par tout le bois faisoit mesme paroistre une fierte extraordinaire sur le visage des combatans leurs armes en brilloient davantage et le feu et la fumee meslez ensemble changeoient tellement tous les objets qu'a peine cyrus estoit il connoissable mais s'il ne l'estoit pas par la couleur de son teint il l'estoit par sa valeur cependant l'embrasement augmentoit et les coups de ce prince redoublant afin de se haster de vaincre on voyoit des sauromates qui pour les esviter s'enfoncoient du coste que le bois estoit le plus embrase si bien que pensant esviter sa poursuite un grand arbre enflame tombant sur eux arrestoit leur fuite et leur faisoit esprouver la mort d'une maniere effroyable de plus les chevaux espouvantez de la veue de cet embrasement emportoient quelquesfois leurs maistres malgre qu'ils en eussent a l'endroit le plus dangereux du combat 
 ces malheureux animaux songeant plus a esviter les flammes que les ennemis de ceux qu'ils portoient ce qu'il y avoit encore d'estonnant c'est que le vent qui agitoit ces flammes joint au craquetement des feuilles embrasees a la chutte des arbres enflammez et aux cris des mourans des vaincus et des vainqueurs faisoient un bruit si effroyable que celuy du mugissement de la mer irritee et du tonnerre joints ensemble ne seroit pas si espouventable cyrus estant donc en cet estat vit enfin tous les ennemis morts a la reserve du vaillant sauromate qu'il vouloit vaincre et d'un autre mais il se vit aussi abandonne du peu de gens qui l'avoient suivy ce n'est pas qu'ils eussent fuy mais c'est que la cheute d'un arbre embrase les ayant separez de cyrus ils ne l'avoient pu rejoindre et ne l'avoient mesme pu revoir de sorte que ce grand prince se trouva seul au milieu des feux et des flammes contre deux ennemis redoutables cependant au lieu de s'estonner il en devint plus hardy et plus vaillant et en effet il combatit avec une valeur si extraordinaire qu'il vainquit ces deux sauromates car il en tua un d'un coup qu'il luy porta a travers le corps et il blessa l'autre au bras droit et a la cuisse gauche le heurtant mesme si fierement qu'il le renversa de son cheval qui ne se sentit pas plustost libre qu'il s'enfuit au travers des feux et des flammes laissant son maistre blesse et desarme car son espee se rompit en tombant 
 si bien que s'estant releve avec assez de peine il se vit a la mercy de son vainqueur et a la mercy des flammes mais comme cyrus avoit beaucoup d'admiration pour sa valeur il ne l'eut pas plustost vaincu qu'il songea a luy conserver la vie car comme il se fut rendu a luy et qu'il s'y fut rendu d'une maniere qui luy fit connoistre que sa valeur n'estoit pas une valeur brutale et qu'il le vit sans armes et sans cheval et sans pouvoir marcher il le fit monter en croupe derriere luy afin de tascher de le sauver en se sauvant luy mesme a travers les arbres embrasez et en se demeslant de ce labirinthe de feu s'il est permis de parler ainsi ou il se trouvoit engage de sorte que ce vaillant prisonnier acceptant l'offre de son illustre vainqueur monta comme il put derriere luy apres quoy ce grand prince allant tantost a droit et tantost a gauche pour esviter les flammes et la chutte des arbres fit si bien qu'il arriva a l'endroit ou mazare et myrsile faisoient filer les troupes sans qu'ils fussent en peine de luy parce qu'ils s'estoient imaginez qu'il estoit retourne a l'entree des bois apres avoir assure le passage mais il n'y fut pas si tost qu'ils aprirent de la bouche de celuy qu'il avoit vaincu les miracles qu'il avoit faits et la generosite qu'il avoit eue de luy avoir sauve la vie cependant afin de meriter encore mieux les louanges que son prisonnier luy donnoit il le fit mettre sur un cheval derriere ortalque 
 qui eut ordre de le mener jusques au fort des sauromates de l'y faire penser de luy donner des gardes et de faire qu'on eust grand soin de luy mais apres cela ce grand prince laissa myrsile et mazare pour continuer de faire passer les troupes pendant quoy il passa luy mesme et fut au dela des bois les faire ranger en bataille a mesure qu'elles passoient de peur qu'aripithe ou aryante ne le vinssent charger en desordre et pour agir avec autant de prudence que de courage il ne desgarnit pas le poste qui estoit aupres de l'autre defile et il fit garder celuy qu'il venoit de passer pour s'en servir selon l'occasion cependant il n'avoit que faire de craindre d'estre attaque car cet embrasement et le bruit du passage de l'armee de cyrus mit d'abord une telle consternation parmy les ennemis qu'ils n'estoient pas en estat de rien entreprendre de sorte que deux heures apres que le soleil fut leve cyrus se trouva au dela des bois a la teste de son armee rangee en bataille sans avoir perdu qu'un assez petit nombre de gens 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 comme on diroit que la fortune se plaist esgallement a enchaisner les evenemens heureux et a entasser malheur sur malheur selon son caprice cyrus n'eut pas seulement l'avantage d'avoir fait passer son armee il eut encore la joye de scavoir que ciaxare luy envoyoit un corps fort considerable de cavalerie et d'infanterie qui estoit desja fort avance et il sceut que tigrane et spitridate devoient arriver dans trois jours a la ville ou la princesse onesile et la 
 princesse araminte estoient et qu'ainsi il pouvoit esperer qu'il verroit bientost dans son armee deux des plus vaillans princes du monde mais pendant qu'il jouissoit de quelque consolation thomiris qui estoit venue en personne pour rassurer ses troupes qui n'estoient pas loin de l'avant-garde de cyrus fut en un desespoir incroyable lors qu'elle vit de ses propres yeux l'armee d'un ennemy qu'elle aimoit malgre qu'elle en eust et qu'elle la vit avoir passe un defile qu'elle avoit espere luy disputer du moins jusques a ce que toutes les troupes qu'elle attendoit fussent arrivees de sorte que ne s'agissant plus de deffendre ny de garder des passages elle rapella les troupes d'aripithe mais en les rapellant elle le mal-trait a horriblement quoy qu'il n'eust fait aucune faute elle luy parla pourtant avec la mesme fierte que s'il eust pu empescher que les bois ne se fussent embrasez et qu'il eust pu aller a travers les flammes secourir ceux que cyrus avoit attaquez cependant l'embrasement des bois continuoit tousjours et thomiris vit de ses propres yeux de dessus une petite eminence ce grand et terrible bucher dont les flammes paroissant au dela de cette grande armee sembloient borner l'orison de ce coste la par une ceinture de feu en effet cet embrasement estoit si grand que si le vent n'eust cesse tout d'un coup il ne se fust pas esteint si tost mais a la fin n'y ayant plus nulle agitation dans l'air le feu ne 
 se communiqua plus et des que les arbres qui avoient commence de brusler furent consumez le feu s'esteignit de luy mesme si bien qu'apres cela cet endroit des bois qui avoit este si beau et si agreable devint un des plus affreux objets du monde car outre qu'on ne voyoit par tout que de grands monceaux de cendres et de charbons esteints on voyoit encore quelques arbres debout mais on les voyoit sans branches et leur tronc tout noircy aussi bien que celuy de tous les arbres qui n'estoient pas fort loin de cet endroit ou le feu avoit este mis si bien que ce mesme bois qui un jour auparavant estoit si beau et si charmant faisoit horreur aux mesmes oyseaux a qui il avoit servy de retraite et a qui il avoit preste les branches de ses arbres et la fraischeur de son ombrage cyrus voyoit mesme du lieu ou il estoit campe le fort des sauromates et cet endroit estoit enfin si change par cet embrasement qu'il n'estoit plus le mesme qu'il avoit este cependant quelque envie qu'eust cyrus d'avancer vers thomiris il n'osa pourtant s'engager plus avant au dela des bois qu'il n'eust des munitions pour son armee car encore qu'il y eust quelques troupes de thomiris qui ne paroissoient pas fort loin il scavoit bien qu'il ne pourroit pas forcer si tost cette reine a combatre parce qu'il y avoit une petite riviere qui favoriseroit sa retraite et en effet aryante qui ne jugeoit pas qu'il fust a propos de combatre 
 que toutes les troupes que thomiris attendoit de jour en jour ne fussent jointes laissa quelques troupes a deffendre le gue de la riviere et se retira assez pres des tentes royales se postant si avantageusement qu'il n'eust pas este aise de l'attaquer sans s'exposer a estre vaincu apres quoy ils tinrent conseil de guerre ou il fut resolu qu'il falloit absolument hazarder la bataille des que les troupes qu'ils attendoient seroient arrivees d'autre part thomiris et aryante penserent se brouiller de nouveau car comme cette princesse scavoit que celuy qui gardoit mandane estoit plus affectionne a aryante qu'a elle elle eut dessein de le changer afin que si elle perdoit la bataille elle pust disposer de mandane et avoir cette princesse en son pouvoir pour s'en servir a sa vangeance ou a sa seurete mais comme aryante ne craignoit guere moins que mandane pust tomber sous l'entiere puissance de thomiris que sous celle de cyrus il s'opposa si fortement au dessein que cette reine tesmoignoit avoir de changer celuy qui commandoit les gardes de mandane qu'elle n'osa s'y opiniastrer en un temps ou la moindre division parmy les siens eust pu la faire vaincre facilement cependant comme elle envoya divers ordres pour faire haster les troupes qui luy venoient elles sirent une si grande diligence qu'elles arriverent au rendez-vous general avant que cyrus fust en estat d'avancer et elles y arriverent mesme sans peril parce qu'elles venoient 
 toutes du coste qui estoit au dela des tentes royales ainsi l'armee d'aryante les couvroit et faisoit que cyrus ne pouvoit empescher qu'elles ne le joignissent d'ailleurs ce grand prince qui avoit une impatience estrange de combatre n'eut pas plustost toutes les choses necessaires pour la subsistance de son armee qu'il marcha droit aux ennemis qui luy disputerent quelque temps le passage de la riviere mais a la fin ils l'abandonnerent et cyrus faisant faire a l'instant divers ponts avec des facines et des planches pour faire passer son infanterie il fit en effet passer toute son armee en un jour et demy apres quoy il la remit en bataille mais comme il estoit prest de marcher le sage et vertueux anacharsis arriva aupres de luy qui voyant les choses a la derniere extremite se mit a conjurer cyrus de luy permettre de voir encore une fois thomiris car enfin seigneur luy dit-il je trouve que mandane sera plus en peril si thomiris perd la bataille que si vous la perdez si vous m'aviez persuade ce que vous dittes reprit cyrus je pense que je me laisserois vaincre quoy qu'il en soit seigneur reprit anacharsis je trouve que pour vous rendre tout a fait les dieux propices il faut qu'on ne vous puisse accuser de tout le sang qui sera respandu a la bataille que vous allez donner c'est pourquoy je vous conjure de me donner trois jours pour faire un dernier effort j'advoue sage anacharsis reprit cyrus que je ne puis assez m'estonner 
 que vous puissiez esperer que thomiris change de sentimens neantmoins comme je fais gloire de defferer a ceux d'un homme comme vous je veux bien que vous voiyez encore thomiris quoy qu'a mon advis ce soit faire quelque chose contre ma gloire que de demander a parler de paix apres l'avantage que j'ay remporte au contraire seigneur repliqua anacharsis c'est aux vainqueurs qu'il appartient de faire des propositions de paix avec honneur et il n'y a que les vaincus qui puissent la demander avec honte joint que je n'iray pas mesme vers cette reine comme envoye de vous mais comme simple mediateur et comme un homme qui confondant toutes les deux scythies avec le pais des massagettes considere le lieu ou il est presentement comme sa patrie et s'interesse a la perte de tant de braves gens qui periront en cette funeste bataille si elle se donne ainsi ne passant tout au plus comme je l'ay dit que pour un simple mediateur entre vous et thomiris vous me refuserez tous deux si bon vous semble tout ce que je vous demanderay mais du moins n'auray-je pas a me reprocher d'avoir neglige quelque chose pour empescher la mort de tant de personnes innocentes qui meurent aux guerres les plus justes apres cela cyrus ne voulant pas s'opiniastrer a refuser une chose a anacharsis qui ne pouvoit tout au plus a ce qu'il croyoit retarder son dessein que de deux ou trois jours il luy dit qu'il fist ce qu'il voudroit ainsi 
 luy donnant un heraut pour le conduire ce sage scythe fut vers thomiris des qu'il aprocha de ses premieres troupes il fut arreste de sorte que cette princesse ayant a l'heure mesme este advertie de son arrivee elle s'imagina que ce vertueux scythe venoit plus par le mouvement de cyrus que par le sien si bien que se flattant d'une esperance mal fondee elle commanda qu'on le traitast civilement et qu'on le luy amenast cependant comme anacharsis scavoit que les choses difficiles ne se font presques jamais tout d'un coup il resolut de faire en sorte que cette reine s'imaginast qu'il ne luy disoit pas encore tout ce qu'il avoit ordre de luy dire afin que concevant quelque petit espoir elle ne le renvoyast pas brusquement suivant sa coustume et qu'elle luy donnast loisir de luy dire toutes ses raisons et qu'il peust mesme aussi parler a aryante et en effet ce sage scythe agit avec tant de prudence que thomiris l'escouta assez paisiblement et il mesnagea si bien son esprit qu'il s'en falut peu qu'il ne luy persuadast que si elle eust pu se resoudre a mettre mandane en liberte elle eust pu esperer que cyrus auroit change de sentimens il ne luy disoit pourtant rien qui pust positivement estre explique de cette sorte mais luy disant en general qu'elle ne pouvoit jamais estre heureuse tant qu'elle seroit injuste son imagination preocupee la trompa si bien qu'elle redemanda une seconde fois 
 qu'il y eust treve de sorte qu'anacharsis estant retourne vers cyrus et revenu vers thomiris on fit une treve de cinq jours sans qu'on sceust dans aucun des deux partis ny pourquoy on la faisoit ny de quoy on devoit traiter cependant elle se fit et tous les bien intentionnez qui estoient aupres de thomiris et aupres d'aryante agirent plus fortement que jamais pour leur inspirer des sentimens plus equitables que ceux que l'amour leur donnoit pour cyrus il n'y avoit rien a faire aupres de luy car il estoit tousjours dispose a faire la paix avec thomiris pourveu qu'elle voulust rendre mandane mais pendant toutes ces negociations inutiles spitridate et tigrane arriverent a la ville ou estoient onesile et la reine de pont et la fortune enfin toute rigoureuse qu'elle estoit a araminte et a spitridate permit qu'ils eussent la joye de se revoir l'entre-veue de ces quatre personnes eut pourtant quelque chose de triste parmy leur satisfaction car il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle se reuissent sans se souvenir de la mort du roy de pont et de celle de phraarte et sans s'en souvenir avec des sentimens proportionnez a la cruaute de cette avanture la princesse onesile mesnagea pourtant si adroitement les choses que la joye l'emporta sur la douleur et elle sceut mesme esviter si adroitement tout ce qui eust pu engager araminte et tigrane en un esclaircissement estendu sur les pertes qu'ils avoient faites qu'ils s'en dirent seulement assez pour se faire 
 connoistre qu'ils se rendoient justice en se pleignant sans s'accuser et pour se promettre de ne s'en parler jamais cependant apres que la conversation eut dure quelque temps de cette sorte dans la chambre d'onesile araminte s'en allant a la sienne spitridate l'y accompagna et eut une audience particuliere de cette princesse qu'il n'avoit point veue depuis qu'apres l'avoir fait sortir de cabira ou artane l'avoit menee et ou il l'avoit assiege il l'avoit conduite en armenie ou elle pensoit qu'estoit le roy de pont son frere de sorte que ne pouvant exprimer la joye qu'il avoit de revoir cette belle et charmante princesse apres tant de disgraces il s'en pleignit a elle d'une maniere tres passionnee je voy bien madame luy dit-il que le malheur est inseparable de spitridate puis que mesme en ayant l'honneur de vous voir que j'ay si longtemps et si ardemment souhaite et de vous revoir mesme plus belle que je ne vous vy jamais j'ay la douleur de ne pouvoir vous tesmoigner jusques ou va ma satisfaction car enfin je m'apercoy bien que mes yeux ne vous disent point ce que mon coeur ressent et que je ne trouve point de paroles qui puissent vous bien representer quelle est ma satisfaction je vous assure repliqua obligeamment araminte que je n'ay qu'a juger de la vostre par la mienne pour comprendre quelle doit estre grande ha madame s'escria spitridate quelque obligeant que soit ce que vous dittes je suis assure qu'il est injuste 
 car il n'est pas possible que vous soyez aussi aise de me revoir que je le suis d'estre aupres de vous et d'y estre avec la liberte de vous pouvoir dire tous les tourmens que j'ay soufferts vous en avez eu d'une espece respondit elle en souriant a demy dont je vous conseille de ne me faire pas souvenir car je ne veux pas me pleindre de vous apres avoir eu tant de raisons de m'en louer je vous entens bien madame luy dit-il et je comprens enfin que vous voulez bien scavoir les tourmens du malheureux spitridate lors qu'il a este errant fugitif prisonnier blesse et absent mais que vous ne voulez pas aprendre ses suplices lors qu'il a eu l'audace d'oser estre jaloux il a pourtant este plus malheureux par sa jalousie poursuivit-il qu'il ne l'a este pour toutes ses autres infortunes mais enfin madame puis que vous le voulez je ne m'excuseray mesme pas de cette foiblesse et je vous en demanderay non seulement pardon mais je me soumettray encore a en estre puny apres cela ces deux illustres personnes rapellant le souvenir de toutes leurs avantures depuis leur enfance jusques alors trouverent un si grand nombre de malheurs qu'ils s'estonnerent eux mesmes comment ils les avoient pu suporter et ils virent en leur vie un si grand exemple de l'inconstance et des caprices de la fortune qu'ils n'osoient presques s'assurer que le bonheur dont ils jouissoient pust estre de longue duree neantmoins par un second 
 sentiment ils creurent que puis qu'ils estoient ensemble il ne leur pouvoit plus rien arriver de funeste si bien que reconfirmant l'innocente affection qu'ils s'estoient promise on peut dire qu'ils la renouvellerent et qu'ils la rendirent mesme plus forte qu'elle n'avoit jamais este spitridate sans scavoir que cyrus avoit voulu qu'on traitast araminte en reine de pont depuis la mort du roy son frere luy parla comme la reconnoissant pour reine quoy que son pere possedast le royaume qui luy donnoit ce rang la et il agit enfin comme un prince qui estoit digne de ressembler a cyrus et qui luy ressembloit en effet presques autant par les qualitez de l'ame que par les traits du visage d'autre part la conversation particuliere de tigrane et d'onesile eut toute la tendresse qu'une affection solide et sincere pouvoit faire trouver en l'entretien de deux personnes de grand coeur de grand esprit et qui s'estimoient et s'aimoient cherement car tigrane en devenant mary de l'admirable onesile n'avoit pas renonce a toutes les civilitez et a tous les respects d'un amant la belle telagene avoit aussi sa part a la satisfaction de ces illustres personnes la sage hesionide avoit tant de joye de revoir spitridate qu'araminte n'en pouvoit guere avoir davantage cependant comme spitridate et tigrane sceurent qu'il y avoit une treve ils ne songerent pas a se haster d'aller trouver cyrus 
 mais comme onesile pensa que si l'armee de ce prince s'esloignoit encore araminte et elle auroient moins souvent des nouvelles des personnes qui leur estoient cheres elle proposa a la reine de pont d'aller au fort des sauromates dont cyrus estoit maistre et d'y attendre le succes de la guerre de sorte qu'araminte ayant aprouve ce qu'elle proposa elles le proposerent en suite a tigrane et a spitridate qui ne croyant pas qu'il y eust nul danger pour ces princesses et y voyant beaucoup de commodite pour eux si la guerre duroit les remercierent du dessein qu'elles prenoient et se disposerent a les conduire ou elles vouloient aller ainsi elles partirent des le lendemain mais afin qu'elles fussent receues au fort des sauromates sans aucune difficulte tigrane envoya advertir cyrus du dessein de la reine de pont et de la princesse onesile si bien que ce prince estant fort agreablement surpris de cette nouvelle donna tous les ordres necessaires pour les faire bien recevoir a ce fort se disposant d'aller luy mesme faire une visite a ces princesses puis que la treve le luy permettoit et qu'il n'y avoit que quatre heures de chemin de son camp au fort des sauromates et en effet il executa ce dessein si subitement que tigrane et spitridate qui avoient eu intention d'aller au camp n'estoient pas encore partis du fort quand il y arriva de sorte qu'ayant beaucoup de confusion d'avoir este prevenus il furent au devant de luy et l'assurerent 
 que s'ils n'eussent pas sceu qu'il y avoit treve ils ne se fussent pas arrestez comme ils avoient fait je ne viens pas icy respondit ce prince pour recevoir des excuses d'une chose qui n'en merite point mais seulement pour prendre part a la joye que vous sentez et a celle que vous avez donnee a deux des plus parfaites princesses de la terre apres cela cyrus leur demanda ce qui les avoit retenus si longtemps au port ou ils avoient aborde et ils luy dirent que d'abord c'avoit este pour se mettre en equipage de venir a l'armee et qu'en suitte ils y avoient encore sejourne quelque temps pour scavoir si un grand bruit qui couroit qu'il y avoit un soulevement en bithinie estoit vray mais que n'en ayant pu avoir que des nouvelles incertaines ils s'estoient enfin ennuyez d'attendre et estoient venus diligemment ou l'amour et l'honneur les appelloient en suite de quoy cyrus et spitridate repassant en peu de mots une partie de leurs malheurs cyrus dit obligeamment a ce prince qu'il estoit bien aise de ce qu'il ne luy ressembloit plus en une chose il est si glorieux de vous ressembler en tout repliqua spitridate que je ne scay si vous avez raison de parler comme vous faites vous en tomberez sans doute d'accord repliqua cyrus des que je vous auray dit que vous devez estre satisfait de n'estre pas esloigne de la princesse que vous aimez comme je le suis de celle que j'adore mais pour ne vous en esloigner pas davantage luy 
 dit-il obligeamment il faut que je vous remene aupres d'elle et en effet cyrus fut a la chambre de cette reine aupres de qui estoit onesile la veue de ce prince surprit si fort araminte qu'elle ne put s'empescher de rougir en se souvenant de l'injuste jalousie dont spitridate avoit este capable neantmoins comme elle connoissoit bien qu'il en estoit entierement guery elle se remit en un moment et la conversation fut ce jour la infiniment agreable cyrus avoit este suivy a ce petit voyage du prince indathirse d'intapherne d'atergatis de silamis de mnesiphile et de chersias de sorte qu'il n'estoit pas aise que tant de personnes d'esprit pussent estre ensemble sans que leur entretien fust infiniment divertissant spitridate et intapherne s'embrasserent par les ordres de cyrus aussi bien qu'atergatis et spitridate a qui ce prince aprit que c'estoient eux qui avoient delivre araminte si bien que cela les faisant souvenir de tous les grands evenemens de leur vie ils se parlerent comme des gens qui scavoient toutes leurs avantures mais comme cyrus avoit eu dessein de disner a ce fort apres avoir fait cette premiere visite a ces princesses il voulut en aller faire une au roy d'hircanie qui avoit este conduit en ce lieu la quelques jours apres les blessures qu'il avoit receues a la bataille et il voulut en suitte voir aussi ce vaillant sauromate a qui il avoit sauve la vie apres l'avoir vaincu en le tirant du milieu des flammes ou il auroit pery 
 s'il n'eust pas eu la generosite de le secourir mais en y allant quelques uns des gardes de la porte du fort luy amenerent deux hommes qui disoient estre envoyez vers luy et cyrus fut bien agreablement surpris de voir que l'un de ces deux estoit le jaloux leontidas aussi ne le vit il pas plustost qu'il se prepara a l'embrasser avec plaisir eh de grace mon cher leontidas luy dit il apres la premiere civilite aprenez moy si je dois la joye que j'ay de vous voir a vostre jalousie ou a ma bonne fortune en verite seigneur repliqua-t'il je ne scay precisement a qui je dois l'honneur que j'ay d'estre aupres de vous car j'y viens parce que le prince thrasibule m'y envoye parce que mon inclination m'y attire et parce que ma mauvaise fortune m'a chasse d'aupres d'alcidamie apres avoir eu peur d'esprouver une espece de jalousie qui est la plus facheuse de toutes il me semble pourtant repliqua cyrus que vous aviez eu de la jalousie de toutes les manieres dont on en pouvoit avoir car vous aviez este jaloux de policrate qui estoit au dessus de vous et d'hiparche qui estoit beaucoup au dessous en toutes choses il me semble dis-je que vous l'aviez este d'un homme qui estoit vostre amy d'un autre qui estoit vostre ennemy et que vous aviez enfin esprouve la jalousie de toutes les facons dont on la peut esprouver il n'en manquoit sans doute plus que d'une espece reprit-il mais comme elle est la plus terrible de toutes 
 je ne m'y suis pas voulu exposer quand nous serons en un lieu plus commode reprit cyrus et que j'auray plus de loisir vous m'instruirez de la fin de vostre avanture mais en attendant dittes moy des nouvelles du prince thrasibule et de la belle alcionide ils sont tousjours si heureux reprit leontidas que rien ne trouble leur felicite que la pensee de vos infortunes il est vray qu'ils en sont sensiblement touchez aussi m'ont ils charge l'un et l'autre de vous assurer de la part qu'ils y prennent et le prince thrasibule en son particulier m'a ordonne de vous offrir tout ce qui despend de luy et je l'ay laisse dans la resolution de venir mesme vous servir en personne s'il aprend par moy que cette guerre doive durer aussi est-ce principalement pour luy pouvoir mander l'estat des choses qu'il m'a envoye vers vous apres cela cyrus luy ayant respondu obligeamment pour thrasibule acheva le dessein qu'il avoit eu d'aller voir ce vaillant sauromate a qui il avoit sauve la vie de sorte que leontidas le suivant aussi bien que celuy avec qui il estoit qu'il avoit presente a cyrus comme un de ses amis qui se nommoit democede ils furent tesmoins de la conversation de ce genereux vainqueur et de ce brave prisonnier et ils en eurent d'autant plus de plaisir qu'elle se fit en grec qui estoit leur langue naturelle pour cyrus ils n'estoient pas surpris de voir qu'il parloit leur langue comme la sienne mais ils l'estoient estrangement de voir un 
 sauromate parler grec aussi ne purent ils s'empescher de se tesmoigner l'un a l'autre l'admiration qu'ils en avoient si bien que cyrus ayant a demy entendu et a demy devine ce qu'ils disoient dit a ce vaillant prisonnier qui gardoit encore le lit qu'il luy estoit bien glorieux d'estre loue par des grecs et par des grecs encore qui estoient les plus honnestes gens de toute la grece car pour leontidas adjousta-t'il je le connois pour tel et pour democede puis qu'il est son amy il faut qu'il soit digne de l'estre si democede n'avoit point de plus grand avantage reprit leontidas que d'estre mon amy ce ne seroit pas assez pour donner une aussi grande opinion de son merite qu'on la doit avoir mais seigneur quand je vous auray dit qu'il est amy particulier de sapho et qu'il est frere de la plus chere des amies de cette fameuse lesbienne je pense que vous concevrez que les louanges qu'il donne sont d'un prix plus considerable que les miennes quoy s'escria cyrus democede est amy de sapho et frere de la belle cydnon que je vy a mytilene et qui estoit alors la plus particuliere amie qu'elle eust ouy seigneur repliqua democede je suis frere de cydnon et amy de sapho a qui j'ay entendu parler mille et mille fois de l'illustre artamene car comme vous le scavez seigneur vous portiez encore ce nom la lors que vous abordastes a lesbos eh de grace reprit cyrus dittes-moy en quel estat est cette illustre personne seigneur repliqua 
 democede il ne me seroit pas aise car je viens en scythie pour la voir ou pour tascher du moins d'en avoir des nouvelles si vous ne voulez que scavoir comment elle se porte repliqua ce prisonnier aupres de qui estoit cyrus j'accourciray vostre voyage puis qu'il n'y a pas fort long temps que je l'ay veue vous me surprenez tellement tous deux reprit ce prince que je ne scay ce que je dois penser car democede dit qu'il vient en scythie pour voir sapho et un sauromate assure qu'il l'a veue depuis peu de temps si cette derniere chose se trouve vraye dit democede j'en seray bien agreablement surpris et si celle que vous dittes est veritable repliqua cyrus j'en seray bien espouvente car comment peut il estre vray que sapho ait quitte sa patrie pour venir en un pais il esloigne l'avanture de cette admirable fille reprit il est si surprenante et si extraordinaire que rien ne l'est davantage sa vie n'est toutesfois pas remplie de ces grands evenemens qui arrivent quelquefois aux personnes qui sont d'une fortune plus eslevee que la sienne mais il y a pourtant sans doute quelque chose de si particulier qu'on peut dire que ce qui est arrive a sapho n'est jamais arrive a personne quoy qu'il en soit reprit le vaillant sauromate qui se nommoit mereonte je puis vous en dire des choses que vous ne pouvez scavoir que de moy cyrus eust bien eu la curiosite d'aprendre et ce que democede scavoit et ce que mereonte avoit a luy dire 
 de sapho mais comme il craignoit de faire attendre la reine de pont et la princesse onesile il laissa democede aupres de mereonte le conjurant de se preparer a luy dire au premier loisir qu'il auroit de l'escouter et tout ce qu'il scavoit de sapho et tout ce qu'il en alloit aprendre en suite de quoy il fut retrouver ces princesses qui sans scavoir ce qui luy estoit arrive se mirent a parler de diverses choses en attendant qu'on les advertist qu'on auroit servy de sorte que conme onesile porta un jugement fort delicat sur une question qu'on agitoit la princesse araminte luy dit pour la louer qu'elle ne pensoit pas que la fameuse sapho dont on parloit tant par toute la terre eust pu mieux juger de la beaute des vers qu'elle jugeoit de toutes choses si bien que cela donnant sujet a cyrus de leur parler d'elle il leur dit ce qu'il venoit d'aprendre de cette illustre personne et il la loua avec tant de chaleur qu'elles furent alors fortement persuadees qu'elle meritoit toute la reputation qu'elle avoit de sorte qu'ayant beaucoup de curiosite de scavoir ses avantures elles prierent cyrus d'obliger democede a les leur raconter si bien qu'estant venu avec leontidas et beaucoup d'autres dans la chambre d'araminte aussi tost apres disner cyrus luy dit quelle estoit la curiosite de ces princesses et le conjura de la vouloir satisfaire cependant adjousta-t'il comme il faut que je retourne coucher au camp il faut que je vous demande si ce recit doit estre long et si en vous 
 donnant deux heures je pourray avoir ma part de la satisfaction que vous leur donnerez en leur aprenant la vie d'une des personnes du monde qui a le plus de merite seigneur reprit democede comme je suis persuade qu'il n'y a point de si grande histoire qu'on ne puisse narrer en deux heures quand on le veut je pense que je puis m'engager a vous dire celle de sapho en ce temps la quoy qu'il y ait beaucoup de longues conversations que je ne dois pas obmettre si vous voulez que ces princesses connoissent bien l'admirable personne dont elles veulent scavoir la vie puis que cela est dit araminte il ne faut point perdre un temps si precieux mais afin que ce recit soit mieux escoute il faut passer dans mon cabinet et en effet araminte onesile cyrus telagene spitridate et indathyrse entrerent dans une petite tente qui luy en servoit tous les autres demeurant avec tigrane qui parlant avec intapherne et atergatis de cet embrasement qui avoit facilite le passage de l'armee de cyrus ne songea point a les suivre cependant ces six personnes ne furent pas plustost au lieu ou elles devoient escouter democede que cyrus le pria de vouloir commencer son recit mais de grace luy dit il comme ces princesses ne connoissent sapho que par la renommee dittes leur bien precisement ce qu'elle est avant que de leur dire ses avantures car il n'y a sans doute rien qui attache davantage l'esprit de ceux qui doivent escouter une histoire que de leur faire 
 bien connoistre la personne qui y a interest et que de la leur representer si parfaitement qu'ils puissent presques s'imaginer qu'ils la connoissent par eux mesmes pour pouvoir faire ce que vous dittes repliqua democede il faudroit seigneur que je fusse ce que je ne suis point car a mon advis il n'est pas aussi aise de faire une peinture fidelle du coeur de l'esprit et de toutes les inclinations d'une personne que de son visage puis qu'il est vray qu'a moins que d'avoir un certain esprit de discernement qui scait trouver de la difference entre les choses qui paroissent semblables a ceux qui ne les examinent pas bien il n'est pas aise de faire une peinture bien ressemblante en effet il faut scavoir distinguer tous les divers degrez de melancolie et d'enjouement et ne se contenter pas de dire en general c'estoit une personne serieuse ou une personne enjouee comme il y beaucoup de gens qui font car il est certain qu'il y a mille petites observations a faire qui mettent une notable difference entre des temperammens qui ne semblent pas opposez cependant c'est cela principalement qui fait la ressemblance juste sans que ceux qui reconnoissent les personnes qu'on peint de cette maniere puissent dire precisement tout ce qui les fait ressembler car comme toutes les femmes qui ont les yeux grands bleus et doux ne se ressemblent toutes-fois pas il y a aussi mille personnes de qui on peut presques dire les mesmes choses qui ne se ressemblent pourtant 
 non plus d'esprit que de visage c'est pourquoy il faut comme je l'ay desja dit scavoir l'art de mettre de la difference entre la melancolique et la serieuse entre la divertissante et l'enjouee quand on veut faire une de ces peintures ou les pinceaux et les couleurs n'ont aucune part apres ce que vous venez de dire reprit onesile je suis assuree de connoistre mieux sapho que moy mesme des que vous en aurez fait le portrait quoy que j'aye l'avantage de connoistre cette admirable fille reprit cyrus je ne laisse pas d'estre persuade que je la connoistray encore mieux par democede que par moy mais pour ne perdre pas des momens si precieux a louer le peintre qui doit faire cette belle peinture dit alors spitridate il faut l'obliger a commencer cet admirable ouvrage araminte joignant alors ses prieres a ce que disoit ce prince democede commenca sa narration en adressant la parole a la reine de pont
 
 
 
 
histoire de sapho
 
 
comme il est assez naturel d'aimer a louer toutes les choses ou l'on prend quelque interest je ne scay madame si en vous louant l'admirable sapho je ne vous loueray pas aussi sa patrie qui est la mienne et si pour vous faire remarquer tous les avantages de sa naissance je ne vous aprendray pas qu'elle est nee en un des 
 plus aimables lieux de la terre en effet madame l'isle de lesbos est si agreable et si fertile que la mer egee n'en a presques point de plus belle car enfin cette isle est assez grande pour faire qu'on puisse se persuader aisement en divers endroits qu'on est en terre ferme mais elle n'est pas aussi de celles qui sont si montueuses qu'elles semblent n'estre qu'un grand amas de rochers au milieu de la mer et elle n'est pas non plus de ces autres isles qui n'ayant aucune eminence en toute leur estendue semblent estre tousjours exposees a estre englouties par les vagues qui les environnent au contraire l'isle de lesbos a en son terroir toutes les diversitez qu'on peut voir en de grands royaumes qui ne sont point isles car du coste de l'orient elle a des montagnes et de grands bois et du coste oppose elle a des prairies et des plaines l'air y est pur et sain la bonte de la terre y produit l'abondance le commerce y est grand et la terre ferme en est si proche du coste de la phrigie qu'en deux heures on passe quand on le veut en une cour estrangere de plus mytilene qui en est la principale ville est si bien bastie et elle a deux ports si beaux que tous les estrangers qui y viennent l'admirent et en trouvent le sejour fort agreable voila donc madame quel est le lieu de la naissance de sapho mais par ou il est encore le plus agreable c'est que le sage pittacus en est prince et que cela y a attire un nombre infiny d'honnestes gens il avoit mesme aussi un fils 
 apelle tisandre qui estoit un aussi honneste homme qu'il y en eust au monde qui contribuoit encore a rendre le sejour de mytilene fort divertissant neantmoins comme il y a desja assez long temps qu'il est mort je ne m'arresteray pas beaucoup a parler de luy quoy qu'il ait este un des amants de sapho mais madame apres vous avoir dit le lieu de la naissance de cette merveilleuse personne il faut que je vous die quelque chose de sa condition elle est donc fille d'un homme de qualite apelle scamandrogine qui estoit d'un sang si noble qu'il n'y avoit point de famille a mytilene ou l'on pust voir une plus longue suite d'ayeuls ny une genealogie plus illustre ny moins douteuse de plus sapho a encore eu l'avantage que son pere et sa mere avoient tous deux beaucoup d'esprit et beaucoup de vertu mais elle eut le malheur de les perdre de si bonne heure qu'elle ne put recevoir d'eux que les premieres inclinations au bien car elle n'avoit que six ans lors qu'ils moururent il est vray qu'ils la laisserent sous la conduite d'une parente qu'elle avoit apellee cynegire qui avoit toutes les qualitez necessaires pour bien eslever une jeune personne et ils la laisserent avec un bien beaucoup au dessous de son merite mais pourtant assez considerable pour n'avoir non seulement besoin de personne mais pour pouvoir mesme paroistre avec assez d'esclat dans le monde sapho a pourtant un frere nomme charaxe qui estoit alors extremement riche 
 car scamandrogine en mourant avoit partage son bien fort inesgalement et en avoit beaucoup plus laisse a son fils qu'a sa fille quoy qu'a dire la verite il ne le meritast pas et qu'elle fust digne de porter une couronne en effet madame je ne pense pas que toute la grece ait jamais une personne qu'on puisse comparer a sapho je ne m'arresteray pourtant point madame a vous dire quelle fut son enfance car elle fut si peu enfant qu'a douze ans on commenca de parler d'elle comme d'une personne dont la beaute l'esprit et le jugement estoient desja formez et donnoient de l'admiration a tout le monde mais je vous diray seulement qu'on n'a jamais remarque en qui que ce soit des inclinations plus nobles ny une facilite plus grande a aprendre tout ce qu'elle a voulu scavoir cependant quoy que sapho ait este charmante des le berceau je ne veux vous faire la peinture de sa personne et de son esprit qu'en l'estat qu'elle est presentement afin que vous la connoissiez mieux je vous diray donc madame qu'encore que vous m'entendiez parler de sapho comme de la plus merveilleuse et de la plus charmante personne de toute la grece il ne faut pourtant pas vous imaginer que sa beaute soit une de ces grandes beautez en qui l'envie mesme ne scauroit trouver aucun deffaut mais il faut neantmoins que vous compreniez qu'encore que la sienne ne soit pas de celles que je dis elle est pourtant capable d'inspirer de plus grandes passions que les plus 
 grandes beautez de la terre mais enfin madame pour vous despeindre l'admirable sapho il faut que je vous die qu'encore qu'elle se dise petite lors qu'elle veut medire d'elle mesme elle est pourtant de taille mediocre mais si noble et si bien faite qu'on ne peut y rien desirer pour le teint elle ne l'a pas de la derniere blancheur il a toutesfois un si bel esclat qu'on peut dire qu'elle l'a beau mais ce que sapho a de souverainement agreable c'est qu'elle a les yeux si beaux si vifs si amoureux et si pleins d'esprit qu'on ne peut ny en soustenir l'esclat ny en detacher ses regards en effet ils brillent d'un feu si penetrant et ils ont pourtant une douceur si passionnee que la vivacite et la langueur ne sont pas des choses incompatibles dans les beaux yeux de sapho ce qui fait leur plus grand esclat c'est que jamais il n'y a eu une opposition plus grande que celle du blanc et du noir de ses yeux cependant cette grande opposition n'y cause nulle rudesse et il y a un certain esprit amoureux qui les adoucit d'une si charmante maniere que je ne croy pas qu'il y ait jamais eu une personne dont les regards ayent este plus redoutables de plus elle a des choses qui ne se trouvent pas tousjours ensemble car elle a la phisionomie fine et modeste et elle ne laisse pas aussi d'avoir je ne scay quoy de grand et de releve dans la mine sapho a de plus le visage ovale la bouche petite et incarnate et les mains si admirables que ce sont en effet des mains a prendre 
 des coeurs on si on la veut considerer comme cette scavante fille qui est si cherement aimee des muses ce sont des mains dignes de cueillir les plus belles fleurs du parnasse mais madame ce n'est pas encore par ce que je viens de dire que sapho est la plus aimable car les charmes de son esprit surpassent de beaucoup ceux de sa beaute en effet elle l'a d'une si vaste estendue qu'on peut dire que ce qu'elle ne comprend pas ne peut estre compris de personne et elle a une telle disposition a aprendre facilement tout ce qu'elle veut scavoir que sans que l'on ait presques jamais ouy dire que sapho ait rien apris elle scait pourtant toutes choses premierement elle est nee avec une inclination a faire des vers qu'elle a si heureusement cultivee qu'elle en fait mieux que qui que ce soit et elle a mesme invente des mesures particulieres pour en faire qu'hesiode et homere ne connoissoient pas et qui ont une telle aprobation que cette sorte de vers portent le nom de celle qui les a inventez et sont appeliez saphiques elle escrit aussi tout a fait bien en prose et il y a un carractere si amoureux dans tous les ouvrages de cette admirable fille qu'elle esmeut et qu'elle attendrit le coeur de tous ceux qui lisent ce qu'elle escrit en effet je luy ay veu faire un jour une chanson d'improviste qui estoit mille fois plus touchante que la plus plaintive elegie ne le scauroit estre et il y a un certain tour amoureux a tout ce qui part de son esprit que nulle autre qu'elle ne scauroit avoir elle 
 exprime mesme si delicatement les sentimens les plus difficiles a exprimer et elle scait si bien faire l'anatomie d'un coeur amoureux s'il est permis de parler ainsi qu'elle en scait descrire exactement toutes les jalousies toutes les inquietudes toutes les impatiences toutes les joyes tous les degousts tous les murmures tous les desespoirs toutes les esperances toutes les revoltes et tous ces sentimens tumultueux qui ne sont jamais bien connus que de ceux qui les sentent ou qui les ont sentis au reste l'admirable sapho ne connoist pas seulement tout ce qui depend de l'amour car elle ne connoist pas moins bien tout ce qui appartient a la generosite et elle scait enfin si parfaitement escrire et parler de toutes choses qu'il n'est rien qui ne tombe sous sa connoissance il ne faut pourtant pas s'imaginer que ce soit une science infuse car sapho a veu tout ce qui est digne de l'estre et elle s'est donne la peine de s'instruire de tout ce qui est digne de curiosite elle scait de plus jouer de la lire et chanter elle dance aussi de fort bonne grace et elle a mesme voulu scavoir faire tous les ouvrages ou les femmes qui n'ont pas l'esprit aussi esleve qu'elle s'occupent quelquesfois pour se divertir mais ce qu'il y a d'admirable c'est que cette personne qui scait tant de choses differentes les scait sans faire la scavante sans en avoir aucun orgueil et sans mespriser celles qui ne les scavent pas en effet sa conversation est si naturelle si aisee et si galante 
 qu'on ne luy entend jamais dire en une conversation generale que des choses qu'on peut croire qu'une personne de grand esprit pourroit dire sans avoir apris tout ce qu'elle scait ce n'est pas que les gens qui scavent les choses ne connoissent bien que la nature toute seule ne pourroit luy avoir ouvert l'esprit au point qu'elle l'a mais c'est qu'elle songe tellement a demeurer dans la bien-seance de son sexe qu'elle ne parle presques jamais que de ce que les dames doivent parler et il faut estre de ses amis tres particuliers pour qu'elle advoue seulement qu'elle ait apris quelque chose il ne faut pourtant pas s'imaginer que sapho affecte une ignorance grossiere en sa conversation au contraire elle scait si bien l'art de la rendre telle qu'elle veut qu'on ne sort jamais de chez elle sans y avoir ouy dire mille belles et agreables choses mais c'est qu'elle a une adresse dans l'esprit qui la rend maistresse de celuy des autres ainsi on peut assurer qu'elle fait presques dire tout ce qu'elle veut aux gens qui sont avec elle quoy qu'ils pensent ne dire que ce qui leur plaist au reste elle a un esprit d'accommodement admirable et elle parle si egalement bien des choses serieuses et des choses galantes et enjouees qu'on ne peut conprendre qu'une mesme personne puisse avoir des talents si opposez mais ce qu'il y a encore de plus digne de louange en sapho c'est qu'il n'y a pas au monde une meilleure personne qu'elle ny plus genereuse ny moins interessee 
 ny plus officieuse de plus elle est fidelle dans ses amitiez et elle a l'ame si tendre et le coeur si passionne qu'on peut sans doute mettre la supreme felicite a estre aime de sapho car elle a un esprit si ingenieux a trouver de nouveaux moyens d'obliger ceux qu'elle estime et de leur faire connoistre son affection que bien qu'il ne semble pas qu'elle face des choses fort extraordinaires elle ne laisse pas toutesfois de persuader a ceux qu'elle aime qu'elle les aime cherement ce qu'elle a encore d'admirable c'est qu'elle est incapable d'envie et qu'elle rend justice au merite avec tant de generosite qu'elle prend plus de plaisir a louer les autres qu'a estre louee outre tout ce que je viens de dire elle a encore une complaisance qui sans avoir rien de lasche est infiniment commode et infiniment agreable et si elle refuse quelquesfois quelque chose a ses amies elle le fait avec tant de civilite et tant de douceur qu'elle les oblige mesme en les refusant jugez apres cela ce qu'elle peut faire lors qu'elle leur accorde son amitie et sa confiance voila donc a peu pres madame quelle est la merveilleuse sapho de qui le frere a sans doute les inclinations bien differentes de celles de sa soeur ce n'est pas que charaxe n'ait quelques bonnes qualitez mais c'est qu'il en a beaucoup de mauvaises en effet il a du courage mais c'est de celuy qui rend les taureaux plus vaillans que les cerfs et non pas de cette espece de courage que 
 l'on confond quelquesfois avec la generosite et qui est si necessaire a un honneste homme mais enfin madame cette merveilleuse fille estant telle que je viens de vous la depeindre fit un bruit si grand a mytilene malgre toute sa modestie et tout le soin qu'elle aportoit a cacher ce qu'elle scavoit que la renommee porta bien tost son nom par toute la grece et l'y porta si glorieusement qu'on peut assurer que jusques alors nulle personne de son sexe n'avoit eu une si grande reputation les plus grands hommes du monde demandoient de ses vers avec empressement de toutes les parties de la grece et les conservoient avec autant de soin que d'admiration elle en faisoit pourtant un si grand mistere elle les donnoit si difficilement et elle tesmoignoit les estimer si peu que cela augmentoit encore sa gloire de plus on ne scavoit quel temps elle prenoit pour les faire car elle voyoit ses amies fort assiduement et on ne la voyoit presques jamais ny lire ny escrire cependant elle prenoit le temps de faire tout ce qui luy plaisoit et ses heures estoient si bien reglees qu'elle avoit loisir d'estre a ses amies et a elle mesme au reste elle est si absolument maistresse de son esprit que quelque chagrin qu'elle puisse avoir dans l'ame il ne paroist jamais dans ses yeux si ce n'est qu'elle veuille qu'il y paroisse mais madame ce n'est pas assez de vous avoir dit ce qu'est l'admirable sapho car 
 il faut que je vous die encore quelles sont les personnes qu'elle a honnorees de son amitie afin que vous connoissiez mieux son jugement je vous diray donc qu'entre celles qui la voyoient il y en avoit principalement quatre qui avoient le plus de part a tous ses divertissemens la premiere se nomme amithone la seconde erinne la troisiesme athys et la quatriesme cydnon qui est ma soeur cependant la bien-seance que l'usage a establie ne souffrant pas qu'on loue les personnes avec qui l'on a une alliance fort proche avec la mesme sincerite que les autres je pense que je seray oblige pour la gloire de sapho de ne laisser pas d'en parler avantageusement car comme elle a tousjours este sa premiere amie il est juste de justifier son choix je vous diray donc pour commencer de vous depeindre ces quatre personnes qu'amithone est une grande femme de belle taille et de bonne mine et qui sans estre admirablement belle ne laisse pas d'attirer les regards et de plaire infiniment son humeur est douce et commode elle parle agreablement et juste et sans avoir jamais rien apris que par la conversation de sapho et par celle de tous les honnestes gens qu'elle a veus elle entend assez finement les choses les plus difficiles a bien entendre et ce grand esprit naturel que les dieux luy ont donne et que la seule societe du monde a esclaire luy fait parler de tout avec beaucoup de jugement pour erinne il n'en est pas de mesme car elle a cultive ce qu'elle 
 le a d'esprit fort soigneusement si bien qu'encore qu'elle n'en ait pas naturellement un si grand qu'amithone l'art a si bien suplee a la nature que sa conversation est infiniment charmante son imagination ne va pas tousjours si loin que celle d'amithone mais elle marche encore plus seurement elle fait mesme de fort agreables vers et si l'on en vouloir croire la modestie de sapho on les mettroit au dessus des siens pour la belle athys on peut dire qu'elle a tout ce que les deux autres ont de bon car elle a naturellement beaucoup d'esprit et elle s'est donne la peine de l'orner par mille belles connoissances et de le polir par la conversation de tout ce qu'il y a d'honnestes gens a mytilene sapho luy a mesme si bien inspire cet air modeste qui la rend si charmante qu'athys ne peut souffrir qu'on luy die qu'elle scait quelque chose que les autres dames ne scavent point et elle ne veut rien advouer sinon qu'elle juge de tout sans autre guide que le simple sens commun et le seul usage du monde au reste sa personne est infiniment charmante car elle est de belle taille elle a les cheveux d'un chastain cendre si clair et si beau qu'ils sont presques blonds elle a le tour du visage agreable la bouche merveilleuse le nez bien fait les yeux brillans l'air fort modeste et l'humeur fort douce cependant quoy que ces trois personnes soient admirables cydnon a este plus aimee de sapho que toutes les trois bien qu'elle les ait pourtant beaucoup aimees 
 apres cela madame je ne scay comment faire le portrait de ma soeur quoy que je m'y sois engage je pense pourtant qu'apres avoir advoue que je ne luy ressemble point il peut m'estre permis de la louer comme une autre pour justifier le choix de sapho je vous diray donc que tous ceux a qui la bien-seance permet de parler de sa beaute la trouvent belle et agreable quoy qu'elle soit petite et brune mais comme ce n'est pas par l'agreement de sa personne qu'elle a aquis l'amitie de sapho il faut que je vous parle plus de son humeur et de son esprit que de sa beaute vous scaurez donc que cydnon est naturellement guaye douce flatteuse et complaisante et qu'elle a un certain esprit d'expedient qui fait qu'elle ne trouve jamais difficulte a rien entreprendre pour ses amies de plus elle connoist sans doute assez bien toutes les belles choses et elle aime avec une tendresse si proportionnee a celle du coeur de sapho qu'elles n'ont jamais pu convenir laquelle des deux scait le mieux aimer ce n'est pas que ce soit l'ordinaire des personnes enjouees d'estre capables d'un grand attachement mais c'est que l'enjouement de cydnon n'est pas excessif et qu'il n'a nul panchant a la raillerie si elle n'est tout a fait innocente ces quatre personnes estant donc toutes non seulement de mytilene mais du quartier de sapho elles s'accoustumerent si bien a estre tousjours ensemble qu'elles estoient inseparables ce n'est 
 pas qu'elles ne vissent aussi quelquesfois toutes les autres dames de qualite mais elles ne les voyoient pas avec la mesme assiduite qu'elles se voyoient et cette union estoit si grande qu'on n'osoit plus prier pas une d'elles d'aucune feste sans prier toutes les autres vous pouvez juger madame qu'il n'estoit pas aise que cette belle troupe ne fust pas cherchee et suivie de la plus grande partie des honnestes gens qui n'estoient pas en petit nombre en effet je puis vous assurer qu'il y a peu de villes en grece ou il y en eust plus qu'il y en avoit a mytilene principalement du temps que le prince tisandre fils de pittacus devint amoureux de sapho comme ce prince fut sa premiere conqueste je ne scay si je pourray demeurer dans les bornes que je m estois prescrites et si je ne seray pas oblige de vous en parler plus longtemps que je n'avois resolu je ne m'arresteray pourtant pas madame a vous depeindre exactement son merite car comme il n'est plus cela ne serviroit qu'a vous donner compassion de son mauvais destin mais je vous diray seulement qu'il estoit si honneste homme qu'il avoit merite l'estime de l'illustre cyrus qui m'escoute et qu'il merita d'estre pleint de luy apres sa mort tisandre estant donc un des hommes du monde le plus accomply et estant dans cette premiere jeunesse ou l'amour est si sensible il y eut une grande assemblee a mytilene pour les nopces d'amithone qui espousoit un homme extremement 
 riche et qui pour certaines raisons d'estat estoit fort considere de pittacus de sorte qu'ayant honnore cette feste de sa presence et le prince son fils s'y estant trouve tisandre parla a la belle sapho pour la premiere fois car comme il y avoit encore peu que cynegire qui avoit soin de sa conduite la laissoit aller aux assemblees publiques il ne l'avoit veue qu'au temple mais ce qui le surprit fort fut de voir qu'elle paroissoit assez triste quoy qu'elle fust a des nopces et que celle qui se marioit fust son amie de sorte que se servant de cette aimable melancolie qui paroissoit dans ses yeux pour commencer sa connoissance avec elle vous me trouverez peut-estre bien hardy aimable sapho luy dit-il de vouloir commencer ma conversation aveque vous par une confidence que je voudrois que vous m'eussiez faite cependant je ne puis m'empescher de vous demander pourquoy vous estes aujourd'huy plus serieuse que je n'ay accoustume de vous voir au temple ou j'ay quelquesfois le bonheur de vous rencontrer car enfin luy dit-il encore comme il y a long temps que je souhaite de pouvoir avoir la satisfaction de vous parler je seray bien aise de scavoir si je dois vous pleindre de quelque petite disgrace afin que des le premier moment de nostre connoissance je vous rende une preuve d'affection par la part que je prendray a ce qui vous touchera ce que vous me dittes est si obligeant repliqua sapho qu'il merite que je 
 vous aprenne la cause de ma tristesse que vous trouverez peut-estre si mal fondee que vous aurez bien de la peine a la partager car enfin seigneur luy dit elle en souriant il faut que je vous aprenne que je n'ay encore jamais este a nulle feste de nopces sans chagrin et que j'ay l'esprit si irregulier que je n'ay jamais pu me rejouir de la satisfaction d'amithone quoy que ce soit une de mes plus cheres amies et quoy que je sois pourtant la plus sensible personne du monde a toutes les joyes qui arrivent a celles que j'aime il faut donc sans doute repliqua tisandre que vous ne regardiez pas le mariage comme un bien il est vray repliqua sapho que je le regarde comme un long esclavage vous regardez donc tous les hommes comme des tirans reprit tisandre je les regarde du moins comme le pouvant devenir repliqua t'elle des que je les regarde comme pouvant estre maris de sorte que comme cette facheuse idee ne manque jamais de me passer dans l'esprit des que je suis a des nopces je suis assuree que la melancolie me prend pour peu que je m'interesse au bonheur de la personne qui se marie ce qui me fache de ce que vous dittes reprit tisandre est que je crains estrangement que la haine que vous avez pour le mariage en particulier ne vienne de celle que vous avez pour tous les hommes en general cependant adjousta-t'il vous seriez injuste si vous mettiez vostre sexe tant au dessus du nostre veritablement poursuivit 
 il s'il y avoit beaucoup de femmes comme vous vous auriez raison de le faire et s'il y en avoit seulement deux ou trois en toute la terre je consentirois encore que vous le fissiez mais charmante sapho adjousta-t'il puis que vous estes seule au monde qui ayez trouve l'art d'unir toutes les vertus et toutes les bonnes qualitez des deux sexes en une seule personne contentez vous d'estre estimee ou enviee de toutes les femme et d'estre adoree de tous les hommes sans vouloir les hair en general comme je croy que vous faites comme je ne suis pas injuste repliqua-t'elle je connois bien que je ne dois prendre aucune part a toute les louanges que vous me donnez et je connois bien en suite qu'il y a des hommes fort honnestes gens qui meritent toute mon estime et qui pourroient mesme aquerir une partie de mon amitie mais encore une fois des que je les regarde comme maris je les regarde comme des maistres et comme des maistres si propres a devenir tirans qu'il n'est pas possible que je ne les haisse dans cet instant la et que je ne rende graces aux dieux de m'avoir donne une inclination fort opposee au mariage mais s'il y avoit quelqu'un assez heureux et assez honneste homme pour toucher vostre coeur reprit tisandre peutestre changeriez vous de sentimens je ne scay si je changerois de sentimens repliqua-t'elle mais je scay bien qu'a moins que d'aimer jusques a perdre la raison je ne perdrois jamais la liberte 
 et que je ne me resoudrois jamais a faire de mon esclave mon tiran je concoy si peu repliqua tisandre qu'il y eust quelqu'un au monde qui osast avoir l'audace de cesser de vous obeir que je n'ay garde de pouvoir comprendre qu'il y eust quelqu'un qui osast vous commander en effet adjousta-t'il le moyen de penser que cette fille admirable qui scait toutes choses eh de grace seigneur interrompit modestement sapho ne me parlez point de cette sorte car je scay si peu toutes choses que je ne scay pas seulement si j'ay raison de parler comme je fais comme elle disoit cela le prince de mytilene ayant fait apeller tisandre pour luy dire quelque chose il falut qu'il se separast de sapho il est vray qu'il ne s'en separa pas tout entier car son coeur demeura des ce moment la en la puissance de cette belle personne cette amour ne fut pas mesme fort long temps cachee car comme tisandre estoit jeune et d'une condition a ne se pouvoir cacher aisement tout le monde s'aperceut bien tost de sa passion pour sapho en effet il fut chez elle des le lendemain des nopces d'amithone et il luy rendit tant de devoirs qu'on ne put douter qu'il ne fust amoureux de cette admirable fille ce fut alors que tous les plaisirs furent en leur plus grand esclat a mytilene car il n'y avoit point de jour qu'il n'y eust quelque divertissement nouveau cependant 
 comme tisandre n'estoit pas destine a estre aime de l'admirable sapho et qu'il n'avoit pas pour elle ce qu'elle avoit pour luy je veux dire ce je ne scay quoy qui fait plus aimer que le veritable merite elle n'eut que de l'estime pour luy et de la reconnoissance pour son affection sans pouvoir se resoudre a suivre le conseil de son frere qui vouloit qu'elle sacrifiast sa liberte a sa fortune en respondant a l'amour de ce prince mais comme sapho haissoit naturellement le mariage et qu'elle n'aimoit point tisandre quand elle auroit este assuree d'espouser ce prince du consentement de pittacus elle n'y auroit pas consenty cependant comme il esperoit tousjours de la flechir il ne laissoit pas comme je l'ay desja dit de donner mille divertissemens a toute la ville et cette petite cour estoit si galante que nulle autre ne le pouvoit estre davantage en effet l'admirable sapho avoit inspire un certain esprit de politesse a tous ceux qui la voyoient qui se communiquoit mesme a une partie de ceux qui ne la voyoient point et je suis estonne qu'il ne se respandoit non seulement dans toute la ville de mytilene mais dans toute l'isle de lesbos la chose n'estoit pourtant pas ainsi car il y avoit presques la moitie de la ville que l'envie l'ignorance et la malignite empeschoient de profiter de la conversation de sapho et de celle de ses amies mais a dire vray elle ne perdoit guere a ne voir pas ces sortes de gens a qui la grandeur de son esprit faisoit 
 peur il n'en estoit pas ainsi des estrangers qui venoient a lesbos car il n'y en abordoit aucun qui ne fust a l'heure mesme chez l'admirable sapho et qui n'en sortist charme de sa conversation et certes a dire vray ce n'estoit pas sans raison car je ne croy pas possible de l'entretenir deux heures sans l'estimer infiniment et sans avoir une grande disposition a l'aimer aussi estions nous cinq ou six hommes qui en estions inseparables qui suivions tousjours le prince tisandre quand il alloit chez elle et qui ne laissions pas d'y aller sans luy quand la rigueur de sapho le rendoit si chagrin qu'il n'y alloit pas cependant toute cette cabale ignorante ou envieuse qui estoit opposee a la nostre parloit de nous d'une si plaisante maniere que je ne m'en puis souvenir sans estonnement car ils se figuroient qu'on ne parloit jamais chez sapho que des regles de la poesie que de questions curieuses et que de philosophie et je ne scay mesme s'ils ne disoient point qu'on y enseignoit la magie il est vray que ces ennemis declarez du bon sens et de la vertu estoient d'estranges gens car apres les avoir un jour repassez les uns apres les autres je trouvay que les plus raisonnables de tous ceux qui fuyoient sapho et ses amies estoient de ces jeunes gens guays et estourdis qui se vantent de ne scavoir pas lire et qui font vanite d'une espece d'ignorance guerriere qui leur donne l'audace de juger de ce qu'ils ne connoissent pas et qui leur persuade que les gens 
 qui ont de l'esprit ne disent que des choses qu'ils n'entendent point de sorte que sans se donner seulement la peine de scavoir par eux mesmes comment parlent ces personnes qu'ils fuyent avec tant de soin ils en font des contes extravagans qui les rendent eux mesmes ridicules a ceux qui sont dans le bon sens mais outre ces sortes d'hommes qui ne sont capables que d'un enjouement evapore et inquiet qui les mene continuellement de visite en visite sans scavoir ce qu'ils y cherchent ny ce qu'ils y veulent faire il y avoit encore des femmes que je mets en mesme rang qui fuyoient sapho et ses amies et qui en faisoient des railleries a leur mode il est vray que c'estoient de ces femmes qui pensent qu'elles ne doivent jamais rien scavoir sinon qu'elles sont belles et qu'elles ne doivent jamais rien aprendre qu'a se bien coiffer de ces femmes dis-je qui ne peuvent jamais parler que d'habillemens et qui font consister toute la galanterie a bien manger les colations que leurs galans leur donnent et a les manger mesme en ne disant que des sottises et en se plaignant bien plus aigrement si on ne les traite pas assez magnifiquement que si on leur avoit manque de respect en une chose plus importante il y avoit encore aussi d'une autre espece de femmes qui pensant que la vertu scrupuleuse vouloit qu'une dame ne sceust rien faire autre chose qu'estre femme de son mary mere de ses enfans et maistresse 
 de sa famille et de ses esclaves trouvoient que sapho et ses amies donnoient trop de temps a la conversation et qu'elles s'amusoient a parler de trop de choses qui n'estoient pas d'une necessite absolue il y avoit aussi quelques uns de ces hommes qui ne regardent les femmes que comme les premieres esclaves de leurs maisons qui deffendoient a leurs filles de lire jamais d'autres livres que ceux qui leur servoient a prier les dieux et qui ne vouloient pas qu'elles chantassent mesme des chansons de sapho et il y avoit enfin encore et des hommes et des femmes qui nous fuyoient qu'on pouvoit sans injustice confondre parmy le peuple le plus grossier quoy qu'il y eust des personnes de qualite ce n'est pas qu'il n'y eust aussi quelques gens d'esprit preocupez d'une fausse imagination qui avoient quelque disposition a croire que la societe ou nous vivions estoit presques telle que tant de sottes gens la disoient et qui sans s'en esclaircir demeuroient dans cette erreur sans s'en desabuser il est vray qu'une des choses qui servoit a leur persuader qu'en effet il estoit dangereux aux femmes de vouloir mettre leur esprit au dessus des rubans des boucles et de toutes les bagatelles de la parure des dames fut une chose qui arriva qui estoit sans doute assez estrange car imaginez vous madame qu'il y a une femme a mytilene qui ayant veu sapho dans le commencement de sa vie parce qu'elle estoit 
 alors dans son voisinage se mit en fantaisie de l'imiter et elle creut en effet l'avoir si bien imitee que changeant de maison elle pretendit estre la sapho de son quartier mais a vous dire la verite elle l'imita si mal que je ne crois pas qu'il y ait jamais rien eu de si oppose que ces deux personnes je pense madame que vous vous souvenez bien que je vous ay dit qu'encore que sapho scache presques tout ce qu'on peut scavoir elle ne fait pourtant point la scavante et que sa conversation est naturelle galante et commode mais pour celle de cette dame qui s'apelle damophile il n'en est pas de mesme quoy qu'elle ait pretendu imiter sapho cependant pour vous la depeindre et pour vous faire voir l'oposition de ces deux personnes il faut que je vous die que damophile s'estant mis dans la teste d'imiter sapho n'entreprit pas de l'imiter en destail mais seulement d'estre scavante comme elle et croyant mesme avoir trouve un grand secret pour aquerir encore plus de reputation qu'elle n'en avoit elle fit tout ce que l'autre ne faisoit pas premierement elle avoit tousjours cinq ou six maistres dont le moins scavant luy enseignoit je pense l'astrologie elle escrivoit continuellement a des hommes qui faisoient profession de science elle ne pouvoit se resoudre a parler a des gens qui ne sceussent rien on voyoit tousjours sur sa table quinze ou vingt livres dont elle tenoit tousjours quelqu'un quand on arrivoit dans sa chambre et 
 qu'elle y estoit seule et je suis assure qu'on pouvoit dire sans mensonge qu'on voyoit plus de livres dans son cabinet qu'elle n'en avoit leu et qu'on en voyoit bien moins chez sapho qu'elle n'en lisoit de plus damophile ne disoit que de grands mots qu'elle prononcoit d'un ton grave et imperieux quoy qu'elle ne dist que de petites choses et sapho au contraire ne se servoit que de paroles ordinaires pour en dire d'admirables au reste damophile ne croyant pas que le scavoir pust compatir avec les affaires de sa famille ne se mesloit d'aucuns soins domestiques mais pour sapho elle se donnoit la peine de s'informer de tout ce qui estoit necessaire pour scavoir commander a propos jusques aux moindres choses de plus damophile non seulement parle en stile de livre mais elle parle mesme tousjours de livres et ne fait non plus de difficulte de citer les autheurs les plus inconnus en une conversation ordinaire que si elle enseignoit publiquement dans quelque accademie celebre mais ce qu'il y a eu de plus rare en la vie de cette personne est qu'elle a este soubconnee d'avoir promis a un homme a qui sa beaute avoit donne quelques sentimens tendres de l'escouter favorablement quoy qu'il fust tres desagreable a condition qu'il feroit des vers qu'elle diroit qu'elle auroit faits afin de ressembler mieux a sapho jugez apres cela si la passion de passer pour scavante peut faire faire de plus bizarres choses que celle la ce qui rend 
 encore damophile fort ennuyeuse est qu'elle cherche mesme avec un soin estrange a faire connoistre tout ce qu'elle scait ou tout ce qu'elle croit scavoir des la premiere fois qu'on la voit et il y a enfin tant de choses facheuses incommodes et desagreables en damophile qu'on peut assurer que comme il n'y a rien de plus aimable ny de plus charmant qu'une femme qui s'est donne la peine d'orner son esprit de mille agreables connoissances quand elle en scait bien user il n'y a rien aussi de si ridicule ny de si ennuyeux qu'une femme sottement scavante damophile estant donc telle que je vous la depeins estoit cause que ces sortes de gens qui ne voyoient ny sapho ny ses amies s'imaginoient que nostre conversation estoit telle que celle de damophile qu'ils disoient avoir imite sapho de sorte qu'ils en disoient mille bizarres choses dont nous nous divertissions quand on nous les racontoit nous estimant bien heureux de ce que l'opinion que ces sortes de gens avoient de nostre societe les empeschoit de nous importuner et de la venir troubler par leur presence pour tisandre comme il estoit amoureux il eut bien de la peine a souffrir ces sots bruits et il y eut deux ou trois de ces mauvais railleurs de beaux esprits qui ne s'en trouverent pas bien car comme ce prince estoit chagrin des rigueurs de sapho il les mal traita d'une telle sorte qu'ils furent contraints de quitter la cour mais madame pour ne m'arester pas 
 trop longtemps a l'amour de ce prince je vous diray qu'apres avoir essaye toutes choses pour gagner le coeur de sapho comme il estoit dans un desespoir extreme de cette opiniastre rigueur le prince thrasibule qui estoit son amy arriva a mytilene apres avoir perdu son estat et toute sa flotte et n'ayant plus que deux vaisseaux pour toutes choses cependant comme ce prince a le coeur grand et ferme il ne laissa pas quelque temps apres qu'il fut arrive a mytilene d'avoir la curiosite de voir l'admirable sapho pour qui il eut beaucoup d'estime mais madame comme ce n'est pas l'amour de tisandre qui est le principal sujet de l'histoire de sapho je ne m'y arresteray pas davantage et je vous diray que quoy qu'il semblast qu'elle le deust aimer elle ne l'aima point et qu'il en fut si desespere qu'il se resolut de s'embarquer avec le prince thrasibule lors qu'il partit de lesbos afin d'aller voir si l'absence ne le gueriroit point et en effet madame tisandre partit mais il ne partit du moins pas sans se plaindre et sans dire adieu a l'admirable sapho conme ma soeur scavoit tous ses secrets et qu'elle m'a raconte depuis son despart de lesbos tout ce que je ne scavois pas de sa vie j'ay sceu que cette conversation fut une des plus belles conversations du monde car enfin sapho agit avec tant d'art qu'elle fit comprendre a tisandre qu'elle n'estoit pas coupable de ce qu'elle ne respondoit point a son amour et elle luy persuada presques qu'elle avoit apporte autant de soin a tascher 
 de forcer son coeur a avoir de l'affection pour luy qu'il en avoit apporte luy mesme a se faire aimer d'elle de sorte que de cette maniere il se separa de sapho sans s'en pleindre quoy qu'il fust le plus malheureux de tous les hommes lors qu'il partit de mytilene il donna commission a un homme apelle alce qui a infiniment de l'esprit et qui fait aussi fort joliment des vers de parler de luy autant qu'il pourroit a l'admirable sapho et de tenir un conte exact de tout ce qui se passeroit durant son absence afin de le luy redire a son retour mais a dire la verite il ne pouvoit choisir un homme plus assidu que luy chez la belle sapho car comme il estoit amoureux de la charmante athys qui estoit eternellement en ce lieu la il luy estoit aise d'estre fidelle espion de tisandre et il estoit d'autant plus propre a cela qu'alce est un garcon adroit plein d'esprit et grand intrigueur
 
 
 
 
cependant comme sapho n'avoit que de l'estime pour tisandre son absence ne troubla guere ses plaisirs et nostre societe redevint en peu de jours aussi divertissante qu'elle l'avoit este et mesme davantage car les chagrins de tisandre la rendoient quelquesfois un peu melancolique nous estions donc tous les jours cinq ou six hommes ensemble qui n'avions rien a faire qu'a voir sapho ce n'est pas que nous ne fissions quelques autres visites mais a dire la verite nous les faisions courtes et nous les faisions de fort bonne heure chacun en nostre particulier afin 
 de revenir diligemment chez sapho ou amithone erinne athys et cydnon estoient tousjours quand il faisoit beau toute cette belle troupe s'alloit promener ou sur la mer ou sur le rivage et quand le mauvais temps ne le permettoit point nous demeurions chez l'admirable sapho dont le logement estoit le plus agreable du monde car enfin elle avoit une antichambre une chambre et un cabinet de plein pied qui regardoient sur la mer cependant a dire les choses comme elles sont peu d'hommes voyoient sapho sans avoir de l'amour pour elle ou sans avoir du moins une amitie si tendre qu'elle ne pouvoit estre mise au rang de celle qu'on avoit pour ses autres amies en effet quoy qu'alce fust amoureux de la belle athys je luy ay ouy advouer que l'amitie qu'il avoit pour sapho n'estoit nullement de la nature de celle qu'il avoit pour moy quoy qu'il m'aimast fort mais c'est assurement qu'il y a un certain feu subtil et penetrant dans les yeux de sapho qui donne du moins de la chaleur aux coeurs qu'elle n'embrase pas au reste il ne faut pas s'imaginer que la conversation fust pleine de ceremonie en ce lieu la car elle y estoit entierement libre et naturelle et s'il y avoit quelque contrainte c'est qu'on avoit une envie continuelle de louer sapho sans l'oser faire parce qu'elle ne le vouloit pas on estoit aussi quelquesfois fort mutine contre elle de ce qu'elle ne vouloit ny montrer ny donner de ses vers et de ce qu'on estoit 
 force d'avoir recours a mille sortes d'artifices pour en avoir en mon particulier j'estois le moins malheureux car comme elle se confioit absolument a ma soeur je voyois par elle tout ce qu'escrivoit l'admirable sapho et j'estois quelquesfois si espouvante quand je voyois les belles choses qu'elle me montroit et le peu de vanite qu'en faisoit son illustre amie que je ne croyois pas possible qu'on pust jamais assez estimer sapho en effet cydnon me monstroit des elegies des chancons des epigrammes et mille autres sortes de choses si merveilleuses qu'a peine pouvois je conprendre qu'il fust possible qu'une fille pust les faire car les vers en estoient si beaux l'expression en estoit si juste les sentimens en estoient si nobles et les passions en estoient si tendres que rien ne leur pouvoit estre compare au reste on voyoit qu'elle ne faisoit pas les choses par hazard et qu'elle n'estoit pas conme ces dames qui ayant quelque inclination a la poesie se contentent de la suivre sans se donner la peine d'y chercher la derniere perfection car elle n'escrivoit rie que de juste et d'acheve cependant cette fille qui scait tout a plus de modestie que celles qui ne scavent ri et certes le hazard fit un jour une chose qui fit bien connoistre ce que je dis a tous ceux qui le trouverent en un lieu ou sapho et damophile se rencontrerent mais madame pour vous dire ce qui se passa en cette occasion il faut que vous scachiez qu'il y eut a mytilene un concert admirable que toute la ville alla entendre un jour 
 chez une femme de qualite ou sapho et toute sa troupe furent comme les autres dames mais conme c'estoit une de ces assemblees sans choix ou la porte est ouverte a tout le monde et ou l'on voit quelquesfois cent personnes qu'on ne vit jamais et qu'on ne voudroit jamais voir et ou l'on voit aussi tout ce que l'on connoist de gens facheux et incommodes le hazard voulut que sapho fut assise aupres de damophile de sorte qu'elle fut contrainte en attendant que le concert commencast de faire conversation avec elle et avec ceux qui l'environnoient si bien que comme damophile n'alloit jamais sans qu'elle eust avec elle deux ou trois de ces demy scavans qui sont plus les habiles que ceux qui le sont effectivement sapho se trouva terriblement embarrassee car elle ne craignoit ri davantage que ces sortes de gens et certes ce n'estoit pas sans raison qu'elle les craignoit principalement ce jour la en effet a peine fut elle assise qu'un de ces amis de damophile se mit a luy faire une question sur la grammaire ou sapho respondit negligeamment en tournant la teste de l'autre coste que n'ayant apris a parler que par l'usage seulement elle ne pouvoit luy respondre mais des qu'elle eut dit cela damophile luy dit a demy bas avec une suffisance insuportable qu'elle vouloit la consulter sur un doute qu'elle avoit touchant un vers d'hesiode qu'elle n'entendoit pas je vous jure repliqua modestement sapho en souriant que vous ferez bien de consulter quelque autre car 
 pour moy qui ne consulte jamais que mon miroir pour scavoir ce qui me sied le moins mal je ne suis pas propre a estre consultee sur des questions difficiles comme elle achevoit ces paroles un de ces hommes de qualite qui pensent que des qu'une personne se mesle d'escrire il faut ne luy parler que de livres vint de l'autre bout de la sale soit empresse luy demander si elle n'avoit point fait quelqu'une des chancons qu'on alloit chanter je vous assure luy respondit elle en rougissant de despit que je n'ay rien fait d'aujourd'huy que m'ennuyer car j'ay une telle impatience que le concert commence adjousta-t'elle en se reprenant que je ne souhaitay jamais rien avec plus d'ardeur pour moy luy dit alors un de ces amis de damophile j'aimerois bien mieux que vous voulussiez nous reciter quelque belle epigramme que d'entendre la musique comme sapho estoit preste de respondre a celuy la avec assez de chagrin il en vint un autre avec des tablettes a la main qui la pria de vouloir lire une elegie qu'il luy bailla et de luy en dire son advis de sorte que comme elle aimoit encore mieux lire les vers des autres que de souffrir qu'on luy parlast des siens d'une si bizarre maniere elle se mit a lire bas ou du moins a faire semblant de lire car elle avoit tant de depit d'estre si mal placee qu'elle n'eust pas bien juge des vers qu'on luy montroit si elle l'eust entrepris mais ce qui fit encore sa plus grande distraction fut que pendant 
 qu'elle avoit les yeux attachez sur ces vers elle entendit et des hommes et des femmes derriere elle qui parloient de son esprit de ses vers et de son scavoir la montrant a d'autres et disant chacun ce qu'ils en pensoient selon leur fantaisie en effet les uns disoient qu'elle n'avoit pas la mine d'estre si scavante les autres au contraire trouvoient qu'on voyoit bien a ses yeux qu'elle en scavoit encore plus qu'on n'en disoit il y eut mesme un homme qui dit qu'il n'eust pas voulu que sa femme en eust sceu autant qu'elle et il y eut une femme qui souhaita d'en scavoir seulement la moitie si bien que chacun suivant son inclination la loua ou la blasma pendant qu'elle faisoit semblant de lire bien attentivement cependant damophile s'entretenoit avec ces deux ou trois demy scavans qui estoient aupres d'elle et leur disoit de si grandes paroles qui ne vouloient rien dire qu'a la fin voulant avoir le plaisir d'ouir parler quelque temps ensemble deux personnes aussi opposees que sapho et damophile l'oblige la premiere malgre qu'elle en eust a rendre l'elegie a celuy qui la luy avoit baillee afin de la forcer d'estre de cette conversation et en effet sapho estant bien aise de me voir aupres d'elle parce qu'elle esperoit qu'elle ne parleroit plus qu'a moy rendit cette elegie a celuy qui l'avoit faite a qui elle dit qu'elle ne s'y connoissoit pas assez bien pour oser le louer apres quoy se tournant de mon coste et bien democede me dit elle a demy bas ne 
 suis-je pas bien malheureuse de m'estre trouvee si pres de damophile et de ses amis mais du moins adjousta-t'elle ay-je une grande consolation que vous soyez venu a mon secours non non madame luy dis-je en riant ce n'est pas ce qui m'amene presentement icy car selon moy il importe a vostre gloire que vous parliez afin qu'on scache que vous ne parlez pas comme damophile et en effet apres cela je me meslay dans la conversation de damophile et de ceux a qui elle parloit adressant tousjours la parole a sapho quelque despit qu'elle en eust cependant comme parmy ces hommes qui estoient aupres de damophile il y en avoit un qui parloit effectivement assez bien des choses qu'il scavoit il se mit a parler de l'harmonie et en suite de la nature de l'amour avec beaucoup d'eloquence mais madame ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut de voir la difference de sapho et de damophile car la derniere ne cessoit d'interrompre celuy qui parloit ou pour luy faire des objections embrouillees ou pour luy dire de nouvelles raisons qu'elle n'entendoit point et qui ne pouvoient estre entendues elle ne saissoit pourtant pas de dire toutes ces choses d'un ton suffisant et avec un air de visage qui faisoit voir la satisfaction qu'elle avoit d'elle quoy que l'on connust clairement que la moitie du temps elle n'entendoit point du tout ce qu'elle disoit pour sapho elle ne parloit que lors que la bien-seance vouloit absolument qu'elle respondist a ce que cet homme luy demandoit 
 mais quoy qu'elle dist tousjours qu'elle n'entendoit rien aux choses dont il parloit elle le disoit comme une personne qui les entendoit mieux que celuy qui se mesloit de les vouloir enseigner et toute sa modestie et tout son chagrin ne pouvoient empescher qu'on ne connust malgre la simplicite de ses paroles qu'elle scavoit tout et que damophile ne scavoit ri ainsi cette derniere en parlant beaucoup disoit peu de chose et l'autre en ne disant presques rien disoit pourtant tout ce qu'il faloit dire pour se faire admirer mais enfin quand il plut aux dieux le concert commenca et des qu'il fut finy sapho se leva diligemment et feignant d'avoir une affaire pressee elle s'osta d'aupres de damophile qui ne pouvant encore la laisser partir sans luy donner quelque nouveau desgoust luy dit que c'estoit sans doute qu'elle avoit laisse quelque chanson imparfaite dans son cabinet qu'elle vouloit aller achever sapho entendit bien ce que luy dit damophile mais elle ne s'amusa pas a y respondre au contraire me tendant la main afin que je luy aidasse a marcher elle fut de l'autre coste de la sale ou amithone athys erinne et cydnon avoient este placees a peine les eut elles jointes que les pressant de sortir avec une diligence extreme elle les forca en effet de s'en aller plustost qu'elles n'eussent fait mais encore luy dit cydnon qui la vit toute rouge et toute esmeue que vous est il arrive qui vous fait sortir si diligemment quand nous serons 
 dans ma chambre luy dit elle je vous le diray car il me faut un peu de temps a me remettre de mon avanture du moins me disoit amithone dittes nous ce qu'a sapho vous qui avez este aupres d'elle pour moy dit athys sans me donner loisir de respondre j'ay bien de la peine a le deviner peut-estre reprit erinne que democede ne le scait non plus que nous pardonnez moy repliquay-je je le scay mais je ne scay pas si la belle sapho veut que vous le scachiez je ne veux pas seulement reprit-elle qu'amithone athys erinne et cydnon le scachent mais voudrois encore s'il estoit possible que toute la terre sceust combien je hais damophile et tous ses amis et combien je suis lasse de trouver tant de sortes gens par le monde sapho dit cela avec un chagrin si agreable qu'elle m'en fit rire et comme nous en estions la alce qui comme je vous l'ay ce me semble dit estoit un homme qui passoit pour bel esprit a mytilene et qui en avoit en effet beaucoup nous joignit aussi bien qu'un homme de qualite nomme nicanor justement comme nous arrivions a la porte de sapho ou nous trouvasmes une dame apellee phylire qui entra aussi de sorte qu'entendant que toutes ces dames faisoient la guerre a cette admirable fille d'une chose qu'ils n'entendoient pas ils se mirent a me demander ce que c'estoit des que nous fusmes dans la chambre de cette belle personne et que nous y fusmes assis mais des que sapho eut entendu ce 
 qu'ils me demandoient elle se tourna vers eux et prenant la parole non non leur dit elle ce n'est point a democede a dire quel est mon chagrin car il n'y a que moy qui le scache bien dittes le nous donc afin que nous vous en pleignions dit alors nicanor qui est un fort honneste homme et qui n'a aucun des deffauts de tous les jeunes gens de sa condition ce que vous me demandez n'est pas si aise a dire que vous vous l'imaginez repliqua sapho mais encore adjousta alce qu'avez vous et que pouvez vous avoir vous dis-je pour qui toute la terre a de l'admiration puis qu'il vous le faut dire reprit elle je suis si lasse d'estre bel esprit et de passer pour scavante qu'en l'humeur ou je me trouve adjourd'huy je mets la supreme felicite a ne scavoir ny lire ny escrire ny parler et si c'estoit une chose possible que de pouvoir oublier a lire a escrire et a parler je vous proteste que je commencerois de me aire tout a l'heure pour ne parler de ma vie tant je suis rebutee de la sotise du monde et de la persecution qui est inseparablement attachee a celles qui comme moy ont le malheur d'avoir la reputation de scavoir quelque autre chose que faire des boucles et choisir des rubans sapho dit cela avec un chagrin si aimable et d'un air si spirituel que cette agreable colere augmenta l'amour ou l'amitie qu'on avoit pour elle dans l'ame de tous ceux qui l'entendirent mais encore luy dit cydnon dittes nous precisement ce qui vous est arrive 
 mais comment est il possible repliqua-t'elle que vous m'ayez pu voir aupres de damophile environnee de tous ces scavans qui la suivent tousjours sans me pleindre et sans songer que je passois fort mal mon temps si vous eussiez este du coste ou j'estois repliqua phylire en souriant vous n'eussiez pas este importunee par des dames trop scavantes je vous assure repliqua-t'elle que je ne scay ou je ne l'eusse pas este aujourd'huy car vous aviez a l'entour de vous quatre ou cinq femmes qui font une profession si ouverte de hair toutes les personnes qui ont de l'esprit et qui affectent une ignorance si grossiere qu'elles m'auroient encore dit quelque chose qui m'auroit deplu ou qui m'auroit ennuyee du moins reprit nicanor si vous eussiez este ou j'estois vous y eussiez trouve plus de complaisance car comme il n'y avoit que des hommes a l'entour de moy vous n'eussiez pu manquer d'en estre louee je l'aurois sans doute este repliqua-t'elle car on s'est mis dans la fantaisie qu'il me faut tousjours louer mais ce qu'il y a de vray c'est que je ne l'aurois pas este a ma mode car enfin nicanor la plus grande partie des gens de vostre condition scavent si peu ce qu'il faut dire a une personne comme moy que la moitie du temps ils me mettent en colere lors qu'ils pensent m'obliger et a la reserve de ceux qui sont icy presentement je ne scache presques personne qui ne m'ait dit quelque chose qui 
 m'ait desplu encore ne scay-je adjousta-t'elle s'il n'y a point quelqu'un icy qui m'ait fachee quelquesfois du moins scay-je bien que j'ay sujet de me pleindre de ce que vous n'apprenez pas a tous les gens que vous voyez de quelle maniere je veux qu'on me traite pour alce adjousta-t'elle je suis assuree qu'il entre mieux dans mes sentimens que tout le reste de la compagnie il est vray dit-il en riant que le mestier de bel esprit dont on dit que je me mesle est sans doute assez incommode mais encore dit phylire quelle incommodite peut il avoir et quel mal peut faire a sapho cette grande reputation qu'elle a par tout le monde en effet ne doit elle pas avoir bien de la joye de penser que tout ce qu'il y a de gens d'esprit a athenes a corinthe a lacedemone a thebes a argos a delphe et par toute la grece ne parlent d'elle qu'avec admiration pour tous les gens qui ne me connoissent point repliqua sapho j'en suis fort contente mais pour la plus grande partie de ceux que je voy je n'en suis pas si satisfaite et si vous voulez que je vous face toutes mes plaintes je vous les feray afin que nicanor instruise les gens de la cour comment il faut qu'ils vivent avec les gens d'esprit que phylire aprenne aux dames de son quartier a vivre bien avec celles du nostre et qu'amithone erinne athys et cydnon ne m'accusent plus d'estre bizarre dans mes plaintes et dans mes 
 chagrins c'est pourquoy pour parler de la chose en general je vous diray encore une fois qu'il n'y a rien de plus incommode que d'estre bel esprit ou d'estre traite comme l'estant quand on a le coeur noble et qu'on a quelque naissance car enfin je pose pour fondement indubitable que des qu'on se tire de la multitude par les lumieres de son esprit et qu'on aquiert la reputation d'en avoir plus qu'un autre et d'escrire assez bien en vers ou en prose pour pouvoir faire des livres on pert la moitie de sa noblesse si l'on en a et on n'est point ce qu'est un autre de la mesme maison et du mesme sang qui ne se meslera point d'escrire en effet on vous traite tout autrement et l'on diroit que vous n'estes plus destine qu'a divertir les autres et qu'il y a une loy qui vous oblige a escrire tousjours des choses de plus belles en plus belles et que des que vous n'en voulez plus escrire on ne vous doit plus regarder si vous estes riche on a bien de la peine a le croire si vous ne l'estes pas c'est la derniere infortune et pauvre pour pauvre on est bien traite plus doucement quand on n'est point bel esprit que quand on l'est je voy pourtant repliqua nicanor que tous les hommes de la cour carressent fort tous ceux qui se meslent d'escrire je vous assure repliqua sapho qu'ils les carressent d'une estrange maniere car enfin presques tous les jeunes gens de la cour traitent ceux qui se meslent d'escrire comme ils traitent des artisans en effet ils 
 pensent leur avoir rendu tout ce qu'ils doivent a leur merite quand ils leur ont loue en passant et bien souvent mal a propos quelque chose qu'ils ont escrit ou qu'ils leur ont demande ce qu'ils font quel ouvrage ils ont entrepris s'il sera bien tost fait et s'il ne sera point trop court car c'est ce qu'ils y scavent de plus fin que de dire tousjours que ce qu'on leur montre n'est pas assez long cependant il y a sans doute une grande distinction a faire entre ceux qui escrivent car il y a assurement des gens dont il ne faut voir que les ouvrages mais il y en a d'autres aussi dont la personne doit encore estre preferee a leurs escrits cependant ces gens qu'on apelle les gens du monde les confondent avec les autres et ne leur parlent point comme ils parlent a ceux qui ne se meslent point d'ecrire quoy que peut-estre ils en soient plus dignes je consens donc que ces scavans qui ne sont point du tout propres a la conversation ordinaire n'y soient point admis quoy que je veuille qu'on les respecte ou qu'on les excuse s'ils ont effectivement du merite mais pour ceux qui scavent parler aussi agreablement qu'ils scavent escrire je veux qu'on leur parle d'ordinaire comme s'ils n'escrivoient pas et qu'on ne les accable point de demandes continuelles de leurs ouvrages je scay bien qu'il y a de ces gens la qui en importunent les autres et qui ne cessent de persecuter ceux avec qui ils sont des productions de leur esprit mais a dire la verite 
 je ne scay qui est le plus importune ou de celuy qui trouve un de ces autheurs qui accablent ceux qu'ils voyent de recits continuels ou de celuy qui se mesle d'escrire et qui trouve de ces gens de qualite qui ne luy parlent jamais d'autre chose que de ce qu'il escrit principalement lors qu'il a quelque naissance et qu'il a le coeur bien place pour moy j'advoue qu'on ne me scauroit faire un plus grand despit que de me venir parler hors de propos de vers que je fais quelquesfois pour me divertir mais encore faut il estre equitable dit amithone car le moyen de ne louer jamais ce que vous escrivez mais le moyen que j'endure eternellement reprit sapho que l'un me vienne demander si je fais une elegie l'autre si j'ay fait une chancon un autre encore si c'est moy qui ay fait une epigramme et le moyen enfin d'endurer qu'on ne me parle point comme on parle aux autres moy qui ne veux estre que comme les autres sont et qui ne puis souffrir qu'on m'en distingue d'une si bizarre maniere cependant on ne me dit jamais rien comme on le dit a tout le reste du monde car si on me fait excuse de ce qu'on ne m'est pas venu voir on me dit qu'on a eu peur d'interrompre mes occupations si on m'accuse de resver on me dit que c'est sans doute que je ne suis jamais mieux que lors que je suis seule avec moy mesme si je dis seulement que j'ay mal a la teste je trouve tousjours quelqu'un qui aime assez les choses communes et populaires 
 pour me dire que c'est la maladie des beaux esprits et mon medecin mesme quand je me pleins de quelque legere incommodite me dit que le mesme temperamment qui fait mon bel esprit fait mes maux enfin je suis si importunee de vers de scavoir et de bel esprit que je regarde la stupidite et l'ignorance comme le souverain bien il est vray reprit alce que la belle sapho a raison de se pleindre comme elle fait je ne scay mesme si elle en dit encore assez et a parler sincerement si ce n'estoit qu'il faut chercher sa satisfaction en soy quand on est capable d'escrire quelque chose de suportable je vous assure qu'on seroit bien malheureux car pour moy j'ay este en plusieurs cours du monde et j'ay veu presques par tout une injustice effroyable pour tous les gens qui escrivent en effet presques tous les grands veulent bien qu'on les loue mais ils recoivent l'encens qu'on leur offre comme un tribut qui leur est deu sans regarder seulement la main qui le donne et en mon particulier je fis un jour un grand poeme pour un prince qui ne demanda pas mesme a me voir quoy qu'il dist qu'il ne le trouvoit pas mauvais mais a dire la verite je me consolay bien tost de cette disgrace car veu comme il en usa j'aymay mieux estre l'autheur que le prince et j'eus l'esprit plus satisfait d'avoir le coeur mieux fait que luy que si la fortune m'eust mis autant au dessus de sa teste qu'elle l'avoit mis au dessus de la 
 mienne ha mon cher alce repliqua sapho que vous me donnez de joye de parler comme vous parlez car il est vray que rien ne me donne plus de satisfaction que lors que je me puis dire a moy mesme que j'ay l'ame plus noble que ceux que le caprice de la fortune a mis au dessus de moy mais apres tout cela n'empesche pas qu'il n'y ait tousjours quelques instans ou je sens tous les desgousts que la reputation que j'ay me donne car enfin je voy des hommes et des femmes qui me parlent quelquesfois qui sont dans un embarras estrange parce qu'ils se sont mis dans la fantaisie qu'il ne me faut pas dire ce qu'on dit aux autres gens j'ay beau leur parler de la beaute de la saison des nouvelles qui courent et de toutes les choses qui font la conversation ordinaire ils en reviennent tousjours a leur point et ils sont si persuadez que je me contraints pour leur parler ainsi qu'ils se contraignent pour me parler d'autres choses qui m'accablent tellement que je voudrois n'estre plus sapho quand cette avanture m'arrive car enfin je le dis comme si vous pouviez voir mon coeur on ne scauroit me faire un plus sensible despit que de me traiter en fille scavante c'est pourquoy je conjure toute la compagnie de m'empescher de recevoir cette persecution en disant plus tost a toute la terre que je ne suis point ce qu'on me dit que c'est alce qui fait les vers qu'on m'attribue et que je n'ay rien digne d'estre estime afin qu'apres cela on me laisse en repos 
 sans me chercher ny sans me fuir car je vous advoue que je n'aime guere ny qu'on me cherche ny qu'on me fuye comme scavante des qu'elle eut dit cela il arriva beaucoup de monde qui fit changer la conversation mais pour sapho elle parla peu le reste du jour a ce que ma soeur me dit car pour moy je sortis des que cette augmentation de compagnie arriva parce qu'on m'avoit dit que deux de mes anciens amis qui estoient en voyage depuis longtemps estoient arrivez de sorte que ne voulant pas estre des derniers a les visiter je fus bien aise de me desrober pour leur aller rendre ce devoir
 
 
 
 
mais madame comme il y en a un apelle phaon qui a beaucoup de part a l'histoire que je vous raconte il faut que je vous en parle un peu plus particulierement que de l'autre qui s'apelle themistogene je vous diray pourtant qu'ils sont tous deux de lesbos que nous avions apris tous nos exercices ensemble et que durant nos premieres annees je les aimois presques esgallement cependant au retour de mes amis il arriva que je trouvay que j'en avois perdu un quoy que je les reuisse tous deux mais madame pour vous expliquer cette enigme il faut que vous scachiez que lors que phaon et themistogene partirent j'aimois un peu plus le dernier que le premier parce qu'en effet il avoit alors quelque chose de plus aimable dans l'humeur et mesme en sa personne mais a leur retour je trouvay un grand changement car l'un estoit enlaidy et 
 l'autre estoit beaucoup plus beau de plus l'esprit de themistogene n'avoit fait nul progres et celuy de phaon s'estoit tellement augmente qu'on peut assurer qu'il y en a peu au dessus du sien et pour dire les choses comme elles sont il est peu d'hommes plus aimables que luy pour sa personne on n'en voit guere qu'on luy puisse comparer car il est sans doute extremement beau mais c'est d'une beaute qui ne ressemble pourtant pas a celle des dames et il conserve toute la bonne mine de son sexe avec toute la beaute du leur il a la taille belle et noble quoy qu'il ne soit pas fort grand les cheveux fort bruns les yeux noirs et beaux le tour du visage agreable les dents belles le nez bien fait et la mine haute de plus il a les mains belles pour un homme l'air spirituel la phisionomie heureuse et il a je ne scay quoy de passionne dans les yeux quoy qu'il n'y ait nulle affectation qui sert encore a le rendre tour propre a estre un fort agreable galant enfin madame phaon est si beau et si bien fait que le peuple de lesbos a fait une fable de luy la plus bizarre du monde car comme il est fils d'un homme de condition de mytilene qui avoit commande dans plusieurs vaisseaux a diverses guerres ce peuple greffier dit que comme il estoit encore assez jeune et qu'il se jouoit dans un esquif aupres d'un des vaisseaux de son pere venus le pria de la faire passer dans cet esquif jusques a une isle ou elle vouloit aller et que pour le recompenser 
 de cet office qu'il luy rendit elle le fit devenir aussi beau qu'il est ainsi sans qu'il y ait aucun fondement a cette fable sinon que phaon contre l'ordinaire des hommes n'estoit pas aussi beau quand il estoit enfant qu'il l'a este depuis tout le peuple de lesbos ne laisse pas de croire ce mensonge comme une chose veritable mais madame si la personne de phaon est aimable son esprit et son humeur ne le sont pas moins car il est civil doux et complaisant et sans estre ny enjoue ny melancolique il a tout ce qu'il faut pour plaire outre ce que je viens de dire il a l'air aise et agreable il parle juste et fort a propos et il connoist si finement toutes les belles choses que ceux qui les sont ou qui les disent ne les connoissent pas mieux que luy au reste il a l'inclination naturellement galante et il y a enfin un tel raport entre sa personne son humeur et son esprit qu'on peut dire qu'ils sont veritablement faits l'un pour l'autre pour themistogene il ne luy ressemble point ce n'est pas qu'il soit mal fait mais c'est qu'il ne plaist pas et qu'il a l'air contraint ce n'est pas non plus qu'il soit absolument sans esprit mais c'est encore que ce qu'il en a est mal tourne et que themistogene n'est presques jamais du party de la raison quand il ne suit que la sienne et qu'il est si accoustume a mal choisir qu'on est presques assure de choisir tousjours bien en prenant seulement ce qu'il ne choisit pas 
 cependant il fait fort l'empresse a aimer les belles choses et a chercher les honnestes gens quoy qu'il ne les scache pas connoistre ces deux hommes estant donc tels que je vous les represente avoient fait un long voyage sans avoir fait beaucoup d'amitie et sans avoir eu beaucoup de societe ensemble car des qu'ils estoient arrivez en une ville leur inclination les separoit et ce qui plaisoit a l'un ne plaisoit jamais a l'autre ainsi ils estoient ensemble par les chemins et n'estoient presques jamais ensemble en nul autre lieu suivant donc cette coustume des qu'ils furent arrivez a mytilene ils se separerent quoy qu'ils n'eussent alors ny l'un ny l'autre ny pere ny mere chez qui aller loger de sorte que je les fus chercher separement mais je ne les trouvay pas car durant que je les cherchois ils me cherchoient et ce ne fut que le lendemain que je les vy mais comme je connus bientost la difference qu'il y avoit entre themistogene et phaon je rendis justice au merite et je changeay comme ils avoient change car j'aimay plus phaon que themistogene pour qui je ne pouvois plus avoir la mesme estime que j'avois eue en un age ou l'on ne scait pas tousjours trop bien la raison de ce qu'on fait cependant comme je ne fus pas le premier qu'ils virent a mytilene je les trouvay desja instruits de la grande reputation de sapho neantmoins ils ne l'estoient pas par des gens qui sceussent la louer comme elle meritoit de l'estre car on leur avoit seulement 
 dit qu'elle avoit un grand esprit qu'elle estoit scavante et qu'elle faisoit admirablement des vers mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que quoy qu'on eust dit la mesme chose a phaon et a themistogene elle produisit des effets bien differens car themistogene par l'envie qu'il avoit de connoistre toutes les personnes extraordinaires eut une impatience estrange d'aller chez sapho et phaon au contraire qui avoit veu le soir damophile en une maison ou elle avoit este au sortir du concert n'eut nulle curiosite de connoistre sapho en effet bien loin d'en avoir envie lors que je luy en parlay et que je luy offris de l'y mener il s'en deffendit comme d'une visite qu'il aprehendoit au lieu de la desirer de sorte que la chose alla a tel point que themistogene me tourmentoit continuellement pour m'obliger de le mener chez sapho sans que je le voulusse faire parce que je ne l'en trouvois pas digne et que je tourmentois continuellement phaon pour l'obliger d'y aller sans qu'il s'y pust resoudre par l'imagination qu'il avoit qu'il estoit presques impossible qu'une femme pust estre scavante sans estre ridicule ou du moins incommode ou peu agreable joint que comme phaon avoit encore peu d'experience de l'amour il avoit une erreur dans l'esprit dont il s'est bien guery depuis car il s'imaginoit alors qu'il estoit bien plus agreable d'aimer une belle stupide que d'avoir de l'amour pour une femme de grand esprit si bien qu'un jour que je le pressois chez 
 moy d'aller chez sapho et qu'il s'en deffendoit avec opiniastrete je me mis a le quereller estrangement de ce qu'il ne vouloit pas adjouster foy a ce que je luy disois car enfin luy dis-je quelle raison avez vous a me dire pour ne vouloir pas voir sapho premierement me dit-il j'ay trouve des gens qui m'ont dit que damophile est la coppie de sapho et je vous declare que si cela est il est impossible que l'original m'en puisse jamais plaire car je la trouve si ridicule et si incommode que je fuirois de province en province pour ne rencontrer pas celle qu'elle a imitee ha injuste amy luy dis-je si vous scaviez quel tort vous faites a l'admirable sapho vous auriez horreur de vostre injustice et vous verriez si bien que damophile ne luy ressemble point que vous vous repentiriez de l'injure que vous me faites en m'accusant de ne me connoistre point en merite je ne vous en accuse pas me dit-il mais comme vous le scavez chacun a son goust et son caprice et pour moy je vous le dis comme je ne veux voir des dames que pour me divertir je les cherche belles et galantes et de conversation agreable sans les chercher scavantes car je crains terriblement ces diseuses de grands mots et de petites choses qui sont tousjours sur le haut du parnasse et qui ne parlent aux hommes qu'avec le langage des dieux joint que si vous voulez encore que je vous descouvre tout mon secret je vous advoueray que je 
 me suis si bien trouve en sicile d'avoir aime une belle stupide que je ne veux pas m'exposer a pouvoir aimer une belle scavante qui me feroit peut-estre desesperer c'est pourquoy ne me tourmentez donc plus je vous en conjure car si sapho est comme je me l'imagine elle me desplairoit horriblement et si elle est telle que vous le dittes elle me plairoit peut-estre trop pour mon repos mais est il possible luy dis-je que vous ayez pu aimer la stupidite je n'ay pas aime la stupidite reprit-il en riant mais j'advoue que je n'ay pas hai la belle stupide je comprens bien luy dis-je alors qu'on peut aimer a voir la beaute par tout ou on la trouve et je comprens bien mesme qu'on peut avoir une espece d'amour passagere pour une tres belle femme sans esprit mais je ne comprens point qu'on puisse avoir nul attachement considerable pour une personne qui n'en a pas quelque belle qu'elle puisse estre et vous ne connoissez point du tout la delicatesse des plaisirs de cette passion si vous n'avez jamais aime qu'une belle stupide je ne scay si j'en connois tous les plaisirs repliqua phaon mais du moins n'en connois-je pas les suplices ha mon cher amy luy dis-je vous n'estes encore guere scavant en amour car on n'y scauroit estre heureux si on n'y a este miserable en effet adjoustay-je il faut avoir soupire douloureusement pour sentir la joye il faut avoir desire un bien avec inquittude pour le posseder 
 avec plaisir et il faut enfin avoir aime une femme d'esprit pour connoistre toutes les douceurs de l'amour en mon particulier adjoustay-je d'abord que je voy une tres belle femme j'en concois une si grande idee que je luy donne un esprit proportionne a sa beaute de sorte que lors qu'il arrive que je ne trouve pas que le sien soit tel j'en suis si estonne et si rebute tout ensemble que je n'en puis jamais devenir amoureux et j'aime beaucoup mieux une belle peinture qui ne peut dire de sotises qu'une belle femme qui peut faire et dire mille impertinences comme nous en estions la themistogene arriva qui estant dans des sentimens bien opposez a ceux de phaon me venoit encore prier de le mener chez sapho me disant qu'il avoit une fort grande envie de la connoistre adjoustant que selon toutes les apparences il en deviendroit amoureux si elle estoit telle que son imagination la luy representoit si cela est luy dis-je pour m'en deffaire il ne faut pas que je vous y mene car vous seriez trop malheureux si vous deveniez amant d'une personne qui en a tant d'autres ainsi sans avoir pu persuader phaon et sans que themistogene m'eust persuade nous nous separasmes mais ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que l'apresdisnee estant alle chez sapho elle me dit que nicanor et phylire qui avoient veu phaon luy en avoient dit tant de bien que quoy qu'elle n'eust pas accoustume de souhaiter de nouvelles connoissances elle ne laissoit pas de 
 desirer celle-la il est vray madame luy repliquay-je que phaon a beaucoup de merite comme il est vostre amy particulier reprit elle je veux croire qu'il ne manquera pas de voir cydnon et qu'ainsi je pourray le rencontrer chez elle il luy seroit fort honteux de ne vous voir pas chez vous repris-je devant que de vous voir ailleurs si ce n'estoit qu'il vous aprehende ha democede me dit elle je ne veux point que vostre amy me craigne et si vous voulez que je vous die tout ce que je pense je croiray que vous luy aurez donne mauvaise opinion de moy s'il ne me vient voir vous pouvez juger madame combien ce que sapho me disoit m'embarassoit scachant les sentimens ou estoit phaon cependant je ne pus jamais me resoudre a nuire a mon amy et j'aimay mieux m'engager de le mener a sapho me resolvant de faire une affaire serieuse de cette visite et de prier phaon de la donner a mon amitie s'il ne la vouloit pas donner au merite de sapho et en effet des que je fus hors de chez elle je fus le chercher pour tascher de luy persuader ce que je souhaitois de luy mais ce ne fut pas sans peine toutesfois comme il connut que je le desirois et qu'il craignit de me fascher s'il s'opiniastroit davantage il me dit qu'il falloit du moins que je luy tinsse conte de cette complaisance comme d'une grande marque de son amitie en suite de quoy il fut resolu que je le menerois le lendemain chez sapho mais ce qui m'embarrassa sut que je n'osay l'y mener sans y 
 mener aussi themistogene parce qu'il s'en seroit fache de sorte que pour mener un homme agreable il en fallut mener un facheux comme j'avois adverty sapho de cette visite elle en avoit adverty ses cheres amies si bien qu'amithone erinne athys et cydnon estoient avec elle lors que nous y arrivasmes phaon themistogene et moy comme sapho est une des personnes du monde qui a l'abord le plus agreable et le plus obligeant quand elle le veut elle nous receut admirablement et d'une maniere si galante que je vy bien que phaon en fut surpris et qu'il ne s'estoit pas attendu de trouver une fille scavante qui eust un air si libre si aimable et si naturel pour themistogene je remarquay qu'il fut aussi estonne que phaon mais qu'il l'estoit d'une maniere differente neantmoins comme ils estoient tous deux preocupez de l'opinion du scavoir de sapho et qu'ils estoient persuadez qu'il ne luy falloit parler qu'en haut stile ils commencerent la conversation d'un ton fort serieux ce n'est pas que je n'eusse dit a phaon qu'il ne le falloit pas faire mais il ne m'avoit pas creu de sorte que croyant qu'en effet il falloit du moins la louer comme une personne extraordinaire et la louer mesme avec de grandes et belles paroles il commenca de le faire avec une exageration fort eloquente mais sapho l'arrestant tout court en se tournant vers moy sans mentir democede me dit elle je me pleins estrangement de vous de moy madame repris-je avec estonnement 
 ouy repliqua-t'elle c'est de vous dont je me pleins car comme phaon ne me connoist pas je serois injuste de me pleindre de luy ainsi c'est positivement vous que j'accuse de toutes les louanges qu'il me donne puis que si vous l'aviez adverty que je n'aime point qu'on me loue de la maniere qu'il le fait je le croy trop honneste homme pour n'avoir pas eu assez de complaisance pour s'empescher de me dire des flatteries qui ne me peuvent jamais plaire je vous assure luy repliquay-je qu'il n'a pas tenu a l'advertir qu'il ne se soit accommode a la modestie de vostre humeur il faut donc qu'il ne me connoisse pas pour ce que je suis reprit sapho mais phaon adjousta-t'elle en se tournant vers luy comme je n'aime point a devoir rien a la renommee je vous demande pour grace singuliere de ne juger de moy que par vous mesme et de vouloir vous donner la peine et le temps de me connoistre car a mon advis vous me feriez injustice si vous jugiez de moy sur le raport d'autruy je ne scay madame repliqua phaon en souriant s'il y a autant de modestie que vous le pensez a ce que vous dittes car enfin advouer que vous meritez plus de louanges que la renommee ne vous en donne c'est tomber d'accord que vous en meritez plus que personne n'en a jamais merite en effet adjousta themistogene pensant qu'il alloit dire des merveilles y a-t'il rien de plus beau que d'entendre dire qu'une fille fait mieux des vers qu'homere n'en a fait et qu'elle est plus scavante que tous les 
 sept sages de grece quoy qu'il en soit dit sapho je n'aime nullement qu'on parle de moy en ces termes et le dernier outrage que je puisse recevoir de mes amis est de me soubconner d'estre bien aise qu'on me loue de cette maniere car enfin comme je ne suis point scavante je ne veux pas qu'on me die que je le suis et quand je le serois je ne le voudrois pas non plus je ne puis sans doute pas nier que je n'aye fait quelques vers mais puis que la poesie est un effet d'une inclination naturelle aussi bien que la musique il ne me faut non plus louer de ce que je fais des vers que de ce que je chante apres cela sapho destournant agreablement la conversation apporta un soin estrange a ne parler de rien qui aprochast de l'esprit scavant au contraire toute l'apresdisnee se passa a faire une agreable guerre a ses amies de mille petites choses qui s'estoient passees dans leur cabale et qu'elle faisoit pourtant si bien entendre que phaon et themistogene y prenoient aussi autant de plaisir que celles qui les avoient veu arriver et que moy qui les scavois en suite alce et nicanor estant arrivez sapho reprocha au premier une chose qu'il avoit faite chez elle il y avoit quelques jours et qu'il faisoit presques tousjours quand l'occasion s'en presentoit en effet madame alce s'estoit si bien mis dans la fantaisie qu'il faut qu'une femme soit belle qu'il ne pouvoit presques endurer celles qui ne l'estoient pas et il ne manquoit guere de changer de place quand le hazard le mettoit aupres d'une 
 femme laide de sorte qu'il estoit arrive que comme il estoit chez sapho il y estoit venu une femme qui estoit sans doute fort desagreable si bi que suivant son humeur il estoit sorti a l'heure mesme et estoit sorti si brusquement que cette femme qui a de l'esprit s'estoit aperceue qu'il la fuyoit ainsi sapho qui estoit alors bien aise de tourner la conversation d'une maniere galante se mit a luy reprocher sa delicatesse et a blasmer en sa personne la plus grande partie des jeunes gens du monde qui font presques tous la mesme chose en verite madame luy dit il voyant la guerre qu'elle luy faisoit pour ce jour que vous me reprochez je ne sortis de chez vous que parce que je voulois aller chez la belle athys et je vous proteste que ce ne fut pas pour la raison que vous dittes de grace alce reprit athys ne vous excusez point sur la visite que vous me vouliez faire car vous ne m'en fistes point ce jour la je fus donc chez amithone adjousta-t'il nullement repliqua cette belle personne et erinne cydnon et moy vous vismes promener plus de deux heures des fennestres de ma chambre avec un de vos amis qui est un des plus laids hommes du monde et qui est sans doute plus laid que la dame que vous fuyez n'est laide sans mentir reprit sapho il faut estre bien bizarre pour avoir des sentimens si irreguliers car je voudrois bien scavoir pourquoy vos yeux souffrent la laideur en un homme et pourquoy ils ne l'endurent pas en une femme cependant il est 
 certain qu'il n'y a pas un de ces galands delicats pour la beaute des femmes qui ne passe la plus grande partie de sa vie avec des hommes qui sont fort laids et qui n'ait mesme quelque amy qui ne soit pas beau toutesfois par une bizarrerie injurieuse a nostre sexe des qu'une femme n'est point belle ils ne la peuvent endurer ils la fuyent comme si elle avoit la peste et on diroit que les femmes ne sont au monde que pour avoir le destin des couleurs c'est a dire pour divertir les yeux seulement il faut pourtant advouer adjousta t'elle que cela est tout a fait injuste car si en general vous aimez ce qui est beau et haissez ce qui est laid n'ayez donc que de beaux amis aussi bien que de belles maistresses et fuyez aussi soigneusement les hommes qui sont laids que vous fuyez les laides femmes mais si au contraire vos yeux peuvent s'accoustumer a la laideur de ceux de vostre sexe parce qu'ils ont d'ailleurs des qualitez estimables accoustumez les aussi au peu de beaute de quelques femmes qui peuvent avoir mille charmes dans l'esprit et mille beautez dans l'ame veritablement si on vous obligeoit d'estre amant de toutes les dames que vous verriez vous auriez raison d'estre aussi delicat que vous l'estes mais ayant le coeur tout occupe de l'amour d'une des belles personnes du monde je ne voy pas qu'il faille avoir une si grande delicatesse que vous ne puissiez parler un quart d'heure a une femme si elle n'est pas 
 belle et que vous sortiez mesme d'une visite ou il en arrivera quelqu'une qui sera laide cependant tous les jeunes gens ont presques cette sorte d'injustice et il y en a mesme qui sont laids de la derniere laideur qui ne peuvent souffrir celle d'une femme en effet ils veulent que les plus beaux yeux du monde les regardent favorablement et ils veulent de plus quelquesfois ne regarder que de belles femmes avec les plus laids yeux de la terre j'en connois mesme un qui se regarde aussi souvent dans tous les miroirs qu'il rencontre que s'il estoit le plus beau de tous les hommes et qui regardant sa propre laideur avec agreement ne peut souffrir celle des autres avec patience ce que vous dittes est si agreablemant pense reprit phaon que je croy qu'alce avec tout son esprit aura bien de la peine a vous respondre je vous assure reprit alce que j'aime mieux advouer que j'ay tort que d'entre prendre de me justifier puis que je ne le pourrois faire sans dire beaucoup de choses contre les dames en general ce que vous dittes a tant de malignite reprit amithone que vous meriteriez pour vous punir de ce que vous fuyez les femmes des qu'elles ne sont point belles que toutes les belles evitassent soigneusement vostre rencontre pourveu qu'il y en eust quelqu'une qui ne me fuyst pas reprit il en regardant athys je me consolerois de ne voir pas les autres quand je serois belle repliqua erinne je scay bien que je ne serois pas de celles qui vous consoleroient et comme je ne le suis point 
 adjousta athys en rougissant je n'aurois rien a faire qu'a me consoler de n'estre pas du nombre de celles qui consoleroient alce a mon advis reprit nicanor en regardant cette belle fille dont alce estoit amoureux vous scavez bien la part que vous avez en cette avanture et il n'y a personne a mytilene qui ait veu qu'alce soit sorty d'une compagnie ou vous ayez este c'est assurement reprit elle qu'il n'est pas si delicat qu'il ne puisse endurer celles qui comme moy ne sont ny belles ny laides ce que vous dittes de vous est si injuste repliqua alce que je ne scay comment la belle sapho qui aime tant a rendre justice au merite l'endure c'est que je ne pensois pas repliqua-t'elle qu'il m'apartinst de louer la beaute d'athys en vostre presence car enfin comme vous avez les yeux si delicats qu'ils ne peuvent souffrir la laideur aux femmes je suis persuadee que vous les avez aussi extremement fins a connoistre la veritable beaute et que vous la scavez mieux louer qu'un autre cependant adjousta-t'elle je voudrois bien scavoir si phaon et themistogene ont la mesme delicatesse qu'alce car pour nicanor et pour democede je scay qu'ils ont des amies qui ne sont point belles pour moy reprit phaon quoy que je sois fortement touche de la beaute je croirois faire un grand outrage aux dames si je la regardois comme le seul avantage de leur sexe aussi vous puis-je assurer que bien loin d'estre dans les sentimens d'alce qui ne peut avoir d'amie si elle 
 n'est belle je suis persuade qu'il n'est mesme pas impossible d'estre fort amoureux d'une femme qui ne l'est point pourveu qu'elle ne soit pas horrible car enfin les yeux s'accoustument aisement a tout et il peut y avoir des femmes qui ont des beautez si surprenantes dans l'esprit et des graces si engageantes dans l'humeur qu'elles ne laissent pas de plaire et d'estre fort aimables et fort aimees pour moy dit alors themistogene comme je m'attache plus a l'esprit qu'a la beaute du visage j'aimerois bien mieux une femme qui scauroit mille belles et grandes choses quand mesme elle seroit laide qu'une belle qui ne scauroit rien a ce que je voy reprit sapho en riant je ne puis donc jamais estre ny amie d'alce ny amie de themistogene car je ne suis ny belle comme le premier en veut une ny scavante comme themistogene desire la sienne c'est pourquoy il faut que je cherche a faire mes amis de nicanor de phaon et de democede mais si en cherchant des amis reprit cydnon en souriant vous trouviez quelque amant vous seriez bien espouvantee je le serois sans doute comme le devroit estre une personne qui n'en a jamais trouve repliqua t'elle et qui ne souhaite pas trop d'en avoir comme nicanor phaon et moy allions luy respondre cynegire entra dans sa chambre de sorte que sa presence fit changer de conversation et nous chassa bientost nicanor phaon themistogene et moy cependant madame comme il y avoit une assez 
 belle place devant le logis de sapho nous nous mismes a nous y promener mais a peine y fusmes nous que phaon me parlant bas parce qu'il ne vouloit pas que nicanor sceust l'opinion qu'il avoit eue de sapho ha mon cher amy me dit-il que j'estois injuste et que j'estois ennemy de moy mesme quand je ne voulois pas voir l'admirable sapho et bien luy dis-je luy avez vous trouve l'air trop scavant ressemble t'elle a damophile et luy faut il dire de ces grandes choses dont vous vous estiez imagine qu'il la falloit entretenir pour moy reprit-il je suis si charme de l'avoir veue que je ne pense pas qu'il y ait au monde une personne si aimable car enfin quand je songe en voyant sapho si douce si sociable et si galante que c'est elle qui fait ces vers que toute la terre admire et que je pense que cette mesme fille qui se divertit des plus petites choses en scait tant de grandes j'ay tant d'admiration pour son merite que je commence de craindre d'en devenir amoureux si je continue de la voir cependant je ne croy pas qu'il soit possible de m'en empescher je vous avois bien dit luy dis-je alors que des que vous auriez veu sapho vous changeriez de sentimens mais encore me dit il voudrais-je bien scavoir si on la voit tousjours aussi aimable que je l'ay veue aujourd'huy et si on ne luy voit jamais nul sentiment de cette espece d'orgueil qui est presques inseparable de tout ceux qui scavent quelque chose d'extraordinaire dites moy 
 donc mon cher amy ce que je m'en vay vous demander parle t'elle tousjours avec aussi peu d'affectation et avec autant d'agrement qu'elle en a eu tantost tout ce que je vous en puis dire repris-je c'est qu'elle est encore quelquesfois autant au dessus de ce que vous l'avez veue que vous l'avez trouvee au dessus de ce que vous vous l'estiez figuree ha democede repliqua t'il ce que vous dittes n'est pas possible et je defie la belle sapho de me paroistre plus aimable qu'elle me l'a paru aujourd'huy apres cela nicanor s'estant mis a parler a phaon themistogene s'aprocha de nous avec assez de froideur en suite de quoy m'adressant la parole je vous advoue me dit il que j'ay este bien estonne apres disner et quoy luy dis-je tout surpris vous n'estes pas satisfait d'avoir veu sapho je le suis si peu reprit il que si ce n'estoit que je suis persuade que c'est qu'elle a voulu cacher son scavoir a cause qu'il y avoit trop de femmes je serois tout a fait desabuse de la haute opinion que j'avois conceue d'elle car enfin je ne luy ay rien ouy dire d'aujourd'huy qu'une autre dame qui n'auroit rien sceu n'eust pu dire du moins m'advouerez vous repris-je froidement que si elle a parle comme une dame c'est comme une dame qui parle bien j'advoue dit-il qu'elle n'a pas dit de mots barbares mais a vous dire la verite je m'estois attendu a toute autre chose qu'a ce que j'ay ouy vous pensiez donc luy dis je qu'elle enseignast la philosophie 
 qu'elle fist des argumens invincibles qu'elle resolust des questions difficiles et qu'elle expliquast des passages obscurs d'hesiode ou d'homere je pensois du moins dit-il qu'il ne devoit sortir de sa bouche que de belles et de grandes choses qui faisoient connoistre ce qu'elle scavoit et pour moy je vous dis ingenument que je suis persuade qu'il faut qu'il y ait des jours ou elle montre son scavoir car il ne seroit pas possible qu'elle eust la reputation qu'elle a par toute la grece si elle ne disoit jamais que des bagatelles comme celles que je luy ay entendu dire aujourd'huy vous pouvez juger madame combien j'estois espouvente de voir la difference qu'il y avoit entre les sentimens de phaon et ceux de themistogene cependant comme il parloit assez haut phaon entendit confusement ce qu'il me disoit de sorte que comme il estoit desja devenu un des plus zelez partisans de sapho il se mesla a nostre conversation et me demanda de quoy themistogene me parloit il me dit repris-je en souriant qu'il n'a pas trouve que sapho merite les louanges qu'on luy donne et qu'il s'estoit imagine qu'elle disoit mille belles choses qu'elle n'a pas dittes a ce que je voy repliqua froidement phaon la belle sapho ne pouvoit aquerir l'estime de themistogene et de moy car je l'estime infiniment apres luy avoir entendu dire toutes les bagatelles qu'il luy reproche mais je ne l'aurois guere estimee si elle avoit dit toutes ces grandes choses qu'il s'imagine 
 qu'elle devoit dire ainsi il s'enfuit de necessite qu'elle ne nous pouvoit satisfaire tous deux j'en tombe d'accord reprit brusquement themistogene mais la difficulte est de scavoir s'il n'eust pas este plus avantageux a sapho de me satisfaire que de vous contenter si vous voulez bien que nicanor et democede soient nos juges reprit phaon j'y consens comme je suis tout a fait de vostre party repliqua nicanor je ne puis prendre cette qualite et comme je suis directement oppose a celuy de themistogene adjoustay-je il m'est plus aise d'estre sa partie que son juge apres cela dit phaon a themistogene croirez vous encore que j'ay tort d'estimer plus sapho de parler comme elle parle scachant ce qu'elle scait que je ne l'estimerois si elle estalloit continuellement toute sa science comme vous l'entendez et qu'elle passast les journees entieres a dire mille choses que ceux qui vont chez elle n'entendroient point et que vous n'entendriez peut-estre guere mieux que moy du moins scay-je bien que quand je les entendrois je ne les escouterois pas longtemps car bien loin de pouvoir souffrir une femme qui fait la scavante je n'endure mesme qu'aveque peine les hommes scavans qui se piquent trop de leur scavoir mais a dire la verite adjousta-t'il en se tournant vers moy je ne m'estonne pas trop de ce que pense themistogene car il y a plus de deux ans que nous n'avons este de mesme advis ainsi il m'a este aise de prevoir des que 
 j'ay commence d'admirer sapho qu'il ne l'admireroit pas et qu'il luy preferoit damophile que je mets autant au dessous de toutes les autres femmes que je mets sapho au dessus de toutes celles que j'ay connues jusques icy car enfin escrire comme elle escrit et parler comme elle parle sont deux qualitez si admirables qu'elle merite l'estime de toute la terre mais encore reprit themistogene avec un chagrin qui nous fit rire qu'a t'elle dit de grand et de beau elle a parle juste et galamment repliqua phaon et elle a parle avec modestie et d'une maniere si naturelle et si judicieuse qu'elle a merite mon admiration il n'en est pas de mesme de moy reprit il car je n'admire que les choses extraordinaires j'ay connu un homme a athenes repliqua phaon qui estoit de l'humeur de themistogene car il ne scavoit point mettre de difference entre les choses qu'on admire et les choses qui donnent de l'estonnement je ne scay si je suis de ceux que vous dittes repliqua fierement themistogene mais je scay bien que je ne mets point de difference entre sapho et toutes les autres femmes de mytilene si elle ne dit jamais que des choses pareilles a celles que je luy ay entendu dire et dans les sentimens que j'ay d'elle apres l'avoir ouy parler je vous declare que si je ne luy entens rien dire de plus esleve que ce qu'elle a dit aujourd'huy je croiray que quelqu'un luy fait les vers que l'on publie 
 sous son nom phaon entendant ce que disoit themistogene se mit a en rire d'une maniere si injurieuse pour luy qu'il s'en facha tout de bon si bien que luy parlant fort aigrement et l'autre luy respondant de mesme ils se querellerent tout a fait et nicanor et moy eussions bien eu de la peine a les separer si alce et deux autres ne fussent fortuitement venus a nous cependant comme cette querelle ne put estre accommodee sur le champ et que ce ne fut que le lendemain que ces deux ennemis s'embrasserent elle fit un grand bruit a mytilene mais ce qu'il y eut d'avantageux pour phaon fut que comme je contay tout ce qui s'estoit passe a ma soeur elle le dit a sapho ainsi des le premier jour qu'elle connut phaon elle sceut qu'elle luy avoit de l'obligation l'accommodement de ces deux ennemis eut mesme une circonstance remarquable car phaon ne voulut point s'accommoder que themistogene n'avouast qu'il avoit eu tort de juger si legerement du merite de sapho et de croire plustost sa propre opinion que celle de toute la terre de sorte que cette admirable fille scachant la chose comme elle s'estoit passee s'en tint sensiblement obligee a phaon aussi le receut-elle fort obligeamment lors qu'il la retourna voir en effet a peine le vit elle entrer dans sa chambre qu'elle fut au devant de luy de la meilleure grace du monde et elle luy fit mesme un compliment si particulier et si galant qu'il 
 merite de vous estre raconte car enfin des qu'elle fut aupres de phaon elle prit la parole la premiere et le regardant avec un visage souriant vous m'avez tellement louee de ne dire point de grandes choses luy dit elle que je n'ose presque vous faire un grand remerciment de l'obligation que je vous ay de peur que contre ma coustume il ne m'echapast quelqu'une de ces grandes paroles qui pourroient m'aquerir l'estime de themistogene et qui me feroient perdre la vostre ce que vous dittes est si plein d'esprit et si galant repliqua-t'il que je me repens de m'estre accommode avec themistogene car il est vray qu'un homme qui ne vous admire point merite que tout ce qu'il y a de gens raisonnables au monde luy declarent une guerre immortelle quand vous me connoistrez bien repliqua sapho vous verrez que je ne suis pas si jalouse de ma gloire et que tant qu'on ne dira pas que je manque de vertu et de bonte je ne me mettray guere en peine de ce qu'on dira de moy apres cela sapho ayant fait assoir phaon la conversation fut tout a fait divertissante car non seulement ses amies particulieres estoient chez elle mais phylire nicanor alce et moy y estions aussi joint que la querelle de phaon et de themistogene la tourna d'un coste qui fit dire mille belles et agreables choses a sapho en effet apres avoir bien parle de l'erreur de themistogene qui croyoit qu'on ne pouvoit rien scavoir si on ne parloit continuellement de science phylire 
 dit qu'encore que l'ignorance grossiere fust un grand deffaut elle pensoit pourtant qu'il y avoit moins d'inconvenient que la plus grande partie des femmes fussent ignorantes que d'estre scavantes car imaginez vous dit elle quelle persecution ce seroit s'il y avoir deux ou trois cens damophiles a mytilene mais imaginez vous au contraire repliqua precipitamment phaon quelle felicite il y auroit s'il y avoit seulement cinq ou six sapho en toute la terre et qu'athenes delphes thebes et argos peussent se vanter d'avoir la leur aussi bien que mytilene eh de grace phaon reprit elle en rougissant n'effacez point l'obligation que je vous ay par des louanges que je n'aime pas et souvenez vous s'il vous plaist que je ne veux point passer pour scavante car enfin je suis fortement persuadee que si je scay quelque chose que toutes les femmes ne scavent pas je ne scay du moins rien que toutes les dames ne deussent scavoir en verite reprit cydnon en riant vous les engagez a bien des choses car a parler sincerement vous en scavez tant que je ne scay comment vous pouvez faire pour les cacher ny comment nous les pourrions aprendre je vous assure repliqua sapho que j'en scay si peu que si toutes les femmes vouloient bien employer tout le temps qu'elles employent a rien elles en scauroient mille fois plus que moy ce que dit la belle sapho est si bien dit quoy qu'il ne soit pas positivement vray pour ce qui la regarde reprit 
 phaon que je ne puis m'empescher de l'en louer car il est certain qu'il y a lieu de reprocher presques a toutes les dames qu'elles perdent la plus precieuse chose du monde en perdant beaucoup d'heures qu'elles pourroient plus agreablement employer qu'elles ne font en mon particulier dit phylire je ne scay comment les dames pourroient trouver le loisir d'aprendre quelque chose quand elles le voudroient car pour moy je n'ay pas bien souvent celuy d'aller au temple et j'ay une amie qui est tous les jours habillee si tard qu'elle ne peut jamais sortir que quand le soleil se couche j'avois tousjours cru reprit amithone qu'il falloit que sapho ne dormist point pour avoir le temps de faire tout ce qu'elle fait jusques a ce que j'aye eu fait un voyage a la campagne avec elle mais depuis cela je m'en suis desabusee estant certain qu'elle regle si bien toutes ses heures qu'elle a loisir de faire mille choses que je ne ferois point car enfin elle trouve le temps de dormir autant qu'il faut pour avoir le taint repose et les yeux tranquilles elle trouve celuy de s'habiller aussi galamment qu'une autre elle trouve dis-je celuy de lire d'escrire de resver de se promener de donner ordre a ses affaires et de se donner a ses amies et tout cela sans estre empressee et sans embarras je voudrois bien dit la belle athys qu'elle m'eust enseigne son secret car si je le scavois je pense que je me resoudrois 
 a tascher d'aprendre plus que je ne scay mais avant que de l'obliger a dire un si grand secret repliqua erinne je voudrois bien que toutes les personnes qui sont icy examinassent si en effet il seroit bien que les femmes en general sceussent plus qu'elles ne scavent ha pour cette question reprit sapho je pense qu'elle est aisee a resoudre car enfin il faut que j'avoue aujourd'huy que je ne suis plus en colere comme je l'estois il y a quelques jours qu'encore que je sois ennemie declaree de toute femmes qui font les scavantes je ne laisse pas de trouver l'autre extremite fort condamnable et d'estre souvent espouvantee de voir tant de femmes de qualite avec une ignorance si grossiere que selon moy elles deshonnorent nostre sexe en effet adjousta-t'elle la difficulte de scavoir quelque chose avec bien-seance ne vient pas tant a une femme de ce qu'elle scait que de ce que les autres ne scavent pas et c'est sans doute la singularite qui fait qu'il est tres difficile d'estre comme les autres ne sont point sans estre exposee a estre blasmee car a parler veritablement je ne scache rien de plus injurieux a nostre sexe que de dire qu'une femme n'est point obligee de rien aprendre mais si cela est adjousta sapho je voudrois donc en mesme temps qu'on luy deffendist de parler et qu'on ne luy aprist point a escrire car si elle doit escrire et parler il faut qu'on luy permette toutes les choses qui peuvent luy esclairer l'esprit 
 luy former le jugement et luy aprendre a bien parler et a bien escrire serieusement poursuivit elle y a-t'il rien de plus bizarre que de voir comment on agit pour l'ordinaire en l'education des femmes on ne veut point qu'elles soient coquettes ny galantes et on leur permet pourtant d'aprendre soigneusement tout ce qui est propre a la galanterie sans leur permettre de scavoir rien qui puisse fortifier leur vertu ny occuper leur esprit en effet toutes ces grandes reprimandes qu'on leur fait dans leur premiere jeunesse de n'estre pas assez propres de ne s'habiller point d'assez bon air et de n'estudier pas assez les lecons que leurs maistres a dancer et a chanter leur donnent ne prouvent elles pas ce que je dis et ce qu'il y a de rare est qu'une femme qui ne peut dancer avec bien-seance que cinq ou six ans de sa vie en employe dix ou douze a aprendre continuellement ce qu'elle ne doit faire que cinq ou six et a cette mesme personne qui est obligee d'avoir du jugement jusques a la mort et de parler jusques a son dernier soupir on ne luy aprend rien du tout qui puisse ny la faire parler plus agreablement ny la faire agir avec plus de conduite et veu la maniere dont il y a des dames qui passent leur vie on diroit qu'on leur a deffendu d'avoir de la raison et du bon sens et qu'elles ne sont au monde que pour dormir pour estre grasses pour estre belles pour ne rien faire et pour ne dire que des sottises et je suis assuree qu'il n'y a personne dans la compagnie 
 qui n'en connoisse quelqu'une a qui ce que je dis convient en mon particulier adjousta-t'elle l'en scay une qui dort plus de douze heures tous les jours qui en employe trois ou quatre a s'habiller ou pour mieux dire a ne s'habiller point car plus de la moitie de ce temps la se passe a ne rien faire ou a deffaire ce qui avoit desja este fait en suite elle en employe bien encore deux ou trois a faire divers repas et tout le reste a recevoir des gens a qui elle ne scait que dire ou a aller chez d'autres qui ne scavent de quoy l'entretenir jugez apres cela si la vie de cette personne n'est pas bien employee il est vray repliqua alce en riant qu'il y a beaucoup de dames qui font ce que vous dittes pour moy reprit cydnon je n'ay point de part a cette reprimande indirecte car puis que je passe presques toute ma vie aupres de sapho on n'a rien a me reprocher ha cydnon reprit amithone que vous m'avez obligee de trouver une si agreable et si puissante raison pour rendre mon ignorance excusable comme j'y ay autant de droit que vous adjousta la belle athys il ne me doit pas estre deffendu de m'en servir si je scavois ce que vous scavez reprit erinne je ne croirois pas en avoir besoin comme j'en ay pour ce qui me regarde adjousta phylire je n'ay rien qui me puisse deffendre car je ne voy pas assez souvent sapho pour me pouvoir vanter d'employer bien une partie de mon temps ainsi il faut que j'avou ingenument que je passe quelques-fois des 
 jours entiers ou je nay pas un moment de loisir sans que je puisse pourtant dire que j'aye eu nulle occupation considerable pour moy dit sapho je suis persuadee que la raison de ce peu de temps qu'ont toutes les femmes a en parler en general est sans doute que rien n'occupe davantage qu'une longue oisivete joint qu'elles se font presques toutes de grandes affaires de fort petites choses et qu'une boucle de leurs cheveux mal tournee leur emporte plus de temps a la mieux tourner que ne feroit une chose fort utile et fort agreable tout ensemble il ne faut pourtant pas qu'on s'imagine adjousta-t'elle que je veuille qu'une femme ne soit point propre et qu'elle ne scache ny dancer ny chanter car au contraire je veux qu'elle scache toutes les choses divertissantes mais a dire la verite je voudrois qu'on eust autant de soin d'orner son esprit que son corps et qu'entre estre scavante ou ignorante on prist un chemin entre ces deux extremitez qui empeschast d'estre incommode par une suffisance impertinente ou par une stupidite ennuyeuse je vous assure reprit amithone que ce chemin est bien difficile a trouver si quelqu'un le peut enseigner repliqua phaon ce ne peut estre que sapho en mon particulier reprit phylire je luy serois fort obligee si elle me vouloit dire precisement ce qu'une femme doit scavoir il seroit sans doute assez difficile repliqua sapho de donner une regle generale de ce que vous demandez car il y a une si grande diversite 
 dans les esprits qu'il ne peut y avoir de loy universelle qui ne soit injuste mais ce que je pose pour fondement est qu'encore que je voulusse que les femmes sceussent plus de choses qu'elles n'en scavent pour l'ordinaire je ne veux pourtant jamais qu'elles agissent ny qu'elles parlent en scavantes je veux donc bien qu'on puisse dire d'une personne de mon sexe qu'elle scait cent choses dont elle ne se vante pas qu'elle a l'esprit fort esclaire qu'elle connoist finement les beaux ouvrages qu'elle parle bien qu'elle escrit juste et qu'elle scait le monde mais je ne veux pas qu'on puisse dire d'elle c'est une femme scavante car ces deux carracteres sont si differens qu'ils ne se ressemblent point ce n'est pas que celle qu'on n'apellera point scavante ne puisse scavoir autant et plus de choses que celle a qui on donnera ce terrible nom mais c'est qu'elle se scait mieux servir de son esprit et qu'elle scait cacher adroitement ce que l'autre montre mal a propos ce que vous dittes est si bien demesle reprit nicanor qu'il est aise de comprendre cette difference mais a ce que je voy dit alors phylire il y a donc des choses ou qu'il ne faut pas scavoir ou qu'il ne faut pas montrer quand on les scait il est constamment vray repliqua sapho qu'il y a certaines sciences que les femmes ne doivent jamais aprendre et qu'il y en a d'autres qu'elles peuvent scavoir mais qu'elles ne doivent pourtant jamais avouer 
 qu'elles scachent quoy qu'elles puissent souffrir qu'on le devine mais a quoy leur sert de scavoir ce qu'elles n'oseroient montrer reprit phylire il leur sert repliqua sapho a entendre ce que de plus scavans qu'elles disent et a en parler mesme a propos sans en parler pourtant comme les livres en parlent mais seulement comme si le simple sens naturel leur faisoit comprendre les choses dont il s'agit joint qu'il y a mille agreables connoissances dont il n'est pas necessaire de faire un si grand secret en effet on peut scavoir quelques langues estrangeres on peut avouer qu'on a leu homere hesiode et les excellens ouvrages de l'illustre aristhee sans faire trop la scavante on peut mesme en dire son advis d'une maniere si modeste et si peu affirmative que sans choquer la bien-seance de son sexe on ne laisse pas de faire voir qu'on a de l'esprit de la connoissance et du jugement on peut et on doit scavoir tout ce qui peut servir a escrire juste car selon moy c'est une erreur insuportable a toutes les femmes de vouloir bien parler et de vouloir mal escrire et le privilege qu'elles pretendent en avoir est si honteux a tout le sexe en general si elles l'entendoient bien qu'elles en devroient rougir il est vray dit nicanor que la plus part des dames semblent escrire pour n'estre pas entendues tant il y a peu de liaison en leurs paroles et tant leur ortographe est bizarre cependant adjousta sapho en riant ces mesmes dames qui font si hardiment des fautes si 
 grossieres en escrivant et qui perdent tout leur esprit des qu'elles commencent d'escrire se moqueront des journees entieres d'un pauvre estranger qui aura dit un mot pour un autre il y a toutesfois bien plus de sujet de trouver estrange de voir une femme de beaucoup d'esprit faire mille fautes en escrivant en sa langue naturelle que de voir un scythe qui ne parlera pas bien grec helas dit alors phylire en riant que j'ay de part a ce que vous dittes vous parlez pourtant si juste repris-je que je ne scay comment il est possible que vous n'escriviez pas de mesme je veux croire reprit sapho que phylire escrit aussi bien qu'elle parle mais apres tout il est certain qu'il y a des femmes qui parlent bien qui escrivent mal et qui escrivent mal purement par leur faute mais encore voudrois-je bien scavoir d'ou cela vient dit la belle athys cela vient sans doute repliqua sapho de ce que la plus part des femmes n'aiment point a lire ou de ce qu'elles lisent sans aucune aplication et sans faire mesme nulle reflection sur ce qu'elles ont leu ainsi quoy qu'elles ayent leu mille et mille fois les mesmes paroles qu'elles escrivent elles les escrivent pourtant tout de travers et en mettant des lettres les unes pour les autres elles font une confusion qu'on ne scauroit desbrouiller a moins que d'y estre fort accoustume ce que vous dittes est tellement vray reprit erinne que je fis hier une visite a une de mes amies qui est revenue de la campagne a qui je reportay toutes 
 les lettres qu'elle m'a escrites pendant qu'elle y estoit afin qu'elle me les leust jugez donc poursuivit sapho si j'ay tort de souhaiter que les femmes aiment a lire et qu'elles lisent avec quelque aplication cependant il s'en trouve qui ont naturellement beaucoup d'esprit qui ne lisent presques jamais et ce qu'il y a selon moy de plus estrange c'est que ces femmes qui ont infiniment de l'esprit aiment mieux s'ennuyer quelques fois horriblement lors qu'elles sont seules que de s'accoustumer a lire et a se faire une compagnie telle qu'elles la pourroient souhaiter en choisissant une lecture enjouee ou serieuse selon leur humeur il est pourtant certain que la lecture esclaire si fort l'esprit et forme si bien le jugement que la conversation toute seule ne peut le faire aussi tost ny aussi parfaitement en effet la conversation ne vous donne que les premieres pensees de ceux qui vous parlent qui sont bien souvent des pensees tumultueuses que ceux mesmes qui les ont eues condamnent un quart d'heure apres mais la lecture vous donne le dernier effort de l'esprit de ceux qui ont fait les livres que vous lisez de sorte que quand mesme on ne lit simplement que pour son plaisir il en demeure toujours quelque chose dans l'esprit de la personne qui lit qui le pare et qui l'esclaire et qui empesche cette personne de tomber dans des ignorances grossieres qui choquent terriblement tous ceux qui n'en sont pas 
 capables pour moy dit alce je connois une de ces ignorantes hardies qui ne laissent pas de parler de tout quoy qu'elles ne scachent rien qui parlant l'autre jour a un estranger qui estoit chez elle et qui luy racontoit ses voyages fit connoistre qu'elle croyoit que la mer caspie estoit plus grande que la mer egee que le pont euxin estoit au dela de la mer caspie et que la mer egee estoit moins grande que toutes les autres mers ce que je voudrois principalement aprendre aux femmes reprit sapho seroit de ne parler point trop de ce qu'elles scauroient bien et de ne parler jamais de ce qu'elles ne scavent point du tout et a parler raisonnablement je voudrois qu'elles ne fussent ny fort scavantes ny fort ignorantes et qu'elles voulussent mesnager un peu mieux les avantages que la nature leur a donnez je vroudrois dis-je qu'elles eussent autant de soin comme je l'ay desja dit de parer leur esprit que leur personne mais encore une fois dit phylire ou trouver le temps de lire et d'aprendre quelque chose je ne demande pour cela repliqua sapho que celuy que les dames perdent a ne rien faire ou a faire des choses inutiles et il y en aura de reste pour en scavoir assez pour avoir besoin d'en cacher de plus il ne faut pas qu'on s'imagine que je veuille que cette femme que j'introduis soit une liseuse eternelle qui ne parle jamais au contraire je veux qu'elle ne lise que pour aprendre a bien parler 
 et s'il estoit impossible de joindre la lecture et la conversation je conseillerois encore plustost la derniere que l'autre a une dame mais comme cela n'est nullement incompatible et qu'il y a mille agreables connoissances qu'une femme peut avoir sans sortir de la modestie de son sexe pourveu qu'elle en use bien je souhaiterois de tout mon coeur que toutes les femmes fussent moins paresseuses qu'elles ne le sont et que j'eusse moy mesme profite des conseils que je donne aux autres ha madame s'escria phaon vous portez la modestie trop loin et vous devez vous contenter de ce qu'on n'ose vous dire ce que l'on pense de vous sans vouloir dire de vous ce que personne n'en pense et ce que vous n'en pensez pas vous mesme il est vray adjousta nicanor que la belle sapho est fort injuste pour son propre merite elle est si equitable pour celuy des autres reprit athys qu'il est fort estrange qu'elle ne le soit pas pour le sien ce qu'il y a d'avantageux pour elle repliqua cydnon c'est qu'on luy rend la justice qu'elle se refuse et qu'encore qu'elle se cache autant qu'elle peut elle ne laisse pas d'estre connue pour ce qu'elle est par toute la grece vous donnez des aisles trop foibles a la renommee reprit phaon en souriant car je suis assure que le nom de sapho est celebre par toute la terre de grace interrompit cette admirable fille en rougissant ne parlez jamais de moy en ma presence car je ne puis souffrir qu'on me puisse soubconner de prendre plaisir a des 
 louanges si extraordinaires puis qu'il est vray qu'a parler avec toute la sincerite de mon coeur je suis fortement persuadee que je ne les merite pas si ce que vous dittes estoit vray reprit athys vous seriez bien malheureuse de scavoir tant de choses et d'ignorer vostre propre merite serieusement reprit sapho avec un fort agreable chagrin si vous ne vous desacoustumez de me louer je pense que je ne vous verray plus ha madame nous escriasmes nous tous a la fois phaon nicanor aice et moy ne nous menacez pas d'un si grand malheur apres cela sapho continuant de parler avec sa modestie accoustumee nous dit mille agreables choses et sceut si bien charmer toute la compagnie qu'elle ne se separa que le soir au sortir de chez sapho nous vismes themistogene qui menoit damophile et nous sceusmes le lendemain par un de ses amis qu'il la mettoit mille degrez au dessus de sapho de sorte que ne pouvant assez nous estonner de son extravagance nous nous promismes tous deux de le fuir autant que damophile cependant je commencay de m'apercevoir des ce jour la que phaon selon toutes les apparences deviendroit amoureux de sapho s'il ne l'estoit desja d'autre part je sceus pas ma soeur que sapho l'estimoit infiniment et qu'il luy plaisoit plus que tous les hommes qui la voyoient alce qui estoit espion du prince tisandre s'aperceut aussi bientost de l'amour naissante de phaon et de l'inclination de sapho car il en dit quelque 
 chose a la belle athys dont il estoit amoureux nicanor qui estoit amant de sapho en eut aussi quelque leger soubcon et amithone et erinne s'en aperceurent comme les autres
 
 
 
 
pour sapho elle n'attendit pas a scavoir que phaon estoit amoureux d'elle qu'il le luy dist car elle a un esprit de discernement pour ces sortes de choses si fin et si delicat qu'elle connoist precisement tous les sentimens qu'on a pour elle et elle les connoist mesme quelquesfois devant que ceux qui les ont les connoissent bien eux mesmes quelque ardente que soit l'amitie qu'on a pour cette charmante personne elle ne la prend jamais pour amour et quelque foible que soit cette passion dans le coeur de certaines gens qui n'en peuvent jamais avoir de force a cause de la tiedeur de leur temperamment elle ne la prend jamais aussi pour amitie de sorte qu'on est assure qu'elle scait precisement de quelle maniere on l'aime et il y a tant d'impossibilite de se cacher a elle qu'il y auroit de la follie a l'entreprendre car enfin elle scait si bien discerner des regards d'amitie d'avec des regards d'amour qu'elle ne s'y trompe jamais au reste elle ne connoist pas seulement de quelle nature est l'affection qu'on a pour elle car elle connoist encore tous les sentimens que ceux qui vont chez elle ont les uns pour les autres si bien que cette connoissance parfaite qu'elle a du coeur de tous ceux qui la voyent fait qu'elle scait les mesnager avec tant 
 d'adresse qu'elle fait vivre les rivaux en paix et qu'elle augmente ou affoiblit l'affection qu'on a pour elle presques comme bon luy semble cette derniere chose luy est pourtant plus difficile a faire que l'autre car elle est si aimable qu'il n'est pas aise de l'aimer moins qu'on ne l'a aimee mais tousjours fait elle en sorte qu'on ne luy dit guere souvent que ce qu'elle veut bien entendre sapho estant donc telle que je vous la represente connut bien tost que phaon estoit amoureux d'elle mais elle le connut sans s'en irriter et elle sentit dans son coeur une si douce agitation qu'elle connut bien que si elle vouloit se deffendre contre phaon il falloit qu'elle commencast de bonne heure aussi prit elle la resolution de se vaincre mais elle ne put prendre celle de faire ce qu'elle pourroit pour empescher phaon de continuer de l'aimer et elle se contenta de se resoudre a ne reconnoistre jamais son affection par une semblable cependant comme elle vivoit dans une entiere confiance avec cydnon elles eurent une conversation ensemble sur ce sujet qu'il faut que je vous redie afin que vous connoissiez mieux l'assiette de l'ame de sapho comme ma soeur estoit donc un soir avec elle et qu'elles estoient toutes deux appuyees sur un balcon qui donnoit du coste de la pleine mer elle vit au clair de la lune quelques vaisseaux qui paroissoient et qui venoient a mytilene si bien que prenant la parole en souriant je ne voudrois pas 
 luy dit elle que ces vaisseaux que je voy fussent ceux du prince thrasibule qui nous ramenassent tisandre car comme ce prince a beaucoup de merite je dois souhaiter pour son repos qu'il ne revienne pas en un lieu ou il seroit encore plus malheureux qu'il n'estoit quand il partit je ne voy pas reprit alors sapho qu'il soit arrive grand changement icy depuis son depart car j'ay tousjours pour luy la mesme estime que j'avois et il y a aussi tousjours dans mon coeur la mesme impossibilite de l'aimer s'il n'y avoit que cela repliqua cydnon il ne seroit qu'aussi malheureux qu'il estoit et il ne le seroit pas davantage cependant je scay bien qu'il y a quelque chose de plus mais encore reprit sapho qu'est-il arrive qui puisse vous obliger a parler comme vous parlez puis que vous voulez que je vous le die repliqua cydnon en riant phaon est arrive a mytilene vous estes si malicieuse repliqua sapho en rougissant que je devrois n'estre jamais surprise de vos malices toutesfois je ne m'en scaurois deffendre et je m'y trouve tousjours attrapee je vous assure respondit cydnon qu'il n'y a malice aucune a ce que je viens de dire car il est si visible que phaon est amoureux de vous qu'il n'est pas possible de le voir une heure sans s'en apercevoir en effet quand il est au lieu ou vous estes il faudroit estre aveugle pour ne voir pas qu'il vous aime et quand il est en lieu ou vous n'estes pas il faudroit estre sourd pour ne connoistre point par ses paroles qu'il est amoureux 
 de vous car il en parle tousjours et en parle avec tant d'empressement qu'on ne peut douter de ses sentimens du moins reprit sapho ne voit on pas que j'y responde avec la mesme ardeur vous scavez si bien regler toutes vos actions repliqua cydnon qu'on ne connoist guere ce que vous pensez mais pour moy qui vous connois mieux que les autres je suis persuadee que vous ne haissez pas phaon et que si le destin a resolu que vous aimiez quelque chose ce sera luy que vous aimerez a ce que je voy cydnon repliqua-t'elle en souriant vous pretendez m'avoir derobe l'art de connoistre les sentimens d'autruy par de simples conjectures et de deviner l'advenir par le present mais a mon advis vous vous tromperez en vostre prediction il est vray adjousta-t'elle que je connois bien que phaon qui s'estoit imagine de voir une fille scavante en me voyant et de la voir telle qu'il se l'estoit figuree en voyant damophile a este agreablement surpris de trouver que je ne luy ressemble pas et si vous voulez que je vous die sincerement tout ce que je pense je connois bien encore que s'il ne m'aime il a du moins quelque disposition a m'aimer mais apres tout je vous declare que je n'ay nulle intention de respondre a son amour car enfin comme l'acte de bi -seance ne se contente pas de deffendre les amours criminelles et qu'elle deffend mesme les plus innocentes il faut la suivre et ne s'exposer pas legerement a la medisance quoy que je sois fortement 
 persuadee qu'il seroit possible d'aimer fort innocemment je croy en effet repliqua cydnon qu'il ne seroit pas impossible mais a dire la verite veu comme la plus part des hommes ont le coeur fait il est un peu dangereux de s'engager avec eux il est si dangereux adjousta sapho que depuis que je suis au monde je n'en ay pas connu deux que je puisse croire capables d'un attachement de la nature de celuy que l'imagine car enfin a vous parler comme a une autre moy mesme quoy que je trouve que la bien-seance qui veut que les femmes n'aiment jamais rien ait este judicieusement establie a cause des facheuses suites que l'amour peut avoir quand elle est dans des esprits mal faits et dans des coeurs qui n'ont que des sentimens greffiers brutaux et terrestres je ne laisse pas de dire qu'a parler positivement elle est injuste et de croire en suite que sans s'esloigner des veritables sentimens d'une vertu solide on peut faire quelque distinction entre les gens qu'on voit et lier une affection toute pure avec quelqu'un qu'on peut choisir en effet les dieux qui n'ont jamais rien fait en vain n'ont pas mis inutilement en nostre ame une certaine disposition aimante qui se trouve encore beaucoup plus forte dans les coeurs bien faits que dans les autres mais cydnon la difficulte est de regler cette affection de bien choisir celuy pour qui on la veut avoir et de la conduire si discretement que la medisance ne la 
 trouble pas mais a cela pres il est certain que je concoy bien qu'il n'y a rien de si doux que d'estre aimee par une personne qu'on aime je condamne sans doute tous les dereglemens de l'amour mais je ne condamne pourtant pas la passion qui les cause joint qu'a parler veritablement ils viennent plustost du temperamment de ceux qui sont amoureux que de l'amour mesme et il faut enfin avouer que qui ne connoist point ce je ne scay quoy qui redouble tous les plaisirs et qui scait mesme l'art de donner quelque douceur a l'inquietude ne connoist pas jusques ou peut aller la joye car pour ces dames qui trouvent du plaisir a estre aimees sans aimer elles n'ont point d'autre satisfaction que celle que la vanite leur donne mais je comprens bien qu'il y a mille douceurs toutes pures et toutes innocentes dans une affection mutuelle en effet cet agreable eschange de pensees et de pensees secrettes qui se font entre deux personnes qui s'aiment est un plaisir inconcevable et pour juger de l'amour par l'amitie je vous assure ma chere cydnon que j'ay presentement plus de joye a vous dire sans desguisement ce que je pense que je n'en ay lors que nous sommes ensemble aux festes les plus magnifiques mais pour avoir ce plaisir la tout entier repliqua cydnon en riant dittes moy donc je vous en conjure vos plus secrettes pensees et avouez moy sincerement que si vous croiyez trouver en phaon tout ce que vous 
 pourriez desirer pour lier une affection aveque luy de la nature que vous l'imaginez vous auriez quelque peine a vous en deffendre et pour porter la confiance aussi loin qu'elle peut aller dittes moy bien precisement la nature de cette affection et de quelle maniere vous la concevez ha cydnon luy dit elle vous m'engagez a bien des choses neantmoins comme je ne vous puis jamais rien refuser je veux bien vous dire les deux que vous me demandez mais pour commencer par la derniere je vous diray que je ne suis nullement dans le sentiment de ceux qui parlent de l'amour comme d'une chose qui ne peut estre innocente si l'on n'a le dessein de s'espouser car pour moy je vous avoue que dans la delicatesse que j'ay dans l'esprit et dans l'imagination et dans l'idee que j'ay conceue de cette passion je ne trouve pas cette sorte d'amour assez pure ny assez noble et si je surprenois dans mon coeur un simple desir d'espouser quelqu'un j'en rougirois comme d'un crime je me le reprocherois comme une chose indigne de moy et j'en aurois plus de confusion que les autres femmes n'ont accoustume d'en avoir d'une galanterie criminelle vous voulez donc repliqua cydnon qu'on vous aime sans esperance je veux bien qu'on espere d'estre aime repliqua-t'elle mais je ne veux pas qu'on espere rien davantage car enfin c'est selon moy la plus grande folie du monde de s'engager a aimer quelqu'un si ce n'est dans la pensee de l'aimer jusques a la mort 
 or est il que hors d'aimer de la maniere que je l'entens c'est s'exposer a passer bientost de l'amour a l'indifference et de l'indifference a la haine et au mespris mais encore reprit cydnon dittes moy un peu plus precisement comment vous entendez qu'on vous aime et comment vous entendez aimer l'entens dit elle qu'on m'aime ardemment qu'on n'aime que moy et qu'on m'aime aveque respect je veux mesme que cette amour soit une amour tendre et sensible qui se face de grands plaisirs de fort petites choses qui ait la solidite de l'amitie et qui soit fondee sur l'estime et sur l'inclination je veux de plus que cet amant soit fidelle et sincere je veux encore qu'il n'ait ny confident ny confidente de sa passion et qu'il renferme si bien dans son coeur tous les sentimens de son amour que je puisse me vanter d'estre seule a les scavoir je veux aussi qu'il me dise tous ses secrets qu'il partage toutes mes douleurs que ma conversation et ma veue facent toute sa felicite que mon absence l'afflige sensiblement qu'il ne me dise jamais rien qui puisse me rendre son amour suspecte de foiblesse et qu'il me dise tousjours tout ce qu'il faut pour me persuader qu'elle est ardente et qu'elle sera durable enfin ma chere cydnon je veux un amant sans vouloir un mary et je veux un amant qui se contentant de la possession de mon coeur m'aime jusques a la mort car si je n'en trouve un de cette sorte je n'en veux point mais apres m'avoir dit comment vous 
 voulez estre aimee repliqua cydnon il faut me dire encore comment vous voulez aimer en vous disant l'un repliqua sapho je vous ay dit l'autre car en matiere d'amour innocente a parler sincerement il ne doit y avoir autre difference dans les sentimens du coeur que ceux que l'usage a estably qui veut que l'amant soit plus complaisant plus soigneux et plus soumis car pour la tendresse et la confiance elles doivent sans doute estre egalles et s'il y a quelque difference a faire c'est que l'amant doit tousjours tesmoigner toute son amour et que l'amante doit se contenter de luy permettre de deviner toute la sienne si phaon est jamais assez heureux repliqua cydnon pour vous en donner et pour faire que vous luy permettiez de la deviner il sera sans doute le plus digne d'envie d'entre les hommes je craindrois fort repliqua sapho s'il estoit digne d'envie que je ne fusse digne de pitie car de la maniere dont j'ay le coeur si j'aimois j'aimerois si tendrement et si fortement qu'il seroit difficile qu'on me rendist l'amour avec usure cependant je suis persuadee que pour estre heureuse en aimant il faut croire qu'on est pour le moins autant aimee qu'on aime car autrement on a de la honte de sa propre foiblesse et du despit de la tiedeur d'autruy c'est pourquoy cydnon bien que je sois persuadee qu'on peut aimer innocemment et que je le sois aussi que phaon est aimable et qu'il a quelque disposition a m'aimer je ne laisse pas d'estre resolue de 
 faire ce que je pourray pour ne l'aimer point mais madame pendant que sapho disoit toutes ces choses a ma soeur phaon m'en disoit d'autres qui estoient aussi particulieres car enfin comme nous estions alors inseparables nous nous promenions ce soir la sur une terrasse au bout de laquelle il y avoit une balustrade qui donnoit sur la mer du coste par ou l'on pouvoit aller en sicile de sorte qu'apres nous estre promenez quelque temps il s'y appuya et se luit a resver si profondement que je connus bien qu'il ne se souvenoit plus que je fusse la comme j'avois desja remarque beaucoup de choses qui m'avoient fait connoistre qu'il estoit amoureux de sapho quoy que je ne luy en eusse rien dit je connus bien qu'il pensoit plus a elle qu'a moy mais pour luy en faire la guerre malicieusement je m'imagine luy dis-je en m'apuyant aussi bien que luy sur cette balustrade sur quoy il estoit appuye qu'en regardant la mer du coste par ou l'on peut aller en sicile vous songez a cette belle stupide que vous y avez aimee ha cruel amy me dit-il ne raillez point de mon malheur et contentez vous de l'avoir cause sans insulter sur un miserable qui a bien change de sentimens quoy luy dis-je vous ne croyez plus qu'il vaille mieux aimer une belle stupide qu'une belle qui ne l'est pas non democede me dit-il je ne le crois plus du tout et je suis si espouvente d'avoir este capable d'aimer une femme sas esprit que je suis persuade que je n'en avois point moy mesme et que ce que j'en ay ne 
 m'est venu que depuis que je suis party de sicile mais mon cher amy adjousta-t'il avant que je vous descouvre tout le secret de mon coeur dittes moy precisement de quelle nature est l'affection que vous avez pour sapho car si vous estes mon rival vous ne pouvez pas estre mon confident je suis sans doute admirateur de sapho repliquay-je mais je n'ay jamais ose estre son amant je suis donc bien plus hardy que vous reprit-il car j'ay une passion si forte pour cette admirable personne que je croy que j'en perdray la raison quand je vous y voulois mener repris-je en souriant vous ne croiyez pas pouvoir devenir amoureux d'une fille scavante ha democede me dit-il je pensois qu'elle ne sceust que ce qu'elle ne devoit point scavoir et qu'elle ne scavoit pas l'art de charmer les coeurs mais helas que j'estois abuse et que vous aviez un jour raison de me dire que pour estre heureux en amour il falloit avoir este miserable car il est vray qu'en l'estat ou je suis je sens de plus grands plaisirs lors que je rencontre seulement les yeux de sapho que je n'en avois a estre aime de ma belle stupide je ne trouvois veritablement nulle difficulte a obtenir son estime mais elle me donnoit bien souvent son admiration si mal a propos que je m'estonne aujourd'huy pourquoy je ne la mesprisois pas elle me regardoit sans doute favorablement et elle me regardoit avec de fort beaux yeux mais ils disoient si peu de chose et ils entendoient si mal les miens que je ne scay comment je les pouvois 
 trouver beaux enfin democede je suis bien esloigne d'aimer encore la belle stupide puis que j'aime la belle sapho mais helas la difficulte est de luy dire que je l'aime et que j'en veux estre aime comme vous avez tout ce qu'il faut pour meriter son estime repris-je qui vous a dit que vous ne pourrez pas aquerir son affection il y a plus de huit jours me dit-il que je consulte ses yeux pour tascher de deviner quel doit estre mon destin et si je suis assez bien avec elle pour luy descouvrir mon amour mais a dire la verite je ne scay ce que j'en dois croire il y a des instans ou il me semble que ses yeux me disent je ne scay quoy qui ne m'est pas desavantageux il y en a d'autres ou je pense au contraire qu'ils ne me disent rien de bon ainsi je suis un moment a croire qu'elle connoist mon amour et j'en suis apres vingt autres a penser qu'elle ne la veut pas connoistre ou qu'elle ne la connoist mesme point du tout mais malgre ce que je dis il n'y a pas un de ses regards qui n'augmente ma passion et je n'ay encore jamais pu rencontrer ses yeux sans sentir une esmotion extraordinaire dans mon coeur qui en le troublant ne laisse pas d'y inspirer je ne scay quoy de doux et d'agreable que je ne puis exprimer aussi ne fais-je autre chose que la regarder quand je suis aupres d'elle et que me souvenir quand je n'y suis plus que j'en ay este regarde ne vous estonnez donc pas mon cher democede de ma resverie car je resve mesme en parlant si ce n'est quand je parle a sapho et 
 j'ay l'ame si occupee de cette admirable fille que je ne pense qu'a elle en effet je ne fais autre chose que m'imaginer le plaisir qu'il y auroit d'estre aime d'une personne comme celle-la et de pouvoir se vanter d'avoir mis quelque foiblesse dans un aussi grand esprit que celuy de la merveilleuse sapho et d'avoir inspire de l'amour a un coeur aussi tendre que le sien j'imagine mesme tout ce que nous nous dirions si nous nous aimions je fais de longues conversations avec elle quoy que je sois seul aveque moy j'ay mesme l'audace de penser qu'elle feroit des vers ou ma passion seroit depeinte et je me forme enfin mille plaisirs dont je ne jouiray peut-estre jamais et qui ne laissent pas de faire naistre en foule dans mon coeur cent mille desirs differens qui l'agitent et qui l'inquiettent estrangement car enfin je trouve sans doute la belle sapho civile douce et obligeante pour moy mais apres tout elle me fait encore secret de toutes choses et je n'ay jamais pu l'obliger a me montrer rien de tout ce qu'elle a escrit cette admirable fille est si modeste repris-je que vous ne devez pas vous estonner de ce qu'elle vous refuse car il n'y a pas encore assez longtemps que vous la voyez pour avoir un privilege si particulier mais en fin luy dis-je vous avez du moins cet avantage que jusques a cette heure elle n'a point este soubconnee de rien aimer quoy qu'on connoisse bien qu'elle ait l'ame passionnee apres cela madame nous nous retirasmes sans avoir pris garde que durant 
 que nous parlions la lune s'estoit eclipsee mais en nous retirant nous trouvasmes themistogene avec cinq ou six scavans en astrologie qu'il alloit mener chez damophile afin de raisonner en sa presence sur l'eclipse qu'on voyoit et en effet nous sceusmes qu'ils avoient presques passe toute la nuit chez elle a parler de l'interposition de la terre entre la lune et le soleil et de beaucoup d'autres choses de semblable nature si bien que toute la belle et galante troupe qui avoit accoustume de se trouver chez sapho s'y trouvant suivant sa coustume on s'y divertit de cette avanture car comme cynegire chez qui demeuroit sapho connoissoit alors admirablement sa sagesse elle voyoit le monde dans sa chambre quand cynegire n'estoit pas en estat d'en voir de sorte qu'amithone erinne athys cydnon nicanor phaon alce et moy estant aupres de sapho nous dismes cent agreables follies des conversations qu'on faisoit chez damophile car encore que sapho n'aime point qu'on raille en sa presence elle n'avoit garde de s'opposer a cette espece de raillerie au contraire elle railloit de damophile la premiere afin de faire mieux connoistre combien elle estoit esloignee de sa maniere d'agir si bien que faisant une plaisante peinture d'une conversation scavante et embrouillee elle en divertit extremement la compagnie mais encore dit alors cydnon tire-t'on cet avantage de la sotte conversation de damophile qu'elle sert a rendre la nostre 
 plus divertissante par l'agreable peinture que sapho en vient de faire je voudrois bien repliqua phaon qu'elle voulust nous peindre aussi toutes les autres sortes de conversations bizarres dont on trouve par le monde il est vray adjousta athys qu'il y en a qui seroient plaisantes si elle se vouloit donner la peine d'en remarquer l'impertinence vous me donneriez trop d'employ repliqua sapho et il seroit bien plus court et bien plus agreable que chacun se pleignist de celles dont il a este ennuye pour moy dit erinne je suis toute preste d'accepter ce party la car il est vray que je fis hier une visite de famille dont je fus si accablee que j'en pensay mourir d'ennuy en effet imaginez vous que je me trouvay au milieu de dix ou douze femmes qui ne parlerent jamais d'autre chose que de tous leurs petits soins domestiques que des deffauts de leurs esclaves que des bonnes qualitez ou des vices de leurs enfans et il y eut une femme entr'autres qui employa plus d'une heure a raconter silabe pour silabe les premiers begayemens d'un fils qu'elle a qui n'a que trois ans jugez apres cela si je ne passay pas mon temps d'une pitoyable maniere je vous assure repliqua nicanor que je ne le passay guere mieux que vous car je me trouvay engage malgre moy avec une troupe de femmes que vous pouvez aisement deviner qui n'employerent le jour tout entier qu'a se dire du bien ou du mal de leurs habillemens et qu'a mentir continuellement sur le prix qu'ils leur avoient 
 couste car les unes par vanite disoient beaucoup plus qu'il ne falloit a ce que me dit la moins folle de toutes et les autres pour faire les habiles disoient beaucoup moins si bien que je passay tout le jour a n'entendre que des choses si basses et de si peu d'esprit que j'en suis encore un peu chagrin en mon particulier reprit la belle athys je me suis trouvee depuis quinze jours avec des dames qui quoy qu'elles ayent de l'esprit m'importunerent estrangement car enfin a dire les choses comme elles sont ce sont de ces femmes galantes de profession qui ont du moins chacune une affaire et une affaire qui les occupe tellement qu'elles ne pensent a autre chose qu'a s'entre-oster leurs galans par toutes sortes de voyes si bien que quand on n'est point de leurs intrigues et qu'on se trouve engage avec elles on s'y trouve fort embarrasse et on les embarrasse fort en effet tant que je fus avec celles dont je parle je les entendis tousjours parler sans entendre ce qu'elles disoient car il y en avoit une a ma droite qui disoit a une autre qui la touchoit qu'elle scavoit de bonne part qu'un tel avoit rompu avec celle-la et que celle-cy avoit renoue avec un tel et il y en avoit une autre a ma gauche qui parlant avec esmotion a une dame qui estoit aupres d'elle luy disoit les plus folles choses du monde car enfin luy disoit elle avec chagrin il ne faut pas que celle que vous scavez se vante de m'avoir oste un galant puis qu'elle n'a celuy qu'elle oroit m'avoir arrache 
 que parce que je l'ay chasse mais si la fantaisie m'en prend je le rapelleray et je feray si bien qu'elle n'en aura de sa vie en un autre endroit j'entendis qu'il y en avoit qui racontoient une collation qu'on leur avoit donnee affectant de dire avec autant d'empressement qu'elle estoit mauvaise que si elles eussent creu diminuer la beaute de la dame a qui on l'avoit donnee en disant que son amant n'estoit pas assez magnifique enfin je vous avoue que de ma vie je n'eus tant d'impatience que j'en eus ce jour la pour moy repliqua cydnon si j'avois este a vostre place j'aurois trouve l'invention de me divertir aux despens de celles qui m'auroient ennuyee mais je ne trouvay point celle de ne m'ennuyer pas il y a trois jours avec un homme et une femme qui ne font jamais leurs conversations que de deux sortes de choses c'est a dire des genealogies entieres des maisons de mytilene et de tous les biens des familles car enfin si ce n'est en certaines occasions particulieres quel divertissement y a-t'il d'ouir dire durant tout un jour xenocrate estoit fils de tryphon clideme estoit sorty de xenophane xenophane estoit issu de tyrtee et ainsi da reste et quel divertissement y a t'il encore d'ouir dire qu'une telle maison ou vous n'avez nul interest ou vous ne fustes jamais et ou vous n'irez de vostre vie fut bastie par celuy-cy achetee par celuy-la eschangee par un autre et qu'elle est presentement possedee par un homme que vous ne connoissez pas 
 cela n'est sans doute pas trop agreable repliqua alce mais cela n'est pas encore si incommode que de trouver de ces gens qui ont quelque facheuse affaire et qui ne peuvent parler d autre chose car en mon particulier je trouvay il y a quelque temps un capitaine de mer qui pretend que pittacus doive le recompenser d'un vaisseau qu'il a perdu qui me tint trois heures non seulement a me raconter les raisons qu'il pretendoit avoir d'estre recompense mais encore ce qu'on luy pouvoit respondre et ce qu'il pouvoit repliquer et pour me faire mieux comprendre la perte qu'on luy vouloit causer il se mit a me dire en detail ce que luy avoit coute son navire pour cet effet il me dit les noms de ceux qui l'avoient basty et il me nomma enfin toutes les parties de son vaisseau les unes apres les autres sans qu'il en fust besoin pour me faire entendre qu'il estoit des meilleurs et des plus chers et qu'on luy vouloit faire une grande injustice il est vray dit amithone que c'est une grande persecution que de trouver de ces sortes de gens mais a vous dire la verite ces conversations graves et serieuses ou nul enjouement n'est permis ont quelque chose de si accablant que je ne m'y trouve jamais que le mal de teste ne m'en prenne car on y parle tousjours sur un mesme ton on n'y rit jamais et on y est aussi concerte qu'aux temples ces conversations sont sans doute incommodes reprit phaon mais il en est d'une espece opposee qui m'importune 
 encore estrangement en effet je me trouvay un jour a siracuse avec cinq ou six femmes et deux ou trois hommes qui se sont mis dans la teste que pour faire que la conversation soit agreable il faut rire eternellement de sorte que tant que ces personnes sont ensemble elles ne font que rire de tout ce qu'elles se disent les unes aux autres quoy qu'il ne soit pas trop plaisant et elles menent un si grand bruit que bien souvent elles n'entendent plus ce qu'elles disent et elles rient alors seulement parce que les autres rient sans en scavoir la raison cependant elles le sont d'aussi bon coeur que si elles en scavoient le sujet mais ce qu'il y a d'estrange c'est qu'effectivement leur rire est quelquefois si contagieux qu'on ne scauroit s'empescher de prendre leur maladie et je me suis trouve un jour avec de ces rieuses eternelles qui m'inspirerent si fort leur rire que je ris presques jusques aux larmes sans que je sceusse pourquoy je riois mais a dire la verite j'en eus tant de honte un quart d'heure apres que je passay en un moment de la joye au chagrin quoy qu'il y ait bien de la folie a rire sans sujet reprit sapho encore ne serois-je pas si embarrassee de me trouver avec ces sortes de gens que de me rencontrer avec ces personnes dont toute la conversation n'est que de longs recits pitoyables et funestes qui ennuyent terriblement car enfin je connois une femme qui scait toutes les avantures tragiques qui sont jamais arrivees et qui passe les journees entieres a 
 desplorer les malheurs de la vie et a raconter des choses lamentables avec une voix triste et langoureuse comme si elle estoit payee pour pleindre tous les malheurs du monde je scay encore une maison ou la conversation est bien importune reprit erinne car on n'y raconte jamais que de petites nouvelles de quartier dont les gens de la cour que le hazard y pousse n'ont que faire et ou ils n'entendent rien en mon particulier je scay bien que j'y entendis un jour nommer vingt personnes que je ne connoissois pas que j'y entendis raconter cent petits intrigues obscurs dont je ne me souciois point du tout et dont le bruit ne s'estendoit pas plus loin que la rue ou ils estoient arrivez et qui de plus estoient si peu divertissans par eux mesmes que je m'ennuay fort c'est encore un assez grand suplice reprit nicanor de se trouver dans une grande compagnie ou chacun a un secret principalement quand on n'en a pas et que l'on n'a rien a faire qu'a escouter ce petit murmure que font ceux qui s'entretiennent en parlant tout bas encore si c'estoient de veritables secrets repliqua sapho j'aurois patience mais il arrive bien souvent que ce qu'on dit avec tant de mistere ne sont que des bagatelles je scay encore d'autres gens adjousta alce qui selon moy ont quelque chose de facheux quoy qu'ils ayent aussi quelque chose d'agreable car enfin ils ont tellement la fantaisie des grandes nouvelles dans la teste qu'ils ne parlent jamais s'il ne se donne des batailles 
 tailles s'il n'y a quelque siege de ville considerable ou s'il n'y a quelque grande revolution dans le monde et l'on diroit a les entendre que les dieux ne changent la face de l'univers que pour fournir a leur conversation car excepte de ces grandes et importantes choses ils ne parlent point et n'en peuvent souffrir de nulle autre sorte si bien qu'a moins que de scavoir raisonner a fonds de politique et de scavoir l'histoire fort exactement on ne peut parler avec eux de quoy que ce soit il est vray repris-je que ce que vous dittes n'est pas tousjours agreable mais ces autres gens qui sans se soucier des affaires generales du monde ne veulent scavoir que les nouvelles particulieres ont encore quelque chose d'incommode car vous les voyez tousjours aussi occupez que s'ils avoient mille affaires quoy qu'ils n'en ayent point d'autre nature que celle de scavoir toutes celles des autres pour les aller redire de maison en maison comme des espions publics qui ne sont pas plus a celuy-cy qu'a celuy-la car ils disent a celuy-la les nouvelles de celuy-cy selon que l'occasion s'en presente sans qu'ils en tirent aucun avantage ainsi ils ne veulent pas mesme scavoir les choses pour les scavoir mais seulement pour les redire pour moy dit cydnon je suis bien embarrassee de vous entendre tous parler comme vous faites car enfin s'il n'est pas bien de parler tousjours de science comme damophile s'il est ennuyeux de s'entretenir de tous les petits soins d'une famille 
 s'il n'est pas a propos de parler souvent d'habillemens s'il est peu judicieux de ne s'entretenir que d'intrigues de galanterie s'il est peu divertissant de ne parler que de genealogies s'il est trop bas de s'entretenir de terres vendues ou eschangees s'il est mesme deffendu de parler trop de ses propres affaires si la trop grande gravite n'est pas divertissante en conversation s'il y a de la follie a rire trop souvent a rire sans sujet si les recits des choses funestes et extraordinaires ne plaisent pas si les petites nouvelles de quartier ennuyent ceux qui n'en sont point si ces conversations de petites choses qu'on ne dit qu'a l'oreille sont importunes si ces gens qui ne s entretiennent que de grandes nouvelles ont tort et si ces chercheurs eternels de nouvelles de cabinet n'ont pas raison de quoy faut il donc parler et de quoy faut-il que la conversation soit formee pour estre belle et raisonnable il faut qu'elle le soit de tout ce que nous avons repris repliqua agreablement sapho en souriant mais il faut qu'elle soit conduite par le jugement car enfin quoy que tous les gens dont nous avons parle soient incommodes je soutiens pourtant hardiment qu'on ne peut parler que de ce qu'ils parlent et qu'on en peut parler agreablement quoy qu'ils n'en parlent pas ainsi je comprens bien que ce que la belle sapho dit est vray repliqua phaon bien qu'il ne le semble pas d'abord car je suis tellement persuade que toutes sortes de choses peuvent tomber 
 a propos en conversation que je n'en excepte aucune en effet adjousta sapho il ne faut nullement s'imaginer qu'il y ait des choses qui n'y peuvent jamais entrer car il est vray qu'il y a certaines rencontres ou il est tres a propos d'en dire qui seroient ridicules en toute autre occasion pour moy dit amithone j'avoue que je voudrois bien qu'il y eust des regles pour la conversation comme il y en a pour beaucoup d'autres choses la regle principale reprit sapho est de ne dire jamais rien qui choque le jugement mais encore adjousta nicanor voudrois-je bien scavoir comment vous concevez que doit estre la conversation je concoy reprit elle qu'a en parler en general elle doit estre plus souvent de choses ordinaires et galantes que de grandes choses mais je concoy pourtant qu'il n'est rien qui n'y puisse entrer qu'elle doit estre libre et diversifiee selon les temps les lieux et les personnes avec qui l'on est et que le grand secret est de parler tousjours noblement des choses basses assez simplement des choses eslevees et fort galamment des choses galantes sans empressement et sans affectation ainsi quoy que la conversation doive tousjours estre esgallement naturelle et raisonnable je ne laisse pas de dire qu'il y a des occasions ou les sciences mesme peuvent y entrer de bonne grace et ou les follies agreables peuvent aussi trouver leur place pourveu qu'elles soient adroites et galantes de sorte qu'a parler raisonnablement on peut assurer 
 sans mensonge qu'il n'est rien qu'on ne puisse dire en conversation pourveu qu'on ait de l'esprit et du jugement et qu'on considere bien ou l'on est a qui l'on parle et qui l'on est soy mesme cependant quoy que le jugement soit absolument necessaire pour ne dire jamais rien de mal a propos il faut pourtant que la conversation paroisse si libre qu'il semble qu'on ne rejette aucune de ses pensees et qu'on die tout ce qui vient a la fantaisie sans avoir nul dessein affecte de parler plustost d'une chose que d'une autre car il n'y a rien de plus ridicule que ces gens qui ont certains sujets ou ils disent des merveilles et qui hors de la ne disent que des sotises ainsi je veux qu'on ne scache jamais ce que l'on doit dire et qu'on scache pourtant tousjours bien ce que l'on dit car si on agit de cette sorte les femmes ne feront point les scavantes mal a propos ny les ignorantes avec exces et chacun ne dira que ce qu'il devra dire pour rendre la conversation agreable mais ce qu'il y a de plus necessaire pour la rendre douce et divertissante c'est qu'il faut qu'il y ait un certain esprit de politesse qui en bannisse absolument toutes les railleries aigres aussi bien que toutes celles qui peuvent tant soit peu offencer la pudeur et je veux enfin qu'on scache si bien l'art de destourner les choses qu'on puisse dire une galanterie a la plus severe femme du monde qu'on puisse conter agreablement une bagatelle a des gens graves et serieux qu'on puisse parler a propos de science a 
 des ignorans si l'on y est force et qu'on puisse enfin changer son esprit selon les choses dont l'on parle et selon les gens qu'on entretient mais outre tout ce que je viens de dire je veux encore qu'il y ait un certain esprit de joye qui y regne qui sans tenir rien de la follie de ces rieuses eternelles qui menent un si grand bruit pour si peu de chose inspire pourtant dans le coeur de tous ceux de la compagnie une disposition a se divertir de tout et a ne s'ennuyer de rien et je veux qu'on dise de grandes et de petites choses pourveu qu'on les dise tousjours bien et que sans y avoir nulle contrainte on ne parle pourtant jamais que de ce qu'on doit parler enfin adjousta phaon sans vous donner la peine de parler davantage de la conversation pour en donner des loix il ne faut qu'admirer la vostre et qu'agir comme vous agissez pour meriter l'admiration de toute la terre car je vous assure que je ne seray repris de personne quand je diray qu'on ne vous a jamais rien entendu dire que d'agreable de galant et de judicieux et que qui que ce soit n'a sceu si bien que vous l'art de plaire de charmer et de divertir je voudrois bien repliqua-t'elle en rougissant que tout ce que vous dittes fust vray et que je pusse vous croire plustost que moy mais pour vous montrer que je ne le pins et que je connois que j'ay souvent tort je declare ingenument que je sens bien que je viens d'en trop dire et qu'au lieu de dire tout ce que je concoy de la conversation il falloit me 
 contenter de dire de toute la compagnie ce que vous venez de dire de moy apres cela tout le monde s'opposant chacun a son tour a la modestie de sapho nous luy donnasmes tant de louanges que nous pensasmes la mettre en colere et nous fismes en suite une conversation si galante et si enjouee qu'elle dura presques jusques au soir que cette belle troupe se separa il est vray que phaon qui estoit encore devenu plus amoureux ce jour la qu'il ne l'estoit auparavant demeura le dernier chez sapho pour l'entretenir encore une demie heure et il se trouva si presse de sa passion qu'il se resolut de ne la quitter point qu'il ne luy en eust donne quelques marques de sorte qu'apres que nous fusmes tous sortis il luy demanda pardon de l'importuner si long temps mais en fin madame luy dit-il quand je ne vous voy qu'en compagnie je ne vous voy point assez j'ay sans doute ma part a toutes les belles choses que vous dittes adjousta-t'il et je les entens et les admire avec plus de plaisir que qui que ce soit mais apres tout je sens encore plus de joye lors que je suis seul a vous escouter et trois ou quatre paroles qui ne seront entendues que de moy me donneront plus de satisfaction et plus de transport si vous me les voulez dire que toutes les belles choses que vous avez dittes aujourd'huy ne m'en ont donne quoy que j'en aye este charme si vous estiez amoureux de moy repliqua t'elle en souriant ce que vous venez de 
 dire seroit obligeamment pense et fort galamment dit mais comme je n'ay que des amis et que je ne veux point avoir d'amans il faut que je vous reproche de n'avoir pas bien profite de ce que j'ay eu l'audace de dire aujourd'huy touchant la conversation puis qu'enfin vous placez mal a propos une chose qui seroit fort jolie si elle estoit ditte a quelque personne que vous aimassiez et qui ne l'est point du tout puis que vous ne la dites qu'a une amie mais madame adjousta-t'il m'assurez vous que ce que je viens de vous dire seroit effectivement joly s'il estoit dit a une personne dont je serois amoureux comme vous scavez que je suis sincere repliqua-t'elle vous devez croire ce que je vous en ay dit croyez donc madame repliqua-t'il en la regardant que ce que je viens de vous dire est la plus jolie chose que je dis jamais puis que bien loin de la dire a une amie je la dis a une personne de qui je suis esperdument amoureux mais amoureux d'une maniere si respectueuse qu'elle ne s'en doit pas offencer si la bien-seance permettoit repliqua sapho en souriant qu'on ne s'offencast point d'une declaration d'amour je pense que je pourrois effectivement ne m'offencer pas de celle que vous venez de me faire tant elle est galamment faite mais phaon cela n'est pas ainsi et il n'y a autre chose a mon choix que de me mettre en colere ou de ne vous croire point ha madame s'escria phaon je ne balance pas entre ces deux choses j'aime beaucoup 
 mieux estre mal traite que de n'estre point creu comme vous ne m'avez jamais veue en colere repliqua-t'elle galamment vous ne scavez ce que vous demandez c'est pourquoy comme je scay mieux ce qui vous est propre que vous ne le scavez vous mesme je ne me facheray pas mais je ne vous croiray point eh de grace madame luy dit-il fachez vous et me croyez s'il est vray que vous ne puissiez croire que je vous aime sans vous facher car je vous le dis encore une fois j'aime mieux vous voir en colere qu'incredule comme on n'est pas maistre de sa croyance repliqua-t'elle on ne croit pas ce que l'on veut ainsi lors que j'ay dit que j'avois en mon choix de vous croire ou de me facher je pense que j'ay parle improprement et que je feray mieux de vous dire que m'estant impossible de vous croire il m'est impossible de me mettre en colere mais madame luy dit-il pourquoy ne croirez vous pas que je vous aime est-ce que vous n'estes point assez belle et assez charmante pour m'avoir donne de l'amour est-ce que je n'ay pas assez d'esprit pour connoistre ce que vous valez est-ce que j'ay l'ame dure et le coeur incapable d'estre possede d'une tendre passion est-ce que mes yeux n'ont jamais rencontre les vostres et ne vous ont jamais dit ce que ma bouche vient de vous dire et est-ce enfin que l'admirable sapho trouve le malheureux phaon si indigne d'estre charge de ses chaines qu'elle aime mieux le croire insensible 
 que de luy permettre de les porter mais madame quoy que vous me puissiez dire je ne croiray jamais qu'une personne qui scait tant de choses ne scache point que je l'adore je vous assure repliqua galamment sapho que bien loin de le scavoir je suis persuadee que vous ne le scavez pas vous mesme c'est pourquoy pour vous faire toute la grace que je puis je vous donne trois mois a bien examiner vos sentimens sans m'en rien dire et si apres cela vous croyez encore que vous m'aimez j'aviseray si je devray vous croire et me facher cependant nous vivrons s'il vous plaist tous deux comme a l'ordinaire sapho dit cela avec tant d'adresse et d'un air si galant que phaon ne pouvant douter qu'elle ne creust qu'il l'aimoit se tint bien heureux d'en avoir tant dit sans estre plus mal traite et comme sapho ne vouloit pas qu'il la forcast a se mettre en colere elle le congedia et elle garda un si juste temperamment en toutes ses paroles que si ses beaux yeux n'eussent un peu trahy le secret de son coeur phaon n'eust pu en tirer nul avantage mais comme elle avoit sans doute pour luy une tres violente inclination il y eut quelques uns de ses regards qui assurerent a phaon que sa passion ne luy desplaisoit pas de sorte qu'il se retira tres satisfait et tres amoureux il n'en fut pas de mesme de sapho car ma soeur m'a dit qu'elle fut fort inquiette ce n'est pas qu'elle n'eust pour phaon tous les sentimens avantageux qu'elle estoit capable 
 d'avoir mais c'est que connoissant la tendresse de son coeur elle craignoit de s'engager a aimer quelque chose et elle le craignoit d'autant plus qu'elle sentoit dans son ame une disposition si favorable a cet amant qu'elle aprehendoit que sa raison ne fust plus foible que son inclination ce qui luy fit encore connoistre combien elle se devoit craindre fut qu'elle remarqua que tout ce qu'alce luy disoit a l'avantage du prince tisandre l'irritoit plus qu'il ne faisoit auparavant et elle connut aussi qu'elle se divertissoit moins avec ses amies quand phaon n'y estoit pas qu'elle ne faisoit avant sa connoissance elle ne pouvoit mesme s'empescher quand la fantaisie luy prenoit de faire des vers de penser a phaon quoy qu'elle n'en fist pas alors pour luy et il occupoit desja si fort sa memoire son coeur et son imagination qu'elle disoit bien souvent son nom pour celuy d'un autre de sorte que cydnon luy en faisant la guerre luy demandoit de temps en temps en riant quel progres elle faisoit dans le coeur de phaon et quel progres phaon faisoit dans le sien au commencement sapho luy respondoit en riant aussi bien qu'elle apres elle luy respondoit plus serieusement en suite elle ne luy respondit plus et a la fin elle luy respondit avec chagrin si bien que cydnon cessa de luy en parler durant quelque temps mais apres un silence d'un mois sur ce sujet cette mesme personne qui n'avoit plus voulu respondre a ma soeur lors qu'elle luy avoit 
 parle de phaon luy en parla la premiere il est vray que cette conversation ne fut qu'en suitte d'une avanture que je m'en vais vous dire
 
 
 
 
vous scaurez donc qu'estant arrive un excellent peintre a mytilene qui se nommoit leon toutes les amies de sapho la persecuterent tellement de souffrir qu'il la peignist afin qu'elles pussent avoir son portrait qu'elle fut contrainte de s'y resoudre elle s'y resolut mesme d'une facon particuliere car vous scaurez que non seulement il fut resolu que toutes ses amies auroient chacune un portrait d'elle mais que ses amis en auroient aussi de sorte que ses amans profitant de cette occasion s'empresserent fort a ne vouloir passer que pour amis en cette rencontre et la chose se fit d'une maniere si galante qu'elle ne la put esviter en effet comme nous estions un jour chez elle nicanor phaon alce et moy et qu'amithone erinne athys et cydnon y estoient aussi nous nous mismes a persecuter cynegire afin qu'elle obligeast sapho a nous donner sa peinture chacun disant en cette occasion les droits qu'il avoit pour y pretendre si bien que par la nicanor et phaon quoy qu'amans de sapho ne parloient pourtant que comme estant de ses amis et alce quoy que confident de tisandre pour qui il vouloir principalement avoir cette peinture ne faisoit valoir que son amitie ainsi il n'y avoit que moy qui disois effectivement ce que je pensois ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit qu'il 
 estoit aise de remarquer que nicanor estoit bien fache de ne pouvoir avoir le portrait de sapho sans que phaon l'eust aussi bien que luy et que phaon n'estoit pas trop satisfait que nicanor eust une peinture qu'il pensoit seul meriter on voyoit bien aussi qu'alce eust souhaite qu'ils ne l'eussent eue ny l'un ny l'autre car il disoit en riant que si sapho le croyoit elle ne le donneroit qu'a luy en effet luy disoit-il comme je suis bel esprit et qu'on scait bien que mon coeur estoit engage devant que j'eusse l'honneur de vous voir vous pouvez me donner vostre portrait sans en craindre nulle dangereuse consequence car comme bel esprit que je pretens estre en cette occasion la bien-seance souffre que vous me le donniez et comme amant d'une belle personne que tout le monde connoist l'admirable sapho peut me donner sa peinture sans scrupule mais pour nicanor et pour phaon j'avoue que comme on ne scait pas leurs secrets il est un peu a craindre qu'en pensant ne donner son portrait qu'a ses amis elle ne le donne a ses amans des qu'alce eut dit cela phaon et nicanor se regarderent comme s'ils eussent cherche chacun a deviner ce qu'ils alloient respondre a alce ils n'en furent pourtant pas a la peine car prenant la parole pour mon interest comme chacun n'est icy que pour soy repris-je en parlant a alce je ne parle ny pour nicanor ny pour phaon mais je soustiens hardiment que quand je ne serois que frere de 
 cydnon je pourrois demander la peinture de la charmante sapho et je soustiens a mon tour adjousta phaon qu'alce n'est pas en estat d'estre digne de l'avoir quoy qu'il ait bien du merite car enfin puis qu'il est amoureux le portrait de sapho seroit mis au dessous d'un autre s'il est assez heureux pour en avoir un de sa maistresse comme il n'en aura peut-estre jamais reprit athys en rougissant je ne croy pas que cette raison doive obliger sapho a refuser alce qui a mon advis ne peut jamais avoir de maistresse qu'il ne mette au dessous d'elle quoy qu'il en soit dit phaon je trouve qu'il faut que la belle sapho ne donne sa peinture qu'a des amis qui ne soient point amoureux comme l'est alce mais cela estant ainsi adjousta nicanor qui assurera a la belle sapho que vous estes digne d'avoir son portrait car enfin vous ne faites presques que d'arriver a mytilene et vous avez demeure si long temps en sicile qu'il est croyable que vous y avez eu une maistresse mais pour moy il n'en est pas de mesme car comme je n'ay point sorty de lesbos depuis tres long temps on scait bien que je ne voy assidument que la belle sapho et que je n'ay point de galanterie qui me rende indigne d'avoir sa peinture puis que je suis revenu a mytelene reprit phaon sans avoir nulle raison pressante de le faire il est croyable que je ne suis pas amoureux au lieu ou vous dittes mais sans chercher de nouvelles raisons pour me justifier je consens que l'admirable 
 sapho me refuse sa peinture si elle croit que je sois amoureux en sicile pour moy dit amithone si j'en estois creue j'aurois seule le portrait de sapho et si l'on suivoit mon advis dit erinne on l'envoyeroit par toute la terre pourveu que je l'aye reprit athys elle en fera comme il luy plaira et pourveu que mon frere en ait un repliqua cydnon je consens qu'elle le refuse a alce a nicanor et a phaon en verite dit alors sapho je pense que pour agir raisonnablement je ne le dois donner a personne non non luy dit alors cynegire vous n'en serez pas la maistresse et pour ne desobliger personne vous le donnerez a toutes vos amies et a tous vos amis sans exception car si vous en exceptiez quelqu'un vous luy feriez peut-estre plus de grace qu'en le luy donnant quoy que ce que disoit cynegire deust donner de la joye a toute la troupe nicanor et phaon disputerent encore quelque temps entr'eux mais a la fin il fallut que pour avoir le portrait de sapho ils s'apaisassent puis que l'un ne pouvoit l'avoir sans l'autre conme sapho scavoit ce que phaon luy avoit dit elle jugea qu'il estoit a propos qu'elle ne se laissast pas vaincre si pronptement et qu'elle devoit mesme faire quelque difficulte particuliere pour luy si bien que se rangeant du sentiment de nicanor elle dit a phaon que peutestre avoit il vingt portraits qu'il mettroit au dessus du sien et il se fit alors entre eux une conversation tout a fait galante car encore qu'il 
 ne semblast avoir autre dessein en luy protestant qu'il n'estoit point amoureux en sicile que d'obtenir son portrait il ne laissoit pas de luy faire mille protestations d'amour qu'elle entendoit bien quoy qu'elle ne le tesmoignast pas elle l'embarrassa pourtant malicieusement et il se vit bien empesche lors qu'il voulut luy respondre car enfin luy dit-elle vous croyez avoir assez dit quand vous avez jure que vous n'estes point amoureux en sicile et cependant ce n'est pas assez et il faut me jurer aussi que vous ne l'estes point a mytilene mais madame luy dit-il pour se tirer d'un si grand embarras comme je n'y voy que vous il ne me semble pas qu'il soit necessaire de vous dire rien davantage que ce que je vous ay dit car vous devez aussi bien scavoir ma vie que moy mesme depuis que je suis icy j'ay des amies si aimables repliqua t'elle en souriant qu'encore que vous n'alliez guere ailleurs il ne seroit pas impossible que vous fussiez devenu amoureux dans ma chambre en mon particulier reprit amithone en riant je n'empescheray pas que phaon n'ait vostre portrait car je vous declare qu'il n'est point amoureux de moy l'en puis dire autant pour ce qui me regarde adjousta erinne et je dis encore davantage poursuivit athys puis que je respons qu'il ne l'est non plus de cydnon que de moy mais quand cela seroit dit alce ce n'est pas encore assez pour faire que sapho donne son portrait a phaon car il peut estre amoureux 
 d'elle de sorte que comme elle ne veut donner son portrait qu'a ses amis et qu'elle ne le veut pas donner a ses amans il faut qu'il jure qu'il ne l'aime point s'il veut avoir sa peinture ha pour cela repliqua sapho je l'en dispense car je suis persuadee qu'il n'a rien dans le coeur pour moy qui doive m'empescher de luy donner mon portrait puis que cela est dit alors cynegire sans donner loisir a phaon de respondre il ne faut plus disputer sur une chose resolue et il faut que le peintre commence des demain a travailler et en effet leon commenca d'esbaucher le portrait de sapho le jour suivant de sorte que de cette facon les amis les amans les rivaux et les amies estoient esgallement favorisez phaon trouvoit pourtant quelque chose de doux a penser que sapho scavoit son amour et qu'elle ne laissoit pas de souffrir qu'il eust sa peinture mais cette agreable pensee fut troublee par celle qui la suivit un moment apres car il ne put songer que nicanor estoit aussi favorise que luy sans en avoir de la douleur neantmoins comme il ne scavoit pas si son rival avoit descouvert sa passion a sapho il se flattoit de quelque esperance il scavoit bien aussi qu'alce estoit confident du prince tisandre mais on luy avoit tellement assure qu'il n'avoit rien a craindre de ce coste la que le portrait qu'il devoit avoir ne l'inquiettoit guere d'autre part sapho dans la violente inclination qu'elle avoit pour phaon n'estoit pas trop marrie que le hazard luy eust donne une innocente 
 voye de luy donner sa peinture car il vivoit avec elle d'une maniere si obligeante qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle ne fust pas bien aise de l'obliger en effet il estoit demeure dans les termes qu'elle luy avoit prescrits puis qu'il ne luy parloit point de sa passion mais il la luy faisoit pourtant connoistre par tant de choses differentes et il scavoit si bien l'art de parler d'amour sans en parler que jamais personne ne l'a si bien sceu estant certain que quoy qu'il parust agir sans affectation il ne faisoit pas une action aux lieux ou estoit sapho qu'il n'en tirast quelque avantage car si le hazard le mettoit aupres d'elle il luy faisoit voir si clairement la joye qu'il en avoit que jugeant de son amour par sa satisfaction elle en jugeoit equitablement au contraire si son malheur faisoit qu'il en fust esloigne il luy montroit si adroitement la douleur qu'il en avoit que sapho jugeant encore de son amour par son chagrin ne la pouvoit croire que grande enfin s'il luy parloit sans estre entendu il luy parloit d'un air si adroit si galant et si passionne tout ensemble quoy qu'il ne luy parlast pas ouvertement de sa passion qu'il ne laissoit pas d'en tirer beaucoup davantage s'il la regardoit ses yeux luy descouvroient toute la tendresse de son amour et j'ay remarque cent et cent fois par une aimable rougeur qui paroissoit sur le visage de sapho qu'elle trouvoit que les regards de phaon luy en disoient trop ce n'est pas qu'en n'y voulant point respondre ses beaux yeux n'y respondissent quelques fois malgre elle sans y respondre 
 rigoureusement en effet pendant qu'on sit sa peinture et que nous regardions travailler le peintre qui la faisoit l'admirable sapho resvant assez profondement arresta ses beaux yeux sur le visage de phaon qu'elle ne voyoit pourtant pas parce que sa resverie l'occupoit mais ce qu'il y eut d'estrange fut qu'elle avoua apres a ma soeur que lors qu'elle regardoit phaon sans le voir il estoit toutesfois l'objet de la resverie qui l'en empeschoit cependant comme ce qu'elle pensoit de luy ne luy estoit pas desavantageux il y avoit un air si languissant et si amoureux dans ses yeux quoy qu'il n'y eust nulle affectation que nicanor ne pouvant souffrir que son rival fust si favorablement regarde luy dit qu'elle ne regardoit pas assez le peintre pour qu'il pust bien faire son portrait et que si elle continuoit de resver comme elle faisoit il la peindroit trop melancolique a peine nicanor eut il dit cela que sapho en rougit car elle s'aperceut bien par quel sentiment il avoit parle elle sceut pourtant luy respondre si a propos qu'elle persuada a toute la compagnie qu'il estoit impossible de se faire peindre sans estre surpris de ces sortes de resveries qui venoient disoit elle de la contrainte ou l'estoit de n'oser changer de place mais pour phaon il fut si irrite contre nicanor qu'il le contredit cent fois le reste du jour en effet s'il disoit qu'il croyoit que ce peintre rencontreroit heureusement a faire ressembler les yeux de sapho phaon disoit que ce n'estoit 
 pas son advis et qu'il luy sembloit qu'il avoit bien mieux attrape l'air de sa bouche si nicanor trouvoit que cette peinture estoit trop pasle phaon disoit au contraire qu'elle estoit plustost un peu trop vive et si le peintre eust voulu s'arrester aux divers sentimens de ces deux rivaux ils eussent eu un mauvais portrait de leur maistresse mais ce qu'il y eut de plus plaisant dans l'humeur contredisante de phaon fut qu'apres que cette esbauche fut achevee nicanor dit qu'elle faisoit tort a sapho parce qu'elle estoit mille fois plus belle que son portrait de sorte que phaon n'osant pas le contredire puis qu'il ne l'eust pu sans dire que cette peinture estoit plus belle que celle pour qui elle estoit faite il ne le contredit pas mais il fit du moins voir dans ses yeux qu'il avoit depit de ne le pouvoit contredire et il voulut mesme flatter le peintre que nicanor blasmoit afin de luy estre oppose en quelque chose c'est pourquoy il dit qu'il ne falloit nullement s'estonner si on ne pouvoit avoir un portrait tout a fait ressemblant de l'admirable sapho parce qu'elle avoit un feu dans les yeux qui estoit inimitable et qu'il estoit persuade que leon avoit fait ce que nul autre peintre n'eust pu faire comme toute la compagnie scavoit par quel motif ces deux hommes se contredisoient nous en eusmes bien du plaisir car comme leur dispute n'estoit pas fort aigre parce qu'ils respectoient tous deux trop sapho pour se quereller en sa presence nous nous en divertismes 
 admirablement et sapho elle mesme n'estoit pas trop marrie de recevoir une nouvelle marque de l'amour de phaon par l'opiniastrete qu'il avoit a contredire nicanor sur la fin de la conversation nous eusmes encore un autre divertissement car comme on voulut obliger le peintre a dire precisement le jour qu'il retoucheroit ce portrait et le temps ou il commenceroit celuy de toutes ces autres dames qui vouloient donner leur peinture a sapho comme elle leur donnoit la sienne il dit que ce ne pouvoit estre ny le lendemain ny le jour suivant parce qu'il estoit occupe a faire un grand portrait de damophile ou il y avoit beaucoup de travail mais pourquoy luy dit sapho y a-t'il plus a travailler a son portrait qu'au mien c'est madame luy dit-il qu'elle veut que je represente aupres d'elle une grande table ou il y ait quantite de livres des pinceaux une lire des instrumens de mathematique et mille autres sortes de choses qui puissent marquer son scavoir je pense mesme qu'elle veut estre habillee comme on peint les muses si bien qu'il ne sera pas aise que l'esbauche de ce portrait soit bien tost faite eh de grace leon s'escria sapho en riant habillez moy comme on habille la bergere oenone afin que mon portrait n'ait rien qui ressemble a celuy de damophile et en effet il falut que le peintre qui avoit esbauche l'habillement comme devant estre celuy d'une nimphe luy promist de l'habiller en bergere pour la contenter 
 apres quoy elle fit une si plaisante et si innocente raillerie du portrait de damophile que nous achevasmes de passer le jour fort agreablement mais enfin madame pour accourcir mon recit autant que je le pourray vous scaurez que le portrait de sapho estant acheve fut une des plus admirables choses du monde l'habit de bergere estoit mesme si avantageux a l'air du visage de sapho qu'il n'y avoit rien de plus aimable que cette peinture si bien que toutes les coppies qu'elle en devoit donner a ses amies et a ses amis estant faites et les portraits d'amithone d'athys d'erinne et de cydnon estant achevez la distribution de toutes ces peintures se fit sapho donna la sienne a ses amies et elles luy donnerent les leurs mais pour nicanor phaon alce et moy qui estions au rang des amis nous ne fismes que la remercier d'un present qui nous estoit si precieux il est vray que ce fut d'une maniere differente car nicanor qui n'osoit luy parler de sa passion ne la remercia que comme un amy qui n'osoit luy dire qu'il estoit son amant mais pour phaon il le fit avec des paroles si passionnees qu'encore qu'il ne prononcast point le mot d'amour sapho ne pouvoit escouter son compliment comme un compliment d'amitie pour alce comme il vouloit tousjours rendre office au prince tisandre il luy dit a demy bas qu'il ne seroit pas seul a la remercier d'une si precieuse liberalite et qu'elle le seroit un jour par une personne qui valoit mieux que luy de sorte 
 que je fus le seul qui luy rendis grace par un pur sentiment d'amitie et de reconnoissance ordinaire cependant comme phaon estoit tousjours le plus opiniastre en ses visites le jour qu'il la remercia de sa peinture il fut le dernier chez elle si bien que regardant l'original de ce portrait qui estoit encore sur sa table il vint a parler de l'extravagance de damophile qui avoit voulu se faire peindre avec tout ce grand attirail de scavante et en suite de ce qu'avoit dit sapho lors qu'elle avoit prie le peintre de l'habiller comme on peint la bergere oenone du moins madame luy dit-il estes vous bien assuree que vous n'aurez jamais son destin comme vous avez son habillement car il n'est pas possible que si vous aimez jamais quelqu'un celuy que vous aimerez vous abandonne quand les deesses auroient tous les jours une nouvelle contestation pour leur beaute repliqua t'elle en souriant il pourroit estre que quand je serois d'humeur a aimer un berger aussi bien qu'oenone il ne seroit pas leur juge et que sa constance ne seroit pas mite a une aussi difficile espreuve que celle de son berger ha madame s'escria-t'il pourveu que cet heureux berger que vous choisiriez eust le coeur de phaon il ne seroit guere sensible aux promesses de la plus belle de ces trois deesses quand elle luy montreroit la mesme beaute qui fit paris infidelle car enfin madame vous estes pour moy l'unique beaute de toute la terre en effet je n'y trouve rien d'aimable que vous et 
 vous possedes si absolument mon coeur que vous en deffendez l'entree a tout ce qu'il y a d'autres dames au monde je pense mesme adjousta-t'il que vous en chasserez mes amis et qu'a force d'estre sensible pour vous je deviendray insensible pour tout autre de grace luy dit alors sapho en l'interrompant pensez bien a ce que vous dittes car si vous m'estes quelque chose au dela d'un amy il faut me rendre mon portrait puis que je ne pretens pas qu'on me puisse reprocher de l'avoir donne a un amant non non madame luy dit-il la chose n'est pas en termes que je puisse vous rendre vostre peinture et il faudroit m'oster la vie pour me la pouvoir arracher d'entre les mains aussi ay-je voulu attendre que je l'eusse a vous dire que je m'ennuye tellement de ne vous dire jamais ce que je pense que je ne vous puis plus obeir de sorte que quand vous devriez vous irriter me bannir et me mal traiter horriblement il faut que je vous die que je vous aime toutes les fois que je vous le pourray dire sans tesmoins et il faut mesme que je vous conjure de ne m'en hair point car enfin je ne puis vivre sans vous aimer je ne puis vous aimer sans vous le dire et je ne puis vous le dire sans vous conjurer de rendre justice a la grandeur et a la fidellite de ma passion en la preferant a la qualite et au merite de mes rivaux je voy bien madame adjousta-t'il que vous vous preparez a me dire beaucoup de choses facheuses mais je suis resolu de les endurer 
 toutes avec un profond respect et de ne vous obeir pourtant point quand vous me deffendrez de vous dire que je vous aime c'en une chose assez nouvelle repliqua sapho que de protester qu'on desobeira devant que d'avoir receu le commandement ou l'on pretend desobeir quoy qu'il en soit madame luy dit-il la chose en est arrivee au point que je ne puis plus vivre comme j'ay vescu et il faut absolument que vous me permettiez de vous aimer ou que vous me commandiez de mourir comme je ne pretens avoir aucun droit de regler vostre amour ny vostre haine repliqua-t'elle je n'ay rien a vous deffendre ny a vous commander et comme vous estes un trop honneste homme pour en desirer la mort je ne vous feray pas de commandement qui vous oblige a la chercher mais je vous diray que quand je serois persuadee que sans offencer la bien-seance je pourrois souffrir d'estre aimee de vous je devrois par generosite vous advertir que je serois la plus difficile personne du monde a contenter en effet je voudrois tant de choses differentes en celuy dont je voudrois estre aimee qu'il seroit assez difficile de les pouvoir rencontrer en une seule personne c'est pourquoy il vaut mieux ne s'engager pas mal a propos en une affection qui ne seroit peut-estre pas durable quand mesme elle seroit presentement tres violente car enfin il y a dans le coeur de tous les hommes une pente si naturelle a l'inconstance que quand je serois mille fois plus aimable que je 
 ne le suis il y auroit de l'imprudence a croire qu'il s'en pust trouver un tout a fait fidelle cependant si je voulois un amant j'en voudrois un sur qui le temps et l'absence n'eussent aucun pouvoir et j'en voudrois un enfin comme on n'en trouve point au monde c'est pourquoy je vous conseille de vous contenter d'estre de mes amis car si j'avois souffert que vous m'aimassiez vous seriez peut-estre tres malheureux ou vous ne seriez pas longtemps mon amant ha madame luy dit-il je le seray toute ma vie quoy que vous puissiez faire et il ne s'agit d'autre chose que de scavoir si vous souffrirez que je vous die que je vous aime et si je pourray esperer d'estre aime comme il n'est pas deffendu d'estre curieuse repliqua sapho je ne seray pas marrie de scavoir de quelle maniere vous estes capable d'aimer c'est pourquoy sans m'engager a rien je consens seulement que vous me disiez quels sentimens cette passion vous peut donner car jusques a cette heure je n'ay point connu d'hommes qui n'eussent mille sentimens grossiers de cette passion que je concoy ce me semble d'une maniere plus pure et plus delicate tout ce que je vous puis dire madame luy dit-il est que vous estes si absolument maistresse de mon coeur de mon esprit et de ma volonte que vous n'avez pas un sentiment que vous ne me puissiez inspirer ouy madame vous n'avez qu'a me faire connoistre de quelle facon vous voulez qu'on vous aime et vous trouverez en moy une obeissance aveugle 
 pour toutes vos volontez car dans les sentimens ou je suis je mets la perfection de l'amour a vouloir tout ce que veut la personne aimee mais enfin madame sans m'amuser a vous redire toute cette conversation je vous diray en deux mots que sapho sans rien accorder a phaon ne le desespera pourtant point et que phaon sans avoir rien obtenu de sapho se separa toutesfois d'avec elle l'esprit remply de beaucoup d'esperance car si sa bouche ne luy avoit rien dit de bien favorable elle ne luy avoit rien dit de facheux et ses yeux luy avoient mesme parle si doucement qu'il ne pouvoit pas s'estimer malheureux en la conjoncture ou il se trouvoit il se seroit pourtant encore trouve bien plus heureux s'il eust pu scavoir une conversation que sapho eut le lendemain avec ma soeur car enfin comme je l'ay desja dit cette personne qui avoit tesmoigne a cydnon ne trouver pas bon qu'elle luy fist la guerre de phaon luy en parla la premiere et luy en parla avec une si grande confiance qu'elle luy descouvrit tout ce qui se passoit dans son coeur ha cydnon luy dit elle que je veux de mal a democede de m'avoir fait connoistre phaon car enfin selon toutes les apparences il s'opiniastrera a m'aimer et je ne pourray peut-estre m'opiniastrer a refuser son affection je sens deja que ma raison ne deffend mon coeur que foiblement et que mon coeur luy mesme est si peu a moy que si celuy de phaon n'y estoit pas davantage je serois bien 
 malheureuse au reste je ne scay quel dessein est le mien en vous avouant ma foiblesse car il y a des instans ou je croy que c'est afin que vous la condamniez et que je m'en repente et il y en a d'autres ou je croy au contraire que c'est afin que vous la flattiez cependant je ne laisse pas d'estre au desespoir de sentir tout ce que je sens dans mon ame ce n'est pas que je ne trouve quelque chose de doux dans mon inquietude mais c'est que ma raison n'estant pas encore tout a fait preoccupee je voy le peril ou je suis exposee en m'engageant a souffrir l'affection de phaon en effet il est presques impossible qu'il m'aime comme je le veux estre et il ne l'est guere moins que je ne l'aime pas plus que je ne voudrois il est vray reprit cydnon que si vous voulez qu'on vous aime sans songer jamais a vous espouser qu'il sera difficile que phaon vous obeisse il faudra pourtant qu'il le face s'il veut que je l'aime repliqua-t'elle et qu'il se contente de l'esperance de pouvoir estre aime sans pretendre rien davantage voila donc madame en quels sentimens estoit sapho neantmoins quoy qu'elle eust une tres grande inclination pour phaon elle se deffendit encore quelque temps sans souffrir qu'il luy dist qu'il l'aimoit et sans luy permettre d'esperer d'estre aime elle vivoit pourtant aveque luy fort civilement et il en vint enfin au point qu'elle ne luy faisoit plus de secret des choses qu'elle avoit escrites ou de celles qu'elle escrivoit de sorte que nous estant un jour 
 luy et moy trouvez seuls avec elle nous la pressasmes tant d'avoir la bonte de nous vouloir montrer tous les vers qu'elle avoit faits qu'enfin elle se resolut de nous en faire voir une partie mais comme elle avoit une modestie qui ne pouvoit souffrir qu'elle nous les leust elle nous les bailla et s'en alla dans son cabinet pour escrire deux ou trois lettres pressees qu'elle avoit a faire pour quelques unes de ses parentes a qui il falloit qu'elle respondist mais madame je suis au desespoir de n'estre pas en estat de vous faire voir ce que nous vismes non seulement parce que vous auriez le plaisir de voir les plus belles choses du monde mais encore parce que vous comprendriez mieux le bizarre et surprenant effet de cette agreable lecture dans le coeur de phaon cependant puis que je n'ay pas ces admirables vers il faut que je tasche pourtant de vous faire entendre la chose autrement imaginez vous donc madame qu'apres que sapho nous eut remis entre les mains plusieurs magnifiques tablettes dans quoy les vers qu'elle vouloit que nous vissions estoient escrits et qu'elle fut entree dans son cabinet phaon se mit diligemment a en ouvrir une et a lire une elegie qu'elle avoit autrefois faite pour ma soeur pendant une absence mais madame il y trouva des choses si touchantes si tendres et si passionnees qu'il en eut le coeur esmeu en les lisant et il s'arresta cent et cent fois pour les admirer mais a la fin l'ayant force de lire d'autres vers il leut 
 une chancon qu'elle avoit faite sur le retour de ma soeur ou il y avoit en peu de paroles tous les transports de joye que l'amour la plus ardente peut causer dans un coeur amoureux lors qu'on revoit ce qu'on aime apres en avoir este esloigne en suite phaon leut un autre petit ouvrage que sapho avoit fait pour exprimer la joye qu'on a de rencontrer d'improviste une personne qu'on aime mais madame cette joye estoit depeinte avec des paroles si puissantes qu'elle faisoit voir ce qu'elle decrivoit elle depeignoit admirablement la douceur des regards le battement de coeur qu'une agreale surprise donne l'esmotion du visage l'agitation de l'esprit et tous les mouvemens d'une ame passionnee mais madame apres que phaon eut acheve de lire ces vers tout haut il les releut tout bas et apres avoir acheve de les relire il les regarda attentivement sans rien dire et sans se mettre en estat d'en lire d'autres de sorte que voulant satisfaire ma curiosite je le fis revenir de la resverie que je croyois que la seule admiration luy causoit et je le forcay de lire des vers que sapho avoit faits sur une jalousie d'amitie qui avoit este entre athys et amithone mais madame cette jalousie avoit le veritable carractere de l'amour et tout ce que cette tirannique passion peut inspirer de plus violent dans un coeur amoureux y estoit exprime si merveilleusement qu'il estoit impossible de le faire mieux pour moy je ne fis autre chose que faire des exclamations 
 continuelles a la louange de sapho tant que phaon leut cet ouvrage mais pour luy il le lisoit avec une attention pleine de chagrin qui commenca de me surprendre neantmoins pour ne perdre point de temps a luy en demander la cause je me mis a lire certains vers que sapho avoit faits a la campagne durant un petit voyage de huit jours ou elles avoient este seules elle et ma soeur a une fort agreable maison qui est a sapho de sorte que par ces vers elle representoit la felicite de deux personnes qui s'aiment et prouvoit par la qu'elles n'avoient besoin que d'elles mesmes pour vivre heureuses descrivant en suite la tendresse de leur affection leur sincerite l'une pour l'autre leurs plaisirs leurs promenades leurs entretiens sur la douceur de l'amitie et mille autres choses semblables mais madame tout ce que l'amour la plus delicate peut inventer de delicieux estoit descrit dans ces vers quoy qu'il ne s'agist que d'exagerer la douceur de l'amitie et je ne vy de ma vie rien de si beau de si galant et de si passionne cependant quelques beaux que fussent ces vers je ne pus achever de les lire car phaon qui les avoit escoutez avec une attention extraordinaire m'interrompit brusquement par ces paroles ha democede me dit-il sapho est la plus admirable personne du monde mais je suis le plus malheureux amant de la terre et vous estes le moins fin de tous les hommes pour la premiere chose que vous dittes repliquay-je j'en 
 tombe d'accord mais je n'entens point ny la seconde ny la troisiesme car pourquoy estes vous le plus malheureux amant de la terre et pourquoy suis-je le moins fin de tous les hommes je suis le plus malheureux amant de la terre repliqua-t'il parce que sapho aime infailliblement quelqu'un et vous estes le moins fin de tous les hommes puis que vous m'avez assure qu'elle n'aimoit rien mais encore luy dis-je sur quoy fondez vous l'opinion ou vous semblez estre qu'elle aime quelque chose je la fonde reprit-il sur ce que je viens de lire car enfin democede il est absolument impossible d'escrire des choses si tendres et si passionnees sans les avoir senties comme phaon disoit cela avec une agitation d'esprit estrange sapho revint ou nous estions et elle y revint dans la pensee d'aller recevoir mille louanges de phaon mais madame si je ne l'eusse louee elle ne l'eust pas este autant qu'elle le meritoit car phaon avoit l'esprit si agite de cette jalousie sans objet qui commencoit de naistre dans son coeur qu'a peine pouvoit il parler neantmoins apres que je luy eus donne le temps de se remettre pendant que je louois sapho cette mesme jalousie qui avoit cause son silence le luy fit rompre afin de tascher de descouvrir dans les yeux de cette admirable fille il les soubcons estoient bien fondez ce que je viens de voir madame luy dit-il est si surprenant que vous ne devez pas trouver estrange que je ne puisse vous tesmoigner mon admiration 
 comme il y a desja assez long temps que vous me connoissez respondit-elle pour scavoir que je n'aime pas trop qu'on me loue en ma presence vous me feriez plaisir si vous vouliez bien ne me dire rien davantage de ce que vous venez de voir ha madame luy dit-il avec precipitation il faut que je vous en dise encore quelque chose et que je vous demande hardiment ce que vous faites de toute la tendresse dont vostre coeur est remply car enfin il y a des choses si touchantes dans ce que j'ay leu qu'il faut du moins qu'il soit capable de pouvoir estre touche il l'est aussi du merite de mes amies repliqua-t'elle en rougissant et l'amitie que j'ay pour elles a quelque chose de si tendre que si j'avois autant d esprit que d'amitie j'escrirois encore plus tendrement que je ne fais phaon qui regardoit sapho attentivement ne manqua pas de remarquer sa rougeur mais il ne devina pourtant point qu'elle luy estoit avantageuse et que sapho n'avoit charne de couleur en luy respondant que parce qu'elle se reprochoit en secret a elle mesme qu'elle avoit des sentimens trop tendres pour luy au contraire expliquant cette rougeur d'une autre facon il creut qu'assurement sapho avoit une passion dans l'ame pour quelqu'un de ses rivaux et cette croyance excita un si grand trouble dans son esprit qu'au lieu de continuer de luy faire galamment la guerre comme il en avoit eu le dessein afin de tascher de descouvrir ses veritables sentimens il se teut tout d'un coup et s'il ne fust 
 arrive du monde son silence eust sans doute paru fort bizarre a la belle sapho mais comme nicanor phylire et quelques autres dames arriverent sapho se hasta de cacher les vers qu'elle nous avoit monstrez si bien que durant cela elle ne prit pas garde au silence de phaon cependant comme il sentit qu'il avoit l'esprit fort inquiet il me fit signe que nous nous en allassions et en effet durant que sapho recevoit ces dames nous sortismes sans luy dire adieu et nous fusmes nous promener au bord de la mer mais madame nous n'y fusmes pas plustost que phaon se mit a se pleindre de moy car enfin dit-il comment peut-il estre possible que vous soyez frere de la meilleure amie de sapho et que vous ne scachiez pas qui elle aime il est pourtant constamment vray adjousta-t'il qu'il faut de necessite absolue qu'elle ait de l'amour ou qu'elle en ait eu car on ne scauroit jamais toucher si delicatement la tendresse des passions qu'elle exprime sans les avoir esprouvees en effet me disoit-il encore il y a certains sentimens bizarres tendres et passionnez dans ce que sapho nous a fait voir que l'amitie toute seule ne pourroit luy avoir suggerez et il faut absolument qu'elle aime ou qu'elle ait aime pour moy luy dis-je qui connois sapho des le berceau qui connois de plus tous ceux qui l'ont veue ou qui la voyent et qui suis frere d'une fille qui scait tout le secret de son coeur je vous proteste que je suis fortement persuade que quoy 
 que sapho ait presques este aimee de tous ceux qui l'ont veue elle n'a pourtant point encore eu d'amour mais je le suis en mesme temps qu'elle est fort capable d'en avoir et que si cette passion s'emparoit de son coeur elle aimeroit avec plus de tendresse et plus de fidellite que personne n'aimera jamais ha democede me dit-il vous me trompez ou vous estes trompe et il faut que sapho aime quelqu'un pour escrire ce que j'ay veu aujourd'huy mais luy dis-je pour tascher de soulager son esprit si vous aviez veu un ouvrage que sapho fit pour une victoire que pittacus remporta vous verriez qu'elle parle aussi bien de guerre que d'amour et vous en tireriez cette consequence avantageuse pour vous et pour elle que comme elle parle admirablement de guerre sans y avoir este elle peut aussi parler admirablement d'amour sans en avoir eu ha democede me dit-il ce n'est pas la mesme chose car la seule lecture d'homere peut luy avoir apris a parler de guerre mais l'amour seulement peut luy avoir apris a parler d'amour pour moy luy repliquay-je je ne scay comment vous raisonnez mais je scay bien qu'homere parle d'amour aussi bien que de guerre et que sapho peut y avoir apris comment il en faut parler eh democede me dit-il avec un chagrin estrange ce que vous me dittes m'espouvante tellement qu'il y a des momens ou j'ay presques envie de croire que c'est vous qui avez apris a sapho a escrire tendrement comme elle fait 
 car enfin si vous n'y entendiez pas quelque finesse vous diriez ce que je dis et vous soustiendriez hardiment comme je le soustiens qu'on ne peut bien escrire d'amour sans en avoir eu en effet adjousta-t'il si vous comparez les sentimens d'amour qui sont dans homere a ceux qui sont dans les vers de sapho vous y trouverez une grande difference et le bon homere a bien mieux represente l'amitie de patrocle et d'achille que l'amour d'achille et de briseis encore si sapho n'avoit parle que des grands sentimens que l'amour donne et qu'elle n'eust dit que ce que font dire les violentes passions en certaines rencontres extraordinaires je dirois comme vous qu'elle auroit pu les comprendre et les escrire sans avoir eu d'amour mais democede ce n'est pas cela car les sentimens qui me persuadent que sapho a de l'amour ou en a eu sont certains sentimens delicats tendres et passionnez que l'on ne scauroit deviner et qu'on a mesme peine a croire qui soient dans le coeur des autres quand on ne les a point dans le sien en effet adjousta-t'il mon experience vous prouve ce que je dis car quand je suis revenu a mytilene je vous avoue ingenument que je ne connoissois l'amour que d'une maniere si grossiere que je n'eusse pas connu la beaute des vers de sapho et la belle stupide que j'avois aimee en sicile ne m'avoit inspire que des sentimens proportionnez a son esprit ainsi democede c'est l'amour que j'ay pour sapho qui m'a apris 
 a connoistre celle qu'elle a infailliblement dans le coeur et il ne s'agit plus de scavoir autre chose sinon qui est ce bienheureux qui a pu estre assez aime de cette admirable fille ou qui l'est encore pour luy avoir inspire des sentimens si tendres c'est pourquoy mon cher democede adjousta-t'il si ce n'est point vous qui ayez apris a aimer a la belle sapho aidez moy a descouvrir qui a elle aime afin que je face de deux choses l'une ou que je me guerisse ou que je perde mon rival serieusement luy dis-je encore une fois je ne croy point que sapho ait rien aime car enfin adjoustay-je il est constamment vray qu'elle n'aime pas le prince tisandre et qu'elle n'aime pas nicanor et il est vray encore que ces deux amans qui l'ont observee d'assez pres ne l'ont jamais soubconnee de rien aimer c'est pourquoy je ne voy pas que vous ayez raison de vous mettre une si bizarre jalousie dans l'esprit et si mal fondee je ne scay democede me dit-il assez brusquement comment il est possible que vous pensiez ce que vous dittes que vous pensez car pour moy quand j'aurois veu de mes propres yeux et entendu de mes propres oreilles mille choses a me faire connoistre que sapho a de l'amour ou qu'elle en a eu je ne le croirois pas plus fortement que je le croy c'est pourquoy s'il est vray que vous n'aimiez pas cette belle personne et que vous n'ayez nul interest cache a dire ce que vous dittes je vous conjure d'employer toute vostre adresse a descouvrir 
 ce que je veux scavoir cydnon vous aime si tendrement et vous avez tant d'esprit adjousta-t'il en me flattant que si vous le voulez vous m'aprendrez bien tost qui est ce bien heureux qui regne dans le coeur de sapho et qui luy inspire des sentimens si tendres eh dieux disoit-il que j'eusse trouve mon sort digne d'envie si l'admirable sapho eust pense pour moy ce que je voy qu'elle a pense pour un autre ce qui m'espouvante adjoustoit il sans me donner le temps de luy rien dire c'est qu'il y ait un homme qui ait la gloire d'avoir donne de l'amour a cette merveilleuse fille sans que la joye qu'il en a descouvre leur intelligence car le moyen de cacher une felicite si sensible apres cela il me dit encore cent choses qui faisoient voir esgallement et son amour et sa jalousie en suite de quoy je luy promis de m'informer aussi soigneusement de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir que si j'en eusse este aussi persuade que luy cependant il est certain que je scavois bien que sapho n'avoit rien aime si elle ne l'aimoit et que ce qui luy faisoit escrire des choses si tendres estoit qu'elle avoit en effet l'ame naturellement tres passionnee je ne laissay pourtant pas pour la satisfaction de mon amy de m'en informer a ma soeur comme si j'en eusse doute mais je m'en informay inutilement car elle ne me dit pas que sapho commencoit d'aimer phaon et elle ne m'eust pu dire sans mentir qu'elle eust aime avant que l'avoir connu si bien que disant a phaon que je ne 
 descouvrois rien il estoit en une inquietude estrange et il m'a avoue depuis qu'il y avoit eu des jours ou il avoit creu que sapho m'aimoit et que l'amitie qu'elle tesmoignoit avoir pour ma soeur n'estoit que pour cacher celle qu'elle avoit pour moy neantmoins comme il ne voyoit rien d'ailleurs qui pust le confirmer dans cette croyance il n'osoit m'en rien tesmoigner il ne pouvoit pourtant si bien se contraindre que je ne m'aperceusse qu'il avoit l'ame a la gehenne et en effet cette bizarre jalousie le tourmenta d'une si cruelle maniere que tout le monde s'aperceut aussi bien que moy qu'il avoit quelque inquiettude sapho mesme luy demanda la cause du changement de son humeur mais il n'osa la luy dire et il n'osoit mesme plus m'en parler a cause des soubcons qui luy passoient par la fantaisie de sorte qu'il menoit une vie fort melancolique au reste comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'il n'entendist tres souvent reciter des vers de sapho ce luy estoit tous les jours un nouveau suplice car il ne pouvoit en entendre parler sans une esmotion estrange de plus il observoit non seulement tous les hommes qui alloient souvent chez sapho mais il observoit mesme ceux qui n'y alloient guere et la jalousie n'a jamais plus tourmente personne qu'elle tourmenta phaon quoy qu'il n'en eust aucun sujet et qu'il fust le seul aime de tous les amans de sapho car enfin il ne scavoit que faire ny qu'imaginer pour s'esclaircir des soubcons 
 qu'il avoit aussi l'inutilite de ses soins luy donna-t'elle un si grand chagrin que sentant bien qu'il ne le pouvoit plus cacher il se resolut de s'en aller quelque temps a la campagne pour tascher de guerir de sa jalousie et de son amour tout ensemble et il s'y resolut mesme sans m'en parler de sorte que je fus fort surpris de son depart sapho murmura aussi extremement de ce qu'il estoit party sans luy dire adieu aussi bien que toutes ses autres amies qui ne cessoient de m'en demander la cause cependant comme le hazard fit que j'eus une affaire qui m'apella a la campagne je partis deux jours apres que phaon fut parry mais a peine fus-je hors de mytilene que le prince thrasibule y aborda pour y laisser le prince tisandre que l'invincible cyrus qui se nommoit encore alors artamene avoit blesse en deux endroits lors qu'estant tous deux tombez dans la mer ils firent un combat si admirable et si extraordinaire que le prince thrasibule qu'on apelloit alors le fameux pirate n'eut pas moins d'envie de sauver la vie a un ennemy qui luy avoit si opiniastrement resiste qu'a un amy qui luy estoit alors infiniment cher mais enfin madame pour passer cet endroit legerement le prince tisandre revint a mytilene encore plus malade des blessures que les beaux yeux de sapho avoient faites dans son coeur que de celles qu'il avoit receues de l'illustre artamene qui honnora cette admirable fille de quelques unes de 
 ses visites dont elle fut si satisfaite qu'elle ne parla que de luy durant tres longtemps
 
 
 
 
mais enfin le prince thrasibule estant party et l'ayant emmene je revins a mytilene et phaon qui sceut le retour de son rival y revint aussi mais il y revint pousse par sa jalousie s'imaginant que peut estre estoit-ce le prince tisandre que sapho aimoit quoy qu'on ne le dist pas lors qu'il fut revenu tout le monde luy fit la guerre de son depart precipite mais il entendit si peu raillerie la dessus qu'on fut contraint de ne luy en dire plus rien sapho mesme le vit si chagrin qu'elle ne luy en parla guere joint qu'estant persuadee que son chagrin estoit un effet de l'amour qu'il avoit pour elle cette admirable fille en eut pitie et ne voulut plus luy en parler cependant alce ne cessoit de luy dire tous les jours quelque chose de la part du prince tisandre mais quoy qu'il luy pust dire elle ne luy dit rien de favorable pour luy et en effet les choses n'estoient pas en termes de cela car il est vray que sapho aimoit desja tendrement phaon ou que du moins elle avoit beaucoup de disposition a l'aimer neantmoins le merite et la qualite de tisandre l'obligeant a garder quelque mesure aveque luy elle luy refusoit son coeur sans incivilite et sans luy refuser son estime elle eut pourtant un assez grand demesle avec alce parce qu'elle sceut qu'il avoit baille au prince tisandre le portrait qu'elle luy avoit donne il sceut neantmoins si bien 
 s'excuser qu'elle luy pardonna dans son coeur quoy qu'elle luy dist tousjours qu'elle ne luy pardonneroit jamais d'autre part comme sapho avoit des envieuses il y eut des dames qui dirent a tisandre des qu'elles le virent qu'elle n'avoit donne sa peinture a tant de gens que pour la donner avec plus de bien-seance a phaon et on luy parla enfin si avantageusement de ce nouvel amant de sapho que la jalousie se joignit a l'amour pour le tourmenter mais ce qui la rendit plus forte fut que tisandre trouva en effet que phaon estoit si aimable qu'il fut tout dispose a croire qu'il estoit aime de sorte qu'il n'eut alors guere moins de jalousie que luy nicanor de son coste n'en fut pas exempt puis qu'il en eut de celuy qui estoit aime et de ce luy qui ne l'estoit pas car il craignoit tousjours que la condition de tisandre ne portast enfin sapho a le rendre heureux mais il aprehendoit encore davantage que le merite extraordinaire de phaon ne le rendist miserable cependant cet amant aime qui rendoit ses rivaux si malheureux l'estoit encore plus qu'ils ne l'estoient car comme il voyoit tres souvent des vers de sapho et des vers tendres et passionnez son inquietude et sa jalousie redoubloient de moment en moment en effet il n'en pouvoit lire qu'il ne fist l'aplication de ce qu'il y avoit de plus amoureux a ce pretendu amant aime qui luy donnoit tant de jalousie qu'il n'enviast 
 son bonheur et qu'il ne s'imaginast quelle devoit estre sa joye en voyant des sentimens si tendres helas disoit-il quelquesfois quelle felicite seroit la mienne si en lisant tant de choses passionnees je pouvois esperer d'estre aime d'une personne qui scait si bien aimer et qui par la tendresse de son coeur donne assurement mille felicitez a ceux qu'elle aime que les autres ne connoissent pas et que les plus grandes beautez de la terre ne scauroient donner car enfin les yeux s'accoustument a la beaute et ce qu'on a veu long temps n'a plus la grace que la nouveaute donne mais la tendresse d'un coeur amoureux et passionne est une source inespuisable de nouveaux plaisirs qui naissent en foule de moment en moment et qui augmentent l'amour avec le temps au lieu que pour l'ordinaire le temps la diminue mais le mal est que la tendresse de sapho estant pour un autre elle me rend aussi infortune qu'elle rend quelqu'un de mes rivaux heureux et tant de belles et touchantes choses qu'elle escrit et qui me donneroient tant de joye si j'en estois aime m'affligent horriblement parce que je ne le suis point phaon estant donc en cette inquietude ne scachant que faire et ne se fiant mesme plus a moy il creut que s'il pouvoit venir a bout de pouvoir voir tout ce que sapho avoit escrit il pourroit peut-estre tirer quelque connoissance de ce qu'il vouloit scavoir et venir enfin a connoistre 
 qui estoit celuy qu'il s'imaginoit avoir inspire des sentimens si tendres a la personne qu'il aimoit de sorte que depuis cela il ne faisoit autre chose que demander a tout le monde des vers de sapho et que la presser elle mesme quand elle estoit seule de luy en montrer de plus quand il estoit chez elle il regardoit soigneusement sur sa table s'il ne trouveroit point quelques tablettes oubliees et il se resolut enfin sur le pretexte de la curiosite de voir de si beaux vers de tascher de suborner la fidellite d'une fille qui estoit a sapho afin qu'elle en derobast si elle pouvoit dans le cabinet de sa maistresse mais quoy qu'il pust faire il n'en put venir a bout cependant madame le hazard fit une chose qui luy en fit voir qu'il n'eust peut-estre jamais veus sans l'accident qui arriva et qui causerent un grand desordre et une grande inquietude dans son esprit vous scaurez donc madame que des que le prince tisandre fut guery il fut voir sapho et qu'il y fut suivy de beaucoup de monde de sorte que cette visite n'estant pas propre a luy donner moyen de faire ses pleintes ordinaires a la belle sapho elle se passa a parler de choses indifferentes si bien que comme cynegire chez qui elle demeuroit avoit fort embelly sa maison depuis le depart de ce prince on parla extremement des choses qu'elle y avoit faites et principalement du cabinet de sapho qui avoit este peint depuis le depart de tisandre ce prince demandant 
 donc a le voir et cette belle personne n'osant le luy refuser elle l'ouvrit et toute la compagnie y entra de sorte que phaon y entrant comme les autres prit garde que sapho ayant veu des tablettes sur sa table en avoit rougy et s'estoit hastee de les mettre diligemment dans un tiroir a demy ouvert qu'elle ne put mesme refermer tout a fait parce qu'elle le fit avec trop de precipitation et que de plus tisandre l'ayant tiree vers les fenestres sur le pretexte de la belle veue afin de luy pouvoir parler un moment en particulier luy en osta le moyen si bien que phaon qui avoit tousjours dans l'esprit sa bizarre jalousie eut une envie estrange de voir les tablettes que sapho avoit serrees si diligemment et qui l'avoient fait rougir ainsi sans perdre temps durant que tisandre parloit a sapho et que les autres regardoient les peintures de ce cabinet il tira le tiroir tout doucement prit les tablettes que sapho y avoit mises et le remit comme il estoit auparavant apres quoy ne pouvant plus durer en ce lieu la il repassa dans la chambre pour voir s'il devoit garder ou remettre ce qu'il avoit pris mais a peine eut il ouvert ces tablettes qu'il vit qu'il y avoit des vers escrits dedans et des vers escrits de la main de sapho de sorte que ne jugeant pas qu'il peust avoir le temps de les lire en ce lieu la sans estre interrompu et jugeant par les premieres paroles qu'il en voyoit qu'ils meritoient la curiosite qu'il avoit de les 
 voir il sortit de chez sapho et fut se pormener seul dans un jardin qui est au bord de la mer et qui est tousjours ouvert a tout le monde mais a peine y fut-il qu'ouvrant diligemment ces tablettes il y leut les vers que je m'en vay vous montrer car je les ay tels qu'il les eut c'est a dire sans que le nom de celuy pour qui ils estoient faits y soit comme vous le pourrez voir par la coppie que je vous en montre a ces mots democede donnant des tablettes a la reine de pont elle y leut tout haut les vers qui suivent
 
 
 ma peine est grande et mon plaisir extreme je ne dors point la nuit je resve tout le jour je ne scay pas encor si l'aimemais cela ressemble a l'amour un mesme objet occupe ma pensee nul des autres objets ne m'en peut divertir si c'est avoir l'ame blesseele sens tout ce qu'il faut sentir certains rayons penetrent dans mon ame et l'esclat du soleil me plaist moins que le leur l'on ne voit pas encor ma flamemais j'en sens pourtant la chaleurvoyant mon ame est satisfaiteet ne le voyant point la peine est dans mon coeur 
 j'ignore encore ma deffaitemais peut-estre est-il mon vainqueur tout ce qu'il dit me semble plein de charmes tout ce qu'il ne dit pas n'en peut avoir pour moy mon coeur as-tu mis bas les armes je n'en scay rien mais je le croy 
 
 
apres que la reine de pont eut leu ces vers elle les rendit a democede le conjurant de luy dire promptement ce que cette lecture avoit fait dans l'esprit de phaon j'ay sceu depuis par luy mesme repliqua democede en continuant son recit que ces vers exciterent un si grand trouble dans son coeur qu'il fut un quart d'heure sans les pouvoir relire bien qu'il en eust envie car enfin quoy qu'il eust creu que sapho aimoit ou avoit aime il ne l'avoit pas creu si fortement qu'il ne fust encore estrangement surpris de le voir escrit de sa propre main mais a la fin s'estant mis a relire ces vers et les trouvant encore plus amoureux la seconde fois que la premiere il en fut si transporte de fureur qu'il pensa rompre ces tablettes et les jetter dans la mer comme il estoit donc tout prest de le faire il luy vint en fantaisie de ne le faire pas et de chercher soigneusement quel nom de tous ceux qui voyoient sapho pouvoit convenir a la mesure du vers ou celuy de cet amant aime devoit estre car il jugeoit bien malgre son desespoir que si sapho eust 
 voulu luy donner un autre nom que le sien elle l'auroit escrit dans ses vers ainsi il concluoit aveque raison que le nom qui n'estoit pas remply estoit la inste place de celuy pour qui les vers estoient faits si bien que regardant encore une fois ces quatre vers ou il y a voyant mon ame est satisfaiteet ne le voyant point la peine est dans mon coeur j'ignore encore ma deffaitemais peut estre est-il mon vainqueur il se mit a regarder quel nom pouvoit remplir ce premier vers mais il s'y trouva bien embarrasse car celuy de tisandre estoit trop long d'une silabe celuy de nicanor l'estoit trop d'une aussi et le mien estoit plus long que celuy de tisandre phaon trouvoit bien que celuy d'alce estoit de la longueur qu'il falloit pour achever ce vers mais son amour pour la belle athys estoit si connue de tout le monde et on scavoit si bien qu'il estoit confident de tisandre que cela ne fit nulle impression dans son esprit en suite il chercha les noms de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite qui voyoient sapho sans en trouver aucun qui convinst a ce vers qu'il falloit remplir parce qu'ils estoient tous trop longs et il chercha mesme les noms de ceux qui ne la voyoient point sans songer que le sien estoit tel qu'il falloit pour cela car comme il scavoit bien que sapho avoit fait les 
 vers qui luy avoient donne sa premiere jalousie avant que de l'avoir connu il n'avoit garde de penser que ceux qui luy donnoient alors tant d'inquietude luy eusseut donne beaucoup de joye s'il en eust sceu la cause et il estoit si esloigne de ce sentiment la qu'il ne s'estoit pas seulement advise de regarder si son nom y convenoit lors que j'arrivay fortuitement aupres de luy mais madame ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que phaon qui depuis sa bizarre jalousie vivoit assez froidement aveque moy et qui ne m'avoit jamais voulu croire tout a fait lors que je luy avois jure que je n'avois nulle intelligence avec sapho se tint si assure que je n'y en avois point parce que mon nom ne pouvoit convenir a ce vers qui n'estoit pas remply et il se sentit si accable de sa douleur qu'il m'aborda avec son ancienne franchise et qu'il me redonna sa confiance toute entiere comme si je n'eusse eu aucune part a sa jalousie en effet il ne me vit pas plustost que s'en venant a moy comme nous avons tous deux tort me dit-il en m'embrassant il faut mon cher democede que nous oubliyons le passe et que nostre amitie recommence car enfin je connois aujourd'huy que j'avois affectivement tort de croire que c'estoit vous qui aviez apris a sapho a connoistre toutes les delicatesses de l'amour et je vous feray connoistre a vous mesme que vous n'avez pas raison de croire qu'elle n'en a point est-il possible luy dis-je que vous en ayez des marques si 
 claires que je n'en puisse douter vous le verrez bientost me dit-il en lisant les vers que je vous baille et que je luy ay derobez sans qu'elle le scache car enfin vous connoissez son stile et son escriture et vous devinerez mesme peut-estre aisement le nom de celuy pour qui ils sont faits car comme j'ay l'esprit estrangement trouble je ne suis pas en estat de le deviner apres cela je me mis a lire les vers de sapho mais en les lisant je trouvay d'abord que le nom de phaon remplissoit si justement le vers qui n'estoit pas remply et je me souvins de tant de choses qui m'avoient fait croire que sapho ne haissoit pas phaon que je ne doutay presques plus qu'ils n'eussent este faits pour luy et je le creus d'autant plustost que je ne trouvay effectivement pas un nom d'homme de qualite qui vist sapho ou qui l'eust veue qui y convinst excepte celuy d'alce pour qui ces vers ne pouvoient estre de sorte que prenant la parole pour le consoler pour moy luy dis-je j'avoue que je ne voy pas grande difficulte a trouver le nom qui manque a ce vers car enfin je suis assure que pour suivre l'intention de la belle sapho il faut qu'il y ait voyant phaon mon ame est satisfaiteet ne le voyant point la peine est dans mon coeur j'ignore encore ma deffaitemais peut-estre est-il mon vainqueur 
 ha democede s'escria-t'il mon nom convient a ce vers mais ce vers ne me convient point et je ne scay comment vous avez pu avoir la pensee de chercher si mon nom estoit de la longueur qu'il falloit car pour moy je ne me suis pas seulement souvenu que je me nommois phaon cependant ce cas fortuit ne me console pas car enfin toutes ces belles choses tendres amoureuses et passionnees que nous avons veues de la belle sapho sont escrites devant que je la connusse ainsi il est a croire que les vers que je vous montre ont este faits pour celuy qui a eu le bonheur de luy aprendre toute la tendresse de l'amour en s'en faisant aimer pour moy repliquay-je je ne scay si je me trompe mais il me semble que les carracteres qui sont dans ces tablettes ne sont pas comme ceux qu'il y a longtemps qui sont faits et je suis enfin le plus trompe de tous les hommes si ces vers ne sont faits pour vous et si au lieu d'estre le plus malheureux amant du monde vous n'estes le plus heureux amant de la terre quoy dit-il vous croiriez que sapho pust m'aimer sans que je m'en aperceusse et qu'un homme qui la regarde a tous les momens qui observe toutes ses actions et toutes ses paroles et qui fait mesme tout ce qu'il peut pour deviner ses pensees ne connust point qu'elle l'aimeroit ha democede cela n'est pas possible et il n'est que trop vray que ces vers ne sont point faits pour moy comme il disoit cela nous entendismes 
 un assez grand bruit de plusieurs personnes qui parloient si bien que tournant la teste nous vismes tout contre nous le prince tisandre qui menoit sapho qui avoit avec elle toutes ses amies nicanor alce et plusieurs autres si bien que rendant diligemment a phaon les tablettes que je tenois il les mit dans sa poche avec assez de precipitation mais comme sapho avoit pris garde que phaon estoit sorty assez brusquement de chez elle elle luy en fit la guerre et luy reprocha si galamment d'avoir prefere la solitude a une fort agreable compagnie qu'il se trouva engage a faire la promenade que toute cette belle troupe alloit faire et en effet phaon et moy la suivismes quoy que nous n'en eussions pas grande envie car il avoit son chagrin et j'avois une affaire mais enfin nous fusmes au bout d'une allee de ce jardin qui aboutit a la mer ou nous trouvasmes une barque dans quoy nous nous mismes et ou nous estions si pressez qu'il n'estoit pas aise de changer de place de sorte que comme le hazard placa phaon fort pres de tisandre et de sapho il luy fut aise de connoistre que ce n'estoit pas pour ce prince que les vers qu'il avoit avoient este faits car sapho ne respondoit a pas un des regards de tisandre et elle vivoit aveque luy avec une civilite si concertee et si froide qu'il estoit facile de voir que l'amour n'unissoit pas leurs coeurs cependant il estoit si occupe de ce qu'il avoit alors dans l'esprit qu'il ne prit aucune part a la conversation 
 generale ce que je luy avois dit luy passant quelques fois dans l'imagination il s'en sentoit assez doucement flatte mais un moment apres venant a penser que les choses amoureuses que sapho avoit escrites l'estoient devant qu'il la connust sa jalousie recommencoit ainsi passant de l'esperance a la crainte il s'entretenoit luy mesme sans entretenir personne et il vint a resver si profondement qu'il s'apuya sur le bord de la barque et se mit a regarder attentivement ce bouillonnement d'escume qui paroist tousjours a la proue des vaisseaux et des barques qui vont avec rapidite de sorte que comme phaon estoit trop cher a sapho pour faire qu'elle ne s'aperceust pas de son chagrin elle y prit garde et y fit prendre garde aux autres mais entre les autres tisandre qui avoit sceu que phaon estoit amoureux de sapho et que sapho ne haissoit pas phaon aporta un soin extreme a l'observer voulant tascher de deviner pourquoy il estoit si melancolique et de penetrer s'il estoit possible si son chagrin venoit de ce qu'il estoit mal avec sapho ou si ce n'estoit seulement que parce qu'il estoit trop amoureux d'elle si bien que ne le regardant guere moins qu'il regardoit sapho il arriva malheureusement que phaon en tirant quelque chose de sa poche sans scavoir ce qu'il en vouloit faire et sans interrompre sa resverie tira aussi sans s'en apercevoir les tablettes ou estoient les vers de sapho qui glissant le long 
 de la barque tomberent sans faire presques aucun bruit jusques aux pieds de tisandre qui les ayant veu tomber se baissa et les prit sans qu'on s'en aperceust mais madame depuis qu'il les eut il ne fut guere moins resveur que phaon car dans la pensee qu'il estoit son rival il craignoit de trouver ce qu'il ne cherchoit que pour ne le trouver point cependant cydnon qui voyoit bien que la resverie de phaon inquiettoit sapho se mit a luy parler et a luy en demander la cause qu'il ne luy voulut pas dire comme vous pouvez penser mais comme il n'avoit alors dans l'esprit que les vers de sapho il mit la main dans sa poche pour voir s'il ne les avoit pas encore quoy qu'il n'en doutast point car c'est la coustume de ceux qui aiment de faire souvent de ces choses inutiles qu'ils ne feroient pas si leur raison estoit libre phaon ayant donc mis la main dans sa poche pour voir s'il n'avoit pas tousjours les tablettes de sapho fut estrangement estonne de voir qu'il ne les avoit plus cependant il n'osoit tesmoigner son estonnement ny dire ce qu'il avoit perdu car s'il l'eust dit il eust fait scavoir a sapho le larcin qu'il luy avoit fait et il l'eust couverte d'une confusion estrange de plus ne pouvant scavoir avec certitude s'il les avoit perdues dans le jardin ou dans la barque ou si elles ne seroient point tombees dans la mer il n'osoit faire aucun bruit de sa perte principalement pour l'interest de sapho car encore qu'il eust beaucoup de jalousie il avoit pourtant 
 encore beaucoup de respect et l'interest de la gloire de cette admirable fille luy estoit aussi considerable que son propre repos de plus ce que je luy avois dit remettant quelquesfois quelque agreable doute dans son esprit faisoit qu'il estoit encore plus retenu si bien qu'il se contenta de chercher tout doucement a l'entour de luy sans dire ce qu'il cherchoit mais comme il le faisoit fort soigneusement quoy qu'il taschast de le faire sans nulle affectation tisandre connut bien que ce que son rival avoit perdu luy tenoit au coeur et que ce qu'il avoit trouve luy donneroit peut-estre quelque facheux esclaircissement de ses doutes mais a la fin nostre promenade maritime estant faite nous remenasmes les dames chez elles et nous conduismes mesme le prince tisandre chez luy qui n'y fut pas si tost qu'entrant diligemment dans son cabinet il ouvrit les tablettes qu'il avoit trouvees et y leut les vers que vous avez leus et qui avoient donne tant d'inquietude a son rival mais madame il ne se trouva pas aussi embarrasse que luy a deviner le nom qui devoit remplit ce vers imparfait qui estoit marque par de petites estoilles car des qu'il le leut il ne douta point que le nom de phaon ne fust celuy qui y devoit estre et il creut mesme que sapho avoit donne ces vers de sa propre main a son rival et que c'estoit enfin une affection si solidement liee que rien ne la pouvoit rompre vous pouvez juger madame combien cette pensee luy en donna de facheuses 
 aussi a-t'il dit depuis qu'il n'avoit jamais tant souffert et qu'il avoit passe la nuit sans dormir d'autre part phaon n'estoit pas en repos et il me dit des choses si touchantes sur la perte qu'il avoit faite de ces vers de sapho et il me tesmoigna avoir une si forte aprehension que cette avanture ne luy nuisist que je connus qu'en effet il estoit aussi amoureux qu'on pouvoit l'estre puis que malgre sa jalousie il songeoit si fort a la reputation de sapho qui estoit encore plus en peine que luy car enfin madame imaginez vous que cette admirable fille avoit senty une si grande inquietude lors qu'elle avoit serre diligemment ces tablettes dans le tiroir ou phaon les avoit prises et qu'elle s'estoit si fort repentie de s'estre mise en estat que ces vers peussent estre veus que des qu'elle sut retournee chez elle elle entra dans son cabinet avec intention de les brusler et de n'en faire jamais de pareille nature mais madame elle fut bien surprise et bien affligee lors qu'elle ne les trouva plus au lieu ou elle les avoit mises elle ne se fia pourtant pas alors a sa memoire et elle chercha dans tous les autres lieux ou il n'eust pas este impossible qu'elles eussent elle mais a la fin ne pouvant plus douter que ces vers ne luy eussent este derobez elle en eut une douleur si sensible qu'elle n'en avoit jamais senty de pareille cependant dans cet estrange embarras d'esprit elle ne trouvoit point de souhait plus doux a faire sinon que ce fust phaon 
 qui eust pris ses vers quoy qu'elle eust pourtant une grande confusion qu'il les eust veus car comme elle ne scavoit pas sa bizarre jalousie elle s'imaginoit qu'il s'en seroit fait l'aplication mais encore qu'elle le souhaitast elle ne pouvoit pas esperer que ce fust phaon qui les eust parce qu'elle l'avoit veu si triste qu'elle ne l'en soubconna pas joint que se souvenant qu'il estoit sorty de chez elle un moment apres que tisandre avoit este dans son cabinet elle ne pensa pas qu'il eust pu avoir le loisir de faire ce larcin si bien que ne scachant qui en soubconner elle estoit en une peine estrange d'autre part tisandre qui estoit un aussi homme d honneur qu'il y en ait jamais eu voyant par ces vers que sapho aimoit phaon voyant de plus que phaon estoit digne de sapho et ne doutant nullement que son rival n'eust receu ces vers des mains de sa maistresse et que leur affection ne fust tout a fait liee se resolut de vaincre sa passion et il porta mesme le respect qu'il avoit pour sapho aussi loin qu'il pouvoit aller car encore qu'alce fust son confident il ne luy montra point les vers de cette merveilleuse fille il est vray qu'il sut trois jours entiers a prendre une resolution decisive pendant lesquels il ne vit point sapho qui de son coste esvita avec adresse de voir compagnie de peur d'ouir dire quelque chose de ces vers qui luy desplust ce n'est pas qu'elle n'eust fait la resolution de dire si on luy en parloit que c'estoient 
 des vers faits sans sujet par la seule curiosite de voir s'il estoit possible de faire parler d'amour a une femme sans choquer la bien-seance mais apres tout comme elle scavoit dans le fonds de son coeur qu'ils avoient une cause veritable elle en avoit une confusion estrange d'ailleurs phaon n'osoit chercher a la voir car il sentoit bien qu'il luy seroit impossible de ne luy donner pas de trop grandes marques de son chagrin de son inquietude et de sa jalousie ainsi durant trois jours on ne voyoit en nulle part ny le prince tisandre ny sapho ny phaon et nicanor estoit si embarrasse a tascher de deviner pourquoy deux de ses rivaux et sa maistresse estoient solitaires en mesme temps qu'il n'estoit guere moins inquiet qu'ils l'estoient mais a la fin tisandre ayant fait un grand effort sur luy mesme se surmonta et envoya demander une audience particuliere a sapho pour l'entretenir d'une affaire tres importante de sorte que sapho n'osant la luy refuser a cause de sa condition elle la luy accorda mais elle l'attendit avec une inquietude estrange par la crainte ou elle estoit que ce ne fust pour luy parler de ses vers qu'il venoit chez elle ce n'est pas qu'elle ne sceust bien qu'il estoit impossible que ce fust luy qui les eust pris dans son cabinet car elle l'avoit tousjours veu mais elle craignoit que quelque autre ne les luy eust baillez cependant l'heure de 
 cette audience estant arrivee tisandre fut chez sapho sans estre suivy de personne mais au lieu de l'aborder comme a l'ordinaire il la salua avec une civilite serieuse et froide quoy que pleine de beaucoup de respect qui luy fit connoistre qu'il avoit quelque chose de facheux a luy dire comme il n'y avoit alors dans sa chambre qu'une fille qui estoit a elle tisandre fut d'abord dans la liberte de l'entretenir de sorte que sans perdre temps je viens madame luy dit-il vous rendre la plus grande marque d'amour que personne ait jamais rendue en vous rendant des vers que phaon a perdus et que vous luy avez donnez car enfin madame tout autre que moy se vangeroit de vostre cruaute en les montrant a toute la terre le respect que je vous porte est pourtant si grand que toute rigoureuse que vous m'estes je ne laisse pas de craindre de vous deplaire et de vouloir du moins conserver vostre estime puis que je ne puis aquerir votre affection en disant cela tisandre rendit a sapho les tablettes ou estoient les vers qu'elle avoit faits pour son rival mais il les luy rendit ouvertes et luy fit voir qu'il avoit escrit le nom de phaon a l'endroit ou il devoit estre vous pouvez juger madame que sapho ne prit pas ces tablettes sans rougir neantmoins apres s'estre un peu remise elle entreprit de faire deux choses tout a la fois la premiere d'achever de degager 
 tisandre de son affection et la seconde de luy persuader que ces vers n'avoient point este faits pour phaon en particulier ny pour nul autre mais quoy qu'elle dist tout ce qu'on pouvoit dire d'adroit et de spirituel en une conjoncture si delicate elle ne fit que la moitie de ce qu'elle vouloit faire car elle acheva de desgager tisandre de son amour mais elle ne put luy faire croire que ces vers n'avoient pas este faits pour phaon elle ne put mesme luy persuader qu'elle ne les luy eust pas donnez de sa propre main quoy qu'elle dist vray lors qu'elle assuroit qu'il les avoit derobez non non madame luy dit alors tisandre vous ne me persuaderez pas car enfin quiconque a donne son coeur peut bien donner des vers on peut quelques fois donner son coeur tout entier repliqua sapho sans donner nulle autre chose et cette circonstance que vous voulez conter pour rien est si considerable pour moy que je ne mets nulle comparaison entre avoir fait ces vers pour phaon ou les luy avoir donnez de ma main en effet presupose que j'eusse pour luy une inclination tres puissante il ne seroit pas si estrange que je me disse a moy mesme ce que je sentirois malgre moy dans mon coeur et si c'estoit une foiblesse elle ne choqueroit du moins pas la modestie puis qu'elle ne seroit sceue que de moy mais seigneur en m'acusant d'avoir donne ces vers a phaon vous me faites un si grand outrage et vous pensez 
 de moy une si estrange chose que je suis estonnee que vous ne les avez montrez a toute la terre car en effet je serois indigne que vous eussiez nulle discretion si j'avois este assez indiscrette pour donner ces vers a phaon cependant je ne laisse pas de vous rendre grace de me les avoir rendus et de vous conjurer de me dire positivement de quelle facon vous les avez eus car comme je n'ay nulle intelligence particuliere avec phaon je ne le puis scavoir que de vous ha madame que ce que vous me dittes est outrageant repliqua tisandre et que ce que je sais merite peu ce que vous faites cependant comme il peut-estre que phaon n'a oze vous dire qu'il a perdu des vers qu'il devoit conserver si soigneusement je vous diray que je les vy tomber de sa poche le soir que nous fusmes nous promener sur la mer et que je les ramassay sans scavoir que j'y trouverois l'arrest de ma mort phaon estoit si triste ce soir la repliqua-t'elle que vous devez ce me semble estre persuade que je ne luy avois pas donne ces vers et qu'il ne croyoit pas mesme qu'ils fussent faits pour luy car a dire la verite le coeur de sapho n'est pas une conqueste si facile a faire qu'il ne deust tirer quelque vanite de l'avoir faite et qu'il n'en deust mesme avoir quelque joye quoy qu'il en soit dit alors tisandre je suis persuade que phaon est autant aime que je suis hai et si je n'avois pour vous des sentimens de respect que nul amant mal traite n'a 
 jamais eus estant ce que le suis a mytilene je trouverois bien moyen de renvoyer phaon en sicile mais comme je le chasserois en vain de cette isle puis que je ne le puis chasser de vostre coeur je ne veux pas estre vostre tyran apres avoir este vostre esclave vous m'avez persuade autrefois avec tant d'adresse adjousta-t'il qu'il ne tenoit mesme pas a vous que vous ne m'aimassiez que je veux vous scavoir gre de ce que vous avez fait contre vous mesme mais madame pour reconnoistre mon respect il faut avoir de la sincerite et m'advouer ingenument le veritable estat de votre ame comme je vous advoue l'estat de la mienne afin qu'apres cela je vous laisse en repos et que je tasche de m'y mettre seigneur repliqua sapho en rougissant si je pouvois vous donner toute mon affection comme je vous donne toute mon estime je le ferois sans doute pour reconnoistre vostre generosite mais a vous parler sincerement il y a tousjours eu dans mon coeur un si puissant obstacle au dessein que vous avez eu d'estre aime de moy que je ne l'ay jamais pu surmonter quelque effort que j'aye fait apres cela seigneur ne m'en demandez pas davantage car puis que je ne vous puis aimer il ne vous importe guere si j'aime phaon ou si je ne l'aime pas je ne vous le demande pas madame reprit-il pour m'eclaircir de la chose car je n'en doute point du tout mais je vous le demande afin d'avoir du moins l'avantage de 
 me pouvoir louer de vous une fois en ma vie de grace seigneur reprit sapho ne vous obstinez pas a vouloir une chose injuste et inutile et contentez vous que je vous die seulement que je ne vous puis aimer et que je ne sens pas pour phaon la mesme impossibilite d'avoir quelque affection pour luy c'en est assez madame luy dit il en se levant pour me rendre le plus mal-heureux de tous les hommes cependant comme je me suis resolu de vous respecter tousjours je m'en vay faire tout ce que je pourray pour desnouer les liens qui m'attachent a vous sans les rompre avec violence et je souhaitte seulement en vous quitant que vous connoissiez un jour que si vous avez donne vostre coeur au plus honneste homme de vos amants vous ne l'avez pas donne au plus fidelle ny au plus amoureux apres ce la madame tisandre s'en alla mais avec tant de tristesse sur le visage que sapho toute insensible qu'elle estoit pour luy en eut le coeur vil peu touche mais comme il y avoit alors des choses qui le touchoient encore plus sensiblement elle pensa plus a phaon qu'a tisandre et elle eut mesme un nouveau sujet d'y penser par une visite que luy fit ma soeur car vous scaurez madame que voyant phaon dans un si grand desespoir et ayant moy mesme une assez grande curiosite de scavoir si effectivement ces vers qui causoient 
 tant de desordre avoient este faits pour phaon comme je le croyois je fus trouver cydnon avec qui je vivois non seulement comme avec une soeur qui m'estoit tres chere mais encore comme avec une amie tres fidelle si bien qu'apres luy avoir fait un grand secret de ce que j'avois a luy dire je luy contay la jalousie de mon amy et l'avanture des vers et je la conjuray de me dire s'ils estoient faits pour phaon s'ils sont faits pour quelqu'un reprit elle ils sont assurement faits pour luy mais mon frere je n'en scay rien et sapho ne m'a point montre les vers dont vous me parlez cependant luy dis-je le pauvre phaon qui croit qu'ils sont faits pour un autre en a une jalousie si forte et une douleur si violente que je croy qu'il en mourra si vous ne m'aidez a le secourir en verite mon frere repliqua t'elle il ne me sera pas aise car enfin sapho qui ne m'a jamais fait secret d'aucune chose ne m'a rien dit de cette avanture et je ne voy pas que je luy en puisse parler si elle ne m'en parle il est vray adjousta t'elle que je ne l'ay veue qu'un moment depuis nostre promenade sur la mer ainsi tout ce que je puis est de vous promettre de voir sapho et de rendre office a phaon si elle me donne lieu de le pouvoit faire apres cela je luy exageray autant que je pus la jalousie de cet amant afin de luy faire pitie de son malheur mais plus je luy parlois plus je luy voyois d'envie de rire car comme elle scavoit les veritables sentimens de 
 sapho pour phaon elle trouvoit quelque chose de si plaisant a penser qu'il estoit luy mesme ce rival aime qui l'affligeoit si fort qu'elle ne pouvoit s'empescher d'en rire mais cruelle soeur luy dis-je alors je ne vous represente pas les maux de mon amy pour vous en divertir et ce n'est pas en riant qu'il le faut pleindre si je croyois qu'il fust fort a pleindre reprit-elle je n'en userois pas ainsi mais comme je ne voy pas que phaon ait de rivaux qu'il doive craindre je vous avoue que je ne puis m'empescher de me divertir de son chagrin car je ne trouve rien de si plaisant a observer quand on a le coeur entierement libre que tout ce que font les gens les plus sages quand ils ont un engagement de cette nature c'est pourquoy pardonnez a un enjouement naturel que j'ay dans l'esprit pour ces sortes de choses dont je ne suis pas la maitresse et croyez que je rendray tout l'office que je pourray a phaon et en effet madame des que je fus party elle fut chez sapho et elle y arriva un quart d'heure apres que le prince tisandre l'eut quittee si bien qu'ayant alors l'esprit remply de trop de choses pour en pouvoir faire un secret a cydnon elle la fit passer dans son cabinet et donnant ordre qu'on dist qu'on ne la voyoit point si on la demandoit elle la conjura de luy pardonner si elle luy avoit sait un secret durant trois jours d'une avanture qui luy estoit arrivee car enfin ma chere cydnon luy dit sapho apres la luy avoir racontee 
 elle est si cruelle qu'il ne m'est jamais rien arrive de si facheux en ma vie en effet y a-t'il rien de plus insuportable que de voir que tisandre ait veu des vers de la nature de ceux qu'il a veus et y a-t'il rien de si terrible que depenser que phaon luy mesme les a leus pour moy adjousta-t'elle je ne pense pas que je puisse me resoudre a le voir et il y a trois jours que je ne voy personne pour esviter sa rencontre ce n'est pas qu'il n'y ait eu quelques instans ou j'ay souhaite que ce fust luy qui eust trouve ces vers mais je le souhaitois quand je ne pensois pas qu'il les eust cependant il n'en est pas de mesme aujourd'huy et je ne scay si je ne voudrais point que cent autres personnes les eussent leus et que phaon ne les eust pas eus en sa puissance car comment oseray-je le voir apres une si facheuse avanture en effet ne dois-je pas craindre que se fiant a la passion qu'il scait que j'ay pour luy il n'ait l'audace de me parler avec moins de respect et ne dois-je pas aprehender encore qu'il ne me regarde comme une conqueste si facile qu'elle ne luy est pas fort glorieuse si vous avez quelque chose a craindre repryt cydnon ce n'est nullement ce que vous dites et pour vous tesmoigner que je vous suis absolument acquise adjousta-t'elle il faut que je trahisse un secret que mon frere m'a confie et que je vous aprenne que phaon est le plus malheureux et le plus jaloux de tous les hommes 
 il n'est donc pas amoureux de moy reprit brusquement sapho en rougissant il est plus amoureux de vous repliqua cydnon qu'on ne le fut jamais personne mais il est si jaloux et jaloux d'une si bizarre maniere que je ne scay comment vous l'en pourrez guerir cette enigme est si obscure pour moy respondit sapho que je n'y puis rien comprendre quand je vous l'auray expliquee repliqua t'elle vous la comprendrez mieux mais vous n'en serez pas moins estonnee car enfin le jour que vous montrastes des vers a phaon et a democede ce premier y trouva des choses si passionnees qu'il conclut qu'il falloit de necessite que vous eussiez aime ou que vous aimassiez encore et qu'il estoit impossible que vous pussiez escrire des choses si tendres sans avoir eu de l'amour si bien que s'estant mis cette bizarre fantaisie dans la teste il a depuis cela souffert des maux incroyables et il n'a fait autre chose que chercher ce pretendu rival qu'il croit vous avoir inspire toute la tendresse de vos vers mais de grace cydnon interrompit sapho dittes moy sincerement si ce que vous dittes n'est point un jeu de votre esprit nullement reprit-elle et ce que je vous dis est si positivement vray que rien ne l'est davantage en effet le malheureux phaon est si preoccupe de cette imagination qu'apres avoir pris les vers dont il s'agit presentement au lieu de se les attribuer et de jouir de sa bonne fortune 
 il n'a fait autre chose que chercher des noms qui convinssent a ce vers qui n'estoit pas remply et pour moy je vous avoue que je concoy cela d'une si plaisante maniere que si ce n'estoit que je vous en voy en chagrin j'en rirois de tout mon coeur cependant je ne laisse pas de vous prier serieusement de chercher les voyes de guerir le pauvre phaon de sa jalousie car mon frere me l'a represente si miserable qu'il merite d'estre secouru mais a ce que je voy repliqua sapho democede a veu ces terribles vers qui me donnent tant de confusion et apres avoir dit cent fois que si je voulois un amant je ne voudrois pas qu'il eust de confident je me voy exposee a avoir autant de confidents de ma foiblesse qu'il y a d'hommes a mytilene ce n'est pas que je ne scache bien adjousta-t'elle obligeamment que democede est discret mais apres tout cydnon avouez la verite il devine mieux que phaon il ne me l'a pas dit repliqua-t'elle mais je luy ay assure que ces vers n'estoient faits pour personne ou qu'ils l'estoient pour phaon car comme il est son amy particulier j'ay cru par la l'engager a plus de discretion et l'empescher de s'aller informer a d'autres d'une chose dont je luy ay promis de luy rendre conte mais cydnon quel conte luy pourrez vous rendre repliqua brusquement sapho qui ne me soit point desavantageux car de luy dire que j'aime phaon c'est une chose effroyable de luy jurer que je 
 ne l'aime pas il croira donc que j'en aime un autre de luy protester que je n'aime rien dans la follie que phaon a dans la teste c'est augmenter sa jalousie sans me justifier cependant je voudrois trouver un expedient qui l'empeschast d'estre jaloux qui me conservast son affection qui cachast la mienne a democede et qui permist seulement a phaon d'en deviner une partie pour moy reprit cydnon veu comme mon frere m'a parle je croy qu'il sera difficile de guerir phaon de sa jalousie si vous ne luy monstrez toute la tendresse que vous avez pour luy ha cydnon repliqua sapho j'aime mieux qu'il soit eternellement jaloux que de luy faire voir toute ma foiblesse vous ne vous souciez donc pas de conserver son coeur respondit cydnon car enfin vous scavez mieux que moy que les longues jalousies destruisent l'amour le fondement de celle de phaon reprit sapho a si peu de solidite que je ne croy pas qu'elle puisse durer long temps au contraire respondit ma soeur c'est parce qu'elle n'a point de fondement qu'elle est difficile a chasser car si par exemple phaon estoit positivement jaloux de nicanor vous n'auriez qu'a le maltraiter et a ne le voir plus pour faire cesser la jalousie mais n'estant jaloux que parce que vous escrivez avec des sentimens si tendres et si passionnez qu'il s'est imagine qu'il saut que vous aimiez quelqu'un il n'est pas possible de le guerir qu'un luy donnant lieu de penser que vous 
 n'aimez que luy et qu'en luy permettant de croire que les vers qu'il a veus luy apartiennent comme j'ay bien devine la passion qu'il a pour moy devant qu'il me l'ait ditte respondit elle qu'il devine s'il peut la tendresse que j'ay pour luy car s'il ne le fait il ne la scaura jamais mais encore dit alors cydnon faut il luy dire precisement quelque chose de ces vers ou il n'y a point de nom ne suffit il pas qu'il voye reprit elle que les noms de tous les hommes qui pourroient estre amoureux de moy n'y conviennent point et que le sien y convient pour luy faire comprendre ou qu'ils ne sont faits pour personne ou qu'ils sont faits pour luy s'il n'avoit pas l'imagination preoccupee repliqua cydnon ce que vous dittes suffiroit sans doute mais dans les sentimens ou il est si la conservation de phaon vous est chere il faut faire quelque chose davantage et souffrir du moins que mon frere le console dans sa douleur et luy donne quelque esperance pourveu qu'il ne puisse pas soubconner que ce soit de mon consentement reprit sapho democede peut luy dire ce qu'il voudra pour luy persuader que je n'ay jamais rien aime car apres tout malheur pour malheur je souffrirois plus volontiers que phaon creust que je l'aimasse que de croire que j'eusse seulement souffert l'amour d'un autre apres cela sapho raconta a cydnon tout ce que tisandre luy avoit dit ainsi vous voyez luy dit elle que le rival de phaon est bien mieux informe 
 de l'affection que j'ay pour luy qu'il ne l'est luy mesme en verite cydnon adjousta-t'elle mon avanture est bien bizarre car enfin tisandre scait que j'aime phaon et il le scait avec tant de certitude qu'il m'en abandonne et phaon au contraire est tout prest de me quitter parce qu'il croit que je ne l'aime point et que l'en aime un autre ainsi estant luy mesme son propre rival s'il faut ainsi dire il se fait plus de mal que tous ses rivaux ne luy en font et il me reduit dans la plus facheuse conjoncture ou une personne de mon humeur se puisse trouver car enfin les femmes ne doivent jamais dire qu'elles aiment qu'en souffrant seulement d'estre aimees c'est pourquoy cydnon il faut laisser le soin de cette avanture a la fortune mais prenez garde repliqua-t'elle que vous ne vous repentiez de ce que vous dittes si je me repens de ce que je dis reprit sapho je ne feray que ce que j'ay desja fait cent fois depuis que je connois phaon puis qu'il est vray que je me suis repentie d'avoir demande sa connoissance a democede et que je me repens encore de l'heure que je parle de l'avoir aime et d'avoir fait les vers qui causent ce dernier desordre et pour vous descouvir tout ce que je pense je sens bien que quoy que je vous puisse dire et que quoy que je puisse faire je m'en repentiray toute ma vie en effet si je conserve phaon par des soins indignes de moy j'en 
 auray un repentir eternel et si je le perds par une severite trop scrupuleuse je m'en repentiray jusques a la mort voila donc madame en quelle assiette sapho avoit l'esprit lors que ma soeur luy parla de sorte que connoissant bien qu'elle consentoit qu'elle fist pour guerir phaon de sa jalousie tout ce qui ne l'engageroit point trop elle ne voulut pas la presser davantage et elle me dit apres l'avoir veue que phaon avoit tort que je devois luy conseiller de voir sapho le plustost qu'il pourroit et qu'assurement il n'avoit point de rivaux qu'il deust craindre mais madame ce qu'il y avoit de rare en cette rencontre c'est que sapho avoit l'esprit si occupe des divers sentimens qui l'agitoient qu'elle ne s'avisa point de se mettre en colere de la hardiesse qu'avoit eu phaon de prendre ses vers dans son cabinet cependant cydnon agit si bien aveque moy et j'agis si adroitement avec phaon que quoy qu'il ne creust pas positivement tout ce que je luy disois il ne laissa pas de se resoudre d'aller chez sapho et d'y aller avec le dessein de luy dire tout ce qu'il avoit dans l'ame cependant il arriva encore du changement dans son esprit car comme les grands ne peuvent jamais se cacher il y eut un bruit si universel dans mytilene que tisandre avoit resolu de ne voir plus sapho que phaon s'imaginant que ce prince ne la quittoit que parce qu'il avoit descouvert qu'elle aimoit quelqu'un il en eut un redoublement de jalousie qui rompit son premier 
 dessein ce n'est pas qu'en effet il n'eust raison de croire de tisandre ce qu'il en croyoit mais comme il ne scavoit pas que c'estoit luy qui desgageoit ce prince de l'amour de sapho il tiroit des consequences du changement de cet amant qui le rendoient tres malheureux mais a la fin apres avoir passe deux jours dans cette incertitude il se determina tout d'un coup d'aller chez sapho pour luy descouvrir toute la grandeur de son amour et toute la violence de sa jalousie et en effet il fut le jour suivant de si bonne heure chez elle qu'il n'y trouva encore personne de vous dire madame ce qu'ils sentirent en se revoyant il ne seroit pas aise car sapho eut de la confusion de sa propre foiblesse et de la pitie de celle de phaon et cet amant eut tant de sentimens differens qu'on ne les scauroit representer car il me dit qu'il avoit senty redoubler son amour et sa jalousie et qu'il avoit pourtant aussi senti renaistre son esperance mais enfin apres s'estre saluez presques avec une esgalle agitation d'esprit phaon demanda pardon a sapho d'avoir este si long temps sans la voir mais madame adjousta-t'il je ne scay si apres vous avoir demande pardon de ne vous avoir pas veue je ne dois pas encore vous le demander de ce que je viens vous revoir car j'y vins avec la resolution de vous dire tant de choses differentes que je ne scay si je ne seray point assez malheureux pour vous en dire quelqu'une qui vous desplaise quoy que je 
 sois resolu de ne vous dire rien qui ne soit digne de l'amour et du respect que j'ay pour vous nous avons eu si peu de chose a demesler ensemble depuis que nous nous connoissons repliqua-t'elle que je ne scay ce que vous pouvez avoir tant a me dire j'ay a vous demander madame repliqua-t'il si j'ay tort d'estre le plus jaloux de tous les hommes j'ay a vous conjurer de me parler avec sincerite j'ay a vous suplier d'avoir compassion de ma foiblesse d'examiner bien la passion qui la cause de peser toutes les raisons qui peuvent excuser ma jalousie et de vouloir s'il est possible ne me desesperer pas tout ce que vous me dittes repliqua sapho marque qu'il y a un si grand dereglement dans vostre esprit que je veux faire par pitie ce que je ne devrois pas faire par raison si je n'ecoutois que l'exacte justice et l'exacte bien-seance c'est pourquoy je veux bien escouter vos pleintes et souffrir mesme que vous me parliez de vostre jalousie quoy que je n'aye guere endure que vous m'ayez parle de vostre amour parlez donc phaon luy dit-elle encore et dittes moy de qui vous estes jaloux je n'en scay rien madame luy dit-il mais je scay bien qu'il y a des instans ou je crois en avoir tous les sujets imaginables car enfin madame vous escrivez des choses si tendres qu'il faut que vous les ayez senties et vous avez fait des vers que j'ay eu l'audace de vous derober qui me coustent mille 
 soupirs et qui me cousteront peut-estre la vie si vous n'avez la bonte de me dire des choses qui me guerissent mais encore luy dit sapho que faudroit il vous dire pour voue guerir il faudroit reprit-il me pouvoir persuader qu'en effet vous n'avez jamais rien aime et que si vous avez a aimer quelque chose ce sera le malheureux phaon mais madame comme cela n'est pas possible je ne vous le demande point et je vous demande positivement le veritable estat de vostre ame quel qu'il puisse estre et je vous demande le nom de celuy pour qui vous avez fait les vers que je pris dans vostre cabinet pour respondre en general a tout ce que vous me demandez repliqua-t'elle je vous diray que j'eseris tendrement parce que naturellement j'ay l'ame tendre et je vous assureray en suite que si je dois donner de la jalousie a quelqu'un ce ne doit pas estre a vous car enfin je vous le dis pour ma propre gloire autant que pour vostre repos je n'avois rien aime le jour que vous arrivastes a mytilene et je puis encore vous asseurer que je n'ay rien fait depuis cela qui vous doive donner de la jalousie mais pour tesmoigner que je dis vray je consens que vous observiez toutes mes actions toutes mes paroles et mesme tous mes regards et si apres les avoir observez vous trouvez que vous deviez estre jaloux soyez le jusques a la fureur et soyez persuade qu'en vous permettant d'avoir de la jalousie je fais pour vous ce que je n'ay jamais fait pour personne 
 comme vous ne pouvez me permettre d'estre jaloux reprit-il sans me permettre d'estre amoureux il faut madame que je vous remercie de cette permission comme de la plus grande faveur du monde cependant adjousta-t'il le vous serois bien plus oblige de me dire precisement que vous voulez bien que j'aye de l'amour que de m'assurer que vous souffrirez que j'aye de la jalousie dittes moy donc madame je vous en conjure s'il me peut estre permis d'esperer que vous aurez un jour pour moy une partie de la tendresse que vous scavez si admirablement exprimer et n'aurois-je point trop de presomption de pretendre que vous puissiez un jour m'attribuer les vers qui m'ont donne une si cruelle jalousie mais madame pour me rendre croyable une assurance si glorieuse il faudroit avoir de la sincerite il faudroit me dire ce que vous ne me dittes pas il faudroit me montrer vostre coeur comme je vous montre le mien et ne me faire pas un secret de tout ce qui s'est passe dans vostre ame avant que je vous connusse car enfin quand vous auriez aime quelqu'un avant que j'eusse eu l'honneur d'estre connu de vous je n'aurois pas raison de m'en plaindre ce n'est pas que je ne souhaitasse avec une passion estrange d'avoir la gloire d'estre le premier qui eust un peu attendry vostre coeur mais si cela n'est pas possible je ne laisseray pas de m'estimer tres heureux d'estre le successeur d'un heureux rival parlez donc 
 divine sapho et dittes moy si je dois estre jaloux si je dois estre heureux ou miserable et pour le dire en deux mots si je dois vivre ou mourir phaon dit toutes ces choses avec une action si pleine de respect il y avoit dans le son de sa voix je ne scay quoy de si persuasif et il regardoit sapho d'une maniere si soumise et si passionnee qu'enfin cette belle personne ne pouvant se resoudre de mal traiter un amant qu'elle vouloit conserver luy parla avec tant d'adresse que sans luy dire d'abord qu'elle l'aimoit elle r'anima son esperance dissipa entierement sa jalousie augmenta sa passion et remit la joye dans son ame
 
 
 
 
enfin madame ces deux personnes qui en commencant cette conversation ne scavoient que se dire et qui avoient dans le coeur mille sentimens qu'ils croyoient qu'ils ne se diroient jamais se dirent a la fin toutes choses et firent un eschange si sincere de leurs plus secretes pensees qu'on peut dire que tout ce qui estoit dans l'esprit de sapho passa dans celuy de phaon et que tout ce qui estoit dans celuy de phaon passa dans celuy de sapho ils convinrent mesme des conditions de leur amour car phaon promit solemnellement a sapho qui le voulut ainsi de ne desirer jamais rien d'elle que la possession de son coeur et elle luy promit aussi de ne recevoir jamais que luy dans le sien ils se dirent en suite tout ce qui leur estoit arrive de plus particulier en leur vie et depuis cela madame il y eut durant tes long 
 temps une union si admirable entre ces deux personnes qu'on n'a jamais rien veu d'esgal en effet l'amour de phaon augmenta avec son bonheur et l'affection de sapho devint encore plus violente par la connoissance qu'elle eut de la grandeur de l'amour de son amant jamais l'on n'a veu deux coeurs si unis et jamais l'amour n'a joint ensemble tant de purete et tant d'ardeur ils se disoient toutes leur pensees ils les entendoient mesme sans se les dire ils voyoient dans leurs yeux tous les mouvemens de leurs coeurs et ils y voyoient des sentimens si tendres que plus ils se connoissoint plus ils s'aimoient la paix n'estoit pourtant pas si profondement establie parmy eux que leur affection en pust devenir tiede et languissante car encore qu'ils s'aimassent autant qu'on peut aimer ils se plaignoient pourtant quelquesfois tour a tour de n'estre pas assez aimez et ils avoient enfin assez de petits demeslez pour avoir tousjours quelque chose de nouveau a souhaiter mais ils n'en avoient jamais d'assez grands pour troubler essentiellement leur repos cependant depuis le jour que phaon lia cette grande affection avec sapho nicanor fut tres malheureux et tisandre s'estima aussi heureux que prudent d'avoir pu se desgager de la passion qu'il avoit eue il est vray qu'il en guerit bientost par une autre car pittacus ayant resolu de le marier a la belle alcionide il fut a gnide ou elle estoit et il en devint aussi amoureux qu'il l'avoit este de sapho 
 mais apres tout quoy qu'il n'eust plus d'amour pour cette admirable fille il conserva tousjours beaucoup d'estime pour elle cependant charaxe frere de sapho qui n'avoit pas trouve bon qu'elle eust refuse l'affection de tisandre et qui trouvoit fort mauvais qu'elle souffrist celle de phaon s'en alla voyager et partit sans luy dire adieu d'autre part quoy que nicanor aimast tousjours tendrement sapho et qu'il haist estrangement phaon il ne s'emporta pourtant a aucune violence ny contre l'un ny contre l'autre car sapho a une adresse si admirable a tenir tout le monde dans le respect qu'on luy doit et a reunir les esprits les plus divisez que si elle ne tenoit ces deux rivaux tout a fait en paix elle les empeschoit du moins d'estre tout a fait en guerre joint que ce qui contribuoit encore a cela estoit que comme phaon estoit assure d'estre prefere a tous ses rivaux il n'estoit jaloux d'aucun ou s'il avoit quelquesfois quelques sentimens de jalousie c'estoit lors que son ancienne fantaisie luy repassoit dans l'esprit et qu'il s'imaginoit qu'avant que de l'avoir connu il falloit que sapho en eust aime quelque autre pour avoir escrit des choses aussi tendres que celles qu'il avoit veues mais a dire la verite il fut bien heureux de n'estre pas capable d'estre jaloux de l'amour qu'on avoit pour sapho car elle en donna a tant de gens qu'alce luy mesme tout amoureux qu'il estoit de la belle athys sentit partager son coeur et a la reserve de themistogene qui ne 
 pouvoit aimer tout ce qui ne ressembloit pas damophile il n'y eut pas un homme d'esprit qui n'eust quelques sentimens d'amour pour sapho pour moy comme j'estois amy particulier de phaon et que de plus je songe tousjours a me deffendre je ne fus pas tout a fait amoureux mais j'eus du moins assez d'affection et assez d'attachement pour elle pour n'avoir point d'amour pour aucune autre cependant cette aprobation universelle ne manqua pas d'irriter toutes les dames qui pretendant en grande beaute n'avoient plus d'adorateurs durant que sapho qu'elles ne croyoient pas si belle qu'elles en estoit environnee mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit que cette admirable fille sans rien faire contre la fidellite qu'elle devoit a phaon ne laissoit pas de maintenir son empire dans les coeurs de tous ses amans car comme elle agissoit avec tant d'adresse qu'on ne luy disoit jamais que ce qu'elle vouloit qu'on luy dist elle n'avoit aucun sujet de se pleindre d'eux et par consequent elle n'en avoit point de les bannir d'aupres d'elle ce n'est pas qu'il n'y eust quelques jours ou phaon se pleignoit respectueusement de voir tousjours tant de monde chez elle mais des qu'elle luy avoit parle un moment elle luy faisoit comprendre que la prudence vouloit qu'il fust cache dans la presse parce que si elle en eust banny quelques uns il eust fallu qu'elle l'eust banny aussi ou qu'elle eust fait paroistre leur intelligence si publiquement 
 que sa gloire en eust souffert quelque diminution de sorte qu'il fallut que phaon endurast tous les amans de sapho qui n'osoient pourtant paroistre que comme ses amis pour moy je me suis cent et cent fois estonne de la puissance que sapho avoit sur ses esclaves car enfin il n'y en avoit pas un qui ne connust que phaon en estoit aime et en estoit seul aime cependant pas un ne perdoit esperance quoy qu'elle ne leur en donnast point et quoy qu'ils haissent tous phaon ils n'osoient ny ne pouvoient luy nuire ils n'estoient pas mesme trop mal les uns avec les autres car comme ils ne pouvoient avoir de jalousie que de phaon seulement ils vinrent en quelque espece de confiance ainsi et l'amante et les amans et l'amant aime et les rivaux mal traitez estoient tousjours ensemble sans avoir de dispute qui troublast nostre societe et ce qu'il y avoit de plus admirable c'est qu'au milieu de tant de monde sapho ne laissoit pas de trouver moyen de donner mille marques d'affection a phaon et de luy sacrifier mesme tous ses rivaux sans qu'on s'en aperceust ainsi sans rien faire contre l'exacte civilite et sans estre coquete sapho avoit la gloire de se voir un nombre infiny d'adorateurs et sans avoir toute la severite de ces amans fidelles qui deviennent presques sauvages a force de l'estre phaon et elle jouissoient de toutes les douceurs d'une amour pure et innocente en effet ils n'estoient pas de ces 
 gens qui des qu'ils sont assurez de s'aimer renoncent presques autant a la galanterie que s'ils estoient mariez car phaon estoit aussi soigneux et aussi assidu que s'il eust encore eu a conquerir l'illustre coeur qu'il possedoit et sapho estoit aussi exacte et aussi regulierement civile et complaisante que si sa conqueste ne luy eust pas este tout a fait assuree de plus la joye les pestes et les plaisirs les suivoient inseparablement et quoy qu'ils fussent tres assurez de leur estime ils aportoient pourtant tous les soins imaginables a se la conserver voila donc madame quelle estoit la vie que menoient phaon et sapho durant qu'ils estoient heureux cependant comme l'empire de l'amour est plus sujet aux grandes revolutions que les autres cette tranquile et profonde paix qui estoit dans le coeur de sapho ne dura pas tousjours quoy qu'elle semblast devoir tousjours durer car enfin il est certain que jamais amant n'a sceu si parfaitement l'art de tesmoigner beaucoup d'amour que phaon de plus il ne voyoit que sapho a mytilene et l'on peut presques assurer qu'il ne voyoit pas mesme les amies de sa maistresse quoy qu'il fust tousjours avec elles car il estoit si inseparablement attache et d'yeux et d'esprit a la merveilleuse sapho qu'elle ne pouvoit douter qu'elle ne fust la seule personne qu'il consideroit en tous les lieux ou il se trouvoit avec elle de sorte que comme il n'y a rien de plus obligeant que cette distinction adroite qui se 
 fait d'une personne au milieu d'une grande compagnie il scavoit si bien obliger sapho de cette maniere que jamais en sa vie il n'y a manque quand l'occasion s'en est presentee de plus quand il estoit aupres d'elle il paroissoit si heureux si content et si sensible aux plus petites graces qu'il en recevoit que cette personne dont l'ame est tendre de la derniere tendresse croyoit ne devoir jamais rien trouver a desirer en son amant mais ce qui la charmoit encore infiniment estoit qu'elle trouvoit en phaon toute la delicatesse d'esprit qu'elle y eust pu desirer en effet il avoit quelquesfois un certain enjouement doux et melancolique s'il est permis de parler ainsi qui luy faisoit penser des choses si divertissantes qu'on ne pourroit les redire sans leur derober beaucoup de plus comme il estoit naturellement curieux ils avoient tousjours quelque agreable contestation qui rendoit leur entretien plus doux car tantost phaon vouloit scavoir pourquoy elle avoit rougy tantost pourquoy elle avoit resve et il portoit mesme cette excessive curiosite si loin qu'un jour ils eurent une tendre et amoureuse dispute ensemble parce que phaon demandoit a sapho pourquoy elle luy avoit este plus douce ce jour la qu'un autre s'affligeant autant de ce qu'elle ne luy vouloit pas dire que si elle l'eust mal traite mais luy disoit elle en voyant cette opiniastre curiosite qu'elle ne vouloit pas satisfaire vous me demandez quelquesfois de si petites choses avec un si 
 grand empressement qu'il faut que je vous demande a mon tour quelle est la cause de cette curiosite generale qui nous fait tant de petites querelles car enfin adjousta sapho si vous pouviez douter d'estre bien dans mon esprit je ne trouverois point estrange que vous voulussiez que je vous le disse et que vous eussiez de la curiosite pour des choses essentielles et importantes mais de l'humeur dont vous estes vous en avez pour toutes sortes de choses ouy madame luy dit-il j'en ay pour tout ce qui vous touche et si je le pouvois je vous obligerois a me rendre conte de toutes vos pensees et de tous vos regards car enfin madame comme vous avez donne des bornes a mes desirs infiniment estroites et que la possession de vostre coeur est la seule chose ou vous m'avez permis d'aspirer comment voulez vous que je m'en assure si je ne scay tout ce qui s'y passe ne trouvez donc pas estrange si je ne puis souffrir que vous me refusiez ce que je vous demande car apres tout en m'aprenant quelquesfois pourquoy vous avez rougy pourquoy vous avez resve pourquoy vous ne me regardiez pas ou pourquoy vous m'avez regarde vous me mettez veritablement en possession du coeur que vous m'avez promis et vous me donnez une joye que je ne vous puis exprimer en effet je fais plus d'estat d'un de ces petits sentimens cachez que vous me descouvrez obligeamment que de beaucoup d'autres choses qui paroissent 
 plus favorables a ceux qui ne sont pas capables de sentir toute la delicatesse de l'amour ne me fusez donc plus madame de satisfaire ma curiosite quand mesme elle me porteroit a vous demander de petites choses et de petites choses qui ne vous paroistroient pas raisonnables car enfin madame adjousta-t'il en souriant l'amour est un enfant qui se fait des plaisirs a sa mode et qui a d'innocens caprices qui luy tiennent lieu d'une grande felicite quand on les satisfait et d'une grande infortune quand on ne les contente pas ainsi regardant ma trop grande curiosite comme un effet de la grandeur de mon amour j'espere que vous vous accommoderez a ma foiblesse et que plustost que de m'affliger en ne me disant rien vous me direz tour ce que je vous demanderay vous pouvez ce me semble juger apres ce que je viens de vous dire madame que l'amour de phaon estoit tendre ingenieuse et galante et qu'aimant la personne du monde qui scait le mieux aimer et qui a le plus d'esprit ils se donnoient tous les jours mille et mille innocens plaisirs que ceux qui n'ont qu'une amour grossiere ne connoissent point il y avoit pourtant des jours ou quand phaon pensoit que sapho ne vouloit point se marier et que sapho estoit la plus vertueuse personne du monde il avoit quelque chagrin mais elle scavoit si bien dissiper cette melancolie dont elle descouvroit bientost la cause qu'il estoit luy mesme contraint d'avouer 
 qu'il estoit le plus heureux amant de la terre cependant comme je vous ay desja dit que nicanor estoit tousjours amoureux de sapho et qu'il s'en falloit peu qu'alce ne le fust aussi la jalousie qui se mit dans le coeur de la belle athys aussi bien que dans celuy de nicanor troubla a la fin la felicite de ces bien-heureux amans mais pour vous faire comprendre la cause de ce changement il faut que je vous raconte une petite feste que sapho fit a une maison qu'elle avoit qui n'est qu'a cent stades de mytilene et qui est sans doute un des plus agreables lieux de nostre isle en effet imaginez vous madame que tout ce que l'on peut desirer en une maison de la campagne s'y trouve car elle est assez pres de la mer et elle a pourtant les plus belles fontaines qu'on puisse voir elle a de plus des bocages des prairies des jardins et des grottes et elle est mesme fort agreablement bastie de sorte qu'il ne se passoit point d'este que sapho n'y fist deux ou trois petits voyages avec cynegire pendant lesquels toutes ses amies l'alloient visiter comme nous estions donc dans cette agreable saison qu'on peut appeller la jeunesse de l'annee et ou le premier vert des herbes et des feuilles rend la campagne si belle sapho qui estoit chez elle avec cynegire convia toutes ses cheres amies d'y aller passer un jour tout entier mais quoy qu'elle ne priast pas ses amis ny ses amans il ne laissa pas d'y en 
 avoir quelques uns en effet nicanor alce phaon et moy accompagnasmes amithone athys erinne et cydnon et le hazard fit encore que le mesme jour que nous y fusmes philire avec deux de ses amies et deux des adorateurs de sapho y vint passer l'apresdisnee sans scavoir que nous y fussions si bien que la compagnie fut tout a fait agreable ce jour la je ne m'arresteray point madame a vous dire les particularitez de cette petite feste mais je vous diray seulement que quoy que sapho et toutes ses amies ne fussent habillees que de blanc et parees que de fleurs elles estoient pourtant si galantes qu'on ne pouvoit rien voir de plus joly quand nous arrivasmes chez sapho nous trouvasmes qu'elle nous attendoit suivie de deux filles dans un petit bocage espais au milieu duquel est une fontaine admirable qui par sa propre impetuosite fait un grand rocher d'eau au milieu d'un baffin rustique borde de gazon qui est au pied d'un grand arbre dont les branches sont si estendues et si espaisses qu'elles ombragent non seulement toute la fontaine mais encore plusieurs sieges de gazon qui l'environnent sapho estant donc en ce lieu la en l'habit que je vous l'ay representee nous y receut d'un air si galant et de si bonne grace que de ma vie je ne l'avois veue si aimable car enfin elle avoit toute la fraischeur du printemps sur le visage ses yeux avoient tout l'esclat 
 du soleil levant quand il se leve sans aucun nuage et la joye qu'elle nous tesmoigna avoir de nous voir chez elle esclattoit si visiblement par ses regards que quand elle eust este effectivement environnee des jeux des amours et des ris nous n'eussions pas eu un plus heureux presage de passer le jour agreablement que celuy que nous eusmes en voyant de quel air elle nous receut car enfin il n'y eut personne dans la troupe a qui elle ne dist quelque chose d'obligeant et qui ne creust mesme qu'elle luy en avoit plus dit qu'aux autres mais pour moy qui l'observois tousjours tres soigneusement je ne m'y abusay pas comme eux car au milieu de cette joye tumultueuse qu'elle nous tesmoignoit avoir de nous voir chez elle je vy dans ses beaux yeux je ne scay quoy de si particulier pour phaon lors qu'il luy fit son compliment qu'il me fut aise de remarquer qu'il avoit une place bien avantageuse dans le coeur de cette belle personne cependant toute cette belle troupe voulant s'arrester quelque temps en un si beau lieu les chariots qui nous avoient amemez furent par le derriere du bocage a la maison de sapho et nous demeurasmes a nous entretenir a l'ombre a l'agreable murmure de la fontaine et a l'aimable bruit des feuilles qu'un petit vent frais agitoit cette premiere conversation fut une conversation interrompue ou l'on passa continuellement d'objet en objet d'abord toutes les dames qui venoient 
 de mytilene louerent la beaute de sapho et admirerent comment il pouvoit estre qu'elle ne fust point halee scachant bien que tant qu'elle estoit a la campagne elle se promenoit continuellement sapho de son coste leur dit toutes ces agreables flatteries que la coustume a introduites parmy les dames qui scavent le monde et qui ont de la jeunesse et de la beaute apres elle nous demanda des nouvelles de mytilene en suitte nous luy demandasmes a nostre tour ce qu'elle avoit fait dans sa solitude cydnon luy reprocha de ne luy avoir point escrit erinne de ne s'estre pas souvenue d'elle athys d'estre partie sans luy dire adieu et nous luy dismes tous ensemble qu'elle aimoit trop la solitude et que son absence nous affligeoit trop pour la pouvoir souffrir plus longtemps pour me prouver ce que vous dittes repliqua agreablement sapho il faudroit que vous me dissiez tout ce que vous avez fait depuis huit jours que je suis icy car si effectivement vous me faites voir que vous vous estes tous ennuyez de mon absence je pense que je m'en retourneray aveque vous mais a dire la verite je suis persuadee que vous n'avez pas laisse de vous divertir pour moy dit nicanor je n'ay este en nulle part que chez pittacus ou j'ay eu besoin d'aller deux ou trois fois pour une affaire importante d'un de mes amis et la belle athys scait bien que quoy que je sois dans son voisinage je ne l'ay pas mesme veue il est vray reprit-elle 
 que nicanor a este fort solitaire depuis vostre depart et en mon particulier adjousta-t'elle malicieusement il n'en a pas este de mesme car j'ay veu beaucoup de monde et je me suis mesme promenee assez souvent mais cela n'a pas empesche que je ne me sois ennuyee et que je ne vous aye desiree cent et cent fois en effet phaon qui a este de deux de mes promenades scait bien que je luy en ay parle en ces termes la et que je luy ay mesme reproche qu'il n'estoit pas assez triste de vostre absence j'avoue reprit phaon que vous me fistes hier ce reproche mais vous me le fistes injustement car la joye qui paroissoit dans mes yeux ne venoit que de ce que je scavois que je viendrois icy aujourd'huy vous vous estes bien adroitement tire de l'embarras ou la belle athys vous avoit mis peut-estre sans y penser repliqua alce mais je ne scay si vous vous tirerez aussi bien de celuy ou je vous mettray quand je vous diray que le lendemain que sapho fut partie nous fismes cinq ou six visites ensemble ou je m'ennuyay fort et ou vous parlastes comme si vous ne vous fussiez point ennuye sapho m'a si bien apris repliqua-t'il qu'il ne faut point estre incivil que je ne puis pas me resoudre d'aller voir des gens pour ne leur rien dire j'aimerois mieux ne les voir point du tout cependant cydnon que je vis deux jours apres peut dire qu'elle me vit assez melancolique il est vray reprit amithone mais je ne 
 scay si c'estoit de l'absence de sapho car vous aviez joue le jour auparavant et vous aviez beaucoup perdu comme la belle sapho repliqua-t'il scait bien que je n'ay pas l'ame interessee je ne crains pas d'estre soubconne d'avoir plus de douleur de perdre beaucoup au jeu que de la perdre de veue quoy qu'il en soit dit elle en rougissant et en souriant a demy vous n'avez guere eu loisir de vous ennuyer car vous avez fait des promenades vous avez fait des visites vous avez joue et vous avez sans doute fait vostre cour chez pittacus ainsi si je suis bonne amie je dois me rejouir de ce que vous avez si bien passe le temps mais je ne dois pas vous remercier de ce que vous avez pense a moy ha madame luy dit il ne me condamnez pas sans m'entendre je vous entendray une autre fois reprit elle car pour aujourd'huy il vaut mieux a vostre exemple ne songer qu'a nous divertir sapho dit cela d'un air si libre que phaon n'en fut point en peine et en effet il est certain qu'encore qu'elle eust eu d'abord quelque leger depit de ce que la guerre qu'on avoit fait a phaon luy avoit fait comprendre qu'il ne s'estoit pas trop ennuye de son absence neantmoins comme elle avoit eu de ses lettres tous les jours depuis qu'elle estoit aux champs elle pensa qu'il avoit vescu ainsi plustost par prudence que par deffaut d'amour de sorte que cela n'empescha pas qu'elle ne fust aussi guaye le reste du jour que 
 si cela n'eust pas este dit en sa presence mais a la fin apres que cette belle troupe se fut reposee quelque temps et que l'eus aussi rendu conte a sapho de ce que j'avois fait durant son absence elle nous conduisit a travers cet agreable bocage a la porte d'un grand jardin ou nous trouvasmes une grande allee qui le traverse et qui nous mena jusques au perron de la maison ou cynegire nous receut je ne vous diray point exactement la proprete des meubles la politesse du repas ny l'agreable odeur qu'on respiroit en ce lieu la car je ne veux pas m arrester a de si petites choses mais je vous diray qu'une heure apres qu'on fut hors de table et que nous fusmes dans une agreable chambre qui est aupres de la salle ou nous avions disne philire et sa troupe dont je vous ay parle arriverent de sorte que cette augmentation de bonne compagnie augmentant encore la joye de sapho elle fit si bien les honneurs de chez elle que phaon estant charme de la voir et n'estant point maistre de sa passion la tesmoigna si ouvertement que sapho luy fit plus d'une fois quelque signe d'intelligence pour luy ordonner de la renfermer un peu plus dans son coeur car enfin il la louoit avec tant d'exageration il s'aprochoit d'elle avec tant d'empressement et il la regardoit avec tant d'amour qu'en effet il y auroit eu lieu de croire veu la joye qu'il avoit en la voyant que des qu'il ne la verroit plus il seroit desespere cependant 
 un peu apres que philire fut arrivee et qu'elle eut presente a sapho tous ceux qu'elle luy amenoit cette admirable fille dit a toute la compagnie qu'elle la vouloit conduire en un lieu plus agreable que celuy ou elle estoit afin de laisser passer le milieu du jour et jusques a l'heure de la promenade et en effet cynegire et elle nous menerent par une grande allee couverte dans un bois qui paroist si sauvage et si esloigne de toute habitation qu'on croit effectivement qu'on est dans un desert mais ce qu'il y a de plus agreable c'est qu'a l'endroit le plus toufu de ce bois on trouve une grande grotte que la nature a commencee et que l'art et les soins de sapho ont achevee qui est une des plus belles choses du monde car enfin elle est grande elle est fraische elle est profonde et elle est pourtant assez claire la roche en est mesme de plusieurs couleurs et ce qu'on y a adjouste imite si bien la nature qu'on croit qu'en effet l'art n'y a aucune part de plus les sieges qui sont a l'entour de cette grotte sont d'une matiere si rustique qu'on diroit que le hazard les a faits ils sont pourtant assez commodes car par un artifice particulier on a fait croistre de la mousse en ce lieu la qui les rend moins durs et qui les fait mesme plus beaux on y voit encore une petite source tranquile qui par sa fraischeur rend la grotte beaucoup plus agreable mais madame outre ce que je viens de dire il y a diverses petites 
 ouvertures qui donnent dans une seconde grotte ou l'on ne va point par celle-la et dont l'ouverture est opposee a celle de la premiere par ou l'on peut entendre ce que l'on dit de l'une a l'autre cet agreable lieu estant donc tel que je viens de vous le representer cynegire et sapho nous y conduisirent mais a peine y fusmes nous que nous ouysmes tout d'un coup une harmonie admirable qui venoit de la seconde grotte ou nous n'estions pas dans celle ou nous estions et qui la remplissoit si agreablement qu'il n'y eut jamais une plus charmante surprise d'abord nous creusmes tous que c'estoit sapho qui nous donnoit ce divertissement mais elle en fut elle mesme si estonnee que nous connusmes bien tost que ce n'estoit pas elle cependant tout le monde se regardoit et sapho regardoit tout le monde mais a dire la verite elle n'eut pas plustost regarde phaon qu'elle connut que c'estoit une galanterie qu'il luy faisoit il ne voulut pourtant pas advouer tout haut et la chose passa pour un enchantement durant tout le reste du jour et fournit une agreable matiere a la conversation mais comme cynegire estoit la plus curieuse de la troupe elle sortit de la grotte avec une des dames que philire avoit amenees pour aller dans l'autre grotte afin de scavoir de la propre bouche des musiciens qui les avoit fait venir en suitte de quoy elle fut se promener avec celle qui l'accompagnoit dans une allee solitaire qui n'estoit 
 pas loin de la cependant cette galanterie que phaon avoit faite de si bonne grace fit que chacun le loua quoy qu'il dist tousjours qu'il ne meritoit point d'estre loue et qu'il n'estoit pas assez galant pour faire une pareille chose en verite phaon luy dit ma soeur en souriant si l'on vous croyoit vous seriez bien attrape car enfin ceux qui ont veritablement l'ame galante scavent qu'ils l'ont ainsi et ne trouveroient nullement bon qu'on creust qu'ils ne l'eussent pas et en effet adjousta-t'elle ils ont raison de ne vouloir pas qu'on leur oste une qualite qui donne un nouveau prix a toutes les autres quelques grandes qu'elles puissent estre il faut avoir l'inclination bien galante repliqua alce en souriant pour dire ce que vous dittes il faut a mon advis l'avoir aussi raisonnable que galante reprit elle car il est vray que quand on ne fait point les choses de la maniere que je l'entens on ne les fait guere agreablement pour moy repliqua amithone je voudrois bien scavoir precisement en quoy consiste cette espece de galanterie dont cydnon entend parler en mon particulier interrompit phaon j'aimerois mieux que nous nous entretinsions de celle dont elle ne parle point car je vous avoue que je voy tant de mauvais galans par le monde qui ne laissent pas de faire d'assez grands progres dans le coeur de quelques dames que si l'on n'y prend garde les veritables galans ne trouveront plus de 
 conquestes a faire c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien que nous commencassions icy de decrier la mauvaise galanterie afin qu'a nostre retour a mytilene nous fissions passer nos maximes dans l'esprit de toute la ville il faudroit donc aussi reprit philire establir des regles pour la belle car il ne serviroit de rien de blasmer l'une si l'on n'enseignoit l'autre pour moy repliqua sapho qui suis ennemie declaree de tous les mauvais galans et qui aime naturellement l'air galant en toutes choses je serois ravie que l'on fist ne semblable conversation si nous n'estions pas icy mais a vous dire la verite adjousta-t'elle en souriant je ne veux point qu'on aille dire a mytilene que nous nous sommes assemble pour faire des loix pour l'amour pour moy reprit phaon je scay bien que je ne parleray d'aujourd'huy d'autre chose et en mon particulier adjoustay-je je ne pense pas que je pusse trouver rien a dire sur un autre sujet il est en effet si agreable repliqua nicanor qu'il seroit difficile de le changer en mieux et il est mesme si necessaire dit alors alce que je ne scay de quoy nous parlerions si on n'en parloir pas en effet repliqua phaon nous avons dit devant disner toutes les nouvelles que nous scavions nous avons loue la beaute du lieu ou nous sommes et nous avons parle presques de toutes choses si bien qu'il n'y a rien a faire dit-il a sapho sinon que vous enduriez qu'on vous loue ou que vous souffriez que nous 
 parlions de galanterie tant qu'il nous plaira je vous assure reprit elle que j'aime encore mieux que vous parliez de galanterie que de me louer parlons en donc tout le reste du jour repliqua phaon car dans la disposition ou est mon ame aujourd'huy il me semble que j'auray presques autant d'esprit que vous en avez lors que vous estes en vos moins admirables jours si vous n'en aviez jamais davantage reprit elle vous seriez moins galant que vous n'estes mais encore dit la belle athys a sapho dittes nous un peu je vous en conjure ce que vous avez fait et ce que vous faites pour estre la plus galante personne du monde je n'entens pas dit elle malicieusement quand je parle ainsi vous accuser de faire galanterie mais j'entens effectivement vous louer de ce que vous ne faites pas une action ny ne dittes pas une parole qui n'ait un air galant quoy que je n'aye pas assez de vanite pour croire de moy ce que vous en dittes reprit sapho je ne laisse pas de croire que je connois assez bien en autruy ce que vous voulez scavoir et que je fais un discernement assez juste de cette espece de galanterie sans amour qui se mesle mesme quelques fois aux choses les plus serieuses et qui donne un charme inexpliquable a tout ce que l'on fait ou a tout ce que l'on dit cependant cet air galant dont j'entens parler ne consiste point precisement a avoir beaucoup d'esprit beaucoup de jugement et beaucoup de scavoir et c'est quelque 
 que chose de si particulier et de si difficile a aquerir quand on ne l'a point qu'on ne scait ou le prendre ny ou le chercher car enfin adjousta-t'elle je connois un homme que toute la compagnie connoist aussi qui est bien fait qui a de l'esprit qui est magnifique en train en meubles et en habillemens qui est propre qui parle judicieusement et juste qui de plus fait ce qu'il peut pour avoir l'air galant et qui cependant est le moins galant de tous les hommes mais qu'est-ce donc dit amithone cet air galant qui plaist si fort c'est je ne scay quoy reprit sapho qui naist de cent choses differentes car enfin je suis persuadee qu'il faut que la nature mette du moins dans l'esprit et dans la personne de ceux qui doivent avoir l'air galant une certaine disposition a le recevoir il faut de plus que le grand commerce du monde et du monde de la cour aide encore a le donner et il faut aussi que la conversation des femmes le donne aux hommes car je soustiens qu'il n'y en a jamais eu qui ait eu l'air galant qui ait fuy l'entretien des personnes de mon sexe et si j'ose dire tout ce que je pense je diray encore qu'il faut mesme qu'un homme ait eu du mois une fois en sa vie quelque legere inclination amoureuse pour aquerir parfaitement l'air galant mais prenez garde de ne vous engager pas trop reprit amithone en disant ce que vous dittes en effet adjousta alce 
 je trouve qu'amithone a raison de dire ce qu'elle dit car s'il est necessaire d'avoir aime quelque chose pour avoir l'air galant il s'enfuit qu'une dame qui a cet air souverainement doit avoir plus aime qu'une autre nullement repliqua sapho car dans le mesme temps que je soutiens que pour faire qu'un homme ait l'air tout a fait galant il faut qu'il ait eu le coeur un peu engage je soustiens aussi que pour faire qu'une dame ait ce mesme air il suffit qu'elle ait receu une disposition favorable de la nature qu'elle ait veu le monde qu'elle ait sceu connoistre les honnestes gens et qu'elle ait eu dessein de plaire en general sans aimer rien en particulier apres tout dit la belle athys il me semble qu'on abuse un peu trop du mot de galant car je trouve bon qu'on dise cela est pense galamment cela est dit avec galanterie et mille autres choses semblables ou l'esprit a sa part mais je ne scay s'il est aussi bien de dire cet habit est galant ou cet homme est galamment habille pour moy dit phaon je n'en ferois pas de difficulte car enfin c'est cet air galant que sapho a dans l'esprit et en toute sa personne qui fait que l'habillement qu'elle porte aujourd'huy luy sied si bien et cela est tellement vray qu'on voit des dames au bal qui sont admirablement parees qui sont tres mal en comparaison de la simplicite de cet habillement qui ne tire sa galanterie que de celle de 
 la personne qui le porte et qui l'a imagine aussi agreable qu'il est en mon particulier adjousta sapho je croy qu'on peut mettre l'air galant a tout et qu'on le peut mesme conserver jusques a la fin de sa vie mais a vous dire la verite et a parler de la chose en general cette espece de galanterie est assurement fille de l'autre et il faut avoir aime ou avoir souhaite de plaire pour l'aquerir ce n'est pas comme je l'ay desja dit qu'il ne faille plusieurs choses pour cela et il y a mesme des personnes qui sont nees avec de grandes qualitez qui ne le scauroient avoir cependant c'est un grand malheur de ne l'avoir pas car il est vray qu'il n'y a point d'agreement plus grand dans l'esprit que ce tour galant et naturel qui scait mettre je ne scay quoy qui plaist aux choses les moins capables de plaire et qui mesle dans les entretiens les plus communs un charme secret qui satisfait et qui divertit enfin ce je ne scay quoy galant qui est respandu en toute la personne qui le possede soit en son esprit en ses actions ou mesme en ses habillemens est ce qui acheve les honnestes gens ce qui les rend aimables et ce qui les fait aimer en effet il y a un biais de dire les choses qui leur donne un nouveau prix et il est constamment vray que ceux qui ont un tour galant dans l'esprit peuvent souvent dire ce que les autres n'oseroient seulement penser mais selon moy l'air galant de la conversation consiste principalement a 
 penser les choses d'une maniere aisee et naturelle a pancher plustost vers la douceur et vers l'enjouement que vers le serieux et le brusque et a parler enfin facilement et en termes propres sans affectation il faut mesme avoir dans l'esprit je ne scay quoy d'insinuant et de flatteur pour seduire l'esprit des autres et si je pouvois bien exprimer ce que je comprens je vous ferois avouer que l'on ne scauroit estre tout a fait aimable sans avoir l'air galant il est vray reprit alce que sans cela il est difficile de plaire mais il faut pourtant avouer que ceux a qui il est absolument necessaire sont ceux qui font profession de faire galanterie il est certain repliqua sapho qu'un amant qui n'a point l'air galant est une pitoyable chose et ce qu'il y a de plus facheux adjousta t'elle c'est qu'il y a un nombre infiny de ces jeunes gens qui ne font qu'entrer dans le monde qui croyent que toute la galanterie ne consiste qu'a se haster de prendre les plus bizarres modes que le caprice des autres invente qu'a s'empresser fort qu'a estre hardis qu'a parler beaucoup et qu'a aller continuellement dans toutes les maisons dont les portes sont ouvertes sans avoir rien a y faire qu'a y dire des bagatelles qui ne sont ny galantes ny passionnees ny spirituelles il y en a encore repliqua cydnon qui croyent estre fort galans pourveu qu'ils puissent dire seulement qu'ils voyent toutes les femmes galantes d'une ville et qui passent 
 en effet toute leur vie a estre de toutes les parties qui se font pour avoir seulement le plaisir de dire j'estois hier avec celles-cy je menay l'autre jour celles-la je donnay la musique a une telle je traittay sapho et sa troupe je fus avec d'autres dames le jour suivant et ainsi du reste ceux que vous dittes ne sont sans doute pas de trop bons galans repliqua sapho et ils ont assurement peu d'esprit et beaucoup de foiblesse mais je crains bien davantage ces grands diseurs de douceurs qui font les languissans eternels qui en veulent aux yeux bleus aux yeux noirs et aux yeux gris avec une esgalle ardeur et qui penseroient estre deshonnorez s'ils avoient este un jour avec une femme sans avoir soupire aupres d'elle car en mon particulier je ne les puis endurer et je suis si persuadee qu'ils ont dit cent mille fois tout ce qu'ils me disent que je ne puis ny les escouter ny leur respondre j'avoue que ces soupireurs universels sont d'estranges gens repliqua phaon mais nous connoissons quelques autres amans brusques et fiers qui ne sont pas trop agreables et toute la compagnie en connoist un qui aime une tres belle personne qui luy jure continuellement de toutes les manieres dont on peut jurer qu'il l'aime plus qu'aucun n'a jamais aime qu'il mourroit pour son service et qu'il feroit mourir tous ceux qui oseroient luy desplaire et il croit mesme qu'il suffit pour avoir droit de luy demander de grandes recompenses qu'il luy offre tousjours de 
 tuer quel qu'un pour son service celuy la est si brutal repliqua erinne qu'il ne merite pas qu'on en parle mais je voudrois bien scavoir ce que je dois penser de certains galans enjouez qui ne parlent jamais d'amour qu'en raillant et qui en parlent pourtant tousjours et qui sans estre ny coquets ny amans vont eternellement de ruelle en ruelle distribuer leur galanterie enjouee sans avoir nul dessein forme comme ces gens la ne tardent jamais longtemps en un lieu reprit erinne ils ne m'incommodent pas trop quand je les rencontre et il y en a mesme qui me divertissent mais ceux qui me mettent en colere sont les veritables coquets qui embarrassent dix ou douze intrigues sans avoir aucune amour et qui se font cent affaires sans en avoir une seule je vous assure repliqua philire que ces amans opiniastres qui sont tousjours en chagrin ne sont pas trop divertissans pour leurs amies ny pour leurs amis et j'en connois un qui est tousjours si sombre que toutes les fois que je le voy je m'imagine qu'il est jaloux qu'il cherche a tuer son rival ou qu'il songe a s'empoisonner il est sans doute quelques amans opiniastres qui sont aussi facheux que vous le dittes reprit phaon mais aimable philire il peut y avoir des amans fidelles qui ne sont pas si incommodes ce qu'il y a de constamment vray reprit cydnon c'est qu'il est peu d'hommes fort amoureux qui soient fort galans ny 
 qui soient aussi agreables pour les autres que pour celles qu'ils aiment et quoy que l'amour ne semble estre qu'une bagatelle c'est pourtant la chose du monde la plus rare que de trouver un amant qui le soit de bonne grace mais encore dis je en adressant la parole a sapho n'est-il pas juste de n'examiner que les calans et il vaudrait mieux parler de la galanterie en general afin qu'on parlast aussi un peu des dames en particulier je vous assure reprit sapho qu'il y en a qui font galanterie d'une si terrible maniere que c'est leur faire grace et se faire honneur que de n'en parler point cependant je suis contrainte d'avouer que c'est aux femmes a qui il se faut prendre de la mauvaise galanterie des hommes car si elles scavoient bien se servir de tous les privileges de leur sexe elles leur aprendroient a estre veritablement galans et elles n'endureroient pas qu'ils perdissent jamais devant elles le respect qu'ils leur doivent en effet elles ne leur souffriroient nullement cent familiaritez inciviles que la plus part des nouveaux galans veulent introduire dans le monde car enfin entre la ceremonie contrainte et l'incivilite il y a un fort grand intervale et si toutes les dames galantes entendoient bien le mestier dont elles se meslent leurs galans seroient plus respectueux et plus complaisans et par consequent plus agreables mais le mal est que les femmes qui se mettent la galanterie de travers 
 dans la teste s'imaginent qu'a force d'estre indulgentes a leurs galans elle les conservent et toutes celles dont j'entens parler ne songent ny a leur reputation ny mesme a l'avantage de leur propre galanterie mais seulement a oster un amant a celle-cy a attirer celuy-la a conserver cet autre et a en engager mille si elles peuvent il y en a mesme adjousta-t'elle qui font encore pis et qui par un interest avare font cent intrigues au lieu d'un il est certain reprit amithone que je connois des femmes dont la galanterie fait grande horreur a quiconque a de la vertu car enfin elles ne mesnagent chose aucune et elles agissent avec une telle imprudence qu'on diroit qu'elles font gloire de ce qui leur doit faire honte cependant je suis assuree que leurs galans mesmes les en mesprisent et qu'elles n'en peuvent jamais avoir qui les estiment veu la maniere dont elles agissent car pour moy je suis persuadee que non seulement il faut se conduire avec prudence pour ne donner pas sujet au monde de parler mal a propos mais qu'il faut mesme le faire pour conserver l'estime de l'amant qui ne scauroit estre un honneste homme s'il trouve bon que la personne qu'il aime hazarde sa gloire pour luy nous en voyons pourtant beaucoup repliqua erinne qui ne se soucient guere de la reputation des dames qu'ils aiment comme elles ne s'en soucient pas elles mesmes reprit cydnon je ne voy pas qu'ils 
 ayent si grand tort de ne s'en mettre pas en peine mais encore dit nicanor est-il possible que vous ne trouviez que du mal a dire de la galanterie et des galans en verite reprit sapho il est plus aise d'en dire du mal que du bien veu le grand nombre de gens qui se meslent d'une chose qu'ils n'entendent pas cependant il est certain que si les dames en general scavoient bien mesnager tous leurs avantages il seroit possible d'introduire dans le monde une galanterie si spirituelle si agreable et si innocente tout ensemble qu'elle ne choqueroit ny la prudence ny la vertu en effet si les dames ne vouloient devoir leurs amans qu'a leur propre merite sans les devoir a leurs soins et a leurs faveurs la conqueste de leur coeur estant plus difficile a faire les hommes seroient plus complaisans plus soigneux plus soumis et plus respectueux qu'ils ne sont et les femmes seroient aussi moins interessees moins lasches moins fourbes et moins foibles qu'on ne les voit de sorte que chacun estant a sa place c'est a dire les maistresses estant les maistresses et les esclaves les esclaves tous les plaisirs reviendroient en foule dans le monde la politesse y regneroit et la veritable galanterie se reverroit en son plus grand esclat et nous ne verrions pas tous les jours comme nous le voyons des hommes parler des femmes en general avec un si grand mespris ny se vanter si publiquement de leurs faveurs nous 
 ne verrions pas non plus tant de femmes renoncer a la scrupuleuse pudeur quoy qu'elle leur soit si necessaire et quoy qu'elle soit mesme le charme de la belle galanterie nous ne verrions pas dis-je des dames s'entrequereller a qui aura un amant s'entre-deschirer en parlant les unes des autres ny vendre leur coeur par un sentiment mercenaire comme s'il estoit de diamans car enfin si la galanterie peut estre quelquesfois permise il faut qu'on ne puisse rien reprocher a ceux qui s'en meslent que de ne pouvoir s'empescher d'aimer autruy plus que soy mesme comme sapho disoit cela cynegire et la dame qui estoit allee avec elle estans revenues la conversation fut interrompue parce qu'elles leur dirent qu'il faisoit alors si beau se promener que toute la compagnie sortit de la grotte et fut a une grande allee sombre ou ceux qui faisoient l'harmonie l'ayant suivie il y eut un bal d'une heure qui fut le plus agreable du monde cependant quoy qu'il ne semblast pas possible que phaon peust trouver moyen d'entretenir sapho en particulier en un jour ou elle estoit obligee de faire les honneurs de chez elle il ne laissa pas d'en rencontrer l'occasion car comme apres ce petit bal on se promena chacun selon son inclination il donna la main a sapho si bien que par ce moyen marchant insensiblement un peu moins viste que les autres il se separa de huit ou dix pas de toute la compagnie et luy parla 
 de sa passion mais avec des transports si grands que sapho toute difficile a contenter qu'elle est en matiere de tendresse fut satisfaite de luy ce jour la en effet il luy dit si precisement tout ce qu'elle pensoit qu'il luy devoit dire et il le luy dit d'une maniere si obligeante qu'elle le creut digne de luy montrer une partie de la joye qu'elle avoit d'estre aimee de luy elle luy reprocha pourtant de s'estre trop diverty durant son absence mais il luy respondit avec tant d'adresse qu'elle creut en effet que le hazard l'avoit engage dans tant de divertissemens differens plustost que son inclination et il paroissoit enfin si content de la voir qu'elle ne le soubconna point de n'estre pas tres afflige de ne la voir point cependant quelque plaisir qu'elle trouvast a entretenir phaon la bien-seance l'emporta sur son inclination de sorte qu'apres luy avoir permis de croire en le regardant favorablement qu'elle estoit bien marrie de ne luy pouvoir parler plus longtemps elle se raprocha de la compagnie qui se trouva si bien en ce lieu la qu'elle n'en partit que le soir apres avoir soupe sapho retint mesme cydnon avec elle et les autres luy promirent de luy escrire de sorte qu'apres que nous les eusmes quittees ces deux personnes s'entretinrent encore assez longtemps mais du coste de sapho ce fut d'une maniere plus triste car comme elle aime avec un attachement extreme elle ne pouvoit 
 pas ne sentir point l'absence de phaon c'estoit pourtant une tristesse douce qui occupoit son esprit sans l'accabler et qui ne l'empescha pas de dire mille belles choses a ma soeur sur la tendresse de l'amour en verite luy disoit elle ma chere cydnon l'amour est pourtant une bizarre passion car enfin quoy qu'on ne souhaite rien avec tant d'ardeur que la felicite de la personne qu'on aime il est pourtant certain que de l'heure que je parle je serois au desespoir si phaon n'avoit point autant de douleur de ne me voir point que j'en sens de ne le voir plus et il y a des instans ou j'ay un tel despit de ne pouvoir jamais scavoir positivement ce qu'il fait et ce qu'il pense quand il est esloigne de moy que j'en suis presques aussi chagrine que si je scavois de certitude qu'il n'y pense plus des qu'il m'a perdue de veue cependant ce seroient ces sentimens la qui me combleroient de joye si le les pouvois scavoir et si je les trouvois dans le coeur de phaon tels qu'ils sont dans le mien mais madame pendant que sapho parloit avec ma soeur tout nostre troupe s'en retournoit a mytilene et s'y en retournoit avec un esprit de joye que je ne vous puis exprimer a la reserve de nicanor qui ne pouvoit jamais estre guay parce qu'il ne pouvoit jamais esperer d'estre aime de sapho mais pour tous les autres de la troupe ils se divertirent extremement je m'imagine madame que vous croyez que je me suis 
 trompe lors que je n'ay excepte que nicanor et que je devois aussi excepter phaon mais madame il faut que j'acheve de vous le faire connoistre et que je vous aprenne qu'il a dans l'esprit ce que peut-estre nul autre amant que luy n'y a jamais eu car enfin quoy que phaon ait l'ame tendre et passionnee et qu'il aime avec une ardeur inconcevable il est pourtant certain qu'excepte quand il a de la jalousie il n'a pas l'ame fort sensible a la douleur et l'absence toute rigoureuse qu'elle est aux autres amans ne le touche que mediocrement quoy qu'il ait plus de joye d'estre aupres de ce qu'il aime qu'on ne s'en scauroit imaginer en effet je l'ay veu quelquesfois aupres de sapho avec des transports de plaisir qui aprochoient de l'extase et je l'en ay veu esloigne sans en avoir une douleur excessive ce n'est pourtant pas qu'il ne l'aime autant qu'il peut aimer et qu'il ne l'aime mesme quand il la voit plus que personne n'a jamais aime mais c'est que son ame est plus sensible a la joye qu'a la douleur et que des qu'il perd ce qui fait son plus grand plaisir il en cherche de moindres pour s'en consoler enfin son ame s'attache tellement a suivre tout ce qui luy peut plaire et a esviter tout ce qui luy donne du chagrin qu'il peut estre quelquefois absent de ce qu'il aime le plus sans estre fort malheureux cela n'empesche pourtant pas que lors qu'il revoit la personne qu'il aime il ne se trouve aussi heureux que s'il 
 avoit este fort afflige en effet on voit briller la joye dans ses yeux et il s'espand sur son visage je ne scay quoy que je ne puis exprimer qui tesmoigne si fortement la satisfaction qu'il a de revoir ce qu'il adore qu'on ne peut jamais s'imaginer qu'un homme qui retrouve un bien avec tant de plaisir le puisse perdre sans une grande douleur aussi sapho est elle excusable d'avoir este si longtemps sans connoistre que phaon ne connoissoit que les douceurs de l'amour sans en connoistre les amertumes car elle le voyoit si transporte de joye quand il estoit aupres d'elle qu'elle s'imaginoit aisement qu'il estoit accable de douleur des qu'il n'y estoit plus pour moy au commencement je croyois qu'il agissoit comme il faisoit par prudence afin de mieux cacher l'amour qu'il avoit pour sapho et le soir que nous nous en retournasmes a mytilene apres avoir quitte cette admirable fille je creus encore que l'enjouement qu'il eut pendant tout le chemin que nous fismes estoit pour tromper toute la compagnie mais ce qu'il y eut d'admirable fut que la belle humeur de phaon augmenta la mauvaise de nicanor qui creut que la guayete de son rival ne venoit que de ce que sapho luy avoit dit des choses si obligeantes qu'il ne pouvoit cacher sa joye pour athys la jalousie qu'elle commencoit d'avoir luy mettant dans 1 esprit l'envie d'inquietter sapho elle se souvint que le matin elle avoit pris garde que cette 
 belle fille avoit remarque tout ce qu'on avoit dit des divertissemens de phaon durant son absence de sorte qu'agissant avec autant d'esprit que de malice en cette occasion elle envoya deux jours apres son retour un esclave a sapho avec une lettre qu'il faut que je vous die car si je ne me trompe elle estoit a peu pres en ces termes 
 
 
 
 athys a sapho 
 
 
 comme je n'ay pas oublie la promesse que je vous fis de vous escrire des nouvelles je voudrois bien m'en pouvoir aquiter mais comme il n'y en a point a mytilene il faut que je ne vous parle encore que de nostre voyage qui ne fut pas moins divertissant a nostre retour qu'il l'avoit este en vous allant voir car phaon et alce furent de la plus belle humeur du monde et excepte nicanor qui fut tres melancolique tout le reste de la compagnie trouva le chemin fort court en effet phaon et alce dirent tant de jolies choses que je vous ferois une des plus jolies lettres du monde si je vous les escrivois mais comme je suis persuadee qu'il est bon de ne vous divertir pas trop a la campagne de peur que vous n'y soyez plus longtemps que vos amies ne le souhaitent je ne vous en diray rien aussi bien suis-je pressee finir ma lettre parce que je suis d'une promenade dont phaon et alce doivent estre et que je crains de me faire attendre je leur ay veu ce matin au temple tant de guayete sur le visage que j'ay lieu de croire qu'ils auront encore leur belle humeur mais pour moy je vous assure que je n'auray point toute la mienne que je n'aye le plaisir de vous revoir 
 
 
 athys 
 
 
 voila donc madame quelle estoit la lettre d'athys qui avoit sans doute toute la malice imaginable car elle nuisoit a alce elle inquiettoit sapho par ce qu'elle luy disoit de phaon et elle nuisoit et a phaon et a alce en rendant office a nicanor cependant cette lettre n'eust peut-estre pas eu tout le succes qu'elle en avoit attendu si le hazard n'eust fait qu'amithone erinne philire alce nicanor et phaon n'eussent chacun escrit des choses qui confirmoient ce qu'athys escrivoit quoy que toutes ces personnes escrivissent separement en effet amithone pour faire la guerre a sapho dans la liberte de leur amitie luy disoit apres plusieurs petites nouvelles de leur cabale qu'il falloit qu'elle eust dit quelque chose de bien obligeant a phaon parce qu'il avoit este si guay depuis son retour qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais veu davantage erinne en son particulier pour luy prouver la tendresse de son affection luy mandoit qu'elle se pouvoit vanter d'estre la plus melancolique de tous ceux qui l'avoient quittee excepte nicanor et philire ecrivoit que si la belle humeur de phaon ne l'eust un peu consolee de son absence depuis son retour elle se seroit fort ennuyee pour alce sans dire precisement si phaon avoit este guay ou triste il engageoit adroitement dans sa lettre plusieurs jolies choses que phaon avoit dittes et pour nicanor il fit une si melancolique quoy qu'il fist pourtant une satyre fort 
 plaisante de l'enjouement de nostre troupe qu'il confirma tout ce que les autres avoient dit mais ce qu'il y eut de plus estrange fut que mesme la lettre de phaon fut contre luy car encore qu'il pretextast sa joye d'un sentiment d'amour elle ne fit pas l'effet qu'il en avoit attendu comme je vous le diray aussi tost que je vous auray dit cette lettre de phaon qui estoit telle 
 
 
 
 phaon a la charmante sapho 
 
 
 il faut sans doute que vous ayez un estrange pouvoir sur moy et que vos paroles quand il vous plaist ayent plus de force que celles dont on se sert a faire des enchantemens car enfin ce que vous me dittes d'obligeant un moment avant que je me separasse de vous mit un si grand fonds de joye dans mon ame que toute la rigueur de vostre absence n'a pu m'empescher de men souvenir avec un plaisir extreme jugez donc quel sera celuy que j'auray lors que vous reviendrez icy au reste je pretens que vous receviez ce que je vous dis comme une plus grande marque d'amour que si je m'estois desespere car il est bien plus extraordinaire de recevoir les faveurs avec une si grande sensibilite qu'elles puissent consoler de l'absence que de souffrir l'absence avec tant d'inquietude qu'elle face oublier les faveurs et je ne scay mesme s'il n'y a point plus d'amour a estre plus sensible aux bien-faits de la personne aimee qu'au malheur qui nous en separe je souhaite pourtant de tout mon coeur que j'apprenne bientost de vostre belle bouche ce que j'en dois croire et que je vous puisse bientost protester a genoux que je suis le plus amoureux de tous les sommes 
 
 
 phaon 
 
 
 voila donc madame quelle estoit la lettre de phaon pour la mienne elle fut la seule qui ne luy fit ny bien ny mal parce que je ne parlay point de luy car comme je le trouvois trop guay pour un amant absent et que je ne voulois pas luy nuire j'aimay mieux n'en parler pas que d'en parler a son desavantage mais pendant qu'on portoit toutes ces lettres de mytilene au lieu ou estoit sapho elle et cydnon s'entretenoient avec toute la liberte de la campagne et toute celle de leur amitie mais elles s'entretenoient de choses bien esloignees des sentimens de phaon car enfin ces deux filles estant assises au bord de cette belle fontaine dont je vous ay parle parloient de la rigueur de l'absence et de la douleur qu'elle cause dans l'esprit de ceux qui sont capables de la sentir pour moy disoit cydnon j'y suis si sensible que je ne m'accoustume jamais a ne voir plus ce que j'aime et je vous proteste luy disoit elle encore que depuis vostre depart de mytilene je n'ay eu aucun plaisir tranquile car si j'ay fait des visites je vous y ay souhaitee si j'ay fait quelque promenade j'ay regrette que vous n'y estiez pas si j'ay ouy dire quelque plaisante nouvelle j'ay eu depit que nous ne l'aprenions pas ensemble pour nous en divertir et je n'ay enfin ny rien fait ny rien dit ny rien pense ou vous n'ayez eu quelque part et qui ne m'ait donne du chagrin par la seule pensee de vostre absence pour moy dit alors sapho je vous en 
 suis tout a fait obligee car il est vray que selon mon opinion la plus sensible et la plus seure marque de la tendresse d'une affection est la douleur de l'absence mais madame comme elle prononcoit ces paroles l'esclave qui portoit la lettre d'athys arriva et la donna a sapho qui se mit a la lire a demy haut afin que cydnon l'entendist mais lors qu'elle vint a y lire ce qu'athys luy mandoit de la belle humeur de phaon elle en rougit et elle sentit une esmotion estrange dans son coeur neantmoins se condamnant elle mesme elle se remit et ordonnant cet esclave d'attendre sa response elle se leva en intention d'aller effectivement escrire a athys mais a peine sut elle levee qu'un autre esclave qui estoit a phaon et qui estoit venu par un autre chemin arriva et il arriva charge de toutes ces autres lettres dont je vous ay desja parle excepte de celle de nicanor car pour luy il l'envoya par un homme qui vint aussi un quart d'heure apres mais madame ma soeur m'a dit qu'il n'y eut jamais rien d'esgal a ce qui se passa dans le coeur de sapho en cette occasion car enfin apres avoir leu la lettre d'athys avec l'esmotion que je vous ay ditte elle leut encore celle d'amithone avec plus d'agitation celle d'erinne avec plus d'estonnement celle de philire avec plus de depit celle d'alce avec plus de chagrin celle de nicanor avec plus de confusion et celle de phaon avec plus de douleur quoy qu'elle l'eust gardee 
 la derniere conme en esperant le plus grand plaisir ce cas fortuit luy parut pourtant si extraordinaire qu'il luy vint d'abord dans la pensee que tant de personnes ne luy parloient de la guayete de phaon que parce que cela estoit concerte entre elles mais se souvenant que le jour qu'il l'avoit este voir on luy avoit dit beaucoup de choses qui luy avoient fait connoistre qu'il avoit eu plusieurs divertissemens depuis son absence elle ne put demeurer dans cette opinion et elle connut mesme si bien en relisant toutes ces diverses lettres attentivement qu'elles n'estoient pas concertees qu'elle ne douta point que phaon n'eust l'esprit aussi tranquile qu'on le luy disoit imaginez vous donc madame quel effet devoit faire cette pensee dans l'ame d'une personne qui ne pouvoit souffrir l'absence de phaon sans des inquietudes estranges et qui avoit passe tout ce jour la avec ma soeur a s'entretenir de la rigueur de l'absence a exagerer le plaisir qu'il y a de scavoir que la personne que l'on aime est malheureuse lors qu'elle ne voit point ce qu'elle aime cydnon m'a dit qu'il parut un si grand estonnement sur le visage de sapho apres la lecture de toutes ces lettres qu'elle pensa croire qu'il estoit arrive quelque estrange chose a mytilene car sapho ne leut haut que la lettre d'athys il est vray qu'elle n'ignora pas longtemps la cause de l'estonnement de sapho car des que cette belle personne eut acheve de relire toutes ces diverses lettres elle les donna toutes a ma 
 soeur et prenant la parole en soupirant voyez cydnon luy dit elle que phaon ne vous ressemble pas et que l'amitie fait plus en vous que l'amour ne fait en luy apres cela cydnon s'estant mise a lire ne fut pas si estonnee que sapho de ce qu'on luy mandoit car elle avoit desja remarque que phaon se divertissoit presques de toutes choses et ne s'ennuyoit jamais guere en quelque lieu qu'il fust neantmoins comme elle scavoit que j'aimois cherement phaon elle voulut l'excuser pour cet effet elle dit a sapho qu'il ne falloit point qu'elle se fachast de ce qu'on luy escrivoit car enfin luy dit-elle tout ce qu'escrivent athys nicanor et alce vous doit estre suspect et vous devez lire ce que vous escrit phaon comme une chose qu'il n'a escrite que parce qu'elle luy sembloit nouvelle vous devez mesme considerer ce que vous mandent amithone erinne et philire sans aucune inquietude puis qu'il est croyable que phaon en s'en retournant vit qu'on l'observoit si soigneusement que par prudence il parut plus guay qu'il ne l'estoit ha cydnon reprit sapho je pense estre aussi prudente que phaon et cependant je ne pourrois pas paroistre guaye une heure apres l'avoir quitte et tout ce que je pourrois sur moy seroit de ne paroistre pas melancolique c'est pourquoy ne l'excusez point je vous en conjure puis qu'il est vray qu'on ne le scauroit excuser je scay bien que phaon est amy particulier de democede adjousta-t'elle mais 
 cydnon il faut pourtant prendre mes interests contre luy et il faut me pleindre et le condamner si je le croyois coupable repris-je je le condamnerois sans doute quoy interrompit-elle vous croyez que phaon ait pu estre assez guay pour faire que tant de personnes differentes me parlent de sa guayete et qu'il ne m'ait pas donne lieu de luy reprocher qu'il manque d'amour ha cydnon si vous le croyez vous vous abusez et je sens tellement son peu de sensibilite pour mon absence que si je pensois le pouvoir faire j'entreprendrois de le bannir de mon coeur car enfin ma chere cydnon je ne puis endurer que durant que je sens une melancolie qui m'accable pour l'absence de phaon il se divertisse et divertisse les autres avec la mesme liberte d'esprit que s'il ne m'avoit jamais veue pour moy luy dit cydnon je le voy si aise quand il est aupres de vous que je ne puis croire qu'il ne soit bien afflige quand il n'y est pas la raison et l'amour voudroient sans doute que la chose fust ainsi repliqua sapho mais cependant six personnes deposent contre luy et il se condamne luy mesme par sa lettre les apparences sont si trompeuses luy dit cydnon que vous ne seriez pas raisonnable si vous vous affligiez avec exces d'une chose que vous scavez avec tant d'incertitude pour la scavoir mieux ma chere cydnon repliqua-t'elle je vous conjure de vous en retourner a mytilene j'obligeray cynegire a vous donner un chariot et vous n'aurez qu'a dire 
 qu'on vous a escrit qu'il estoit necessaire que vous y retournassiez pour une affaire importante cependant je demeureray encore icy quinze jours afin de voir si phaon se divertira tousjours comme il a commence mais ma chere cydnon je veux que vous me faciez chaque jour un recit fidelle des divertissemens de phaon de son humeur et de son enjouemnet car enfin s'il ne m'aime que quand il me voit je ne veux plus de son amour et je veux si je le puis luy oster la mienne cydnon fit alors ce qu'elle put pour appaiser sapho mais elle trouva si estrange que phaon fust si guay ou elle n'estoit pas durant qu'elle estoit si melancolique ou il n'estoit point que toute l'adresse de ma soeur ne put luy faire changer de sentimens de sorte qu'il falut qu'elle fist ce qu'elle vouloit et qu'elle revinst a mytilene apres luy avoir promis une fidellite si exacte qu'elle n'osa en effet y manquer cependant sapho respondit a toutes les personnes qui luy avoient escrit sans tesmoigner ouvertement a phaon le mescontement qu'elle avoit de sa guayete il est vray que ne pouvant se contraindre longtemps elle fit sa lettre si courte qu'il n'y avoit que ces paroles 
 
 
 
 sapho a phaon 
 
 
 je ne doute nullement que la joye ne puisse estre quelquesfois une marque tres sensible d'une affection fort tendre mais je ne scay si c'est positivement de la maniere que vous l'entendez quand je seray a mytilene je verray si je vous trendray conte de la vostre et si je la trouveray digne d'estre mise au rang des tesmoignages d'affection que vous m'avez rendus 
 
 
 sapho 
 
 
quoy que cette lettre fust un peu seche phaon ne craignit pas que sapho fust irritee contre luy et il creut seulement qu'elle avoit tant eu de responces a faire qu'elle n'avoit pas eu loisir de luy en faire une plus longue de sorte que ne changeant pas sa facon d'agir il vescut depuis le retour de cydnon comme il avoit fait auparavant c'est a dire qu'il chercha autant qu'il put a se consoler de l'absence de sapho cependant comme il n'y avoit point de jour qu'elle n'envoyast en secret un esclave a cydnon afin de scavoir des nouvelles de phaon il n'y en avoit point aussi ou elle n'aprist des choses qui l'affligeoient car enfin de l'humeur dont est phaon il ne peut refuser un plaisir et la raison pourquoy il estoit eternellement avec sapho quand elle estoit a mytilene c'est qu'il en trouvoit plus aupres d'elle qu'en nul autre lieu du monde mais cela n'empeschoit pas que 
 quand il ne pouvoit avoir celuy de voir la personne qu'il aimoit il n'en prist de moindres si bien que comme sapho avoit engage ma soeur par serment a luy mander tout ce que feroit phaon elle sceut qu'il avoit este de tous les divertissemens qu'il y avoit eus a mytilene et qu'il en avoit este comme un homme qui n'avoit nulle repugnance a en estre de sorte qu'en ayant l'esprit estrangement irrite elle ne put se resoudre de revoir phaon sans luy avoir fait scavoir qu'elle se pleignoit de luy pour cet effet elle luy envoya le jour qui preceda son retour a mytilene un memoire exact de tous les plaisirs qu'il avoit eus durant son absence luy marquant jour pour jour les visites agreables qu'il avoit faites les promenades ou il s'estoit trouve les conversations divertissantes ou il s'estoit rencontre et en un mot tous les divertissemens qu'il avoit eus mais en luy envoyant ce memoire elle y joignit une lettre qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes
 
 
 sapho a phaon 
 
 
 comme il n'est pas croyable que ma veue vous donne autant de joye que vous en avez eu durant mon absence je pense qu'il faudra vous consoler de mon retour comme d'une chose qui troublera peutestre vos plaisirs vous verrez par le memoire que je vous envoye que j'ay voulu tenir un conte fort exact de tous vos divertissemens mais la difficulte est scavoir 
 si c'est pour vous en punir ou pour vous en recompenser car a vous dire la verite je ne pense pas que nous soyons de mesme advis et je suis persuade que si vous n'avez autant de douleur de m'avoir desplu que vous avez eu de joye de puis mon absence vous n'aurez plus guere de part a mon affection ny estime 
 
 
 sapho 
 
 
comme phaon estoit effectivement tres amoureux de sapho et qu'il scavoit qu'elle revenoit le jour suivant il ne put recevoir cette lettre sans une grande agitation d'esprit il espera pourtant de faire sa paix des qu'il l'auroit veue mais afin de la voir devant qu'elle entrast a mytilene il me vint trouver et me pria apres m'avoir montre la lettre qu'elle luy avoit escrite de vouloir que nous allassions au devant d'elle et en effet nous fusmes le lendemain l'attendre a un endroit ou le chemin est si facheux que tous ceux qui y passent en chariot descendent de sorte que jugeant bien que cynegire que nous scavions estre tres peureuse n'y manqueroit pas nous fusmes phaon et moy nous mettre sous des saules qui sont aupres de ce passage difficile que la chutte d'un torrent y a fait mais apres estre descendus de cheval afin d'attendre ces dames en cet endroit qui est mesme fort agreable quoy que le chemin y soit scabreux je me mis a faire la guerre a phaon de son humeur car enfin luy dis-je comment peut-il estre que vous soyez si esperdument amoureux 
 de sapho et que vous ayez l'ame aussi peu sensible a la douleur pendant son absence car pour moy quand je vous voy aupres d'elle je vous y voy avec des transports de joye qui me persuadent que vous ne pourrez la perdre de veue sans mourir il est vray dit-il qu'on ne peut jamais avoir une passion plus forte que celle que j'ay dans l'ame et l'esperance que j'ay de voir aujourd'huy sapho m'agite le coeur d'une si agreable maniere de l'heure que je parle que si vous pouviez connoistre ce qui s'y passe vous avoueriez que j'aime plus sapho que personne ne peut aimer mais il est vray pourtant qu'excepte la jalousie peu de choses me peuvent donner une grande douleur veritablement adjousta-il si je pouvois craindre que sapho ne m'aimast plus je croy qu'en quelque lieu que je fusse je serois desespere mais lors que je puis raisonnablement esperer d'estre aime lors que j'ay de ses nouvelles tous les jours et lors que je scay qu'elle reviendra bientost j'avoue que je ne scay point me faire des chagrins sans sujet et que j'ay une ame qui a un si grand penchant a chercher le plaisir et a fuir la douleur que je fais ce que je puis pour adoucir la rigueur de l'absence mais apres tout des que je reverray sapho vous me reverrez eternellement aupres d'elle et vous m'y verrez le plus amoureux de tous les hommes ha phaon luy die-je en aimant comme vous faites on peut dire que vous vous aimez plus que vostre maistresse mais enfin repliqua-t'il 
 ce qu'il y a de constamment vray est qu'il n'y a personne au monde qui fist plus de choses difficiles que j'en ferois pour sapho si elle me les commandoit de plus je me sens capable de luy obeir aveuglement je suis plus soigneux plus exact et plus soumis que qui que ce soit ne l'a jamais este j'ay plus de tendresse dans le coeur que nul autre n'en a jamais eu je me fais de grands plaisirs de fort petites faveurs le moins favorable de ses regards me comble de joye l'ay mille et mille tumultueux sentimens que je ne puis exprimer quand je me trouve aupres d'elle je l'estime je l'admire et je l'adore avec un respect si profond que je n'en ay pas tant pour nos dieux et j'ay une joye si parfaite quand je la puis entretenir seule que jamais nul autre amant n'en a tant eu mesme pour la possession de sa maistresse jugez apres cela si je ne scay pas aimer et si vous avez raison de m'accuser de peu d'amour il est vray que mon ame rejette naturellement la peine et qu'elle cherche le plaisir mais qu'importe a la personne que j'aime que je sois tout a fait malheureux quand je ne la voy pas pourveu que je ne manque a nul des devoirs d'un veritable amant et que quand je la voy je sois tout ce que je dois estre pour la satisfaire comme il disoit cela nous vismes paroistre d'assez loin le chariot de cynegire de sorte que phaon s'interrompant luy mesme monta diligemment a cheval aussi bien que moy et par un transport de sa passion qu'il ne 
 put retenir il fut le plus viste qu'il put a la rencontre de sapho mais madame il y fut avec un empressement si plein d'amour qu'en effet on ne pouvoit pas douter qu'il ne fust esperdument amoureux et la belle sapho toute irritee qu'elle estoit ne put le voir sans se repentir presques de ce qu'elle luy avoit escrit car il l'aborda d'une maniere qui luy fit voir tant de joye et tant d'amour dans ses yeux que si elle ne se fust pas entierement fiee a cydnon elle eust doute des choses qu'elle luy avoit mandees et elle eust creu que phaon n'avoit fait que soupirer pendant son absence mais apres tout comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'elle pust douter de ce que ma soeur luy avoit escrit elle receut phaon avec une civilite un peu froide et elle l'auroit encore plus mal receu si cynegire n'y eust pas este cependant apres les premiers complimens faits le chariot que cynegire avoit fait arrester recommenca de marcher jusques a cet endroit dangereux dont je vous ay parle ou il fallut que ces dames missent pied a terre de sorte que comme j'estois trop amy de phaon pour ne donner pas la main a cynegire afin qu'il pust entretenir sapho je n'y manquay pas si bien que par ce moyen phaon put parler quelque temps a cette belle personne car il faloit bien faire deux cens pas devant que d'estre hors de ce chemin difficille pour les chariots joint que comme il y eut quelque chose qui se rompit a celuy de cynegire qui fut assez long a racommoder 
 il falut nous asseoir sous des saules que nous trouvasmes et je fis mesme si bien que je tiray cynegire a part sur le pretexte de luy parler d'un grand dessein qu'on disoit alors qu'avoit pittacus ainsi phaon put entretenir sapho mais madame cette personne qui mouroit d'envie de luy faire mille reproches ne le vit pas plustost a ses pieds de la maniere la plus passionnee du monde qu'elle sentit que son coeur s'apaisoit malgre qu'elle en eust neantmoins faisant un grand effort pour empescher sa colere de l'abandonner tout a fait elle demanda a phaon comment il avoit pu quiter ses divertissemens ordinaires pour venir au devant d'elle mais elle le luy demanda en rougissant et en faisant si bien connoistre qu'elle ne se pleignoit que pour estre appaisee que phaon qui entendoit tous ses regards ne manqua pas de la satisfaire quoy madame luy dit-il vous pouvez me demander ce que vous me demandez et je puis vous avoir donne sujet de me dire ce que vous me dittes moy qui n'ay jamais de veritable joye que celle que vous me donnez car enfin madame luy dit-il comment voulez vous qu'un homme a qui vous avez fait la grace de permettre de croire que vous ne le haissez pas puisse jamais estre malheureux ainsi madame quand je suis absent sans estre desespere ce n'est par nulle autre raison sinon que je scay bien que vous ne m'avez pas banny de vostre coeur en effet madame cette pensee est si douce et elle met un 
 fonds de joye si inespuisable dans mon esprit que je deffie la fortune de me rendre miserable tant que je seray aime de vous ouy madame je puis perdre tous les biens qu'elle donne je puis estre exile prisonnier et accable de toutes sortes de malheurs que je ne croiray pas estre miserable pourveu que je croye posseder vostre affection accusez vous donc vous mesme madame de l'innocente joye que vous me reprochez si elle vous desplaist mais pour moy je vous le dis comme je le croy je suis persuade que je manquerois d'amour et de respect pour vous si la joye d'estre aime de la divine sapho n'estoit pas plus forte que la douleur d'en estre absent ne le peut estre au reste madame adjousta-t'il d'un air infiniment tendre et passionne pour juger de ce que je sens quand je ne vous voy point voyez ce que je sens quand je vous revoy voyez donc dans mes yeux charmante sapho ce qui est dans mon coeur et s'ils ne vous disent que je vous trouve plus belle que je ne vous vy jamais que j'ay plus de joye de vous revoir que personne n'en a jamais eu et que je suis le plus amoureux de tous les hommes regardez les comme des imposteurs qui trahissent la tendresse de ma passion et punissez moy de leur crime mais si au contraire ils vous disent que je vous aime plus que personne n'a jamais aime ne vous amusez point a vouloir scavoir si precisement ce que je fais quand je ne vous voy pas et songez seulement que vous 
 n'avez jamais veu d'amant a vos pieds dont la passion fust ny si forte ny si tendre que la mienne car enfin luy dit-il encore que vous importe de quelle maniere je vous tesmoigne mon amour quand vous n'y estes pas pourveu que je ne sois pas infidelle et pourveu que vous me retrouviez tousjours avec la mesme ardeur et la mesme passion pour moy adjousta-t'il j'ay souhaite que vous vous divertissiez a la campagne je vous ay desire de beaux jours et j'ay espere que l'agreable humeur de cydnon vous empescheroit de vous ennuyer dans vostre solitude ha phaon s'escria sapho vous ne scavez pas aimer si vous souhaitez que vostre absence ne me touche point car pour moy je vous le declare je ne seray jamais satisfaite de vous si vous ne devenez le plus malheureux de tous les hommes des que vous ne me verrez plus mais madame luy dit-il en l'interrompant il faut donc que j'oublie que je suis aime de vous car si je ne l'oublie pas je ne seray point malheureux au contraire reprit sapho c'est par ce souvenir que je pretends que vous le devez estre davantage du moins scay-je bien que la melancolie que vostre absence me donne vient de ce que je suis esloignee d'une personne dont je croy estre aimee ha madame repliqua phaon vos sentimens et les miens doivent estre bien differens en cette occasion car il n'est pas possible que vous ayez autant de joye d'estre adoree de moy que j'en ay d'avoir la gloire d'estre aime de 
 vous ainsi il n'est pas estrange que le souvenir de ma passion ne vous console point de mon absence et il ne l'est pas non plus que le souvenir de la bonte que vous avez pour moy diminue une partie de la douleur que vostre esloignement me donne car encore une fois madame je ne concoy point qu'on puisse estre chagrin et estre assure d'estre aime de vous il y a sans doute de l'esprit a ce que vous dittes reprit sapho mais il n'y a guere d'amour et si vos yeux ne dementoient vos paroles j'aurois lieu de croire que vous ne m'aimez point car enfin estre absent de ce qu'on aime sans estre miserable est la plus grande marque de tiedeur qu'on puisse jamais donner mais madame luy dit-il comment pourriez vous croire que je ne vous aimasse point ou que je ne vous aimasse guere y a-t'il quelqu'une de mes actions ou de mes paroles qui vous permette de le soubconner et y a-t'il mesme un seul de mes regards qui ne vous dise pas que je vous aime tout ce que je voy de vous respondit-elle me parle sans doute de vostre passion mais tout ce que je n'en voy pas me parle de vostre indifference en effet durant mon absence vous faites des visites de plaisir vous vous promenez vous estes de belle humeur et je vous retrouve avec aussi peu de marques de melancolie sur le visage que si vous n'aviez eu aucun sujet de chagrin mais ce qui m'espouvante adjousta-t'elle c'est que vous ne laissez pas d'avoir des sentimens tendres et delicats 
 et de me dire autant de choses douces et flatteuses que si vous deviez vous desesperer des que vous ne me verrez plus cependant je ne concoy point qu'on puisse posseder avec plaisir ce qu'on peut perdre sans douleur et il y a des momens ou je croy que ma veue ne vous donne aucune joye puis que mon absence ne vous donne aucune melancolie ha madame luy dit il en la regardant d'une maniere si passionnee qu'il l'en fit rougir je vous deffie de croire quand je suis aupres de vous que je ne suis pas le plus amoureux de tous les hommes ouy divine sapho adjousta-t'il quand on vous auroit dit que j'aurois este tous les jours au bal durant vostre absence que je l'aurois donne a toutes les belles de mytilene et qu'on vous auroit mesme assure que je serois un inconstant je suis persuade que des que vos yeux auroient rencontre les miens la joye que vous y verriez vous persuaderoit que je vous aime plus que personne n'a jamais aime et en effet poursuivit-il nul autre amant n'a jamais eu tant de sujet d'aimer que j'en ay car premierement vous estes la plus aimable personne du monde sans exception j'ay plus d'inclination pour vous qu'on n en a jamais eu pour qui que ce soit je vous estime jusques a l'admiration et je vous aime de plus et parce que mon inclination m'y force et parce que ma raison me le conseille et parce que la reconnoissance le veut ha pour cette derniere cause d'amour reprit sapho je ne veux jamais qu'on 
 m'en parle et j'ay une delicatesse d'esprit qui ne la scauroit endurer quoy madame reprit phaon vous voulez que je n'aye point de reconnoissance pour toutes vos bontez je veux bien qu'on ait de la reconnoissance reprit-elle mais je ne veux pas que ce soit l'unique cause de l'affection qu'on a pour moy et si on ne m'aimoit que parce que j'aimerois on me feroit un outrage tres sensible car enfin je veux qu'on m'aime par tant d'autres raisons que quand mesme on seroit nay ingrat on ne laissast pas de m'aimer ardemment ne mettez donc jamais vostre reconnoissance au rang des causes de vostre passion si vous me voulez persuader que vous m'aimez comme je le veux estre car cela n'est ny civil ny galant ny passionne il apartient a la reconnoissance adjousta-t'elle de faire quelquesfois naistre l'amitie mais il ne luy appartient pas de faire naistre l'amour je veux bien que vous me disiez qu'elle serre doucement les liens qui vous attachent mais je ne veux pas comme je l'ay desja dit que vous la mettiez au nombre des causes de vostre passion car il s'ensuivroit que mes bontez auroient precede vostre affection et je pretens au contraire que vostre affection ait precede mes bontez et que si je dois vostre amour a quelque chose c'est a vostre inclination et a mon propre merite car de l'humeur dont je suis je ne puis souffrir qu'on m'aime de nulle autre maniere en effet adjousta-t'elle je me souviens que j'ay autrefois 
 presques hai une assez aimable femme parce que je descouvris dans son coeur que tout l'empressement qu'elle aportoit a se faire aimer de moy n'estoit pas qu'elle m'aimast tendrement mais seulement dans l'esperance que son nom seroit dans quelques uns de mes vers et que je ferois peut-estre sa peinture jugez donc phaon si je trouverois bon que vous pussiez m'aimer par nulle autre raison que parce que vous me trouvez aimable et que parce que vous ne pouvez vous empescher d'avoir de l'affection pour moy comme sapho disoit cela le chariot de cynegire estant acheve de racommoder il falut que leur conversation finist aussi bien que celle que j'avois eue avec cynegire a qui j'avois fait de longs raisonnemens de politique pour donner loisir a phaon de parler de son amour a sapho et de faire sa paix avec elle cependant cette belle personne ne put le laisser partir sans luy donner encore quelque marque de son chagrin car comme ils vinrent a se separer elle luy demanda en quelle agreable compagnie il iroit passer le soir car pour nous adjousta-t'elle en montrant cynegire nous ne verrons personne d'aujourd'huy je le passeray seul avec democede repliqua-t'il et je le passeray a m'entretenir aveque luy de la joye que j'ay de vostre retour vous eussiez mieux fait d'estre en estat ces jours passez repliqua-t'elle de l'entretenir de la douleur que vous aviez de mon absence apres cela sapho monta dans le chariot 
 ou j'avois desja mis cynegire mais en luy aidant a y monter phaon luy serra si doucement et si respectueusement la main et il luy fit voir dans ses yeux je ne scay quoy de si amoureux qu'il s'en fallut peu que sapho ne se repentist de l'avoir accuse de ne l'aimer pas assez et en effet il est constamment vray qu'on ne peut pas aimer plus ardemment que phaon quoy qu'il ne soit pas fort sensible a la douleur que cause l'absence et qu'au contraire il se console assez aisement de la perte d'un plaisir par un autre cependant les reproches que sapho luy avoit faits furent cause qu'il passa le soir en solitude il est vray qu'il estoit si aise d'avoir fait sa paix avec elle qu'il n'avoit pas besoin d'autres plaisirs ce n'est pas qu'elle luy eust dit qu'elle luy pardonnoit mais ils estoient si accoustumez a s'entendre sans parler que pour l'ordinaire ils croyoient plus leurs regards que leurs paroles ainsi quoy que sapho eust fait beaucoup de reproches a phaon il ne laissoit pas de croire qu'il avoit veu dans ses yeux qu'il estoit encore aussi avant dans son coeur qu'il y avoit este et en effet comme il fut le lendemain de si bonne heure chez elle qu'il n'y avoit encore personne il acheva de faire sa paix et ils furent pres d'une heure ensemble avec toute la joye qui suit tousjours la reconciliation de ces petites querelles qui ne font qu'accroistre l'amour mais a la fin leur plaisir fut interrompu par alce qui n'aimant alors gueres moins sapho que la belle 
 athys fut un des plus diligens a la voir il est vray que sa maistresse arriva bientost apres mais l'on peut assurer que sa jalousie avoit autant de part a cette visite que son amitie ce n'est pas qu'elle ne connust bien que sapho n'aimoit pas alce mais cela n'empeschoit point qu'elle ne fust tres jalouse nicanor ne fut pas aussi des derniers a rendre ses devoirs a sapho et amithone erinne et cydnon estant aussi arrivees toute la belle troupe se trouva rassemblee
 
 
 
 
d'abord athys amithone et erinne parlerent de leur voyage et de leur retour ce qui ne plaisoit pas trop a phaon et elles en eussent mesme parle beaucoup davantage si philire ne fust arrivee et n'eust amene un estranger de fort bonne mine qu'elle presenta a sapho et que j'ay sceu aujourd'huy estre frere de ce vaillant prisonnier qui s'apelle mereonte que l'invincible cyrus sauva du milieu des flames apres l'avoir vaincu mais madame cet estranger le parut si peu que personne ne douta qu'il ne fust d'une des plus polies villes de la grece et on ne soubconna point du tout qu'il fust scythe il n'avoit pourtant pas le teint ny les cheveux comme les ont ordinairement les grecs car il avoit le teint assez blanc et il estoit mesme assez blond mais comme cela n'a pas de regle generale personne comme je l'ay desja dit ne douta qu'il ne fust d'une ville greque car non seulement il avoit l'air d'un grec mais il parloit aussi nostre langue avec beaucoup d'eloquence 
 sa personne mesme plaisoit infiniment sa taille n'est pourtant pas fort haute mais elle est noble et bien faite il a l'action libre et aisee tous les traits du visage beaux et agreables les yeux un peu languissans et la mine d'un homme de fort haute condition de plus il a l'esprit brillant et sage tout ensemble et il a mesme l'air galant et spirituel au reste il pense les choses finement et les dit de mesme et cet illustre scythe est enfin un des hommes du monde le plus aimable et le plus accomply comme sapho a tousjours aporte un soin particulier de faire honneur aux estrangers qui l'ont este visiter quand ils ont eu du merite elle receut celuy la avec cette civilite galante qui luy est si naturelle et pour luy tesmoigner combien elle estoit agreablement surprise de le voir elle se plaignit de toute la compagnie de ne luy avoir pas apris qu'il y eust un estranger aussi honneste homme que celuy la a mytilene il n'eust pas este aise que personne vous l'eust pu aprendre repliqua philire car ce n'est que d'hier qu'un frere que j'ay qui vient d'un tres long voyage me l'a amene de sorte que comme il ne s'est pas trouve en estat de vous le presenter parce qu'il se trouve un peu mal et qu'il a luy mesme besoin que je vous le presente quand il sera gueri scachant que je venois icy il a voulu que ce fust par mon moyen que clirante connust cette admirable personne dont il a entendu parler avec tant d'estime dans toutes 
 les villes de grece ou il a sejourne si j'aimois plus la gloire que ma propre satisfaction reprit sapho je devrois estre marrie de voir un homme qui m'estime sans doute plus sans me connoistre qu'il ne m'estimera apres m'avoir connue mais comme je n'aime pas trop une estime mal acquise j'aime mieux me voir en danger de perdre une partie de la sienne et me voir aussi en estat de pouvoir aquerir quelque part a son amitie ce seroit une assez mauvaise voye d'aquerir mon amitie repliqua cet agreable estranger en souriant que de destruire une partie de l'estime que j'ay pour vous mais madame vous estes si assuree de ne le faire pas que si la modestie ne permettoit point de faire quelquesfois d'innocents mensonges contre soy mesme vous n'auriez pas dit ce que vous venez de dire car enfin quoy que vous n'ayez encore guere parle je ne laisse pas de croire que vous parlez tousjours bien attendez du moins a me louer repliqua galamment sapho qu'il puisse y avoir quelque vray-semblance aux louanges que vous me donnerez c'est pourquoy faites moy s'il vous plaist la grace de ne me rien dire de flatteur jusques a ce que vous ayez eu loisir de connoistre si je suis digne des flatteries d'un aussi honneste homme que vous vous estes bien hardie madame reprit clirante de donner si promptement cette glorieuse qualite a un scythe je suis tellement en reputation de connoistre bientost le merite des honnestes gens 
 repliqua-t'elle que j'ay une amie qui me dit quelquesfois que je ne les connois pas mais que je les devine c'est pourquoy ne me soubconnez point de juger des choses avec trop de precipitation puis que c'est un talent particulier que j'ay que celuy de ne me tronper guere au choix que je fais de ceux que je trouve dignes d'estre louez apres cela toute la compagnie prenant part a cette conversation elle fut fort agreable mais comme sapho ne pouvoit assez s'estonner de la politesse de clirante elle luy demanda encore comment il estoit possible qu'on ne parlast pas plus de la politesse des scythes que de celle des grecs s'ils estoient tous faits comme luy le pais dont je suis madame reprit-il est veritablement si pres de la scythie que quelques-uns nous confondent avec les scythes mais si vous scaviez quel il est vous seriez aussi estonnee de ce que je ne suis pas plus poly que je ne le suis que vous le paroissez estre de ce que vous me le trouvez peut-estre un peu plus que la plus part des scythes ne le sont cependant je ne suis pas seulement scythe mais je suis sauromate d'origine qui est encore quelque chose de plus rustique car les moeurs des sauromates sont tout a fait estranges il est vray pourtant qu'encore que je sois sauromate je suis d'un pais qui ne tient rien de leurs coustumes aussi nous apellons nous les nouveaux sauromates a la distinction des autres nous n'avons toutesfois guere de commerce avec eux car comme nostre 
 politique est de n'avoir point de voisins et de ne laisser pas corrompre nos moeurs par des moeurs estrangeres nous faisons ce que nous pouvons pour nous passer de toutes les choses que nostre pais ne nous donne pas afin de n'avoir pas besoin du commerce des autres nations ce que vous me dittes reprit sapho me semble fort beau et a mesme quelque raport avec la conduite des lacedemoniens qui aportent un soin particulier a ne vouloir pas souffrir que les coustumes estrangeres s'introduisent dans leur ville mais lors que vous me dittes que vous n'avez point de voisins j'avoue que je ne le comprens pas et vous ferez sans doute plaisir a toute la compagnie si vous vous voulez donner la peine de me le faire entendre et de me dire quelque chose de l'origine d'un peuple et des coustumes d'un pais qui doit estre fort agreable s'il a beaucoup de gens qui vous ressemblent de grace madame repliqua clirante ne jugez pas de mon pais par ce que je suis et pour luy rendre la justice que je luy dois je veux bien vous dire quelque chose de ce qu'il est vous scaurez donc madame que les sauromates en general que quelque-uns confondent avec les scythes comme je l'ay desja dit et que d'autres en distinguent ont tousjours eu des coustumes si bizarres que leurs sacrifices mesmes ont quelque chose qui marque la ferocite de leur naturel car au lieu de bastir des temples au dieu mars qu'ils adorent ou 
 de luy eslever des statues ils font un grand bucher ou ils mettent le feu et puis quand il est consume ils plantent une espee au milieu de ce grand monceau de cendre devant laquelle ils sacrifient les prisonniers qu'ils ont faits a la guerre encore est-ce ce qu'ils ont de moins feroce et de moins extraordinaires ces peuples ont mesme encore este plus cruels et plus sauvages qu'ils ne sont presentement car le prince qui les gouverne aujourd'huy les a en quelque sorte civilisez mais enfin dans le temps qu'ils estoient les plus sauvages la fortune ayant mene parmy eux quelques-uns de ces grecs dont les callipides se disent estre descendus ils s'habituerent en un endroit qui est le long du fleuve tanais et aprivoiserent si bien quelques-uns des principaux de ces sauromates qu'ils leur firent horreur de leurs coustumes en leur enseignant les leurs de sorte qu'insensiblement ces grecs aquirent une telle authorite dans une assez grande estendue de pais que ces peuples reconnurent un d'entr'eux pour leur chef et la chose alla enfin si loin que lors que le prince qui regnoit alors sur les sauromates voulut s'opposer a cette faction il s'y trouva fort embarrasse car il se fit un soulevement si grand et si subit parmi ces peuples qu'il falut en venir aux armes mais comme ce grec estoit vaillant et prudent tout ensemble il ne put estre vaincu par le prince des sauromates au contraire il fut contraint de laisser former un petit estat au milieu 
 du sien sans qu'il le pust empescher car enfin madame cet illustre grec ayant ramasse tous ceux qui volontairement voulurent estre tout a la fois et ses disciples et ses sujets il planta des bornes aux lieux qu'il choisit pour leur habitation et non seulement il deffendit ce petit pais contre ceux qui l'en voulurent chasser mais il fit mesme un degast si grand a l'entour des terres qu'il avoit choisies pour sa demeure qu'il fit un grand desert de tous les lieux qui environnoient son estat de sorte que par ce moyen il n'estoit pas aise de luy faire la guerre ainsi apres l'avoir soustenue cinq ou six ans avec beaucoup de gloire le prince des sauromates fut contraint de faire la paix et de souffrir dans le coeur de son estat un autre petit estat environne d'un desert mais une des conditions de cette paix fut qu'il seroit esgallement deffendu aux sujets de l'ancien prince des sauromates et a ceux de ce nouveau souverain de cultiver les terres que ce dernier avoit fait laisser en friche ny d'y bastir seulement des cabanes et en effet madame cela a este si rigoureusement observe par nos peres que de l'heure que je parle il y a tout au moins trois grandes journees de deserts a passer de quelque coste qu'on arrive au lieu ou j'ay pris ma naissance ainsi on voit un des pais du monde le mieux cultive enferme dans un autre qui ne l'est point du tout et l'on peut dire que vostre isle n'est pas si absolument sans voisine que 
 mon pais quoy qu'il soit en terre ferme car il est bien plus aise de passer de mytilene en phrigie que de mon pais aux autres qui l'environnent ce que vous me dittes du lieu qui vous a donne la naissance repliqua sapho me semble si particulier et si beau et l'idee de ce petit estat qui n'a point de voisins me plaist tellement que si les femmes voyageoient aussi souvent que les hommes je pense que j'aurois la curiosite d'y aller vostre curiosite madame repliqua clirante seroit encore plus satisfaite que vous ne vous le scauriez imaginer car cet illustre grec qui fut nostre premier prince n'enferma son estat dans un desert que pour y renfermer toutes les vertus et toutes les sciences qu'il vouloit inspirer dans l'ame de ses sujets et que pour empescher les vices de leurs voisins de s'opposer a son dessein en effet madame comme il avoit beaucop d'habiles gens aveque luy il establit un si bel ordre parmy ceux qui luy obeissoient qu'en fort peu de temps leurs moeurs furent entierement changees de sorte que comme ce prince ne mourut qu'en la derniere vieillesse et qu'il eut loisir d'affermir ses loix et de laisser un fils assez avance en age et assez prudent pour les maintenir il eut la satisfaction de voir tous les arts et toutes les sciences fleurir dans son estat et sa memoire est encore si chere parmy nous que lors qu'on veut affirmer quelque chose on l'affirme par le premier de nos rois mais de grace luy dit 
 alors sapho dittes moy encore quelques particularitez de vos coustumes comme elles sont presques toutes greques reprit clirante je vous ennuyerois si je vous disois ce que vous scavez mieux que moy et il suffira que je vous die ce que nous avons de particulier je ne vous diray donc pas madame que nous pensons des dieux ce que vous en pensez qu'a la reserve de quelques restes de ceremonies des anciens sauromates que nostre premier roy ne voulut pas abolir par politique nos sacrifices se font comme les vostres et que nostre ville nos villages et nos maisons sont a peu pres semblables a celles qu'on voit icy mais je vous diray que nostre estat n'est pas fort grand car il n'y a qu'une grande ville cinquante bourgs et deux cens villages bien est il vray que cette ville est une des plus agreables du monde et s'il estoit permis aux estrangers d'y venir librement ou quand ils y sont d'en resortir sa reputation iroit par toute la terre mais comme c'est une de nos coustumes de ne souffrir presques jamais qu'un estranger qui vient parmy nous sorte de nostre pais nostre reputation est renfermee dans les deserts qui nous environnent et nous nous trouvons si heureux de n'envier point les autres et de n'estre enviez de personne que nous ne nous soucions pas de ce qu'on ne parle point de nous quoy reprit amithone quand on va dans vostre pais on n'en sort point on n'y est receu qu'a cette condition 
 repliqua clirante car comme il y a des gardes tout a l'entour et que de quelque coste qu'on y arrive on est tousjours arreste on ne fait pas la ce que l'on veut et l'on n'y entre mesme pas si l'on n'en est juge digne en effet quand il se trouve quelqu'un a qui l'envie prend de vouloir s'habituer dans nostre pais les gardes l'arrestent et le menent au prince qui le donne durant trois mois a examiner a des gens destinez a cela afin de connoistre ses moeurs et de voir s'il scait quelque chose qui le rende digne d'estre receu parmy nous et puis quand cela est fait on le fait jurer de ne sortir jamais du pais sans la permission du prince qui ne la donne que rarement et on luy fait promettre aussi d'observer inviolablement toutes nos coustumes en suitte de quoy on luy donne du bien a proportion de sa qualite et de son merite mais quand il arrive que quelqu'un de vostre pais veut voyager reprit sapho faut il aussi avoir la permission du prince ouy madame repliqua clirante et on a bien de la peine a l'obtenir mais enfin quand on l'a obtenue et qu'on retourne apres en son pais il faut subir le mesme examen que si on n'en estoit pas et il faut estre examine durant trois mois afin de voir si les moeurs de celuy qui revient ne se sont point corrompues durant son absence cette contrainte est sans doute un peu facheuse adjousta-t'il aussi fit elle il y a environ un siecle qu'il y eut un soulevement qui ne finit pas sans 
 une petite guerre civile mais a la fin le prince qui regnoit alors bannit tous les rebelles de son estat et cette grande colonie fut s'habituer vers un fleuve qui s'apelle le danube ou ils ont pourtant estably les mesmes coustumes qui avoient fait leur rebellion car ils ont fait un desert a l'entour de leur estat comme il y en a un a l'entour du nostre mais madame pour ne vous ennuyer pas par un trop long recit des choses qui regardent la politique et le gouvernement de mon pais il faut que je vous die seulement quelque chose de l'estat present de nostre cour car enfin madame nous sommes gouvernez par une jeune reine qui n'a qu'un fils et qui est une des plus accomplie princesse du monde comme tous les arts et toutes les sciences se trouvent parmy nous adjousta-t'il il ne faut pas s'imaginer que nostre cour soit sans politesse au contraire comme nous sommes presques tousjours en paix la galanterie y est en son plus grand lustre on y a mesme fait des loix particulieres pour l'amour et il y a des punitions pour les amans infidelles comme il y en a pour de rebelles sujets enfin la fidellite est en si grande veneration parmy nous qu'on veut mesme qu'on la garde aux morts en effet ceux qui se sont mariez par amour n'ont point la liberte de se remarier aussi leur en fait on faire une declaration publique de plus on va consoler un amant absent comme on console icy une personne en deuil et on luy feroit un si 
 grand reproche si on le voyoit en quelque lieu de divertissement durant l'absence de sa maistresse qu'il n'y en a point qui s'y expose nous en connoissons quelques-uns icy interrompit sapho en rougissant qui auroient bien de la peine a garder cette coustume elle est si generale repliqua clirante que s'ils estoient parmy nous il faudroit bien qu'ils l'observassent car enfin comme celuy qui fonda nostre estat voulut attacher ses sujets dans leur pais il les y voulut enchaisner par l'amour ainsi la galanterie qui s'est conservee parmy nous estant un effet de sa politique toutes les coustumes des amans sont aussi vieilles que nostre estat et sont presques aussi inviolables que celles de la religion ainsi on ne peut changer de maistresse sans aller dire les causes de son inconstance et la maistresse aussi ne peut abandonner son amant sans avoir declare le sujet de son changement de sorte que comme la paix l'oisivete et l'abondance sont toujours parmy nous on ne parle que d'amour dans toutes nos conversations si bien que comme ceux qui viennent en nostre pais n'y peuvent venir sans passer par celuy des anciens sauromates ils sont si espouventez apres avoir veu des peuples si sauvages et si brutaux d'en trouver un si civilise et si galant qu'ils ne peuvent se lasser de tesmoigner leur estonnement de plus comme nostre fondateur estoit grec la langue greque s'est conservee parmy nous avec assez de purete ce n'est pourtant pas le 
 langage du peuple mais il n'y a pas une personne de qualite qui ne le scache et nous avons mesme des gens dans nostre cour qui font des vers que la belle sapho pourroit ne trouver pas indignes de ses louanges vous me depeignez vostre pais d'une si agreable maniere reprit sapho et vous authorisez si bien par vostre presence tout ce que vous en dittes d'avantageux que s'il n'estoit pas aussi esloigne qu'il est je pense que je quitterois le mien pour y aller demeurer apres cela toute la compagnie se meslant a cette conversation clirante s'en demesla si admirablement qu'il aquit l'estime de tout ce qu'il y eut de gens qui le virent mais comme sapho connoissoit avec une promptitude estrange ce qui se passoit dans le coeur de ceux qu'elle vouloit observer elle predit des cette premiere visite que clirante aimeroit philire et que philire ne hairoit pas clirante s'il faisoit quelque sejour en leur isle et en effet ce qui arriva en suite fit bien voir qu'elle ne s'estoit pas trompee cependant quoy que la reconciliation de sapho et de phaon eust este sincere il demeura pourtant tousjours dans l'esprit de sapho quelque disposition a soubconner phaon de ne l'aimer pas tout a fait de la maniere dont elle le vouloit estre si bien qu'athys alce et nicanor cherchant continuellement a luy nuire ils luy faisoient souvent avoir des querelles car il n'alloit en aucun lieu qu'ils ne le fissent scavoir a sapho et s'il paroissoit guay hors de sa presence 
 ils le luy disoient ou le luy faisoient dire joint que comme il n'estoit pas possible qu'il se changeast il est certain qu'il estoit ce qu'il avoit toujours este c'est a dire qu'il se divertissoit de tout et qu'il ne s'ennuyoit de rien quand il estoit aupres de sapho il estoit sans doute le plus heureux du monde et la joye esclatoit si visiblement dans ses yeux qu'on voyoit aisement qu'elle estoit bien avant dans son coeur mais apres tout quand il ne la voyoit point il ne s'en desesperoit pas et il pouvoit enfin s'accoustumer a ne la voir plus de sorte que comme il n'estoit plus possible qu'il se desguisast principalement ayant tant d'espions interessez qui l'observoient et qui luy rendoient de mauvais offices sapho vint a n'avoir plus aucun repos car enfin des qu'elle ne voyoit plus phaon elle vouloit scavoir ce qu'il faisoit de sorte que s'en informant et aprenant pour l'ordinaire qu'il s'estoit diverty en quelque autre lieu elle en avoit une douleur que je ne scaurois vous exprimer quoy que ma soeur m'ait raconte une partie de ce qu'elle luy disoit en se pleignant de phaon qui vit jamais un destin esgal au mien dit un jour sapho a cydnon car enfin on diroit que je dois estre fort heureuse d'estre aime du plus honneste homme du monde et du plus aimable cependant je le serois beaucoup plus s'il me haissoit car comme je suis glorieuse je suis persuadee que sa haine me gueriroit de l'amour que j'ay pour luy mais en l'estat ou je suis reduite 
 je ne puis ny le hair ny l'aimer avec un plaisir tranquile et ce qu'il y a de plus cruel c'est que c'est un mal sans remede car si phaon ne m'aimoit point je pourrois penser qu'il pourroit m'aimer un jour comme je l'entens s'il estoit effectivement tout a fait inconstant je pourrois esperer qu'il reviendroit a moy et s'il me haissoit je pourrois mesme encore croire que sa haine ne seroit pas immortelle mais phaon m'aime assurement autant qu'il est capable d'aimer et s'il estoit quand il ne me voit point conme il est quand il me voit je n'aurois rien a desirer cependant avec toute cette ardente amour qui paroist en toutes ses actions en toutes ses paroles et en tous ses regards je suis si peu satisfaite de luy que je suis la plus malheureuse personne de la terre car enfin ce qui cause mon chagrin ne se pouvant jamais changer il s'ensuit de necessite que je seray tousjours malheureuse mais luy disoit cydnon puis que tant que vous voyez phaon vous estes contente de luy voyez le tousjours et espousez le mesme afin de ne vous en separer jamais ha cydnon repliqua sapho quand je n'aurois pas pris une constante resolution de ne me marier jamais l'humeur de phaon me la feroit prendre car si je ne puis en l'estat ou nous sommes le rendre malheureux quand il ne me voit point jugez s'il le seroit en un temps ou je ne le rendrois peut-estre plus heureux en me voyant mais encore repliqua cydnon quel remede cherchez vous je cherche dit-elle a rendre phaon 
 aussi malheureux que je suis malheureuse et ce sentiment la est si avant dans mon coeur que il je puis venir a bout de luy donner de la douleur j'en auray une joye que je ne vous puis exprimer je l'ay veu si sensible a la jalousie repliqua cydnon que si vous luy en voulez donner je m'assure que vous aurez tout le plaisir que vous souhaitez il y a desja plus de deux jours repliqua sapho que j'ay resolu de le faire et je veux adjousta-t'elle emportee par sa passion commencer des aujourd'huy a traiter si bien nicanor que puis qu'il ne peut estre fache quand il ne me voit point il le puisse estre quand il me verra et en effet madame la belle sapho prit cette resolution et l'executa avec tant d'adresse que phaon vint effectivement a avoir de la jalousie et a estre aussi malheureux qu'elle l'avoit desire d'abord elle en eut une joye estrange et toutes les pleintes qu'il luy faisoit luy estoient si douces et si agreables qu'elle ne voulut pas les faire cesser si tost cependant nicanor ne scavoit d'ou cette bonne fortune luy venoit et alce fut si sur pris de voir que sapho eust change sans changer a son avantage qu'il se redonna tout entier a la belle athys cependant phaon que la jalousie tourmentoit ne scavoit d'ou venoit le changement de sapho je luy disois pourtant que son humeur en estoit la cause mais il ne me pouvoit croire et il vint enfin a hair nicanor si horriblement qu'il ne le pouvoit endurer ainsi ce pauvre amant estoit 
 hai de son rival sans estre aime de sa maistresse et son malheur estoit d'autant plus grand que comme il a infiniment de l'esprit il s'aperceut qu'en effet sapho ne l'aimoit point et qu'elle aimoit tousjours phaon si bien que regardant alors les faveurs qu'elle luy faisoit comme un artifice pour augmenter l'amour de son rival il estoit encore plus irrite contre sapho que contre phaon et ce meslange de sentimens fit un si plaisant effet dans le coeur de ces trois personnes qu'il n'y a jamais rien eu de semblable mais a la fin ces deux amans en chagrin ne pouvant plus s'endurer se querellerent et se batirent sans qu'on pust dire precisement qui avoit eu l'avantage parce qu'on les avoit separez avant la fin de leur combat mais comme pittacus est un prince sage et que de plus le chagrin qu'il avoit alors de la mort du prince tisandre qui estoit arrivee il y avoit desja quelque temps fit qu'il fut fort irrite de cette querelle qui partagea toute la ville il les exila tous deux pour un an afin d'empescher les suittes de cette facheuse affaire si bien que comme phaon avoit plus d'habitude en sicile qu'en aucun autre lieu il prit la resolution d'y aller passer le temps de son exil et nicanor forma le dessein d'aller en phrigie mais phaon me pria si instamment de faire en sorte que cydnon luy pust faire voir sapho en particulier que je fis ce que je pus pour le satisfaire il ne me fut pas mesme bien difficile parce que dans la violente passion 
 que cette personne avoit dans l'ame elle se repentoit d'avoir donne de la jalousie a phaon et elle avoit une telle envie de luy pardonner qu'il n'en avoit guere davantage qu'elle luy pardonnast car comme elle connoissoit son humeur elle croyoit qu'il ne pouvoit luy arriver rien de plus dangereux que l'absence mais enfin ayant prie cydnon d'employer toute son adresse aupres de sapho et l'ayant mesme obligee a me descouvrir que son amie n'avoit favorise nicanor que pour augmenter l'amour de phaon je dis cet agreable et important secret a mon amy qui d'abord ne le voulut pas croire mais comme il n'est jamais impossible de se laisser persuader ce que l'on souhaite il pensa du moins que cela pouvoit estre et il se resolut de s'en esclaircir dans les beaux yeux de sapho mais enfin cette entre-veue s'estant faite chez cydnon il s'y fit un renouement d'amitie de la plus tendre maniere du monde et bien madame luy dit phaon en l'abordant apres m'avoir veu le plus jaloux et le plus malheureux de tous les hommes croirez vous enfin que je suis le plus amoureux de tous vos amans et ce que la joye que j'avois d'estre aime de vous ne vous a pu persuader vous sera-t'il persuade par la douleur que j'ay d'en estre abandonne si vous en aviez este abandonne repliqua-t'elle vous ne seriez pas en estat de me faire des pleintes car je ne vous verrois jamais mais phaon si vous avez souffert prenez vous en a vous mesme puis que si vous aviez 
 sceu bien aimer je ne vous l'aurois pas apris par une si facheuse voye que la jalousie en verite madame luy dit il vous vous estes servie d'une cruelle invention pour me faire souffrir mais du moins dittes moy precisement que vous n'avez jamais aime nicanor et que vous ne l'avez traite favorablement que parce que vous m'aimiez tousjours souffrez luy respondit-elle en rougissant que je ne vous die que la moitie de ce que vous me demandez et que je me contente de vous permettre de penser l'autre apres cela madame ces deux personnes irritees s'apaisant insensiblement se dirent toutes les tendresses que l'amour pure et innocente peut permettre la joye ne reprit pourtant point sa place dans le coeur de sapho car la pensee de cette cruelle et longue absence l'inquiettoit tellement qu'elle ne jouissoit pas en repos de la douceur de cette reconciliation car enfin disoit-elle a phaon que dois-je attendre de vous de l'humeur dont vous estes vous dis-je qui n'estes fortement touche que de ce que vous voyez et qui ne l'estes point de ce que vous ne voyez plus car quand mesme il seroit possible que durant ce long esloignement vous seriez fidelle il ne seroit pas que vous souffrissiez autant que je souffriray et puis si vous estes capable de joye et de plaisir deux tours apres que vous m'avez quittee que ne ferez vous pas quand il y aura des mois entiers que vous ne m'aurez veue et ne dois-je pas craindre que des que vous ne me verrez plus je seray en estat de vous pouvoir 
 perdre car enfin durant une longue absence je ne scache que la douleur qui puisse estre une garde fidelle du coeur d'un amant en effet l'amour est si accoustume de naistre parmy les plaisirs qu'on peut dire que la joye est la premiere disposition necessaire a sa naissance de sorte que comme vous retrouverez sans doute toute la vostre des que vous m'aurez perdue de veue j'ay sujet d'aprehender qu'une nouvelle amour ne s'empare de vostre coeur et ne m'en chasse comme je n'ay jamais rien aime fortement que vous madame repliqua phaon parce que je n'ay jamais rien trouve d'assez aimable pour meriter toute mon affection j'avoue qu'a parler veritablement je n'ay eu que de petits acces d'amour avant que de vous avoir veue en effet j'ay senty cent et cent fois que ma passion s'allentissoit et m'abandonnoit mesme en la presence de celles que je pensois aimer et je me trouvois en certains jours si dissemblable de moy mesme depuis l'heure ou j'estois entre dans la compagnie jusques a celle ou j'en sortois que je ne me connoissois plus enfin j'avoue que j'ay quelquesfois veu naistre et mourir mes desirs en un mesme jour sans scavoir precisement ny pourquoy j'en avois eu ny pourquoy je n'en avois plus mais pour vous madame il n'en est pas ainsi je vous aime d'une autre maniere et si je juge de ce que je dois sentir quand je ne vous verray plus par ce que je sens en vous voyant je dois me preparer a estre 
 le plus malheureux de tous les hommes car apres tout cette rigoureuse absence ne ressemble nullement a celles que vous ne trouvez pas que j'aye assez senties en effet toutes les fois que vous avez este a la campagne j'ay tousjours veu vostre retour si proche qu'il n'est pas estrange que l'esperance que j'en avois diminuast une partie de ma douleur et que la croyance d'estre aime de vous me donnast assez de plaisir pour m'empescher de me desesperer mais madame je m'en vay pour un an et je m'en vay avec l'aprehension que vous ne soyez pas assez bien persuadee de la grandeur de mon amour cependant il est certain que je ne vous aime point comme j'aimois avant que de vous avoir veue car en ce temps la j'estois si bizarre dans mes sentimens que les faveurs mesme m'eussent rebute l'esprit si elles ne m'eussent este faites de bonne grace et avec toutes les circonstances qui les peuvent rendre agreables mais aujourd'huy madame j'y bien change de sentimens car vos plus petites graces me donnent une joye excessive en quelque temps que je les recoive et vous faites mesme quelquesfois des actions indifferentes dont je me sens oblige parce que ma passion leur donne une expliquation a mon avantage c'est pourquoy madame ne jugez s'il vous plaist point de moy par les choses passees puis qu'il est vray que je n'ay jamais aime comme j'aime ouy divine sapho adjousta-t'il je vous aime plus que je ne 
 vous aimois et plus que je ne croyois jamais aimer je le croy luy dit elle en l'interrompant mais apres tout selon toutes les apparences vous m'aimerez moins que vous ne pensez des que vous aurez este quinze jours sans me voir en suite de cela phaon parlant selon ce qu'il sentoit alors fit mille et mille protestations de fidellite a la belle sapho et il les luy fit d'une maniere si passionnee qu'elle aida elle mesme a se tromper en se persuadant que le coeur de phaon estoit change et qu'il sentiroit cette longue absence avec beaucoup de douleur de sorte que toute la tendresse de leur amour se renouvellant dans leur coeur ils se dirent en cette occasion tout ce que la passion la plus delicate peut inspirer et tout ce que la douleur la plus sensible et la plus ingenieuse peut faire penser a deux personnes qui s'aiment et qui sont sur le point de se quiter ainsi sapho et phaon se separerent infiniment satisfaits l'un de l'autre phaon s'embarqua le lendemain et sapho s'en alla a la campagne ou elle mena ma soeur mais elle y fut bien moins pour jouir de la douceur de sa belle solitude que pour cacher la douleur qu'elle avoit dans l'ame et pour esviter de dire adieu a nicanor qui ne connut que trop en cette occasion qu'il avoit eu raison de croire que les graces qu'il avoit receues ne luy apartenoient pas mais madame depuis le depart de phaon sapho n'eut que du chagrin il est vray qu'a son retour a mytilene elle lia pourtant une amitie 
 assez estroite avec clirante qui devint si amoureux de philire qu'on ne pouvoit pas l'estre davantage cependant la conversation chez sapho ne fut plus aussi divertissante qu'elle estoit autrefois parce qu'elle estoit si melancolique qu'elle fuyoit autant que la bien-seance le luy permettoit toutes les occasions de plaisir oint que toute cette aimable et belle troupe se trouva bientost separee car alce espousa enfin la belle athys qui depuis son mariage ne vit plus tant sapho erinne devint malade d'une maladie languissante ma soeur fut en phrygie avec ma mere qui en estoit et amithone s'en alla a la campagne ainsi j'estois presques le seul a qui sapho pust parler avec quelque confiance elle avoit pourtant une amie qui luy estoit fort chere dont je ne vous ay point parle au commencement de mon recit parce que durant toute cette longue amour elle n'avoit presques point este a mytilene mais comme elle y revint le jour que ma soeur en partit on peut dire qu'elle prit sa place et certes elle est bien digne de l'amitie que sapho a pour elle quoy qu'elle ne soit pas dans une fortune aussi eslevee que ses autres amies en effet cette fille qui s'apelle agelaste a cause de son temperamment melancolique a des qualitez excellentes pour sa personne elle plaist plus que beaucoup d'autres plus belles qu'elle ne scauroient plaire elle n'est sans doute pas grande mais elle est pourtant bien faite elle a les cheveux cendrez les yeux bleus et doux le visage un peu 
 long le nez un peu haut la bouche agreable le taint uny mais un peu pasle les dents belles la gorge admirable les mains bien faites les bras fort beaux et la phisionomie si sage et si modeste qu'on a bonne opinion d'elle des qu'on la voit agelaste joue aussi de la lire miraculeusement mais ce que j'estime encore davantage en elle c'est qu'elle a de l'esprit de la discretion de la tendresse et une si grande fidelite qu'on luy peut confier toutes choses de plus quoy qu'elle soit naturellement melancolique elle ne saisse pas d'avoir beaucoup d'agreement dans sa conversation principalement pour ses plus particulieres amies car excepte avec celles la elle parle peu et elle est si incapable de vouloir s'empresser qu'elle aime bien souvent mieux laisser dire de tres mauvaises choses a certaines gens qui n'en peuvent dire d'autres que d'en dire de judicieuses et d'agreables en les interrompant agelaste estant donc telle que je vous la represente devint inseparable de sapho depuis que toutes ses autres amies l'eurent abandonnee et philire la vit aussi beaucoup plus qu'elle ne faisoit autrefois il est vray que sapho eut besoin de consolation durant ce temps la car vous scaurez que cynegire a qui elle avoit beaucoup d'obligation mourut et qu'elle sceut quelques jours apres que son frere dont il y avoit longtemps qu'elle n'aprenoit que de facheuses nouvelles estoit devenu amoureux de cette esclave appellee rhodope dont 
 esope l'avoit este et que la passion de charaxe avoit este si forte qu'apres l'avoir affranchie il s'estoit entierement ruine pour l'amour d'elle elle sceut aussi que rhodope qui s'estoit rendue plus celebre en egipte par sa beaute et par ses artifices que par sa vertu le renvoyoit a mytilene au plus pitoyable estat du monde de plus comme la mort de tisandre avoit fort change la cour de pittacus on ne vivoit plus dans nostre ville comme on y vivoit autrefois et sapho estoit alors bienheureuse d'avoir de quoy trouver sa satisfaction en elle mesme sans la chercher en autruy cependant la plus grande inquietude qu'elle eust estant l'absence de phaon elle estoit contrainte quoy qu'elle haist fort les confidents et les confidentes de souffrir que je luy en parlasse quelquesfois car c'estoit par mon moyen qu'elle recevoit des nouvelles de phaon et qu'elle luy respondoit il n'estoit pourtant pas possible d'en avoir souvent des lettres ce qui ne luy estoit pas une petite augmentation d'inquietude mais madame cette inquietude devint encore plus forte quelque temps apres lors que recevant un paquet de phaon que je luy portay avec beaucoup de diligence elle y trouva outre la lettre de son amant un billet qui s'adressoit a luy escrit de la main d'une femme mais un billet si mal escrit qu'il estoit aise de voir que celle qui l'escrivoit n'avoit guere d'esprit cependant il paroissoit qu'il falloit que phaon luy en eust escrit 
 plusieurs qu'il n'estoit pas mal avec elle et qu'il luy avoit donne une serenade et en effet madame j'ay sceu depuis que quoy que phaon aimast tousjours cherement sapho il n'avoit pas laisse de trouver quelque consolation aupres de cette belle stupide qu'il avoit autrefois aimee en sicile ce n'est pas qu'il y eust nulle comparaison entre les sentimens qu'il avoit pour sapho et ceux qu'il avoit pour cette belle sicilienne car il avoit une passion ardente pour la premiere et l'engagement qu'il avoit aveque l'autre se pouvoit plustost appeller un amusement qu'une veritable affection cependant il ne laissoit pas de se divertir comme s'il n'eust point este absent de la plus merveilleuse personne du monde et d'une personne dont il estoit aime avec une tendresse inconcevable mais pour en revenir a sapho vous pouvez juger madame quelle surprise fut la sienne de trouver dans le paquet de phaon un billet qui s'adressoit a luy et un billet de la plus sotte galanterie du monde en effet je ne pense pas qu'il y en ait jamais eu un tel le carractere en estoit pourtant fort beau mais cela servoit a le rendre plus ridicule car l'ortographe en estoit si mauvaise le sens en estoit si embrouille et si peu gallant les expressions en estoient si basses et l'ordre des paroles si confus et si oppose a toutes les regles de l'eloquence et de la raison qu'on ne pouvoit comprendre comment il estoit possible qu'il y eust une femme 
 de qualite qui peust escrire de cette sorte mais ce qu'il y avoit d'estrange c'est que la lettre que phaon escrivoit a sapho estoit si belle si galante et si passionnee qu'il n'estoit pas croyable qu'un homme qui escrivoit si bien pust avoir lie nul commerce particulier avec uns femme qui escrivoit si mal il paroissoit pourtant par ce billet que phaon la voyoit souvent qu'il luy avoit escrit plus d'une fois et qu'il luy avoit donne une serenade comme j'ay desja dit aussi vous puis je assurer que sapho eut un estonnement si douloureux de cette cruelle avanture que ne pouvant cacher sa douleur elle la montra a agelaste et a moy qui vit jamais me disoit-elle une foiblesse esgalle a celle de vostre amy car enfin je connois bien quand je le voy qu'il m'aime autant qu'il peut m'aimer et je connois bien mesme qu'il croit alors qu'il sera incapable de prendre jamais nul plaisir sensible a la conversation d'aucune autre personne cependant il paroist par ce billet qu'il a lie quelque sorte d'affection avec la plus stupide femme du monde et que dans le mesme temps qu'il recoit des lettres de moy qui du moins luy expriment mes sentimens avec quelque ordre il met sans doute en mesme lieu et conserve avec un mesme soin les lettres de cette nouvelle amie ou de cette nouvelle maistresse et celles que je luy escris comme je connoissois 
 mieux l'humeur de phaon que sapho ne la connoissoit je rendis a mon amy tout l'office que je pus et je taschay de persuader a cette admirable fille que le coeur de cet amant n'avoit nulle part a ces sortes de plaisirs qu'il prenoit durant qu'il estoit absent et que c'estoit plustost pour s'amuser que pour se divertir que phaon vivoit comme il faisoit ha democede me dit elle un amant afflige n'a que faire d'amusement et les serenades les plus agreables ne divertiroient guere phaon s'il scavoit aimer a mai mode en effet bien loin d'en donner aux autres comme il en donne il s'ennuyeroit s'il estoit oblige de se trouver en un lieu ou d'autres en donneroient aussi suis-je resolue adjousta-t'elle de n'oublier rien pour ne l'aimer plus et de me hair plustost moy mesme si je ne le puis hair ce fut en vain que je protestay a sapho que l'amour de phaon ne changeoit pas et que ce n'estoit qu'un effet de son humeur ou son coeur n'avoit presques point de part car elle ne me voulut pas croire de sorte que dans la douleur ou elle estoit elle respondit a phaon d'une maniere assez particuliere car elle luy renvoya le billet qu'il luy avoit envoye sans y penser et ne luy escrivit que ces paroles quoy qu'on ait d t qu'elle luy avoit fait de longues pleintes pour le ramener a son devoir 
 
 
 
 sapho a phaon 
 
 
 puis que vous avez lie amitie avec la dame dont je vous renvoye le billet resolvez vous a rompre la nostre car je croirois faire une chose indigne de moy si je souffrois plus longtemps dans mon coeur un homme qui m'oste le sien pour le donner a une personne si indigne de luy 
 
 
 sapho 
 
 
cette lettre estoit sans doute fort propre a mettre la douleur dans le coeur de phaon mais a dire la verite je luy en escrivis une autre qui acheva de l'affliger car je luy faisois de si grands reproches de sa legerete et je luy faisois si bien comprendre qu'il estoit expose a perdre l'affection de sapho que des qu'il eut veu et sa lettre et la mienne il changea de sentimens en effet quand il vint a penser que peut-estre sapho luy osteroit son coeur il ne trouva plus de difficulte a quiter de mediocres plaisirs pour en conserver un fort grand si bien que comme il ne pouvoit imaginer nulle autre voye de guerir l'esprit de sapho qu'en quittant la sicile et qu'en se rendant aupres d'elle il prit la resolution de venir desguise a lesbos et en effet il se mit dans un vaisseau marchand et se faisant descendre a un port qui est a la pointe de 
 nostre isle il fut se cacher chez un de ses amis qui avoit une maison assez pres de celle que sapho avoit a la campagne mais des qu'il y fut s'estant informe du lieu ou elle estoit et du lieu ou j'estois il sceut que j'estois alle faire un voyage de quinze jours et que sapho estoit chez elle sans autre compagnie que sa chere agelaste de sorte que ne perdant pas une occasion si favorable et scachant les heures ou elle avoit accoustume d'aller au bord de cette agreable fontaine dont je vous ay fait la description il fut se cacher dans ce petit boscage qui l'environne jusques a ce qu'elle y vinst laissant son cheval a cinquante pas de la sous la garde d'un esclave mais madame a peine eut il attendu un quart d'heure qu'il vit paroistre sapho avec son amie mais il la vit si triste que tout incapable qu'il estoit d'estre sensible a la douleur il en eut le coeur touche il est vray que je pense que la certitude d'estre aime si tendrement par la plus admirable personne du monde luy donna pour le moins autant de joye que la melancolie de sapho luy donna de douleur cependant il voulut luy donner le temps de s'asseoir devant que de se montrer afin de se remettre un peu de l'agitation que cette veue luy donnoit mais le hazard ayant fait que ces deux filles s'assirent sur un siege de gazon qui estoit dispose de sorte qu'elles tournoient le dos a phaon il put s'aprocher assez pres d'elles pour ouir ce 
 qu'elles disoient car le bocage est fort espais en cet endroit et il marcha si doucement qu'elles ne le purent entendre a peine furent elles assises que sapho prenant la parole mais ma chere agelaste luy dit elle je trouve si peu d'aparence a ce que vous me dittes que je ne scay si je vous dois croire c'est pourquoy je voudrois bien scavoir toutes les particularitez de cette avanture elles sont bien aisees a scavoir repliqua-t'elle car enfin c'est de la bouche de philire que j'ay sceu apres midy en partant de mytilene pour revenir icy que clirante qui est d'une si grande qualite qu'il est parent de la reine des nouveaux sauromates est assez amoureux d'elle pour la vouloir espouser pourveu qu'elle veuille suivre sa fortune et s'en aller a son pais de sorte que philire qui aime pour le moins autant qu'elle est aimee et qui n'a personne a qui elle doive rendre conte de ses actions si ce n'est a son frere qui veut bien qu'elle espouse clirante s'y resoud et est preste de suivre cet illustre sauromate mais comme elle ne veut pourtant pas que la chose esclate qu'elle ne soit partie parce qu'elle a quelques parens qui s'y voudroient opposer elle m'a confie tout son secret et m'a chargee de vous prier de luy prester vostre maison pour espouser clirante d'ou elle partira aussi tost apres pour s'en aller a cet aimable pais ou il y a des loix si severes contre les amans infidelles plust aux 
 dieux repliqua sapho que l'inconstant phaon y fust pour y estre puny de sa legerete mais agelaste adjousta-t'elle en soupirant comme je scay que vous n'avez nul attachement a mytilene et que diverses avantures de vostre vie vous ont mise en estat de n'avoir point de lieu au monde qui vous engage plus qu'un autre ne pourrions nous point suivre philire dans ce bien heureux pais de clirante car je vous avoue que je ne puis plus souffrir le sejour de mytilene tant que phaon sera dans vostre coeur repliqua agelaste je ne vous conseilleray pas d'aller en un lieu ou il ne pourroit estre receu tant que je ne seray pas dans celuy de phaon reprit sapho je dois estre bien aise d'estre en lieu ou je n'entende jamais parler de luy c'est pourquoy ma chere agelaste si vous estes capable de suivre ma fortune nous suivrons celle de philire car enfin il n'y a plus rien a mytilene qui ne me desplaise charaxe y va revenir pour me persecuter tout le monde que j'y voy m'ennuye je n'y verray jamais phaon ou si je l'y voy je le verray inconstant et je le verray aussi digne de ma haine que je l'ay creu digne de mon affection ha madame s'escria-t'il en sortant du lieu ou il estoit cache et en se mettant a genoux devant elle ne traitez pas avec tant d'injustice le plus fidelle de tous les hommes et pour vous tesmoigner que je dis vray adjousta-t'il en luy prenant la main sans qu'elle s'en pust deffendre tant elle estoit surprise 
 de le voir souffrez madame que j'aille aveque vous dans ce bien heureux pais ou les amans infidelles sont si rigoureusement punis car comme je ne seray jamais absent de vous en ce lieu la je n'y craindray pas les loix qui sont faites contre ceux qui se divertissent en l'absence da leurs maistresses quoy phaon luy dit sapho en retirant sa main d'entre les siennes vous avez l'audace de parler comme vous faites apres vostre dernier crime ouy madame luy dit-il l'amour que j'ay dans l'ame me rend si hardy que j'ose vous conjurer de faire pour moy ce que je viens d'aprendre que philire veut faire pour clirante car enfin n'est-il pas vray que tant que je suis aupres de vous je suis le plus fidelle amant de la terre menez moy donc en un lieu d'ou je ne puisse sortir et ou je ne puisse vous perdre de veue et vous trouverez en moy le plus constant amant du monde ce n'est pas adjousta-t'il que je tombe d'accord que mes foiblesses me puissent faire meriter le nom d'inconstant car il est vray madame que je n'ay jamais este un moment sans vous adorer depuis que je vous connois j'avoue que j'ay une ame qui s'attache au plaisir et qui fuit la douleur mais apres tout des que j'ay sceu que je pouvois craindre de vous perdre j'ay quitte tout ce que vous vous imaginez qui vous deroboit mon coeur et je suis revenu vous demander a genoux la grace de ne vous abandonner plus je scay bien que je n'oserois 
 paroistre a mytilene et que j'en suis exile encore pour long temps mais s'il est vray que vous m'aimiez vous vous en exilerez pour l'amour de moy car enfin madame je vous le dis comme je le sens je ne veux plus m'esloigner de vous et j'y suis si fortement resolu que quand je scaurois que pittacus me devroit faire arrester demain je ne m'en irois pas aujourd'huy en effet j'aimerois bien mieux estre son prisonnier que de n'estre plus vostre esclave et il n'y a enfin aucun suplice que je ne choisisse plustost que de m'exposer a vous perdre voyez donc madame luy dit-il si vous estes capable de prendre une resolution hardie j'ay quitte la sicile sans peine des qu'il s'est agy de me justifier aupres de vous quittez donc lesbos sans repugnance afin que vous puissiez estre assure de moy je ne vous prescris aucun lieu de la terre madame adjousta-t'il puis qu'il n'y en a aucun ou je ne puisse vivre heureux pourveu que je vous y voye et que vous soyez pour moy ce que vous estiez autresfois et ce que je veux esperer que vous estes encore malgre toutes mes foiblesses mais phaon est-il possible luy dit alors sapho que vous sentiez ce que vous dittes et puis-je croire qu'un homme qui est capable de lier quelque commerce avec une aussi stupide personne qu'est celle dont je vous ay renvoye un billet puisse encore avoir de la tendresse pour une autre qui ne luy ressemble pas parlez donc 
 phaon m'avez vous aimee avez vous cesse de m'aimer m'aimez vous encore ou avez vous recommence d'avoir de l'affection pour moy et dois-je enfin regarder l'amour que je voy dans vos yeux comme une amour fidelle comme une amour feinte ou comme une amour ressuscite regardez la madame reprit-il comme une amour immortelle qui peut quelquesfois se cacher quand vous ne me voyez pas mais qui ne peut jamais finir c'est pourquoy pour vous mettre en repos et pour me rendre heureux voyez moy tousjours et rendons s'il vous plaist nostre fortune inseparable apres cela sapho luy dit encore beaucoup de choses ou agelaste se mesla aussi et elle voulut mesme qu'il luy avouast ingenument sa derniere foiblesse en luy racontant ce qui luy estoit arrive en sicile mais il le fit avec tant de sincerite que sapho en fut satisfaite ouy madame luy dit-il j'avoue que trouvant en ce lieu la une personne que j'avois aimee avant vous et ne la trouvant pas plus insensible la seconde fois que la premiere je luy ay donne quelques heures et que je n'ay pu luy dire que j'avois change de sentimens pour elle mais apres tout madame elle ne m'a jamais donne que des joyes imparfaites et mon coeur n'a jamais este engage j'ay mesme receu quelquesfois avec chagrin des marques d'affection assez tendres et je me suis tousjours veu tout prest a la quitter sans 
 peine des que vous me rapelleriez enfin madame j'ay este foible sans estre infidelle mes yeux ont sans doute trouve que vous n estes pas seule belle au monde mais mon coeur n'a rien trouve qu'il pust aimer veritablement que l'admirable sapho revenez donc a moy madame comme je reviens a vous et redonnez moy cet illustre coeur dont vous m'aviez fait un present si precieux mais redonner le moy je vous en conjure avec toute sa tendresse et pour vous assurer contre la foiblesse du mien choisissez si vous le voulez une isle deserte ou nous allions vivre ensemble et ou je ne puisse rien aimer que le bruit des fontaines le chant des oyseaux et l'esmail des prairies car pour moy je vous declare que vous m'estes toutes choses et que pourveu que je vous voye je n'auray rien a desirer je pourrois mesme estre aveugle adjousta-t'il que je pourrois encore estre heureux en effet quand je ne ferois que vous entendre parler ma felicite seroit encore assez grande et les seuls charmes de vostre esprit sans estre secondez de ceux de vostre beaute pourroient encore me rendre heureux jugez donc madame si vous voyant et vous entendant je n'auray pas sujet d'estre le plus heureux amant du monde pourveu que vous veuilliez que je vous voye et que je vous entende tousjours toutes les autres personnes que j'ay pratiquees scavent si mal l'art d'obliger que leurs plus grandes faveurs ont moins de douceur 
 que les plus petites que vous faites en effet vous scavez si admirablement comment il faut faire sentir les graces a ceux a qui vous les voulez faire que jamais nulle autre que vous ne l'a sceu comme vous le scavez vous preparez les coeurs a la joye par de legeres inquietudes vous faites connoistre avec adresse la difficulte que vous avez a faire ce que vous faites pour en redoubler l'obligation et vous scavez mesme pour quelques momens oster l'esperance d'un bien que vous voulez accorder afin qu'on en soit plus agreablement surpris aussi est-ce dans cette pensee madame que je veux croire que vous ne m'avez pas encore dit que vous me pardonnez afin de me surprendre plus doucement par un oubly general de ma foiblesse apres cela phaon dit encore beaucoup de choses tendres et touchantes a l'admirable sapho qui y respondit durant long temps comme une personne qui ne vouloit pas luy pardonner mais a la fin sa colere l'abandonnant malgre elle il ne luy fut pas possible de le desesperer tout a fait de sorte que prenant un milieu entre ces deux extremitez elle luy permit d'esperer qu'il la pourroit apaiser et elle luy promit que le lendemain a la mesme heure il la pourroit voir au mesme lieu mais enfin madame pourquoy vous tenir plus longtemps en peine de la fin de cette avanture sapho passa la nuit a examiner avec agelaste la resolution qu'elle devoit prendre et apres l'avoir bien examinee elle conclut 
 qu'elle ne pouvoit vivre heureuse sans estre aimee de phaon et qu'elle ne pouvoit jamais estre assuree de son affection tant qu'elle seroit esloignee de luy si bien qu'apres avoir encore considere l'estat de ses affaires et celuy de mytilene elle se resolut de tirer de phaon une grande preuve d'amour en l'obligeant de la suivre dans le dessein qu'elle avoit d'aller avec philire et en l'obligeant d'y aller mesme avec la certitude de ne l'espouser jamais et de se contenter de toutes les innocentes marques d'affection qu'elle luy avoit donnees dans le temps ou ils estoient tout a fait bien ensemble de sorte que comme la chose pressoit parce que philire devoit se marier chez elle dans huit jours et partir des le lendemain de ses nopces sapho dit le jour suivant a phaon tout ce qu'elle avoit a luy dire il accepta d'abord aveque joye la proposition d'aller avec elle au pais des nouveaux sauromates mais il ne luy promit qu'avec beaucoup de repugnance de ne la presser jamais de l'espouser neantmoins comme elle luy permettoit de l'aimer tendrement et qu'elle luy promettoit de l'aimer de mesme il luy promit a la fin tout ce qu'elle voulut si bien qu'apres cela sapho s'estima la plus heureuse personne du monde et phaon se creut aussi le plus heureux amant de la terre comme agelaste n'avoit ny pere ny mere et qu'elle avoit perdu tout ce qui luy pouvoit rendre lesbos agreable elle suivit la fortune 
 de sapho qui quitta son pais avec autant de joye que phaon en eut aussi a l'abandonner car ils se donnoient tous deux une si grande marque d'amour en cette occasion par la resolution qu'ils prenoient que la joye qu'ils avoient de connoistre combien ils s'aimoient fit qu'ils quitterent leur patrie sans aucune peine du moins le vaillant mereonte me l'a-t'il assure ainsi en me racontant les dernieres choses que je viens de vous raconter et que je ne pourrois avoir sceues sans luy en effet je n'estois pas a mytilene lors que cela se passoit ma soeur estoit en phrigie et quand mesme nous eussions este aupres de sapho je pense qu'elle ne nous auroit pas dit son dessein de peur que nous ne nous y fussions opposez ce qui l'y porta le plus fortement fut que scachant qu'il n'y avoit qu'une ville dans ce petit estat des nouveaux sauromates elle comprit qu'il ne seroit pas aise que phaon fust souvent esloigne d'elle si bien qu'estant satisfaite de son amour tant qu'il la voyoit elle espera qu'elle seroit tousjours contente de luy en ce lieu la puis qu'il ne pourroit en estre longtemps absent cependant agelaste ayant dit le dessein de sapho et de phaon a philire et a clirante ils en eurent une joye extreme car comme cet illustre sauromate scavoit qu'il n'y avoit aucune de toutes ces personnes qui n'eust tout ce qu'il faloit pour estre receue en son pais et que de plus il scavoit le credit qu'il 
 avoit aupres de la reine qui gouvernoit alors cet estat il ne douta point qu'il ne fist recevoir toute cette belle troupe d'une maniere fort avantageuse de sorte que clirante allant chez sapho pour achever de lier cette grande partie phaon qui estoit toujours chez cet amy qu'il avoit dans le voisinage de cette admirable fille s'y rendit et il se fit une si belle amitie entre ces deux amans et entre sapho philire et agelaste qu'il n'y a jamais rien eu de plus tendre ce qu'il y avoit de commode au voyage qu'ils entreprenoient estoit qu'ils n'avoient que faire de songer a leur establissement car outre que clirante les assuroit qu'il avoit plus de bien qu'il n'en falloit pour les faire subsister avec esclat et qu'il ne pouvoit estre soubconne de mensonge parce que le frere de philire scavoit de certitude qu'il disoit vray c'est encore que la coustume de ce pais est comme je l'ay desja dit que le prince donne aux estrangers qu'il recoit dans son estat autant de bien qu'il leur en faut pour leur subsistance selon leur condition et leur merite cependant comme sapho partoit avec le dessein de ne revenir jamais elle disposa de son bien comme si elle eust deu mourir et laissa les tablettes dans quoy sa volonte estoit expliquee entre les mains d'un vieux parent qu'elle avoit avec ordre de ne les ouvrir que dans un mois apres quoy les nopces de clirante et de philire se firent secretement mais des le lendemain cette 
 belle troupe s'embarqua avec intention d'aller passer le bosphore de thrace et d'entrer apres dans le pont euxin pour aller prendre terre au dessus du palus meotide mais a peine se furent-ils embarquez qu'il se leva une tempeste qui changea bien leur route car apres les avoir balottez de cap en cap et de rivage en rivage elle les jetta en epire au pied d'un grand rocher qui est battu de la mer leucadienne et sur lequel est basty un temple d'apollon ce rocher a mesme encore une chose fort remarquable car on dit que ce fut de la que deucalion quand il estoit amoureux en thessalie se jetta dans la mer et qu'il y guerit de sa passion cependant apres que cette belle troupe eut rendu graces au dieu qu'on adoroit en ce lieu la et que le vaisseau qui la portoit fut radoube elle se r'embarqua et continua sa route heureusement comme me l'a dit mereonte mais madame avant que j'acheve de vous dire ce que j'ay apris de luy il faut que je vous represente l'estonnement de tout ce qu'il y avoit d'honnestes gens a mytilene lors que ce parent de sapho ouvrit les tablettes dans quoy elle avoit declare ce qu'elle vouloit qu'on fist de son bien car enfin lors qu'elle estoit partie elle avoit pretexte son voyage de l'accomplissement d'un voeu qu'elle disoit avoir fait a neptune qui avoit un temple a trois journees des lesbos mais lors qu'on vit qu'elle disposoit de son bien comme une 
 personne qui n'y prenoit plus de part on ne sceut plus qu'en penser cependant pour marquer sa generosite elle le laissa presque tout entier a charaxe quoy qu'ils fussent tres mal ensemble mais pour toutes les chose qui estoient dans son cabinet elle les donna a ses amies et a ses amis sans rien dire ny du dessein qu'elle avoit ny du lieu ou elle alloit si bien que chacun en pensa et en dit ce que bon luy sembla comme il s'estoit espandu quelque petit bruit qu'elle n'estoit pas contente de phaon parce qu'il estoit devenu amoureux en sicile et qu'on ne scavoit point qu'il fust revenu aupres d'elle les uns creurent qu'elle estoit allee le trouver et les autres dirent qu'elle s'estoit precipitee et en effet cette derniere croyance a este la plus generale quoy qu'elle ne soit pas vray-semblable de la maniere qu'on la raconte a mytilene car comme on avoit sceu que sapho avoit este a sa maison de la campagne avant que de s'embarquer le peuple qui aime les choses extraordinaires et merveilleuses et qui les croit mesmes quelquesfois plus facilement que les vray-semblables dit que comme elle estoit au bord de cette agreable fontaine que je vous ay descrite et qu'elle y estoit pour se pleindre de l'infidellite de phaon une nayade luy apparut qui luy dit qu'elle s'en allast en epire qu'elle se jettast dans la mer a l'endroit mesme ou deucalion s'estoit autrefois jette et qu'elle y gueriroit de 
 sa passion comme il avoit este guery de la sienne adjoustant en suitte que sapho avoit a l'instant mesme obei a la nayade qu'elle estoit allee en epire qu'elle s'y estoit precipitee et que la mort l'avoit en effet guerie de son amour mais a dire la verite les gens un peu esclairez n'ont pas creu une histoire si esloignee de toute vray-semblance car nous connoissons sapho pour estre trop sage pour faire une pareille chose joint qu'apres que je fus retourne a mytilene je fis une perquisition si exacte qu'en fin cet amy de phaon chez qui il avoit este cache durant quelques jours me descouvrit confidemment qu'il avoit este chez luy qu'il avoit veu sapho tres souvent et qu'il estoit party avec elle mais comme il n'en scavoit davantage je n'estois guere plus scavant du dessein de mon amy j'avois pourtant tousjours la satisfaction de scavoir que sapho n'estoit pas morte et que phaon estoit heureux car je jugeois bien qu'ils ne s'en seroient pas allez ensemble sans avoir fait une grande reconciliation mais ce qu'il y avoit de rare estoit qu'encore que philire son frere et agelaste eussent disparu aussi bien que sapho on n'en parloit presques point et son avanture occupoit tellement tous les esprits qu'on ne parloit que d'elle seulement cependant le pauvre nicanor profita de cette conjoncture car lors qu'on luy dit que sapho s'estoit precipite parce qu'elle avoit sceu que phaon estoit infidelle 
 il guerit de sa passion luy semblant qu'il ne devoit plus aimer la memoire d'une personne qui avoit eu une amour si forte pour un autre damophile de son coste fut la seule qui se rejouit de la perte de sapho et elle s'en rejouit parce qu'elle se crut alors seule scavante a mytilene mais enfin madame apres que ma soeur sut revenue de phrigie nous descouvrismes encore que clirante avoit espouse philire avant que de partir si bien que comme nous nous souvenions d'avoir entendu faire une description admirable a clirante des loix de son pais nous pensasmes que c'estoit la que sapho phaon et agelaste estoient allez et nous en doutasmes si peu que je pris la resolution de m'en esclaircir moy mesme et d'entreprendre le voyage que j'ay fait avec leontidas que je rencontray cependant je puis dire que ce voyage m'a bien et mal reussi car enfin j'ay sceu par le vaillant mereonte que sapho et phaon ont este receus par la reine des sauromates avec des honneurs qu'on n'avoit jamais rendus a nuls autres estrangers que cette admirable fille est logee dans le palais de cette reine que phaon l'est dans celuy de clirante qu'ils sont tous deux les delices de cette cour et qu'agelaste y a aquis le coeur de tous les honnestes gens mais ce qui est le plus considerable c'est que phaon est presentement le plus fidelle amant du monde et que sapho est la plus heureuse personne de la terre car enfin 
 elle est adoree dans cette cour c'est elle qui distribue toutes les graces que la reine des sauromates fait aux autres et elle voit phaon avec une passion ardente et durable ils ont pourtant eu un petit demesle depuis qu'ils sont la car comme il y a des loix pour l'amour et des juges qui ne connoissent que des choses qui regardent cette passion phaon pretendit devoir les obliger a condamner sapho a luy permettre d'esperer de l'espouser un jour si bien qu'il falut selon les loix du pais que sapho plaidast sa cause et que phaon soutinst la sienne ce qu'ils firent tous deux admirablement mais a la fin sapho fit connoistre si adroitement que pour s'aimer tousjours avec une esgalle ardeur il falloit ne s'espouser jamais que les juges ordonnerent que phaon ne l'en presseroit point declarant que c'estoit une grace qu'il devoit attendre d'elle seulement et que cependant il s'estimeroit le plus heureux et le plus glorieux amant de la terre d'estre aime de la plus parfaite personne du monde et d'une personne encore qui ne luy refusoit sa possession que parce qu'elle vouloit tousjours posseder son coeur de sorte que depuis cela ils ont vescu dans la plus douce paix qu'on se puisse imaginer et ils jouissent enfin de tout ce que l'amour galante delicate et tendre peut inspirer de plus doux dans les coeurs qui en sont possedez mais ce qu'il y a de cruel pour moy est que mereonte m'a dit que sapho et phaon ont eu tant de peur 
 que quelqu'un de mytilene n'allast troubler leur repos qu'ils ont oblige la reine a faire une deffence exacte de recevoir nuls estrangers dans ce pais la durant dix ans de sorte que cela estant ainsi il me seroit inutile d'achever mon voyage et je m'en retournay sans pouvoir mesme faire croire a mytilene que sapho n'est pas morte joint que dans le dessein qu'elle a de n'estre pas troublee dans sa felicite je pense que je dois ne dire pas ce que je scay de son dessein de peur que quelques-uns de ses anciens amans n'allassent la chercher jusques au lieu ou elle est ou qu'on ne dist des choses contre elle qui seroient pires que ce qu'on en dit ainsi durant que sapho jouira de la bonne fortune qu'elle merite on la croira morte par toute la grece et on l'y croira tousjours car j'ay sceu que le vaisseau qui la porta perit en s'en revenant de sorte que durant que cette admirable lesbienne escrit sans doute tous les jours des choses galantes et passionnees tout ce qu'il y a d'hommes illustres en grece font des epitaphes a sa gloire
 
 
 
 
democede ayant cesse de parler laissa toute la compagnie avec tant d'estonnement qu'elle ne pensa jamais s'imposer silence et si l'invincible cyrus n'eust pas este presse de s'en retourner les louanges de sapho eussent encore occupe beaucoup plus longtemps toutes ces illustres personnes mais comme l'ardente et innocente amour de phaon et de sapho renouvella dans son coeur celle qu'il avoit pour mandane 
 il se hasta de se mettre en estat de pouvoir estre heureux et de s'en aller voir si anacharsis ne luy auroit rien mande de la part de thomiris c'est pourquoy apres avoir fait mille complimens a la reine de pont et a la princesse d'armenie il leur dit adieu mais ce qu'il y eut de bien facheux pour ces princesses fut que tigrane et spitridate suivirent cyrus et qu'ils n'eurent mesme presques pas le temps de leur faire voir la douleur qu'ils avoient de les quitter spitridate trouva pourtant moyen de tirer araminte a part et de luy tesmoigner tant d'amour qu'elle ne put s'empescher de luy montrer une partie de la tendresse qu'elle avoit pour luy a ce que je voy madame luy dit-il apres quelques autres choses je ne vous puis jamais retrouver sans vous perdre et je ne vous ay pas plustost dit que j'ay une extreme joye de vous revoir qu'il saut que je vous die que je suis desespere de m'esloigner de vous ce qui me console adjousta-t'il c'est que nous serons si proches que je pourray vous faire scavoir tous les jours ce que j'endureray en vous mandant les victoires de cyrus comme il n y a point de victoire qui ne puisse couster trop cher repliqua-t'elle obligeamment je n'en seray guere plus en repos car enfin spitridate nous sommes nez si malheureux que nous devons sans doute tousjours plustost craindre qu'esperer du moins madame 
 repliqua spitridate ne dois-je pas perdre l'esperance d'estre aime de vous si les dieux veulent que je vive apres la victoire de cyrus ou d'en estre regrette s'ils ont resolu que je perisse a cette guerre ainsi la mort mesme ne me deffendant pas l'esperance vous me permettrez de la conserver car je trouve quelque chose de si doux a estre assure de recevoir des marques de vostre affection ou vivant ou mort que je n'ay jamais eu de pensee plus agreable c'est pourquoy madame pour faire qu'elle ne m'abandonne point faites moy l'honneur de me dire que je ne l'ay pas sans sujet vous en devez estre si persuade respondit elle que c'est me faire une injure que de m'en demander de nouvelles assurances croyez donc spitridate luy dit elle encore en rougissant tout ce qui vous pourra donner l'esperance d'estre un jour heureux et je croiray aussi tout ce qui me pourra consoler de vostre absence et me faire esperer de vous revoir apres cela cyrus ayant acheve ses civilitez il falut que spitridate quittast araminte et que tigrane se contentast de dire en deux mots a l'admirable onesile qu'il estoit au desespoir de s'en separer si tost cyrus en s'en retournant au camp apella leontidas aupres de luy a qui il ne trouvoit pas qu'il eust assez parle de thrasibule il ne luy parla pourtant pas tousjours de ce prince car il luy parla de son amour et luy demanda l'explication 
 de ce qu'il luy avoit dit lors qu'il l'avoit assure qu'il n'avoit pas voulu s'exposer a la plus dangereuse de toutes les jalousies seigneur reprit leontidas il m'est aise de vous esclaircir en deux mots ce que je vous ay dit car enfin apres avoir este jaloux de mes amis de mes ennemis de mes egaux de gens au dessus de moy et de gens beaucoup au dessous je trouvay qu'alcidamie qui avoit perdu sa beaute l'avoit recouvree et je la trouvay mesme si favorable que je me vis en pouvoir de l'espouser mais seigneur quand je me vis en cet estat je sentis si bien que la jalousie ne m'abandonneroit point en l'espousant que je n'en pouvois douter en effet je cherchois desja par quelle raison elle avoit si promptement change de sentimens pour moy je la trouvois logee trop pres de quelques-uns de ses anciens amans et je me preparois a la mener a la campagne des que je l'aurois espousee de sorte que sentant alors dans mon coeur autant de disposition a estre un jaloux mary que j'en avois tousjours eu a estre un jaloux amant je compris que je serois si miserable le reste de mes jours si j'espousois alcidamie et que je la rendrois elle mesme si malheureuse que de peur d'en estre hai et de la hair moy mesme j'ay mieux aime ne l'espouser pas car enfin en l'estat ou je suis je puis cesser d'estre jaloux en cessant d'estre amoureux mais quand on est mary et qu'on est 
 jaloux la jalousie ne cesse point avec la passion qui la fait naistre et ce pretendu honneur qui fait tant de jaloux aussi bien que l'amour fait que la jalousie dure jusqu'a la mort et qu'elle dure sans donner un moment de repos car il n'est pas mesme des reconciliations des maris et des femmes comme de celles des amans et des maistresses en effet celles-cy ont mille douceurs et celles des autres ne sont a proprement parler qu'une tresve de querelles et de persecutions c'est pourquoy seigneur ayant conceu parfaitement toute la rigueur de cette espece de jalousie que je n'ay pas esprouvee je ne l'ay point voulu esprouver et j'ay rompu avec alcidamie pour n'y renouer jamais si vous aviez este aussi amoureux que vous l'estiez du temps que vous croiyez que policrate aimoit vostre maistresse reprit cyrus vous n'auriez pas este si prevoyant et vous n'auriez pu refuser sa possession mais c'est assurement que tant de diverses jalousies avoient affoibli vostre passion et qu'ayant alors plus de prudence que d'amour vous avez peut-estre connu qu'alcidamie vous donneroit tousjours sujet d'estre jaloux quoy qu'il en soit seigneur adjousta-t'il je suis resolu de n'aimer plus rien que la gloire c'est pourquoy comme je scay bien qu'on ne la trouve en nulle part si facilement qu'aupres de vous je viens chercher a mourir pour vostre service ou du moins a combatre pour la 
 liberte de la princesse mandane cyrus ayant respondu a la civilite de leontidas avec beaucoup de tendresse parla apres encore un peu a democede de l'admirable sapho et ainsi tour a tour a la plus part de ceux qui le suivoient mais principalement a spitridate et a tigrane qu'il fit loger dans des tentes qui touchoient les siennes des qu'il fut arrive et pour leur tesmoigner une confiance entiere il voulut le lendemain au matin leur faire voir l'assiette de son camp et conferer avec eux du dessein qu'il avoit d'attaquer les ennemis des que la treve seroit finie pour cet effet il leur fit remarquer la scituation des lieux et tous les avantages qu'il y pouvoit trouver chacun disant son opinion et la soutenant avec des raisons selon qu'il concevoit la chose mais comme celle de spitridate n'estoit pas tout a fait semblable a celle de cyrus et qu'il croyoit qu'il vaudroit mieux aller aux ennemis par un autre endroit que par celuy que cyrus luy avoit montre il fit dessein sans en rien dire d'aller en son particulier observer tous ces divers postes de plus pres et il le fit d'autant plus tost que la treve luy en donnoit la liberte d'autre part pendant qu'anacharsis negocioit inutilement avec thomiris et avec aryante aripithe estoit en une colere estrange d'estre mal traite par la reine des massagettes si bien que le desespoir s'emparant de son esprit il ne luy passa que des resolutions violentes dans l'imagination en 
 effet ce prince s'imaginant que si cyrus estoit mort il luy seroit plus aise de toucher le coeur de cette reine il se resolut de perir ou de faire perir son rival pour cet effet if se deroba la nuit du camp de thomiris et prit le chemin de celuy de cyrus mais il le prit desguise en persan afin de passer plus facilement sans estre observe par les troupes de ce prince car comme il scavoit quelle estoit sa generosite et son courage il estoit persuade que puis qu'il s'estoit battu contre le roy d'assirie et qu'il avoit offert a aryante de faire la mesme chose il ne luy refuseroit pas de mettre l'espee a la main contre luy joint que dans les sentimens tumultueux ou aripithe estoit il eust encore mieux aime entreprendre mesme de tuer cyrus au milieu de son armee que de demeurer aux pitoyables termes ou sa passion le reduisoit si bien que ce prince violent se mettant donc en chemin comme je l'ay desja dit arriva au soleil levant sur une petite eminence qui estoit entre les deux camps ou spitridate estoit desja arrive pour observer mieux de la les divers postes dont il croyoit qu'il se faloit emparer pour attaquer les ennemis avec avantage afin que les ayant observez il pust soustenir son opinion avec plus de force et tascher de la persuader a cyrus cependant comme ce prince n'avoit qu'un escuyer aveque luy non plus qu'aripithe ils se rencontrerent avec un esgal avantage d'abord comme spitridate 
 vit aripithe habille en persan il ne le regarda pas comme ennemy mais pour aripithe comme il fut abuse par la ressemblance que spitridate avoit avec cyrus il ne le vit pas plustost que croyant voir son rival la fureur s'empara tellement de son esprit que ses yeux ne furent pas capables de remarquer quelque legere difference qu'il y avoit entre ces deux princes car il est vray que cyrus avoit encore quelque chose de plus grand et de plus noble sur le visage que spitridate quoy que spitridate fust un des hommes du monde de la meilleure mine aripithe ayant donc dans l'ame toute l'animosite d'un amant malheureux mit l'espee a la main et s'avancant fierement vers celuy qu'il regardoit comme le destructeur de sa felicite quoy que je ne t'aye point veu depuis que tu portois le nom d'artamene luy dit-il en assirien que spitridate entendoit je ne laisse pas de te reconnoistre pour estre cyrus et de te regarder comme devant bien tost estre la victime de l'amour d'aripithe qui ne peut estre heureux tant que tu seras vivant si j'estois veritablement cyrus repliqua spitridate en se reculant d'un pas pour pouvoir mettre l'espee a la main l'evenement du combat ne seroit guere douteux et ta deffaite seroit infaillible mais peut-estre adjousta-t'il fierement avec une action menacante qu'encore que je ne sois pas si vaillant que luy je ne laisseray pas de te faire connoistre 
 qu'il est difficile d'estre son ennemy sans estre vaincu ny d'estre son amy sans estre vainqueur comme aripithe n'avoit que de la fureur dans l'ame il n'entendit que confusement ce que luy dit spitridate en la mesme langue qu'il luy avoit parle c'est pourquoy au lieu d'y respondre il attaqua ce prince qui le receut avec tant de vigueur qu'aripithe n'eut pas lieu de se desabuser de l'opinion ou il estoit que c'estoit cyrus contre qui il se battoit en effet spitridate regardant celuy qui l'attaquoit comme un ennemy de cyrus le combatit avec la mesme fierte que s'il eust este le sien particulier si bien qu'agissant avec toute son adresse et toute sa valeur aripithe trouva que la sienne estoit trop foible pour vaincre un si redoutable ennemy de sorte que la fureur estant tout a fait maistresse de son esprit il s'exposoit d'une si terrible maniere qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il combatoit comme un homme qui vouloit vaincre ou mourir et qui ne souhaitoit mesme guere plus la victoire que la mort il combatit pourtant si vaillament qu'il obligea spitridate a l'estimer sans le connoistre car il voyoit bien que si ce fier ennemy eust mesnage ses avantages il luy eust donne encore beaucoup plus de peine ce n'est pas que ses coups ne portassent et qu'ils ne rougissent mesme les armes de son ennemy en divers endroits mais on eust dit que la fortune retenoit la force du bras d'aripithe pour conserver spitridate car il 
 n'eut qu'une tres legere blessure au bras gauche et au contraire spitridate ne pouvoit toucher aripithe qu'il ne fist rougir ses armes de son sang et il le blessa en tant d'endroits qu'il connut bien luy mesme qu'il n'avoit plus de part a la victoire il ne pouvoit pas non plus esperer d'estre secouru par son escuyer car celuy de spitridate avoit aussi avantage sur luy
 
 
 
 
les choses estant donc en ces termes cyrus qui avoit sceu que spitridate estoit alle reconnoistre encore les lieux qui faisoient leur contestation et qui avoit voulu les voir une seconde fois de plus pres arriva a l'endroit ou ce conbat se faisoit si bien que connoissant d'abord aripithe et ne doutant pas qu'il ne se fust trompe a la ressemblance de spitridate et de luy il s'avanca diligemment avec ceux qui l'accompagnoient pour se faire connoistre a ce prince des sauromates afin que se repentant de son erreur il n'attaquast plus un prince qui n'estoit pas son ennemy et en effet joignant la parole a sa presence aripithe le reconnut et demeura si estonne de voir que celuy qu'il avoit combatu n'estoit pas son rival qu'il se recula de quatre pas pour avoir loisir de faire quelque reflection sur une si bizarre avanture mais apres avoir veu qu'effectivement il s'estoit trompe si j'avois veu couler le sang de mon ennemy dit-il fierement a spitridate je ne pleindrois pas celuy que je respans et je ne me repentirois pas de m'estre battu comme je me 
 repens de vous avoir attaque le suis si persuade vaillant inconnu que le nom de cyrus vous a plustost vaincu que moy repliqua modestement spitridate que je ne pretens rien a la gloire de nostre combat puis que c'est plustost la fortune des armes de ce prince qui est tousjours invincible que ma propre valeur qui m'a empesche d'estre vaincu comme vous avez mieux tenu ma place que je ne l'eusse tenue reprit cyrus la valeur d'aripithe a plus trouve d'obstacle que la mienne ne luy en auroit fait mais enfin vaillant ennemy luy dit-il en se tournant vers luy puis que vous voulez que je sois le vostre je le veux bien quoy que je ne sois pas vostre rival mais en attendant que vous soyez en estat que je vous puisse faire voir la difference qu'il y a de la valeur de spitridate a la mienne souffrez que je vous face conduire en une de mes tentes afin que vous soyez pense avec le mesme soin que si vous estiez mon amy comme je suis persuade repliqua fierement aripithe que des ennemis genereux ne doivent rien recevoir l'un de l'autre que la mort et que je ne veux pas me mettre en estat de voir diminuer ma haine par un bien-fait je refuse l'offre que vous me faites et je ne veux nulle grace de vous que celle de me donner la liberte de retourner au camp de thomiris quoy que je pusse vous traiter en espion reprit cyrus puis que je vous trouve en habit desguise durant la tresve je ne le feray pourtant pas 
 et je vous donneray un chariot pour vous conduire ou il vous plaira aripithe voulut encore d'abord refuser cette derniere grace mais il sentit si bien qu'il luy seroit impossible de faire ce chemin a cheval qu'il fut contraint de l'accepter et en effet cyrus envoya diligemment querir un chariot et des chirurgiens et laissa mesme quelques-uns de ceux qui l'avoient suivy pour aider a l'escuyer d'aripithe a le soustenir car il fut contraint de s'apuyer sur luy de peur de tomber spitridate en le quittant luy fit un compliment fort genereux ou l'autre respondit avec une civilite assez fiere apres quoy ce prince suivit cyrus et acheva de luy persuader son opinion touchant le poste qu'il estoit alle reconnoistre cependant comme il avoit une legere blessure au bras gauche cyrus voulut le voir penser quoy que spitridate ne le voulust pas mais comme ce prince remarqua que ses armes estoient rompues en divers endroit il luy envoya ces magnifiques armes d'or qu'il avoit portees la premiere fois lors qu'il s'estoit voulu faire connoistre a ces quarante chevaliers qui le vouloient tuer et qu'il avoit portees depuis en tant de grandes occasions comme elles estoient tres magnifiques ce present estoit digne de celuy qui le faisoit et de celuy a qui il estoit fait mais par ou il estoit le plus precieux c'est que cyrus en donnant ses armes a spitridate le reconnoissoit pour estre digne de les porter 
 apres luy et de s'en pouvoir servir aussi glorieusement qu'il s'en estoit servy luy mesme cependant les cinq jours de la tresve estant passez sans qu'anacharsis eust rien avance ce sage scythe fut contraint d'abandonner thomiris a son mauvais destin et de se retirer aupres de cyrus mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut qu'il sceut avant que de partir que cette reine ayant sceu qu'anpithe estoit revenu blesse et qu'il estoit party de son camp dans la pensee d'aller tuer cyrus en sut si irritee que s'il n'eust pas eu des troupes dans son armee dont elle avoit affaire elle luy eust envoye conmander de se retirer tout blesse qu'il estoit car encore qu'elle se pleignist estrangement de cyrus elle n'en vouloit pas alors la mort de sorte que conme elle ne put tout a fait cacher ses sentimens aripithe qui les sceut en eut une douleur qui le fit mourir en vingt-quatre heures il est vray que thomiris ne fut pas longtemps dans ce sentiment la car il arriva que le dernier jour de la tresve cyrus escrivit a mandane et envoya sa lettre par un esclave desguise afin que gelonide taschast de la faire tenir a cette princesse si bien que comme cette lettre au lieu d'aller dans les mains de gelonide fut en celles de thomiris parce que l'esclave qui la portoit s'estant arreste en chemin n'arriva au lieu ou estoit cette reine qu'une heure apres que la tresve fut finie elle excita un trouble si grand dans son coeur que la haine prit la place 
 de l'amour car comme cyrus avoit creu que ce seroit la derniere lettre qu'il pourroit escrire a mandane jusques a la fin de la guerre qui ne pouvoit finir que par sa mort ou par la liberte de cette princesse il l'avoit escrite avec une tendresse inconcevable pour elle et assez d'aigreur pour thomiris en effet tout ce que l'amour la plus ardente peut inspirer de plus passionne estoit dans cette lettre qui tomba entre les mains de cette reine qui en eut l'esprit si irrite que quand cyrus luy eust promis une amour eternelle se qu'elle eust eu des marques de son inconstance elle ne l'eust pas eu davantage si bien que ne songeant plus qu'a la guerre et a la vangeance et toutes ses troupes estant en l'estat qu'elle les pouvoit souhaiter elle se prepara a combatre aryante de son coste voyant a la fin qu'il falloit encore donner une bataille pour decider cette grande affaire d'ou despendoit le bonheur ou le malheur de tant de personnes illustres s'occupa tout entier a imaginer tout ce qui pouvoit nuire a cyrus de sorte que trouvant que ce luy seroit un merveilleux desavantage si thomiris pouvoit avoir le fort des sauromates en sa puissance parce que l'armee de cyrus estant engagee au de la des bois il ne pourroit faire sa retraite s'il estoit vaincu il songea avec beaucoup d'aplication par quelle voye il pourroit venir a bout d'un si grand dessein d'autre part cyrus qui avoit l'esprit fort irrite de ce que 
 thomiris par ses negociations inutiles avoit retarde ses desseins pensa a reparer par sa diligence le temps qu'il avoit perdu il eut pourtant la satisfaction d'estre loue par le sage anacharsis qui luy declara qu'il ne luy reprocheroit jamais toutes les suites de cette guerre apres quoy il s'en alla au fort des sauromates aupres de la reine de pont et de la princesse d'armenie cependant quelque envie de combatre qu'il y eust dans tous les deux partis ils surent pourtant encore assez longtemps sans s'attaquer parce que chacun voulant chercher son avantage et ne voulant pas hazarder legerement un combat decisif taschoit de mesnager l'occasion pour ne donner pas la bataille sans quelque apparence de la gagner mais durant ces grands preparatifs mandane vivoit dans une ignorance si generale de ce qui se passoit a son avantage qu'elle n'en scavoit chose aucune car la princesse de bithinie ny istrine ny arpasie ne la voyoient pas de sorte qu'elle n'avoit nulle autre consolation que celle qu'elle recevoit de doralise et de martesie elle avoit pourtant la satisfaction de penser que si les affaires de cyrus eussent este en mauvais estat on le luy eust dit car thomiris et aryante luy faisoient scavoir les choses facheuses et ne luy cachoient que les agreables si bien que comme il y avoit desja quelques jours qu'on ne luy avoit rien dit elle en tiroit une consequence infaillible que le party de cyrus 
 auoit de l'avantage ainsi elle avoit l'ame en quelque repos par la douceur que luy donnoit l'esperance qu'elle avoit que cyrus vaincroit bientost et qu'elle seroit delivree mais enfin apres que de part et d'autre cyrus et thomiris dont les armees estoient en presence eurent a diverses fois tasche de se surprendre ils se resolurent esgallement a donner la bataille ce n'est pas que cyrus n'eust souhaite alors de pouvoir la differer parce qu'il scavoit que ce grand et puissant secours que ciaxare luy envoyoit estoit assez proche mais comme il n'avoit jamais refuse de combatre quand l'occasion s'en estoit presentee il ne put se resoudre de reculer joint qu'en la disposition ou estoient les choses il ne l'eust pu faire sans danger ou du moins sans decrediter ses armes de sorte que chacun ne songeant qu'a combatre dans les deux armees on vit dans ces deux grands corps un mesme esprit et une mesme ardeur d'un coste thomiris et aryante n'oublierent rien pour se mettre en estat de vaincre et de l'autre cyrus et mazare aporterent tous leurs soins a faire qu'ils ne fussent pas vaincus et qu'ils pussent delivrer mandane myrsile intapherne atergatis et hidaspe poussez par un mesme interest d'amour agissoient aussi autant qu'ils pouvoient pour aider a cyrus a remporter la victoire ce dernier avoit mesme un nouveau sujet de la desirer car il avoit sceu que meliante estoit aux tentes royales et qu'il y 
 estoit sans que licandre le connust pour estre son rival de plus artamas tigrane spitridate et tous les autres braves de cette armee se preparant a conbatre songeoient a se preparer a vaincre mais quoy que cyrus eust accoustume de sentir tousjours dans son coeur quelques mouvemens de joye lors qu'il se voyoit en estat de donner une bataille il ne trouvoit pas son esprit en une assiette aussi tranquile qu'il avoit accoustume de l'avoir et il sentoit malgre luy une melancolie secrette dont il ne scavoit point la cause qui luy estoit de mauvais presage il dissimula pourtant ce sentiment la autant qu'il put et il resista par raison a ce mouvement de chagrin qu'il avoit par temperamment en effet il ne laissa pas d'agir comme s'il ne l'eust pas eu il ne voulut pourtant avoir ce jour la que des armes simples mais pour spitridate il porta celles que cyrus luy avoit donnees et il les porta de si bonne grace et d'un air si noble qu'il en ressembla encore beaucoup plus a cet illustre heros en effet il y eut plusieurs soldats qui ne scachant pas que cyrus eust donne ces magnifiques armes a spitridate le prirent pour luy et s'abuserent a cette merveilleuse ressemblance qui estoit entr'eux cependant quoy que cyrus n'eust que des armes simples il ne laissoit pas d'avoir l'air si haut et le commandement si noble qu'il estoit aise de voir que sa bonne mine toute seule le paroit et qu'il n'avoit que faire d'ornemens estrangers pour 
 attirer les regards de tous ceux qui l'environnoient et pour le faire respecter de tous ceux qui le voyoient mais enfin apres que de part et d'autre les ordres furent donnez dans les deux armees quelques espions que cyrus avoit dans celle de thomiris revinrent dans la sienne et luy aprirent qu'il y avoit eu le matin un combat entre deux estrangers qui estoient aupres de cette reine dont l'un se nommoit meliante et l'autre licandre que le premier avoit tue le second et que neantmoins comme cela avoit passe pour une rencontre ou le mort avoit eu tort le vainqueur n'en estoit pas plus mal avec thomiris et qu'il ne laisseroit pas de se trouver a la bataille raportant en fuite tout ce qu'ils scavoient de l'estat de l'armee ennemie comme hidaspe estoit alors aupres de cyrus il entendit ce que ces espions luy disoient car il leur avoit commande de parler haut devant hidaspe de sorte que cet amant ayant une douleur estrange de voir que cet aimable rival avoit tue le ravisseur d'arpasie parce qu'elle luy en seroit obligee il fit alors mille voeux de pouvoir le rencontrer a la bataille afin de s'attacher a un combat particulier aveque luy au milieu d'un combat general car il avoit tousjours remarque qu'il estoit si bien dans l'esprit d'arpasie qu'il ne pouvoit s'empescher d'en estre jaloux neantmoins comme le lieu n'estoit pas propre a tesmoigner les sentimens qu'il avoit dans l'ame il n'en dit rien a cyrus qui avoit l'esprit si occupe 
 de l'ardent desir de vaincre qu'il ne prit pas garde a l'inquietude d'hidaspe cependant le moment fatal destine au commencement de cette grande et sanglante bataille estant arrive les deux corps d'armee qui estoient presques postez avec un esgal avantage s'avancerent et des qu'ils furent a la portee d'un trait une gresle de fleches commenca l'attaque en obscurcissant l'air et en s'entrechoquant si horriblement que le bruit qu'elles faisoient se distinguoit au milieu de tout ce grand bruit d'instrumens militaires qui se fait tousjours au commencement des batailles mais apres que tous les quarquois furent vuides et que les machines eurent fait ce qu'elles devoient faire il falut que l'espee decidast cette grande et terrible journee qui ne ressembla point du tout a toutes celles ou l'illustre cyrus s'estoit trouve jusques a lors car dans toutes les autres batailles il avoit tousjours fait combatre ses troupes avec ordre mais en celle-cy il ne luy fut pas possible et de part et d'autre il y eut une telle confusion dans les deux armees qu'a peine les soldats purent-ils reconnoistre leurs enseignes cependant le combat estoit aspre et sanglant et il y avoit une telle animosite entre ceux qui combatoient qu'il paroissoit mesme de la cruaute en quelques-uns pour cyrus il fit des choses si prodigieuses ce jour la qu'on ne les croiroit pas si on les racontoit en detail car enfin au milieu de ce grand desordre ou la mort erroit de toutes parts il demesloit 
 si bien tous les siens qu'il soustenoit tous ceux qui estoient foible qu'il rallioit tous ceux qui fuyoient qu'il aidoit a vaincre a ceux qui avoient l'avantage et allant ainsi de lieu en lieu on peut dire qu'il essuya tous les perils de la bataille il ne put pourtant rencontrer aryante quelque soin qu'il y aportast mais il tua le vaillant octomasade de sa main et se fit faire jour par tout ou il fit briller son espee et en effet ce grand prince seconde de la valeur de mazare aussi bien que de celle de tant de vaillans chefs qui estoient dans son armee et de tant de braves gens qui le suivoient avoit mis les ennemis tellement en deroute que sans une facheuse nouvelle qu'il receut et qui s'espandit parmy les siens la victoire estoit entierement a luy thomiris et aryante estoient perdus et mandane estoit delivree mais comme il estoit en ce glorieux estat on luy vint donner advis qu'andramite avoit surpris le fort des sauromates qu'il avoit envoye aux tentes royales la reine de pont et la princesse d'armenie qu'anacharsis et le roy d'hircanie estoient demeurez au fort mais tres soigneusement gardez qu'andramite avoit dit a mereonte qu'il estoit libre et que mereonte luy avoit declare qu'il ne le vouloit point estre et qu'il retourneroit aupres de cyrus des qu'il pourroit monter a cheval parce qu'il ne vouloit estre delivre que de la main de celuy qui luy avoit sauve la vie adjoustant qu'andramite estoit avec des troupes 
 entre le fort et l'endroit des bois qui avoit este embrase cette nouvelle affligea sans doute fort cyrus mais comme ceux qui la luy aporterent l'avoient ditte confusement a tous ceux qu'ils avoient rencontrez elle fit un si meschant effet qu'elle changea entierement le destin de la bataille car comme les choses qui sont dittes en tumulte et escoutees de mesme ne sont jamais bien entendues en fort peu de temps la chose allant de bouche en bouche au milieu du combat et de la confusion elle se changea d'une telle sorte qu'on disoit a l'avant-garde que l'arriere garde estoit deffaite que l'armee de cyrus alloit estre envelopee de toutes parts et que thomiris estoit en personne aupres du fort des sauromates afin d'empescher que cyrus ne pust faire sa retraite si bien que ce bruit s'espandant dans les troupes de ce prince allentit la valeur des soldats et ceux qui pensoient estre les vainqueurs commencant de craindre d'estre vaincus se mirent en effet en estat de l'estre car la terreur se mit d'une telle sorte parmy eux que les ennemis qui fuyoient s'en apercevant se rallierent et changeant de destin ils firent lascher le pied a ceux qui les avoient mis en deroute spitridate qui estoit alle pour r'assurer l'aisle gauche apres avoir sceu cette facheuse nouvelle se trouvant envelope parmy ceux que l'espouvente avoit mis le plus en confusion fit tout ce qu'il put pour les rassurer tous et pour les remener au combat mais il n'y eut pas moyen il 
 rassembla pourtant un petit corps avec lequel il fit ferme il est vray qu'il estoit si foible en comparaison de celuy qu'il avoit en teste que s'il eust este un peu moins brave il eust creu pouvoir se retirer sans deshonneur mais comme ce prince creut sans doute que portant ce jour la des armes que cyrus avoit si glorieusement portees il estoit oblige pour s'en rendre digne de faire quelque chose d'extraordinaire il encouragea ceux qu'il avoit ralliez a le seconder dans le dessein qu'il avoit d'obliger par son exemple ceux qui fuyoient a ne fuir plus de sorte que payant de sa personne en cette dangereuse occasion il fit des choses dignes de la ressemblance qu'il avoit avec cyrus cependant comme aryante se trouva a la teste de ceux dont il soutenoit l'effort et qu'abuse par les armes qu'il portoit qu'il connoissoit extremement et par le visage de spitridate qu'il n'avoit pas loisir de regarder assez attentivement pour remarquer cette legere difference qu'il y avoit entre cyrus et ce prince il creut que c'estoit effectivement son rival si bien qu'animant tous les siens a le suivre il fut droit a luy et l'attaqua avec tant de vigueur qu'il estoit aise de voir qu'il estoit persuade qu'en vainquant ce redoutable ennemy il vaincroit l'armee toute entiere d'autre part spitridate se voyant attaque si vigoureusement se deffendit d'une maniere si heroique que si le corps a la teste de qui il combatoit eust este assez grand pour soustenir l'effort 
 de celuy que commandoit aryante il n'auroit pas este vaincu mais comme il estoit trop inesgal en nombre il fut entierement rompu malgre la resistance de spitridate qui estoit desja blesse en divers endroits cependant comme dans le tumulte du combat il fut separe d'aryante il crut qu'il pourroit du moins se retirer mais comme il songeoit a faire sa retraite il fut envelope par quinze ou vingt massagettes ou gelons qui le croyant estre cyrus et pensant finir la guerre par la fin de sa vie ne songerent pas mesme a le vouloir prendre prisonnier car comme la valeur de cyrus leur estoit redoutable ils creurent que s'ils vouloient espargner sa vie il seroit maistre de la leur et qu'ils ne le prendroient pas si bien qu'attaquant spitridate tous a la fois ce grand et malheureux prince se vit en un effroyable danger cependant quoy qu'il n'eust aupres de luy que peu des siens il les excita a faire ce qu'il faisoit et en effet ils seconderent si puissamment sa valeur que si un coup de javelot qui le perca de part en part ne l'eust fait tomber de cheval il estoit capable de vaincre ses vainqueurs mais des que cet illustre prince fut tombe quelques uns des siens venant aupres de luy et s'y voulant arrester non non mes compagnons leur dit il ne vous arrestez pas aupres de moy marchez plus avant car c'est icy que je dois mourir mais ce n'est pas icy que vous devez vaincre et tirer la princesse que j'adore de la puissance de la cruelle thomiris ces 
 genereuses paroles qui ne furent pas moins entendues de quelques uns des ennemis que des siens parce qu'aryante avoit plusieurs officiers dans son party qui avoient fait la guerre en bithinie leur persuaderent encore davantage que spitridate estoit cyrus car outre qu'ils les estimerent dignes de son grand coeur ils creurent encore que la princesse dont il vouloit parler estoit la princesse mandane quoy que spitridate eust sans doute entendu parler d'araminte qu'il venoit de scavoir qu'andramite avoit envoyee aux tentes royales si bien que se jettant sur luy tous a la fois ils acheverent de le tuer quoy que les siens fissent ce qu'ils purent pour s'y opposer et il y eut alors un combat si opiniastre a qui auroit son corps qu'on n'a jamais rien veu d'esgal car comme il s'espandit quelque bruit parmy les soldats qui fuyoient que cyrus estoit de ce coste la il y en eut qui se rallierent et qui combatirent avec plus de coeur pour vanger leur prince qu'ils croyoient avoir este tue et pour deffendre son corps qu'ils n'avoient fait pour obtenir la victoire mais a la fin ceux du party d'aryante estant les plus forts emporterent cet illustre mort et tuerent tous ceux qui leur resistoient mais pendant que ce combat se faisoit cyrus qui voyoit la terreur dans toutes ses troupes et qui ne pouvoit estre par tout envoyoit ses amis en divers endroits pour essayer de les rassurer durant que de son coste il taschoit de rallier ceux qui estoient a 
 l'entour de luy il envoya donc mazare d'un coste et artamas de l'autre il fit la mesme chose d'intapherne d'atergatis d'indathyrse d'hidaspe et de tous les plus braves de son armee si bien que les envoyant tous les uns apres les autres selon qu'il le jugeoit a propos il ne demeura pas un homme de commandement aupres de luy et il fut luy mesme comme je l'ay desja dit r'allier ses troupes dispersees en effet il rassembla quelque soldats espars et en faisant un petit corps il soustint non seulement l'effort d'un beaucoup plus grand mais il le rompit et tua tant de gens de sa main que la chose paroistroit incroyable si on la disoit ceux qu'il avoit envoyez en divers lieux pour faire la mesme chose luy obeirent si exactement et se rirent si bien obeir qu'ils r'allierent tous quelque petit nombre de gens avec lesquels ils tuerent tant de monde aux ennemis qu'ils n'en avoient pas tant perdu a la derniere bataille que cyrus avoit gagnee qu'ils en perdirent en cette occasion neantmoins comme tous ces petits corps ne faisoient que des combats particuliers et qu'ils ne se joignoient pas cyrus ne se voyoit pas en estat de pouvoir esperer de vaincre mais il eust du moins pu s'empescher d'estre vaincu si le bruit de sa mort que celle de spitridate avoit cause ne se fust espandu parmy les ennemis qui en prirent un nouveau coeur et qui criant a ceux qu'ils combatoient que cyrus estoit mort acheverent de mettre l'espouvante 
 par tous les lieux ou ce prince n'estoit pas si bien que la nuit tombant tout d'un coup les massagettes demeurerent avec leur avantage cyrus se voyant donc en ce pitoyable estat songea du moins a ne tomber pas au pouvoir de thomiris de sorte qu'apres avoir fait des prodiges pour se demesler de ceux qui l'environnoient il se desgagea encore luy vingtiesme du milieu de plus de deux cens massagettes mais comme il se retiroit avec ordre il trouva un autre corps a la teste de qui combatoit le jeune et vaillant meliante qui avoit cherche hidaspe pendant toute la bataille sans l'avoir pu rencontrer de sorte que voulant se consoler de son malheur par la deffaite de ceux qu'il rencontroit il les attaqua il est vray que comme le nombre estoit fort inesgal et qu'il estoit brave sans estre cruel il leur offrit de leur donner quartier s'ils vouloient poser les armes mais comme cyrus estoit accoustume de faire grace aux autres et qu'il n'en avoit jamais receu de personne les armes a la main il ne respondit qu'en se deffendant et il se deffendit d'une maniere si heroique qu'il demeura seul de tous les siens et par un prodige inouy il demeura au milieu des ennemis sans estre blesse mais comme son courage donna de l'admiration a meliante il deffendit a ceux qu'il commandoit de le tuer afin de tascher de le prendre il ne l'eust pourtant pu faire si l'espee de cyrus qui s'estoit faussee par la multitude des coups qu'il avoit 
 donnez ne se fust tout a fait rompue en voulant porter un coup a un de ceux qui le vouloient prendre mais a la fin comme il se vit seul et sans armes il ne s'opiniastra pas a une resistance inutile et conservant le jugement au milieu d'un si grand tumulte et d'un si grand peril il ne songea plus qu'a se rendre s'il pouvoit a quelque officier qui ne fust pas massagette de peur d'estre reconnu si bien qu'ayant remarque par les commandemens que meliante avoit faits qu'il avoit l'accent assirien et qu'il n'estoit point sujet de thomiris il se rendit a luy de sorte que meliante luy ayant beaucoup d'obligation du choix qu'il faisoit de sa personne en cette rencontre luy promit qu'il seroit traite comme sa valeur le meritoit et pour commencer luy dit-il de vous tesmoigner combien les belles choses que je viens de vous voir faire m'ont donne d'estime pour vous quoy qu'il soit presques nuit je ne veux point vous faire lier comme on lie les autres prisonniers et je veux seulement que vous me donnez vostre parole que vous ne songerez point a vous eschaper tant que le chemin que nous aurons a faire durera comme cyrus ne pouvoit faire autre chose en l'estat ou il estoit que recevoir la civilite de celuy a qui il s'estoit rendu il le fit de bonne grace si bien que meliante le priant de marcher aupres de luy et entendant sonner la retraite de toutes parts reprit le chemin du camp mais en y allant que ne pensa point le malheureux cyrus et quelle 
 douleur ne souffrit-il pas car enfin il voyoit son armee deffaite il se voyoit prisonnier et il n'osoit esperer de n'estre pas connu pour ce qu'il estoit des qu'il seroit en lieu ou l'on verroit clair neantmoins comme celuy a qui il s'estoit rendu ne le pouvoit connoistre il en eut quelque consolation et il fit si bien durant le chemin qu'il le confirma dans le dessein de le bien traiter et en effet quoy que cyrus n'eust ce jour la que des armes simples et qu'il affectast de ne parler point comme un homme d'une qualite extraordinaire meliante apres l'avoir veu dans sa tente ne douta nullement que ce ne fust un prisonnier de grande condition de sorte que se souvenant de la longue prison ou il avoit este lors qu'il avoit este pris par les troupes de cyrus du temps qu'il estoit en assirie il voulut rendre a ce prisonnier la civilite qu'on avoit eue pour luy car il estoit vray qu'encore qu'hidaspe eust fait durer sa prison par un sentiment jaloux il l'avoit pourtant tousjours fait admirablement bien traiter de sorte que meliante charme de la valeur de la bonne mine de l'esprit et de la constance de son prisonnier le mit dans sa tente et sit que ses gens eurent autant de soin de luy que de luy mesme il ne voulut pas non plus par un sentiment genereux s'empresser d'aller dire ce qu'il croyoit de la condition de son prisonnier jusques a ce qu'il le connust mieux prenant mesme le dessein de ne descouvrir pas sa qualite a thomiris si 
 elle estoit aussi grande qu'il la croyoit si ce n'estoit que cela luy pust servir a obliger cette reine a remettre arpasie en sa puissance car comme il n'avoit nul attachement a thomiris il se determina a ne rendre nul mauvais office a son prisonnier si l'interest de son amour ne l'y obligeoit ainsi sans que cyrus en sceust rien meliante ne pensoit qu'a des choses qui facilitoient le dessein qu'il avoit de tascher de s'empescher d'estre connu pour ce qu'il estoit cependant ce prince qui ignoroit les sentimens de meliante jugeant par sa phisionomie et par son air qu'il n'estoit pas possible qu'il n'eust aime ou qu'il n'aimast quelque chose creut que pour l'obliger a prendre quelque soin de luy aider a se cacher il devoit luy dire en termes obscurs que l'interest d'une passion qu'il avoit dans l'ame demandoit qu'il ne fust pas connu dans le camp de thomiris et qu'il devoit en suitte le conjurer de luy rendre cet office et en effet cyrus fit une conversation si adroite avec meliante qu'il l'obligea a luy promettre tout ce qu'il voulut ce n'est pas que meliante ne connust bien que son prisonnier ne luy descouvroit pas tout son secret mais comme il ne douta point qu'il ne fust amoureux il joignit la compassion a l'estime et dit tant de choses genereuses a cyrus que ce grand prince fut charme de sa vertu il n'avoit pourtant pas l'ame assez tranquille pour apliquer alors fortement son esprit a rien de ce qui ne regardoit pas l'estat present de l'interest de 
 son amour mais lors qu'il se souvenoit de toutes les victoires qu'il avoit remportees et qu'il se consideroit au pitoyable estat ou il estoit il ne pouvoit assez s'estonner du caprice de la fortune ny assez s'affliger de son malheur car enfin il dependoit de meliante de le presenter a thomiris ou de le mettre entre les mains de son rival il ne scavoit pas mesme si toute son armee estoit entierement deffaite si mazare estoit mort ou prisonnier et si tant de princes qui estoient ses amis pourroient rassembler ses troupes et les joindre a ce puissant secours que ciaxare luy envoyoit et il ne scavoit mesme comment ils le pourroient s'il estoit vray qu'andramite eust des troupes considerables entre le fort et les bois mais ce qui l'inquiettoit encore estrangement estoit la pensee qu'on diroit a l'heure mesme a mandane qu'il estoit deffait de sorte que craignant que le changement de sa fortune n'en aporrast au coeur de cette princesse il souffroit des maux qu'on ne scauroit exprimer et il se trouvoit enfin en un estat si deplorable qu'il ne douta point que la response de la sybile n'eust bientost son effet et qu'il ne deust perir par la cruaute de thomiris mais pendant qu'il s'entretenoit de choses si melancoliques tous les siens estoient en une inquietude estrange car comme il ne paroissoit en nulle part ils creurent qu'il estoit mort ou prisonnier de sorte qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'une telle consternation cresus mazare 
 myrsile artamas gobrias gadate intapherne atergaris indathyrse hidaspe et tous ceux qui avoient quelque authorite dans cette armee aporterent pourtant un grand soin a persuader a leurs soldats que cyrus n'estoit pas mort de peur qu'apres s'estre rassemblez ils ne se dispersassent encore ils creurent mesme qu'il estoit a propos de ne dire pas qu'ils croyoient qu'il estoit prisonnier et de n'en envoyer pas non plus demander des nouvelles au camp de thomiris de peur que s'il l'estoit sans estre connu on ne le fist connoistre a ses ennemis si bien que tous ces princes dirent qu'on les avoit assurez que cyrus voyant que la bataille estoit en si mauvais estat estoit alle avec quelques-uns des siens joindre ce puissant secours que ciaxare luy envoyoit afin qu'estant a la teste d'une nouvelle armee il pust vaincre ses vainqueurs adjoustant comme spitridate ne paroissoit point que ce prince estoit aveque luy car il estoit vray qu'ils ne scavoient alors non plus le destin de l'un que celuy de l'autre cependant chrysante et feraulas qui estoient dans un desespoir estrange de ne scavoir ce qu'estoit devenu leur illustre maistre se desguiserent tous deux en massagettes afin de passer dans le camp ennemy pour tascher d'aprendre du moins ce que l'on y disoit de cyrus ainsi durant que cresus et mazare du consentement de tous les autres princes prirent le commandement des troupes qui se rassembloient jusques 
 a ce qu'on sceust ce que cyrus estoit devenu ces deux si delles serviteurs furent non seulement au camp de thomiris mais mesme aux tentes royales qui en estoient fort proches ou ils sceurent que cette reine estoit allee aussi tost apres la bataile en effet il estoit arrive une chose qui avoit fait prendre cette resolution a cette amante irritee car comme ceux qui avoient tue spitridate l'avoient pris pour cyrus et qu'un d'entr'eux qui commandoit les gelons dans cette armee avoit une ame fiere et cruelle il avoit coupe la teste a cet infortune prince et estant suivy de ses compagnons qui en portoient le corps sur des lances croisees il l'avoit este offrir a thomiris qui ayant l'esprit estrangement irrite contre cyrus a causa de la derniere lettre qu'elle en avoit veue receut ce funeste present de la plus inhumaine maniere du monde son premier sentiment fut pourtant de destourner les yeux d'un si terrible objet mais rapellant toute sa rage et excitant toute la fierte et toute l'animosite de son coeur elle le regarda apres sans tesmoigner aucun sentiment de compassion quoy qu'elle eust l'esprit fort agite elle l'eut pourtant encore davantage lors que ce capitaine qui luy offroit cette glorieuse victime luy raconta les belles paroles que spitridate avoit dittes lors qu'estant tombe il dit aux siens qu'ils marchassent plus avant parce que c'estoit la qu'il devoit mourir mais que ce n'estoit pas la qu'ils devoiet vaincre et delivrer la 
 princesse qu'il adoroit en la tirant des mains de la cruelle thomiris en effet elle sentit alors redoubler sa haine car dans la pensee qu'elle avoit que cette teste estoit celle de cyrus ces dernieres paroles luy mirent dans le coeur une telle augmentation de colere qu'estouffant tous les sentimens que l'amour l'humanite et la compassion y vouloient exciter il n'y demeura que la jalousie la haine et la fureur elle renonca mesme a la bienseance de son sexe et a la dignite de sa naissance neantmoins elle ne laissa pas dans un si grand trouble de vouloir pretexter son inhumanite si bien que sans parler de la passion qui la causoit elle recommenca de parler de cyrus comme du meurtrier de son fils et comme d'un prince qui pour satisfaire son ambition ne s'estoit pas soucie de faire des ruisseaux de sang elle remercia donc ce capitaine des gelons comme si elle luy eust deu le gain de cent batailles elle luy promit des recompenses infinies et elle luy commanda de la suivre avec cette illustre teste a la main de sorte que cette reine irritee apres avoir envoye dire au prince aryante qui r'assembloit ses troupes qui estoient encore plus affoiblies que celles de son rival que cyrus estoit mort et qu'il demeurast au camp elle monta a chenal suivie de ses gardes et de deux cens archers ce capitaine gelon estant derriere elle et portant la teste qu'il avoit presentee a thomiris mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que tous 
 ceux qui virent marcher cette reine en ce funeste estat en eurent de l'horreur pour elle et de la compassion pour celuy qu'ils croyoient mort car tous les massagettes scavoient si bien que la guerre que cyrus leur faisoit estoit juste et que thomiris avoit tort qu'ils ne la suivoient qu'avec peine en un si tragique triomphe cependant comme il estoit nuit et qu'elle avoit imagine une voye de persecuter mandane puis qu'elle ne pouvoit plus se vanger de cyrus d'une maniere qui luy fust sensible il falut qu'elle attendist qu'il fust jour a faire une action de cruaute dont elle esperoit un grand plaisir de sorte qu'ayant commande qu'on remplist un grand vase de sang et qu'on le mist dans la place qui estoit devant ses tentes et justement devant celle ou estoit mandane et ou l'on avoit mis aussi araminte et la princesse onesile elle s'y rendit le lendemain au matin suivie de ses gardes et de tout ce qu'il y avoit de troupes aux tentes royales elle avoit pourtant passe la nuit dans des irresolutions espouvantables car tantost l'image de cyrus vivant luy avoit donne de la compassion pour ce prince mort et tantost la confiante amour de ce prince pour mandane luy avoit donne de la joye de ce qu'il n'estoit pas vivant c'avoit pourtant este une joye inquiete et tumultueuse et qui avoit laisse li peu de marques de plaisir dans les yeux de celle qui l'avoit sentie qu'on n'y vit en effet que des marques de fureur et de rage thomiris estoit ce 
 jour la habillee comme lors qu'elle alloit a la guerre et elle avoit un baston de commandement a la main dont elle ne pouvoit s'empescher de faire de temps en temps quelque action menacante quoy qu'elle ne creust plus avoir d'ennemy a combatre cependant pour se vanger plus sensiblement de cyrus en la personne de mandane cette reine irritee fit ouvrir la tente ou estoit cette admirable princesse aupres de qui estoient alors araminte onesile doralise et martesie afin qu'elle pust voir le plus funeste objet qui luy pust tomber sous les yeux comme on ne scavoit ce que thomiris vouloit faire de ce vase plein de sang qu'elle avoit fait mettre devant la tente ou estoit mandane la curiosite y avoit attire une foule estrange de gens de toutes conditions qui parloient tous de ce qu'on alloit faire avec beaucoup d'incertitude mais a la fin thomiris sortant de sa tente suivie de ce capitaine des gelons qui portoit cette pretendue teste de cyrus toute l'assemblee attacha ses regards sur ce funeste objet et mandane et araminte le regardant comme les autres en eurent des sentimens que les autres n'avoient pas car bien que cette teste fust defiguree elle avoit pourtant encore beaucoup de ressemblance avec cyrus de sorte que mandane ne doutant point veu tout ce funeste appareil que ce ne fust celle de ce grand et illustre conquerant a qui elle avoit tant d'obligation et qu'elle aimoit d'une amour si pure 
 et si ardente elle sentit une douleur qui la surprit d'une si estrange maniere qu'apres avoir fait un cry infiniment douloureux la voix luy manqua tout d'un coup et elle fut mesme privee de la consolation de se pouvoir pleindre pour araminte quoy qu'elle ne pust soubconner que la teste qu'elle voyoit fust celle de spitridate parce qu'elle scavoit bien que thomiris n'avoit point assez de haine pour luy pour se porter a cette barbare action elle ne laissoit pas d'estre infiniment touchee de la mort d'un aussi grand prince que cyrus de la douleur de mandane et de la cruaute de thomiris cependant cette reine irritee apres avoir fait montrer cette teste au peuple et luy avoir dit en peu de paroles qu'elle avoit voulu leur annoncer la paix en leur montrant la teste de celuy qui luy avoit fait la guerre et qui avoit fait tuer le prince son fils commanda a celuy qui tenoit cette illustre teste de la plonger trois fois dans ce vase plein de sang afin disoit elle emportee par sa rage et par sa jalousie que celuy qui n'en avoit pu estre assouvy tant qu'il avoit vescu quoy qu'il en eust respandu par toute l'asie en pust estre assouvy apres sa mort a peine ce terrible commandement eut-il este fait que ce capitaine des gelons qui estoit naturellement cruel plongea cette teste dans ce vase plein de sang d'ou il la retira en un estat a donner de l'horreur a quiconque avoit quelque sentiment d'humanite aussi ce funeste objet fit-il baisser les yeux a 
 tous ceux qui le virent et la cruelle thomiris elle mesme ne pouvant le souffrir en destourna la teste en levant les yeux au ciel plustost pour faire des imprecations que pour implorer les dieux mais pour mandane lors qu'elle vit le sang degouter de toutes parts de cette teste apres avoir perdu la parole par ce premier objet elle perdit la veue et la connoissance par le second et tomba esvanouie entre les bras de doralise et de martesie qui s'avancerent pour la soustenir cependant chrysante et feraulas arrivant pour leur malheur comme ce fier ministre de la cruaute de thomiris plongeoit cette teste dans ce vase plein de sang ils eurent leur part de la douleur de mandane car comme ils ne voyoient pas le corps dont les armes leur eussent pu faire connoistre que c'estoit celuy de spitridate ils creurent qu'ils voyoient la teste de leur illustre maistre de sorte que feraulas emporte par son desespoir voulut se jetter a travers la presse pour l'aller arracher des mains de celuy qui la tenoit ou se faire tuer par les gardes de thomiris mais chrysante le retint en luy montrant la princesse mandane et en luy disant qu'il falloit qu'il vescust pour servir cyrus en sa personne aussi bien n'en eust-il pas eu le temps car des que ce capitaine des gelons eut plonge cette teste par trois fois dans ce vase plein de sang la fiere thomiris qui vit sur le visage de tous les siens que l'action qu'elle faisoit leur donnoit de l'horreur en eut elle mesme 
 et commanda qu'on portast cette teste aupres du corps d'ou elle avoit este separee et qu'on le portast dans une tente jusques a nouvel ordre apres quoy faisant refermer la tente de mandane elle retourna dans la sienne mais elle y retourna avec tant de rage contre elle mesme et avec des sentimens si tumultueux qu'elle ne se haissoit guere moins qu'elle haissoit mandane 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a peine thomiris fut elle retournee dans sa tente que ce funeste objet qui avoit donne tant d'horreur a tous ceux qui l'avoient veu et qui avoit fait une impression si forte dans son imagination excita un trouble si grand dans son coeur et dans son esprit qu'elle ne scavoit elle mesme ny ce qu'elle pensoit ny ce qu'elle vouloit penser en effet elle trouva en cet instant qu'elle s'estoit vangee foiblement par cette action de cruaute qu'elle venoit de faire et son esprit 
 passant d'objet en objet elle se representa enfin l'illustre artamene tel qu'il estoit la premiere fois qu'elle luy avoit donne audience comme ambassadeur de ciaxare si bien que se le figurant en mesme temps au pitoyable estat ou elle pensoit l'avoir veu elle en paslit et en fremit d'horreur et la compassion s'introduisant malgre elle dans son coeur y reveilla quelques sentimens de tendresse et d'amour qui la tourmenterent encore plus cruellement que sa fureur sa rage et sa jalousie quoy thomiris dit-elle alors il est donc bien vray que cyrus que tu as si ardemment et si tendrement aime est mort et que tu as pu voir sa teste se paree de son corps sans en avoir une douleur excessive et que tu as pu mesme commander qu'on la plongeast dans un vase plein de sang ha puis que tu l'as pu adjousta-t'elle tu merites toute la haine que ce prince avoit pour toy et tu es digne en effet de porter le nom de la cruelle thomiris qu'il t'a donne dans sa derniere lettre et qu'il t'a mesme donne en expirant ouy inhumaine princesse poursuivit-elle tu estois indigne que ce prince fist une infidellite a la princesse qu'il aimoit et tu meritois qu'il fust aussi cruel envers toy que tu es cruelle envers luy cependant quoy que tu tinsses mandane en ta puissance il baisa son espee dans les bois des sauromates lors que tu l'y rencontras quoy qu'il pust te tuer avec plus de facilite que tu ne l'as outrage mort ouy impitoyable thomiris ce prince 
 ce tout amoureux qu'il estoit de mandane ne voulut pas t'oster la vie et toy qui te vantes de l'avoir plus aime que personne ne scauroit aimer tu le regardes mort sans aucun sentiment de douleur et tu inventes des cruautez qui ne te servent a rien qu'a te rendre plus odieuse a toy mesme et qu'a te deshonnorer par toute la terre apres cela thomiris se taisant fit cent et cent reflections differentes sur cette avanture et elle se souvint si particulierement de tout ce qu'avoit fait et dit cyrus dans sa cour du temps qu'il portoit le nom d'artamene que son coeur s'en attendrissant tout a fait elle commenca de regretter un prince dont la premiere nouvelle de sa mort luy avoit donne de la joye mais de le regretter avec une douleur si vive qu'elle n'en avoit jamais senty de plus forte dans son ame ce n'est pas que toutes les fois qu'elle se souvenoit de ces dernieres paroles qu'elle pensoit qu'il eust dittes elle ne se blasmast d'avoir de la douleur de la mort de celuy qui les avoit prononcees mais apres tout l'amour estant alors la plus forte passion de toutes celles qui agitoient son coeur il y avoit des instans ou elle concevoit que cyrus insensible pour elle et vivant luy auroit este un objet moins douloureux que cyrus en l'estat ou elle le croyoit de sorte que se tourmentant elle mesme de tontes les manieres dont un coeur amoureux peut estre tourmente elle souffrit plus qu'elle n'avoit jamais souffert ce qui l'affligeoit encore sensiblement 
 estoit que scachant quelle estoit l'amour qu'aryante avoit pour mandane elle jugeoit bien qu'il ne luy laisseroit pas la liberte de la mal traiter et de se vanger sur elle et de la mort de cyrus et de sa propre cruaute et de toutes ses infortunes si bien que son ame ayant tant de supplices differens a souffrir tout a la fois cette princesse devint si incapable durant quelques jours de donner ses ordres pour les choses qui regardoient les affaires generales de son estat qu'elle renvoyoit au prince son frere tous ceux qui luy venoient parler de quelque chose et pour mieux faire voir l'inesgalite de ses sentimens quoy qu'elle eust fait cette terrible action de cruaute qui avoit donne tant d'horreur a tous ceux qui l'avoient veue elle commanda qu'on rendist secrettement les derniers devoirs au corps de cyrus et qu'on le fist sans qu'on dist que ce fust par ses ordres mais pour en revenir a mandane et pour dire quelque chose de ce qu'elle sentit lors qu'elle vit cette teste sanglante de spitridate qu'elle croyoit estre celle de cyrus il faut scavoir que son esvanouissement fut si long que cette funeste action de thomiris estoit non seulement achevee quand elle revint a elle mais que la tente estoit refermee il y avoit desja longtemps lors que cette deplorable princesse par les soins d'araminte d'onesile de doralise et de martesie recouvra l'usage de la veue et de la voix d'abord qu'elle ouvrit les yeux elle les referma en destournant 
 la teste car comme elle avoit l'imagination remplie de ce terrible objet qui avoit cause son esvanouissement elle creut qu'elle le voyoit encore mais enfin ses yeux se rassurant peu a peu et sa raison se rafermissant pour luy faire mieux sentir sa douleur elle connut qu'elle ne voyoit plus rien que des personnes qui la pleignoient et qui avoient le visage tout couvert de larmes et pour sa propre douleur et pour la mesme mort qui l'affligeoit si douloureusement en effet la malheureuse araminte sans scavoir toute la part qu'elle avoit a cette funeste perte qui donnoit tant de desespoir a mandane en estoit sensiblement touchee elle tascha pourtant de luy donner quelque consolation sans scavoir que c'estoit veritablement elle qui en avoit besoin c'est pourquoy prenant la parole au nom des dieux madame luy dit cette grande princesse servez vous de toute vostre constance en cette occasion et pour vous y obliger par l'interest d'un prince dont la perte merite sans doute toutes vos larmes considerez je vous en conjure que si vous mourez de douleur vostre mort et la sienne demeureront peut- estre sans vangeance ou si au contraire vous faites quelque effort pour vivre et que vous viviez en effet toute l'asie estant en armes pour vostre liberte ce sera aussi pour vanger la mort de cyrus helas s'escria tristement mandane que le conseil que vous me donnez est difficile a suivre c'est pourquoy madame adjousta-t'elle en 
 commencant de respandre des larmes que l'exces de sa douleur avoit retenues jusques alors avant que de me le donner considerez bien je vous prie si vous seriez capable de vivre si vous aviez veu spitridate au pitoyable estat ou je viens de voir cyrus mais dieux adjousta-t'elle sans donner loisir a araminte de luy respondre est-il possible que je ne sois pas desja morte apres avoir veu cyrus mort mais illustre prince poursuivit cette deplorable princesse en luy adressant la parole comme s'il eust pu l'entendre si je suis encore vivante j'ay du moins la satisfaction de scavoir que je le suis malgre moy et que je regarde la mort comme la seule chose que je puisse desirer en effet qu'ay-je autre chose a faire qu'a mourir car enfin puis que cyrus est mort la victoire n'est plus dans son party et ce seroit une folie de penser que ceux qui restent pussent vanger sa perte ou me delivrer puis qu'il ne m'a pu mettre en liberte et puis quand on m'y mettroit que ferois-je au monde qui me pust estre agreable j'y pleurerois eternellement la mort de cyrus et je n'aurois pas mesme la satisfaction de pleurer sur son tombeau car la cruelle thomiris fera assurement dechirer son corps par des bestes sauvages veu la maniere dont elle en a use ainsi il vaut bien mieux mourir promptement que de faire durer une douleur qui me noirciroit d'ingratitude envers le plus grand prince du monde car helas que ne dois-je point a cyrus 
 cependant c'est moy qui suis cause de sa mort c'est pourquoy je serois indigne de la constante amour qu'il avoit dans l'ame si je pouvois concevoir qu'il me fust possible de vivre apres cela mandane s'estant teue parce que l'abondance de ses larmes ne luy permettoit plus de parler doralise et martesie luy dirent tour a tour le visage tout couvert de pleurs tout ce qu'elles creurent capable d'adoucir sa douleur en la pleignant car pour araminte luy estant passe dans l'esprit que peut-estre spitridate avoit este tue a la bataille aussi bien que cyrus elle avoit l'ame si troublee qu'elle n'entendoit presques plus ce que mandane disoit et la mort de cyrus qu'elle croyoit certaine et l'incertitude de la vie de spitridate mettoit son esprit en une assiette si pleine d'inquietude qu'elle n'estoit pas en pouvoir de continuer de consoler mandane comme elle avoit commence joint qu'en l'estat ou estoit cette princesse il eust este difficile de trouver quelque raison aparente par laquelle on eust pu entreprendre de luy persuader qu'elle n'estoit pas la plus malheureuse personne de la terre aussi celles qui estoient aupres d'elle ne peurent-elles faire autre chose que luy demander la duree de sa douleur et que pleurer avec amertume une perte qu'elle pleuroit avec tant de sujet elles pleurerent donc toutes ensemble la mort de cyrus et elles la pleurerent comme si elles eussent deu la pleurer eternellement d'autre part chrysante croyant estre bien assure de 
 la perte de son maistre se resolut d'en aller porter la nouvelle a mazare et a tous les princes qui estoient dans son armee de peur que si le bruit s'en espandoit dans les troupes par une autre voye elles ne fussent plus en estat de vanger sa mort mais pour feraulas il voulut demeurer encore en ce lieu la pour tascher de scavoir ce qu'on feroit du corps de cyrus pour tascher aussi de voir martesie afin de se pleindre avec elle du malheur de ce prince et pour essayer de recevoir quelques ordres de mandane car il s'imaginoit que puis que cyrus estoit mort on ne la garderoit plus si soigneusement cependant on peut dire que la pretendue mort de ce grand conquerant fat ce qui fit mieux voir quelle estoit sa gloire lors qu'elle fut sceue dans les deux partis car il eut celle d'estre pleint des amis et des ennemis en effet thomiris elle mesme le regretta aryante eut de la compassion s'il n'eut de la douleur tous les massagettes le pleignirent tous ses amis creurent qu'ils ne devoient vivre que pour vanger sa mort mazare sentit sa perte comme s'il n'eust pas este son rival tous ses soldats le regretterent comme leur pere et il y eut quelques uns de ceux qui avoient fuy a la bataille qui se tuerent de honte et de douleur d'avoir contribue au malheur de ce prince par leur laschete de plus outre ceux qui le pleignoient par affection par generosite et par compassion il y en avoit encore plusieurs qui joignoient a toutes ces raisons de 
 le regretter celle de leur interest particulier car intapherne et atergatis ne voyoient pas leurs princesses en estat d'estre si tost delivrees gobrias et hidaspe pensoient la mesme chose d'arpasie tigrane avoit le mesme sentiment pour l'admirable onesile et pour telagene et myrsile avoit encore la mesme pensee pour doralise d'ailleurs la princesse de bithinie istrine onesile arpasie et telagene voyoient bien aussi que leurs chaines ne seroient pas si tost rompues mais durant que tout le monde plaignoit la perte de cyrus et que tout le monde ignoroit le destin de spitridate cyrus luy mesme aprenant par meliante qu'on le croyoit mort en eut et de la douleur et de la consolation et il eut mesme de la douleur par plus d'une raison car lors qu'il sceut cette tragique et funeste ceremonie que thomiris avoit faite il creut bien qu'il faloit que spitridate fust mort et qu'on se fust trompe a la ressemblance qu'il avoit avec ce grand et malheureux prince si bien que malgre ses propres malheurs il sentit sa perte et la douleur d'araminte de plus il sentit non seulement celle qu'avoit mandane de la croyance qu'elle avoit de sa mort mais il craignit encore que l'opinion qu'elle en avoit ne luy nuisist d'une autre maniere car s il est vray disoit-il en luy mesme qu'elle n'ait pas change de sentimens pour moy ne dois-je pas craindre que cette feinte mort ne luy en cause une veritable et puis qui scait adjoustoit-il par un petit sentiment jaloux 
 si la croyance de ma perte ne luy fera point changer de sentimens car l'on est quelquesfois fidelle a un amant vivant que l'on ne l'est pas a un amant mort et il y a peu de personnes qui portent leur affection et leur fidellite au dela du tombeau si bien que comme la croyance de ma mort pourroit la faire mourir ou la faire devenir inconstante il m'importe encore plus que mandane scache que je suis vivant qu'il ne m'importe que thomiris ne le scache pas cependant je scay encore moins comment je puis me montrer a mandane que je ne scay comment il faut me cacher a thomiris car enfin si je parle a meliante de vouloir donner de mes nouvelles a cette princesse il pourra non pas soubconner qui je suis puis qu'il me croit mort mais s'imaginer du moins qu'il importe a thomiris et a aryante qu'ils scachent que je suis en ses mains de sorte que cyrus ne scachant quelle resolution prendre ny pour moyenner sa liberte ny pour faire scavoir a mandane qu'il n'estoit pas mort souffroit des maux incroyables il creut pourtant apres y avoir bien pense qu'il estoit a propos qu'il fust encore quelques jours sans rien dire a meliante afin de ne se rendre pas suspect par un trop grand empressement et qu'apres cela il luy demanderoit pour grace la permission d'envoyer advertir un de ses amis qu'il estoit prisonnier et qu'il le prieroit mesme de souffrir que cet amy vinst deguise dans le camp de thomiris afin de conferer aveque luy des voyes de le delivrer mais durant ce petit intervale il se 
 passa bien des choses car mazare apres avoir rallie ses troupes se posta avantageusement pour attendre le secours que ciaxare envoyoit et aryante qui mouroit d'envie de voir mandane et qui craignoit tousjours la violence de thomiris posta aussi son armee avec avantage et s'en alla aux tentes royales car encore qu'elle se dist victorieuse la victoire luy avoit couste si cher qu'elle n'estoit pas alors en estat de rien entreprendre contre celle de mazare veu le lieu qu'il avoit choisi pour son poste il n'eut pourtant pas grande satisfaction de son voyage car il trouva que thomiris avoit l'esprit si in quiet et si irrite qu'on ne luy pouvoit faire nulle proposition qui ne la mist en colere principalement pour ce qui regardoit mandane d'autre part ce prince ayant este pour visiter la princesse qu'il aimoit en fut si mal traite que ne voulant pas perdre le respect qu'il luy devoit il fut contraint de se retirer et de se resoudre d'attendre que le temps luy eust oste une partie de la douleur qu'elle avoit en effet elle luy dit des choses si rudes elle l'accusa tant de fois de la mort de cyrus elle luy protesta si hautement qu'elle ne se resolvoit a vivre qu'afin que le roy son pere et le prince mazare continuassent de faire la guerre a thomiris pour la delivrer et pour vanger la mort de cyrus et elle luy assura si fortement qu'elle le hairoit tousjours autant que s'il eust tue cyrus de sa propre main que ce prince se trouva presque plus malheureux dans la croyance ou il estoit que son rival 
 estoit mort que lors qu'il le croyoit vivant cependant la princesse de bithinie la princesse istrine et arpasie estoient continuellement ensemble sans avoir encore eu la liberte de voir mandane aupres de qui araminte et onesile estoient tousjours car comme on les y avoit mises en l'absence de thomiris lors qu'andramite les avoit envoyees aux tentes royales aryante ne voulut pas irriter cette princesse en les luy ostant joint que dans l'opinion ou il estoit que cyrus estoit mort on n'aporta mesme plus tant de soin a empescher qu'elle ne vist du monde et la princesse de bithinie istrine et arpasie eurent alors la permission de la voir en presence de celuy qui commandoit les gardes de cette princesse il est vray qu'ils n'en eurent pas grande consolation car elles la virent si affligee qu'elles ne creurent pas qu'elle pust suporter longtemps une si violente douleur d'ailleurs arpasie qui scavoit que licandre son dernier ravisseur avoit este tue par un inconnu et qui scavoit par nyside qui estoit a elle qu'elle avoit veu meliante desguise ne doutoit guere qu'elle ne luy eust encore cette nouvelle obligation mais elle ne scavoit si elle devoit en estre bien aise ou en estre fachee car si elle avoit tousjours beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie pour luy elle avoit aussi tousjours beaucoup de tendresse et beaucoup d'inclination pour hidaspe mais elle se trouva encore plus embarrassee car comme en l'estat ou thomiris et aryante avoient l'esprit ils ne songeoient 
 pas de si pres aux choses ou ils n'avoient pas un grand interest il estoit alors assez aise de voir arpasie de sorte que meliante qui n'avoit que sa passion dans la teste ne perdant pas une si favorable occasion fut un matin trouver nyside a qui il parla sans beaucoup de peine comme cette fille l'avoit tousjours protege aupres d'arpasie elle fut fort aise de le voir et d'aprendre de sa bouche que c'avoit este luy qui avoit tue licandre il luy conta alors comment il avoit voulu venir desguise dans cette cour de peur qu'arpasie le reconnoissant ne le fist connoistre en suite et que licandre n'obligeast thomiris a le faire arrester mais qu'ayant veu qu'il ne devoit pas craindre d'estre connu d'arpasie puis qu'on ne la voyoit pas il s'estoit alle presenter a thomiris comme un homme qui venoit se jetter dans son party adjoustant que comme il n'avoit jamais veu licandre et que licandre ne l'avoit aussi jamais connu il l'avoit fait sans danger et qu'il l'avoit fait avec l'esperance de se deffaire de ce rival par un combat particulier et de l'autre dans quelque combat general en suite de quoy il pria nyside de luy faire voir arpasie et en effet cette fille qui vouloit le favoriser luy en donna l'occasion sans en rien dire a cette belle personne qui fut si surprise de voir meliante qu'elle ne scavoit comment elle le devoit recevoir mais comme nyside avoit eu l'adresse de luy aprendre avec certitude que c'estoit luy qui avoit tue licandre et que de plus meliante estoit plus aimable 
 qu'il ne l'avoit jamais este l'affection qu'elle avoit pour hidaspe ne put l'empescher de recevoir tres civilement un homme pour qui elle avoit beaucoup d'estime et beaucoup d'amitie et pour qui elle avoit eu dans le coeur des dispositions infiniment tendres avant qu'elle eust sceu qu'il avoit eu quelque affection pour argelyse aussi leur conversation fut elle si douce de part et d'autre que si hidaspe l'eust entendue il en eust eu quelque sentiment de jalousie ce n'est pas qu'arpasie ne pretextast la civilite qu'elle avoit pour meliante en cette occasion de ce qu'il avoit hazarde sa vie pour perdre son ravisseur et qu'elle ne luy dist mesme beaucoup de choses a luy faire entendre qu'elle ne changeroit point de sentimens et qu'elle ne pouvoit jamais avoir que de l'amitie pour luy mais apres tout elle les luy disoit si doucement et il luy en respondoit de si tendres et de si passionnees qu'il l'engagea malgre qu'elle en eust a luy parler obligeamment il obtint mesme la permission de continuer de la voir il est vray que ce fut a condition qu'il ne luy parleroit plus de son amour mais il ne laissa pas de se trouver assez heureux dans son infortune car enfin comme il croyoit que cyrus estoit mort il ne pensoit pas qu'hidaspe se trouvast de longtemps en estat de luy pouvoir disputer arpasie de sorte qu'il s'en retourna trouver son prisonnier avec beaucoup de satisfaction et des qu'il fut aupres de luy il l'entretint longtemps de la puissance de l'amour 
 car comme cette passion regnoit dans leur coeur ils en parloient volontiers joint que meliante luy racontant ce que l'on disoit de celle de thomiris de celle d'aryante et de celle de mandane tournoit aisement la conversation de ce coste la mais pendant que ces choses se passoient au camp de thomiris aux tentes royales et au camp de mazare la nouvelle de la mort de cyrus ayant este portee au fort des sauromates mereonte qui n'avoit pas voulu estre delivre par andramite parce qu'il avoit creu ne le devoir estre que par cyrus qui luy avoit sauve la vie ne creut pas qu'il deust aller au camp de ce prince comme il en avoit eu le dessein puis qu'il ne vivoit plus si bien que se trouvant alors en estat de monter a cheval il obligea celuy qui commandoit a ce fort pour thomiris de luy laisser la liberte d'aller au camp de cette reine mais comme il y arriva fort tard qu'il n'avoit point de tente a luy et qu'il avoit fait beaucoup d'amitie avec meliante il demanda a un officier qu'il rencontra fortuitement et qu'il scavoit qui connoissoit celuy qu'il cherchoit s'il ne scavoit point en quel quartier il estoit si bien qu'ayant sceu par luy qu'il n'estoit qu'a cinquante pas de sa tente il y fut avec intention de le prier de le loger pour cette nuit mais il y fut avec une douleur extreme de la mort de son vainqueur et en effet des qu'il vit meliante il ne luy parla que de la valeur de cyrus de la grandeur de son ame de sa generosite de la maniere dont il l'avoit sauve et dont il l'avoit 
 traite durant sa prison et il luy en fit un si grand eloge que meliante croyant faire grace a son prisonnier de luy faire voir un homme qui disoit tant de bien d'un prince de qui il avoit embrasse le party le fit passer dans la tente ou il estoit car encore qu'il sceust que son prisonnier ne vouloit pas estre connu il ne fit pas difficulte de luy faire voir mereonte parce que scachant qu'il estoit du party de thomiris il ne concevoit pas qu'il pust connoistre un homme qui estoit de party oppose a celuy dont il estoit de sorte que dans ce sentiment la il mena mereonte comme je l'ay desja dit au lieu ou estoit cyrus mais a peine fut-il entre dans cette tente avec celuy qu'il y menoit qu'il fut estrangement estonne et de l'estonnement que mereonte eut de voir cyrus et de celuy qu'eut cyrus de voir mereonte car comme ils furent tous deux surpris ils ne furent pas maistres de leurs premiers sentimens en effet mereonte ne vit pas plustost cyrus que faisant un grand cry ha seigneur dit-il a ce prince en le regardant avec estonnement puis-je croire ce que je voy et est-il possible que l'illustre cyrus que deux cens mille hommes croyent mort soit encore vivant a ces mots ce prince voyant bien qu'il n'y avoit plus moyen de se cacher a meliante fut contraint d'avoir recours a la generosite de ceux de qui il estoit connu si bien que prenant la parole vous voyez dit-il vaillant mereonte que la fortune est une inconstante puis qu'apres m'avoir mis en estat 
 d'estre assez heureux pour vous pouvoir obliger elle me reduit aux termes d'estre le plus malheureux de tous les hommes si vous n'obligez le genereux meliante a ne me descouvrir pas mereonte qui durant que cyrus avoit parle avoit eu loisir de se remettre de l'estonnement qu'il avoit eu se repentit de sa precipitation mais comme il scavoit que meliante avoit infiniment de l'esprit il vit bien que la chose estoit sans remede et qu'il n'y avoit pas moyen de la reparer cependant comme mereonte se sentoit infiniment oblige a cyrus qui luy avoit sauve la vie d'une maniere si heroique il se tourna vers meliante pour luy dire que s'il n'agissoit avec son prisonnier de la mesme sorte que s'il ne le luy eust pas fait connoistre il seroit son plus mortel ennemy mais il n'en eut pas le temps car meliante qui n'avoit nul attachement a thomiris fut si fortement touche d'un sentiment genereux en se voyant maistre du destin du plus grand prince du monde qu'il interompit mereonte pour assurer cyrus qu'il n'avoit rien a craindre de luy joint qu'une seconde pensee luy faisant imaginer qu'il luy estoit tres avantageux pour son amour d'obliger cyrus puis qu'il pourroit obliger hidaspe a ne pretendre plus rien a arpasie il se confirma dans le premier dessein qu'un desir de gloire luy avoit inspire de sorte que continuant de parler comme je ne suis pas sujet de thomiris dit-il a cyrus que je ne suis pas mesme volontairement de son party et que l'amour seulement m'y a 
 jette malgre moy je pense seigneur que je puis sans faire rien contre l'honneur ne vous remettre pas sous sa puissance pour moy adjousta mereonte je vay bien plus loin que vous car je dis que quand je serois son sujet et que je serois en vostre place je croirois encore connoissant son injustice et sa cruaute par l'horrible action que j'ay sceu qu'elle vient de faire je croirois dis-je que je ne devrois pas remettre cet illustre prince entre ses mains et que je serois plus ennemy de cette reine que de luy si je la mettois en pouvoir de faire une lasche action mais genereux meliante soit que vous soyez du party de thomiris ou que vous n'en soyez point vous estes oblige de ne descouvrir pas que cyrus est en vos mains cependant comme je suis prisonnier de vostre prisonnier poursuivit-il vous souffrirez s'il vous plaist que je ne l'abandonne point car comme je luy dois la vie je suis resolu de ne le quitter pas et de mourir plustost que de souffrir qu'on le liure entre les mains de ses ennemis quand je ne serois pas naturellement genereux reprit meliante je pense que je le deviendrois par l'exemple que l'illustre cyrus m'en donne et par celuy que vous m'en donnez c'est pourquoy mereonte ne craignez rien pour vostre illustre vainqueur car bien loin que j'ose dire qu'il soit mon prisonnier aujourd'huy que je le connois je luy declare que mon destin est plus entre ses mains que le sien n'est entre les miennes ha genereux meliante interrompit cyrus si je puis 
 quelque chose pour vous dittes le je vous en conjure et pour vous montrer que je ne suis pas indigne de la generosite que vous avez je vous declare que sans l'interest de mandane je ne voudrois pas vous obliger a faire ce que vous faites et je vous diray mesme pour vous faire voir que j'avois conceu une grande opinion de vous que j'ay este tente plus d'une fois de me confier a vostre generosite et a vostre discretion sans scavoir precisement quels estoient vos sentimens pour moy apres cela meliante respondit a cyrus d'une maniere qui luy fit si bien connoistre qu'il devoit en attendre toutes choses et mereonte parut si zele pour le falut de son liberateur que ce prince eut en effet sujet d'esperer beaucoup de l'adresse et de l'affection de deux hommes qui avoient tant d'esprit et tant de coeur meliante aprit mesme une chose a mereonte qui le confirma encore dans les sentimens ou il estoit car il luy aprit qu'aripithe a la consideration de qui il s'estoit engage dans le party de thomiris estoit mort si peu satisfait d'elle qu'il avoit commande a quelques-uns des siens de dire a tous ses capitaines qu'il ne pretendoit plus qu'ils la servissent si bien que la vertu de ces deux hommes n'ayant plus nul scrupule a faire dans le dessein qu'ils avoient de servir le plus grand prince du monde contre la plus injuste princesse de la terre ils promirent une si grande fidellite a cyrus qu'il eut lieu de s'estimer tres heureux dans son malheur d'avoir trouve deux amis d'une 
 si grande vertu mais afin de les obliger tous deux a le servir avec plus d'affection il leur dit tout ce que la reconnoissance la plus heroique peut faire penser a ceux qui se sentent obligez et qui veulent l'estre encore il eut pourtant une assez haute opinion de leur vertu et de leur qualite pour ne les vouloir pas interesser par des esperances ambitieuses et il creut qu'en leur promettant son amitie il leur promettoit toutes choses et qu'il les leur promettoit d'une maniere plus noble que s'il leur eust promis des royaumes mais apres que cyrus eut dit a meliante et a mereonte tout ce qu'il creut propre a les engager a le servir ce premier le suplia tres respectueusement de luy permettre de luy dire une chose qu'il importoit qu'il sceust de sorte que cyrus le luy ayant accorde seigneur luy dit-il pour vous tesmoigner que je suis sincere il faut apres vous avoir promis de vous servir sans exception aucune et de vous delivrer quand je le pourray faire sans vous exposer il faut dis-je que je vous aprenne que je suis rival d'hidaspe que vous aimez si cherement et que je vous conjure en consideration de ce que je fais pour vous et de ce que je veux faire d'estre neutre entre luy et moy si la fortune nous met en estat d'avoir un jour a disputer la possession d'arpasie quoy s'escria cyrus vous estes rival d'hidaspe et j'ay le malheur d'avoir un amy qui est vostre ennemy apres cela meliante dit en deux mots a cyrus l'estat de sa fortune sans luy cacher mesme qu'il avoit veu 
 arpasie depuis la bataille en suite de quoy cyrus prenant la parole en me demandant que je sois neutre entre vous et hidaspe genereux meliante dit alors ce prince vous me demandez moins que je ne feray car je vous promets si la fortune veut que je le revoye de le conjurer de vous ceder arpasie et de l'en conjurer comme si j'estois son rival aussi bien que son amy mais apres cela je ne puis vous promettre rien davantage car de l'humeur dont je suis je ne fais jamais de commandemens absolus a mes amis principalement quand ils sont amoureux mais enfin je vous promets encore une fois de dire et a gobrias et a hidaspe tout ce qui vous pourra estre favorable apres cela seigneur reprit meliante je n'ay plus rien a faire qu'a vous assurer que quand vous m'auriez refuse je n'aurois pas laisse de faire tout ce que je feray pour vostre service le mal est adjousta-t'il qu'il n'est pas aise au lieu ou nous sommes presentement que vous puissiez regagner vostre camp sans vous exposer a estre pris par des gens qui vous pourroient connoistre ainsi il faudroit tascher d'aller de nuit aux tentes royales car si vous estiez la il seroit bien plus aise estant desgage de tous les quartiers de l'armee de vous faire prendre un grand tour par ou vous pourriez aller joindre le secours que ciaxare vous envoye car je vous avoue que je ne trouve nulle apparence que vous entrepreniez de vous jetter dans vostre camp mereonte estant de l'advis de meliante et cyrus luy mesme concevant parfaitement 
 qu'il s'exposeroit au danger d'estre pris par des gens qui le connoistroient et qui le mettroient entre les mains de thomiris tomba d'accord de ce que meliante luy disoit mais la difficulte estoit d'aller aux tentes royales seurement et d'en sortir de mesme cependant a la fin meliante prit la resolution de faindre de se trouver mal et sur le pretexte de l'incommodite du chaud de ne vouloir point aller de jour et de vouloir mesme aller dans un chariot couvert pour esviter l'humidite de la nuit ainsi il fut resolu que cyrus seroit dans ce chariot avec meliante que mereonte l'escorteroit avec ceux qui seroient de l'intelligence et qu'ils ne partiroient qu'a l'entree de la nuit mais comme il faloit donner un jour a meliante pour pouvoir faire semblant de se trouver mal et que mereonte qui ne vouloit point abandonner son illustre vainqueur ne se montroit pas ils passerent ce jour la tous trois ensemble car on disoit a l'entree de la tente de meliante qu'on ne le voyoit point parce qu'il estoit malade de sorte qu'ayant beaucoup de loisir de s'entretenir et ne pouvant parler que d'eux mesmes en cette occasion meliante et mereonte furent longtemps a ne faire autre chose que pleindre cyrus et qu'admirer toutes les merveilles de sa vie mais comme ce prince scavoit bien que rien n'est plus obligeant que de tesmoigner d'avoir quelque curiosite pour ce qui regarde la fortune de ses amis il pressa meliante de luy particulariser un peu plus sa vie et il pressa 
 en suite mereonte de luy aprendre la sienne car enfin luy dit-il apres avoir sceu par democede quel est le pais dont vous estes apres vous avoir veu combatre comme j'ay fait et apres la derniere action de generosite que vous venez de faire il n'est pas possible que je n'aye la curiosite de scavoir qui vous a pu obliger a quiter un si aimable pais seigneur reprit mereonte mes avantures sont si peu heroiques et il y a eu si peu d'evenemens surprenans en ma vie qu'il y auroit en effet lieu de s'estonner pourquoy je me serois banny volontairement de mon pais qui est infiniment agreable si ce n'estoit pas une chose assez ordinaire de voir que l'amour fait bien souvent des malheureux sans le pouvoir de la fortune et que sans qu'il se passe rien de fort extraordinaire aux yeux du monde il se passe pourtant des choses si estranges dans le coeur d'un amant qu'il peut estre tres miserable sans qu'il paroisse aux autres gens qu'il ait raison de se croire tel helas dit alors meliante je ne scay que trop par mon experience que ce que vous dittes est vray car enfin l'admirable personne que j'adore m'estime et a mesme de l'amitie pour moy mais apres tout je ne laisse pas d'estre le plus malheureux amant de la terre parce qu'elle a une affection d'une autre nature pour mon rival quoy qu'elle ne face pas plus de choses pour luy qu'elle en a fait autrefois pour moy le mal dont je me pleins semble sans doute encore moindre que le vostre repliqua mereonte mais j'ay l'ame si delicate et 
 j'aime d'une maniere si tendre que je ne l'ay pu suporter comme nous ne scaurions mieux employer un temps ou nous ne pouvons rien faire pour la princesse mandane repliqua cyrus qu'a scavoir la vie d'un homme qui la doit servir je vous conjure de nous la dire encore une fois seigneur reprit mereonte mes avantures sont trop peu de chose pour estre dittes a un prince qui en a eu de si esclatantes et de si extraordinaires et a un prince encore qui est en un estat ou son destin est si douteux quand cela ne me serviroit reprit cyrus qu'a vous faire voir a tous deux que je suis capable de suporter la mauvaise fortune avec assez de constance il faudroit ne me refuser pas pour ma propre gloire mais mereonte je vous assure que je le souhaite par un sentiment d'amitie qui vous doit obliger a m'accorder ce que je vous demande mais afin que meliante ait toute l'intelligence de vostre avanture dittes luy s'il vous plaist en peu de paroles les coustumes du pais des nouveaux sauromates et en effet mereonte obeissant a cyrus dit a meliante de la maniere la moins estendue qu'il put tout ce qui regardoit l'origine de ces nouveaux sauromates leurs loix et leurs coustumes et tout ce que democede en avoit raconte a cyrus en luy racontant l'histoire de sapho luy faisant mesme encore mieux comprendre l'assiette de ce petit estat engage dans un plus grand et environne de deserts tout a l'entour mais apres cela ne pouvant plus se deffendre d'obeir a un prince 
 a qui il devoit la vie il commenca son discours en ces termes
 
 
 
 
histoire de mereonte et de dorinice
 
 
je ne vous diray point seigneur que je suis d'une maison qui tient un rang assez considerable dans mon pais car puis que democede vous a raconte l'histoire de sapho il vous a parle de clirante qui est mon frere et vous a sans doute apris qui il est et par consequent qui je suis joint que ne s'agissant que de vous dire ce qui s'est passe dans mon coeur il ne s'agit pas de vous entretenir de ceux dont je suis descendu je ne me trouve pas mesme oblige de vous representer quelle est la vie de nostre cour car puis que vous scavez qu'elle est si galante qu'il y a des juges establis pour connoistre de tous les differens des amans et que l'admirable sapho s'y trouve heureuse vous n'aurez point de peine a croire toutes les choses avantageuses que je vous en diray mais seigneur comme la beaute et le merite d'une personne qui s'apelle dorinice est le fondement de cette avanture et la cause de mon malheur il faut que je vous la represente telle qu'elle est afin que vous compreniez mieux la violence de ma passion et la grandeur de mon infortune comme ce n'est pas par la qualite de dorinice que l'en suis devenu amoureux je ne vous diray qu'en passant qu'elle est d'une maison 
 fort illustre mais je vous diray qu'elle a mille choses propres a se faire aimer en effet dorinice est d'une taille tres agreable elle a le taint admirable les yeux noirs et pleins d'esprit les cheveux presques blonds la bouche merveilleuse le sourire charmant et spirituel les dents belles l'air galant noble et modeste tout ensemble la gorge miraculeuse et les mains bien faites de plus dorinice a de l'esprit et de cet esprit brillant et doux qui sans estre pourtant fort flateur ne laisse pas de plaire infiniment dorinice a mesme l'humeur si esgalle qu'on ne la peut jamais voir differente d'elle mesme et il y a un si juste meslange d'enjouement et de serieux dans le temperamment de cette personne qu'elle plaist esgallement a tout le monde soit qu'on soit melancolique ou enjoue elle paroist aussi bonne amie et elle l'est en effet quoy que j'aye esprouve pour mon malheur qu'il y a de la tiedeur dans son coeur c'est pourtant une tiedeur deguisee car lors qu'on commence de la voir on diroit veu la franchise qui paroist sur son visage veu sa civilite et sa douceur qu'avec le temps on fera de grands progres dans son ame cependant il est certain que l'on est aussi bien avec elle au bout de trois mois qu'on la connoist qu'on y est au bout de trois ans et que tous les soins imaginables et tous les services qu'on luy peut rendre ne font pas qu'on entre plus avant dans son coeur apres cela seigneur je vous diray que quoy que nous n'ayons qu'une ville dans nostre estat dorinice 
 auoit pourtant dix huit ans que je ne luy avois jamais parle car outre que cette ville est fort grande et qu'on y pouroit estre aisement sans se connoistre particulierement c'est encore qu'ayant eu plusieurs petites passions passageres qui m'avoient occupe dans le commencement de ma vie le hazard m'avoit jette dans une cabale opposee a celle de la mere de dorinice de sorte qu'on pouvoit dire que je ne la connoissois point ou que je ne la connoissois guere mais comme il arriva plusieurs changemens qui desgagerent entierement mon coeur le destin fit que je me trouvay un jour aupres de cette belle personne a une assemblee qui estoit chez la reine de sorte que croyant que je ferois despit aux dames que je ne voyois plus si j'entretenois dorinice que je scavois qu'elles n'aimoient pas je me mis a luy parler ainsi je l'entretins la premiere fois plus pour faire despit aux autres que pour me faire plaisir a moy mesme il est vray que je ne laissay pas d'en trouver beaucoup en sa conversation car comme de son coste elle ne fut pas marrie de voir que je quittois des dames qu'elle n'aimoit pas pour luy parler elle me receut mieux qu'elle ne m'auroit receu du temps que j'estois bien avec ses ennemies elle ne laissa pourtant pas de me faire agreablement la guerre sur ce sujet la lors que je commencay de luy parler et de luy dire que je m'estimois bien heureux de m'estre trouve aupres d'elle avant que je responde precisement a vostre civilite repliqua-t'elle en souriant il 
 faut s'il vous plaist que j'examine un peu si je vous dois traiter en espion ou en deserteur ou en homme qui change de party parce qu'il a connu qu'il n'estoit pas dans le bon ha aimable dorinice luy dis-je en l'interrompant je ne suis ny espion ny deserteur et je change de party avec tant de raison que vous ne m'en scauriez blasmer sans injustice cependant de peur de vous donner mauvaise opinion de moy adjoustay-je il faut mesme que je ne vous dise pas de mal de vos propres ennemies joint aussi que j'ay tant de bien a vous dire de vous que j'aurois grand tort d'employer le temps que j'ay a vous entretenir a vous parler de nulle autre chose si vous me deviez entretenir longtemps repliqua-t'elle en riant vous me feriez grand frayeur d'avoir le dessein que vous avez car j'ay tant de deffauts et j'ay si peu de bonnes qualitez qu'il seroit difficile que vous ne me dissiez que des choses agreables mais comme il est croyable que vous ne serez pas si longtemps sans dancer que vous ayez loisir de me parler de ce que j'ay de mauvais pourveu que vous commenciez de m'entretenir par ce que j'ay de bon j'espere que vous ne me direz rien qui ne me plaise je scay bien du moins luy dis-je alors que je ne vous diray rien que de vray quand je vous diray que vous estes une des plus belles et des plus aimables personnes de la terre comme dorinice m'alloit respondre on la vint prendre a dancer de sorte que de tout le reste du soir je ne pus la rejoindre mais comme 
 elle m'avoit extremement plu et que j'avois bien remarque que j'avois fait depit aux dames a qui j'avois eu dessein d'en faire je me fis mener des le lendemain par un de mes amis chez la mere de dorinice qui s'apelle elicrate mais seigneur je fus si satisfait et de la mere et de la fille que je me repentis bien d'avoir este si longtemps sans les connoistre car enfin cette societe estoit tout a fait agreable en comparaison de celle que j'avois quittee en effet les dames chez qui je n'allois plus estoient de ces personnes qui ne choisissent rien et qui souffrent chez elles de toutes sortes de gens sans exception ce qui est sans doute une chose fort incommode pour ceux qui ont l'esprit delicat et qui n'est pas trop avantageuse pour celles qui en usent ainsi mais pour la maison d'elicrate il n'en est pas de mesme car on n'y trouve presques jamais que d'honnestes gens et dorinice scait si bien l'art de faire que ceux qui ne le sont pas s'y ennuyent que quand le malheur y en mene quelquesfois quelqu'un on est assure qu'il n'y retourne point cependant il y a tousjours beaucoup de monde chez elle parce qu'il y a beaucoup d'honnestes gens dans nostre cour et que tout ce qu'il y en a vont chez dorinice et sont de ses amis car seigneur il faut que vous scachiez que cette personne qui ne fut jamais capable d'amour et qui ne le sera de sa vie est la plus grande coquetre d'amitie qui soit au monde s'il est permis de parler ainsi car elle a des amis de toute espece et 
 ce qu'il y a de rare c'est qu'elle en aquiert tous les jours sans en perdre et qu'elle menage si bien tous les secrets qu'on luy confie qu'elle ne nuit jamais a personne et qu'elle sert autant qu'elle peut tous ceux a qui elle a promis quelque place en son amitie mais elle a pourtant cela de particulier comme je l'ay desja dit au commencement de mon discours qu'il y a des bornes dans son coeur au dela desquelles personne ne scauroit aller car on est aussi bien aupres d'elle en trois mois qu'on y peut estre en trois ans dorinice estant donc telle que je vous la represente et ayant l'abord fort agreable et fort engageant je m'estimay le plus heureux de tous les hommes d'avoir sa connoissance et je sentis bien tost que ce que je sentois pour elle se pouvoit nommer amour et n'estoit point du tout amitie je ne m'en estimay pourtant pas plus malheureux car comme je connoissois bien que j'avois quelque part a son estime et qu'elle m'en promettoit mesme a son amitie je creus que j'en pouvois encore pretendre a son amour et que cependant pour agir selon les maximes ordinaires des amans prudens je ne devois pas me declarer si tost et que je devois effectivement attendre que son coeur fust un peu engage avant que de luy dire ouvertement que j'estois amoureux d'elle je ne laisois pourtant pas de la voir avec une assiduite estrange et de luy rendre tous les soins imaginables car l'amitie qu'on a pour dorinice fait a peu pres faire les mesmes choses que l'amour et 
 en effet j'agis si heureusement qu'en assez peu de temps elle me fit la grace de me mettre au rang de ses amis j'avoue toutesfois que ce rang la ne me plaisoit pas car comme elle en avoit un autre dans mon coeur je ne pouvois me contenter de celuy qu'elle me donnoit dans le sien il est vray que je me flattois de l'esperance qu'elle me distingueroit de tous ses autres amis des qu'elle scauroit que j'estois son amant ce n'est pas que je ne sceusse bien qu'elle disoit tousjours qu'elle faisoit profession ouverte de ne souffrir jamais aucune galanterie mais comme on se flatte aisement quand on aime je croyois que je pourrois estre l'exception de cette regle qui paroissoit estre si generale si bien que ne voulant plus demeurer dans cette cruelle incertitude je me resolus a luy descouvrir ma passion et je m'y resolus apres avoir passe un jour avec un chagrin estrange aupres d'elle quoy que je ne pusse durer ailleurs car imaginez vous seigneur que je suis persuade que presques tout ce qu'elle avoit d'amis vint cette apresdisnee la chez elle et eut quelque chose a luy dire en particulier en effet elle en avoit d'ambitieux qui luy rendoient conte de l'estat de leur fortune elle en avoit de coquets qui luy racontoient leurs intrigues elle en avoit de malheureux qui luy exageroient leurs infortunes elle en avoit d'enjouez qui luy disoient de ces malices qu'on peut dire bas et qu'on n'ose dire haut elle en avoit de ces honnestes faineans qui ont pourtant mille secrets a faire 
 quoy qu'ils n'en ayent aucun elle en avoit d'amoureux qui luy disoient mesme une partie de leurs avantures et elle en avoit enfin un si grand nombre ce jour la a l'entour d'elle que j'en fus aussi importune que s'ils eussent tous este mes rivaux de sorte qu'estant demeure le dernier pres de dorinice je me mis a la prier de me au dire si j'estois aussi presse dans son coeur que je l'avois este ce jour la dans sa chambre vous y estes sans doute encore plus presse repliqua-t'elle en riant car tous mes amis y sont et je ne les ay pas tous veus aujourd'huy ha madame m'escriay-je il n'est pas juste que vous soyez seule dans mon coeur et que je sois dans le vostre avec une si grande foule d'amis que je ne scay comment vous pouvez regler leurs rangs du moins ay-je veu des ceremonies chez la reine ou il y avoit plusieurs querelles quoy qu'il n'y eust pas tant de gens a qui il falust assigner les places qu'ils devoient occuper c'est pour quoy madame il faut que je sorte de vostre coeur ou que tous les gens qui m'y pressent en sortent car je vous avoue que je ne puis plus y demeurer en repos aussi bien madame adjoustay-je sans luy donner loisir de me respondre y a-t'il beaucoup d'injustice de me confondre avec eux car je ne suis point de leur rang et je ne pense rien de ce qu'ils pensent en effet bien loin de vous entretenir de mon ambition je vous declare que je n'en ay point d'autre que d'estre aime de vous que bien loin de vous conter mes intrigues je 
 vous assure que je n'en veux jamais avoir si vous n'en estes que bien loin de vous entretenir de mes malheurs domestiques je ne veux vous dire que ceux que vous me causez que bien loin de vous divertir par des malices enjouees je ne veux que vous faire des pleintes des maux que je souffre que bien loin d'estre de ces oisifs qui n'ont rien a dire qui les regarde je ne veux vous parler que de ce qui me touche et que bien loin enfin de vous raconter l'amour que j'ay pour les autres je ne veux vous entretenir que de celle que j'ay pour vous apres cela madame adjoustay-je jugez s'il vous plaist s'il y a de l'equite que vous me confondiez avec tant de gens a qui je ne ressemble point il n'y en a pas sans doute reprit-elle en souriant car si vous estes ce que vous dittes il faut que vous sortiez de mon coeur et que vous laissiez vostre place a quelque autre car il ne seroit pas equitable poursuivit-elle en raillant d'en chasser cent pour en garder un et il y a bien moins d'injustice d'en chasser un pour en garder cent c'est pourquoy mereonte c'est a vous a choisir si vous estes de mes amis comme je l'ay tousjours creu adjousta-t'elle demeurez en paix dans mon coeur comme mes autres a mis y demeurent mais si vous n'en estes pas ne trouvez pas mauvais si je vous en fais sortir cependant comme je n'en scay que ce que vous m'en dittes et que je ne veux pas mesme me donner la peine d'examiner si vous dittes vray ou si vous ne le dittes pas je veux bien m'en raporter a vous et vous 
 croire sur vostre parole puis que cela est madame repris-je vous croires donc s'il vous plaist que je ne suis point vostre amy et que je suis vostre amant car je vous assure que je ne puis plus vivre dans une si grande confusion d'amis puis que cela est dit-elle a son tour vous sortirez de mon coeur et vous me ferez plaisir adjousta-t'elle de me faire aussi sortir du vostre car puis que j'y suis seule il y a aparence que de l'humeur dont je suis je m'y ennuyerois estrangement mais madame luy dis-je vous me respondez si peu serieusement que je croy que vous ne me regardez ny comme vostre amant ny comme vostre amy sincerement repliqua-t'elle je ne scay effectivement ce que j'en dois croire mais apres tout mereonte poursuivit-elle en prenant un visage plus serieux si vous m'en croyez vous vous contenterez d'estre au premier rang de mes amis sans vouloir changer de place car je vous dis ingenument que vous ne pourriez changer sans y perdre si c'estoit une chose qui dependist de moy respondis-je que d'estre vostre amy ou vostre amant je croy que je choisirois le premier au prejudice de l'autre car je voy tous ceux qui portent cette qualite si satisfaits de vous que je le devrois faire si j'aimois mon repos mais madame la chose n'en est pas la et vous avez beau me mettre au premier rang de vos amis il faut malgre vous que je sois vostre amant et que je le sois jusques a la mort comme il peut estre 
 que vous vous trompez vous mesme a connoistre l'affection que vous avez pour moy reprit elle en souriant et que vous la croyez ce qu'elle n'est point je ne veux pas encore vous bannir de mon coeur et je veux en attendant que vous le scachiez mieux et que je m'en sois esclaircie vous mettre au rang de certains amis douteux dont j'ay eu quelquesfois en ma vie dans le coeur de qui je discernois une certaine amitie un peu differente de celle de mes autres amis et qui n'estant precisement ny amour ny amitie tenoit si fort de l'une et de l'autre qu'on pouvoit presques luy donner tel nom qu'on vouloit sans injustice ha madame m'escriay-je l'affection que je sens pour vous n'est nullement de cette nature car je scay de certitude infaillible que l'amitie ne donne ny desirs ny inquietude ny jalousie ha mereonte me dit-elle je voy bien que vous ne connoissez ny l'amitie tendre ny l'amitie galante puis que vous parlez comme vous faites en effet quand on a de l'amitie a ma mode on desire d'estre aime on est inquiet quand on est long temps sans voir ses amies et on est mesme jaloux d'en voir d'autres au dessus de soy mais madame luy dis-je vous donnez donc bien de la jalousie et veu ce grand nombre d'amis que vous avez je suis estonne qu'il n'arrive tous les jours quelque querelle entre eux plus vous parlez de cette amitie tendre et galante qui est a mon usage repliqua dorinice plus vous m'y paroissez estre ignorant car enfin la jalousie qu'elle inspire 
 n'est nullement de la nature de celle de l'amour au contraire c'est une jalousie douce ingenieuse et spirituelle qui fournit a la conversation qui augmente l'amitie qui n'a jamais rien de sombre de chagrin ny de funeste et qui ne produit point d'autre effet sinon qu'on en devient plus soigneux plus exact et plus complaisant afin de se mettre en estat de donner de la jalousie aux autres au lieu d'en avoir ainsi on peut dire que l'amitie dont je parle a toutes les douceurs de l'amour sans en avoir les inquiettudes au reste adjousta-t'elle quand je parle d'amitie je n'entens pas mesme parler de cette espece d'amitie dont il n'y a que trois ou quatre exemples en tous les siecles ny de ces gens qui n'ont qu'un amy ou qu'une amie en toute la terre car pour estre du rang de ces premiers il faudroit estre capable de vouloir mourir pour ses amis et se piquer mesme autant de generosite heroique que d'amitie tendre et pour estre comme ceux qui sont si difficiles et si delicats qu'ils ne trouvent qu'une personne au monde qu'ils jugent digne de leur amitie il faudroit ne se divertir pas trop bien car comme selon moy on ne se divertit qu'avec ceux que l'on aime il seroit difficile que je passasse le temps agreablement s'il n'y avoit qu'une personne en toute la terre qui me divertist je ne veux pas non plus poursuivit-elle d'une certaine amitie solide dont il y a tant de gens sages qui sont capables et qui n'en connoissent point d'autre car je la trouve trop 
 froide trop seche et trop ennuyeuse en effet ce sont de ces gens qui se contentent de vous aimer solidement dans le fonds de leur coeur de vous servir dans toutes les rencontres importantes de parler bien de vous quand l'occasion s'en presente et qui ne vous disent jamais a vous mesme qu'ils vous aiment ce sont dis-je de ces gens qui negligent tous les petits soins et tous les petits devoirs de l'amitie et qui pensent qu'elle doit tousjours estre si serieuse qu'elle ne peut jamais souffrir nul enjouement cependant je soutiens que pour l'ordinaire ce sont les petites choses qui font les grandes amitiez car pour les grands services on les rend ou on les recoit si rarement qu'il n'est pas possible que ce soient eux qui facent naistre et qui nourrissent l'amitie mais a ce que je voy madame repliqua-t'il vous voulez que celle qui vous est propre ressemble si fort a l'amour qu'il s'en faut peu que je ne croye que je suis encore bien plus malheureux que je ne le pensois estre et que je ne regarde tous vos amis comme mes rivaux comme j'en ay quelques uns qui sont amoureux de dames que vous connoissez repliqua-t'elle vous auriez tort si vous pensiez qu'ils fussent mes amans mais du moins madame repris-je voudrois-je bien scavoir quel rang vous donnez a tous vos amis pour commencer par ceux dont je viens de parler repliqua dorinice j'ay a vous dire que mes amis amoureux sont tousjours les derniers dans mon coeur quoy qu'ils me divertissent fort en 
 me racontant leurs follies et leurs avantures et si vous voulez me nommer ceux pour qui vous avez de la curiosite je vous diray ingenument en quel rang ils sont dans mon esprit dittes moy donc madame luy dis-je ou vous placez un certain amy que vous avez dont l'ame est si ambitieuse que je ne croy pas qu'il ait jamais eu un moment de repos pour celuy-la dit elle il n'est ny des premiers ny des derniers et il est au rang de ceux de qui j'escoute les secrets mais a qui je ne voudrois pas dire les miens si j'en avois vous en avez un autre repris je qui a bien du merite mais il est si fier que je ne scay quelle douceur son amitie vous peut donner ny en quel rang vous le pouvez mettre car vous n'en avez point qui luy ressemble je vous assure repliqua t'elle que cet amy fier dont vous parlez tout irregulier qu'il vous paroist en amitie n'est pas un des plus mal placez dans mon coeur et si sa fierte continue de s'adoucir pour moy il pourroit bien estre au premier rang car enfin il a mille bonnes qualitez il est vray qu'il ne tesmoigne pas tousjours souhaiter assez ardemment qu'on l'aime pour l'estre fortement quoy qu'il n'y aye rien de plus propre a se faire aimer du moins luy dis-je suis-je persuade que vous avez un autre amy qui s'apelle artimas qui s'il n'est au premier rang y sera bien tost car il a sans doute tout ce qu'il faut pour plaire et je me suis mesme aperceu qu'il vous a plu assez promptement il est vray dit elle que celuy dont vous parlez est tel que vous dittes 
 car il est bien fait il a infiniment de l'esprit et de l'esprit agreable il fait de fort jolis vers et escrit fort bien en prose il est capable d'enjouement et de serieux et il commence une amitie de la plus jolie facon du monde en effet il paroist tendre il est doux flateur civil et complaisant il a mesme un certain empressement obligeant qui persuade presques qu'il a tant d'amitie pour vous qu'il n'aura jamais d'amour pour personne de plus il paroist si aise quand il vous voit il est si sensible aux bien-faits et il tesmoigne souhaiter si ardemment d'estre aime qu'il est assez difficile de n'avoir pas beaucoup de disposition a l'aimer mais a vous dire la verite soit que son amitie se lasse tost ou qu'il s'accoustume si promptement aux graces qu'on luy fait qu'elles ne luy soient plus sensibles ou qu'il ait quelque inconstance naturelle dans l'esprit il devient si inesgal dans son amitie et si negligent que quand il seroit ingrat et indifferent il ne scauroit quelquesfois faire pis qu'il fait en effet il y a des jours ou il est aupres de vous sans vous parler ou il vous voit sans vous voir s'il faut ainsi dire et ou il a une tiedeur dans l'esprit qui ne donne pas moins d'estonnement que de depit a ceux qui s'y interessent car il n'y a rien de plus surprenant que de voir de ces gens qu'on a veus avec un empressement si tendre devenir froids comme s'ils ne vous connoissoient point neantmoins comme il n'y a pas encore assez long temps que je connois celuy dont vous parlez pour en juger decisivement 
 tout ce que je vous en puis dire est qu'infailliblement il sera au premier rang ou au dernier car il ne peut en avoir d'autre dans mon esprit ainsi je ne puis encore vous dire precisement quelle place il occupera dans mon coeur puis que cela depend plus de luy que de moy car enfin s'il continue d'estre inegal et tiede il ne sera peut-estre mesme qu'au rang de mes connoissances sans estre seulement au dernier rang de mes amis et s'il revient comme il estoit au commencement que je le connus et qu'il ne devienne point sujet a avoir de ces emportemens qu'on voit presques a tous les jeunes gens de la cour et qui les rendent esgallement incapables de faire jamais nulle illustre conqueste ny en amour ny en amitie il sera au rang de mes amis et mesme a celuy de mes plus chers amis mais du moins madame repris-je me direz vous plus positivement la place qu'occupe un parent que j'ay qui vous voit plus souvent qu'aucun autre excepte moy ha pour celuy-la me dit elle t'avoue qu'il est au mesme rang que vous car enfin je ne voy rien dans toute l'estendue de nostre amitie qui ne me plaise le commencement en fut galant la suite en fut obligeante et je l'ay tousjours veu esgallement soigneux de me plaire je le trouve mesme plus tendre et plus sensible qu'il n'estoit au commencement de nostre connossance il paroist plus aise de me voir et nous nous divertissons bi mieux ensemble quand nous nous entretenons seuls que nous ne faisions dans 
 la naissance de nostre amitie vous avez encore un autre amy repris-je qui aime autant a vous entretenir seule que s'il estoit vostre amant et j'ay remarque que des qu'il vient quelqu'un chez vous il s'en va celuy que vous dittes repliqua-t'elle n'est pas un de ceux qui sont le plus mal aveque moy car enfin la plus grande marque d'un grand esprit est de pouvoir bien foutenir une conversation particuliere et la plus grande preuve qu'on puisse donner de se plaire avec une amie est d'aller seul la chercher et de la chercher seule et si vous scaviez le gre que je scay a celuy dont vous parlez de ce que je suis persuadee qu'il ne cherche que moy quand il me vient voir et de ce qu'il se divertit plus quand il me trouve seule que quand il y a beaucoup de monde vous verriez que je le prefere a tous ces esvaporez qui ne peuvent durer s'ils ne sont en une grande compagnie tumultueuse ou il faut bien souvent qu'ils crient de toute leur force pour se faire entendre et qui aiment mieuz aller continuellement chercher toutes les mauvaises conversations d'une ville que de demeurer une apresdisnee avec deux ou trois personnes raisonnables a s'entretenir agreablement cependant ils en sont les premiers punis car je suis assuree que pour l'ordinaire ces gens la qui ne choisissent rien prennent de tres mauvaises habitudes qui les rendent moins aimables et qui les font moins aimer mais mereonte adjousta-t'elle pour vous espargner la peine de me nommer tous 
 ceux que je connois il vaut mieux que je vous assure que vous n'estes que trois ou quatre au premier rang de mes amis car pour tous les autres je m'imagine que vous ne vous en souciez pas trop quoy madame repris je vous croyez que je doive estre fort satisfait de ce que vous me donnez trois ou quatre concurrens dans vostre coeur mais si vous considerez que j'ay cent amis repliqua t'elle vous vous trouverez bien heureux de n'en avoir que trois ou quatre qui soient vos esgaux ha madame repris-je quand je ne serois que vostre amy je ne serois pas content et de l'humeur dont je suis je voudrois du moins estre le premier de ces trois ou quatre voyez donc si estant vostre amant je puis m'estimer heureux d'estre confondu avec tant d'amis pour vous tesmoigner repliqua-t'elle que je fais pour vous tout ce que je puis je vous declare que vous serez le premier des trois ou quatre amis que j'ay mis au premier rang pourveu que vous ne me parliez jamais de vostre pretendue amour mais madame repliquay-je comme vous avez un certain amy fier qui pourra estre aussi au premier rang et que vous en avez encore un autre dont vous mesme ne scavez pas la place et que vous dittes qui sera infailliblement au premier ou au dernier rang de vos amis je trouve qu'en m'offrant la premiere place dans vostre amitie je n'y ay pas grande seurete puis que ce dernier pourra peut-estre mesme en chasser tous les autres comme je ne scay point l'advenir respondit-elle 
 je ne puis parler que du present c'est pourquoy tout ce que je vous puis dire est que si celuy dont vous parlez continue d'estre ce qu'il est depuis quelques jours toute sa bonne mine tout son merite et tout son esprit ne m'empescheront pas de le mettre au dernier rang de mes amis et de vous dire en suite que de tous ceux qui ont presentement quelque place en mon amitie vous serez le premier si vous le voulez mais madame m'escriay-je ne scauriez vous comprendre qu'un amant ne peut jamais estre content d'estre regarde comme un premier amy en effet adjoustay-je jugez un peu quel avantage j'en pourrois tirer car n'est-il pas vray que vous ne me direz point tous les secrets de vos amis cela n'est pas douteux reprit-elle et la mesme fidellite que je vous garderay je la leur garderay aussi mais madame luy dis-je alors quelle marque singuliere auray-je donc de vostre affection car puis que vous n'avez nul attachement particulier dans l'ame vous n'avez nuls secrets importans que vous me puissiez confier et quand vous en auriez je ne serois pas le seul a qui vous feriez peut-estre la grace de les raconter ainsi madame je ne voy pas comment vous concevez qu'il soit possible qu'un homme qui vous aime et qui vous aime avec une passion infiniment tendre puisse se contenter d'estre vostre premier amy et je pense mesme que j'aimerois mieux que vous me missiez au dernier rang de vos amans que de me mettre au premier rang de vos amis quoy 
 qu'il en soit mereonte adjousta-t'elle je ne puis faire autre chose pour vous que ce que je vous offre de faire songez y donc bien serieusement car il pourroit estre qu'en refusant d'estre le premier de mes amis je deviendrois vostre ennemie comme je voulois luy respondre on luy vint dire que sa mere la demandoit de sorte que je la quittay sans que j'eusse accepte la qualite de son premier amy et sans qu'elle m'eust permis de me dire son amant neantmoins comme je luy avois descouvert ma passion j'en sentois quelque soulagement et ce qui me donnoit encore beaucoup d'esperance estoit que je connoissois bien effectivement que dorinice avoit de l'amitie pour moy si bien que m'imaginant alors qu'il n'y avoit nulle impossibilite que cette affection changeast de nature et croyant au contraire qu'il estoit plus aise de passer de l'amitie a l'amour que de l'indifference a cette passion j'esperois beaucoup plus que je ne le disois et j'esperois mesme plus que je ne croyois esperer car je l'ay bien connu depuis de sorte que je vescus quelques jours dans de grandes inquietudes me semblant qu'il falloit en effet donner le temps a dorinice de connoistre si ce que je luy avois dit de ma passion estoit vray avant que de commencer de la recompenser il n'y avoit pourtant point de jour que la multitude de ses amis ne m'incommodast et ou je ne m'imaginasse qu'il y en avoit quelques uns qui n'appelloient qu'amitie ce qu'on pouvoit apeller amour et en effet je connus 
 a la fin qu'il y avoit pour le moins deux amans travestis en amis parmy cette foule qui environnoit dorinice si bien que la jalousie se meslant quelquesfois a mon amour j'avois de tres facheuses heures neantmoins apres avoir bien observe ces rivaux cachez je ne fus pas si jaloux d'eux que de quelques amis de dorinice ce n'est pas qu'il n'y en ait un qui est fort aimable et fort propre a estre un dangereux rival car enfin il est agreable de sa personne et il a l'esprit delicat joint que comme dans le commencement de sa vie sa premiere passion a este pour une personne de grand merite et de grand esprit cette amour a mis une politesse dans sa conversation qui l'a fait aussi honneste homme qu'il est car il est certain qu'il n'y a rien de plus dangereux aux jeunes gens que de s'engager a aimer de sottes personnes et en effet ce second rival que j'avois faisoit bien voir ce que je dis car il estoit nay encore mieux fait que l'autre il avoit mesme de l'esprit et cependant comme il eut le malheur de se trouver dans une cabale ou il y avoit beaucoup de femmes de peu de merite et de femmes qui ne scavoient pas bien le monde il s'est entierement gaste l'esprit dans cette societe ou il eut un premier attachement qui l'accoustuma insensiblement a estre tel que les gens qu'il voyoit de sorte que pour celuy-la je ne le craignois pas parce qu'en effet en l'estat ou il estoit alors il n'estoit pas redoutable pour l'autre quoy qu'il eust de l'agreement et du merite 
 je ne le craignois pas non plus parce que je connoissois bien que dorinice le soubconnant d'estre amoureux d'elle le traitoit moins favorablement que ses autres amis je connus mesme assez clairement que ces deux rivaux n'avoient pas tant de part que moy au coeur de cette belle personne car elle ne faisoit pas grande difficulte de me dire ce que ceux dont je parle luy disoient mais pour ses veritables amis elle ne m'en vouloit jamais rien aprendre bien que je luy disse qu'elle estoit maistresse absolue de mon coeur et de mon esprit et que je sentois bien que quoy que la generosite voulust qu'on ne revelast pas le secret de ses amis je ne pourrois conserver celuy des miens si elle les vouloit scavoir tant elle avoit de pouvoir sur moy il est vray que cette exageration d'amour me fit le lendemain une grande querelle car vous scaurez seigneur que nous nous rencontrasmes le jour suivant en un lieu ou une de ces dames que j'avois aimee autrefois se trouva avec beaucoup de monde de sorte que dorinice malicieusement fit venir a propos de parler de la puissance qu'une maistresse devoit avoir sur le coeur d'un amant car comme elle scavoit bien qu'il commencoit de s'espandre quelque bruit de ma passion dans nostre cour elle espera tirer un assez grand plaisir de la guerre qu'elle entreprit de me faire pour cet effet elle me dit hardiment qu'en parlant le jour auparavant avec elle je luy avois dit que des que j'estois amant je sacrifiois tous mes secrets et tous ceux de mes amis a ma 
 maistresse et que je luy racontois mesme toutes mes premieres amours si bien que me trouvant dans la necessite de dedire la personne que j'aimois alors ou de deplaire a celle que je n'aimois plus je choisis le dernier et j'aimay mieux facher mon ancienne maistresse que la nouvelle je detournay pourtant la chose le plus adroitement que je pus en effet dis-je alors a dorinice j'ay bien dit que lors qu'on estoit amoureux on n'avoit plus rien a foy mais je n'ay point dit que de moy mesme j'allasse conter les secrets de mes amis et mes amours passees a ma maistresse et ce que je dis est que si elle se mettoit dans la fantaisie de les vouloir scavoir et qu'elle me le commandast absolument j'aurois bien de la peine a luy desobeir cependant repliqua un des amis de dorinice qui luy racontoit tousjours toutes choses je ne trouve pas que cela se doive car si j'en estois persuade je ne dirois donc jamais rien ny a mes amis ny a mes amies puis que je ne le pourrois dire seurement pour moy adjousta cette dame que j'avois aimee je trouve qu'il y auroit de la perfidie a un amant qui reveleroit le secret de ses amis a sa maistresse et qu'il y auroit de la laschete a la maistresse si elle le souhaitoit en mon particulier reprit une amie de dorinice qui s'apelle nyrtile a qui elle fit signe de contredire cette dame que j'avois aimee je ne scay comment vous l'entendez mais je scay bien que la douceur de l'amour est l'empire absolu du coeur d'un amant et que si j'en 
 avois un que je descouvrisse qui me cachast une chose que je voudrois scavoir je ne le verrois jamais car enfin qu'il ne m'aime point s'il ne m'estime qu'il ne m'aime point dis-je s'il ne m'aime plus que tout le reste du monde et s'il n'est capable de m'obeir aveuglement soit que j'aye raison ou que je ne l'aye pas en effet adjousta-t'elle je ne veux pas seulement qu'un amant soit capable de me dire les secrets de ses amis mais je veux mesme qu'il le soit de faire des injustices si la fantaisie m'en prend il faut bien que cela soit ainsi repliqua cet amy de dorinice qui se nomme oxaris puis que vous voulez qu'il revele les secrets de ses amis qui est la chose du monde qui doit estre la plus inviolable et pour moy qui ne croy point que la justice et la generosite soient incompatibles avec l'amour je n'ay garde de penser qu'il soit permis de faire des perfidies et je sens bien au contraire que si j'avois une maistresse qui voulust m'obliger a luy donner cette marque d'amour je cesserois de l'estimer et par consequent d'estre son amant ainsi je ne luy dirois nullement ce que mes amis m'auroient dit si vous connoissiez bien l'amour repris-je vous ne diriez pas ce que vous dittes car il est vray qu'encore qu'une personne qu'on aime veuille quelquesfois des choses injustes on ne cesse pas de l'aimer pour cela car si l'amour estoit volontaire il s'ensuivroit de necessite que tout le monde voudroit n'aimer que de ces personnes admirables dont il n'y a que trois ou 
 quatre en tout un royaume et en tout un siecle et qu'elles auroient une si grande presse a l'entour d'elles qu'a peine en pourroit on aprocher cependant l'experience fait voir tous les jours qu'il y a des gens de grand esprit qui aiment des personnes qui ont des deffauts et des deffauts qu'ils connoissent et qui ne les guerissent pourtant point de leur passion je comprens bien reprit brusquement oxaris qu'on peut s'apercevoir que la personne qu'on aime a le teint un peu trop pasle ou un peu trop brun sans cesser de l'aimer et qu'on peut mesme connoistre qu'elle a quelque inegalite dans l'humeur ou quelque legerete dans l'esprit sans changer d'amour mais je ne comprens point qu'on continue d'aimer une femme sans probite et sans vertu cependant je soustiens tousjours que la personne qui revele les secrets de ses amis manque absolument et de vertu et de probite que celle qui veut qu'on trahisse les autres en manque aussi et qu'on ne peut rien faire de plus terrible que de trahir ceux qui se sont confiez en nous s'il s'agissoit de juger de la chose en elle mesme reprit nyrtile je la trouverois fort condamnable mais ce que je soustiens est que si un homme est amoureux et qu'il aime une personne qui veuille scavoir tout ce qu'il scait il n'est pas assez amoureux s'il ne le luy dit point puis qu'il est vray qu'il n'est pas si oblige comme homme d'honneur de ne reveler point le secret de ses amis qu'il l'est comme amant de les dire a la personne qu'il aime si elle 
 les veut scavoir car enfin il ne s'agit pas d'examiner si ce qu'elle veut est juste ou ne l'est pas et il ne s'agit que de luy obeir aveuglement pour luy donner une marque d'amour puis qu'il n'y en a point de plus grande que l'obeissance et que sans obeissance il n'y a point d'amour ny point de plaisir a aimer pour moy repliqua cette dame que j'avois autrefois aimee je ne scay comment on peut entendre cela ainsi en effet reprit brusquement oxaris je ne voy pas qu'il puisse y avoir de raison a estre de ce sentiment la car enfin dit-il a dorinice quoy que ce ne fust pas elle contre qui il disputoit n'est-il pas vray qu'il peut y avoir des causes legitimes de cesser d'aimer il n'en faut point douter reprit-elle cela estant ainsi repliqua t'il pourquoy est-il plus juste que la jalousie puisse faire mourir l'amour que de la faire cesser lors que vous descouvrez que la personne que vous aimez n'a point de veritable vertu puis qu'elle vous veut obliger a faire une laschete et une perfidie et n'est il pas bien plus raisonnable de rompre avec elle pour cela que parce qu'elle aura regarde un rival favorablement tant qu'on vous considerera conme un philosophe vous aurez raison de parler comme vous faites respondit nyrtile mais des qu'on vous regardera comme un amant on vous regardera comme un homme qui ne doit rien refuser a la personne qu'il aime veritablement adjousta-t'elle si vous cessez de l'aimer des qu'elle vous demandera quelque chose d'injuste vous 
 devez estre regarde comme un homme sage qui n'a de la passion que dans l'esprit et qui n'en a point dans le coeur mais cela n'empeschera pas que cette dame qui a voulu vous obliger a faire cette injustice n'ait sujet de vous accuser d'estre mauvais amant car encore qu'elle ait tort de vouloir une chose deraisonnable ce n'est pas a dire que vous ayez raison de ne la luy accorder point et vous ne pouvez attendre autre chose sinon que durant que vos amis diront que vous estes discret vostre maistresse dira que vous ne scavez pas aimer ce qu'il y a de meilleur repris-je pour ne desesperer pas cette personne avec qui j'avois eu autrefois quel que intelligence c'est qu'il y a peu de dames qui ayent cette sorte d'injustice ny qui veuillent s'amuser a aller scavoir mille bagatelles dont elles n'ont que faire pour moy repliqua malicieusement dorinice si j'estois d'humeur a avoir un amant je ne ferois consister mon plaisir qu'a luy faire raconter toutes ses amours passees car pour les secrets de ses amis je ne les voudrois pas scavoir mais pour toutes ces petites choses de galanterie qui paroissent si folles quand elles sont passees et qui le semblent tousjours a ceux qui n'y ont point d'interest j'aurois le plus grand plaisir du monde a me les faire dire exactement et si quelque raison estoit capable de me faire souffrir un amant je pense que ce seroit l'esperance de recevoir un divertissement tel que je l'imagine car je ne scache rien de si plaisant que de trouver en conversation quelqu'une 
 de ces dames qui font les severes dont on scait cent folies et cent bizarres intrigues c'est pourquoy si je choisis jamais un amant j'en choisiray un qui ait eu quelque autre amour car encore qu'on die que les premieres passions sont les plus fortes je ne veux point estre sa premiere maistresse de peur d'estre privee du plaisir que je concoy qu'il y a d'aprendre de pareilles choses s'il ne faut que scavoir beaucoup de secrets pour se bien divertir repris-je un amant qui seroit aime de vous et qui seroit de l'humeur de nyrtile passeroit admirablement bien le temps si vous luy vouliez raconter tous les secrets de vos amis vous dis-je qui en avez une si grande multitude qu'on ne les scauroit conter je ne scay reprit elle en souriant si vous me pensez blasmer mais je pretens que la plus grande louange qu'on puisse me donner est d'avoir eu l'adresse d'aquerir et de conserver tant d'amis mais madame luy dis-je pour d'estourner la conversation pensez vous effectivement qu'il n'y ait point quelque espece d'honneste coquetterie a en avoir tant et croyez vous que cette espece d'amitie galante que vous voulez qu'on ait pour vous soit une chose qu'il soit permis d'avoir pour mille a la fois car si cela est j'avoue que je ne voy pas grand inconvenient qu'un amant ait plusieurs maistresses et qu'une dame ait plusieurs galans je suis si fortement persuadee repliqua dorinice qu'on-peut avoir autant d'amis qu'on veut que je regarde mon 
 amitie comme une chose infinie en effet quand je fais un nouvel amy et que je luy donne part a mon amitie selon celle que je croy qu'il a pour moy je m'en trouve encore aussi riche un quart d'heure apres que si je ne luy avois rien donne mais a ce que je voy luy dis-je ce n'est donc pas au merite que vous accordez vostre affection nullement reprit-elle car je trouve juste que le merite soit la mesure de mon estime mais je trouve en mesme temps qu'il n'y a que l'amitie qui soit celle de l'amitie aussi vous puis-je assurer que je distribue tres equitablement la mienne en mon particulier repris-je je ne puis concevoir qu'on puisse aimer fortement un si grand nombre de gens et je ne scay comment font ceux qui se contentent de la centiesme partie d'un coeur car pour moy si je n'en ay un tout entier je ne me scaurois estimer heureux ce ne sera donc jamais moy qui vous le rendray reprit dorinice en souriant car je ne donneray jamais le mien ainsi je ne le seray donc de ma vie repliquay-je tout bas pendant qu'elle se levoit pour s'en aller apres quoy m'en allant avec elle je luy fis mille pleintes en particulier de la malice qu'elle avoit eue et il n'est rien que je ne luy disse en suitte pour l'obliger de souffrir ma passion il est vray que je parlay inutilement et que quoy que je pusse dire elle ne fit rien de plus avantageux pour moy que de m'offrir d'estre le premier de ses amis de sorte que ne pouvant alors obtenir rien davantage je voulus 
 voir si je pourrois me contenter du rang qu'elle me donnoit dans son coeur et en effet je suis oblige de dire que dorinice me tint ce qu'elle m'avoit promis et que je n'eus aucun sujet de penser qu'elle eust quelque amy pour qui elle eust plus d'amitie que pour moy car elle me parloit sans doute avec beaucoup de confiance elle estoit fort aise de me voir elle m'entretenoit avec plaisir et elle me disoit sincerement tout ce qu'elle pensoit sur toutes les choses dont nous nous entretenions de plus elle s'interessoit a ma fortune si j'estois malade elle envoyoit regulierement scavoir de mes nouvelles si par malheur j'estois deux jours sans la voir elle vouloit que je luy disse ce que j'avois fait elle prenoit mon party en toutes occasions et mesme contre ses plus chers amis elle me louoit avec chaleur elle vouloit que tous ceux qu'elle connoissoit m'estimassent et elle me louoit mesme quelquesfois en parlant a moy d'une maniere fort obligeante de sorte qu'on peut dire que je jouissois de tout ce que la solide amitie et mesme l'amitie tendre et galante peut avoir de doux et d'agreable cependant je n'estois point du tout content et les plus favorables regards de dorinice me donnoient quelquesfois de la colere au lieu de me donner de la joye car enfin quoy que je ne visse jamais ses yeux irritez je ne les voyois pas comme je les voulois voir en effet dorinice ne me regardoit que comme on regarde tous les objets indifferens qui tombent sous la veue ses 
 regards estoient tranquiles et ses yeux estoient si muets pour moy qu'ils ne me disoient rien et je n'y voyois jamais un certain esclat languissant qui est le veritable carractere de l'amour je n'y voyois non plus ny plaisir ny trouble ny transport ny passion ils ne me disoient rien comme je l'ay desja dit et ils ne m'entendoient mesme pas quand je leur disois quelque chose par mes regards de sorte que je pouvois estre regarde favorablement sans estre heureux de plus quoy que dorinice tesmoignast estre plus aise que je luy parlasse que le reste de ses amis je ne m'apercevois pas que ma conversation l'attachast assez car s'il venoit quelqu'un d'eux qui eust quelque chose a luy dire en particulier elle me quittoit sans peine pour l'entretenir et me quittoit sans en avoir un grand chagrin elle faisoit mesme diverses parties de plaisir dont je n'estois pas sans en avoir nulle inquietude elle ne me disoit jamais rien de ce que les autres gens qu'elle aimoit luy disoient et tout le privilege que le rang de son premier amy me donnoit estoit qu'elle se contraignoit quelquesfois moins pour moy et qu'elle gardoit moins de mesure avec moy qu'avec beaucoup d'autres en effet elle avoit deux ou trois de ces amis d'enjouement avec qui elle vivoit d'une maniere plus galante et plus enjouee si bien que comme cela avoit plus de raport avec la passion que j'avois dans l'ame je portois quelquesfois envie a ces gens la quoy que je sceusse de certitude que dorinice 
 m'aimoit plus qu'eux il est vray que comme elle scavoit que j'estois amoureux d'elle quoy que je ne le luy disse pas souvent parce qu'elle ne le vouloit plus endurer elle aportoit quelque soin a me persuader que son amitie ne pouvoit jamais estre qu'amitie et en effet elle me le persuada si bien que je creus estre le plus malheureux de tous les hommes de sorte que ne pouvant plus me contraindre je me mis a me pleindre continuellement et je me pleignis tant que j'en importunay dorinice mais a dire la verite j'estois excusable dans mes pleintes car il est vray qu'il n'y a rien de plus insuportable que d'avoir une violente passion pour une personne qui n'a que de l'amitie pour vous et il n'y a nulle comparaison a faire entre ce malheur la et celuy de ceux qui aiment sans estre aimez car enfin on se voit presques toujours tout prest d'estre heureux sans le pouvoir estre et vous employez tous vos soins sans faire jamais nul progres que celuy que vous avez fait qui ne vous contente point du tout car il est certain que la plus ardente amitie de la terre ne scauroit estre comparee avec la plus foible amour qu'on puisse avoir dorinice voulut pourtant un jour me persuader que mes pleintes estoient fort injustes en effet me disoit-elle apres que je me fus bien pleint n est-il pas vray que me connoissant comme vous faites vous estes persuade que si l'affection que j'ay dans l'ame estoit d'une autre nature je ferois moins pour vous que je ne fais je le crois ainsi madame luy dis-je 
 mais en faisant moins vous feriez plus et je suis si persuade de ce que je dis qu'il y a des jours ou je me trouverois plus oblige si vous aportiez quelque soin a destourner vos beaux yeux de peur de rencontrer les miens que de me regarder tranquilement comme vous faites quelquesfois et pour vous aprendre en peu de mots combien mon amour est peu satisfaite de vostre amitie je vous declare madame que vostre indifference me seroit beaucoup moins insuportable ce que vous me dittes est si bizarre reprit-elle que je croy que vous avez perdu la raison si vous aviez eu de l'amour durant un quart d'heure seulement repris-je vous concevriez aisement que l'estat le plus malheureux ou un amant se puisse trouver est d'estre persuade qu'on n'aura jamais d'amour pour luy de sorte madame que commencant de croire qu'il est plus aise de passer de l'indifference a l'amour que de faire qu'une longue amitie devienne passion vous ne devez pas trouver estrange si je m'estime le plus malheureux de tous les hommes de voir que toute mon amour tous mes soins et tous mes services ne pourront faire changer de nature a l'affection que vous avez pour moy cependant il vous seroit ce me semble si aise de me rendre heureux que je ne scay pourquoy vous ne le faites pas car enfin madame adjoustay-je je consens que vous m'aimiez moins que vous ne faites pourveu que vous m'aimiez d'une autre maniere car de penser que je puisse souffrir qu'il n'y ait autre difference entre 
 ces cent amis que vous avez et moy sinon que vous m'aimez peut-estre un peu plus qu'eux c'est penser une chose impossible car enfin l'amour ne peut estre satisfaite que par elle mesme et toute vostre amitie tendre galante et solide ne scauroit entrer en comparaison avec la plus foible passion du monde jugez donc comment elle pourroit contenter la plus violente amour de la terre mais apres tout repliqua dorinice il faut que je vous redie une seconde fois que si je vous aimois de la maniere que vous l'entendez vous en seriez moins heureux que vous n'estes car en l'estat ou je suis je vous laisse voir toute la tendresse de mon coeur je vous dis mille choses obligeantes et je vous cherche mesme quand vos chagrins font que vous ne me cherchez pas mais si j'avois pour vous de cette espece d'affection que vous souhaitez que j'aye je vous cacherois les plus tendres de mes sentimens je choisirois les paroles les plus indifferentes que je pourrois trouver lors qu'il s'agiroit de vous exprimer l'affection que j'aurois pour vous et je vous fuirois au lieu de vous chercher jugez apres cela si vous n'estes pas plus heureux que je n'aye que de l'amitie que si j'avois de l'amour joint qu'a parler veritablement c'est a mon amitie que vous devez l'indulgence que j'ay de souffrir que vous me parliez de vostre passion car si je ne sentois bien dans mon coeur qu'il est impossible que je vous aime jamais d'une autre maniere je ne l'endurerois pas ha madame m'escriay-je 
 qu'il y a de cruaute a ce que vous dittes et que vous scavez peu quelle douceur il y a d'aimer et d'estre aimee quoy que vous aimiez cent personnes a la fois et que cent personnes vous aiment eh de grace adjoustay-je considerez bien que vous n'avez nul pouvoir absolu sur aucun de vos amis et qu'il n'y en a point qui ne soit capable de vous refuser quelque chose ou au contraire vous pouvez tout sur moy sans aucune exception vous estes maistresse de mon destin vous pouvez faire tout mon bonheur ou toute mon infortune et vous pouvez enfin vous establir un empire si absolu sur mon coeur que vous y regnerez toute vostre vie mais pour y regner avec plaisir il faut y vouloir regner et il faut prendre quelque soin de conserver vostre authorite renoncez donc madame a cette multitude d'amis qui vous environnent dont il n'ny en a peut-estre pas un qui merite de porter le nom d'amy ny qui soit veritablement digne de vostre amitie mais quand mesme vous ne voudriez pas vous deffaire de cette foule de gens qui vous accable et qui m'importune faites du moins que vous ne m'aimiez pas comme vous les aimez car j'aime tant la singularite en matiere d'affection que je ne puis souffrir d'estre aime de la mesme maniere qu'on aime les autres mettez donc madame je vous en conjure quelque difference entre moy et tous vos amis et scachez que si vous ne le faites je perdray infailliblement ou la vie ou la raison car je sens bien que je ne pourray jamais 
 perdre l'amour que j'ay pour vous il me semble mereonte me dit-elle qu'en vous disant que vous estes le premier de tous mes amis c'est assez vous distinguer de tous les autres pour vous obliger a estre content de moy mais madame repris-je quand je serois seul vostre amy je ne serois pas content quoy que j'aime fort la singularite parce qu'en fin vostre affection seroit tousjours amitie et je vous declare que pour estre satisfait de vous il faut de necessite que vostre amitie devienne amour ou que mon amour devienne amitie c'est pourquoy comme il est ce me semble bien plus aise de donner un petit degre de chaleur a vostre affection que de diminuer toute l'ardeur de la mienne faites quelque effort je vous en conjure pour me pouvoir aimer d'une autre maniere que vous ne faites mais mereonte me dit elle alors ne scauriez vous comprendre que quand je vous aimerois comme vous voulez que je vous aime vous n'en seriez pas plus favorise et que je ne pourrois faire que ce que je fais quand mesme je ne voudrois pas faire moins comme je vous j'ay desja dit car enfin je vous voy et je vous parle autant que vous le voulez ouy madame vous me voyez et vous me parlez repris-je brusquement mais vous ne me voyez pas et ne me parlez pas avec la mesme joye que vous me verriez et que vous me parleriez si vous m'aimiez comme je l'entens cependant ce n'est que ce mutuel eschange de plaisirs qui nourrit et qui augmete l'amour et qui fait la felicite de ceux 
 qui aiment en effet madame il n'y a rien de si doux que de voir dans les yeux d'une personne que nous adorons qu'elle a autant de joye de nous parler que nous en avons de l'entretenir et je ne scay si le plaisir qu'on donne a la personne aimee lors qu'on la voit ne fait pas la plus sensible partie de celuy qu'on recoit soy mesme en la voyant c'est pourquoy madame quand ce ne seroit que par curiosite mettez vous une fois en estat de connoistre la difference qu'il y a entre l'amour et l'amitie et ne vous privez pas vous mesme de la plus grande douceur de la vie en rendant la mienne la plus malheureuse qui fut jamais j'eus pourtant beau parler a dorinice de toutes les douceurs de l'amour car seigneur je ne pus jamais l'obliger a changer de sentimens ny a me permettre seulement d'esperer qu'elle en pourroit changer un jour de sorte que je me trouvay le plus malheureux de tous les hommes je ne croyois pas mesme me pouvoir jamais servir des juges et des loix que nous avons pour l'amour parce que ces loix n'ont este establies que pour ceux qui s'aiment de sorte que comme j'estois seul a aimer je ne pouvois tirer nul avantage de ce coste la je ne pus pourtant renfermer toujours toute ma douleur dans mon ame et je m'en pleignis d'une maniere si touchante a cette amie de dorinice qui se nomme nyrtile que l'attendris effectivement son coeur et que je l'obligeay de parler a son amie et de luy parler a mon avantage en effet comme elles s'estoient 
 alle promener un jour dans un assez beau jardin elle la separa de la compagnie avec qui elle y estoit allee pour luy dire qu'elle avoit tort de me confondre avec tant d'autres et qu'elle n'avoit mesme pas raison de vouloir avoir autant d'amis qu'elle en avoit car enfin luy dit nyrtile comme elle me l'a dit depuis j'avoue que de l'humeur dont je suis j'aimerois mieux n'aimer qu'un honneste homme de quelque maniere que ce fust que d'en aimer cent comme vous faites mais nyrtile luy respondit elle alors croyez vous que j'aime fortement tous ceux qui se disent mes amis et pensez vous qu'encore que je die bien souvent que j'ay un fonds d'amitie inespuisable et que je pourrois avoir mille amis que cela soit positivement vray je ne scay pas respondit nyrtile si cela est vray mais vous agissez comme si cela l'estoit et on diroit que vous croyez que tous ces gens la qui vous connoissent sont effectivement les plus fidelles et les plus sinceres amis du monde je vous assure respondit dorinice que je rends justice a tous mes amis car je scay fort bien faire la distinction de ceux qui me voyent par vanite par interest par coustume ou par inclination cependant je ne laisse pas d'avoir pour ceux qui m'aiment le moins cette espece de civilite qu'on doit avoir pour tous ceux pour qui on a quel que sorte d'estime car si je ne l'avois pas je me priverois de mille plaisirs que la conversation de tous ces gens la me donne mais apres tout je n'aime fortement 
 que ceux qui m'aiment beaucoup et je puis assurement me vanter d'estre la plus equitable personne de la terre pour tous ceux que je voy il en faut excepter mereonte repliqua nyrtile car pour celuy la il est certain qu'il n'a pas sujet d'estre content de vous il en a peut estre plus que vous ne pensez reprit elle puis qu'il est constamment vray qu'il y a plus de deux mois que je fais tout ce que je puis pour l'aimer comme il le veut estre ou pour le hair il me semble luy dit nyrtile que vous pouviez ne dire que la moitie de ce que vous avez dit je le pouvois sans doute reprit dorinice mais je ne le pouvois sans mentir puis qu'il est vray que mereonte me donne tous les jours ces deux sentimens la quoy qu'ils paroissent fort opposez car enfin quand je voy l'inquiettude ou il est que je considere son merite son affection et l'amitie que j'ay pour luy je voudrois le pouvoir rendre heureux en l'aimant comme il le veut estre mais d'autre part quand il m'accable de ses pleintes et qu'il me persecute autant de ce que j'ay beaucoup d'amis que si je souffrois beaucoup d'amans le despit que j'ay de cette bizarre et injuste persecution fait que je voudrois le pouvoir hair il est pourtant vray que je trouve une esgalle impossibilite a l'une et a l'autre de ces choses et que l'amitie que j'ay dans l'ame s'oppose avec autant de force a la haine que je veux quelquesfois avoir pour mereonte qu'a l'amour que je voudrois pouvoir avoir pour luy en quelques autres momens 
 si bien qu'apres avoir essaye inutilement d'avoir de l'amour et de la haine je ne puis plus faire autre chose que de demeurer comme je suis c'est pourquoy s'il n'en est content je n'y scaurois que faire mais du moins luy dit alors nyrtile si vous ne pouvez avoir de l'amour pour luy ayez moins d'amitie pour les autres et sacrifiez luy une partie de tous ces agreables amis que vous avez qui en verite ressemblent si fort a des amans que je suis estonnee que mereonte ne les regarde comme ses rivaux ha pour cela nyrtile repliqua dorinice je ne le feray pas et a vous parler sincerement c'est tout ce que je pourrois faire si j'avois de l'amour pour mereonte car enfin ces petites amitiez galantes rendent la conversation si agreable et amusent si doucement l'esprit sans inquietter le coeur que je ne scay si j'avois a luy sacrifier quelques uns de mes amis si ce n'en seroient pas quelques autres que j'aime peur estre mieux que ceux dont vous parlez mais qui ne me divertissent pas tant en verite reprit nyrtile vous estes bien deraisonnable je ne scay si je suis deraisonnable dit alors dorinice mais je ne croy pas estre fort imprudente ny fort mal adroite car enfin par la maniere dont je vy j'ay mille plaisirs sans hazarder ma reputation et je les ay sans inquiettude et sans chagrin c'est pourquoy dittes je vous en conjure a mereonte si c'est luy qui vous fait parler qu'il se tienne en repos et qu'il m'y laisse car ce seroit une cruelle chose de voir qu'une personne qui jouit presques 
 de tous les plaisirs de la belle galanterie sans en avoir eust aussi toutes les persecutions de l'amour sans estre capable de cette passion apres cela nyrtile n'eut plus rien a dire mais comme c'est une personne qui est fort sincere elle me raconta le lendemain cette conversation avec le dessein ou de me persuader de m'accommoder a l'humeur de dorinice ou de me deffaire de l'amour que j'avois pour elle mais a vous dire la verite je ne pus faire ny l'un ny l'autre cependant nous aprochions d'une saison ou l'on se divertit fort en nostre cour apres avoir celebre une grande feste pour remercier les dieux de nous avoir separez des anciens sauromates de sorte que ce fut alors que ce grand nombre d'amis de dorinice m'importunerent encore plus qu'a l'ordinaire car elle estoit continuellement de quelque partie de plaisir soit qu'on en fist pour elle soit qu'on la priast de celles qu'on faisoit pour les autres de plus on ne pouvoit plus la voir sans luy entendre dire j'ay promis audience a un tel je la donneray demain a un autre j'ay un office a rendre a celuy-cy j'ay un rendez-vous avec celuy-la et mille autres choses semblables de sorte qu'on peut dire que je la voyois sans la voir j'avois mesme le deplaisir de remarquer qu'il venoit tous les jours quelque nouvel amy que les autres luy amenoient et en effet des que l'admirable sapho fut arrivee a nostre cour on luy amena phaon et le frere de philire qu'elle mit aussi tost au nombre de ses amis 
 j'eusse bien voulu pouvoir faire autant d'amies qu'elle avoit d'amis pour voir si j'eusse trouve autant de plaisir qu'elle dans la multitude mais il n'y eut pas moyen je vy pourtant sapho et agelaste assez souvent pour me pouvoir plaindre avec elles de mon malheur car il estoit alors si public que personne n'ignoroit plus ma passion et certes il faut que j'avoue que je trouvay beaucoup de consolation a leur parler de l'estat ou je me trouvois car elles entrerent toutes deux si avant dans mes sentimens que je voyois qu'elles pensoient ce que je leur voulois dire avant que de le leur avoir dit cependant comme elles ne creurent pas qu'il fust a propos de me flatter elles m'avouerent qu'elles ne croyoient point qu'une aussi longue amitie que celle que dorinice avoit pour moy pust jamais devenir amour si bien seigneur que comme je scay que sapho est la personne du monde qui connoist le plus tost et le plus parfaitement tous ceux qui l'aprochent je fis un aussi grand fondement sur ce qu'elle me dit que si elle eust pu scavoir l'avenir avec une certitude infaillible de sorte qu'encore que je trouvasse beaucoup de consolation a me pleindre a elle de la tiedeur et de l'injustice de dorinice elle ne laissa pas de me rendre plus malheureux que je n'estois en me disant ce qu'elle pensoit mais dans la confiance que j'avois en la penetration de son esprit je la priay de vouloir aporter quelque soin a bien connoistre dorinice pour scavoir encore mieux ce que j'en devois 
 attendre la conjurant de me dire la verite et en effet je le luy fis promettre d'une maniere si affirmative qu'elle fut obligee de me tenir sa parole quoy qu'elle ne le pust sans me desesperer car enfin apres avoir eu plusieurs conversations avec dorinice apres avoir examine sa conduite avoir aporte un soin tout extraordinaire pour la bien connoistre et luy avoir parle de moy avec beaucoup d'affection elle me dit que je ne devois jamais esperer que dorinice pust changer de sentimens et que si je n'estois content d'estre traite d'elle comme estant le premier de ses amis elle me conseilloit de n'estre plus son amant ha madame luy dis-je je ne scaurois estre satisfait de dorinice tant qu'elle ne me traitera que comme son amy encore si j'estois seul qui eust cette qualite la je pourrois peut-estre me resoudre pourveu qu'elle me donnast toute son amitie de luy conserver toute mon amour mais madame elle aquiert tous les jours de nouveaux amis et elle en avoit deux qui estoient en un rang douteux dans son esprit il y a quelque temps qui sont aujourd'huy mes esgaux encore ne scay-je s'il n'y en a point quelqu'un qui soit au dessus de moy dans son coeur ainsi madame puis que dorinice ne peut avoir de passion et qu'elle ne peut du moins me donner toute son amitie il faut que je tasche de luy oster toute mon amour car il n'est pas possible que je puisse continuer d'aimer plus long temps une personne qui a tant de tiedeur dans l'ame 
 qu'elle aime mieux me rendre malheureux que de me sacrifier des gens pour qui elle n'a point d'amour cependant comme il n'est pas en mon pouvoir de cesser de l'aimer en la voyant je n'ay rien a faire qu'a quitter ma patrie puis que je ne puis m'esloigner de dorinice sans quitter mon pais comme sapho me fait l'honneur d'avoir quelque amitie pour moy elle s'opposa d'abord a mon dessein mais a la fin elle me vit si malheureux qu'elle avoua elle mesme que l'exil me seroit plus doux que la presence de dorinice neant-moins comme elle ne vouloit rien oublier pour mon repos elle fit en sorte par l'adresse de phaon que quoy que les juges destinez a connoistre tous les demeslez des amans ne deussent legitimement se mesler que des choses qui se passent entre des personnes qui ont une affection liee ils voulurent pourtant connoistre du grand different qui estoit entre dorinice et moy d'abord elle en fut fort irritee mais comme sapho fit que la reine appuya la chose par son authorite il fallut qu'elle respondist et que je respondisse aussi a ceux qui nous devoient juger on examina donc diverses questions fort curieuses car on demanda si un amant pouvoit se contenter de l'amitie d'une personne qui n'avoit point d'amour pour aucun autre et on demanda aussi si un amant pouvoit raisonnablement avoir quelque espece de jalousie des amis de sa maistresse et si ces deux choses estoient une cause legitime de pleinte et un juste sujet de changer d'affection je ne m'arresteray 
 point seigneur a vous dire en detail tout ce qui fut dit de part et d'autre en cette occasion car le temps n'est pas propre a vous faire un si long recit de choses ou vous n'avez nul interest mais je vous diray en peu de mots qu'apres avoir bien considere ces deux questions les juges dirent que quant a la premiere il estoit hors de doute que l'amitie ne peut jamais estre mise en comparaison avec l'amour ny la satisfaire et ils declarerent qu'un amant avoit droit d'accuser sa maistresse d'ingratitude et de s'en pleindre comme d'une souveraine injustice si elle ne respondoit a son affection par une affection de mesme nature car outre disoient-ils que l'amour est une passion qui demande l'esgalite de toutes choses dans les coeurs qu'elle possede ils disoient encore que comme l'amitie n'empesche pas qu'on ne puisse venir a avoir de l'amour un amant ne pourroit jamais estre en seurete tant que sa maistresse n'auroit que de l'amitie pour luy puis qu'a tous les momens il seroit expose a voir qu'elle auroit de l'amour pour quelque autre et que de cette sorte ils declaroient que j'avois raison de n'estre pas satisfait de l'amitie de dorinice en suite ils dirent pour la seconde chose dont il s'agissoit que la jalousie avoit une si grande estendue parmy ceux qui la connoissoient bien qu'il ne falloit nullement s'imaginer qu'on ne pust estre jaloux sans avoir des rivaux puis qu'il estoit vray qu'on le pouvoit estre de tout ce qui occupoit trop le coeur de la personne aimee 
 si bien dit alors celuy qui raportoit l'opinion de l'assemblee que comme on n'est pas si jaloux des sentimens que les autres ont pour la dame que l'on aime qu'on l'est de ceux qu'elle a pour les autres il s'enfuit qu'on peut l'estre de tout ce qui engage son coeur de quelque maniere que ce soit et si elle aimoit mesme trop la solitude un amant pourroit sans extravagance en avoir quelque espece de jalousie jugez donc si dorinice aimant cent amis qui peuvent devenir ses amans ou qui du moins occupent une grande partie de son coeur et qui luy derobent tellement tontes ses heures que mereonte n'a presques jamais le loisir de luy parler ne donne pas sujet a cet amant d'avoir des sentimens qu'on peut apeller des sentimens jaloux ainsi il peut aveque raison se pleindre d'elle car bien loin qu'il puisse estre content de son amitie en la partageant avec cent autres je dis que quand mesme elle auroit de l'amour mereonte auroit encore quelque sujet de plainte de la voir eternellement environnee de tant d'amis et de tant d'amis qui ressemblent si fort a des amans qu'il seroit aise de s'y pouvoir tromper comme celuy qui parloit ainsi en estoit la cet agreable amy de dorinice qui pretendoit estre bientost au premier rang de ceux qui avoient part a son amitie se presenta et dit qu'il y auroit beaucoup d'injustice si on vouloit que les amis pussent estre une juste cause de jalousie que c'estoit violer tous les privileges de l'amitie qui estoit la chose 
 du monde qui devoit estre la plus inviolable et que ce seroit mettre un desordre et une confusion espouventable parmy tous les hommes si on vouloit que des qu'on auroit de l'amour on ne pust plus avoir d'amitie parce que comme il n'y en avoit point qui fussent sans amour il s'ensuivroit de necessite qu'il n'y auroit plus d'amis si on declaroit que l'amour et l'amitie estoient incompatibles raportant en suite beaucoup d'exemples de l'antiquite qui faisoient voir qu'on pouvoit estre en mesme temps ardent amant et ardent amy et entre les autres celuy d'achille qui quoy que tres amoureux de briseis n'avoit pas laisse d'aimer patrocle avec beaucoup de tendresse il demanda apres cela qu'il fust declare que dorinice pourroit avoir autant d'amis qu'il luy plairoit sans que j'eusse droit de m'en pleindre mais enfin seigneur apres que cet amy de dorinice eut dit tout ce qu'il voulut et que j'eus respondu a tout ce qu'on avoit dit contre moy avec toute la chaleur d'un amant malheureux et irrite les juges ordonnerent que dorinice choisiroit de deux choses l'une ou de respondre a mon affection par une semblable ou si elle ne le pouvoit et qu'elle me voulust conserver qu'elle me sacrifieroit tous ses amis afin que je demeurasse seul dans son coeur puis qu'elle ne pouvoit avoir d'amour pour moy declarant que si elle ne faisoit ny l'une ny l'autre de ces deux choses je pourrois la quitter sans inconstance et l'accuser d'ingratitude de sorte seigneur que dorinice ne 
 pouvant ny m'aimer d'amour ny renoncer a cette multitude d'amis qui la divertissoient declara hautement que bien loin de vouloir faire ny l'une ny l'autre de ces deux choses elle estoit resolue d'en faire deux autres qui leur estoient entierement opposees car enfin dit-elle j'ay dessein de faire toute ma vie tout ce que je pourray pour n'avoir jamais d'amour et de faire en mesme temps tout ce qui me sera possible pour aquerir de nouveaux amis vous pouvez juger seigneur combien cette cruelle et fiere declaration de dorinice me toucha mais ce qui acheva de me desesperer fut qu'elle me fit dire qu'elle ne vouloit plus que je la visse et que le jour mesme qu'elle me fit faire ce rigoureux commandement on luy mena encore deux nouveaux amis si bien que me determinant d'avoir recours a l'absence j'employay l'illustre sapho a me faire obtenir de la reine la permission de sortir de son estat et j'en sortis en effet sans avoir dit adieu a personne qu'a sapho a agelaste et a phaon parce que j'en partis avec un chagrin estrange cependant des que j'eus traverse ce desert qui environne nostre pais j'entray dans celuy des anciens sauromates ou je trouvay qu'il y avoit des troupes prestes a partir pour venir trouver le prince aripithe qui les avoit fait lever pour thomiris de sorte que ne croyant pas que je pusse mieux faire pour guerir de ma passion que de m'occuper a la guerre je les suivis sans avoir autre dessein que de tascher d'oublier dorinice mais quoy que je ne 
 le puisse faire je suis si fortement determine a ne la revoir jamais que plustost que de m'y resoudre je me banniray volontairement pour tousjours du plus agreable pais de la terre il est vray seigneur que si vous pouvez souffrir que je m'attache inseparablement a vostre service je pourray esperer plus de repos que je n'en ay et que le plaisir d'avoir trouve un si illustre protecteur me pourra consoler de la perte d'une si injuste maistresse
 
 
 
 
mereonte ayant finy son recit et son compliment cyrus respondit au dernier fort obligeamment pour cet illustre sauromate en suite de quoy se donnant tout entier au souvenir de ses malheurs passez et a la douleur de ses infortunes presentes il parla peu le reste du jour mais a la fin le soir estant venu et toutes choses estant prestes cyrus entra dans ce chariot couvert qu'on avoit prepare et il y entra avec meliante si bien que mereonte les escortant ils sortirent a la faveur de la nuit sans qu'on pust remarquer que cyrus estoit dans ce chariot mais s'ils sortirent heureusement du camp ils arriverent de mesme aux tentes royales car comme par bon-heur pour cyrus la tente de meliante estoit une des premieres qu'ils trouverent en arrivant du coste d'ou ils venoient cyrus fut bientost en lieu ou l'on ne le pouvoit voir si meliante ne le vouloit et ou il n'y avoit pas apparence qu'on le pust chercher car sa mort estoit si generalement creue dans tous les deux partis et elle 
 estoit d'une si grande importance qu'elle fut mandee presques en tous les lieux du monde par ces mesmes courriers qu'il avoit establis en effet les grecs qui estoient dans cette armee l'escrivirent en grece les persans la manderent a persepolis quoy que mazare ne l'y mandast pas parce qu'il croyoit qu'il falloit que ce fust ciaxare qui mandast cette funeste nouvelle a cambise les medes la firent scavoir en medie intapherne l'escrivit en pont et en bithinie les assiriens la manderent a babilone thrasimede en lycie ligdamis a ephese myrsile a sardis et ainsi des autres qui estoient de pais differens et en effet le bruit de cette mort fut si generalement espandu dans les lieux les plus esloignez et il fut si universellement creu a cause de cette terrible action de thomiris qu'il s'est mesme trouve des historiens celebres qui n'ont pas este desabusez de cette erreur et qui ont laisse dans leurs histoires cette pretendue mort de cyrus comme si elle eust este effective quoy qu'effectivement ce fust le malheureux spitridate qui eust perdu la vie et qui eust passe pour estre cet illustre conquerant cependant dans cette croyance generale de la mort de cyrus bien que feraulas eust agy avec beaucoup d'adresse pour tascher de scavoir ce qu'on feroit du corps de son maistre qu'il croyoit mort il n'avoit pu venir au point d'entrer dans la tente ou on le gardoit ny de scavoir precisement ce qu'on avoit dessein d'en faire il est vray que comme il avoit plusieurs 
 amis en ce lieu la des le temps que cyrus sous le nom d'artamene l'y avoit mene il les employa a tascher de descouvrir ce qu'il vouloit aprendre mais en cherchant une chose il en descouvrit une autre qui luy donna beaucoup de joye car il sceut fortuitement que ce capitaine gelon qui avoit presente la teste de spitridate a thomiris comme estant celle de cyrus cherchoit a vendre ces magnifiques armes d'or que ce prince infortune avoit portees le dernier jour de sa vie et que cyrus luy avoit donnees apres le combat d'aripithe de sorte que comme feraulas scavoit bien que cyrus n'avoit que des armes simples ce jour la il conclut de necessite que c'estoit la teste de spitridate que thomiris avoit fait plonger dans ce vase plein de sang et que ce ne pouvoit estre celle de cyrus ainsi trouvant beaucoup de douceur a pouvoir douter de la perte de ce prince et a pouvoir croire que ce n'estoit du moins pas luy qu'il avoit veu mort il eut une joye qui fit bien tost renaistre quelque esperance dans son ame de sorte que faisant aprofondir la chose par ceux qui luy avoient parle de ces armes magnifiques il fut en effet assure que celuy qu'on croyoit estre cyrus ne l'estoit point si bien que la mort de spitridate qui en un autre temps eust donne de la douleur a feraulas luy donna de la consolation neantmoins comme il ne vouloit pas donner une fausse joye ny aux amis de son maistre ny a mandane il fut encore quelques jours avant que de chercher les voyes 
 de leur faire scavoir ce qu'il avoit apris afin de tascher de voir ces armes magnifiques de ses propres yeux et d'aprendre par luy mesme si on les avoit effectivement ostees a celuy dont thomiris avoit fait plonger la teste dans ce vase plein de sang d'autre part des que cyrus fut dans la tente de meliante ou mereonte se cacha aussi bien que luy meliante commenca de chercher les moyens de les delivrer il falut pourtant qu'il fust deux jours sans se laisser voir afin de continuer la feinte qu'il avoit commencee mais pendant ces deux jours mereonte et luy imaginerent qu'il ne seroit peut-estre pas impossible d'entreprendre quelque chose pour delivrer la princesse mandane aussi bien que cyrus car comme il y avoit beaucoup de sauromates dans l'armee de thomiris et que depuis la mort de leur prince ils faisoient difficulte de demeurer dans le party de cette princesse ils creurent qu'il leur seroit aise de les porter a se soulever en effet comme mereonte les avoit commandez sous aripithe il estoit fort propre a negocier secrettement avec les autres capitaines qui commandoient ces troupes si bien que meliante et luy ayant dit a cyrus ce qu'ils pensoient ce prince entra si fort dans leurs sentimens qu'il les pria de tascher d'executer leur dessein avant que de songer a le faire sortir des tentes royales car enfin leur dit-il si vous pouviez amener la chose au point qu'il falust combatre pour mandane je voudrois y estre en personne et je ne me consolerois pas 
 si je devois sa liberte a vostre seule valeur ce qui facilita le dessein de mereonte fut qu'il sceut qu'il y avoit alors plusieurs de ces capitaines sauromates aux tentes royales qui attendoient a demander leur conge a thomiris que cette princesse eust l'esprit assez libre pour leur donner audience de sorte que sans perdre temps apres que meliante eut este deux jours a faire semblant de se trouver mal il sortit et sondant avec adresse les intentions de ces capitaines sauromates qui estoient amis particuliers de mereonte il trouva qu'ils estoient dans la disposition ou il les eust pu souhaiter si bien que les obligeant adroitement d'aller un soir dans sa tente il les fit voir a mereonte a qui ils protesterent autant d'obeissance qu'a leur prince tesmoignant tous avoir une telle envie de vanger sa mort qu'ils disoient qu'ils eussent souhaite que cyrus eust encore este vivant pour se pouvoir jetter dans son party mereonte ne jugea pourtant pas a propos de leur dire que leur souhait estoit accomply jusques a ce que le dessein qu'il avoit fust plus avance mais il les obligea de disposer tous leurs soldats a leur obeir aveuglement les assurant que s'ils se rendoient maistres de leurs troupes il leur donneroit bien-tost une ample matiere de signaler leur valeur de vanger la mort d'aripithe d'aquerir beaucoup de gloire et de s'enrichir mesme s'ils le vouloient en suite de quoy quelques-uns d'entr'eux retournerent au camp pour faire ce que mereonte vouloit et les 
 demeurerent pour entretenir le commerce entre mereonte et eux apres cela cyrus estant adverty de ce que ces capitaines avoient promis resolut que quand ils se seroient assurez de leurs compagnons il faudroit qu'il fist advertir secretement cresus et mazare qui commandoient son armee afin que dans le mesme temps que les sauromates se separeroient de celle de thomiris pour venir faire un effort aux tentes royales ils attaquassent le camp d'aryante et qu'ils fissent mesme en sorte que ce grand secours que ciaxare luy envoyoit sous la conduite d'un parent d'aglatidas entreprist de se joindre a eux et de forcer les troupes qu'andramite avoit mises a garder les passages afin que thomiris et aryante ayant tant de choses differentes a faire a la fois succombassent plus facilement mais comme il ne falloit rien precipiter jusques a ce que ces capitaines sauromates fussent assurez de leurs soldats cyrus estoit dans une inquietude estrange car il n'osoit mesme chercher les voyes de faire scavoir a mandane qu'il estoit vivant de peur de se perdre inutilement et de la priver de son assistance il eust pu sans doute obliger meliante a faire scavoir a arpasie la verite de la chose afin qu'elle la dist a mandane mais toutes les fois qu'il pensoit que s'il estoit entre les mains de thomiris il perdroit cette princesse pour tousjours et qu'elle ne seroit jamais delivree il aimoit encore mieux qu'elle ignorast pour quelque temps qu'il estoit vivant que de 
 l'exposer a estre tousjours malheureuse il y avoit pourtant des instans ou non seulement il eust voulu luy pouvoir faire scavoir qu'il n'estoit pas mort mais ou il eust voulu mesme l'aller voir et cette envie le tourmentoit d'une si terrible maniere qu'il y avoit des momens ou il eust voulu s'exposer a toutes sortes de perils pour pouvoir seulement voir mandane ce qui luy en augmentoit l'envie estoit qu'il luy sembloit qu'il n'y avoit pas alors une si grande difficulte car il aprenoit par meliante que l'entree de sa tente n'estoit plus si difficile et que thomiris et aryante estoient si persuadez de sa mort qu'ils ne craignoient plus qu'on luy parlast la garde estoit pourtant fort exacte pour empescher qu'elle ne se pust eschaper aryante songeoit aussi a empescher que thomiris n'entreprist rien par un sentiment de vangeance contre cette princesse mais pour la liberte de luy parler il n'estoit pas si difficile de l'obtenir comme du temps qu'on ne croyoit pas cyrus mort de sorte que ce grand prince qui n'avoit point veu mandane depuis qu'aryante sous le nom d'anaxaris l'avoit enlevee avoit une envie si demesuree de la voir qu'il ne put s'empescher de la tesmoigner a meliante et a mereonte mais ils luy firent voir un si grand danger pour mandane a contenter cette envie qu'il n'osa s'y opiniastrer car enfin seigneur luy disoit meliante si vous estiez reconnu ce ne seroit pas vostre vie qui seroit en peril puis que la passion que thomiris a dans 
 l'ame l'empescheroit d'estre aussi cruelle pour cyrus vivant qu'elle l'a este quand elle l'a creu mort mais de quelle inhumanite ne seroit elle pas capable pour la princesse mandane elle dis-je qui a pu luy faire souffrir un suplice si espouantable en luy faisant voir ce terrible et funeste objet qui donna de l'horreur pour elle et de la compassion pour vous a vos propres ennemis et a ses propres sujets c'est pourquoy seigneur ne me commandez pas de vous rendre un service dont je me repentirois peut estre toute ma vie et qui vous rendroit le plus malheureux de tous les hommes mereonte joignant en suite ses raisons et ses prieres a celles de meliante cyrus sembla se resoudre a ne songer plus a voir mandane et a ne penser qu'a se bien cacher et qu'a attendre avec le plus de tranquilite qu'il pourroit l'evenement de cette grande entreprise que meliante et mereonte tramoient car outre les sauromates avec qui ce dernier avoit tant de credit le premier tascha aussi de gagner quelques uns des gardes de mandane en allant voir arpasie avec qui il estoit tousjours esgallement bien il ne put pourtant rien faire contre hidaspe et s'il aquit quelque nouveau credit dans le coeur d'arpasie ce fut sans diminuer celuy de son rival neantmoins comme il se flattoit et qu'en effet il connoissoit bien qu'arpasie l'estimoit beaucoup et que mesme elle l'aimoit tendrement il se flattoit dans sa passion et il croyoit que s'il pouvoit delivrer mandane et cyrus hidaspe 
 n'oseroit plus luy disputer la possession d'arpasie il y avoit pourtant des instans ou la violence de son amour mettoit sa vertu a une espreuve qui paroissoit difficile car lors qu'il pensoit que s'il eust mis cyrus entre les mains de thomiris il l'eust aisement obligee a remettre arpasie entre les siennes son coeur en estoit emeu mais il n'en estoit pourtant pas moins equitable et le genereux meliante n'eut jamais la moindre tentation de faire une chose qui eust absolument oste toute esperance a son rival de posseder arpasie parce qu'il ne la pouvoit faire sans perdre le plus grand prince et la plus vertueuse princesse de la terre si bien qu'agissant par des sentimens plus nobles et aimant mieux estre tousjours infortune que d'estre heureux par une lasche voye et par le malheur de deux personnes si illustres il ne songea qu'a seconder les soins qu'avoit le vaillant mereonte qui reussirent si heureusement que ces capitaines qui estoient de son intelligence l'assurerent qu'ils disposeroient de tous leurs compagnons demandant encore quelques jours pour attirer les gelons dans leur party qui murmuroient tous de ce qu'il n'y avoit eu que ce capitaine de leur nation qui avoit presente a thomiris la teste de ce pretendu cyrus qui eust este recompense quoy qu'ils disent que sans eux il n'eust pas este vainqueur de ce prince cependant cyrus durant cet intervale sceut diverses choses par meliante car il sceut que les armees estoient tousjours en leurs postes 
 que le secours de ciaxare aprochoit qu'arsamone avoit este tue dans un soulevement de peuple que la princesse sa fille en estoit fort touchee et qu'elle et araminte estoient fort en peine de ne pouvoir descouvrir ce que spitridate estoit devenu mais ce qu'il y eut de plus remarquable fut que meliante sceut par arpasie que depuis deux jours mandane estoit beaucoup moins triste qu'a l'ordinaire que ses larmes commencoient de tarir que ses soupirs estoient bien moins frequens et qu'elle commmencoit d'endurer qu'on luy parlast d'autre chose que de sa douleur de sorte que comme cyrus luy demandoit tous les jours en quel estat estoit mandane et qu'il avoit accoustume de luy representer la grandeur de son desespoir parce qu'il voyoit bien qu'il avoit quelque douceur a scavoir la fidellite de la princesse qu'il aimoit il se trouva bien embarrasse a luy respondre ce jour la neantmoins ne voulant pas luy donner de l'inquiettude il luy dit qu'il n'avoit pu en rien scavoir mais comme il avoit tarde un moment a respondre et que l'esprit d'un amant est plus penetrant que celuy d'un autre cyrus connut d'abord malgre toute l'adresse de meliante qu'il ne luy avoit pas parle sincerement si bien que s'imaginant que c'estoit que mandane estoit malade d'affliction il en eut l'esprit si agite et il dit des choses si touchantes a meliante que ne croyant pas qu'il deust estre aussi afflige de ce qu'il luy diroit qu'il l'estoit de ce qu'il s'imaginoit il luy dit ingenument 
 ce qu'il avoit apris d'arpasie adjoustant en suite pour adoucir la chose qu'il falloit sans doute que ce qui avoit modere la douleur de mandane fust qu'elle avoit sceu que le secours que le roy son pere envoyoit estoit proche et qu'ainsi esperant de voir bientost sa mort vangee et de se voir bientost en liberte l'exces de sa tristesse estoit en quelque sorte diminue ha meliante s'escria cyrus si mandane est desja consolee de ma mort mandane ne songe plus a la vanger mandane est une infidelle aryante triomphe de mon malheur et je suis le plus malheureux de tous les hommes de grace seigneur reprit meliante ne vous affligez pas de ce que je vous ay dit avant que de scavoir si vous avez sujet de vous en affliger car vous en avez tant d'effectifs de vous pleindre qu'il ne faut pas ce me semble s'arrester a des apparences qui sont bien souvent trompeuses et qui ne peuvent du moins estre assurees non non meliante reprit cyrus la consolation de mandane ne peut avoir de cause qui ne me soit desavantageuse et dans les sentimens que j'ay d'elle je suis assure que si elle n'avoit point change d'affection elle ne pourroit dans la croyance ou elle est de ma mort recevoir la liberte qu'en pleurant ainsi il faut conclurre que puis qu'elle se console si promptement je n'ay rien a faire qu'a me desesperer mais meliante luy dit-il le veux mourir a ses pieds apres avoit tue aryante seigner repliqua-t'il quand le dessein que nous tramons sera en estat d'esclater 
 il pourra estre qu'en delivrant mandane vous tuerez vostre rival ainsi ne precipitez point les choses je vous en conjure quoy injuste princesse s'escria alors cyrus en adressant la parole a mandane comme si elle l'eust pu entendre vous pouvez vous consoler si promptement de la mort d'un prince qui ne songeoit qu'a perdre la vie lors qu'il creut a sinope que vous estiez morte et qui se seroit infailliblement tue des qu'il auroit sceu avec certitude que vous ne viviez plus vous dis-je qui m'aviez promis une affection immortelle et de qui l'ame m'a tousjours paru si grande et si genereuse quoy ingratte princesse vous avez oublie tout ce que j'ay fait pour vous et vous pouvez avoir encore dans l'imagination cette teste sanglante que vous avez creu estre celle du malheureux cyrus et estre capable de vous laisser entretenir de choses indifferentes quoy mandane disoit-il encore vous me croyez mort et vous estes sans douleur ha si cela est je suis le plus lasche de tous les hommes de continuer de vous aimer comme cyrus estoit dans cette excessive affliction et que meliante taschoit de l'en consoler on entendit un grand bruit et peu de temps apres on sceut que le feu s'estant pris fortuitement aux tentes ou estoit mandane on la menoit dans d'autres aussi bien que toutes ces autres dames prisonnieres de sorte que comme pour aller a celles ou on les menoit il falloit de necessite passer par devant celle ou estoit cyrus ce prince afflige voulut voir mandane 
 mandane de ses propres yeux quoy que meliante l'en voulust empescher si bien qu'il se mit a regarder par une des ouvertures de la tente ou il estoit il est vray que meliante et mereonte se tinrent aupres de luy afin d'empescher que son desespoir ne l'obligeast a se montrer quand mandane passeroit et en effet ils avoient eu raison d'avoir cette prevoyance car lors que mandane passa devant cette tente qu'il la vit dans son chariot escortee par aryante et qu'il ne remarqua d'abord sur le visage de cette princesse qu'une tristesse sage sans aucun emportement de douleur il sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer mais pour achever de le desesperer il fallut de necessite que le chariot de mandane s'arrestast parce qu'un des chevaux de celuy ou estoit araminte s'estant abatu et ce chariot precedant celuy ou estoit madane il falut comme je l'ay desja dit que ce dernier demeurast aussi de sorte que le hazard ayant fait qu'il s'arresta justement devant la tente ou cyrus estoit ce prince eut le loisir de remarquer mieux les mouvemens du visage de mandane il n'y vit sans doute alors ny joye ny enjouement mais il n'y vit aussi ny desespoir ny douleur excessive et il vit mesme une chose qui pensa le porter dans la derniere extremite et l'obliger a sortir du lieu ou il estoit pour aller faire mille reproches a mandane et s'il eust eu des armes il y a lieu de croire qu'il auroit este attaquer son rival quoy qu'il fust suivy de grand nombre de gens armez 
 ce qui luy causa ce grand desespoir fut que mandane qui n'avoit que doralise et martesie dans son chariot ayant tourne la teste vers une grande multitude de monde qui estoit a sa droite et qui la regardoit passer aprocha de l'oreille de martesie et luy montra quelqu'un que cette fille regarda a l'heure mesme mais en le luy montrant il s'espancha une legere rougeur sur son visage et je ne scay quoy qui dissipant une partie de sa tristesse mit dans ses beaux yeux cette premiere disposition de joye qui paroist sur le visage de ceux qui sourient ce petit mouvement de joye ne dura pourtant qu'un instant car un moment apres mandane ayant leve les yeux au ciel comme pour luy demander quelque chose redevint ce qu'elle estoit auparavant c'est a dire triste et serieuse mais quoy que ce leger sourire ne durast qu'un instant il ne laissa pas de causer une grande et longue douleur dans l'ame de cyrus mais par bonheur pour luy il fut si surpris de ce qu'il vit que l'estonnement qu'il en eut luy osta la parole pour quelque temps car sans cela il eust fait ses pleintes si haut que mandane les eust pu entendre a travers la tente ou il estoit et par bonheur encore meliante et mereonte se trouverent aupres de luy pour l'empescher de se monstrer comme il en avoit le dessein mais comme cet embarras du chariot d'araminte cessa celuy de mandane ayant recommence de marcher cyrus perdit cette princesse de veue et il demeura au plus pitoyable estat du monde 
 quoy dit-il apres qu'il eut recouvre la liberte de se pouvoir pleindre j'ay pu voir sourire mandane sous la puissance de mon rival et dans la croyance ou elle est que je fais dans le tombeau ha puis que cela est il n'est rien que je ne puisse voir et je ne dois pas desesperer de n'aimer plus un jour cette ingratte princesse puis que je puis voir un si prodigieux changement dans son coeur mais le mal est adjoustoit- il que je l'aime encore et qu'elle ne m'aime plus malheureux que je suis adjoustoit ce prince afflige j'avois bien preveu qu'on pouvoit plus aisement estre infidelle a un amant mort qu'a un amant vivant et cependant je me suis laisse persuader qu'il ne falloit pas s'empresser trop de faire scavoir a mandane que je n'estois pas mort mais helas pour suivoit-il encore le moyen de prevoir qu'une princesse qui avoit veu a ses piedes les plus grands princes du mode sans estre infidelle s'en advisast aujourd'huy le moyen dis-je de deviner qu'une personne qui avoit mal traite pour l'amour de moy le roy d'assirie le prince mazare le roy de pont et aryante luy mesme s'advisast des le lendemain qu'elle me croit dans le tombeau de me chasser de son coeur et de sa memoire et d'estre la plus ingrate et la plus injustice personne du monde mais seigneur luy dit meliante je ne voy pas que ce que je vous ay dit et que ce que vous avez veu vous doive affliger avec tant d'exces non non meliante repliqua cyrus on ne m'y scauroit tromper je connois mandane jusques 
 au fonds du coeur et je suis si assure qu'il luy a passe dans l'esprit une pensee infiniment agreable dans le temps que je l'ay veue qu'il n'est pas possible que je n'en sois infiniment afflige car enfin je suis persuade qu'apres tout ce que j'ay fait pour mandane elle devoit ne se consoler pas si tost qu'elle devoit reconnoistre tous mes services par une plus longue douleur et verser du moins autant de larmes pour ma mort que j'ay verse de sang pour luy faire recouvrer liberte cependant elle est dans des sentimens bien differens et veu l'estat ou elle est si nostre dessein n'esclatte bien tost je croy que j'entendray dire qu'elle se trouvera en quelque divertissement public et qu'elle aura recoure toute sa joye et toute la belle humeur o dieux s'escria-t'il alors puis-je avoir veu ce que je viens de voir et puis-je coserver l'envie de vivre apres l'avoir veu ouy ouy adjousta t'il en se reprenant il faut vivre pour me vanger de celle qui ne pleure plus ma mort et il faut vivre pour faire mourir cet heureux rival qui m'a chasse da coeur de cette injuste princesse et se regarde desja comme mon successeur dans son affection mais perfide anaxaris poursuivit-il tu n'en es pas encore ou tu penses et tant que je seray vivant tu ne possederas pas mandane apres cela ce prince afflige dit encore beaucoup d'autres choses fort touchantes et il pria si instamment et meliante et mereonte de haster le plus qu'ils pourroient le grand dessein qu'ils tramoient qu'il leur donna une nouvelle ardeur 
 de l'executer et en effet ils agirent si bien que ces capitaines sauromates qui estoient de leur intelligence leur respondirent non seulement de tous les sauromates mais mesme de la plus grande partie des gelons si bien que ne s'agissant plus alors que de faire scavoir a cresus et a mazare que cyrus estoit vivant afin de concerter avec eux le jour et l'heure de ces diverses attaques qu'ils jugeoient a propos de faire en mesme temps ils proposerent pour plus grande seurete que meliante demanderoit un heraut a aryante pour aller demander des nouvelles d'un homme de ses amis qui estoit effectivement prisonnier dans l'autre party et que cependant celuy qui iroit avec ce heraut auroit ordre de parler en secret ou a cresus ou a mazare ou s'il ne le pouvoit a chrysante ou a feraulas pour leur apendre que cyrus estoit vivant et pour les instruire de l'estat de la chose mais comme la difficulte estoit de trouver un homme qui fust assez fidelle et assez entendu pour cela ils n'en trouverent point a qui ils se pussent confier de sorte que changeant de dessein il fut resolu que mereonte se desguiseroit et iroit se jetter dans le camp de mazare car enfin disoit-il je le puis faire sans danger quis que si les gens de thomiris m'arrestent et me reconnoissent ils me prendront pour estre de leur party et si ceux de cyrus me prenent ils me meneront a cresus et a mazre et ne feront par consequent que ce que j'auray dessein de faire apres cela il n'y eut plus 
 a hesiter mereonte se desguisa et partit apres avoir receu de cyrus toutes les instructions necessaires pour l'execution de la chose mais pour faire que ces princes adjoustassent foy a ce que mereonte leur diroit cyrus escrivit un billet a mazare de trois lignes seulement que mereonte fit dessein de jetter ou de rompre s'il estoit arreste par les gens de thomiris mais devant que de partir cyrus luy dit mille choses obligeantes malgre le desespoir ou il estoit il n'en estoit pourtant pas besoin car mereonte estoit de luy mesme assez porte a servir cet illustre prince et en effet il agir avec tant d'adresse que quoy qu'il fust arreste diverses fois il ne laissa pas d'achever son voyage heureusement car comme il avoit pris un habillement d'une nation dont il y avoit dans les deux armees il estoit en estat de dire a ceux de chaque party qu'il estoit du leur et il se demesla en fin si bien de toutes les difficultez que la fortune luy fit rencontrer qu'il fut trouver cresus et mazare il est vray qu'il ne les surprit pas autant qu'il avoit creu les surprendre parce qu'il y avoit environ une heure que feraulas estoit revenu des tentes royales et qu'il leur avoit apris qu'il avoit sceu d'une certitude infaillible que cette teste que thomiris avoit fait plonger dans un vase plein de sang n'estoit point celle de cyrus et estoit celle de spitridate si bien que mereonte leur donnant apres cela le billet que cyrus escrivoit a mazare ils n'eurent aucun lieu de douter de ce qui leur dit en suite 
 joint qu'ils le reconnurent aussi tost pour estre ce vaillant sauromate que cyrus avoit sauve du milieu des flammes apres l'avoir vaincu mais ce qu'il y eut de remarquable en cette occasion fut qu'encore que mazare vist mourir toutes ses esperances en voyant ressusciter cyrus il fut pourtant assez genereux pour en avoir de la joye il est vray que pour soustenir sa vertu il eut recours a son amour et qu'en se rejouissant de ce que cyrus vivoit il pensa que mandane en seroit plustost delivree et pour porter la generosite aussi loin qu'elle pouvoit aller il aporta tous ses soins a haster l'execution d'un dessein dont il jugeoit bien que le trop long retardement auroit pu faire perir cyrus qui estant en lieu ou il pouvoit tousjours estre descouvert estoit tousjours expose au plus grand danger du monde de sorte que resolvant avec cresus qu'il estoit a propos d'aprendre la chose aux plus considerables des amis de cyrus afin d'examiner mieux ce qu'il estoit a propos de faire ils envoyerent querir le prince artamas myrsile tigrane intapherne gobrias gadate atergatis indathyrse hidaspe et chrysante mais en attendant cresus et mazare firent encore dire a mereonte et a feraulas tout ce qu'ils scavoient de cyrus et de mandane pleignant tous deux cette princesse de la douleur qu'elle avoit de la feinte mort de cyrus vous feriez mieux dit alors mereonte de pleindre ce grand prince que de pleindre cette princesse du moins est-il persuade qu'elle s'est trop tost consolee de sa more 
 et en effet il la vit passer dans un chariot devant la tente ou il est et il la vit avec si peu de marques de grande douleur sur le visage qu'il la vit mesme un peu sous-rire en parlant a martesie et a parler sincerement je ne scay si elle peut estre excusable de se consoler si tost mais je scay bien que jamais amant n'a este si afflige que l'est l'illustre cyrus helas s'escria feraulas il l'est avec beaucoup d'injustice et cette legere joye qu'il a veue sur le visage de cette princesse est une chose dont il luy doit mesme avoir de l'obligation car genereux meronte adjousta feraulas le jour que cyrus vit ce que vous dit es fut celuy ou le feu ayant pris aux tentes de mandane on la mena a d'autres si bien que comme je luy avois fait scavoir adroitement par martesie il y avoit desja deux jours que la teste qu'elle avoit veue estoit celle de spitridate et non pas celle de cyrus il n'est pas estrange si concevant quelque espoir de la vie de ce prince elle a este moins affligee que lors qu'elle croyoit l'avoir veu mort de ses propres yeux joint que l'instant ou il la vit sourire a demy fut encore un effet de l'affection qu'elle a pour ce prince car comme martesie luy avoit dit de quelle maniere j'estois desguise et que ce jour la je m'estois mesle dans la multitude afin de la voir passer elle me reconnut et me montra a martesie me faisant mesme un petit signe de teste pour me tesmoigner qu'elle me scavoit gre de la bonne nouvelle que je luy avois donnee si bien que ne pouvant songer que cyrus pouvoit estre vivant sans qu'il 
 en parust quelque joye dans ses yeux il me sembla en effet qu'elle avoit soury a demy ha feraulas s'escria mereonte qu'il seroit avantageux a l'illustre cyrus de scavoir ce que vous scavez car je suis fortement persuade que depuis qu'il a commence d'aimer mandane jusques a cette heure il ne luy est rien arrive qui l'ait rendu si malheureux que cette derniere avanture il me sera si aise de justifier cette grande princesse repliqua feraulas que je suis tente de retourner diligemment d'ou je viens pour guerir l'esprit de mon illustre maistre de l'erreur ou il est je pense en effet reprit cresus qu'il sera a propos que vous y retourniez avec mereonte car veu les sentimens qu'il a dans l'ame il seroit a craindre qu'il ne s'imaginast que mereonte le voudroit flatter et qu'ainsi il ne se precipitast trop or durant que cresus mereonte et feraulas parloient ainsi en attendant que ces princes qu'ils avoient envoyez querir fussent venus mazare s'entretenoit luy mesme et examinoit soigneusement quels estoient ses plus secrets sentimens de peur que sa passion ne fust plus forte que sa vertu cependant tous ces illustres amis de cyrus estant arrivez et aprenant avec une joye incroyable qu'il n'estoit point mort ils firent mille carresses a mereonte et en effet ils le remercierent comme s'il l'eust effectivement ressuscite mais comme mereonte estoit fort genereux il les arresta tout court et leur dit que ce n'estoit point luy qui avoit sauve la vie a l'illustre cyrus 
 ny qui luy redonneroit la liberte et que c'estoit un illustre assirien nomme meliante a ce nom de meliante hidaspe qui estoit present changea de couleur et ne put s'empescher de tesmoigner son estonnement quoy dit-il c'est meliante qui a autrefois este a alfene avec gobrias quoy adjousta gobrias a son tour en parlant a mereonte c'est de ce meliante dont hidaspe entend parler que cyrus est prisonnier ouy repliqua mereonte celuy qui tient le destin de cyrus en ses mains est ce meliante que j'ay sceu qui rencontra la belle arpasie au bord d'une petite riviere et qui commenca sa connoissance avec elle en luy aprenant que sesostris avoit autrefois fait eslever a sa gloire une magnifique colomne sur quoy elle estoit assise hidaspe estant alors bien fache de voir que cyrus eust tant d'obligation a son rival sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit exprimer neantmoins comme il estoit genereux il ne laissa pas d'en dire du bien et d'assurer ces princes que puis qu'il avoit promis fidellite a cyrus il la luy tiendroit gobrias en parla aussi fort avantageusement apres quoy ils resolurent d'envoyer diligemment vers artabatis qui amenoit ce puissant secours que ciaxare envoyoit afin de concerter si bien les choses que dans le mesme temps que les sauromates et les gelons se detacheroient de l'armee de thomiris pour aller aux tentes royales faire un effort pour delivrer mandane ils attaquassent aryante par trois endroits et qu'artabatis partageant ses 
 troupes attaquast andramite avec une partie des siennes et envoyast l'autre par un chemin destourne mais un peu long pour se poster entre les tentes royales et le camp de thomiris afin d'empescher la communication de ces deux lieux la pendant que cyrus combatroit a la teste des gelons et des sauromates joint que cet ordre fut aussi donne pour les soustenir s'il en estoit besoin
 
 
 
 
mais comme il fallut quelques jours pour cela mereonte ne s'en retourna que lors qu'on sceut qu'artabatis eut receu l'ordre qu'on luy avoit donne qu'il eut promis d'obeir exactement et qu'il eut pris ses mesures pour la marche de ces troupes qui devoient s'aller poster entre les tentes royales et le camp de thomiris la difficulte fut que myrsile intapherne atergatis et hidaspe qui avoient chacun leur maistresse en ce lieu la voulurent tascher d'aller se joindre a cyrus pour combatre aveque luy et en effet quoy que cresus leur dist qu'il estoit plus a propos qu'ils n'y allassent pas de peur que s'ils estoient pris en y allant ils ne nuisisseut a ce prince et ne le fissent descouvrir ils ne laisserent pas d'en prendre la resolution ce dernier ne la prenoit pourtant pas sans une grande agitation d'esprit dans la pensee qu'il trouveroit en ce lieu la un rival a qui cyrus devoit la vie et la liberte artamas eust bien voulu aussi pouvoir aller aupres de cyrus s'il l'eust pu faire sans nuire a son party mais comme il jugea bien qu'il luy serviroit plus a l'armee qu'aux tentes royales il retint 
 l'envie qu'il en avoit pour indathyrse il eust encore bien voulu combatre a la veue de cyrus mais un sentiment genereux fit qu'il ne put se resoudre d'aller attaquer thomiris jusques dans ses tentes quoy qu'il eust alors pour elle de la haine et du mespris pour feraulas il n'hesita pas a prendre la resolution de s'en aller avec mereonte non plus que chrysante mais durant que ces choses se passoient et que tous ces braves se preparoient a aller combatre pour cyrus pour mandane et pour toutes ces autres illustres captives il s'en passoit de bi importantez aux tentes royales en effet plus thomiris consideroit l'estat de sa fortune plus elle se trouvoit miserable et la mort de cyrus luy ostant tout a la fois l'objet de son amour et de sa vangeance ne laissoit dans son ame qu'une horrible haine contre mandane et contre elle mesme qui la tourmentoit d'une si terrible maniere qu'elle n'avoit pas l'esprit bien libre pour aryante comme il voyoit mandane un peu moins melancolique il en avoit une joye estrange si bien que ne l'importunant pas de sa passion dans un temps ou il croyoit qu'il estoit a propos de laisser tout a fait revenir la tranquilite dans son ame il avoit plus d'esperance qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu et mandane moins de persecution toutesfois comme elle estoit genereuse elle sentoit la douleur qu'auroit la malheureuse araminte quand elle scauroit la mort de spitridate joint que ne scachant pas encore ou estoit cyrus et n'ayant que la joye de pouvoir douter 
 de sa mort elle n'estoit pas en un estat fort heureux quoy que feraulas luy eust donne de grandes esperances par martesie de sorte qu'elle avoit tousjours grand besoin de la consolation de doralise qui en son particulier avoit quelque soulagement de ce qu'andramite n'estoit plus aupres d'elle pour meliante comme il avoit la liberte de voir quelquesfois arpasie et qu'il esperoit beaucoup de la protection de cyrus il estoit plus heureux qu'il ne l'avoit este depuis qu'argelyse estoit arrivee a alfene pour y troubler sa felicite mais pour cyrus il estoit plus malheureux qu'il ne se l'estoit jamais veu car toutes les fois qu'il se remettoit dans l'imagination qu'il avoit veu soudre mandane dans un temps ou elle le croyoit mort et si peu de jours apres avoir veu cette funeste et cruelle action de thomiris il croyoit avoir tous les sujets du monde de se desesperer en effet disoit-il un jour a meliante si mandane eust change d'affection en un temps ou il luy passa quelques sentimens de jalousie dans l'esprit pour la princesse araminte et qu'elle eust alors donne toute la sienne au roy de pont le l'aurois trouvee plus excusable mais qu'elle se soit consolee de ma mort presques des le lendemain qu'elle l'a sceue et dans un temps ou elle est satisfaite de ma passion et ou elle croit que j'ay perdu la vie parce que je luy ay este fidelle et que j'ay mesprise une grande reine pour n'estre pas inconstant est une avanture si terrible et si surprenante que si je n'avois veu 
 mandane en l'estat que je l'ay veue je ne le pourrois croire cependant il faut malgre moy que je n'en puisse douter mais dieux disoit-il encore quel changement peut il estre arrive dans son coeur depuis qu'elle estoit a sinope et qu'elle m'y croyoit mort en ce bien heureux temps elle me pleignit elle soupira elle respandit des larmes et elle agit comme une personne qui ne se devoit jamais consoler je n'avois toutesfois presques encore rien fait pour elle je ne luy avois pas mesme dit que je l'aimois et elle faisoit pourtant ce que la raison vouloit qu'elle fist mais aujourd'huy que je pourrois luy demander recompense de mille services et de la plus violente et de la plus constante amour qui sera jamais elle se console sans peine et m'oublira peut-estre si absolument qu'elle ne se souviendra ny du malheureux artamene ny de l'infortune cyrus ha mandane injuste mandane s'escrioit-il peut- il estre possible que j'aye une pareille chose a vous reprocher et peut-il estre vray que je puisse vivre un moment sans aller moy mesme vous reprocher au milieu de vos gardes et mesme a la presence de thomiris et d'aryante que vous estes la plus ingrate personne de la terre non non meliante adjousta-t'il je ne scaurois plus vivre sans que mandane scache que je suis vivant et sans qu'elle scache aussi que je scay qu'elle est consolee de ma mort je suis las d'avoir plus de prudence que d'amour et il faut enfin que ma passion esclatte et qe j'aye aujourd'huy plus d'amour 
 que de prudence ouy meliante poursuivit-il il faut que vous trouviez invention de faire tenir une lettre de moy a mandane car si vous ne le faites j'iray moy mesme luy faire mille reproches de son peu d'affection meliante fit alors ce qu'il put pour destourner cyrus de ce dessein car comme il ne pouvoit pas donner cette lettre en main propre a mandane parce qu'il ne la voyoit point il craignoit qu'il n'arrivast quelque malheur qui perdist ce prince et qui destruisist ce grand dessein qui estoit prest d'esclatter et qui devoit aparamment mettre cyrus et mandane en liberte et perdre thomiris et aryante de sorte qu'il n'est rien de fort et de persuasif qu'il ne dist a cyrus pour luy faire changer l'intention qu'il avoit mais comme l'amour de ce prince estoit la plus forte dans son coeur et que son ressentiment estoit aussi grand que son amour il ne pouvoit suivre le conseil de meliante quoy qu'il connust bien qu'il estoit raisonnable et il luy dit enfin des choses si touchantes et si fortes que meliante craignant que ce prince n'allast luy mesme trouver mandane dans le desespoir ou il estoit luy promit de faire ce qu'il pourroit pour faire donner sa lettre a cette princesse si bien que donnant des tablettes a cyrus il escrivit a mandane mais il luy escrivit avec des sentimens si tumultueux qu'il ne s'estoit jamais senty l'esprit en l'assiette ou il l'avoit alors en effet il ne s'arresta pas a donner quelque ordre a ses pensees au contraire il escrivit avec tant de vitesse 
 qu'a peine sa main pouvoit elle suivre son imagination et ne consultant que son coeur en cette occasion il dit a mandane tout ce que la douleur d'un amant irrite et respectueux peut faire dire apres quoy fermant les tablettes dans lesquelles il avoit escrit il les donna a meliante qui fut a l'heure mesme trouver nyside pour la prier de les vouloir donner a martesie afin qu'elle les donnast a mandane et de les luy donner fort secrettement et en effet meliante fit la chose comme il l'avoit pensee car nyside se chargea des tablettes elle les donna a martesie et martesie les donna a mandane mais comme elle ne scavoit pas qui les envoyoit parce que meliante n'avoit pas creu a propos que nyside sceust que cyrus estoit vivant quoy qu'il la connust pour estre fort discrette elle ne pouvoit l'avoir dit a martesie si bien que cette fille donna ces tablettes a mandane en presence d'araminte car en l'estat ou elles estoient elles ne gardoient pas toutes les mesures que l'exacte bienseance eust demandees d'elles en un autre temps joint qu'ayant une amitie fort estroite l'une pour l'autre la ceremonie estoit bannie de leur commerce si ce n'estoit en certaines occasions ou la dignite de leur condition ne leur permettoit pas de s'en dispenser de sorte que mandane recevant ce billet en presence d'araminte eut une telle impatience de voir s'il ne venoit point de feraulas et si ce n'estoit point qu'il eust encore apris quelque chose qui la pust confirmer dans 
 l'esperance que cyrus estoit vivant qu'apres avoit fait un compliment a araminte pour luy demander la permission de l'ouvrir elle l'ouvrit effectivement sans se souvenir alors qu'elle n'avoit rien dit a cette princesse de ce que feraulas luy avoit fait scavoir d'autre part araminte qui croyoit que ce billet ne pouvoit estre autre chose que pour advertir mandane de ce qu'on faisoit pour la delivrer la pria elle mesme de le voir diligemment dans l'esperance qu'elle eut qu'on manderoit peut-estre quelque chose de spitridate a cette princesse si bien qu'attachant les yeux sur ces tablettes que mandane ouvrit diligemment comme si elle eust voulu voir tout d'un coup ce qu'il y avoit d'escrit dedans elles ne furent pas plustost ouvertes qu'araminte qui avoit veu beaucoup de lettres de cyrus du temps qu'elle estoit sa prisonniere et qui en avoit receu elle mesme reconnut d'abord l'escriture de ce prince de sorte que comme elle jugea des ce premier moment que si cyrus estoit vivant il falloit que spitridate fust mort et qu'on se fust abuse a la ressemblance qui estoit entr'eux elle fit un grand cry et un cry si douloureux que les gardes qui estoient a l'autre bout de la tente creurent qu'il estoit arrive quelque accident impreveu a cette princesse si bien que s aprochant d'elle aussi bien qu'hesionide doralise et martesie ils la virent si troublee qu'ils connurent aisement qu'il falloit qu'elle eust quelque grande douleur mais le mal sut que mandane 
 avoit d'abord reconnu l'escriture de cyrus aussi bien qu'araminte en avoit eu une surprise si agreable et qui avoit de telle sorte occupe son esprit que sans prendre garde a araminte elle avoit commence de lire et de lire avec tant d'attention les premieres paroles de la lettre de ce prince qui luy faisoit des reproches que lors que ces gardes aprocherent au cry qu'avoit fait araminte elle lisoit encore de sorte que revenant alors a elle mesme elle cacha diligemment ces tablettes mais elle ne les put cacher si promptement qu'elles ne fussent veues de ces garpes cependant araminte voyant tant de gens a l'entour d'elle leur fit signe qu'elle se trouvoit mal sans pouvoir parler et leur fit signe aussi qu'ils se retirassent et en effet ils le firent par respect mais comme ce qu'ils avoient veu leur donna de la curiosite ils observerent ces princesses chacun avec intention de raporter ce qu'ils auroient veu et ouy a ceux de qui ils dependoient car il y en avoit qui estoient plus a thomiris qu'a aryante et il y en avoit aussi qui estoient plus a aryante qu'a thomiris de sorte qu'apres s'estre retirez a l'entree de la tente ils presterent attentivement l'oreille mais a dire la verite il ne leur sur pas difficile de connoistre qu'il y avoit quelque grande chose dans ces tablettes car des qu'ils se furent retirez la malheureuse araminte apres avoit fait un grand soupir se tourna vers mandane et luy tendant la main de grace madame luy dit elle 
 aprenez moy si je dois vivre ou mourir en me montrant les tablettes que vous venez de recevoir car si mes yeux ne m'ont point trompee il faut que je meure et rien ne m'en scauroit empescher mandane se trouva alors bien embarrassee car en montrant ces tablettes a araminte c'estoit luy dire que cyrus estoit vivant et par consequent que spitridate estoit mort d'autre part en ne les luy montrant pas c'estoit encore luy dire la mesme chose puis que veu la confiance ou elles vivoient il n'y avoit pas aparence que mandane pust rien cacher a araminte si ce n'estoit des choses qui la deussent affliger joint que mandane voyant bien qu'elle avoit reconnu l'escriture de cyrus il n'y avoit pas moyen de luy faire changer d'avis en ne luy monstrant pas ces tablettes cependant il falloit respondre a cette grande se malheureuse princesse et mandane le fit sans doute avec toute l'adresse dont elle estoit capable l'estat ou je vous voy luy dit elle lors qu'elle luy demanda a voir les tablettes qu'elle venoit de recevoir me donne tant de pitie qu'il n'est rien que je ne sois capable de faire pour tascher de soulager vostre douleur ainsi je ne dois pas me mettre au hazard de l'irriter comme je ferois peut-estre en vous montrant les tablettes que je viens de recevoir car enfin comme je n'ay pas eu le temps de lire ce qui est dedans je ne scay si on ne me donne point advis que le reste de l'armee du roy mon pere a este taillee en pieces et que nous sommes exposees 
 a estre eternellement capitives c'est pourquoy souffrez que je lise ces tablettes en particulier avant que je vous les montre et resolvez vous mesme si vous le pouvez a endurer que je ne les lise que ce soir car comme vous le voyez le cry que vous avez fait a mis nos gardes en quelque soubcon et les a obligez a nous observer de plus pres ha madame repliqua araminte en me refusant ce que je vous demande vous me dittes que je dois mourir car enfin me voyant en l'estat ou vous me voyez si l'escriture que j'ay veue n'estoit pas de la main de cyrus vous me l'auriez desja dit ainsi madame je n'ay plus rien a vous dire si non que ne pouvant estre maistresse de ma douleur il faut que j'aille la cacher dans la tente ou je couche de peur qu'elle ne vous nuise en disant cela la malheureuse araminte se leva et passa en effet dans une tente qui touchoit celle de mandane ou cette princesse la suivit mais elles n'y furent pas plustost qu'araminte s'abandonnant a la douleur die des choses si touchantes qu'elle eust attendry les coeurs les plus durs et les plus impitoyables mandane voulut en cette occasion luy rendre l'office qu'elle en avoit receu lors qu'elle avoit tasche de la consoler le jour que thomiris luy avoit fait voir un si tragique spectacle mais cette princesse n'avoit pas l'ame en estat de recevoir des consolations c'est pourquoy mandane jugea que puis que sa douleur estoit si excessive il valloit autant qu'elle sceust avec certitude quel 
 estoit son malheur que de le luy laisser soubconner puis que de necessite il falloit qu'elle le sceust un jour si bien que ne s'opposant plus a son affliction et luy parlant seulement de la partager avec elle araminte acheva d'estre confirmee dans l'opinion ou elle estoit desja de la mort de spitridate de sorte que n'ayant plus nulle esperance elle ne donna plus de bornes a la tristesse et elle en eut l'ame si absolument possedee que ne se souvenant plus qu'il importoit a mandane qu'elle n'esclatast pas elle se pleignit si haut que tous ceux qui estoient dans les tentes prochaines peurent entendre se pleintes quoy dit-elle il est donc bien vray que j'ay pu voir le malheureux spitridate mort sans le connoistre et sans mourir et il peut estre vray qu'un si grand et si vertueux prince ait este traite si cruellement par la fortune et par thomiris apres cela araminte se teut et ses larmes coulerent avec une telle abondance que ne pouvant tout a la fois pleurer soupirer et se pleindre il falut en effet qu'elle ne se pleignist pas mais pendant un si triste silence il estoit aise de voir ce qu'elle souffroit et on voyoit sur son visage toutes les marques d'une douleur si excessive qu'elle donnoit de la compassion aux ames les plus insensibles car non seulement elle paroissoit tres affligee mais elle sembloit mesme si fort accablee du poids de sa douleur que quand elle eust eu une tres longue affliction elle ne l'eust pu estre davantage son visage estoit entierement change elle avoit 
 une passeur mortelle sur le teint ses regards estoient si melancoliques qu'ils eussent tire des larmes des gens les plus incapables de pleurer et il y avoit en toutes ses actions je ne scay quoy qui faisoit si bien voir la grandeur de son desespoir que mandane craignit qu'elle ne fust capable de quelque funeste resolution parce que conme araminte estoit naturellement une des plus sages et des plus prudentes personnes du monde il paroissoit bien plus estrange de voir le dereglement de son esprit qu'il ne l'eust paru en nulle autre car apres qu'elle eut este quelque temps sans ri dire elle se mit selon que sa memoire luy faisoit souvenir a considerer les choses qui estoient arrivees a spitridate a en parler avec empressement de sorte que remontant a la source des malheurs de ce prince elle accusoit le roy de pont tout nort qu'il estoit de la perte de spitridate un moment apres elle en accusoit arsamone et une autrefois elle s'en accusoit elle mesme en effet disoit-elle il faloit ou ne souffrir point l'affection de ce prince on la mieux reconnoistre car enfin malheureuse araminte si tu avois este ou plus prudente ou plus inconsideree il ne seroit point mort et tu ne serois pas dans la necessite de mourir mais apres tout poursuivoit-elle c'est a toy a faire voir que tu estois digne de l'amour de spitridate et pour faire que ta propre douleur suffise a t'oster la vie sans qu'il soit besoin d'avoir recours an fer ny au poison souviens toy de la grandeur de sa passion de sa generosite 
 et de sa constance pense que c'est pour tes interests qu'il a souffert diverses prisons qu'il a quitte des couronnes plustost que de te quitter et qu'il s'est exile pour l'amour de toy d'un lieu ou il eust pu estre heureux si tu ne l'eusses pas rendu miserable pense dis-je que tu luy as tousjours refuse toutes choses sans que sa passion s'en soit affoiblie et pense enfin pour pouvoir courageusement suivre le malheureux spitridate que c est toy qui es cause de sa mort mais pense encore pour t'y exciter davantage qu'il te seroit honteux de vivre mais madame luy dit alors mandane en abaissant la voix souvenez vous de grace des raisons que vous me disiez le jour que je croyois avoir veu mort l'illustre prince que je viens d'aprendre qui est vivant ha madame s'escria araminte sans considerer qu'il ne faloit pas parler de cyrus si haut souffrez que je rejette vos consolations comme vous rejettiez les miennes et souffrez que je vous demande pardon d'estre si affligee de la vie de cyrus puis qu'il a plu a la fortune que je ne puisse aprendre qu'il est vivant sans aprendre en mesme temps que spitridate est mort eh de grace madame luy dit alors mandane ne parlez point de ce prince si vous le pouvez de peur de descouvrir sa vie a quelqu'un qui luy pourroit nuire car comme vous le scavez on nous observe soigneusement et l'on peut entendre ce que vous dittes des tentes qui touchent les nostres je vous demande pardon repliqua tristement la malheureuse araminte 
 si j'ay dit quelque chose qui nous puisse nuire mais madame je ne suis pas maistresse de ma douleur et je sens bien que je ne pourray m'empescher de me plaindre jusques a la mort il est vray que je suis pourtant persuadee que je ne me pleindray pas long temps car enfin apres tous les malheurs qui sont arrivez dans ma maison apres avoir sceu la perte du roy mon frere et apres avoir veu spitridate mort de mes propres yeux je serois digne de toutes mes infortunes si je les pouvois suporter en suite de cela mandane dit encore mille choses adroites tendres et obligeantes a araminte et cette malheureuse princesse luy en respondit de si touchantes qu'elle luy osta pour quelque temps la sensibilite d'une partie de la joye qu'elle avoit de la vie de cyrus mais a la fin comme mandane creut qu'hesionide estoit plus propre qu'elle a soulager la douleur d'araminte et qu'elle pensa qu'il estoit a propos pour ne donner pas une trop grande curiosite a ses gardes de r'entrer dans sa tente elle y retourna mais des qu'elle y fut retournee elle ne put s'empescher de lire ce que cyrus luy escrivoit elle aporta pourtant tout le soin possible afin que les gardes qui estoient a l'entree de sa tente ne s'aperceussent pas qu'elle lisoit pour cet effet doralise et martesie eurent ordre de se mettre devant elle durant qu'elle liroit la lettre de cyrus qui estoit a peu pres en ces termes 
 
 
 
 commma mort vous a este fort indifferente je ne doute pas que ma vie ne vous le soit aussi et que vous ne soyez aussi paresseuse a vous rejouir de ce que je suis vivant que vous avez este diligente a vous consoler de ma perte aussi vous avoueray je avec sincerite que c'est plus pour me vanger de vostre infidelite que pour nulle autre raison que je vous aprens que cyrus que vous avez creu mort ne l'est pas il est vray qu'il n'en est pas plus heureux car apres vous avoir veu sourire de ses propres yeux le jour que vous changeastes de tente il luy seroit bien plus doux d'estre dans le tombeau que de scavoir qu'il n'est plus dans vostre coeur car enfin madame on ne se console point si promptement quand on perd une personne qu'on aime et le peu de sentiment que ma mort vous a cause m'est si sensible et si douloureux que je vous mettray sans doute bien tost en estat de vous rejouir une seconde fois de ma perte je feray pourtant tout ce qui me sera possible pour ne mourir pas que je n'aye empesche mon rival de triompher de mon infortune et de profiter de vostre inconstance et je le feray sans doute en vous remettant entre les mains du roy vostre pere quand cela sera fait madame je n'auray plus rien a faire qu'a mourir car je n'ay pas lieu de croire qu'un homme dont la mort vous a este si indifferente peust vous donner jamais nulle satisfaction je conserveray pourtant mon respect et mon amour jusques a la fin de mes jours et je ne me vangeray de vostre ingratitude que sur mon rival et sur vos ennemis voila madame quels sont les sentimens de cyrus ressuscite qui a mon advis meritoit d'estre pleure plus long temps 
 d'une personne pour qui il a tousjours des sentimens si tendres qu'il l'adore toute injuste et toute infidelle qu'elle est 
 
 
 cyrus 
 
 
la lecture de cette lettre toucha si sensiblement mandane et la surprit d'une telle sorte que ne se souvenant plus de l'ordre qu'elle avoit donne a doralise et a martesie elle les appella toutes deux pour leur montrer cette lettre de sorte que ces deux filles luy obeissant furent a elle mais en y allant comme elles ne la cachoient plus les gardes virent que cette princesse tenoit ces mesmes tablettes qu'ils luy avoient desja veu tenir lors qu'araminte avoit fait ce grand cry qui les avoit obligez d'aprocher d'elle pour voir s'il ne luy estoit point arrive quelque accident si bien que ne doutant pas qu'il n'y eust quelque chose d'extraordinaire a scavoir les uns furent advertir aryante et les autres thomiris de plus comme il y en avoit eu quelques-uns qui avoient ouy confusement les pleintes d'araminte ou le nom de cyrus estoit mesle ils adjousterent ce qu'ils avoient entendu a ce qu'ils avoient veu ainsi thomiris et aryante aprirent en mesme temps que mandane devoit avoir receu par quelque voye cachee des tablettes dans quoy selon toutes les aparences il devoit y avoir quel que chose de grande importance car ces gardes n'oublierent pas de dire le grand et douloureux cry qu'avoit fait araminte en les voyant l'excessive douleur 
 ou elle estoit les pleintes qu'elle avoit faites apres estre retournee dans la tente ou elle couchoit le nom de cyrus qu'ils avoient ouy prononcer a cette princesse affligee et l'empressement que mandane avoit eu de lire ce qui estoit dans ces tablettes apres estre retournee dans sa tente de sorte que ne pouvant pas douter qu'il n'y eust quelque chose de consequence a scavoir ils raisonnerent chacun a leur maniere sur ce qu'on leur raportoit mais comme ny l'un ny l'autre ne pouvoient faire nulle violence a mandane s'ils n'estoient d'accord parce que les gardes de cette princesse estoient partagez entre eux aussi bien que toute la cour de thomiris entre elle et aryante il arriva que dans le mesme temps que cette reine songea a envoyer querir le prince son frere il pensa a l'aller trouver si bien que leurs intentions estant esgales en cette rencontre ils se virent et se redisant ce qu'on leur avoit dit ils tascherent de deviner quelle pouvoit estre la cause de la douleur d'araminte d'abord thomiris alla presque a la verite car elle creut que c'estoit qu'on avoit mande a mandane que spitridate estoit mort mais aryante se souvenant alors qu'il y avoit desja quelques jours que mandane estoit moins triste qu'a l'ordinaire le dit a thomiris quoy qu'il ne comprist pas bien pourquoy ce redoublement de douleur d'araminte joint au changement qui estoit arrive a celle de mandane luy donnoit de l'inquiettude neantmoins comme il scavoit 
 quelle avoit este la ressemblance de cyrus et de spitridate il luy vint alors une pensee qui mit un estrange trouble dans son coeur toutesfois comme il ne pouvoit avoir sceu que cyrus eust donne a spitridate ces magnifiques armes d'or que portoit cet infortune prince qu'on avoit creu estre cyrus il se rassura un moment apres pour thomiris comme elle ne cherchoit qu'un pretexte pour persecuter mandane elle dit a aryante qu'il falloit absolument voir les tablettes que cette princesse avoit receues et qu'il falloit scavoir quelle estoit la cause de la douleur d'araminte afin de voir si cela ne donneroit nulle lumiere du reste proposant en suitte d'y aller a l'heure mesme sur le pretexte de faire une civilite a cette princesse et en effet aryante aprouvant cette derniere chose thomiris fut a la tente d'araminte conduite par ce prince ou ils trouverent que mandane estoit retournee et ou onefile la princesse de bithinie istrine et arpasie estoient allees sur le bruit que sa douleur avoit fait cependant l'arrivee inopinee de thomiris et d'aryante surprit si fort mandane qu'il leur fut aise de juger qu'il y avoit quelque chose de considerable a scavoir car comme cette princesse scavoit quel estoit l'exces de la douleur d'araminte elle n'avoit pas lieu d'esperer qu'elle eust l'esprit assez libre pour pouvoir mesnager ses interests et ne dire rien qui luy pust nuire ny descouvrir que cyrus estoit vivant d'autre part araminte qui n'avoit l'imagination remplie que 
 de spitridate mort dont thomiris avoit fait plonger la teste dans un vase plein de sang ne vit pas plustost cette reine que cette funeste idee se renouvellant encore dans son esprit y mit un trouble si grand que ne se souvenant alors ny de cyrus ny de mandane et n'ayant dans la pensee que cette funeste ceremonie ou thomiris avoit assiste elle ne put estre maistresse de ses premiers sentimens si bien que faisant un grand cry elle destourna la teste pour ne voir pas une princesse qu'elle n'avoit point veue depuis qu'elle avoit veu spitridate mort sans le connoistre et a qui elle avoit veu faire un action de cruaute ou elle avoit tant d'interest de sorte que thomiris qui avoit toujours veu araminte et fort civile et fort retenue en toutes ses actions et en toutes ses paroles fut extremement surprise de son procede elle s'aprocha pourtant du lit sur quoy elle estoit alors et prenant la parole vous recevez la civilite que je vous rends luy dit elle d'une si surprenante maniere qu'il ne m'est pas possible de m'empescher de vous en demander la raison comme je n'ay plus nulle part a la vie repliqua araminte en se faisant une extreme violence je n'ay plus rien a mesnager c'est pourquoy madame je ne vous diray ny ce qui m'afflige ny ce qui fait que vostre veue redouble ma douleur ny ce qui me fait resoudre a mourir et pour reconnoistre mieux vostre civilite je vous diray que si vous ne vous lassez de faire respandre tant d'illustre sang par une injuste guerre et que vous 
 ne delivriez pas la princesse mandane vous serez l'objet de la haine de tous les hommes et celuy de la vangeance des dieux apres cela madame n'attendez plus rien de la malheureuse araminte laissez la seule avec la douleur qu'elle a dans l'ame sans en vouloir penetrer la cause et laissez la enfin attendre la mort qu'elle souhaite comme la seule chose qui peut soulager les maux qui l'accablent araminte ayant dit ces paroles avec precipitation se teut et fut si pressee de sa douleur que quand elle eust voulu parler davantage il luy eust elle impossible tant ses soupirs redoublez l'accablerent cependant thomiris qui n'estoit pas accoustumee d'estre receue d'une telle maniere rougit de depit et se tournant vers mandane apres avoir regarde aryante c'est a vous madame luy dit-elle a nous aprendre la cause de la douleur de cette princesse car j'ay sceu que vous avez receu des tablettes ou vous avez apris la nouvelle qui l'afflige mais de grace madame adjousta thomiris ne vous amusez point a me vouloir nier une chose que je scay d'une certitude infaillible et monstrez moy les tablettes dont je parle car je les veux voir puis que je suis en pouvoir de me faire obeir mandane entendant ce que thomiris luy disoit se trouva en un embarras estrange car elle connut bien le danger qu'il y avoit de montrer ces tablettes a thomiris et de luy aprendre que cyrus estoit vivant et qu'il estoit aux tentes royales de sorte que dans cette pressante necessite 
 de respondre elle prit la resolution de tascher d'oster de sa poche les tablettes qu'elle avoit si bien que prenant la parole pour les tablettes dont vous parlez repliqua mandane je ne puis vous les montrer parce que je les ay rendues a celuy de mes gardes qui me les avoit aportees mais s'il plaist a vostre majeste de passer dans ma tente pour n'irriter pas davantage la douleur de la reine de pont je vous aprendray ce qui la cause comme mandane dit cela d'un visage assez assure thomiris creut qu'en effet elle parloit sincerement et aryante qui vouloit autant qu'il pouvoit empescher thomiris de faire rien qui deplust a cette princesse la pria de faire ce qu'elle luy proposoit de sorte que la reine des massagettes passa de la tente ou estoit la malheureuse araminte a celle de mandane mais en passant d'une tente a l'autre cette princesse qui suivoit thomiris et qui avoit remarque que doralise et martesie estoient a l'entree de cette tente tira diligemment ces tablettes de sa poche pour les bailler a une des deux croyant le faire d'autant plus seurement que quand toutes ces princesses qui estoient dans la tente d'araminte l'auroient veu elles ne l'auroient pas dit a thomiris ny a aryante qui estoient entrez seuls dans la tente d'araminte mais conme mandane prit ces tablettes dans sa poche avec beaucoup de precipitation et qu'elle les voulut bailler de mesme ou a doralise ou a martesie ces deux filles ne scachant a laquelle des deux elle 
 les vouloit donner parce que dans le trouble ou elle estoit elle ne faisoit pas une action qui leur pust faire connoistre assez distinctement son intention avancerent toutes deux la main en mesme temps si bien que mandane abandonnant ces tablettes un moment trop tost au lieu de demeurer entre les mains de doralise ou de martesie elles tomberent et tomberent si malheureusement que lors que ces deux filles se baisserent avec precipitation pour les relever thomiris tournant la teste pour voir si mandane la suivoit les vit entre les mains de martesie et s'en saisit si promptement qu'a peine y eut il un instant employe a faire trois choses differentes mais des que mandane vit ces tablettes entre les mains de thomiris que ne sentit-elle pas et que ne pensa-t'elle point cependant la chose n'avoit point de remede car elle jugeoit bien que veu la conjoncture thomiris ne rendroit pas ces tablettes sans voir ce qui estoit dedans quand mesme elle luy diroit que ce n'estoient pas celles-la qui avoient cause la douleur d'araminte de sorte que n'ayant rien a faire qu'a se resoudre de suporter constamment une avanture si facheuse et qu'a prier les dieux que cet accident ne fist pas tomber cyrus sous la puissance de thomiris elle fit un grand effort pour r'assurer son esprit et ne laissa pas de continuer de suivre cette princesse dans sa tente ou elle ne fut pas plustost que voyant que la reine des massagettes alloit ouvrir ces tablettes et alloit par consequent connoistre 
 l'escriture de cyrus aussi bien qu'aryante qui en avoit veu souvent elle prit la parole avec autant de courage que de prudence je ne scay madame luy dit-elle quel sentiment vous allez avoir en aprenant que cyrus n'est pas mort mais avant que vous l'apreniez par ce qu'il m'escrit j'ay a vous protester que vous ne scaurez jamais par moy de qui j'ay receu ces tablettes afin que vous ne vous obstiniez pas a me le vouloir faire dire quoy s'escria thomiris en achevant de les ouvrir cyrus n'est pas mort quoy reprit aryante a son tour il peut estre vray que cyrus soit vivant ha si cela est madame adjousta-t'il il y a desja plusieurs jours que vous le scavez et cette consolation dont je tirois un si heureux presage pour moy me devoit donc affliger au lien de me rejouir pendant qu'il parloit ainsi thomiris lisoit la lettre que cyrus avoit escrite a mandane et elle la lisoit avec des sentimens si tumultueux et si opposez qu'il eust este difficile de les bien demesler car elle eut de l'estonnement de la joye de la colere de la douleur et de la jalousie si bien que sentant une si grande agitation dans son ame et pouvant bien moins souffrir la veue de mandane quand elle sceut que cyrus estoit vivant que lors qu'elle le croyoit mort elle referma ces tablettes sans achever mesme de lire ce qu'il y avoit d'ecrit et se tournant vers mandane quelque resolution que vous ayez prise luy dit-elle de ne dire pas qui vous a donne ces tablettes je 
 trouveray bien l'invention de vous le faire avouer vous pouvez trouver celle de me persecuter et mesme celle de me faire mourir repliqua mandane mais vous ne me pourrez jamais rien faire dire qui puisse nuire a cyrus et vous ne me verrez jamais rien faire repliqua brusquement thomiris qui puisse plaire a mandane apres cela cette reine dit a aryante qu'il faloit redoubler les gardes de cette princesse et mesme ceux de toutes ces autres dames et leur oster aussi toute communication et en effet cet ordre estant observe a l'heure mesme on separa presques toutes ces princesses car araminte demeura toute seule dans sa tente avec hesionide mandane dans la sienne avec doralise et martesie et les autres avec leurs femmes de sorte que par ce moyen il fut impossible a nyside a qui meliante avoit donne la lettre de cyrus de l'envoyer advertir de ce grand desordre dont il ne sceut rien alors parce qu'il estoit occupe a une conference secrete entre luy et ces capitaines sauromates avec qui mereonte et luy avoient traite cependant thomiris et aryante ne furent pas plustost retournez au lieu d'ou ils estoient partis ensemble qu'ouvrant cette lettre de cyrus ils la leurent avec une agitation d'esprit terrible quoy que ce fust avec des sentimens bien differens car thomiris par un sentiment d'amour estoit bien aise que cyrus ne fust pas mort et qu'il se pleignist de mandane bien que d'ailleurs elle eust aussi de la douleur de voir un 
 tel ennemy ressuscite et de connoistre qu'il avoit une passion si tendre pour sa rivale mais pour aryante quoy que sa generosite l'eust oblige a avoir de la compassion de son rival mort il avoit une excessive douleur d'aprendre qu'il estoit vivant et toutes les plaintes que ce prince faisoit a mandane ne le consoloient point
 
 
 
 
cependant thomiris et aryante qui ne pouvoient douter de la vie de cyrus parce qu'ils connoissoient bien son escriture et qui voyoient mesme par cette lettre qu'il faloit qu'il fust aux tentes royales ou qu'il y eust este puis qu'il disoit a mandane qu'il l'avoit veue sourire de ses propres yeux le jour qu'elle avoit change de tente ne songerent qu'a tascher de s'assurer de sa personne mais la difficulte estoit de scavoir ou estoit ce prince il est vray que la fortune favorisa leur dessein car comme ils en estoient la on amena trois prisonniers qu'agathyrse avoit faits et qu'il envoyoit a thomiris un desquels estoit le prince atergatis desguise en massagette le second estoit intapherne et le troisiesme estoit feraulas qu'on trouva charge d'une lettre de gobrias pour meliante de sorte que ne doutant point alors que meliante ne sceust du moins ou estoit cyrus thomiris commanda a l'heure mesme au capitaine de ses gardes de l'aller arrester et de chercher soigneusement dans toutes les tentes qu'il occupoit pour voir si cyrus n'y seroit point car la lettre de gobrias en donnoit quelque soubcon mais elle luy commanda de le luy amener vivant 
 et s'il resistoit que ses compagnons ne le tuassent pourtant pas apres quoy elle ordonna qu'on gardast intapherne et atergatis avec beaucoup de soin car pour feraulas elle le voulut voir et luy demander elle mesme ce qu'il scavoit de son maistre mais pour pouvoir le luy faire dire plustost elle luy parla d'abord avec toute la douceur imaginable en suite elle le menaca et a la fin elle luy parla avec tant de colere que feraulas aprehenda estrangement que cyrus ne tombast entre les mains d'une princesse dont les passions estoient si violentes mais pendant qu'elle employoit inutilement les menaces pour obliger feraulas a luy descouvrir ou estoit son illustre maistre et qu'aryante par les ordres de thomiris estoit alle faire redoubler la garde tout a l'entour des tentes royales afin que personne n'en pust sortir sans une permission expresse de la reine des massagettes cyrus et meliante n'estoient pas sans inquietude car encore que nyside n'eust pu avertir meliante de ce qui estoit arrive et que meliante eust este si occupe qu'il n'avoit veu personne qui pust luy rien aprendre de ce qui se passoit quelques-uns de ses domestiques luy ayant a la fin apris que thomiris et aryante avoient este a la tente de mandane et qu'on disoit qu'ils en estoient sortis en donnant divers ordres pour faire garder cette princesse plus exactement il craignit aveque raison que la lettre de cyrus n'eust este veue et n'eust descouvert qu'il estoit vivant si bien que ne 
 jugeant pas a propos de cacher sa crainte a ce prince il luy dit tout ce qu'il pensoit afin de le disposer ou a sortir des tentes royales la nuit prochaine ou du moins a changer de tente et a aller dans celle d'un de ces capitaines sauromates qui estoient de leur intelligence mais comme il faloit qu'il fust nuit pour executer toutes ces deux choses ils n'en eurent pas le loisir car comme ils deliberoient sur ce qu'ils devoient faire ce capitaine des gardes de thomiris arriva suivy de cinquante de ses compagnons de sorte que comme on ne se peut pas deffendre dans des tentes comme dans des maisons tout ce que put faire meliante en cette occasion fut d'avancer diligemment vers ce capitaine des gardes qu'on luy dit qui le demandoit de la part de thomiris assurant cyrus en le quittant qu'il mourroit plustost que de le descourir esperant mesme alors que ce capitaine des gardes se contenteroit de l'arrester mais la chose n'alla pourtant pas ainsi car au lieu de s'amuser a meliante il se mit en estat d'entrer dans la tente d'ou il sortoit qui estoit celle ou estoit cyrus de sorte que meliante voyant la chose en cet estat se jetta entre l'ouverture de cette tente et ce capitaine des gardes de thomiris et mettant l'espee a la main l'arresta tout court pour donner temps a cyrus de tascher de sortir du lieu ou il estoit par une autre ouverture de cette mesme tente pour essayer de gagner celle de ce capitaine sauromate dont il luy avoit parle car a tout evenement cyrus avoit 
 tousjours este desguise en massagette depuis qu'il avoit este cache dans la tente de meliante mais comme ce capitaine des gardes vit cette action il jugea bien que ce qu'il cherchoit estoit dans cette tente de sorte que mettant l'espee a la main aussi bien que tous ceux de ses compagnons qui l'avoient suivy meliante ne put esperer autre chose que de donner le temps a cyrus de sortir de cette tente par une ouverture desgagee mais comme ce prince le voulut faire il trouva que ce capitaine des gardes l'avoit fait environner avant que d'y entrer et il arriva mesme que le prince aryante qui venoit de donner les ordres de thomiris passa fortuitement devant cette tente comme cyrus songeoit a en sortir si bien que ce prince voyant que du coste ou estoit meliante il n'estoit pas possible de le faire il aima encore mieux essayer d'en venir a bout par celuy ou il pourroit peutestre tuer son rival en se faisant tuer luy mesme car dans les sentimens ou il estoit et dans ceux ou il croyoit qu'estoient mandane et thomiris il aimoit mesme mieux mourir que vivre et estre prisonnier de cette reine et de son rival de sorte que prenant cette resolution il mit l'espee a la main et apellant meliante afin de pouvoir combatre ensemble il sortit de cette tente suivy de ce genereux assirien qui le joignit et de quatre ou cinq des siens et fut si brusquement attaquer aryante que quoy que ce capitaine des gardes de thomiris eust fait environner la tente de 
 meliante ceux qui estoient du coste que cyrus sortit ne purent l'empescher de joindre ce prince et de luy porter un coup apres l'avoir apelle plus d'une fois ingrat anaxaris et perfide anaxaris il est vray que comme aryante estoit a cheval et que cyrus estoit a pied le coup qu'il porta a ce prince n'eut pas l'effet qu'il en avoit attendu car le cheval d'aryante s'estant cabre dans l'instant qu'il le voulut porter et ne pouvant plus retenir l'impetuosite de son bras ce fut ce cheval qui receut le coup dans les flancs et qui retombant avec violence rompit l'espee de ce prince mais a peine meliante eut-il veu cet accident que par une generosite toute heroique il donna la sienne a cet illustre heros et en prit une autre a un de ceux qui l'avoient suivy apres quoy aryante ayant eu loisir de reconnoistre son rival voulut aller a luy avec intention de finir tous leurs differens par sa mort mais comme son cheval estoit fort blesse il tomba et il tomba luy mesme engage sous ce fier animal qui sauva peut-estre la vie de son maistre en se debattant car durant ce temps la ce capitaine des gardes suivy de tous ses compagnons sortit de la tente de meliante et environna d'une telle sorte et cyrus et ce brave assirien qu'ils ne purent rejoindre aryante cependant comme cyrus ne se vouloit point rendre et que ce capitaine des gardes ne le vouloit point faire tuer en l'accablant par le nombre de ceux qui l'avoient attaque parce que thomiris luy avoit commande de le 
 luy mener vivant cyrus seconde de meliante en tua un si grand nombre que lors qu'aryante fut desgage de dessous son cheval il ne jugea pas qu'il deust s'arrester aux ordres de thomiris si bien que se jettant a travers ceux qui vouloient prendre cyrus il l'attaqua a son tour avec beaucoup de vigueur il est vray que cyrus para le coup qu'il luy porta et qu'il luy en porta un autre si brusquement qu'il fut contraint de lascher le pied mais pendant que les choses estoient en cet estat et que cyrus et meliante ne pouvoient presques esviter la mort veu le nombre de gens qui les attaquoient et l'opiniastrete qu'ils avoient a ne se vouloir point rendre thomiris que l'impatience et l'inquietude avoient fait sortir de sa tente parut a cheval si bien que voyant ce combat et aprenant la chose elle s'avanca au milieu de ce tumulte en deffendant aux siens de tuer cyrus et en commandant a cyrus de se rendre a elle mais comme aryante avoit l'esprit estrangement irrite de l'opiniastre resistance de ce prince il ne se soucia pas du commandement qu'elle faisoit et ne laissa pas d'attaquer encore son rival qui venoit de renverser mort a ses pieds le capitaine des gardes de thomiris mais comme cette reine vit son action et qu'elle remarqua que cyrus ne voyoit pas aryante elle se sentit emportee par sa passion ainsi entre son frere et celuy qu'elle aimoit elle ne balanca point sur ce qu'elle devoit faire et prenant la parole prends garde a toy cyrus luy dit elle 
 et pare le coup qu'un de mes rebelles sujets te veut porter a ces mots cyrus qui reconnut fort bien la voix de thomiris se tourna et vit qu'effectivement aryante en l'appellant par son nom luy alloit porter un furieux coup si bien que ne pouvant faire autre chose que parer de l'espee il para en effet mais en parant trois ou quatre de ceux qui estoient venus avec cette reine se jetterent sur luy et luy saisissant le bras l'empescherent de continuer son combat avec aryante et le presenterent a thomiris qui eut plus de joye de voir cyrus en sa puissance que si elle eust gagne cent batailles et conquis cent royaumes 
 
 
 
 
cependant meliante voyant cyrus pris attaqua aryante qui estant desespere de ce qu'il n'avoit pu vaincre son rival passa sur l'assirien si bien que se debatant alors comme deux hommes qui vouloient opiniastrement la mort ou la victoire thomiris qui vit la chose et qui avoit l'esprit aigry contre le prince son frere de ce qu'il luy avoit desobei et de ce qu'il s'opposoit tousjours a la persecution qu'elle vouloit faire a mandane commanda qu'on les prist tous deux et qu'on gardast aussi soigneusement le prince son frere que cyrus et meliante de sorte que comme il est assez aise de prendre deux hommes qui luttent l'un contre l'autre ils furent arrestez sans peine il y eut pourtant quelques amis d'aryante qui voulurent faire quelque rumeur mais la presence de la fiere thomiris empescha la chose et quoy qu'aryante semblast partager 
 son authorite parmy les gens de guerre il fut pourtant mene sans aucune resistance a la tente ou thomiris ordonna qu'on le gardast cependant cette princesse ne scachant pas bien elle mesme quels estoient ses sentimens pour cyrus ne voulut point luy parler et commanda qu'on le menast dans une de ses tentes mais avec une garde si forte qu'elle ne pouvoit craindre qu'il pust eschaper pour meliante on le mit avec le prince intapherne et atergaris afin d'avoir moins de gardes a faire de sorte que lors que mereonte myrsile chrysante et hidaspe qui n'avoient pas este arrestez comme intapherne atergatis et feraulas arriverent le soir aux tentes royales desguisez en massagettes ils trouverent que cyrus estoit prisonnier que meliante l'estoit aussi qu'aryante estoit arreste qu'intapherne atergatis et feraulas avoient este pris que mandane estoit plus exactement gardee qu'elle ne l'avoit jamais este que thomiris depuis la prison du prince son frere avoit fait changer les gardes de cette princesse et qu'on ne scavoit enfin a quoy tout ce grand et subit changement aboutiroit de sorte que pour avoir le temps de refondre ce qu'ils devoient faire il falut qu'ils se cachassent dans la t'ente d'un de ces capitaines sauromates avec qui mereonte avoit traite cependant la nouvelle de la vie de cyrus et de sa prison faisoient un si grand bruit que la prise d'aryante n'en faisoit presques point car on ne parloit que de cyrus et l'on en 
 parla tant que la malheureuse mandane aprit par ses propres gardes que ce prince estoit en la puissance de thomiris la princesse de bithinie sceut aussi par les siens qu'intapherne estoit arreste istrine sceut de son coste qu'atergatis avoit le mesme destin et arpasie n'ignora pas que meliante estoit prisonnier si bien que le regardant alors comme estant plus malheureux qu'hidaspe la tendresse de son coeur en augmenta pour luy et elle eut beaucoup de douleur de scavoir qu'elle estoit cause du malheur d'un si honneste homme et d'un homme encore qui en avoit tue deux qui l'eussent rendue tres malheureuse s'ils eussent vescu martesie en son particulier sceut aussi que feraulas estoit entre les mains de thomiris et la fortune disposa enfin les choses de telle maniere que la douleur et le desespoir estoient dans tous les deux partis en effet quand cette nouvelle fut sceue dans l'armee de cyrus il y eut une consternation universelle et quand elle le fut dans celle de thomiris tous ceux qui avoient de la raison aprehenderent que la reine des massagettes ne se portast a quelque resolution si violente et contre cyrus et contre mandane et contre le prince son frere qu'elle ne forcast ses propres sujets a s'armer contre elle et a se joindre a ses ennemis pour la perdre cependant ce grand dessein qui estoit prest d'esclatter n'estoit plus alors en estat d'estre execute car ce changement avoit rompu toutes les mesures qui avoient este prises et cette grande revolution 
 occupoit si fort les esprits de tout le monde qu'on ne pensoit a autre chose et qu'on ne s'entretenoit que de ce qui estoit arrive et de ce qui pouvoir encore arriver mais si les personnes indifferentes en usoient ainsi que ne devoient point faire les personnes interessees et entre ces personnes interessees mandane estoit sans doute infiniment a pleindre car enfin apres avoir veu la cruelle action de thomiris lors qu'elle avoit creu que cyrus estoit mort que ne devoit elle pas aprehender voyant qu'il estoit vivant et sous la puissance de cette reine irritee ainsi la pensee la plus douce qui luy venoit estoit de voir cyrus infidelle en effet disoit-elle a doralise et a martesie comme cyrus est mescontent de moy et qu'il m'a tesmoigne par sa lettre qu'il croit que je me suis consolee de sa mort n y a t'il pas apparence qu'il ne croira plus estre oblige a nulle fidellite pour une personne qu'il croit infidelle et qu'ainsi cessant de mespriser thomiris il commencera peut-estre de me hair mais helas adjoustoit elle ce seroit presques le plus avantageux pour moy que la chose allast ainsi car enfin si ce prince infortune dit vray il m'aime encore toute inconstante qu'il me croit si bien que s'il s'opiniastre a resister a la cruelle thomiris elle sera peut-estre capable de faire poignarder ce prince en ma presence ainsi je me voy en estat de ne pouvoir presques esviter cle voir cyrus infidelle ou mort o dure necessite s'escrioit-elle o rigoureuse fortune a quels malheurs 
 m'avez vous reservee et quels suplices me preparez vous mais du moins justes dieux adjoustoit elle ne permettez pas que cyrus m'accuse plus long temps d'inconstance et d'ingratitude esclairez son esprit je vous en conjure et faites luy connoistre qu'il a eu tort de soubconner d'infidellite la plus fidelle personne de la terre mais helas disoit-elle encore en se reprenant en souhaitant que cyrus connoisse la fermete de mon affection je souhaite peut-estre sa mort et je fais des voeux contre sa vie puis que plus il me croira fidelle plus il le sera luy mesme et plus il irritera la cruelle thomiris mais apres tout poursuivoit mandane je ne croy pas qu'il soit fort injuste a une personne qui mourroit plustost que de faire une infidellite a cyrus de souhaiter qu'il ne soit pas infidelle il est pourtant vray que quand mon imagination me represente ce que la fiere thomiris me fit voir en la personne du malheureux spitridate et que je pense qu'elle pourroit encore me faire voir un objet plus terrible en celle de cyrus il s'en faut peu que je ne consente qu'il soit inconstant j'avoue pourtant qu'il n'y a que ma raison qui soit de cet advis et que mon coeur est bien esloigne d'avoir un pareil sentiment il est arrive des changemens si merveilleux en vostre vie luy dit alors doralise que vous ne devez ce me semble jamais desesperer de rien car enfin cyrus fut creu mort a la guerre de bithinie il creut que vous alliez perir par un embrasement lors qu'il arriva a sinope il pensa que 
 vous estiez noyee lors qu'il trouva mazare qui sembloit estre prest d'expirer mazare luy mesme a este creu mort durant long temps cyrus vient encore d'estre creu tel par toute l'asie et vous avez vous mesme pense l'avoir veu mort de vos propres yeux il est vray doralise que tout ce que vous dittes est arrive repliqua mandane mais il est bien plus difficile d'imaginer comment je puis sortir heureusement du malheureux estat ou je me trouve car enfin il est positivement vray que cyrus est sous la puissance d'une cruelle personne qui a tesmoigne avoir de la joye de sa mort qui a regarde avec plaisir cette teste sanglante de spitridate qu'elle croyoit estre la sienne et qui a dans l'ame une passion si violente et si furieuse qu'on en doit tout aprehender pour moy madame repliqua martesie je suis persuadee qu'il ne faut pas s'imaginer que thomiris ait autant de cruaute pour cyrus vivant que pour cyrus mort en effet quand elle croyoit qu'il avoit perdu la vie il pouvoit estre qu'une secrette douleur de sa mort faisoit une partie de sa rage sans qu'elle en connust bien la cause et que le croyant mort avec des sentimens de mespris pour elle elle en avoit de cruaute pour luy mais madame je ne puis croire que voyant cyrus vivant elle ait la mesme inhumanite car comme l'esperance flatte et adoucit l'esprit je suis persuadee qu'elle aura moins de cruaute parce qu'elle sera en pouvoir de ne se desesperer pas tout a fait et puis adjousta doralise quand je songe que vous estes bien 
 sortie de dessous la puissance du roy d'assirie de mazare et du roy de pont je trouve que vous pouvez esperer que cyrus sortira aussi de dessous celle de thomiris et que vous en sortirez vous mesme ha doralise s'escria mandane cyrus ne scauroit estre son propre liberateur comme il a este le mien et puis quand le prince mazare servit aussi heureux qu'il est brave et qu'il auroit plus de generosite que d'amour je n'aurois pas encore lieu d'esperer parce que je suis persuadee que s'il entreprend quelque chose qui luy reussisse ce sera alors que la vie de cy rus sera le plus en danger ne doutant nullement que thomiris n'aime mieux faire mourir ce prince que de souffrir qu'on le delivre et l'en suis enfin reduite au point d'estre fachee que son rival soit prisonnier aussi bien que luy car comme il luy a de l'obligation qu'il est genereux et que j'ay quelque pouvoir sur son esprit j'eusse pu esperer qu'il eust empesche les funestes effets de la passion de thomiris mais il a plu aux dieux en cette occasion de me priver de tout secours et de m'oster toute esperance comme mandane s'entretenoit d'une si triste maniere hesionide toute en larmes vint prier cette princesse d'entrer dans la tente d'araminte car encore que thomiris eust commande qu'on separast toutes ces dames captives on n'avoit pu faire changer de tente a la reine de pont a cause de son excessive douleur quelque affligee que fust mandane pour ses propres interests elle n'avoit garde de refuser 
 son assistance a une princesse pour qui elle avoit tant d'estime et tant d'amitie elle fut donc dans la tente ou elle estoit mais elle la trouva en un pitoyable estat car comme elle n'avoit rien voulu prendre depuis qu'elle avoit sceu la mort de spitridate quelque soin qu'on y eust pu aporter elle estoit si foible et elle avoit neantmoins alors une fievre si forte qu'il estoit aise de voir que l'exces de sa douleur acheveroit bientost de la delivrer des maux qu'elle souffroit elle avoit pourtant sa raison toute libre et quoy qu'elle eust la voix assez basse parce qu'elle l'avoit oppressee elle ne laissa pas de dire des choses infiniment touchantes a mandane je vous demande pardon madame luy dit-elle d'augmenter vos douleurs par les miennes mais comme je n'ay plus que quelques momens a vivre j'ay creu que je pouvois vous conjurer de me permettre de vous faire une priere helas madame repliqua mandane en soupirant je suis en un si pitoyable estat qu'il est ce me semble assez difficile que je n'aye pas le malheur de ne pouvoir faire ce que vous desirez de moy car excepte de pleindre vostre infortune et de la pleurer aveque vous je ne voy rien en ma puissance cependant je puis vous assurer qu'il n'y a que les choses impossibles que je ne face pas pour vous ce que je vous demande repliqua la malheureuse araminte est que vous faciez en sorte par le credit du prince aryante que spitridate et moy n'ayons qu'un tombeau que vous faciez scavoir a l'illustre cyrus que je luy 
 laisse tout le droit que j'avois an royaume de pont qu'il m'avoit promis de me rendre et que je le conjure de conserver la memoire d'un prince infortune qui avoit la gloire de luy ressembler et qui a eu celle de mourir pour son service mais sur toutes choses madame faites s'il vous plaist que la mort unisse ce que la cruaute de la fortune a voulu separer et que spitridate et araminte comme je l'ay desja dit n'ayent qu'un tombeau j'espere repliqua mandane que vous ne serez pas en estat d'avoir besoin de mes prieres et que vous vivrez assez pour en faire un jour eslever un a l'illustre prince que vous regrettez avec tant de justice mais si cela n'estoit pas j'aurois le malheur de ne pouvoir vous rendre ce funeste office que vous desirez de moy car enfin le prince aryante est arreste par les ordres de thomiris le malheureux cyrus est dans les fers et je suis plus en estat de devoir desirer la mort que vous acheve fortune acheve repliqua foiblement araminte et apres m'avoir oste deux royaumes refuse moy encore un tombeau et prive moy mesme de la satisfaction que j'eusse eue a pouvoir esperer qu'un prince a qui spitridate avoit l'avantage de ressembler puisse estre heureux pour vous madame adjousta-t'elle en tendant la main a mandane je n'ay rien a vous dire puis que dans l'accablement de douleur ou vous estes et dans celuy ou je me trouve je ne puis vous demander des larmes ny vous en offrir car vostre affliction merite toutes les vostres 
 et je n'en ay pas assez des miennes pour pleindre mes infortunes apres cela araminte se teut et se tourna de l'autre coste et deux heures apres elle tomba dans une lethargie si profonde qu'elle n'en revint que pour mourir plus constamment et pour prononcer en mourant le nom du malheureux spitridate quoy que les medecins de thomiris luy pussent faire ainsi il falut que mandane se vist accablee de cette augmentation de douleur et qu'un objet aussi funeste que celuy-la servist encore a luy remplir l'imagination de toutes les horreurs de la mort celle d'araminte fut pourtant digne de sa vie et de la passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame car durant un quart d'heure qu'elle recouvra la parole elle ne dit que de grandes et de belles choses en effet elle dit a mandane qu'elle n'avoit point eu besoin de toute sa constance pour suporter la perte de deux royaumes l'exil et la prison mais qu'elle s'en estoit trop peu trouve pour souffrir la mort de spitridate elle luy parla obligeamment de la princesse de bithinie elle luy recommanda hesionide elle pria les dieux d'excuser ses foiblesses et ton desespoir et elle les pria aussi de vouloir reunir son esprit a celuy de spitridate apres quoy elle mourut sans aucune violence et sans avoir mesme perdu la beaute qui la rendoit une des plus charmantes princesses de la terre quoy que ce fust la moindre des qualitez qui la faisoient admirer cependant mandane voulant tascher de luy rendre l'office qu'elle avoit desire 
 pria un medecin de thomiris qui la vit mourir de prier cette reine de la part d'araminte de souffrir qu'on mist son corps dans le tombeau de spitridate s'il en avoit un de sorte que comme cet homme estoit fort touche de compassion de la mort de cette princesse il obtint effectivement de thomiris ce qu'araminte avoit souhaite ainsi la mort reunit ce que la fortune avoit separe et ces deux illustres personnes qui n'avoient pu occuper un mesme throne quoy qu'ils le deussent esperer occuperent du moins un mesme tombeau mais pendant que ces choses se passoient aryante souffroit des maux incroyables par la crainte ou il estoit que thomiris ne se portast a quelque estrange resolution contre la vie de mandane et dans les sentimens ou il estoit alors il s'en faloit peu qu'il n'eust mieux aime la voir en la puissance de cyrus qu'en celle de la reine sa soeur d'autre part myrsile estoit au desespoir d'estre arreste et de se voir inutile au service de cyrus de mandane et de doralise dont la fortune estoit attachee a celle de cette princesse intapherne et atergatis avoient des sentimens aussi douloureux que luy mais feraulas en avoit qui estoient encore incomparablement plus inquiets car la passion qu'il avoit pour son maistre et pour mandane et l'amour qu'il avoit pour martesie faisoient qu'il estoit inconsolable de n'estre pas en estat de servir des personnes qui luy estoient si cheres meliante de son coste estoit desespere de scavoir 
 qu'hidaspe n'estoit pas prisonnier comme une partie des autres qui avoient pris mesme dessein que luy la princesse de bithinie estoit aussi au desespoir de la mort de son frere de celle d'araminte qu'elle sceut et de la prison de son amant istrine estoit aussi fort touchee de l'affliction de cette princesse et du malheur d'atergatis et arpasie l'estoit aussi beaucoup de ne pouvoir esperer la liberte de ce que meliante estoit prisonnier et de ce qu'elle ne scavoit ou estoit hidaspe mais apres tout tous les malheurs de toutes ces personnes ensemble n'aprochoient pas de celuy de cyrus car lors qu'il pensoit qu'il estoit reduit au point de s'affliger que son rival estoit prisonnier parce qu'il ne pouvoit deffendre la vie de mandane contre la fureur de thomiris il estoit dans un desespoir incroyable de quelque coste qu'il tournast son esprit il ne trouvoit aucune consolation car s'il consideroit thomiris comme son ennemie il luy estoit fort dur d'estre dans ses fers s'il la regardoit comme son amante il luy estoit encore plus insuportable et s'il se souvenoit de toutes ses victoires il s'en souvenoit avec douleur veu le changement qui estoit arrive a sa fortune s'il rapelloit en sa memoire la cruaute de thomiris pour spitridate mort lors qu'elle le prenoit pour luy il se preparoit a mourir de quelque cruelle maniere et s'il pensoit a mandane il y pensoit avec une douleur incroyable parce qu'il la croyoit infidelle ou que du moins il l'accusoit d'avoir este trop 
 peu sensible a sa perte et de s'en estre trop tost consolee ce sentiment douloureux ne diminuoit pourtant rien de sa rendresse ny de sa passion et par un ingenieux et cruel caprice de son destin cyrus avoit tout a la fois de la colere de la tendresse de la jalousie de la pitie de l'amour et de la fureur car tantost il se pleignoit de mandane et tantost il la pleignoit au lieu de se pleindre d'elle un moment apres il faisoit des voeux contre aryante un instant en suite il souhaitoit qu'il fust delivre a un moment de la il faisoit des imprecations contre thomiris et il en faisoit aussi quelques fois contre luy mesme s'accusant de tous les malheurs de mandane de tous les siens de toutes les violences de thomiris et mesme de l'amour que ses rivaux avoient eu pour la princesse qu'il adoroit de sorte que passant continuellement d'un sentiment a un autre il souffroit plus qu'il n'avoit jamais souffert mais ce qui faisoit la plus grande rigueur de sa souffrance festoit'opinion qu'il avoit que mandane ne l'aimoit plus ou que du moins elle ne l'aimoit pas assez en effet la pensee de la cruaute de thomiris ne luy estoit pas si facheuse que celle du peu d'affection de mandane car il estoit accoustume de voir la mort sous la plus terrible forme ou elle se pouvoit montrer mais il ne l'estoit pas a voit mandane infidelle ny mandane indifferente il eut mesme encore une nouvelle douleur lors qu'il sceut la mort d'araminte par un de ses gardes et il la mit au nombre de ses propres malheurs ce 
 n'est pas assez fortune s'escria-t'il que je sois malheureux en ma propre personne il faut encore que je le sois en celle de tous ceux que j'aime il faut que spitridate meure seulement parce qu'il me ressemble et qu'il est mon amy il faut qu'araminte perde la vie parce que j'ay de l'amitie pour elle il faut que meliante soit prisonnier parce qu'il m'a protege et il faut enfin que je souffre de toutes les manieres dont on peut souffrir il faut dis-je que je sois malheureux parce que thomiris m'aime parce que mandane ne m'aime plus parce qu'aryante me hait et qu'il n'y ait rien dont la fortune ne se serve pour me persecuter cependant rien ne me seroit insuportable si j'estois assure de l'affection de ma princesse mais helas je suis bien esloigne de ce bien heureux estat car puis qu'elle s'est consolee si promptement de ma mort il faut conclurre que ma vie ne luy estoit guere considerable et que j'aurois grand tort de la mesnager si ce n'estoit que contre toute sorte de raison je conserve encore dans le fonds de mon coeur l'esperance de me vanger tant de divers oracles si ponctuellement accomplis me font esperer que celuy qui fut rendu a la princesse de salamis et qui m'est si avantageux pourra peut estre avoir son effet car enfin la responce de la sybile qui me parut si espouventable vient d'avoir le sien en la personne du malheureux spitridate ainsi il se trouve que je n'ya ay pas toute la part que j'y pensois avoir si ce n'est que je veuille prendre le 
 vers de cet oracle pour un presage de mon repos mais dieux adjoustoit-il par quelle voye pourrois-je le trouver je suis sous le pouvoir d'une reine et d'une amante et d'une amante irritee mandane est sous la puissance d'une fiere rivale et je ne suis peut-estre plus dans le coeur de mandane j'ay donc perdu la raison de conserver quelque esperance adjoustoit-il en luy mesme et si je ne connoissois bien mon coeur je croirois qu'un sentiment lasche me feroit esperer malgre moy afin de n'avoir pas recours a la mort mais graces aux dieux je scay bien que je ne suis pas capable de cette foiblesse et que je n'espere que parce qu'on ne peut aimer sans esperance et que l'amour enfin est ce qui me fait vivre et esperer quoy que la raison et la generosite voulussent peut-estre que je me delivrasse des mains de mes ennemis par ma propre main mais pendant que cyrus raisonnoit avec luy mesme d'une si triste maniere thomiris estoit dans des inquietudes si pleines d'irresolution qu'elle n'estoit pas un demy quart d'heure dans un mesme sentiment comme gelonide la connoissoit jusques au fonds du coeur elle ne la voulut point abandonner dans les premiers transports de sa passion apres la prise de cyrus et elle l'observa si exactement qu'elle fut a la fin contrainte de luy descouvrir tous les tumultueux sentimens de son ame je voy bien gelonide luy dit-elle voyant qu'elle la regardoit attentivement que vous cherchez a deviner ce que je pense mais a 
 dire la verite il vous seroit assez difficile car je pense tant de choses differentes qu'elles se destruisent continuellement les unes les autres et mon ame est si cruellement agitee que je souffrirois moins si j'estois a la place de cyrus que je ne fais a celle ou je suis ce prince est pourtant en un pitoyable estat repliqua gelonide et je croy madame que si vostre majeste y pensoit bien elle verroit une notable difference entre sa fortune et la sienne si j'estois bien d'accord avec moy mesme reprit thomiris vous auriez raison mais gelonide il y a une guerre civile dans mon coeur qui le dechire d'une estrange sorte car quand je me souviens des mespris que ce prince a eus pour moy et sous le nom d'artamene et sous celuy de cyrus j'ay de la haine pour luy et je me resous sans peine a faire mourir mandane a la luy faire voir morte et a le faire mourir luy mesme car enfin a le considerer de cette sorte il n'y a point de suplice dont il ne soit digne en effet il m'a assez mesprisee pour meriter mille morts il est cause que j'ay terny ma gloire c'est luy qui a fait des ruisseaux du sang de mes sujets et il a cause la mort de mon fils ainsi quand je ne le considere que de cette maniere et que je le voy mon prisonnier je suis quelques momens a gouster toute la douceur de la vangeance mais helas ces momens ne durent guere et des que je regarde cyrus comme le plus grand prince du monde et le plus accomply de tous les hommes les armes me tombent 
 des mains et il s'en faut peu que je ne l'excuse ouy gelonide je me dis quelques fois a moy mesme qu'il aimoit mandane avant que de m'avoir veue qu'il ne m'a point fait d'outrage de ne m'aimer pas et que je luy ay mesme beaucoup d'obligation de ce qu'il ne voulut pas le deffaire d'une cruelle ennemie dans les bois des sauromantes lors qu'il baissa respectueusement la pointe de son espee au lieu de me tuer comme il le pouvoit faire mais apres avoir raisonne de cette sorte mon ame n'en est pas plus tranquile au contraire je me trouve dans un nouveau desespoir car moins j'ay de sujet d'accuser cyrus plus j'en ay de m'accuser moy mesme mais gelonide ce qui fait ma plus grande douleur c'est que je suis assuree d'une certitude infaillible que cyrus me hait horriblement principalement depuis que la violence de mon amour et de ma jalousie m'ont fait faire cette action de cruaute que je ne fis neantmoins que parce que j'avois l'ame irritee de celle qu'il avoit eue pour moy cependant toutes les fois que je songe que cyrus a qui j'avois donne mille marques d'amour scait ce terrible effet de ma haine j'en ay un desespoir que je ne puis exprimer car enfin je veux voir cyrus et je ne scay pourtant comment je l'oseray faire apres cette barbare action qu'il n'ignore pas il est vray que s'il me rendoit justice il me tiendroit conte de toute ma cruaute et cyrus vivant me devroit sans doute avoir quelque obligation de tout ce que j'ay fait contre cyrus 
 mort puis que mon inhumanite n'a pas moins este un effet de mon amour que toutes les marques de tendresse que je luy ay donnees en mille occasions mais enfin madame luy dit gelonide puis que cyrus n'a pu estre infidelle a mandane dans un temps ou vous ne luy aviez donne nul sujet de vous hair il n'est pas croyable qu'il vous aime aujourd'huy qu'il peut vous reprocher d'avoir eu autant de haine que d'amour c'est pourquoy si vostre majeste faisoit bien elle se resoudroit a restablir sa gloire par une grande action et par une action qui luy redonneroit mesme l'estime de cyrus en effet si en l'estat ou vous estes vous delivriez cyrus et mandane et que vous les renvoyassiez au roy des medes apres avoir oblige ceux qui commandent son armee de la faire repasser l'araxe vous feriez une chose qui rendroit vostre gloire immortelle ha gelonide interrompit thomiris je scay bien que je devrois plus aimer la gloire que cyrus mais il y a long temps que j'ay fait voir que j'aime plus cyrus que la gloire ainsi sans escouter ny la generosite ny la raison ny la vertu je ne songe qu'a faire en sorte que cyrus veuille regner dans mes estats et dans mon coeur et quand j'en auray tout a fait perdu l'esperance je sens bien que ma fureur n'aura point de bornes et que si je ne puis perdre cyrus et mandane sans perdre aussi aryante et sans me perdre moy mesme je m'y resoudray sans peine mais madame luy dit gelonide quoy que vous ayez cyrus en vostre 
 puissance vous ne laissez pas d'avoir de redoutables ennemis a combatre car mazare est brave le secours que ciaxare envoye est puissant et le prince aryante n'est plus a la teste de vostre armee quand on ne songe plus a sa propre conservation reprit thomiris on n'a plus rien a mesnager c'est pourquoy gelonide sans regarder le peril dont vous me menacez qui n'est peutestre pas si grand que vous vous le figurez je ne veux songer a autre chose sinon qu'a imaginer comment je pourray faire pour obtenir de moy assez de hardiesse pour voir cyrus mais encore madame luy dit gelonide voudrois je bien scavoir quelle resolution vous prenez en une conjoncture on vous n'en pouvez prendre que de tres importantes la resolution que je prens repliqua thomiris est de faire toutes choses possibles justes et injustes pour porter cyrus a quitter mandane et a respondre a mon affection et si je voy que je ne puisse rien gagner sur son esprit je puniray aryante de son ancienne rebellion afin qu'il ne face plus d'obstacle a ma vangeance je feray poignarder mandane aux yeux de cyrus je mesleray le sang de cyrus a celuy de mandane et je me tueray peut-estre moy mesme si je ne trouve pas cette vangeance assez douce eh madame s'escria gelonide quels estranges sentimens vous passe-t'il dans l'esprit eh gelonide repliqua thomiris que ne doit point penser une reine qui aime et qui aime un prince qui la mesprise et qui la hait car enfin s'il 
 y a quelques instans ou je pense qu'il peut aimer mandane sans estre coupable il y en a mille ou je croy qu'il ne me peur hair sans eftre ingrat apres cela gelonide voulut encore dire quelque chose mais thomiris luy imposa silence et sans differer davantage elle fut a la tente de cyrus suivie du lieutenant de ses gardes et de quelques uns de ses compagnons qui demeurerent a l'entree de la tente ou l'on gardoit ce prince cette reine n'ayant aucunes femmes avec elle que gelonide car encore qu'elle n'aprouvast pas ses sentimens elle ne laissoit pas de l'aimer et de la mener tousjours parce que c'estoit la seule personne a qui die eust descouvert son amour mais en allant en ce lieu la thomiris toute fiere qu'elle estoit sentit une confusion estrange dans son coeur neantmoins la force de sa passion la dissipant elle entra dans la tente de cyrus sans l'en faire advertir de sorte qu'il fut estrangement surpris de cette visite toutesfois comme il avoit l'ame grande l'esprit ferme et le coeur genereux il ne parut nulle esmotion sur son visage et toute celle qu'il eut fut renfermee dans son coeur en effet il ne vit pas plustost thomiris qu'il la salua avec tout le respect qu'il luy devoit comme reine des massagettes mais ce fut pourtant avec toute la froideur qu'il devoit avoir pour une ennemie de mandane et pour une princesse qui luy avoit donne une marque de haine aussi publique qu'estoit celle de cette teste plongee dans un vase plein de sang pour thomiris 
 elle ne vit pas plustost cyrus que la honte de sa propre inhumanite la fit rougir et l'empescha de luy pouvoir parler la premiere si bien que ce prince s'aprochant d'elle est-ce madame luy dit il avec une hardiesse heroique pour me venir demander ma teste que vous vous donnez la peine de venir icy afin que me la voyant couper de vos propres yeux vous ne soyez pas trompee une seconde fois comme vous l'avez este la premiere quand je me suis resolue a vous voir repliqua-t'elle en le menant a l'autre coste de la tente je me suis preparee a souffrir des reproches pour avoir droit de vous en faire car enfin injuste prince que vous estes luy dit cette princesse il y a une notable difference entre la cruaute que j'ay eue pour vous et celle que vous avez tousjours eue pour moy en effet cette terrible action qui vous paroist si inhumaine n'estoit qu'un simple emportement du desespoir que j'avois dans la croyance ou j'estois que les dernieres paroles de vostre vie avoient este une marque de vostre amour pour mandane et de vostre haine pour moy mais si j'ay este inhumaine pour vous dans un temps ou je croyois que vous ne pouviez plus sentir mes cruautez vous avez este inhumain et cruel lors que vous avez sceu que je sentois jusques a vos moindres froideurs et si j'ay enfin fait plonger cette pretendue teste de cyrus mort dans un vase plein de sang vous m'avez arrache le coeur tout vivant et vous me l'avez arrache pour le faire fouler aux pieds de ma rivale 
 ouy injuste prince vous avez este le premier a avoir de la cruaute et si j'en ay eu je n'en ay eu qu'apres que la vostre m'a eu fait perdre patience et a eu trouble ma raison cependant adjousta-t'elle en se souvenant de la lettre de cyrus a mandane quoy que vous soyez dans mes fers et que par le droit des vainqueurs je puisse disposer souverainement de vostre destin je ne veux vous dire autre chose pour vous obliger a quitter mandane sinon que s'estant consolee de vostre mort aussi promptement qu'elle s'en est consolee elle vous a plus outrage que je n'ay fait par cette cruelle action que vous me reprochez et que je me reproche moy mesme car enfin ma fureur et ma haine estoient un effet de ma passion mais son oubly en est un de la legerete de son ame et de la foiblesse de son affection c'est pourquoy sans vous demander que vous m'aimiez je vous demande seulement que vous ne l'aimiez plus que vous contentiez qu'elle espouse aryante qu'elle ne hait pas que je l'envoye a issedon avec le prince qu'elle aura espouse et que vous me promettiez de ne la voir jamais car pourveu que cela soit je vous delivreray et je ne vous obligeray pas mesme a avoir quelque reconnoissance de l'affection que j'ay pour vous si vous me commandiez absolument madame reprit-il de vous aimer quoy que vous m'ayez donne de justes sujets de vous hair il me seroit moins impossible de vous obeir qu'il ne me l'est de n'aimer plus mandane quand mesme elle seroit infidelle 
 car enfin madame vous avez une grande beaute un grand esprit un grand coeur et mille grandez qualitez qui sont que toute mon ennemie que vous estes j'ay encore de l'estime pour vous ainsi sans estre mesme infidelle a la personne que j'adore je pourrois avoir de l'amitie et de la tendresse mais madame je ne puis jamais cesser d'aimer mandane ny consentir qu'elle espouse aryante ny vous promettre de ne la voir point en effet quand je scaurois d'une certitude infaillible qu'elle auroit cesse de m'aimer je ne pourrois cesser d'avoir de l'amour pour elle sans cesser de vivre ny souffrir qu'un autre la possedast sans faire tout ce que je pourrois pour l'en empescher quand mesme il faudroit exposer mille et mille fois ma vie que je ne prefere jamais a ma gloire ny a mon amour c'est pourquoy madame n'attendez pas que je vous promette ce que je ne pourrois vous tenir car je sens bien que quand j'aurois la laschete de vous faire cette promesse je ne serois pas plus tost libre que j'armerois une seconde fois toute l'asie pour aller arracher mandane d'entre les bras de mon rival c'est pourquoy madame je vous conjure pour vostre repos de ne vous imaginer pas que j'aye une sorte d'esprit capable de ceder a la mauvaise fortune et croyez au contraire que si j'estois a la teste d'une armee de deux cens mille hommes et que vous fussiez dans mes fers je ferois plus de choses pour vous que je n'en feray aujourd'huy que je suis dans les vostres en effet 
 madame comme je suis persuade qu'il y a de la gloire a n'accorder pas ce qu'on ne peut refuser sans peril je n'ay garde de vous promettre de n'aimer plus mandane de consentir qu'elle espouse aryante et de ne la voir jamais comme des trois choses que je vous demande repliqua fierement thomiris il y en a une qui despend absolument de moy et qui ne despend point du tout de vous je ne scay si vous estes fort prudent de m'irriter par une generosite aussi fiere que la vostre car enfin je n'ay que faire de vostre consentement pour vous empescher de ne voir jamais mandane et je n'en ay mesme pas besoin pour faire qu'aryante l'espouse car comme je puis vous regarder si je le veux comme le meurtrier de mon fils vous serez eternellement dans mes chaisnes si la fantaisie m'en prend comme la fortune m'y a mis malgre moy repliqua cyrus elle pourra peut-estre m'en tirer malgre vous c'est pourquoy madame sans vous amuser a me faire des menaces inutiles j'ay a vous dire avec toute la sincerite possible que si j'avois eu a estre infidelle a mandane vos charmes me l'auroient rendu dans le temps que je fus a vostre cour sous le nom d'artamene et je vous avoue de plus ingenument que je luy ay donne une plus grande preuve d'amour en n'en ayant pas pour vous que je n'ay fait en prenant babilone sardis et cumes puis qu'il est sans doute bien plus aise de gagner des batailles et de prendre des villes que de defendre son coeur contre une personne 
 telle que vous estiez lors que j'eus l'honneur de vous voir la premiere sois car a n'en mentir pas madame adjousta-t'il quoy que vous soyez aussi belle vous m'estes bien moins redoutable que vous n'estiez alors en effet des que vous avez commence de persecuter mandane des que vous avez dis-je commence d'avoir de la cruaute et de vouloir vous faire aimer par la crainte vous avez perdu tout ce qui vous rendoit aimable je ne scay pas interrompit-elle fierement si je me scauray faire aimer mais je scay bien que je scauray me faire obeir cependant adjousta-t'elle vous vous souviendrez que je ne vous ay pas demande que vous m'aimassiez et que je me suis contentee de desirer que vous n'eussiez plus d'amour pour mandane car dans les sentimens ou je vous voy je m'apercoy bien que si je veux recouvrer quelque repos il faut que je vous haisse vivant comme je vous ay hai mort et que je cherche toutes les douceurs de ma vie en la vangeance seulement apres cela thomiris s'en alla sans attendre que cyrus luy respondist mais elle s'en alla avec des sentimens qui tenoient plus de la fureur que de l'amour ce qui faisoit son plus grand chagrin estoit qu'elle se reprochoit a elle mesme de n'avoir pas dit a cyrus tout ce qu'elle devoit luy dire pour toucher son coeur elle se repentoit de toutes les paroles qu'elle avoit prononcees et il y avoit des momens ou elle croyoit que si elle luy eust parle avec plus de douceur elle l'auroit attendry il y en avoit d'autres aussi on 
 elle pensoit que si elle l'eust menace de la mort de mandane et de la sienne elle auroit esbranle sa constance si bien que ne pouvant estre d'accord avec elle mesme de ce qu'elle eust deu faire ny de ce qu'elle feroit elle estoit en une peine que rien ne pouvoit esgaller d'autre part cyrus souffroit des maux incroyables car comme il ne pouvoit scavoir avec certitude qu'elle eust veu la lettre qu'il avoit escrite a mandane il pensoit que ce qu'elle luy avoit dit de la legerete de cette princesse avoit un fondement veritable et il le pensoit avec tant de douleur qu'on n'en pouvoit pas avoir davantage mais durant que cyrus et thomiris avoient l'ame si inquiettee mereonte qui estoit cache chez ces capitaines sauromates et qui y estoit avec myrsile hidaspe et chrysante continuroit d'essayer de faire reussir le mesme dessein qui avoit este prest d'estre execute les amis d'aryante de leur coste songeant aussi a delivrer ce prince s'aviserent scachant le mescontentement des sauromates de proposer a ceux qui estoient de l'intelligence de mereonte de se joindre a eux afin de tirer aryante des mains de thomiris si bien que ces capitaines sauromates sans donner de responce decisive a ceux qui leur firent cette proposition dirent la chose a myrsile a hidaspe a mereonte et a chrysante qui creurent tous que si on pouvoit unir les amis d'aryante aux leurs thomiris seroit infailliblement perdue et que cyrus et mandane seroient delivrez ce 
 qui leur faisoit esperer que cela ne seroit pas impossible estoit qu'ils scavoient que les amis d'aryante avoient peur que thomiris ne fist mourir ce prince car comme ils scavoient qu'il luy avoit voulu oster une couronne ils pensoient qu'elle se serviroit du pretexte qu'elle prenoit alors pour se vanger de luy et pour s'espargner la peine de l'empescher une autre fois de songer a renverser le throne qu'elle occupoit de sorte qu'imaginant un fort grand avantage pour cyrus de cette union si elle se pouvoit faire ces capitaines sauromates entretinrent cette negociation et l'amenerent enfin au point que les amis d'aryante confererent avec ceux de cyrus mais comme ils ne pouvoient ny les uns ny les autres respondre des sentimens des deux princes pour qui ils agissoient ils convinrent qu'ils chercheroient les voyes de leur faire scavoir l'estat des choses et en effet chacun de leur coste ils firent ce qu'ils purent pour cela et en attendant myrsile et mereonte trouverent moyen de mander a cresus et a mazare qu'ils n'entreprissent rien qu'ils n'eussent de leurs nouvelles cependant il ne se passoit point de jour que thomiris ne fist souffrir quelque nouvelle persecution a cyrus ou a mandane car elle obligea tous ces princes prisonniers les uns apres les autres a voir cyrus pour luy persuader de ne pretendre plus rien a cette princesse elle voulut aussi que toutes les autres captives vissent mandane chacune a leur tour pour l'obliger a espouser 
 aryante et elle parla elle mesme au prince son frere voyant que cette princesse ne vouloit l'espouser afin de luy persuader de ne songer plus a mandane et de l'abandonner a sa vangeance car cette violente reine en vint au point de ne songer plus a se faire aimer de cyrus mais seulement de luy oster la personne qu'il adoroit de sorte que comme elle voyoit bien qu'il luy estoit impossible de persuader jamais a mandane d'espouser aryante elle se mit dans la fantaisie de persuader a aryante de souffrir qu'elle fist mourir mandane ce que je vous demande luy disoit elle vous me le devriez demander pour vous vanger d'une personne qui vous mesprise et qui vous hait et quand vous n'auriez autre avantage que celuy de vous imaginer la douleur de vostre rival vous y devriez consentir si vous pouvez souffrir luy repliqua brusquement aryante que j'aille poignarder cyrus je consentiray peut estre que vous empoisonniez mandane souvenez vous de la proposition que vous me faites luy refondit fierement thomiris car en tel moment me pourray-je trouver que je vous sommeray de vostre parole ha cruelle princesse luy dit alors aryante quelle sorte d'amour est la vostre non non adjousta-t'il ne vous y trompez pas je suis l'ennemy de cyrus mais je ne seray jamais son bourreau et je vous declare de plus que si vous entreprenez quelque chose contre la vie de mandane la vostre en respondra infailliblement car quand je ne pourrois sortir 
 de vos chaines j'ay des amis qui me vangeroient de vostre cruaute et je ne doute nullement que toute la terre ne s'armast contre vous pour vous perdre thomiris voyant de quel air aryante luy parloit en eut de la confusion mais ce fut une confusion accompagnee de colere qui luy sit dire des choses infiniment facheuses a ce prince vous pensez peut estre encore luy dit-elle estre sur le throne que vous vous estiez esleve mais je vous aprendray bien que vous estes dans mes fers comme un usurpateur vaincu et comme un sujet rebelle apres cela cette fiere princesse le quitta et le quitta avec des sentimens de haine presque aussi grands pour luy que pour mandane et en effet elle ne prit pas de resolution moins violente contre luy que contre elle comme elle avoit de l'esprit elle voyoit bien qu'elle avoit tort mais cette connoissance au lieu de luy donner du repentir ne faisoit qu'augmenter sa fureur cependant au milieu de tant d'agitations elle ne laissoit pas d'envoyer ses ordres a tous les officiers de son armee et de faire tout ce qu'elle pouvoit pour se voir en estat de disposer souverainement du destin de cyrus et de mandane d'ailleurs dans la violente passion qu'elle avoit dans l'ame elle eut cent fois envie de revoir ce prince et d'essayer de toucher son esprit par mille marques de tendresse et d'affection mais la fierte de son coeur et un reste d'honneste honte l'en empescherent et elle se contenta de luy faire seulement dire qu'elle ne 
 demandoit autre chose sinon qu'il ne pretendist plus rien a mandane si bien que par ce moyen la cyrus se vit delivre de la crainte ou il estoit que thomiris ne le mist dans la necessite de se tirer d'une conversation de cette nature cette reine ne put jamais non plus se resoudre de faire dire a mandane qu'elle luy cedast cyrus mais seulement qu'elle espousast aryante ainsi thomiris par cette voye indirecte croyoit cacher une partie de sa foiblesse et conserver quelque reste de modestie il y avoit pourtant des instans ou elle donnoit des marques si visibles de sa passion a tous ceux qui estoient a l'entour d'elle que personne n'en pouvoit douter car elle demandoit continuellement ce que faisoit cyrus ce qu'il disoit s'il ne murmuroit point contre elle s'il ne parloit point de mandane et mille autres choses semblables et ce qu'il y avoit de rare c'est qu'elle le demandoit quelquesfois a des gens qui n'en scavoient rien et qui n'en pouvoient rien scavoir car excepte les gardes de ce prince et ceux qui les commandoient personne ne le voyoit aussi fut-il impossible a myrsile a hidaspe a mereonte et a chrysante de trouver moyen de donner de leurs nouvelles a cyrus ny d'avoir des siennes pour donner son consentement au traite qu'ils faisoient avec les amis d'aryante qui de leur coste ne purent aussi faire scavoir leurs intentions a ce prince de sorte que s'assemblant tous un soir dans la tente d'un de ces capitaines sauromates ou myrsile hidaspe 
 mereonte et chrysante estoient cachez ils resolurent connoissant la generosite des deux princes de qui ils embrassoient les interests de ne laisser pas de faire leur traite comme s'ils avoient leur contentement s'assurant qu'ils ne les dediroient pas mais durant qu'ils estoient assemblez pour cela meliante qui s'estoit eschape de ses gardes y arriva et augmenta leur esperance en voyant leur parti fortifie par un si vaillant homme qui avoit plusieurs intelligences que mereonte n'avoit pas sceues de luy hidaspe eut pourtant une esmotion extraordinaire en voyant son rival qu'il estoit contraint de regarder comme le protecteur de cyrus et meliante fut aussi extremement estonne de trouver hidaspe en ce lieu la neantmoins veu les termes ou il en estoit demeure avec cyrus et ou en estoient alors les choses il le regarda en cette occasion comme un amy de ce prince plustost que comme un amant d'arpasie si bien que luy disant l'estat des affaires apres les premiers complimens faits il fut de leur advis et conclut qu'il faloit absolument s'unir pour delivrer ces deux princes celuy qui agissoit le plus pour aryante estoit un massagette qui s'apelloit otryade qui avoit este amy particulier d'aripithe et qui eust bien voulu qu'aryante eust elle roy de sorte que ne faisant presques difficulte a rien de ce que les amis de cyrus proposerent pourveu qu'aryante fust delivre et que la puissance de thomiris fust abaissee ce traite fut bien tost fait ils se 
 promirent donc une mutuelle assistance pour executer un si grand dessein ils jurerent de combatre conjoinctement contre tout ce qui voudroit s'opposer a la liberte de cyrus et d'aryante et que quand ces deux princes seroient libres ils se rangeroient aupres d'eux pour scavoir ce qu'ils voudroient faire chacun ayant alors la liberte de suivre le parti qu'il auroit embrasse si ces princes ne pouvoient demeurer amis il y eut pourtant une difficulte ou otryade s'arresta car les amis de cyrus vouloient que le premier effort qu'on feroit aux tentes royales fust pour delivrer ce prince et les autres vouloient que ce fust pour delivrer aryante on proposa alors un expedient pour accommoder la chose qui fut d'aller attaquer les tentes de thomiris pour s'assurer de sa personne car enfin disoit celuy qui le proposa en vous assurant de cette reine vous delivrerez et cyrus et aryante et mandane mais quoy qu'il y eust quelque aparence de raison a cette proposition les amis de cyrus ne voulurent pas l'accepter parce qu'ils dirent que si on attaquoit d'abord thomiris ils s'exposeroient a estre vaincus n'estant pas possible que le peuple ne s'armast pour la deffence de cette princesse qu'au contraire s'il paroissoit seulement qu'ils n'eussent dessein que de delivrer cyrus il ne s'en mesleroit pas et qu'ainsi trouvant moins de resistance la chose s'executeroit plus facilement adjoustant que si une fois ils pouvoient avoir cyrus a leur teste la victoire leur seroit 
 certaine otryade respondit a cela qu'il voyoit bien que la liberte de cyrus estoit plus facile de cette facon que de l'autre mais qu'il ne voyoit pas celle du prince aryante aussi assuree puis qu'elle dependroit apres cela de la volonte de son rival si bien que pour trouver un milieu entre ces deux choses myrsile proposa de faire deux attaques a la fois afin d'embarrasser d'autant plus thomiris qui seroit obligee de diviser ses forces de sorte qu'il fut donc resolu que l'advis de myrsile seroit suivy qu'on attaqueroit en mesme temps la tente ou l'on gardoit cyrus et celle ou l'on gardoit aryante qu'ils n'iroient point a celle de mandane parce qu'ils vouloient laisser a ces deux princes la gloire de la delivrer que cependant ils se promettroient que ceux qui auroient le plustost execute leur dessein iroient a l'heure mesme aider aux autres a achever le leur et qu'ils obligeroient le prince qu'ils auroient delivre a aller aider a delivrer son rival toutes ces choses estant donc ainsi resolues ils arresterent le jour et l'heure de cette entreprise et ils envoyerent diligemment advertir cresus et mazare afin qu'ils se preparassent a attaquer le camp de thomiris dans le temps que les sauromates s'en separeroient pour venir aux tentes royales se joindre a tous les amis de cyrus et d'aryante et afin aussi qu'ils envoyassent vers artabatis pour l'obliger d'attaquer andramite et d'envoyer la moitie de ses troupes se poster entre les tentes royales et le camp de thomiris 
 ainsi il fut resolu que dans quatre jours et precisement a my-nuit ce grand dessein s'executeroit mais a la fin de cette conference mereonte qui scavoit en quels termes estoient meliante et hidaspe s'aprocha d'eux et les obligea avec beaucoup d'adresse de remettre les differens qu'ils avoient jusques a ce que cyrus fust delivre si bien que s'y resolvant avec une esgale generosite ils agirent conjointement pour les interests de ce grand prince comme s'ils n'eussent point este rivaux ainsi meliante considera hidaspe comme l'amy de cyrus seulement et hidaspe considera meliante conme le protecteur de ce heros cependant ceux pour qui ce grand dessein estoit fait n'en estoient pas moins miserables et ils voyoient si peu d'apparence d'heureux changement en leur fortune qu'ils souffroient non seulement les maux presens mais ils enduroient mesme par avance les maux a venir qu'ils pensoient leur devoir arriver infailliblement thomiris souffroit pourtant plus que tous ceux qu'elle faisoit souffrir parce quelle avoit encore moins d'esperance qu'eux aussi ne faisoit elle plus consister la douceur de sa vie qu'en la longueur des suplices qu'elle preparoit a ceux qui la rendoient innocemment malheureuse mais son principal dessein estoit de tascher de gagner l'hyver sans combatre afin que l'armee de cyrus fust contrainte de se retirer au de la de l'araxe n'estant pas possible qu'elle pust subsister en pais ennemy par de continuels convois qui luy viendroient 
 mesme de fort loin comme thomiris estoit donc dans cette pensee et qu'elle employoit tous ses soins a la faire reussir en envoyant ordre sur ordre de ne hazarder point de combatre a moins que ce fust avec avantage il arriva une chose qui augmenta bien ses inquietudes car comme il est difficile qu'un grand secret sceu de beaucoup de gens demeure si cache qu'on n'en descouvre rien principalement quand il est entre des personnes de party different entre lesquelles il ne peut y avoir de veritable et solide liaison il y eut un des amis d'aryante parent d'otryade qui voyant que ce grand dessein estoit prest d'esclater et que le lendemain a my-nuit on l'executeroit sentit un remords estrange car comme il ne connoissoit pas jusques ou pouvoit aller la generosite de cyrus il s'imagina que quand ce prince seroit delivre il accableroit cette princesse des mesmes chaisnes dont elle l'avoit accable qu'il perdroit aryante qu'il feroit tous les massagettes ses tributaires ou que mesme il les extermineroit tous pour se vanger de leur reine si bien que s'estonnant de ce qu'il n'avoit pas pense plustost ce qu'il pensoit il se repentit de s'estre engage avec otryade et il s'en repentit d'une telle sorte qu'il fit dessein de trahir ceux a qui il avoit promis fidellite il est vray qu'il le fit dans la pensee qu'en avertissant thomiris il pourroit l'obliger a delivrer aryante ainsi sans differer davantage il fut vers le soir trouver cette reine secrettement apres luy avoir fait demander 
 une audience particuliere d'abord il la suplia de luy promettre la liberte d'aryante en cas qu'il luy aprist des choses qui luy feroient voir qu'il luy rendoit le plus grand service que personne luy eust jamais rendu mais comme cette princesse ne s'y voulut pas engager il luy dit qu'il ne luy descouvriroit donc pas ce qu'il avoit a luy descouvrir de sorte que thomiris qui avoit l'esprit aise a irriter s'emportant alors contre celuy qui luy parloit luy dit qu'il ne s'agissoit plus de capituler avec elle et qu'il n'avoit qu'a songer qu'il estoit dans sa tente qu'elle estoit maistresse de sa liberte et mesme de sa vie et qu'ainsi il n'avoit qu'a luy declarer ce qu'il scavoit sans aucune condition cet homme effraye de la maniere dont thomiris luy parloit ne luy resista plus au contraire il luy dit tout ce qu'il scavoit du dessein qui devoit estre execute la nuit prochaine et il en scavoit tout ce qu'il y avoit a en scavoir il luy circonstancia mesme si fort les choses qu'elle ne douta pas un moment de ce qu'il luy disoit de sorte qu'elle en eut un estonnement fort grand mais de qui luy confirma ce que cet homme luy venoit de dire fut qu'agathyrse l'envoya advertir qu'il avoit nouvelle qu'une partie des troupes d'artabatis aprochoient sans qu'on pust penetrer leur dessein qu'il avoit sceu aussi par quelques prisonniers qu'il avoit faits qu'on se preparoit dans et camp de cyrus a quelque grande entreprise et qu'il se croyoit de plus oblige de l'advertir qu'il y avoit peu d'union parmy les officiers de 
 son armee si bien que thomiris trouvant un raport tout a fait juste entre les advis qu'elle recevoit d'agathyrse et ce que luy disoit ce parent d'otryade en eut l'ame si troublee qu'elle ne scavoir quelle resolution prendre d'abord elle eut dessein d'envoyer arrester myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte et chyrsante dans la tente ou ce parent d'otryade luy disoit qu'ils estoient mais apres y avoir bien pense elle considera que quand ils seroient arrestez ce n'estoit que cinq hommes et que cela n'empescheroit pas les sauromates de se separer de son armee et de venir aux tentes royales que cela n'empescheroit pas non plus cresus et mazare d'attaquer son camp ny artabatis d'attaquer andramite ny d'envoyer des troupes entre son camp et les tentes royales qu'ainsi elle feroit un grand esclat inutilement et hasteroit peut-estre l'execution d'un dessein qui la devoit perdre de sorte que ne scachant que faire ny qu'imaginer elle fut quelque temps dans une irresolution estrange
 
 
 
 
mais comme elle n'avoit rien de plus pressant dans l'esprit que d'empescher que cyrus et mandane ne fussent hors de sa puissance et ne se vissent en estat d'estre heureux elle songea principalement a s'en assurer et a tascher de faire en sorte qu'elle fust maistresse de leur vie en cas qu'elle fust obligee de fuir mais afin de pouvoir en disposer absolumment elle fit diligement transferer mandane de la tente ou elle estoit a une autre qui estoit assez pres de celle ou cyrus estoit 
 garde afin que si son party estoit le plus foible elle pust les faire mourir devant que d'avoir recours a la fuitte car elle jugeoit bien que si le dessein de ses ennemis reussissoit elle ne seroit pas en estat de les mener a issedon ou elle avoit intention de se retirer si elle y estoit forcee elle donna aussi ordre qu'on redoublast la garde d'aryante elle commanda des gens de guerre pour environner le soir la tente ou myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte et chrysante estoient cachez elle commanda que ce qu'elle avoit de cavalerie aupres d'elle se tinst preste au premier ordre et elle envoya aussi advertir les officiers de son armee de ce que ce parent d'otryade luy avoit dit elle voulut encore que tous les gens de guerre se tinssent sous les armes et elle choisit mesme celuy qu'elle pretendoit devoir estre le bourreau de cyrus et de mandane dans ce dessein elle envoya querir ce capitaine gelon qui luy avoit presente la teste de spitridate comme estant celle de cyrus afin de luy proposer de faire cette cruelle et injuste action car comme elle scavoir que c'estoit un homme qui n'avoit aucune humanite et qui estoit fort interesse elle le creut capable de luy obeir aveuglement et en effet elle ne se trompa pas car ce fier gelon luy promit de poignarder cyrus et mandane quand elle le luy ordonneroit mais afin de le pouvoir faire a point nomme elle luy donna le commandement absolu sur tous ceux qui les gardoient et elle souffrit mesme qu'il eust aveque luy plusieurs de ses 
 soldats en qui il se fioit plus qu'a ceux que thomiris avoit destinez a la garde de ces deux illustres et malheureuses personnes qui connoissoient bien par le changement qu'on aportoit a ceux qui les gardoient qu'il y avoit quelque chose de considerable qu'on ne leur disoit point et qu'ils estoient exposez a quelque facheuse avanture comme ce capitaine gelon estoit naturellement cruel il les traita d'une maniere bien differente de celle dont ils l'avoient este jusques alors car mandane n'osoit mesme parler bas ny a doralise ny a martesie ny a hesionide qui l'avoit suivie et cyrus n'avoit pas la liberte de rien demander a ses gardes mais pendant que thomiris donnoit tant d'ordres differens et qu'elle hesitoit encore sur ce qu'elle feroit d'aryante la nuit s'avancoit et tous ceux qui devoient agir pour la liberte de cyrus d'aryante et de mandane se preparoient a executer leur dessein myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte et chrysante estoient pourtant fort surpris d'aprendre au lieu ou ils estoient cachez qu'on avoit fait changer de tente a mandane et d'estre encore advertis qu'il y avoit quelques gens armez qui environnoient celle ou ils estoient otryade estoit aussi assez estonne de ne voir point cet homme qui estoit son parent et il l'estoit d'autant plus que quel qu'un l'avoit assure qu'on l'avoit veu entrer dans la tente de thomiris ou il estoit encore car cette reine qui avoit eu tant d'ordres a donner n'avoit pas songe a le renvoyer 
 au contraire elle l'avoit retenu sans penser que s'il ne retournoit pas cela feroit qu'otryade craignant d'estre trahy agiroit avec plus de precaution et en effet comme c'estoit un homme de probite il envoya secrettement advertir myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte et chrysante de la crainte qu'il avoit si bien qu'ils songerent a ce qu'ils devoient faire pour se trouver a un lieu ou tous ceux qui devoient combatre se devoient rendre en attendant que les sauromates qui devoient quitter le camp de thomiris fussent arrivez et eussent commence d'attaquer ceux qui gardoient les tentes royales de sorte que ne jugeant pas qu'il fallust attendre a sortir de la tente ou ils estoient que l'heure de l'execution fust venue parce qu'il estoit croyable que si thomiris estoit advertie de la chose ce seroit le temps ou l'on observeroit de plus pres le lieu ou ils estoient cachez ils mirent des habits d'esclaves par dessus les leurs et sortirent par diverses ouvertures de cette tente des que la nuit fut venue pour s'en aller a une autre ou chrysante les mena et ou il avoit este cache avec feraulas lors qu'ils avoient este deguisez en massagettes pour tascher d'aprendre des nouvelles de leur illustre maistre otryade de son coste changea aussi de tente et assembla ses amis si diligemment qu'il n'eust pas este aise de le prendre quand on l'eust entrepris cependant thomiris fut en une inquiettude estrange des que la nuit fut venue car veu les advis qu'elle avoit 
 receus elle eust voulu estre a la teste de son armee mais ne pouvant se resoudre de s'esloigner de cyrus et de mandane dans le dessein qu'elle avoit de pouvoir disposer absolument de leur vie ou de leur mort elle aima mieux demeurer aux tentes royales et dans les sentimens violens qui la possedoient elle trouvoit quelque douceur a penser que quand mesme son armee seroit deffaite que les tentes royales seroient forcees et qu'elle seroit contrainte de s'enfuir elle pourroit tousjours empescher que cyrus et mandane ne fussent delivrez puis qu'elle estoit en pouvoir de les faire mourir des qu'elle aprendroit qu'elle n'auroit plus rien a esperer pour cet effet elle ne se voulut pas coucher cette nuit la afin d'estre en estat de donner ses ordres selon les occasions et de fuir si elle y estoit obligee mais a la fin le moment destine a troubler le repos de cette paisible nuit arriva et par un prodige inouy des personnes qui estoient en des lieux si differens commencerent d'agir si precisement en mesme heure que presques dans le mesme instant qu'artabatis attaqua andramite a l'entree des bois cresus et mazare attaquerent le camp de thomiris les sauromates s'en separerent pour aller au tentes royales la moitie des troupes d'artabatis se posta entre les tentes et le camp de la reyne des massagettes et les amis de cyrus et d'aryante qui s'estoient joints se rendirent avec des armes au milieu d'une place qu'ils avoient choisie pour cela afin 
 d'attendre la premiere attaque des sauromates pour aller eux mesmes attaquer en mesme temps les tentes de cyrus et d'aryante et en effet ces sauromates n'eurent pas plustost commence leur attaque que les amis de cyrus et d'aryante se partageant les uns furent a la tente de cyrus et les autres a celle d'aryante chacune de ces courageuses troupes estant composee d'environ cent soldats aguerris dont ils s'estoient assurez secretement si bien que thomiris aprenant en mesme temps par diverses voyes que son camp estoit attaque qu'il y avoit des troupes qui luy en ostoient toute communication qu'il y en avoit d'autres qui vouloient forcer la garde avancee des tentes royales et qu'il y en avoit aussi qui attaquoient celle de cyrus et celle d'aryante elle sentit ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer dans un si grand trouble elle songea principalement a commander qu'on deffendist la tente ou estoit cyrus comme la sienne propre et en effet celle ou estoit ce prince et celle ou estoit mandane estoient engagees dans les siennes et en faisoient une partie cependant suivant la coustume des massagettes en des rumeurs populaires ou en des surprises de guerre chacun mit une espece de flambeau sur le haut de sa tente afin de pouvoir discerner les amis des ennemis si bien que de cette facon cette multitude de tentes qui formoient cette grande ville portative s'il est permis de parler ainsi ayant toutes un flambeau sur une pomme doree dont 
 tous les massagettes ornoient le haut de leurs tentes elles faisoient une objet tout a fait beau et ce grand nombre de flambeaux esclairoit d'une telle sorte qu'on connoissoit aisement les soldats du party ennemy d'avec ceux qui n'en estoient pas comme la tente de thomiris estoit au lieu le plus esleve de cette habitation elle discernoit de la le bruit que faisoient les sauromates a l'attaque des tentes royales celuy que faisoit otryade a attaquer la tente d'aryante et celuy que faisoient myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte chrysante et ceux qui les suivoient pour forcer ceux qui gardoient une barriere qui estoit au devant de la premiere ouverture de la tente ou l'on gardoit cyrus qui estoit pourtant disposee de telle sorte qu'il falloit passer trois tentes devant que d'estre a celle ou il estoit et par consequent il y avoit trois corps de gardes a forcer thomiris entendant donc un si grand vacarme de toutes parts se tint tousjours en estat de fuir en effet il y eut un cheval tout prest derriere ses tentes ceux qui la devoient escorter s'y tinrent aussi et elle se fit mesme donner un poignard afin d'estre maistresse de sa propre vie comme elle le croyoit estre de celle de cyrus et de celle de mandane et de ne craindre pas de pouvoir estre captive de ses ennemis de moment en moment on la venoit advertir de l'estat des choses et de moment en moment elle en aprenoit qui l'affligeoient en effet cresus et mazare ayant attaque le camp de thomiris 
 dans le mesme temps que les sauromates l'avoient quitte pour aller attaquer les tentes royales y avoient mis un si grand desordre que toute la valeur d'agathyrse et des autres hauts officiers de cette armee ne put empescher la plus grande partie des leurs de prendre l'espouvente si bien que jugeant a propos d'advertir thomiris de l'estat des choses agathyrse le fit d'une maniere si pressante qu'elle connut bien que puis qu'un si vaillant homme desesperoit de la victoire elle estoit en estat de devoir craindre d'estre vaincue d'autre part les sauromates qui attaquoient les tentes royales combatant autant pour vanger leur prince mort que pour delivrer cyrus le faisoient avec une animosite si grande que leur valeur en estoit encore plus redoutable de sorte que thomiris aprit aussi de ce coste la que les choses n'alloient pas bien pour elle mais ce qui l'affligea davantage fut qu'elle sceut que ceux qui vouloient forcer la tente ou estoit cyrus avoient en effet gagne la premiere barriere et qu'ils combatoient alors a l'entre de la premiere tente ce qui l'estonnoit encore estoit que le peuple ne songeoit qu'a aller combatre contre les sauromates et ne venoit point a son secours car comme il trouvoit la prison de cyrus injuste il eust asseurement souhaite que ce prince et mandane eussent este libres dans la pensee que cela auroit fini la guerre thomiris se trouvant donc en cette extremite sentit une agitation dans son coeur qu'elle n'y avoit encore jamais 
 mais sentie car se voyant sur le point d'estre contrainte de fuir et ne voyant nulle possibilite de pouvoir emmener ny cyrus ny mandane elle ne voyoit en son choix que de les laisser heureux en les laissant libres ou que de les faire mourir un sentiment de justice de generosite et mesme d'amour luy donnoit quel que repugnance a prendre une si tragique resolution mais d'autre part cette mesme amour accompagnee de la jalousie du desespoir et de la fureur luy persuada que quand on ne pouvoit posseder ce qu'on aimoit il n'y avoit point d'autre parti a prendre que celuy de la vangeance elle sut pourtant encore quelque temps irresolue et elle voulut du moins attendre a la derniere extremite a executer cette funeste resolution cette reine eut mesme le dessein de faire poignarder mandane devant que de faire tuer cyrus et elle eut aussi intention durant ce grand tumulte de voir encore une fois ce prince pour tascher de toucher son coeur mais comme elle fut pour entrer dans la tente de cet illustre prisonnier par la coste qui estoit engage dans la sienne elle entendit qu'il la nommoit si bien que s'arrestant tout court pour ouir ce qu'il diroit elle changea de sentimens car comme cyrus estoit en une inquiettude estrange de scavoir ce qui causoit ce grand bruit qu'il entendoit il l'avoit demande a ce fier capitaine des gelons que thomiris avoit destine a estre son bourreau de sorte que luy ayant respondu avec toute la fierte d'un homme qui croyoit luy devoir bien 
 tost enfoncer un poignard dans le coeur cyrus ne put l'endurer sans luy en dire quelque chose a ce que je voy luy dit-il vous estes un digne ministre des injustices de votre cruelle reine qui ne seroit pas aujourd'huy en estat de persecuter mandane si je l'eusse tuee comme je le pouvois faire aisement dans les bois des sauromates pour ne me reprocher pas de t'avoir laisse vivre luy cria alors la fiere thomiris comme tu te reproches de ne m'avoir pas donne la mort je te feray poignarder des que mandane aura rendu le dernier soupir et toute la grace que tu peux attendre de moy est que tu mourras de la mesme main qui l'aura fait mourir et que le mesme poignard qui luy aura perce le sein te percera le coeur apres cela cette cruelle princesse apella ce capitaine gelon et retourna dans la tente laissant cyrus si afflige des menaces qu'elle avoit faites contre mandane qu'il ne l'avoit jamais tant este car pour celles qui regardoient sa vie il n'y fit alors nulle reflection il ne put mesme respondre a ce que cette injuste reine luy avoit di car il fut si surpris d'entendre sa voix et d'ouir bien entendu thomiris n'estoit plus en lieu de le pouvoir entendre il ne laissa pourtant pas de parler dans l'exces de sa douleur comme si elle eut este presente et de dire des choses si touchantes que si ces gardes les eussent entendues ils en 
 eussent eu le coeur attendry mais comme ils n'entendoient pas la langue dont il se servit pour se pleindre en cette occasion ils n'en furent pas touchez car comme ils estoient alors presques tous gelons ils n'entendoient ny la langue persienne ny l'armenienne ny la greque ny la capadocienne ny celle des medes et c'estoit en vain que cyrus se pleignoit devant eux cependant le desordre augmentant tousjours thomiris sceut que les sauromates avoient enfin force ceux qui leur resistoient si bien que prevoyant alors qu'infailliblement cyrus et mandane alloient estre delivrez si elle ne les faisoit mourir et qu'elle alloit estre prise si elle ne fuyoit promptement apres une agitation d'esprit fort tumultueuse elle commanda a ce fier capitaine gelon qu'elle auoit mene dans sa tente pour y recevoir ses ordres quand elle verroit qu'il en seroit temps qu'il allast diligemment poignarder mandane et qu'en suite il allast aussi poignarder cyrus luy ordonnant de faire scavoir la mort de cette princesse a ce malheureux prince et en effet ce cruel ministre de la cruelle thomiris se mit en devoir de luy obeir mais a peine eut il fait un pas que cette reine le rapellant luy dit d'une voix mal assuree qu'il suffiroit qu'il tuast mandane sans tuer aussi cyrus mais comme dans cet instant un des gardes de ce prince vint advertir thomiris que veu le grand bruit qu'ils oyoient il y auoit aparence que la tente ou il estoit seroit bien tost 
 forcee et que de plus il avoit pense se faifir des armes d'un de ceux qui je gardoient la fiere thomiris prenant la parole et l'adressant a celuy qu'elle avoit choisi pour estre le bourreau de cet illustre heros va luy dit-elle va executer mes premiers ordres et n'oublie pas de dire la mort de mandane a cyrus car je ne serois pas assez vangee s'il ne sentoit que la sienne mais apres cela adjousta cette princesse desesperee reviens promptement sur tes pas pour m'aprendre la fin de la vie de deux personnes qui ont trouble tout le repos de la mienne afin que je voye si je dois avoir recours a la mort ou a la fuite l'inhumaine thomiris ayant acheve de faire cet injuste commandement celuy qui le receut se mit en devoir de luy obeir et fut effectivement a la tente de mandane mais des qu'il y fut entre on y entendit des cris espouventables de toutes les femmes qui y estoient et un instant apres ce cruel executeur des volontez de thomiris en sortit un poignard sanglant a la main et r'entrant dans la tente de cyrus en ce funeste equipage il fut droit a cet illustre prince pour le luy enfoncer dans le coeur et il y fut dans la pensee que ses compagnons luy aideroient a l'assassiner si le premier coup qu'il pretendoit luy donner manquoit cependant comme il voulut obeir exactement aux ordres de l'injuste thomiris il luy dit en l'abordant en mauvais assirien que le poignard qu'il tenoit fumoit encore du sang de mandane et a peine eut il prononce des terribles 
 paroles qu'il leva le bras pour poignarder le plus grand prince du monde mais dans le mesme instant qu'il alloit luy enfoncer ce poignard dans le coeur cyrus a qui la nouvelle de la mort de sa princesse donna un desir de vangeance qui redoubla encore sa force et sa valeur ordinaire le luy arracha de la main et sans perdre un moment de temps il luy en traversa le coeur et le fit tomber mort a ses pieds cette heroique action fut faite si subitement et le desespoir mis quelque chose de si redoutable sur le visage de cyrus que ses gardes en furent espouvantez et furent quelques momens sans scavoir quelle resolution ils devoient prendre mais a la fin quelques uns se jettans sur luy et montrant l'exemple aux autres il fut au plus grand peril ou il se fust jamais trouve mais il est vray aussi que quoy qu'il ne combatist pas pour deffendre sa vie mais seulement pour vanger la monde mandane il eut plus de valeur qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu en effet il arracha l'espee d'un de ses gardes comme il avoit arrache le poignard de celuy qui l'avoit voulu tuer et il fit apres cela des choses si prodigieuses qu'elles paroistroient incroyables si on les racontoit en detail car non seulement il tua trois ou quatre de ses gardes en blessa plusieurs et fit fuir tous les autres mais il sortit mesme de sa tente et fut hardiment a celle de thomiris pour chercher quelque plus noble victime a immoler a son ressentiment que celles qu'il avoit immolees aux manes de mandane si bien que comme tout faisoit 
 jour a un ennemy si redoutable il fut effectivement jusques a l'ouverture de la tente de cette reine qui attendoit le retour de celuy a qui elle avoit commande de poignarder mandane et de poignarder cyrus aussi bien qu'elle de sorte que son estonnement ne fut pas petit lors qu'au lieu de voir le bourreau de cyrus elle vit cyrus luy mesme qui tenoit un poignard d'une main et une espee de l'autre et qui par une action menacante vouloir obliger ceux qui gardoient cette tente de le laisser entrer thomiris voyant l'action de ce prince creut qu'il alloit la chercher avec intention de la tuer si bien que prenant le poignard qu'elle s'estoit fait donner non non cyrus luy dit elle en le luy monstrant tu ne seras pas maistre de mon destin puis que je n'ay pu estre maistresse du tien et si tu aproches davantage je te feray voir en mesprisant la mort que je n'estois pas digne de tes mespris thomiris prononca ces paroles d'une voix si ferme que la grandeur de son courage esgalant celle de sa cruaute suspendit pour un moment tous les desseins de ceux qui les entendirent car cyrus n'avanca point les gardes de cette reine n'attaquerent pas ce prince et il y eut un silence de quelques momens qui marquoit assez combien cette avanture estoit surprenante mais a la fin la grande ame de cyrus ne pouvant luy permettre de tremper ses mains dans le sang d'une reine toute cruelle qu'elle estoit comme je ne te pourrois tuer dit il a thomiris sans prophaner la main 
 qui doit vanger mandane sacrifie toy mesme l'injuste reine qui luy a fait donner la mort durant que j'iray la donner a mon rival a ces paroles cyrus voulant se faire jour a travers ceux qui vouloient s'opposer a son passage car il ne scavoit pas qu'aryante fuir prisonnier il entendit que cette mesme reine qui avoit commande qu'on l'allast tuer deffendoit alors aux siens de l'attaquer et il vit mesme qu'elle venoit en personne pour le deffendre mais comme les choses en estoient la on entendit un redoublement de bruit estrange qui arresta thomiris et qui fit croire a cyrus qu'il alloit bien tost rejoindre mandane et qu'il mourroit sans avoir vange sa mort par celle de son rival mais il fut bien surpris de voir que ceux qui faisoient ce grand bruit estoient myrsile meliante hidaspe mereonte chrysante et ceux qui les avoient suivis qui apres avoir force tous les obstacles qu'ils avoient rencontrez et avoir passe dans la tente de cyrus qu'ils avoient trouvee vuide avoient en suite trouve celle de mandane ou ils avoient veu la malheureuse hesionide morte que ce capitaine gelon avoit tuee au lieu de cette princesse parce qu'estant de mesme taille que mandane elle en avoit pris les habillemens dans la pensee de tascher de faire sauver cette illustre personne pendant ce grand desordre dont elles oyoient le bruit de sorte que myrsile et les autres n'ayant pas voulu laisser mandane dans cette tente la menoient avec doralise et martesie 
 lors qu'ils trouverent cyrus a l'entree de celle de thomiris si bien que ce grand prince voyant sa princesse entre les mains de ses amis en eut une joye qui changeant toute l'assiette de son ame fit qu'il songea encore moins a perdre la cruelle reine qui l'avoir voulu perdre luy mesme au contraire son premier transport de joye estant passe comme il vit que thomiris apres avoir veu mandane levoit le bras pour se tuer il cria a ceux qui estoient a l'entour de cette reine qu'ils l'en empeschassent car ne comprenant pas alors que si mandane n'estoit pas morte ce n'estoit pourtant pas que thomiris n'eust donne ses ordres pour cela il luy pardonna genereusement la mort qu'elle luy avoit voulu faire donner puis qu'il ne la croyoit plus coupable de celle de sa princesse mais dans cet instant tumultueux ou les amis et les ennemis estoient si pres les uns des autres sans combatre on entendit encore un redoublement de bruit estrange si bien que cyrus ne songeant alors qu'a conserver mandane ne songea plus a thomiris qui ayant este empeschee par les siens de se tuer profita de cet instant pour sortir de sa tente par une ouverture degagee de sorte que montant alors a cheval suivie de ceux qui la devoient escorter elle abandonna les tentes royales et s'abandonna elle mesme a la plus horrible douleur que personne ait jamais sentie mais pendant qu'elle fuyoit il trouva que ceux qui faisoient ce grand bruit estoient le prince intapherne atergatis et feraulas 
 dont les gardes s'estant espouvantez d'un si grand desordre les avoient abandonnez si bien qu'estant sortis ils s'estoient mis a la tente de ces sauromates qui combatoient pour cyrus et estoient venus a la tente de thomiris ou ils le trouverent mais apres que ce premier moment de joye fut passe chrysante ne voyant plus thomiris dans sa tente demanda a cyrus s'il ne vouloit pas qu'on la suivist et qu'on la luy amenast captive mais ce genereux prince qui aprit en deux mots par le prince myrsile et par mereonte les conditions du traite qu'ils avoient fait avec les amis de son rival dit a chrysante qu'il valoit mieux aller degager la parole de ses amis en delivrant aryante que de poursuivre une malheureuse reine que la fortune avoit abandonnee et que les dieux puniroient sans qu'il s'en meslast en effet cyrus apres avoir donne tous les ordres necessaires a la seurete de mandane fut luy mesme pour aider aux amis d'aryante et aux siens a delivrer ce prince mais il n'en fut pas a la peine car en y allant il rencontra otryade qui aprenant par mereonte le dessein qu'il avoit luy dit qu'aryante estoit mort quoy reprit alors cyrus aryante a este tue ouy seigneur repliqua otryade et tue par son ancien rival il est vray que ce malheureux prince l'y a force mais encore dit alors cyrus dittes nous en deux mots comment il peut estre qu'agathyrse ait tue aryante seigneur reprit otryade comme vostre armee a entierement 
 deffait celle de thomiris malgre toute la valeur des massagettes agathyrse a creu qu'il devoit alors avec le peu de cavalerie qui luy restoit venir diligemment se rendre aupres de thomiris de sorte que prenant un assez grand tour pour aborder aux tentes royales par l'endroit oppose a celuy ou les sauromates faisoient leur attaque il y est effectivement venu mais seigneur en y venant tous ceux qui se suivoient l'ont abandonne a la reserve de cinq ou six seulement cependant son grand coeur n'a pas laisse de l'obliger a vouloir se rendre aupres de la reine mais comme pour aller a sa tente il falloit passer devant celle d'aryante il est malheureusement arrive en cet endroit comme nous venions de delivrer ce prince a qui nous avions donne des armes afin d'aller apres tous ensemble tenir la parole que nous avions donnee en aidant a vos amis a vous delivrer si bien qu'aryante ayant veu agathyrse qu'il n'a jamais pu aimer depuis leurs derniers differens et ayant l'esprit irrite de sa mauvaise fortune il luy a dit quelque chose d'un ton assez fier comme s'il luy eust reproche tous les malheurs de sa vie de sorte que comme agathyrse a le coeur haut et sensible il luy a respondu de mesme apres quoy aryante sans luy respondre s'est avance vers luy l'espee a la main et l'a attaque si brusquement qu'agathyrse qui par respect estoit descendu de cheval a este contraint de se deffendre et en effet il s'est deffendu d'une telle maniere que devant que nous ayons pu 
 songer a separer ces deux fiers ennemis aryante a este blesse a mort et agathyrse s'est desgage de tous ceux qui l'environnoient et s'est sauve facilement joint que comme c'estoit aryante qui l'avoit attaque le premier l'honneur ne permettoit pas de le faire suivre cependant des qu'aryante a este tombe il a bien juge qu'il aloit mourir c'est pourquoy prenant la parole en me regardant s'en est fait otryade m'a-t'il dit je n'ay plus de part a la vie et il ne me reste qu'a vous prier de dire a mandane que personne ne luy a jamais donne une si grande marque d'amour que celle que je luy ay donnee en estant ingrat pour cyrus apres cela ce malheureux prince s'est affoibly tout d'un coup et est expire si bien qu'ayant mis son corps dans une tente prochaine sous la garde de quelques uns de ses amis je suis venu avec les autres pour tenir au prince myrsile a meliante a hidaspe a mereonte et a chrysante ce que je leur avois promis otryade ayant cesse de parler cyrus suivant sa coustume agit avec toute la generosite imaginable car il parla dignement de la valeur d'aryante et tesmoigna mesme avoir quelque regret de sa mort puis qu'elle luy avoit oste la gloire de le bien traiter en suite de quoy ce grand prince receut nouvelle que cresus et mazare apres leur victoire aprochoient des tentes royales et avoient joint les troupes qui s'estoient postees entre ces tentes et le camp de thomiris qu'artabatis avec celles qu'il avoit 
 avoit deffait andramite qui estoit mort en cette occasion et qu'en mesme temps il avoit repris le fort des sauromates et par consequent delivre le roy d'hircanie et anacharsis si bien que ne voyant plus d'ennemis a combatre il ne songea qu'a apaiser ce grand tumuilte qui estoit dans toute l'estendue des tentes royales et qu'a en empescher le pillage de sorte que faisant diligemment publier par tout que thomiris estoit en fuitte qu'aryante estoit mort et qu'il pardonnoit a tous les massagettes pourveu qu'ils posassent les armes en une heure il restablit l'ordre par tour tous les massagettes mirent les armes bas et se tinrent dans leurs tentes les sauromates cesserent de piller et se rangerent sous leurs enseignes a toutes les avenues des tentes royales aux places publiques et devant la tente ou estoit mandane apres quoy cyrus permit a intapherne a atergatis a meliante et a hidaspe d'aller querir la princesse onesile la princesse de bithinie istrine arpasie et telagene pour les mener aupres de mandane mais bien qu'il eust alors l'esprit remply de mille choses agreables il ne laissa pas de songer en donnant cette permission que meliante et hidaspe estoient rivaux c'est pourquoy en leur permettant d'aller querir arpasie ce fut a condition qu'ils agiroient en cette occasion comme ses amis et non pas comme ses amans et en effet ils obeirent a cyrus qui apres avoir donne tous les ordres necessaires aux choses qui regardoient les 
 troupes s'en retourna aupres de mandane ou toutes ces princesses captives estoient desja arrivees mais elle le receut avec tant de marques de joye sur le visage qu'il se tint dignement recompense de toutes les peines qu'il avoit souffertes depuis qu'il avoit commence de l'aimer et pour rendre son bonheur plus accompli feraulas luy avoit fait comprendre en peu de mots en retournant a cette tente le tort qu'il avoit eu de soubconner la fidellite de mandane en luy aprenant la cause de cette joye qu'il luy avoit tant reprochee de sorte qu'ayant l'ame tout a fait tranquile il l'aborda avec un plaisir qu'on ne scauroit exprimer enfin madame luy dit-il apres l'avoir saluee et avoir fait un compliment a toues les princesses qui estoient aupres d'elle je commence d'esperer que la fortune est lasse de vous persecuter et que les dieux vont rendre justice a vostre vertu puis que cresus et mazare ont vaincu qu'artabatis a fait la mesme chose et que le fort des sauromates est repris ce qui me le fait principalement esperer repliqua obligeamment mandane a qui feraulas avoit aussi dit tout ce qui pouvoit justifier cyrus des reproches qu'il luy avoit faits est que vous meritez si bien d'estre heureux que je ne dois ce me semble plus craindre d'estre infortunee puis que vous m'avez persuade que vous ne le croiriez pas si j'estois malheureuse mais apres tout a vous dire la verite j'ay veu de si grands et de si subits changemens en ma fortune qu'il y a encore des instans ou je ne 
 jouis pas de toute la douceur de l'esperance parce que la crainte donne encore quelque legere agitation a mon esprit cependant quand je songe que le roy d'assirie le roy de pont et le prince aryante sont morts que thomiris est en fuite que je suis libre dans le mesme lieu ou j'estois captive que vous estes maistre des tentes royales que vostre armee est victorieuse que le fort des sauromates est repris que le passage de l'araxe est libre et que mazare a encore plus de vertu que d'amour il me semble que j'ay tort de craindre et que j'ay raison d'esperer que la fin de ma vie sera plus heureuse que le commencement ne l'a este vous avez sans doute sujet de le croire repliqua cyrus mais pour moy madame adjousta-t'il de qui le destin est plus en vos mains qu'en celles de la fortune j'ay tousjours autant de crainte que d'esperance et je ne scay mesme si je ne crains point plus que je n'espere tant que vous me croirez equitable respondit obligeamment mandane vous espererez sans doute plus que vous ne craindrez c'est pourquoy comme je ne doute pas que vous ne me rendiez justice je ne croy pas aussi qu'il soit necessaire de vous donner de nouvelles marques de ma reconnoissance ha madame s'escria cyrus que le mot de reconnoissance convient peu a ce qui me regarde s'il est vray que vous me faciez l'honneur d'avoir quelque affection pour moy je la considere comme une chose si precieuse que quand j'aurois fait mille fois plus de choses 
 pour vous que je n'ay eu occasion d'en faire je me croirois encore ingrat si je n'avois du moins la volonte de faire beaucoup davantage et d'employer tous les momens de ma vie a vous rendre de nouveaux services ou a vous donner du moins de nouvelles marques d'amour apres cela comme la nuit estoit desja si avancee que le jour estoit prest a paroistre cyrus creut qu'il falloit laisser ces dames en liberte de se reposer durant quelques heures et en effet il les laissa dans les tentes de thomiris et passa dans une autre avec tous ces princes qui avoient eu part a ses malheurs et qui en avoient alors a sa bonne fortune cependant comme mandane au milieu de la satisfaction qu'elle avoit de se voir en liberte ne laissoit pas d'avoir de la douleur de la mort d'hesionide et d'ordonner qu'on luy rendist les honneurs de la sepulture elle fit que martesie donna la commission a feraulas d'avoir soin du corps de cette vertueuse personne d'autre part cyrus qui songeoit a tout en prit un particulier que toutes les femmes de thomiris qui ne l'avoient pu suivre ne receussent aucun outrage car pour gelonide quoy qu'elle desaprouvast tout ce que la passion de cette reine luy faisoit faire elle n'avoit pas laisse de la suivre pour la consoler dans sa fuite
 
 
 
 
cependant comme il n'estoit pas possible de songer a dormir le reste de la nuit et que cyrus estoit accoustume a veiller sans incommodite quand il le vouloir il employa le peu de temps 
 qu'il y eut depuis qu'il eut quitte mandane jusques a la pointe du jour a songer a partir des le lendemain et a s'esloigner d'un lieu ou sa princesse et luy avoient tant souffert car comme la bataille que cresus et mazare avoient donnee n'avoit pas este fort sanglante parce que la desertion des sauromates avoit mis l'armee de thomiris en desordre il ne creut pas la chose impossible et il le creut d'autant moins qu'il sceut des que le soleil fut leve que son armee s'estoit campee a douze stades des tentes royales et que cresus et mazare envoyoient luy demander ce qu'il vouloir qu'ils fissent de sorte que ne voyant nul obstacle a son dessein puis que ses troupes estoient r'assemblees et estoient campees si proches des qu'il crut que les dames avoient eu assez de temps pour se reposer et pour se remettre de tant de frayeurs il fut demander a mandane si elle n'aimeroit pas mieux estre au camp qu'aux tentes royales et faire mesme une demie journee en s'en esloignant que d'y demeurer davantage si bien que comme ses sentimens furent les siens il commenca de donner ses derniers ordres il est vray que la pitie de mandane voulut commencer par un sacrifice pour remercier les dieux ainsi quoy que les massagettes n'eussent point de temples non plus que les perses elle ne laissa pas d'en faire offrir un par un sacrificateur d'ecbatane qui estoit dans l'armee de cyrus et qui estoit venu aux tentes royales pour voir luy mesme s'il estoit 
 vray que la fille de son roy fust en liberte mais apres cela cyrus dit a otryade qu'il fist rendre les derniers honneurs au prince aryante il luy laissa aussi de quoy faire bastir un superbe tombeau au prince spitridate et a araminte et il voulut que la fidelle hesionide en eust un autre aupres du leur il l'obligea en suite d'aller trouver thomiris pour luy dire de sa part que quoy que tout le pais des massagettes pust estre a luy comme ses autres conquestes il le luy rendoit genereusement sans vouloir la poursuivre luy declarant que comme il ne luy avoit fait la guerre que pour la liberte de mandane il n'avoit plus rien a luy demander et qu'il s'en alloit repasser l'araxe sans vouloir rien garder de tout ce qui estoit a elle apres quoy prenant divers chariots de thomiris parce qu'il n'estoit pas possible d'en avoir alors d'autres toutes ces princesses et celles qui les accompagnoient s'y mirent et cyrus montant a cheval suivy de myrsile d'intapherne d'atergatis de meliante d'hidaspe de mereonte de chrysante de feraulas et de quelques-uns de ces capitaines sauromates qui avoient embrasse son party leur servit d'escorte et les mena au camp faisant sortir toutes les troupes des tentes royales qui marcherent en bataille derriere mandane mais pendant qu'elle avancoit vers le camp de cyrus cresus et mazare se preparoient a l'y recevoir avec tous les honneurs que le peu de temps qu'ils avoient leur pouvoit permettre de luy rendre 
 pour cet effet ils firent mettre toutes les troupes sous les armes et ils furent eux mesmes au devant d'elle jusques a six stades du camp suivis du prince tigrane d'artamas de gadate d'indathyrse du prince de paphlagonie de gobrias de silamis d'araspe d'aglatidas de ligdamis d'adonacris d'adusius d'anabaris de leontidas de mnesiphile de chersias de diocles et de beaucoup d'autres il est vray que mazare n'y fut pas sans sentir une nouvelle agitation dans son ame car enfin dans le temps qu'il avoit creu que cyrus estoit mort l'esperance avoit repris quelque place dans son coeur et y avoit renouvelle l'amour de sorte que sa vertu eut un nouveau combat a rendre elle fut pourtant a la fin plus forte que sa passion et il eut un si grand pouvoir sur luy mesme qu'il ne parut sur son visage qu'une joye tranquile lors qu'il vit cyrus et mandane et qu'il les vit en estat de pouvoir raisonnablement esperer d'estre heureux aussi le receurent ils l'un et l'autre avec beaucoup de marques d'estime et d'amitie car apres que cresus les eut saluez et qu'ils luy eurent tesmoigne la satisfaction qu'ils avoient de luy ils donnerent mille louanges a mazare et en suite a tant de braves gens qui les accompagnoient cependant gadate fut bien aise de revoir istrine gobrias eut une joye extreme de voir arpasie et il ne put mesme s'empescher d'en avoir aussi de voir meliante quoy qu'il se trouvast assez embarrasse a resoudre comment il devoit agir entre luy et hidaspe 
 indathyrse eut en son particulier beaucoup de satisfaction de revoir telagene pour qui il avoit une forte inclination et tigrane fit si bien qu'il trouva moyen d'entretenir l'admirable onesile car encore qu'il fust son mary il n'en estoit pas moins son amant pour intapherne il parloit a la princesse de bithinie qui estoit plus triste que les autres parce qu'elle regretoit la mort du roy son pere et celle de spitridate et pour atergatis il se meloit a la conversation de gadate et d'istrine myrsile en son particulier entretenoit doralise qui suivant son humeur se pleignoit malicieusement de ce qu'il ne la consoloit pas de la mort d'andramite dont elle estoit bien aise mais pour meliante et hidaspe ils parloient esgallement a arpasie et a gobrias demeurant exactement dans les termes que cyrus leur avoit prescrits il n'y avoit pas mesme jusques a feraulas qui n'eust trouve lieu de suivre son inclination et de parler a martesie mais comme le lieu n'estoit pas propre a un long entretien celuy de tant d admirables personnes finit bien tost de sorte que cette belle et illustre troupe recommencant de marcher fut receue au camp avec des acclamations de joye si grandes qu'on n'a jamais entendu parler d'une rejouissance plus universelle cependant quelque impatience qu'eust cyrus de s'esloigner d'un lieu ou sa princesse avoit este captive et ou il avoit este prisonnier il falut necessairement coucher au camp car avant que tous les officiers de son arme luy eussent tesmoigne leur joye il fut si tard qu'il ne 
 falut plus songer a partir si bien que mandane et les autres princesses furent logees dans les tentes de cresus et de mazare cyrus le fut dans celle d'artamas cresus et mazare le surent dans celles de gobrias et de gadate et tous les autres princes le furent dans les leurs qu'on dressa diligemment cependant cyrus ne fut pas plustost desgage de ce grand nombre de gens qui vouloient luy tesmoigner leur joye qu'il fut a la tente des princesses ou il passa le soir avec un plaisir si grand qu'il en oublia tous ses malheurs passez car comme il n'y avoit point de dame en ce lieu la qui n'eust quelqu'un qui eust un interest particulier de l'entretenir excepte onesile qui parloit au prince mazare il entretint tousjours mandane mais il l'entretint d'une maniere si agreable et si adroite qu'il l'obligea a se justifier sans qu'il l'accusast car encore que feraulas luy eust dit qu'il devoit luy estre oblige de ce petit commencement de joye qu'il avoit veu dans ses yeux lors qu'elle avoit passe devant la tente ou il estoit cache il fut pourtant bien aise d'ouir de la princesse qu'elle l'avoit pleure et qu'elle ne se seroit pas consolee de sa mort aussi luy exagera t'elle si obligeamment la douleur qu'elle avoit eue le jour de cette cruelle et funeste ceremonie de thomiris qu'il en eut une joye incroyable en effet quand il regardoit les beaux yeux de mandane et qu'il consideroit qu'ils avoient pleure pour luy toute l'amour de son coeur paroissoit dans les siens et il luy rendoit grace de la douleur qu'elle avoit eue 
 d'une maniere si passionnee que mandane connoissoit bien qu'il estoit digne de toutes les larmes qu'elle avoit respandues lors qu'elle l'avoit creu mort et qu'il meritoit toute son affection de sorte que cette connoissance luy faisant relascher quelque chose de cette exacte et severe retenue qui l'avoit tousjours obligee a cacher les plus tendres de ses sentimens a cyrus elle luy fit la grace ce soir la de luy en descouvrir une partie et de luy permettre de deviner l'autre mais pendant que ces deux illustres personnes faisoient un si doux eschange de tesmoignages d'amour intapherne faisoit ce qu'il pouvoit pour consoler sa princesse de la douleur qu'elle avoit atergatis de son coste entretenoit istrine avec une satisfaction incroyable car comme le roy d'assirie estoit mort il jugeoit bien que gadate ne feroit plus d'obstacle a son bonheur pour myrsile quoy qu'il fust bien aise de parler a doralise il estoit moins heureux que les autres parce que de l'humeur dont elle estoit quand elle eust autant aime ce prince qu'il l'aimoit il n'eust pas laisse de trouver quelquesfois une douceur inesgale en cette personne et d'avoir tres souvent sujet de se pleindre de sa severite lors mesme qu'elle auroit eu dessein de luy donner sujet de se louer d'elle car encore qu'elle fust tousjours esgallement genereuse pour ses amis cela n'empeschoit pas qu'elle ne fust inesgalle pour ses amans parce qu'il ne luy estoit pas possible de se resoudre a recevoir leurs services sans leur dire quelqu'une de ces ingenieuses et severes 
 malices qui tenant esgallement de la fierte de son ame de l'agreement de son esprit et de la modestie de son coeur fachoient et divertissoient tout a la fois ceux a qui elle les disoit ainsi myrsile quoy que tres aise d'estre aupres de cette admirable fille ne laissoit pas d'avoir de facheux momens mais pour meliante et pour hidaspe ils estoient les moins contens de tous car en l'assiette ou arpasie avoit alors l'esprit elle les vouloit tellement mesnager tous deux qu'elle n'en obligeoit aucun meliante estoit pourtant plus heureux qu'hidaspe parce qu'il connoissoit bien que son rival s'apercevoit qu'il estoit mieux avec arpasie qu'il n'y avoit este de sorte que si meliante n'estoit pas tout a fait content de sa maistresse il estoit tousjours fort aise de voir le chagrin de son rival quoy qu'il fust pourtant tres afflige de connoistre qu'il ne possedoit encore que la moitie du coeur de la personne qu'il aimoit mais pour hidaspe comme il avoit creu l'avoir tout entier et qu'il le voioit partage il en avoit une douleur plus grande qu'il ne le tesmoignoit car par un sentiment de glorie il vouloit cacher son depit a son rival meliante de son coste par un semblable motif faisoit paroistre encore plus de joye qu'il n'en avoit et pour achever de luy donner quelque avantage sur hidaspe il arriva lors que la conversation fut devenue generale et que cyrus fut prest de se retirer qu'il parla si avantageusement de luy a mandane qu'il la pria obligeamment de luy donner quelque part en son amitie aussi meliante 
 se tint il tres dignement recompense du service qu'il avoit rendu a ce prince veu la maniere dont il parla de luy car enfin madame dit cyrus a mandane je puis vous assurer que meliante a encore plus este mon vainqueur par sa vertu que par sa valeur quoy que j'aye este son prisonnier et sa generosite merite sans doute que vous vous donniez la peine de le connoistre par vous mesme ha seigneur s'escria meliante je ne puis souffrir que vous disiez que vous avez este mon prisonnier car enfin adjousta-t'il je n'ay fait que vous obeir depuis que j'ay l'honneur d'estre aupres de vous il est vray repliqua cyrus mais cela n'empesche pas que les loix de la guerre ne vous eussent mis en estat de me pouvoir commander aussi vous puis-je assurer qu'en ne le faisant pas vous n'y avez rien perdu car ma reconnoissance vous donne plus de pouvoir sur moy que le droit des vainqueurs n'en peut donner sur les vaincus
 
 
 
 
apres cela cyrus s'estant mis en disposition de s'en aller meliante ne put luy respondre et toute cette agreable compagnie se separa mandane ne se coucha pourtant pas encore car comme cyrus luy avoit dit qu'il envoyeroit le lendemain des courriers a ecbatane et a persepolis cette princesse escrivit a ciaxare et elle escrivit aussi a la reine de perse et en effet cyrus depescha des la pointe du jour araspe vers cambise et aglatidas vers ciaxare choisissant obligeamment ce dernier pour porter une si grande nouvelle au roy des medes afin qu'il pust voir sa chere amestris cependant pour ne perdre 
 point des momens qui luy estoient si chers des que toutes ce princesses furent habillees elles partirent et toute l'armee marcha car encore qu'il n'y eust plus de troupes ennemies en corps d'armee cyrus voulut pourtant que la sienne marchast en bataille jusques au dela de l'araxe mais lors qu'ils furent a cet endroit des bois qui avoit este embrase artabatis vint au devant de cyrus qui le receut comme un homme qui avoit contribue a sa liberte par la victoire qu'il avoit emportee sur andramite et par les troupes qu'il avoit envoyees aupres des tentes royales ce fut aussi jusques en ce mesme endroit que le sage anacharsis vint au devant de cyrus qu'il loua infiniment de la moderation qu'il avoit eue pour thomiris mais comme cyrus voulut rendre justice a la vertu de cet illustre schyte il le presenta a mandane d'une maniere fort obligeante puis qu'il luy fit connoistre en peu de mots tout le merite de cet excellent homme aussi cette princesse luy fit elle tous les honneurs imaginables car de l'humeur dont elle estoit elle en rendoit plus a la vertu d'anacharsis qu'a sa condition quoy qu'il fust de fort grande qualite comme le fort des sauromates se trouva sur leur route et justemeut a la fin d'une journee toutes ces princesses y coucherent et y furent receues par le roy d'hircanie qui se portant beaucoup mieux de ses blessures se trouva en estat de recevoir cyrus et mandane a l'entree de ce fort leur faisant beaucoup d'excuses de ce qu'il n'avoit pu les aller recevoir 
 plus loin a cheval en suite de quoy apres les premiers complimens faits et rendus il dit a cyrus qu'il attendoit de luy un si grand office qu'il luy donneroit plus que s'il luy donnoit un royaume s'il luy rendoit ce qu'il avoit perdu et ce que peu de personnes scavoient qu'il eust possede ce discours est si obscur pour moy reprit cyrus en marchant tousjours que je ne puis y respondre a propos que vous ne m'ayez apris ce que vous avez perdu et ce que je vous puis rendre quand vous serez en un lieu plus commode repliqua le roy d'hircanie je vous diray plus precisement qu'on m'a assure ce matin que l'ay un fils dans vostre armee quoy que personne ne croye que j'aye un successeur ny que j'aye este marie c'est pourquoy quand je me seray esclaircy de quelques circonstances que je veux scavoir aujourd'huy je vous prieray de me le rendre vous pouvez penser reprit alors cyrus si je n'auray pas bien de la joye si je puis contribuer quelque chose a vostre satisfaction vous dis-je qui avez este le premier a vous jetter dans mon parti et a qui je dois aussi ma premiere reconnoissance apres cela le roy d'hircanie ayant respondu civilement sans rien particulariser de son avanture ils se trouverent alors si proches de la tente ou mandane alloit descendre que cyrus le quitta pour luy aller donner la main tous ces princes qui le suivoient rendirent la mesme civilite aux princesses qu'ils aimoient mais comme arpasie avoit deux amans au lieu d'un qui voulurent esgallement luy rendre 
 ce devoir il pensa y avoir quelque demesle entre eux et si arpasie n'eust bien mesnage les choses ils se fussent querellez infailliblement cependant comme cyrus fut adverty a l'heure mesme de ce qui s'estoit passe et qu'il sceut qu'hidaspe avoit plus de tort que meliante il le tira a part et apres luy avoir tesmoigne qu'il ne trouvoit pas bon qu'il ne vescust pas bien avec un homme a qui il devoit toutes choses et a qui il pouvoit veritablement donner le nom de son protecteur il s'aquita de la promesse qu'il avoit faite a meliante en priant hidaspe avec toute l'affection possible de ne songer plus a arpasie et de la ceder a son rival seigneur reprit alors hidaspe tout ce que je puis en cette occasion est de vous suplier de ne me le conmander pas absolument de peur de me mettre en estat de me reprocher toute ma vie de vous avoir desobei mais seigneur pour vous tesmoigner que je respecte un amy de l'illustre cyrus en la personne de mon rival je vous diray que si arpasie le choisit a mon prejudice j'endurerai qu'il la possede sans m'y opposer et je me resoudray a la mort plustost que de troubler le repos d'un honme qui a eu la gloire de vous rendre un service considerable et d'aquerir vostre amitie conme vous croyez qu'arpasie vous prefere a meliante reprit cyrus vous ne faites rien dont je vous doive estre fort oblige ha seigneur repliqua hidaspe je suis bien moins heureux que vous ne pensez car depuis que mon rival a delivre arpasie des mains de licandre il a aquis tant de part a son coeur que je ne scay qui de nous deux y en a 
 le plus puis que cela est dit cyrus il me semble que vous devriez ceder a vostre rival la moitie qui vous reste car je ne trouve pas qu'il y ait grande satisfaction a posseder un coeur partage quoy qu'il en soit seigneur reprit hidaspe il faut qu'on m'oste ce que j'en possede car je ne le puis ceder volontairement puis que cela est dit cyrus il faut que la princesse mandane se donne la peine de faire expliquer la belle arpasie des ce soir car je serois au desespoir s'il arrivoit quelque malheur a deux honmes qui me sont si chers apres cela cyrus fut effectivement prier mandane de parler a arpasie afin de terminer promptement cette affaire de peur que durant une si longue marche ces deux rivaux ne se querellassent il voulut pourtant auparavant en parler a gobrias qui ayant remis a cyrus tout le pouvoir qu'il avoit sur sa fille mit ce prince en estat de faire une action de justice entre deux hommes qu'il aimoit sort cependant mandane pour ne perdre point de temps entretint arpasie en particulier et luy ayant dit l'estat des choses et qu'elle estoit maistresse de son propre destin elle l'embarrassa estrangement d'abord elle dit que c'estoit au prince son pere a disposer d'elle mais comme mandane l'eut enfin fort pressee et qu'elle luy eut fait connoistre qu'il falloit qu'elle s'expliquast et qu'elle s'expliquast nettement elle fut encore plus en peine car enfin madame luy dit elle apres s'estre determinee a parler sincerement je ne scay moy mesme ce que je vous dois respondre et tout ce que je puis est de vous dire en deux 
 mots mon ame afin que vous me conseilliez ce que je dois faire je vous dirai donc madame quoy que je ne vous le puisse dire sans rougir que meliante a este ma premiere inclination et que j'ay eu pour luy toute l'estime imaginable et toute la tendresse dont on peut estre capable j'avoue de plus que je luy ay d'infinies obligations que sans luy j'eusse espouse un homme que je haissois horriblement et qu'ainsi il m'a empeschee d'estre la plus malheureuse personne de la terre je confesse encore que je n'estois pas marrie a alfene qu'il m'aimast et que si je n'eusse jamais sceu qu'il avoit fait une infidellite a une personne nonmee argelise je l'aurois aime de la maniere dont il le vouloit estre mais apres cela madame il faut encore que je vous die que m'estant alors resolue de n'avoir que de l'amitie pour meliante je vins en suite a connoistre hidaspe en l'humeur de qui je trouvay tant de raport avec la mienne que je creus d'abord que le destin vouloit que nous eussions de l'affection l'un pour l'autre et si je puis dire aujourd'huy ce que je n'ay jamais dit je vous avoueray que le dessein d'achever de desgager mon coeur de l'attachement qu'il avoit pour meliante me fit recevoir l'amour d'hidaspe plus promptement que je n'eusse fait de sorte que pour ne vous desguiser rien je luy permis d'esperer d'estre aime et je luy promis mesme quelque temps apres de l'aimer tousjours depuis cela madame il est arrive beaucoup de choses mais pour ne m'arrester qu'a la derniere j'ay a vous dire que meliante malgre ma froideur pour luy est venu desguise aux tentes 
 royales et qu'il a eu la generosite de hazarder sa vie pour donner la mort a mon dernier ravisseur ainsi madame je pense pouvoir dire qu'en tuant licandre il a ressuscite une partie de l'affection que j'avois eue pour luy de sorte que je suis presentement au plus pitoiable estat du monde car je connois bi qu'on ne peut pas estre plus parfaitement aimee que je le suis et de meliante et d'hidaspe le premier a pourtant cet avantage qu'il m'a rendu des marques d'amour plus esclatantes mais le second a celuy de l'engagement de ma parole cependant je suis en termes de ne la luy pouvoir tenir sans estre ingrate envers meliante et sans en avoir mesme beaucoup de douleur et je ne puis aussi me donner a meliante sans estre infidelle a hidaspe et sans avoir de la confusion et du regret ainsi je ne puis estre a aucun des deux sans regretter celuy a qui je ne seray pas et je suis presentement si peu resolue sur ce que je veux que je ne doute point que je ne me repente quelque choix que je puisse faire en effet je n'ai pas plustost eu une pensee a l'avantage d'hidaspe que j'en ay une autre qui detruit la premiere c'est pourquoy madame a dire les choses comme elles sont je ne suis point propre ny a rendre heureux celui que je choisiray ny a estre heureuse moy mesme apres cela mandane dit a arpasie tout ce qu'elle creut propre a descouvrir si effectivement son esprit estoit en l'estat qu'elle le disoit et elle onnut en effet si parfaitement que la chose estoit ainsi qu'elle en eut beaucoup d'estonnement mais la difficulte fut de faire consentir arpasie que ses sentimens fussent sceus de meliante et 
 d'hidaspe il falut pourtant qu'elle s'y resolust car apres que mandane eut rendu conte de sa conversation a cyrus et a gobrias ils trouverent qu'il n'y avoit autre voye a prendre que de dire ingenument l'estat de sa chose et a hidaspe et a meliante de sorte que les ayant fait appeller l'un et l'autre mandane avec une adresse admirable demesla si bien les sentimens qu'arpasie avoit pour eux et sceut conduire la chose avec tant d'art qu'elle leur pensa donner a tous deux l'envie de se la ceder mutuellement par l'impossibilite qu'elle leur faisoit voir de pouvoir la rendre heureuse et de pouvoir estre heureux ils ne purent pourtant se resoudre sur le champ et ils demanderent deux choses l'une qu'arpasie confirmeroit en leur presence tout ce que la princesse mandane leur avoit dit pour voir si elle n'auroit point encore change de sentimens et l'autre qu'on ne les obligeroit a respondre que le lendemain et en effet on leur accorda ce qu'ils demandoient car on leur donna le temps qu'ils desiroient et on leur fit voir arpasie quoy qu'elle ne le voulust pas mais en la voyant ils connurent si bien que tout ce que mandane leur avoit dit estoit positivement vray qu'ils en furent presques esgallement malheureux meliante l'estoit pourtant moins qu'hidaspe car apres s'estre veu entierement desespere il trouvoit quelque douceur a voir qu'il avoit fait quelque progres dans le coeur d'arpasie puis qu'il en avoit oste la moitie a son rival ce partage l'affligeoit pourtant tres fort aussi bien qu'hidaspe et ils furent 
 et cent fois tentez de ne songer plus a une personne qui ne pouvoit se determiner a rien ainsi ils passerent la nuit avec beaucop d'inquiettude cependant comme meliante avoit autant de generosite que d'amour la pensee qu'il eut qu'hidaspe seroit encore dans le coeur d'arpasie quand mesme il l'auroit espousee pensa le guerir de sa passion mais la mesme generosite luy faisant voir aussi quelque chose de tres facheux a la ceder a son rival il sembloit estre resolu a ne la ceder point lors qu'on luy vint dire que cyrus le demandoit avec beaucoup d'empressement et qu'il l'attendoit dans la chanbre de mandane conme il scavoit qu'il avoit promis de rendre sa response il creut que c'estoit pour la scavoir qu'on se venoit querir mais il fut bien surpris lors qu'entrant dans la chambre de cette princesse ou il n'y avoit que cyrus et le roy d'hircanie il entendit que mandane luy dit qu'elle avoit une si agreable nouvelle a luy dire qu'elle n'avoit pas voulu que nul autre qu'elle la luy aprist car enfin meliante lui dit cette princesse vous estes fils de roy et fils d'un roy qui a este un des premiers amis de cyrus lors qu'il a commence la guerre mais le mal est qu'en gagnant une couronne il faut que vous perdiez une maistresse car le roy vostre pere devant qui je vous parle m'a apris que selon les loix de son estat il n'est pas permis au successeur du royaume d'espouser une princesse estrangere madame repliqua meliante fort surpris tout ce que vous me dittes est si esloigne de toute vray-semblance que n'osant douter de vos 
 vos paroles il faut que je croye que j'ay mal entendu non non repliqua le roy d'hircanie l'illustre mandane ne vous a point trompe car vous estes veritablement mon fils quoy que vous ne le croiyez pas estre et pour vous tesmoigner que je scay tout ce que vous avez fait jusques a ce que vous ayez quitte le nom de clidaris pour prendre celuy de meliante j'ay a vous dire que vous avez este esleve en une province d'assirie que vous avez creu estre fils d'un homme de qualite de ce lieu la que vous avez pense que cleonide estoit vostre soeur et que vous avez este voyager en grece cependant ceux dont vous avez creu avoir pris naissance n'ont este que les confidens de mon mariage avec une personne que j'espousay secrettement du vivant du roy mon pere et qui mourut peu de jours apres que vous fustes ne mais seigneur interrompit alors cyrus d'ou vient que depuis la mort du feu roy d'hircanie vous n'avez point declare vostre mariage et que vous n'avez point rapelle le prince vostre fils la raison d'une chose si extraordinaire reprit-il fut qu'ayant fait consulter l'oracle de jupiter belus a babilone sur la naissance de mort fils il me respondit que si on ne cachoit sa condition jusques a ce qu'il eust eu pour prisonnier le plus grand prince du monde il seroit le plus malheureux de tous les hommes et que si au contraire on attendoit a publier sa qualite qu'il eust este maistre du destin d'un prince qui feroit celuy de toute l'asie il gueriroit d'une passion qui 
 le rendroit alors miserable qu'il seroit tres heureux le reste de ses jours de sorte que respectant les dieux j'ordonnay qu'on envoyast mon fils voyager en grece et attendant qu'il leur plust de faire reussir ce qu'ils m'avoient promis comme en effet ils ont accomply leur promesse puis que mon fils a eu la gloire de voir l'illustre cyrus son prisonnier si bien que celuy qui l'a esleve et qu'il croyoit estre son pere estant arrive icy pour me dire qu'il scavoit que mon fils sous le nom de meliante estoit dans le parti de thomiris et qu'il croyoit a propos de l'advertir qu'il n'en devoit pas estre puis que je n'en estois pas j'ay sceu avec certitude que meliante est mon fils mais comme c'est sous ce nom la qu'il a eu la gloire de rendre quelque service a un si grand prince je pretens qu'il luy demeure et qu'il n'en porte jamais d'autre tant que le roy d'hircanie parla meliante eut des sentimens bien differens car il eut beaucoup de joye d'aprendre que sa naissance estoit aussi grande que son coeur estoit grand mais il eut aussi beaucoup de douleur de voir que sa condition mettoit un nouvel obstacle aux pretentions qu'il avoit pour arpasie et un nouvel obstacle qui paroissoit invincible ainsi l'amour et l'ambition se combatant dans son coeur tant que le roi d'hircanie parla il ne scavoit pas lui mesme s'il devoit s'affliger ou se rejouir mais des que ce prince eut cesse de parler les sentimens de la nature estant alors les plus forts dans son ame il donna au roy son pere tous les tesmoignages de tendresse que le respect qu'il vouloit rendre a mandane 
 et a cyrus devant qu'il luy parloit luy permirent de luy rendre en suite de quoy le roy d'hircanie avec la permission de cyrus ayant fait entrer cet homme de qualite que meliante avoit creu estre son pere il luy confirma ce qu'on luy avoit desja dit si bien que n'y ayant plus rien a douter le roy d'hircanie dit a meliante qu'il estoit bien marry que les loix de son estat se trouvassent contraires a son amour mais qu'apres tout il croyoit qu'une couronne devoit le consoler de la perte d'arpasie ainsi sans luy demander de response precise sur cela presuposant qu'il n'y en avoit point d'autre a faire que celle de se conformer a la loy il dit tout bas a cyrus qu'il avoit impatience que meliante fust connu de tout le monde pour ce qu'il estoit esperant que les complimens qu'on luy feroit sur le changement avantageux de sa condition detacheroient son esprit de son objet ordinaire et l'empescheroient de s'affliger avec exces de la perte d'arpasie de sorte que cyrus obligeant alors mandane a laisser entrer tout le monde dans sa chambre l'heureuse avanture de meliante fut bien tost sceue car le prince mazare artamas intapherne atergatis et beaucoup d'autres y vinrent et sceurent ce qui venoit d'arriver meliante se desgagea pourtant le plustost qu'il put de cette compagnie et pousse par sa passion il fut a la tente ou estoit arpasie qui avoit desja sceu ce qu'il estoit parce que martesie l'avoit envoye dire a nyside qui le luy avoit dit c'est pourquoy elle le receut comme estant 
 fils du roy d'hircanie c'est a dire avec plus de ceremonie plus de respect mais meliante s'en apercevant d'abord non non madame luy dit-il ne changez point vostre facon d'agir aveque moy car si vous le voulez meliante ne sera que ce qu'il estoit hier puis qu'il plaist a la fortune qu'il ne puisse estre en mesme temps fils du roy d'hircanie et mary de la belle arpasie apres cela meliante luy disant le veritable estat de la chose luy protesta que si elle vouloit luy donner son coeur tout entier il renonceroit aveque joye a toutes les pretentions de la couronne d'hircanie et qu'il s'estimeroit plus heureux de regner dans son ame que de regner dans un grand royaume mais madame luy dit-il avec une tendresse extreme il faut avoit de la sincerite et de la justice et considerer qu'hidaspe ne quitteroit peut-estre pas une couronne pour vous posseder s'il ne le pouvoit sans la perdre arpasie fut alors fort touchee de ce que meliante luy disoit mais comme elle avoit de la generosite et qu'elle estoit sincere elle creut qu'elle ne devoit pas deguiser ses sentimens a un prince si genereux ny luy faire perdre une couronne puis qu'elle sentoit bien qu'elle ne pourroit non plus se detacher entierement d'hidaspe que de luy mais quoi que cette personne lui dist mille choses obligeantes pour luy en dire une facheuse il se sentit si outrage de voir que cette grande preuve d'amour qu'il luy donnoit ne l'obligeoit pas a lui donner son coeur tout entier qu'il luy protesta qu'il n'i pretendroit jamais rien et qu'il s'en alloit faire toutes 
 choses possibles afin de faire que l'ambition succedast a l'amour dans son ame et pour n'aimer jamais que la glorie puis qu'il n'avoit pu estre aime d'elle comme il avoit souhaite de l'estre et comme il l'avoit merite et par sa respectueuse passion et par les services qu'il luy avoit rendus en effet il sortit de sa tente dans ce sentiment la si bien qu'ayant rencontre hidaspe qui s'y en alloit il fut droit a luy dire qu'il cedoit arpasie a fa bonne fortune et qu'il l'assuroit que s'il ne pouvoit si tost cesser d'estre son rival il cesseroit du moins de pretendre rien a la possession de sa maistresse hidaspe receut cette declaration avec tant de joye que meliante pensa se repentir de la luy avoir faite mais le depit qu'il avoit dans l'ame venant a son secours en cette occasion il ne changea point d'avis au contraire il s'y affermit et il espera mesme qu'il pourroit avec le temps guerir de sa passion et oster son coeur tout entier a une personne qui ne luy avoit voulu donner que la moitie du sien cependant cyrus eut sa part de l'inquietude de meliante sans en rien tesmoigner car la loy du royaume d'hircanie qui deffendoit aux fils de roy d'espouser des princesses estrangeres estoit aussi au royaume de capadoce si bien que mandane comme reine de ce royaume la ne pouvoit espouser cyrus ce prince cacha pourtant la douleur que cette pensee luy donna et il voulut croire que si ciaxare luy pouvoit refuser la princesse sa fille comme reine de capadoce il la luy pouvoit aussi donner comme princesse 
 de medie seulement ce n'est pas que cet obstacle fust nouveau a ce prince mais il en avoit tant eu d'autres plus pressans qu'il n'avoit point songe a celuy la jusques a ce que le roy d'hircanie luy avoit parle des loix de son estat et que mandane avoit dit si precisement a meliante qu'en gagnant une couronne il falloit qu'il perdist une maistresse il dissimula pourtant cette inquietude et cela ne l'empescha pas le lendemain de paroistre de la plus agreable humeur du monde cependant comme mandane avoit une impatience estrange d'avoir repasse l'araxe elle obligea toutes les princesses qui l'accompagnoient d'estre diligentes et de se lever matin durant quelques jours de sorte qu'elles firent effectivement ce chemin la si promptement que les troupes ne les pouvoient suivre mais enfin apres avoir passe l'araxe et toute l'armee aussi le sage anacharsis qui avoit voulu conduire cyrus jusques la s'en separa et emmena indathyrse aveque luy mnesiphile chersias et diocles ne l'abandonnerent point aussi ce continuerent leur voyage comme ils l'avoient commence mais ce sage scythe en se separant de cyrus et de mandane leur donna de si grands eloges et leur dit de si belles choses qu'ils eurent sujet d'estre aussi satisfaits de luy qu'il l'estoit d'eux pour indathyrse il quita cyrus avec beaucoup de repugnance aussi bien que la belle telagene et s'il eust creu qu'elle eust pu quitter l'armenie pour aller au pais des thauroscytes il ne s'en seroit pas separe mais il aima mieux tascher de guerir 
 d'une passion naissante par l'absence que de la laisser augmenter davantage inutilement cependant cyrus et mandane continuerent leur chemin mais par prudence il ne voulut pas que le roy d'hircanie allast a ecbatane car il estoit aise de connoistre que meliante avoit besoin d'estre esloigne d'arpasie pour ne l'aimer plus de sorte que cyrus pretextant la chose de cette raison obligea le roy d'hircanie a prendre la route qui pouvoit le conduire a son royaume avec les troupes qu'il luy avoit amenees mais en se separant de meliante il luy donna de si grandes louanges et de si tendres marques d'amitie que dans le dessein qu'il avoit fait de n'aimer plus que la gloire il avoit sujet d'estre content mandane luy donna aussi tant de tesmoignages d'estime qu'il eut lieu d'en estre infiniment satisfait aussi bien que de toutes les princesses qui l'accompagnoient et de tous les princes qui suivoient cyrus mais apres tout son plus grand plaiser fut de voir qu'arpasie parut si triste en luy disant adieu qu'hidaspe en eut de la colere ainsi il partit couvert de toute la gloire qu'il meritoit et avec toute la satisfaction dont il pouvoit estre capable en l'estat ou estoit son esprit car encore qu'arpasie fust infiniment aimable il n'y avoit personne qui ne murmurast contre elle et qui ne trouvast qu'elle avoit tort de n'avoir pas donne son coeur tout entier a meliante quoy qu'hidaspe fust un des hommes du monde le plus accomply cependant des que mandane aprocha 
 de medie cyrus envoya ordre a arianite et a ces autres femmes qu'il avoit laissees avec licaste de se rendre a ecbatane et le jour qu'ils entrerent sur les frontieres de medie harpage et pactias qui estoient allez a mytilene apres le siege de cumes parce que le premier n'osoit paroistre devant cyrus et que l'autre n'osoit voir le roy de lydie revinrent et s'estant adressez a hidaspe ils luy aprirent que dans le dessein qu'ils avoient eu de voyager ils s'estoient embarquez dans un vaisseau que la tempeste avoit oblige de relascher a mytilene et qu'ils estoient allez en suite a l'isle de crete si fameuse par ce merveilleux labirinthe qu'on y voyoit et qu'estant la le vaisseau dans quoy estoient ceux que le prince de phocee et bomilcar avoient envoyez vers cyrus y aborda si bien qu'aprenant qu'ils portoient des lettres de ce prince et qu'ils alloient en un pais dont ils leur louoient fort la beaute ils les avoient suivis et estoient allez a marseille ou ils avoient veu l'admirable cleonisbe et avoient este presens a ses nopces avec le prince de phocee dont ils disoient tous les biens imaginables adjoustant que n'ayant pu vivre plus long temps esloignez de leur pais ils avoient implore l'assistance de cleonisbe et celle de ce prince qui ayant este bien aises de trouver une occasion de remercier cyrus du bonheur dont ils joussoient luy avoient escrit pour luy en rendre grace et pour luy demander celle de vouloir pardonner a harpage et de faire que cresus 
 pardonnast aussi a pactias de sorte qu'hidaspe se chargeant de cette affaire en parla a cyrus qui ne pouvant rien refuser en un temps ou la fortune luy avoit accorde des choses qu'il n'avoit mesme ose esperer consentit qu'hidaspe luy presentast harpage et obligea cresus a pardonner a pactias ce prince ayant beaucoup de joye d'aprendre par eux que l'admirable cleonisbe et le vaillant prince de phocee estoient heureux quoy qu'il fust marry que le genereux bomilcar ne le fust pas il est vray que la secrette inquietude qu'il avoit ne le laissoit pas en estat d'avoir grande sensibilite dans l'ame pour tout ce qui ne regardoit pas son amour elle ne l'empescha pourtant pas de donner tous les ordres necessaires pour faire que mandane arrivast a ecbatane en un equipage proportionne a sa condition pour cet effet elle se reposa a la premiere ville d'une province de medie qui s'appelle la province des saspires mais pendant qu'elle y fut tout ce que l'amour peut faire dire et penser de tendre de doux et de galant sut dit et pense par cyrus par mandane par intapherne par la princesse de bithinie par istrine et par myrsile car pour doralise elle ne scavoit dire que des choses spirituelles et malicieuses estant certain que pour les tendres et les passionnees elles n'estoient pas a son usage et tout ce qu'elle pouvoit faire estoit de souffrir que le prince myrsile luy en dist mais enfin apres que toutes choses furent prestes et pour le train de mandane et pour l'equipage du vainqueur de 
 de l'asie et pour celuy de tous les princes qui suivoient cyrus ce heros laissant toutes les troupes sur la frontiere a la reserve de cinq cens chevaux seulement avanca vers ecbatane ou ciaxare l'attendoit avec une impatience proportionnee a la joye qu'il esperoit recevoir en revoyant la princesse sa fille mais ce qui surprit bien agreablement cyrus et mandane fut qu'ils sceurent que cambise et la reine sa femme estoient arrivez a ecbatane sans qu'ils sceussent la cause de leur voyage cependant le jour de cette magnifique entree estant arrive on vit ce qu'on ne scauroit s'imaginer et ce qu'on ne scauroit descrire car encore que le roy d'assirie eust autresfois fait une espece de petit triomphe tres magnifique pour faire recevoir mandane a babilone lors que le prince mazare par les ordres de ce roy luy en offrit les clefs ce n'avoit rien este en comparaison de cette magnifique entree il est vray que le prince mazare n'y eut pas tant de part qu'a l'autre car il ne se para point parce qu'il se souvint que c'avoit este a une pareille ceremonie qu'il avoit perdu sa liberte de sorte que comme il regardoit le matin mandane qui achevoit deshabiller il ne put s'empescher de luy en dire quelque chose prenez garde madame luy dit-il de ne faire pas encore aujourd'hui quelque autre malheureux comme moy car il vous souviendra s'il vous plaist que ce fut en une pareille feste que j'eus le malheur de commencer de vous aimer j'estois si triste et si malheureuse ce jour-la repliqua 
 mandane en souriant qu'il ne faut pas s'estonner si la compassion que vous eustes de mes malheurs attendrit un peu vostre coeur mais comme on n'a assurement pas tant de disposition a aimer les gens heureux que les miserables je ne dois pas craindre aujourd'hui qu'une pareille avanture m'arrive et si j'avois quelque chose a aprehender ce seroit de perdre vostre amitie ha madame interrompit mazare en soupirant si vous scaviez ce qui se passe dans mon coeur je serois bien plus expose a perdre la vostre que vous ne l'estes a perdre la mienne je vous assure toutesfois adjousta-t'il que vous ne pourriez me l'oster sons injustice je ne vous l'osteray donc jamais reprit mandane car je n'ay pas accostume d'estre injuste ainsi tant que vous serez ce que vous estes je seray ce que je suis et je ne changeray jamais pour vous tant que vous ne changerez pas pour moy je devrois madame repliqua mazare recevoir ce que vous me dittes avec un grand transport de joye mais quoy qu'elle ne paroisse pas dans mes yeux elle ne laisse pas d'estre tres sensible a mon coeur pardonnez moy donc madame une melancolie involontaire qui paroist et qui paroistra peut estre bien souvent malgre que j'en aye sur mon visage puis que c'est la seule chose que vous aurez jamais a me reprocher cela estant ainsi repliqua-t'elle je vous pleindray sans vous accuser mais en vostre particulier ne trouvez pas estrange si ne je vous demande jamais la cause de vostre tristesse comme mandane disoit cela on la vint advertir que toutes 
 choses estoient prestes pour son depart et un moment apres onesile la princesse de bithinie istrine arpasie et telagene entrerent dans sa chambre mais si parees et si belles qu'on voyoit bien que la joye est un merveilleux avantage a la beaute la princesse de bithinie estoit pourtant en deuil mais c'estoit un deuil si propre et sa beaute la paroit si fort qu'elle n'avoit aucun desavantage a estre moins paree que les autres pour mandane elle n'avoit jamais este si belle que ce jour la aussi lors que cyrus entra dans sa chambre pour luy donner la main afin de la conduire a son chariot il fut surpris de la mesme beaute qu'il y avoit si long temps qu'il adoroit car comme il n'avoit point veu cette princesse ny si paree ny si guaye depuis son depart de cumes il la trouvoit plus charmante qu'il ne l'avoit jamais trouvee et il avoit aussi plus d'amour qu'il n'en avoit jamais eu et par consequent l'inquiettude qu'il avoit dans l'ame en estoit plus forte quoy qu'il ne laissast pas de se flatter et de croire quelquesfois qu'elle estoit mal fondee mais enfin toute cette belle et magnifique troupe partit les dames eurent toutes des chariots si magnifiques que c'estoient de veritables chars de triomphe tous les princes monterent des chevaux admirables et il n'y avoit pas mesme jusques aux moindres esclaves qui n'eussent quelques marques de la magnificence de leurs maistres cependant ils trouverent a deux cens stades d'ecbatane que ciaxare et cambise a la teste de tout ce qu'ils avoient de 
 les attendoient pres d'un grand arc de triomphe qu'ils avoient fait eslever a la gloire du vainqueur de l'asie et du liberateur de mandane ou par des inscriptions et des peintures fort ingenieuses toutes les victores de ce prince estoient louees et representees mais comme il estoit aussi modeste que vaillant il ne voulut point passer sous cet arc qu'on avoit esleve a sa gloire et il deffera cet honneur a mandane comme a la veritable cause de toutes ses conquestes cette entre veue eut toutes les circonstances qui la pouvoient rendre agreable car il parut tant de joye sur le visage de ciaxare et de cambise lors qu'ils virent cyrus et mandane et mandane et cyrus en eurent aussi tant de les revoir qu'elle se conmuniqua a tous ceux qui les virent de sorte que jamais il ne s'est fait tant d'acclamations qu'il s'en fit alors mais comme ils avoient impatience d'estre en lieu ou ils se pussent entretenir ils prirent le chemin d'ecbatane et tant qu'il dura ils trouverent tousjours quelque nouvelle marque de magnificence soit par les troupes qui estoient rangees a droit et a gauche soit par d autres arcs eslevez a la gloire de cyrus et de mandane soit par un nombre infiny de gens de toutes conditions qui ne pouvant attendre a les voir qu'ils arrivassent dans la ville venoient au devant d'eux avec des couronnes de fleurs qu'ils leur offroient ou qu'ils jettoient a leurs pieds comme pour leur rendre hommage a la porte de la ville ils trouverent les magistrats qui les haranguerent et a celle du temple 
 ou ils furent descendre ils trouverent tous les mages d'ecbatane qui les y attendoient pour offrir en leur nom un sacrifice de remerciment aux dieux mais a peine tous ces rois tous ces princes toutes ces princesses et tous les gens de qualite qui les suivoient eurent-ils pris les places qui leur estoient assignees que le mesme accident qui estoit arrive du temps d'astiage arriva car le temple trembla toutes les lampes s'esteignirent a la reserve d'une seule qui estoit droit sur la teste de cyrus et qui sembla avoir reuny toutes ces diverses lumieres tant elle parut claire et brillante mais en mesme temps durant un quart d'heure l'on entendit raisonner dans les voutes du temple un certain bruit qui tenant esgallement du tonnerre et du mugissement de la mer imprima la frayeur dans l'ame de tous ceux qui l'entendirent ce prodige estonna sans doute fort toute l'assemblee les mages mesme a la reserve d'un en parurent effrayez et il n'y eut presques que cyrus sur le visage de qui on ne vit aucun mouvement de crainte cependant on voulut commencer le sacrifice mais il n'y eut pas moyen de l'achever car toutes les victimes eschaperent a ceux qui les tenoient et les sacrificateurs assurerent a ciaxare et a cambise qu'il falloit de necessite le remettre a une autre fois et apaiser les dieux avant que de leur sacrifier pour cambise il s'imaginoit suivant l'opinion de son pais que c'estoit qu'ils s'irritoient de ce que les hommes avoient la hardiesse de les adorer dans des temples bastis par 
 les mains prophanes mais pour tous les mages ils estoient persuadez qu'ils avoient quelque chose d'important a leur faire scavoir le premier d'entre eux qui estoit celuy qui avoit paru le moins estonne se souvenoit bien de l'expliquation qui avoit autrefois este donnee a ces lampes dont les lumieres s'estoient reunies sur la teste de la reine de perse de sorte que s'imaginant que c'estoit que les dieux demandoient l'accomplissement de cette prediction il dit a ciaxare qu'il faloit qu'il se retirast a son palais et qu'il luy donnast le temps d'observer les astres et ses liures afin de tascher de penetrer le secret des dieux et en effet toute cette grande compagnie sortit du temple et fut au palais mais elle y fut receue par la reine de perse avec beaucoup de melancolie a cause de cet accident chacun parlant selon sa fantaisie du prodige qui estoit arrive pour ciaxare qui en estoit le plus trouble il luy vint alors dans la pensee que la raison pourquoi les dieux estoient irritez estoit qu'il pretendoit marier sa fille contre les loix du royaume de capadoce qui luy apartenoit et qui ne vouloient pas qu'elle pust espouser un prince estranger si bien que ne pouvant renfermer sa crainte dans son coeur il en parla a plusieurs personnes et la chose devint si publique qu'on ne parloit que de cela elle fit une si sorte impression dans l'ame de ciaxare qu'il envoya aglatidas a babilone pour consulter en son nom l'oracle de jupiter belus mais pendant ce voyage et pendant que ces mages consultoient et les astres 
 et leurs liures cyrus estoit dans une inquietude estrange et mandane malgre toute sa prudence ne pouvoit aussi s'empescher d'estre melancolique quoy disoit-elle a martesie il est donc bien vray que le destin de cyrus est encore douteux et qu'apres s'estre arreste a sinope pour l'amour de moy y estre demeure desguise en s'exposant a perdre la vie s'il estoit reconnu il est donc dis-je bien vray qu'apres l'avoir sauvee au roy mon pere pendant la guerre qu'il avoit contre le feu roy de pont qu'apres avoir gagne en bithinie deux batailles en un jour qu'apres avoir termine cette guerre glorieusement en mettant le prince qui la faisoit dans les fers de ciaxare qu'apres avoir battu le roy d'assirie pris babilone fait fuir ce prince surpris sinope soumis l'armenie gagne la bataille de thybarra contre cresus pris sardis fait fuir le roy de pont m'avoir delivree en prenant cumes avoir vaincu thomiris et aryante et m'avoir ramenee glorieusement a ecbatane cyrus peut encore douter si je seray la recompense de ses conquestes et de ses travaux luy dis-je qui outre tout ce que viens de dire a este creu mort plus d'une fois qui s'est veu tout couvert de blessures apres le combat des trois cens qui en a receu de tres dangereuses en plusieurs autres rencontres qui a este prisonnier et de guerre et d'estat pour l'amour de moy et qui m'a donne mille et mille marques d'amour en mille occasions differentes cependant durant que mandane se pleignoit et que 
 martesie la consoloit toute la ville estoit en prieres pour appaiser les dieux mais a la fin le jour mesme que le premier des mages d'ecbatane avoit choisi pour rendre sa response a ciaxare aglatidas revint de babilone qui raporta qu'apres avoir demande a l'oracle de la part de ciaxare s'il luy estoit permis de donner la princesse sa fille a cyrus puis qu'il estoit persan et que les loix du royaume de capadoce qui apartenoit a cette princesse luy deffendoient d'espouser un estranger il luy avoit respondu en ces termes
 
 
 oracle 
 
 
 ostez de vostre fantaisie 
 
 
 toute la crainte du danger 
 
 
 le vainqueur de toute l'asie 
 
 
 en aucun lieu n'est estranger 
 
 
cette favorable responce donna une si grande joye a ciaxare a cambise a la reine de perse a cyrus a mandane et a tous ceux qui la sceurent qu'on peut dire que ce fut une joye publique principalement parce que ce fut un prejuge de celle que les mages feroient on ne devinoit pourtant pas ce qu'il s dirent a ciaxare et a cambise a qui ils rendirent conte des observations qu'ils avoient faites devant tout ce qu'il y avoit alors de princes en cette cour la car le premier de ces mages portant la parole a ces deux rois leur dit une chose qui leur sembla d'autant plus merveilleuse qu'elle s'accordoit aux sentimens cachez qu'ils 
 avoient dans l'ame quoy qu'ils n'en eussent encore rien dit a personne seigneur leur dit-il apres avoir rapelle la memoire des choses passees et m'estre bien souvenu de ce prodige qui arriva lors que les lumieres de ces diverses lampes se reunirent a celle qui estoit sur la teste de la reine de perse apres dis-je l'avoir compare a celuy qui nous a fait voir la mesme chose en la personne de l'illustre cyrus j'ay examine l'interpretation qui en fut faite alors j'ai consulte les liures les plus scavans que nous ayons j'ay observe les astres aveque soin et j'ay leu si clairement en ces carracteres d'or et de lumiere la volonte des dieux que je n'en scaurois douter car enfin seigneur poursuivit-il en regardant ciaxare et cambise ce que les dieux demandent de vous est que vous vous deschargiez entierement du soin de vos estats sur la conduite de l'invincible cyrus et que vous demettant de l'authorite souveraine il soit seul souverain en toute l'asie tant de rois que sa valeur luy a soumis nous aprenent que les dieux veulent que tout luy obeisse et c'est ainsi qu'il faut expliquer toutes ces lumieres reunies en une seule lumiere sur la teste de cyrus comme elles le furent autrefois sur celle de la reine sa mere ouy seigneurs j'ose vous assurer que si vous faites ce que je dis vous satisferez a la volonte des dieux que vos sacrifices leur seront agreables et que vous ne verrez plus de prodiges qui vous estonnent au contraire vous jouirez paisiblement de toutes les douceurs de la vie a l'ombre des palmes 
 de cyrus vous regnerez en sa personne et sans estre ses sujet il sera pourtant l'unique souverain de l'asie conformez vous donc a la volonte du ciel et pour regner tous deux conjointement en la personne de ce grand prince faites promptement le mariage de mandane et de luy a peine ce mage eut-il acheve de parler que ciaxare et cambise qui avoient eu intention de se demettre de la souveraine puissance qu'ils possedoient des que le mariage de cyrus seroit fait declarerent leur volonte a ce mage et luy dirent qu'ils estoient prests de se conformer a celle des dieux la modestie de cyrus fit qu'il aporta quelque resistance a accepter cette puissance souveraine que ces rois luy vouloient ceder mais ils s'y opiniastrerent de telle sorte et le mage dit si fortement que les dieux le vouloient ainsi qu'il fallut qu'il obeist si bien que sans differer davantage ciaxare et cambise firent des le lendemain une declaration publique par laquelle ils faisoient scavoir qu'ils se demettoient volontairement de leur authorite entre les mains de cyrus et en effet le premier mage d'ecbatane a la veue de tout ce qu'il y avoit de gens de qualite en cette cour la et de tout ce que le temple pouvoit contenir de peuple luy donna toutes les marques de la souveraine puissance c'est a dire la thiare le bandeau royal et toutes les autres choses qui distinguoient les rois de perse et les rois des medes des autres princes ciaxare voulut qu'on mist a ses pieds autant de couronnes qu'il avoit conquis de royaumes et qu'il 
 avoit rendu de rois tributaires quoy que cyrus ne le voulust pas non seulement par modestie mais encore a la consideration de cresus et de myrsile pour qui il avoit de l'estime et de l'amitie ce qu'il y eut de remarquable fut que le sacrifice qui fut offert apres que cyrus fut declare roy fut si agreablement receu que les mages assurerent a ciaxare et a cambise qu'ils n'en avoient jamais offert qui l'eust este si favorablement receu des dieux qu'ils adoroient mais apres que cette magnifique ceremonie fut achevee cyrus eut une impatience estrange de voir mandane en particulier pour luy pouvoir offrir toutes les courones qu'il venoit d'accepter aussi se desgagea-t'il les plus tost qu'il put pour luy rendre cet hommage et pour luy assurer qu'il s'estimoit bien plus glorieux d'estre son esclave que d'estre maistre de tant de royaumes cependant tout le monde ne pouvoit assez admirer le bonheur de cyrus qui avoit voulu que cambise et la reine de perse eussent pris la resolution de venir a ecbatane pour conferer avec ciaxare des moyens de terminer plustost la guerre des massagettes car par la cyrus en estoit beaucoup plustost heureux en effet le jour de son mariage estant pris on ne songea qu'a preparer toutes les choses necessaires pour une si belle feste mais comme cyrus aimoit cherement ses amis il songea aussi a leur satisfaction ainsi il persuada a la princesse de bithinie qui pouvoit alors disposer d'elle de rendre le prince intapherne heureux car pour gadate il consentit 
 volontiers a ce mariage et cyrus persuada en suite a ce prince de donner istrine a atergatis pour arpasie elle se trouva en un assez estrange estat car il est certain qu'elle sentit l'absence de meliante d'une telle sorte qu'elle connut alors qu'hidaspe auroit bien de la peine a l'en consoler et si un sentiment de gloire et d'honneste honte ne l'en eust empeschee elle eust cherche les moiens de rapeller meliante quand mesme elle eust deu bannir hidaspe elle ne laissa pourtant pas de se resoudre a l'espouser parce que gobrias son pere le luy conmanda ainsi on peut asseurer que cette personne toute spirituelle et toute aimable qu'elle estoit avoit sceu mal mesnager son amour et son amitie puis qu'elle n'avoit pu ny s'en rendre heureuse ny en rendre les autres heureux car il est certain qu'hidaspe mesme en l'espousant ne se trouva pas tout a fait content mais lors que cyrus voulut satisfaire l'amour du prince myrsile il s'y trouva aussi fort embarrasse ce n'est pas que cresus s'opposast a la passion du prince son fils car encore que doralise ne fust pas d'une condition proportionnee a celle de ce prince quoy qu'elle fust de bonne maison il ne s'arrestoit pas a cela veu l'estat ou estoient alors les choses mais la difficulte venoit de ce que myrsile vouloit estre assure d'estre aime de cette personne avant que de l'espouser et de ce que doralise ne pouvoit se resoudre de l'avouer quoy que ceux qui se mesloient de la bien connoistre creussent qu'elle ne haissoit pas myrsile cependant elle parloit de cela si peu serieusement ou si brusquement ou si negligeamment 
 qu'on ne scavoit quelquesfois qu'en penser et ce qu'il y eut de rare fut que cyrus luy persuada plustost d'espouser myrsile qu'il ne luy persuada de luy avouer qu'elle l'aimoit mais lors qu'elle s'y fut resolue elle rit encore cette faveur a ce prince d'une plaisante maniere car enfin luy dit-elle je ne scay de quoy vous vous pleignez puis qu'il est vray que si je ne vous dis pas que j'ay de l'amitie pour vous ce n'est pas que je n'en aye mais c'est qu'effectivement je ne trouve point de mots qui ne soient ou trop forts ou trop foibles pour exprimer ce que je sens dans mon coeur et que ne pouvant jamais convenir des paroles dont je me dois servir l'aime mieux qu'on devine mes sentimens que de les desguiser en ne les disant pas precisement tels qu'ils sont mais a la fin apres que la modestie et l'humeur de doralise tout ensemble luy eurent fait dire ouy et non de toutes les manieres dont on peut dire ces deux paroles lors qu'il s'agit de se resoudre a se marier ou a ne se marier pas elle fit entendre qu'elle consentoit a espouser le prince myrsile et en effet ces quatre mariages estant resolus il fut resolu aussi que trois jours apres celuy de cyrus on en feroit la ceremonie en quatre jours de suite afin de faire davantage durer la joye dans cette grande cour qui estoit sans doute alors la plus belle qu'on vit jamais car il n'y avoit pas un homme ny une femme de qualite en medie qui n'y fust aussi l'aimable amestris avoit elle quite la solitude ou elle avoit vescu pendant l'absence de son cher aglatidas pour venir a ecbatane 
 dont elle estoit tousjours un des plus grands ornemens mais enfin le jour destine a l'entiere felicite de cyrus estant arrive le temple ou la ceremonie de son mariage se devoit faire fut esclaire de mille lampes magnifiques toutes les rues d'ecbatane furent tendues de riches tapis de sidon on esleva encore de arcs et des obelisques a la gloire de cyrus et de mandane depuis le palais jusques a ce temple dont les inscriptions meslant l'amour a la guerre ne parloient pas moins de la grandeur de la passion de cyrus que de celle de ses conquestes une harmonie admirable fit retentir toutes les voutes du temples pendant toute la ceremonie qui eut toute la magnificence que meritoient ceux pour qui elle estoit faite jamais on n'avoit tant veu de rois et de princes en mesme lieu qu'il s'en trouva en celuy-la et jamais le bandeau royal n'avoit este porte de meilleure grace que cyrus le portoit pour mandane elle avoit sur le visage toute la majeste qu'il falloit pour occuper dignement le premier throne du monde et sa beaute parut si esclattante le jour de cette celebre feste qu'elle surpassa d'autant toute celle de autres dames que la bonne mine l'esprit la valeur et la vertu de cyrus surpassoient le merite de tous les autres hommes aussi furent ils l'un et l'autre l'objet de l'admiration de tous ceux qui les virent sur un superbe throsne qu'on avoit esleve au milieu du temple et ils le surent encore davantage lors qu'estant retournez au palais apres la ceremonie 
 de leur mariage ils y receurent les complimens de tout ce qu'il y avoit de plus grand et de plus illustre au monde cette feste ne fut pourtant pas honnoree de la presence du prince mazare car ne se tentant pas l'ame assez ferme pour voir avec tranquilite la felicite de son rival tout son amy qu'il estoit devenu il partit pour s'en retourner en son pais la nuit qui preceda le mariage de cyrus et ne se trouva point ny au magnifique festin que ciaxare fit dans son palais ny au bal qui le suivit mais en partant il laissa une lettre pour cyrus et une pour mandane et il leur escrivit d'une maniere qui redoubla si fort l'estime et l'amitie qu'ils avoient pour ce prince que s'il eust pu deviner leurs sentimens il en eust eu beaucoup de consolation aussi meritoit il qu'ils les eussent car il leur demandoit pardon de sa foiblesse il assuroit a mandane qu'il ne se marieroit jamais et il disoit a cyrus que comme il n'avoit point d'heritiers il pretendoit que ceux qui devoient estre ses sujets fussent un jour les tiens afin que mandane peust regner sur les saces comme elle regnoit dans son coeur la douleur qu'ils eurent du depart de mazare ne les empescha pourtant pas de s'estimer infiniment heureux de voir que les dieux avoient rendu leurs fortunes inseparables et de voir qu'ils estoient unis d'un lien si indissoluble qu'il n'y avoit plus que la mort qui les pust separer les trois jours qui suivirent cette grande ceremonie furent encore des jouis de feste et de rejouissance les quatre qui suivirent furent destinez au mariage de myrsile 
 d'intapherne d'atergaris et d'hidaspe et durant un mois ce ne furent que divertissemens publics dans cette grande cour ou tous les plaisirs se trouvoient alors cyrus sceut en ce temps la que thomiris estoit retournee aux tentes royales et qu'agathyrse s'estant jette dans issedon s'en estoit fait declarer roy sans que la reine des massagettes se preparast a le renverser du throne tant elle estoit accablee par la douleur qui la possedoit et qu'ainsi elybesis estoit devenue sujete de celuy a qui elle avoit fait une infidellite dans l'esperance d'estre reine apres cela il receut des deputations de tous les royaumes qu'il avoit conquis de toutes les villes principales qui estoient sous son obeissance et de tous les princes qui estoient ses tributaires ainsi il en eut de babilone de suse de sardis d'ephese de cumes de sinope de themiscire d'artaxate d'apamee de gnide et de beaucoup d'autres ceux qui s'estoient soulevez contre arsamone luy envoyerent aussi des deputez pour luy offrir la couronne de pont et de bithinie et il en eut en particulier d'heraclee et de chrysopolis le roy de phrigie luy envoya des ambassadeurs avec des presens magnifiques la reine tarine mere du prince mazare fit la mesme chose le prince de cilicie en fit autant le roy d'armenie de mesme le prince phyloxipe envoya aussi se rejouir avec cyrus de ce que l'oracle que la princesse de salamis avoit receu avoit este heureusement accomply en sa personne amasis roy d'egypte le prince sesostris son fils et la belle thimarete y envoyerent aussi le prince thrasibule renvoya encore vers cyrus le roy d'hicanie et le prince meliante firent la mesme chose pittacus enfit autant et tous les autres sages qu'il avoit presque tous connus en grece luy escrivirent pour luy tesmoigner la joye qu'ils avoient de voir que la fortune avoit rendu justice a sa vertu apres quoy cambise et la reine sa femme retournerent a persepolis ou ils ne firent plus que prier les dieux quoy que cyrus ordonnait a adusius qu'il envoya pour commander en pense de prendre 
 leurs conseils en toutes choses tigrane se onesile s'en retournerent a artaxate charmez de la vertu de cyrus et de celle de mandane ou silamis leur parent les suivit intapherne avec la princesse de bithinie s'en alla a chrysopolis avec la qualite de roy tributaire que cyrus luy donna atergatis et istrine suivirent gadate hidaspe et arpasie s'en allerent avec gobrias le prince artamas retourna vers sa chere palmis cresus myrsile et doralise demeurerent a la cour de cyrus le prince de paphlagonie espousa telagene et s'en retourna en son pais chrysante eut le gouvernement de la lydie aglatidas eut celuy de babilone ligdamis eut celuy d'ephese et s'en retourna trouver sa chere cleonice araspe eut celuy de capadoce quand il fut revenu de persepolis thrasimede eut celuy de carie car les cariens se soumirent volontairement a cyrus feraulas demeura attache a la personne de ce prince et espousa mesme martesie quelque temps apres megabise fut envoye en une partie de l'arabie qui se donna a cyrus et ce grand prince eut enfin tant de recompenses a donner par la grandeur de ses conquestes qu'il n'y eut aucun de tous ceux qui l'avoient servy qui ne fust satisfait de sa liberalite ciaxare le fut mesme tousjours de s'estre demis de la souveraine puissance quoy que ce ne soit pas la coustume de faire une semblable action sans s'en repentir ainsi le plus grand prince du monde apres avoir este le plus malheureux de tous les amans se vit le plus heureux de tous les hommes car il se vit possesseur de la plus grande beaute de l'asie de la plus vertueuse personne de la terre et d'une personne encore de qui le grand esprit sur passoit la grande beaute et qui respondit si tendrement a sa passion des que la vertu le luy permit qu'il eut lieu de croire qu'il estoit autant aime qu'il aimoit de plus comme cyrus fit encore d'autres conquestes il vit son estat borne du coste de l'orient parla mer rouge de celuy de l'occident par l'isle de chypre et par l'egypte du septentrion par le pont euxin et du midy par l'ethiopie 
 il eut encore l'avantage de se voir maistre de tous les thresors de david de salomon et de cresus et il se vit plus couvert de gloire que jamais nul autre prince n'en avoit este couvert il sceut mesme si bien l'art de jouir de tous les plaisirs innocens qu'en demeurant durant l'automne et durant l'hiver a babilone durant le printemps a suse et durant l'este a ecbatane il estoit presques dans un printemps eternel sans sentir jamais ny la grande incommodite du froid ny celle du chaud de plus ce grand prince eut encore la gloire d'avoir mis un si bel ordre dans son estat et d'avoir estably de si belles loix et pour la guerre et pour la paix qu'il a merite d'estre propose pour modelle a tous les princes qui l'ont suivy et pour achever sa felicite le ciel voulut qu'elle ne fust plus troublee d'aucune sorte de malheur pendant le reste de sa vie ainsi on peut assurer que depuis que la fortune et l'amour ont fait des hommes heureux ils n'en ont jamais fait de plus heureux que cyrus le fut depuis le jour qu'il monta sur un throne si esleve qu'il n'y en avoit point d'autre en toute la terre qui ne fust beaucoup au dessous 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
war and peace


by leo tolstoy tolstoi



book one 1805





chapter i

 well prince so genoa and lucca are now just family estates of the
buonapartes but i warn you if you don't tell me that this means war 
if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that
antichrist i really believe he is antichrist i will have nothing
more to do with you and you are no longer my friend no longer my
 faithful slave as you call yourself but how do you do i see i
have frightened you sit down and tell me all the news 

it was in july 1805 and the speaker was the well known anna pavlovna
scherer maid of honor and favorite of the empress marya fedorovna 
with these words she greeted prince vasili kuragin a man of high
rank and importance who was the first to arrive at her reception anna
pavlovna had had a cough for some days she was as she said suffering
from la grippe grippe being then a new word in st petersburg used
only by the elite 

all her invitations without exception written in french and delivered
by a scarlet liveried footman that morning ran as follows 

 if you have nothing better to do count or prince and if the
prospect of spending an evening with a poor invalid is not too terrible 
i shall be very charmed to see you tonight between 7 and 10 annette
scherer 

 heavens what a virulent attack replied the prince not in the
least disconcerted by this reception he had just entered wearing an
embroidered court uniform knee breeches and shoes and had stars on
his breast and a serene expression on his flat face he spoke in that
refined french in which our grandfathers not only spoke but thought and
with the gentle patronizing intonation natural to a man of importance
who had grown old in society and at court he went up to anna pavlovna 
kissed her hand presenting to her his bald scented and shining head 
and complacently seated himself on the sofa 

 first of all dear friend tell me how you are set your friend's
mind at rest said he without altering his tone beneath the
politeness and affected sympathy of which indifference and even irony
could be discerned 

 can one be well while suffering morally can one be calm in times
like these if one has any feeling said anna pavlovna you are
staying the whole evening i hope 

 and the fete at the english ambassador's today is wednesday i
must put in an appearance there said the prince my daughter is
coming for me to take me there 

 i thought today's fete had been canceled i confess all these
festivities and fireworks are becoming wearisome 

 if they had known that you wished it the entertainment would have
been put off said the prince who like a wound up clock by force
of habit said things he did not even wish to be believed 

 don't tease well and what has been decided about novosiltsev's
dispatch you know everything 

 what can one say about it replied the prince in a cold listless
tone what has been decided they have decided that buonaparte has
burnt his boats and i believe that we are ready to burn ours 

prince vasili always spoke languidly like an actor repeating a stale
part anna pavlovna scherer on the contrary despite her forty years 
overflowed with animation and impulsiveness to be an enthusiast had
become her social vocation and sometimes even when she did not
feel like it she became enthusiastic in order not to disappoint the
expectations of those who knew her the subdued smile which though it
did not suit her faded features always played round her lips expressed 
as in a spoiled child a continual consciousness of her charming defect 
which she neither wished nor could nor considered it necessary to
correct 

in the midst of a conversation on political matters anna pavlovna burst
out 

 oh don't speak to me of austria perhaps i don't understand
things but austria never has wished and does not wish for war she
is betraying us russia alone must save europe our gracious sovereign
recognizes his high vocation and will be true to it that is the one
thing i have faith in our good and wonderful sovereign has to perform
the noblest role on earth and he is so virtuous and noble that god will
not forsake him he will fulfill his vocation and crush the hydra of
revolution which has become more terrible than ever in the person of
this murderer and villain we alone must avenge the blood of the just
one whom i ask you can we rely on england with her commercial
spirit will not and cannot understand the emperor alexander's
loftiness of soul she has refused to evacuate malta she wanted to
find and still seeks some secret motive in our actions what answer
did novosiltsev get none the english have not understood and cannot
understand the self abnegation of our emperor who wants nothing for
himself but only desires the good of mankind and what have they
promised nothing and what little they have promised they will not
perform prussia has always declared that buonaparte is invincible and
that all europe is powerless before him and i don't believe a
word that hardenburg says or haugwitz either this famous prussian
neutrality is just a trap i have faith only in god and the lofty
destiny of our adored monarch he will save europe 

she suddenly paused smiling at her own impetuosity 

 i think said the prince with a smile that if you had been
sent instead of our dear wintzingerode you would have captured the king
of prussia's consent by assault you are so eloquent will you give me
a cup of tea 

 in a moment a propos she added becoming calm again i am
expecting two very interesting men tonight le vicomte de mortemart who
is connected with the montmorencys through the rohans one of the best
french families he is one of the genuine emigres the good ones and
also the abbe morio do you know that profound thinker he has been
received by the emperor had you heard 

 i shall be delighted to meet them said the prince but
tell me he added with studied carelessness as if it had only just
occurred to him though the question he was about to ask was the chief
motive of his visit is it true that the dowager empress wants
baron funke to be appointed first secretary at vienna the baron by all
accounts is a poor creature 

prince vasili wished to obtain this post for his son but others were
trying through the dowager empress marya fedorovna to secure it for
the baron 

anna pavlovna almost closed her eyes to indicate that neither she nor
anyone else had a right to criticize what the empress desired or was
pleased with 

 baron funke has been recommended to the dowager empress by her
sister was all she said in a dry and mournful tone 

as she named the empress anna pavlovna's face suddenly assumed an
expression of profound and sincere devotion and respect mingled with
sadness and this occurred every time she mentioned her illustrious
patroness she added that her majesty had deigned to show baron funke
beaucoup d'estime and again her face clouded over with sadness 

the prince was silent and looked indifferent but with the womanly and
courtierlike quickness and tact habitual to her anna pavlovna
wished both to rebuke him for daring to speak as he had done of a man
recommended to the empress and at the same time to console him so she
said 

 now about your family do you know that since your daughter came
out everyone has been enraptured by her they say she is amazingly
beautiful 

the prince bowed to signify his respect and gratitude 

 i often think she continued after a short pause drawing nearer
to the prince and smiling amiably at him as if to show that political
and social topics were ended and the time had come for intimate
conversation i often think how unfairly sometimes the joys of life
are distributed why has fate given you two such splendid children 
i don't speak of anatole your youngest i don't like him she
added in a tone admitting of no rejoinder and raising her eyebrows 
 two such charming children and really you appreciate them less than
anyone and so you don't deserve to have them 

and she smiled her ecstatic smile 

 i can't help it said the prince lavater would have said i
lack the bump of paternity 

 don't joke i mean to have a serious talk with you do you know
i am dissatisfied with your younger son between ourselves and her
face assumed its melancholy expression he was mentioned at her
majesty's and you were pitied 

the prince answered nothing but she looked at him significantly 
awaiting a reply he frowned 

 what would you have me do he said at last you know i did all
a father could for their education and they have both turned out fools 
hippolyte is at least a quiet fool but anatole is an active one that
is the only difference between them he said this smiling in a way
more natural and animated than usual so that the wrinkles round
his mouth very clearly revealed something unexpectedly coarse and
unpleasant 

 and why are children born to such men as you if you were not a
father there would be nothing i could reproach you with said anna
pavlovna looking up pensively 

 i am your faithful slave and to you alone i can confess that my
children are the bane of my life it is the cross i have to bear that
is how i explain it to myself it can't be helped 

he said no more but expressed his resignation to cruel fate by a
gesture anna pavlovna meditated 

 have you never thought of marrying your prodigal son anatole she
asked they say old maids have a mania for matchmaking and though i
don't feel that weakness in myself as yet i know a little person who
is very unhappy with her father she is a relation of yours princess
mary bolkonskaya 

prince vasili did not reply though with the quickness of memory and
perception befitting a man of the world he indicated by a movement of
the head that he was considering this information 

 do you know he said at last evidently unable to check the sad
current of his thoughts that anatole is costing me forty thousand
rubles a year and he went on after a pause what will it be in
five years if he goes on like this presently he added that's
what we fathers have to put up with is this princess of yours
rich 

 her father is very rich and stingy he lives in the country he is
the well known prince bolkonski who had to retire from the army under
the late emperor and was nicknamed the king of prussia he is
very clever but eccentric and a bore the poor girl is very unhappy 
she has a brother i think you know him he married lise meinen lately 
he is an aide de camp of kutuzov's and will be here tonight 

 listen dear annette said the prince suddenly taking anna
pavlovna's hand and for some reason drawing it downwards arrange
that affair for me and i shall always be your most devoted slave slafe
with an f as a village elder of mine writes in his reports she is rich
and of good family and that's all i want 

and with the familiarity and easy grace peculiar to him he raised the
maid of honor's hand to his lips kissed it and swung it to and fro
as he lay back in his armchair looking in another direction 

 attendez said anna pavlovna reflecting i'll speak to
lise young bolkonski's wife this very evening and perhaps the
thing can be arranged it shall be on your family's behalf that i'll
start my apprenticeship as old maid 





chapter ii

anna pavlovna's drawing room was gradually filling the highest
petersburg society was assembled there people differing widely in age
and character but alike in the social circle to which they belonged 
prince vasili's daughter the beautiful helene came to take her
father to the ambassador's entertainment she wore a ball dress and
her badge as maid of honor the youthful little princess bolkonskaya 
known as la femme la plus seduisante de petersbourg was also there 
she had been married during the previous winter and being pregnant did
not go to any large gatherings but only to small receptions prince
vasili's son hippolyte had come with mortemart whom he introduced 
the abbe morio and many others had also come 

 the most fascinating woman in petersburg 

to each new arrival anna pavlovna said you have not yet seen my
aunt or you do not know my aunt and very gravely conducted
him or her to a little old lady wearing large bows of ribbon in her
cap who had come sailing in from another room as soon as the guests
began to arrive and slowly turning her eyes from the visitor to her
aunt anna pavlovna mentioned each one's name and then left them 

each visitor performed the ceremony of greeting this old aunt whom not
one of them knew not one of them wanted to know and not one of them
cared about anna pavlovna observed these greetings with mournful and
solemn interest and silent approval the aunt spoke to each of them in
the same words about their health and her own and the health of her
majesty who thank god was better today and each visitor 
though politeness prevented his showing impatience left the old woman
with a sense of relief at having performed a vexatious duty and did not
return to her the whole evening 

the young princess bolkonskaya had brought some work in a
gold embroidered velvet bag her pretty little upper lip on which a
delicate dark down was just perceptible was too short for her teeth 
but it lifted all the more sweetly and was especially charming when she
occasionally drew it down to meet the lower lip as is always the case
with a thoroughly attractive woman her defect the shortness of her
upper lip and her half open mouth seemed to be her own special and
peculiar form of beauty everyone brightened at the sight of this pretty
young woman so soon to become a mother so full of life and health and
carrying her burden so lightly old men and dull dispirited young ones
who looked at her after being in her company and talking to her a
little while felt as if they too were becoming like her full of life
and health all who talked to her and at each word saw her bright smile
and the constant gleam of her white teeth thought that they were in a
specially amiable mood that day 

the little princess went round the table with quick short swaying
steps her workbag on her arm and gaily spreading out her dress sat
down on a sofa near the silver samovar as if all she was doing was a
pleasure to herself and to all around her i have brought my work 
said she in french displaying her bag and addressing all present 
 mind annette i hope you have not played a wicked trick on me 
she added turning to her hostess you wrote that it was to be quite
a small reception and just see how badly i am dressed and she
spread out her arms to show her short waisted lace trimmed dainty gray
dress girdled with a broad ribbon just below the breast 

 soyez tranquille lise you will always be prettier than anyone
else replied anna pavlovna 

 you know said the princess in the same tone of voice and still in
french turning to a general my husband is deserting me he is going
to get himself killed tell me what this wretched war is for she
added addressing prince vasili and without waiting for an answer she
turned to speak to his daughter the beautiful helene 

 what a delightful woman this little princess is said prince
vasili to anna pavlovna 

one of the next arrivals was a stout heavily built young man with
close cropped hair spectacles the light colored breeches fashionable
at that time a very high ruffle and a brown dress coat this stout
young man was an illegitimate son of count bezukhov a well known
grandee of catherine's time who now lay dying in moscow the young man
had not yet entered either the military or civil service as he had only
just returned from abroad where he had been educated and this was his
first appearance in society anna pavlovna greeted him with the nod she
accorded to the lowest hierarchy in her drawing room but in spite of
this lowest grade greeting a look of anxiety and fear as at the sight
of something too large and unsuited to the place came over her face
when she saw pierre enter though he was certainly rather bigger than
the other men in the room her anxiety could only have reference to
the clever though shy but observant and natural expression which
distinguished him from everyone else in that drawing room 

 it is very good of you monsieur pierre to come and visit a poor
invalid said anna pavlovna exchanging an alarmed glance with her
aunt as she conducted him to her 

pierre murmured something unintelligible and continued to look round as
if in search of something on his way to the aunt he bowed to the little
princess with a pleased smile as to an intimate acquaintance 

anna pavlovna's alarm was justified for pierre turned away from the
aunt without waiting to hear her speech about her majesty's health 
anna pavlovna in dismay detained him with the words do you know the
abbe morio he is a most interesting man 

 yes i have heard of his scheme for perpetual peace and it is very
interesting but hardly feasible 

 you think so rejoined anna pavlovna in order to say something
and get away to attend to her duties as hostess but pierre now
committed a reverse act of impoliteness first he had left a lady before
she had finished speaking to him and now he continued to speak to
another who wished to get away with his head bent and his big feet
spread apart he began explaining his reasons for thinking the abbe's
plan chimerical 

 we will talk of it later said anna pavlovna with a smile 

and having got rid of this young man who did not know how to behave she
resumed her duties as hostess and continued to listen and watch ready
to help at any point where the conversation might happen to flag as
the foreman of a spinning mill when he has set the hands to work goes
round and notices here a spindle that has stopped or there one that
creaks or makes more noise than it should and hastens to check the
machine or set it in proper motion so anna pavlovna moved about her
drawing room approaching now a silent now a too noisy group and by a
word or slight rearrangement kept the conversational machine in steady 
proper and regular motion but amid these cares her anxiety about
pierre was evident she kept an anxious watch on him when he approached
the group round mortemart to listen to what was being said there and
again when he passed to another group whose center was the abbe 

pierre had been educated abroad and this reception at anna
pavlovna's was the first he had attended in russia he knew that all
the intellectual lights of petersburg were gathered there and like a
child in a toyshop did not know which way to look afraid of missing
any clever conversation that was to be heard seeing the self confident
and refined expression on the faces of those present he was always
expecting to hear something very profound at last he came up to morio 
here the conversation seemed interesting and he stood waiting for an
opportunity to express his own views as young people are fond of doing 





chapter iii

anna pavlovna's reception was in full swing the spindles hummed
steadily and ceaselessly on all sides with the exception of the aunt 
beside whom sat only one elderly lady who with her thin careworn face
was rather out of place in this brilliant society the whole company had
settled into three groups one chiefly masculine had formed round
the abbe another of young people was grouped round the beautiful
princess helene prince vasili's daughter and the little princess
bolkonskaya very pretty and rosy though rather too plump for her age 
the third group was gathered round mortemart and anna pavlovna 

the vicomte was a nice looking young man with soft features and polished
manners who evidently considered himself a celebrity but out of
politeness modestly placed himself at the disposal of the circle in
which he found himself anna pavlovna was obviously serving him up as
a treat to her guests as a clever maitre d'hotel serves up as a
specially choice delicacy a piece of meat that no one who had seen it in
the kitchen would have cared to eat so anna pavlovna served up to
her guests first the vicomte and then the abbe as peculiarly choice
morsels the group about mortemart immediately began discussing the
murder of the duc d'enghien the vicomte said that the duc d'enghien
had perished by his own magnanimity and that there were particular
reasons for buonaparte's hatred of him 

 ah yes do tell us all about it vicomte said anna pavlovna 
with a pleasant feeling that there was something a la louis xv in the
sound of that sentence contez nous cela vicomte 

the vicomte bowed and smiled courteously in token of his willingness to
comply anna pavlovna arranged a group round him inviting everyone to
listen to his tale 

 the vicomte knew the duc personally whispered anna pavlovna to
one of the guests the vicomte is a wonderful raconteur said she
to another how evidently he belongs to the best society said she
to a third and the vicomte was served up to the company in the choicest
and most advantageous style like a well garnished joint of roast beef
on a hot dish 

the vicomte wished to begin his story and gave a subtle smile 

 come over here helene dear said anna pavlovna to the
beautiful young princess who was sitting some way off the center of
another group 

the princess smiled she rose with the same unchanging smile with which
she had first entered the room the smile of a perfectly beautiful
woman with a slight rustle of her white dress trimmed with moss
and ivy with a gleam of white shoulders glossy hair and sparkling
diamonds she passed between the men who made way for her not looking
at any of them but smiling on all as if graciously allowing each the
privilege of admiring her beautiful figure and shapely shoulders 
back and bosom which in the fashion of those days were very much
exposed and she seemed to bring the glamour of a ballroom with her as
she moved toward anna pavlovna helene was so lovely that not only
did she not show any trace of coquetry but on the contrary she even
appeared shy of her unquestionable and all too victorious beauty she
seemed to wish but to be unable to diminish its effect 

 how lovely said everyone who saw her and the vicomte lifted his
shoulders and dropped his eyes as if startled by something extraordinary
when she took her seat opposite and beamed upon him also with her
unchanging smile 

 madame i doubt my ability before such an audience said he 
smilingly inclining his head 

the princess rested her bare round arm on a little table and considered
a reply unnecessary she smilingly waited all the time the story was
being told she sat upright glancing now at her beautiful round arm 
altered in shape by its pressure on the table now at her still more
beautiful bosom on which she readjusted a diamond necklace from time
to time she smoothed the folds of her dress and whenever the story
produced an effect she glanced at anna pavlovna at once adopted just
the expression she saw on the maid of honor's face and again relapsed
into her radiant smile 

the little princess had also left the tea table and followed helene 

 wait a moment i'll get my work now then what are you
thinking of she went on turning to prince hippolyte fetch me my
workbag 

there was a general movement as the princess smiling and talking
merrily to everyone at once sat down and gaily arranged herself in her
seat 

 now i am all right she said and asking the vicomte to begin she
took up her work 

prince hippolyte having brought the workbag joined the circle and
moving a chair close to hers seated himself beside her 

le charmant hippolyte was surprising by his extraordinary resemblance
to his beautiful sister but yet more by the fact that in spite of
this resemblance he was exceedingly ugly his features were like his
sister's but while in her case everything was lit up by a joyous 
self satisfied youthful and constant smile of animation and by the
wonderful classic beauty of her figure his face on the contrary
was dulled by imbecility and a constant expression of sullen
self confidence while his body was thin and weak his eyes nose and
mouth all seemed puckered into a vacant wearied grimace and his arms
and legs always fell into unnatural positions 

 it's not going to be a ghost story said he sitting down beside
the princess and hastily adjusting his lorgnette as if without this
instrument he could not begin to speak 

 why no my dear fellow said the astonished narrator shrugging
his shoulders 

 because i hate ghost stories said prince hippolyte in a tone
which showed that he only understood the meaning of his words after he
had uttered them 

he spoke with such self confidence that his hearers could not be sure
whether what he said was very witty or very stupid he was dressed in
a dark green dress coat knee breeches of the color of cuisse de nymphe
effrayee as he called it shoes and silk stockings 

the vicomte told his tale very neatly it was an anecdote then current 
to the effect that the duc d'enghien had gone secretly to paris to
visit mademoiselle george that at her house he came upon bonaparte 
who also enjoyed the famous actress favors and that in his presence
napoleon happened to fall into one of the fainting fits to which he was
subject and was thus at the duc's mercy the latter spared him and
this magnanimity bonaparte subsequently repaid by death 

the story was very pretty and interesting especially at the point
where the rivals suddenly recognized one another and the ladies looked
agitated 

 charming said anna pavlovna with an inquiring glance at the
little princess 

 charming whispered the little princess sticking the needle into
her work as if to testify that the interest and fascination of the story
prevented her from going on with it 

the vicomte appreciated this silent praise and smiling gratefully
prepared to continue but just then anna pavlovna who had kept a
watchful eye on the young man who so alarmed her noticed that he was
talking too loudly and vehemently with the abbe so she hurried to the
rescue pierre had managed to start a conversation with the abbe about
the balance of power and the latter evidently interested by the young
man's simple minded eagerness was explaining his pet theory both
were talking and listening too eagerly and too naturally which was why
anna pavlovna disapproved 

 the means are the balance of power in europe and the rights of
the people the abbe was saying it is only necessary for one
powerful nation like russia barbaric as she is said to be to place
herself disinterestedly at the head of an alliance having for its object
the maintenance of the balance of power of europe and it would save the
world 

 but how are you to get that balance pierre was beginning 

at that moment anna pavlovna came up and looking severely at pierre 
asked the italian how he stood russian climate the italian's
face instantly changed and assumed an offensively affected sugary
expression evidently habitual to him when conversing with women 

 i am so enchanted by the brilliancy of the wit and culture of the
society more especially of the feminine society in which i have had
the honor of being received that i have not yet had time to think of
the climate said he 

not letting the abbe and pierre escape anna pavlovna the more
conveniently to keep them under observation brought them into the
larger circle 





chapter iv

just then another visitor entered the drawing room prince andrew
bolkonski the little princess husband he was a very handsome young
man of medium height with firm clearcut features everything about
him from his weary bored expression to his quiet measured step 
offered a most striking contrast to his quiet little wife it was
evident that he not only knew everyone in the drawing room but had
found them to be so tiresome that it wearied him to look at or listen to
them and among all these faces that he found so tedious none seemed
to bore him so much as that of his pretty wife he turned away from
her with a grimace that distorted his handsome face kissed anna
pavlovna's hand and screwing up his eyes scanned the whole company 

 you are off to the war prince said anna pavlovna 

 general kutuzov said bolkonski speaking french and stressing
the last syllable of the general's name like a frenchman has been
pleased to take me as an aide de camp 

 and lise your wife 

 she will go to the country 

 are you not ashamed to deprive us of your charming wife 

 andre said his wife addressing her husband in the same
coquettish manner in which she spoke to other men the vicomte has
been telling us such a tale about mademoiselle george and buonaparte 

prince andrew screwed up his eyes and turned away pierre who from
the moment prince andrew entered the room had watched him with glad 
affectionate eyes now came up and took his arm before he looked round
prince andrew frowned again expressing his annoyance with whoever was
touching his arm but when he saw pierre's beaming face he gave him an
unexpectedly kind and pleasant smile 

 there now so you too are in the great world said he to
pierre 

 i knew you would be here replied pierre i will come to supper
with you may i he added in a low voice so as not to disturb the
vicomte who was continuing his story 

 no impossible said prince andrew laughing and pressing
pierre's hand to show that there was no need to ask the question he
wished to say something more but at that moment prince vasili and his
daughter got up to go and the two young men rose to let them pass 

 you must excuse me dear vicomte said prince vasili to the
frenchman holding him down by the sleeve in a friendly way to prevent
his rising this unfortunate fete at the ambassador's deprives me
of a pleasure and obliges me to interrupt you i am very sorry to leave
your enchanting party said he turning to anna pavlovna 

his daughter princess helene passed between the chairs lightly
holding up the folds of her dress and the smile shone still more
radiantly on her beautiful face pierre gazed at her with rapturous 
almost frightened eyes as she passed him 

 very lovely said prince andrew 

 very said pierre 

in passing prince vasili seized pierre's hand and said to anna
pavlovna educate this bear for me he has been staying with me
a whole month and this is the first time i have seen him in society 
nothing is so necessary for a young man as the society of clever
women 


anna pavlovna smiled and promised to take pierre in hand she knew his
father to be a connection of prince vasili's the elderly lady who
had been sitting with the old aunt rose hurriedly and overtook prince
vasili in the anteroom all the affectation of interest she had assumed
had left her kindly and tear worn face and it now expressed only anxiety
and fear 

 how about my son boris prince said she hurrying after him into
the anteroom i can't remain any longer in petersburg tell me what
news i may take back to my poor boy 

although prince vasili listened reluctantly and not very politely
to the elderly lady even betraying some impatience she gave him an
ingratiating and appealing smile and took his hand that he might not go
away 

 what would it cost you to say a word to the emperor and then he
would be transferred to the guards at once said she 

 believe me princess i am ready to do all i can answered prince
vasili but it is difficult for me to ask the emperor i should
advise you to appeal to rumyantsev through prince golitsyn that would
be the best way 

the elderly lady was a princess drubetskaya belonging to one of the
best families in russia but she was poor and having long been out of
society had lost her former influential connections she had now come to
petersburg to procure an appointment in the guards for her only son 
it was in fact solely to meet prince vasili that she had obtained an
invitation to anna pavlovna's reception and had sat listening to
the vicomte's story prince vasili's words frightened her an
embittered look clouded her once handsome face but only for a moment 
then she smiled again and clutched prince vasili's arm more tightly 

 listen to me prince said she i have never yet asked you
for anything and i never will again nor have i ever reminded you of my
father's friendship for you but now i entreat you for god's sake to
do this for my son and i shall always regard you as a benefactor 
she added hurriedly no don't be angry but promise i have asked
golitsyn and he has refused be the kindhearted man you always were 
she said trying to smile though tears were in her eyes 

 papa we shall be late said princess helene turning her
beautiful head and looking over her classically molded shoulder as she
stood waiting by the door 

influence in society however is a capital which has to be economized
if it is to last prince vasili knew this and having once realized
that if he asked on behalf of all who begged of him he would soon be
unable to ask for himself he became chary of using his influence but
in princess drubetskaya's case he felt after her second appeal 
something like qualms of conscience she had reminded him of what was
quite true he had been indebted to her father for the first steps in
his career moreover he could see by her manners that she was one of
those women mostly mothers who having once made up their minds 
will not rest until they have gained their end and are prepared if
necessary to go on insisting day after day and hour after hour and even
to make scenes this last consideration moved him 

 my dear anna mikhaylovna said he with his usual familiarity and
weariness of tone it is almost impossible for me to do what you
ask but to prove my devotion to you and how i respect your father's
memory i will do the impossible your son shall be transferred to the
guards here is my hand on it are you satisfied 

 my dear benefactor this is what i expected from you i knew your
kindness he turned to go 

 wait just a word when he has been transferred to the guards 
she faltered you are on good terms with michael ilarionovich
kutuzov recommend boris to him as adjutant then i shall be at
rest and then 

prince vasili smiled 

 no i won't promise that you don't know how kutuzov is pestered
since his appointment as commander in chief he told me himself that
all the moscow ladies have conspired to give him all their sons as
adjutants 

 no but do promise i won't let you go my dear benefactor 

 papa said his beautiful daughter in the same tone as before 
 we shall be late 

 well au revoir good by you hear her 

 then tomorrow you will speak to the emperor 

 certainly but about kutuzov i don't promise 

 do promise do promise vasili cried anna mikhaylovna as he
went with the smile of a coquettish girl which at one time probably
came naturally to her but was now very ill suited to her careworn face 

apparently she had forgotten her age and by force of habit employed
all the old feminine arts but as soon as the prince had gone her face
resumed its former cold artificial expression she returned to the
group where the vicomte was still talking and again pretended to
listen while waiting till it would be time to leave her task was
accomplished 





chapter v

 and what do you think of this latest comedy the coronation at
milan asked anna pavlovna and of the comedy of the people of
genoa and lucca laying their petitions before monsieur buonaparte and
monsieur buonaparte sitting on a throne and granting the petitions of
the nations adorable it is enough to make one's head whirl it is as
if the whole world had gone crazy 

prince andrew looked anna pavlovna straight in the face with a
sarcastic smile 

 dieu me la donne gare a qui la touche they say he was
very fine when he said that he remarked repeating the words in
italian dio mi l'ha dato guai a chi la tocchi 

 god has given it to me let him who touches it beware 

 i hope this will prove the last drop that will make the glass run
over anna pavlovna continued the sovereigns will not be able to
endure this man who is a menace to everything 

 the sovereigns i do not speak of russia said the vicomte polite
but hopeless the sovereigns madame what have they done for louis
xvii for the queen or for madame elizabeth nothing and he became
more animated and believe me they are reaping the reward of their
betrayal of the bourbon cause the sovereigns why they are sending
ambassadors to compliment the usurper 

and sighing disdainfully he again changed his position 

prince hippolyte who had been gazing at the vicomte for some time
through his lorgnette suddenly turned completely round toward the
little princess and having asked for a needle began tracing the conde
coat of arms on the table he explained this to her with as much gravity
as if she had asked him to do it 

 baton de gueules engrele de gueules d'azur maison conde 
said he 

the princess listened smiling 

 if buonaparte remains on the throne of france a year longer the
vicomte continued with the air of a man who in a matter with which
he is better acquainted than anyone else does not listen to others but
follows the current of his own thoughts things will have gone too
far by intrigues violence exile and executions french society i
mean good french society will have been forever destroyed and
then 

he shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands pierre wished to
make a remark for the conversation interested him but anna pavlovna 
who had him under observation interrupted 

 the emperor alexander said she with the melancholy which
always accompanied any reference of hers to the imperial family has
declared that he will leave it to the french people themselves to choose
their own form of government and i believe that once free from the
usurper the whole nation will certainly throw itself into the arms
of its rightful king she concluded trying to be amiable to the
royalist emigrant 

 that is doubtful said prince andrew monsieur le vicomte quite
rightly supposes that matters have already gone too far i think it will
be difficult to return to the old regime 

 from what i have heard said pierre blushing and breaking into
the conversation almost all the aristocracy has already gone over to
bonaparte's side 

 it is the buonapartists who say that replied the vicomte without
looking at pierre at the present time it is difficult to know the
real state of french public opinion 

 bonaparte has said so remarked prince andrew with a sarcastic
smile 

it was evident that he did not like the vicomte and was aiming his
remarks at him though without looking at him 

 i showed them the path to glory but they did not follow
it prince andrew continued after a short silence again quoting
napoleon's words i opened my antechambers and they crowded
in i do not know how far he was justified in saying so 

 not in the least replied the vicomte after the murder of the
duc even the most partial ceased to regard him as a hero if to some
people he went on turning to anna pavlovna he ever was a hero 
after the murder of the duc there was one martyr more in heaven and one
hero less on earth 

before anna pavlovna and the others had time to smile their
appreciation of the vicomte's epigram pierre again broke into the
conversation and though anna pavlovna felt sure he would say something
inappropriate she was unable to stop him 

 the execution of the duc d'enghien declared monsieur pierre 
 was a political necessity and it seems to me that napoleon
showed greatness of soul by not fearing to take on himself the whole
responsibility of that deed 

 dieu mon dieu muttered anna pavlovna in a terrified whisper 

 what monsieur pierre do you consider that assassination shows
greatness of soul said the little princess smiling and drawing her
work nearer to her 

 oh oh exclaimed several voices 

 capital said prince hippolyte in english and began slapping his
knee with the palm of his hand 

the vicomte merely shrugged his shoulders pierre looked solemnly at his
audience over his spectacles and continued 

 i say so he continued desperately because the bourbons fled
from the revolution leaving the people to anarchy and napoleon alone
understood the revolution and quelled it and so for the general good 
he could not stop short for the sake of one man's life 

 won't you come over to the other table suggested anna
pavlovna 

but pierre continued his speech without heeding her 

 no cried he becoming more and more eager napoleon is great
because he rose superior to the revolution suppressed its abuses 
preserved all that was good in it equality of citizenship and freedom
of speech and of the press and only for that reason did he obtain
power 

 yes if having obtained power without availing himself of it to
commit murder he had restored it to the rightful king i should have
called him a great man remarked the vicomte 

 he could not do that the people only gave him power that he might
rid them of the bourbons and because they saw that he was a great
man the revolution was a grand thing continued monsieur pierre 
betraying by this desperate and provocative proposition his extreme
youth and his wish to express all that was in his mind 

 what revolution and regicide a grand thing well after that 
but won't you come to this other table repeated anna pavlovna 

 rousseau's contrat social said the vicomte with a tolerant
smile 

 i am not speaking of regicide i am speaking about ideas 

 yes ideas of robbery murder and regicide again interjected an
ironical voice 

 those were extremes no doubt but they are not what is most
important what is important are the rights of man emancipation from
prejudices and equality of citizenship and all these ideas napoleon
has retained in full force 

 liberty and equality said the vicomte contemptuously as if at
last deciding seriously to prove to this youth how foolish his words
were high sounding words which have long been discredited who does
not love liberty and equality even our saviour preached liberty and
equality have people since the revolution become happier on the
contrary we wanted liberty but buonaparte has destroyed it 

prince andrew kept looking with an amused smile from pierre to the
vicomte and from the vicomte to their hostess in the first moment of
pierre's outburst anna pavlovna despite her social experience was
horror struck but when she saw that pierre's sacrilegious words
had not exasperated the vicomte and had convinced herself that it was
impossible to stop him she rallied her forces and joined the vicomte in
a vigorous attack on the orator 

 but my dear monsieur pierre said she how do you explain the
fact of a great man executing a duc or even an ordinary man who is
innocent and untried 

 i should like said the vicomte to ask how monsieur explains
the 18th brumaire was not that an imposture it was a swindle and not
at all like the conduct of a great man 

 and the prisoners he killed in africa that was horrible said the
little princess shrugging her shoulders 

 he's a low fellow say what you will remarked prince hippolyte 

pierre not knowing whom to answer looked at them all and smiled his
smile was unlike the half smile of other people when he smiled 
his grave even rather gloomy look was instantaneously replaced by
another a childlike kindly even rather silly look which seemed to
ask forgiveness 

the vicomte who was meeting him for the first time saw clearly that
this young jacobin was not so terrible as his words suggested all were
silent 

 how do you expect him to answer you all at once said prince
andrew besides in the actions of a statesman one has to distinguish
between his acts as a private person as a general and as an emperor 
so it seems to me 

 yes yes of course pierre chimed in pleased at the arrival of
this reinforcement 

 one must admit continued prince andrew that napoleon as a man
was great on the bridge of arcola and in the hospital at jaffa where he
gave his hand to the plague stricken but but there are other acts
which it is difficult to justify 

prince andrew who had evidently wished to tone down the awkwardness of
pierre's remarks rose and made a sign to his wife that it was time to
go 

suddenly prince hippolyte started up making signs to everyone to attend 
and asking them all to be seated began 

 i was told a charming moscow story today and must treat you to it 
excuse me vicomte i must tell it in russian or the point will be
lost and prince hippolyte began to tell his story in such russian
as a frenchman would speak after spending about a year in russia 
everyone waited so emphatically and eagerly did he demand their
attention to his story 

 there is in moscow a lady une dame and she is very stingy she must
have two footmen behind her carriage and very big ones that was her
taste and she had a lady's maid also big she said 

here prince hippolyte paused evidently collecting his ideas with
difficulty 

 she said oh yes she said girl to the maid put on a
livery get up behind the carriage and come with me while i make some
calls 

here prince hippolyte spluttered and burst out laughing long before his
audience which produced an effect unfavorable to the narrator several
persons among them the elderly lady and anna pavlovna did however
smile 

 she went suddenly there was a great wind the girl lost her hat and
her long hair came down here he could contain himself no
longer and went on between gasps of laughter and the whole world
knew 

and so the anecdote ended though it was unintelligible why he had told
it or why it had to be told in russian still anna pavlovna and the
others appreciated prince hippolyte's social tact in so agreeably
ending pierre's unpleasant and unamiable outburst after the anecdote
the conversation broke up into insignificant small talk about the last
and next balls about theatricals and who would meet whom and when and
where 





chapter vi

having thanked anna pavlovna for her charming soiree the guests began
to take their leave 

pierre was ungainly stout about the average height broad with huge
red hands he did not know as the saying is how to enter a drawing
room and still less how to leave one that is how to say something
particularly agreeable before going away besides this he was
absent minded when he rose to go he took up instead of his own the
general's three cornered hat and held it pulling at the plume 
till the general asked him to restore it all his absent mindedness and
inability to enter a room and converse in it was however redeemed by
his kindly simple and modest expression anna pavlovna turned toward
him and with a christian mildness that expressed forgiveness of his
indiscretion nodded and said i hope to see you again but i also
hope you will change your opinions my dear monsieur pierre 

when she said this he did not reply and only bowed but again everybody
saw his smile which said nothing unless perhaps opinions are
opinions but you see what a capital good natured fellow i am and
everyone including anna pavlovna felt this 

prince andrew had gone out into the hall and turning his shoulders
to the footman who was helping him on with his cloak listened
indifferently to his wife's chatter with prince hippolyte who had also
come into the hall prince hippolyte stood close to the pretty pregnant
princess and stared fixedly at her through his eyeglass 

 go in annette or you will catch cold said the little princess 
taking leave of anna pavlovna it is settled she added in a low
voice 

anna pavlovna had already managed to speak to lise about the match she
contemplated between anatole and the little princess sister in law 

 i rely on you my dear said anna pavlovna also in a low tone 
 write to her and let me know how her father looks at the matter au
revoir and she left the hall 

prince hippolyte approached the little princess and bending his face
close to her began to whisper something 

two footmen the princess and his own stood holding a shawl and
a cloak waiting for the conversation to finish they listened to
the french sentences which to them were meaningless with an air of
understanding but not wishing to appear to do so the princess as usual
spoke smilingly and listened with a laugh 

 i am very glad i did not go to the ambassador's said prince
hippolyte so dull it has been a delightful evening has it
not delightful 

 they say the ball will be very good replied the princess drawing
up her downy little lip all the pretty women in society will be
there 

 not all for you will not be there not all said prince hippolyte
smiling joyfully and snatching the shawl from the footman whom he
even pushed aside he began wrapping it round the princess either from
awkwardness or intentionally no one could have said which after the
shawl had been adjusted he kept his arm around her for a long time as
though embracing her 

still smiling she gracefully moved away turning and glancing at her
husband prince andrew's eyes were closed so weary and sleepy did he
seem 

 are you ready he asked his wife looking past her 

prince hippolyte hurriedly put on his cloak which in the latest fashion
reached to his very heels and stumbling in it ran out into the porch
following the princess whom a footman was helping into the carriage 

 princesse au revoir cried he stumbling with his tongue as well
as with his feet 

the princess picking up her dress was taking her seat in the dark
carriage her husband was adjusting his saber prince hippolyte under
pretense of helping was in everyone's way 

 allow me sir said prince andrew in russian in a cold 
disagreeable tone to prince hippolyte who was blocking his path 

 i am expecting you pierre said the same voice but gently and
affectionately 

the postilion started the carriage wheels rattled prince hippolyte
laughed spasmodically as he stood in the porch waiting for the vicomte
whom he had promised to take home 

 well mon cher said the vicomte having seated himself beside
hippolyte in the carriage your little princess is very nice very
nice indeed quite french and he kissed the tips of his fingers 
hippolyte burst out laughing 

 do you know you are a terrible chap for all your innocent airs 
continued the vicomte i pity the poor husband that little officer
who gives himself the airs of a monarch 

hippolyte spluttered again and amid his laughter said and you were
saying that the russian ladies are not equal to the french one has to
know how to deal with them 

pierre reaching the house first went into prince andrew's study like
one quite at home and from habit immediately lay down on the sofa took
from the shelf the first book that came to his hand it was caesar's
commentaries and resting on his elbow began reading it in the middle 

 what have you done to mlle scherer she will be quite ill now 
said prince andrew as he entered the study rubbing his small white
hands 

pierre turned his whole body making the sofa creak he lifted his eager
face to prince andrew smiled and waved his hand 

 that abbe is very interesting but he does not see the thing in the
right light in my opinion perpetual peace is possible but i do not
know how to express it not by a balance of political power 

it was evident that prince andrew was not interested in such abstract
conversation 

 one can't everywhere say all one thinks mon cher well have
you at last decided on anything are you going to be a guardsman or a
diplomatist asked prince andrew after a momentary silence 

pierre sat up on the sofa with his legs tucked under him 

 really i don't yet know i don't like either the one or the
other 

 but you must decide on something your father expects it 

pierre at the age of ten had been sent abroad with an abbe as tutor 
and had remained away till he was twenty when he returned to moscow
his father dismissed the abbe and said to the young man now go
to petersburg look round and choose your profession i will agree to
anything here is a letter to prince vasili and here is money write
to me all about it and i will help you in everything pierre had
already been choosing a career for three months and had not decided
on anything it was about this choice that prince andrew was speaking 
pierre rubbed his forehead 

 but he must be a freemason said he referring to the abbe whom
he had met that evening 

 that is all nonsense prince andrew again interrupted him let
us talk business have you been to the horse guards 

 no i have not but this is what i have been thinking and wanted
to tell you there is a war now against napoleon if it were a war for
freedom i could understand it and should be the first to enter the army 
but to help england and austria against the greatest man in the world is
not right 

prince andrew only shrugged his shoulders at pierre's childish words 
he put on the air of one who finds it impossible to reply to such
nonsense but it would in fact have been difficult to give any other
answer than the one prince andrew gave to this naive question 

 if no one fought except on his own conviction there would be no
wars he said 

 and that would be splendid said pierre 

prince andrew smiled ironically 

 very likely it would be splendid but it will never come about 

 well why are you going to the war asked pierre 

 what for i don't know i must besides that i am going he
paused i am going because the life i am leading here does not suit
me 





chapter vii

the rustle of a woman's dress was heard in the next room prince
andrew shook himself as if waking up and his face assumed the look it
had had in anna pavlovna's drawing room pierre removed his feet from
the sofa the princess came in she had changed her gown for a house
dress as fresh and elegant as the other prince andrew rose and politely
placed a chair for her 

 how is it she began as usual in french settling down briskly
and fussily in the easy chair how is it annette never got married 
how stupid you men all are not to have married her excuse me for saying
so but you have no sense about women what an argumentative fellow you
are monsieur pierre 

 and i am still arguing with your husband i can't understand why he
wants to go to the war replied pierre addressing the princess
with none of the embarrassment so commonly shown by young men in their
intercourse with young women 

the princess started evidently pierre's words touched her to the
quick 

 ah that is just what i tell him said she i don't
understand it i don't in the least understand why men can't live
without wars how is it that we women don't want anything of the kind 
don't need it now you shall judge between us i always tell him here
he is uncle's aide de camp a most brilliant position he is so
well known so much appreciated by everyone the other day at the
apraksins i heard a lady asking is that the famous prince
andrew i did indeed she laughed he is so well received
everywhere he might easily become aide de camp to the emperor you know
the emperor spoke to him most graciously annette and i were speaking of
how to arrange it what do you think 

pierre looked at his friend and noticing that he did not like the
conversation gave no reply 

 when are you starting he asked 

 oh don't speak of his going don't i won't hear it spoken
of said the princess in the same petulantly playful tone in which
she had spoken to hippolyte in the drawing room and which was so plainly
ill suited to the family circle of which pierre was almost a member 
 today when i remembered that all these delightful associations
must be broken off and then you know andre she looked
significantly at her husband i'm afraid i'm afraid she
whispered and a shudder ran down her back 

her husband looked at her as if surprised to notice that someone besides
pierre and himself was in the room and addressed her in a tone of
frigid politeness 

 what is it you are afraid of lise i don't understand said he 

 there what egotists men all are all all egotists just for a whim
of his own goodness only knows why he leaves me and locks me up alone
in the country 

 with my father and sister remember said prince andrew gently 

 alone all the same without my friends and he expects me not to
be afraid 

her tone was now querulous and her lip drawn up giving her not a
joyful but an animal squirrel like expression she paused as if she
felt it indecorous to speak of her pregnancy before pierre though the
gist of the matter lay in that 

 i still can't understand what you are afraid of said prince
andrew slowly not taking his eyes off his wife 

the princess blushed and raised her arms with a gesture of despair 

 no andrew i must say you have changed oh how you have 

 your doctor tells you to go to bed earlier said prince andrew 
 you had better go 

the princess said nothing but suddenly her short downy lip quivered 
prince andrew rose shrugged his shoulders and walked about the room 

pierre looked over his spectacles with naive surprise now at him and
now at her moved as if about to rise too but changed his mind 

 why should i mind monsieur pierre being here exclaimed the little
princess suddenly her pretty face all at once distorted by a tearful
grimace i have long wanted to ask you andrew why you have changed
so to me what have i done to you you are going to the war and have no
pity for me why is it 

 lise was all prince andrew said but that one word expressed
an entreaty a threat and above all conviction that she would herself
regret her words but she went on hurriedly 

 you treat me like an invalid or a child i see it all did you behave
like that six months ago 

 lise i beg you to desist said prince andrew still more
emphatically 

pierre who had been growing more and more agitated as he listened to
all this rose and approached the princess he seemed unable to bear the
sight of tears and was ready to cry himself 

 calm yourself princess it seems so to you because i assure you
i myself have experienced and so because no excuse me 
an outsider is out of place here no don't distress yourself 
good by 

prince andrew caught him by the hand 

 no wait pierre the princess is too kind to wish to deprive me of
the pleasure of spending the evening with you 

 no he thinks only of himself muttered the princess without
restraining her angry tears 

 lise said prince andrew dryly raising his voice to the pitch
which indicates that patience is exhausted 

suddenly the angry squirrel like expression of the princess pretty
face changed into a winning and piteous look of fear her beautiful eyes
glanced askance at her husband's face and her own assumed the timid 
deprecating expression of a dog when it rapidly but feebly wags its
drooping tail 

 mon dieu mon dieu she muttered and lifting her dress with one
hand she went up to her husband and kissed him on the forehead 

 good night lise said he rising and courteously kissing her hand
as he would have done to a stranger 





chapter viii

the friends were silent neither cared to begin talking pierre
continually glanced at prince andrew prince andrew rubbed his forehead
with his small hand 

 let us go and have supper he said with a sigh going to the door 

they entered the elegant newly decorated and luxurious dining room 
everything from the table napkins to the silver china and glass bore
that imprint of newness found in the households of the newly married 
halfway through supper prince andrew leaned his elbows on the table and 
with a look of nervous agitation such as pierre had never before seen on
his face began to talk as one who has long had something on his mind
and suddenly determines to speak out 

 never never marry my dear fellow that's my advice never marry
till you can say to yourself that you have done all you are capable of 
and until you have ceased to love the woman of your choice and have seen
her plainly as she is or else you will make a cruel and irrevocable
mistake marry when you are old and good for nothing or all that is
good and noble in you will be lost it will all be wasted on trifles 
yes yes yes don't look at me with such surprise if you marry
expecting anything from yourself in the future you will feel at every
step that for you all is ended all is closed except the drawing
room where you will be ranged side by side with a court lackey and an
idiot but what's the good and he waved his arm 

pierre took off his spectacles which made his face seem different and
the good natured expression still more apparent and gazed at his friend
in amazement 

 my wife continued prince andrew is an excellent woman one
of those rare women with whom a man's honor is safe but o god what
would i not give now to be unmarried you are the first and only one to
whom i mention this because i like you 

as he said this prince andrew was less than ever like that bolkonski
who had lolled in anna pavlovna's easy chairs and with half closed
eyes had uttered french phrases between his teeth every muscle of his
thin face was now quivering with nervous excitement his eyes in which
the fire of life had seemed extinguished now flashed with brilliant
light it was evident that the more lifeless he seemed at ordinary
times the more impassioned he became in these moments of almost morbid
irritation 

 you don't understand why i say this he continued but it is
the whole story of life you talk of bonaparte and his career said
he though pierre had not mentioned bonaparte but bonaparte when
he worked went step by step toward his goal he was free he had nothing
but his aim to consider and he reached it but tie yourself up with
a woman and like a chained convict you lose all freedom and all you
have of hope and strength merely weighs you down and torments you with
regret drawing rooms gossip balls vanity and triviality these are
the enchanted circle i cannot escape from i am now going to the war 
the greatest war there ever was and i know nothing and am fit for
nothing i am very amiable and have a caustic wit continued prince
andrew and at anna pavlovna's they listen to me and that stupid
set without whom my wife cannot exist and those women if you only
knew what those society women are and women in general my father is
right selfish vain stupid trivial in everything that's what
women are when you see them in their true colors when you meet them
in society it seems as if there were something in them but there's
nothing nothing nothing no don't marry my dear fellow don't
marry concluded prince andrew 

 it seems funny to me said pierre that you you should
consider yourself incapable and your life a spoiled life you have
everything before you everything and you 

he did not finish his sentence but his tone showed how highly he
thought of his friend and how much he expected of him in the future 

 how can he talk like that thought pierre he considered his
friend a model of perfection because prince andrew possessed in the
highest degree just the very qualities pierre lacked and which might
be best described as strength of will pierre was always astonished at
prince andrew's calm manner of treating everybody his extraordinary
memory his extensive reading he had read everything knew everything 
and had an opinion about everything but above all at his capacity for
work and study and if pierre was often struck by andrew's lack
of capacity for philosophical meditation to which he himself was
particularly addicted he regarded even this not as a defect but as a
sign of strength 

even in the best most friendly and simplest relations of life praise
and commendation are essential just as grease is necessary to wheels
that they may run smoothly 

 my part is played out said prince andrew what's the use of
talking about me let us talk about you he added after a silence 
smiling at his reassuring thoughts 

that smile was immediately reflected on pierre's face 

 but what is there to say about me said pierre his face relaxing
into a careless merry smile what am i an illegitimate son 
he suddenly blushed crimson and it was plain that he had made a great
effort to say this without a name and without means and it
really but he did not say what it really was for the
present i am free and am all right only i haven't the least idea what
i am to do i wanted to consult you seriously 

prince andrew looked kindly at him yet his glance friendly and
affectionate as it was expressed a sense of his own superiority 

 i am fond of you especially as you are the one live man among our
whole set yes you're all right choose what you will it's all the
same you'll be all right anywhere but look here give up visiting
those kuragins and leading that sort of life it suits you so
badly all this debauchery dissipation and the rest of it 

 what would you have my dear fellow answered pierre shrugging
his shoulders women my dear fellow women 

 i don't understand it replied prince andrew women who are
comme il faut that's a different matter but the kuragins set of
women women and wine i don't understand 

pierre was staying at prince vasili kuragin's and sharing the
dissipated life of his son anatole the son whom they were planning to
reform by marrying him to prince andrew's sister 

 do you know said pierre as if suddenly struck by a happy
thought seriously i have long been thinking of it leading such
a life i can't decide or think properly about anything one's head
aches and one spends all one's money he asked me for tonight but i
won't go 

 you give me your word of honor not to go 

 on my honor 





chapter ix

it was past one o'clock when pierre left his friend it was a
cloudless northern summer night pierre took an open cab intending
to drive straight home but the nearer he drew to the house the more he
felt the impossibility of going to sleep on such a night it was light
enough to see a long way in the deserted street and it seemed more like
morning or evening than night on the way pierre remembered that anatole
kuragin was expecting the usual set for cards that evening after which
there was generally a drinking bout finishing with visits of a kind
pierre was very fond of 

 i should like to go to kuragin's thought he 

but he immediately recalled his promise to prince andrew not to go
there then as happens to people of weak character he desired so
passionately once more to enjoy that dissipation he was so accustomed to
that he decided to go the thought immediately occurred to him that his
promise to prince andrew was of no account because before he gave it
he had already promised prince anatole to come to his gathering 
 besides thought he all such words of honor are
conventional things with no definite meaning especially if
one considers that by tomorrow one may be dead or something so
extraordinary may happen to one that honor and dishonor will be all the
same pierre often indulged in reflections of this sort nullifying
all his decisions and intentions he went to kuragin's 

reaching the large house near the horse guards barracks in which
anatole lived pierre entered the lighted porch ascended the stairs 
and went in at the open door there was no one in the anteroom empty
bottles cloaks and overshoes were lying about there was a smell of
alcohol and sounds of voices and shouting in the distance 

cards and supper were over but the visitors had not yet dispersed 
pierre threw off his cloak and entered the first room in which were the
remains of supper a footman thinking no one saw him was drinking on
the sly what was left in the glasses from the third room came sounds of
laughter the shouting of familiar voices the growling of a bear and
general commotion some eight or nine young men were crowding anxiously
round an open window three others were romping with a young bear one
pulling him by the chain and trying to set him at the others 

 i bet a hundred on stevens shouted one 

 mind no holding on cried another 

 i bet on dolokhov cried a third kuragin you part our
hands 

 there leave bruin alone here's a bet on 

 at one draught or he loses shouted a fourth 

 jacob bring a bottle shouted the host a tall handsome fellow
who stood in the midst of the group without a coat and with his fine
linen shirt unfastened in front wait a bit you fellows here is
petya good man cried he addressing pierre 

another voice from a man of medium height with clear blue eyes 
particularly striking among all these drunken voices by its sober
ring cried from the window come here part the bets this was
dolokhov an officer of the semenov regiment a notorious gambler and
duelist who was living with anatole pierre smiled looking about him
merrily 

 i don't understand what's it all about 

 wait a bit he is not drunk yet a bottle here said anatole and
taking a glass from the table he went up to pierre 

 first of all you must drink 

pierre drank one glass after another looking from under his brows at
the tipsy guests who were again crowding round the window and listening
to their chatter anatole kept on refilling pierre's glass while
explaining that dolokhov was betting with stevens an english naval
officer that he would drink a bottle of rum sitting on the outer ledge
of the third floor window with his legs hanging out 

 go on you must drink it all said anatole giving pierre the last
glass or i won't let you go 

 no i won't said pierre pushing anatole aside and he went up
to the window 

dolokhov was holding the englishman's hand and clearly and distinctly
repeating the terms of the bet addressing himself particularly to
anatole and pierre 

dolokhov was of medium height with curly hair and light blue eyes he
was about twenty five like all infantry officers he wore no mustache 
so that his mouth the most striking feature of his face was clearly
seen the lines of that mouth were remarkably finely curved the middle
of the upper lip formed a sharp wedge and closed firmly on the firm
lower one and something like two distinct smiles played continually
round the two corners of the mouth this together with the resolute 
insolent intelligence of his eyes produced an effect which made it
impossible not to notice his face dolokhov was a man of small means
and no connections yet though anatole spent tens of thousands of
rubles dolokhov lived with him and had placed himself on such a
footing that all who knew them including anatole himself respected him
more than they did anatole dolokhov could play all games and nearly
always won however much he drank he never lost his clearheadedness 
both kuragin and dolokhov were at that time notorious among the rakes
and scapegraces of petersburg 

the bottle of rum was brought the window frame which prevented anyone
from sitting on the outer sill was being forced out by two footmen who
were evidently flurried and intimidated by the directions and shouts of
the gentlemen around 

anatole with his swaggering air strode up to the window he wanted to
smash something pushing away the footmen he tugged at the frame but
could not move it he smashed a pane 

 you have a try hercules said he turning to pierre 

pierre seized the crossbeam tugged and wrenched the oak frame out with
a crash 

 take it right out or they'll think i'm holding on said
dolokhov 

 is the englishman bragging eh is it all right said anatole 

 first rate said pierre looking at dolokhov who with a bottle
of rum in his hand was approaching the window from which the light of
the sky the dawn merging with the afterglow of sunset was visible 

dolokhov the bottle of rum still in his hand jumped onto the window
sill listen cried he standing there and addressing those in the
room all were silent 

 i bet fifty imperials he spoke french that the englishman might
understand him but he did not speak it very well i bet fifty
imperials or do you wish to make it a hundred added he 
addressing the englishman 

 no fifty replied the latter 

 all right fifty imperials that i will drink a whole bottle of
rum without taking it from my mouth sitting outside the window on this
spot he stooped and pointed to the sloping ledge outside the window 
 and without holding on to anything is that right 

 quite right said the englishman 

anatole turned to the englishman and taking him by one of the buttons
of his coat and looking down at him the englishman was short began
repeating the terms of the wager to him in english 

 wait cried dolokhov hammering with the bottle on the window
sill to attract attention wait a bit kuragin listen if
anyone else does the same i will pay him a hundred imperials do you
understand 

the englishman nodded but gave no indication whether he intended to
accept this challenge or not anatole did not release him and though
he kept nodding to show that he understood anatole went on translating
dolokhov's words into english a thin young lad an hussar of the
life guards who had been losing that evening climbed on the window
sill leaned over and looked down 

 oh oh oh he muttered looking down from the window at the
stones of the pavement 

 shut up cried dolokhov pushing him away from the window the
lad jumped awkwardly back into the room tripping over his spurs 

placing the bottle on the window sill where he could reach it easily 
dolokhov climbed carefully and slowly through the window and lowered
his legs pressing against both sides of the window he adjusted himself
on his seat lowered his hands moved a little to the right and then to
the left and took up the bottle anatole brought two candles and
placed them on the window sill though it was already quite light 
dolokhov's back in his white shirt and his curly head were lit
up from both sides everyone crowded to the window the englishman in
front pierre stood smiling but silent one man older than the others
present suddenly pushed forward with a scared and angry look and wanted
to seize hold of dolokhov's shirt 

 i say this is folly he'll be killed said this more sensible
man 

anatole stopped him 

 don't touch him you'll startle him and then he'll be killed 
eh what then eh 

dolokhov turned round and again holding on with both hands arranged
himself on his seat 

 if anyone comes meddling again said he emitting the words
separately through his thin compressed lips i will throw him down
there now then 

saying this he again turned round dropped his hands took the bottle
and lifted it to his lips threw back his head and raised his free hand
to balance himself one of the footmen who had stooped to pick up some
broken glass remained in that position without taking his eyes from the
window and from dolokhov's back anatole stood erect with staring
eyes the englishman looked on sideways pursing up his lips the man
who had wished to stop the affair ran to a corner of the room and threw
himself on a sofa with his face to the wall pierre hid his face from
which a faint smile forgot to fade though his features now expressed
horror and fear all were still pierre took his hands from his eyes 
dolokhov still sat in the same position only his head was thrown
further back till his curly hair touched his shirt collar and the hand
holding the bottle was lifted higher and higher and trembled with the
effort the bottle was emptying perceptibly and rising still higher
and his head tilting yet further back why is it so long thought
pierre it seemed to him that more than half an hour had elapsed 
suddenly dolokhov made a backward movement with his spine and his arm
trembled nervously this was sufficient to cause his whole body to slip
as he sat on the sloping ledge as he began slipping down his head and
arm wavered still more with the strain one hand moved as if to clutch
the window sill but refrained from touching it pierre again covered
his eyes and thought he would never open them again suddenly he was
aware of a stir all around he looked up dolokhov was standing on the
window sill with a pale but radiant face 

 it's empty 

he threw the bottle to the englishman who caught it neatly dolokhov
jumped down he smelt strongly of rum 

 well done fine fellow there's a bet for you devil take
you came from different sides 

the englishman took out his purse and began counting out the money 
dolokhov stood frowning and did not speak pierre jumped upon the
window sill 

 gentlemen who wishes to bet with me i'll do the same thing 
he suddenly cried even without a bet there tell them to bring me a
bottle i'll do it bring a bottle 

 let him do it let him do it said dolokhov smiling 

 what next have you gone mad no one would let you why you go
giddy even on a staircase exclaimed several voices 

 i'll drink it let's have a bottle of rum shouted pierre 
banging the table with a determined and drunken gesture and preparing to
climb out of the window 

they seized him by his arms but he was so strong that everyone who
touched him was sent flying 

 no you'll never manage him that way said anatole wait a
bit and i'll get round him listen i'll take your bet tomorrow 
but now we are all going to s 

 come on then cried pierre come on and we'll take bruin
with us 

and he caught the bear took it in his arms lifted it from the ground 
and began dancing round the room with it 





chapter x

prince vasili kept the promise he had given to princess drubetskaya
who had spoken to him on behalf of her only son boris on the evening of
anna pavlovna's soiree the matter was mentioned to the emperor an
exception made and boris transferred into the regiment of semenov
guards with the rank of cornet he received however no appointment
to kutuzov's staff despite all anna mikhaylovna's endeavors and
entreaties soon after anna pavlovna's reception anna mikhaylovna
returned to moscow and went straight to her rich relations the
rostovs with whom she stayed when in the town and where her darling
bory who had only just entered a regiment of the line and was being
at once transferred to the guards as a cornet had been educated from
childhood and lived for years at a time the guards had already left
petersburg on the tenth of august and her son who had remained in
moscow for his equipment was to join them on the march to radzivilov 

it was st natalia's day and the name day of two of the rostovs the
mother and the youngest daughter both named nataly ever since
the morning carriages with six horses had been coming and going
continually bringing visitors to the countess rostova's big house on
the povarskaya so well known to all moscow the countess herself and
her handsome eldest daughter were in the drawing room with the visitors
who came to congratulate and who constantly succeeded one another in
relays 

the countess was a woman of about forty five with a thin oriental type
of face evidently worn out with childbearing she had had twelve 
a languor of motion and speech resulting from weakness gave her a
distinguished air which inspired respect princess anna mikhaylovna
drubetskaya who as a member of the household was also seated in the
drawing room helped to receive and entertain the visitors the young
people were in one of the inner rooms not considering it necessary to
take part in receiving the visitors the count met the guests and saw
them off inviting them all to dinner 

 i am very very grateful to you mon cher or ma chere he
called everyone without exception and without the slightest variation
in his tone my dear whether they were above or below him in
rank i thank you for myself and for our two dear ones whose name
day we are keeping but mind you come to dinner or i shall be offended 
ma chere on behalf of the whole family i beg you to come mon cher 
these words he repeated to everyone without exception or variation and
with the same expression on his full cheerful clean shaven face the
same firm pressure of the hand and the same quick repeated bows as
soon as he had seen a visitor off he returned to one of those who were
still in the drawing room drew a chair toward him or her and jauntily
spreading out his legs and putting his hands on his knees with the air
of a man who enjoys life and knows how to live he swayed to and
fro with dignity offered surmises about the weather or touched on
questions of health sometimes in russian and sometimes in very bad but
self confident french then again like a man weary but unflinching in
the fulfillment of duty he rose to see some visitors off and stroking
his scanty gray hairs over his bald patch also asked them to dinner 
sometimes on his way back from the anteroom he would pass through the
conservatory and pantry into the large marble dining hall where tables
were being set out for eighty people and looking at the footmen who
were bringing in silver and china moving tables and unfolding damask
table linen he would call dmitri vasilevich a man of good family and
the manager of all his affairs and while looking with pleasure at the
enormous table would say well dmitri you'll see that things are
all as they should be that's right the great thing is the serving 
that's it and with a complacent sigh he would return to the
drawing room 

 marya lvovna karagina and her daughter announced the
countess gigantic footman in his bass voice entering the drawing
room the countess reflected a moment and took a pinch from a gold
snuffbox with her husband's portrait on it 

 i'm quite worn out by these callers however i'll see her and
no more she is so affected ask her in she said to the footman in a
sad voice as if saying very well finish me off 

a tall stout and proud looking woman with a round faced smiling
daughter entered the drawing room their dresses rustling 

 dear countess what an age she has been laid up poor child 
at the razumovski's ball and countess apraksina i was
so delighted came the sounds of animated feminine voices 
interrupting one another and mingling with the rustling of dresses and
the scraping of chairs then one of those conversations began which last
out until at the first pause the guests rise with a rustle of dresses
and say i am so delighted mamma's health and countess
apraksina and then again rustling pass into the anteroom put
on cloaks or mantles and drive away the conversation was on the chief
topic of the day the illness of the wealthy and celebrated beau of
catherine's day count bezukhov and about his illegitimate son
pierre the one who had behaved so improperly at anna pavlovna's
reception 

 i am so sorry for the poor count said the visitor he is in
such bad health and now this vexation about his son is enough to kill
him 

 what is that asked the countess as if she did not know what the
visitor alluded to though she had already heard about the cause of
count bezukhov's distress some fifteen times 

 that's what comes of a modern education exclaimed the visitor 
 it seems that while he was abroad this young man was allowed to do
as he liked now in petersburg i hear he has been doing such terrible
things that he has been expelled by the police 

 you don't say so replied the countess 

 he chose his friends badly interposed anna mikhaylovna 
 prince vasili's son he and a certain dolokhov have it is said 
been up to heaven only knows what and they have had to suffer for it 
dolokhov has been degraded to the ranks and bezukhov's son sent
back to moscow anatole kuragin's father managed somehow to get his
son's affair hushed up but even he was ordered out of petersburg 

 but what have they been up to asked the countess 

 they are regular brigands especially dolokhov replied the
visitor he is a son of marya ivanovna dolokhova such a worthy
woman but there just fancy those three got hold of a bear somewhere 
put it in a carriage and set off with it to visit some actresses the
police tried to interfere and what did the young men do they tied
a policeman and the bear back to back and put the bear into the moyka
canal and there was the bear swimming about with the policeman on his
back 

 what a nice figure the policeman must have cut my dear shouted
the count dying with laughter 

 oh how dreadful how can you laugh at it count 

yet the ladies themselves could not help laughing 

 it was all they could do to rescue the poor man continued the
visitor and to think it is cyril vladimirovich bezukhov's son
who amuses himself in this sensible manner and he was said to be so
well educated and clever this is all that his foreign education has
done for him i hope that here in moscow no one will receive him in
spite of his money they wanted to introduce him to me but i quite
declined i have my daughters to consider 

 why do you say this young man is so rich asked the countess 
turning away from the girls who at once assumed an air of inattention 
 his children are all illegitimate i think pierre also is
illegitimate 

the visitor made a gesture with her hand 

 i should think he has a score of them 

princess anna mikhaylovna intervened in the conversation evidently
wishing to show her connections and knowledge of what went on in
society 

 the fact of the matter is said she significantly and also in a
half whisper everyone knows count cyril's reputation he has
lost count of his children but this pierre was his favorite 

 how handsome the old man still was only a year ago remarked the
countess i have never seen a handsomer man 

 he is very much altered now said anna mikhaylovna well as
i was saying prince vasili is the next heir through his wife but the
count is very fond of pierre looked after his education and wrote to
the emperor about him so that in the case of his death and he is
so ill that he may die at any moment and dr lorrain has come from
petersburg no one knows who will inherit his immense fortune pierre
or prince vasili forty thousand serfs and millions of rubles i know
it all very well for prince vasili told me himself besides cyril
vladimirovich is my mother's second cousin he's also my bory's
godfather she added as if she attached no importance at all to the
fact 

 prince vasili arrived in moscow yesterday i hear he has come on
some inspection business remarked the visitor 

 yes but between ourselves said the princess that is a
pretext the fact is he has come to see count cyril vladimirovich 
hearing how ill he is 

 but do you know my dear that was a capital joke said the count 
and seeing that the elder visitor was not listening he turned to the
young ladies i can just imagine what a funny figure that policeman
cut 

and as he waved his arms to impersonate the policeman his portly form
again shook with a deep ringing laugh the laugh of one who always eats
well and in particular drinks well so do come and dine with us 
he said 





chapter xi

silence ensued the countess looked at her callers smiling affably 
but not concealing the fact that she would not be distressed if they
now rose and took their leave the visitor's daughter was already
smoothing down her dress with an inquiring look at her mother when
suddenly from the next room were heard the footsteps of boys and girls
running to the door and the noise of a chair falling over and a girl
of thirteen hiding something in the folds of her short muslin frock 
darted in and stopped short in the middle of the room it was evident
that she had not intended her flight to bring her so far behind her in
the doorway appeared a student with a crimson coat collar an officer
of the guards a girl of fifteen and a plump rosy faced boy in a short
jacket 

the count jumped up and swaying from side to side spread his arms wide
and threw them round the little girl who had run in 

 ah here she is he exclaimed laughing my pet whose name day
it is my dear pet 

 ma chere there is a time for everything said the countess with
feigned severity you spoil her ilya she added turning to her
husband 

 how do you do my dear i wish you many happy returns of your name
day said the visitor what a charming child she added 
addressing the mother 

this black eyed wide mouthed girl not pretty but full of life with
childish bare shoulders which after her run heaved and shook her
bodice with black curls tossed backward thin bare arms little legs
in lace frilled drawers and feet in low slippers was just at that
charming age when a girl is no longer a child though the child is not
yet a young woman escaping from her father she ran to hide her flushed
face in the lace of her mother's mantilla not paying the least
attention to her severe remark and began to laugh she laughed and in
fragmentary sentences tried to explain about a doll which she produced
from the folds of her frock 

 do you see my doll mimi you see was all natasha
managed to utter to her everything seemed funny she leaned against
her mother and burst into such a loud ringing fit of laughter that even
the prim visitor could not help joining in 

 now then go away and take your monstrosity with you said the
mother pushing away her daughter with pretended sternness and turning
to the visitor she added she is my youngest girl 

natasha raising her face for a moment from her mother's mantilla 
glanced up at her through tears of laughter and again hid her face 

the visitor compelled to look on at this family scene thought it
necessary to take some part in it 

 tell me my dear said she to natasha is mimi a relation of
yours a daughter i suppose 

natasha did not like the visitor's tone of condescension to childish
things she did not reply but looked at her seriously 

meanwhile the younger generation boris the officer anna
mikhaylovna's son nicholas the undergraduate the count's eldest
son sonya the count's fifteen year old niece and little petya 
his youngest boy had all settled down in the drawing room and were
obviously trying to restrain within the bounds of decorum the excitement
and mirth that shone in all their faces evidently in the back rooms 
from which they had dashed out so impetuously the conversation had
been more amusing than the drawing room talk of society scandals the
weather and countess apraksina now and then they glanced at one
another hardly able to suppress their laughter 

the two young men the student and the officer friends from childhood 
were of the same age and both handsome fellows though not alike boris
was tall and fair and his calm and handsome face had regular delicate
features nicholas was short with curly hair and an open expression 
dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip and his whole face
expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm nicholas blushed when he entered
the drawing room he evidently tried to find something to say but
failed boris on the contrary at once found his footing and related
quietly and humorously how he had known that doll mimi when she was
still quite a young lady before her nose was broken how she had aged
during the five years he had known her and how her head had cracked
right across the skull having said this he glanced at natasha 
she turned away from him and glanced at her younger brother who was
screwing up his eyes and shaking with suppressed laughter and unable
to control herself any longer she jumped up and rushed from the room as
fast as her nimble little feet would carry her boris did not laugh 

 you were meaning to go out weren't you mamma do you want the
carriage he asked his mother with a smile 

 yes yes go and tell them to get it ready she answered 
returning his smile 

boris quietly left the room and went in search of natasha the plump
boy ran after them angrily as if vexed that their program had been
disturbed 





chapter xii

the only young people remaining in the drawing room not counting the
young lady visitor and the countess eldest daughter who was four
years older than her sister and behaved already like a grown up person 
were nicholas and sonya the niece sonya was a slender little
brunette with a tender look in her eyes which were veiled by long
lashes thick black plaits coiling twice round her head and a tawny
tint in her complexion and especially in the color of her slender but
graceful and muscular arms and neck by the grace of her movements 
by the softness and flexibility of her small limbs and by a certain
coyness and reserve of manner she reminded one of a pretty half grown
kitten which promises to become a beautiful little cat she evidently
considered it proper to show an interest in the general conversation by
smiling but in spite of herself her eyes under their thick long lashes
watched her cousin who was going to join the army with such passionate
girlish adoration that her smile could not for a single instant impose
upon anyone and it was clear that the kitten had settled down only to
spring up with more energy and again play with her cousin as soon as
they too could like natasha and boris escape from the drawing room 

 ah yes my dear said the count addressing the visitor and
pointing to nicholas his friend boris has become an officer and
so for friendship's sake he is leaving the university and me his
old father and entering the military service my dear and there was a
place and everything waiting for him in the archives department isn't
that friendship remarked the count in an inquiring tone 

 but they say that war has been declared replied the visitor 

 they've been saying so a long while said the count and
they'll say so again and again and that will be the end of it my
dear there's friendship for you he repeated he's joining
the hussars 

the visitor not knowing what to say shook her head 

 it's not at all from friendship declared nicholas flaring
up and turning away as if from a shameful aspersion it is not from
friendship at all i simply feel that the army is my vocation 

he glanced at his cousin and the young lady visitor and they were both
regarding him with a smile of approbation 

 schubert the colonel of the pavlograd hussars is dining with us
today he has been here on leave and is taking nicholas back with him 
it can't be helped said the count shrugging his shoulders and
speaking playfully of a matter that evidently distressed him 

 i have already told you papa said his son that if you
don't wish to let me go i'll stay but i know i am no use anywhere
except in the army i am not a diplomat or a government clerk i
don't know how to hide what i feel as he spoke he kept glancing
with the flirtatiousness of a handsome youth at sonya and the young
lady visitor 

the little kitten feasting her eyes on him seemed ready at any moment
to start her gambols again and display her kittenish nature 

 all right all right said the old count he always flares up 
this buonaparte has turned all their heads they all think of how he
rose from an ensign and became emperor well well god grant it he
added not noticing his visitor's sarcastic smile 

the elders began talking about bonaparte julie karagina turned to
young rostov 

 what a pity you weren't at the arkharovs on thursday it was so
dull without you said she giving him a tender smile 

the young man flattered sat down nearer to her with a coquettish
smile and engaged the smiling julie in a confidential conversation
without at all noticing that his involuntary smile had stabbed the heart
of sonya who blushed and smiled unnaturally in the midst of his talk
he glanced round at her she gave him a passionately angry glance and
hardly able to restrain her tears and maintain the artificial smile
on her lips she got up and left the room all nicholas animation
vanished he waited for the first pause in the conversation and then
with a distressed face left the room to find sonya 

 how plainly all these young people wear their hearts on their
sleeves said anna mikhaylovna pointing to nicholas as he went out 
 cousinage dangereux voisinage she added 

 cousinhood is a dangerous neighborhood 

 yes said the countess when the brightness these young people had
brought into the room had vanished and as if answering a question no
one had put but which was always in her mind and how much suffering 
how much anxiety one has had to go through that we might rejoice in
them now and yet really the anxiety is greater now than the joy one is
always always anxious especially just at this age so dangerous both
for girls and boys 

 it all depends on the bringing up remarked the visitor 

 yes you're quite right continued the countess till now i
have always thank god been my children's friend and had their full
confidence said she repeating the mistake of so many parents who
imagine that their children have no secrets from them i know i shall
always be my daughters first confidante and that if nicholas with
his impulsive nature does get into mischief a boy can't help it he
will all the same never be like those petersburg young men 

 yes they are splendid splendid youngsters chimed in the count 
who always solved questions that seemed to him perplexing by deciding
that everything was splendid just fancy wants to be an hussar 
what's one to do my dear 

 what a charming creature your younger girl is said the visitor 
 a little volcano 

 yes a regular volcano said the count takes after me and
what a voice she has though she's my daughter i tell the truth
when i say she'll be a singer a second salomoni we have engaged an
italian to give her lessons 

 isn't she too young i have heard that it harms the voice to train
it at that age 

 oh no not at all too young replied the count why our
mothers used to be married at twelve or thirteen 

 and she's in love with boris already just fancy said the
countess with a gentle smile looking at boris and went on evidently
concerned with a thought that always occupied her now you see if i
were to be severe with her and to forbid it goodness knows what they
might be up to on the sly she meant that they would be kissing 
 but as it is i know every word she utters she will come running to
me of her own accord in the evening and tell me everything perhaps i
spoil her but really that seems the best plan with her elder sister i
was stricter 

 yes i was brought up quite differently remarked the handsome
elder daughter countess vera with a smile 

but the smile did not enhance vera's beauty as smiles generally do 
on the contrary it gave her an unnatural and therefore unpleasant 
expression vera was good looking not at all stupid quick at
learning was well brought up and had a pleasant voice what she said
was true and appropriate yet strange to say everyone the visitors
and countess alike turned to look at her as if wondering why she had
said it and they all felt awkward 

 people are always too clever with their eldest children and try to
make something exceptional of them said the visitor 

 what's the good of denying it my dear our dear countess was too
clever with vera said the count well what of that she's
turned out splendidly all the same he added winking at vera 

the guests got up and took their leave promising to return to dinner 

 what manners i thought they would never go said the countess 
when she had seen her guests out 





chapter xiii

when natasha ran out of the drawing room she only went as far as the
conservatory there she paused and stood listening to the conversation
in the drawing room waiting for boris to come out she was already
growing impatient and stamped her foot ready to cry at his not coming
at once when she heard the young man's discreet steps approaching
neither quickly nor slowly at this natasha dashed swiftly among the
flower tubs and hid there 

boris paused in the middle of the room looked round brushed a little
dust from the sleeve of his uniform and going up to a mirror examined
his handsome face natasha very still peered out from her ambush 
waiting to see what he would do he stood a little while before the
glass smiled and walked toward the other door natasha was about to
call him but changed her mind let him look for me thought she 
hardly had boris gone than sonya flushed in tears and muttering
angrily came in at the other door natasha checked her first impulse
to run out to her and remained in her hiding place watching as
under an invisible cap to see what went on in the world she was
experiencing a new and peculiar pleasure sonya muttering to herself 
kept looking round toward the drawing room door it opened and nicholas
came in 

 sonya what is the matter with you how can you said he running
up to her 

 it's nothing nothing leave me alone sobbed sonya 

 ah i know what it is 

 well if you do so much the better and you can go back to her 

 so o onya look here how can you torture me and yourself like that 
for a mere fancy said nicholas taking her hand 

sonya did not pull it away and left off crying natasha not stirring
and scarcely breathing watched from her ambush with sparkling eyes 
 what will happen now thought she 

 sonya what is anyone in the world to me you alone are
everything said nicholas and i will prove it to you 

 i don't like you to talk like that 

 well then i won't only forgive me sonya he drew her to him
and kissed her 

 oh how nice thought natasha and when sonya and nicholas had
gone out of the conservatory she followed and called boris to her 

 boris come here said she with a sly and significant look i
have something to tell you here here and she led him into the
conservatory to the place among the tubs where she had been hiding 

boris followed her smiling 

 what is the something asked he 

she grew confused glanced round and seeing the doll she had thrown
down on one of the tubs picked it up 

 kiss the doll said she 

boris looked attentively and kindly at her eager face but did not
reply 

 don't you want to well then come here said she and
went further in among the plants and threw down the doll closer 
closer she whispered 

she caught the young officer by his cuffs and a look of solemnity and
fear appeared on her flushed face 

 and me would you like to kiss me she whispered almost inaudibly 
glancing up at him from under her brows smiling and almost crying from
excitement 

boris blushed 

 how funny you are he said bending down to her and blushing still
more but he waited and did nothing 

suddenly she jumped up onto a tub to be higher than he embraced him so
that both her slender bare arms clasped him above his neck and tossing
back her hair kissed him full on the lips 

then she slipped down among the flowerpots on the other side of the tubs
and stood hanging her head 

 natasha he said you know that i love you but 

 you are in love with me natasha broke in 

 yes i am but please don't let us do like that in another four
years then i will ask for your hand 

natasha considered 

 thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen she counted on her slender
little fingers all right then it's settled 

a smile of joy and satisfaction lit up her eager face 

 settled replied boris 

 forever said the little girl till death itself 

she took his arm and with a happy face went with him into the adjoining
sitting room 





chapter xiv

after receiving her visitors the countess was so tired that she gave
orders to admit no more but the porter was told to be sure to invite to
dinner all who came to congratulate the countess wished to have
a tete a tete talk with the friend of her childhood princess anna
mikhaylovna whom she had not seen properly since she returned from
petersburg anna mikhaylovna with her tear worn but pleasant face 
drew her chair nearer to that of the countess 

 with you i will be quite frank said anna mikhaylovna there
are not many left of us old friends that's why i so value your
friendship 

anna mikhaylovna looked at vera and paused the countess pressed her
friend's hand 

 vera she said to her eldest daughter who was evidently not a
favorite how is it you have so little tact don't you see you are
not wanted here go to the other girls or 

the handsome vera smiled contemptuously but did not seem at all hurt 

 if you had told me sooner mamma i would have gone she replied
as she rose to go to her own room 

but as she passed the sitting room she noticed two couples sitting 
one pair at each window she stopped and smiled scornfully sonya was
sitting close to nicholas who was copying out some verses for her the
first he had ever written boris and natasha were at the other window
and ceased talking when vera entered sonya and natasha looked at
vera with guilty happy faces 

it was pleasant and touching to see these little girls in love but
apparently the sight of them roused no pleasant feeling in vera 

 how often have i asked you not to take my things she said you
have a room of your own and she took the inkstand from nicholas 

 in a minute in a minute he said dipping his pen 

 you always manage to do things at the wrong time continued vera 
 you came rushing into the drawing room so that everyone felt ashamed
of you 

though what she said was quite just perhaps for that very reason no one
replied and the four simply looked at one another she lingered in the
room with the inkstand in her hand 

 and at your age what secrets can there be between natasha and
boris or between you two it's all nonsense 

 now vera what does it matter to you said natasha in defense 
speaking very gently 

she seemed that day to be more than ever kind and affectionate to
everyone 

 very silly said vera i am ashamed of you secrets indeed 

 all have secrets of their own answered natasha getting warmer 
 we don't interfere with you and berg 

 i should think not said vera because there can never be
anything wrong in my behavior but i'll just tell mamma how you are
behaving with boris 

 natalya ilynichna behaves very well to me remarked boris i
have nothing to complain of 

 don't boris you are such a diplomat that it is really
tiresome said natasha in a mortified voice that trembled slightly 
 she used the word diplomat which was just then much in vogue
among the children in the special sense they attached to it why
does she bother me and she added turning to vera you'll
never understand it because you've never loved anyone you have no
heart you are a madame de genlis and nothing more this nickname 
bestowed on vera by nicholas was considered very stinging and
your greatest pleasure is to be unpleasant to people go and flirt with
berg as much as you please she finished quickly 

 i shall at any rate not run after a young man before visitors 

 well now you've done what you wanted put in nicholas said
unpleasant things to everyone and upset them let's go to the
nursery 

all four like a flock of scared birds got up and left the room 

 the unpleasant things were said to me remarked vera i said
none to anyone 

 madame de genlis madame de genlis shouted laughing voices
through the door 

the handsome vera who produced such an irritating and unpleasant
effect on everyone smiled and evidently unmoved by what had been
said to her went to the looking glass and arranged her hair and scarf 
looking at her own handsome face she seemed to become still colder and
calmer 


in the drawing room the conversation was still going on 

 ah my dear said the countess my life is not all roses
either don't i know that at the rate we are living our means won't
last long it's all the club and his easygoing nature even in the
country do we get any rest theatricals hunting and heaven knows what
besides but don't let's talk about me tell me how you managed
everything i often wonder at you annette how at your age you
can rush off alone in a carriage to moscow to petersburg to those
ministers and great people and know how to deal with them all it's
quite astonishing how did you get things settled i couldn't possibly
do it 

 ah my love answered anna mikhaylovna god grant you never
know what it is to be left a widow without means and with a son you love
to distraction one learns many things then she added with a certain
pride that lawsuit taught me much when i want to see one of those
big people i write a note princess so and so desires an interview
with so and so and then i take a cab and go myself two three or
four times till i get what i want i don't mind what they think of
me 

 well and to whom did you apply about bory asked the countess 
 you see yours is already an officer in the guards while my nicholas
is going as a cadet there's no one to interest himself for him to
whom did you apply 

 to prince vasili he was so kind he at once agreed to everything 
and put the matter before the emperor said princess anna
mikhaylovna enthusiastically quite forgetting all the humiliation she
had endured to gain her end 

 has prince vasili aged much asked the countess i have not
seen him since we acted together at the rumyantsovs theatricals i
expect he has forgotten me he paid me attentions in those days said
the countess with a smile 

 he is just the same as ever replied anna mikhaylovna 
 overflowing with amiability his position has not turned his head
at all he said to me i am sorry i can do so little for you dear
princess i am at your command yes he is a fine fellow and a very
kind relation but nataly you know my love for my son i would do
anything for his happiness and my affairs are in such a bad way that my
position is now a terrible one continued anna mikhaylovna sadly 
dropping her voice my wretched lawsuit takes all i have and makes no
progress would you believe it i have literally not a penny and don't
know how to equip boris she took out her handkerchief and began to
cry i need five hundred rubles and have only one twenty five ruble
note i am in such a state my only hope now is in count cyril
vladimirovich bezukhov if he will not assist his godson you know
he is bory's godfather and allow him something for his maintenance 
all my trouble will have been thrown away i shall not be able to
equip him 

the countess eyes filled with tears and she pondered in silence 

 i often think though perhaps it's a sin said the princess 
 that here lives count cyril vladimirovich bezukhov so rich all
alone that tremendous fortune and what is his life worth it's a
burden to him and bory's life is only just beginning 

 surely he will leave something to boris said the countess 

 heaven only knows my dear these rich grandees are so selfish 
still i will take boris and go to see him at once and i shall speak
to him straight out let people think what they will of me it's
really all the same to me when my son's fate is at stake the
princess rose it's now two o'clock and you dine at four there
will just be time 

and like a practical petersburg lady who knows how to make the most of
time anna mikhaylovna sent someone to call her son and went into the
anteroom with him 

 good by my dear said she to the countess who saw her to the
door and added in a whisper so that her son should not hear wish me
good luck 

 are you going to count cyril vladimirovich my dear said the
count coming out from the dining hall into the anteroom and he added 
 if he is better ask pierre to dine with us he has been to the
house you know and danced with the children be sure to invite him my
dear we will see how taras distinguishes himself today he says count
orlov never gave such a dinner as ours will be 





chapter xv

 my dear boris said princess anna mikhaylovna to her son as
countess rostova's carriage in which they were seated drove over the
straw covered street and turned into the wide courtyard of count cyril
vladimirovich bezukhov's house my dear boris said the
mother drawing her hand from beneath her old mantle and laying
it timidly and tenderly on her son's arm be affectionate and
attentive to him count cyril vladimirovich is your godfather after
all and your future depends on him remember that my dear and be nice
to him as you so well know how to be 

 if only i knew that anything besides humiliation would come of
it answered her son coldly but i have promised and will do it
for your sake 

although the hall porter saw someone's carriage standing at the
entrance after scrutinizing the mother and son who without asking to
be announced had passed straight through the glass porch between the
rows of statues in niches and looking significantly at the lady's old
cloak he asked whether they wanted the count or the princesses and 
hearing that they wished to see the count said his excellency was worse
today and that his excellency was not receiving anyone 

 we may as well go back said the son in french 

 my dear exclaimed his mother imploringly again laying her hand
on his arm as if that touch might soothe or rouse him 

boris said no more but looked inquiringly at his mother without taking
off his cloak 

 my friend said anna mikhaylovna in gentle tones addressing
the hall porter i know count cyril vladimirovich is very ill 
that's why i have come i am a relation i shall not disturb him 
my friend i only need see prince vasili sergeevich he is staying
here is he not please announce me 

the hall porter sullenly pulled a bell that rang upstairs and turned
away 

 princess drubetskaya to see prince vasili sergeevich he called
to a footman dressed in knee breeches shoes and a swallow tail coat 
who ran downstairs and looked over from the halfway landing 

the mother smoothed the folds of her dyed silk dress before a large
venetian mirror in the wall and in her trodden down shoes briskly
ascended the carpeted stairs 

 my dear she said to her son once more stimulating him by a
touch you promised me 

the son lowering his eyes followed her quietly 

they entered the large hall from which one of the doors led to the
apartments assigned to prince vasili 

just as the mother and son having reached the middle of the hall were
about to ask their way of an elderly footman who had sprung up as they
entered the bronze handle of one of the doors turned and prince vasili
came out wearing a velvet coat with a single star on his breast 
as was his custom when at home taking leave of a good looking 
dark haired man this was the celebrated petersburg doctor lorrain 

 then it is certain said the prince 

 prince humanum est errare but replied the doctor 
swallowing his r's and pronouncing the latin words with a french
accent 

 to err is human 

 very well very well 

seeing anna mikhaylovna and her son prince vasili dismissed the
doctor with a bow and approached them silently and with a look of
inquiry the son noticed that an expression of profound sorrow suddenly
clouded his mother's face and he smiled slightly 

 ah prince in what sad circumstances we meet again and how is our
dear invalid said she as though unaware of the cold offensive look
fixed on her 

prince vasili stared at her and at boris questioningly and perplexed 
boris bowed politely prince vasili without acknowledging the bow
turned to anna mikhaylovna answering her query by a movement of the
head and lips indicating very little hope for the patient 

 is it possible exclaimed anna mikhaylovna oh how awful 
it is terrible to think this is my son she added indicating
boris he wanted to thank you himself 

boris bowed again politely 

 believe me prince a mother's heart will never forget what you
have done for us 

 i am glad i was able to do you a service my dear anna
mikhaylovna said prince vasili arranging his lace frill and in
tone and manner here in moscow to anna mikhaylovna whom he had placed
under an obligation assuming an air of much greater importance than he
had done in petersburg at anna scherer's reception 

 try to serve well and show yourself worthy added he addressing
boris with severity i am glad are you here on leave he went
on in his usual tone of indifference 

 i am awaiting orders to join my new regiment your excellency 
replied boris betraying neither annoyance at the prince's brusque
manner nor a desire to enter into conversation but speaking so quietly
and respectfully that the prince gave him a searching glance 

 are you living with your mother 

 i am living at countess rostova's replied boris again
adding your excellency 

 that is with ilya rostov who married nataly shinshina said
anna mikhaylovna 

 i know i know answered prince vasili in his monotonous voice 
 i never could understand how nataly made up her mind to marry that
unlicked bear a perfectly absurd and stupid fellow and a gambler too 
i am told 

 but a very kind man prince said anna mikhaylovna with a
pathetic smile as though she too knew that count rostov deserved this
censure but asked him not to be too hard on the poor old man what
do the doctors say asked the princess after a pause her worn face
again expressing deep sorrow 

 they give little hope replied the prince 

 and i should so like to thank uncle once for all his kindness to me
and boris he is his godson she added her tone suggesting that
this fact ought to give prince vasili much satisfaction 

prince vasili became thoughtful and frowned anna mikhaylovna saw that
he was afraid of finding in her a rival for count bezukhov's fortune 
and hastened to reassure him 

 if it were not for my sincere affection and devotion to uncle 
said she uttering the word with peculiar assurance and unconcern i
know his character noble upright but you see he has no one with
him except the young princesses they are still young she bent
her head and continued in a whisper has he performed his final duty 
prince how priceless are those last moments it can make things no
worse and it is absolutely necessary to prepare him if he is so ill 
we women prince and she smiled tenderly always know how to say
these things i absolutely must see him however painful it may be for
me i am used to suffering 

evidently the prince understood her and also understood as he had done
at anna pavlovna's that it would be difficult to get rid of anna
mikhaylovna 

 would not such a meeting be too trying for him dear anna
mikhaylovna said he let us wait until evening the doctors are
expecting a crisis 

 but one cannot delay prince at such a moment consider that the
welfare of his soul is at stake ah it is awful the duties of a
christian 

a door of one of the inner rooms opened and one of the princesses the
count's niece entered with a cold stern face the length of her
body was strikingly out of proportion to her short legs prince vasili
turned to her 

 well how is he 

 still the same but what can you expect this noise said the
princess looking at anna mikhaylovna as at a stranger 

 ah my dear i hardly knew you said anna mikhaylovna with a
happy smile ambling lightly up to the count's niece i have come 
and am at your service to help you nurse my uncle i imagine what you
have gone through and she sympathetically turned up her eyes 

the princess gave no reply and did not even smile but left the room as
anna mikhaylovna took off her gloves and occupying the position she
had conquered settled down in an armchair inviting prince vasili to
take a seat beside her 

 boris she said to her son with a smile i shall go in to see
the count my uncle but you my dear had better go to pierre meanwhile
and don't forget to give him the rostovs invitation they ask him
to dinner i suppose he won't go she continued turning to the
prince 

 on the contrary replied the prince who had plainly become
depressed i shall be only too glad if you relieve me of that young
man here he is and the count has not once asked for him 

he shrugged his shoulders a footman conducted boris down one flight of
stairs and up another to pierre's rooms 





chapter xvi

pierre after all had not managed to choose a career for himself in
petersburg and had been expelled from there for riotous conduct and
sent to moscow the story told about him at count rostov's was true 
pierre had taken part in tying a policeman to a bear he had now been
for some days in moscow and was staying as usual at his father's
house though he expected that the story of his escapade would be
already known in moscow and that the ladies about his father who were
never favorably disposed toward him would have used it to turn the
count against him he nevertheless on the day of his arrival went to
his father's part of the house entering the drawing room where the
princesses spent most of their time he greeted the ladies two of whom
were sitting at embroidery frames while a third read aloud it was the
eldest who was reading the one who had met anna mikhaylovna the
two younger ones were embroidering both were rosy and pretty and they
differed only in that one had a little mole on her lip which made her
much prettier pierre was received as if he were a corpse or a leper 
the eldest princess paused in her reading and silently stared at him
with frightened eyes the second assumed precisely the same expression 
while the youngest the one with the mole who was of a cheerful and
lively disposition bent over her frame to hide a smile probably evoked
by the amusing scene she foresaw she drew her wool down through the
canvas and scarcely able to refrain from laughing stooped as if trying
to make out the pattern 

 how do you do cousin said pierre you don't recognize
me 

 i recognize you only too well too well 

 how is the count can i see him asked pierre awkwardly as usual 
but unabashed 

 the count is suffering physically and mentally and apparently you
have done your best to increase his mental sufferings 

 can i see the count pierre again asked 

 hm if you wish to kill him to kill him outright you can see
him olga go and see whether uncle's beef tea is ready it is
almost time she added giving pierre to understand that they were
busy and busy making his father comfortable while evidently he 
pierre was only busy causing him annoyance 

olga went out pierre stood looking at the sisters then he bowed and
said then i will go to my rooms you will let me know when i can see
him 

and he left the room followed by the low but ringing laughter of the
sister with the mole 

next day prince vasili had arrived and settled in the count's house 
he sent for pierre and said to him my dear fellow if you are going
to behave here as you did in petersburg you will end very badly that
is all i have to say to you the count is very very ill and you must
not see him at all 

since then pierre had not been disturbed and had spent the whole time in
his rooms upstairs 

when boris appeared at his door pierre was pacing up and down his room 
stopping occasionally at a corner to make menacing gestures at the wall 
as if running a sword through an invisible foe and glaring savagely
over his spectacles and then again resuming his walk muttering
indistinct words shrugging his shoulders and gesticulating 

 england is done for said he scowling and pointing his finger
at someone unseen mr pitt as a traitor to the nation and to the
rights of man is sentenced to but before pierre who at that
moment imagined himself to be napoleon in person and to have just
effected the dangerous crossing of the straits of dover and captured
london could pronounce pitt's sentence he saw a well built and
handsome young officer entering his room pierre paused he had left
moscow when boris was a boy of fourteen and had quite forgotten him 
but in his usual impulsive and hearty way he took boris by the hand
with a friendly smile 

 do you remember me asked boris quietly with a pleasant smile 
 i have come with my mother to see the count but it seems he is not
well 

 yes it seems he is ill people are always disturbing him 
answered pierre trying to remember who this young man was 

boris felt that pierre did not recognize him but did not consider
it necessary to introduce himself and without experiencing the least
embarrassment looked pierre straight in the face 

 count rostov asks you to come to dinner today said he after a
considerable pause which made pierre feel uncomfortable 

 ah count rostov exclaimed pierre joyfully then you are his
son ilya only fancy i didn't know you at first do you remember
how we went to the sparrow hills with madame jacquot it's such an
age 

 you are mistaken said boris deliberately with a bold and
slightly sarcastic smile i am boris son of princess anna
mikhaylovna drubetskaya rostov the father is ilya and his son is
nicholas i never knew any madame jacquot 

pierre shook his head and arms as if attacked by mosquitoes or bees 

 oh dear what am i thinking about i've mixed everything up one
has so many relatives in moscow so you are boris of course well now
we know where we are and what do you think of the boulogne expedition 
the english will come off badly you know if napoleon gets across the
channel i think the expedition is quite feasible if only villeneuve
doesn't make a mess of things 

boris knew nothing about the boulogne expedition he did not read the
papers and it was the first time he had heard villeneuve's name 

 we here in moscow are more occupied with dinner parties and scandal
than with politics said he in his quiet ironical tone i know
nothing about it and have not thought about it moscow is chiefly busy
with gossip he continued just now they are talking about you and
your father 

pierre smiled in his good natured way as if afraid for his companion's
sake that the latter might say something he would afterwards regret 
but boris spoke distinctly clearly and dryly looking straight into
pierre's eyes 

 moscow has nothing else to do but gossip boris went on 
 everybody is wondering to whom the count will leave his fortune 
though he may perhaps outlive us all as i sincerely hope he will 

 yes it is all very horrid interrupted pierre very horrid 

pierre was still afraid that this officer might inadvertently say
something disconcerting to himself 

 and it must seem to you said boris flushing slightly but not
changing his tone or attitude it must seem to you that everyone is
trying to get something out of the rich man 

 so it does thought pierre 

 but i just wish to say to avoid misunderstandings that you are
quite mistaken if you reckon me or my mother among such people we are
very poor but for my own part at any rate for the very reason that
your father is rich i don't regard myself as a relation of his and
neither i nor my mother would ever ask or take anything from him 

for a long time pierre could not understand but when he did he jumped
up from the sofa seized boris under the elbow in his quick clumsy
way and blushing far more than boris began to speak with a feeling
of mingled shame and vexation 

 well this is strange do you suppose i who could think i know
very well 

but boris again interrupted him 

 i am glad i have spoken out fully perhaps you did not like it you
must excuse me said he putting pierre at ease instead of being put
at ease by him but i hope i have not offended you i always make it
a rule to speak out well what answer am i to take will you come to
dinner at the rostovs 

and boris having apparently relieved himself of an onerous duty and
extricated himself from an awkward situation and placed another in it 
became quite pleasant again 

 no but i say said pierre calming down you are a wonderful
fellow what you have just said is good very good of course you
don't know me we have not met for such a long time not since we
were children you might think that i i understand quite understand 
i could not have done it myself i should not have had the courage but
it's splendid i am very glad to have made your acquaintance it's
queer he added after a pause that you should have suspected
me he began to laugh well what of it i hope we'll get better
acquainted and he pressed boris hand do you know i have not
once been in to see the count he has not sent for me i am sorry for
him as a man but what can one do 

 and so you think napoleon will manage to get an army across asked
boris with a smile 

pierre saw that boris wished to change the subject and being of the
same mind he began explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the
boulogne expedition 

a footman came in to summon boris the princess was going pierre in
order to make boris better acquaintance promised to come to dinner 
and warmly pressing his hand looked affectionately over his spectacles
into boris eyes after he had gone pierre continued pacing up and
down the room for a long time no longer piercing an imaginary foe with
his imaginary sword but smiling at the remembrance of that pleasant 
intelligent and resolute young man 

as often happens in early youth especially to one who leads a lonely
life he felt an unaccountable tenderness for this young man and made up
his mind that they would be friends 

prince vasili saw the princess off she held a handkerchief to her eyes
and her face was tearful 

 it is dreadful dreadful she was saying but cost me what it
may i shall do my duty i will come and spend the night he must not be
left like this every moment is precious i can't think why his nieces
put it off perhaps god will help me to find a way to prepare him 
adieu prince may god support you 

 adieu ma bonne answered prince vasili turning away from her 

 oh he is in a dreadful state said the mother to her son when
they were in the carriage he hardly recognizes anybody 

 i don't understand mamma what is his attitude to pierre 
asked the son 

 the will will show that my dear our fate also depends on it 

 but why do you expect that he will leave us anything 

 ah my dear he is so rich and we are so poor 

 well that is hardly a sufficient reason mamma 

 oh heaven how ill he is exclaimed the mother 





chapter xvii

after anna mikhaylovna had driven off with her son to visit count cyril
vladimirovich bezukhov countess rostova sat for a long time all
alone applying her handkerchief to her eyes at last she rang 

 what is the matter with you my dear she said crossly to the maid
who kept her waiting some minutes don't you wish to serve me then
i'll find you another place 

the countess was upset by her friend's sorrow and humiliating poverty 
and was therefore out of sorts a state of mind which with her always
found expression in calling her maid my dear and speaking to her
with exaggerated politeness 

 i am very sorry ma'am answered the maid 

 ask the count to come to me 

the count came waddling in to see his wife with a rather guilty look as
usual 

 well little countess what a saute of game au madere we are to
have my dear i tasted it the thousand rubles i paid for taras were
not ill spent he is worth it 

he sat down by his wife his elbows on his knees and his hands ruffling
his gray hair 

 what are your commands little countess 

 you see my dear what's that mess she said pointing to his
waistcoat it's the saute most likely she added with a smile 
 well you see count i want some money 

her face became sad 

 oh little countess and the count began bustling to get out
his pocketbook 

 i want a great deal count i want five hundred rubles and taking
out her cambric handkerchief she began wiping her husband's waistcoat 

 yes immediately immediately hey who's there he called out
in a tone only used by persons who are certain that those they call will
rush to obey the summons send dmitri to me 

dmitri a man of good family who had been brought up in the count's
house and now managed all his affairs stepped softly into the room 

 this is what i want my dear fellow said the count to the
deferential young man who had entered bring me he reflected
a moment yes bring me seven hundred rubles yes but mind don't
bring me such tattered and dirty notes as last time but nice clean ones
for the countess 

 yes dmitri clean ones please said the countess sighing
deeply 

 when would you like them your excellency asked dmitri allow
me to inform you but don't be uneasy he added noticing that
the count was beginning to breathe heavily and quickly which was always
a sign of approaching anger i was forgetting do you wish it
brought at once 

 yes yes just so bring it give it to the countess 

 what a treasure that dmitri is added the count with a smile when
the young man had departed there is never any impossible with
him that's a thing i hate everything is possible 

 ah money count money how much sorrow it causes in the world 
said the countess but i am in great need of this sum 

 you my little countess are a notorious spendthrift said the
count and having kissed his wife's hand he went back to his study 

when anna mikhaylovna returned from count bezukhov's the money all
in clean notes was lying ready under a handkerchief on the countess 
little table and anna mikhaylovna noticed that something was agitating
her 

 well my dear asked the countess 

 oh what a terrible state he is in one would not know him he is so
ill i was only there a few moments and hardly said a word 

 annette for heaven's sake don't refuse me the countess
began with a blush that looked very strange on her thin dignified 
elderly face and she took the money from under the handkerchief 

anna mikhaylovna instantly guessed her intention and stooped to be
ready to embrace the countess at the appropriate moment 

 this is for boris from me for his outfit 

anna mikhaylovna was already embracing her and weeping the countess
wept too they wept because they were friends and because they were
kindhearted and because they friends from childhood had to think
about such a base thing as money and because their youth was over 
but those tears were pleasant to them both 





chapter xviii

countess rostova with her daughters and a large number of guests was
already seated in the drawing room the count took the gentlemen into
his study and showed them his choice collection of turkish pipes from
time to time he went out to ask hasn't she come yet they
were expecting marya dmitrievna akhrosimova known in society as le
terrible dragon a lady distinguished not for wealth or rank but for
common sense and frank plainness of speech marya dmitrievna was known
to the imperial family as well as to all moscow and petersburg and both
cities wondered at her laughed privately at her rudenesses and told
good stories about her while none the less all without exception
respected and feared her 

in the count's room which was full of tobacco smoke they talked
of the war that had been announced in a manifesto and about the
recruiting none of them had yet seen the manifesto but they all knew
it had appeared the count sat on the sofa between two guests who were
smoking and talking he neither smoked nor talked but bending his head
first to one side and then to the other watched the smokers with evident
pleasure and listened to the conversation of his two neighbors whom he
egged on against each other 

one of them was a sallow clean shaven civilian with a thin and wrinkled
face already growing old though he was dressed like a most fashionable
young man he sat with his legs up on the sofa as if quite at home and 
having stuck an amber mouthpiece far into his mouth was inhaling the
smoke spasmodically and screwing up his eyes this was an old bachelor 
shinshin a cousin of the countess a man with a sharp tongue 
as they said in moscow society he seemed to be condescending to
his companion the latter a fresh rosy officer of the guards 
irreproachably washed brushed and buttoned held his pipe in the
middle of his mouth and with red lips gently inhaled the smoke letting
it escape from his handsome mouth in rings this was lieutenant berg an
officer in the semenov regiment with whom boris was to travel to join
the army and about whom natasha had teased her elder sister vera 
speaking of berg as her intended the count sat between them and
listened attentively his favorite occupation when not playing boston a
card game he was very fond of was that of listener especially when he
succeeded in setting two loquacious talkers at one another 

 well then old chap mon tres honorable alphonse karlovich 
said shinshin laughing ironically and mixing the most ordinary russian
expressions with the choicest french phrases which was a peculiarity
of his speech vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l'etat 
you want to make something out of your company 

 you expect to make an income out of the government 

 no peter nikolaevich i only want to show that in the cavalry
the advantages are far less than in the infantry just consider my own
position now peter nikolaevich 

berg always spoke quietly politely and with great precision his
conversation always related entirely to himself he would remain calm
and silent when the talk related to any topic that had no direct bearing
on himself he could remain silent for hours without being at all put
out of countenance himself or making others uncomfortable but as
soon as the conversation concerned himself he would begin to talk
circumstantially and with evident satisfaction 

 consider my position peter nikolaevich were i in the cavalry i
should get not more than two hundred rubles every four months even
with the rank of lieutenant but as it is i receive two hundred and
thirty said he looking at shinshin and the count with a joyful 
pleasant smile as if it were obvious to him that his success must
always be the chief desire of everyone else 

 besides that peter nikolaevich by exchanging into the guards
i shall be in a more prominent position continued berg and
vacancies occur much more frequently in the foot guards then just think
what can be done with two hundred and thirty rubles i even manage to
put a little aside and to send something to my father he went on 
emitting a smoke ring 

 la balance y est a german knows how to skin a flint as the
proverb says remarked shinshin moving his pipe to the other side
of his mouth and winking at the count 

 so that squares matters 

the count burst out laughing the other guests seeing that shinshin
was talking came up to listen berg oblivious of irony or indifference 
continued to explain how by exchanging into the guards he had already
gained a step on his old comrades of the cadet corps how in wartime
the company commander might get killed and he as senior in the company 
might easily succeed to the post how popular he was with everyone in
the regiment and how satisfied his father was with him berg evidently
enjoyed narrating all this and did not seem to suspect that others 
too might have their own interests but all he said was so prettily
sedate and the naivete of his youthful egotism was so obvious that
he disarmed his hearers 

 well my boy you'll get along wherever you go foot or
horse that i'll warrant said shinshin patting him on the
shoulder and taking his feet off the sofa 

berg smiled joyously the count followed by his guests went into the
drawing room 

it was just the moment before a big dinner when the assembled guests 
expecting the summons to zakuska avoid engaging in any long
conversation but think it necessary to move about and talk in order
to show that they are not at all impatient for their food the host and
hostess look toward the door and now and then glance at one another 
and the visitors try to guess from these glances who or what they are
waiting for some important relation who has not yet arrived or a dish
that is not yet ready 

 hors d'oeuvres 

pierre had come just at dinnertime and was sitting awkwardly in the
middle of the drawing room on the first chair he had come across 
blocking the way for everyone the countess tried to make him talk 
but he went on naively looking around through his spectacles as if in
search of somebody and answered all her questions in monosyllables he
was in the way and was the only one who did not notice the fact most of
the guests knowing of the affair with the bear looked with curiosity
at this big stout quiet man wondering how such a clumsy modest
fellow could have played such a prank on a policeman 

 you have only lately arrived the countess asked him 

 oui madame replied he looking around him 

 you have not yet seen my husband 

 non madame he smiled quite inappropriately 

 you have been in paris recently i believe i suppose it's very
interesting 

 very interesting 

the countess exchanged glances with anna mikhaylovna the latter
understood that she was being asked to entertain this young man and
sitting down beside him she began to speak about his father but he
answered her as he had the countess only in monosyllables the other
guests were all conversing with one another the razumovskis it
was charming you are very kind countess apraksina was heard
on all sides the countess rose and went into the ballroom 

 marya dmitrievna came her voice from there 

 herself came the answer in a rough voice and marya dmitrievna
entered the room 

all the unmarried ladies and even the married ones except the very
oldest rose marya dmitrievna paused at the door tall and stout 
holding high her fifty year old head with its gray curls she stood
surveying the guests and leisurely arranged her wide sleeves as if
rolling them up marya dmitrievna always spoke in russian 

 health and happiness to her whose name day we are keeping and to her
children she said in her loud full toned voice which drowned all
others well you old sinner she went on turning to the count
who was kissing her hand you're feeling dull in moscow i daresay 
nowhere to hunt with your dogs but what is to be done old man just
see how these nestlings are growing up and she pointed to the girls 
 you must look for husbands for them whether you like it or not 

 well said she how's my cossack marya dmitrievna
always called natasha a cossack and she stroked the child's arm as
she came up fearless and gay to kiss her hand i know she's a scamp
of a girl but i like her 

she took a pair of pear shaped ruby earrings from her huge reticule and 
having given them to the rosy natasha who beamed with the pleasure
of her saint's day fete turned away at once and addressed herself to
pierre 

 eh eh friend come here a bit said she assuming a soft high
tone of voice come here my friend and she ominously tucked
up her sleeves still higher pierre approached looking at her in a
childlike way through his spectacles 

 come nearer come nearer friend i used to be the only one to tell
your father the truth when he was in favor and in your case it's my
evident duty she paused all were silent expectant of what was to
follow for this was clearly only a prelude 

 a fine lad my word a fine lad his father lies on his deathbed
and he amuses himself setting a policeman astride a bear for shame 
sir for shame it would be better if you went to the war 

she turned away and gave her hand to the count who could hardly keep
from laughing 

 well i suppose it is time we were at table said marya
dmitrievna 

the count went in first with marya dmitrievna the countess followed
on the arm of a colonel of hussars a man of importance to them because
nicholas was to go with him to the regiment then came anna mikhaylovna
with shinshin berg gave his arm to vera the smiling julie karagina
went in with nicholas after them other couples followed filling the
whole dining hall and last of all the children tutors and governesses
followed singly the footmen began moving about chairs scraped the
band struck up in the gallery and the guests settled down in their
places then the strains of the count's household band were replaced
by the clatter of knives and forks the voices of visitors and the
soft steps of the footmen at one end of the table sat the countess with
marya dmitrievna on her right and anna mikhaylovna on her left the
other lady visitors were farther down at the other end sat the count 
with the hussar colonel on his left and shinshin and the other male
visitors on his right midway down the long table on one side sat the
grown up young people vera beside berg and pierre beside boris and
on the other side the children tutors and governesses from behind
the crystal decanters and fruit vases the count kept glancing at his
wife and her tall cap with its light blue ribbons and busily filled
his neighbors glasses not neglecting his own the countess in turn 
without omitting her duties as hostess threw significant glances from
behind the pineapples at her husband whose face and bald head seemed
by their redness to contrast more than usual with his gray hair at the
ladies end an even chatter of voices was heard all the time at the
men's end the voices sounded louder and louder especially that of the
colonel of hussars who growing more and more flushed ate and drank so
much that the count held him up as a pattern to the other guests berg
with tender smiles was saying to vera that love is not an earthly but
a heavenly feeling boris was telling his new friend pierre who the
guests were and exchanging glances with natasha who was sitting
opposite pierre spoke little but examined the new faces and ate a
great deal of the two soups he chose turtle with savory patties and
went on to the game without omitting a single dish or one of the wines 
these latter the butler thrust mysteriously forward wrapped in a
napkin from behind the next man's shoulders and whispered dry
madeira hungarian or rhine wine as the case might
be of the four crystal glasses engraved with the count's monogram
that stood before his plate pierre held out one at random and drank
with enjoyment gazing with ever increasing amiability at the other
guests natasha who sat opposite was looking at boris as girls of
thirteen look at the boy they are in love with and have just kissed for
the first time sometimes that same look fell on pierre and that funny
lively little girl's look made him inclined to laugh without knowing
why 

nicholas sat at some distance from sonya beside julie karagina to
whom he was again talking with the same involuntary smile sonya wore
a company smile but was evidently tormented by jealousy now she turned
pale now blushed and strained every nerve to overhear what nicholas
and julie were saying to one another the governess kept looking round
uneasily as if preparing to resent any slight that might be put upon the
children the german tutor was trying to remember all the dishes wines 
and kinds of dessert in order to send a full description of the dinner
to his people in germany and he felt greatly offended when the butler
with a bottle wrapped in a napkin passed him by he frowned trying to
appear as if he did not want any of that wine but was mortified because
no one would understand that it was not to quench his thirst or from
greediness that he wanted it but simply from a conscientious desire for
knowledge 





chapter xix

at the men's end of the table the talk grew more and more animated 
the colonel told them that the declaration of war had already appeared
in petersburg and that a copy which he had himself seen had that day
been forwarded by courier to the commander in chief 

 and why the deuce are we going to fight bonaparte remarked
shinshin he has stopped austria's cackle and i fear it will be
our turn next 

the colonel was a stout tall plethoric german evidently devoted to
the service and patriotically russian he resented shinshin's remark 

 it is for the reasson my goot sir said he speaking with a
german accent for the reasson zat ze emperor knows zat he
declares in ze manifessto zat he cannot fiew wiz indifference ze danger
vreatening russia and zat ze safety and dignity of ze empire as vell
as ze sanctity of its alliances he spoke this last word with
particular emphasis as if in it lay the gist of the matter 

then with the unerring official memory that characterized him he
repeated from the opening words of the manifesto 

 and the wish which constitutes the emperor's sole and absolute
aim to establish peace in europe on firm foundations has now decided
him to despatch part of the army abroad and to create a new condition
for the attainment of that purpose 

 zat my dear sir is vy he concluded drinking a tumbler of
wine with dignity and looking to the count for approval 

 connaissez vous le proverbe jerome jerome do not roam but
turn spindles at home said shinshin puckering his brows and
smiling cela nous convient a merveille 2 suvorov now he knew
what he was about yet they beat him a plate couture 3 and where
are we to find suvorovs now je vous demande un peu 4 said he 
continually changing from french to russian 

 do you know the proverb 

 2 that suits us down to the ground 

 3 hollow 

 4 i just ask you that 

 ve must vight to the last tr r op of our plood said the colonel 
thumping the table and ve must tie for our emperor and zen all vill
pe vell and ve must discuss it as little as po o ossible he dwelt
particularly on the word possible as po o ossible he ended 
again turning to the count zat is how ve old hussars look at it and
zere's an end of it and how do you a young man and a young hussar 
how do you judge of it he added addressing nicholas who when he
heard that the war was being discussed had turned from his partner with
eyes and ears intent on the colonel 

 i am quite of your opinion replied nicholas flaming up turning
his plate round and moving his wineglasses about with as much decision
and desperation as though he were at that moment facing some great
danger i am convinced that we russians must die or conquer he
concluded conscious as were others after the words were uttered
that his remarks were too enthusiastic and emphatic for the occasion and
were therefore awkward 

 what you said just now was splendid said his partner julie 

sonya trembled all over and blushed to her ears and behind them and
down to her neck and shoulders while nicholas was speaking 

pierre listened to the colonel's speech and nodded approvingly 

 that's fine said he 

 the young man's a real hussar shouted the colonel again
thumping the table 

 what are you making such a noise about over there marya
dmitrievna's deep voice suddenly inquired from the other end of the
table what are you thumping the table for she demanded of the
hussar and why are you exciting yourself do you think the french
are here 

 i am speaking ze truce replied the hussar with a smile 

 it's all about the war the count shouted down the table you
know my son's going marya dmitrievna my son is going 

 i have four sons in the army but still i don't fret it is all
in god's hands you may die in your bed or god may spare you in a
battle replied marya dmitrievna's deep voice which easily
carried the whole length of the table 

 that's true 

once more the conversations concentrated the ladies at the one end
and the men's at the other 

 you won't ask natasha's little brother was saying i know
you won't ask 

 i will replied natasha 

her face suddenly flushed with reckless and joyous resolution she half
rose by a glance inviting pierre who sat opposite to listen to what
was coming and turning to her mother 

 mamma rang out the clear contralto notes of her childish voice 
audible the whole length of the table 

 what is it asked the countess startled but seeing by her
daughter's face that it was only mischief she shook a finger at her
sternly with a threatening and forbidding movement of her head 

the conversation was hushed 

 mamma what sweets are we going to have and natasha's voice
sounded still more firm and resolute 

the countess tried to frown but could not marya dmitrievna shook her
fat finger 

 cossack she said threateningly 

most of the guests uncertain how to regard this sally looked at the
elders 

 you had better take care said the countess 

 mamma what sweets are we going to have natasha again cried
boldly with saucy gaiety confident that her prank would be taken in
good part 

sonya and fat little petya doubled up with laughter 

 you see i have asked whispered natasha to her little brother
and to pierre glancing at him again 

 ice pudding but you won't get any said marya dmitrievna 

natasha saw there was nothing to be afraid of and so she braved even
marya dmitrievna 

 marya dmitrievna what kind of ice pudding i don't like ice
cream 

 carrot ices 

 no what kind marya dmitrievna what kind she almost screamed 
 i want to know 

marya dmitrievna and the countess burst out laughing and all the
guests joined in everyone laughed not at marya dmitrievna's answer
but at the incredible boldness and smartness of this little girl who had
dared to treat marya dmitrievna in this fashion 

natasha only desisted when she had been told that there would be
pineapple ice before the ices champagne was served round the band
again struck up the count and countess kissed and the guests leaving
their seats went up to congratulate the countess and reached
across the table to clink glasses with the count with the children and
with one another again the footmen rushed about chairs scraped and
in the same order in which they had entered but with redder faces the
guests returned to the drawing room and to the count's study 





chapter xx

the card tables were drawn out sets made up for boston and the
count's visitors settled themselves some in the two drawing rooms 
some in the sitting room some in the library 

the count holding his cards fanwise kept himself with difficulty from
dropping into his usual after dinner nap and laughed at everything 
the young people at the countess instigation gathered round the
clavichord and harp julie by general request played first after she
had played a little air with variations on the harp she joined the
other young ladies in begging natasha and nicholas who were noted for
their musical talent to sing something natasha who was treated as
though she were grown up was evidently very proud of this but at the
same time felt shy 

 what shall we sing she said 

 the brook suggested nicholas 

 well then let's be quick boris come here said natasha 
 but where is sonya 

she looked round and seeing that her friend was not in the room ran to
look for her 

running into sonya's room and not finding her there natasha ran to
the nursery but sonya was not there either natasha concluded that
she must be on the chest in the passage the chest in the passage was
the place of mourning for the younger female generation in the rostov
household and there in fact was sonya lying face downward on nurse's
dirty feather bed on the top of the chest crumpling her gauzy pink
dress under her hiding her face with her slender fingers and sobbing
so convulsively that her bare little shoulders shook natasha's
face which had been so radiantly happy all that saint's day suddenly
changed her eyes became fixed and then a shiver passed down her broad
neck and the corners of her mouth drooped 

 sonya what is it what is the matter oo oo oo and
natasha's large mouth widened making her look quite ugly and she
began to wail like a baby without knowing why except that sonya was
crying sonya tried to lift her head to answer but could not and
hid her face still deeper in the bed natasha wept sitting on the
blue striped feather bed and hugging her friend with an effort sonya
sat up and began wiping her eyes and explaining 

 nicholas is going away in a week's time his papers have
come he told me himself but still i should not cry and she
showed a paper she held in her hand with the verses nicholas had
written still i should not cry but you can't no one can
understand what a soul he has 

and she began to cry again because he had such a noble soul 

 it's all very well for you i am not envious i love you and
boris also she went on gaining a little strength he is nice 
there are no difficulties in your way but nicholas is my cousin 
one would have to the metropolitan himself and even then it
can't be done and besides if she tells mamma sonya looked upon
the countess as her mother and called her so that i am spoiling
nicholas career and am heartless and ungrateful while truly god
is my witness and she made the sign of the cross i love her so
much and all of you only vera and what for what have i done
to her i am so grateful to you that i would willingly sacrifice
everything only i have nothing 

sonya could not continue and again hid her face in her hands and in
the feather bed natasha began consoling her but her face showed that
she understood all the gravity of her friend's trouble 

 sonya she suddenly exclaimed as if she had guessed the true
reason of her friend's sorrow i'm sure vera has said something
to you since dinner hasn't she 

 yes these verses nicholas wrote himself and i copied some others 
and she found them on my table and said she'd show them to mamma and
that i was ungrateful and that mamma would never allow him to marry
me but that he'll marry julie you see how he's been with her all
day natasha what have i done to deserve it 

and again she began to sob more bitterly than before natasha lifted
her up hugged her and smiling through her tears began comforting
her 

 sonya don't believe her darling don't believe her do you
remember how we and nicholas all three of us talked in the sitting
room after supper why we settled how everything was to be i don't
quite remember how but don't you remember that it could all be
arranged and how nice it all was there's uncle shinshin's brother
has married his first cousin and we are only second cousins you know 
and boris says it is quite possible you know i have told him all about
it and he is so clever and so good said natasha don't
you cry sonya dear love darling sonya and she kissed her and
laughed vera's spiteful never mind her and all will come right
and she won't say anything to mamma nicholas will tell her himself 
and he doesn't care at all for julie 

natasha kissed her on the hair 

sonya sat up the little kitten brightened its eyes shone and it
seemed ready to lift its tail jump down on its soft paws and begin
playing with the ball of worsted as a kitten should 

 do you think so really truly she said quickly smoothing her
frock and hair 

 really truly answered natasha pushing in a crisp lock that had
strayed from under her friend's plaits 

both laughed 

 well let's go and sing the brook 

 come along 

 do you know that fat pierre who sat opposite me is so funny said
natasha stopping suddenly i feel so happy 

and she set off at a run along the passage 

sonya shaking off some down which clung to her and tucking away the
verses in the bosom of her dress close to her bony little chest ran
after natasha down the passage into the sitting room with flushed face
and light joyous steps at the visitors request the young people
sang the quartette the brook with which everyone was delighted 
then nicholas sang a song he had just learned 

 at nighttime in the moon's fair glow
 how sweet as fancies wander free 
 to feel that in this world there's one
 who still is thinking but of thee 

 that while her fingers touch the harp
 wafting sweet music o'er the lea 
 it is for thee thus swells her heart 
 sighing its message out to thee 

 a day or two then bliss unspoilt 
 but oh till then i cannot live 

he had not finished the last verse before the young people began to
get ready to dance in the large hall and the sound of the feet and the
coughing of the musicians were heard from the gallery 


pierre was sitting in the drawing room where shinshin had engaged him 
as a man recently returned from abroad in a political conversation in
which several others joined but which bored pierre when the music began
natasha came in and walking straight up to pierre said laughing and
blushing 

 mamma told me to ask you to join the dancers 

 i am afraid of mixing the figures pierre replied but if you
will be my teacher and lowering his big arm he offered it to the
slender little girl 

while the couples were arranging themselves and the musicians tuning up 
pierre sat down with his little partner natasha was perfectly happy 
she was dancing with a grown up man who had been abroad she was
sitting in a conspicuous place and talking to him like a grown up lady 
she had a fan in her hand that one of the ladies had given her to hold 
assuming quite the pose of a society woman heaven knows when and where
she had learned it she talked with her partner fanning herself and
smiling over the fan 

 dear dear just look at her exclaimed the countess as she
crossed the ballroom pointing to natasha 

natasha blushed and laughed 

 well really mamma why should you what is there to be surprised
at 


in the midst of the third ecossaise there was a clatter of chairs being
pushed back in the sitting room where the count and marya dmitrievna
had been playing cards with the majority of the more distinguished and
older visitors they now stretching themselves after sitting so long 
and replacing their purses and pocketbooks entered the ballroom first
came marya dmitrievna and the count both with merry countenances the
count with playful ceremony somewhat in ballet style offered his
bent arm to marya dmitrievna he drew himself up a smile of debonair
gallantry lit up his face and as soon as the last figure of the
ecossaise was ended he clapped his hands to the musicians and shouted
up to their gallery addressing the first violin 

 semen do you know the daniel cooper 

this was the count's favorite dance which he had danced in his youth 
 strictly speaking daniel cooper was one figure of the anglaise 

 look at papa shouted natasha to the whole company and quite
forgetting that she was dancing with a grown up partner she bent her
curly head to her knees and made the whole room ring with her laughter 

and indeed everybody in the room looked with a smile of pleasure at the
jovial old gentleman who standing beside his tall and stout partner 
marya dmitrievna curved his arms beat time straightened his
shoulders turned out his toes tapped gently with his foot and by
a smile that broadened his round face more and more prepared the
onlookers for what was to follow as soon as the provocatively gay
strains of daniel cooper somewhat resembling those of a merry peasant
dance began to sound all the doorways of the ballroom were suddenly
filled by the domestic serfs the men on one side and the women on
the other who with beaming faces had come to see their master making
merry 

 just look at the master a regular eagle he is loudly remarked
the nurse as she stood in one of the doorways 

the count danced well and knew it but his partner could not and did not
want to dance well her enormous figure stood erect her powerful arms
hanging down she had handed her reticule to the countess and only her
stern but handsome face really joined in the dance what was expressed
by the whole of the count's plump figure in marya dmitrievna found
expression only in her more and more beaming face and quivering nose 
but if the count getting more and more into the swing of it charmed
the spectators by the unexpectedness of his adroit maneuvers and
the agility with which he capered about on his light feet marya
dmitrievna produced no less impression by slight exertions the least
effort to move her shoulders or bend her arms when turning or stamp
her foot which everyone appreciated in view of her size and habitual
severity the dance grew livelier and livelier the other couples could
not attract a moment's attention to their own evolutions and did not
even try to do so all were watching the count and marya dmitrievna 
natasha kept pulling everyone by sleeve or dress urging them to
 look at papa though as it was they never took their eyes off the
couple in the intervals of the dance the count breathing deeply waved
and shouted to the musicians to play faster faster faster and faster 
lightly more lightly and yet more lightly whirled the count flying
round marya dmitrievna now on his toes now on his heels until 
turning his partner round to her seat he executed the final pas 
raising his soft foot backwards bowing his perspiring head smiling
and making a wide sweep with his arm amid a thunder of applause and
laughter led by natasha both partners stood still breathing heavily
and wiping their faces with their cambric handkerchiefs 

 that's how we used to dance in our time ma chere said the
count 

 that was a daniel cooper exclaimed marya dmitrievna tucking up
her sleeves and puffing heavily 





chapter xxi

while in the rostovs ballroom the sixth anglaise was being danced 
to a tune in which the weary musicians blundered and while tired
footmen and cooks were getting the supper count bezukhov had a
sixth stroke the doctors pronounced recovery impossible after a mute
confession communion was administered to the dying man preparations
made for the sacrament of unction and in his house there was the bustle
and thrill of suspense usual at such moments outside the house beyond
the gates a group of undertakers who hid whenever a carriage drove up 
waited in expectation of an important order for an expensive funeral 
the military governor of moscow who had been assiduous in sending
aides de camp to inquire after the count's health came himself
that evening to bid a last farewell to the celebrated grandee of
catherine's court count bezukhov 

the magnificent reception room was crowded everyone stood up
respectfully when the military governor having stayed about half an
hour alone with the dying man passed out slightly acknowledging their
bows and trying to escape as quickly as possible from the glances fixed
on him by the doctors clergy and relatives of the family prince
vasili who had grown thinner and paler during the last few days 
escorted him to the door repeating something to him several times in
low tones 

when the military governor had gone prince vasili sat down all alone
on a chair in the ballroom crossing one leg high over the other 
leaning his elbow on his knee and covering his face with his hand after
sitting so for a while he rose and looking about him with frightened
eyes went with unusually hurried steps down the long corridor leading
to the back of the house to the room of the eldest princess 

those who were in the dimly lit reception room spoke in nervous
whispers and whenever anyone went into or came from the dying man's
room grew silent and gazed with eyes full of curiosity or expectancy at
his door which creaked slightly when opened 

 the limits of human life are fixed and may not be
o'erpassed said an old priest to a lady who had taken a seat
beside him and was listening naively to his words 

 i wonder is it not too late to administer unction asked the
lady adding the priest's clerical title as if she had no opinion of
her own on the subject 

 ah madam it is a great sacrament replied the priest passing
his hand over the thin grizzled strands of hair combed back across his
bald head 

 who was that the military governor himself was being asked at
the other side of the room how young looking he is 

 yes and he is over sixty i hear the count no longer recognizes
anyone they wished to administer the sacrament of unction 

 i knew someone who received that sacrament seven times 

the second princess had just come from the sickroom with her eyes red
from weeping and sat down beside dr lorrain who was sitting in a
graceful pose under a portrait of catherine leaning his elbow on a
table 

 beautiful said the doctor in answer to a remark about the
weather the weather is beautiful princess and besides in moscow
one feels as if one were in the country 

 yes indeed replied the princess with a sigh so he may have
something to drink 

lorrain considered 

 has he taken his medicine 

 yes 

the doctor glanced at his watch 

 take a glass of boiled water and put a pinch of cream of tartar 
and he indicated with his delicate fingers what he meant by a pinch 

 dere has neffer been a gase a german doctor was saying to an
aide de camp dat one liffs after de sird stroke 

 and what a well preserved man he was remarked the aide de camp 
 and who will inherit his wealth he added in a whisper 

 it von't go begging replied the german with a smile 

everyone again looked toward the door which creaked as the second
princess went in with the drink she had prepared according to
lorrain's instructions the german doctor went up to lorrain 

 do you think he can last till morning asked the german 
addressing lorrain in french which he pronounced badly 

lorrain pursing up his lips waved a severely negative finger before
his nose 

 tonight not later said he in a low voice and he moved away
with a decorous smile of self satisfaction at being able clearly to
understand and state the patient's condition 

meanwhile prince vasili had opened the door into the princess room 

in this room it was almost dark only two tiny lamps were burning before
the icons and there was a pleasant scent of flowers and burnt pastilles 
the room was crowded with small pieces of furniture whatnots 
cupboards and little tables the quilt of a high white feather bed was
just visible behind a screen a small dog began to bark 

 ah is it you cousin 

she rose and smoothed her hair which was as usual so extremely smooth
that it seemed to be made of one piece with her head and covered with
varnish 

 has anything happened she asked i am so terrified 

 no there is no change i only came to have a talk about business 
catiche muttered the prince seating himself wearily on the chair
she had just vacated you have made the place warm i must say he
remarked well sit down let's have a talk 

 catherine 

 i thought perhaps something had happened she said with her
unchanging stonily severe expression and sitting down opposite the
prince she prepared to listen 

 i wished to get a nap mon cousin but i can't 

 well my dear said prince vasili taking her hand and bending it
downwards as was his habit 

it was plain that this well referred to much that they both
understood without naming 

the princess who had a straight rigid body abnormally long for her
legs looked directly at prince vasili with no sign of emotion in her
prominent gray eyes then she shook her head and glanced up at the icons
with a sigh this might have been taken as an expression of sorrow
and devotion or of weariness and hope of resting before long prince
vasili understood it as an expression of weariness 

 and i he said do you think it is easier for me i am as worn
out as a post horse but still i must have a talk with you catiche a
very serious talk 

prince vasili said no more and his cheeks began to twitch nervously 
now on one side now on the other giving his face an unpleasant
expression which was never to be seen on it in a drawing room his eyes
too seemed strange at one moment they looked impudently sly and at the
next glanced round in alarm 

the princess holding her little dog on her lap with her thin bony
hands looked attentively into prince vasili's eyes evidently
resolved not to be the first to break silence if she had to wait till
morning 

 well you see my dear princess and cousin catherine semenovna 
continued prince vasili returning to his theme apparently not
without an inner struggle at such a moment as this one must think
of everything one must think of the future of all of you i love you
all like children of my own as you know 

the princess continued to look at him without moving and with the same
dull expression 

 and then of course my family has also to be considered prince
vasili went on testily pushing away a little table without looking at
her you know catiche that we you three sisters mamontov and
my wife are the count's only direct heirs i know i know how hard
it is for you to talk or think of such matters it is no easier for
me but my dear i am getting on for sixty and must be prepared for
anything do you know i have sent for pierre the count pointing to
his portrait definitely demanded that he should be called 

prince vasili looked questioningly at the princess but could not make
out whether she was considering what he had just said or whether she was
simply looking at him 

 there is one thing i constantly pray god to grant mon cousin she
replied and it is that he would be merciful to him and would allow
his noble soul peacefully to leave this 

 yes yes of course interrupted prince vasili impatiently 
rubbing his bald head and angrily pulling back toward him the little
table that he had pushed away but in short the fact is you
know yourself that last winter the count made a will by which he left
all his property not to us his direct heirs but to pierre 

 he has made wills enough quietly remarked the princess but he
cannot leave the estate to pierre pierre is illegitimate 

 but my dear said prince vasili suddenly clutching the little
table and becoming more animated and talking more rapidly what if
a letter has been written to the emperor in which the count asks for
pierre's legitimation do you understand that in consideration of the
count's services his request would be granted 

the princess smiled as people do who think they know more about the
subject under discussion than those they are talking with 

 i can tell you more continued prince vasili seizing her hand 
 that letter was written though it was not sent and the emperor knew
of it the only question is has it been destroyed or not if not then
as soon as all is over and prince vasili sighed to intimate what he
meant by the words all is over and the count's papers are opened 
the will and letter will be delivered to the emperor and the petition
will certainly be granted pierre will get everything as the legitimate
son 

 and our share asked the princess smiling ironically as if
anything might happen only not that 

 but my poor catiche it is as clear as daylight he will then be the
legal heir to everything and you won't get anything you must know 
my dear whether the will and letter were written and whether they have
been destroyed or not and if they have somehow been overlooked you
ought to know where they are and must find them because 

 what next the princess interrupted smiling sardonically and not
changing the expression of her eyes i am a woman and you think we
are all stupid but i know this an illegitimate son cannot inherit 
un batard she added as if supposing that this translation of the
word would effectively prove to prince vasili the invalidity of his
contention 

 a bastard 

 well really catiche can't you understand you are so
intelligent how is it you don't see that if the count has written a
letter to the emperor begging him to recognize pierre as legitimate it
follows that pierre will not be pierre but will become count bezukhov 
and will then inherit everything under the will and if the will and
letter are not destroyed then you will have nothing but the consolation
of having been dutiful et tout ce qui s'ensuit that's certain 

 and all that follows therefrom 

 i know the will was made but i also know that it is invalid 
and you mon cousin seem to consider me a perfect fool said the
princess with the expression women assume when they suppose they are
saying something witty and stinging 

 my dear princess catherine semenovna began prince vasili
impatiently i came here not to wrangle with you but to talk about
your interests as with a kinswoman a good kind true relation and i
tell you for the tenth time that if the letter to the emperor and the
will in pierre's favor are among the count's papers then my dear
girl you and your sisters are not heiresses if you don't believe me 
then believe an expert i have just been talking to dmitri onufrich 
 the family solicitor and he says the same 

at this a sudden change evidently took place in the princess ideas 
her thin lips grew white though her eyes did not change and her voice
when she began to speak passed through such transitions as she herself
evidently did not expect 

 that would be a fine thing said she i never wanted anything
and i don't now 

she pushed the little dog off her lap and smoothed her dress 

 and this is gratitude this is recognition for those who have
sacrificed everything for his sake she cried it's splendid 
fine i don't want anything prince 

 yes but you are not the only one there are your sisters 
replied prince vasili 

but the princess did not listen to him 

 yes i knew it long ago but had forgotten i knew that i could expect
nothing but meanness deceit envy intrigue and ingratitude the
blackest ingratitude in this house 

 do you or do you not know where that will is insisted prince
vasili his cheeks twitching more than ever 

 yes i was a fool i still believed in people loved them and
sacrificed myself but only the base the vile succeed i know who has
been intriguing 

the princess wished to rise but the prince held her by the hand she
had the air of one who has suddenly lost faith in the whole human race 
she gave her companion an angry glance 

 there is still time my dear you must remember catiche that it was
all done casually in a moment of anger of illness and was afterwards
forgotten our duty my dear is to rectify his mistake to ease his
last moments by not letting him commit this injustice and not to let
him die feeling that he is rendering unhappy those who 

 who sacrificed everything for him chimed in the princess who
would again have risen had not the prince still held her fast though
he never could appreciate it no mon cousin she added with a sigh 
 i shall always remember that in this world one must expect no reward 
that in this world there is neither honor nor justice in this world one
has to be cunning and cruel 

 now come come be reasonable i know your excellent heart 

 no i have a wicked heart 

 i know your heart repeated the prince i value your friendship
and wish you to have as good an opinion of me don't upset yourself 
and let us talk sensibly while there is still time be it a day or be it
but an hour tell me all you know about the will and above all where
it is you must know we will take it at once and show it to the
count he has no doubt forgotten it and will wish to destroy it 
you understand that my sole desire is conscientiously to carry out his
wishes that is my only reason for being here i came simply to help him
and you 

 now i see it all i know who has been intriguing i know cried
the princess 

 that's not the point my dear 

 it's that protege of yours that sweet princess drubetskaya 
that anna mikhaylovna whom i would not take for a housemaid the
infamous vile woman 

 do not let us lose any time 

 ah don't talk to me last winter she wheedled herself in here and
told the count such vile disgraceful things about us especially about
sophie i can't repeat them that it made the count quite ill and he
would not see us for a whole fortnight i know it was then he wrote this
vile infamous paper but i thought the thing was invalid 

 we've got to it at last why did you not tell me about it
sooner 

 it's in the inlaid portfolio that he keeps under his pillow 
said the princess ignoring his question now i know yes if i have
a sin a great sin it is hatred of that vile woman almost shrieked
the princess now quite changed and what does she come worming
herself in here for but i will give her a piece of my mind the time
will come 





chapter xxii

while these conversations were going on in the reception room and the
princess room a carriage containing pierre who had been sent for 
and anna mikhaylovna who found it necessary to accompany him was
driving into the court of count bezukhov's house as the wheels
rolled softly over the straw beneath the windows anna mikhaylovna 
having turned with words of comfort to her companion realized that
he was asleep in his corner and woke him up rousing himself pierre
followed anna mikhaylovna out of the carriage and only then began
to think of the interview with his dying father which awaited him he
noticed that they had not come to the front entrance but to the back
door while he was getting down from the carriage steps two men who
looked like tradespeople ran hurriedly from the entrance and hid in the
shadow of the wall pausing for a moment pierre noticed several other
men of the same kind hiding in the shadow of the house on both sides 
but neither anna mikhaylovna nor the footman nor the coachman who
could not help seeing these people took any notice of them it seems
to be all right pierre concluded and followed anna mikhaylovna 
she hurriedly ascended the narrow dimly lit stone staircase calling to
pierre who was lagging behind to follow though he did not see why it
was necessary for him to go to the count at all still less why he had
to go by the back stairs yet judging by anna mikhaylovna's air
of assurance and haste pierre concluded that it was all absolutely
necessary halfway up the stairs they were almost knocked over by
some men who carrying pails came running downstairs their boots
clattering these men pressed close to the wall to let pierre and anna
mikhaylovna pass and did not evince the least surprise at seeing them
there 

 is this the way to the princesses apartments asked anna
mikhaylovna of one of them 

 yes replied a footman in a bold loud voice as if anything were
now permissible the door to the left ma'am 

 perhaps the count did not ask for me said pierre when he reached
the landing i'd better go to my own room 

anna mikhaylovna paused and waited for him to come up 

 ah my friend she said touching his arm as she had done her
son's when speaking to him that afternoon believe me i suffer no
less than you do but be a man 

 but really hadn't i better go away he asked looking kindly at
her over his spectacles 

 ah my dear friend forget the wrongs that may have been done you 
think that he is your father perhaps in the agony of death she
sighed i have loved you like a son from the first trust yourself to
me pierre i shall not forget your interests 

pierre did not understand a word but the conviction that all this had
to be grew stronger and he meekly followed anna mikhaylovna who was
already opening a door 

this door led into a back anteroom an old man a servant of the
princesses sat in a corner knitting a stocking pierre had never been
in this part of the house and did not even know of the existence of
these rooms anna mikhaylovna addressing a maid who was hurrying past
with a decanter on a tray as my dear and my sweet asked
about the princess health and then led pierre along a stone passage 
the first door on the left led into the princesses apartments the
maid with the decanter in her haste had not closed the door everything
in the house was done in haste at that time and pierre and anna
mikhaylovna in passing instinctively glanced into the room where
prince vasili and the eldest princess were sitting close together
talking seeing them pass prince vasili drew back with obvious
impatience while the princess jumped up and with a gesture of
desperation slammed the door with all her might 

this action was so unlike her usual composure and the fear depicted on
prince vasili's face so out of keeping with his dignity that pierre
stopped and glanced inquiringly over his spectacles at his guide anna
mikhaylovna evinced no surprise she only smiled faintly and sighed as
if to say that this was no more than she had expected 

 be a man my friend i will look after your interests said she in
reply to his look and went still faster along the passage 

pierre could not make out what it was all about and still less what
 watching over his interests meant but he decided that all these
things had to be from the passage they went into a large dimly
lit room adjoining the count's reception room it was one of those
sumptuous but cold apartments known to pierre only from the front
approach but even in this room there now stood an empty bath and water
had been spilled on the carpet they were met by a deacon with a censer
and by a servant who passed out on tiptoe without heeding them they
went into the reception room familiar to pierre with two italian
windows opening into the conservatory with its large bust and full
length portrait of catherine the great the same people were still
sitting here in almost the same positions as before whispering to one
another all became silent and turned to look at the pale tear worn anna
mikhaylovna as she entered and at the big stout figure of pierre who 
hanging his head meekly followed her 

anna mikhaylovna's face expressed a consciousness that the decisive
moment had arrived with the air of a practical petersburg lady she now 
keeping pierre close beside her entered the room even more boldly than
that afternoon she felt that as she brought with her the person the
dying man wished to see her own admission was assured casting a rapid
glance at all those in the room and noticing the count's confessor
there she glided up to him with a sort of amble not exactly bowing yet
seeming to grow suddenly smaller and respectfully received the blessing
first of one and then of another priest 

 god be thanked that you are in time said she to one of the
priests all we relatives have been in such anxiety this young
man is the count's son she added more softly what a terrible
moment 

having said this she went up to the doctor 

 dear doctor said she this young man is the count's son is
there any hope 

the doctor cast a rapid glance upwards and silently shrugged his
shoulders anna mikhaylovna with just the same movement raised her
shoulders and eyes almost closing the latter sighed and moved away
from the doctor to pierre to him in a particularly respectful and
tenderly sad voice she said 

 trust in his mercy and pointing out a small sofa for him to sit
and wait for her she went silently toward the door that everyone was
watching and it creaked very slightly as she disappeared behind it 

pierre having made up his mind to obey his monitress implicitly moved
toward the sofa she had indicated as soon as anna mikhaylovna had
disappeared he noticed that the eyes of all in the room turned to him
with something more than curiosity and sympathy he noticed that they
whispered to one another casting significant looks at him with a kind
of awe and even servility a deference such as he had never before
received was shown him a strange lady the one who had been talking to
the priests rose and offered him her seat an aide de camp picked up
and returned a glove pierre had dropped the doctors became respectfully
silent as he passed by and moved to make way for him at first pierre
wished to take another seat so as not to trouble the lady and also to
pick up the glove himself and to pass round the doctors who were not
even in his way but all at once he felt that this would not do and
that tonight he was a person obliged to perform some sort of awful
rite which everyone expected of him and that he was therefore bound
to accept their services he took the glove in silence from the
aide de camp and sat down in the lady's chair placing his huge hands
symmetrically on his knees in the naive attitude of an egyptian statue 
and decided in his own mind that all was as it should be and that in
order not to lose his head and do foolish things he must not act on his
own ideas tonight but must yield himself up entirely to the will of
those who were guiding him 

not two minutes had passed before prince vasili with head erect
majestically entered the room he was wearing his long coat with three
stars on his breast he seemed to have grown thinner since the morning 
his eyes seemed larger than usual when he glanced round and noticed
pierre he went up to him took his hand a thing he never used to do 
and drew it downwards as if wishing to ascertain whether it was firmly
fixed on 

 courage courage my friend he has asked to see you that is
well and he turned to go 

but pierre thought it necessary to ask how is and hesitated 
not knowing whether it would be proper to call the dying man the
count yet ashamed to call him father 

 he had another stroke about half an hour ago courage my
friend 

pierre's mind was in such a confused state that the word stroke 
suggested to him a blow from something he looked at prince vasili
in perplexity and only later grasped that a stroke was an attack of
illness prince vasili said something to lorrain in passing and went
through the door on tiptoe he could not walk well on tiptoe and his
whole body jerked at each step the eldest princess followed him and
the priests and deacons and some servants also went in at the door 
through that door was heard a noise of things being moved about and
at last anna mikhaylovna still with the same expression pale but
resolute in the discharge of duty ran out and touching pierre lightly
on the arm said 

 the divine mercy is inexhaustible unction is about to be
administered come 

pierre went in at the door stepping on the soft carpet and noticed
that the strange lady the aide de camp and some of the servants all
followed him in as if there were now no further need for permission to
enter that room 





chapter xxiii

pierre well knew this large room divided by columns and an arch its
walls hung round with persian carpets the part of the room behind the
columns with a high silk curtained mahogany bedstead on one side and
on the other an immense case containing icons was brightly illuminated
with red light like a russian church during evening service under
the gleaming icons stood a long invalid chair and in that chair
on snowy white smooth pillows evidently freshly changed pierre
saw covered to the waist by a bright green quilt the familiar 
majestic figure of his father count bezukhov with that gray mane of
hair above his broad forehead which reminded one of a lion and the deep
characteristically noble wrinkles of his handsome ruddy face he lay
just under the icons his large thick hands outside the quilt into the
right hand which was lying palm downwards a wax taper had been thrust
between forefinger and thumb and an old servant bending over from
behind the chair held it in position by the chair stood the priests 
their long hair falling over their magnificent glittering vestments 
with lighted tapers in their hands slowly and solemnly conducting the
service a little behind them stood the two younger princesses holding
handkerchiefs to their eyes and just in front of them their eldest
sister catiche with a vicious and determined look steadily fixed on
the icons as though declaring to all that she could not answer for
herself should she glance round anna mikhaylovna with a meek 
sorrowful and all forgiving expression on her face stood by the door
near the strange lady prince vasili in front of the door near the
invalid chair a wax taper in his left hand was leaning his left arm on
the carved back of a velvet chair he had turned round for the purpose 
and was crossing himself with his right hand turning his eyes upward
each time he touched his forehead his face wore a calm look of piety
and resignation to the will of god if you do not understand these
sentiments he seemed to be saying so much the worse for you 

behind him stood the aide de camp the doctors and the menservants 
the men and women had separated as in church all were silently crossing
themselves and the reading of the church service the subdued chanting
of deep bass voices and in the intervals sighs and the shuffling of
feet were the only sounds that could be heard anna mikhaylovna with
an air of importance that showed that she felt she quite knew what she
was about went across the room to where pierre was standing and gave
him a taper he lit it and distracted by observing those around him 
began crossing himself with the hand that held the taper 

sophie the rosy laughter loving youngest princess with the mole 
watched him she smiled hid her face in her handkerchief and remained
with it hidden for awhile then looking up and seeing pierre she
again began to laugh she evidently felt unable to look at him
without laughing but could not resist looking at him so to be out of
temptation she slipped quietly behind one of the columns in the midst
of the service the voices of the priests suddenly ceased they whispered
to one another and the old servant who was holding the count's hand
got up and said something to the ladies anna mikhaylovna stepped
forward and stooping over the dying man beckoned to lorrain from
behind her back the french doctor held no taper he was leaning
against one of the columns in a respectful attitude implying that he 
a foreigner in spite of all differences of faith understood the full
importance of the rite now being performed and even approved of it he
now approached the sick man with the noiseless step of one in full vigor
of life with his delicate white fingers raised from the green quilt the
hand that was free and turning sideways felt the pulse and reflected
a moment the sick man was given something to drink there was a
stir around him then the people resumed their places and the service
continued during this interval pierre noticed that prince vasili
left the chair on which he had been leaning and with an air
which intimated that he knew what he was about and if others did not
understand him it was so much the worse for them did not go up to the
dying man but passed by him joined the eldest princess and moved
with her to the side of the room where stood the high bedstead with its
silken hangings on leaving the bed both prince vasili and the princess
passed out by a back door but returned to their places one after the
other before the service was concluded pierre paid no more attention
to this occurrence than to the rest of what went on having made up his
mind once for all that what he saw happening around him that evening was
in some way essential 

the chanting of the service ceased and the voice of the priest was
heard respectfully congratulating the dying man on having received the
sacrament the dying man lay as lifeless and immovable as before around
him everyone began to stir steps were audible and whispers among which
anna mikhaylovna's was the most distinct 

pierre heard her say 

 certainly he must be moved onto the bed here it will be
impossible 

the sick man was so surrounded by doctors princesses and servants
that pierre could no longer see the reddish yellow face with its gray
mane which though he saw other faces as well he had not lost sight
of for a single moment during the whole service he judged by the
cautious movements of those who crowded round the invalid chair that
they had lifted the dying man and were moving him 

 catch hold of my arm or you'll drop him he heard one of the
servants say in a frightened whisper catch hold from underneath 
here exclaimed different voices and the heavy breathing of the
bearers and the shuffling of their feet grew more hurried as if the
weight they were carrying were too much for them 

as the bearers among whom was anna mikhaylovna passed the young man
he caught a momentary glimpse between their heads and backs of the dying
man's high stout uncovered chest and powerful shoulders raised by
those who were holding him under the armpits and of his gray curly 
leonine head this head with its remarkably broad brow and cheekbones 
its handsome sensual mouth and its cold majestic expression was
not disfigured by the approach of death it was the same as pierre
remembered it three months before when the count had sent him to
petersburg but now this head was swaying helplessly with the uneven
movements of the bearers and the cold listless gaze fixed itself upon
nothing 

after a few minutes bustle beside the high bedstead those who had
carried the sick man dispersed anna mikhaylovna touched pierre's
hand and said come pierre went with her to the bed on which the
sick man had been laid in a stately pose in keeping with the ceremony
just completed he lay with his head propped high on the pillows his
hands were symmetrically placed on the green silk quilt the palms
downward when pierre came up the count was gazing straight at him but
with a look the significance of which could not be understood by mortal
man either this look meant nothing but that as long as one has eyes
they must look somewhere or it meant too much pierre hesitated 
not knowing what to do and glanced inquiringly at his guide anna
mikhaylovna made a hurried sign with her eyes glancing at the sick
man's hand and moving her lips as if to send it a kiss pierre 
carefully stretching his neck so as not to touch the quilt followed her
suggestion and pressed his lips to the large boned fleshy hand neither
the hand nor a single muscle of the count's face stirred once more
pierre looked questioningly at anna mikhaylovna to see what he was to
do next anna mikhaylovna with her eyes indicated a chair that stood
beside the bed pierre obediently sat down his eyes asking if he were
doing right anna mikhaylovna nodded approvingly again pierre fell
into the naively symmetrical pose of an egyptian statue evidently
distressed that his stout and clumsy body took up so much room and doing
his utmost to look as small as possible he looked at the count who
still gazed at the spot where pierre's face had been before he sat
down anna mikhaylovna indicated by her attitude her consciousness of
the pathetic importance of these last moments of meeting between the
father and son this lasted about two minutes which to pierre seemed an
hour suddenly the broad muscles and lines of the count's face began
to twitch the twitching increased the handsome mouth was drawn to one
side only now did pierre realize how near death his father was and
from that distorted mouth issued an indistinct hoarse sound anna
mikhaylovna looked attentively at the sick man's eyes trying to
guess what he wanted she pointed first to pierre then to some drink 
then named prince vasili in an inquiring whisper then pointed to the
quilt the eyes and face of the sick man showed impatience he made an
effort to look at the servant who stood constantly at the head of the
bed 

 wants to turn on the other side whispered the servant and got up
to turn the count's heavy body toward the wall 

pierre rose to help him 

while the count was being turned over one of his arms fell back
helplessly and he made a fruitless effort to pull it forward whether he
noticed the look of terror with which pierre regarded that lifeless arm 
or whether some other thought flitted across his dying brain at any
rate he glanced at the refractory arm at pierre's terror stricken
face and again at the arm and on his face a feeble piteous smile
appeared quite out of keeping with his features that seemed to deride
his own helplessness at sight of this smile pierre felt an unexpected
quivering in his breast and a tickling in his nose and tears dimmed his
eyes the sick man was turned on to his side with his face to the wall 
he sighed 

 he is dozing said anna mikhaylovna observing that one of the
princesses was coming to take her turn at watching let us go 

pierre went out 





chapter xxiv

there was now no one in the reception room except prince vasili and the
eldest princess who were sitting under the portrait of catherine the
great and talking eagerly as soon as they saw pierre and his companion
they became silent and pierre thought he saw the princess hide
something as she whispered 

 i can't bear the sight of that woman 

 catiche has had tea served in the small drawing room said prince
vasili to anna mikhaylovna go and take something my poor anna
mikhaylovna or you will not hold out 

to pierre he said nothing merely giving his arm a sympathetic squeeze
below the shoulder pierre went with anna mikhaylovna into the small
drawing room 

 there is nothing so refreshing after a sleepless night as a cup
of this delicious russian tea lorrain was saying with an air of
restrained animation as he stood sipping tea from a delicate chinese
handleless cup before a table on which tea and a cold supper were laid
in the small circular room around the table all who were at count
bezukhov's house that night had gathered to fortify themselves 
pierre well remembered this small circular drawing room with its mirrors
and little tables during balls given at the house pierre who did not
know how to dance had liked sitting in this room to watch the ladies
who as they passed through in their ball dresses with diamonds and
pearls on their bare shoulders looked at themselves in the brilliantly
lighted mirrors which repeated their reflections several times now
this same room was dimly lighted by two candles on one small table tea
things and supper dishes stood in disorder and in the middle of the
night a motley throng of people sat there not merrymaking but somberly
whispering and betraying by every word and movement that they none
of them forgot what was happening and what was about to happen in the
bedroom pierre did not eat anything though he would very much have
liked to he looked inquiringly at his monitress and saw that she was
again going on tiptoe to the reception room where they had left prince
vasili and the eldest princess pierre concluded that this also was
essential and after a short interval followed her anna mikhaylovna
was standing beside the princess and they were both speaking in excited
whispers 

 permit me princess to know what is necessary and what is not
necessary said the younger of the two speakers evidently in the
same state of excitement as when she had slammed the door of her room 

 but my dear princess answered anna mikhaylovna blandly but
impressively blocking the way to the bedroom and preventing the other
from passing won't this be too much for poor uncle at a moment
when he needs repose worldly conversation at a moment when his soul is
already prepared 

prince vasili was seated in an easy chair in his familiar attitude 
with one leg crossed high above the other his cheeks which were so
flabby that they looked heavier below were twitching violently but
he wore the air of a man little concerned in what the two ladies were
saying 

 come my dear anna mikhaylovna let catiche do as she pleases you
know how fond the count is of her 

 i don't even know what is in this paper said the younger of
the two ladies addressing prince vasili and pointing to an inlaid
portfolio she held in her hand all i know is that his real will is
in his writing table and this is a paper he has forgotten 

she tried to pass anna mikhaylovna but the latter sprang so as to bar
her path 

 i know my dear kind princess said anna mikhaylovna seizing
the portfolio so firmly that it was plain she would not let go easily 
 dear princess i beg and implore you have some pity on him je vous
en conjure 

the princess did not reply their efforts in the struggle for the
portfolio were the only sounds audible but it was evident that if
the princess did speak her words would not be flattering to anna
mikhaylovna though the latter held on tenaciously her voice lost none
of its honeyed firmness and softness 

 pierre my dear come here i think he will not be out of place in a
family consultation is it not so prince 

 why don't you speak cousin suddenly shrieked the princess so
loud that those in the drawing room heard her and were startled why
do you remain silent when heaven knows who permits herself to
interfere making a scene on the very threshold of a dying man's room 
intriguer she hissed viciously and tugged with all her might at the
portfolio 

but anna mikhaylovna went forward a step or two to keep her hold on the
portfolio and changed her grip 

prince vasili rose oh said he with reproach and surprise 
 this is absurd come let go i tell you 

the princess let go 

 and you too 

but anna mikhaylovna did not obey him 

 let go i tell you i will take the responsibility i myself will go
and ask him i does that satisfy you 

 but prince said anna mikhaylovna after such a solemn
sacrament allow him a moment's peace here pierre tell them your
opinion said she turning to the young man who having come quite
close was gazing with astonishment at the angry face of the princess
which had lost all dignity and at the twitching cheeks of prince
vasili 

 remember that you will answer for the consequences said prince
vasili severely you don't know what you are doing 

 vile woman shouted the princess darting unexpectedly at anna
mikhaylovna and snatching the portfolio from her 

prince vasili bent his head and spread out his hands 

at this moment that terrible door which pierre had watched so long
and which had always opened so quietly burst noisily open and banged
against the wall and the second of the three sisters rushed out
wringing her hands 

 what are you doing she cried vehemently he is dying and you
leave me alone with him 

her sister dropped the portfolio anna mikhaylovna stooping quickly
caught up the object of contention and ran into the bedroom the eldest
princess and prince vasili recovering themselves followed her a few
minutes later the eldest sister came out with a pale hard face again
biting her underlip at sight of pierre her expression showed an
irrepressible hatred 

 yes now you may be glad said she this is what you have
been waiting for and bursting into tears she hid her face in her
handkerchief and rushed from the room 

prince vasili came next he staggered to the sofa on which pierre was
sitting and dropped onto it covering his face with his hand pierre
noticed that he was pale and that his jaw quivered and shook as if in an
ague 

 ah my friend said he taking pierre by the elbow and there was
in his voice a sincerity and weakness pierre had never observed in it
before how often we sin how much we deceive and all for what i am
near sixty dear friend i too all will end in death all death is
awful and he burst into tears 

anna mikhaylovna came out last she approached pierre with slow quiet
steps 

 pierre she said 

pierre gave her an inquiring look she kissed the young man on his
forehead wetting him with her tears then after a pause she said 

 he is no more 

pierre looked at her over his spectacles 

 come i will go with you try to weep nothing gives such relief as
tears 

she led him into the dark drawing room and pierre was glad no one could
see his face anna mikhaylovna left him and when she returned he was
fast asleep with his head on his arm 

in the morning anna mikhaylovna said to pierre 

 yes my dear this is a great loss for us all not to speak of you 
but god will support you you are young and are now i hope in command
of an immense fortune the will has not yet been opened i know you
well enough to be sure that this will not turn your head but it imposes
duties on you and you must be a man 

pierre was silent 

 perhaps later on i may tell you my dear boy that if i had not been
there god only knows what would have happened you know uncle promised
me only the day before yesterday not to forget boris but he had
no time i hope my dear friend you will carry out your father's
wish 

pierre understood nothing of all this and coloring shyly looked in
silence at princess anna mikhaylovna after her talk with pierre anna
mikhaylovna returned to the rostovs and went to bed on waking in
the morning she told the rostovs and all her acquaintances the details
of count bezukhov's death she said the count had died as she would
herself wish to die that his end was not only touching but edifying as
to the last meeting between father and son it was so touching that she
could not think of it without tears and did not know which had behaved
better during those awful moments the father who so remembered
everything and everybody at last and had spoken such pathetic words to
the son or pierre whom it had been pitiful to see so stricken was he
with grief though he tried hard to hide it in order not to sadden his
dying father it is painful but it does one good it uplifts the
soul to see such men as the old count and his worthy son said she 
of the behavior of the eldest princess and prince vasili she spoke
disapprovingly but in whispers and as a great secret 





chapter xxv

at bald hills prince nicholas andreevich bolkonski's estate the
arrival of young prince andrew and his wife was daily expected but
this expectation did not upset the regular routine of life in the old
prince's household general in chief prince nicholas andreevich
 nicknamed in society the king of prussia ever since the emperor
paul had exiled him to his country estate had lived there continuously
with his daughter princess mary and her companion mademoiselle
bourienne though in the new reign he was free to return to the
capitals he still continued to live in the country remarking that
anyone who wanted to see him could come the hundred miles from moscow to
bald hills while he himself needed no one and nothing he used to
say that there are only two sources of human vice idleness and
superstition and only two virtues activity and intelligence he
himself undertook his daughter's education and to develop these two
cardinal virtues in her gave her lessons in algebra and geometry
till she was twenty and arranged her life so that her whole time was
occupied he was himself always occupied writing his memoirs solving
problems in higher mathematics turning snuffboxes on a lathe working
in the garden or superintending the building that was always going on
at his estate as regularity is a prime condition facilitating activity 
regularity in his household was carried to the highest point of
exactitude he always came to table under precisely the same conditions 
and not only at the same hour but at the same minute with those about
him from his daughter to his serfs the prince was sharp and invariably
exacting so that without being a hardhearted man he inspired such fear
and respect as few hardhearted men would have aroused although he was
in retirement and had now no influence in political affairs every high
official appointed to the province in which the prince's estate lay
considered it his duty to visit him and waited in the lofty antechamber
just as the architect gardener or princess mary did till the prince
appeared punctually to the appointed hour everyone sitting in this
antechamber experienced the same feeling of respect and even fear when
the enormously high study door opened and showed the figure of a rather
small old man with powdered wig small withered hands and bushy gray
eyebrows which when he frowned sometimes hid the gleam of his shrewd 
youthfully glittering eyes 

on the morning of the day that the young couple were to arrive princess
mary entered the antechamber as usual at the time appointed for the
morning greeting crossing herself with trepidation and repeating a
silent prayer every morning she came in like that and every morning
prayed that the daily interview might pass off well 

an old powdered manservant who was sitting in the antechamber rose
quietly and said in a whisper please walk in 

through the door came the regular hum of a lathe the princess timidly
opened the door which moved noiselessly and easily she paused at the
entrance the prince was working at the lathe and after glancing round
continued his work 

the enormous study was full of things evidently in constant use 
the large table covered with books and plans the tall glass fronted
bookcases with keys in the locks the high desk for writing while
standing up on which lay an open exercise book and the lathe with
tools laid ready to hand and shavings scattered around all indicated
continuous varied and orderly activity the motion of the small foot
shod in a tartar boot embroidered with silver and the firm pressure
of the lean sinewy hand showed that the prince still possessed the
tenacious endurance and vigor of hardy old age after a few more turns
of the lathe he removed his foot from the pedal wiped his chisel 
dropped it into a leather pouch attached to the lathe and approaching
the table summoned his daughter he never gave his children a blessing 
so he simply held out his bristly cheek as yet unshaven and regarding
her tenderly and attentively said severely 

 quite well all right then sit down he took the exercise book
containing lessons in geometry written by himself and drew up a chair
with his foot 

 for tomorrow said he quickly finding the page and making a
scratch from one paragraph to another with his hard nail 

the princess bent over the exercise book on the table 

 wait a bit here's a letter for you said the old man suddenly 
taking a letter addressed in a woman's hand from a bag hanging above
the table onto which he threw it 

at the sight of the letter red patches showed themselves on the
princess face she took it quickly and bent her head over it 

 from heloise asked the prince with a cold smile that showed his
still sound yellowish teeth 

 yes it's from julie replied the princess with a timid glance
and a timid smile 

 i'll let two more letters pass but the third i'll read said
the prince sternly i'm afraid you write much nonsense i'll read
the third 

 read this if you like father said the princess blushing still
more and holding out the letter 

 the third i said the third cried the prince abruptly pushing
the letter away and leaning his elbows on the table he drew toward him
the exercise book containing geometrical figures 

 well madam he began stooping over the book close to his
daughter and placing an arm on the back of the chair on which she sat 
so that she felt herself surrounded on all sides by the acrid scent of
old age and tobacco which she had known so long now madam these
triangles are equal please note that the angle abc 

the princess looked in a scared way at her father's eyes glittering
close to her the red patches on her face came and went and it was
plain that she understood nothing and was so frightened that her
fear would prevent her understanding any of her father's further
explanations however clear they might be whether it was the
teacher's fault or the pupil's this same thing happened every day 
the princess eyes grew dim she could not see and could not hear
anything but was only conscious of her stern father's withered face
close to her of his breath and the smell of him and could think only
of how to get away quickly to her own room to make out the problem in
peace the old man was beside himself moved the chair on which he was
sitting noisily backward and forward made efforts to control himself
and not become vehement but almost always did become vehement scolded 
and sometimes flung the exercise book away 

the princess gave a wrong answer 

 well now isn't she a fool shouted the prince pushing the book
aside and turning sharply away but rising immediately he paced up and
down lightly touched his daughter's hair and sat down again 

he drew up his chair and continued to explain 

 this won't do princess it won't do said he when princess
mary having taken and closed the exercise book with the next day's
lesson was about to leave mathematics are most important madam 
i don't want to have you like our silly ladies get used to it and
you'll like it and he patted her cheek it will drive all the
nonsense out of your head 

she turned to go but he stopped her with a gesture and took an uncut
book from the high desk 

 here is some sort of key to the mysteries that your heloise has
sent you religious i don't interfere with anyone's belief i
have looked at it take it well now go go 

he patted her on the shoulder and himself closed the door after her 

princess mary went back to her room with the sad scared expression that
rarely left her and which made her plain sickly face yet plainer she
sat down at her writing table on which stood miniature portraits and
which was littered with books and papers the princess was as untidy as
her father was tidy she put down the geometry book and eagerly broke
the seal of her letter it was from her most intimate friend from
childhood that same julie karagina who had been at the rostovs 
name day party 

julie wrote in french 

dear and precious friend how terrible and frightful a thing is
separation though i tell myself that half my life and half my happiness
are wrapped up in you and that in spite of the distance separating us
our hearts are united by indissoluble bonds my heart rebels against
fate and in spite of the pleasures and distractions around me i cannot
overcome a certain secret sorrow that has been in my heart ever since
we parted why are we not together as we were last summer in your big
study on the blue sofa the confidential sofa why cannot i now as
three months ago draw fresh moral strength from your look so gentle 
calm and penetrating a look i loved so well and seem to see before me
as i write 

having read thus far princess mary sighed and glanced into the mirror
which stood on her right it reflected a weak ungraceful figure and
thin face her eyes always sad now looked with particular hopelessness
at her reflection in the glass she flatters me thought the
princess turning away and continuing to read but julie did not flatter
her friend the princess eyes large deep and luminous it seemed
as if at times there radiated from them shafts of warm light were
so beautiful that very often in spite of the plainness of her face
they gave her an attraction more powerful than that of beauty but the
princess never saw the beautiful expression of her own eyes the look
they had when she was not thinking of herself as with everyone her
face assumed a forced unnatural expression as soon as she looked in a
glass she went on reading 

all moscow talks of nothing but war one of my two brothers is already
abroad the other is with the guards who are starting on their march
to the frontier our dear emperor has left petersburg and it is thought
intends to expose his precious person to the chances of war god grant
that the corsican monster who is destroying the peace of europe may
be overthrown by the angel whom it has pleased the almighty in his
goodness to give us as sovereign to say nothing of my brothers this
war has deprived me of one of the associations nearest my heart i mean
young nicholas rostov who with his enthusiasm could not bear to remain
inactive and has left the university to join the army i will confess to
you dear mary that in spite of his extreme youth his departure for
the army was a great grief to me this young man of whom i spoke to you
last summer is so noble minded and full of that real youthfulness which
one seldom finds nowadays among our old men of twenty and particularly 
he is so frank and has so much heart he is so pure and poetic that
my relations with him transient as they were have been one of the
sweetest comforts to my poor heart which has already suffered so much 
someday i will tell you about our parting and all that was said then 
that is still too fresh ah dear friend you are happy not to know
these poignant joys and sorrows you are fortunate for the latter are
generally the stronger i know very well that count nicholas is too
young ever to be more to me than a friend but this sweet friendship 
this poetic and pure intimacy were what my heart needed but enough of
this the chief news about which all moscow gossips is the death of
old count bezukhov and his inheritance fancy the three princesses
have received very little prince vasili nothing and it is monsieur
pierre who has inherited all the property and has besides been
recognized as legitimate so that he is now count bezukhov and
possessor of the finest fortune in russia it is rumored that prince
vasili played a very despicable part in this affair and that he
returned to petersburg quite crestfallen 

i confess i understand very little about all these matters of wills and
inheritance but i do know that since this young man whom we all used
to know as plain monsieur pierre has become count bezukhov and the
owner of one of the largest fortunes in russia i am much amused to
watch the change in the tone and manners of the mammas burdened by
marriageable daughters and of the young ladies themselves toward
him though between you and me he always seemed to me a poor sort
of fellow as for the past two years people have amused themselves
by finding husbands for me most of whom i don't even know the
matchmaking chronicles of moscow now speak of me as the future countess
bezukhova but you will understand that i have no desire for the post 
a propos of marriages do you know that a while ago that universal
auntie anna mikhaylovna told me under the seal of strict secrecy of
a plan of marriage for you it is neither more nor less than with prince
vasili's son anatole whom they wish to reform by marrying him to
someone rich and distinguee and it is on you that his relations 
choice has fallen i don't know what you will think of it but
i consider it my duty to let you know of it he is said to be very
handsome and a terrible scapegrace that is all i have been able to find
out about him 

but enough of gossip i am at the end of my second sheet of paper and
mamma has sent for me to go and dine at the apraksins read the
mystical book i am sending you it has an enormous success here though
there are things in it difficult for the feeble human mind to grasp it
is an admirable book which calms and elevates the soul adieu give
my respects to monsieur your father and my compliments to mademoiselle
bourienne i embrace you as i love you 

julie

p s let me have news of your brother and his charming little wife 

the princess pondered awhile with a thoughtful smile and her luminous
eyes lit up so that her face was entirely transformed then she suddenly
rose and with her heavy tread went up to the table she took a sheet of
paper and her hand moved rapidly over it this is the reply she wrote 
also in french 

dear and precious friend your letter of the 13th has given me great
delight so you still love me my romantic julie separation of which
you say so much that is bad does not seem to have had its usual effect
on you you complain of our separation what then should i say if i
dared complain i who am deprived of all who are dear to me ah if
we had not religion to console us life would be very sad why do you
suppose that i should look severely on your affection for that young
man on such matters i am only severe with myself i understand such
feelings in others and if never having felt them i cannot approve of
them neither do i condemn them only it seems to me that christian
love love of one's neighbor love of one's enemy is worthier 
sweeter and better than the feelings which the beautiful eyes of a
young man can inspire in a romantic and loving young girl like yourself 

the news of count bezukhov's death reached us before your letter
and my father was much affected by it he says the count was the last
representative but one of the great century and that it is his own
turn now but that he will do all he can to let his turn come as late as
possible god preserve us from that terrible misfortune 

i cannot agree with you about pierre whom i knew as a child he always
seemed to me to have an excellent heart and that is the quality i value
most in people as to his inheritance and the part played by prince
vasili it is very sad for both ah my dear friend our divine
saviour's words that it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of god are
terribly true i pity prince vasili but am still more sorry for pierre 
so young and burdened with such riches to what temptations he will be
exposed if i were asked what i desire most on earth it would be to be
poorer than the poorest beggar a thousand thanks dear friend for the
volume you have sent me and which has such success in moscow yet since
you tell me that among some good things it contains others which our
weak human understanding cannot grasp it seems to me rather useless to
spend time in reading what is unintelligible and can therefore bear
no fruit i never could understand the fondness some people have for
confusing their minds by dwelling on mystical books that merely awaken
their doubts and excite their imagination giving them a bent for
exaggeration quite contrary to christian simplicity let us rather read
the epistles and gospels let us not seek to penetrate what mysteries
they contain for how can we miserable sinners that we are know the
terrible and holy secrets of providence while we remain in this flesh
which forms an impenetrable veil between us and the eternal let us
rather confine ourselves to studying those sublime rules which our
divine saviour has left for our guidance here below let us try to
conform to them and follow them and let us be persuaded that the less
we let our feeble human minds roam the better we shall please god who
rejects all knowledge that does not come from him and the less we seek
to fathom what he has been pleased to conceal from us the sooner will
he vouchsafe its revelation to us through his divine spirit 

my father has not spoken to me of a suitor but has only told me that he
has received a letter and is expecting a visit from prince vasili in
regard to this project of marriage for me i will tell you dear sweet
friend that i look on marriage as a divine institution to which we must
conform however painful it may be to me should the almighty lay
the duties of wife and mother upon me i shall try to perform them as
faithfully as i can without disquieting myself by examining my feelings
toward him whom he may give me for husband 

i have had a letter from my brother who announces his speedy arrival
at bald hills with his wife this pleasure will be but a brief one 
however for he will leave us again to take part in this unhappy war
into which we have been drawn god knows how or why not only where you
are at the heart of affairs and of the world is the talk all of
war even here amid fieldwork and the calm of nature which townsfolk
consider characteristic of the country rumors of war are heard
and painfully felt my father talks of nothing but marches and
countermarches things of which i understand nothing and the day
before yesterday during my daily walk through the village i witnessed a
heartrending scene it was a convoy of conscripts enrolled from our
people and starting to join the army you should have seen the state of
the mothers wives and children of the men who were going and should
have heard the sobs it seems as though mankind has forgotten the
laws of its divine saviour who preached love and forgiveness of
injuries and that men attribute the greatest merit to skill in killing
one another 

adieu dear and kind friend may our divine saviour and his most holy
mother keep you in their holy and all powerful care 

mary

 ah you are sending off a letter princess i have already dispatched
mine i have written to my poor mother said the smiling mademoiselle
bourienne rapidly in her pleasant mellow tones and with guttural r's 
she brought into princess mary's strenuous mournful and gloomy
world a quite different atmosphere careless lighthearted and
self satisfied 

 princess i must warn you she added lowering her voice and
evidently listening to herself with pleasure and speaking with
exaggerated grasseyement the prince has been scolding michael
ivanovich he is in a very bad humor very morose be prepared 

 ah dear friend replied princess mary i have asked you never
to warn me of the humor my father is in i do not allow myself to judge
him and would not have others do so 

the princess glanced at her watch and seeing that she was five minutes
late in starting her practice on the clavichord went into the sitting
room with a look of alarm between twelve and two o'clock as the
day was mapped out the prince rested and the princess played the
clavichord 





chapter xxvi

the gray haired valet was sitting drowsily listening to the snoring of
the prince who was in his large study from the far side of the house
through the closed doors came the sound of difficult passages twenty
times repeated of a sonata by dussek 

just then a closed carriage and another with a hood drove up to the
porch prince andrew got out of the carriage helped his little wife to
alight and let her pass into the house before him old tikhon wearing
a wig put his head out of the door of the antechamber reported in
a whisper that the prince was sleeping and hastily closed the door 
tikhon knew that neither the son's arrival nor any other unusual
event must be allowed to disturb the appointed order of the day prince
andrew apparently knew this as well as tikhon he looked at his watch
as if to ascertain whether his father's habits had changed since he
was at home last and having assured himself that they had not he
turned to his wife 

 he will get up in twenty minutes let us go across to mary's
room he said 

the little princess had grown stouter during this time but her eyes
and her short downy smiling lip lifted when she began to speak just as
merrily and prettily as ever 

 why this is a palace she said to her husband looking around
with the expression with which people compliment their host at a ball 
 let's come quick quick and with a glance round she smiled at
tikhon at her husband and at the footman who accompanied them 

 is that mary practicing let's go quietly and take her by
surprise 

prince andrew followed her with a courteous but sad expression 

 you've grown older tikhon he said in passing to the old man 
who kissed his hand 

before they reached the room from which the sounds of the clavichord
came the pretty fair haired frenchwoman mademoiselle bourienne 
rushed out apparently beside herself with delight 

 ah what joy for the princess exclaimed she at last i must
let her know 

 no no please not you are mademoiselle bourienne said
the little princess kissing her i know you already through my
sister in law's friendship for you she was not expecting us 

they went up to the door of the sitting room from which came the sound
of the oft repeated passage of the sonata prince andrew stopped and
made a grimace as if expecting something unpleasant 

the little princess entered the room the passage broke off in the
middle a cry was heard then princess mary's heavy tread and the
sound of kissing when prince andrew went in the two princesses who
had only met once before for a short time at his wedding were in
each other's arms warmly pressing their lips to whatever place they
happened to touch mademoiselle bourienne stood near them pressing her
hand to her heart with a beatific smile and obviously equally ready to
cry or to laugh prince andrew shrugged his shoulders and frowned as
lovers of music do when they hear a false note the two women let go
of one another and then as if afraid of being too late seized each
other's hands kissing them and pulling them away and again began
kissing each other on the face and then to prince andrew's surprise
both began to cry and kissed again mademoiselle bourienne also began to
cry prince andrew evidently felt ill at ease but to the two women
it seemed quite natural that they should cry and apparently it never
entered their heads that it could have been otherwise at this meeting 

 ah my dear ah mary they suddenly exclaimed and then
laughed i dreamed last night you were not expecting
us ah mary you have got thinner and you have grown
stouter 

 i knew the princess at once put in mademoiselle bourienne 

 and i had no idea exclaimed princess mary ah andrew i
did not see you 

prince andrew and his sister hand in hand kissed one another and
he told her she was still the same crybaby as ever princess mary had
turned toward her brother and through her tears the loving warm 
gentle look of her large luminous eyes very beautiful at that moment 
rested on prince andrew's face 

the little princess talked incessantly her short downy upper lip
continually and rapidly touching her rosy nether lip when necessary
and drawing up again next moment when her face broke into a smile of
glittering teeth and sparkling eyes she told of an accident they had
had on the spasski hill which might have been serious for her in her
condition and immediately after that informed them that she had left
all her clothes in petersburg and that heaven knew what she would have
to dress in here and that andrew had quite changed and that kitty
odyntsova had married an old man and that there was a suitor for mary 
a real one but that they would talk of that later princess mary was
still looking silently at her brother and her beautiful eyes were full
of love and sadness it was plain that she was following a train of
thought independent of her sister in law's words in the midst of a
description of the last petersburg fete she addressed her brother 

 so you are really going to the war andrew she said sighing 

lise sighed too 

 yes and even tomorrow replied her brother 

 he is leaving me here god knows why when he might have had
promotion 

princess mary did not listen to the end but continuing her train of
thought turned to her sister in law with a tender glance at her figure 

 is it certain she said 

the face of the little princess changed she sighed and said yes 
quite certain ah it is very dreadful 

her lip descended she brought her face close to her sister in law's
and unexpectedly again began to cry 

 she needs rest said prince andrew with a frown don't you 
lise take her to your room and i'll go to father how is he just the
same 

 yes just the same though i don't know what your opinion will
be answered the princess joyfully 

 and are the hours the same and the walks in the avenues and the
lathe asked prince andrew with a scarcely perceptible smile which
showed that in spite of all his love and respect for his father he was
aware of his weaknesses 

 the hours are the same and the lathe and also the mathematics and
my geometry lessons said princess mary gleefully as if her lessons
in geometry were among the greatest delights of her life 

when the twenty minutes had elapsed and the time had come for the old
prince to get up tikhon came to call the young prince to his father 
the old man made a departure from his usual routine in honor of his
son's arrival he gave orders to admit him to his apartments while
he dressed for dinner the old prince always dressed in old fashioned
style wearing an antique coat and powdered hair and when prince andrew
entered his father's dressing room not with the contemptuous look and
manner he wore in drawing rooms but with the animated face with which
he talked to pierre the old man was sitting on a large leather covered
chair wrapped in a powdering mantle entrusting his head to tikhon 

 ah here's the warrior wants to vanquish buonaparte said the
old man shaking his powdered head as much as the tail which tikhon
was holding fast to plait would allow 

 you at least must tackle him properly or else if he goes on like
this he'll soon have us too for his subjects how are you and he
held out his cheek 

the old man was in a good temper after his nap before dinner he
used to say that a nap after dinner was silver before dinner 
golden he cast happy sidelong glances at his son from under his
thick bushy eyebrows prince andrew went up and kissed his father on
the spot indicated to him he made no reply on his father's favorite
topic making fun of the military men of the day and more particularly
of bonaparte 

 yes father i have come to you and brought my wife who is
pregnant said prince andrew following every movement of his
father's face with an eager and respectful look how is your
health 

 only fools and rakes fall ill my boy you know me i am busy from
morning till night and abstemious so of course i am well 

 thank god said his son smiling 

 god has nothing to do with it well go on he continued 
returning to his hobby tell me how the germans have taught you to
fight bonaparte by this new science you call strategy 

prince andrew smiled 

 give me time to collect my wits father said he with a smile
that showed that his father's foibles did not prevent his son from
loving and honoring him why i have not yet had time to settle
down 

 nonsense nonsense cried the old man shaking his pigtail to
see whether it was firmly plaited and grasping his by the hand the
house for your wife is ready princess mary will take her there and
show her over and they'll talk nineteen to the dozen that's
their woman's way i am glad to have her sit down and talk about
mikhelson's army i understand tolstoy s too a simultaneous
expedition but what's the southern army to do prussia is
neutral i know that what about austria said he rising from his
chair and pacing up and down the room followed by tikhon who ran after
him handing him different articles of clothing what of sweden how
will they cross pomerania 

prince andrew seeing that his father insisted began at first
reluctantly but gradually with more and more animation and from habit
changing unconsciously from russian to french as he went on to explain
the plan of operation for the coming campaign he explained how an army 
ninety thousand strong was to threaten prussia so as to bring her out
of her neutrality and draw her into the war how part of that army was
to join some swedish forces at stralsund how two hundred and twenty
thousand austrians with a hundred thousand russians were to operate in
italy and on the rhine how fifty thousand russians and as many english
were to land at naples and how a total force of five hundred thousand
men was to attack the french from different sides the old prince did
not evince the least interest during this explanation but as if he were
not listening to it continued to dress while walking about and three
times unexpectedly interrupted once he stopped it by shouting the
white one the white one 

this meant that tikhon was not handing him the waistcoat he wanted 
another time he interrupted saying 

 and will she soon be confined and shaking his head reproachfully
said that's bad go on go on 

the third interruption came when prince andrew was finishing his
description the old man began to sing in the cracked voice of old age 
 malbrook s'en va t en guerre dieu sait quand reviendra 

 marlborough is going to the wars god knows when he'll
 return 


his son only smiled 

 i don't say it's a plan i approve of said the son i am
only telling you what it is napoleon has also formed his plan by now 
not worse than this one 

 well you've told me nothing new and the old man repeated 
meditatively and rapidly 

 dieu sait quand reviendra go to the dining room 





chapter xxvii

at the appointed hour the prince powdered and shaven entered the
dining room where his daughter in law princess mary and mademoiselle
bourienne were already awaiting him together with his architect who by
a strange caprice of his employer's was admitted to table though the
position of that insignificant individual was such as could certainly
not have caused him to expect that honor the prince who generally kept
very strictly to social distinctions and rarely admitted even important
government officials to his table had unexpectedly selected michael
ivanovich who always went into a corner to blow his nose on his
checked handkerchief to illustrate the theory that all men are equals 
and had more than once impressed on his daughter that michael ivanovich
was not a whit worse than you or i at dinner the prince usually
spoke to the taciturn michael ivanovich more often than to anyone else 

in the dining room which like all the rooms in the house was
exceedingly lofty the members of the household and the footmen one
behind each chair stood waiting for the prince to enter the head
butler napkin on arm was scanning the setting of the table making
signs to the footmen and anxiously glancing from the clock to the door
by which the prince was to enter prince andrew was looking at a large
gilt frame new to him containing the genealogical tree of the princes
bolkonski opposite which hung another such frame with a badly painted
portrait evidently by the hand of the artist belonging to the estate 
of a ruling prince in a crown an alleged descendant of rurik and
ancestor of the bolkonskis prince andrew looking again at that
genealogical tree shook his head laughing as a man laughs who looks at
a portrait so characteristic of the original as to be amusing 

 how thoroughly like him that is he said to princess mary who had
come up to him 

princess mary looked at her brother in surprise she did not understand
what he was laughing at everything her father did inspired her with
reverence and was beyond question 

 everyone has his achilles heel continued prince andrew 
 fancy with his powerful mind indulging in such nonsense 

princess mary could not understand the boldness of her brother's
criticism and was about to reply when the expected footsteps were heard
coming from the study the prince walked in quickly and jauntily as was
his wont as if intentionally contrasting the briskness of his manners
with the strict formality of his house at that moment the great clock
struck two and another with a shrill tone joined in from the drawing
room the prince stood still his lively glittering eyes from under
their thick bushy eyebrows sternly scanned all present and rested on
the little princess she felt as courtiers do when the tsar enters the
sensation of fear and respect which the old man inspired in all around
him he stroked her hair and then patted her awkwardly on the back of
her neck 

 i'm glad glad to see you he said looking attentively into
her eyes and then quickly went to his place and sat down sit down 
sit down sit down michael ivanovich 

he indicated a place beside him to his daughter in law a footman moved
the chair for her 

 ho ho said the old man casting his eyes on her rounded figure 
 you've been in a hurry that's bad 

he laughed in his usual dry cold unpleasant way with his lips only
and not with his eyes 

 you must walk walk as much as possible as much as possible he
said 

the little princess did not or did not wish to hear his words she was
silent and seemed confused the prince asked her about her father and
she began to smile and talk he asked about mutual acquaintances and
she became still more animated and chattered away giving him greetings
from various people and retelling the town gossip 

 countess apraksina poor thing has lost her husband and she has
cried her eyes out she said growing more and more lively 

as she became animated the prince looked at her more and more sternly 
and suddenly as if he had studied her sufficiently and had formed a
definite idea of her he turned away and addressed michael ivanovich 

 well michael ivanovich our bonaparte will be having a bad time
of it prince andrew he always spoke thus of his son has been
telling me what forces are being collected against him while you and i
never thought much of him 

michael ivanovich did not at all know when you and i had said
such things about bonaparte but understanding that he was wanted as
a peg on which to hang the prince's favorite topic he looked
inquiringly at the young prince wondering what would follow 

 he is a great tactician said the prince to his son pointing to
the architect 

and the conversation again turned on the war on bonaparte and the
generals and statesmen of the day the old prince seemed convinced not
only that all the men of the day were mere babies who did not know the
a b c of war or of politics and that bonaparte was an insignificant
little frenchy successful only because there were no longer any
potemkins or suvorovs left to oppose him but he was also convinced
that there were no political difficulties in europe and no real war 
but only a sort of puppet show at which the men of the day were playing 
pretending to do something real prince andrew gaily bore with his
father's ridicule of the new men and drew him on and listened to him
with evident pleasure 

 the past always seems good said he but did not suvorov
himself fall into a trap moreau set him and from which he did not know
how to escape 

 who told you that who cried the prince suvorov and he
jerked away his plate which tikhon briskly caught suvorov 
consider prince andrew two frederick and suvorov moreau 
moreau would have been a prisoner if suvorov had had a free hand but
he had the hofs kriegs wurst schnapps rath on his hands it would have
puzzled the devil himself when you get there you'll find out what
those hofs kriegs wurst raths are suvorov couldn't manage them so
what chance has michael kutuzov no my dear boy he continued 
 you and your generals won't get on against buonaparte you'll
have to call in the french so that birds of a feather may fight
together the german pahlen has been sent to new york in america to
fetch the frenchman moreau he said alluding to the invitation made
that year to moreau to enter the russian service wonderful 
were the potemkins suvorovs and orlovs germans no lad either you
fellows have all lost your wits or i have outlived mine may god help
you but we'll see what will happen buonaparte has become a great
commander among them hm 

 i don't at all say that all the plans are good said prince
andrew i am only surprised at your opinion of bonaparte you
may laugh as much as you like but all the same bonaparte is a great
general 

 michael ivanovich cried the old prince to the architect who 
busy with his roast meat hoped he had been forgotten didn't
i tell you buonaparte was a great tactician here he says the same
thing 

 to be sure your excellency replied the architect 

the prince again laughed his frigid laugh 

 buonaparte was born with a silver spoon in his mouth he has got
splendid soldiers besides he began by attacking germans and only
idlers have failed to beat the germans since the world began everybody
has beaten the germans they beat no one except one another he made
his reputation fighting them 

and the prince began explaining all the blunders which according to
him bonaparte had made in his campaigns and even in politics his
son made no rejoinder but it was evident that whatever arguments were
presented he was as little able as his father to change his opinion he
listened refraining from a reply and involuntarily wondered how this
old man living alone in the country for so many years could know and
discuss so minutely and acutely all the recent european military and
political events 

 you think i'm an old man and don't understand the present state
of affairs concluded his father but it troubles me i don't
sleep at night come now where has this great commander of yours shown
his skill he concluded 

 that would take too long to tell answered the son 

 well then go off to your buonaparte mademoiselle bourienne 
here's another admirer of that powder monkey emperor of yours he
exclaimed in excellent french 

 you know prince i am not a bonapartist 

 dieu sait quand reviendra hummed the prince out of tune and with
a laugh still more so he quitted the table 

the little princess during the whole discussion and the rest of
the dinner sat silent glancing with a frightened look now at her
father in law and now at princess mary when they left the table she
took her sister in law's arm and drew her into another room 

 what a clever man your father is said she perhaps that is why
i am afraid of him 

 oh he is so kind answered princess mary 





chapter xxviii

prince andrew was to leave next evening the old prince not altering
his routine retired as usual after dinner the little princess was in
her sister in law's room prince andrew in a traveling coat without
epaulettes had been packing with his valet in the rooms assigned to him 
after inspecting the carriage himself and seeing the trunks put in he
ordered the horses to be harnessed only those things he always kept
with him remained in his room a small box a large canteen fitted
with silver plate two turkish pistols and a saber a present from
his father who had brought it from the siege of ochakov all these
traveling effects of prince andrew's were in very good order new 
clean and in cloth covers carefully tied with tapes 

when starting on a journey or changing their mode of life men capable
of reflection are generally in a serious frame of mind at such moments
one reviews the past and plans for the future prince andrew's face
looked very thoughtful and tender with his hands behind him he paced
briskly from corner to corner of the room looking straight before him
and thoughtfully shaking his head did he fear going to the war or was
he sad at leaving his wife perhaps both but evidently he did not
wish to be seen in that mood for hearing footsteps in the passage he
hurriedly unclasped his hands stopped at a table as if tying the
cover of the small box and assumed his usual tranquil and impenetrable
expression it was the heavy tread of princess mary that he heard 

 i hear you have given orders to harness she cried panting she
had apparently been running and i did so wish to have another talk
with you alone god knows how long we may again be parted you are not
angry with me for coming you have changed so andrusha she added 
as if to explain such a question 

she smiled as she uttered his pet name andrusha it was
obviously strange to her to think that this stern handsome man should be
andrusha the slender mischievous boy who had been her playfellow in
childhood 

 and where is lise he asked answering her question only by a
smile 

 she was so tired that she has fallen asleep on the sofa in my room 
oh andrew what a treasure of a wife you have said she sitting
down on the sofa facing her brother she is quite a child such a
dear merry child i have grown so fond of her 

prince andrew was silent but the princess noticed the ironical and
contemptuous look that showed itself on his face 

 one must be indulgent to little weaknesses who is free from them 
andrew don't forget that she has grown up and been educated in
society and so her position now is not a rosy one we should enter into
everyone's situation tout comprendre c'est tout pardonner think
what it must be for her poor thing after what she has been used to 
to be parted from her husband and be left alone in the country in her
condition it's very hard 

 to understand all is to forgive all 

prince andrew smiled as he looked at his sister as we smile at those we
think we thoroughly understand 

 you live in the country and don't think the life terrible he
replied 

 i that's different why speak of me i don't want any other
life and can't for i know no other but think andrew for a young
society woman to be buried in the country during the best years of her
life all alone for papa is always busy and i well you know what
poor resources i have for entertaining a woman used to the best society 
there is only mademoiselle bourienne 

 i don't like your mademoiselle bourienne at all said prince
andrew 

 no she is very nice and kind and above all she's much to be
pitied she has no one no one to tell the truth i don't need her 
and she's even in my way you know i always was a savage and now am
even more so i like being alone father likes her very much she and
michael ivanovich are the two people to whom he is always gentle and
kind because he has been a benefactor to them both as sterne says 
 we don't love people so much for the good they have done us as
for the good we have done them father took her when she was homeless
after losing her own father she is very good natured and my father
likes her way of reading she reads to him in the evenings and reads
splendidly 

 to be quite frank mary i expect father's character sometimes
makes things trying for you doesn't it prince andrew asked
suddenly 

princess mary was first surprised and then aghast at this question 

 for me for me trying for me said she 

 he always was rather harsh and now i should think he's getting
very trying said prince andrew apparently speaking lightly of their
father in order to puzzle or test his sister 

 you are good in every way andrew but you have a kind of
intellectual pride said the princess following the train of her own
thoughts rather than the trend of the conversation and that's a
great sin how can one judge father but even if one might what feeling
except veneration could such a man as my father evoke and i am so
contented and happy with him i only wish you were all as happy as i
am 

her brother shook his head incredulously 

 the only thing that is hard for me i will tell you the truth 
andrew is father's way of treating religious subjects i don't
understand how a man of his immense intellect can fail to see what is
as clear as day and can go so far astray that is the only thing
that makes me unhappy but even in this i can see lately a shade of
improvement his satire has been less bitter of late and there was a
monk he received and had a long talk with 

 ah my dear i am afraid you and your monk are wasting your
powder said prince andrew banteringly yet tenderly 

 ah mon ami i only pray and hope that god will hear me 
andrew she said timidly after a moment's silence i have a
great favor to ask of you 

 what is it dear 

 no promise that you will not refuse it will give you no trouble
and is nothing unworthy of you but it will comfort me promise 
andrusha said she putting her hand in her reticule but not yet
taking out what she was holding inside it as if what she held were
the subject of her request and must not be shown before the request was
granted 

she looked timidly at her brother 

 even if it were a great deal of trouble answered prince andrew 
as if guessing what it was about 

 think what you please i know you are just like father think as
you please but do this for my sake please do father's father our
grandfather wore it in all his wars she still did not take out
what she was holding in her reticule so you promise 

 of course what is it 

 andrew i bless you with this icon and you must promise me you will
never take it off do you promise 

 if it does not weigh a hundredweight and won't break my neck 
to please you said prince andrew but immediately noticing
the pained expression his joke had brought to his sister's face he
repented and added i am glad really dear i am very glad 

 against your will he will save and have mercy on you and bring you
to himself for in him alone is truth and peace said she in a voice
trembling with emotion solemnly holding up in both hands before her
brother a small oval antique dark faced icon of the saviour in a gold
setting on a finely wrought silver chain 

she crossed herself kissed the icon and handed it to andrew 

 please andrew for my sake 

rays of gentle light shone from her large timid eyes those eyes lit
up the whole of her thin sickly face and made it beautiful her brother
would have taken the icon but she stopped him andrew understood 
crossed himself and kissed the icon there was a look of tenderness for
he was touched but also a gleam of irony on his face 

 thank you my dear she kissed him on the forehead and sat down
again on the sofa they were silent for a while 

 as i was saying to you andrew be kind and generous as you always
used to be don't judge lise harshly she began she is so
sweet so good natured and her position now is a very hard one 

 i do not think i have complained of my wife to you masha or blamed
her why do you say all this to me 

red patches appeared on princess mary's face and she was silent as if
she felt guilty 

 i have said nothing to you but you have already been talked to and
i am sorry for that he went on 

the patches grew deeper on her forehead neck and cheeks she tried to
say something but could not her brother had guessed right the little
princess had been crying after dinner and had spoken of her forebodings
about her confinement and how she dreaded it and had complained of her
fate her father in law and her husband after crying she had fallen
asleep prince andrew felt sorry for his sister 

 know this masha i can't reproach have not reproached and never
shall reproach my wife with anything and i cannot reproach myself
with anything in regard to her and that always will be so in whatever
circumstances i may be placed but if you want to know the truth if
you want to know whether i am happy no is she happy no but why this
is so i don't know 

as he said this he rose went to his sister and stooping kissed
her forehead his fine eyes lit up with a thoughtful kindly and
unaccustomed brightness but he was looking not at his sister but over
her head toward the darkness of the open doorway 

 let us go to her i must say good by or go and wake and i'll
come in a moment petrushka he called to his valet come here 
take these away put this on the seat and this to the right 

princess mary rose and moved to the door then stopped and said 
 andrew if you had faith you would have turned to god and asked him
to give you the love you do not feel and your prayer would have been
answered 

 well maybe said prince andrew go masha i'll come
immediately 

on the way to his sister's room in the passage which connected one
wing with the other prince andrew met mademoiselle bourienne smiling
sweetly it was the third time that day that with an ecstatic and
artless smile she had met him in secluded passages 

 oh i thought you were in your room she said for some reason
blushing and dropping her eyes 

prince andrew looked sternly at her and an expression of anger suddenly
came over his face he said nothing to her but looked at her forehead
and hair without looking at her eyes with such contempt that the
frenchwoman blushed and went away without a word when he reached his
sister's room his wife was already awake and her merry voice hurrying
one word after another came through the open door she was speaking as
usual in french and as if after long self restraint she wished to make
up for lost time 

 no but imagine the old countess zubova with false curls and her
mouth full of false teeth as if she were trying to cheat old age 
ha ha ha mary 

this very sentence about countess zubova and this same laugh prince
andrew had already heard from his wife in the presence of others some
five times he entered the room softly the little princess plump and
rosy was sitting in an easy chair with her work in her hands talking
incessantly repeating petersburg reminiscences and even phrases prince
andrew came up stroked her hair and asked if she felt rested after
their journey she answered him and continued her chatter 

the coach with six horses was waiting at the porch it was an autumn
night so dark that the coachman could not see the carriage pole 
servants with lanterns were bustling about in the porch the immense
house was brilliant with lights shining through its lofty windows the
domestic serfs were crowding in the hall waiting to bid good by to
the young prince the members of the household were all gathered in the
reception hall michael ivanovich mademoiselle bourienne princess
mary and the little princess prince andrew had been called to his
father's study as the latter wished to say good by to him alone all
were waiting for them to come out 

when prince andrew entered the study the old man in his old age
spectacles and white dressing gown in which he received no one but his
son sat at the table writing he glanced round 

 going and he went on writing 

 i've come to say good by 

 kiss me here and he touched his cheek thanks thanks 

 what do you thank me for 

 for not dilly dallying and not hanging to a woman's apron strings 
the service before everything thanks thanks and he went on
writing so that his quill spluttered and squeaked if you have
anything to say say it these two things can be done together he
added 

 about my wife i am ashamed as it is to leave her on your
hands 

 why talk nonsense say what you want 

 when her confinement is due send to moscow for an accoucheur let
him be here 

the old prince stopped writing and as if not understanding fixed his
stern eyes on his son 

 i know that no one can help if nature does not do her work said
prince andrew evidently confused i know that out of a million
cases only one goes wrong but it is her fancy and mine they have been
telling her things she has had a dream and is frightened 

 hm hm muttered the old prince to himself finishing what he
was writing i'll do it 

he signed with a flourish and suddenly turning to his son began to
laugh 

 it's a bad business eh 

 what is bad father 

 the wife said the old prince briefly and significantly 

 i don't understand said prince andrew 

 no it can't be helped lad said the prince they're
all like that one can't unmarry don't be afraid i won't tell
anyone but you know it yourself 

he seized his son by the hand with small bony fingers shook it looked
straight into his son's face with keen eyes which seemed to see
through him and again laughed his frigid laugh 

the son sighed thus admitting that his father had understood him the
old man continued to fold and seal his letter snatching up and throwing
down the wax the seal and the paper with his accustomed rapidity 

 what's to be done she's pretty i will do everything make your
mind easy said he in abrupt sentences while sealing his letter 

andrew did not speak he was both pleased and displeased that his father
understood him the old man got up and gave the letter to his son 

 listen said he don't worry about your wife what can be
done shall be now listen give this letter to michael ilarionovich 
i have written that he should make use of you in proper places and not
keep you long as an adjutant a bad position tell him i remember
and like him write and tell me how he receives you if he is all
right serve him nicholas bolkonski's son need not serve under
anyone if he is in disfavor now come here 

 kutuzov 

he spoke so rapidly that he did not finish half his words but his son
was accustomed to understand him he led him to the desk raised the
lid drew out a drawer and took out an exercise book filled with his
bold tall close handwriting 

 i shall probably die before you so remember these are my memoirs 
hand them to the emperor after my death now here is a lombard bond
and a letter it is a premium for the man who writes a history of
suvorov's wars send it to the academy here are some jottings for
you to read when i am gone you will find them useful 

andrew did not tell his father that he would no doubt live a long time
yet he felt that he must not say it 

 i will do it all father he said 

 well now good by he gave his son his hand to kiss and embraced
him remember this prince andrew if they kill you it will hurt me 
your old father he paused unexpectedly and then in a querulous
voice suddenly shrieked but if i hear that you have not behaved like
a son of nicholas bolkonski i shall be ashamed 

 you need not have said that to me father said the son with a
smile 

the old man was silent 

 i also wanted to ask you continued prince andrew if i'm
killed and if i have a son do not let him be taken away from you as i
said yesterday let him grow up with you please 

 not let the wife have him said the old man and laughed 

they stood silent facing one another the old man's sharp eyes were
fixed straight on his son's something twitched in the lower part of
the old prince's face 

 we've said good by go he suddenly shouted in a loud angry
voice opening his door 

 what is it what asked both princesses when they saw for a moment
at the door prince andrew and the figure of the old man in a white
dressing gown spectacled and wigless shouting in an angry voice 

prince andrew sighed and made no reply 

 well he said turning to his wife 

and this well sounded coldly ironic as if he were saying now
go through your performance 

 andrew already said the little princess turning pale and
looking with dismay at her husband 

he embraced her she screamed and fell unconscious on his shoulder 

he cautiously released the shoulder she leaned on looked into her face 
and carefully placed her in an easy chair 

 adieu mary said he gently to his sister taking her by the hand
and kissing her and then he left the room with rapid steps 

the little princess lay in the armchair mademoiselle bourienne chafing
her temples princess mary supporting her sister in law still looked
with her beautiful eyes full of tears at the door through which prince
andrew had gone and made the sign of the cross in his direction from
the study like pistol shots came the frequent sound of the old man
angrily blowing his nose hardly had prince andrew gone when the study
door opened quickly and the stern figure of the old man in the white
dressing gown looked out 

 gone that's all right said he and looking angrily at the
unconscious little princess he shook his head reprovingly and slammed
the door 





book two 1805





chapter i

in october 1805 a russian army was occupying the villages and towns of
the archduchy of austria and yet other regiments freshly arriving from
russia were settling near the fortress of braunau and burdening the
inhabitants on whom they were quartered braunau was the headquarters of
the commander in chief kutuzov 

on october 11 1805 one of the infantry regiments that had just reached
braunau had halted half a mile from the town waiting to be inspected
by the commander in chief despite the un russian appearance of the
locality and surroundings fruit gardens stone fences tiled roofs 
and hills in the distance and despite the fact that the inhabitants
 who gazed with curiosity at the soldiers were not russians the
regiment had just the appearance of any russian regiment preparing for
an inspection anywhere in the heart of russia 

on the evening of the last day's march an order had been received that
the commander in chief would inspect the regiment on the march though
the words of the order were not clear to the regimental commander and
the question arose whether the troops were to be in marching order or
not it was decided at a consultation between the battalion commanders
to present the regiment in parade order on the principle that it is
always better to bow too low than not bow low enough so the
soldiers after a twenty mile march were kept mending and cleaning all
night long without closing their eyes while the adjutants and
company commanders calculated and reckoned and by morning the
regiment instead of the straggling disorderly crowd it had been on
its last march the day before presented a well ordered array of two
thousand men each of whom knew his place and his duty had every button
and every strap in place and shone with cleanliness and not only
externally was all in order but had it pleased the commander in chief
to look under the uniforms he would have found on every man a clean
shirt and in every knapsack the appointed number of articles awl 
soap and all as the soldiers say there was only one circumstance
concerning which no one could be at ease it was the state of the
soldiers boots more than half the men's boots were in holes but
this defect was not due to any fault of the regimental commander for
in spite of repeated demands boots had not been issued by the austrian
commissariat and the regiment had marched some seven hundred miles 

the commander of the regiment was an elderly choleric stout and
thick set general with grizzled eyebrows and whiskers and wider from
chest to back than across the shoulders he had on a brand new uniform
showing the creases where it had been folded and thick gold epaulettes
which seemed to stand rather than lie down on his massive shoulders he
had the air of a man happily performing one of the most solemn duties of
his life he walked about in front of the line and at every step pulled
himself up slightly arching his back it was plain that the commander
admired his regiment rejoiced in it and that his whole mind was
engrossed by it yet his strut seemed to indicate that besides military
matters social interests and the fair sex occupied no small part of his
thoughts 

 well michael mitrich sir he said addressing one of the
battalion commanders who smilingly pressed forward it was plain that
they both felt happy we had our hands full last night however i
think the regiment is not a bad one eh 

the battalion commander perceived the jovial irony and laughed 

 it would not be turned off the field even on the tsaritsin
meadow 

 what asked the commander 

at that moment on the road from the town on which signalers had been
posted two men appeared on horse back they were an aide de camp
followed by a cossack 

the aide de camp was sent to confirm the order which had not been
clearly worded the day before namely that the commander in chief
wished to see the regiment just in the state in which it had been on
the march in their greatcoats and packs and without any preparation
whatever 

a member of the hofkriegsrath from vienna had come to kutuzov the day
before with proposals and demands for him to join up with the army of
the archduke ferdinand and mack and kutuzov not considering this
junction advisable meant among other arguments in support of his view 
to show the austrian general the wretched state in which the troops
arrived from russia with this object he intended to meet the regiment 
so the worse the condition it was in the better pleased the commander
in chief would be though the aide de camp did not know these
circumstances he nevertheless delivered the definite order that the
men should be in their greatcoats and in marching order and that the
commander in chief would otherwise be dissatisfied on hearing this the
regimental commander hung his head silently shrugged his shoulders and
spread out his arms with a choleric gesture 

 a fine mess we've made of it he remarked 

 there now didn't i tell you michael mitrich that if it was said
 on the march it meant in greatcoats said he reproachfully to
the battalion commander oh my god he added stepping resolutely
forward company commanders he shouted in a voice accustomed to
command sergeants major how soon will he be here he asked
the aide de camp with a respectful politeness evidently relating to the
personage he was referring to 

 in an hour's time i should say 

 shall we have time to change clothes 

 i don't know general 

the regimental commander going up to the line himself ordered the
soldiers to change into their greatcoats the company commanders ran off
to their companies the sergeants major began bustling the greatcoats
were not in very good condition and instantly the squares that had up
to then been in regular order and silent began to sway and stretch and
hum with voices on all sides soldiers were running to and fro throwing
up their knapsacks with a jerk of their shoulders and pulling the straps
over their heads unstrapping their overcoats and drawing the sleeves on
with upraised arms 

in half an hour all was again in order only the squares had become gray
instead of black the regimental commander walked with his jerky steps
to the front of the regiment and examined it from a distance 

 whatever is this this he shouted and stood still commander
of the third company 

 commander of the third company wanted by the general commander to
the general third company to the commander the words passed along
the lines and an adjutant ran to look for the missing officer 

when the eager but misrepeated words had reached their destination in
a cry of the general to the third company the missing officer
appeared from behind his company and though he was a middle aged man
and not in the habit of running trotted awkwardly stumbling on his
toes toward the general the captain's face showed the uneasiness of
a schoolboy who is told to repeat a lesson he has not learned spots
appeared on his nose the redness of which was evidently due to
intemperance and his mouth twitched nervously the general looked the
captain up and down as he came up panting slackening his pace as he
approached 

 you will soon be dressing your men in petticoats what is this 
shouted the regimental commander thrusting forward his jaw and pointing
at a soldier in the ranks of the third company in a greatcoat of bluish
cloth which contrasted with the others what have you been after 
the commander in chief is expected and you leave your place eh i'll
teach you to dress the men in fancy coats for a parade eh 

the commander of the company with his eyes fixed on his superior 
pressed two fingers more and more rigidly to his cap as if in this
pressure lay his only hope of salvation 

 well why don't you speak whom have you got there dressed up as a
hungarian said the commander with an austere gibe 

 your excellency 

 well your excellency what your excellency but what about your
excellency nobody knows 

 your excellency it's the officer dolokhov who has been reduced
to the ranks said the captain softly 

 well has he been degraded into a field marshal or into a soldier 
if a soldier he should be dressed in regulation uniform like the
others 

 your excellency you gave him leave yourself on the march 

 gave him leave leave that's just like you young men said the
regimental commander cooling down a little leave indeed one says
a word to you and you what he added with renewed irritation i
beg you to dress your men decently 

and the commander turning to look at the adjutant directed his jerky
steps down the line he was evidently pleased at his own display of
anger and walking up to the regiment wished to find a further excuse for
wrath having snapped at an officer for an unpolished badge at another
because his line was not straight he reached the third company 

 h o o w are you standing where's your leg your leg shouted
the commander with a tone of suffering in his voice while there were
still five men between him and dolokhov with his bluish gray uniform 

dolokhov slowly straightened his bent knee looking straight with his
clear insolent eyes in the general's face 

 why a blue coat off with it sergeant major change his coat 
the ras he did not finish 

 general i must obey orders but i am not bound to endure 
dolokhov hurriedly interrupted 

 no talking in the ranks no talking no talking 

 not bound to endure insults dolokhov concluded in loud ringing
tones 

the eyes of the general and the soldier met the general became silent 
angrily pulling down his tight scarf 

 i request you to have the goodness to change your coat he said as
he turned away 





chapter ii

 he's coming shouted the signaler at that moment 

the regimental commander flushing ran to his horse seized the stirrup
with trembling hands threw his body across the saddle righted himself 
drew his saber and with a happy and resolute countenance opening
his mouth awry prepared to shout the regiment fluttered like a bird
preening its plumage and became motionless 

 att ention shouted the regimental commander in a soul shaking
voice which expressed joy for himself severity for the regiment and
welcome for the approaching chief 

along the broad country road edged on both sides by trees came a high 
light blue viennese caleche slightly creaking on its springs and drawn
by six horses at a smart trot behind the caleche galloped the suite
and a convoy of croats beside kutuzov sat an austrian general in
a white uniform that looked strange among the russian black ones the
caleche stopped in front of the regiment kutuzov and the austrian
general were talking in low voices and kutuzov smiled slightly as
treading heavily he stepped down from the carriage just as if those two
thousand men breathlessly gazing at him and the regimental commander did
not exist 

the word of command rang out and again the regiment quivered as with a
jingling sound it presented arms then amidst a dead silence the
feeble voice of the commander in chief was heard the regiment roared 
 health to your ex len len lency and again all became
silent at first kutuzov stood still while the regiment moved then he
and the general in white accompanied by the suite walked between the
ranks 

from the way the regimental commander saluted the commander in chief and
devoured him with his eyes drawing himself up obsequiously and from
the way he walked through the ranks behind the generals bending forward
and hardly able to restrain his jerky movements and from the way he
darted forward at every word or gesture of the commander in chief 
it was evident that he performed his duty as a subordinate with even
greater zeal than his duty as a commander thanks to the strictness and
assiduity of its commander the regiment in comparison with others that
had reached braunau at the same time was in splendid condition there
were only 217 sick and stragglers everything was in good order except
the boots 

kutuzov walked through the ranks sometimes stopping to say a few
friendly words to officers he had known in the turkish war sometimes
also to the soldiers looking at their boots he several times shook his
head sadly pointing them out to the austrian general with an expression
which seemed to say that he was not blaming anyone but could not help
noticing what a bad state of things it was the regimental commander
ran forward on each such occasion fearing to miss a single word of the
commander in chief's regarding the regiment behind kutuzov at a
distance that allowed every softly spoken word to be heard followed
some twenty men of his suite these gentlemen talked among themselves
and sometimes laughed nearest of all to the commander in chief walked
a handsome adjutant this was prince bolkonski beside him was his
comrade nesvitski a tall staff officer extremely stout with a
kindly smiling handsome face and moist eyes nesvitski could hardly
keep from laughter provoked by a swarthy hussar officer who walked
beside him this hussar with a grave face and without a smile or a
change in the expression of his fixed eyes watched the regimental
commander's back and mimicked his every movement each time the
commander started and bent forward the hussar started and bent forward
in exactly the same manner nesvitski laughed and nudged the others to
make them look at the wag 

kutuzov walked slowly and languidly past thousands of eyes which were
starting from their sockets to watch their chief on reaching the
third company he suddenly stopped his suite not having expected this 
involuntarily came closer to him 

 ah timokhin said he recognizing the red nosed captain who had
been reprimanded on account of the blue greatcoat 

one would have thought it impossible for a man to stretch himself
more than timokhin had done when he was reprimanded by the regimental
commander but now that the commander in chief addressed him he drew
himself up to such an extent that it seemed he could not have sustained
it had the commander in chief continued to look at him and so kutuzov 
who evidently understood his case and wished him nothing but good 
quickly turned away a scarcely perceptible smile flitting over his
scarred and puffy face 

 another ismail comrade said he a brave officer are you
satisfied with him he asked the regimental commander 

and the latter unconscious that he was being reflected in the hussar
officer as in a looking glass started moved forward and answered 
 highly satisfied your excellency 

 we all have our weaknesses said kutuzov smiling and walking away
from him he used to have a predilection for bacchus 

the regimental commander was afraid he might be blamed for this and did
not answer the hussar at that moment noticed the face of the red nosed
captain and his drawn in stomach and mimicked his expression and pose
with such exactitude that nesvitski could not help laughing kutuzov
turned round the officer evidently had complete control of his face 
and while kutuzov was turning managed to make a grimace and then assume
a most serious deferential and innocent expression 

the third company was the last and kutuzov pondered apparently trying
to recollect something prince andrew stepped forward from among the
suite and said in french 

 you told me to remind you of the officer dolokhov reduced to the
ranks in this regiment 

 where is dolokhov asked kutuzov 

dolokhov who had already changed into a soldier's gray greatcoat 
did not wait to be called the shapely figure of the fair haired
soldier with his clear blue eyes stepped forward from the ranks went
up to the commander in chief and presented arms 

 have you a complaint to make kutuzov asked with a slight frown 

 this is dolokhov said prince andrew 

 ah said kutuzov i hope this will be a lesson to you do your
duty the emperor is gracious and i shan't forget you if you deserve
well 

the clear blue eyes looked at the commander in chief just as boldly as
they had looked at the regimental commander seeming by their expression
to tear open the veil of convention that separates a commander in chief
so widely from a private 

 one thing i ask of your excellency dolokhov said in his firm 
ringing deliberate voice i ask an opportunity to atone for my fault
and prove my devotion to his majesty the emperor and to russia 

kutuzov turned away the same smile of the eyes with which he had
turned from captain timokhin again flitted over his face he turned
away with a grimace as if to say that everything dolokhov had said to
him and everything he could say had long been known to him that he was
weary of it and it was not at all what he wanted he turned away and
went to the carriage 

the regiment broke up into companies which went to their appointed
quarters near braunau where they hoped to receive boots and clothes and
to rest after their hard marches 

 you won't bear me a grudge prokhor ignatych said the
regimental commander overtaking the third company on its way to its
quarters and riding up to captain timokhin who was walking in front 
 the regimental commander's face now that the inspection was happily
over beamed with irrepressible delight it's in the emperor's
service it can't be helped one is sometimes a bit hasty on
parade i am the first to apologize you know me he was very
pleased and he held out his hand to the captain 

 don't mention it general as if i'd be so bold replied the
captain his nose growing redder as he gave a smile which showed where
two front teeth were missing that had been knocked out by the butt end
of a gun at ismail 

 and tell mr dolokhov that i won't forget him he may be quite
easy and tell me please i've been meaning to ask how is he
behaving himself and in general 

 as far as the service goes he is quite punctilious your excellency 
but his character said timokhin 

 and what about his character asked the regimental commander 

 it's different on different days answered the captain one
day he is sensible well educated and good natured and the next he's
a wild beast in poland if you please he nearly killed a jew 

 oh well well remarked the regimental commander still one
must have pity on a young man in misfortune you know he has important
connections well then you just 

 i will your excellency said timokhin showing by his smile that
he understood his commander's wish 

 well of course of course 

the regimental commander sought out dolokhov in the ranks and reining
in his horse said to him 

 after the next affair epaulettes 

dolokhov looked round but did not say anything nor did the mocking
smile on his lips change 

 well that's all right continued the regimental commander a
cup of vodka for the men from me he added so that the soldiers
could hear i thank you all god be praised and he rode past that
company and overtook the next one 

 well he's really a good fellow one can serve under him said
timokhin to the subaltern beside him 

 in a word a hearty one said the subaltern laughing the
regimental commander was nicknamed king of hearts 

the cheerful mood of their officers after the inspection infected the
soldiers the company marched on gaily the soldiers voices could be
heard on every side 

 and they said kutuzov was blind of one eye 

 and so he is quite blind 

 no friend he is sharper eyed than you are boots and leg bands 
he noticed everything 

 when he looked at my feet friend well thinks i 

 and that other one with him the austrian looked as if he were
smeared with chalk as white as flour i suppose they polish him up as
they do the guns 

 i say fedeshon did he say when the battles are to begin you
were near him everybody said that buonaparte himself was at braunau 

 buonaparte himself just listen to the fool what he doesn't
know the prussians are up in arms now the austrians you see are
putting them down when they've been put down the war with buonaparte
will begin and he says buonaparte is in braunau shows you're a fool 
you'd better listen more carefully 

 what devils these quartermasters are see the fifth company is
turning into the village already they will have their buckwheat
cooked before we reach our quarters 

 give me a biscuit you devil 

 and did you give me tobacco yesterday that's just it friend ah 
well never mind here you are 

 they might call a halt here or we'll have to do another four miles
without eating 

 wasn't it fine when those germans gave us lifts you just sit still
and are drawn along 

 and here friend the people are quite beggarly there they all
seemed to be poles all under the russian crown but here they're
all regular germans 

 singers to the front came the captain's order 

and from the different ranks some twenty men ran to the front a
drummer their leader turned round facing the singers and flourishing
his arm began a long drawn out soldiers song commencing with the
words morning dawned the sun was rising and concluding on
then brothers on to glory led by father kamenski this song had
been composed in the turkish campaign and now being sung in austria the
only change being that the words father kamenski were replaced by
 father kutuzov 

having jerked out these last words as soldiers do and waved his arms
as if flinging something to the ground the drummer a lean handsome
soldier of forty looked sternly at the singers and screwed up his
eyes then having satisfied himself that all eyes were fixed on him 
he raised both arms as if carefully lifting some invisible but precious
object above his head and holding it there for some seconds suddenly
flung it down and began 

 oh my bower oh my bower 

 oh my bower new chimed in twenty voices and the castanet
player in spite of the burden of his equipment rushed out to the front
and walking backwards before the company jerked his shoulders and
flourished his castanets as if threatening someone the soldiers 
swinging their arms and keeping time spontaneously marched with long
steps behind the company the sound of wheels the creaking of springs 
and the tramp of horses hoofs were heard kutuzov and his suite were
returning to the town the commander in chief made a sign that the
men should continue to march at ease and he and all his suite showed
pleasure at the sound of the singing and the sight of the dancing
soldier and the gay and smartly marching men in the second file
from the right flank beside which the carriage passed the company 
a blue eyed soldier involuntarily attracted notice it was dolokhov
marching with particular grace and boldness in time to the song and
looking at those driving past as if he pitied all who were not at that
moment marching with the company the hussar cornet of kutuzov's
suite who had mimicked the regimental commander fell back from the
carriage and rode up to dolokhov 

hussar cornet zherkov had at one time in petersburg belonged to
the wild set led by dolokhov zherkov had met dolokhov abroad as a
private and had not seen fit to recognize him but now that kutuzov had
spoken to the gentleman ranker he addressed him with the cordiality of
an old friend 

 my dear fellow how are you said he through the singing making
his horse keep pace with the company 

 how am i dolokhov answered coldly i am as you see 

the lively song gave a special flavor to the tone of free and easy
gaiety with which zherkov spoke and to the intentional coldness of
dolokhov's reply 

 and how do you get on with the officers inquired zherkov 

 all right they are good fellows and how have you wriggled onto the
staff 

 i was attached i'm on duty 

both were silent 

 she let the hawk fly upward from her wide right sleeve went the
song arousing an involuntary sensation of courage and cheerfulness 
their conversation would probably have been different but for the effect
of that song 

 is it true that austrians have been beaten asked dolokhov 

 the devil only knows they say so 

 i'm glad answered dolokhov briefly and clearly as the song
demanded 

 i say come round some evening and we'll have a game of faro 
said zherkov 

 why have you too much money 

 do come 

 i can't i've sworn not to i won't drink and won't play till
i get reinstated 

 well that's only till the first engagement 

 we shall see 

they were again silent 

 come if you need anything one can at least be of use on the
staff 

dolokhov smiled don't trouble if i want anything i won't
beg i'll take it 

 well never mind i only 

 and i only 

 good by 

 good health 

 it's a long long way 
 to my native land 


zherkov touched his horse with the spurs it pranced excitedly from
foot to foot uncertain with which to start then settled down galloped
past the company and overtook the carriage still keeping time to the
song 





chapter iii

on returning from the review kutuzov took the austrian general into
his private room and calling his adjutant asked for some papers
relating to the condition of the troops on their arrival and the
letters that had come from the archduke ferdinand who was in command of
the advanced army prince andrew bolkonski came into the room with the
required papers kutuzov and the austrian member of the hofkriegsrath
were sitting at the table on which a plan was spread out 

 ah said kutuzov glancing at bolkonski as if by this
exclamation he was asking the adjutant to wait and he went on with the
conversation in french 

 all i can say general said he with a pleasant elegance
of expression and intonation that obliged one to listen to each
deliberately spoken word it was evident that kutuzov himself listened
with pleasure to his own voice all i can say general is that if
the matter depended on my personal wishes the will of his majesty the
emperor francis would have been fulfilled long ago i should long
ago have joined the archduke and believe me on my honour that to me
personally it would be a pleasure to hand over the supreme command
of the army into the hands of a better informed and more skillful
general of whom austria has so many and to lay down all this heavy
responsibility but circumstances are sometimes too strong for us 
general 

and kutuzov smiled in a way that seemed to say you are quite at
liberty not to believe me and i don't even care whether you do or
not but you have no grounds for telling me so and that is the whole
point 

the austrian general looked dissatisfied but had no option but to reply
in the same tone 

 on the contrary he said in a querulous and angry tone that
contrasted with his flattering words on the contrary your
excellency's participation in the common action is highly valued by
his majesty but we think the present delay is depriving the splendid
russian troops and their commander of the laurels they have been
accustomed to win in their battles he concluded his evidently
prearranged sentence 

kutuzov bowed with the same smile 

 but that is my conviction and judging by the last letter with which
his highness the archduke ferdinand has honored me i imagine that the
austrian troops under the direction of so skillful a leader as general
mack have by now already gained a decisive victory and no longer need
our aid said kutuzov 

the general frowned though there was no definite news of an austrian
defeat there were many circumstances confirming the unfavorable rumors
that were afloat and so kutuzov's suggestion of an austrian victory
sounded much like irony but kutuzov went on blandly smiling with the
same expression which seemed to say that he had a right to suppose
so and in fact the last letter he had received from mack's army
informed him of a victory and stated strategically the position of the
army was very favorable 

 give me that letter said kutuzov turning to prince andrew 
 please have a look at it and kutuzov with an ironical smile
about the corners of his mouth read to the austrian general the
following passage in german from the archduke ferdinand's letter 

we have fully concentrated forces of nearly seventy thousand men with
which to attack and defeat the enemy should he cross the lech also 
as we are masters of ulm we cannot be deprived of the advantage of
commanding both sides of the danube so that should the enemy not
cross the lech we can cross the danube throw ourselves on his line
of communications recross the river lower down and frustrate his
intention should he try to direct his whole force against our faithful
ally we shall therefore confidently await the moment when the imperial
russian army will be fully equipped and shall then in conjunction with
it easily find a way to prepare for the enemy the fate he deserves 

kutuzov sighed deeply on finishing this paragraph and looked at the
member of the hofkriegsrath mildly and attentively 

 but you know the wise maxim your excellency advising one to expect
the worst said the austrian general evidently wishing to have done
with jests and to come to business he involuntarily looked round at the
aide de camp 

 excuse me general interrupted kutuzov also turning to prince
andrew look here my dear fellow get from kozlovski all the
reports from our scouts here are two letters from count nostitz and
here is one from his highness the archduke ferdinand and here are
these he said handing him several papers make a neat memorandum
in french out of all this showing all the news we have had of the
movements of the austrian army and then give it to his excellency 

prince andrew bowed his head in token of having understood from the
first not only what had been said but also what kutuzov would have
liked to tell him he gathered up the papers and with a bow to both 
stepped softly over the carpet and went out into the waiting room 

though not much time had passed since prince andrew had left russia he
had changed greatly during that period in the expression of his face 
in his movements in his walk scarcely a trace was left of his former
affected languor and indolence he now looked like a man who has time
to think of the impression he makes on others but is occupied with
agreeable and interesting work his face expressed more satisfaction
with himself and those around him his smile and glance were brighter
and more attractive 

kutuzov whom he had overtaken in poland had received him very kindly 
promised not to forget him distinguished him above the other adjutants 
and had taken him to vienna and given him the more serious commissions 
from vienna kutuzov wrote to his old comrade prince andrew's father 

your son bids fair to become an officer distinguished by his industry 
firmness and expedition i consider myself fortunate to have such a
subordinate by me 

on kutuzov's staff among his fellow officers and in the army
generally prince andrew had as he had had in petersburg society two
quite opposite reputations some a minority acknowledged him to be
different from themselves and from everyone else expected great things
of him listened to him admired and imitated him and with them prince
andrew was natural and pleasant others the majority disliked him and
considered him conceited cold and disagreeable but among these people
prince andrew knew how to take his stand so that they respected and even
feared him 

coming out of kutuzov's room into the waiting room with the papers in
his hand prince andrew came up to his comrade the aide de camp on duty 
kozlovski who was sitting at the window with a book 

 well prince asked kozlovski 

 i am ordered to write a memorandum explaining why we are not
advancing 

 and why is it 

prince andrew shrugged his shoulders 

 any news from mack 

 no 

 if it were true that he has been beaten news would have come 

 probably said prince andrew moving toward the outer door 

but at that instant a tall austrian general in a greatcoat with the
order of maria theresa on his neck and a black bandage round his head 
who had evidently just arrived entered quickly slamming the door 
prince andrew stopped short 

 commander in chief kutuzov said the newly arrived general
speaking quickly with a harsh german accent looking to both sides and
advancing straight toward the inner door 

 the commander in chief is engaged said kozlovski going
hurriedly up to the unknown general and blocking his way to the door 
 whom shall i announce 

the unknown general looked disdainfully down at kozlovski who was
rather short as if surprised that anyone should not know him 

 the commander in chief is engaged repeated kozlovski calmly 

the general's face clouded his lips quivered and trembled he took
out a notebook hurriedly scribbled something in pencil tore out the
leaf gave it to kozlovski stepped quickly to the window and threw
himself into a chair gazing at those in the room as if asking why
do they look at me then he lifted his head stretched his neck as
if he intended to say something but immediately with affected
indifference began to hum to himself producing a queer sound which
immediately broke off the door of the private room opened and kutuzov
appeared in the doorway the general with the bandaged head bent forward
as though running away from some danger and making long quick strides
with his thin legs went up to kutuzov 

 vous voyez le malheureux mack he uttered in a broken voice 

kutuzov's face as he stood in the open doorway remained perfectly
immobile for a few moments then wrinkles ran over his face like a wave
and his forehead became smooth again he bowed his head respectfully 
closed his eyes silently let mack enter his room before him and closed
the door himself behind him 

the report which had been circulated that the austrians had been beaten
and that the whole army had surrendered at ulm proved to be correct 
within half an hour adjutants had been sent in various directions with
orders which showed that the russian troops who had hitherto been
inactive would also soon have to meet the enemy 

prince andrew was one of those rare staff officers whose chief interest
lay in the general progress of the war when he saw mack and heard the
details of his disaster he understood that half the campaign was lost 
understood all the difficulties of the russian army's position and
vividly imagined what awaited it and the part he would have to
play involuntarily he felt a joyful agitation at the thought of the
humiliation of arrogant austria and that in a week's time he might 
perhaps see and take part in the first russian encounter with the
french since suvorov met them he feared that bonaparte's genius
might outweigh all the courage of the russian troops and at the same
time could not admit the idea of his hero being disgraced 

excited and irritated by these thoughts prince andrew went toward his
room to write to his father to whom he wrote every day in the corridor
he met nesvitski with whom he shared a room and the wag zherkov 
they were as usual laughing 

 why are you so glum asked nesvitski noticing prince andrew's
pale face and glittering eyes 

 there's nothing to be gay about answered bolkonski 

just as prince andrew met nesvitski and zherkov there came toward
them from the other end of the corridor strauch an austrian general
who on kutuzov's staff in charge of the provisioning of the russian
army and the member of the hofkriegsrath who had arrived the previous
evening there was room enough in the wide corridor for the generals to
pass the three officers quite easily but zherkov pushing nesvitski
aside with his arm said in a breathless voice 

 they're coming they're coming stand aside make way 
please make way 

the generals were passing by looking as if they wished to avoid
embarrassing attentions on the face of the wag zherkov there suddenly
appeared a stupid smile of glee which he seemed unable to suppress 

 your excellency said he in german stepping forward and
addressing the austrian general i have the honor to congratulate
you 

he bowed his head and scraped first with one foot and then with the
other awkwardly like a child at a dancing lesson 

the member of the hofkriegsrath looked at him severely but seeing the
seriousness of his stupid smile could not but give him a moment's
attention he screwed up his eyes showing that he was listening 

 i have the honor to congratulate you general mack has arrived quite
well only a little bruised just here he added pointing with a
beaming smile to his head 

the general frowned turned away and went on 

 gott wie naiv said he angrily after he had gone a few steps 

 good god what simplicity 


nesvitski with a laugh threw his arms round prince andrew but
bolkonski turning still paler pushed him away with an angry look and
turned to zherkov the nervous irritation aroused by the appearance
of mack the news of his defeat and the thought of what lay before the
russian army found vent in anger at zherkov's untimely jest 

 if you sir choose to make a buffoon of yourself he said
sharply with a slight trembling of the lower jaw i can't prevent
your doing so but i warn you that if you dare to play the fool in my
presence i will teach you to behave yourself 

nesvitski and zherkov were so surprised by this outburst that they
gazed at bolkonski silently with wide open eyes 

 what's the matter i only congratulated them said zherkov 

 i am not jesting with you please be silent cried bolkonski 
and taking nesvitski's arm he left zherkov who did not know what to
say 

 come what's the matter old fellow said nesvitski trying to
soothe him 

 what's the matter exclaimed prince andrew standing still in
his excitement don't you understand that either we are officers
serving our tsar and our country rejoicing in the successes and
grieving at the misfortunes of our common cause or we are merely
lackeys who care nothing for their master's business quarante mille
hommes massacres et l'armee de nos allies detruite et vous
trouvez la le mot pour rire he said as if strengthening his
views by this french sentence c'est bien pour un garcon de rien
comme cet individu dont vous avez fait un ami mais pas pour vous pas
pour vous 2 only a hobbledehoy could amuse himself in this
way he added in russian but pronouncing the word with a french
accent having noticed that zherkov could still hear him 

 forty thousand men massacred and the army of our allies
 destroyed and you find that a cause for jesting 

 2 it is all very well for that good for nothing fellow
 of whom you have made a friend but not for you not for
 you 


he waited a moment to see whether the cornet would answer but he turned
and went out of the corridor 





chapter iv

the pavlograd hussars were stationed two miles from braunau the
squadron in which nicholas rostov served as a cadet was quartered in
the german village of salzeneck the best quarters in the village were
assigned to cavalry captain denisov the squadron commander known
throughout the whole cavalry division as vaska denisov cadet rostov 
ever since he had overtaken the regiment in poland had lived with the
squadron commander 

on october 11 the day when all was astir at headquarters over the news
of mack's defeat the camp life of the officers of this squadron was
proceeding as usual denisov who had been losing at cards all night 
had not yet come home when rostov rode back early in the morning from
a foraging expedition rostov in his cadet uniform with a jerk to his
horse rode up to the porch swung his leg over the saddle with a supple
youthful movement stood for a moment in the stirrup as if loathe to
part from his horse and at last sprang down and called to his orderly 

 ah bondarenko dear friend said he to the hussar who rushed up
headlong to the horse walk him up and down my dear fellow he
continued with that gay brotherly cordiality which goodhearted young
people show to everyone when they are happy 

 yes your excellency answered the ukrainian gaily tossing his
head 

 mind walk him up and down well 

another hussar also rushed toward the horse but bondarenko had already
thrown the reins of the snaffle bridle over the horse's head it was
evident that the cadet was liberal with his tips and that it paid to
serve him rostov patted the horse's neck and then his flank and
lingered for a moment 

 splendid what a horse he will be he thought with a smile and
holding up his saber his spurs jingling he ran up the steps of the
porch his landlord who in a waistcoat and a pointed cap pitchfork in
hand was clearing manure from the cowhouse looked out and his face
immediately brightened on seeing rostov schon gut morgen schon
gut morgen he said winking with a merry smile evidently pleased
to greet the young man 

 a very good morning a very good morning 


 schon fleissig said rostov with the same gay brotherly smile
which did not leave his eager face hoch oestreicher hoch russen 
kaiser alexander hoch 2 said he quoting words often repeated by
the german landlord 

 busy already 

 2 hurrah for the austrians hurrah for the russians 
 hurrah for emperor alexander 


the german laughed came out of the cowshed pulled off his cap and
waving it above his head cried 

 und die ganze welt hoch 

 and hurrah for the whole world 


rostov waved his cap above his head like the german and cried laughing 
 und vivat die ganze welt though neither the german cleaning his
cowshed nor rostov back with his platoon from foraging for hay had any
reason for rejoicing they looked at each other with joyful delight and
brotherly love wagged their heads in token of their mutual affection 
and parted smiling the german returning to his cowshed and rostov
going to the cottage he occupied with denisov 

 what about your master he asked lavrushka denisov's orderly 
whom all the regiment knew for a rogue 

 hasn't been in since the evening must have been losing 
answered lavrushka i know by now if he wins he comes back early to
brag about it but if he stays out till morning it means he's lost and
will come back in a rage will you have coffee 

 yes bring some 

ten minutes later lavrushka brought the coffee he's coming 
said he now for trouble rostov looked out of the window and
saw denisov coming home denisov was a small man with a red face 
sparkling black eyes and black tousled mustache and hair he wore an
unfastened cloak wide breeches hanging down in creases and a crumpled
shako on the back of his head he came up to the porch gloomily hanging
his head 

 lavwuska he shouted loudly and angrily take it off 
blockhead 

 well i am taking it off replied lavrushka's voice 

 ah you're up already said denisov entering the room 

 long ago answered rostov i have already been for the hay 
and have seen fraulein mathilde 

 weally and i've been losing bwother i lost yesterday like a
damned fool cried denisov not pronouncing his r's such ill
luck such ill luck as soon as you left it began and went on hullo
there tea 

puckering up his face though smiling and showing his short strong
teeth he began with stubby fingers of both hands to ruffle up his thick
tangled black hair 

 and what devil made me go to that wat an officer nicknamed
 the rat he said rubbing his forehead and whole face with both
hands just fancy he didn't let me win a single cahd not one
cahd 

he took the lighted pipe that was offered to him gripped it in his
fist and tapped it on the floor making the sparks fly while he
continued to shout 

 he lets one win the singles and collahs it as soon as one doubles it 
gives the singles and snatches the doubles 

he scattered the burning tobacco smashed the pipe and threw it away 
then he remained silent for a while and all at once looked cheerfully
with his glittering black eyes at rostov 

 if at least we had some women here but there's nothing foh one
to do but dwink if we could only get to fighting soon hullo who's
there he said turning to the door as he heard a tread of heavy
boots and the clinking of spurs that came to a stop and a respectful
cough 

 the squadron quartermaster said lavrushka 

denisov's face puckered still more 

 wetched he muttered throwing down a purse with some gold in it 
 wostov deah fellow just see how much there is left and shove the
purse undah the pillow he said and went out to the quartermaster 

rostov took the money and mechanically arranging the old and new coins
in separate piles began counting them 

 ah telyanin how d'ye do they plucked me last night came
denisov's voice from the next room 

 where at bykov's at the rat's i knew it replied a piping
voice and lieutenant telyanin a small officer of the same squadron 
entered the room 

rostov thrust the purse under the pillow and shook the damp little hand
which was offered him telyanin for some reason had been transferred
from the guards just before this campaign he behaved very well in the
regiment but was not liked rostov especially detested him and was
unable to overcome or conceal his groundless antipathy to the man 

 well young cavalryman how is my rook behaving he asked rook
was a young horse telyanin had sold to rostov 

the lieutenant never looked the man he was speaking to straight in the
face his eyes continually wandered from one object to another 

 i saw you riding this morning he added 

 oh he's all right a good horse answered rostov though the
horse for which he had paid seven hundred rubbles was not worth half
that sum he's begun to go a little lame on the left foreleg he
added 

 the hoof's cracked that's nothing i'll teach you what to do
and show you what kind of rivet to use 

 yes please do said rostov 

 i'll show you i'll show you it's not a secret and it's a
horse you'll thank me for 

 then i'll have it brought round said rostov wishing to avoid
telyanin and he went out to give the order 

in the passage denisov with a pipe was squatting on the threshold
facing the quartermaster who was reporting to him on seeing rostov 
denisov screwed up his face and pointing over his shoulder with his
thumb to the room where telyanin was sitting he frowned and gave a
shudder of disgust 

 ugh i don't like that fellow he said regardless of the
quartermaster's presence 

rostov shrugged his shoulders as much as to say nor do i but
what's one to do and having given his order he returned to
telyanin 

telyanin was sitting in the same indolent pose in which rostov had
left him rubbing his small white hands 

 well there certainly are disgusting people thought rostov as he
entered 

 have you told them to bring the horse asked telyanin getting up
and looking carelessly about him 

 i have 

 let us go ourselves i only came round to ask denisov about
yesterday's order have you got it denisov 

 not yet but where are you off to 

 i want to teach this young man how to shoe a horse said
telyanin 

they went through the porch and into the stable the lieutenant
explained how to rivet the hoof and went away to his own quarters 

when rostov went back there was a bottle of vodka and a sausage on the
table denisov was sitting there scratching with his pen on a sheet of
paper he looked gloomily in rostov's face and said i am witing
to her 

he leaned his elbows on the table with his pen in his hand and 
evidently glad of a chance to say quicker in words what he wanted to
write told rostov the contents of his letter 

 you see my fwiend he said we sleep when we don't love we
are childwen of the dust but one falls in love and one is a god one
is pua as on the fihst day of cweation who's that now send him
to the devil i'm busy he shouted to lavrushka who went up to
him not in the least abashed 

 who should it be you yourself told him to come it's the
quartermaster for the money 

denisov frowned and was about to shout some reply but stopped 

 wetched business he muttered to himself how much is left in
the puhse he asked turning to rostov 

 seven new and three old imperials 

 oh it's wetched well what are you standing there for you
sca'cwow call the quahtehmasteh he shouted to lavrushka 

 please denisov let me lend you some i have some you know 
said rostov blushing 

 don't like bowwowing from my own fellows i don't growled
denisov 

 but if you won't accept money from me like a comrade you will
offend me really i have some rostov repeated 

 no i tell you 

and denisov went to the bed to get the purse from under the pillow 

 where have you put it wostov 

 under the lower pillow 

 it's not there 

denisov threw both pillows on the floor the purse was not there 

 that's a miwacle 

 wait haven't you dropped it said rostov picking up the
pillows one at a time and shaking them 

he pulled off the quilt and shook it the purse was not there 

 dear me can i have forgotten no i remember thinking that you kept
it under your head like a treasure said rostov i put it just
here where is it he asked turning to lavrushka 

 i haven't been in the room it must be where you put it 

 but it isn't 

 you're always like that you thwow a thing down anywhere and forget
it feel in your pockets 

 no if i hadn't thought of it being a treasure said rostov 
 but i remember putting it there 

lavrushka turned all the bedding over looked under the bed and under
the table searched everywhere and stood still in the middle of the
room denisov silently watched lavrushka's movements and when the
latter threw up his arms in surprise saying it was nowhere to be found
denisov glanced at rostov 

 wostov you've not been playing schoolboy twicks 

rostov felt denisov's gaze fixed on him raised his eyes and
instantly dropped them again all the blood which had seemed congested
somewhere below his throat rushed to his face and eyes he could not
draw breath 

 and there hasn't been anyone in the room except the lieutenant and
yourselves it must be here somewhere said lavrushka 

 now then you devil's puppet look alive and hunt for it 
shouted denisov suddenly turning purple and rushing at the man with
a threatening gesture if the purse isn't found i'll flog you 
i'll flog you all 

rostov his eyes avoiding denisov began buttoning his coat buckled
on his saber and put on his cap 

 i must have that purse i tell you shouted denisov shaking his
orderly by the shoulders and knocking him against the wall 

 denisov let him alone i know who has taken it said rostov 
going toward the door without raising his eyes denisov paused thought
a moment and evidently understanding what rostov hinted at seized
his arm 

 nonsense he cried and the veins on his forehead and neck stood
out like cords you are mad i tell you i won't allow it 
the purse is here i'll flay this scoundwel alive and it will be
found 

 i know who has taken it repeated rostov in an unsteady voice 
and went to the door 

 and i tell you don't you dahe to do it shouted denisov 
rushing at the cadet to restrain him 

but rostov pulled away his arm and with as much anger as though
denisov were his worst enemy firmly fixed his eyes directly on his
face 

 do you understand what you're saying he said in a trembling
voice there was no one else in the room except myself so that if it
is not so then 

he could not finish and ran out of the room 

 ah may the devil take you and evewybody were the last words
rostov heard 

rostov went to telyanin's quarters 

 the master is not in he's gone to headquarters said
telyanin's orderly has something happened he added surprised
at the cadet's troubled face 

 no nothing 

 you've only just missed him said the orderly 

the headquarters were situated two miles away from salzeneck and
rostov without returning home took a horse and rode there there was
an inn in the village which the officers frequented rostov rode up to
it and saw telyanin's horse at the porch 

in the second room of the inn the lieutenant was sitting over a dish of
sausages and a bottle of wine 

 ah you've come here too young man he said smiling and
raising his eyebrows 

 yes said rostov as if it cost him a great deal to utter the
word and he sat down at the nearest table 

both were silent there were two germans and a russian officer in the
room no one spoke and the only sounds heard were the clatter of knives
and the munching of the lieutenant 

when telyanin had finished his lunch he took out of his pocket a double
purse and drawing its rings aside with his small white turned up
fingers drew out a gold imperial and lifting his eyebrows gave it to
the waiter 

 please be quick he said 

the coin was a new one rostov rose and went up to telyanin 

 allow me to look at your purse he said in a low almost
inaudible voice 

with shifting eyes but eyebrows still raised telyanin handed him the
purse 

 yes it's a nice purse yes yes he said growing suddenly
pale and added look at it young man 

rostov took the purse in his hand examined it and the money in it and
looked at telyanin the lieutenant was looking about in his usual way
and suddenly seemed to grow very merry 

 if we get to vienna i'll get rid of it there but in these wretched
little towns there's nowhere to spend it said he well let me
have it young man i'm going 

rostov did not speak 

 and you are you going to have lunch too they feed you quite
decently here continued telyanin now then let me have it 

he stretched out his hand to take hold of the purse rostov let go of
it telyanin took the purse and began carelessly slipping it into the
pocket of his riding breeches with his eyebrows lifted and his mouth
slightly open as if to say yes yes i am putting my purse in my
pocket and that's quite simple and is no one else's business 

 well young man he said with a sigh and from under his lifted
brows he glanced into rostov's eyes 

some flash as of an electric spark shot from telyanin's eyes to
rostov's and back and back again and again in an instant 

 come here said rostov catching hold of telyanin's arm and
almost dragging him to the window that money is denisov's you
took it he whispered just above telyanin's ear 

 what what how dare you what said telyanin 

but these words came like a piteous despairing cry and an entreaty for
pardon as soon as rostov heard them an enormous load of doubt
fell from him he was glad and at the same instant began to pity the
miserable man who stood before him but the task he had begun had to be
completed 

 heaven only knows what the people here may imagine muttered
telyanin taking up his cap and moving toward a small empty room we
must have an explanation 

 i know it and shall prove it said rostov 

 i 

every muscle of telyanin's pale terrified face began to quiver his
eyes still shifted from side to side but with a downward look not rising
to rostov's face and his sobs were audible 

 count don't ruin a young fellow here is this wretched money 
take it he threw it on the table i have an old father and
mother 

rostov took the money avoiding telyanin's eyes and went out of the
room without a word but at the door he stopped and then retraced his
steps o god he said with tears in his eyes how could you do
it 

 count said telyanin drawing nearer to him 

 don't touch me said rostov drawing back if you need it 
take the money and he threw the purse to him and ran out of the inn 





chapter v

that same evening there was an animated discussion among the
squadron's officers in denisov's quarters 

 and i tell you rostov that you must apologize to the colonel 
said a tall grizzly haired staff captain with enormous mustaches and
many wrinkles on his large features to rostov who was crimson with
excitement 

the staff captain kirsten had twice been reduced to the ranks for
affairs of honor and had twice regained his commission 

 i will allow no one to call me a liar cried rostov he told
me i lied and i told him he lied and there it rests he may keep me
on duty every day or may place me under arrest but no one can make
me apologize because if he as commander of this regiment thinks it
beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction then 

 you just wait a moment my dear fellow and listen interrupted
the staff captain in his deep bass calmly stroking his long mustache 
 you tell the colonel in the presence of other officers that an
officer has stolen 

 i'm not to blame that the conversation began in the presence of
other officers perhaps i ought not to have spoken before them but i am
not a diplomatist that's why i joined the hussars thinking that here
one would not need finesse and he tells me that i am lying so let him
give me satisfaction 

 that's all right no one thinks you a coward but that's not the
point ask denisov whether it is not out of the question for a cadet to
demand satisfaction of his regimental commander 

denisov sat gloomily biting his mustache and listening to the
conversation evidently with no wish to take part in it he answered the
staff captain's question by a disapproving shake of his head 

 you speak to the colonel about this nasty business before other
officers continued the staff captain and bogdanich the
colonel was called bogdanich shuts you up 

 he did not shut me up he said i was telling an untruth 

 well have it so and you talked a lot of nonsense to him and must
apologize 

 not on any account exclaimed rostov 

 i did not expect this of you said the staff captain seriously and
severely you don't wish to apologize but man it's not only to
him but to the whole regiment all of us you're to blame all round 
the case is this you ought to have thought the matter over and
taken advice but no you go and blurt it all straight out before the
officers now what was the colonel to do have the officer tried and
disgrace the whole regiment disgrace the whole regiment because of one
scoundrel is that how you look at it we don't see it like that and
bogdanich was a brick he told you you were saying what was not true 
it's not pleasant but what's to be done my dear fellow you landed
yourself in it and now when one wants to smooth the thing over some
conceit prevents your apologizing and you wish to make the whole
affair public you are offended at being put on duty a bit but why not
apologize to an old and honorable officer whatever bogdanich may
be anyway he is an honorable and brave old colonel you're quick at
taking offense but you don't mind disgracing the whole regiment 
the staff captain's voice began to tremble you have been in the
regiment next to no time my lad you're here today and tomorrow
you'll be appointed adjutant somewhere and can snap your fingers when
it is said there are thieves among the pavlograd officers but
it's not all the same to us am i not right denisov it's not the
same 

denisov remained silent and did not move but occasionally looked with
his glittering black eyes at rostov 

 you value your own pride and don't wish to apologize continued
the staff captain but we old fellows who have grown up in and god
willing are going to die in the regiment we prize the honor of the
regiment and bogdanich knows it oh we do prize it old fellow and
all this is not right it's not right you may take offense or not but
i always stick to mother truth it's not right 

and the staff captain rose and turned away from rostov 

 that's twue devil take it shouted denisov jumping up now
then wostov now then 

rostov growing red and pale alternately looked first at one officer
and then at the other 

 no gentlemen no you mustn't think i quite understand 
you're wrong to think that of me i for me for the honor of
the regiment i'd ah well i'll show that in action and for me
the honor of the flag well never mind it's true i'm to blame 
to blame all round well what else do you want 

 come that's right count cried the staff captain turning
round and clapping rostov on the shoulder with his big hand 

 i tell you shouted denisov he's a fine fellow 

 that's better count said the staff captain beginning to
address rostov by his title as if in recognition of his confession 
 go and apologize your excellency yes go 

 gentlemen i'll do anything no one shall hear a word from me 
said rostov in an imploring voice but i can't apologize by god i
can't do what you will how can i go and apologize like a little boy
asking forgiveness 

denisov began to laugh 

 it'll be worse for you bogdanich is vindictive and you'll pay
for your obstinacy said kirsten 

 no on my word it's not obstinacy i can't describe the feeling 
i can't 

 well it's as you like said the staff captain and what has
become of that scoundrel he asked denisov 

 he has weported himself sick he's to be stwuck off the list
tomowwow muttered denisov 

 it is an illness there's no other way of explaining it said
the staff captain 

 illness or not he'd better not cwoss my path i'd kill him 
shouted denisov in a bloodthirsty tone 

just then zherkov entered the room 

 what brings you here cried the officers turning to the newcomer 

 we're to go into action gentlemen mack has surrendered with his
whole army 

 it's not true 

 i've seen him myself 

 what saw the real mack with hands and feet 

 into action into action bring him a bottle for such news but how
did you come here 

 i've been sent back to the regiment all on account of that devil 
mack an austrian general complained of me i congratulated him on
mack's arrival what's the matter rostov you look as if you'd
just come out of a hot bath 

 oh my dear fellow we're in such a stew here these last two
days 

the regimental adjutant came in and confirmed the news brought by
zherkov they were under orders to advance next day 

 we're going into action gentlemen 

 well thank god we've been sitting here too long 





chapter vi

kutuzov fell back toward vienna destroying behind him the bridges over
the rivers inn at braunau and traun near linz on october 23 the
russian troops were crossing the river enns at midday the russian
baggage train the artillery and columns of troops were defiling
through the town of enns on both sides of the bridge 

it was a warm rainy autumnal day the wide expanse that opened out
before the heights on which the russian batteries stood guarding the
bridge was at times veiled by a diaphanous curtain of slanting rain and
then suddenly spread out in the sunlight far distant objects could
be clearly seen glittering as though freshly varnished down below 
the little town could be seen with its white red roofed houses its
cathedral and its bridge on both sides of which streamed jostling
masses of russian troops at the bend of the danube vessels an island 
and a castle with a park surrounded by the waters of the confluence of
the enns and the danube became visible and the rocky left bank of the
danube covered with pine forests with a mystic background of green
treetops and bluish gorges the turrets of a convent stood out beyond a
wild virgin pine forest and far away on the other side of the enns the
enemy's horse patrols could be discerned 

among the field guns on the brow of the hill the general in command of
the rearguard stood with a staff officer scanning the country through
his fieldglass a little behind them nesvitski who had been sent to
the rearguard by the commander in chief was sitting on the trail of a
gun carriage a cossack who accompanied him had handed him a knapsack
and a flask and nesvitski was treating some officers to pies and real
doppelkummel the officers gladly gathered round him some on their
knees some squatting turkish fashion on the wet grass 

 yes the austrian prince who built that castle was no fool it's
a fine place why are you not eating anything gentlemen nesvitski
was saying 

 thank you very much prince answered one of the officers pleased
to be talking to a staff officer of such importance it's a lovely
place we passed close to the park and saw two deer and what a
splendid house 

 look prince said another who would have dearly liked to take
another pie but felt shy and therefore pretended to be examining the
countryside see our infantrymen have already got there look there
in the meadow behind the village three of them are dragging something 
they'll ransack that castle he remarked with evident approval 

 so they will said nesvitski no but what i should like 
added he munching a pie in his moist lipped handsome mouth would be
to slip in over there 

he pointed with a smile to a turreted nunnery and his eyes narrowed and
gleamed 

 that would be fine gentlemen 

the officers laughed 

 just to flutter the nuns a bit they say there are italian girls
among them on my word i'd give five years of my life for it 

 they must be feeling dull too said one of the bolder officers 
laughing 

meanwhile the staff officer standing in front pointed out something to
the general who looked through his field glass 

 yes so it is so it is said the general angrily lowering the
field glass and shrugging his shoulders so it is they'll be fired
on at the crossing and why are they dawdling there 

on the opposite side the enemy could be seen by the naked eye and from
their battery a milk white cloud arose then came the distant report of
a shot and our troops could be seen hurrying to the crossing 

nesvitski rose puffing and went up to the general smiling 

 would not your excellency like a little refreshment he said 

 it's a bad business said the general without answering him 
 our men have been wasting time 

 hadn't i better ride over your excellency asked nesvitski 

 yes please do answered the general and he repeated the order
that had already once been given in detail and tell the hussars
that they are to cross last and to fire the bridge as i ordered and the
inflammable material on the bridge must be reinspected 

 very good answered nesvitski 

he called the cossack with his horse told him to put away the knapsack
and flask and swung his heavy person easily into the saddle 

 i'll really call in on the nuns he said to the officers who
watched him smilingly and he rode off by the winding path down the
hill 

 now then let's see how far it will carry captain just try 
said the general turning to an artillery officer have a little fun
to pass the time 

 crew to your guns commanded the officer 

in a moment the men came running gaily from their campfires and began
loading 

 one came the command 

number one jumped briskly aside the gun rang out with a deafening
metallic roar and a whistling grenade flew above the heads of our
troops below the hill and fell far short of the enemy a little smoke
showing the spot where it burst 

the faces of officers and men brightened up at the sound everyone got
up and began watching the movements of our troops below as plainly
visible as if but a stone's throw away and the movements of the
approaching enemy farther off at the same instant the sun came fully
out from behind the clouds and the clear sound of the solitary shot
and the brilliance of the bright sunshine merged in a single joyous and
spirited impression 





chapter vii

two of the enemy's shots had already flown across the bridge where
there was a crush halfway across stood prince nesvitski who had
alighted from his horse and whose big body was jammed against the
railings he looked back laughing to the cossack who stood a few
steps behind him holding two horses by their bridles each time prince
nesvitski tried to move on soldiers and carts pushed him back again
and pressed him against the railings and all he could do was to smile 

 what a fine fellow you are friend said the cossack to a convoy
soldier with a wagon who was pressing onto the infantrymen who were
crowded together close to his wheels and his horses what a fellow 
you can't wait a moment don't you see the general wants to pass 

but the convoyman took no notice of the word general and shouted
at the soldiers who were blocking his way hi there boys keep to
the left wait a bit but the soldiers crowded together shoulder to
shoulder their bayonets interlocking moved over the bridge in a dense
mass looking down over the rails prince nesvitski saw the rapid noisy
little waves of the enns which rippling and eddying round the piles of
the bridge chased each other along looking on the bridge he saw equally
uniform living waves of soldiers shoulder straps covered shakos 
knapsacks bayonets long muskets and under the shakos faces with
broad cheekbones sunken cheeks and listless tired expressions and
feet that moved through the sticky mud that covered the planks of the
bridge sometimes through the monotonous waves of men like a fleck of
white foam on the waves of the enns an officer in a cloak and with
a type of face different from that of the men squeezed his way along 
sometimes like a chip of wood whirling in the river an hussar on foot 
an orderly or a townsman was carried through the waves of infantry 
and sometimes like a log floating down the river an officers or
company's baggage wagon piled high leather covered and hemmed in on
all sides moved across the bridge 

 it's as if a dam had burst said the cossack hopelessly are
there many more of you to come 

 a million all but one replied a waggish soldier in a torn coat 
with a wink and passed on followed by another an old man 

 if he he meant the enemy begins popping at the bridge now 
said the old soldier dismally to a comrade you'll forget to
scratch yourself 

that soldier passed on and after him came another sitting on a cart 

 where the devil have the leg bands been shoved to said an
orderly running behind the cart and fumbling in the back of it 

and he also passed on with the wagon then came some merry soldiers who
had evidently been drinking 

 and then old fellow he gives him one in the teeth with the butt
end of his gun a soldier whose greatcoat was well tucked up said
gaily with a wide swing of his arm 

 yes the ham was just delicious answered another with a loud
laugh and they too passed on so that nesvitski did not learn who
had been struck on the teeth or what the ham had to do with it 

 bah how they scurry he just sends a ball and they think they'll
all be killed a sergeant was saying angrily and reproachfully 

 as it flies past me daddy the ball i mean said a young soldier
with an enormous mouth hardly refraining from laughing i felt like
dying of fright i did pon my word i got that frightened said
he as if bragging of having been frightened 

that one also passed then followed a cart unlike any that had gone
before it was a german cart with a pair of horses led by a german and
seemed loaded with a whole houseful of effects a fine brindled cow with
a large udder was attached to the cart behind a woman with an unweaned
baby an old woman and a healthy german girl with bright red cheeks
were sitting on some feather beds evidently these fugitives were
allowed to pass by special permission the eyes of all the soldiers
turned toward the women and while the vehicle was passing at foot pace
all the soldiers remarks related to the two young ones every face
bore almost the same smile expressing unseemly thoughts about the
women 

 just see the german sausage is making tracks too 

 sell me the missis said another soldier addressing the german 
who angry and frightened strode energetically along with downcast
eyes 

 see how smart she's made herself oh the devils 

 there fedotov you should be quartered on them 

 i have seen as much before now mate 

 where are you going asked an infantry officer who was eating an
apple also half smiling as he looked at the handsome girl 

the german closed his eyes signifying that he did not understand 

 take it if you like said the officer giving the girl an apple 

the girl smiled and took it nesvitski like the rest of the men on the
bridge did not take his eyes off the women till they had passed when
they had gone by the same stream of soldiers followed with the same
kind of talk and at last all stopped as often happens the horses of
a convoy wagon became restive at the end of the bridge and the whole
crowd had to wait 

 and why are they stopping there's no proper order said the
soldiers where are you shoving to devil take you can't you wait 
it'll be worse if he fires the bridge see here's an officer jammed
in too different voices were saying in the crowd as the men looked
at one another and all pressed toward the exit from the bridge 

looking down at the waters of the enns under the bridge nesvitski
suddenly heard a sound new to him of something swiftly approaching 
something big that splashed into the water 

 just see where it carries to a soldier near by said sternly 
looking round at the sound 

 encouraging us to get along quicker said another uneasily 

the crowd moved on again nesvitski realized that it was a cannon ball 

 hey cossack my horse he said now then you there get out
of the way make way 

with great difficulty he managed to get to his horse and shouting
continually he moved on the soldiers squeezed themselves to make way
for him but again pressed on him so that they jammed his leg and those
nearest him were not to blame for they were themselves pressed still
harder from behind 

 nesvitski nesvitski you numskull came a hoarse voice from
behind him 

nesvitski looked round and saw some fifteen paces away but separated
by the living mass of moving infantry vaska denisov red and shaggy 
with his cap on the back of his black head and a cloak hanging jauntily
over his shoulder 

 tell these devils these fiends to let me pass shouted denisov
evidently in a fit of rage his coal black eyes with their bloodshot
whites glittering and rolling as he waved his sheathed saber in a small
bare hand as red as his face 

 ah vaska joyfully replied nesvitski what's up with
you 

 the squadwon can't pass shouted vaska denisov showing his
white teeth fiercely and spurring his black thoroughbred arab which
twitched its ears as the bayonets touched it and snorted spurting
white foam from his bit tramping the planks of the bridge with his
hoofs and apparently ready to jump over the railings had his rider let
him what is this they're like sheep just like sheep out of the
way let us pass stop there you devil with the cart i'll hack
you with my saber he shouted actually drawing his saber from its
scabbard and flourishing it 

the soldiers crowded against one another with terrified faces and
denisov joined nesvitski 

 how's it you're not drunk today said nesvitski when the
other had ridden up to him 

 they don't even give one time to dwink answered vaska
denisov they keep dwagging the wegiment to and fwo all day if they
mean to fight let's fight but the devil knows what this is 

 what a dandy you are today said nesvitski looking at
denisov's new cloak and saddlecloth 

denisov smiled took out of his sabretache a handkerchief that diffused
a smell of perfume and put it to nesvitski's nose 

 of course i'm going into action i've shaved bwushed my teeth 
and scented myself 

the imposing figure of nesvitski followed by his cossack and
the determination of denisov who flourished his sword and shouted
frantically had such an effect that they managed to squeeze through
to the farther side of the bridge and stopped the infantry beside the
bridge nesvitski found the colonel to whom he had to deliver the order 
and having done this he rode back 

having cleared the way denisov stopped at the end of the bridge 
carelessly holding in his stallion that was neighing and pawing the
ground eager to rejoin its fellows he watched his squadron draw
nearer then the clang of hoofs as of several horses galloping 
resounded on the planks of the bridge and the squadron officers in
front and men four abreast spread across the bridge and began to emerge
on his side of it 

the infantry who had been stopped crowded near the bridge in the
trampled mud and gazed with that particular feeling of ill will 
estrangement and ridicule with which troops of different arms usually
encounter one another at the clean smart hussars who moved past them in
regular order 

 smart lads only fit for a fair said one 

 what good are they they're led about just for show remarked
another 

 don't kick up the dust you infantry jested an hussar whose
prancing horse had splashed mud over some foot soldiers 

 i'd like to put you on a two days march with a knapsack your
fine cords would soon get a bit rubbed said an infantryman wiping
the mud off his face with his sleeve perched up there you're more
like a bird than a man 

 there now zikin they ought to put you on a horse you'd look
fine said a corporal chaffing a thin little soldier who bent under
the weight of his knapsack 

 take a stick between your legs that'll suit you for a horse 
the hussar shouted back 





chapter viii

the last of the infantry hurriedly crossed the bridge squeezing
together as they approached it as if passing through a funnel at last
the baggage wagons had all crossed the crush was less and the last
battalion came onto the bridge only denisov's squadron of hussars
remained on the farther side of the bridge facing the enemy who could
be seen from the hill on the opposite bank but was not yet visible from
the bridge for the horizon as seen from the valley through which the
river flowed was formed by the rising ground only half a mile away 
at the foot of the hill lay wasteland over which a few groups of our
cossack scouts were moving suddenly on the road at the top of the high
ground artillery and troops in blue uniform were seen these were the
french a group of cossack scouts retired down the hill at a trot all
the officers and men of denisov's squadron though they tried to talk
of other things and to look in other directions thought only of what
was there on the hilltop and kept constantly looking at the patches
appearing on the skyline which they knew to be the enemy's troops 
the weather had cleared again since noon and the sun was descending
brightly upon the danube and the dark hills around it it was calm and
at intervals the bugle calls and the shouts of the enemy could be heard
from the hill there was no one now between the squadron and the enemy
except a few scattered skirmishers an empty space of some seven hundred
yards was all that separated them the enemy ceased firing and that
stern threatening inaccessible and intangible line which separates
two hostile armies was all the more clearly felt 

 one step beyond that boundary line which resembles the line dividing
the living from the dead lies uncertainty suffering and death and
what is there who is there there beyond that field that tree that
roof lit up by the sun no one knows but one wants to know you fear
and yet long to cross that line and know that sooner or later it must
be crossed and you will have to find out what is there just as you will
inevitably have to learn what lies the other side of death but you are
strong healthy cheerful and excited and are surrounded by other such
excitedly animated and healthy men so thinks or at any rate
feels anyone who comes in sight of the enemy and that feeling gives
a particular glamour and glad keenness of impression to everything that
takes place at such moments 

on the high ground where the enemy was the smoke of a cannon rose 
and a ball flew whistling over the heads of the hussar squadron the
officers who had been standing together rode off to their places the
hussars began carefully aligning their horses silence fell on the whole
squadron all were looking at the enemy in front and at the squadron
commander awaiting the word of command a second and a third cannon
ball flew past evidently they were firing at the hussars but the balls
with rapid rhythmic whistle flew over the heads of the horsemen and fell
somewhere beyond them the hussars did not look round but at the sound
of each shot as at the word of command the whole squadron with its
rows of faces so alike yet so different holding its breath while the
ball flew past rose in the stirrups and sank back again the soldiers
without turning their heads glanced at one another curious to see their
comrades impression every face from denisov's to that of the
bugler showed one common expression of conflict irritation and
excitement around chin and mouth the quartermaster frowned looking
at the soldiers as if threatening to punish them cadet mironov ducked
every time a ball flew past rostov on the left flank mounted on his
rook a handsome horse despite its game leg had the happy air of a
schoolboy called up before a large audience for an examination in which
he feels sure he will distinguish himself he was glancing at everyone
with a clear bright expression as if asking them to notice how calmly
he sat under fire but despite himself on his face too that same
indication of something new and stern showed round the mouth 

 who's that curtseying there cadet miwonov that's not wight 
look at me cried denisov who unable to keep still on one spot 
kept turning his horse in front of the squadron 

the black hairy snub nosed face of vaska denisov and his whole
short sturdy figure with the sinewy hairy hand and stumpy fingers in
which he held the hilt of his naked saber looked just as it usually
did especially toward evening when he had emptied his second bottle he
was only redder than usual with his shaggy head thrown back like birds
when they drink pressing his spurs mercilessly into the sides of his
good horse bedouin and sitting as though falling backwards in the
saddle he galloped to the other flank of the squadron and shouted in
a hoarse voice to the men to look to their pistols he rode up to
kirsten the staff captain on his broad backed steady mare came at a
walk to meet him his face with its long mustache was serious as always 
only his eyes were brighter than usual 

 well what about it said he to denisov it won't come to a
fight you'll see we shall retire 

 the devil only knows what they're about muttered denisov 
 ah wostov he cried noticing the cadet's bright face 
 you've got it at last 

and he smiled approvingly evidently pleased with the cadet rostov
felt perfectly happy just then the commander appeared on the bridge 
denisov galloped up to him 

 your excellency let us attack them i'll dwive them off 

 attack indeed said the colonel in a bored voice puckering up his
face as if driving off a troublesome fly and why are you stopping
here don't you see the skirmishers are retreating lead the squadron
back 

the squadron crossed the bridge and drew out of range of fire without
having lost a single man the second squadron that had been in the front
line followed them across and the last cossacks quitted the farther side
of the river 

the two pavlograd squadrons having crossed the bridge retired up the
hill one after the other their colonel karl bogdanich schubert came
up to denisov's squadron and rode at a footpace not far from rostov 
without taking any notice of him although they were now meeting for the
first time since their encounter concerning telyanin rostov feeling
that he was at the front and in the power of a man toward whom he now
admitted that he had been to blame did not lift his eyes from the
colonel's athletic back his nape covered with light hair and his red
neck it seemed to rostov that bogdanich was only pretending not
to notice him and that his whole aim now was to test the cadet's
courage so he drew himself up and looked around him merrily then it
seemed to him that bogdanich rode so near in order to show him his
courage next he thought that his enemy would send the squadron on a
desperate attack just to punish him rostov then he imagined how 
after the attack bogdanich would come up to him as he lay wounded and
would magnanimously extend the hand of reconciliation 

the high shouldered figure of zherkov familiar to the pavlograds as
he had but recently left their regiment rode up to the colonel 
after his dismissal from headquarters zherkov had not remained in the
regiment saying he was not such a fool as to slave at the front when he
could get more rewards by doing nothing on the staff and had succeeded
in attaching himself as an orderly officer to prince bagration he now
came to his former chief with an order from the commander of the rear
guard 

 colonel he said addressing rostov's enemy with an air of
gloomy gravity and glancing round at his comrades there is an order
to stop and fire the bridge 

 an order to who asked the colonel morosely 

 i don't myself know to who replied the cornet in a
serious tone but the prince told me to go and tell the colonel
that the hussars must return quickly and fire the bridge 

zherkov was followed by an officer of the suite who rode up to the
colonel of hussars with the same order after him the stout nesvitski
came galloping up on a cossack horse that could scarcely carry his
weight 

 how's this colonel he shouted as he approached i told you
to fire the bridge and now someone has gone and blundered they are all
beside themselves over there and one can't make anything out 

the colonel deliberately stopped the regiment and turned to nesvitski 

 you spoke to me of inflammable material said he but you said
nothing about firing it 

 but my dear sir said nesvitski as he drew up taking off his
cap and smoothing his hair wet with perspiration with his plump hand 
 wasn't i telling you to fire the bridge when inflammable material
had been put in position 

 i am not your dear sir mr staff officer and you did not tell
me to burn the bridge i know the service and it is my habit orders
strictly to obey you said the bridge would be burned but who would it
burn i could not know by the holy spirit 

 ah that's always the way said nesvitski with a wave of the
hand how did you get here said he turning to zherkov 

 on the same business but you are damp let me wring you out 

 you were saying mr staff officer continued the colonel in an
offended tone 

 colonel interrupted the officer of the suite you must be
quick or the enemy will bring up his guns to use grapeshot 

the colonel looked silently at the officer of the suite at the stout
staff officer and at zherkov and he frowned 

 i will the bridge fire he said in a solemn tone as if to announce
that in spite of all the unpleasantness he had to endure he would still
do the right thing 

striking his horse with his long muscular legs as if it were to blame
for everything the colonel moved forward and ordered the second
squadron that in which rostov was serving under denisov to return to
the bridge 

 there it's just as i thought said rostov to himself he
wishes to test me his heart contracted and the blood rushed to his
face let him see whether i am a coward he thought 

again on all the bright faces of the squadron the serious expression
appeared that they had worn when under fire rostov watched his enemy 
the colonel closely to find in his face confirmation of his own
conjecture but the colonel did not once glance at rostov and looked
as he always did when at the front solemn and stern then came the word
of command 

 look sharp look sharp several voices repeated around him 

their sabers catching in the bridles and their spurs jingling the
hussars hastily dismounted not knowing what they were to do the men
were crossing themselves rostov no longer looked at the colonel he
had no time he was afraid of falling behind the hussars so much afraid
that his heart stood still his hand trembled as he gave his horse into
an orderly's charge and he felt the blood rush to his heart with
a thud denisov rode past him leaning back and shouting something 
rostov saw nothing but the hussars running all around him their spurs
catching and their sabers clattering 

 stretchers shouted someone behind him 

rostov did not think what this call for stretchers meant he ran on 
trying only to be ahead of the others but just at the bridge not
looking at the ground he came on some sticky trodden mud stumbled 
and fell on his hands the others outstripped him 

 at boss zides captain he heard the voice of the colonel who 
having ridden ahead had pulled up his horse near the bridge with a
triumphant cheerful face 

rostov wiping his muddy hands on his breeches looked at his enemy and
was about to run on thinking that the farther he went to the front
the better but bogdanich without looking at or recognizing rostov 
shouted to him 

 who's that running on the middle of the bridge to the right come
back cadet he cried angrily and turning to denisov who showing
off his courage had ridden on to the planks of the bridge 

 why run risks captain you should dismount he said 

 oh every bullet has its billet answered vaska denisov turning
in his saddle 


meanwhile nesvitski zherkov and the officer of the suite were
standing together out of range of the shots watching now the small
group of men with yellow shakos dark green jackets braided with cord 
and blue riding breeches who were swarming near the bridge and then at
what was approaching in the distance from the opposite side the blue
uniforms and groups with horses easily recognizable as artillery 

 will they burn the bridge or not who'll get there first will they
get there and fire the bridge or will the french get within grapeshot
range and wipe them out these were the questions each man of the
troops on the high ground above the bridge involuntarily asked himself
with a sinking heart watching the bridge and the hussars in the bright
evening light and the blue tunics advancing from the other side with
their bayonets and guns 

 ugh the hussars will get it hot said nesvitski they are
within grapeshot range now 

 he shouldn't have taken so many men said the officer of the
suite 

 true enough answered nesvitski two smart fellows could have
done the job just as well 

 ah your excellency put in zherkov his eyes fixed on the
hussars but still with that naive air that made it impossible to know
whether he was speaking in jest or in earnest ah your excellency 
how you look at things send two men and who then would give us the
vladimir medal and ribbon but now even if they do get peppered the
squadron may be recommended for honors and he may get a ribbon our
bogdanich knows how things are done 

 there now said the officer of the suite that's
grapeshot 

he pointed to the french guns the limbers of which were being detached
and hurriedly removed 

on the french side amid the groups with cannon a cloud of smoke
appeared then a second and a third almost simultaneously and at the
moment when the first report was heard a fourth was seen then two
reports one after another and a third 

 oh oh groaned nesvitski as if in fierce pain seizing the
officer of the suite by the arm look a man has fallen fallen 
fallen 

 two i think 

 if i were tsar i would never go to war said nesvitski turning
away 

the french guns were hastily reloaded the infantry in their blue
uniforms advanced toward the bridge at a run smoke appeared again
but at irregular intervals and grapeshot cracked and rattled onto the
bridge but this time nesvitski could not see what was happening there 
as a dense cloud of smoke arose from it the hussars had succeeded in
setting it on fire and the french batteries were now firing at them no
longer to hinder them but because the guns were trained and there was
someone to fire at 

the french had time to fire three rounds of grapeshot before the hussars
got back to their horses two were misdirected and the shot went too
high but the last round fell in the midst of a group of hussars and
knocked three of them over 

rostov absorbed by his relations with bogdanich had paused on the
bridge not knowing what to do there was no one to hew down as he
had always imagined battles to himself nor could he help to fire the
bridge because he had not brought any burning straw with him like the
other soldiers he stood looking about him when suddenly he heard a
rattle on the bridge as if nuts were being spilt and the hussar nearest
to him fell against the rails with a groan rostov ran up to him with
the others again someone shouted stretchers four men seized the
hussar and began lifting him 

 oooh for christ's sake let me alone cried the wounded man but
still he was lifted and laid on the stretcher 

nicholas rostov turned away and as if searching for something gazed
into the distance at the waters of the danube at the sky and at the
sun how beautiful the sky looked how blue how calm and how deep 
how bright and glorious was the setting sun with what soft glitter the
waters of the distant danube shone and fairer still were the faraway
blue mountains beyond the river the nunnery the mysterious gorges and
the pine forests veiled in the mist of their summits there was peace
and happiness i should wish for nothing else nothing if only i
were there thought rostov in myself alone and in that sunshine
there is so much happiness but here groans suffering fear and
this uncertainty and hurry there they are shouting again and
again are all running back somewhere and i shall run with them and it 
death is here above me and around another instant and i shall never
again see the sun this water that gorge 

at that instant the sun began to hide behind the clouds and other
stretchers came into view before rostov and the fear of death and of
the stretchers and love of the sun and of life all merged into one
feeling of sickening agitation 

 o lord god thou who art in that heaven save forgive and protect
me rostov whispered 

the hussars ran back to the men who held their horses their voices
sounded louder and calmer the stretchers disappeared from sight 

 well fwiend so you've smelt powdah shouted vaska denisov
just above his ear 

 it's all over but i am a coward yes a coward thought
rostov and sighing deeply he took rook his horse which stood resting
one foot from the orderly and began to mount 

 was that grapeshot he asked denisov 

 yes and no mistake cried denisov you worked like wegular
bwicks and it's nasty work an attack's pleasant work hacking
away at the dogs but this sort of thing is the very devil with them
shooting at you like a target 

and denisov rode up to a group that had stopped near rostov composed
of the colonel nesvitski zherkov and the officer from the suite 

 well it seems that no one has noticed thought rostov and this
was true no one had taken any notice for everyone knew the sensation
which the cadet under fire for the first time had experienced 

 here's something for you to report said zherkov see if i
don't get promoted to a sublieutenancy 

 inform the prince that i the bridge fired said the colonel
triumphantly and gaily 

 and if he asks about the losses 

 a trifle said the colonel in his bass voice two hussars
wounded and one knocked out he added unable to restrain a happy
smile and pronouncing the phrase knocked out with ringing
distinctness 





chapter ix

pursued by the french army of a hundred thousand men under the command
of bonaparte encountering a population that was unfriendly to it 
losing confidence in its allies suffering from shortness of supplies 
and compelled to act under conditions of war unlike anything that had
been foreseen the russian army of thirty five thousand men commanded
by kutuzov was hurriedly retreating along the danube stopping where
overtaken by the enemy and fighting rearguard actions only as far as
necessary to enable it to retreat without losing its heavy equipment 
there had been actions at lambach amstetten and melk but despite the
courage and endurance acknowledged even by the enemy with which the
russians fought the only consequence of these actions was a yet more
rapid retreat austrian troops that had escaped capture at ulm and had
joined kutuzov at braunau now separated from the russian army and
kutuzov was left with only his own weak and exhausted forces the
defense of vienna was no longer to be thought of instead of an
offensive the plan of which carefully prepared in accord with the
modern science of strategics had been handed to kutuzov when he was in
vienna by the austrian hofkriegsrath the sole and almost unattainable
aim remaining for him was to effect a junction with the forces that were
advancing from russia without losing his army as mack had done at ulm 

on the twenty eighth of october kutuzov with his army crossed to the
left bank of the danube and took up a position for the first time
with the river between himself and the main body of the french on the
thirtieth he attacked mortier's division which was on the left bank 
and broke it up in this action for the first time trophies were taken 
banners cannon and two enemy generals for the first time after a
fortnight's retreat the russian troops had halted and after a fight
had not only held the field but had repulsed the french though the
troops were ill clad exhausted and had lost a third of their number
in killed wounded sick and stragglers though a number of sick and
wounded had been abandoned on the other side of the danube with a letter
in which kutuzov entrusted them to the humanity of the enemy and
though the big hospitals and the houses in krems converted into military
hospitals could no longer accommodate all the sick and wounded yet the
stand made at krems and the victory over mortier raised the spirits of
the army considerably throughout the whole army and at headquarters
most joyful though erroneous rumors were rife of the imaginary approach
of columns from russia of some victory gained by the austrians and of
the retreat of the frightened bonaparte 

prince andrew during the battle had been in attendance on the austrian
general schmidt who was killed in the action his horse had been
wounded under him and his own arm slightly grazed by a bullet as a mark
of the commander in chief's special favor he was sent with the news of
this victory to the austrian court now no longer at vienna which was
threatened by the french but at brunn despite his apparently delicate
build prince andrew could endure physical fatigue far better than many
very muscular men and on the night of the battle having arrived
at krems excited but not weary with dispatches from dokhturov to
kutuzov he was sent immediately with a special dispatch to brunn 
to be so sent meant not only a reward but an important step toward
promotion 

the night was dark but starry the road showed black in the snow that
had fallen the previous day the day of the battle reviewing his
impressions of the recent battle picturing pleasantly to himself the
impression his news of a victory would create or recalling the send off
given him by the commander in chief and his fellow officers prince
andrew was galloping along in a post chaise enjoying the feelings of a
man who has at length begun to attain a long desired happiness as soon
as he closed his eyes his ears seemed filled with the rattle of the
wheels and the sensation of victory then he began to imagine that
the russians were running away and that he himself was killed but he
quickly roused himself with a feeling of joy as if learning afresh that
this was not so but that on the contrary the french had run away he
again recalled all the details of the victory and his own calm courage
during the battle and feeling reassured he dozed off the dark
starry night was followed by a bright cheerful morning the snow was
thawing in the sunshine the horses galloped quickly and on both sides
of the road were forests of different kinds fields and villages 

at one of the post stations he overtook a convoy of russian wounded 
the russian officer in charge of the transport lolled back in the front
cart shouting and scolding a soldier with coarse abuse in each of
the long german carts six or more pale dirty bandaged men were being
jolted over the stony road some of them were talking he heard russian
words others were eating bread the more severely wounded looked
silently with the languid interest of sick children at the envoy
hurrying past them 

prince andrew told his driver to stop and asked a soldier in what
action they had been wounded day before yesterday on the danube 
answered the soldier prince andrew took out his purse and gave the
soldier three gold pieces 

 that's for them all he said to the officer who came up 

 get well soon lads he continued turning to the soldiers 
 there's plenty to do still 

 what news sir asked the officer evidently anxious to start a
conversation 

 good news go on he shouted to the driver and they galloped
on 

it was already quite dark when prince andrew rattled over the paved
streets of brunn and found himself surrounded by high buildings the
lights of shops houses and street lamps fine carriages and all that
atmosphere of a large and active town which is always so attractive to a
soldier after camp life despite his rapid journey and sleepless night 
prince andrew when he drove up to the palace felt even more vigorous and
alert than he had done the day before only his eyes gleamed feverishly
and his thoughts followed one another with extraordinary clearness and
rapidity he again vividly recalled the details of the battle no longer
dim but definite and in the concise form in which he imagined himself
stating them to the emperor francis he vividly imagined the casual
questions that might be put to him and the answers he would give he
expected to be at once presented to the emperor at the chief entrance
to the palace however an official came running out to meet him and
learning that he was a special messenger led him to another entrance 

 to the right from the corridor euer hochgeboren there you will find
the adjutant on duty said the official he will conduct you to
the minister of war 

the adjutant on duty meeting prince andrew asked him to wait and went
in to the minister of war five minutes later he returned and bowing
with particular courtesy ushered prince andrew before him along a
corridor to the cabinet where the minister of war was at work the
adjutant by his elaborate courtesy appeared to wish to ward off any
attempt at familiarity on the part of the russian messenger 

prince andrew's joyous feeling was considerably weakened as he
approached the door of the minister's room he felt offended and
without his noticing it the feeling of offense immediately turned into
one of disdain which was quite uncalled for his fertile mind instantly
suggested to him a point of view which gave him a right to despise
the adjutant and the minister away from the smell of powder they
probably think it easy to gain victories he thought his eyes
narrowed disdainfully he entered the room of the minister of war with
peculiarly deliberate steps this feeling of disdain was heightened
when he saw the minister seated at a large table reading some papers
and making pencil notes on them and for the first two or three minutes
taking no notice of his arrival a wax candle stood at each side of the
minister's bent bald head with its gray temples he went on reading
to the end without raising his eyes at the opening of the door and the
sound of footsteps 

 take this and deliver it said he to his adjutant handing him the
papers and still taking no notice of the special messenger 

prince andrew felt that either the actions of kutuzov's army
interested the minister of war less than any of the other matters he was
concerned with or he wanted to give the russian special messenger that
impression but that is a matter of perfect indifference to me he
thought the minister drew the remaining papers together arranged them
evenly and then raised his head he had an intellectual and distinctive
head but the instant he turned to prince andrew the firm intelligent
expression on his face changed in a way evidently deliberate and
habitual to him his face took on the stupid artificial smile which
does not even attempt to hide its artificiality of a man who is
continually receiving many petitioners one after another 

 from general field marshal kutuzov he asked i hope it is
good news there has been an encounter with mortier a victory it was
high time 

he took the dispatch which was addressed to him and began to read it
with a mournful expression 

 oh my god my god schmidt he exclaimed in german what a
calamity what a calamity 

having glanced through the dispatch he laid it on the table and looked
at prince andrew evidently considering something 

 ah what a calamity you say the affair was decisive but mortier is
not captured again he pondered i am very glad you have brought
good news though schmidt's death is a heavy price to pay for the
victory his majesty will no doubt wish to see you but not today i
thank you you must have a rest be at the levee tomorrow after the
parade however i will let you know 

the stupid smile which had left his face while he was speaking 
reappeared 

 au revoir thank you very much his majesty will probably desire to
see you he added bowing his head 

when prince andrew left the palace he felt that all the interest
and happiness the victory had afforded him had been now left in the
indifferent hands of the minister of war and the polite adjutant the
whole tenor of his thoughts instantaneously changed the battle seemed
the memory of a remote event long past 





chapter x

prince andrew stayed at brunn with bilibin a russian acquaintance of
his in the diplomatic service 

 ah my dear prince i could not have a more welcome visitor 
said bilibin as he came out to meet prince andrew franz put the
prince's things in my bedroom said he to the servant who was
ushering bolkonski in so you're a messenger of victory eh 
splendid and i am sitting here ill as you see 

after washing and dressing prince andrew came into the diplomat's
luxurious study and sat down to the dinner prepared for him bilibin
settled down comfortably beside the fire 

after his journey and the campaign during which he had been deprived of
all the comforts of cleanliness and all the refinements of life prince
andrew felt a pleasant sense of repose among luxurious surroundings such
as he had been accustomed to from childhood besides it was pleasant 
after his reception by the austrians to speak if not in russian
 for they were speaking french at least with a russian who would he
supposed share the general russian antipathy to the austrians which was
then particularly strong 

bilibin was a man of thirty five a bachelor and of the same circle as
prince andrew they had known each other previously in petersburg but
had become more intimate when prince andrew was in vienna with kutuzov 
just as prince andrew was a young man who gave promise of rising high
in the military profession so to an even greater extent bilibin gave
promise of rising in his diplomatic career he still a young man but
no longer a young diplomat as he had entered the service at the age
of sixteen had been in paris and copenhagen and now held a rather
important post in vienna both the foreign minister and our ambassador
in vienna knew him and valued him he was not one of those many
diplomats who are esteemed because they have certain negative qualities 
avoid doing certain things and speak french he was one of those 
who liking work knew how to do it and despite his indolence would
sometimes spend a whole night at his writing table he worked well
whatever the import of his work it was not the question what for 
but the question how that interested him what the diplomatic
matter might be he did not care but it gave him great pleasure to
prepare a circular memorandum or report skillfully pointedly and
elegantly bilibin's services were valued not only for what he wrote 
but also for his skill in dealing and conversing with those in the
highest spheres 

bilibin liked conversation as he liked work only when it could be
made elegantly witty in society he always awaited an opportunity to say
something striking and took part in a conversation only when that was
possible his conversation was always sprinkled with wittily original 
finished phrases of general interest these sayings were prepared in the
inner laboratory of his mind in a portable form as if intentionally so
that insignificant society people might carry them from drawing room to
drawing room and in fact bilibin's witticisms were hawked about
in the viennese drawing rooms and often had an influence on matters
considered important 

his thin worn sallow face was covered with deep wrinkles which always
looked as clean and well washed as the tips of one's fingers after a
russian bath the movement of these wrinkles formed the principal play
of expression on his face now his forehead would pucker into deep folds
and his eyebrows were lifted then his eyebrows would descend and
deep wrinkles would crease his cheeks his small deep set eyes always
twinkled and looked out straight 

 well now tell me about your exploits said he 

bolkonski very modestly without once mentioning himself described the
engagement and his reception by the minister of war 

 they received me and my news as one receives a dog in a game of
skittles said he in conclusion 

bilibin smiled and the wrinkles on his face disappeared 

 cependant mon cher he remarked examining his nails from a
distance and puckering the skin above his left eye malgre la haute
estime que je professe pour the orthodox russian army j'avoue que
votre victoire n'est pas des plus victorieuses 

 but my dear fellow with all my respect for the orthodox
 russian army i must say that your victory was not
 particularly victorious 


he went on talking in this way in french uttering only those words in
russian on which he wished to put a contemptuous emphasis 

 come now you with all your forces fall on the unfortunate mortier
and his one division and even then mortier slips through your fingers 
where's the victory 

 but seriously said prince andrew we can at any rate say
without boasting that it was a little better than at ulm 

 why didn't you capture one just one marshal for us 

 because not everything happens as one expects or with the smoothness
of a parade we had expected as i told you to get at their rear by
seven in the morning but had not reached it by five in the afternoon 

 and why didn't you do it at seven in the morning you ought to have
been there at seven in the morning returned bilibin with a smile 
 you ought to have been there at seven in the morning 

 why did you not succeed in impressing on bonaparte by diplomatic
methods that he had better leave genoa alone retorted prince andrew
in the same tone 

 i know interrupted bilibin you're thinking it's very
easy to take marshals sitting on a sofa by the fire that is true but
still why didn't you capture him so don't be surprised if not only
the minister of war but also his most august majesty the emperor and
king francis is not much delighted by your victory even i a poor
secretary of the russian embassy do not feel any need in token of my
joy to give my franz a thaler or let him go with his liebchen to the
prater true we have no prater here 

he looked straight at prince andrew and suddenly unwrinkled his
forehead 

 it is now my turn to ask you why mon cher said bolkonski 
 i confess i do not understand perhaps there are diplomatic
subtleties here beyond my feeble intelligence but i can't make it
out mack loses a whole army the archduke ferdinand and the archduke
karl give no signs of life and make blunder after blunder kutuzov
alone at last gains a real victory destroying the spell of the
invincibility of the french and the minister of war does not even care
to hear the details 

 that's just it my dear fellow you see it's hurrah for the tsar 
for russia for the orthodox greek faith all that is beautiful but
what do we i mean the austrian court care for your victories bring
us nice news of a victory by the archduke karl or ferdinand one
archduke's as good as another as you know and even if it is only
over a fire brigade of bonaparte's that will be another story and
we'll fire off some cannon but this sort of thing seems done
on purpose to vex us the archduke karl does nothing the archduke
ferdinand disgraces himself you abandon vienna give up its
defense as much as to say heaven is with us but heaven help you
and your capital the one general whom we all loved schmidt you
expose to a bullet and then you congratulate us on the victory admit
that more irritating news than yours could not have been conceived 
it's as if it had been done on purpose on purpose besides suppose
you did gain a brilliant victory if even the archduke karl gained a
victory what effect would that have on the general course of events 
it's too late now when vienna is occupied by the french army 

 what occupied vienna occupied 

 not only occupied but bonaparte is at schonbrunn and the count 
our dear count vrbna goes to him for orders 

after the fatigues and impressions of the journey his reception and
especially after having dined bolkonski felt that he could not take in
the full significance of the words he heard 

 count lichtenfels was here this morning bilibin continued 
 and showed me a letter in which the parade of the french in vienna
was fully described prince murat et tout le tremblement you see that
your victory is not a matter for great rejoicing and that you can't be
received as a savior 

 really i don't care about that i don't care at all said
prince andrew beginning to understand that his news of the battle
before krems was really of small importance in view of such events as
the fall of austria's capital how is it vienna was taken what of
the bridge and its celebrated bridgehead and prince auersperg we heard
reports that prince auersperg was defending vienna he said 

 prince auersperg is on this on our side of the river and is
defending us doing it very badly i think but still he is defending
us but vienna is on the other side no the bridge has not yet been
taken and i hope it will not be for it is mined and orders have been
given to blow it up otherwise we should long ago have been in the
mountains of bohemia and you and your army would have spent a bad
quarter of an hour between two fires 

 but still this does not mean that the campaign is over said
prince andrew 

 well i think it is the bigwigs here think so too but they
daren't say so it will be as i said at the beginning of the campaign 
it won't be your skirmishing at durrenstein or gunpowder at all 
that will decide the matter but those who devised it said bilibin
quoting one of his own mots releasing the wrinkles on his forehead and
pausing the only question is what will come of the meeting between
the emperor alexander and the king of prussia in berlin if prussia
joins the allies austria's hand will be forced and there will be war 
if not it is merely a question of settling where the preliminaries of
the new campo formio are to be drawn up 

 what an extraordinary genius prince andrew suddenly exclaimed 
clenching his small hand and striking the table with it and what
luck the man has 

 buonaparte said bilibin inquiringly puckering up his forehead
to indicate that he was about to say something witty buonaparte 
he repeated accentuating the u i think however now that he lays
down laws for austria at schonbrunn il faut lui faire grace de
l'u i shall certainly adopt an innovation and call him simply
bonaparte 

 we must let him off the u 


 but joking apart said prince andrew do you really think the
campaign is over 

 this is what i think austria has been made a fool of and she is
not used to it she will retaliate and she has been fooled in the
first place because her provinces have been pillaged they say the holy
russian army loots terribly her army is destroyed her capital
taken and all this for the beaux yeux of his sardinian majesty and
therefore this is between ourselves i instinctively feel that we
are being deceived my instinct tells me of negotiations with france and
projects for peace a secret peace concluded separately 

 fine eyes 

 impossible cried prince andrew that would be too base 

 if we live we shall see replied bilibin his face again becoming
smooth as a sign that the conversation was at an end 

when prince andrew reached the room prepared for him and lay down in a
clean shirt on the feather bed with its warmed and fragrant pillows he
felt that the battle of which he had brought tidings was far far
away from him the alliance with prussia austria's treachery 
bonaparte's new triumph tomorrow's levee and parade and the
audience with the emperor francis occupied his thoughts 

he closed his eyes and immediately a sound of cannonading of musketry
and the rattling of carriage wheels seemed to fill his ears and now
again drawn out in a thin line the musketeers were descending the hill 
the french were firing and he felt his heart palpitating as he rode
forward beside schmidt with the bullets merrily whistling all around 
and he experienced tenfold the joy of living as he had not done since
childhood 

he woke up 

 yes that all happened he said and smiling happily to himself
like a child he fell into a deep youthful slumber 





chapter xi

next day he woke late recalling his recent impressions the first
thought that came into his mind was that today he had to be presented
to the emperor francis he remembered the minister of war the polite
austrian adjutant bilibin and last night's conversation having
dressed for his attendance at court in full parade uniform which he
had not worn for a long time he went into bilibin's study fresh 
animated and handsome with his hand bandaged in the study were four
gentlemen of the diplomatic corps with prince hippolyte kuragin 
who was a secretary to the embassy bolkonski was already acquainted 
bilibin introduced him to the others 

the gentlemen assembled at bilibin's were young wealthy gay society
men who here as in vienna formed a special set which bilibin their
leader called les notres this set consisting almost exclusively of
diplomats evidently had its own interests which had nothing to do with
war or politics but related to high society to certain women and to
the official side of the service these gentlemen received prince
andrew as one of themselves an honor they did not extend to many from
politeness and to start conversation they asked him a few questions
about the army and the battle and then the talk went off into merry
jests and gossip 

 ours 

 but the best of it was said one telling of the misfortune of
a fellow diplomat that the chancellor told him flatly that his
appointment to london was a promotion and that he was so to regard it 
can you fancy the figure he cut 

 but the worst of it gentlemen i am giving kuragin away to
you is that that man suffers and this don juan wicked fellow is
taking advantage of it 

prince hippolyte was lolling in a lounge chair with his legs over its
arm he began to laugh 

 tell me about that he said 

 oh you don juan you serpent cried several voices 

 you bolkonski don't know said bilibin turning to prince
andrew that all the atrocities of the french army i nearly said of
the russian army are nothing compared to what this man has been doing
among the women 

 la femme est la compagne de l'homme announced prince
hippolyte and began looking through a lorgnette at his elevated legs 

 woman is man's companion 


bilibin and the rest of ours burst out laughing in hippolyte's
face and prince andrew saw that hippolyte of whom he had to
admit he had almost been jealous on his wife's account was the butt
of this set 

 oh i must give you a treat bilibin whispered to bolkonski 
 kuragin is exquisite when he discusses politics you should see his
gravity 

he sat down beside hippolyte and wrinkling his forehead began talking
to him about politics prince andrew and the others gathered round these
two 

 the berlin cabinet cannot express a feeling of alliance began
hippolyte gazing round with importance at the others without
expressing as in its last note you understand besides unless
his majesty the emperor derogates from the principle of our alliance 

 wait i have not finished he said to prince andrew seizing
him by the arm i believe that intervention will be stronger than
nonintervention and he paused finally one cannot impute the
nonreceipt of our dispatch of november 18 that is how it will end 
and he released bolkonski's arm to indicate that he had now quite
finished 

 demosthenes i know thee by the pebble thou secretest in thy golden
mouth said bilibin and the mop of hair on his head moved with
satisfaction 

everybody laughed and hippolyte louder than anyone he was evidently
distressed and breathed painfully but could not restrain the wild
laughter that convulsed his usually impassive features 

 well now gentlemen said bilibin bolkonski is my guest in
this house and in brunn itself i want to entertain him as far as i
can with all the pleasures of life here if we were in vienna it would
be easy but here in this wretched moravian hole it is more difficult 
and i beg you all to help me brunn's attractions must be shown him 
you can undertake the theater i society and you hippolyte of course
the women 

 we must let him see amelie she's exquisite said one of
 ours kissing his finger tips 

 in general we must turn this bloodthirsty soldier to more humane
interests said bilibin 

 i shall scarcely be able to avail myself of your hospitality 
gentlemen it is already time for me to go replied prince andrew
looking at his watch 

 where to 

 to the emperor 

 oh oh oh 

 well au revoir bolkonski au revoir prince come back early to
dinner cried several voices we'll take you in hand 

 when speaking to the emperor try as far as you can to praise the way
that provisions are supplied and the routes indicated said bilibin 
accompanying him to the hall 

 i should like to speak well of them but as far as i know the facts 
i can't replied bolkonski smiling 

 well talk as much as you can anyway he has a passion for giving
audiences but he does not like talking himself and can't do it as
you will see 





chapter xii

at the levee prince andrew stood among the austrian officers as he had
been told to and the emperor francis merely looked fixedly into his
face and just nodded to him with his long head but after it was
over the adjutant he had seen the previous day ceremoniously informed
bolkonski that the emperor desired to give him an audience the emperor
francis received him standing in the middle of the room before the
conversation began prince andrew was struck by the fact that the emperor
seemed confused and blushed as if not knowing what to say 

 tell me when did the battle begin he asked hurriedly 

prince andrew replied then followed other questions just as simple 
 was kutuzov well when had he left krems and so on the emperor
spoke as if his sole aim were to put a given number of questions the
answers to these questions as was only too evident did not interest
him 

 at what o'clock did the battle begin asked the emperor 

 i cannot inform your majesty at what o'clock the battle began at
the front but at durrenstein where i was our attack began after
five in the afternoon replied bolkonski growing more animated and
expecting that he would have a chance to give a reliable account which
he had ready in his mind of all he knew and had seen but the emperor
smiled and interrupted him 

 how many miles 

 from where to where your majesty 

 from durrenstein to krems 

 three and a half miles your majesty 

 the french have abandoned the left bank 

 according to the scouts the last of them crossed on rafts during the
night 

 is there sufficient forage in krems 

 forage has not been supplied to the extent 

the emperor interrupted him 

 at what o'clock was general schmidt killed 

 at seven o'clock i believe 

 at seven o'clock it's very sad very sad 

the emperor thanked prince andrew and bowed prince andrew withdrew and
was immediately surrounded by courtiers on all sides everywhere he
saw friendly looks and heard friendly words yesterday's adjutant
reproached him for not having stayed at the palace and offered him
his own house the minister of war came up and congratulated him on the
maria theresa order of the third grade which the emperor was conferring
on him the empress chamberlain invited him to see her majesty the
archduchess also wished to see him he did not know whom to answer and
for a few seconds collected his thoughts then the russian ambassador
took him by the shoulder led him to the window and began to talk to
him 

contrary to bilibin's forecast the news he had brought was joyfully
received a thanksgiving service was arranged kutuzov was awarded
the grand cross of maria theresa and the whole army received rewards 
bolkonski was invited everywhere and had to spend the whole morning
calling on the principal austrian dignitaries between four and five
in the afternoon having made all his calls he was returning to
bilibin's house thinking out a letter to his father about the battle
and his visit to brunn at the door he found a vehicle half full of
luggage franz bilibin's man was dragging a portmanteau with some
difficulty out of the front door 

before returning to bilibin's prince andrew had gone to a bookshop
to provide himself with some books for the campaign and had spent some
time in the shop 

 what is it he asked 

 oh your excellency said franz with difficulty rolling the
portmanteau into the vehicle we are to move on still farther the
scoundrel is again at our heels 

 eh what asked prince andrew 

bilibin came out to meet him his usually calm face showed excitement 

 there now confess that this is delightful said he this
affair of the thabor bridge at vienna they have crossed without
striking a blow 

prince andrew could not understand 

 but where do you come from not to know what every coachman in the
town knows 

 i come from the archduchess i heard nothing there 

 and you didn't see that everybody is packing up 

 i did not what is it all about inquired prince andrew
impatiently 

 what's it all about why the french have crossed the bridge that
auersperg was defending and the bridge was not blown up so murat
is now rushing along the road to brunn and will be here in a day or
two 

 what here but why did they not blow up the bridge if it was
mined 

 that is what i ask you no one not even bonaparte knows why 

bolkonski shrugged his shoulders 

 but if the bridge is crossed it means that the army too is lost it
will be cut off said he 

 that's just it answered bilibin listen the french entered
vienna as i told you very well next day which was yesterday those
gentlemen messieurs les marechaux murat lannes and belliard 
mount and ride to the bridge observe that all three are gascons 
 gentlemen says one of them you know the thabor bridge is
mined and doubly mined and that there are menacing fortifications at its
head and an army of fifteen thousand men has been ordered to blow up
the bridge and not let us cross but it will please our sovereign the
emperor napoleon if we take this bridge so let us three go and take
it yes let's say the others and off they go and take the
bridge cross it and now with their whole army are on this side of the
danube marching on us you and your lines of communication 

 the marshalls 

 stop jesting said prince andrew sadly and seriously this news
grieved him and yet he was pleased 

as soon as he learned that the russian army was in such a hopeless
situation it occurred to him that it was he who was destined to lead it
out of this position that here was the toulon that would lift him from
the ranks of obscure officers and offer him the first step to fame 
listening to bilibin he was already imagining how on reaching the army
he would give an opinion at the war council which would be the only one
that could save the army and how he alone would be entrusted with the
executing of the plan 

 stop this jesting he said 

 i am not jesting bilibin went on nothing is truer or sadder 
these gentlemen ride onto the bridge alone and wave white handkerchiefs 
they assure the officer on duty that they the marshals are on
their way to negotiate with prince auersperg he lets them enter the
tete de pont they spin him a thousand gasconades saying that
the war is over that the emperor francis is arranging a meeting with
bonaparte that they desire to see prince auersperg and so on the
officer sends for auersperg these gentlemen embrace the officers crack
jokes sit on the cannon and meanwhile a french battalion gets to
the bridge unobserved flings the bags of incendiary material into
the water and approaches the tete de pont at length appears the
lieutenant general our dear prince auersperg von mautern himself 
 dearest foe flower of the austrian army hero of the turkish wars 
hostilities are ended we can shake one another's hand the
emperor napoleon burns with impatience to make prince auersperg's
acquaintance in a word those gentlemen gascons indeed so
bewildered him with fine words and he is so flattered by his rapidly
established intimacy with the french marshals and so dazzled by the
sight of murat's mantle and ostrich plumes qu'il n'y voit que du
feu et oublie celui qu'il devait faire faire sur l'ennemi 2 
in spite of the animation of his speech bilibin did not forget to
pause after this mot to give time for its due appreciation the
french battalion rushes to the bridgehead spikes the guns and the
bridge is taken but what is best of all he went on his excitement
subsiding under the delightful interest of his own story is that the
sergeant in charge of the cannon which was to give the signal to fire
the mines and blow up the bridge this sergeant seeing that the french
troops were running onto the bridge was about to fire but lannes
stayed his hand the sergeant who was evidently wiser than his general 
goes up to auersperg and says prince you are being deceived here
are the french murat seeing that all is lost if the sergeant is
allowed to speak turns to auersperg with feigned astonishment he is a
true gascon and says i don't recognize the world famous austrian
discipline if you allow a subordinate to address you like that it
was a stroke of genius prince auersperg feels his dignity at stake and
orders the sergeant to be arrested come you must own that this affair
of the thabor bridge is delightful it is not exactly stupidity nor
rascality 

 bridgehead 

 2 that their fire gets into his eyes and he forgets that
 he ought to be firing at the enemy 

 it may be treachery said prince andrew vividly imagining the
gray overcoats wounds the smoke of gunpowder the sounds of firing 
and the glory that awaited him 

 not that either that puts the court in too bad a light replied
bilibin it's not treachery nor rascality nor stupidity it is
just as at ulm it is he seemed to be trying to find the right
expression c'est c'est du mack nous sommes mackes it is 
it is a bit of mack we are macked he concluded feeling that he
had produced a good epigram a fresh one that would be repeated his
hitherto puckered brow became smooth as a sign of pleasure and with a
slight smile he began to examine his nails 

 where are you off to he said suddenly to prince andrew who had
risen and was going toward his room 

 i am going away 

 where to 

 to the army 

 but you meant to stay another two days 

 but now i am off at once 

and prince andrew after giving directions about his departure went to
his room 

 do you know mon cher said bilibin following him i have been
thinking about you why are you going 

and in proof of the conclusiveness of his opinion all the wrinkles
vanished from his face 

prince andrew looked inquiringly at him and gave no reply 

 why are you going i know you think it your duty to gallop back to
the army now that it is in danger i understand that mon cher it is
heroism 

 not at all said prince andrew 

 but as you are a philosopher be a consistent one look at the other
side of the question and you will see that your duty on the contrary 
is to take care of yourself leave it to those who are no longer fit for
anything else you have not been ordered to return and have not been
dismissed from here therefore you can stay and go with us wherever our
ill luck takes us they say we are going to olmutz and olmutz is a
very decent town you and i will travel comfortably in my caleche 

 do stop joking bilibin cried bolkonski 

 i am speaking sincerely as a friend consider where and why are
you going when you might remain here you are faced by one of two
things and the skin over his left temple puckered either you
will not reach your regiment before peace is concluded or you will
share defeat and disgrace with kutuzov's whole army 

and bilibin unwrinkled his temple feeling that the dilemma was
insoluble 

 i cannot argue about it replied prince andrew coldly but he
thought i am going to save the army 

 my dear fellow you are a hero said bilibin 





chapter xiii

that same night having taken leave of the minister of war bolkonski
set off to rejoin the army not knowing where he would find it and
fearing to be captured by the french on the way to krems 

in brunn everybody attached to the court was packing up and the heavy
baggage was already being dispatched to olmutz near hetzelsdorf prince
andrew struck the high road along which the russian army was moving with
great haste and in the greatest disorder the road was so obstructed
with carts that it was impossible to get by in a carriage prince andrew
took a horse and a cossack from a cossack commander and hungry and
weary making his way past the baggage wagons rode in search of the
commander in chief and of his own luggage very sinister reports of the
position of the army reached him as he went along and the appearance of
the troops in their disorderly flight confirmed these rumors 

 cette armee russe que l'or de l'angleterre a transportee des
extremites de l'univers nous allons lui faire eprouver le meme
sort le sort de l'armee d'ulm he remembered these words
in bonaparte's address to his army at the beginning of the campaign 
and they awoke in him astonishment at the genius of his hero a feeling
of wounded pride and a hope of glory and should there be nothing
left but to die he thought well if need be i shall do it no
worse than others 

 that russian army which has been brought from the ends of
 the earth by english gold we shall cause to share the same
 fate the fate of the army at ulm 


he looked with disdain at the endless confused mass of detachments 
carts guns artillery and again baggage wagons and vehicles of all
kinds overtaking one another and blocking the muddy road three and
sometimes four abreast from all sides behind and before as far as ear
could reach there were the rattle of wheels the creaking of carts
and gun carriages the tramp of horses the crack of whips shouts the
urging of horses and the swearing of soldiers orderlies and officers 
all along the sides of the road fallen horses were to be seen some
flayed some not and broken down carts beside which solitary soldiers
sat waiting for something and again soldiers straggling from their
companies crowds of whom set off to the neighboring villages or
returned from them dragging sheep fowls hay and bulging sacks at
each ascent or descent of the road the crowds were yet denser and the
din of shouting more incessant soldiers floundering knee deep in mud
pushed the guns and wagons themselves whips cracked hoofs slipped 
traces broke and lungs were strained with shouting the officers
directing the march rode backward and forward between the carts their
voices were but feebly heard amid the uproar and one saw by their faces
that they despaired of the possibility of checking this disorder 

 here is our dear orthodox russian army thought bolkonski 
recalling bilibin's words 

wishing to find out where the commander in chief was he rode up to
a convoy directly opposite to him came a strange one horse vehicle 
evidently rigged up by soldiers out of any available materials and
looking like something between a cart a cabriolet and a caleche 
a soldier was driving and a woman enveloped in shawls sat behind the
apron under the leather hood of the vehicle prince andrew rode up
and was just putting his question to a soldier when his attention
was diverted by the desperate shrieks of the woman in the vehicle an
officer in charge of transport was beating the soldier who was driving
the woman's vehicle for trying to get ahead of others and the strokes
of his whip fell on the apron of the equipage the woman screamed
piercingly seeing prince andrew she leaned out from behind the apron
and waving her thin arms from under the woolen shawl cried 

 mr aide de camp mr aide de camp for heaven's sake protect
me what will become of us i am the wife of the doctor of the seventh
chasseurs they won't let us pass we are left behind and have lost
our people 

 i'll flatten you into a pancake shouted the angry officer to
the soldier turn back with your slut 

 mr aide de camp help me what does it all mean screamed the
doctor's wife 

 kindly let this cart pass don't you see it's a woman said
prince andrew riding up to the officer 

the officer glanced at him and without replying turned again to the
soldier i'll teach you to push on back 

 let them pass i tell you repeated prince andrew compressing his
lips 

 and who are you cried the officer turning on him with tipsy
rage who are you are you in command here eh i am commander here 
not you go back or i'll flatten you into a pancake repeated he 
this expression evidently pleased him 

 that was a nice snub for the little aide de camp came a voice
from behind 

prince andrew saw that the officer was in that state of senseless 
tipsy rage when a man does not know what he is saying he saw that his
championship of the doctor's wife in her queer trap might expose him
to what he dreaded more than anything in the world to ridicule but
his instinct urged him on before the officer finished his sentence
prince andrew his face distorted with fury rode up to him and raised
his riding whip 

 kind ly let them pass 

the officer flourished his arm and hastily rode away 

 it's all the fault of these fellows on the staff that there's
this disorder he muttered do as you like 

prince andrew without lifting his eyes rode hastily away from the
doctor's wife who was calling him her deliverer and recalling with
a sense of disgust the minutest details of this humiliating scene he
galloped on to the village where he was told that the commander in chief
was 

on reaching the village he dismounted and went to the nearest house 
intending to rest if but for a moment eat something and try to sort
out the stinging and tormenting thoughts that confused his mind this
is a mob of scoundrels and not an army he was thinking as he went
up to the window of the first house when a familiar voice called him by
name 

he turned round nesvitski's handsome face looked out of the little
window nesvitski moving his moist lips as he chewed something and
flourishing his arm called him to enter 

 bolkonski bolkonski don't you hear eh come quick he
shouted 

entering the house prince andrew saw nesvitski and another adjutant
having something to eat they hastily turned round to him asking if he
had any news on their familiar faces he read agitation and alarm 
this was particularly noticeable on nesvitski's usually laughing
countenance 

 where is the commander in chief asked bolkonski 

 here in that house answered the adjutant 

 well is it true that it's peace and capitulation asked
nesvitski 

 i was going to ask you i know nothing except that it was all i could
do to get here 

 and we my dear boy it's terrible i was wrong to laugh at mack 
we're getting it still worse said nesvitski but sit down and
have something to eat 

 you won't be able to find either your baggage or anything else now 
prince and god only knows where your man peter is said the other
adjutant 

 where are headquarters 

 we are to spend the night in znaim 

 well i have got all i need into packs for two horses said
nesvitski they've made up splendid packs for me fit to cross
the bohemian mountains with it's a bad lookout old fellow but
what's the matter with you you must be ill to shiver like that he
added noticing that prince andrew winced as at an electric shock 

 it's nothing replied prince andrew 

he had just remembered his recent encounter with the doctor's wife and
the convoy officer 

 what is the commander in chief doing here he asked 

 i can't make out at all said nesvitski 

 well all i can make out is that everything is abominable 
abominable quite abominable said prince andrew and he went off to
the house where the commander in chief was 

passing by kutuzov's carriage and the exhausted saddle horses of
his suite with their cossacks who were talking loudly together prince
andrew entered the passage kutuzov himself he was told was in the
house with prince bagration and weyrother weyrother was the austrian
general who had succeeded schmidt in the passage little kozlovski was
squatting on his heels in front of a clerk the clerk with cuffs turned
up was hastily writing at a tub turned bottom upwards kozlovski's
face looked worn he too had evidently not slept all night he glanced
at prince andrew and did not even nod to him 

 second line have you written it he continued dictating to the
clerk the kiev grenadiers podolian 

 one can't write so fast your honor said the clerk glancing
angrily and disrespectfully at kozlovski 

through the door came the sounds of kutuzov's voice excited and
dissatisfied interrupted by another an unfamiliar voice from the
sound of these voices the inattentive way kozlovski looked at him the
disrespectful manner of the exhausted clerk the fact that the clerk and
kozlovski were squatting on the floor by a tub so near to the commander
in chief and from the noisy laughter of the cossacks holding the
horses near the window prince andrew felt that something important and
disastrous was about to happen 

he turned to kozlovski with urgent questions 

 immediately prince said kozlovski dispositions for
bagration 

 what about capitulation 

 nothing of the sort orders are issued for a battle 

prince andrew moved toward the door from whence voices were heard 
just as he was going to open it the sounds ceased the door opened and
kutuzov with his eagle nose and puffy face appeared in the doorway 
prince andrew stood right in front of kutuzov but the expression of
the commander in chief's one sound eye showed him to be so preoccupied
with thoughts and anxieties as to be oblivious of his presence he
looked straight at his adjutant's face without recognizing him 

 well have you finished said he to kozlovski 

 one moment your excellency 

bagration a gaunt middle aged man of medium height with a firm 
impassive face of oriental type came out after the commander in chief 

 i have the honor to present myself repeated prince andrew rather
loudly handing kutuzov an envelope 

 ah from vienna very good later later 

kutuzov went out into the porch with bagration 

 well good by prince said he to bagration my blessing and
may christ be with you in your great endeavor 

his face suddenly softened and tears came into his eyes with his left
hand he drew bagration toward him and with his right on which he wore
a ring he made the sign of the cross over him with a gesture evidently
habitual offering his puffy cheek but bagration kissed him on the
neck instead 

 christ be with you kutuzov repeated and went toward his
carriage get in with me said he to bolkonski 

 your excellency i should like to be of use here allow me to remain
with prince bagration's detachment 

 get in said kutuzov and noticing that bolkonski still delayed 
he added i need good officers myself need them myself 

they got into the carriage and drove for a few minutes in silence 

 there is still much much before us he said as if with an old
man's penetration he understood all that was passing in bolkonski's
mind if a tenth part of his detachment returns i shall thank god 
he added as if speaking to himself 

prince andrew glanced at kutuzov's face only a foot distant from him
and involuntarily noticed the carefully washed seams of the scar near
his temple where an ismail bullet had pierced his skull and the empty
eye socket yes he has a right to speak so calmly of those men's
death thought bolkonski 

 that is why i beg to be sent to that detachment he said 

kutuzov did not reply he seemed to have forgotten what he had been
saying and sat plunged in thought five minutes later gently swaying
on the soft springs of the carriage he turned to prince andrew 
there was not a trace of agitation on his face with delicate irony he
questioned prince andrew about the details of his interview with the
emperor about the remarks he had heard at court concerning the krems
affair and about some ladies they both knew 





chapter xiv

on november 1 kutuzov had received through a spy news that the army
he commanded was in an almost hopeless position the spy reported that
the french after crossing the bridge at vienna were advancing in
immense force upon kutuzov's line of communication with the troops
that were arriving from russia if kutuzov decided to remain at krems 
napoleon's army of one hundred and fifty thousand men would cut him
off completely and surround his exhausted army of forty thousand and he
would find himself in the position of mack at ulm if kutuzov decided
to abandon the road connecting him with the troops arriving from russia 
he would have to march with no road into unknown parts of the bohemian
mountains defending himself against superior forces of the enemy and
abandoning all hope of a junction with buxhowden if kutuzov decided
to retreat along the road from krems to olmutz to unite with the
troops arriving from russia he risked being forestalled on that road
by the french who had crossed the vienna bridge and encumbered by his
baggage and transport having to accept battle on the march against an
enemy three times as strong who would hem him in from two sides 

kutuzov chose this latter course 

the french the spy reported having crossed the vienna bridge were
advancing by forced marches toward znaim which lay sixty six miles
off on the line of kutuzov's retreat if he reached znaim before the
french there would be great hope of saving the army to let the
french forestall him at znaim meant the exposure of his whole army to a
disgrace such as that of ulm or to utter destruction but to forestall
the french with his whole army was impossible the road for the french
from vienna to znaim was shorter and better than the road for the
russians from krems to znaim 

the night he received the news kutuzov sent bagration's vanguard 
four thousand strong to the right across the hills from the krems znaim
to the vienna znaim road bagration was to make this march without
resting and to halt facing vienna with znaim to his rear and if he
succeeded in forestalling the french he was to delay them as long as
possible kutuzov himself with all his transport took the road to
znaim 

marching thirty miles that stormy night across roadless hills with his
hungry ill shod soldiers and losing a third of his men as stragglers
by the way bagration came out on the vienna znaim road at hollabrunn
a few hours ahead of the french who were approaching hollabrunn from
vienna kutuzov with his transport had still to march for some days
before he could reach znaim hence bagration with his four thousand
hungry exhausted men would have to detain for days the whole enemy army
that came upon him at hollabrunn which was clearly impossible but
a freak of fate made the impossible possible the success of the trick
that had placed the vienna bridge in the hands of the french without
a fight led murat to try to deceive kutuzov in a similar way meeting
bagration's weak detachment on the znaim road he supposed it to be
kutuzov's whole army to be able to crush it absolutely he awaited
the arrival of the rest of the troops who were on their way from vienna 
and with this object offered a three days truce on condition that
both armies should remain in position without moving murat declared
that negotiations for peace were already proceeding and that he
therefore offered this truce to avoid unnecessary bloodshed count
nostitz the austrian general occupying the advanced posts believed
murat's emissary and retired leaving bagration's division
exposed another emissary rode to the russian line to announce the peace
negotiations and to offer the russian army the three days truce 
bagration replied that he was not authorized either to accept or refuse
a truce and sent his adjutant to kutuzov to report the offer he had
received 

a truce was kutuzov's sole chance of gaining time giving
bagration's exhausted troops some rest and letting the transport and
heavy convoys whose movements were concealed from the french advance
if but one stage nearer znaim the offer of a truce gave the only and
a quite unexpected chance of saving the army on receiving the news
he immediately dispatched adjutant general wintzingerode who was in
attendance on him to the enemy camp wintzingerode was not merely
to agree to the truce but also to offer terms of capitulation and
meanwhile kutuzov sent his adjutants back to hasten to the utmost the
movements of the baggage trains of the entire army along the krems znaim
road bagration's exhausted and hungry detachment which alone
covered this movement of the transport and of the whole army had to
remain stationary in face of an enemy eight times as strong as itself 

kutuzov's expectations that the proposals of capitulation which were
in no way binding might give time for part of the transport to pass 
and also that murat's mistake would very soon be discovered proved
correct as soon as bonaparte who was at schonbrunn sixteen miles
from hollabrunn received murat's dispatch with the proposal of a
truce and a capitulation he detected a ruse and wrote the following
letter to murat 

schonbrunn 25th brumaire 1805 

at eight o'clock in the morning

to prince murat 

i cannot find words to express to you my displeasure you command only
my advance guard and have no right to arrange an armistice without my
order you are causing me to lose the fruits of a campaign break
the armistice immediately and march on the enemy inform him that the
general who signed that capitulation had no right to do so and that no
one but the emperor of russia has that right 

if however the emperor of russia ratifies that convention i will
ratify it but it is only a trick march on destroy the russian
army you are in a position to seize its baggage and artillery 

the russian emperor's aide de camp is an impostor officers are
nothing when they have no powers this one had none the austrians
let themselves be tricked at the crossing of the vienna bridge you are
letting yourself be tricked by an aide de camp of the emperor 

napoleon

bonaparte's adjutant rode full gallop with this menacing letter to
murat bonaparte himself not trusting to his generals moved with all
the guards to the field of battle afraid of letting a ready victim
escape and bagration's four thousand men merrily lighted campfires 
dried and warmed themselves cooked their porridge for the first time
for three days and not one of them knew or imagined what was in store
for him 





chapter xv

between three and four o'clock in the afternoon prince andrew who
had persisted in his request to kutuzov arrived at grunth and reported
himself to bagration bonaparte's adjutant had not yet reached
murat's detachment and the battle had not yet begun in bagration's
detachment no one knew anything of the general position of affairs they
talked of peace but did not believe in its possibility others talked
of a battle but also disbelieved in the nearness of an engagement 
bagration knowing bolkonski to be a favorite and trusted adjutant 
received him with distinction and special marks of favor explaining to
him that there would probably be an engagement that day or the next and
giving him full liberty to remain with him during the battle or to join
the rearguard and have an eye on the order of retreat which is also
very important 

 however there will hardly be an engagement today said bagration
as if to reassure prince andrew 

 if he is one of the ordinary little staff dandies sent to earn a
medal he can get his reward just as well in the rearguard but if he
wishes to stay with me let him he'll be of use here if he's a
brave officer thought bagration prince andrew without replying 
asked the prince's permission to ride round the position to see the
disposition of the forces so as to know his bearings should he be sent
to execute an order the officer on duty a handsome elegantly dressed
man with a diamond ring on his forefinger who was fond of speaking
french though he spoke it badly offered to conduct prince andrew 

on all sides they saw rain soaked officers with dejected faces who
seemed to be seeking something and soldiers dragging doors benches 
and fencing from the village 

 there now prince we can't stop those fellows said the staff
officer pointing to the soldiers the officers don't keep them in
hand and there he pointed to a sutler's tent they crowd in
and sit this morning i turned them all out and now look it's full
again i must go there prince and scare them a bit it won't take a
moment 

 yes let's go in and i will get myself a roll and some cheese 
said prince andrew who had not yet had time to eat anything 

 why didn't you mention it prince i would have offered you
something 

they dismounted and entered the tent several officers with flushed and
weary faces were sitting at the table eating and drinking 

 now what does this mean gentlemen said the staff officer in
the reproachful tone of a man who has repeated the same thing more
than once you know it won't do to leave your posts like this 
the prince gave orders that no one should leave his post now you 
captain and he turned to a thin dirty little artillery officer who
without his boots he had given them to the canteen keeper to dry 
in only his stockings rose when they entered smiling not altogether
comfortably 

 well aren't you ashamed of yourself captain tushin he
continued one would think that as an artillery officer you would set
a good example yet here you are without your boots the alarm will be
sounded and you'll be in a pretty position without your boots the
staff officer smiled kindly return to your posts gentlemen all of
you all he added in a tone of command 

prince andrew smiled involuntarily as he looked at the artillery officer
tushin who silent and smiling shifting from one stockinged foot to
the other glanced inquiringly with his large intelligent kindly eyes
from prince andrew to the staff officer 

 the soldiers say it feels easier without boots said captain
tushin smiling shyly in his uncomfortable position evidently wishing
to adopt a jocular tone but before he had finished he felt that his
jest was unacceptable and had not come off he grew confused 

 kindly return to your posts said the staff officer trying to
preserve his gravity 

prince andrew glanced again at the artillery officer's small figure 
there was something peculiar about it quite unsoldierly rather comic 
but extremely attractive 

the staff officer and prince andrew mounted their horses and rode on 

having ridden beyond the village continually meeting and overtaking
soldiers and officers of various regiments they saw on their left some
entrenchments being thrown up the freshly dug clay of which showed up
red several battalions of soldiers in their shirt sleeves despite
the cold wind swarmed in these earthworks like a host of white ants 
spadefuls of red clay were continually being thrown up from behind the
bank by unseen hands prince andrew and the officer rode up looked at
the entrenchment and went on again just behind it they came upon some
dozens of soldiers continually replaced by others who ran from the
entrenchment they had to hold their noses and put their horses to a
trot to escape from the poisoned atmosphere of these latrines 

 voila l'agrement des camps monsieur le prince said the
staff officer 

 this is a pleasure one gets in camp prince 


they rode up the opposite hill from there the french could already be
seen prince andrew stopped and began examining the position 

 that's our battery said the staff officer indicating the
highest point it's in charge of the queer fellow we saw without
his boots you can see everything from there let's go there 
prince 

 thank you very much i will go on alone said prince andrew 
wishing to rid himself of this staff officer's company please
don't trouble yourself further 

the staff officer remained behind and prince andrew rode on alone 

the farther forward and nearer the enemy he went the more orderly and
cheerful were the troops the greatest disorder and depression had been
in the baggage train he had passed that morning on the znaim road seven
miles away from the french at grunth also some apprehension and alarm
could be felt but the nearer prince andrew came to the french lines the
more confident was the appearance of our troops the soldiers in
their greatcoats were ranged in lines the sergeants major and company
officers were counting the men poking the last man in each section in
the ribs and telling him to hold his hand up soldiers scattered over
the whole place were dragging logs and brushwood and were building
shelters with merry chatter and laughter around the fires sat others 
dressed and undressed drying their shirts and leg bands or mending
boots or overcoats and crowding round the boilers and porridge cookers 
in one company dinner was ready and the soldiers were gazing eagerly
at the steaming boiler waiting till the sample which a quartermaster
sergeant was carrying in a wooden bowl to an officer who sat on a log
before his shelter had been tasted 

another company a lucky one for not all the companies had vodka 
crowded round a pockmarked broad shouldered sergeant major who tilting
a keg filled one after another the canteen lids held out to him the
soldiers lifted the canteen lids to their lips with reverential faces 
emptied them rolling the vodka in their mouths and walked away from
the sergeant major with brightened expressions licking their lips and
wiping them on the sleeves of their greatcoats all their faces were
as serene as if all this were happening at home awaiting peaceful
encampment and not within sight of the enemy before an action in
which at least half of them would be left on the field after passing a
chasseur regiment and in the lines of the kiev grenadiers fine fellows
busy with similar peaceful affairs near the shelter of the regimental
commander higher than and different from the others prince andrew came
out in front of a platoon of grenadiers before whom lay a naked man two
soldiers held him while two others were flourishing their switches and
striking him regularly on his bare back the man shrieked unnaturally 
a stout major was pacing up and down the line and regardless of the
screams kept repeating 

 it's a shame for a soldier to steal a soldier must be honest 
honorable and brave but if he robs his fellows there is no honor in
him he's a scoundrel go on go on 

so the swishing sound of the strokes and the desperate but unnatural
screams continued 

 go on go on said the major 

a young officer with a bewildered and pained expression on his face
stepped away from the man and looked round inquiringly at the adjutant
as he rode by 

prince andrew having reached the front line rode along it our front
line and that of the enemy were far apart on the right and left flanks 
but in the center where the men with a flag of truce had passed that
morning the lines were so near together that the men could see one
another's faces and speak to one another besides the soldiers who
formed the picket line on either side there were many curious onlookers
who jesting and laughing stared at their strange foreign enemies 

since early morning despite an injunction not to approach the picket
line the officers had been unable to keep sight seers away the
soldiers forming the picket line like showmen exhibiting a curiosity 
no longer looked at the french but paid attention to the sight seers and
grew weary waiting to be relieved prince andrew halted to have a look
at the french 

 look look there one soldier was saying to another pointing to a
russian musketeer who had gone up to the picket line with an officer and
was rapidly and excitedly talking to a french grenadier hark to him
jabbering fine isn't it it's all the frenchy can do to keep up
with him there now sidorov 

 wait a bit and listen it's fine answered sidorov who was
considered an adept at french 

the soldier to whom the laughers referred was dolokhov prince andrew
recognized him and stopped to listen to what he was saying dolokhov
had come from the left flank where their regiment was stationed with
his captain 

 now then go on go on incited the officer bending forward and
trying not to lose a word of the speech which was incomprehensible to
him more please more what's he saying 

dolokhov did not answer the captain he had been drawn into a hot
dispute with the french grenadier they were naturally talking about the
campaign the frenchman confusing the austrians with the russians was
trying to prove that the russians had surrendered and had fled all
the way from ulm while dolokhov maintained that the russians had not
surrendered but had beaten the french 

 we have orders to drive you off here and we shall drive you off 
said dolokhov 

 only take care you and your cossacks are not all captured said
the french grenadier 

the french onlookers and listeners laughed 

 we'll make you dance as we did under suvorov said
dolokhov 

 on vous fera danser 


 qu est ce qu'il chante asked a frenchman 

 what's he singing about 


 it's ancient history said another guessing that it referred to
a former war the emperor will teach your suvara as he has taught the
others 

 bonaparte began dolokhov but the frenchman interrupted him 

 not bonaparte he is the emperor sacre nom cried he angrily 

 the devil skin your emperor 

and dolokhov swore at him in coarse soldier's russian and shouldering
his musket walked away 

 let us go ivan lukich he said to the captain 

 ah that's the way to talk french said the picket soldiers 
 now sidorov you have a try 

sidorov turning to the french winked and began to jabber meaningless
sounds very fast kari mala tafa safi muter kaska he said 
trying to give an expressive intonation to his voice 

 ho ho ho ha ha ha ha ouh ouh came peals of such healthy
and good humored laughter from the soldiers that it infected the french
involuntarily so much so that the only thing left to do seemed to be
to unload the muskets explode the ammunition and all return home as
quickly as possible 

but the guns remained loaded the loopholes in blockhouses and
entrenchments looked out just as menacingly and the unlimbered cannon
confronted one another as before 





chapter xvi

having ridden round the whole line from right flank to left prince
andrew made his way up to the battery from which the staff officer had
told him the whole field could be seen here he dismounted and stopped
beside the farthest of the four unlimbered cannon before the guns an
artillery sentry was pacing up and down he stood at attention when the
officer arrived but at a sign resumed his measured monotonous pacing 
behind the guns were their limbers and still farther back picket ropes
and artillerymen's bonfires to the left not far from the farthest
cannon was a small newly constructed wattle shed from which came the
sound of officers voices in eager conversation 

it was true that a view over nearly the whole russian position and the
greater part of the enemy's opened out from this battery just facing
it on the crest of the opposite hill the village of schon grabern
could be seen and in three places to left and right the french troops
amid the smoke of their campfires the greater part of whom were
evidently in the village itself and behind the hill to the left from
that village amid the smoke was something resembling a battery but it
was impossible to see it clearly with the naked eye our right flank was
posted on a rather steep incline which dominated the french position 
our infantry were stationed there and at the farthest point the
dragoons in the center where tushin's battery stood and from which
prince andrew was surveying the position was the easiest and most
direct descent and ascent to the brook separating us from schon
grabern on the left our troops were close to a copse in which smoked
the bonfires of our infantry who were felling wood the french line was
wider than ours and it was plain that they could easily outflank us
on both sides behind our position was a steep and deep dip making it
difficult for artillery and cavalry to retire prince andrew took
out his notebook and leaning on the cannon sketched a plan of the
position he made some notes on two points intending to mention them to
bagration his idea was first to concentrate all the artillery in the
center and secondly to withdraw the cavalry to the other side of the
dip prince andrew being always near the commander in chief closely
following the mass movements and general orders and constantly studying
historical accounts of battles involuntarily pictured to himself the
course of events in the forthcoming action in broad outline he
imagined only important possibilities if the enemy attacks the right
flank he said to himself the kiev grenadiers and the podolsk
chasseurs must hold their position till reserves from the center
come up in that case the dragoons could successfully make a flank
counterattack if they attack our center we having the center battery
on this high ground shall withdraw the left flank under its cover and
retreat to the dip by echelons so he reasoned all the time
he had been beside the gun he had heard the voices of the officers
distinctly but as often happens had not understood a word of what they
were saying suddenly however he was struck by a voice coming from the
shed and its tone was so sincere that he could not but listen 

 no friend said a pleasant and as it seemed to prince andrew a
familiar voice what i say is that if it were possible to know
what is beyond death none of us would be afraid of it that's so 
friend 

another a younger voice interrupted him afraid or not you can't
escape it anyhow 

 all the same one is afraid oh you clever people said a third
manly voice interrupting them both of course you artillery men are
very wise because you can take everything along with you vodka and
snacks 

and the owner of the manly voice evidently an infantry officer 
laughed 

 yes one is afraid continued the first speaker he of the
familiar voice one is afraid of the unknown that's what it is 
whatever we may say about the soul going to the sky we know there is
no sky but only an atmosphere 

the manly voice again interrupted the artillery officer 

 well stand us some of your herb vodka tushin it said 

 why thought prince andrew that's the captain who stood up
in the sutler's hut without his boots he recognized the agreeable 
philosophizing voice with pleasure 

 some herb vodka certainly said tushin but still to
conceive a future life 

he did not finish just then there was a whistle in the air nearer and
nearer faster and louder louder and faster a cannon ball as if it
had not finished saying what was necessary thudded into the ground near
the shed with super human force throwing up a mass of earth the ground
seemed to groan at the terrible impact 

and immediately tushin with a short pipe in the corner of his mouth
and his kind intelligent face rather pale rushed out of the shed
followed by the owner of the manly voice a dashing infantry officer who
hurried off to his company buttoning up his coat as he ran 





chapter xvii

mounting his horse again prince andrew lingered with the battery 
looking at the puff from the gun that had sent the ball his eyes
ran rapidly over the wide space but he only saw that the hitherto
motionless masses of the french now swayed and that there really was
a battery to their left the smoke above it had not yet dispersed two
mounted frenchmen probably adjutants were galloping up the hill a
small but distinctly visible enemy column was moving down the hill 
probably to strengthen the front line the smoke of the first shot had
not yet dispersed before another puff appeared followed by a report 
the battle had begun prince andrew turned his horse and galloped back
to grunth to find prince bagration he heard the cannonade behind him
growing louder and more frequent evidently our guns had begun to reply 
from the bottom of the slope where the parleys had taken place came
the report of musketry 

lemarrois had just arrived at a gallop with bonaparte's stern letter 
and murat humiliated and anxious to expiate his fault had at once
moved his forces to attack the center and outflank both the russian
wings hoping before evening and before the arrival of the emperor to
crush the contemptible detachment that stood before him 

 it has begun here it is thought prince andrew feeling the
blood rush to his heart but where and how will my toulon present
itself 

passing between the companies that had been eating porridge and drinking
vodka a quarter of an hour before he saw everywhere the same rapid
movement of soldiers forming ranks and getting their muskets ready 
and on all their faces he recognized the same eagerness that filled his
heart it has begun here it is dreadful but enjoyable was what
the face of each soldier and each officer seemed to say 

before he had reached the embankments that were being thrown up he saw 
in the light of the dull autumn evening mounted men coming toward him 
the foremost wearing a cossack cloak and lambskin cap and riding a
white horse was prince bagration prince andrew stopped waiting for
him to come up prince bagration reined in his horse and recognizing
prince andrew nodded to him he still looked ahead while prince andrew
told him what he had seen 

the feeling it has begun here it is was seen even on prince
bagration's hard brown face with its half closed dull sleepy eyes 
prince andrew gazed with anxious curiosity at that impassive face
and wished he could tell what if anything this man was thinking
and feeling at that moment is there anything at all behind that
impassive face prince andrew asked himself as he looked prince
bagration bent his head in sign of agreement with what prince andrew
told him and said very good in a tone that seemed to imply that
everything that took place and was reported to him was exactly what he
had foreseen prince andrew out of breath with his rapid ride spoke
quickly prince bagration uttering his words with an oriental accent 
spoke particularly slowly as if to impress the fact that there was no
need to hurry however he put his horse to a trot in the direction
of tushin's battery prince andrew followed with the suite behind
prince bagration rode an officer of the suite the prince's personal
adjutant zherkov an orderly officer the staff officer on duty 
riding a fine bobtailed horse and a civilian an accountant who had
asked permission to be present at the battle out of curiosity the
accountant a stout full faced man looked around him with a naive
smile of satisfaction and presented a strange appearance among the
hussars cossacks and adjutants in his camlet coat as he jolted on
his horse with a convoy officer's saddle 

 he wants to see a battle said zherkov to bolkonski pointing
to the accountant but he feels a pain in the pit of his stomach
already 

 oh leave off said the accountant with a beaming but rather
cunning smile as if flattered at being made the subject of zherkov's
joke and purposely trying to appear stupider than he really was 

 it is very strange mon monsieur prince said the staff officer 
 he remembered that in french there is some peculiar way of addressing a
prince but could not get it quite right 

by this time they were all approaching tushin's battery and a ball
struck the ground in front of them 

 what's that that has fallen asked the accountant with a naive
smile 

 a french pancake answered zherkov 

 so that's what they hit with asked the accountant how
awful 

he seemed to swell with satisfaction he had hardly finished speaking
when they again heard an unexpectedly violent whistling which suddenly
ended with a thud into something soft f f flop and a cossack riding
a little to their right and behind the accountant crashed to earth with
his horse zherkov and the staff officer bent over their saddles and
turned their horses away the accountant stopped facing the cossack 
and examined him with attentive curiosity the cossack was dead but the
horse still struggled 

prince bagration screwed up his eyes looked round and seeing the
cause of the confusion turned away with indifference as if to say 
 is it worth while noticing trifles he reined in his horse with
the care of a skillful rider and slightly bending over disengaged his
saber which had caught in his cloak it was an old fashioned saber of
a kind no longer in general use prince andrew remembered the story of
suvorov giving his saber to bagration in italy and the recollection
was particularly pleasant at that moment they had reached the battery
at which prince andrew had been when he examined the battlefield 

 whose company asked prince bagration of an artilleryman standing
by the ammunition wagon 

he asked whose company but he really meant are you
frightened here and the artilleryman understood him 

 captain tushin's your excellency shouted the red haired 
freckled gunner in a merry voice standing to attention 

 yes yes muttered bagration as if considering something and he
rode past the limbers to the farthest cannon 

as he approached a ringing shot issued from it deafening him and his
suite and in the smoke that suddenly surrounded the gun they could see
the gunners who had seized it straining to roll it quickly back to its
former position a huge broad shouldered gunner number one holding
a mop his legs far apart sprang to the wheel while number two with
a trembling hand placed a charge in the cannon's mouth the short 
round shouldered captain tushin stumbling over the tail of the gun
carriage moved forward and not noticing the general looked out
shading his eyes with his small hand 

 lift it two lines more and it will be just right cried he in a
feeble voice to which he tried to impart a dashing note ill suited to
his weak figure number two he squeaked fire medvedev 

bagration called to him and tushin raising three fingers to his cap
with a bashful and awkward gesture not at all like a military salute
but like a priest's benediction approached the general though
tushin's guns had been intended to cannonade the valley he was
firing incendiary balls at the village of schon grabern visible just
opposite in front of which large masses of french were advancing 

no one had given tushin orders where and at what to fire but after
consulting his sergeant major zakharchenko for whom he had great
respect he had decided that it would be a good thing to set fire to the
village very good said bagration in reply to the officer's
report and began deliberately to examine the whole battlefield extended
before him the french had advanced nearest on our right below the
height on which the kiev regiment was stationed in the hollow where the
rivulet flowed the soul stirring rolling and crackling of musketry was
heard and much farther to the right beyond the dragoons the officer of
the suite pointed out to bagration a french column that was outflanking
us to the left the horizon bounded by the adjacent wood prince
bagration ordered two battalions from the center to be sent to
reinforce the right flank the officer of the suite ventured to remark
to the prince that if these battalions went away the guns would remain
without support prince bagration turned to the officer and with his
dull eyes looked at him in silence it seemed to prince andrew that the
officer's remark was just and that really no answer could be made to
it but at that moment an adjutant galloped up with a message from the
commander of the regiment in the hollow and news that immense masses
of the french were coming down upon them and that his regiment was in
disorder and was retreating upon the kiev grenadiers prince bagration
bowed his head in sign of assent and approval he rode off at a walk to
the right and sent an adjutant to the dragoons with orders to attack the
french but this adjutant returned half an hour later with the news that
the commander of the dragoons had already retreated beyond the dip in
the ground as a heavy fire had been opened on him and he was losing
men uselessly and so had hastened to throw some sharpshooters into the
wood 

 very good said bagration 

as he was leaving the battery firing was heard on the left also and
as it was too far to the left flank for him to have time to go there
himself prince bagration sent zherkov to tell the general in command
 the one who had paraded his regiment before kutuzov at braunau that
he must retreat as quickly as possible behind the hollow in the rear 
as the right flank would probably not be able to withstand the enemy's
attack very long about tushin and the battalion that had been in
support of his battery all was forgotten prince andrew listened
attentively to bagration's colloquies with the commanding officers
and the orders he gave them and to his surprise found that no orders
were really given but that prince bagration tried to make it appear
that everything done by necessity by accident or by the will of
subordinate commanders was done if not by his direct command at least
in accord with his intentions prince andrew noticed however that
though what happened was due to chance and was independent of the
commander's will owing to the tact bagration showed his presence
was very valuable officers who approached him with disturbed
countenances became calm soldiers and officers greeted him gaily grew
more cheerful in his presence and were evidently anxious to display
their courage before him 





chapter xviii

prince bagration having reached the highest point of our right flank 
began riding downhill to where the roll of musketry was heard but where
on account of the smoke nothing could be seen the nearer they got to
the hollow the less they could see but the more they felt the nearness
of the actual battlefield they began to meet wounded men one with a
bleeding head and no cap was being dragged along by two soldiers who
supported him under the arms there was a gurgle in his throat and he
was spitting blood a bullet had evidently hit him in the throat or
mouth another was walking sturdily by himself but without his musket 
groaning aloud and swinging his arm which had just been hurt while
blood from it was streaming over his greatcoat as from a bottle he had
that moment been wounded and his face showed fear rather than suffering 
crossing a road they descended a steep incline and saw several men
lying on the ground they also met a crowd of soldiers some of whom were
unwounded the soldiers were ascending the hill breathing heavily and
despite the general's presence were talking loudly and gesticulating 
in front of them rows of gray cloaks were already visible through the
smoke and an officer catching sight of bagration rushed shouting after
the crowd of retreating soldiers ordering them back bagration rode up
to the ranks along which shots crackled now here and now there drowning
the sound of voices and the shouts of command the whole air reeked with
smoke the excited faces of the soldiers were blackened with it some
were using their ramrods others putting powder on the touchpans or
taking charges from their pouches while others were firing though who
they were firing at could not be seen for the smoke which there was no
wind to carry away a pleasant humming and whistling of bullets were
often heard what is this thought prince andrew approaching the
crowd of soldiers it can't be an attack for they are not moving 
it can't be a square for they are not drawn up for that 

the commander of the regiment a thin feeble looking old man with a
pleasant smile his eyelids drooping more than half over his old eyes 
giving him a mild expression rode up to bagration and welcomed him as
a host welcomes an honored guest he reported that his regiment had
been attacked by french cavalry and that though the attack had been
repulsed he had lost more than half his men he said the attack
had been repulsed employing this military term to describe what had
occurred to his regiment but in reality he did not himself know what
had happened during that half hour to the troops entrusted to him and
could not say with certainty whether the attack had been repulsed or his
regiment had been broken up all he knew was that at the commencement
of the action balls and shells began flying all over his regiment and
hitting men and that afterwards someone had shouted cavalry and
our men had begun firing they were still firing not at the cavalry
which had disappeared but at french infantry who had come into the
hollow and were firing at our men prince bagration bowed his head as a
sign that this was exactly what he had desired and expected turning
to his adjutant he ordered him to bring down the two battalions of the
sixth chasseurs whom they had just passed prince andrew was struck by
the changed expression on prince bagration's face at this moment it
expressed the concentrated and happy resolution you see on the face of
a man who on a hot day takes a final run before plunging into the water 
the dull sleepy expression was no longer there nor the affectation
of profound thought the round steady hawk's eyes looked before him
eagerly and rather disdainfully not resting on anything although his
movements were still slow and measured 

the commander of the regiment turned to prince bagration entreating
him to go back as it was too dangerous to remain where they were 
 please your excellency for god's sake he kept saying 
glancing for support at an officer of the suite who turned away
from him there you see and he drew attention to the bullets
whistling singing and hissing continually around them he spoke in the
tone of entreaty and reproach that a carpenter uses to a gentleman who
has picked up an ax we are used to it but you sir will blister
your hands he spoke as if those bullets could not kill him and his
half closed eyes gave still more persuasiveness to his words the staff
officer joined in the colonel's appeals but bagration did not reply 
he only gave an order to cease firing and re form so as to give room
for the two approaching battalions while he was speaking the curtain
of smoke that had concealed the hollow driven by a rising wind began
to move from right to left as if drawn by an invisible hand and the
hill opposite with the french moving about on it opened out before
them all eyes fastened involuntarily on this french column advancing
against them and winding down over the uneven ground one could already
see the soldiers shaggy caps distinguish the officers from the men 
and see the standard flapping against its staff 

 they march splendidly remarked someone in bagration's suite 

the head of the column had already descended into the hollow the clash
would take place on this side of it 

the remains of our regiment which had been in action rapidly formed up
and moved to the right from behind it dispersing the laggards came
two battalions of the sixth chasseurs in fine order before they had
reached bagration the weighty tread of the mass of men marching in
step could be heard on their left flank nearest to bagration marched
a company commander a fine round faced man with a stupid and happy
expression the same man who had rushed out of the wattle shed at that
moment he was clearly thinking of nothing but how dashing a fellow he
would appear as he passed the commander 

with the self satisfaction of a man on parade he stepped lightly with
his muscular legs as if sailing along stretching himself to his full
height without the smallest effort his ease contrasting with the heavy
tread of the soldiers who were keeping step with him he carried close
to his leg a narrow unsheathed sword small curved and not like a real
weapon and looked now at the superior officers and now back at the men
without losing step his whole powerful body turning flexibly it was as
if all the powers of his soul were concentrated on passing the commander
in the best possible manner and feeling that he was doing it well he
was happy left left left he seemed to repeat to himself
at each alternate step and in time to this with stern but varied
faces the wall of soldiers burdened with knapsacks and muskets marched
in step and each one of these hundreds of soldiers seemed to be
repeating to himself at each alternate step left left 
left a fat major skirted a bush puffing and falling out of
step a soldier who had fallen behind his face showing alarm at his
defection ran at a trot panting to catch up with his company a cannon
ball cleaving the air flew over the heads of bagration and his suite 
and fell into the column to the measure of left left close
up came the company commander's voice in jaunty tones the
soldiers passed in a semicircle round something where the ball had
fallen and an old trooper on the flank a noncommissioned officer who
had stopped beside the dead men ran to catch up his line and falling
into step with a hop looked back angrily and through the ominous
silence and the regular tramp of feet beating the ground in unison one
seemed to hear left left left 

 well done lads said prince bagration 

 glad to do our best your ex'len lency came a confused shout
from the ranks a morose soldier marching on the left turned his eyes on
bagration as he shouted with an expression that seemed to say we
know that ourselves another without looking round as though
fearing to relax shouted with his mouth wide open and passed on 

the order was given to halt and down knapsacks 

bagration rode round the ranks that had marched past him and
dismounted he gave the reins to a cossack took off and handed over his
felt coat stretched his legs and set his cap straight the head of the
french column with its officers leading appeared from below the hill 

 forward with god said bagration in a resolute sonorous voice 
turning for a moment to the front line and slightly swinging his arms 
he went forward uneasily over the rough field with the awkward gait of
a cavalryman prince andrew felt that an invisible power was leading him
forward and experienced great happiness 

the french were already near prince andrew walking beside bagration 
could clearly distinguish their bandoliers red epaulets and even their
faces he distinctly saw an old french officer who with gaitered
legs and turned out toes climbed the hill with difficulty prince
bagration gave no further orders and silently continued to walk on in
front of the ranks suddenly one shot after another rang out from the
french smoke appeared all along their uneven ranks and musket shots
sounded several of our men fell among them the round faced officer
who had marched so gaily and complacently but at the moment the first
report was heard bagration looked round and shouted hurrah 

 hurrah ah ah rang a long drawn shout from our ranks and
passing bagration and racing one another they rushed in an irregular
but joyous and eager crowd down the hill at their disordered foe 





chapter xix

the attack of the sixth chasseurs secured the retreat of our right
flank in the center tushin's forgotten battery which had managed to
set fire to the schon grabern village delayed the french advance the
french were putting out the fire which the wind was spreading and thus
gave us time to retreat the retirement of the center to the other side
of the dip in the ground at the rear was hurried and noisy but the
different companies did not get mixed but our left which consisted
of the azov and podolsk infantry and the pavlograd hussars was
simultaneously attacked and outflanked by superior french forces under
lannes and was thrown into confusion bagration had sent zherkov
to the general commanding that left flank with orders to retreat
immediately 

zherkov not removing his hand from his cap turned his horse about
and galloped off but no sooner had he left bagration than his courage
failed him he was seized by panic and could not go where it was
dangerous 

having reached the left flank instead of going to the front where the
firing was he began to look for the general and his staff where they
could not possibly be and so did not deliver the order 

the command of the left flank belonged by seniority to the commander of
the regiment kutuzov had reviewed at braunau and in which dolokhov was
serving as a private but the command of the extreme left flank had been
assigned to the commander of the pavlograd regiment in which rostov
was serving and a misunderstanding arose the two commanders were much
exasperated with one another and long after the action had begun on
the right flank and the french were already advancing were engaged
in discussion with the sole object of offending one another but the
regiments both cavalry and infantry were by no means ready for the
impending action from privates to general they were not expecting a
battle and were engaged in peaceful occupations the cavalry feeding the
horses and the infantry collecting wood 

 he higher iss dan i in rank said the german colonel of the
hussars flushing and addressing an adjutant who had ridden up so
let him do what he vill but i cannot sacrifice my hussars bugler 
sount ze retreat 

but haste was becoming imperative cannon and musketry mingling
together thundered on the right and in the center while the capotes
of lannes sharpshooters were already seen crossing the milldam and
forming up within twice the range of a musket shot the general in
command of the infantry went toward his horse with jerky steps and
having mounted drew himself up very straight and tall and rode to the
pavlograd commander the commanders met with polite bows but with
secret malevolence in their hearts 

 once again colonel said the general i can't leave half
my men in the wood i beg of you i beg of you he repeated to
occupy the position and prepare for an attack 

 i peg of you yourself not to mix in vot is not your business 
suddenly replied the irate colonel if you vere in the cavalry 

 i am not in the cavalry colonel but i am a russian general and if
you are not aware of the fact 

 quite avare your excellency suddenly shouted the colonel 
touching his horse and turning purple in the face vill you be so
goot to come to ze front and see dat zis position iss no goot i don't
vish to destroy my men for your pleasure 

 you forget yourself colonel i am not considering my own pleasure
and i won't allow it to be said 

taking the colonel's outburst as a challenge to his courage the
general expanded his chest and rode frowning beside him to the
front line as if their differences would be settled there amongst the
bullets they reached the front several bullets sped over them and
they halted in silence there was nothing fresh to be seen from the
line for from where they had been before it had been evident that it
was impossible for cavalry to act among the bushes and broken ground 
as well as that the french were outflanking our left the general
and colonel looked sternly and significantly at one another like two
fighting cocks preparing for battle each vainly trying to detect signs
of cowardice in the other both passed the examination successfully as
there was nothing to be said and neither wished to give occasion for
it to be alleged that he had been the first to leave the range of fire 
they would have remained there for a long time testing each other's
courage had it not been that just then they heard the rattle of musketry
and a muffled shout almost behind them in the wood the french had
attacked the men collecting wood in the copse it was no longer possible
for the hussars to retreat with the infantry they were cut off from
the line of retreat on the left by the french however inconvenient the
position it was now necessary to attack in order to cut a way through
for themselves 

the squadron in which rostov was serving had scarcely time to mount
before it was halted facing the enemy again as at the enns bridge 
there was nothing between the squadron and the enemy and again that
terrible dividing line of uncertainty and fear resembling the line
separating the living from the dead lay between them all were
conscious of this unseen line and the question whether they would cross
it or not and how they would cross it agitated them all 

the colonel rode to the front angrily gave some reply to questions put
to him by the officers and like a man desperately insisting on having
his own way gave an order no one said anything definite but the rumor
of an attack spread through the squadron the command to form up rang
out and the sabers whizzed as they were drawn from their scabbards 
still no one moved the troops of the left flank infantry and hussars
alike felt that the commander did not himself know what to do and this
irresolution communicated itself to the men 

 if only they would be quick thought rostov feeling that at last
the time had come to experience the joy of an attack of which he had so
often heard from his fellow hussars 

 fo'ward with god lads rang out denisov's voice at a
twot fo'ward 

the horses croups began to sway in the front line rook pulled at the
reins and started of his own accord 

before him on the right rostov saw the front lines of his hussars and
still farther ahead a dark line which he could not see distinctly but
took to be the enemy shots could be heard but some way off 

 faster came the word of command and rostov felt rook's flanks
drooping as he broke into a gallop 

rostov anticipated his horse's movements and became more and more
elated he had noticed a solitary tree ahead of him this tree had been
in the middle of the line that had seemed so terrible and now he
had crossed that line and not only was there nothing terrible but
everything was becoming more and more happy and animated oh how i
will slash at him thought rostov gripping the hilt of his saber 

 hur a a a ah came a roar of voices let anyone come my way
now thought rostov driving his spurs into rook and letting him go
at a full gallop so that he outstripped the others ahead the enemy was
already visible suddenly something like a birch broom seemed to sweep
over the squadron rostov raised his saber ready to strike but at
that instant the trooper nikitenko who was galloping ahead shot away
from him and rostov felt as in a dream that he continued to be carried
forward with unnatural speed but yet stayed on the same spot from
behind him bondarchuk an hussar he knew jolted against him and looked
angrily at him bondarchuk's horse swerved and galloped past 

 how is it i am not moving i have fallen i am killed rostov
asked and answered at the same instant he was alone in the middle of a
field instead of the moving horses and hussars backs he saw nothing
before him but the motionless earth and the stubble around him there
was warm blood under his arm no i am wounded and the horse is
killed rook tried to rise on his forelegs but fell back pinning his
rider's leg blood was flowing from his head he struggled but could
not rise rostov also tried to rise but fell back his sabretache
having become entangled in the saddle where our men were and where the
french he did not know there was no one near 

having disentangled his leg he rose where on which side was now
the line that had so sharply divided the two armies he asked himself
and could not answer can something bad have happened to me 
he wondered as he got up and at that moment he felt that something
superfluous was hanging on his benumbed left arm the wrist felt as if
it were not his he examined his hand carefully vainly trying to find
blood on it ah here are people coming he thought joyfully 
seeing some men running toward him they will help me in front
came a man wearing a strange shako and a blue cloak swarthy sunburned 
and with a hooked nose then came two more and many more running
behind one of them said something strange not in russian in among the
hindmost of these men wearing similar shakos was a russian hussar he
was being held by the arms and his horse was being led behind him 

 it must be one of ours a prisoner yes can it be that they will
take me too who are these men thought rostov scarcely believing
his eyes can they be french he looked at the approaching
frenchmen and though but a moment before he had been galloping to get
at them and hack them to pieces their proximity now seemed so awful
that he could not believe his eyes who are they why are they
running can they be coming at me and why to kill me me whom everyone
is so fond of he remembered his mother's love for him and his
family's and his friends and the enemy's intention to kill him
seemed impossible but perhaps they may do it for more than ten
seconds he stood not moving from the spot or realizing the situation 
the foremost frenchman the one with the hooked nose was already so
close that the expression of his face could be seen and the excited 
alien face of that man his bayonet hanging down holding his breath 
and running so lightly frightened rostov he seized his pistol and 
instead of firing it flung it at the frenchman and ran with all his
might toward the bushes he did not now run with the feeling of doubt
and conflict with which he had trodden the enns bridge but with the
feeling of a hare fleeing from the hounds one single sentiment that
of fear for his young and happy life possessed his whole being rapidly
leaping the furrows he fled across the field with the impetuosity he
used to show at catchplay now and then turning his good natured pale 
young face to look back a shudder of terror went through him no 
better not look he thought but having reached the bushes he glanced
round once more the french had fallen behind and just as he looked
round the first man changed his run to a walk and turning shouted
something loudly to a comrade farther back rostov paused no 
there's some mistake thought he they can't have wanted to
kill me but at the same time his left arm felt as heavy as if
a seventy pound weight were tied to it he could run no more the
frenchman also stopped and took aim rostov closed his eyes and stooped
down one bullet and then another whistled past him he mustered his
last remaining strength took hold of his left hand with his right and
reached the bushes behind these were some russian sharpshooters 





chapter xx

the infantry regiments that had been caught unawares in the outskirts
of the wood ran out of it the different companies getting mixed and
retreated as a disorderly crowd one soldier in his fear uttered the
senseless cry cut off that is so terrible in battle and that
word infected the whole crowd with a feeling of panic 

 surrounded cut off we're lost shouted the fugitives 

the moment he heard the firing and the cry from behind the general
realized that something dreadful had happened to his regiment and the
thought that he an exemplary officer of many years service who
had never been to blame might be held responsible at headquarters
for negligence or inefficiency so staggered him that forgetting the
recalcitrant cavalry colonel his own dignity as a general and above
all quite forgetting the danger and all regard for self preservation he
clutched the crupper of his saddle and spurring his horse galloped to
the regiment under a hail of bullets which fell around but fortunately
missed him his one desire was to know what was happening and at any
cost correct or remedy the mistake if he had made one so that he 
an exemplary officer of twenty two years service who had never been
censured should not be held to blame 

having galloped safely through the french he reached a field behind
the copse across which our men regardless of orders were running and
descending the valley that moment of moral hesitation which decides
the fate of battles had arrived would this disorderly crowd of soldiers
attend to the voice of their commander or would they disregarding him 
continue their flight despite his desperate shouts that used to seem
so terrible to the soldiers despite his furious purple countenance
distorted out of all likeness to his former self and the flourishing of
his saber the soldiers all continued to run talking firing into the
air and disobeying orders the moral hesitation which decided the fate
of battles was evidently culminating in a panic 

the general had a fit of coughing as a result of shouting and of the
powder smoke and stopped in despair everything seemed lost but at that
moment the french who were attacking suddenly and without any apparent
reason ran back and disappeared from the outskirts and russian
sharpshooters showed themselves in the copse it was timokhin's
company which alone had maintained its order in the wood and having
lain in ambush in a ditch now attacked the french unexpectedly 
timokhin armed only with a sword had rushed at the enemy with such
a desperate cry and such mad drunken determination that taken by
surprise the french had thrown down their muskets and run dolokhov 
running beside timokhin killed a frenchman at close quarters and was
the first to seize the surrendering french officer by his collar our
fugitives returned the battalions re formed and the french who had
nearly cut our left flank in half were for the moment repulsed our
reserve units were able to join up and the fight was at an end the
regimental commander and major ekonomov had stopped beside a bridge 
letting the retreating companies pass by them when a soldier came up
and took hold of the commander's stirrup almost leaning against him 
the man was wearing a bluish coat of broadcloth he had no knapsack
or cap his head was bandaged and over his shoulder a french munition
pouch was slung he had an officer's sword in his hand the soldier
was pale his blue eyes looked impudently into the commander's face 
and his lips were smiling though the commander was occupied in giving
instructions to major ekonomov he could not help taking notice of the
soldier 

 your excellency here are two trophies said dolokhov pointing
to the french sword and pouch i have taken an officer prisoner i
stopped the company dolokhov breathed heavily from weariness and
spoke in abrupt sentences the whole company can bear witness i beg
you will remember this your excellency 

 all right all right replied the commander and turned to major
ekonomov 

but dolokhov did not go away he untied the handkerchief around his
head pulled it off and showed the blood congealed on his hair 

 a bayonet wound i remained at the front remember your
excellency 


tushin's battery had been forgotten and only at the very end of the
action did prince bagration still hearing the cannonade in the center 
send his orderly staff officer and later prince andrew also to order
the battery to retire as quickly as possible when the supports attached
to tushin's battery had been moved away in the middle of the action
by someone's order the battery had continued firing and was only not
captured by the french because the enemy could not surmise that anyone
could have the effrontery to continue firing from four quite undefended
guns on the contrary the energetic action of that battery led the
french to suppose that here in the center the main russian forces
were concentrated twice they had attempted to attack this point but on
each occasion had been driven back by grapeshot from the four isolated
guns on the hillock 

soon after prince bagration had left him tushin had succeeded in
setting fire to schon grabern 

 look at them scurrying it's burning just see the smoke fine 
grand look at the smoke the smoke exclaimed the artillerymen 
brightening up 

all the guns without waiting for orders were being fired in the
direction of the conflagration as if urging each other on the soldiers
cried at each shot fine that's good look at it grand the
fire fanned by the breeze was rapidly spreading the french columns
that had advanced beyond the village went back but as though in revenge
for this failure the enemy placed ten guns to the right of the village
and began firing them at tushin's battery 

in their childlike glee aroused by the fire and their luck in
successfully cannonading the french our artillerymen only noticed this
battery when two balls and then four more fell among our guns one
knocking over two horses and another tearing off a munition wagon
driver's leg their spirits once roused were however not diminished 
but only changed character the horses were replaced by others from a
reserve gun carriage the wounded were carried away and the four guns
were turned against the ten gun battery tushin's companion officer
had been killed at the beginning of the engagement and within an hour
seventeen of the forty men of the guns crews had been disabled but
the artillerymen were still as merry and lively as ever twice they
noticed the french appearing below them and then they fired grapeshot
at them 

little tushin moving feebly and awkwardly kept telling his orderly to
 refill my pipe for that one and then scattering sparks from it 
ran forward shading his eyes with his small hand to look at the french 

 smack at em lads he kept saying seizing the guns by the
wheels and working the screws himself 

amid the smoke deafened by the incessant reports which always made him
jump tushin not taking his pipe from his mouth ran from gun to gun 
now aiming now counting the charges now giving orders about replacing
dead or wounded horses and harnessing fresh ones and shouting in his
feeble voice so high pitched and irresolute his face grew more and
more animated only when a man was killed or wounded did he frown and
turn away from the sight shouting angrily at the men who as is always
the case hesitated about lifting the injured or dead the soldiers 
for the most part handsome fellows and as is always the case in an
artillery company a head and shoulders taller and twice as broad
as their officer all looked at their commander like children in an
embarrassing situation and the expression on his face was invariably
reflected on theirs 

owing to the terrible uproar and the necessity for concentration and
activity tushin did not experience the slightest unpleasant sense of
fear and the thought that he might be killed or badly wounded never
occurred to him on the contrary he became more and more elated it
seemed to him that it was a very long time ago almost a day since he
had first seen the enemy and fired the first shot and that the corner
of the field he stood on was well known and familiar ground though he
thought of everything considered everything and did everything the
best of officers could do in his position he was in a state akin to
feverish delirium or drunkenness 

from the deafening sounds of his own guns around him the whistle and
thud of the enemy's cannon balls from the flushed and perspiring
faces of the crew bustling round the guns from the sight of the blood
of men and horses from the little puffs of smoke on the enemy's side
 always followed by a ball flying past and striking the earth a man a
gun a horse from the sight of all these things a fantastic world of
his own had taken possession of his brain and at that moment afforded
him pleasure the enemy's guns were in his fancy not guns but pipes
from which occasional puffs were blown by an invisible smoker 

 there he's puffing again muttered tushin to himself as a
small cloud rose from the hill and was borne in a streak to the left by
the wind 

 now look out for the ball we'll throw it back 

 what do you want your honor asked an artilleryman standing
close by who heard him muttering 

 nothing only a shell he answered 

 come along our matvevna he said to himself matvevna 
was the name his fancy gave to the farthest gun of the battery which
was large and of an old pattern the french swarming round their guns
seemed to him like ants in that world the handsome drunkard number one
of the second gun's crew was uncle tushin looked at him more
often than at anyone else and took delight in his every movement 
the sound of musketry at the foot of the hill now diminishing now
increasing seemed like someone's breathing he listened intently to
the ebb and flow of these sounds 

 daughter of matthew 

 ah breathing again breathing he muttered to himself 

he imagined himself as an enormously tall powerful man who was throwing
cannon balls at the french with both hands 

 now then matvevna dear old lady don't let me down he was
saying as he moved from the gun when a strange unfamiliar voice called
above his head captain tushin captain 

tushin turned round in dismay it was the staff officer who had turned
him out of the booth at grunth he was shouting in a gasping voice 

 are you mad you have twice been ordered to retreat and you 

 why are they down on me thought tushin looking in alarm at his
superior 

 i don't he muttered holding up two fingers to his cap 
 i 

but the staff officer did not finish what he wanted to say a cannon
ball flying close to him caused him to duck and bend over his horse 
he paused and just as he was about to say something more another ball
stopped him he turned his horse and galloped off 

 retire all to retire he shouted from a distance 

the soldiers laughed a moment later an adjutant arrived with the same
order 

it was prince andrew the first thing he saw on riding up to the space
where tushin's guns were stationed was an unharnessed horse with a
broken leg that lay screaming piteously beside the harnessed horses 
blood was gushing from its leg as from a spring among the limbers lay
several dead men one ball after another passed over as he approached
and he felt a nervous shudder run down his spine but the mere thought
of being afraid roused him again i cannot be afraid thought he 
and dismounted slowly among the guns he delivered the order and did
not leave the battery he decided to have the guns removed from their
positions and withdrawn in his presence together with tushin stepping
across the bodies and under a terrible fire from the french he attended
to the removal of the guns 

 a staff officer was here a minute ago but skipped off said an
artilleryman to prince andrew not like your honor 

prince andrew said nothing to tushin they were both so busy as to seem
not to notice one another when having limbered up the only two cannon
that remained uninjured out of the four they began moving down the hill
 one shattered gun and one unicorn were left behind prince andrew rode
up to tushin 

 well till we meet again he said holding out his hand to
tushin 

 good by my dear fellow said tushin dear soul good by my
dear fellow and for some unknown reason tears suddenly filled his
eyes 





chapter xxi

the wind had fallen and black clouds merging with the powder smoke 
hung low over the field of battle on the horizon it was growing
dark and the glow of two conflagrations was the more conspicuous the
cannonade was dying down but the rattle of musketry behind and on the
right sounded oftener and nearer as soon as tushin with his guns 
continually driving round or coming upon wounded men was out of range
of fire and had descended into the dip he was met by some of the staff 
among them the staff officer and zherkov who had been twice sent to
tushin's battery but had never reached it interrupting one
another they all gave and transmitted orders as to how to proceed 
reprimanding and reproaching him tushin gave no orders and 
silently fearing to speak because at every word he felt ready to
weep without knowing why rode behind on his artillery nag though
the orders were to abandon the wounded many of them dragged themselves
after troops and begged for seats on the gun carriages the jaunty
infantry officer who just before the battle had rushed out of
tushin's wattle shed was laid with a bullet in his stomach on
 matvevna's carriage at the foot of the hill a pale hussar
cadet supporting one hand with the other came up to tushin and asked
for a seat 

 captain for god's sake i've hurt my arm he said timidly 
 for god's sake i can't walk for god's sake 

it was plain that this cadet had already repeatedly asked for a lift and
been refused he asked in a hesitating piteous voice 

 tell them to give me a seat for god's sake 

 give him a seat said tushin lay a cloak for him to sit on 
lad he said addressing his favorite soldier and where is the
wounded officer 

 he has been set down he died replied someone 

 help him up sit down dear fellow sit down spread out the cloak 
antonov 

the cadet was rostov with one hand he supported the other he was
pale and his jaw trembled shivering feverishly he was placed on
 matvevna the gun from which they had removed the dead officer 
the cloak they spread under him was wet with blood which stained his
breeches and arm 

 what are you wounded my lad said tushin approaching the gun
on which rostov sat 

 no it's a sprain 

 then what is this blood on the gun carriage inquired tushin 

 it was the officer your honor stained it answered the
artilleryman wiping away the blood with his coat sleeve as if
apologizing for the state of his gun 

it was all that they could do to get the guns up the rise aided by the
infantry and having reached the village of gruntersdorf they halted it
had grown so dark that one could not distinguish the uniforms ten paces
off and the firing had begun to subside suddenly near by on the
right shouting and firing were again heard flashes of shot gleamed in
the darkness this was the last french attack and was met by soldiers
who had sheltered in the village houses they all rushed out of
the village again but tushin's guns could not move and the
artillerymen tushin and the cadet exchanged silent glances as they
awaited their fate the firing died down and soldiers talking eagerly 
streamed out of a side street 

 not hurt petrov asked one 

 we've given it em hot mate they won't make another push
now said another 

 you couldn't see a thing how they shot at their own fellows 
nothing could be seen pitch dark brother isn't there something to
drink 

the french had been repulsed for the last time and again and again in
the complete darkness tushin's guns moved forward surrounded by the
humming infantry as by a frame 

in the darkness it seemed as though a gloomy unseen river was flowing
always in one direction humming with whispers and talk and the sound of
hoofs and wheels amid the general rumble the groans and voices of the
wounded were more distinctly heard than any other sound in the darkness
of the night the gloom that enveloped the army was filled with their
groans which seemed to melt into one with the darkness of the night 
after a while the moving mass became agitated someone rode past on
a white horse followed by his suite and said something in passing 
 what did he say where to now halt is it did he thank us came
eager questions from all sides the whole moving mass began pressing
closer together and a report spread that they were ordered to halt 
evidently those in front had halted all remained where they were in the
middle of the muddy road 

fires were lighted and the talk became more audible captain tushin 
having given orders to his company sent a soldier to find a dressing
station or a doctor for the cadet and sat down by a bonfire the
soldiers had kindled on the road rostov too dragged himself to the
fire from pain cold and damp a feverish shivering shook his whole
body drowsiness was irresistibly mastering him but he kept awake by
an excruciating pain in his arm for which he could find no satisfactory
position he kept closing his eyes and then again looking at the fire 
which seemed to him dazzlingly red and at the feeble round shouldered
figure of tushin who was sitting cross legged like a turk beside him 
tushin's large kind intelligent eyes were fixed with sympathy and
commiseration on rostov who saw that tushin with his whole heart
wished to help him but could not 

from all sides were heard the footsteps and talk of the infantry who
were walking driving past and settling down all around the sound
of voices the tramping feet the horses hoofs moving in mud the
crackling of wood fires near and afar merged into one tremulous rumble 

it was no longer as before a dark unseen river flowing through the
gloom but a dark sea swelling and gradually subsiding after a storm 
rostov looked at and listened listlessly to what passed before and
around him an infantryman came to the fire squatted on his heels held
his hands to the blaze and turned away his face 

 you don't mind your honor he asked tushin i've lost my
company your honor i don't know where such bad luck 

with the soldier an infantry officer with a bandaged cheek came up to
the bonfire and addressing tushin asked him to have the guns moved a
trifle to let a wagon go past after he had gone two soldiers rushed to
the campfire they were quarreling and fighting desperately each trying
to snatch from the other a boot they were both holding on to 

 you picked it up i dare say you're very smart one of them
shouted hoarsely 

then a thin pale soldier his neck bandaged with a bloodstained leg
band came up and in angry tones asked the artillerymen for water 

 must one die like a dog said he 

tushin told them to give the man some water then a cheerful soldier
ran up begging a little fire for the infantry 

 a nice little hot torch for the infantry good luck to you fellow
countrymen thanks for the fire we'll return it with interest 
said he carrying away into the darkness a glowing stick 

next came four soldiers carrying something heavy on a cloak and passed
by the fire one of them stumbled 

 who the devil has put the logs on the road snarled he 

 he's dead why carry him said another 

 shut up 

and they disappeared into the darkness with their load 

 still aching tushin asked rostov in a whisper 

 yes 

 your honor you're wanted by the general he is in the hut here 
said a gunner coming up to tushin 

 coming friend 

tushin rose and buttoning his greatcoat and pulling it straight 
walked away from the fire 

not far from the artillery campfire in a hut that had been prepared
for him prince bagration sat at dinner talking with some commanding
officers who had gathered at his quarters the little old man with
the half closed eyes was there greedily gnawing a mutton bone and the
general who had served blamelessly for twenty two years flushed by a
glass of vodka and the dinner and the staff officer with the signet
ring and zherkov uneasily glancing at them all and prince andrew 
pale with compressed lips and feverishly glittering eyes 

in a corner of the hut stood a standard captured from the french and
the accountant with the naive face was feeling its texture shaking his
head in perplexity perhaps because the banner really interested him 
perhaps because it was hard for him hungry as he was to look on at
a dinner where there was no place for him in the next hut there was a
french colonel who had been taken prisoner by our dragoons our officers
were flocking in to look at him prince bagration was thanking the
individual commanders and inquiring into details of the action and our
losses the general whose regiment had been inspected at braunau was
informing the prince that as soon as the action began he had withdrawn
from the wood mustered the men who were woodcutting and allowing the
french to pass him had made a bayonet charge with two battalions and
had broken up the french troops 

 when i saw your excellency that their first battalion was
disorganized i stopped in the road and thought i'll let them
come on and will meet them with the fire of the whole battalion and
that's what i did 

the general had so wished to do this and was so sorry he had not managed
to do it that it seemed to him as if it had really happened perhaps
it might really have been so could one possibly make out amid all that
confusion what did or did not happen 

 by the way your excellency i should inform you he
continued remembering dolokhov's conversation with kutuzov and his
last interview with the gentleman ranker that private dolokhov 
who was reduced to the ranks took a french officer prisoner in my
presence and particularly distinguished himself 

 i saw the pavlograd hussars attack there your excellency chimed
in zherkov looking uneasily around he had not seen the hussars all
that day but had heard about them from an infantry officer they
broke up two squares your excellency 

several of those present smiled at zherkov's words expecting one of
his usual jokes but noticing that what he was saying redounded to
the glory of our arms and of the day's work they assumed a serious
expression though many of them knew that what he was saying was a lie
devoid of any foundation prince bagration turned to the old colonel 

 gentlemen i thank you all all arms have behaved heroically 
infantry cavalry and artillery how was it that two guns were
abandoned in the center he inquired searching with his eyes for
someone prince bagration did not ask about the guns on the left
flank he knew that all the guns there had been abandoned at the very
beginning of the action i think i sent you he added turning to
the staff officer on duty 

 one was damaged answered the staff officer and the other i
can't understand i was there all the time giving orders and had only
just left it is true that it was hot there he added modestly 

someone mentioned that captain tushin was bivouacking close to the
village and had already been sent for 

 oh but you were there said prince bagration addressing prince
andrew 

 of course we only just missed one another said the staff
officer with a smile to bolkonski 

 i had not the pleasure of seeing you said prince andrew coldly
and abruptly 

all were silent tushin appeared at the threshold and made his way
timidly from behind the backs of the generals as he stepped past the
generals in the crowded hut feeling embarrassed as he always was by the
sight of his superiors he did not notice the staff of the banner and
stumbled over it several of those present laughed 

 how was it a gun was abandoned asked bagration frowning not so
much at the captain as at those who were laughing among whom zherkov
laughed loudest 

only now when he was confronted by the stern authorities did his guilt
and the disgrace of having lost two guns and yet remaining alive present
themselves to tushin in all their horror he had been so excited that
he had not thought about it until that moment the officers laughter
confused him still more he stood before bagration with his lower
jaw trembling and was hardly able to mutter i don't know your
excellency i had no men your excellency 

 you might have taken some from the covering troops 

tushin did not say that there were no covering troops though that
was perfectly true he was afraid of getting some other officer into
trouble and silently fixed his eyes on bagration as a schoolboy who
has blundered looks at an examiner 

the silence lasted some time prince bagration apparently not wishing
to be severe found nothing to say the others did not venture to
intervene prince andrew looked at tushin from under his brows and his
fingers twitched nervously 

 your excellency prince andrew broke the silence with his abrupt
voice you were pleased to send me to captain tushin's battery i
went there and found two thirds of the men and horses knocked out two
guns smashed and no supports at all 

prince bagration and tushin looked with equal intentness at
bolkonski who spoke with suppressed agitation 

 and if your excellency will allow me to express my opinion he
continued we owe today's success chiefly to the action of that
battery and the heroic endurance of captain tushin and his company 
and without awaiting a reply prince andrew rose and left the table 

prince bagration looked at tushin evidently reluctant to show
distrust in bolkonski's emphatic opinion yet not feeling able fully
to credit it bent his head and told tushin that he could go prince
andrew went out with him 

 thank you you saved me my dear fellow said tushin 

prince andrew gave him a look but said nothing and went away he felt
sad and depressed it was all so strange so unlike what he had hoped 


 who are they why are they here what do they want and when will
all this end thought rostov looking at the changing shadows before
him the pain in his arm became more and more intense irresistible
drowsiness overpowered him red rings danced before his eyes and the
impression of those voices and faces and a sense of loneliness merged
with the physical pain it was they these soldiers wounded and
unwounded it was they who were crushing weighing down and twisting
the sinews and scorching the flesh of his sprained arm and shoulder to
rid himself of them he closed his eyes 

for a moment he dozed but in that short interval innumerable things
appeared to him in a dream his mother and her large white hand 
sonya's thin little shoulders natasha's eyes and laughter 
denisov with his voice and mustache and telyanin and all that affair
with telyanin and bogdanich that affair was the same thing as this
soldier with the harsh voice and it was that affair and this soldier
that were so agonizingly incessantly pulling and pressing his arm and
always dragging it in one direction he tried to get away from them but
they would not for an instant let his shoulder move a hair's breadth 
it would not ache it would be well if only they did not pull it but
it was impossible to get rid of them 

he opened his eyes and looked up the black canopy of night hung less
than a yard above the glow of the charcoal flakes of falling snow were
fluttering in that light tushin had not returned the doctor had not
come he was alone now except for a soldier who was sitting naked at
the other side of the fire warming his thin yellow body 

 nobody wants me thought rostov there is no one to help me or
pity me yet i was once at home strong happy and loved he sighed
and doing so groaned involuntarily 

 eh is anything hurting you asked the soldier shaking his shirt
out over the fire and not waiting for an answer he gave a grunt and
added what a lot of men have been crippled today frightful 

rostov did not listen to the soldier he looked at the snowflakes
fluttering above the fire and remembered a russian winter at his warm 
bright home his fluffy fur coat his quickly gliding sleigh his
healthy body and all the affection and care of his family and why
did i come here he wondered 

next day the french army did not renew their attack and the remnant of
bagration's detachment was reunited to kutuzov's army 





book three 1805





chapter i

prince vasili was not a man who deliberately thought out his plans 
still less did he think of injuring anyone for his own advantage he
was merely a man of the world who had got on and to whom getting on had
become a habit schemes and devices for which he never rightly accounted
to himself but which formed the whole interest of his life 
were constantly shaping themselves in his mind arising from the
circumstances and persons he met of these plans he had not merely one
or two in his head but dozens some only beginning to form themselves 
some approaching achievement and some in course of disintegration he
did not for instance say to himself this man now has influence i
must gain his confidence and friendship and through him obtain a special
grant nor did he say to himself pierre is a rich man i must
entice him to marry my daughter and lend me the forty thousand rubles
i need but when he came across a man of position his instinct
immediately told him that this man could be useful and without any
premeditation prince vasili took the first opportunity to gain his
confidence flatter him become intimate with him and finally make his
request 

he had pierre at hand in moscow and procured for him an appointment as
gentleman of the bedchamber which at that time conferred the status of
councilor of state and insisted on the young man accompanying him to
petersburg and staying at his house with apparent absent mindedness 
yet with unhesitating assurance that he was doing the right thing 
prince vasili did everything to get pierre to marry his daughter had
he thought out his plans beforehand he could not have been so natural
and shown such unaffected familiarity in intercourse with everybody both
above and below him in social standing something always drew him toward
those richer and more powerful than himself and he had rare skill in
seizing the most opportune moment for making use of people 

pierre on unexpectedly becoming count bezukhov and a rich man felt
himself after his recent loneliness and freedom from cares so beset and
preoccupied that only in bed was he able to be by himself he had to
sign papers to present himself at government offices the purpose of
which was not clear to him to question his chief steward to visit his
estate near moscow and to receive many people who formerly did not
even wish to know of his existence but would now have been offended
and grieved had he chosen not to see them these different
people businessmen relations and acquaintances alike were all
disposed to treat the young heir in the most friendly and flattering
manner they were all evidently firmly convinced of pierre's noble
qualities he was always hearing such words as with your remarkable
kindness or with your excellent heart you are yourself so
honorable count or were he as clever as you and so on 
till he began sincerely to believe in his own exceptional kindness and
extraordinary intelligence the more so as in the depth of his heart it
had always seemed to him that he really was very kind and intelligent 
even people who had formerly been spiteful toward him and evidently
unfriendly now became gentle and affectionate the angry eldest
princess with the long waist and hair plastered down like a doll's 
had come into pierre's room after the funeral with drooping eyes
and frequent blushes she told him she was very sorry about their past
misunderstandings and did not now feel she had a right to ask him for
anything except only for permission after the blow she had received 
to remain for a few weeks longer in the house she so loved and where
she had sacrificed so much she could not refrain from weeping at these
words touched that this statuesque princess could so change pierre
took her hand and begged her forgiveness without knowing what for 
from that day the eldest princess quite changed toward pierre and began
knitting a striped scarf for him 

 do this for my sake mon cher after all she had to put up with a
great deal from the deceased said prince vasili to him handing him
a deed to sign for the princess benefit 

prince vasili had come to the conclusion that it was necessary to throw
this bone a bill for thirty thousand rubles to the poor princess
that it might not occur to her to speak of his share in the affair of
the inlaid portfolio pierre signed the deed and after that the princess
grew still kinder the younger sisters also became affectionate to him 
especially the youngest the pretty one with the mole who often made
him feel confused by her smiles and her own confusion when meeting him 

it seemed so natural to pierre that everyone should like him and it
would have seemed so unnatural had anyone disliked him that he could
not but believe in the sincerity of those around him besides he had
no time to ask himself whether these people were sincere or not he
was always busy and always felt in a state of mild and cheerful
intoxication he felt as though he were the center of some important and
general movement that something was constantly expected of him that if
he did not do it he would grieve and disappoint many people but if he
did this and that all would be well and he did what was demanded of
him but still that happy result always remained in the future 

more than anyone else prince vasili took possession of pierre's
affairs and of pierre himself in those early days from the death of
count bezukhov he did not let go his hold of the lad he had the air of
a man oppressed by business weary and suffering who yet would not for
pity's sake leave this helpless youth who after all was the son of
his old friend and the possessor of such enormous wealth to the caprice
of fate and the designs of rogues during the few days he spent in
moscow after the death of count bezukhov he would call pierre or
go to him himself and tell him what ought to be done in a tone of
weariness and assurance as if he were adding every time you know
i am overwhelmed with business and it is purely out of charity that
i trouble myself about you and you also know quite well that what i
propose is the only thing possible 

 well my dear fellow tomorrow we are off at last said prince
vasili one day closing his eyes and fingering pierre's elbow 
speaking as if he were saying something which had long since been agreed
upon and could not now be altered we start tomorrow and i'm giving
you a place in my carriage i am very glad all our important business
here is now settled and i ought to have been off long ago here is
something i have received from the chancellor i asked him for you and
you have been entered in the diplomatic corps and made a gentleman of
the bedchamber the diplomatic career now lies open before you 

notwithstanding the tone of wearied assurance with which these words
were pronounced pierre who had so long been considering his career 
wished to make some suggestion but prince vasili interrupted him in
the special deep cooing tone precluding the possibility of interrupting
his speech which he used in extreme cases when special persuasion was
needed 

 mais mon cher i did this for my own sake to satisfy my conscience 
and there is nothing to thank me for no one has ever complained yet of
being too much loved and besides you are free you could throw it
up tomorrow but you will see everything for yourself when you get to
petersburg it is high time for you to get away from these terrible
recollections prince vasili sighed yes yes my boy and my
valet can go in your carriage ah i was nearly forgetting he added 
 you know mon cher your father and i had some accounts to settle so
i have received what was due from the ryazan estate and will keep it 
you won't require it we'll go into the accounts later 

by what was due from the ryazan estate prince vasili meant
several thousand rubles quitrent received from pierre's peasants 
which the prince had retained for himself 

in petersburg as in moscow pierre found the same atmosphere of
gentleness and affection he could not refuse the post or rather the
rank for he did nothing that prince vasili had procured for him 
and acquaintances invitations and social occupations were so numerous
that even more than in moscow he felt a sense of bewilderment bustle 
and continual expectation of some good always in front of him but never
attained 

of his former bachelor acquaintances many were no longer in petersburg 
the guards had gone to the front dolokhov had been reduced to the
ranks anatole was in the army somewhere in the provinces prince andrew
was abroad so pierre had not the opportunity to spend his nights as he
used to like to spend them or to open his mind by intimate talks with
a friend older than himself and whom he respected his whole time
was taken up with dinners and balls and was spent chiefly at prince
vasili's house in the company of the stout princess his wife and
his beautiful daughter helene 

like the others anna pavlovna scherer showed pierre the change of
attitude toward him that had taken place in society 

formerly in anna pavlovna's presence pierre had always felt that
what he was saying was out of place tactless and unsuitable that
remarks which seemed to him clever while they formed in his mind became
foolish as soon as he uttered them while on the contrary hippolyte's
stupidest remarks came out clever and apt now everything pierre said
was charmant even if anna pavlovna did not say so he could see that
she wished to and only refrained out of regard for his modesty 

in the beginning of the winter of 1805 6 pierre received one of anna
pavlovna's usual pink notes with an invitation to which was added 
 you will find the beautiful helene here whom it is always
delightful to see 

when he read that sentence pierre felt for the first time that some
link which other people recognized had grown up between himself and
helene and that thought both alarmed him as if some obligation were
being imposed on him which he could not fulfill and pleased him as an
entertaining supposition 

anna pavlovna's at home was like the former one only the
novelty she offered her guests this time was not mortemart but a
diplomatist fresh from berlin with the very latest details of the
emperor alexander's visit to potsdam and of how the two august
friends had pledged themselves in an indissoluble alliance to uphold
the cause of justice against the enemy of the human race anna pavlovna
received pierre with a shade of melancholy evidently relating to the
young man's recent loss by the death of count bezukhov everyone
constantly considered it a duty to assure pierre that he was greatly
afflicted by the death of the father he had hardly known and her
melancholy was just like the august melancholy she showed at the mention
of her most august majesty the empress marya fedorovna pierre felt
flattered by this anna pavlovna arranged the different groups in her
drawing room with her habitual skill the large group in which were
prince vasili and the generals had the benefit of the diplomat 
another group was at the tea table pierre wished to join the former 
but anna pavlovna who was in the excited condition of a commander on
a battlefield to whom thousands of new and brilliant ideas occur which
there is hardly time to put in action seeing pierre touched his
sleeve with her finger saying 

 wait a bit i have something in view for you this evening 
 she glanced at helene and smiled at her my dear helene be
charitable to my poor aunt who adores you go and keep her company for
ten minutes and that it will not be too dull here is the dear count
who will not refuse to accompany you 

the beauty went to the aunt but anna pavlovna detained pierre looking
as if she had to give some final necessary instructions 

 isn't she exquisite she said to pierre pointing to the stately
beauty as she glided away and how she carries herself for so young
a girl such tact such masterly perfection of manner it comes from
her heart happy the man who wins her with her the least worldly of men
would occupy a most brilliant position in society don't you think so 
i only wanted to know your opinion and anna pavlovna let pierre go 

pierre in reply sincerely agreed with her as to helene's
perfection of manner if he ever thought of helene it was just of
her beauty and her remarkable skill in appearing silently dignified in
society 

the old aunt received the two young people in her corner but seemed
desirous of hiding her adoration for helene and inclined rather
to show her fear of anna pavlovna she looked at her niece as if
inquiring what she was to do with these people on leaving them anna
pavlovna again touched pierre's sleeve saying i hope you won't
say that it is dull in my house again and she glanced at helene 

helene smiled with a look implying that she did not admit the
possibility of anyone seeing her without being enchanted the aunt
coughed swallowed and said in french that she was very pleased to see
helene then she turned to pierre with the same words of welcome
and the same look in the middle of a dull and halting conversation 
helene turned to pierre with the beautiful bright smile that she gave
to everyone pierre was so used to that smile and it had so little
meaning for him that he paid no attention to it the aunt was just
speaking of a collection of snuffboxes that had belonged to pierre's
father count bezukhov and showed them her own box princess helene
asked to see the portrait of the aunt's husband on the box lid 

 that is probably the work of vinesse said pierre mentioning
a celebrated miniaturist and he leaned over the table to take the
snuffbox while trying to hear what was being said at the other table 

he half rose meaning to go round but the aunt handed him the snuffbox 
passing it across helene's back helene stooped forward to make
room and looked round with a smile she was as always at evening
parties wearing a dress such as was then fashionable cut very low at
front and back her bust which had always seemed like marble to pierre 
was so close to him that his shortsighted eyes could not but perceive
the living charm of her neck and shoulders so near to his lips that
he need only have bent his head a little to have touched them he was
conscious of the warmth of her body the scent of perfume and the
creaking of her corset as she moved he did not see her marble beauty
forming a complete whole with her dress but all the charm of her body
only covered by her garments and having once seen this he could not
help being aware of it just as we cannot renew an illusion we have once
seen through 

 so you have never noticed before how beautiful i am helene
seemed to say you had not noticed that i am a woman yes i am a
woman who may belong to anyone to you too said her glance and at
that moment pierre felt that helene not only could but must be his
wife and that it could not be otherwise 

he knew this at that moment as surely as if he had been standing at the
altar with her how and when this would be he did not know he did not
even know if it would be a good thing he even felt he knew not why 
that it would be a bad thing but he knew it would happen 

pierre dropped his eyes lifted them again and wished once more to see
her as a distant beauty far removed from him as he had seen her every
day until then but he could no longer do it he could not any more
than a man who has been looking at a tuft of steppe grass through the
mist and taking it for a tree can again take it for a tree after he has
once recognized it to be a tuft of grass she was terribly close to him 
she already had power over him and between them there was no longer any
barrier except the barrier of his own will 

 well i will leave you in your little corner came anna
pavlovna's voice i see you are all right there 

and pierre anxiously trying to remember whether he had done anything
reprehensible looked round with a blush it seemed to him that everyone
knew what had happened to him as he knew it himself 

a little later when he went up to the large circle anna pavlovna said
to him i hear you are refitting your petersburg house 

this was true the architect had told him that it was necessary and
pierre without knowing why was having his enormous petersburg house
done up 

 that's a good thing but don't move from prince vasili's it
is good to have a friend like the prince she said smiling at prince
vasili i know something about that don't i and you are still so
young you need advice don't be angry with me for exercising an old
woman's privilege 

she paused as women always do expecting something after they have
mentioned their age if you marry it will be a different thing 
she continued uniting them both in one glance pierre did not look at
helene nor she at him but she was just as terribly close to him he
muttered something and colored 

when he got home he could not sleep for a long time for thinking of what
had happened what had happened nothing he had merely understood that
the woman he had known as a child of whom when her beauty was mentioned
he had said absent mindedly yes she's good looking he had
understood that this woman might belong to him 

 but she's stupid i have myself said she is stupid he thought 
 there is something nasty something wrong in the feeling she excites
in me i have been told that her brother anatole was in love with her
and she with him that there was quite a scandal and that that's why
he was sent away hippolyte is her brother prince vasili is her
father it's bad he reflected but while he was thinking this
 the reflection was still incomplete he caught himself smiling and was
conscious that another line of thought had sprung up and while thinking
of her worthlessness he was also dreaming of how she would be his
wife how she would love him become quite different and how all he had
thought and heard of her might be false and he again saw her not as the
daughter of prince vasili but visualized her whole body only veiled
by its gray dress but no why did this thought never occur to me
before and again he told himself that it was impossible that there
would be something unnatural and as it seemed to him dishonorable in
this marriage he recalled her former words and looks and the words
and looks of those who had seen them together he recalled anna
pavlovna's words and looks when she spoke to him about his house 
recalled thousands of such hints from prince vasili and others and was
seized by terror lest he had already in some way bound himself to do
something that was evidently wrong and that he ought not to do but at
the very time he was expressing this conviction to himself in another
part of his mind her image rose in all its womanly beauty 





chapter ii

in november 1805 prince vasili had to go on a tour of inspection
in four different provinces he had arranged this for himself so as to
visit his neglected estates at the same time and pick up his son anatole
where his regiment was stationed and take him to visit prince nicholas
bolkonski in order to arrange a match for him with the daughter of that
rich old man but before leaving home and undertaking these new affairs 
prince vasili had to settle matters with pierre who it is true had
latterly spent whole days at home that is in prince vasili's house
where he was staying and had been absurd excited and foolish in
helene's presence as a lover should be but had not yet proposed
to her 

 this is all very fine but things must be settled said prince
vasili to himself with a sorrowful sigh one morning feeling that
pierre who was under such obligations to him but never mind that 
was not behaving very well in this matter youth frivolity well 
god be with him thought he relishing his own goodness of heart 
 but it must be brought to a head the day after tomorrow will be
lelya's name day i will invite two or three people and if he does
not understand what he ought to do then it will be my affair yes my
affair i am her father 

six weeks after anna pavlovna's at home and after the sleepless
night when he had decided that to marry helene would be a calamity and
that he ought to avoid her and go away pierre despite that decision 
had not left prince vasili's and felt with terror that in people's
eyes he was every day more and more connected with her that it was
impossible for him to return to his former conception of her that he
could not break away from her and that though it would be a terrible
thing he would have to unite his fate with hers he might perhaps have
been able to free himself but that prince vasili who had rarely before
given receptions now hardly let a day go by without having an evening
party at which pierre had to be present unless he wished to spoil
the general pleasure and disappoint everyone's expectation prince
vasili in the rare moments when he was at home would take pierre's
hand in passing and draw it downwards or absent mindedly hold out his
wrinkled clean shaven cheek for pierre to kiss and would say till
tomorrow or be in to dinner or i shall not see you or i
am staying in for your sake and so on and though prince vasili 
when he stayed in as he said for pierre's sake hardly exchanged a
couple of words with him pierre felt unable to disappoint him 
every day he said to himself one and the same thing it is time i
understood her and made up my mind what she really is was i mistaken
before or am i mistaken now no she is not stupid she is an excellent
girl he sometimes said to himself she never makes a mistake 
never says anything stupid she says little but what she does say is
always clear and simple so she is not stupid she never was abashed and
is not abashed now so she cannot be a bad woman he had often begun
to make reflections or think aloud in her company and she had always
answered him either by a brief but appropriate remark showing that it
did not interest her or by a silent look and smile which more palpably
than anything else showed pierre her superiority she was right in
regarding all arguments as nonsense in comparison with that smile 

she always addressed him with a radiantly confiding smile meant for him
alone in which there was something more significant than in the general
smile that usually brightened her face pierre knew that everyone was
waiting for him to say a word and cross a certain line and he knew that
sooner or later he would step across it but an incomprehensible terror
seized him at the thought of that dreadful step a thousand times during
that month and a half while he felt himself drawn nearer and nearer to
that dreadful abyss pierre said to himself what am i doing i need
resolution can it be that i have none 

he wished to take a decision but felt with dismay that in this matter
he lacked that strength of will which he had known in himself and really
possessed pierre was one of those who are only strong when they feel
themselves quite innocent and since that day when he was overpowered
by a feeling of desire while stooping over the snuffbox at anna
pavlovna's an unacknowledged sense of the guilt of that desire
paralyzed his will 

on helene's name day a small party of just their own people as
his wife said met for supper at prince vasili's all these friends
and relations had been given to understand that the fate of the young
girl would be decided that evening the visitors were seated at supper 
princess kuragina a portly imposing woman who had once been handsome 
was sitting at the head of the table on either side of her sat the
more important guests an old general and his wife and anna pavlovna
scherer at the other end sat the younger and less important guests 
and there too sat the members of the family and pierre and helene 
side by side prince vasili was not having any supper he went round
the table in a merry mood sitting down now by one now by another of
the guests to each of them he made some careless and agreeable remark
except to pierre and helene whose presence he seemed not to notice 
he enlivened the whole party the wax candles burned brightly the
silver and crystal gleamed so did the ladies toilets and the gold
and silver of the men's epaulets servants in scarlet liveries moved
round the table the clatter of plates knives and glasses mingled with
the animated hum of several conversations at one end of the table the
old chamberlain was heard assuring an old baroness that he loved her
passionately at which she laughed at the other could be heard the
story of the misfortunes of some mary viktorovna or other at the
center of the table prince vasili attracted everybody's attention 
with a facetious smile on his face he was telling the ladies about last
wednesday's meeting of the imperial council at which sergey kuzmich
vyazmitinov the new military governor general of petersburg had
received and read the then famous rescript of the emperor alexander
from the army to sergey kuzmich in which the emperor said that he was
receiving from all sides declarations of the people's loyalty that
the declaration from petersburg gave him particular pleasure and that
he was proud to be at the head of such a nation and would endeavor to be
worthy of it this rescript began with the words sergey kuzmich 
from all sides reports reach me etc 

 well and so he never got farther than sergey kuzmich 
asked one of the ladies 

 exactly not a hair's breadth farther answered prince vasili 
laughing sergey kuzmich from all sides from all sides 
sergey kuzmich poor vyazmitinov could not get any farther 
he began the rescript again and again but as soon as he uttered
 sergey he sobbed kuz mi ch tears and from all
sides was smothered in sobs and he could get no farther and again
his handkerchief and again sergey kuzmich from all sides 
and tears till at last somebody else was asked to read it 

 kuzmich from all sides and then tears someone repeated
laughing 

 don't be unkind cried anna pavlovna from her end of the table
holding up a threatening finger he is such a worthy and excellent
man our dear vyazmitinov 

everybody laughed a great deal at the head of the table where the
honored guests sat everyone seemed to be in high spirits and under the
influence of a variety of exciting sensations only pierre and
helene sat silently side by side almost at the bottom of the table a
suppressed smile brightening both their faces a smile that had nothing
to do with sergey kuzmich a smile of bashfulness at their own
feelings but much as all the rest laughed talked and joked much
as they enjoyed their rhine wine saute and ices and however they
avoided looking at the young couple and heedless and unobservant as
they seemed of them one could feel by the occasional glances they gave
that the story about sergey kuzmich the laughter and the food
were all a pretense and that the whole attention of that company was
directed to pierre and helene prince vasili mimicked the sobbing
of sergey kuzmich and at the same time his eyes glanced toward his
daughter and while he laughed the expression on his face clearly said 
 yes it's getting on it will all be settled today anna
pavlovna threatened him on behalf of our dear vyazmitinov and
in her eyes which for an instant glanced at pierre prince vasili
read a congratulation on his future son in law and on his daughter's
happiness the old princess sighed sadly as she offered some wine to the
old lady next to her and glanced angrily at her daughter and her sigh
seemed to say yes there's nothing left for you and me but to sip
sweet wine my dear now that the time has come for these young ones to
be thus boldly provocatively happy and what nonsense all this is
that i am saying thought a diplomatist glancing at the happy faces
of the lovers that's happiness 

into the insignificant trifling and artificial interests uniting that
society had entered the simple feeling of the attraction of a healthy
and handsome young man and woman for one another and this human feeling
dominated everything else and soared above all their affected chatter 
jests fell flat news was not interesting and the animation was
evidently forced not only the guests but even the footmen waiting at
table seemed to feel this and they forgot their duties as they looked
at the beautiful helene with her radiant face and at the red broad 
and happy though uneasy face of pierre it seemed as if the very light
of the candles was focused on those two happy faces alone 

pierre felt that he was the center of it all and this both pleased and
embarrassed him he was like a man entirely absorbed in some occupation 
he did not see hear or understand anything clearly only now and
then detached ideas and impressions from the world of reality shot
unexpectedly through his mind 

 so it is all finished he thought and how has it all happened 
how quickly now i know that not because of her alone nor of myself
alone but because of everyone it must inevitably come about they are
all expecting it they are so sure that it will happen that i cannot i
cannot disappoint them but how will it be i do not know but it
will certainly happen thought pierre glancing at those dazzling
shoulders close to his eyes 

or he would suddenly feel ashamed of he knew not what he felt it
awkward to attract everyone's attention and to be considered a
lucky man and with his plain face to be looked on as a sort of paris
possessed of a helen but no doubt it always is and must be so 
he consoled himself and besides what have i done to bring it about 
how did it begin i traveled from moscow with prince vasili then there
was nothing so why should i not stay at his house then i played cards
with her and picked up her reticule and drove out with her how did it
begin when did it all come about and here he was sitting by her
side as her betrothed seeing hearing feeling her nearness her
breathing her movements her beauty then it would suddenly seem to him
that it was not she but he was so unusually beautiful and that that was
why they all looked so at him and flattered by this general admiration
he would expand his chest raise his head and rejoice at his good
fortune suddenly he heard a familiar voice repeating something to him a
second time but pierre was so absorbed that he did not understand what
was said 

 i am asking you when you last heard from bolkonski repeated
prince vasili a third time how absent minded you are my dear
fellow 

prince vasili smiled and pierre noticed that everyone was smiling at
him and helene well what of it if you all know it thought
pierre what of it it's the truth and he himself smiled his
gentle childlike smile and helene smiled too 

 when did you get the letter was it from olmutz repeated
prince vasili who pretended to want to know this in order to settle a
dispute 

 how can one talk or think of such trifles thought pierre 

 yes from olmutz he answered with a sigh 

after supper pierre with his partner followed the others into the
drawing room the guests began to disperse some without taking leave
of helene some as if unwilling to distract her from an important
occupation came up to her for a moment and made haste to go away 
refusing to let her see them off the diplomatist preserved a mournful
silence as he left the drawing room he pictured the vanity of his
diplomatic career in comparison with pierre's happiness the old
general grumbled at his wife when she asked how his leg was oh the
old fool he thought that princess helene will be beautiful
still when she's fifty 

 i think i may congratulate you whispered anna pavlovna to the
old princess kissing her soundly if i hadn't this headache i'd
have stayed longer 

the old princess did not reply she was tormented by jealousy of her
daughter's happiness 

while the guests were taking their leave pierre remained for a long time
alone with helene in the little drawing room where they were sitting 
he had often before during the last six weeks remained alone with her 
but had never spoken to her of love now he felt that it was inevitable 
but he could not make up his mind to take the final step he felt
ashamed he felt that he was occupying someone else's place here
beside helene this happiness is not for you some inner voice
whispered to him this happiness is for those who have not in them
what there is in you 

but as he had to say something he began by asking her whether she was
satisfied with the party she replied in her usual simple manner that
this name day of hers had been one of the pleasantest she had ever had 

some of the nearest relatives had not yet left they were sitting in
the large drawing room prince vasili came up to pierre with languid
footsteps pierre rose and said it was getting late prince vasili gave
him a look of stern inquiry as though what pierre had just said was
so strange that one could not take it in but then the expression of
severity changed and he drew pierre's hand downwards made him sit
down and smiled affectionately 

 well lelya he asked turning instantly to his daughter and
addressing her with the careless tone of habitual tenderness natural to
parents who have petted their children from babyhood but which prince
vasili had only acquired by imitating other parents 

and he again turned to pierre 

 sergey kuzmich from all sides he said unbuttoning the top
button of his waistcoat 

pierre smiled but his smile showed that he knew it was not the story
about sergey kuzmich that interested prince vasili just then and
prince vasili saw that pierre knew this he suddenly muttered
something and went away it seemed to pierre that even the prince was
disconcerted the sight of the discomposure of that old man of the world
touched pierre he looked at helene and she too seemed disconcerted 
and her look seemed to say well it is your own fault 

 the step must be taken but i cannot i cannot thought pierre 
and he again began speaking about indifferent matters about sergey
kuzmich asking what the point of the story was as he had not heard it
properly helene answered with a smile that she too had missed it 

when prince vasili returned to the drawing room the princess his
wife was talking in low tones to the elderly lady about pierre 

 of course it is a very brilliant match but happiness my dear 

 marriages are made in heaven replied the elderly lady 

prince vasili passed by seeming not to hear the ladies and sat down
on a sofa in a far corner of the room he closed his eyes and seemed to
be dozing his head sank forward and then he roused himself 

 aline he said to his wife go and see what they are about 

the princess went up to the door passed by it with a dignified and
indifferent air and glanced into the little drawing room pierre and
helene still sat talking just as before 

 still the same she said to her husband 

prince vasili frowned twisting his mouth his cheeks quivered and his
face assumed the coarse unpleasant expression peculiar to him shaking
himself he rose threw back his head and with resolute steps went
past the ladies into the little drawing room with quick steps he went
joyfully up to pierre his face was so unusually triumphant that pierre
rose in alarm on seeing it 

 thank god said prince vasili my wife has told me
everything he put one arm around pierre and the other around his
daughter my dear boy lelya i am very pleased his
voice trembled i loved your father and she will make you a good
wife god bless you 

he embraced his daughter and then again pierre and kissed him with his
malodorous mouth tears actually moistened his cheeks 

 princess come here he shouted 

the old princess came in and also wept the elderly lady was using
her handkerchief too pierre was kissed and he kissed the beautiful
helene's hand several times after a while they were left alone
again 

 all this had to be and could not be otherwise thought pierre 
 so it is useless to ask whether it is good or bad it is good because
it's definite and one is rid of the old tormenting doubt pierre
held the hand of his betrothed in silence looking at her beautiful
bosom as it rose and fell 

 helene he said aloud and paused 

 something special is always said in such cases he thought but
could not remember what it was that people say he looked at her face 
she drew nearer to him her face flushed 

 oh take those off those she said pointing to his
spectacles 

pierre took them off and his eyes besides the strange look eyes have
from which spectacles have just been removed had also a frightened and
inquiring look he was about to stoop over her hand and kiss it but
with a rapid almost brutal movement of her head she intercepted his
lips and met them with her own her face struck pierre by its altered 
unpleasantly excited expression 

 it is too late now it's done besides i love her thought
pierre 

 je vous aime he said remembering what has to be said at such
moments but his words sounded so weak that he felt ashamed of himself 

 i love you 


six weeks later he was married and settled in count bezukhov's
large newly furnished petersburg house the happy possessor as people
said of a wife who was a celebrated beauty and of millions of money 





chapter iii

old prince nicholas bolkonski received a letter from prince vasili
in november 1805 announcing that he and his son would be paying him
a visit i am starting on a journey of inspection and of course i
shall think nothing of an extra seventy miles to come and see you at
the same time my honored benefactor wrote prince vasili my son
anatole is accompanying me on his way to the army so i hope you will
allow him personally to express the deep respect that emulating his
father he feels for you 

 it seems that there will be no need to bring mary out suitors are
coming to us of their own accord incautiously remarked the little
princess on hearing the news 

prince nicholas frowned but said nothing 

a fortnight after the letter prince vasili's servants came one
evening in advance of him and he and his son arrived next day 

old bolkonski had always had a poor opinion of prince vasili's
character but more so recently since in the new reigns of paul and
alexander prince vasili had risen to high position and honors and now 
from the hints contained in his letter and given by the little princess 
he saw which way the wind was blowing and his low opinion changed into
a feeling of contemptuous ill will he snorted whenever he mentioned
him on the day of prince vasili's arrival prince bolkonski was
particularly discontented and out of temper whether he was in a bad
temper because prince vasili was coming or whether his being in a bad
temper made him specially annoyed at prince vasili's visit he was
in a bad temper and in the morning tikhon had already advised the
architect not to go to the prince with his report 

 do you hear how he's walking said tikhon drawing the
architect's attention to the sound of the prince's footsteps 
 stepping flat on his heels we know what that means 

however at nine o'clock the prince in his velvet coat with a sable
collar and cap went out for his usual walk it had snowed the day
before and the path to the hothouse along which the prince was in the
habit of walking had been swept the marks of the broom were still
visible in the snow and a shovel had been left sticking in one of the
soft snowbanks that bordered both sides of the path the prince went
through the conservatories the serfs quarters and the outbuildings 
frowning and silent 

 can a sleigh pass he asked his overseer a venerable man 
resembling his master in manners and looks who was accompanying him
back to the house 

 the snow is deep i am having the avenue swept your honor 

the prince bowed his head and went up to the porch god be
thanked thought the overseer the storm has blown over 

 it would have been hard to drive up your honor he added i
heard your honor that a minister is coming to visit your honor 

the prince turned round to the overseer and fixed his eyes on him 
frowning 

 what a minister what minister who gave orders he said in
his shrill harsh voice the road is not swept for the princess my
daughter but for a minister for me there are no ministers 

 your honor i thought 

 you thought shouted the prince his words coming more and more
rapidly and indistinctly you thought rascals blackguards 
i'll teach you to think and lifting his stick he swung it and
would have hit alpatych the overseer had not the latter instinctively
avoided the blow thought blackguards shouted the prince
rapidly 

but although alpatych frightened at his own temerity in avoiding the
stroke came up to the prince bowing his bald head resignedly before
him or perhaps for that very reason the prince though he continued
to shout blackguards throw the snow back on the road did not
lift his stick again but hurried into the house 

before dinner princess mary and mademoiselle bourienne who knew
that the prince was in a bad humor stood awaiting him mademoiselle
bourienne with a radiant face that said i know nothing i am the
same as usual and princess mary pale frightened and with downcast
eyes what she found hardest to bear was to know that on such occasions
she ought to behave like mademoiselle bourienne but could not 
she thought if i seem not to notice he will think that i do not
sympathize with him if i seem sad and out of spirits myself he will
say as he has done before that i'm in the dumps 

the prince looked at his daughter's frightened face and snorted 

 fool or dummy he muttered 

 and the other one is not here they've been telling tales he
thought referring to the little princess who was not in the dining
room 

 where is the princess he asked hiding 

 she is not very well answered mademoiselle bourienne with
a bright smile so she won't come down it is natural in her
state 

 hm hm muttered the prince sitting down 

his plate seemed to him not quite clean and pointing to a spot he
flung it away tikhon caught it and handed it to a footman the little
princess was not unwell but had such an overpowering fear of the prince
that hearing he was in a bad humor she had decided not to appear 

 i am afraid for the baby she said to mademoiselle bourienne 
 heaven knows what a fright might do 

in general at bald hills the little princess lived in constant fear and
with a sense of antipathy to the old prince which she did not
realize because the fear was so much the stronger feeling the prince
reciprocated this antipathy but it was overpowered by his contempt
for her when the little princess had grown accustomed to life at bald
hills she took a special fancy to mademoiselle bourienne spent whole
days with her asked her to sleep in her room and often talked with her
about the old prince and criticized him 

 so we are to have visitors mon prince remarked mademoiselle
bourienne unfolding her white napkin with her rosy fingers his
excellency prince vasili kuragin and his son i understand she
said inquiringly 

 hm his excellency is a puppy i got him his appointment in the
service said the prince disdainfully why his son is coming i
don't understand perhaps princess elizabeth and princess mary know 
i don't want him he looked at his blushing daughter are you
unwell today eh afraid of the minister as that idiot alpatych
called him this morning 

 no mon pere 

though mademoiselle bourienne had been so unsuccessful in her choice
of a subject she did not stop talking but chattered about the
conservatories and the beauty of a flower that had just opened and
after the soup the prince became more genial 

after dinner he went to see his daughter in law the little princess
was sitting at a small table chattering with masha her maid she grew
pale on seeing her father in law 

she was much altered she was now plain rather than pretty her cheeks
had sunk her lip was drawn up and her eyes drawn down 

 yes i feel a kind of oppression she said in reply to the
prince's question as to how she felt 

 do you want anything 

 no merci mon pere 

 well all right all right 

he left the room and went to the waiting room where alpatych stood with
bowed head 

 has the snow been shoveled back 

 yes your excellency forgive me for heaven's sake it was only
my stupidity 

 all right all right interrupted the prince and laughing his
unnatural way he stretched out his hand for alpatych to kiss and then
proceeded to his study 

prince vasili arrived that evening he was met in the avenue by
coachmen and footmen who with loud shouts dragged his sleighs up to
one of the lodges over the road purposely laden with snow 

prince vasili and anatole had separate rooms assigned to them 

anatole having taken off his overcoat sat with arms akimbo before a
table on a corner of which he smilingly and absent mindedly fixed his
large and handsome eyes he regarded his whole life as a continual round
of amusement which someone for some reason had to provide for him 
and he looked on this visit to a churlish old man and a rich and ugly
heiress in the same way all this might he thought turn out very well
and amusingly and why not marry her if she really has so much money 
that never does any harm thought anatole 

he shaved and scented himself with the care and elegance which had
become habitual to him and his handsome head held high entered his
father's room with the good humored and victorious air natural to
him prince vasili's two valets were busy dressing him and he looked
round with much animation and cheerfully nodded to his son as the latter
entered as if to say yes that's how i want you to look 

 i say father joking apart is she very hideous anatole asked 
as if continuing a conversation the subject of which had often been
mentioned during the journey 

 enough what nonsense above all try to be respectful and cautious
with the old prince 

 if he starts a row i'll go away said prince anatole i
can't bear those old men eh 

 remember for you everything depends on this 

in the meantime not only was it known in the maidservants rooms that
the minister and his son had arrived but the appearance of both had
been minutely described princess mary was sitting alone in her room 
vainly trying to master her agitation 

 why did they write why did lise tell me about it it can never
happen she said looking at herself in the glass how shall i
enter the drawing room even if i like him i can't now be myself with
him the mere thought of her father's look filled her with terror 
the little princess and mademoiselle bourienne had already received
from masha the lady's maid the necessary report of how handsome the
minister's son was with his rosy cheeks and dark eyebrows and with
what difficulty the father had dragged his legs upstairs while the son
had followed him like an eagle three steps at a time having received
this information the little princess and mademoiselle bourienne whose
chattering voices had reached her from the corridor went into princess
mary's room 

 you know they've come marie said the little princess waddling
in and sinking heavily into an armchair 

she was no longer in the loose gown she generally wore in the morning 
but had on one of her best dresses her hair was carefully done and her
face was animated which however did not conceal its sunken and faded
outlines dressed as she used to be in petersburg society it was still
more noticeable how much plainer she had become some unobtrusive touch
had been added to mademoiselle bourienne's toilet which rendered her
fresh and pretty face yet more attractive 

 what are you going to remain as you are dear princess she
began they'll be announcing that the gentlemen are in the drawing
room and we shall have to go down and you have not smartened yourself
up at all 

the little princess got up rang for the maid and hurriedly and merrily
began to devise and carry out a plan of how princess mary should be
dressed princess mary's self esteem was wounded by the fact that
the arrival of a suitor agitated her and still more so by both
her companions not having the least conception that it could be
otherwise to tell them that she felt ashamed for herself and for them
would be to betray her agitation while to decline their offers to
dress her would prolong their banter and insistence she flushed her
beautiful eyes grew dim red blotches came on her face and it took
on the unattractive martyrlike expression it so often wore as she
submitted herself to mademoiselle bourienne and lise both these women
quite sincerely tried to make her look pretty she was so plain that
neither of them could think of her as a rival so they began dressing
her with perfect sincerity and with the naive and firm conviction
women have that dress can make a face pretty 

 no really my dear this dress is not pretty said lise looking
sideways at princess mary from a little distance you have a maroon
dress have it fetched really you know the fate of your whole life may
be at stake but this one is too light it's not becoming 

it was not the dress but the face and whole figure of princess mary
that was not pretty but neither mademoiselle bourienne nor the little
princess felt this they still thought that if a blue ribbon were placed
in the hair the hair combed up and the blue scarf arranged lower on
the best maroon dress and so on all would be well they forgot that
the frightened face and the figure could not be altered and that
however they might change the setting and adornment of that face it
would still remain piteous and plain after two or three changes to
which princess mary meekly submitted just as her hair had been arranged
on the top of her head a style that quite altered and spoiled her
looks and she had put on a maroon dress with a pale blue scarf the
little princess walked twice round her now adjusting a fold of the
dress with her little hand now arranging the scarf and looking at her
with her head bent first on one side and then on the other 

 no it will not do she said decidedly clasping her hands no 
mary really this dress does not suit you i prefer you in your little
gray everyday dress now please do it for my sake katie she said
to the maid bring the princess her gray dress and you'll see 
mademoiselle bourienne how i shall arrange it she added smiling
with a foretaste of artistic pleasure 

but when katie brought the required dress princess mary remained
sitting motionless before the glass looking at her face and saw in the
mirror her eyes full of tears and her mouth quivering ready to burst
into sobs 

 come dear princess said mademoiselle bourienne just one more
little effort 

the little princess taking the dress from the maid came up to princess
mary 

 well now we'll arrange something quite simple and becoming she
said 

the three voices hers mademoiselle bourienne's and katie's who
was laughing at something mingled in a merry sound like the chirping
of birds 

 no leave me alone said princess mary 

her voice sounded so serious and so sad that the chirping of the birds
was silenced at once they looked at the beautiful large thoughtful
eyes full of tears and of thoughts gazing shiningly and imploringly at
them and understood that it was useless and even cruel to insist 

 at least change your coiffure said the little princess 
 didn't i tell you she went on turning reproachfully to
mademoiselle bourienne mary's is a face which such a coiffure does
not suit in the least not in the least please change it 

 leave me alone please leave me alone it is all quite the same to
me answered a voice struggling with tears 

mademoiselle bourienne and the little princess had to own to themselves
that princess mary in this guise looked very plain worse than usual 
but it was too late she was looking at them with an expression they
both knew an expression thoughtful and sad this expression in princess
mary did not frighten them she never inspired fear in anyone but they
knew that when it appeared on her face she became mute and was not to
be shaken in her determination 

 you will change it won't you said lise and as princess mary
gave no answer she left the room 

princess mary was left alone she did not comply with lise's request 
she not only left her hair as it was but did not even look in her
glass letting her arms fall helplessly she sat with downcast eyes and
pondered a husband a man a strong dominant and strangely attractive
being rose in her imagination and carried her into a totally different
happy world of his own she fancied a child her own such as she had
seen the day before in the arms of her nurse's daughter at her
own breast the husband standing by and gazing tenderly at her and the
child but no it is impossible i am too ugly she thought 

 please come to tea the prince will be out in a moment came the
maid's voice at the door 

she roused herself and felt appalled at what she had been thinking and
before going down she went into the room where the icons hung and her
eyes fixed on the dark face of a large icon of the saviour lit by a
lamp she stood before it with folded hands for a few moments a painful
doubt filled her soul could the joy of love of earthly love for a
man be for her in her thoughts of marriage princess mary dreamed of
happiness and of children but her strongest most deeply hidden longing
was for earthly love the more she tried to hide this feeling from
others and even from herself the stronger it grew o god she
said how am i to stifle in my heart these temptations of the devil 
how am i to renounce forever these vile fancies so as peacefully to
fulfill thy will and scarcely had she put that question than god
gave her the answer in her own heart desire nothing for thyself 
seek nothing be not anxious or envious man's future and thy own fate
must remain hidden from thee but live so that thou mayest be ready for
anything if it be god's will to prove thee in the duties of marriage 
be ready to fulfill his will with this consoling thought but
yet with a hope for the fulfillment of her forbidden earthly longing 
princess mary sighed and having crossed herself went down thinking
neither of her gown and coiffure nor of how she would go in nor of what
she would say what could all that matter in comparison with the will of
god without whose care not a hair of man's head can fall 





chapter iv

when princess mary came down prince vasili and his son were already
in the drawing room talking to the little princess and mademoiselle
bourienne when she entered with her heavy step treading on her heels 
the gentlemen and mademoiselle bourienne rose and the little princess 
indicating her to the gentlemen said voila marie princess mary
saw them all and saw them in detail she saw prince vasili's face 
serious for an instant at the sight of her but immediately smiling
again and the little princess curiously noting the impression
 marie produced on the visitors and she saw mademoiselle
bourienne with her ribbon and pretty face and her unusually animated
look which was fixed on him but him she could not see she only saw
something large brilliant and handsome moving toward her as she
entered the room prince vasili approached first and she kissed the
bold forehead that bent over her hand and answered his question by
saying that on the contrary she remembered him quite well then
anatole came up to her she still could not see him she only felt a
soft hand taking hers firmly and she touched with her lips a white
forehead over which was beautiful light brown hair smelling of pomade 
when she looked up at him she was struck by his beauty anatole stood
with his right thumb under a button of his uniform his chest expanded
and his back drawn in slightly swinging one foot and with his head a
little bent looked with beaming face at the princess without
speaking and evidently not thinking about her at all anatole was not
quick witted nor ready or eloquent in conversation but he had the
faculty so invaluable in society of composure and imperturbable
self possession if a man lacking in self confidence remains dumb on
a first introduction and betrays a consciousness of the impropriety of
such silence and an anxiety to find something to say the effect is
bad but anatole was dumb swung his foot and smilingly examined the
princess hair it was evident that he could be silent in this way for
a very long time if anyone finds this silence inconvenient let him
talk but i don't want to he seemed to say besides this in his
behavior to women anatole had a manner which particularly inspires in
them curiosity awe and even love a supercilious consciousness of
his own superiority it was as if he said to them i know you i know
you but why should i bother about you you'd be only too glad of
course perhaps he did not really think this when he met women even
probably he did not for in general he thought very little but his
looks and manner gave that impression the princess felt this and as if
wishing to show him that she did not even dare expect to interest him 
she turned to his father the conversation was general and animated 
thanks to princess lise's voice and little downy lip that lifted over
her white teeth she met prince vasili with that playful manner often
employed by lively chatty people and consisting in the assumption
that between the person they so address and themselves there are some
semi private long established jokes and amusing reminiscences though
no such reminiscences really exist just as none existed in this case 
prince vasili readily adopted her tone and the little princess also
drew anatole whom she hardly knew into these amusing recollections of
things that had never occurred mademoiselle bourienne also shared them
and even princess mary felt herself pleasantly made to share in these
merry reminiscences 

 here at least we shall have the benefit of your company all to
ourselves dear prince said the little princess of course in
french to prince vasili it's not as at annette's receptions
where you always ran away you remember cette chere annette 

 anna pavlovna 

 ah but you won't talk politics to me like annette 

 and our little tea table 

 oh yes 

 why is it you were never at annette's the little princess asked
anatole ah i know i know she said with a sly glance your
brother hippolyte told me about your goings on oh and she shook her
finger at him i have even heard of your doings in paris 

 and didn't hippolyte tell you asked prince vasili turning to
his son and seizing the little princess arm as if she would have run
away and he had just managed to catch her didn't he tell you how
he himself was pining for the dear princess and how she showed him the
door oh she is a pearl among women princess he added turning to
princess mary 

when paris was mentioned mademoiselle bourienne for her part seized the
opportunity of joining in the general current of recollections 

she took the liberty of inquiring whether it was long since anatole
had left paris and how he had liked that city anatole answered the
frenchwoman very readily and looking at her with a smile talked to her
about her native land when he saw the pretty little bourienne anatole
came to the conclusion that he would not find bald hills dull either 
 not at all bad he thought examining her not at all bad that
little companion i hope she will bring her along with her when we're
married la petite est gentille 

 the little one is charming 

the old prince dressed leisurely in his study frowning and considering
what he was to do the coming of these visitors annoyed him what are
prince vasili and that son of his to me prince vasili is a shallow
braggart and his son no doubt is a fine specimen he grumbled to
himself what angered him was that the coming of these visitors revived
in his mind an unsettled question he always tried to stifle one about
which he always deceived himself the question was whether he could ever
bring himself to part from his daughter and give her to a husband the
prince never directly asked himself that question knowing beforehand
that he would have to answer it justly and justice clashed not only
with his feelings but with the very possibility of life life without
princess mary little as he seemed to value her was unthinkable to
him and why should she marry he thought to be unhappy for
certain there's lise married to andrew a better husband one would
think could hardly be found nowadays but is she contented with her
lot and who would marry marie for love plain and awkward they'll
take her for her connections and wealth are there no women living
unmarried and even the happier for it so thought prince bolkonski
while dressing and yet the question he was always putting off demanded
an immediate answer prince vasili had brought his son with the evident
intention of proposing and today or tomorrow he would probably ask
for an answer his birth and position in society were not bad well 
i've nothing against it the prince said to himself but he must
be worthy of her and that is what we shall see 

 that is what we shall see that is what we shall see he added
aloud 

he entered the drawing room with his usual alert step glancing rapidly
round the company he noticed the change in the little princess 
dress mademoiselle bourienne's ribbon princess mary's unbecoming
coiffure mademoiselle bourienne's and anatole's smiles and the
loneliness of his daughter amid the general conversation got herself
up like a fool he thought looking irritably at her she is
shameless and he ignores her 

he went straight up to prince vasili 

 well how d'ye do how d'ye do glad to see you 

 friendship laughs at distance began prince vasili in his usual
rapid self confident familiar tone here is my second son please
love and befriend him 

prince bolkonski surveyed anatole 

 fine young fellow fine young fellow he said well come and
kiss me and he offered his cheek 

anatole kissed the old man and looked at him with curiosity and perfect
composure waiting for a display of the eccentricities his father had
told him to expect 

prince bolkonski sat down in his usual place in the corner of the sofa
and drawing up an armchair for prince vasili pointed to it and began
questioning him about political affairs and news he seemed to listen
attentively to what prince vasili said but kept glancing at princess
mary 

 and so they are writing from potsdam already he said repeating
prince vasili's last words then rising he suddenly went up to his
daughter 

 is it for visitors you've got yourself up like that eh said
he fine very fine you have done up your hair in this new way for
the visitors and before the visitors i tell you that in future you are
never to dare to change your way of dress without my consent 

 it was my fault mon pere interceded the little princess with a
blush 

 you must do as you please said prince bolkonski bowing to his
daughter in law but she need not make a fool of herself she's
plain enough as it is 

and he sat down again paying no more attention to his daughter who was
reduced to tears 

 on the contrary that coiffure suits the princess very well said
prince vasili 

 now you young prince what's your name said prince bolkonski 
turning to anatole come here let us talk and get acquainted 

 now the fun begins thought anatole sitting down with a smile
beside the old prince 

 well my dear boy i hear you've been educated abroad not taught
to read and write by the deacon like your father and me now tell me 
my dear boy are you serving in the horse guards asked the old man 
scrutinizing anatole closely and intently 

 no i have been transferred to the line said anatole hardly able
to restrain his laughter 

 ah that's a good thing so my dear boy you wish to serve the
tsar and the country it is wartime such a fine fellow must serve 
well are you off to the front 

 no prince our regiment has gone to the front but i am attached 
what is it i am attached to papa said anatole turning to his
father with a laugh 

 a splendid soldier splendid what am i attached to ha ha 
ha laughed prince bolkonski and anatole laughed still louder 
suddenly prince bolkonski frowned 

 you may go he said to anatole 

anatole returned smiling to the ladies 

 and so you've had him educated abroad prince vasili haven't
you said the old prince to prince vasili 

 i have done my best for him and i can assure you the education there
is much better than ours 

 yes everything is different nowadays everything is changed the
lad's a fine fellow a fine fellow well come with me now he took
prince vasili's arm and led him to his study as soon as they were
alone together prince vasili announced his hopes and wishes to the old
prince 

 well do you think i shall prevent her that i can't part from
her said the old prince angrily what an idea i'm ready for it
tomorrow only let me tell you i want to know my son in law better you
know my principles everything aboveboard i will ask her tomorrow in
your presence if she is willing then he can stay on he can stay and
i'll see the old prince snorted let her marry it's all the
same to me he screamed in the same piercing tone as when parting
from his son 

 i will tell you frankly said prince vasili in the tone of
a crafty man convinced of the futility of being cunning with so
keen sighted a companion you know you see right through people 
anatole is no genius but he is an honest goodhearted lad an excellent
son or kinsman 

 all right all right we'll see 

as always happens when women lead lonely lives for any length of time
without male society on anatole's appearance all the three women of
prince bolkonski's household felt that their life had not been real
till then their powers of reasoning feeling and observing immediately
increased tenfold and their life which seemed to have been passed in
darkness was suddenly lit up by a new brightness full of significance 

princess mary grew quite unconscious of her face and coiffure the
handsome open face of the man who might perhaps be her husband absorbed
all her attention he seemed to her kind brave determined manly and
magnanimous she felt convinced of that thousands of dreams of a future
family life continually rose in her imagination she drove them away and
tried to conceal them 

 but am i not too cold with him thought the princess i try
to be reserved because in the depth of my soul i feel too near to him
already but then he cannot know what i think of him and may imagine
that i do not like him 

and princess mary tried but could not manage to be cordial to her new
guest poor girl she's devilish ugly thought anatole 

mademoiselle bourienne also roused to great excitement by anatole's
arrival thought in another way of course she a handsome young woman
without any definite position without relations or even a country did
not intend to devote her life to serving prince bolkonski to reading
aloud to him and being friends with princess mary mademoiselle
bourienne had long been waiting for a russian prince who able to
appreciate at a glance her superiority to the plain badly dressed 
ungainly russian princesses would fall in love with her and carry her
off and here at last was a russian prince mademoiselle bourienne knew
a story heard from her aunt but finished in her own way which she
liked to repeat to herself it was the story of a girl who had been
seduced and to whom her poor mother sa pauvre mere appeared and
reproached her for yielding to a man without being married mademoiselle
bourienne was often touched to tears as in imagination she told this
story to him her seducer and now he a real russian prince had
appeared he would carry her away and then sa pauvre mere would appear
and he would marry her so her future shaped itself in mademoiselle
bourienne's head at the very time she was talking to anatole about
paris it was not calculation that guided her she did not even for a
moment consider what she should do but all this had long been familiar
to her and now that anatole had appeared it just grouped itself around
him and she wished and tried to please him as much as possible 

the little princess like an old war horse that hears the trumpet 
unconsciously and quite forgetting her condition prepared for the
familiar gallop of coquetry without any ulterior motive or any
struggle but with naive and lighthearted gaiety 

although in female society anatole usually assumed the role of a man
tired of being run after by women his vanity was flattered by the
spectacle of his power over these three women besides that he was
beginning to feel for the pretty and provocative mademoiselle bourienne
that passionate animal feeling which was apt to master him with great
suddenness and prompt him to the coarsest and most reckless actions 

after tea the company went into the sitting room and princess mary was
asked to play on the clavichord anatole laughing and in high spirits 
came and leaned on his elbows facing her and beside mademoiselle
bourienne princess mary felt his look with a painfully joyous emotion 
her favorite sonata bore her into a most intimately poetic world and
the look she felt upon her made that world still more poetic but
anatole's expression though his eyes were fixed on her referred not
to her but to the movements of mademoiselle bourienne's little
foot which he was then touching with his own under the clavichord 
mademoiselle bourienne was also looking at princess mary and in her
lovely eyes there was a look of fearful joy and hope that was also new
to the princess 

 how she loves me thought princess mary how happy i am now 
and how happy i may be with such a friend and such a husband husband 
can it be possible she thought not daring to look at his face but
still feeling his eyes gazing at her 

in the evening after supper when all were about to retire anatole
kissed princess mary's hand she did not know how she found the
courage but she looked straight into his handsome face as it came near
to her shortsighted eyes turning from princess mary he went up and
kissed mademoiselle bourienne's hand this was not etiquette but
then he did everything so simply and with such assurance mademoiselle
bourienne flushed and gave the princess a frightened look 

 what delicacy thought the princess is it possible that
amelie mademoiselle bourienne thinks i could be jealous of her 
and not value her pure affection and devotion to me she went up
to her and kissed her warmly anatole went up to kiss the little
princess hand 

 no no no when your father writes to tell me that you are behaving
well i will give you my hand to kiss not till then she said and
smilingly raising a finger at him she left the room 





chapter v

they all separated but except anatole who fell asleep as soon as he
got into bed all kept awake a long time that night 

 is he really to be my husband this stranger who is so kind yes 
kind that is the chief thing thought princess mary and fear which
she had seldom experienced came upon her she feared to look round it
seemed to her that someone was there standing behind the screen in the
dark corner and this someone was he the devil and he was also this
man with the white forehead black eyebrows and red lips 

she rang for her maid and asked her to sleep in her room 

mademoiselle bourienne walked up and down the conservatory for a long
time that evening vainly expecting someone now smiling at someone now
working herself up to tears with the imaginary words of her pauvre mere
rebuking her for her fall 

the little princess grumbled to her maid that her bed was badly made 
she could not lie either on her face or on her side every position was
awkward and uncomfortable and her burden oppressed her now more than
ever because anatole's presence had vividly recalled to her the time
when she was not like that and when everything was light and gay she
sat in an armchair in her dressing jacket and nightcap and katie sleepy
and disheveled beat and turned the heavy feather bed for the third
time muttering to herself 

 i told you it was all lumps and holes the little princess
repeated i should be glad enough to fall asleep so it's not my
fault and her voice quivered like that of a child about to cry 

the old prince did not sleep either tikhon half asleep heard him
pacing angrily about and snorting the old prince felt as though he
had been insulted through his daughter the insult was the more pointed
because it concerned not himself but another his daughter whom he
loved more than himself he kept telling himself that he would consider
the whole matter and decide what was right and how he should act but
instead of that he only excited himself more and more 

 the first man that turns up she forgets her father and everything
else runs upstairs and does up her hair and wags her tail and is unlike
herself glad to throw her father over and she knew i should notice
it fr fr fr and don't i see that that idiot had eyes only for
bourienne i shall have to get rid of her and how is it she has not
pride enough to see it if she has no pride for herself she might at
least have some for my sake she must be shown that the blockhead thinks
nothing of her and looks only at bourienne no she has no pride but
i'll let her see 

the old prince knew that if he told his daughter she was making a
mistake and that anatole meant to flirt with mademoiselle bourienne 
princess mary's self esteem would be wounded and his point not to
be parted from her would be gained so pacifying himself with this
thought he called tikhon and began to undress 

 what devil brought them here thought he while tikhon was
putting the nightshirt over his dried up old body and gray haired chest 
 i never invited them they came to disturb my life and there is not
much of it left 

 devil take em he muttered while his head was still covered by
the shirt 

tikhon knew his master's habit of sometimes thinking aloud and
therefore met with unaltered looks the angrily inquisitive expression of
the face that emerged from the shirt 

 gone to bed asked the prince 

tikhon like all good valets instinctively knew the direction of his
master's thoughts he guessed that the question referred to prince
vasili and his son 

 they have gone to bed and put out their lights your excellency 

 no good no good said the prince rapidly and thrusting his
feet into his slippers and his arms into the sleeves of his dressing
gown he went to the couch on which he slept 

though no words had passed between anatole and mademoiselle bourienne 
they quite understood one another as to the first part of their romance 
up to the appearance of the pauvre mere they understood that they had
much to say to one another in private and so they had been seeking an
opportunity since morning to meet one another alone when princess mary
went to her father's room at the usual hour mademoiselle bourienne
and anatole met in the conservatory 

princess mary went to the door of the study with special trepidation 
it seemed to her that not only did everybody know that her fate would be
decided that day but that they also knew what she thought about it she
read this in tikhon's face and in that of prince vasili's valet 
who made her a low bow when she met him in the corridor carrying hot
water 

the old prince was very affectionate and careful in his treatment of
his daughter that morning princess mary well knew this painstaking
expression of her father's his face wore that expression when his
dry hands clenched with vexation at her not understanding a sum in
arithmetic when rising from his chair he would walk away from her 
repeating in a low voice the same words several times over 

he came to the point at once treating her ceremoniously 

 i have had a proposition made me concerning you he said with an
unnatural smile i expect you have guessed that prince vasili has
not come and brought his pupil with him for some reason prince
bolkonski referred to anatole as a pupil for the sake of my
beautiful eyes last night a proposition was made me on your account
and as you know my principles i refer it to you 

 how am i to understand you mon pere said the princess growing
pale and then blushing 

 how understand me cried her father angrily prince vasili
finds you to his taste as a daughter in law and makes a proposal to you
on his pupil's behalf that's how it's to be understood how
understand it and i ask you 

 i do not know what you think father whispered the princess 

 i i what of me leave me out of the question i'm not going to
get married what about you that's what i want to know 

the princess saw that her father regarded the matter with disapproval 
but at that moment the thought occurred to her that her fate would be
decided now or never she lowered her eyes so as not to see the gaze
under which she felt that she could not think but would only be able to
submit from habit and she said i wish only to do your will but if
i had to express my own desire she had no time to finish the old
prince interrupted her 

 that's admirable he shouted he will take you with your
dowry and take mademoiselle bourienne into the bargain she'll be the
wife while you 

the prince stopped he saw the effect these words had produced on his
daughter she lowered her head and was ready to burst into tears 

 now then now then i'm only joking he said remember this 
princess i hold to the principle that a maiden has a full right to
choose i give you freedom only remember that your life's happiness
depends on your decision never mind me 

 but i do not know father 

 there's no need to talk he receives his orders and will marry you
or anybody but you are free to choose go to your room think it
over and come back in an hour and tell me in his presence yes or no 
i know you will pray over it well pray if you like but you had better
think it over go yes or no yes or no yes or no he still shouted
when the princess as if lost in a fog had already staggered out of the
study 

her fate was decided and happily decided but what her father had said
about mademoiselle bourienne was dreadful it was untrue to be sure but
still it was terrible and she could not help thinking of it she was
going straight on through the conservatory neither seeing nor hearing
anything when suddenly the well known whispering of mademoiselle
bourienne aroused her she raised her eyes and two steps away saw
anatole embracing the frenchwoman and whispering something to her with
a horrified expression on his handsome face anatole looked at princess
mary but did not at once take his arm from the waist of mademoiselle
bourienne who had not yet seen her 

 who's that why wait a moment anatole's face seemed to say 
princess mary looked at them in silence she could not understand it at
last mademoiselle bourienne gave a scream and ran away anatole bowed to
princess mary with a gay smile as if inviting her to join in a laugh at
this strange incident and then shrugging his shoulders went to the door
that led to his own apartments 

an hour later tikhon came to call princess mary to the old prince 
he added that prince vasili was also there when tikhon came to her
princess mary was sitting on the sofa in her room holding the weeping
mademoiselle bourienne in her arms and gently stroking her hair the
princess beautiful eyes with all their former calm radiance were
looking with tender affection and pity at mademoiselle bourienne's
pretty face 

 no princess i have lost your affection forever said
mademoiselle bourienne 

 why i love you more than ever said princess mary and i will
try to do all i can for your happiness 

 but you despise me you who are so pure can never understand being so
carried away by passion oh only my poor mother 

 i quite understand answered princess mary with a sad smile 
 calm yourself my dear i will go to my father she said and went
out 

prince vasili with one leg thrown high over the other and a snuffbox
in his hand was sitting there with a smile of deep emotion on his face 
as if stirred to his heart's core and himself regretting and laughing
at his own sensibility when princess mary entered he hurriedly took a
pinch of snuff 

 ah my dear my dear he began rising and taking her by both
hands then sighing he added my son's fate is in your hands 
decide my dear good gentle marie whom i have always loved as a
daughter 

he drew back and a real tear appeared in his eye 

 fr fr snorted prince bolkonski the prince is making a
proposition to you in his pupil's i mean his son's name do you
wish or not to be prince anatole kuragin's wife reply yes or no 
he shouted and then i shall reserve the right to state my opinion
also yes my opinion and only my opinion added prince bolkonski 
turning to prince vasili and answering his imploring look yes or
no 

 my desire is never to leave you father never to separate my
life from yours i don't wish to marry she answered positively 
glancing at prince vasili and at her father with her beautiful eyes 

 humbug nonsense humbug humbug humbug cried prince bolkonski 
frowning and taking his daughter's hand he did not kiss her but only
bending his forehead to hers just touched it and pressed her hand so
that she winced and uttered a cry 

prince vasili rose 

 my dear i must tell you that this is a moment i shall never never
forget but my dear will you not give us a little hope of touching
this heart so kind and generous say perhaps the future is so
long say perhaps 

 prince what i have said is all there is in my heart i thank you for
the honor but i shall never be your son's wife 

 well so that's finished my dear fellow i am very glad to have
seen you very glad go back to your rooms princess go said
the old prince very very glad to have seen you repeated he 
embracing prince vasili 

 my vocation is a different one thought princess mary my
vocation is to be happy with another kind of happiness the happiness
of love and self sacrifice and cost what it may i will arrange
poor amelie's happiness she loves him so passionately and so
passionately repents i will do all i can to arrange the match between
them if he is not rich i will give her the means i will ask my
father and andrew i shall be so happy when she is his wife she is so
unfortunate a stranger alone helpless and oh god how passionately
she must love him if she could so far forget herself perhaps i might
have done the same thought princess mary 





chapter vi

it was long since the rostovs had news of nicholas not till midwinter
was the count at last handed a letter addressed in his son's
handwriting on receiving it he ran on tiptoe to his study in alarm and
haste trying to escape notice closed the door and began to read the
letter 

anna mikhaylovna who always knew everything that passed in the house 
on hearing of the arrival of the letter went softly into the room and
found the count with it in his hand sobbing and laughing at the same
time 

anna mikhaylovna though her circumstances had improved was still
living with the rostovs 

 my dear friend said she in a tone of pathetic inquiry prepared
to sympathize in any way 

the count sobbed yet more 

 nikolenka a letter wa a s wounded my darling
boy the countess promoted to be an officer thank god how
tell the little countess 

anna mikhaylovna sat down beside him with her own handkerchief wiped
the tears from his eyes and from the letter then having dried her
own eyes she comforted the count and decided that at dinner and till
teatime she would prepare the countess and after tea with god's
help would inform her 

at dinner anna mikhaylovna talked the whole time about the war news
and about nikolenka twice asked when the last letter had been received
from him though she knew that already and remarked that they might
very likely be getting a letter from him that day each time that these
hints began to make the countess anxious and she glanced uneasily at
the count and at anna mikhaylovna the latter very adroitly turned
the conversation to insignificant matters natasha who of the whole
family was the most gifted with a capacity to feel any shades of
intonation look and expression pricked up her ears from the beginning
of the meal and was certain that there was some secret between her
father and anna mikhaylovna that it had something to do with her
brother and that anna mikhaylovna was preparing them for it bold as
she was natasha who knew how sensitive her mother was to anything
relating to nikolenka did not venture to ask any questions at dinner 
but she was too excited to eat anything and kept wriggling about on her
chair regardless of her governess remarks after dinner she rushed
headlong after anna mikhaylovna and dashing at her flung herself on
her neck as soon as she overtook her in the sitting room 

 auntie darling do tell me what it is 

 nothing my dear 

 no dearest sweet one honey i won't give up i know you know
something 

anna mikhaylovna shook her head 

 you are a little slyboots she said 

 a letter from nikolenka i'm sure of it exclaimed natasha 
reading confirmation in anna mikhaylovna's face 

 but for god's sake be careful you know how it may affect your
mamma 

 i will i will only tell me you won't then i will go and tell at
once 

anna mikhaylovna in a few words told her the contents of the letter 
on condition that she should tell no one 

 no on my true word of honor said natasha crossing herself 
 i won't tell anyone and she ran off at once to sonya 

 nikolenka wounded a letter she announced in gleeful
triumph 

 nicholas was all sonya said instantly turning white 

natasha seeing the impression the news of her brother's wound
produced on sonya felt for the first time the sorrowful side of the
news 

she rushed to sonya hugged her and began to cry 

 a little wound but he has been made an officer he is well now he
wrote himself said she through her tears 

 there now it's true that all you women are crybabies remarked
petya pacing the room with large resolute strides now i'm very
glad very glad indeed that my brother has distinguished himself so 
you are all blubberers and understand nothing 

natasha smiled through her tears 

 you haven't read the letter asked sonya 

 no but she said that it was all over and that he's now an
officer 

 thank god said sonya crossing herself but perhaps she
deceived you let us go to mamma 

petya paced the room in silence for a time 

 if i'd been in nikolenka's place i would have killed even more
of those frenchmen he said what nasty brutes they are i'd
have killed so many that there'd have been a heap of them 

 hold your tongue petya what a goose you are 

 i'm not a goose but they are who cry about trifles said
petya 

 do you remember him natasha suddenly asked after a moment's
silence 

sonya smiled 

 do i remember nicholas 

 no sonya but do you remember so that you remember him perfectly 
remember everything said natasha with an expressive gesture 
evidently wishing to give her words a very definite meaning i
remember nikolenka too i remember him well she said but i
don't remember boris i don't remember him a bit 

 what you don't remember boris asked sonya in surprise 

 it's not that i don't remember i know what he is like but not
as i remember nikolenka him i just shut my eyes and remember 
but boris no she shut her eyes no there's nothing at
all 

 oh natasha said sonya looking ecstatically and earnestly at
her friend as if she did not consider her worthy to hear what she meant
to say and as if she were saying it to someone else with whom joking
was out of the question i am in love with your brother once for all
and whatever may happen to him or to me shall never cease to love him
as long as i live 

natasha looked at sonya with wondering and inquisitive eyes and said
nothing she felt that sonya was speaking the truth that there was
such love as sonya was speaking of but natasha had not yet felt
anything like it she believed it could be but did not understand it 

 shall you write to him she asked 

sonya became thoughtful the question of how to write to nicholas and
whether she ought to write tormented her now that he was already an
officer and a wounded hero would it be right to remind him of herself
and as it might seem of the obligations to her he had taken on
himself 

 i don't know i think if he writes i will write too she said 
blushing 

 and you won't feel ashamed to write to him 

sonya smiled 

 no 

 and i should be ashamed to write to boris i'm not going to 

 why should you be ashamed 

 well i don't know it's awkward and would make me ashamed 

 and i know why she'd be ashamed said petya offended by
natasha's previous remark it's because she was in love with
that fat one in spectacles that was how petya described his
namesake the new count bezukhov and now she's in love with that
singer he meant natasha's italian singing master that's
why she's ashamed 

 petya you're a stupid said natasha 

 not more stupid than you madam said the nine year old petya 
with the air of an old brigadier 

the countess had been prepared by anna mikhaylovna's hints at dinner 
on retiring to her own room she sat in an armchair her eyes fixed on a
miniature portrait of her son on the lid of a snuffbox while the tears
kept coming into her eyes anna mikhaylovna with the letter came on
tiptoe to the countess door and paused 

 don't come in she said to the old count who was following her 
 come later and she went in closing the door behind her 

the count put his ear to the keyhole and listened 

at first he heard the sound of indifferent voices then anna
mikhaylovna's voice alone in a long speech then a cry then silence 
then both voices together with glad intonations and then footsteps 
anna mikhaylovna opened the door her face wore the proud expression
of a surgeon who has just performed a difficult operation and admits the
public to appreciate his skill 

 it is done she said to the count pointing triumphantly to the
countess who sat holding in one hand the snuffbox with its portrait and
in the other the letter and pressing them alternately to her lips 

when she saw the count she stretched out her arms to him embraced his
bald head over which she again looked at the letter and the portrait 
and in order to press them again to her lips she slightly pushed away
the bald head vera natasha sonya and petya now entered the room 
and the reading of the letter began after a brief description of
the campaign and the two battles in which he had taken part and his
promotion nicholas said that he kissed his father's and mother's
hands asking for their blessing and that he kissed vera natasha and
petya besides that he sent greetings to monsieur schelling madame
schoss and his old nurse and asked them to kiss for him dear
sonya whom he loved and thought of just the same as ever when she
heard this sonya blushed so that tears came into her eyes and unable
to bear the looks turned upon her ran away into the dancing hall 
whirled round it at full speed with her dress puffed out like a balloon 
and flushed and smiling plumped down on the floor the countess was
crying 

 why are you crying mamma asked vera from all he says one
should be glad and not cry 

this was quite true but the count the countess and natasha looked
at her reproachfully and who is it she takes after thought the
countess 

nicholas letter was read over hundreds of times and those who were
considered worthy to hear it had to come to the countess for she
did not let it out of her hands the tutors came and the nurses and
dmitri and several acquaintances and the countess reread the letter
each time with fresh pleasure and each time discovered in it fresh
proofs of nikolenka's virtues how strange how extraordinary how
joyful it seemed that her son the scarcely perceptible motion of whose
tiny limbs she had felt twenty years ago within her that son about whom
she used to have quarrels with the too indulgent count that son who
had first learned to say pear and then granny that this son
should now be away in a foreign land amid strange surroundings a manly
warrior doing some kind of man's work of his own without help or
guidance the universal experience of ages showing that children do
grow imperceptibly from the cradle to manhood did not exist for the
countess her son's growth toward manhood at each of its stages 
had seemed as extraordinary to her as if there had never existed the
millions of human beings who grew up in the same way as twenty
years before it seemed impossible that the little creature who lived
somewhere under her heart would ever cry suck her breast and begin to
speak so now she could not believe that that little creature could be
this strong brave man this model son and officer that judging by this
letter he now was 

 what a style how charmingly he describes said she reading the
descriptive part of the letter and what a soul not a word about
himself not a word about some denisov or other though he himself 
i dare say is braver than any of them he says nothing about his
sufferings what a heart how like him it is and how he has remembered
everybody not forgetting anyone i always said when he was only so
high i always said 

for more than a week preparations were being made rough drafts of
letters to nicholas from all the household were written and copied out 
while under the supervision of the countess and the solicitude of the
count money and all things necessary for the uniform and equipment
of the newly commissioned officer were collected anna mikhaylovna 
practical woman that she was had even managed by favor with army
authorities to secure advantageous means of communication for herself
and her son she had opportunities of sending her letters to the grand
duke constantine pavlovich who commanded the guards the rostovs
supposed that the russian guards abroad was quite a definite address 
and that if a letter reached the grand duke in command of the guards
there was no reason why it should not reach the pavlograd regiment 
which was presumably somewhere in the same neighborhood and so it was
decided to send the letters and money by the grand duke's courier to
boris and boris was to forward them to nicholas the letters were from
the old count the countess petya vera natasha and sonya and
finally there were six thousand rubles for his outfit and various other
things the old count sent to his son 





chapter vii

on the twelfth of november kutuzov's active army in camp before
olmutz was preparing to be reviewed next day by the two emperors the
russian and the austrian the guards just arrived from russia spent
the night ten miles from olmutz and next morning were to come straight
to the review reaching the field at olmutz by ten o'clock 

that day nicholas rostov received a letter from boris telling him
that the ismaylov regiment was quartered for the night ten miles from
olmutz and that he wanted to see him as he had a letter and money for
him rostov was particularly in need of money now that the troops 
after their active service were stationed near olmutz and the camp
swarmed with well provisioned sutlers and austrian jews offering
all sorts of tempting wares the pavlograds held feast after feast 
celebrating awards they had received for the campaign and made
expeditions to olmutz to visit a certain caroline the hungarian 
who had recently opened a restaurant there with girls as waitresses 
rostov who had just celebrated his promotion to a cornetcy and bought
denisov's horse bedouin was in debt all round to his comrades and
the sutlers on receiving boris letter he rode with a fellow officer
to olmutz dined there drank a bottle of wine and then set off alone
to the guards camp to find his old playmate rostov had not yet had
time to get his uniform he had on a shabby cadet jacket decorated with
a soldier's cross equally shabby cadet's riding breeches lined with
worn leather and an officer's saber with a sword knot the don horse
he was riding was one he had bought from a cossack during the campaign 
and he wore a crumpled hussar cap stuck jauntily back on one side of his
head as he rode up to the camp he thought how he would impress boris
and all his comrades of the guards by his appearance that of a
fighting hussar who had been under fire 

the guards had made their whole march as if on a pleasure trip parading
their cleanliness and discipline they had come by easy stages their
knapsacks conveyed on carts and the austrian authorities had provided
excellent dinners for the officers at every halting place the regiments
had entered and left the town with their bands playing and by the grand
duke's orders the men had marched all the way in step a practice on
which the guards prided themselves the officers on foot and at their
proper posts boris had been quartered and had marched all the
way with berg who was already in command of a company berg who had
obtained his captaincy during the campaign had gained the confidence of
his superiors by his promptitude and accuracy and had arranged his money
matters very satisfactorily boris during the campaign had made the
acquaintance of many persons who might prove useful to him and by
a letter of recommendation he had brought from pierre had become
acquainted with prince andrew bolkonski through whom he hoped to
obtain a post on the commander in chief's staff berg and boris 
having rested after yesterday's march were sitting clean and neatly
dressed at a round table in the clean quarters allotted to them 
playing chess berg held a smoking pipe between his knees boris in
the accurate way characteristic of him was building a little pyramid of
chessmen with his delicate white fingers while awaiting berg's move 
and watched his opponent's face evidently thinking about the game as
he always thought only of whatever he was engaged on 

 well how are you going to get out of that he remarked 

 we'll try to replied berg touching a pawn and then removing
his hand 

at that moment the door opened 

 here he is at last shouted rostov and berg too oh you
petisenfans allay cushay dormir he exclaimed imitating his russian
nurse's french at which he and boris used to laugh long ago 

 dear me how you have changed 

boris rose to meet rostov but in doing so did not omit to steady and
replace some chessmen that were falling he was about to embrace his
friend but nicholas avoided him with that peculiar feeling of youth 
that dread of beaten tracks and wish to express itself in a manner
different from that of its elders which is often insincere nicholas
wished to do something special on meeting his friend he wanted to pinch
him push him do anything but kiss him a thing everybody did but
notwithstanding this boris embraced him in a quiet friendly way and
kissed him three times 

they had not met for nearly half a year and being at the age when young
men take their first steps on life's road each saw immense changes in
the other quite a new reflection of the society in which they had taken
those first steps both had changed greatly since they last met and both
were in a hurry to show the changes that had taken place in them 

 oh you damned dandies clean and fresh as if you'd been to a fete 
not like us sinners of the line cried rostov with martial swagger
and with baritone notes in his voice new to boris pointing to his own
mud bespattered breeches the german landlady hearing rostov's loud
voice popped her head in at the door 

 eh is she pretty he asked with a wink 

 why do you shout so you'll frighten them said boris i did
not expect you today he added i only sent you the note yesterday
by bolkonski an adjutant of kutuzov's who's a friend of mine 
i did not think he would get it to you so quickly well how are you 
been under fire already asked boris 

without answering rostov shook the soldier's cross of st george
fastened to the cording of his uniform and indicating a bandaged arm 
glanced at berg with a smile 

 as you see he said 

 indeed yes yes said boris with a smile and we too have
had a splendid march you know of course that his imperial highness
rode with our regiment all the time so that we had every comfort and
every advantage what receptions we had in poland what dinners and
balls i can't tell you and the tsarevich was very gracious to all
our officers 

and the two friends told each other of their doings the one of his
hussar revels and life in the fighting line the other of the pleasures
and advantages of service under members of the imperial family 

 oh you guards said rostov i say send for some wine 

boris made a grimace 

 if you really want it said he 

he went to his bed drew a purse from under the clean pillow and sent
for wine 

 yes and i have some money and a letter to give you he added 

rostov took the letter and throwing the money on the sofa put both
arms on the table and began to read after reading a few lines he
glanced angrily at berg then meeting his eyes hid his face behind the
letter 

 well they've sent you a tidy sum said berg eying the heavy
purse that sank into the sofa as for us count we get along on our
pay i can tell you for myself 

 i say berg my dear fellow said rostov when you get a
letter from home and meet one of your own people whom you want to talk
everything over with and i happen to be there i'll go at once to
be out of your way do go somewhere anywhere to the devil he
exclaimed and immediately seizing him by the shoulder and looking
amiably into his face evidently wishing to soften the rudeness of his
words he added don't be hurt my dear fellow you know i speak
from my heart as to an old acquaintance 

 oh don't mention it count i quite understand said berg 
getting up and speaking in a muffled and guttural voice 

 go across to our hosts they invited you added boris 

berg put on the cleanest of coats without a spot or speck of dust 
stood before a looking glass and brushed the hair on his temples
upwards in the way affected by the emperor alexander and having
assured himself from the way rostov looked at it that his coat had been
noticed left the room with a pleasant smile 

 oh dear what a beast i am muttered rostov as he read the
letter 

 why 

 oh what a pig i am not to have written and to have given them
such a fright oh what a pig i am he repeated flushing suddenly 
 well have you sent gabriel for some wine all right let's have
some 

in the letter from his parents was enclosed a letter of recommendation
to bagration which the old countess at anna mikhaylovna's advice had
obtained through an acquaintance and sent to her son asking him to take
it to its destination and make use of it 

 what nonsense much i need it said rostov throwing the letter
under the table 

 why have you thrown that away asked boris 

 it is some letter of recommendation what the devil do i want it
for 

 why what the devil said boris picking it up and reading
the address this letter would be of great use to you 

 i want nothing and i won't be anyone's adjutant 

 why not inquired boris 

 it's a lackey's job 

 you are still the same dreamer i see remarked boris shaking
his head 

 and you're still the same diplomatist but that's not the
point come how are you asked rostov 

 well as you see so far everything's all right but i confess i
should much like to be an adjutant and not remain at the front 

 why 

 because when once a man starts on military service he should try to
make as successful a career of it as possible 

 oh that's it said rostov evidently thinking of something
else 

he looked intently and inquiringly into his friend's eyes evidently
trying in vain to find the answer to some question 

old gabriel brought in the wine 

 shouldn't we now send for berg asked boris he would drink
with you i can't 

 well send for him and how do you get on with that german 
asked rostov with a contemptuous smile 

 he is a very very nice honest and pleasant fellow answered
boris 

again rostov looked intently into boris eyes and sighed berg
returned and over the bottle of wine conversation between the three
officers became animated the guardsmen told rostov of their march and
how they had been made much of in russia poland and abroad they spoke
of the sayings and doings of their commander the grand duke and told
stories of his kindness and irascibility berg as usual kept silent
when the subject did not relate to himself but in connection with the
stories of the grand duke's quick temper he related with gusto how in
galicia he had managed to deal with the grand duke when the latter
made a tour of the regiments and was annoyed at the irregularity of
a movement with a pleasant smile berg related how the grand duke
had ridden up to him in a violent passion shouting arnauts 
 arnauts was the tsarevich's favorite expression when he was in
a rage and called for the company commander 

 would you believe it count i was not at all alarmed because i knew
i was right without boasting you know i may say that i know the army
orders by heart and know the regulations as well as i do the lord's
prayer so count there never is any negligence in my company and
so my conscience was at ease i came forward berg stood up and
showed how he presented himself with his hand to his cap and really
it would have been difficult for a face to express greater respect and
self complacency than his did well he stormed at me as the saying
is stormed and stormed and stormed it was not a matter of life but
rather of death as the saying is albanians and devils 
and to siberia said berg with a sagacious smile i knew i
was in the right so i kept silent was not that best count hey 
are you dumb he shouted still i remained silent and what do you
think count the next day it was not even mentioned in the orders of
the day that's what keeping one's head means that's the way 
count said berg lighting his pipe and emitting rings of smoke 

 yes that was fine said rostov smiling 

but boris noticed that he was preparing to make fun of berg and
skillfully changed the subject he asked him to tell them how and where
he got his wound this pleased rostov and he began talking about it 
and as he went on became more and more animated he told them of his
schon grabern affair just as those who have taken part in a battle
generally do describe it that is as they would like it to have been 
as they have heard it described by others and as sounds well but not
at all as it really was rostov was a truthful young man and would on
no account have told a deliberate lie he began his story meaning to
tell everything just as it happened but imperceptibly involuntarily 
and inevitably he lapsed into falsehood if he had told the truth to his
hearers who like himself had often heard stories of attacks and had
formed a definite idea of what an attack was and were expecting to hear
just such a story they would either not have believed him or still
worse would have thought that rostov was himself to blame since what
generally happens to the narrators of cavalry attacks had not happened
to him he could not tell them simply that everyone went at a trot and
that he fell off his horse and sprained his arm and then ran as hard as
he could from a frenchman into the wood besides to tell everything as
it really happened it would have been necessary to make an effort of
will to tell only what happened it is very difficult to tell the truth 
and young people are rarely capable of it his hearers expected a story
of how beside himself and all aflame with excitement he had flown like
a storm at the square cut his way in slashed right and left how his
saber had tasted flesh and he had fallen exhausted and so on and so he
told them all that 

in the middle of his story just as he was saying you cannot imagine
what a strange frenzy one experiences during an attack prince
andrew whom boris was expecting entered the room prince andrew who
liked to help young men was flattered by being asked for his assistance
and being well disposed toward boris who had managed to please him the
day before he wished to do what the young man wanted having been sent
with papers from kutuzov to the tsarevich he looked in on boris 
hoping to find him alone when he came in and saw an hussar of the line
recounting his military exploits prince andrew could not endure
that sort of man he gave boris a pleasant smile frowned as with
half closed eyes he looked at rostov bowed slightly and wearily and
sat down languidly on the sofa he felt it unpleasant to have dropped
in on bad company rostov flushed up on noticing this but he did not
care this was a mere stranger glancing however at boris he saw
that he too seemed ashamed of the hussar of the line 

in spite of prince andrew's disagreeable ironical tone in spite of
the contempt with which rostov from his fighting army point of view 
regarded all these little adjutants on the staff of whom the newcomer
was evidently one rostov felt confused blushed and became silent 
boris inquired what news there might be on the staff and what without
indiscretion one might ask about our plans 

 we shall probably advance replied bolkonski evidently reluctant
to say more in the presence of a stranger 

berg took the opportunity to ask with great politeness whether as was
rumored the allowance of forage money to captains of companies would be
doubled to this prince andrew answered with a smile that he could
give no opinion on such an important government order and berg laughed
gaily 

 as to your business prince andrew continued addressing boris 
 we will talk of it later and he looked round at rostov come
to me after the review and we will do what is possible 

and having glanced round the room prince andrew turned to rostov 
whose state of unconquerable childish embarrassment now changing to
anger he did not condescend to notice and said i think you were
talking of the schon grabern affair were you there 

 i was there said rostov angrily as if intending to insult the
aide de camp 

bolkonski noticed the hussar's state of mind and it amused him with
a slightly contemptuous smile he said yes there are many stories
now told about that affair 

 yes stories repeated rostov loudly looking with eyes suddenly
grown furious now at boris now at bolkonski yes many stories 
but our stories are the stories of men who have been under the enemy's
fire our stories have some weight not like the stories of those
fellows on the staff who get rewards without doing anything 

 of whom you imagine me to be one said prince andrew with a quiet
and particularly amiable smile 

a strange feeling of exasperation and yet of respect for this man's
self possession mingled at that moment in rostov's soul 

 i am not talking about you he said i don't know you and 
frankly i don't want to i am speaking of the staff in general 

 and i will tell you this prince andrew interrupted in a tone of
quiet authority you wish to insult me and i am ready to agree with
you that it would be very easy to do so if you haven't sufficient
self respect but admit that the time and place are very badly chosen 
in a day or two we shall all have to take part in a greater and more
serious duel and besides drubetskoy who says he is an old friend
of yours is not at all to blame that my face has the misfortune to
displease you however he added rising you know my name and
where to find me but don't forget that i do not regard either myself
or you as having been at all insulted and as a man older than you my
advice is to let the matter drop well then on friday after the review
i shall expect you drubetskoy au revoir exclaimed prince andrew 
and with a bow to them both he went out 

only when prince andrew was gone did rostov think of what he ought to
have said and he was still more angry at having omitted to say it he
ordered his horse at once and coldly taking leave of boris rode
home should he go to headquarters next day and challenge that affected
adjutant or really let the matter drop was the question that worried
him all the way he thought angrily of the pleasure he would have at
seeing the fright of that small and frail but proud man when covered by
his pistol and then he felt with surprise that of all the men he knew
there was none he would so much like to have for a friend as that very
adjutant whom he so hated 





chapter viii

the day after rostov had been to see boris a review was held of the
austrian and russian troops both those freshly arrived from russia and
those who had been campaigning under kutuzov the two emperors 
the russian with his heir the tsarevich and the austrian with the
archduke inspected the allied army of eighty thousand men 

from early morning the smart clean troops were on the move forming up
on the field before the fortress now thousands of feet and bayonets
moved and halted at the officers command turned with banners flying 
formed up at intervals and wheeled round other similar masses of
infantry in different uniforms now was heard the rhythmic beat of
hoofs and the jingling of showy cavalry in blue red and green braided
uniforms with smartly dressed bandsmen in front mounted on black roan 
or gray horses then again spreading out with the brazen clatter of the
polished shining cannon that quivered on the gun carriages and with
the smell of linstocks came the artillery which crawled between the
infantry and cavalry and took up its appointed position not only the
generals in full parade uniforms with their thin or thick waists drawn
in to the utmost their red necks squeezed into their stiff collars and
wearing scarves and all their decorations not only the elegant pomaded
officers but every soldier with his freshly washed and shaven face and
his weapons clean and polished to the utmost and every horse groomed
till its coat shone like satin and every hair of its wetted mane lay
smooth felt that no small matter was happening but an important and
solemn affair every general and every soldier was conscious of his own
insignificance aware of being but a drop in that ocean of men and
yet at the same time was conscious of his strength as a part of that
enormous whole 

from early morning strenuous activities and efforts had begun and by ten
o'clock all had been brought into due order the ranks were drawn
up on the vast field the whole army was extended in three lines the
cavalry in front behind it the artillery and behind that again the
infantry 

a space like a street was left between each two lines of troops the
three parts of that army were sharply distinguished kutuzov's
fighting army with the pavlograds on the right flank of the front 
those recently arrived from russia both guards and regiments of the
line and the austrian troops but they all stood in the same lines 
under one command and in a like order 

like wind over leaves ran an excited whisper they're coming 
they're coming alarmed voices were heard and a stir of final
preparation swept over all the troops 

from the direction of olmutz in front of them a group was seen
approaching and at that moment though the day was still a light gust
of wind blowing over the army slightly stirred the streamers on the
lances and the unfolded standards fluttered against their staffs it
looked as if by that slight motion the army itself was expressing its
joy at the approach of the emperors one voice was heard shouting 
 eyes front then like the crowing of cocks at sunrise this was
repeated by others from various sides and all became silent 

in the deathlike stillness only the tramp of horses was heard this
was the emperors suites the emperors rode up to the flank and the
trumpets of the first cavalry regiment played the general march it
seemed as though not the trumpeters were playing but as if the army
itself rejoicing at the emperors approach had naturally burst into
music amid these sounds only the youthful kindly voice of the emperor
alexander was clearly heard he gave the words of greeting and the
first regiment roared hurrah so deafeningly continuously and
joyfully that the men themselves were awed by their multitude and the
immensity of the power they constituted 

rostov standing in the front lines of kutuzov's army which the tsar
approached first experienced the same feeling as every other man in
that army a feeling of self forgetfulness a proud consciousness of
might and a passionate attraction to him who was the cause of this
triumph 

he felt that at a single word from that man all this vast mass and he
himself an insignificant atom in it would go through fire and water 
commit crime die or perform deeds of highest heroism and so he could
not but tremble and his heart stand still at the imminence of that word 

 hurrah hurrah hurrah thundered from all sides one regiment
after another greeting the tsar with the strains of the march and then
 hurrah then the general march and again hurrah hurrah 
growing ever stronger and fuller and merging into a deafening roar 

till the tsar reached it each regiment in its silence and immobility
seemed like a lifeless body but as soon as he came up it became alive 
its thunder joining the roar of the whole line along which he had
already passed through the terrible and deafening roar of those voices 
amid the square masses of troops standing motionless as if turned to
stone hundreds of riders composing the suites moved carelessly but
symmetrically and above all freely and in front of them two men the
emperors upon them the undivided tensely passionate attention of that
whole mass of men was concentrated 

the handsome young emperor alexander in the uniform of the horse
guards wearing a cocked hat with its peaks front and back with his
pleasant face and resonant though not loud voice attracted everyone's
attention 

rostov was not far from the trumpeters and with his keen sight had
recognized the tsar and watched his approach when he was within twenty
paces and nicholas could clearly distinguish every detail of his
handsome happy young face he experienced a feeling of tenderness
and ecstasy such as he had never before known every trait and every
movement of the tsar's seemed to him enchanting 

stopping in front of the pavlograds the tsar said something in french
to the austrian emperor and smiled 

seeing that smile rostov involuntarily smiled himself and felt a still
stronger flow of love for his sovereign he longed to show that love in
some way and knowing that this was impossible was ready to cry the tsar
called the colonel of the regiment and said a few words to him 

 oh god what would happen to me if the emperor spoke to me 
thought rostov i should die of happiness 

the tsar addressed the officers also i thank you all gentlemen i
thank you with my whole heart to rostov every word sounded like a
voice from heaven how gladly would he have died at once for his tsar 

 you have earned the st george's standards and will be worthy of
them 

 oh to die to die for him thought rostov 

the tsar said something more which rostov did not hear and the
soldiers straining their lungs shouted hurrah 

rostov too bending over his saddle shouted hurrah with all his
might feeling that he would like to injure himself by that shout if
only to express his rapture fully 

the tsar stopped a few minutes in front of the hussars as if undecided 

 how can the emperor be undecided thought rostov but then even
this indecision appeared to him majestic and enchanting like everything
else the tsar did 

that hesitation lasted only an instant the tsar's foot in the narrow
pointed boot then fashionable touched the groin of the bobtailed bay
mare he rode his hand in a white glove gathered up the reins and he
moved off accompanied by an irregularly swaying sea of aides de camp 
farther and farther he rode away stopping at other regiments till at
last only his white plumes were visible to rostov from amid the suites
that surrounded the emperors 

among the gentlemen of the suite rostov noticed bolkonski sitting
his horse indolently and carelessly rostov recalled their quarrel of
yesterday and the question presented itself whether he ought or ought
not to challenge bolkonski of course not he now thought is
it worth thinking or speaking of it at such a moment at a time of such
love such rapture and such self sacrifice what do any of our quarrels
and affronts matter i love and forgive everybody now 

when the emperor had passed nearly all the regiments the troops began
a ceremonial march past him and rostov on bedouin recently purchased
from denisov rode past too at the rear of his squadron that is 
alone and in full view of the emperor 

before he reached him rostov who was a splendid horseman spurred
bedouin twice and successfully put him to the showy trot in which the
animal went when excited bending his foaming muzzle to his chest his
tail extended bedouin as if also conscious of the emperor's eye
upon him passed splendidly lifting his feet with a high and graceful
action as if flying through the air without touching the ground 

rostov himself his legs well back and his stomach drawn in and feeling
himself one with his horse rode past the emperor with a frowning but
blissful face like a vewy devil as denisov expressed it 

 fine fellows the pavlograds remarked the emperor 

 my god how happy i should be if he ordered me to leap into the fire
this instant thought rostov 

when the review was over the newly arrived officers and also
kutuzov's collected in groups and began to talk about the awards 
about the austrians and their uniforms about their lines about
bonaparte and how badly the latter would fare now especially if the
essen corps arrived and prussia took our side 

but the talk in every group was chiefly about the emperor alexander his
every word and movement was described with ecstasy 

they all had but one wish to advance as soon as possible against the
enemy under the emperor's command commanded by the emperor himself
they could not fail to vanquish anyone be it whom it might so thought
rostov and most of the officers after the review 

all were then more confident of victory than the winning of two battles
would have made them 





chapter ix

the day after the review boris in his best uniform and with his
comrade berg's best wishes for success rode to olmutz to see
bolkonski wishing to profit by his friendliness and obtain for himself
the best post he could preferably that of adjutant to some important
personage a position in the army which seemed to him most attractive 
 it is all very well for rostov whose father sends him ten thousand
rubles at a time to talk about not wishing to cringe to anybody and not
be anyone's lackey but i who have nothing but my brains have to
make a career and must not miss opportunities but must avail myself of
them he reflected 

he did not find prince andrew in olmutz that day but the appearance of
the town where the headquarters and the diplomatic corps were stationed
and the two emperors were living with their suites households and
courts only strengthened his desire to belong to that higher world 

he knew no one and despite his smart guardsman's uniform all these
exalted personages passing in the streets in their elegant carriages
with their plumes ribbons and medals both courtiers and military
men seemed so immeasurably above him an insignificant officer of the
guards that they not only did not wish to but simply could not be
aware of his existence at the quarters of the commander in chief 
kutuzov where he inquired for bolkonski all the adjutants and even
the orderlies looked at him as if they wished to impress on him that a
great many officers like him were always coming there and that everybody
was heartily sick of them in spite of this or rather because of
it next day november 15 after dinner he again went to olmutz and 
entering the house occupied by kutuzov asked for bolkonski prince
andrew was in and boris was shown into a large hall probably formerly
used for dancing but in which five beds now stood and furniture of
various kinds a table chairs and a clavichord one adjutant nearest
the door was sitting at the table in a persian dressing gown writing 
another the red stout nesvitski lay on a bed with his arms under his
head laughing with an officer who had sat down beside him a third was
playing a viennese waltz on the clavichord while a fourth lying on
the clavichord sang the tune bolkonski was not there none of these
gentlemen changed his position on seeing boris the one who was writing
and whom boris addressed turned round crossly and told him bolkonski
was on duty and that he should go through the door on the left into the
reception room if he wished to see him boris thanked him and went to
the reception room where he found some ten officers and generals 

when he entered prince andrew his eyes drooping contemptuously with
that peculiar expression of polite weariness which plainly says if
it were not my duty i would not talk to you for a moment was
listening to an old russian general with decorations who stood very
erect almost on tiptoe with a soldier's obsequious expression on his
purple face reporting something 

 very well then be so good as to wait said prince andrew to the
general in russian speaking with the french intonation he affected
when he wished to speak contemptuously and noticing boris prince
andrew paying no more heed to the general who ran after him imploring
him to hear something more nodded and turned to him with a cheerful
smile 

at that moment boris clearly realized what he had before surmised that
in the army besides the subordination and discipline prescribed in the
military code which he and the others knew in the regiment there was
another more important subordination which made this tight laced 
purple faced general wait respectfully while captain prince andrew for
his own pleasure chose to chat with lieutenant drubetskoy more than
ever was boris resolved to serve in future not according to the written
code but under this unwritten law he felt now that merely by having
been recommended to prince andrew he had already risen above the general
who at the front had the power to annihilate him a lieutenant of the
guards prince andrew came up to him and took his hand 

 i am very sorry you did not find me in yesterday i was fussing about
with germans all day we went with weyrother to survey the dispositions 
when germans start being accurate there's no end to it 

boris smiled as if he understood what prince andrew was alluding to
as something generally known but it was the first time he had heard
weyrother's name or even the term dispositions 

 well my dear fellow so you still want to be an adjutant i have
been thinking about you 

 yes i was thinking for some reason boris could not help
blushing of asking the commander in chief he has had a letter from
prince kuragin about me i only wanted to ask because i fear the guards
won't be in action he added as if in apology 

 all right all right we'll talk it over replied prince andrew 
 only let me report this gentleman's business and i shall be at
your disposal 

while prince andrew went to report about the purple faced general that
gentleman evidently not sharing boris conception of the advantages
of the unwritten code of subordination looked so fixedly at the
presumptuous lieutenant who had prevented his finishing what he had to
say to the adjutant that boris felt uncomfortable he turned away and
waited impatiently for prince andrew's return from the commander in
chief's room 

 you see my dear fellow i have been thinking about you 
said prince andrew when they had gone into the large room where the
clavichord was it's no use your going to the commander in chief 
he would say a lot of pleasant things ask you to dinner that
would not be bad as regards the unwritten code thought boris 
 but nothing more would come of it there will soon be a battalion of
us aides de camp and adjutants but this is what we'll do i have
a good friend an adjutant general and an excellent fellow prince
dolgorukov and though you may not know it the fact is that now
kutuzov with his staff and all of us count for nothing everything is
now centered round the emperor so we will go to dolgorukov i have to
go there anyhow and i have already spoken to him about you we shall
see whether he cannot attach you to himself or find a place for you
somewhere nearer the sun 

prince andrew always became specially keen when he had to guide a young
man and help him to worldly success under cover of obtaining help
of this kind for another which from pride he would never accept for
himself he kept in touch with the circle which confers success and
which attracted him he very readily took up boris cause and went
with him to dolgorukov 

it was late in the evening when they entered the palace at olmutz
occupied by the emperors and their retinues 

that same day a council of war had been held in which all the members of
the hofkriegsrath and both emperors took part at that council contrary
to the views of the old generals kutuzov and prince schwartzenberg it
had been decided to advance immediately and give battle to bonaparte 
the council of war was just over when prince andrew accompanied
by boris arrived at the palace to find dolgorukov everyone at
headquarters was still under the spell of the day's council at which
the party of the young had triumphed the voices of those who counseled
delay and advised waiting for something else before advancing had been
so completely silenced and their arguments confuted by such conclusive
evidence of the advantages of attacking that what had been discussed
at the council the coming battle and the victory that would certainly
result from it no longer seemed to be in the future but in the past 
all the advantages were on our side our enormous forces undoubtedly
superior to napoleon's were concentrated in one place the troops
inspired by the emperors presence were eager for action the
strategic position where the operations would take place was familiar in
all its details to the austrian general weyrother a lucky accident had
ordained that the austrian army should maneuver the previous year on the
very fields where the french had now to be fought the adjacent
locality was known and shown in every detail on the maps and bonaparte 
evidently weakened was undertaking nothing 

dolgorukov one of the warmest advocates of an attack had just
returned from the council tired and exhausted but eager and proud
of the victory that had been gained prince andrew introduced his
protege but prince dolgorukov politely and firmly pressing his hand
said nothing to boris and evidently unable to suppress the thoughts
which were uppermost in his mind at that moment addressed prince andrew
in french 

 ah my dear fellow what a battle we have gained god grant that
the one that will result from it will be as victorious however dear
fellow he said abruptly and eagerly i must confess to having
been unjust to the austrians and especially to weyrother what
exactitude what minuteness what knowledge of the locality what
foresight for every eventuality every possibility even to the smallest
detail no my dear fellow no conditions better than our present ones
could have been devised this combination of austrian precision with
russian valor what more could be wished for 

 so the attack is definitely resolved on asked bolkonski 

 and do you know my dear fellow it seems to me that bonaparte has
decidedly lost bearings you know that a letter was received from him
today for the emperor dolgorukov smiled significantly 

 is that so and what did he say inquired bolkonski 

 what can he say tra di ri di ra and so on merely to gain time 
i tell you he is in our hands that's certain but what was most
amusing he continued with a sudden good natured laugh was that
we could not think how to address the reply if not as consul 
and of course not as emperor it seemed to me it should be to
 general bonaparte 

 but between not recognizing him as emperor and calling him general
bonaparte there is a difference remarked bolkonski 

 that's just it interrupted dolgorukov quickly laughing 
 you know bilibin he's a very clever fellow he suggested
addressing him as usurper and enemy of mankind 

dolgorukov laughed merrily 

 only that said bolkonski 

 all the same it was bilibin who found a suitable form for the
address he is a wise and clever fellow 

 what was it 

 to the head of the french government au chef du gouvernement
francais said dolgorukov with grave satisfaction good 
wasn't it 

 yes but he will dislike it extremely said bolkonski 

 oh yes very much my brother knows him he's dined with him the
present emperor more than once in paris and tells me he never met a
more cunning or subtle diplomatist you know a combination of french
adroitness and italian play acting do you know the tale about him and
count markov count markov was the only man who knew how to handle
him you know the story of the handkerchief it is delightful 

and the talkative dolgorukov turning now to boris now to prince
andrew told how bonaparte wishing to test markov our ambassador 
purposely dropped a handkerchief in front of him and stood looking
at markov probably expecting markov to pick it up for him and how
markov immediately dropped his own beside it and picked it up without
touching bonaparte's 

 delightful said bolkonski but i have come to you prince 
as a petitioner on behalf of this young man you see but
before prince andrew could finish an aide de camp came in to summon
dolgorukov to the emperor 

 oh what a nuisance said dolgorukov getting up hurriedly and
pressing the hands of prince andrew and boris you know i should
be very glad to do all in my power both for you and for this dear young
man again he pressed the hand of the latter with an expression of
good natured sincere and animated levity but you see another
time 

boris was excited by the thought of being so close to the higher powers
as he felt himself to be at that moment he was conscious that here
he was in contact with the springs that set in motion the enormous
movements of the mass of which in his regiment he felt himself a tiny 
obedient and insignificant atom they followed prince dolgorukov out
into the corridor and met coming out of the door of the emperor's
room by which dolgorukov had entered a short man in civilian clothes
with a clever face and sharply projecting jaw which without spoiling
his face gave him a peculiar vivacity and shiftiness of expression 
this short man nodded to dolgorukov as to an intimate friend and stared
at prince andrew with cool intensity walking straight toward him and
evidently expecting him to bow or to step out of his way prince andrew
did neither a look of animosity appeared on his face and the other
turned away and went down the side of the corridor 

 who was that asked boris 

 he is one of the most remarkable but to me most unpleasant of
men the minister of foreign affairs prince adam czartoryski it
is such men as he who decide the fate of nations added bolkonski
with a sigh he could not suppress as they passed out of the palace 

next day the army began its campaign and up to the very battle of
austerlitz boris was unable to see either prince andrew or dolgorukov
again and remained for a while with the ismaylov regiment 





chapter x

at dawn on the sixteenth of november denisov's squadron in
which nicholas rostov served and which was in prince bagration's
detachment moved from the place where it had spent the night advancing
into action as arranged and after going behind other columns for
about two thirds of a mile was stopped on the highroad rostov saw the
cossacks and then the first and second squadrons of hussars and infantry
battalions and artillery pass by and go forward and then generals
bagration and dolgorukov ride past with their adjutants all the fear
before action which he had experienced as previously all the inner
struggle to conquer that fear all his dreams of distinguishing himself
as a true hussar in this battle had been wasted their squadron
remained in reserve and nicholas rostov spent that day in a dull and
wretched mood at nine in the morning he heard firing in front and
shouts of hurrah and saw wounded being brought back there were not
many of them and at last he saw how a whole detachment of french
cavalry was brought in convoyed by a sotnya of cossacks evidently the
affair was over and though not big had been a successful engagement 
the men and officers returning spoke of a brilliant victory of the
occupation of the town of wischau and the capture of a whole french
squadron the day was bright and sunny after a sharp night frost and
the cheerful glitter of that autumn day was in keeping with the news of
victory which was conveyed not only by the tales of those who had taken
part in it but also by the joyful expression on the faces of soldiers 
officers generals and adjutants as they passed rostov going or
coming and nicholas who had vainly suffered all the dread that
precedes a battle and had spent that happy day in inactivity was all
the more depressed 

 come here wostov let's dwink to dwown our gwief shouted
denisov who had settled down by the roadside with a flask and some
food 

the officers gathered round denisov's canteen eating and talking 

 there they are bringing another cried one of the officers 
indicating a captive french dragoon who was being brought in on foot by
two cossacks 

one of them was leading by the bridle a fine large french horse he had
taken from the prisoner 

 sell us that horse denisov called out to the cossacks 

 if you like your honor 

the officers got up and stood round the cossacks and their prisoner 
the french dragoon was a young alsatian who spoke french with a german
accent he was breathless with agitation his face was red and when
he heard some french spoken he at once began speaking to the officers 
addressing first one then another he said he would not have been
taken it was not his fault but the corporal's who had sent him to
seize some horsecloths though he had told him the russians were there 
and at every word he added but don't hurt my little horse and
stroked the animal it was plain that he did not quite grasp where he
was now he excused himself for having been taken prisoner and now 
imagining himself before his own officers insisted on his soldierly
discipline and zeal in the service he brought with him into our
rearguard all the freshness of atmosphere of the french army which was
so alien to us 

the cossacks sold the horse for two gold pieces and rostov being the
richest of the officers now that he had received his money bought it 

 but don't hurt my little horse said the alsatian good naturedly
to rostov when the animal was handed over to the hussar 

rostov smilingly reassured the dragoon and gave him money 

 alley alley said the cossack touching the prisoner's arm to
make him go on 

 the emperor the emperor was suddenly heard among the hussars 

all began to run and bustle and rostov saw coming up the road behind
him several riders with white plumes in their hats in a moment everyone
was in his place waiting 

rostov did not know or remember how he ran to his place and mounted 
instantly his regret at not having been in action and his dejected mood
amid people of whom he was weary had gone instantly every thought of
himself had vanished he was filled with happiness at his nearness to
the emperor he felt that this nearness by itself made up to him for the
day he had lost he was happy as a lover when the longed for moment of
meeting arrives not daring to look round and without looking round he
was ecstatically conscious of his approach he felt it not only from the
sound of the hoofs of the approaching cavalcade but because as he drew
near everything grew brighter more joyful more significant and more
festive around him nearer and nearer to rostov came that sun shedding
beams of mild and majestic light around and already he felt himself
enveloped in those beams he heard his voice that kindly calm 
and majestic voice that was yet so simple and as if in accord with
rostov's feeling there was a deathly stillness amid which was heard
the emperor's voice 

 the pavlograd hussars he inquired 

 the reserves sire replied a voice a very human one compared to
that which had said the pavlograd hussars 

the emperor drew level with rostov and halted alexander's face was
even more beautiful than it had been three days before at the review it
shone with such gaiety and youth such innocent youth that it suggested
the liveliness of a fourteen year old boy and yet it was the face
of the majestic emperor casually while surveying the squadron the
emperor's eyes met rostov's and rested on them for not more than
two seconds whether or no the emperor understood what was going on in
rostov's soul it seemed to rostov that he understood everything 
at any rate his light blue eyes gazed for about two seconds into
rostov's face a gentle mild light poured from them then all at
once he raised his eyebrows abruptly touched his horse with his left
foot and galloped on 

the younger emperor could not restrain his wish to be present at the
battle and in spite of the remonstrances of his courtiers at twelve
o'clock left the third column with which he had been and galloped
toward the vanguard before he came up with the hussars several
adjutants met him with news of the successful result of the action 

this battle which consisted in the capture of a french squadron was
represented as a brilliant victory over the french and so the
emperor and the whole army especially while the smoke hung over
the battlefield believed that the french had been defeated and were
retreating against their will a few minutes after the emperor had
passed the pavlograd division was ordered to advance in wischau
itself a petty german town rostov saw the emperor again in the
market place where there had been some rather heavy firing before the
emperor's arrival lay several killed and wounded soldiers whom there
had not been time to move the emperor surrounded by his suite
of officers and courtiers was riding a bobtailed chestnut mare a
different one from that which he had ridden at the review and bending
to one side he gracefully held a gold lorgnette to his eyes and looked
at a soldier who lay prone with blood on his uncovered head the
wounded soldier was so dirty coarse and revolting that his proximity
to the emperor shocked rostov rostov saw how the emperor's rather
round shoulders shuddered as if a cold shiver had run down them how his
left foot began convulsively tapping the horse's side with the spur 
and how the well trained horse looked round unconcerned and did not
stir an adjutant dismounting lifted the soldier under the arms to
place him on a stretcher that had been brought the soldier groaned 

 gently gently can't you do it more gently said the emperor
apparently suffering more than the dying soldier and he rode away 

rostov saw tears filling the emperor's eyes and heard him as he was
riding away say to czartoryski what a terrible thing war is what
a terrible thing quelle terrible chose que la guerre 

the troops of the vanguard were stationed before wischau within sight
of the enemy's lines which all day long had yielded ground to us
at the least firing the emperor's gratitude was announced to the
vanguard rewards were promised and the men received a double ration of
vodka the campfires crackled and the soldiers songs resounded
even more merrily than on the previous night denisov celebrated his
promotion to the rank of major and rostov who had already drunk
enough at the end of the feast proposed the emperor's health not
 our sovereign the emperor as they say at official dinners 
said he but the health of our sovereign that good enchanting and
great man let us drink to his health and to the certain defeat of the
french 

 if we fought before he said not letting the french pass as
at schon grabern what shall we not do now when he is at the front we
will all die for him gladly is it not so gentlemen perhaps i am not
saying it right i have drunk a good deal but that is how i feel and
so do you too to the health of alexander the first hurrah 

 hurrah rang the enthusiastic voices of the officers 

and the old cavalry captain kirsten shouted enthusiastically and no
less sincerely than the twenty year old rostov 

when the officers had emptied and smashed their glasses kirsten filled
others and in shirt sleeves and breeches went glass in hand to the
soldiers bonfires and with his long gray mustache his white chest
showing under his open shirt he stood in a majestic pose in the light
of the campfire waving his uplifted arm 

 lads here's to our sovereign the emperor and victory over
our enemies hurrah he exclaimed in his dashing old hussar's
baritone 

the hussars crowded round and responded heartily with loud shouts 

late that night when all had separated denisov with his short hand
patted his favorite rostov on the shoulder 

 as there's no one to fall in love with on campaign he's fallen
in love with the tsar he said 

 denisov don't make fun of it cried rostov it is such a
lofty beautiful feeling such a 

 i believe it i believe it fwiend and i share and appwove 

 no you don't understand 

and rostov got up and went wandering among the campfires dreaming of
what happiness it would be to die not in saving the emperor's life
 he did not even dare to dream of that but simply to die before his
eyes he really was in love with the tsar and the glory of the russian
arms and the hope of future triumph and he was not the only man to
experience that feeling during those memorable days preceding the battle
of austerlitz nine tenths of the men in the russian army were then in
love though less ecstatically with their tsar and the glory of the
russian arms 





chapter xi

the next day the emperor stopped at wischau and villier his physician 
was repeatedly summoned to see him at headquarters and among the troops
near by the news spread that the emperor was unwell he ate nothing and
had slept badly that night those around him reported the cause of this
indisposition was the strong impression made on his sensitive mind by
the sight of the killed and wounded 

at daybreak on the seventeenth a french officer who had come with
a flag of truce demanding an audience with the russian emperor was
brought into wischau from our outposts this officer was savary the
emperor had only just fallen asleep and so savary had to wait at midday
he was admitted to the emperor and an hour later he rode off with
prince dolgorukov to the advanced post of the french army 

it was rumored that savary had been sent to propose to alexander
a meeting with napoleon to the joy and pride of the whole army a
personal interview was refused and instead of the sovereign prince
dolgorukov the victor at wischau was sent with savary to negotiate
with napoleon if contrary to expectations these negotiations were
actuated by a real desire for peace 

toward evening dolgorukov came back went straight to the tsar and
remained alone with him for a long time 

on the eighteenth and nineteenth of november the army advanced two
days march and the enemy's outposts after a brief interchange
of shots retreated in the highest army circles from midday on the
nineteenth a great excitedly bustling activity began which lasted till
the morning of the twentieth when the memorable battle of austerlitz
was fought 

till midday on the nineteenth the activity the eager talk running to
and fro and dispatching of adjutants was confined to the emperor's
headquarters but on the afternoon of that day this activity reached
kutuzov's headquarters and the staffs of the commanders of columns 
by evening the adjutants had spread it to all ends and parts of the
army and in the night from the nineteenth to the twentieth the whole
eighty thousand allied troops rose from their bivouacs to the hum of
voices and the army swayed and started in one enormous mass six miles
long 

the concentrated activity which had begun at the emperor's
headquarters in the morning and had started the whole movement that
followed was like the first movement of the main wheel of a large tower
clock one wheel slowly moved another was set in motion and a third 
and wheels began to revolve faster and faster levers and cogwheels to
work chimes to play figures to pop out and the hands to advance with
regular motion as a result of all that activity 

just as in the mechanism of a clock so in the mechanism of the military
machine an impulse once given leads to the final result and just as
indifferently quiescent till the moment when motion is transmitted
to them are the parts of the mechanism which the impulse has not yet
reached wheels creak on their axles as the cogs engage one another and
the revolving pulleys whirr with the rapidity of their movement but a
neighboring wheel is as quiet and motionless as though it were prepared
to remain so for a hundred years but the moment comes when the lever
catches it and obeying the impulse that wheel begins to creak and joins
in the common motion the result and aim of which are beyond its ken 

just as in a clock the result of the complicated motion of innumerable
wheels and pulleys is merely a slow and regular movement of the
hands which show the time so the result of all the complicated human
activities of 160 000 russians and french all their passions desires 
remorse humiliations sufferings outbursts of pride fear and
enthusiasm was only the loss of the battle of austerlitz the
so called battle of the three emperors that is to say a slow movement
of the hand on the dial of human history 

prince andrew was on duty that day and in constant attendance on the
commander in chief 

at six in the evening kutuzov went to the emperor's headquarters
and after staying but a short time with the tsar went to see the grand
marshal of the court count tolstoy 

bolkonski took the opportunity to go in to get some details of the
coming action from dolgorukov he felt that kutuzov was upset
and dissatisfied about something and that at headquarters they were
dissatisfied with him and also that at the emperor's headquarters
everyone adopted toward him the tone of men who know something others do
not know he therefore wished to speak to dolgorukov 

 well how d'you do my dear fellow said dolgorukov who was
sitting at tea with bilibin the fete is for tomorrow how is your
old fellow out of sorts 

 i won't say he is out of sorts but i fancy he would like to be
heard 

 but they heard him at the council of war and will hear him when he
talks sense but to temporize and wait for something now when bonaparte
fears nothing so much as a general battle is impossible 

 yes you have seen him said prince andrew well what is
bonaparte like how did he impress you 

 yes i saw him and am convinced that he fears nothing so much as
a general engagement repeated dolgorukov evidently prizing this
general conclusion which he had arrived at from his interview with
napoleon if he weren't afraid of a battle why did he ask for that
interview why negotiate and above all why retreat when to retreat is
so contrary to his method of conducting war believe me he is afraid 
afraid of a general battle his hour has come mark my words 

 but tell me what is he like eh said prince andrew again 

 he is a man in a gray overcoat very anxious that i should call
him your majesty but who to his chagrin got no title from
me that's the sort of man he is and nothing more replied
dolgorukov looking round at bilibin with a smile 

 despite my great respect for old kutuzov he continued we
should be a nice set of fellows if we were to wait about and so give him
a chance to escape or to trick us now that we certainly have him in
our hands no we mustn't forget suvorov and his rule not to put
yourself in a position to be attacked but yourself to attack believe
me in war the energy of young men often shows the way better than all
the experience of old cunctators 

 but in what position are we going to attack him i have been at the
outposts today and it is impossible to say where his chief forces are
situated said prince andrew 

he wished to explain to dolgorukov a plan of attack he had himself
formed 

 oh that is all the same dolgorukov said quickly and getting up
he spread a map on the table all eventualities have been foreseen 
if he is standing before brunn 

and prince dolgorukov rapidly but indistinctly explained weyrother's
plan of a flanking movement 

prince andrew began to reply and to state his own plan which might
have been as good as weyrother's but for the disadvantage that
weyrother's had already been approved as soon as prince andrew began
to demonstrate the defects of the latter and the merits of his own plan 
prince dolgorukov ceased to listen to him and gazed absent mindedly not
at the map but at prince andrew's face 

 there will be a council of war at kutuzov's tonight though you
can say all this there remarked dolgorukov 

 i will do so said prince andrew moving away from the map 

 whatever are you bothering about gentlemen said bilibin who 
till then had listened with an amused smile to their conversation and
now was evidently ready with a joke whether tomorrow brings
victory or defeat the glory of our russian arms is secure except your
kutuzov there is not a single russian in command of a column the
commanders are herr general wimpfen le comte de langeron le prince de
lichtenstein le prince de hohenlohe and finally prishprish and so on
like all those polish names 

 be quiet backbiter said dolgorukov it is not true there
are now two russians miloradovich and dokhturov and there would be
a third count arakcheev if his nerves were not too weak 

 however i think general kutuzov has come out said prince
andrew i wish you good luck and success gentlemen he added and
went out after shaking hands with dolgorukov and bilibin 

on the way home prince andrew could not refrain from asking kutuzov 
who was sitting silently beside him what he thought of tomorrow's
battle 

kutuzov looked sternly at his adjutant and after a pause replied 
 i think the battle will be lost and so i told count tolstoy and
asked him to tell the emperor what do you think he replied but my
dear general i am engaged with rice and cutlets look after military
matters yourself yes that was the answer i got 





chapter xii

shortly after nine o'clock that evening weyrother drove with his
plans to kutuzov's quarters where the council of war was to be
held all the commanders of columns were summoned to the commander in
chief's and with the exception of prince bagration who declined to
come were all there at the appointed time 

weyrother who was in full control of the proposed battle by his
eagerness and briskness presented a marked contrast to the dissatisfied
and drowsy kutuzov who reluctantly played the part of chairman and
president of the council of war weyrother evidently felt himself to be
at the head of a movement that had already become unrestrainable he was
like a horse running downhill harnessed to a heavy cart whether he was
pulling it or being pushed by it he did not know but rushed along at
headlong speed with no time to consider what this movement might lead
to weyrother had been twice that evening to the enemy's picket
line to reconnoiter personally and twice to the emperors russian and
austrian to report and explain and to his headquarters where he had
dictated the dispositions in german and now much exhausted he arrived
at kutuzov's 

he was evidently so busy that he even forgot to be polite to the
commander in chief he interrupted him talked rapidly and indistinctly 
without looking at the man he was addressing and did not reply to
questions put to him he was bespattered with mud and had a pitiful 
weary and distracted air though at the same time he was haughty and
self confident 

kutuzov was occupying a nobleman's castle of modest dimensions near
ostralitz in the large drawing room which had become the commander
in chief's office were gathered kutuzov himself weyrother and the
members of the council of war they were drinking tea and only awaited
prince bagration to begin the council at last bagration's orderly
came with the news that the prince could not attend prince andrew came
in to inform the commander in chief of this and availing himself
of permission previously given him by kutuzov to be present at the
council he remained in the room 

 since prince bagration is not coming we may begin said
weyrother hurriedly rising from his seat and going up to the table on
which an enormous map of the environs of brunn was spread out 

kutuzov with his uniform unbuttoned so that his fat neck bulged over
his collar as if escaping was sitting almost asleep in a low chair 
with his podgy old hands resting symmetrically on its arms at the sound
of weyrother's voice he opened his one eye with an effort 

 yes yes if you please it is already late said he and nodding
his head he let it droop and again closed his eye 

if at first the members of the council thought that kutuzov was
pretending to sleep the sounds his nose emitted during the reading that
followed proved that the commander in chief at that moment was absorbed
by a far more serious matter than a desire to show his contempt for
the dispositions or anything else he was engaged in satisfying the
irresistible human need for sleep he really was asleep weyrother with
the gesture of a man too busy to lose a moment glanced at kutuzov and 
having convinced himself that he was asleep took up a paper and in
a loud monotonous voice began to read out the dispositions for the
impending battle under a heading which he also read out 

 dispositions for an attack on the enemy position behind kobelnitz and
sokolnitz november 30 1805 

the dispositions were very complicated and difficult they began as
follows 

 as the enemy's left wing rests on wooded hills and his right
extends along kobelnitz and sokolnitz behind the ponds that are there 
while we on the other hand with our left wing by far outflank his
right it is advantageous to attack the enemy's latter wing especially
if we occupy the villages of sokolnitz and kobelnitz whereby we
can both fall on his flank and pursue him over the plain between
schlappanitz and the thuerassa forest avoiding the defiles of
schlappanitz and bellowitz which cover the enemy's front for this
object it is necessary that the first column marches the second
column marches the third column marches and so on read
weyrother 

the generals seemed to listen reluctantly to the difficult dispositions 
the tall fair haired general buxhowden stood leaning his back against
the wall his eyes fixed on a burning candle and seemed not to listen
or even to wish to be thought to listen exactly opposite weyrother 
with his glistening wide open eyes fixed upon him and his mustache
twisted upwards sat the ruddy miloradovich in a military pose his
elbows turned outwards his hands on his knees and his shoulders
raised he remained stubbornly silent gazing at weyrother's face 
and only turned away his eyes when the austrian chief of staff finished
reading then miloradovich looked round significantly at the other
generals but one could not tell from that significant look whether he
agreed or disagreed and was satisfied or not with the arrangements next
to weyrother sat count langeron who with a subtle smile that never left
his typically southern french face during the whole time of the reading 
gazed at his delicate fingers which rapidly twirled by its corners
a gold snuffbox on which was a portrait in the middle of one of the
longest sentences he stopped the rotary motion of the snuffbox raised
his head and with inimical politeness lurking in the corners of his
thin lips interrupted weyrother wishing to say something but the
austrian general continuing to read frowned angrily and jerked his
elbows as if to say you can tell me your views later but now be so
good as to look at the map and listen langeron lifted his eyes with
an expression of perplexity turned round to miloradovich as if seeking
an explanation but meeting the latter's impressive but meaningless
gaze drooped his eyes sadly and again took to twirling his snuffbox 

 a geography lesson he muttered as if to himself but loud enough
to be heard 

przebyszewski with respectful but dignified politeness held his
hand to his ear toward weyrother with the air of a man absorbed in
attention dohkturov a little man sat opposite weyrother with
an assiduous and modest mien and stooping over the outspread map
conscientiously studied the dispositions and the unfamiliar locality he
asked weyrother several times to repeat words he had not clearly heard
and the difficult names of villages weyrother complied and dohkturov
noted them down 

when the reading which lasted more than an hour was over langeron again
brought his snuffbox to rest and without looking at weyrother or at
anyone in particular began to say how difficult it was to carry out
such a plan in which the enemy's position was assumed to be known 
whereas it was perhaps not known since the enemy was in movement 
langeron's objections were valid but it was obvious that their chief
aim was to show general weyrother who had read his dispositions with
as much self confidence as if he were addressing school children that
he had to do not with fools but with men who could teach him something
in military matters 

when the monotonous sound of weyrother's voice ceased kutuzov opened
his eye as a miller wakes up when the soporific drone of the mill wheel
is interrupted he listened to what langeron said as if remarking 
 so you are still at that silly business quickly closed his eye
again and let his head sink still lower 

langeron trying as virulently as possible to sting weyrother's vanity
as author of the military plan argued that bonaparte might easily
attack instead of being attacked and so render the whole of this
plan perfectly worthless weyrother met all objections with a firm and
contemptuous smile evidently prepared beforehand to meet all objections
be they what they might 

 if he could attack us he would have done so today said he 

 so you think he is powerless said langeron 

 he has forty thousand men at most replied weyrother with the
smile of a doctor to whom an old wife wishes to explain the treatment of
a case 

 in that case he is inviting his doom by awaiting our attack said
langeron with a subtly ironical smile again glancing round for support
to miloradovich who was near him 

but miloradovich was at that moment evidently thinking of anything
rather than of what the generals were disputing about 

 ma foi said he tomorrow we shall see all that on the
battlefield 

weyrother again gave that smile which seemed to say that to him it was
strange and ridiculous to meet objections from russian generals and to
have to prove to them what he had not merely convinced himself of but
had also convinced the sovereign emperors of 

 the enemy has quenched his fires and a continual noise is heard from
his camp said he what does that mean either he is retreating 
which is the only thing we need fear or he is changing his position 
 he smiled ironically but even if he also took up a position in
the thuerassa he merely saves us a great deal of trouble and all our
arrangements to the minutest detail remain the same 

 how is that began prince andrew who had for long been waiting
an opportunity to express his doubts 

kutuzov here woke up coughed heavily and looked round at the
generals 

 gentlemen the dispositions for tomorrow or rather for today for
it is past midnight cannot now be altered said he you have
heard them and we shall all do our duty but before a battle there is
nothing more important he paused than to have a good sleep 

he moved as if to rise the generals bowed and retired it was past
midnight prince andrew went out 

the council of war at which prince andrew had not been able to
express his opinion as he had hoped to left on him a vague and uneasy
impression whether dolgorukov and weyrother or kutuzov langeron 
and the others who did not approve of the plan of attack were
right he did not know but was it really not possible for kutuzov
to state his views plainly to the emperor is it possible that on
account of court and personal considerations tens of thousands of lives 
and my life my life he thought must be risked 

 yes it is very likely that i shall be killed tomorrow he
thought and suddenly at this thought of death a whole series of most
distant most intimate memories rose in his imagination he remembered
his last parting from his father and his wife he remembered the days
when he first loved her he thought of her pregnancy and felt sorry for
her and for himself and in a nervously emotional and softened mood he
went out of the hut in which he was billeted with nesvitski and began
to walk up and down before it 

the night was foggy and through the fog the moonlight gleamed
mysteriously yes tomorrow tomorrow he thought tomorrow
everything may be over for me all these memories will be no more none
of them will have any meaning for me tomorrow perhaps even certainly 
i have a presentiment that for the first time i shall have to show all
i can do and his fancy pictured the battle its loss the
concentration of fighting at one point and the hesitation of all the
commanders and then that happy moment that toulon for which he had
so long waited presents itself to him at last he firmly and clearly
expresses his opinion to kutuzov to weyrother and to the emperors 
all are struck by the justness of his views but no one undertakes to
carry them out so he takes a regiment a division stipulates that no
one is to interfere with his arrangements leads his division to
the decisive point and gains the victory alone but death and
suffering suggested another voice prince andrew however did not
answer that voice and went on dreaming of his triumphs the dispositions
for the next battle are planned by him alone nominally he is only an
adjutant on kutuzov's staff but he does everything alone the next
battle is won by him alone kutuzov is removed and he is appointed 
 well and then asked the other voice if before that you are
not ten times wounded killed or betrayed well what then 
 well then prince andrew answered himself i don't know
what will happen and don't want to know and can't but if i want
this want glory want to be known to men want to be loved by them it
is not my fault that i want it and want nothing but that and live only
for that yes for that alone i shall never tell anyone but oh god 
what am i to do if i love nothing but fame and men's esteem death 
wounds the loss of family i fear nothing and precious and dear
as many persons are to me father sister wife those dearest to
me yet dreadful and unnatural as it seems i would give them all at
once for a moment of glory of triumph over men of love from men i
don't know and never shall know for the love of these men here he
thought as he listened to voices in kutuzov's courtyard the voices
were those of the orderlies who were packing up one voice probably a
coachman's was teasing kutuzov's old cook whom prince andrew knew 
and who was called tit he was saying tit i say tit 

 well returned the old man 

 go tit thresh a bit said the wag 

 oh go to the devil called out a voice drowned by the laughter
of the orderlies and servants 

 all the same i love and value nothing but triumph over them all i
value this mystic power and glory that is floating here above me in this
mist 





chapter xiii

that same night rostov was with a platoon on skirmishing duty in front
of bagration's detachment his hussars were placed along the line
in couples and he himself rode along the line trying to master the
sleepiness that kept coming over him an enormous space with our
army's campfires dimly glowing in the fog could be seen behind him 
in front of him was misty darkness rostov could see nothing peer as
he would into that foggy distance now something gleamed gray now there
was something black now little lights seemed to glimmer where the enemy
ought to be now he fancied it was only something in his own eyes his
eyes kept closing and in his fancy appeared now the emperor now
denisov and now moscow memories and he again hurriedly opened his
eyes and saw close before him the head and ears of the horse he was
riding and sometimes when he came within six paces of them the
black figures of hussars but in the distance was still the same misty
darkness why not it might easily happen thought rostov 
 that the emperor will meet me and give me an order as he would to any
other officer he'll say go and find out what's there there
are many stories of his getting to know an officer in just such a chance
way and attaching him to himself what if he gave me a place near him 
oh how i would guard him how i would tell him the truth how i would
unmask his deceivers and in order to realize vividly his love
devotion to the sovereign rostov pictured to himself an enemy or a
deceitful german whom he would not only kill with pleasure but whom
he would slap in the face before the emperor suddenly a distant shout
aroused him he started and opened his eyes 

 where am i oh yes in the skirmishing line pass and
watchword shaft olmutz what a nuisance that our squadron will be in
reserve tomorrow he thought i'll ask leave to go to the front 
this may be my only chance of seeing the emperor it won't be long
now before i am off duty i'll take another turn and when i get back
i'll go to the general and ask him he readjusted himself in the
saddle and touched up his horse to ride once more round his hussars it
seemed to him that it was getting lighter to the left he saw a sloping
descent lit up and facing it a black knoll that seemed as steep as a
wall on this knoll there was a white patch that rostov could not at
all make out was it a glade in the wood lit up by the moon or some
unmelted snow or some white houses he even thought something moved on
that white spot i expect it's snow that spot a spot une
tache he thought there now it's not a tache natasha 
sister black eyes na tasha won't she be surprised when
i tell her how i've seen the emperor natasha take my
sabretache keep to the right your honor there are bushes
here came the voice of an hussar past whom rostov was riding in
the act of falling asleep rostov lifted his head that had sunk almost
to his horse's mane and pulled up beside the hussar he was succumbing
to irresistible youthful childish drowsiness but what was i
thinking i mustn't forget how shall i speak to the emperor no 
that's not it that's tomorrow oh yes natasha sabretache 
saber them whom the hussars ah the hussars with mustaches along
the tverskaya street rode the hussar with mustaches i thought about
him too just opposite guryev's house old guryev oh but
denisov's a fine fellow but that's all nonsense the chief thing
is that the emperor is here how he looked at me and wished to say
something but dared not no it was i who dared not but that's
nonsense the chief thing is not to forget the important thing i
was thinking of yes na tasha sabretache oh yes yes that's
right and his head once more sank to his horse's neck all at once
it seemed to him that he was being fired at what what what cut
them down what said rostov waking up at the moment he opened
his eyes he heard in front of him where the enemy was the long drawn
shouts of thousands of voices his horse and the horse of the hussar
near him pricked their ears at these shouts over there where the
shouting came from a fire flared up and went out again then another 
and all along the french line on the hill fires flared up and the
shouting grew louder and louder rostov could hear the sound of french
words but could not distinguish them the din of many voices was too
great all he could hear was ahahah and rrrr 

 what's that what do you make of it said rostov to the hussar
beside him that must be the enemy's camp 

the hussar did not reply 

 why don't you hear it rostov asked again after waiting for a
reply 

 who can tell your honor replied the hussar reluctantly 

 from the direction it must be the enemy repeated rostov 

 it may be he or it may be nothing muttered the hussar it's
dark steady he cried to his fidgeting horse 

rostov's horse was also getting restive it pawed the frozen ground 
pricking its ears at the noise and looking at the lights the shouting
grew still louder and merged into a general roar that only an army
of several thousand men could produce the lights spread farther and
farther probably along the line of the french camp rostov no longer
wanted to sleep the gay triumphant shouting of the enemy army had a
stimulating effect on him vive l'empereur l'empereur he now
heard distinctly 

 they can't be far off probably just beyond the stream he said
to the hussar beside him 

the hussar only sighed without replying and coughed angrily the sound
of horse's hoofs approaching at a trot along the line of hussars was
heard and out of the foggy darkness the figure of a sergeant of hussars
suddenly appeared looming huge as an elephant 

 your honor the generals said the sergeant riding up to rostov 

rostov still looking round toward the fires and the shouts rode with
the sergeant to meet some mounted men who were riding along the line 
one was on a white horse prince bagration and prince dolgorukov with
their adjutants had come to witness the curious phenomenon of the
lights and shouts in the enemy's camp rostov rode up to bagration 
reported to him and then joined the adjutants listening to what the
generals were saying 

 believe me said prince dolgorukov addressing bagration it
is nothing but a trick he has retreated and ordered the rearguard to
kindle fires and make a noise to deceive us 

 hardly said bagration i saw them this evening on that
knoll if they had retreated they would have withdrawn from that too 
officer said bagration to rostov are the enemy's skirmishers
still there 

 they were there this evening but now i don't know your
excellency shall i go with some of my hussars to see replied
rostov 

bagration stopped and before replying tried to see rostov's face
in the mist 

 well go and see he said after a pause 

 yes sir 

rostov spurred his horse called to sergeant fedchenko and two other
hussars told them to follow him and trotted downhill in the direction
from which the shouting came he felt both frightened and pleased to be
riding alone with three hussars into that mysterious and dangerous misty
distance where no one had been before him bagration called to him from
the hill not to go beyond the stream but rostov pretended not to hear
him and did not stop but rode on and on continually mistaking bushes
for trees and gullies for men and continually discovering his mistakes 
having descended the hill at a trot he no longer saw either our own or
the enemy's fires but heard the shouting of the french more loudly
and distinctly in the valley he saw before him something like a river 
but when he reached it he found it was a road having come out onto
the road he reined in his horse hesitating whether to ride along it or
cross it and ride over the black field up the hillside to keep to the
road which gleamed white in the mist would have been safer because it
would be easier to see people coming along it follow me said he 
crossed the road and began riding up the hill at a gallop toward the
point where the french pickets had been standing that evening 

 your honor there he is cried one of the hussars behind him and
before rostov had time to make out what the black thing was that had
suddenly appeared in the fog there was a flash followed by a report 
and a bullet whizzing high up in the mist with a plaintive sound passed
out of hearing another musket missed fire but flashed in the pan 
rostov turned his horse and galloped back four more reports followed
at intervals and the bullets passed somewhere in the fog singing in
different tones rostov reined in his horse whose spirits had risen 
like his own at the firing and went back at a footpace well some
more some more a merry voice was saying in his soul but no more
shots came 

only when approaching bagration did rostov let his horse gallop again 
and with his hand at the salute rode up to the general 

dolgorukov was still insisting that the french had retreated and had
only lit fires to deceive us 

 what does that prove he was saying as rostov rode up they
might retreat and leave the pickets 

 it's plain that they have not all gone yet prince said
bagration wait till tomorrow morning we'll find out everything
tomorrow 

 the picket is still on the hill your excellency just where it was
in the evening reported rostov stooping forward with his hand at
the salute and unable to repress the smile of delight induced by his
ride and especially by the sound of the bullets 

 very good very good said bagration thank you officer 

 your excellency said rostov may i ask a favor 

 what is it 

 tomorrow our squadron is to be in reserve may i ask to be attached
to the first squadron 

 what's your name 

 count rostov 

 oh very well you may stay in attendance on me 

 count ilya rostov's son asked dolgorukov 

but rostov did not reply 

 then i may reckon on it your excellency 

 i will give the order 

 tomorrow very likely i may be sent with some message to the
emperor thought rostov 

 thank god 

the fires and shouting in the enemy's army were occasioned by the fact
that while napoleon's proclamation was being read to the troops the
emperor himself rode round his bivouacs the soldiers on seeing him 
lit wisps of straw and ran after him shouting vive l'empereur 
napoleon's proclamation was as follows 

soldiers the russian army is advancing against you to avenge the
austrian army of ulm they are the same battalions you broke at
hollabrunn and have pursued ever since to this place the position we
occupy is a strong one and while they are marching to go round me on
the right they will expose a flank to me soldiers i will myself direct
your battalions i will keep out of fire if you with your habitual
valor carry disorder and confusion into the enemy's ranks but should
victory be in doubt even for a moment you will see your emperor
exposing himself to the first blows of the enemy for there must be no
doubt of victory especially on this day when what is at stake is the
honor of the french infantry so necessary to the honor of our nation 

do not break your ranks on the plea of removing the wounded let every
man be fully imbued with the thought that we must defeat these hirelings
of england inspired by such hatred of our nation this victory will
conclude our campaign and we can return to winter quarters where fresh
french troops who are being raised in france will join us and the peace
i shall conclude will be worthy of my people of you and of myself 

napoleon




chapter xiv

at five in the morning it was still quite dark the troops of the
center the reserves and bagration's right flank had not yet moved 
but on the left flank the columns of infantry cavalry and artillery 
which were to be the first to descend the heights to attack the french
right flank and drive it into the bohemian mountains according to plan 
were already up and astir the smoke of the campfires into which they
were throwing everything superfluous made the eyes smart it was cold
and dark the officers were hurriedly drinking tea and breakfasting the
soldiers munching biscuit and beating a tattoo with their feet to
warm themselves gathering round the fires throwing into the flames the
remains of sheds chairs tables wheels tubs and everything that they
did not want or could not carry away with them austrian column guides
were moving in and out among the russian troops and served as heralds
of the advance as soon as an austrian officer showed himself near
a commanding officer's quarters the regiment began to move the
soldiers ran from the fires thrust their pipes into their boots their
bags into the carts got their muskets ready and formed rank the
officers buttoned up their coats buckled on their swords and pouches 
and moved along the ranks shouting the train drivers and orderlies
harnessed and packed the wagons and tied on the loads the adjutants and
battalion and regimental commanders mounted crossed themselves gave
final instructions orders and commissions to the baggage men
who remained behind and the monotonous tramp of thousands of feet
resounded the column moved forward without knowing where and unable 
from the masses around them the smoke and the increasing fog to see
either the place they were leaving or that to which they were going 

a soldier on the march is hemmed in and borne along by his regiment as
much as a sailor is by his ship however far he has walked whatever
strange unknown and dangerous places he reaches just as a sailor is
always surrounded by the same decks masts and rigging of his ship so
the soldier always has around him the same comrades the same ranks the
same sergeant major ivan mitrich the same company dog jack and the
same commanders the sailor rarely cares to know the latitude in which
his ship is sailing but on the day of battle heaven knows how and
whence a stern note of which all are conscious sounds in the moral
atmosphere of an army announcing the approach of something decisive
and solemn and awakening in the men an unusual curiosity on the day of
battle the soldiers excitedly try to get beyond the interests of their
regiment they listen intently look about and eagerly ask concerning
what is going on around them 

the fog had grown so dense that though it was growing light they could
not see ten paces ahead bushes looked like gigantic trees and level
ground like cliffs and slopes anywhere on any side one might
encounter an enemy invisible ten paces off but the columns advanced
for a long time always in the same fog descending and ascending hills 
avoiding gardens and enclosures going over new and unknown ground and
nowhere encountering the enemy on the contrary the soldiers became
aware that in front behind and on all sides other russian columns
were moving in the same direction every soldier felt glad to know that
to the unknown place where he was going many more of our men were going
too 

 there now the kurskies have also gone past was being said in
the ranks 

 it's wonderful what a lot of our troops have gathered lads last
night i looked at the campfires and there was no end of them a regular
moscow 

though none of the column commanders rode up to the ranks or talked to
the men the commanders as we saw at the council of war were out of
humor and dissatisfied with the affair and so did not exert themselves
to cheer the men but merely carried out the orders yet the troops
marched gaily as they always do when going into action especially to
an attack but when they had marched for about an hour in the dense fog 
the greater part of the men had to halt and an unpleasant consciousness
of some dislocation and blunder spread through the ranks how such
a consciousness is communicated is very difficult to define but it
certainly is communicated very surely and flows rapidly imperceptibly 
and irrepressibly as water does in a creek had the russian army been
alone without any allies it might perhaps have been a long time before
this consciousness of mismanagement became a general conviction but as
it was the disorder was readily and naturally attributed to the stupid
germans and everyone was convinced that a dangerous muddle had been
occasioned by the sausage eaters 

 why have we stopped is the way blocked or have we already come up
against the french 

 no one can't hear them they'd be firing if we had 

 they were in a hurry enough to start us and now here we stand in
the middle of a field without rhyme or reason it's all those damned
germans muddling what stupid devils 

 yes i'd send them on in front but no fear they're crowding up
behind and now here we stand hungry 

 i say shall we soon be clear they say the cavalry are blocking the
way said an officer 

 ah those damned germans they don't know their own country 
said another 

 what division are you shouted an adjutant riding up 

 the eighteenth 

 then why are you here you should have gone on long ago now you
won't get there till evening 

 what stupid orders they don't themselves know what they are
doing said the officer and rode off 

then a general rode past shouting something angrily not in russian 

 tafa lafa but what he's jabbering no one can make out said a
soldier mimicking the general who had ridden away i'd shoot them 
the scoundrels 

 we were ordered to be at the place before nine but we haven't got
halfway fine orders was being repeated on different sides 

and the feeling of energy with which the troops had started began to
turn into vexation and anger at the stupid arrangements and at the
germans 

the cause of the confusion was that while the austrian cavalry was
moving toward our left flank the higher command found that our center
was too far separated from our right flank and the cavalry were all
ordered to turn back to the right several thousand cavalry crossed in
front of the infantry who had to wait 

at the front an altercation occurred between an austrian guide and a
russian general the general shouted a demand that the cavalry should be
halted the austrian argued that not he but the higher command was to
blame the troops meanwhile stood growing listless and dispirited after
an hour's delay they at last moved on descending the hill the fog
that was dispersing on the hill lay still more densely below where they
were descending in front in the fog a shot was heard and then another 
at first irregularly at varying intervals trata tat and then more
and more regularly and rapidly and the action at the goldbach stream
began 

not expecting to come on the enemy down by the stream and having
stumbled on him in the fog hearing no encouraging word from their
commanders and with a consciousness of being too late spreading through
the ranks and above all being unable to see anything in front or around
them in the thick fog the russians exchanged shots with the enemy
lazily and advanced and again halted receiving no timely orders from
the officers or adjutants who wandered about in the fog in those unknown
surroundings unable to find their own regiments in this way the action
began for the first second and third columns which had gone down into
the valley the fourth column with which kutuzov was stood on the
pratzen heights 

below where the fight was beginning there was still thick fog on the
higher ground it was clearing but nothing could be seen of what was
going on in front whether all the enemy forces were as we supposed 
six miles away or whether they were near by in that sea of mist no one
knew till after eight o'clock 

it was nine o'clock in the morning the fog lay unbroken like a sea
down below but higher up at the village of schlappanitz where napoleon
stood with his marshals around him it was quite light above him was
a clear blue sky and the sun's vast orb quivered like a huge hollow 
crimson float on the surface of that milky sea of mist the whole french
army and even napoleon himself with his staff were not on the far side
of the streams and hollows of sokolnitz and schlappanitz beyond which we
intended to take up our position and begin the action but were on this
side so close to our own forces that napoleon with the naked eye could
distinguish a mounted man from one on foot napoleon in the blue cloak
which he had worn on his italian campaign sat on his small gray arab
horse a little in front of his marshals he gazed silently at the hills
which seemed to rise out of the sea of mist and on which the russian
troops were moving in the distance and he listened to the sounds of
firing in the valley not a single muscle of his face which in those
days was still thin moved his gleaming eyes were fixed intently on
one spot his predictions were being justified part of the russian
force had already descended into the valley toward the ponds and lakes
and part were leaving these pratzen heights which he intended to attack
and regarded as the key to the position he saw over the mist that in
a hollow between two hills near the village of pratzen the russian
columns their bayonets glittering were moving continuously in one
direction toward the valley and disappearing one after another into
the mist from information he had received the evening before from the
sound of wheels and footsteps heard by the outposts during the night 
by the disorderly movement of the russian columns and from all
indications he saw clearly that the allies believed him to be far away
in front of them and that the columns moving near pratzen constituted
the center of the russian army and that that center was already
sufficiently weakened to be successfully attacked but still he did not
begin the engagement 

today was a great day for him the anniversary of his coronation 
before dawn he had slept for a few hours and refreshed vigorous and
in good spirits he mounted his horse and rode out into the field
in that happy mood in which everything seems possible and everything
succeeds he sat motionless looking at the heights visible above
the mist and his cold face wore that special look of confident 
self complacent happiness that one sees on the face of a boy happily
in love the marshals stood behind him not venturing to distract his
attention he looked now at the pratzen heights now at the sun floating
up out of the mist 

when the sun had entirely emerged from the fog and fields and mist were
aglow with dazzling light as if he had only awaited this to begin the
action he drew the glove from his shapely white hand made a sign
with it to the marshals and ordered the action to begin the marshals 
accompanied by adjutants galloped off in different directions and
a few minutes later the chief forces of the french army moved rapidly
toward those pratzen heights which were being more and more denuded by
russian troops moving down the valley to their left 





chapter xv

at eight o'clock kutuzov rode to pratzen at the head of the fourth
column miloradovich's the one that was to take the place of
przebyszewski's and langeron's columns which had already gone down
into the valley he greeted the men of the foremost regiment and gave
them the order to march thereby indicating that he intended to lead
that column himself when he had reached the village of pratzen he
halted prince andrew was behind among the immense number forming the
commander in chief's suite he was in a state of suppressed excitement
and irritation though controlledly calm as a man is at the approach of
a long awaited moment he was firmly convinced that this was the day of
his toulon or his bridge of arcola how it would come about he did not
know but he felt sure it would do so the locality and the position of
our troops were known to him as far as they could be known to anyone
in our army his own strategic plan which obviously could not now
be carried out was forgotten now entering into weyrother's plan 
prince andrew considered possible contingencies and formed new projects
such as might call for his rapidity of perception and decision 

to the left down below in the mist the musketry fire of unseen forces
could be heard it was there prince andrew thought the fight would
concentrate there we shall encounter difficulties and there 
thought he i shall be sent with a brigade or division and there 
standard in hand i shall go forward and break whatever is in front of
me 

he could not look calmly at the standards of the passing battalions 
seeing them he kept thinking that may be the very standard with
which i shall lead the army 

in the morning all that was left of the night mist on the heights was
a hoar frost now turning to dew but in the valleys it still lay like a
milk white sea nothing was visible in the valley to the left into which
our troops had descended and from whence came the sounds of firing 
above the heights was the dark clear sky and to the right the vast orb
of the sun in front far off on the farther shore of that sea of mist 
some wooded hills were discernible and it was there the enemy probably
was for something could be descried on the right the guards were
entering the misty region with a sound of hoofs and wheels and now and
then a gleam of bayonets to the left beyond the village similar masses
of cavalry came up and disappeared in the sea of mist in front and
behind moved infantry the commander in chief was standing at the end of
the village letting the troops pass by him that morning kutuzov seemed
worn and irritable the infantry passing before him came to a halt
without any command being given apparently obstructed by something in
front 

 do order them to form into battalion columns and go round the
village he said angrily to a general who had ridden up don't
you understand your excellency my dear sir that you must not
defile through narrow village streets when we are marching against the
enemy 

 i intended to re form them beyond the village your excellency 
answered the general 

kutuzov laughed bitterly 

 you'll make a fine thing of it deploying in sight of the enemy 
very fine 

 the enemy is still far away your excellency according to the
dispositions 

 the dispositions exclaimed kutuzov bitterly who told you
that kindly do as you are ordered 

 yes sir 

 my dear fellow nesvitski whispered to prince andrew the old
man is as surly as a dog 

an austrian officer in a white uniform with green plumes in his hat
galloped up to kutuzov and asked in the emperor's name had the fourth
column advanced into action 

kutuzov turned round without answering and his eye happened to fall
upon prince andrew who was beside him seeing him kutuzov's
malevolent and caustic expression softened as if admitting that what
was being done was not his adjutant's fault and still not answering
the austrian adjutant he addressed bolkonski 

 go my dear fellow and see whether the third division has passed the
village tell it to stop and await my orders 

hardly had prince andrew started than he stopped him 

 and ask whether sharpshooters have been posted he added what
are they doing what are they doing he murmured to himself still
not replying to the austrian 

prince andrew galloped off to execute the order 

overtaking the battalions that continued to advance he stopped
the third division and convinced himself that there really were no
sharpshooters in front of our columns the colonel at the head of the
regiment was much surprised at the commander in chief's order to throw
out skirmishers he had felt perfectly sure that there were other troops
in front of him and that the enemy must be at least six miles away 
there was really nothing to be seen in front except a barren descent
hidden by dense mist having given orders in the commander in chief's
name to rectify this omission prince andrew galloped back kutuzov
still in the same place his stout body resting heavily in the saddle
with the lassitude of age sat yawning wearily with closed eyes the
troops were no longer moving but stood with the butts of their muskets
on the ground 

 all right all right he said to prince andrew and turned to a
general who watch in hand was saying it was time they started as all
the left flank columns had already descended 

 plenty of time your excellency muttered kutuzov in the midst of
a yawn plenty of time he repeated 

just then at a distance behind kutuzov was heard the sound of regiments
saluting and this sound rapidly came nearer along the whole extended
line of the advancing russian columns evidently the person they were
greeting was riding quickly when the soldiers of the regiment in front
of which kutuzov was standing began to shout he rode a little to one
side and looked round with a frown along the road from pratzen galloped
what looked like a squadron of horsemen in various uniforms two of them
rode side by side in front at full gallop one in a black uniform with
white plumes in his hat rode a bobtailed chestnut horse the other who
was in a white uniform rode a black one these were the two emperors
followed by their suites kutuzov affecting the manners of an old
soldier at the front gave the command attention and rode up
to the emperors with a salute his whole appearance and manner were
suddenly transformed he put on the air of a subordinate who obeys
without reasoning with an affectation of respect which evidently struck
alexander unpleasantly he rode up and saluted 

this unpleasant impression merely flitted over the young and happy face
of the emperor like a cloud of haze across a clear sky and vanished 
after his illness he looked rather thinner that day than on the field
of olmutz where bolkonski had seen him for the first time abroad but
there was still the same bewitching combination of majesty and mildness
in his fine gray eyes and on his delicate lips the same capacity for
varying expression and the same prevalent appearance of goodhearted
innocent youth 

at the olmutz review he had seemed more majestic here he seemed
brighter and more energetic he was slightly flushed after galloping two
miles and reining in his horse he sighed restfully and looked round
at the faces of his suite young and animated as his own czartoryski 
novosiltsev prince volkonsky strogonov and the others all richly
dressed gay young men on splendid well groomed fresh only slightly
heated horses exchanging remarks and smiling had stopped behind the
emperor the emperor francis a rosy long faced young man sat very
erect on his handsome black horse looking about him in a leisurely and
preoccupied manner he beckoned to one of his white adjutants and asked
some question most likely he is asking at what o'clock they
started thought prince andrew watching his old acquaintance with
a smile he could not repress as he recalled his reception at brunn 
in the emperors suite were the picked young orderly officers of the
guard and line regiments russian and austrian among them were grooms
leading the tsar's beautiful relay horses covered with embroidered
cloths 

as when a window is opened a whiff of fresh air from the fields enters
a stuffy room so a whiff of youthfulness energy and confidence of
success reached kutuzov's cheerless staff with the galloping advent
of all these brilliant young men 

 why aren't you beginning michael ilarionovich said the
emperor alexander hurriedly to kutuzov glancing courteously at the
same time at the emperor francis 

 i am waiting your majesty answered kutuzov bending forward
respectfully 

the emperor frowning slightly bent his ear forward as if he had not
quite heard 

 waiting your majesty repeated kutuzov prince andrew noted
that kutuzov's upper lip twitched unnaturally as he said the
word waiting not all the columns have formed up yet your
majesty 

the tsar heard but obviously did not like the reply he shrugged his
rather round shoulders and glanced at novosiltsev who was near him as
if complaining of kutuzov 

 you know michael ilarionovich we are not on the empress field
where a parade does not begin till all the troops are assembled said
the tsar with another glance at the emperor francis as if inviting
him if not to join in at least to listen to what he was saying but the
emperor francis continued to look about him and did not listen 

 that is just why i do not begin sire said kutuzov in a
resounding voice apparently to preclude the possibility of not being
heard and again something in his face twitched that is just why
i do not begin sire because we are not on parade and not on the
empress field said he clearly and distinctly 

in the emperor's suite all exchanged rapid looks that expressed
dissatisfaction and reproach old though he may be he should not he
certainly should not speak like that their glances seemed to say 

the tsar looked intently and observantly into kutuzov's eye
waiting to hear whether he would say anything more but kutuzov with
respectfully bowed head seemed also to be waiting the silence lasted
for about a minute 

 however if you command it your majesty said kutuzov lifting
his head and again assuming his former tone of a dull unreasoning but
submissive general 

he touched his horse and having called miloradovich the commander of
the column gave him the order to advance 

the troops again began to move and two battalions of the novgorod and
one of the apsheron regiment went forward past the emperor 

as this apsheron battalion marched by the red faced miloradovich 
without his greatcoat with his orders on his breast and an enormous
tuft of plumes in his cocked hat worn on one side with its corners front
and back galloped strenuously forward and with a dashing salute reined
in his horse before the emperor 

 god be with you general said the emperor 

 ma foi sire nous ferons ce qui sera dans notre possibilite 
sire he answered gaily raising nevertheless ironic smiles among
the gentlemen of the tsar's suite by his poor french 

 indeed sire we shall do everything it is possible to
 do sire 


miloradovich wheeled his horse sharply and stationed himself a little
behind the emperor the apsheron men excited by the tsar's presence 
passed in step before the emperors and their suites at a bold brisk
pace 

 lads shouted miloradovich in a loud self confident and cheery
voice obviously so elated by the sound of firing by the prospect of
battle and by the sight of the gallant apsherons his comrades in
suvorov's time now passing so gallantly before the emperors that he
forgot the sovereigns presence lads it's not the first village
you've had to take cried he 

 glad to do our best shouted the soldiers 

the emperor's horse started at the sudden cry this horse that had
carried the sovereign at reviews in russia bore him also here on the
field of austerlitz enduring the heedless blows of his left foot and
pricking its ears at the sound of shots just as it had done on the
empress field not understanding the significance of the firing nor
of the nearness of the emperor francis black cob nor of all that was
being said thought and felt that day by its rider 

the emperor turned with a smile to one of his followers and made a
remark to him pointing to the gallant apsherons 





chapter xvi

kutuzov accompanied by his adjutants rode at a walking pace behind the
carabineers 

when he had gone less than half a mile in the rear of the column he
stopped at a solitary deserted house that had probably once been an
inn where two roads parted both of them led downhill and troops were
marching along both 

the fog had begun to clear and enemy troops were already dimly visible
about a mile and a half off on the opposite heights down below on
the left the firing became more distinct kutuzov had stopped and was
speaking to an austrian general prince andrew who was a little behind
looking at them turned to an adjutant to ask him for a field glass 

 look look said this adjutant looking not at the troops in the
distance but down the hill before him it's the french 

the two generals and the adjutant took hold of the field glass trying
to snatch it from one another the expression on all their faces
suddenly changed to one of horror the french were supposed to be a
mile and a half away but had suddenly and unexpectedly appeared just in
front of us 

 it's the enemy no yes see it is for certain but
how is that said different voices 

with the naked eye prince andrew saw below them to the right not more
than five hundred paces from where kutuzov was standing a dense french
column coming up to meet the apsherons 

 here it is the decisive moment has arrived my turn has come 
thought prince andrew and striking his horse he rode up to kutuzov 

 the apsherons must be stopped your excellency cried he but at
that very instant a cloud of smoke spread all round firing was heard
quite close at hand and a voice of naive terror barely two steps from
prince andrew shouted brothers all's lost and at this as if
at a command everyone began to run 

confused and ever increasing crowds were running back to where five
minutes before the troops had passed the emperors not only would it
have been difficult to stop that crowd it was even impossible not to
be carried back with it oneself bolkonski only tried not to lose
touch with it and looked around bewildered and unable to grasp what was
happening in front of him nesvitski with an angry face red and unlike
himself was shouting to kutuzov that if he did not ride away at once
he would certainly be taken prisoner kutuzov remained in the same
place and without answering drew out a handkerchief blood was flowing
from his cheek prince andrew forced his way to him 

 you are wounded he asked hardly able to master the trembling of
his lower jaw 

 the wound is not here it is there said kutuzov pressing the
handkerchief to his wounded cheek and pointing to the fleeing soldiers 
 stop them he shouted and at the same moment probably realizing
that it was impossible to stop them spurred his horse and rode to the
right 

a fresh wave of the flying mob caught him and bore him back with it 

the troops were running in such a dense mass that once surrounded by
them it was difficult to get out again one was shouting get on 
why are you hindering us another in the same place turned round and
fired in the air a third was striking the horse kutuzov himself rode 
having by a great effort got away to the left from that flood of men 
kutuzov with his suite diminished by more than half rode toward a
sound of artillery fire near by having forced his way out of the crowd
of fugitives prince andrew trying to keep near kutuzov saw on the
slope of the hill amid the smoke a russian battery that was still firing
and frenchmen running toward it higher up stood some russian infantry 
neither moving forward to protect the battery nor backward with the
fleeing crowd a mounted general separated himself from the infantry and
approached kutuzov of kutuzov's suite only four remained they were
all pale and exchanged looks in silence 

 stop those wretches gasped kutuzov to the regimental commander 
pointing to the flying soldiers but at that instant as if to punish
him for those words bullets flew hissing across the regiment and across
kutuzov's suite like a flock of little birds 

the french had attacked the battery and seeing kutuzov were firing
at him after this volley the regimental commander clutched at his leg 
several soldiers fell and a second lieutenant who was holding the
flag let it fall from his hands it swayed and fell but caught on the
muskets of the nearest soldiers the soldiers started firing without
orders 

 oh oh oh groaned kutuzov despairingly and looked around 
 bolkonski he whispered his voice trembling from a consciousness
of the feebleness of age bolkonski he whispered pointing to
the disordered battalion and at the enemy what's that 

but before he had finished speaking prince andrew feeling tears of
shame and anger choking him had already leapt from his horse and run to
the standard 

 forward lads he shouted in a voice piercing as a child's 

 here it is thought he seizing the staff of the standard and
hearing with pleasure the whistle of bullets evidently aimed at him 
several soldiers fell 

 hurrah shouted prince andrew and scarcely able to hold up
the heavy standard he ran forward with full confidence that the whole
battalion would follow him 

and really he only ran a few steps alone one soldier moved and then
another and soon the whole battalion ran forward shouting hurrah 
and overtook him a sergeant of the battalion ran up and took the flag
that was swaying from its weight in prince andrew's hands but he
was immediately killed prince andrew again seized the standard and 
dragging it by the staff ran on with the battalion in front he saw our
artillerymen some of whom were fighting while others having abandoned
their guns were running toward him he also saw french infantry
soldiers who were seizing the artillery horses and turning the guns
round prince andrew and the battalion were already within twenty paces
of the cannon he heard the whistle of bullets above him unceasingly and
to right and left of him soldiers continually groaned and dropped but
he did not look at them he looked only at what was going on in front
of him at the battery he now saw clearly the figure of a red haired
gunner with his shako knocked awry pulling one end of a mop while
a french soldier tugged at the other he could distinctly see the
distraught yet angry expression on the faces of these two men who
evidently did not realize what they were doing 

 what are they about thought prince andrew as he gazed at them 
 why doesn't the red haired gunner run away as he is unarmed 
why doesn't the frenchman stab him he will not get away before the
frenchman remembers his bayonet and stabs him 

and really another french soldier trailing his musket ran up to
the struggling men and the fate of the red haired gunner who had
triumphantly secured the mop and still did not realize what awaited him 
was about to be decided but prince andrew did not see how it ended it
seemed to him as though one of the soldiers near him hit him on the head
with the full swing of a bludgeon it hurt a little but the worst of
it was that the pain distracted him and prevented his seeing what he had
been looking at 

 what's this am i falling my legs are giving way thought he 
and fell on his back he opened his eyes hoping to see how the struggle
of the frenchmen with the gunners ended whether the red haired gunner
had been killed or not and whether the cannon had been captured or
saved but he saw nothing above him there was now nothing but the
sky the lofty sky not clear yet still immeasurably lofty with gray
clouds gliding slowly across it how quiet peaceful and solemn not
at all as i ran thought prince andrew not as we ran shouting
and fighting not at all as the gunner and the frenchman with frightened
and angry faces struggled for the mop how differently do those clouds
glide across that lofty infinite sky how was it i did not see that
lofty sky before and how happy i am to have found it at last yes all
is vanity all falsehood except that infinite sky there is nothing 
nothing but that but even it does not exist there is nothing but
quiet and peace thank god 





chapter xvii

on our right flank commanded by bagration at nine o'clock the battle
had not yet begun not wishing to agree to dolgorukov's demand to
commence the action and wishing to avert responsibility from himself 
prince bagration proposed to dolgorukov to send to inquire of the
commander in chief bagration knew that as the distance between the two
flanks was more than six miles even if the messenger were not killed
 which he very likely would be and found the commander in chief
 which would be very difficult he would not be able to get back before
evening 

bagration cast his large expressionless sleepy eyes round his suite 
and the boyish face rostov breathless with excitement and hope was
the first to catch his eye he sent him 

 and if i should meet his majesty before i meet the commander in
chief your excellency said rostov with his hand to his cap 

 you can give the message to his majesty said dolgorukov 
hurriedly interrupting bagration 

on being relieved from picket duty rostov had managed to get a few
hours sleep before morning and felt cheerful bold and resolute 
with elasticity of movement faith in his good fortune and generally in
that state of mind which makes everything seem possible pleasant and
easy 

all his wishes were being fulfilled that morning there was to be a
general engagement in which he was taking part more than that he was
orderly to the bravest general and still more he was going with a
message to kutuzov perhaps even to the sovereign himself the morning
was bright he had a good horse under him and his heart was full of
joy and happiness on receiving the order he gave his horse the rein
and galloped along the line at first he rode along the line of
bagration's troops which had not yet advanced into action but were
standing motionless then he came to the region occupied by uvarov's
cavalry and here he noticed a stir and signs of preparation for battle 
having passed uvarov's cavalry he clearly heard the sound of cannon
and musketry ahead of him the firing grew louder and louder 

in the fresh morning air were now heard not two or three musket shots
at irregular intervals as before followed by one or two cannon shots 
but a roll of volleys of musketry from the slopes of the hill before
pratzen interrupted by such frequent reports of cannon that sometimes
several of them were not separated from one another but merged into a
general roar 

he could see puffs of musketry smoke that seemed to chase one another
down the hillsides and clouds of cannon smoke rolling spreading 
and mingling with one another he could also by the gleam of bayonets
visible through the smoke make out moving masses of infantry and narrow
lines of artillery with green caissons 

rostov stopped his horse for a moment on a hillock to see what was
going on but strain his attention as he would he could not understand
or make out anything of what was happening there in the smoke men of
some sort were moving about in front and behind moved lines of troops 
but why whither and who they were it was impossible to make out 
these sights and sounds had no depressing or intimidating effect on him 
on the contrary they stimulated his energy and determination 

 go on go on give it them he mentally exclaimed at these sounds 
and again proceeded to gallop along the line penetrating farther and
farther into the region where the army was already in action 

 how it will be there i don't know but all will be well thought
rostov 

after passing some austrian troops he noticed that the next part of the
line the guards was already in action 

 so much the better i shall see it close he thought 

he was riding almost along the front line a handful of men came
galloping toward him they were our uhlans who with disordered
ranks were returning from the attack rostov got out of their way 
involuntarily noticed that one of them was bleeding and galloped on 

 that is no business of mine he thought he had not ridden many
hundred yards after that before he saw to his left across the whole
width of the field an enormous mass of cavalry in brilliant white
uniforms mounted on black horses trotting straight toward him and
across his path rostov put his horse to full gallop to get out of the
way of these men and he would have got clear had they continued at the
same speed but they kept increasing their pace so that some of the
horses were already galloping rostov heard the thud of their hoofs
and the jingle of their weapons and saw their horses their figures and
even their faces more and more distinctly they were our horse guards 
advancing to attack the french cavalry that was coming to meet them 

the horse guards were galloping but still holding in their horses 
rostov could already see their faces and heard the command 
 charge shouted by an officer who was urging his thoroughbred to
full speed rostov fearing to be crushed or swept into the attack on
the french galloped along the front as hard as his horse could go but
still was not in time to avoid them 

the last of the horse guards a huge pockmarked fellow frowned angrily
on seeing rostov before him with whom he would inevitably collide 
this guardsman would certainly have bowled rostov and his bedouin over
 rostov felt himself quite tiny and weak compared to these gigantic men
and horses had it not occurred to rostov to flourish his whip before
the eyes of the guardsman's horse the heavy black horse sixteen
hands high shied throwing back its ears but the pockmarked guardsman
drove his huge spurs in violently and the horse flourishing its tail
and extending its neck galloped on yet faster hardly had the horse
guards passed rostov before he heard them shout hurrah and
looking back saw that their foremost ranks were mixed up with some
foreign cavalry with red epaulets probably french he could see nothing
more for immediately afterwards cannon began firing from somewhere and
smoke enveloped everything 

at that moment as the horse guards having passed him disappeared in
the smoke rostov hesitated whether to gallop after them or to go where
he was sent this was the brilliant charge of the horse guards that
amazed the french themselves rostov was horrified to hear later that
of all that mass of huge and handsome men of all those brilliant 
rich youths officers and cadets who had galloped past him on their
thousand ruble horses only eighteen were left after the charge 

 why should i envy them my chance is not lost and maybe i shall see
the emperor immediately thought rostov and galloped on 

when he came level with the foot guards he noticed that about them and
around them cannon balls were flying of which he was aware not so
much because he heard their sound as because he saw uneasiness on
the soldiers faces and unnatural warlike solemnity on those of the
officers 

passing behind one of the lines of a regiment of foot guards he heard a
voice calling him by name 

 rostov 

 what he answered not recognizing boris 

 i say we've been in the front line our regiment attacked said
boris with the happy smile seen on the faces of young men who have been
under fire for the first time 

rostov stopped 

 have you he said well how did it go 

 we drove them back said boris with animation growing talkative 
 can you imagine it and he began describing how the guards having
taken up their position and seeing troops before them thought they were
austrians and all at once discovered from the cannon balls discharged
by those troops that they were themselves in the front line and had
unexpectedly to go into action rostov without hearing boris to the
end spurred his horse 

 where are you off to asked boris 

 with a message to his majesty 

 there he is said boris thinking rostov had said his
highness and pointing to the grand duke who with his high shoulders
and frowning brows stood a hundred paces away from them in his helmet
and horse guards jacket shouting something to a pale white
uniformed austrian officer 

 but that's the grand duke and i want the commander in chief or the
emperor said rostov and was about to spur his horse 

 count count shouted berg who ran up from the other side as eager
as boris count i am wounded in my right hand and he showed his
bleeding hand with a handkerchief tied round it and i remained at
the front i held my sword in my left hand count all our family the
von bergs have been knights 

he said something more but rostov did not wait to hear it and rode
away 

having passed the guards and traversed an empty space rostov to avoid
again getting in front of the first line as he had done when the horse
guards charged followed the line of reserves going far round the place
where the hottest musket fire and cannonade were heard suddenly he
heard musket fire quite close in front of him and behind our troops 
where he could never have expected the enemy to be 

 what can it be he thought the enemy in the rear of our army 
impossible and suddenly he was seized by a panic of fear for himself
and for the issue of the whole battle but be that what it may 
he reflected there is no riding round it now i must look for the
commander in chief here and if all is lost it is for me to perish with
the rest 

the foreboding of evil that had suddenly come over rostov was more and
more confirmed the farther he rode into the region behind the village of
pratzen which was full of troops of all kinds 

 what does it mean what is it whom are they firing at who is
firing rostov kept asking as he came up to russian and austrian
soldiers running in confused crowds across his path 

 the devil knows they've killed everybody it's all up now 
he was told in russian german and czech by the crowd of fugitives who
understood what was happening as little as he did 

 kill the germans shouted one 

 may the devil take them the traitors 

 zum henker diese russen muttered a german 

 hang these russians 


several wounded men passed along the road and words of abuse screams 
and groans mingled in a general hubbub then the firing died down 
rostov learned later that russian and austrian soldiers had been firing
at one another 

 my god what does it all mean thought he and here where at
any moment the emperor may see them but no these must be only a
handful of scoundrels it will soon be over it can't be that it
can't be only to get past them quicker quicker 

the idea of defeat and flight could not enter rostov's head though
he saw french cannon and french troops on the pratzen heights just where
he had been ordered to look for the commander in chief he could not 
did not wish to believe that 





chapter xviii

rostov had been ordered to look for kutuzov and the emperor near the
village of pratzen but neither they nor a single commanding officer
were there only disorganized crowds of troops of various kinds he
urged on his already weary horse to get quickly past these crowds but
the farther he went the more disorganized they were the highroad on
which he had come out was thronged with caleches carriages of all
sorts and russian and austrian soldiers of all arms some wounded and
some not this whole mass droned and jostled in confusion under the
dismal influence of cannon balls flying from the french batteries
stationed on the pratzen heights 

 where is the emperor where is kutuzov rostov kept asking
everyone he could stop but got no answer from anyone 

at last seizing a soldier by his collar he forced him to answer 

 eh brother they've all bolted long ago said the soldier 
laughing for some reason and shaking himself free 

having left that soldier who was evidently drunk rostov stopped the
horse of a batman or groom of some important personage and began to
question him the man announced that the tsar had been driven in a
carriage at full speed about an hour before along that very road and
that he was dangerously wounded 

 it can't be said rostov it must have been someone else 

 i saw him myself replied the man with a self confident smile of
derision i ought to know the emperor by now after the times i've
seen him in petersburg i saw him just as i see you there he sat in
the carriage as pale as anything how they made the four black horses
fly gracious me they did rattle past it's time i knew the imperial
horses and ilya ivanych i don't think ilya drives anyone except
the tsar 

rostov let go of the horse and was about to ride on when a wounded
officer passing by addressed him 

 who is it you want he asked the commander in chief he was
killed by a cannon ball struck in the breast before our regiment 

 not killed wounded another officer corrected him 

 who kutuzov asked rostov 

 not kutuzov but what's his name well never mind there are
not many left alive go that way to that village all the commanders
are there said the officer pointing to the village of hosjeradek 
and he walked on 

rostov rode on at a footpace not knowing why or to whom he was now
going the emperor was wounded the battle lost it was impossible to
doubt it now rostov rode in the direction pointed out to him in which
he saw turrets and a church what need to hurry what was he now to say
to the tsar or to kutuzov even if they were alive and unwounded 

 take this road your honor that way you will be killed at once a
soldier shouted to him they'd kill you there 

 oh what are you talking about said another where is he to
go that way is nearer 

rostov considered and then went in the direction where they said he
would be killed 

 it's all the same now if the emperor is wounded am i to try to
save myself he thought he rode on to the region where the greatest
number of men had perished in fleeing from pratzen the french had not
yet occupied that region and the russians the uninjured and slightly
wounded had left it long ago all about the field like heaps of
manure on well kept plowland lay from ten to fifteen dead and wounded
to each couple of acres the wounded crept together in twos and threes
and one could hear their distressing screams and groans sometimes
feigned or so it seemed to rostov he put his horse to a trot to
avoid seeing all these suffering men and he felt afraid afraid not
for his life but for the courage he needed and which he knew would not
stand the sight of these unfortunates 

the french who had ceased firing at this field strewn with dead and
wounded where there was no one left to fire at on seeing an adjutant
riding over it trained a gun on him and fired several shots the
sensation of those terrible whistling sounds and of the corpses around
him merged in rostov's mind into a single feeling of terror and pity
for himself he remembered his mother's last letter what would she
feel thought he if she saw me here now on this field with the
cannon aimed at me 

in the village of hosjeradek there were russian troops retiring from
the field of battle who though still in some confusion were less
disordered the french cannon did not reach there and the musketry fire
sounded far away here everyone clearly saw and said that the battle
was lost no one whom rostov asked could tell him where the emperor
or kutuzov was some said the report that the emperor was wounded was
correct others that it was not and explained the false rumor that had
spread by the fact that the emperor's carriage had really galloped
from the field of battle with the pale and terrified ober hofmarschal
count tolstoy who had ridden out to the battlefield with others in
the emperor's suite one officer told rostov that he had seen someone
from headquarters behind the village to the left and thither rostov
rode not hoping to find anyone but merely to ease his conscience when
he had ridden about two miles and had passed the last of the russian
troops he saw near a kitchen garden with a ditch round it two men
on horseback facing the ditch one with a white plume in his hat seemed
familiar to rostov the other on a beautiful chestnut horse which
rostov fancied he had seen before rode up to the ditch struck his
horse with his spurs and giving it the rein leaped lightly over only
a little earth crumbled from the bank under the horse's hind hoofs 
turning the horse sharply he again jumped the ditch and deferentially
addressed the horseman with the white plumes evidently suggesting
that he should do the same the rider whose figure seemed familiar
to rostov and involuntarily riveted his attention made a gesture of
refusal with his head and hand and by that gesture rostov instantly
recognized his lamented and adored monarch 

 but it can't be he alone in the midst of this empty field 
thought rostov at that moment alexander turned his head and rostov
saw the beloved features that were so deeply engraved on his memory the
emperor was pale his cheeks sunken and his eyes hollow but the charm 
the mildness of his features was all the greater rostov was happy
in the assurance that the rumors about the emperor being wounded were
false he was happy to be seeing him he knew that he might and even
ought to go straight to him and give the message dolgorukov had ordered
him to deliver 

but as a youth in love trembles is unnerved and dares not utter the
thoughts he has dreamed of for nights but looks around for help or a
chance of delay and flight when the longed for moment comes and he is
alone with her so rostov now that he had attained what he had longed
for more than anything else in the world did not know how to approach
the emperor and a thousand reasons occurred to him why it would be
inconvenient unseemly and impossible to do so 

 what it is as if i were glad of a chance to take advantage of
his being alone and despondent a strange face may seem unpleasant or
painful to him at this moment of sorrow besides what can i say to him
now when my heart fails me and my mouth feels dry at the mere sight
of him not one of the innumerable speeches addressed to the emperor
that he had composed in his imagination could he now recall those
speeches were intended for quite other conditions they were for the
most part to be spoken at a moment of victory and triumph generally
when he was dying of wounds and the sovereign had thanked him for heroic
deeds and while dying he expressed the love his actions had proved 

 besides how can i ask the emperor for his instructions for the right
flank now that it is nearly four o'clock and the battle is lost 
no certainly i must not approach him i must not intrude on his
reflections better die a thousand times than risk receiving an unkind
look or bad opinion from him rostov decided and sorrowfully and
with a heart full despair he rode away continually looking back at the
tsar who still remained in the same attitude of indecision 

while rostov was thus arguing with himself and riding sadly away 
captain von toll chanced to ride to the same spot and seeing the
emperor at once rode up to him offered his services and assisted him
to cross the ditch on foot the emperor wishing to rest and feeling
unwell sat down under an apple tree and von toll remained beside him 
rostov from a distance saw with envy and remorse how von toll spoke
long and warmly to the emperor and how the emperor evidently weeping 
covered his eyes with his hand and pressed von toll's hand 

 and i might have been in his place thought rostov and hardly
restraining his tears of pity for the emperor he rode on in utter
despair not knowing where to or why he was now riding 

his despair was all the greater from feeling that his own weakness was
the cause of his grief 

he might not only might but should have gone up to the sovereign it
was a unique chance to show his devotion to the emperor and he had not
made use of it what have i done thought he and he turned
round and galloped back to the place where he had seen the emperor but
there was no one beyond the ditch now only some carts and carriages
were passing by from one of the drivers he learned that kutuzov's
staff were not far off in the village the vehicles were going to 
rostov followed them in front of him walked kutuzov's groom leading
horses in horsecloths then came a cart and behind that walked an old 
bandy legged domestic serf in a peaked cap and sheepskin coat 

 tit i say tit said the groom 

 what answered the old man absent mindedly 

 go tit thresh a bit 

 oh you fool said the old man spitting angrily some time passed
in silence and then the same joke was repeated 


before five in the evening the battle had been lost at all points more
than a hundred cannon were already in the hands of the french 

przebyszewski and his corps had laid down their arms other columns
after losing half their men were retreating in disorderly confused
masses 

the remains of langeron's and dokhturov's mingled forces were
crowding around the dams and banks of the ponds near the village of
augesd 

after five o'clock it was only at the augesd dam that a hot cannonade
 delivered by the french alone was still to be heard from numerous
batteries ranged on the slopes of the pratzen heights directed at our
retreating forces 

in the rearguard dokhturov and others rallying some battalions kept up
a musketry fire at the french cavalry that was pursuing our troops it
was growing dusk on the narrow augesd dam where for so many years the
old miller had been accustomed to sit in his tasseled cap peacefully
angling while his grandson with shirt sleeves rolled up handled the
floundering silvery fish in the watering can on that dam over which for
so many years moravians in shaggy caps and blue jackets had peacefully
driven their two horse carts loaded with wheat and had returned dusty
with flour whitening their carts on that narrow dam amid the wagons
and the cannon under the horses hoofs and between the wagon wheels 
men disfigured by fear of death now crowded together crushing one
another dying stepping over the dying and killing one another only to
move on a few steps and be killed themselves in the same way 

every ten seconds a cannon ball flew compressing the air around or
a shell burst in the midst of that dense throng killing some and
splashing with blood those near them 

dolokhov now an officer wounded in the arm and on foot with
the regimental commander on horseback and some ten men of his company 
represented all that was left of that whole regiment impelled by the
crowd they had got wedged in at the approach to the dam and jammed in
on all sides had stopped because a horse in front had fallen under a
cannon and the crowd were dragging it out a cannon ball killed someone
behind them another fell in front and splashed dolokhov with blood 
the crowd pushing forward desperately squeezed together moved a few
steps and again stopped 

 move on a hundred yards and we are certainly saved remain here
another two minutes and it is certain death thought each one 

dolokhov who was in the midst of the crowd forced his way to the edge
of the dam throwing two soldiers off their feet and ran onto the
slippery ice that covered the millpool 

 turn this way he shouted jumping over the ice which creaked
under him turn this way he shouted to those with the gun it
bears 

the ice bore him but it swayed and creaked and it was plain that it
would give way not only under a cannon or a crowd but very soon even
under his weight alone the men looked at him and pressed to the
bank hesitating to step onto the ice the general on horseback at the
entrance to the dam raised his hand and opened his mouth to address
dolokhov suddenly a cannon ball hissed so low above the crowd that
everyone ducked it flopped into something moist and the general fell
from his horse in a pool of blood nobody gave him a look or thought of
raising him 

 get onto the ice over the ice go on turn don't you hear go
on innumerable voices suddenly shouted after the ball had struck
the general the men themselves not knowing what or why they were
shouting 

one of the hindmost guns that was going onto the dam turned off onto the
ice crowds of soldiers from the dam began running onto the frozen pond 
the ice gave way under one of the foremost soldiers and one leg slipped
into the water he tried to right himself but fell in up to his waist 
the nearest soldiers shrank back the gun driver stopped his horse but
from behind still came the shouts onto the ice why do you stop go
on go on and cries of horror were heard in the crowd the soldiers
near the gun waved their arms and beat the horses to make them turn and
move on the horses moved off the bank the ice that had held under
those on foot collapsed in a great mass and some forty men who were on
it dashed some forward and some back drowning one another 

still the cannon balls continued regularly to whistle and flop onto the
ice and into the water and oftenest of all among the crowd that covered
the dam the pond and the bank 





chapter xix

on the pratzen heights where he had fallen with the flagstaff in his
hand lay prince andrew bolkonski bleeding profusely and unconsciously
uttering a gentle piteous and childlike moan 

toward evening he ceased moaning and became quite still he did not know
how long his unconsciousness lasted suddenly he again felt that he was
alive and suffering from a burning lacerating pain in his head 

 where is it that lofty sky that i did not know till now but saw
today was his first thought and i did not know this suffering
either he thought yes i did not know anything anything at all
till now but where am i 

he listened and heard the sound of approaching horses and voices
speaking french he opened his eyes above him again was the same lofty
sky with clouds that had risen and were floating still higher and
between them gleamed blue infinity he did not turn his head and did not
see those who judging by the sound of hoofs and voices had ridden up
and stopped near him 

it was napoleon accompanied by two aides de camp bonaparte riding
over the battlefield had given final orders to strengthen the batteries
firing at the augesd dam and was looking at the killed and wounded left
on the field 

 fine men remarked napoleon looking at a dead russian grenadier 
who with his face buried in the ground and a blackened nape lay on his
stomach with an already stiffened arm flung wide 

 the ammunition for the guns in position is exhausted your
majesty said an adjutant who had come from the batteries that were
firing at augesd 

 have some brought from the reserve said napoleon and having gone
on a few steps he stopped before prince andrew who lay on his back with
the flagstaff that had been dropped beside him the flag had already
been taken by the french as a trophy 

 that's a fine death said napoleon as he gazed at bolkonski 

prince andrew understood that this was said of him and that it was
napoleon who said it he heard the speaker addressed as sire but he
heard the words as he might have heard the buzzing of a fly not only
did they not interest him but he took no notice of them and at once
forgot them his head was burning he felt himself bleeding to death 
and he saw above him the remote lofty and everlasting sky he knew it
was napoleon his hero but at that moment napoleon seemed to him
such a small insignificant creature compared with what was passing now
between himself and that lofty infinite sky with the clouds flying over
it at that moment it meant nothing to him who might be standing over
him or what was said of him he was only glad that people were standing
near him and only wished that they would help him and bring him back to
life which seemed to him so beautiful now that he had today learned to
understand it so differently he collected all his strength to stir and
utter a sound he feebly moved his leg and uttered a weak sickly groan
which aroused his own pity 

 ah he is alive said napoleon lift this young man up and
carry him to the dressing station 

having said this napoleon rode on to meet marshal lannes who hat in
hand rode up smiling to the emperor to congratulate him on the victory 

prince andrew remembered nothing more he lost consciousness from the
terrible pain of being lifted onto the stretcher the jolting while
being moved and the probing of his wound at the dressing station 
he did not regain consciousness till late in the day when with other
wounded and captured russian officers he was carried to the hospital 
during this transfer he felt a little stronger and was able to look
about him and even speak 

the first words he heard on coming to his senses were those of a french
convoy officer who said rapidly we must halt here the emperor
will pass here immediately it will please him to see these gentlemen
prisoners 

 there are so many prisoners today nearly the whole russian army 
that he is probably tired of them said another officer 

 all the same they say this one is the commander of all the emperor
alexander's guards said the first one indicating a russian
officer in the white uniform of the horse guards 

bolkonski recognized prince repnin whom he had met in petersburg
society beside him stood a lad of nineteen also a wounded officer of
the horse guards 

bonaparte having come up at a gallop stopped his horse 

 which is the senior he asked on seeing the prisoners 

they named the colonel prince repnin 

 you are the commander of the emperor alexander's regiment of horse
guards asked napoleon 

 i commanded a squadron replied repnin 

 your regiment fulfilled its duty honorably said napoleon 

 the praise of a great commander is a soldier's highest reward 
said repnin 

 i bestow it with pleasure said napoleon and who is that young
man beside you 

prince repnin named lieutenant sukhtelen 

after looking at him napoleon smiled 

 he's very young to come to meddle with us 

 youth is no hindrance to courage muttered sukhtelen in a failing
voice 

 a splendid reply said napoleon young man you will go far 

prince andrew who had also been brought forward before the emperor's
eyes to complete the show of prisoners could not fail to attract his
attention napoleon apparently remembered seeing him on the battlefield
and addressing him again used the epithet young man that was
connected in his memory with prince andrew 

 well and you young man said he how do you feel mon
brave 

though five minutes before prince andrew had been able to say a few
words to the soldiers who were carrying him now with his eyes fixed
straight on napoleon he was silent so insignificant at that moment
seemed to him all the interests that engrossed napoleon so mean did his
hero himself with his paltry vanity and joy in victory appear 
compared to the lofty equitable and kindly sky which he had seen and
understood that he could not answer him 

everything seemed so futile and insignificant in comparison with the
stern and solemn train of thought that weakness from loss of blood 
suffering and the nearness of death aroused in him looking into
napoleon's eyes prince andrew thought of the insignificance of
greatness the unimportance of life which no one could understand and
the still greater unimportance of death the meaning of which no one
alive could understand or explain 

the emperor without waiting for an answer turned away and said to one of
the officers as he went have these gentlemen attended to and taken
to my bivouac let my doctor larrey examine their wounds au revoir 
prince repnin and he spurred his horse and galloped away 

his face shone with self satisfaction and pleasure 

the soldiers who had carried prince andrew had noticed and taken the
little gold icon princess mary had hung round her brother's neck but
seeing the favor the emperor showed the prisoners they now hastened to
return the holy image 

prince andrew did not see how and by whom it was replaced but the
little icon with its thin gold chain suddenly appeared upon his chest
outside his uniform 

 it would be good thought prince andrew glancing at the icon his
sister had hung round his neck with such emotion and reverence it
would be good if everything were as clear and simple as it seems to
mary how good it would be to know where to seek for help in this life 
and what to expect after it beyond the grave how happy and calm i
should be if i could now say lord have mercy on me but to
whom should i say that either to a power indefinable incomprehensible 
which i not only cannot address but which i cannot even express in
words the great all or nothing said he to himself or to
that god who has been sewn into this amulet by mary there is nothing
certain nothing at all except the unimportance of everything i
understand and the greatness of something incomprehensible but
all important 

the stretchers moved on at every jolt he again felt unendurable pain 
his feverishness increased and he grew delirious visions of his father 
wife sister and future son and the tenderness he had felt the night
before the battle the figure of the insignificant little napoleon and
above all this the lofty sky formed the chief subjects of his delirious
fancies 

the quiet home life and peaceful happiness of bald hills presented
itself to him he was already enjoying that happiness when that
little napoleon had suddenly appeared with his unsympathizing look of
shortsighted delight at the misery of others and doubts and torments
had followed and only the heavens promised peace toward morning
all these dreams melted and merged into the chaos and darkness of
unconciousness and oblivion which in the opinion of napoleon's doctor 
larrey was much more likely to end in death than in convalescence 

 he is a nervous bilious subject said larrey and will not
recover 

and prince andrew with others fatally wounded was left to the care of
the inhabitants of the district 





book four 1806





chapter i

early in the year 1806 nicholas rostov returned home on leave denisov
was going home to voronezh and rostov persuaded him to travel with him
as far as moscow and to stay with him there meeting a comrade at
the last post station but one before moscow denisov had drunk three
bottles of wine with him and despite the jolting ruts across the
snow covered road did not once wake up on the way to moscow but lay
at the bottom of the sleigh beside rostov who grew more and more
impatient the nearer they got to moscow 

 how much longer how much longer oh these insufferable streets 
shops bakers signboards street lamps and sleighs thought
rostov when their leave permits had been passed at the town gate and
they had entered moscow 

 denisov we're here he's asleep he added leaning forward
with his whole body as if in that position he hoped to hasten the speed
of the sleigh 

denisov gave no answer 

 there's the corner at the crossroads where the cabman zakhar 
has his stand and there's zakhar himself and still the same horse 
and here's the little shop where we used to buy gingerbread can't
you hurry up now then 

 which house is it asked the driver 

 why that one right at the end the big one don't you see 
that's our house said rostov of course it's our house 
denisov denisov we're almost there 

denisov raised his head coughed and made no answer 

 dmitri said rostov to his valet on the box those lights are
in our house aren't they 

 yes sir and there's a light in your father's study 

 then they've not gone to bed yet what do you think mind now 
don't forget to put out my new coat added rostov fingering his
new mustache now then get on he shouted to the driver do
wake up vaska he went on turning to denisov whose head
was again nodding come get on you shall have three rubles for
vodka get on rostov shouted when the sleigh was only three
houses from his door it seemed to him the horses were not moving at
all at last the sleigh bore to the right drew up at an entrance and
rostov saw overhead the old familiar cornice with a bit of plaster
broken off the porch and the post by the side of the pavement he
sprang out before the sleigh stopped and ran into the hall the house
stood cold and silent as if quite regardless of who had come to it 
there was no one in the hall oh god is everyone all right 
he thought stopping for a moment with a sinking heart and then
immediately starting to run along the hall and up the warped steps of
the familiar staircase the well known old door handle which always
angered the countess when it was not properly cleaned turned as loosely
as ever a solitary tallow candle burned in the anteroom 

old michael was asleep on the chest prokofy the footman who was
so strong that he could lift the back of the carriage from behind sat
plaiting slippers out of cloth selvedges he looked up at the opening
door and his expression of sleepy indifference suddenly changed to one
of delighted amazement 

 gracious heavens the young count he cried recognizing his
young master can it be my treasure and prokofy trembling with
excitement rushed toward the drawing room door probably in order to
announce him but changing his mind came back and stooped to kiss the
young man's shoulder 

 all well asked rostov drawing away his arm 

 yes god be thanked yes they've just finished supper let me have
a look at you your excellency 

 is everything quite all right 

 the lord be thanked yes 

rostov who had completely forgotten denisov not wishing anyone to
forestall him threw off his fur coat and ran on tiptoe through the
large dark ballroom all was the same there were the same old card
tables and the same chandelier with a cover over it but someone had
already seen the young master and before he had reached the drawing
room something flew out from a side door like a tornado and began
hugging and kissing him another and yet another creature of the same
kind sprang from a second door and a third more hugging more kissing 
more outcries and tears of joy he could not distinguish which was
papa which natasha and which petya everyone shouted talked and
kissed him at the same time only his mother was not there he noticed
that 

 and i did not know nicholas my darling 

 here he is our own kolya dear fellow how he has
changed where are the candles tea 

 nicholas 

 and me kiss me 

 dearest and me 

sonya natasha petya anna mikhaylovna vera and the old count
were all hugging him and the serfs men and maids flocked into the
room exclaiming and oh ing and ah ing 

petya clinging to his legs kept shouting and me too 

natasha after she had pulled him down toward her and covered his face
with kisses holding him tight by the skirt of his coat sprang away and
pranced up and down in one place like a goat and shrieked piercingly 

all around were loving eyes glistening with tears of joy and all around
were lips seeking a kiss 

sonya too all rosy red clung to his arm and radiant with bliss 
looked eagerly toward his eyes waiting for the look for which she
longed sonya now was sixteen and she was very pretty especially at
this moment of happy rapturous excitement she gazed at him not taking
her eyes off him and smiling and holding her breath he gave her a
grateful look but was still expectant and looking for someone the old
countess had not yet come but now steps were heard at the door steps
so rapid that they could hardly be his mother's 

yet it was she dressed in a new gown which he did not know made since
he had left all the others let him go and he ran to her when they
met she fell on his breast sobbing she could not lift her face but
only pressed it to the cold braiding of his hussar's jacket denisov 
who had come into the room unnoticed by anyone stood there and wiped
his eyes at the sight 

 vasili denisov your son's friend he said introducing
himself to the count who was looking inquiringly at him 

 you are most welcome i know i know said the count kissing and
embracing denisov nicholas wrote us natasha vera look here
is denisov 

the same happy rapturous faces turned to the shaggy figure of denisov 

 darling denisov screamed natasha beside herself with rapture 
springing to him putting her arms round him and kissing him this
escapade made everybody feel confused denisov blushed too but smiled
and taking natasha's hand kissed it 

denisov was shown to the room prepared for him and the rostovs all
gathered round nicholas in the sitting room 

the old countess not letting go of his hand and kissing it every
moment sat beside him the rest crowding round him watched every
movement word or look of his never taking their blissfully adoring
eyes off him his brother and sisters struggled for the places nearest
to him and disputed with one another who should bring him his tea 
handkerchief and pipe 

rostov was very happy in the love they showed him but the first
moment of meeting had been so beatific that his present joy seemed
insufficient and he kept expecting something more more and yet more 

next morning after the fatigues of their journey the travelers slept
till ten o'clock 

in the room next their bedroom there was a confusion of sabers 
satchels sabretaches open portmanteaus and dirty boots two freshly
cleaned pairs with spurs had just been placed by the wall the servants
were bringing in jugs and basins hot water for shaving and their
well brushed clothes there was a masculine odor and a smell of tobacco 

 hallo gwiska my pipe came vasili denisov's husky voice 
 wostov get up 

rostov rubbing his eyes that seemed glued together raised his
disheveled head from the hot pillow 

 why is it late 

 late it's nearly ten o'clock answered natasha's voice 
a rustle of starched petticoats and the whispering and laughter of
girls voices came from the adjoining room the door was opened a
crack and there was a glimpse of something blue of ribbons black hair 
and merry faces it was natasha sonya and petya who had come to
see whether they were getting up 

 nicholas get up natasha's voice was again heard at the door 

 directly 

meanwhile petya having found and seized the sabers in the outer room 
with the delight boys feel at the sight of a military elder brother and
forgetting that it was unbecoming for the girls to see men undressed 
opened the bedroom door 

 is this your saber he shouted 

the girls sprang aside denisov hid his hairy legs under the blanket 
looking with a scared face at his comrade for help the door having let
petya in closed again a sound of laughter came from behind it 

 nicholas come out in your dressing gown said natasha's voice 

 is this your saber asked petya or is it yours he said 
addressing the black mustached denisov with servile deference 

rostov hurriedly put something on his feet drew on his dressing gown 
and went out natasha had put on one spurred boot and was just getting
her foot into the other sonya when he came in was twirling round and
was about to expand her dresses into a balloon and sit down they were
dressed alike in new pale blue frocks and were both fresh rosy and
bright sonya ran away but natasha taking her brother's arm led
him into the sitting room where they began talking they hardly gave
one another time to ask questions and give replies concerning a thousand
little matters which could not interest anyone but themselves natasha
laughed at every word he said or that she said herself not because what
they were saying was amusing but because she felt happy and was unable
to control her joy which expressed itself by laughter 

 oh how nice how splendid she said to everything 

rostov felt that under the influence of the warm rays of love that
childlike smile which had not once appeared on his face since he left
home now for the first time after eighteen months again brightened his
soul and his face 

 no but listen she said now you are quite a man aren't
you i'm awfully glad you're my brother she touched his
mustache i want to know what you men are like are you the same as
we no 

 why did sonya run away asked rostov 

 ah yes that's a whole long story how are you going to speak to
her thou or you 

 as may happen said rostov 

 no call her you please i'll tell you all about it some other
time no i'll tell you now you know sonya's my dearest friend 
such a friend that i burned my arm for her sake look here 

she pulled up her muslin sleeve and showed him a red scar on her long 
slender delicate arm high above the elbow on that part that is covered
even by a ball dress 

 i burned this to prove my love for her i just heated a ruler in the
fire and pressed it there 

sitting on the sofa with the little cushions on its arms in what used
to be his old schoolroom and looking into natasha's wildly bright
eyes rostov re entered that world of home and childhood which had no
meaning for anyone else but gave him some of the best joys of his life 
and the burning of an arm with a ruler as a proof of love did not seem
to him senseless he understood and was not surprised at it 

 well and is that all he asked 

 we are such friends such friends all that ruler business was just
nonsense but we are friends forever she if she loves anyone does it
for life but i don't understand that i forget quickly 

 well what then 

 well she loves me and you like that 

natasha suddenly flushed 

 why you remember before you went away well she says you are to
forget all that she says i shall love him always but let him be
free isn't that lovely and noble yes very noble isn't it 
asked natasha so seriously and excitedly that it was evident that what
she was now saying she had talked of before with tears 

rostov became thoughtful 

 i never go back on my word he said besides sonya is so
charming that only a fool would renounce such happiness 

 no no cried natasha she and i have already talked it over 
we knew you'd say so but it won't do because you see if you say
that if you consider yourself bound by your promise it will seem as
if she had not meant it seriously it makes it as if you were marrying
her because you must and that wouldn't do at all 

rostov saw that it had been well considered by them sonya had already
struck him by her beauty on the preceding day today when he had caught
a glimpse of her she seemed still more lovely she was a charming girl
of sixteen evidently passionately in love with him he did not doubt
that for an instant why should he not love her now and even marry
her rostov thought but just now there were so many other pleasures
and interests before him yes they have taken a wise decision he
thought i must remain free 

 well then that's excellent said he we'll talk it over
later on oh how glad i am to have you 

 well and are you still true to boris he continued 

 oh what nonsense cried natasha laughing i don't think
about him or anyone else and i don't want anything of the kind 

 dear me then what are you up to now 

 now repeated natasha and a happy smile lit up her face have
you seen duport 

 no 

 not seen duport the famous dancer well then you won't
understand that's what i'm up to 

curving her arms natasha held out her skirts as dancers do ran back
a few steps turned cut a caper brought her little feet sharply
together and made some steps on the very tips of her toes 

 see i'm standing see she said but could not maintain herself
on her toes any longer so that's what i'm up to i'll never
marry anyone but will be a dancer only don't tell anyone 

rostov laughed so loud and merrily that denisov in his bedroom felt
envious and natasha could not help joining in 

 no but don't you think it's nice she kept repeating 

 nice and so you no longer wish to marry boris 

natasha flared up i don't want to marry anyone and i'll tell
him so when i see him 

 dear me said rostov 

 but that's all rubbish natasha chattered on and is
denisov nice she asked 

 yes indeed 

 oh well then good by go and dress is he very terrible 
denisov 

 why terrible asked nicholas no vaska is a splendid
fellow 

 you call him vaska that's funny and is he very nice 

 very 

 well then be quick we'll all have breakfast together 

and natasha rose and went out of the room on tiptoe like a ballet
dancer but smiling as only happy girls of fifteen can smile when
rostov met sonya in the drawing room he reddened he did not know
how to behave with her the evening before in the first happy moment of
meeting they had kissed each other but today they felt it could not
be done he felt that everybody including his mother and sisters was
looking inquiringly at him and watching to see how he would behave
with her he kissed her hand and addressed her not as thou but as
you sonya but their eyes met and said thou and exchanged tender
kisses her looks asked him to forgive her for having dared by
natasha's intermediacy to remind him of his promise and then
thanked him for his love his looks thanked her for offering him his
freedom and told her that one way or another he would never cease to
love her for that would be impossible 

 how strange it is said vera selecting a moment when all were
silent that sonya and nicholas now say you to one another and meet
like strangers 

vera's remark was correct as her remarks always were but like
most of her observations it made everyone feel uncomfortable not
only sonya nicholas and natasha but even the old countess 
who dreading this love affair which might hinder nicholas from making
a brilliant match blushed like a girl 

denisov to rostov's surprise appeared in the drawing room with
pomaded hair perfumed and in a new uniform looking just as smart as
he made himself when going into battle and he was more amiable to the
ladies and gentlemen than rostov had ever expected to see him 





chapter ii

on his return to moscow from the army nicholas rostov was welcomed
by his home circle as the best of sons a hero and their darling
nikolenka by his relations as a charming attractive and polite young
man by his acquaintances as a handsome lieutenant of hussars a good
dancer and one of the best matches in the city 

the rostovs knew everybody in moscow the old count had money enough
that year as all his estates had been remortgaged and so nicholas 
acquiring a trotter of his own very stylish riding breeches of the
latest cut such as no one else yet had in moscow and boots of the
latest fashion with extremely pointed toes and small silver spurs 
passed his time very gaily after a short period of adapting himself
to the old conditions of life nicholas found it very pleasant to be
at home again he felt that he had grown up and matured very much his
despair at failing in a scripture examination his borrowing money from
gavril to pay a sleigh driver his kissing sonya on the sly he now
recalled all this as childishness he had left immeasurably behind 
now he was a lieutenant of hussars in a jacket laced with silver and
wearing the cross of st george awarded to soldiers for bravery in
action and in the company of well known elderly and respected racing
men was training a trotter of his own for a race he knew a lady on one
of the boulevards whom he visited of an evening he led the mazurka
at the arkharovs ball talked about the war with field marshal
kamenski visited the english club and was on intimate terms with a
colonel of forty to whom denisov had introduced him 

his passion for the emperor had cooled somewhat in moscow but still as
he did not see him and had no opportunity of seeing him he often spoke
about him and about his love for him letting it be understood that he
had not told all and that there was something in his feelings for the
emperor not everyone could understand and with his whole soul he shared
the adoration then common in moscow for the emperor who was spoken of
as the angel incarnate 

during rostov's short stay in moscow before rejoining the army he
did not draw closer to sonya but rather drifted away from her she was
very pretty and sweet and evidently deeply in love with him but he was
at the period of youth when there seems so much to do that there is no
time for that sort of thing and a young man fears to bind himself and
prizes his freedom which he needs for so many other things when he
thought of sonya during this stay in moscow he said to himself 
 ah there will be and there are many more such girls somewhere whom
i do not yet know there will be time enough to think about love when i
want to but now i have no time besides it seemed to him that the
society of women was rather derogatory to his manhood he went to balls
and into ladies society with an affectation of doing so against his
will the races the english club sprees with denisov and visits to
a certain house that was another matter and quite the thing for a
dashing young hussar 

at the beginning of march old count ilya rostov was very busy
arranging a dinner in honor of prince bagration at the english club 

the count walked up and down the hall in his dressing gown giving
orders to the club steward and to the famous feoktist the club's
head cook about asparagus fresh cucumbers strawberries veal and
fish for this dinner the count had been a member and on the committee
of the club from the day it was founded to him the club entrusted the
arrangement of the festival in honor of bagration for few men knew
so well how to arrange a feast on an open handed hospitable scale 
and still fewer men would be so well able and willing to make up out of
their own resources what might be needed for the success of the fete 
the club cook and the steward listened to the count's orders with
pleased faces for they knew that under no other management could they
so easily extract a good profit for themselves from a dinner costing
several thousand rubles 

 well then mind and have cocks comb in the turtle soup you
know 

 shall we have three cold dishes then asked the cook 

the count considered 

 we can't have less yes three the mayonnaise that's one 
said he bending down a finger 

 then am i to order those large sterlets asked the steward 

 yes it can't be helped if they won't take less ah dear me i
was forgetting we must have another entree ah goodness gracious 
he clutched at his head who is going to get me the flowers dmitri 
eh dmitri gallop off to our moscow estate he said to the factotum
who appeared at his call hurry off and tell maksim the gardener 
to set the serfs to work say that everything out of the hothouses must
be brought here well wrapped up in felt i must have two hundred pots
here on friday 

having given several more orders he was about to go to his little
countess to have a rest but remembering something else of
importance he returned again called back the cook and the club
steward and again began giving orders a light footstep and the
clinking of spurs were heard at the door and the young count handsome 
rosy with a dark little mustache evidently rested and made sleeker by
his easy life in moscow entered the room 

 ah my boy my head's in a whirl said the old man with a smile 
as if he felt a little confused before his son now if you would
only help a bit i must have singers too i shall have my own orchestra 
but shouldn't we get the gypsy singers as well you military men like
that sort of thing 

 really papa i believe prince bagration worried himself less before
the battle of schon grabern than you do now said his son with a
smile 

the old count pretended to be angry 

 yes you talk but try it yourself 

and the count turned to the cook who with a shrewd and respectful
expression looked observantly and sympathetically at the father and
son 

 what have the young people come to nowadays eh feoktist said
he laughing at us old fellows 

 that's so your excellency all they have to do is to eat a good
dinner but providing it and serving it all up that's not their
business 

 that's it that's it exclaimed the count and gaily seizing
his son by both hands he cried now i've got you so take the
sleigh and pair at once and go to bezukhov's and tell him count
ilya has sent you to ask for strawberries and fresh pineapples we
can't get them from anyone else he's not there himself so you'll
have to go in and ask the princesses and from there go on to the
rasgulyay the coachman ipatka knows and look up the gypsy
ilyushka the one who danced at count orlov's you remember in a
white cossack coat and bring him along to me 

 and am i to bring the gypsy girls along with him asked nicholas 
laughing dear dear 

at that moment with noiseless footsteps and with the businesslike 
preoccupied yet meekly christian look which never left her face anna
mikhaylovna entered the hall though she came upon the count in his
dressing gown every day he invariably became confused and begged her to
excuse his costume 

 no matter at all my dear count she said meekly closing her
eyes but i'll go to bezukhov's myself pierre has arrived and
now we shall get anything we want from his hothouses i have to see him
in any case he has forwarded me a letter from boris thank god boris
is now on the staff 

the count was delighted at anna mikhaylovna's taking upon herself one
of his commissions and ordered the small closed carriage for her 

 tell bezukhov to come i'll put his name down is his wife with
him he asked 

anna mikhaylovna turned up her eyes and profound sadness was depicted
on her face 

 ah my dear friend he is very unfortunate she said if what
we hear is true it is dreadful how little we dreamed of such a thing
when we were rejoicing at his happiness and such a lofty angelic soul
as young bezukhov yes i pity him from my heart and shall try to give
him what consolation i can 

 wh what is the matter asked both the young and old rostov 

anna mikhaylovna sighed deeply 

 dolokhov mary ivanovna's son she said in a mysterious
whisper has compromised her completely they say pierre took him
up invited him to his house in petersburg and now she has come here
and that daredevil after her said anna mikhaylovna wishing to show
her sympathy for pierre but by involuntary intonations and a half smile
betraying her sympathy for the daredevil as she called dolokhov 
 they say pierre is quite broken by his misfortune 

 dear dear but still tell him to come to the club it will all blow
over it will be a tremendous banquet 

next day the third of march soon after one o'clock two hundred and
fifty members of the english club and fifty guests were awaiting the
guest of honor and hero of the austrian campaign prince bagration to
dinner 

on the first arrival of the news of the battle of austerlitz moscow had
been bewildered at that time the russians were so used to victories
that on receiving news of the defeat some would simply not believe it 
while others sought some extraordinary explanation of so strange an
event in the english club where all who were distinguished important 
and well informed foregathered when the news began to arrive in
december nothing was said about the war and the last battle as
though all were in a conspiracy of silence the men who set the tone
in conversation count rostopchin prince yuri dolgorukov valuev 
count markov and prince vyazemski did not show themselves at the
club but met in private houses in intimate circles and the
moscovites who took their opinions from others ilya rostov among
them remained for a while without any definite opinion on the subject
of the war and without leaders the moscovites felt that something was
wrong and that to discuss the bad news was difficult and so it was best
to be silent but after a while just as a jury comes out of its room 
the bigwigs who guided the club's opinion reappeared and everybody
began speaking clearly and definitely reasons were found for the
incredible unheard of and impossible event of a russian defeat 
everything became clear and in all corners of moscow the same things
began to be said these reasons were the treachery of the austrians a
defective commissariat the treachery of the pole przebyszewski and of
the frenchman langeron kutuzov's incapacity and it was whispered 
the youth and inexperience of the sovereign who had trusted worthless
and insignificant people but the army the russian army everyone
declared was extraordinary and had achieved miracles of valor the
soldiers officers and generals were heroes but the hero of heroes was
prince bagration distinguished by his schon grabern affair and by
the retreat from austerlitz where he alone had withdrawn his column
unbroken and had all day beaten back an enemy force twice as numerous
as his own what also conduced to bagration's being selected as
moscow's hero was the fact that he had no connections in the city
and was a stranger there in his person honor was shown to a simple
fighting russian soldier without connections and intrigues and to one
who was associated by memories of the italian campaign with the name of
suvorov moreover paying such honor to bagration was the best way of
expressing disapproval and dislike of kutuzov 

 had there been no bagration it would have been necessary to
invent him said the wit shinshin parodying the words of voltaire 
kutuzov no one spoke of except some who abused him in whispers 
calling him a court weathercock and an old satyr 

all moscow repeated prince dolgorukov's saying if you go on
modeling and modeling you must get smeared with clay suggesting
consolation for our defeat by the memory of former victories and the
words of rostopchin that french soldiers have to be incited to battle
by highfalutin words and germans by logical arguments to show them
that it is more dangerous to run away than to advance but that russian
soldiers only need to be restrained and held back on all sides new and
fresh anecdotes were heard of individual examples of heroism shown by
our officers and men at austerlitz one had saved a standard another
had killed five frenchmen a third had loaded five cannon singlehanded 
berg was mentioned by those who did not know him as having when
wounded in the right hand taken his sword in the left and gone
forward of bolkonski nothing was said and only those who knew him
intimately regretted that he had died so young leaving a pregnant wife
with his eccentric father 





chapter iii

on that third of march all the rooms in the english club were filled
with a hum of conversation like the hum of bees swarming in springtime 
the members and guests of the club wandered hither and thither sat 
stood met and separated some in uniform and some in evening dress 
and a few here and there with powdered hair and in russian kaftans 
powdered footmen in livery with buckled shoes and smart stockings 
stood at every door anxiously noting visitors every movement in order
to offer their services most of those present were elderly respected
men with broad self confident faces fat fingers and resolute gestures
and voices this class of guests and members sat in certain habitual
places and met in certain habitual groups a minority of those present
were casual guests chiefly young men among whom were denisov 
rostov and dolokhov who was now again an officer in the semenov
regiment the faces of these young people especially those who were
military men bore that expression of condescending respect for their
elders which seems to say to the older generation we are prepared to
respect and honor you but all the same remember that the future belongs
to us 

nesvitski was there as an old member of the club pierre who at his
wife's command had let his hair grow and abandoned his spectacles 
went about the rooms fashionably dressed but looking sad and dull here 
as elsewhere he was surrounded by an atmosphere of subservience to
his wealth and being in the habit of lording it over these people he
treated them with absent minded contempt 

by his age he should have belonged to the younger men but by his wealth
and connections he belonged to the groups of old and honored guests and
so he went from one group to another some of the most important old men
were the center of groups which even strangers approached respectfully
to hear the voices of well known men the largest circles formed round
count rostopchin valuev and naryshkin rostopchin was describing
how the russians had been overwhelmed by flying austrians and had had to
force their way through them with bayonets 

valuev was confidentially telling that uvarov had been sent from
petersburg to ascertain what moscow was thinking about austerlitz 

in the third circle naryshkin was speaking of the meeting of the
austrian council of war at which suvorov crowed like a cock in reply to
the nonsense talked by the austrian generals shinshin standing close
by tried to make a joke saying that kutuzov had evidently failed to
learn from suvorov even so simple a thing as the art of crowing like a
cock but the elder members glanced severely at the wit making him
feel that in that place and on that day it was improper to speak so of
kutuzov 

count ilya rostov hurried and preoccupied went about in his soft
boots between the dining and drawing rooms hastily greeting the
important and unimportant all of whom he knew as if they were all
equals while his eyes occasionally sought out his fine well set up
young son resting on him and winking joyfully at him young rostov
stood at a window with dolokhov whose acquaintance he had lately
made and highly valued the old count came up to them and pressed
dolokhov's hand 

 please come and visit us you know my brave boy been together
out there both playing the hero ah vasili ignatovich 
how d'ye do old fellow he said turning to an old man who was
passing but before he had finished his greeting there was a general
stir and a footman who had run in announced with a frightened face 
 he's arrived 

bells rang the stewards rushed forward and like rye shaken together
in a shovel the guests who had been scattered about in different rooms
came together and crowded in the large drawing room by the door of the
ballroom 

bagration appeared in the doorway of the anteroom without hat or sword 
which in accord with the club custom he had given up to the hall
porter he had no lambskin cap on his head nor had he a loaded whip
over his shoulder as when rostov had seen him on the eve of the battle
of austerlitz but wore a tight new uniform with russian and foreign
orders and the star of st george on his left breast evidently just
before coming to the dinner he had had his hair and whiskers trimmed 
which changed his appearance for the worse there was something naively
festive in his air which in conjunction with his firm and virile
features gave him a rather comical expression bekleshev and theodore
uvarov who had arrived with him paused at the doorway to allow him 
as the guest of honor to enter first bagration was embarrassed not
wishing to avail himself of their courtesy and this caused some delay
at the doors but after all he did at last enter first he walked shyly
and awkwardly over the parquet floor of the reception room not knowing
what to do with his hands he was more accustomed to walk over a plowed
field under fire as he had done at the head of the kursk regiment at
schon grabern and he would have found that easier the committeemen
met him at the first door and expressing their delight at seeing such a
highly honored guest took possession of him as it were without waiting
for his reply surrounded him and led him to the drawing room it was
at first impossible to enter the drawing room door for the crowd of
members and guests jostling one another and trying to get a good look
at bagration over each other's shoulders as if he were some rare
animal count ilya rostov laughing and repeating the words make
way dear boy make way make way pushed through the crowd more
energetically than anyone led the guests into the drawing room and
seated them on the center sofa the bigwigs the most respected members
of the club beset the new arrivals count ilya again thrusting his
way through the crowd went out of the drawing room and reappeared a
minute later with another committeeman carrying a large silver salver
which he presented to prince bagration on the salver lay some verses
composed and printed in the hero's honor bagration on seeing the
salver glanced around in dismay as though seeking help but all eyes
demanded that he should submit feeling himself in their power he
resolutely took the salver with both hands and looked sternly and
reproachfully at the count who had presented it to him someone
obligingly took the dish from bagration or he would it seemed have
held it till evening and have gone in to dinner with it and drew his
attention to the verses 

 well i will read them then bagration seemed to say and 
fixing his weary eyes on the paper began to read them with a fixed and
serious expression but the author himself took the verses and began
reading them aloud bagration bowed his head and listened 

 bring glory then to alexander's reign
 and on the throne our titus shield 
 a dreaded foe be thou kindhearted as a man 
 a rhipheus at home a caesar in the field 
 e'en fortunate napoleon
 knows by experience now bagration 
 and dare not herculean russians trouble 

but before he had finished reading a stentorian major domo announced
that dinner was ready the door opened and from the dining room came
the resounding strains of the polonaise 

 conquest's joyful thunder waken 
 triumph valiant russians now 

and count rostov glancing angrily at the author who went on reading
his verses bowed to bagration everyone rose feeling that dinner
was more important than verses and bagration again preceding all the
rest went in to dinner he was seated in the place of honor between
two alexanders bekleshev and naryshkin which was a significant
allusion to the name of the sovereign three hundred persons took their
seats in the dining room according to their rank and importance the
more important nearer to the honored guest as naturally as water flows
deepest where the land lies lowest 

just before dinner count ilya rostov presented his son to bagration 
who recognized him and said a few words to him disjointed and awkward 
as were all the words he spoke that day and count ilya looked joyfully
and proudly around while bagration spoke to his son 

nicholas rostov with denisov and his new acquaintance dolokhov sat
almost at the middle of the table facing them sat pierre beside prince
nesvitski count ilya rostov with the other members of the committee
sat facing bagration and as the very personification of moscow
hospitality did the honors to the prince 

his efforts had not been in vain the dinner both the lenten and the
other fare was splendid yet he could not feel quite at ease till the
end of the meal he winked at the butler whispered directions to the
footmen and awaited each expected dish with some anxiety everything
was excellent with the second course a gigantic sterlet at sight of
which ilya rostov blushed with self conscious pleasure the footmen
began popping corks and filling the champagne glasses after the fish 
which made a certain sensation the count exchanged glances with
the other committeemen there will be many toasts it's time to
begin he whispered and taking up his glass he rose all were
silent waiting for what he would say 

 to the health of our sovereign the emperor he cried and at the
same moment his kindly eyes grew moist with tears of joy and enthusiasm 
the band immediately struck up conquest's joyful thunder
waken all rose and cried hurrah bagration also rose and
shouted hurrah in exactly the same voice in which he had shouted
it on the field at schon grabern young rostov's ecstatic voice
could be heard above the three hundred others he nearly wept to the
health of our sovereign the emperor he roared hurrah and
emptying his glass at one gulp he dashed it to the floor many followed
his example and the loud shouting continued for a long time when the
voices subsided the footmen cleared away the broken glass and everybody
sat down again smiling at the noise they had made and exchanging
remarks the old count rose once more glanced at a note lying beside
his plate and proposed a toast to the health of the hero of our
last campaign prince peter ivanovich bagration and again his blue
eyes grew moist hurrah cried the three hundred voices again 
but instead of the band a choir began singing a cantata composed by paul
ivanovich kutuzov 

 russians o'er all barriers on 
 courage conquest guarantees 
 have we not bagration 
 he brings foemen to their knees etc 

as soon as the singing was over another and another toast was proposed
and count ilya rostov became more and more moved more glass was
smashed and the shouting grew louder they drank to bekleshev 
naryshkin uvarov dolgorukov apraksin valuev to the committee 
to all the club members and to all the club guests and finally to
count ilya rostov separately as the organizer of the banquet at that
toast the count took out his handkerchief and covering his face wept
outright 





chapter iv

pierre sat opposite dolokhov and nicholas rostov as usual he ate and
drank much and eagerly but those who knew him intimately noticed that
some great change had come over him that day he was silent all through
dinner and looked about blinking and scowling or with fixed eyes and
a look of complete absent mindedness kept rubbing the bridge of his
nose his face was depressed and gloomy he seemed to see and hear
nothing of what was going on around him and to be absorbed by some
depressing and unsolved problem 

the unsolved problem that tormented him was caused by hints given by the
princess his cousin at moscow concerning dolokhov's intimacy with
his wife and by an anonymous letter he had received that morning which
in the mean jocular way common to anonymous letters said that he saw
badly through his spectacles but that his wife's connection with
dolokhov was a secret to no one but himself pierre absolutely
disbelieved both the princess hints and the letter but he feared
now to look at dolokhov who was sitting opposite him every time
he chanced to meet dolokhov's handsome insolent eyes pierre felt
something terrible and monstrous rising in his soul and turned quickly
away involuntarily recalling his wife's past and her relations with
dolokhov pierre saw clearly that what was said in the letter might be
true or might at least seem to be true had it not referred to his wife 
he involuntarily remembered how dolokhov who had fully recovered his
former position after the campaign had returned to petersburg and come
to him availing himself of his friendly relations with pierre as a boon
companion dolokhov had come straight to his house and pierre had put
him up and lent him money pierre recalled how helene had smilingly
expressed disapproval of dolokhov's living at their house and how
cynically dolokhov had praised his wife's beauty to him and from that
time till they came to moscow had not left them for a day 

 yes he is very handsome thought pierre and i know him it
would be particularly pleasant to him to dishonor my name and ridicule
me just because i have exerted myself on his behalf befriended him 
and helped him i know and understand what a spice that would add to the
pleasure of deceiving me if it really were true yes if it were true 
but i do not believe it i have no right to and can't believe it 
he remembered the expression dolokhov's face assumed in his moments
of cruelty as when tying the policeman to the bear and dropping them
into the water or when he challenged a man to a duel without any
reason or shot a post boy's horse with a pistol that expression
was often on dolokhov's face when looking at him yes he is a
bully thought pierre to kill a man means nothing to him it must
seem to him that everyone is afraid of him and that must please him 
he must think that i too am afraid of him and in fact i am afraid of
him he thought and again he felt something terrible and monstrous
rising in his soul dolokhov denisov and rostov were now sitting
opposite pierre and seemed very gay rostov was talking merrily to his
two friends one of whom was a dashing hussar and the other a notorious
duelist and rake and every now and then he glanced ironically at
pierre whose preoccupied absent minded and massive figure was a very
noticeable one at the dinner rostov looked inimically at pierre 
first because pierre appeared to his hussar eyes as a rich civilian the
husband of a beauty and in a word an old woman and secondly because
pierre in his preoccupation and absent mindedness had not recognized
rostov and had not responded to his greeting when the emperor's
health was drunk pierre lost in thought did not rise or lift his
glass 

 what are you about shouted rostov looking at him in an ecstasy
of exasperation don't you hear it's his majesty the emperor's
health 

pierre sighed rose submissively emptied his glass and waiting till
all were seated again turned with his kindly smile to rostov 

 why i didn't recognize you he said but rostov was otherwise
engaged he was shouting hurrah 

 why don't you renew the acquaintance said dolokhov to rostov 

 confound him he's a fool said rostov 

 one should make up to the husbands of pretty women said denisov 

pierre did not catch what they were saying but knew they were talking
about him he reddened and turned away 

 well now to the health of handsome women said dolokhov and
with a serious expression but with a smile lurking at the corners of
his mouth he turned with his glass to pierre 

 here's to the health of lovely women peterkin and their
lovers he added 

pierre with downcast eyes drank out of his glass without looking at
dolokhov or answering him the footman who was distributing leaflets
with kutuzov's cantata laid one before pierre as one of the
principal guests he was just going to take it when dolokhov leaning
across snatched it from his hand and began reading it pierre looked
at dolokhov and his eyes dropped the something terrible and monstrous
that had tormented him all dinnertime rose and took possession of him 
he leaned his whole massive body across the table 

 how dare you take it he shouted 

hearing that cry and seeing to whom it was addressed nesvitski and the
neighbor on his right quickly turned in alarm to bezukhov 

 don't don't what are you about whispered their frightened
voices 

dolokhov looked at pierre with clear mirthful cruel eyes and that
smile of his which seemed to say ah this is what i like 

 you shan't have it he said distinctly 

pale with quivering lips pierre snatched the copy 

 you you scoundrel i challenge you he ejaculated and 
pushing back his chair he rose from the table 

at the very instant he did this and uttered those words pierre felt
that the question of his wife's guilt which had been tormenting him
the whole day was finally and indubitably answered in the affirmative 
he hated her and was forever sundered from her despite denisov's
request that he would take no part in the matter rostov agreed to be
dolokhov's second and after dinner he discussed the arrangements for
the duel with nesvitski bezukhov's second pierre went home but
rostov with dolokhov and denisov stayed on at the club till late 
listening to the gypsies and other singers 

 well then till tomorrow at sokolniki said dolokhov as he took
leave of rostov in the club porch 

 and do you feel quite calm rostov asked 

dolokhov paused 

 well you see i'll tell you the whole secret of dueling in two
words if you are going to fight a duel and you make a will and write
affectionate letters to your parents and if you think you may be
killed you are a fool and are lost for certain but go with the firm
intention of killing your man as quickly and surely as possible and
then all will be right as our bear huntsman at kostroma used to tell
me everyone fears a bear he says but when you see one your
fear's all gone and your only thought is not to let him get away 
and that's how it is with me a demain mon cher 

 till tomorrow my dear fellow 

next day at eight in the morning pierre and nesvitski drove to the
sokolniki forest and found dolokhov denisov and rostov already
there pierre had the air of a man preoccupied with considerations which
had no connection with the matter in hand his haggard face was yellow 
he had evidently not slept that night he looked about distractedly and
screwed up his eyes as if dazzled by the sun he was entirely absorbed
by two considerations his wife's guilt of which after his sleepless
night he had not the slightest doubt and the guiltlessness of
dolokhov who had no reason to preserve the honor of a man who was
nothing to him i should perhaps have done the same thing in his
place thought pierre it's even certain that i should have done
the same then why this duel this murder either i shall kill him or
he will hit me in the head or elbow or knee can't i go away from
here run away bury myself somewhere passed through his mind but
just at moments when such thoughts occurred to him he would ask in a
particularly calm and absent minded way which inspired the respect of
the onlookers will it be long are things ready 

when all was ready the sabers stuck in the snow to mark the barriers 
and the pistols loaded nesvitski went up to pierre 

 i should not be doing my duty count he said in timid tones 
 and should not justify your confidence and the honor you have done
me in choosing me for your second if at this grave this very
grave moment i did not tell you the whole truth i think there is no
sufficient ground for this affair or for blood to be shed over it 
you were not right not quite in the right you were impetuous 

 oh yes it is horribly stupid said pierre 

 then allow me to express your regrets and i am sure your opponent
will accept them said nesvitski who like the others concerned in
the affair and like everyone in similar cases did not yet believe that
the affair had come to an actual duel you know count it is much
more honorable to admit one's mistake than to let matters become
irreparable there was no insult on either side allow me to
convey 

 no what is there to talk about said pierre it's all the
same is everything ready he added only tell me where to go
and where to shoot he said with an unnaturally gentle smile 

he took the pistol in his hand and began asking about the working of the
trigger as he had not before held a pistol in his hand a fact that he
did not wish to confess 

 oh yes like that i know i only forgot said he 

 no apologies none whatever said dolokhov to denisov who on
his side had been attempting a reconciliation and he also went up to
the appointed place 

the spot chosen for the duel was some eighty paces from the road 
where the sleighs had been left in a small clearing in the pine forest
covered with melting snow the frost having begun to break up during the
last few days the antagonists stood forty paces apart at the farther
edge of the clearing the seconds measuring the paces left tracks in
the deep wet snow between the place where they had been standing and
nesvitski's and dolokhov's sabers which were stuck into the
ground ten paces apart to mark the barrier it was thawing and misty at
forty paces distance nothing could be seen for three minutes all had
been ready but they still delayed and all were silent 





chapter v

 well begin said dolokhov 

 all right said pierre still smiling in the same way a feeling
of dread was in the air it was evident that the affair so lightly begun
could no longer be averted but was taking its course independently of
men's will 

denisov first went to the barrier and announced as the
adve'sawies have wefused a weconciliation please pwoceed take your
pistols and at the word thwee begin to advance 

 o ne t wo thwee he shouted angrily and stepped aside 

the combatants advanced along the trodden tracks nearer and nearer to
one another beginning to see one another through the mist they had the
right to fire when they liked as they approached the barrier dolokhov
walked slowly without raising his pistol looking intently with his
bright sparkling blue eyes into his antagonist's face his mouth wore
its usual semblance of a smile 

 so i can fire when i like said pierre and at the word
 three he went quickly forward missing the trodden path and
stepping into the deep snow he held the pistol in his right hand at
arm's length apparently afraid of shooting himself with it his left
hand he held carefully back because he wished to support his right
hand with it and knew he must not do so having advanced six paces and
strayed off the track into the snow pierre looked down at his feet 
then quickly glanced at dolokhov and bending his finger as he had been
shown fired not at all expecting so loud a report pierre shuddered
at the sound and then smiling at his own sensations stood still the
smoke rendered denser by the mist prevented him from seeing anything
for an instant but there was no second report as he had expected he
only heard dolokhov's hurried steps and his figure came in view
through the smoke he was pressing one hand to his left side while
the other clutched his drooping pistol his face was pale rostov ran
toward him and said something 

 no o o muttered dolokhov through his teeth no it's not
over and after stumbling a few staggering steps right up to the
saber he sank on the snow beside it his left hand was bloody he wiped
it on his coat and supported himself with it his frowning face was
pallid and quivered 

 plea began dolokhov but could not at first pronounce the
word 

 please he uttered with an effort 

pierre hardly restraining his sobs began running toward dolokhov and
was about to cross the space between the barriers when dolokhov cried 

 to your barrier and pierre grasping what was meant stopped by
his saber only ten paces divided them dolokhov lowered his head to
the snow greedily bit at it again raised his head adjusted himself 
drew in his legs and sat up seeking a firm center of gravity he sucked
and swallowed the cold snow his lips quivered but his eyes still
smiling glittered with effort and exasperation as he mustered his
remaining strength he raised his pistol and aimed 

 sideways cover yourself with your pistol ejaculated nesvitski 

 cover yourself even denisov cried to his adversary 

pierre with a gentle smile of pity and remorse his arms and legs
helplessly spread out stood with his broad chest directly facing
dolokhov and looked sorrowfully at him denisov rostov and
nesvitski closed their eyes at the same instant they heard a report
and dolokhov's angry cry 

 missed shouted dolokhov and he lay helplessly face downwards
on the snow 

pierre clutched his temples and turning round went into the forest 
trampling through the deep snow and muttering incoherent words 

 folly folly death lies he repeated puckering his face 

nesvitski stopped him and took him home 

rostov and denisov drove away with the wounded dolokhov 

the latter lay silent in the sleigh with closed eyes and did not answer
a word to the questions addressed to him but on entering moscow he
suddenly came to and lifting his head with an effort took rostov who
was sitting beside him by the hand rostov was struck by the
totally altered and unexpectedly rapturous and tender expression on
dolokhov's face 

 well how do you feel he asked 

 bad but it's not that my friend said dolokhov with a
gasping voice where are we in moscow i know i don't matter 
but i have killed her killed she won't get over it she won't
survive 

 who asked rostov 

 my mother my mother my angel my adored angel mother and
dolokhov pressed rostov's hand and burst into tears 

when he had become a little quieter he explained to rostov that he was
living with his mother who if she saw him dying would not survive it 
he implored rostov to go on and prepare her 

rostov went on ahead to do what was asked and to his great surprise
learned that dolokhov the brawler dolokhov the bully lived in moscow
with an old mother and a hunchback sister and was the most affectionate
of sons and brothers 





chapter vi

pierre had of late rarely seen his wife alone both in petersburg and in
moscow their house was always full of visitors the night after the
duel he did not go to his bedroom but as he often did remained in his
father's room that huge room in which count bezukhov had died 

he lay down on the sofa meaning to fall asleep and forget all that
had happened to him but could not do so such a storm of feelings 
thoughts and memories suddenly arose within him that he could not fall
asleep nor even remain in one place but had to jump up and pace the
room with rapid steps now he seemed to see her in the early days of
their marriage with bare shoulders and a languid passionate look on
her face and then immediately he saw beside her dolokhov's handsome 
insolent hard and mocking face as he had seen it at the banquet and
then that same face pale quivering and suffering as it had been when
he reeled and sank on the snow 

 what has happened he asked himself i have killed her lover 
yes killed my wife's lover yes that was it and why how did i come
to do it because you married her answered an inner voice 

 but in what was i to blame he asked in marrying her without
loving her in deceiving yourself and her and he vividly recalled
that moment after supper at prince vasili's when he spoke those
words he had found so difficult to utter i love you it all
comes from that even then i felt it he thought i felt then that
it was not so that i had no right to do it and so it turns out 

he remembered his honeymoon and blushed at the recollection 
particularly vivid humiliating and shameful was the recollection of
how one day soon after his marriage he came out of the bedroom into his
study a little before noon in his silk dressing gown and found his head
steward there who bowing respectfully looked into his face and at
his dressing gown and smiled slightly as if expressing respectful
understanding of his employer's happiness 

 but how often i have felt proud of her proud of her majestic beauty
and social tact thought he been proud of my house in which she
received all petersburg proud of her unapproachability and beauty so
this is what i was proud of i then thought that i did not understand
her how often when considering her character i have told myself that
i was to blame for not understanding her for not understanding that
constant composure and complacency and lack of all interests or desires 
and the whole secret lies in the terrible truth that she is a depraved
woman now i have spoken that terrible word to myself all has become
clear 

 anatole used to come to borrow money from her and used to kiss her
naked shoulders she did not give him the money but let herself be
kissed her father in jest tried to rouse her jealousy and she replied
with a calm smile that she was not so stupid as to be jealous let
him do what he pleases she used to say of me one day i asked her if
she felt any symptoms of pregnancy she laughed contemptuously and said
she was not a fool to want to have children and that she was not going
to have any children by me 

then he recalled the coarseness and bluntness of her thoughts and the
vulgarity of the expressions that were natural to her though she had
been brought up in the most aristocratic circles 

 i'm not such a fool just you try it on allez vous
promener she used to say often seeing the success she had with
young and old men and women pierre could not understand why he did not
love her 

 you clear out of this 


 yes i never loved her said he to himself i knew she was a
depraved woman he repeated but dared not admit it to myself 
and now there's dolokhov sitting in the snow with a forced smile and
perhaps dying while meeting my remorse with some forced bravado 

pierre was one of those people who in spite of an appearance of what
is called weak character do not seek a confidant in their troubles he
digested his sufferings alone 

 it is all all her fault he said to himself but what of that 
why did i bind myself to her why did i say je vous aime to her 
which was a lie and worse than a lie i am guilty and must endure 
what a slur on my name a misfortune for life oh that's
nonsense he thought the slur on my name and honor that's all
apart from myself 

 i love you 

 louis xvi was executed because they said he was dishonorable and a
criminal came into pierre's head and from their point of
view they were right as were those too who canonized him and died a
martyr's death for his sake then robespierre was beheaded for being
a despot who is right and who is wrong no one but if you are
alive live tomorrow you'll die as i might have died an hour ago 
and is it worth tormenting oneself when one has only a moment of life
in comparison with eternity 

but at the moment when he imagined himself calmed by such reflections 
she suddenly came into his mind as she was at the moments when he had
most strongly expressed his insincere love for her and he felt the
blood rush to his heart and had again to get up and move about and break
and tear whatever came to his hand why did i tell her that je
vous aime he kept repeating to himself and when he had said it
for the tenth time moliere's words mais que diable allait il
faire dans cette galere occurred to him and he began to laugh at
himself 

 but what the devil was he doing in that galley 


in the night he called his valet and told him to pack up to go to
petersburg he could not imagine how he could speak to her now he
resolved to go away next day and leave a letter informing her of his
intention to part from her forever 

next morning when the valet came into the room with his coffee pierre
was lying asleep on the ottoman with an open book in his hand 

he woke up and looked round for a while with a startled expression 
unable to realize where he was 

 the countess told me to inquire whether your excellency was at
home said the valet 

but before pierre could decide what answer he would send the countess
herself in a white satin dressing gown embroidered with silver and with
simply dressed hair two immense plaits twice round her lovely head like
a coronet entered the room calm and majestic except that there was
a wrathful wrinkle on her rather prominent marble brow with her
imperturbable calm she did not begin to speak in front of the valet 
she knew of the duel and had come to speak about it she waited till the
valet had set down the coffee things and left the room pierre looked
at her timidly over his spectacles and like a hare surrounded by hounds
who lays back her ears and continues to crouch motionless before her
enemies he tried to continue reading but feeling this to be senseless
and impossible he again glanced timidly at her she did not sit down
but looked at him with a contemptuous smile waiting for the valet to
go 

 well what's this now what have you been up to now i should like
to know she asked sternly 

 i what have i stammered pierre 

 so it seems you're a hero eh come now what was this duel about 
what is it meant to prove what i ask you 

pierre turned over heavily on the ottoman and opened his mouth but
could not reply 

 if you won't answer i'll tell you helene went on you
believe everything you're told you were told helene laughed 
 that dolokhov was my lover she said in french with her coarse
plainness of speech uttering the word amant as casually as any other
word and you believed it well what have you proved what does this
duel prove that you're a fool que vous etes un sot but everybody
knew that what will be the result that i shall be the laughingstock of
all moscow that everyone will say that you drunk and not knowing what
you were about challenged a man you are jealous of without cause 
helene raised her voice and became more and more excited a man
who's a better man than you in every way 

 hm hm growled pierre frowning without looking at her and
not moving a muscle 

 and how could you believe he was my lover why because i like
his company if you were cleverer and more agreeable i should prefer
yours 

 don't speak to me i beg you muttered pierre hoarsely 

 why shouldn't i speak i can speak as i like and i tell you
plainly that there are not many wives with husbands such as you who
would not have taken lovers des amants but i have not done so 
said she 

pierre wished to say something looked at her with eyes whose strange
expression she did not understand and lay down again he was suffering
physically at that moment there was a weight on his chest and he could
not breathe he knew that he must do something to put an end to this
suffering but what he wanted to do was too terrible 

 we had better separate he muttered in a broken voice 

 separate very well but only if you give me a fortune said
helene separate that's a thing to frighten me with 

pierre leaped up from the sofa and rushed staggering toward her 

 i'll kill you he shouted and seizing the marble top of a table
with a strength he had never before felt he made a step toward her
brandishing the slab 

helene's face became terrible she shrieked and sprang aside his
father's nature showed itself in pierre he felt the fascination and
delight of frenzy he flung down the slab broke it and swooping
down on her with outstretched hands shouted get out in such a
terrible voice that the whole house heard it with horror god knows what
he would have done at that moment had helene not fled from the room 


a week later pierre gave his wife full power to control all his estates
in great russia which formed the larger part of his property and left
for petersburg alone 





chapter vii

two months had elapsed since the news of the battle of austerlitz and
the loss of prince andrew had reached bald hills and in spite of the
letters sent through the embassy and all the searches made his body had
not been found nor was he on the list of prisoners what was worst of
all for his relations was the fact that there was still a possibility of
his having been picked up on the battlefield by the people of the
place and that he might now be lying recovering or dying alone among
strangers and unable to send news of himself the gazettes from which
the old prince first heard of the defeat at austerlitz stated as usual
very briefly and vaguely that after brilliant engagements the russians
had had to retreat and had made their withdrawal in perfect order the
old prince understood from this official report that our army had been
defeated a week after the gazette report of the battle of austerlitz
came a letter from kutuzov informing the prince of the fate that had
befallen his son 

 your son wrote kutuzov fell before my eyes a standard in
his hand and at the head of a regiment he fell as a hero worthy of
his father and his fatherland to the great regret of myself and of the
whole army it is still uncertain whether he is alive or not i comfort
myself and you with the hope that your son is alive for otherwise
he would have been mentioned among the officers found on the field of
battle a list of whom has been sent me under flag of truce 

after receiving this news late in the evening when he was alone in his
study the old prince went for his walk as usual next morning but he
was silent with his steward the gardener and the architect and though
he looked very grim he said nothing to anyone 

when princess mary went to him at the usual hour he was working at his
lathe and as usual did not look round at her 

 ah princess mary he said suddenly in an unnatural voice 
throwing down his chisel the wheel continued to revolve by its own
impetus and princess mary long remembered the dying creak of that
wheel which merged in her memory with what followed 

she approached him saw his face and something gave way within her her
eyes grew dim by the expression of her father's face not sad not
crushed but angry and working unnaturally she saw that hanging over
her and about to crush her was some terrible misfortune the worst
in life one she had not yet experienced irreparable and
incomprehensible the death of one she loved 

 father andrew said the ungraceful awkward princess with such
an indescribable charm of sorrow and self forgetfulness that her father
could not bear her look but turned away with a sob 

 bad news he's not among the prisoners nor among the killed 
kutuzov writes and he screamed as piercingly as if he wished to
drive the princess away by that scream killed 

the princess did not fall down or faint she was already pale but on
hearing these words her face changed and something brightened in her
beautiful radiant eyes it was as if joy a supreme joy apart from the
joys and sorrows of this world overflowed the great grief within her 
she forgot all fear of her father went up to him took his hand and
drawing him down put her arm round his thin scraggy neck 

 father she said do not turn away from me let us weep
together 

 scoundrels blackguards shrieked the old man turning his face
away from her destroying the army destroying the men and why go 
go and tell lise 

the princess sank helplessly into an armchair beside her father and
wept she saw her brother now as he had been at the moment when he took
leave of her and of lise his look tender yet proud she saw him tender
and amused as he was when he put on the little icon did he believe 
had he repented of his unbelief was he now there there in the realms
of eternal peace and blessedness she thought 

 father tell me how it happened she asked through her tears 

 go go killed in battle where the best of russian men and
russia's glory were led to destruction go princess mary go and tell
lise i will follow 

when princess mary returned from her father the little princess sat
working and looked up with that curious expression of inner happy calm
peculiar to pregnant women it was evident that her eyes did not see
princess mary but were looking within into herself at something
joyful and mysterious taking place within her 

 mary she said moving away from the embroidery frame and lying
back give me your hand she took her sister in law's hand and
held it below her waist 

her eyes were smiling expectantly her downy lip rose and remained
lifted in childlike happiness 

princess mary knelt down before her and hid her face in the folds of her
sister in law's dress 

 there there do you feel it i feel so strange and do you know 
mary i am going to love him very much said lise looking with
bright and happy eyes at her sister in law 

princess mary could not lift her head she was weeping 

 what is the matter mary 

 nothing only i feel sad sad about andrew she said wiping
away her tears on her sister in law's knee 

several times in the course of the morning princess mary began trying to
prepare her sister in law and every time began to cry unobservant as
was the little princess these tears the cause of which she did not
understand agitated her she said nothing but looked about uneasily as
if in search of something before dinner the old prince of whom she was
always afraid came into her room with a peculiarly restless and malign
expression and went out again without saying a word she looked at
princess mary then sat thinking for a while with that expression of
attention to something within her that is only seen in pregnant women 
and suddenly began to cry 

 has anything come from andrew she asked 

 no you know it's too soon for news but my father is anxious and i
feel afraid 

 so there's nothing 

 nothing answered princess mary looking firmly with her radiant
eyes at her sister in law 

she had determined not to tell her and persuaded her father to hide the
terrible news from her till after her confinement which was expected
within a few days princess mary and the old prince each bore and hid
their grief in their own way the old prince would not cherish any hope 
he made up his mind that prince andrew had been killed and though he
sent an official to austria to seek for traces of his son he ordered a
monument from moscow which he intended to erect in his own garden to his
memory and he told everybody that his son had been killed he tried not
to change his former way of life but his strength failed him he walked
less ate less slept less and became weaker every day princess mary
hoped she prayed for her brother as living and was always awaiting news
of his return 





chapter viii

 dearest said the little princess after breakfast on the morning
of the nineteenth march and her downy little lip rose from old habit 
but as sorrow was manifest in every smile the sound of every word and
even every footstep in that house since the terrible news had come so
now the smile of the little princess influenced by the general mood
though without knowing its cause was such as to remind one still more
of the general sorrow 

 dearest i'm afraid this morning's fruschtique as foka the
cook calls it has disagreed with me 

 fruhstuck breakfast 

 what is the matter with you my darling you look pale oh you
are very pale said princess mary in alarm running with her soft 
ponderous steps up to her sister in law 

 your excellency should not mary bogdanovna be sent for said one
of the maids who was present mary bogdanovna was a midwife from the
neighboring town who had been at bald hills for the last fortnight 

 oh yes assented princess mary perhaps that's it i'll go 
courage my angel she kissed lise and was about to leave the room 

 oh no no and besides the pallor and the physical suffering
on the little princess face an expression of childish fear of
inevitable pain showed itself 

 no it's only indigestion say it's only indigestion say so 
mary say and the little princess began to cry capriciously like
a suffering child and to wring her little hands even with some
affectation princess mary ran out of the room to fetch mary
bogdanovna 

 mon dieu mon dieu oh she heard as she left the room 

the midwife was already on her way to meet her rubbing her small plump
white hands with an air of calm importance 

 mary bogdanovna i think it's beginning said princess mary
looking at the midwife with wide open eyes of alarm 

 well the lord be thanked princess said mary bogdanovna not
hastening her steps you young ladies should not know anything about
it 

 but how is it the doctor from moscow is not here yet said the
princess in accordance with lise's and prince andrew's wishes they
had sent in good time to moscow for a doctor and were expecting him at
any moment 

 no matter princess don't be alarmed said mary bogdanovna 
 we'll manage very well without a doctor 

five minutes later princess mary from her room heard something heavy
being carried by she looked out the men servants were carrying the
large leather sofa from prince andrew's study into the bedroom on
their faces was a quiet and solemn look 

princess mary sat alone in her room listening to the sounds in the
house now and then opening her door when someone passed and watching
what was going on in the passage some women passing with quiet steps in
and out of the bedroom glanced at the princess and turned away she did
not venture to ask any questions and shut the door again now sitting
down in her easy chair now taking her prayer book now kneeling before
the icon stand to her surprise and distress she found that her prayers
did not calm her excitement suddenly her door opened softly and her old
nurse praskovya savishna who hardly ever came to that room as the
old prince had forbidden it appeared on the threshold with a shawl
round her head 

 i've come to sit with you a bit masha said the nurse and
here i've brought the prince's wedding candles to light before his
saint my angel she said with a sigh 

 oh nurse i'm so glad 

 god is merciful birdie 

the nurse lit the gilt candles before the icons and sat down by the door
with her knitting princess mary took a book and began reading only
when footsteps or voices were heard did they look at one another the
princess anxious and inquiring the nurse encouraging everyone in the
house was dominated by the same feeling that princess mary experienced
as she sat in her room but owing to the superstition that the fewer
the people who know of it the less a woman in travail suffers everyone
tried to pretend not to know no one spoke of it but apart from the
ordinary staid and respectful good manners habitual in the prince's
household a common anxiety a softening of the heart and a
consciousness that something great and mysterious was being accomplished
at that moment made itself felt 

there was no laughter in the maids large hall in the men servants 
hall all sat waiting silently and alert in the outlying serfs 
quarters torches and candles were burning and no one slept the old
prince stepping on his heels paced up and down his study and sent
tikhon to ask mary bogdanovna what news say only that the
prince told me to ask and come and tell me her answer 

 inform the prince that labor has begun said mary bogdanovna 
giving the messenger a significant look 

tikhon went and told the prince 

 very good said the prince closing the door behind him and
tikhon did not hear the slightest sound from the study after that 

after a while he re entered it as if to snuff the candles and seeing
the prince was lying on the sofa looked at him noticed his perturbed
face shook his head and going up to him silently kissed him on the
shoulder and left the room without snuffing the candles or saying why he
had entered the most solemn mystery in the world continued its course 
evening passed night came and the feeling of suspense and softening of
heart in the presence of the unfathomable did not lessen but increased 
no one slept 

it was one of those march nights when winter seems to wish to resume its
sway and scatters its last snows and storms with desperate fury a relay
of horses had been sent up the highroad to meet the german doctor from
moscow who was expected every moment and men on horseback with lanterns
were sent to the crossroads to guide him over the country road with its
hollows and snow covered pools of water 

princess mary had long since put aside her book she sat silent her
luminous eyes fixed on her nurse's wrinkled face every line of which
she knew so well on the lock of gray hair that escaped from under the
kerchief and the loose skin that hung under her chin 

nurse savishna knitting in hand was telling in low tones scarcely
hearing or understanding her own words what she had told hundreds of
times before how the late princess had given birth to princess mary
in kishenev with only a moldavian peasant woman to help instead of a
midwife 

 god is merciful doctors are never needed she said 

suddenly a gust of wind beat violently against the casement of the
window from which the double frame had been removed by order of the
prince one window frame was removed in each room as soon as the larks
returned and forcing open a loosely closed latch set the damask
curtain flapping and blew out the candle with its chill snowy draft 
princess mary shuddered her nurse putting down the stocking she was
knitting went to the window and leaning out tried to catch the open
casement the cold wind flapped the ends of her kerchief and her loose
locks of gray hair 

 princess my dear there's someone driving up the avenue she
said holding the casement and not closing it with lanterns most
likely the doctor 

 oh my god thank god said princess mary i must go and meet
him he does not know russian 

princess mary threw a shawl over her head and ran to meet the newcomer 
as she was crossing the anteroom she saw through the window a carriage
with lanterns standing at the entrance she went out on the stairs on
a banister post stood a tallow candle which guttered in the draft on
the landing below philip the footman stood looking scared and holding
another candle still lower beyond the turn of the staircase one
could hear the footstep of someone in thick felt boots and a voice that
seemed familiar to princess mary was saying something 

 thank god said the voice and father 

 gone to bed replied the voice of demyan the house steward who
was downstairs 

then the voice said something more demyan replied and the steps in
the felt boots approached the unseen bend of the staircase more rapidly 

 it's andrew thought princess mary no it can't be that
would be too extraordinary and at the very moment she thought this 
the face and figure of prince andrew in a fur cloak the deep collar of
which covered with snow appeared on the landing where the footman
stood with the candle yes it was he pale thin with a changed and
strangely softened but agitated expression on his face he came up the
stairs and embraced his sister 

 you did not get my letter he asked and not waiting for a
reply which he would not have received for the princess was unable to
speak he turned back rapidly mounted the stairs again with the
doctor who had entered the hall after him they had met at the last post
station and again embraced his sister 

 what a strange fate masha darling and having taken off his
cloak and felt boots he went to the little princess apartment 





chapter ix

the little princess lay supported by pillows with a white cap on her
head the pains had just left her strands of her black hair lay round
her inflamed and perspiring cheeks her charming rosy mouth with its
downy lip was open and she was smiling joyfully prince andrew entered
and paused facing her at the foot of the sofa on which she was lying 
her glittering eyes filled with childlike fear and excitement rested
on him without changing their expression i love you all and have
done no harm to anyone why must i suffer so help me her look
seemed to say she saw her husband but did not realize the significance
of his appearance before her now prince andrew went round the sofa and
kissed her forehead 

 my darling he said a word he had never used to her before 
 god is merciful 

she looked at him inquiringly and with childlike reproach 

 i expected help from you and i get none none from you either 
said her eyes she was not surprised at his having come she did
not realize that he had come his coming had nothing to do with
her sufferings or with their relief the pangs began again and mary
bogdanovna advised prince andrew to leave the room 

the doctor entered prince andrew went out and meeting princess mary 
again joined her they began talking in whispers but their talk broke
off at every moment they waited and listened 

 go dear said princess mary 

prince andrew went again to his wife and sat waiting in the room next
to hers a woman came from the bedroom with a frightened face and became
confused when she saw prince andrew he covered his face with his hands
and remained so for some minutes piteous helpless animal moans came
through the door prince andrew got up went to the door and tried to
open it someone was holding it shut 

 you can't come in you can't said a terrified voice from
within 

he began pacing the room the screaming ceased and a few more seconds
went by then suddenly a terrible shriek it could not be hers she
could not scream like that came from the bedroom prince andrew ran to
the door the scream ceased and he heard the wail of an infant 

 what have they taken a baby in there for thought prince andrew in
the first second a baby what baby why is there a baby there or
is the baby born 

then suddenly he realized the joyful significance of that wail tears
choked him and leaning his elbows on the window sill he began to cry 
sobbing like a child the door opened the doctor with his shirt sleeves
tucked up without a coat pale and with a trembling jaw came out
of the room prince andrew turned to him but the doctor gave him a
bewildered look and passed by without a word a woman rushed out and
seeing prince andrew stopped hesitating on the threshold he went into
his wife's room she was lying dead in the same position he had seen
her in five minutes before and despite the fixed eyes and the pallor of
the cheeks the same expression was on her charming childlike face with
its upper lip covered with tiny black hair 

 i love you all and have done no harm to anyone and what have you
done to me said her charming pathetic dead face 

in a corner of the room something red and tiny gave a grunt and squealed
in mary bogdanovna's trembling white hands 


two hours later prince andrew stepping softly went into his father's
room the old man already knew everything he was standing close to
the door and as soon as it opened his rough old arms closed like a vise
round his son's neck and without a word he began to sob like a child 


three days later the little princess was buried and prince andrew went
up the steps to where the coffin stood to give her the farewell kiss 
and there in the coffin was the same face though with closed eyes 
 ah what have you done to me it still seemed to say and prince
andrew felt that something gave way in his soul and that he was guilty
of a sin he could neither remedy nor forget he could not weep the
old man too came up and kissed the waxen little hands that lay quietly
crossed one on the other on her breast and to him too her face seemed
to say ah what have you done to me and why and at the sight
the old man turned angrily away 


another five days passed and then the young prince nicholas andreevich
was baptized the wet nurse supported the coverlet with her chin while
the priest with a goose feather anointed the boy's little red and
wrinkled soles and palms 

his grandfather who was his godfather trembling and afraid of dropping
him carried the infant round the battered tin font and handed him over
to the godmother princess mary prince andrew sat in another room 
faint with fear lest the baby should be drowned in the font and awaited
the termination of the ceremony he looked up joyfully at the baby when
the nurse brought it to him and nodded approval when she told him that
the wax with the baby's hair had not sunk in the font but had floated 





chapter x

rostov's share in dolokhov's duel with bezukhov was hushed up by
the efforts of the old count and instead of being degraded to the ranks
as he expected he was appointed an adjutant to the governor general of
moscow as a result he could not go to the country with the rest of the
family but was kept all summer in moscow by his new duties dolokhov
recovered and rostov became very friendly with him during his
convalescence dolokhov lay ill at his mother's who loved him
passionately and tenderly and old mary ivanovna who had grown fond of
rostov for his friendship to her fedya often talked to him about her
son 

 yes count she would say he is too noble and pure souled for
our present depraved world no one now loves virtue it seems like
a reproach to everyone now tell me count was it right was it
honorable of bezukhov and fedya with his noble spirit loved him
and even now never says a word against him those pranks in petersburg
when they played some tricks on a policeman didn't they do it
together and there bezukhov got off scotfree while fedya had to
bear the whole burden on his shoulders fancy what he had to go through 
it's true he has been reinstated but how could they fail to do that 
i think there were not many such gallant sons of the fatherland out
there as he and now this duel have these people no feeling or
honor knowing him to be an only son to challenge him and shoot so
straight it's well god had mercy on us and what was it for who
doesn't have intrigues nowadays why if he was so jealous as i see
things he should have shown it sooner but he lets it go on for months 
and then to call him out reckoning on fedya not fighting because he
owed him money what baseness what meanness i know you understand
fedya my dear count that believe me is why i am so fond of you few
people do understand him he is such a lofty heavenly soul 

dolokhov himself during his convalescence spoke to rostov in a way no
one would have expected of him 

 i know people consider me a bad man he said let them i
don't care a straw about anyone but those i love but those i love 
i love so that i would give my life for them and the others i'd
throttle if they stood in my way i have an adored a priceless mother 
and two or three friends you among them and as for the rest i only
care about them in so far as they are harmful or useful and most of
them are harmful especially the women yes dear boy he continued 
 i have met loving noble high minded men but i have not yet met
any women countesses or cooks who were not venal i have not yet met
that divine purity and devotion i look for in women if i found such a
one i'd give my life for her but those and he made a gesture
of contempt and believe me if i still value my life it is
only because i still hope to meet such a divine creature who will
regenerate purify and elevate me but you don't understand it 

 oh yes i quite understand answered rostov who was under his
new friend's influence 

in the autumn the rostovs returned to moscow early in the winter
denisov also came back and stayed with them the first half of the
winter of 1806 which nicholas rostov spent in moscow was one of the
happiest merriest times for him and the whole family nicholas brought
many young men to his parents house vera was a handsome girl
of twenty sonya a girl of sixteen with all the charm of an opening
flower natasha half grown up and half child was now childishly
amusing now girlishly enchanting 

at that time in the rostovs house there prevailed an amorous
atmosphere characteristic of homes where there are very young and very
charming girls every young man who came to the house seeing those
impressionable smiling young faces smiling probably at their own
happiness feeling the eager bustle around him and hearing the fitful
bursts of song and music and the inconsequent but friendly prattle of
young girls ready for anything and full of hope experienced the same
feeling sharing with the young folk of the rostovs household a
readiness to fall in love and an expectation of happiness 

among the young men introduced by rostov one of the first was
dolokhov whom everyone in the house liked except natasha she almost
quarreled with her brother about him she insisted that he was a bad
man and that in the duel with bezukhov pierre was right and dolokhov
wrong and further that he was disagreeable and unnatural 

 there's nothing for me to understand she cried out with
resolute self will he is wicked and heartless there now i like
your denisov though he is a rake and all that still i like him so
you see i do understand i don't know how to put it with this one
everything is calculated and i don't like that but denisov 

 oh denisov is quite different replied nicholas implying that
even denisov was nothing compared to dolokhov you must understand
what a soul there is in dolokhov you should see him with his mother 
what a heart 

 well i don't know about that but i am uncomfortable with him and
do you know he has fallen in love with sonya 

 what nonsense 

 i'm certain of it you'll see 

natasha's prediction proved true dolokhov who did not usually care
for the society of ladies began to come often to the house and the
question for whose sake he came though no one spoke of it was soon
settled he came because of sonya and sonya though she would never
have dared to say so knew it and blushed scarlet every time dolokhov
appeared 

dolokhov often dined at the rostovs never missed a performance at
which they were present and went to iogel's balls for young people
which the rostovs always attended he was pointedly attentive to sonya
and looked at her in such a way that not only could she not bear his
glances without coloring but even the old countess and natasha blushed
when they saw his looks 

it was evident that this strange strong man was under the irresistible
influence of the dark graceful girl who loved another 

rostov noticed something new in dolokhov's relations with sonya 
but he did not explain to himself what these new relations were 
 they're always in love with someone he thought of sonya and
natasha but he was not as much at ease with sonya and dolokhov as
before and was less frequently at home 

in the autumn of 1806 everybody had again begun talking of the war with
napoleon with even greater warmth than the year before orders were
given to raise recruits ten men in every thousand for the regular army 
and besides this nine men in every thousand for the militia everywhere
bonaparte was anathematized and in moscow nothing but the coming war
was talked of for the rostov family the whole interest of these
preparations for war lay in the fact that nicholas would not hear of
remaining in moscow and only awaited the termination of denisov's
furlough after christmas to return with him to their regiment his
approaching departure did not prevent his amusing himself but rather
gave zest to his pleasures he spent the greater part of his time away
from home at dinners parties and balls 





chapter xi

on the third day after christmas nicholas dined at home a thing he had
rarely done of late it was a grand farewell dinner as he and denisov
were leaving to join their regiment after epiphany about twenty people
were present including dolokhov and denisov 

never had love been so much in the air and never had the amorous
atmosphere made itself so strongly felt in the rostovs house as at
this holiday time seize the moments of happiness love and be loved 
that is the only reality in the world all else is folly it is the one
thing we are interested in here said the spirit of the place 

nicholas having as usual exhausted two pairs of horses without
visiting all the places he meant to go to and where he had been invited 
returned home just before dinner as soon as he entered he noticed and
felt the tension of the amorous air in the house and also noticed a
curious embarrassment among some of those present sonya dolokhov 
and the old countess were especially disturbed and to a lesser degree
natasha nicholas understood that something must have happened between
sonya and dolokhov before dinner and with the kindly sensitiveness
natural to him was very gentle and wary with them both at dinner on
that same evening there was to be one of the balls that iogel the
dancing master gave for his pupils during the holidays 

 nicholas will you come to iogel's please do said natasha 
 he asked you and vasili dmitrich is also going 

 denisov 

 where would i not go at the countess command said denisov 
who at the rostovs had jocularly assumed the role of natasha's
knight i'm even weady to dance the pas de chale 

 if i have time answered nicholas but i promised the
arkharovs they have a party 

 and you he asked dolokhov but as soon as he had asked the
question he noticed that it should not have been put 

 perhaps coldly and angrily replied dolokhov glancing at sonya 
and scowling he gave nicholas just such a look as he had given pierre
at the club dinner 

 there is something up thought nicholas and he was further
confirmed in this conclusion by the fact that dolokhov left immediately
after dinner he called natasha and asked her what was the matter 

 and i was looking for you said natasha running out to him i
told you but you would not believe it she said triumphantly he
has proposed to sonya 

little as nicholas had occupied himself with sonya of late something
seemed to give way within him at this news dolokhov was a suitable and
in some respects a brilliant match for the dowerless orphan girl from
the point of view of the old countess and of society it was out of the
question for her to refuse him and therefore nicholas first feeling
on hearing the news was one of anger with sonya he tried to say 
 that's capital of course she'll forget her childish promises
and accept the offer but before he had time to say it natasha began
again 

 and fancy she refused him quite definitely adding after a
pause she told him she loved another 

 yes my sonya could not have done otherwise thought nicholas 

 much as mamma pressed her she refused and i know she won't change
once she has said 

 and mamma pressed her said nicholas reproachfully 

 yes said natasha do you know nicholas don't be
angry but i know you will not marry her i know heaven knows how but
i know for certain that you won't marry her 

 now you don't know that at all said nicholas but i must
talk to her what a darling sonya is he added with a smile 

 ah she is indeed a darling i'll send her to you 

and natasha kissed her brother and ran away 

a minute later sonya came in with a frightened guilty and scared
look nicholas went up to her and kissed her hand this was the first
time since his return that they had talked alone and about their love 

 sophie he began timidly at first and then more and more
boldly if you wish to refuse one who is not only a brilliant and
advantageous match but a splendid noble fellow he is my friend 

sonya interrupted him 

 i have already refused she said hurriedly 

 if you are refusing for my sake i am afraid that i 

sonya again interrupted she gave him an imploring frightened look 

 nicholas don't tell me that she said 

 no but i must it may be arrogant of me but still it is best to say
it if you refuse him on my account i must tell you the whole truth i
love you and i think i love you more than anyone else 

 that is enough for me said sonya blushing 

 no but i have been in love a thousand times and shall fall in
love again though for no one have i such a feeling of friendship 
confidence and love as i have for you then i am young mamma does
not wish it in a word i make no promise and i beg you to consider
dolokhov's offer he said articulating his friend's name with
difficulty 

 don't say that to me i want nothing i love you as a brother and
always shall and i want nothing more 

 you are an angel i am not worthy of you but i am afraid of
misleading you 

and nicholas again kissed her hand 





chapter xii

iogel's were the most enjoyable balls in moscow so said the mothers
as they watched their young people executing their newly learned steps 
and so said the youths and maidens themselves as they danced till they
were ready to drop and so said the grown up young men and women who
came to these balls with an air of condescension and found them most
enjoyable that year two marriages had come of these balls the two
pretty young princesses gorchakov met suitors there and were married
and so further increased the fame of these dances what distinguished
them from others was the absence of host or hostess and the presence of
the good natured iogel flying about like a feather and bowing according
to the rules of his art as he collected the tickets from all his
visitors there was the fact that only those came who wished to dance
and amuse themselves as girls of thirteen and fourteen do who are
wearing long dresses for the first time with scarcely any exceptions
they all were or seemed to be pretty so rapturous were their smiles
and so sparkling their eyes sometimes the best of the pupils of whom
natasha who was exceptionally graceful was first even danced the pas
de chale but at this last ball only the ecossaise the anglaise and
the mazurka which was just coming into fashion were danced iogel had
taken a ballroom in bezukhov's house and the ball as everyone said 
was a great success there were many pretty girls and the rostov girls
were among the prettiest they were both particularly happy and gay 
that evening proud of dolokhov's proposal her refusal and her
explanation with nicholas sonya twirled about before she left home
so that the maid could hardly get her hair plaited and she was
transparently radiant with impulsive joy 

natasha no less proud of her first long dress and of being at a real
ball was even happier they were both dressed in white muslin with pink
ribbons 

natasha fell in love the very moment she entered the ballroom she
was not in love with anyone in particular but with everyone whatever
person she happened to look at she was in love with for that moment 

 oh how delightful it is she kept saying running up to sonya 

nicholas and denisov were walking up and down looking with kindly
patronage at the dancers 

 how sweet she is she will be a weal beauty said denisov 

 who 

 countess natasha answered denisov 

 and how she dances what gwace he said again after a pause 

 who are you talking about 

 about your sister ejaculated denisov testily 

rostov smiled 

 my dear count you were one of my best pupils you must dance 
said little iogel coming up to nicholas look how many charming young
ladies he turned with the same request to denisov who was also a
former pupil of his 

 no my dear fellow i'll be a wallflower said denisov 
 don't you wecollect what bad use i made of your lessons 

 oh no said iogel hastening to reassure him you were only
inattentive but you had talent oh yes you had talent 

the band struck up the newly introduced mazurka nicholas could not
refuse iogel and asked sonya to dance denisov sat down by the old
ladies and leaning on his saber and beating time with his foot told
them something funny and kept them amused while he watched the young
people dancing iogel with natasha his pride and his best pupil were
the first couple noiselessly skillfully stepping with his little
feet in low shoes iogel flew first across the hall with natasha who 
though shy went on carefully executing her steps denisov did not
take his eyes off her and beat time with his saber in a way that clearly
indicated that if he was not dancing it was because he would not and not
because he could not in the middle of a figure he beckoned to rostov
who was passing 

 this is not at all the thing he said what sort of polish
mazuwka is this but she does dance splendidly 

knowing that denisov had a reputation even in poland for the masterly
way in which he danced the mazurka nicholas ran up to natasha 

 go and choose denisov he is a real dancer a wonder he said 

when it came to natasha's turn to choose a partner she rose and 
tripping rapidly across in her little shoes trimmed with bows ran
timidly to the corner where denisov sat she saw that everybody was
looking at her and waiting nicholas saw that denisov was refusing
though he smiled delightedly he ran up to them 

 please vasili dmitrich natasha was saying do come 

 oh no let me off countess denisov replied 

 now then vaska said nicholas 

 they coax me as if i were vaska the cat said denisov jokingly 

 i'll sing for you a whole evening said natasha 

 oh the faiwy she can do anything with me said denisov and
he unhooked his saber he came out from behind the chairs clasped his
partner's hand firmly threw back his head and advanced his foot 
waiting for the beat only on horse back and in the mazurka was
denisov's short stature not noticeable and he looked the fine fellow
he felt himself to be at the right beat of the music he looked sideways
at his partner with a merry and triumphant air suddenly stamped with
one foot bounded from the floor like a ball and flew round the room
taking his partner with him he glided silently on one foot half across
the room and seeming not to notice the chairs was dashing straight at
them when suddenly clinking his spurs and spreading out his legs 
he stopped short on his heels stood so a second stamped on the spot
clanking his spurs whirled rapidly round and striking his left heel
against his right flew round again in a circle natasha guessed what
he meant to do and abandoning herself to him followed his lead hardly
knowing how first he spun her round holding her now with his left now
with his right hand then falling on one knee he twirled her round him 
and again jumping up dashed so impetuously forward that it seemed as if
he would rush through the whole suite of rooms without drawing breath 
and then he suddenly stopped and performed some new and unexpected
steps when at last smartly whirling his partner round in front of her
chair he drew up with a click of his spurs and bowed to her natasha
did not even make him a curtsy she fixed her eyes on him in amazement 
smiling as if she did not recognize him 

 what does this mean she brought out 

although iogel did not acknowledge this to be the real mazurka everyone
was delighted with denisov's skill he was asked again and again as
a partner and the old men began smilingly to talk about poland and the
good old days denisov flushed after the mazurka and mopping himself
with his handkerchief sat down by natasha and did not leave her for
the rest of the evening 





chapter xiii

for two days after that rostov did not see dolokhov at his own or at
dolokhov's home on the third day he received a note from him 

as i do not intend to be at your house again for reasons you know
of and am going to rejoin my regiment i am giving a farewell supper
tonight to my friends come to the english hotel 

about ten o'clock rostov went to the english hotel straight from the
theater where he had been with his family and denisov he was at once
shown to the best room which dolokhov had taken for that evening some
twenty men were gathered round a table at which dolokhov sat between
two candles on the table was a pile of gold and paper money and he
was keeping the bank rostov had not seen him since his proposal and
sonya's refusal and felt uncomfortable at the thought of how they
would meet 

dolokhov's clear cold glance met rostov as soon as he entered the
door as though he had long expected him 

 it's a long time since we met he said thanks for coming 
i'll just finish dealing and then ilyushka will come with his
chorus 

 i called once or twice at your house said rostov reddening 

dolokhov made no reply 

 you may punt he said 

rostov recalled at that moment a strange conversation he had once had
with dolokhov none but fools trust to luck in play dolokhov
had then said 

 or are you afraid to play with me dolokhov now asked as if
guessing rostov's thought 

beneath his smile rostov saw in him the mood he had shown at the club
dinner and at other times when as if tired of everyday life he had felt
a need to escape from it by some strange and usually cruel action 

rostov felt ill at ease he tried but failed to find some joke with
which to reply to dolokhov's words but before he had thought of
anything dolokhov looking straight in his face said slowly and
deliberately so that everyone could hear 

 do you remember we had a talk about cards he's a fool who
trusts to luck one should make certain and i want to try 

 to try his luck or the certainty rostov asked himself 

 well you'd better not play dolokhov added and springing a
new pack of cards said bank gentlemen 

moving the money forward he prepared to deal rostov sat down by his
side and at first did not play dolokhov kept glancing at him 

 why don't you play he asked 

and strange to say nicholas felt that he could not help taking up a
card putting a small stake on it and beginning to play 

 i have no money with me he said 

 i'll trust you 

rostov staked five rubles on a card and lost staked again and again
lost dolokhov killed that is beat ten cards of rostov's
running 

 gentlemen said dolokhov after he had dealt for some time 
 please place your money on the cards or i may get muddled in the
reckoning 

one of the players said he hoped he might be trusted 

 yes you might but i am afraid of getting the accounts mixed so i
ask you to put the money on your cards replied dolokhov don't
stint yourself we'll settle afterwards he added turning to
rostov 

the game continued a waiter kept handing round champagne 

all rostov's cards were beaten and he had eight hundred rubles scored
up against him he wrote 800 rubles on a card but while the
waiter filled his glass he changed his mind and altered it to his usual
stake of twenty rubles 

 leave it said dolokhov though he did not seem to be even
looking at rostov you'll win it back all the sooner i lose to
the others but win from you or are you afraid of me he asked again 

rostov submitted he let the eight hundred remain and laid down a seven
of hearts with a torn corner which he had picked up from the floor he
well remembered that seven afterwards he laid down the seven of hearts 
on which with a broken bit of chalk he had written 800 rubles in
clear upright figures he emptied the glass of warm champagne that was
handed him smiled at dolokhov's words and with a sinking heart 
waiting for a seven to turn up gazed at dolokhov's hands which held
the pack much depended on rostov's winning or losing on that seven
of hearts on the previous sunday the old count had given his son
two thousand rubles and though he always disliked speaking of money
difficulties had told nicholas that this was all he could let him have
till may and asked him to be more economical this time nicholas had
replied that it would be more than enough for him and that he gave his
word of honor not to take anything more till the spring now only twelve
hundred rubles was left of that money so that this seven of hearts
meant for him not only the loss of sixteen hundred rubles but the
necessity of going back on his word with a sinking heart he watched
dolokhov's hands and thought now then make haste and let me have
this card and i'll take my cap and drive home to supper with denisov 
natasha and sonya and will certainly never touch a card again at
that moment his home life jokes with petya talks with sonya duets
with natasha piquet with his father and even his comfortable bed
in the house on the povarskaya rose before him with such vividness 
clearness and charm that it seemed as if it were all a lost and
unappreciated bliss long past he could not conceive that a stupid
chance letting the seven be dealt to the right rather than to the left 
might deprive him of all this happiness newly appreciated and newly
illumined and plunge him into the depths of unknown and undefined
misery that could not be yet he awaited with a sinking heart the
movement of dolokhov's hands those broad reddish hands with hairy
wrists visible from under the shirt cuffs laid down the pack and took
up a glass and a pipe that were handed him 

 so you are not afraid to play with me repeated dolokhov and as
if about to tell a good story he put down the cards leaned back in his
chair and began deliberately with a smile 

 yes gentlemen i've been told there's a rumor going about moscow
that i'm a sharper so i advise you to be careful 

 come now deal exclaimed rostov 

 oh those moscow gossips said dolokhov and he took up the cards
with a smile 

 aah rostov almost screamed lifting both hands to his head the
seven he needed was lying uppermost the first card in the pack he had
lost more than he could pay 

 still don't ruin yourself said dolokhov with a side glance at
rostov as he continued to deal 





chapter xiv

an hour and a half later most of the players were but little interested
in their own play 

the whole interest was concentrated on rostov instead of sixteen
hundred rubles he had a long column of figures scored against him 
which he had reckoned up to ten thousand but that now as he vaguely
supposed must have risen to fifteen thousand in reality it already
exceeded twenty thousand rubles dolokhov was no longer listening to
stories or telling them but followed every movement of rostov's
hands and occasionally ran his eyes over the score against him he had
decided to play until that score reached forty three thousand he
had fixed on that number because forty three was the sum of his and
sonya's joint ages rostov leaning his head on both hands sat at
the table which was scrawled over with figures wet with spilled wine 
and littered with cards one tormenting impression did not leave him 
that those broad boned reddish hands with hairy wrists visible from
under the shirt sleeves those hands which he loved and hated held him
in their power 

 six hundred rubles ace a corner a nine winning it back's
impossible oh how pleasant it was at home the knave double or
quits it can't be and why is he doing this to me rostov
pondered sometimes he staked a large sum but dolokhov refused to
accept it and fixed the stake himself nicholas submitted to him and at
one moment prayed to god as he had done on the battlefield at the bridge
over the enns and then guessed that the card that came first to hand
from the crumpled heap under the table would save him now counted the
cords on his coat and took a card with that number and tried staking the
total of his losses on it then he looked round for aid from the other
players or peered at the now cold face of dolokhov and tried to read
what was passing in his mind 

 he knows of course what this loss means to me he can't want my
ruin wasn't he my friend wasn't i fond of him but it's not his
fault what's he to do if he has such luck and it's not my fault
either he thought to himself i have done nothing wrong have i
killed anyone or insulted or wished harm to anyone why such a terrible
misfortune and when did it begin such a little while ago i came to
this table with the thought of winning a hundred rubles to buy that
casket for mamma's name day and then going home i was so happy so
free so lighthearted and i did not realize how happy i was when did
that end and when did this new terrible state of things begin what
marked the change i sat all the time in this same place at this table 
chose and placed cards and watched those broad boned agile hands in the
same way when did it happen and what has happened i am well and strong
and still the same and in the same place no it can't be surely it
will all end in nothing 

he was flushed and bathed in perspiration though the room was not hot 
his face was terrible and piteous to see especially from its helpless
efforts to seem calm 

the score against him reached the fateful sum of forty three thousand 
rostov had just prepared a card by bending the corner of which he
meant to double the three thousand just put down to his score when
dolokhov slamming down the pack of cards put it aside and began
rapidly adding up the total of rostov's debt breaking the chalk as
he marked the figures in his clear bold hand 

 supper it's time for supper and here are the gypsies 

some swarthy men and women were really entering from the cold outside
and saying something in their gypsy accents nicholas understood that it
was all over but he said in an indifferent tone 

 well won't you go on i had a splendid card all ready as if it
were the fun of the game which interested him most 

 it's all up i'm lost thought he now a bullet through my
brain that's all that's left me and at the same time he said
in a cheerful voice 

 come now just this one more little card 

 all right said dolokhov having finished the addition all
right twenty one rubles he said pointing to the figure twenty one
by which the total exceeded the round sum of forty three thousand and
taking up a pack he prepared to deal rostov submissively unbent the
corner of his card and instead of the six thousand he had intended 
carefully wrote twenty one 

 it's all the same to me he said i only want to see whether
you will let me win this ten or beat it 

dolokhov began to deal seriously oh how rostov detested at that
moment those hands with their short reddish fingers and hairy wrists 
which held him in their power the ten fell to him 

 you owe forty three thousand count said dolokhov and
stretching himself he rose from the table one does get tired sitting
so long he added 

 yes i'm tired too said rostov 

dolokhov cut him short as if to remind him that it was not for him to
jest 

 when am i to receive the money count 

rostov flushing drew dolokhov into the next room 

 i cannot pay it all immediately will you take an i o u he said 

 i say rostov said dolokhov clearly smiling and looking
nicholas straight in the eyes you know the saying lucky in love 
unlucky at cards your cousin is in love with you i know 

 oh it's terrible to feel oneself so in this man's power 
thought rostov he knew what a shock he would inflict on his father and
mother by the news of this loss he knew what a relief it would be to
escape it all and felt that dolokhov knew that he could save him from
all this shame and sorrow but wanted now to play with him as a cat does
with a mouse 

 your cousin dolokhov started to say but nicholas interrupted
him 

 my cousin has nothing to do with this and it's not necessary to
mention her he exclaimed fiercely 

 then when am i to have it 

 tomorrow replied rostov and left the room 





chapter xv

to say tomorrow and keep up a dignified tone was not difficult 
but to go home alone see his sisters brother mother and father 
confess and ask for money he had no right to after giving his word of
honor was terrible 

at home they had not yet gone to bed the young people after returning
from the theater had had supper and were grouped round the clavichord 
as soon as nicholas entered he was enfolded in that poetic atmosphere
of love which pervaded the rostov household that winter and now after
dolokhov's proposal and iogel's ball seemed to have grown thicker
round sonya and natasha as the air does before a thunderstorm sonya
and natasha in the light blue dresses they had worn at the theater 
looking pretty and conscious of it were standing by the clavichord 
happy and smiling vera was playing chess with shinshin in the drawing
room the old countess waiting for the return of her husband and son 
sat playing patience with the old gentlewoman who lived in their house 
denisov with sparkling eyes and ruffled hair sat at the clavichord
striking chords with his short fingers his legs thrown back and his
eyes rolling as he sang with his small husky but true voice some
verses called enchantress which he had composed and to which he
was trying to fit music 

 enchantress say to my forsaken lyre
 what magic power is this recalls me still 
 what spark has set my inmost soul on fire 
 what is this bliss that makes my fingers thrill 

he was singing in passionate tones gazing with his sparkling
black agate eyes at the frightened and happy natasha 

 splendid excellent exclaimed natasha another verse she
said without noticing nicholas 

 everything's still the same with them thought nicholas 
glancing into the drawing room where he saw vera and his mother with
the old lady 

 ah and here's nicholas cried natasha running up to him 

 is papa at home he asked 

 i am so glad you've come said natasha without answering him 
 we are enjoying ourselves vasili dmitrich is staying a day longer
for my sake did you know 

 no papa is not back yet said sonya 

 nicholas have you come come here dear called the old countess
from the drawing room 

nicholas went to her kissed her hand and sitting down silently at her
table began to watch her hands arranging the cards from the dancing
room they still heard the laughter and merry voices trying to persuade
natasha to sing 

 all wight all wight shouted denisov it's no good making
excuses now it's your turn to sing the ba'cawolla i entweat
you 

the countess glanced at her silent son 

 what is the matter she asked 

 oh nothing said he as if weary of being continually asked the
same question will papa be back soon 

 i expect so 

 everything's the same with them they know nothing about it where
am i to go thought nicholas and went again into the dancing room
where the clavichord stood 

sonya was sitting at the clavichord playing the prelude to
denisov's favorite barcarolle natasha was preparing to sing 
denisov was looking at her with enraptured eyes 

nicholas began pacing up and down the room 

 why do they want to make her sing how can she sing there's
nothing to be happy about thought he 

sonya struck the first chord of the prelude 

 my god i'm a ruined and dishonored man a bullet through my brain
is the only thing left me not singing his thoughts ran on go
away but where to it's one let them sing 

he continued to pace the room looking gloomily at denisov and the
girls and avoiding their eyes 

 nikolenka what is the matter sonya's eyes fixed on him
seemed to ask she noticed at once that something had happened to him 

nicholas turned away from her natasha too with her quick instinct 
had instantly noticed her brother's condition but though she noticed
it she was herself in such high spirits at that moment so far from
sorrow sadness or self reproach that she purposely deceived herself
as young people often do no i am too happy now to spoil my
enjoyment by sympathy with anyone's sorrow she felt and she said
to herself no i must be mistaken he must be feeling happy just as
i am 

 now sonya she said going to the very middle of the room where
she considered the resonance was best 

having lifted her head and let her arms droop lifelessly as ballet
dancers do natasha rising energetically from her heels to her toes 
stepped to the middle of the room and stood still 

 yes that's me she seemed to say answering the rapt gaze with
which denisov followed her 

 and what is she so pleased about thought nicholas looking at his
sister why isn't she dull and ashamed 

natasha took the first note her throat swelled her chest rose 
her eyes became serious at that moment she was oblivious of her
surroundings and from her smiling lips flowed sounds which anyone may
produce at the same intervals and hold for the same time but which
leave you cold a thousand times and the thousand and first time thrill
you and make you weep 

natasha that winter had for the first time begun to sing seriously 
mainly because denisov so delighted in her singing she no longer sang
as a child there was no longer in her singing that comical childish 
painstaking effect that had been in it before but she did not yet sing
well as all the connoisseurs who heard her said it is not trained 
but it is a beautiful voice that must be trained only they generally
said this some time after she had finished singing while that untrained
voice with its incorrect breathing and labored transitions was
sounding even the connoisseurs said nothing but only delighted in
it and wished to hear it again in her voice there was a virginal
freshness an unconsciousness of her own powers and an as yet untrained
velvety softness which so mingled with her lack of art in singing that
it seemed as if nothing in that voice could be altered without spoiling
it 

 what is this thought nicholas listening to her with widely
opened eyes what has happened to her how she is singing today 
and suddenly the whole world centered for him on anticipation of the
next note the next phrase and everything in the world was divided into
three beats oh mio crudele affetto one two three one 
two three one oh mio crudele affetto one two three 
one oh this senseless life of ours thought nicholas all
this misery and money and dolokhov and anger and honor it's all
nonsense but this is real now then natasha now then dearest 
now then darling how will she take that si she's taken it thank
god and without noticing that he was singing to strengthen the si
he sung a second a third below the high note ah god how fine did
i really take it how fortunate he thought 

oh how that chord vibrated and how moved was something that was finest
in rostov's soul and this something was apart from everything else
in the world and above everything in the world what were losses and
dolokhov and words of honor all nonsense one might kill and rob
and yet be happy 





chapter xvi

it was long since rostov had felt such enjoyment from music as he
did that day but no sooner had natasha finished her barcarolle than
reality again presented itself he got up without saying a word and went
downstairs to his own room a quarter of an hour later the old count
came in from his club cheerful and contented nicholas hearing him
drive up went to meet him 

 well had a good time said the old count smiling gaily and
proudly at his son 

nicholas tried to say yes but could not and he nearly burst into
sobs the count was lighting his pipe and did not notice his son's
condition 

 ah it can't be avoided thought nicholas for the first and
last time and suddenly in the most casual tone which made him feel
ashamed of himself he said as if merely asking his father to let him
have the carriage to drive to town 

 papa i have come on a matter of business i was nearly forgetting i
need some money 

 dear me said his father who was in a specially good humor i
told you it would not be enough how much 

 very much said nicholas flushing and with a stupid careless
smile for which he was long unable to forgive himself i have lost a
little i mean a good deal a great deal forty three thousand 

 what to whom nonsense cried the count suddenly reddening
with an apoplectic flush over neck and nape as old people do 

 i promised to pay tomorrow said nicholas 

 well said the old count spreading out his arms and sinking
helplessly on the sofa 

 it can't be helped it happens to everyone said the son with
a bold free and easy tone while in his soul he regarded himself as a
worthless scoundrel whose whole life could not atone for his crime he
longed to kiss his father's hands and kneel to beg his forgiveness 
but said in a careless and even rude voice that it happens to
everyone 

the old count cast down his eyes on hearing his son's words and began
bustlingly searching for something 

 yes yes he muttered it will be difficult i fear difficult
to raise happens to everybody yes who has not done it 

and with a furtive glance at his son's face the count went out of the
room nicholas had been prepared for resistance but had not at all
expected this 

 papa pa pa he called after him sobbing forgive me and
seizing his father's hand he pressed it to his lips and burst into
tears 

while father and son were having their explanation the mother and
daughter were having one not less important natasha came running to
her mother quite excited 

 mamma mamma he has made me 

 made what 

 made made me an offer mamma mamma she exclaimed 

the countess did not believe her ears denisov had proposed to whom 
to this chit of a girl natasha who not so long ago was playing with
dolls and who was still having lessons 

 don't natasha what nonsense she said hoping it was a joke 

 nonsense indeed i am telling you the fact said natasha
indignantly i come to ask you what to do and you call it
 nonsense 

the countess shrugged her shoulders 

 if it is true that monsieur denisov has made you a proposal tell
him he is a fool that's all 

 no he's not a fool replied natasha indignantly and seriously 

 well then what do you want you're all in love nowadays well 
if you are in love marry him said the countess with a laugh of
annoyance good luck to you 

 no mamma i'm not in love with him i suppose i'm not in love
with him 

 well then tell him so 

 mamma are you cross don't be cross dear is it my fault 

 no but what is it my dear do you want me to go and tell him 
said the countess smiling 

 no i will do it myself only tell me what to say it's all very
well for you said natasha with a responsive smile you should
have seen how he said it i know he did not mean to say it but it came
out accidently 

 well all the same you must refuse him 

 no i mustn't i am so sorry for him he's so nice 

 well then accept his offer it's high time for you to be
married answered the countess sharply and sarcastically 

 no mamma but i'm so sorry for him i don't know how i'm to
say it 

 and there's nothing for you to say i shall speak to him myself 
said the countess indignant that they should have dared to treat this
little natasha as grown up 

 no not on any account i will tell him myself and you'll listen
at the door and natasha ran across the drawing room to the dancing
hall where denisov was sitting on the same chair by the clavichord
with his face in his hands 

he jumped up at the sound of her light step 

 nataly he said moving with rapid steps toward her decide my
fate it is in your hands 

 vasili dmitrich i'm so sorry for you no but you are so
nice but it won't do not that but as a friend i shall always
love you 

denisov bent over her hand and she heard strange sounds she did not
understand she kissed his rough curly black head at this instant they
heard the quick rustle of the countess dress she came up to them 

 vasili dmitrich i thank you for the honor she said with an
embarrassed voice though it sounded severe to denisov but my
daughter is so young and i thought that as my son's friend you
would have addressed yourself first to me in that case you would not
have obliged me to give this refusal 

 countess said denisov with downcast eyes and a guilty face 
he tried to say more but faltered 

natasha could not remain calm seeing him in such a plight she began
to sob aloud 

 countess i have done w'ong denisov went on in an unsteady
voice but believe me i so adore your daughter and all your family
that i would give my life twice over he looked at the countess 
and seeing her severe face said well good by countess and
kissing her hand he left the room with quick resolute strides without
looking at natasha 


next day rostov saw denisov off he did not wish to stay another
day in moscow all denisov's moscow friends gave him a farewell
entertainment at the gypsies with the result that he had no
recollection of how he was put in the sleigh or of the first three
stages of his journey 

after denisov's departure rostov spent another fortnight in moscow 
without going out of the house waiting for the money his father could
not at once raise and he spent most of his time in the girls room 

sonya was more tender and devoted to him than ever it was as if she
wanted to show him that his losses were an achievement that made her
love him all the more but nicholas now considered himself unworthy of
her 

he filled the girls albums with verses and music and having at last
sent dolokhov the whole forty three thousand rubles and received his
receipt he left at the end of november without taking leave of any of
his acquaintances to overtake his regiment which was already in poland 





book five 1806 07





chapter i

after his interview with his wife pierre left for petersburg at the
torzhok post station either there were no horses or the postmaster
would not supply them pierre was obliged to wait without undressing 
he lay down on the leather sofa in front of a round table put his big
feet in their overboots on the table and began to reflect 

 will you have the portmanteaus brought in and a bed got ready and
tea asked his valet 

pierre gave no answer for he neither heard nor saw anything he had
begun to think of the last station and was still pondering on the same
question one so important that he took no notice of what went
on around him not only was he indifferent as to whether he got to
petersburg earlier or later or whether he secured accommodation at this
station but compared to the thoughts that now occupied him it was a
matter of indifference whether he remained there for a few hours or for
the rest of his life 

the postmaster his wife the valet and a peasant woman selling
torzhok embroidery came into the room offering their services 
without changing his careless attitude pierre looked at them over his
spectacles unable to understand what they wanted or how they could go on
living without having solved the problems that so absorbed him he had
been engrossed by the same thoughts ever since the day he returned from
sokolniki after the duel and had spent that first agonizing sleepless
night but now in the solitude of the journey they seized him with
special force no matter what he thought about he always returned to
these same questions which he could not solve and yet could not cease to
ask himself it was as if the thread of the chief screw which held his
life together were stripped so that the screw could not get in or out 
but went on turning uselessly in the same place 

the postmaster came in and began obsequiously to beg his excellency to
wait only two hours when come what might he would let his excellency
have the courier horses it was plain that he was lying and only wanted
to get more money from the traveler 

 is this good or bad pierre asked himself it is good for me 
bad for another traveler and for himself it's unavoidable because
he needs money for food the man said an officer had once given him a
thrashing for letting a private traveler have the courier horses 
but the officer thrashed him because he had to get on as quickly as
possible and i continued pierre shot dolokhov because i
considered myself injured and louis xvi was executed because they
considered him a criminal and a year later they executed those who
executed him also for some reason what is bad what is good what
should one love and what hate what does one live for and what am i 
what is life and what is death what power governs all 

there was no answer to any of these questions except one and that
not a logical answer and not at all a reply to them the answer was 
 you'll die and all will end you'll die and know all or cease
asking but dying was also dreadful 

the torzhok peddler woman in a whining voice went on offering her
wares especially a pair of goatskin slippers i have hundreds of
rubles i don't know what to do with and she stands in her tattered
cloak looking timidly at me he thought and what does she
want the money for as if that money could add a hair's breadth to
happiness or peace of mind can anything in the world make her or me
less a prey to evil and death death which ends all and must come
today or tomorrow at any rate in an instant as compared with
eternity and again he twisted the screw with the stripped thread 
and again it turned uselessly in the same place 

his servant handed him a half cut novel in the form of letters by
madame de souza he began reading about the sufferings and virtuous
struggles of a certain emilie de mansfeld and why did she resist
her seducer when she loved him he thought god could not have put
into her heart an impulse that was against his will my wife as she
once was did not struggle and perhaps she was right nothing has been
found out nothing discovered pierre again said to himself all
we can know is that we know nothing and that's the height of human
wisdom 

everything within and around him seemed confused senseless and
repellent yet in this very repugnance to all his circumstances pierre
found a kind of tantalizing satisfaction 

 i make bold to ask your excellency to move a little for this
gentleman said the postmaster entering the room followed by another
traveler also detained for lack of horses 

the newcomer was a short large boned yellow faced wrinkled old
man with gray bushy eyebrows overhanging bright eyes of an indefinite
grayish color 

pierre took his feet off the table stood up and lay down on a bed that
had been got ready for him glancing now and then at the newcomer who 
with a gloomy and tired face was wearily taking off his wraps with the
aid of his servant and not looking at pierre with a pair of felt boots
on his thin bony legs and keeping on a worn nankeen covered sheepskin
coat the traveler sat down on the sofa leaned back his big head with
its broad temples and close cropped hair and looked at bezukhov the
stern shrewd and penetrating expression of that look struck pierre he
felt a wish to speak to the stranger but by the time he had made up his
mind to ask him a question about the roads the traveler had closed his
eyes his shriveled old hands were folded and on the finger of one of
them pierre noticed a large cast iron ring with a seal representing a
death's head the stranger sat without stirring either resting or as
it seemed to pierre sunk in profound and calm meditation his servant
was also a yellow wrinkled old man without beard or mustache 
evidently not because he was shaven but because they had never grown 
this active old servant was unpacking the traveler's canteen and
preparing tea he brought in a boiling samovar when everything was
ready the stranger opened his eyes moved to the table filled a
tumbler with tea for himself and one for the beardless old man to whom
he passed it pierre began to feel a sense of uneasiness and the
need even the inevitability of entering into conversation with this
stranger 

the servant brought back his tumbler turned upside down with an
unfinished bit of nibbled sugar and asked if anything more would be
wanted 

 to indicate he did not want more tea 

 no give me the book said the stranger 

the servant handed him a book which pierre took to be a devotional work 
and the traveler became absorbed in it pierre looked at him all at
once the stranger closed the book putting in a marker and again 
leaning with his arms on the back of the sofa sat in his former
position with his eyes shut pierre looked at him and had not time
to turn away when the old man opening his eyes fixed his steady and
severe gaze straight on pierre's face 

pierre felt confused and wished to avoid that look but the bright old
eyes attracted him irresistibly 





chapter ii

 i have the pleasure of addressing count bezukhov if i am not
mistaken said the stranger in a deliberate and loud voice 

pierre looked silently and inquiringly at him over his spectacles 

 i have heard of you my dear sir continued the stranger and
of your misfortune he seemed to emphasize the last word as if to
say yes misfortune call it what you please i know that what
happened to you in moscow was a misfortune i regret it very
much my dear sir 

pierre flushed and hurriedly putting his legs down from the bed bent
forward toward the old man with a forced and timid smile 

 i have not referred to this out of curiosity my dear sir but for
greater reasons 

he paused his gaze still on pierre and moved aside on the sofa by way
of inviting the other to take a seat beside him pierre felt reluctant
to enter into conversation with this old man but submitting to him
involuntarily came up and sat down beside him 

 you are unhappy my dear sir the stranger continued you
are young and i am old i should like to help you as far as lies in my
power 

 oh yes said pierre with a forced smile i am very grateful
to you where are you traveling from 

the stranger's face was not genial it was even cold and severe but
in spite of this both the face and words of his new acquaintance were
irresistibly attractive to pierre 

 but if for any reason you don't feel inclined to talk to me 
said the old man say so my dear sir and he suddenly smiled in
an unexpected and tenderly paternal way 

 oh no not at all on the contrary i am very glad to make your
acquaintance said pierre and again glancing at the stranger's
hands he looked more closely at the ring with its skull a masonic
sign 

 allow me to ask he said are you a mason 

 yes i belong to the brotherhood of the freemasons said the
stranger looking deeper and deeper into pierre's eyes and in
their name and my own i hold out a brotherly hand to you 

 i am afraid said pierre smiling and wavering between the
confidence the personality of the freemason inspired in him and his own
habit of ridiculing the masonic beliefs i am afraid i am very far
from understanding how am i to put it i am afraid my way of looking
at the world is so opposed to yours that we shall not understand one
another 

 i know your outlook said the mason and the view of life you
mention and which you think is the result of your own mental efforts 
is the one held by the majority of people and is the invariable fruit
of pride indolence and ignorance forgive me my dear sir but if i
had not known it i should not have addressed you your view of life is a
regrettable delusion 

 just as i may suppose you to be deluded said pierre with a faint
smile 

 i should never dare to say that i know the truth said the mason 
whose words struck pierre more and more by their precision and firmness 
 no one can attain to truth by himself only by laying stone on stone
with the cooperation of all by the millions of generations from our
forefather adam to our own times is that temple reared which is to be
a worthy dwelling place of the great god he added and closed his
eyes 

 i ought to tell you that i do not believe do not believe in
god said pierre regretfully and with an effort feeling it
essential to speak the whole truth 

the mason looked intently at pierre and smiled as a rich man with
millions in hand might smile at a poor fellow who told him that he poor
man had not the five rubles that would make him happy 

 yes you do not know him my dear sir said the mason you
cannot know him you do not know him and that is why you are unhappy 

 yes yes i am unhappy assented pierre but what am i to
do 

 you know him not my dear sir and so you are very unhappy you do
not know him but he is here he is in me he is in my words he is in
thee and even in those blasphemous words thou hast just uttered 
pronounced the mason in a stern and tremulous voice 

he paused and sighed evidently trying to calm himself 

 if he were not he said quietly you and i would not be
speaking of him my dear sir of what of whom are we speaking whom
hast thou denied he suddenly asked with exulting austerity and
authority in his voice who invented him if he did not exist whence
came thy conception of the existence of such an incomprehensible being 
didst thou and why did the whole world conceive the idea of the
existence of such an incomprehensible being a being all powerful 
eternal and infinite in all his attributes 

he stopped and remained silent for a long time 

pierre could not and did not wish to break this silence 

 he exists but to understand him is hard the mason began again 
looking not at pierre but straight before him and turning the leaves
of his book with his old hands which from excitement he could not keep
still if it were a man whose existence thou didst doubt i could
bring him to thee could take him by the hand and show him to thee but
how can i an insignificant mortal show his omnipotence his infinity 
and all his mercy to one who is blind or who shuts his eyes that he may
not see or understand him and may not see or understand his own vileness
and sinfulness he paused again who art thou thou dreamest that
thou art wise because thou couldst utter those blasphemous words he
went on with a somber and scornful smile and thou art more foolish
and unreasonable than a little child who playing with the parts of a
skillfully made watch dares to say that as he does not understand
its use he does not believe in the master who made it to know him is
hard for ages from our forefather adam to our own day we labor to
attain that knowledge and are still infinitely far from our aim but
in our lack of understanding we see only our weakness and his
greatness 

pierre listened with swelling heart gazing into the mason's face with
shining eyes not interrupting or questioning him but believing with
his whole soul what the stranger said whether he accepted the wise
reasoning contained in the mason's words or believed as a child
believes in the speaker's tone of conviction and earnestness or
the tremor of the speaker's voice which sometimes almost broke or
those brilliant aged eyes grown old in this conviction or the calm
firmness and certainty of his vocation which radiated from his whole
being and which struck pierre especially by contrast with his own
dejection and hopelessness at any rate pierre longed with his whole
soul to believe and he did believe and felt a joyful sense of comfort 
regeneration and return to life 

 he is not to be apprehended by reason but by life said the
mason 

 i do not understand said pierre feeling with dismay doubts
reawakening he was afraid of any want of clearness any weakness in
the mason's arguments he dreaded not to be able to believe in him 
 i don't understand he said how it is that the mind of man
cannot attain the knowledge of which you speak 

the mason smiled with his gentle fatherly smile 

 the highest wisdom and truth are like the purest liquid we may wish
to imbibe he said can i receive that pure liquid into an impure
vessel and judge of its purity only by the inner purification of myself
can i retain in some degree of purity the liquid i receive 

 yes yes that is so said pierre joyfully 

 the highest wisdom is not founded on reason alone not on those
worldly sciences of physics history chemistry and the like into
which intellectual knowledge is divided the highest wisdom is one 
the highest wisdom has but one science the science of the whole the
science explaining the whole creation and man's place in it to
receive that science it is necessary to purify and renew one's inner
self and so before one can know it is necessary to believe and to
perfect one's self and to attain this end we have the light called
conscience that god has implanted in our souls 

 yes yes assented pierre 

 look then at thy inner self with the eyes of the spirit and ask
thyself whether thou art content with thyself what hast thou attained
relying on reason only what art thou you are young you are rich you
are clever you are well educated and what have you done with all these
good gifts are you content with yourself and with your life 

 no i hate my life pierre muttered wincing 

 thou hatest it then change it purify thyself and as thou art
purified thou wilt gain wisdom look at your life my dear sir 
how have you spent it in riotous orgies and debauchery receiving
everything from society and giving nothing in return you have become
the possessor of wealth how have you used it what have you done
for your neighbor have you ever thought of your tens of thousands
of slaves have you helped them physically and morally no you have
profited by their toil to lead a profligate life that is what you have
done have you chosen a post in which you might be of service to your
neighbor no you have spent your life in idleness then you married my
dear sir took on yourself responsibility for the guidance of a young
woman and what have you done you have not helped her to find the way
of truth my dear sir but have thrust her into an abyss of deceit and
misery a man offended you and you shot him and you say you do not
know god and hate your life there is nothing strange in that my dear
sir 

after these words the mason as if tired by his long discourse again
leaned his arms on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes pierre
looked at that aged stern motionless almost lifeless face and moved
his lips without uttering a sound he wished to say yes a vile 
idle vicious life but dared not break the silence 

the mason cleared his throat huskily as old men do and called his
servant 

 how about the horses he asked without looking at pierre 

 the exchange horses have just come answered the servant will
you not rest here 

 no tell them to harness 

 can he really be going away leaving me alone without having told me
all and without promising to help me thought pierre rising with
downcast head and he began to pace the room glancing occasionally at
the mason yes i never thought of it but i have led a contemptible
and profligate life though i did not like it and did not want to 
thought pierre but this man knows the truth and if he wished to 
could disclose it to me 

pierre wished to say this to the mason but did not dare to the
traveler having packed his things with his practiced hands began
fastening his coat when he had finished he turned to bezukhov and
said in a tone of indifferent politeness 

 where are you going to now my dear sir 

 i i'm going to petersburg answered pierre in a childlike 
hesitating voice i thank you i agree with all you have said but
do not suppose me to be so bad with my whole soul i wish to be what you
would have me be but i have never had help from anyone but it is
i above all who am to blame for everything help me teach me and
perhaps i may 

pierre could not go on he gulped and turned away 

the mason remained silent for a long time evidently considering 

 help comes from god alone he said but such measure of help as
our order can bestow it will render you my dear sir you are going to
petersburg hand this to count willarski he took out his notebook
and wrote a few words on a large sheet of paper folded in four 
 allow me to give you a piece of advice when you reach the capital 
first of all devote some time to solitude and self examination and do
not resume your former way of life and now i wish you a good journey 
my dear sir he added seeing that his servant had entered and
success 

the traveler was joseph alexeevich bazdeev as pierre saw from the
postmaster's book bazdeev had been one of the best known freemasons
and martinists even in novikov's time for a long while after he had
gone pierre did not go to bed or order horses but paced up and down
the room pondering over his vicious past and with a rapturous sense
of beginning anew pictured to himself the blissful irreproachable 
virtuous future that seemed to him so easy it seemed to him that he had
been vicious only because he had somehow forgotten how good it is to
be virtuous not a trace of his former doubts remained in his soul he
firmly believed in the possibility of the brotherhood of men united in
the aim of supporting one another in the path of virtue and that is how
freemasonry presented itself to him 





chapter iii

on reaching petersburg pierre did not let anyone know of his arrival 
he went nowhere and spent whole days in reading thomas a kempis whose
book had been sent him by someone unknown one thing he continually
realized as he read that book the joy hitherto unknown to him 
of believing in the possibility of attaining perfection and in the
possibility of active brotherly love among men which joseph alexeevich
had revealed to him a week after his arrival the young polish count 
willarski whom pierre had known slightly in petersburg society came
into his room one evening in the official and ceremonious manner in
which dolokhov's second had called on him and having closed the
door behind him and satisfied himself that there was nobody else in the
room addressed pierre 

 i have come to you with a message and an offer count he
said without sitting down a person of very high standing in our
brotherhood has made application for you to be received into our order
before the usual term and has proposed to me to be your sponsor i
consider it a sacred duty to fulfill that person's wishes do you wish
to enter the brotherhood of freemasons under my sponsorship 

the cold austere tone of this man whom he had almost always before met
at balls amiably smiling in the society of the most brilliant women 
surprised pierre 

 yes i do wish it said he 

willarski bowed his head 

 one more question count he said which i beg you to answer
in all sincerity not as a future mason but as an honest man have you
renounced your former convictions do you believe in god 

pierre considered 

 yes yes i believe in god he said 

 in that case began willarski but pierre interrupted him 

 yes i do believe in god he repeated 

 in that case we can go said willarski my carriage is at your
service 

willarski was silent throughout the drive to pierre's inquiries as
to what he must do and how he should answer willarski only replied that
brothers more worthy than he would test him and that pierre had only to
tell the truth 

having entered the courtyard of a large house where the lodge had its
headquarters and having ascended a dark staircase they entered a small
well lit anteroom where they took off their cloaks without the aid of
a servant from there they passed into another room a man in strange
attire appeared at the door willarski stepping toward him said
something to him in french in an undertone and then went up to a small
wardrobe in which pierre noticed garments such as he had never seen
before having taken a kerchief from the cupboard willarski bound
pierre's eyes with it and tied it in a knot behind catching some
hairs painfully in the knot then he drew his face down kissed him and
taking him by the hand led him forward the hairs tied in the knot hurt
pierre and there were lines of pain on his face and a shamefaced smile 
his huge figure with arms hanging down and with a puckered though
smiling face moved after willarski with uncertain timid steps 

having led him about ten paces willarski stopped 

 whatever happens to you he said you must bear it all manfully
if you have firmly resolved to join our brotherhood pierre nodded
affirmatively when you hear a knock at the door you will uncover
your eyes added willarski i wish you courage and success 
and pressing pierre's hand he went out 

left alone pierre went on smiling in the same way once or twice
he shrugged his shoulders and raised his hand to the kerchief as if
wishing to take it off but let it drop again the five minutes spent
with his eyes bandaged seemed to him an hour his arms felt numb 
his legs almost gave way it seemed to him that he was tired out he
experienced a variety of most complex sensations he felt afraid of what
would happen to him and still more afraid of showing his fear he felt
curious to know what was going to happen and what would be revealed to
him but most of all he felt joyful that the moment had come when he
would at last start on that path of regeneration and on the actively
virtuous life of which he had been dreaming since he met joseph
alexeevich loud knocks were heard at the door pierre took the bandage
off his eyes and glanced around him the room was in black darkness 
only a small lamp was burning inside something white pierre went nearer
and saw that the lamp stood on a black table on which lay an open book 
the book was the gospel and the white thing with the lamp inside was a
human skull with its cavities and teeth after reading the first words
of the gospel in the beginning was the word and the word was with
god pierre went round the table and saw a large open box filled
with something it was a coffin with bones inside he was not at all
surprised by what he saw hoping to enter on an entirely new life quite
unlike the old one he expected everything to be unusual even more
unusual than what he was seeing a skull a coffin the gospel it
seemed to him that he had expected all this and even more trying
to stimulate his emotions he looked around god death love the
brotherhood of man he kept saying to himself associating these
words with vague yet joyful ideas the door opened and someone came in 

by the dim light to which pierre had already become accustomed he
saw a rather short man having evidently come from the light into the
darkness the man paused then moved with cautious steps toward the
table and placed on it his small leather gloved hands 

this short man had on a white leather apron which covered his chest and
part of his legs he had on a kind of necklace above which rose a high
white ruffle outlining his rather long face which was lit up from
below 

 for what have you come hither asked the newcomer turning in
pierre's direction at a slight rustle made by the latter why have
you who do not believe in the truth of the light and who have not
seen the light come here what do you seek from us wisdom virtue 
enlightenment 

at the moment the door opened and the stranger came in pierre felt a
sense of awe and veneration such as he had experienced in his boyhood at
confession he felt himself in the presence of one socially a complete
stranger yet nearer to him through the brotherhood of man with bated
breath and beating heart he moved toward the rhetor by which name the
brother who prepared a seeker for entrance into the brotherhood was
known drawing nearer he recognized in the rhetor a man he knew 
smolyaninov and it mortified him to think that the newcomer was an
acquaintance he wished him simply a brother and a virtuous instructor 
for a long time he could not utter a word so that the rhetor had to
repeat his question 

 yes i i desire regeneration pierre uttered with
difficulty 

 very well said smolyaninov and went on at once have you any
idea of the means by which our holy order will help you to reach your
aim said he quietly and quickly 

 i hope for guidance help in regeneration said pierre 
with a trembling voice and some difficulty in utterance due to his
excitement and to being unaccustomed to speak of abstract matters in
russian 

 what is your conception of freemasonry 

 i imagine that freemasonry is the fraternity and equality of men who
have virtuous aims said pierre feeling ashamed of the inadequacy
of his words for the solemnity of the moment as he spoke i
imagine 

 good said the rhetor quickly apparently satisfied with
this answer have you sought for means of attaining your aim in
religion 

 no i considered it erroneous and did not follow it said pierre 
so softly that the rhetor did not hear him and asked him what he was
saying i have been an atheist answered pierre 

 you are seeking for truth in order to follow its laws in your life 
therefore you seek wisdom and virtue is that not so said the
rhetor after a moment's pause 

 yes yes assented pierre 

the rhetor cleared his throat crossed his gloved hands on his breast 
and began to speak 

 now i must disclose to you the chief aim of our order he said 
 and if this aim coincides with yours you may enter our brotherhood
with profit the first and chief object of our order the foundation on
which it rests and which no human power can destroy is the preservation
and handing on to posterity of a certain important mystery which
has come down to us from the remotest ages even from the first man a
mystery on which perhaps the fate of mankind depends but since this
mystery is of such a nature that nobody can know or use it unless he be
prepared by long and diligent self purification not everyone can hope
to attain it quickly hence we have a secondary aim that of preparing
our members as much as possible to reform their hearts to purify and
enlighten their minds by means handed on to us by tradition from those
who have striven to attain this mystery and thereby to render them
capable of receiving it 

 by purifying and regenerating our members we try thirdly to improve
the whole human race offering it in our members an example of piety
and virtue and thereby try with all our might to combat the evil which
sways the world think this over and i will come to you again 

 to combat the evil which sways the world pierre repeated and a
mental image of his future activity in this direction rose in his mind 
he imagined men such as he had himself been a fortnight ago and he
addressed an edifying exhortation to them he imagined to himself
vicious and unfortunate people whom he would assist by word and deed 
imagined oppressors whose victims he would rescue of the three
objects mentioned by the rhetor this last that of improving mankind 
especially appealed to pierre the important mystery mentioned by the
rhetor though it aroused his curiosity did not seem to him essential 
and the second aim that of purifying and regenerating himself did not
much interest him because at that moment he felt with delight that he
was already perfectly cured of his former faults and was ready for all
that was good 

half an hour later the rhetor returned to inform the seeker of the
seven virtues corresponding to the seven steps of solomon's temple 
which every freemason should cultivate in himself these virtues were 
1 discretion the keeping of the secrets of the order 2 obedience to
those of higher ranks in the order 3 morality 4 love of mankind 5 
courage 6 generosity 7 the love of death 

 in the seventh place try by the frequent thought of death the
rhetor said to bring yourself to regard it not as a dreaded foe but
as a friend that frees the soul grown weary in the labors of virtue
from this distressful life and leads it to its place of recompense and
peace 

 yes that must be so thought pierre when after these words the
rhetor went away leaving him to solitary meditation it must be so 
but i am still so weak that i love my life the meaning of which is only
now gradually opening before me but five of the other virtues which
pierre recalled counting them on his fingers he felt already in his
soul courage generosity morality love of mankind and especially
obedience which did not even seem to him a virtue but a joy he now
felt so glad to be free from his own lawlessness and to submit his will
to those who knew the indubitable truth he forgot what the seventh
virtue was and could not recall it 

the third time the rhetor came back more quickly and asked pierre
whether he was still firm in his intention and determined to submit to
all that would be required of him 

 i am ready for everything said pierre 

 i must also inform you said the rhetor that our order
delivers its teaching not in words only but also by other means which
may perhaps have a stronger effect on the sincere seeker after wisdom
and virtue than mere words this chamber with what you see therein
should already have suggested to your heart if it is sincere more than
words could do you will perhaps also see in your further initiation a
like method of enlightenment our order imitates the ancient societies
that explained their teaching by hieroglyphics a hieroglyph said
the rhetor is an emblem of something not cognizable by the senses
but which possesses qualities resembling those of the symbol 

pierre knew very well what a hieroglyph was but dared not speak he
listened to the rhetor in silence feeling from all he said that his
ordeal was about to begin 

 if you are resolved i must begin your initiation said the rhetor
coming closer to pierre in token of generosity i ask you to give me
all your valuables 

 but i have nothing here replied pierre supposing that he was
asked to give up all he possessed 

 what you have with you watch money rings 

pierre quickly took out his purse and watch but could not manage for
some time to get the wedding ring off his fat finger when that had been
done the rhetor said 

 in token of obedience i ask you to undress 

pierre took off his coat waistcoat and left boot according to the
rhetor's instructions the mason drew the shirt back from pierre's
left breast and stooping down pulled up the left leg of his trousers
to above the knee pierre hurriedly began taking off his right boot also
and was going to tuck up the other trouser leg to save this stranger the
trouble but the mason told him that was not necessary and gave him
a slipper for his left foot with a childlike smile of embarrassment 
doubt and self derision which appeared on his face against his will 
pierre stood with his arms hanging down and legs apart before his
brother rhetor and awaited his further commands 

 and now in token of candor i ask you to reveal to me your chief
passion said the latter 

 my passion i have had so many replied pierre 

 that passion which more than all others caused you to waver on the
path of virtue said the mason 

pierre paused seeking a reply 

 wine gluttony idleness laziness irritability anger women 
he went over his vices in his mind not knowing to which of them to give
the pre eminence 

 women he said in a low scarcely audible voice 

the mason did not move and for a long time said nothing after this
answer at last he moved up to pierre and taking the kerchief that lay
on the table again bound his eyes 

 for the last time i say to you turn all your attention upon
yourself put a bridle on your senses and seek blessedness not in
passion but in your own heart the source of blessedness is not without
us but within 

pierre had already long been feeling in himself that refreshing source
of blessedness which now flooded his heart with glad emotion 





chapter iv

soon after this there came into the dark chamber to fetch pierre not
the rhetor but pierre's sponsor willarski whom he recognized by his
voice to fresh questions as to the firmness of his resolution pierre
replied yes yes i agree and with a beaming childlike smile 
his fat chest uncovered stepping unevenly and timidly in one slippered
and one booted foot he advanced while willarski held a sword to his
bare chest he was conducted from that room along passages that turned
backwards and forwards and was at last brought to the doors of the
lodge willarski coughed he was answered by the masonic knock with
mallets the doors opened before them a bass voice pierre was still
blindfolded questioned him as to who he was when and where he was
born and so on then he was again led somewhere still blindfolded 
and as they went along he was told allegories of the toils of his
pilgrimage of holy friendship of the eternal architect of the
universe and of the courage with which he should endure toils and
dangers during these wanderings pierre noticed that he was spoken
of now as the seeker now as the sufferer and now as the
 postulant to the accompaniment of various knockings with
mallets and swords as he was being led up to some object he noticed a
hesitation and uncertainty among his conductors he heard those around
him disputing in whispers and one of them insisting that he should be
led along a certain carpet after that they took his right hand placed
it on something and told him to hold a pair of compasses to his left
breast with the other hand and to repeat after someone who read aloud
an oath of fidelity to the laws of the order the candles were then
extinguished and some spirit lighted as pierre knew by the smell and
he was told that he would now see the lesser light the bandage was
taken off his eyes and by the faint light of the burning spirit 
pierre as in a dream saw several men standing before him wearing
aprons like the rhetor's and holding swords in their hands pointed at
his breast among them stood a man whose white shirt was stained with
blood on seeing this pierre moved forward with his breast toward the
swords meaning them to pierce it but the swords were drawn back from
him and he was at once blindfolded again 

 now thou hast seen the lesser light uttered a voice then the
candles were relit and he was told that he would see the full light the
bandage was again removed and more than ten voices said together sic
transit gloria mundi 

pierre gradually began to recover himself and looked about at the room
and at the people in it round a long table covered with black sat some
twelve men in garments like those he had already seen some of them
pierre had met in petersburg society in the president's chair sat a
young man he did not know with a peculiar cross hanging from his
neck on his right sat the italian abbe whom pierre had met at
anna pavlovna's two years before there were also present a very
distinguished dignitary and a swiss who had formerly been tutor at the
kuragins all maintained a solemn silence listening to the words
of the president who held a mallet in his hand let into the wall was
a star shaped light at one side of the table was a small carpet with
various figures worked upon it at the other was something resembling an
altar on which lay a testament and a skull round it stood seven large
candlesticks like those used in churches two of the brothers led pierre
up to the altar placed his feet at right angles and bade him lie down 
saying that he must prostrate himself at the gates of the temple 

 he must first receive the trowel whispered one of the brothers 

 oh hush please said another 

pierre perplexed looked round with his shortsighted eyes without
obeying and suddenly doubts arose in his mind where am i what am
i doing aren't they laughing at me shan't i be ashamed to remember
this but these doubts only lasted a moment pierre glanced at
the serious faces of those around remembered all he had already gone
through and realized that he could not stop halfway he was aghast
at his hesitation and trying to arouse his former devotional feeling 
prostrated himself before the gates of the temple and really the
feeling of devotion returned to him even more strongly than before when
he had lain there some time he was told to get up and a white leather
apron such as the others wore was put on him he was given a trowel
and three pairs of gloves and then the grand master addressed him he
told him that he should try to do nothing to stain the whiteness of that
apron which symbolized strength and purity then of the unexplained
trowel he told him to toil with it to cleanse his own heart from vice 
and indulgently to smooth with it the heart of his neighbor as to the
first pair of gloves a man's he said that pierre could not know
their meaning but must keep them the second pair of man's gloves
he was to wear at the meetings and finally of the third a pair of
women's gloves he said dear brother these woman's gloves are
intended for you too give them to the woman whom you shall honor most
of all this gift will be a pledge of your purity of heart to her whom
you select to be your worthy helpmeet in masonry and after a pause 
he added but beware dear brother that these gloves do not deck
hands that are unclean while the grand master said these last words
it seemed to pierre that he grew embarrassed pierre himself grew still
more confused blushed like a child till tears came to his eyes began
looking about him uneasily and an awkward pause followed 

this silence was broken by one of the brethren who led pierre up to the
rug and began reading to him from a manuscript book an explanation of
all the figures on it the sun the moon a hammer a plumb line a
trowel a rough stone and a squared stone a pillar three windows and
so on then a place was assigned to pierre he was shown the signs of
the lodge told the password and at last was permitted to sit down 
the grand master began reading the statutes they were very long and
pierre from joy agitation and embarrassment was not in a state to
understand what was being read he managed to follow only the last words
of the statutes and these remained in his mind 

 in our temples we recognize no other distinctions read the grand
master but those between virtue and vice beware of making any
distinctions which may infringe equality fly to a brother's aid
whoever he may be exhort him who goeth astray raise him that falleth 
never bear malice or enmity toward thy brother be kindly and courteous 
kindle in all hearts the flame of virtue share thy happiness with thy
neighbor and may envy never dim the purity of that bliss forgive thy
enemy do not avenge thyself except by doing him good thus fulfilling
the highest law thou shalt regain traces of the ancient dignity which
thou hast lost 

he finished and getting up embraced and kissed pierre who with tears
of joy in his eyes looked round him not knowing how to answer the
congratulations and greetings from acquaintances that met him on all
sides he acknowledged no acquaintances but saw in all these men only
brothers and burned with impatience to set to work with them 

the grand master rapped with his mallet all the masons sat down in
their places and one of them read an exhortation on the necessity of
humility 

the grand master proposed that the last duty should be performed 
and the distinguished dignitary who bore the title of collector
of alms went round to all the brothers pierre would have liked
to subscribe all he had but fearing that it might look like pride
subscribed the same amount as the others 

the meeting was at an end and on reaching home pierre felt as if he had
returned from a long journey on which he had spent dozens of years had
become completely changed and had quite left behind his former habits
and way of life 





chapter v

the day after he had been received into the lodge pierre was sitting at
home reading a book and trying to fathom the significance of the square 
one side of which symbolized god another moral things a third
physical things and the fourth a combination of these now and then
his attention wandered from the book and the square and he formed in
imagination a new plan of life on the previous evening at the lodge he
had heard that a rumor of his duel had reached the emperor and that it
would be wiser for him to leave petersburg pierre proposed going to his
estates in the south and there attending to the welfare of his serfs 
he was joyfully planning this new life when prince vasili suddenly
entered the room 

 my dear fellow what have you been up to in moscow why have you
quarreled with helene mon cher you are under a delusion said
prince vasili as he entered i know all about it and i can tell
you positively that helene is as innocent before you as christ was
before the jews 

pierre was about to reply but prince vasili interrupted him 

 and why didn't you simply come straight to me as to a friend i
know all about it and understand it all he said you behaved as
becomes a man who values his honor perhaps too hastily but we won't
go into that but consider the position in which you are placing her and
me in the eyes of society and even of the court he added lowering
his voice she is living in moscow and you are here remember 
dear boy and he drew pierre's arm downwards it is simply a
misunderstanding i expect you feel it so yourself let us write her
a letter at once and she'll come here and all will be explained or
else my dear boy let me tell you it's quite likely you'll have to
suffer for it 

prince vasili gave pierre a significant look 

 i know from reliable sources that the dowager empress is taking a
keen interest in the whole affair you know she is very gracious to
helene 

pierre tried several times to speak but on one hand prince vasili
did not let him and on the other pierre himself feared to begin to
speak in the tone of decided refusal and disagreement in which he had
firmly resolved to answer his father in law moreover the words of the
masonic statutes be kindly and courteous recurred to him he
blinked went red got up and sat down again struggling with himself
to do what was for him the most difficult thing in life to say an
unpleasant thing to a man's face to say what the other whoever
he might be did not expect he was so used to submitting to prince
vasili's tone of careless self assurance that he felt he would be
unable to withstand it now but he also felt that on what he said now
his future depended whether he would follow the same old road or that
new path so attractively shown him by the masons on which he firmly
believed he would be reborn to a new life 

 now dear boy said prince vasili playfully say yes 
and i'll write to her myself and we will kill the fatted calf 

but before prince vasili had finished his playful speech pierre 
without looking at him and with a kind of fury that made him like his
father muttered in a whisper 

 prince i did not ask you here go please go and he jumped up
and opened the door for him 

 go he repeated amazed at himself and glad to see the look of
confusion and fear that showed itself on prince vasili's face 

 what's the matter with you are you ill 

 go the quivering voice repeated and prince vasili had to go
without receiving any explanation 

a week later pierre having taken leave of his new friends the masons 
and leaving large sums of money with them for alms went away to his
estates his new brethren gave him letters to the kiev and odessa masons
and promised to write to him and guide him in his new activity 





chapter vi

the duel between pierre and dolokhov was hushed up and in spite of
the emperor's severity regarding duels at that time neither the
principals nor their seconds suffered for it but the story of the duel 
confirmed by pierre's rupture with his wife was the talk of society 
pierre who had been regarded with patronizing condescension when he was
an illegitimate son and petted and extolled when he was the best
match in russia had sunk greatly in the esteem of society after his
marriage when the marriageable daughters and their mothers had nothing
to hope from him especially as he did not know how and did not
wish to court society's favor now he alone was blamed for what had
happened he was said to be insanely jealous and subject like his
father to fits of bloodthirsty rage and when after pierre's
departure helene returned to petersburg she was received by all her
acquaintances not only cordially but even with a shade of deference
due to her misfortune when conversation turned on her husband helene
assumed a dignified expression which with characteristic tact she had
acquired though she did not understand its significance this expression
suggested that she had resolved to endure her troubles uncomplainingly
and that her husband was a cross laid upon her by god prince vasili
expressed his opinion more openly he shrugged his shoulders when pierre
was mentioned and pointing to his forehead remarked 

 a bit touched i always said so 

 i said from the first declared anna pavlovna referring to
pierre i said at the time and before anyone else she insisted
on her priority that that senseless young man was spoiled by the
depraved ideas of these days i said so even at the time when everybody
was in raptures about him when he had just returned from abroad and
when if you remember he posed as a sort of marat at one of my soirees 
and how has it ended i was against this marriage even then and foretold
all that has happened 

anna pavlovna continued to give on free evenings the same kind of
soirees as before such as she alone had the gift of arranging at
which was to be found the cream of really good society the bloom
of the intellectual essence of petersburg as she herself put it 
besides this refined selection of society anna pavlovna's receptions
were also distinguished by the fact that she always presented some new
and interesting person to the visitors and that nowhere else was the
state of the political thermometer of legitimate petersburg court
society so dearly and distinctly indicated 

toward the end of 1806 when all the sad details of napoleon's
destruction of the prussian army at jena and auerstadt and the
surrender of most of the prussian fortresses had been received when our
troops had already entered prussia and our second war with napoleon
was beginning anna pavlovna gave one of her soirees the cream of
really good society consisted of the fascinating helene forsaken
by her husband mortemart the delightful prince hippolyte who had
just returned from vienna two diplomatists the old aunt a young man
referred to in that drawing room as a man of great merit un homme
de beaucoup de merite a newly appointed maid of honor and her mother 
and several other less noteworthy persons 

the novelty anna pavlovna was setting before her guests that evening
was boris drubetskoy who had just arrived as a special messenger from
the prussian army and was aide de camp to a very important personage 

the temperature shown by the political thermometer to the company that
evening was this 

 whatever the european sovereigns and commanders may do to
countenance bonaparte and to cause me and us in general annoyance and
mortification our opinion of bonaparte cannot alter we shall not cease
to express our sincere views on that subject and can only say to the
king of prussia and others so much the worse for you tu l'as
voulu george dandin that's all we have to say about it 

when boris who was to be served up to the guests entered the drawing
room almost all the company had assembled and the conversation guided
by anna pavlovna was about our diplomatic relations with austria and
the hope of an alliance with her 

boris grown more manly and looking fresh rosy and self possessed 
entered the drawing room elegantly dressed in the uniform of an
aide de camp and was duly conducted to pay his respects to the aunt and
then brought back to the general circle 

anna pavlovna gave him her shriveled hand to kiss and introduced him to
several persons whom he did not know giving him a whispered description
of each 

 prince hippolyte kuragin charming young fellow m 
kronq charge d'affaires from copenhagen a profound intellect 
and simply mr shitov a man of great merit this of the man
usually so described 

thanks to anna mikhaylovna's efforts his own tastes and the
peculiarities of his reserved nature boris had managed during his
service to place himself very advantageously he was aide de camp to a
very important personage had been sent on a very important mission to
prussia and had just returned from there as a special messenger he had
become thoroughly conversant with that unwritten code with which he had
been so pleased at olmutz and according to which an ensign might rank
incomparably higher than a general and according to which what was
needed for success in the service was not effort or work or courage or
perseverance but only the knowledge of how to get on with those who can
grant rewards and he was himself often surprised at the rapidity of his
success and at the inability of others to understand these things 
in consequence of this discovery his whole manner of life all
his relations with old friends all his plans for his future were
completely altered he was not rich but would spend his last groat to
be better dressed than others and would rather deprive himself of many
pleasures than allow himself to be seen in a shabby equipage or appear
in the streets of petersburg in an old uniform he made friends with
and sought the acquaintance of only those above him in position and
who could therefore be of use to him he liked petersburg and despised
moscow the remembrance of the rostovs house and of his childish
love for natasha was unpleasant to him and he had not once been to see
the rostovs since the day of his departure for the army to be in anna
pavlovna's drawing room he considered an important step up in the
service and he at once understood his role letting his hostess make
use of whatever interest he had to offer he himself carefully scanned
each face appraising the possibilities of establishing intimacy with
each of those present and the advantages that might accrue he took
the seat indicated to him beside the fair helene and listened to the
general conversation 

 vienna considers the bases of the proposed treaty so unattainable
that not even a continuity of most brilliant successes would secure
them and she doubts the means we have of gaining them that is the
actual phrase used by the vienna cabinet said the danish charge
d'affaires 

 the doubt is flattering said the man of profound intellect 
with a subtle smile 

 we must distinguish between the vienna cabinet and the emperor of
austria said mortemart the emperor of austria can never have
thought of such a thing it is only the cabinet that says it 

 ah my dear vicomte put in anna pavlovna l'urope for
some reason she called it urope as if that were a specially refined
french pronunciation which she could allow herself when conversing with
a frenchman l'urope ne sera jamais notre alliee sincere 

 europe will never be our sincere ally 


after that anna pavlovna led up to the courage and firmness of the king
of prussia in order to draw boris into the conversation 

boris listened attentively to each of the speakers awaiting his turn 
but managed meanwhile to look round repeatedly at his neighbor the
beautiful helene whose eyes several times met those of the handsome
young aide de camp with a smile 

speaking of the position of prussia anna pavlovna very naturally asked
boris to tell them about his journey to glogau and in what state he
found the prussian army boris speaking with deliberation told them
in pure correct french many interesting details about the armies and
the court carefully abstaining from expressing an opinion of his
own about the facts he was recounting for some time he engrossed the
general attention and anna pavlovna felt that the novelty she had
served up was received with pleasure by all her visitors the greatest
attention of all to boris narrative was shown by helene she asked
him several questions about his journey and seemed greatly interested in
the state of the prussian army as soon as he had finished she turned to
him with her usual smile 

 you absolutely must come and see me she said in a tone that
implied that for certain considerations he could not know of this was
absolutely necessary 

 on tuesday between eight and nine it will give me great pleasure 

boris promised to fulfill her wish and was about to begin a
conversation with her when anna pavlovna called him away on the
pretext that her aunt wished to hear him 

 you know her husband of course said anna pavlovna closing her
eyes and indicating helene with a sorrowful gesture ah she is
such an unfortunate and charming woman don't mention him before
her please don't it is too painful for her 





chapter vii

when boris and anna pavlovna returned to the others prince hippolyte
had the ear of the company 

bending forward in his armchair he said le roi de prusse and
having said this laughed everyone turned toward him 

 le roi de prusse hippolyte said interrogatively again laughing 
and then calmly and seriously sat back in his chair anna pavlovna
waited for him to go on but as he seemed quite decided to say no more
she began to tell of how at potsdam the impious bonaparte had stolen the
sword of frederick the great 

 it is the sword of frederick the great which i she began but
hippolyte interrupted her with the words le roi de prusse and
again as soon as all turned toward him excused himself and said no
more 

anna pavlovna frowned mortemart hippolyte's friend addressed him
firmly 

 come now what about your roi de prusse 

hippolyte laughed as if ashamed of laughing 

 oh it's nothing i only wished to say he wanted to repeat
a joke he had heard in vienna and which he had been trying all that
evening to get in i only wished to say that we are wrong to fight
pour le roi de prusse 

boris smiled circumspectly so that it might be taken as ironical
or appreciative according to the way the joke was received everybody
laughed 

 your joke is too bad it's witty but unjust said anna
pavlovna shaking her little shriveled finger at him 

 we are not fighting pour le roi de prusse but for right principles 
oh that wicked prince hippolyte she said 

the conversation did not flag all evening and turned chiefly on the
political news it became particularly animated toward the end of the
evening when the rewards bestowed by the emperor were mentioned 

 you know n n received a snuffbox with the portrait last
year said the man of profound intellect why shouldn't
s s get the same distinction 

 pardon me a snuffbox with the emperor's portrait is a reward but
not a distinction said the diplomatist a gift rather 

 there are precedents i may mention schwarzenberg 

 it's impossible replied another 

 will you bet the ribbon of the order is a different matter 

when everybody rose to go helene who had spoken very little all
the evening again turned to boris asking him in a tone of caressing
significant command to come to her on tuesday 

 it is of great importance to me she said turning with a smile
toward anna pavlovna and anna pavlovna with the same sad smile with
which she spoke of her exalted patroness supported helene's wish 

it seemed as if from some words boris had spoken that evening about the
prussian army helene had suddenly found it necessary to see him 
she seemed to promise to explain that necessity to him when he came on
tuesday 

but on tuesday evening having come to helene's splendid salon 
boris received no clear explanation of why it had been necessary for
him to come there were other guests and the countess talked little to
him and only as he kissed her hand on taking leave said unexpectedly
and in a whisper with a strangely unsmiling face come to dinner
tomorrow in the evening you must come come 

during that stay in petersburg boris became an intimate in the
countess house 





chapter viii

the war was flaming up and nearing the russian frontier everywhere one
heard curses on bonaparte the enemy of mankind militiamen and
recruits were being enrolled in the villages and from the seat of
war came contradictory news false as usual and therefore variously
interpreted the life of old prince bolkonski prince andrew and
princess mary had greatly changed since 1805 

in 1806 the old prince was made one of the eight commanders in chief
then appointed to supervise the enrollment decreed throughout russia 
despite the weakness of age which had become particularly noticeable
since the time when he thought his son had been killed he did not think
it right to refuse a duty to which he had been appointed by the emperor
himself and this fresh opportunity for action gave him new energy
and strength he was continually traveling through the three provinces
entrusted to him was pedantic in the fulfillment of his duties severe
to cruel with his subordinates and went into everything down to the
minutest details himself princess mary had ceased taking lessons in
mathematics from her father and when the old prince was at home went
to his study with the wet nurse and little prince nicholas as his
grandfather called him the baby prince nicholas lived with his wet
nurse and nurse savishna in the late princess rooms and princess
mary spent most of the day in the nursery taking a mother's place to
her little nephew as best she could mademoiselle bourienne too seemed
passionately fond of the boy and princess mary often deprived herself
to give her friend the pleasure of dandling the little angel as she
called her nephew and playing with him 

near the altar of the church at bald hills there was a chapel over the
tomb of the little princess and in this chapel was a marble monument
brought from italy representing an angel with outspread wings ready to
fly upwards the angel's upper lip was slightly raised as though
about to smile and once on coming out of the chapel prince andrew and
princess mary admitted to one another that the angel's face reminded
them strangely of the little princess but what was still stranger 
though of this prince andrew said nothing to his sister was that in the
expression the sculptor had happened to give the angel's face prince
andrew read the same mild reproach he had read on the face of his dead
wife ah why have you done this to me 

soon after prince andrew's return the old prince made over to him a
large estate bogucharovo about twenty five miles from bald hills 
partly because of the depressing memories associated with bald hills 
partly because prince andrew did not always feel equal to bearing with
his father's peculiarities and partly because he needed solitude 
prince andrew made use of bogucharovo began building and spent most of
his time there 

after the austerlitz campaign prince andrew had firmly resolved not
to continue his military service and when the war recommenced
and everybody had to serve he took a post under his father in the
recruitment so as to avoid active service the old prince and his son
seemed to have changed roles since the campaign of 1805 the old man 
roused by activity expected the best results from the new campaign 
while prince andrew on the contrary taking no part in the war and
secretly regretting this saw only the dark side 

on february 26 1807 the old prince set off on one of his circuits 
prince andrew remained at bald hills as usual during his father's
absence little nicholas had been unwell for four days the coachman who
had driven the old prince to town returned bringing papers and letters
for prince andrew 

not finding the young prince in his study the valet went with the
letters to princess mary's apartments but did not find him there he
was told that the prince had gone to the nursery 

 if you please your excellency petrusha has brought some papers 
said one of the nursemaids to prince andrew who was sitting on a
child's little chair while frowning and with trembling hands he
poured drops from a medicine bottle into a wineglass half full of water 

 what is it he said crossly and his hand shaking
unintentionally he poured too many drops into the glass he threw the
mixture onto the floor and asked for some more water the maid brought
it 

there were in the room a child's cot two boxes two armchairs a
table a child's table and the little chair on which prince andrew
was sitting the curtains were drawn and a single candle was burning on
the table screened by a bound music book so that the light did not fall
on the cot 

 my dear said princess mary addressing her brother from beside
the cot where she was standing better wait a bit later 

 oh leave off you always talk nonsense and keep putting things
off and this is what comes of it said prince andrew in an
exasperated whisper evidently meaning to wound his sister 

 my dear really it's better not to wake him he's asleep 
said the princess in a tone of entreaty 

prince andrew got up and went on tiptoe up to the little bed wineglass
in hand 

 perhaps we'd really better not wake him he said hesitating 

 as you please really i think so but as you please said
princess mary evidently intimidated and confused that her opinion
had prevailed she drew her brother's attention to the maid who was
calling him in a whisper 

it was the second night that neither of them had slept watching the boy
who was in a high fever these last days mistrusting their household
doctor and expecting another for whom they had sent to town they had
been trying first one remedy and then another worn out by sleeplessness
and anxiety they threw their burden of sorrow on one another and
reproached and disputed with each other 

 petrusha has come with papers from your father whispered the
maid 

prince andrew went out 

 devil take them he muttered and after listening to the verbal
instructions his father had sent and taking the correspondence and his
father's letter he returned to the nursery 

 well he asked 

 still the same wait for heaven's sake karl ivanich always says
that sleep is more important than anything whispered princess mary
with a sigh 

prince andrew went up to the child and felt him he was burning hot 

 confound you and your karl ivanich he took the glass with the
drops and again went up to the cot 

 andrew don't said princess mary 

but he scowled at her angrily though also with suffering in his eyes 
and stooped glass in hand over the infant 

 but i wish it he said i beg you give it him 

princess mary shrugged her shoulders but took the glass submissively
and calling the nurse began giving the medicine the child screamed
hoarsely prince andrew winced and clutching his head went out and sat
down on a sofa in the next room 

he still had all the letters in his hand opening them mechanically he
began reading the old prince now and then using abbreviations wrote
in his large elongated hand on blue paper as follows 

have just this moment received by special messenger very joyful
news if it's not false bennigsen seems to have obtained a complete
victory over buonaparte at eylau in petersburg everyone is rejoicing 
and the rewards sent to the army are innumerable though he is a
german i congratulate him i can't make out what the commander at
korchevo a certain khandrikov is up to till now the additional
men and provisions have not arrived gallop off to him at once and
say i'll have his head off if everything is not here in a week 
have received another letter about the preussisch eylau battle
from petenka he took part in it and it's all true when
mischief makers don't meddle even a german beats buonaparte he is
said to be fleeing in great disorder mind you gallop off to korchevo
without delay and carry out instructions 

prince andrew sighed and broke the seal of another envelope it was
a closely written letter of two sheets from bilibin he folded it up
without reading it and reread his father's letter ending with the
words gallop off to korchevo and carry out instructions 

 no pardon me i won't go now till the child is better thought
he going to the door and looking into the nursery 

princess mary was still standing by the cot gently rocking the baby 

 ah yes and what else did he say that's unpleasant thought
prince andrew recalling his father's letter yes we have gained
a victory over bonaparte just when i'm not serving yes yes he's
always poking fun at me ah well let him and he began reading
bilibin's letter which was written in french he read without
understanding half of it read only to forget if but for a moment what
he had too long been thinking of so painfully to the exclusion of all
else 





chapter ix

bilibin was now at army headquarters in a diplomatic capacity and
though he wrote in french and used french jests and french idioms 
he described the whole campaign with a fearless self censure and
self derision genuinely russian bilibin wrote that the obligation of
diplomatic discretion tormented him and he was happy to have in prince
andrew a reliable correspondent to whom he could pour out the bile he
had accumulated at the sight of all that was being done in the army 
the letter was old having been written before the battle at
preussisch eylau 

 since the day of our brilliant success at austerlitz wrote
bilibin as you know my dear prince i never leave headquarters i
have certainly acquired a taste for war and it is just as well for me 
what i have seen during these last three months is incredible 

 i begin ab ovo the enemy of the human race as you know 
attacks the prussians the prussians are our faithful allies who have
only betrayed us three times in three years we take up their cause but
it turns out that the enemy of the human race pays no heed to
our fine speeches and in his rude and savage way throws himself on the
prussians without giving them time to finish the parade they had begun 
and in two twists of the hand he breaks them to smithereens and installs
himself in the palace at potsdam 

 i most ardently desire writes the king of prussia to
bonaparte that your majesty should be received and treated in my
palace in a manner agreeable to yourself and in so far as circumstances
allowed i have hastened to take all steps to that end may i have
succeeded the prussian generals pride themselves on being polite to
the french and lay down their arms at the first demand 

 the head of the garrison at glogau with ten thousand men asks the
king of prussia what he is to do if he is summoned to surrender all
this is absolutely true 

 in short hoping to settle matters by taking up a warlike attitude 
it turns out that we have landed ourselves in war and what is more 
in war on our own frontiers with and for the king of prussia we have
everything in perfect order only one little thing is lacking namely 
a commander in chief as it was considered that the austerlitz success
might have been more decisive had the commander in chief not been so
young all our octogenarians were reviewed and of prozorovski
and kamenski the latter was preferred the general comes to us 
suvorov like in a kibitka and is received with acclamations of joy
and triumph 

 on the 4th the first courier arrives from petersburg the mails
are taken to the field marshal's room for he likes to do everything
himself i am called in to help sort the letters and take those meant
for us the field marshal looks on and waits for letters addressed
to him we search but none are to be found the field marshal grows
impatient and sets to work himself and finds letters from the emperor
to count t prince v and others then he bursts into one of his wild
furies and rages at everyone and everything seizes the letters opens
them and reads those from the emperor addressed to others ah so
that's the way they treat me no confidence in me ah ordered to keep
an eye on me very well then get along with you so he writes the
famous order of the day to general bennigsen 

 i am wounded and cannot ride and consequently cannot command the
army you have brought your army corps to pultusk routed here it is
exposed and without fuel or forage so something must be done and as
you yourself reported to count buxhowden yesterday you must think of
retreating to our frontier which do today 

 from all my riding he writes to the emperor i have got a
saddle sore which coming after all my previous journeys quite prevents
my riding and commanding so vast an army so i have passed on the
command to the general next in seniority count buxhowden having sent
him my whole staff and all that belongs to it advising him if there is
a lack of bread to move farther into the interior of prussia for only
one day's ration of bread remains and in some regiments none at all 
as reported by the division commanders ostermann and sedmoretzki and
all that the peasants had has been eaten up i myself will remain in
hospital at ostrolenka till i recover in regard to which i humbly
submit my report with the information that if the army remains in its
present bivouac another fortnight there will not be a healthy man left
in it by spring 

 grant leave to retire to his country seat to an old man who is
already in any case dishonored by being unable to fulfill the great and
glorious task for which he was chosen i shall await your most gracious
permission here in hospital that i may not have to play the part of a
secretary rather than commander in the army my removal from the army
does not produce the slightest stir a blind man has left it there are
thousands such as i in russia 

 the field marshal is angry with the emperor and he punishes us all 
isn't it logical 

 this is the first act those that follow are naturally increasingly
interesting and entertaining after the field marshal's departure
it appears that we are within sight of the enemy and must give battle 
buxhowden is commander in chief by seniority but general bennigsen
does not quite see it more particularly as it is he and his corps who
are within sight of the enemy and he wishes to profit by the opportunity
to fight a battle on his own hand as the germans say he does so 
this is the battle of pultusk which is considered a great victory but
in my opinion was nothing of the kind we civilians as you know have
a very bad way of deciding whether a battle was won or lost those who
retreat after a battle have lost it is what we say and according to
that it is we who lost the battle of pultusk in short we retreat
after the battle but send a courier to petersburg with news of a
victory and general bennigsen hoping to receive from petersburg the
post of commander in chief as a reward for his victory does not give up
the command of the army to general buxhowden during this interregnum
we begin a very original and interesting series of maneuvers our aim is
no longer as it should be to avoid or attack the enemy but solely to
avoid general buxhowden who by right of seniority should be our chief 
so energetically do we pursue this aim that after crossing an unfordable
river we burn the bridges to separate ourselves from our enemy who at
the moment is not bonaparte but buxhowden general buxhowden was all
but attacked and captured by a superior enemy force as a result of one
of these maneuvers that enabled us to escape him buxhowden pursues
us we scuttle he hardly crosses the river to our side before we
recross to the other at last our enemy buxhowden catches us and
attacks both generals are angry and the result is a challenge on
buxhowden's part and an epileptic fit on bennigsen's but at the
critical moment the courier who carried the news of our victory at
pultusk to petersburg returns bringing our appointment as commander in
chief and our first foe buxhowden is vanquished we can now turn
our thoughts to the second bonaparte but as it turns out just at
that moment a third enemy rises before us namely the orthodox russian
soldiers loudly demanding bread meat biscuits fodder and whatnot 
the stores are empty the roads impassable the orthodox begin looting 
and in a way of which our last campaign can give you no idea half the
regiments form bands and scour the countryside and put everything
to fire and sword the inhabitants are totally ruined the hospitals
overflow with sick and famine is everywhere twice the marauders even
attack our headquarters and the commander in chief has to ask for a
battalion to disperse them during one of these attacks they carried off
my empty portmanteau and my dressing gown the emperor proposes to give
all commanders of divisions the right to shoot marauders but i much
fear this will oblige one half the army to shoot the other 

at first prince andrew read with his eyes only but after a while 
in spite of himself although he knew how far it was safe to trust
bilibin what he had read began to interest him more and more when he
had read thus far he crumpled the letter up and threw it away it was
not what he had read that vexed him but the fact that the life out
there in which he had now no part could perturb him he shut his eyes 
rubbed his forehead as if to rid himself of all interest in what he
had read and listened to what was passing in the nursery suddenly he
thought he heard a strange noise through the door he was seized with
alarm lest something should have happened to the child while he was
reading the letter he went on tiptoe to the nursery door and opened it 

just as he went in he saw that the nurse was hiding something from him
with a scared look and that princess mary was no longer by the cot 

 my dear he heard what seemed to him her despairing whisper behind
him 

as often happens after long sleeplessness and long anxiety he was
seized by an unreasoning panic it occurred to him that the child was
dead all that he saw and heard seemed to confirm this terror 

 all is over he thought and a cold sweat broke out on his
forehead he went to the cot in confusion sure that he would find it
empty and that the nurse had been hiding the dead baby he drew the
curtain aside and for some time his frightened restless eyes could not
find the baby at last he saw him the rosy boy had tossed about till he
lay across the bed with his head lower than the pillow and was smacking
his lips in his sleep and breathing evenly 

prince andrew was as glad to find the boy like that as if he had
already lost him he bent over him and as his sister had taught him 
tried with his lips whether the child was still feverish the soft
forehead was moist prince andrew touched the head with his hand even
the hair was wet so profusely had the child perspired he was not dead 
but evidently the crisis was over and he was convalescent prince andrew
longed to snatch up to squeeze to hold to his heart this helpless
little creature but dared not do so he stood over him gazing at his
head and at the little arms and legs which showed under the blanket he
heard a rustle behind him and a shadow appeared under the curtain of
the cot he did not look round but still gazing at the infant's face
listened to his regular breathing the dark shadow was princess mary 
who had come up to the cot with noiseless steps lifted the curtain 
and dropped it again behind her prince andrew recognized her without
looking and held out his hand to her she pressed it 

 he has perspired said prince andrew 

 i was coming to tell you so 

the child moved slightly in his sleep smiled and rubbed his forehead
against the pillow 

prince andrew looked at his sister in the dim shadow of the curtain her
luminous eyes shone more brightly than usual from the tears of joy that
were in them she leaned over to her brother and kissed him slightly
catching the curtain of the cot each made the other a warning gesture
and stood still in the dim light beneath the curtain as if not wishing
to leave that seclusion where they three were shut off from all the
world prince andrew was the first to move away ruffling his hair
against the muslin of the curtain 

 yes this is the one thing left me now he said with a sigh 





chapter x

soon after his admission to the masonic brotherhood pierre went to the
kiev province where he had the greatest number of serfs taking with
him full directions which he had written down for his own guidance as to
what he should do on his estates 

when he reached kiev he sent for all his stewards to the head office
and explained to them his intentions and wishes he told them that steps
would be taken immediately to free his serfs and that till then they
were not to be overburdened with labor women while nursing their babies
were not to be sent to work assistance was to be given to the serfs 
punishments were to be admonitory and not corporal and hospitals 
asylums and schools were to be established on all the estates some of
the stewards there were semiliterate foremen among them listened with
alarm supposing these words to mean that the young count was displeased
with their management and embezzlement of money some after their first
fright were amused by pierre's lisp and the new words they had not
heard before others simply enjoyed hearing how the master talked while
the cleverest among them including the chief steward understood from
this speech how they could best handle the master for their own ends 

the chief steward expressed great sympathy with pierre's intentions 
but remarked that besides these changes it would be necessary to go into
the general state of affairs which was far from satisfactory 

despite count bezukhov's enormous wealth since he had come into an
income which was said to amount to five hundred thousand rubles a year 
pierre felt himself far poorer than when his father had made him
an allowance of ten thousand rubles he had a dim perception of the
following budget 

about 80 000 went in payments on all the estates to the land bank about
30 000 went for the upkeep of the estate near moscow the town house 
and the allowance to the three princesses about 15 000 was given in
pensions and the same amount for asylums 150 000 alimony was sent to
the countess about 70 000 went for interest on debts the building of a
new church previously begun had cost about 10 000 in each of the last
two years and he did not know how the rest about 100 000 rubles was
spent and almost every year he was obliged to borrow besides this the
chief steward wrote every year telling him of fires and bad harvests 
or of the necessity of rebuilding factories and workshops so the first
task pierre had to face was one for which he had very little aptitude or
inclination practical business 

he discussed estate affairs every day with his chief steward but
he felt that this did not forward matters at all he felt that these
consultations were detached from real affairs and did not link up with
them or make them move on the one hand the chief steward put the state
of things to him in the very worst light pointing out the necessity of
paying off the debts and undertaking new activities with serf labor 
to which pierre did not agree on the other hand pierre demanded that
steps should be taken to liberate the serfs which the steward met by
showing the necessity of first paying off the loans from the land bank 
and the consequent impossibility of a speedy emancipation 

the steward did not say it was quite impossible but suggested selling
the forests in the province of kostroma the land lower down the river 
and the crimean estate in order to make it possible all of which
operations according to him were connected with such complicated
measures the removal of injunctions petitions permits and so
on that pierre became quite bewildered and only replied 

 yes yes do so 

pierre had none of the practical persistence that would have enabled him
to attend to the business himself and so he disliked it and only tried
to pretend to the steward that he was attending to it the steward
for his part tried to pretend to the count that he considered these
consultations very valuable for the proprietor and troublesome to
himself 

in kiev pierre found some people he knew and strangers hastened to make
his acquaintance and joyfully welcomed the rich newcomer the
largest landowner of the province temptations to pierre's greatest
weakness the one to which he had confessed when admitted to the
lodge were so strong that he could not resist them again whole days 
weeks and months of his life passed in as great a rush and were as much
occupied with evening parties dinners lunches and balls giving him
no time for reflection as in petersburg instead of the new life he had
hoped to lead he still lived the old life only in new surroundings 

of the three precepts of freemasonry pierre realized that he did not
fulfill the one which enjoined every mason to set an example of moral
life and that of the seven virtues he lacked two morality and the
love of death he consoled himself with the thought that he fulfilled
another of the precepts that of reforming the human race and had
other virtues love of his neighbor and especially generosity 

in the spring of 1807 he decided to return to petersburg on the way he
intended to visit all his estates and see for himself how far his orders
had been carried out and in what state were the serfs whom god had
entrusted to his care and whom he intended to benefit 

the chief steward who considered the young count's attempts almost
insane unprofitable to himself to the count and to the serfs made
some concessions continuing to represent the liberation of the serfs
as impracticable he arranged for the erection of large
buildings schools hospitals and asylums on all the estates
before the master arrived everywhere preparations were made not for
ceremonious welcomes which he knew pierre would not like but for just
such gratefully religious ones with offerings of icons and the bread
and salt of hospitality as according to his understanding of his
master would touch and delude him 

the southern spring the comfortable rapid traveling in a vienna
carriage and the solitude of the road all had a gladdening effect on
pierre the estates he had not before visited were each more picturesque
than the other the serfs everywhere seemed thriving and touchingly
grateful for the benefits conferred on them everywhere were receptions 
which though they embarrassed pierre awakened a joyful feeling in the
depth of his heart in one place the peasants presented him with bread
and salt and an icon of saint peter and saint paul asking permission 
as a mark of their gratitude for the benefits he had conferred on them 
to build a new chantry to the church at their own expense in honor
of peter and paul his patron saints in another place the women with
infants in arms met him to thank him for releasing them from hard
work on a third estate the priest bearing a cross came to meet
him surrounded by children whom by the count's generosity he was
instructing in reading writing and religion on all his estates pierre
saw with his own eyes brick buildings erected or in course of erection 
all on one plan for hospitals schools and almshouses which were soon
to be opened everywhere he saw the stewards accounts according to
which the serfs manorial labor had been diminished and heard the
touching thanks of deputations of serfs in their full skirted blue
coats 

what pierre did not know was that the place where they presented him
with bread and salt and wished to build a chantry in honor of peter and
paul was a market village where a fair was held on st peter's day 
and that the richest peasants who formed the deputation had begun
the chantry long before but that nine tenths of the peasants in that
villages were in a state of the greatest poverty he did not know that
since the nursing mothers were no longer sent to work on his land they
did still harder work on their own land he did not know that the priest
who met him with the cross oppressed the peasants by his exactions and
that the pupils parents wept at having to let him take their children
and secured their release by heavy payments he did not know that the
brick buildings built to plan were being built by serfs whose manorial
labor was thus increased though lessened on paper he did not know
that where the steward had shown him in the accounts that the serfs 
payments had been diminished by a third their obligatory manorial work
had been increased by a half and so pierre was delighted with his visit
to his estates and quite recovered the philanthropic mood in which
he had left petersburg and wrote enthusiastic letters to his
 brother instructor as he called the grand master 

 how easy it is how little effort it needs to do so much good 
thought pierre and how little attention we pay to it 

he was pleased at the gratitude he received but felt abashed at
receiving it this gratitude reminded him of how much more he might do
for these simple kindly people 

the chief steward a very stupid but cunning man who saw perfectly
through the naive and intelligent count and played with him as with
a toy seeing the effect these prearranged receptions had on pierre 
pressed him still harder with proofs of the impossibility and above all
the uselessness of freeing the serfs who were quite happy as it was 

pierre in his secret soul agreed with the steward that it would be
difficult to imagine happier people and that god only knew what would
happen to them when they were free but he insisted though reluctantly 
on what he thought right the steward promised to do all in his power to
carry out the count's wishes seeing clearly that not only would the
count never be able to find out whether all measures had been taken for
the sale of the land and forests and to release them from the land bank 
but would probably never even inquire and would never know that the
newly erected buildings were standing empty and that the serfs continued
to give in money and work all that other people's serfs gave that is
to say all that could be got out of them 





chapter xi

returning from his journey through south russia in the happiest state
of mind pierre carried out an intention he had long had of visiting his
friend bolkonski whom he had not seen for two years 

bogucharovo lay in a flat uninteresting part of the country among
fields and forests of fir and birch which were partly cut down the
house lay behind a newly dug pond filled with water to the brink and
with banks still bare of grass it was at the end of a village that
stretched along the highroad in the midst of a young copse in which were
a few fir trees 

the homestead consisted of a threshing floor outhouses stables a
bathhouse a lodge and a large brick house with semicircular facade
still in course of construction round the house was a garden newly laid
out the fences and gates were new and solid two fire pumps and a
water cart painted green stood in a shed the paths were straight 
the bridges were strong and had handrails everything bore an impress of
tidiness and good management some domestic serfs pierre met in reply
to inquiries as to where the prince lived pointed out a small newly
built lodge close to the pond anton a man who had looked after prince
andrew in his boyhood helped pierre out of his carriage said that the
prince was at home and showed him into a clean little anteroom 

pierre was struck by the modesty of the small though clean house after
the brilliant surroundings in which he had last met his friend in
petersburg 

he quickly entered the small reception room with its still unplastered
wooden walls redolent of pine and would have gone farther but anton
ran ahead on tiptoe and knocked at a door 

 well what is it came a sharp unpleasant voice 

 a visitor answered anton 

 ask him to wait and the sound was heard of a chair being pushed
back 

pierre went with rapid steps to the door and suddenly came face to
face with prince andrew who came out frowning and looking old pierre
embraced him and lifting his spectacles kissed his friend on the cheek
and looked at him closely 

 well i did not expect you i am very glad said prince andrew 

pierre said nothing he looked fixedly at his friend with surprise he
was struck by the change in him his words were kindly and there was a
smile on his lips and face but his eyes were dull and lifeless and in
spite of his evident wish to do so he could not give them a joyous
and glad sparkle prince andrew had grown thinner paler and more
manly looking but what amazed and estranged pierre till he got used
to it were his inertia and a wrinkle on his brow indicating prolonged
concentration on some one thought 

as is usually the case with people meeting after a prolonged separation 
it was long before their conversation could settle on anything they
put questions and gave brief replies about things they knew ought to
be talked over at length at last the conversation gradually settled on
some of the topics at first lightly touched on their past life plans
for the future pierre's journeys and occupations the war and so
on the preoccupation and despondency which pierre had noticed in his
friend's look was now still more clearly expressed in the smile
with which he listened to pierre especially when he spoke with joyful
animation of the past or the future it was as if prince andrew would
have liked to sympathize with what pierre was saying but could not 
the latter began to feel that it was in bad taste to speak of his
enthusiasms dreams and hopes of happiness or goodness in prince
andrew's presence he was ashamed to express his new masonic views 
which had been particularly revived and strengthened by his late tour 
he checked himself fearing to seem naive yet he felt an irresistible
desire to show his friend as soon as possible that he was now a quite
different and better pierre than he had been in petersburg 

 i can't tell you how much i have lived through since then i hardly
know myself again 

 yes we have altered much very much since then said prince
andrew 

 well and you what are your plans 

 plans repeated prince andrew ironically my plans he said 
as if astonished at the word well you see i'm building i mean
to settle here altogether next year 

pierre looked silently and searchingly into prince andrew's face 
which had grown much older 

 no i meant to ask pierre began but prince andrew interrupted
him 

 but why talk of me talk to me yes tell me about your travels
and all you have been doing on your estates 

pierre began describing what he had done on his estates trying as far
as possible to conceal his own part in the improvements that had been
made prince andrew several times prompted pierre's story of what he
had been doing as though it were all an old time story and he listened
not only without interest but even as if ashamed of what pierre was
telling him 

pierre felt uncomfortable and even depressed in his friend's company
and at last became silent 

 i'll tell you what my dear fellow said prince andrew who
evidently also felt depressed and constrained with his visitor i am
only bivouacking here and have just come to look round i am going back
to my sister today i will introduce you to her but of course you know
her already he said evidently trying to entertain a visitor with
whom he now found nothing in common we will go after dinner and
would you now like to look round my place 

they went out and walked about till dinnertime talking of the political
news and common acquaintances like people who do not know each other
intimately prince andrew spoke with some animation and interest only of
the new homestead he was constructing and its buildings but even here 
while on the scaffolding in the midst of a talk explaining the future
arrangements of the house he interrupted himself 

 however this is not at all interesting let us have dinner and then
we'll set off 

at dinner conversation turned on pierre's marriage 

 i was very much surprised when i heard of it said prince andrew 

pierre blushed as he always did when it was mentioned and said
hurriedly i will tell you some time how it all happened but you
know it is all over and forever 

 forever said prince andrew nothing's forever 

 but you know how it all ended don't you you heard of the duel 

 and so you had to go through that too 

 one thing i thank god for is that i did not kill that man said
pierre 

 why so asked prince andrew to kill a vicious dog is a very
good thing really 

 no to kill a man is bad wrong 

 why is it wrong urged prince andrew it is not given to man
to know what is right and what is wrong men always did and always will
err and in nothing more than in what they consider right and wrong 

 what does harm to another is wrong said pierre feeling with
pleasure that for the first time since his arrival prince andrew was
roused had begun to talk and wanted to express what had brought him to
his present state 

 and who has told you what is bad for another man he asked 

 bad bad exclaimed pierre we all know what is bad for
ourselves 

 yes we know that but the harm i am conscious of in myself is
something i cannot inflict on others said prince andrew growing
more and more animated and evidently wishing to express his new outlook
to pierre he spoke in french i only know two very real evils in
life remorse and illness the only good is the absence of those evils 
to live for myself avoiding those two evils is my whole philosophy
now 

 and love of one's neighbor and self sacrifice began pierre 
 no i can't agree with you to live only so as not to do evil and
not to have to repent is not enough i lived like that i lived for
myself and ruined my life and only now when i am living or at least
trying pierre's modesty made him correct himself to live for
others only now have i understood all the happiness of life no i
shall not agree with you and you do not really believe what you are
saying prince andrew looked silently at pierre with an ironic smile 

 when you see my sister princess mary you'll get on with her 
he said perhaps you are right for yourself he added after
a short pause but everyone lives in his own way you lived for
yourself and say you nearly ruined your life and only found happiness
when you began living for others i experienced just the reverse i
lived for glory and after all what is glory the same love of others 
a desire to do something for them a desire for their approval so i
lived for others and not almost but quite ruined my life and i have
become calmer since i began to live only for myself 

 but what do you mean by living only for yourself asked pierre 
growing excited what about your son your sister and your
father 

 but that's just the same as myself they are not others 
explained prince andrew the others one's neighbors le prochain 
as you and princess mary call it are the chief source of all error and
evil le prochain your kiev peasants to whom you want to do good 

and he looked at pierre with a mocking challenging expression he
evidently wished to draw him on 

 you are joking replied pierre growing more and more excited 
 what error or evil can there be in my wishing to do good and even
doing a little though i did very little and did it very badly what
evil can there be in it if unfortunate people our serfs people like
ourselves were growing up and dying with no idea of god and truth
beyond ceremonies and meaningless prayers and are now instructed in
a comforting belief in future life retribution recompense and
consolation what evil and error are there in it if people were dying
of disease without help while material assistance could so easily be
rendered and i supplied them with a doctor a hospital and an asylum
for the aged and is it not a palpable unquestionable good if a
peasant or a woman with a baby has no rest day or night and i give
them rest and leisure said pierre hurrying and lisping and
i have done that though badly and to a small extent but i have done
something toward it and you cannot persuade me that it was not a good
action and more than that you can't make me believe that you do not
think so yourself and the main thing is he continued that i
know and know for certain that the enjoyment of doing this good is the
only sure happiness in life 

 yes if you put it like that it's quite a different matter said
prince andrew i build a house and lay out a garden and you build
hospitals the one and the other may serve as a pastime but what's
right and what's good must be judged by one who knows all but not by
us well you want an argument he added come on then 

they rose from the table and sat down in the entrance porch which served
as a veranda 

 come let's argue then said prince andrew you talk of
schools he went on crooking a finger education and so forth 
that is you want to raise him pointing to a peasant who passed by
them taking off his cap from his animal condition and awaken in him
spiritual needs while it seems to me that animal happiness is the only
happiness possible and that is just what you want to deprive him of 
i envy him but you want to make him what i am without giving him my
means then you say lighten his toil but as i see it physical
labor is as essential to him as much a condition of his existence as
mental activity is to you or me you can't help thinking i go to bed
after two in the morning thoughts come and i can't sleep but toss
about till dawn because i think and can't help thinking just as
he can't help plowing and mowing if he didn't he would go to the
drink shop or fall ill just as i could not stand his terrible physical
labor but should die of it in a week so he could not stand my physical
idleness but would grow fat and die the third thing what else was
it you talked about and prince andrew crooked a third finger ah 
yes hospitals medicine he has a fit he is dying and you come and
bleed him and patch him up he will drag about as a cripple a burden to
everybody for another ten years it would be far easier and simpler for
him to die others are being born and there are plenty of them as it is 
it would be different if you grudged losing a laborer that's how i
regard him but you want to cure him from love of him and he does not
want that and besides what a notion that medicine ever cured anyone 
killed them yes said he frowning angrily and turning away from
pierre 

prince andrew expressed his ideas so clearly and distinctly that it was
evident he had reflected on this subject more than once and he spoke
readily and rapidly like a man who has not talked for a long time his
glance became more animated as his conclusions became more hopeless 

 oh that is dreadful dreadful said pierre i don't
understand how one can live with such ideas i had such moments
myself not long ago in moscow and when traveling but at such times i
collapsed so that i don't live at all everything seems hateful to
me myself most of all then i don't eat don't wash and how is
it with you 

 why not wash that is not cleanly said prince andrew on the
contrary one must try to make one's life as pleasant as possible 
i'm alive that is not my fault so i must live out my life as best i
can without hurting others 

 but with such ideas what motive have you for living one would sit
without moving undertaking nothing 

 life as it is leaves one no peace i should be thankful to do
nothing but here on the one hand the local nobility have done me the
honor to choose me to be their marshal it was all i could do to get
out of it they could not understand that i have not the necessary
qualifications for it the kind of good natured fussy shallowness
necessary for the position then there's this house which must be
built in order to have a nook of one's own in which to be quiet and
now there's this recruiting 

 why aren't you serving in the army 

 after austerlitz said prince andrew gloomily no thank you
very much i have promised myself not to serve again in the active
russian army and i won't not even if bonaparte were here at
smolensk threatening bald hills even then i wouldn't serve in the
russian army well as i was saying he continued recovering his
composure now there's this recruiting my father is chief in
command of the third district and my only way of avoiding active
service is to serve under him 

 then you are serving 

 i am 

he paused a little while 

 and why do you serve 

 why for this reason my father is one of the most remarkable men of
his time but he is growing old and though not exactly cruel he has too
energetic a character he is so accustomed to unlimited power that he is
terrible and now he has this authority of a commander in chief of
the recruiting granted by the emperor if i had been two hours late
a fortnight ago he would have had a paymaster's clerk at yukhnovna
hanged said prince andrew with a smile so i am serving because
i alone have any influence with my father and now and then can save him
from actions which would torment him afterwards 

 well there you see 

 yes but it is not as you imagine prince andrew continued i
did not and do not in the least care about that scoundrel of a clerk
who had stolen some boots from the recruits i should even have been
very glad to see him hanged but i was sorry for my father that again
is for myself 

prince andrew grew more and more animated his eyes glittered feverishly
while he tried to prove to pierre that in his actions there was no
desire to do good to his neighbor 

 there now you wish to liberate your serfs he continued that
is a very good thing but not for you i don't suppose you ever had
anyone flogged or sent to siberia and still less for your serfs if
they are beaten flogged or sent to siberia i don't suppose they are
any the worse off in siberia they lead the same animal life and the
stripes on their bodies heal and they are happy as before but it is
a good thing for proprietors who perish morally bring remorse upon
themselves stifle this remorse and grow callous as a result of being
able to inflict punishments justly and unjustly it is those people i
pity and for their sake i should like to liberate the serfs you
may not have seen but i have seen how good men brought up in those
traditions of unlimited power in time when they grow more irritable 
become cruel and harsh are conscious of it but cannot restrain
themselves and grow more and more miserable 

prince andrew spoke so earnestly that pierre could not help thinking
that these thoughts had been suggested to prince andrew by his
father's case 

he did not reply 

 so that's what i'm sorry for human dignity peace of mind 
purity and not the serfs backs and foreheads which beat and shave
as you may always remain the same backs and foreheads 

 no no a thousand times no i shall never agree with you said
pierre 





chapter xii

in the evening andrew and pierre got into the open carriage and drove to
bald hills prince andrew glancing at pierre broke the silence now and
then with remarks which showed that he was in a good temper 

pointing to the fields he spoke of the improvements he was making in
his husbandry 

pierre remained gloomily silent answering in monosyllables and
apparently immersed in his own thoughts 

he was thinking that prince andrew was unhappy had gone astray did not
see the true light and that he pierre ought to aid enlighten and
raise him but as soon as he thought of what he should say he felt that
prince andrew with one word one argument would upset all his teaching 
and he shrank from beginning afraid of exposing to possible ridicule
what to him was precious and sacred 

 no but why do you think so pierre suddenly began lowering his
head and looking like a bull about to charge why do you think so 
you should not think so 

 think what about asked prince andrew with surprise 

 about life about man's destiny it can't be so i myself thought
like that and do you know what saved me freemasonry no don't
smile freemasonry is not a religious ceremonial sect as i thought
it was freemasonry is the best expression of the best the eternal 
aspects of humanity 

and he began to explain freemasonry as he understood it to prince
andrew he said that freemasonry is the teaching of christianity freed
from the bonds of state and church a teaching of equality brotherhood 
and love 

 only our holy brotherhood has the real meaning of life all the rest
is a dream said pierre understand my dear fellow that outside
this union all is filled with deceit and falsehood and i agree with you
that nothing is left for an intelligent and good man but to live out
his life like you merely trying not to harm others but make our
fundamental convictions your own join our brotherhood give yourself up
to us let yourself be guided and you will at once feel yourself as i
have felt myself a part of that vast invisible chain the beginning of
which is hidden in heaven said pierre 

prince andrew looking straight in front of him listened in silence to
pierre's words more than once when the noise of the wheels prevented
his catching what pierre said he asked him to repeat it and by the
peculiar glow that came into prince andrew's eyes and by his silence 
pierre saw that his words were not in vain and that prince andrew would
not interrupt him or laugh at what he said 

they reached a river that had overflowed its banks and which they had to
cross by ferry while the carriage and horses were being placed on it 
they also stepped on the raft 

prince andrew leaning his arms on the raft railing gazed silently at
the flooding waters glittering in the setting sun 

 well what do you think about it pierre asked why are you
silent 

 what do i think about it i am listening to you it's all very
well you say join our brotherhood and we will show you the aim of
life the destiny of man and the laws which govern the world but who
are we men how is it you know everything why do i alone not see what
you see you see a reign of goodness and truth on earth but i don't
see it 

pierre interrupted him 

 do you believe in a future life he asked 

 a future life prince andrew repeated but pierre giving him no
time to reply took the repetition for a denial the more readily as he
knew prince andrew's former atheistic convictions 

 you say you can't see a reign of goodness and truth on earth nor
could i and it cannot be seen if one looks on our life here as the end
of everything on earth here on this earth pierre pointed to
the fields there is no truth all is false and evil but in the
universe in the whole universe there is a kingdom of truth and we who
are now the children of earth are eternally children of the
whole universe don't i feel in my soul that i am part of this vast
harmonious whole don't i feel that i form one link one step between
the lower and higher beings in this vast harmonious multitude of
beings in whom the deity the supreme power if you prefer the term is
manifest if i see clearly see that ladder leading from plant to man 
why should i suppose it breaks off at me and does not go farther and
farther i feel that i cannot vanish since nothing vanishes in this
world but that i shall always exist and always have existed i feel
that beyond me and above me there are spirits and that in this world
there is truth 

 yes that is herder's theory said prince andrew but it is
not that which can convince me dear friend life and death are what
convince what convinces is when one sees a being dear to one bound
up with one's own life before whom one was to blame and had hoped to
make it right prince andrew's voice trembled and he turned away 
 and suddenly that being is seized with pain suffers and ceases to
exist why it cannot be that there is no answer and i believe there
is that's what convinces that is what has convinced me said
prince andrew 

 yes yes of course said pierre isn't that what i'm
saying 

 no all i say is that it is not argument that convinces me of the
necessity of a future life but this when you go hand in hand with
someone and all at once that person vanishes there into nowhere and
you yourself are left facing that abyss and look in and i have looked
in 

 well that's it then you know that there is a there and there is a
someone there is the future life the someone is god 

prince andrew did not reply the carriage and horses had long since been
taken off onto the farther bank and reharnessed the sun had sunk half
below the horizon and an evening frost was starring the puddles near
the ferry but pierre and andrew to the astonishment of the footmen 
coachmen and ferrymen still stood on the raft and talked 

 if there is a god and future life there is truth and good and
man's highest happiness consists in striving to attain them we must
live we must love and we must believe that we live not only today on
this scrap of earth but have lived and shall live forever there in
the whole said pierre and he pointed to the sky 

prince andrew stood leaning on the railing of the raft listening to
pierre and he gazed with his eyes fixed on the red reflection of the
sun gleaming on the blue waters there was perfect stillness pierre
became silent the raft had long since stopped and only the waves of the
current beat softly against it below prince andrew felt as if the sound
of the waves kept up a refrain to pierre's words whispering 

 it is true believe it 

he sighed and glanced with a radiant childlike tender look at
pierre's face flushed and rapturous but yet shy before his superior
friend 

 yes if it only were so said prince andrew however it is
time to get on he added and stepping off the raft he looked up
at the sky to which pierre had pointed and for the first time since
austerlitz saw that high everlasting sky he had seen while lying on
that battlefield and something that had long been slumbering something
that was best within him suddenly awoke joyful and youthful in his
soul it vanished as soon as he returned to the customary conditions
of his life but he knew that this feeling which he did not know how to
develop existed within him his meeting with pierre formed an epoch in
prince andrew's life though outwardly he continued to live in the
same old way inwardly he began a new life 





chapter xiii

it was getting dusk when prince andrew and pierre drove up to the front
entrance of the house at bald hills as they approached the house 
prince andrew with a smile drew pierre's attention to a commotion
going on at the back porch a woman bent with age with a wallet on her
back and a short long haired young man in a black garment had rushed
back to the gate on seeing the carriage driving up two women ran out
after them and all four looking round at the carriage ran in dismay
up the steps of the back porch 

 those are mary's god's folk said prince andrew they
have mistaken us for my father this is the one matter in which she
disobeys him he orders these pilgrims to be driven away but she
receives them 

 but what are god's folk asked pierre 

prince andrew had no time to answer the servants came out to meet them 
and he asked where the old prince was and whether he was expected back
soon 

the old prince had gone to the town and was expected back any minute 

prince andrew led pierre to his own apartments which were always kept
in perfect order and readiness for him in his father's house he
himself went to the nursery 

 let us go and see my sister he said to pierre when he returned 
 i have not found her yet she is hiding now sitting with her
 god's folk it will serve her right she will be confused but
you will see her god's folk it's really very curious 

 what are god's folk asked pierre 

 come and you'll see for yourself 

princess mary really was disconcerted and red patches came on her face
when they went in in her snug room with lamps burning before the icon
stand a young lad with a long nose and long hair wearing a monk's
cassock sat on the sofa beside her behind a samovar near them in an
armchair sat a thin shriveled old woman with a meek expression on
her childlike face 

 andrew why didn't you warn me said the princess with mild
reproach as she stood before her pilgrims like a hen before her
chickens 

 charmee de vous voir je suis tres contente de vous voir she
said to pierre as he kissed her hand she had known him as a child and
now his friendship with andrew his misfortune with his wife and above
all his kindly simple face disposed her favorably toward him she
looked at him with her beautiful radiant eyes and seemed to say i
like you very much but please don't laugh at my people after
exchanging the first greetings they sat down 

 delighted to see you i am very glad to see you 


 ah and ivanushka is here too said prince andrew glancing with
a smile at the young pilgrim 

 andrew said princess mary imploringly il faut que vous
sachiez que c'est une femme said prince andrew to pierre 

 andrew au nom de dieu 2 princess mary repeated 

 you must know that this is a woman 

 2 for heaven's sake 


it was evident that prince andrew's ironical tone toward the pilgrims
and princess mary's helpless attempts to protect them were their
customary long established relations on the matter 

 mais ma bonne amie said prince andrew vous devriez au
contraire m'etre reconnaissante de ce que j'explique a pierre
votre intimite avec ce jeune homme 

 but my dear you ought on the contrary to be grateful to
 me for explaining to pierre your intimacy with this young
 man 


 really said pierre gazing over his spectacles with curiosity and
seriousness for which princess mary was specially grateful to him into
ivanushka's face who seeing that she was being spoken about looked
round at them all with crafty eyes 

princess mary's embarrassment on her people's account was quite
unnecessary they were not in the least abashed the old woman lowering
her eyes but casting side glances at the newcomers had turned her cup
upside down and placed a nibbled bit of sugar beside it and sat
quietly in her armchair though hoping to be offered another cup of tea 
ivanushka sipping out of her saucer looked with sly womanish eyes
from under her brows at the young men 

 where have you been to kiev prince andrew asked the old woman 

 i have good sir she answered garrulously just at
christmastime i was deemed worthy to partake of the holy and heavenly
sacrament at the shrine of the saint and now i'm from kolyazin 
master where a great and wonderful blessing has been revealed 

 and was ivanushka with you 

 i go by myself benefactor said ivanushka trying to speak in a
bass voice i only came across pelageya in yukhnovo 

pelageya interrupted her companion she evidently wished to tell what
she had seen 

 in kolyazin master a wonderful blessing has been revealed 

 what is it some new relics asked prince andrew 

 andrew do leave off said princess mary don't tell him 
pelageya 

 no why not my dear why shouldn't i i like him he is kind 
he is one of god's chosen he's a benefactor he once gave me ten
rubles i remember when i was in kiev crazy cyril says to me he's
one of god's own and goes barefoot summer and winter he says 
 why are you not going to the right place go to kolyazin where a
wonder working icon of the holy mother of god has been revealed on
hearing those words i said good by to the holy folk and went 

all were silent only the pilgrim woman went on in measured tones 
drawing in her breath 

 so i come master and the people say to me a great blessing has
been revealed holy oil trickles from the cheeks of our blessed mother 
the holy virgin mother of god 

 all right all right you can tell us afterwards said princess
mary flushing 

 let me ask her said pierre did you see it yourselves he
inquired 

 oh yes master i was found worthy such a brightness on the face
like the light of heaven and from the blessed mother's cheek it drops
and drops 

 but dear me that must be a fraud said pierre naively who had
listened attentively to the pilgrim 

 oh master what are you saying exclaimed the horrified
pelageya turning to princess mary for support 

 they impose on the people he repeated 

 lord jesus christ exclaimed the pilgrim woman crossing herself 
 oh don't speak so master there was a general who did not
believe and said the monks cheat and as soon as he'd said it
he went blind and he dreamed that the holy virgin mother of the kiev
catacombs came to him and said believe in me and i will make you
whole so he begged take me to her take me to her it's the
real truth i'm telling you i saw it myself so he was brought quite
blind straight to her and he goes up to her and falls down and says 
 make me whole says he and i'll give thee what the tsar
bestowed on me i saw it myself master the star is fixed into the
icon well and what do you think he received his sight it's a sin
to speak so god will punish you she said admonishingly turning to
pierre 

 how did the star get into the icon pierre asked 

 and was the holy mother promoted to the rank of general said
prince andrew with a smile 

pelageya suddenly grew quite pale and clasped her hands 

 oh master master what a sin and you who have a son she began 
her pallor suddenly turning to a vivid red master what have you
said god forgive you and she crossed herself lord forgive him 
my dear what does it mean she asked turning to princess
mary she got up and almost crying began to arrange her wallet she
evidently felt frightened and ashamed to have accepted charity in a
house where such things could be said and was at the same time sorry to
have now to forgo the charity of this house 

 now why need you do it said princess mary why did you come
to me 

 come pelageya i was joking said pierre princesse ma
parole je n'ai pas voulu l'offenser i did not mean anything 
i was only joking he said smiling shyly and trying to efface his
offense it was all my fault and andrew was only joking 

 princess on my word i did not wish to offend her 


pelageya stopped doubtfully but in pierre's face there was such a
look of sincere penitence and prince andrew glanced so meekly now at
her and now at pierre that she was gradually reassured 





chapter xiv

the pilgrim woman was appeased and being encouraged to talk gave a
long account of father amphilochus who led so holy a life that his
hands smelled of incense and how on her last visit to kiev some monks
she knew let her have the keys of the catacombs and how she taking
some dried bread with her had spent two days in the catacombs with
the saints i'd pray awhile to one ponder awhile then go on to
another i'd sleep a bit and then again go and kiss the relics and
there was such peace all around such blessedness that one don't want
to come out even into the light of heaven again 

pierre listened to her attentively and seriously prince andrew went out
of the room and then leaving god's folk to finish their tea 
princess mary took pierre into the drawing room 

 you are very kind she said to him 

 oh i really did not mean to hurt her feelings i understand them so
well and have the greatest respect for them 

princess mary looked at him silently and smiled affectionately 

 i have known you a long time you see and am as fond of you as of a
brother she said how do you find andrew she added hurriedly 
not giving him time to reply to her affectionate words i am very
anxious about him his health was better in the winter but last spring
his wound reopened and the doctor said he ought to go away for a
cure and i am also very much afraid for him spiritually he has not a
character like us women who when we suffer can weep away our sorrows 
he keeps it all within him today he is cheerful and in good spirits 
but that is the effect of your visit he is not often like that if
you could persuade him to go abroad he needs activity and this quiet
regular life is very bad for him others don't notice it but i see
it 

toward ten o'clock the men servants rushed to the front door hearing
the bells of the old prince's carriage approaching prince andrew and
pierre also went out into the porch 

 who's that asked the old prince noticing pierre as he got out
of the carriage 

 ah very glad kiss me he said having learned who the young
stranger was 

the old prince was in a good temper and very gracious to pierre 

before supper prince andrew coming back to his father's study found
him disputing hotly with his visitor pierre was maintaining that a time
would come when there would be no more wars the old prince disputed it
chaffingly but without getting angry 

 drain the blood from men's veins and put in water instead then
there will be no more war old women's nonsense old women's
nonsense he repeated but still he patted pierre affectionately
on the shoulder and then went up to the table where prince andrew 
evidently not wishing to join in the conversation was looking over the
papers his father had brought from town the old prince went up to him
and began to talk business 

 the marshal a count rostov hasn't sent half his contingent he
came to town and wanted to invite me to dinner i gave him a pretty
dinner and there look at this well my boy the old prince
went on addressing his son and patting pierre on the shoulder a
fine fellow your friend i like him he stirs me up another says
clever things and one doesn't care to listen but this one talks
rubbish yet stirs an old fellow up well go get along perhaps i'll
come and sit with you at supper we'll have another dispute make
friends with my little fool princess mary he shouted after pierre 
through the door 

only now on his visit to bald hills did pierre fully realize the
strength and charm of his friendship with prince andrew that charm was
not expressed so much in his relations with him as with all his family
and with the household with the stern old prince and the gentle timid
princess mary though he had scarcely known them pierre at once felt
like an old friend they were all fond of him already not only princess
mary who had been won by his gentleness with the pilgrims gave him her
most radiant looks but even the one year old prince nicholas as
his grandfather called him smiled at pierre and let himself be taken
in his arms and michael ivanovich and mademoiselle bourienne looked at
him with pleasant smiles when he talked to the old prince 

the old prince came in to supper this was evidently on pierre's
account and during the two days of the young man's visit he was
extremely kind to him and told him to visit them again 

when pierre had gone and the members of the household met together they
began to express their opinions of him as people always do after a new
acquaintance has left but as seldom happens no one said anything but
what was good of him 





chapter xv

when returning from his leave rostov felt for the first time how
close was the bond that united him to denisov and the whole regiment 

on approaching it rostov felt as he had done when approaching his home
in moscow when he saw the first hussar with the unbuttoned uniform
of his regiment when he recognized red haired dementyev and saw the
picket ropes of the roan horses when lavrushka gleefully shouted to
his master the count has come and denisov who had been asleep
on his bed ran all disheveled out of the mud hut to embrace him 
and the officers collected round to greet the new arrival rostov
experienced the same feeling as when his mother his father and his
sister had embraced him and tears of joy choked him so that he could
not speak the regiment was also a home and as unalterably dear and
precious as his parents house 

when he had reported himself to the commander of the regiment and had
been reassigned to his former squadron had been on duty and had gone
out foraging when he had again entered into all the little interests
of the regiment and felt himself deprived of liberty and bound in one
narrow unchanging frame he experienced the same sense of peace of
moral support and the same sense of being at home here in his own
place as he had felt under the parental roof but here was none of
all that turmoil of the world at large where he did not know his right
place and took mistaken decisions here was no sonya with whom he
ought or ought not to have an explanation here was no possibility of
going there or not going there here there were not twenty four hours
in the day which could be spent in such a variety of ways there was not
that innumerable crowd of people of whom not one was nearer to him or
farther from him than another there were none of those uncertain and
undefined money relations with his father and nothing to recall that
terrible loss to dolokhov here in the regiment all was clear and
simple the whole world was divided into two unequal parts one our
pavlograd regiment the other all the rest and the rest was no
concern of his in the regiment everything was definite who was
lieutenant who captain who was a good fellow who a bad one and most
of all who was a comrade the canteenkeeper gave one credit one's
pay came every four months there was nothing to think out or decide 
you had only to do nothing that was considered bad in the pavlograd
regiment and when given an order to do what was clearly distinctly 
and definitely ordered and all would be well 

having once more entered into the definite conditions of this regimental
life rostov felt the joy and relief a tired man feels on lying down to
rest life in the regiment during this campaign was all the pleasanter
for him because after his loss to dolokhov for which in spite
of all his family's efforts to console him he could not forgive
himself he had made up his mind to atone for his fault by serving 
not as he had done before but really well and by being a perfectly
first rate comrade and officer in a word a splendid man altogether a
thing which seemed so difficult out in the world but so possible in the
regiment 

after his losses he had determined to pay back his debt to his parents
in five years he received ten thousand rubles a year but now resolved
to take only two thousand and leave the rest to repay the debt to his
parents 

our army after repeated retreats and advances and battles at pultusk
and preussisch eylau was concentrated near bartenstein it was awaiting
the emperor's arrival and the beginning of a new campaign 

the pavlograd regiment belonging to that part of the army which had
served in the 1805 campaign had been recruiting up to strength in
russia and arrived too late to take part in the first actions of the
campaign it had been neither at pultusk nor at preussisch eylau and 
when it joined the army in the field in the second half of the campaign 
was attached to platov's division 

platov's division was acting independently of the main army several
times parts of the pavlograd regiment had exchanged shots with
the enemy had taken prisoners and once had even captured marshal
oudinot's carriages in april the pavlograds were stationed immovably
for some weeks near a totally ruined and deserted german village 

a thaw had set in it was muddy and cold the ice on the river broke 
and the roads became impassable for days neither provisions for the
men nor fodder for the horses had been issued as no transports could
arrive the men dispersed about the abandoned and deserted villages 
searching for potatoes but found few even of these 

everything had been eaten up and the inhabitants had all fled if any
remained they were worse than beggars and nothing more could be taken
from them even the soldiers usually pitiless enough instead of taking
anything from them often gave them the last of their rations 

the pavlograd regiment had had only two men wounded in action but had
lost nearly half its men from hunger and sickness in the hospitals 
death was so certain that soldiers suffering from fever or the swelling
that came from bad food preferred to remain on duty and hardly able
to drag their legs went to the front rather than to the hospitals 
when spring came on the soldiers found a plant just showing out of the
ground that looked like asparagus which for some reason they called
 mashka's sweet root it was very bitter but they wandered
about the fields seeking it and dug it out with their sabers and ate it 
though they were ordered not to do so as it was a noxious plant that
spring a new disease broke out among the soldiers a swelling of the
arms legs and face which the doctors attributed to eating this root 
but in spite of all this the soldiers of denisov's squadron fed
chiefly on mashka's sweet root because it was the second week
that the last of the biscuits were being doled out at the rate of half a
pound a man and the last potatoes received had sprouted and frozen 

the horses also had been fed for a fortnight on straw from the thatched
roofs and had become terribly thin though still covered with tufts of
felty winter hair 

despite this destitution the soldiers and officers went on living just
as usual despite their pale swollen faces and tattered uniforms the
hussars formed line for roll call kept things in order groomed their
horses polished their arms brought in straw from the thatched roofs in
place of fodder and sat down to dine round the caldrons from which
they rose up hungry joking about their nasty food and their hunger as
usual in their spare time they lit bonfires steamed themselves before
them naked smoked picked out and baked sprouting rotten potatoes told
and listened to stories of potemkin's and suvorov's campaigns or
to legends of alesha the sly or the priest's laborer mikolka 

the officers as usual lived in twos and threes in the roofless 
half ruined houses the seniors tried to collect straw and potatoes and 
in general food for the men the younger ones occupied themselves as
before some playing cards there was plenty of money though there was
no food some with more innocent games such as quoits and skittles 
the general trend of the campaign was rarely spoken of partly because
nothing certain was known about it partly because there was a vague
feeling that in the main it was going badly 

rostov lived as before with denisov and since their furlough they
had become more friendly than ever denisov never spoke of rostov's
family but by the tender friendship his commander showed him rostov
felt that the elder hussar's luckless love for natasha played a part
in strengthening their friendship denisov evidently tried to expose
rostov to danger as seldom as possible and after an action greeted his
safe return with evident joy on one of his foraging expeditions in
a deserted and ruined village to which he had come in search of
provisions rostov found a family consisting of an old pole and his
daughter with an infant in arms they were half clad hungry too weak
to get away on foot and had no means of obtaining a conveyance rostov
brought them to his quarters placed them in his own lodging and
kept them for some weeks while the old man was recovering one of his
comrades talking of women began chaffing rostov saying that he was
more wily than any of them and that it would not be a bad thing if he
introduced to them the pretty polish girl he had saved rostov took
the joke as an insult flared up and said such unpleasant things to the
officer that it was all denisov could do to prevent a duel when
the officer had gone away denisov who did not himself know what
rostov's relations with the polish girl might be began to upbraid
him for his quickness of temper and rostov replied 

 say what you like she is like a sister to me and i can't tell
you how it offended me because well for that reason 

denisov patted him on the shoulder and began rapidly pacing the room
without looking at rostov as was his way at moments of deep feeling 

 ah what a mad bweed you wostovs are he muttered and rostov
noticed tears in his eyes 





chapter xvi

in april the troops were enlivened by news of the emperor's arrival 
but rostov had no chance of being present at the review he held at
bartenstein as the pavlograds were at the outposts far beyond that
place 

they were bivouacking denisov and rostov were living in an earth hut 
dug out for them by the soldiers and roofed with branches and turf the
hut was made in the following manner which had then come into vogue a
trench was dug three and a half feet wide four feet eight inches deep 
and eight feet long at one end of the trench steps were cut out and
these formed the entrance and vestibule the trench itself was the room 
in which the lucky ones such as the squadron commander had a board 
lying on piles at the end opposite the entrance to serve as a table on
each side of the trench the earth was cut out to a breadth of about two
and a half feet and this did duty for bedsteads and couches the roof
was so constructed that one could stand up in the middle of the trench
and could even sit up on the beds if one drew close to the table 
denisov who was living luxuriously because the soldiers of his
squadron liked him had also a board in the roof at the farther end 
with a piece of broken but mended glass in it for a window when it
was very cold embers from the soldiers campfire were placed on
a bent sheet of iron on the steps in the reception room as
denisov called that part of the hut and it was then so warm that the
officers of whom there were always some with denisov and rostov sat
in their shirt sleeves 

in april rostov was on orderly duty one morning between seven and
eight returning after a sleepless night he sent for embers changed
his rain soaked underclothes said his prayers drank tea got warm 
then tidied up the things on the table and in his own corner and 
his face glowing from exposure to the wind and with nothing on but his
shirt lay down on his back putting his arms under his head he was
pleasantly considering the probability of being promoted in a few days
for his last reconnoitering expedition and was awaiting denisov who
had gone out somewhere and with whom he wanted a talk 

suddenly he heard denisov shouting in a vibrating voice behind the hut 
evidently much excited rostov moved to the window to see whom he was
speaking to and saw the quartermaster topcheenko 

 i ordered you not to let them eat that mashka woot stuff 
denisov was shouting and i saw with my own eyes how lazarchuk
bwought some fwom the fields 

 i have given the order again and again your honor but they don't
obey answered the quartermaster 

rostov lay down again on his bed and thought complacently let
him fuss and bustle now my job's done and i'm lying
down capitally he could hear that lavrushka that sly bold
orderly of denisov's was talking as well as the quartermaster 
lavrushka was saying something about loaded wagons biscuits and oxen
he had seen when he had gone out for provisions 

then denisov's voice was heard shouting farther and farther away 
 saddle second platoon 

 where are they off to now thought rostov 

five minutes later denisov came into the hut climbed with muddy boots
on the bed lit his pipe furiously scattered his things about took
his leaded whip buckled on his saber and went out again in answer to
rostov's inquiry where he was going he answered vaguely and crossly
that he had some business 

 let god and our gweat monarch judge me afterwards said denisov
going out and rostov heard the hoofs of several horses splashing
through the mud he did not even trouble to find out where denisov had
gone having got warm in his corner he fell asleep and did not leave
the hut till toward evening denisov had not yet returned the weather
had cleared up and near the next hut two officers and a cadet were
playing svayka laughing as they threw their missiles which buried
themselves in the soft mud rostov joined them in the middle of the
game the officers saw some wagons approaching with fifteen hussars on
their skinny horses behind them the wagons escorted by the hussars drew
up to the picket ropes and a crowd of hussars surrounded them 

 there now denisov has been worrying said rostov and here
are the provisions 

 so they are said the officers won't the soldiers be
glad 

a little behind the hussars came denisov accompanied by two infantry
officers with whom he was talking 

rostov went to meet them 

 i warn you captain one of the officers a short thin man 
evidently very angry was saying 

 haven't i told you i won't give them up replied denisov 

 you will answer for it captain it is mutiny seizing the transport
of one's own army our men have had nothing to eat for two days 

 and mine have had nothing for two weeks said denisov 

 it is robbery you'll answer for it sir said the infantry
officer raising his voice 

 now what are you pestewing me for cried denisov suddenly
losing his temper i shall answer for it and not you and you'd
better not buzz about here till you get hurt be off go he shouted
at the officers 

 very well then shouted the little officer undaunted and not
riding away if you are determined to rob i'll 

 go to the devil quick ma'ch while you're safe and sound and
denisov turned his horse on the officer 

 very well very well muttered the officer threateningly and
turning his horse he trotted away jolting in his saddle 

 a dog astwide a fence a weal dog astwide a fence shouted
denisov after him the most insulting expression a cavalryman can
address to a mounted infantryman and riding up to rostov he burst out
laughing 

 i've taken twansports from the infantwy by force he said 
 after all can't let our men starve 

the wagons that had reached the hussars had been consigned to an
infantry regiment but learning from lavrushka that the transport
was unescorted denisov with his hussars had seized it by force the
soldiers had biscuits dealt out to them freely and they even shared
them with the other squadrons 

the next day the regimental commander sent for denisov and holding his
fingers spread out before his eyes said 

 this is how i look at this affair i know nothing about it and
won't begin proceedings but i advise you to ride over to the staff
and settle the business there in the commissariat department and if
possible sign a receipt for such and such stores received if not as
the demand was booked against an infantry regiment there will be a row
and the affair may end badly 

from the regimental commander's denisov rode straight to the staff
with a sincere desire to act on this advice in the evening he came
back to his dugout in a state such as rostov had never yet seen him in 
denisov could not speak and gasped for breath when rostov asked what
was the matter he only uttered some incoherent oaths and threats in a
hoarse feeble voice 

alarmed at denisov's condition rostov suggested that he should
undress drink some water and send for the doctor 

 twy me for wobbewy oh some more water let them twy me but
i'll always thwash scoundwels and i'll tell the empewo 
ice he muttered 

the regimental doctor when he came said it was absolutely necessary
to bleed denisov a deep saucer of black blood was taken from his hairy
arm and only then was he able to relate what had happened to him 

 i get there began denisov now then where's your
chief's quarters they were pointed out please to wait 
 i've widden twenty miles and have duties to attend to and no time
to wait announce me vewy well so out comes their head
chief also took it into his head to lecture me it's
wobbewy wobbewy i say is not done by man who seizes
pwovisions to feed his soldiers but by him who takes them to fill his
own pockets will you please be silent vewy good then
he says go and give a weceipt to the commissioner but your affair
will be passed on to headquarters i go to the commissioner i enter 
and at the table who do you think no but wait a bit who is it
that's starving us shouted denisov hitting the table with the
fist of his newly bled arm so violently that the table nearly broke down
and the tumblers on it jumped about telyanin what so it's
you who's starving us to death is it take this and this and i
hit him so pat stwaight on his snout ah what a what a 
and i sta'ted fwashing him well i've had a bit of fun i can tell
you cried denisov gleeful and yet angry his white teeth showing
under his black mustache i'd have killed him if they hadn't
taken him away 

 but what are you shouting for calm yourself said rostov 
 you've set your arm bleeding afresh wait we must tie it up
again 

denisov was bandaged up again and put to bed next day he woke calm and
cheerful 

but at noon the adjutant of the regiment came into rostov's and
denisov's dugout with a grave and serious face and regretfully showed
them a paper addressed to major denisov from the regimental commander
in which inquiries were made about yesterday's occurrence the
adjutant told them that the affair was likely to take a very bad
turn that a court martial had been appointed and that in view of the
severity with which marauding and insubordination were now regarded 
degradation to the ranks would be the best that could be hoped for 

the case as represented by the offended parties was that after
seizing the transports major denisov being drunk went to the chief
quartermaster and without any provocation called him a thief threatened
to strike him and on being led out had rushed into the office and given
two officials a thrashing and dislocated the arm of one of them 

in answer to rostov's renewed questions denisov said laughing 
that he thought he remembered that some other fellow had got mixed up
in it but that it was all nonsense and rubbish and he did not in the
least fear any kind of trial and that if those scoundrels dared attack
him he would give them an answer that they would not easily forget 

denisov spoke contemptuously of the whole matter but rostov knew him
too well not to detect that while hiding it from others at heart
he feared a court martial and was worried over the affair which was
evidently taking a bad turn every day letters of inquiry and notices
from the court arrived and on the first of may denisov was ordered
to hand the squadron over to the next in seniority and appear before
the staff of his division to explain his violence at the commissariat
office on the previous day platov reconnoitered with two cossack
regiments and two squadrons of hussars denisov as was his wont rode
out in front of the outposts parading his courage a bullet fired by
a french sharpshooter hit him in the fleshy part of his leg perhaps at
another time denisov would not have left the regiment for so slight a
wound but now he took advantage of it to excuse himself from appearing
at the staff and went into hospital 





chapter xvii

in june the battle of friedland was fought in which the pavlograds did
not take part and after that an armistice was proclaimed rostov who
felt his friend's absence very much having no news of him since he
left and feeling very anxious about his wound and the progress of his
affairs took advantage of the armistice to get leave to visit denisov
in hospital 

the hospital was in a small prussian town that had been twice devastated
by russian and french troops because it was summer when it is so
beautiful out in the fields the little town presented a particularly
dismal appearance with its broken roofs and fences its foul streets 
tattered inhabitants and the sick and drunken soldiers wandering about 

the hospital was in a brick building with some of the window frames and
panes broken and a courtyard surrounded by the remains of a wooden fence
that had been pulled to pieces several bandaged soldiers with pale
swollen faces were sitting or walking about in the sunshine in the
yard 

directly rostov entered the door he was enveloped by a smell of
putrefaction and hospital air on the stairs he met a russian army
doctor smoking a cigar the doctor was followed by a russian assistant 

 i can't tear myself to pieces the doctor was saying come to
makar alexeevich in the evening i shall be there 

the assistant asked some further questions 

 oh do the best you can isn't it all the same the doctor
noticed rostov coming upstairs 

 what do you want sir said the doctor what do you want 
the bullets having spared you do you want to try typhus this is a
pesthouse sir 

 how so asked rostov 

 typhus sir it's death to go in only we two makeev and i he
pointed to the assistant keep on here some five of us doctors have
died in this place when a new one comes he is done for in a week 
said the doctor with evident satisfaction prussian doctors have been
invited here but our allies don't like it at all 

rostov explained that he wanted to see major denisov of the hussars 
who was wounded 

 i don't know i can't tell you sir only think i am alone in
charge of three hospitals with more than four hundred patients it's
well that the charitable prussian ladies send us two pounds of coffee
and some lint each month or we should be lost he laughed four
hundred sir and they're always sending me fresh ones there are four
hundred eh he asked turning to the assistant 

the assistant looked fagged out he was evidently vexed and impatient
for the talkative doctor to go 

 major denisov rostov said again he was wounded at
molliten 

 dead i fancy eh makeev queried the doctor in a tone of
indifference 

the assistant however did not confirm the doctor's words 

 is he tall and with reddish hair asked the doctor 

rostov described denisov's appearance 

 there was one like that said the doctor as if pleased that
one is dead i fancy however i'll look up our list we had a list 
have you got it makeev 

 makar alexeevich has the list answered the assistant but if
you'll step into the officers wards you'll see for yourself 
he added turning to rostov 

 ah you'd better not go sir said the doctor or you may
have to stay here yourself 

but rostov bowed himself away from the doctor and asked the assistant
to show him the way 

 only don't blame me the doctor shouted up after him 

rostov and the assistant went into the dark corridor the smell was so
strong there that rostov held his nose and had to pause and collect
his strength before he could go on a door opened to the right and an
emaciated sallow man on crutches barefoot and in underclothing limped
out and leaning against the doorpost looked with glittering envious
eyes at those who were passing glancing in at the door rostov
saw that the sick and wounded were lying on the floor on straw and
overcoats 

 may i go in and look 

 what is there to see said the assistant 

but just because the assistant evidently did not want him to go in 
rostov entered the soldiers ward the foul air to which he had
already begun to get used in the corridor was still stronger here it
was a little different more pungent and one felt that this was where
it originated 

in the long room brightly lit up by the sun through the large windows 
the sick and wounded lay in two rows with their heads to the walls and
leaving a passage in the middle most of them were unconscious and
paid no attention to the newcomers those who were conscious raised
themselves or lifted their thin yellow faces and all looked intently at
rostov with the same expression of hope of relief reproach and
envy of another's health rostov went to the middle of the room and
looking through the open doors into the two adjoining rooms saw the same
thing there he stood still looking silently around he had not at all
expected such a sight just before him almost across the middle of the
passage on the bare floor lay a sick man probably a cossack to judge
by the cut of his hair the man lay on his back his huge arms and legs
outstretched his face was purple his eyes were rolled back so that
only the whites were seen and on his bare legs and arms which were
still red the veins stood out like cords he was knocking the back of
his head against the floor hoarsely uttering some word which he kept
repeating rostov listened and made out the word it was drink 
drink a drink rostov glanced round looking for someone who would
put this man back in his place and bring him water 

 who looks after the sick here he asked the assistant 

just then a commissariat soldier a hospital orderly came in from the
next room marching stiffly and drew up in front of rostov 

 good day your honor he shouted rolling his eyes at rostov and
evidently mistaking him for one of the hospital authorities 

 get him to his place and give him some water said rostov 
pointing to the cossack 

 yes your honor the soldier replied complacently and rolling
his eyes more than ever he drew himself up still straighter but did not
move 

 no it's impossible to do anything here thought rostov 
lowering his eyes and he was going out but became aware of an intense
look fixed on him on his right and he turned close to the corner on
an overcoat sat an old unshaven gray bearded soldier as thin as a
skeleton with a stern sallow face and eyes intently fixed on rostov 
the man's neighbor on one side whispered something to him pointing
at rostov who noticed that the old man wanted to speak to him he drew
nearer and saw that the old man had only one leg bent under him the
other had been amputated above the knee his neighbor on the other side 
who lay motionless some distance from him with his head thrown back was
a young soldier with a snub nose his pale waxen face was still freckled
and his eyes were rolled back rostov looked at the young soldier and a
cold chill ran down his back 

 why this one seems he began turning to the assistant 

 and how we've been begging your honor said the old soldier 
his jaw quivering he's been dead since morning after all we're
men not dogs 

 i'll send someone at once he shall be taken away taken away at
once said the assistant hurriedly let us go your honor 

 yes yes let us go said rostov hastily and lowering his
eyes and shrinking he tried to pass unnoticed between the rows of
reproachful envious eyes that were fixed upon him and went out of the
room 





chapter xviii

going along the corridor the assistant led rostov to the officers 
wards consisting of three rooms the doors of which stood open there
were beds in these rooms and the sick and wounded officers were lying or
sitting on them some were walking about the rooms in hospital dressing
gowns the first person rostov met in the officers ward was a thin
little man with one arm who was walking about the first room in a
nightcap and hospital dressing gown with a pipe between his teeth 
rostov looked at him trying to remember where he had seen him before 

 see where we've met again said the little man tushin 
tushin don't you remember who gave you a lift at schon grabern 
and i've had a bit cut off you see he went on with a smile 
pointing to the empty sleeve of his dressing gown looking for
vasili dmitrich denisov my neighbor he added when he heard
who rostov wanted here here and tushin led him into the next
room from whence came sounds of several laughing voices 

 how can they laugh or even live at all here thought rostov 
still aware of that smell of decomposing flesh that had been so strong
in the soldiers ward and still seeming to see fixed on him those
envious looks which had followed him out from both sides and the face
of that young soldier with eyes rolled back 

denisov lay asleep on his bed with his head under the blanket though
it was nearly noon 

 ah wostov how are you how are you he called out still in the
same voice as in the regiment but rostov noticed sadly that under this
habitual ease and animation some new sinister hidden feeling showed
itself in the expression of denisov's face and the intonations of his
voice 

his wound though a slight one had not yet healed even now six weeks
after he had been hit his face had the same swollen pallor as the faces
of the other hospital patients but it was not this that struck rostov 
what struck him was that denisov did not seem glad to see him and
smiled at him unnaturally he did not ask about the regiment nor about
the general state of affairs and when rostov spoke of these matters
did not listen 

rostov even noticed that denisov did not like to be reminded of the
regiment or in general of that other free life which was going on
outside the hospital he seemed to try to forget that old life and
was only interested in the affair with the commissariat officers on
rostov's inquiry as to how the matter stood he at once produced from
under his pillow a paper he had received from the commission and the
rough draft of his answer to it he became animated when he began
reading his paper and specially drew rostov's attention to the
stinging rejoinders he made to his enemies his hospital companions 
who had gathered round rostov a fresh arrival from the world
outside gradually began to disperse as soon as denisov began reading
his answer rostov noticed by their faces that all those gentlemen had
already heard that story more than once and were tired of it only the
man who had the next bed a stout uhlan continued to sit on his bed 
gloomily frowning and smoking a pipe and little one armed tushin still
listened shaking his head disapprovingly in the middle of the reading 
the uhlan interrupted denisov 

 but what i say is he said turning to rostov it would be
best simply to petition the emperor for pardon they say great rewards
will now be distributed and surely a pardon would be granted 

 me petition the empewo exclaimed denisov in a voice to which
he tried hard to give the old energy and fire but which sounded like
an expression of irritable impotence what for if i were a wobber i
would ask mercy but i'm being court martialed for bwinging wobbers
to book let them twy me i'm not afwaid of anyone i've served
the tsar and my countwy honowably and have not stolen and am i to be
degwaded listen i'm w'iting to them stwaight this is what i
say if i had wobbed the tweasuwy 

 it's certainly well written said tushin but that's not
the point vasili dmitrich and he also turned to rostov one
has to submit and vasili dmitrich doesn't want to you know the
auditor told you it was a bad business 

 well let it be bad said denisov 

 the auditor wrote out a petition for you continued tushin 
 and you ought to sign it and ask this gentleman to take it no doubt
he indicating rostov has connections on the staff you won't
find a better opportunity 

 haven't i said i'm not going to gwovel denisov interrupted
him went on reading his paper 

rostov had not the courage to persuade denisov though he
instinctively felt that the way advised by tushin and the other
officers was the safest and though he would have been glad to be of
service to denisov he knew his stubborn will and straightforward hasty
temper 

when the reading of denisov's virulent reply which took more than an
hour was over rostov said nothing and he spent the rest of the day
in a most dejected state of mind amid denisov's hospital comrades 
who had gathered round him telling them what he knew and listening to
their stories denisov was moodily silent all the evening 

late in the evening when rostov was about to leave he asked denisov
whether he had no commission for him 

 yes wait a bit said denisov glancing round at the officers 
and taking his papers from under his pillow he went to the window where
he had an inkpot and sat down to write 

 it seems it's no use knocking one's head against a wall he
said coming from the window and giving rostov a large envelope in
it was the petition to the emperor drawn up by the auditor in
which denisov without alluding to the offenses of the commissariat
officials simply asked for pardon 

 hand it in it seems 

he did not finish but gave a painfully unnatural smile 





chapter xix

having returned to the regiment and told the commander the state of
denisov's affairs rostov rode to tilsit with the letter to the
emperor 

on the thirteenth of june the french and russian emperors arrived in
tilsit boris drubetskoy had asked the important personage on whom he
was in attendance to include him in the suite appointed for the stay at
tilsit 

 i should like to see the great man he said alluding to napoleon 
whom hitherto he like everyone else had always called buonaparte 

 you are speaking of buonaparte asked the general smiling 

boris looked at his general inquiringly and immediately saw that he was
being tested 

 i am speaking prince of the emperor napoleon he replied the
general patted him on the shoulder with a smile 

 you will go far he said and took him to tilsit with him 

boris was among the few present at the niemen on the day the two
emperors met he saw the raft decorated with monograms saw napoleon
pass before the french guards on the farther bank of the river saw the
pensive face of the emperor alexander as he sat in silence in a tavern
on the bank of the niemen awaiting napoleon's arrival saw both
emperors get into boats and saw how napoleon reaching the raft
first stepped quickly forward to meet alexander and held out his hand
to him and how they both retired into the pavilion since he had begun
to move in the highest circles boris had made it his habit to watch
attentively all that went on around him and to note it down at the time
of the meeting at tilsit he asked the names of those who had come with
napoleon and about the uniforms they wore and listened attentively to
words spoken by important personages at the moment the emperors went
into the pavilion he looked at his watch and did not forget to look at
it again when alexander came out the interview had lasted an hour and
fifty three minutes he noted this down that same evening among other
facts he felt to be of historic importance as the emperor's suite
was a very small one it was a matter of great importance for a man who
valued his success in the service to be at tilsit on the occasion of
this interview between the two emperors and having succeeded in this 
boris felt that henceforth his position was fully assured he had not
only become known but people had grown accustomed to him and accepted
him twice he had executed commissions to the emperor himself so
that the latter knew his face and all those at court far from
cold shouldering him as at first when they considered him a newcomer 
would now have been surprised had he been absent 

boris lodged with another adjutant the polish count zhilinski 
zhilinski a pole brought up in paris was rich and passionately
fond of the french and almost every day of the stay at tilsit french
officers of the guard and from french headquarters were dining and
lunching with him and boris 

on the evening of the twenty fourth of june count zhilinski arranged a
supper for his french friends the guest of honor was an aide de camp of
napoleon's there were also several french officers of the guard 
and a page of napoleon's a young lad of an old aristocratic french
family that same day rostov profiting by the darkness to avoid being
recognized in civilian dress came to tilsit and went to the lodging
occupied by boris and zhilinski 

rostov in common with the whole army from which he came was far
from having experienced the change of feeling toward napoleon and the
french who from being foes had suddenly become friends that had
taken place at headquarters and in boris in the army bonaparte and
the french were still regarded with mingled feelings of anger contempt 
and fear only recently talking with one of platov's cossack
officers rostov had argued that if napoleon were taken prisoner he
would be treated not as a sovereign but as a criminal quite lately 
happening to meet a wounded french colonel on the road rostov had
maintained with heat that peace was impossible between a legitimate
sovereign and the criminal bonaparte rostov was therefore unpleasantly
struck by the presence of french officers in boris lodging dressed
in uniforms he had been accustomed to see from quite a different point
of view from the outposts of the flank as soon as he noticed a french
officer who thrust his head out of the door that warlike feeling of
hostility which he always experienced at the sight of the enemy suddenly
seized him he stopped at the threshold and asked in russian whether
drubetskoy lived there boris hearing a strange voice in the
anteroom came out to meet him an expression of annoyance showed itself
for a moment on his face on first recognizing rostov 

 ah it's you very glad very glad to see you he said however 
coming toward him with a smile but rostov had noticed his first
impulse 

 i've come at a bad time i think i should not have come but i have
business he said coldly 

 no i only wonder how you managed to get away from your regiment 
dans un moment je suis a vous he said answering someone who
called him 

 in a minute i shall be at your disposal 


 i see i'm intruding rostov repeated 

the look of annoyance had already disappeared from boris face 
having evidently reflected and decided how to act he very quietly took
both rostov's hands and led him into the next room his eyes looking
serenely and steadily at rostov seemed to be veiled by something 
as if screened by blue spectacles of conventionality so it seemed to
rostov 

 oh come now as if you could come at a wrong time said boris 
and he led him into the room where the supper table was laid and
introduced him to his guests explaining that he was not a civilian but
an hussar officer and an old friend of his 

 count zhilinski le comte n n le capitaine s s said he 
naming his guests rostov looked frowningly at the frenchmen bowed
reluctantly and remained silent 

zhilinski evidently did not receive this new russian person very
willingly into his circle and did not speak to rostov boris did not
appear to notice the constraint the newcomer produced and with the same
pleasant composure and the same veiled look in his eyes with which
he had met rostov tried to enliven the conversation one of the
frenchmen with the politeness characteristic of his countrymen 
addressed the obstinately taciturn rostov saying that the latter had
probably come to tilsit to see the emperor 

 no i came on business replied rostov briefly 

rostov had been out of humor from the moment he noticed the look of
dissatisfaction on boris face and as always happens to those in a
bad humor it seemed to him that everyone regarded him with aversion
and that he was in everybody's way he really was in their way for he
alone took no part in the conversation which again became general the
looks the visitors cast on him seemed to say and what is he sitting
here for he rose and went up to boris 

 anyhow i'm in your way he said in a low tone come and talk
over my business and i'll go away 

 oh no not at all said boris but if you are tired come and
lie down in my room and have a rest 

 yes really 

they went into the little room where boris slept rostov without
sitting down began at once irritably as if boris were to blame in
some way telling him about denisov's affair asking him whether 
through his general he could and would intercede with the emperor on
denisov's behalf and get denisov's petition handed in when he
and boris were alone rostov felt for the first time that he could not
look boris in the face without a sense of awkwardness boris with one
leg crossed over the other and stroking his left hand with the slender
fingers of his right listened to rostov as a general listens to the
report of a subordinate now looking aside and now gazing straight into
rostov's eyes with the same veiled look each time this happened
rostov felt uncomfortable and cast down his eyes 

 i have heard of such cases and know that his majesty is very severe
in such affairs i think it would be best not to bring it before the
emperor but to apply to the commander of the corps but in general 
i think 

 so you don't want to do anything well then say so rostov
almost shouted not looking boris in the face 

boris smiled 

 on the contrary i will do what i can only i thought 

at that moment zhilinski's voice was heard calling boris 

 well then go go go said rostov and refusing supper and
remaining alone in the little room he walked up and down for a long
time hearing the lighthearted french conversation from the next room 





chapter xx

rostov had come to tilsit the day least suitable for a petition
on denisov's behalf he could not himself go to the general in
attendance as he was in mufti and had come to tilsit without permission
to do so and boris even had he wished to could not have done so on
the following day on that day june 27 the preliminaries of peace were
signed the emperors exchanged decorations alexander received the cross
of the legion of honor and napoleon the order of st andrew of the
first degree and a dinner had been arranged for the evening given by
a battalion of the french guards to the preobrazhensk battalion the
emperors were to be present at that banquet 

rostov felt so ill at ease and uncomfortable with boris that when the
latter looked in after supper he pretended to be asleep and early next
morning went away avoiding boris in his civilian clothes and a
round hat he wandered about the town staring at the french and their
uniforms and at the streets and houses where the russian and french
emperors were staying in a square he saw tables being set up and
preparations made for the dinner he saw the russian and french colors
draped from side to side of the streets with huge monograms a and n in
the windows of the houses also flags and bunting were displayed 

 boris doesn't want to help me and i don't want to ask him 
that's settled thought nicholas all is over between us but
i won't leave here without having done all i can for denisov and
certainly not without getting his letter to the emperor the emperor 
he is here thought rostov who had unconsciously returned to the
house where alexander lodged 

saddled horses were standing before the house and the suite were
assembling evidently preparing for the emperor to come out 

 i may see him at any moment thought rostov if only i were
to hand the letter direct to him and tell him all could they really
arrest me for my civilian clothes surely not he would understand on
whose side justice lies he understands everything knows everything 
who can be more just more magnanimous than he and even if they did
arrest me for being here what would it matter thought he looking
at an officer who was entering the house the emperor occupied after
all people do go in it's all nonsense i'll go in and hand
the letter to the emperor myself so much the worse for drubetskoy who
drives me to it and suddenly with a determination he himself did not
expect rostov felt for the letter in his pocket and went straight to
the house 

 no i won't miss my opportunity now as i did after austerlitz 
he thought expecting every moment to meet the monarch and conscious of
the blood that rushed to his heart at the thought i will fall at
his feet and beseech him he will lift me up will listen and will even
thank me i am happy when i can do good but to remedy injustice is
the greatest happiness rostov fancied the sovereign saying and
passing people who looked after him with curiosity he entered the porch
of the emperor's house 

a broad staircase led straight up from the entry and to the right he
saw a closed door below under the staircase was a door leading to the
lower floor 

 whom do you want someone inquired 

 to hand in a letter a petition to his majesty said nicholas 
with a tremor in his voice 

 a petition this way to the officer on duty he was shown the
door leading downstairs only it won't be accepted 

on hearing this indifferent voice rostov grew frightened at what
he was doing the thought of meeting the emperor at any moment was so
fascinating and consequently so alarming that he was ready to run away 
but the official who had questioned him opened the door and rostov
entered 

a short stout man of about thirty in white breeches and high boots and
a batiste shirt that he had evidently only just put on standing in that
room and his valet was buttoning on to the back of his breeches a
new pair of handsome silk embroidered braces that for some reason 
attracted rostov's attention this man was speaking to someone in the
adjoining room 

 a good figure and in her first bloom he was saying but on seeing
rostov he stopped short and frowned 

 what is it a petition 

 what is it asked the person in the other room 

 another petitioner answered the man with the braces 

 tell him to come later he'll be coming out directly we must
go 

 later later tomorrow it's too late 

rostov turned and was about to go but the man in the braces stopped
him 

 whom have you come from who are you 

 i come from major denisov answered rostov 

 are you an officer 

 lieutenant count rostov 

 what audacity hand it in through your commander and go along with
you go and he continued to put on the uniform the valet handed
him 

rostov went back into the hall and noticed that in the porch there were
many officers and generals in full parade uniform whom he had to pass 

cursing his temerity his heart sinking at the thought of finding
himself at any moment face to face with the emperor and being put to
shame and arrested in his presence fully alive now to the impropriety
of his conduct and repenting of it rostov with downcast eyes was
making his way out of the house through the brilliant suite when a
familiar voice called him and a hand detained him 

 what are you doing here sir in civilian dress asked a deep
voice 

it was a cavalry general who had obtained the emperor's special favor
during this campaign and who had formerly commanded the division in
which rostov was serving 

rostov in dismay began justifying himself but seeing the kindly 
jocular face of the general he took him aside and in an excited voice
told him the whole affair asking him to intercede for denisov whom
the general knew having heard rostov to the end the general shook his
head gravely 

 i'm sorry sorry for that fine fellow give me the letter 

hardly had rostov handed him the letter and finished explaining
denisov's case when hasty steps and the jingling of spurs were heard
on the stairs and the general leaving him went to the porch the
gentlemen of the emperor's suite ran down the stairs and went to their
horses hayne the same groom who had been at austerlitz led up the
emperor's horse and the faint creak of a footstep rostov knew at
once was heard on the stairs forgetting the danger of being recognized 
rostov went close to the porch together with some inquisitive
civilians and again after two years saw those features he adored 
that same face and same look and step and the same union of majesty and
mildness and the feeling of enthusiasm and love for his sovereign
rose again in rostov's soul in all its old force in the uniform of
the preobrazhensk regiment white chamois leather breeches and high
boots and wearing a star rostov did not know it was that of the
legion d'honneur the monarch came out into the porch putting on
his gloves and carrying his hat under his arm he stopped and looked
about him brightening everything around by his glance he spoke a few
words to some of the generals and recognizing the former commander of
rostov's division smiled and beckoned to him 

all the suite drew back and rostov saw the general talking for some
time to the emperor 

the emperor said a few words to him and took a step toward his horse 
again the crowd of members of the suite and street gazers among whom
was rostov moved nearer to the emperor stopping beside his horse 
with his hand on the saddle the emperor turned to the cavalry general
and said in a loud voice evidently wishing to be heard by all 

 i cannot do it general i cannot because the law is stronger than
i and he raised his foot to the stirrup 

the general bowed his head respectfully and the monarch mounted and
rode down the street at a gallop beside himself with enthusiasm 
rostov ran after him with the crowd 





chapter xxi

the emperor rode to the square where facing one another a battalion
of the preobrazhensk regiment stood on the right and a battalion of the
french guards in their bearskin caps on the left 

as the tsar rode up to one flank of the battalions which presented
arms another group of horsemen galloped up to the opposite flank and
at the head of them rostov recognized napoleon it could be no one
else he came at a gallop wearing a small hat a blue uniform open over
a white vest and the st andrew ribbon over his shoulder he was riding
a very fine thoroughbred gray arab horse with a crimson gold embroidered
saddlecloth on approaching alexander he raised his hat and as he did
so rostov with his cavalryman's eye could not help noticing
that napoleon did not sit well or firmly in the saddle the battalions
shouted hurrah and vive l'empereur napoleon said
something to alexander and both emperors dismounted and took each
other's hands napoleon's face wore an unpleasant and artificial
smile alexander was saying something affable to him 

in spite of the trampling of the french gendarmes horses which
were pushing back the crowd rostov kept his eyes on every movement
of alexander and bonaparte it struck him as a surprise that alexander
treated bonaparte as an equal and that the latter was quite at ease with
the tsar as if such relations with an emperor were an everyday matter
to him 

alexander and napoleon with the long train of their suites approached
the right flank of the preobrazhensk battalion and came straight up to
the crowd standing there the crowd unexpectedly found itself so close
to the emperors that rostov standing in the front row was afraid he
might be recognized 

 sire i ask your permission to present the legion of honor to the
bravest of your soldiers said a sharp precise voice articulating
every letter 

this was said by the undersized napoleon looking up straight into
alexander's eyes alexander listened attentively to what was said to
him and bending his head smiled pleasantly 

 to him who has borne himself most bravely in this last war added
napoleon accentuating each syllable as with a composure and assurance
exasperating to rostov he ran his eyes over the russian ranks drawn
up before him who all presented arms with their eyes fixed on their
emperor 

 will your majesty allow me to consult the colonel said alexander
and took a few hasty steps toward prince kozlovski the commander of
the battalion 

bonaparte meanwhile began taking the glove off his small white hand 
tore it in doing so and threw it away an aide de camp behind him
rushed forward and picked it up 

 to whom shall it be given the emperor alexander asked kozlovski 
in russian in a low voice 

 to whomever your majesty commands 

the emperor knit his brows with dissatisfaction and glancing back 
remarked 

 but we must give him an answer 

kozlovski scanned the ranks resolutely and included rostov in his
scrutiny 

 can it be me thought rostov 

 lazarev the colonel called with a frown and lazarev the
first soldier in the rank stepped briskly forward 

 where are you off to stop here voices whispered to lazarev who
did not know where to go lazarev stopped casting a sidelong look at
his colonel in alarm his face twitched as often happens to soldiers
called before the ranks 

napoleon slightly turned his head and put his plump little hand out
behind him as if to take something the members of his suite guessing
at once what he wanted moved about and whispered as they passed
something from one to another and a page the same one rostov
had seen the previous evening at boris ran forward and bowing
respectfully over the outstretched hand and not keeping it waiting a
moment laid in it an order on a red ribbon napoleon without looking 
pressed two fingers together and the badge was between them then he
approached lazarev who rolled his eyes and persistently gazed at his
own monarch looked round at the emperor alexander to imply that what
he was now doing was done for the sake of his ally and the small white
hand holding the order touched one of lazarev's buttons it was as if
napoleon knew that it was only necessary for his hand to deign to touch
that soldier's breast for the soldier to be forever happy rewarded 
and distinguished from everyone else in the world napoleon merely laid
the cross on lazarev's breast and dropping his hand turned toward
alexander as though sure that the cross would adhere there and it
really did 

officious hands russian and french immediately seized the cross and
fastened it to the uniform lazarev glanced morosely at the little
man with white hands who was doing something to him and still standing
motionless presenting arms looked again straight into alexander's
eyes as if asking whether he should stand there or go away or do
something else but receiving no orders he remained for some time in
that rigid position 

the emperors remounted and rode away the preobrazhensk battalion 
breaking rank mingled with the french guards and sat down at the tables
prepared for them 

lazarev sat in the place of honor russian and french officers embraced
him congratulated him and pressed his hands crowds of officers and
civilians drew near merely to see him a rumble of russian and french
voices and laughter filled the air round the tables in the square 
two officers with flushed faces looking cheerful and happy passed by
rostov 

 what d'you think of the treat all on silver plate one of them
was saying have you seen lazarev 

 i have 

 tomorrow i hear the preobrazhenskis will give them a dinner 

 yes but what luck for lazarev twelve hundred francs pension for
life 

 here's a cap lads shouted a preobrazhensk soldier donning a
shaggy french cap 

 it's a fine thing first rate 

 have you heard the password asked one guards officer of
another the day before yesterday it was napoleon france 
bravoure yesterday alexandre russie grandeur one day our
emperor gives it and next day napoleon tomorrow our emperor will send
a st george's cross to the bravest of the french guards it has to be
done he must respond in kind 

boris too with his friend zhilinski came to see the preobrazhensk
banquet on his way back he noticed rostov standing by the corner of a
house 

 rostov how d'you do we missed one another he said and could
not refrain from asking what was the matter so strangely dismal and
troubled was rostov's face 

 nothing nothing replied rostov 

 you'll call round 

 yes i will 

rostov stood at that corner for a long time watching the feast from a
distance in his mind a painful process was going on which he could
not bring to a conclusion terrible doubts rose in his soul now he
remembered denisov with his changed expression his submission and the
whole hospital with arms and legs torn off and its dirt and disease so
vividly did he recall that hospital stench of dead flesh that he
looked round to see where the smell came from next he thought of that
self satisfied bonaparte with his small white hand who was now an
emperor liked and respected by alexander then why those severed
arms and legs and those dead men then again he thought of lazarev
rewarded and denisov punished and unpardoned he caught himself
harboring such strange thoughts that he was frightened 

the smell of the food the preobrazhenskis were eating and a sense of
hunger recalled him from these reflections he had to get something to
eat before going away he went to a hotel he had noticed that morning 
there he found so many people among them officers who like himself 
had come in civilian clothes that he had difficulty in getting a
dinner two officers of his own division joined him the conversation
naturally turned on the peace the officers his comrades like most of
the army were dissatisfied with the peace concluded after the battle of
friedland they said that had we held out a little longer napoleon would
have been done for as his troops had neither provisions nor ammunition 
nicholas ate and drank chiefly the latter in silence he finished a
couple of bottles of wine by himself the process in his mind went on
tormenting him without reaching a conclusion he feared to give way to
his thoughts yet could not get rid of them suddenly on one of the
officers saying that it was humiliating to look at the french 
rostov began shouting with uncalled for wrath and therefore much to
the surprise of the officers 

 how can you judge what's best he cried the blood suddenly
rushing to his face how can you judge the emperor's actions what
right have we to argue we cannot comprehend either the emperor's aims
or his actions 

 but i never said a word about the emperor said the officer 
justifying himself and unable to understand rostov's outburst 
except on the supposition that he was drunk 

but rostov did not listen to him 

 we are not diplomatic officials we are soldiers and nothing more 
he went on if we are ordered to die we must die if we're
punished it means that we have deserved it it's not for us to judge 
if the emperor pleases to recognize bonaparte as emperor and to conclude
an alliance with him it means that that is the right thing to do if
once we begin judging and arguing about everything nothing sacred
will be left that way we shall be saying there is no god nothing 
shouted nicholas banging the table very little to the point as it
seemed to his listeners but quite relevantly to the course of his own
thoughts 

 our business is to do our duty to fight and not to think that's
all said he 

 and to drink said one of the officers not wishing to quarrel 

 yes and to drink assented nicholas hullo there another
bottle he shouted 

in 1808 the emperor alexander went to erfurt for a fresh interview with
the emperor napoleon and in the upper circles of petersburg there was
much talk of the grandeur of this important meeting 





chapter xxii

in 1809 the intimacy between the world's two arbiters as
napoleon and alexander were called was such that when napoleon declared
war on austria a russian corps crossed the frontier to co operate with
our old enemy bonaparte against our old ally the emperor of austria and
in court circles the possibility of marriage between napoleon and one
of alexander's sisters was spoken of but besides considerations of
foreign policy the attention of russian society was at that time keenly
directed on the internal changes that were being undertaken in all the
departments of government 

life meanwhile real life with its essential interests of health and
sickness toil and rest and its intellectual interests in thought 
science poetry music love friendship hatred and passions went on
as usual independently of and apart from political friendship or enmity
with napoleon bonaparte and from all the schemes of reconstruction 





book six 1808 10





chapter i

prince andrew had spent two years continuously in the country 

all the plans pierre had attempted on his estates and constantly
changing from one thing to another had never accomplished were carried
out by prince andrew without display and without perceptible difficulty 

he had in the highest degree a practical tenacity which pierre lacked 
and without fuss or strain on his part this set things going 

on one of his estates the three hundred serfs were liberated and became
free agricultural laborers this being one of the first examples of
the kind in russia on other estates the serfs compulsory labor was
commuted for a quitrent a trained midwife was engaged for bogucharovo
at his expense and a priest was paid to teach reading and writing to
the children of the peasants and household serfs 

prince andrew spent half his time at bald hills with his father and his
son who was still in the care of nurses the other half he spent in
 bogucharovo cloister as his father called prince andrew's
estate despite the indifference to the affairs of the world he had
expressed to pierre he diligently followed all that went on received
many books and to his surprise noticed that when he or his father had
visitors from petersburg the very vortex of life these people lagged
behind himself who never left the country in knowledge of what was
happening in home and foreign affairs 

besides being occupied with his estates and reading a great variety of
books prince andrew was at this time busy with a critical survey of
our last two unfortunate campaigns and with drawing up a proposal for a
reform of the army rules and regulations 

in the spring of 1809 he went to visit the ryazan estates which had
been inherited by his son whose guardian he was 

warmed by the spring sunshine he sat in the caleche looking at the new
grass the first leaves on the birches and the first puffs of white
spring clouds floating across the clear blue sky he was not thinking of
anything but looked absent mindedly and cheerfully from side to side 

they crossed the ferry where he had talked with pierre the year before 
they went through the muddy village past threshing floors and green
fields of winter rye downhill where snow still lodged near the bridge 
uphill where the clay had been liquefied by the rain past strips of
stubble land and bushes touched with green here and there and into a
birch forest growing on both sides of the road in the forest it was
almost hot no wind could be felt the birches with their sticky green
leaves were motionless and lilac colored flowers and the first blades
of green grass were pushing up and lifting last year's leaves the
coarse evergreen color of the small fir trees scattered here and there
among the birches was an unpleasant reminder of winter on entering the
forest the horses began to snort and sweated visibly 

peter the footman made some remark to the coachman the latter assented 
but apparently the coachman's sympathy was not enough for peter and
he turned on the box toward his master 

 how pleasant it is your excellency he said with a respectful
smile 

 what 

 it's pleasant your excellency 

 what is he talking about thought prince andrew oh the
spring i suppose he thought as he turned round yes really
everything is green already how early the birches and cherry and
alders too are coming out but the oaks show no sign yet ah here is
one oak 

at the edge of the road stood an oak probably ten times the age of the
birches that formed the forest it was ten times as thick and twice as
tall as they it was an enormous tree its girth twice as great as a
man could embrace and evidently long ago some of its branches had been
broken off and its bark scarred with its huge ungainly limbs sprawling
unsymmetrically and its gnarled hands and fingers it stood an aged 
stern and scornful monster among the smiling birch trees only the
dead looking evergreen firs dotted about in the forest and this oak 
refused to yield to the charm of spring or notice either the spring or
the sunshine 

 spring love happiness this oak seemed to say are you not
weary of that stupid meaningless constantly repeated fraud always the
same and always a fraud there is no spring no sun no happiness look
at those cramped dead firs ever the same and at me too sticking out
my broken and barked fingers just where they have grown whether from my
back or my sides as they have grown so i stand and i do not believe in
your hopes and your lies 

as he passed through the forest prince andrew turned several times to
look at that oak as if expecting something from it under the oak 
too were flowers and grass but it stood among them scowling rigid 
misshapen and grim as ever 

 yes the oak is right a thousand times right thought prince
andrew let others the young yield afresh to that fraud but we
know life our life is finished 

a whole sequence of new thoughts hopeless but mournfully pleasant rose
in his soul in connection with that tree during this journey he as
it were considered his life afresh and arrived at his old conclusion 
restful in its hopelessness that it was not for him to begin anything
anew but that he must live out his life content to do no harm and
not disturbing himself or desiring anything 





chapter ii

prince andrew had to see the marshal of the nobility for the district
in connection with the affairs of the ryazan estate of which he was
trustee this marshal was count ilya rostov and in the middle of may
prince andrew went to visit him 

it was now hot spring weather the whole forest was already clothed in
green it was dusty and so hot that on passing near water one longed to
bathe 

prince andrew depressed and preoccupied with the business about which
he had to speak to the marshal was driving up the avenue in the grounds
of the rostovs house at otradnoe he heard merry girlish cries
behind some trees on the right and saw a group of girls running to cross
the path of his caleche ahead of the rest and nearer to him ran a
dark haired remarkably slim pretty girl in a yellow chintz dress with
a white handkerchief on her head from under which loose locks of hair
escaped the girl was shouting something but seeing that he was a
stranger ran back laughing without looking at him 

suddenly he did not know why he felt a pang the day was so beautiful 
the sun so bright everything around so gay but that slim pretty girl
did not know or wish to know of his existence and was contented and
cheerful in her own separate probably foolish but bright and happy
life what is she so glad about what is she thinking of not of
the military regulations or of the arrangement of the ryazan serfs 
quitrents of what is she thinking why is she so happy prince
andrew asked himself with instinctive curiosity 

in 1809 count ilya rostov was living at otradnoe just as he had done
in former years that is entertaining almost the whole province with
hunts theatricals dinners and music he was glad to see prince
andrew as he was to see any new visitor and insisted on his staying
the night 

during the dull day in the course of which he was entertained by
his elderly hosts and by the more important of the visitors the old
count's house was crowded on account of an approaching name day 
prince andrew repeatedly glanced at natasha gay and laughing among the
younger members of the company and asked himself each time what is
she thinking about why is she so glad 

that night alone in new surroundings he was long unable to sleep he
read awhile and then put out his candle but relit it it was hot in the
room the inside shutters of which were closed he was cross with the
stupid old man as he called rostov who had made him stay by assuring
him that some necessary documents had not yet arrived from town and he
was vexed with himself for having stayed 

he got up and went to the window to open it as soon as he opened the
shutters the moonlight as if it had long been watching for this burst
into the room he opened the casement the night was fresh bright and
very still just before the window was a row of pollard trees looking
black on one side and with a silvery light on the other beneath the
trees grew some kind of lush wet bushy vegetation with silver lit
leaves and stems here and there farther back beyond the dark trees a
roof glittered with dew to the right was a leafy tree with brilliantly
white trunk and branches and above it shone the moon nearly at its
full in a pale almost starless spring sky prince andrew leaned his
elbows on the window ledge and his eyes rested on that sky 

his room was on the first floor those in the rooms above were also
awake he heard female voices overhead 

 just once more said a girlish voice above him which prince andrew
recognized at once 

 but when are you coming to bed replied another voice 

 i won't i can't sleep what's the use come now for the last
time 

two girlish voices sang a musical passage the end of some song 

 oh how lovely now go to sleep and there's an end of it 

 you go to sleep but i can't said the first voice coming
nearer to the window she was evidently leaning right out for the
rustle of her dress and even her breathing could be heard everything
was stone still like the moon and its light and the shadows prince
andrew too dared not stir for fear of betraying his unintentional
presence 

 sonya sonya he again heard the first speaker oh how can
you sleep only look how glorious it is ah how glorious do wake up 
sonya she said almost with tears in her voice there never 
never was such a lovely night before 

sonya made some reluctant reply 

 do just come and see what a moon oh how lovely come here 
darling sweetheart come here there you see i feel like sitting down
on my heels putting my arms round my knees like this straining tight 
as tight as possible and flying away like this 

 take care you'll fall out 

he heard the sound of a scuffle and sonya's disapproving voice 
 it's past one o'clock 

 oh you only spoil things for me all right go go 

again all was silent but prince andrew knew she was still sitting
there from time to time he heard a soft rustle and at times a sigh 

 o god o god what does it mean she suddenly exclaimed to bed
then if it must be and she slammed the casement 

 for her i might as well not exist thought prince andrew while he
listened to her voice for some reason expecting yet fearing that she
might say something about him there she is again as if it were on
purpose thought he 

in his soul there suddenly arose such an unexpected turmoil of youthful
thoughts and hopes contrary to the whole tenor of his life that unable
to explain his condition to himself he lay down and fell asleep at once 





chapter iii

next morning having taken leave of no one but the count and not
waiting for the ladies to appear prince andrew set off for home 

it was already the beginning of june when on his return journey he drove
into the birch forest where the gnarled old oak had made so strange and
memorable an impression on him in the forest the harness bells sounded
yet more muffled than they had done six weeks before for now all was
thick shady and dense and the young firs dotted about in the forest
did not jar on the general beauty but lending themselves to the mood
around were delicately green with fluffy young shoots 

the whole day had been hot somewhere a storm was gathering but only
a small cloud had scattered some raindrops lightly sprinkling the road
and the sappy leaves the left side of the forest was dark in the shade 
the right side glittered in the sunlight wet and shiny and scarcely
swayed by the breeze everything was in blossom the nightingales
trilled and their voices reverberated now near now far away 

 yes here in this forest was that oak with which i agreed thought
prince andrew but where is it he again wondered gazing at
the left side of the road and without recognizing it he looked with
admiration at the very oak he sought the old oak quite transfigured 
spreading out a canopy of sappy dark green foliage stood rapt and
slightly trembling in the rays of the evening sun neither gnarled
fingers nor old scars nor old doubts and sorrows were any of them in
evidence now through the hard century old bark even where there were
no twigs leaves had sprouted such as one could hardly believe the old
veteran could have produced 

 yes it is the same oak thought prince andrew and all at once he
was seized by an unreasoning springtime feeling of joy and renewal all
the best moments of his life suddenly rose to his memory austerlitz
with the lofty heavens his wife's dead reproachful face pierre at
the ferry that girl thrilled by the beauty of the night and that night
itself and the moon and all this rushed suddenly to his mind 

 no life is not over at thirty one prince andrew suddenly decided
finally and decisively it is not enough for me to know what i have
in me everyone must know it pierre and that young girl who wanted to
fly away into the sky everyone must know me so that my life may not be
lived for myself alone while others live so apart from it but so that
it may be reflected in them all and they and i may live in harmony 


on reaching home prince andrew decided to go to petersburg that autumn
and found all sorts of reasons for this decision a whole series of
sensible and logical considerations showing it to be essential for him
to go to petersburg and even to re enter the service kept springing
up in his mind he could not now understand how he could ever even have
doubted the necessity of taking an active share in life just as a month
before he had not understood how the idea of leaving the quiet country
could ever enter his head it now seemed clear to him that all his
experience of life must be senselessly wasted unless he applied it to
some kind of work and again played an active part in life he did not
even remember how formerly on the strength of similar wretched logical
arguments it had seemed obvious that he would be degrading himself if
he now after the lessons he had had in life allowed himself to believe
in the possibility of being useful and in the possibility of happiness
or love now reason suggested quite the opposite after that journey
to ryazan he found the country dull his former pursuits no longer
interested him and often when sitting alone in his study he got up 
went to the mirror and gazed a long time at his own face then he would
turn away to the portrait of his dead lise who with hair curled a la
grecque looked tenderly and gaily at him out of the gilt frame she
did not now say those former terrible words to him but looked simply 
merrily and inquisitively at him and prince andrew crossing his
arms behind him long paced the room now frowning now smiling as
he reflected on those irrational inexpressible thoughts secret as a
crime which altered his whole life and were connected with pierre with
fame with the girl at the window the oak and woman's beauty
and love and if anyone came into his room at such moments he was
particularly cold stern and above all unpleasantly logical 

 my dear princess mary entering at such a moment would say 
 little nicholas can't go out today it's very cold 

 if it were hot prince andrew would reply at such times very dryly
to his sister he could go out in his smock but as it is cold he
must wear warm clothes which were designed for that purpose that is
what follows from the fact that it is cold and not that a child who
needs fresh air should remain at home he would add with extreme
logic as if punishing someone for those secret illogical emotions that
stirred within him 

at such moments princess mary would think how intellectual work dries
men up 





chapter iv

prince andrew arrived in petersburg in august 1809 it was the time
when the youthful speranski was at the zenith of his fame and his
reforms were being pushed forward with the greatest energy that same
august the emperor was thrown from his caleche injured his leg and
remained three weeks at peterhof receiving speranski every day and no
one else at that time the two famous decrees were being prepared
that so agitated society abolishing court ranks and introducing
examinations to qualify for the grades of collegiate assessor and
state councilor and not merely these but a whole state constitution 
intended to change the existing order of government in russia legal 
administrative and financial from the council of state down to the
district tribunals now those vague liberal dreams with which the
emperor alexander had ascended the throne and which he had tried to put
into effect with the aid of his associates czartoryski novosiltsev 
kochubey and strogonov whom he himself in jest had called his
comite de salut public were taking shape and being realized 

now all these men were replaced by speranski on the civil side and
arakcheev on the military soon after his arrival prince andrew as a
gentleman of the chamber presented himself at court and at a levee the
emperor though he met him twice did not favor him with a single word 
it had always seemed to prince andrew before that he was antipathetic
to the emperor and that the latter disliked his face and personality
generally and in the cold repellent glance the emperor gave him he
now found further confirmation of this surmise the courtiers explained
the emperor's neglect of him by his majesty's displeasure at
bolkonski's not having served since 1805 

 i know myself that one cannot help one's sympathies and
antipathies thought prince andrew so it will not do to present
my proposal for the reform of the army regulations to the emperor
personally but the project will speak for itself 

he mentioned what he had written to an old field marshal a friend
of his father's the field marshal made an appointment to see him 
received him graciously and promised to inform the emperor a few
days later prince andrew received notice that he was to go to see the
minister of war count arakcheev 


on the appointed day prince andrew entered count arakcheev's waiting
room at nine in the morning 

he did not know arakcheev personally had never seen him and all he
had heard of him inspired him with but little respect for the man 

 he is minister of war a man trusted by the emperor and i need not
concern myself about his personal qualities he has been commissioned to
consider my project so he alone can get it adopted thought prince
andrew as he waited among a number of important and unimportant people
in count arakcheev's waiting room 

during his service chiefly as an adjutant prince andrew had seen the
anterooms of many important men and the different types of such rooms
were well known to him count arakcheev's anteroom had quite a
special character the faces of the unimportant people awaiting their
turn for an audience showed embarrassment and servility the faces of
those of higher rank expressed a common feeling of awkwardness covered
by a mask of unconcern and ridicule of themselves their situation and
the person for whom they were waiting some walked thoughtfully up and
down others whispered and laughed prince andrew heard the nickname
 sila andreevich and the words uncle will give it to us
hot in reference to count arakcheev one general an important
personage evidently feeling offended at having to wait so long sat
crossing and uncrossing his legs and smiling contemptuously to himself 

but the moment the door opened one feeling alone appeared on all
faces that of fear prince andrew for the second time asked the
adjutant on duty to take in his name but received an ironical look and
was told that his turn would come in due course after some others had
been shown in and out of the minister's room by the adjutant on duty 
an officer who struck prince andrew by his humiliated and frightened air
was admitted at that terrible door this officer's audience lasted a
long time then suddenly the grating sound of a harsh voice was heard
from the other side of the door and the officer with pale face and
trembling lips came out and passed through the waiting room clutching
his head 

after this prince andrew was conducted to the door and the officer on
duty said in a whisper to the right at the window 

prince andrew entered a plain tidy room and saw at the table a man of
forty with a long waist a long closely cropped head deep wrinkles 
scowling brows above dull greenish hazel eyes and an overhanging red
nose arakcheev turned his head toward him without looking at him 

 what is your petition asked arakcheev 

 i am not petitioning your excellency returned prince andrew
quietly 

arakcheev's eyes turned toward him 

 sit down said he prince bolkonski 

 i am not petitioning about anything his majesty the emperor has
deigned to send your excellency a project submitted by me 

 you see my dear sir i have read your project interrupted
arakcheev uttering only the first words amiably and then again
without looking at prince andrew relapsing gradually into a tone of
grumbling contempt you are proposing new military laws there are
many laws but no one to carry out the old ones nowadays everybody
designs laws it is easier writing than doing 

 i came at his majesty the emperor's wish to learn from your
excellency how you propose to deal with the memorandum i have
presented said prince andrew politely 

 i have endorsed a resolution on your memorandum and sent it to the
committee i do not approve of it said arakcheev rising and taking
a paper from his writing table here and he handed it to prince
andrew 

across the paper was scrawled in pencil without capital letters 
misspelled and without punctuation unsoundly constructed because
resembles an imitation of the french military code and from the articles
of war needlessly deviating 

 to what committee has the memorandum been referred inquired
prince andrew 

 to the committee on army regulations and i have recommended that
your honor should be appointed a member but without a salary 

prince andrew smiled 

 i don't want one 

 a member without salary repeated arakcheev i have the
honor eh call the next one who else is there he shouted bowing
to prince andrew 





chapter v

while waiting for the announcement of his appointment to the committee
prince andrew looked up his former acquaintances particularly those he
knew to be in power and whose aid he might need in petersburg he now
experienced the same feeling he had had on the eve of a battle when
troubled by anxious curiosity and irresistibly attracted to the ruling
circles where the future on which the fate of millions depended was
being shaped from the irritation of the older men the curiosity of the
uninitiated the reserve of the initiated the hurry and preoccupation
of everyone and the innumerable committees and commissions of whose
existence he learned every day he felt that now in 1809 here in
petersburg a vast civil conflict was in preparation the commander in
chief of which was a mysterious person he did not know but who was
supposed to be a man of genius speranski and this movement of
reconstruction of which prince andrew had a vague idea and speranski
its chief promoter began to interest him so keenly that the question
of the army regulations quickly receded to a secondary place in his
consciousness 

prince andrew was most favorably placed to secure good reception in the
highest and most diverse petersburg circles of the day the reforming
party cordially welcomed and courted him in the first place because
he was reputed to be clever and very well read and secondly because by
liberating his serfs he had obtained the reputation of being a liberal 
the party of the old and dissatisfied who censured the innovations 
turned to him expecting his sympathy in their disapproval of the
reforms simply because he was the son of his father the feminine
society world welcomed him gladly because he was rich distinguished a
good match and almost a newcomer with a halo of romance on account
of his supposed death and the tragic loss of his wife besides this
the general opinion of all who had known him previously was that he had
greatly improved during these last five years having softened and grown
more manly lost his former affectation pride and contemptuous irony 
and acquired the serenity that comes with years people talked about
him were interested in him and wanted to meet him 

the day after his interview with count arakcheev prince andrew spent
the evening at count kochubey's he told the count of his interview
with sila andreevich kochubey spoke of arakcheev by that nickname
with the same vague irony prince andrew had noticed in the minister of
war's anteroom 

 mon cher even in this case you can't do without michael
mikhaylovich speranski he manages everything i'll speak to him he
has promised to come this evening 

 what has speranski to do with the army regulations asked prince
andrew 

kochubey shook his head smilingly as if surprised at bolkonski's
simplicity 

 we were talking to him about you a few days ago kochubey
continued and about your freed plowmen 

 oh is it you prince who have freed your serfs said an old man
of catherine's day turning contemptuously toward bolkonski 

 it was a small estate that brought in no profit replied prince
andrew trying to extenuate his action so as not to irritate the old man
uselessly 

 afraid of being late said the old man looking at kochubey 

 there's one thing i don't understand he continued who
will plow the land if they are set free it is easy to write laws but
difficult to rule just the same as now i ask you count who will
be heads of the departments when everybody has to pass examinations 

 those who pass the examinations i suppose replied kochubey 
crossing his legs and glancing round 

 well i have pryanichnikov serving under me a splendid man a
priceless man but he's sixty is he to go up for examination 

 yes that's a difficulty as education is not at all general 
but 

count kochubey did not finish he rose took prince andrew by the arm 
and went to meet a tall bald fair man of about forty with a large open
forehead and a long face of unusual and peculiar whiteness who was
just entering the newcomer wore a blue swallow tail coat with a
cross suspended from his neck and a star on his left breast it was
speranski prince andrew recognized him at once and felt a throb
within him as happens at critical moments of life whether it was from
respect envy or anticipation he did not know speranski's whole
figure was of a peculiar type that made him easily recognizable in
the society in which prince andrew lived he had never seen anyone who
together with awkward and clumsy gestures possessed such calmness and
self assurance he had never seen so resolute yet gentle an expression
as that in those half closed rather humid eyes or so firm a smile that
expressed nothing nor had he heard such a refined smooth soft
voice above all he had never seen such delicate whiteness of face or
hands hands which were broad but very plump soft and white such
whiteness and softness prince andrew had only seen on the faces of
soldiers who had been long in hospital this was speranski secretary
of state reporter to the emperor and his companion at erfurt where he
had more than once met and talked with napoleon 

speranski did not shift his eyes from one face to another as people
involuntarily do on entering a large company and was in no hurry to
speak he spoke slowly with assurance that he would be listened to and
he looked only at the person with whom he was conversing 

prince andrew followed speranski's every word and movement with
particular attention as happens to some people especially to men
who judge those near to them severely he always on meeting
anyone new especially anyone whom like speranski he knew by
reputation expected to discover in him the perfection of human
qualities 

speranski told kochubey he was sorry he had been unable to come sooner
as he had been detained at the palace he did not say that the emperor
had kept him and prince andrew noticed this affectation of modesty 
when kochubey introduced prince andrew speranski slowly turned
his eyes to bolkonski with his customary smile and looked at him in
silence 

 i am very glad to make your acquaintance i had heard of you as
everyone has he said after a pause 

kochubey said a few words about the reception arakcheev had given
bolkonski speranski smiled more markedly 

 the chairman of the committee on army regulations is my good friend
monsieur magnitski he said fully articulating every word and
syllable and if you like i can put you in touch with him he
paused at the full stop i hope you will find him sympathetic and
ready to co operate in promoting all that is reasonable 

a circle soon formed round speranski and the old man who had talked
about his subordinate pryanichnikov addressed a question to him 

prince andrew without joining in the conversation watched every movement
of speranski's this man not long since an insignificant divinity
student who now bolkonski thought held in his hands those plump
white hands the fate of russia prince andrew was struck by the
extraordinarily disdainful composure with which speranski answered
the old man he appeared to address condescending words to him from
an immeasurable height when the old man began to speak too loud 
speranski smiled and said he could not judge of the advantage or
disadvantage of what pleased the sovereign 

having talked for a little while in the general circle speranski rose
and coming up to prince andrew took him along to the other end of the
room it was clear that he thought it necessary to interest himself in
bolkonski 

 i had no chance to talk with you prince during the animated
conversation in which that venerable gentleman involved me he said
with a mildly contemptuous smile as if intimating by that smile that he
and prince andrew understood the insignificance of the people with whom
he had just been talking this flattered prince andrew i have known
of you for a long time first from your action with regard to your
serfs a first example of which it is very desirable that there should
be more imitators and secondly because you are one of those gentlemen
of the chamber who have not considered themselves offended by the new
decree concerning the ranks allotted to courtiers which is causing so
much gossip and tittle tattle 

 no said prince andrew my father did not wish me to take
advantage of the privilege i began the service from the lower grade 

 your father a man of the last century evidently stands above our
contemporaries who so condemn this measure which merely re establishes
natural justice 

 i think however that these condemnations have some ground 
returned prince andrew trying to resist speranski's influence of
which he began to be conscious he did not like to agree with him in
everything and felt a wish to contradict though he usually spoke easily
and well he felt a difficulty in expressing himself now while talking
with speranski he was too much absorbed in observing the famous
man's personality 

 grounds of personal ambition maybe speranski put in quietly 

 and of state interest to some extent said prince andrew 

 what do you mean asked speranski quietly lowering his eyes 

 i am an admirer of montesquieu replied prince andrew and
his idea that le principe des monarchies est l'honneur me parait
incontestable certains droits et privileges de la noblesse me
paraissent etre des moyens de soutenir ce sentiment 

 the principle of monarchies is honor seems to me
 incontestable certain rights and privileges for the
 aristocracy appear to me a means of maintaining that
 sentiment 


the smile vanished from speranski's white face which was much
improved by the change probably prince andrew's thought interested
him 

 si vous envisagez la question sous ce point de vue he began 
pronouncing french with evident difficulty and speaking even slower
than in russian but quite calmly 

 if you regard the question from that point of view 


speranski went on to say that honor l'honneur cannot be upheld by
privileges harmful to the service that honor l'honneur is either a
negative concept of not doing what is blameworthy or it is a source of
emulation in pursuit of commendation and rewards which recognize it 
his arguments were concise simple and clear 

 an institution upholding honor the source of emulation is one
similar to the legion d'honneur of the great emperor napoleon not
harmful but helpful to the success of the service but not a class or
court privilege 

 i do not dispute that but it cannot be denied that court privileges
have attained the same end returned prince andrew every courtier
considers himself bound to maintain his position worthily 

 yet you do not care to avail yourself of the privilege prince 
said speranski indicating by a smile that he wished to finish amiably
an argument which was embarrassing for his companion if you will
do me the honor of calling on me on wednesday he added i will 
after talking with magnitski let you know what may interest you and
shall also have the pleasure of a more detailed chat with you 

closing his eyes he bowed a la francaise without taking leave and
trying to attract as little attention as possible he left the room 





chapter vi

during the first weeks of his stay in petersburg prince andrew felt the
whole trend of thought he had formed during his life of seclusion quite
overshadowed by the trifling cares that engrossed him in that city 

on returning home in the evening he would jot down in his notebook four
or five necessary calls or appointments for certain hours the mechanism
of life the arrangement of the day so as to be in time everywhere 
absorbed the greater part of his vital energy he did nothing did
not even think or find time to think but only talked and talked
successfully of what he had thought while in the country 

he sometimes noticed with dissatisfaction that he repeated the same
remark on the same day in different circles but he was so busy for
whole days together that he had no time to notice that he was thinking
of nothing 

as he had done on their first meeting at kochubey's speranski
produced a strong impression on prince andrew on the wednesday when he
received him tete a tete at his own house and talked to him long and
confidentially 

to bolkonski so many people appeared contemptible and insignificant
creatures and he so longed to find in someone the living ideal of that
perfection toward which he strove that he readily believed that in
speranski he had found this ideal of a perfectly rational and virtuous
man had speranski sprung from the same class as himself and possessed
the same breeding and traditions bolkonski would soon have discovered
his weak human unheroic sides but as it was speranski's strange
and logical turn of mind inspired him with respect all the more because
he did not quite understand him moreover speranski either because he
appreciated the other's capacity or because he considered it necessary
to win him to his side showed off his dispassionate calm reasonableness
before prince andrew and flattered him with that subtle flattery which
goes hand in hand with self assurance and consists in a tacit assumption
that one's companion is the only man besides oneself capable of
understanding the folly of the rest of mankind and the reasonableness
and profundity of one's own ideas 

during their long conversation on wednesday evening speranski more
than once remarked we regard everything that is above the common
level of rooted custom or with a smile but we want the wolves
to be fed and the sheep to be safe or they cannot understand
this and all in a way that seemed to say we you and i 
understand what they are and who we are 

this first long conversation with speranski only strengthened in prince
andrew the feeling he had experienced toward him at their first meeting 
he saw in him a remarkable clear thinking man of vast intellect who by
his energy and persistence had attained power which he was using solely
for the welfare of russia in prince andrew's eyes speranski was the
man he would himself have wished to be one who explained all the facts
of life reasonably considered important only what was rational and
was capable of applying the standard of reason to everything everything
seemed so simple and clear in speranski's exposition that prince
andrew involuntarily agreed with him about everything if he replied and
argued it was only because he wished to maintain his independence and
not submit to speranski's opinions entirely everything was right
and everything was as it should be only one thing disconcerted prince
andrew this was speranski's cold mirrorlike look which did not
allow one to penetrate to his soul and his delicate white hands which
prince andrew involuntarily watched as one does watch the hands of
those who possess power this mirrorlike gaze and those delicate hands
irritated prince andrew he knew not why he was unpleasantly
struck too by the excessive contempt for others that he observed in
speranski and by the diversity of lines of argument he used to
support his opinions he made use of every kind of mental device except
analogy and passed too boldly it seemed to prince andrew from one
to another now he would take up the position of a practical man and
condemn dreamers now that of a satirist and laugh ironically at his
opponents now grow severely logical or suddenly rise to the realm of
metaphysics this last resource was one he very frequently employed 
he would transfer a question to metaphysical heights pass on to
definitions of space time and thought and having deduced the
refutation he needed would again descend to the level of the original
discussion 

in general the trait of speranski's mentality which struck prince
andrew most was his absolute and unshakable belief in the power and
authority of reason it was evident that the thought could never occur
to him which to prince andrew seemed so natural namely that it is
after all impossible to express all one thinks and that he had never
felt the doubt is not all i think and believe nonsense and
it was just this peculiarity of speranski's mind that particularly
attracted prince andrew 

during the first period of their acquaintance bolkonski felt a
passionate admiration for him similar to that which he had once felt for
bonaparte the fact that speranski was the son of a village priest 
and that stupid people might meanly despise him on account of his
humble origin as in fact many did caused prince andrew to cherish his
sentiment for him the more and unconsciously to strengthen it 

on that first evening bolkonski spent with him having mentioned the
commission for the revision of the code of laws speranski told him
sarcastically that the commission had existed for a hundred and fifty
years had cost millions and had done nothing except that rosenkampf
had stuck labels on the corresponding paragraphs of the different codes 

 and that is all the state has for the millions it has spent said
he we want to give the senate new juridical powers but we have no
laws that is why it is a sin for men like you prince not to serve in
these times 

prince andrew said that for that work an education in jurisprudence was
needed which he did not possess 

 but nobody possesses it so what would you have it is a vicious
circle from which we must break a way out 

a week later prince andrew was a member of the committee on army
regulations and what he had not at all expected was chairman of a
section of the committee for the revision of the laws at speranski's
request he took the first part of the civil code that was being drawn up
and with the aid of the code napoleon and the institutes of justinian 
he worked at formulating the section on personal rights 





chapter vii

nearly two years before this in 1808 pierre on returning to petersburg
after visiting his estates had involuntarily found himself in a leading
position among the petersburg freemasons he arranged dining and funeral
lodge meetings enrolled new members and busied himself uniting various
lodges and acquiring authentic charters he gave money for the erection
of temples and supplemented as far as he could the collection of alms 
in regard to which the majority of members were stingy and irregular 
he supported almost singlehanded a poorhouse the order had founded in
petersburg 

his life meanwhile continued as before with the same infatuations and
dissipations he liked to dine and drink well and though he considered
it immoral and humiliating could not resist the temptations of the
bachelor circles in which he moved 

amid the turmoil of his activities and distractions however pierre at
the end of a year began to feel that the more firmly he tried to rest
upon it the more masonic ground on which he stood gave way under him 
at the same time he felt that the deeper the ground sank under him the
closer bound he involuntarily became to the order when he had joined
the freemasons he had experienced the feeling of one who confidently
steps onto the smooth surface of a bog when he put his foot down it
sank in to make quite sure of the firmness of the ground he put
his other foot down and sank deeper still became stuck in it and
involuntarily waded knee deep in the bog 

joseph alexeevich was not in petersburg he had of late stood aside
from the affairs of the petersburg lodges and lived almost entirely in
moscow all the members of the lodges were men pierre knew in ordinary
life and it was difficult for him to regard them merely as brothers in
freemasonry and not as prince b or ivan vasilevich d whom he knew
in society mostly as weak and insignificant men under the masonic
aprons and insignia he saw the uniforms and decorations at which they
aimed in ordinary life often after collecting alms and reckoning up
twenty to thirty rubles received for the most part in promises from a
dozen members of whom half were as well able to pay as himself pierre
remembered the masonic vow in which each brother promised to devote
all his belongings to his neighbor and doubts on which he tried not to
dwell arose in his soul 

he divided the brothers he knew into four categories in the first he
put those who did not take an active part in the affairs of the lodges
or in human affairs but were exclusively occupied with the mystical
science of the order with questions of the threefold designation of
god the three primordial elements sulphur mercury and salt or
the meaning of the square and all the various figures of the temple of
solomon pierre respected this class of brothers to which the elder ones
chiefly belonged including pierre thought joseph alexeevich himself 
but he did not share their interests his heart was not in the mystical
aspect of freemasonry 

in the second category pierre reckoned himself and others like him 
seeking and vacillating who had not yet found in freemasonry a straight
and comprehensible path but hoped to do so 

in the third category he included those brothers the majority who saw
nothing in freemasonry but the external forms and ceremonies and prized
the strict performance of these forms without troubling about their
purport or significance such were willarski and even the grand master
of the principal lodge 

finally to the fourth category also a great many brothers belonged 
particularly those who had lately joined these according to pierre's
observations were men who had no belief in anything nor desire for
anything but joined the freemasons merely to associate with the wealthy
young brothers who were influential through their connections or rank 
and of whom there were very many in the lodge 

pierre began to feel dissatisfied with what he was doing freemasonry 
at any rate as he saw it here sometimes seemed to him based merely
on externals he did not think of doubting freemasonry itself but
suspected that russian masonry had taken a wrong path and deviated
from its original principles and so toward the end of the year he went
abroad to be initiated into the higher secrets of the order 

in the summer of 1809 pierre returned to petersburg our freemasons knew
from correspondence with those abroad that bezukhov had obtained the
confidence of many highly placed persons had been initiated into many
mysteries had been raised to a higher grade and was bringing back with
him much that might conduce to the advantage of the masonic cause
in russia the petersburg freemasons all came to see him tried to
ingratiate themselves with him and it seemed to them all that he was
preparing something for them and concealing it 

a solemn meeting of the lodge of the second degree was convened at
which pierre promised to communicate to the petersburg brothers what
he had to deliver to them from the highest leaders of their order the
meeting was a full one after the usual ceremonies pierre rose and began
his address 

 dear brothers he began blushing and stammering with a written
speech in his hand it is not sufficient to observe our mysteries in
the seclusion of our lodge we must act act we are drowsing but we
must act pierre raised his notebook and began to read 

 for the dissemination of pure truth and to secure the triumph of
virtue he read we must cleanse men from prejudice diffuse
principles in harmony with the spirit of the times undertake the
education of the young unite ourselves in indissoluble bonds with the
wisest men boldly yet prudently overcome superstitions infidelity and
folly and form of those devoted to us a body linked together by unity
of purpose and possessed of authority and power 

 to attain this end we must secure a preponderance of virtue over vice
and must endeavor to secure that the honest man may even in this world 
receive a lasting reward for his virtue but in these great endeavors we
are gravely hampered by the political institutions of today what is
to be done in these circumstances to favor revolutions overthrow
everything repel force by force no we are very far from that 
every violent reform deserves censure for it quite fails to remedy
evil while men remain what they are and also because wisdom needs no
violence 

 the whole plan of our order should be based on the idea of
preparing men of firmness and virtue bound together by unity of
conviction aiming at the punishment of vice and folly and patronizing
talent and virtue raising worthy men from the dust and attaching
them to our brotherhood only then will our order have the power
unobtrusively to bind the hands of the protectors of disorder and to
control them without their being aware of it in a word we must found a
form of government holding universal sway which should be diffused over
the whole world without destroying the bonds of citizenship and beside
which all other governments can continue in their customary course and
do everything except what impedes the great aim of our order which
is to obtain for virtue the victory over vice this aim was that of
christianity itself it taught men to be wise and good and for their
own benefit to follow the example and instruction of the best and wisest
men 

 at that time when everything was plunged in darkness preaching
alone was of course sufficient the novelty of truth endowed her with
special strength but now we need much more powerful methods it is
now necessary that man governed by his senses should find in virtue
a charm palpable to those senses it is impossible to eradicate the
passions but we must strive to direct them to a noble aim and it is
therefore necessary that everyone should be able to satisfy his passions
within the limits of virtue our order should provide means to that end 

 as soon as we have a certain number of worthy men in every state 
each of them again training two others and all being closely united 
everything will be possible for our order which has already in secret
accomplished much for the welfare of mankind 

this speech not only made a strong impression but created excitement in
the lodge the majority of the brothers seeing in it dangerous designs
of illuminism met it with a coldness that surprised pierre the grand
master began answering him and pierre began developing his views with
more and more warmth it was long since there had been so stormy a
meeting parties were formed some accusing pierre of illuminism others
supporting him at that meeting he was struck for the first time by
the endless variety of men's minds which prevents a truth from ever
presenting itself identically to two persons even those members
who seemed to be on his side understood him in their own way with
limitations and alterations he could not agree to as what he always
wanted most was to convey his thought to others just as he himself
understood it 

 the illuminati sought to substitute republican for
 monarchical institutions 

at the end of the meeting the grand master with irony and ill will
reproved bezukhov for his vehemence and said it was not love of virtue
alone but also a love of strife that had moved him in the dispute 
pierre did not answer him and asked briefly whether his proposal would
be accepted he was told that it would not and without waiting for the
usual formalities he left the lodge and went home 





chapter viii

again pierre was overtaken by the depression he so dreaded for three
days after the delivery of his speech at the lodge he lay on a sofa at
home receiving no one and going nowhere 

it was just then that he received a letter from his wife who implored
him to see her telling him how grieved she was about him and how she
wished to devote her whole life to him 

at the end of the letter she informed him that in a few days she would
return to petersburg from abroad 

following this letter one of the masonic brothers whom pierre respected
less than the others forced his way in to see him and turning the
conversation upon pierre's matrimonial affairs by way of fraternal
advice expressed the opinion that his severity to his wife was wrong
and that he was neglecting one of the first rules of freemasonry by not
forgiving the penitent 

at the same time his mother in law prince vasili's wife sent to
him imploring him to come if only for a few minutes to discuss a most
important matter pierre saw that there was a conspiracy against him and
that they wanted to reunite him with his wife and in the mood he then
was this was not even unpleasant to him nothing mattered to him 
nothing in life seemed to him of much importance and under the
influence of the depression that possessed him he valued neither his
liberty nor his resolution to punish his wife 

 no one is right and no one is to blame so she too is not to
blame he thought 

if he did not at once give his consent to a reunion with his wife it
was only because in his state of depression he did not feel able to take
any step had his wife come to him he would not have turned her away 
compared to what preoccupied him was it not a matter of indifference
whether he lived with his wife or not 

without replying either to his wife or his mother in law pierre late
one night prepared for a journey and started for moscow to see joseph
alexeevich this is what he noted in his diary 

moscow 17th november

i have just returned from my benefactor and hasten to write down what i
have experienced joseph alexeevich is living poorly and has for three
years been suffering from a painful disease of the bladder no one has
ever heard him utter a groan or a word of complaint from morning till
late at night except when he eats his very plain food he is working
at science he received me graciously and made me sit down on the bed
on which he lay i made the sign of the knights of the east and of
jerusalem and he responded in the same manner asking me with a mild
smile what i had learned and gained in the prussian and scottish lodges 
i told him everything as best i could and told him what i had proposed
to our petersburg lodge of the bad reception i had encountered and of
my rupture with the brothers joseph alexeevich having remained silent
and thoughtful for a good while told me his view of the matter which
at once lit up for me my whole past and the future path i should follow 
he surprised me by asking whether i remembered the threefold aim of
the order 1 the preservation and study of the mystery 2 the
purification and reformation of oneself for its reception and 3 the
improvement of the human race by striving for such purification which
is the principal aim of these three certainly self reformation and
self purification only to this aim can we always strive independently
of circumstances but at the same time just this aim demands the
greatest efforts of us and so led astray by pride losing sight of
this aim we occupy ourselves either with the mystery which in our
impurity we are unworthy to receive or seek the reformation of
the human race while ourselves setting an example of baseness and
profligacy illuminism is not a pure doctrine just because it is
attracted by social activity and puffed up by pride on this ground
joseph alexeevich condemned my speech and my whole activity and in the
depth of my soul i agreed with him talking of my family affairs he said
to me the chief duty of a true mason as i have told you lies in
perfecting himself we often think that by removing all the difficulties
of our life we shall more quickly reach our aim but on the contrary 
my dear sir it is only in the midst of worldly cares that we can attain
our three chief aims 1 self knowledge for man can only know himself
by comparison 2 self perfecting which can only be attained by
conflict and 3 the attainment of the chief virtue love of death 
only the vicissitudes of life can show us its vanity and develop our
innate love of death or of rebirth to a new life these words are all
the more remarkable because in spite of his great physical sufferings 
joseph alexeevich is never weary of life though he loves death for
which in spite of the purity and loftiness of his inner man he does
not yet feel himself sufficiently prepared my benefactor then explained
to me fully the meaning of the great square of creation and pointed out
to me that the numbers three and seven are the basis of everything he
advised me not to avoid intercourse with the petersburg brothers but
to take up only second grade posts in the lodge to try while
diverting the brothers from pride to turn them toward the true path
self knowledge and self perfecting besides this he advised me for
myself personally above all to keep a watch over myself and to that end
he gave me a notebook the one i am now writing in and in which i will
in future note down all my actions 

petersburg 23rd november

i am again living with my wife my mother in law came to me in tears and
said that helene was here and that she implored me to hear her that
she was innocent and unhappy at my desertion and much more i knew
that if i once let myself see her i should not have strength to go on
refusing what she wanted in my perplexity i did not know whose aid and
advice to seek had my benefactor been here he would have told me what
to do i went to my room and reread joseph alexeevich's letters and
recalled my conversations with him and deduced from it all that i
ought not to refuse a supplicant and ought to reach a helping hand to
everyone especially to one so closely bound to me and that i must
bear my cross but if i forgive her for the sake of doing right then
let union with her have only a spiritual aim that is what i decided 
and what i wrote to joseph alexeevich i told my wife that i begged her
to forget the past to forgive me whatever wrong i may have done her 
and that i had nothing to forgive it gave me joy to tell her this she
need not know how hard it was for me to see her again i have settled on
the upper floor of this big house and am experiencing a happy feeling of
regeneration 





chapter ix

at that time as always happens the highest society that met at court
and at the grand balls was divided into several circles each with its
own particular tone the largest of these was the french circle of the
napoleonic alliance the circle of count rumyantsev and caulaincourt 
in this group helene as soon as she had settled in petersburg with
her husband took a very prominent place she was visited by the members
of the french embassy and by many belonging to that circle and noted for
their intellect and polished manners 

helene had been at erfurt during the famous meeting of the emperors
and had brought from there these connections with the napoleonic
notabilities at erfurt her success had been brilliant napoleon himself
had noticed her in the theater and said of her c'est un superbe
animal her success as a beautiful and elegant woman did not
surprise pierre for she had become even handsomer than before what did
surprise him was that during these last two years his wife had succeeded
in gaining the reputation d une femme charmante aussi spirituelle
que belle 2 the distinguished prince de ligne wrote her
eight page letters bilibin saved up his epigrams to produce them
in countess bezukhova's presence to be received in the countess
bezukhova's salon was regarded as a diploma of intellect young men
read books before attending helene's evenings to have something to
say in her salon and secretaries of the embassy and even ambassadors 
confided diplomatic secrets to her so that in a way helene was a
power pierre who knew she was very stupid sometimes attended with a
strange feeling of perplexity and fear her evenings and dinner parties 
where politics poetry and philosophy were discussed at these parties
his feelings were like those of a conjuror who always expects his trick
to be found out at any moment but whether because stupidity was just
what was needed to run such a salon or because those who were deceived
found pleasure in the deception at any rate it remained unexposed and
helene bezukhova's reputation as a lovely and clever woman became
so firmly established that she could say the emptiest and stupidest
things and everybody would go into raptures over every word of hers
and look for a profound meaning in it of which she herself had no
conception 

 that's a superb animal 

 2 of a charming woman as witty as she is lovely 


pierre was just the husband needed for a brilliant society woman he was
that absent minded crank a grand seigneur husband who was in no one's
way and far from spoiling the high tone and general impression of the
drawing room he served by the contrast he presented to her as an
advantageous background to his elegant and tactful wife pierre during
the last two years as a result of his continual absorption in abstract
interests and his sincere contempt for all else had acquired in his
wife's circle which did not interest him that air of unconcern 
indifference and benevolence toward all which cannot be acquired
artificially and therefore inspires involuntary respect he entered
his wife's drawing room as one enters a theater was acquainted with
everybody equally pleased to see everyone and equally indifferent to
them all sometimes he joined in a conversation which interested him
and regardless of whether any gentlemen of the embassy were
present or not lispingly expressed his views which were sometimes not
at all in accord with the accepted tone of the moment but the general
opinion concerning the queer husband of the most distinguished woman
in petersburg was so well established that no one took his freaks
seriously 

among the many young men who frequented her house every day boris
drubetskoy who had already achieved great success in the service was
the most intimate friend of the bezukhov household since helene's
return from erfurt helene spoke of him as mon page and treated
him like a child her smile for him was the same as for everybody 
but sometimes that smile made pierre uncomfortable toward him boris
behaved with a particularly dignified and sad deference this shade
of deference also disturbed pierre he had suffered so painfully three
years before from the mortification to which his wife had subjected him
that he now protected himself from the danger of its repetition first
by not being a husband to his wife and secondly by not allowing himself
to suspect 

 no now that she has become a bluestocking she has finally renounced
her former infatuations he told himself there has never been
an instance of a bluestocking being carried away by affairs of the
heart a statement which though gathered from an unknown source 
he believed implicitly yet strange to say boris presence in his
wife's drawing room and he was almost always there had a physical
effect upon pierre it constricted his limbs and destroyed the
unconsciousness and freedom of his movements 

 what a strange antipathy thought pierre yet i used to like
him very much 

in the eyes of the world pierre was a great gentleman the rather blind
and absurd husband of a distinguished wife a clever crank who did
nothing but harmed nobody and was a first rate good natured fellow but
a complex and difficult process of internal development was taking place
all this time in pierre's soul revealing much to him and causing him
many spiritual doubts and joys 





chapter x

pierre went on with his diary and this is what he wrote in it during
that time 


24th november

got up at eight read the scriptures then went to my duties by joseph
alexeevich's advice pierre had entered the service of the state and
served on one of the committees returned home for dinner and dined
alone the countess had many visitors i do not like i ate and drank
moderately and after dinner copied out some passages for the brothers 
in the evening i went down to the countess and told a funny story about
b and only remembered that i ought not to have done so when everybody
laughed loudly at it 

i am going to bed with a happy and tranquil mind great god help me to
walk in thy paths 1 to conquer anger by calmness and deliberation 
 2 to vanquish lust by self restraint and repulsion 3 to withdraw
from worldliness but not avoid a the service of the state b family
duties c relations with my friends and the management of my affairs 


27th november

i got up late on waking i lay long in bed yielding to sloth o god 
help and strengthen me that i may walk in thy ways read the scriptures 
but without proper feeling brother urusov came and we talked about
worldly vanities he told me of the emperor's new projects i began
to criticize them but remembered my rules and my benefactor's
words that a true freemason should be a zealous worker for the state
when his aid is required and a quiet onlooker when not called on to
assist my tongue is my enemy brothers g v and o visited me and we
had a preliminary talk about the reception of a new brother they laid
on me the duty of rhetor i feel myself weak and unworthy then our
talk turned to the interpretation of the seven pillars and steps of the
temple the seven sciences the seven virtues the seven vices and the
seven gifts of the holy spirit brother o was very eloquent in the
evening the admission took place the new decoration of the premises
contributed much to the magnificence of the spectacle it was boris
drubetskoy who was admitted i nominated him and was the rhetor a
strange feeling agitated me all the time i was alone with him in the
dark chamber i caught myself harboring a feeling of hatred toward him
which i vainly tried to overcome that is why i should really like
to save him from evil and lead him into the path of truth but evil
thoughts of him did not leave me it seemed to me that his object in
entering the brotherhood was merely to be intimate and in favor with
members of our lodge apart from the fact that he had asked me several
times whether n and s were members of our lodge a question to which i
could not reply and that according to my observation he is incapable of
feeling respect for our holy order and is too preoccupied and satisfied
with the outer man to desire spiritual improvement i had no cause to
doubt him but he seemed to me insincere and all the time i stood
alone with him in the dark temple it seemed to me that he was smiling
contemptuously at my words and i wished really to stab his bare breast
with the sword i held to it i could not be eloquent nor could i
frankly mention my doubts to the brothers and to the grand master great
architect of nature help me to find the true path out of the labyrinth
of lies 


after this three pages were left blank in the diary and then the
following was written 


i have had a long and instructive talk alone with brother v who
advised me to hold fast by brother a though i am unworthy much was
revealed to me adonai is the name of the creator of the world elohim
is the name of the ruler of all the third name is the name unutterable
which means the all talks with brother v strengthen refresh and
support me in the path of virtue in his presence doubt has no place 
the distinction between the poor teachings of mundane science and our
sacred all embracing teaching is clear to me human sciences dissect
everything to comprehend it and kill everything to examine it in the
holy science of our order all is one all is known in its entirety and
life the trinity the three elements of matter are sulphur mercury 
and salt sulphur is of an oily and fiery nature in combination with
salt by its fiery nature it arouses a desire in the latter by means
of which it attracts mercury seizes it holds it and in combination
produces other bodies mercury is a fluid volatile spiritual essence 
christ the holy spirit him 


3rd december

awoke late read the scriptures but was apathetic afterwards went and
paced up and down the large hall i wished to meditate but instead my
imagination pictured an occurrence of four years ago when dolokhov 
meeting me in moscow after our duel said he hoped i was enjoying
perfect peace of mind in spite of my wife's absence at the time i
gave him no answer now i recalled every detail of that meeting and in
my mind gave him the most malevolent and bitter replies i recollected
myself and drove away that thought only when i found myself glowing with
anger but i did not sufficiently repent afterwards boris drubetskoy
came and began relating various adventures his coming vexed me from the
first and i said something disagreeable to him he replied i flared
up and said much that was unpleasant and even rude to him he became
silent and i recollected myself only when it was too late my god i
cannot get on with him at all the cause of this is my egotism i set
myself above him and so become much worse than he for he is lenient
to my rudeness while i on the contrary nourish contempt for him o god 
grant that in his presence i may rather see my own vileness and behave
so that he too may benefit after dinner i fell asleep and as i was
drowsing off i clearly heard a voice saying in my left ear thy
day 

i dreamed that i was walking in the dark and was suddenly surrounded by
dogs but i went on undismayed suddenly a smallish dog seized my left
thigh with its teeth and would not let go i began to throttle it with
my hands scarcely had i torn it off before another a bigger one began
biting me i lifted it up but the higher i lifted it the bigger and
heavier it grew and suddenly brother a came and taking my arm led
me to a building to enter which we had to pass along a narrow plank 
i stepped on it but it bent and gave way and i began to clamber up a
fence which i could scarcely reach with my hands after much effort i
dragged myself up so that my leg hung down on one side and my body on
the other i looked round and saw brother a standing on the fence and
pointing me to a broad avenue and garden and in the garden was a large
and beautiful building i woke up o lord great architect of nature 
help me to tear from myself these dogs my passions especially the
last which unites in itself the strength of all the former ones and
aid me to enter that temple of virtue to a vision of which i attained in
my dream 


7th december

i dreamed that joseph alexeevich was sitting in my house and that i
was very glad and wished to entertain him it seemed as if i chattered
incessantly with other people and suddenly remembered that this could
not please him and i wished to come close to him and embrace him but
as soon as i drew near i saw that his face had changed and grown young 
and he was quietly telling me something about the teaching of our order 
but so softly that i could not hear it then it seemed that we all left
the room and something strange happened we were sitting or lying on
the floor he was telling me something and i wished to show him my
sensibility and not listening to what he was saying i began picturing
to myself the condition of my inner man and the grace of god sanctifying
me and tears came into my eyes and i was glad he noticed this but he
looked at me with vexation and jumped up breaking off his remarks i
felt abashed and asked whether what he had been saying did not concern
me but he did not reply gave me a kind look and then we suddenly
found ourselves in my bedroom where there is a double bed he lay down
on the edge of it and i burned with longing to caress him and lie down
too and he said tell me frankly what is your chief temptation do
you know it i think you know it already abashed by this question 
i replied that sloth was my chief temptation he shook his head
incredulously and even more abashed i said that though i was living
with my wife as he advised i was not living with her as her husband to
this he replied that one should not deprive a wife of one's embraces
and gave me to understand that that was my duty but i replied that
i should be ashamed to do it and suddenly everything vanished and i
awoke and found in my mind the text from the gospel the life was
the light of men and the light shineth in darkness and the darkness
comprehended it not joseph alexeevich's face had looked young
and bright that day i received a letter from my benefactor in which he
wrote about conjugal duties 


9th december

i had a dream from which i awoke with a throbbing heart i saw that
i was in moscow in my house in the big sitting room and joseph
alexeevich came in from the drawing room i seemed to know at once that
the process of regeneration had already taken place in him and i rushed
to meet him i embraced him and kissed his hands and he said hast
thou noticed that my face is different i looked at him still
holding him in my arms and saw that his face was young but that he
had no hair on his head and his features were quite changed and i said 
 i should have known you had i met you by chance and i thought to
myself am i telling the truth and suddenly i saw him lying like
a dead body then he gradually recovered and went with me into my study
carrying a large book of sheets of drawing paper i said i drew
that and he answered by bowing his head i opened the book and on
all the pages there were excellent drawings and in my dream i knew
that these drawings represented the love adventures of the soul with its
beloved and on its pages i saw a beautiful representation of a maiden
in transparent garments and with a transparent body flying up to the
clouds and i seemed to know that this maiden was nothing else than a
representation of the song of songs and looking at those drawings i
dreamed i felt that i was doing wrong but could not tear myself away
from them lord help me my god if thy forsaking me is thy doing thy
will be done but if i am myself the cause teach me what i should do i
shall perish of my debauchery if thou utterly desertest me 





chapter xi

the rostovs monetary affairs had not improved during the two years
they had spent in the country 

though nicholas rostov had kept firmly to his resolution and was still
serving modestly in an obscure regiment spending comparatively little 
the way of life at otradnoe mitenka's management of affairs in
particular was such that the debts inevitably increased every year 
the only resource obviously presenting itself to the old count was to
apply for an official post so he had come to petersburg to look for one
and also as he said to let the lassies enjoy themselves for the last
time 

soon after their arrival in petersburg berg proposed to vera and was
accepted 

though in moscow the rostovs belonged to the best society without
themselves giving it a thought yet in petersburg their circle of
acquaintances was a mixed and indefinite one in petersburg they were
provincials and the very people they had entertained in moscow without
inquiring to what set they belonged here looked down on them 

the rostovs lived in the same hospitable way in petersburg as in
moscow and the most diverse people met at their suppers country
neighbors from otradnoe impoverished old squires and their daughters 
peronskaya a maid of honor pierre bezukhov and the son of their
district postmaster who had obtained a post in petersburg among the
men who very soon became frequent visitors at the rostovs house in
petersburg were boris pierre whom the count had met in the street and
dragged home with him and berg who spent whole days at the rostovs 
and paid the eldest daughter countess vera the attentions a young man
pays when he intends to propose 

not in vain had berg shown everybody his right hand wounded at
austerlitz and held a perfectly unnecessary sword in his left he
narrated that episode so persistently and with so important an air that
everyone believed in the merit and usefulness of his deed and he had
obtained two decorations for austerlitz 

in the finnish war he also managed to distinguish himself he had picked
up the scrap of a grenade that had killed an aide de camp standing near
the commander in chief and had taken it to his commander just as he had
done after austerlitz he related this occurrence at such length and
so insistently that everyone again believed it had been necessary to do
this and he received two decorations for the finnish war also in
1809 he was a captain in the guards wore medals and held some special
lucrative posts in petersburg 

though some skeptics smiled when told of berg's merits it could not
be denied that he was a painstaking and brave officer on excellent
terms with his superiors and a moral young man with a brilliant career
before him and an assured position in society 

four years before meeting a german comrade in the stalls of a moscow
theater berg had pointed out vera rostova to him and had said in
german das soll mein weib werden and from that moment had
made up his mind to marry her now in petersburg having considered the
rostovs position and his own he decided that the time had come to
propose 

 that girl shall be my wife 


berg's proposal was at first received with a perplexity that was not
flattering to him at first it seemed strange that the son of an obscure
livonian gentleman should propose marriage to a countess rostova but
berg's chief characteristic was such a naive and good natured egotism
that the rostovs involuntarily came to think it would be a good thing 
since he himself was so firmly convinced that it was good indeed
excellent moreover the rostovs affairs were seriously embarrassed 
as the suitor could not but know and above all vera was twenty four 
had been taken out everywhere and though she was certainly good looking
and sensible no one up to now had proposed to her so they gave their
consent 

 you see said berg to his comrade whom he called friend 
only because he knew that everyone has friends you see i have
considered it all and should not marry if i had not thought it all out
or if it were in any way unsuitable but on the contrary my papa and
mamma are now provided for i have arranged that rent for them in the
baltic provinces and i can live in petersburg on my pay and with
her fortune and my good management we can get along nicely i am not
marrying for money i consider that dishonorable but a wife should
bring her share and a husband his i have my position in the service 
she has connections and some means in our times that is worth
something isn't it but above all she is a handsome estimable girl 
and she loves me 

berg blushed and smiled 

 and i love her because her character is sensible and very good 
now the other sister though they are the same family is quite
different an unpleasant character and has not the same intelligence 
she is so you know unpleasant but my fiancee well you
will be coming he was going to say to dine but changed his
mind and said to take tea with us and quickly doubling up his
tongue he blew a small round ring of tobacco smoke perfectly embodying
his dream of happiness 

after the first feeling of perplexity aroused in the parents by berg's
proposal the holiday tone of joyousness usual at such times took
possession of the family but the rejoicing was external and insincere 
in the family's feeling toward this wedding a certain awkwardness
and constraint was evident as if they were ashamed of not having loved
vera sufficiently and of being so ready to get her off their hands the
old count felt this most he would probably have been unable to state
the cause of his embarrassment but it resulted from the state of his
affairs he did not know at all how much he had what his debts amounted
to or what dowry he could give vera when his daughters were born
he had assigned to each of them for her dowry an estate with three
hundred serfs but one of these estates had already been sold and the
other was mortgaged and the interest so much in arrears that it would
have to be sold so that it was impossible to give it to vera nor had
he any money 

berg had already been engaged a month and only a week remained before
the wedding but the count had not yet decided in his own mind the
question of the dowry nor spoken to his wife about it at one time the
count thought of giving her the ryazan estate or of selling a forest 
at another time of borrowing money on a note of hand a few days before
the wedding berg entered the count's study early one morning and with
a pleasant smile respectfully asked his future father in law to let
him know what vera's dowry would be the count was so disconcerted by
this long foreseen inquiry that without consideration he gave the first
reply that came into his head i like your being businesslike about
it i like it you shall be satisfied 

and patting berg on the shoulder he got up wishing to end the
conversation but berg smiling pleasantly explained that if he did not
know for certain how much vera would have and did not receive at least
part of the dowry in advance he would have to break matters off 

 because consider count if i allowed myself to marry now
without having definite means to maintain my wife i should be acting
badly 

the conversation ended by the count who wished to be generous and to
avoid further importunity saying that he would give a note of hand
for eighty thousand rubles berg smiled meekly kissed the count on the
shoulder and said that he was very grateful but that it was impossible
for him to arrange his new life without receiving thirty thousand in
ready money or at least twenty thousand count he added and
then a note of hand for only sixty thousand 

 yes yes all right said the count hurriedly only excuse me 
my dear fellow i'll give you twenty thousand and a note of hand for
eighty thousand as well yes yes kiss me 





chapter xii

natasha was sixteen and it was the year 1809 the very year to which
she had counted on her fingers with boris after they had kissed four
years ago since then she had not seen him before sonya and her
mother if boris happened to be mentioned she spoke quite freely of
that episode as of some childish long forgotten matter that was not
worth mentioning but in the secret depths of her soul the question
whether her engagement to boris was a jest or an important binding
promise tormented her 

since boris left moscow in 1805 to join the army he had not seen the
rostovs he had been in moscow several times and had passed near
otradnoe but had never been to see them 

sometimes it occurred to natasha that he did not wish to see her and
this conjecture was confirmed by the sad tone in which her elders spoke
of him 

 nowadays old friends are not remembered the countess would say
when boris was mentioned 

anna mikhaylovna also had of late visited them less frequently seemed
to hold herself with particular dignity and always spoke rapturously
and gratefully of the merits of her son and the brilliant career on
which he had entered when the rostovs came to petersburg boris called
on them 

he drove to their house in some agitation the memory of natasha was
his most poetic recollection but he went with the firm intention of
letting her and her parents feel that the childish relations between
himself and natasha could not be binding either on her or on him he
had a brilliant position in society thanks to his intimacy with countess
bezukhova a brilliant position in the service thanks to the patronage
of an important personage whose complete confidence he enjoyed and he
was beginning to make plans for marrying one of the richest heiresses in
petersburg plans which might very easily be realized when he entered
the rostovs drawing room natasha was in her own room when she
heard of his arrival she almost ran into the drawing room flushed and
beaming with a more than cordial smile 

boris remembered natasha in a short dress with dark eyes shining from
under her curls and boisterous childish laughter as he had known her
four years before and so he was taken aback when quite a different
natasha entered and his face expressed rapturous astonishment this
expression on his face pleased natasha 

 well do you recognize your little madcap playmate asked the
countess 

boris kissed natasha's hand and said that he was astonished at the
change in her 

 how handsome you have grown 

 i should think so replied natasha's laughing eyes 

 and is papa older she asked 

natasha sat down and without joining in boris conversation with
the countess silently and minutely studied her childhood's suitor he
felt the weight of that resolute and affectionate scrutiny and glanced
at her occasionally 

boris uniform spurs tie and the way his hair was brushed were all
comme il faut and in the latest fashion this natasha noticed at once 
he sat rather sideways in the armchair next to the countess arranging
with his right hand the cleanest of gloves that fitted his left hand
like a skin and he spoke with a particularly refined compression of his
lips about the amusements of the highest petersburg society recalling
with mild irony old times in moscow and moscow acquaintances it was
not accidentally natasha felt that he alluded when speaking of the
highest aristocracy to an ambassador's ball he had attended and to
invitations he had received from n n and s s 

all this time natasha sat silent glancing up at him from under her
brows this gaze disturbed and confused boris more and more he looked
round more frequently toward her and broke off in what he was saying 
he did not stay more than ten minutes then rose and took his leave the
same inquisitive challenging and rather mocking eyes still looked
at him after his first visit boris said to himself that natasha
attracted him just as much as ever but that he must not yield to that
feeling because to marry her a girl almost without fortune would
mean ruin to his career while to renew their former relations without
intending to marry her would be dishonorable boris made up his mind
to avoid meeting natasha but despite that resolution he called again
a few days later and began calling often and spending whole days at the
rostovs it seemed to him that he ought to have an explanation with
natasha and tell her that the old times must be forgotten that in
spite of everything she could not be his wife that he had no means 
and they would never let her marry him but he failed to do so and felt
awkward about entering on such an explanation from day to day he
became more and more entangled it seemed to her mother and sonya that
natasha was in love with boris as of old she sang him his favorite
songs showed him her album making him write in it did not allow him
to allude to the past letting it be understood how delightful was the
present and every day he went away in a fog without having said what
he meant to and not knowing what he was doing or why he came or how
it would all end he left off visiting helene and received reproachful
notes from her every day and yet he continued to spend whole days with
the rostovs 





chapter xiii

one night when the old countess in nightcap and dressing jacket 
without her false curls and with her poor little knob of hair showing
under her white cotton cap knelt sighing and groaning on a rug and
bowing to the ground in prayer her door creaked and natasha also in
a dressing jacket with slippers on her bare feet and her hair in
curlpapers ran in the countess her prayerful mood dispelled looked
round and frowned she was finishing her last prayer can it be that
this couch will be my grave natasha flushed and eager seeing
her mother in prayer suddenly checked her rush half sat down and
unconsciously put out her tongue as if chiding herself seeing that
her mother was still praying she ran on tiptoe to the bed and rapidly
slipping one little foot against the other pushed off her slippers and
jumped onto the bed the countess had feared might become her grave this
couch was high with a feather bed and five pillows each smaller than
the one below natasha jumped on it sank into the feather bed rolled
over to the wall and began snuggling up the bedclothes as she settled
down raising her knees to her chin kicking out and laughing almost
inaudibly now covering herself up head and all and now peeping at her
mother the countess finished her prayers and came to the bed with a
stern face but seeing that natasha's head was covered she smiled
in her kind weak way 

 now then now then said she 

 mamma can we have a talk yes said natasha now just one on
your throat and another that'll do and seizing her mother round
the neck she kissed her on the throat in her behavior to her mother
natasha seemed rough but she was so sensitive and tactful that however
she clasped her mother she always managed to do it without hurting her
or making her feel uncomfortable or displeased 

 well what is it tonight said the mother having arranged her
pillows and waited until natasha after turning over a couple of times 
had settled down beside her under the quilt spread out her arms and
assumed a serious expression 

these visits of natasha's at night before the count returned from his
club were one of the greatest pleasures of both mother and daughter 

 what is it tonight but i have to tell you 

natasha put her hand on her mother's mouth 

 about boris i know she said seriously that's what i
have come about don't say it i know no do tell me and she
removed her hand tell me mamma he's nice 

 natasha you are sixteen at your age i was married you say boris
is nice he is very nice and i love him like a son but what then 
what are you thinking about you have quite turned his head i can see
that 

as she said this the countess looked round at her daughter natasha
was lying looking steadily straight before her at one of the mahogany
sphinxes carved on the corners of the bedstead so that the countess
only saw her daughter's face in profile that face struck her by its
peculiarly serious and concentrated expression 

natasha was listening and considering 

 well what then said she 

 you have quite turned his head and why what do you want of him you
know you can't marry him 

 why not said natasha without changing her position 

 because he is young because he is poor because he is a relation 
and because you yourself don't love him 

 how do you know 

 i know it is not right darling 

 but if i want to said natasha 

 leave off talking nonsense said the countess 

 but if i want to 

 natasha i am in earnest 

natasha did not let her finish she drew the countess large hand to
her kissed it on the back and then on the palm then again turned it
over and began kissing first one knuckle then the space between the
knuckles then the next knuckle whispering january february 
march april may speak mamma why don't you say anything speak 
said she turning to her mother who was tenderly gazing at her daughter
and in that contemplation seemed to have forgotten all she had wished to
say 

 it won't do my love not everyone will understand this friendship
dating from your childish days and to see him so intimate with you may
injure you in the eyes of other young men who visit us and above all
it torments him for nothing he may already have found a suitable and
wealthy match and now he's half crazy 

 crazy repeated natasha 

 i'll tell you some things about myself i had a cousin 

 i know cyril matveich but he is old 

 he was not always old but this is what i'll do natasha i'll
have a talk with boris he need not come so often 

 why not if he likes to 

 because i know it will end in nothing 

 how can you know no mamma don't speak to him what nonsense 
said natasha in the tone of one being deprived of her property 
 well i won't marry but let him come if he enjoys it and i enjoy
it natasha smiled and looked at her mother not to marry but
just so she added 

 how so my pet 

 just so there's no need for me to marry him but just so 

 just so just so repeated the countess and shaking all over she
went off into a good humored unexpected elderly laugh 

 don't laugh stop cried natasha you're shaking the whole
bed you're awfully like me just such another giggler wait 
and she seized the countess hands and kissed a knuckle of the little
finger saying june and continued kissing july august 
on the other hand but mamma is he very much in love what do you
think was anybody ever so much in love with you and he's very nice 
very very nice only not quite my taste he is so narrow like the
dining room clock don't you understand narrow you know gray 
light gray 

 what rubbish you're talking said the countess 

natasha continued don't you really understand nicholas would
understand bezukhov now is blue dark blue and red and he is
square 

 you flirt with him too said the countess laughing 

 no he is a freemason i have found out he is fine dark blue and
red how can i explain it to you 

 little countess the count's voice called from behind the door 
 you're not asleep natasha jumped up snatched up her slippers 
and ran barefoot to her own room 

it was a long time before she could sleep she kept thinking that no one
could understand all that she understood and all there was in her 

 sonya she thought glancing at that curled up sleeping little
kitten with her enormous plait of hair no how could she she's
virtuous she fell in love with nicholas and does not wish to know
anything more even mamma does not understand it is wonderful how
clever i am and how charming she is she went on speaking
of herself in the third person and imagining it was some very wise
man the wisest and best of men who was saying it of her there
is everything everything in her continued this man she is
unusually intelligent charming and then she is pretty uncommonly
pretty and agile she swims and rides splendidly and her voice one
can really say it's a wonderful voice 

she hummed a scrap from her favorite opera by cherubini threw herself
on her bed laughed at the pleasant thought that she would immediately
fall asleep called dunyasha the maid to put out the candle and before
dunyasha had left the room had already passed into yet another happier
world of dreams where everything was as light and beautiful as in
reality and even more so because it was different 

next day the countess called boris aside and had a talk with him after
which he ceased coming to the rostovs 





chapter xiv

on the thirty first of december new year's eve 1809 10 an old
grandee of catherine's day was giving a ball and midnight supper the
diplomatic corps and the emperor himself were to be present 

the grandee's well known mansion on the english quay glittered with
innumerable lights police were stationed at the brightly lit entrance
which was carpeted with red baize and not only gendarmes but dozens of
police officers and even the police master himself stood at the porch 
carriages kept driving away and fresh ones arriving with red liveried
footmen and footmen in plumed hats from the carriages emerged men
wearing uniforms stars and ribbons while ladies in satin and ermine
cautiously descended the carriage steps which were let down for them
with a clatter and then walked hurriedly and noiselessly over the baize
at the entrance 

almost every time a new carriage drove up a whisper ran through the
crowd and caps were doffed 

 the emperor no a minister prince ambassador don't you
see the plumes was whispered among the crowd 

one person better dressed than the rest seemed to know everyone and
mentioned by name the greatest dignitaries of the day 

a third of the visitors had already arrived but the rostovs who were
to be present were still hurrying to get dressed 

there had been many discussions and preparations for this ball in the
rostov family many fears that the invitation would not arrive that
the dresses would not be ready or that something would not be arranged
as it should be 

marya ignatevna peronskaya a thin and shallow maid of honor at
the court of the dowager empress who was a friend and relation of the
countess and piloted the provincial rostovs in petersburg high society 
was to accompany them to the ball 

they were to call for her at her house in the taurida gardens at ten
o'clock but it was already five minutes to ten and the girls were
not yet dressed 

natasha was going to her first grand ball she had got up at eight that
morning and had been in a fever of excitement and activity all day all
her powers since morning had been concentrated on ensuring that they
all she herself mamma and sonya should be as well dressed as
possible sonya and her mother put themselves entirely in her hands 
the countess was to wear a claret colored velvet dress and the two
girls white gauze over pink silk slips with roses on their bodices and
their hair dressed a la grecque 

everything essential had already been done feet hands necks and
ears washed perfumed and powdered as befits a ball the openwork
silk stockings and white satin shoes with ribbons were already on the
hairdressing was almost done sonya was finishing dressing and so was
the countess but natasha who had bustled about helping them all was
behindhand she was still sitting before a looking glass with a dressing
jacket thrown over her slender shoulders sonya stood ready dressed in
the middle of the room and pressing the head of a pin till it hurt her
dainty finger was fixing on a last ribbon that squeaked as the pin went
through it 

 that's not the way that's not the way sonya cried natasha
turning her head and clutching with both hands at her hair which the
maid who was dressing it had not time to release that bow is not
right come here 

sonya sat down and natasha pinned the ribbon on differently 

 allow me miss i can't do it like that said the maid who was
holding natasha's hair 

 oh dear well then wait that's right sonya 

 aren't you ready it is nearly ten came the countess voice 

 directly directly and you mamma 

 i have only my cap to pin on 

 don't do it without me called natasha you won't do it
right 

 but it's already ten 

they had decided to be at the ball by half past ten and natasha had
still to get dressed and they had to call at the taurida gardens 

when her hair was done natasha in her short petticoat from under
which her dancing shoes showed and in her mother's dressing jacket 
ran up to sonya scrutinized her and then ran to her mother turning
her mother's head this way and that she fastened on the cap and 
hurriedly kissing her gray hair ran back to the maids who were turning
up the hem of her skirt 

the cause of the delay was natasha's skirt which was too long 
two maids were turning up the hem and hurriedly biting off the ends of
thread a third with pins in her mouth was running about between the
countess and sonya and a fourth held the whole of the gossamer garment
up high on one uplifted hand 

 mavra quicker darling 

 give me my thimble miss from there 

 whenever will you be ready asked the count coming to the door 
 here is some scent peronskaya must be tired of waiting 

 it's ready miss said the maid holding up the shortened gauze
dress with two fingers and blowing and shaking something off it as if
by this to express a consciousness of the airiness and purity of what
she held 

natasha began putting on the dress 

 in a minute in a minute don't come in papa she cried to her
father as he opened the door speaking from under the filmy skirt which
still covered her whole face 

sonya slammed the door to a minute later they let the count in he was
wearing a blue swallow tail coat shoes and stockings and was perfumed
and his hair pomaded 

 oh papa how nice you look charming cried natasha as she
stood in the middle of the room smoothing out the folds of the gauze 

 if you please miss allow me said the maid who on her knees was
pulling the skirt straight and shifting the pins from one side of her
mouth to the other with her tongue 

 say what you like exclaimed sonya in a despairing voice as she
looked at natasha say what you like it's still too long 

natasha stepped back to look at herself in the pier glass the dress
was too long 

 really madam it is not at all too long said mavra crawling on
her knees after her young lady 

 well if it's too long we'll tack it up we'll tack it up
in one minute said the resolute dunyasha taking a needle that was
stuck on the front of her little shawl and still kneeling on the floor 
set to work once more 

at that moment with soft steps the countess came in shyly in her cap
and velvet gown 

 oo oo my beauty exclaimed the count she looks better than
any of you 

he would have embraced her but blushing she stepped aside fearing to
be rumpled 

 mamma your cap more to this side said natasha i'll
arrange it and she rushed forward so that the maids who were tacking
up her skirt could not move fast enough and a piece of gauze was torn
off 

 oh goodness what has happened really it was not my fault 

 never mind i'll run it up it won't show said dunyasha 

 what a beauty a very queen said the nurse as she came to the
door and sonya they are lovely 

at a quarter past ten they at last got into their carriages and started 
but they had still to call at the taurida gardens 

peronskaya was quite ready in spite of her age and plainness she
had gone through the same process as the rostovs but with less
flurry for to her it was a matter of routine her ugly old body was
washed perfumed and powdered in just the same way she had washed
behind her ears just as carefully and when she entered her drawing
room in her yellow dress wearing her badge as maid of honor her old
lady's maid was as full of rapturous admiration as the rostovs 
servants had been 

she praised the rostovs toilets they praised her taste and toilet 
and at eleven o'clock careful of their coiffures and dresses they
settled themselves in their carriages and drove off 





chapter xv

natasha had not had a moment free since early morning and had not once
had time to think of what lay before her 

in the damp chill air and crowded closeness of the swaying carriage she
for the first time vividly imagined what was in store for her there at
the ball in those brightly lighted rooms with music flowers dances 
the emperor and all the brilliant young people of petersburg the
prospect was so splendid that she hardly believed it would come true 
so out of keeping was it with the chill darkness and closeness of the
carriage she understood all that awaited her only when after stepping
over the red baize at the entrance she entered the hall took off her
fur cloak and beside sonya and in front of her mother mounted the
brightly illuminated stairs between the flowers only then did she
remember how she must behave at a ball and tried to assume the majestic
air she considered indispensable for a girl on such an occasion but 
fortunately for her she felt her eyes growing misty she saw nothing
clearly her pulse beat a hundred to the minute and the blood throbbed
at her heart she could not assume that pose which would have made her
ridiculous and she moved on almost fainting from excitement and trying
with all her might to conceal it and this was the very attitude that
became her best before and behind them other visitors were entering 
also talking in low tones and wearing ball dresses the mirrors on the
landing reflected ladies in white pale blue and pink dresses with
diamonds and pearls on their bare necks and arms 

natasha looked in the mirrors and could not distinguish her reflection
from the others all was blended into one brilliant procession 
on entering the ballroom the regular hum of voices footsteps and
greetings deafened natasha and the light and glitter dazzled her still
more the host and hostess who had already been standing at the door
for half an hour repeating the same words to the various arrivals 
 charme de vous voir greeted the rostovs and peronskaya in
the same manner 

 delighted to see you 


the two girls in their white dresses each with a rose in her
black hair both curtsied in the same way but the hostess eye
involuntarily rested longer on the slim natasha she looked at her
and gave her alone a special smile in addition to her usual smile as
hostess looking at her she may have recalled the golden irrecoverable
days of her own girlhood and her own first ball the host also followed
natasha with his eyes and asked the count which was his daughter 

 charming said he kissing the tips of his fingers 

in the ballroom guests stood crowding at the entrance doors awaiting
the emperor the countess took up a position in one of the front rows
of that crowd natasha heard and felt that several people were asking
about her and looking at her she realized that those noticing her liked
her and this observation helped to calm her 

 there are some like ourselves and some worse she thought 

peronskaya was pointing out to the countess the most important people
at the ball 

 that is the dutch ambassador do you see that gray haired man 
she said indicating an old man with a profusion of silver gray curly
hair who was surrounded by ladies laughing at something he said 

 ah here she is the queen of petersburg countess bezukhova 
said peronskaya indicating helene who had just entered how
lovely she is quite equal to marya antonovna see how the men young
and old pay court to her beautiful and clever they say prince
 is quite mad about her but see those two though not
good looking are even more run after 

she pointed to a lady who was crossing the room followed by a very plain
daughter 

 she is a splendid match a millionairess said peronskaya and
look here come her suitors 

 that is bezukhova's brother anatole kuragin she said 
indicating a handsome officer of the horse guards who passed by them
with head erect looking at something over the heads of the ladies 
 he's handsome isn't he i hear they will marry him to that rich
girl but your cousin drubetskoy is also very attentive to her they
say she has millions oh yes that's the french ambassador himself 
she replied to the countess inquiry about caulaincourt looks as
if he were a king all the same the french are charming very charming 
no one more charming in society ah here she is yes she is still the
most beautiful of them all our marya antonovna and how simply she
is dressed lovely and that stout one in spectacles is the universal
freemason she went on indicating pierre put him beside his wife
and he looks a regular buffoon 

pierre swaying his stout body advanced making way through the crowd
and nodding to right and left as casually and good naturedly as if he
were passing through a crowd at a fair he pushed through evidently
looking for someone 

natasha looked joyfully at the familiar face of pierre the
buffoon as peronskaya had called him and knew he was looking for
them and for her in particular he had promised to be at the ball and
introduce partners to her 

but before he reached them pierre stopped beside a very handsome dark
man of middle height and in a white uniform who stood by a window
talking to a tall man wearing stars and a ribbon natasha at once
recognized the shorter and younger man in the white uniform it was
bolkonski who seemed to her to have grown much younger happier and
better looking 

 there's someone else we know bolkonski do you see mamma 
said natasha pointing out prince andrew you remember he stayed a
night with us at otradnoe 

 oh you know him said peronskaya i can't bear him il fait
a present la pluie et le beau temps he's too proud for anything 
takes after his father and he's hand in glove with speranski 
writing some project or other just look how he treats the ladies 
there's one talking to him and he has turned away she said 
pointing at him i'd give it to him if he treated me as he does
those ladies 

 he is all the rage just now 






chapter xvi

suddenly everybody stirred began talking and pressed forward and then
back and between the two rows which separated the emperor entered to
the sounds of music that had immediately struck up behind him walked
his host and hostess he walked in rapidly bowing to right and left
as if anxious to get the first moments of the reception over the band
played the polonaise in vogue at that time on account of the words that
had been set to it beginning alexander elisaveta all our hearts
you ravish quite the emperor passed on to the drawing room the
crowd made a rush for the doors and several persons with excited faces
hurried there and back again then the crowd hastily retired from
the drawing room door at which the emperor reappeared talking to the
hostess a young man looking distraught pounced down on the ladies 
asking them to move aside some ladies with faces betraying complete
forgetfulness of all the rules of decorum pushed forward to the
detriment of their toilets the men began to choose partners and take
their places for the polonaise 

everyone moved back and the emperor came smiling out of the drawing
room leading his hostess by the hand but not keeping time to the
music the host followed with marya antonovna naryshkina then
came ambassadors ministers and various generals whom peronskaya
diligently named more than half the ladies already had partners
and were taking up or preparing to take up their positions for the
polonaise natasha felt that she would be left with her mother and
sonya among a minority of women who crowded near the wall not having
been invited to dance she stood with her slender arms hanging down 
her scarcely defined bosom rising and falling regularly and with
bated breath and glittering frightened eyes gazed straight before
her evidently prepared for the height of joy or misery she was
not concerned about the emperor or any of those great people whom
peronskaya was pointing out she had but one thought is it
possible no one will ask me that i shall not be among the first to
dance is it possible that not one of all these men will notice me 
they do not even seem to see me or if they do they look as if they
were saying ah she's not the one i'm after so it's not worth
looking at her no it's impossible she thought they must
know how i long to dance how splendidly i dance and how they would
enjoy dancing with me 

the strains of the polonaise which had continued for a considerable
time had begun to sound like a sad reminiscence to natasha's ears 
she wanted to cry peronskaya had left them the count was at the
other end of the room she and the countess and sonya were standing by
themselves as in the depths of a forest amid that crowd of strangers 
with no one interested in them and not wanted by anyone prince andrew
with a lady passed by evidently not recognizing them the handsome
anatole was smilingly talking to a partner on his arm and looked at
natasha as one looks at a wall boris passed them twice and each time
turned away berg and his wife who were not dancing came up to them 

this family gathering seemed humiliating to natasha as if there were
nowhere else for the family to talk but here at the ball she did not
listen to or look at vera who was telling her something about her own
green dress 

at last the emperor stopped beside his last partner he had danced
with three and the music ceased a worried aide de camp ran up to the
rostovs requesting them to stand farther back though as it was they
were already close to the wall and from the gallery resounded the
distinct precise enticingly rhythmical strains of a waltz the emperor
looked smilingly down the room a minute passed but no one had yet begun
dancing an aide de camp the master of ceremonies went up to countess
bezukhova and asked her to dance she smilingly raised her hand and
laid it on his shoulder without looking at him the aide de camp an
adept in his art grasping his partner firmly round her waist with
confident deliberation started smoothly gliding first round the edge of
the circle then at the corner of the room he caught helene's
left hand and turned her the only sound audible apart from the
ever quickening music being the rhythmic click of the spurs on his
rapid agile feet while at every third beat his partner's velvet
dress spread out and seemed to flash as she whirled round natasha
gazed at them and was ready to cry because it was not she who was
dancing that first turn of the waltz 

prince andrew in the white uniform of a cavalry colonel wearing
stockings and dancing shoes stood looking animated and bright in the
front row of the circle not far from the rostovs baron firhoff was
talking to him about the first sitting of the council of state to be
held next day prince andrew as one closely connected with speranski
and participating in the work of the legislative commission could give
reliable information about that sitting concerning which various rumors
were current but not listening to what firhoff was saying he was
gazing now at the sovereign and now at the men intending to dance who
had not yet gathered courage to enter the circle 

prince andrew was watching these men abashed by the emperor's
presence and the women who were breathlessly longing to be asked to
dance 

pierre came up to him and caught him by the arm 

 you always dance i have a protegee the young rostova here ask
her he said 

 where is she asked bolkonski excuse me he added turning
to the baron we will finish this conversation elsewhere at a ball
one must dance he stepped forward in the direction pierre indicated 
the despairing dejected expression of natasha's face caught his eye 
he recognized her guessed her feelings saw that it was her debut 
remembered her conversation at the window and with an expression of
pleasure on his face approached countess rostova 

 allow me to introduce you to my daughter said the countess with
heightened color 

 i have the pleasure of being already acquainted if the countess
remembers me said prince andrew with a low and courteous bow quite
belying peronskaya's remarks about his rudeness and approaching
natasha he held out his arm to grasp her waist before he had completed
his invitation he asked her to waltz that tremulous expression on
natasha's face prepared either for despair or rapture suddenly
brightened into a happy grateful childlike smile 

 i have long been waiting for you that frightened happy little
girl seemed to say by the smile that replaced the threatened tears as
she raised her hand to prince andrew's shoulder they were the second
couple to enter the circle prince andrew was one of the best dancers of
his day and natasha danced exquisitely her little feet in their white
satin dancing shoes did their work swiftly lightly and independently
of herself while her face beamed with ecstatic happiness her slender
bare arms and neck were not beautiful compared to helene's her
shoulders looked thin and her bosom undeveloped but helene seemed as
it were hardened by a varnish left by the thousands of looks that had
scanned her person while natasha was like a girl exposed for the first
time who would have felt very much ashamed had she not been assured
that this was absolutely necessary 

prince andrew liked dancing and wishing to escape as quickly as
possible from the political and clever talk which everyone addressed
to him wishing also to break up the circle of restraint he disliked 
caused by the emperor's presence he danced and had chosen natasha
because pierre pointed her out to him and because she was the first
pretty girl who caught his eye but scarcely had he embraced that
slender supple figure and felt her stirring so close to him and smiling
so near him than the wine of her charm rose to his head and he
felt himself revived and rejuvenated when after leaving her he stood
breathing deeply and watching the other dancers 





chapter xvii

after prince andrew boris came up to ask natasha for a dance and
then the aide de camp who had opened the ball and several other young
men so that flushed and happy and passing on her superfluous partners
to sonya she did not cease dancing all the evening she noticed and
saw nothing of what occupied everyone else not only did she fail to
notice that the emperor talked a long time with the french ambassador 
and how particularly gracious he was to a certain lady or that prince
so and so and so and so did and said this and that and that helene
had great success and was honored by the special attention of so and so 
but she did not even see the emperor and only noticed that he had gone
because the ball became livelier after his departure for one of the
merry cotillions before supper prince andrew was again her partner he
reminded her of their first encounter in the otradnoe avenue and how
she had been unable to sleep that moonlight night and told her how he
had involuntarily overheard her natasha blushed at that recollection
and tried to excuse herself as if there had been something to be
ashamed of in what prince andrew had overheard 

like all men who have grown up in society prince andrew liked meeting
someone there not of the conventional society stamp and such was
natasha with her surprise her delight her shyness and even her
mistakes in speaking french with her he behaved with special care and
tenderness sitting beside her and talking of the simplest and most
unimportant matters he admired her shy grace in the middle of the
cotillion having completed one of the figures natasha still out of
breath was returning to her seat when another dancer chose her she was
tired and panting and evidently thought of declining but immediately
put her hand gaily on the man's shoulder smiling at prince andrew 

 i'd be glad to sit beside you and rest i'm tired but you see
how they keep asking me and i'm glad of it i'm happy and i love
everybody and you and i understand it all and much much more was
said in her smile when her partner left her natasha ran across the
room to choose two ladies for the figure 

 if she goes to her cousin first and then to another lady she will be
my wife said prince andrew to himself quite to his own surprise as
he watched her she did go first to her cousin 

 what rubbish sometimes enters one's head thought prince andrew 
 but what is certain is that that girl is so charming so original 
that she won't be dancing here a month before she will be married 
such as she are rare here he thought as natasha readjusting a
rose that was slipping on her bodice settled herself beside him 

when the cotillion was over the old count in his blue coat came up to
the dancers he invited prince andrew to come and see them and asked
his daughter whether she was enjoying herself natasha did not answer
at once but only looked up with a smile that said reproachfully how
can you ask such a question 

 i have never enjoyed myself so much before she said and prince
andrew noticed how her thin arms rose quickly as if to embrace her
father and instantly dropped again natasha was happier than she had
ever been in her life she was at that height of bliss when one becomes
completely kind and good and does not believe in the possibility of
evil unhappiness or sorrow 

at that ball pierre for the first time felt humiliated by the position
his wife occupied in court circles he was gloomy and absent minded a
deep furrow ran across his forehead and standing by a window he stared
over his spectacles seeing no one 

on her way to supper natasha passed him 

pierre's gloomy unhappy look struck her she stopped in front of him 
she wished to help him to bestow on him the superabundance of her own
happiness 

 how delightful it is count said she isn't it 

pierre smiled absent mindedly evidently not grasping what she said 

 yes i am very glad he said 

 how can people be dissatisfied with anything thought natasha 
 especially such a capital fellow as bezukhov in natasha's
eyes all the people at the ball alike were good kind and splendid
people loving one another none of them capable of injuring
another and so they ought all to be happy 





chapter xviii

next day prince andrew thought of the ball but his mind did not dwell
on it long yes it was a very brilliant ball and then yes 
that little rostova is very charming there's something fresh 
original un petersburg like about her that distinguishes her that
was all he thought about yesterday's ball and after his morning tea
he set to work 

but either from fatigue or want of sleep he was ill disposed for work
and could get nothing done he kept criticizing his own work as he
often did and was glad when he heard someone coming 

the visitor was bitski who served on various committees frequented
all the societies in petersburg and a passionate devotee of the new
ideas and of speranski and a diligent petersburg newsmonger one of
those men who choose their opinions like their clothes according to
the fashion but who for that very reason appear to be the warmest
partisans hardly had he got rid of his hat before he ran into prince
andrew's room with a preoccupied air and at once began talking he
had just heard particulars of that morning's sitting of the council
of state opened by the emperor and he spoke of it enthusiastically the
emperor's speech had been extraordinary it had been a speech such as
only constitutional monarchs deliver the sovereign plainly said
that the council and senate are estates of the realm he said that the
government must rest not on authority but on secure bases the emperor
said that the fiscal system must be reorganized and the accounts
published recounted bitski emphasizing certain words and opening
his eyes significantly 

 ah yes today's events mark an epoch the greatest epoch in our
history he concluded 

prince andrew listened to the account of the opening of the council of
state which he had so impatiently awaited and to which he had attached
such importance and was surprised that this event now that it had
taken place did not affect him and even seemed quite insignificant he
listened with quiet irony to bitski's enthusiastic account of it a
very simple thought occurred to him what does it matter to me or to
bitski what the emperor was pleased to say at the council can all that
make me any happier or better 

and this simple reflection suddenly destroyed all the interest prince
andrew had felt in the impending reforms he was going to dine that
evening at speranski's with only a few friends as the host
had said when inviting him the prospect of that dinner in the intimate
home circle of the man he so admired had greatly interested prince
andrew especially as he had not yet seen speranski in his domestic
surroundings but now he felt disinclined to go to it 

at the appointed hour however he entered the modest house speranski
owned in the taurida gardens in the parqueted dining room this small
house remarkable for its extreme cleanliness suggesting that of a
monastery prince andrew who was rather late found the friendly
gathering of speranski's intimate acquaintances already assembled
at five o'clock there were no ladies present except speranski's
little daughter long faced like her father and her governess the
other guests were gervais magnitski and stolypin while still in
the anteroom prince andrew heard loud voices and a ringing staccato
laugh a laugh such as one hears on the stage someone it sounded
like speranski was distinctly ejaculating ha ha ha prince andrew
had never before heard speranski's famous laugh and this ringing 
high pitched laughter from a statesman made a strange impression on him 

he entered the dining room the whole company were standing between two
windows at a small table laid with hors d'oeuvres speranski wearing
a gray swallow tail coat with a star on the breast and evidently still
the same waistcoat and high white stock he had worn at the meeting of
the council of state stood at the table with a beaming countenance his
guests surrounded him magnitski addressing himself to speranski 
was relating an anecdote and speranski was laughing in advance at
what magnitski was going to say when prince andrew entered the room
magnitski's words were again crowned by laughter stolypin gave
a deep bass guffaw as he munched a piece of bread and cheese gervais
laughed softly with a hissing chuckle and speranski in a high pitched
staccato manner 

still laughing speranski held out his soft white hand to prince
andrew 

 very pleased to see you prince he said one moment he
went on turning to magnitski and interrupting his story we have
agreed that this is a dinner for recreation with not a word about
business and turning again to the narrator he began to laugh afresh 

prince andrew looked at the laughing speranski with astonishment 
regret and disillusionment it seemed to him that this was not
speranski but someone else everything that had formerly appeared
mysterious and fascinating in speranski suddenly became plain and
unattractive 

at dinner the conversation did not cease for a moment and seemed to
consist of the contents of a book of funny anecdotes before magnitski
had finished his story someone else was anxious to relate something
still funnier most of the anecdotes if not relating to the state
service related to people in the service it seemed that in this
company the insignificance of those people was so definitely accepted
that the only possible attitude toward them was one of good humored
ridicule speranski related how at the council that morning a deaf
dignitary when asked his opinion replied that he thought so too 
gervais gave a long account of an official revision remarkable for the
stupidity of everybody concerned stolypin stuttering broke into
the conversation and began excitedly talking of the abuses that existed
under the former order of things threatening to give a serious turn
to the conversation magnitski starting quizzing stolypin about his
vehemence gervais intervened with a joke and the talk reverted to its
former lively tone 

evidently speranski liked to rest after his labors and find amusement
in a circle of friends and his guests understanding his wish tried
to enliven him and amuse themselves but their gaiety seemed to prince
andrew mirthless and tiresome speranski's high pitched voice struck
him unpleasantly and the incessant laughter grated on him like a false
note prince andrew did not laugh and feared that he would be a damper
on the spirits of the company but no one took any notice of his being
out of harmony with the general mood they all seemed very gay 

he tried several times to join in the conversation but his remarks were
tossed aside each time like a cork thrown out of the water and he could
not jest with them 

there was nothing wrong or unseemly in what they said it was witty and
might have been funny but it lacked just that something which is the
salt of mirth and they were not even aware that such a thing existed 

after dinner speranski's daughter and her governess rose he patted
the little girl with his white hand and kissed her and that gesture 
too seemed unnatural to prince andrew 

the men remained at table over their port english fashion in the
midst of a conversation that was started about napoleon's spanish
affairs which they all agreed in approving prince andrew began to
express a contrary opinion speranski smiled and with an evident wish
to prevent the conversation from taking an unpleasant course told a
story that had no connection with the previous conversation for a few
moments all were silent 

having sat some time at table speranski corked a bottle of wine and 
remarking nowadays good wine rides in a carriage and pair passed
it to the servant and got up all rose and continuing to talk loudly
went into the drawing room two letters brought by a courier were handed
to speranski and he took them to his study as soon as he had left
the room the general merriment stopped and the guests began to converse
sensibly and quietly with one another 

 now for the recitation said speranski on returning from
his study a wonderful talent he said to prince andrew and
magnitski immediately assumed a pose and began reciting some humorous
verses in french which he had composed about various well known
petersburg people he was interrupted several times by applause when
the verses were finished prince andrew went up to speranski and took
his leave 

 where are you off to so early asked speranski 

 i promised to go to a reception 

they said no more prince andrew looked closely into those mirrorlike 
impenetrable eyes and felt that it had been ridiculous of him to have
expected anything from speranski and from any of his own activities
connected with him or ever to have attributed importance to what
speranski was doing that precise mirthless laughter rang in prince
andrew's ears long after he had left the house 

when he reached home prince andrew began thinking of his life in
petersburg during those last four months as if it were something new he
recalled his exertions and solicitations and the history of his project
of army reform which had been accepted for consideration and which they
were trying to pass over in silence simply because another a very poor
one had already been prepared and submitted to the emperor he thought
of the meetings of a committee of which berg was a member he remembered
how carefully and at what length everything relating to form and
procedure was discussed at those meetings and how sedulously and
promptly all that related to the gist of the business was evaded he
recalled his labors on the legal code and how painstakingly he had
translated the articles of the roman and french codes into russian 
and he felt ashamed of himself then he vividly pictured to himself
bogucharovo his occupations in the country his journey to ryazan 
he remembered the peasants and dron the village elder and mentally
applying to them the personal rights he had divided into paragraphs he
felt astonished that he could have spent so much time on such useless
work 





chapter xix

next day prince andrew called at a few houses he had not visited before 
and among them at the rostovs with whom he had renewed acquaintance
at the ball apart from considerations of politeness which demanded the
call he wanted to see that original eager girl who had left such a
pleasant impression on his mind in her own home 

natasha was one of the first to meet him she was wearing a dark blue
house dress in which prince andrew thought her even prettier than in
her ball dress she and all the rostov family welcomed him as an old
friend simply and cordially the whole family whom he had formerly
judged severely now seemed to him to consist of excellent simple 
and kindly people the old count's hospitality and good nature which
struck one especially in petersburg as a pleasant surprise were such
that prince andrew could not refuse to stay to dinner yes 
he thought they are capital people who of course have not the
slightest idea what a treasure they possess in natasha but they are
kindly folk and form the best possible setting for this strikingly
poetic charming girl overflowing with life 

in natasha prince andrew was conscious of a strange world completely
alien to him and brimful of joys unknown to him a different world 
that in the otradnoe avenue and at the window that moonlight night
had already begun to disconcert him now this world disconcerted him no
longer and was no longer alien to him but he himself having entered it
found in it a new enjoyment 

after dinner natasha at prince andrew's request went to the
clavichord and began singing prince andrew stood by a window talking
to the ladies and listened to her in the midst of a phrase he ceased
speaking and suddenly felt tears choking him a thing he had thought
impossible for him he looked at natasha as she sang and something new
and joyful stirred in his soul he felt happy and at the same time sad 
he had absolutely nothing to weep about yet he was ready to weep what
about his former love the little princess his disillusionments 
his hopes for the future yes and no the chief reason was a sudden 
vivid sense of the terrible contrast between something infinitely great
and illimitable within him and that limited and material something that
he and even she was this contrast weighed on and yet cheered him
while she sang 

as soon as natasha had finished she went up to him and asked how he
liked her voice she asked this and then became confused feeling that
she ought not to have asked it he smiled looking at her and said he
liked her singing as he liked everything she did 

prince andrew left the rostovs late in the evening he went to bed
from habit but soon realized that he could not sleep having lit his
candle he sat up in bed then got up then lay down again not at all
troubled by his sleeplessness his soul was as fresh and joyful as if he
had stepped out of a stuffy room into god's own fresh air it did not
enter his head that he was in love with natasha he was not thinking
about her but only picturing her to himself and in consequence all
life appeared in a new light why do i strive why do i toil in this
narrow confined frame when life all life with all its joys is open
to me said he to himself and for the first time for a very long
while he began making happy plans for the future he decided that he
must attend to his son's education by finding a tutor and putting
the boy in his charge then he ought to retire from the service and go
abroad and see england switzerland and italy i must use my freedom
while i feel so much strength and youth in me he said to himself 
 pierre was right when he said one must believe in the possibility of
happiness in order to be happy and now i do believe in it let the dead
bury their dead but while one has life one must live and be happy 
thought he 





chapter xx

one morning colonel berg whom pierre knew as he knew everybody in
moscow and petersburg came to see him berg arrived in an immaculate
brand new uniform with his hair pomaded and brushed forward over his
temples as the emperor alexander wore his hair 

 i have just been to see the countess your wife unfortunately she
could not grant my request but i hope count i shall be more fortunate
with you he said with a smile 

 what is it you wish colonel i am at your service 

 i have now quite settled in my new rooms count berg said
this with perfect conviction that this information could not but be
agreeable and so i wish to arrange just a small party for my own
and my wife's friends he smiled still more pleasantly i
wished to ask the countess and you to do me the honor of coming to tea
and to supper 

only countess helene considering the society of such people as the
bergs beneath her could be cruel enough to refuse such an invitation 
berg explained so clearly why he wanted to collect at his house a small
but select company and why this would give him pleasure and why though
he grudged spending money on cards or anything harmful he was prepared
to run into some expense for the sake of good society that pierre
could not refuse and promised to come 

 but don't be late count if i may venture to ask about ten
minutes to eight please we shall make up a rubber our general is
coming he is very good to me we shall have supper count so you will
do me the favor 

contrary to his habit of being late pierre on that day arrived at the
bergs house not at ten but at fifteen minutes to eight 

having prepared everything necessary for the party the bergs were ready
for their guests arrival 

in their new clean and light study with its small busts and pictures
and new furniture sat berg and his wife berg closely buttoned up in
his new uniform sat beside his wife explaining to her that one always
could and should be acquainted with people above one because only then
does one get satisfaction from acquaintances 

 you can get to know something you can ask for something see how i
managed from my first promotion berg measured his life not by years
but by promotions my comrades are still nobodies while i am only
waiting for a vacancy to command a regiment and have the happiness to
be your husband he rose and kissed vera's hand and on the way
to her straightened out a turned up corner of the carpet and
how have i obtained all this chiefly by knowing how to choose my
aquaintances it goes without saying that one must be conscientious and
methodical 

berg smiled with a sense of his superiority over a weak woman and
paused reflecting that this dear wife of his was after all but a weak
woman who could not understand all that constitutes a man's dignity 
what it was ein mann zu sein vera at the same time smiling with a
sense of superiority over her good conscientious husband who all the
same understood life wrongly as according to vera all men did berg 
judging by his wife thought all women weak and foolish vera judging
only by her husband and generalizing from that observation supposed
that all men though they understand nothing and are conceited and
selfish ascribe common sense to themselves alone 

 to be a man 

berg rose and embraced his wife carefully so as not to crush her lace
fichu for which he had paid a good price kissing her straight on the
lips 

 the only thing is we mustn't have children too soon he
continued following an unconscious sequence of ideas 

 yes answered vera i don't at all want that we must live
for society 

 princess yusupova wore one exactly like this said berg pointing
to the fichu with a happy and kindly smile 

just then count bezukhov was announced husband and wife glanced at one
another both smiling with self satisfaction and each mentally claiming
the honor of this visit 

 this is what comes of knowing how to make acquaintances thought
berg this is what comes of knowing how to conduct oneself 

 but please don't interrupt me when i am entertaining the guests 
said vera because i know what interests each of them and what to
say to different people 

berg smiled again 

 it can't be helped men must sometimes have masculine
conversation said he 

they received pierre in their small new drawing room where it was
impossible to sit down anywhere without disturbing its symmetry 
neatness and order so it was quite comprehensible and not strange that
berg having generously offered to disturb the symmetry of an armchair
or of the sofa for his dear guest but being apparently painfully
undecided on the matter himself eventually left the visitor to settle
the question of selection pierre disturbed the symmetry by moving a
chair for himself and berg and vera immediately began their evening
party interrupting each other in their efforts to entertain their
guest 

vera having decided in her own mind that pierre ought to be
entertained with conversation about the french embassy at once began
accordingly berg having decided that masculine conversation was
required interrupted his wife's remarks and touched on the question
of the war with austria and unconsciously jumped from the general
subject to personal considerations as to the proposals made him to take
part in the austrian campaign and the reasons why he had declined them 
though the conversation was very incoherent and vera was angry at the
intrusion of the masculine element both husband and wife felt with
satisfaction that even if only one guest was present their evening had
begun very well and was as like as two peas to every other evening party
with its talk tea and lighted candles 

before long boris berg's old comrade arrived there was a shade of
condescension and patronage in his treatment of berg and vera after
boris came a lady with the colonel then the general himself then the
rostovs and the party became unquestionably exactly like all other
evening parties berg and vera could not repress their smiles of
satisfaction at the sight of all this movement in their drawing room 
at the sound of the disconnected talk the rustling of dresses and the
bowing and scraping everything was just as everybody always has it 
especially so the general who admired the apartment patted berg on the
shoulder and with parental authority superintended the setting out of
the table for boston the general sat down by count ilya rostov who
was next to himself the most important guest the old people sat with
the old the young with the young and the hostess at the tea table on
which stood exactly the same kind of cakes in a silver cake basket as
the panins had at their party everything was just as it was everywhere
else 





chapter xxi

pierre as one of the principal guests had to sit down to boston
with count rostov the general and the colonel at the card table he
happened to be directly facing natasha and was struck by a curious
change that had come over her since the ball she was silent and not
only less pretty than at the ball but only redeemed from plainness by
her look of gentle indifference to everything around 

 what's the matter with her thought pierre glancing at her 
she was sitting by her sister at the tea table and reluctantly without
looking at him made some reply to boris who sat down beside her after
playing out a whole suit and to his partner's delight taking five
tricks pierre hearing greetings and the steps of someone who had
entered the room while he was picking up his tricks glanced again at
natasha 

 what has happened to her he asked himself with still greater
surprise 

prince andrew was standing before her saying something to her with a
look of tender solicitude she having raised her head was looking up
at him flushed and evidently trying to master her rapid breathing and
the bright glow of some inner fire that had been suppressed was again
alight in her she was completely transformed and from a plain girl had
again become what she had been at the ball 

prince andrew went up to pierre and the latter noticed a new and
youthful expression in his friend's face 

pierre changed places several times during the game sitting now with
his back to natasha and now facing her but during the whole of the six
rubbers he watched her and his friend 

 something very important is happening between them thought
pierre and a feeling that was both joyful and painful agitated him and
made him neglect the game 

after six rubbers the general got up saying that it was no use playing
like that and pierre was released natasha on one side was talking
with sonya and boris and vera with a subtle smile was saying
something to prince andrew pierre went up to his friend and asking
whether they were talking secrets sat down beside them vera having
noticed prince andrew's attentions to natasha decided that at a
party a real evening party subtle allusions to the tender passion were
absolutely necessary and seizing a moment when prince andrew was alone 
began a conversation with him about feelings in general and about her
sister with so intellectual a guest as she considered prince andrew to
be she felt that she had to employ her diplomatic tact 

when pierre went up to them he noticed that vera was being carried away
by her self satisfied talk but that prince andrew seemed embarrassed a
thing that rarely happened with him 

 what do you think vera was saying with an arch smile you are
so discerning prince and understand people's characters so well at
a glance what do you think of natalie could she be constant in her
attachments could she like other women vera meant herself 
 love a man once for all and remain true to him forever that is what
i consider true love what do you think prince 

 i know your sister too little replied prince andrew with a
sarcastic smile under which he wished to hide his embarrassment to
be able to solve so delicate a question and then i have noticed that
the less attractive a woman is the more constant she is likely to be 
he added and looked up at pierre who was just approaching them 

 yes that is true prince in our days continued
vera mentioning our days as people of limited intelligence are
fond of doing imagining that they have discovered and appraised the
peculiarities of our days and that human characteristics change
with the times in our days a girl has so much freedom that the
pleasure of being courted often stifles real feeling in her and it must
be confessed that natalie is very susceptible this return to
the subject of natalie caused prince andrew to knit his brows with
discomfort he was about to rise but vera continued with a still more
subtle smile 

 i think no one has been more courted than she she went on but
till quite lately she never cared seriously for anyone now you know 
count she said to pierre even our dear cousin boris who 
between ourselves was very far gone in the land of tenderness 
 alluding to a map of love much in vogue at that time 

prince andrew frowned and remained silent 

 you are friendly with boris aren't you asked vera 

 yes i know him 

 i expect he has told you of his childish love for natasha 

 oh there was childish love suddenly asked prince andrew 
blushing unexpectedly 

 yes you know between cousins intimacy often leads to love le
cousinage est un dangereux voisinage don't you think so 

 cousinhood is a dangerous neighborhood 


 oh undoubtedly said prince andrew and with sudden and unnatural
liveliness he began chaffing pierre about the need to be very careful
with his fifty year old moscow cousins and in the midst of these
jesting remarks he rose taking pierre by the arm and drew him aside 

 well asked pierre seeing his friend's strange animation with
surprise and noticing the glance he turned on natasha as he rose 

 i must i must have a talk with you said prince andrew you
know that pair of women's gloves he referred to the masonic
gloves given to a newly initiated brother to present to the woman he
loved i but no i will talk to you later on and with a
strange light in his eyes and restlessness in his movements prince
andrew approached natasha and sat down beside her pierre saw how
prince andrew asked her something and how she flushed as she replied 

but at that moment berg came to pierre and began insisting that he
should take part in an argument between the general and the colonel on
the affairs in spain 

berg was satisfied and happy the smile of pleasure never left his face 
the party was very successful and quite like other parties he had
seen everything was similar the ladies subtle talk the cards the
general raising his voice at the card table and the samovar and the tea
cakes only one thing was lacking that he had always seen at the evening
parties he wished to imitate they had not yet had a loud conversation
among the men and a dispute about something important and clever now
the general had begun such a discussion and so berg drew pierre to it 





chapter xxii

next day having been invited by the count prince andrew dined with the
rostovs and spent the rest of the day there 

everyone in the house realized for whose sake prince andrew came and
without concealing it he tried to be with natasha all day not only in
the soul of the frightened yet happy and enraptured natasha but in the
whole house there was a feeling of awe at something important that was
bound to happen the countess looked with sad and sternly serious eyes
at prince andrew when he talked to natasha and timidly started some
artificial conversation about trifles as soon as he looked her way 
sonya was afraid to leave natasha and afraid of being in the way when
she was with them natasha grew pale in a panic of expectation when
she remained alone with him for a moment prince andrew surprised her by
his timidity she felt that he wanted to say something to her but could
not bring himself to do so 

in the evening when prince andrew had left the countess went up to
natasha and whispered well what 

 mamma for heaven's sake don't ask me anything now one can't
talk about that said natasha 

but all the same that night natasha now agitated and now frightened 
lay a long time in her mother's bed gazing straight before her she
told her how he had complimented her how he told her he was going
abroad asked her where they were going to spend the summer and then
how he had asked her about boris 

 but such a such a never happened to me before she said 
 only i feel afraid in his presence i am always afraid when i'm
with him what does that mean does it mean that it's the real thing 
yes mamma are you asleep 

 no my love i am frightened myself answered her mother now
go 

 all the same i shan't sleep what silliness to sleep mummy 
mummy such a thing never happened to me before she said surprised
and alarmed at the feeling she was aware of in herself and could we
ever have thought 

it seemed to natasha that even at the time she first saw prince andrew
at otradnoe she had fallen in love with him it was as if she feared
this strange unexpected happiness of meeting again the very man she had
then chosen she was firmly convinced she had done so and of finding
him as it seemed not indifferent to her 

 and it had to happen that he should come specially to petersburg
while we are here and it had to happen that we should meet at that
ball it is fate clearly it is fate that everything led up to this 
already then directly i saw him i felt something peculiar 

 what else did he say to you what are those verses read them 
said her mother thoughtfully referring to some verses prince andrew
had written in natasha's album 

 mamma one need not be ashamed of his being a widower 

 don't natasha pray to god marriages are made in
heaven said her mother 

 darling mummy how i love you how happy i am cried natasha 
shedding tears of joy and excitement and embracing her mother 

at that very time prince andrew was sitting with pierre and telling him
of his love for natasha and his firm resolve to make her his wife 

that day countess helene had a reception at her house the french
ambassador was there and a foreign prince of the blood who had of
late become a frequent visitor of hers and many brilliant ladies and
gentlemen pierre who had come downstairs walked through the rooms and
struck everyone by his preoccupied absent minded and morose air 

since the ball he had felt the approach of a fit of nervous depression
and had made desperate efforts to combat it since the intimacy of
his wife with the royal prince pierre had unexpectedly been made a
gentleman of the bedchamber and from that time he had begun to feel
oppressed and ashamed in court society and dark thoughts of the vanity
of all things human came to him oftener than before at the same time
the feeling he had noticed between his protegee natasha and prince
andrew accentuated his gloom by the contrast between his own position
and his friend's he tried equally to avoid thinking about his wife 
and about natasha and prince andrew and again everything seemed to him
insignificant in comparison with eternity again the question for what 
presented itself and he forced himself to work day and night at masonic
labors hoping to drive away the evil spirit that threatened him toward
midnight after he had left the countess apartments he was sitting
upstairs in a shabby dressing gown copying out the original transaction
of the scottish lodge of freemasons at a table in his low room cloudy
with tobacco smoke when someone came in it was prince andrew 

 ah it's you said pierre with a preoccupied dissatisfied air 
 and i you see am hard at it he pointed to his manuscript book
with that air of escaping from the ills of life with which unhappy
people look at their work 

prince andrew with a beaming ecstatic expression of renewed life on
his face paused in front of pierre and not noticing his sad look 
smiled at him with the egotism of joy 

 well dear heart said he i wanted to tell you about it
yesterday and i have come to do so today i never experienced anything
like it before i am in love my friend 

suddenly pierre heaved a deep sigh and dumped his heavy person down on
the sofa beside prince andrew 

 with natasha rostova yes said he 

 yes yes who else should it be i should never have believed it 
but the feeling is stronger than i yesterday i tormented myself and
suffered but i would not exchange even that torment for anything in
the world i have not lived till now at last i live but i can't
live without her but can she love me i am too old for her why
don't you speak 

 i i what did i tell you said pierre suddenly rising and
beginning to pace up and down the room i always thought it that
girl is such a treasure she is a rare girl my dear friend 
i entreat you don't philosophize don't doubt marry marry 
marry and i am sure there will not be a happier man than you 

 but what of her 

 she loves you 

 don't talk rubbish said prince andrew smiling and looking
into pierre's eyes 

 she does i know pierre cried fiercely 

 but do listen returned prince andrew holding him by the
arm do you know the condition i am in i must talk about it to
someone 

 well go on go on i am very glad said pierre and his face
really changed his brow became smooth and he listened gladly to prince
andrew prince andrew seemed and really was quite a different quite
a new man where was his spleen his contempt for life his
disillusionment pierre was the only person to whom he made up his mind
to speak openly and to him he told all that was in his soul now he
boldly and lightly made plans for an extended future said he could not
sacrifice his own happiness to his father's caprice and spoke of how
he would either make his father consent to this marriage and love her 
or would do without his consent then he marveled at the feeling that
had mastered him as at something strange apart from and independent of
himself 

 i should not have believed anyone who told me that i was capable of
such love said prince andrew it is not at all the same feeling
that i knew in the past the whole world is now for me divided into two
halves one half is she and there all is joy hope light the
other half is everything where she is not and there is all gloom and
darkness 

 darkness and gloom reiterated pierre yes yes i understand
that 

 i cannot help loving the light it is not my fault and i am very
happy you understand me i know you are glad for my sake 

 yes yes pierre assented looking at his friend with a touched
and sad expression in his eyes the brighter prince andrew's lot
appeared to him the gloomier seemed his own 





chapter xxiii

prince andrew needed his father's consent to his marriage and to
obtain this he started for the country next day 

his father received his son's communication with external composure 
but inward wrath he could not comprehend how anyone could wish to
alter his life or introduce anything new into it when his own life
was already ending if only they would let me end my days as i want
to thought the old man then they might do as they please 
with his son however he employed the diplomacy he reserved for
important occasions and adopting a quiet tone discussed the whole
matter 

in the first place the marriage was not a brilliant one as regards
birth wealth or rank secondly prince andrew was no longer as young
as he had been and his health was poor the old man laid special stress
on this while she was very young thirdly he had a son whom it would
be a pity to entrust to a chit of a girl fourthly and finally 
the father said looking ironically at his son i beg you to put it
off for a year go abroad take a cure look out as you wanted to for
a german tutor for prince nicholas then if your love or passion or
obstinacy as you please is still as great marry and that's my
last word on it mind the last concluded the prince in a tone
which showed that nothing would make him alter his decision 

prince andrew saw clearly that the old man hoped that his feelings or
his fiancee's would not stand a year's test or that he the old
prince himself would die before then and he decided to conform to his
father's wish to propose and postpone the wedding for a year 

three weeks after the last evening he had spent with the rostovs 
prince andrew returned to petersburg 


next day after her talk with her mother natasha expected bolkonski all
day but he did not come on the second and third day it was the same 
pierre did not come either and natasha not knowing that prince andrew
had gone to see his father could not explain his absence to herself 

three weeks passed in this way natasha had no desire to go out
anywhere and wandered from room to room like a shadow idle and
listless she wept secretly at night and did not go to her mother in the
evenings she blushed continually and was irritable it seemed to her
that everybody knew about her disappointment and was laughing at her and
pitying her strong as was her inward grief this wound to her vanity
intensified her misery 

once she came to her mother tried to say something and suddenly began
to cry her tears were those of an offended child who does not know why
it is being punished 

the countess began to soothe natasha who after first listening to her
mother's words suddenly interrupted her 

 leave off mamma i don't think and don't want to think about
it he just came and then left off left off 

her voice trembled and she again nearly cried but recovered and went
on quietly 

 and i don't at all want to get married and i am afraid of him i
have now become quite calm quite calm 

the day after this conversation natasha put on the old dress which
she knew had the peculiar property of conducing to cheerfulness in the
mornings and that day she returned to the old way of life which she had
abandoned since the ball having finished her morning tea she went to
the ballroom which she particularly liked for its loud resonance and
began singing her solfeggio when she had finished her first exercise
she stood still in the middle of the room and sang a musical phrase that
particularly pleased her she listened joyfully as though she had not
expected it to the charm of the notes reverberating filling the
whole empty ballroom and slowly dying away and all at once she felt
cheerful what's the good of making so much of it things are nice
as it is she said to herself and she began walking up and down the
room not stepping simply on the resounding parquet but treading with
each step from the heel to the toe she had on a new and favorite pair
of shoes and listening to the regular tap of the heel and creak of
the toe as gladly as she had to the sounds of her own voice passing a
mirror she glanced into it there that's me the expression of
her face seemed to say as she caught sight of herself well and very
nice too i need nobody 

a footman wanted to come in to clear away something in the room but she
would not let him and having closed the door behind him continued her
walk that morning she had returned to her favorite mood love of 
and delight in herself how charming that natasha is she said
again speaking as some third collective male person pretty 
a good voice young and in nobody's way if only they leave her in
peace but however much they left her in peace she could not now be
at peace and immediately felt this 

in the hall the porch door opened and someone asked at home and
then footsteps were heard natasha was looking at the mirror but did
not see herself she listened to the sounds in the hall when she saw
herself her face was pale it was he she knew this for certain though
she hardly heard his voice through the closed doors 

pale and agitated natasha ran into the drawing room 

 mamma bolkonski has come she said mamma it is awful it is
unbearable i don't want to be tormented what am i to do 

before the countess could answer prince andrew entered the room with
an agitated and serious face as soon as he saw natasha his face
brightened he kissed the countess hand and natasha's and sat
down beside the sofa 

 it is long since we had the pleasure began the countess 
but prince andrew interrupted her by answering her intended question 
obviously in haste to say what he had to 

 i have not been to see you all this time because i have been at my
father's i had to talk over a very important matter with him i only
got back last night he said glancing at natasha i want to have
a talk with you countess he added after a moment's pause 

the countess lowered her eyes sighing deeply 

 i am at your disposal she murmured 

natasha knew that she ought to go away but was unable to do so 
something gripped her throat and regardless of manners she stared
straight at prince andrew with wide open eyes 

 at once this instant no it can't be she thought 

again he glanced at her and that glance convinced her that she was not
mistaken yes at once that very instant her fate would be decided 

 go natasha i will call you said the countess in a whisper 

natasha glanced with frightened imploring eyes at prince andrew and at
her mother and went out 

 i have come countess to ask for your daughter's hand said
prince andrew 

the countess face flushed hotly but she said nothing 

 your offer she began at last sedately he remained silent 
looking into her eyes your offer she grew confused is
agreeable to us and i accept your offer i am glad and my husband i
hope but it will depend on her 

 i will speak to her when i have your consent do you give it to
me said prince andrew 

 yes replied the countess she held out her hand to him and with
a mixed feeling of estrangement and tenderness pressed her lips to his
forehead as he stooped to kiss her hand she wished to love him as a
son but felt that to her he was a stranger and a terrifying man i
am sure my husband will consent said the countess but your
father 

 my father to whom i have told my plans has made it an express
condition of his consent that the wedding is not to take place for a
year and i wished to tell you of that said prince andrew 

 it is true that natasha is still young but so long as that 

 it is unavoidable said prince andrew with a sigh 

 i will send her to you said the countess and left the room 

 lord have mercy upon us she repeated while seeking her daughter 

sonya said that natasha was in her bedroom natasha was sitting on
the bed pale and dry eyed and was gazing at the icons and whispering
something as she rapidly crossed herself seeing her mother she jumped
up and flew to her 

 well mamma well 

 go go to him he is asking for your hand said the countess 
coldly it seemed to natasha go go said the mother sadly and
reproachfully with a deep sigh as her daughter ran away 

natasha never remembered how she entered the drawing room when she
came in and saw him she paused is it possible that this stranger
has now become everything to me she asked herself and immediately
answered yes everything he alone is now dearer to me than
everything in the world prince andrew came up to her with downcast
eyes 

 i have loved you from the very first moment i saw you may i hope 

he looked at her and was struck by the serious impassioned expression of
her face her face said why ask why doubt what you cannot but know 
why speak when words cannot express what one feels 

she drew near to him and stopped he took her hand and kissed it 

 do you love me 

 yes yes natasha murmured as if in vexation then she sighed
loudly and catching her breath more and more quickly began to sob 

 what is it what's the matter 

 oh i am so happy she replied smiled through her tears bent
over closer to him paused for an instant as if asking herself whether
she might and then kissed him 

prince andrew held her hands looked into her eyes and did not find
in his heart his former love for her something in him had suddenly
changed there was no longer the former poetic and mystic charm of
desire but there was pity for her feminine and childish weakness fear
at her devotion and trustfulness and an oppressive yet joyful sense of
the duty that now bound him to her forever the present feeling though
not so bright and poetic as the former was stronger and more serious 

 did your mother tell you that it cannot be for a year asked
prince andrew still looking into her eyes 

 is it possible that i the chit of a girl as everybody called
me thought natasha is it possible that i am now to be the
wife and the equal of this strange dear clever man whom even my father
looks up to can it be true can it be true that there can be no
more playing with life that now i am grown up that on me now lies
a responsibility for my every word and deed yes but what did he ask
me 

 no she replied but she had not understood his question 

 forgive me he said but you are so young and i have already
been through so much in life i am afraid for you you do not yet know
yourself 

natasha listened with concentrated attention trying but failing to
take in the meaning of his words 

 hard as this year which delays my happiness will be continued
prince andrew it will give you time to be sure of yourself i ask
you to make me happy in a year but you are free our engagement shall
remain a secret and should you find that you do not love me or should
you come to love said prince andrew with an unnatural smile 

 why do you say that natasha interrupted him you know that
from the very day you first came to otradnoe i have loved you she
cried quite convinced that she spoke the truth 

 in a year you will learn to know yourself 

 a whole year natasha repeated suddenly only now realizing that
the marriage was to be postponed for a year but why a year why a
year 

prince andrew began to explain to her the reasons for this delay 
natasha did not hear him 

 and can't it be helped she asked prince andrew did not reply 
but his face expressed the impossibility of altering that decision 

 it's awful oh it's awful awful natasha suddenly cried 
and again burst into sobs i shall die waiting a year it's
impossible it's awful she looked into her lover's face and saw
in it a look of commiseration and perplexity 

 no no i'll do anything she said suddenly checking her tears 
 i am so happy 

the father and mother came into the room and gave the betrothed couple
their blessing 

from that day prince andrew began to frequent the rostovs as
natasha's affianced lover 





chapter xxiv

no betrothal ceremony took place and natasha's engagement to
bolkonski was not announced prince andrew insisted on that he said
that as he was responsible for the delay he ought to bear the whole
burden of it that he had given his word and bound himself forever but
that he did not wish to bind natasha and gave her perfect freedom if
after six months she felt that she did not love him she would have full
right to reject him naturally neither natasha nor her parents wished
to hear of this but prince andrew was firm he came every day to the
rostovs but did not behave to natasha as an affianced lover he
did not use the familiar thou but said you to her and kissed only her
hand after their engagement quite different intimate and natural
relations sprang up between them it was as if they had not known each
other till now both liked to recall how they had regarded each other
when as yet they were nothing to one another they felt themselves
now quite different beings then they were artificial now natural and
sincere at first the family felt some constraint in intercourse with
prince andrew he seemed a man from another world and for a long time
natasha trained the family to get used to him proudly assuring them
all that he only appeared to be different but was really just like all
of them and that she was not afraid of him and no one else ought to be 
after a few days they grew accustomed to him and without restraint in
his presence pursued their usual way of life in which he took his part 
he could talk about rural economy with the count fashions with the
countess and natasha and about albums and fancywork with sonya 
sometimes the household both among themselves and in his presence
expressed their wonder at how it had all happened and at the evident
omens there had been of it prince andrew's coming to otradnoe and
their coming to petersburg and the likeness between natasha and prince
andrew which her nurse had noticed on his first visit and andrew's
encounter with nicholas in 1805 and many other incidents betokening
that it had to be 

in the house that poetic dullness and quiet reigned which always
accompanies the presence of a betrothed couple often when all sitting
together everyone kept silent sometimes the others would get up and
go away and the couple left alone still remained silent they rarely
spoke of their future life prince andrew was afraid and ashamed to
speak of it natasha shared this as she did all his feelings which she
constantly divined once she began questioning him about his son prince
andrew blushed as he often did now natasha particularly liked it in
him and said that his son would not live with them 

 why not asked natasha in a frightened tone 

 i cannot take him away from his grandfather and besides 

 how i should have loved him said natasha immediately guessing
his thought but i know you wish to avoid any pretext for finding
fault with us 

sometimes the old count would come up kiss prince andrew and ask
his advice about petya's education or nicholas service the
old countess sighed as she looked at them sonya was always getting
frightened lest she should be in the way and tried to find excuses for
leaving them alone even when they did not wish it when prince andrew
spoke he could tell a story very well natasha listened to him
with pride when she spoke she noticed with fear and joy that he gazed
attentively and scrutinizingly at her she asked herself in perplexity 
 what does he look for in me he is trying to discover something by
looking at me what if what he seeks in me is not there sometimes
she fell into one of the mad merry moods characteristic of her and
then she particularly loved to hear and see how prince andrew laughed 
he seldom laughed but when he did he abandoned himself entirely to his
laughter and after such a laugh she always felt nearer to him natasha
would have been completely happy if the thought of the separation
awaiting her and drawing near had not terrified her just as the mere
thought of it made him turn pale and cold 

on the eve of his departure from petersburg prince andrew brought with
him pierre who had not been to the rostovs once since the ball 
pierre seemed disconcerted and embarrassed he was talking to the
countess and natasha sat down beside a little chess table with sonya 
thereby inviting prince andrew to come too he did so 

 you have known bezukhov a long time he asked do you like
him 

 yes he's a dear but very absurd 

and as usual when speaking of pierre she began to tell anecdotes of his
absent mindedness some of which had even been invented about him 

 do you know i have entrusted him with our secret i have known him
from childhood he has a heart of gold i beg you natalie prince
andrew said with sudden seriousness i am going away and heaven
knows what may happen you may cease to all right i know i am not
to say that only this then whatever may happen to you when i am not
here 

 what can happen 

 whatever trouble may come prince andrew continued i beg
you mademoiselle sophie whatever may happen to turn to him alone for
advice and help he is a most absent minded and absurd fellow but he
has a heart of gold 

neither her father nor her mother nor sonya nor prince andrew
himself could have foreseen how the separation from her lover would act
on natasha flushed and agitated she went about the house all that day 
dry eyed occupied with most trivial matters as if not understanding
what awaited her she did not even cry when on taking leave he kissed
her hand for the last time don't go she said in a tone
that made him wonder whether he really ought not to stay and which he
remembered long afterwards nor did she cry when he was gone but
for several days she sat in her room dry eyed taking no interest in
anything and only saying now and then oh why did he go away 

but a fortnight after his departure to the surprise of those around
her she recovered from her mental sickness just as suddenly and became
her old self again but with a change in her moral physiognomy as a
child gets up after a long illness with a changed expression of face 





chapter xxv

during that year after his son's departure prince nicholas
bolkonski's health and temper became much worse he grew still more
irritable and it was princess mary who generally bore the brunt of his
frequent fits of unprovoked anger he seemed carefully to seek out
her tender spots so as to torture her mentally as harshly as possible 
princess mary had two passions and consequently two joys her nephew 
little nicholas and religion and these were the favorite subjects
of the prince's attacks and ridicule whatever was spoken of he would
bring round to the superstitiousness of old maids or the petting
and spoiling of children you want to make him little
nicholas into an old maid like yourself a pity prince andrew
wants a son and not an old maid he would say or turning to
mademoiselle bourienne he would ask her in princess mary's presence
how she liked our village priests and icons and would joke about them 

he continually hurt princess mary's feelings and tormented her but it
cost her no effort to forgive him could he be to blame toward her or
could her father whom she knew loved her in spite of it all be unjust 
and what is justice the princess never thought of that proud word
 justice all the complex laws of man centered for her in one clear
and simple law the law of love and self sacrifice taught us by him who
lovingly suffered for mankind though he himself was god what had she to
do with the justice or injustice of other people she had to endure and
love and that she did 

during the winter prince andrew had come to bald hills and had been gay 
gentle and more affectionate than princess mary had known him for a
long time past she felt that something had happened to him but he said
nothing to her about his love before he left he had a long talk with
his father about something and princess mary noticed that before his
departure they were dissatisfied with one another 

soon after prince andrew had gone princess mary wrote to her friend
julie karagina in petersburg whom she had dreamed as all girls dream 
of marrying to her brother and who was at that time in mourning for her
own brother killed in turkey 

sorrow it seems is our common lot my dear tender friend julie 

your loss is so terrible that i can only explain it to myself as a
special providence of god who loving you wishes to try you and your
excellent mother oh my friend religion and religion alone can i
will not say comfort us but save us from despair religion alone can
explain to us what without its help man cannot comprehend why for what
cause kind and noble beings able to find happiness in life not merely
harming no one but necessary to the happiness of others are called
away to god while cruel useless harmful persons or such as are a
burden to themselves and to others are left living the first death i
saw and one i shall never forget that of my dear sister in law left
that impression on me just as you ask destiny why your splendid brother
had to die so i asked why that angel lise who not only never wronged
anyone but in whose soul there were never any unkind thoughts had to
die and what do you think dear friend five years have passed since
then and already i with my petty understanding begin to see clearly
why she had to die and in what way that death was but an expression
of the infinite goodness of the creator whose every action though
generally incomprehensible to us is but a manifestation of his infinite
love for his creatures perhaps i often think she was too angelically
innocent to have the strength to perform all a mother's duties as a
young wife she was irreproachable perhaps she could not have been so
as a mother as it is not only has she left us and particularly prince
andrew with the purest regrets and memories but probably she will
there receive a place i dare not hope for myself but not to speak of
her alone that early and terrible death has had the most beneficent
influence on me and on my brother in spite of all our grief then at
the moment of our loss these thoughts could not occur to me i should
then have dismissed them with horror but now they are very clear and
certain i write all this to you dear friend only to convince you
of the gospel truth which has become for me a principle of life not
a single hair of our heads will fall without his will and his will is
governed only by infinite love for us and so whatever befalls us is for
our good 

you ask whether we shall spend next winter in moscow in spite of my
wish to see you i do not think so and do not want to do so you will
be surprised to hear that the reason for this is buonaparte the case is
this my father's health is growing noticeably worse he cannot stand
any contradiction and is becoming irritable this irritability is as
you know chiefly directed to political questions he cannot endure
the notion that buonaparte is negotiating on equal terms with all the
sovereigns of europe and particularly with our own the grandson of the
great catherine as you know i am quite indifferent to politics but
from my father's remarks and his talks with michael ivanovich i know
all that goes on in the world and especially about the honors conferred
on buonaparte who only at bald hills in the whole world it seems is
not accepted as a great man still less as emperor of france and my
father cannot stand this it seems to me that it is chiefly because of
his political views that my father is reluctant to speak of going to
moscow for he foresees the encounters that would result from his way
of expressing his views regardless of anybody all the benefit he might
derive from a course of treatment he would lose as a result of the
disputes about buonaparte which would be inevitable in any case it will
be decided very shortly 

our family life goes on in the old way except for my brother andrew's
absence he as i wrote you before has changed very much of late after
his sorrow he only this year quite recovered his spirits he has again
become as i used to know him when a child kind affectionate with that
heart of gold to which i know no equal he has realized it seems to me 
that life is not over for him but together with this mental change
he has grown physically much weaker he has become thinner and more
nervous i am anxious about him and glad he is taking this trip abroad
which the doctors recommended long ago i hope it will cure him you
write that in petersburg he is spoken of as one of the most active 
cultivated and capable of the young men forgive my vanity as a
relation but i never doubted it the good he has done to everybody
here from his peasants up to the gentry is incalculable on his
arrival in petersburg he received only his due i always wonder at the
way rumors fly from petersburg to moscow especially such false ones as
that you write about i mean the report of my brother's betrothal to
the little rostova i do not think my brother will ever marry again 
and certainly not her and this is why first i know that though he
rarely speaks about the wife he has lost the grief of that loss
has gone too deep in his heart for him ever to decide to give her a
successor and our little angel a stepmother secondly because as far
as i know that girl is not the kind of girl who could please prince
andrew i do not think he would choose her for a wife and frankly i do
not wish it but i am running on too long and am at the end of my second
sheet good by my dear friend may god keep you in his holy and mighty
care my dear friend mademoiselle bourienne sends you kisses 

mary





chapter xxvi

in the middle of the summer princess mary received an unexpected letter
from prince andrew in switzerland in which he gave her strange and
surprising news he informed her of his engagement to natasha rostova 
the whole letter breathed loving rapture for his betrothed and tender
and confiding affection for his sister he wrote that he had never loved
as he did now and that only now did he understand and know what life
was he asked his sister to forgive him for not having told her of his
resolve when he had last visited bald hills though he had spoken of it
to his father he had not done so for fear princess mary should ask her
father to give his consent irritating him and having to bear the brunt
of his displeasure without attaining her object besides he
wrote the matter was not then so definitely settled as it is now 
my father then insisted on a delay of a year and now already six months 
half of that period have passed and my resolution is firmer than ever 
if the doctors did not keep me here at the spas i should be back in
russia but as it is i have to postpone my return for three months you
know me and my relations with father i want nothing from him i have
been and always shall be independent but to go against his will and
arouse his anger now that he may perhaps remain with us such a short
time would destroy half my happiness i am now writing to him about
the same question and beg you to choose a good moment to hand him the
letter and to let me know how he looks at the whole matter and whether
there is hope that he may consent to reduce the term by four months 

after long hesitations doubts and prayers princess mary gave the
letter to her father the next day the old prince said to her quietly 

 write and tell your brother to wait till i am dead it won't be
long i shall soon set him free 

the princess was about to reply but her father would not let her speak
and raising his voice more and more cried 

 marry marry my boy a good family clever people eh rich 
eh yes a nice stepmother little nicholas will have write and tell him
that he may marry tomorrow if he likes she will be little nicholas 
stepmother and i'll marry bourienne ha ha ha he mustn't be
without a stepmother either only one thing no more women are wanted
in my house let him marry and live by himself perhaps you will go
and live with him too he added turning to princess mary go in
heaven's name go out into the frost the frost the frost 

after this outburst the prince did not speak any more about the matter 
but repressed vexation at his son's poor spirited behavior found
expression in his treatment of his daughter to his former pretexts
for irony a fresh one was now added allusions to stepmothers and
amiabilities to mademoiselle bourienne 

 why shouldn't i marry her he asked his daughter she'll
make a splendid princess 

and latterly to her surprise and bewilderment princess mary
noticed that her father was really associating more and more with the
frenchwoman she wrote to prince andrew about the reception of his
letter but comforted him with hopes of reconciling their father to the
idea 

little nicholas and his education her brother andrew and religion
were princess mary's joys and consolations but besides that since
everyone must have personal hopes princess mary in the profoundest
depths of her heart had a hidden dream and hope that supplied the chief
consolation of her life this comforting dream and hope were given her
by god's folk the half witted and other pilgrims who visited
her without the prince's knowledge the longer she lived the more
experience and observation she had of life the greater was her wonder
at the short sightedness of men who seek enjoyment and happiness here
on earth toiling suffering struggling and harming one another to
obtain that impossible visionary sinful happiness prince andrew had
loved his wife she died but that was not enough he wanted to bind
his happiness to another woman her father objected to this because he
wanted a more distinguished and wealthier match for andrew and they
all struggled and suffered and tormented one another and injured their
souls their eternal souls for the attainment of benefits which endure
but for an instant not only do we know this ourselves but christ the
son of god came down to earth and told us that this life is but for
a moment and is a probation yet we cling to it and think to find
happiness in it how is it that no one realizes this thought
princess mary no one except these despised god's folk who wallet
on back come to me by the back door afraid of being seen by the
prince not for fear of ill usage by him but for fear of causing him
to sin to leave family home and all the cares of worldly welfare in
order without clinging to anything to wander in hempen rags from place
to place under an assumed name doing no one any harm but praying for
all for those who drive one away as well as for those who protect one 
higher than that life and truth there is no life or truth 

there was one pilgrim a quiet pockmarked little woman of fifty called
theodosia who for over thirty years had gone about barefoot and worn
heavy chains princess mary was particularly fond of her once when in
a room with a lamp dimly lit before the icon theodosia was talking of
her life the thought that theodosia alone had found the true path of
life suddenly came to princess mary with such force that she resolved to
become a pilgrim herself when theodosia had gone to sleep princess mary
thought about this for a long time and at last made up her mind that 
strange as it might seem she must go on a pilgrimage she disclosed
this thought to no one but to her confessor father akinfi the monk 
and he approved of her intention under guise of a present for the
pilgrims princess mary prepared a pilgrim's complete costume for
herself a coarse smock bast shoes a rough coat and a black kerchief 
often approaching the chest of drawers containing this secret treasure 
princess mary paused uncertain whether the time had not already come to
put her project into execution 

often listening to the pilgrims tales she was so stimulated by
their simple speech mechanical to them but to her so full of deep
meaning that several times she was on the point of abandoning
everything and running away from home in imagination she already
pictured herself by theodosia's side dressed in coarse rags walking
with a staff a wallet on her back along the dusty road directing her
wanderings from one saint's shrine to another free from envy earthly
love or desire and reaching at last the place where there is no more
sorrow or sighing but eternal joy and bliss 

 i shall come to a place and pray there and before having time to get
used to it or getting to love it i shall go farther i will go on till
my legs fail and i'll lie down and die somewhere and shall at last
reach that eternal quiet haven where there is neither sorrow nor
sighing thought princess mary 

but afterwards when she saw her father and especially little koko
 nicholas her resolve weakened she wept quietly and felt that she
was a sinner who loved her father and little nephew more than god 





book seven 1810 11





chapter i

the bible legend tells us that the absence of labor idleness was a
condition of the first man's blessedness before the fall fallen man
has retained a love of idleness but the curse weighs on the race not
only because we have to seek our bread in the sweat of our brows but
because our moral nature is such that we cannot be both idle and at
ease an inner voice tells us we are in the wrong if we are idle if man
could find a state in which he felt that though idle he was fulfilling
his duty he would have found one of the conditions of man's primitive
blessedness and such a state of obligatory and irreproachable idleness
is the lot of a whole class the military the chief attraction of
military service has consisted and will consist in this compulsory and
irreproachable idleness 

nicholas rostov experienced this blissful condition to the full when 
after 1807 he continued to serve in the pavlograd regiment in which
he already commanded the squadron he had taken over from denisov 

rostov had become a bluff good natured fellow whom his moscow
acquaintances would have considered rather bad form but who was liked
and respected by his comrades subordinates and superiors and was well
contented with his life of late in 1809 he found in letters from home
more frequent complaints from his mother that their affairs were falling
into greater and greater disorder and that it was time for him to come
back to gladden and comfort his old parents 

reading these letters nicholas felt a dread of their wanting to
take him away from surroundings in which protected from all the
entanglements of life he was living so calmly and quietly he felt that
sooner or later he would have to re enter that whirlpool of life with
its embarrassments and affairs to be straightened out its accounts
with stewards quarrels and intrigues its ties society and with
sonya's love and his promise to her it was all dreadfully difficult
and complicated and he replied to his mother in cold formal letters
in french beginning my dear mamma and ending your obedient
son which said nothing of when he would return in 1810 he received
letters from his parents in which they told him of natasha's
engagement to bolkonski and that the wedding would be in a year's
time because the old prince made difficulties this letter grieved and
mortified nicholas in the first place he was sorry that natasha for
whom he cared more than for anyone else in the family should be lost to
the home and secondly from his hussar point of view he regretted not
to have been there to show that fellow bolkonski that connection with
him was no such great honor after all and that if he loved natasha he
might dispense with permission from his dotard father for a moment he
hesitated whether he should not apply for leave in order to see natasha
before she was married but then came the maneuvers and considerations
about sonya and about the confusion of their affairs and nicholas
again put it off but in the spring of that year he received a letter
from his mother written without his father's knowledge and that
letter persuaded him to return she wrote that if he did not come and
take matters in hand their whole property would be sold by auction and
they would all have to go begging the count was so weak and trusted
mitenka so much and was so good natured that everybody took advantage
of him and things were going from bad to worse for god's sake i
implore you come at once if you do not wish to make me and the whole
family wretched wrote the countess 

this letter touched nicholas he had that common sense of a
matter of fact man which showed him what he ought to do 

the right thing now was if not to retire from the service at any rate
to go home on leave why he had to go he did not know but after his
after dinner nap he gave orders to saddle mars an extremely vicious
gray stallion that had not been ridden for a long time and when
he returned with the horse all in a lather he informed lavrushka
 denisov's servant who had remained with him and his comrades who
turned up in the evening that he was applying for leave and was going
home difficult and strange as it was for him to reflect that he would
go away without having heard from the staff and this interested him
extremely whether he was promoted to a captaincy or would receive the
order of st anne for the last maneuvers strange as it was to think
that he would go away without having sold his three roans to the polish
count golukhovski who was bargaining for the horses rostov had betted
he would sell for two thousand rubles incomprehensible as it
seemed that the ball the hussars were giving in honor of the polish
mademoiselle przazdziecka out of rivalry to the uhlans who had given
one in honor of their polish mademoiselle borzozowska would take place
without him he knew he must go away from this good bright world to
somewhere where everything was stupid and confused a week later he
obtained his leave his hussar comrades not only those of his own
regiment but the whole brigade gave rostov a dinner to which the
subscription was fifteen rubles a head and at which there were two
bands and two choirs of singers rostov danced the trepak with major
basov the tipsy officers tossed embraced and dropped rostov the
soldiers of the third squadron tossed him too and shouted hurrah 
and then they put him in his sleigh and escorted him as far as the first
post station 

during the first half of the journey from kremenchug to kiev all
rostov's thoughts as is usual in such cases were behind him with
the squadron but when he had gone more than halfway he began to forget
his three roans and dozhoyveyko his quartermaster and to wonder
anxiously how things would be at otradnoe and what he would find
there thoughts of home grew stronger the nearer he approached it far
stronger as though this feeling of his was subject to the law by which
the force of attraction is in inverse proportion to the square of the
distance at the last post station before otradnoe he gave the driver a
three ruble tip and on arriving he ran breathlessly like a boy up the
steps of his home 

after the rapture of meeting and after that odd feeling of unsatisfied
expectation the feeling that everything is just the same so why
did i hurry nicholas began to settle down in his old home world 
his father and mother were much the same only a little older what was
new in them was a certain uneasiness and occasional discord which there
used not to be and which as nicholas soon found out was due to the
bad state of their affairs sonya was nearly twenty she had stopped
growing prettier and promised nothing more than she was already but
that was enough she exhaled happiness and love from the time nicholas
returned and the faithful unalterable love of this girl had a
gladdening effect on him petya and natasha surprised nicholas
most petya was a big handsome boy of thirteen merry witty and
mischievous with a voice that was already breaking as for natasha 
for a long while nicholas wondered and laughed whenever he looked at
her 

 you're not the same at all he said 

 how am i uglier 

 on the contrary but what dignity a princess he whispered to
her 

 yes yes yes cried natasha joyfully 

she told him about her romance with prince andrew and of his visit to
otradnoe and showed him his last letter 

 well are you glad natasha asked i am so tranquil and happy
now 

 very glad answered nicholas he is an excellent fellow and
are you very much in love 

 how shall i put it replied natasha i was in love with
boris with my teacher and with denisov but this is quite different 
i feel at peace and settled i know that no better man than he exists 
and i am calm and contented now not at all as before 

nicholas expressed his disapproval of the postponement of the marriage
for a year but natasha attacked her brother with exasperation proving
to him that it could not be otherwise and that it would be a bad thing
to enter a family against the father's will and that she herself
wished it so 

 you don't at all understand she said 

nicholas was silent and agreed with her 

her brother often wondered as he looked at her she did not seem at
all like a girl in love and parted from her affianced husband she was
even tempered and calm and quite as cheerful as of old this amazed
nicholas and even made him regard bolkonski's courtship skeptically 
he could not believe that her fate was sealed especially as he had
not seen her with prince andrew it always seemed to him that there was
something not quite right about this intended marriage 

 why this delay why no betrothal he thought once when he had
touched on this topic with his mother he discovered to his surprise
and somewhat to his satisfaction that in the depth of her soul she too
had doubts about this marriage 

 you see he writes said she showing her son a letter of prince
andrew's with that latent grudge a mother always has in regard to a
daughter's future married happiness he writes that he won't come
before december what can be keeping him illness probably his health
is very delicate don't tell natasha and don't attach importance
to her being so bright that's because she's living through the last
days of her girlhood but i know what she is like every time we receive
a letter from him however god grant that everything turns out well 
 she always ended with these words he is an excellent man 





chapter ii

after reaching home nicholas was at first serious and even dull he was
worried by the impending necessity of interfering in the stupid business
matters for which his mother had called him home to throw off this
burden as quickly as possible on the third day after his arrival he
went angry and scowling and without answering questions as to where he
was going to mitenka's lodge and demanded an account of everything 
but what an account of everything might be nicholas knew even less
than the frightened and bewildered mitenka the conversation and the
examination of the accounts with mitenka did not last long the village
elder a peasant delegate and the village clerk who were waiting in
the passage heard with fear and delight first the young count's voice
roaring and snapping and rising louder and louder and then words of
abuse dreadful words ejaculated one after the other 

 robber ungrateful wretch i'll hack the dog to pieces i'm
not my father robbing us and so on 

then with no less fear and delight they saw how the young count red in
the face and with bloodshot eyes dragged mitenka out by the scruff of
the neck and applied his foot and knee to his behind with great agility
at convenient moments between the words shouting be off never let
me see your face here again you villain 

mitenka flew headlong down the six steps and ran away into the
shrubbery this shrubbery was a well known haven of refuge for culprits
at otradnoe mitenka himself returning tipsy from the town used
to hide there and many of the residents at otradnoe hiding from
mitenka knew of its protective qualities 

mitenka's wife and sisters in law thrust their heads and frightened
faces out of the door of a room where a bright samovar was boiling and
where the steward's high bedstead stood with its patchwork quilt 

the young count paid no heed to them but breathing hard passed by
with resolute strides and went into the house 

the countess who heard at once from the maids what had happened at the
lodge was calmed by the thought that now their affairs would certainly
improve but on the other hand felt anxious as to the effect this
excitement might have on her son she went several times to his door on
tiptoe and listened as he lighted one pipe after another 

next day the old count called his son aside and with an embarrassed
smile said to him 

 but you know my dear boy it's a pity you got excited mitenka
has told me all about it 

 i knew thought nicholas that i should never understand
anything in this crazy world 

 you were angry that he had not entered those 700 rubles but they
were carried forward and you did not look at the other page 

 papa he is a blackguard and a thief i know he is and what i have
done i have done but if you like i won't speak to him again 

 no my dear boy the count too felt embarrassed he knew he had
mismanaged his wife's property and was to blame toward his children 
but he did not know how to remedy it no i beg you to attend to the
business i am old i 

 no papa forgive me if i have caused you unpleasantness i
understand it all less than you do 

 devil take all these peasants and money matters and carryings
forward from page to page he thought i used to understand what
a corner and the stakes at cards meant but carrying forward to
another page i don't understand at all said he to himself and
after that he did not meddle in business affairs but once the countess
called her son and informed him that she had a promissory note from anna
mikhaylovna for two thousand rubles and asked him what he thought of
doing with it 

 this answered nicholas you say it rests with me well i
don't like anna mikhaylovna and i don't like boris but they were
our friends and poor well then this and he tore up the note and
by so doing caused the old countess to weep tears of joy after that 
young rostov took no further part in any business affairs but
devoted himself with passionate enthusiasm to what was to him a new
pursuit the chase for which his father kept a large establishment 





chapter iii

the weather was already growing wintry and morning frosts congealed
an earth saturated by autumn rains the verdure had thickened and its
bright green stood out sharply against the brownish strips of winter rye
trodden down by the cattle and against the pale yellow stubble of the
spring buckwheat the wooded ravines and the copses which at the end of
august had still been green islands amid black fields and stubble had
become golden and bright red islands amid the green winter rye the
hares had already half changed their summer coats the fox cubs were
beginning to scatter and the young wolves were bigger than dogs it was
the best time of the year for the chase the hounds of that ardent young
sportsman rostov had not merely reached hard winter condition but were
so jaded that at a meeting of the huntsmen it was decided to give them
a three days rest and then on the sixteenth of september to go on
a distant expedition starting from the oak grove where there was an
undisturbed litter of wolf cubs 

all that day the hounds remained at home it was frosty and the air was
sharp but toward evening the sky became overcast and it began to thaw 
on the fifteenth when young rostov in his dressing gown looked out
of the window he saw it was an unsurpassable morning for hunting it
was as if the sky were melting and sinking to the earth without any
wind the only motion in the air was that of the dripping microscopic
particles of drizzling mist the bare twigs in the garden were hung with
transparent drops which fell on the freshly fallen leaves the earth in
the kitchen garden looked wet and black and glistened like poppy seed
and at a short distance merged into the dull moist veil of mist 
nicholas went out into the wet and muddy porch there was a smell of
decaying leaves and of dog milka a black spotted broad haunched
bitch with prominent black eyes got up on seeing her master stretched
her hind legs lay down like a hare and then suddenly jumped up and
licked him right on his nose and mustache another borzoi a dog 
catching sight of his master from the garden path arched his back
and rushing headlong toward the porch with lifted tail began rubbing
himself against his legs 

 o hoy came at that moment that inimitable huntsman's call
which unites the deepest bass with the shrillest tenor and round
the corner came daniel the head huntsman and head kennelman a gray 
wrinkled old man with hair cut straight over his forehead ukrainian
fashion a long bent whip in his hand and that look of independence
and scorn of everything that is only seen in huntsmen he doffed his
circassian cap to his master and looked at him scornfully this scorn
was not offensive to his master nicholas knew that this daniel 
disdainful of everybody and who considered himself above them was all
the same his serf and huntsman 

 daniel nicholas said timidly conscious at the sight of the
weather the hounds and the huntsman that he was being carried away
by that irresistible passion for sport which makes a man forget all
his previous resolutions as a lover forgets in the presence of his
mistress 

 what orders your excellency said the huntsman in his deep bass 
deep as a proto deacon's and hoarse with hallooing and two flashing
black eyes gazed from under his brows at his master who was silent 
 can you resist it those eyes seemed to be asking 

 it's a good day eh for a hunt and a gallop eh asked
nicholas scratching milka behind the ears 

daniel did not answer but winked instead 

 i sent uvarka at dawn to listen his bass boomed out after a
minute's pause he says she's moved them into the otradnoe
enclosure they were howling there this meant that the she wolf 
about whom they both knew had moved with her cubs to the otradnoe
copse a small place a mile and a half from the house 

 we ought to go don't you think so said nicholas come to me
with uvarka 

 as you please 

 then put off feeding them 

 yes sir 

five minutes later daniel and uvarka were standing in nicholas big
study though daniel was not a big man to see him in a room was
like seeing a horse or a bear on the floor among the furniture and
surroundings of human life daniel himself felt this and as usual stood
just inside the door trying to speak softly and not move for fear of
breaking something in the master's apartment and he hastened to say
all that was necessary so as to get from under that ceiling out into
the open under the sky once more 

having finished his inquiries and extorted from daniel an opinion that
the hounds were fit daniel himself wished to go hunting nicholas
ordered the horses to be saddled but just as daniel was about to
go natasha came in with rapid steps not having done up her hair or
finished dressing and with her old nurse's big shawl wrapped round
her petya ran in at the same time 

 you are going asked natasha i knew you would sonya said
you wouldn't go but i knew that today is the sort of day when you
couldn't help going 

 yes we are going replied nicholas reluctantly for today as he
intended to hunt seriously he did not want to take natasha and petya 
 we are going but only wolf hunting it would be dull for you 

 you know it is my greatest pleasure said natasha it's not
fair you are going by yourself are having the horses saddled and said
nothing to us about it 

 no barrier bars a russian's path we'll go shouted
petya 

 but you can't mamma said you mustn't said nicholas to
natasha 

 yes i'll go i shall certainly go said natasha decisively 
 daniel tell them to saddle for us and michael must come with my
dogs she added to the huntsman 

it seemed to daniel irksome and improper to be in a room at all but to
have anything to do with a young lady seemed to him impossible he
cast down his eyes and hurried out as if it were none of his business 
careful as he went not to inflict any accidental injury on the young
lady 





chapter iv

the old count who had always kept up an enormous hunting establishment
but had now handed it all completely over to his son's care being
in very good spirits on this fifteenth of september prepared to go out
with the others 

in an hour's time the whole hunting party was at the porch nicholas 
with a stern and serious air which showed that now was no time for
attending to trifles went past natasha and petya who were trying to
tell him something he had a look at all the details of the hunt sent
a pack of hounds and huntsmen on ahead to find the quarry mounted his
chestnut donets and whistling to his own leash of borzois set off
across the threshing ground to a field leading to the otradnoe wood 
the old count's horse a sorrel gelding called viflyanka was led by
the groom in attendance on him while the count himself was to drive in
a small trap straight to a spot reserved for him 

they were taking fifty four hounds with six hunt attendants and
whippers in besides the family there were eight borzoi kennelmen
and more than forty borzois so that with the borzois on the leash
belonging to members of the family there were about a hundred and
thirty dogs and twenty horsemen 

each dog knew its master and its call each man in the hunt knew his
business his place what he had to do as soon as they had passed the
fence they all spread out evenly and quietly without noise or talk 
along the road and field leading to the otradnoe covert 

the horses stepped over the field as over a thick carpet now and then
splashing into puddles as they crossed a road the misty sky still
seemed to descend evenly and imperceptibly toward the earth the air
was still warm and silent occasionally the whistle of a huntsman 
the snort of a horse the crack of a whip or the whine of a straggling
hound could be heard 

when they had gone a little less than a mile five more riders with
dogs appeared out of the mist approaching the rostovs in front rode a
fresh looking handsome old man with a large gray mustache 

 good morning uncle said nicholas when the old man drew near 

 that's it come on i was sure of it began uncle he
was a distant relative of the rostovs a man of small means and
their neighbor i knew you wouldn't be able to resist it and
it's a good thing you're going that's it come on this was
 uncle's favorite expression take the covert at once for my
girchik says the ilagins are at korniki with their hounds that's
it come on they'll take the cubs from under your very nose 

 that's where i'm going shall we join up our packs asked
nicholas 

the hounds were joined into one pack and uncle and nicholas rode
on side by side natasha muffled up in shawls which did not hide her
eager face and shining eyes galloped up to them she was followed by
petya who always kept close to her by michael a huntsman and by a
groom appointed to look after her petya who was laughing whipped and
pulled at his horse natasha sat easily and confidently on her black
arabchik and reined him in without effort with a firm hand 

 uncle looked round disapprovingly at petya and natasha he did
not like to combine frivolity with the serious business of hunting 

 good morning uncle we are going too shouted petya 

 good morning good morning but don't go overriding the hounds 
said uncle sternly 

 nicholas what a fine dog trunila is he knew me said natasha 
referring to her favorite hound 

 in the first place trunila is not a dog but a harrier 
thought nicholas and looked sternly at his sister trying to make her
feel the distance that ought to separate them at that moment natasha
understood it 

 you mustn't think we'll be in anyone's way uncle she said 
 we'll go to our places and won't budge 

 a good thing too little countess said uncle only mind
you don't fall off your horse he added because that's it 
come on you've nothing to hold on to 

the oasis of the otradnoe covert came in sight a few hundred yards off 
the huntsmen were already nearing it rostov having finally settled
with uncle where they should set on the hounds and having shown
natasha where she was to stand a spot where nothing could possibly
run out went round above the ravine 

 well nephew you're going for a big wolf said uncle 
 mind and don't let her slip 

 that's as may happen answered rostov karay here he
shouted answering uncle's remark by this call to his borzoi 
karay was a shaggy old dog with a hanging jowl famous for having
tackled a big wolf unaided they all took up their places 

the old count knowing his son's ardor in the hunt hurried so as not
to be late and the huntsmen had not yet reached their places when count
ilya rostov cheerful flushed and with quivering cheeks drove up
with his black horses over the winter rye to the place reserved for him 
where a wolf might come out having straightened his coat and fastened
on his hunting knives and horn he mounted his good sleek well fed 
and comfortable horse viflyanka which was turning gray like himself 
his horses and trap were sent home count ilya rostov though not at
heart a keen sportsman knew the rules of the hunt well and rode to
the bushy edge of the road where he was to stand arranged his reins 
settled himself in the saddle and feeling that he was ready looked
about with a smile 

beside him was simon chekmar his personal attendant an old horseman
now somewhat stiff in the saddle chekmar held in leash three
formidable wolfhounds who had however grown fat like their master
and his horse two wise old dogs lay down unleashed some hundred paces
farther along the edge of the wood stood mitka the count's other
groom a daring horseman and keen rider to hounds before the hunt by
old custom the count had drunk a silver cupful of mulled brandy taken
a snack and washed it down with half a bottle of his favorite bordeaux 

he was somewhat flushed with the wine and the drive his eyes were
rather moist and glittered more than usual and as he sat in his saddle 
wrapped up in his fur coat he looked like a child taken out for an
outing 

the thin hollow cheeked chekmar having got everything ready kept
glancing at his master with whom he had lived on the best of terms for
thirty years and understanding the mood he was in expected a pleasant
chat a third person rode up circumspectly through the wood it was
plain that he had had a lesson and stopped behind the count this
person was a gray bearded old man in a woman's cloak with a tall
peaked cap on his head he was the buffoon who went by a woman's
name nastasya ivanovna 

 well nastasya ivanovna whispered the count winking at him 
 if you scare away the beast daniel'll give it you 

 i know a thing or two myself said nastasya ivanovna 

 hush whispered the count and turned to simon have you seen
the young countess he asked where is she 

 with young count peter by the zharov rank grass answered simon 
smiling though she's a lady she's very fond of hunting 

 and you're surprised at the way she rides simon eh said the
count she's as good as many a man 

 of course it's marvelous so bold so easy 

 and nicholas where is he by the lyadov upland isn't he 

 yes sir he knows where to stand he understands the matter so well
that daniel and i are often quite astounded said simon well knowing
what would please his master 

 rides well eh and how well he looks on his horse eh 

 a perfect picture how he chased a fox out of the rank grass by the
zavarzinsk thicket the other day leaped a fearful place what a sight
when they rushed from the covert the horse worth a thousand rubles
and the rider beyond all price yes one would have to search far to
find another as smart 

 to search far repeated the count evidently sorry simon had not
said more to search far he said turning back the skirt of his
coat to get at his snuffbox 

 the other day when he came out from mass in full uniform michael
sidorych simon did not finish for on the still air he had
distinctly caught the music of the hunt with only two or three hounds
giving tongue he bent down his head and listened shaking a warning
finger at his master they are on the scent of the cubs he
whispered straight to the lyadov uplands 

the count forgetting to smooth out the smile on his face looked into
the distance straight before him down the narrow open space holding
the snuffbox in his hand but not taking any after the cry of the hounds
came the deep tones of the wolf call from daniel's hunting horn the
pack joined the first three hounds and they could be heard in full cry 
with that peculiar lift in the note that indicates that they are after
a wolf the whippers in no longer set on the hounds but changed to the
cry of ulyulyu and above the others rose daniel's voice now a deep
bass now piercingly shrill his voice seemed to fill the whole wood and
carried far beyond out into the open field 

after listening a few moments in silence the count and his attendant
convinced themselves that the hounds had separated into two packs the
sound of the larger pack eagerly giving tongue began to die away in
the distance the other pack rushed by the wood past the count and
it was with this that daniel's voice was heard calling ulyulyu 
the sounds of both packs mingled and broke apart again but both were
becoming more distant 

simon sighed and stooped to straighten the leash a young borzoi had
entangled the count too sighed and noticing the snuffbox in his hand 
opened it and took a pinch back cried simon to a borzoi that
was pushing forward out of the wood the count started and dropped the
snuffbox nastasya ivanovna dismounted to pick it up the count and
simon were looking at him 

then unexpectedly as often happens the sound of the hunt suddenly
approached as if the hounds in full cry and daniel ulyulyuing were just
in front of them 

the count turned and saw on his right mitka staring at him with eyes
starting out of his head raising his cap and pointing before him to the
other side 

 look out he shouted in a voice plainly showing that he had long
fretted to utter that word and letting the borzois slip he galloped
toward the count 

the count and simon galloped out of the wood and saw on their left a
wolf which softly swaying from side to side was coming at a quiet
lope farther to the left to the very place where they were standing 
the angry borzois whined and getting free of the leash rushed past the
horses feet at the wolf 

the wolf paused turned its heavy forehead toward the dogs awkwardly 
like a man suffering from the quinsy and still slightly swaying
from side to side gave a couple of leaps and with a swish of its tail
disappeared into the skirt of the wood at the same instant with a cry
like a wail first one hound then another and then another sprang
helter skelter from the wood opposite and the whole pack rushed across
the field toward the very spot where the wolf had disappeared the hazel
bushes parted behind the hounds and daniel's chestnut horse appeared 
dark with sweat on its long back sat daniel hunched forward capless 
his disheveled gray hair hanging over his flushed perspiring face 

 ulyulyulyu ulyulyu he cried when he caught sight of the
count his eyes flashed lightning 

 blast you he shouted holding up his whip threateningly at the
count 

 you've let the wolf go what sportsmen and as if scorning to
say more to the frightened and shamefaced count he lashed the heaving
flanks of his sweating chestnut gelding with all the anger the count
had aroused and flew off after the hounds the count like a punished
schoolboy looked round trying by a smile to win simon's sympathy for
his plight but simon was no longer there he was galloping round by the
bushes while the field was coming up on both sides all trying to head
the wolf but it vanished into the wood before they could do so 





chapter v

nicholas rostov meanwhile remained at his post waiting for the wolf 
by the way the hunt approached and receded by the cries of the dogs
whose notes were familiar to him by the way the voices of the huntsmen
approached receded and rose he realized what was happening at the
copse he knew that young and old wolves were there that the hounds had
separated into two packs that somewhere a wolf was being chased and
that something had gone wrong he expected the wolf to come his way any
moment he made thousands of different conjectures as to where and
from what side the beast would come and how he would set upon it hope
alternated with despair several times he addressed a prayer to god
that the wolf should come his way he prayed with that passionate and
shamefaced feeling with which men pray at moments of great excitement
arising from trivial causes what would it be to thee to do this for
me he said to god i know thou art great and that it is a sin to
ask this of thee but for god's sake do let the old wolf come my way
and let karay spring at it in sight of uncle who is watching
from over there and seize it by the throat in a death grip a
thousand times during that half hour rostov cast eager and restless
glances over the edge of the wood with the two scraggy oaks rising
above the aspen undergrowth and the gully with its water worn side and
 uncle's cap just visible above the bush on his right 

 no i shan't have such luck thought rostov yet what
wouldn't it be worth it is not to be everywhere at cards and in
war i am always unlucky memories of austerlitz and of dolokhov
flashed rapidly and clearly through his mind only once in my life
to get an old wolf i want only that thought he straining eyes and
ears and looking to the left and then to the right and listening to the
slightest variation of note in the cries of the dogs 

again he looked to the right and saw something running toward him across
the deserted field no it can't be thought rostov taking a
deep breath as a man does at the coming of something long hoped for 
the height of happiness was reached and so simply without warning or
noise or display that rostov could not believe his eyes and remained
in doubt for over a second the wolf ran forward and jumped heavily over
a gully that lay in her path she was an old animal with a gray back and
big reddish belly she ran without hurry evidently feeling sure that no
one saw her rostov holding his breath looked round at the borzois 
they stood or lay not seeing the wolf or understanding the situation 
old karay had turned his head and was angrily searching for fleas 
baring his yellow teeth and snapping at his hind legs 

 ulyulyulyu whispered rostov pouting his lips the borzois
jumped up jerking the rings of the leashes and pricking their ears 
karay finished scratching his hindquarters and cocking his ears got
up with quivering tail from which tufts of matted hair hung down 

 shall i loose them or not nicholas asked himself as the wolf
approached him coming from the copse suddenly the wolf's whole
physiognomy changed she shuddered seeing what she had probably never
seen before human eyes fixed upon her and turning her head a little
toward rostov she paused 

 back or forward eh no matter forward the wolf seemed to say
to herself and she moved forward without again looking round and with a
quiet long easy yet resolute lope 

 ulyulyu cried nicholas in a voice not his own and of its own
accord his good horse darted headlong downhill leaping over gullies
to head off the wolf and the borzois passed it running faster still 
nicholas did not hear his own cry nor feel that he was galloping nor
see the borzois nor the ground over which he went he saw only the
wolf who increasing her speed bounded on in the same direction along
the hollow the first to come into view was milka with her black
markings and powerful quarters gaining upon the wolf nearer and
nearer now she was ahead of it but the wolf turned its head to face
her and instead of putting on speed as she usually did milka suddenly
raised her tail and stiffened her forelegs 

 ulyulyulyulyu shouted nicholas 

the reddish lyubim rushed forward from behind milka sprang
impetuously at the wolf and seized it by its hindquarters but
immediately jumped aside in terror the wolf crouched gnashed her
teeth and again rose and bounded forward followed at the distance of a
couple of feet by all the borzois who did not get any closer to her 

 she'll get away no it's impossible thought nicholas still
shouting with a hoarse voice 

 karay ulyulyu he shouted looking round for the old borzoi
who was now his only hope karay with all the strength age had left
him stretched himself to the utmost and watching the wolf galloped
heavily aside to intercept it but the quickness of the wolf's
lope and the borzoi's slower pace made it plain that karay had
miscalculated nicholas could already see not far in front of him the
wood where the wolf would certainly escape should she reach it but 
coming toward him he saw hounds and a huntsman galloping almost
straight at the wolf there was still hope a long yellowish
young borzoi one nicholas did not know from another leash rushed
impetuously at the wolf from in front and almost knocked her over but
the wolf jumped up more quickly than anyone could have expected and 
gnashing her teeth flew at the yellowish borzoi which with a piercing
yelp fell with its head on the ground bleeding from a gash in its
side 

 karay old fellow wailed nicholas 

thanks to the delay caused by this crossing of the wolf's path the
old dog with its felted hair hanging from its thigh was within five
paces of it as if aware of her danger the wolf turned her eyes on
karay tucked her tail yet further between her legs and increased
her speed but here nicholas only saw that something happened to
karay the borzoi was suddenly on the wolf and they rolled together
down into a gully just in front of them 

that instant when nicholas saw the wolf struggling in the gully
with the dogs while from under them could be seen her gray hair and
outstretched hind leg and her frightened choking head with her ears
laid back karay was pinning her by the throat was the happiest
moment of his life with his hand on his saddlebow he was ready to
dismount and stab the wolf when she suddenly thrust her head up from
among that mass of dogs and then her forepaws were on the edge of the
gully she clicked her teeth karay no longer had her by the throat 
leaped with a movement of her hind legs out of the gully and having
disengaged herself from the dogs with tail tucked in again went
forward karay his hair bristling and probably bruised or wounded 
climbed with difficulty out of the gully 

 oh my god why nicholas cried in despair 

 uncle's huntsman was galloping from the other side across the
wolf's path and his borzois once more stopped the animal's advance 
she was again hemmed in 

nicholas and his attendant with uncle and his huntsman were all
riding round the wolf crying ulyulyu shouting and preparing to
dismount each moment that the wolf crouched back and starting forward
again every time she shook herself and moved toward the wood where she
would be safe 

already at the beginning of this chase daniel hearing the ulyulyuing 
had rushed out from the wood he saw karay seize the wolf and checked
his horse supposing the affair to be over but when he saw that the
horsemen did not dismount and that the wolf shook herself and ran for
safety daniel set his chestnut galloping not at the wolf but straight
toward the wood just as karay had run to cut the animal off as
a result of this he galloped up to the wolf just when she had been
stopped a second time by uncle's borzois 

daniel galloped up silently holding a naked dagger in his left hand and
thrashing the laboring sides of his chestnut horse with his whip as if
it were a flail 

nicholas neither saw nor heard daniel until the chestnut breathing
heavily panted past him and he heard the fall of a body and saw daniel
lying on the wolf's back among the dogs trying to seize her by the
ears it was evident to the dogs the hunters and to the wolf herself
that all was now over the terrified wolf pressed back her ears and
tried to rise but the borzois stuck to her daniel rose a little took
a step and with his whole weight as if lying down to rest fell on
the wolf seizing her by the ears nicholas was about to stab her but
daniel whispered don't we'll gag her and changing his
position set his foot on the wolf's neck a stick was thrust between
her jaws and she was fastened with a leash as if bridled her legs were
bound together and daniel rolled her over once or twice from side to
side 

with happy exhausted faces they laid the old wolf alive on a shying
and snorting horse and accompanied by the dogs yelping at her took her
to the place where they were all to meet the hounds had killed two of
the cubs and the borzois three the huntsmen assembled with their booty
and their stories and all came to look at the wolf which with her
broad browed head hanging down and the bitten stick between her jaws 
gazed with great glassy eyes at this crowd of dogs and men surrounding
her when she was touched she jerked her bound legs and looked wildly
yet simply at everybody old count rostov also rode up and touched the
wolf 

 oh what a formidable one said he a formidable one eh he
asked daniel who was standing near 

 yes your excellency answered daniel quickly doffing his cap 

the count remembered the wolf he had let slip and his encounter with
daniel 

 ah but you are a crusty fellow friend said the count 

for sole reply daniel gave him a shy childlike meek and amiable
smile 





chapter vi

the old count went home and natasha and petya promised to return very
soon but as it was still early the hunt went farther at midday
they put the hounds into a ravine thickly overgrown with young trees 
nicholas standing in a fallow field could see all his whips 

facing him lay a field of winter rye there his own huntsman stood alone
in a hollow behind a hazel bush the hounds had scarcely been loosed
before nicholas heard one he knew voltorn giving tongue at intervals 
other hounds joined in now pausing and now again giving tongue a
moment later he heard a cry from the wooded ravine that a fox had been
found and the whole pack joining together rushed along the ravine
toward the ryefield and away from nicholas 

he saw the whips in their red caps galloping along the edge of the
ravine he even saw the hounds and was expecting a fox to show itself
at any moment on the ryefield opposite 

the huntsman standing in the hollow moved and loosed his borzois and
nicholas saw a queer short legged red fox with a fine brush going hard
across the field the borzois bore down on it now they drew close
to the fox which began to dodge between the field in sharper and sharper
curves trailing its brush when suddenly a strange white borzoi dashed
in followed by a black one and everything was in confusion the borzois
formed a star shaped figure scarcely swaying their bodies and with
tails turned away from the center of the group two huntsmen galloped up
to the dogs one in a red cap the other a stranger in a green coat 

 what's this thought nicholas where's that huntsman from 
he is not uncle's man 

the huntsmen got the fox but stayed there a long time without strapping
it to the saddle their horses bridled and with high saddles stood
near them and there too the dogs were lying the huntsmen waved their
arms and did something to the fox then from that spot came the sound of
a horn with the signal agreed on in case of a fight 

 that's ilagin's huntsman having a row with our ivan said
nicholas groom 

nicholas sent the man to call natasha and petya to him and rode at a
footpace to the place where the whips were getting the hounds together 
several of the field galloped to the spot where the fight was going on 

nicholas dismounted and with natasha and petya who had ridden up 
stopped near the hounds waiting to see how the matter would end out of
the bushes came the huntsman who had been fighting and rode toward
his young master with the fox tied to his crupper while still at a
distance he took off his cap and tried to speak respectfully but he was
pale and breathless and his face was angry one of his eyes was black 
but he probably was not even aware of it 

 what has happened asked nicholas 

 a likely thing killing a fox our dogs had hunted and it was my gray
bitch that caught it go to law indeed he snatches at the fox i
gave him one with the fox here it is on my saddle do you want a taste
of this said the huntsman pointing to his dagger and probably
imagining himself still speaking to his foe 

nicholas not stopping to talk to the man asked his sister and petya
to wait for him and rode to the spot where the enemy's ilagin's 
hunting party was 

the victorious huntsman rode off to join the field and there 
surrounded by inquiring sympathizers recounted his exploits 

the facts were that ilagin with whom the rostovs had a quarrel and
were at law hunted over places that belonged by custom to the rostovs 
and had now as if purposely sent his men to the very woods the
rostovs were hunting and let his man snatch a fox their dogs had
chased 

nicholas though he had never seen ilagin with his usual absence
of moderation in judgment hated him cordially from reports of his
arbitrariness and violence and regarded him as his bitterest foe he
rode in angry agitation toward him firmly grasping his whip and fully
prepared to take the most resolute and desperate steps to punish his
enemy 

hardly had he passed an angle of the wood before a stout gentleman in
a beaver cap came riding toward him on a handsome raven black horse 
accompanied by two hunt servants 

instead of an enemy nicholas found in ilagin a stately and courteous
gentleman who was particularly anxious to make the young count's
acquaintance having ridden up to nicholas ilagin raised his beaver
cap and said he much regretted what had occurred and would have the
man punished who had allowed himself to seize a fox hunted by someone
else's borzois he hoped to become better acquainted with the count
and invited him to draw his covert 

natasha afraid that her brother would do something dreadful had
followed him in some excitement seeing the enemies exchanging friendly
greetings she rode up to them ilagin lifted his beaver cap still
higher to natasha and said with a pleasant smile that the young
countess resembled diana in her passion for the chase as well as in her
beauty of which he had heard much 

to expiate his huntsman's offense ilagin pressed the rostovs to
come to an upland of his about a mile away which he usually kept for
himself and which he said swarmed with hares nicholas agreed and the
hunt now doubled moved on 

the way to iligin's upland was across the fields the hunt servants
fell into line the masters rode together uncle rostov and
ilagin kept stealthily glancing at one another's dogs trying not
to be observed by their companions and searching uneasily for rivals to
their own borzois 

rostov was particularly struck by the beauty of a small pure bred 
red spotted bitch on ilagin's leash slender but with muscles like
steel a delicate muzzle and prominent black eyes he had heard of
the swiftness of ilagin's borzois and in that beautiful bitch saw a
rival to his own milka 

in the middle of a sober conversation begun by ilagin about the
year's harvest nicholas pointed to the red spotted bitch 

 a fine little bitch that said he in a careless tone is she
swift 

 that one yes she's a good dog gets what she's after 
answered ilagin indifferently of the red spotted bitch erza for
which a year before he had given a neighbor three families of house
serfs so in your parts too the harvest is nothing to boast of 
count he went on continuing the conversation they had begun and
considering it polite to return the young count's compliment ilagin
looked at his borzois and picked out milka who attracted his attention
by her breadth that black spotted one of yours is fine well
shaped said he 

 yes she's fast enough replied nicholas and thought if
only a full grown hare would cross the field now i'd show you what
sort of borzoi she is and turning to his groom he said he would
give a ruble to anyone who found a hare 

 i don't understand continued ilagin how some sportsmen can
be so jealous about game and dogs for myself i can tell you count 
i enjoy riding in company such as this what could be better he
again raised his cap to natasha but as for counting skins and what
one takes i don't care about that 

 of course not 

 or being upset because someone else's borzoi and not mine catches
something all i care about is to enjoy seeing the chase is it not so 
count for i consider that 

 a tu came the long drawn cry of one of the borzoi whippers in 
who had halted he stood on a knoll in the stubble holding his whip
aloft and again repeated his long drawn cry a tu this call and
the uplifted whip meant that he saw a sitting hare 

 ah he has found one i think said ilagin carelessly yes we
must ride up shall we both course it answered nicholas seeing
in erza and uncle's red rugay two rivals he had never yet had
a chance of pitting against his own borzois and suppose they outdo
my milka at once he thought as he rode with uncle and ilagin
toward the hare 

 a full grown one asked ilagin as he approached the whip who
had sighted the hare and not without agitation he looked round and
whistled to erza 

 and you michael nikanorovich he said addressing uncle 

the latter was riding with a sullen expression on his face 

 how can i join in why you've given a village for each of your
borzois that's it come on yours are worth thousands try yours
against one another you two and i'll look on 

 rugay hey hey he shouted rugayushka he added 
involuntarily by this diminutive expressing his affection and the hopes
he placed on this red borzoi natasha saw and felt the agitation the
two elderly men and her brother were trying to conceal and was herself
excited by it 

the huntsman stood halfway up the knoll holding up his whip and the
gentlefolk rode up to him at a footpace the hounds that were far off
on the horizon turned away from the hare and the whips but not the
gentlefolk also moved away all were moving slowly and sedately 

 how is it pointing asked nicholas riding a hundred paces toward
the whip who had sighted the hare 

but before the whip could reply the hare scenting the frost coming
next morning was unable to rest and leaped up the pack on leash rushed
downhill in full cry after the hare and from all sides the borzois that
were not on leash darted after the hounds and the hare all the hunt 
who had been moving slowly shouted stop calling in the hounds 
while the borzoi whips with a cry of a tu galloped across the
field setting the borzois on the hare the tranquil ilagin nicholas 
natasha and uncle flew reckless of where and how they went 
seeing only the borzois and the hare and fearing only to lose sight even
for an instant of the chase the hare they had started was a strong and
swift one when he jumped up he did not run at once but pricked his
ears listening to the shouting and trampling that resounded from all
sides at once he took a dozen bounds not very quickly letting the
borzois gain on him and finally having chosen his direction and
realized his danger laid back his ears and rushed off headlong he had
been lying in the stubble but in front of him was the autumn sowing
where the ground was soft the two borzois of the huntsman who had
sighted him having been the nearest were the first to see and pursue
him but they had not gone far before ilagin's red spotted erza
passed them got within a length flew at the hare with terrible
swiftness aiming at his scut and thinking she had seized him rolled
over like a ball the hare arched his back and bounded off yet more
swiftly from behind erza rushed the broad haunched black spotted
milka and began rapidly gaining on the hare 

 milashka dear rose nicholas triumphant cry it looked as if
milka would immediately pounce on the hare but she overtook him and
flew past the hare had squatted again the beautiful erza reached him 
but when close to the hare's scut paused as if measuring the distance 
so as not to make a mistake this time but seize his hind leg 

 erza darling ilagin wailed in a voice unlike his own erza
did not hearken to his appeal at the very moment when she would have
seized her prey the hare moved and darted along the balk between the
winter rye and the stubble again erza and milka were abreast running
like a pair of carriage horses and began to overtake the hare but
it was easier for the hare to run on the balk and the borzois did not
overtake him so quickly 

 rugay rugayushka that's it come on came a third voice just
then and uncle's red borzoi straining and curving its back 
caught up with the two foremost borzois pushed ahead of them regardless
of the terrible strain put on speed close to the hare knocked it off
the balk onto the ryefield again put on speed still more viciously 
sinking to his knees in the muddy field and all one could see was
how muddying his back he rolled over with the hare a ring of borzois
surrounded him a moment later everyone had drawn up round the crowd
of dogs only the delighted uncle dismounted and cut off a pad 
shaking the hare for the blood to drip off and anxiously glancing round
with restless eyes while his arms and legs twitched he spoke without
himself knowing whom to or what about that's it come on that's
a dog there it has beaten them all the thousand ruble as well as
the one ruble borzois that's it come on said he panting and
looking wrathfully around as if he were abusing someone as if they
were all his enemies and had insulted him and only now had he at
last succeeded in justifying himself there are your thousand ruble
ones that's it come on 

 rugay here's a pad for you he said throwing down the
hare's muddy pad you've deserved it that's it come on 

 she'd tired herself out she'd run it down three times by
herself said nicholas also not listening to anyone and regardless
of whether he were heard or not 

 but what is there in running across it like that said ilagin's
groom 

 once she had missed it and turned it away any mongrel could take
it ilagin was saying at the same time breathless from his gallop
and his excitement at the same moment natasha without drawing
breath screamed joyously ecstatically and so piercingly that it set
everyone's ear tingling by that shriek she expressed what the others
expressed by all talking at once and it was so strange that she must
herself have been ashamed of so wild a cry and everyone else would have
been amazed at it at any other time uncle himself twisted up the
hare threw it neatly and smartly across his horse's back as if by
that gesture he meant to rebuke everybody and with an air of not
wishing to speak to anyone mounted his bay and rode off the others all
followed dispirited and shamefaced and only much later were they able
to regain their former affectation of indifference for a long time they
continued to look at red rugay who his arched back spattered with
mud and clanking the ring of his leash walked along just behind
 uncle's horse with the serene air of a conqueror 

 well i am like any other dog as long as it's not a question of
coursing but when it is then look out his appearance seemed to
nicholas to be saying 

when much later uncle rode up to nicholas and began talking
to him he felt flattered that after what had happened uncle 
deigned to speak to him 





chapter vii

toward evening ilagin took leave of nicholas who found that they were
so far from home that he accepted uncle's offer that the hunting
party should spend the night in his little village of mikhaylovna 

 and if you put up at my house that will be better still that's it 
come on said uncle you see it's damp weather and you
could rest and the little countess could be driven home in a trap 

 uncle's offer was accepted a huntsman was sent to otradnoe for
a trap while nicholas rode with natasha and petya to uncle's 
house 

some five male domestic serfs big and little rushed out to the front
porch to meet their master a score of women serfs old and young as
well as children popped out from the back entrance to have a look at
the hunters who were arriving the presence of natasha a woman a
lady and on horseback raised the curiosity of the serfs to such a
degree that many of them came up to her stared her in the face and
unabashed by her presence made remarks about her as though she were some
prodigy on show and not a human being able to hear or understand what
was said about her 

 arinka look she sits sideways there she sits and her skirt
dangles see she's got a little hunting horn 

 goodness gracious see her knife 

 isn't she a tartar 

 how is it you didn't go head over heels asked the boldest of
all addressing natasha directly 

 uncle dismounted at the porch of his little wooden house which
stood in the midst of an overgrown garden and after a glance at his
retainers shouted authoritatively that the superfluous ones should take
themselves off and that all necessary preparations should be made to
receive the guests and the visitors 

the serfs all dispersed uncle lifted natasha off her horse and
taking her hand led her up the rickety wooden steps of the porch the
house with its bare unplastered log walls was not overclean it
did not seem that those living in it aimed at keeping it spotless but
neither was it noticeably neglected in the entry there was a smell of
fresh apples and wolf and fox skins hung about 

 uncle led the visitors through the anteroom into a small hall with
a folding table and red chairs then into the drawing room with a round
birchwood table and a sofa and finally into his private room where
there was a tattered sofa a worn carpet and portraits of suvorov of
the host's father and mother and of himself in military uniform the
study smelt strongly of tobacco and dogs uncle asked his visitors
to sit down and make themselves at home and then went out of the room 
rugay his back still muddy came into the room and lay down on the
sofa cleaning himself with his tongue and teeth leading from the study
was a passage in which a partition with ragged curtains could be
seen from behind this came women's laughter and whispers natasha 
nicholas and petya took off their wraps and sat down on the sofa 
petya leaning on his elbow fell asleep at once natasha and nicholas
were silent their faces glowed they were hungry and very cheerful 
they looked at one another now that the hunt was over and they were in
the house nicholas no longer considered it necessary to show his manly
superiority over his sister natasha gave him a wink and neither
refrained long from bursting into a peal of ringing laughter even before
they had a pretext ready to account for it 

after a while uncle came in in a cossack coat blue trousers and
small top boots and natasha felt that this costume the very one she
had regarded with surprise and amusement at otradnoe was just the
right thing and not at all worse than a swallow tail or frock coat 
 uncle too was in high spirits and far from being offended by the
brother's and sister's laughter it could never enter his head that
they might be laughing at his way of life he himself joined in the
merriment 

 that's right young countess that's it come on i never saw
anyone like her said he offering nicholas a pipe with a long stem
and with a practiced motion of three fingers taking down another that
had been cut short she's ridden all day like a man and is as
fresh as ever 

soon after uncle's reappearance the door was opened evidently
from the sound by a barefooted girl and a stout rosy good looking
woman of about forty with a double chin and full red lips entered
carrying a large loaded tray with hospitable dignity and cordiality in
her glance and in every motion she looked at the visitors and with
a pleasant smile bowed respectfully in spite of her exceptional
stoutness which caused her to protrude her chest and stomach and throw
back her head this woman who was uncle's housekeeper trod
very lightly she went to the table set down the tray and with her
plump white hands deftly took from it the bottles and various hors
d'oeuvres and dishes and arranged them on the table when she had
finished she stepped aside and stopped at the door with a smile on her
face here i am i am she now do you understand uncle her
expression said to rostov how could one help understanding not only
nicholas but even natasha understood the meaning of his puckered brow
and the happy complacent smile that slightly puckered his lips when
anisya fedorovna entered on the tray was a bottle of herb wine 
different kinds of vodka pickled mushrooms rye cakes made with
buttermilk honey in the comb still mead and sparkling mead apples 
nuts raw and roasted and nut and honey sweets afterwards she brought
a freshly roasted chicken ham preserves made with honey and preserves
made with sugar 

all this was the fruit of anisya fedorovna's housekeeping gathered
and prepared by her the smell and taste of it all had a smack
of anisya fedorovna herself a savor of juiciness cleanliness 
whiteness and pleasant smiles 

 take this little lady countess she kept saying as she offered
natasha first one thing and then another 

natasha ate of everything and thought she had never seen or eaten such
buttermilk cakes such aromatic jam such honey and nut sweets or such
a chicken anywhere anisya fedorovna left the room 

after supper over their cherry brandy rostov and uncle talked
of past and future hunts of rugay and ilagin's dogs while natasha
sat upright on the sofa and listened with sparkling eyes she tried
several times to wake petya that he might eat something but he
only muttered incoherent words without waking up natasha felt so
lighthearted and happy in these novel surroundings that she only feared
the trap would come for her too soon after a casual pause such as
often occurs when receiving friends for the first time in one's own
house uncle answering a thought that was in his visitors 
minds said 

 this you see is how i am finishing my days death will come 
that's it come on nothing will remain then why harm anyone 

 uncle's face was very significant and even handsome as he said
this involuntarily rostov recalled all the good he had heard about
him from his father and the neighbors throughout the whole province
 uncle had the reputation of being the most honorable and
disinterested of cranks they called him in to decide family disputes 
chose him as executor confided secrets to him elected him to be a
justice and to other posts but he always persistently refused public
appointments passing the autumn and spring in the fields on his bay
gelding sitting at home in winter and lying in his overgrown garden in
summer 

 why don't you enter the service uncle 

 i did once but gave it up i am not fit for it that's it come
on i can't make head or tail of it that's for you i haven't
brains enough now hunting is another matter that's it come on 
open the door there he shouted why have you shut it 

the door at the end of the passage led to the huntsmen's room as they
called the room for the hunt servants 

there was a rapid patter of bare feet and an unseen hand opened the
door into the huntsmen's room from which came the clear sounds of a
balalayka on which someone who was evidently a master of the art was
playing natasha had been listening to those strains for some time and
now went out into the passage to hear better 

 that's mitka my coachman i have got him a good balalayka 
i'm fond of it said uncle 

it was the custom for mitka to play the balalayka in the huntsmen's
room when uncle returned from the chase uncle was fond of
such music 

 how good really very good said nicholas with some unintentional
superciliousness as if ashamed to confess that the sounds pleased him
very much 

 very good said natasha reproachfully noticing her brother's
tone not very good it's simply delicious 

just as uncle's pickled mushrooms honey and cherry brandy had
seemed to her the best in the world so also that song at that moment 
seemed to her the acme of musical delight 

 more please more cried natasha at the door as soon as the
balalayka ceased mitka tuned up afresh and recommenced thrumming
the balalayka to the air of my lady with trills and variations 
 uncle sat listening slightly smiling with his head on one side 
the air was repeated a hundred times the balalayka was retuned several
times and the same notes were thrummed again but the listeners did
not grow weary of it and wished to hear it again and again anisya
fedorovna came in and leaned her portly person against the doorpost 

 you like listening she said to natasha with a smile extremely
like uncle's that's a good player of ours she added 

 he doesn't play that part right said uncle suddenly with
an energetic gesture here he ought to burst out that's it come
on ought to burst out 

 do you play then asked natasha 

 uncle did not answer but smiled 

 anisya go and see if the strings of my guitar are all right i
haven't touched it for a long time that's it come on i've
given it up 

anisya fedorovna with her light step willingly went to fulfill her
errand and brought back the guitar 

without looking at anyone uncle blew the dust off it and tapping
the case with his bony fingers tuned the guitar and settled himself in
his armchair he took the guitar a little above the fingerboard arching
his left elbow with a somewhat theatrical gesture and with a wink at
anisya fedorovna struck a single chord pure and sonorous and then
quietly smoothly and confidently began playing in very slow time not
my lady but the well known song came a maiden down the street the
tune played with precision and in exact time began to thrill in the
hearts of nicholas and natasha arousing in them the same kind of
sober mirth as radiated from anisya fedorovna's whole being anisya
fedorovna flushed and drawing her kerchief over her face went laughing
out of the room uncle continued to play correctly carefully 
with energetic firmness looking with a changed and inspired expression
at the spot where anisya fedorovna had just stood something seemed to
be laughing a little on one side of his face under his gray mustaches 
especially as the song grew brisker and the time quicker and when here
and there as he ran his fingers over the strings something seemed to
snap 

 lovely lovely go on uncle go on shouted natasha as soon as
he had finished she jumped up and hugged and kissed him nicholas 
nicholas she said turning to her brother as if asking him what
is it moves me so 

nicholas too was greatly pleased by uncle's playing and
 uncle played the piece over again anisya fedorovna's smiling
face reappeared in the doorway and behind hers other faces 

 fetching water clear and sweet 
 stop dear maiden i entreat 

played uncle once more running his fingers skillfully over the
strings and then he stopped short and jerked his shoulders 

 go on uncle dear natasha wailed in an imploring tone as if her
life depended on it 

 uncle rose and it was as if there were two men in him one of
them smiled seriously at the merry fellow while the merry fellow struck
a naive and precise attitude preparatory to a folk dance 

 now then niece he exclaimed waving to natasha the hand that
had just struck a chord 

natasha threw off the shawl from her shoulders ran forward to face
 uncle and setting her arms akimbo also made a motion with her
shoulders and struck an attitude 

where how and when had this young countess educated by an emigree
french governess imbibed from the russian air she breathed that spirit
and obtained that manner which the pas de chale would one would have
supposed long ago have effaced but the spirit and the movements were
those inimitable and unteachable russian ones that uncle had
expected of her as soon as she had struck her pose and smiled
triumphantly proudly and with sly merriment the fear that had at
first seized nicholas and the others that she might not do the right
thing was at an end and they were already admiring her 

 the french shawl dance 

she did the right thing with such precision such complete precision 
that anisya fedorovna who had at once handed her the handkerchief she
needed for the dance had tears in her eyes though she laughed as she
watched this slim graceful countess reared in silks and velvets and so
different from herself who yet was able to understand all that was
in anisya and in anisya's father and mother and aunt and in every
russian man and woman 

 well little countess that's it come on cried uncle 
with a joyous laugh having finished the dance well done niece now
a fine young fellow must be found as husband for you that's it come
on 

 he's chosen already said nicholas smiling 

 oh said uncle in surprise looking inquiringly at natasha 
who nodded her head with a happy smile 

 and such a one she said but as soon as she had said it a new
train of thoughts and feelings arose in her what did nicholas 
smile mean when he said chosen already is he glad of it or not 
it is as if he thought my bolkonski would not approve of or understand
our gaiety but he would understand it all where is he now she
thought and her face suddenly became serious but this lasted only a
second don't dare to think about it she said to herself 
and sat down again smilingly beside uncle begging him to play
something more 

 uncle played another song and a valse then after a pause he
cleared his throat and sang his favorite hunting song 

 as twas growing dark last night
 fell the snow so soft and light 

 uncle sang as peasants sing with full and naive conviction that
the whole meaning of a song lies in the words and that the tune comes
of itself and that apart from the words there is no tune which exists
only to give measure to the words as a result of this the unconsidered
tune like the song of a bird was extraordinarily good natasha was in
ecstasies over uncle's singing she resolved to give up learning
the harp and to play only the guitar she asked uncle for his
guitar and at once found the chords of the song 

after nine o'clock two traps and three mounted men who had been sent
to look for them arrived to fetch natasha and petya the count and
countess did not know where they were and were very anxious said one of
the men 

petya was carried out like a log and laid in the larger of the two
traps natasha and nicholas got into the other uncle wrapped
natasha up warmly and took leave of her with quite a new tenderness he
accompanied them on foot as far as the bridge that could not be crossed 
so that they had to go round by the ford and he sent huntsmen to ride
in front with lanterns 

 good by dear niece his voice called out of the darkness not
the voice natasha had known previously but the one that had sung as
 twas growing dark last night 

in the village through which they passed there were red lights and a
cheerful smell of smoke 

 what a darling uncle is said natasha when they had come out
onto the highroad 

 yes returned nicholas you're not cold 

 no i'm quite quite all right i feel so comfortable answered
natasha almost perplexed by her feelings they remained silent a long
while the night was dark and damp they could not see the horses but
only heard them splashing through the unseen mud 

what was passing in that receptive childlike soul that so eagerly caught
and assimilated all the diverse impressions of life how did they all
find place in her but she was very happy as they were nearing home she
suddenly struck up the air of as twas growing dark last night the
tune of which she had all the way been trying to get and had at last
caught 

 got it said nicholas 

 what were you thinking about just now nicholas inquired
natasha 

they were fond of asking one another that question 

 i said nicholas trying to remember well you see first i
thought that rugay the red hound was like uncle and that if he were
a man he would always keep uncle near him if not for his riding then
for his manner what a good fellow uncle is don't you think so 
well and you 

 i wait a bit wait yes first i thought that we are driving
along and imagining that we are going home but that heaven knows
where we are really going in the darkness and that we shall arrive and
suddenly find that we are not in otradnoe but in fairyland and then i
thought no nothing else 

 i know i expect you thought of him said nicholas smiling as
natasha knew by the sound of his voice 

 no said natasha though she had in reality been thinking about
prince andrew at the same time as of the rest and of how he would
have liked uncle and then i was saying to myself all the way 
 how well anisya carried herself how well and nicholas heard
her spontaneous happy ringing laughter and do you know she
suddenly said i know that i shall never again be as happy and
tranquil as i am now 

 rubbish nonsense humbug exclaimed nicholas and he thought 
 how charming this natasha of mine is i have no other friend like
her and never shall have why should she marry we might always drive
about together 

 what a darling this nicholas of mine is thought natasha 

 ah there are still lights in the drawing room she said pointing
to the windows of the house that gleamed invitingly in the moist velvety
darkness of the night 





chapter viii

count ilya rostov had resigned the position of marshal of the nobility
because it involved him in too much expense but still his affairs
did not improve natasha and nicholas often noticed their parents
conferring together anxiously and privately and heard suggestions of
selling the fine ancestral rostov house and estate near moscow it was
not necessary to entertain so freely as when the count had been marshal 
and life at otradnoe was quieter than in former years but still the
enormous house and its lodges were full of people and more than twenty
sat down to table every day these were all their own people who had
settled down in the house almost as members of the family or persons
who were it seemed obliged to live in the count's house such were
dimmler the musician and his wife vogel the dancing master and his
family belova an old maiden lady an inmate of the house and many
others such as petya's tutors the girls former governess and
other people who simply found it preferable and more advantageous to
live in the count's house than at home they had not as many visitors
as before but the old habits of life without which the count and
countess could not conceive of existence remained unchanged there was
still the hunting establishment which nicholas had even enlarged the
same fifty horses and fifteen grooms in the stables the same expensive
presents and dinner parties to the whole district on name days there
were still the count's games of whist and boston at which spreading
out his cards so that everybody could see them he let himself be
plundered of hundreds of rubles every day by his neighbors who looked
upon an opportunity to play a rubber with count rostov as a most
profitable source of income 

the count moved in his affairs as in a huge net trying not to believe
that he was entangled but becoming more and more so at every step and
feeling too feeble to break the meshes or to set to work carefully and
patiently to disentangle them the countess with her loving heart felt
that her children were being ruined that it was not the count's fault
for he could not help being what he was that though he tried to
hide it he himself suffered from the consciousness of his own and
his children's ruin and she tried to find means of remedying the
position from her feminine point of view she could see only one
solution namely for nicholas to marry a rich heiress she felt this to
be their last hope and that if nicholas refused the match she had found
for him she would have to abandon the hope of ever getting matters
right this match was with julie karagina the daughter of excellent
and virtuous parents a girl the rostovs had known from childhood and
who had now become a wealthy heiress through the death of the last of
her brothers 

the countess had written direct to julie's mother in moscow suggesting
a marriage between their children and had received a favorable answer
from her karagina had replied that for her part she was agreeable and
everything depend on her daughter's inclination she invited nicholas
to come to moscow 

several times the countess with tears in her eyes told her son that
now both her daughters were settled her only wish was to see him
married she said she could lie down in her grave peacefully if that
were accomplished then she told him that she knew of a splendid girl
and tried to discover what he thought about marriage 

at other times she praised julie to him and advised him to go to
moscow during the holidays to amuse himself nicholas guessed what his
mother's remarks were leading to and during one of these conversations
induced her to speak quite frankly she told him that her only hope
of getting their affairs disentangled now lay in his marrying julie
karagina 

 but mamma suppose i loved a girl who has no fortune would
you expect me to sacrifice my feelings and my honor for the sake of
money he asked his mother not realizing the cruelty of his question
and only wishing to show his noble mindedness 

 no you have not understood me said his mother not knowing how
to justify herself you have not understood me nikolenka it is
your happiness i wish for she added feeling that she was telling an
untruth and was becoming entangled she began to cry 

 mamma don't cry only tell me that you wish it and you know i
will give my life anything to put you at ease said nicholas i
would sacrifice anything for you even my feelings 

but the countess did not want the question put like that she did not
want a sacrifice from her son she herself wished to make a sacrifice
for him 

 no you have not understood me don't let us talk about it she
replied wiping away her tears 

 maybe i do love a poor girl said nicholas to himself am i to
sacrifice my feelings and my honor for money i wonder how mamma could
speak so to me because sonya is poor i must not love her he
thought must not respond to her faithful devoted love yet i should
certainly be happier with her than with some doll like julie i can
always sacrifice my feelings for my family's welfare he said to
himself but i can't coerce my feelings if i love sonya that
feeling is for me stronger and higher than all else 

nicholas did not go to moscow and the countess did not renew the
conversation with him about marriage she saw with sorrow and sometimes
with exasperation symptoms of a growing attachment between her son and
the portionless sonya though she blamed herself for it she could
not refrain from grumbling at and worrying sonya often pulling her up
without reason addressing her stiffly as my dear and using the
formal you instead of the intimate thou in speaking to her 
the kindhearted countess was the more vexed with sonya because that
poor dark eyed niece of hers was so meek so kind so devotedly
grateful to her benefactors and so faithfully unchangingly and
unselfishly in love with nicholas that there were no grounds for
finding fault with her 

nicholas was spending the last of his leave at home a fourth letter had
come from prince andrew from rome in which he wrote that he would have
been on his way back to russia long ago had not his wound unexpectedly
reopened in the warm climate which obliged him to defer his return till
the beginning of the new year natasha was still as much in love with
her betrothed found the same comfort in that love and was still as
ready to throw herself into all the pleasures of life as before but at
the end of the fourth month of their separation she began to have fits
of depression which she could not master she felt sorry for herself 
sorry that she was being wasted all this time and of no use to
anyone while she felt herself so capable of loving and being loved 

things were not cheerful in the rostovs home 





chapter ix

christmas came and except for the ceremonial mass the solemn and
wearisome christmas congratulations from neighbors and servants and the
new dresses everyone put on there were no special festivities though
the calm frost of twenty degrees reaumur the dazzling sunshine by day 
and the starlight of the winter nights seemed to call for some special
celebration of the season 

on the third day of christmas week after the midday dinner all the
inmates of the house dispersed to various rooms it was the dullest time
of the day nicholas who had been visiting some neighbors that morning 
was asleep on the sitting room sofa the old count was resting in his
study sonya sat in the drawing room at the round table copying a
design for embroidery the countess was playing patience nastasya
ivanovna the buffoon sat with a sad face at the window with two old
ladies natasha came into the room went up to sonya glanced at
what she was doing and then went up to her mother and stood without
speaking 

 why are you wandering about like an outcast asked her mother 
 what do you want 

 him i want him now this minute i want him said natasha 
with glittering eyes and no sign of a smile 

the countess lifted her head and looked attentively at her daughter 

 don't look at me mamma don't look i shall cry directly 

 sit down with me a little said the countess 

 mamma i want him why should i be wasted like this mamma 

her voice broke tears gushed from her eyes and she turned quickly to
hide them and left the room 

she passed into the sitting room stood there thinking awhile and then
went into the maids room there an old maidservant was grumbling at
a young girl who stood panting having just run in through the cold from
the serfs quarters 

 stop playing there's a time for everything said the old
woman 

 let her alone kondratevna said natasha go mavrushka 
go 

having released mavrushka natasha crossed the dancing hall and went
to the vestibule there an old footman and two young ones were playing
cards they broke off and rose as she entered 

 what can i do with them thought natasha 

 oh nikita please go where can i send him yes go to the
yard and fetch a fowl please a cock and you misha bring me some
oats 

 just a few oats said misha cheerfully and readily 

 go go quickly the old man urged him 

 and you theodore get me a piece of chalk 

on her way past the butler's pantry she told them to set a samovar 
though it was not at all the time for tea 

foka the butler was the most ill tempered person in the house 
natasha liked to test her power over him he distrusted the order and
asked whether the samovar was really wanted 

 oh dear what a young lady said foka pretending to frown at
natasha 

no one in the house sent people about or gave them as much trouble as
natasha did she could not see people unconcernedly but had to send
them on some errand she seemed to be trying whether any of them would
get angry or sulky with her but the serfs fulfilled no one's orders
so readily as they did hers what can i do where can i go 
thought she as she went slowly along the passage 

 nastasya ivanovna what sort of children shall i have she asked
the buffoon who was coming toward her in a woman's jacket 

 why fleas crickets grasshoppers answered the buffoon 

 o lord o lord it's always the same oh where am i to go what
am i to do with myself and tapping with her heels she ran quickly
upstairs to see vogel and his wife who lived on the upper story 

two governesses were sitting with the vogels at a table on which were
plates of raisins walnuts and almonds the governesses were discussing
whether it was cheaper to live in moscow or odessa natasha sat down 
listened to their talk with a serious and thoughtful air and then got
up again 

 the island of madagascar she said ma da gas car she
repeated articulating each syllable distinctly and not replying to
madame schoss who asked her what she was saying she went out of the
room 

her brother petya was upstairs too with the man in attendance on him
he was preparing fireworks to let off that night 

 petya petya she called to him carry me downstairs 

petya ran up and offered her his back she jumped on it putting her
arms round his neck and he pranced along with her 

 no don't the island of madagascar she said and jumping off
his back she went downstairs 

having as it were reviewed her kingdom tested her power and made
sure that everyone was submissive but that all the same it was dull 
natasha betook herself to the ballroom picked up her guitar sat down
in a dark corner behind a bookcase and began to run her fingers over
the strings in the bass picking out a passage she recalled from an
opera she had heard in petersburg with prince andrew what she drew from
the guitar would have had no meaning for other listeners but in her
imagination a whole series of reminiscences arose from those sounds 
she sat behind the bookcase with her eyes fixed on a streak of light
escaping from the pantry door and listened to herself and pondered she
was in a mood for brooding on the past 

sonya passed to the pantry with a glass in her hand natasha glanced
at her and at the crack in the pantry door and it seemed to her that
she remembered the light falling through that crack once before and
sonya passing with a glass in her hand yes it was exactly the
same thought natasha 

 sonya what is this she cried twanging a thick string 

 oh you are there said sonya with a start and came near and
listened i don't know a storm she ventured timidly afraid of
being wrong 

 there that's just how she started and just how she came up smiling
timidly when all this happened before thought natasha and in
just the same way i thought there was something lacking in her 

 no it's the chorus from the water carrier listen and natasha
sang the air of the chorus so that sonya should catch it where were
you going she asked 

 to change the water in this glass i am just finishing the design 

 you always find something to do but i can't said natasha 
 and where's nicholas 

 asleep i think 

 sonya go and wake him said natasha tell him i want him to
come and sing 

she sat awhile wondering what the meaning of it all having happened
before could be and without solving this problem or at all regretting
not having done so she again passed in fancy to the time when she was
with him and he was looking at her with a lover's eyes 

 oh if only he would come quicker i am so afraid it will never be 
and worst of all i am growing old that's the thing there won't
then be in me what there is now but perhaps he'll come today will
come immediately perhaps he has come and is sitting in the drawing
room perhaps he came yesterday and i have forgotten it she rose 
put down the guitar and went to the drawing room 

all the domestic circle tutors governesses and guests were already
at the tea table the servants stood round the table but prince andrew
was not there and life was going on as before 

 ah here she is said the old count when he saw natasha enter 
 well sit down by me but natasha stayed by her mother and
glanced round as if looking for something 

 mamma she muttered give him to me give him mamma quickly 
quickly and she again had difficulty in repressing her sobs 

she sat down at the table and listened to the conversation between the
elders and nicholas who had also come to the table my god my god 
the same faces the same talk papa holding his cup and blowing in the
same way thought natasha feeling with horror a sense of repulsion
rising up in her for the whole household because they were always the
same 

after tea nicholas sonya and natasha went to the sitting room to
their favorite corner where their most intimate talks always began 





chapter x

 does it ever happen to you said natasha to her brother when
they settled down in the sitting room does it ever happen to you to
feel as if there were nothing more to come nothing that everything
good is past and to feel not exactly dull but sad 

 i should think so he replied i have felt like that when
everything was all right and everyone was cheerful the thought has come
into my mind that i was already tired of it all and that we must all
die once in the regiment i had not gone to some merrymaking where there
was music and suddenly i felt so depressed 

 oh yes i know i know i know natasha interrupted him when
i was quite little that used to be so with me do you remember when
i was punished once about some plums you were all dancing and i sat
sobbing in the schoolroom i shall never forget it i felt sad and sorry
for everyone for myself and for everyone and i was innocent that
was the chief thing said natasha do you remember 

 i remember answered nicholas i remember that i came to you
afterwards and wanted to comfort you but do you know i felt ashamed
to we were terribly absurd i had a funny doll then and wanted to give
it to you do you remember 

 and do you remember natasha asked with a pensive smile how
once long long ago when we were quite little uncle called us into
the study that was in the old house and it was dark we went in and
suddenly there stood 

 a negro chimed in nicholas with a smile of delight of course
i remember even now i don't know whether there really was a negro or
if we only dreamed it or were told about him 

 he was gray you remember and had white teeth and stood and looked
at us 

 sonya do you remember asked nicholas 

 yes yes i do remember something too sonya answered timidly 

 you know i have asked papa and mamma about that negro said
natasha and they say there was no negro at all but you see you
remember 

 of course i do i remember his teeth as if i had just seen them 

 how strange it is it's as if it were a dream i like that 

 and do you remember how we rolled hard boiled eggs in the ballroom 
and suddenly two old women began spinning round on the carpet was that
real or not do you remember what fun it was 

 yes and you remember how papa in his blue overcoat fired a gun in
the porch 

so they went through their memories smiling with pleasure not the sad
memories of old age but poetic youthful ones those impressions of
one's most distant past in which dreams and realities blend and they
laughed with quiet enjoyment 

sonya as always did not quite keep pace with them though they shared
the same reminiscences 

much that they remembered had slipped from her mind and what she
recalled did not arouse the same poetic feeling as they experienced she
simply enjoyed their pleasure and tried to fit in with it 

she only really took part when they recalled sonya's first arrival 
she told them how afraid she had been of nicholas because he had on a
corded jacket and her nurse had told her that she too would be sewn up
with cords 

 and i remember their telling me that you had been born under a
cabbage said natasha and i remember that i dared not disbelieve
it then but knew that it was not true and i felt so uncomfortable 

while they were talking a maid thrust her head in at the other door of
the sitting room 

 they have brought the cock miss she said in a whisper 

 it isn't wanted polya tell them to take it away replied
natasha 

in the middle of their talk in the sitting room dimmler came in and
went up to the harp that stood there in a corner he took off its cloth
covering and the harp gave out a jarring sound 

 mr dimmler please play my favorite nocturne by field came the
old countess voice from the drawing room 

dimmler struck a chord and turning to natasha nicholas and sonya 
remarked how quiet you young people are 

 yes we're philosophizing said natasha glancing round for a
moment and then continuing the conversation they were now discussing
dreams 

dimmler began to play natasha went on tiptoe noiselessly to the table 
took up a candle carried it out and returned seating herself quietly
in her former place it was dark in the room especially where they were
sitting on the sofa but through the big windows the silvery light of
the full moon fell on the floor dimmler had finished the piece but
still sat softly running his fingers over the strings evidently
uncertain whether to stop or to play something else 

 do you know said natasha in a whisper moving closer to nicholas
and sonya that when one goes on and on recalling memories one at
last begins to remember what happened before one was in the world 

 that is metempsychosis said sonya who had always learned well 
and remembered everything the egyptians believed that our souls have
lived in animals and will go back into animals again 

 no i don't believe we ever were in animals said natasha 
still in a whisper though the music had ceased but i am certain that
we were angels somewhere there and have been here and that is why we
remember 

 may i join you said dimmler who had come up quietly and he sat
down by them 

 if we have been angels why have we fallen lower said nicholas 
 no that can't be 

 not lower who said we were lower how do i know what i
was before natasha rejoined with conviction the soul is
immortal well then if i shall always live i must have lived before 
lived for a whole eternity 

 yes but it is hard for us to imagine eternity remarked dimmler 
who had joined the young folk with a mildly condescending smile but now
spoke as quietly and seriously as they 

 why is it hard to imagine eternity said natasha it is now
today and it will be tomorrow and always and there was yesterday and
the day before 

 natasha now it's your turn sing me something they heard the
countess say why are you sitting there like conspirators 

 mamma i don't at all want to replied natasha but all the
same she rose 

none of them not even the middle aged dimmler wanted to break off
their conversation and quit that corner in the sitting room but
natasha got up and nicholas sat down at the clavichord standing
as usual in the middle of the hall and choosing the place where the
resonance was best natasha began to sing her mother's favorite song 

she had said she did not want to sing but it was long since she had
sung and long before she again sang as she did that evening the
count from his study where he was talking to mitenka heard her and 
like a schoolboy in a hurry to run out to play blundered in his talk
while giving orders to the steward and at last stopped while mitenka
stood in front of him also listening and smiling nicholas did not take
his eyes off his sister and drew breath in time with her sonya as she
listened thought of the immense difference there was between herself
and her friend and how impossible it was for her to be anything like as
bewitching as her cousin the old countess sat with a blissful yet sad
smile and with tears in her eyes occasionally shaking her head she
thought of natasha and of her own youth and of how there was something
unnatural and dreadful in this impending marriage of natasha and prince
andrew 

dimmler who had seated himself beside the countess listened with
closed eyes 

 ah countess he said at last that's a european talent she
has nothing to learn what softness tenderness and strength 

 ah how afraid i am for her how afraid i am said the countess 
not realizing to whom she was speaking her maternal instinct told her
that natasha had too much of something and that because of this
she would not be happy before natasha had finished singing 
fourteen year old petya rushed in delightedly to say that some mummers
had arrived 

natasha stopped abruptly 

 idiot she screamed at her brother and running to a chair threw
herself on it sobbing so violently that she could not stop for a long
time 

 it's nothing mamma really it's nothing only petya startled
me she said trying to smile but her tears still flowed and sobs
still choked her 

the mummers some of the house serfs dressed up as bears turks 
innkeepers and ladies frightening and funny bringing in with
them the cold from outside and a feeling of gaiety crowded at first
timidly into the anteroom then hiding behind one another they pushed
into the ballroom where shyly at first and then more and more merrily
and heartily they started singing dancing and playing christmas
games the countess when she had identified them and laughed at their
costumes went into the drawing room the count sat in the ballroom 
smiling radiantly and applauding the players the young people had
disappeared 

half an hour later there appeared among the other mummers in the
ballroom an old lady in a hooped skirt this was nicholas a turkish
girl was petya a clown was dimmler an hussar was natasha and a
circassian was sonya with burnt cork mustache and eyebrows 

after the condescending surprise nonrecognition and praise from those
who were not themselves dressed up the young people decided that their
costumes were so good that they ought to be shown elsewhere 

nicholas who as the roads were in splendid condition wanted to take
them all for a drive in his troyka proposed to take with them about a
dozen of the serf mummers and drive to uncle's 

 no why disturb the old fellow said the countess besides 
you wouldn't have room to turn round there if you must go go to the
melyukovs 

melyukova was a widow who with her family and their tutors and
governesses lived three miles from the rostovs 

 that's right my dear chimed in the old count thoroughly
aroused i'll dress up at once and go with them i'll make
pashette open her eyes 

but the countess would not agree to his going he had had a bad leg all
these last days it was decided that the count must not go but that if
louisa ivanovna madame schoss would go with them the young ladies
might go to the melyukovs sonya generally so timid and shy more
urgently than anyone begging louisa ivanovna not to refuse 

sonya's costume was the best of all her mustache and eyebrows were
extraordinarily becoming everyone told her she looked very handsome 
and she was in a spirited and energetic mood unusual with her some
inner voice told her that now or never her fate would be decided and
in her male attire she seemed quite a different person louisa ivanovna
consented to go and in half an hour four troyka sleighs with large and
small bells their runners squeaking and whistling over the frozen snow 
drove up to the porch 

natasha was foremost in setting a merry holiday tone which passing
from one to another grew stronger and reached its climax when they all
came out into the frost and got into the sleighs talking calling to
one another laughing and shouting 

two of the troykas were the usual household sleighs the third was the
old count's with a trotter from the orlov stud as shaft horse 
the fourth was nicholas own with a short shaggy black shaft horse 
nicholas in his old lady's dress over which he had belted his hussar
overcoat stood in the middle of the sleigh reins in hand 

it was so light that he could see the moonlight reflected from the metal
harness disks and from the eyes of the horses who looked round in alarm
at the noisy party under the shadow of the porch roof 

natasha sonya madame schoss and two maids got into nicholas 
sleigh dimmler his wife and petya into the old count's and the
rest of the mummers seated themselves in the other two sleighs 

 you go ahead zakhar shouted nicholas to his father's
coachman wishing for a chance to race past him 

the old count's troyka with dimmler and his party started forward 
squeaking on its runners as though freezing to the snow its deep toned
bell clanging the side horses pressing against the shafts of the
middle horse sank in the snow which was dry and glittered like sugar 
and threw it up 

nicholas set off following the first sleigh behind him the others
moved noisily their runners squeaking at first they drove at a steady
trot along the narrow road while they drove past the garden the shadows
of the bare trees often fell across the road and hid the brilliant
moonlight but as soon as they were past the fence the snowy plain
bathed in moonlight and motionless spread out before them glittering
like diamonds and dappled with bluish shadows bang bang went the
first sleigh over a cradle hole in the snow of the road and each of
the other sleighs jolted in the same way and rudely breaking the
frost bound stillness the troykas began to speed along the road one
after the other 

 a hare's track a lot of tracks rang out natasha's voice
through the frost bound air 

 how light it is nicholas came sonya's voice 

nicholas glanced round at sonya and bent down to see her face closer 
quite a new sweet face with black eyebrows and mustaches peeped up
at him from her sable furs so close and yet so distant in the
moonlight 

 that used to be sonya thought he and looked at her closer and
smiled 

 what is it nicholas 

 nothing said he and turned again to the horses 

when they came out onto the beaten highroad polished by sleigh runners
and cut up by rough shod hoofs the marks of which were visible in the
moonlight the horses began to tug at the reins of their own accord and
increased their pace the near side horse arching his head and breaking
into a short canter tugged at his traces the shaft horse swayed from
side to side moving his ears as if asking isn't it time to begin
now in front already far ahead the deep bell of the sleigh ringing
farther and farther off the black horses driven by zakhar could be
clearly seen against the white snow from that sleigh one could hear the
shouts laughter and voices of the mummers 

 gee up my darlings shouted nicholas pulling the reins to one
side and flourishing the whip 

it was only by the keener wind that met them and the jerks given by the
side horses who pulled harder ever increasing their gallop that
one noticed how fast the troyka was flying nicholas looked back with
screams squeals and waving of whips that caused even the shaft horses
to gallop the other sleighs followed the shaft horse swung steadily
beneath the bow over its head with no thought of slackening pace and
ready to put on speed when required 

nicholas overtook the first sleigh they were driving downhill and
coming out upon a broad trodden track across a meadow near a river 

 where are we thought he it's the kosoy meadow i suppose 
but no this is something new i've never seen before this isn't
the kosoy meadow nor the demkin hill and heaven only knows what it
is it is something new and enchanted well whatever it may be 
and shouting to his horses he began to pass the first sleigh 

zakhar held back his horses and turned his face which was already
covered with hoarfrost to his eyebrows 

nicholas gave the horses the rein and zakhar stretching out his arms 
clucked his tongue and let his horses go 

 now look out master he cried 

faster still the two troykas flew side by side and faster moved
the feet of the galloping side horses nicholas began to draw ahead 
zakhar while still keeping his arms extended raised one hand with the
reins 

 no you won't master he shouted 

nicholas put all his horses to a gallop and passed zakhar the horses
showered the fine dry snow on the faces of those in the sleigh beside
them sounded quick ringing bells and they caught confused glimpses of
swiftly moving legs and the shadows of the troyka they were passing 
the whistling sound of the runners on the snow and the voices of girls
shrieking were heard from different sides 

again checking his horses nicholas looked around him they were still
surrounded by the magic plain bathed in moonlight and spangled with
stars 

 zakhar is shouting that i should turn to the left but why to the
left thought nicholas are we getting to the melyukovs is
this melyukovka heaven only knows where we are going and heaven knows
what is happening to us but it is very strange and pleasant whatever
it is and he looked round in the sleigh 

 look his mustache and eyelashes are all white said one of the
strange pretty unfamiliar people the one with fine eyebrows and
mustache 

 i think this used to be natasha thought nicholas and that
was madame schoss but perhaps it's not and this circassian with the
mustache i don't know but i love her 

 aren't you cold he asked 

they did not answer but began to laugh dimmler from the sleigh behind
shouted something probably something funny but they could not make
out what he said 

 yes yes some voices answered laughing 

 but here was a fairy forest with black moving shadows and a glitter
of diamonds and a flight of marble steps and the silver roofs of fairy
buildings and the shrill yells of some animals and if this is really
melyukovka it is still stranger that we drove heaven knows where and
have come to melyukovka thought nicholas 

it really was melyukovka and maids and footmen with merry faces came
running out to the porch carrying candles 

 who is it asked someone in the porch 

 the mummers from the count's i know by the horses replied some
voices 





chapter xi

pelageya danilovna melyukova a broadly built energetic woman
wearing spectacles sat in the drawing room in a loose dress surrounded
by her daughters whom she was trying to keep from feeling dull they
were quietly dropping melted wax into snow and looking at the shadows
the wax figures would throw on the wall when they heard the steps and
voices of new arrivals in the vestibule 

hussars ladies witches clowns and bears after clearing their
throats and wiping the hoarfrost from their faces in the vestibule 
came into the ballroom where candles were hurriedly lighted the
clown dimmler and the lady nicholas started a dance surrounded
by the screaming children the mummers covering their faces and
disguising their voices bowed to their hostess and arranged themselves
about the room 

 dear me there's no recognizing them and natasha see whom
she looks like she really reminds me of somebody but herr
dimmler isn't he good i didn't know him and how he dances dear
me there's a circassian really how becoming it is to dear sonya 
and who is that well you have cheered us up nikita and vanya clear
away the tables and we were sitting so quietly ha ha ha the
hussar the hussar just like a boy and the legs i can't look at
him different voices were saying 

natasha the young melyukovs favorite disappeared with them into
the back rooms where a cork and various dressing gowns and male garments
were called for and received from the footman by bare girlish arms from
behind the door ten minutes later all the young melyukovs joined the
mummers 

pelageya danilovna having given orders to clear the rooms for the
visitors and arranged about refreshments for the gentry and the serfs 
went about among the mummers without removing her spectacles peering
into their faces with a suppressed smile and failing to recognize any
of them it was not merely dimmler and the rostovs she failed to
recognize she did not even recognize her own daughters or her late
husband's dressing gowns and uniforms which they had put on 

 and who is this she asked her governess peering into the face of
her own daughter dressed up as a kazan tartar i suppose it is one
of the rostovs well mr hussar and what regiment do you serve in 
she asked natasha here hand some fruit jelly to the turk 
she ordered the butler who was handing things round that's not
forbidden by his law 

sometimes as she looked at the strange but amusing capers cut by the
dancers who having decided once for all that being disguised no one
would recognize them were not at all shy pelageya danilovna hid
her face in her handkerchief and her whole stout body shook with
irrepressible kindly elderly laughter 

 my little sasha look at sasha she said 

after russian country dances and chorus dances pelageya danilovna
made the serfs and gentry join in one large circle a ring a string 
and a silver ruble were fetched and they all played games together 

in an hour all the costumes were crumpled and disordered the corked
eyebrows and mustaches were smeared over the perspiring flushed 
and merry faces pelageya danilovna began to recognize the mummers 
admired their cleverly contrived costumes and particularly how they
suited the young ladies and she thanked them all for having entertained
her so well the visitors were invited to supper in the drawing room 
and the serfs had something served to them in the ballroom 

 now to tell one's fortune in the empty bathhouse is frightening 
said an old maid who lived with the melyukovs during supper 

 why said the eldest melyukov girl 

 you wouldn't go it takes courage 

 i'll go said sonya 

 tell what happened to the young lady said the second melyukov
girl 

 well began the old maid a young lady once went out took a
cock laid the table for two all properly and sat down after sitting
a while she suddenly hears someone coming a sleigh drives up with
harness bells she hears him coming he comes in just in the shape of a
man like an officer comes in and sits down to table with her 

 ah ah screamed natasha rolling her eyes with horror 

 yes and how did he speak 

 yes like a man everything quite all right and he began persuading
her and she should have kept him talking till cockcrow but she got
frightened just got frightened and hid her face in her hands then he
caught her up it was lucky the maids ran in just then 

 now why frighten them said pelageya danilovna 

 mamma you used to try your fate yourself said her daughter 

 and how does one do it in a barn inquired sonya 

 well say you went to the barn now and listened it depends on what
you hear hammering and knocking that's bad but a sound of shifting
grain is good and one sometimes hears that too 

 mamma tell us what happened to you in the barn 

pelageya danilovna smiled 

 oh i've forgotten she replied but none of you would
go 

 yes i will pelageya danilovna let me i'll go said sonya 

 well why not if you're not afraid 

 louisa ivanovna may i asked sonya 

whether they were playing the ring and string game or the ruble game or
talking as now nicholas did not leave sonya's side and gazed at her
with quite new eyes it seemed to him that it was only today thanks
to that burnt cork mustache that he had fully learned to know her and
really that evening sonya was brighter more animated and prettier
than nicholas had ever seen her before 

 so that's what she is like what a fool i have been he thought
gazing at her sparkling eyes and under the mustache a happy rapturous
smile dimpled her cheeks a smile he had never seen before 

 i'm not afraid of anything said sonya may i go at once 
she got up 

they told her where the barn was and how she should stand and listen 
and they handed her a fur cloak she threw this over her head and
shoulders and glanced at nicholas 

 what a darling that girl is thought he and what have i been
thinking of till now 

sonya went out into the passage to go to the barn nicholas went
hastily to the front porch saying he felt too hot the crowd of people
really had made the house stuffy 

outside there was the same cold stillness and the same moon but even
brighter than before the light was so strong and the snow sparkled with
so many stars that one did not wish to look up at the sky and the real
stars were unnoticed the sky was black and dreary while the earth was
gay 

 i am a fool a fool what have i been waiting for thought
nicholas and running out from the porch he went round the corner of
the house and along the path that led to the back porch he knew sonya
would pass that way halfway lay some snow covered piles of firewood and
across and along them a network of shadows from the bare old lime trees
fell on the snow and on the path this path led to the barn the log
walls of the barn and its snow covered roof that looked as if hewn out
of some precious stone sparkled in the moonlight a tree in the garden
snapped with the frost and then all was again perfectly silent his
bosom seemed to inhale not air but the strength of eternal youth and
gladness 

from the back porch came the sound of feet descending the steps the
bottom step upon which snow had fallen gave a ringing creak and he heard
the voice of an old maidservant saying straight straight along the
path miss only don't look back 

 i am not afraid answered sonya's voice and along the path
toward nicholas came the crunching whistling sound of sonya's feet
in her thin shoes 

sonya came along wrapped in her cloak she was only a couple of paces
away when she saw him and to her too he was not the nicholas she had
known and always slightly feared he was in a woman's dress with
tousled hair and a happy smile new to sonya she ran rapidly toward
him 

 quite different and yet the same thought nicholas looking at her
face all lit up by the moonlight he slipped his arms under the cloak
that covered her head embraced her pressed her to him and kissed her
on the lips that wore a mustache and had a smell of burnt cork sonya
kissed him full on the lips and disengaging her little hands pressed
them to his cheeks 

 sonya nicholas was all they said they ran to the barn
and then back again re entering he by the front and she by the back
porch 





chapter xii

when they all drove back from pelageya danilovna's natasha who
always saw and noticed everything arranged that she and madame schoss
should go back in the sleigh with dimmler and sonya with nicholas and
the maids 

on the way back nicholas drove at a steady pace instead of racing and
kept peering by that fantastic all transforming light into sonya's
face and searching beneath the eyebrows and mustache for his former and
his present sonya from whom he had resolved never to be parted again 
he looked and recognizing in her both the old and the new sonya and
being reminded by the smell of burnt cork of the sensation of her kiss 
inhaled the frosty air with a full breast and looking at the ground
flying beneath him and at the sparkling sky felt himself again in
fairyland 

 sonya is it well with thee he asked from time to time 

 yes she replied and with thee 

when halfway home nicholas handed the reins to the coachman and ran for
a moment to natasha's sleigh and stood on its wing 

 natasha he whispered in french do you know i have made up my
mind about sonya 

 have you told her asked natasha suddenly beaming all over with
joy 

 oh how strange you are with that mustache and those eyebrows 
natasha are you glad 

 i am so glad so glad i was beginning to be vexed with you i did
not tell you but you have been treating her badly what a heart she
has nicholas i am horrid sometimes but i was ashamed to be happy
while sonya was not continued natasha now i am so glad well 
run back to her 

 no wait a bit oh how funny you look cried nicholas peering
into her face and finding in his sister too something new unusual and
bewitchingly tender that he had not seen in her before natasha 
it's magical isn't it 

 yes she replied you have done splendidly 

 had i seen her before as she is now thought nicholas i should
long ago have asked her what to do and have done whatever she told me 
and all would have been well 

 so you are glad and i have done right 

 oh quite right i had a quarrel with mamma some time ago about it 
mamma said she was angling for you how could she say such a thing i
nearly stormed at mamma i will never let anyone say anything bad of
sonya for there is nothing but good in her 

 then it's all right said nicholas again scrutinizing the
expression of his sister's face to see if she was in earnest then he
jumped down and his boots scrunching the snow ran back to his sleigh 
the same happy smiling circassian with mustache and beaming eyes
looking up from under a sable hood was still sitting there and that
circassian was sonya and that sonya was certainly his future happy
and loving wife 

when they reached home and had told their mother how they had spent the
evening at the melyukovs the girls went to their bedroom when they
had undressed but without washing off the cork mustaches they sat a
long time talking of their happiness they talked of how they would live
when they were married how their husbands would be friends and how
happy they would be on natasha's table stood two looking glasses
which dunyasha had prepared beforehand 

 only when will all that be i am afraid never it would be too
good said natasha rising and going to the looking glasses 

 sit down natasha perhaps you'll see him said sonya 

natasha lit the candles one on each side of one of the looking
glasses and sat down 

 i see someone with a mustache said natasha seeing her own face 

 you mustn't laugh miss said dunyasha 

with sonya's help and the maid's natasha got the glass she held
into the right position opposite the other her face assumed a serious
expression and she sat silent she sat a long time looking at the
receding line of candles reflected in the glasses and expecting from
tales she had heard to see a coffin or him prince andrew in that
last dim indistinctly outlined square but ready as she was to take the
smallest speck for the image of a man or of a coffin she saw nothing 
she began blinking rapidly and moved away from the looking glasses 

 why is it others see things and i don't she said you sit
down now sonya you absolutely must tonight do it for me today i
feel so frightened 

sonya sat down before the glasses got the right position and began
looking 

 now miss sonya is sure to see something whispered dunyasha 
 while you do nothing but laugh 

sonya heard this and natasha's whisper 

 i know she will she saw something last year 

for about three minutes all were silent 

 of course she will whispered natasha but did not finish 
suddenly sonya pushed away the glass she was holding and covered her
eyes with her hand 

 oh natasha she cried 

 did you see did you what was it exclaimed natasha holding up
the looking glass 

sonya had not seen anything she was just wanting to blink and to get
up when she heard natasha say of course she will she did not
wish to disappoint either dunyasha or natasha but it was hard to sit
still she did not herself know how or why the exclamation escaped her
when she covered her eyes 

 you saw him urged natasha seizing her hand 

 yes wait a bit i saw him sonya could not help saying not
yet knowing whom natasha meant by him nicholas or prince andrew 

 but why shouldn't i say i saw something others do see besides who
can tell whether i saw anything or not flashed through sonya's
mind 

 yes i saw him she said 

 how standing or lying 

 no i saw at first there was nothing then i saw him lying
down 

 andrew lying is he ill asked natasha her frightened eyes fixed
on her friend 

 no on the contrary on the contrary his face was cheerful and he
turned to me and when saying this she herself fancied she had really
seen what she described 

 well and then sonya 

 after that i could not make out what there was something blue and
red 

 sonya when will he come back when shall i see him o god how
afraid i am for him and for myself and about everything natasha
began and without replying to sonya's words of comfort she got into
bed and long after her candle was out lay open eyed and motionless 
gazing at the moonlight through the frosty windowpanes 





chapter xiii

soon after the christmas holidays nicholas told his mother of his love
for sonya and of his firm resolve to marry her the countess who
had long noticed what was going on between them and was expecting this
declaration listened to him in silence and then told her son that he
might marry whom he pleased but that neither she nor his father would
give their blessing to such a marriage nicholas for the first time 
felt that his mother was displeased with him and that despite her love
for him she would not give way coldly without looking at her son 
she sent for her husband and when he came tried briefly and coldly to
inform him of the facts in her son's presence but unable to restrain
herself she burst into tears of vexation and left the room the old
count began irresolutely to admonish nicholas and beg him to abandon his
purpose nicholas replied that he could not go back on his word and his
father sighing and evidently disconcerted very soon became silent and
went in to the countess in all his encounters with his son the count
was always conscious of his own guilt toward him for having wasted the
family fortune and so he could not be angry with him for refusing to
marry an heiress and choosing the dowerless sonya on this occasion he
was only more vividly conscious of the fact that if his affairs had not
been in disorder no better wife for nicholas than sonya could have
been wished for and that no one but himself with his mitenka and
his uncomfortable habits was to blame for the condition of the family
finances 

the father and mother did not speak of the matter to their son again 
but a few days later the countess sent for sonya and with a cruelty
neither of them expected reproached her niece for trying to catch
nicholas and for ingratitude sonya listened silently with downcast
eyes to the countess cruel words without understanding what
was required of her she was ready to sacrifice everything for her
benefactors self sacrifice was her most cherished idea but in this case
she could not see what she ought to sacrifice or for whom she could
not help loving the countess and the whole rostov family but neither
could she help loving nicholas and knowing that his happiness depended
on that love she was silent and sad and did not reply nicholas felt
the situation to be intolerable and went to have an explanation with his
mother he first implored her to forgive him and sonya and consent to
their marriage then he threatened that if she molested sonya he would
at once marry her secretly 

the countess with a coldness her son had never seen in her before 
replied that he was of age that prince andrew was marrying without his
father's consent and he could do the same but that she would never
receive that intriguer as her daughter 

exploding at the word intriguer nicholas raising his voice told
his mother he had never expected her to try to force him to sell his
feelings but if that were so he would say for the last time but he
had no time to utter the decisive word which the expression of his face
caused his mother to await with terror and which would perhaps have
forever remained a cruel memory to them both he had not time to say it 
for natasha with a pale and set face entered the room from the door
at which she had been listening 

 nicholas you are talking nonsense be quiet be quiet be quiet i
tell you she almost screamed so as to drown his voice 

 mamma darling it's not at all so my poor sweet darling she
said to her mother who conscious that they had been on the brink of
a rupture gazed at her son with terror but in the obstinacy and
excitement of the conflict could not and would not give way 

 nicholas i'll explain to you go away listen mamma darling 
said natasha 

her words were incoherent but they attained the purpose at which she
was aiming 

the countess sobbing heavily hid her face on her daughter's breast 
while nicholas rose clutching his head and left the room 

natasha set to work to effect a reconciliation and so far succeeded
that nicholas received a promise from his mother that sonya should not
be troubled while he on his side promised not to undertake anything
without his parents knowledge 

firmly resolved after putting his affairs in order in the regiment 
to retire from the army and return and marry sonya nicholas serious 
sorrowful and at variance with his parents but as it seemed to him 
passionately in love left at the beginning of january to rejoin his
regiment 

after nicholas had gone things in the rostov household were more
depressing than ever and the countess fell ill from mental agitation 

sonya was unhappy at the separation from nicholas and still more so on
account of the hostile tone the countess could not help adopting toward
her the count was more perturbed than ever by the condition of his
affairs which called for some decisive action their town house and
estate near moscow had inevitably to be sold and for this they had to
go to moscow but the countess health obliged them to delay their
departure from day to day 

natasha who had borne the first period of separation from her
betrothed lightly and even cheerfully now grew more agitated and
impatient every day the thought that her best days which she would
have employed in loving him were being vainly wasted with no advantage
to anyone tormented her incessantly his letters for the most part
irritated her it hurt her to think that while she lived only in the
thought of him he was living a real life seeing new places and new
people that interested him the more interesting his letters were
the more vexed she felt her letters to him far from giving her any
comfort seemed to her a wearisome and artificial obligation she could
not write because she could not conceive the possibility of expressing
sincerely in a letter even a thousandth part of what she expressed by
voice smile and glance she wrote to him formal monotonous and dry
letters to which she attached no importance herself and in the rough
copies of which the countess corrected her mistakes in spelling 

there was still no improvement in the countess health but it was
impossible to defer the journey to moscow any longer natasha's
trousseau had to be ordered and the house sold moreover prince andrew
was expected in moscow where old prince bolkonski was spending the
winter and natasha felt sure he had already arrived 

so the countess remained in the country and the count taking sonya
and natasha with him went to moscow at the end of january 





book eight 1811 12





chapter i

after prince andrew's engagement to natasha pierre without any
apparent cause suddenly felt it impossible to go on living as before 
firmly convinced as he was of the truths revealed to him by his
benefactor and happy as he had been in perfecting his inner man to
which he had devoted himself with such ardor all the zest of such a
life vanished after the engagement of andrew and natasha and the death
of joseph alexeevich the news of which reached him almost at the same
time only the skeleton of life remained his house a brilliant wife
who now enjoyed the favors of a very important personage acquaintance
with all petersburg and his court service with its dull formalities 
and this life suddenly seemed to pierre unexpectedly loathsome he
ceased keeping a diary avoided the company of the brothers began going
to the club again drank a great deal and came once more in touch
with the bachelor sets leading such a life that the countess helene
thought it necessary to speak severely to him about it pierre felt that
she was right and to avoid compromising her went away to moscow 

in moscow as soon as he entered his huge house in which the faded and
fading princesses still lived with its enormous retinue as soon as 
driving through the town he saw the iberian shrine with innumerable
tapers burning before the golden covers of the icons the kremlin
square with its snow undisturbed by vehicles the sleigh drivers and
hovels of the sivtsev vrazhok those old moscovites who desired
nothing hurried nowhere and were ending their days leisurely when he
saw those old moscow ladies the moscow balls and the english club he
felt himself at home in a quiet haven in moscow he felt at peace at
home warm and dirty as in an old dressing gown 

moscow society from the old women down to the children received pierre
like a long expected guest whose place was always ready awaiting him 
for moscow society pierre was the nicest kindest most intellectual 
merriest and most magnanimous of cranks a heedless genial nobleman of
the old russian type his purse was always empty because it was open to
everyone 

benefit performances poor pictures statues benevolent societies 
gypsy choirs schools subscription dinners sprees freemasons 
churches and books no one and nothing met with a refusal from him 
and had it not been for two friends who had borrowed large sums from
him and taken him under their protection he would have given everything
away there was never a dinner or soiree at the club without him as
soon as he sank into his place on the sofa after two bottles of margaux
he was surrounded and talking disputing and joking began when there
were quarrels his kindly smile and well timed jests reconciled the
antagonists the masonic dinners were dull and dreary when he was not
there 

when after a bachelor supper he rose with his amiable and kindly smile 
yielding to the entreaties of the festive company to drive off somewhere
with them shouts of delight and triumph arose among the young men 
at balls he danced if a partner was needed young ladies married and
unmarried liked him because without making love to any of them he was
equally amiable to all especially after supper il est charmant il
n'a pas de sexe they said of him 

 he is charming he has no sex 


pierre was one of those retired gentlemen in waiting of whom there were
hundreds good humoredly ending their days in moscow 

how horrified he would have been seven years before when he first
arrived from abroad had he been told that there was no need for him
to seek or plan anything that his rut had long been shaped eternally
predetermined and that wriggle as he might he would be what all in
his position were he could not have believed it had he not at one
time longed with all his heart to establish a republic in russia 
then himself to be a napoleon then to be a philosopher and then
a strategist and the conqueror of napoleon had he not seen the
possibility of and passionately desired the regeneration of the sinful
human race and his own progress to the highest degree of perfection 
had he not established schools and hospitals and liberated his serfs 

but instead of all that here he was the wealthy husband of an
unfaithful wife a retired gentleman in waiting fond of eating and
drinking and as he unbuttoned his waistcoat of abusing the government
a bit a member of the moscow english club and a universal favorite in
moscow society for a long time he could not reconcile himself to the
idea that he was one of those same retired moscow gentlemen in waiting
he had so despised seven years before 

sometimes he consoled himself with the thought that he was only living
this life temporarily but then he was shocked by the thought of how
many like himself had entered that life and that club temporarily 
with all their teeth and hair and had only left it when not a single
tooth or hair remained 

in moments of pride when he thought of his position it seemed to
him that he was quite different and distinct from those other retired
gentlemen in waiting he had formerly despised they were empty stupid 
contented fellows satisfied with their position while i am still
discontented and want to do something for mankind but perhaps all these
comrades of mine struggled just like me and sought something new a
path in life of their own and like me were brought by force of
circumstances society and race by that elemental force against which
man is powerless to the condition i am in said he to himself in
moments of humility and after living some time in moscow he no longer
despised but began to grow fond of to respect and to pity his
comrades in destiny as he pitied himself 

pierre no longer suffered moments of despair hypochondria and disgust
with life but the malady that had formerly found expression in such
acute attacks was driven inwards and never left him for a moment 
 what for why what is going on in the world he would ask himself
in perplexity several times a day involuntarily beginning to reflect
anew on the meaning of the phenomena of life but knowing by experience
that there were no answers to these questions he made haste to turn away
from them and took up a book or hurried off to the club or to apollon
nikolaevich's to exchange the gossip of the town 

 helene who has never cared for anything but her own body and
is one of the stupidest women in the world thought pierre is
regarded by people as the acme of intelligence and refinement and they
pay homage to her napoleon bonaparte was despised by all as long as he
was great but now that he has become a wretched comedian the emperor
francis wants to offer him his daughter in an illegal marriage the
spaniards through the catholic clergy offer praise to god for their
victory over the french on the fourteenth of june and the french 
also through the catholic clergy offer praise because on that same
fourteenth of june they defeated the spaniards my brother masons swear
by the blood that they are ready to sacrifice everything for their
neighbor but they do not give a ruble each to the collections for the
poor and they intrigue the astraea lodge against the manna seekers 
and fuss about an authentic scotch carpet and a charter that nobody
needs and the meaning of which the very man who wrote it does not
understand we all profess the christian law of forgiveness of injuries
and love of our neighbors the law in honor of which we have built in
moscow forty times forty churches but yesterday a deserter was knouted
to death and a minister of that same law of love and forgiveness a
priest gave the soldier a cross to kiss before his execution so
thought pierre and the whole of this general deception which everyone
accepts accustomed as he was to it astonished him each time as if it
were something new i understand the deception and confusion he
thought but how am i to tell them all that i see i have tried and
have always found that they too in the depths of their souls understand
it as i do and only try not to see it so it appears that it must
be so but i what is to become of me thought he he had the
unfortunate capacity many men especially russians have of seeing and
believing in the possibility of goodness and truth but of seeing the
evil and falsehood of life too clearly to be able to take a serious part
in it every sphere of work was connected in his eyes with evil and
deception whatever he tried to be whatever he engaged in the evil and
falsehood of it repulsed him and blocked every path of activity yet he
had to live and to find occupation it was too dreadful to be under
the burden of these insoluble problems so he abandoned himself to
any distraction in order to forget them he frequented every kind of
society drank much bought pictures engaged in building and above
all read 

he read and read everything that came to hand on coming home while
his valets were still taking off his things he picked up a book and
began to read from reading he passed to sleeping from sleeping to
gossip in drawing rooms of the club from gossip to carousals and women 
from carousals back to gossip reading and wine drinking became more
and more a physical and also a moral necessity though the doctors
warned him that with his corpulence wine was dangerous for him he
drank a great deal he was only quite at ease when having poured several
glasses of wine mechanically into his large mouth he felt a pleasant
warmth in his body an amiability toward all his fellows and a
readiness to respond superficially to every idea without probing it
deeply only after emptying a bottle or two did he feel dimly that the
terribly tangled skein of life which previously had terrified him was
not as dreadful as he had thought he was always conscious of some
aspect of that skein as with a buzzing in his head after dinner or
supper he chatted or listened to conversation or read but under the
influence of wine he said to himself it doesn't matter i'll
get it unraveled i have a solution ready but have no time now i'll
think it all out later on but the later on never came 

in the morning on an empty stomach all the old questions appeared as
insoluble and terrible as ever and pierre hastily picked up a book and
if anyone came to see him he was glad 

sometimes he remembered how he had heard that soldiers in war when
entrenched under the enemy's fire if they have nothing to do try
hard to find some occupation the more easily to bear the danger to
pierre all men seemed like those soldiers seeking refuge from life 
some in ambition some in cards some in framing laws some in women 
some in toys some in horses some in politics some in sport some
in wine and some in governmental affairs nothing is trivial and
nothing is important it's all the same only to save oneself from it
as best one can thought pierre only not to see it that dreadful
it 





chapter ii

at the beginning of winter prince nicholas bolkonski and his daughter
moved to moscow at that time enthusiasm for the emperor alexander's
regime had weakened and a patriotic and anti french tendency prevailed
there and this together with his past and his intellect and his
originality at once made prince nicholas bolkonski an object of
particular respect to the moscovites and the center of the moscow
opposition to the government 

the prince had aged very much that year he showed marked signs of
senility by a tendency to fall asleep forgetfulness of quite recent
events remembrance of remote ones and the childish vanity with which
he accepted the role of head of the moscow opposition in spite of this
the old man inspired in all his visitors alike a feeling of respectful
veneration especially of an evening when he came in to tea in his
old fashioned coat and powdered wig and aroused by anyone told his
abrupt stories of the past or uttered yet more abrupt and scathing
criticisms of the present for them all that old fashioned house with
its gigantic mirrors pre revolution furniture powdered footmen and
the stern shrewd old man himself a relic of the past century with his
gentle daughter and the pretty frenchwoman who were reverently devoted
to him presented a majestic and agreeable spectacle but the visitors
did not reflect that besides the couple of hours during which they saw
their host there were also twenty two hours in the day during which the
private and intimate life of the house continued 

latterly that private life had become very trying for princess mary 
there in moscow she was deprived of her greatest pleasures talks with
the pilgrims and the solitude which refreshed her at bald hills and
she had none of the advantages and pleasures of city life she did not
go out into society everyone knew that her father would not let her
go anywhere without him and his failing health prevented his going out
himself so that she was not invited to dinners and evening parties she
had quite abandoned the hope of getting married she saw the coldness
and malevolence with which the old prince received and dismissed the
young men possible suitors who sometimes appeared at their house she
had no friends during this visit to moscow she had been disappointed in
the two who had been nearest to her mademoiselle bourienne with whom
she had never been able to be quite frank had now become unpleasant to
her and for various reasons princess mary avoided her julie with whom
she had corresponded for the last five years was in moscow but proved
to be quite alien to her when they met just then julie who by the
death of her brothers had become one of the richest heiresses in moscow 
was in the full whirl of society pleasures she was surrounded by young
men who she fancied had suddenly learned to appreciate her worth 
julie was at that stage in the life of a society woman when she feels
that her last chance of marrying has come and that her fate must be
decided now or never on thursdays princess mary remembered with a
mournful smile that she now had no one to write to since julie whose
presence gave her no pleasure was here and they met every week like the
old emigre who declined to marry the lady with whom he had spent his
evenings for years she regretted julie's presence and having no one
to write to in moscow princess mary had no one to talk to no one to
whom to confide her sorrow and much sorrow fell to her lot just then 
the time for prince andrew's return and marriage was approaching but
his request to her to prepare his father for it had not been carried
out in fact it seemed as if matters were quite hopeless for at every
mention of the young countess rostova the old prince who apart from
that was usually in a bad temper lost control of himself another
lately added sorrow arose from the lessons she gave her six year old
nephew to her consternation she detected in herself in relation to
little nicholas some symptoms of her father's irritability however
often she told herself that she must not get irritable when teaching her
nephew almost every time that pointer in hand she sat down to show
him the french alphabet she so longed to pour her own knowledge quickly
and easily into the child who was already afraid that auntie might at
any moment get angry that at his slightest inattention she trembled 
became flustered and heated raised her voice and sometimes pulled him
by the arm and put him in the corner having put him in the corner
she would herself begin to cry over her cruel evil nature and little
nicholas following her example would sob and without permission would
leave his corner come to her pull her wet hands from her face and
comfort her but what distressed the princess most of all was her
father's irritability which was always directed against her and had
of late amounted to cruelty had he forced her to prostrate herself to
the ground all night had he beaten her or made her fetch wood or water 
it would never have entered her mind to think her position hard but
this loving despot the more cruel because he loved her and for that
reason tormented himself and her knew how not merely to hurt and
humiliate her deliberately but to show her that she was always to blame
for everything of late he had exhibited a new trait that tormented
princess mary more than anything else this was his ever increasing
intimacy with mademoiselle bourienne the idea that at the first moment
of receiving the news of his son's intentions had occurred to him in
jest that if andrew got married he himself would marry bourienne had
evidently pleased him and latterly he had persistently and as it
seemed to princess mary merely to offend her shown special endearments
to the companion and expressed his dissatisfaction with his daughter by
demonstrations of love of bourienne 

one day in moscow in princess mary's presence she thought her father
did it purposely when she was there the old prince kissed mademoiselle
bourienne's hand and drawing her to him embraced her affectionately 
princess mary flushed and ran out of the room a few minutes later
mademoiselle bourienne came into princess mary's room smiling and
making cheerful remarks in her agreeable voice princess mary hastily
wiped away her tears went resolutely up to mademoiselle bourienne 
and evidently unconscious of what she was doing began shouting in angry
haste at the frenchwoman her voice breaking it's horrible vile 
inhuman to take advantage of the weakness she did not finish 
 leave my room she exclaimed and burst into sobs 

next day the prince did not say a word to his daughter but she noticed
that at dinner he gave orders that mademoiselle bourienne should be
served first after dinner when the footman handed coffee and from
habit began with the princess the prince suddenly grew furious 
threw his stick at philip and instantly gave instructions to have him
conscripted for the army 

 he doesn't obey i said it twice and he doesn't obey she
is the first person in this house she's my best friend cried
the prince and if you allow yourself he screamed in a fury 
addressing princess mary for the first time to forget yourself again
before her as you dared to do yesterday i will show you who is master
in this house go don't let me set eyes on you beg her pardon 

princess mary asked mademoiselle bourienne's pardon and also her
father's pardon for herself and for philip the footman who had begged
for her intervention 

at such moments something like a pride of sacrifice gathered in her
soul and suddenly that father whom she had judged would look for his
spectacles in her presence fumbling near them and not seeing them or
would forget something that had just occurred or take a false step with
his failing legs and turn to see if anyone had noticed his feebleness 
or worst of all at dinner when there were no visitors to excite him
would suddenly fall asleep letting his napkin drop and his shaking
head sink over his plate he is old and feeble and i dare to condemn
him she thought at such moments with a feeling of revulsion against
herself 





chapter iii

in 1811 there was living in moscow a french doctor metivier who had
rapidly become the fashion he was enormously tall handsome amiable
as frenchmen are and was as all moscow said an extraordinarily clever
doctor he was received in the best houses not merely as a doctor but
as an equal 

prince nicholas had always ridiculed medicine but latterly on
mademoiselle bourienne's advice had allowed this doctor to visit him
and had grown accustomed to him metivier came to see the prince about
twice a week 

on december 6 st nicholas day and the prince's name day all
moscow came to the prince's front door but he gave orders to admit no
one and to invite to dinner only a small number a list of whom he gave
to princess mary 

metivier who came in the morning with his felicitations considered
it proper in his quality of doctor de forcer la consigne as he told
princess mary and went in to see the prince it happened that on that
morning of his name day the prince was in one of his worst moods he had
been going about the house all the morning finding fault with everyone
and pretending not to understand what was said to him and not to be
understood himself princess mary well knew this mood of quiet absorbed
querulousness which generally culminated in a burst of rage and she
went about all that morning as though facing a cocked and loaded gun
and awaited the inevitable explosion until the doctor's arrival the
morning had passed off safely after admitting the doctor princess mary
sat down with a book in the drawing room near the door through which she
could hear all that passed in the study 

 to force the guard 

at first she heard only metivier's voice then her father's then
both voices began speaking at the same time the door was flung open 
and on the threshold appeared the handsome figure of the terrified
metivier with his shock of black hair and the prince in his dressing
gown and fez his face distorted with fury and the pupils of his eyes
rolled downwards 

 you don't understand shouted the prince but i do french
spy slave of buonaparte spy get out of my house be off i tell
you and he slammed the door 

metivier shrugging his shoulders went up to mademoiselle bourienne
who at the sound of shouting had run in from an adjoining room 

 the prince is not very well bile and rush of blood to the head keep
calm i will call again tomorrow said metivier and putting his
fingers to his lips he hastened away 

through the study door came the sound of slippered feet and the cry 
 spies traitors traitors everywhere not a moment's peace in my
own house 

after metivier's departure the old prince called his daughter in and
the whole weight of his wrath fell on her she was to blame that a spy
had been admitted had he not told her yes told her to make a list 
and not to admit anyone who was not on that list then why was that
scoundrel admitted she was the cause of it all with her he said he
could not have a moment's peace and could not die quietly 

 no ma'am we must part we must part understand that understand
it i cannot endure any more he said and left the room then as if
afraid she might find some means of consolation he returned and trying
to appear calm added and don't imagine i have said this in a
moment of anger i am calm i have thought it over and it will be
carried out we must part so find some place for yourself but
he could not restrain himself and with the virulence of which only one
who loves is capable evidently suffering himself he shook his fists at
her and screamed 

 if only some fool would marry her then he slammed the door sent
for mademoiselle bourienne and subsided into his study 

at two o'clock the six chosen guests assembled for dinner 

these guests the famous count rostopchin prince lopukhin with his
nephew general chatrov an old war comrade of the prince's and
of the younger generation pierre and boris drubetskoy awaited the
prince in the drawing room 

boris who had come to moscow on leave a few days before had been
anxious to be presented to prince nicholas bolkonski and had contrived
to ingratiate himself so well that the old prince in his case made an
exception to the rule of not receiving bachelors in his house 

the prince's house did not belong to what is known as fashionable
society but his little circle though not much talked about in
town was one it was more flattering to be received in than any other 
boris had realized this the week before when the commander in chief in
his presence invited rostopchin to dinner on st nicholas day and
rostopchin had replied that he could not come 

 on that day i always go to pay my devotions to the relics of prince
nicholas bolkonski 

 oh yes yes replied the commander in chief how is he 

the small group that assembled before dinner in the lofty old fashioned
drawing room with its old furniture resembled the solemn gathering of
a court of justice all were silent or talked in low tones prince
nicholas came in serious and taciturn princess mary seemed even quieter
and more diffident than usual the guests were reluctant to address
her feeling that she was in no mood for their conversation count
rostopchin alone kept the conversation going now relating the latest
town news and now the latest political gossip 

lopukhin and the old general occasionally took part in the
conversation prince bolkonski listened as a presiding judge receives a
report only now and then silently or by a brief word showing that
he took heed of what was being reported to him the tone of the
conversation was such as indicated that no one approved of what was
being done in the political world incidents were related evidently
confirming the opinion that everything was going from bad to worse but
whether telling a story or giving an opinion the speaker always stopped 
or was stopped at the point beyond which his criticism might touch the
sovereign himself 

at dinner the talk turned on the latest political news napoleon's
seizure of the duke of oldenburg's territory and the russian note 
hostile to napoleon which had been sent to all the european courts 

 bonaparte treats europe as a pirate does a captured vessel said
count rostopchin repeating a phrase he had uttered several times
before one only wonders at the long suffering or blindness of the
crowned heads now the pope's turn has come and bonaparte doesn't
scruple to depose the head of the catholic church yet all keep silent 
our sovereign alone has protested against the seizure of the duke
of oldenburg's territory and even count rostopchin paused 
feeling that he had reached the limit beyond which censure was
impossible 

 other territories have been offered in exchange for the duchy of
oldenburg said prince bolkonski he shifts the dukes about as
i might move my serfs from bald hills to bogucharovo or my ryazan
estates 

 the duke of oldenburg bears his misfortunes with admirable
strength of character and resignation remarked boris joining in
respectfully 

he said this because on his journey from petersburg he had had the honor
of being presented to the duke prince bolkonski glanced at the
young man as if about to say something in reply but changed his mind 
evidently considering him too young 

 i have read our protests about the oldenburg affair and was surprised
how badly the note was worded remarked count rostopchin in the
casual tone of a man dealing with a subject quite familiar to him 

pierre looked at rostopchin with naive astonishment not understanding
why he should be disturbed by the bad composition of the note 

 does it matter count how the note is worded he asked so
long as its substance is forcible 

 my dear fellow with our five hundred thousand troops it should be
easy to have a good style returned count rostopchin 

pierre now understood the count's dissatisfaction with the wording of
the note 

 one would have thought quill drivers enough had sprung up 
remarked the old prince there in petersburg they are always
writing not notes only but even new laws my andrew there has written
a whole volume of laws for russia nowadays they are always writing 
and he laughed unnaturally 

there was a momentary pause in the conversation the old general cleared
his throat to draw attention 

 did you hear of the last event at the review in petersburg the
figure cut by the new french ambassador 

 eh yes i heard something he said something awkward in his
majesty's presence 

 his majesty drew attention to the grenadier division and to the march
past continued the general and it seems the ambassador took
no notice and allowed himself to reply that we in france pay no
attention to such trifles the emperor did not condescend to reply 
at the next review they say the emperor did not once deign to address
him 

all were silent on this fact relating to the emperor personally it was
impossible to pass any judgment 

 impudent fellows said the prince you know metivier i turned
him out of my house this morning he was here they admitted him in
spite of my request that they should let no one in he went on 
glancing angrily at his daughter 

and he narrated his whole conversation with the french doctor and
the reasons that convinced him that metivier was a spy though these
reasons were very insufficient and obscure no one made any rejoinder 

after the roast champagne was served the guests rose to congratulate
the old prince princess mary too went round to him 

he gave her a cold angry look and offered her his wrinkled 
clean shaven cheek to kiss the whole expression of his face told
her that he had not forgotten the morning's talk that his decision
remained in force and only the presence of visitors hindered his
speaking of it to her now 

when they went into the drawing room where coffee was served the old
men sat together 

prince nicholas grew more animated and expressed his views on the
impending war 

he said that our wars with bonaparte would be disastrous so long as we
sought alliances with the germans and thrust ourselves into european
affairs into which we had been drawn by the peace of tilsit we
ought not to fight either for or against austria our political
interests are all in the east and in regard to bonaparte the only thing
is to have an armed frontier and a firm policy and he will never dare
to cross the russian frontier as was the case in 1807 

 how can we fight the french prince said count rostopchin 
 can we arm ourselves against our teachers and divinities look at
our youths look at our ladies the french are our gods paris is our
kingdom of heaven 

he began speaking louder evidently to be heard by everyone 

 french dresses french ideas french feelings there now you turned
metivier out by the scruff of his neck because he is a frenchman and
a scoundrel but our ladies crawl after him on their knees i went to
a party last night and there out of five ladies three were roman
catholics and had the pope's indulgence for doing woolwork on sundays 
and they themselves sit there nearly naked like the signboards at our
public baths if i may say so ah when one looks at our young people 
prince one would like to take peter the great's old cudgel out of the
museum and belabor them in the russian way till all the nonsense jumps
out of them 

all were silent the old prince looked at rostopchin with a smile and
wagged his head approvingly 

 well good by your excellency keep well said rostopchin 
getting up with characteristic briskness and holding out his hand to the
prince 

 good by my dear fellow his words are music i never tire of
hearing him said the old prince keeping hold of the hand and
offering his cheek to be kissed 

following rostopchin's example the others also rose 





chapter iv

princess mary as she sat listening to the old men's talk and
faultfinding understood nothing of what she heard she only wondered
whether the guests had all observed her father's hostile attitude
toward her she did not even notice the special attentions and
amiabilities shown her during dinner by boris drubetskoy who was
visiting them for the third time already 

princess mary turned with absent minded questioning look to pierre who
hat in hand and with a smile on his face was the last of the guests to
approach her after the old prince had gone out and they were left alone
in the drawing room 

 may i stay a little longer he said letting his stout body sink
into an armchair beside her 

 oh yes she answered you noticed nothing her look asked 

pierre was in an agreeable after dinner mood he looked straight before
him and smiled quietly 

 have you known that young man long princess he asked 

 who 

 drubetskoy 

 no not long 

 do you like him 

 yes he is an agreeable young man why do you ask me that said
princess mary still thinking of that morning's conversation with her
father 

 because i have noticed that when a young man comes on leave from
petersburg to moscow it is usually with the object of marrying an
heiress 

 you have observed that said princess mary 

 yes returned pierre with a smile and this young man now
manages matters so that where there is a wealthy heiress there he is
too i can read him like a book at present he is hesitating whom to lay
siege to you or mademoiselle julie karagina he is very attentive to
her 

 he visits them 

 yes very often and do you know the new way of courting said
pierre with an amused smile evidently in that cheerful mood of good
humored raillery for which he so often reproached himself in his diary 

 no replied princess mary 

 to please moscow girls nowadays one has to be melancholy he is very
melancholy with mademoiselle karagina said pierre 

 really asked princess mary looking into pierre's kindly
face and still thinking of her own sorrow it would be a relief 
thought she if i ventured to confide what i am feeling to someone 
i should like to tell everything to pierre he is kind and generous it
would be a relief he would give me advice 

 would you marry him 

 oh my god count there are moments when i would marry anybody 
she cried suddenly to her own surprise and with tears in her voice 
 ah how bitter it is to love someone near to you and to feel
that she went on in a trembling voice that you can do nothing
for him but grieve him and to know that you cannot alter this then
there is only one thing left to go away but where could i go 

 what is wrong what is it princess 

but without finishing what she was saying princess mary burst into
tears 

 i don't know what is the matter with me today don't take any
notice forget what i have said 

pierre's gaiety vanished completely he anxiously questioned the
princess asked her to speak out fully and confide her grief to him but
she only repeated that she begged him to forget what she had said that
she did not remember what she had said and that she had no trouble
except the one he knew of that prince andrew's marriage threatened
to cause a rupture between father and son 

 have you any news of the rostovs she asked to change the
subject i was told they are coming soon i am also expecting andrew
any day i should like them to meet here 

 and how does he now regard the matter asked pierre referring to
the old prince 

princess mary shook her head 

 what is to be done in a few months the year will be up the thing
is impossible i only wish i could spare my brother the first moments 
i wish they would come sooner i hope to be friends with her you have
known them a long time said princess mary tell me honestly
the whole truth what sort of girl is she and what do you think of
her the real truth because you know andrew is risking so much doing
this against his father's will that i should like to know 

an undefined instinct told pierre that these explanations and
repeated requests to be told the whole truth expressed ill will on
the princess part toward her future sister in law and a wish that
he should disapprove of andrew's choice but in reply he said what he
felt rather than what he thought 

 i don't know how to answer your question he said blushing
without knowing why i really don't know what sort of girl she is 
i can't analyze her at all she is enchanting but what makes her so i
don't know that is all one can say about her 

princess mary sighed and the expression on her face said yes 
that's what i expected and feared 

 is she clever she asked 

pierre considered 

 i think not he said and yet yes she does not deign to be
clever oh no she is simply enchanting and that is all 

princess mary again shook her head disapprovingly 

 ah i so long to like her tell her so if you see her before i do 

 i hear they are expected very soon said pierre 

princess mary told pierre of her plan to become intimate with her future
sister in law as soon as the rostovs arrived and to try to accustom the
old prince to her 





chapter v

boris had not succeeded in making a wealthy match in petersburg so
with the same object in view he came to moscow there he wavered between
the two richest heiresses julie and princess mary though princess
mary despite her plainness seemed to him more attractive than julie he 
without knowing why felt awkward about paying court to her when they
had last met on the old prince's name day she had answered at random
all his attempts to talk sentimentally evidently not listening to what
he was saying 

julie on the contrary accepted his attentions readily though in a
manner peculiar to herself 

she was twenty seven after the death of her brothers she had become
very wealthy she was by now decidedly plain but thought herself not
merely as good looking as before but even far more attractive she
was confirmed in this delusion by the fact that she had become a very
wealthy heiress and also by the fact that the older she grew the less
dangerous she became to men and the more freely they could associate
with her and avail themselves of her suppers soirees and the animated
company that assembled at her house without incurring any obligation 
a man who would have been afraid ten years before of going every day
to the house when there was a girl of seventeen there for fear of
compromising her and committing himself would now go boldly every day
and treat her not as a marriageable girl but as a sexless acquaintance 

that winter the karagins house was the most agreeable and hospitable
in moscow in addition to the formal evening and dinner parties a large
company chiefly of men gathered there every day supping at midnight
and staying till three in the morning julie never missed a ball a
promenade or a play her dresses were always of the latest fashion 
but in spite of that she seemed to be disillusioned about everything and
told everyone that she did not believe either in friendship or in love 
or any of the joys of life and expected peace only yonder she
adopted the tone of one who has suffered a great disappointment like a
girl who has either lost the man she loved or been cruelly deceived by
him though nothing of the kind had happened to her she was regarded in
that light and had even herself come to believe that she had suffered
much in life this melancholy which did not prevent her amusing
herself did not hinder the young people who came to her house from
passing the time pleasantly every visitor who came to the house paid
his tribute to the melancholy mood of the hostess and then amused
himself with society gossip dancing intellectual games and bouts
rimes which were in vogue at the karagins only a few of these
young men among them boris entered more deeply into julie's
melancholy and with these she had prolonged conversations in private
on the vanity of all worldly things and to them she showed her albums
filled with mournful sketches maxims and verses 

to boris julie was particularly gracious she regretted his early
disillusionment with life offered him such consolation of friendship
as she who had herself suffered so much could render and showed him
her album boris sketched two trees in the album and wrote rustic
trees your dark branches shed gloom and melancholy upon me 

on another page he drew a tomb and wrote 

 la mort est secourable et la mort est tranquille 
 ah contre les douleurs il n'y a pas d'autre asile 

 death gives relief and death is peaceful 

ah from suffering there is no other refuge 

julie said this was charming

 there is something so enchanting in the smile of melancholy she
said to boris repeating word for word a passage she had copied from a
book it is a ray of light in the darkness a shade between sadness
and despair showing the possibility of consolation 

in reply boris wrote these lines 

 aliment de poison d'une ame trop sensible 
 toi sans qui le bonheur me serait impossible 
 tendre melancholie ah viens me consoler 
 viens calmer les tourments de ma sombre retraite 
 et mele une douceur secrete
 a ces pleurs que je sens couler 

 poisonous nourishment of a too sensitive soul 
 thou without whom happiness would for me be impossible 
 tender melancholy ah come to console me 
 come to calm the torments of my gloomy retreat 
 and mingle a secret sweetness
 with these tears that i feel to be flowing 

for boris julie played most doleful nocturnes on her harp boris
read poor liza aloud to her and more than once interrupted the reading
because of the emotions that choked him meeting at large gatherings
julie and boris looked on one another as the only souls who understood
one another in a world of indifferent people 

anna mikhaylovna who often visited the karagins while playing cards
with the mother made careful inquiries as to julie's dowry she was
to have two estates in penza and the nizhegorod forests anna
mikhaylovna regarded the refined sadness that united her son to the
wealthy julie with emotion and resignation to the divine will 

 you are always charming and melancholy my dear julie she said to
the daughter boris says his soul finds repose at your house he has
suffered so many disappointments and is so sensitive said she to
the mother ah my dear i can't tell you how fond i have grown
of julie latterly she said to her son but who could help loving
her she is an angelic being ah boris boris she paused 
 and how i pity her mother she went on today she showed me her
accounts and letters from penza they have enormous estates there and
she poor thing has no one to help her and they do cheat her so 

boris smiled almost imperceptibly while listening to his mother he
laughed blandly at her naive diplomacy but listened to what she had
to say and sometimes questioned her carefully about the penza and
nizhegorod estates 

julie had long been expecting a proposal from her melancholy adorer and
was ready to accept it but some secret feeling of repulsion for her 
for her passionate desire to get married for her artificiality and
a feeling of horror at renouncing the possibility of real love still
restrained boris his leave was expiring he spent every day and whole
days at the karagins and every day on thinking the matter over
told himself that he would propose tomorrow but in julie's presence 
looking at her red face and chin nearly always powdered her moist
eyes and her expression of continual readiness to pass at once from
melancholy to an unnatural rapture of married bliss boris could not
utter the decisive words though in imagination he had long regarded
himself as the possessor of those penza and nizhegorod estates and
had apportioned the use of the income from them julie saw boris 
indecision and sometimes the thought occurred to her that she was
repulsive to him but her feminine self deception immediately supplied
her with consolation and she told herself that he was only shy from
love her melancholy however began to turn to irritability and not
long before boris departure she formed a definite plan of action 
just as boris leave of absence was expiring anatole kuragin made
his appearance in moscow and of course in the karagins drawing
room and julie suddenly abandoning her melancholy became cheerful and
very attentive to kuragin 

 my dear said anna mikhaylovna to her son i know from a
reliable source that prince vasili has sent his son to moscow to get
him married to julie i am so fond of julie that i should be sorry for
her what do you think of it my dear 

the idea of being made a fool of and of having thrown away that whole
month of arduous melancholy service to julie and of seeing all
the revenue from the penza estates which he had already mentally
apportioned and put to proper use fall into the hands of another and
especially into the hands of that idiot anatole pained boris he drove
to the karagins with the firm intention of proposing julie met
him in a gay careless manner spoke casually of how she had enjoyed
yesterday's ball and asked when he was leaving though boris had
come intentionally to speak of his love and therefore meant to be
tender he began speaking irritably of feminine inconstancy of how
easily women can turn from sadness to joy and how their moods depend
solely on who happens to be paying court to them julie was offended and
replied that it was true that a woman needs variety and the same thing
over and over again would weary anyone 

 then i should advise you boris began wishing to sting her 
but at that instant the galling thought occurred to him that he might
have to leave moscow without having accomplished his aim and have
vainly wasted his efforts which was a thing he never allowed to
happen 

he checked himself in the middle of the sentence lowered his eyes to
avoid seeing her unpleasantly irritated and irresolute face and said 

 i did not come here at all to quarrel with you on the contrary 

he glanced at her to make sure that he might go on her irritability had
suddenly quite vanished and her anxious imploring eyes were fixed on
him with greedy expectation i can always arrange so as not to see
her often thought boris the affair has been begun and must be
finished he blushed hotly raised his eyes to hers and said 

 you know my feelings for you 

there was no need to say more julie's face shone with triumph and
self satisfaction but she forced boris to say all that is said on such
occasions that he loved her and had never loved any other woman more
than her she knew that for the penza estates and nizhegorod forests
she could demand this and she received what she demanded 

the affianced couple no longer alluding to trees that shed gloom and
melancholy upon them planned the arrangements of a splendid house in
petersburg paid calls and prepared everything for a brilliant wedding 





chapter vi

at the end of january old count rostov went to moscow with natasha and
sonya the countess was still unwell and unable to travel but it was
impossible to wait for her recovery prince andrew was expected in
moscow any day the trousseau had to be ordered and the estate near
moscow had to be sold besides which the opportunity of presenting his
future daughter in law to old prince bolkonski while he was in moscow
could not be missed the rostovs moscow house had not been heated
that winter and as they had come only for a short time and the countess
was not with them the count decided to stay with marya dmitrievna
akhrosimova who had long been pressing her hospitality on them 

late one evening the rostovs four sleighs drove into marya
dmitrievna's courtyard in the old konyusheny street marya
dmitrievna lived alone she had already married off her daughter and
her sons were all in the service 

she held herself as erect told everyone her opinion as candidly 
loudly and bluntly as ever and her whole bearing seemed a reproach
to others for any weakness passion or temptation the possibility of
which she did not admit from early in the morning wearing a dressing
jacket she attended to her household affairs and then she drove out 
on holy days to church and after the service to jails and prisons on
affairs of which she never spoke to anyone on ordinary days after
dressing she received petitioners of various classes of whom there
were always some then she had dinner a substantial and appetizing meal
at which there were always three or four guests after dinner she played
a game of boston and at night she had the newspapers or a new book read
to her while she knitted she rarely made an exception and went out to
pay visits and then only to the most important persons in the town 

she had not yet gone to bed when the rostovs arrived and the pulley of
the hall door squeaked from the cold as it let in the rostovs and their
servants marya dmitrievna with her spectacles hanging down on her
nose and her head flung back stood in the hall doorway looking with
a stern grim face at the new arrivals one might have thought she was
angry with the travelers and would immediately turn them out had she
not at the same time been giving careful instructions to the servants
for the accommodation of the visitors and their belongings 

 the count's things bring them here she said pointing to the
portmanteaus and not greeting anyone the young ladies there
to the left now what are you dawdling for she cried to the maids 
 get the samovar ready you've grown plumper and prettier she
remarked drawing natasha whose cheeks were glowing from the cold 
to her by the hood foo you are cold now take off your things 
quick she shouted to the count who was going to kiss her hand 
 you're half frozen i'm sure bring some rum for tea bonjour 
sonya dear she added turning to sonya and indicating by this
french greeting her slightly contemptuous though affectionate attitude
toward her 

when they came in to tea having taken off their outdoor things and
tidied themselves up after their journey marya dmitrievna kissed them
all in due order 

 i'm heartily glad you have come and are staying with me it was
high time she said giving natasha a significant look the old
man is here and his son's expected any day you'll have to make his
acquaintance but we'll speak of that later on she added glancing
at sonya with a look that showed she did not want to speak of it in her
presence now listen she said to the count what do you want
tomorrow whom will you send for shinshin she crooked one of her
fingers the sniveling anna mikhaylovna that's two she's here
with her son the son is getting married then bezukhov eh he is here
too with his wife he ran away from her and she came galloping after
him he dined with me on wednesday as for them and she pointed to
the girls tomorrow i'll take them first to the iberian shrine
of the mother of god and then we'll drive to the super rogue's 
i suppose you'll have everything new don't judge by me sleeves
nowadays are this size the other day young princess irina vasilevna
came to see me she was an awful sight looked as if she had put two
barrels on her arms you know not a day passes now without some new
fashion and what have you to do yourself she asked the count
sternly 

 one thing has come on top of another her rags to buy and now a
purchaser has turned up for the moscow estate and for the house if you
will be so kind i'll fix a time and go down to the estate just for a
day and leave my lassies with you 

 all right all right they'll be safe with me as safe as in
chancery i'll take them where they must go scold them a bit and
pet them a bit said marya dmitrievna touching her goddaughter and
favorite natasha on the cheek with her large hand 

next morning marya dmitrievna took the young ladies to the iberian
shrine of the mother of god and to madame suppert roguet who was so
afraid of marya dmitrievna that she always let her have costumes at
a loss merely to get rid of her marya dmitrievna ordered almost the
whole trousseau when they got home she turned everybody out of the room
except natasha and then called her pet to her armchair 

 well now we'll talk i congratulate you on your betrothed 
you've hooked a fine fellow i am glad for your sake and i've known
him since he was so high she held her hand a couple of feet from the
ground natasha blushed happily i like him and all his family 
now listen you know that old prince nicholas much dislikes his son's
marrying the old fellow's crotchety of course prince andrew is not
a child and can shift without him but it's not nice to enter a family
against a father's will one wants to do it peacefully and lovingly 
you're a clever girl and you'll know how to manage be kind and use
your wits then all will be well 

natasha remained silent from shyness marya dmitrievna supposed but
really because she disliked anyone interfering in what touched her love
of prince andrew which seemed to her so apart from all human affairs
that no one could understand it she loved and knew prince andrew he
loved her only and was to come one of these days and take her she
wanted nothing more 

 you see i have known him a long time and am also fond of mary your
future sister in law husbands sisters bring up blisters 
but this one wouldn't hurt a fly she has asked me to bring you two
together tomorrow you'll go with your father to see her be very
nice and affectionate to her you're younger than she when he comes 
he'll find you already know his sister and father and are liked by
them am i right or not won't that be best 

 yes it will natasha answered reluctantly 





chapter vii

next day by marya dmitrievna's advice count rostov took natasha
to call on prince nicholas bolkonski the count did not set out
cheerfully on this visit at heart he felt afraid he well remembered
the last interview he had had with the old prince at the time of the
enrollment when in reply to an invitation to dinner he had had to
listen to an angry reprimand for not having provided his full quota of
men natasha on the other hand having put on her best gown was in
the highest spirits they can't help liking me she thought 
 everybody always has liked me and i am so willing to do anything
they wish so ready to be fond of him for being his father and of
her for being his sister that there is no reason for them not to
like me 

they drove up to the gloomy old house on the vozdvizhenka and entered
the vestibule 

 well the lord have mercy on us said the count half in jest 
half in earnest but natasha noticed that her father was flurried on
entering the anteroom and inquired timidly and softly whether the prince
and princess were at home 

when they had been announced a perturbation was noticeable among the
servants the footman who had gone to announce them was stopped by
another in the large hall and they whispered to one another then a
maidservant ran into the hall and hurriedly said something mentioning
the princess at last an old cross looking footman came and announced
to the rostovs that the prince was not receiving but that the princess
begged them to walk up the first person who came to meet the visitors
was mademoiselle bourienne she greeted the father and daughter
with special politeness and showed them to the princess room the
princess looking excited and nervous her face flushed in patches ran
in to meet the visitors treading heavily and vainly trying to appear
cordial and at ease from the first glance princess mary did not like
natasha she thought her too fashionably dressed frivolously gay and
vain she did not at all realize that before having seen her future
sister in law she was prejudiced against her by involuntary envy of her
beauty youth and happiness as well as by jealousy of her brother's
love for her apart from this insuperable antipathy to her princess
mary was agitated just then because on the rostovs being announced 
the old prince had shouted that he did not wish to see them that
princess mary might do so if she chose but they were not to be admitted
to him she had decided to receive them but feared lest the prince
might at any moment indulge in some freak as he seemed much upset by
the rostovs visit 

 there my dear princess i've brought you my songstress said
the count bowing and looking round uneasily as if afraid the old prince
might appear i am so glad you should get to know one another very
sorry the prince is still ailing and after a few more commonplace
remarks he rose if you'll allow me to leave my natasha in your
hands for a quarter of an hour princess i'll drive round to see anna
semenovna it's quite near in the dogs square and then i'll
come back for her 

the count had devised this diplomatic ruse as he afterwards told his
daughter to give the future sisters in law an opportunity to talk
to one another freely but another motive was to avoid the danger of
encountering the old prince of whom he was afraid he did not mention
this to his daughter but natasha noticed her father's nervousness
and anxiety and felt mortified by it she blushed for him grew still
angrier at having blushed and looked at the princess with a bold and
defiant expression which said that she was not afraid of anybody the
princess told the count that she would be delighted and only begged him
to stay longer at anna semenovna's and he departed 

despite the uneasy glances thrown at her by princess mary who wished
to have a tete a tete with natasha mademoiselle bourienne
remained in the room and persistently talked about moscow amusements and
theaters natasha felt offended by the hesitation she had noticed in
the anteroom by her father's nervousness and by the unnatural manner
of the princess who she thought was making a favor of receiving her 
and so everything displeased her she did not like princess mary whom
she thought very plain affected and dry natasha suddenly shrank
into herself and involuntarily assumed an offhand air which alienated
princess mary still more after five minutes of irksome constrained
conversation they heard the sound of slippered feet rapidly
approaching princess mary looked frightened 

the door opened and the old prince in a dressing gown and a white
nightcap came in 

 ah madam he began madam countess countess rostova if
i am not mistaken i beg you to excuse me to excuse me i did not
know madam god is my witness i did not know you had honored us with
a visit and i came in such a costume only to see my daughter i beg you
to excuse me god is my witness i didn't know he repeated 
stressing the word god so unnaturally and so unpleasantly that
princess mary stood with downcast eyes not daring to look either at her
father or at natasha 

nor did the latter having risen and curtsied know what to do 
mademoiselle bourienne alone smiled agreeably 

 i beg you to excuse me excuse me god is my witness i did not
know muttered the old man and after looking natasha over from head
to foot he went out 

mademoiselle bourienne was the first to recover herself after this
apparition and began speaking about the prince's indisposition 
natasha and princess mary looked at one another in silence and the
longer they did so without saying what they wanted to say the greater
grew their antipathy to one another 

when the count returned natasha was impolitely pleased and hastened
to get away at that moment she hated the stiff elderly princess who
could place her in such an embarrassing position and had spent half an
hour with her without once mentioning prince andrew i couldn't
begin talking about him in the presence of that frenchwoman thought
natasha the same thought was meanwhile tormenting princess mary she
knew what she ought to have said to natasha but she had been unable
to say it because mademoiselle bourienne was in the way and because 
without knowing why she felt it very difficult to speak of the
marriage when the count was already leaving the room princess mary
went up hurriedly to natasha took her by the hand and said with a
deep sigh 

 wait i must 

natasha glanced at her ironically without knowing why 

 dear natalie said princess mary i want you to know that i am
glad my brother has found happiness 

she paused feeling that she was not telling the truth natasha noticed
this and guessed its reason 

 i think princess it is not convenient to speak of that now 
she said with external dignity and coldness though she felt the tears
choking her 

 what have i said and what have i done thought she as soon as she
was out of the room 

they waited a long time for natasha to come to dinner that day she sat
in her room crying like a child blowing her nose and sobbing sonya
stood beside her kissing her hair 

 natasha what is it about she asked what do they matter to
you it will all pass natasha 

 but if you only knew how offensive it was as if i 

 don't talk about it natasha it wasn't your fault so why should
you mind kiss me said sonya 

natasha raised her head and kissing her friend on the lips pressed
her wet face against her 

 i can't tell you i don't know no one's to blame said
natasha it's my fault but it all hurts terribly oh why
doesn't he come 

she came in to dinner with red eyes marya dmitrievna who knew how
the prince had received the rostovs pretended not to notice how upset
natasha was and jested resolutely and loudly at table with the count
and the other guests 





chapter viii

that evening the rostovs went to the opera for which marya
dmitrievna had taken a box 

natasha did not want to go but could not refuse marya dmitrievna's
kind offer which was intended expressly for her when she came ready
dressed into the ballroom to await her father and looking in the large
mirror there saw that she was pretty very pretty she felt even more
sad but it was a sweet tender sadness 

 o god if he were here now i would not behave as i did then but
differently i would not be silly and afraid of things i would simply
embrace him cling to him and make him look at me with those searching
inquiring eyes with which he has so often looked at me and then i
would make him laugh as he used to laugh and his eyes how i see those
eyes thought natasha and what do his father and sister matter
to me i love him alone him him with that face and those eyes with
his smile manly and yet childlike no i had better not think of
him not think of him but forget him quite forget him for the present 
i can't bear this waiting and i shall cry in a minute and she
turned away from the glass making an effort not to cry and how
can sonya love nicholas so calmly and quietly and wait so long and so
patiently thought she looking at sonya who also came in quite
ready with a fan in her hand no she's altogether different i
can't 

natasha at that moment felt so softened and tender that it was not
enough for her to love and know she was beloved she wanted now at
once to embrace the man she loved to speak and hear from him words of
love such as filled her heart while she sat in the carriage beside her
father pensively watching the lights of the street lamps flickering on
the frozen window she felt still sadder and more in love and forgot
where she was going and with whom having fallen into the line of
carriages the rostovs carriage drove up to the theater its wheels
squeaking over the snow natasha and sonya holding up their dresses 
jumped out quickly the count got out helped by the footmen and 
passing among men and women who were entering and the program sellers 
they all three went along the corridor to the first row of boxes 
through the closed doors the music was already audible 

 natasha your hair whispered sonya 

an attendant deferentially and quickly slipped before the ladies and
opened the door of their box the music sounded louder and through the
door rows of brightly lit boxes in which ladies sat with bare arms and
shoulders and noisy stalls brilliant with uniforms glittered before
their eyes a lady entering the next box shot a glance of feminine envy
at natasha the curtain had not yet risen and the overture was being
played natasha smoothing her gown went in with sonya and sat down 
scanning the brilliant tiers of boxes opposite a sensation she had not
experienced for a long time that of hundreds of eyes looking at
her bare arms and neck suddenly affected her both agreeably and
disagreeably and called up a whole crowd of memories desires and
emotions associated with that feeling 

the two remarkably pretty girls natasha and sonya with count rostov
who had not been seen in moscow for a long time attracted general
attention moreover everybody knew vaguely of natasha's engagement
to prince andrew and knew that the rostovs had lived in the country
ever since and all looked with curiosity at a fiancee who was making
one of the best matches in russia 

natasha's looks as everyone told her had improved in the country 
and that evening thanks to her agitation she was particularly pretty 
she struck those who saw her by her fullness of life and beauty 
combined with her indifference to everything about her her black eyes
looked at the crowd without seeking anyone and her delicate arm bare
to above the elbow lay on the velvet edge of the box while evidently
unconsciously she opened and closed her hand in time to the music 
crumpling her program look there's alenina said sonya 
 with her mother isn't it 

 dear me michael kirilovich has grown still stouter remarked the
count 

 look at our anna mikhaylovna what a headdress she has on 

 the karagins julie and boris with them one can see at once that
they're engaged 

 drubetskoy has proposed 

 oh yes i heard it today said shinshin coming into the
rostovs box 

natasha looked in the direction in which her father's eyes were
turned and saw julie sitting beside her mother with a happy look on her
face and a string of pearls round her thick red neck which natasha
knew was covered with powder behind them wearing a smile and leaning
over with an ear to julie's mouth was boris handsome smoothly
brushed head he looked at the rostovs from under his brows and said
something smiling to his betrothed 

 they are talking about us about me and him thought natasha 
 and he no doubt is calming her jealousy of me they needn't trouble
themselves if only they knew how little i am concerned about any of
them 

behind them sat anna mikhaylovna wearing a green headdress and with a
happy look of resignation to the will of god on her face their box was
pervaded by that atmosphere of an affianced couple which natasha knew
so well and liked so much she turned away and suddenly remembered all
that had been so humiliating in her morning's visit 

 what right has he not to wish to receive me into his family oh 
better not think of it not till he comes back she told herself 
and began looking at the faces some strange and some familiar in
the stalls in the front in the very center leaning back against
the orchestra rail stood dolokhov in a persian dress his curly hair
brushed up into a huge shock he stood in full view of the audience 
well aware that he was attracting everyone's attention yet as much at
ease as though he were in his own room around him thronged moscow's
most brilliant young men whom he evidently dominated 

the count laughing nudged the blushing sonya and pointed to her
former adorer 

 do you recognize him said he and where has he sprung from 
he asked turning to shinshin didn't he vanish somewhere 

 he did replied shinshin he was in the caucasus and ran
away from there they say he has been acting as minister to some ruling
prince in persia where he killed the shah's brother now all the
moscow ladies are mad about him it's dolokhov the persian that
does it we never hear a word but dolokhov is mentioned they swear
by him they offer him to you as they would a dish of choice sterlet 
dolokhov and anatole kuragin have turned all our ladies heads 

a tall beautiful woman with a mass of plaited hair and much exposed
plump white shoulders and neck round which she wore a double string of
large pearls entered the adjoining box rustling her heavy silk dress
and took a long time settling into her place 

natasha involuntarily gazed at that neck those shoulders and pearls
and coiffure and admired the beauty of the shoulders and the pearls 
while natasha was fixing her gaze on her for the second time the lady
looked round and meeting the count's eyes nodded to him and smiled 
she was the countess bezukhova pierre's wife and the count who
knew everyone in society leaned over and spoke to her 

 have you been here long countess he inquired i'll call 
i'll call to kiss your hand i'm here on business and have brought
my girls with me they say semenova acts marvelously count pierre
never used to forget us is he here 

 yes he meant to look in answered helene and glanced
attentively at natasha 

count rostov resumed his seat 

 handsome isn't she he whispered to natasha 

 wonderful answered natasha she's a woman one could easily
fall in love with 

just then the last chords of the overture were heard and the conductor
tapped with his stick some latecomers took their seats in the stalls 
and the curtain rose 

as soon as it rose everyone in the boxes and stalls became silent and
all the men old and young in uniform and evening dress and all the
women with gems on their bare flesh turned their whole attention with
eager curiosity to the stage natasha too began to look at it 





chapter ix

the floor of the stage consisted of smooth boards at the sides was
some painted cardboard representing trees and at the back was a cloth
stretched over boards in the center of the stage sat some girls in red
bodices and white skirts one very fat girl in a white silk dress sat
apart on a low bench to the back of which a piece of green cardboard
was glued they all sang something when they had finished their song
the girl in white went up to the prompter's box and a man with tight
silk trousers over his stout legs and holding a plume and a dagger 
went up to her and began singing waving his arms about 

first the man in the tight trousers sang alone then she sang then they
both paused while the orchestra played and the man fingered the hand
of the girl in white obviously awaiting the beat to start singing with
her they sang together and everyone in the theater began clapping
and shouting while the man and woman on the stage who represented
lovers began smiling spreading out their arms and bowing 

after her life in the country and in her present serious mood all this
seemed grotesque and amazing to natasha she could not follow the opera
nor even listen to the music she saw only the painted cardboard and the
queerly dressed men and women who moved spoke and sang so strangely in
that brilliant light she knew what it was all meant to represent but
it was so pretentiously false and unnatural that she first felt ashamed
for the actors and then amused at them she looked at the faces of the
audience seeking in them the same sense of ridicule and perplexity she
herself experienced but they all seemed attentive to what was happening
on the stage and expressed delight which to natasha seemed feigned 
 i suppose it has to be like this she thought she kept looking
round in turn at the rows of pomaded heads in the stalls and then at
the seminude women in the boxes especially at helene in the next box 
who apparently quite unclothed sat with a quiet tranquil smile not
taking her eyes off the stage and feeling the bright light that flooded
the whole place and the warm air heated by the crowd natasha little
by little began to pass into a state of intoxication she had not
experienced for a long while she did not realize who and where she
was nor what was going on before her as she looked and thought the
strangest fancies unexpectedly and disconnectedly passed through her
mind the idea occurred to her of jumping onto the edge of the box and
singing the air the actress was singing then she wished to touch with
her fan an old gentleman sitting not far from her then to lean over to
helene and tickle her 

at a moment when all was quiet before the commencement of a song a door
leading to the stalls on the side nearest the rostovs box creaked 
and the steps of a belated arrival were heard there's kuragin 
whispered shinshin countess bezukhova turned smiling to the newcomer 
and natasha following the direction of that look saw an exceptionally
handsome adjutant approaching their box with a self assured yet
courteous bearing this was anatole kuragin whom she had seen
and noticed long ago at the ball in petersburg he was now in an
adjutant's uniform with one epaulet and a shoulder knot he moved with
a restrained swagger which would have been ridiculous had he not been
so good looking and had his handsome face not worn such an expression
of good humored complacency and gaiety though the performance was
proceeding he walked deliberately down the carpeted gangway his sword
and spurs slightly jingling and his handsome perfumed head held high 
having looked at natasha he approached his sister laid his well gloved
hand on the edge of her box nodded to her and leaning forward asked a
question with a motion toward natasha 

 mais charmante said he evidently referring to natasha who did
not exactly hear his words but understood them from the movement of his
lips then he took his place in the first row of the stalls and sat down
beside dolokhov nudging with his elbow in a friendly and offhand way
that dolokhov whom others treated so fawningly he winked at him gaily 
smiled and rested his foot against the orchestra screen 

 how like the brother is to the sister remarked the count and
how handsome they both are 

shinshin lowering his voice began to tell the count of some intrigue
of kuragin's in moscow and natasha tried to overhear it just
because he had said she was charmante 

the first act was over in the stalls everyone began moving about going
out and coming in 

boris came to the rostovs box received their congratulations very
simply and raising his eyebrows with an absent minded smile conveyed to
natasha and sonya his fiancee's invitation to her wedding and
went away natasha with a gay coquettish smile talked to him and
congratulated on his approaching wedding that same boris with whom
she had formerly been in love in the state of intoxication she was in 
everything seemed simple and natural 

the scantily clad helene smiled at everyone in the same way and
natasha gave boris a similar smile 

helene's box was filled and surrounded from the stalls by the most
distinguished and intellectual men who seemed to vie with one another
in their wish to let everyone see that they knew her 

during the whole of that entr'acte kuragin stood with dolokhov
in front of the orchestra partition looking at the rostovs box 
natasha knew he was talking about her and this afforded her pleasure 
she even turned so that he should see her profile in what she thought
was its most becoming aspect before the beginning of the second act
pierre appeared in the stalls the rostovs had not seen him since
their arrival his face looked sad and he had grown still stouter since
natasha last saw him he passed up to the front rows not noticing
anyone anatole went up to him and began speaking to him looking at and
indicating the rostovs box on seeing natasha pierre grew animated
and hastily passing between the rows came toward their box when he
got there he leaned on his elbows and smiling talked to her for a long
time while conversing with pierre natasha heard a man's voice in
countess bezukhova's box and something told her it was kuragin she
turned and their eyes met almost smiling he gazed straight into her
eyes with such an enraptured caressing look that it seemed strange to be
so near him to look at him like that to be so sure he admired her and
not to be acquainted with him 

in the second act there was scenery representing tombstones there was a
round hole in the canvas to represent the moon shades were raised over
the footlights and from horns and contrabass came deep notes while many
people appeared from right and left wearing black cloaks and holding
things like daggers in their hands they began waving their arms then
some other people ran in and began dragging away the maiden who had been
in white and was now in light blue they did not drag her away at once 
but sang with her for a long time and then at last dragged her off and
behind the scenes something metallic was struck three times and
everyone knelt down and sang a prayer all these things were repeatedly
interrupted by the enthusiastic shouts of the audience 

during this act every time natasha looked toward the stalls she saw
anatole kuragin with an arm thrown across the back of his chair 
staring at her she was pleased to see that he was captivated by her and
it did not occur to her that there was anything wrong in it 

when the second act was over countess bezukhova rose turned to the
rostovs box her whole bosom completely exposed beckoned the old
count with a gloved finger and paying no attention to those who had
entered her box began talking to him with an amiable smile 

 do make me acquainted with your charming daughters said she 
 the whole town is singing their praises and i don't even know
them 

natasha rose and curtsied to the splendid countess she was so pleased
by praise from this brilliant beauty that she blushed with pleasure 

 i want to become a moscovite too now said helene how is it
you're not ashamed to bury such pearls in the country 

countess bezukhova quite deserved her reputation of being a fascinating
woman she could say what she did not think especially what was
flattering quite simply and naturally 

 dear count you must let me look after your daughters though i am
not staying here long this time nor are you i will try to amuse
them i have already heard much of you in petersburg and wanted to get
to know you said she to natasha with her stereotyped and lovely
smile i had heard about you from my page drubetskoy have you
heard he is getting married and also from my husband's friend
bolkonski prince andrew bolkonski she went on with special
emphasis implying that she knew of his relation to natasha to get
better acquainted she asked that one of the young ladies should come
into her box for the rest of the performance and natasha moved over to
it 

the scene of the third act represented a palace in which many candles
were burning and pictures of knights with short beards hung on the
walls in the middle stood what were probably a king and a queen the
king waved his right arm and evidently nervous sang something badly
and sat down on a crimson throne the maiden who had been first in white
and then in light blue now wore only a smock and stood beside the
throne with her hair down she sang something mournfully addressing the
queen but the king waved his arm severely and men and women with bare
legs came in from both sides and began dancing all together then the
violins played very shrilly and merrily and one of the women with thick
bare legs and thin arms separating from the others went behind the
wings adjusted her bodice returned to the middle of the stage and
began jumping and striking one foot rapidly against the other in the
stalls everyone clapped and shouted bravo then one of the men
went into a corner of the stage the cymbals and horns in the orchestra
struck up more loudly and this man with bare legs jumped very high and
waved his feet about very rapidly he was duport who received sixty
thousand rubles a year for this art everybody in the stalls boxes 
and galleries began clapping and shouting with all their might and the
man stopped and began smiling and bowing to all sides then other men
and women danced with bare legs then the king again shouted to the
sound of music and they all began singing but suddenly a storm
came on chromatic scales and diminished sevenths were heard in the
orchestra everyone ran off again dragging one of their number away 
and the curtain dropped once more there was a terrible noise and
clatter among the audience and with rapturous faces everyone began
shouting duport duport duport natasha no longer thought this
strange she looked about with pleasure smiling joyfully 

 isn't duport delightful helene asked her 

 oh yes replied natasha 





chapter x

during the entr'acte a whiff of cold air came into helene's box 
the door opened and anatole entered stooping and trying not to brush
against anyone 

 let me introduce my brother to you said helene her eyes
shifting uneasily from natasha to anatole 

natasha turned her pretty little head toward the elegant young officer
and smiled at him over her bare shoulder anatole who was as handsome
at close quarters as at a distance sat down beside her and told her he
had long wished to have this happiness ever since the naryshkins 
ball in fact at which he had had the well remembered pleasure of seeing
her kuragin was much more sensible and simple with women than among
men he talked boldly and naturally and natasha was strangely and
agreeably struck by the fact that there was nothing formidable in this
man about whom there was so much talk but that on the contrary his
smile was most naive cheerful and good natured 

kuragin asked her opinion of the performance and told her how at a
previous performance semenova had fallen down on the stage 

 and do you know countess he said suddenly addressing her as an
old familiar acquaintance we are getting up a costume tournament 
you ought to take part in it it will be great fun we shall all meet at
the karagins please come no really eh said he 

while saying this he never removed his smiling eyes from her face 
her neck and her bare arms natasha knew for certain that he was
enraptured by her this pleased her yet his presence made her feel
constrained and oppressed when she was not looking at him she felt that
he was looking at her shoulders and she involuntarily caught his eye
so that he should look into hers rather than this but looking into his
eyes she was frightened realizing that there was not that barrier of
modesty she had always felt between herself and other men she did not
know how it was that within five minutes she had come to feel herself
terribly near to this man when she turned away she feared he might
seize her from behind by her bare arm and kiss her on the neck they
spoke of most ordinary things yet she felt that they were closer to
one another than she had ever been to any man natasha kept turning to
helene and to her father as if asking what it all meant but helene
was engaged in conversation with a general and did not answer her
look and her father's eyes said nothing but what they always said 
 having a good time well i'm glad of it 

during one of these moments of awkward silence when anatole's
prominent eyes were gazing calmly and fixedly at her natasha to break
the silence asked him how he liked moscow she asked the question and
blushed she felt all the time that by talking to him she was doing
something improper anatole smiled as though to encourage her 

 at first i did not like it much because what makes a town pleasant
ce sont les jolies femmes isn't that so but now i like it very
much indeed he said looking at her significantly you'll come
to the costume tournament countess do come and putting out his
hand to her bouquet and dropping his voice he added you will be the
prettiest there do come dear countess and give me this flower as a
pledge 

 are the pretty women 

natasha did not understand what he was saying any more than he did
himself but she felt that his incomprehensible words had an improper
intention she did not know what to say and turned away as if she had
not heard his remark but as soon as she had turned away she felt that
he was there behind so close behind her 

 how is he now confused angry ought i to put it right she
asked herself and she could not refrain from turning round she looked
straight into his eyes and his nearness self assurance and the
good natured tenderness of his smile vanquished her she smiled just
as he was doing gazing straight into his eyes and again she felt with
horror that no barrier lay between him and her 

the curtain rose again anatole left the box serene and gay natasha
went back to her father in the other box now quite submissive to the
world she found herself in all that was going on before her now seemed
quite natural but on the other hand all her previous thoughts of her
betrothed of princess mary or of life in the country did not once
recur to her mind and were as if belonging to a remote past 

in the fourth act there was some sort of devil who sang waving his arm
about till the boards were withdrawn from under him and he disappeared
down below that was the only part of the fourth act that natasha saw 
she felt agitated and tormented and the cause of this was kuragin whom
she could not help watching as they were leaving the theater anatole
came up to them called their carriage and helped them in as he was
putting natasha in he pressed her arm above the elbow agitated and
flushed she turned round he was looking at her with glittering eyes 
smiling tenderly 


only after she had reached home was natasha able clearly to think over
what had happened to her and suddenly remembering prince andrew she
was horrified and at tea to which all had sat down after the opera she
gave a loud exclamation flushed and ran out of the room 

 o god i am lost she said to herself how could i let him 
she sat for a long time hiding her flushed face in her hands trying to
realize what had happened to her but was unable either to understand
what had happened or what she felt everything seemed dark obscure 
and terrible there in that enormous illuminated theater where the
bare legged duport in a tinsel decorated jacket jumped about to the
music on wet boards and young girls and old men and the nearly
naked helene with her proud calm smile rapturously cried
 bravo there in the presence of that helene it had all seemed
clear and simple but now alone by herself it was incomprehensible 
 what is it what was that terror i felt of him what is this gnawing
of conscience i am feeling now she thought 

only to the old countess at night in bed could natasha have told all
she was feeling she knew that sonya with her severe and simple views
would either not understand it at all or would be horrified at such
a confession so natasha tried to solve what was torturing her by
herself 

 am i spoiled for andrew's love or not she asked herself and
with soothing irony replied what a fool i am to ask that what did
happen to me nothing i have done nothing i didn't lead him on
at all nobody will know and i shall never see him again she told
herself so it is plain that nothing has happened and there is
nothing to repent of and andrew can love me still but why still 
o god why isn't he here natasha quieted herself for a moment 
but again some instinct told her that though all this was true and
though nothing had happened yet the former purity of her love for
prince andrew had perished and again in imagination she went over her
whole conversation with kuragin and again saw the face gestures and
tender smile of that bold handsome man when he pressed her arm 





chapter xi

anatole kuragin was staying in moscow because his father had sent him
away from petersburg where he had been spending twenty thousand rubles
a year in cash besides running up debts for as much more which his
creditors demanded from his father 

his father announced to him that he would now pay half his debts for the
last time but only on condition that he went to moscow as adjutant to
the commander in chief a post his father had procured for him and
would at last try to make a good match there he indicated to him
princess mary and julie karagina 

anatole consented and went to moscow where he put up at pierre's
house pierre received him unwillingly at first but got used to him
after a while sometimes even accompanied him on his carousals and gave
him money under the guise of loans 

as shinshin had remarked from the time of his arrival anatole had
turned the heads of the moscow ladies especially by the fact that
he slighted them and plainly preferred the gypsy girls and french
actresses with the chief of whom mademoiselle george he was said to
be on intimate relations he had never missed a carousal at danilov's
or other moscow revelers drank whole nights through outvying
everyone else and was at all the balls and parties of the best society 
there was talk of his intrigues with some of the ladies and he flirted
with a few of them at the balls but he did not run after the unmarried
girls especially the rich heiresses who were most of them plain 
there was a special reason for this as he had got married two years
before a fact known only to his most intimate friends at that time
while with his regiment in poland a polish landowner of small means had
forced him to marry his daughter anatole had very soon abandoned his
wife and for a payment which he agreed to send to his father in law 
had arranged to be free to pass himself off as a bachelor 

anatole was always content with his position with himself and with
others he was instinctively and thoroughly convinced that it was
impossible for him to live otherwise than as he did and that he had
never in his life done anything base he was incapable of considering
how his actions might affect others or what the consequences of this or
that action of his might be he was convinced that as a duck is so made
that it must live in water so god had made him such that he must spend
thirty thousand rubles a year and always occupy a prominent position in
society he believed this so firmly that others looking at him were
persuaded of it too and did not refuse him either a leading place
in society or money which he borrowed from anyone and everyone and
evidently would not repay 

he was not a gambler at any rate he did not care about winning he was
not vain he did not mind what people thought of him still less could
he be accused of ambition more than once he had vexed his father by
spoiling his own career and he laughed at distinctions of all kinds he
was not mean and did not refuse anyone who asked of him all he cared
about was gaiety and women and as according to his ideas there
was nothing dishonorable in these tastes and he was incapable of
considering what the gratification of his tastes entailed for others 
he honestly considered himself irreproachable sincerely despised rogues
and bad people and with a tranquil conscience carried his head high 

rakes those male magdalenes have a secret feeling of innocence
similar to that which female magdalenes have based on the same hope of
forgiveness all will be forgiven her for she loved much and all
will be forgiven him for he enjoyed much 

dolokhov who had reappeared that year in moscow after his exile and
his persian adventures and was leading a life of luxury gambling and
dissipation associated with his old petersburg comrade kuragin and
made use of him for his own ends 

anatole was sincerely fond of dolokhov for his cleverness and
audacity dolokhov who needed anatole kuragin's name position and
connections as a bait to draw rich young men into his gambling set made
use of him and amused himself at his expense without letting the other
feel it apart from the advantage he derived from anatole the very
process of dominating another's will was in itself a pleasure a
habit and a necessity to dolokhov 

natasha had made a strong impression on kuragin at supper after
the opera he described to dolokhov with the air of a connoisseur the
attractions of her arms shoulders feet and hair and expressed his
intention of making love to her anatole had no notion and was incapable
of considering what might come of such love making as he never had any
notion of the outcome of any of his actions 

 she's first rate my dear fellow but not for us replied
dolokhov 

 i will tell my sister to ask her to dinner said anatole 
 eh 

 you'd better wait till she's married 

 you know i adore little girls they lose their heads at once 
pursued anatole 

 you have been caught once already by a little girl said
dolokhov who knew of kuragin's marriage take care 

 well that can't happen twice eh said anatole with a
good humored laugh 





chapter xii

the day after the opera the rostovs went nowhere and nobody came to see
them marya dmitrievna talked to the count about something which they
concealed from natasha natasha guessed they were talking about the
old prince and planning something and this disquieted and offended her 
she was expecting prince andrew any moment and twice that day sent a
manservant to the vozdvizhenka to ascertain whether he had come he had
not arrived she suffered more now than during her first days in moscow 
to her impatience and pining for him were now added the unpleasant
recollection of her interview with princess mary and the old prince 
and a fear and anxiety of which she did not understand the cause she
continually fancied that either he would never come or that something
would happen to her before he came she could no longer think of him by
herself calmly and continuously as she had done before as soon as she
began to think of him the recollection of the old prince of princess
mary of the theater and of kuragin mingled with her thoughts the
question again presented itself whether she was not guilty whether she
had not already broken faith with prince andrew and again she found
herself recalling to the minutest detail every word every gesture and
every shade in the play of expression on the face of the man who had
been able to arouse in her such an incomprehensible and terrifying
feeling to the family natasha seemed livelier than usual but she was
far less tranquil and happy than before 

on sunday morning marya dmitrievna invited her visitors to mass at her
parish church the church of the assumption built over the graves of
victims of the plague 

 i don't like those fashionable churches she said evidently
priding herself on her independence of thought god is the same
everywhere we have an excellent priest he conducts the service
decently and with dignity and the deacon is the same what holiness is
there in giving concerts in the choir i don't like it it's just
self indulgence 

marya dmitrievna liked sundays and knew how to keep them her whole
house was scrubbed and cleaned on saturdays neither she nor the
servants worked and they all wore holiday dress and went to church at
her table there were extra dishes at dinner and the servants had vodka
and roast goose or suckling pig but in nothing in the house was the
holiday so noticeable as in marya dmitrievna's broad stern face 
which on that day wore an invariable look of solemn festivity 

after mass when they had finished their coffee in the dining room
where the loose covers had been removed from the furniture a servant
announced that the carriage was ready and marya dmitrievna rose with
a stern air she wore her holiday shawl in which she paid calls and
announced that she was going to see prince nicholas bolkonski to have
an explanation with him about natasha 

after she had gone a dressmaker from madame suppert roguet waited on
the rostovs and natasha very glad of this diversion having shut
herself into a room adjoining the drawing room occupied herself trying
on the new dresses just as she had put on a bodice without sleeves and
only tacked together and was turning her head to see in the glass how
the back fitted she heard in the drawing room the animated sounds
of her father's voice and another's a woman's that made her
flush it was helene natasha had not time to take off the bodice
before the door opened and countess bezukhova dressed in a purple
velvet gown with a high collar came into the room beaming with
good humored amiable smiles 

 oh my enchantress she cried to the blushing natasha 
 charming no this is really beyond anything my dear count said
she to count rostov who had followed her in how can you live in
moscow and go nowhere no i won't let you off mademoiselle george
will recite at my house tonight and there'll be some people and if
you don't bring your lovely girls who are prettier than mademoiselle
george i won't know you my husband is away in tver or i would send
him to fetch you you must come you positively must between eight and
nine 

she nodded to the dressmaker whom she knew and who had curtsied
respectfully to her and seated herself in an armchair beside the
looking glass draping the folds of her velvet dress picturesquely she
did not cease chattering good naturedly and gaily continually praising
natasha's beauty she looked at natasha's dresses and praised
them as well as a new dress of her own made of metallic gauze 
which she had received from paris and advised natasha to have one like
it 

 but anything suits you my charmer she remarked 

a smile of pleasure never left natasha's face she felt happy and as
if she were blossoming under the praise of this dear countess bezukhova
who had formerly seemed to her so unapproachable and important and was
now so kind to her natasha brightened up and felt almost in love with
this woman who was so beautiful and so kind helene for her part was
sincerely delighted with natasha and wished to give her a good time 
anatole had asked her to bring him and natasha together and she was
calling on the rostovs for that purpose the idea of throwing her
brother and natasha together amused her 

though at one time in petersburg she had been annoyed with natasha
for drawing boris away she did not think of that now and in her own
way heartily wished natasha well as she was leaving the rostovs she
called her protegee aside 

 my brother dined with me yesterday we nearly died of laughter he
ate nothing and kept sighing for you my charmer he is madly quite
madly in love with you my dear 

natasha blushed scarlet when she heard this 

 how she blushes how she blushes my pretty said helene you
must certainly come if you love somebody my charmer that is not a
reason to shut yourself up even if you are engaged i am sure your
fiance would wish you to go into society rather than be bored to
death 

 so she knows i am engaged and she and her husband pierre that good
pierre have talked and laughed about this so it's all right and
again under helene's influence what had seemed terrible now seemed
simple and natural and she is such a grande dame so kind and
evidently likes me so much and why not enjoy myself thought
natasha gazing at helene with wide open wondering eyes 

marya dmitrievna came back to dinner taciturn and serious having
evidently suffered a defeat at the old prince's she was still too
agitated by the encounter to be able to talk of the affair calmly in
answer to the count's inquiries she replied that things were all
right and that she would tell about it next day on hearing of countess
bezukhova's visit and the invitation for that evening marya
dmitrievna remarked 

 i don't care to have anything to do with bezukhova and don't
advise you to however if you've promised go it will divert your
thoughts she added addressing natasha 





chapter xiii

count rostov took the girls to countess bezukhova's there were
a good many people there but nearly all strangers to natasha count
rostov was displeased to see that the company consisted almost entirely
of men and women known for the freedom of their conduct mademoiselle
george was standing in a corner of the drawing room surrounded by young
men there were several frenchmen present among them metivier who from
the time helene reached moscow had been an intimate in her house the
count decided not to sit down to cards or let his girls out of his sight
and to get away as soon as mademoiselle george's performance was over 

anatole was at the door evidently on the lookout for the rostovs 
immediately after greeting the count he went up to natasha and followed
her as soon as she saw him she was seized by the same feeling she had
had at the opera gratified vanity at his admiration of her and fear at
the absence of a moral barrier between them 

helene welcomed natasha delightedly and was loud in admiration of her
beauty and her dress soon after their arrival mademoiselle george went
out of the room to change her costume in the drawing room people began
arranging the chairs and taking their seats anatole moved a chair for
natasha and was about to sit down beside her but the count who never
lost sight of her took the seat himself anatole sat down behind her 

mademoiselle george with her bare fat dimpled arms and a red shawl
draped over one shoulder came into the space left vacant for her and
assumed an unnatural pose enthusiastic whispering was audible 

mademoiselle george looked sternly and gloomily at the audience and
began reciting some french verses describing her guilty love for her
son in some places she raised her voice in others she whispered 
lifting her head triumphantly sometimes she paused and uttered hoarse
sounds rolling her eyes 

 adorable divine delicious was heard from every side 

natasha looked at the fat actress but neither saw nor heard nor
understood anything of what went on before her she only felt herself
again completely borne away into this strange senseless world so
remote from her old world a world in which it was impossible to know
what was good or bad reasonable or senseless behind her sat anatole 
and conscious of his proximity she experienced a frightened sense of
expectancy 

after the first monologue the whole company rose and surrounded
mademoiselle george expressing their enthusiasm 

 how beautiful she is natasha remarked to her father who had also
risen and was moving through the crowd toward the actress 

 i don't think so when i look at you said anatole following
natasha he said this at a moment when she alone could hear him you
are enchanting from the moment i saw you i have never ceased 

 come come natasha said the count as he turned back for his
daughter how beautiful she is natasha without saying anything
stepped up to her father and looked at him with surprised inquiring
eyes 

after giving several recitations mademoiselle george left and countess
bezukhova asked her visitors into the ballroom 

the count wished to go home but helene entreated him not to spoil her
improvised ball and the rostovs stayed on anatole asked natasha for
a valse and as they danced he pressed her waist and hand and told her
she was bewitching and that he loved her during the ecossaise which
she also danced with him anatole said nothing when they happened to be
by themselves but merely gazed at her natasha lifted her frightened
eyes to him but there was such confident tenderness in his affectionate
look and smile that she could not whilst looking at him say what she
had to say she lowered her eyes 

 don't say such things to me i am betrothed and love another 
she said rapidly she glanced at him 

anatole was not upset or pained by what she had said 

 don't speak to me of that what can i do said he i tell
you i am madly madly in love with you is it my fault that you are
enchanting it's our turn to begin 

natasha animated and excited looked about her with wide open
frightened eyes and seemed merrier than usual she understood hardly
anything that went on that evening they danced the ecossaise and the
grossvater her father asked her to come home but she begged to remain 
wherever she went and whomever she was speaking to she felt his eyes
upon her later on she recalled how she had asked her father to let
her go to the dressing room to rearrange her dress that helene had
followed her and spoken laughingly of her brother's love and that she
again met anatole in the little sitting room helene had disappeared
leaving them alone and anatole had taken her hand and said in a tender
voice 

 i cannot come to visit you but is it possible that i shall never see
you i love you madly can i never and blocking her path he
brought his face close to hers 

his large glittering masculine eyes were so close to hers that she saw
nothing but them 

 natalie he whispered inquiringly while she felt her hands being
painfully pressed natalie 

 i don't understand i have nothing to say her eyes replied 

burning lips were pressed to hers and at the same instant she felt
herself released and helene's footsteps and the rustle of her dress
were heard in the room natasha looked round at her and then red
and trembling threw a frightened look of inquiry at anatole and moved
toward the door 

 one word just one for god's sake cried anatole 

she paused she so wanted a word from him that would explain to her what
had happened and to which she could find no answer 

 natalie just a word only one he kept repeating evidently not
knowing what to say and he repeated it till helene came up to them 

helene returned with natasha to the drawing room the rostovs went
away without staying for supper 

after reaching home natasha did not sleep all night she was tormented
by the insoluble question whether she loved anatole or prince andrew 
she loved prince andrew she remembered distinctly how deeply she loved
him but she also loved anatole of that there was no doubt else how
could all this have happened thought she if after that i could
return his smile when saying good by if i was able to let it come to
that it means that i loved him from the first it means that he is
kind noble and splendid and i could not help loving him what am i to
do if i love him and the other one too she asked herself unable to
find an answer to these terrible questions 





chapter xiv

morning came with its cares and bustle everyone got up and began
to move about and talk dressmakers came again marya dmitrievna
appeared and they were called to breakfast natasha kept looking
uneasily at everybody with wide open eyes as if wishing to intercept
every glance directed toward her and tried to appear the same as usual 

after breakfast which was her best time marya dmitrievna sat down in
her armchair and called natasha and the count to her 

 well friends i have now thought the whole matter over and this is
my advice she began yesterday as you know i went to see prince
bolkonski well i had a talk with him he took it into his head to
begin shouting but i am not one to be shouted down i said what i had
to say 

 well and he asked the count 

 he he's crazy he did not want to listen but what's the use
of talking as it is we have worn the poor girl out said marya
dmitrievna my advice to you is finish your business and go back
home to otradnoe and wait there 

 oh no exclaimed natasha 

 yes go back said marya dmitrievna and wait there if your
betrothed comes here now there will be no avoiding a quarrel but
alone with the old man he will talk things over and then come on to
you 

count rostov approved of this suggestion appreciating its
reasonableness if the old man came round it would be all the better to
visit him in moscow or at bald hills later on and if not the wedding 
against his wishes could only be arranged at otradnoe 

 that is perfectly true and i am sorry i went to see him and took
her said the old count 

 no why be sorry being here you had to pay your respects but if he
won't that's his affair said marya dmitrievna looking for
something in her reticule besides the trousseau is ready so there
is nothing to wait for and what is not ready i'll send after you 
though i don't like letting you go it is the best way so go with
god's blessing 

having found what she was looking for in the reticule she handed it to
natasha it was a letter from princess mary 

 she has written to you how she torments herself poor thing she's
afraid you might think that she does not like you 

 but she doesn't like me said natasha 

 don't talk nonsense cried marya dmitrievna 

 i shan't believe anyone i know she doesn't like me replied
natasha boldly as she took the letter and her face expressed a cold
and angry resolution that caused marya dmitrievna to look at her more
intently and to frown 

 don't answer like that my good girl she said what i say is
true write an answer 

natasha did not reply and went to her own room to read princess
mary's letter 

princess mary wrote that she was in despair at the misunderstanding that
had occurred between them whatever her father's feelings might be 
she begged natasha to believe that she could not help loving her as
the one chosen by her brother for whose happiness she was ready to
sacrifice everything 

 do not think however she wrote that my father is
ill disposed toward you he is an invalid and an old man who must be
forgiven but he is good and magnanimous and will love her who makes his
son happy princess mary went on to ask natasha to fix a time when
she could see her again 

after reading the letter natasha sat down at the writing table
to answer it dear princess she wrote in french quickly and
mechanically and then paused what more could she write after all that
had happened the evening before yes yes all that has happened and
now all is changed she thought as she sat with the letter she had
begun before her must i break off with him must i really that's
awful and to escape from these dreadful thoughts she went to
sonya and began sorting patterns with her 

after dinner natasha went to her room and again took up princess
mary's letter can it be that it is all over she thought 
 can it be that all this has happened so quickly and has destroyed all
that went before she recalled her love for prince andrew in all its
former strength and at the same time felt that she loved kuragin she
vividly pictured herself as prince andrew's wife and the scenes of
happiness with him she had so often repeated in her imagination and
at the same time aglow with excitement recalled every detail of
yesterday's interview with anatole 

 why could that not be as well she sometimes asked herself in
complete bewilderment only so could i be completely happy but now i
have to choose and i can't be happy without either of them only 
she thought to tell prince andrew what has happened or to hide
it from him are both equally impossible but with that one nothing is
spoiled but am i really to abandon forever the joy of prince andrew's
love in which i have lived so long 

 please miss whispered a maid entering the room with a mysterious
air a man told me to give you this and she handed natasha a
letter 

 only for christ's sake the girl went on as natasha 
without thinking mechanically broke the seal and read a love letter
from anatole of which without taking in a word she understood only
that it was a letter from him from the man she loved yes she loved
him or else how could that have happened which had happened and how
could she have a love letter from him in her hand 

with trembling hands natasha held that passionate love letter which
dolokhov had composed for anatole and as she read it she found in it
an echo of all that she herself imagined she was feeling 

 since yesterday evening my fate has been sealed to be loved by you
or to die there is no other way for me the letter began then he
went on to say that he knew her parents would not give her to him for
this there were secret reasons he could reveal only to her but that if
she loved him she need only say the word yes and no human power could
hinder their bliss love would conquer all he would steal her away and
carry her off to the ends of the earth 

 yes yes i love him thought natasha reading the letter for the
twentieth time and finding some peculiarly deep meaning in each word of
it 

that evening marya dmitrievna was going to the akharovs and
proposed to take the girls with her natasha pleading a headache 
remained at home 





chapter xv

on returning late in the evening sonya went to natasha's room and
to her surprise found her still dressed and asleep on the sofa open on
the table beside her lay anatole's letter sonya picked it up and
read it 

as she read she glanced at the sleeping natasha trying to find in her
face an explanation of what she was reading but did not find it her
face was calm gentle and happy clutching her breast to keep herself
from choking sonya pale and trembling with fear and agitation sat
down in an armchair and burst into tears 

 how was it i noticed nothing how could it go so far can she have
left off loving prince andrew and how could she let kuragin go to
such lengths he is a deceiver and a villain that's plain what will
nicholas dear noble nicholas do when he hears of it so this is
the meaning of her excited resolute unnatural look the day before
yesterday yesterday and today thought sonya but it can't be
that she loves him she probably opened the letter without knowing who
it was from probably she is offended by it she could not do such a
thing 

sonya wiped away her tears and went up to natasha again scanning her
face 

 natasha she said just audibly 

natasha awoke and saw sonya 

 ah you're back 

and with the decision and tenderness that often come at the moment of
awakening she embraced her friend but noticing sonya's look of
embarrassment her own face expressed confusion and suspicion 

 sonya you've read that letter she demanded 

 yes answered sonya softly 

natasha smiled rapturously 

 no sonya i can't any longer she said i can't hide it
from you any longer you know we love one another sonya darling he
writes sonya 

sonya stared open eyed at natasha unable to believe her ears 

 and bolkonski she asked 

 ah sonya if you only knew how happy i am cried natasha 
 you don't know what love is 

 but natasha can that be all over 

natasha looked at sonya with wide open eyes as if she could not grasp
the question 

 well then are you refusing prince andrew said sonya 

 oh you don't understand anything don't talk nonsense just
listen said natasha with momentary vexation 

 but i can't believe it insisted sonya i don't
understand how is it you have loved a man for a whole year and
suddenly why you have only seen him three times natasha i don't
believe you you're joking in three days to forget everything and
so 

 three days said natasha it seems to me i've loved him a
hundred years it seems to me that i have never loved anyone before you
can't understand it sonya wait a bit sit here and natasha
embraced and kissed her 

 i had heard that it happens like this and you must have heard it
too but it's only now that i feel such love it's not the same as
before as soon as i saw him i felt he was my master and i his slave 
and that i could not help loving him yes his slave whatever he orders
i shall do you don't understand that what can i do what can i do 
sonya cried natasha with a happy yet frightened expression 

 but think what you are doing cried sonya i can't leave
it like this this secret correspondence how could you let him go so
far she went on with a horror and disgust she could hardly conceal 

 i told you that i have no will natasha replied why can't
you understand i love him 

 then i won't let it come to that i shall tell cried sonya 
bursting into tears 

 what do you mean for god's sake if you tell you are my
enemy declared natasha you want me to be miserable you want us
to be separated 

when she saw natasha's fright sonya shed tears of shame and pity
for her friend 

 but what has happened between you she asked what has he said
to you why doesn't he come to the house 

natasha did not answer her questions 

 for god's sake sonya don't tell anyone don't torture
me natasha entreated remember no one ought to interfere in such
matters i have confided in you 

 but why this secrecy why doesn't he come to the house asked
sonya why doesn't he openly ask for your hand you know prince
andrew gave you complete freedom if it is really so but i don't
believe it natasha have you considered what these secret reasons can
be 

natasha looked at sonya with astonishment evidently this question
presented itself to her mind for the first time and she did not know how
to answer it 

 i don't know what the reasons are but there must be reasons 

sonya sighed and shook her head incredulously 

 if there were reasons she began 

but natasha guessing her doubts interrupted her in alarm 

 sonya one can't doubt him one can't one can't don't you
understand she cried 

 does he love you 

 does he love me natasha repeated with a smile of pity at her
friend's lack of comprehension why you have read his letter and
you have seen him 

 but if he is dishonorable 

 he dishonorable if you only knew exclaimed natasha 

 if he is an honorable man he should either declare his intentions or
cease seeing you and if you won't do this i will i will write to
him and i will tell papa said sonya resolutely 

 but i can't live without him cried natasha 

 natasha i don't understand you and what are you saying think of
your father and of nicholas 

 i don't want anyone i don't love anyone but him how dare you
say he is dishonorable don't you know that i love him screamed
natasha go away sonya i don't want to quarrel with you but
go for god's sake go you see how i am suffering natasha cried
angrily in a voice of despair and repressed irritation sonya burst
into sobs and ran from the room 

natasha went to the table and without a moment's reflection wrote
that answer to princess mary which she had been unable to write all
the morning in this letter she said briefly that all their
misunderstandings were at an end that availing herself of the
magnanimity of prince andrew who when he went abroad had given her her
freedom she begged princess mary to forget everything and forgive her
if she had been to blame toward her but that she could not be his
wife at that moment this all seemed quite easy simple and clear to
natasha 


on friday the rostovs were to return to the country but on wednesday
the count went with the prospective purchaser to his estate near moscow 

on the day the count left sonya and natasha were invited to a big
dinner party at the karagins and marya dmitrievna took them
there at that party natasha again met anatole and sonya noticed
that she spoke to him trying not to be overheard and that all through
dinner she was more agitated than ever when they got home natasha was
the first to begin the explanation sonya expected 

 there sonya you were talking all sorts of nonsense about him 
natasha began in a mild voice such as children use when they wish to be
praised we have had an explanation today 

 well what happened what did he say natasha how glad i am
you're not angry with me tell me everything the whole truth what
did he say 

natasha became thoughtful 

 oh sonya if you knew him as i do he said he asked me what i
had promised bolkonski he was glad i was free to refuse him 

sonya sighed sorrowfully 

 but you haven't refused bolkonski said she 

 perhaps i have perhaps all is over between me and bolkonski why do
you think so badly of me 

 i don't think anything only i don't understand this 

 wait a bit sonya you'll understand everything you'll see what
a man he is now don't think badly of me or of him i don't think
badly of anyone i love and pity everybody but what am i to do 

sonya did not succumb to the tender tone natasha used toward her 
the more emotional and ingratiating the expression of natasha's face
became the more serious and stern grew sonya's 

 natasha said she you asked me not to speak to you and i
haven't spoken but now you yourself have begun i don't trust him 
natasha why this secrecy 

 again again interrupted natasha 

 natasha i am afraid for you 

 afraid of what 

 i am afraid you're going to your ruin said sonya resolutely 
and was herself horrified at what she had said 

anger again showed in natasha's face 

 and i'll go to my ruin i will as soon as possible it's not
your business it won't be you but i who'll suffer leave me
alone leave me alone i hate you 

 natasha moaned sonya aghast 

 i hate you i hate you you're my enemy forever and natasha
ran out of the room 

natasha did not speak to sonya again and avoided her with the same
expression of agitated surprise and guilt she went about the house 
taking up now one occupation now another and at once abandoning them 

hard as it was for sonya she watched her friend and did not let her
out of her sight 

the day before the count was to return sonya noticed that natasha sat
by the drawing room window all the morning as if expecting something and
that she made a sign to an officer who drove past whom sonya took to
be anatole 

sonya began watching her friend still more attentively and noticed that
at dinner and all that evening natasha was in a strange and unnatural
state she answered questions at random began sentences she did not
finish and laughed at everything 

after tea sonya noticed a housemaid at natasha's door timidly
waiting to let her pass she let the girl go in and then listening at
the door learned that another letter had been delivered 

then suddenly it became clear to sonya that natasha had some dreadful
plan for that evening sonya knocked at her door natasha did not let
her in 

 she will run away with him thought sonya she is capable of
anything there was something particularly pathetic and resolute in
her face today she cried as she said good by to uncle sonya
remembered yes that's it she means to elope with him but
what am i to do thought she recalling all the signs that clearly
indicated that natasha had some terrible intention the count is
away what am i to do write to kuragin demanding an explanation but
what is there to oblige him to reply write to pierre as prince andrew
asked me to in case of some misfortune but perhaps she really
has already refused bolkonski she sent a letter to princess mary
yesterday and uncle is away to tell marya dmitrievna who had
such faith in natasha seemed to sonya terrible well anyway 
thought sonya as she stood in the dark passage now or never i must
prove that i remember the family's goodness to me and that i love
nicholas yes if i don't sleep for three nights i'll not leave this
passage and will hold her back by force and will and not let the family
be disgraced thought she 





chapter xvi

anatole had lately moved to dolokhov's the plan for natalie
rostova's abduction had been arranged and the preparations made by
dolokhov a few days before and on the day that sonya after listening
at natasha's door resolved to safeguard her it was to have been
put into execution natasha had promised to come out to kuragin at the
back porch at ten that evening kuragin was to put her into a troyka
he would have ready and to drive her forty miles to the village of
kamenka where an unfrocked priest was in readiness to perform a
marriage ceremony over them at kamenka a relay of horses was to wait
which would take them to the warsaw highroad and from there they would
hasten abroad with post horses 

anatole had a passport an order for post horses ten thousand rubles
he had taken from his sister and another ten thousand borrowed with
dolokhov's help 

two witnesses for the mock marriage khvostikov a retired petty
official whom dolokhov made use of in his gambling transactions and
makarin a retired hussar a kindly weak fellow who had an unbounded
affection for kuragin were sitting at tea in dolokhov's front
room 

in his large study the walls of which were hung to the ceiling with
persian rugs bearskins and weapons sat dolokhov in a traveling cloak
and high boots at an open desk on which lay an abacus and some bundles
of paper money anatole with uniform unbuttoned walked to and fro from
the room where the witnesses were sitting through the study to the room
behind where his french valet and others were packing the last of his
things dolokhov was counting the money and noting something down 

 well he said khvostikov must have two thousand 

 give it to him then said anatole 

 makarka their name for makarin will go through fire and
water for you for nothing so here are our accounts all settled said
dolokhov showing him the memorandum is that right 

 yes of course returned anatole evidently not listening to
dolokhov and looking straight before him with a smile that did not
leave his face 

dolokhov banged down the lid of his desk and turned to anatole with an
ironic smile 

 do you know you'd really better drop it all there's still
time 

 fool retorted anatole don't talk nonsense if you only
knew it's the devil knows what 

 no really give it up said dolokhov i am speaking
seriously it's no joke this plot you've hatched 

 what teasing again go to the devil eh said anatole making a
grimace really it's no time for your stupid jokes and he left
the room 

dolokhov smiled contemptuously and condescendingly when anatole had
gone out 

 you wait a bit he called after him i'm not joking i'm
talking sense come here come here 

anatole returned and looked at dolokhov trying to give him his
attention and evidently submitting to him involuntarily 

 now listen to me i'm telling you this for the last time why
should i joke about it did i hinder you who arranged everything for
you who found the priest and got the passport who raised the money i
did it all 

 well thank you for it do you think i am not grateful and
anatole sighed and embraced dolokhov 

 i helped you but all the same i must tell you the truth it is a
dangerous business and if you think about it a stupid business well 
you'll carry her off all right will they let it stop at that it
will come out that you're already married why they'll have you in
the criminal court 

 oh nonsense nonsense anatole ejaculated and again made a
grimace didn't i explain to you what and anatole with the
partiality dull witted people have for any conclusion they have reached
by their own reasoning repeated the argument he had already put to
dolokhov a hundred times didn't i explain to you that i have come
to this conclusion if this marriage is invalid he went on crooking
one finger then i have nothing to answer for but if it is valid no
matter abroad no one will know anything about it isn't that so and
don't talk to me don't don't 

 seriously you'd better drop it you'll only get yourself into a
mess 

 go to the devil cried anatole and clutching his hair left the
room but returned at once and dropped into an armchair in front of
dolokhov with his feet turned under him it's the very devil 
what feel how it beats he took dolokhov's hand and put it on his
heart what a foot my dear fellow what a glance a goddess he
added in french what 

dolokhov with a cold smile and a gleam in his handsome insolent eyes
looked at him evidently wishing to get some more amusement out of him 

 well and when the money's gone what then 

 what then eh repeated anatole sincerely perplexed by a thought
of the future what then then i don't know but why talk
nonsense he glanced at his watch it's time 

anatole went into the back room 

 now then nearly ready you're dawdling he shouted to the
servants 

dolokhov put away the money called a footman whom he ordered to bring
something for them to eat and drink before the journey and went into
the room where khvostikov and makarin were sitting 

anatole lay on the sofa in the study leaning on his elbow and smiling
pensively while his handsome lips muttered tenderly to himself 

 come and eat something have a drink dolokhov shouted to him
from the other room 

 i don't want to answered anatole continuing to smile 

 come balaga is here 

anatole rose and went into the dining room balaga was a famous troyka
driver who had known dolokhov and anatole some six years and had given
them good service with his troykas more than once when anatole's
regiment was stationed at tver he had taken him from tver in the
evening brought him to moscow by daybreak and driven him back again
the next night more than once he had enabled dolokhov to escape when
pursued more than once he had driven them through the town with gypsies
and ladykins as he called the cocottes more than once in their
service he had run over pedestrians and upset vehicles in the streets
of moscow and had always been protected from the consequences by my
gentlemen as he called them he had ruined more than one horse in
their service more than once they had beaten him and more than once
they had made him drunk on champagne and madeira which he loved and
he knew more than one thing about each of them which would long ago have
sent an ordinary man to siberia they often called balaga into their
orgies and made him drink and dance at the gypsies and more than one
thousand rubles of their money had passed through his hands in their
service he risked his skin and his life twenty times a year and in
their service had lost more horses than the money he had from them would
buy but he liked them liked that mad driving at twelve miles an hour 
liked upsetting a driver or running down a pedestrian and flying at
full gallop through the moscow streets he liked to hear those wild 
tipsy shouts behind him get on get on when it was impossible
to go any faster he liked giving a painful lash on the neck to some
peasant who more dead than alive was already hurrying out of his way 
 real gentlemen he considered them 

anatole and dolokhov liked balaga too for his masterly driving and
because he liked the things they liked with others balaga bargained 
charging twenty five rubles for a two hours drive and rarely
drove himself generally letting his young men do so but with his
gentlemen he always drove himself and never demanded anything for
his work only a couple of times a year when he knew from their valets
that they had money in hand he would turn up of a morning quite sober
and with a deep bow would ask them to help him the gentlemen always
made him sit down 

 do help me out theodore ivanych sir or your excellency 
he would say i am quite out of horses let me have what you can to
go to the fair 

and anatole and dolokhov when they had money would give him a
thousand or a couple of thousand rubles 

balaga was a fair haired short and snub nosed peasant of about
twenty seven red faced with a particularly red thick neck glittering
little eyes and a small beard he wore a fine dark blue silk lined
cloth coat over a sheepskin 

on entering the room now he crossed himself turning toward the front
corner of the room and went up to dolokhov holding out a small black
hand 

 theodore ivanych he said bowing 

 how d'you do friend well here he is 

 good day your excellency he said again holding out his hand to
anatole who had just come in 

 i say balaga said anatole putting his hands on the man's
shoulders do you care for me or not eh now do me a service 
what horses have you come with eh 

 as your messenger ordered your special beasts replied balaga 

 well listen balaga drive all three to death but get me there in
three hours eh 

 when they are dead what shall i drive said balaga with a wink 

 mind i'll smash your face in don't make jokes cried
anatole suddenly rolling his eyes 

 why joke said the driver laughing as if i'd grudge my
gentlemen anything as fast as ever the horses can gallop so fast
we'll go 

 ah said anatole well sit down 

 yes sit down said dolokhov 

 i'll stand theodore ivanych 

 sit down nonsense have a drink said anatole and filled a large
glass of madeira for him 

the driver's eyes sparkled at the sight of the wine after refusing
it for manners sake he drank it and wiped his mouth with a red silk
handkerchief he took out of his cap 

 and when are we to start your excellency 

 well anatole looked at his watch we'll start at once 
mind balaga you'll get there in time eh 

 that depends on our luck in starting else why shouldn't we be
there in time replied balaga didn't we get you to tver in
seven hours i think you remember that your excellency 

 do you know one christmas i drove from tver said anatole 
smilingly at the recollection and turning to makarin who gazed
rapturously at him with wide open eyes will you believe it 
makarka it took one's breath away the rate we flew we came across
a train of loaded sleighs and drove right over two of them eh 

 those were horses balaga continued the tale that time i'd
harnessed two young side horses with the bay in the shafts he went
on turning to dolokhov will you believe it theodore ivanych 
those animals flew forty miles i couldn't hold them in my hands grew
numb in the sharp frost so that i threw down the reins catch hold
yourself your excellency says i and i just tumbled on the bottom
of the sleigh and sprawled there it wasn't a case of urging them on 
there was no holding them in till we reached the place the devils took
us there in three hours only the near one died of it 





chapter xvii

anatole went out of the room and returned a few minutes later wearing
a fur coat girt with a silver belt and a sable cap jauntily set on one
side and very becoming to his handsome face having looked in a mirror 
and standing before dolokhov in the same pose he had assumed before it 
he lifted a glass of wine 

 well good by theodore thank you for everything and farewell said
anatole well comrades and friends he considered for a moment 
of my youth farewell he said turning to makarin and the others 

though they were all going with him anatole evidently wished to make
something touching and solemn out of this address to his comrades he
spoke slowly in a loud voice and throwing out his chest slightly swayed
one leg 

 all take glasses you too balaga well comrades and friends of my
youth we've had our fling and lived and reveled eh and now when
shall we meet again i am going abroad we have had a good time now
farewell lads to our health hurrah he cried and emptying his
glass flung it on the floor 

 to your health said balaga who also emptied his glass and wiped his
mouth with his handkerchief 

makarin embraced anatole with tears in his eyes 

 ah prince how sorry i am to part from you 

 let's go let's go cried anatole 

balaga was about to leave the room 

 no stop said anatole shut the door we have first to sit down 
that's the way 

they shut the door and all sat down 

 now quick march lads said anatole rising 

joseph his valet handed him his sabretache and saber and they all
went out into the vestibule 

 and where's the fur cloak asked dolokhov hey ignatka go to
matrena matrevna and ask her for the sable cloak i have heard what
elopements are like continued dolokhov with a wink why she'll rush
out more dead than alive just in the things she is wearing if you delay
at all there'll be tears and papa and mamma and she's frozen in a
minute and must go back but you wrap the fur cloak round her first thing
and carry her to the sleigh 

the valet brought a woman's fox lined cloak 

 fool i told you the sable one hey matrena the sable he shouted so
that his voice rang far through the rooms 

a handsome slim and pale faced gypsy girl with glittering black eyes
and curly blue black hair wearing a red shawl ran out with a sable
mantle on her arm 

 here i don't grudge it take it she said evidently afraid of her
master and yet regretful of her cloak 

dolokhov without answering took the cloak threw it over matrena and
wrapped her up in it 

 that's the way said dolokhov and then so and he turned the collar
up round her head leaving only a little of the face uncovered and
then so do you see and he pushed anatole's head forward to meet the
gap left by the collar through which matrena's brilliant smile was
seen 

 well good by matrena said anatole kissing her ah my revels here
are over remember me to steshka there good by good by matrena wish
me luck 

 well prince may god give you great luck said matrena in her gypsy
accent 

two troykas were standing before the porch and two young drivers were
holding the horses balaga took his seat in the front one and holding
his elbows high arranged the reins deliberately anatole and dolokhov
got in with him makarin khvostikov and a valet seated themselves in
the other sleigh 

 well are you ready asked balaga 

 go he cried twisting the reins round his hands and the troyka tore
down the nikitski boulevard 

 tproo get out of the way hi tproo the shouting of balaga
and of the sturdy young fellow seated on the box was all that could
be heard on the arbat square the troyka caught against a carriage 
something cracked shouts were heard and the troyka flew along the
arbat street 

after taking a turn along the podnovinski boulevard balaga began to
rein in and turning back drew up at the crossing of the old konyusheny
street 

the young fellow on the box jumped down to hold the horses and anatole
and dolokhov went along the pavement when they reached the gate
dolokhov whistled the whistle was answered and a maidservant ran out 

 come into the courtyard or you'll be seen she'll come out directly 
said she 

dolokhov stayed by the gate anatole followed the maid into the
courtyard turned the corner and ran up into the porch 

he was met by gabriel marya dmitrievna's gigantic footman 

 come to the mistress please said the footman in his deep bass 
intercepting any retreat 

 to what mistress who are you asked anatole in a breathless whisper 

 kindly step in my orders are to bring you in 

 kuragin come back shouted dolokhov betrayed back 

dolokhov after anatole entered had remained at the wicket gate and was
struggling with the yard porter who was trying to lock it with a last
desperate effort dolokhov pushed the porter aside and when anatole ran
back seized him by the arm pulled him through the wicket and ran back
with him to the troyka 





chapter xviii

marya dmitrievna having found sonya weeping in the corridor made her
confess everything and intercepting the note to natasha she read it and
went into natasha's room with it in her hand 

 you shameless good for nothing said she i won't hear a word 

pushing back natasha who looked at her with astonished but tearless
eyes she locked her in and having given orders to the yard porter to
admit the persons who would be coming that evening but not to let them
out again and having told the footman to bring them up to her she
seated herself in the drawing room to await the abductors 

when gabriel came to inform her that the men who had come had run
away again she rose frowning and clasping her hands behind her paced
through the rooms a long time considering what she should do toward
midnight she went to natasha's room fingering the key in her pocket 
sonya was sitting sobbing in the corridor marya dmitrievna for god's
sake let me in to her she pleaded but marya dmitrievna unlocked
the door and went in without giving her an answer disgusting 
abominable in my house horrid girl hussy i'm only sorry for her
father thought she trying to restrain her wrath hard as it may
be i'll tell them all to hold their tongues and will hide it from the
count she entered the room with resolute steps natasha lying on the
sofa her head hidden in her hands and she did not stir she was in
just the same position in which marya dmitrievna had left her 

 a nice girl very nice said marya dmitrievna arranging meetings
with lovers in my house it's no use pretending you listen when i speak
to you and marya dmitrievna touched her arm listen when i speak 
you've disgraced yourself like the lowest of hussies i'd treat you
differently but i'm sorry for your father so i will conceal it 

natasha did not change her position but her whole body heaved with
noiseless convulsive sobs which choked her marya dmitrievna glanced
round at sonya and seated herself on the sofa beside natasha 

 it's lucky for him that he escaped me but i'll find him she said in
her rough voice do you hear what i am saying or not she added 

she put her large hand under natasha's face and turned it toward her 
both marya dmitrievna and sonya were amazed when they saw how natasha
looked her eyes were dry and glistening her lips compressed her
cheeks sunken 

 let me be what is it to me i shall die she muttered 
wrenching herself from marya dmitrievna's hands with a vicious effort
and sinking down again into her former position 

 natalie said marya dmitrievna i wish for your good lie still 
stay like that then i won't touch you but listen i won't tell you how
guilty you are you know that yourself but when your father comes back
tomorrow what am i to tell him eh 

again natasha's body shook with sobs 

 suppose he finds out and your brother and your betrothed 

 i have no betrothed i have refused him cried natasha 

 that's all the same continued marya dmitrievna if they hear of
this will they let it pass he your father i know him if he
challenges him to a duel will that be all right eh 

 oh let me be why have you interfered at all why why who asked
you to shouted natasha raising herself on the sofa and looking
malignantly at marya dmitrievna 

 but what did you want cried marya dmitrievna growing angry again 
 were you kept under lock and key who hindered his coming to the house 
why carry you off as if you were some gypsy singing girl well if he
had carried you off do you think they wouldn't have found him 
your father or brother or your betrothed and he's a scoundrel a
wretch that's a fact 

 he is better than any of you exclaimed natasha getting up if you
hadn't interfered oh my god what is it all what is it sonya 
why go away 

and she burst into sobs with the despairing vehemence with which people
bewail disasters they feel they have themselves occasioned marya
dmitrievna was to speak again but natasha cried out 

 go away go away you all hate and despise me and she threw herself
back on the sofa 

marya dmitrievna went on admonishing her for some time enjoining on her
that it must all be kept from her father and assuring her that nobody
would know anything about it if only natasha herself would undertake
to forget it all and not let anyone see that something had happened 
natasha did not reply nor did she sob any longer but she grew cold
and had a shivering fit marya dmitrievna put a pillow under her head 
covered her with two quilts and herself brought her some lime flower
water but natasha did not respond to her 

 well let her sleep said marya dmitrievna as she went out of the room
supposing natasha to be asleep 

but natasha was not asleep with pale face and fixed wide open eyes she
looked straight before her all that night she did not sleep or weep and
did not speak to sonya who got up and went to her several times 

next day count rostov returned from his estate near moscow in time for
lunch as he had promised he was in very good spirits the affair with
the purchaser was going on satisfactorily and there was nothing to keep
him any longer in moscow away from the countess whom he missed marya
dmitrievna met him and told him that natasha had been very unwell the
day before and that they had sent for the doctor but that she was
better now natasha had not left her room that morning with compressed
and parched lips and dry fixed eyes she sat at the window uneasily
watching the people who drove past and hurriedly glancing round at
anyone who entered the room she was evidently expecting news of him and
that he would come or would write to her 

when the count came to see her she turned anxiously round at the sound
of a man's footstep and then her face resumed its cold and malevolent
expression she did not even get up to greet him what is the matter
with you my angel are you ill asked the count 

after a moment's silence natasha answered yes ill 

in reply to the count's anxious inquiries as to why she was so dejected
and whether anything had happened to her betrothed she assured him
that nothing had happened and asked him not to worry marya dmitrievna
confirmed natasha's assurances that nothing had happened from
the pretense of illness from his daughter's distress and by the
embarrassed faces of sonya and marya dmitrievna the count saw clearly
that something had gone wrong during his absence but it was so terrible
for him to think that anything disgraceful had happened to his beloved
daughter and he so prized his own cheerful tranquillity that he
avoided inquiries and tried to assure himself that nothing particularly
had happened and he was only dissatisfied that her indisposition
delayed their return to the country 





chapter xix

from the day his wife arrived in moscow pierre had been intending to go
away somewhere so as not to be near her soon after the rostovs came
to moscow the effect natasha had on him made him hasten to carry out
his intention he went to tver to see joseph alexeevich's widow who
had long since promised to hand over to him some papers of her deceased
husband's 

when he returned to moscow pierre was handed a letter from marya
dmitrievna asking him to come and see her on a matter of great
importance relating to andrew bolkonski and his betrothed pierre had
been avoiding natasha because it seemed to him that his feeling for her
was stronger than a married man's should be for his friend's fiancee 
yet some fate constantly threw them together 

 what can have happened and what can they want with me thought he
as he dressed to go to marya dmitrievna's if only prince andrew would
hurry up and come and marry her thought he on his way to the house 

on the tverskoy boulevard a familiar voice called to him 

 pierre been back long someone shouted pierre raised his head in
a sleigh drawn by two gray trotting horses that were bespattering the
dashboard with snow anatole and his constant companion makarin dashed
past anatole was sitting upright in the classic pose of military
dandies the lower part of his face hidden by his beaver collar and his
head slightly bent his face was fresh and rosy his white plumed hat 
tilted to one side disclosed his curled and pomaded hair besprinkled
with powdery snow 

 yes indeed that's a true sage thought pierre he sees nothing
beyond the pleasure of the moment nothing troubles him and so he is
always cheerful satisfied and serene what wouldn't i give to be like
him he thought enviously 

in marya dmitrievna's anteroom the footman who helped him off with his
fur coat said that the mistress asked him to come to her bedroom 

when he opened the ballroom door pierre saw natasha sitting at the
window with a thin pale and spiteful face she glanced round at him 
frowned and left the room with an expression of cold dignity 

 what has happened asked pierre entering marya dmitrievna's room 

 fine doings answered dmitrievna for fifty eight years have i lived
in this world and never known anything so disgraceful 

and having put him on his honor not to repeat anything she told him 
marya dmitrievna informed him that natasha had refused prince andrew
without her parents knowledge and that the cause of this was anatole
kuragin into whose society pierre's wife had thrown her and with whom
natasha had tried to elope during her father's absence in order to be
married secretly 

pierre raised his shoulders and listened open mouthed to what was told
him scarcely able to believe his own ears that prince andrew's
deeply loved affianced wife the same natasha rostova who used to be so
charming should give up bolkonski for that fool anatole who was already
secretly married as pierre knew and should be so in love with him as
to agree to run away with him was something pierre could not conceive
and could not imagine 

he could not reconcile the charming impression he had of natasha whom
he had known from a child with this new conception of her baseness 
folly and cruelty he thought of his wife they are all alike he
said to himself reflecting that he was not the only man unfortunate
enough to be tied to a bad woman but still he pitied prince andrew to
the point of tears and sympathized with his wounded pride and the more
he pitied his friend the more did he think with contempt and even with
disgust of that natasha who had just passed him in the ballroom with
such a look of cold dignity he did not know that natasha's soul was
overflowing with despair shame and humiliation and that it was not
her fault that her face happened to assume an expression of calm dignity
and severity 

 but how get married said pierre in answer to marya dmitrievna he
could not marry he is married 

 things get worse from hour to hour ejaculated marya dmitrievna a
nice youth what a scoundrel and she's expecting him expecting him
since yesterday she must be told then at least she won't go on
expecting him 

after hearing the details of anatole's marriage from pierre and giving
vent to her anger against anatole in words of abuse marya dmitrievna
told pierre why she had sent for him she was afraid that the count or
bolkonski who might arrive at any moment if they knew of this affair
 which she hoped to hide from them might challenge anatole to a duel 
and she therefore asked pierre to tell his brother in law in her name to
leave moscow and not dare to let her set eyes on him again pierre only
now realizing the danger to the old count nicholas and prince
andrew promised to do as she wished having briefly and exactly
explained her wishes to him she let him go to the drawing room 

 mind the count knows nothing behave as if you know nothing either 
she said and i will go and tell her it is no use expecting him and
stay to dinner if you care to she called after pierre 

pierre met the old count who seemed nervous and upset that morning
natasha had told him that she had rejected bolkonski 

 troubles troubles my dear fellow he said to pierre what troubles
one has with these girls without their mother i do so regret having
come here i will be frank with you have you heard she has broken
off her engagement without consulting anybody it's true this engagement
never was much to my liking of course he is an excellent man but
still with his father's disapproval they wouldn't have been happy and
natasha won't lack suitors still it has been going on so long and
to take such a step without father's or mother's consent and now she's
ill and god knows what it's hard count hard to manage daughters in
their mother's absence 

pierre saw that the count was much upset and tried to change the
subject but the count returned to his troubles 

sonya entered the room with an agitated face 

 natasha is not quite well she's in her room and would like to see you 
marya dmitrievna is with her and she too asks you to come 

 yes you are a great friend of bolkonski's no doubt she wants to send
him a message said the count oh dear oh dear how happy it all
was 

and clutching the spare gray locks on his temples the count left the
room 

when marya dmitrievna told natasha that anatole was married natasha
did not wish to believe it and insisted on having it confirmed by pierre
himself sonya told pierre this as she led him along the corridor to
natasha's room 

natasha pale and stern was sitting beside marya dmitrievna and her
eyes glittering feverishly met pierre with a questioning look the
moment he entered she did not smile or nod but only gazed fixedly at
him and her look asked only one thing was he a friend or like the
others an enemy in regard to anatole as for pierre he evidently did
not exist for her 

 he knows all about it said marya dmitrievna pointing to pierre and
addressing natasha let him tell you whether i have told the truth 

natasha looked from one to the other as a hunted and wounded animal
looks at the approaching dogs and sportsmen 

 natalya ilynichna pierre began dropping his eyes with a feeling of
pity for her and loathing for the thing he had to do whether it is
true or not should make no difference to you because 

 then it is not true that he's married 

 yes it is true 

 has he been married long she asked on your honor 

pierre gave his word of honor 

 is he still here she asked quickly 

 yes i have just seen him 

she was evidently unable to speak and made a sign with her hands that
they should leave her alone 





chapter xx

pierre did not stay for dinner but left the room and went away at once 
he drove through the town seeking anatole kuragin at the thought of
whom now the blood rushed to his heart and he felt a difficulty in
breathing he was not at the ice hills nor at the gypsies nor at
komoneno's pierre drove to the club in the club all was going on as
usual the members who were assembling for dinner were sitting about
in groups they greeted pierre and spoke of the town news the footman
having greeted him knowing his habits and his acquaintances told him
there was a place left for him in the small dining room and that prince
michael zakharych was in the library but paul timofeevich had not yet
arrived one of pierre's acquaintances while they were talking about
the weather asked if he had heard of kuragin's abduction of rostova
which was talked of in the town and was it true pierre laughed and
said it was nonsense for he had just come from the rostovs he asked
everyone about anatole one man told him he had not come yet and
another that he was coming to dinner pierre felt it strange to see this
calm indifferent crowd of people unaware of what was going on in his
soul he paced through the ballroom waited till everyone had come and
as anatole had not turned up did not stay for dinner but drove home 

anatole for whom pierre was looking dined that day with dolokhov 
consulting him as to how to remedy this unfortunate affair it seemed to
him essential to see natasha in the evening he drove to his sister's
to discuss with her how to arrange a meeting when pierre returned home
after vainly hunting all over moscow his valet informed him that prince
anatole was with the countess the countess drawing room was full of
guests 

pierre without greeting his wife whom he had not seen since his
return at that moment she was more repulsive to him than ever entered
the drawing room and seeing anatole went up to him 

 ah pierre said the countess going up to her husband you don't know
what a plight our anatole 

she stopped seeing in the forward thrust of her husband's head in his
glowing eyes and his resolute gait the terrible indications of that
rage and strength which she knew and had herself experienced after his
duel with dolokhov 

 where you are there is vice and evil said pierre to his wife 
 anatole come with me i must speak to you he added in french 

anatole glanced round at his sister and rose submissively ready to
follow pierre pierre taking him by the arm pulled him toward himself
and was leading him from the room 

 if you allow yourself in my drawing room whispered helene but
pierre did not reply and went out of the room 

anatole followed him with his usual jaunty step but his face betrayed
anxiety 

having entered his study pierre closed the door and addressed anatole
without looking at him 

 you promised countess rostova to marry her and were about to elope with
her is that so 

 mon cher answered anatole their whole conversation was in french 
 i don't consider myself bound to answer questions put to me in that
tone 

pierre's face already pale became distorted by fury he seized anatole
by the collar of his uniform with his big hand and shook him from side
to side till anatole's face showed a sufficient degree of terror 

 when i tell you that i must talk to you repeated pierre 

 come now this is stupid what said anatole fingering a button of
his collar that had been wrenched loose with a bit of the cloth 

 you're a scoundrel and a blackguard and i don't know what deprives
me from the pleasure of smashing your head with this said pierre 
expressing himself so artificially because he was talking french 

he took a heavy paperweight and lifted it threateningly but at once put
it back in its place 

 did you promise to marry her 

 i i didn't think of it i never promised because 

pierre interrupted him 

 have you any letters of hers any letters he said moving toward
anatole 

anatole glanced at him and immediately thrust his hand into his pocket
and drew out his pocketbook 

pierre took the letter anatole handed him and pushing aside a table
that stood in his way threw himself on the sofa 

 i shan't be violent don't be afraid said pierre in answer to a
frightened gesture of anatole's first the letters said he as if
repeating a lesson to himself secondly he continued after a short
pause again rising and again pacing the room tomorrow you must get
out of moscow 

 but how can i 

 thirdly pierre continued without listening to him you must never
breathe a word of what has passed between you and countess rostova 
i know i can't prevent your doing so but if you have a spark of
conscience pierre paced the room several times in silence 

anatole sat at a table frowning and biting his lips 

 after all you must understand that besides your pleasure there is such
a thing as other people's happiness and peace and that you are ruining
a whole life for the sake of amusing yourself amuse yourself with women
like my wife with them you are within your rights for they know what
you want of them they are armed against you by the same experience
of debauchery but to promise a maid to marry her to deceive to
kidnap don't you understand that it is as mean as beating an old man
or a child 

pierre paused and looked at anatole no longer with an angry but with a
questioning look 

 i don't know about that eh said anatole growing more confident as
pierre mastered his wrath i don't know that and don't want to he
said not looking at pierre and with a slight tremor of his lower jaw 
 but you have used such words to me mean and so on which as a man of
honor i can't allow anyone to use 

pierre glanced at him with amazement unable to understand what he
wanted 

 though it was tete a tete anatole continued still i can't 

 is it satisfaction you want said pierre ironically 

 you could at least take back your words what if you want me to do as
you wish eh 

 i take them back i take them back said pierre and i ask you to
forgive me pierre involuntarily glanced at the loose button and if
you require money for your journey 

anatole smiled the expression of that base and cringing smile which
pierre knew so well in his wife revolted him 

 oh vile and heartless brood he exclaimed and left the room 

next day anatole left for petersburg 





chapter xxi

pierre drove to marya dmitrievna's to tell her of the fulfillment of her
wish that kuragin should be banished from moscow the whole house was in
a state of alarm and commotion natasha was very ill having as marya
dmitrievna told him in secret poisoned herself the night after she had
been told that anatole was married with some arsenic she had stealthily
procured after swallowing a little she had been so frightened that she
woke sonya and told her what she had done the necessary antidotes had
been administered in time and she was now out of danger though still so
weak that it was out of the question to move her to the country and
so the countess had been sent for pierre saw the distracted count and
sonya who had a tear stained face but he could not see natasha 

pierre dined at the club that day and heard on all sides gossip about
the attempted abduction of rostova he resolutely denied these
rumors assuring everyone that nothing had happened except that his
brother in law had proposed to her and been refused it seemed to
pierre that it was his duty to conceal the whole affair and re establish
natasha's reputation 

he was awaiting prince andrew's return with dread and went every day to
the old prince's for news of him 

old prince bolkonski heard all the rumors current in the town from
mademoiselle bourienne and had read the note to princess mary in which
natasha had broken off her engagement he seemed in better spirits than
usual and awaited his son with great impatience 

some days after anatole's departure pierre received a note from prince
andrew informing him of his arrival and asking him to come to see him 

as soon as he reached moscow prince andrew had received from his
father natasha's note to princess mary breaking off her engagement
 mademoiselle bourienne had purloined it from princess mary and given
it to the old prince and he heard from him the story of natasha's
elopement with additions 

prince andrew had arrived in the evening and pierre came to see him next
morning pierre expected to find prince andrew in almost the same state
as natasha and was therefore surprised on entering the drawing room
to hear him in the study talking in a loud animated voice about some
intrigue going on in petersburg the old prince's voice and another now
and then interrupted him princess mary came out to meet pierre she
sighed looking toward the door of the room where prince andrew was 
evidently intending to express her sympathy with his sorrow but pierre
saw by her face that she was glad both at what had happened and at the
way her brother had taken the news of natasha's faithlessness 

 he says he expected it she remarked i know his pride will not let
him express his feelings but still he has taken it better far better 
than i expected evidently it had to be 

 but is it possible that all is really ended asked pierre 

princess mary looked at him with astonishment she did not understand
how he could ask such a question pierre went into the study prince
andrew greatly changed and plainly in better health but with a fresh
horizontal wrinkle between his brows stood in civilian dress facing
his father and prince meshcherski warmly disputing and vigorously
gesticulating the conversation was about speranski the news of whose
sudden exile and alleged treachery had just reached moscow 

 now he is censured and accused by all who were enthusiastic about him
a month ago prince andrew was saying and by those who were unable to
understand his aims to judge a man who is in disfavor and to throw on
him all the blame of other men's mistakes is very easy but i maintain
that if anything good has been accomplished in this reign it was done by
him by him alone 

he paused at the sight of pierre his face quivered and immediately
assumed a vindictive expression 

 posterity will do him justice he concluded and at once turned to
pierre 

 well how are you still getting stouter he said with animation but
the new wrinkle on his forehead deepened yes i am well he said in
answer to pierre's question and smiled 

to pierre that smile said plainly i am well but my health is now of
no use to anyone 

after a few words to pierre about the awful roads from the polish
frontier about people he had met in switzerland who knew pierre and
about m dessalles whom he had brought from abroad to be his son's
tutor prince andrew again joined warmly in the conversation about
speranski which was still going on between the two old men 

 if there were treason or proofs of secret relations with napoleon 
they would have been made public he said with warmth and haste i do
not and never did like speranski personally but i like justice 

pierre now recognized in his friend a need with which he was only too
familiar to get excited and to have arguments about extraneous matters
in order to stifle thoughts that were too oppressive and too intimate 
when prince meshcherski had left prince andrew took pierre's arm and
asked him into the room that had been assigned him a bed had been made
up there and some open portmanteaus and trunks stood about prince
andrew went to one and took out a small casket from which he drew a
packet wrapped in paper he did it all silently and very quickly he
stood up and coughed his face was gloomy and his lips compressed 

 forgive me for troubling you 

pierre saw that prince andrew was going to speak of natasha and his
broad face expressed pity and sympathy this expression irritated prince
andrew and in a determined ringing and unpleasant tone he continued 

 i have received a refusal from countess rostova and have heard reports
of your brother in law having sought her hand or something of that
kind is that true 

 both true and untrue pierre began but prince andrew interrupted him 

 here are her letters and her portrait said he 

he took the packet from the table and handed it to pierre 

 give this to the countess if you see her 

 she is very ill said pierre 

 then she is here still said prince andrew and prince kuragin he
added quickly 

 he left long ago she has been at death's door 

 i much regret her illness said prince andrew and he smiled like his
father coldly maliciously and unpleasantly 

 so monsieur kuragin has not honored countess rostova with his hand 
said prince andrew and he snorted several times 

 he could not marry for he was married already said pierre 

prince andrew laughed disagreeably again reminding one of his father 

 and where is your brother in law now if i may ask he said 

 he has gone to peters but i don't know said pierre 

 well it doesn't matter said prince andrew tell countess rostova
that she was and is perfectly free and that i wish her all that is
good 

pierre took the packet prince andrew as if trying to remember whether
he had something more to say or waiting to see if pierre would say
anything looked fixedly at him 

 i say do you remember our discussion in petersburg asked pierre 
 about 

 yes returned prince andrew hastily i said that a fallen woman
should be forgiven but i didn't say i could forgive her i can't 

 but can this be compared said pierre 

prince andrew interrupted him and cried sharply yes ask her hand
again be magnanimous and so on yes that would be very noble but
i am unable to follow in that gentleman's footsteps if you wish to be
my friend never speak to me of that of all that well good by so
you'll give her the packet 

pierre left the room and went to the old prince and princess mary 

the old man seemed livelier than usual princess mary was the same as
always but beneath her sympathy for her brother pierre noticed her
satisfaction that the engagement had been broken off looking at them
pierre realized what contempt and animosity they all felt for the
rostovs and that it was impossible in their presence even to mention
the name of her who could give up prince andrew for anyone else 

at dinner the talk turned on the war the approach of which was becoming
evident prince andrew talked incessantly arguing now with his father 
now with the swiss tutor dessalles and showing an unnatural animation 
the cause of which pierre so well understood 





chapter xxii

that same evening pierre went to the rostovs to fulfill the commission
entrusted to him natasha was in bed the count at the club and pierre 
after giving the letters to sonya went to marya dmitrievna who was
interested to know how prince andrew had taken the news ten minutes
later sonya came to marya dmitrievna 

 natasha insists on seeing count peter kirilovich said she 

 but how are we to take him up to her the room there has not been
tidied up 

 no she has dressed and gone into the drawing room said sonya 

marya dmitrievna only shrugged her shoulders 

 when will her mother come she has worried me to death now mind don't
tell her everything said she to pierre one hasn't the heart to scold
her she is so much to be pitied so much to be pitied 

natasha was standing in the middle of the drawing room emaciated with
a pale set face but not at all shamefaced as pierre expected to find
her when he appeared at the door she grew flurried evidently undecided
whether to go to meet him or to wait till he came up 

pierre hastened to her he thought she would give him her hand as
usual but she stepping up to him stopped breathing heavily her arms
hanging lifelessly just in the pose she used to stand in when she
went to the middle of the ballroom to sing but with quite a different
expression of face 

 peter kirilovich she began rapidly prince bolkonski was your
friend is your friend she corrected herself it seemed to her that
everything that had once been must now be different he told me once
to apply to you 

pierre sniffed as he looked at her but did not speak till then he had
reproached her in his heart and tried to despise her but he now felt so
sorry for her that there was no room in his soul for reproach 

 he is here now tell him to for forgive me she stopped and
breathed still more quickly but did not shed tears 

 yes i will tell him answered pierre but 

he did not know what to say 

natasha was evidently dismayed at the thought of what he might think she
had meant 

 no i know all is over she said hurriedly no that can never be 
i'm only tormented by the wrong i have done him tell him only that i
beg him to forgive forgive forgive me for everything 

she trembled all over and sat down on a chair 

a sense of pity he had never before known overflowed pierre's heart 

 i will tell him i will tell him everything once more said pierre 
 but i should like to know one thing 

 know what natasha's eyes asked 

 i should like to know did you love pierre did not know how to
refer to anatole and flushed at the thought of him did you love that
bad man 

 don't call him bad said natasha but i don't know don't know at
all 

she began to cry and a still greater sense of pity tenderness and love
welled up in pierre he felt the tears trickle under his spectacles and
hoped they would not be noticed 

 we won't speak of it any more my dear said pierre and his gentle 
cordial tone suddenly seemed very strange to natasha 

 we won't speak of it my dear i'll tell him everything but one thing
i beg of you consider me your friend and if you want help advice 
or simply to open your heart to someone not now but when your mind is
clearer think of me he took her hand and kissed it i shall be happy
if it's in my power 

pierre grew confused 

 don't speak to me like that i am not worth it exclaimed natasha and
turned to leave the room but pierre held her hand 

he knew he had something more to say to her but when he said it he was
amazed at his own words 

 stop stop you have your whole life before you said he to her 

 before me no all is over for me she replied with shame and
self abasement 

 all over he repeated if i were not myself but the handsomest 
cleverest and best man in the world and were free i would this moment
ask on my knees for your hand and your love 

for the first time for many days natasha wept tears of gratitude and
tenderness and glancing at pierre she went out of the room 

pierre too when she had gone almost ran into the anteroom restraining
tears of tenderness and joy that choked him and without finding the
sleeves of his fur cloak threw it on and got into his sleigh 

 where to now your excellency asked the coachman 

 where to pierre asked himself where can i go now surely not to the
club or to pay calls all men seemed so pitiful so poor in comparison
with this feeling of tenderness and love he experienced in comparison
with that softened grateful last look she had given him through her
tears 

 home said pierre and despite twenty two degrees of frost fahrenheit
he threw open the bearskin cloak from his broad chest and inhaled the
air with joy 

it was clear and frosty above the dirty ill lit streets above the
black roofs stretched the dark starry sky only looking up at the sky
did pierre cease to feel how sordid and humiliating were all mundane
things compared with the heights to which his soul had just been raised 
at the entrance to the arbat square an immense expanse of dark starry
sky presented itself to his eyes almost in the center of it above the
prechistenka boulevard surrounded and sprinkled on all sides by stars
but distinguished from them all by its nearness to the earth its white
light and its long uplifted tail shone the enormous and brilliant
comet of 1812 the comet which was said to portend all kinds of woes
and the end of the world in pierre however that comet with its long
luminous tail aroused no feeling of fear on the contrary he gazed
joyfully his eyes moist with tears at this bright comet which having
traveled in its orbit with inconceivable velocity through immeasurable
space seemed suddenly like an arrow piercing the earth to remain
fixed in a chosen spot vigorously holding its tail erect shining and
displaying its white light amid countless other scintillating stars it
seemed to pierre that this comet fully responded to what was passing in
his own softened and uplifted soul now blossoming into a new life 





book nine 1812





chapter i

from the close of the year 1811 intensified arming and concentrating of
the forces of western europe began and in 1812 these forces millions
of men reckoning those transporting and feeding the army moved from the
west eastwards to the russian frontier toward which since 1811 russian
forces had been similarly drawn on the twelfth of june 1812 the
forces of western europe crossed the russian frontier and war began 
that is an event took place opposed to human reason and to human
nature millions of men perpetrated against one another such innumerable
crimes frauds treacheries thefts forgeries issues of false money 
burglaries incendiarisms and murders as in whole centuries are not
recorded in the annals of all the law courts of the world but which
those who committed them did not at the time regard as being crimes 

what produced this extraordinary occurrence what were its causes the
historians tell us with naive assurance that its causes were the wrongs
inflicted on the duke of oldenburg the nonobservance of the continental
system the ambition of napoleon the firmness of alexander the
mistakes of the diplomatists and so on 

consequently it would only have been necessary for metternich 
rumyantsev or talleyrand between a levee and an evening party to have
taken proper pains and written a more adroit note or for napoleon to
have written to alexander my respected brother i consent to restore
the duchy to the duke of oldenburg and there would have been no war 

we can understand that the matter seemed like that to contemporaries 
it naturally seemed to napoleon that the war was caused by england's
intrigues as in fact he said on the island of st helena it naturally
seemed to members of the english parliament that the cause of the war
was napoleon's ambition to the duke of oldenburg that the cause of the
war was the violence done to him to businessmen that the cause of the
war was the continental system which was ruining europe to the generals
and old soldiers that the chief reason for the war was the necessity of
giving them employment to the legitimists of that day that it was the
need of re establishing les bons principes and to the diplomatists of
that time that it all resulted from the fact that the alliance between
russia and austria in 1809 had not been sufficiently well concealed
from napoleon and from the awkward wording of memorandum no 178 it
is natural that these and a countless and infinite quantity of other
reasons the number depending on the endless diversity of points
of view presented themselves to the men of that day but to us to
posterity who view the thing that happened in all its magnitude and
perceive its plain and terrible meaning these causes seem insufficient 
to us it is incomprehensible that millions of christian men killed and
tortured each other either because napoleon was ambitious or alexander
was firm or because england's policy was astute or the duke of
oldenburg wronged we cannot grasp what connection such circumstances
have with the actual fact of slaughter and violence why because the
duke was wronged thousands of men from the other side of europe killed
and ruined the people of smolensk and moscow and were killed by them 

to us their descendants who are not historians and are not carried
away by the process of research and can therefore regard the event
with unclouded common sense an incalculable number of causes present
themselves the deeper we delve in search of these causes the more of
them we find and each separate cause or whole series of causes appears
to us equally valid in itself and equally false by its insignificance
compared to the magnitude of the events and by its impotence apart
from the cooperation of all the other coincident causes to occasion the
event to us the wish or objection of this or that french corporal to
serve a second term appears as much a cause as napoleon's refusal to
withdraw his troops beyond the vistula and to restore the duchy of
oldenburg for had he not wished to serve and had a second a third 
and a thousandth corporal and private also refused there would have
been so many less men in napoleon's army and the war could not have
occurred 

had napoleon not taken offense at the demand that he should withdraw
beyond the vistula and not ordered his troops to advance there would
have been no war but had all his sergeants objected to serving a second
term then also there could have been no war nor could there have been
a war had there been no english intrigues and no duke of oldenburg and
had alexander not felt insulted and had there not been an autocratic
government in russia or a revolution in france and a subsequent
dictatorship and empire or all the things that produced the french
revolution and so on without each of these causes nothing could have
happened so all these causes myriads of causes coincided to bring it
about and so there was no one cause for that occurrence but it had
to occur because it had to millions of men renouncing their human
feelings and reason had to go from west to east to slay their fellows 
just as some centuries previously hordes of men had come from the east
to the west slaying their fellows 

the actions of napoleon and alexander on whose words the event seemed
to hang were as little voluntary as the actions of any soldier who was
drawn into the campaign by lot or by conscription this could not be
otherwise for in order that the will of napoleon and alexander on whom
the event seemed to depend should be carried out the concurrence of
innumerable circumstances was needed without anyone of which the event
could not have taken place it was necessary that millions of men in
whose hands lay the real power the soldiers who fired or transported
provisions and guns should consent to carry out the will of these weak
individuals and should have been induced to do so by an infinite number
of diverse and complex causes 

we are forced to fall back on fatalism as an explanation of irrational
events that is to say events the reasonableness of which we do
not understand the more we try to explain such events in history
reasonably the more unreasonable and incomprehensible do they become to
us 

each man lives for himself using his freedom to attain his personal
aims and feels with his whole being that he can now do or abstain from
doing this or that action but as soon as he has done it that action
performed at a certain moment in time becomes irrevocable and belongs to
history in which it has not a free but a predestined significance 

there are two sides to the life of every man his individual life which
is the more free the more abstract its interests and his elemental hive
life in which he inevitably obeys laws laid down for him 

man lives consciously for himself but is an unconscious instrument in
the attainment of the historic universal aims of humanity a deed done
is irrevocable and its result coinciding in time with the actions of
millions of other men assumes an historic significance the higher a man
stands on the social ladder the more people he is connected with
and the more power he has over others the more evident is the
predestination and inevitability of his every action 

 the king's heart is in the hands of the lord 

a king is history's slave 

history that is the unconscious general hive life of mankind uses
every moment of the life of kings as a tool for its own purposes 

though napoleon at that time in 1812 was more convinced than ever that
it depended on him verser ou ne pas verser le sang de ses peuples
 as alexander expressed it in the last letter he wrote him he had never
been so much in the grip of inevitable laws which compelled him while
thinking that he was acting on his own volition to perform for the hive
life that is to say for history whatever had to be performed 

 to shed or not to shed the blood of his peoples 


the people of the west moved eastwards to slay their fellow men and
by the law of coincidence thousands of minute causes fitted in and
co ordinated to produce that movement and war reproaches for the
nonobservance of the continental system the duke of oldenburg's
wrongs the movement of troops into prussia undertaken as it seemed to
napoleon only for the purpose of securing an armed peace the
french emperor's love and habit of war coinciding with his people's
inclinations allurement by the grandeur of the preparations and the
expenditure on those preparations and the need of obtaining advantages
to compensate for that expenditure the intoxicating honors he received
in dresden the diplomatic negotiations which in the opinion of
contemporaries were carried on with a sincere desire to attain peace 
but which only wounded the self love of both sides and millions of
other causes that adapted themselves to the event that was happening or
coincided with it 

when an apple has ripened and falls why does it fall because of its
attraction to the earth because its stalk withers because it is dried
by the sun because it grows heavier because the wind shakes it or
because the boy standing below wants to eat it 

nothing is the cause all this is only the coincidence of conditions in
which all vital organic and elemental events occur and the botanist
who finds that the apple falls because the cellular tissue decays and so
forth is equally right with the child who stands under the tree and says
the apple fell because he wanted to eat it and prayed for it equally
right or wrong is he who says that napoleon went to moscow because he
wanted to and perished because alexander desired his destruction and
he who says that an undermined hill weighing a million tons fell because
the last navvy struck it for the last time with his mattock in historic
events the so called great men are labels giving names to events and
like labels they have but the smallest connection with the event itself 

every act of theirs which appears to them an act of their own will is
in an historical sense involuntary and is related to the whole course of
history and predestined from eternity 





chapter ii

on the twenty ninth of may napoleon left dresden where he had spent
three weeks surrounded by a court that included princes dukes kings 
and even an emperor before leaving napoleon showed favor to the
emperor kings and princes who had deserved it reprimanded the kings
and princes with whom he was dissatisfied presented pearls and diamonds
of his own that is which he had taken from other kings to the empress
of austria and having as his historian tells us tenderly embraced the
empress marie louise who regarded him as her husband though he had left
another wife in paris left her grieved by the parting which she seemed
hardly able to bear though the diplomatists still firmly believed in
the possibility of peace and worked zealously to that end and though
the emperor napoleon himself wrote a letter to alexander calling him
monsieur mon frere and sincerely assured him that he did not want war
and would always love and honor him yet he set off to join his army 
and at every station gave fresh orders to accelerate the movement of his
troops from west to east he went in a traveling coach with six horses 
surrounded by pages aides de camp and an escort along the road to
posen thorn danzig and konigsberg at each of these towns thousands
of people met him with excitement and enthusiasm 

the army was moving from west to east and relays of six horses carried
him in the same direction on the tenth of june coming up with the
army he spent the night in apartments prepared for him on the estate of
a polish count in the vilkavisski forest 

 old style 

next day overtaking the army he went in a carriage to the niemen and 
changing into a polish uniform he drove to the riverbank in order to
select a place for the crossing 

seeing on the other side some cossacks les cosaques and the
wide spreading steppes in the midst of which lay the holy city of moscow
 moscou la ville sainte the capital of a realm such as the scythia
into which alexander the great had marched napoleon unexpectedly and
contrary alike to strategic and diplomatic considerations ordered an
advance and the next day his army began to cross the niemen 

early in the morning of the twelfth of june he came out of his tent 
which was pitched that day on the steep left bank of the niemen and
looked through a spyglass at the streams of his troops pouring out of
the vilkavisski forest and flowing over the three bridges thrown across
the river the troops knowing of the emperor's presence were on the
lookout for him and when they caught sight of a figure in an overcoat
and a cocked hat standing apart from his suite in front of his tent on
the hill they threw up their caps and shouted vive l'empereur and
one after another poured in a ceaseless stream out of the vast forest
that had concealed them and separating flowed on and on by the three
bridges to the other side 

 now we'll go into action oh when he takes it in hand himself things
get hot by heaven there he is vive l'empereur so these
are the steppes of asia it's a nasty country all the same au revoir 
beauche i'll keep the best palace in moscow for you au revoir good
luck did you see the emperor vive l'empereur preur if
they make me governor of india gerard i'll make you minister of
kashmir that's settled vive l'empereur hurrah hurrah hurrah the
cossacks those rascals see how they run vive l'empereur there he
is do you see him i've seen him twice as i see you now the little
corporal i saw him give the cross to one of the veterans vive
l'empereur came the voices of men old and young of most diverse
characters and social positions on the faces of all was one common
expression of joy at the commencement of the long expected campaign and
of rapture and devotion to the man in the gray coat who was standing on
the hill 

on the thirteenth of june a rather small thoroughbred arab horse was
brought to napoleon he mounted it and rode at a gallop to one of the
bridges over the niemen deafened continually by incessant and rapturous
acclamations which he evidently endured only because it was impossible
to forbid the soldiers to express their love of him by such shouting 
but the shouting which accompanied him everywhere disturbed him and
distracted him from the military cares that had occupied him from the
time he joined the army he rode across one of the swaying pontoon
bridges to the farther side turned sharply to the left and galloped in
the direction of kovno preceded by enraptured mounted chasseurs of the
guard who breathless with delight galloped ahead to clear a path for
him through the troops on reaching the broad river viliya he stopped
near a regiment of polish uhlans stationed by the river 

 vivat shouted the poles ecstatically breaking their ranks and
pressing against one another to see him 

napoleon looked up and down the river dismounted and sat down on a log
that lay on the bank at a mute sign from him a telescope was handed
him which he rested on the back of a happy page who had run up to him 
and he gazed at the opposite bank then he became absorbed in a map laid
out on the logs without lifting his head he said something and two of
his aides de camp galloped off to the polish uhlans 

 what what did he say was heard in the ranks of the polish uhlans
when one of the aides de camp rode up to them 

the order was to find a ford and to cross the river the colonel of the
polish uhlans a handsome old man flushed and fumbling in his speech
from excitement asked the aide de camp whether he would be permitted
to swim the river with his uhlans instead of seeking a ford in evident
fear of refusal like a boy asking for permission to get on a horse he
begged to be allowed to swim across the river before the emperor's
eyes the aide de camp replied that probably the emperor would not be
displeased at this excess of zeal 

as soon as the aide de camp had said this the old mustached officer 
with happy face and sparkling eyes raised his saber shouted vivat 
and commanding the uhlans to follow him spurred his horse and galloped
into the river he gave an angry thrust to his horse which had grown
restive under him and plunged into the water heading for the deepest
part where the current was swift hundreds of uhlans galloped in after
him it was cold and uncanny in the rapid current in the middle of the
stream and the uhlans caught hold of one another as they fell off their
horses some of the horses were drowned and some of the men the others
tried to swim on some in the saddle and some clinging to their horses 
manes they tried to make their way forward to the opposite bank and 
though there was a ford one third of a mile away were proud that they
were swimming and drowning in this river under the eyes of the man who
sat on the log and was not even looking at what they were doing when
the aide de camp having returned and choosing an opportune moment 
ventured to draw the emperor's attention to the devotion of the poles
to his person the little man in the gray overcoat got up and having
summoned berthier began pacing up and down the bank with him giving
him instructions and occasionally glancing disapprovingly at the
drowning uhlans who distracted his attention 

for him it was no new conviction that his presence in any part of
the world from africa to the steppes of muscovy alike was enough to
dumfound people and impel them to insane self oblivion he called for
his horse and rode to his quarters 

some forty uhlans were drowned in the river though boats were sent to
their assistance the majority struggled back to the bank from which
they had started the colonel and some of his men got across and with
difficulty clambered out on the further bank and as soon as they had
got out in their soaked and streaming clothes they shouted vivat 
and looked ecstatically at the spot where napoleon had been but where he
no longer was and at that moment considered themselves happy 

that evening between issuing one order that the forged russian paper
money prepared for use in russia should be delivered as quickly as
possible and another that a saxon should be shot on whom a letter
containing information about the orders to the french army had been
found napoleon also gave instructions that the polish colonel who
had needlessly plunged into the river should be enrolled in the legion
d'honneur of which napoleon was himself the head 

quos vult perdere dementat 

 those whom god wishes to destroy he drives mad 





chapter iii

the emperor of russia had meanwhile been in vilna for more than a
month reviewing troops and holding maneuvers nothing was ready for the
war that everyone expected and to prepare for which the emperor had come
from petersburg there was no general plan of action the vacillation
between the various plans that were proposed had even increased after
the emperor had been at headquarters for a month each of the three
armies had its own commander in chief but there was no supreme
commander of all the forces and the emperor did not assume that
responsibility himself 

the longer the emperor remained in vilna the less did everybody tired of
waiting prepare for the war all the efforts of those who surrounded the
sovereign seemed directed merely to making him spend his time pleasantly
and forget that war was impending 

in june after many balls and fetes given by the polish magnates by the
courtiers and by the emperor himself it occurred to one of the polish
aides de camp in attendance that a dinner and ball should be given for
the emperor by his aides de camp this idea was eagerly received 
the emperor gave his consent the aides de camp collected money by
subscription the lady who was thought to be most pleasing to the
emperor was invited to act as hostess count bennigsen being a
landowner in the vilna province offered his country house for the fete 
and the thirteenth of june was fixed for a ball dinner regatta and
fireworks at zakret count bennigsen's country seat 

the very day that napoleon issued the order to cross the niemen and
his vanguard driving off the cossacks crossed the russian frontier 
alexander spent the evening at the entertainment given by his
aides de camp at bennigsen's country house 

it was a gay and brilliant fete connoisseurs of such matters declared
that rarely had so many beautiful women been assembled in one place 
countess bezukhova was present among other russian ladies who had
followed the sovereign from petersburg to vilna and eclipsed the refined
polish ladies by her massive so called russian type of beauty the
emperor noticed her and honored her with a dance 

boris drubetskoy having left his wife in moscow and being for the
present en garcon as he phrased it was also there and though not an
aide de camp had subscribed a large sum toward the expenses boris
was now a rich man who had risen to high honors and no longer sought
patronage but stood on an equal footing with the highest of those of his
own age he was meeting helene in vilna after not having seen her for
a long time and did not recall the past but as helene was enjoying
the favors of a very important personage and boris had only recently
married they met as good friends of long standing 

at midnight dancing was still going on helene not having a suitable
partner herself offered to dance the mazurka with boris they were the
third couple boris coolly looking at helene's dazzling bare shoulders
which emerged from a dark gold embroidered gauze gown talked to her
of old acquaintances and at the same time unaware of it himself and
unnoticed by others never for an instant ceased to observe the emperor
who was in the same room the emperor was not dancing he stood in the
doorway stopping now one pair and now another with gracious words which
he alone knew how to utter 

as the mazurka began boris saw that adjutant general balashev one of
those in closest attendance on the emperor went up to him and contrary
to court etiquette stood near him while he was talking to a polish
lady having finished speaking to her the emperor looked inquiringly
at balashev and evidently understanding that he only acted thus because
there were important reasons for so doing nodded slightly to the lady
and turned to him hardly had balashev begun to speak before a look of
amazement appeared on the emperor's face he took balashev by the arm
and crossed the room with him unconsciously clearing a path seven
yards wide as the people on both sides made way for him boris noticed
arakcheev's excited face when the sovereign went out with balashev 
arakcheev looked at the emperor from under his brow and sniffing with
his red nose stepped forward from the crowd as if expecting the emperor
to address him boris understood that arakcheev envied balashev and
was displeased that evidently important news had reached the emperor
otherwise than through himself 

but the emperor and balashev passed out into the illuminated garden
without noticing arakcheev who holding his sword and glancing
wrathfully around followed some twenty paces behind them 

all the time boris was going through the figures of the mazurka he was
worried by the question of what news balashev had brought and how he
could find it out before others in the figure in which he had to choose
two ladies he whispered to helene that he meant to choose countess
potocka who he thought had gone out onto the veranda and glided over
the parquet to the door opening into the garden where seeing balashev
and the emperor returning to the veranda he stood still they were
moving toward the door boris fluttering as if he had not had time to
withdraw respectfully pressed close to the doorpost with bowed head 

the emperor with the agitation of one who has been personally
affronted was finishing with these words 

 to enter russia without declaring war i will not make peace as long as
a single armed enemy remains in my country it seemed to boris that it
gave the emperor pleasure to utter these words he was satisfied with
the form in which he had expressed his thoughts but displeased that
boris had overheard it 

 let no one know of it the emperor added with a frown 

boris understood that this was meant for him and closing his eyes 
slightly bowed his head the emperor re entered the ballroom and
remained there about another half hour 

boris was thus the first to learn the news that the french army had
crossed the niemen and thanks to this was able to show certain
important personages that much that was concealed from others was
usually known to him and by this means he rose higher in their
estimation 


the unexpected news of the french having crossed the niemen was
particularly startling after a month of unfulfilled expectations and at
a ball on first receiving the news under the influence of indignation
and resentment the emperor had found a phrase that pleased him fully
expressed his feelings and has since become famous on returning home
at two o'clock that night he sent for his secretary shishkov and told
him to write an order to the troops and a rescript to field marshal
prince saltykov in which he insisted on the words being inserted that
he would not make peace so long as a single armed frenchman remained on
russian soil 

next day the following letter was sent to napoleon 

monsieur mon frere 

yesterday i learned that despite the loyalty with which i have kept
my engagements with your majesty your troops have crossed the russian
frontier and i have this moment received from petersburg a note in
which count lauriston informs me as a reason for this aggression that
your majesty has considered yourself to be in a state of war with me
from the time prince kurakin asked for his passports the reasons on
which the duc de bassano based his refusal to deliver them to him would
never have led me to suppose that that could serve as a pretext for
aggression in fact the ambassador as he himself has declared was
never authorized to make that demand and as soon as i was informed of
it i let him know how much i disapproved of it and ordered him to remain
at his post if your majesty does not intend to shed the blood of our
peoples for such a misunderstanding and consents to withdraw your
troops from russian territory i will regard what has passed as not
having occurred and an understanding between us will be possible in
the contrary case your majesty i shall see myself forced to repel an
attack that nothing on my part has provoked it still depends on your
majesty to preserve humanity from the calamity of another war 

i am etc 

 signed alexander





chapter iv

at two in the morning of the fourteenth of june the emperor having
sent for balashev and read him his letter to napoleon ordered him to
take it and hand it personally to the french emperor when dispatching
balashev the emperor repeated to him the words that he would not make
peace so long as a single armed enemy remained on russian soil and told
him to transmit those words to napoleon alexander did not insert them
in his letter to napoleon because with his characteristic tact he felt
it would be injudicious to use them at a moment when a last attempt at
reconciliation was being made but he definitely instructed balashev to
repeat them personally to napoleon 

having set off in the small hours of the fourteenth accompanied by a
bugler and two cossacks balashev reached the french outposts at the
village of rykonty on the russian side of the niemen by dawn there he
was stopped by french cavalry sentinels 

a french noncommissioned officer of hussars in crimson uniform and a
shaggy cap shouted to the approaching balashev to halt balashev did
not do so at once but continued to advance along the road at a walking
pace 

the noncommissioned officer frowned and muttering words of abuse 
advanced his horse's chest against balashev put his hand to his saber 
and shouted rudely at the russian general asking was he deaf that
he did not do as he was told balashev mentioned who he was the
noncommissioned officer began talking with his comrades about regimental
matters without looking at the russian general 

after living at the seat of the highest authority and power after
conversing with the emperor less than three hours before and in general
being accustomed to the respect due to his rank in the service balashev
found it very strange here on russian soil to encounter this hostile 
and still more this disrespectful application of brute force to
himself 

the sun was only just appearing from behind the clouds the air was
fresh and dewy a herd of cattle was being driven along the road from
the village and over the fields the larks rose trilling one after
another like bubbles rising in water 

balashev looked around him awaiting the arrival of an officer from the
village the russian cossacks and bugler and the french hussars looked
silently at one another from time to time 

a french colonel of hussars who had evidently just left his bed came
riding from the village on a handsome sleek gray horse accompanied
by two hussars the officer the soldiers and their horses all looked
smart and well kept 

it was that first period of a campaign when troops are still in full
trim almost like that of peacetime maneuvers but with a shade of
martial swagger in their clothes and a touch of the gaiety and spirit
of enterprise which always accompany the opening of a campaign 

the french colonel with difficulty repressed a yawn but was polite and
evidently understood balashev's importance he led him past his soldiers
and behind the outposts and told him that his wish to be presented to
the emperor would most likely be satisfied immediately as the emperor's
quarters were he believed not far off 

they rode through the village of rykonty past tethered french hussar
horses past sentinels and men who saluted their colonel and stared with
curiosity at a russian uniform and came out at the other end of the
village the colonel said that the commander of the division was a mile
and a quarter away and would receive balashev and conduct him to his
destination 

the sun had by now risen and shone gaily on the bright verdure 

they had hardly ridden up a hill past a tavern before they saw a group
of horsemen coming toward them in front of the group on a black horse
with trappings that glittered in the sun rode a tall man with plumes
in his hat and black hair curling down to his shoulders he wore a red
mantle and stretched his long legs forward in french fashion this man
rode toward balashev at a gallop his plumes flowing and his gems and
gold lace glittering in the bright june sunshine 

balashev was only two horses length from the equestrian with the
bracelets plumes necklaces and gold embroidery who was galloping
toward him with a theatrically solemn countenance when julner the
french colonel whispered respectfully the king of naples it was 
in fact murat now called king of naples though it was quite
incomprehensible why he should be king of naples he was called so 
and was himself convinced that he was so and therefore assumed a more
solemn and important air than formerly he was so sure that he really
was the king of naples that when on the eve of his departure from that
city while walking through the streets with his wife some italians
called out to him viva il re he turned to his wife with a pensive
smile and said poor fellows they don't know that i am leaving them
tomorrow 

 long live the king 


but though he firmly believed himself to be king of naples and pitied
the grief felt by the subjects he was abandoning latterly after he had
been ordered to return to military service and especially since his last
interview with napoleon in danzig when his august brother in law had
told him i made you king that you should reign in my way but not in
yours he had cheerfully taken up his familiar business and like a
well fed but not overfat horse that feels himself in harness and grows
skittish between the shafts he dressed up in clothes as variegated and
expensive as possible and gaily and contentedly galloped along the
roads of poland without himself knowing why or whither 

on seeing the russian general he threw back his head with its long hair
curling to his shoulders in a majestically royal manner and looked
inquiringly at the french colonel the colonel respectfully informed his
majesty of balashev's mission whose name he could not pronounce 

 de bal macheve said the king overcoming by his assurance the
difficulty that had presented itself to the colonel charmed to
make your acquaintance general he added with a gesture of kingly
condescension 

as soon as the king began to speak loud and fast his royal dignity
instantly forsook him and without noticing it he passed into his
natural tone of good natured familiarity he laid his hand on the
withers of balashev's horse and said 

 well general it all looks like war as if regretting a circumstance
of which he was unable to judge 

 your majesty replied balashev my master the emperor does not
desire war and as your majesty sees said balashev using the words
your majesty at every opportunity with the affectation unavoidable in
frequently addressing one to whom the title was still a novelty 

murat's face beamed with stupid satisfaction as he listened to monsieur
de bal macheve but royaute oblige and he felt it incumbent on
him as a king and an ally to confer on state affairs with alexander's
envoy he dismounted took balashev's arm and moving a few steps away
from his suite which waited respectfully began to pace up and down
with him trying to speak significantly he referred to the fact that
the emperor napoleon had resented the demand that he should withdraw his
troops from prussia especially when that demand became generally known
and the dignity of france was thereby offended 

 royalty has its obligations 


balashev replied that there was nothing offensive in the demand 
because but murat interrupted him 

 then you don't consider the emperor alexander the aggressor he asked
unexpectedly with a kindly and foolish smile 

balashev told him why he considered napoleon to be the originator of the
war 

 oh my dear general murat again interrupted him with all my heart i
wish the emperors may arrange the affair between them and that the war
begun by no wish of mine may finish as quickly as possible said he 
in the tone of a servant who wants to remain good friends with another
despite a quarrel between their masters 

and he went on to inquiries about the grand duke and the state of his
health and to reminiscences of the gay and amusing times he had spent
with him in naples then suddenly as if remembering his royal dignity 
murat solemnly drew himself up assumed the pose in which he had stood
at his coronation and waving his right arm said 

 i won't detain you longer general i wish success to your mission 
and with his embroidered red mantle his flowing feathers and his
glittering ornaments he rejoined his suite who were respectfully
awaiting him 

balashev rode on supposing from murat's words that he would very soon
be brought before napoleon himself but instead of that at the next
village the sentinels of davout's infantry corps detained him as
the pickets of the vanguard had done and an adjutant of the corps
commander who was fetched conducted him into the village to marshal
davout 





chapter v

davout was to napoleon what arakcheev was to alexander though not a
coward like arakcheev he was as precise as cruel and as unable to
express his devotion to his monarch except by cruelty 

in the organism of states such men are necessary as wolves are
necessary in the organism of nature and they always exist always
appear and hold their own however incongruous their presence and their
proximity to the head of the government may be this inevitability alone
can explain how the cruel arakcheev who tore out a grenadier's mustache
with his own hands whose weak nerves rendered him unable to face
danger and who was neither an educated man nor a courtier was able to
maintain his powerful position with alexander whose own character was
chivalrous noble and gentle 

balashev found davout seated on a barrel in the shed of a peasant's hut 
writing he was auditing accounts better quarters could have been
found him but marshal davout was one of those men who purposely put
themselves in most depressing conditions to have a justification for
being gloomy for the same reason they are always hard at work and in a
hurry how can i think of the bright side of life when as you see i
am sitting on a barrel and working in a dirty shed the expression of
his face seemed to say the chief pleasure and necessity of such men 
when they encounter anyone who shows animation is to flaunt their own
dreary persistent activity davout allowed himself that pleasure when
balashev was brought in he became still more absorbed in his task when
the russian general entered and after glancing over his spectacles at
balashev's face which was animated by the beauty of the morning and
by his talk with murat he did not rise or even stir but scowled still
more and sneered malevolently 

when he noticed in balashev's face the disagreeable impression this
reception produced davout raised his head and coldly asked what he
wanted 

thinking he could have been received in such a manner only because
davout did not know that he was adjutant general to the emperor
alexander and even his envoy to napoleon balashev hastened to inform
him of his rank and mission contrary to his expectation davout after
hearing him became still surlier and ruder 

 where is your dispatch he inquired give it to me i will send it to
the emperor 

balashev replied that he had been ordered to hand it personally to the
emperor 

 your emperor's orders are obeyed in your army but here said davout 
 you must do as you're told 

and as if to make the russian general still more conscious of his
dependence on brute force davout sent an adjutant to call the officer
on duty 

balashev took out the packet containing the emperor's letter and laid it
on the table made of a door with its hinges still hanging on it laid
across two barrels davout took the packet and read the inscription 

 you are perfectly at liberty to treat me with respect or not 
protested balashev but permit me to observe that i have the honor to
be adjutant general to his majesty 

davout glanced at him silently and plainly derived pleasure from the
signs of agitation and confusion which appeared on balashev's face 

 you will be treated as is fitting said he and putting the packet in
his pocket left the shed 

a minute later the marshal's adjutant de castres came in and conducted
balashev to the quarters assigned him 

that day he dined with the marshal at the same board on the barrels 

next day davout rode out early and after asking balashev to come to
him peremptorily requested him to remain there to move on with the
baggage train should orders come for it to move and to talk to no one
except monsieur de castres 

after four days of solitude ennui and consciousness of his impotence
and insignificance particularly acute by contrast with the sphere of
power in which he had so lately moved and after several marches with
the marshal's baggage and the french army which occupied the
whole district balashev was brought to vilna now occupied by the
french through the very gate by which he had left it four days
previously 

next day the imperial gentleman in waiting the comte de turenne came
to balashev and informed him of the emperor napoleon's wish to honor him
with an audience 

four days before sentinels of the preobrazhensk regiment had stood in
front of the house to which balashev was conducted and now two french
grenadiers stood there in blue uniforms unfastened in front and with
shaggy caps on their heads and an escort of hussars and uhlans and a
brilliant suite of aides de camp pages and generals who were waiting
for napoleon to come out were standing at the porch round his saddle
horse and his mameluke rustan napoleon received balashev in the very
house in vilna from which alexander had dispatched him on his mission 





chapter vi

though balashev was used to imperial pomp he was amazed at the luxury
and magnificence of napoleon's court 

the comte de turenne showed him into a big reception room where many
generals gentlemen in waiting and polish magnates several of whom
balashev had seen at the court of the emperor of russia were waiting 
duroc said that napoleon would receive the russian general before going
for his ride 

after some minutes the gentleman in waiting who was on duty came into
the great reception room and bowing politely asked balashev to follow
him 

balashev went into a small reception room one door of which led into a
study the very one from which the russian emperor had dispatched him
on his mission he stood a minute or two waiting he heard hurried
footsteps beyond the door both halves of it were opened rapidly all
was silent and then from the study the sound was heard of other steps 
firm and resolute they were those of napoleon he had just finished
dressing for his ride and wore a blue uniform opening in front over
a white waistcoat so long that it covered his rotund stomach white
leather breeches tightly fitting the fat thighs of his short legs and
hessian boots his short hair had evidently just been brushed but one
lock hung down in the middle of his broad forehead his plump white neck
stood out sharply above the black collar of his uniform and he smelled
of eau de cologne his full face rather young looking with its
prominent chin wore a gracious and majestic expression of imperial
welcome 

he entered briskly with a jerk at every step and his head slightly
thrown back his whole short corpulent figure with broad thick
shoulders and chest and stomach involuntarily protruding had that
imposing and stately appearance one sees in men of forty who live in
comfort it was evident too that he was in the best of spirits that
day 

he nodded in answer to balashev's low and respectful bow and coming up
to him at once began speaking like a man who values every moment of his
time and does not condescend to prepare what he has to say but is sure
he will always say the right thing and say it well 

 good day general said he i have received the letter you brought
from the emperor alexander and am very glad to see you he glanced with
his large eyes into balashev's face and immediately looked past him 

it was plain that balashev's personality did not interest him at all 
evidently only what took place within his own mind interested him 
nothing outside himself had any significance for him because everything
in the world it seemed to him depended entirely on his will 

 i do not and did not desire war he continued but it has been
forced on me even now he emphasized the word i am ready to receive
any explanations you can give me 

and he began clearly and concisely to explain his reasons for
dissatisfaction with the russian government judging by the calmly
moderate and amicable tone in which the french emperor spoke balashev
was firmly persuaded that he wished for peace and intended to enter into
negotiations 

when napoleon having finished speaking looked inquiringly at the
russian envoy balashev began a speech he had prepared long before 
 sire the emperor my master but the sight of the emperor's eyes
bent on him confused him you are flurried compose yourself napoleon
seemed to say as with a scarcely perceptible smile he looked at
balashev's uniform and sword 

balashev recovered himself and began to speak he said that the
emperor alexander did not consider kurakin's demand for his passports a
sufficient cause for war that kurakin had acted on his own initiative
and without his sovereign's assent that the emperor alexander did not
desire war and had no relations with england 

 not yet interposed napoleon and as if fearing to give vent to his
feelings he frowned and nodded slightly as a sign that balashev might
proceed 

after saying all he had been instructed to say balashev added that
the emperor alexander wished for peace but would not enter into
negotiations except on condition that here balashev hesitated 
he remembered the words the emperor alexander had not written in his
letter but had specially inserted in the rescript to saltykov and had
told balashev to repeat to napoleon balashev remembered these words 
 so long as a single armed foe remains on russian soil but some
complex feeling restrained him he could not utter them though he
wished to do so he grew confused and said on condition that the
french army retires beyond the niemen 

napoleon noticed balashev's embarrassment when uttering these last
words his face twitched and the calf of his left leg began to quiver
rhythmically without moving from where he stood he began speaking in
a louder tone and more hurriedly than before during the speech that
followed balashev who more than once lowered his eyes involuntarily
noticed the quivering of napoleon's left leg which increased the more
napoleon raised his voice 

 i desire peace no less than the emperor alexander he began have
i not for eighteen months been doing everything to obtain it i
have waited eighteen months for explanations but in order to begin
negotiations what is demanded of me he said frowning and making an
energetic gesture of inquiry with his small white plump hand 

 the withdrawal of your army beyond the niemen sire replied balashev 

 the niemen repeated napoleon so now you want me to retire beyond
the niemen only the niemen repeated napoleon looking straight at
balashev 

the latter bowed his head respectfully 

instead of the demand of four months earlier to withdraw from pomerania 
only a withdrawal beyond the niemen was now demanded napoleon turned
quickly and began to pace the room 

 you say the demand now is that i am to withdraw beyond the niemen
before commencing negotiations but in just the same way two months ago
the demand was that i should withdraw beyond the vistula and the oder 
and yet you are willing to negotiate 

he went in silence from one corner of the room to the other and again
stopped in front of balashev balashev noticed that his left leg was
quivering faster than before and his face seemed petrified in its stern
expression this quivering of his left leg was a thing napoleon was
conscious of the vibration of my left calf is a great sign with me 
he remarked at a later date 

 such demands as to retreat beyond the vistula and oder may be made to a
prince of baden but not to me napoleon almost screamed quite to his
own surprise if you gave me petersburg and moscow i could not accept
such conditions you say i have begun this war but who first joined his
army the emperor alexander not i and you offer me negotiations when i
have expended millions when you are in alliance with england and when
your position is a bad one you offer me negotiations but what is the
aim of your alliance with england what has she given you he continued
hurriedly evidently no longer trying to show the advantages of peace
and discuss its possibility but only to prove his own rectitude and
power and alexander's errors and duplicity 

the commencement of his speech had obviously been made with the
intention of demonstrating the advantages of his position and showing
that he was nevertheless willing to negotiate but he had begun talking 
and the more he talked the less could he control his words 

the whole purport of his remarks now was evidently to exalt himself and
insult alexander just what he had least desired at the commencement of
the interview 

 i hear you have made peace with turkey 

balashev bowed his head affirmatively 

 peace has been concluded he began 

but napoleon did not let him speak he evidently wanted to do all the
talking himself and continued to talk with the sort of eloquence and
unrestrained irritability to which spoiled people are so prone 

 yes i know you have made peace with the turks without obtaining
moldavia and wallachia i would have given your sovereign those
provinces as i gave him finland yes he went on i promised and would
have given the emperor alexander moldavia and wallachia and now he
won't have those splendid provinces yet he might have united them to
his empire and in a single reign would have extended russia from the
gulf of bothnia to the mouths of the danube catherine the great could
not have done more said napoleon growing more and more excited as he
paced up and down the room repeating to balashev almost the very words
he had used to alexander himself at tilsit all that he would have
owed to my friendship oh what a splendid reign he repeated several
times then paused drew from his pocket a gold snuffbox lifted it to
his nose and greedily sniffed at it 

 what a splendid reign the emperor alexander's might have been 

he looked compassionately at balashev and as soon as the latter tried
to make some rejoinder hastily interrupted him 

 what could he wish or look for that he would not have obtained
through my friendship demanded napoleon shrugging his shoulders
in perplexity but no he has preferred to surround himself with
my enemies and with whom with steins armfeldts bennigsens and
wintzingerodes stein a traitor expelled from his own country 
armfeldt a rake and an intriguer wintzingerode a fugitive french
subject bennigsen rather more of a soldier than the others but all
the same an incompetent who was unable to do anything in 1807 and who
should awaken terrible memories in the emperor alexander's mind 
granted that were they competent they might be made use of continued
napoleon hardly able to keep pace in words with the rush of thoughts
that incessantly sprang up proving how right and strong he was in his
perception the two were one and the same but they are not even that 
they are neither fit for war nor peace barclay is said to be the
most capable of them all but i cannot say so judging by his first
movements and what are they doing all these courtiers pfuel proposes 
armfeldt disputes bennigsen considers and barclay called on to act 
does not know what to decide on and time passes bringing no result 
bagration alone is a military man he's stupid but he has experience 
a quick eye and resolution and what role is your young monarch
playing in that monstrous crowd they compromise him and throw on him
the responsibility for all that happens a sovereign should not be with
the army unless he is a general said napoleon evidently uttering
these words as a direct challenge to the emperor he knew how alexander
desired to be a military commander 

 the campaign began only a week ago and you haven't even been able to
defend vilna you are cut in two and have been driven out of the polish
provinces your army is grumbling 

 on the contrary your majesty said balashev hardly able to remember
what had been said to him and following these verbal fireworks with
difficulty the troops are burning with eagerness 

 i know everything napoleon interrupted him i know everything i
know the number of your battalions as exactly as i know my own you have
not two hundred thousand men and i have three times that number i give
you my word of honor said napoleon forgetting that his word of honor
could carry no weight i give you my word of honor that i have five
hundred and thirty thousand men this side of the vistula the turks will
be of no use to you they are worth nothing and have shown it by making
peace with you as for the swedes it is their fate to be governed by
mad kings their king was insane and they changed him for
another bernadotte who promptly went mad for no swede would ally
himself with russia unless he were mad 

napoleon grinned maliciously and again raised his snuffbox to his nose 

balashev knew how to reply to each of napoleon's remarks and would
have done so he continually made the gesture of a man wishing to say
something but napoleon always interrupted him to the alleged insanity
of the swedes balashev wished to reply that when russia is on her side
sweden is practically an island but napoleon gave an angry exclamation
to drown his voice napoleon was in that state of irritability in which
a man has to talk talk and talk merely to convince himself that he is
in the right balashev began to feel uncomfortable as envoy he feared
to demean his dignity and felt the necessity of replying but as a man 
he shrank before the transport of groundless wrath that had evidently
seized napoleon he knew that none of the words now uttered by napoleon
had any significance and that napoleon himself would be ashamed of them
when he came to his senses balashev stood with downcast eyes looking
at the movements of napoleon's stout legs and trying to avoid meeting
his eyes 

 but what do i care about your allies said napoleon i have
allies the poles there are eighty thousand of them and they fight like
lions and there will be two hundred thousand of them 

and probably still more perturbed by the fact that he had uttered this
obvious falsehood and that balashev still stood silently before him in
the same attitude of submission to fate napoleon abruptly turned
round drew close to balashev's face and gesticulating rapidly and
energetically with his white hands almost shouted 

 know that if you stir up prussia against me i'll wipe it off the map
of europe he declared his face pale and distorted by anger and he
struck one of his small hands energetically with the other yes i
will throw you back beyond the dvina and beyond the dnieper and will
re erect against you that barrier which it was criminal and blind of
europe to allow to be destroyed yes that is what will happen to you 
that is what you have gained by alienating me and he walked silently
several times up and down the room his fat shoulders twitching 

he put his snuffbox into his waistcoat pocket took it out again lifted
it several times to his nose and stopped in front of balashev he
paused looked ironically straight into balashev's eyes and said in a
quiet voice 

 and yet what a splendid reign your master might have had 

balashev feeling it incumbent on him to reply said that from the
russian side things did not appear in so gloomy a light napoleon was
silent still looking derisively at him and evidently not listening to
him balashev said that in russia the best results were expected from
the war napoleon nodded condescendingly as if to say i know it's
your duty to say that but you don't believe it yourself i have
convinced you 

when balashev had ended napoleon again took out his snuffbox sniffed
at it and stamped his foot twice on the floor as a signal the door
opened a gentleman in waiting bending respectfully handed the emperor
his hat and gloves another brought him a pocket handkerchief napoleon 
without giving them a glance turned to balashev 

 assure the emperor alexander from me said he taking his hat that
i am as devoted to him as before i know him thoroughly and very highly
esteem his lofty qualities i will detain you no longer general you
shall receive my letter to the emperor 

and napoleon went quickly to the door everyone in the reception room
rushed forward and descended the staircase 





chapter vii

after all that napoleon had said to him those bursts of anger and the
last dryly spoken words i will detain you no longer general you
shall receive my letter balashev felt convinced that napoleon would
not wish to see him and would even avoid another meeting with him an
insulted envoy especially as he had witnessed his unseemly anger but 
to his surprise balashev received through duroc an invitation to dine
with the emperor that day 

bessieres caulaincourt and berthier were present at that dinner 

napoleon met balashev cheerfully and amiably he not only showed no sign
of constraint or self reproach on account of his outburst that morning 
but on the contrary tried to reassure balashev it was evident that
he had long been convinced that it was impossible for him to make a
mistake and that in his perception whatever he did was right not
because it harmonized with any idea of right and wrong but because he
did it 

the emperor was in very good spirits after his ride through vilna where
crowds of people had rapturously greeted and followed him from all
the windows of the streets through which he rode rugs flags and his
monogram were displayed and the polish ladies welcoming him waved
their handkerchiefs to him 

at dinner having placed balashev beside him napoleon not only treated
him amiably but behaved as if balashev were one of his own courtiers 
one of those who sympathized with his plans and ought to rejoice at
his success in the course of conversation he mentioned moscow and
questioned balashev about the russian capital not merely as an
interested traveler asks about a new city he intends to visit but as
if convinced that balashev as a russian must be flattered by his
curiosity 

 how many inhabitants are there in moscow how many houses is it true
that moscow is called holy moscow how many churches are there in
moscow he asked 

and receiving the reply that there were more than two hundred churches 
he remarked 

 why such a quantity of churches 

 the russians are very devout replied balashev 

 but a large number of monasteries and churches is always a sign of the
backwardness of a people said napoleon turning to caulaincourt for
appreciation of this remark 

balashev respectfully ventured to disagree with the french emperor 

 every country has its own character said he 

 but nowhere in europe is there anything like that said napoleon 

 i beg your majesty's pardon returned balashev besides russia there
is spain where there are also many churches and monasteries 

this reply of balashev's which hinted at the recent defeats of the
french in spain was much appreciated when he related it at alexander's
court but it was not much appreciated at napoleon's dinner where it
passed unnoticed 

the uninterested and perplexed faces of the marshals showed that they
were puzzled as to what balashev's tone suggested if there is a point
we don't see it or it is not at all witty their expressions seemed
to say so little was his rejoinder appreciated that napoleon did not
notice it at all and naively asked balashev through what towns the
direct road from there to moscow passed balashev who was on the alert
all through the dinner replied that just as all roads lead to rome 
so all roads lead to moscow there were many roads and among them the
road through poltava which charles xii chose balashev involuntarily
flushed with pleasure at the aptitude of this reply but hardly had
he uttered the word poltava before caulaincourt began speaking of the
badness of the road from petersburg to moscow and of his petersburg
reminiscences 

after dinner they went to drink coffee in napoleon's study which four
days previously had been that of the emperor alexander napoleon sat
down toying with his sevres coffee cup and motioned balashev to a
chair beside him 

napoleon was in that well known after dinner mood which more than
any reasoned cause makes a man contented with himself and disposed to
consider everyone his friend it seemed to him that he was surrounded
by men who adored him and he felt convinced that after his dinner 
balashev too was his friend and worshiper napoleon turned to him with a
pleasant though slightly ironic smile 

 they tell me this is the room the emperor alexander occupied strange 
isn't it general he said evidently not doubting that this remark
would be agreeable to his hearer since it went to prove his napoleon's 
superiority to alexander 

balashev made no reply and bowed his head in silence 

 yes four days ago in this room wintzingerode and stein were
deliberating continued napoleon with the same derisive and
self confident smile what i can't understand he went on is that
the emperor alexander has surrounded himself with my personal enemies 
that i do not understand has he not thought that i may do the same 
and he turned inquiringly to balashev and evidently this thought turned
him back on to the track of his morning's anger which was still fresh
in him 

 and let him know that i will do so said napoleon rising and pushing
his cup away with his hand i'll drive all his wurttemberg baden and
weimar relations out of germany yes i'll drive them out let him
prepare an asylum for them in russia 

balashev bowed his head with an air indicating that he would like to
make his bow and leave and only listened because he could not help
hearing what was said to him napoleon did not notice this expression 
he treated balashev not as an envoy from his enemy but as a man
now fully devoted to him and who must rejoice at his former master's
humiliation 

 and why has the emperor alexander taken command of the armies what is
the good of that war is my profession but his business is to reign
and not to command armies why has he taken on himself such a
responsibility 

again napoleon brought out his snuffbox paced several times up and down
the room in silence and then suddenly and unexpectedly went up to
balashev and with a slight smile as confidently quickly and simply
as if he were doing something not merely important but pleasing to
balashev he raised his hand to the forty year old russian general's
face and taking him by the ear pulled it gently smiling with his lips
only 

to have one's ear pulled by the emperor was considered the greatest
honor and mark of favor at the french court 

 well adorer and courtier of the emperor alexander why don't you say
anything said he as if it was ridiculous in his presence to be the
adorer and courtier of anyone but himself napoleon are the horses
ready for the general he added with a slight inclination of his head
in reply to balashev's bow let him have mine he has a long way to
go 

the letter taken by balashev was the last napoleon sent to alexander 
every detail of the interview was communicated to the russian monarch 
and the war began 





chapter viii

after his interview with pierre in moscow prince andrew went to
petersburg on business as he told his family but really to meet
anatole kuragin whom he felt it necessary to encounter on reaching
petersburg he inquired for kuragin but the latter had already left the
city pierre had warned his brother in law that prince andrew was on
his track anatole kuragin promptly obtained an appointment from
the minister of war and went to join the army in moldavia while in
petersburg prince andrew met kutuzov his former commander who was
always well disposed toward him and kutuzov suggested that he should
accompany him to the army in moldavia to which the old general had
been appointed commander in chief so prince andrew having received an
appointment on the headquarters staff left for turkey 

prince andrew did not think it proper to write and challenge kuragin 
he thought that if he challenged him without some fresh cause it might
compromise the young countess rostova and so he wanted to meet kuragin
personally in order to find a fresh pretext for a duel but he again
failed to meet kuragin in turkey for soon after prince andrew arrived 
the latter returned to russia in a new country amid new conditions 
prince andrew found life easier to bear after his betrothed had broken
faith with him which he felt the more acutely the more he tried to
conceal its effects the surroundings in which he had been happy became
trying to him and the freedom and independence he had once prized
so highly were still more so not only could he no longer think the
thoughts that had first come to him as he lay gazing at the sky on the
field of austerlitz and had later enlarged upon with pierre and which
had filled his solitude at bogucharovo and then in switzerland and rome 
but he even dreaded to recall them and the bright and boundless horizons
they had revealed he was now concerned only with the nearest practical
matters unrelated to his past interests and he seized on these the more
eagerly the more those past interests were closed to him it was as if
that lofty infinite canopy of heaven that had once towered above him
had suddenly turned into a low solid vault that weighed him down in
which all was clear but nothing eternal or mysterious 

of the activities that presented themselves to him army service was the
simplest and most familiar as a general on duty on kutuzov's staff 
he applied himself to business with zeal and perseverance and surprised
kutuzov by his willingness and accuracy in work not having found
kuragin in turkey prince andrew did not think it necessary to rush back
to russia after him but all the same he knew that however long it might
be before he met kuragin despite his contempt for him and despite all
the proofs he deduced to convince himself that it was not worth stooping
to a conflict with him he knew that when he did meet him he would not
be able to resist calling him out any more than a ravenous man can help
snatching at food and the consciousness that the insult was not yet
avenged that his rancor was still unspent weighed on his heart and
poisoned the artificial tranquillity which he managed to obtain in
turkey by means of restless plodding and rather vainglorious and
ambitious activity 

in the year 1812 when news of the war with napoleon reached
bucharest where kutuzov had been living for two months passing his
days and nights with a wallachian woman prince andrew asked kutuzov
to transfer him to the western army kutuzov who was already weary of
bolkonski's activity which seemed to reproach his own idleness very
readily let him go and gave him a mission to barclay de tolly 

before joining the western army which was then in may encamped at
drissa prince andrew visited bald hills which was directly on his way 
being only two miles off the smolensk highroad during the last three
years there had been so many changes in his life he had thought felt 
and seen so much having traveled both in the east and the west that
on reaching bald hills it struck him as strange and unexpected to find
the way of life there unchanged and still the same in every detail 
he entered through the gates with their stone pillars and drove up
the avenue leading to the house as if he were entering an enchanted 
sleeping castle the same old stateliness the same cleanliness the
same stillness reigned there and inside there was the same furniture 
the same walls sounds and smell and the same timid faces only
somewhat older princess mary was still the same timid plain maiden
getting on in years uselessly and joylessly passing the best years of
her life in fear and constant suffering mademoiselle bourienne was
the same coquettish self satisfied girl enjoying every moment of her
existence and full of joyous hopes for the future she had merely become
more self confident prince andrew thought dessalles the tutor he had
brought from switzerland was wearing a coat of russian cut and
talking broken russian to the servants but was still the same narrowly
intelligent conscientious and pedantic preceptor the old prince
had changed in appearance only by the loss of a tooth which left a
noticeable gap on one side of his mouth in character he was the same as
ever only showing still more irritability and skepticism as to what was
happening in the world little nicholas alone had changed he had grown 
become rosier had curly dark hair and when merry and laughing quite
unconsciously lifted the upper lip of his pretty little mouth just
as the little princess used to do he alone did not obey the law of
immutability in the enchanted sleeping castle but though externally
all remained as of old the inner relations of all these people had
changed since prince andrew had seen them last the household was
divided into two alien and hostile camps who changed their habits for
his sake and only met because he was there to the one camp belonged
the old prince mademoiselle bourienne and the architect to the other
princess mary dessalles little nicholas and all the old nurses and
maids 

during his stay at bald hills all the family dined together but they
were ill at ease and prince andrew felt that he was a visitor for whose
sake an exception was being made and that his presence made them all
feel awkward involuntarily feeling this at dinner on the first day he
was taciturn and the old prince noticing this also became morosely dumb
and retired to his apartments directly after dinner in the evening 
when prince andrew went to him and trying to rouse him began to
tell him of the young count kamensky's campaign the old prince
began unexpectedly to talk about princess mary blaming her for her
superstitions and her dislike of mademoiselle bourienne who he said 
was the only person really attached to him 

the old prince said that if he was ill it was only because of princess
mary that she purposely worried and irritated him and that by
indulgence and silly talk she was spoiling little prince nicholas the
old prince knew very well that he tormented his daughter and that her
life was very hard but he also knew that he could not help tormenting
her and that she deserved it why does prince andrew who sees this 
say nothing to me about his sister does he think me a scoundrel or an
old fool who without any reason keeps his own daughter at a distance
and attaches this frenchwoman to himself he doesn't understand so i
must explain it and he must hear me out thought the old prince 
and he began explaining why he could not put up with his daughter's
unreasonable character 

 if you ask me said prince andrew without looking up he was
censuring his father for the first time in his life i did not wish to
speak about it but as you ask me i will give you my frank opinion if
there is any misunderstanding and discord between you and mary i can't
blame her for it at all i know how she loves and respects you since
you ask me continued prince andrew becoming irritable as he was
always liable to do of late i can only say that if there are any
misunderstandings they are caused by that worthless woman who is not
fit to be my sister's companion 

the old man at first stared fixedly at his son and an unnatural smile
disclosed the fresh gap between his teeth to which prince andrew could
not get accustomed 

 what companion my dear boy eh you've already been talking it over 
eh 

 father i did not want to judge said prince andrew in a hard and
bitter tone but you challenged me and i have said and always shall
say that mary is not to blame but those to blame the one to blame is
that frenchwoman 

 ah he has passed judgment passed judgement said the old man in a
low voice and as it seemed to prince andrew with some embarrassment 
but then he suddenly jumped up and cried be off be off let not a
trace of you remain here 


prince andrew wished to leave at once but princess mary persuaded him
to stay another day that day he did not see his father who did not
leave his room and admitted no one but mademoiselle bourienne and
tikhon but asked several times whether his son had gone next day 
before leaving prince andrew went to his son's rooms the boy 
curly headed like his mother and glowing with health sat on his knee 
and prince andrew began telling him the story of bluebeard but fell
into a reverie without finishing the story he thought not of this
pretty child his son whom he held on his knee but of himself he
sought in himself either remorse for having angered his father or regret
at leaving home for the first time in his life on bad terms with him 
and was horrified to find neither what meant still more to him was that
he sought and did not find in himself the former tenderness for his son
which he had hoped to reawaken by caressing the boy and taking him on
his knee 

 well go on said his son 

prince andrew without replying put him down from his knee and went out
of the room 

as soon as prince andrew had given up his daily occupations and
especially on returning to the old conditions of life amid which he had
been happy weariness of life overcame him with its former intensity 
and he hastened to escape from these memories and to find some work as
soon as possible 

 so you've decided to go andrew asked his sister 

 thank god that i can replied prince andrew i am very sorry you
can't 

 why do you say that replied princess mary why do you say that 
when you are going to this terrible war and he is so old mademoiselle
bourienne says he has been asking about you 

as soon as she began to speak of that her lips trembled and her tears
began to fall prince andrew turned away and began pacing the room 

 ah my god my god when one thinks who and what what trash can cause
people misery he said with a malignity that alarmed princess mary 

she understood that when speaking of trash he referred not only to
mademoiselle bourienne the cause of her misery but also to the man who
had ruined his own happiness 

 andrew one thing i beg i entreat of you she said touching his
elbow and looking at him with eyes that shone through her tears i
understand you she looked down don't imagine that sorrow is the
work of men men are his tools she looked a little above prince
andrew's head with the confident accustomed look with which one looks
at the place where a familiar portrait hangs sorrow is sent by him 
not by men men are his instruments they are not to blame if you think
someone has wronged you forget it and forgive we have no right to
punish and then you will know the happiness of forgiving 

 if i were a woman i would do so mary that is a woman's virtue but
a man should not and cannot forgive and forget he replied and though
till that moment he had not been thinking of kuragin all his unexpended
anger suddenly swelled up in his heart 

 if mary is already persuading me to forgive it means that i ought long
ago to have punished him he thought and giving her no further reply 
he began thinking of the glad vindictive moment when he would meet
kuragin who he knew was now in the army 

princess mary begged him to stay one day more saying that she knew how
unhappy her father would be if andrew left without being reconciled to
him but prince andrew replied that he would probably soon be back again
from the army and would certainly write to his father but that the
longer he stayed now the more embittered their differences would become 

 good by andrew remember that misfortunes come from god and men are
never to blame were the last words he heard from his sister when he
took leave of her 

 then it must be so thought prince andrew as he drove out of the
avenue from the house at bald hills she poor innocent creature is
left to be victimized by an old man who has outlived his wits the old
man feels he is guilty but cannot change himself my boy is growing up
and rejoices in life in which like everybody else he will deceive or be
deceived and i am off to the army why i myself don't know i want
to meet that man whom i despise so as to give him a chance to kill and
laugh at me 

these conditions of life had been the same before but then they were
all connected while now they had all tumbled to pieces only senseless
things lacking coherence presented themselves one after another to
prince andrew's mind 





chapter ix

prince andrew reached the general headquarters of the army at the end of
june the first army with which was the emperor occupied the fortified
camp at drissa the second army was retreating trying to effect a
junction with the first one from which it was said to be cut off by
large french forces everyone was dissatisfied with the general course
of affairs in the russian army but no one anticipated any danger of
invasion of the russian provinces and no one thought the war would
extend farther than the western the polish provinces 

prince andrew found barclay de tolly to whom he had been assigned on
the bank of the drissa as there was not a single town or large
village in the vicinity of the camp the immense number of generals and
courtiers accompanying the army were living in the best houses of the
villages on both sides of the river over a radius of six miles barclay
de tolly was quartered nearly three miles from the emperor he received
bolkonski stiffly and coldly and told him in his foreign accent that he
would mention him to the emperor for a decision as to his employment 
but asked him meanwhile to remain on his staff anatole kuragin whom
prince andrew had hoped to find with the army was not there he had
gone to petersburg but prince andrew was glad to hear this his mind
was occupied by the interests of the center that was conducting
a gigantic war and he was glad to be free for a while from the
distraction caused by the thought of kuragin during the first four
days while no duties were required of him prince andrew rode round the
whole fortified camp and by the aid of his own knowledge and by
talks with experts tried to form a definite opinion about it but the
question whether the camp was advantageous or disadvantageous remained
for him undecided already from his military experience and what he had
seen in the austrian campaign he had come to the conclusion that in
war the most deeply considered plans have no significance and that all
depends on the way unexpected movements of the enemy that cannot be
foreseen are met and on how and by whom the whole matter is handled 
to clear up this last point for himself prince andrew utilizing his
position and acquaintances tried to fathom the character of the control
of the army and of the men and parties engaged in it and he deduced for
himself the following of the state of affairs 

while the emperor had still been at vilna the forces had been divided
into three armies first the army under barclay de tolly secondly the
army under bagration and thirdly the one commanded by tormasov the
emperor was with the first army but not as commander in chief in the
orders issued it was stated not that the emperor would take command 
but only that he would be with the army the emperor moreover had
with him not a commander in chief's staff but the imperial headquarters
staff in attendance on him was the head of the imperial staff 
quartermaster general prince volkonski as well as generals imperial
aides de camp diplomatic officials and a large number of foreigners 
but not the army staff besides these there were in attendance on the
emperor without any definite appointments arakcheev the ex minister
of war count bennigsen the senior general in rank the grand duke
tsarevich constantine pavlovich count rumyantsev the chancellor 
stein a former prussian minister armfeldt a swedish general pfuel 
the chief author of the plan of campaign paulucci an adjutant general
and sardinian emigre wolzogen and many others though these men had no
military appointment in the army their position gave them influence 
and often a corps commander or even the commander in chief did not
know in what capacity he was questioned by bennigsen the grand duke 
arakcheev or prince volkonski or was given this or that advice and did
not know whether a certain order received in the form of advice emanated
from the man who gave it or from the emperor and whether it had to be
executed or not but this was only the external condition the essential
significance of the presence of the emperor and of all these people 
from a courtier's point of view and in an emperor's vicinity all became
courtiers was clear to everyone it was this the emperor did not
assume the title of commander in chief but disposed of all the armies 
the men around him were his assistants arakcheev was a faithful
custodian to enforce order and acted as the sovereign's bodyguard 
bennigsen was a landlord in the vilna province who appeared to be doing
the honors of the district but was in reality a good general useful
as an adviser and ready at hand to replace barclay the grand duke
was there because it suited him to be the ex minister stein was there
because his advice was useful and the emperor alexander held him in high
esteem personally armfeldt virulently hated napoleon and was a general
full of self confidence a quality that always influenced alexander 
paulucci was there because he was bold and decided in speech the
adjutants general were there because they always accompanied the
emperor and lastly and chiefly pfuel was there because he had drawn up
the plan of campaign against napoleon and having induced alexander to
believe in the efficacy of that plan was directing the whole business
of the war with pfuel was wolzogen who expressed pfuel's thoughts in
a more comprehensible way than pfuel himself who was a harsh bookish
theorist self confident to the point of despising everyone else was
able to do 

besides these russians and foreigners who propounded new and unexpected
ideas every day especially the foreigners who did so with a boldness
characteristic of people employed in a country not their own there were
many secondary personages accompanying the army because their principals
were there 

among the opinions and voices in this immense restless brilliant 
and proud sphere prince andrew noticed the following sharply defined
subdivisions of tendencies and parties 

the first party consisted of pfuel and his adherents military theorists
who believed in a science of war with immutable laws laws of oblique
movements outflankings and so forth pfuel and his adherents demanded
a retirement into the depths of the country in accordance with precise
laws defined by a pseudo theory of war and they saw only barbarism 
ignorance or evil intention in every deviation from that theory to
this party belonged the foreign nobles wolzogen wintzingerode and
others chiefly germans 

the second party was directly opposed to the first one extreme as
always happens was met by representatives of the other the members of
this party were those who had demanded an advance from vilna into poland
and freedom from all prearranged plans besides being advocates of bold
action this section also represented nationalism which made them still
more one sided in the dispute they were russians bagration ermolov
 who was beginning to come to the front and others at that time a
famous joke of ermolov's was being circulated that as a great favor he
had petitioned the emperor to make him a german the men of that party 
remembering suvorov said that what one had to do was not to reason 
or stick pins into maps but to fight beat the enemy keep him out of
russia and not let the army get discouraged 

to the third party in which the emperor had most confidence belonged the
courtiers who tried to arrange compromises between the other two the
members of this party chiefly civilians and to whom arakcheev belonged 
thought and said what men who have no convictions but wish to seem to
have some generally say they said that undoubtedly war particularly
against such a genius as bonaparte they called him bonaparte now 
needs most deeply devised plans and profound scientific knowledge and
in that respect pfuel was a genius but at the same time it had to be
acknowledged that the theorists are often one sided and therefore one
should not trust them absolutely but should also listen to what pfuel's
opponents and practical men of experience in warfare had to say and
then choose a middle course they insisted on the retention of the camp
at drissa according to pfuel's plan but on changing the movements of
the other armies though by this course neither one aim nor the other
could be attained yet it seemed best to the adherents of this third
party 

of a fourth opinion the most conspicuous representative was the
tsarevich who could not forget his disillusionment at austerlitz where
he had ridden out at the head of the guards in his casque and cavalry
uniform as to a review expecting to crush the french gallantly but
unexpectedly finding himself in the front line had narrowly escaped amid
the general confusion the men of this party had both the quality
and the defect of frankness in their opinions they feared napoleon 
recognized his strength and their own weakness and frankly said so 
they said nothing but sorrow shame and ruin will come of all this 
we have abandoned vilna and vitebsk and shall abandon drissa the only
reasonable thing left to do is to conclude peace as soon as possible 
before we are turned out of petersburg 

this view was very general in the upper army circles and found support
also in petersburg and from the chancellor rumyantsev who for other
reasons of state was in favor of peace 

the fifth party consisted of those who were adherents of barclay de
tolly not so much as a man but as minister of war and commander in
chief be he what he may they always began like that he is an
honest practical man and we have nobody better give him real power 
for war cannot be conducted successfully without unity of command and
he will show what he can do as he did in finland if our army is well
organized and strong and has withdrawn to drissa without suffering
any defeats we owe this entirely to barclay if barclay is now to
be superseded by bennigsen all will be lost for bennigsen showed his
incapacity already in 1807 

the sixth party the bennigsenites said on the contrary that at any
rate there was no one more active and experienced than bennigsen and
twist about as you may you will have to come to bennigsen eventually 
let the others make mistakes now said they arguing that our
retirement to drissa was a most shameful reverse and an unbroken series
of blunders the more mistakes that are made the better it will at any
rate be understood all the sooner that things cannot go on like this 
what is wanted is not some barclay or other but a man like bennigsen 
who made his mark in 1807 and to whom napoleon himself did justice a
man whose authority would be willingly recognized and bennigsen is the
only such man 

the seventh party consisted of the sort of people who are always to
be found especially around young sovereigns and of whom there were
particularly many round alexander generals and imperial aides de camp
passionately devoted to the emperor not merely as a monarch but as a
man adoring him sincerely and disinterestedly as rostov had done
in 1805 and who saw in him not only all the virtues but all human
capabilities as well these men though enchanted with the sovereign
for refusing the command of the army yet blamed him for such excessive
modesty and only desired and insisted that their adored sovereign
should abandon his diffidence and openly announce that he would place
himself at the head of the army gather round him a commander in chief's
staff and consulting experienced theoreticians and practical men where
necessary would himself lead the troops whose spirits would thereby be
raised to the highest pitch 

the eighth and largest group which in its enormous numbers was to the
others as ninety nine to one consisted of men who desired neither
peace nor war neither an advance nor a defensive camp at the drissa
or anywhere else neither barclay nor the emperor neither pfuel nor
bennigsen but only the one most essential thing as much advantage
and pleasure for themselves as possible in the troubled waters of
conflicting and intersecting intrigues that eddied about the emperor's
headquarters it was possible to succeed in many ways unthinkable at
other times a man who simply wished to retain his lucrative post would
today agree with pfuel tomorrow with his opponent and the day after 
merely to avoid responsibility or to please the emperor would declare
that he had no opinion at all on the matter another who wished to
gain some advantage would attract the emperor's attention by loudly
advocating the very thing the emperor had hinted at the day before 
and would dispute and shout at the council beating his breast and
challenging those who did not agree with him to duels thereby proving
that he was prepared to sacrifice himself for the common good a third 
in the absence of opponents between two councils would simply solicit
a special gratuity for his faithful services well knowing that at that
moment people would be too busy to refuse him a fourth while seemingly
overwhelmed with work would often come accidentally under the emperor's
eye a fifth to achieve his long cherished aim of dining with the
emperor would stubbornly insist on the correctness or falsity of some
newly emerging opinion and for this object would produce arguments more
or less forcible and correct 

all the men of this party were fishing for rubles decorations and
promotions and in this pursuit watched only the weathercock of imperial
favor and directly they noticed it turning in any direction this whole
drone population of the army began blowing hard that way so that it
was all the harder for the emperor to turn it elsewhere amid the
uncertainties of the position with the menace of serious danger giving
a peculiarly threatening character to everything amid this vortex of
intrigue egotism conflict of views and feelings and the diversity
of race among these people this eighth and largest party of those
preoccupied with personal interests imparted great confusion and
obscurity to the common task whatever question arose a swarm of these
drones without having finished their buzzing on a previous theme flew
over to the new one and by their hum drowned and obscured the voices of
those who were disputing honestly 

from among all these parties just at the time prince andrew reached
the army another a ninth party was being formed and was beginning
to raise its voice this was the party of the elders reasonable men
experienced and capable in state affairs who without sharing any of
those conflicting opinions were able to take a detached view of what
was going on at the staff at headquarters and to consider means of
escape from this muddle indecision intricacy and weakness 

the men of this party said and thought that what was wrong resulted
chiefly from the emperor's presence in the army with his military court
and from the consequent presence there of an indefinite conditional 
and unsteady fluctuation of relations which is in place at court but
harmful in an army that a sovereign should reign but not command the
army and that the only way out of the position would be for the emperor
and his court to leave the army that the mere presence of the emperor
paralyzed the action of fifty thousand men required to secure his
personal safety and that the worst commander in chief if independent 
would be better than the very best one trammeled by the presence and
authority of the monarch 

just at the time prince andrew was living unoccupied at drissa 
shishkov the secretary of state and one of the chief representatives of
this party wrote a letter to the emperor which arakcheev and balashev
agreed to sign in this letter availing himself of permission given him
by the emperor to discuss the general course of affairs he respectfully
suggested on the plea that it was necessary for the sovereign to arouse
a warlike spirit in the people of the capital that the emperor should
leave the army 

that arousing of the people by their sovereign and his call to them to
defend their country the very incitement which was the chief cause of
russia's triumph in so far as it was produced by the tsar's personal
presence in moscow was suggested to the emperor and accepted by him as
a pretext for quitting the army 





chapter x

this letter had not yet been presented to the emperor when barclay one
day at dinner informed bolkonski that the sovereign wished to see him
personally to question him about turkey and that prince andrew was to
present himself at bennigsen's quarters at six that evening 

news was received at the emperor's quarters that very day of a fresh
movement by napoleon which might endanger the army news subsequently
found to be false and that morning colonel michaud had ridden round the
drissa fortifications with the emperor and had pointed out to him that
this fortified camp constructed by pfuel and till then considered
a chef d'oeuvre of tactical science which would ensure napoleon's
destruction was an absurdity threatening the destruction of the
russian army 

prince andrew arrived at bennigsen's quarters a country gentleman's
house of moderate size situated on the very banks of the river neither
bennigsen nor the emperor was there but chernyshev the emperor's
aide de camp received bolkonski and informed him that the emperor 
accompanied by general bennigsen and marquis paulucci had gone a second
time that day to inspect the fortifications of the drissa camp of the
suitability of which serious doubts were beginning to be felt 

chernyshev was sitting at a window in the first room with a french novel
in his hand this room had probably been a music room there was still
an organ in it on which some rugs were piled and in one corner stood
the folding bedstead of bennigsen's adjutant this adjutant was also
there and sat dozing on the rolled up bedding evidently exhausted by
work or by feasting two doors led from the room one straight on into
what had been the drawing room and another on the right to the study 
through the first door came the sound of voices conversing in german
and occasionally in french in that drawing room were gathered by
the emperor's wish not a military council the emperor preferred
indefiniteness but certain persons whose opinions he wished to know in
view of the impending difficulties it was not a council of war but 
as it were a council to elucidate certain questions for the emperor
personally to this semicouncil had been invited the swedish general
armfeldt adjutant general wolzogen wintzingerode whom napoleon had
referred to as a renegade french subject michaud toll count stein
who was not a military man at all and pfuel himself who as prince
andrew had heard was the mainspring of the whole affair prince andrew
had an opportunity of getting a good look at him for pfuel arrived soon
after himself and in passing through to the drawing room stopped a
minute to speak to chernyshev 

at first sight pfuel in his ill made uniform of a russian general 
which fitted him badly like a fancy costume seemed familiar to prince
andrew though he saw him now for the first time there was about
him something of weyrother mack and schmidt and many other german
theorist generals whom prince andrew had seen in 1805 but he was more
typical than any of them prince andrew had never yet seen a german
theorist in whom all the characteristics of those others were united to
such an extent 

pfuel was short and very thin but broad boned of coarse robust build 
broad in the hips and with prominent shoulder blades his face was
much wrinkled and his eyes deep set his hair had evidently been hastily
brushed smooth in front of the temples but stuck up behind in quaint
little tufts he entered the room looking restlessly and angrily
around as if afraid of everything in that large apartment awkwardly
holding up his sword he addressed chernyshev and asked in german where
the emperor was one could see that he wished to pass through the rooms
as quickly as possible finish with the bows and greetings and sit down
to business in front of a map where he would feel at home he nodded
hurriedly in reply to chernyshev and smiled ironically on hearing that
the sovereign was inspecting the fortifications that he pfuel had
planned in accord with his theory he muttered something to himself
abruptly and in a bass voice as self assured germans do it might
have been stupid fellow or the whole affair will be ruined or
 something absurd will come of it prince andrew did not catch
what he said and would have passed on but chernyshev introduced him to
pfuel remarking that prince andrew was just back from turkey where the
war had terminated so fortunately pfuel barely glanced not so much at
prince andrew as past him and said with a laugh that must have been a
fine tactical war and laughing contemptuously went on into the room
from which the sound of voices was heard 

pfuel always inclined to be irritably sarcastic was particularly
disturbed that day evidently by the fact that they had dared to inspect
and criticize his camp in his absence from this short interview with
pfuel prince andrew thanks to his austerlitz experiences was able to
form a clear conception of the man pfuel was one of those hopelessly
and immutably self confident men self confident to the point of
martyrdom as only germans are because only germans are self confident
on the basis of an abstract notion science that is the supposed
knowledge of absolute truth a frenchman is self assured because he
regards himself personally both in mind and body as irresistibly
attractive to men and women an englishman is self assured as being a
citizen of the best organized state in the world and therefore as an
englishman always knows what he should do and knows that all he does as
an englishman is undoubtedly correct an italian is self assured because
he is excitable and easily forgets himself and other people a russian
is self assured just because he knows nothing and does not want to know
anything since he does not believe that anything can be known the
german's self assurance is worst of all stronger and more
repulsive than any other because he imagines that he knows the
truth science which he himself has invented but which is for him the
absolute truth 

pfuel was evidently of that sort he had a science the theory of oblique
movements deduced by him from the history of frederick the great's wars 
and all he came across in the history of more recent warfare seemed to
him absurd and barbarous monstrous collisions in which so many blunders
were committed by both sides that these wars could not be called wars 
they did not accord with the theory and therefore could not serve as
material for science 

in 1806 pfuel had been one of those responsible for the plan of
campaign that ended in jena and auerstadt but he did not see the least
proof of the fallibility of his theory in the disasters of that war on
the contrary the deviations made from his theory were in his opinion 
the sole cause of the whole disaster and with characteristically
gleeful sarcasm he would remark there i said the whole affair would
go to the devil pfuel was one of those theoreticians who so love
their theory that they lose sight of the theory's object its practical
application his love of theory made him hate everything practical and
he would not listen to it he was even pleased by failures for failures
resulting from deviations in practice from the theory only proved to him
the accuracy of his theory 

he said a few words to prince andrew and chernyshev about the present
war with the air of a man who knows beforehand that all will go wrong 
and who is not displeased that it should be so the unbrushed tufts
of hair sticking up behind and the hastily brushed hair on his temples
expressed this most eloquently 

he passed into the next room and the deep querulous sounds of his
voice were at once heard from there 





chapter xi

prince andrew's eyes were still following pfuel out of the room when
count bennigsen entered hurriedly and nodding to bolkonski but not
pausing went into the study giving instructions to his adjutant as he
went the emperor was following him and bennigsen had hastened on
to make some preparations and to be ready to receive the sovereign 
chernyshev and prince andrew went out into the porch where the emperor 
who looked fatigued was dismounting marquis paulucci was talking to
him with particular warmth and the emperor with his head bent to the
left was listening with a dissatisfied air the emperor moved forward
evidently wishing to end the conversation but the flushed and excited
italian oblivious of decorum followed him and continued to speak 

 and as for the man who advised forming this camp the drissa camp said
paulucci as the emperor mounted the steps and noticing prince andrew
scanned his unfamiliar face as to that person sire continued
paulucci desperately apparently unable to restrain himself the man
who advised the drissa camp i see no alternative but the lunatic asylum
or the gallows 

without heeding the end of the italian's remarks and as though
not hearing them the emperor recognizing bolkonski addressed him
graciously 

 i am very glad to see you go in there where they are meeting and wait
for me 

the emperor went into the study he was followed by prince peter
mikhaylovich volkonski and baron stein and the door closed behind them 
prince andrew taking advantage of the emperor's permission accompanied
paulucci whom he had known in turkey into the drawing room where the
council was assembled 

prince peter mikhaylovich volkonski occupied the position as it were 
of chief of the emperor's staff he came out of the study into the
drawing room with some maps which he spread on a table and put
questions on which he wished to hear the opinion of the gentlemen
present what had happened was that news which afterwards proved to be
false had been received during the night of a movement by the french to
outflank the drissa camp 

the first to speak was general armfeldt who to meet the difficulty that
presented itself unexpectedly proposed a perfectly new position
away from the petersburg and moscow roads the reason for this was
inexplicable unless he wished to show that he too could have an
opinion but he urged that at this point the army should unite and
there await the enemy it was plain that armfeldt had thought out that
plan long ago and now expounded it not so much to answer the questions
put which in fact his plan did not answer as to avail himself of the
opportunity to air it it was one of the millions of proposals one as
good as another that could be made as long as it was quite unknown
what character the war would take some disputed his arguments others
defended them young count toll objected to the swedish general's views
more warmly than anyone else and in the course of the dispute drew from
his side pocket a well filled notebook which he asked permission to
read to them in these voluminous notes toll suggested another scheme 
totally different from armfeldt's or pfuel's plan of campaign in answer
to toll paulucci suggested an advance and an attack which he urged 
could alone extricate us from the present uncertainty and from the trap
 as he called the drissa camp in which we were situated 

during all these discussions pfuel and his interpreter wolzogen
 his bridge in court relations were silent pfuel only snorted
contemptuously and turned away to show that he would never demean
himself by replying to such nonsense as he was now hearing so when
prince volkonski who was in the chair called on him to give his
opinion he merely said 

 why ask me general armfeldt has proposed a splendid position with an
exposed rear or why not this italian gentleman's attack very fine or
a retreat also good why ask me said he why you yourselves know
everything better than i do 

but when volkonski said with a frown that it was in the emperor's name
that he asked his opinion pfuel rose and suddenly growing animated 
began to speak 

 everything has been spoiled everything muddled everybody thought they
knew better than i did and now you come to me how mend matters there
is nothing to mend the principles laid down by me must be strictly
adhered to said he drumming on the table with his bony fingers what
is the difficulty nonsense childishness 

he went up to the map and speaking rapidly began proving that no
eventuality could alter the efficiency of the drissa camp that
everything had been foreseen and that if the enemy were really going to
outflank it the enemy would inevitably be destroyed 

paulucci who did not know german began questioning him in french 
wolzogen came to the assistance of his chief who spoke french badly 
and began translating for him hardly able to keep pace with pfuel who
was rapidly demonstrating that not only all that had happened but all
that could happen had been foreseen in his scheme and that if there
were now any difficulties the whole fault lay in the fact that his plan
had not been precisely executed he kept laughing sarcastically he
demonstrated and at last contemptuously ceased to demonstrate like
a mathematician who ceases to prove in various ways the accuracy of
a problem that has already been proved wolzogen took his place and
continued to explain his views in french every now and then turning to
pfuel and saying is it not so your excellency but pfuel like a man
heated in a fight who strikes those on his own side shouted angrily at
his own supporter wolzogen 

 well of course what more is there to explain 

paulucci and michaud both attacked wolzogen simultaneously in french 
armfeldt addressed pfuel in german toll explained to volkonski in
russian prince andrew listened and observed in silence 

of all these men prince andrew sympathized most with pfuel angry 
determined and absurdly self confident as he was of all those present 
evidently he alone was not seeking anything for himself nursed no
hatred against anyone and only desired that the plan formed on a
theory arrived at by years of toil should be carried out he was
ridiculous and unpleasantly sarcastic but yet he inspired involuntary
respect by his boundless devotion to an idea besides this the remarks
of all except pfuel had one common trait that had not been noticeable
at the council of war in 1805 there was now a panic fear of napoleon's
genius which though concealed was noticeable in every rejoinder 
everything was assumed to be possible for napoleon they expected him
from every side and invoked his terrible name to shatter each other's
proposals pfuel alone seemed to consider napoleon a barbarian like
everyone else who opposed his theory but besides this feeling of
respect pfuel evoked pity in prince andrew from the tone in which
the courtiers addressed him and the way paulucci had allowed himself to
speak of him to the emperor but above all from a certain desperation
in pfuel's own expressions it was clear that the others knew and pfuel
himself felt that his fall was at hand and despite his self confidence
and grumpy german sarcasm he was pitiable with his hair smoothly
brushed on the temples and sticking up in tufts behind though he
concealed the fact under a show of irritation and contempt he was
evidently in despair that the sole remaining chance of verifying his
theory by a huge experiment and proving its soundness to the whole world
was slipping away from him 

the discussions continued a long time and the longer they lasted
the more heated became the disputes culminating in shouts and
personalities and the less was it possible to arrive at any general
conclusion from all that had been said prince andrew listening to this
polyglot talk and to these surmises plans refutations and shouts 
felt nothing but amazement at what they were saying a thought that had
long since and often occurred to him during his military activities the
idea that there is not and cannot be any science of war and that
therefore there can be no such thing as a military genius now appeared
to him an obvious truth what theory and science is possible about a
matter the conditions and circumstances of which are unknown and cannot
be defined especially when the strength of the acting forces cannot be
ascertained no one was or is able to foresee in what condition our or
the enemy's armies will be in a day's time and no one can gauge the
force of this or that detachment sometimes when there is not a coward
at the front to shout we are cut off and start running but a brave
and jolly lad who shouts hurrah a detachment of five thousand
is worth thirty thousand as at schon grabern while at times fifty
thousand run from eight thousand as at austerlitz what science can
there be in a matter in which as in all practical matters nothing
can be defined and everything depends on innumerable conditions the
significance of which is determined at a particular moment which arrives
no one knows when armfeldt says our army is cut in half and paulucci
says we have got the french army between two fires michaud says that
the worthlessness of the drissa camp lies in having the river behind it 
and pfuel says that is what constitutes its strength toll proposes
one plan armfeldt another and they are all good and all bad and the
advantages of any suggestions can be seen only at the moment of trial 
and why do they all speak of a military genius is a man a genius who
can order bread to be brought up at the right time and say who is to go
to the right and who to the left it is only because military men are
invested with pomp and power and crowds of sychophants flatter power 
attributing to it qualities of genius it does not possess the best
generals i have known were on the contrary stupid or absent minded
men bagration was the best napoleon himself admitted that and of
bonaparte himself i remember his limited self satisfied face on the
field of austerlitz not only does a good army commander not need any
special qualities on the contrary he needs the absence of the highest
and best human attributes love poetry tenderness and philosophic
inquiring doubt he should be limited firmly convinced that what he
is doing is very important otherwise he will not have sufficient
patience and only then will he be a brave leader god forbid that he
should be humane should love or pity or think of what is just
and unjust it is understandable that a theory of their genius was
invented for them long ago because they have power the success of a
military action depends not on them but on the man in the ranks who
shouts we are lost or who shouts hurrah and only in the ranks
can one serve with assurance of being useful 

so thought prince andrew as he listened to the talking and he roused
himself only when paulucci called him and everyone was leaving 

at the review next day the emperor asked prince andrew where he would
like to serve and prince andrew lost his standing in court circles
forever by not asking to remain attached to the sovereign's person but
for permission to serve in the army 





chapter xii

before the beginning of the campaign rostov had received a letter from
his parents in which they told him briefly of natasha's illness and the
breaking off of her engagement to prince andrew which they explained by
natasha's having rejected him and again asked nicholas to retire from
the army and return home on receiving this letter nicholas did not
even make any attempt to get leave of absence or to retire from the
army but wrote to his parents that he was sorry natasha was ill and her
engagement broken off and that he would do all he could to meet their
wishes to sonya he wrote separately 

 adored friend of my soul he wrote nothing but honor could keep
me from returning to the country but now at the commencement of the
campaign i should feel dishonored not only in my comrades eyes but
in my own if i preferred my own happiness to my love and duty to the
fatherland but this shall be our last separation believe me directly
the war is over if i am still alive and still loved by you i will
throw up everything and fly to you to press you forever to my ardent
breast 

it was in fact only the commencement of the campaign that prevented
rostov from returning home as he had promised and marrying sonya the
autumn in otradnoe with the hunting and the winter with the christmas
holidays and sonya's love had opened out to him a vista of tranquil
rural joys and peace such as he had never known before and which now
allured him a splendid wife children a good pack of hounds a
dozen leashes of smart borzois agriculture neighbors service by
election thought he but now the campaign was beginning and he had
to remain with his regiment and since it had to be so nicholas rostov 
as was natural to him felt contented with the life he led in the
regiment and was able to find pleasure in that life 

on his return from his furlough nicholas having been joyfully welcomed
by his comrades was sent to obtain remounts and brought back from the
ukraine excellent horses which pleased him and earned him commendation
from his commanders during his absence he had been promoted captain 
and when the regiment was put on war footing with an increase in
numbers he was again allotted his old squadron 

the campaign began the regiment was moved into poland on double pay 
new officers arrived new men and horses and above all everybody was
infected with the merrily excited mood that goes with the commencement
of a war and rostov conscious of his advantageous position in the
regiment devoted himself entirely to the pleasures and interests of
military service though he knew that sooner or later he would have to
relinquish them 

the troops retired from vilna for various complicated reasons of state 
political and strategic each step of the retreat was accompanied by
a complicated interplay of interests arguments and passions at
headquarters for the pavlograd hussars however the whole of this
retreat during the finest period of summer and with sufficient supplies
was a very simple and agreeable business 

it was only at headquarters that there was depression uneasiness and
intriguing in the body of the army they did not ask themselves where
they were going or why if they regretted having to retreat it was only
because they had to leave billets they had grown accustomed to or some
pretty young polish lady if the thought that things looked bad chanced
to enter anyone's head he tried to be as cheerful as befits a good
soldier and not to think of the general trend of affairs but only of
the task nearest to hand first they camped gaily before vilna making
acquaintance with the polish landowners preparing for reviews and being
reviewed by the emperor and other high commanders then came an order
to retreat to sventsyani and destroy any provisions they could not carry
away with them sventsyani was remembered by the hussars only as the
drunken camp a name the whole army gave to their encampment there 
and because many complaints were made against the troops who taking
advantage of the order to collect provisions took also horses 
carriages and carpets from the polish proprietors rostov remembered
sventsyani because on the first day of their arrival at that small town
he changed his sergeant major and was unable to manage all the drunken
men of his squadron who unknown to him had appropriated five barrels
of old beer from sventsyani they retired farther and farther to drissa 
and thence again beyond drissa drawing near to the frontier of russia
proper 

on the thirteenth of july the pavlograds took part in a serious action
for the first time 

on the twelfth of july on the eve of that action there was a heavy
storm of rain and hail in general the summer of 1812 was remarkable
for its storms 

the two pavlograd squadrons were bivouacking on a field of rye which
was already in ear but had been completely trodden down by cattle and
horses the rain was descending in torrents and rostov with a young
officer named ilyin his protege was sitting in a hastily constructed
shelter an officer of their regiment with long mustaches extending
onto his cheeks who after riding to the staff had been overtaken by the
rain entered rostov's shelter 

 i have come from the staff count have you heard of raevski's
exploit 

and the officer gave them details of the saltanov battle which he had
heard at the staff 

rostov smoking his pipe and turning his head about as the water
trickled down his neck listened inattentively with an occasional
glance at ilyin who was pressing close to him this officer a lad
of sixteen who had recently joined the regiment was now in the same
relation to nicholas that nicholas had been to denisov seven years
before ilyin tried to imitate rostov in everything and adored him as a
girl might have done 

zdrzhinski the officer with the long mustache spoke grandiloquently of
the saltanov dam being a russian thermopylae and of how a deed worthy
of antiquity had been performed by general raevski he recounted how
raevski had led his two sons onto the dam under terrific fire and had
charged with them beside him rostov heard the story and not only said
nothing to encourage zdrzhinski's enthusiasm but on the contrary 
looked like a man ashamed of what he was hearing though with no
intention of contradicting it since the campaigns of austerlitz and
of 1807 rostov knew by experience that men always lie when describing
military exploits as he himself had done when recounting them besides
that he had experience enough to know that nothing happens in war at
all as we can imagine or relate it and so he did not like zdrzhinski's
tale nor did he like zdrzhinski himself who with his mustaches
extending over his cheeks bent low over the face of his hearer as was
his habit and crowded rostov in the narrow shanty rostov looked at him
in silence in the first place there must have been such a confusion
and crowding on the dam that was being attacked that if raevski did lead
his sons there it could have had no effect except perhaps on some dozen
men nearest to him thought he the rest could not have seen how or
with whom raevski came onto the dam and even those who did see it
would not have been much stimulated by it for what had they to do with
raevski's tender paternal feelings when their own skins were in danger 
and besides the fate of the fatherland did not depend on whether
they took the saltanov dam or not as we are told was the case at
thermopylae so why should he have made such a sacrifice and why expose
his own children in the battle i would not have taken my brother petya
there or even ilyin who's a stranger to me but a nice lad but would
have tried to put them somewhere under cover nicholas continued
to think as he listened to zdrzhinski but he did not express his
thoughts for in such matters too he had gained experience he knew
that this tale redounded to the glory of our arms and so one had to
pretend not to doubt it and he acted accordingly 

 i can't stand this any more said ilyin noticing that rostov did not
relish zdrzhinski's conversation my stockings and shirt and the
water is running on my seat i'll go and look for shelter the rain
seems less heavy 

ilyin went out and zdrzhinski rode away 

five minutes later ilyin splashing through the mud came running back
to the shanty 

 hurrah rostov come quick i've found it about two hundred yards away
there's a tavern where ours have already gathered we can at least get
dry there and mary hendrikhovna's there 

mary hendrikhovna was the wife of the regimental doctor a pretty young
german woman he had married in poland the doctor whether from lack
of means or because he did not like to part from his young wife in
the early days of their marriage took her about with him wherever the
hussar regiment went and his jealousy had become a standing joke among
the hussar officers 

rostov threw his cloak over his shoulders shouted to lavrushka to
follow with the things and now slipping in the mud now splashing right
through it set off with ilyin in the lessening rain and the darkness
that was occasionally rent by distant lightning 

 rostov where are you 

 here what lightning they called to one another 





chapter xiii

in the tavern before which stood the doctor's covered cart there were
already some five officers mary hendrikhovna a plump little blonde
german in a dressing jacket and nightcap was sitting on a broad bench
in the front corner her husband the doctor lay asleep behind her 
rostov and ilyin on entering the room were welcomed with merry shouts
and laughter 

 dear me how jolly we are said rostov laughing 

 and why do you stand there gaping 

 what swells they are why the water streams from them don't make our
drawing room so wet 

 don't mess mary hendrikhovna's dress cried other voices 

rostov and ilyin hastened to find a corner where they could change into
dry clothes without offending mary hendrikhovna's modesty they were
going into a tiny recess behind a partition to change but found it
completely filled by three officers who sat playing cards by the light
of a solitary candle on an empty box and these officers would on no
account yield their position mary hendrikhovna obliged them with the
loan of a petticoat to be used as a curtain and behind that screen
rostov and ilyin helped by lavrushka who had brought their kits 
changed their wet things for dry ones 

a fire was made up in the dilapidated brick stove a board was found 
fixed on two saddles and covered with a horsecloth a small samovar was
produced and a cellaret and half a bottle of rum and having asked mary
hendrikhovna to preside they all crowded round her one offered her a
clean handkerchief to wipe her charming hands another spread a jacket
under her little feet to keep them from the damp another hung his coat
over the window to keep out the draft and yet another waved the flies
off her husband's face lest he should wake up 

 leave him alone said mary hendrikhovna smiling timidly and happily 
 he is sleeping well as it is after a sleepless night 

 oh no mary hendrikhovna replied the officer one must look after
the doctor perhaps he'll take pity on me someday when it comes to
cutting off a leg or an arm for me 

there were only three tumblers the water was so muddy that one could
not make out whether the tea was strong or weak and the samovar held
only six tumblers of water but this made it all the pleasanter to
take turns in order of seniority to receive one's tumbler from mary
hendrikhovna's plump little hands with their short and not overclean
nails all the officers appeared to be and really were in love with
her that evening even those playing cards behind the partition soon
left their game and came over to the samovar yielding to the general
mood of courting mary hendrikhovna she seeing herself surrounded by
such brilliant and polite young men beamed with satisfaction try as
she might to hide it and perturbed as she evidently was each time her
husband moved in his sleep behind her 

there was only one spoon sugar was more plentiful than anything
else but it took too long to dissolve so it was decided that mary
hendrikhovna should stir the sugar for everyone in turn rostov received
his tumbler and adding some rum to it asked mary hendrikhovna to stir
it 

 but you take it without sugar she said smiling all the time as if
everything she said and everything the others said was very amusing and
had a double meaning 

 it is not the sugar i want but only that your little hand should stir
my tea 

mary hendrikhovna assented and began looking for the spoon which someone
meanwhile had pounced on 

 use your finger mary hendrikhovna it will be still nicer said
rostov 

 too hot she replied blushing with pleasure 

ilyin put a few drops of rum into the bucket of water and brought it to
mary hendrikhovna asking her to stir it with her finger 

 this is my cup said he only dip your finger in it and i'll drink it
all up 

when they had emptied the samovar rostov took a pack of cards and
proposed that they should play kings with mary hendrikhovna they drew
lots to settle who should make up her set at rostov's suggestion it
was agreed that whoever became king should have the right to kiss mary
hendrikhovna's hand and that the booby should go to refill and reheat
the samovar for the doctor when the latter awoke 

 well but supposing mary hendrikhovna is king asked ilyin 

 as it is she is queen and her word is law 

they had hardly begun to play before the doctor's disheveled head
suddenly appeared from behind mary hendrikhovna he had been awake for
some time listening to what was being said and evidently found nothing
entertaining or amusing in what was going on his face was sad and
depressed without greeting the officers he scratched himself and asked
to be allowed to pass as they were blocking the way as soon as he
had left the room all the officers burst into loud laughter and mary
hendrikhovna blushed till her eyes filled with tears and thereby became
still more attractive to them returning from the yard the doctor
told his wife who had ceased to smile so happily and looked at him in
alarm awaiting her sentence that the rain had ceased and they must go
to sleep in their covered cart or everything in it would be stolen 

 but i'll send an orderly two of them said rostov what an idea 
doctor 

 i'll stand guard on it myself said ilyin 

 no gentlemen you have had your sleep but i have not slept for two
nights replied the doctor and he sat down morosely beside his wife 
waiting for the game to end 

seeing his gloomy face as he frowned at his wife the officers grew
still merrier and some of them could not refrain from laughter for
which they hurriedly sought plausible pretexts when he had gone taking
his wife with him and had settled down with her in their covered cart 
the officers lay down in the tavern covering themselves with their
wet cloaks but they did not sleep for a long time now they exchanged
remarks recalling the doctor's uneasiness and his wife's delight now
they ran out into the porch and reported what was taking place in the
covered trap several times rostov covering his head tried to go
to sleep but some remark would arouse him and conversation would be
resumed to the accompaniment of unreasoning merry childlike laughter 





chapter xiv

it was nearly three o'clock but no one was yet asleep when the
quartermaster appeared with an order to move on to the little town
of ostrovna still laughing and talking the officers began hurriedly
getting ready and again boiled some muddy water in the samovar but
rostov went off to his squadron without waiting for tea day was
breaking the rain had ceased and the clouds were dispersing it felt
damp and cold especially in clothes that were still moist as they left
the tavern in the twilight of the dawn rostov and ilyin both glanced
under the wet and glistening leather hood of the doctor's cart from
under the apron of which his feet were sticking out and in the middle
of which his wife's nightcap was visible and her sleepy breathing
audible 

 she really is a dear little thing said rostov to ilyin who was
following him 

 a charming woman said ilyin with all the gravity of a boy of
sixteen 

half an hour later the squadron was lined up on the road the command
was heard to mount and the soldiers crossed themselves and mounted 
rostov riding in front gave the order forward and the hussars with
clanking sabers and subdued talk their horses hoofs splashing in the
mud defiled in fours and moved along the broad road planted with birch
trees on each side following the infantry and a battery that had gone
on in front 

tattered blue purple clouds reddening in the east were scudding
before the wind it was growing lighter and lighter that curly grass
which always grows by country roadsides became clearly visible still
wet with the night's rain the drooping branches of the birches also
wet swayed in the wind and flung down bright drops of water to one
side the soldiers faces were more and more clearly visible rostov 
always closely followed by ilyin rode along the side of the road
between two rows of birch trees 

when campaigning rostov allowed himself the indulgence of riding not
a regimental but a cossack horse a judge of horses and a sportsman 
he had lately procured himself a large fine mettlesome donets horse 
dun colored with light mane and tail and when he rode it no one could
outgallop him to ride this horse was a pleasure to him and he thought
of the horse of the morning of the doctor's wife but not once of the
impending danger 

formerly when going into action rostov had felt afraid now he had
not the least feeling of fear he was fearless not because he had grown
used to being under fire one cannot grow used to danger but because
he had learned how to manage his thoughts when in danger he had grown
accustomed when going into action to think about anything but what would
seem most likely to interest him the impending danger during the
first period of his service hard as he tried and much as he reproached
himself with cowardice he had not been able to do this but with time
it had come of itself now he rode beside ilyin under the birch trees 
occasionally plucking leaves from a branch that met his hand sometimes
touching his horse's side with his foot or without turning round 
handing a pipe he had finished to an hussar riding behind him with as
calm and careless an air as though he were merely out for a ride he
glanced with pity at the excited face of ilyin who talked much and in
great agitation he knew from experience the tormenting expectation of
terror and death the cornet was suffering and knew that only time could
help him 

as soon as the sun appeared in a clear strip of sky beneath the clouds 
the wind fell as if it dared not spoil the beauty of the summer morning
after the storm drops still continued to fall but vertically now and
all was still the whole sun appeared on the horizon and disappeared
behind a long narrow cloud that hung above it a few minutes later it
reappeared brighter still from behind the top of the cloud tearing its
edge everything grew bright and glittered and with that light and as
if in reply to it came the sound of guns ahead of them 

before rostov had had time to consider and determine the distance of
that firing count ostermann tolstoy's adjutant came galloping from
vitebsk with orders to advance at a trot along the road 

the squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery which had
also quickened their pace rode down a hill and passing through an empty
and deserted village again ascended the horses began to lather and the
men to flush 

 halt dress your ranks the order of the regimental commander was
heard ahead forward by the left walk march came the order from in
front 

and the hussars passing along the line of troops on the left flank of
our position halted behind our uhlans who were in the front line to
the right stood our infantry in a dense column they were the reserve 
higher up the hill on the very horizon our guns were visible through
the wonderfully clear air brightly illuminated by slanting morning
sunbeams in front beyond a hollow dale could be seen the enemy's
columns and guns our advanced line already in action could be heard
briskly exchanging shots with the enemy in the dale 

at these sounds long unheard rostov's spirits rose as at the strains
of the merriest music trap ta ta tap cracked the shots now together 
now several quickly one after another again all was silent and then
again it sounded as if someone were walking on detonators and exploding
them 

the hussars remained in the same place for about an hour a cannonade
began count ostermann with his suite rode up behind the squadron 
halted spoke to the commander of the regiment and rode up the hill to
the guns 

after ostermann had gone a command rang out to the uhlans 

 form column prepare to charge 

the infantry in front of them parted into platoons to allow the cavalry
to pass the uhlans started the streamers on their spears fluttering 
and trotted downhill toward the french cavalry which was seen below to
the left 

as soon as the uhlans descended the hill the hussars were ordered up
the hill to support the battery as they took the places vacated by the
uhlans bullets came from the front whining and whistling but fell
spent without taking effect 

the sounds which he had not heard for so long had an even more
pleasurable and exhilarating effect on rostov than the previous sounds
of firing drawing himself up he viewed the field of battle opening out
before him from the hill and with his whole soul followed the movement
of the uhlans they swooped down close to the french dragoons something
confused happened there amid the smoke and five minutes later our
uhlans were galloping back not to the place they had occupied but more
to the left and among the orange colored uhlans on chestnut horses and
behind them in a large group blue french dragoons on gray horses could
be seen 





chapter xv

rostov with his keen sportsman's eye was one of the first to catch
sight of these blue french dragoons pursuing our uhlans nearer and
nearer in disorderly crowds came the uhlans and the french dragoons
pursuing them he could already see how these men who looked so small
at the foot of the hill jostled and overtook one another waving their
arms and their sabers in the air 

rostov gazed at what was happening before him as at a hunt he felt
instinctively that if the hussars struck at the french dragoons now the
latter could not withstand them but if a charge was to be made it must
be done now at that very moment or it would be too late he looked
around a captain standing beside him was gazing like himself with
eyes fixed on the cavalry below them 

 andrew sevastyanych said rostov you know we could crush them 

 a fine thing too replied the captain and really 

rostov without waiting to hear him out touched his horse galloped to
the front of his squadron and before he had time to finish giving the
word of command the whole squadron sharing his feeling was following
him rostov himself did not know how or why he did it he acted as he
did when hunting without reflecting or considering he saw the dragoons
near and that they were galloping in disorder he knew they could not
withstand an attack knew there was only that moment and that if he let
it slip it would not return the bullets were whining and whistling so
stimulatingly around him and his horse was so eager to go that he could
not restrain himself he touched his horse gave the word of command 
and immediately hearing behind him the tramp of the horses of his
deployed squadron rode at full trot downhill toward the dragoons 
hardly had they reached the bottom of the hill before their pace
instinctively changed to a gallop which grew faster and faster as they
drew nearer to our uhlans and the french dragoons who galloped after
them the dragoons were now close at hand on seeing the hussars the
foremost began to turn while those behind began to halt with the same
feeling with which he had galloped across the path of a wolf rostov
gave rein to his donets horse and galloped to intersect the path of the
dragoons disordered lines one uhlan stopped another who was on foot
flung himself to the ground to avoid being knocked over and a riderless
horse fell in among the hussars nearly all the french dragoons were
galloping back rostov picking out one on a gray horse dashed after
him on the way he came upon a bush his gallant horse cleared it and
almost before he had righted himself in his saddle he saw that he would
immediately overtake the enemy he had selected that frenchman by his
uniform an officer was going at a gallop crouching on his gray horse
and urging it on with his saber in another moment rostov's horse dashed
its breast against the hindquarters of the officer's horse almost
knocking it over and at the same instant rostov without knowing why 
raised his saber and struck the frenchman with it 

the instant he had done this all rostov's animation vanished the
officer fell not so much from the blow which had but slightly cut his
arm above the elbow as from the shock to his horse and from fright 
rostov reined in his horse and his eyes sought his foe to see whom he
had vanquished the french dragoon officer was hopping with one foot on
the ground the other being caught in the stirrup his eyes screwed
up with fear as if he every moment expected another blow gazed up at
rostov with shrinking terror his pale and mud stained face fair and
young with a dimple in the chin and light blue eyes was not an enemy's
face at all suited to a battlefield but a most ordinary homelike face 
before rostov had decided what to do with him the officer cried i
surrender he hurriedly but vainly tried to get his foot out of the
stirrup and did not remove his frightened blue eyes from rostov's face 
some hussars who galloped up disengaged his foot and helped him into the
saddle on all sides the hussars were busy with the dragoons one was
wounded but though his face was bleeding he would not give up his
horse another was perched up behind an hussar with his arms round him 
a third was being helped by an hussar to mount his horse in front the
french infantry were firing as they ran the hussars galloped hastily
back with their prisoners rostov galloped back with the rest aware of
an unpleasant feeling of depression in his heart something vague and
confused which he could not at all account for had come over him with
the capture of that officer and the blow he had dealt him 

count ostermann tolstoy met the returning hussars sent for rostov 
thanked him and said he would report his gallant deed to the emperor
and would recommend him for a st george's cross when sent for by count
ostermann rostov remembering that he had charged without orders 
felt sure his commander was sending for him to punish him for breach of
discipline ostermann's flattering words and promise of a reward should
therefore have struck him all the more pleasantly but he still felt
that same vaguely disagreeable feeling of moral nausea but what
on earth is worrying me he asked himself as he rode back from the
general ilyin no he's safe have i disgraced myself in any way no 
that's not it something else resembling remorse tormented him yes 
oh yes that french officer with the dimple and i remember how my arm
paused when i raised it 

rostov saw the prisoners being led away and galloped after them to have
a look at his frenchman with the dimple on his chin he was sitting in
his foreign uniform on an hussar packhorse and looked anxiously about
him the sword cut on his arm could scarcely be called a wound he
glanced at rostov with a feigned smile and waved his hand in greeting 
rostov still had the same indefinite feeling as of shame 

all that day and the next his friends and comrades noticed that rostov 
without being dull or angry was silent thoughtful and preoccupied 
he drank reluctantly tried to remain alone and kept turning something
over in his mind 

rostov was always thinking about that brilliant exploit of his which to
his amazement had gained him the st george's cross and even given him
a reputation for bravery and there was something he could not at all
understand so others are even more afraid than i am he thought so
that's all there is in what is called heroism and did i do it for my
country's sake and how was he to blame with his dimple and blue eyes 
and how frightened he was he thought that i should kill him why should
i kill him my hand trembled and they have given me a st george's
cross i can't make it out at all 

but while nicholas was considering these questions and still could reach
no clear solution of what puzzled him so the wheel of fortune in the
service as often happens turned in his favor after the affair at
ostrovna he was brought into notice received command of an hussar
battalion and when a brave officer was needed he was chosen 





chapter xvi

on receiving news of natasha's illness the countess though not quite
well yet and still weak went to moscow with petya and the rest of the
household and the whole family moved from marya dmitrievna's house to
their own and settled down in town 

natasha's illness was so serious that fortunately for her and for
her parents the consideration of all that had caused the illness 
her conduct and the breaking off of her engagement receded into the
background she was so ill that it was impossible for them to consider
in how far she was to blame for what had happened she could not eat
or sleep grew visibly thinner coughed and as the doctors made them
feel was in danger they could not think of anything but how to help
her doctors came to see her singly and in consultation talked much in
french german and latin blamed one another and prescribed a great
variety of medicines for all the diseases known to them but the simple
idea never occurred to any of them that they could not know the disease
natasha was suffering from as no disease suffered by a live man can be
known for every living person has his own peculiarities and always
has his own peculiar personal novel complicated disease unknown to
medicine not a disease of the lungs liver skin heart nerves and so
on mentioned in medical books but a disease consisting of one of the
innumerable combinations of the maladies of those organs this simple
thought could not occur to the doctors as it cannot occur to a wizard
that he is unable to work his charms because the business of their
lives was to cure and they received money for it and had spent the best
years of their lives on that business but above all that thought
was kept out of their minds by the fact that they saw they were
really useful as in fact they were to the whole rostov family their
usefulness did not depend on making the patient swallow substances for
the most part harmful the harm was scarcely perceptible as they
were given in small doses but they were useful necessary and
indispensable because they satisfied a mental need of the invalid and
of those who loved her and that is why there are and always will be 
pseudo healers wise women homeopaths and allopaths they satisfied
that eternal human need for hope of relief for sympathy and that
something should be done which is felt by those who are suffering they
satisfied the need seen in its most elementary form in a child when it
wants to have a place rubbed that has been hurt a child knocks itself
and runs at once to the arms of its mother or nurse to have the aching
spot rubbed or kissed and it feels better when this is done the child
cannot believe that the strongest and wisest of its people have no
remedy for its pain and the hope of relief and the expression of its
mother's sympathy while she rubs the bump comforts it the doctors were
of use to natasha because they kissed and rubbed her bump assuring her
that it would soon pass if only the coachman went to the chemist's in
the arbat and got a powder and some pills in a pretty box for a ruble
and seventy kopeks and if she took those powders in boiled water at
intervals of precisely two hours neither more nor less 

what would sonya and the count and countess have done how would they
have looked if nothing had been done if there had not been those pills
to give by the clock the warm drinks the chicken cutlets and all the
other details of life ordered by the doctors the carrying out of which
supplied an occupation and consolation to the family circle how would
the count have borne his dearly loved daughter's illness had he not
known that it was costing him a thousand rubles and that he would not
grudge thousands more to benefit her or had he not known that if her
illness continued he would not grudge yet other thousands and would take
her abroad for consultations there and had he not been able to explain
the details of how metivier and feller had not understood the symptoms 
but frise had and mudrov had diagnosed them even better what would the
countess have done had she not been able sometimes to scold the invalid
for not strictly obeying the doctor's orders 

 you'll never get well like that she would say forgetting her grief
in her vexation if you won't obey the doctor and take your medicine at
the right time you mustn't trifle with it you know or it may turn to
pneumonia she would go on deriving much comfort from the utterance of
that foreign word incomprehensible to others as well as to herself 

what would sonya have done without the glad consciousness that she had
not undressed during the first three nights in order to be ready to
carry out all the doctor's injunctions with precision and that she
still kept awake at night so as not to miss the proper time when the
slightly harmful pills in the little gilt box had to be administered 
even to natasha herself it was pleasant to see that so many sacrifices
were being made for her sake and to know that she had to take medicine
at certain hours though she declared that no medicine would cure her
and that it was all nonsense and it was even pleasant to be able to
show by disregarding the orders that she did not believe in medical
treatment and did not value her life 

the doctor came every day felt her pulse looked at her tongue and
regardless of her grief stricken face joked with her but when he had
gone into another room to which the countess hurriedly followed him he
assumed a grave air and thoughtfully shaking his head said that though
there was danger he had hopes of the effect of this last medicine and
one must wait and see that the malady was chiefly mental but and
the countess trying to conceal the action from herself and from him 
slipped a gold coin into his hand and always returned to the patient
with a more tranquil mind 

the symptoms of natasha's illness were that she ate little slept
little coughed and was always low spirited the doctors said that
she could not get on without medical treatment so they kept her in the
stifling atmosphere of the town and the rostovs did not move to the
country that summer of 1812 

in spite of the many pills she swallowed and the drops and powders out
of the little bottles and boxes of which madame schoss who was fond of
such things made a large collection and in spite of being deprived of
the country life to which she was accustomed youth prevailed natasha's
grief began to be overlaid by the impressions of daily life it ceased
to press so painfully on her heart it gradually faded into the past 
and she began to recover physically 





chapter xvii

natasha was calmer but no happier she not merely avoided all external
forms of pleasure balls promenades concerts and theaters but she
never laughed without a sound of tears in her laughter she could not
sing as soon as she began to laugh or tried to sing by herself tears
choked her tears of remorse tears at the recollection of those pure
times which could never return tears of vexation that she should so
uselessly have ruined her young life which might have been so happy 
laughter and singing in particular seemed to her like a blasphemy 
in face of her sorrow without any need of self restraint no wish to
coquet ever entered her head she said and felt at that time that no
man was more to her than nastasya ivanovna the buffoon something stood
sentinel within her and forbade her every joy besides she had lost all
the old interests of her carefree girlish life that had been so full
of hope the previous autumn the hunting uncle and the christmas
holidays spent with nicholas at otradnoe were what she recalled oftenest
and most painfully what would she not have given to bring back even a
single day of that time but it was gone forever her presentiment at
the time had not deceived her that that state of freedom and readiness
for any enjoyment would not return again yet it was necessary to live
on 

it comforted her to reflect that she was not better as she had formerly
imagined but worse much worse than anybody else in the world but
this was not enough she knew that and asked herself what next 
but there was nothing to come there was no joy in life yet life was
passing natasha apparently tried not to be a burden or a hindrance to
anyone but wanted nothing for herself she kept away from everyone in
the house and felt at ease only with her brother petya she liked to
be with him better than with the others and when alone with him she
sometimes laughed she hardly ever left the house and of those who came
to see them was glad to see only one person pierre it would have been
impossible to treat her with more delicacy greater care and at the
same time more seriously than did count bezukhov natasha unconsciously
felt this delicacy and so found great pleasure in his society but
she was not even grateful to him for it nothing good on pierre's part
seemed to her to be an effort it seemed so natural for him to be kind
to everyone that there was no merit in his kindness sometimes natasha
noticed embarrassment and awkwardness on his part in her presence 
especially when he wanted to do something to please her or feared that
something they spoke of would awaken memories distressing to her she
noticed this and attributed it to his general kindness and shyness 
which she imagined must be the same toward everyone as it was to her 
after those involuntary words that if he were free he would have asked
on his knees for her hand and her love uttered at a moment when she was
so strongly agitated pierre never spoke to natasha of his feelings 
and it seemed plain to her that those words which had then so comforted
her were spoken as all sorts of meaningless words are spoken to comfort
a crying child it was not because pierre was a married man but because
natasha felt very strongly with him that moral barrier the absence of
which she had experienced with kuragin that it never entered her head
that the relations between him and herself could lead to love on her
part still less on his or even to the kind of tender self conscious 
romantic friendship between a man and a woman of which she had known
several instances 

before the end of the fast of st peter agrafena ivanovna belova a
country neighbor of the rostovs came to moscow to pay her devotions at
the shrines of the moscow saints she suggested that natasha should fast
and prepare for holy communion and natasha gladly welcomed the idea 
despite the doctor's orders that she should not go out early in the
morning natasha insisted on fasting and preparing for the sacrament 
not as they generally prepared for it in the rostov family by attending
three services in their own house but as agrafena ivanovna did by
going to church every day for a week and not once missing vespers 
matins or mass 

the countess was pleased with natasha's zeal after the poor results of
the medical treatment in the depths of her heart she hoped that prayer
might help her daughter more than medicines and though not without
fear and concealing it from the doctor she agreed to natasha's wish and
entrusted her to belova agrafena ivanovna used to come to wake natasha
at three in the morning but generally found her already awake she was
afraid of being late for matins hastily washing and meekly putting on
her shabbiest dress and an old mantilla natasha shivering in the fresh
air went out into the deserted streets lit by the clear light of dawn 
by agrafena ivanovna's advice natasha prepared herself not in their
own parish but at a church where according to the devout agrafena
ivanovna the priest was a man of very severe and lofty life there were
never many people in the church natasha always stood beside belova in
the customary place before an icon of the blessed virgin let into the
screen before the choir on the left side and a feeling new to her of
humility before something great and incomprehensible seized her when
at that unusual morning hour gazing at the dark face of the virgin
illuminated by the candles burning before it and by the morning light
falling from the window she listened to the words of the service which
she tried to follow with understanding when she understood them her
personal feeling became interwoven in the prayers with shades of its
own when she did not understand it was sweeter still to think that
the wish to understand everything is pride that it is impossible to
understand all that it is only necessary to believe and to commit
oneself to god whom she felt guiding her soul at those moments she
crossed herself bowed low and when she did not understand in horror
at her own vileness simply asked god to forgive her everything 
everything to have mercy upon her the prayers to which she surrendered
herself most of all were those of repentance on her way home at an
early hour when she met no one but bricklayers going to work or men
sweeping the street and everybody within the houses was still asleep 
natasha experienced a feeling new to her a sense of the possibility
of correcting her faults the possibility of a new clean life and of
happiness 

during the whole week she spent in this way that feeling grew every
day and the happiness of taking communion or communing as agrafena
ivanovna joyously playing with the word called it seemed to natasha
so great that she felt she should never live till that blessed sunday 

but the happy day came and on that memorable sunday when dressed in
white muslin she returned home after communion for the first time for
many months she felt calm and not oppressed by the thought of the life
that lay before her 

the doctor who came to see her that day ordered her to continue the
powders he had prescribed a fortnight previously 

 she must certainly go on taking them morning and evening said
he evidently sincerely satisfied with his success only please be
particular about it 

 be quite easy he continued playfully as he adroitly took the gold
coin in his palm she will soon be singing and frolicking about the
last medicine has done her a very great deal of good she has freshened
up very much 

the countess with a cheerful expression on her face looked down at her
nails and spat a little for luck as she returned to the drawing room 





chapter xviii

at the beginning of july more and more disquieting reports about the war
began to spread in moscow people spoke of an appeal by the emperor to
the people and of his coming himself from the army to moscow and as
up to the eleventh of july no manifesto or appeal had been received 
exaggerated reports became current about them and about the position of
russia it was said that the emperor was leaving the army because it was
in danger it was said that smolensk had surrendered that napoleon had
an army of a million and only a miracle could save russia 

on the eleventh of july which was saturday the manifesto was received
but was not yet in print and pierre who was at the rostovs promised
to come to dinner next day sunday and bring a copy of the manifesto
and appeal which he would obtain from count rostopchin 

that sunday the rostovs went to mass at the razumovskis private chapel
as usual it was a hot july day even at ten o'clock when the rostovs
got out of their carriage at the chapel the sultry air the shouts of
hawkers the light and gay summer clothes of the crowd the dusty leaves
of the trees on the boulevard the sounds of the band and the white
trousers of a battalion marching to parade the rattling of wheels on
the cobblestones and the brilliant hot sunshine were all full of that
summer languor that content and discontent with the present which
is most strongly felt on a bright hot day in town all the moscow
notabilities all the rostovs acquaintances were at the razumovskis 
chapel for as if expecting something to happen many wealthy families
who usually left town for their country estates had not gone away that
summer as natasha at her mother's side passed through the crowd
behind a liveried footman who cleared the way for them she heard a
young man speaking about her in too loud a whisper 

 that's rostova the one who 

 she's much thinner but all the same she's pretty 

she heard or thought she heard the names of kuragin and bolkonski but
she was always imagining that it always seemed to her that everyone
who looked at her was thinking only of what had happened to her with a
sinking heart wretched as she always was now when she found herself
in a crowd natasha in her lilac silk dress trimmed with black lace
walked as women can walk with the more repose and stateliness the
greater the pain and shame in her soul she knew for certain that she
was pretty but this no longer gave her satisfaction as it used to 
on the contrary it tormented her more than anything else of late and
particularly so on this bright hot summer day in town it's sunday
again another week past she thought recalling that she had been here
the sunday before and always the same life that is no life and the
same surroundings in which it used to be so easy to live i'm pretty 
i'm young and i know that now i am good i used to be bad but now i
know i am good she thought but yet my best years are slipping by
and are no good to anyone she stood by her mother's side and exchanged
nods with acquaintances near her from habit she scrutinized the ladies 
dresses condemned the bearing of a lady standing close by who was not
crossing herself properly but in a cramped manner and again she thought
with vexation that she was herself being judged and was judging others 
and suddenly at the sound of the service she felt horrified at her own
vileness horrified that the former purity of her soul was again lost to
her 

a comely fresh looking old man was conducting the service with that
mild solemnity which has so elevating and soothing an effect on the
souls of the worshipers the gates of the sanctuary screen were closed 
the curtain was slowly drawn and from behind it a soft mysterious voice
pronounced some words tears the cause of which she herself did not
understand made natasha's breast heave and a joyous but oppressive
feeling agitated her 

 teach me what i should do how to live my life how i may grow good
forever forever she pleaded 

the deacon came out onto the raised space before the altar screen and 
holding his thumb extended drew his long hair from under his dalmatic
and making the sign of the cross on his breast began in a loud and
solemn voice to recite the words of the prayer 

 in peace let us pray unto the lord 

 as one community without distinction of class without enmity united
by brotherly love let us pray thought natasha 

 for the peace that is from above and for the salvation of our souls 

 for the world of angels and all the spirits who dwell above us prayed
natasha 

when they prayed for the warriors she thought of her brother and
denisov when they prayed for all traveling by land and sea she
remembered prince andrew prayed for him and asked god to forgive her
all the wrongs she had done him when they prayed for those who love us 
she prayed for the members of her own family her father and mother and
sonya realizing for the first time how wrongly she had acted toward
them and feeling all the strength of her love for them when they
prayed for those who hate us she tried to think of her enemies and
people who hated her in order to pray for them she included among her
enemies the creditors and all who had business dealings with her
father and always at the thought of enemies and those who hated her she
remembered anatole who had done her so much harm and though he did not
hate her she gladly prayed for him as for an enemy only at prayer did
she feel able to think clearly and calmly of prince andrew and anatole 
as men for whom her feelings were as nothing compared with her awe and
devotion to god when they prayed for the imperial family and the synod 
she bowed very low and made the sign of the cross saying to herself
that even if she did not understand still she could not doubt and at
any rate loved the governing synod and prayed for it 

when he had finished the litany the deacon crossed the stole over his
breast and said let us commit ourselves and our whole lives to christ
the lord 

 commit ourselves to god natasha inwardly repeated lord god i
submit myself to thy will she thought i want nothing wish for
nothing teach me what to do and how to use my will take me take
me prayed natasha with impatient emotion in her heart not crossing
herself but letting her slender arms hang down as if expecting some
invisible power at any moment to take her and deliver her from herself 
from her regrets desires remorse hopes and sins 

the countess looked round several times at her daughter's softened face
and shining eyes and prayed god to help her 

unexpectedly in the middle of the service and not in the usual order
natasha knew so well the deacon brought out a small stool the one he
knelt on when praying on trinity sunday and placed it before the doors
of the sanctuary screen the priest came out with his purple velvet
biretta on his head adjusted his hair and knelt down with an effort 
everybody followed his example and they looked at one another in
surprise then came the prayer just received from the synod a prayer for
the deliverance of russia from hostile invasion 

 lord god of might god of our salvation began the priest in that
voice clear not grandiloquent but mild in which only the slav clergy
read and which acts so irresistibly on a russian heart 

 lord god of might god of our salvation look this day in mercy and
blessing on thy humble people and graciously hear us spare us and
have mercy upon us this foe confounding thy land desiring to lay
waste the whole world rises against us these lawless men are gathered
together to overthrow thy kingdom to destroy thy dear jerusalem thy
beloved russia to defile thy temples to overthrow thine altars and to
desecrate our holy shrines how long o lord how long shall the wicked
triumph how long shall they wield unlawful power 

 lord god hear us when we pray to thee strengthen with thy might
our most gracious sovereign lord the emperor alexander pavlovich be
mindful of his uprightness and meekness reward him according to his
righteousness and let it preserve us thy chosen israel bless his
counsels his undertakings and his work strengthen his kingdom by
thine almighty hand and give him victory over his enemy even as thou
gavest moses the victory over amalek gideon over midian and david over
goliath preserve his army put a bow of brass in the hands of those who
have armed themselves in thy name and gird their loins with strength
for the fight take up the spear and shield and arise to help us 
confound and put to shame those who have devised evil against us may
they be before the faces of thy faithful warriors as dust before the
wind and may thy mighty angel confound them and put them to flight may
they be ensnared when they know it not and may the plots they have laid
in secret be turned against them let them fall before thy servants 
feet and be laid low by our hosts lord thou art able to save both
great and small thou art god and man cannot prevail against thee 

 god of our fathers remember thy bounteous mercy and loving kindness
which are from of old turn not thy face from us but be gracious to our
unworthiness and in thy great goodness and thy many mercies regard not
our transgressions and iniquities create in us a clean heart and renew
a right spirit within us strengthen us all in thy faith fortify our
hope inspire us with true love one for another arm us with unity of
spirit in the righteous defense of the heritage thou gavest to us and
to our fathers and let not the scepter of the wicked be exalted against
the destiny of those thou hast sanctified 

 o lord our god in whom we believe and in whom we put our trust let us
not be confounded in our hope of thy mercy and give us a token of thy
blessing that those who hate us and our orthodox faith may see it and
be put to shame and perish and may all the nations know that thou art
the lord and we are thy people show thy mercy upon us this day o lord 
and grant us thy salvation make the hearts of thy servants to rejoice
in thy mercy smite down our enemies and destroy them swiftly beneath
the feet of thy faithful servants for thou art the defense the succor 
and the victory of them that put their trust in thee and to thee be all
glory to father son and holy ghost now and forever world without
end amen 

in natasha's receptive condition of soul this prayer affected her
strongly she listened to every word about the victory of moses over
amalek of gideon over midian and of david over goliath and about
the destruction of thy jerusalem and she prayed to god with the
tenderness and emotion with which her heart was overflowing but without
fully understanding what she was asking of god in that prayer she
shared with all her heart in the prayer for the spirit of righteousness 
for the strengthening of the heart by faith and hope and its animation
by love but she could not pray that her enemies might be trampled under
foot when but a few minutes before she had been wishing she had more
of them that she might pray for them but neither could she doubt the
righteousness of the prayer that was being read on bended knees she
felt in her heart a devout and tremulous awe at the thought of the
punishment that overtakes men for their sins and especially of her own
sins and she prayed to god to forgive them all and her too and to
give them all and her too peace and happiness and it seemed to her
that god heard her prayer 





chapter xix

from the day when pierre after leaving the rostovs with natasha's
grateful look fresh in his mind had gazed at the comet that seemed to
be fixed in the sky and felt that something new was appearing on his own
horizon from that day the problem of the vanity and uselessness of all
earthly things that had incessantly tormented him no longer presented
itself that terrible question why wherefore which had come to him
amid every occupation was now replaced not by another question or by a
reply to the former question but by her image when he listened to or
himself took part in trivial conversations when he read or heard of
human baseness or folly he was not horrified as formerly and did
not ask himself why men struggled so about these things when all is so
transient and incomprehensible but he remembered her as he had last
seen her and all his doubts vanished not because she had answered
the questions that had haunted him but because his conception of her
transferred him instantly to another a brighter realm of spiritual
activity in which no one could be justified or guilty a realm of beauty
and love which it was worth living for whatever worldly baseness
presented itself to him he said to himself 

 well supposing n n has swindled the country and the tsar and the
country and the tsar confer honors upon him what does that matter she
smiled at me yesterday and asked me to come again and i love her and
no one will ever know it and his soul felt calm and peaceful 

pierre still went into society drank as much and led the same idle
and dissipated life because besides the hours he spent at the rostovs 
there were other hours he had to spend somehow and the habits and
acquaintances he had made in moscow formed a current that bore him along
irresistibly but latterly when more and more disquieting reports came
from the seat of war and natasha's health began to improve and she
no longer aroused in him the former feeling of careful pity an
ever increasing restlessness which he could not explain took
possession of him he felt that the condition he was in could not
continue long that a catastrophe was coming which would change his
whole life and he impatiently sought everywhere for signs of that
approaching catastrophe one of his brother masons had revealed to
pierre the following prophecy concerning napoleon drawn from the
revelation of st john 

in chapter 13 verse 18 of the apocalypse it is said 

here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of
the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred
threescore and six 

and in the fifth verse of the same chapter 

and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months 


the french alphabet written out with the same numerical values as the
hebrew in which the first nine letters denote units and the others
tens will have the following significance 

 a b c d e f g h i k
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 l m n o p q r s
 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
 t u v w x y
 100 110 120 130 140 150
 z
 160

writing the words l'empereur napoleon in numbers it appears that the
sum of them is 666 and that napoleon was therefore the beast foretold
in the apocalypse moreover by applying the same system to the words
quarante deux which was the term allowed to the beast that spoke
great things and blasphemies the same number 666 was obtained from
which it followed that the limit fixed for napoleon's power had come
in the year 1812 when the french emperor was forty two this prophecy
pleased pierre very much and he often asked himself what would put an
end to the power of the beast that is of napoleon and tried by the
same system of using letters as numbers and adding them up to find an
answer to the question that engrossed him he wrote the words l'empereur
alexandre la nation russe and added up their numbers but the sums
were either more or less than 666 once when making such calculations he
wrote down his own name in french comte pierre besouhoff but the
sum of the numbers did not come right then he changed the spelling 
substituting a z for the s and adding de and the article le still
without obtaining the desired result then it occurred to him if the
answer to the question were contained in his name his nationality would
also be given in the answer so he wrote le russe besuhof and adding
up the numbers got 671 this was only five too much and five was
represented by e the very letter elided from the article le before the
word empereur by omitting the e though incorrectly pierre got the
answer he sought l'russe besuhof made 666 this discovery excited him 
how or by what means he was connected with the great event foretold in
the apocalypse he did not know but he did not doubt that connection for
a moment his love for natasha antichrist napoleon the invasion the
comet 666 l'empereur napoleon and l'russe besuhof all this had to
mature and culminate to lift him out of that spellbound petty sphere
of moscow habits in which he felt himself held captive and lead him to a
great achievement and great happiness 

 forty two 


on the eve of the sunday when the special prayer was read pierre had
promised the rostovs to bring them from count rostopchin whom he knew
well both the appeal to the people and the news from the army in the
morning when he went to call at rostopchin's he met there a courier
fresh from the army an acquaintance of his own who often danced at
moscow balls 

 do please for heaven's sake relieve me of something said the
courier i have a sackful of letters to parents 

among these letters was one from nicholas rostov to his father pierre
took that letter and rostopchin also gave him the emperor's appeal to
moscow which had just been printed the last army orders and his own
most recent bulletin glancing through the army orders pierre found in
one of them in the lists of killed wounded and rewarded the name of
nicholas rostov awarded a st george's cross of the fourth class for
courage shown in the ostrovna affair and in the same order the name
of prince andrew bolkonski appointed to the command of a regiment of
chasseurs though he did not want to remind the rostovs of bolkonski 
pierre could not refrain from making them happy by the news of their
son's having received a decoration so he sent that printed army order
and nicholas letter to the rostovs keeping the appeal the bulletin 
and the other orders to take with him when he went to dinner 

his conversation with count rostopchin and the latter's tone of anxious
hurry the meeting with the courier who talked casually of how badly
things were going in the army the rumors of the discovery of spies in
moscow and of a leaflet in circulation stating that napoleon promised
to be in both the russian capitals by the autumn and the talk of the
emperor's being expected to arrive next day all aroused with fresh force
that feeling of agitation and expectation in pierre which he had been
conscious of ever since the appearance of the comet and especially
since the beginning of the war 

he had long been thinking of entering the army and would have done so
had he not been hindered first by his membership of the society of
freemasons to which he was bound by oath and which preached perpetual
peace and the abolition of war and secondly by the fact that when he
saw the great mass of muscovites who had donned uniform and were talking
patriotism he somehow felt ashamed to take the step but the chief
reason for not carrying out his intention to enter the army lay in the
vague idea that he was l'russe besuhof who had the number of the beast 
666 that his part in the great affair of setting a limit to the
power of the beast that spoke great and blasphemous things had been
predestined from eternity and that therefore he ought not to undertake
anything but wait for what was bound to come to pass 





chapter xx

a few intimate friends were dining with the rostovs that day as usual
on sundays 

pierre came early so as to find them alone 

he had grown so stout this year that he would have been abnormal had he
not been so tall so broad of limb and so strong that he carried his
bulk with evident ease 

he went up the stairs puffing and muttering something his coachman did
not even ask whether he was to wait he knew that when his master was
at the rostovs he stayed till midnight the rostovs footman rushed
eagerly forward to help him off with his cloak and take his hat and
stick pierre from club habit always left both hat and stick in the
anteroom 

the first person he saw in the house was natasha even before he saw
her while taking off his cloak he heard her she was practicing solfa
exercises in the music room he knew that she had not sung since her
illness and so the sound of her voice surprised and delighted him he
opened the door softly and saw her in the lilac dress she had worn at
church walking about the room singing she had her back to him when he
opened the door but when turning quickly she saw his broad surprised
face she blushed and came rapidly up to him 

 i want to try to sing again she said adding as if by way of excuse 
 it is at least something to do 

 that's capital 

 how glad i am you've come i am so happy today she said with the old
animation pierre had not seen in her for a long time you know nicholas
has received a st george's cross i am so proud of him 

 oh yes i sent that announcement but i don't want to interrupt you 
he added and was about to go to the drawing room 

natasha stopped him 

 count is it wrong of me to sing she said blushing and fixing her
eyes inquiringly on him 

 no why should it be on the contrary but why do you ask me 

 i don't know myself natasha answered quickly but i should not like
to do anything you disapproved of i believe in you completely you
don't know how important you are to me how much you've done for me 
she spoke rapidly and did not notice how pierre flushed at her words i
saw in that same army order that he bolkonski she whispered the name
hastily is in russia and in the army again what do you think she
was speaking hurriedly evidently afraid her strength might fail
her will he ever forgive me will he not always have a bitter feeling
toward me what do you think what do you think 

 i think pierre replied that he has nothing to forgive if i
were in his place 

by association of ideas pierre was at once carried back to the day
when trying to comfort her he had said that if he were not himself but
the best man in the world and free he would ask on his knees for her
hand and the same feeling of pity tenderness and love took possession
of him and the same words rose to his lips but she did not give him
time to say them 

 yes you you she said uttering the word you rapturously that's
a different thing i know no one kinder more generous or better than
you nobody could be had you not been there then and now too i don't
know what would have become of me because 

tears suddenly rose in her eyes she turned away lifted her music
before her eyes began singing again and again began walking up and
down the room 

just then petya came running in from the drawing room 

petya was now a handsome rosy lad of fifteen with full red lips and
resembled natasha he was preparing to enter the university but he and
his friend obolenski had lately in secret agreed to join the hussars 

petya had come rushing out to talk to his namesake about this affair 
he had asked pierre to find out whether he would be accepted in the
hussars 

pierre walked up and down the drawing room not listening to what petya
was saying 

petya pulled him by the arm to attract his attention 

 well what about my plan peter kirilych for heaven's sake you are my
only hope said petya 

 oh yes your plan to join the hussars i'll mention it i'll bring it
all up today 

 well mon cher have you got the manifesto asked the old count the
countess has been to mass at the razumovskis and heard the new prayer 
she says it's very fine 

 yes i've got it said pierre the emperor is to be here tomorrow 
there's to be an extraordinary meeting of the nobility and they are
talking of a levy of ten men per thousand oh yes let me congratulate
you 

 yes yes thank god well and what news from the army 

 we are again retreating they say we're already near smolensk replied
pierre 

 o lord o lord exclaimed the count where is the manifesto 

 the emperor's appeal oh yes 

pierre began feeling in his pockets for the papers but could not find
them still slapping his pockets he kissed the hand of the countess
who entered the room and glanced uneasily around evidently expecting
natasha who had left off singing but had not yet come into the drawing
room 

 on my word i don't know what i've done with it he said 

 there he is always losing everything remarked the countess 

natasha entered with a softened and agitated expression of face and
sat down looking silently at pierre as soon as she entered pierre's
features which had been gloomy suddenly lighted up and while still
searching for the papers he glanced at her several times 

 no really i'll drive home i must have left them there i'll
certainly 

 but you'll be late for dinner 

 oh and my coachman has gone 

but sonya who had gone to look for the papers in the anteroom had
found them in pierre's hat where he had carefully tucked them under the
lining pierre was about to begin reading 

 no after dinner said the old count evidently expecting much
enjoyment from that reading 

at dinner at which champagne was drunk to the health of the new
chevalier of st george shinshin told them the town news of the
illness of the old georgian princess of metivier's disappearance from
moscow and of how some german fellow had been brought to rostopchin
and accused of being a french spyer so count rostopchin had told the
story and how rostopchin let him go and assured the people that he was
 not a spire at all but only an old german ruin 

 people are being arrested said the count i've told the countess
she should not speak french so much it's not the time for it now 

 and have you heard shinshin asked prince golitsyn has engaged a
master to teach him russian it is becoming dangerous to speak french in
the streets 

 and how about you count peter kirilych if they call up the militia 
you too will have to mount a horse remarked the old count addressing
pierre 

pierre had been silent and preoccupied all through dinner seeming not
to grasp what was said he looked at the count 

 oh yes the war he said no what sort of warrior should i make and
yet everything is so strange so strange i can't make it out i don't
know i am very far from having military tastes but in these times no
one can answer for himself 

after dinner the count settled himself comfortably in an easy chair and
with a serious face asked sonya who was considered an excellent reader 
to read the appeal 

 to moscow our ancient capital 

 the enemy has entered the borders of russia with immense forces he
comes to despoil our beloved country 

sonya read painstakingly in her high pitched voice the count listened
with closed eyes heaving abrupt sighs at certain passages 

natasha sat erect gazing with a searching look now at her father and
now at pierre 

pierre felt her eyes on him and tried not to look round the countess
shook her head disapprovingly and angrily at every solemn expression
in the manifesto in all these words she saw only that the danger
threatening her son would not soon be over shinshin with a sarcastic
smile on his lips was evidently preparing to make fun of anything that
gave him the opportunity sonya's reading any remark of the count's or
even the manifesto itself should no better pretext present itself 

after reading about the dangers that threatened russia the hopes the
emperor placed on moscow and especially on its illustrious nobility 
sonya with a quiver in her voice due chiefly to the attention that was
being paid to her read the last words 

 we ourselves will not delay to appear among our people in that capital
and in other parts of our realm for consultation and for the direction
of all our levies both those now barring the enemy's path and those
freshly formed to defeat him wherever he may appear may the ruin he
hopes to bring upon us recoil on his own head and may europe delivered
from bondage glorify the name of russia 


 yes that's it cried the count opening his moist eyes and sniffing
repeatedly as if a strong vinaigrette had been held to his nose and he
added let the emperor but say the word and we'll sacrifice everything
and begrudge nothing 

before shinshin had time to utter the joke he was ready to make on the
count's patriotism natasha jumped up from her place and ran to her
father 

 what a darling our papa is she cried kissing him and she again
looked at pierre with the unconscious coquetry that had returned to her
with her better spirits 

 there here's a patriot for you said shinshin 

 not a patriot at all but simply natasha replied in an injured
tone everything seems funny to you but this isn't at all a joke 

 a joke indeed put in the count let him but say the word and we'll
all go we're not germans 

 but did you notice it says for consultation said pierre 

 never mind what it's for 

at this moment petya to whom nobody was paying any attention came up
to his father with a very flushed face and said in his breaking voice
that was now deep and now shrill 

 well papa i tell you definitely and mamma too it's as you please 
but i say definitely that you must let me enter the army because i
can't that's all 

the countess in dismay looked up to heaven clasped her hands and
turned angrily to her husband 

 that comes of your talking said she 

but the count had already recovered from his excitement 

 come come said he here's a fine warrior no nonsense you must
study 

 it's not nonsense papa fedya obolenski is younger than i and he's
going too besides all the same i can't study now when petya
stopped short flushed till he perspired but still got out the words 
 when our fatherland is in danger 

 that'll do that'll do nonsense 

 but you said yourself that we would sacrifice everything 

 petya be quiet i tell you cried the count with a glance at his
wife who had turned pale and was staring fixedly at her son 

 and i tell you peter kirilych here will also tell you 

 nonsense i tell you your mother's milk has hardly dried on your lips
and you want to go into the army there there i tell you and the
count moved to go out of the room taking the papers probably to reread
them in his study before having a nap 

 well peter kirilych let's go and have a smoke he said 

pierre was agitated and undecided natasha's unwontedly brilliant eyes 
continually glancing at him with a more than cordial look had reduced
him to this condition 

 no i think i'll go home 

 home why you meant to spend the evening with us you don't
often come nowadays as it is and this girl of mine said the count
good naturedly pointing to natasha only brightens up when you're
here 

 yes i had forgotten i really must go home business said
pierre hurriedly 

 well then au revoir said the count and went out of the room 

 why are you going why are you upset asked natasha and she looked
challengingly into pierre's eyes 

 because i love you was what he wanted to say but he did not say it 
and only blushed till the tears came and lowered his eyes 

 because it is better for me to come less often because no simply
i have business 

 why no tell me natasha began resolutely and suddenly stopped 

they looked at each other with dismayed and embarrassed faces he tried
to smile but could not his smile expressed suffering and he silently
kissed her hand and went out 

pierre made up his mind not to go to the rostovs any more 





chapter xxi

after the definite refusal he had received petya went to his room
and there locked himself in and wept bitterly when he came in to tea 
silent morose and with tear stained face everybody pretended not to
notice anything 

next day the emperor arrived in moscow and several of the rostovs 
domestic serfs begged permission to go to have a look at him that
morning petya was a long time dressing and arranging his hair and
collar to look like a grown up man he frowned before his looking glass 
gesticulated shrugged his shoulders and finally without saying a word
to anyone took his cap and left the house by the back door trying to
avoid notice petya decided to go straight to where the emperor was and
to explain frankly to some gentleman in waiting he imagined the emperor
to be always surrounded by gentlemen in waiting that he count rostov 
in spite of his youth wished to serve his country that youth could be
no hindrance to loyalty and that he was ready to while
dressing petya had prepared many fine things he meant to say to the
gentleman in waiting 

it was on the very fact of being so young that petya counted for success
in reaching the emperor he even thought how surprised everyone would be
at his youthfulness and yet in the arrangement of his collar and hair
and by his sedate deliberate walk he wished to appear a grown up man 
but the farther he went and the more his attention was diverted by the
ever increasing crowds moving toward the kremlin the less he remembered
to walk with the sedateness and deliberation of a man as he approached
the kremlin he even began to avoid being crushed and resolutely stuck
out his elbows in a menacing way but within the trinity gateway he
was so pressed to the wall by people who probably were unaware of the
patriotic intentions with which he had come that in spite of all his
determination he had to give in and stop while carriages passed in 
rumbling beneath the archway beside petya stood a peasant woman a
footman two tradesmen and a discharged soldier after standing some
time in the gateway petya tried to move forward in front of the others
without waiting for all the carriages to pass and he began resolutely
working his way with his elbows but the woman just in front of him who
was the first against whom he directed his efforts angrily shouted at
him 

 what are you shoving for young lordling don't you see we're all
standing still then why push 

 anybody can shove said the footman and also began working his elbows
to such effect that he pushed petya into a very filthy corner of the
gateway 

petya wiped his perspiring face with his hands and pulled up the damp
collar which he had arranged so well at home to seem like a man's 

he felt that he no longer looked presentable and feared that if he were
now to approach the gentlemen in waiting in that plight he would not be
admitted to the emperor but it was impossible to smarten oneself up
or move to another place because of the crowd one of the generals who
drove past was an acquaintance of the rostovs and petya thought of
asking his help but came to the conclusion that that would not be a
manly thing to do when the carriages had all passed in the crowd 
carrying petya with it streamed forward into the kremlin square which
was already full of people there were people not only in the square 
but everywhere on the slopes and on the roofs as soon as petya found
himself in the square he clearly heard the sound of bells and the joyous
voices of the crowd that filled the whole kremlin 

for a while the crowd was less dense but suddenly all heads were bared 
and everyone rushed forward in one direction petya was being pressed so
that he could scarcely breathe and everybody shouted hurrah hurrah 
hurrah petya stood on tiptoe and pushed and pinched but could see
nothing except the people about him 

all the faces bore the same expression of excitement and enthusiasm a
tradesman's wife standing beside petya sobbed and the tears ran down
her cheeks 

 father angel dear one she kept repeating wiping away her tears
with her fingers 

 hurrah was heard on all sides 

for a moment the crowd stood still but then it made another rush
forward 

quite beside himself petya clinching his teeth and rolling his eyes
ferociously pushed forward elbowing his way and shouting hurrah as
if he were prepared that instant to kill himself and everyone else but
on both sides of him other people with similarly ferocious faces pushed
forward and everybody shouted hurrah 

 so this is what the emperor is thought petya no i can't petition
him myself that would be too bold but in spite of this he continued
to struggle desperately forward and from between the backs of those
in front he caught glimpses of an open space with a strip of red cloth
spread out on it but just then the crowd swayed back the police
in front were pushing back those who had pressed too close to the
procession the emperor was passing from the palace to the cathedral of
the assumption and petya unexpectedly received such a blow on his side
and ribs and was squeezed so hard that suddenly everything grew dim
before his eyes and he lost consciousness when he came to himself a
man of clerical appearance with a tuft of gray hair at the back of
his head and wearing a shabby blue cassock probably a church clerk and
chanter was holding him under the arm with one hand while warding off
the pressure of the crowd with the other 

 you've crushed the young gentleman said the clerk what are you up
to gently they've crushed him crushed him 

the emperor entered the cathedral of the assumption the crowd spread
out again more evenly and the clerk led petya pale and breathless to
the tsar cannon several people were sorry for petya and suddenly a
crowd turned toward him and pressed round him those who stood nearest
him attended to him unbuttoned his coat seated him on the raised
platform of the cannon and reproached those others whoever they might
be who had crushed him 

 one might easily get killed that way what do they mean by it killing
people poor dear he's as white as a sheet various voices were heard
saying 

petya soon came to himself the color returned to his face the pain had
passed and at the cost of that temporary unpleasantness he had obtained
a place by the cannon from where he hoped to see the emperor who
would be returning that way petya no longer thought of presenting his
petition if he could only see the emperor he would be happy 

while the service was proceeding in the cathedral of the assumption it
was a combined service of prayer on the occasion of the emperor's
arrival and of thanksgiving for the conclusion of peace with the
turks the crowd outside spread out and hawkers appeared selling kvas 
gingerbread and poppyseed sweets of which petya was particularly
fond and ordinary conversation could again be heard a tradesman's
wife was showing a rent in her shawl and telling how much the shawl had
cost another was saying that all silk goods had now got dear the clerk
who had rescued petya was talking to a functionary about the priests who
were officiating that day with the bishop the clerk several times used
the word plenary of the service a word petya did not understand 
two young citizens were joking with some serf girls who were cracking
nuts all these conversations especially the joking with the girls 
were such as might have had a particular charm for petya at his age but
they did not interest him now he sat on his elevation the pedestal of
the cannon still agitated as before by the thought of the emperor and by
his love for him the feeling of pain and fear he had experienced when
he was being crushed together with that of rapture still further
intensified his sense of the importance of the occasion 

suddenly the sound of a firing of cannon was heard from the embankment 
to celebrate the signing of peace with the turks and the crowd rushed
impetuously toward the embankment to watch the firing petya too would
have run there but the clerk who had taken the young gentleman under
his protection stopped him the firing was still proceeding when
officers generals and gentlemen in waiting came running out of the
cathedral and after them others in a more leisurely manner caps were
again raised and those who had run to look at the cannon ran back
again at last four men in uniforms and sashes emerged from the
cathedral doors hurrah hurrah shouted the crowd again 

 which is he which asked petya in a tearful voice of those around
him but no one answered him everybody was too excited and petya 
fixing on one of those four men whom he could not clearly see for the
tears of joy that filled his eyes concentrated all his enthusiasm
on him though it happened not to be the emperor frantically shouted
 hurrah and resolved that tomorrow come what might he would join the
army 

the crowd ran after the emperor followed him to the palace and began
to disperse it was already late and petya had not eaten anything and
was drenched with perspiration yet he did not go home but stood with
that diminishing but still considerable crowd before the palace while
the emperor dined looking in at the palace windows expecting he knew
not what and envying alike the notables he saw arriving at the entrance
to dine with the emperor and the court footmen who served at table 
glimpses of whom could be seen through the windows 

while the emperor was dining valuev looking out of the window said 

 the people are still hoping to see your majesty again 

the dinner was nearly over and the emperor munching a biscuit rose
and went out onto the balcony the people with petya among them rushed
toward the balcony 

 angel dear one hurrah father cried the crowd and petya with
it and again the women and men of weaker mold petya among them wept
with joy 

a largish piece of the biscuit the emperor was holding in his hand broke
off fell on the balcony parapet and then to the ground a coachman in
a jerkin who stood nearest sprang forward and snatched it up several
people in the crowd rushed at the coachman seeing this the emperor had
a plateful of biscuits brought him and began throwing them down from
the balcony petya's eyes grew bloodshot and still more excited by the
danger of being crushed he rushed at the biscuits he did not know why 
but he had to have a biscuit from the tsar's hand and he felt that he
must not give way he sprang forward and upset an old woman who was
catching at a biscuit the old woman did not consider herself defeated
though she was lying on the ground she grabbed at some biscuits but
her hand did not reach them petya pushed her hand away with his knee 
seized a biscuit and as if fearing to be too late again shouted
 hurrah with a voice already hoarse 

the emperor went in and after that the greater part of the crowd began
to disperse 

 there i said if only we waited and so it was was being joyfully said
by various people 

happy as petya was he felt sad at having to go home knowing that all
the enjoyment of that day was over he did not go straight home from
the kremlin but called on his friend obolenski who was fifteen and was
also entering the regiment on returning home petya announced resolutely
and firmly that if he was not allowed to enter the service he would
run away and next day count ilya rostov though he had not yet quite
yielded went to inquire how he could arrange for petya to serve where
there would be least danger 





chapter xxii

two days later on the fifteenth of july an immense number of carriages
were standing outside the sloboda palace 

the great halls were full in the first were the nobility and gentry in
their uniforms in the second bearded merchants in full skirted coats
of blue cloth and wearing medals in the noblemen's hall there was
an incessant movement and buzz of voices the chief magnates sat on
high backed chairs at a large table under the portrait of the emperor 
but most of the gentry were strolling about the room 

all these nobles whom pierre met every day at the club or in their own
houses were in uniform some in that of catherine's day others in that
of emperor paul others again in the new uniforms of alexander's time or
the ordinary uniform of the nobility and the general characteristic
of being in uniform imparted something strange and fantastic to these
diverse and familiar personalities both old and young the old men 
dim eyed toothless bald sallow and bloated or gaunt and wrinkled 
were especially striking for the most part they sat quietly in their
places and were silent or if they walked about and talked attached
themselves to someone younger on all these faces as on the faces
of the crowd petya had seen in the square there was a striking
contradiction the general expectation of a solemn event and at the
same time the everyday interests in a boston card party peter the cook 
zinaida dmitrievna's health and so on 

pierre was there too buttoned up since early morning in a nobleman's
uniform that had become too tight for him he was agitated 
this extraordinary gathering not only of nobles but also of the
merchant class les etats generaux states general evoked in him a whole
series of ideas he had long laid aside but which were deeply graven in
his soul thoughts of the contrat social and the french revolution the
words that had struck him in the emperor's appeal that the sovereign was
coming to the capital for consultation with his people strengthened this
idea and imagining that in this direction something important which
he had long awaited was drawing near he strolled about watching and
listening to conversations but nowhere finding any confirmation of the
ideas that occupied him 

the emperor's manifesto was read evoking enthusiasm and then all moved
about discussing it besides the ordinary topics of conversation pierre
heard questions of where the marshals of the nobility were to stand when
the emperor entered when a ball should be given in the emperor's
honor whether they should group themselves by districts or by whole
provinces and so on but as soon as the war was touched on or
what the nobility had been convened for the talk became undecided and
indefinite then all preferred listening to speaking 

a middle aged man handsome and virile in the uniform of a retired
naval officer was speaking in one of the rooms and a small crowd was
pressing round him pierre went up to the circle that had formed round
the speaker and listened count ilya rostov in a military uniform of
catherine's time was sauntering with a pleasant smile among the crowd 
with all of whom he was acquainted he too approached that group and
listened with a kindly smile and nods of approval as he always did 
to what the speaker was saying the retired naval man was speaking very
boldly as was evident from the expression on the faces of the listeners
and from the fact that some people pierre knew as the meekest and
quietest of men walked away disapprovingly or expressed disagreement
with him pierre pushed his way into the middle of the group listened 
and convinced himself that the man was indeed a liberal but of views
quite different from his own the naval officer spoke in a particularly
sonorous musical and aristocratic baritone voice pleasantly
swallowing his r's and generally slurring his consonants the voice of
a man calling out to his servant heah bwing me my pipe it was
indicative of dissipation and the exercise of authority 

 what if the smolensk people have offahd to waise militia for the
empewah ah we to take smolensk as our patte'n if the noble awistocwacy
of the pwovince of moscow thinks fit it can show its loyalty to our
sov'weign the empewah in other ways have we fo'gotten the waising of
the militia in the yeah seven all that did was to enwich the pwiests 
sons and thieves and wobbahs 

count ilya rostov smiled blandly and nodded approval 

 and was our militia of any use to the empia not at all it only wuined
our farming bettah have another conscwiption o ou men will wetu'n
neithah soldiers no peasants and we'll get only depwavity fwom them 
the nobility don't gwudge theah lives evewy one of us will go and bwing
in more wecwuits and the sov'weign that was the way he referred to
the emperor need only say the word and we'll all die fo him added
the orator with animation 

count rostov's mouth watered with pleasure and he nudged pierre but
pierre wanted to speak himself he pushed forward feeling stirred 
but not yet sure what stirred him or what he would say scarcely had he
opened his mouth when one of the senators a man without a tooth in his
head with a shrewd though angry expression standing near the first
speaker interrupted him evidently accustomed to managing debates and
to maintaining an argument he began in low but distinct tones 

 i imagine sir said he mumbling with his toothless mouth that we
have been summoned here not to discuss whether it's best for the empire
at the present moment to adopt conscription or to call out the militia 
we have been summoned to reply to the appeal with which our sovereign
the emperor has honored us but to judge what is best conscription or
the militia we can leave to the supreme authority 

pierre suddenly saw an outlet for his excitement he hardened his heart
against the senator who was introducing this set and narrow attitude
into the deliberations of the nobility pierre stepped forward and
interrupted him he himself did not yet know what he would say but he
began to speak eagerly occasionally lapsing into french or expressing
himself in bookish russian 

 excuse me your excellency he began he was well acquainted with
the senator but thought it necessary on this occasion to address him
formally though i don't agree with the gentleman he hesitated 
he wished to say mon tres honorable preopinant my very honorable
opponent with the gentleman whom i have not the honor of knowing 
i suppose that the nobility have been summoned not merely to express
their sympathy and enthusiasm but also to consider the means by which
we can assist our fatherland i imagine he went on warming to his
subject that the emperor himself would not be satisfied to find in us
merely owners of serfs whom we are willing to devote to his service and
chair a canon we are ready to make of ourselves and not to obtain from
us any co co counsel 

 food for cannon 


many persons withdrew from the circle noticing the senator's sarcastic
smile and the freedom of pierre's remarks only count rostov was pleased
with them as he had been pleased with those of the naval officer the
senator and in general with whatever speech he had last heard 

 i think that before discussing these questions pierre continued we
should ask the emperor most respectfully ask his majesty to let us know
the number of our troops and the position in which our army and our
forces now are and then 

but scarcely had pierre uttered these words before he was attacked from
three sides the most vigorous attack came from an old acquaintance 
a boston player who had always been well disposed toward him stepan
stepanovich adraksin adraksin was in uniform and whether as a result
of the uniform or from some other cause pierre saw before him quite a
different man with a sudden expression of malevolence on his aged face 
adraksin shouted at pierre 

 in the first place i tell you we have no right to question the emperor
about that and secondly if the russian nobility had that right the
emperor could not answer such a question the troops are moved
according to the enemy's movements and the number of men increases and
decreases 

another voice that of a nobleman of medium height and about forty years
of age whom pierre had formerly met at the gypsies and knew as a bad
cardplayer and who also transformed by his uniform came up to pierre 
interrupted adraksin 

 yes and this is not a time for discussing he continued but for
acting there is war in russia the enemy is advancing to destroy
russia to desecrate the tombs of our fathers to carry off our wives
and children the nobleman smote his breast we will all arise 
everyone of us will go for our father the tsar he shouted rolling
his bloodshot eyes several approving voices were heard in the crowd 
 we are russians and will not grudge our blood in defense of our faith 
the throne and the fatherland we must cease raving if we are sons of
our fatherland we will show europe how russia rises to the defense of
russia 

pierre wished to reply but could not get in a word he felt that his
words apart from what meaning they conveyed were less audible than the
sound of his opponent's voice 

count rostov at the back of the crowd was expressing approval several
persons briskly turning a shoulder to the orator at the end of a
phrase said 

 that's right quite right just so 

pierre wished to say that he was ready to sacrifice his money his
serfs or himself only one ought to know the state of affairs in
order to be able to improve it but he was unable to speak many voices
shouted and talked at the same time so that count rostov had not time
to signify his approval of them all and the group increased dispersed 
re formed and then moved with a hum of talk into the largest hall and
to the big table not only was pierre's attempt to speak unsuccessful 
but he was rudely interrupted pushed aside and people turned away
from him as from a common enemy this happened not because they were
displeased by the substance of his speech which had even been forgotten
after the many subsequent speeches but to animate it the crowd needed a
tangible object to love and a tangible object to hate pierre became the
latter many other orators spoke after the excited nobleman and all in
the same tone many spoke eloquently and with originality 

glinka the editor of the russian messenger who was recognized cries
of author author were heard in the crowd said that hell must be
repulsed by hell and that he had seen a child smiling at lightning
flashes and thunderclaps but we will not be that child 

 yes yes at thunderclaps was repeated approvingly in the back rows
of the crowd 

the crowd drew up to the large table at which sat gray haired or bald
seventy year old magnates uniformed and besashed almost all of whom
pierre had seen in their own homes with their buffoons or playing
boston at the clubs with an incessant hum of voices the crowd advanced
to the table pressed by the throng against the high backs of the
chairs the orators spoke one after another and sometimes two together 
those standing behind noticed what a speaker omitted to say and hastened
to supply it others in that heat and crush racked their brains to find
some thought and hastened to utter it the old magnates whom pierre
knew sat and turned to look first at one and then at another and their
faces for the most part only expressed the fact that they found it very
hot pierre however felt excited and the general desire to show that
they were ready to go to all lengths which found expression in the tones
and looks more than in the substance of the speeches infected him too 
he did not renounce his opinions but felt himself in some way to blame
and wished to justify himself 

 i only said that it would be more to the purpose to make sacrifices
when we know what is needed said he trying to be heard above the
other voices 

one of the old men nearest to him looked round but his attention was
immediately diverted by an exclamation at the other side of the table 

 yes moscow will be surrendered she will be our expiation shouted
one man 

 he is the enemy of mankind cried another allow me to speak 
 gentlemen you are crushing me 





chapter xxiii

at that moment count rostopchin with his protruding chin and alert eyes 
wearing the uniform of a general with sash over his shoulder entered
the room stepping briskly to the front of the crowd of gentry 

 our sovereign the emperor will be here in a moment said rostopchin 
 i am straight from the palace seeing the position we are in i think
there is little need for discussion the emperor has deigned to summon
us and the merchants millions will pour forth from there he pointed
to the merchants hall but our business is to supply men and not spare
ourselves that is the least we can do 

a conference took place confined to the magnates sitting at the table 
the whole consultation passed more than quietly after all the preceding
noise the sound of their old voices saying one after another i
agree or for variety i too am of that opinion and so on had even a
mournful effect 

the secretary was told to write down the resolution of the moscow
nobility and gentry that they would furnish ten men fully equipped 
out of every thousand serfs as the smolensk gentry had done their
chairs made a scraping noise as the gentlemen who had conferred rose
with apparent relief and began walking up and down arm in arm to
stretch their legs and converse in couples 

 the emperor the emperor a sudden cry resounded through the halls and
the whole throng hurried to the entrance 

the emperor entered the hall through a broad path between two lines of
nobles every face expressed respectful awe struck curiosity pierre
stood rather far off and could not hear all that the emperor said from
what he did hear he understood that the emperor spoke of the danger
threatening the empire and of the hopes he placed on the moscow
nobility he was answered by a voice which informed him of the
resolution just arrived at 

 gentlemen said the emperor with a quivering voice 

there was a rustling among the crowd and it again subsided so that
pierre distinctly heard the pleasantly human voice of the emperor saying
with emotion 

 i never doubted the devotion of the russian nobles but today it has
surpassed my expectations i thank you in the name of the fatherland 
gentlemen let us act time is most precious 

the emperor ceased speaking the crowd began pressing round him and
rapturous exclamations were heard from all sides 

 yes most precious a royal word said count rostov with a sob he
stood at the back and though he had heard hardly anything understood
everything in his own way 

from the hall of the nobility the emperor went to that of the merchants 
there he remained about ten minutes pierre was among those who saw him
come out from the merchants hall with tears of emotion in his eyes 
as became known later he had scarcely begun to address the merchants
before tears gushed from his eyes and he concluded in a trembling
voice when pierre saw the emperor he was coming out accompanied by two
merchants one of whom pierre knew a fat otkupshchik the other was
the mayor a man with a thin sallow face and narrow beard both were
weeping tears filled the thin man's eyes and the fat otkupshchik
sobbed outright like a child and kept repeating 

 our lives and property take them your majesty 

pierre's one feeling at the moment was a desire to show that he was
ready to go all lengths and was prepared to sacrifice everything he now
felt ashamed of his speech with its constitutional tendency and sought
an opportunity of effacing it having heard that count mamonov was
furnishing a regiment bezukhov at once informed rostopchin that he
would give a thousand men and their maintenance 

old rostov could not tell his wife of what had passed without tears and
at once consented to petya's request and went himself to enter his name 

next day the emperor left moscow the assembled nobles all took off
their uniforms and settled down again in their homes and clubs and not
without some groans gave orders to their stewards about the enrollment 
feeling amazed themselves at what they had done 





book ten 1812





chapter i

napoleon began the war with russia because he could not resist going
to dresden could not help having his head turned by the homage he
received could not help donning a polish uniform and yielding to the
stimulating influence of a june morning and could not refrain from
bursts of anger in the presence of kurakin and then of balashev 

alexander refused negotiations because he felt himself to be personally
insulted barclay de tolly tried to command the army in the best
way because he wished to fulfill his duty and earn fame as a great
commander rostov charged the french because he could not restrain
his wish for a gallop across a level field and in the same way the
innumerable people who took part in the war acted in accord with their
personal characteristics habits circumstances and aims they were
moved by fear or vanity rejoiced or were indignant reasoned imagining
that they knew what they were doing and did it of their own free will 
but they all were involuntary tools of history carrying on a work
concealed from them but comprehensible to us such is the inevitable
fate of men of action and the higher they stand in the social hierarchy
the less are they free 

the actors of 1812 have long since left the stage their personal
interests have vanished leaving no trace and nothing remains of that
time but its historic results 

providence compelled all these men striving to attain personal aims to
further the accomplishment of a stupendous result no one of them at all
expected neither napoleon nor alexander nor still less any of those
who did the actual fighting 

the cause of the destruction of the french army in 1812 is clear to us
now no one will deny that that cause was on the one hand its advance
into the heart of russia late in the season without any preparation for
a winter campaign and on the other the character given to the war
by the burning of russian towns and the hatred of the foe this aroused
among the russian people but no one at the time foresaw what now seems
so evident that this was the only way an army of eight hundred thousand
men the best in the world and led by the best general could be destroyed
in conflict with a raw army of half its numerical strength and led by
inexperienced commanders as the russian army was not only did no one
see this but on the russian side every effort was made to hinder the
only thing that could save russia while on the french side despite
napoleon's experience and so called military genius every effort was
directed to pushing on to moscow at the end of the summer that is to
doing the very thing that was bound to lead to destruction 

in historical works on the year 1812 french writers are very fond of
saying that napoleon felt the danger of extending his line that he
sought a battle and that his marshals advised him to stop at smolensk 
and of making similar statements to show that the danger of the campaign
was even then understood russian authors are still fonder of telling
us that from the commencement of the campaign a scythian war plan was
adopted to lure napoleon into the depths of russia and this plan some
of them attribute to pfuel others to a certain frenchman others to
toll and others again to alexander himself pointing to notes projects 
and letters which contain hints of such a line of action but all these
hints at what happened both from the french side and the russian are
advanced only because they fit in with the event had that event not
occurred these hints would have been forgotten as we have forgotten the
thousands and millions of hints and expectations to the contrary
which were current then but have now been forgotten because the event
falsified them there are always so many conjectures as to the issue of
any event that however it may end there will always be people to say 
 i said then that it would be so quite forgetting that amid their
innumerable conjectures many were to quite the contrary effect 

conjectures as to napoleon's awareness of the danger of extending his
line and on the russian side as to luring the enemy into the depths
of russia are evidently of that kind and only by much straining can
historians attribute such conceptions to napoleon and his marshals 
or such plans to the russian commanders all the facts are in flat
contradiction to such conjectures during the whole period of the war
not only was there no wish on the russian side to draw the french
into the heart of the country but from their first entry into russia
everything was done to stop them and not only was napoleon not afraid
to extend his line but he welcomed every step forward as a triumph and
did not seek battle as eagerly as in former campaigns but very lazily 

at the very beginning of the war our armies were divided and our sole
aim was to unite them though uniting the armies was no advantage if we
meant to retire and lure the enemy into the depths of the country our
emperor joined the army to encourage it to defend every inch of russian
soil and not to retreat the enormous drissa camp was formed on pfuel's
plan and there was no intention of retiring farther the emperor
reproached the commanders in chief for every step they retired he could
not bear the idea of letting the enemy even reach smolensk still less
could he contemplate the burning of moscow and when our armies did
unite he was displeased that smolensk was abandoned and burned without a
general engagement having been fought under its walls 

so thought the emperor and the russian commanders and people were still
more provoked at the thought that our forces were retreating into the
depths of the country 

napoleon having cut our armies apart advanced far into the country and
missed several chances of forcing an engagement in august he was at
smolensk and thought only of how to advance farther though as we now
see that advance was evidently ruinous to him 

the facts clearly show that napoleon did not foresee the danger of the
advance on moscow nor did alexander and the russian commanders then
think of luring napoleon on but quite the contrary the luring of
napoleon into the depths of the country was not the result of any plan 
for no one believed it to be possible it resulted from a most complex
interplay of intrigues aims and wishes among those who took part in
the war and had no perception whatever of the inevitable or of the one
way of saving russia everything came about fortuitously the armies
were divided at the commencement of the campaign we tried to unite
them with the evident intention of giving battle and checking the
enemy's advance and by this effort to unite them while avoiding battle
with a much stronger enemy and necessarily withdrawing the armies at
an acute angle we led the french on to smolensk but we withdrew at an
acute angle not only because the french advanced between our two armies 
the angle became still more acute and we withdrew still farther because
barclay de tolly was an unpopular foreigner disliked by bagration who
would come under his command and bagration being in command of the
second army tried to postpone joining up and coming under barclay's
command as long as he could bagration was slow in effecting the
junction though that was the chief aim of all at headquarters because 
as he alleged he exposed his army to danger on this march and it was
best for him to retire more to the left and more to the south worrying
the enemy from flank and rear and securing from the ukraine recruits for
his army and it looks as if he planned this in order not to come under
the command of the detested foreigner barclay whose rank was inferior
to his own 

the emperor was with the army to encourage it but his presence and
ignorance of what steps to take and the enormous number of advisers and
plans destroyed the first army's energy and it retired 

the intention was to make a stand at the drissa camp but paulucci 
aiming at becoming commander in chief unexpectedly employed his energy
to influence alexander and pfuel's whole plan was abandoned and the
command entrusted to barclay but as barclay did not inspire confidence
his power was limited the armies were divided there was no unity of
command and barclay was unpopular but from this confusion division 
and the unpopularity of the foreign commander in chief there resulted
on the one hand indecision and the avoidance of a battle which we could
not have refrained from had the armies been united and had someone else 
instead of barclay been in command and on the other an ever increasing
indignation against the foreigners and an increase in patriotic zeal 

at last the emperor left the army and as the most convenient and indeed
the only pretext for his departure it was decided that it was necessary
for him to inspire the people in the capitals and arouse the nation in
general to a patriotic war and by this visit of the emperor to moscow
the strength of the russian army was trebled 

he left in order not to obstruct the commander in chief's undivided
control of the army and hoping that more decisive action would then
be taken but the command of the armies became still more confused and
enfeebled bennigsen the tsarevich and a swarm of adjutants general
remained with the army to keep the commander in chief under observation
and arouse his energy and barclay feeling less free than ever under
the observation of all these eyes of the emperor became still more
cautious of undertaking any decisive action and avoided giving battle 

barclay stood for caution the tsarevich hinted at treachery and
demanded a general engagement lubomirski bronnitski wlocki and the
others of that group stirred up so much trouble that barclay under
pretext of sending papers to the emperor dispatched these polish
adjutants general to petersburg and plunged into an open struggle with
bennigsen and the tsarevich 

at smolensk the armies at last reunited much as bagration disliked it 

bagration drove up in a carriage to the house occupied by barclay 
barclay donned his sash and came out to meet and report to his senior
officer bagration 

despite his seniority in rank bagration in this contest of magnanimity 
took his orders from barclay but having submitted agreed with him
less than ever by the emperor's orders bagration reported direct to
him he wrote to arakcheev the emperor's confidant it must be as
my sovereign pleases but i cannot work with the minister meaning
barclay for god's sake send me somewhere else if only in command of
a regiment i cannot stand it here headquarters are so full of germans
that a russian cannot exist and there is no sense in anything i thought
i was really serving my sovereign and the fatherland but it turns out
that i am serving barclay i confess i do not want to 

the swarm of bronnitskis and wintzingerodes and their like still further
embittered the relations between the commanders in chief and even
less unity resulted preparations were made to fight the french before
smolensk a general was sent to survey the position this general 
hating barclay rode to visit a friend of his own a corps commander 
and having spent the day with him returned to barclay and condemned 
as unsuitable from every point of view the battleground he had not
seen 

while disputes and intrigues were going on about the future field of
battle and while we were looking for the french having lost touch with
them the french stumbled upon neverovski's division and reached the
walls of smolensk 

it was necessary to fight an unexpected battle at smolensk to save our
lines of communication the battle was fought and thousands were killed
on both sides 

smolensk was abandoned contrary to the wishes of the emperor and of the
whole people but smolensk was burned by its own inhabitants who had
been misled by their governor and these ruined inhabitants setting
an example to other russians went to moscow thinking only of their own
losses but kindling hatred of the foe napoleon advanced farther and we
retired thus arriving at the very result which caused his destruction 





chapter ii

the day after his son had left prince nicholas sent for princess mary
to come to his study 

 well are you satisfied now said he you've made me quarrel with my
son satisfied are you that's all you wanted satisfied it hurts
me it hurts i'm old and weak and this is what you wanted well then 
gloat over it gloat over it 

after that princess mary did not see her father for a whole week he was
ill and did not leave his study 

princess mary noticed to her surprise that during this illness the
old prince not only excluded her from his room but did not admit
mademoiselle bourienne either tikhon alone attended him 

at the end of the week the prince reappeared and resumed his former way
of life devoting himself with special activity to building operations
and the arrangement of the gardens and completely breaking off his
relations with mademoiselle bourienne his looks and cold tone to his
daughter seemed to say there you see you plotted against me you
lied to prince andrew about my relations with that frenchwoman and made
me quarrel with him but you see i need neither her nor you 

princess mary spent half of every day with little nicholas watching
his lessons teaching him russian and music herself and talking to
dessalles the rest of the day she spent over her books with her old
nurse or with god's folk who sometimes came by the back door to see
her 

of the war princess mary thought as women do think about wars she
feared for her brother who was in it was horrified by and amazed at
the strange cruelty that impels men to kill one another but she did not
understand the significance of this war which seemed to her like all
previous wars she did not realize the significance of this war though
dessalles with whom she constantly conversed was passionately interested
in its progress and tried to explain his own conception of it to her 
and though the god's folk who came to see her reported in their own
way the rumors current among the people of an invasion by antichrist 
and though julie now princess drubetskaya who had resumed
correspondence with her wrote patriotic letters from moscow 

 i write you in russian my good friend wrote julie in her frenchified
russian because i have a detestation for all the french and the
same for their language which i cannot support to hear spoken we in
moscow are elated by enthusiasm for our adored emperor 

 my poor husband is enduring pains and hunger in jewish taverns but the
news which i have inspires me yet more 

 you heard probably of the heroic exploit of raevski embracing his two
sons and saying i will perish with them but we will not be shaken 
and truly though the enemy was twice stronger than we we were
unshakable we pass the time as we can but in war as in war the
princesses aline and sophie sit whole days with me and we unhappy
widows of live men make beautiful conversations over our charpie only
you my friend are missing and so on 

the chief reason princess mary did not realize the full significance of
this war was that the old prince never spoke of it did not recognize
it and laughed at dessalles when he mentioned it at dinner 
the prince's tone was so calm and confident that princess mary
unhesitatingly believed him 

all that july the old prince was exceedingly active and even animated 
he planned another garden and began a new building for the domestic
serfs the only thing that made princess mary anxious about him was that
he slept very little and instead of sleeping in his study as usual 
changed his sleeping place every day one day he would order his camp
bed to be set up in the glass gallery another day he remained on the
couch or on the lounge chair in the drawing room and dozed there without
undressing while instead of mademoiselle bourienne a serf boy read to
him then again he would spend a night in the dining room 

on august 1 a second letter was received from prince andrew in his
first letter which came soon after he had left home prince andrew had
dutifully asked his father's forgiveness for what he had allowed himself
to say and begged to be restored to his favor to this letter the old
prince had replied affectionately and from that time had kept the
frenchwoman at a distance prince andrew's second letter written near
vitebsk after the french had occupied that town gave a brief account of
the whole campaign enclosed for them a plan he had drawn and forecasts
as to the further progress of the war in this letter prince andrew
pointed out to his father the danger of staying at bald hills so near
the theater of war and on the army's direct line of march and advised
him to move to moscow 

at dinner that day on dessalles mentioning that the french were said
to have already entered vitebsk the old prince remembered his son's
letter 

 there was a letter from prince andrew today he said to princess
mary haven't you read it 

 no father she replied in a frightened voice 

she could not have read the letter as she did not even know it had
arrived 

 he writes about this war said the prince with the ironic smile that
had become habitual to him in speaking of the present war 

 that must be very interesting said dessalles prince andrew is in a
position to know 

 oh very interesting said mademoiselle bourienne 

 go and get it for me said the old prince to mademoiselle bourienne 
 you know under the paperweight on the little table 

mademoiselle bourienne jumped up eagerly 

 no don't he exclaimed with a frown you go michael ivanovich 

michael ivanovich rose and went to the study but as soon as he had left
the room the old prince looking uneasily round threw down his napkin
and went himself 

 they can't do anything always make some muddle he muttered 

while he was away princess mary dessalles mademoiselle bourienne and
even little nicholas exchanged looks in silence the old prince returned
with quick steps accompanied by michael ivanovich bringing the letter
and a plan these he put down beside him not letting anyone read them at
dinner 

on moving to the drawing room he handed the letter to princess mary and 
spreading out before him the plan of the new building and fixing his
eyes upon it told her to read the letter aloud when she had done so
princess mary looked inquiringly at her father he was examining the
plan evidently engrossed in his own ideas 

 what do you think of it prince dessalles ventured to ask 

 i i said the prince as if unpleasantly awakened and not taking
his eyes from the plan of the building 

 very possibly the theater of war will move so near to us that 

 ha ha ha the theater of war said the prince i have said and still
say that the theater of war is poland and the enemy will never get
beyond the niemen 

dessalles looked in amazement at the prince who was talking of the
niemen when the enemy was already at the dnieper but princess mary 
forgetting the geographical position of the niemen thought that what
her father was saying was correct 

 when the snow melts they'll sink in the polish swamps only they
could fail to see it the prince continued evidently thinking of the
campaign of 1807 which seemed to him so recent bennigsen should have
advanced into prussia sooner then things would have taken a different
turn 

 but prince dessalles began timidly the letter mentions
vitebsk 

 ah the letter yes replied the prince peevishly yes yes 
his face suddenly took on a morose expression he paused yes he
writes that the french were beaten at at what river is it 

dessalles dropped his eyes 

 the prince says nothing about that he remarked gently 

 doesn't he but i didn't invent it myself 

no one spoke for a long time 

 yes yes well michael ivanovich he suddenly went on raising
his head and pointing to the plan of the building tell me how you mean
to alter it 

michael ivanovich went up to the plan and the prince after speaking to
him about the building looked angrily at princess mary and dessalles and
went to his own room 

princess mary saw dessalles embarrassed and astonished look fixed on
her father noticed his silence and was struck by the fact that her
father had forgotten his son's letter on the drawing room table but she
was not only afraid to speak of it and ask dessalles the reason of his
confusion and silence but was afraid even to think about it 

in the evening michael ivanovich sent by the prince came to princess
mary for prince andrew's letter which had been forgotten in the drawing
room she gave it to him and unpleasant as it was to her to do so 
ventured to ask him what her father was doing 

 always busy replied michael ivanovich with a respectfully ironic
smile which caused princess mary to turn pale he's worrying very much
about the new building he has been reading a little but now michael
ivanovich went on lowering his voice now he's at his desk busy with
his will i expect one of the prince's favorite occupations of late
had been the preparation of some papers he meant to leave at his death
and which he called his will 

 and alpatych is being sent to smolensk asked princess mary 

 oh yes he has been waiting to start for some time 





chapter iii

when michael ivanovich returned to the study with the letter the old
prince with spectacles on and a shade over his eyes was sitting at his
open bureau with screened candles holding a paper in his outstretched
hand and in a somewhat dramatic attitude was reading his manuscript his
 remarks as he termed it which was to be transmitted to the emperor
after his death 

when michael ivanovich went in there were tears in the prince's eyes
evoked by the memory of the time when the paper he was now reading had
been written he took the letter from michael ivanovich's hand put it
in his pocket folded up his papers and called in alpatych who had long
been waiting 

the prince had a list of things to be bought in smolensk and walking
up and down the room past alpatych who stood by the door he gave his
instructions 

 first notepaper do you hear eight quires like this sample 
gilt edged it must be exactly like the sample varnish sealing wax 
as in michael ivanovich's list 

he paced up and down for a while and glanced at his notes 

 then hand to the governor in person a letter about the deed 

next bolts for the doors of the new building were wanted and had to be
of a special shape the prince had himself designed and a leather case
had to be ordered to keep the will in 

the instructions to alpatych took over two hours and still the prince
did not let him go he sat down sank into thought closed his eyes and
dozed off alpatych made a slight movement 

 well go go if anything more is wanted i'll send after you 

alpatych went out the prince again went to his bureau glanced into it 
fingered his papers closed the bureau again and sat down at the table
to write to the governor 

it was already late when he rose after sealing the letter he wished
to sleep but he knew he would not be able to and that most depressing
thoughts came to him in bed so he called tikhon and went through the
rooms with him to show him where to set up the bed for that night 

he went about looking at every corner every place seemed
unsatisfactory but worst of all was his customary couch in the study 
that couch was dreadful to him probably because of the oppressive
thoughts he had had when lying there it was unsatisfactory everywhere 
but the corner behind the piano in the sitting room was better than
other places he had never slept there yet 

with the help of a footman tikhon brought in the bedstead and began
putting it up 

 that's not right that's not right cried the prince and himself
pushed it a few inches from the corner and then closer in again 

 well at last i've finished now i'll rest thought the prince and
let tikhon undress him 

frowning with vexation at the effort necessary to divest himself of his
coat and trousers the prince undressed sat down heavily on the
bed and appeared to be meditating as he looked contemptuously at his
withered yellow legs he was not meditating but only deferring the
moment of making the effort to lift those legs up and turn over on the
bed ugh how hard it is oh that this toil might end and you would
release me thought he pressing his lips together he made that effort
for the twenty thousandth time and lay down but hardly had he done so
before he felt the bed rocking backwards and forwards beneath him as if
it were breathing heavily and jolting this happened to him almost every
night he opened his eyes as they were closing 

 no peace damn them he muttered angry he knew not with whom ah
yes there was something else important very important that i was
keeping till i should be in bed the bolts no i told him about them 
no it was something something in the drawing room princess mary
talked some nonsense dessalles that fool said something something in
my pocket can't remember 

 tikhon what did we talk about at dinner 

 about prince michael 

 be quiet quiet the prince slapped his hand on the table yes i
know prince andrew's letter princess mary read it dessalles said
something about vitebsk now i'll read it 

he had the letter taken from his pocket and the table on which stood a
glass of lemonade and a spiral wax candle moved close to the bed and
putting on his spectacles he began reading only now in the stillness of
the night reading it by the faint light under the green shade did he
grasp its meaning for a moment 

 the french at vitebsk in four days march they may be at smolensk 
perhaps are already there tikhon tikhon jumped up no no i don't
want anything he shouted 

he put the letter under the candlestick and closed his eyes and there
rose before him the danube at bright noonday reeds the russian
camp and himself a young general without a wrinkle on his ruddy face 
vigorous and alert entering potemkin's gaily colored tent and a
burning sense of jealousy of the favorite agitated him now as strongly
as it had done then he recalled all the words spoken at that
first meeting with potemkin and he saw before him a plump rather
sallow faced short stout woman the empress mother with her smile
and her words at her first gracious reception of him and then that same
face on the catafalque and the encounter he had with zubov over her
coffin about his right to kiss her hand 

 oh quicker quicker to get back to that time and have done with all
the present quicker quicker and that they should leave me in peace 





chapter iv

bald hills prince nicholas bolkonski's estate lay forty miles east
from smolensk and two miles from the main road to moscow 

the same evening that the prince gave his instructions to alpatych 
dessalles having asked to see princess mary told her that as the
prince was not very well and was taking no steps to secure his safety 
though from prince andrew's letter it was evident that to remain at bald
hills might be dangerous he respectfully advised her to send a letter
by alpatych to the provincial governor at smolensk asking him to let
her know the state of affairs and the extent of the danger to which
bald hills was exposed dessalles wrote this letter to the governor
for princess mary she signed it and it was given to alpatych with
instructions to hand it to the governor and to come back as quickly as
possible if there was danger 

having received all his orders alpatych wearing a white beaver hat a
present from the prince and carrying a stick as the prince did went out
accompanied by his family three well fed roans stood ready harnessed to
a small conveyance with a leather hood 

the larger bell was muffled and the little bells on the harness stuffed
with paper the prince allowed no one at bald hills to drive with
ringing bells but on a long journey alpatych liked to have them his
satellites the senior clerk a countinghouse clerk a scullery maid 
a cook two old women a little pageboy the coachman and various
domestic serfs were seeing him off 

his daughter placed chintz covered down cushions for him to sit on and
behind his back his old sister in law popped in a small bundle and one
of the coachmen helped him into the vehicle 

 there there women's fuss women women said alpatych puffing and
speaking rapidly just as the prince did and he climbed into the trap 

after giving the clerk orders about the work to be done alpatych not
trying to imitate the prince now lifted the hat from his bald head and
crossed himself three times 

 if there is anything come back yakov alpatych for christ's sake
think of us cried his wife referring to the rumors of war and the
enemy 

 women women women's fuss muttered alpatych to himself and started
on his journey looking round at the fields of yellow rye and the
still green thickly growing oats and at other quite black fields just
being plowed a second time 

as he went along he looked with pleasure at the year's splendid crop
of corn scrutinized the strips of ryefield which here and there were
already being reaped made his calculations as to the sowing and the
harvest and asked himself whether he had not forgotten any of the
prince's orders 

having baited the horses twice on the way he arrived at the town toward
evening on the fourth of august 

alpatych kept meeting and overtaking baggage trains and troops on the
road as he approached smolensk he heard the sounds of distant firing 
but these did not impress him what struck him most was the sight of a
splendid field of oats in which a camp had been pitched and which
was being mown down by the soldiers evidently for fodder this fact
impressed alpatych but in thinking about his own business he soon
forgot it 

all the interests of his life for more than thirty years had been
bounded by the will of the prince and he never went beyond that limit 
everything not connected with the execution of the prince's orders did
not interest and did not even exist for alpatych 

on reaching smolensk on the evening of the fourth of august he put up
in the gachina suburb across the dnieper at the inn kept by ferapontov 
where he had been in the habit of putting up for the last thirty years 
some thirty years ago ferapontov by alpatych's advice had bought a
wood from the prince had begun to trade and now had a house an
inn and a corn dealer's shop in that province he was a stout dark 
red faced peasant in the forties with thick lips a broad knob of a
nose similar knobs over his black frowning brows and a round belly 

wearing a waistcoat over his cotton shirt ferapontov was standing
before his shop which opened onto the street on seeing alpatych he went
up to him 

 you're welcome yakov alpatych folks are leaving the town but you
have come to it said he 

 why are they leaving the town asked alpatych 

 that's what i say folks are foolish always afraid of the french 

 women's fuss women's fuss said alpatych 

 just what i think yakov alpatych what i say is orders have been
given not to let them in so that must be right and the peasants are
asking three rubles for carting it isn't christian 

yakov alpatych heard without heeding he asked for a samovar and for hay
for his horses and when he had had his tea he went to bed 

all night long troops were moving past the inn next morning alpatych
donned a jacket he wore only in town and went out on business it was a
sunny morning and by eight o'clock it was already hot a good day for
harvesting thought alpatych 

from beyond the town firing had been heard since early morning at eight
o'clock the booming of cannon was added to the sound of musketry many
people were hurrying through the streets and there were many soldiers 
but cabs were still driving about tradesmen stood at their shops and
service was being held in the churches as usual alpatych went to the
shops to government offices to the post office and to the governor's 
in the offices and shops and at the post office everyone was talking
about the army and about the enemy who was already attacking the town 
everybody was asking what should be done and all were trying to calm
one another 

in front of the governor's house alpatych found a large number of
people cossacks and a traveling carriage of the governor's at the
porch he met two of the landed gentry one of whom he knew this man an
ex captain of police was saying angrily 

 it's no joke you know it's all very well if you're single one man
though undone is but one as the proverb says but with thirteen in
your family and all the property they've brought us to utter ruin 
what sort of governors are they to do that they ought to be hanged the
brigands 

 oh come that's enough said the other 

 what do i care let him hear we're not dogs said the ex captain of
police and looking round he noticed alpatych 

 oh yakov alpatych what have you come for 

 to see the governor by his excellency's order answered alpatych 
lifting his head and proudly thrusting his hand into the bosom of his
coat as he always did when he mentioned the prince he has ordered
me to inquire into the position of affairs he added 

 yes go and find out shouted the angry gentleman they've brought
things to such a pass that there are no carts or anything there it
is again do you hear said he pointing in the direction whence came
the sounds of firing 

 they've brought us all to ruin the brigands he repeated and
descended the porch steps 

alpatych swayed his head and went upstairs in the waiting room were
tradesmen women and officials looking silently at one another the
door of the governor's room opened and they all rose and moved forward 
an official ran out said some words to a merchant called a stout
official with a cross hanging on his neck to follow him and vanished
again evidently wishing to avoid the inquiring looks and questions
addressed to him alpatych moved forward and next time the official came
out addressed him one hand placed in the breast of his buttoned coat 
and handed him two letters 

 to his honor baron asch from general in chief prince bolkonski he
announced with such solemnity and significance that the official turned
to him and took the letters 

a few minutes later the governor received alpatych and hurriedly said to
him 

 inform the prince and princess that i knew nothing i acted on the
highest instructions here and he handed a paper to alpatych still 
as the prince is unwell my advice is that they should go to moscow i am
just starting myself inform them 

but the governor did not finish a dusty perspiring officer ran into the
room and began to say something in french the governor's face expressed
terror 

 go he said nodding his head to alpatych and began questioning the
officer 

eager frightened helpless glances were turned on alpatych when he came
out of the governor's room involuntarily listening now to the firing 
which had drawn nearer and was increasing in strength alpatych hurried
to his inn the paper handed to him by the governor said this 

 i assure you that the town of smolensk is not in the slightest danger
as yet and it is unlikely that it will be threatened with any i from
the one side and prince bagration from the other are marching to unite
our forces before smolensk which junction will be effected on the
22nd instant and both armies with their united forces will defend our
compatriots of the province entrusted to your care till our efforts
shall have beaten back the enemies of our fatherland or till the last
warrior in our valiant ranks has perished from this you will see that
you have a perfect right to reassure the inhabitants of smolensk for
those defended by two such brave armies may feel assured of victory 
 instructions from barclay de tolly to baron asch the civil governor of
smolensk 1812 

people were anxiously roaming about the streets 

carts piled high with household utensils chairs and cupboards kept
emerging from the gates of the yards and moving along the streets 
loaded carts stood at the house next to ferapontov's and women were
wailing and lamenting as they said good by a small watchdog ran round
barking in front of the harnessed horses 

alpatych entered the innyard at a quicker pace than usual and went
straight to the shed where his horses and trap were the coachman was
asleep he woke him up told him to harness and went into the passage 
from the host's room came the sounds of a child crying the despairing
sobs of a woman and the hoarse angry shouting of ferapontov the cook
began running hither and thither in the passage like a frightened hen 
just as alpatych entered 

 he's done her to death killed the mistress beat her dragged her
about so 

 what for asked alpatych 

 she kept begging to go away she's a woman take me away says she 
 don't let me perish with my little children folks she says are all
gone so why she says don't we go and he began beating and pulling
her about so 

at these words alpatych nodded as if in approval and not wishing to
hear more went to the door of the room opposite the innkeeper's where
he had left his purchases 

 you brute you murderer screamed a thin pale woman who with a baby
in her arms and her kerchief torn from her head burst through the door
at that moment and down the steps into the yard 

ferapontov came out after her but on seeing alpatych adjusted his
waistcoat smoothed his hair yawned and followed alpatych into the
opposite room 

 going already said he 

alpatych without answering or looking at his host sorted his packages
and asked how much he owed 

 we'll reckon up well have you been to the governor's asked
ferapontov what has been decided 

alpatych replied that the governor had not told him anything definite 

 with our business how can we get away said ferapontov we'd have
to pay seven rubles a cartload to dorogobuzh and i tell them they're
not christians to ask it selivanov now did a good stroke last
thursday sold flour to the army at nine rubles a sack will you have
some tea he added 

while the horses were being harnessed alpatych and ferapontov over their
tea talked of the price of corn the crops and the good weather for
harvesting 

 well it seems to be getting quieter remarked ferapontov finishing
his third cup of tea and getting up ours must have got the best of it 
the orders were not to let them in so we're in force it seems 
they say the other day matthew ivanych platov drove them into the river
marina and drowned some eighteen thousand in one day 

alpatych collected his parcels handed them to the coachman who had come
in and settled up with the innkeeper the noise of wheels hoofs and
bells was heard from the gateway as a little trap passed out 

it was by now late in the afternoon half the street was in shadow the
other half brightly lit by the sun alpatych looked out of the window
and went to the door suddenly the strange sound of a far off whistling
and thud was heard followed by a boom of cannon blending into a dull
roar that set the windows rattling 

he went out into the street two men were running past toward the
bridge from different sides came whistling sounds and the thud of
cannon balls and bursting shells falling on the town but these sounds
were hardly heard in comparison with the noise of the firing outside the
town and attracted little attention from the inhabitants the town was
being bombarded by a hundred and thirty guns which napoleon had ordered
up after four o'clock the people did not at once realize the meaning of
this bombardment 

at first the noise of the falling bombs and shells only aroused
curiosity ferapontov's wife who till then had not ceased wailing under
the shed became quiet and with the baby in her arms went to the gate 
listening to the sounds and looking in silence at the people 

the cook and a shop assistant came to the gate with lively curiosity
everyone tried to get a glimpse of the projectiles as they flew over
their heads several people came round the corner talking eagerly 

 what force remarked one knocked the roof and ceiling all to
splinters 

 routed up the earth like a pig said another 

 that's grand it bucks one up laughed the first lucky you jumped
aside or it would have wiped you out 

others joined those men and stopped and told how cannon balls had fallen
on a house close to them meanwhile still more projectiles now with
the swift sinister whistle of a cannon ball now with the agreeable
intermittent whistle of a shell flew over people's heads incessantly 
but not one fell close by they all flew over alpatych was getting into
his trap the innkeeper stood at the gate 

 what are you staring at he shouted to the cook who in her red skirt 
with sleeves rolled up swinging her bare elbows had stepped to the
corner to listen to what was being said 

 what marvels she exclaimed but hearing her master's voice she turned
back pulling down her tucked up skirt 

once more something whistled but this time quite close swooping
downwards like a little bird a flame flashed in the middle of the
street something exploded and the street was shrouded in smoke 

 scoundrel what are you doing shouted the innkeeper rushing to the
cook 

at that moment the pitiful wailing of women was heard from different
sides the frightened baby began to cry and people crowded silently
with pale faces round the cook the loudest sound in that crowd was her
wailing 

 oh h h dear souls dear kind souls don't let me die my good
souls 

five minutes later no one remained in the street the cook with her
thigh broken by a shell splinter had been carried into the kitchen 
alpatych his coachman ferapontov's wife and children and the house
porter were all sitting in the cellar listening the roar of guns the
whistling of projectiles and the piteous moaning of the cook which
rose above the other sounds did not cease for a moment the mistress
rocked and hushed her baby and when anyone came into the cellar asked
in a pathetic whisper what had become of her husband who had remained
in the street a shopman who entered told her that her husband had
gone with others to the cathedral whence they were fetching the
wonder working icon of smolensk 

toward dusk the cannonade began to subside alpatych left the cellar
and stopped in the doorway the evening sky that had been so clear was
clouded with smoke through which high up the sickle of the new moon
shone strangely now that the terrible din of the guns had ceased a hush
seemed to reign over the town broken only by the rustle of footsteps 
the moaning the distant cries and the crackle of fires which seemed
widespread everywhere the cook's moans had now subsided on two sides
black curling clouds of smoke rose and spread from the fires through
the streets soldiers in various uniforms walked or ran confusedly in
different directions like ants from a ruined ant hill several of them
ran into ferapontov's yard before alpatych's eyes alpatych went out
to the gate a retreating regiment thronging and hurrying blocked the
street 

noticing him an officer said the town is being abandoned get away 
get away and then turning to the soldiers shouted 

 i'll teach you to run into the yards 

alpatych went back to the house called the coachman and told him to
set off ferapontov's whole household came out too following alpatych
and the coachman the women who had been silent till then suddenly
began to wail as they looked at the fires the smoke and even the flames
of which could be seen in the failing twilight and as if in reply the
same kind of lamentation was heard from other parts of the street 
inside the shed alpatych and the coachman arranged the tangled reins and
traces of their horses with trembling hands 

as alpatych was driving out of the gate he saw some ten soldiers in
ferapontov's open shop talking loudly and filling their bags and
knapsacks with flour and sunflower seeds just then ferapontov returned
and entered his shop on seeing the soldiers he was about to shout at
them but suddenly stopped and clutching at his hair burst into sobs
and laughter 

 loot everything lads don't let those devils get it he cried taking
some bags of flour himself and throwing them into the street 

some of the soldiers were frightened and ran away others went on
filling their bags on seeing alpatych ferapontov turned to him 

 russia is done for he cried alpatych i'll set the place on fire
myself we're done for and ferapontov ran into the yard 

soldiers were passing in a constant stream along the street blocking
it completely so that alpatych could not pass out and had to wait 
ferapontov's wife and children were also sitting in a cart waiting till
it was possible to drive out 

night had come there were stars in the sky and the new moon shone out
amid the smoke that screened it on the sloping descent to the dnieper
alpatych's cart and that of the innkeeper's wife which were slowly
moving amid the rows of soldiers and of other vehicles had to stop 
in a side street near the crossroads where the vehicles had stopped a
house and some shops were on fire this fire was already burning itself
out the flames now died down and were lost in the black smoke now
suddenly flared up again brightly lighting up with strange distinctness
the faces of the people crowding at the crossroads black figures
flitted about before the fire and through the incessant crackling of
the flames talking and shouting could be heard seeing that his trap
would not be able to move on for some time alpatych got down and turned
into the side street to look at the fire soldiers were continually
rushing backwards and forwards near it and he saw two of them and a
man in a frieze coat dragging burning beams into another yard across the
street while others carried bundles of hay 

alpatych went up to a large crowd standing before a high barn which was
blazing briskly the walls were all on fire and the back wall had fallen
in the wooden roof was collapsing and the rafters were alight the
crowd was evidently watching for the roof to fall in and alpatych
watched for it too 

 alpatych a familiar voice suddenly hailed the old man 

 mercy on us your excellency answered alpatych immediately
recognizing the voice of his young prince 

prince andrew in his riding cloak mounted on a black horse was looking
at alpatych from the back of the crowd 

 why are you here he asked 

 your your excellency stammered alpatych and broke into sobs are
we really lost master 

 why are you here prince andrew repeated 

at that moment the flames flared up and showed his young master's pale
worn face alpatych told how he had been sent there and how difficult it
was to get away 

 are we really quite lost your excellency he asked again 

prince andrew without replying took out a notebook and raising his knee
began writing in pencil on a page he tore out he wrote to his sister 

 smolensk is being abandoned bald hills will be occupied by the enemy
within a week set off immediately for moscow let me know at once when
you will start send by special messenger to usvyazh 

having written this and given the paper to alpatych he told him how
to arrange for departure of the prince the princess his son and the
boy's tutor and how and where to let him know immediately before
he had had time to finish giving these instructions a chief of staff
followed by a suite galloped up to him 

 you are a colonel shouted the chief of staff with a german accent 
in a voice familiar to prince andrew houses are set on fire in your
presence and you stand by what does this mean you will answer for
it shouted berg who was now assistant to the chief of staff of the
commander of the left flank of the infantry of the first army a place 
as berg said very agreeable and well en evidence 

prince andrew looked at him and without replying went on speaking to
alpatych 

 so tell them that i shall await a reply till the tenth and if by the
tenth i don't receive news that they have all got away i shall have to
throw up everything and come myself to bald hills 

 prince said berg recognizing prince andrew i only spoke because
i have to obey orders because i always do obey exactly you must
please excuse me he went on apologetically 

something cracked in the flames the fire died down for a moment and
wreaths of black smoke rolled from under the roof there was another
terrible crash and something huge collapsed 

 ou rou rou yelled the crowd echoing the crash of the collapsing roof
of the barn the burning grain in which diffused a cakelike aroma all
around the flames flared up again lighting the animated delighted 
exhausted faces of the spectators 

the man in the frieze coat raised his arms and shouted 

 it's fine lads now it's raging it's fine 

 that's the owner himself cried several voices 

 well then continued prince andrew to alpatych report to them as i
have told you and not replying a word to berg who was now mute beside
him he touched his horse and rode down the side street 





chapter v

from smolensk the troops continued to retreat followed by the enemy 
on the tenth of august the regiment prince andrew commanded was marching
along the highroad past the avenue leading to bald hills heat and
drought had continued for more than three weeks each day fleecy clouds
floated across the sky and occasionally veiled the sun but toward
evening the sky cleared again and the sun set in reddish brown mist 
heavy night dews alone refreshed the earth the unreaped corn was
scorched and shed its grain the marshes dried up the cattle lowed from
hunger finding no food on the sun parched meadows only at night and
in the forests while the dew lasted was there any freshness but on the
road the highroad along which the troops marched there was no such
freshness even at night or when the road passed through the forest the
dew was imperceptible on the sandy dust churned up more than six inches
deep as soon as day dawned the march began the artillery and baggage
wagons moved noiselessly through the deep dust that rose to the very
hubs of the wheels and the infantry sank ankle deep in that soft 
choking hot dust that never cooled even at night some of this dust
was kneaded by the feet and wheels while the rest rose and hung like a
cloud over the troops settling in eyes ears hair and nostrils and
worst of all in the lungs of the men and beasts as they moved along that
road the higher the sun rose the higher rose that cloud of dust and
through the screen of its hot fine particles one could look with naked
eye at the sun which showed like a huge crimson ball in the unclouded
sky there was no wind and the men choked in that motionless
atmosphere they marched with handkerchiefs tied over their noses and
mouths when they passed through a village they all rushed to the wells
and fought for the water and drank it down to the mud 

prince andrew was in command of a regiment and the management of that
regiment the welfare of the men and the necessity of receiving
and giving orders engrossed him the burning of smolensk and its
abandonment made an epoch in his life a novel feeling of anger against
the foe made him forget his own sorrow he was entirely devoted to the
affairs of his regiment and was considerate and kind to his men and
officers in the regiment they called him our prince were proud
of him and loved him but he was kind and gentle only to those of his
regiment to timokhin and the like people quite new to him belonging
to a different world and who could not know and understand his past as
soon as he came across a former acquaintance or anyone from the
staff he bristled up immediately and grew spiteful ironical and
contemptuous everything that reminded him of his past was repugnant to
him and so in his relations with that former circle he confined himself
to trying to do his duty and not to be unfair 

in truth everything presented itself in a dark and gloomy light to
prince andrew especially after the abandonment of smolensk on the sixth
of august he considered that it could and should have been defended 
and after his sick father had had to flee to moscow abandoning to
pillage his dearly beloved bald hills which he had built and peopled 
but despite this thanks to his regiment prince andrew had something to
think about entirely apart from general questions two days previously
he had received news that his father son and sister had left for
moscow and though there was nothing for him to do at bald hills prince
andrew with a characteristic desire to foment his own grief decided that
he must ride there 

he ordered his horse to be saddled and leaving his regiment on the
march rode to his father's estate where he had been born and spent his
childhood riding past the pond where there used always to be dozens
of women chattering as they rinsed their linen or beat it with wooden
beetles prince andrew noticed that there was not a soul about and that
the little washing wharf torn from its place and half submerged was
floating on its side in the middle of the pond he rode to the keeper's
lodge no one at the stone entrance gates of the drive and the door
stood open grass had already begun to grow on the garden paths and
horses and calves were straying in the english park prince andrew rode
up to the hothouse some of the glass panes were broken and of the
trees in tubs some were overturned and others dried up he called for
taras the gardener but no one replied having gone round the corner
of the hothouse to the ornamental garden he saw that the carved garden
fence was broken and branches of the plum trees had been torn off with
the fruit an old peasant whom prince andrew in his childhood had often
seen at the gate was sitting on a green garden seat plaiting a bast
shoe 

he was deaf and did not hear prince andrew ride up he was sitting on
the seat the old prince used to like to sit on and beside him strips of
bast were hanging on the broken and withered branch of a magnolia 

prince andrew rode up to the house several limes in the old garden had
been cut down and a piebald mare and her foal were wandering in front of
the house among the rosebushes the shutters were all closed except at
one window which was open a little serf boy seeing prince andrew ran
into the house alpatych having sent his family away was alone at
bald hills and was sitting indoors reading the lives of the saints on
hearing that prince andrew had come he went out with his spectacles on
his nose buttoning his coat and hastily stepping up without a word
began weeping and kissing prince andrew's knee 

then vexed at his own weakness he turned away and began to report
on the position of affairs everything precious and valuable had been
removed to bogucharovo seventy quarters of grain had also been carted
away the hay and the spring corn of which alpatych said there had been
a remarkable crop that year had been commandeered by the troops and
mown down while still green the peasants were ruined some of them too
had gone to bogucharovo only a few remained 

without waiting to hear him out prince andrew asked 

 when did my father and sister leave meaning when did they leave for
moscow 

alpatych understanding the question to refer to their departure for
bogucharovo replied that they had left on the seventh and again went
into details concerning the estate management asking for instructions 

 am i to let the troops have the oats and to take a receipt for them 
we have still six hundred quarters left he inquired 

 what am i to say to him thought prince andrew looking down on the
old man's bald head shining in the sun and seeing by the expression on
his face that the old man himself understood how untimely such questions
were and only asked them to allay his grief 

 yes let them have it replied prince andrew 

 if you noticed some disorder in the garden said alpatych it was
impossible to prevent it three regiments have been here and spent
the night dragoons mostly i took down the name and rank of their
commanding officer to hand in a complaint about it 

 well and what are you going to do will you stay here if the enemy
occupies the place asked prince andrew 

alpatych turned his face to prince andrew looked at him and suddenly
with a solemn gesture raised his arm 

 he is my refuge his will be done he exclaimed 

a group of bareheaded peasants was approaching across the meadow toward
the prince 

 well good by said prince andrew bending over to alpatych you
must go away too take away what you can and tell the serfs to go to the
ryazan estate or to the one near moscow 

alpatych clung to prince andrew's leg and burst into sobs gently
disengaging himself the prince spurred his horse and rode down the
avenue at a gallop 

the old man was still sitting in the ornamental garden like a fly
impassive on the face of a loved one who is dead tapping the last on
which he was making the bast shoe and two little girls running out
from the hot house carrying in their skirts plums they had plucked from
the trees there came upon prince andrew on seeing the young master 
the elder one with frightened look clutched her younger companion by the
hand and hid with her behind a birch tree not stopping to pick up some
green plums they had dropped 

prince andrew turned away with startled haste unwilling to let them
see that they had been observed he was sorry for the pretty frightened
little girl was afraid of looking at her and yet felt an irresistible
desire to do so a new sensation of comfort and relief came over him
when seeing these girls he realized the existence of other human
interests entirely aloof from his own and just as legitimate as those
that occupied him evidently these girls passionately desired one
thing to carry away and eat those green plums without being caught and
prince andrew shared their wish for the success of their enterprise he
could not resist looking at them once more believing their danger past 
they sprang from their ambush and chirruping something in their shrill
little voices and holding up their skirts their bare little sunburned
feet scampered merrily and quickly across the meadow grass 

prince andrew was somewhat refreshed by having ridden off the dusty
highroad along which the troops were moving but not far from bald hills
he again came out on the road and overtook his regiment at its halting
place by the dam of a small pond it was past one o'clock the sun 
a red ball through the dust burned and scorched his back intolerably
through his black coat the dust always hung motionless above the buzz
of talk that came from the resting troops there was no wind as he
crossed the dam prince andrew smelled the ooze and freshness of the
pond he longed to get into that water however dirty it might be and
he glanced round at the pool from whence came sounds of shrieks and
laughter the small muddy green pond had risen visibly more than a
foot flooding the dam because it was full of the naked white bodies
of soldiers with brick red hands necks and faces who were splashing
about in it all this naked white human flesh laughing and shrieking 
floundered about in that dirty pool like carp stuffed into a watering
can and the suggestion of merriment in that floundering mass rendered
it specially pathetic 

one fair haired young soldier of the third company whom prince andrew
knew and who had a strap round the calf of one leg crossed himself 
stepped back to get a good run and plunged into the water another 
a dark noncommissioned officer who was always shaggy stood up to his
waist in the water joyfully wriggling his muscular figure and snorted
with satisfaction as he poured the water over his head with hands
blackened to the wrists there were sounds of men slapping one another 
yelling and puffing 

everywhere on the bank on the dam and in the pond there was healthy 
white muscular flesh the officer timokhin with his red little nose 
standing on the dam wiping himself with a towel felt confused at seeing
the prince but made up his mind to address him nevertheless 

 it's very nice your excellency wouldn't you like to said he 

 it's dirty replied prince andrew making a grimace 

 we'll clear it out for you in a minute said timokhin and still
undressed ran off to clear the men out of the pond 

 the prince wants to bathe 

 what prince ours said many voices and the men were in such haste
to clear out that the prince could hardly stop them he decided that he
would rather wash himself with water in the barn 

 flesh bodies cannon fodder he thought and he looked at his own
naked body and shuddered not from cold but from a sense of disgust
and horror he did not himself understand aroused by the sight of that
immense number of bodies splashing about in the dirty pond 


on the seventh of august prince bagration wrote as follows from his
quarters at mikhaylovna on the smolensk road 

dear count alexis andreevich he was writing to arakcheev but knew that
his letter would be read by the emperor and therefore weighed every
word in it to the best of his ability 

i expect the minister barclay de tolly has already reported the
abandonment of smolensk to the enemy it is pitiable and sad and
the whole army is in despair that this most important place has been
wantonly abandoned i for my part begged him personally most urgently
and finally wrote him but nothing would induce him to consent i swear
to you on my honor that napoleon was in such a fix as never before and
might have lost half his army but could not have taken smolensk our
troops fought and are fighting as never before with fifteen thousand
men i held the enemy at bay for thirty five hours and beat him but he
would not hold out even for fourteen hours it is disgraceful a stain
on our army and as for him he ought it seems to me not to live if
he reports that our losses were great it is not true perhaps about
four thousand not more and not even that but even were they ten
thousand that's war but the enemy has lost masses 

what would it have cost him to hold out for another two days they would
have had to retire of their own accord for they had no water for men
or horses he gave me his word he would not retreat but suddenly sent
instructions that he was retiring that night we cannot fight in this
way or we may soon bring the enemy to moscow 

there is a rumor that you are thinking of peace god forbid that you
should make peace after all our sacrifices and such insane retreats you
would set all russia against you and everyone of us would feel ashamed
to wear the uniform if it has come to this we must fight as long as
russia can and as long as there are men able to stand 

one man ought to be in command and not two your minister may perhaps
be good as a minister but as a general he is not merely bad but
execrable yet to him is entrusted the fate of our whole country i
am really frantic with vexation forgive my writing boldly it is clear
that the man who advocates the conclusion of a peace and that the
minister should command the army does not love our sovereign and
desires the ruin of us all so i write you frankly call out the
militia for the minister is leading these visitors after him to moscow
in a most masterly way the whole army feels great suspicion of the
imperial aide de camp wolzogen he is said to be more napoleon's man
than ours and he is always advising the minister i am not merely civil
to him but obey him like a corporal though i am his senior this is
painful but loving my benefactor and sovereign i submit only i am
sorry for the emperor that he entrusts our fine army to such as he 
consider that on our retreat we have lost by fatigue and left in the
hospital more than fifteen thousand men and had we attacked this would
not have happened tell me for god's sake what will russia our mother
russia say to our being so frightened and why are we abandoning our
good and gallant fatherland to such rabble and implanting feelings of
hatred and shame in all our subjects what are we scared at and of whom
are we afraid i am not to blame that the minister is vacillating 
a coward dense dilatory and has all bad qualities the whole army
bewails it and calls down curses upon him 





chapter vi

among the innumerable categories applicable to the phenomena of human
life one may discriminate between those in which substance prevails
and those in which form prevails to the latter as distinguished
from village country provincial or even moscow life we may allot
petersburg life and especially the life of its salons that life of
the salons is unchanging since the year 1805 we had made peace and had
again quarreled with bonaparte and had made constitutions and unmade
them again but the salons of anna pavlovna and helene remained just
as they had been the one seven and the other five years before at anna
pavlovna's they talked with perplexity of bonaparte's successes just
as before and saw in them and in the subservience shown to him by the
european sovereigns a malicious conspiracy the sole object of which was
to cause unpleasantness and anxiety to the court circle of which anna
pavlovna was the representative and in helene's salon which rumyantsev
himself honored with his visits regarding helene as a remarkably
intelligent woman they talked with the same ecstasy in 1812 as in 1808
of the great nation and the great man and regretted our rupture
with france a rupture which according to them ought to be promptly
terminated by peace 

of late since the emperor's return from the army there had been some
excitement in these conflicting salon circles and some demonstrations
of hostility to one another but each camp retained its own tendency 
in anna pavlovna's circle only those frenchmen were admitted who were
deep rooted legitimists and patriotic views were expressed to the
effect that one ought not to go to the french theater and that to
maintain the french troupe was costing the government as much as a whole
army corps the progress of the war was eagerly followed and only
the reports most flattering to our army were circulated in the french
circle of helene and rumyantsev the reports of the cruelty of the
enemy and of the war were contradicted and all napoleon's attempts at
conciliation were discussed in that circle they discountenanced those
who advised hurried preparations for a removal to kazan of the court and
the girls educational establishments under the patronage of the dowager
empress in helene's circle the war in general was regarded as a series
of formal demonstrations which would very soon end in peace and the
view prevailed expressed by bilibin who now in petersburg was quite at
home in helene's house which every clever man was obliged to visit that
not by gunpowder but by those who invented it would matters be
settled in that circle the moscow enthusiasm news of which had reached
petersburg simultaneously with the emperor's return was ridiculed
sarcastically and very cleverly though with much caution 

anna pavlovna's circle on the contrary was enraptured by this enthusiasm
and spoke of it as plutarch speaks of the deeds of the ancients 
prince vasili who still occupied his former important posts formed a
connecting link between these two circles he visited his good friend
anna pavlovna as well as his daughter's diplomatic salon and often
in his constant comings and goings between the two camps became confused
and said at helene's what he should have said at anna pavlovna's and
vice versa 

soon after the emperor's return prince vasili in a conversation about
the war at anna pavlovna's severely condemned barclay de tolly but was
undecided as to who ought to be appointed commander in chief one of the
visitors usually spoken of as a man of great merit having described
how he had that day seen kutuzov the newly chosen chief of the
petersburg militia presiding over the enrollment of recruits at the
treasury cautiously ventured to suggest that kutuzov would be the man
to satisfy all requirements 

anna pavlovna remarked with a melancholy smile that kutuzov had done
nothing but cause the emperor annoyance 

 i have talked and talked at the assembly of the nobility prince
vasili interrupted but they did not listen to me i told them his
election as chief of the militia would not please the emperor they did
not listen to me 

 it's all this mania for opposition he went on and who for it is
all because we want to ape the foolish enthusiasm of those muscovites 
prince vasili continued forgetting for a moment that though at helene's
one had to ridicule the moscow enthusiasm at anna pavlovna's one had to
be ecstatic about it but he retrieved his mistake at once now is
it suitable that count kutuzov the oldest general in russia should
preside at that tribunal he will get nothing for his pains how could
they make a man commander in chief who cannot mount a horse who drops
asleep at a council and has the very worst morals a good reputation
he made for himself at bucharest i don't speak of his capacity as a
general but at a time like this how they appoint a decrepit blind old
man positively blind a fine idea to have a blind general he can't see
anything to play blindman's buff he can't see at all 

no one replied to his remarks 

this was quite correct on the twenty fourth of july but on the
twenty ninth of july kutuzov received the title of prince this might
indicate a wish to get rid of him and therefore prince vasili's opinion
continued to be correct though he was not now in any hurry to express
it but on the eighth of august a committee consisting of field marshal
saltykov arakcheev vyazmitinov lopukhin and kochubey met to consider
the progress of the war this committee came to the conclusion that
our failures were due to a want of unity in the command and though the
members of the committee were aware of the emperor's dislike of kutuzov 
after a short deliberation they agreed to advise his appointment as
commander in chief that same day kutuzov was appointed commander
in chief with full powers over the armies and over the whole region
occupied by them 

on the ninth of august prince vasili at anna pavlovna's again met the
 man of great merit the latter was very attentive to anna pavlovna
because he wanted to be appointed director of one of the educational
establishments for young ladies prince vasili entered the room with the
air of a happy conqueror who has attained the object of his desires 

 well have you heard the great news prince kutuzov is field marshal 
all dissensions are at an end i am so glad so delighted at last
we have a man said he glancing sternly and significantly round at
everyone in the drawing room 

the man of great merit despite his desire to obtain the post of
director could not refrain from reminding prince vasili of his former
opinion though this was impolite to prince vasili in anna pavlovna's
drawing room and also to anna pavlovna herself who had received the
news with delight he could not resist the temptation 

 but prince they say he is blind said he reminding prince vasili of
his own words 

 eh nonsense he sees well enough said prince vasili rapidly in a
deep voice and with a slight cough the voice and cough with which he was
wont to dispose of all difficulties 

 he sees well enough he added and what i am so pleased about he
went on is that our sovereign has given him full powers over all
the armies and the whole region powers no commander in chief ever had
before he is a second autocrat he concluded with a victorious smile 

 god grant it god grant it said anna pavlovna 

the man of great merit who was still a novice in court circles 
wishing to flatter anna pavlovna by defending her former position on
this question observed 

 it is said that the emperor was reluctant to give kutuzov those powers 
they say he blushed like a girl to whom joconde is read when he said to
kutuzov your emperor and the fatherland award you this honor 

 perhaps the heart took no part in that speech said anna pavlovna 

 oh no no warmly rejoined prince vasili who would not now yield
kutuzov to anyone in his opinion kutuzov was not only admirable
himself but was adored by everybody no that's impossible said he 
 for our sovereign appreciated him so highly before 

 god grant only that prince kutuzov assumes real power and does not
allow anyone to put a spoke in his wheel observed anna pavlovna 

understanding at once to whom she alluded prince vasili said in a
whisper 

 i know for a fact that kutuzov made it an absolute condition that the
tsarevich should not be with the army do you know what he said to the
emperor 

and prince vasili repeated the words supposed to have been spoken by
kutuzov to the emperor i can neither punish him if he does wrong nor
reward him if he does right 

 oh a very wise man is prince kutuzov i have known him a long time 

 they even say remarked the man of great merit who did not yet
possess courtly tact that his excellency made it an express condition
that the sovereign himself should not be with the army 

as soon as he said this both prince vasili and anna pavlovna turned away
from him and glanced sadly at one another with a sigh at his naivete 





chapter vii

while this was taking place in petersburg the french had already passed
smolensk and were drawing nearer and nearer to moscow napoleon's
historian thiers like other of his historians trying to justify his
hero says that he was drawn to the walls of moscow against his will he
is as right as other historians who look for the explanation of historic
events in the will of one man he is as right as the russian historians
who maintain that napoleon was drawn to moscow by the skill of the
russian commanders here besides the law of retrospection which regards
all the past as a preparation for events that subsequently occur 
the law of reciprocity comes in confusing the whole matter a good
chessplayer having lost a game is sincerely convinced that his loss
resulted from a mistake he made and looks for that mistake in the
opening but forgets that at each stage of the game there were similar
mistakes and that none of his moves were perfect he only notices the
mistake to which he pays attention because his opponent took advantage
of it how much more complex than this is the game of war which
occurs under certain limits of time and where it is not one will that
manipulates lifeless objects but everything results from innumerable
conflicts of various wills 

after smolensk napoleon sought a battle beyond dorogobuzh at vyazma and
then at tsarevo zaymishche but it happened that owing to a conjunction
of innumerable circumstances the russians could not give battle till
they reached borodino seventy miles from moscow from vyazma napoleon
ordered a direct advance on moscow 

moscou la capitale asiatique de ce grand empire la ville sacree des
peuples d'alexandre moscou avec ses innombrables eglises en forme de
pagodes chinoises this moscow gave napoleon's imagination no rest 
on the march from vyazma to tsarevo zaymishche he rode his light bay
bobtailed ambler accompanied by his guards his bodyguard his pages 
and aides de camp berthier his chief of staff dropped behind to
question a russian prisoner captured by the cavalry followed by
lelorgne d'ideville an interpreter he overtook napoleon at a gallop
and reined in his horse with an amused expression 

 moscow the asiatic capital of this great empire the
 sacred city of alexander's people moscow with its
 innumerable churches shaped like chinese pagodas 


 well asked napoleon 

 one of platov's cossacks says that platov's corps is joining up with
the main army and that kutuzov has been appointed commander in chief he
is a very shrewd and garrulous fellow 

napoleon smiled and told them to give the cossack a horse and bring the
man to him he wished to talk to him himself several adjutants galloped
off and an hour later lavrushka the serf denisov had handed over
to rostov rode up to napoleon in an orderly's jacket and on a french
cavalry saddle with a merry and tipsy face napoleon told him to ride
by his side and began questioning him 

 you are a cossack 

 yes a cossack your honor 

 the cossack not knowing in what company he was for napoleon's plain
appearance had nothing about it that would reveal to an oriental mind
the presence of a monarch talked with extreme familiarity of the
incidents of the war says thiers narrating this episode in
reality lavrushka having got drunk the day before and left his master
dinnerless had been whipped and sent to the village in quest of
chickens where he engaged in looting till the french took him prisoner 
lavrushka was one of those coarse bare faced lackeys who have seen all
sorts of things consider it necessary to do everything in a mean and
cunning way are ready to render any sort of service to their master 
and are keen at guessing their master's baser impulses especially those
prompted by vanity and pettiness 

finding himself in the company of napoleon whose identity he had easily
and surely recognized lavrushka was not in the least abashed but merely
did his utmost to gain his new master's favor 

he knew very well that this was napoleon but napoleon's presence could
no more intimidate him than rostov's or a sergeant major's with the
rods would have done for he had nothing that either the sergeant major
or napoleon could deprive him of 

so he rattled on telling all the gossip he had heard among the
orderlies much of it true but when napoleon asked him whether the
russians thought they would beat bonaparte or not lavrushka screwed up
his eyes and considered 

in this question he saw subtle cunning as men of his type see cunning
in everything so he frowned and did not answer immediately 

 it's like this he said thoughtfully if there's a battle soon yours
will win that's right but if three days pass then after that well 
then that same battle will not soon be over 

lelorgne d'ideville smilingly interpreted this speech to napoleon thus 
 if a battle takes place within the next three days the french will
win but if later god knows what will happen napoleon did not smile 
though he was evidently in high good humor and he ordered these words
to be repeated 

lavrushka noticed this and to entertain him further pretending not to
know who napoleon was added 

 we know that you have bonaparte and that he has beaten everybody in the
world but we are a different matter without knowing why or how this
bit of boastful patriotism slipped out at the end 

the interpreter translated these words without the last phrase and
bonaparte smiled the young cossack made his mighty interlocutor
smile says thiers after riding a few paces in silence napoleon
turned to berthier and said he wished to see how the news that he was
talking to the emperor himself to that very emperor who had written his
immortally victorious name on the pyramids would affect this enfant du
don 

 child of the don 


the fact was accordingly conveyed to lavrushka 

lavrushka understanding that this was done to perplex him and that
napoleon expected him to be frightened to gratify his new masters
promptly pretended to be astonished and awe struck opened his eyes
wide and assumed the expression he usually put on when taken to be
whipped as soon as napoleon's interpreter had spoken says thiers 
 the cossack seized by amazement did not utter another word but rode
on his eyes fixed on the conqueror whose fame had reached him across
the steppes of the east all his loquacity was suddenly arrested and
replaced by a naive and silent feeling of admiration napoleon after
making the cossack a present had him set free like a bird restored to
its native fields 

napoleon rode on dreaming of the moscow that so appealed to his
imagination and the bird restored to its native fields galloped to
our outposts inventing on the way all that had not taken place but that
he meant to relate to his comrades what had really taken place he did
not wish to relate because it seemed to him not worth telling he
found the cossacks inquired for the regiment operating with platov's
detachment and by evening found his master nicholas rostov quartered
at yankovo rostov was just mounting to go for a ride round the
neighboring villages with ilyin he let lavrushka have another horse and
took him along with him 





chapter viii

princess mary was not in moscow and out of danger as prince andrew
supposed 

after the return of alpatych from smolensk the old prince suddenly
seemed to awake as from a dream he ordered the militiamen to be called
up from the villages and armed and wrote a letter to the commander in
chief informing him that he had resolved to remain at bald hills to the
last extremity and to defend it leaving to the commander in chief's
discretion to take measures or not for the defense of bald hills where
one of russia's oldest generals would be captured or killed and he
announced to his household that he would remain at bald hills 

but while himself remaining he gave instructions for the departure of
the princess and dessalles with the little prince to bogucharovo and
thence to moscow princess mary alarmed by her father's feverish and
sleepless activity after his previous apathy could not bring herself to
leave him alone and for the first time in her life ventured to disobey
him she refused to go away and her father's fury broke over her in a
terrible storm he repeated every injustice he had ever inflicted on
her trying to convict her he told her she had worn him out had caused
his quarrel with his son had harbored nasty suspicions of him making
it the object of her life to poison his existence and he drove her from
his study telling her that if she did not go away it was all the same
to him he declared that he did not wish to remember her existence and
warned her not to dare to let him see her the fact that he did not as
she had feared order her to be carried away by force but only told her
not to let him see her cheered princess mary she knew it was a proof
that in the depth of his soul he was glad she was remaining at home and
had not gone away 

the morning after little nicholas had left the old prince donned his
full uniform and prepared to visit the commander in chief his caleche
was already at the door princess mary saw him walk out of the house in
his uniform wearing all his orders and go down the garden to review his
armed peasants and domestic serfs she sat by the window listening to
his voice which reached her from the garden suddenly several men came
running up the avenue with frightened faces 

princess mary ran out to the porch down the flower bordered path and
into the avenue a large crowd of militiamen and domestics were moving
toward her and in their midst several men were supporting by
the armpits and dragging along a little old man in a uniform and
decorations she ran up to him and in the play of the sunlight that
fell in small round spots through the shade of the lime tree avenue 
could not be sure what change there was in his face all she could see
was that his former stern and determined expression had altered to one
of timidity and submission on seeing his daughter he moved his helpless
lips and made a hoarse sound it was impossible to make out what he
wanted he was lifted up carried to his study and laid on the very
couch he had so feared of late 

the doctor who was fetched that same night bled him and said that the
prince had had a seizure paralyzing his right side 

it was becoming more and more dangerous to remain at bald hills and
next day they moved the prince to bogucharovo the doctor accompanying
him 

by the time they reached bogucharovo dessalles and the little prince
had already left for moscow 

for three weeks the old prince lay stricken by paralysis in the new
house prince andrew had built at bogucharovo ever in the same state 
getting neither better nor worse he was unconscious and lay like
a distorted corpse he muttered unceasingly his eyebrows and lips
twitching and it was impossible to tell whether he understood what was
going on around him or not one thing was certain that he was suffering
and wished to say something but what it was no one could tell it
might be some caprice of a sick and half crazy man or it might relate
to public affairs or possibly to family concerns 

the doctor said this restlessness did not mean anything and was due
to physical causes but princess mary thought he wished to tell
her something and the fact that her presence always increased his
restlessness confirmed her opinion 

he was evidently suffering both physically and mentally there was no
hope of recovery it was impossible for him to travel it would not do
to let him die on the road would it not be better if the end did come 
the very end princess mary sometimes thought night and day hardly
sleeping at all she watched him and terrible to say often watched
him not with hope of finding signs of improvement but wishing to find
symptoms of the approach of the end 

strange as it was to her to acknowledge this feeling in herself yet
there it was and what seemed still more terrible to her was that since
her father's illness began perhaps even sooner when she stayed with
him expecting something to happen all the personal desires and hopes
that had been forgotten or sleeping within her had awakened thoughts
that had not entered her mind for years thoughts of a life free from
the fear of her father and even the possibility of love and of family
happiness floated continually in her imagination like temptations of the
devil thrust them aside as she would questions continually recurred
to her as to how she would order her life now after that these were
temptations of the devil and princess mary knew it she knew that the
sole weapon against him was prayer and she tried to pray she assumed
an attitude of prayer looked at the icons repeated the words of a
prayer but she could not pray she felt that a different world had
now taken possession of her the life of a world of strenuous and free
activity quite opposed to the spiritual world in which till now she
had been confined and in which her greatest comfort had been prayer 
she could not pray could not weep and worldly cares took possession of
her 

it was becoming dangerous to remain in bogucharovo news of the approach
of the french came from all sides and in one village ten miles from
bogucharovo a homestead had been looted by french marauders 

the doctor insisted on the necessity of moving the prince the
provincial marshal of the nobility sent an official to princess mary
to persuade her to get away as quickly as possible and the head of the
rural police having come to bogucharovo urged the same thing saying
that the french were only some twenty five miles away that french
proclamations were circulating in the villages and that if the princess
did not take her father away before the fifteenth he could not answer
for the consequences 

the princess decided to leave on the fifteenth the cares of preparation
and giving orders for which everyone came to her occupied her all day 
she spent the night of the fourteenth as usual without undressing in
the room next to the one where the prince lay several times waking up 
she heard his groans and muttering the creak of his bed and the steps
of tikhon and the doctor when they turned him over several times she
listened at the door and it seemed to her that his mutterings were
louder than usual and that they turned him over oftener she could not
sleep and several times went to the door and listened wishing to enter
but not deciding to do so though he did not speak princess mary saw
and knew how unpleasant every sign of anxiety on his account was to him 
she had noticed with what dissatisfaction he turned from the look she
sometimes involuntarily fixed on him she knew that her going in during
the night at an unusual hour would irritate him 

but never had she felt so grieved for him or so much afraid of losing
him she recalled all her life with him and in every word and act of his
found an expression of his love of her occasionally amid these memories
temptations of the devil would surge into her imagination thoughts of
how things would be after his death and how her new liberated life
would be ordered but she drove these thoughts away with disgust toward
morning he became quiet and she fell asleep 

she woke late that sincerity which often comes with waking showed her
clearly what chiefly concerned her about her father's illness on waking
she listened to what was going on behind the door and hearing him
groan said to herself with a sigh that things were still the same 

 but what could have happened what did i want i want his death she
cried with a feeling of loathing for herself 

she washed dressed said her prayers and went out to the porch in
front of it stood carriages without horses and things were being packed
into the vehicles 

it was a warm gray morning princess mary stopped at the porch still
horrified by her spiritual baseness and trying to arrange her thoughts
before going to her father the doctor came downstairs and went out to
her 

 he is a little better today said he i was looking for you one can
make out something of what he is saying his head is clearer come in 
he is asking for you 

princess mary's heart beat so violently at this news that she grew pale
and leaned against the wall to keep from falling to see him talk to
him feel his eyes on her now that her whole soul was overflowing with
those dreadful wicked temptations was a torment of joy and terror 

 come said the doctor 

princess mary entered her father's room and went up to his bed he was
lying on his back propped up high and his small bony hands with
their knotted purple veins were lying on the quilt his left eye gazed
straight before him his right eye was awry and his brows and lips
motionless he seemed altogether so thin small and pathetic his face
seemed to have shriveled or melted his features had grown smaller 
princess mary went up and kissed his hand his left hand pressed hers
so that she understood that he had long been waiting for her to come he
twitched her hand and his brows and lips quivered angrily 

she looked at him in dismay trying to guess what he wanted of her when
she changed her position so that his left eye could see her face he
calmed down not taking his eyes off her for some seconds then his lips
and tongue moved sounds came and he began to speak gazing timidly and
imploringly at her evidently afraid that she might not understand 

straining all her faculties princess mary looked at him the comic
efforts with which he moved his tongue made her drop her eyes and with
difficulty repress the sobs that rose to her throat he said something 
repeating the same words several times she could not understand them 
but tried to guess what he was saying and inquiringly repeated the words
he uttered 

 mmm ar ate ate he repeated several times 

it was quite impossible to understand these sounds the doctor thought
he had guessed them and inquiringly repeated mary are you afraid 
the prince shook his head again repeated the same sounds 

 my mind my mind aches questioned princess mary 

he made a mumbling sound in confirmation of this took her hand and
began pressing it to different parts of his breast as if trying to find
the right place for it 

 always thoughts about you thoughts he then uttered much
more clearly than he had done before now that he was sure of being
understood 

princess mary pressed her head against his hand trying to hide her sobs
and tears 

he moved his hand over her hair 

 i have been calling you all night he brought out 

 if only i had known she said through her tears i was afraid to
come in 

he pressed her hand 

 weren't you asleep 

 no i did not sleep said princess mary shaking her head 

unconsciously imitating her father she now tried to express herself as
he did as much as possible by signs and her tongue too seemed to move
with difficulty 

 dear one dearest princess mary could not quite make out what he
had said but from his look it was clear that he had uttered a tender
caressing word such as he had never used to her before why didn't you
come in 

 and i was wishing for his death thought princess mary 

he was silent awhile 

 thank you daughter dear for all for all forgive thank
you forgive thank you and tears began to flow from his
eyes call andrew he said suddenly and a childish timid expression
of doubt showed itself on his face as he spoke 

he himself seemed aware that his demand was meaningless so at least it
seemed to princess mary 

 i have a letter from him she replied 

he glanced at her with timid surprise 

 where is he 

 he's with the army father at smolensk 

he closed his eyes and remained silent a long time then as if in
answer to his doubts and to confirm the fact that now he understood and
remembered everything he nodded his head and reopened his eyes 

 yes he said softly and distinctly russia has perished they've
destroyed her 

and he began to sob and again tears flowed from his eyes princess mary
could no longer restrain herself and wept while she gazed at his face 

again he closed his eyes his sobs ceased he pointed to his eyes and
tikhon understanding him wiped away the tears 

then he again opened his eyes and said something none of them could
understand for a long time till at last tikhon understood and repeated
it princess mary had sought the meaning of his words in the mood in
which he had just been speaking she thought he was speaking of russia 
or prince andrew of herself of his grandson or of his own death and
so she could not guess his words 

 put on your white dress i like it was what he said 

having understood this princess mary sobbed still louder and the doctor
taking her arm led her out to the veranda soothing her and trying to
persuade her to prepare for her journey when she had left the room the
prince again began speaking about his son about the war and about the
emperor angrily twitching his brows and raising his hoarse voice and
then he had a second and final stroke 

princess mary stayed on the veranda the day had cleared it was hot and
sunny she could understand nothing think of nothing and feel nothing 
except passionate love for her father love such as she thought she had
never felt till that moment she ran out sobbing into the garden and as
far as the pond along the avenues of young lime trees prince andrew had
planted 

 yes i i i wished for his death yes i wanted it to end
quicker i wished to be at peace and what will become of me what
use will peace be when he is no longer here princess mary murmured 
pacing the garden with hurried steps and pressing her hands to her bosom
which heaved with convulsive sobs 

when she had completed the tour of the garden which brought her
again to the house she saw mademoiselle bourienne who had remained
at bogucharovo and did not wish to leave it coming toward her with a
stranger this was the marshal of the nobility of the district who
had come personally to point out to the princess the necessity for her
prompt departure princess mary listened without understanding him she
led him to the house offered him lunch and sat down with him then 
excusing herself she went to the door of the old prince's room the
doctor came out with an agitated face and said she could not enter 

 go away princess go away go away 

she returned to the garden and sat down on the grass at the foot of the
slope by the pond where no one could see her she did not know how
long she had been there when she was aroused by the sound of a woman's
footsteps running along the path she rose and saw dunyasha her maid 
who was evidently looking for her and who stopped suddenly as if in
alarm on seeing her mistress 

 please come princess the prince said dunyasha in a breaking
voice 

 immediately i'm coming i'm coming replied the princess hurriedly 
not giving dunyasha time to finish what she was saying and trying to
avoid seeing the girl she ran toward the house 

 princess it's god's will you must be prepared for everything said
the marshal meeting her at the house door 

 let me alone it's not true she cried angrily to him 

the doctor tried to stop her she pushed him aside and ran to her
father's door why are these people with frightened faces stopping me 
i don't want any of them and what are they doing here she thought 
she opened the door and the bright daylight in that previously darkened
room startled her in the room were her nurse and other women they all
drew back from the bed making way for her he was still lying on the
bed as before but the stern expression of his quiet face made princess
mary stop short on the threshold 

 no he's not dead it's impossible she told herself and approached
him and repressing the terror that seized her she pressed her lips
to his cheek but she stepped back immediately all the force of the
tenderness she had been feeling for him vanished instantly and was
replaced by a feeling of horror at what lay there before her no he
is no more he is not but here where he was is something unfamiliar and
hostile some dreadful terrifying and repellent mystery and hiding
her face in her hands princess mary sank into the arms of the doctor 
who held her up 


in the presence of tikhon and the doctor the women washed what had been
the prince tied his head up with a handkerchief that the mouth should
not stiffen while open and with another handkerchief tied together the
legs that were already spreading apart then they dressed him in uniform
with his decorations and placed his shriveled little body on a table 
heaven only knows who arranged all this and when but it all got done
as if of its own accord toward night candles were burning round his
coffin a pall was spread over it the floor was strewn with sprays of
juniper a printed band was tucked in under his shriveled head and in a
corner of the room sat a chanter reading the psalms 

just as horses shy and snort and gather about a dead horse so the
inmates of the house and strangers crowded into the drawing room round
the coffin the marshal the village elder peasant women and all with
fixed and frightened eyes crossing themselves bowed and kissed the old
prince's cold and stiffened hand 





chapter ix

until prince andrew settled in bogucharovo its owners had always been
absentees and its peasants were of quite a different character from
those of bald hills they differed from them in speech dress and
disposition they were called steppe peasants the old prince used to
approve of them for their endurance at work when they came to bald hills
to help with the harvest or to dig ponds and ditches but he disliked
them for their boorishness 

prince andrew's last stay at bogucharovo when he introduced hospitals
and schools and reduced the quitrent the peasants had to pay had not
softened their disposition but had on the contrary strengthened in
them the traits of character the old prince called boorishness various
obscure rumors were always current among them at one time a rumor that
they would all be enrolled as cossacks at another of a new religion to
which they were all to be converted then of some proclamation of the
tsar's and of an oath to the tsar paul in 1797 in connection with which
it was rumored that freedom had been granted them but the landowners had
stopped it then of peter fedorovich's return to the throne in seven
years time when everything would be made free and so simple that
there would be no restrictions rumors of the war with bonaparte and
his invasion were connected in their minds with the same sort of vague
notions of antichrist the end of the world and pure freedom 

in the vicinity of bogucharovo were large villages belonging to the
crown or to owners whose serfs paid quitrent and could work where they
pleased there were very few resident landlords in the neighborhood
and also very few domestic or literate serfs and in the lives of the
peasantry of those parts the mysterious undercurrents in the life of
the russian people the causes and meaning of which are so baffling to
contemporaries were more clearly and strongly noticeable than among
others one instance which had occurred some twenty years before was
a movement among the peasants to emigrate to some unknown warm rivers 
hundreds of peasants among them the bogucharovo folk suddenly began
selling their cattle and moving in whole families toward the southeast 
as birds migrate to somewhere beyond the sea so these men with their
wives and children streamed to the southeast to parts where none of
them had ever been they set off in caravans bought their freedom one
by one or ran away and drove or walked toward the warm rivers many
of them were punished some sent to siberia many died of cold and
hunger on the road many returned of their own accord and the movement
died down of itself just as it had sprung up without apparent reason 
but such undercurrents still existed among the people and gathered new
forces ready to manifest themselves just as strangely unexpectedly and
at the same time simply naturally and forcibly now in 1812 to anyone
living in close touch with these people it was apparent that these
undercurrents were acting strongly and nearing an eruption 

alpatych who had reached bogucharovo shortly before the old prince's
death noticed an agitation among the peasants and that contrary to
what was happening in the bald hills district where over a radius of
forty miles all the peasants were moving away and leaving their villages
to be devastated by the cossacks the peasants in the steppe region
round bogucharovo were it was rumored in touch with the french 
received leaflets from them that passed from hand to hand and did not
migrate he learned from domestic serfs loyal to him that the peasant
karp who possessed great influence in the village commune and had
recently been away driving a government transport had returned with
news that the cossacks were destroying deserted villages but that the
french did not harm them alpatych also knew that on the previous day
another peasant had even brought from the village of visloukhovo which
was occupied by the french a proclamation by a french general that no
harm would be done to the inhabitants and if they remained they would
be paid for anything taken from them as proof of this the peasant had
brought from visloukhovo a hundred rubles in notes he did not know that
they were false paid to him in advance for hay 

more important still alpatych learned that on the morning of the
very day he gave the village elder orders to collect carts to move the
princess luggage from bogucharovo there had been a village meeting at
which it had been decided not to move but to wait yet there was no
time to waste on the fifteenth the day of the old prince's death 
the marshal had insisted on princess mary's leaving at once as it was
becoming dangerous he had told her that after the sixteenth he could
not be responsible for what might happen on the evening of the day the
old prince died the marshal went away promising to return next day for
the funeral but this he was unable to do for he received tidings that
the french had unexpectedly advanced and had barely time to remove his
own family and valuables from his estate 

for some thirty years bogucharovo had been managed by the village elder 
dron whom the old prince called by the diminutive dronushka 

dron was one of those physically and mentally vigorous peasants who grow
big beards as soon as they are of age and go on unchanged till they
are sixty or seventy without a gray hair or the loss of a tooth as
straight and strong at sixty as at thirty 

soon after the migration to the warm rivers in which he had taken
part like the rest dron was made village elder and overseer of
bogucharovo and had since filled that post irreproachably for
twenty three years the peasants feared him more than they did their
master the masters both the old prince and the young and the steward
respected him and jestingly called him the minister during the
whole time of his service dron had never been drunk or ill never after
sleepless nights or the hardest tasks had he shown the least fatigue 
and though he could not read he had never forgotten a single money
account or the number of quarters of flour in any of the endless
cartloads he sold for the prince nor a single shock of the whole corn
crop on any single acre of the bogucharovo fields 

alpatych arriving from the devastated bald hills estate sent for his
dron on the day of the prince's funeral and told him to have twelve
horses got ready for the princess carriages and eighteen carts for
the things to be removed from bogucharovo though the peasants paid
quitrent alpatych thought no difficulty would be made about complying
with this order for there were two hundred and thirty households at
work in bogucharovo and the peasants were well to do but on hearing the
order dron lowered his eyes and remained silent alpatych named certain
peasants he knew from whom he told him to take the carts 

dron replied that the horses of these peasants were away carting 
alpatych named others but they too according to dron had no horses
available some horses were carting for the government others were too
weak and others had died for want of fodder it seemed that no horses
could be had even for the carriages much less for the carting 

alpatych looked intently at dron and frowned just as dron was a model
village elder so alpatych had not managed the prince's estates for
twenty years in vain he was a model steward possessing in the highest
degree the faculty of divining the needs and instincts of those he dealt
with having glanced at dron he at once understood that his answers did
not express his personal views but the general mood of the bogucharovo
commune by which the elder had already been carried away but he also
knew that dron who had acquired property and was hated by the commune 
must be hesitating between the two camps the masters and the serfs 
he noticed this hesitation in dron's look and therefore frowned and
moved closer up to him 

 now just listen dronushka said he don't talk nonsense to me his
excellency prince andrew himself gave me orders to move all the people
away and not leave them with the enemy and there is an order from the
tsar about it too anyone who stays is a traitor to the tsar do you
hear 

 i hear dron answered without lifting his eyes 

alpatych was not satisfied with this reply 

 eh dron it will turn out badly he said shaking his head 

 the power is in your hands dron rejoined sadly 

 eh dron drop it alpatych repeated withdrawing his hand from his
bosom and solemnly pointing to the floor at dron's feet i can see
through you and three yards into the ground under you he continued 
gazing at the floor in front of dron 

dron was disconcerted glanced furtively at alpatych and again lowered
his eyes 

 you drop this nonsense and tell the people to get ready to leave their
homes and go to moscow and to get carts ready for tomorrow morning
for the princess things and don't go to any meeting yourself do you
hear 

dron suddenly fell on his knees 

 yakov alpatych discharge me take the keys from me and discharge me 
for christ's sake 

 stop that cried alpatych sternly i see through you and three yards
under you he repeated knowing that his skill in beekeeping his
knowledge of the right time to sow the oats and the fact that he had
been able to retain the old prince's favor for twenty years had long
since gained him the reputation of being a wizard and that the power of
seeing three yards under a man is considered an attribute of wizards 

dron got up and was about to say something but alpatych interrupted
him 

 what is it you have got into your heads eh what are you thinking
of eh 

 what am i to do with the people said dron they're quite beside
themselves i have already told them 

 told them i dare say said alpatych are they drinking he asked
abruptly 

 quite beside themselves yakov alpatych they've fetched another
barrel 

 well then listen i'll go to the police officer and you tell them
so and that they must stop this and the carts must be got ready 

 i understand 

alpatych did not insist further he had managed people for a long time
and knew that the chief way to make them obey is to show no suspicion
that they can possibly disobey having wrung a submissive i understand 
from dron alpatych contented himself with that though he not only
doubted but felt almost certain that without the help of troops the
carts would not be forthcoming 

and so it was for when evening came no carts had been provided in the
village outside the drink shop another meeting was being held which
decided that the horses should be driven out into the woods and the
carts should not be provided without saying anything of this to the
princess alpatych had his own belongings taken out of the carts which
had arrived from bald hills and had those horses got ready for
the princess carriages meanwhile he went himself to the police
authorities 





chapter x

after her father's funeral princess mary shut herself up in her room and
did not admit anyone a maid came to the door to say that alpatych was
asking for orders about their departure this was before his talk with
dron princess mary raised herself on the sofa on which she had been
lying and replied through the closed door that she did not mean to go
away and begged to be left in peace 

the windows of the room in which she was lying looked westward she
lay on the sofa with her face to the wall fingering the buttons of the
leather cushion and seeing nothing but that cushion and her confused
thoughts were centered on one subject the irrevocability of death and
her own spiritual baseness which she had not suspected but which had
shown itself during her father's illness she wished to pray but did not
dare to dared not in her present state of mind address herself to god 
she lay for a long time in that position 

the sun had reached the other side of the house and its slanting rays
shone into the open window lighting up the room and part of the morocco
cushion at which princess mary was looking the flow of her thoughts
suddenly stopped unconsciously she sat up smoothed her hair got up 
and went to the window involuntarily inhaling the freshness of the
clear but windy evening 

 yes you can well enjoy the evening now he is gone and no one will
hinder you she said to herself and sinking into a chair she let her
head fall on the window sill 

someone spoke her name in a soft and tender voice from the garden and
kissed her head she looked up it was mademoiselle bourienne in a black
dress and weepers she softly approached princess mary sighed kissed
her and immediately began to cry the princess looked up at her all
their former disharmony and her own jealousy recurred to her mind 
but she remembered too how he had changed of late toward mademoiselle
bourienne and could not bear to see her thereby showing how unjust were
the reproaches princess mary had mentally addressed to her besides 
is it for me for me who desired his death to condemn anyone she
thought 

princess mary vividly pictured to herself the position of mademoiselle
bourienne whom she had of late kept at a distance but who yet was
dependent on her and living in her house she felt sorry for her
and held out her hand with a glance of gentle inquiry mademoiselle
bourienne at once began crying again and kissed that hand speaking of
the princess sorrow and making herself a partner in it she said her
only consolation was the fact that the princess allowed her to share her
sorrow that all the old misunderstandings should sink into nothing but
this great grief that she felt herself blameless in regard to everyone 
and that he from above saw her affection and gratitude the princess
heard her not heeding her words but occasionally looking up at her and
listening to the sound of her voice 

 your position is doubly terrible dear princess said mademoiselle
bourienne after a pause i understand that you could not and cannot 
think of yourself but with my love for you i must do so has
alpatych been to you has he spoken to you of going away she asked 

princess mary did not answer she did not understand who was to go or
where to is it possible to plan or think of anything now is it not
all the same she thought and did not reply 

 you know chere marie said mademoiselle bourienne that we are in
danger are surrounded by the french it would be dangerous to move now 
if we go we are almost sure to be taken prisoners and god knows 

princess mary looked at her companion without understanding what she was
talking about 

 oh if anyone knew how little anything matters to me now she said 
 of course i would on no account wish to go away from him alpatych
did say something about going speak to him i can do nothing 
nothing and don't want to 

 i've spoken to him he hopes we should be in time to get away tomorrow 
but i think it would now be better to stay here said mademoiselle
bourienne because you will agree chere marie to fall into the hands
of the soldiers or of riotous peasants would be terrible 

mademoiselle bourienne took from her reticule a proclamation not
printed on ordinary russian paper of general rameau's telling people
not to leave their homes and that the french authorities would afford
them proper protection she handed this to the princess 

 i think it would be best to appeal to that general she continued 
 and i am sure that all due respect would be shown you 

princess mary read the paper and her face began to quiver with stifled
sobs 

 from whom did you get this she asked 

 they probably recognized that i am french by my name replied
mademoiselle bourienne blushing 

princess mary with the paper in her hand rose from the window and with
a pale face went out of the room and into what had been prince andrew's
study 

 dunyasha send alpatych or dronushka or somebody to me she said 
 and tell mademoiselle bourienne not to come to me she added hearing
mademoiselle bourienne's voice we must go at once at once she said 
appalled at the thought of being left in the hands of the french 

 if prince andrew heard that i was in the power of the french that
i the daughter of prince nicholas bolkonski asked general rameau for
protection and accepted his favor this idea horrified her made her
shudder blush and feel such a rush of anger and pride as she had never
experienced before all that was distressing and especially all that
was humiliating in her position rose vividly to her mind they the
french would settle in this house m le general rameau would occupy
prince andrew's study and amuse himself by looking through and reading
his letters and papers mademoiselle bourienne would do the honors of
bogucharovo for him i should be given a small room as a favor the
soldiers would violate my father's newly dug grave to steal his crosses
and stars they would tell me of their victories over the russians and
would pretend to sympathize with my sorrow thought princess mary 
not thinking her own thoughts but feeling bound to think like her father
and her brother for herself she did not care where she remained or what
happened to her but she felt herself the representative of her dead
father and of prince andrew involuntarily she thought their thoughts
and felt their feelings what they would have said and what they would
have done she felt bound to say and do she went into prince andrew's
study trying to enter completely into his ideas and considered her
position 

the demands of life which had seemed to her annihilated by her father's
death all at once rose before her with a new previously unknown force
and took possession of her 

agitated and flushed she paced the room sending now for michael
ivanovich and now for tikhon or dron dunyasha the nurse and the other
maids could not say in how far mademoiselle bourienne's statement was
correct alpatych was not at home he had gone to the police neither
could the architect michael ivanovich who on being sent for came in
with sleepy eyes tell princess mary anything with just the same smile
of agreement with which for fifteen years he had been accustomed to
answer the old prince without expressing views of his own he now
replied to princess mary so that nothing definite could be got from his
answers the old valet tikhon with sunken emaciated face that bore the
stamp of inconsolable grief replied yes princess to all princess
mary's questions and hardly refrained from sobbing as he looked at her 

at length dron the village elder entered the room and with a deep bow
to princess mary came to a halt by the doorpost 

princess mary walked up and down the room and stopped in front of him 

 dronushka she said regarding as a sure friend this dronushka who
always used to bring a special kind of gingerbread from his visit to the
fair at vyazma every year and smilingly offer it to her dronushka now
since our misfortune she began but could not go on 

 we are all in god's hands said he with a sigh 

they were silent for a while 

 dronushka alpatych has gone off somewhere and i have no one to turn
to is it true as they tell me that i can't even go away 

 why shouldn't you go away your excellency you can go said dron 

 i was told it would be dangerous because of the enemy dear friend i
can do nothing i understand nothing i have nobody i want to go away
tonight or early tomorrow morning 

dron paused he looked askance at princess mary and said there are no
horses i told yakov alpatych so 

 why are there none asked the princess 

 it's all god's scourge said dron what horses we had have been
taken for the army or have died this is such a year it's not a case of
feeding horses we may die of hunger ourselves as it is some go three
days without eating we've nothing we've been ruined 

princess mary listened attentively to what he told her 

 the peasants are ruined they have no bread she asked 

 they're dying of hunger said dron it's not a case of carting 

 but why didn't you tell me dronushka isn't it possible to help them 
i'll do all i can 

to princess mary it was strange that now at a moment when such sorrow
was filling her soul there could be rich people and poor and the rich
could refrain from helping the poor she had heard vaguely that there
was such a thing as landlord's corn which was sometimes given to the
peasants she also knew that neither her father nor her brother would
refuse to help the peasants in need she only feared to make some
mistake in speaking about the distribution of the grain she wished to
give she was glad such cares presented themselves enabling her
without scruple to forget her own grief she began asking dron about the
peasants needs and what there was in bogucharovo that belonged to the
landlord 

 but we have grain belonging to my brother she said 

 the landlord's grain is all safe replied dron proudly our prince
did not order it to be sold 

 give it to the peasants let them have all they need i give you leave
in my brother's name said she 

dron made no answer but sighed deeply 

 give them that corn if there is enough of it distribute it all i
give this order in my brother's name and tell them that what is ours is
theirs we do not grudge them anything tell them so 

dron looked intently at the princess while she was speaking 

 discharge me little mother for god's sake order the keys to be taken
from me said he i have served twenty three years and have done no
wrong discharge me for god's sake 

princess mary did not understand what he wanted of her or why he was
asking to be discharged she replied that she had never doubted his
devotion and that she was ready to do anything for him and for the
peasants 





chapter xi

an hour later dunyasha came to tell the princess that dron had come and
all the peasants had assembled at the barn by the princess order and
wished to have word with their mistress 

 but i never told them to come said princess mary i only told dron
to let them have the grain 

 only for god's sake princess dear have them sent away and don't go
out to them it's all a trick said dunyasha and when yakov alpatych
returns let us get away and please don't 

 what is a trick asked princess mary in surprise 

 i know it is only listen to me for god's sake ask nurse too they say
they don't agree to leave bogucharovo as you ordered 

 you're making some mistake i never ordered them to go away said
princess mary call dronushka 

dron came and confirmed dunyasha's words the peasants had come by the
princess order 

 but i never sent for them declared the princess you must have given
my message wrong i only said that you were to give them the grain 

dron only sighed in reply 

 if you order it they will go away said he 

 no no i'll go out to them said princess mary and in spite of
the nurse's and dunyasha's protests she went out into the porch dron 
dunyasha the nurse and michael ivanovich following her 

 they probably think i am offering them the grain to bribe them to
remain here while i myself go away leaving them to the mercy of the
french thought princess mary i will offer them monthly rations and
housing at our moscow estate i am sure andrew would do even more in
my place she thought as she went out in the twilight toward the crowd
standing on the pasture by the barn 

the men crowded closer together stirred and rapidly took off their
hats princess mary lowered her eyes and tripping over her skirt came
close up to them so many different eyes old and young were fixed
on her and there were so many different faces that she could not
distinguish any of them and feeling that she must speak to them all
at once did not know how to do it but again the sense that she
represented her father and her brother gave her courage and she boldly
began her speech 

 i am very glad you have come she said without raising her eyes and
feeling her heart beating quickly and violently dronushka tells me
that the war has ruined you that is our common misfortune and i
shall grudge nothing to help you i am myself going away because it
is dangerous here the enemy is near because i am giving you
everything my friends and i beg you to take everything all our grain 
so that you may not suffer want and if you have been told that i am
giving you the grain to keep you here that is not true on the contrary 
i ask you to go with all your belongings to our estate near moscow and
i promise you i will see to it that there you shall want for nothing 
you shall be given food and lodging 

the princess stopped sighs were the only sound heard in the crowd 

 i am not doing this on my own account she continued i do it in the
name of my dead father who was a good master to you and of my brother
and his son 

again she paused no one broke the silence 

 ours is a common misfortune and we will share it together all that is
mine is yours she concluded scanning the faces before her 

all eyes were gazing at her with one and the same expression she
could not fathom whether it was curiosity devotion gratitude or
apprehension and distrust but the expression on all the faces was
identical 

 we are all very thankful for your bounty but it won't do for us to
take the landlord's grain said a voice at the back of the crowd 

 but why not asked the princess 

no one replied and princess mary looking round at the crowd found that
every eye she met now was immediately dropped 

 but why don't you want to take it she asked again 

no one answered 

the silence began to oppress the princess and she tried to catch
someone's eye 

 why don't you speak she inquired of a very old man who stood just
in front of her leaning on his stick if you think something more is
wanted tell me i will do anything said she catching his eye 

but as if this angered him he bent his head quite low and muttered 

 why should we agree we don't want the grain 

 why should we give up everything we don't agree don't agree we
are sorry for you but we're not willing go away yourself alone 
came from various sides of the crowd 

and again all the faces in that crowd bore an identical expression 
though now it was certainly not an expression of curiosity or gratitude 
but of angry resolve 

 but you can't have understood me said princess mary with a sad smile 
 why don't you want to go i promise to house and feed you while here
the enemy would ruin you 

but her voice was drowned by the voices of the crowd 

 we're not willing let them ruin us we won't take your grain we don't
agree 

again princess mary tried to catch someone's eye but not a single eye
in the crowd was turned to her evidently they were all trying to avoid
her look she felt strange and awkward 

 oh yes an artful tale follow her into slavery pull down your houses
and go into bondage i dare say i'll give you grain indeed she
says voices in the crowd were heard saying 

with drooping head princess mary left the crowd and went back to the
house having repeated her order to dron to have horses ready for her
departure next morning she went to her room and remained alone with her
own thoughts 





chapter xii

for a long time that night princess mary sat by the open window of her
room hearing the sound of the peasants voices that reached her from
the village but it was not of them she was thinking she felt that she
could not understand them however much she might think about them she
thought only of one thing her sorrow which after the break caused
by cares for the present seemed already to belong to the past now she
could remember it and weep or pray 

after sunset the wind had dropped the night was calm and fresh toward
midnight the voices began to subside a cock crowed the full moon began
to show from behind the lime trees a fresh white dewy mist began to
rise and stillness reigned over the village and the house 

pictures of the near past her father's illness and last moments rose
one after another to her memory with mournful pleasure she now lingered
over these images repelling with horror only the last one the
picture of his death which she felt she could not contemplate even in
imagination at this still and mystic hour of night and these pictures
presented themselves to her so clearly and in such detail that they
seemed now present now past and now future 

she vividly recalled the moment when he had his first stroke and was
being dragged along by his armpits through the garden at bald hills 
muttering something with his helpless tongue twitching his gray
eyebrows and looking uneasily and timidly at her 

 even then he wanted to tell me what he told me the day he died she
thought he had always thought what he said then and she recalled in
all its detail the night at bald hills before he had the last stroke 
when with a foreboding of disaster she had remained at home against his
will she had not slept and had stolen downstairs on tiptoe and going
to the door of the conservatory where he slept that night had listened
at the door in a suffering and weary voice he was saying something to
tikhon speaking of the crimea and its warm nights and of the empress 
evidently he had wanted to talk and why didn't he call me why didn't
he let me be there instead of tikhon princess mary had thought and
thought again now now he will never tell anyone what he had in his
soul never will that moment return for him or for me when he might have
said all he longed to say and not tikhon but i might have heard and
understood him why didn't i enter the room she thought perhaps he
would then have said to me what he said the day he died while talking
to tikhon he asked about me twice he wanted to see me and i was
standing close by outside the door it was sad and painful for him
to talk to tikhon who did not understand him i remember how he began
speaking to him about lise as if she were alive he had forgotten she
was dead and tikhon reminded him that she was no more and he shouted 
 fool he was greatly depressed from behind the door i heard how he
lay down on his bed groaning and loudly exclaimed my god why didn't
i go in then what could he have done to me what could i have lost and
perhaps he would then have been comforted and would have said that word
to me and princess mary uttered aloud the caressing word he had said
to her on the day of his death dear est she repeated and began
sobbing with tears that relieved her soul she now saw his face before
her and not the face she had known ever since she could remember and
had always seen at a distance but the timid feeble face she had seen
for the first time quite closely with all its wrinkles and details 
when she stooped near to his mouth to catch what he said 

 dear est she repeated again 

 what was he thinking when he uttered that word what is he thinking
now this question suddenly presented itself to her and in answer she
saw him before her with the expression that was on his face as he lay
in his coffin with his chin bound up with a white handkerchief and the
horror that had seized her when she touched him and convinced herself
that that was not he but something mysterious and horrible seized her
again she tried to think of something else and to pray but could do
neither with wide open eyes she gazed at the moonlight and the shadows 
expecting every moment to see his dead face and she felt that the
silence brooding over the house and within it held her fast 

 dunyasha she whispered dunyasha she screamed wildly and tearing
herself out of this silence she ran to the servants quarters to meet
her old nurse and the maidservants who came running toward her 





chapter xiii

on the seventeenth of august rostov and ilyin accompanied by lavrushka
who had just returned from captivity and by an hussar orderly left
their quarters at yankovo ten miles from bogucharovo and went for a
ride to try a new horse ilyin had bought and to find out whether there
was any hay to be had in the villages 

for the last three days bogucharovo had lain between the two hostile
armies so that it was as easy for the russian rearguard to get to it as
for the french vanguard rostov as a careful squadron commander wished
to take such provisions as remained at bogucharovo before the french
could get them 

rostov and ilyin were in the merriest of moods on the way to
bogucharovo a princely estate with a dwelling house and farm where
they hoped to find many domestic serfs and pretty girls they questioned
lavrushka about napoleon and laughed at his stories and raced one
another to try ilyin's horse 

rostov had no idea that the village he was entering was the property of
that very bolkonski who had been engaged to his sister 

rostov and ilyin gave rein to their horses for a last race along the
incline before reaching bogucharovo and rostov outstripping ilyin was
the first to gallop into the village street 

 you're first cried ilyin flushed 

 yes always first both on the grassland and here answered rostov 
stroking his heated donets horse 

 and i'd have won on my frenchy your excellency said lavrushka
from behind alluding to his shabby cart horse only i didn't wish to
mortify you 

they rode at a footpace to the barn where a large crowd of peasants was
standing 

some of the men bared their heads others stared at the new arrivals
without doffing their caps two tall old peasants with wrinkled faces
and scanty beards emerged from the tavern smiling staggering and
singing some incoherent song and approached the officers 

 fine fellows said rostov laughing is there any hay here 

 and how like one another said ilyin 

 a mo o st me r r y co o m pa sang one of the peasants with a
blissful smile 

one of the men came out of the crowd and went up to rostov 

 who do you belong to he asked 

 the french replied ilyin jestingly and here is napoleon
himself and he pointed to lavrushka 

 then you are russians the peasant asked again 

 and is there a large force of you here said another a short man 
coming up 

 very large answered rostov but why have you collected here he
added is it a holiday 

 the old men have met to talk over the business of the commune replied
the peasant moving away 

at that moment on the road leading from the big house two women and a
man in a white hat were seen coming toward the officers 

 the one in pink is mine so keep off said ilyin on seeing dunyasha
running resolutely toward him 

 she'll be ours said lavrushka to ilyin winking 

 what do you want my pretty said ilyin with a smile 

 the princess ordered me to ask your regiment and your name 

 this is count rostov squadron commander and i am your humble
servant 

 co o om pa ny roared the tipsy peasant with a beatific smile as
he looked at ilyin talking to the girl following dunyasha alpatych
advanced to rostov having bared his head while still at a distance 

 may i make bold to trouble your honor said he respectfully but with
a shade of contempt for the youthfulness of this officer and with a hand
thrust into his bosom my mistress daughter of general in chief prince
nicholas bolkonski who died on the fifteenth of this month finding
herself in difficulties owing to the boorishness of these people he
pointed to the peasants asks you to come up to the house won't
you please ride on a little farther said alpatych with a melancholy
smile as it is not convenient in the presence of he pointed to
the two peasants who kept as close to him as horseflies to a horse 

 ah alpatych ah yakov alpatych grand forgive us for christ's
sake eh said the peasants smiling joyfully at him 

rostov looked at the tipsy peasants and smiled 

 or perhaps they amuse your honor remarked alpatych with a staid air 
as he pointed at the old men with his free hand 

 no there's not much to be amused at here said rostov and rode on a
little way what's the matter he asked 

 i make bold to inform your honor that the rude peasants here don't
wish to let the mistress leave the estate and threaten to unharness her
horses so that though everything has been packed up since morning her
excellency cannot get away 

 impossible exclaimed rostov 

 i have the honor to report to you the actual truth said alpatych 

rostov dismounted gave his horse to the orderly and followed alpatych
to the house questioning him as to the state of affairs it appeared
that the princess offer of corn to the peasants the previous day and
her talk with dron and at the meeting had actually had so bad an effect
that dron had finally given up the keys and joined the peasants and had
not appeared when alpatych sent for him and that in the morning when
the princess gave orders to harness for her journey the peasants had
come in a large crowd to the barn and sent word that they would not let
her leave the village that there was an order not to move and that
they would unharness the horses alpatych had gone out to admonish them 
but was told it was chiefly karp who did the talking dron not showing
himself in the crowd that they could not let the princess go that
there was an order to the contrary but that if she stayed they would
serve her as before and obey her in everything 

at the moment when rostov and ilyin were galloping along the road 
princess mary despite the dissuasions of alpatych her nurse and the
maids had given orders to harness and intended to start but when the
cavalrymen were espied they were taken for frenchmen the coachman ran
away and the women in the house began to wail 

 father benefactor god has sent you exclaimed deeply moved voices as
rostov passed through the anteroom 

princess mary was sitting helpless and bewildered in the large sitting
room when rostov was shown in she could not grasp who he was and why
he had come or what was happening to her when she saw his russian
face and by his walk and the first words he uttered recognized him as a
man of her own class she glanced at him with her deep radiant look and
began speaking in a voice that faltered and trembled with emotion this
meeting immediately struck rostov as a romantic event a helpless girl
overwhelmed with grief left to the mercy of coarse rioting peasants 
and what a strange fate sent me here what gentleness and nobility there
are in her features and expression thought he as he looked at her and
listened to her timid story 

when she began to tell him that all this had happened the day after her
father's funeral her voice trembled she turned away and then as if
fearing he might take her words as meant to move him to pity looked at
him with an apprehensive glance of inquiry there were tears in rostov's
eyes princess mary noticed this and glanced gratefully at him with that
radiant look which caused the plainness of her face to be forgotten 

 i cannot express princess how glad i am that i happened to ride here
and am able to show my readiness to serve you said rostov rising go
when you please and i give you my word of honor that no one shall dare
to cause you annoyance if only you will allow me to act as your escort 
and bowing respectfully as if to a lady of royal blood he moved toward
the door 

rostov's deferential tone seemed to indicate that though he would
consider himself happy to be acquainted with her he did not wish to
take advantage of her misfortunes to intrude upon her 

princess mary understood this and appreciated his delicacy 

 i am very very grateful to you she said in french but i hope it
was all a misunderstanding and that no one is to blame for it she
suddenly began to cry 

 excuse me she said 

rostov knitting his brows left the room with another low bow 





chapter xiv

 well is she pretty ah friend my pink one is delicious her name is
dunyasha 

but on glancing at rostov's face ilyin stopped short he saw that his
hero and commander was following quite a different train of thought 

rostov glanced angrily at ilyin and without replying strode off with
rapid steps to the village 

 i'll show them i'll give it to them the brigands said he to
himself 

alpatych at a gliding trot only just managing not to run kept up with
him with difficulty 

 what decision have you been pleased to come to said he 

rostov stopped and clenching his fists suddenly and sternly turned on
alpatych 

 decision what decision old dotard cried he what have you been
about eh the peasants are rioting and you can't manage them you're
a traitor yourself i know you i'll flay you all alive and as if
afraid of wasting his store of anger he left alpatych and went rapidly
forward alpatych mastering his offended feelings kept pace with
rostov at a gliding gait and continued to impart his views he said
the peasants were obdurate and that at the present moment it would be
imprudent to overresist them without an armed force and would it not
be better first to send for the military 

 i'll give them armed force i'll overresist them uttered rostov
meaninglessly breathless with irrational animal fury and the need to
vent it 

without considering what he would do he moved unconciously with quick 
resolute steps toward the crowd and the nearer he drew to it the more
alpatych felt that this unreasonable action might produce good results 
the peasants in the crowd were similarly impressed when they saw
rostov's rapid firm steps and resolute frowning face 

after the hussars had come to the village and rostov had gone to see the
princess a certain confusion and dissension had arisen among the crowd 
some of the peasants said that these new arrivals were russians and
might take it amiss that the mistress was being detained dron was of
this opinion but as soon as he expressed it karp and others attacked
their ex elder 

 how many years have you been fattening on the commune karp shouted at
him it's all one to you you'll dig up your pot of money and take
it away with you what does it matter to you whether our homes are
ruined or not 

 we've been told to keep order and that no one is to leave their homes
or take away a single grain and that's all about it cried another 

 it was your son's turn to be conscripted but no fear you begrudged
your lump of a son a little old man suddenly began attacking dron and
so they took my vanka to be shaved for a soldier but we all have to
die 

 to be sure we all have to die i'm not against the commune said
dron 

 that's it not against it you've filled your belly 

the two tall peasants had their say as soon as rostov followed by
ilyin lavrushka and alpatych came up to the crowd karp thrusting
his fingers into his belt and smiling a little walked to the front 
dron on the contrary retired to the rear and the crowd drew closer
together 

 who is your elder here hey shouted rostov coming up to the crowd
with quick steps 

 the elder what do you want with him asked karp 

but before the words were well out of his mouth his cap flew off and a
fierce blow jerked his head to one side 

 caps off traitors shouted rostov in a wrathful voice where's the
elder he cried furiously 

 the elder he wants the elder dron zakharych you meek and
flustered voices here and there were heard calling and caps began to
come off their heads 

 we don't riot we're following the orders declared karp and at that
moment several voices began speaking together 

 it's as the old men have decided there's too many of you giving
orders 

 arguing mutiny brigands traitors cried rostov unmeaningly in a
voice not his own gripping karp by the collar bind him bind him he
shouted though there was no one to bind him but lavrushka and alpatych 

lavrushka however ran up to karp and seized him by the arms from
behind 

 shall i call up our men from beyond the hill he called out 

alpatych turned to the peasants and ordered two of them by name to come
and bind karp the men obediently came out of the crowd and began taking
off their belts 

 where's the elder demanded rostov in a loud voice 

with a pale and frowning face dron stepped out of the crowd 

 are you the elder bind him lavrushka shouted rostov as if that
order too could not possibly meet with any opposition 

and in fact two more peasants began binding dron who took off his own
belt and handed it to them as if to aid them 

 and you all listen to me said rostov to the peasants be off to your
houses at once and don't let one of your voices be heard 

 why we've not done any harm we did it just out of foolishness it's
all nonsense i said then that it was not in order voices were
heard bickering with one another 

 there what did i say said alpatych coming into his own again it's
wrong lads 

 all our stupidity yakov alpatych came the answers and the crowd
began at once to disperse through the village 

the two bound men were led off to the master's house the two drunken
peasants followed them 

 aye when i look at you said one of them to karp 

 how can one talk to the masters like that what were you thinking of 
you fool added the other a real fool 

two hours later the carts were standing in the courtyard of the
bogucharovo house the peasants were briskly carrying out the
proprietor's goods and packing them on the carts and dron liberated at
princess mary's wish from the cupboard where he had been confined was
standing in the yard directing the men 

 don't put it in so carelessly said one of the peasants a man with a
round smiling face taking a casket from a housemaid you know it has
cost money how can you chuck it in like that or shove it under the cord
where it'll get rubbed i don't like that way of doing things let it
all be done properly according to rule look here put it under the
bast matting and cover it with hay that's the way 

 eh books books said another peasant bringing out prince andrew's
library cupboards don't catch up against it it's heavy lads solid
books 

 yes they worked all day and didn't play remarked the tall 
round faced peasant gravely pointing with a significant wink at the
dictionaries that were on the top 


unwilling to obtrude himself on the princess rostov did not go back to
the house but remained in the village awaiting her departure when her
carriage drove out of the house he mounted and accompanied her eight
miles from bogucharovo to where the road was occupied by our troops at
the inn at yankovo he respectfully took leave of her for the first time
permitting himself to kiss her hand 

 how can you speak so he blushingly replied to princess mary's
expressions of gratitude for her deliverance as she termed what had
occurred any police officer would have done as much if we had had
only peasants to fight we should not have let the enemy come so far 
said he with a sense of shame and wishing to change the subject i
am only happy to have had the opportunity of making your acquaintance 
good by princess i wish you happiness and consolation and hope to meet
you again in happier circumstances if you don't want to make me blush 
please don't thank me 

but the princess if she did not again thank him in words thanked
him with the whole expression of her face radiant with gratitude and
tenderness she could not believe that there was nothing to thank him
for on the contrary it seemed to her certain that had he not been
there she would have perished at the hands of the mutineers and of the
french and that he had exposed himself to terrible and obvious danger
to save her and even more certain was it that he was a man of lofty and
noble soul able to understand her position and her sorrow his kind 
honest eyes with the tears rising in them when she herself had begun to
cry as she spoke of her loss did not leave her memory 

when she had taken leave of him and remained alone she suddenly felt
her eyes filling with tears and then not for the first time the strange
question presented itself to her did she love him 

on the rest of the way to moscow though the princess position was not
a cheerful one dunyasha who went with her in the carriage more than
once noticed that her mistress leaned out of the window and smiled at
something with an expression of mingled joy and sorrow 

 well supposing i do love him thought princess mary 

ashamed as she was of acknowledging to herself that she had fallen in
love with a man who would perhaps never love her she comforted herself
with the thought that no one would ever know it and that she would not
be to blame if without ever speaking of it to anyone she continued to
the end of her life to love the man with whom she had fallen in love for
the first and last time in her life 

sometimes when she recalled his looks his sympathy and his words 
happiness did not appear impossible to her it was at those moments that
dunyasha noticed her smiling as she looked out of the carriage window 

 was it not fate that brought him to bogucharovo and at that very
moment thought princess mary and that caused his sister to refuse my
brother and in all this princess mary saw the hand of providence 

the impression the princess made on rostov was a very agreeable one to
remember her gave him pleasure and when his comrades hearing of his
adventure at bogucharovo rallied him on having gone to look for hay
and having picked up one of the wealthiest heiresses in russia he grew
angry it made him angry just because the idea of marrying the gentle
princess mary who was attractive to him and had an enormous fortune 
had against his will more than once entered his head for himself
personally nicholas could not wish for a better wife by marrying her
he would make the countess his mother happy would be able to put his
father's affairs in order and would even he felt it ensure princess
mary's happiness 

but sonya and his plighted word that was why rostov grew angry when he
was rallied about princess bolkonskaya 





chapter xv

on receiving command of the armies kutuzov remembered prince andrew and
sent an order for him to report at headquarters 

prince andrew arrived at tsarevo zaymishche on the very day and at the
very hour that kutuzov was reviewing the troops for the first time he
stopped in the village at the priest's house in front of which stood the
commander in chief's carriage and he sat down on the bench at the gate
awaiting his serene highness as everyone now called kutuzov from the
field beyond the village came now sounds of regimental music and now the
roar of many voices shouting hurrah to the new commander in chief 
two orderlies a courier and a major domo stood near by some ten paces
from prince andrew availing themselves of kutuzov's absence and of the
fine weather a short swarthy lieutenant colonel of hussars with thick
mustaches and whiskers rode up to the gate and glancing at prince
andrew inquired whether his serene highness was putting up there and
whether he would soon be back 

prince andrew replied that he was not on his serene highness staff
but was himself a new arrival the lieutenant colonel turned to a smart
orderly who with the peculiar contempt with which a commander in
chief's orderly speaks to officers replied 

 what his serene highness i expect he'll be here soon what do you
want 

the lieutenant colonel of hussars smiled beneath his mustache at the
orderly's tone dismounted gave his horse to a dispatch runner and
approached bolkonski with a slight bow bolkonski made room for him on
the bench and the lieutenant colonel sat down beside him 

 you're also waiting for the commander in chief said he they say he
weceives evewyone thank god it's awful with those sausage eaters 
ermolov had weason to ask to be pwomoted to be a german now p'waps
wussians will get a look in as it was devil only knows what was
happening we kept wetweating and wetweating did you take part in the
campaign he asked 

 i had the pleasure replied prince andrew not only of taking part in
the retreat but of losing in that retreat all i held dear not to mention
the estate and home of my birth my father who died of grief i belong
to the province of smolensk 

 ah you're pwince bolkonski vewy glad to make your acquaintance i'm
lieutenant colonel denisov better known as vaska said denisov 
pressing prince andrew's hand and looking into his face with a
particularly kindly attention yes i heard said he sympathetically 
and after a short pause added yes it's scythian warfare it's all
vewy well only not for those who get it in the neck so you are pwince
andwew bolkonski he swayed his head vewy pleased pwince to make
your acquaintance he repeated again smiling sadly and he again
pressed prince andrew's hand 

prince andrew knew denisov from what natasha had told him of her first
suitor this memory carried him sadly and sweetly back to those painful
feelings of which he had not thought lately but which still found
place in his soul of late he had received so many new and very serious
impressions such as the retreat from smolensk his visit to bald hills 
and the recent news of his father's death and had experienced so many
emotions that for a long time past those memories had not entered his
mind and now that they did they did not act on him with nearly their
former strength for denisov too the memories awakened by the name of
bolkonski belonged to a distant romantic past when after supper and
after natasha's singing he had proposed to a little girl of fifteen
without realizing what he was doing he smiled at the recollection of
that time and of his love for natasha and passed at once to what now
interested him passionately and exclusively this was a plan of campaign
he had devised while serving at the outposts during the retreat he had
proposed that plan to barclay de tolly and now wished to propose it
to kutuzov the plan was based on the fact that the french line
of operation was too extended and it proposed that instead of or
concurrently with action on the front to bar the advance of the french 
we should attack their line of communication he began explaining his
plan to prince andrew 

 they can't hold all that line it's impossible i will undertake to
bweak thwough give me five hundwed men and i will bweak the line 
that's certain there's only one way guewilla warfare 

denisov rose and began gesticulating as he explained his plan to
bolkonski in the midst of his explanation shouts were heard from the
army growing more incoherent and more diffused mingling with music
and songs and coming from the field where the review was held sounds of
hoofs and shouts were nearing the village 

 he's coming he's coming shouted a cossack standing at the gate 

bolkonski and denisov moved to the gate at which a knot of soldiers
 a guard of honor was standing and they saw kutuzov coming down the
street mounted on a rather small sorrel horse a huge suite of generals
rode behind him barclay was riding almost beside him and a crowd of
officers ran after and around them shouting hurrah 

his adjutants galloped into the yard before him kutuzov was impatiently
urging on his horse which ambled smoothly under his weight and he
raised his hand to his white horse guard's cap with a red band and no
peak nodding his head continually when he came up to the guard of
honor a fine set of grenadiers mostly wearing decorations who were
giving him the salute he looked at them silently and attentively for
nearly a minute with the steady gaze of a commander and then turned to
the crowd of generals and officers surrounding him suddenly his face
assumed a subtle expression he shrugged his shoulders with an air of
perplexity 

 and with such fine fellows to retreat and retreat well good by 
general he added and rode into the yard past prince andrew and
denisov 

 hurrah hurrah hurrah shouted those behind him 

since prince andrew had last seen him kutuzov had grown still more
corpulent flaccid and fat but the bleached eyeball the scar and the
familiar weariness of his expression were still the same he was wearing
the white horse guard's cap and a military overcoat with a whip hanging
over his shoulder by a thin strap he sat heavily and swayed limply on
his brisk little horse 

 whew whew whew he whistled just audibly as he rode into the
yard his face expressed the relief of relaxed strain felt by a man who
means to rest after a ceremony he drew his left foot out of the stirrup
and lurching with his whole body and puckering his face with the
effort raised it with difficulty onto the saddle leaned on his knee 
groaned and slipped down into the arms of the cossacks and adjutants
who stood ready to assist him 

he pulled himself together looked round screwing up his eyes glanced
at prince andrew and evidently not recognizing him moved with his
waddling gait to the porch whew whew whew he whistled and
again glanced at prince andrew as often occurs with old men it was
only after some seconds that the impression produced by prince andrew's
face linked itself up with kutuzov's remembrance of his personality 

 ah how do you do my dear prince how do you do my dear boy come
along said he glancing wearily round and he stepped onto the porch
which creaked under his weight 

he unbuttoned his coat and sat down on a bench in the porch 

 and how's your father 

 i received news of his death yesterday replied prince andrew
abruptly 

kutuzov looked at him with eyes wide open with dismay and then took off
his cap and crossed himself 

 may the kingdom of heaven be his god's will be done to us all he
sighed deeply his whole chest heaving and was silent for a while i
loved him and respected him and sympathize with you with all my heart 

he embraced prince andrew pressing him to his fat breast and for some
time did not let him go when he released him prince andrew saw that
kutuzov's flabby lips were trembling and that tears were in his eyes he
sighed and pressed on the bench with both hands to raise himself 

 come come with me we'll have a talk said he 

but at that moment denisov no more intimidated by his superiors than by
the enemy came with jingling spurs up the steps of the porch despite
the angry whispers of the adjutants who tried to stop him kutuzov his
hands still pressed on the seat glanced at him glumly denisov having
given his name announced that he had to communicate to his serene
highness a matter of great importance for their country's welfare 
kutuzov looked wearily at him and lifting his hands with a gesture of
annoyance folded them across his stomach repeating the words for our
country's welfare well what is it speak denisov blushed like a
girl it was strange to see the color rise in that shaggy bibulous 
time worn face and boldly began to expound his plan of cutting the
enemy's lines of communication between smolensk and vyazma denisov came
from those parts and knew the country well his plan seemed decidedly
a good one especially from the strength of conviction with which he
spoke kutuzov looked down at his own legs occasionally glancing at the
door of the adjoining hut as if expecting something unpleasant to emerge
from it and from that hut while denisov was speaking a general with a
portfolio under his arm really did appear 

 what said kutuzov in the midst of denisov's explanations are you
ready so soon 

 ready your serene highness replied the general 

kutuzov swayed his head as much as to say how is one man to deal with
it all and again listened to denisov 

 i give my word of honor as a wussian officer said denisov that i
can bweak napoleon's line of communication 

 what relation are you to intendant general kiril andreevich denisov 
asked kutuzov interrupting him 

 he is my uncle your sewene highness 

 ah we were friends said kutuzov cheerfully all right all right 
friend stay here at the staff and tomorrow we'll have a talk 

with a nod to denisov he turned away and put out his hand for the papers
konovnitsyn had brought him 

 would not your serene highness like to come inside said the general
on duty in a discontented voice the plans must be examined and several
papers have to be signed 

an adjutant came out and announced that everything was in readiness
within but kutuzov evidently did not wish to enter that room till he
was disengaged he made a grimace 

 no tell them to bring a small table out here my dear boy i'll look
at them here said he don't go away he added turning to prince
andrew who remained in the porch and listened to the general's report 

while this was being given prince andrew heard the whisper of a woman's
voice and the rustle of a silk dress behind the door several times on
glancing that way he noticed behind that door a plump rosy handsome
woman in a pink dress with a lilac silk kerchief on her head holding
a dish and evidently awaiting the entrance of the commander in chief 
kutuzov's adjutant whispered to prince andrew that this was the wife of
the priest whose home it was and that she intended to offer his serene
highness bread and salt her husband has welcomed his serene highness
with the cross at the church and she intends to welcome him in the
house she's very pretty added the adjutant with a smile at
those words kutuzov looked round he was listening to the general's
report which consisted chiefly of a criticism of the position at
tsarevo zaymishche as he had listened to denisov and seven years
previously had listened to the discussion at the austerlitz council of
war he evidently listened only because he had ears which though there
was a piece of tow in one of them could not help hearing but it
was evident that nothing the general could say would surprise or even
interest him that he knew all that would be said beforehand and heard
it all only because he had to as one has to listen to the chanting of
a service of prayer all that denisov had said was clever and to the
point what the general was saying was even more clever and to
the point but it was evident that kutuzov despised knowledge
and cleverness and knew of something else that would decide the
matter something independent of cleverness and knowledge prince
andrew watched the commander in chief's face attentively and the only
expression he could see there was one of boredom curiosity as to the
meaning of the feminine whispering behind the door and a desire to
observe propriety it was evident that kutuzov despised cleverness and
learning and even the patriotic feeling shown by denisov but despised
them not because of his own intellect feelings or knowledge he did not
try to display any of these but because of something else he despised
them because of his old age and experience of life the only instruction
kutuzov gave of his own accord during that report referred to looting by
the russian troops at the end of the report the general put before
him for signature a paper relating to the recovery of payment from army
commanders for green oats mown down by the soldiers when landowners
lodged petitions for compensation 

after hearing the matter kutuzov smacked his lips together and shook
his head 

 into the stove into the fire with it i tell you once for all my
dear fellow said he into the fire with all such things let them cut
the crops and burn wood to their hearts content i don't order it
or allow it but i don't exact compensation either one can't get on
without it when wood is chopped the chips will fly he looked at the
paper again oh this german precision he muttered shaking his head 





chapter xvi

 well that's all said kutuzov as he signed the last of the documents 
and rising heavily and smoothing out the folds in his fat white neck he
moved toward the door with a more cheerful expression 

the priest's wife flushing rosy red caught up the dish she had after
all not managed to present at the right moment though she had so long
been preparing for it and with a low bow offered it to kutuzov 

he screwed up his eyes smiled lifted her chin with his hand and said 

 ah what a beauty thank you sweetheart 

he took some gold pieces from his trouser pocket and put them on the
dish for her well my dear and how are we getting on he asked 
moving to the door of the room assigned to him the priest's wife
smiled and with dimples in her rosy cheeks followed him into the room 
the adjutant came out to the porch and asked prince andrew to lunch with
him half an hour later prince andrew was again called to kutuzov 
he found him reclining in an armchair still in the same unbuttoned
overcoat he had in his hand a french book which he closed as prince
andrew entered marking the place with a knife prince andrew saw by the
cover that it was les chevaliers du cygne by madame de genlis 

 well sit down sit down here let's have a talk said kutuzov it's
sad very sad but remember my dear fellow that i am a father to you 
a second father 

prince andrew told kutuzov all he knew of his father's death and what
he had seen at bald hills when he passed through it 

 what what they have brought us to kutuzov suddenly cried in an
agitated voice evidently picturing vividly to himself from prince
andrew's story the condition russia was in but give me time give me
time he said with a grim look evidently not wishing to continue this
agitating conversation and added i sent for you to keep you with me 

 i thank your serene highness but i fear i am no longer fit for the
staff replied prince andrew with a smile which kutuzov noticed 

kutuzov glanced inquiringly at him 

 but above all added prince andrew i have grown used to my regiment 
am fond of the officers and i fancy the men also like me i should be
sorry to leave the regiment if i decline the honor of being with you 
believe me 

a shrewd kindly yet subtly derisive expression lit up kutuzov's podgy
face he cut bolkonski short 

 i am sorry for i need you but you're right you're right it's not
here that men are needed advisers are always plentiful but men are
not the regiments would not be what they are if the would be advisers
served there as you do i remember you at austerlitz i remember 
yes i remember you with the standard said kutuzov and a flush of
pleasure suffused prince andrew's face at this recollection 

taking his hand and drawing him downwards kutuzov offered his cheek to
be kissed and again prince andrew noticed tears in the old man's eyes 
though prince andrew knew that kutuzov's tears came easily and that he
was particularly tender to and considerate of him from a wish to
show sympathy with his loss yet this reminder of austerlitz was both
pleasant and flattering to him 

 go your way and god be with you i know your path is the path of
honor he paused i missed you at bucharest but i needed someone to
send and changing the subject kutuzov began to speak of the turkish
war and the peace that had been concluded yes i have been much
blamed he said both for that war and the peace but everything
came at the right time tout vient a point a celui qui sait attendre 
and there were as many advisers there as here he went on returning
to the subject of advisers which evidently occupied him ah those
advisers said he if we had listened to them all we should not have
made peace with turkey and should not have been through with that war 
everything in haste but more haste less speed kamenski would have
been lost if he had not died he stormed fortresses with thirty thousand
men it is not difficult to capture a fortress but it is difficult to
win a campaign for that not storming and attacking but patience and
time are wanted kamenski sent soldiers to rustchuk but i only employed
these two things and took more fortresses than kamenski and made them
turks eat horseflesh he swayed his head and the french shall too 
believe me he went on growing warmer and beating his chest i'll
make them eat horseflesh and tears again dimmed his eyes 

 everything comes in time to him who knows how to wait 


 but shan't we have to accept battle remarked prince andrew 

 we shall if everybody wants it it can't be helped but believe
me my dear boy there is nothing stronger than those two patience and
time they will do it all but the advisers n'entendent pas de cette
oreille voila le mal some want a thing others don't what's one to
do he asked evidently expecting an answer well what do you want
us to do he repeated and his eye shone with a deep shrewd look 
 i'll tell you what to do he continued as prince andrew still did not
reply i will tell you what to do and what i do dans le doute mon
cher he paused abstiens toi 2 he articulated the french proverb
deliberately 

 don't see it that way that's the trouble 

 2 when in doubt my dear fellow do nothing 


 well good by my dear fellow remember that with all my heart i share
your sorrow and that for you i am not a serene highness nor a prince 
nor a commander in chief but a father if you want anything come
straight to me good by my dear boy 

again he embraced and kissed prince andrew but before the latter
had left the room kutuzov gave a sigh of relief and went on with his
unfinished novel les chevaliers du cygne by madame de genlis 

prince andrew could not have explained how or why it was but after that
interview with kutuzov he went back to his regiment reassured as to
the general course of affairs and as to the man to whom it had been
entrusted the more he realized the absence of all personal motive in
that old man in whom there seemed to remain only the habit of passions 
and in place of an intellect grouping events and drawing conclusions 
only the capacity calmly to contemplate the course of events the more
reassured he was that everything would be as it should he will not
bring in any plan of his own he will not devise or undertake
anything thought prince andrew but he will hear everything remember
everything and put everything in its place he will not hinder
anything useful nor allow anything harmful he understands that there is
something stronger and more important than his own will the inevitable
course of events and he can see them and grasp their significance 
and seeing that significance can refrain from meddling and renounce his
personal wish directed to something else and above all thought prince
andrew one believes in him because he's russian despite the novel
by genlis and the french proverbs and because his voice shook when he
said what they have brought us to and had a sob in it when he said
he would make them eat horseflesh 

on such feelings more or less dimly shared by all the unanimity and
general approval were founded with which despite court influences the
popular choice of kutuzov as commander in chief was received 





chapter xvii

after the emperor had left moscow life flowed on there in its usual
course and its course was so very usual that it was difficult to
remember the recent days of patriotic elation and ardor hard to believe
that russia was really in danger and that the members of the english
club were also sons of the fatherland ready to sacrifice everything
for it the one thing that recalled the patriotic fervor everyone had
displayed during the emperor's stay was the call for contributions of
men and money a necessity that as soon as the promises had been made
assumed a legal official form and became unavoidable 

with the enemy's approach to moscow the moscovites view of their
situation did not grow more serious but on the contrary became even
more frivolous as always happens with people who see a great danger
approaching at the approach of danger there are always two voices that
speak with equal power in the human soul one very reasonably tells a
man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of escaping it 
the other still more reasonably says that it is too depressing and
painful to think of the danger since it is not in man's power to
foresee everything and avert the general course of events and it is
therefore better to disregard what is painful till it comes and to
think about what is pleasant in solitude a man generally listens to
the first voice but in society to the second so it was now with the
inhabitants of moscow it was long since people had been as gay in
moscow as that year 

rostopchin's broadsheets headed by woodcuts of a drink shop a potman 
and a moscow burgher called karpushka chigirin who having been a
militiaman and having had rather too much at the pub heard that napoleon
wished to come to moscow grew angry abused the french in very bad
language came out of the drink shop and under the sign of the
eagle began to address the assembled people were read and discussed 
together with the latest of vasili lvovich pushkin's bouts rimes 

in the corner room at the club members gathered to read these
broadsheets and some liked the way karpushka jeered at the french 
saying they will swell up with russian cabbage burst with our
buckwheat porridge and choke themselves with cabbage soup they are all
dwarfs and one peasant woman will toss three of them with a hayfork 
others did not like that tone and said it was stupid and vulgar it was
said that rostopchin had expelled all frenchmen and even all foreigners
from moscow and that there had been some spies and agents of napoleon
among them but this was told chiefly to introduce rostopchin's witty
remark on that occasion the foreigners were deported to nizhni by
boat and rostopchin had said to them in french rentrez en vous memes 
entrez dans la barque et n'en faites pas une barque de charon there
was talk of all the government offices having been already removed from
moscow and to this shinshin's witticism was added that for that alone
moscow ought to be grateful to napoleon it was said that mamonov's
regiment would cost him eight hundred thousand rubles and that bezukhov
had spent even more on his but that the best thing about bezukhov's
action was that he himself was going to don a uniform and ride at the
head of his regiment without charging anything for the show 

 think it over get into the barque and take care not to
 make it a barque of charon 


 you don't spare anyone said julie drubetskaya as she collected
and pressed together a bunch of raveled lint with her thin beringed
fingers 

julie was preparing to leave moscow next day and was giving a farewell
soiree 

 bezukhov est ridicule but he is so kind and good natured what
pleasure is there to be so caustique 

 a forfeit cried a young man in militia uniform whom julie called mon
chevalier and who was going with her to nizhni 

in julie's set as in many other circles in moscow it had been agreed
that they would speak nothing but russian and that those who made a
slip and spoke french should pay fines to the committee of voluntary
contributions 

 another forfeit for a gallicism said a russian writer who was
present what pleasure is there to be is not russian 

 you spare no one continued julie to the young man without heeding the
author's remark 

 for caustique i am guilty and will pay and i am prepared to pay again
for the pleasure of telling you the truth for gallicisms i won't be
responsible she remarked turning to the author i have neither the
money nor the time like prince galitsyn to engage a master to teach me
russian 

 ah here he is she added quand on no no she said to the
militia officer you won't catch me speak of the sun and you see its
rays and she smiled amiably at pierre we were just talking of you 
she said with the facility in lying natural to a society woman we were
saying that your regiment would be sure to be better than mamonov's 

 oh don't talk to me of my regiment replied pierre kissing his
hostess hand and taking a seat beside her i am so sick of it 

 you will of course command it yourself said julie directing a sly 
sarcastic glance toward the militia officer 

the latter in pierre's presence had ceased to be caustic and his face
expressed perplexity as to what julie's smile might mean in spite of
his absent mindedness and good nature pierre's personality immediately
checked any attempt to ridicule him to his face 

 no said pierre with a laughing glance at his big stout body i
should make too good a target for the french besides i am afraid i
should hardly be able to climb onto a horse 

among those whom julie's guests happened to choose to gossip about were
the rostovs 

 i hear that their affairs are in a very bad way said julie and he
is so unreasonable the count himself i mean the razumovskis wanted
to buy his house and his estate near moscow but it drags on and on he
asks too much 

 no i think the sale will come off in a few days said someone 
 though it is madness to buy anything in moscow now 

 why asked julie you don't think moscow is in danger 

 then why are you leaving 

 i what a question i am going because well because everyone is
going and besides i am not joan of arc or an amazon 

 well of course of course let me have some more strips of linen 

 if he manages the business properly he will be able to pay off all his
debts said the militia officer speaking of rostov 

 a kindly old man but not up to much and why do they stay on so long in
moscow they meant to leave for the country long ago natalie is quite
well again now isn't she julie asked pierre with a knowing smile 

 they are waiting for their younger son pierre replied he joined
obolenski's cossacks and went to belaya tserkov where the regiment is
being formed but now they have had him transferred to my regiment and
are expecting him every day the count wanted to leave long ago but the
countess won't on any account leave moscow till her son returns 

 i met them the day before yesterday at the arkharovs natalie has
recovered her looks and is brighter she sang a song how easily some
people get over everything 

 get over what inquired pierre looking displeased 

julie smiled 

 you know count such knights as you are only found in madame de
souza's novels 

 what knights what do you mean demanded pierre blushing 

 oh come my dear count c'est la fable de tout moscou je vous admire 
ma parole d'honneur 

 it is the talk of all moscow my word i admire you 


 forfeit forfeit cried the militia officer 

 all right one can't talk how tiresome 

 what is the talk of all moscow pierre asked angrily rising to his
feet 

 come now count you know 

 i don't know anything about it said pierre 

 i know you were friendly with natalie and so but i was always more
friendly with vera that dear vera 

 no madame pierre continued in a tone of displeasure i have not
taken on myself the role of natalie rostova's knight at all and have
not been to their house for nearly a month but i cannot understand the
cruelty 

 qui s'excuse s'accuse said julie smiling and waving the lint
triumphantly and to have the last word she promptly changed the
subject do you know what i heard today poor mary bolkonskaya arrived
in moscow yesterday do you know that she has lost her father 

 who excuses himself accuses himself 


 really where is she i should like very much to see her said pierre 

 i spent the evening with her yesterday she is going to their estate
near moscow either today or tomorrow morning with her nephew 

 well and how is she asked pierre 

 she is well but sad but do you know who rescued her it is quite a
romance nicholas rostov she was surrounded and they wanted to kill
her and had wounded some of her people he rushed in and saved her 

 another romance said the militia officer really this general
flight has been arranged to get all the old maids married off catiche
is one and princess bolkonskaya another 

 do you know i really believe she is un petit peu amoureuse du jeune
homme 

 a little bit in love with the young man 


 forfeit forfeit forfeit 

 but how could one say that in russian 





chapter xviii

when pierre returned home he was handed two of rostopchin's broadsheets
that had been brought that day 

the first declared that the report that count rostopchin had forbidden
people to leave moscow was false on the contrary he was glad that
ladies and tradesmen's wives were leaving the city there will be less
panic and less gossip ran the broadsheet but i will stake my life on
it that that scoundrel will not enter moscow these words showed pierre
clearly for the first time that the french would enter moscow the
second broadsheet stated that our headquarters were at vyazma that
count wittgenstein had defeated the french but that as many of the
inhabitants of moscow wished to be armed weapons were ready for them
at the arsenal sabers pistols and muskets which could be had at a low
price the tone of the proclamation was not as jocose as in the former
chigirin talks pierre pondered over these broadsheets evidently the
terrible stormcloud he had desired with the whole strength of his soul
but which yet aroused involuntary horror in him was drawing near 

 shall i join the army and enter the service or wait he asked himself
for the hundredth time he took a pack of cards that lay on the table
and began to lay them out for a game of patience 

 if this patience comes out he said to himself after shuffling the
cards holding them in his hand and lifting his head if it comes out 
it means what does it mean 

he had not decided what it should mean when he heard the voice of the
eldest princess at the door asking whether she might come in 

 then it will mean that i must go to the army said pierre to himself 
 come in come in he added to the princess 

only the eldest princess the one with the stony face and long waist 
was still living in pierre's house the two younger ones had both
married 

 excuse my coming to you cousin she said in a reproachful and
agitated voice you know some decision must be come to what is going
to happen everyone has left moscow and the people are rioting how is
it that we are staying on 

 on the contrary things seem satisfactory ma cousine said pierre
in the bantering tone he habitually adopted toward her always feeling
uncomfortable in the role of her benefactor 

 satisfactory indeed very satisfactory barbara ivanovna told me today
how our troops are distinguishing themselves it certainly does them
credit and the people too are quite mutinous they no longer obey 
even my maid has taken to being rude at this rate they will soon begin
beating us one can't walk in the streets but above all the french
will be here any day now so what are we waiting for i ask just one
thing of you cousin she went on arrange for me to be taken to
petersburg whatever i may be i can't live under bonaparte's rule 

 oh come ma cousine where do you get your information from on the
contrary 

 i won't submit to your napoleon others may if they please if you
don't want to do this 

 but i will i'll give the order at once 

the princess was apparently vexed at not having anyone to be angry with 
muttering to herself she sat down on a chair 

 but you have been misinformed said pierre everything is quiet in
the city and there is not the slightest danger see i've just been
reading he showed her the broadsheet count rostopchin writes that
he will stake his life on it that the enemy will not enter moscow 

 oh that count of yours said the princess malevolently he is a
hypocrite a rascal who has himself roused the people to riot didn't
he write in those idiotic broadsheets that anyone whoever it might be 
should be dragged to the lockup by his hair how silly and honor
and glory to whoever captures him he says this is what his cajolery
has brought us to barbara ivanovna told me the mob near killed her
because she said something in french 

 oh but it's so you take everything so to heart said pierre and
began laying out his cards for patience 

although that patience did come out pierre did not join the army 
but remained in deserted moscow ever in the same state of agitation 
irresolution and alarm yet at the same time joyfully expecting
something terrible 

next day toward evening the princess set off and pierre's head steward
came to inform him that the money needed for the equipment of his
regiment could not be found without selling one of the estates in
general the head steward made out to pierre that his project of raising
a regiment would ruin him pierre listened to him scarcely able to
repress a smile 

 well then sell it said he what's to be done i can't draw back
now 

the worse everything became especially his own affairs the better
was pierre pleased and the more evident was it that the catastrophe he
expected was approaching hardly anyone he knew was left in town julie
had gone and so had princess mary of his intimate friends only the
rostovs remained but he did not go to see them 

to distract his thoughts he drove that day to the village of vorontsovo
to see the great balloon leppich was constructing to destroy the foe 
and a trial balloon that was to go up next day the balloon was not yet
ready but pierre learned that it was being constructed by the emperor's
desire the emperor had written to count rostopchin as follows 

as soon as leppich is ready get together a crew of reliable and
intelligent men for his car and send a courier to general kutuzov to let
him know i have informed him of the matter 

please impress upon leppich to be very careful where he descends for
the first time that he may not make a mistake and fall into the enemy's
hands it is essential for him to combine his movements with those of
the commander in chief 


on his way home from vorontsovo as he was passing the bolotnoe place
pierre seeing a large crowd round the lobnoe place stopped and got out
of his trap a french cook accused of being a spy was being flogged the
flogging was only just over and the executioner was releasing from the
flogging bench a stout man with red whiskers in blue stockings and
a green jacket who was moaning piteously another criminal thin and
pale stood near judging by their faces they were both frenchmen with
a frightened and suffering look resembling that on the thin frenchman's
face pierre pushed his way in through the crowd 

 what is it who is it what is it for he kept asking 

but the attention of the crowd officials burghers shopkeepers 
peasants and women in cloaks and in pelisses was so eagerly centered on
what was passing in lobnoe place that no one answered him the stout man
rose frowned shrugged his shoulders and evidently trying to appear
firm began to pull on his jacket without looking about him but suddenly
his lips trembled and he began to cry in the way full blooded grown up
men cry though angry with himself for doing so in the crowd people
began talking loudly to stifle their feelings of pity as it seemed to
pierre 

 he's cook to some prince 

 eh mounseer russian sauce seems to be sour to a frenchman sets his
teeth on edge said a wrinkled clerk who was standing behind pierre 
when the frenchman began to cry 

the clerk glanced round evidently hoping that his joke would be
appreciated some people began to laugh others continued to watch in
dismay the executioner who was undressing the other man 

pierre choked his face puckered and he turned hastily away went back
to his trap muttering something to himself as he went and took his
seat as they drove along he shuddered and exclaimed several times so
audibly that the coachman asked him 

 what is your pleasure 

 where are you going shouted pierre to the man who was driving to
lubyanka street 

 to the governor's as you ordered answered the coachman 

 fool idiot shouted pierre abusing his coachman a thing he rarely
did home i told you and drive faster blockhead i must get away
this very day he murmured to himself 

at the sight of the tortured frenchman and the crowd surrounding the
lobnoe place pierre had so definitely made up his mind that he could no
longer remain in moscow and would leave for the army that very day that
it seemed to him that either he had told the coachman this or that the
man ought to have known it for himself 

on reaching home pierre gave orders to evstafey his head coachman who
knew everything could do anything and was known to all moscow that
he would leave that night for the army at mozhaysk and that his saddle
horses should be sent there this could not all be arranged that day 
so on evstafey's representation pierre had to put off his departure till
next day to allow time for the relay horses to be sent on in advance 

on the twenty fourth the weather cleared up after a spell of rain and
after dinner pierre left moscow when changing horses that night
in perkhushkovo he learned that there had been a great battle that
evening this was the battle of shevardino he was told that there in
perkhushkovo the earth trembled from the firing but nobody could answer
his questions as to who had won at dawn next day pierre was approaching
mozhaysk 

every house in mozhaysk had soldiers quartered in it and at the hostel
where pierre was met by his groom and coachman there was no room to be
had it was full of officers 

everywhere in mozhaysk and beyond it troops were stationed or on the
march cossacks foot and horse soldiers wagons caissons and cannon
were everywhere pierre pushed forward as fast as he could and the
farther he left moscow behind and the deeper he plunged into that sea
of troops the more was he overcome by restless agitation and a new and
joyful feeling he had not experienced before it was a feeling akin
to what he had felt at the sloboda palace during the emperor's visit a
sense of the necessity of undertaking something and sacrificing
something he now experienced a glad consciousness that everything that
constitutes men's happiness the comforts of life wealth even
life itself is rubbish it is pleasant to throw away compared with
something with what pierre could not say and he did not try to
determine for whom and for what he felt such particular delight in
sacrificing everything he was not occupied with the question of what to
sacrifice for the fact of sacrificing in itself afforded him a new and
joyous sensation 





chapter xix

on the twenty fourth of august the battle of the shevardino redoubt was
fought on the twenty fifth not a shot was fired by either side and on
the twenty sixth the battle of borodino itself took place 

why and how were the battles of shevardino and borodino given and
accepted why was the battle of borodino fought there was not the least
sense in it for either the french or the russians its immediate result
for the russians was and was bound to be that we were brought nearer
to the destruction of moscow which we feared more than anything in
the world and for the french its immediate result was that they were
brought nearer to the destruction of their whole army which they feared
more than anything in the world what the result must be was quite
obvious and yet napoleon offered and kutuzov accepted that battle 

if the commanders had been guided by reason it would seem that it must
have been obvious to napoleon that by advancing thirteen hundred miles
and giving battle with a probability of losing a quarter of his army 
he was advancing to certain destruction and it must have been equally
clear to kutuzov that by accepting battle and risking the loss of a
quarter of his army he would certainly lose moscow for kutuzov this was
mathematically clear as it is that if when playing draughts i have one
man less and go on exchanging i shall certainly lose and therefore
should not exchange when my opponent has sixteen men and i have
fourteen i am only one eighth weaker than he but when i have exchanged
thirteen more men he will be three times as strong as i am 

before the battle of borodino our strength in proportion to the french
was about as five to six but after that battle it was little more than
one to two previously we had a hundred thousand against a hundred and
twenty thousand afterwards little more than fifty thousand against a
hundred thousand yet the shrewd and experienced kutuzov accepted the
battle while napoleon who was said to be a commander of genius 
gave it losing a quarter of his army and lengthening his lines of
communication still more if it is said that he expected to end the
campaign by occupying moscow as he had ended a previous campaign by
occupying vienna there is much evidence to the contrary napoleon's
historians themselves tell us that from smolensk onwards he wished
to stop knew the danger of his extended position and knew that the
occupation of moscow would not be the end of the campaign for he had
seen at smolensk the state in which russian towns were left to him and
had not received a single reply to his repeated announcements of his
wish to negotiate 

in giving and accepting battle at borodino kutuzov acted involuntarily
and irrationally but later on to fit what had occurred the historians
provided cunningly devised evidence of the foresight and genius of the
generals who of all the blind tools of history were the most enslaved
and involuntary 

the ancients have left us model heroic poems in which the heroes furnish
the whole interest of the story and we are still unable to accustom
ourselves to the fact that for our epoch histories of that kind are
meaningless 

on the other question how the battle of borodino and the preceding
battle of shevardino were fought there also exists a definite and
well known but quite false conception all the historians describe the
affair as follows 

the russian army they say in its retreat from smolensk sought out
for itself the best position for a general engagement and found such a
position at borodino 

the russians they say fortified this position in advance on the left
of the highroad from moscow to smolensk and almost at a right angle
to it from borodino to utitsa at the very place where the battle was
fought 

in front of this position they say a fortified outpost was set up on
the shevardino mound to observe the enemy on the twenty fourth we
are told napoleon attacked this advanced post and took it and on the
twenty sixth attacked the whole russian army which was in position on
the field of borodino 

so the histories say and it is all quite wrong as anyone who cares to
look into the matter can easily convince himself 

the russians did not seek out the best position but on the contrary 
during the retreat passed many positions better than borodino they did
not stop at any one of these positions because kutuzov did not wish to
occupy a position he had not himself chosen because the popular demand
for a battle had not yet expressed itself strongly enough and because
miloradovich had not yet arrived with the militia and for many other
reasons the fact is that other positions they had passed were stronger 
and that the position at borodino the one where the battle was fought 
far from being strong was no more a position than any other spot one
might find in the russian empire by sticking a pin into the map at
hazard 

not only did the russians not fortify the position on the field of
borodino to the left of and at a right angle to the highroad that
is the position on which the battle took place but never till the
twenty fifth of august 1812 did they think that a battle might be
fought there this was shown first by the fact that there were no
entrenchments there by the twenty fifth and that those begun on the
twenty fifth and twenty sixth were not completed and secondly by the
position of the shevardino redoubt that redoubt was quite senseless
in front of the position where the battle was accepted why was it
more strongly fortified than any other post and why were all efforts
exhausted and six thousand men sacrificed to defend it till late at
night on the twenty fourth a cossack patrol would have sufficed to
observe the enemy thirdly as proof that the position on which the
battle was fought had not been foreseen and that the shevardino redoubt
was not an advanced post of that position we have the fact that up to
the twenty fifth barclay de tolly and bagration were convinced that the
shevardino redoubt was the left flank of the position and that kutuzov
himself in his report written in hot haste after the battle speaks of
the shevardino redoubt as the left flank of the position it was much
later when reports on the battle of borodino were written at leisure 
that the incorrect and extraordinary statement was invented probably to
justify the mistakes of a commander in chief who had to be represented
as infallible that the shevardino redoubt was an advanced post whereas
in reality it was simply a fortified point on the left flank and that
the battle of borodino was fought by us on an entrenched position
previously selected whereas it was fought on a quite unexpected spot
which was almost unentrenched 

the case was evidently this a position was selected along the river
kolocha which crosses the highroad not at a right angle but at an acute
angle so that the left flank was at shevardino the right flank near the
village of novoe and the center at borodino at the confluence of the
rivers kolocha and voyna 

to anyone who looks at the field of borodino without thinking of how
the battle was actually fought this position protected by the river
kolocha presents itself as obvious for an army whose object was to
prevent an enemy from advancing along the smolensk road to moscow 

napoleon riding to valuevo on the twenty fourth did not see as the
history books say he did the position of the russians from utitsa
to borodino he could not have seen that position because it did not
exist nor did he see an advanced post of the russian army but while
pursuing the russian rearguard he came upon the left flank of the
russian position at the shevardino redoubt and unexpectedly for the
russians moved his army across the kolocha and the russians not having
time to begin a general engagement withdrew their left wing from the
position they had intended to occupy and took up a new position which
had not been foreseen and was not fortified by crossing to the other
side of the kolocha to the left of the highroad napoleon shifted the
whole forthcoming battle from right to left looking from the russian
side and transferred it to the plain between utitsa semenovsk and
borodino a plain no more advantageous as a position than any other plain
in russia and there the whole battle of the twenty sixth of august took
place 

had napoleon not ridden out on the evening of the twenty fourth to the
kolocha and had he not then ordered an immediate attack on the redoubt
but had begun the attack next morning no one would have doubted that
the shevardino redoubt was the left flank of our position and the
battle would have taken place where we expected it in that case
we should probably have defended the shevardino redoubt our left
flank still more obstinately we should have attacked napoleon in the
center or on the right and the engagement would have taken place on the
twenty fifth in the position we intended and had fortified but as the
attack on our left flank took place in the evening after the retreat of
our rear guard that is immediately after the fight at gridneva and
as the russian commanders did not wish or were not in time to begin a
general engagement then on the evening of the twenty fourth the first
and chief action of the battle of borodino was already lost on the
twenty fourth and obviously led to the loss of the one fought on the
twenty sixth 

after the loss of the shevardino redoubt we found ourselves on the
morning of the twenty fifth without a position for our left flank and
were forced to bend it back and hastily entrench it where it chanced to
be 

not only was the russian army on the twenty sixth defended by weak 
unfinished entrenchments but the disadvantage of that position was
increased by the fact that the russian commanders not having fully
realized what had happened namely the loss of our position on the left
flank and the shifting of the whole field of the forthcoming battle from
right to left maintained their extended position from the village of
novoe to utitsa and consequently had to move their forces from right to
left during the battle so it happened that throughout the whole battle
the russians opposed the entire french army launched against our left
flank with but half as many men poniatowski's action against utitsa 
and uvarov's on the right flank against the french were actions
distinct from the main course of the battle so the battle of borodino
did not take place at all as in an effort to conceal our commanders 
mistakes even at the cost of diminishing the glory due to the russian
army and people it has been described the battle of borodino was not
fought on a chosen and entrenched position with forces only slightly
weaker than those of the enemy but as a result of the loss of the
shevardino redoubt the russians fought the battle of borodino on an
open and almost unentrenched position with forces only half as numerous
as the french that is to say under conditions in which it was not
merely unthinkable to fight for ten hours and secure an indecisive
result but unthinkable to keep an army even from complete
disintegration and flight 





chapter xx

on the morning of the twenty fifth pierre was leaving mozhaysk at the
descent of the high steep hill down which a winding road led out of the
town past the cathedral on the right where a service was being held and
the bells were ringing pierre got out of his vehicle and proceeded on
foot behind him a cavalry regiment was coming down the hill preceded by
its singers coming up toward him was a train of carts carrying men who
had been wounded in the engagement the day before the peasant drivers 
shouting and lashing their horses kept crossing from side to side the
carts in each of which three or four wounded soldiers were lying
or sitting jolted over the stones that had been thrown on the steep
incline to make it something like a road the wounded bandaged with
rags with pale cheeks compressed lips and knitted brows held on to
the sides of the carts as they were jolted against one another almost
all of them stared with naive childlike curiosity at pierre's white hat
and green swallow tail coat 

pierre's coachman shouted angrily at the convoy of wounded to keep to
one side of the road the cavalry regiment as it descended the hill
with its singers surrounded pierre's carriage and blocked the road 
pierre stopped being pressed against the side of the cutting in which
the road ran the sunshine from behind the hill did not penetrate into
the cutting and there it was cold and damp but above pierre's head was
the bright august sunshine and the bells sounded merrily one of the
carts with wounded stopped by the side of the road close to pierre the
driver in his bast shoes ran panting up to it placed a stone under one
of its tireless hind wheels and began arranging the breech band on his
little horse 

one of the wounded an old soldier with a bandaged arm who was following
the cart on foot caught hold of it with his sound hand and turned to
look at pierre 

 i say fellow countryman will they set us down here or take us on to
moscow he asked 

pierre was so deep in thought that he did not hear the question he was
looking now at the cavalry regiment that had met the convoy of wounded 
now at the cart by which he was standing in which two wounded men
were sitting and one was lying one of those sitting up in the cart had
probably been wounded in the cheek his whole head was wrapped in rags
and one cheek was swollen to the size of a baby's head his nose
and mouth were twisted to one side this soldier was looking at the
cathedral and crossing himself another a young lad a fair haired
recruit as white as though there was no blood in his thin face looked
at pierre kindly with a fixed smile the third lay prone so that his
face was not visible the cavalry singers were passing close by 

 ah lost quite lost is my head so keen 
 living in a foreign land 

they sang their soldiers dance song 

as if responding to them but with a different sort of merriment the
metallic sound of the bells reverberated high above and the hot rays of
the sun bathed the top of the opposite slope with yet another sort of
merriment but beneath the slope by the cart with the wounded near the
panting little nag where pierre stood it was damp somber and sad 

the soldier with the swollen cheek looked angrily at the cavalry
singers 

 oh the coxcombs he muttered reproachfully 

 it's not the soldiers only but i've seen peasants today too 
the peasants even they have to go said the soldier behind the cart 
addressing pierre with a sad smile no distinctions made nowadays 
they want the whole nation to fall on them in a word it's moscow they
want to make an end of it 

in spite of the obscurity of the soldier's words pierre understood what
he wanted to say and nodded approval 

the road was clear again pierre descended the hill and drove on 

he kept looking to either side of the road for familiar faces but only
saw everywhere the unfamiliar faces of various military men of different
branches of the service who all looked with astonishment at his white
hat and green tail coat 

having gone nearly three miles he at last met an acquaintance and
eagerly addressed him this was one of the head army doctors he was
driving toward pierre in a covered gig sitting beside a young surgeon 
and on recognizing pierre he told the cossack who occupied the driver's
seat to pull up 

 count your excellency how come you to be here asked the doctor 

 well you know i wanted to see 

 yes yes there will be something to see 

pierre got out and talked to the doctor explaining his intention of
taking part in a battle 

the doctor advised him to apply direct to kutuzov 

 why should you be god knows where out of sight during the battle he
said exchanging glances with his young companion anyhow his serene
highness knows you and will receive you graciously that's what you must
do 

the doctor seemed tired and in a hurry 

 you think so ah i also wanted to ask you where our position is
exactly said pierre 

 the position repeated the doctor well that's not my line drive
past tatarinova a lot of digging is going on there go up the hillock
and you'll see 

 can one see from there if you would 

but the doctor interrupted him and moved toward his gig 

 i would go with you but on my honor i'm up to here and he pointed to
his throat i'm galloping to the commander of the corps how do matters
stand you know count there'll be a battle tomorrow out of an army
of a hundred thousand we must expect at least twenty thousand wounded 
and we haven't stretchers or bunks or dressers or doctors enough for
six thousand we have ten thousand carts but we need other things as
well we must manage as best we can 

the strange thought that of the thousands of men young and old who
had stared with merry surprise at his hat perhaps the very men he had
noticed twenty thousand were inevitably doomed to wounds and death
amazed pierre 

 they may die tomorrow why are they thinking of anything but death 
and by some latent sequence of thought the descent of the mozhaysk hill 
the carts with the wounded the ringing bells the slanting rays of the
sun and the songs of the cavalrymen vividly recurred to his mind 

 the cavalry ride to battle and meet the wounded and do not for a moment
think of what awaits them but pass by winking at the wounded yet from
among these men twenty thousand are doomed to die and they wonder at my
hat strange thought pierre continuing his way to tatarinova 

in front of a landowner's house to the left of the road stood carriages 
wagons and crowds of orderlies and sentinels the commander in chief
was putting up there but just when pierre arrived he was not in and
hardly any of the staff were there they had gone to the church service 
pierre drove on toward gorki 

when he had ascended the hill and reached the little village street he
saw for the first time peasant militiamen in their white shirts and with
crosses on their caps who talking and laughing loudly animated and
perspiring were at work on a huge knoll overgrown with grass to the
right of the road 

some of them were digging others were wheeling barrowloads of earth
along planks while others stood about doing nothing 

two officers were standing on the knoll directing the men on seeing
these peasants who were evidently still amused by the novelty of their
position as soldiers pierre once more thought of the wounded men at
mozhaysk and understood what the soldier had meant when he said they
want the whole nation to fall on them the sight of these bearded
peasants at work on the battlefield with their queer clumsy boots
and perspiring necks and their shirts opening from the left toward
the middle unfastened exposing their sunburned collarbones impressed
pierre more strongly with the solemnity and importance of the moment
than anything he had yet seen or heard 





chapter xxi

pierre stepped out of his carriage and passing the toiling militiamen 
ascended the knoll from which according to the doctor the battlefield
could be seen 

it was about eleven o'clock the sun shone somewhat to the left and
behind him and brightly lit up the enormous panorama which rising like
an amphitheater extended before him in the clear rarefied atmosphere 

from above on the left bisecting that amphitheater wound the smolensk
highroad passing through a village with a white church some five
hundred paces in front of the knoll and below it this was borodino 
below the village the road crossed the river by a bridge and winding
down and up rose higher and higher to the village of valuevo visible
about four miles away where napoleon was then stationed beyond valuevo
the road disappeared into a yellowing forest on the horizon far in
the distance in that birch and fir forest to the right of the road the
cross and belfry of the kolocha monastery gleamed in the sun here and
there over the whole of that blue expanse to right and left of the
forest and the road smoking campfires could be seen and indefinite
masses of troops ours and the enemy's the ground to the right along the
course of the kolocha and moskva rivers was broken and hilly between
the hollows the villages of bezubova and zakharino showed in the
distance on the left the ground was more level there were fields of
grain and the smoking ruins of semenovsk which had been burned down 
could be seen 

all that pierre saw was so indefinite that neither the left nor the
right side of the field fully satisfied his expectations nowhere
could he see the battlefield he had expected to find but only fields 
meadows troops woods the smoke of campfires villages mounds and
streams and try as he would he could descry no military position in
this place which teemed with life nor could he even distinguish our
troops from the enemy's 

 i must ask someone who knows he thought and addressed an officer who
was looking with curiosity at his huge unmilitary figure 

 may i ask you said pierre what village that is in front 

 burdino isn't it said the officer turning to his companion 

 borodino the other corrected him 

the officer evidently glad of an opportunity for a talk moved up to
pierre 

 are those our men there pierre inquired 

 yes and there further on are the french said the officer there
they are there you can see them 

 where where asked pierre 

 one can see them with the naked eye why there 

the officer pointed with his hand to the smoke visible on the left
beyond the river and the same stern and serious expression that pierre
had noticed on many of the faces he had met came into his face 

 ah those are the french and over there pierre pointed to a knoll
on the left near which some troops could be seen 

 those are ours 

 ah ours and there pierre pointed to another knoll in the
distance with a big tree on it near a village that lay in a hollow
where also some campfires were smoking and something black was visible 

 that's his again said the officer it was the shevardino redoubt 
 it was ours yesterday but now it is his 

 then how about our position 

 our position replied the officer with a smile of satisfaction i
can tell you quite clearly because i constructed nearly all our
entrenchments there you see there's our center at borodino just
there and he pointed to the village in front of them with the white
church that's where one crosses the kolocha you see down there where
the rows of hay are lying in the hollow there's the bridge that's our
center our right flank is over there he pointed sharply to the right 
far away in the broken ground that's where the moskva river is and
we have thrown up three redoubts there very strong ones the left
flank here the officer paused well you see that's difficult to
explain yesterday our left flank was there at shevardino you see 
where the oak is but now we have withdrawn our left wing now it is over
there do you see that village and the smoke that's semenovsk yes 
there he pointed to raevski's knoll but the battle will hardly
be there his having moved his troops there is only a ruse he will
probably pass round to the right of the moskva but wherever it may be 
many a man will be missing tomorrow he remarked 

an elderly sergeant who had approached the officer while he was giving
these explanations had waited in silence for him to finish speaking but
at this point evidently not liking the officer's remark interrupted
him 

 gabions must be sent for said he sternly 

the officer appeared abashed as though he understood that one might
think of how many men would be missing tomorrow but ought not to speak
of it 

 well send number three company again the officer replied hurriedly 

 and you are you one of the doctors 

 no i've come on my own answered pierre and he went down the hill
again passing the militiamen 

 oh those damned fellows muttered the officer who followed him 
holding his nose as he ran past the men at work 

 there they are bringing her coming there they are they'll be
here in a minute voices were suddenly heard saying and officers 
soldiers and militiamen began running forward along the road 

a church procession was coming up the hill from borodino first along
the dusty road came the infantry in ranks bareheaded and with arms
reversed from behind them came the sound of church singing 

soldiers and militiamen ran bareheaded past pierre toward the
procession 

 they are bringing her our protectress the iberian mother of god 
someone cried 

 the smolensk mother of god another corrected him 

the militiamen both those who had been in the village and those who had
been at work on the battery threw down their spades and ran to meet the
church procession following the battalion that marched along the dusty
road came priests in their vestments one little old man in a hood with
attendants and singers behind them soldiers and officers bore a large 
dark faced icon with an embossed metal cover this was the icon that had
been brought from smolensk and had since accompanied the army behind 
before and on both sides crowds of militiamen with bared heads walked 
ran and bowed to the ground 

at the summit of the hill they stopped with the icon the men who had
been holding it up by the linen bands attached to it were relieved by
others the chanters relit their censers and service began the hot
rays of the sun beat down vertically and a fresh soft wind played with
the hair of the bared heads and with the ribbons decorating the icon 
the singing did not sound loud under the open sky an immense crowd
of bareheaded officers soldiers and militiamen surrounded the icon 
behind the priest and a chanter stood the notabilities on a spot
reserved for them a bald general with a st george's cross on his neck
stood just behind the priest's back and without crossing himself he
was evidently a german patiently awaited the end of the service which
he considered it necessary to hear to the end probably to arouse the
patriotism of the russian people another general stood in a martial
pose crossing himself by shaking his hand in front of his chest
while looking about him standing among the crowd of peasants pierre
recognized several acquaintances among these notables but did not
look at them his whole attention was absorbed in watching the serious
expression on the faces of the crowd of soldiers and militiamen who were
all gazing eagerly at the icon as soon as the tired chanters who were
singing the service for the twentieth time that day began lazily and
mechanically to sing save from calamity thy servants o mother of
god and the priest and deacon chimed in for to thee under god we all
flee as to an inviolable bulwark and protection there again kindled in
all those faces the same expression of consciousness of the solemnity
of the impending moment that pierre had seen on the faces at the foot of
the hill at mozhaysk and momentarily on many and many faces he had met
that morning and heads were bowed more frequently and hair tossed back 
and sighs and the sound men made as they crossed themselves were heard 

the crowd round the icon suddenly parted and pressed against pierre 
someone a very important personage judging by the haste with which way
was made for him was approaching the icon 

it was kutuzov who had been riding round the position and on his way
back to tatarinova had stopped where the service was being held pierre
recognized him at once by his peculiar figure which distinguished him
from everybody else 

with a long overcoat on his exceedingly stout round shouldered body 
with uncovered white head and puffy face showing the white ball of the
eye he had lost kutuzov walked with plunging swaying gait into
the crowd and stopped behind the priest he crossed himself with an
accustomed movement bent till he touched the ground with his hand and
bowed his white head with a deep sigh behind kutuzov was bennigsen and
the suite despite the presence of the commander in chief who attracted
the attention of all the superior officers the militiamen and soldiers
continued their prayers without looking at him 

when the service was over kutuzov stepped up to the icon sank heavily
to his knees bowed to the ground and for a long time tried vainly to
rise but could not do so on account of his weakness and weight his
white head twitched with the effort at last he rose kissed the icon as
a child does with naively pouting lips and again bowed till he touched
the ground with his hand the other generals followed his example 
then the officers and after them with excited faces pressing on one
another crowding panting and pushing scrambled the soldiers and
militiamen 





chapter xxii

staggering amid the crush pierre looked about him 

 count peter kirilovich how did you get here said a voice 

pierre looked round boris drubetskoy brushing his knees with his hand
 he had probably soiled them when he too had knelt before the icon 
came up to him smiling boris was elegantly dressed with a slightly
martial touch appropriate to a campaign he wore a long coat and like
kutuzov had a whip slung across his shoulder 

meanwhile kutuzov had reached the village and seated himself in the
shade of the nearest house on a bench which one cossack had run
to fetch and another had hastily covered with a rug an immense and
brilliant suite surrounded him 

the icon was carried further accompanied by the throng pierre stopped
some thirty paces from kutuzov talking to boris 

he explained his wish to be present at the battle and to see the
position 

 this is what you must do said boris i will do the honors of the
camp to you you will see everything best from where count bennigsen
will be i am in attendance on him you know i'll mention it to him 
but if you want to ride round the position come along with us we are
just going to the left flank then when we get back do spend the night
with me and we'll arrange a game of cards of course you know dmitri
sergeevich those are his quarters and he pointed to the third house
in the village of gorki 

 but i should like to see the right flank they say it's very strong 
said pierre i should like to start from the moskva river and ride
round the whole position 

 well you can do that later but the chief thing is the left flank 

 yes yes but where is prince bolkonski's regiment can you point it
out to me 

 prince andrew's we shall pass it and i'll take you to him 

 what about the left flank asked pierre

 to tell you the truth between ourselves god only knows what state our
left flank is in said boris confidentially lowering his voice it is
not at all what count bennigsen intended he meant to fortify that knoll
quite differently but boris shrugged his shoulders his serene
highness would not have it or someone persuaded him you see but
boris did not finish for at that moment kaysarov kutuzov's adjutant 
came up to pierre ah kaysarov said boris addressing him with an
unembarrassed smile i was just trying to explain our position to
the count it is amazing how his serene highness could so foresee the
intentions of the french 

 you mean the left flank asked kaysarov 

 yes exactly the left flank is now extremely strong 

though kutuzov had dismissed all unnecessary men from the staff boris
had contrived to remain at headquarters after the changes he had
established himself with count bennigsen who like all on whom boris
had been in attendance considered young prince drubetskoy an invaluable
man 

in the higher command there were two sharply defined parties kutuzov's
party and that of bennigsen the chief of staff boris belonged to the
latter and no one else while showing servile respect to kutuzov could
so create an impression that the old fellow was not much good and that
bennigsen managed everything now the decisive moment of battle had come
when kutuzov would be destroyed and the power pass to bennigsen or even
if kutuzov won the battle it would be felt that everything was done by
bennigsen in any case many great rewards would have to be given for
tomorrow's action and new men would come to the front so boris was
full of nervous vivacity all day 

after kaysarov others whom pierre knew came up to him and he had not
time to reply to all the questions about moscow that were showered upon
him or to listen to all that was told him the faces all expressed
animation and apprehension but it seemed to pierre that the cause of
the excitement shown in some of these faces lay chiefly in questions
of personal success his mind however was occupied by the different
expression he saw on other faces an expression that spoke not of
personal matters but of the universal questions of life and death 
kutuzov noticed pierre's figure and the group gathered round him 

 call him to me said kutuzov 

an adjutant told pierre of his serene highness wish and pierre went
toward kutuzov's bench but a militiaman got there before him it was
dolokhov 

 how did that fellow get here asked pierre 

 he's a creature that wriggles in anywhere was the answer he
has been degraded you know now he wants to bob up again he's been
proposing some scheme or other and has crawled into the enemy's picket
line at night he's a brave fellow 

pierre took off his hat and bowed respectfully to kutuzov 

 i concluded that if i reported to your serene highness you might send
me away or say that you knew what i was reporting but then i shouldn't
lose anything dolokhov was saying 

 yes yes 

 but if i were right i should be rendering a service to my fatherland
for which i am ready to die 

 yes yes 

 and should your serene highness require a man who will not spare his
skin please think of me perhaps i may prove useful to your serene
highness 

 yes yes kutuzov repeated his laughing eye narrowing more and
more as he looked at pierre 

just then boris with his courtierlike adroitness stepped up to
pierre's side near kutuzov and in a most natural manner without
raising his voice said to pierre as though continuing an interrupted
conversation 

 the militia have put on clean white shirts to be ready to die what
heroism count 

boris evidently said this to pierre in order to be overheard by his
serene highness he knew kutuzov's attention would be caught by those
words and so it was 

 what are you saying about the militia he asked boris 

 preparing for tomorrow your serene highness for death they have put on
clean shirts 

 ah a wonderful a matchless people said kutuzov and he closed his
eyes and swayed his head a matchless people he repeated with a sigh 

 so you want to smell gunpowder he said to pierre yes it's a
pleasant smell i have the honor to be one of your wife's adorers is
she well my quarters are at your service 

and as often happens with old people kutuzov began looking about
absent mindedly as if forgetting all he wanted to say or do 

then evidently remembering what he wanted he beckoned to andrew
kaysarov his adjutant's brother 

 those verses those verses of marin's how do they go eh those he
wrote about gerakov lectures for the corps inditing recite them 
recite them said he evidently preparing to laugh 

kaysarov recited kutuzov smilingly nodded his head to the rhythm of
the verses 

when pierre had left kutuzov dolokhov came up to him and took his hand 

 i am very glad to meet you here count he said aloud regardless
of the presence of strangers and in a particularly resolute and solemn
tone on the eve of a day when god alone knows who of us is fated to
survive i am glad of this opportunity to tell you that i regret the
misunderstandings that occurred between us and should wish you not to
have any ill feeling for me i beg you to forgive me 

pierre looked at dolokhov with a smile not knowing what to say to him 
with tears in his eyes dolokhov embraced pierre and kissed him 

boris said a few words to his general and count bennigsen turned to
pierre and proposed that he should ride with him along the line 

 it will interest you said he 

 yes very much replied pierre 

half an hour later kutuzov left for tatarinova and bennigsen and his
suite with pierre among them set out on their ride along the line 





chapter xxiii

from gorki bennigsen descended the highroad to the bridge which when
they had looked at it from the hill the officer had pointed out as
being the center of our position and where rows of fragrant new mown hay
lay by the riverside they rode across that bridge into the village of
borodino and thence turned to the left passing an enormous number of
troops and guns and came to a high knoll where militiamen were digging 
this was the redoubt as yet unnamed which afterwards became known as
the raevski redoubt or the knoll battery but pierre paid no special
attention to it he did not know that it would become more memorable to
him than any other spot on the plain of borodino 

they then crossed the hollow to semenovsk where the soldiers were
dragging away the last logs from the huts and barns then they rode
downhill and uphill across a ryefield trodden and beaten down as if by
hail following a track freshly made by the artillery over the furrows
of the plowed land and reached some fleches which were still being
dug 

 a kind of entrenchment 

at the fleches bennigsen stopped and began looking at the shevardino
redoubt opposite which had been ours the day before and where several
horsemen could be descried the officers said that either napoleon or
murat was there and they all gazed eagerly at this little group of
horsemen pierre also looked at them trying to guess which of the
scarcely discernible figures was napoleon at last those mounted men
rode away from the mound and disappeared 

bennigsen spoke to a general who approached him and began explaining
the whole position of our troops pierre listened to him straining each
faculty to understand the essential points of the impending battle but
was mortified to feel that his mental capacity was inadequate for the
task he could make nothing of it bennigsen stopped speaking and 
noticing that pierre was listening suddenly said to him 

 i don't think this interests you 

 on the contrary it's very interesting replied pierre not quite
truthfully 

from the fleches they rode still farther to the left along a road
winding through a thick low growing birch wood in the middle of the
wood a brown hare with white feet sprang out and scared by the tramp of
the many horses grew so confused that it leaped along the road in front
of them for some time arousing general attention and laughter and only
when several voices shouted at it did it dart to one side and disappear
in the thicket after going through the wood for about a mile and a half
they came out on a glade where troops of tuchkov's corps were stationed
to defend the left flank 

here at the extreme left flank bennigsen talked a great deal and with
much heat and as it seemed to pierre gave orders of great military
importance in front of tuchkov's troops was some high ground not
occupied by troops bennigsen loudly criticized this mistake saying
that it was madness to leave a height which commanded the country around
unoccupied and to place troops below it some of the generals expressed
the same opinion one in particular declared with martial heat that they
were put there to be slaughtered bennigsen on his own authority ordered
the troops to occupy the high ground this disposition on the left flank
increased pierre's doubt of his own capacity to understand military
matters listening to bennigsen and the generals criticizing the
position of the troops behind the hill he quite understood them and
shared their opinion but for that very reason he could not understand
how the man who put them there behind the hill could have made so gross
and palpable a blunder 

pierre did not know that these troops were not as bennigsen supposed 
put there to defend the position but were in a concealed position as
an ambush that they should not be seen and might be able to strike an
approaching enemy unexpectedly bennigsen did not know this and moved
the troops forward according to his own ideas without mentioning the
matter to the commander in chief 





chapter xxiv

on that bright evening of august 25 prince andrew lay leaning on his
elbow in a broken down shed in the village of knyazkovo at the further
end of his regiment's encampment through a gap in the broken wall he
could see beside the wooden fence a row of thirty year old birches
with their lower branches lopped off a field on which shocks of
oats were standing and some bushes near which rose the smoke of
campfires the soldiers kitchens 

narrow and burdensome and useless to anyone as his life now seemed to
him prince andrew on the eve of battle felt agitated and irritable as
he had done seven years before at austerlitz 

he had received and given the orders for next day's battle and had
nothing more to do but his thoughts the simplest clearest and
therefore most terrible thoughts would give him no peace he knew that
tomorrow's battle would be the most terrible of all he had taken
part in and for the first time in his life the possibility of death
presented itself to him not in relation to any worldly matter or with
reference to its effect on others but simply in relation to himself to
his own soul vividly plainly terribly and almost as a certainty and
from the height of this perception all that had previously tormented and
preoccupied him suddenly became illumined by a cold white light without
shadows without perspective without distinction of outline all life
appeared to him like magic lantern pictures at which he had long been
gazing by artificial light through a glass now he suddenly saw those
badly daubed pictures in clear daylight and without a glass yes 
yes there they are those false images that agitated enraptured 
and tormented me said he to himself passing in review the principal
pictures of the magic lantern of life and regarding them now in the cold
white daylight of his clear perception of death there they are those
rudely painted figures that once seemed splendid and mysterious 
glory the good of society love of a woman the fatherland itself how
important these pictures appeared to me with what profound meaning they
seemed to be filled and it is all so simple pale and crude in the
cold white light of this morning which i feel is dawning for me the
three great sorrows of his life held his attention in particular his
love for a woman his father's death and the french invasion which had
overrun half russia love that little girl who seemed to me brimming
over with mystic forces yes indeed i loved her i made romantic plans
of love and happiness with her oh what a boy i was he said aloud
bitterly ah me i believed in some ideal love which was to keep her
faithful to me for the whole year of my absence like the gentle dove
in the fable she was to pine apart from me but it was much simpler
really it was all very simple and horrible 

 when my father built bald hills he thought the place was his his
land his air his peasants but napoleon came and swept him aside 
unconscious of his existence as he might brush a chip from his path 
and his bald hills and his whole life fell to pieces princess mary says
it is a trial sent from above what is the trial for when he is not
here and will never return he is not here for whom then is the trial
intended the fatherland the destruction of moscow and tomorrow i
shall be killed perhaps not even by a frenchman but by one of our own
men by a soldier discharging a musket close to my ear as one of them
did yesterday and the french will come and take me by head and heels
and fling me into a hole that i may not stink under their noses and new
conditions of life will arise which will seem quite ordinary to others
and about which i shall know nothing i shall not exist 

he looked at the row of birches shining in the sunshine with their
motionless green and yellow foliage and white bark to die to be
killed tomorrow that i should not exist that all this should still
be but no me 

and the birches with their light and shade the curly clouds the
smoke of the campfires and all that was around him changed and seemed
terrible and menacing a cold shiver ran down his spine he rose
quickly went out of the shed and began to walk about 

after he had returned voices were heard outside the shed who's that 
he cried 

the red nosed captain timokhin formerly dolokhov's squadron commander 
but now from lack of officers a battalion commander shyly entered the
shed followed by an adjutant and the regimental paymaster 

prince andrew rose hastily listened to the business they had come
about gave them some further instructions and was about to dismiss
them when he heard a familiar lisping voice behind the shed 

 devil take it said the voice of a man stumbling over something 

prince andrew looked out of the shed and saw pierre who had tripped
over a pole on the ground and had nearly fallen coming his way it was
unpleasant to prince andrew to meet people of his own set in general 
and pierre especially for he reminded him of all the painful moments of
his last visit to moscow 

 you what a surprise said he what brings you here this is
unexpected 

as he said this his eyes and face expressed more than coldness they
expressed hostility which pierre noticed at once he had approached
the shed full of animation but on seeing prince andrew's face he felt
constrained and ill at ease 

 i have come simply you know come it interests me said
pierre who had so often that day senselessly repeated that word
 interesting i wish to see the battle 

 oh yes and what do the masonic brothers say about war how would they
stop it said prince andrew sarcastically well and how's moscow and
my people have they reached moscow at last he asked seriously 

 yes they have julie drubetskaya told me so i went to see them but
missed them they have gone to your estate near moscow 





chapter xxv

the officers were about to take leave but prince andrew apparently
reluctant to be left alone with his friend asked them to stay and have
tea seats were brought in and so was the tea the officers gazed with
surprise at pierre's huge stout figure and listened to his talk of
moscow and the position of our army round which he had ridden prince
andrew remained silent and his expression was so forbidding that pierre
addressed his remarks chiefly to the good natured battalion commander 

 so you understand the whole position of our troops prince andrew
interrupted him 

 yes that is how do you mean said pierre not being a military man
i can't say i have understood it fully but i understand the general
position 

 well then you know more than anyone else be it who it may said
prince andrew 

 oh said pierre looking over his spectacles in perplexity at prince
andrew well and what do you think of kutuzov's appointment he
asked 

 i was very glad of his appointment that's all i know replied prince
andrew 

 and tell me your opinion of barclay de tolly in moscow they are saying
heaven knows what about him what do you think of him 

 ask them replied prince andrew indicating the officers 

pierre looked at timokhin with the condescendingly interrogative smile
with which everybody involuntarily addressed that officer 

 we see light again since his serenity has been appointed your
excellency said timokhin timidly and continually turning to glance at
his colonel 

 why so asked pierre 

 well to mention only firewood and fodder let me inform you why when
we were retreating from sventsyani we dare not touch a stick or a wisp
of hay or anything you see we were going away so he would get it all 
wasn't it so your excellency and again timokhin turned to the prince 
 but we daren't in our regiment two officers were court martialed for
that kind of thing but when his serenity took command everything became
straightforward now we see light 

 then why was it forbidden 

timokhin looked about in confusion not knowing what or how to answer
such a question pierre put the same question to prince andrew 

 why so as not to lay waste the country we were abandoning to the
enemy said prince andrew with venomous irony it is very sound 
one can't permit the land to be pillaged and accustom the troops to
marauding at smolensk too he judged correctly that the french might
outflank us as they had larger forces but he could not understand
this cried prince andrew in a shrill voice that seemed to escape him
involuntarily he could not understand that there for the first time 
we were fighting for russian soil and that there was a spirit in the
men such as i had never seen before that we had held the french for
two days and that that success had increased our strength tenfold he
ordered us to retreat and all our efforts and losses went for nothing 
he had no thought of betraying us he tried to do the best he could 
he thought out everything and that is why he is unsuitable he is
unsuitable now just because he plans out everything very thoroughly and
accurately as every german has to how can i explain well say your
father has a german valet and he is a splendid valet and satisfies your
father's requirements better than you could then it's all right to let
him serve but if your father is mortally sick you'll send the valet
away and attend to your father with your own unpracticed awkward hands 
and will soothe him better than a skilled man who is a stranger could 
so it has been with barclay while russia was well a foreigner could
serve her and be a splendid minister but as soon as she is in danger
she needs one of her own kin but in your club they have been making him
out a traitor they slander him as a traitor and the only result will
be that afterwards ashamed of their false accusations they will make
him out a hero or a genius instead of a traitor and that will be still
more unjust he is an honest and very punctilious german 

 and they say he's a skillful commander rejoined pierre 

 i don't understand what is meant by a skillful commander replied
prince andrew ironically 

 a skillful commander replied pierre why one who foresees all
contingencies and foresees the adversary's intentions 

 but that's impossible said prince andrew as if it were a matter
settled long ago 

pierre looked at him in surprise 

 and yet they say that war is like a game of chess he remarked 

 yes replied prince andrew but with this little difference that
in chess you may think over each move as long as you please and are not
limited for time and with this difference too that a knight is always
stronger than a pawn and two pawns are always stronger than one while
in war a battalion is sometimes stronger than a division and sometimes
weaker than a company the relative strength of bodies of troops can
never be known to anyone believe me he went on if things
depended on arrangements made by the staff i should be there making
arrangements but instead of that i have the honor to serve here in
the regiment with these gentlemen and i consider that on us tomorrow's
battle will depend and not on those others success never depends 
and never will depend on position or equipment or even on numbers 
and least of all on position 

 but on what then 

 on the feeling that is in me and in him he pointed to timokhin and
in each soldier 

prince andrew glanced at timokhin who looked at his commander in alarm
and bewilderment in contrast to his former reticent taciturnity
prince andrew now seemed excited he could apparently not refrain from
expressing the thoughts that had suddenly occurred to him 

 a battle is won by those who firmly resolve to win it why did we lose
the battle at austerlitz the french losses were almost equal to ours 
but very early we said to ourselves that we were losing the battle 
and we did lose it and we said so because we had nothing to fight for
there we wanted to get away from the battlefield as soon as we could 
 we've lost so let us run and we ran if we had not said that till
the evening heaven knows what might not have happened but tomorrow we
shan't say it you talk about our position the left flank weak and the
right flank too extended he went on that's all nonsense there's
nothing of the kind but what awaits us tomorrow a hundred million most
diverse chances which will be decided on the instant by the fact that
our men or theirs run or do not run and that this man or that man is
killed but all that is being done at present is only play the fact is
that those men with whom you have ridden round the position not only
do not help matters but hinder they are only concerned with their own
petty interests 

 at such a moment said pierre reproachfully 

 at such a moment prince andrew repeated to them it is only a moment
affording opportunities to undermine a rival and obtain an extra cross
or ribbon for me tomorrow means this a russian army of a hundred
thousand and a french army of a hundred thousand have met to fight and
the thing is that these two hundred thousand men will fight and the side
that fights more fiercely and spares itself least will win and if you
like i will tell you that whatever happens and whatever muddles those at
the top may make we shall win tomorrow's battle tomorrow happen what
may we shall win 

 there now your excellency that's the truth the real truth said
timokhin who would spare himself now the soldiers in my battalion 
believe me wouldn't drink their vodka it's not the day for that 
they say 

all were silent the officers rose prince andrew went out of the shed
with them giving final orders to the adjutant after they had gone
pierre approached prince andrew and was about to start a conversation
when they heard the clatter of three horses hoofs on the road not far
from the shed and looking in that direction prince andrew recognized
wolzogen and clausewitz accompanied by a cossack they rode close by
continuing to converse and prince andrew involuntarily heard these
words 

 der krieg muss in raum verlegt werden der ansicht kann ich nicht genug
preis geben said one of them 

 the war must be extended widely i cannot sufficiently
 commend that view 


 oh ja said the other der zweck ist nur den feind zu schwachen 
so kann man gewiss nicht den verlust der privat personen in achtung
nehmen 

 oh yes the only aim is to weaken the enemy so of
 course one cannot take into account the loss of private
 individuals 


 oh no agreed the other 

 extend widely said prince andrew with an angry snort when they had
ridden past in that extend were my father son and sister at bald
hills that's all the same to him that's what i was saying to you those
german gentlemen won't win the battle tomorrow but will only make all
the mess they can because they have nothing in their german heads but
theories not worth an empty eggshell and haven't in their hearts the one
thing needed tomorrow that which timokhin has they have yielded up all
europe to him and have now come to teach us fine teachers and again
his voice grew shrill 

 so you think we shall win tomorrow's battle asked pierre 

 yes yes answered prince andrew absently one thing i would do if
i had the power he began again i would not take prisoners why take
prisoners it's chivalry the french have destroyed my home and are on
their way to destroy moscow they have outraged and are outraging me
every moment they are my enemies in my opinion they are all criminals 
and so thinks timokhin and the whole army they should be executed 
since they are my foes they cannot be my friends whatever may have been
said at tilsit 

 yes yes muttered pierre looking with shining eyes at prince andrew 
 i quite agree with you 

the question that had perturbed pierre on the mozhaysk hill and all
that day now seemed to him quite clear and completely solved he now
understood the whole meaning and importance of this war and of the
impending battle all he had seen that day all the significant and
stern expressions on the faces he had seen in passing were lit up
for him by a new light he understood that latent heat as they say in
physics of patriotism which was present in all these men he had seen 
and this explained to him why they all prepared for death calmly and as
it were lightheartedly 

 not take prisoners prince andrew continued that by itself would
quite change the whole war and make it less cruel as it is we have
played at war that's what's vile we play at magnanimity and all that
stuff such magnanimity and sensibility are like the magnanimity and
sensibility of a lady who faints when she sees a calf being killed she
is so kindhearted that she can't look at blood but enjoys eating the
calf served up with sauce they talk to us of the rules of war of
chivalry of flags of truce of mercy to the unfortunate and so on it's
all rubbish i saw chivalry and flags of truce in 1805 they humbugged
us and we humbugged them they plunder other people's houses issue
false paper money and worst of all they kill my children and my
father and then talk of rules of war and magnanimity to foes take no
prisoners but kill and be killed he who has come to this as i have
through the same sufferings 

prince andrew who had thought it was all the same to him whether or
not moscow was taken as smolensk had been was suddenly checked in his
speech by an unexpected cramp in his throat he paced up and down a
few times in silence but his eyes glittered feverishly and his lips
quivered as he began speaking 

 if there was none of this magnanimity in war we should go to war only
when it was worth while going to certain death as now then there would
not be war because paul ivanovich had offended michael ivanovich and
when there was a war like this one it would be war and then the
determination of the troops would be quite different then all these
westphalians and hessians whom napoleon is leading would not follow
him into russia and we should not go to fight in austria and prussia
without knowing why war is not courtesy but the most horrible thing in
life and we ought to understand that and not play at war we ought to
accept this terrible necessity sternly and seriously it all lies in
that get rid of falsehood and let war be war and not a game as it is
now war is the favorite pastime of the idle and frivolous the military
calling is the most highly honored 

 but what is war what is needed for success in warfare what are the
habits of the military the aim of war is murder the methods of war
are spying treachery and their encouragement the ruin of a country's
inhabitants robbing them or stealing to provision the army and fraud
and falsehood termed military craft the habits of the military class
are the absence of freedom that is discipline idleness ignorance 
cruelty debauchery and drunkenness and in spite of all this it is the
highest class respected by everyone all the kings except the chinese 
wear military uniforms and he who kills most people receives the
highest rewards 

 they meet as we shall meet tomorrow to murder one another they kill
and maim tens of thousands and then have thanksgiving services for
having killed so many people they even exaggerate the number and they
announce a victory supposing that the more people they have killed
the greater their achievement how does god above look at them and hear
them exclaimed prince andrew in a shrill piercing voice ah my
friend it has of late become hard for me to live i see that i have
begun to understand too much and it doesn't do for man to taste of the
tree of knowledge of good and evil ah well it's not for long he
added 

 however you're sleepy and it's time for me to sleep go back to
gorki said prince andrew suddenly 

 oh no pierre replied looking at prince andrew with frightened 
compassionate eyes 

 go go before a battle one must have one's sleep out repeated prince
andrew 

he came quickly up to pierre and embraced and kissed him good by be
off he shouted whether we meet again or not and turning away
hurriedly he entered the shed 

it was already dark and pierre could not make out whether the
expression of prince andrew's face was angry or tender 

for some time he stood in silence considering whether he should follow
him or go away no he does not want it pierre concluded and i know
that this is our last meeting he sighed deeply and rode back to gorki 

on re entering the shed prince andrew lay down on a rug but he could
not sleep 

he closed his eyes one picture succeeded another in his imagination on
one of them he dwelt long and joyfully he vividly recalled an evening
in petersburg natasha with animated and excited face was telling him
how she had gone to look for mushrooms the previous summer and had lost
her way in the big forest she incoherently described the depths of
the forest her feelings and a talk with a beekeeper she met and
constantly interrupted her story to say no i can't i'm not telling
it right no you don't understand though he encouraged her by saying
that he did understand and he really had understood all she wanted to
say but natasha was not satisfied with her own words she felt that
they did not convey the passionately poetic feeling she had experienced
that day and wished to convey he was such a delightful old man and
it was so dark in the forest and he had such kind no i can't
describe it she had said flushed and excited prince andrew smiled
now the same happy smile as then when he had looked into her eyes i
understood her he thought i not only understood her but it was just
that inner spiritual force that sincerity that frankness of soul that
very soul of hers which seemed to be fettered by her body it was that
soul i loved in her loved so strongly and happily and suddenly
he remembered how his love had ended he did not need anything of that
kind he neither saw nor understood anything of the sort he only saw in
her a pretty and fresh young girl with whom he did not deign to unite
his fate and i and he is still alive and gay 

prince andrew jumped up as if someone had burned him and again began
pacing up and down in front of the shed 





chapter xxvi

on august 25 the eve of the battle of borodino m de beausset prefect
of the french emperor's palace arrived at napoleon's quarters at
valuevo with colonel fabvier the former from paris and the latter from
madrid 

donning his court uniform m de beausset ordered a box he had
brought for the emperor to be carried before him and entered the first
compartment of napoleon's tent where he began opening the box while
conversing with napoleon's aides de camp who surrounded him 

fabvier not entering the tent remained at the entrance talking to some
generals of his acquaintance 

the emperor napoleon had not yet left his bedroom and was finishing his
toilet slightly snorting and grunting he presented now his back and
now his plump hairy chest to the brush with which his valet was rubbing
him down another valet with his finger over the mouth of a bottle 
was sprinkling eau de cologne on the emperor's pampered body with an
expression which seemed to say that he alone knew where and how much eau
de cologne should be sprinkled napoleon's short hair was wet and
matted on the forehead but his face though puffy and yellow expressed
physical satisfaction go on harder go on he muttered to the valet
who was rubbing him slightly twitching and grunting an aide de camp 
who had entered the bedroom to report to the emperor the number of
prisoners taken in yesterday's action was standing by the door after
delivering his message awaiting permission to withdraw napoleon 
frowning looked at him from under his brows 

 no prisoners said he repeating the aide de camp's words they
are forcing us to exterminate them so much the worse for the russian
army go on harder harder he muttered hunching his back and
presenting his fat shoulders 

 all right let monsieur de beausset enter and fabvier too he said 
nodding to the aide de camp 

 yes sire and the aide de camp disappeared through the door of the
tent 

two valets rapidly dressed his majesty and wearing the blue uniform of
the guards he went with firm quick steps to the reception room 

de beausset's hands meanwhile were busily engaged arranging the present
he had brought from the empress on two chairs directly in front of the
entrance but napoleon had dressed and come out with such unexpected
rapidity that he had not time to finish arranging the surprise 

napoleon noticed at once what they were about and guessed that they were
not ready he did not wish to deprive them of the pleasure of giving him
a surprise so he pretended not to see de beausset and called fabvier to
him listening silently and with a stern frown to what fabvier told him
of the heroism and devotion of his troops fighting at salamanca at
the other end of europe with but one thought to be worthy of their
emperor and but one fear to fail to please him the result of that
battle had been deplorable napoleon made ironic remarks during
fabvier's account as if he had not expected that matters could go
otherwise in his absence 

 i must make up for that in moscow said napoleon i'll see you
later he added and summoned de beausset who by that time had
prepared the surprise having placed something on the chairs and covered
it with a cloth 

de beausset bowed low with that courtly french bow which only the
old retainers of the bourbons knew how to make and approached him 
presenting an envelope 

napoleon turned to him gaily and pulled his ear 

 you have hurried here i am very glad well what is paris saying he
asked suddenly changing his former stern expression for a most cordial
tone 

 sire all paris regrets your absence replied de beausset as was
proper 

but though napoleon knew that de beausset had to say something of this
kind and though in his lucid moments he knew it was untrue he was
pleased to hear it from him again he honored him by touching his ear 

 i am very sorry to have made you travel so far said he 

 sire i expected nothing less than to find you at the gates of moscow 
replied de beausset 

napoleon smiled and lifting his head absent mindedly glanced to the
right an aide de camp approached with gliding steps and offered him a
gold snuffbox which he took 

 yes it has happened luckily for you he said raising the open
snuffbox to his nose you are fond of travel and in three days you
will see moscow you surely did not expect to see that asiatic capital 
you will have a pleasant journey 

de beausset bowed gratefully at this regard for his taste for travel of
which he had not till then been aware 

 ha what's this asked napoleon noticing that all the courtiers were
looking at something concealed under a cloth 

with courtly adroitness de beausset half turned and without turning his
back to the emperor retired two steps twitching off the cloth at the
same time and said 

 a present to your majesty from the empress 

it was a portrait painted in bright colors by gerard of the son borne
to napoleon by the daughter of the emperor of austria the boy whom for
some reason everyone called the king of rome 

a very pretty curly headed boy with a look of the christ in the sistine
madonna was depicted playing at stick and ball the ball represented the
terrestrial globe and the stick in his other hand a scepter 

though it was not clear what the artist meant to express by depicting
the so called king of rome spiking the earth with a stick the allegory
apparently seemed to napoleon as it had done to all who had seen it in
paris quite clear and very pleasing 

 the king of rome he said pointing to the portrait with a graceful
gesture admirable 

with the natural capacity of an italian for changing the expression of
his face at will he drew nearer to the portrait and assumed a look
of pensive tenderness he felt that what he now said and did would be
historical and it seemed to him that it would now be best for him whose
grandeur enabled his son to play stick and ball with the terrestrial
globe to show in contrast to that grandeur the simplest paternal
tenderness his eyes grew dim he moved forward glanced round at a
chair which seemed to place itself under him and sat down on it
before the portrait at a single gesture from him everyone went out on
tiptoe leaving the great man to himself and his emotion 

having sat still for a while he touched himself not knowing why the
thick spot of paint representing the highest light in the portrait 
rose and recalled de beausset and the officer on duty he ordered the
portrait to be carried outside his tent that the old guard stationed
round it might not be deprived of the pleasure of seeing the king of
rome the son and heir of their adored monarch 

and while he was doing m de beausset the honor of breakfasting with
him they heard as napoleon had anticipated the rapturous cries of the
officers and men of the old guard who had run up to see the portrait 

 vive l'empereur vive le roi de rome vive l'empereur came those
ecstatic cries 

after breakfast napoleon in de beausset's presence dictated his order of
the day to the army 

 short and energetic he remarked when he had read over the
proclamation which he had dictated straight off without corrections it
ran 

soldiers this is the battle you have so longed for victory depends on
you it is essential for us it will give us all we need comfortable
quarters and a speedy return to our country behave as you did at
austerlitz friedland vitebsk and smolensk let our remotest posterity
recall your achievements this day with pride let it be said of each of
you he was in the great battle before moscow 

 before moscow repeated napoleon and inviting m de beausset who was
so fond of travel to accompany him on his ride he went out of the tent
to where the horses stood saddled 

 your majesty is too kind replied de beausset to the invitation to
accompany the emperor he wanted to sleep did not know how to ride and
was afraid of doing so 

but napoleon nodded to the traveler and de beausset had to mount when
napoleon came out of the tent the shouting of the guards before his
son's portrait grew still louder napoleon frowned 

 take him away he said pointing with a gracefully majestic gesture to
the portrait it is too soon for him to see a field of battle 

de beausset closed his eyes bowed his head and sighed deeply to
indicate how profoundly he valued and comprehended the emperor's words 





chapter xxvii

on the twenty fifth of august so his historians tell us napoleon spent
the whole day on horseback inspecting the locality considering plans
submitted to him by his marshals and personally giving commands to his
generals 

the original line of the russian forces along the river kolocha had
been dislocated by the capture of the shevardino redoubt on the
twenty fourth and part of the line the left flank had been drawn back 
that part of the line was not entrenched and in front of it the ground
was more open and level than elsewhere it was evident to anyone 
military or not that it was here the french should attack it would
seem that not much consideration was needed to reach this conclusion 
nor any particular care or trouble on the part of the emperor and his
marshals nor was there any need of that special and supreme quality
called genius that people are so apt to ascribe to napoleon yet the
historians who described the event later and the men who then surrounded
napoleon and he himself thought otherwise 

napoleon rode over the plain and surveyed the locality with a profound
air and in silence nodded with approval or shook his head dubiously 
and without communicating to the generals around him the profound
course of ideas which guided his decisions merely gave them his final
conclusions in the form of commands having listened to a suggestion
from davout who was now called prince d'eckmuhl to turn the russian
left wing napoleon said it should not be done without explaining
why not to a proposal made by general campan who was to attack the
fleches to lead his division through the woods napoleon agreed though
the so called duke of elchingen ney ventured to remark that a movement
through the woods was dangerous and might disorder the division 

having inspected the country opposite the shevardino redoubt napoleon
pondered a little in silence and then indicated the spots where two
batteries should be set up by the morrow to act against the russian
entrenchments and the places where in line with them the field
artillery should be placed 

after giving these and other commands he returned to his tent and the
dispositions for the battle were written down from his dictation 

these dispositions of which the french historians write with enthusiasm
and other historians with profound respect were as follows 

at dawn the two new batteries established during the night on the
plain occupied by the prince d'eckmuhl will open fire on the opposing
batteries of the enemy 

at the same time the commander of the artillery of the 1st corps 
general pernetti with thirty cannon of campan's division and all the
howitzers of dessaix's and friant's divisions will move forward open
fire and overwhelm with shellfire the enemy's battery against which
will operate 

 24 guns of the artillery of the guards
 30 guns of campan's division

 and 8 guns of friant's and dessaix's divisions
 

 in all 62 guns 

the commander of the artillery of the 3rd corps general fouche will
place the howitzers of the 3rd and 8th corps sixteen in all on the
flanks of the battery that is to bombard the entrenchment on the left 
which will have forty guns in all directed against it 

general sorbier must be ready at the first order to advance with all the
howitzers of the guard's artillery against either one or other of the
entrenchments 

during the cannonade prince poniatowski is to advance through the wood
on the village and turn the enemy's position 

general campan will move through the wood to seize the first
fortification 

after the advance has begun in this manner orders will be given in
accordance with the enemy's movements 

the cannonade on the left flank will begin as soon as the guns of the
right wing are heard the sharpshooters of morand's division and of
the vice king's division will open a heavy fire on seeing the attack
commence on the right wing 

the vice king will occupy the village and cross by its three bridges 
advancing to the same heights as morand's and gibrard's divisions which
under his leadership will be directed against the redoubt and come into
line with the rest of the forces 

all this must be done in good order le tout se fera avec ordre et
methode as far as possible retaining troops in reserve 

the imperial camp near mozhaysk 

september 6 1812 


these dispositions which are very obscure and confused if one allows
oneself to regard the arrangements without religious awe of his genius 
related to napoleon's orders to deal with four points four different
orders not one of these was or could be carried out 

in the disposition it is said first that the batteries placed on the
spot chosen by napoleon with the guns of pernetti and fouche which
were to come in line with them 102 guns in all were to open fire and
shower shells on the russian fleches and redoubts this could not be
done as from the spots selected by napoleon the projectiles did not
carry to the russian works and those 102 guns shot into the air until
the nearest commander contrary to napoleon's instructions moved them
forward 

the second order was that poniatowski moving to the village through the
wood should turn the russian left flank this could not be done and
was not done because poniatowski advancing on the village through the
wood met tuchkov there barring his way and could not and did not turn
the russian position 

the third order was general campan will move through the wood to seize
the first fortification general campan's division did not seize the
first fortification but was driven back for on emerging from the wood
it had to reform under grapeshot of which napoleon was unaware 

the fourth order was the vice king will occupy the village borodino 
and cross by its three bridges advancing to the same heights as
morand's and gerard's divisions for whose movements no directions are
given which under his leadership will be directed against the redoubt
and come into line with the rest of the forces 

as far as one can make out not so much from this unintelligible
sentence as from the attempts the vice king made to execute the orders
given him he was to advance from the left through borodino to the
redoubt while the divisions of morand and gerard were to advance
simultaneously from the front 

all this like the other parts of the disposition was not and could
not be executed after passing through borodino the vice king was driven
back to the kolocha and could get no farther while the divisions of
morand and gerard did not take the redoubt but were driven back and the
redoubt was only taken at the end of the battle by the cavalry a thing
probably unforeseen and not heard of by napoleon so not one of
the orders in the disposition was or could be executed but in the
disposition it is said that after the fight has commenced in this
manner orders will be given in accordance with the enemy's movements 
and so it might be supposed that all necessary arrangements would be
made by napoleon during the battle but this was not and could not be
done for during the whole battle napoleon was so far away that as
appeared later he could not know the course of the battle and not one
of his orders during the fight could be executed 





chapter xxviii

many historians say that the french did not win the battle of borodino
because napoleon had a cold and that if he had not had a cold the
orders he gave before and during the battle would have been still more
full of genius and russia would have been lost and the face of the world
have been changed to historians who believe that russia was shaped
by the will of one man peter the great and that france from a republic
became an empire and french armies went to russia at the will of one
man napoleon to say that russia remained a power because napoleon had a
bad cold on the twenty fourth of august may seem logical and convincing 

if it had depended on napoleon's will to fight or not to fight the
battle of borodino and if this or that other arrangement depended on
his will then evidently a cold affecting the manifestation of his will
might have saved russia and consequently the valet who omitted to bring
napoleon his waterproof boots on the twenty fourth would have been
the savior of russia along that line of thought such a deduction is
indubitable as indubitable as the deduction voltaire made in jest
 without knowing what he was jesting at when he saw that the massacre
of st bartholomew was due to charles ix's stomach being deranged but
to men who do not admit that russia was formed by the will of one man 
peter i or that the french empire was formed and the war with russia
begun by the will of one man napoleon that argument seems not merely
untrue and irrational but contrary to all human reality to the
question of what causes historic events another answer presents itself 
namely that the course of human events is predetermined from on
high depends on the coincidence of the wills of all who take part in the
events and that a napoleon's influence on the course of these events is
purely external and fictitious 

strange as at first glance it may seem to suppose that the massacre of
st bartholomew was not due to charles ix's will though he gave the
order for it and thought it was done as a result of that order and
strange as it may seem to suppose that the slaughter of eighty thousand
men at borodino was not due to napoleon's will though he ordered the
commencement and conduct of the battle and thought it was done
because he ordered it strange as these suppositions appear yet human
dignity which tells me that each of us is if not more at least not less
a man than the great napoleon demands the acceptance of that solution of
the question and historic investigation abundantly confirms it 

at the battle of borodino napoleon shot at no one and killed no one 
that was all done by the soldiers therefore it was not he who killed
people 

the french soldiers went to kill and be killed at the battle of borodino
not because of napoleon's orders but by their own volition the whole
army french italian german polish and dutch hungry ragged and
weary of the campaign felt at the sight of an army blocking their road
to moscow that the wine was drawn and must be drunk had napoleon then
forbidden them to fight the russians they would have killed him and
have proceeded to fight the russians because it was inevitable 

when they heard napoleon's proclamation offering them as compensation
for mutilation and death the words of posterity about their having been
in the battle before moscow they cried vive l'empereur just as they
had cried vive l'empereur at the sight of the portrait of the boy
piercing the terrestrial globe with a toy stick and just as they would
have cried vive l'empereur at any nonsense that might be told them 
there was nothing left for them to do but cry vive l'empereur and go
to fight in order to get food and rest as conquerors in moscow so it
was not because of napoleon's commands that they killed their fellow
men 

and it was not napoleon who directed the course of the battle for none
of his orders were executed and during the battle he did not know what
was going on before him so the way in which these people killed one
another was not decided by napoleon's will but occurred independently of
him in accord with the will of hundreds of thousands of people who took
part in the common action it only seemed to napoleon that it all took
place by his will and so the question whether he had or had not a
cold has no more historic interest than the cold of the least of the
transport soldiers 

moreover the assertion made by various writers that his cold was
the cause of his dispositions not being as well planned as on former
occasions and of his orders during the battle not being as good as
previously is quite baseless which again shows that napoleon's cold on
the twenty sixth of august was unimportant 

the dispositions cited above are not at all worse but are even
better than previous dispositions by which he had won victories his
pseudo orders during the battle were also no worse than formerly but
much the same as usual these dispositions and orders only seem worse
than previous ones because the battle of borodino was the first napoleon
did not win the profoundest and most excellent dispositions and orders
seem very bad and every learned militarist criticizes them with looks
of importance when they relate to a battle that has been lost and the
very worst dispositions and orders seem very good and serious people
fill whole volumes to demonstrate their merits when they relate to a
battle that has been won 

the dispositions drawn up by weyrother for the battle of austerlitz were
a model of perfection for that kind of composition but still they were
criticized criticized for their very perfection for their excessive
minuteness 

napoleon at the battle of borodino fulfilled his office as
representative of authority as well as and even better than at other
battles he did nothing harmful to the progress of the battle he
inclined to the most reasonable opinions he made no confusion did not
contradict himself did not get frightened or run away from the field of
battle but with his great tact and military experience carried out his
role of appearing to command calmly and with dignity 





chapter xxix

on returning from a second inspection of the lines napoleon remarked 

 the chessmen are set up the game will begin tomorrow 

having ordered punch and summoned de beausset he began to talk to him
about paris and about some changes he meant to make in the empress 
household surprising the prefect by his memory of minute details
relating to the court 

he showed an interest in trifles joked about de beausset's love of
travel and chatted carelessly as a famous self confident surgeon who
knows his job does when turning up his sleeves and putting on his apron
while a patient is being strapped to the operating table the matter is
in my hands and is clear and definite in my head when the time comes to
set to work i shall do it as no one else could but now i can jest and
the more i jest and the calmer i am the more tranquil and confident you
ought to be and the more amazed at my genius 

having finished his second glass of punch napoleon went to rest before
the serious business which he considered awaited him next day he
was so much interested in that task that he was unable to sleep and
in spite of his cold which had grown worse from the dampness of the
evening he went into the large division of the tent at three o'clock in
the morning loudly blowing his nose he asked whether the russians had
not withdrawn and was told that the enemy's fires were still in the
same places he nodded approval 

the adjutant in attendance came into the tent 

 well rapp do you think we shall do good business today napoleon
asked him 

 without doubt sire replied rapp 

napoleon looked at him 

 do you remember sire what you did me the honor to say at smolensk 
continued rapp the wine is drawn and must be drunk 

napoleon frowned and sat silent for a long time leaning his head on his
hand 

 this poor army he suddenly remarked it has diminished greatly since
smolensk fortune is frankly a courtesan rapp i have always said so
and i am beginning to experience it but the guards rapp the guards
are intact he remarked interrogatively 

 yes sire replied rapp 

napoleon took a lozenge put it in his mouth and glanced at his watch 
he was not sleepy and it was still not nearly morning it was impossible
to give further orders for the sake of killing time for the orders had
all been given and were now being executed 

 have the biscuits and rice been served out to the regiments of the
guards asked napoleon sternly 

 yes sire 

 the rice too 

rapp replied that he had given the emperor's order about the rice but
napoleon shook his head in dissatisfaction as if not believing that
his order had been executed an attendant came in with punch napoleon
ordered another glass to be brought for rapp and silently sipped his
own 

 i have neither taste nor smell he remarked sniffing at his glass 
 this cold is tiresome they talk about medicine what is the good of
medicine when it can't cure a cold corvisart gave me these lozenges but
they don't help at all what can doctors cure one can't cure anything 
our body is a machine for living it is organized for that it is its
nature let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself it
will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies 
our body is like a perfect watch that should go for a certain time the
watchmaker cannot open it he can only adjust it by fumbling and that
blindfold yes our body is just a machine for living that is all 

and having entered on the path of definition of which he was fond 
napoleon suddenly and unexpectedly gave a new one 

 do you know rapp what military art is asked he it is the art of
being stronger than the enemy at a given moment that's all 

rapp made no reply 

 tomorrow we shall have to deal with kutuzov said napoleon we shall
see do you remember at braunau he commanded an army for three weeks
and did not once mount a horse to inspect his entrenchments we shall
see 

he looked at his watch it was still only four o'clock he did not feel
sleepy the punch was finished and there was still nothing to do he
rose walked to and fro put on a warm overcoat and a hat and went
out of the tent the night was dark and damp a scarcely perceptible
moisture was descending from above near by the campfires were dimly
burning among the french guards and in the distance those of the
russian line shone through the smoke the weather was calm and the
rustle and tramp of the french troops already beginning to move to take
up their positions were clearly audible 

napoleon walked about in front of his tent looked at the fires and
listened to these sounds and as he was passing a tall guardsman in
a shaggy cap who was standing sentinel before his tent and had drawn
himself up like a black pillar at sight of the emperor napoleon stopped
in front of him 

 what year did you enter the service he asked with that affectation
of military bluntness and geniality with which he always addressed the
soldiers 

the man answered the question 

 ah one of the old ones has your regiment had its rice 

 it has your majesty 

napoleon nodded and walked away 


at half past five napoleon rode to the village of shevardino 

it was growing light the sky was clearing only a single cloud lay in
the east the abandoned campfires were burning themselves out in the
faint morning light 

on the right a single deep report of a cannon resounded and died away in
the prevailing silence some minutes passed a second and a third report
shook the air then a fourth and a fifth boomed solemnly near by on the
right 

the first shots had not yet ceased to reverberate before others rang out
and yet more were heard mingling with and overtaking one another 

napoleon with his suite rode up to the shevardino redoubt where he
dismounted the game had begun 





chapter xxx

on returning to gorki after having seen prince andrew pierre ordered
his groom to get the horses ready and to call him early in the morning 
and then immediately fell asleep behind a partition in a corner boris
had given up to him 

before he was thoroughly awake next morning everybody had already left
the hut the panes were rattling in the little windows and his groom was
shaking him 

 your excellency your excellency your excellency he kept repeating
pertinaciously while he shook pierre by the shoulder without looking at
him having apparently lost hope of getting him to wake up 

 what has it begun is it time pierre asked waking up 

 hear the firing said the groom a discharged soldier all the
gentlemen have gone out and his serene highness himself rode past long
ago 

pierre dressed hastily and ran out to the porch outside all was bright 
fresh dewy and cheerful the sun just bursting forth from behind a
cloud that had concealed it was shining with rays still half broken
by the clouds over the roofs of the street opposite on the
dew besprinkled dust of the road on the walls of the houses on the
windows the fence and on pierre's horses standing before the hut the
roar of guns sounded more distinct outside an adjutant accompanied by a
cossack passed by at a sharp trot 

 it's time count it's time cried the adjutant 

telling the groom to follow him with the horses pierre went down the
street to the knoll from which he had looked at the field of battle the
day before a crowd of military men was assembled there members of the
staff could be heard conversing in french and kutuzov's gray head in
a white cap with a red band was visible his gray nape sunk between his
shoulders he was looking through a field glass down the highroad before
him 

mounting the steps to the knoll pierre looked at the scene before him 
spellbound by beauty it was the same panorama he had admired from that
spot the day before but now the whole place was full of troops and
covered by smoke clouds from the guns and the slanting rays of the
bright sun rising slightly to the left behind pierre cast upon it
through the clear morning air penetrating streaks of rosy golden tinted
light and long dark shadows the forest at the farthest extremity of
the panorama seemed carved in some precious stone of a yellowish green
color its undulating outline was silhouetted against the horizon and
was pierced beyond valuevo by the smolensk highroad crowded with troops 
nearer at hand glittered golden cornfields interspersed with copses 
there were troops to be seen everywhere in front and to the right and
left all this was vivid majestic and unexpected but what impressed
pierre most of all was the view of the battlefield itself of borodino
and the hollows on both sides of the kolocha 

above the kolocha in borodino and on both sides of it especially to
the left where the voyna flowing between its marshy banks falls into
the kolocha a mist had spread which seemed to melt to dissolve and to
become translucent when the brilliant sun appeared and magically colored
and outlined everything the smoke of the guns mingled with this mist 
and over the whole expanse and through that mist the rays of the morning
sun were reflected flashing back like lightning from the water from
the dew and from the bayonets of the troops crowded together by the
riverbanks and in borodino a white church could be seen through the
mist and here and there the roofs of huts in borodino as well as dense
masses of soldiers or green ammunition chests and ordnance and all
this moved or seemed to move as the smoke and mist spread out over
the whole space just as in the mist enveloped hollow near borodino so
along the entire line outside and above it and especially in the woods
and fields to the left in the valleys and on the summits of the high
ground clouds of powder smoke seemed continually to spring up out of
nothing now singly now several at a time some translucent others
dense which swelling growing rolling and blending extended over
the whole expanse 

these puffs of smoke and strange to say the sound of the firing
produced the chief beauty of the spectacle 

 puff suddenly a round compact cloud of smoke was seen merging from
violet into gray and milky white and boom came the report a second
later 

 puff puff and two clouds arose pushing one another and blending
together and boom boom came the sounds confirming what the eye had
seen 

pierre glanced round at the first cloud which he had seen as a round
compact ball and in its place already were balloons of smoke floating
to one side and puff with a pause puff puff three and then four
more appeared and then from each with the same interval boom boom 
boom came the fine firm precise sounds in reply it seemed as if
those smoke clouds sometimes ran and sometimes stood still while woods 
fields and glittering bayonets ran past them from the left over
fields and bushes those large balls of smoke were continually appearing
followed by their solemn reports while nearer still in the hollows and
woods there burst from the muskets small cloudlets that had no time
to become balls but had their little echoes in just the same way 
 trakh ta ta takh came the frequent crackle of musketry but it was
irregular and feeble in comparison with the reports of the cannon 

pierre wished to be there with that smoke those shining bayonets that
movement and those sounds he turned to look at kutuzov and his suite 
to compare his impressions with those of others they were all looking
at the field of battle as he was and as it seemed to him with the
same feelings all their faces were now shining with that latent warmth
of feeling pierre had noticed the day before and had fully understood
after his talk with prince andrew 

 go my dear fellow go and christ be with you kutuzov was
saying to a general who stood beside him not taking his eye from the
battlefield 

having received this order the general passed by pierre on his way down
the knoll 

 to the crossing said the general coldly and sternly in reply to one
of the staff who asked where he was going 

 i'll go there too i too thought pierre and followed the general 

the general mounted a horse a cossack had brought him pierre went to
his groom who was holding his horses and asking which was the quietest 
clambered onto it seized it by the mane and turning out his toes
pressed his heels against its sides and feeling that his spectacles
were slipping off but unable to let go of the mane and reins he
galloped after the general causing the staff officers to smile as they
watched him from the knoll 





chapter xxxi

having descended the hill the general after whom pierre was galloping
turned sharply to the left and pierre losing sight of him galloped
in among some ranks of infantry marching ahead of him he tried to pass
either in front of them or to the right or left but there were soldiers
everywhere all with the same preoccupied expression and busy with
some unseen but evidently important task they all gazed with the same
dissatisfied and inquiring expression at this stout man in a white hat 
who for some unknown reason threatened to trample them under his horse's
hoofs 

 why ride into the middle of the battalion one of them shouted at him 

another prodded his horse with the butt end of a musket and pierre 
bending over his saddlebow and hardly able to control his shying horse 
galloped ahead of the soldiers where there was a free space 

there was a bridge ahead of him where other soldiers stood firing 
pierre rode up to them without being aware of it he had come to the
bridge across the kolocha between gorki and borodino which the french
 having occupied borodino were attacking in the first phase of the
battle pierre saw that there was a bridge in front of him and that
soldiers were doing something on both sides of it and in the meadow 
among the rows of new mown hay which he had taken no notice of amid the
smoke of the campfires the day before but despite the incessant firing
going on there he had no idea that this was the field of battle he did
not notice the sound of the bullets whistling from every side or the
projectiles that flew over him did not see the enemy on the other side
of the river and for a long time did not notice the killed and wounded 
though many fell near him he looked about him with a smile which did
not leave his face 

 why's that fellow in front of the line shouted somebody at him again 

 to the left keep to the right the men shouted to him 

pierre went to the right and unexpectedly encountered one of raevski's
adjutants whom he knew the adjutant looked angrily at him evidently
also intending to shout at him but on recognizing him he nodded 

 how have you got here he said and galloped on 

pierre feeling out of place there having nothing to do and afraid of
getting in someone's way again galloped after the adjutant 

 what's happening here may i come with you he asked 

 one moment one moment replied the adjutant and riding up to a stout
colonel who was standing in the meadow he gave him some message and
then addressed pierre 

 why have you come here count he asked with a smile still
inquisitive 

 yes yes assented pierre 

but the adjutant turned his horse about and rode on 

 here it's tolerable said he but with bagration on the left flank
they're getting it frightfully hot 

 really said pierre where is that 

 come along with me to our knoll we can get a view from there and in
our battery it is still bearable said the adjutant will you come 

 yes i'll come with you replied pierre looking round for his groom 

it was only now that he noticed wounded men staggering along or being
carried on stretchers on that very meadow he had ridden over the day
before a soldier was lying athwart the rows of scented hay with his
head thrown awkwardly back and his shako off 

 why haven't they carried him away pierre was about to ask but seeing
the stern expression of the adjutant who was also looking that way he
checked himself 

pierre did not find his groom and rode along the hollow with the
adjutant to raevski's redoubt his horse lagged behind the adjutant's
and jolted him at every step 

 you don't seem to be used to riding count remarked the adjutant 

 no it's not that but her action seems so jerky said pierre in a
puzzled tone 

 why she's wounded said the adjutant in the off foreleg above the
knee a bullet no doubt i congratulate you count on your baptism of
fire 

having ridden in the smoke past the sixth corps behind the artillery
which had been moved forward and was in action deafening them with the
noise of firing they came to a small wood there it was cool and quiet 
with a scent of autumn pierre and the adjutant dismounted and walked up
the hill on foot 

 is the general here asked the adjutant on reaching the knoll 

 he was here a minute ago but has just gone that way someone told him 
pointing to the right 

the adjutant looked at pierre as if puzzled what to do with him now 

 don't trouble about me said pierre i'll go up onto the knoll if i
may 

 yes do you'll see everything from there and it's less dangerous and
i'll come for you 

pierre went to the battery and the adjutant rode on they did not meet
again and only much later did pierre learn that he lost an arm that
day 

the knoll to which pierre ascended was that famous one afterwards known
to the russians as the knoll battery or raevski's redoubt and to the
french as la grande redoute la fatale redoute la redoute du centre 
around which tens of thousands fell and which the french regarded as
the key to the whole position 

this redoubt consisted of a knoll on three sides of which trenches had
been dug within the entrenchment stood ten guns that were being fired
through openings in the earthwork 

in line with the knoll on both sides stood other guns which also fired
incessantly a little behind the guns stood infantry when ascending
that knoll pierre had no notion that this spot on which small trenches
had been dug and from which a few guns were firing was the most
important point of the battle 

on the contrary just because he happened to be there he thought it one
of the least significant parts of the field 

having reached the knoll pierre sat down at one end of a trench
surrounding the battery and gazed at what was going on around him with
an unconsciously happy smile occasionally he rose and walked about the
battery still with that same smile trying not to obstruct the soldiers
who were loading hauling the guns and continually running past
him with bags and charges the guns of that battery were being fired
continually one after another with a deafening roar enveloping the
whole neighborhood in powder smoke 

in contrast with the dread felt by the infantrymen placed in support 
here in the battery where a small number of men busy at their work were
separated from the rest by a trench everyone experienced a common and
as it were family feeling of animation 

the intrusion of pierre's nonmilitary figure in a white hat made an
unpleasant impression at first the soldiers looked askance at him with
surprise and even alarm as they went past him the senior artillery
officer a tall long legged pockmarked man moved over to pierre as if
to see the action of the farthest gun and looked at him with curiosity 

a young round faced officer quite a boy still and evidently only just
out of the cadet college who was zealously commanding the two guns
entrusted to him addressed pierre sternly 

 sir he said permit me to ask you to stand aside you must not be
here 

the soldiers shook their heads disapprovingly as they looked at pierre 
but when they had convinced themselves that this man in the white hat
was doing no harm but either sat quietly on the slope of the trench
with a shy smile or politely making way for the soldiers paced up
and down the battery under fire as calmly as if he were on a boulevard 
their feeling of hostile distrust gradually began to change into a
kindly and bantering sympathy such as soldiers feel for their dogs 
cocks goats and in general for the animals that live with the
regiment the men soon accepted pierre into their family adopted him 
gave him a nickname our gentleman and made kindly fun of him among
themselves 

a shell tore up the earth two paces from pierre and he looked around
with a smile as he brushed from his clothes some earth it had thrown up 

 and how's it you're not afraid sir really now a red faced 
broad shouldered soldier asked pierre with a grin that disclosed a set
of sound white teeth 

 are you afraid then said pierre 

 what else do you expect answered the soldier she has no mercy you
know when she comes spluttering down out go your innards one can't
help being afraid he said laughing 

several of the men with bright kindly faces stopped beside pierre 
they seemed not to have expected him to talk like anybody else and the
discovery that he did so delighted them 

 it's the business of us soldiers but in a gentleman it's wonderful 
there's a gentleman for you 

 to your places cried the young officer to the men gathered round
pierre 

the young officer was evidently exercising his duties for the first or
second time and therefore treated both his superiors and the men with
great precision and formality 

the booming cannonade and the fusillade of musketry were growing more
intense over the whole field especially to the left where bagration's
fleches were but where pierre was the smoke of the firing made it
almost impossible to distinguish anything moreover his whole
attention was engrossed by watching the family circle separated from all
else formed by the men in the battery his first unconscious feeling of
joyful animation produced by the sights and sounds of the battlefield
was now replaced by another especially since he had seen that soldier
lying alone in the hayfield now seated on the slope of the trench he
observed the faces of those around him 

by ten o'clock some twenty men had already been carried away from the
battery two guns were smashed and cannon balls fell more and more
frequently on the battery and spent bullets buzzed and whistled around 
but the men in the battery seemed not to notice this and merry voices
and jokes were heard on all sides 

 a live one shouted a man as a whistling shell approached 

 not this way to the infantry added another with loud laughter 
seeing the shell fly past and fall into the ranks of the supports 

 are you bowing to a friend eh remarked another chaffing a peasant
who ducked low as a cannon ball flew over 

several soldiers gathered by the wall of the trench looking out to see
what was happening in front 

 they've withdrawn the front line it has retired said they pointing
over the earthwork 

 mind your own business an old sergeant shouted at them if they've
retired it's because there's work for them to do farther back 

and the sergeant taking one of the men by the shoulders gave him a
shove with his knee this was followed by a burst of laughter 

 to the fifth gun wheel it up came shouts from one side 

 now then all together like bargees rose the merry voices of those
who were moving the gun 

 oh she nearly knocked our gentleman's hat off cried the red faced
humorist showing his teeth chaffing pierre awkward baggage he added
reproachfully to a cannon ball that struck a cannon wheel and a man's
leg 

 now then you foxes said another laughing at some militiamen who 
stooping low entered the battery to carry away the wounded man 

 so this gruel isn't to your taste oh you crows you're scared they
shouted at the militiamen who stood hesitating before the man whose leg
had been torn off 

 there lads oh oh they mimicked the peasants they don't like it
at all 

pierre noticed that after every ball that hit the redoubt and after
every loss the liveliness increased more and more 

as the flames of the fire hidden within come more and more vividly and
rapidly from an approaching thundercloud so as if in opposition to
what was taking place the lightning of hidden fire growing more and
more intense glowed in the faces of these men 

pierre did not look out at the battlefield and was not concerned to know
what was happening there he was entirely absorbed in watching this fire
which burned ever more brightly and which he felt was flaming up in the
same way in his own soul 

at ten o'clock the infantry that had been among the bushes in front of
the battery and along the kamenka streamlet retreated from the battery
they could be seen running back past it carrying their wounded on
their muskets a general with his suite came to the battery and after
speaking to the colonel gave pierre an angry look and went away again
having ordered the infantry supports behind the battery to lie down 
so as to be less exposed to fire after this from amid the ranks of
infantry to the right of the battery came the sound of a drum and shouts
of command and from the battery one saw how those ranks of infantry
moved forward 

pierre looked over the wall of the trench and was particularly struck
by a pale young officer who letting his sword hang down was walking
backwards and kept glancing uneasily around 

the ranks of the infantry disappeared amid the smoke but their
long drawn shout and rapid musketry firing could still be heard a few
minutes later crowds of wounded men and stretcher bearers came back from
that direction projectiles began to fall still more frequently in the
battery several men were lying about who had not been removed around
the cannon the men moved still more briskly and busily no one any
longer took notice of pierre once or twice he was shouted at for being
in the way the senior officer moved with big rapid strides from one
gun to another with a frowning face the young officer with his face
still more flushed commanded the men more scrupulously than ever the
soldiers handed up the charges turned loaded and did their business
with strained smartness they gave little jumps as they walked as
though they were on springs 

the stormcloud had come upon them and in every face the fire which
pierre had watched kindle burned up brightly pierre standing beside the
commanding officer the young officer his hand to his shako ran up to
his superior 

 i have the honor to report sir that only eight rounds are left are
we to continue firing he asked 

 grapeshot the senior shouted without answering the question looking
over the wall of the trench 

suddenly something happened the young officer gave a gasp and bending
double sat down on the ground like a bird shot on the wing everything
became strange confused and misty in pierre's eyes 

one cannon ball after another whistled by and struck the earthwork a
soldier or a gun pierre who had not noticed these sounds before 
now heard nothing else on the right of the battery soldiers shouting
 hurrah were running not forwards but backwards it seemed to pierre 

a cannon ball struck the very end of the earth work by which he was
standing crumbling down the earth a black ball flashed before his eyes
and at the same instant plumped into something some militiamen who were
entering the battery ran back 

 all with grapeshot shouted the officer 

the sergeant ran up to the officer and in a frightened whisper informed
him as a butler at dinner informs his master that there is no more of
some wine asked for that there were no more charges 

 the scoundrels what are they doing shouted the officer turning to
pierre 

the officer's face was red and perspiring and his eyes glittered under
his frowning brow 

 run to the reserves and bring up the ammunition boxes he yelled 
angrily avoiding pierre with his eyes and speaking to his men 

 i'll go said pierre 

the officer without answering him strode across to the opposite side 

 don't fire wait he shouted 

the man who had been ordered to go for ammunition stumbled against
pierre 

 eh sir this is no place for you said he and ran down the slope 

pierre ran after him avoiding the spot where the young officer was
sitting 

one cannon ball another and a third flew over him falling in front 
beside and behind him pierre ran down the slope where am i going 
he suddenly asked himself when he was already near the green ammunition
wagons he halted irresolutely not knowing whether to return or go on 
suddenly a terrible concussion threw him backwards to the ground at the
same instant he was dazzled by a great flash of flame and immediately a
deafening roar crackling and whistling made his ears tingle 

when he came to himself he was sitting on the ground leaning on his
hands the ammunition wagons he had been approaching no longer existed 
only charred green boards and rags littered the scorched grass and a
horse dangling fragments of its shaft behind it galloped past while
another horse lay like pierre on the ground uttering prolonged and
piercing cries 





chapter xxxii

beside himself with terror pierre jumped up and ran back to the battery 
as to the only refuge from the horrors that surrounded him 

on entering the earthwork he noticed that there were men doing something
there but that no shots were being fired from the battery he had no
time to realize who these men were he saw the senior officer lying on
the earth wall with his back turned as if he were examining something
down below and that one of the soldiers he had noticed before was
struggling forward shouting brothers and trying to free himself from
some men who were holding him by the arm he also saw something else
that was strange 

but he had not time to realize that the colonel had been killed that
the soldier shouting brothers was a prisoner and that another man
had been bayoneted in the back before his eyes for hardly had he run
into the redoubt before a thin sallow faced perspiring man in a blue
uniform rushed on him sword in hand shouting something instinctively
guarding against the shock for they had been running together at full
speed before they saw one another pierre put out his hands and seized
the man a french officer by the shoulder with one hand and by the
throat with the other the officer dropping his sword seized pierre by
his collar 

for some seconds they gazed with frightened eyes at one another's
unfamiliar faces and both were perplexed at what they had done and
what they were to do next am i taken prisoner or have i taken him
prisoner each was thinking but the french officer was evidently more
inclined to think he had been taken prisoner because pierre's strong
hand impelled by instinctive fear squeezed his throat ever tighter and
tighter the frenchman was about to say something when just above their
heads terrible and low a cannon ball whistled and it seemed to pierre
that the french officer's head had been torn off so swiftly had he
ducked it 

pierre too bent his head and let his hands fall without further thought
as to who had taken whom prisoner the frenchman ran back to the battery
and pierre ran down the slope stumbling over the dead and wounded who 
it seemed to him caught at his feet but before he reached the foot
of the knoll he was met by a dense crowd of russian soldiers who 
stumbling tripping up and shouting ran merrily and wildly toward
the battery this was the attack for which ermolov claimed the credit 
declaring that only his courage and good luck made such a feat possible 
it was the attack in which he was said to have thrown some st george's
crosses he had in his pocket into the battery for the first soldiers to
take who got there 

the french who had occupied the battery fled and our troops shouting
 hurrah pursued them so far beyond the battery that it was difficult
to call them back 

the prisoners were brought down from the battery and among them was
a wounded french general whom the officers surrounded crowds of
wounded some known to pierre and some unknown russians and french 
with faces distorted by suffering walked crawled and were carried on
stretchers from the battery pierre again went up onto the knoll where
he had spent over an hour and of that family circle which had received
him as a member he did not find a single one there were many dead whom
he did not know but some he recognized the young officer still sat in
the same way bent double in a pool of blood at the edge of the earth
wall the red faced man was still twitching but they did not carry him
away 

pierre ran down the slope once more 

 now they will stop it now they will be horrified at what they have
done he thought aimlessly going toward a crowd of stretcher bearers
moving from the battlefield 

but behind the veil of smoke the sun was still high and in front and
especially to the left near semenovsk something seemed to be seething
in the smoke and the roar of cannon and musketry did not diminish but
even increased to desperation like a man who straining himself shrieks
with all his remaining strength 





chapter xxxiii

the chief action of the battle of borodino was fought within the seven
thousand feet between borodino and bagration's fleches beyond that
space there was on the one side a demonstration made by the russians
with uvarov's cavalry at midday and on the other side beyond utitsa 
poniatowski's collision with tuchkov but these two were detached and
feeble actions in comparison with what took place in the center of the
battlefield on the field between borodino and the fleches beside the
wood the chief action of the day took place on an open space visible
from both sides and was fought in the simplest and most artless way 

the battle began on both sides with a cannonade from several hundred
guns 

then when the whole field was covered with smoke two divisions 
campan's and dessaix's advanced from the french right while murat's
troops advanced on borodino from their left 

from the shevardino redoubt where napoleon was standing the fleches were
two thirds of a mile away and it was more than a mile as the crow flies
to borodino so that napoleon could not see what was happening there 
especially as the smoke mingling with the mist hid the whole locality 
the soldiers of dessaix's division advancing against the fleches could
only be seen till they had entered the hollow that lay between them and
the fleches as soon as they had descended into that hollow the smoke
of the guns and musketry on the fleches grew so dense that it covered
the whole approach on that side of it through the smoke glimpses could
be caught of something black probably men and at times the glint of
bayonets but whether they were moving or stationary whether they were
french or russian could not be discovered from the shevardino redoubt 

the sun had risen brightly and its slanting rays struck straight into
napoleon's face as shading his eyes with his hand he looked at the
fleches the smoke spread out before them and at times it looked as if
the smoke were moving at times as if the troops moved sometimes shouts
were heard through the firing but it was impossible to tell what was
being done there 

napoleon standing on the knoll looked through a field glass and in
its small circlet saw smoke and men sometimes his own and sometimes
russians but when he looked again with the naked eye he could not tell
where what he had seen was 

he descended the knoll and began walking up and down before it 

occasionally he stopped listened to the firing and gazed intently at
the battlefield 

but not only was it impossible to make out what was happening from where
he was standing down below or from the knoll above on which some of his
generals had taken their stand but even from the fleches themselves in
which by this time there were now russian and now french soldiers 
alternately or together dead wounded alive frightened or
maddened even at those fleches themselves it was impossible to make out
what was taking place there for several hours amid incessant cannon and
musketry fire now russians were seen alone now frenchmen alone now
infantry and now cavalry they appeared fired fell collided not
knowing what to do with one another screamed and ran back again 

from the battlefield adjutants he had sent out and orderlies from his
marshals kept galloping up to napoleon with reports of the progress
of the action but all these reports were false both because it was
impossible in the heat of battle to say what was happening at any given
moment and because many of the adjutants did not go to the actual place
of conflict but reported what they had heard from others and also
because while an adjutant was riding more than a mile to napoleon
circumstances changed and the news he brought was already becoming
false thus an adjutant galloped up from murat with tidings that
borodino had been occupied and the bridge over the kolocha was in the
hands of the french the adjutant asked whether napoleon wished the
troops to cross it napoleon gave orders that the troops should form up
on the farther side and wait but before that order was given almost
as soon in fact as the adjutant had left borodino the bridge had been
retaken by the russians and burned in the very skirmish at which pierre
had been present at the beginning of the battle 

an adjutant galloped up from the fleches with a pale and frightened face
and reported to napoleon that their attack had been repulsed campan
wounded and davout killed yet at the very time the adjutant had been
told that the french had been repulsed the fleches had in fact been
recaptured by other french troops and davout was alive and only
slightly bruised on the basis of these necessarily untrustworthy
reports napoleon gave his orders which had either been executed before
he gave them or could not be and were not executed 

the marshals and generals who were nearer to the field of battle
but like napoleon did not take part in the actual fighting and only
occasionally went within musket range made their own arrangements
without asking napoleon and issued orders where and in what direction to
fire and where cavalry should gallop and infantry should run but even
their orders like napoleon's were seldom carried out and then but
partially for the most part things happened contrary to their orders 
soldiers ordered to advance ran back on meeting grapeshot soldiers
ordered to remain where they were suddenly seeing russians
unexpectedly before them sometimes rushed back and sometimes forward 
and the cavalry dashed without orders in pursuit of the flying russians 
in this way two cavalry regiments galloped through the semenovsk hollow
and as soon as they reached the top of the incline turned round and
galloped full speed back again the infantry moved in the same way 
sometimes running to quite other places than those they were ordered to
go to all orders as to where and when to move the guns when to send
infantry to shoot or horsemen to ride down the russian infantry all
such orders were given by the officers on the spot nearest to the
units concerned without asking either ney davout or murat much less
napoleon they did not fear getting into trouble for not fulfilling
orders or for acting on their own initiative for in battle what is at
stake is what is dearest to man his own life and it sometimes seems that
safety lies in running back sometimes in running forward and these men
who were right in the heat of the battle acted according to the mood
of the moment in reality however all these movements forward and
backward did not improve or alter the position of the troops all
their rushing and galloping at one another did little harm the harm of
disablement and death was caused by the balls and bullets that flew over
the fields on which these men were floundering about as soon as they
left the place where the balls and bullets were flying about their
superiors located in the background re formed them and brought them
under discipline and under the influence of that discipline led them
back to the zone of fire where under the influence of fear of death
they lost their discipline and rushed about according to the chance
promptings of the throng 





chapter xxxiv

napoleon's generals davout ney and murat who were near that region of
fire and sometimes even entered it repeatedly led into it huge masses of
well ordered troops but contrary to what had always happened in their
former battles instead of the news they expected of the enemy's flight 
these orderly masses returned thence as disorganized and terrified mobs 
the generals re formed them but their numbers constantly decreased 
in the middle of the day murat sent his adjutant to napoleon to demand
reinforcements 

napoleon sat at the foot of the knoll drinking punch when murat's
adjutant galloped up with an assurance that the russians would be routed
if his majesty would let him have another division 

 reinforcements said napoleon in a tone of stern surprise looking at
the adjutant a handsome lad with long black curls arranged like murat's
own as though he did not understand his words 

 reinforcements thought napoleon to himself how can they need
reinforcements when they already have half the army directed against a
weak unentrenched russian wing 

 tell the king of naples said he sternly that it is not noon yet 
and i don't yet see my chessboard clearly go 

the handsome boy adjutant with the long hair sighed deeply without
removing his hand from his hat and galloped back to where men were being
slaughtered 

napoleon rose and having summoned caulaincourt and berthier began
talking to them about matters unconnected with the battle 

in the midst of this conversation which was beginning to interest
napoleon berthier's eyes turned to look at a general with a suite who
was galloping toward the knoll on a lathering horse it was belliard 
having dismounted he went up to the emperor with rapid strides and in
a loud voice began boldly demonstrating the necessity of sending
reinforcements he swore on his honor that the russians were lost if the
emperor would give another division 

napoleon shrugged his shoulders and continued to pace up and down
without replying belliard began talking loudly and eagerly to the
generals of the suite around him 

 you are very fiery belliard said napoleon when he again came up to
the general in the heat of a battle it is easy to make a mistake go
and have another look and then come back to me 

before belliard was out of sight a messenger from another part of the
battlefield galloped up 

 now then what do you want asked napoleon in the tone of a man
irritated at being continually disturbed 

 sire the prince began the adjutant 

 asks for reinforcements said napoleon with an angry gesture 

the adjutant bent his head affirmatively and began to report but the
emperor turned from him took a couple of steps stopped came back and
called berthier 

 we must give reserves he said moving his arms slightly apart 
 who do you think should be sent there he asked of berthier whom he
subsequently termed that gosling i have made an eagle 

 send claparede's division sire replied berthier who knew all the
division's regiments and battalions by heart 

napoleon nodded assent 

the adjutant galloped to claparede's division and a few minutes later
the young guards stationed behind the knoll moved forward napoleon
gazed silently in that direction 

 no he suddenly said to berthier i can't send claparede send
friant's division 

though there was no advantage in sending friant's division instead of
claparede's and even an obvious inconvenience and delay in stopping
claparede and sending friant now the order was carried out exactly 
napoleon did not notice that in regard to his army he was playing
the part of a doctor who hinders by his medicines a role he so justly
understood and condemned 

friant's division disappeared as the others had done into the smoke
of the battlefield from all sides adjutants continued to arrive at a
gallop and as if by agreement all said the same thing they all asked
for reinforcements and all said that the russians were holding their
positions and maintaining a hellish fire under which the french army was
melting away 

napoleon sat on a campstool wrapped in thought 

m de beausset the man so fond of travel having fasted since morning 
came up to the emperor and ventured respectfully to suggest lunch to his
majesty 

 i hope i may now congratulate your majesty on a victory said he 

napoleon silently shook his head in negation assuming the negation to
refer only to the victory and not to the lunch m de beausset ventured
with respectful jocularity to remark that there is no reason for not
having lunch when one can get it 

 go away exclaimed napoleon suddenly and morosely and turned aside 

a beatific smile of regret repentance and ecstasy beamed on m de
beausset's face and he glided away to the other generals 

napoleon was experiencing a feeling of depression like that of an
ever lucky gambler who after recklessly flinging money about and always
winning suddenly just when he has calculated all the chances of the
game finds that the more he considers his play the more surely he
loses 

his troops were the same his generals the same the same preparations
had been made the same dispositions and the same proclamation courte
et energique he himself was still the same he knew that and knew that
he was now even more experienced and skillful than before even the
enemy was the same as at austerlitz and friedland yet the terrible
stroke of his arm had supernaturally become impotent 

all the old methods that had been unfailingly crowned with success the
concentration of batteries on one point an attack by reserves to break
the enemy's line and a cavalry attack by the men of iron all these
methods had already been employed yet not only was there no victory 
but from all sides came the same news of generals killed and wounded 
of reinforcements needed of the impossibility of driving back the
russians and of disorganization among his own troops 

formerly after he had given two or three orders and uttered a
few phrases marshals and adjutants had come galloping up with
congratulations and happy faces announcing the trophies taken the
corps of prisoners bundles of enemy eagles and standards cannon and
stores and murat had only begged leave to loose the cavalry to gather
in the baggage wagons so it had been at lodi marengo arcola jena 
austerlitz wagram and so on but now something strange was happening
to his troops 

despite news of the capture of the fleches napoleon saw that this was
not the same not at all the same as what had happened in his former
battles he saw that what he was feeling was felt by all the men about
him experienced in the art of war all their faces looked dejected and
they all shunned one another's eyes only a de beausset could fail to
grasp the meaning of what was happening 

but napoleon with his long experience of war well knew the meaning of
a battle not gained by the attacking side in eight hours after all
efforts had been expended he knew that it was a lost battle and that
the least accident might now with the fight balanced on such a strained
center destroy him and his army 

when he ran his mind over the whole of this strange russian campaign in
which not one battle had been won and in which not a flag or cannon 
or army corps had been captured in two months when he looked at the
concealed depression on the faces around him and heard reports of the
russians still holding their ground a terrible feeling like a nightmare
took possession of him and all the unlucky accidents that might destroy
him occurred to his mind the russians might fall on his left wing 
might break through his center he himself might be killed by a stray
cannon ball all this was possible in former battles he had only
considered the possibilities of success but now innumerable unlucky
chances presented themselves and he expected them all yes it was like
a dream in which a man fancies that a ruffian is coming to attack him 
and raises his arm to strike that ruffian a terrible blow which he knows
should annihilate him but then feels that his arm drops powerless and
limp like a rag and the horror of unavoidable destruction seizes him in
his helplessness 

the news that the russians were attacking the left flank of the french
army aroused that horror in napoleon he sat silently on a campstool
below the knoll with head bowed and elbows on his knees berthier
approached and suggested that they should ride along the line to
ascertain the position of affairs 

 what what do you say asked napoleon yes tell them to bring me my
horse 

he mounted and rode toward semenovsk 

amid the powder smoke slowly dispersing over the whole space through
which napoleon rode horses and men were lying in pools of blood singly
or in heaps neither napoleon nor any of his generals had ever before
seen such horrors or so many slain in such a small area the roar of
guns that had not ceased for ten hours wearied the ear and gave
a peculiar significance to the spectacle as music does to tableaux
vivants napoleon rode up the high ground at semenovsk and through the
smoke saw ranks of men in uniforms of a color unfamiliar to him they
were russians 

the russians stood in serried ranks behind semenovsk village and its
knoll and their guns boomed incessantly along their line and sent
forth clouds of smoke it was no longer a battle it was a continuous
slaughter which could be of no avail either to the french or the
russians napoleon stopped his horse and again fell into the reverie
from which berthier had aroused him he could not stop what was going on
before him and around him and was supposed to be directed by him and to
depend on him and from its lack of success this affair for the first
time seemed to him unnecessary and horrible 

one of the generals rode up to napoleon and ventured to offer to lead
the old guard into action ney and berthier standing near napoleon 
exchanged looks and smiled contemptuously at this general's senseless
offer 

napoleon bowed his head and remained silent a long time 

 at eight hundred leagues from france i will not have my guard
destroyed he said and turning his horse rode back to shevardino 





chapter xxxv

on the rug covered bench where pierre had seen him in the morning sat
kutuzov his gray head hanging his heavy body relaxed he gave no
orders but only assented to or dissented from what others suggested 

 yes yes do that he replied to various proposals yes yes go 
dear boy and have a look he would say to one or another of those
about him or no don't we'd better wait he listened to the reports
that were brought him and gave directions when his subordinates demanded
that of him but when listening to the reports it seemed as if he
were not interested in the import of the words spoken but rather in
something else in the expression of face and tone of voice of those who
were reporting by long years of military experience he knew and with
the wisdom of age understood that it is impossible for one man to
direct hundreds of thousands of others struggling with death and he
knew that the result of a battle is decided not by the orders of a
commander in chief nor the place where the troops are stationed nor by
the number of cannon or of slaughtered men but by that intangible force
called the spirit of the army and he watched this force and guided it
in as far as that was in his power 

kutuzov's general expression was one of concentrated quiet attention 
and his face wore a strained look as if he found it difficult to master
the fatigue of his old and feeble body 

at eleven o'clock they brought him news that the fleches captured by the
french had been retaken but that prince bagration was wounded kutuzov
groaned and swayed his head 

 ride over to prince peter ivanovich and find out about it exactly he
said to one of his adjutants and then turned to the duke of wurttemberg
who was standing behind him 

 will your highness please take command of the first army 

soon after the duke's departure before he could possibly have reached
semenovsk his adjutant came back from him and told kutuzov that the duke
asked for more troops 

kutuzov made a grimace and sent an order to dokhturov to take over the
command of the first army and a request to the duke whom he said he
could not spare at such an important moment to return to him when
they brought him news that murat had been taken prisoner and the staff
officers congratulated him kutuzov smiled 

 wait a little gentlemen said he the battle is won and there is
nothing extraordinary in the capture of murat still it is better to
wait before we rejoice 

but he sent an adjutant to take the news round the army 

when scherbinin came galloping from the left flank with news that the
french had captured the fleches and the village of semenovsk kutuzov 
guessing by the sounds of the battle and by scherbinin's looks that the
news was bad rose as if to stretch his legs and taking scherbinin's
arm led him aside 

 go my dear fellow he said to ermolov and see whether something
can't be done 

kutuzov was in gorki near the center of the russian position the
attack directed by napoleon against our left flank had been several
times repulsed in the center the french had not got beyond borodino 
and on their left flank uvarov's cavalry had put the french to flight 

toward three o'clock the french attacks ceased on the faces of all
who came from the field of battle and of those who stood around him 
kutuzov noticed an expression of extreme tension he was satisfied with
the day's success a success exceeding his expectations but the old
man's strength was failing him several times his head dropped low as if
it were falling and he dozed off dinner was brought him 

adjutant general wolzogen the man who when riding past prince andrew
had said the war should be extended widely and whom bagration so
detested rode up while kutuzov was at dinner wolzogen had come from
barclay de tolly to report on the progress of affairs on the left flank 
the sagacious barclay de tolly seeing crowds of wounded men running
back and the disordered rear of the army weighed all the circumstances 
concluded that the battle was lost and sent his favorite officer to the
commander in chief with that news 

kutuzov was chewing a piece of roast chicken with difficulty and glanced
at wolzogen with eyes that brightened under their puckering lids 

wolzogen nonchalantly stretching his legs approached kutuzov with a
half contemptuous smile on his lips scarcely touching the peak of his
cap 

he treated his serene highness with a somewhat affected nonchalance
intended to show that as a highly trained military man he left it to
russians to make an idol of this useless old man but that he knew whom
he was dealing with der alte herr as in their own set the germans
called kutuzov is making himself very comfortable thought wolzogen 
and looking severely at the dishes in front of kutuzov he began to
report to the old gentleman the position of affairs on the left flank
as barclay had ordered him to and as he himself had seen and understood
it 

 all the points of our position are in the enemy's hands and we cannot
dislodge them for lack of troops the men are running away and it is
impossible to stop them he reported 

kutuzov ceased chewing and fixed an astonished gaze on wolzogen as
if not understanding what was said to him wolzogen noticing the old
gentleman's agitation said with a smile 

 i have not considered it right to conceal from your serene highness
what i have seen the troops are in complete disorder 

 you have seen you have seen kutuzov shouted frowning and rising
quickly he went up to wolzogen 

 how how dare you he shouted choking and making a threatening
gesture with his trembling arms how dare you sir say that to me you
know nothing about it tell general barclay from me that his information
is incorrect and that the real course of the battle is better known to
me the commander in chief than to him 

wolzogen was about to make a rejoinder but kutuzov interrupted him 

 the enemy has been repulsed on the left and defeated on the right
flank if you have seen amiss sir do not allow yourself to say what
you don't know be so good as to ride to general barclay and inform
him of my firm intention to attack the enemy tomorrow said kutuzov
sternly 

all were silent and the only sound audible was the heavy breathing of
the panting old general 

 they are repulsed everywhere for which i thank god and our brave army 
the enemy is beaten and tomorrow we shall drive him from the sacred
soil of russia said kutuzov crossing himself and he suddenly sobbed
as his eyes filled with tears 

wolzogen shrugging his shoulders and curling his lips stepped silently
aside marveling at the old gentleman's conceited stupidity 

 ah here he is my hero said kutuzov to a portly handsome 
dark haired general who was just ascending the knoll 

this was raevski who had spent the whole day at the most important part
of the field of borodino 

raevski reported that the troops were firmly holding their ground and
that the french no longer ventured to attack 

after hearing him kutuzov said in french 

 then you do not think like some others that we must retreat 

 on the contrary your highness in indecisive actions it is always
the most stubborn who remain victors replied raevski and in my
opinion 

 kaysarov kutuzov called to his adjutant sit down and write out
the order of the day for tomorrow and you he continued addressing
another ride along the line and announce that tomorrow we attack 

while kutuzov was talking to raevski and dictating the order of the day 
wolzogen returned from barclay and said that general barclay wished to
have written confirmation of the order the field marshal had given 

kutuzov without looking at wolzogen gave directions for the order to
be written out which the former commander in chief to avoid personal
responsibility very judiciously wished to receive 

and by means of that mysterious indefinable bond which maintains
throughout an army one and the same temper known as the spirit of
the army and which constitutes the sinew of war kutuzov's words his
order for a battle next day immediately became known from one end of
the army to the other 

it was far from being the same words or the same order that reached the
farthest links of that chain the tales passing from mouth to mouth at
different ends of the army did not even resemble what kutuzov had said 
but the sense of his words spread everywhere because what he said was
not the outcome of cunning calculations but of a feeling that lay in
the commander in chief's soul as in that of every russian 

and on learning that tomorrow they were to attack the enemy and hearing
from the highest quarters a confirmation of what they wanted to believe 
the exhausted wavering men felt comforted and inspirited 





chapter xxxvi

prince andrew's regiment was among the reserves which till after one
o'clock were stationed inactive behind semenovsk under heavy artillery
fire toward two o'clock the regiment having already lost more than
two hundred men was moved forward into a trampled oatfield in the gap
between semenovsk and the knoll battery where thousands of men perished
that day and on which an intense concentrated fire from several hundred
enemy guns was directed between one and two o'clock 

without moving from that spot or firing a single shot the regiment here
lost another third of its men from in front and especially from the
right in the unlifting smoke the guns boomed and out of the mysterious
domain of smoke that overlay the whole space in front quick hissing
cannon balls and slow whistling shells flew unceasingly at times as
if to allow them a respite a quarter of an hour passed during which
the cannon balls and shells all flew overhead but sometimes several men
were torn from the regiment in a minute and the slain were continually
being dragged away and the wounded carried off 

with each fresh blow less and less chance of life remained for those not
yet killed the regiment stood in columns of battalion three hundred
paces apart but nevertheless the men were always in one and the same
mood all alike were taciturn and morose talk was rarely heard in the
ranks and it ceased altogether every time the thud of a successful
shot and the cry of stretchers was heard most of the time by their
officers order the men sat on the ground one having taken off his
shako carefully loosened the gathers of its lining and drew them tight
again another rubbing some dry clay between his palms polished
his bayonet another fingered the strap and pulled the buckle of his
bandolier while another smoothed and refolded his leg bands and put
his boots on again some built little houses of the tufts in the plowed
ground or plaited baskets from the straw in the cornfield all seemed
fully absorbed in these pursuits when men were killed or wounded when
rows of stretchers went past when some troops retreated and when great
masses of the enemy came into view through the smoke no one paid any
attention to these things but when our artillery or cavalry advanced or
some of our infantry were seen to move forward words of approval
were heard on all sides but the liveliest attention was attracted by
occurrences quite apart from and unconnected with the battle it was
as if the minds of these morally exhausted men found relief in everyday 
commonplace occurrences a battery of artillery was passing in front of
the regiment the horse of an ammunition cart put its leg over a trace 
 hey look at the trace horse get her leg out she'll fall ah 
they don't see it came identical shouts from the ranks all along the
regiment another time general attention was attracted by a small brown
dog coming heaven knows whence which trotted in a preoccupied manner
in front of the ranks with tail stiffly erect till suddenly a shell fell
close by when it yelped tucked its tail between its legs and darted
aside yells and shrieks of laughter rose from the whole regiment but
such distractions lasted only a moment and for eight hours the men had
been inactive without food in constant fear of death and their pale
and gloomy faces grew ever paler and gloomier 

prince andrew pale and gloomy like everyone in the regiment paced up
and down from the border of one patch to another at the edge of the
meadow beside an oatfield with head bowed and arms behind his back 
there was nothing for him to do and no orders to be given everything
went on of itself the killed were dragged from the front the wounded
carried away and the ranks closed up if any soldiers ran to the
rear they returned immediately and hastily at first prince andrew 
considering it his duty to rouse the courage of the men and to set them
an example walked about among the ranks but he soon became convinced
that this was unnecessary and that there was nothing he could teach
them all the powers of his soul as of every soldier there were
unconsciously bent on avoiding the contemplation of the horrors of their
situation he walked along the meadow dragging his feet rustling the
grass and gazing at the dust that covered his boots now he took big
strides trying to keep to the footprints left on the meadow by the
mowers then he counted his steps calculating how often he must walk
from one strip to another to walk a mile then he stripped the flowers
from the wormwood that grew along a boundary rut rubbed them in his
palms and smelled their pungent sweetly bitter scent nothing remained
of the previous day's thoughts he thought of nothing he listened with
weary ears to the ever recurring sounds distinguishing the whistle
of flying projectiles from the booming of the reports glanced at the
tiresomely familiar faces of the men of the first battalion and
waited here it comes this one is coming our way again he thought 
listening to an approaching whistle in the hidden region of smoke one 
another again it has hit he stopped and looked at the ranks no 
it has gone over but this one has hit and again he started trying
to reach the boundary strip in sixteen paces a whizz and a thud five
paces from him a cannon ball tore up the dry earth and disappeared a
chill ran down his back again he glanced at the ranks probably many
had been hit a large crowd had gathered near the second battalion 

 adjutant he shouted order them not to crowd together 

the adjutant having obeyed this instruction approached prince andrew 
from the other side a battalion commander rode up 

 look out came a frightened cry from a soldier and like a bird
whirring in rapid flight and alighting on the ground a shell dropped
with little noise within two steps of prince andrew and close to the
battalion commander's horse the horse first regardless of whether it
was right or wrong to show fear snorted reared almost throwing the
major and galloped aside the horse's terror infected the men 

 lie down cried the adjutant throwing himself flat on the ground 

prince andrew hesitated the smoking shell spun like a top between him
and the prostrate adjutant near a wormwood plant between the field and
the meadow 

 can this be death thought prince andrew looking with a quite new 
envious glance at the grass the wormwood and the streamlet of smoke
that curled up from the rotating black ball i cannot i do not wish to
die i love life i love this grass this earth this air he thought
this and at the same time remembered that people were looking at him 

 it's shameful sir he said to the adjutant what 

he did not finish speaking at one and the same moment came the sound of
an explosion a whistle of splinters as from a breaking window frame 
a suffocating smell of powder and prince andrew started to one side 
raising his arm and fell on his chest several officers ran up to him 
from the right side of his abdomen blood was welling out making a large
stain on the grass 

the militiamen with stretchers who were called up stood behind the
officers prince andrew lay on his chest with his face in the grass 
breathing heavily and noisily 

 what are you waiting for come along 

the peasants went up and took him by his shoulders and legs but he
moaned piteously and exchanging looks they set him down again 

 pick him up lift him it's all the same cried someone 

they again took him by the shoulders and laid him on the stretcher 

 ah god my god what is it the stomach that means death my
god voices among the officers were heard saying 

 it flew a hair's breadth past my ear said the adjutant 

the peasants adjusting the stretcher to their shoulders started
hurriedly along the path they had trodden down to the dressing station 

 keep in step ah those peasants shouted an officer seizing by
their shoulders and checking the peasants who were walking unevenly and
jolting the stretcher 

 get into step fedor i say fedor said the foremost peasant 

 now that's right said the one behind joyfully when he had got into
step 

 your excellency eh prince said the trembling voice of timokhin who
had run up and was looking down on the stretcher 

prince andrew opened his eyes and looked up at the speaker from the
stretcher into which his head had sunk deep and again his eyelids
drooped 


the militiamen carried prince andrew to the dressing station by the
wood where wagons were stationed the dressing station consisted of
three tents with flaps turned back pitched at the edge of a birch wood 
in the wood wagons and horses were standing the horses were eating
oats from their movable troughs and sparrows flew down and pecked the
grains that fell some crows scenting blood flew among the birch
trees cawing impatiently around the tents over more than five acres 
bloodstained men in various garbs stood sat or lay around the wounded
stood crowds of soldier stretcher bearers with dismal and attentive
faces whom the officers keeping order tried in vain to drive from the
spot disregarding the officers orders the soldiers stood leaning
against their stretchers and gazing intently as if trying to comprehend
the difficult problem of what was taking place before them from the
tents came now loud angry cries and now plaintive groans occasionally
dressers ran out to fetch water or to point out those who were to be
brought in next the wounded men awaiting their turn outside the tents
groaned sighed wept screamed swore or asked for vodka some were
delirious prince andrew's bearers stepping over the wounded who had
not yet been bandaged took him as a regimental commander close up to
one of the tents and there stopped awaiting instructions prince andrew
opened his eyes and for a long time could not make out what was going
on around him he remembered the meadow the wormwood the field the
whirling black ball and his sudden rush of passionate love of life 
two steps from him leaning against a branch and talking loudly and
attracting general attention stood a tall handsome black haired
noncommissioned officer with a bandaged head he had been wounded in the
head and leg by bullets around him eagerly listening to his talk a
crowd of wounded and stretcher bearers was gathered 

 we kicked him out from there so that he chucked everything we grabbed
the king himself cried he looking around him with eyes that glittered
with fever if only reserves had come up just then lads there
wouldn't have been nothing left of him i tell you surely 

like all the others near the speaker prince andrew looked at him with
shining eyes and experienced a sense of comfort but isn't it all the
same now thought he and what will be there and what has there been
here why was i so reluctant to part with life there was something in
this life i did not and do not understand 





chapter xxxvii

one of the doctors came out of the tent in a bloodstained apron 
holding a cigar between the thumb and little finger of one of his small
bloodstained hands so as not to smear it he raised his head and looked
about him but above the level of the wounded men he evidently wanted a
little respite after turning his head from right to left for some time 
he sighed and looked down 

 all right immediately he replied to a dresser who pointed prince
andrew out to him and he told them to carry him into the tent 

murmurs arose among the wounded who were waiting 

 it seems that even in the next world only the gentry are to have a
chance remarked one 

prince andrew was carried in and laid on a table that had only just been
cleared and which a dresser was washing down prince andrew could not
make out distinctly what was in that tent the pitiful groans from all
sides and the torturing pain in his thigh stomach and back distracted
him all he saw about him merged into a general impression of naked 
bleeding human bodies that seemed to fill the whole of the low tent as
a few weeks previously on that hot august day such bodies had filled
the dirty pond beside the smolensk road yes it was the same flesh 
the same chair a canon the sight of which had even then filled him with
horror as by a presentiment 

there were three operating tables in the tent two were occupied and
on the third they placed prince andrew for a little while he was left
alone and involuntarily witnessed what was taking place on the other two
tables on the nearest one sat a tartar probably a cossack judging by
the uniform thrown down beside him four soldiers were holding him and
a spectacled doctor was cutting into his muscular brown back 

 ooh ooh ooh grunted the tartar and suddenly lifting up his swarthy
snub nosed face with its high cheekbones and baring his white teeth 
he began to wriggle and twitch his body and utter piercing ringing 
and prolonged yells on the other table round which many people were
crowding a tall well fed man lay on his back with his head thrown back 
his curly hair its color and the shape of his head seemed strangely
familiar to prince andrew several dressers were pressing on his chest
to hold him down one large white plump leg twitched rapidly all
the time with a feverish tremor the man was sobbing and choking
convulsively two doctors one of whom was pale and trembling were
silently doing something to this man's other gory leg when he had
finished with the tartar whom they covered with an overcoat the
spectacled doctor came up to prince andrew wiping his hands 

he glanced at prince andrew's face and quickly turned away 

 undress him what are you waiting for he cried angrily to the
dressers 

his very first remotest recollections of childhood came back to prince
andrew's mind when the dresser with sleeves rolled up began hastily to
undo the buttons of his clothes and undressed him the doctor bent
down over the wound felt it and sighed deeply then he made a sign to
someone and the torturing pain in his abdomen caused prince andrew to
lose consciousness when he came to himself the splintered portions of
his thighbone had been extracted the torn flesh cut away and the
wound bandaged water was being sprinkled on his face as soon as prince
andrew opened his eyes the doctor bent over kissed him silently on the
lips and hurried away 

after the sufferings he had been enduring prince andrew enjoyed a
blissful feeling such as he had not experienced for a long time all the
best and happiest moments of his life especially his earliest childhood 
when he used to be undressed and put to bed and when leaning over him
his nurse sang him to sleep and he burying his head in the pillow 
felt happy in the mere consciousness of life returned to his memory not
merely as something past but as something present 

the doctors were busily engaged with the wounded man the shape of whose
head seemed familiar to prince andrew they were lifting him up and
trying to quiet him 

 show it to me oh ooh oh oh ooh his frightened moans could
be heard subdued by suffering and broken by sobs 

hearing those moans prince andrew wanted to weep whether because he
was dying without glory or because he was sorry to part with life 
or because of those memories of a childhood that could not return or
because he was suffering and others were suffering and that man near him
was groaning so piteously he felt like weeping childlike kindly and
almost happy tears 

the wounded man was shown his amputated leg stained with clotted blood
and with the boot still on 

 oh oh ooh he sobbed like a woman 

the doctor who had been standing beside him preventing prince andrew
from seeing his face moved away 

 my god what is this why is he here said prince andrew to himself 

in the miserable sobbing enfeebled man whose leg had just been
amputated he recognized anatole kuragin men were supporting him in
their arms and offering him a glass of water but his trembling swollen
lips could not grasp its rim anatole was sobbing painfully yes it is
he yes that man is somehow closely and painfully connected with me 
thought prince andrew not yet clearly grasping what he saw before him 
 what is the connection of that man with my childhood and life he
asked himself without finding an answer and suddenly a new unexpected
memory from that realm of pure and loving childhood presented itself to
him he remembered natasha as he had seen her for the first time at the
ball in 1810 with her slender neck and arms and with a frightened happy
face ready for rapture and love and tenderness for her stronger
and more vivid than ever awoke in his soul he now remembered the
connection that existed between himself and this man who was dimly
gazing at him through tears that filled his swollen eyes he remembered
everything and ecstatic pity and love for that man overflowed his happy
heart 

prince andrew could no longer restrain himself and wept tender loving
tears for his fellow men for himself and for his own and their errors 

 compassion love of our brothers for those who love us and for those
who hate us love of our enemies yes that love which god preached on
earth and which princess mary taught me and i did not understand that is
what made me sorry to part with life that is what remained for me had i
lived but now it is too late i know it 





chapter xxxviii

the terrible spectacle of the battlefield covered with dead and wounded 
together with the heaviness of his head and the news that some twenty
generals he knew personally had been killed or wounded and the
consciousness of the impotence of his once mighty arm produced an
unexpected impression on napoleon who usually liked to look at the
killed and wounded thereby he considered testing his strength of
mind this day the horrible appearance of the battlefield overcame
that strength of mind which he thought constituted his merit and his
greatness he rode hurriedly from the battlefield and returned to the
shevardino knoll where he sat on his campstool his sallow face
swollen and heavy his eyes dim his nose red and his voice hoarse 
involuntarily listening with downcast eyes to the sounds of firing 
with painful dejection he awaited the end of this action in which he
regarded himself as a participant and which he was unable to arrest 
a personal human feeling for a brief moment got the better of the
artificial phantasm of life he had served so long he felt in his own
person the sufferings and death he had witnessed on the battlefield 
the heaviness of his head and chest reminded him of the possibility
of suffering and death for himself at that moment he did not desire
moscow or victory or glory what need had he for any more glory the
one thing he wished for was rest tranquillity and freedom but when he
had been on the semenovsk heights the artillery commander had proposed
to him to bring several batteries of artillery up to those heights to
strengthen the fire on the russian troops crowded in front of knyazkovo 
napoleon had assented and had given orders that news should be brought
to him of the effect those batteries produced 

an adjutant came now to inform him that the fire of two hundred guns
had been concentrated on the russians as he had ordered but that they
still held their ground 

 our fire is mowing them down by rows but still they hold on said the
adjutant 

 they want more said napoleon in a hoarse voice 

 sire asked the adjutant who had not heard the remark 

 they want more croaked napoleon frowning let them have it 

even before he gave that order the thing he did not desire and for
which he gave the order only because he thought it was expected of him 
was being done and he fell back into that artificial realm of imaginary
greatness and again as a horse walking a treadmill thinks it is doing
something for itself he submissively fulfilled the cruel sad gloomy 
and inhuman role predestined for him 

and not for that day and hour alone were the mind and conscience
darkened of this man on whom the responsibility for what was happening
lay more than on all the others who took part in it never to the end
of his life could he understand goodness beauty or truth or the
significance of his actions which were too contrary to goodness and
truth too remote from everything human for him ever to be able to
grasp their meaning he could not disavow his actions belauded as they
were by half the world and so he had to repudiate truth goodness and
all humanity 

not only on that day as he rode over the battlefield strewn with men
killed and maimed by his will as he believed did he reckon as he
looked at them how many russians there were for each frenchman and 
deceiving himself find reason for rejoicing in the calculation that
there were five russians for every frenchman not on that day alone
did he write in a letter to paris that the battle field was superb 
because fifty thousand corpses lay there but even on the island of st 
helena in the peaceful solitude where he said he intended to devote his
leisure to an account of the great deeds he had done he wrote 

the russian war should have been the most popular war of modern times 
it was a war of good sense for real interests for the tranquillity and
security of all it was purely pacific and conservative 

it was a war for a great cause the end of uncertainties and the
beginning of security a new horizon and new labors were opening out 
full of well being and prosperity for all the european system was
already founded all that remained was to organize it 

satisfied on these great points and with tranquility everywhere i
too should have had my congress and my holy alliance those ideas were
stolen from me in that reunion of great sovereigns we should have
discussed our interests like one family and have rendered account to
the peoples as clerk to master 

europe would in this way soon have been in fact but one people and
anyone who traveled anywhere would have found himself always in the
common fatherland i should have demanded the freedom of all navigable
rivers for everybody that the seas should be common to all and that
the great standing armies should be reduced henceforth to mere guards
for the sovereigns 

on returning to france to the bosom of the great strong magnificent 
peaceful and glorious fatherland i should have proclaimed
her frontiers immutable all future wars purely defensive all
aggrandizement antinational i should have associated my son in the
empire my dictatorship would have been finished and his constitutional
reign would have begun 

paris would have been the capital of the world and the french the envy
of the nations 

my leisure then and my old age would have been devoted in company
with the empress and during the royal apprenticeship of my son to
leisurely visiting with our own horses and like a true country couple 
every corner of the empire receiving complaints redressing wrongs 
and scattering public buildings and benefactions on all sides and
everywhere 

napoleon predestined by providence for the gloomy role of executioner
of the peoples assured himself that the aim of his actions had been the
peoples welfare and that he could control the fate of millions and by
the employment of power confer benefactions 

 of four hundred thousand who crossed the vistula he wrote further
of the russian war half were austrians prussians saxons poles 
bavarians wurttembergers mecklenburgers spaniards italians and
neapolitans the imperial army strictly speaking was one third
composed of dutch belgians men from the borders of the rhine 
piedmontese swiss genevese tuscans romans inhabitants of the
thirty second military division of bremen of hamburg and so on it
included scarcely a hundred and forty thousand who spoke french the
russian expedition actually cost france less than fifty thousand men 
the russian army in its retreat from vilna to moscow lost in the various
battles four times more men than the french army the burning of moscow
cost the lives of a hundred thousand russians who died of cold and want
in the woods finally in its march from moscow to the oder the russian
army also suffered from the severity of the season so that by the time
it reached vilna it numbered only fifty thousand and at kalisch less
than eighteen thousand 

he imagined that the war with russia came about by his will and the
horrors that occurred did not stagger his soul he boldly took the
whole responsibility for what happened and his darkened mind found
justification in the belief that among the hundreds of thousands who
perished there were fewer frenchmen than hessians and bavarians 





chapter xxxix

several tens of thousands of the slain lay in diverse postures and
various uniforms on the fields and meadows belonging to the davydov
family and to the crown serfs those fields and meadows where for
hundreds of years the peasants of borodino gorki shevardino and
semenovsk had reaped their harvests and pastured their cattle at the
dressing stations the grass and earth were soaked with blood for a space
of some three acres around crowds of men of various arms wounded and
unwounded with frightened faces dragged themselves back to mozhaysk
from the one army and back to valuevo from the other other crowds 
exhausted and hungry went forward led by their officers others held
their ground and continued to fire 

over the whole field previously so gaily beautiful with the glitter of
bayonets and cloudlets of smoke in the morning sun there now spread a
mist of damp and smoke and a strange acid smell of saltpeter and blood 
clouds gathered and drops of rain began to fall on the dead and wounded 
on the frightened exhausted and hesitating men as if to say enough 
men enough cease bethink yourselves what are you doing 

to the men of both sides alike worn out by want of food and rest 
it began equally to appear doubtful whether they should continue to
slaughter one another all the faces expressed hesitation and the
question arose in every soul for what for whom must i kill and be
killed you may go and kill whom you please but i don't want to do
so any more by evening this thought had ripened in every soul at any
moment these men might have been seized with horror at what they were
doing and might have thrown up everything and run away anywhere 

but though toward the end of the battle the men felt all the horror of
what they were doing though they would have been glad to leave off 
some incomprehensible mysterious power continued to control them and
they still brought up the charges loaded aimed and applied the match 
though only one artilleryman survived out of every three and though
they stumbled and panted with fatigue perspiring and stained with blood
and powder the cannon balls flew just as swiftly and cruelly from both
sides crushing human bodies and that terrible work which was not done
by the will of a man but at the will of him who governs men and worlds
continued 

anyone looking at the disorganized rear of the russian army would have
said that if only the french made one more slight effort it would
disappear and anyone looking at the rear of the french army would have
said that the russians need only make one more slight effort and the
french would be destroyed but neither the french nor the russians made
that effort and the flame of battle burned slowly out 

the russians did not make that effort because they were not attacking
the french at the beginning of the battle they stood blocking the
way to moscow and they still did so at the end of the battle as at the
beginning but even had the aim of the russians been to drive the french
from their positions they could not have made this last effort for all
the russian troops had been broken up there was no part of the russian
army that had not suffered in the battle and though still holding their
positions they had lost one half of their army 

the french with the memory of all their former victories during
fifteen years with the assurance of napoleon's invincibility with the
consciousness that they had captured part of the battlefield and had
lost only a quarter of their men and still had their guards intact 
twenty thousand strong might easily have made that effort the french
who had attacked the russian army in order to drive it from its position
ought to have made that effort for as long as the russians continued to
block the road to moscow as before the aim of the french had not been
attained and all their efforts and losses were in vain but the french
did not make that effort some historians say that napoleon need only
have used his old guards who were intact and the battle would have
been won to speak of what would have happened had napoleon sent his
guards is like talking of what would happen if autumn became spring it
could not be napoleon did not give his guards not because he did not
want to but because it could not be done all the generals officers 
and soldiers of the french army knew it could not be done because the
flagging spirit of the troops would not permit it 

it was not napoleon alone who had experienced that nightmare feeling
of the mighty arm being stricken powerless but all the generals and
soldiers of his army whether they had taken part in the battle or not 
after all their experience of previous battles when after one tenth of
such efforts the enemy had fled experienced a similar feeling of terror
before an enemy who after losing half his men stood as threateningly
at the end as at the beginning of the battle the moral force of the
attacking french army was exhausted not that sort of victory which is
defined by the capture of pieces of material fastened to sticks called
standards and of the ground on which the troops had stood and were
standing but a moral victory that convinces the enemy of the moral
superiority of his opponent and of his own impotence was gained by the
russians at borodino the french invaders like an infuriated animal
that has in its onslaught received a mortal wound felt that they were
perishing but could not stop any more than the russian army weaker
by one half could help swerving by impetus gained the french army was
still able to roll forward to moscow but there without further effort
on the part of the russians it had to perish bleeding from the mortal
wound it had received at borodino the direct consequence of the battle
of borodino was napoleon's senseless flight from moscow his retreat
along the old smolensk road the destruction of the invading army of
five hundred thousand men and the downfall of napoleonic france on
which at borodino for the first time the hand of an opponent of stronger
spirit had been laid 





book eleven 1812





chapter i

absolute continuity of motion is not comprehensible to the human mind 
laws of motion of any kind become comprehensible to man only when he
examines arbitrarily selected elements of that motion but at the
same time a large proportion of human error comes from the arbitrary
division of continuous motion into discontinuous elements there is a
well known so called sophism of the ancients consisting in this that
achilles could never catch up with a tortoise he was following in spite
of the fact that he traveled ten times as fast as the tortoise by
the time achilles has covered the distance that separated him from the
tortoise the tortoise has covered one tenth of that distance ahead
of him when achilles has covered that tenth the tortoise has covered
another one hundredth and so on forever this problem seemed to
the ancients insoluble the absurd answer that achilles could never
overtake the tortoise resulted from this that motion was arbitrarily
divided into discontinuous elements whereas the motion both of achilles
and of the tortoise was continuous 

by adopting smaller and smaller elements of motion we only approach a
solution of the problem but never reach it only when we have admitted
the conception of the infinitely small and the resulting geometrical
progression with a common ratio of one tenth and have found the sum of
this progression to infinity do we reach a solution of the problem 

a modern branch of mathematics having achieved the art of dealing with
the infinitely small can now yield solutions in other more complex
problems of motion which used to appear insoluble 

this modern branch of mathematics unknown to the ancients when dealing
with problems of motion admits the conception of the infinitely small 
and so conforms to the chief condition of motion absolute continuity 
and thereby corrects the inevitable error which the human mind cannot
avoid when it deals with separate elements of motion instead of
examining continuous motion 

in seeking the laws of historical movement just the same thing happens 
the movement of humanity arising as it does from innumerable arbitrary
human wills is continuous 

to understand the laws of this continuous movement is the aim of
history but to arrive at these laws resulting from the sum of all
those human wills man's mind postulates arbitrary and disconnected
units the first method of history is to take an arbitrarily selected
series of continuous events and examine it apart from others though
there is and can be no beginning to any event for one event always
flows uninterruptedly from another 

the second method is to consider the actions of some one man a king or a
commander as equivalent to the sum of many individual wills whereas the
sum of individual wills is never expressed by the activity of a single
historic personage 

historical science in its endeavor to draw nearer to truth continually
takes smaller and smaller units for examination but however small the
units it takes we feel that to take any unit disconnected from others 
or to assume a beginning of any phenomenon or to say that the will of
many men is expressed by the actions of any one historic personage is
in itself false 

it needs no critical exertion to reduce utterly to dust any deductions
drawn from history it is merely necessary to select some larger or
smaller unit as the subject of observation as criticism has every
right to do seeing that whatever unit history observes must always be
arbitrarily selected 

only by taking infinitesimally small units for observation the
differential of history that is the individual tendencies of men and
attaining to the art of integrating them that is finding the sum of
these infinitesimals can we hope to arrive at the laws of history 

the first fifteen years of the nineteenth century in europe present an
extraordinary movement of millions of people men leave their customary
pursuits hasten from one side of europe to the other plunder and
slaughter one another triumph and are plunged in despair and for some
years the whole course of life is altered and presents an intensive
movement which first increases and then slackens what was the cause of
this movement by what laws was it governed asks the mind of man 

the historians replying to this question lay before us the sayings and
doings of a few dozen men in a building in the city of paris calling
these sayings and doings the revolution then they give a detailed
biography of napoleon and of certain people favorable or hostile to him 
tell of the influence some of these people had on others and say that
is why this movement took place and those are its laws 

but the mind of man not only refuses to believe this explanation but
plainly says that this method of explanation is fallacious because in
it a weaker phenomenon is taken as the cause of a stronger the sum of
human wills produced the revolution and napoleon and only the sum of
those wills first tolerated and then destroyed them 

 but every time there have been conquests there have been conquerors 
every time there has been a revolution in any state there have been
great men says history and indeed human reason replies every time
conquerors appear there have been wars but this does not prove that the
conquerors caused the wars and that it is possible to find the laws of
a war in the personal activity of a single man whenever i look at my
watch and its hands point to ten i hear the bells of the neighboring
church but because the bells begin to ring when the hands of the clock
reach ten i have no right to assume that the movement of the bells is
caused by the position of the hands of the watch 

whenever i see the movement of a locomotive i hear the whistle and see
the valves opening and wheels turning but i have no right to conclude
that the whistling and the turning of wheels are the cause of the
movement of the engine 

the peasants say that a cold wind blows in late spring because the oaks
are budding and really every spring cold winds do blow when the oak
is budding but though i do not know what causes the cold winds to blow
when the oak buds unfold i cannot agree with the peasants that the
unfolding of the oak buds is the cause of the cold wind for the
force of the wind is beyond the influence of the buds i see only a
coincidence of occurrences such as happens with all the phenomena of
life and i see that however much and however carefully i observe the
hands of the watch and the valves and wheels of the engine and the
oak i shall not discover the cause of the bells ringing the engine
moving or of the winds of spring to that i must entirely change my
point of view and study the laws of the movement of steam of the
bells and of the wind history must do the same and attempts in this
direction have already been made 

to study the laws of history we must completely change the subject of
our observation must leave aside kings ministers and generals and
study the common infinitesimally small elements by which the masses are
moved no one can say in how far it is possible for man to advance
in this way toward an understanding of the laws of history but it is
evident that only along that path does the possibility of discovering
the laws of history lie and that as yet not a millionth part as much
mental effort has been applied in this direction by historians as has
been devoted to describing the actions of various kings commanders 
and ministers and propounding the historians own reflections concerning
these actions 





chapter ii

the forces of a dozen european nations burst into russia the russian
army and people avoided a collision till smolensk was reached and again
from smolensk to borodino the french army pushed on to moscow its
goal its impetus ever increasing as it neared its aim just as the
velocity of a falling body increases as it approaches the earth behind
it were seven hundred miles of hunger stricken hostile country ahead
were a few dozen miles separating it from its goal every soldier in
napoleon's army felt this and the invasion moved on by its own momentum 

the more the russian army retreated the more fiercely a spirit of hatred
of the enemy flared up and while it retreated the army increased and
consolidated at borodino a collision took place neither army was
broken up but the russian army retreated immediately after the
collision as inevitably as a ball recoils after colliding with another
having a greater momentum and with equal inevitability the ball
of invasion that had advanced with such momentum rolled on for some
distance though the collision had deprived it of all its force 

the russians retreated eighty miles to beyond moscow and the french
reached moscow and there came to a standstill for five weeks after that
there was not a single battle the french did not move as a bleeding 
mortally wounded animal licks its wounds they remained inert in moscow
for five weeks and then suddenly with no fresh reason fled back 
they made a dash for the kaluga road and after a victory for at
malo yaroslavets the field of conflict again remained theirs without
undertaking a single serious battle they fled still more rapidly back
to smolensk beyond smolensk beyond the berezina beyond vilna and
farther still 

on the evening of the twenty sixth of august kutuzov and the whole
russian army were convinced that the battle of borodino was a victory 
kutuzov reported so to the emperor he gave orders to prepare for a
fresh conflict to finish the enemy and did this not to deceive anyone 
but because he knew that the enemy was beaten as everyone who had taken
part in the battle knew it 

but all that evening and next day reports came in one after another
of unheard of losses of the loss of half the army and a fresh battle
proved physically impossible 

it was impossible to give battle before information had been collected 
the wounded gathered in the supplies of ammunition replenished the
slain reckoned up new officers appointed to replace those who had been
killed and before the men had had food and sleep and meanwhile the
very next morning after the battle the french army advanced of itself
upon the russians carried forward by the force of its own momentum now
seemingly increased in inverse proportion to the square of the distance
from its aim kutuzov's wish was to attack next day and the whole
army desired to do so but to make an attack the wish to do so is not
sufficient there must also be a possibility of doing it and that
possibility did not exist it was impossible not to retreat a day's
march and then in the same way it was impossible not to retreat another
and a third day's march and at last on the first of september when
the army drew near moscow despite the strength of the feeling that had
arisen in all ranks the force of circumstances compelled it to retire
beyond moscow and the troops retired one more last day's march and
abandoned moscow to the enemy 

for people accustomed to think that plans of campaign and battles are
made by generals as anyone of us sitting over a map in his study may
imagine how he would have arranged things in this or that battle the
questions present themselves why did kutuzov during the retreat not do
this or that why did he not take up a position before reaching fili 
why did he not retire at once by the kaluga road abandoning moscow and
so on people accustomed to think in that way forget or do not know 
the inevitable conditions which always limit the activities of any
commander in chief the activity of a commander in chief does not at all
resemble the activity we imagine to ourselves when we sit at ease in
our studies examining some campaign on the map with a certain number of
troops on this and that side in a certain known locality and begin our
plans from some given moment a commander in chief is never dealing with
the beginning of any event the position from which we always contemplate
it the commander in chief is always in the midst of a series of
shifting events and so he never can at any moment consider the whole
import of an event that is occurring moment by moment the event is
imperceptibly shaping itself and at every moment of this continuous 
uninterrupted shaping of events the commander in chief is in the
midst of a most complex play of intrigues worries contingencies 
authorities projects counsels threats and deceptions and is
continually obliged to reply to innumerable questions addressed to him 
which constantly conflict with one another 

learned military authorities quite seriously tell us that kutuzov should
have moved his army to the kaluga road long before reaching fili and
that somebody actually submitted such a proposal to him but a commander
in chief especially at a difficult moment has always before him not
one proposal but dozens simultaneously and all these proposals based
on strategics and tactics contradict each other 

a commander in chief's business it would seem is simply to choose one
of these projects but even that he cannot do events and time do not
wait for instance on the twenty eighth it is suggested to him to
cross to the kaluga road but just then an adjutant gallops up from
miloradovich asking whether he is to engage the french or retire an
order must be given him at once that instant and the order to retreat
carries us past the turn to the kaluga road and after the adjutant
comes the commissary general asking where the stores are to be taken 
and the chief of the hospitals asks where the wounded are to go and a
courier from petersburg brings a letter from the sovereign which does
not admit of the possibility of abandoning moscow and the commander in
chief's rival the man who is undermining him and there are always
not merely one but several such presents a new project diametrically
opposed to that of turning to the kaluga road and the commander in
chief himself needs sleep and refreshment to maintain his energy and
a respectable general who has been overlooked in the distribution of
rewards comes to complain and the inhabitants of the district pray to
be defended and an officer sent to inspect the locality comes in and
gives a report quite contrary to what was said by the officer
previously sent and a spy a prisoner and a general who has been
on reconnaissance all describe the position of the enemy's army
differently people accustomed to misunderstand or to forget these
inevitable conditions of a commander in chief's actions describe to
us for instance the position of the army at fili and assume that the
commander in chief could on the first of september quite freely decide
whether to abandon moscow or defend it whereas with the russian army
less than four miles from moscow no such question existed when had
that question been settled at drissa and at smolensk and most
palpably of all on the twenty fourth of august at shevardino and on
the twenty sixth at borodino and each day and hour and minute of the
retreat from borodino to fili 





chapter iii

when ermolov having been sent by kutuzov to inspect the position told
the field marshal that it was impossible to fight there before moscow
and that they must retreat kutuzov looked at him in silence 

 give me your hand said he and turning it over so as to feel the
pulse added you are not well my dear fellow think what you are
saying 

kutuzov could not yet admit the possibility of retreating beyond moscow
without a battle 

on the poklonny hill four miles from the dorogomilov gate of moscow 
kutuzov got out of his carriage and sat down on a bench by the roadside 
a great crowd of generals gathered round him and count rostopchin who
had come out from moscow joined them this brilliant company separated
into several groups who all discussed the advantages and disadvantages
of the position the state of the army the plans suggested the
situation of moscow and military questions generally though they had
not been summoned for the purpose and though it was not so called they
all felt that this was really a council of war the conversations all
dealt with public questions if anyone gave or asked for personal
news it was done in a whisper and they immediately reverted to general
matters no jokes or laughter or smiles even were seen among all
these men they evidently all made an effort to hold themselves at the
height the situation demanded and all these groups while talking
among themselves tried to keep near the commander in chief whose
bench formed the center of the gathering and to speak so that he might
overhear them the commander in chief listened to what was being said
and sometimes asked them to repeat their remarks but did not himself
take part in the conversations or express any opinion after hearing
what was being said by one or other of these groups he generally turned
away with an air of disappointment as though they were not speaking of
anything he wished to hear some discussed the position that had been
chosen criticizing not the position itself so much as the mental
capacity of those who had chosen it others argued that a mistake had
been made earlier and that a battle should have been fought two days
before others again spoke of the battle of salamanca which was
described by crosart a newly arrived frenchman in a spanish uniform 
 this frenchman and one of the german princes serving with the russian
army were discussing the siege of saragossa and considering the
possibility of defending moscow in a similar manner count rostopchin
was telling a fourth group that he was prepared to die with the city
train bands under the walls of the capital but that he still could not
help regretting having been left in ignorance of what was happening and
that had he known it sooner things would have been different a
fifth group displaying the profundity of their strategic perceptions 
discussed the direction the troops would now have to take a sixth group
was talking absolute nonsense kutuzov's expression grew more and more
preoccupied and gloomy from all this talk he saw only one thing that
to defend moscow was a physical impossibility in the full meaning of
those words that is to say so utterly impossible that if any senseless
commander were to give orders to fight confusion would result but the
battle would still not take place it would not take place because the
commanders not merely all recognized the position to be impossible but
in their conversations were only discussing what would happen after its
inevitable abandonment how could the commanders lead their troops to
a field of battle they considered impossible to hold the lower grade
officers and even the soldiers who too reason also considered the
position impossible and therefore could not go to fight fully convinced
as they were of defeat if bennigsen insisted on the position being
defended and others still discussed it the question was no longer
important in itself but only as a pretext for disputes and intrigue 
this kutuzov knew well 

bennigsen who had chosen the position warmly displayed his russian
patriotism kutuzov could not listen to this without wincing by
insisting that moscow must be defended his aim was as clear as daylight
to kutuzov if the defense failed to throw the blame on kutuzov who had
brought the army as far as the sparrow hills without giving battle if
it succeeded to claim the success as his own or if battle were not
given to clear himself of the crime of abandoning moscow but this
intrigue did not now occupy the old man's mind one terrible question
absorbed him and to that question he heard no reply from anyone the
question for him now was have i really allowed napoleon to reach
moscow and when did i do so when was it decided can it have been
yesterday when i ordered platov to retreat or was it the evening
before when i had a nap and told bennigsen to issue orders or was it
earlier still when when was this terrible affair decided moscow
must be abandoned the army must retreat and the order to do so must
be given to give that terrible order seemed to him equivalent to
resigning the command of the army and not only did he love power to
which he was accustomed the honours awarded to prince prozorovski 
under whom he had served in turkey galled him but he was convinced
that he was destined to save russia and that that was why against
the emperor's wish and by the will of the people he had been chosen
commander in chief he was convinced that he alone could maintain
command of the army in these difficult circumstances and that in all
the world he alone could encounter the invincible napoleon without fear 
and he was horrified at the thought of the order he had to issue but
something had to be decided and these conversations around him which
were assuming too free a character must be stopped 

he called the most important generals to him 

 my head be it good or bad must depend on itself said he rising
from the bench and he rode to fili where his carriages were waiting 





chapter iv

the council of war began to assemble at two in the afternoon in the
better and roomier part of andrew savostyanov's hut the men women and
children of the large peasant family crowded into the back room across
the passage only malasha andrew's six year old granddaughter whom
his serene highness had petted and to whom he had given a lump of sugar
while drinking his tea remained on the top of the brick oven in the
larger room malasha looked down from the oven with shy delight at the
faces uniforms and decorations of the generals who one after another
came into the room and sat down on the broad benches in the corner
under the icons granddad himself as malasha in her own mind called
kutuzov sat apart in a dark corner behind the oven he sat sunk deep
in a folding armchair and continually cleared his throat and pulled at
the collar of his coat which though it was unbuttoned still seemed
to pinch his neck those who entered went up one by one to the field
marshal he pressed the hands of some and nodded to others his adjutant
kaysarov was about to draw back the curtain of the window facing
kutuzov but the latter moved his hand angrily and kaysarov understood
that his serene highness did not wish his face to be seen 

round the peasant's deal table on which lay maps plans pencils and
papers so many people gathered that the orderlies brought in another
bench and put it beside the table ermolov kaysarov and toll who had
just arrived sat down on this bench in the foremost place immediately
under the icons sat barclay de tolly his high forehead merging into
his bald crown he had a st george's cross round his neck and looked
pale and ill he had been feverish for two days and was now shivering
and in pain beside him sat uvarov who with rapid gesticulations was
giving him some information speaking in low tones as they all did 
chubby little dokhturov was listening attentively with eyebrows
raised and arms folded on his stomach on the other side sat count
ostermann tolstoy seemingly absorbed in his own thoughts his broad
head with its bold features and glittering eyes was resting on his hand 
raevski twitching forward the black hair on his temples as was his
habit glanced now at kutuzov and now at the door with a look of
impatience konovnitsyn's firm handsome and kindly face was lit up by
a tender sly smile his glance met malasha's and the expression of his
eyes caused the little girl to smile 

they were all waiting for bennigsen who on the pretext of inspecting
the position was finishing his savory dinner they waited for him from
four till six o'clock and did not begin their deliberations all that
time but talked in low tones of other matters 

only when bennigsen had entered the hut did kutuzov leave his corner and
draw toward the table but not near enough for the candles that had been
placed there to light up his face 

bennigsen opened the council with the question are we to abandon
russia's ancient and sacred capital without a struggle or are we to
defend it a prolonged and general silence followed there was a frown
on every face and only kutuzov's angry grunts and occasional cough
broke the silence all eyes were gazing at him malasha too looked at
 granddad she was nearest to him and saw how his face puckered he
seemed about to cry but this did not last long 

 russia's ancient and sacred capital he suddenly said repeating
bennigsen's words in an angry voice and thereby drawing attention to the
false note in them allow me to tell you your excellency that that
question has no meaning for a russian he lurched his heavy body
forward such a question cannot be put it is senseless the question
i have asked these gentlemen to meet to discuss is a military one 
the question is that of saving russia is it better to give up moscow
without a battle or by accepting battle to risk losing the army as well
as moscow that is the question on which i want your opinion and he
sank back in his chair 

the discussion began bennigsen did not yet consider his game lost 
admitting the view of barclay and others that a defensive battle at
fili was impossible but imbued with russian patriotism and the love
of moscow he proposed to move troops from the right to the left flank
during the night and attack the french right flank the following day 
opinions were divided and arguments were advanced for and against that
project ermolov dokhturov and raevski agreed with bennigsen whether
feeling it necessary to make a sacrifice before abandoning the capital
or guided by other personal considerations these generals seemed not
to understand that this council could not alter the inevitable course
of events and that moscow was in effect already abandoned the other
generals however understood it and leaving aside the question of
moscow spoke of the direction the army should take in its retreat 
malasha who kept her eyes fixed on what was going on before her 
understood the meaning of the council differently it seemed to her that
it was only a personal struggle between granddad and long coat as
she termed bennigsen she saw that they grew spiteful when they spoke to
one another and in her heart she sided with granddad in the midst of
the conversation she noticed granddad give bennigsen a quick subtle
glance and then to her joys she saw that granddad said something to
 long coat which settled him bennigsen suddenly reddened and paced
angrily up and down the room what so affected him was kutuzov's calm
and quiet comment on the advantage or disadvantage of bennigsen's
proposal to move troops by night from the right to the left flank to
attack the french right wing 

 gentlemen said kutuzov i cannot approve of the count's plan moving
troops in close proximity to an enemy is always dangerous and military
history supports that view for instance kutuzov seemed to reflect 
searching for an example then with a clear naive look at bennigsen he
added oh yes take the battle of friedland which i think the count
well remembers and which was not fully successful only because our
troops were rearranged too near the enemy 

there followed a momentary pause which seemed very long to them all 

the discussion recommenced but pauses frequently occurred and they all
felt that there was no more to be said 

during one of these pauses kutuzov heaved a deep sigh as if preparing to
speak they all looked at him 

 well gentlemen i see that it is i who will have to pay for the broken
crockery said he and rising slowly he moved to the table gentlemen 
i have heard your views some of you will not agree with me but i he
paused by the authority entrusted to me by my sovereign and country 
order a retreat 

after that the generals began to disperse with the solemnity and
circumspect silence of people who are leaving after a funeral 

some of the generals in low tones and in a strain very different from
the way they had spoken during the council communicated something to
their commander in chief 

malasha who had long been expected for supper climbed carefully
backwards down from the oven her bare little feet catching at its
projections and slipping between the legs of the generals she darted
out of the room 

when he had dismissed the generals kutuzov sat a long time with his
elbows on the table thinking always of the same terrible question 
 when when did the abandonment of moscow become inevitable when was
that done which settled the matter and who was to blame for it 

 i did not expect this said he to his adjutant schneider when the
latter came in late that night i did not expect this i did not think
this would happen 

 you should take some rest your serene highness replied schneider 

 but no they shall eat horseflesh yet like the turks exclaimed
kutuzov without replying striking the table with his podgy fist they
shall too if only 





chapter v

at that very time in circumstances even more important than retreating
without a battle namely the evacuation and burning of moscow 
rostopchin who is usually represented as being the instigator of that
event acted in an altogether different manner from kutuzov 

after the battle of borodino the abandonment and burning of moscow was
as inevitable as the retreat of the army beyond moscow without fighting 

every russian might have predicted it not by reasoning but by the
feeling implanted in each of us and in our fathers 

the same thing that took place in moscow had happened in all the towns
and villages on russian soil beginning with smolensk without the
participation of count rostopchin and his broadsheets the people
awaited the enemy unconcernedly did not riot or become excited or tear
anyone to pieces but faced its fate feeling within it the strength to
find what it should do at that most difficult moment and as soon as the
enemy drew near the wealthy classes went away abandoning their property 
while the poorer remained and burned and destroyed what was left 

the consciousness that this would be so and would always be so was and
is present in the heart of every russian and a consciousness of this 
and a foreboding that moscow would be taken was present in russian
moscow society in 1812 those who had quitted moscow already in july
and at the beginning of august showed that they expected this those who
went away taking what they could and abandoning their houses and half
their belongings did so from the latent patriotism which expresses
itself not by phrases or by giving one's children to save the fatherland
and similar unnatural exploits but unobtrusively simply organically 
and therefore in the way that always produces the most powerful results 

 it is disgraceful to run away from danger only cowards are running
away from moscow they were told in his broadsheets rostopchin
impressed on them that to leave moscow was shameful they were ashamed
to be called cowards ashamed to leave but still they left knowing
it had to be done why did they go it is impossible to suppose that
rostopchin had scared them by his accounts of horrors napoleon had
committed in conquered countries the first people to go away were the
rich educated people who knew quite well that vienna and berlin had
remained intact and that during napoleon's occupation the inhabitants
had spent their time pleasantly in the company of the charming frenchmen
whom the russians and especially the russian ladies then liked so
much 

they went away because for russians there could be no question as to
whether things would go well or ill under french rule in moscow it was
out of the question to be under french rule it would be the worst thing
that could happen they went away even before the battle of borodino and
still more rapidly after it despite rostopchin's calls to defend moscow
or the announcement of his intention to take the wonder working icon of
the iberian mother of god and go to fight or of the balloons that were
to destroy the french and despite all the nonsense rostopchin wrote in
his broadsheets they knew that it was for the army to fight and that
if it could not succeed it would not do to take young ladies and house
serfs to the three hills quarter of moscow to fight napoleon and that
they must go away sorry as they were to abandon their property
to destruction they went away without thinking of the tremendous
significance of that immense and wealthy city being given over to
destruction for a great city with wooden buildings was certain when
abandoned by its inhabitants to be burned they went away each on his
own account and yet it was only in consequence of their going away
that the momentous event was accomplished that will always remain the
greatest glory of the russian people the lady who afraid of being
stopped by count rostopchin's orders had already in june moved with her
negroes and her women jesters from moscow to her saratov estate with
a vague consciousness that she was not bonaparte's servant was really 
simply and truly carrying out the great work which saved russia but
count rostopchin who now taunted those who left moscow and now had the
government offices removed now distributed quite useless weapons to
the drunken rabble now had processions displaying the icons and now
forbade father augustin to remove icons or the relics of saints now
seized all the private carts in moscow and on one hundred and thirty six
of them removed the balloon that was being constructed by leppich now
hinted that he would burn moscow and related how he had set fire to his
own house now wrote a proclamation to the french solemnly upbraiding
them for having destroyed his orphanage now claimed the glory of
having hinted that he would burn moscow and now repudiated the deed 
now ordered the people to catch all spies and bring them to him and now
reproached them for doing so now expelled all the french residents from
moscow and now allowed madame aubert chalme the center of the whole
french colony in moscow to remain but ordered the venerable old
postmaster klyucharev to be arrested and exiled for no particular
offense now assembled the people at the three hills to fight the french
and now to get rid of them handed over to them a man to be killed
and himself drove away by a back gate now declared that he would
not survive the fall of moscow and now wrote french verses in albums
concerning his share in the affair this man did not understand the
meaning of what was happening but merely wanted to do something himself
that would astonish people to perform some patriotically heroic
feat and like a child he made sport of the momentous and unavoidable
event the abandonment and burning of moscow and tried with his puny hand
now to speed and now to stay the enormous popular tide that bore him
along with it 





chapter vi

helene having returned with the court from vilna to petersburg found
herself in a difficult position 

in petersburg she had enjoyed the special protection of a grandee who
occupied one of the highest posts in the empire in vilna she had formed
an intimacy with a young foreign prince when she returned to petersburg
both the magnate and the prince were there and both claimed their
rights helene was faced by a new problem how to preserve her intimacy
with both without offending either 

what would have seemed difficult or even impossible to another woman did
not cause the least embarrassment to countess bezukhova who evidently
deserved her reputation of being a very clever woman had she attempted
concealment or tried to extricate herself from her awkward position
by cunning she would have spoiled her case by acknowledging herself
guilty but helene like a really great man who can do whatever
he pleases at once assumed her own position to be correct as she
sincerely believed it to be and that everyone else was to blame 

the first time the young foreigner allowed himself to reproach her she
lifted her beautiful head and half turning to him said firmly that's
just like a man selfish and cruel i expected nothing else a woman
sacrifices herself for you she suffers and this is her reward what
right have you monseigneur to demand an account of my attachments and
friendships he is a man who has been more than a father to me the
prince was about to say something but helene interrupted him 

 well yes said she it may be that he has other sentiments for me
than those of a father but that is not a reason for me to shut my door
on him i am not a man that i should repay kindness with ingratitude 
know monseigneur that in all that relates to my intimate feelings i
render account only to god and to my conscience she concluded laying
her hand on her beautiful fully expanded bosom and looking up to
heaven 

 but for heaven's sake listen to me 

 marry me and i will be your slave 

 but that's impossible 

 you won't deign to demean yourself by marrying me you said helene 
beginning to cry 

the prince tried to comfort her but helene as if quite distraught 
said through her tears that there was nothing to prevent her marrying 
that there were precedents there were up to that time very few but
she mentioned napoleon and some other exalted personages that she had
never been her husband's wife and that she had been sacrificed 

 but the law religion said the prince already yielding 

 the law religion what have they been invented for if they can't
arrange that said helene 

the prince was surprised that so simple an idea had not occurred to him 
and he applied for advice to the holy brethren of the society of jesus 
with whom he was on intimate terms 

a few days later at one of those enchanting fetes which helene gave at
her country house on the stone island the charming monsieur de jobert 
a man no longer young with snow white hair and brilliant black eyes 
a jesuit a robe courte was presented to her and in the garden by the
light of the illuminations and to the sound of music talked to her for a
long time of the love of god of christ of the sacred heart and of the
consolations the one true catholic religion affords in this world and
the next helene was touched and more than once tears rose to her eyes
and to those of monsieur de jobert and their voices trembled a dance 
for which her partner came to seek her put an end to her discourse with
her future directeur de conscience but the next evening monsieur de
jobert came to see helene when she was alone and after that often came
again 

 lay member of the society of jesus 

one day he took the countess to a roman catholic church where she knelt
down before the altar to which she was led the enchanting middle aged
frenchman laid his hands on her head and as she herself afterward
described it she felt something like a fresh breeze wafted into her
soul it was explained to her that this was la grace 

after that a long frocked abbe was brought to her she confessed to
him and he absolved her from her sins next day she received a box
containing the sacred host which was left at her house for her to
partake of a few days later helene learned with pleasure that she had
now been admitted to the true catholic church and that in a few days the
pope himself would hear of her and would send her a certain document 

all that was done around her and to her at this time all the attention
devoted to her by so many clever men and expressed in such pleasant 
refined ways and the state of dove like purity she was now in she wore
only white dresses and white ribbons all that time gave her pleasure 
but her pleasure did not cause her for a moment to forget her aim and
as it always happens in contests of cunning that a stupid person gets
the better of cleverer ones helene having realized that the main object
of all these words and all this trouble was after converting her to
catholicism to obtain money from her for jesuit institutions as to
which she received indications before parting with her money insisted
that the various operations necessary to free her from her husband
should be performed in her view the aim of every religion was merely
to preserve certain proprieties while affording satisfaction to
human desires and with this aim in one of her talks with her father
confessor she insisted on an answer to the question in how far was she
bound by her marriage 

they were sitting in the twilight by a window in the drawing room 
the scent of flowers came in at the window helene was wearing a white
dress transparent over her shoulders and bosom the abbe a well fed
man with a plump clean shaven chin a pleasant firm mouth and white
hands meekly folded on his knees sat close to helene and with a
subtle smile on his lips and a peaceful look of delight at her beauty 
occasionally glanced at her face as he explained his opinion on the
subject helene with an uneasy smile looked at his curly hair and his
plump clean shaven blackish cheeks and every moment expected the
conversation to take a fresh turn but the abbe though he evidently
enjoyed the beauty of his companion was absorbed in his mastery of the
matter 

the course of the father confessor's arguments ran as follows ignorant
of the import of what you were undertaking you made a vow of conjugal
fidelity to a man who on his part by entering the married state without
faith in the religious significance of marriage committed an act of
sacrilege that marriage lacked the dual significance it should have
had yet in spite of this your vow was binding you swerved from it 
what did you commit by so acting a venial or a mortal sin a venial
sin for you acted without evil intention if now you married again
with the object of bearing children your sin might be forgiven but the
question is again a twofold one firstly 

but suddenly helene who was getting bored said with one of her
bewitching smiles but i think that having espoused the true religion i
cannot be bound by what a false religion laid upon me 

the director of her conscience was astounded at having the case
presented to him thus with the simplicity of columbus egg he was
delighted at the unexpected rapidity of his pupil's progress but could
not abandon the edifice of argument he had laboriously constructed 

 let us understand one another countess said he with a smile and
began refuting his spiritual daughter's arguments 





chapter vii

helene understood that the question was very simple and easy from
the ecclesiastical point of view and that her directors were making
difficulties only because they were apprehensive as to how the matter
would be regarded by the secular authorities 

so she decided that it was necessary to prepare the opinion of society 
she provoked the jealousy of the elderly magnate and told him what she
had told her other suitor that is she put the matter so that the only
way for him to obtain a right over her was to marry her the elderly
magnate was at first as much taken aback by this suggestion of marriage
with a woman whose husband was alive as the younger man had been but
helene's imperturbable conviction that it was as simple and natural as
marrying a maiden had its effect on him too had helene herself shown
the least sign of hesitation shame or secrecy her cause would
certainly have been lost but not only did she show no signs of secrecy
or shame on the contrary with good natured naivete she told her
intimate friends and these were all petersburg that both the prince
and the magnate had proposed to her and that she loved both and was
afraid of grieving either 

a rumor immediately spread in petersburg not that helene wanted to
be divorced from her husband had such a report spread many would have
opposed so illegal an intention but simply that the unfortunate and
interesting helene was in doubt which of the two men she should marry 
the question was no longer whether this was possible but only which was
the better match and how the matter would be regarded at court there
were it is true some rigid individuals unable to rise to the height of
such a question who saw in the project a desecration of the sacrament
of marriage but there were not many such and they remained silent 
while the majority were interested in helene's good fortune and in the
question which match would be the more advantageous whether it was
right or wrong to remarry while one had a husband living they did not
discuss for that question had evidently been settled by people wiser
than you or me as they said and to doubt the correctness of that
decision would be to risk exposing one's stupidity and incapacity to
live in society 

only marya dmitrievna akhrosimova who had come to petersburg that
summer to see one of her sons allowed herself plainly to express
an opinion contrary to the general one meeting helene at a ball she
stopped her in the middle of the room and amid general silence said
in her gruff voice so wives of living men have started marrying
again perhaps you think you have invented a novelty you have been
forestalled my dear it was thought of long ago it is done in all the
brothels and with these words marya dmitrievna turning up her wide
sleeves with her usual threatening gesture and glancing sternly round 
moved across the room 

though people were afraid of marya dmitrievna she was regarded in
petersburg as a buffoon and so of what she had said they only noticed 
and repeated in a whisper the one coarse word she had used supposing
the whole sting of her remark to lie in that word 

prince vasili who of late very often forgot what he had said and
repeated one and the same thing a hundred times remarked to his
daughter whenever he chanced to see her 

 helene i have a word to say to you and he would lead her
aside drawing her hand downward i have heard of certain projects
concerning you know well my dear child you know how your father's
heart rejoices to know that you you have suffered so much but my
dear child consult only your own heart that is all i have to say and
concealing his unvarying emotion he would press his cheek against his
daughter's and move away 

bilibin who had not lost his reputation of an exceedingly clever man 
and who was one of the disinterested friends so brilliant a woman as
helene always has men friends who can never change into lovers once gave
her his view of the matter at a small and intimate gathering 

 listen bilibin said helene she always called friends of that sort
by their surnames and she touched his coat sleeve with her white 
beringed fingers tell me as you would a sister what i ought to do 
which of the two 

bilibin wrinkled up the skin over his eyebrows and pondered with a
smile on his lips 

 you are not taking me unawares you know said he as a true friend 
i have thought and thought again about your affair you see if you
marry the prince he meant the younger man and he crooked one finger 
 you forever lose the chance of marrying the other and you will
displease the court besides you know there is some kind of
connection but if you marry the old count you will make his last days
happy and as widow of the grand the prince would no longer be making
a mesalliance by marrying you and bilibin smoothed out his forehead 

 that's a true friend said helene beaming and again touching
bilibin's sleeve but i love them you know and don't want to distress
either of them i would give my life for the happiness of them both 

bilibin shrugged his shoulders as much as to say that not even he could
help in that difficulty 

 une maitresse femme that's what is called putting things squarely 
she would like to be married to all three at the same time thought he 

 a masterly woman 

 but tell me how will your husband look at the matter bilibin asked 
his reputation being so well established that he did not fear to ask so
naive a question will he agree 

 oh he loves me so said helene who for some reason imagined that
pierre too loved her he will do anything for me 

bilibin puckered his skin in preparation for something witty 

 even divorce you said he 

helene laughed 

among those who ventured to doubt the justifiability of the proposed
marriage was helene's mother princess kuragina she was continually
tormented by jealousy of her daughter and now that jealousy concerned
a subject near to her own heart she could not reconcile herself to the
idea she consulted a russian priest as to the possibility of divorce
and remarriage during a husband's lifetime and the priest told her that
it was impossible and to her delight showed her a text in the gospel
which as it seemed to him plainly forbids remarriage while the husband
is alive 

armed with these arguments which appeared to her unanswerable she
drove to her daughter's early one morning so as to find her alone 

having listened to her mother's objections helene smiled blandly and
ironically 

 but it says plainly whosoever shall marry her that is divorced 
said the old princess 

 ah maman ne dites pas de betises vous ne comprenez rien dans ma
position j'ai des devoirs said helene changing from russian in
which language she always felt that her case did not sound quite clear 
into french which suited it better 

 oh mamma don't talk nonsense you don't understand
 anything in my position i have obligations 


 but my dear 

 oh mamma how is it you don't understand that the holy father who has
the right to grant dispensations 

just then the lady companion who lived with helene came in to announce
that his highness was in the ballroom and wished to see her 

 non dites lui que je ne veux pas le voir que je suis furieuse contre
lui parce qu'il m'a manque parole 

 no tell him i don't wish to see him i am furious with
 him for not keeping his word to me 


 comtesse a tout peche misericorde said a fair haired young man
with a long face and nose as he entered the room 

 countess there is mercy for every sin 


the old princess rose respectfully and curtsied the young man who had
entered took no notice of her the princess nodded to her daughter and
sidled out of the room 

 yes she is right thought the old princess all her convictions
dissipated by the appearance of his highness she is right but how
is it that we in our irrecoverable youth did not know it yet it is so
simple she thought as she got into her carriage 


by the beginning of august helene's affairs were clearly defined and
she wrote a letter to her husband who as she imagined loved her very
much informing him of her intention to marry n n and of her having
embraced the one true faith and asking him to carry out all the
formalities necessary for a divorce which would be explained to him by
the bearer of the letter 

and so i pray god to have you my friend in his holy and powerful
keeping your friend helene 

this letter was brought to pierre's house when he was on the field of
borodino 





chapter viii

toward the end of the battle of borodino pierre having run down
from raevski's battery a second time made his way through a gully to
knyazkovo with a crowd of soldiers reached the dressing station and
seeing blood and hearing cries and groans hurried on still entangled in
the crowds of soldiers 

the one thing he now desired with his whole soul was to get away quickly
from the terrible sensations amid which he had lived that day and return
to ordinary conditions of life and sleep quietly in a room in his own
bed he felt that only in the ordinary conditions of life would he
be able to understand himself and all he had seen and felt but such
ordinary conditions of life were nowhere to be found 

though shells and bullets did not whistle over the road along which he
was going still on all sides there was what there had been on the field
of battle there were still the same suffering exhausted and sometimes
strangely indifferent faces the same blood the same soldiers 
overcoats the same sounds of firing which though distant now still
aroused terror and besides this there were the foul air and the dust 

having gone a couple of miles along the mozhaysk road pierre sat down
by the roadside 

dusk had fallen and the roar of guns died away pierre lay leaning on
his elbow for a long time gazing at the shadows that moved past him in
the darkness he was continually imagining that a cannon ball was flying
toward him with a terrific whizz and then he shuddered and sat up he
had no idea how long he had been there in the middle of the night three
soldiers having brought some firewood settled down near him and began
lighting a fire 

the soldiers who threw sidelong glances at pierre got the fire to burn
and placed an iron pot on it into which they broke some dried bread and
put a little dripping the pleasant odor of greasy viands mingled with
the smell of smoke pierre sat up and sighed the three soldiers were
eating and talking among themselves taking no notice of him 

 and who may you be one of them suddenly asked pierre evidently
meaning what pierre himself had in mind namely if you want to eat
we'll give you some food only let us know whether you are an honest
man 

 i i said pierre feeling it necessary to minimize his social
position as much as possible so as to be nearer to the soldiers and
better understood by them by rights i am a militia officer but my men
are not here i came to the battle and have lost them 

 there now said one of the soldiers 

another shook his head 

 would you like a little mash the first soldier asked and handed
pierre a wooden spoon after licking it clean 

pierre sat down by the fire and began eating the mash as they called
the food in the cauldron and he thought it more delicious than any food
he had ever tasted as he sat bending greedily over it helping himself
to large spoonfuls and chewing one after another his face was lit up by
the fire and the soldiers looked at him in silence 

 where have you to go to tell us said one of them 

 to mozhaysk 

 you're a gentleman aren't you 

 yes 

 and what's your name 

 peter kirilych 

 well then peter kirilych come along with us we'll take you there 

in the total darkness the soldiers walked with pierre to mozhaysk 

by the time they got near mozhaysk and began ascending the steep hill
into the town the cocks were already crowing pierre went on with the
soldiers quite forgetting that his inn was at the bottom of the hill
and that he had already passed it he would not soon have remembered
this such was his state of forgetfulness had he not halfway up the
hill stumbled upon his groom who had been to look for him in the
town and was returning to the inn the groom recognized pierre in the
darkness by his white hat 

 your excellency he said why we were beginning to despair how is
it you are on foot and where are you going please 

 oh yes said pierre 

the soldiers stopped 

 so you've found your folk said one of them well good by peter
kirilych isn't it 

 good by peter kirilych pierre heard the other voices repeat 

 good by he said and turned with his groom toward the inn 

 i ought to give them something he thought and felt in his pocket 
 no better not said another inner voice 

there was not a room to be had at the inn they were all occupied 
pierre went out into the yard and covering himself up head and all lay
down in his carriage 





chapter ix

scarcely had pierre laid his head on the pillow before he felt himself
falling asleep but suddenly almost with the distinctness of reality 
he heard the boom boom boom of firing the thud of projectiles groans
and cries and smelled blood and powder and a feeling of horror and
dread of death seized him filled with fright he opened his eyes and
lifted his head from under his cloak all was tranquil in the yard only
someone's orderly passed through the gateway splashing through the mud 
and talked to the innkeeper above pierre's head some pigeons disturbed
by the movement he had made in sitting up fluttered under the dark roof
of the penthouse the whole courtyard was permeated by a strong peaceful
smell of stable yards delightful to pierre at that moment he could see
the clear starry sky between the dark roofs of two penthouses 

 thank god there is no more of that he thought covering up his head
again oh what a terrible thing is fear and how shamefully i yielded
to it but they they were steady and calm all the time to the
end thought he 

they in pierre's mind were the soldiers those who had been at the
battery those who had given him food and those who had prayed before
the icon they those strange men he had not previously known stood out
clearly and sharply from everyone else 

 to be a soldier just a soldier thought pierre as he fell asleep 
 to enter communal life completely to be imbued by what makes them what
they are but how cast off all the superfluous devilish burden of my
outer man there was a time when i could have done it i could have run
away from my father as i wanted to or i might have been sent to serve
as a soldier after the duel with dolokhov and the memory of the dinner
at the english club when he had challenged dolokhov flashed through
pierre's mind and then he remembered his benefactor at torzhok and now
a picture of a solemn meeting of the lodge presented itself to his mind 
it was taking place at the english club and someone near and dear to him
sat at the end of the table yes that is he it is my benefactor 
but he died thought pierre yes he died and i did not know he was
alive how sorry i am that he died and how glad i am that he is alive
again on one side of the table sat anatole dolokhov nesvitski 
denisov and others like them in his dream the category to which these
men belonged was as clearly defined in his mind as the category of
those he termed they and he heard those people anatole and dolokhov 
shouting and singing loudly yet through their shouting the voice of his
benefactor was heard speaking all the time and the sound of his words
was as weighty and uninterrupted as the booming on the battlefield but
pleasant and comforting pierre did not understand what his benefactor
was saying but he knew the categories of thoughts were also quite
distinct in his dream that he was talking of goodness and the
possibility of being what they were and they with their simple kind 
firm faces surrounded his benefactor on all sides but though they were
kindly they did not look at pierre and did not know him wishing to
speak and to attract their attention he got up but at that moment his
legs grew cold and bare 

he felt ashamed and with one arm covered his legs from which his cloak
had in fact slipped for a moment as he was rearranging his cloak pierre
opened his eyes and saw the same penthouse roofs posts and yard but
now they were all bluish lit up and glittering with frost or dew 

 it is dawn thought pierre but that's not what i want i want to
hear and understand my benefactor's words again he covered himself up
with his cloak but now neither the lodge nor his benefactor was there 
there were only thoughts clearly expressed in words thoughts that
someone was uttering or that he himself was formulating 

afterwards when he recalled those thoughts pierre was convinced that
someone outside himself had spoken them though the impressions of that
day had evoked them he had never it seemed to him been able to think
and express his thoughts like that when awake 

 to endure war is the most difficult subordination of man's freedom to
the law of god the voice had said simplicity is submission to the
will of god you cannot escape from him and they are simple they do
not talk but act the spoken word is silver but the unspoken is golden 
man can be master of nothing while he fears death but he who does not
fear it possesses all if there were no suffering man would not know
his limitations would not know himself the hardest thing pierre went
on thinking or hearing in his dream is to be able in your soul to
unite the meaning of all to unite all he asked himself no not
to unite thoughts cannot be united but to harness all these thoughts
together is what we need yes one must harness them must harness
them he repeated to himself with inward rapture feeling that these
words and they alone expressed what he wanted to say and solved the
question that tormented him 

 yes one must harness it is time to harness 

 time to harness time to harness your excellency your excellency 
some voice was repeating we must harness it is time to harness 

it was the voice of the groom trying to wake him the sun shone
straight into pierre's face he glanced at the dirty innyard in the
middle of which soldiers were watering their lean horses at the pump
while carts were passing out of the gate pierre turned away with
repugnance and closing his eyes quickly fell back on the carriage seat 
 no i don't want that i don't want to see and understand that i want
to understand what was revealing itself to me in my dream one second
more and i should have understood it all but what am i to do harness 
but how can i harness everything and pierre felt with horror that the
meaning of all he had seen and thought in the dream had been destroyed 

the groom the coachman and the innkeeper told pierre that an officer
had come with news that the french were already near mozhaysk and that
our men were leaving it 

pierre got up and having told them to harness and overtake him went on
foot through the town 

the troops were moving on leaving about ten thousand wounded behind
them there were wounded in the yards at the windows of the houses and
the streets were crowded with them in the streets around carts that
were to take some of the wounded away shouts curses and blows could
be heard pierre offered the use of his carriage which had overtaken
him to a wounded general he knew and drove with him to moscow on the
way pierre was told of the death of his brother in law anatole and of
that of prince andrew 





chapter x

on the thirtieth of august pierre reached moscow close to the gates of
the city he was met by count rostopchin's adjutant 

 we have been looking for you everywhere said the adjutant the count
wants to see you particularly he asks you to come to him at once on a
very important matter 

without going home pierre took a cab and drove to see the moscow
commander in chief 

count rostopchin had only that morning returned to town from his summer
villa at sokolniki the anteroom and reception room of his house
were full of officials who had been summoned or had come for orders 
vasilchikov and platov had already seen the count and explained to him
that it was impossible to defend moscow and that it would have to be
surrendered though this news was being concealed from the inhabitants 
the officials the heads of the various government departments knew that
moscow would soon be in the enemy's hands just as count rostopchin
himself knew it and to escape personal responsibility they had all
come to the governor to ask how they were to deal with their various
departments 

as pierre was entering the reception room a courier from the army came
out of rostopchin's private room 

in answer to questions with which he was greeted the courier made a
despairing gesture with his hand and passed through the room 

while waiting in the reception room pierre with weary eyes watched the
various officials old and young military and civilian who were there 
they all seemed dissatisfied and uneasy pierre went up to a group of
men one of whom he knew after greeting pierre they continued their
conversation 

 if they're sent out and brought back again later on it will do no harm 
but as things are now one can't answer for anything 

 but you see what he writes said another pointing to a printed
sheet he held in his hand 

 that's another matter that's necessary for the people said the
first 

 what is it asked pierre 

 oh it's a fresh broadsheet 

pierre took it and began reading 

his serene highness has passed through mozhaysk in order to join up with
the troops moving toward him and has taken up a strong position where
the enemy will not soon attack him forty eight guns with ammunition
have been sent him from here and his serene highness says he will
defend moscow to the last drop of blood and is even ready to fight in
the streets do not be upset brothers that the law courts are closed 
things have to be put in order and we will deal with villains in our
own way when the time comes i shall want both town and peasant lads and
will raise the cry a day or two beforehand but they are not wanted yet
so i hold my peace an ax will be useful a hunting spear not bad but a
three pronged fork will be best of all a frenchman is no heavier than a
sheaf of rye tomorrow after dinner i shall take the iberian icon of
the mother of god to the wounded in the catherine hospital where we will
have some water blessed that will help them to get well quicker i 
too am well now one of my eyes was sore but now i am on the lookout
with both 

 but military men have told me that it is impossible to fight in the
town said pierre and that the position 

 well of course that's what we were saying replied the first
speaker 

 and what does he mean by one of my eyes was sore but now i am on the
lookout with both asked pierre 

 the count had a sty replied the adjutant smiling and was very much
upset when i told him people had come to ask what was the matter with
him by the by count he added suddenly addressing pierre with a
smile we heard that you have family troubles and that the countess 
your wife 

 i have heard nothing pierre replied unconcernedly but what have you
heard 

 oh well you know people often invent things i only say what i
heard 

 but what did you hear 

 well they say continued the adjutant with the same smile that
the countess your wife is preparing to go abroad i expect it's
nonsense 

 possibly remarked pierre looking about him absent mindedly and who
is that he asked indicating a short old man in a clean blue peasant
overcoat with a big snow white beard and eyebrows and a ruddy face 

 he that's a tradesman that is to say he's the restaurant
keeper vereshchagin perhaps you have heard of that affair with the
proclamation 

 oh so that is vereshchagin said pierre looking at the firm calm
face of the old man and seeking any indication of his being a traitor 

 that's not he himself that's the father of the fellow who wrote the
proclamation said the adjutant the young man is in prison and i
expect it will go hard with him 

an old gentleman wearing a star and another official a german wearing a
cross round his neck approached the speaker 

 it's a complicated story you know said the adjutant that
proclamation appeared about two months ago the count was informed of
it he gave orders to investigate the matter gabriel ivanovich
here made the inquiries the proclamation had passed through exactly
sixty three hands he asked one from whom did you get it from
so and so he went to the next one from whom did you get it and so
on till he reached vereshchagin a half educated tradesman you know a
pet of a trader said the adjutant smiling they asked him who gave
it you and the point is that we knew whom he had it from he could
only have had it from the postmaster but evidently they had come to
some understanding he replied from no one i made it up myself 
they threatened and questioned him but he stuck to that i made it
up myself and so it was reported to the count who sent for the man 
 from whom did you get the proclamation i wrote it myself well you
know the count said the adjutant cheerfully with a smile of pride 
 he flared up dreadfully and just think of the fellow's audacity lying 
and obstinacy 

 and the count wanted him to say it was from klyucharev i understand 
said pierre 

 not at all rejoined the adjutant in dismay klyucharev had his own
sins to answer for without that and that is why he has been banished 
but the point is that the count was much annoyed how could you have
written it yourself said he and he took up the hamburg gazette that
was lying on the table here it is you did not write it yourself but
translated it and translated it abominably because you don't even know
french you fool and what do you think no said he i have not
read any papers i made it up myself if that's so you're a traitor
and i'll have you tried and you'll be hanged say from whom you had
it i have seen no papers i made it up myself and that was the end
of it the count had the father fetched but the fellow stuck to it 
he was sent for trial and condemned to hard labor i believe now the
father has come to intercede for him but he's a good for nothing lad 
you know that sort of tradesman's son a dandy and lady killer he
attended some lectures somewhere and imagines that the devil is no match
for him that's the sort of fellow he is his father keeps a cookshop
here by the stone bridge and you know there was a large icon of god
almighty painted with a scepter in one hand and an orb in the other 
well he took that icon home with him for a few days and what did he do 
he found some scoundrel of a painter 





chapter xi

in the middle of this fresh tale pierre was summoned to the commander in
chief 

when he entered the private room count rostopchin puckering his face 
was rubbing his forehead and eyes with his hand a short man was saying
something but when pierre entered he stopped speaking and went out 

 ah how do you do great warrior said rostopchin as soon as the short
man had left the room we have heard of your prowess but that's not
the point between ourselves mon cher do you belong to the masons he
went on severely as though there were something wrong about it which
he nevertheless intended to pardon pierre remained silent i am well
informed my friend but i am aware that there are masons and i hope
that you are not one of those who on pretense of saving mankind wish to
ruin russia 

 yes i am a mason pierre replied 

 there you see mon cher i expect you know that messrs speranski and
magnitski have been deported to their proper place mr klyucharev has
been treated in the same way and so have others who on the plea of
building up the temple of solomon have tried to destroy the temple of
their fatherland you can understand that there are reasons for this and
that i could not have exiled the postmaster had he not been a harmful
person it has now come to my knowledge that you lent him your carriage
for his removal from town and that you have even accepted papers from
him for safe custody i like you and don't wish you any harm and as
you are only half my age i advise you as a father would to cease
all communication with men of that stamp and to leave here as soon as
possible 

 but what did klyucharev do wrong count asked pierre 

 that is for me to know but not for you to ask shouted rostopchin 

 if he is accused of circulating napoleon's proclamation it is not
proved that he did so said pierre without looking at rostopchin and
vereshchagin 

 there we are rostopchin shouted at pierre louder than before 
frowning suddenly vereshchagin is a renegade and a traitor who will
be punished as he deserves said he with the vindictive heat with which
people speak when recalling an insult but i did not summon you to
discuss my actions but to give you advice or an order if you prefer it 
i beg you to leave the town and break off all communication with such
men as klyucharev and i will knock the nonsense out of anybody but
probably realizing that he was shouting at bezukhov who so far was not
guilty of anything he added taking pierre's hand in a friendly manner 
 we are on the eve of a public disaster and i haven't time to be polite
to everybody who has business with me my head is sometimes in a whirl 
well mon cher what are you doing personally 

 why nothing answered pierre without raising his eyes or changing the
thoughtful expression of his face 

the count frowned 

 a word of friendly advice mon cher be off as soon as you can that's
all i have to tell you happy he who has ears to hear good by my dear
fellow oh by the by he shouted through the doorway after pierre 
 is it true that the countess has fallen into the clutches of the holy
fathers of the society of jesus 

pierre did not answer and left rostopchin's room more sullen and angry
than he had ever before shown himself 

when he reached home it was already getting dark some eight people had
come to see him that evening the secretary of a committee the colonel
of his battalion his steward his major domo and various petitioners 
they all had business with pierre and wanted decisions from him pierre
did not understand and was not interested in any of these questions and
only answered them in order to get rid of these people when left alone
at last he opened and read his wife's letter 

 they the soldiers at the battery prince andrew killed that old
man simplicity is submission to god suffering is necessary the
meaning of all one must harness my wife is getting married one
must forget and understand and going to his bed he threw himself on
it without undressing and immediately fell asleep 

when he awoke next morning the major domo came to inform him that a
special messenger a police officer had come from count rostopchin to
know whether count bezukhov had left or was leaving the town 

a dozen persons who had business with pierre were awaiting him in the
drawing room pierre dressed hurriedly and instead of going to see
them went to the back porch and out through the gate 

from that time till the end of the destruction of moscow no one of
bezukhov's household despite all the search they made saw pierre again
or knew where he was 





chapter xii

the rostovs remained in moscow till the first of september that is 
till the eve of the enemy's entry into the city 

after petya had joined obolenski's regiment of cossacks and left for
belaya tserkov where that regiment was forming the countess was seized
with terror the thought that both her sons were at the war had both
gone from under her wing that today or tomorrow either or both of them
might be killed like the three sons of one of her acquaintances struck
her that summer for the first time with cruel clearness she tried to
get nicholas back and wished to go herself to join petya or to get
him an appointment somewhere in petersburg but neither of these proved
possible petya could not return unless his regiment did so or unless
he was transferred to another regiment on active service nicholas was
somewhere with the army and had not sent a word since his last letter 
in which he had given a detailed account of his meeting with princess
mary the countess did not sleep at night or when she did fall asleep
dreamed that she saw her sons lying dead after many consultations and
conversations the count at last devised means to tranquillize her he
got petya transferred from obolenski's regiment to bezukhov's which was
in training near moscow though petya would remain in the service this
transfer would give the countess the consolation of seeing at least one
of her sons under her wing and she hoped to arrange matters for her
petya so as not to let him go again but always get him appointed to
places where he could not possibly take part in a battle as long as
nicholas alone was in danger the countess imagined that she loved her
first born more than all her other children and even reproached herself
for it but when her youngest the scapegrace who had been bad at
lessons was always breaking things in the house and making himself a
nuisance to everybody that snub nosed petya with his merry black eyes
and fresh rosy cheeks where soft down was just beginning to show when
he was thrown amid those big dreadful cruel men who were fighting
somewhere about something and apparently finding pleasure in it then
his mother thought she loved him more much more than all her other
children the nearer the time came for petya to return the more uneasy
grew the countess she began to think she would never live to see such
happiness the presence of sonya of her beloved natasha or even of
her husband irritated her what do i want with them i want no one but
petya she thought 

at the end of august the rostovs received another letter from nicholas 
he wrote from the province of voronezh where he had been sent to procure
remounts but that letter did not set the countess at ease knowing that
one son was out of danger she became the more anxious about petya 

though by the twentieth of august nearly all the rostovs acquaintances
had left moscow and though everybody tried to persuade the countess to
get away as quickly as possible she would not hear of leaving before
her treasure her adored petya returned on the twenty eighth of august
he arrived the passionate tenderness with which his mother received him
did not please the sixteen year old officer though she concealed from
him her intention of keeping him under her wing petya guessed her
designs and instinctively fearing that he might give way to emotion
when with her might become womanish as he termed it to himself he
treated her coldly avoided her and during his stay in moscow attached
himself exclusively to natasha for whom he had always had a particularly
brotherly tenderness almost lover like 

owing to the count's customary carelessness nothing was ready for their
departure by the twenty eighth of august and the carts that were to
come from their ryazan and moscow estates to remove their household
belongings did not arrive till the thirtieth 

from the twenty eighth till the thirty first all moscow was in a bustle
and commotion every day thousands of men wounded at borodino were
brought in by the dorogomilov gate and taken to various parts of moscow 
and thousands of carts conveyed the inhabitants and their possessions
out by the other gates in spite of rostopchin's broadsheets or because
of them or independently of them the strangest and most contradictory
rumors were current in the town some said that no one was to be allowed
to leave the city others on the contrary said that all the icons had
been taken out of the churches and everybody was to be ordered to leave 
some said there had been another battle after borodino at which the
french had been routed while others on the contrary reported that the
russian army had been destroyed some talked about the moscow militia
which preceded by the clergy would go to the three hills others
whispered that augustin had been forbidden to leave that traitors had
been seized that the peasants were rioting and robbing people on their
way from moscow and so on but all this was only talk in reality
 though the council of fili at which it was decided to abandon moscow 
had not yet been held both those who went away and those who remained
behind felt though they did not show it that moscow would certainly
be abandoned and that they ought to get away as quickly as possible and
save their belongings it was felt that everything would suddenly break
up and change but up to the first of september nothing had done so 
as a criminal who is being led to execution knows that he must die
immediately but yet looks about him and straightens the cap that is
awry on his head so moscow involuntarily continued its wonted life 
though it knew that the time of its destruction was near when the
conditions of life to which its people were accustomed to submit would
be completely upset 

during the three days preceding the occupation of moscow the whole
rostov family was absorbed in various activities the head of the
family count ilya rostov continually drove about the city collecting
the current rumors from all sides and gave superficial and hasty orders
at home about the preparations for their departure 

the countess watched the things being packed was dissatisfied with
everything was constantly in pursuit of petya who was always running
away from her and was jealous of natasha with whom he spent all his
time sonya alone directed the practical side of matters by getting
things packed but of late sonya had been particularly sad and silent 
nicholas letter in which he mentioned princess mary had elicited in
her presence joyous comments from the countess who saw an intervention
of providence in this meeting of the princess and nicholas 

 i was never pleased at bolkonski's engagement to natasha said the
countess but i always wanted nicholas to marry the princess and had a
presentiment that it would happen what a good thing it would be 

sonya felt that this was true that the only possibility of retrieving
the rostovs affairs was by nicholas marrying a rich woman and that the
princess was a good match it was very bitter for her but despite
her grief or perhaps just because of it she took on herself all the
difficult work of directing the storing and packing of their things and
was busy for whole days the count and countess turned to her when they
had any orders to give petya and natasha on the contrary far from
helping their parents were generally a nuisance and a hindrance to
everyone almost all day long the house resounded with their running
feet their cries and their spontaneous laughter they laughed and were
gay not because there was any reason to laugh but because gaiety and
mirth were in their hearts and so everything that happened was a cause
for gaiety and laughter to them petya was in high spirits because
having left home a boy he had returned as everybody told him a fine
young man because he was at home because he had left belaya tserkov
where there was no hope of soon taking part in a battle and had come to
moscow where there was to be fighting in a few days and chiefly because
natasha whose lead he always followed was in high spirits natasha was
gay because she had been sad too long and now nothing reminded her of
the cause of her sadness and because she was feeling well she was also
happy because she had someone to adore her the adoration of others was
a lubricant the wheels of her machine needed to make them run freely and
petya adored her above all they were gay because there was a war near
moscow there would be fighting at the town gates arms were being
given out everybody was escaping going away somewhere and in general
something extraordinary was happening and that is always exciting 
especially to the young 





chapter xiii

on saturday the thirty first of august everything in the rostovs 
house seemed topsy turvy all the doors were open all the furniture was
being carried out or moved about and the mirrors and pictures had been
taken down there were trunks in the rooms and hay wrapping paper and
ropes were scattered about the peasants and house serfs carrying out
the things were treading heavily on the parquet floors the yard was
crowded with peasant carts some loaded high and already corded up 
others still empty 

the voices and footsteps of the many servants and of the peasants who
had come with the carts resounded as they shouted to one another in
the yard and in the house the count had been out since morning the
countess had a headache brought on by all the noise and turmoil and was
lying down in the new sitting room with a vinegar compress on her head 
petya was not at home he had gone to visit a friend with whom he meant
to obtain a transfer from the militia to the active army sonya was in
the ballroom looking after the packing of the glass and china natasha
was sitting on the floor of her dismantled room with dresses ribbons 
and scarves strewn all about her gazing fixedly at the floor and
holding in her hands the old ball dress already out of fashion which
she had worn at her first petersburg ball 

natasha was ashamed of doing nothing when everyone else was so busy and
several times that morning had tried to set to work but her heart was
not in it and she could not and did not know how to do anything except
with all her heart and all her might for a while she had stood beside
sonya while the china was being packed and tried to help but soon gave
it up and went to her room to pack her own things at first she found it
amusing to give away dresses and ribbons to the maids but when that was
done and what was left had still to be packed she found it dull 

 dunyasha you pack you will won't you dear and when dunyasha
willingly promised to do it all for her natasha sat down on the floor 
took her old ball dress and fell into a reverie quite unrelated to what
ought to have occupied her thoughts now she was roused from her reverie
by the talk of the maids in the next room which was theirs and by the
sound of their hurried footsteps going to the back porch natasha got
up and looked out of the window an enormously long row of carts full of
wounded men had stopped in the street 

the housekeeper the old nurse the cooks coachmen maids footmen 
postilions and scullions stood at the gate staring at the wounded 

natasha throwing a clean pocket handkerchief over her hair and holding
an end of it in each hand went out into the street 

the former housekeeper old mavra kuzminichna had stepped out of the
crowd by the gate gone up to a cart with a hood constructed of bast
mats and was speaking to a pale young officer who lay inside 
natasha moved a few steps forward and stopped shyly still holding her
handkerchief and listened to what the housekeeper was saying 

 then you have nobody in moscow she was saying you would be more
comfortable somewhere in a house in ours for instance the family
are leaving 

 i don't know if it would be allowed replied the officer in a weak
voice here is our commanding officer ask him and he pointed to a
stout major who was walking back along the street past the row of carts 

natasha glanced with frightened eyes at the face of the wounded officer
and at once went to meet the major 

 may the wounded men stay in our house she asked 

the major raised his hand to his cap with a smile 

 which one do you want ma'am'selle said he screwing up his eyes and
smiling 

natasha quietly repeated her question and her face and whole
manner were so serious though she was still holding the ends of her
handkerchief that the major ceased smiling and after some reflection as
if considering in how far the thing was possible replied in the
affirmative 

 oh yes why not they may he said 

with a slight inclination of her head natasha stepped back quickly to
mavra kuzminichna who stood talking compassionately to the officer 

 they may he says they may whispered natasha 

the cart in which the officer lay was turned into the rostovs yard 
and dozens of carts with wounded men began at the invitation of the
townsfolk to turn into the yards and to draw up at the entrances of the
houses in povarskaya street natasha was evidently pleased to be dealing
with new people outside the ordinary routine of her life she and mavra
kuzminichna tried to get as many of the wounded as possible into their
yard 

 your papa must be told though said mavra kuzminichna 

 never mind never mind what does it matter for one day we can move
into the drawing room they can have all our half of the house 

 there now young lady you do take things into your head even if we
put them into the wing the men's room or the nurse's room we must ask
permission 

 well i'll ask 

natasha ran into the house and went on tiptoe through the half open door
into the sitting room where there was a smell of vinegar and hoffman's
drops 

 are you asleep mamma 

 oh what sleep said the countess waking up just as she was dropping
into a doze 

 mamma darling said natasha kneeling by her mother and bringing her
face close to her mother's i am sorry forgive me i'll never do it
again i woke you up mavra kuzminichna has sent me they have brought
some wounded here officers will you let them come they have nowhere to
go i knew you'd let them come she said quickly all in one breath 

 what officers whom have they brought i don't understand anything
about it said the countess 

natasha laughed and the countess too smiled slightly 

 i knew you'd give permission so i'll tell them and having kissed
her mother natasha got up and went to the door 

in the hall she met her father who had returned with bad news 

 we've stayed too long said the count with involuntary vexation the
club is closed and the police are leaving 

 papa is it all right i've invited some of the wounded into the house 
said natasha 

 of course it is he answered absently that's not the point i beg
you not to indulge in trifles now but to help to pack and tomorrow we
must go go go 

and the count gave a similar order to the major domo and the servants 

at dinner petya having returned home told them the news he had heard 
he said the people had been getting arms in the kremlin and that though
rostopchin's broadsheet had said that he would sound a call two or three
days in advance the order had certainly already been given for everyone
to go armed to the three hills tomorrow and that there would be a big
battle there 

the countess looked with timid horror at her son's eager excited face
as he said this she realized that if she said a word about his not
going to the battle she knew he enjoyed the thought of the impending
engagement he would say something about men honor and the
fatherland something senseless masculine and obstinate which there
would be no contradicting and her plans would be spoiled and so 
hoping to arrange to leave before then and take petya with her as their
protector and defender she did not answer him but after dinner called
the count aside and implored him with tears to take her away quickly 
that very night if possible with a woman's involuntary loving cunning
she who till then had not shown any alarm said that she would die of
fright if they did not leave that very night without any pretense she
was now afraid of everything 





chapter xiv

madame schoss who had been out to visit her daughter increased the
countess fears still more by telling what she had seen at a spirit
dealer's in myasnitski street when returning by that street she had
been unable to pass because of a drunken crowd rioting in front of
the shop she had taken a cab and driven home by a side street and the
cabman had told her that the people were breaking open the barrels at
the drink store having received orders to do so 

after dinner the whole rostov household set to work with enthusiastic
haste packing their belongings and preparing for their departure the
old count suddenly setting to work kept passing from the yard to the
house and back again shouting confused instructions to the hurrying
people and flurrying them still more petya directed things in the
yard sonya owing to the count's contradictory orders lost her head
and did not know what to do the servants ran noisily about the house
and yard shouting and disputing natasha with the ardor characteristic
of all she did suddenly set to work too at first her intervention in
the business of packing was received skeptically everybody expected
some prank from her and did not wish to obey her but she resolutely
and passionately demanded obedience grew angry and nearly cried because
they did not heed her and at last succeeded in making them believe her 
her first exploit which cost her immense effort and established her
authority was the packing of the carpets the count had valuable
gobelin tapestries and persian carpets in the house when natasha set
to work two cases were standing open in the ballroom one almost full
up with crockery the other with carpets there was also much china
standing on the tables and still more was being brought in from the
storeroom a third case was needed and servants had gone to fetch it 

 sonya wait a bit we'll pack everything into these said natasha 

 you can't miss we have tried to said the butler's assistant 

 no wait a minute please 

and natasha began rapidly taking out of the case dishes and plates
wrapped in paper 

 the dishes must go in here among the carpets said she 

 why it's a mercy if we can get the carpets alone into three cases 
said the butler's assistant 

 oh wait please and natasha began rapidly and deftly sorting out the
things these aren't needed said she putting aside some plates
of kiev ware these yes these must go among the carpets she said 
referring to the saxony china dishes 

 don't natasha leave it alone we'll get it all packed urged sonya
reproachfully 

 what a young lady she is remarked the major domo 

but natasha would not give in she turned everything out and began
quickly repacking deciding that the inferior russian carpets and
unnecessary crockery should not be taken at all when everything had
been taken out of the cases they recommenced packing and it turned
out that when the cheaper things not worth taking had nearly all been
rejected the valuable ones really did all go into the two cases only
the lid of the case containing the carpets would not shut down a few
more things might have been taken out but natasha insisted on having
her own way she packed repacked pressed made the butler's assistant
and petya whom she had drawn into the business of packing press on the
lid and made desperate efforts herself 

 that's enough natasha said sonya i see you were right but just
take out the top one 

 i won't cried natasha with one hand holding back the hair that hung
over her perspiring face while with the other she pressed down the
carpets now press petya press vasilich press hard she cried 

the carpets yielded and the lid closed natasha clapping her hands 
screamed with delight and tears fell from her eyes but this only
lasted a moment she at once set to work afresh and they now trusted her
completely the count was not angry even when they told him that natasha
had countermanded an order of his and the servants now came to her
to ask whether a cart was sufficiently loaded and whether it might
be corded up thanks to natasha's directions the work now went on
expeditiously unnecessary things were left and the most valuable
packed as compactly as possible 

but hard as they all worked till quite late that night they could not
get everything packed the countess had fallen asleep and the count 
having put off their departure till next morning went to bed 

sonya and natasha slept in the sitting room without undressing 

that night another wounded man was driven down the povarskaya and mavra
kuzminichna who was standing at the gate had him brought into the
rostovs yard mavra kuzminichna concluded that he was a very important
man he was being conveyed in a caleche with a raised hood and was
quite covered by an apron on the box beside the driver sat a venerable
old attendant a doctor and two soldiers followed the carriage in a
cart 

 please come in here the masters are going away and the whole house
will be empty said the old woman to the old attendant 

 well perhaps said he with a sigh we don't expect to get him home
alive we have a house of our own in moscow but it's a long way from
here and there's nobody living in it 

 do us the honor to come in there's plenty of everything in the
master's house come in said mavra kuzminichna is he very ill she
asked 

the attendant made a hopeless gesture 

 we don't expect to get him home we must ask the doctor 

and the old servant got down from the box and went up to the cart 

 all right said the doctor 

the old servant returned to the caleche looked into it shook his
head disconsolately told the driver to turn into the yard and stopped
beside mavra kuzminichna 

 o lord jesus christ she murmured 

she invited them to take the wounded man into the house 

 the masters won't object she said 

but they had to avoid carrying the man upstairs and so they took him
into the wing and put him in the room that had been madame schoss 

this wounded man was prince andrew bolkonski 





chapter xv

moscow's last day had come it was a clear bright autumn day a sunday 
the church bells everywhere were ringing for service just as usual on
sundays nobody seemed yet to realize what awaited the city 

only two things indicated the social condition of moscow the rabble 
that is the poor people and the price of commodities an enormous crowd
of factory hands house serfs and peasants with whom some officials 
seminarists and gentry were mingled had gone early that morning to
the three hills having waited there for rostopchin who did not turn
up they became convinced that moscow would be surrendered and then
dispersed all about the town to the public houses and cookshops prices
too that day indicated the state of affairs the price of weapons of
gold of carts and horses kept rising but the value of paper money and
city articles kept falling so that by midday there were instances of
carters removing valuable goods such as cloth and receiving in payment
a half of what they carted while peasant horses were fetching five
hundred rubles each and furniture mirrors and bronzes were being
given away for nothing 

in the rostovs staid old fashioned house the dissolution of former
conditions of life was but little noticeable as to the serfs the only
indication was that three out of their huge retinue disappeared
during the night but nothing was stolen and as to the value of their
possessions the thirty peasant carts that had come in from their
estates and which many people envied proved to be extremely valuable and
they were offered enormous sums of money for them not only were huge
sums offered for the horses and carts but on the previous evening and
early in the morning of the first of september orderlies and servants
sent by wounded officers came to the rostovs and wounded men dragged
themselves there from the rostovs and from neighboring houses where
they were accommodated entreating the servants to try to get them
a lift out of moscow the major domo to whom these entreaties were
addressed though he was sorry for the wounded resolutely refused 
saying that he dare not even mention the matter to the count pity these
wounded men as one might it was evident that if they were given one
cart there would be no reason to refuse another or all the carts and
one's own carriages as well thirty carts could not save all the wounded
and in the general catastrophe one could not disregard oneself and one's
own family so thought the major domo on his master's behalf 

on waking up that morning count ilya rostov left his bedroom softly so
as not to wake the countess who had fallen asleep only toward morning 
and came out to the porch in his lilac silk dressing gown in the yard
stood the carts ready corded the carriages were at the front porch 
the major domo stood at the porch talking to an elderly orderly and to
a pale young officer with a bandaged arm on seeing the count the
major domo made a significant and stern gesture to them both to go away 

 well vasilich is everything ready asked the count and stroking his
bald head he looked good naturedly at the officer and the orderly and
nodded to them he liked to see new faces 

 we can harness at once your excellency 

 well that's right as soon as the countess wakes we'll be off god
willing what is it gentlemen he added turning to the officer are
you staying in my house 

the officer came nearer and suddenly his face flushed crimson 

 count be so good as to allow me for god's sake to get into some
corner of one of your carts i have nothing here with me i shall be
all right on a loaded cart 

before the officer had finished speaking the orderly made the same
request on behalf of his master 

 oh yes yes yes said the count hastily i shall be very pleased 
very pleased vasilich you'll see to it just unload one or two carts 
well what of it do what's necessary said the count muttering
some indefinite order 

but at the same moment an expression of warm gratitude on the officer's
face had already sealed the order the count looked around him in the
yard at the gates at the window of the wings wounded officers and
their orderlies were to be seen they were all looking at the count and
moving toward the porch 

 please step into the gallery your excellency said the major domo 
 what are your orders about the pictures 

the count went into the house with him repeating his order not to
refuse the wounded who asked for a lift 

 well never mind some of the things can be unloaded he added in a
soft confidential voice as though afraid of being overheard 

at nine o'clock the countess woke up and matrena timofeevna who had
been her lady's maid before her marriage and now performed a sort of
chief gendarme's duty for her came to say that madame schoss was much
offended and the young ladies summer dresses could not be left behind 
on inquiry the countess learned that madame schoss was offended because
her trunk had been taken down from its cart and all the loads were
being uncorded and the luggage taken out of the carts to make room for
wounded men whom the count in the simplicity of his heart had ordered
that they should take with them the countess sent for her husband 

 what is this my dear i hear that the luggage is being unloaded 

 you know love i wanted to tell you countess dear an officer
came to me to ask for a few carts for the wounded after all ours are
things that can be bought but think what being left behind means to
them really now in our own yard we asked them in ourselves and
there are officers among them you know i think my dear let them
be taken where's the hurry 

the count spoke timidly as he always did when talking of money matters 
the countess was accustomed to this tone as a precursor of news of
something detrimental to the children's interests such as the building
of a new gallery or conservatory the inauguration of a private theater
or an orchestra she was accustomed always to oppose anything announced
in that timid tone and considered it her duty to do so 

she assumed her dolefully submissive manner and said to her husband 
 listen to me count you have managed matters so that we are getting
nothing for the house and now you wish to throw away all our all the
children's property you said yourself that we have a hundred thousand
rubles worth of things in the house i don't consent my dear i don't 
do as you please it's the government's business to look after the
wounded they know that look at the lopukhins opposite they cleared
out everything two days ago that's what other people do it's only
we who are such fools if you have no pity on me have some for the
children 

flourishing his arms in despair the count left the room without
replying 

 papa what are you doing that for asked natasha who had followed him
into her mother's room 

 nothing what business is it of yours muttered the count angrily 

 but i heard said natasha why does mamma object 

 what business is it of yours cried the count 

natasha stepped up to the window and pondered 

 papa here's berg coming to see us said she looking out of the
window 





chapter xvi

berg the rostovs son in law was already a colonel wearing the orders
of vladimir and anna and he still filled the quiet and agreeable post
of assistant to the head of the staff of the assistant commander of the
first division of the second army 

on the first of september he had come to moscow from the army 

he had nothing to do in moscow but he had noticed that everyone in the
army was asking for leave to visit moscow and had something to do there 
so he considered it necessary to ask for leave of absence for family and
domestic reasons 

berg drove up to his father in law's house in his spruce little trap
with a pair of sleek roans exactly like those of a certain prince he
looked attentively at the carts in the yard and while going up to the
porch took out a clean pocket handkerchief and tied a knot in it 

from the anteroom berg ran with smooth though impatient steps into the
drawing room where he embraced the count kissed the hands of natasha
and sonya and hastened to inquire after mamma's health 

 health at a time like this said the count come tell us the news 
is the army retreating or will there be another battle 

 god almighty alone can decide the fate of our fatherland papa said
berg the army is burning with a spirit of heroism and the leaders so
to say have now assembled in council no one knows what is coming but
in general i can tell you papa that such a heroic spirit the truly
antique valor of the russian army which they which it he corrected
himself has shown or displayed in the battle of the twenty sixth there
are no words worthy to do it justice i tell you papa he smote
himself on the breast as a general he had heard speaking had done but
berg did it a trifle late for he should have struck his breast at the
words russian army i tell you frankly that we the commanders far
from having to urge the men on or anything of that kind could hardly
restrain those those yes those exploits of antique valor he
went on rapidly general barclay de tolly risked his life everywhere at
the head of the troops i can assure you our corps was stationed on a
hillside you can imagine 

and berg related all that he remembered of the various tales he had
heard those days natasha watched him with an intent gaze that confused
him as if she were trying to find in his face the answer to some
question 

 altogether such heroism as was displayed by the russian warriors
cannot be imagined or adequately praised said berg glancing round
at natasha and as if anxious to conciliate her replying to her intent
look with a smile russia is not in moscow she lives in the hearts of
her sons isn't it so papa said he 

just then the countess came in from the sitting room with a weary and
dissatisfied expression berg hurriedly jumped up kissed her hand 
asked about her health and swaying his head from side to side to
express sympathy remained standing beside her 

 yes mamma i tell you sincerely that these are hard and sad times for
every russian but why are you so anxious you have still time to get
away 

 i can't think what the servants are about said the countess turning
to her husband i have just been told that nothing is ready yet 
somebody after all must see to things one misses mitenka at such times 
there won't be any end to it 

the count was about to say something but evidently restrained himself 
he got up from his chair and went to the door 

at that moment berg drew out his handkerchief as if to blow his nose
and seeing the knot in it pondered shaking his head sadly and
significantly 

 and i have a great favor to ask of you papa said he 

 hm said the count and stopped 

 i was driving past yusupov's house just now said berg with a laugh 
 when the steward a man i know ran out and asked me whether i wouldn't
buy something i went in out of curiosity you know and there is a
small chiffonier and a dressing table you know how dear vera wanted a
chiffonier like that and how we had a dispute about it at the mention
of the chiffonier and dressing table berg involuntarily changed his tone
to one of pleasure at his admirable domestic arrangements and it's
such a beauty it pulls out and has a secret english drawer you know 
and dear vera has long wanted one i wish to give her a surprise you
see i saw so many of those peasant carts in your yard please let me
have one i will pay the man well and 

the count frowned and coughed 

 ask the countess i don't give orders 

 if it's inconvenient please don't said berg only i so wanted it 
for dear vera's sake 

 oh go to the devil all of you to the devil the devil the devil 
cried the old count my head's in a whirl 

and he left the room the countess began to cry 

 yes mamma yes these are very hard times said berg 

natasha left the room with her father and as if finding it difficult to
reach some decision first followed him and then ran downstairs 

petya was in the porch engaged in giving out weapons to the servants
who were to leave moscow the loaded carts were still standing in the
yard two of them had been uncorded and a wounded officer was climbing
into one of them helped by an orderly 

 do you know what it's about petya asked natasha 

she understood that he meant what were their parents quarreling about 
she did not answer 

 it's because papa wanted to give up all the carts to the wounded said
petya vasilich told me i consider 

 i consider natasha suddenly almost shouted turning her angry face to
petya i consider it so horrid so abominable so i don't know what 
are we despicable germans 

her throat quivered with convulsive sobs and afraid of weakening and
letting the force of her anger run to waste she turned and rushed
headlong up the stairs 

berg was sitting beside the countess consoling her with the respectful
attention of a relative the count pipe in hand was pacing up and down
the room when natasha her face distorted by anger burst in like a
tempest and approached her mother with rapid steps 

 it's horrid it's abominable she screamed you can't possibly have
ordered it 

berg and the countess looked at her perplexed and frightened the count
stood still at the window and listened 

 mamma it's impossible see what is going on in the yard she cried 
 they will be left 

 what's the matter with you who are they what do you want 

 why the wounded it's impossible mamma it's monstrous no mamma
darling it's not the thing please forgive me darling mamma what
does it matter what we take away only look what is going on in the
yard mamma it's impossible 

the count stood by the window and listened without turning round 
suddenly he sniffed and put his face closer to the window 

the countess glanced at her daughter saw her face full of shame for her
mother saw her agitation and understood why her husband did not turn
to look at her now and she glanced round quite disconcerted 

 oh do as you like am i hindering anyone she said not surrendering
at once 

 mamma darling forgive me 

but the countess pushed her daughter away and went up to her husband 

 my dear you order what is right you know i don't understand about
it said she dropping her eyes shamefacedly 

 the eggs the eggs are teaching the hen muttered the count through
tears of joy and he embraced his wife who was glad to hide her look of
shame on his breast 

 papa mamma may i see to it may i asked natasha we will still
take all the most necessary things 

the count nodded affirmatively and natasha at the rapid pace at which
she used to run when playing at tag ran through the ballroom to the
anteroom and downstairs into the yard 

the servants gathered round natasha but could not believe the strange
order she brought them until the count himself in his wife's name 
confirmed the order to give up all the carts to the wounded and take the
trunks to the storerooms when they understood that order the servants
set to work at this new task with pleasure and zeal it no longer seemed
strange to them but on the contrary it seemed the only thing that could
be done just as a quarter of an hour before it had not seemed strange
to anyone that the wounded should be left behind and the goods carted
away but that had seemed the only thing to do 

the whole household as if to atone for not having done it sooner set
eagerly to work at the new task of placing the wounded in the carts the
wounded dragged themselves out of their rooms and stood with pale but
happy faces round the carts the news that carts were to be had spread
to the neighboring houses from which wounded men began to come into the
rostovs yard many of the wounded asked them not to unload the carts
but only to let them sit on the top of the things but the work of
unloading once started could not be arrested it seemed not to matter
whether all or only half the things were left behind cases full of
china bronzes pictures and mirrors that had been so carefully
packed the night before now lay about the yard and still they went on
searching for and finding possibilities of unloading this or that and
letting the wounded have another and yet another cart 

 we can take four more men said the steward they can have my trap 
or else what is to become of them 

 let them have my wardrobe cart said the countess dunyasha can go
with me in the carriage 

they unloaded the wardrobe cart and sent it to take wounded men from a
house two doors off the whole household servants included was bright
and animated natasha was in a state of rapturous excitement such as she
had not known for a long time 

 what could we fasten this onto asked the servants trying to fix a
trunk on the narrow footboard behind a carriage we must keep at least
one cart 

 what's in it asked natasha 

 the count's books 

 leave it vasilich will put it away it's not wanted 

the phaeton was full of people and there was a doubt as to where count
peter could sit 

 on the box you'll sit on the box won't you petya cried natasha 

sonya too was busy all this time but the aim of her efforts was quite
different from natasha's she was putting away the things that had to
be left behind and making a list of them as the countess wished and she
tried to get as much taken away with them as possible 





chapter xvii

before two o'clock in the afternoon the rostovs four carriages packed
full and with the horses harnessed stood at the front door one by one
the carts with the wounded had moved out of the yard 

the caleche in which prince andrew was being taken attracted sonya's
attention as it passed the front porch with the help of a maid she was
arranging a seat for the countess in the huge high coach that stood at
the entrance 

 whose caleche is that she inquired leaning out of the carriage
window 

 why didn't you know miss replied the maid the wounded prince he
spent the night in our house and is going with us 

 but who is it what's his name 

 it's our intended that was prince bolkonski himself they say he is
dying replied the maid with a sigh 

sonya jumped out of the coach and ran to the countess the countess 
tired out and already dressed in shawl and bonnet for her journey 
was pacing up and down the drawing room waiting for the household to
assemble for the usual silent prayer with closed doors before starting 
natasha was not in the room 

 mamma said sonya prince andrew is here mortally wounded he is
going with us 

the countess opened her eyes in dismay and seizing sonya's arm glanced
around 

 natasha she murmured 

at that moment this news had only one significance for both of them 
they knew their natasha and alarm as to what would happen if she heard
this news stifled all sympathy for the man they both liked 

 natasha does not know yet but he is going with us said sonya 

 you say he is dying 

sonya nodded 

the countess put her arms around sonya and began to cry 

 the ways of god are past finding out she thought feeling that the
almighty hand hitherto unseen was becoming manifest in all that was
now taking place 

 well mamma everything is ready what's the matter asked natasha as
with animated face she ran into the room 

 nothing answered the countess if everything is ready let us start 

and the countess bent over her reticule to hide her agitated face sonya
embraced natasha and kissed her 

natasha looked at her inquiringly 

 what is it what has happened 

 nothing no 

 is it something very bad for me what is it persisted natasha with
her quick intuition 

sonya sighed and made no reply the count petya madame schoss mavra
kuzminichna and vasilich came into the drawing room and having closed
the doors they all sat down and remained for some moments silently
seated without looking at one another 

the count was the first to rise and with a loud sigh crossed himself
before the icon all the others did the same then the count embraced
mavra kuzminichna and vasilich who were to remain in moscow and while
they caught at his hand and kissed his shoulder he patted their backs
lightly with some vaguely affectionate and comforting words the
countess went into the oratory and there sonya found her on her knees
before the icons that had been left here and there hanging on the wall 
 the most precious ones with which some family tradition was connected 
were being taken with them 

in the porch and in the yard the men whom petya had armed with swords
and daggers with trousers tucked inside their high boots and with belts
and girdles tightened were taking leave of those remaining behind 

as is always the case at a departure much had been forgotten or put in
the wrong place and for a long time two menservants stood one on
each side of the open door and the carriage steps waiting to help the
countess in while maids rushed with cushions and bundles from the house
to the carriages the caleche the phaeton and back again 

 they always will forget everything said the countess don't you know
i can't sit like that 

and dunyasha with clenched teeth without replying but with an
aggrieved look on her face hastily got into the coach to rearrange the
seat 

 oh those servants said the count swaying his head 

efim the old coachman who was the only one the countess trusted to
drive her sat perched up high on the box and did not so much as glance
round at what was going on behind him from thirty years experience
he knew it would be some time yet before the order be off in god's
name would be given him and he knew that even when it was said
he would be stopped once or twice more while they sent back to fetch
something that had been forgotten and even after that he would again
be stopped and the countess herself would lean out of the window and beg
him for the love of heaven to drive carefully down the hill he knew
all this and therefore waited calmly for what would happen with more
patience than the horses especially the near one the chestnut falcon 
who was pawing the ground and champing his bit at last all were
seated the carriage steps were folded and pulled up the door was shut 
somebody was sent for a traveling case and the countess leaned out
and said what she had to say then efim deliberately doffed his hat and
began crossing himself the postilion and all the other servants did the
same off in god's name said efim putting on his hat start the
postilion started the horses the off pole horse tugged at his collar 
the high springs creaked and the body of the coach swayed the footman
sprang onto the box of the moving coach which jolted as it passed out
of the yard onto the uneven roadway the other vehicles jolted in
their turn and the procession of carriages moved up the street in the
carriages the caleche and the phaeton all crossed themselves as they
passed the church opposite the house those who were to remain in moscow
walked on either side of the vehicles seeing the travelers off 

rarely had natasha experienced so joyful a feeling as now sitting in
the carriage beside the countess and gazing at the slowly receding
walls of forsaken agitated moscow occasionally she leaned out of the
carriage window and looked back and then forward at the long train of
wounded in front of them almost at the head of the line she could see
the raised hood of prince andrew's caleche she did not know who was
in it but each time she looked at the procession her eyes sought that
caleche she knew it was right in front 

in kudrino from the nikitski presnya and podnovinsk streets came
several other trains of vehicles similar to the rostovs and as they
passed along the sadovaya street the carriages and carts formed two rows
abreast 

as they were going round the sukharev water tower natasha who was
inquisitively and alertly scrutinizing the people driving or walking
past suddenly cried out in joyful surprise 

 dear me mamma sonya look it's he 

 who who 

 look yes on my word it's bezukhov said natasha putting her head
out of the carriage and staring at a tall stout man in a coachman's
long coat who from his manner of walking and moving was evidently
a gentleman in disguise and who was passing under the arch of the
sukharev tower accompanied by a small sallow faced beardless old man
in a frieze coat 

 yes it really is bezukhov in a coachman's coat with a queer looking
old boy really said natasha look look 

 no it's not he how can you talk such nonsense 

 mamma screamed natasha i'll stake my head it's he i assure you 
stop stop she cried to the coachman 

but the coachman could not stop for from the meshchanski street came
more carts and carriages and the rostovs were being shouted at to move
on and not block the way 

in fact however though now much farther off than before the rostovs
all saw pierre or someone extraordinarily like him in a coachman's coat 
going down the street with head bent and a serious face beside a small 
beardless old man who looked like a footman that old man noticed a
face thrust out of the carriage window gazing at them and respectfully
touching pierre's elbow said something to him and pointed to the
carriage pierre evidently engrossed in thought could not at first
understand him at length when he had understood and looked in the
direction the old man indicated he recognized natasha and following
his first impulse stepped instantly and rapidly toward the coach but
having taken a dozen steps he seemed to remember something and stopped 

natasha's face leaning out of the window beamed with quizzical
kindliness 

 peter kirilovich come here we have recognized you this is
wonderful she cried holding out her hand to him what are you doing 
why are you like this 

pierre took her outstretched hand and kissed it awkwardly as he walked
along beside her while the coach still moved on 

 what is the matter count asked the countess in a surprised and
commiserating tone 

 what what why don't ask me said pierre and looked round at
natasha whose radiant happy expression of which he was conscious
without looking at her filled him with enchantment 

 are you remaining in moscow then 

pierre hesitated 

 in moscow he said in a questioning tone yes in moscow good by 

 ah if only i were a man i'd certainly stay with you how splendid 
said natasha mamma if you'll let me i'll stay 

pierre glanced absently at natasha and was about to say something but
the countess interrupted him 

 you were at the battle we heard 

 yes i was pierre answered there will be another battle
tomorrow he began but natasha interrupted him 

 but what is the matter with you count you are not like yourself 

 oh don't ask me don't ask me i don't know myself tomorrow but
no good by good by he muttered it's an awful time and dropping
behind the carriage he stepped onto the pavement 

natasha continued to lean out of the window for a long time beaming at
him with her kindly slightly quizzical happy smile 





chapter xviii

for the last two days ever since leaving home pierre had been living
in the empty house of his deceased benefactor bazdeev this is how it
happened 

when he woke up on the morning after his return to moscow and his
interview with count rostopchin he could not for some time make out
where he was and what was expected of him when he was informed that
among others awaiting him in his reception room there was a frenchman
who had brought a letter from his wife the countess helene he felt
suddenly overcome by that sense of confusion and hopelessness to which
he was apt to succumb he felt that everything was now at an end all
was in confusion and crumbling to pieces that nobody was right or
wrong the future held nothing and there was no escape from this
position smiling unnaturally and muttering to himself he first sat
down on the sofa in an attitude of despair then rose went to the door
of the reception room and peeped through the crack returned flourishing
his arms and took up a book his major domo came in a second time to
say that the frenchman who had brought the letter from the countess
was very anxious to see him if only for a minute and that someone from
bazdeev's widow had called to ask pierre to take charge of her husband's
books as she herself was leaving for the country 

 oh yes in a minute wait or no no of course go and say i will
come directly pierre replied to the major domo 

but as soon as the man had left the room pierre took up his hat which
was lying on the table and went out of his study by the other door 
there was no one in the passage he went along the whole length of this
passage to the stairs and frowning and rubbing his forehead with
both hands went down as far as the first landing the hall porter was
standing at the front door from the landing where pierre stood there
was a second staircase leading to the back entrance he went down that
staircase and out into the yard no one had seen him but there were
some carriages waiting and as soon as pierre stepped out of the gate
the coachmen and the yard porter noticed him and raised their caps to
him when he felt he was being looked at he behaved like an ostrich
which hides its head in a bush in order not to be seen he hung his head
and quickening his pace went down the street 

of all the affairs awaiting pierre that day the sorting of joseph
bazdeev's books and papers appeared to him the most necessary 

he hired the first cab he met and told the driver to go to the
patriarch's ponds where the widow bazdeev's house was 

continually turning round to look at the rows of loaded carts that were
making their way from all sides out of moscow and balancing his bulky
body so as not to slip out of the ramshackle old vehicle pierre 
experiencing the joyful feeling of a boy escaping from school began to
talk to his driver 

the man told him that arms were being distributed today at the kremlin
and that tomorrow everyone would be sent out beyond the three hills
gates and a great battle would be fought there 

having reached the patriarch's ponds pierre found the bazdeevs house 
where he had not been for a long time past he went up to the gate 
gerasim that sallow beardless old man pierre had seen at torzhok five
years before with joseph bazdeev came out in answer to his knock 

 at home asked pierre 

 owing to the present state of things sophia danilovna has gone to the
torzhok estate with the children your excellency 

 i will come in all the same i have to look through the books said
pierre 

 be so good as to step in makar alexeevich the brother of my late
master may the kingdom of heaven be his has remained here but he is in
a weak state as you know said the old servant 

pierre knew that makar alexeevich was joseph bazdeev's half insane
brother and a hard drinker 

 yes yes i know let us go in said pierre and entered the house 

a tall bald headed old man with a red nose wearing a dressing gown and
with galoshes on his bare feet stood in the anteroom on seeing pierre
he muttered something angrily and went away along the passage 

 he was a very clever man but has now grown quite feeble as your honor
sees said gerasim will you step into the study pierre nodded as
it was sealed up so it has remained but sophia danilovna gave orders
that if anyone should come from you they were to have the books 

pierre went into that gloomy study which he had entered with such
trepidation in his benefactor's lifetime the room dusty and untouched
since the death of joseph bazdeev was now even gloomier 

gerasim opened one of the shutters and left the room on tiptoe pierre
went round the study approached the cupboard in which the manuscripts
were kept and took out what had once been one of the most important 
the holy of holies of the order this was the authentic scotch acts
with bazdeev's notes and explanations he sat down at the dusty writing
table and having laid the manuscripts before him opened them out 
closed them finally pushed them away and resting his head on his hand
sank into meditation 

gerasim looked cautiously into the study several times and saw pierre
always sitting in the same attitude 

more than two hours passed and gerasim took the liberty of making a
slight noise at the door to attract his attention but pierre did not
hear him 

 is the cabman to be discharged your honor 

 oh yes said pierre rousing himself and rising hurriedly look
here he added taking gerasim by a button of his coat and looking down
at the old man with moist shining and ecstatic eyes i say do you
know that there is going to be a battle tomorrow 

 we heard so replied the man 

 i beg you not to tell anyone who i am and to do what i ask you 

 yes your excellency replied gerasim will you have something to
eat 

 no but i want something else i want peasant clothes and a pistol 
said pierre unexpectedly blushing 

 yes your excellency said gerasim after thinking for a moment 

all the rest of that day pierre spent alone in his benefactor's study 
and gerasim heard him pacing restlessly from one corner to another and
talking to himself and he spent the night on a bed made up for him
there 

gerasim being a servant who in his time had seen many strange things 
accepted pierre's taking up his residence in the house without surprise 
and seemed pleased to have someone to wait on that same evening without
even asking himself what they were wanted for he procured a coachman's
coat and cap for pierre and promised to get him the pistol next day 
makar alexeevich came twice that evening shuffling along in his galoshes
as far as the door and stopped and looked ingratiatingly at pierre but
as soon as pierre turned toward him he wrapped his dressing gown around
him with a shamefaced and angry look and hurried away it was when
pierre wearing the coachman's coat which gerasim had procured for him
and had disinfected by steam was on his way with the old man to buy the
pistol at the sukharev market that he met the rostovs 





chapter xix

kutuzov's order to retreat through moscow to the ryazan road was issued
at night on the first of september 

the first troops started at once and during the night they marched
slowly and steadily without hurry at daybreak however those nearing
the town at the dorogomilov bridge saw ahead of them masses of soldiers
crowding and hurrying across the bridge ascending on the opposite side
and blocking the streets and alleys while endless masses of troops were
bearing down on them from behind and an unreasoning hurry and alarm
overcame them they all rushed forward to the bridge onto it and
to the fords and the boats kutuzov himself had driven round by side
streets to the other side of moscow 

by ten o'clock in the morning of the second of september only the rear
guard remained in the dorogomilov suburb where they had ample room the
main army was on the other side of moscow or beyond it 

at that very time at ten in the morning of the second of september 
napoleon was standing among his troops on the poklonny hill looking at
the panorama spread out before him from the twenty sixth of august
to the second of september that is from the battle of borodino to the
entry of the french into moscow during the whole of that agitating 
memorable week there had been the extraordinary autumn weather that
always comes as a surprise when the sun hangs low and gives more heat
than in spring when everything shines so brightly in the rare clear
atmosphere that the eyes smart when the lungs are strengthened and
refreshed by inhaling the aromatic autumn air when even the nights
are warm and when in those dark warm nights golden stars startle and
delight us continually by falling from the sky 

at ten in the morning of the second of september this weather still
held 

the brightness of the morning was magical moscow seen from the poklonny
hill lay spaciously spread out with her river her gardens and her
churches and she seemed to be living her usual life her cupolas
glittering like stars in the sunlight 

the view of the strange city with its peculiar architecture such as
he had never seen before filled napoleon with the rather envious and
uneasy curiosity men feel when they see an alien form of life that has
no knowledge of them this city was evidently living with the full force
of its own life by the indefinite signs which even at a distance 
distinguish a living body from a dead one napoleon from the poklonny
hill perceived the throb of life in the town and felt as it were the
breathing of that great and beautiful body 

every russian looking at moscow feels her to be a mother every
foreigner who sees her even if ignorant of her significance as the
mother city must feel her feminine character and napoleon felt it 

 cette ville asiatique aux innombrables eglises moscou la sainte la
voila donc enfin cette fameuse ville il etait temps said he and
dismounting he ordered a plan of moscow to be spread out before him and
summoned lelorgne d'ideville the interpreter 

 that asiatic city of the innumerable churches holy
 moscow here it is then at last that famous city it was
 high time 


 a town captured by the enemy is like a maid who has lost her honor 
thought he he had said so to tuchkov at smolensk from that point of
view he gazed at the oriental beauty he had not seen before it seemed
strange to him that his long felt wish which had seemed unattainable 
had at last been realized in the clear morning light he gazed now at
the city and now at the plan considering its details and the assurance
of possessing it agitated and awed him 

 but could it be otherwise he thought here is this capital at my
feet where is alexander now and of what is he thinking a strange 
beautiful and majestic city and a strange and majestic moment in what
light must i appear to them thought he thinking of his troops 
 here she is the reward for all those fainthearted men he reflected 
glancing at those near him and at the troops who were approaching and
forming up one word from me one movement of my hand and that ancient
capital of the tsars would perish but my clemency is always ready to
descend upon the vanquished i must be magnanimous and truly great but
no it can't be true that i am in moscow he suddenly thought 
 yet here she is lying at my feet with her golden domes and crosses
scintillating and twinkling in the sunshine but i shall spare her on
the ancient monuments of barbarism and despotism i will inscribe great
words of justice and mercy it is just this which alexander will
feel most painfully i know him it seemed to napoleon that the chief
import of what was taking place lay in the personal struggle between
himself and alexander from the height of the kremlin yes there
is the kremlin yes i will give them just laws i will teach them the
meaning of true civilization i will make generations of boyars remember
their conqueror with love i will tell the deputation that i did not 
and do not desire war that i have waged war only against the false
policy of their court that i love and respect alexander and that in
moscow i will accept terms of peace worthy of myself and of my people 
i do not wish to utilize the fortunes of war to humiliate an honored
monarch boyars i will say to them i do not desire war i desire
the peace and welfare of all my subjects however i know their
presence will inspire me and i shall speak to them as i always do 
clearly impressively and majestically but can it be true that i am in
moscow yes there she lies 

 qu'on m'amene les boyars said he to his suite 

 bring the boyars to me 


a general with a brilliant suite galloped off at once to fetch the
boyars 

two hours passed napoleon had lunched and was again standing in the
same place on the poklonny hill awaiting the deputation his speech to
the boyars had already taken definite shape in his imagination that
speech was full of dignity and greatness as napoleon understood it 

he was himself carried away by the tone of magnanimity he intended to
adopt toward moscow in his imagination he appointed days for assemblies
at the palace of the tsars at which russian notables and his own would
mingle he mentally appointed a governor one who would win the
hearts of the people having learned that there were many charitable
institutions in moscow he mentally decided that he would shower favors
on them all he thought that as in africa he had to put on a burnoose
and sit in a mosque so in moscow he must be beneficent like the tsars 
and in order finally to touch the hearts of the russians and being like
all frenchmen unable to imagine anything sentimental without a reference
to ma chere ma tendre ma pauvre mere he decided that he would
place an inscription on all these establishments in large letters 
 this establishment is dedicated to my dear mother or no it should
be simply maison de ma mere 2 he concluded but am i really in
moscow yes here it lies before me but why is the deputation from the
city so long in appearing he wondered 

 my dear my tender my poor mother 

 2 house of my mother 


meanwhile an agitated consultation was being carried on in whispers
among his generals and marshals at the rear of his suite those sent to
fetch the deputation had returned with the news that moscow was empty 
that everyone had left it the faces of those who were not conferring
together were pale and perturbed they were not alarmed by the fact
that moscow had been abandoned by its inhabitants grave as that fact
seemed but by the question how to tell the emperor without putting
him in the terrible position of appearing ridiculous that he had been
awaiting the boyars so long in vain that there were drunken mobs left
in moscow but no one else some said that a deputation of some sort must
be scraped together others disputed that opinion and maintained that
the emperor should first be carefully and skillfully prepared and then
told the truth 

 he will have to be told all the same said some gentlemen of the
suite but gentlemen 

the position was the more awkward because the emperor meditating upon
his magnanimous plans was pacing patiently up and down before the
outspread map occasionally glancing along the road to moscow from under
his lifted hand with a bright and proud smile 

 but it's impossible declared the gentlemen of the suite shrugging
their shoulders but not venturing to utter the implied word le
ridicule 

at last the emperor tired of futile expectation his actor's instinct
suggesting to him that the sublime moment having been too long drawn out
was beginning to lose its sublimity gave a sign with his hand a single
report of a signaling gun followed and the troops who were already
spread out on different sides of moscow moved into the city through the
tver kaluga and dorogomilov gates faster and faster vying with
one another they moved at the double or at a trot vanishing amid the
clouds of dust they raised and making the air ring with a deafening roar
of mingling shouts 

drawn on by the movement of his troops napoleon rode with them as far as
the dorogomilov gate but there again stopped and dismounting from his
horse paced for a long time by the kammer kollezski rampart awaiting
the deputation 





chapter xx

meanwhile moscow was empty there were still people in it perhaps a
fiftieth part of its former inhabitants had remained but it was empty 
it was empty in the sense that a dying queenless hive is empty 

in a queenless hive no life is left though to a superficial glance it
seems as much alive as other hives 

the bees circle round a queenless hive in the hot beams of the midday
sun as gaily as around the living hives from a distance it smells of
honey like the others and bees fly in and out in the same way but one
has only to observe that hive to realize that there is no longer any
life in it the bees do not fly in the same way the smell and the sound
that meet the beekeeper are not the same to the beekeeper's tap on the
wall of the sick hive instead of the former instant unanimous
humming of tens of thousands of bees with their abdomens threateningly
compressed and producing by the rapid vibration of their wings an
aerial living sound the only reply is a disconnected buzzing from
different parts of the deserted hive from the alighting board instead
of the former spirituous fragrant smell of honey and venom and the warm
whiffs of crowded life comes an odor of emptiness and decay mingling
with the smell of honey there are no longer sentinels sounding the
alarm with their abdomens raised and ready to die in defense of the
hive there is no longer the measured quiet sound of throbbing activity 
like the sound of boiling water but diverse discordant sounds of
disorder in and out of the hive long black robber bees smeared with
honey fly timidly and shiftily they do not sting but crawl away from
danger formerly only bees laden with honey flew into the hive and they
flew out empty now they fly out laden the beekeeper opens the lower
part of the hive and peers in instead of black glossy bees tamed by
toil clinging to one another's legs and drawing out the wax with a
ceaseless hum of labor that used to hang in long clusters down to the
floor of the hive drowsy shriveled bees crawl about separately in
various directions on the floor and walls of the hive instead of a
neatly glued floor swept by the bees with the fanning of their wings 
there is a floor littered with bits of wax excrement dying bees
scarcely moving their legs and dead ones that have not been cleared
away 

the beekeeper opens the upper part of the hive and examines the super 
instead of serried rows of bees sealing up every gap in the combs and
keeping the brood warm he sees the skillful complex structures of the
combs but no longer in their former state of purity all is neglected
and foul black robber bees are swiftly and stealthily prowling about
the combs and the short home bees shriveled and listless as if they
were old creep slowly about without trying to hinder the robbers 
having lost all motive and all sense of life drones bumblebees wasps 
and butterflies knock awkwardly against the walls of the hive in their
flight here and there among the cells containing dead brood and honey
an angry buzzing can sometimes be heard here and there a couple of
bees by force of habit and custom cleaning out the brood cells with
efforts beyond their strength laboriously drag away a dead bee or
bumblebee without knowing why they do it in another corner two old bees
are languidly fighting or cleaning themselves or feeding one another 
without themselves knowing whether they do it with friendly or hostile
intent in a third place a crowd of bees crushing one another attack
some victim and fight and smother it and the victim enfeebled or
killed drops from above slowly and lightly as a feather among the heap
of corpses the keeper opens the two center partitions to examine
the brood cells in place of the former close dark circles formed by
thousands of bees sitting back to back and guarding the high mystery
of generation he sees hundreds of dull listless and sleepy shells of
bees they have almost all died unawares sitting in the sanctuary they
had guarded and which is now no more they reek of decay and death only
a few of them still move rise and feebly fly to settle on the enemy's
hand lacking the spirit to die stinging him the rest are dead and fall
as lightly as fish scales the beekeeper closes the hive chalks a mark
on it and when he has time tears out its contents and burns it clean 

so in the same way moscow was empty when napoleon weary uneasy and
morose paced up and down in front of the kammer kollezski rampart 
awaiting what to his mind was a necessary if but formal observance of
the proprieties a deputation 

in various corners of moscow there still remained a few people aimlessly
moving about following their old habits and hardly aware of what they
were doing 

when with due circumspection napoleon was informed that moscow was
empty he looked angrily at his informant turned away and silently
continued to walk to and fro 

 my carriage he said 

he took his seat beside the aide de camp on duty and drove into the
suburb moscow deserted he said to himself what an incredible
event 

he did not drive into the town but put up at an inn in the dorogomilov
suburb 

the coup de theatre had not come off 





chapter xxi

the russian troops were passing through moscow from two o'clock at night
till two in the afternoon and bore away with them the wounded and the
last of the inhabitants who were leaving 

the greatest crush during the movement of the troops took place at the
stone moskva and yauza bridges 

while the troops dividing into two parts when passing around the
kremlin were thronging the moskva and the stone bridges a great many
soldiers taking advantage of the stoppage and congestion turned back
from the bridges and slipped stealthily and silently past the church of
vasili the beatified and under the borovitski gate back up the hill
to the red square where some instinct told them they could easily take
things not belonging to them crowds of the kind seen at cheap sales
filled all the passages and alleys of the bazaar but there were no
dealers with voices of ingratiating affability inviting customers to
enter there were no hawkers nor the usual motley crowd of female
purchasers but only soldiers in uniforms and overcoats though without
muskets entering the bazaar empty handed and silently making their way
out through its passages with bundles tradesmen and their assistants
 of whom there were but few moved about among the soldiers quite
bewildered they unlocked their shops and locked them up again and
themselves carried goods away with the help of their assistants on the
square in front of the bazaar were drummers beating the muster call 
but the roll of the drums did not make the looting soldiers run in the
direction of the drum as formerly but made them on the contrary run
farther away among the soldiers in the shops and passages some men were
to be seen in gray coats with closely shaven heads two officers one
with a scarf over his uniform and mounted on a lean dark gray horse 
the other in an overcoat and on foot stood at the corner of ilyinka
street talking a third officer galloped up to them 

 the general orders them all to be driven out at once without fail 
this is outrageous half the men have dispersed 

 where are you off to where he shouted to three infantrymen
without muskets who holding up the skirts of their overcoats were
slipping past him into the bazaar passage stop you rascals 

 but how are you going to stop them replied another officer there is
no getting them together the army should push on before the rest bolt 
that's all 

 how can one push on they are stuck there wedged on the bridge and
don't move shouldn't we put a cordon round to prevent the rest from
running away 

 come go in there and drive them out shouted the senior officer 

the officer in the scarf dismounted called up a drummer and went with
him into the arcade some soldiers started running away in a group a
shopkeeper with red pimples on his cheeks near the nose and a calm 
persistent calculating expression on his plump face hurriedly and
ostentatiously approached the officer swinging his arms 

 your honor said he be so good as to protect us we won't grudge
trifles you are welcome to anything we shall be delighted pray 
i'll fetch a piece of cloth at once for such an honorable gentleman 
or even two pieces with pleasure for we feel how it is but what's all
this sheer robbery if you please could not guards be placed if only to
let us close the shop 

several shopkeepers crowded round the officer 

 eh what twaddle said one of them a thin stern looking man when
one's head is gone one doesn't weep for one's hair take what any of you
like and flourishing his arm energetically he turned sideways to the
officer 

 it's all very well for you ivan sidorych to talk said the first
tradesman angrily please step inside your honor 

 talk indeed cried the thin one in my three shops here i have a
hundred thousand rubles worth of goods can they be saved when the army
has gone eh what people against god's might our hands can't fight 

 come inside your honor repeated the tradesman bowing 

the officer stood perplexed and his face showed indecision 

 it's not my business he exclaimed and strode on quickly down one of
the passages 

from one open shop came the sound of blows and vituperation and just
as the officer came up to it a man in a gray coat with a shaven head was
flung out violently 

this man bent double rushed past the tradesman and the officer the
officer pounced on the soldiers who were in the shops but at that
moment fearful screams reached them from the huge crowd on the moskva
bridge and the officer ran out into the square 

 what is it what is it he asked but his comrade was already
galloping off past vasili the beatified in the direction from which the
screams came 

the officer mounted his horse and rode after him when he reached the
bridge he saw two unlimbered guns the infantry crossing the bridge 
several overturned carts and frightened and laughing faces among the
troops beside the cannon a cart was standing to which two horses were
harnessed four borzois with collars were pressing close to the wheels 
the cart was loaded high and at the very top beside a child's chair
with its legs in the air sat a peasant woman uttering piercing and
desperate shrieks he was told by his fellow officers that the screams
of the crowd and the shrieks of the woman were due to the fact that
general ermolov coming up to the crowd and learning that soldiers were
dispersing among the shops while crowds of civilians blocked the bridge 
had ordered two guns to be unlimbered and made a show of firing at the
bridge the crowd crushing one another upsetting carts and shouting
and squeezing desperately had cleared off the bridge and the troops
were now moving forward 





chapter xxii

meanwhile the city itself was deserted there was hardly anyone in the
streets the gates and shops were all closed only here and there round
the taverns solitary shouts or drunken songs could be heard nobody
drove through the streets and footsteps were rarely heard the
povarskaya was quite still and deserted the huge courtyard of the
rostovs house was littered with wisps of hay and with dung from the
horses and not a soul was to be seen there in the great drawing
room of the house which had been left with all it contained were
two people they were the yard porter ignat and the page boy mishka 
vasilich's grandson who had stayed in moscow with his grandfather 
mishka had opened the clavichord and was strumming on it with
one finger the yard porter his arms akimbo stood smiling with
satisfaction before the large mirror 

 isn't it fine eh uncle ignat said the boy suddenly beginning to
strike the keyboard with both hands 

 only fancy answered ignat surprised at the broadening grin on his
face in the mirror 

 impudence impudence they heard behind them the voice of mavra
kuzminichna who had entered silently how he's grinning the fat mug 
is that what you're here for nothing's cleared away down there and
vasilich is worn out just you wait a bit 

ignat left off smiling adjusted his belt and went out of the room with
meekly downcast eyes 

 aunt i did it gently said the boy 

 i'll give you something gently you monkey you cried mavra
kuzminichna raising her arm threateningly go and get the samovar to
boil for your grandfather 

mavra kuzminichna flicked the dust off the clavichord and closed it and
with a deep sigh left the drawing room and locked its main door 

going out into the yard she paused to consider where she should go
next to drink tea in the servants wing with vasilich or into the
storeroom to put away what still lay about 

she heard the sound of quick footsteps in the quiet street someone
stopped at the gate and the latch rattled as someone tried to open it 
mavra kuzminichna went to the gate 

 who do you want 

 the count count ilya andreevich rostov 

 and who are you 

 an officer i have to see him came the reply in a pleasant well bred
russian voice 

mavra kuzminichna opened the gate and an officer of eighteen with the
round face of a rostov entered the yard 

 they have gone away sir went away yesterday at vespertime said
mavra kuzminichna cordially 

the young officer standing in the gateway as if hesitating whether to
enter or not clicked his tongue 

 ah how annoying he muttered i should have come yesterday ah 
what a pity 

meanwhile mavra kuzminichna was attentively and sympathetically
examining the familiar rostov features of the young man's face his
tattered coat and trodden down boots 

 what did you want to see the count for she asked 

 oh well it can't be helped said he in a tone of vexation and
placed his hand on the gate as if to leave 

he again paused in indecision 

 you see he suddenly said i am a kinsman of the count's and he has
been very kind to me as you see he glanced with an amused air and
good natured smile at his coat and boots my things are worn out and i
have no money so i was going to ask the count 

mavra kuzminichna did not let him finish 

 just wait a minute sir one little moment said she 

and as soon as the officer let go of the gate handle she turned and 
hurrying away on her old legs went through the back yard to the
servants quarters 

while mavra kuzminichna was running to her room the officer walked about
the yard gazing at his worn out boots with lowered head and a faint
smile on his lips what a pity i've missed uncle what a nice old
woman where has she run off to and how am i to find the nearest way
to overtake my regiment which must by now be getting near the rogozhski
gate thought he just then mavra kuzminichna appeared from behind
the corner of the house with a frightened yet resolute look carrying a
rolled up check kerchief in her hand while still a few steps from
the officer she unfolded the kerchief and took out of it a white
twenty five ruble assignat and hastily handed it to him 

 if his excellency had been at home as a kinsman he would of course 
but as it is 

mavra kuzminichna grew abashed and confused the officer did not
decline but took the note quietly and thanked her 

 if the count had been at home mavra kuzminichna went on
apologetically christ be with you sir may god preserve you said
she bowing as she saw him out 

swaying his head and smiling as if amused at himself the officer ran
almost at a trot through the deserted streets toward the yauza bridge to
overtake his regiment 

but mavra kuzminichna stood at the closed gate for some time with moist
eyes pensively swaying her head and feeling an unexpected flow of
motherly tenderness and pity for the unknown young officer 





chapter xxiii

from an unfinished house on the varvarka the ground floor of which was
a dramshop came drunken shouts and songs on benches round the tables
in a dirty little room sat some ten factory hands tipsy and perspiring 
with dim eyes and wide open mouths they were all laboriously singing
some song or other they were singing discordantly arduously and with
great effort evidently not because they wished to sing but because
they wanted to show they were drunk and on a spree one a tall 
fair haired lad in a clean blue coat was standing over the others his
face with its fine straight nose would have been handsome had it not
been for his thin compressed twitching lips and dull gloomy fixed
eyes evidently possessed by some idea he stood over those who were
singing and solemnly and jerkily flourished above their heads his white
arm with the sleeve turned up to the elbow trying unnaturally to spread
out his dirty fingers the sleeve of his coat kept slipping down and he
always carefully rolled it up again with his left hand as if it were
most important that the sinewy white arm he was flourishing should be
bare in the midst of the song cries were heard and fighting and blows
in the passage and porch the tall lad waved his arm 

 stop it he exclaimed peremptorily there's a fight lads and 
still rolling up his sleeve he went out to the porch 

the factory hands followed him these men who under the leadership of
the tall lad were drinking in the dramshop that morning had brought the
publican some skins from the factory and for this had had drink served
them the blacksmiths from a neighboring smithy hearing the sounds of
revelry in the tavern and supposing it to have been broken into wished
to force their way in too and a fight in the porch had resulted 

the publican was fighting one of the smiths at the door and when the
workmen came out the smith wrenching himself free from the tavern
keeper fell face downward on the pavement 

another smith tried to enter the doorway pressing against the publican
with his chest 

the lad with the turned up sleeve gave the smith a blow in the face and
cried wildly they're fighting us lads 

at that moment the first smith got up and scratching his bruised
face to make it bleed shouted in a tearful voice police murder 
they've killed a man lads 

 oh gracious me a man beaten to death killed screamed a woman
coming out of a gate close by 

a crowd gathered round the bloodstained smith 

 haven't you robbed people enough taking their last shirts said a
voice addressing the publican what have you killed a man for you
thief 

the tall lad standing in the porch turned his bleared eyes from the
publican to the smith and back again as if considering whom he ought to
fight now 

 murderer he shouted suddenly to the publican bind him lads 

 i daresay you would like to bind me shouted the publican pushing
away the men advancing on him and snatching his cap from his head he
flung it on the ground 

as if this action had some mysterious and menacing significance the
workmen surrounding the publican paused in indecision 

 i know the law very well mates i'll take the matter to the captain
of police you think i won't get to him robbery is not permitted to
anybody nowadays shouted the publican picking up his cap 

 come along then come along then the publican and the tall young
fellow repeated one after the other and they moved up the street
together 

the bloodstained smith went beside them the factory hands and others
followed behind talking and shouting 

at the corner of the moroseyka opposite a large house with closed
shutters and bearing a bootmaker's signboard stood a score of thin 
worn out gloomy faced bootmakers wearing overalls and long tattered
coats 

 he should pay folks off properly a thin workingman with frowning
brows and a straggly beard was saying 

 but he's sucked our blood and now he thinks he's quit of us he's been
misleading us all the week and now that he's brought us to this pass
he's made off 

on seeing the crowd and the bloodstained man the workman ceased
speaking and with eager curiosity all the bootmakers joined the moving
crowd 

 where are all the folks going 

 why to the police of course 

 i say is it true that we have been beaten and what did you think 
look what folks are saying 

questions and answers were heard the publican taking advantage of the
increased crowd dropped behind and returned to his tavern 

the tall youth not noticing the disappearance of his foe waved his
bare arm and went on talking incessantly attracting general attention
to himself it was around him that the people chiefly crowded expecting
answers from him to the questions that occupied all their minds 

 he must keep order keep the law that's what the government is there
for am i not right good christians said the tall youth with a
scarcely perceptible smile he thinks there's no government how can
one do without government or else there would be plenty who'd rob us 

 why talk nonsense rejoined voices in the crowd will they give
up moscow like this they told you that for fun and you believed it 
aren't there plenty of troops on the march let him in indeed that's
what the government is for you'd better listen to what people are
saying said some of the mob pointing to the tall youth 

by the wall of china town a smaller group of people were gathered round
a man in a frieze coat who held a paper in his hand 

 an ukase they are reading an ukase reading an ukase cried voices in
the crowd and the people rushed toward the reader 

the man in the frieze coat was reading the broadsheet of august 31 when
the crowd collected round him he seemed confused but at the demand
of the tall lad who had pushed his way up to him he began in a rather
tremulous voice to read the sheet from the beginning 

 early tomorrow i shall go to his serene highness he read sirin
highness said the tall fellow with a triumphant smile on his lips and
a frown on his brow to consult with him to act and to aid the army
to exterminate these scoundrels we too will take part the reader
went on and then paused do you see shouted the youth victoriously 
 he's going to clear up the whole affair for you in destroying
them and will send these visitors to the devil i will come back to
dinner and we'll set to work we will do completely do and undo these
scoundrels 

the last words were read out in the midst of complete silence the tall
lad hung his head gloomily it was evident that no one had understood
the last part in particular the words i will come back to dinner 
evidently displeased both reader and audience the people's minds
were tuned to a high pitch and this was too simple and needlessly
comprehensible it was what any one of them might have said and therefore
was what an ukase emanating from the highest authority should not say 

they all stood despondent and silent the tall youth moved his lips and
swayed from side to side 

 we should ask him that's he himself yes ask him indeed 
why not he'll explain voices in the rear of the crowd were
suddenly heard saying and the general attention turned to the police
superintendent's trap which drove into the square attended by two
mounted dragoons 

the superintendent of police who had gone that morning by count
rostopchin's orders to burn the barges and had in connection with that
matter acquired a large sum of money which was at that moment in his
pocket on seeing a crowd bearing down upon him told his coachman to
stop 

 what people are these he shouted to the men who were moving singly
and timidly in the direction of his trap 

 what people are these he shouted again receiving no answer 

 your honor replied the shopman in the frieze coat your honor in
accord with the proclamation of his highest excellency the count they
desire to serve not sparing their lives and it is not any kind of
riot but as his highest excellence said 

 the count has not left he is here and an order will be issued
concerning you said the superintendent of police go on he ordered
his coachman 

the crowd halted pressing around those who had heard what the
superintendent had said and looking at the departing trap 

the superintendent of police turned round at that moment with a scared
look said something to his coachman and his horses increased their
speed 

 it's a fraud lads lead the way to him himself shouted the tall
youth don't let him go lads let him answer us keep him shouted
different people and the people dashed in pursuit of the trap 

following the superintendent of police and talking loudly the crowd went
in the direction of the lubyanka street 

 there now the gentry and merchants have gone away and left us to
perish do they think we're dogs voices in the crowd were heard saying
more and more frequently 





chapter xxiv

on the evening of the first of september after his interview with
kutuzov count rostopchin had returned to moscow mortified and offended
because he had not been invited to attend the council of war and
because kutuzov had paid no attention to his offer to take part in the
defense of the city amazed also at the novel outlook revealed to him
at the camp which treated the tranquillity of the capital and its
patriotic fervor as not merely secondary but quite irrelevant and
unimportant matters distressed offended and surprised by all this 
rostopchin had returned to moscow after supper he lay down on a sofa
without undressing and was awakened soon after midnight by a courier
bringing him a letter from kutuzov this letter requested the count to
send police officers to guide the troops through the town as the army
was retreating to the ryazan road beyond moscow this was not news to
rostopchin he had known that moscow would be abandoned not merely since
his interview the previous day with kutuzov on the poklonny hill but
ever since the battle of borodino for all the generals who came to
moscow after that battle had said unanimously that it was impossible to
fight another battle and since then the government property had been
removed every night and half the inhabitants had left the city
with rostopchin's own permission yet all the same this information
astonished and irritated the count coming as it did in the form of a
simple note with an order from kutuzov and received at night breaking
in on his beauty sleep 

when later on in his memoirs count rostopchin explained his actions at
this time he repeatedly says that he was then actuated by two important
considerations to maintain tranquillity in moscow and expedite the
departure of the inhabitants if one accepts this twofold aim all
rostopchin's actions appear irreproachable why were the holy relics 
the arms ammunition gunpowder and stores of corn not removed why
were thousands of inhabitants deceived into believing that moscow would
not be given up and thereby ruined to preserve the tranquillity
of the city explains count rostopchin why were bundles of useless
papers from the government offices and leppich's balloon and other
articles removed to leave the town empty explains count rostopchin 
one need only admit that public tranquillity is in danger and any action
finds a justification 

all the horrors of the reign of terror were based only on solicitude for
public tranquillity 

on what then was count rostopchin's fear for the tranquillity of
moscow based in 1812 what reason was there for assuming any probability
of an uprising in the city the inhabitants were leaving it and the
retreating troops were filling it why should that cause the masses to
riot 

neither in moscow nor anywhere in russia did anything resembling an
insurrection ever occur when the enemy entered a town more than
ten thousand people were still in moscow on the first and second of
september and except for a mob in the governor's courtyard assembled
there at his bidding nothing happened it is obvious that there would
have been even less reason to expect a disturbance among the people
if after the battle of borodino when the surrender of moscow became
certain or at least probable rostopchin instead of exciting the people
by distributing arms and broadsheets had taken steps to remove all
the holy relics the gunpowder munitions and money and had told the
population plainly that the town would be abandoned 

rostopchin though he had patriotic sentiments was a sanguine and
impulsive man who had always moved in the highest administrative circles
and had no understanding at all of the people he supposed himself to
be guiding ever since the enemy's entry into smolensk he had in
imagination been playing the role of director of the popular feeling
of the heart of russia not only did it seem to him as to all
administrators that he controlled the external actions of moscow's
inhabitants but he also thought he controlled their mental attitude by
means of his broadsheets and posters written in a coarse tone which the
people despise in their own class and do not understand from those in
authority rostopchin was so pleased with the fine role of leader of
popular feeling and had grown so used to it that the necessity of
relinquishing that role and abandoning moscow without any heroic display
took him unawares and he suddenly felt the ground slip away from under
his feet so that he positively did not know what to do though he knew
it was coming he did not till the last moment wholeheartedly believe
that moscow would be abandoned and did not prepare for it the
inhabitants left against his wishes if the government offices were
removed this was only done on the demand of officials to whom the count
yielded reluctantly he was absorbed in the role he had created
for himself as is often the case with those gifted with an ardent
imagination though he had long known that moscow would be abandoned he
knew it only with his intellect he did not believe it in his heart and
did not adapt himself mentally to this new position of affairs 

all his painstaking and energetic activity in how far it was useful
and had any effect on the people is another question had been simply
directed toward arousing in the masses his own feeling of patriotic
hatred of the french 

but when events assumed their true historical character when expressing
hatred for the french in words proved insufficient when it was not
even possible to express that hatred by fighting a battle when
self confidence was of no avail in relation to the one question before
moscow when the whole population streamed out of moscow as one man 
abandoning their belongings and proving by that negative action all
the depth of their national feeling then the role chosen by rostopchin
suddenly appeared senseless he unexpectedly felt himself ridiculous 
weak and alone with no ground to stand on 

when awakened from his sleep he received that cold peremptory note
from kutuzov he felt the more irritated the more he felt himself
to blame all that he had been specially put in charge of the state
property which he should have removed was still in moscow and it was no
longer possible to take the whole of it away 

 who is to blame for it who has let things come to such a pass he
ruminated not i of course i had everything ready i had moscow
firmly in hand and this is what they have let it come to villains 
traitors he thought without clearly defining who the villains and
traitors were but feeling it necessary to hate those traitors whoever
they might be who were to blame for the false and ridiculous position in
which he found himself 

all that night count rostopchin issued orders for which people came to
him from all parts of moscow those about him had never seen the count
so morose and irritable 

 your excellency the director of the registrar's department has sent
for instructions from the consistory from the senate from the
university from the foundling hospital the suffragan has sent 
asking for information what are your orders about the fire brigade 
from the governor of the prison from the superintendent of the
lunatic asylum all night long such announcements were continually
being received by the count 

to all these inquiries he gave brief and angry replies indicating that
orders from him were not now needed that the whole affair carefully
prepared by him had now been ruined by somebody and that that somebody
would have to bear the whole responsibility for all that might happen 

 oh tell that blockhead he said in reply to the question from the
registrar's department that he should remain to guard his documents 
now why are you asking silly questions about the fire brigade they have
horses let them be off to vladimir and not leave them to the french 

 your excellency the superintendent of the lunatic asylum has come 
what are your commands 

 my commands let them go away that's all and let the lunatics
out into the town when lunatics command our armies god evidently means
these other madmen to be free 

in reply to an inquiry about the convicts in the prison count
rostopchin shouted angrily at the governor 

 do you expect me to give you two battalions which we have not got for a
convoy release them that's all about it 

 your excellency there are some political prisoners meshkov 
vereshchagin 

 vereshchagin hasn't he been hanged yet shouted rostopchin bring
him to me 





chapter xxv

toward nine o'clock in the morning when the troops were already moving
through moscow nobody came to the count any more for instructions 
those who were able to get away were going of their own accord those
who remained behind decided for themselves what they must do 

the count ordered his carriage that he might drive to sokolniki and sat
in his study with folded hands morose sallow and taciturn 

in quiet and untroubled times it seems to every administrator that it
is only by his efforts that the whole population under his rule is
kept going and in this consciousness of being indispensable every
administrator finds the chief reward of his labor and efforts while the
sea of history remains calm the ruler administrator in his frail bark 
holding on with a boat hook to the ship of the people and himself
moving naturally imagines that his efforts move the ship he is holding
on to but as soon as a storm arises and the sea begins to heave and
the ship to move such a delusion is no longer possible the ship moves
independently with its own enormous motion the boat hook no longer
reaches the moving vessel and suddenly the administrator instead
of appearing a ruler and a source of power becomes an insignificant 
useless feeble man 

rostopchin felt this and it was this which exasperated him 

the superintendent of police whom the crowd had stopped went in to
see him at the same time as an adjutant who informed the count that the
horses were harnessed they were both pale and the superintendent of
police after reporting that he had executed the instructions he had
received informed the count that an immense crowd had collected in the
courtyard and wished to see him 

without saying a word rostopchin rose and walked hastily to his light 
luxurious drawing room went to the balcony door took hold of the
handle let it go again and went to the window from which he had a
better view of the whole crowd the tall lad was standing in front 
flourishing his arm and saying something with a stern look the
blood stained smith stood beside him with a gloomy face a drone of
voices was audible through the closed window 

 is my carriage ready asked rostopchin stepping back from the window 

 it is your excellency replied the adjutant 

rostopchin went again to the balcony door 

 but what do they want he asked the superintendent of police 

 your excellency they say they have got ready according to your
orders to go against the french and they shouted something about
treachery but it is a turbulent crowd your excellency i hardly managed
to get away from it your excellency i venture to suggest 

 you may go i don't need you to tell me what to do exclaimed
rostopchin angrily 

he stood by the balcony door looking at the crowd 

 this is what they have done with russia this is what they have done
with me thought he full of an irrepressible fury that welled up
within him against the someone to whom what was happening might be
attributed as often happens with passionate people he was mastered by
anger but was still seeking an object on which to vent it here is
that mob the dregs of the people he thought as he gazed at the crowd 
 this rabble they have roused by their folly they want a victim 
he thought as he looked at the tall lad flourishing his arm and this
thought occurred to him just because he himself desired a victim 
something on which to vent his rage 

 is the carriage ready he asked again 

 yes your excellency what are your orders about vereshchagin he is
waiting at the porch said the adjutant 

 ah exclaimed rostopchin as if struck by an unexpected recollection 

and rapidly opening the door he went resolutely out onto the balcony 
the talking instantly ceased hats and caps were doffed and all eyes
were raised to the count 

 good morning lads said the count briskly and loudly thank you for
coming i'll come out to you in a moment but we must first settle
with the villain we must punish the villain who has caused the ruin of
moscow wait for me 

and the count stepped as briskly back into the room and slammed the door
behind him 

a murmur of approbation and satisfaction ran through the crowd he'll
settle with all the villains you'll see and you said the french 
he'll show you what law is the mob were saying as if reproving one
another for their lack of confidence 

a few minutes later an officer came hurriedly out of the front door 
gave an order and the dragoons formed up in line the crowd moved
eagerly from the balcony toward the porch rostopchin coming out there
with quick angry steps looked hastily around as if seeking someone 

 where is he he inquired and as he spoke he saw a young man coming
round the corner of the house between two dragoons he had a long thin
neck and his head that had been half shaved was again covered by
short hair this young man was dressed in a threadbare blue cloth coat
lined with fox fur that had once been smart and dirty hempen convict
trousers over which were pulled his thin dirty trodden down boots 
on his thin weak legs were heavy chains which hampered his irresolute
movements 

 ah said rostopchin hurriedly turning away his eyes from the young
man in the fur lined coat and pointing to the bottom step of the porch 
 put him there 

the young man in his clattering chains stepped clumsily to the spot
indicated holding away with one finger the coat collar which chafed
his neck turned his long neck twice this way and that sighed and
submissively folded before him his thin hands unused to work 

for several seconds while the young man was taking his place on the step
the silence continued only among the back rows of the people who were
all pressing toward the one spot could sighs groans and the shuffling
of feet be heard 

while waiting for the young man to take his place on the step rostopchin
stood frowning and rubbing his face with his hand 

 lads said he with a metallic ring in his voice this man 
vereshchagin is the scoundrel by whose doing moscow is perishing 

the young man in the fur lined coat stooping a little stood in a
submissive attitude his fingers clasped before him his emaciated young
face disfigured by the half shaven head hung down hopelessly at
the count's first words he raised it slowly and looked up at him as if
wishing to say something or at least to meet his eye but rostopchin did
not look at him a vein in the young man's long thin neck swelled like a
cord and went blue behind the ear and suddenly his face flushed 

all eyes were fixed on him he looked at the crowd and rendered more
hopeful by the expression he read on the faces there he smiled sadly
and timidly and lowering his head shifted his feet on the step 

 he has betrayed his tsar and his country he has gone over to
bonaparte he alone of all the russians has disgraced the russian name 
he has caused moscow to perish said rostopchin in a sharp even voice 
but suddenly he glanced down at vereshchagin who continued to stand in
the same submissive attitude as if inflamed by the sight he raised his
arm and addressed the people almost shouting 

 deal with him as you think fit i hand him over to you 

the crowd remained silent and only pressed closer and closer to
one another to keep one another back to breathe in that stifling
atmosphere to be unable to stir and to await something unknown 
uncomprehended and terrible was becoming unbearable those standing
in front who had seen and heard what had taken place before them all
stood with wide open eyes and mouths straining with all their strength 
and held back the crowd that was pushing behind them 

 beat him let the traitor perish and not disgrace the russian name 
shouted rostopchin cut him down i command it 

hearing not so much the words as the angry tone of rostopchin's voice 
the crowd moaned and heaved forward but again paused 

 count exclaimed the timid yet theatrical voice of vereshchagin in the
midst of the momentary silence that ensued count one god is above us
both he lifted his head and again the thick vein in his thin neck
filled with blood and the color rapidly came and went in his face 

he did not finish what he wished to say 

 cut him down i command it shouted rostopchin suddenly growing
pale like vereshchagin 

 draw sabers cried the dragoon officer drawing his own 

another still stronger wave flowed through the crowd and reaching the
front ranks carried it swaying to the very steps of the porch the tall
youth with a stony look on his face and rigid and uplifted arm stood
beside vereshchagin 

 saber him the dragoon officer almost whispered 

and one of the soldiers his face all at once distorted with fury 
struck vereshchagin on the head with the blunt side of his saber 

 ah cried vereshchagin in meek surprise looking round with a
frightened glance as if not understanding why this was done to him a
similar moan of surprise and horror ran through the crowd o lord 
exclaimed a sorrowful voice 

but after the exclamation of surprise that had escaped from vereshchagin
he uttered a plaintive cry of pain and that cry was fatal the barrier
of human feeling strained to the utmost that had held the crowd in
check suddenly broke the crime had begun and must now be completed the
plaintive moan of reproach was drowned by the threatening and angry roar
of the crowd like the seventh and last wave that shatters a ship that
last irresistible wave burst from the rear and reached the front ranks 
carrying them off their feet and engulfing them all the dragoon was
about to repeat his blow vereshchagin with a cry of horror covering
his head with his hands rushed toward the crowd the tall youth 
against whom he stumbled seized his thin neck with his hands and 
yelling wildly fell with him under the feet of the pressing struggling
crowd 

some beat and tore at vereshchagin others at the tall youth and the
screams of those that were being trampled on and of those who tried to
rescue the tall lad only increased the fury of the crowd it was a long
time before the dragoons could extricate the bleeding youth beaten
almost to death and for a long time despite the feverish haste with
which the mob tried to end the work that had been begun those who were
hitting throttling and tearing at vereshchagin were unable to kill
him for the crowd pressed from all sides swaying as one mass with them
in the center and rendering it impossible for them either to kill him or
let him go 

 hit him with an ax eh crushed traitor he sold christ 
still alive tenacious serves him right torture serves a thief
right use the hatchet what still alive 

only when the victim ceased to struggle and his cries changed to a
long drawn measured death rattle did the crowd around his prostrate 
bleeding corpse begin rapidly to change places each one came
up glanced at what had been done and with horror reproach and
astonishment pushed back again 

 o lord the people are like wild beasts how could he be alive voices
in the crowd could be heard saying quite a young fellow too must
have been a merchant's son what men and they say he's not the right
one how not the right one o lord and there's another has been
beaten too they say he's nearly done for oh the people aren't
they afraid of sinning said the same mob now looking with pained
distress at the dead body with its long thin half severed neck and its
livid face stained with blood and dust 

a painstaking police officer considering the presence of a corpse in
his excellency's courtyard unseemly told the dragoons to take it away 
two dragoons took it by its distorted legs and dragged it along the
ground the gory dust stained half shaven head with its long neck
trailed twisting along the ground the crowd shrank back from it 

at the moment when vereshchagin fell and the crowd closed in with savage
yells and swayed about him rostopchin suddenly turned pale and instead
of going to the back entrance where his carriage awaited him went
with hurried steps and bent head not knowing where and why along the
passage leading to the rooms on the ground floor the count's face was
white and he could not control the feverish twitching of his lower jaw 

 this way your excellency where are you going this way 
please said a trembling frightened voice behind him 

count rostopchin was unable to reply and turning obediently went in
the direction indicated at the back entrance stood his caleche the
distant roar of the yelling crowd was audible even there he hastily
took his seat and told the coachman to drive him to his country house in
sokolniki 

when they reached the myasnitski street and could no longer hear
the shouts of the mob the count began to repent he remembered with
dissatisfaction the agitation and fear he had betrayed before his
subordinates the mob is terrible disgusting he said to himself
in french they are like wolves whom nothing but flesh can appease 
 count one god is above us both vereshchagin's words suddenly
recurred to him and a disagreeable shiver ran down his back but this
was only a momentary feeling and count rostopchin smiled disdainfully
at himself i had other duties thought he the people had to be
appeased many other victims have perished and are perishing for the
public good and he began thinking of his social duties to his family
and to the city entrusted to him and of himself not himself as theodore
vasilyevich rostopchin he fancied that theodore vasilyevich rostopchin
was sacrificing himself for the public good but himself as governor 
the representative of authority and of the tsar had i been simply
theodore vasilyevich my course of action would have been quite
different but it was my duty to safeguard my life and dignity as
commander in chief 

lightly swaying on the flexible springs of his carriage and no longer
hearing the terrible sounds of the crowd rostopchin grew physically
calm and as always happens as soon as he became physically tranquil
his mind devised reasons why he should be mentally tranquil too the
thought which tranquillized rostopchin was not a new one since the
world began and men have killed one another no one has ever committed
such a crime against his fellow man without comforting himself with
this same idea this idea is le bien public the hypothetical welfare of
other people 

to a man not swayed by passion that welfare is never certain but he
who commits such a crime always knows just where that welfare lies and
rostopchin now knew it 

not only did his reason not reproach him for what he had done but
he even found cause for self satisfaction in having so successfully
contrived to avail himself of a convenient opportunity to punish a
criminal and at the same time pacify the mob 

 vereshchagin was tried and condemned to death thought rostopchin
 though the senate had only condemned vereshchagin to hard labor he
was a traitor and a spy i could not let him go unpunished and so i have
killed two birds with one stone to appease the mob i gave them a victim
and at the same time punished a miscreant 

having reached his country house and begun to give orders about domestic
arrangements the count grew quite tranquil 

half an hour later he was driving with his fast horses across the
sokolniki field no longer thinking of what had occurred but considering
what was to come he was driving to the yauza bridge where he had heard
that kutuzov was count rostopchin was mentally preparing the angry and
stinging reproaches he meant to address to kutuzov for his deception he
would make that foxy old courtier feel that the responsibility for all
the calamities that would follow the abandonment of the city and the
ruin of russia as rostopchin regarded it would fall upon his doting
old head planning beforehand what he would say to kutuzov rostopchin
turned angrily in his caleche and gazed sternly from side to side 

the sokolniki field was deserted only at the end of it in front of the
almshouse and the lunatic asylum could be seen some people in white
and others like them walking singly across the field shouting and
gesticulating 

one of these was running to cross the path of count rostopchin's
carriage and the count himself his coachman and his dragoons
looked with vague horror and curiosity at these released lunatics and
especially at the one running toward them 

swaying from side to side on his long thin legs in his fluttering
dressing gown this lunatic was running impetuously his gaze fixed on
rostopchin shouting something in a hoarse voice and making signs to him
to stop the lunatic's solemn gloomy face was thin and yellow with
its beard growing in uneven tufts his black agate pupils with
saffron yellow whites moved restlessly near the lower eyelids 

 stop pull up i tell you he cried in a piercing voice and again
shouted something breathlessly with emphatic intonations and gestures 

coming abreast of the caleche he ran beside it 

 thrice have they slain me thrice have i risen from the dead they
stoned me crucified me i shall rise shall rise shall rise 
they have torn my body the kingdom of god will be overthrown thrice
will i overthrow it and thrice re establish it he cried raising his
voice higher and higher 

count rostopchin suddenly grew pale as he had done when the crowd closed
in on vereshchagin he turned away go fas faster he cried in a
trembling voice to his coachman the caleche flew over the ground as
fast as the horses could draw it but for a long time count rostopchin
still heard the insane despairing screams growing fainter in the
distance while his eyes saw nothing but the astonished frightened 
bloodstained face of the traitor in the fur lined coat 

recent as that mental picture was rostopchin already felt that it had
cut deep into his heart and drawn blood even now he felt clearly that
the gory trace of that recollection would not pass with time but that
the terrible memory would on the contrary dwell in his heart ever more
cruelly and painfully to the end of his life he seemed still to hear
the sound of his own words cut him down i command it 

 why did i utter those words it was by some accident i said them 
i need not have said them he thought and then nothing would have
happened he saw the frightened and then infuriated face of the dragoon
who dealt the blow the look of silent timid reproach that boy in the
fur lined coat had turned upon him but i did not do it for my own
sake i was bound to act that way the mob the traitor the public
welfare thought he 

troops were still crowding at the yauza bridge it was hot kutuzov 
dejected and frowning sat on a bench by the bridge toying with his
whip in the sand when a caleche dashed up noisily a man in a general's
uniform with plumes in his hat went up to kutuzov and said something
in french it was count rostopchin he told kutuzov that he had come
because moscow the capital was no more and only the army remained 

 things would have been different if your serene highness had not told
me that you would not abandon moscow without another battle all this
would not have happened he said 

kutuzov looked at rostopchin as if not grasping what was said to him 
he was trying to read something peculiar written at that moment on the
face of the man addressing him rostopchin grew confused and became
silent kutuzov slightly shook his head and not taking his penetrating
gaze from rostopchin's face muttered softly 

 no i shall not give up moscow without a battle 

whether kutuzov was thinking of something entirely different when
he spoke those words or uttered them purposely knowing them to be
meaningless at any rate rostopchin made no reply and hastily left him 
and strange to say the governor of moscow the proud count rostopchin 
took up a cossack whip and went to the bridge where he began with shouts
to drive on the carts that blocked the way 





chapter xxvi

toward four o'clock in the afternoon murat's troops were entering
moscow in front rode a detachment of wurttemberg hussars and behind
them rode the king of naples himself accompanied by a numerous suite 

about the middle of the arbat street near the church of the miraculous
icon of st nicholas murat halted to await news from the advanced
detachment as to the condition in which they had found the citadel le
kremlin 

around murat gathered a group of those who had remained in moscow they
all stared in timid bewilderment at the strange long haired commander
dressed up in feathers and gold 

 is that their tsar himself he's not bad low voices could be heard
saying 

an interpreter rode up to the group 

 take off your cap your caps these words went from one to another
in the crowd the interpreter addressed an old porter and asked if
it was far to the kremlin the porter listening in perplexity to the
unfamiliar polish accent and not realizing that the interpreter was
speaking russian did not understand what was being said to him and
slipped behind the others 

murat approached the interpreter and told him to ask where the russian
army was one of the russians understood what was asked and several
voices at once began answering the interpreter a french officer 
returning from the advanced detachment rode up to murat and reported
that the gates of the citadel had been barricaded and that there was
probably an ambuscade there 

 good said murat and turning to one of the gentlemen in his suite 
ordered four light guns to be moved forward to fire at the gates 

the guns emerged at a trot from the column following murat and advanced
up the arbat when they reached the end of the vozdvizhenka street they
halted and drew in the square several french officers superintended the
placing of the guns and looked at the kremlin through field glasses 

the bells in the kremlin were ringing for vespers and this sound
troubled the french they imagined it to be a call to arms a few
infantrymen ran to the kutafyev gate beams and wooden screens had been
put there and two musket shots rang out from under the gate as soon as
an officer and men began to run toward it a general who was standing
by the guns shouted some words of command to the officer and the latter
ran back again with his men 

the sound of three more shots came from the gate 

one shot struck a french soldier's foot and from behind the screens
came the strange sound of a few voices shouting instantly as at a
word of command the expression of cheerful serenity on the faces of
the french general officers and men changed to one of determined
concentrated readiness for strife and suffering to all of them from
the marshal to the least soldier that place was not the vozdvizhenka 
mokhavaya or kutafyev street nor the troitsa gate places familiar in
moscow but a new battlefield which would probably prove sanguinary 
and all made ready for that battle the cries from the gates ceased the
guns were advanced the artillerymen blew the ash off their linstocks 
and an officer gave the word fire this was followed by two whistling
sounds of canister shot one after another the shot rattled against
the stone of the gate and upon the wooden beams and screens and two
wavering clouds of smoke rose over the square 

a few instants after the echo of the reports resounding over the
stone built kremlin had died away the french heard a strange sound above
their head thousands of crows rose above the walls and circled in the
air cawing and noisily flapping their wings together with that sound
came a solitary human cry from the gateway and amid the smoke appeared
the figure of a bareheaded man in a peasant's coat he grasped a musket
and took aim at the french fire repeated the officer once more 
and the reports of a musket and of two cannon shots were heard
simultaneously the gate was again hidden by smoke 

nothing more stirred behind the screens and the french infantry soldiers
and officers advanced to the gate in the gateway lay three wounded and
four dead two men in peasant coats ran away at the foot of the wall 
toward the znamenka 

 clear that away said the officer pointing to the beams and the
corpses and the french soldiers after dispatching the wounded threw
the corpses over the parapet 

who these men were nobody knew clear that away was all that was said
of them and they were thrown over the parapet and removed later on that
they might not stink thiers alone dedicates a few eloquent lines to
their memory these wretches had occupied the sacred citadel having
supplied themselves with guns from the arsenal and fired the
wretches at the french some of them were sabered and the kremlin was
purged of their presence 

murat was informed that the way had been cleared the french entered
the gates and began pitching their camp in the senate square out of the
windows of the senate house the soldiers threw chairs into the square
for fuel and kindled fires there 

other detachments passed through the kremlin and encamped along
the moroseyka the lubyanka and pokrovka streets others quartered
themselves along the vozdvizhenka the nikolski and the tverskoy
streets no masters of the houses being found anywhere the french were
not billeted on the inhabitants as is usual in towns but lived in it as
in a camp 

though tattered hungry worn out and reduced to a third of their
original number the french entered moscow in good marching order it
was a weary and famished but still a fighting and menacing army but
it remained an army only until its soldiers had dispersed into their
different lodgings as soon as the men of the various regiments began
to disperse among the wealthy and deserted houses the army was lost
forever and there came into being something nondescript neither
citizens nor soldiers but what are known as marauders when five weeks
later these same men left moscow they no longer formed an army they
were a mob of marauders each carrying a quantity of articles which
seemed to him valuable or useful the aim of each man when he left
moscow was no longer as it had been to conquer but merely to keep
what he had acquired like a monkey which puts its paw into the narrow
neck of a jug and having seized a handful of nuts will not open its
fist for fear of losing what it holds and therefore perishes the
french when they left moscow had inevitably to perish because they
carried their loot with them yet to abandon what they had stolen was as
impossible for them as it is for the monkey to open its paw and let
go of its nuts ten minutes after each regiment had entered a moscow
district not a soldier or officer was left men in military uniforms
and hessian boots could be seen through the windows laughing and
walking through the rooms in cellars and storerooms similar men were
busy among the provisions and in the yards unlocking or breaking open
coach house and stable doors lighting fires in kitchens and kneading
and baking bread with rolled up sleeves and cooking or frightening 
amusing or caressing women and children there were many such men both
in the shops and houses but there was no army 

order after order was issued by the french commanders that day
forbidding the men to disperse about the town sternly forbidding any
violence to the inhabitants or any looting and announcing a roll call
for that very evening but despite all these measures the men who had
till then constituted an army flowed all over the wealthy deserted
city with its comforts and plentiful supplies as a hungry herd of
cattle keeps well together when crossing a barren field but gets out
of hand and at once disperses uncontrollably as soon as it reaches rich
pastures so did the army disperse all over the wealthy city 

no residents were left in moscow and the soldiers like water
percolating through sand spread irresistibly through the city in all
directions from the kremlin into which they had first marched the
cavalry on entering a merchant's house that had been abandoned and
finding there stabling more than sufficient for their horses went on 
all the same to the next house which seemed to them better many of
them appropriated several houses chalked their names on them and
quarreled and even fought with other companies for them before they had
had time to secure quarters the soldiers ran out into the streets to
see the city and hearing that everything had been abandoned rushed
to places where valuables were to be had for the taking the officers
followed to check the soldiers and were involuntarily drawn into doing
the same in carriage row carriages had been left in the shops and
generals flocked there to select caleches and coaches for themselves 
the few inhabitants who had remained invited commanding officers to
their houses hoping thereby to secure themselves from being plundered 
there were masses of wealth and there seemed no end to it all around
the quarters occupied by the french were other regions still unexplored
and unoccupied where they thought yet greater riches might be found 
and moscow engulfed the army ever deeper and deeper when water is
spilled on dry ground both the dry ground and the water disappear and
mud results and in the same way the entry of the famished army into the
rich and deserted city resulted in fires and looting and the destruction
of both the army and the wealthy city 


the french attributed the fire of moscow au patriotisme feroce de
rostopchine the russians to the barbarity of the french in reality 
however it was not and could not be possible to explain the burning
of moscow by making any individual or any group of people responsible
for it moscow was burned because it found itself in a position in which
any town built of wood was bound to burn quite apart from whether it
had or had not a hundred and thirty inferior fire engines deserted
moscow had to burn as inevitably as a heap of shavings has to burn on
which sparks continually fall for several days a town built of wood 
where scarcely a day passes without conflagrations when the house owners
are in residence and a police force is present cannot help burning when
its inhabitants have left it and it is occupied by soldiers who smoke
pipes make campfires of the senate chairs in the senate square and
cook themselves meals twice a day in peacetime it is only necessary to
billet troops in the villages of any district and the number of fires in
that district immediately increases how much then must the probability
of fire be increased in an abandoned wooden town where foreign troops
are quartered le patriotisme feroce de rostopchine and the barbarity
of the french were not to blame in the matter moscow was set on fire by
the soldiers pipes kitchens and campfires and by the carelessness of
enemy soldiers occupying houses they did not own even if there was any
arson which is very doubtful for no one had any reason to burn the
houses in any case a troublesome and dangerous thing to do arson
cannot be regarded as the cause for the same thing would have happened
without any incendiarism 

 to rostopchin's ferocious patriotism 

however tempting it might be for the french to blame rostopchin's
ferocity and for russians to blame the scoundrel bonaparte or later
on to place an heroic torch in the hands of their own people it is
impossible not to see that there could be no such direct cause of the
fire for moscow had to burn as every village factory or house must
burn which is left by its owners and in which strangers are allowed to
live and cook their porridge moscow was burned by its inhabitants it
is true but by those who had abandoned it and not by those who remained
in it moscow when occupied by the enemy did not remain intact like
berlin vienna and other towns simply because its inhabitants
abandoned it and did not welcome the french with bread and salt nor
bring them the keys of the city 





chapter xxvii

the absorption of the french by moscow radiating starwise as it did 
only reached the quarter where pierre was staying by the evening of the
second of september 

after the last two days spent in solitude and unusual circumstances 
pierre was in a state bordering on insanity he was completely obsessed
by one persistent thought he did not know how or when this thought had
taken such possession of him but he remembered nothing of the past 
understood nothing of the present and all he saw and heard appeared to
him like a dream 

he had left home only to escape the intricate tangle of life's demands
that enmeshed him and which in his present condition he was unable
to unravel he had gone to joseph alexeevich's house on the plea of
sorting the deceased's books and papers only in search of rest from
life's turmoil for in his mind the memory of joseph alexeevich was
connected with a world of eternal solemn and calm thoughts quite
contrary to the restless confusion into which he felt himself being
drawn he sought a quiet refuge and in joseph alexeevich's study he
really found it when he sat with his elbows on the dusty writing table
in the deathlike stillness of the study calm and significant memories
of the last few days rose one after another in his imagination 
particularly of the battle of borodino and of that vague sense of his
own insignificance and insincerity compared with the truth simplicity 
and strength of the class of men he mentally classed as they when
gerasim roused him from his reverie the idea occurred to him of taking
part in the popular defense of moscow which he knew was projected and
with that object he had asked gerasim to get him a peasant's coat and
a pistol confiding to him his intentions of remaining in joseph
alexeevich's house and keeping his name secret then during the first
day spent in inaction and solitude he tried several times to fix his
attention on the masonic manuscripts but was unable to do so the idea
that had previously occurred to him of the cabalistic significance of
his name in connection with bonaparte's more than once vaguely presented
itself but the idea that he l'russe besuhof was destined to set a
limit to the power of the beast was as yet only one of the fancies that
often passed through his mind and left no trace behind 

when having bought the coat merely with the object of taking part among
the people in the defense of moscow pierre had met the rostovs and
natasha had said to him are you remaining in moscow how splendid 
the thought flashed into his mind that it really would be a good thing 
even if moscow were taken for him to remain there and do what he was
predestined to do 

next day with the sole idea of not sparing himself and not lagging in
any way behind them pierre went to the three hills gate but when he
returned to the house convinced that moscow would not be defended he
suddenly felt that what before had seemed to him merely a possibility
had now become absolutely necessary and inevitable he must remain in
moscow concealing his name and must meet napoleon and kill him and
either perish or put an end to the misery of all europe which it seemed
to him was solely due to napoleon 

pierre knew all the details of the attempt on bonaparte's life in 1809
by a german student in vienna and knew that the student had been shot 
and the risk to which he would expose his life by carrying out his
design excited him still more 

two equally strong feelings drew pierre irresistibly to this purpose 
the first was a feeling of the necessity of sacrifice and suffering in
view of the common calamity the same feeling that had caused him to go
to mozhaysk on the twenty fifth and to make his way to the very thick
of the battle and had now caused him to run away from his home and in
place of the luxury and comfort to which he was accustomed to sleep
on a hard sofa without undressing and eat the same food as gerasim 
the other was that vague and quite russian feeling of contempt for
everything conventional artificial and human for everything the
majority of men regard as the greatest good in the world pierre had
first experienced this strange and fascinating feeling at the sloboda
palace when he had suddenly felt that wealth power and life all that
men so painstakingly acquire and guard if it has any worth has so only
by reason of the joy with which it can all be renounced 

it was the feeling that induces a volunteer recruit to spend his last
penny on drink and a drunken man to smash mirrors or glasses for no
apparent reason and knowing that it will cost him all the money he
possesses the feeling which causes a man to perform actions which from
an ordinary point of view are insane to test as it were his personal
power and strength affirming the existence of a higher nonhuman
criterion of life 

from the very day pierre had experienced this feeling for the first time
at the sloboda palace he had been continuously under its influence but
only now found full satisfaction for it moreover at this moment pierre
was supported in his design and prevented from renouncing it by what he
had already done in that direction if he were now to leave moscow like
everyone else his flight from home the peasant coat the pistol and
his announcement to the rostovs that he would remain in moscow would all
become not merely meaningless but contemptible and ridiculous and to
this pierre was very sensitive 

pierre's physical condition as is always the case corresponded to his
mental state the unaccustomed coarse food the vodka he drank during
those days the absence of wine and cigars his dirty unchanged linen 
two almost sleepless nights passed on a short sofa without bedding all
this kept him in a state of excitement bordering on insanity 

it was two o'clock in the afternoon the french had already entered
moscow pierre knew this but instead of acting he only thought about
his undertaking going over its minutest details in his mind in his
fancy he did not clearly picture to himself either the striking of the
blow or the death of napoleon but with extraordinary vividness and
melancholy enjoyment imagined his own destruction and heroic endurance 

 yes alone for the sake of all i must do it or perish he thought 
 yes i will approach and then suddenly with pistol or dagger 
but that is all the same it is not i but the hand of providence that
punishes thee i shall say thought he imagining what he would say
when killing napoleon well then take me and execute me he went on 
speaking to himself and bowing his head with a sad but firm expression 

while pierre standing in the middle of the room was talking to himself
in this way the study door opened and on the threshold appeared
the figure of makar alexeevich always so timid before but now quite
transformed 

his dressing gown was unfastened his face red and distorted he
was obviously drunk on seeing pierre he grew confused at first but
noticing embarrassment on pierre's face immediately grew bold and 
staggering on his thin legs advanced into the middle of the room 

 they're frightened he said confidentially in a hoarse voice i say i
won't surrender i say am i not right sir 

he paused and then suddenly seeing the pistol on the table seized it
with unexpected rapidity and ran out into the corridor 

gerasim and the porter who had followed makar alexeevich stopped him
in the vestibule and tried to take the pistol from him pierre coming
out into the corridor looked with pity and repulsion at the half crazy
old man makar alexeevich frowning with exertion held on to the pistol
and screamed hoarsely evidently with some heroic fancy in his head 

 to arms board them no you shan't get it he yelled 

 that will do please that will do have the goodness please sir to
let go please sir pleaded gerasim trying carefully to steer makar
alexeevich by the elbows back to the door 

 who are you bonaparte shouted makar alexeevich 

 that's not right sir come to your room please and rest allow me to
have the pistol 

 be off thou base slave touch me not see this shouted makar
alexeevich brandishing the pistol board them 

 catch hold whispered gerasim to the porter 

they seized makar alexeevich by the arms and dragged him to the door 

the vestibule was filled with the discordant sounds of a struggle and of
a tipsy hoarse voice 

suddenly a fresh sound a piercing feminine scream reverberated from
the porch and the cook came running into the vestibule 

 it's them gracious heavens o lord four of them horsemen she
cried 

gerasim and the porter let makar alexeevich go and in the now silent
corridor the sound of several hands knocking at the front door could be
heard 





chapter xxviii

pierre having decided that until he had carried out his design he would
disclose neither his identity nor his knowledge of french stood at the
half open door of the corridor intending to conceal himself as soon
as the french entered but the french entered and still pierre did not
retire an irresistible curiosity kept him there 

there were two of them one was an officer a tall soldierly handsome
man the other evidently a private or an orderly sunburned short and
thin with sunken cheeks and a dull expression the officer walked in
front leaning on a stick and slightly limping when he had advanced
a few steps he stopped having apparently decided that these were good
quarters turned round to the soldiers standing at the entrance and in
a loud voice of command ordered them to put up the horses having done
that the officer lifting his elbow with a smart gesture stroked his
mustache and lightly touched his hat 

 bonjour la compagnie said he gaily smiling and looking about him 

 good day everybody 


no one gave any reply 

 vous etes le bourgeois the officer asked gerasim 

 are you the master here 


gerasim gazed at the officer with an alarmed and inquiring look 

 quartier quartier logement said the officer looking down at the
little man with a condescending and good natured smile les francais
sont de bons enfants que diable voyons ne nous fachons pas mon
vieux added he clapping the scared and silent gerasim on the
shoulder well does no one speak french in this establishment he
asked again in french looking around and meeting pierre's eyes pierre
moved away from the door 

 quarters quarters lodgings the french are good
 fellows what the devil there don't let us be cross old
 fellow 


again the officer turned to gerasim and asked him to show him the rooms
in the house 

 master not here don't understand me you said gerasim trying
to render his words more comprehensible by contorting them 

still smiling the french officer spread out his hands before gerasim's
nose intimating that he did not understand him either and moved 
limping to the door at which pierre was standing pierre wished to go
away and conceal himself but at that moment he saw makar alexeevich
appearing at the open kitchen door with the pistol in his hand with
a madman's cunning makar alexeevich eyed the frenchman raised his
pistol and took aim 

 board them yelled the tipsy man trying to press the trigger hearing
the yell the officer turned round and at the same moment pierre threw
himself on the drunkard just when pierre snatched at and struck up the
pistol makar alexeevich at last got his fingers on the trigger there
was a deafening report and all were enveloped in a cloud of smoke the
frenchman turned pale and rushed to the door 

forgetting his intention of concealing his knowledge of french pierre 
snatching away the pistol and throwing it down ran up to the officer
and addressed him in french 

 you are not wounded he asked 

 i think not answered the frenchman feeling himself over but i have
had a lucky escape this time he added pointing to the damaged plaster
of the wall who is that man said he looking sternly at pierre 

 oh i am really in despair at what has occurred said pierre rapidly 
quite forgetting the part he had intended to play he is an unfortunate
madman who did not know what he was doing 

the officer went up to makar alexeevich and took him by the collar 

makar alexeevich was standing with parted lips swaying as if about to
fall asleep as he leaned against the wall 

 brigand you shall pay for this said the frenchman letting go
of him we french are merciful after victory but we do not pardon
traitors he added with a look of gloomy dignity and a fine energetic
gesture 

pierre continued in french to persuade the officer not to hold that
drunken imbecile to account the frenchman listened in silence with the
same gloomy expression but suddenly turned to pierre with a smile for
a few seconds he looked at him in silence his handsome face assumed a
melodramatically gentle expression and he held out his hand 

 you have saved my life you are french said he 

for a frenchman that deduction was indubitable only a frenchman could
perform a great deed and to save his life the life of m ramballe 
captain of the 13th light regiment was undoubtedly a very great deed 

but however indubitable that conclusion and the officer's conviction
based upon it pierre felt it necessary to disillusion him 

 i am russian he said quickly 

 tut tut tut tell that to others said the officer waving his
finger before his nose and smiling you shall tell me all about that
presently i am delighted to meet a compatriot well and what are we
to do with this man he added addressing himself to pierre as to a
brother 

even if pierre were not a frenchman having once received that loftiest
of human appellations he could not renounce it said the officer's look
and tone in reply to his last question pierre again explained who makar
alexeevich was and how just before their arrival that drunken imbecile
had seized the loaded pistol which they had not had time to recover from
him and begged the officer to let the deed go unpunished 

the frenchman expanded his chest and made a majestic gesture with his
arm 

 you have saved my life you are french you ask his pardon i grant it
you lead that man away said he quickly and energetically and taking
the arm of pierre whom he had promoted to be a frenchman for saving his
life he went with him into the room 

the soldiers in the yard hearing the shot came into the passage asking
what had happened and expressed their readiness to punish the culprits 
but the officer sternly checked them 

 you will be called in when you are wanted he said 

the soldiers went out again and the orderly who had meanwhile had time
to visit the kitchen came up to his officer 

 captain there is soup and a leg of mutton in the kitchen said he 
 shall i serve them up 

 yes and some wine answered the captain 





chapter xxix

when the french officer went into the room with pierre the latter again
thought it his duty to assure him that he was not french and wished to
go away but the officer would not hear of it he was so very polite 
amiable good natured and genuinely grateful to pierre for saving his
life that pierre had not the heart to refuse and sat down with him in
the parlor the first room they entered to pierre's assurances that he
was not a frenchman the captain evidently not understanding how anyone
could decline so flattering an appellation shrugged his shoulders and
said that if pierre absolutely insisted on passing for a russian let it
be so but for all that he would be forever bound to pierre by gratitude
for saving his life 

had this man been endowed with the slightest capacity for perceiving the
feelings of others and had he at all understood what pierre's feelings
were the latter would probably have left him but the man's animated
obtuseness to everything other than himself disarmed pierre 

 a frenchman or a russian prince incognito said the officer looking
at pierre's fine though dirty linen and at the ring on his finger 
 i owe my life to you and offer you my friendship a frenchman never
forgets either an insult or a service i offer you my friendship that
is all i can say 

there was so much good nature and nobility in the french sense of the
word in the officer's voice in the expression of his face and in
his gestures that pierre unconsciously smiling in response to the
frenchman's smile pressed the hand held out to him 

 captain ramballe of the 13th light regiment chevalier of the legion
of honor for the affair on the seventh of september he introduced
himself a self satisfied irrepressible smile puckering his lips under
his mustache will you now be so good as to tell me with whom i have
the honor of conversing so pleasantly instead of being in the ambulance
with that maniac's bullet in my body 

pierre replied that he could not tell him his name and blushing 
began to try to invent a name and to say something about his reason for
concealing it but the frenchman hastily interrupted him 

 oh please said he i understand your reasons you are an officer 
a superior officer perhaps you have borne arms against us that's not
my business i owe you my life that is enough for me i am quite at
your service you belong to the gentry he concluded with a shade of
inquiry in his tone pierre bent his head your baptismal name if you
please that is all i ask monsieur pierre you say that's all i
want to know 

when the mutton and an omelet had been served and a samovar and vodka
brought with some wine which the french had taken from a russian cellar
and brought with them ramballe invited pierre to share his dinner and
himself began to eat greedily and quickly like a healthy and hungry man 
munching his food rapidly with his strong teeth continually smacking
his lips and repeating excellent delicious his face grew red and
was covered with perspiration pierre was hungry and shared the dinner
with pleasure morel the orderly brought some hot water in a saucepan
and placed a bottle of claret in it he also brought a bottle of kvass 
taken from the kitchen for them to try that beverage was already known
to the french and had been given a special name they called it limonade
de cochon pig's lemonade and morel spoke well of the limonade de
cochon he had found in the kitchen but as the captain had the wine they
had taken while passing through moscow he left the kvass to morel and
applied himself to the bottle of bordeaux he wrapped the bottle up
to its neck in a table napkin and poured out wine for himself and for
pierre the satisfaction of his hunger and the wine rendered the captain
still more lively and he chatted incessantly all through dinner 

 yes my dear monsieur pierre i owe you a fine votive candle for
saving me from that maniac you see i have bullets enough in my
body already here is one i got at wagram he touched his side and a
second at smolensk he showed a scar on his cheek and this leg which as
you see does not want to march i got that on the seventh at the great
battle of la moskowa sacre dieu it was splendid that deluge of fire
was worth seeing it was a tough job you set us there my word you may
be proud of it and on my honor in spite of the cough i caught there i
should be ready to begin again i pity those who did not see it 

 i was there said pierre 

 bah really so much the better you are certainly brave foes the
great redoubt held out well by my pipe continued the frenchman and
you made us pay dear for it i was at it three times sure as i sit here 
three times we reached the guns and three times we were thrown back
like cardboard figures oh it was beautiful monsieur pierre your
grenadiers were splendid by heaven i saw them close up their ranks six
times in succession and march as if on parade fine fellows our king of
naples who knows what's what cried bravo ha ha so you are one of
us soldiers he added smiling after a momentary pause so much
the better so much the better monsieur pierre terrible in battle 
gallant with the fair he winked and smiled that's what the
french are monsieur pierre aren't they 

the captain was so naively and good humoredly gay so real and so
pleased with himself that pierre almost winked back as he looked merrily
at him probably the word gallant turned the captain's thoughts to the
state of moscow 

 apropos tell me please is it true that the women have all left
moscow what a queer idea what had they to be afraid of 

 would not the french ladies leave paris if the russians entered it 
asked pierre 

 ha ha ha the frenchman emitted a merry sanguine chuckle patting
pierre on the shoulder what a thing to say he exclaimed paris 
but paris paris 

 paris the capital of the world pierre finished his remark for him 

the captain looked at pierre he had a habit of stopping short in the
middle of his talk and gazing intently with his laughing kindly eyes 

 well if you hadn't told me you were russian i should have wagered
that you were parisian you have that i don't know what that and
having uttered this compliment he again gazed at him in silence 

 i have been in paris i spent years there said pierre 

 oh yes one sees that plainly paris a man who doesn't know paris
is a savage you can tell a parisian two leagues off paris is talma la
duchenois potier the sorbonne the boulevards and noticing that
his conclusion was weaker than what had gone before he added quickly 
 there is only one paris in the world you have been to paris and have
remained russian well i don't esteem you the less for it 

under the influence of the wine he had drunk and after the days he had
spent alone with his depressing thoughts pierre involuntarily enjoyed
talking with this cheerful and good natured man 

 to return to your ladies i hear they are lovely what a wretched idea
to go and bury themselves in the steppes when the french army is in
moscow what a chance those girls have missed your peasants now that's
another thing but you civilized people you ought to know us better
than that we took vienna berlin madrid naples rome warsaw all
the world's capitals we are feared but we are loved we are nice to
know and then the emperor he began but pierre interrupted him 

 the emperor pierre repeated and his face suddenly became sad and
embarrassed is the emperor 

 the emperor he is generosity mercy justice order genius that's
what the emperor is it is i ramballe who tell you so i assure you
i was his enemy eight years ago my father was an emigrant count but
that man has vanquished me he has taken hold of me i could not resist
the sight of the grandeur and glory with which he has covered france 
when i understood what he wanted when i saw that he was preparing a bed
of laurels for us you know i said to myself that is a monarch and
i devoted myself to him so there oh yes mon cher he is the greatest
man of the ages past or future 

 is he in moscow pierre stammered with a guilty look 

the frenchman looked at his guilty face and smiled 

 no he will make his entry tomorrow he replied and continued his
talk 

their conversation was interrupted by the cries of several voices at
the gate and by morel who came to say that some wurttemberg hussars had
come and wanted to put up their horses in the yard where the captain's
horses were this difficulty had arisen chiefly because the hussars did
not understand what was said to them in french 

the captain had their senior sergeant called in and in a stern voice
asked him to what regiment he belonged who was his commanding officer 
and by what right he allowed himself to claim quarters that were already
occupied the german who knew little french answered the two first
questions by giving the names of his regiment and of his commanding
officer but in reply to the third question which he did not understand
said introducing broken french into his own german that he was the
quartermaster of the regiment and his commander had ordered him to
occupy all the houses one after another pierre who knew german 
translated what the german said to the captain and gave the captain's
reply to the wurttemberg hussar in german when he had understood what
was said to him the german submitted and took his men elsewhere the
captain went out into the porch and gave some orders in a loud voice 

when he returned to the room pierre was sitting in the same place as
before with his head in his hands his face expressed suffering he
really was suffering at that moment when the captain went out and he
was left alone suddenly he came to himself and realized the position
he was in it was not that moscow had been taken or that the happy
conquerors were masters in it and were patronizing him painful as
that was it was not that which tormented pierre at the moment he was
tormented by the consciousness of his own weakness the few glasses of
wine he had drunk and the conversation with this good natured man had
destroyed the mood of concentrated gloom in which he had spent the last
few days and which was essential for the execution of his design the
pistol dagger and peasant coat were ready napoleon was to enter the
town next day pierre still considered that it would be a useful and
worthy action to slay the evildoer but now he felt that he would not
do it he did not know why but he felt a foreboding that he would not
carry out his intention he struggled against the confession of his
weakness but dimly felt that he could not overcome it and that his
former gloomy frame of mind concerning vengeance killing and
self sacrifice had been dispersed like dust by contact with the first
man he met 

the captain returned to the room limping slightly and whistling a tune 

the frenchman's chatter which had previously amused pierre now repelled
him the tune he was whistling his gait and the gesture with which
he twirled his mustache all now seemed offensive i will go away
immediately i won't say another word to him thought pierre he
thought this but still sat in the same place a strange feeling of
weakness tied him to the spot he wished to get up and go away but
could not do so 

the captain on the other hand seemed very cheerful he paced up and
down the room twice his eyes shone and his mustache twitched as if he
were smiling to himself at some amusing thought 

 the colonel of those wurttembergers is delightful he suddenly said 
 he's a german but a nice fellow all the same but he's a german 
he sat down facing pierre by the way you know german then 

pierre looked at him in silence 

 what is the german for shelter 

 shelter pierre repeated the german for shelter is unterkunft 

 how do you say it the captain asked quickly and doubtfully 

 unterkunft pierre repeated 

 onterkoff said the captain and looked at pierre for some seconds with
laughing eyes these germans are first rate fools don't you think so 
monsieur pierre he concluded 

 well let's have another bottle of this moscow bordeaux shall we 
morel will warm us up another little bottle morel he called out
gaily 

morel brought candles and a bottle of wine the captain looked at pierre
by the candlelight and was evidently struck by the troubled expression
on his companion's face ramballe with genuine distress and sympathy in
his face went up to pierre and bent over him 

 there now we're sad said he touching pierre's hand have i
upset you no really have you anything against me he asked pierre 
 perhaps it's the state of affairs 

pierre did not answer but looked cordially into the frenchman's eyes
whose expression of sympathy was pleasing to him 

 honestly without speaking of what i owe you i feel friendship for
you can i do anything for you dispose of me it is for life and death 
i say it with my hand on my heart said he striking his chest 

 thank you said pierre 

the captain gazed intently at him as he had done when he learned that
 shelter was unterkunft in german and his face suddenly brightened 

 well in that case i drink to our friendship he cried gaily filling
two glasses with wine 

pierre took one of the glasses and emptied it ramballe emptied his too 
again pressed pierre's hand and leaned his elbows on the table in a
pensive attitude 

 yes my dear friend he began such is fortune's caprice who would
have said that i should be a soldier and a captain of dragoons in the
service of bonaparte as we used to call him yet here i am in moscow
with him i must tell you mon cher he continued in the sad and
measured tones of a man who intends to tell a long story that our name
is one of the most ancient in france 

and with a frenchman's easy and naive frankness the captain told pierre
the story of his ancestors his childhood youth and manhood and all
about his relations and his financial and family affairs ma pauvre
mere playing of course an important part in the story 

 but all that is only life's setting the real thing is love love am i
not right monsieur pierre said he growing animated another glass 

pierre again emptied his glass and poured himself out a third 

 oh women women and the captain looking with glistening eyes at
pierre began talking of love and of his love affairs 

there were very many of these as one could easily believe looking
at the officer's handsome self satisfied face and noting the eager
enthusiasm with which he spoke of women though all ramballe's love
stories had the sensual character which frenchmen regard as the special
charm and poetry of love yet he told his story with such sincere
conviction that he alone had experienced and known all the charm of love
and he described women so alluringly that pierre listened to him with
curiosity 

it was plain that l'amour which the frenchman was so fond of was not
that low and simple kind that pierre had once felt for his wife nor
was it the romantic love stimulated by himself that he experienced for
natasha ramballe despised both these kinds of love equally the one
he considered the love of clodhoppers and the other the love
of simpletons l'amour which the frenchman worshiped consisted
principally in the unnaturalness of his relation to the woman and in a
combination of incongruities giving the chief charm to the feeling 

thus the captain touchingly recounted the story of his love for a
fascinating marquise of thirty five and at the same time for a charming 
innocent child of seventeen daughter of the bewitching marquise the
conflict of magnanimity between the mother and the daughter ending in
the mother's sacrificing herself and offering her daughter in marriage
to her lover even now agitated the captain though it was the memory of
a distant past then he recounted an episode in which the husband played
the part of the lover and he the lover assumed the role of the husband 
as well as several droll incidents from his recollections of germany 
where shelter is called unterkunft and where the husbands eat
sauerkraut and the young girls are too blonde 

finally the latest episode in poland still fresh in the captain's
memory and which he narrated with rapid gestures and glowing face was
of how he had saved the life of a pole in general the saving of
life continually occurred in the captain's stories and the pole had
entrusted to him his enchanting wife parisienne de coeur while himself
entering the french service the captain was happy the enchanting
polish lady wished to elope with him but prompted by magnanimity the
captain restored the wife to the husband saying as he did so i have
saved your life and i save your honor having repeated these words the
captain wiped his eyes and gave himself a shake as if driving away the
weakness which assailed him at this touching recollection 

listening to the captain's tales pierre as often happens late in the
evening and under the influence of wine followed all that was told him 
understood it all and at the same time followed a train of personal
memories which he knew not why suddenly arose in his mind while
listening to these love stories his own love for natasha unexpectedly
rose to his mind and going over the pictures of that love in his
imagination he mentally compared them with ramballe's tales listening
to the story of the struggle between love and duty pierre saw before
his eyes every minutest detail of his last meeting with the object of
his love at the sukharev water tower at the time of that meeting it had
not produced an effect upon him he had not even once recalled it but
now it seemed to him that that meeting had had in it something very
important and poetic 

 peter kirilovich come here we have recognized you he now seemed
to hear the words she had uttered and to see before him her eyes her
smile her traveling hood and a stray lock of her hair and there
seemed to him something pathetic and touching in all this 

having finished his tale about the enchanting polish lady the captain
asked pierre if he had ever experienced a similar impulse to sacrifice
himself for love and a feeling of envy of the legitimate husband 

challenged by this question pierre raised his head and felt a need to
express the thoughts that filled his mind he began to explain that he
understood love for a woman somewhat differently he said that in all
his life he had loved and still loved only one woman and that she could
never be his 

 tiens said the captain 

pierre then explained that he had loved this woman from his earliest
years but that he had not dared to think of her because she was too
young and because he had been an illegitimate son without a name 
afterwards when he had received a name and wealth he dared not think of
her because he loved her too well placing her far above everything in
the world and especially therefore above himself 

when he had reached this point pierre asked the captain whether he
understood that 

the captain made a gesture signifying that even if he did not understand
it he begged pierre to continue 

 platonic love clouds he muttered 

whether it was the wine he had drunk or an impulse of frankness or the
thought that this man did not and never would know any of those who
played a part in his story or whether it was all these things together 
something loosened pierre's tongue speaking thickly and with a faraway
look in his shining eyes he told the whole story of his life his
marriage natasha's love for his best friend her betrayal of him and
all his own simple relations with her urged on by ramballe's questions
he also told what he had at first concealed his own position and even
his name 

more than anything else in pierre's story the captain was impressed by
the fact that pierre was very rich had two mansions in moscow and that
he had abandoned everything and not left the city but remained there
concealing his name and station 

when it was late at night they went out together into the street the
night was warm and light to the left of the house on the pokrovka a
fire glowed the first of those that were beginning in moscow to the
right and high up in the sky was the sickle of the waning moon and
opposite to it hung that bright comet which was connected in pierre's
heart with his love at the gate stood gerasim the cook and two
frenchmen their laughter and their mutually incomprehensible remarks in
two languages could be heard they were looking at the glow seen in the
town 

there was nothing terrible in the one small distant fire in the immense
city 

gazing at the high starry sky at the moon at the comet and at the
glow from the fire pierre experienced a joyful emotion there now 
how good it is what more does one need thought he and suddenly
remembering his intention he grew dizzy and felt so faint that he leaned
against the fence to save himself from falling 

without taking leave of his new friend pierre left the gate with
unsteady steps and returning to his room lay down on the sofa and
immediately fell asleep 





chapter xxx

the glow of the first fire that began on the second of september was
watched from the various roads by the fugitive muscovites and by the
retreating troops with many different feelings 

the rostov party spent the night at mytishchi fourteen miles from
moscow they had started so late on the first of september the road
had been so blocked by vehicles and troops so many things had been
forgotten for which servants were sent back that they had decided to
spend that night at a place three miles out of moscow the next morning
they woke late and were again delayed so often that they only got as far
as great mytishchi at ten o'clock that evening the rostov family and
the wounded traveling with them were all distributed in the yards and
huts of that large village the rostovs servants and coachmen and the
orderlies of the wounded officers after attending to their masters had
supper fed the horses and came out into the porches 

in a neighboring hut lay raevski's adjutant with a fractured wrist the
awful pain he suffered made him moan incessantly and piteously and his
moaning sounded terrible in the darkness of the autumn night he had
spent the first night in the same yard as the rostovs the countess said
she had been unable to close her eyes on account of his moaning and at
mytishchi she moved into a worse hut simply to be farther away from the
wounded man 

in the darkness of the night one of the servants noticed above the high
body of a coach standing before the porch the small glow of another
fire one glow had long been visible and everybody knew that it was
little mytishchi burning set on fire by mamonov's cossacks 

 but look here brothers there's another fire remarked an orderly 

all turned their attention to the glow 

 but they told us little mytishchi had been set on fire by mamonov's
cossacks 

 but that's not mytishchi it's farther away 

 look it must be in moscow 

two of the gazers went round to the other side of the coach and sat down
on its steps 

 it's more to the left why little mytishchi is over there and this is
right on the other side 

several men joined the first two 

 see how it's flaring said one that's a fire in moscow either in
the sushchevski or the rogozhski quarter 

no one replied to this remark and for some time they all gazed silently
at the spreading flames of the second fire in the distance 

old daniel terentich the count's valet as he was called came up to
the group and shouted at mishka 

 what are you staring at you good for nothing the count will be
calling and there's nobody there go and gather the clothes together 

 i only ran out to get some water said mishka 

 but what do you think daniel terentich doesn't it look as if that
glow were in moscow remarked one of the footmen 

daniel terentich made no reply and again for a long time they were all
silent the glow spread rising and falling farther and farther still 

 god have mercy it's windy and dry said another voice 

 just look see what it's doing now o lord you can even see the crows
flying lord have mercy on us sinners 

 they'll put it out no fear 

 who's to put it out daniel terentich who had hitherto been silent 
was heard to say his voice was calm and deliberate moscow it is 
brothers said he mother moscow the white his voice faltered 
and he gave way to an old man's sob 

and it was as if they had all only waited for this to realize the
significance for them of the glow they were watching sighs were heard 
words of prayer and the sobbing of the count's old valet 





chapter xxxi

the valet returning to the cottage informed the count that moscow was
burning the count donned his dressing gown and went out to look sonya
and madame schoss who had not yet undressed went out with him only
natasha and the countess remained in the room petya was no longer
with the family he had gone on with his regiment which was making for
troitsa 

the countess on hearing that moscow was on fire began to cry natasha 
pale with a fixed look was sitting on the bench under the icons just
where she had sat down on arriving and paid no attention to her father's
words she was listening to the ceaseless moaning of the adjutant three
houses off 

 oh how terrible said sonya returning from the yard chilled and
frightened i believe the whole of moscow will burn there's an awful
glow natasha do look you can see it from the window she said to her
cousin evidently wishing to distract her mind 

but natasha looked at her as if not understanding what was said to her
and again fixed her eyes on the corner of the stove she had been in
this condition of stupor since the morning when sonya to the surprise
and annoyance of the countess had for some unaccountable reason found
it necessary to tell natasha of prince andrew's wound and of his being
with their party the countess had seldom been so angry with anyone as
she was with sonya sonya had cried and begged to be forgiven and now 
as if trying to atone for her fault paid unceasing attention to her
cousin 

 look natasha how dreadfully it is burning said she 

 what's burning asked natasha oh yes moscow 

and as if in order not to offend sonya and to get rid of her she turned
her face to the window looked out in such a way that it was evident
that she could not see anything and again settled down in her former
attitude 

 but you didn't see it 

 yes really i did natasha replied in a voice that pleaded to be left
in peace 

both the countess and sonya understood that naturally neither moscow
nor the burning of moscow nor anything else could seem of importance to
natasha 

the count returned and lay down behind the partition the countess went
up to her daughter and touched her head with the back of her hand as she
was wont to do when natasha was ill then touched her forehead with her
lips as if to feel whether she was feverish and finally kissed her 

 you are cold you are trembling all over you'd better lie down said
the countess 

 lie down all right i will i'll lie down at once said natasha 

when natasha had been told that morning that prince andrew was seriously
wounded and was traveling with their party she had at first asked many
questions where was he going how was he wounded was it serious and
could she see him but after she had been told that she could not see
him that he was seriously wounded but that his life was not in danger 
she ceased to ask questions or to speak at all evidently disbelieving
what they told her and convinced that say what she might she would
still be told the same all the way she had sat motionless in a corner
of the coach with wide open eyes and the expression in them which the
countess knew so well and feared so much and now she sat in the same
way on the bench where she had seated herself on arriving she was
planning something and either deciding or had already decided something
in her mind the countess knew this but what it might be she did not
know and this alarmed and tormented her 

 natasha undress darling lie down on my bed 

a bed had been made on a bedstead for the countess only madame schoss
and the two girls were to sleep on some hay on the floor 

 no mamma i will lie down here on the floor natasha replied
irritably and she went to the window and opened it through the open
window the moans of the adjutant could be heard more distinctly she put
her head out into the damp night air and the countess saw her slim neck
shaking with sobs and throbbing against the window frame natasha knew
it was not prince andrew who was moaning she knew prince andrew was in
the same yard as themselves and in a part of the hut across the passage 
but this dreadful incessant moaning made her sob the countess exchanged
a look with sonya 

 lie down darling lie down my pet said the countess softly
touching natasha's shoulders come lie down 

 oh yes i'll lie down at once said natasha and began hurriedly
undressing tugging at the tapes of her petticoat 

when she had thrown off her dress and put on a dressing jacket she sat
down with her foot under her on the bed that had been made up on the
floor jerked her thin and rather short plait of hair to the front 
and began replaiting it her long thin practiced fingers rapidly
unplaited replaited and tied up her plait her head moved from side
to side from habit but her eyes feverishly wide looked fixedly before
her when her toilet for the night was finished she sank gently onto the
sheet spread over the hay on the side nearest the door 

 natasha you'd better lie in the middle said sonya 

 i'll stay here muttered natasha do lie down she added crossly 
and buried her face in the pillow 

the countess madame schoss and sonya undressed hastily and lay down 
the small lamp in front of the icons was the only light left in
the room but in the yard there was a light from the fire at little
mytishchi a mile and a half away and through the night came the noise
of people shouting at a tavern mamonov's cossacks had set up across the
street and the adjutant's unceasing moans could still be heard 

for a long time natasha listened attentively to the sounds that reached
her from inside and outside the room and did not move first she heard
her mother praying and sighing and the creaking of her bed under
her then madame schoss familiar whistling snore and sonya's gentle
breathing then the countess called to natasha natasha did not answer 

 i think she's asleep mamma said sonya softly 

after a short silence the countess spoke again but this time no one
replied 

soon after that natasha heard her mother's even breathing natasha did
not move though her little bare foot thrust out from under the quilt 
was growing cold on the bare floor 

as if to celebrate a victory over everybody a cricket chirped in a
crack in the wall a cock crowed far off and another replied near
by the shouting in the tavern had died down only the moaning of the
adjutant was heard natasha sat up 

 sonya are you asleep mamma she whispered 

no one replied natasha rose slowly and carefully crossed herself and
stepped cautiously on the cold and dirty floor with her slim supple 
bare feet the boards of the floor creaked stepping cautiously from one
foot to the other she ran like a kitten the few steps to the door and
grasped the cold door handle 

it seemed to her that something heavy was beating rhythmically against
all the walls of the room it was her own heart sinking with alarm and
terror and overflowing with love 

she opened the door and stepped across the threshold and onto the cold 
damp earthen floor of the passage the cold she felt refreshed her with
her bare feet she touched a sleeping man stepped over him and opened
the door into the part of the hut where prince andrew lay it was dark
in there in the farthest corner on a bench beside a bed on which
something was lying stood a tallow candle with a long thick and
smoldering wick 

from the moment she had been told that morning of prince andrew's wound
and his presence there natasha had resolved to see him she did not
know why she had to she knew the meeting would be painful but felt the
more convinced that it was necessary 

all day she had lived only in hope of seeing him that night but now
that the moment had come she was filled with dread of what she might
see how was he maimed what was left of him was he like that incessant
moaning of the adjutant's yes he was altogether like that in her
imagination he was that terrible moaning personified when she saw an
indistinct shape in the corner and mistook his knees raised under the
quilt for his shoulders she imagined a horrible body there and stood
still in terror but an irresistible impulse drew her forward she
cautiously took one step and then another and found herself in the
middle of a small room containing baggage another man timokhin was
lying in a corner on the benches beneath the icons and two others the
doctor and a valet lay on the floor 

the valet sat up and whispered something timokhin kept awake by the
pain in his wounded leg gazed with wide open eyes at this strange
apparition of a girl in a white chemise dressing jacket and nightcap 
the valet's sleepy frightened exclamation what do you want what's
the matter made natasha approach more swiftly to what was lying in the
corner horribly unlike a man as that body looked she must see him 
she passed the valet the snuff fell from the candle wick and she saw
prince andrew clearly with his arms outside the quilt and such as she
had always seen him 

he was the same as ever but the feverish color of his face his
glittering eyes rapturously turned toward her and especially his neck 
delicate as a child's revealed by the turn down collar of his shirt 
gave him a peculiarly innocent childlike look such as she had never
seen on him before she went up to him and with a swift flexible 
youthful movement dropped on her knees 

he smiled and held out his hand to her 





chapter xxxii

seven days had passed since prince andrew found himself in the
ambulance station on the field of borodino his feverish state and the
inflammation of his bowels which were injured were in the doctor's
opinion sure to carry him off but on the seventh day he ate with
pleasure a piece of bread with some tea and the doctor noticed that his
temperature was lower he had regained consciousness that morning 
the first night after they left moscow had been fairly warm and he had
remained in the caleche but at mytishchi the wounded man himself asked
to be taken out and given some tea the pain caused by his removal into
the hut had made him groan aloud and again lose consciousness when he
had been placed on his camp bed he lay for a long time motionless with
closed eyes then he opened them and whispered softly and the tea 
his remembering such a small detail of everyday life astonished
the doctor he felt prince andrew's pulse and to his surprise and
dissatisfaction found it had improved he was dissatisfied because he
knew by experience that if his patient did not die now he would do so
a little later with greater suffering timokhin the red nosed major of
prince andrew's regiment had joined him in moscow and was being
taken along with him having been wounded in the leg at the battle of
borodino they were accompanied by a doctor prince andrew's valet his
coachman and two orderlies 

they gave prince andrew some tea he drank it eagerly looking with
feverish eyes at the door in front of him as if trying to understand and
remember something 

 i don't want any more is timokhin here he asked 

timokhin crept along the bench to him 

 i am here your excellency 

 how's your wound 

 mine sir all right but how about you 

prince andrew again pondered as if trying to remember something 

 couldn't one get a book he asked 

 what book 

 the gospels i haven't one 

the doctor promised to procure it for him and began to ask how he
was feeling prince andrew answered all his questions reluctantly but
reasonably and then said he wanted a bolster placed under him as he was
uncomfortable and in great pain the doctor and valet lifted the cloak
with which he was covered and making wry faces at the noisome smell of
mortifying flesh that came from the wound began examining that dreadful
place the doctor was very much displeased about something and made a
change in the dressings turning the wounded man over so that he groaned
again and grew unconscious and delirious from the agony he kept asking
them to get him the book and put it under him 

 what trouble would it be to you he said i have not got one please
get it for me and put it under for a moment he pleaded in a piteous
voice 

the doctor went into the passage to wash his hands 

 you fellows have no conscience said he to the valet who was pouring
water over his hands for just one moment i didn't look after you 
it's such pain you know that i wonder how he can bear it 

 by the lord jesus christ i thought we had put something under him 
said the valet 

the first time prince andrew understood where he was and what was the
matter with him and remembered being wounded and how was when he asked
to be carried into the hut after his caleche had stopped at mytishchi 
after growing confused from pain while being carried into the hut he
again regained consciousness and while drinking tea once more recalled
all that had happened to him and above all vividly remembered the
moment at the ambulance station when at the sight of the sufferings of
a man he disliked those new thoughts had come to him which promised him
happiness and those thoughts though now vague and indefinite again
possessed his soul he remembered that he had now a new source of
happiness and that this happiness had something to do with the gospels 
that was why he asked for a copy of them the uncomfortable position in
which they had put him and turned him over again confused his thoughts 
and when he came to himself a third time it was in the complete
stillness of the night everybody near him was sleeping a cricket
chirped from across the passage someone was shouting and singing in
the street cockroaches rustled on the table on the icons and on
the walls and a big fly flopped at the head of the bed and around the
candle beside him the wick of which was charred and had shaped itself
like a mushroom 

his mind was not in a normal state a healthy man usually thinks of 
feels and remembers innumerable things simultaneously but has the
power and will to select one sequence of thoughts or events on which to
fix his whole attention a healthy man can tear himself away from the
deepest reflections to say a civil word to someone who comes in and can
then return again to his own thoughts but prince andrew's mind was not
in a normal state in that respect all the powers of his mind were more
active and clearer than ever but they acted apart from his will most
diverse thoughts and images occupied him simultaneously at times his
brain suddenly began to work with a vigor clearness and depth it had
never reached when he was in health but suddenly in the midst of its
work it would turn to some unexpected idea and he had not the strength
to turn it back again 

 yes a new happiness was revealed to me of which man cannot be
deprived he thought as he lay in the semidarkness of the quiet hut 
gazing fixedly before him with feverish wide open eyes a happiness
lying beyond material forces outside the material influences that act
on man a happiness of the soul alone the happiness of loving every man
can understand it but to conceive it and enjoin it was possible only
for god but how did god enjoin that law and why was the son 

and suddenly the sequence of these thoughts broke off and prince andrew
heard without knowing whether it was a delusion or reality a
soft whispering voice incessantly and rhythmically repeating
 piti piti piti and then titi and then again piti piti piti and
 ti ti once more at the same time he felt that above his face above
the very middle of it some strange airy structure was being erected out
of slender needles or splinters to the sound of this whispered music 
he felt that he had to balance carefully though it was difficult so
that this airy structure should not collapse but nevertheless it kept
collapsing and again slowly rising to the sound of whispered rhythmic
music it stretches stretches spreading out and stretching said
prince andrew to himself while listening to this whispering and feeling
the sensation of this drawing out and the construction of this edifice
of needles he also saw by glimpses a red halo round the candle and
heard the rustle of the cockroaches and the buzzing of the fly that
flopped against his pillow and his face each time the fly touched his
face it gave him a burning sensation and yet to his surprise it did not
destroy the structure though it knocked against the very region of his
face where it was rising but besides this there was something else of
importance it was something white by the door the statue of a sphinx 
which also oppressed him 

 but perhaps that's my shirt on the table he thought and that's my
legs and that is the door but why is it always stretching and drawing
itself out and piti piti piti and ti ti and piti piti piti 
that's enough please leave off prince andrew painfully entreated
someone and suddenly thoughts and feelings again swam to the surface of
his mind with peculiar clearness and force 

 yes love he thought again quite clearly but not love which loves
for something for some quality for some purpose or for some reason 
but the love which i while dying first experienced when i saw my enemy
and yet loved him i experienced that feeling of love which is the very
essence of the soul and does not require an object now again i feel
that bliss to love one's neighbors to love one's enemies to love
everything to love god in all his manifestations it is possible to
love someone dear to you with human love but an enemy can only be loved
by divine love that is why i experienced such joy when i felt that i
loved that man what has become of him is he alive 

 when loving with human love one may pass from love to hatred but
divine love cannot change no neither death nor anything else can
destroy it it is the very essence of the soul yet how many people have
i hated in my life and of them all i loved and hated none as i did
her and he vividly pictured to himself natasha not as he had done in
the past with nothing but her charms which gave him delight but for
the first time picturing to himself her soul and he understood her
feelings her sufferings shame and remorse he now understood for the
first time all the cruelty of his rejection of her the cruelty of his
rupture with her if only it were possible for me to see her once more 
just once looking into those eyes to say 

 piti piti piti and ti ti and piti piti piti boom flopped the fly 
and his attention was suddenly carried into another world a world of
reality and delirium in which something particular was happening in
that world some structure was still being erected and did not fall 
something was still stretching out and the candle with its red halo
was still burning and the same shirtlike sphinx lay near the door but
besides all this something creaked there was a whiff of fresh air and
a new white sphinx appeared standing at the door and that sphinx had
the pale face and shining eyes of the very natasha of whom he had just
been thinking 

 oh how oppressive this continual delirium is thought prince andrew 
trying to drive that face from his imagination but the face remained
before him with the force of reality and drew nearer prince andrew
wished to return to that former world of pure thought but he could not 
and delirium drew him back into its domain the soft whispering voice
continued its rhythmic murmur something oppressed him and stretched
out and the strange face was before him prince andrew collected all
his strength in an effort to recover his senses he moved a little and
suddenly there was a ringing in his ears a dimness in his eyes and
like a man plunged into water he lost consciousness when he came to
himself natasha that same living natasha whom of all people he most
longed to love with this new pure divine love that had been revealed to
him was kneeling before him he realized that it was the real living
natasha and he was not surprised but quietly happy natasha motionless
on her knees she was unable to stir with frightened eyes riveted on
him was restraining her sobs her face was pale and rigid only in the
lower part of it something quivered 

prince andrew sighed with relief smiled and held out his hand 

 you he said how fortunate 

with a rapid but careful movement natasha drew nearer to him on her
knees and taking his hand carefully bent her face over it and began
kissing it just touching it lightly with her lips 

 forgive me she whispered raising her head and glancing at him 
 forgive me 

 i love you said prince andrew 

 forgive 

 forgive what he asked 

 forgive me for what i ha ve do ne faltered natasha in a scarcely
audible broken whisper and began kissing his hand more rapidly just
touching it with her lips 

 i love you more better than before said prince andrew lifting her
face with his hand so as to look into her eyes 

those eyes filled with happy tears gazed at him timidly 
compassionately and with joyous love natasha's thin pale face with
its swollen lips was more than plain it was dreadful but prince andrew
did not see that he saw her shining eyes which were beautiful they
heard the sound of voices behind them 

peter the valet who was now wide awake had roused the doctor 
timokhin who had not slept at all because of the pain in his leg had
long been watching all that was going on carefully covering his bare
body with the sheet as he huddled up on his bench 

 what's this said the doctor rising from his bed please go away 
madam 

at that moment a maid sent by the countess who had noticed her
daughter's absence knocked at the door 

like a somnambulist aroused from her sleep natasha went out of the room
and returning to her hut fell sobbing on her bed 

from that time during all the rest of the rostovs journey at every
halting place and wherever they spent a night natasha never left the
wounded bolkonski and the doctor had to admit that he had not expected
from a young girl either such firmness or such skill in nursing a
wounded man 

dreadful as the countess imagined it would be should prince andrew die
in her daughter's arms during the journey as judging by what the doctor
said it seemed might easily happen she could not oppose natasha though
with the intimacy now established between the wounded man and natasha
the thought occurred that should he recover their former engagement
would be renewed no one least of all natasha and prince andrew spoke of
this the unsettled question of life and death which hung not only over
bolkonski but over all russia shut out all other considerations 





chapter xxxiii

on the third of september pierre awoke late his head was aching the
clothes in which he had slept without undressing felt uncomfortable on
his body and his mind had a dim consciousness of something shameful
he had done the day before that something shameful was his yesterday's
conversation with captain ramballe 

it was eleven by the clock but it seemed peculiarly dark out of doors 
pierre rose rubbed his eyes and seeing the pistol with an engraved
stock which gerasim had replaced on the writing table he remembered
where he was and what lay before him that very day 

 am i not too late he thought no probably he won't make his entry
into moscow before noon 

pierre did not allow himself to reflect on what lay before him but
hastened to act 

after arranging his clothes he took the pistol and was about to go out 
but it then occurred to him for the first time that he certainly could
not carry the weapon in his hand through the streets it was difficult
to hide such a big pistol even under his wide coat he could not
carry it unnoticed in his belt or under his arm besides it had been
discharged and he had not had time to reload it no matter the dagger
will do he said to himself though when planning his design he had
more than once come to the conclusion that the chief mistake made by the
student in 1809 had been to try to kill napoleon with a dagger but as
his chief aim consisted not in carrying out his design but in proving
to himself that he would not abandon his intention and was doing all he
could to achieve it pierre hastily took the blunt jagged dagger in a
green sheath which he had bought at the sukharev market with the pistol 
and hid it under his waistcoat 

having tied a girdle over his coat and pulled his cap low on his head 
pierre went down the corridor trying to avoid making a noise or meeting
the captain and passed out into the street 

the conflagration at which he had looked with so much indifference the
evening before had greatly increased during the night moscow was on
fire in several places the buildings in carriage row across the river 
in the bazaar and the povarskoy as well as the barges on the moskva
river and the timber yards by the dorogomilov bridge were all ablaze 

pierre's way led through side streets to the povarskoy and from there
to the church of st nicholas on the arbat where he had long before
decided that the deed should be done the gates of most of the houses
were locked and the shutters up the streets and lanes were deserted 
the air was full of smoke and the smell of burning now and then he met
russians with anxious and timid faces and frenchmen with an air not of
the city but of the camp walking in the middle of the streets both
the russians and the french looked at pierre with surprise besides his
height and stoutness and the strange morose look of suffering in his
face and whole figure the russians stared at pierre because they could
not make out to what class he could belong the french followed him with
astonishment in their eyes chiefly because pierre unlike all the
other russians who gazed at the french with fear and curiosity paid no
attention to them at the gate of one house three frenchmen who were
explaining something to some russians who did not understand them 
stopped pierre asking if he did not know french 

pierre shook his head and went on in another side street a sentinel
standing beside a green caisson shouted at him but only when the shout
was threateningly repeated and he heard the click of the man's musket as
he raised it did pierre understand that he had to pass on the other side
of the street he heard nothing and saw nothing of what went on around
him he carried his resolution within himself in terror and haste like
something dreadful and alien to him for after the previous night's
experience he was afraid of losing it but he was not destined to bring
his mood safely to his destination and even had he not been hindered by
anything on the way his intention could not now have been carried out 
for napoleon had passed the arbat more than four hours previously on his
way from the dorogomilov suburb to the kremlin and was now sitting in
a very gloomy frame of mind in a royal study in the kremlin giving
detailed and exact orders as to measures to be taken immediately
to extinguish the fire to prevent looting and to reassure the
inhabitants but pierre did not know this he was entirely absorbed
in what lay before him and was tortured as those are who obstinately
undertake a task that is impossible for them not because of its
difficulty but because of its incompatibility with their natures by the
fear of weakening at the decisive moment and so losing his self esteem 

though he heard and saw nothing around him he found his way by instinct
and did not go wrong in the side streets that led to the povarskoy 

as pierre approached that street the smoke became denser and denser he
even felt the heat of the fire occasionally curly tongues of flame rose
from under the roofs of the houses he met more people in the streets
and they were more excited but pierre though he felt that something
unusual was happening around him did not realize that he was
approaching the fire as he was going along a footpath across a
wide open space adjoining the povarskoy on one side and the gardens
of prince gruzinski's house on the other pierre suddenly heard the
desperate weeping of a woman close to him he stopped as if awakening
from a dream and lifted his head 

by the side of the path on the dusty dry grass all sorts of household
goods lay in a heap featherbeds a samovar icons and trunks on the
ground beside the trunks sat a thin woman no longer young with long 
prominent upper teeth and wearing a black cloak and cap this woman 
swaying to and fro and muttering something was choking with sobs two
girls of about ten and twelve dressed in dirty short frocks and cloaks 
were staring at their mother with a look of stupefaction on their pale
frightened faces the youngest child a boy of about seven who wore an
overcoat and an immense cap evidently not his own was crying in his
old nurse's arms a dirty barefooted maid was sitting on a trunk 
and having undone her pale colored plait was pulling it straight
and sniffing at her singed hair the woman's husband a short 
round shouldered man in the undress uniform of a civilian official with
sausage shaped whiskers and showing under his square set cap the hair
smoothly brushed forward over his temples with expressionless face was
moving the trunks which were placed one on another and was dragging
some garments from under them 

as soon as she saw pierre the woman almost threw herself at his feet 

 dear people good christians save me help me dear friends help
us somebody she muttered between her sobs my girl my daughter 
my youngest daughter is left behind she's burned ooh was it for this
i nursed you ooh 

 don't mary nikolaevna said her husband to her in a low voice 
evidently only to justify himself before the stranger sister must have
taken her or else where can she be he added 

 monster villain shouted the woman angrily suddenly ceasing to weep 
 you have no heart you don't feel for your own child another man would
have rescued her from the fire but this is a monster and neither a
man nor a father you honored sir are a noble man she went on 
addressing pierre rapidly between her sobs the fire broke out
alongside and blew our way the maid called out fire and we rushed
to collect our things we ran out just as we were this is what we
have brought away the icons and my dowry bed all the rest is lost 
we seized the children but not katie ooh o lord and again she
began to sob my child my dear one burned burned 

 but where was she left asked pierre 

from the expression of his animated face the woman saw that this man
might help her 

 oh dear sir she cried seizing him by the legs my benefactor set
my heart at ease aniska go you horrid girl show him the way she
cried to the maid angrily opening her mouth and still farther exposing
her long teeth 

 show me the way show me i i'll do it gasped pierre rapidly 

the dirty maidservant stepped from behind the trunk put up her plait 
sighed and went on her short bare feet along the path pierre felt
as if he had come back to life after a heavy swoon he held his head
higher his eyes shone with the light of life and with swift steps
he followed the maid overtook her and came out on the povarskoy the
whole street was full of clouds of black smoke tongues of flame here
and there broke through that cloud a great number of people crowded in
front of the conflagration in the middle of the street stood a french
general saying something to those around him pierre accompanied by the
maid was advancing to the spot where the general stood but the french
soldiers stopped him 

 on ne passe pas cried a voice 

 you can't pass 


 this way uncle cried the girl we'll pass through the side street 
by the nikulins 

pierre turned back giving a spring now and then to keep up with her 
she ran across the street turned down a side street to the left and 
passing three houses turned into a yard on the right 

 it's here close by said she and running across the yard opened a
gate in a wooden fence and stopping pointed out to him a small wooden
wing of the house which was burning brightly and fiercely one of its
sides had fallen in another was on fire and bright flames issued from
the openings of the windows and from under the roof 

as pierre passed through the fence gate he was enveloped by hot air and
involuntarily stopped 

 which is it which is your house he asked 

 ooh wailed the girl pointing to the wing that's it that was our
lodging you've burned to death our treasure katie my precious little
missy ooh lamented aniska who at the sight of the fire felt that she
too must give expression to her feelings 

pierre rushed to the wing but the heat was so great that he
involuntarily passed round in a curve and came upon the large house
that was as yet burning only at one end just below the roof and around
which swarmed a crowd of frenchmen at first pierre did not realize
what these men who were dragging something out were about but seeing
before him a frenchman hitting a peasant with a blunt saber and trying
to take from him a fox fur coat he vaguely understood that looting was
going on there but he had no time to dwell on that idea 

the sounds of crackling and the din of falling walls and ceilings the
whistle and hiss of the flames the excited shouts of the people and
the sight of the swaying smoke now gathering into thick black clouds
and now soaring up with glittering sparks with here and there dense
sheaves of flame now red and now like golden fish scales creeping along
the walls and the heat and smoke and rapidity of motion produced
on pierre the usual animating effects of a conflagration it had a
peculiarly strong effect on him because at the sight of the fire he felt
himself suddenly freed from the ideas that had weighed him down he felt
young bright adroit and resolute he ran round to the other side of
the lodge and was about to dash into that part of it which was still
standing when just above his head he heard several voices shouting
and then a cracking sound and the ring of something heavy falling close
beside him 

pierre looked up and saw at a window of the large house some frenchmen
who had just thrown out the drawer of a chest filled with metal
articles other french soldiers standing below went up to the drawer 

 what does this fellow want shouted one of them referring to pierre 

 there's a child in that house haven't you seen a child cried pierre 

 what's he talking about get along said several voices and one of
the soldiers evidently afraid that pierre might want to take from
them some of the plate and bronzes that were in the drawer moved
threateningly toward him 

 a child shouted a frenchman from above i did hear something
squealing in the garden perhaps it's his brat that the fellow is
looking for after all one must be human you know 

 where is it where said pierre 

 there there shouted the frenchman at the window pointing to the
garden at the back of the house wait a bit i'm coming down 

and a minute or two later the frenchman a black eyed fellow with a spot
on his cheek in shirt sleeves really did jump out of a window on the
ground floor and clapping pierre on the shoulder ran with him into the
garden 

 hurry up you others he called out to his comrades it's getting
hot 

when they reached a gravel path behind the house the frenchman pulled
pierre by the arm and pointed to a round graveled space where a
three year old girl in a pink dress was lying under a seat 

 there is your child oh a girl so much the better said the
frenchman good by fatty we must be human we are all mortal you
know and the frenchman with the spot on his cheek ran back to his
comrades 

breathless with joy pierre ran to the little girl and was going to take
her in his arms but seeing a stranger the sickly scrofulous looking
child unattractively like her mother began to yell and run away 
pierre however seized her and lifted her in his arms she screamed
desperately and angrily and tried with her little hands to pull pierre's
hands away and to bite them with her slobbering mouth pierre was seized
by a sense of horror and repulsion such as he had experienced when
touching some nasty little animal but he made an effort not to throw
the child down and ran with her to the large house it was now however 
impossible to get back the way he had come the maid aniska was no
longer there and pierre with a feeling of pity and disgust pressed the
wet painfully sobbing child to himself as tenderly as he could and ran
with her through the garden seeking another way out 





chapter xxxiv

having run through different yards and side streets pierre got back
with his little burden to the gruzinski garden at the corner of the
povarskoy he did not at first recognize the place from which he had set
out to look for the child so crowded was it now with people and goods
that had been dragged out of the houses besides russian families who
had taken refuge here from the fire with their belongings there were
several french soldiers in a variety of clothing pierre took no notice
of them he hurried to find the family of that civil servant in order to
restore the daughter to her mother and go to save someone else pierre
felt that he had still much to do and to do quickly glowing with the
heat and from running he felt at that moment more strongly than ever
the sense of youth animation and determination that had come on him
when he ran to save the child she had now become quiet and clinging
with her little hands to pierre's coat sat on his arm gazing about
her like some little wild animal he glanced at her occasionally with a
slight smile he fancied he saw something pathetically innocent in that
frightened sickly little face 

he did not find the civil servant or his wife where he had left them he
walked among the crowd with rapid steps scanning the various faces he
met involuntarily he noticed a georgian or armenian family
consisting of a very handsome old man of oriental type wearing a new 
cloth covered sheepskin coat and new boots an old woman of similar
type and a young woman that very young woman seemed to pierre the
perfection of oriental beauty with her sharply outlined arched 
black eyebrows and the extraordinarily soft bright color of her long 
beautiful expressionless face amid the scattered property and the
crowd on the open space she in her rich satin cloak with a bright
lilac shawl on her head suggested a delicate exotic plant thrown out
onto the snow she was sitting on some bundles a little behind the old
woman and looked from under her long lashes with motionless large 
almond shaped eyes at the ground before her evidently she was aware
of her beauty and fearful because of it her face struck pierre and 
hurrying along by the fence he turned several times to look at her 
when he had reached the fence still without finding those he sought he
stopped and looked about him 

with the child in his arms his figure was now more conspicuous than
before and a group of russians both men and women gathered about him 

 have you lost anyone my dear fellow you're of the gentry yourself 
aren't you whose child is it they asked him 

pierre replied that the child belonged to a woman in a black coat who
had been sitting there with her other children and he asked whether
anyone knew where she had gone 

 why that must be the anferovs said an old deacon addressing a
pockmarked peasant woman lord have mercy lord have mercy he added
in his customary bass 

 the anferovs no said the woman they left in the morning that must
be either mary nikolaevna's or the ivanovs 

 he says a woman and mary nikolaevna is a lady remarked a house
serf 

 do you know her she's thin with long teeth said pierre 

 that's mary nikolaevna they went inside the garden when these wolves
swooped down said the woman pointing to the french soldiers 

 o lord have mercy added the deacon 

 go over that way they're there it's she she kept on lamenting and
crying continued the woman it's she here this way 

but pierre was not listening to the woman he had for some seconds been
intently watching what was going on a few steps away he was looking at
the armenian family and at two french soldiers who had gone up to them 
one of these a nimble little man was wearing a blue coat tied round
the waist with a rope he had a nightcap on his head and his feet were
bare the other whose appearance particularly struck pierre was a
long lank round shouldered fair haired man slow in his movements
and with an idiotic expression of face he wore a woman's loose gown
of frieze blue trousers and large torn hessian boots the little
barefooted frenchman in the blue coat went up to the armenians and 
saying something immediately seized the old man by his legs and the old
man at once began pulling off his boots the other in the frieze gown
stopped in front of the beautiful armenian girl and with his hands in
his pockets stood staring at her motionless and silent 

 here take the child said pierre peremptorily and hurriedly to the
woman handing the little girl to her give her back to them give her
back he almost shouted putting the child who began screaming on the
ground and again looking at the frenchman and the armenian family 

the old man was already sitting barefoot the little frenchman had
secured his second boot and was slapping one boot against the other 
the old man was saying something in a voice broken by sobs but pierre
caught but a glimpse of this his whole attention was directed to the
frenchman in the frieze gown who meanwhile swaying slowly from side to
side had drawn nearer to the young woman and taking his hands from his
pockets had seized her by the neck 

the beautiful armenian still sat motionless and in the same attitude 
with her long lashes drooping as if she did not see or feel what the
soldier was doing to her 

while pierre was running the few steps that separated him from the
frenchman the tall marauder in the frieze gown was already tearing
from her neck the necklace the young armenian was wearing and the young
woman clutching at her neck screamed piercingly 

 let that woman alone exclaimed pierre hoarsely in a furious voice 
seizing the soldier by his round shoulders and throwing him aside 

the soldier fell got up and ran away but his comrade throwing down
the boots and drawing his sword moved threateningly toward pierre 

 voyons pas de betises he cried 

 look here no nonsense 


pierre was in such a transport of rage that he remembered nothing and
his strength increased tenfold he rushed at the barefooted frenchman
and before the latter had time to draw his sword knocked him off his
feet and hammered him with his fists shouts of approval were heard
from the crowd around and at the same moment a mounted patrol of french
uhlans appeared from round the corner the uhlans came up at a trot to
pierre and the frenchman and surrounded them pierre remembered nothing
of what happened after that he only remembered beating someone and
being beaten and finally feeling that his hands were bound and that a
crowd of french soldiers stood around him and were searching him 

 lieutenant he has a dagger were the first words pierre understood 

 ah a weapon said the officer and turned to the barefooted soldier
who had been arrested with pierre all right you can tell all about it
at the court martial then he turned to pierre do you speak french 

pierre looked around him with bloodshot eyes and did not reply his
face probably looked very terrible for the officer said something in
a whisper and four more uhlans left the ranks and placed themselves on
both sides of pierre 

 do you speak french the officer asked again keeping at a distance
from pierre call the interpreter 

a little man in russian civilian clothes rode out from the ranks and
by his clothes and manner of speaking pierre at once knew him to be a
french salesman from one of the moscow shops 

 he does not look like a common man said the interpreter after a
searching look at pierre 

 ah he looks very much like an incendiary remarked the officer and
ask him who he is he added 

 who are you asked the interpreter in poor russian you must answer
the chief 

 i will not tell you who i am i am your prisoner take me pierre
suddenly replied in french 

 ah ah muttered the officer with a frown well then march 

a crowd had collected round the uhlans nearest to pierre stood the
pockmarked peasant woman with the little girl and when the patrol
started she moved forward 

 where are they taking you to you poor dear said she and the little
girl the little girl what am i to do with her if she's not theirs 
said the woman 

 what does that woman want asked the officer 

pierre was as if intoxicated his elation increased at the sight of the
little girl he had saved 

 what does she want he murmured she is bringing me my daughter whom
i have just saved from the flames said he good by and without
knowing how this aimless lie had escaped him he went along with
resolute and triumphant steps between the french soldiers 

the french patrol was one of those sent out through the various
streets of moscow by durosnel's order to put a stop to the pillage 
and especially to catch the incendiaries who according to the general
opinion which had that day originated among the higher french officers 
were the cause of the conflagrations after marching through a number
of streets the patrol arrested five more russian suspects a small
shopkeeper two seminary students a peasant and a house serf besides
several looters but of all these various suspected characters pierre
was considered to be the most suspicious of all when they had all been
brought for the night to a large house on the zubov rampart that was
being used as a guardhouse pierre was placed apart under strict guard 





book twelve 1812





chapter i

in petersburg at that time a complicated struggle was being carried on
with greater heat than ever in the highest circles between the parties
of rumyantsev the french marya fedorovna the tsarevich and others 
drowned as usual by the buzzing of the court drones but the calm 
luxurious life of petersburg concerned only about phantoms and
reflections of real life went on in its old way and made it hard 
except by a great effort to realize the danger and the difficult
position of the russian people there were the same receptions and
balls the same french theater the same court interests and service
interests and intrigues as usual only in the very highest circles were
attempts made to keep in mind the difficulties of the actual position 
stories were whispered of how differently the two empresses behaved
in these difficult circumstances the empress marya concerned for
the welfare of the charitable and educational institutions under her
patronage had given directions that they should all be removed to
kazan and the things belonging to these institutions had already been
packed up the empress elisabeth however when asked what instructions
she would be pleased to give with her characteristic russian patriotism
had replied that she could give no directions about state institutions
for that was the affair of the sovereign but as far as she personally
was concerned she would be the last to quit petersburg 

at anna pavlovna's on the twenty sixth of august the very day of the
battle of borodino there was a soiree the chief feature of which was
to be the reading of a letter from his lordship the bishop when sending
the emperor an icon of the venerable sergius it was regarded as a model
of ecclesiastical patriotic eloquence prince vasili himself famed for
his elocution was to read it he used to read at the empress the
art of his reading was supposed to lie in rolling out the words quite
independently of their meaning in a loud and singsong voice alternating
between a despairing wail and a tender murmur so that the wail fell
quite at random on one word and the murmur on another this reading 
as was always the case at anna pavlovna's soirees had a political
significance that evening she expected several important personages who
had to be made ashamed of their visits to the french theater and aroused
to a patriotic temper a good many people had already arrived but anna
pavlovna not yet seeing all those whom she wanted in her drawing room 
did not let the reading begin but wound up the springs of a general
conversation 

the news of the day in petersburg was the illness of countess bezukhova 
she had fallen ill unexpectedly a few days previously had missed
several gatherings of which she was usually the ornament and was said
to be receiving no one and instead of the celebrated petersburg doctors
who usually attended her had entrusted herself to some italian doctor
who was treating her in some new and unusual way 

they all knew very well that the enchanting countess illness arose from
an inconvenience resulting from marrying two husbands at the same time 
and that the italian's cure consisted in removing such inconvenience 
but in anna pavlovna's presence no one dared to think of this or even
appear to know it 

 they say the poor countess is very ill the doctor says it is angina
pectoris 

 angina oh that's a terrible illness 

 they say that the rivals are reconciled thanks to the angina and
the word angina was repeated with great satisfaction 

 the count is pathetic they say he cried like a child when the doctor
told him the case was dangerous 

 oh it would be a terrible loss she is an enchanting woman 

 you are speaking of the poor countess said anna pavlovna coming
up just then i sent to ask for news and hear that she is a little
better oh she is certainly the most charming woman in the world she
went on with a smile at her own enthusiasm we belong to different
camps but that does not prevent my esteeming her as she deserves she
is very unfortunate added anna pavlovna 

supposing that by these words anna pavlovna was somewhat lifting the
veil from the secret of the countess malady an unwary young man
ventured to express surprise that well known doctors had not been called
in and that the countess was being attended by a charlatan who might
employ dangerous remedies 

 your information may be better than mine anna pavlovna suddenly and
venomously retorted on the inexperienced young man but i know on good
authority that this doctor is a very learned and able man he is private
physician to the queen of spain 

and having thus demolished the young man anna pavlovna turned to
another group where bilibin was talking about the austrians having
wrinkled up his face he was evidently preparing to smooth it out again
and utter one of his mots 

 i think it is delightful he said referring to a diplomatic note that
had been sent to vienna with some austrian banners captured from the
french by wittgenstein the hero of petropol as he was then called in
petersburg 

 what what's that asked anna pavlovna securing silence for the mot 
which she had heard before 

and bilibin repeated the actual words of the diplomatic dispatch which
he had himself composed 

 the emperor returns these austrian banners said bilibin friendly
banners gone astray and found on a wrong path and his brow became
smooth again 

 charming charming observed prince vasili 

 the path to warsaw perhaps prince hippolyte remarked loudly and
unexpectedly everybody looked at him understanding what he meant 
prince hippolyte himself glanced around with amused surprise he knew no
more than the others what his words meant during his diplomatic career
he had more than once noticed that such utterances were received as very
witty and at every opportunity he uttered in that way the first words
that entered his head it may turn out very well he thought but
if not they'll know how to arrange matters and really during the
awkward silence that ensued that insufficiently patriotic person
entered whom anna pavlovna had been waiting for and wished to convert 
and she smiling and shaking a finger at hippolyte invited prince
vasili to the table and bringing him two candles and the manuscript
begged him to begin everyone became silent 

 most gracious sovereign and emperor prince vasili sternly declaimed 
looking round at his audience as if to inquire whether anyone had
anything to say to the contrary but no one said anything moscow our
ancient capital the new jerusalem receives her christ he placed a
sudden emphasis on the word her as a mother receives her zealous sons
into her arms and through the gathering mists foreseeing the brilliant
glory of thy rule sings in exultation hosanna blessed is he that
cometh 

prince vasili pronounced these last words in a tearful voice 

bilibin attentively examined his nails and many of those present
appeared intimidated as if asking in what they were to blame anna
pavlovna whispered the next words in advance like an old woman
muttering the prayer at communion let the bold and insolent
goliath she whispered 

prince vasili continued 

 let the bold and insolent goliath from the borders of france encompass
the realms of russia with death bearing terrors humble faith the sling
of the russian david shall suddenly smite his head in his bloodthirsty
pride this icon of the venerable sergius the servant of god and
zealous champion of old of our country's weal is offered to your
imperial majesty i grieve that my waning strength prevents rejoicing
in the sight of your most gracious presence i raise fervent prayers to
heaven that the almighty may exalt the race of the just and mercifully
fulfill the desires of your majesty 

 what force what a style was uttered in approval both of reader and
of author 

animated by that address anna pavlovna's guests talked for a long time
of the state of the fatherland and offered various conjectures as to the
result of the battle to be fought in a few days 

 you will see said anna pavlovna that tomorrow on the emperor's
birthday we shall receive news i have a favorable presentiment 





chapter ii

anna pavlovna's presentiment was in fact fulfilled next day during the
service at the palace church in honor of the emperor's birthday prince
volkonski was called out of the church and received a dispatch from
prince kutuzov it was kutuzov's report written from tatarinova on the
day of the battle kutuzov wrote that the russians had not retreated a
step that the french losses were much heavier than ours and that he
was writing in haste from the field of battle before collecting full
information it followed that there must have been a victory and at
once without leaving the church thanks were rendered to the creator
for his help and for the victory 

anna pavlovna's presentiment was justified and all that morning a
joyously festive mood reigned in the city everyone believed the victory
to have been complete and some even spoke of napoleon's having been
captured of his deposition and of the choice of a new ruler for
france 

it is very difficult for events to be reflected in their real strength
and completeness amid the conditions of court life and far from the
scene of action general events involuntarily group themselves around
some particular incident so now the courtiers pleasure was based as
much on the fact that the news had arrived on the emperor's birthday as
on the fact of the victory itself it was like a successfully arranged
surprise mention was made in kutuzov's report of the russian losses 
among which figured the names of tuchkov bagration and kutaysov in
the petersburg world this sad side of the affair again involuntarily
centered round a single incident kutaysov's death everybody knew
him the emperor liked him and he was young and interesting that day
everyone met with the words 

 what a wonderful coincidence just during the service but what a loss
kutaysov is how sorry i am 

 what did i tell about kutuzov prince vasili now said with a
prophet's pride i always said he was the only man capable of defeating
napoleon 

but next day no news arrived from the army and the public mood grew
anxious the courtiers suffered because of the suffering the suspense
occasioned the emperor 

 fancy the emperor's position said they and instead of extolling
kutuzov as they had done the day before they condemned him as the cause
of the emperor's anxiety that day prince vasili no longer boasted of
his protege kutuzov but remained silent when the commander in chief was
mentioned moreover toward evening as if everything conspired to make
petersburg society anxious and uneasy a terrible piece of news was
added countess helene bezukhova had suddenly died of that terrible
malady it had been so agreeable to mention officially at large
gatherings everyone said that countess bezukhova had died of a
terrible attack of angina pectoris but in intimate circles details
were mentioned of how the private physician of the queen of spain had
prescribed small doses of a certain drug to produce a certain effect 
but helene tortured by the fact that the old count suspected her and
that her husband to whom she had written that wretched profligate
pierre had not replied had suddenly taken a very large dose of the
drug and had died in agony before assistance could be rendered her 
it was said that prince vasili and the old count had turned upon the
italian but the latter had produced such letters from the unfortunate
deceased that they had immediately let the matter drop 

talk in general centered round three melancholy facts the emperor's
lack of news the loss of kutaysov and the death of helene 

on the third day after kutuzov's report a country gentleman arrived from
moscow and news of the surrender of moscow to the french spread through
the whole town this was terrible what a position for the emperor to
be in kutuzov was a traitor and prince vasili during the visits of
condolence paid to him on the occasion of his daughter's death said of
kutuzov whom he had formerly praised it was excusable for him in his
grief to forget what he had said that it was impossible to expect
anything else from a blind and depraved old man 

 i only wonder that the fate of russia could have been entrusted to such
a man 

as long as this news remained unofficial it was possible to doubt it 
but the next day the following communication was received from count
rostopchin 

prince kutuzov's adjutant has brought me a letter in which he demands
police officers to guide the army to the ryazan road he writes that
he is regretfully abandoning moscow sire kutuzov's action decides the
fate of the capital and of your empire russia will shudder to learn of
the abandonment of the city in which her greatness is centered and in
which lie the ashes of your ancestors i shall follow the army i have
had everything removed and it only remains for me to weep over the fate
of my fatherland 

on receiving this dispatch the emperor sent prince volkonski to kutuzov
with the following rescript 

prince michael ilarionovich since the twenty ninth of august i have
received no communication from you yet on the first of september i
received from the commander in chief of moscow via yaroslavl the sad
news that you with the army have decided to abandon moscow you can
yourself imagine the effect this news has had on me and your silence
increases my astonishment i am sending this by adjutant general prince
volkonski to hear from you the situation of the army and the reasons
that have induced you to take this melancholy decision 





chapter iii

nine days after the abandonment of moscow a messenger from kutuzov
reached petersburg with the official announcement of that event this
messenger was michaud a frenchman who did not know russian but who was
quoique etranger russe de coeur et d'ame as he said of himself 

 though a foreigner russian in heart and soul 

the emperor at once received this messenger in his study at the palace
on stone island michaud who had never seen moscow before the campaign
and who did not know russian yet felt deeply moved as he wrote when
he appeared before notre tres gracieux souverain with the news of the
burning of moscow dont les flammes eclairaient sa route 2 

 our most gracious sovereign 

 2 whose flames illumined his route 

though the source of m michaud's chagrin must have been different from
that which caused russians to grieve he had such a sad face when shown
into the emperor's study that the latter at once asked 

 have you brought me sad news colonel 

 very sad sire replied michaud lowering his eyes with a sigh the
abandonment of moscow 

 have they surrendered my ancient capital without a battle asked the
emperor quickly his face suddenly flushing 

michaud respectfully delivered the message kutuzov had entrusted to him 
which was that it had been impossible to fight before moscow and that
as the only remaining choice was between losing the army as well as
moscow or losing moscow alone the field marshal had to choose the
latter 

the emperor listened in silence not looking at michaud 

 has the enemy entered the city he asked 

 yes sire and moscow is now in ashes i left it all in flames 
replied michaud in a decided tone but glancing at the emperor he was
frightened by what he had done 

the emperor began to breathe heavily and rapidly his lower lip
trembled and tears instantly appeared in his fine blue eyes 

but this lasted only a moment he suddenly frowned as if blaming
himself for his weakness and raising his head addressed michaud in a
firm voice 

 i see colonel from all that is happening that providence requires
great sacrifices of us i am ready to submit myself in all things to
his will but tell me michaud how did you leave the army when it
saw my ancient capital abandoned without a battle did you not notice
discouragement 

seeing that his most gracious ruler was calm once more michaud also
grew calm but was not immediately ready to reply to the emperor's
direct and relevant question which required a direct answer 

 sire will you allow me to speak frankly as befits a loyal soldier he
asked to gain time 

 colonel i always require it replied the emperor conceal nothing
from me i wish to know absolutely how things are 

 sire said michaud with a subtle scarcely perceptible smile on his
lips having now prepared a well phrased reply sire i left the
whole army from its chiefs to the lowest soldier without exception in
desperate and agonized terror 

 how is that the emperor interrupted him frowning sternly would
misfortune make my russians lose heart never 

michaud had only waited for this to bring out the phrase he had
prepared 

 sire he said with respectful playfulness they are only afraid lest
your majesty in the goodness of your heart should allow yourself to be
persuaded to make peace they are burning for the combat declared this
representative of the russian nation and to prove to your majesty by
the sacrifice of their lives how devoted they are 

 ah said the emperor reassured and with a kindly gleam in his eyes 
he patted michaud on the shoulder you set me at ease colonel 

he bent his head and was silent for some time 

 well then go back to the army he said drawing himself up to his
full height and addressing michaud with a gracious and majestic gesture 
 and tell our brave men and all my good subjects wherever you go that
when i have not a soldier left i shall put myself at the head of my
beloved nobility and my good peasants and so use the last resources of
my empire it still offers me more than my enemies suppose said the
emperor growing more and more animated but should it ever be ordained
by divine providence he continued raising to heaven his fine eyes
shining with emotion that my dynasty should cease to reign on the
throne of my ancestors then after exhausting all the means at my
command i shall let my beard grow to here he pointed halfway down his
chest and go and eat potatoes with the meanest of my peasants rather
than sign the disgrace of my country and of my beloved people whose
sacrifices i know how to appreciate 

having uttered these words in an agitated voice the emperor suddenly
turned away as if to hide from michaud the tears that rose to his eyes 
and went to the further end of his study having stood there a few
moments he strode back to michaud and pressed his arm below the elbow
with a vigorous movement the emperor's mild and handsome face was
flushed and his eyes gleamed with resolution and anger 

 colonel michaud do not forget what i say to you here perhaps we may
recall it with pleasure someday napoleon or i said the emperor 
touching his breast we can no longer both reign together i have
learned to know him and he will not deceive me any more 

and the emperor paused with a frown 

when he heard these words and saw the expression of firm resolution in
the emperor's eyes michaud quoique etranger russe de coeur et d'ame at
that solemn moment felt himself enraptured by all that he had heard as
he used afterwards to say and gave expression to his own feelings and
those of the russian people whose representative he considered himself
to be in the following words 

 sire said he your majesty is at this moment signing the glory of
the nation and the salvation of europe 

with an inclination of the head the emperor dismissed him 





chapter iv

it is natural for us who were not living in those days to imagine that
when half russia had been conquered and the inhabitants were fleeing to
distant provinces and one levy after another was being raised for the
defense of the fatherland all russians from the greatest to the least
were solely engaged in sacrificing themselves saving their fatherland 
or weeping over its downfall the tales and descriptions of that time
without exception speak only of the self sacrifice patriotic devotion 
despair grief and the heroism of the russians but it was not really
so it appears so to us because we see only the general historic
interest of that time and do not see all the personal human interests
that people had yet in reality those personal interests of the moment
so much transcend the general interests that they always prevent the
public interest from being felt or even noticed most of the people at
that time paid no attention to the general progress of events but were
guided only by their private interests and they were the very people
whose activities at that period were most useful 

those who tried to understand the general course of events and to take
part in it by self sacrifice and heroism were the most useless members
of society they saw everything upside down and all they did for the
common good turned out to be useless and foolish like pierre's and
mamonov's regiments which looted russian villages and the lint the
young ladies prepared and that never reached the wounded and so on 
even those fond of intellectual talk and of expressing their feelings 
who discussed russia's position at the time involuntarily introduced
into their conversation either a shade of pretense and falsehood or
useless condemnation and anger directed against people accused of
actions no one could possibly be guilty of in historic events the rule
forbidding us to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge is specially
applicable only unconscious action bears fruit and he who plays a part
in an historic event never understands its significance if he tries to
realize it his efforts are fruitless 

the more closely a man was engaged in the events then taking place in
russia the less did he realize their significance in petersburg and
in the provinces at a distance from moscow ladies and gentlemen in
militia uniforms wept for russia and its ancient capital and talked of
self sacrifice and so on but in the army which retired beyond moscow
there was little talk or thought of moscow and when they caught sight
of its burned ruins no one swore to be avenged on the french but they
thought about their next pay their next quarters of matreshka the
vivandiere and like matters 

as the war had caught him in the service nicholas rostov took a close
and prolonged part in the defense of his country but did so casually 
without any aim at self sacrifice and he therefore looked at what was
going on in russia without despair and without dismally racking his
brains over it had he been asked what he thought of the state of
russia he would have said that it was not his business to think about
it that kutuzov and others were there for that purpose but that he had
heard that the regiments were to be made up to their full strength that
fighting would probably go on for a long time yet and that things being
so it was quite likely he might be in command of a regiment in a couple
of years time 

as he looked at the matter in this way he learned that he was being
sent to voronezh to buy remounts for his division not only without
regret at being prevented from taking part in the coming battle but
with the greatest pleasure which he did not conceal and which his
comrades fully understood 

a few days before the battle of borodino nicholas received the
necessary money and warrants and having sent some hussars on in
advance he set out with post horses for voronezh 

only a man who has experienced it that is has passed some months
continuously in an atmosphere of campaigning and war can understand the
delight nicholas felt when he escaped from the region covered by the
army's foraging operations provision trains and hospitals when free
from soldiers wagons and the filthy traces of a camp he saw villages
with peasants and peasant women gentlemen's country houses fields
where cattle were grazing posthouses with stationmasters asleep in
them he rejoiced as though seeing all this for the first time what for
a long while specially surprised and delighted him were the women young
and healthy without a dozen officers making up to each of them women 
too who were pleased and flattered that a passing officer should joke
with them 

in the highest spirits nicholas arrived at night at a hotel in voronezh 
ordered things he had long been deprived of in camp and next day very
clean shaven and in a full dress uniform he had not worn for a long
time went to present himself to the authorities 

the commander of the militia was a civilian general an old man who was
evidently pleased with his military designation and rank he received
nicholas brusquely imagining this to be characteristically military 
and questioned him with an important air as if considering the general
progress of affairs and approving and disapproving with full right to do
so nicholas was in such good spirits that this merely amused him 

from the commander of the militia he drove to the governor the governor
was a brisk little man very simple and affable he indicated the stud
farms at which nicholas might procure horses recommended to him a horse
dealer in the town and a landowner fourteen miles out of town who had
the best horses and promised to assist him in every way 

 you are count ilya rostov's son my wife was a great friend of your
mother's we are at home on thursdays today is thursday so please come
and see us quite informally said the governor taking leave of him 

immediately on leaving the governor's nicholas hired post horses and 
taking his squadron quartermaster with him drove at a gallop to the
landowner fourteen miles away who had the stud everything seemed to
him pleasant and easy during that first part of his stay in voronezh
and as usually happens when a man is in a pleasant state of mind 
everything went well and easily 

the landowner to whom nicholas went was a bachelor an old cavalryman a
horse fancier a sportsman the possessor of some century old brandy
and some old hungarian wine who had a snuggery where he smoked and who
owned some splendid horses 

in very few words nicholas bought seventeen picked stallions for six
thousand rubles to serve as he said as samples of his remounts after
dining and taking rather too much of the hungarian wine nicholas having
exchanged kisses with the landowner with whom he was already on the
friendliest terms galloped back over abominable roads in the brightest
frame of mind continually urging on the driver so as to be in time for
the governor's party 

when he had changed poured water over his head and scented himself 
nicholas arrived at the governor's rather late but with the phrase
 better late than never on his lips 

it was not a ball nor had dancing been announced but everyone knew
that catherine petrovna would play valses and the ecossaise on the
clavichord and that there would be dancing and so everyone had come as
to a ball 

provincial life in 1812 went on very much as usual but with this
difference that it was livelier in the towns in consequence of the
arrival of many wealthy families from moscow and as in everything that
went on in russia at that time a special recklessness was noticeable an
 in for a penny in for a pound who cares spirit and the inevitable
small talk instead of turning on the weather and mutual acquaintances 
now turned on moscow the army and napoleon 

the society gathered together at the governor's was the best in
voronezh 

there were a great many ladies and some of nicholas moscow
acquaintances but there were no men who could at all vie with the
cavalier of st george the hussar remount officer the good natured
and well bred count rostov among the men was an italian prisoner an
officer of the french army and nicholas felt that the presence of that
prisoner enhanced his own importance as a russian hero the italian
was as it were a war trophy nicholas felt this it seemed to him
that everyone regarded the italian in the same light and he treated him
cordially though with dignity and restraint 

as soon as nicholas entered in his hussar uniform diffusing around him
a fragrance of perfume and wine and had uttered the words better late
than never and heard them repeated several times by others people
clustered around him all eyes turned on him and he felt at once
that he had entered into his proper position in the province that of
a universal favorite a very pleasant position and intoxicatingly so
after his long privations at posting stations at inns and in the
landowner's snuggery maidservants had been flattered by his notice and
here too at the governor's party there were as it seemed to nicholas 
an inexhaustible number of pretty young women married and unmarried 
impatiently awaiting his notice the women and girls flirted with him
and from the first day the people concerned themselves to get this
fine young daredevil of an hussar married and settled down among these
was the governor's wife herself who welcomed rostov as a near relative
and called him nicholas 

catherine petrovna did actually play valses and the ecossaise and
dancing began in which nicholas still further captivated the provincial
society by his agility his particularly free manner of dancing even
surprised them all nicholas was himself rather surprised at the way he
danced that evening he had never danced like that in moscow and would
even have considered such a very free and easy manner improper and in
bad form but here he felt it incumbent on him to astonish them all by
something unusual something they would have to accept as the regular
thing in the capital though new to them in the provinces 

all the evening nicholas paid attention to a blue eyed plump and
pleasing little blonde the wife of one of the provincial officials 
with the naive conviction of young men in a merry mood that other men's
wives were created for them rostov did not leave the lady's side and
treated her husband in a friendly and conspiratorial style as if 
without speaking of it they knew how capitally nicholas and the lady
would get on together the husband however did not seem to share that
conviction and tried to behave morosely with rostov but the
latter's good natured naivete was so boundless that sometimes even he
involuntarily yielded to nicholas good humor toward the end of the
evening however as the wife's face grew more flushed and animated the
husband's became more and more melancholy and solemn as though there
were but a given amount of animation between them and as the wife's
share increased the husband's diminished 





chapter v

nicholas sat leaning slightly forward in an armchair bending closely
over the blonde lady and paying her mythological compliments with a
smile that never left his face jauntily shifting the position of his
legs in their tight riding breeches diffusing an odor of perfume and
admiring his partner himself and the fine outlines of his legs in
their well fitting hessian boots nicholas told the blonde lady that he
wished to run away with a certain lady here in voronezh 

 which lady 

 a charming lady a divine one her eyes nicholas looked at his
partner are blue her mouth coral and ivory her figure he glanced
at her shoulders like diana's 

the husband came up and sullenly asked his wife what she was talking
about 

 ah nikita ivanych cried nicholas rising politely and as if wishing
nikita ivanych to share his joke he began to tell him of his intention
to elope with a blonde lady 

the husband smiled gloomily the wife gaily the governor's good natured
wife came up with a look of disapproval 

 anna ignatyevna wants to see you nicholas said she pronouncing the
name so that nicholas at once understood that anna ignatyevna was a very
important person come nicholas you know you let me call you so 

 oh yes aunt who is she 

 anna ignatyevna malvintseva she has heard from her niece how you
rescued her can you guess 

 i rescued such a lot of them said nicholas 

 her niece princess bolkonskaya she is here in voronezh with her aunt 
oho how you blush why are 

 not a bit please don't aunt 

 very well very well oh what a fellow you are 

the governor's wife led him up to a tall and very stout old lady with
a blue headdress who had just finished her game of cards with the most
important personages of the town this was malvintseva princess mary's
aunt on her mother's side a rich childless widow who always lived in
voronezh when rostov approached her she was standing settling up for
the game she looked at him and screwing up her eyes sternly continued
to upbraid the general who had won from her 

 very pleased mon cher she then said holding out her hand to
nicholas pray come and see me 

after a few words about princess mary and her late father whom
malvintseva had evidently not liked and having asked what nicholas
knew of prince andrew who also was evidently no favorite of hers the
important old lady dismissed nicholas after repeating her invitation to
come to see her 

nicholas promised to come and blushed again as he bowed at the mention
of princess mary he experienced a feeling of shyness and even of fear 
which he himself did not understand 

when he had parted from malvintseva nicholas wished to return to the
dancing but the governor's little wife placed her plump hand on his
sleeve and saying that she wanted to have a talk with him led him to
her sitting room from which those who were there immediately withdrew
so as not to be in her way 

 do you know dear boy began the governor's wife with a serious
expression on her kind little face that really would be the match for
you would you like me to arrange it 

 whom do you mean aunt asked nicholas 

 i will make a match for you with the princess catherine petrovna
speaks of lily but i say no the princess do you want me to do it i
am sure your mother will be grateful to me what a charming girl she is 
really and she is not at all so plain either 

 not at all replied nicholas as if offended at the idea as befits
a soldier aunt i don't force myself on anyone or refuse anything he
said before he had time to consider what he was saying 

 well then remember this is not a joke 

 of course not 

 yes yes the governor's wife said as if talking to herself but 
my dear boy among other things you are too attentive to the other the
blonde one is sorry for the husband really 

 oh no we are good friends with him said nicholas in the simplicity
of his heart it did not enter his head that a pastime so pleasant to
himself might not be pleasant to someone else 

 but what nonsense i have been saying to the governor's wife thought
nicholas suddenly at supper she will really begin to arrange a
match and sonya and on taking leave of the governor's wife 
when she again smilingly said to him well then remember he drew her
aside 

 but see here to tell the truth aunt 

 what is it my dear come let's sit down here said she 

nicholas suddenly felt a desire and need to tell his most intimate
thoughts which he would not have told to his mother his sister or
his friend to this woman who was almost a stranger when he afterwards
recalled that impulse to unsolicited and inexplicable frankness which
had very important results for him it seemed to him as it seems to
everyone in such cases that it was merely some silly whim that seized
him yet that burst of frankness together with other trifling events 
had immense consequences for him and for all his family 

 you see aunt mamma has long wanted me to marry an heiress but the
very idea of marrying for money is repugnant to me 

 oh yes i understand said the governor's wife 

 but princess bolkonskaya that's another matter i will tell you the
truth in the first place i like her very much i feel drawn to her and
then after i met her under such circumstances so strangely the idea
often occurred to me this is fate especially if you remember that
mamma had long been thinking of it but i had never happened to meet her
before somehow it had always happened that we did not meet and as long
as my sister natasha was engaged to her brother it was of course out of
the question for me to think of marrying her and it must needs happen
that i should meet her just when natasha's engagement had been broken
off and then everything so you see i never told this to anyone
and never will only to you 

the governor's wife pressed his elbow gratefully 

 you know sonya my cousin i love her and promised to marry her and
will do so so you see there can be no question about said nicholas
incoherently and blushing 

 my dear boy what a way to look at it you know sonya has nothing and
you yourself say your papa's affairs are in a very bad way and what
about your mother it would kill her that's one thing and what sort of
life would it be for sonya if she's a girl with a heart your mother
in despair and you all ruined no my dear you and sonya ought to
understand that 

nicholas remained silent it comforted him to hear these arguments 

 all the same aunt it is impossible he rejoined with a sigh after
a short pause besides would the princess have me and besides she is
now in mourning how can one think of it 

 but you don't suppose i'm going to get you married at once there is
always a right way of doing things replied the governor's wife 

 what a matchmaker you are aunt said nicholas kissing her plump
little hand 





chapter vi

on reaching moscow after her meeting with rostov princess mary had
found her nephew there with his tutor and a letter from prince andrew
giving her instructions how to get to her aunt malvintseva at voronezh 
that feeling akin to temptation which had tormented her during her
father's illness since his death and especially since her meeting with
rostov was smothered by arrangements for the journey anxiety about her
brother settling in a new house meeting new people and attending to
her nephew's education she was sad now after a month passed in quiet
surroundings she felt more and more deeply the loss of her father which
was associated in her mind with the ruin of russia she was agitated and
incessantly tortured by the thought of the dangers to which her brother 
the only intimate person now remaining to her was exposed she was
worried too about her nephew's education for which she had always felt
herself incompetent but in the depths of her soul she felt at peace a
peace arising from consciousness of having stifled those personal dreams
and hopes that had been on the point of awakening within her and were
related to her meeting with rostov 

the day after her party the governor's wife came to see malvintseva
and after discussing her plan with the aunt remarked that though
under present circumstances a formal betrothal was of course not to be
thought of all the same the young people might be brought together and
could get to know one another malvintseva expressed approval and the
governor's wife began to speak of rostov in mary's presence praising
him and telling how he had blushed when princess mary's name was
mentioned but princess mary experienced a painful rather than a joyful
feeling her mental tranquillity was destroyed and desires doubts 
self reproach and hopes reawoke 

during the two days that elapsed before rostov called princess mary
continually thought of how she ought to behave to him first she decided
not to come to the drawing room when he called to see her aunt that it
would not be proper for her in her deep mourning to receive visitors 
then she thought this would be rude after what he had done for her then
it occurred to her that her aunt and the governor's wife had intentions
concerning herself and rostov their looks and words at times seemed to
confirm this supposition then she told herself that only she with her
sinful nature could think this of them they could not forget that
situated as she was while still wearing deep mourning such matchmaking
would be an insult to her and to her father's memory assuming that she
did go down to see him princess mary imagined the words he would say
to her and what she would say to him and these words sometimes seemed
undeservedly cold and then to mean too much more than anything she
feared lest the confusion she felt might overwhelm her and betray her as
soon as she saw him 

but when on sunday after church the footman announced in the drawing
room that count rostov had called the princess showed no confusion 
only a slight blush suffused her cheeks and her eyes lit up with a new
and radiant light 

 you have met him aunt said she in a calm voice unable herself to
understand that she could be outwardly so calm and natural 

when rostov entered the room the princess dropped her eyes for an
instant as if to give the visitor time to greet her aunt and then
just as nicholas turned to her she raised her head and met his look with
shining eyes with a movement full of dignity and grace she half rose
with a smile of pleasure held out her slender delicate hand to him 
and began to speak in a voice in which for the first time new deep
womanly notes vibrated mademoiselle bourienne who was in the drawing
room looked at princess mary in bewildered surprise herself a
consummate coquette she could not have maneuvered better on meeting a
man she wished to attract 

 either black is particularly becoming to her or she really has greatly
improved without my having noticed it and above all what tact and
grace thought mademoiselle bourienne 

had princess mary been capable of reflection at that moment she would
have been more surprised than mademoiselle bourienne at the change that
had taken place in herself from the moment she recognized that dear 
loved face a new life force took possession of her and compelled her to
speak and act apart from her own will from the time rostov entered her
face became suddenly transformed it was as if a light had been kindled
in a carved and painted lantern and the intricate skillful artistic
work on its sides that previously seemed dark coarse and meaningless 
was suddenly shown up in unexpected and striking beauty for the first
time all that pure spiritual inward travail through which she had
lived appeared on the surface all her inward labor her dissatisfaction
with herself her sufferings her strivings after goodness her
meekness love and self sacrifice all this now shone in those radiant
eyes in her delicate smile and in every trait of her gentle face 

rostov saw all this as clearly as if he had known her whole life he
felt that the being before him was quite different from and better
than anyone he had met before and above all better than himself 

their conversation was very simple and unimportant they spoke of the
war and like everyone else unconsciously exaggerated their sorrow
about it they spoke of their last meeting nicholas trying to change the
subject they talked of the governor's kind wife of nicholas relations 
and of princess mary's 

she did not talk about her brother diverting the conversation as soon
as her aunt mentioned andrew evidently she could speak of russia's
misfortunes with a certain artificiality but her brother was too near
her heart and she neither could nor would speak lightly of him nicholas
noticed this as he noticed every shade of princess mary's character
with an observation unusual to him and everything confirmed his
conviction that she was a quite unusual and extraordinary being 
nicholas blushed and was confused when people spoke to him about the
princess as she did when he was mentioned and even when he thought of
her but in her presence he felt quite at ease and said not at all what
he had prepared but what quite appropriately occurred to him at the
moment 

when a pause occurred during his short visit nicholas as is usual when
there are children turned to prince andrew's little son caressing him
and asking whether he would like to be an hussar he took the boy on
his knee played with him and looked round at princess mary with a
softened happy timid look she watched the boy she loved in the arms
of the man she loved nicholas also noticed that look and as if
understanding it flushed with pleasure and began to kiss the boy with
good natured playfulness 

as she was in mourning princess mary did not go out into society and
nicholas did not think it the proper thing to visit her again but all
the same the governor's wife went on with her matchmaking passing on to
nicholas the flattering things princess mary said of him and vice
versa and insisting on his declaring himself to princess mary for this
purpose she arranged a meeting between the young people at the bishop's
house before mass 

though rostov told the governor's wife that he would not make any
declaration to princess mary he promised to go 

as at tilsit rostov had not allowed himself to doubt that what everybody
considered right was right so now after a short but sincere struggle
between his effort to arrange his life by his own sense of justice and
in obedient submission to circumstances he chose the latter and yielded
to the power he felt irresistibly carrying him he knew not where he
knew that after his promise to sonya it would be what he deemed base to
declare his feelings to princess mary and he knew that he would never
act basely but he also knew or rather felt at the bottom of his heart 
that by resigning himself now to the force of circumstances and to those
who were guiding him he was not only doing nothing wrong but was doing
something very important more important than anything he had ever done
in his life 

after meeting princess mary though the course of his life went on
externally as before all his former amusements lost their charm for him
and he often thought about her but he never thought about her as he
had thought of all the young ladies without exception whom he had met
in society nor as he had for a long time and at one time rapturously 
thought about sonya he had pictured each of those young ladies as
almost all honest hearted young men do that is as a possible wife 
adapting her in his imagination to all the conditions of married life 
a white dressing gown his wife at the tea table his wife's carriage 
little ones mamma and papa their relations to her and so on and these
pictures of the future had given him pleasure but with princess mary 
to whom they were trying to get him engaged he could never picture
anything of future married life if he tried his pictures seemed
incongruous and false it made him afraid 





chapter vii

the dreadful news of the battle of borodino of our losses in killed and
wounded and the still more terrible news of the loss of moscow reached
voronezh in the middle of september princess mary having learned of
her brother's wound only from the gazette and having no definite news of
him prepared so nicholas heard he had not seen her again himself to
set off in search of prince andrew 

when he received the news of the battle of borodino and the abandonment
of moscow rostov was not seized with despair anger the desire for
vengeance or any feeling of that kind but everything in voronezh
suddenly seemed to him dull and tiresome and he experienced an
indefinite feeling of shame and awkwardness the conversations he heard
seemed to him insincere he did not know how to judge all these affairs
and felt that only in the regiment would everything again become clear
to him he made haste to finish buying the horses and often became
unreasonably angry with his servant and squadron quartermaster 

a few days before his departure a special thanksgiving at which
nicholas was present was held in the cathedral for the russian victory 
he stood a little behind the governor and held himself with military
decorum through the service meditating on a great variety of subjects 
when the service was over the governor's wife beckoned him to her 

 have you seen the princess she asked indicating with a movement of
her head a lady standing on the opposite side beyond the choir 

nicholas immediately recognized princess mary not so much by the profile
he saw under her bonnet as by the feeling of solicitude timidity and
pity that immediately overcame him princess mary evidently engrossed
by her thoughts was crossing herself for the last time before leaving
the church 

nicholas looked at her face with surprise it was the same face he had
seen before there was the same general expression of refined inner 
spiritual labor but now it was quite differently lit up there was a
pathetic expression of sorrow prayer and hope in it as had occurred
before when she was present nicholas went up to her without waiting to
be prompted by the governor's wife and not asking himself whether or not
it was right and proper to address her here in church and told her he
had heard of her trouble and sympathized with his whole soul as soon as
she heard his voice a vivid glow kindled in her face lighting up both
her sorrow and her joy 

 there is one thing i wanted to tell you princess said rostov it
is that if your brother prince andrew nikolaevich were not living it
would have been at once announced in the gazette as he is a colonel 

the princess looked at him not grasping what he was saying but cheered
by the expression of regretful sympathy on his face 

 and i have known so many cases of a splinter wound the gazette said
it was a shell either proving fatal at once or being very slight 
continued nicholas we must hope for the best and i am sure 

princess mary interrupted him 

 oh that would be so dread she began and prevented by agitation
from finishing she bent her head with a movement as graceful as
everything she did in his presence and looking up at him gratefully 
went out following her aunt 

that evening nicholas did not go out but stayed at home to settle some
accounts with the horse dealers when he had finished that business it
was already too late to go anywhere but still too early to go to bed 
and for a long time he paced up and down the room reflecting on his
life a thing he rarely did 

princess mary had made an agreeable impression on him when he had met
her in smolensk province his having encountered her in such exceptional
circumstances and his mother having at one time mentioned her to him as
a good match had drawn his particular attention to her when he met her
again in voronezh the impression she made on him was not merely pleasing
but powerful nicholas had been struck by the peculiar moral beauty he
observed in her at this time he was however preparing to go away and
it had not entered his head to regret that he was thus depriving himself
of chances of meeting her but that day's encounter in church had he
felt sunk deeper than was desirable for his peace of mind that pale 
sad refined face that radiant look those gentle graceful gestures 
and especially the deep and tender sorrow expressed in all her features
agitated him and evoked his sympathy in men rostov could not bear to
see the expression of a higher spiritual life that was why he did not
like prince andrew and he referred to it contemptuously as philosophy
and dreaminess but in princess mary that very sorrow which revealed
the depth of a whole spiritual world foreign to him was an irresistible
attraction 

 she must be a wonderful woman a real angel he said to himself 
 why am i not free why was i in such a hurry with sonya and he
involuntarily compared the two the lack of spirituality in the one and
the abundance of it in the other a spirituality he himself lacked and
therefore valued most highly he tried to picture what would happen were
he free how he would propose to her and how she would become his wife 
but no he could not imagine that he felt awed and no clear picture
presented itself to his mind he had long ago pictured to himself a
future with sonya and that was all clear and simple just because it
had all been thought out and he knew all there was in sonya but it was
impossible to picture a future with princess mary because he did not
understand her but simply loved her 

reveries about sonya had had something merry and playful in them but to
dream of princess mary was always difficult and a little frightening 

 how she prayed he thought it was plain that her whole soul was in
her prayer yes that was the prayer that moves mountains and i am
sure her prayer will be answered why don't i pray for what i want he
suddenly thought what do i want to be free released from sonya 
she was right he thought remembering what the governor's wife had
said nothing but misfortune can come of marrying sonya muddles 
grief for mamma business difficulties muddles terrible muddles 
besides i don't love her not as i should o god release me from
this dreadful inextricable position he suddenly began to pray yes 
prayer can move mountains but one must have faith and not pray as
natasha and i used to as children that the snow might turn into
sugar and then run out into the yard to see whether it had done so no 
but i am not praying for trifles now he thought as he put his pipe
down in a corner and folding his hands placed himself before the icon 
softened by memories of princess mary he began to pray as he had not
done for a long time tears were in his eyes and in his throat when the
door opened and lavrushka came in with some papers 

 blockhead why do you come in without being called cried nicholas 
quickly changing his attitude 

 from the governor said lavrushka in a sleepy voice a courier has
arrived and there's a letter for you 

 well all right thanks you can go 

nicholas took the two letters one of which was from his mother and
the other from sonya he recognized them by the handwriting and opened
sonya's first he had read only a few lines when he turned pale and his
eyes opened wide with fear and joy 

 no it's not possible he cried aloud 

unable to sit still he paced up and down the room holding the letter and
reading it he glanced through it then read it again and then again 
and standing still in the middle of the room he raised his shoulders 
stretching out his hands with his mouth wide open and his eyes fixed 
what he had just been praying for with confidence that god would hear
him had come to pass but nicholas was as much astonished as if it were
something extraordinary and unexpected and as if the very fact that it
had happened so quickly proved that it had not come from god to whom he
had prayed but by some ordinary coincidence 

this unexpected and as it seemed to nicholas quite voluntary letter
from sonya freed him from the knot that fettered him and from which
there had seemed no escape she wrote that the last unfortunate
events the loss of almost the whole of the rostovs moscow property and
the countess repeatedly expressed wish that nicholas should marry
princess bolkonskaya together with his silence and coldness of late 
had all combined to make her decide to release him from his promise and
set him completely free 

it would be too painful to me to think that i might be a cause of sorrow
or discord in the family that has been so good to me she wrote and my
love has no aim but the happiness of those i love so nicholas i
beg you to consider yourself free and to be assured that in spite of
everything no one can love you more than does

your sonya

both letters were written from troitsa the other from the countess 
described their last days in moscow their departure the fire and
the destruction of all their property in this letter the countess also
mentioned that prince andrew was among the wounded traveling with them 
his state was very critical but the doctor said there was now more
hope sonya and natasha were nursing him 

next day nicholas took his mother's letter and went to see princess
mary neither he nor she said a word about what natasha nursing him 
might mean but thanks to this letter nicholas suddenly became almost as
intimate with the princess as if they were relations 

the following day he saw princess mary off on her journey to yaroslavl 
and a few days later left to rejoin his regiment 





chapter viii

sonya's letter written from troitsa which had come as an answer to
nicholas prayer was prompted by this the thought of getting nicholas
married to an heiress occupied the old countess mind more and more she
knew that sonya was the chief obstacle to this happening and sonya's
life in the countess house had grown harder and harder especially
after they had received a letter from nicholas telling of his meeting
with princess mary in bogucharovo the countess let no occasion slip of
making humiliating or cruel allusions to sonya 

but a few days before they left moscow moved and excited by all that
was going on she called sonya to her and instead of reproaching and
making demands on her tearfully implored her to sacrifice herself
and repay all that the family had done for her by breaking off her
engagement with nicholas 

 i shall not be at peace till you promise me this 

sonya burst into hysterical tears and replied through her sobs that
she would do anything and was prepared for anything but gave no actual
promise and could not bring herself to decide to do what was demanded
of her she must sacrifice herself for the family that had reared and
brought her up to sacrifice herself for others was sonya's habit her
position in the house was such that only by sacrifice could she show her
worth and she was accustomed to this and loved doing it but in all her
former acts of self sacrifice she had been happily conscious that they
raised her in her own esteem and in that of others and so made her more
worthy of nicholas whom she loved more than anything in the world but
now they wanted her to sacrifice the very thing that constituted the
whole reward for her self sacrifice and the whole meaning of her life 
and for the first time she felt bitterness against those who had been
her benefactors only to torture her the more painfully she felt jealous
of natasha who had never experienced anything of this sort had never
needed to sacrifice herself but made others sacrifice themselves for
her and yet was beloved by everybody and for the first time sonya felt
that out of her pure quiet love for nicholas a passionate feeling
was beginning to grow up which was stronger than principle virtue 
or religion under the influence of this feeling sonya whose life of
dependence had taught her involuntarily to be secretive having answered
the countess in vague general terms avoided talking with her and
resolved to wait till she should see nicholas not in order to set him
free but on the contrary at that meeting to bind him to her forever 

the bustle and terror of the rostovs last days in moscow stifled the
gloomy thoughts that oppressed sonya she was glad to find escape
from them in practical activity but when she heard of prince andrew's
presence in their house despite her sincere pity for him and for
natasha she was seized by a joyful and superstitious feeling that god
did not intend her to be separated from nicholas she knew that natasha
loved no one but prince andrew and had never ceased to love him she
knew that being thrown together again under such terrible circumstances
they would again fall in love with one another and that nicholas would
then not be able to marry princess mary as they would be within the
prohibited degrees of affinity despite all the terror of what had
happened during those last days and during the first days of their
journey this feeling that providence was intervening in her personal
affairs cheered sonya 

at the troitsa monastery the rostovs first broke their journey for a
whole day 

three large rooms were assigned to them in the monastery hostelry one
of which was occupied by prince andrew the wounded man was much better
that day and natasha was sitting with him in the next room sat the
count and countess respectfully conversing with the prior who was
calling on them as old acquaintances and benefactors of the monastery 
sonya was there too tormented by curiosity as to what prince andrew and
natasha were talking about she heard the sound of their voices through
the door that door opened and natasha came out looking excited not
noticing the monk who had risen to greet her and was drawing back the
wide sleeve on his right arm she went up to sonya and took her hand 

 natasha what are you about come here said the countess 

natasha went up to the monk for his blessing and he advised her to pray
for aid to god and his saint 

as soon as the prior withdrew natasha took her friend by the hand and
went with her into the unoccupied room 

 sonya will he live she asked sonya how happy i am and how
unhappy sonya dovey everything is as it used to be if only he
lives he cannot because because of and natasha burst into
tears 

 yes i knew it thank god murmured sonya he will live 

sonya was not less agitated than her friend by the latter's fear and
grief and by her own personal feelings which she shared with no one 
sobbing she kissed and comforted natasha if only he lives she
thought having wept talked and wiped away their tears the two
friends went together to prince andrew's door natasha opened it
cautiously and glanced into the room sonya standing beside her at the
half open door 

prince andrew was lying raised high on three pillows his pale face was
calm his eyes closed and they could see his regular breathing 

 o natasha sonya suddenly almost screamed catching her companion's
arm and stepping back from the door 

 what what is it asked natasha 

 it's that that said sonya with a white face and trembling lips 

natasha softly closed the door and went with sonya to the window not
yet understanding what the latter was telling her 

 you remember said sonya with a solemn and frightened expression 
 you remember when i looked in the mirror for you at otradnoe at
christmas do you remember what i saw 

 yes yes cried natasha opening her eyes wide and vaguely recalling
that sonya had told her something about prince andrew whom she had seen
lying down 

 you remember sonya went on i saw it then and told everybody you
and dunyasha i saw him lying on a bed said she making a gesture with
her hand and a lifted finger at each detail and that he had his eyes
closed and was covered just with a pink quilt and that his hands were
folded she concluded convincing herself that the details she had just
seen were exactly what she had seen in the mirror 

she had in fact seen nothing then but had mentioned the first thing that
came into her head but what she had invented then seemed to her now
as real as any other recollection she not only remembered what she had
then said that he turned to look at her and smiled and was covered with
something red but was firmly convinced that she had then seen and said
that he was covered with a pink quilt and that his eyes were closed 

 yes yes it really was pink cried natasha who now thought she
too remembered the word pink being used and saw in this the most
extraordinary and mysterious part of the prediction 

 but what does it mean she added meditatively 

 oh i don't know it is all so strange replied sonya clutching at
her head 

a few minutes later prince andrew rang and natasha went to him but
sonya feeling unusually excited and touched remained at the window
thinking about the strangeness of what had occurred 


they had an opportunity that day to send letters to the army and the
countess was writing to her son 

 sonya said the countess raising her eyes from her letter as her
niece passed sonya won't you write to nicholas she spoke in a soft 
tremulous voice and in the weary eyes that looked over her spectacles
sonya read all that the countess meant to convey with these words those
eyes expressed entreaty shame at having to ask fear of a refusal and
readiness for relentless hatred in case of such refusal 

sonya went up to the countess and kneeling down kissed her hand 

 yes mamma i will write said she 

sonya was softened excited and touched by all that had occurred that
day especially by the mysterious fulfillment she had just seen of her
vision now that she knew that the renewal of natasha's relations with
prince andrew would prevent nicholas from marrying princess mary she
was joyfully conscious of a return of that self sacrificing spirit in
which she was accustomed to live and loved to live so with a joyful
consciousness of performing a magnanimous deed interrupted several times
by the tears that dimmed her velvety black eyes she wrote that touching
letter the arrival of which had so amazed nicholas 





chapter ix

the officer and soldiers who had arrested pierre treated him with
hostility but yet with respect in the guardhouse to which he was taken 
in their attitude toward him could still be felt both uncertainty as
to who he might be perhaps a very important person and hostility as a
result of their recent personal conflict with him 

but when the guard was relieved next morning pierre felt that for the
new guard both officers and men he was not as interesting as he had
been to his captors and in fact the guard of the second day did not
recognize in this big stout man in a peasant coat the vigorous person
who had fought so desperately with the marauder and the convoy and had
uttered those solemn words about saving a child they saw in him only
no 17 of the captured russians arrested and detained for some reason
by order of the higher command if they noticed anything remarkable
about pierre it was only his unabashed meditative concentration
and thoughtfulness and the way he spoke french which struck them as
surprisingly good in spite of this he was placed that day with the
other arrested suspects as the separate room he had occupied was
required by an officer 

all the russians confined with pierre were men of the lowest class and 
recognizing him as a gentleman they all avoided him more especially as
he spoke french pierre felt sad at hearing them making fun of him 

that evening he learned that all these prisoners he probably among
them were to be tried for incendiarism on the third day he was taken
with the others to a house where a french general with a white mustache
sat with two colonels and other frenchmen with scarves on their arms 
with the precision and definiteness customary in addressing prisoners 
and which is supposed to preclude human frailty pierre like the others
was questioned as to who he was where he had been with what object 
and so on 

these questions like questions put at trials generally left the
essence of the matter aside shut out the possibility of that essence's
being revealed and were designed only to form a channel through which
the judges wished the answers of the accused to flow so as to lead to
the desired result namely a conviction as soon as pierre began to say
anything that did not fit in with that aim the channel was removed and
the water could flow to waste pierre felt moreover what the accused
always feel at their trial perplexity as to why these questions were
put to him he had a feeling that it was only out of condescension or a
kind of civility that this device of placing a channel was employed he
knew he was in these men's power that only by force had they brought
him there that force alone gave them the right to demand answers
to their questions and that the sole object of that assembly was to
inculpate him and so as they had the power and wish to inculpate
him this expedient of an inquiry and trial seemed unnecessary it was
evident that any answer would lead to conviction when asked what he
was doing when he was arrested pierre replied in a rather tragic manner
that he was restoring to its parents a child he had saved from the
flames why had he fought the marauder pierre answered that he was
protecting a woman and that to protect a woman who was being insulted
was the duty of every man that they interrupted him for this
was not to the point why was he in the yard of a burning house where
witnesses had seen him he replied that he had gone out to see what
was happening in moscow again they interrupted him they had not asked
where he was going but why he was found near the fire who was he they
asked repeating their first question which he had declined to answer 
again he replied that he could not answer it 

 put that down that's bad very bad sternly remarked the general
with the white mustache and red flushed face 


on the fourth day fires broke out on the zubovski rampart 

pierre and thirteen others were moved to the coach house of a merchant's
house near the crimean bridge on his way through the streets pierre
felt stifled by the smoke which seemed to hang over the whole
city fires were visible on all sides he did not then realize the
significance of the burning of moscow and looked at the fires with
horror 

he passed four days in the coach house near the crimean bridge and
during that time learned from the talk of the french soldiers that all
those confined there were awaiting a decision which might come any day
from the marshal what marshal this was pierre could not learn from the
soldiers evidently for them the marshal represented a very high and
rather mysterious power 

these first days before the eighth of september when the prisoners were
had up for a second examination were the hardest of all for pierre 





chapter x

on the eighth of september an officer a very important one judging by
the respect the guards showed him entered the coach house where the
prisoners were this officer probably someone on the staff was holding
a paper in his hand and called over all the russians there naming
pierre as the man who does not give his name glancing indolently and
indifferently at all the prisoners he ordered the officer in charge
to have them decently dressed and tidied up before taking them to the
marshal an hour later a squad of soldiers arrived and pierre with
thirteen others was led to the virgin's field it was a fine day sunny
after rain and the air was unusually pure the smoke did not hang low
as on the day when pierre had been taken from the guardhouse on the
zubovski rampart but rose through the pure air in columns no flames
were seen but columns of smoke rose on all sides and all moscow as far
as pierre could see was one vast charred ruin on all sides there were
waste spaces with only stoves and chimney stacks still standing and
here and there the blackened walls of some brick houses pierre gazed
at the ruins and did not recognize districts he had known well here and
there he could see churches that had not been burned the kremlin which
was not destroyed gleamed white in the distance with its towers and
the belfry of ivan the great the domes of the new convent of the virgin
glittered brightly and its bells were ringing particularly clearly 
these bells reminded pierre that it was sunday and the feast of the
nativity of the virgin but there seemed to be no one to celebrate this
holiday everywhere were blackened ruins and the few russians to be
seen were tattered and frightened people who tried to hide when they saw
the french 

it was plain that the russian nest was ruined and destroyed but in
place of the russian order of life that had been destroyed pierre
unconsciously felt that a quite different firm french order had been
established over this ruined nest he felt this in the looks of
the soldiers who marching in regular ranks briskly and gaily were
escorting him and the other criminals he felt it in the looks of an
important french official in a carriage and pair driven by a soldier 
whom they met on the way he felt it in the merry sounds of regimental
music he heard from the left side of the field and felt and realized
it especially from the list of prisoners the french officer had read out
when he came that morning pierre had been taken by one set of soldiers
and led first to one and then to another place with dozens of other men 
and it seemed that they might have forgotten him or confused him with
the others but no the answers he had given when questioned had come
back to him in his designation as the man who does not give his name 
and under that appellation which to pierre seemed terrible they were
now leading him somewhere with unhesitating assurance on their faces
that he and all the other prisoners were exactly the ones they wanted
and that they were being taken to the proper place pierre felt himself
to be an insignificant chip fallen among the wheels of a machine whose
action he did not understand but which was working well 

he and the other prisoners were taken to the right side of the virgin's
field to a large white house with an immense garden not far from the
convent this was prince shcherbatov's house where pierre had often
been in other days and which as he learned from the talk of the
soldiers was now occupied by the marshal the duke of eckmuhl davout 

they were taken to the entrance and led into the house one by one 
pierre was the sixth to enter he was conducted through a glass gallery 
an anteroom and a hall which were familiar to him into a long low
study at the door of which stood an adjutant 

davout spectacles on nose sat bent over a table at the further end of
the room pierre went close up to him but davout evidently consulting
a paper that lay before him did not look up without raising his eyes 
he said in a low voice 

 who are you 

pierre was silent because he was incapable of uttering a word to him
davout was not merely a french general but a man notorious for his
cruelty looking at his cold face as he sat like a stern schoolmaster
who was prepared to wait awhile for an answer pierre felt that every
instant of delay might cost him his life but he did not know what
to say he did not venture to repeat what he had said at his first
examination yet to disclose his rank and position was dangerous and
embarrassing so he was silent but before he had decided what to do 
davout raised his head pushed his spectacles back on his forehead 
screwed up his eyes and looked intently at him 

 i know that man he said in a cold measured tone evidently
calculated to frighten pierre 

the chill that had been running down pierre's back now seized his head
as in a vise 

 you cannot know me general i have never seen you 

 he is a russian spy davout interrupted addressing another general
who was present but whom pierre had not noticed 

davout turned away with an unexpected reverberation in his voice pierre
rapidly began 

 no monseigneur he said suddenly remembering that davout was a duke 
 no monseigneur you cannot have known me i am a militia officer and
have not quitted moscow 

 your name asked davout 

 bezukhov 

 what proof have i that you are not lying 

 monseigneur exclaimed pierre not in an offended but in a pleading
voice 

davout looked up and gazed intently at him for some seconds they looked
at one another and that look saved pierre apart from conditions of war
and law that look established human relations between the two men at
that moment an immense number of things passed dimly through both their
minds and they realized that they were both children of humanity and
were brothers 

at the first glance when davout had only raised his head from the
papers where human affairs and lives were indicated by numbers pierre
was merely a circumstance and davout could have shot him without
burdening his conscience with an evil deed but now he saw in him a
human being he reflected for a moment 

 how can you show me that you are telling the truth said davout
coldly 

pierre remembered ramballe and named him and his regiment and the
street where the house was 

 you are not what you say returned davout 

in a trembling faltering voice pierre began adducing proofs of the
truth of his statements 

but at that moment an adjutant entered and reported something to davout 

davout brightened up at the news the adjutant brought and began
buttoning up his uniform it seemed that he had quite forgotten pierre 

when the adjutant reminded him of the prisoner he jerked his head in
pierre's direction with a frown and ordered him to be led away but
where they were to take him pierre did not know back to the coach house
or to the place of execution his companions had pointed out to him as
they crossed the virgin's field 

he turned his head and saw that the adjutant was putting another
question to davout 

 yes of course replied davout but what this yes meant pierre did
not know 

pierre could not afterwards remember how he went whether it was far or
in which direction his faculties were quite numbed he was stupefied 
and noticing nothing around him went on moving his legs as the others
did till they all stopped and he stopped too the only thought in his
mind at that time was who was it that had really sentenced him to
death not the men on the commission that had first examined him not one
of them wished to or evidently could have done it it was not davout 
who had looked at him in so human a way in another moment davout would
have realized that he was doing wrong but just then the adjutant had
come in and interrupted him the adjutant also had evidently had no
evil intent though he might have refrained from coming in then who was
executing him killing him depriving him of life him pierre with all
his memories aspirations hopes and thoughts who was doing this and
pierre felt that it was no one 

it was a system a concurrence of circumstances 

a system of some sort was killing him pierre depriving him of life of
everything annihilating him 





chapter xi

from prince shcherbatov's house the prisoners were led straight down the
virgin's field to the left of the nunnery as far as a kitchen garden
in which a post had been set up beyond that post a fresh pit had been
dug in the ground and near the post and the pit a large crowd stood
in a semicircle the crowd consisted of a few russians and many
of napoleon's soldiers who were not on duty germans italians and
frenchmen in a variety of uniforms to the right and left of the post
stood rows of french troops in blue uniforms with red epaulets and high
boots and shakos 

the prisoners were placed in a certain order according to the list
 pierre was sixth and were led to the post several drums suddenly
began to beat on both sides of them and at that sound pierre felt as
if part of his soul had been torn away he lost the power of thinking or
understanding he could only hear and see and he had only one wish that
the frightful thing that had to happen should happen quickly pierre
looked round at his fellow prisoners and scrutinized them 

the two first were convicts with shaven heads one was tall and thin 
the other dark shaggy and sinewy with a flat nose the third was
a domestic serf about forty five years old with grizzled hair and a
plump well nourished body the fourth was a peasant a very handsome
man with a broad light brown beard and black eyes the fifth was a
factory hand a thin sallow faced lad of eighteen in a loose coat 

pierre heard the french consulting whether to shoot them separately or
two at a time in couples replied the officer in command in a calm
voice there was a stir in the ranks of the soldiers and it was evident
that they were all hurrying not as men hurry to do something they
understand but as people hurry to finish a necessary but unpleasant and
incomprehensible task 

a french official wearing a scarf came up to the right of the row of
prisoners and read out the sentence in russian and in french 

then two pairs of frenchmen approached the criminals and at the
officer's command took the two convicts who stood first in the row the
convicts stopped when they reached the post and while sacks were being
brought looked dumbly around as a wounded beast looks at an approaching
huntsman one crossed himself continually the other scratched his back
and made a movement of the lips resembling a smile with hurried hands
the soldiers blindfolded them drawing the sacks over their heads and
bound them to the post 

twelve sharpshooters with muskets stepped out of the ranks with a firm
regular tread and halted eight paces from the post pierre turned away
to avoid seeing what was going to happen suddenly a crackling rolling
noise was heard which seemed to him louder than the most terrific
thunder and he looked round there was some smoke and the frenchmen
were doing something near the pit with pale faces and trembling hands 
two more prisoners were led up in the same way and with similar looks 
these two glanced vainly at the onlookers with only a silent appeal for
protection in their eyes evidently unable to understand or believe
what was going to happen to them they could not believe it because they
alone knew what their life meant to them and so they neither understood
nor believed that it could be taken from them 

again pierre did not wish to look and again turned away but again the
sound as of a frightful explosion struck his ear and at the same moment
he saw smoke blood and the pale scared faces of the frenchmen who
were again doing something by the post their trembling hands impeding
one another pierre breathing heavily looked around as if asking what
it meant the same question was expressed in all the looks that met his 

on the faces of all the russians and of the french soldiers and officers
without exception he read the same dismay horror and conflict that
were in his own heart but who after all is doing this they are all
suffering as i am who then is it who flashed for an instant through
his mind 

 sharpshooters of the 86th forward shouted someone the fifth
prisoner the one next to pierre was led away alone pierre did not
understand that he was saved that he and the rest had been brought
there only to witness the execution with ever growing horror and no
sense of joy or relief he gazed at what was taking place the fifth man
was the factory lad in the loose cloak the moment they laid hands on
him he sprang aside in terror and clutched at pierre pierre shuddered
and shook himself free the lad was unable to walk they dragged him
along holding him up under the arms and he screamed when they got
him to the post he grew quiet as if he suddenly understood something 
whether he understood that screaming was useless or whether he thought
it incredible that men should kill him at any rate he took his stand at
the post waiting to be blindfolded like the others and like a wounded
animal looked around him with glittering eyes 

pierre was no longer able to turn away and close his eyes his curiosity
and agitation like that of the whole crowd reached the highest pitch
at this fifth murder like the others this fifth man seemed calm he
wrapped his loose cloak closer and rubbed one bare foot with the other 

when they began to blindfold him he himself adjusted the knot which
hurt the back of his head then when they propped him against the
bloodstained post he leaned back and not being comfortable in that
position straightened himself adjusted his feet and leaned back again
more comfortably pierre did not take his eyes from him and did not miss
his slightest movement 

probably a word of command was given and was followed by the reports of
eight muskets but try as he would pierre could not afterwards remember
having heard the slightest sound of the shots he only saw how the
workman suddenly sank down on the cords that held him how blood showed
itself in two places how the ropes slackened under the weight of the
hanging body and how the workman sat down his head hanging unnaturally
and one leg bent under him pierre ran up to the post no one hindered
him pale frightened people were doing something around the workman 
the lower jaw of an old frenchman with a thick mustache trembled as he
untied the ropes the body collapsed the soldiers dragged it awkwardly
from the post and began pushing it into the pit 

they all plainly and certainly knew that they were criminals who must
hide the traces of their guilt as quickly as possible 

pierre glanced into the pit and saw that the factory lad was lying with
his knees close up to his head and one shoulder higher than the other 
that shoulder rose and fell rhythmically and convulsively but spadefuls
of earth were already being thrown over the whole body one of the
soldiers evidently suffering shouted gruffly and angrily at pierre to
go back but pierre did not understand him and remained near the post 
and no one drove him away 

when the pit had been filled up a command was given pierre was taken
back to his place and the rows of troops on both sides of the post
made a half turn and went past it at a measured pace the twenty four
sharpshooters with discharged muskets standing in the center of the
circle ran back to their places as the companies passed by 

pierre gazed now with dazed eyes at these sharpshooters who ran in
couples out of the circle all but one rejoined their companies this
one a young soldier his face deadly pale his shako pushed back and
his musket resting on the ground still stood near the pit at the spot
from which he had fired he swayed like a drunken man taking some steps
forward and back to save himself from falling an old noncommissioned
officer ran out of the ranks and taking him by the elbow dragged him to
his company the crowd of russians and frenchmen began to disperse they
all went away silently and with drooping heads 

 that will teach them to start fires said one of the frenchmen 

pierre glanced round at the speaker and saw that it was a soldier who
was trying to find some relief after what had been done but was not
able to do so without finishing what he had begun to say he made a
hopeless movement with his arm and went away 





chapter xii

after the execution pierre was separated from the rest of the prisoners
and placed alone in a small ruined and befouled church 

toward evening a noncommissioned officer entered with two soldiers and
told him that he had been pardoned and would now go to the barracks for
the prisoners of war without understanding what was said to him pierre
got up and went with the soldiers they took him to the upper end of the
field where there were some sheds built of charred planks beams 
and battens and led him into one of them in the darkness some twenty
different men surrounded pierre he looked at them without understanding
who they were why they were there or what they wanted of him he heard
what they said but did not understand the meaning of the words and
made no kind of deduction from or application of them he replied to
questions they put to him but did not consider who was listening to his
replies nor how they would understand them he looked at their faces
and figures but they all seemed to him equally meaningless 

from the moment pierre had witnessed those terrible murders committed by
men who did not wish to commit them it was as if the mainspring of
his life on which everything depended and which made everything appear
alive had suddenly been wrenched out and everything had collapsed
into a heap of meaningless rubbish though he did not acknowledge it to
himself his faith in the right ordering of the universe in humanity 
in his own soul and in god had been destroyed he had experienced this
before but never so strongly as now when similar doubts had assailed
him before they had been the result of his own wrongdoing and at the
bottom of his heart he had felt that relief from his despair and from
those doubts was to be found within himself but now he felt that
the universe had crumbled before his eyes and only meaningless ruins
remained and this not by any fault of his own he felt that it was not
in his power to regain faith in the meaning of life 

around him in the darkness men were standing and evidently something
about him interested them greatly they were telling him something and
asking him something then they led him away somewhere and at last he
found himself in a corner of the shed among men who were laughing and
talking on all sides 

 well then mates that very prince who some voice at the other
end of the shed was saying with a strong emphasis on the word who 

sitting silent and motionless on a heap of straw against the wall 
pierre sometimes opened and sometimes closed his eyes but as soon as
he closed them he saw before him the dreadful face of the factory
lad especially dreadful because of its simplicity and the faces of the
murderers even more dreadful because of their disquiet and he opened
his eyes again and stared vacantly into the darkness around him 

beside him in a stooping position sat a small man of whose presence he
was first made aware by a strong smell of perspiration which came from
him every time he moved this man was doing something to his legs in the
darkness and though pierre could not see his face he felt that the man
continually glanced at him on growing used to the darkness pierre saw
that the man was taking off his leg bands and the way he did it aroused
pierre's interest 

having unwound the string that tied the band on one leg he carefully
coiled it up and immediately set to work on the other leg glancing up
at pierre while one hand hung up the first string the other was already
unwinding the band on the second leg in this way having carefully
removed the leg bands by deft circular motions of his arm following
one another uninterruptedly the man hung the leg bands up on some pegs
fixed above his head then he took out a knife cut something closed
the knife placed it under the head of his bed and seating himself
comfortably clasped his arms round his lifted knees and fixed his eyes
on pierre the latter was conscious of something pleasant comforting 
and well rounded in these deft movements in the man's well ordered
arrangements in his corner and even in his very smell and he looked at
the man without taking his eyes from him 

 you've seen a lot of trouble sir eh the little man suddenly said 

and there was so much kindliness and simplicity in his singsong voice
that pierre tried to reply but his jaw trembled and he felt tears
rising to his eyes the little fellow giving pierre no time to betray
his confusion instantly continued in the same pleasant tones 

 eh lad don't fret said he in the tender singsong caressing voice
old russian peasant women employ don't fret friend suffer an hour 
live for an age that's how it is my dear fellow and here we live 
thank heaven without offense among these folk too there are good
men as well as bad said he and still speaking he turned on his knees
with a supple movement got up coughed and went off to another part of
the shed 

 eh you rascal pierre heard the same kind voice saying at the other
end of the shed so you've come you rascal she remembers now now 
that'll do 

and the soldier pushing away a little dog that was jumping up at
him returned to his place and sat down in his hands he had something
wrapped in a rag 

 here eat a bit sir said he resuming his former respectful tone as
he unwrapped and offered pierre some baked potatoes we had soup for
dinner and the potatoes are grand 

pierre had not eaten all day and the smell of the potatoes seemed
extremely pleasant to him he thanked the soldier and began to eat 

 well are they all right said the soldier with a smile you should
do like this 

he took a potato drew out his clasp knife cut the potato into two
equal halves on the palm of his hand sprinkled some salt on it from the
rag and handed it to pierre 

 the potatoes are grand he said once more eat some like that 

pierre thought he had never eaten anything that tasted better 

 oh i'm all right said he but why did they shoot those poor
fellows the last one was hardly twenty 

 tss tt said the little man ah what a sin what a sin he
added quickly and as if his words were always waiting ready in his
mouth and flew out involuntarily he went on how was it sir that you
stayed in moscow 

 i didn't think they would come so soon i stayed accidentally replied
pierre 

 and how did they arrest you dear lad at your house 

 no i went to look at the fire and they arrested me there and tried
me as an incendiary 

 where there's law there's injustice put in the little man 

 and have you been here long pierre asked as he munched the last of
the potato 

 i it was last sunday they took me out of a hospital in moscow 

 why are you a soldier then 

 yes we are soldiers of the apsheron regiment i was dying of fever we
weren't told anything there were some twenty of us lying there we had
no idea never guessed at all 

 and do you feel sad here pierre inquired 

 how can one help it lad my name is platon and the surname is
karataev he added evidently wishing to make it easier for pierre to
address him they call me little falcon in the regiment how is one
to help feeling sad moscow she's the mother of cities how can one see
all this and not feel sad but the maggot gnaws the cabbage yet dies
first that's what the old folks used to tell us he added rapidly 

 what what did you say asked pierre 

 who i said karataev i say things happen not as we plan but as god
judges he replied thinking that he was repeating what he had said
before and immediately continued 

 well and you have you a family estate sir and a house so you have
abundance then and a housewife and your old parents are they still
living he asked 

and though it was too dark for pierre to see he felt that a suppressed
smile of kindliness puckered the soldier's lips as he put these
questions he seemed grieved that pierre had no parents especially that
he had no mother 

 a wife for counsel a mother in law for welcome but there's none as
dear as one's own mother said he well and have you little ones he
went on asking 

again pierre's negative answer seemed to distress him and he hastened
to add 

 never mind you're young folks yet and please god may still have some 
the great thing is to live in harmony 

 but it's all the same now pierre could not help saying 

 ah my dear fellow rejoined karataev never decline a prison or a
beggar's sack 

he seated himself more comfortably and coughed evidently preparing to
tell a long story 

 well my dear fellow i was still living at home he began we had
a well to do homestead plenty of land we peasants lived well and our
house was one to thank god for when father and we went out mowing
there were seven of us we lived well we were real peasants it so
happened 

and platon karataev told a long story of how he had gone into someone's
copse to take wood how he had been caught by the keeper had been
tried flogged and sent to serve as a soldier 

 well lad and a smile changed the tone of his voice we thought it
was a misfortune but it turned out a blessing if it had not been for
my sin my brother would have had to go as a soldier but he my younger
brother had five little ones while i you see only left a wife
behind we had a little girl but god took her before i went as a
soldier i come home on leave and i'll tell you how it was i look and
see that they are living better than before the yard full of cattle 
the women at home two brothers away earning wages and only michael the
youngest at home father he says all my children are the same to
me it hurts the same whichever finger gets bitten but if platon hadn't
been shaved for a soldier michael would have had to go called us
all to him and will you believe it placed us in front of the icons 
 michael he says come here and bow down to his feet and you young
woman you bow down too and you grandchildren also bow down before
him do you understand he says that's how it is dear fellow fate
looks for a head but we are always judging that's not well that's
not right our luck is like water in a dragnet you pull at it and it
bulges but when you've drawn it out it's empty that's how it is 

and platon shifted his seat on the straw 

after a short silence he rose 

 well i think you must be sleepy said he and began rapidly crossing
himself and repeating 

 lord jesus christ holy saint nicholas frola and lavra lord jesus
christ holy saint nicholas frola and lavra lord jesus christ have
mercy on us and save us he concluded then bowed to the ground got
up sighed and sat down again on his heap of straw that's the way 
lay me down like a stone o god and raise me up like a loaf he
muttered as he lay down pulling his coat over him 

 what prayer was that you were saying asked pierre 

 eh murmured platon who had almost fallen asleep what was i saying 
i was praying don't you pray 

 yes i do said pierre but what was that you said frola and lavra 

 well of course replied platon quickly the horses saints one must
pity the animals too eh the rascal now you've curled up and got warm 
you daughter of a bitch said karataev touching the dog that lay at
his feet and again turning over he fell asleep immediately 

sounds of crying and screaming came from somewhere in the distance
outside and flames were visible through the cracks of the shed but
inside it was quiet and dark for a long time pierre did not sleep but
lay with eyes open in the darkness listening to the regular snoring
of platon who lay beside him and he felt that the world that had been
shattered was once more stirring in his soul with a new beauty and on
new and unshakable foundations 





chapter xiii

twenty three soldiers three officers and two officials were confined
in the shed in which pierre had been placed and where he remained for
four weeks 

when pierre remembered them afterwards they all seemed misty figures to
him except platon karataev who always remained in his mind a most
vivid and precious memory and the personification of everything russian 
kindly and round when pierre saw his neighbor next morning at dawn
the first impression of him as of something round was fully confirmed 
platon's whole figure in a french overcoat girdled with a cord a
soldier's cap and bast shoes was round his head was quite round his
back chest shoulders and even his arms which he held as if ever
ready to embrace something were rounded his pleasant smile and his
large gentle brown eyes were also round 

platon karataev must have been fifty judging by his stories of
campaigns he had been in told as by an old soldier he did not himself
know his age and was quite unable to determine it but his brilliantly
white strong teeth which showed in two unbroken semicircles when he
laughed as he often did were all sound and good there was not a gray
hair in his beard or on his head and his whole body gave an impression
of suppleness and especially of firmness and endurance 

his face despite its fine rounded wrinkles had an expression of
innocence and youth his voice was pleasant and musical but the chief
peculiarity of his speech was its directness and appositeness it was
evident that he never considered what he had said or was going to say 
and consequently the rapidity and justice of his intonation had an
irresistible persuasiveness 

his physical strength and agility during the first days of his
imprisonment were such that he seemed not to know what fatigue and
sickness meant every night before lying down he said lord lay me
down as a stone and raise me up as a loaf and every morning on getting
up he said i lay down and curled up i get up and shake myself and
indeed he only had to lie down to fall asleep like a stone and he
only had to shake himself to be ready without a moment's delay for some
work just as children are ready to play directly they awake he could
do everything not very well but not badly he baked cooked sewed 
planed and mended boots he was always busy and only at night allowed
himself conversation of which he was fond and songs he did not sing
like a trained singer who knows he is listened to but like the birds 
evidently giving vent to the sounds in the same way that one stretches
oneself or walks about to get rid of stiffness and the sounds were
always high pitched mournful delicate and almost feminine and his
face at such times was very serious 

having been taken prisoner and allowed his beard to grow he seemed to
have thrown off all that had been forced upon him everything military
and alien to himself and had returned to his former peasant habits 

 a soldier on leave a shirt outside breeches he would say 

he did not like talking about his life as a soldier though he did not
complain and often mentioned that he had not been flogged once during
the whole of his army service when he related anything it was generally
some old and evidently precious memory of his christian life as he
called his peasant existence the proverbs of which his talk was full 
were for the most part not the coarse and indecent saws soldiers
employ but those folk sayings which taken without a context seem so
insignificant but when used appositely suddenly acquire a significance
of profound wisdom 

he would often say the exact opposite of what he had said on a previous
occasion yet both would be right he liked to talk and he talked well 
adorning his speech with terms of endearment and with folk sayings which
pierre thought he invented himself but the chief charm of his talk lay
in the fact that the commonest events sometimes just such as pierre
had witnessed without taking notice of them assumed in karataev's a
character of solemn fitness he liked to hear the folk tales one of the
soldiers used to tell of an evening they were always the same but
most of all he liked to hear stories of real life he would smile
joyfully when listening to such stories now and then putting in a word
or asking a question to make the moral beauty of what he was told clear
to himself karataev had no attachments friendships or love as pierre
understood them but loved and lived affectionately with everything life
brought him in contact with particularly with man not any particular
man but those with whom he happened to be he loved his dog his
comrades the french and pierre who was his neighbor but pierre felt
that in spite of karataev's affectionate tenderness for him by which
he unconsciously gave pierre's spiritual life its due he would not have
grieved for a moment at parting from him and pierre began to feel in
the same way toward karataev 

to all the other prisoners platon karataev seemed a most ordinary
soldier they called him little falcon or platosha chaffed him
good naturedly and sent him on errands but to pierre he always
remained what he had seemed that first night an unfathomable rounded 
eternal personification of the spirit of simplicity and truth 

platon karataev knew nothing by heart except his prayers when he began
to speak he seemed not to know how he would conclude 

sometimes pierre struck by the meaning of his words would ask him to
repeat them but platon could never recall what he had said a moment
before just as he never could repeat to pierre the words of his
favorite song native and birch tree and my heart is sick occurred in
it but when spoken and not sung no meaning could be got out of it he
did not and could not understand the meaning of words apart from
their context every word and action of his was the manifestation of
an activity unknown to him which was his life but his life as he
regarded it had no meaning as a separate thing it had meaning only as
part of a whole of which he was always conscious his words and actions
flowed from him as evenly inevitably and spontaneously as fragrance
exhales from a flower he could not understand the value or significance
of any word or deed taken separately 





chapter xiv

when princess mary heard from nicholas that her brother was with the
rostovs at yaroslavl she at once prepared to go there in spite of her
aunt's efforts to dissuade her and not merely to go herself but to take
her nephew with her whether it were difficult or easy possible or
impossible she did not ask and did not want to know it was her duty 
not only to herself to be near her brother who was perhaps dying but
to do everything possible to take his son to him and so she prepared
to set off that she had not heard from prince andrew himself princess
mary attributed to his being too weak to write or to his considering the
long journey too hard and too dangerous for her and his son 

in a few days princess mary was ready to start her equipages were the
huge family coach in which she had traveled to voronezh a semiopen
trap and a baggage cart with her traveled mademoiselle bourienne 
little nicholas and his tutor her old nurse three maids tikhon and a
young footman and courier her aunt had sent to accompany her 

the usual route through moscow could not be thought of and the
roundabout way princess mary was obliged to take through lipetsk 
ryazan vladimir and shuya was very long and as post horses were not
everywhere obtainable very difficult and near ryazan where the french
were said to have shown themselves was even dangerous 

during this difficult journey mademoiselle bourienne dessalles and
princess mary's servants were astonished at her energy and firmness of
spirit she went to bed later and rose earlier than any of them and
no difficulties daunted her thanks to her activity and energy which
infected her fellow travelers they approached yaroslavl by the end of
the second week 

the last days of her stay in voronezh had been the happiest of her life 
her love for rostov no longer tormented or agitated her it filled her
whole soul had become an integral part of herself and she no longer
struggled against it latterly she had become convinced that she loved
and was beloved though she never said this definitely to herself
in words she had become convinced of it at her last interview with
nicholas when he had come to tell her that her brother was with the
rostovs not by a single word had nicholas alluded to the fact that
prince andrew's relations with natasha might if he recovered be
renewed but princess mary saw by his face that he knew and thought of
this 

yet in spite of that his relation to her considerate delicate and
loving not only remained unchanged but it sometimes seemed to princess
mary that he was even glad that the family connection between them
allowed him to express his friendship more freely she knew that she
loved for the first and only time in her life and felt that she was
beloved and was happy in regard to it 

but this happiness on one side of her spiritual nature did not prevent
her feeling grief for her brother with full force on the contrary that
spiritual tranquility on the one side made it the more possible for her
to give full play to her feeling for her brother that feeling was so
strong at the moment of leaving voronezh that those who saw her off as
they looked at her careworn despairing face felt sure she would fall
ill on the journey but the very difficulties and preoccupations of the
journey which she took so actively in hand saved her for a while from
her grief and gave her strength 

as always happens when traveling princess mary thought only of the
journey itself forgetting its object but as she approached yaroslavl
the thought of what might await her there not after many days but that
very evening again presented itself to her and her agitation increased
to its utmost limit 

the courier who had been sent on in advance to find out where the
rostovs were staying in yaroslavl and in what condition prince andrew
was when he met the big coach just entering the town gates was appalled
by the terrible pallor of the princess face that looked out at him from
the window 

 i have found out everything your excellency the rostovs are staying
at the merchant bronnikov's house in the square not far from here 
right above the volga said the courier 

princess mary looked at him with frightened inquiry not understanding
why he did not reply to what she chiefly wanted to know how was her
brother mademoiselle bourienne put that question for her 

 how is the prince she asked 

 his excellency is staying in the same house with them 

 then he is alive thought princess mary and asked in a low voice 
 how is he 

 the servants say he is still the same 

what still the same might mean princess mary did not ask but with an
unnoticed glance at little seven year old nicholas who was sitting in
front of her looking with pleasure at the town she bowed her head
and did not raise it again till the heavy coach rumbling shaking and
swaying came to a stop the carriage steps clattered as they were let
down 

the carriage door was opened on the left there was water a great
river and on the right a porch there were people at the entrance 
servants and a rosy girl with a large plait of black hair smiling as
it seemed to princess mary in an unpleasantly affected way this was
sonya princess mary ran up the steps this way this way said the
girl with the same artificial smile and the princess found herself in
the hall facing an elderly woman of oriental type who came rapidly to
meet her with a look of emotion this was the countess she embraced
princess mary and kissed her 

 mon enfant she muttered je vous aime et vous connais depuis
longtemps 

 my child i love you and have known you a long time 


despite her excitement princess mary realized that this was the
countess and that it was necessary to say something to her hardly
knowing how she did it she contrived to utter a few polite phrases in
french in the same tone as those that had been addressed to her and
asked how is he 

 the doctor says that he is not in danger said the countess but as
she spoke she raised her eyes with a sigh and her gesture conveyed a
contradiction of her words 

 where is he can i see him can i asked the princess 

 one moment princess one moment my dear is this his son said the
countess turning to little nicholas who was coming in with dessalles 
 there will be room for everybody this is a big house oh what a
lovely boy 

the countess took princess mary into the drawing room where sonya was
talking to mademoiselle bourienne the countess caressed the boy and
the old count came in and welcomed the princess he had changed very
much since princess mary had last seen him then he had been a brisk 
cheerful self assured old man now he seemed a pitiful bewildered
person while talking to princess mary he continually looked round as
if asking everyone whether he was doing the right thing after the
destruction of moscow and of his property thrown out of his accustomed
groove he seemed to have lost the sense of his own significance and to
feel that there was no longer a place for him in life 

in spite of her one desire to see her brother as soon as possible and
her vexation that at the moment when all she wanted was to see him they
should be trying to entertain her and pretending to admire her nephew 
the princess noticed all that was going on around her and felt the
necessity of submitting for a time to this new order of things which
she had entered she knew it to be necessary and though it was hard for
her she was not vexed with these people 

 this is my niece said the count introducing sonya you don't know
her princess 

princess mary turned to sonya and trying to stifle the hostile
feeling that arose in her toward the girl she kissed her but she felt
oppressed by the fact that the mood of everyone around her was so far
from what was in her own heart 

 where is he she asked again addressing them all 

 he is downstairs natasha is with him answered sonya flushing we
have sent to ask i think you must be tired princess 

tears of vexation showed themselves in princess mary's eyes she turned
away and was about to ask the countess again how to go to him when
light impetuous and seemingly buoyant steps were heard at the door 
the princess looked round and saw natasha coming in almost running that
natasha whom she had liked so little at their meeting in moscow long
since 

but hardly had the princess looked at natasha's face before she realized
that here was a real comrade in her grief and consequently a friend 
she ran to meet her embraced her and began to cry on her shoulder 

as soon as natasha sitting at the head of prince andrew's bed heard
of princess mary's arrival she softly left his room and hastened to her
with those swift steps that had sounded buoyant to princess mary 

there was only one expression on her agitated face when she ran into the
drawing room that of love boundless love for him for her and for all
that was near to the man she loved and of pity suffering for others 
and passionate desire to give herself entirely to helping them it was
plain that at that moment there was in natasha's heart no thought of
herself or of her own relations with prince andrew 

princess mary with her acute sensibility understood all this at the
first glance at natasha's face and wept on her shoulder with sorrowful
pleasure 

 come come to him mary said natasha leading her into the other
room 

princess mary raised her head dried her eyes and turned to natasha 
she felt that from her she would be able to understand and learn
everything 

 how she began her question but stopped short 

she felt that it was impossible to ask or to answer in words 
natasha's face and eyes would have to tell her all more clearly and
profoundly 

natasha was gazing at her but seemed afraid and in doubt whether to say
all she knew or not she seemed to feel that before those luminous eyes
which penetrated into the very depths of her heart it was impossible
not to tell the whole truth which she saw and suddenly natasha's lips
twitched ugly wrinkles gathered round her mouth and covering her face
with her hands she burst into sobs 

princess mary understood 

but she still hoped and asked in words she herself did not trust 

 but how is his wound what is his general condition 

 you you will see was all natasha could say 

they sat a little while downstairs near his room till they had left off
crying and were able to go to him with calm faces 

 how has his whole illness gone is it long since he grew worse when
did this happen princess mary inquired 

natasha told her that at first there had been danger from his feverish
condition and the pain he suffered but at troitsa that had passed
and the doctor had only been afraid of gangrene that danger had also
passed when they reached yaroslavl the wound had begun to fester
 natasha knew all about such things as festering and the doctor had
said that the festering might take a normal course then fever set in 
but the doctor had said the fever was not very serious 

 but two days ago this suddenly happened said natasha struggling with
her sobs i don't know why but you will see what he is like 

 is he weaker thinner asked the princess 

 no it's not that but worse you will see o mary he is too good he
cannot cannot live because 





chapter xv

when natasha opened prince andrew's door with a familiar movement and
let princess mary pass into the room before her the princess felt the
sobs in her throat hard as she had tried to prepare herself and now
tried to remain tranquil she knew that she would be unable to look at
him without tears 

the princess understood what natasha had meant by the words two days
ago this suddenly happened she understood those words to mean that he
had suddenly softened and that this softening and gentleness were signs
of approaching death as she stepped to the door she already saw in
imagination andrew's face as she remembered it in childhood a gentle 
mild sympathetic face which he had rarely shown and which therefore
affected her very strongly she was sure he would speak soft tender
words to her such as her father had uttered before his death and
that she would not be able to bear it and would burst into sobs in his
presence yet sooner or later it had to be and she went in the sobs
rose higher and higher in her throat as she more and more clearly
distinguished his form and her shortsighted eyes tried to make out his
features and then she saw his face and met his gaze 

he was lying in a squirrel fur dressing gown on a divan surrounded by
pillows he was thin and pale in one thin translucently white hand
he held a handkerchief while with the other he stroked the delicate
mustache he had grown moving his fingers slowly his eyes gazed at them
as they entered 

on seeing his face and meeting his eyes princess mary's pace suddenly
slackened she felt her tears dry up and her sobs ceased she suddenly
felt guilty and grew timid on catching the expression of his face and
eyes 

 but in what am i to blame she asked herself and his cold stern look
replied because you are alive and thinking of the living while i 

in the deep gaze that seemed to look not outwards but inwards there
was an almost hostile expression as he slowly regarded his sister and
natasha 

he kissed his sister holding her hand in his as was their wont 

 how are you mary how did you manage to get here said he in a voice
as calm and aloof as his look 

had he screamed in agony that scream would not have struck such horror
into princess mary's heart as the tone of his voice 

 and have you brought little nicholas he asked in the same slow quiet
manner and with an obvious effort to remember 

 how are you now said princess mary herself surprised at what she was
saying 

 that my dear you must ask the doctor he replied and again making
an evident effort to be affectionate he said with his lips only his
words clearly did not correspond to his thoughts 

 merci chere amie d'etre venue 

 thank you for coming my dear 


princess mary pressed his hand the pressure made him wince just
perceptibly he was silent and she did not know what to say she now
understood what had happened to him two days before in his words his
tone and especially in that calm almost antagonistic look could be
felt an estrangement from everything belonging to this world terrible
in one who is alive evidently only with an effort did he understand
anything living but it was obvious that he failed to understand not
because he lacked the power to do so but because he understood something
else something the living did not and could not understand and which
wholly occupied his mind 

 there you see how strangely fate has brought us together said he 
breaking the silence and pointing to natasha she looks after me all
the time 

princess mary heard him and did not understand how he could say such a
thing he the sensitive tender prince andrew how could he say that 
before her whom he loved and who loved him had he expected to live he
could not have said those words in that offensively cold tone if he had
not known that he was dying how could he have failed to pity her and
how could he speak like that in her presence the only explanation was
that he was indifferent because something else much more important 
had been revealed to him 

the conversation was cold and disconnected and continually broke off 

 mary came by way of ryazan said natasha 

prince andrew did not notice that she called his sister mary and only
after calling her so in his presence did natasha notice it herself 

 really he asked 

 they told her that all moscow has been burned down and that 

natasha stopped it was impossible to talk it was plain that he was
making an effort to listen but could not do so 

 yes they say it's burned he said it's a great pity and he gazed
straight before him absently stroking his mustache with his fingers 

 and so you have met count nicholas mary prince andrew suddenly said 
evidently wishing to speak pleasantly to them he wrote here that he
took a great liking to you he went on simply and calmly evidently
unable to understand all the complex significance his words had for
living people if you liked him too it would be a good thing for you
to get married he added rather more quickly as if pleased at having
found words he had long been seeking 

princess mary heard his words but they had no meaning for her except as
a proof of how far away he now was from everything living 

 why talk of me she said quietly and glanced at natasha 

natasha who felt her glance did not look at her all three were again
silent 

 andrew would you like princess mary suddenly said in a trembling
voice would you like to see little nicholas he is always talking
about you 

prince andrew smiled just perceptibly and for the first time but
princess mary who knew his face so well saw with horror that he did
not smile with pleasure or affection for his son but with quiet gentle
irony because he thought she was trying what she believed to be the last
means of arousing him 

 yes i shall be very glad to see him is he quite well 

when little nicholas was brought into prince andrew's room he looked at
his father with frightened eyes but did not cry because no one else
was crying prince andrew kissed him and evidently did not know what to
say to him 

when nicholas had been led away princess mary again went up to her
brother kissed him and unable to restrain her tears any longer began
to cry 

he looked at her attentively 

 is it about nicholas he asked 

princess mary nodded her head weeping 

 mary you know the gosp but he broke off 

 what did you say 

 nothing you mustn't cry here he said looking at her with the same
cold expression 


when princess mary began to cry he understood that she was crying at
the thought that little nicholas would be left without a father with
a great effort he tried to return to life and to see things from their
point of view 

 yes to them it must seem sad he thought but how simple it is 

 the fowls of the air sow not neither do they reap yet your father
feedeth them he said to himself and wished to say to princess mary 
 but no they will take it their own way they won't understand they
can't understand that all those feelings they prize so all our feelings 
all those ideas that seem so important to us are unnecessary we cannot
understand one another and he remained silent 


prince andrew's little son was seven he could scarcely read and knew
nothing after that day he lived through many things gaining knowledge 
observation and experience but had he possessed all the faculties he
afterwards acquired he could not have had a better or more profound
understanding of the meaning of the scene he had witnessed between
his father mary and natasha than he had then he understood it
completely and leaving the room without crying went silently up
to natasha who had come out with him and looked shyly at her with his
beautiful thoughtful eyes then his uplifted rosy upper lip trembled
and leaning his head against her he began to cry 

after that he avoided dessalles and the countess who caressed him and
either sat alone or came timidly to princess mary or to natasha of whom
he seemed even fonder than of his aunt and clung to them quietly and
shyly 

when princess mary had left prince andrew she fully understood what
natasha's face had told her she did not speak any more to natasha of
hopes of saving his life she took turns with her beside his sofa and
did not cry any more but prayed continually turning in soul to that
eternal and unfathomable whose presence above the dying man was now so
evident 





chapter xvi

not only did prince andrew know he would die but he felt that he was
dying and was already half dead he was conscious of an aloofness from
everything earthly and a strange and joyous lightness of existence 
without haste or agitation he awaited what was coming that inexorable 
eternal distant and unknown the presence of which he had felt
continually all his life was now near to him and by the strange
lightness he experienced almost comprehensible and palpable 


formerly he had feared the end he had twice experienced that terribly
tormenting fear of death the end but now he no longer understood that
fear 

he had felt it for the first time when the shell spun like a top before
him and he looked at the fallow field the bushes and the sky and
knew that he was face to face with death when he came to himself after
being wounded and the flower of eternal unfettered love had instantly
unfolded itself in his soul as if freed from the bondage of life that
had restrained it he no longer feared death and ceased to think about
it 

during the hours of solitude suffering and partial delirium he
spent after he was wounded the more deeply he penetrated into the new
principle of eternal love revealed to him the more he unconsciously
detached himself from earthly life to love everything and everybody and
always to sacrifice oneself for love meant not to love anyone not
to live this earthly life and the more imbued he became with that
principle of love the more he renounced life and the more completely he
destroyed that dreadful barrier which in the absence of such love stands
between life and death when during those first days he remembered that
he would have to die he said to himself well what of it so much the
better 

but after the night in mytishchi when half delirious he had seen her
for whom he longed appear before him and having pressed her hand to his
lips had shed gentle happy tears love for a particular woman again
crept unobserved into his heart and once more bound him to life and
joyful and agitating thoughts began to occupy his mind recalling the
moment at the ambulance station when he had seen kuragin he could not
now regain the feeling he then had but was tormented by the question
whether kuragin was alive and he dared not inquire 

his illness pursued its normal physical course but what natasha
referred to when she said this suddenly happened had occurred two
days before princess mary arrived it was the last spiritual struggle
between life and death in which death gained the victory it was
the unexpected realization of the fact that he still valued life as
presented to him in the form of his love for natasha and a last though
ultimately vanquished attack of terror before the unknown 

it was evening as usual after dinner he was slightly feverish and his
thoughts were preternaturally clear sonya was sitting by the table he
began to doze suddenly a feeling of happiness seized him 

 ah she has come thought he 

and so it was in sonya's place sat natasha who had just come in
noiselessly 

since she had begun looking after him he had always experienced this
physical consciousness of her nearness she was sitting in an armchair
placed sideways screening the light of the candle from him and was
knitting a stocking she had learned to knit stockings since prince
andrew had casually mentioned that no one nursed the sick so well as old
nurses who knit stockings and that there is something soothing in
the knitting of stockings the needles clicked lightly in her slender 
rapidly moving hands and he could clearly see the thoughtful profile
of her drooping face she moved and the ball rolled off her knees she
started glanced round at him and screening the candle with her hand
stooped carefully with a supple and exact movement picked up the ball 
and regained her former position 

he looked at her without moving and saw that she wanted to draw a
deep breath after stooping but refrained from doing so and breathed
cautiously 

at the troitsa monastery they had spoken of the past and he had told
her that if he lived he would always thank god for his wound which had
brought them together again but after that they never spoke of the
future 

 can it or can it not be he now thought as he looked at her and
listened to the light click of the steel needles can fate have brought
me to her so strangely only for me to die is it possible that the
truth of life has been revealed to me only to show me that i have spent
my life in falsity i love her more than anything in the world but what
am i to do if i love her he thought and he involuntarily groaned 
from a habit acquired during his sufferings 

on hearing that sound natasha put down the stocking leaned nearer to
him and suddenly noticing his shining eyes stepped lightly up to him
and bent over him 

 you are not asleep 

 no i have been looking at you a long time i felt you come in no one
else gives me that sense of soft tranquillity that you do that light 
i want to weep for joy 

natasha drew closer to him her face shone with rapturous joy 

 natasha i love you too much more than anything in the world 

 and i she turned away for an instant why too much she asked 

 why too much well what do you what do you feel in your soul your
whole soul shall i live what do you think 

 i am sure of it sure natasha almost shouted taking hold of both his
hands with a passionate movement 

he remained silent awhile 

 how good it would be and taking her hand he kissed it 

natasha felt happy and agitated but at once remembered that this would
not do and that he had to be quiet 

 but you have not slept she said repressing her joy try to sleep 
please 

he pressed her hand and released it and she went back to the candle and
sat down again in her former position twice she turned and looked at
him and her eyes met his beaming at her she set herself a task on her
stocking and resolved not to turn round till it was finished 

soon he really shut his eyes and fell asleep he did not sleep long and
suddenly awoke with a start and in a cold perspiration 

as he fell asleep he had still been thinking of the subject that now
always occupied his mind about life and death and chiefly about death 
he felt himself nearer to it 

 love what is love he thought 

 love hinders death love is life all everything that i understand i
understand only because i love everything is everything exists only
because i love everything is united by it alone love is god and to
die means that i a particle of love shall return to the general and
eternal source these thoughts seemed to him comforting but they were
only thoughts something was lacking in them they were not clear they
were too one sidedly personal and brain spun and there was the former
agitation and obscurity he fell asleep 

he dreamed that he was lying in the room he really was in but that
he was quite well and unwounded many various indifferent and
insignificant people appeared before him he talked to them and
discussed something trivial they were preparing to go away somewhere 
prince andrew dimly realized that all this was trivial and that he had
more important cares but he continued to speak surprising them by
empty witticisms gradually unnoticed all these persons began to
disappear and a single question that of the closed door superseded
all else he rose and went to the door to bolt and lock it everything
depended on whether he was or was not in time to lock it he went and
tried to hurry but his legs refused to move and he knew he would not be
in time to lock the door though he painfully strained all his powers he
was seized by an agonizing fear and that fear was the fear of death it
stood behind the door but just when he was clumsily creeping toward
the door that dreadful something on the other side was already pressing
against it and forcing its way in something not human death was
breaking in through that door and had to be kept out he seized the
door making a final effort to hold it back to lock it was no longer
possible but his efforts were weak and clumsy and the door pushed from
behind by that terror opened and closed again 

once again it pushed from outside his last superhuman efforts were vain
and both halves of the door noiselessly opened it entered and it was
death and prince andrew died 

but at the instant he died prince andrew remembered that he was asleep 
and at the very instant he died having made an effort he awoke 

 yes it was death i died and woke up yes death is an awakening and
all at once it grew light in his soul and the veil that had till then
concealed the unknown was lifted from his spiritual vision he felt as
if powers till then confined within him had been liberated and that
strange lightness did not again leave him 

when waking in a cold perspiration he moved on the divan natasha went
up and asked him what was the matter he did not answer and looked at
her strangely not understanding 

that was what had happened to him two days before princess mary's
arrival from that day as the doctor expressed it the wasting fever
assumed a malignant character but what the doctor said did not interest
natasha she saw the terrible moral symptoms which to her were more
convincing 

from that day an awakening from life came to prince andrew together with
his awakening from sleep and compared to the duration of life it did
not seem to him slower than an awakening from sleep compared to the
duration of a dream 

there was nothing terrible or violent in this comparatively slow
awakening 

his last days and hours passed in an ordinary and simple way both
princess mary and natasha who did not leave him felt this they did
not weep or shudder and during these last days they themselves felt
that they were not attending on him he was no longer there he had left
them but on what reminded them most closely of him his body both felt
this so strongly that the outward and terrible side of death did not
affect them and they did not feel it necessary to foment their grief 
neither in his presence nor out of it did they weep nor did they ever
talk to one another about him they felt that they could not express in
words what they understood 

they both saw that he was sinking slowly and quietly deeper and deeper 
away from them and they both knew that this had to be so and that it
was right 

he confessed and received communion everyone came to take leave of
him when they brought his son to him he pressed his lips to the boy's
and turned away not because he felt it hard and sad princess mary and
natasha understood that but simply because he thought it was all that
was required of him but when they told him to bless the boy he did
what was demanded and looked round as if asking whether there was
anything else he should do 

when the last convulsions of the body which the spirit was leaving 
occurred princess mary and natasha were present 

 is it over said princess mary when his body had for a few minutes
lain motionless growing cold before them natasha went up looked at
the dead eyes and hastened to close them she closed them but did not
kiss them but clung to that which reminded her most nearly of him his
body 

 where has he gone where is he now 

when the body washed and dressed lay in the coffin on a table 
everyone came to take leave of him and they all wept 

little nicholas cried because his heart was rent by painful perplexity 
the countess and sonya cried from pity for natasha and because he was
no more the old count cried because he felt that before long he too 
must take the same terrible step 

natasha and princess mary also wept now but not because of their own
personal grief they wept with a reverent and softening emotion which
had taken possession of their souls at the consciousness of the
simple and solemn mystery of death that had been accomplished in their
presence 





book thirteen 1812





chapter i

man's mind cannot grasp the causes of events in their completeness but
the desire to find those causes is implanted in man's soul and without
considering the multiplicity and complexity of the conditions any one
of which taken separately may seem to be the cause he snatches at the
first approximation to a cause that seems to him intelligible and says 
 this is the cause in historical events where the actions of men are
the subject of observation the first and most primitive approximation
to present itself was the will of the gods and after that the will of
those who stood in the most prominent position the heroes of history 
but we need only penetrate to the essence of any historic event which
lies in the activity of the general mass of men who take part in it to
be convinced that the will of the historic hero does not control the
actions of the mass but is itself continually controlled it may seem
to be a matter of indifference whether we understand the meaning of
historical events this way or that yet there is the same difference
between a man who says that the people of the west moved on the east
because napoleon wished it and a man who says that this happened because
it had to happen as there is between those who declared that the
earth was stationary and that the planets moved round it and those who
admitted that they did not know what upheld the earth but knew there
were laws directing its movement and that of the other planets there
is and can be no cause of an historical event except the one cause of
all causes but there are laws directing events and some of these laws
are known to us while we are conscious of others we cannot comprehend 
the discovery of these laws is only possible when we have quite
abandoned the attempt to find the cause in the will of some one man 
just as the discovery of the laws of the motion of the planets was
possible only when men abandoned the conception of the fixity of the
earth 

the historians consider that next to the battle of borodino and the
occupation of moscow by the enemy and its destruction by fire the most
important episode of the war of 1812 was the movement of the russian
army from the ryazana to the kaluga road and to the tarutino camp the
so called flank march across the krasnaya pakhra river they ascribe the
glory of that achievement of genius to different men and dispute as to
whom the honor is due even foreign historians including the french 
acknowledge the genius of the russian commanders when they speak of
that flank march but it is hard to understand why military writers 
and following them others consider this flank march to be the profound
conception of some one man who saved russia and destroyed napoleon in
the first place it is hard to understand where the profundity and genius
of this movement lay for not much mental effort was needed to see that
the best position for an army when it is not being attacked is where
there are most provisions and even a dull boy of thirteen could have
guessed that the best position for an army after its retreat from moscow
in 1812 was on the kaluga road so it is impossible to understand by
what reasoning the historians reach the conclusion that this maneuver
was a profound one and it is even more difficult to understand just why
they think that this maneuver was calculated to save russia and destroy
the french for this flank march had it been preceded accompanied 
or followed by other circumstances might have proved ruinous to the
russians and salutary for the french if the position of the russian
army really began to improve from the time of that march it does not at
all follow that the march was the cause of it 

that flank march might not only have failed to give any advantage to
the russian army but might in other circumstances have led to its
destruction what would have happened had moscow not burned down if
murat had not lost sight of the russians if napoleon had not remained
inactive if the russian army at krasnaya pakhra had given battle as
bennigsen and barclay advised what would have happened had the french
attacked the russians while they were marching beyond the pakhra what
would have happened if on approaching tarutino napoleon had attacked
the russians with but a tenth of the energy he had shown when he
attacked them at smolensk what would have happened had the french moved
on petersburg in any of these eventualities the flank march that
brought salvation might have proved disastrous 

the third and most incomprehensible thing is that people studying
history deliberately avoid seeing that this flank march cannot be
attributed to any one man that no one ever foresaw it and that in
reality like the retreat from fili it did not suggest itself to anyone
in its entirety but resulted moment by moment step by step event by
event from an endless number of most diverse circumstances and was only
seen in its entirety when it had been accomplished and belonged to the
past 

at the council at fili the prevailing thought in the minds of the
russian commanders was the one naturally suggesting itself namely a
direct retreat by the nizhni road in proof of this there is the fact
that the majority of the council voted for such a retreat and above
all there is the well known conversation after the council between the
commander in chief and lanskoy who was in charge of the commissariat
department lanskoy informed the commander in chief that the army
supplies were for the most part stored along the oka in the tula and
ryazan provinces and that if they retreated on nizhni the army would
be separated from its supplies by the broad river oka which cannot be
crossed early in winter this was the first indication of the necessity
of deviating from what had previously seemed the most natural course a
direct retreat on nizhni novgorod the army turned more to the south 
along the ryazan road and nearer to its supplies subsequently the
inactivity of the french who even lost sight of the russian army 
concern for the safety of the arsenal at tula and especially the
advantages of drawing nearer to its supplies caused the army to turn
still further south to the tula road having crossed over by a forced
march to the tula road beyond the pakhra the russian commanders
intended to remain at podolsk and had no thought of the tarutino
position but innumerable circumstances and the reappearance of french
troops who had for a time lost touch with the russians and projects
of giving battle and above all the abundance of provisions in kaluga
province obliged our army to turn still more to the south and to cross
from the tula to the kaluga road and go to tarutino which was between
the roads along which those supplies lay just as it is impossible to
say when it was decided to abandon moscow so it is impossible to say
precisely when or by whom it was decided to move to tarutino only
when the army had got there as the result of innumerable and varying
forces did people begin to assure themselves that they had desired this
movement and long ago foreseen its result 





chapter ii

the famous flank movement merely consisted in this after the advance
of the french had ceased the russian army which had been continually
retreating straight back from the invaders deviated from that direct
course and not finding itself pursued was naturally drawn toward the
district where supplies were abundant 

if instead of imagining to ourselves commanders of genius leading the
russian army we picture that army without any leaders it could not
have done anything but make a return movement toward moscow describing
an arc in the direction where most provisions were to be found and where
the country was richest 

that movement from the nizhni to the ryazan tula and kaluga roads was
so natural that even the russian marauders moved in that direction and
demands were sent from petersburg for kutuzov to take his army that
way at tarutino kutuzov received what was almost a reprimand from
the emperor for having moved his army along the ryazan road and the
emperor's letter indicated to him the very position he had already
occupied near kaluga 

having rolled like a ball in the direction of the impetus given by the
whole campaign and by the battle of borodino the russian army when
the strength of that impetus was exhausted and no fresh push was
received assumed the position natural to it 

kutuzov's merit lay not in any strategic maneuver of genius as it is
called but in the fact that he alone understood the significance of
what had happened he alone then understood the meaning of the french
army's inactivity he alone continued to assert that the battle of
borodino had been a victory he alone who as commander in chief might
have been expected to be eager to attack employed his whole strength to
restrain the russian army from useless engagements 

the beast wounded at borodino was lying where the fleeing hunter had
left him but whether he was still alive whether he was strong and
merely lying low the hunter did not know suddenly the beast was heard
to moan 

the moan of that wounded beast the french army which betrayed its
calamitous condition was the sending of lauriston to kutuzov's camp with
overtures for peace 

napoleon with his usual assurance that whatever entered his head was
right wrote to kutuzov the first words that occurred to him though
they were meaningless 


monsieur le prince koutouzov i am sending one of my adjutants general
to discuss several interesting questions with you i beg your highness
to credit what he says to you especially when he expresses the
sentiment of esteem and special regard i have long entertained for your
person this letter having no other object i pray god monsieur le
prince koutouzov to keep you in his holy and gracious protection 

napoleon

moscow october 30 1812


kutuzov replied i should be cursed by posterity were i looked on as
the initiator of a settlement of any sort such is the present spirit
of my nation but he continued to exert all his powers to restrain his
troops from attacking 

during the month that the french troops were pillaging in moscow and
the russian troops were quietly encamped at tarutino a change had taken
place in the relative strength of the two armies both in spirit and in
number as a result of which the superiority had passed to the russian
side though the condition and numbers of the french army were unknown
to the russians as soon as that change occurred the need of attacking
at once showed itself by countless signs these signs were lauriston's
mission the abundance of provisions at tarutino the reports coming in
from all sides of the inactivity and disorder of the french the flow of
recruits to our regiments the fine weather the long rest the russian
soldiers had enjoyed and the impatience to do what they had been
assembled for which usually shows itself in an army that has been
resting curiosity as to what the french army so long lost sight of 
was doing the boldness with which our outposts now scouted close up to
the french stationed at tarutino the news of easy successes gained by
peasants and guerrilla troops over the french the envy aroused by this 
the desire for revenge that lay in the heart of every russian as long as
the french were in moscow and above all a dim consciousness in every
soldier's mind that the relative strength of the armies had changed and
that the advantage was now on our side there was a substantial change
in the relative strength and an advance had become inevitable and at
once as a clock begins to strike and chime as soon as the minute hand
has completed a full circle this change was shown by an increased
activity whirring and chiming in the higher spheres 





chapter iii

the russian army was commanded by kutuzov and his staff and also by the
emperor from petersburg before the news of the abandonment of moscow
had been received in petersburg a detailed plan of the whole campaign
had been drawn up and sent to kutuzov for his guidance though this plan
had been drawn up on the supposition that moscow was still in our hands 
it was approved by the staff and accepted as a basis for action 
kutuzov only replied that movements arranged from a distance were always
difficult to execute so fresh instructions were sent for the solution
of difficulties that might be encountered as well as fresh people who
were to watch kutuzov's actions and report upon them 

besides this the whole staff of the russian army was now reorganized 
the posts left vacant by bagration who had been killed and by
barclay who had gone away in dudgeon had to be filled very serious
consideration was given to the question whether it would be better to
put a in b's place and b in d's or on the contrary to put d in a's
place and so on as if anything more than a's or b's satisfaction
depended on this 

as a result of the hostility between kutuzov and bennigsen his chief of
staff the presence of confidential representatives of the emperor and
these transfers a more than usually complicated play of parties
was going on among the staff of the army a was undermining b d was
undermining c and so on in all possible combinations and permutations 
in all these plottings the subject of intrigue was generally the conduct
of the war which all these men believed they were directing but this
affair of the war went on independently of them as it had to go 
that is never in the way people devised but flowing always from the
essential attitude of the masses only in the highest spheres did
all these schemes crossings and interminglings appear to be a true
reflection of what had to happen 


prince michael ilarionovich wrote the emperor on the second of october
in a letter that reached kutuzov after the battle at tarutino since
september 2 moscow has been in the hands of the enemy your last reports
were written on the twentieth and during all this time not only has
no action been taken against the enemy or for the relief of the ancient
capital but according to your last report you have even retreated
farther serpukhov is already occupied by an enemy detachment and tula
with its famous arsenal so indispensable to the army is in danger 
from general wintzingerode's reports i see that an enemy corps of ten
thousand men is moving on the petersburg road another corps of several
thousand men is moving on dmitrov a third has advanced along the
vladimir road and a fourth rather considerable detachment is stationed
between ruza and mozhaysk napoleon himself was in moscow as late as
the twenty fifth in view of all this information when the enemy has
scattered his forces in large detachments and with napoleon and his
guards in moscow is it possible that the enemy's forces confronting you
are so considerable as not to allow of your taking the offensive on the
contrary he is probably pursuing you with detachments or at most with
an army corps much weaker than the army entrusted to you it would seem
that availing yourself of these circumstances you might advantageously
attack a weaker one and annihilate him or at least oblige him to
retreat retaining in our hands an important part of the provinces now
occupied by the enemy and thereby averting danger from tula and other
towns in the interior you will be responsible if the enemy is able to
direct a force of any size against petersburg to threaten this capital
in which it has not been possible to retain many troops for with the
army entrusted to you and acting with resolution and energy you have
ample means to avert this fresh calamity remember that you have still
to answer to our offended country for the loss of moscow you have
experienced my readiness to reward you that readiness will not weaken
in me but i and russia have a right to expect from you all the zeal 
firmness and success which your intellect military talent and the
courage of the troops you command justify us in expecting 


but by the time this letter which proved that the real relation of
the forces had already made itself felt in petersburg was dispatched 
kutuzov had found himself unable any longer to restrain the army he
commanded from attacking and a battle had taken place 

on the second of october a cossack shapovalov who was out scouting 
killed one hare and wounded another following the wounded hare he made
his way far into the forest and came upon the left flank of murat's
army encamped there without any precautions the cossack laughingly
told his comrades how he had almost fallen into the hands of the french 
a cornet hearing the story informed his commander 

the cossack was sent for and questioned the cossack officers wished
to take advantage of this chance to capture some horses but one of
the superior officers who was acquainted with the higher authorities 
reported the incident to a general on the staff the state of things on
the staff had of late been exceedingly strained ermolov had been to
see bennigsen a few days previously and had entreated him to use
his influence with the commander in chief to induce him to take the
offensive 

 if i did not know you i should think you did not want what you are
asking for i need only advise anything and his highness is sure to do
the opposite replied bennigsen 

the cossack's report confirmed by horse patrols who were sent out was
the final proof that events had matured the tightly coiled spring was
released the clock began to whirr and the chimes to play despite all
his supposed power his intellect his experience and his knowledge
of men kutuzov having taken into consideration the cossack's report a
note from bennigsen who sent personal reports to the emperor the wishes
he supposed the emperor to hold and the fact that all the generals
expressed the same wish could no longer check the inevitable movement 
and gave the order to do what he regarded as useless and harmful gave
his approval that is to the accomplished fact 





chapter iv

bennigsen's note and the cossack's information that the left flank
of the french was unguarded were merely final indications that it was
necessary to order an attack and it was fixed for the fifth of october 

on the morning of the fourth of october kutuzov signed the dispositions 
toll read them to ermolov asking him to attend to the further
arrangements 

 all right all right i haven't time just now replied ermolov and
left the hut 

the dispositions drawn up by toll were very good as in the austerlitz
dispositions it was written though not in german this time 

 the first column will march here and here the second column will
march there and there and so on and on paper all these columns
arrived at their places at the appointed time and destroyed the enemy 
everything had been admirably thought out as is usual in dispositions 
and as is always the case not a single column reached its place at the
appointed time 

when the necessary number of copies of the dispositions had been
prepared an officer was summoned and sent to deliver them to ermolov
to deal with a young officer of the horse guards kutuzov's orderly 
pleased at the importance of the mission entrusted to him went to
ermolov's quarters 

 gone away said ermolov's orderly 

the officer of the horse guards went to a general with whom ermolov was
often to be found 

 no and the general's out too 

the officer mounting his horse rode off to someone else 

 no he's gone out 

 if only they don't make me responsible for this delay what a nuisance
it is thought the officer and he rode round the whole camp one man
said he had seen ermolov ride past with some other generals others said
he must have returned home the officer searched till six o'clock in the
evening without even stopping to eat ermolov was nowhere to be found
and no one knew where he was the officer snatched a little food at
a comrade's and rode again to the vanguard to find miloradovich 
miloradovich too was away but here he was told that he had gone to a
ball at general kikin's and that ermolov was probably there too 

 but where is it 

 why there over at echkino said a cossack officer pointing to a
country house in the far distance 

 what outside our line 

 they've put two regiments as outposts and they're having such a spree
there it's awful two bands and three sets of singers 

the officer rode out beyond our lines to echkino while still at a
distance he heard as he rode the merry sounds of a soldier's dance song
proceeding from the house 

 in the meadows in the meadows he heard accompanied by whistling
and the sound of a torban drowned every now and then by shouts these
sounds made his spirits rise but at the same time he was afraid that
he would be blamed for not having executed sooner the important order
entrusted to him it was already past eight o'clock he dismounted
and went up into the porch of a large country house which had remained
intact between the russian and french forces in the refreshment room
and the hall footmen were bustling about with wine and viands groups
of singers stood outside the windows the officer was admitted and
immediately saw all the chief generals of the army together and among
them ermolov's big imposing figure they all had their coats unbuttoned
and were standing in a semicircle with flushed and animated faces 
laughing loudly in the middle of the room a short handsome general with
a red face was dancing the trepak with much spirit and agility 

 ha ha ha bravo nicholas ivanych ha ha ha 

the officer felt that by arriving with important orders at such a moment
he was doubly to blame and he would have preferred to wait but one of
the generals espied him and hearing what he had come about informed
ermolov 

ermolov came forward with a frown on his face and hearing what the
officer had to say took the papers from him without a word 


 you think he went off just by chance said a comrade who was on the
staff that evening to the officer of the horse guards referring to
ermolov it was a trick it was done on purpose to get konovnitsyn into
trouble you'll see what a mess there'll be tomorrow 





chapter v

next day the decrepit kutuzov having given orders to be called early 
said his prayers dressed and with an unpleasant consciousness of
having to direct a battle he did not approve of got into his caleche
and drove from letashovka a village three and a half miles from
tarutino to the place where the attacking columns were to meet he sat
in the caleche dozing and waking up by turns and listening for any
sound of firing on the right as an indication that the action had begun 
but all was still quiet a damp dull autumn morning was just dawning on
approaching tarutino kutuzov noticed cavalrymen leading their horses to
water across the road along which he was driving kutuzov looked at
them searchingly stopped his carriage and inquired what regiment they
belonged to they belonged to a column that should have been far in
front and in ambush long before then it may be a mistake thought
the old commander in chief but a little further on he saw infantry
regiments with their arms piled and the soldiers only partly dressed 
eating their rye porridge and carrying fuel he sent for an officer the
officer reported that no order to advance had been received 

 how not rec kutuzov began but checked himself immediately and
sent for a senior officer getting out of his caleche he waited with
drooping head and breathing heavily pacing silently up and down when
eykhen the officer of the general staff whom he had summoned appeared 
kutuzov went purple in the face not because that officer was to blame
for the mistake but because he was an object of sufficient importance
for him to vent his wrath on trembling and panting the old man fell
into that state of fury in which he sometimes used to roll on the
ground and he fell upon eykhen threatening him with his hands 
shouting and loading him with gross abuse another man captain brozin 
who happened to turn up and who was not at all to blame suffered the
same fate 

 what sort of another blackguard are you i'll have you shot 
scoundrels yelled kutuzov in a hoarse voice waving his arms and
reeling 

he was suffering physically he the commander in chief a serene
highness who everybody said possessed powers such as no man had ever had
in russia to be placed in this position made the laughingstock of the
whole army i needn't have been in such a hurry to pray about today 
or have kept awake thinking everything over all night thought he to
himself when i was a chit of an officer no one would have dared to
mock me so and now he was in a state of physical suffering as if
from corporal punishment and could not avoid expressing it by cries of
anger and distress but his strength soon began to fail him and looking
about him conscious of having said much that was amiss he again got
into his caleche and drove back in silence 

his wrath once expended did not return and blinking feebly he
listened to excuses and self justifications ermolov did not come to see
him till the next day and to the insistence of bennigsen konovnitsyn 
and toll that the movement that had miscarried should be executed next
day and once more kutuzov had to consent 





chapter vi

next day the troops assembled in their appointed places in the evening
and advanced during the night it was an autumn night with dark purple
clouds but no rain the ground was damp but not muddy and the troops
advanced noiselessly only occasionally a jingling of the artillery
could be faintly heard the men were forbidden to talk out loud to
smoke their pipes or to strike a light and they tried to prevent their
horses neighing the secrecy of the undertaking heightened its charm
and they marched gaily some columns supposing they had reached their
destination halted piled arms and settled down on the cold ground 
but the majority marched all night and arrived at places where they
evidently should not have been 

only count orlov denisov with his cossacks the least important
detachment of all got to his appointed place at the right time this
detachment halted at the outskirts of a forest on the path leading from
the village of stromilova to dmitrovsk 

toward dawn count orlov denisov who had dozed off was awakened by a
deserter from the french army being brought to him this was a polish
sergeant of poniatowski's corps who explained in polish that he had
come over because he had been slighted in the service that he ought
long ago to have been made an officer that he was braver than any of
them and so he had left them and wished to pay them out he said that
murat was spending the night less than a mile from where they were 
and that if they would let him have a convoy of a hundred men he would
capture him alive count orlov denisov consulted his fellow officers 

the offer was too tempting to be refused everyone volunteered to go and
everybody advised making the attempt after much disputing and arguing 
major general grekov with two cossack regiments decided to go with the
polish sergeant 

 now remember said count orlov denisov to the sergeant at parting 
 if you have been lying i'll have you hanged like a dog but if it's
true you shall have a hundred gold pieces 

without replying the sergeant with a resolute air mounted and rode
away with grekov whose men had quickly assembled they disappeared into
the forest and count orlov denisov having seen grekov off returned 
shivering from the freshness of the early dawn and excited by what he
had undertaken on his own responsibility and began looking at the enemy
camp now just visible in the deceptive light of dawn and the dying
campfires our columns ought to have begun to appear on an open
declivity to his right he looked in that direction but though the
columns would have been visible quite far off they were not to be seen 
it seemed to the count that things were beginning to stir in the french
camp and his keen sighted adjutant confirmed this 

 oh it is really too late said count orlov looking at the camp 

as often happens when someone we have trusted is no longer before
our eyes it suddenly seemed quite clear and obvious to him that the
sergeant was an impostor that he had lied and that the whole russian
attack would be ruined by the absence of those two regiments which
he would lead away heaven only knew where how could one capture a
commander in chief from among such a mass of troops 

 i am sure that rascal was lying said the count 

 they can still be called back said one of his suite who like count
orlov felt distrustful of the adventure when he looked at the enemy's
camp 

 eh really what do you think should we let them go on or not 

 will you have them fetched back 

 fetch them back fetch them back said count orlov with sudden
determination looking at his watch it will be too late it is quite
light 

and the adjutant galloped through the forest after grekov when grekov
returned count orlov denisov excited both by the abandoned attempt and
by vainly awaiting the infantry columns that still did not appear as
well as by the proximity of the enemy resolved to advance all his men
felt the same excitement 

 mount he commanded in a whisper the men took their places and
crossed themselves forward with god's aid 

 hurrah ah ah reverberated in the forest and the cossack companies 
trailing their lances and advancing one after another as if poured out
of a sack dashed gaily across the brook toward the camp 

one desperate frightened yell from the first french soldier who saw the
cossacks and all who were in the camp undressed and only just waking
up ran off in all directions abandoning cannons muskets and horses 

had the cossacks pursued the french without heeding what was behind and
around them they would have captured murat and everything there 
that was what the officers desired but it was impossible to make the
cossacks budge when once they had got booty and prisoners none of them
listened to orders fifteen hundred prisoners and thirty eight guns were
taken on the spot besides standards and what seemed most important to
the cossacks horses saddles horsecloths and the like all this had
to be dealt with the prisoners and guns secured the booty divided not
without some shouting and even a little fighting among themselves and it
was on this that the cossacks all busied themselves 

the french not being farther pursued began to recover themselves they
formed into detachments and began firing orlov denisov still waiting
for the other columns to arrive advanced no further 

meantime according to the dispositions which said that the first
column will march and so on the infantry of the belated columns 
commanded by bennigsen and directed by toll had started in due order
and as always happens had got somewhere but not to their appointed
places as always happens the men starting cheerfully began to halt 
murmurs were heard there was a sense of confusion and finally a
backward movement adjutants and generals galloped about shouted grew
angry quarreled said they had come quite wrong and were late gave
vent to a little abuse and at last gave it all up and went forward 
simply to get somewhere we shall get somewhere or other and they did
indeed get somewhere though not to their right places a few eventually
even got to their right place but too late to be of any use and only
in time to be fired at toll who in this battle played the part of
weyrother at austerlitz galloped assiduously from place to place 
finding everything upside down everywhere thus he stumbled on bagovut's
corps in a wood when it was already broad daylight though the corps
should long before have joined orlov denisov excited and vexed by the
failure and supposing that someone must be responsible for it toll
galloped up to the commander of the corps and began upbraiding him
severely saying that he ought to be shot general bagovut a fighting
old soldier of placid temperament being also upset by all the delay 
confusion and cross purposes fell into a rage to everybody's surprise
and quite contrary to his usual character and said disagreeable things
to toll 

 i prefer not to take lessons from anyone but i can die with my men as
well as anybody he said and advanced with a single division 

coming out onto a field under the enemy's fire this brave general went
straight ahead leading his men under fire without considering in his
agitation whether going into action now with a single division would
be of any use or no danger cannon balls and bullets were just what he
needed in his angry mood one of the first bullets killed him and other
bullets killed many of his men and his division remained under fire for
some time quite uselessly 





chapter vii

meanwhile another column was to have attacked the french from the front 
but kutuzov accompanied that column he well knew that nothing but
confusion would come of this battle undertaken against his will and as
far as was in his power held the troops back he did not advance 

he rode silently on his small gray horse indolently answering
suggestions that they should attack 

 the word attack is always on your tongue but you don't see that we are
unable to execute complicated maneuvers said he to miloradovich who
asked permission to advance 

 we couldn't take murat prisoner this morning or get to the place in
time and nothing can be done now he replied to someone else 

when kutuzov was informed that at the french rear where according to the
reports of the cossacks there had previously been nobody there were now
two battalions of poles he gave a sidelong glance at ermolov who was
behind him and to whom he had not spoken since the previous day 

 you see they are asking to attack and making plans of all kinds 
but as soon as one gets to business nothing is ready and the enemy 
forewarned takes measures accordingly 

ermolov screwed up his eyes and smiled faintly on hearing these words 
he understood that for him the storm had blown over and that kutuzov
would content himself with that hint 

 he's having a little fun at my expense said ermolov softly nudging
with his knee raevski who was at his side 

soon after this ermolov moved up to kutuzov and respectfully remarked 

 it is not too late yet your highness the enemy has not gone away if
you were to order an attack if not the guards will not so much as see
a little smoke 

kutuzov did not reply but when they reported to him that murat's troops
were in retreat he ordered an advance though at every hundred paces he
halted for three quarters of an hour 

the whole battle consisted in what orlov denisov's cossacks had done 
the rest of the army merely lost some hundreds of men uselessly 

in consequence of this battle kutuzov received a diamond decoration 
and bennigsen some diamonds and a hundred thousand rubles others also
received pleasant recognitions corresponding to their various grades 
and following the battle fresh changes were made in the staff 

 that's how everything is done with us all topsy turvy said the
russian officers and generals after the tarutino battle letting it be
understood that some fool there is doing things all wrong but that
we ourselves should not have done so just as people speak today but
people who talk like that either do not know what they are talking about
or deliberately deceive themselves no battle tarutino borodino or
austerlitz takes place as those who planned it anticipated that is an
essential condition 

a countless number of free forces for nowhere is man freer than during
a battle where it is a question of life and death influence the course
taken by the fight and that course never can be known in advance and
never coincides with the direction of any one force 

if many simultaneously and variously directed forces act on a given
body the direction of its motion cannot coincide with any one of those
forces but will always be a mean what in mechanics is represented by
the diagonal of a parallelogram of forces 

if in the descriptions given by historians especially french ones we
find their wars and battles carried out in accordance with previously
formed plans the only conclusion to be drawn is that those descriptions
are false 

the battle of tarutino obviously did not attain the aim toll had in
view to lead the troops into action in the order prescribed by the
dispositions nor that which count orlov denisov may have had in view to
take murat prisoner nor the result of immediately destroying the whole
corps which bennigsen and others may have had in view nor the aim of
the officer who wished to go into action to distinguish himself nor
that of the cossack who wanted more booty than he got and so on but
if the aim of the battle was what actually resulted and what all the
russians of that day desired to drive the french out of russia and
destroy their army it is quite clear that the battle of tarutino just
because of its incongruities was exactly what was wanted at that stage
of the campaign it would be difficult and even impossible to imagine
any result more opportune than the actual outcome of this battle with
a minimum of effort and insignificant losses despite the greatest
confusion the most important results of the whole campaign were
attained the transition from retreat to advance an exposure of the
weakness of the french and the administration of that shock which
napoleon's army had only awaited to begin its flight 





chapter viii

napoleon enters moscow after the brilliant victory de la moskowa there
can be no doubt about the victory for the battlefield remains in the
hands of the french the russians retreat and abandon their ancient
capital moscow abounding in provisions arms munitions and
incalculable wealth is in napoleon's hands the russian army only half
the strength of the french does not make a single attempt to attack for
a whole month napoleon's position is most brilliant he can either fall
on the russian army with double its strength and destroy it negotiate
an advantageous peace or in case of a refusal make a menacing move on
petersburg or even in the case of a reverse return to smolensk or
vilna or remain in moscow in short no special genius would seem to be
required to retain the brilliant position the french held at that time 
for that only very simple and easy steps were necessary not to allow
the troops to loot to prepare winter clothing of which there was
sufficient in moscow for the whole army and methodically to collect the
provisions of which according to the french historians there were
enough in moscow to supply the whole army for six months yet napoleon 
that greatest of all geniuses who the historians declare had control of
the army took none of these steps 

he not merely did nothing of the kind but on the contrary he used his
power to select the most foolish and ruinous of all the courses open
to him of all that napoleon might have done wintering in moscow 
advancing on petersburg or on nizhni novgorod or retiring by a more
northerly or more southerly route say by the road kutuzov afterwards
took nothing more stupid or disastrous can be imagined than what he
actually did he remained in moscow till october letting the troops
plunder the city then hesitating whether to leave a garrison behind
him he quitted moscow approached kutuzov without joining battle 
turned to the right and reached malo yaroslavets again without
attempting to break through and take the road kutuzov took but retiring
instead to mozhaysk along the devastated smolensk road nothing more
stupid than that could have been devised or more disastrous for the
army as the sequel showed had napoleon's aim been to destroy his army 
the most skillful strategist could hardly have devised any series
of actions that would so completely have accomplished that purpose 
independently of anything the russian army might do 

napoleon the man of genius did this but to say that he destroyed his
army because he wished to or because he was very stupid would be as
unjust as to say that he had brought his troops to moscow because he
wished to and because he was very clever and a genius 

in both cases his personal activity having no more force than the
personal activity of any soldier merely coincided with the laws that
guided the event 

the historians quite falsely represent napoleon's faculties as having
weakened in moscow and do so only because the results did not justify
his actions he employed all his ability and strength to do the best he
could for himself and his army as he had done previously and as he did
subsequently in 1813 his activity at that time was no less astounding
than it was in egypt in italy in austria and in prussia we do not
know for certain in how far his genius was genuine in egypt where forty
centuries looked down upon his grandeur for his great exploits there are
all told us by frenchmen we cannot accurately estimate his genius in
austria or prussia for we have to draw our information from french
or german sources and the incomprehensible surrender of whole corps
without fighting and of fortresses without a siege must incline germans
to recognize his genius as the only explanation of the war carried on
in germany but we thank god have no need to recognize his genius
in order to hide our shame we have paid for the right to look at the
matter plainly and simply and we will not abandon that right 

his activity in moscow was as amazing and as full of genius as
elsewhere order after order and plan after plan were issued by him
from the time he entered moscow till the time he left it the absence
of citizens and of a deputation and even the burning of moscow did not
disconcert him he did not lose sight either of the welfare of his
army or of the doings of the enemy or of the welfare of the people
of russia or of the direction of affairs in paris or of diplomatic
considerations concerning the terms of the anticipated peace 





chapter ix

with regard to military matters napoleon immediately on his entry into
moscow gave general sabastiani strict orders to observe the movements
of the russian army sent army corps out along the different roads and
charged murat to find kutuzov then he gave careful directions about the
fortification of the kremlin and drew up a brilliant plan for a future
campaign over the whole map of russia 

with regard to diplomatic questions napoleon summoned captain yakovlev 
who had been robbed and was in rags and did not know how to get out of
moscow minutely explained to him his whole policy and his magnanimity 
and having written a letter to the emperor alexander in which he
considered it his duty to inform his friend and brother that rostopchin
had managed affairs badly in moscow he dispatched yakovlev to
petersburg 

having similarly explained his views and his magnanimity to tutolmin he
dispatched that old man also to petersburg to negotiate 

with regard to legal matters immediately after the fires he gave orders
to find and execute the incendiaries and the scoundrel rostopchin was
punished by an order to burn down his houses 

with regard to administrative matters moscow was granted a
constitution a municipality was established and the following
announcement issued 


inhabitants of moscow 

your misfortunes are cruel but his majesty the emperor and king
desires to arrest their course terrible examples have taught you how he
punishes disobedience and crime strict measures have been taken to
put an end to disorder and to re establish public security a
paternal administration chosen from among yourselves will form your
municipality or city government it will take care of you of your
needs and of your welfare its members will be distinguished by a red
ribbon worn across the shoulder and the mayor of the city will wear
a white belt as well but when not on duty they will only wear a red
ribbon round the left arm 

the city police is established on its former footing and better order
already prevails in consequence of its activity the government has
appointed two commissaries general or chiefs of police and twenty
commissaries or captains of wards have been appointed to the different
wards of the city you will recognize them by the white ribbon they will
wear on the left arm several churches of different denominations are
open and divine service is performed in them unhindered your fellow
citizens are returning every day to their homes and orders have been
given that they should find in them the help and protection due to
their misfortunes these are the measures the government has adopted to
re establish order and relieve your condition but to achieve this
aim it is necessary that you should add your efforts and should if
possible forget the misfortunes you have suffered should entertain
the hope of a less cruel fate should be certain that inevitable and
ignominious death awaits those who make any attempt on your persons or
on what remains of your property and finally that you should not doubt
that these will be safeguarded since such is the will of the greatest
and most just of monarchs soldiers and citizens of whatever nation you
may be re establish public confidence the source of the welfare of
a state live like brothers render mutual aid and protection one to
another unite to defeat the intentions of the evil minded obey the
military and civil authorities and your tears will soon cease to flow 


with regard to supplies for the army napoleon decreed that all the
troops in turn should enter moscow a la maraude to obtain provisions
for themselves so that the army might have its future provided for 

 as looters 

with regard to religion napoleon ordered the priests to be brought back
and services to be again performed in the churches 

with regard to commerce and to provisioning the army the following was
placarded everywhere 

proclamation

you peaceful inhabitants of moscow artisans and workmen whom
misfortune has driven from the city and you scattered tillers of
the soil still kept out in the fields by groundless fear listen 
tranquillity is returning to this capital and order is being restored in
it your fellow countrymen are emerging boldly from their hiding places
on finding that they are respected any violence to them or to their
property is promptly punished his majesty the emperor and king protects
them and considers no one among you his enemy except those who disobey
his orders he desires to end your misfortunes and restore you to your
homes and families respond therefore to his benevolent intentions
and come to us without fear inhabitants return with confidence to your
abodes you will soon find means of satisfying your needs craftsmen
and industrious artisans return to your work your houses your shops 
where the protection of guards awaits you you shall receive proper pay
for your work and lastly you too peasants come from the forests where
you are hiding in terror return to your huts without fear in full
assurance that you will find protection markets are established in the
city where peasants can bring their surplus supplies and the products of
the soil the government has taken the following steps to ensure freedom
of sale for them 1 from today peasants husbandmen and those
living in the neighborhood of moscow may without any danger bring their
supplies of all kinds to two appointed markets of which one is on
the mokhovaya street and the other at the provision market 2 such
supplies will be bought from them at such prices as seller and buyer may
agree on and if a seller is unable to obtain a fair price he will be
free to take his goods back to his village and no one may hinder him
under any pretense 3 sunday and wednesday of each week are appointed
as the chief market days and to that end a sufficient number of troops
will be stationed along the highroads on tuesdays and saturdays at such
distances from the town as to protect the carts 4 similar measures
will be taken that peasants with their carts and horses may meet with no
hindrance on their return journey 5 steps will immediately be taken
to re establish ordinary trading 

inhabitants of the city and villages and you workingmen and artisans 
to whatever nation you belong you are called on to carry out the
paternal intentions of his majesty the emperor and king and to
co operate with him for the public welfare lay your respect and
confidence at his feet and do not delay to unite with us 


with the object of raising the spirits of the troops and of the people 
reviews were constantly held and rewards distributed the emperor
rode through the streets to comfort the inhabitants and despite his
preoccupation with state affairs himself visited the theaters that were
established by his order 

in regard to philanthropy the greatest virtue of crowned heads 
napoleon also did all in his power he caused the words maison de ma
mere to be inscribed on the charitable institutions thereby combining
tender filial affection with the majestic benevolence of a monarch he
visited the foundling hospital and allowing the orphans saved by him
to kiss his white hands graciously conversed with tutolmin then as
thiers eloquently recounts he ordered his soldiers to be paid in forged
russian money which he had prepared raising the use of these means
by an act worthy of himself and of the french army he let relief
be distributed to those who had been burned out but as food was too
precious to be given to foreigners who were for the most part enemies 
napoleon preferred to supply them with money with which to purchase food
from outside and had paper rubles distributed to them 

with reference to army discipline orders were continually being issued
to inflict severe punishment for the nonperformance of military duties
and to suppress robbery 





chapter x

but strange to say all these measures efforts and plans which were
not at all worse than others issued in similar circumstances did not
affect the essence of the matter but like the hands of a clock detached
from the mechanism swung about in an arbitrary and aimless way without
engaging the cogwheels 

with reference to the military side the plan of campaign that work of
genius of which thiers remarks that his genius never devised anything
more profound more skillful or more admirable and enters into a
polemic with m fain to prove that this work of genius must be referred
not to the fourth but to the fifteenth of october that plan never was or
could be executed for it was quite out of touch with the facts of the
case the fortifying of the kremlin for which la mosquee as napoleon
termed the church of basil the beatified was to have been razed to
the ground proved quite useless the mining of the kremlin only helped
toward fulfilling napoleon's wish that it should be blown up when he
left moscow as a child wants the floor on which he has hurt himself to
be beaten the pursuit of the russian army about which napoleon was so
concerned produced an unheard of result the french generals lost touch
with the russian army of sixty thousand men and according to thiers it
was only eventually found like a lost pin by the skill and apparently
the genius of murat 

with reference to diplomacy all napoleon's arguments as to his
magnanimity and justice both to tutolmin and to yakovlev whose chief
concern was to obtain a greatcoat and a conveyance proved useless 
alexander did not receive these envoys and did not reply to their
embassage 

with regard to legal matters after the execution of the supposed
incendiaries the rest of moscow burned down 

with regard to administrative matters the establishment of a
municipality did not stop the robberies and was only of use to certain
people who formed part of that municipality and under pretext of
preserving order looted moscow or saved their own property from being
looted 

with regard to religion as to which in egypt matters had so easily been
settled by napoleon's visit to a mosque no results were achieved 
two or three priests who were found in moscow did try to carry out
napoleon's wish but one of them was slapped in the face by a french
soldier while conducting service and a french official reported of
another that the priest whom i found and invited to say mass cleaned
and locked up the church that night the doors were again broken
open the padlocks smashed the books mutilated and other disorders
perpetrated 

with reference to commerce the proclamation to industrious workmen and
to peasants evoked no response there were no industrious workmen and
the peasants caught the commissaries who ventured too far out of town
with the proclamation and killed them 

as to the theaters for the entertainment of the people and the troops 
these did not meet with success either the theaters set up in the
kremlin and in posnyakov's house were closed again at once because the
actors and actresses were robbed 

even philanthropy did not have the desired effect the genuine as
well as the false paper money which flooded moscow lost its value the
french collecting booty cared only for gold not only was the
paper money valueless which napoleon so graciously distributed to the
unfortunate but even silver lost its value in relation to gold 

but the most amazing example of the ineffectiveness of the orders given
by the authorities at that time was napoleon's attempt to stop the
looting and re establish discipline 

this is what the army authorities were reporting 

 looting continues in the city despite the decrees against it order
is not yet restored and not a single merchant is carrying on trade in a
lawful manner the sutlers alone venture to trade and they sell stolen
goods 

 the neighborhood of my ward continues to be pillaged by soldiers of
the 3rd corps who not satisfied with taking from the unfortunate
inhabitants hiding in the cellars the little they have left even have
the ferocity to wound them with their sabers as i have repeatedly
witnessed 

 nothing new except that the soldiers are robbing and pillaging october
9 

 robbery and pillaging continue there is a band of thieves in our
district who ought to be arrested by a strong force october 11 

 the emperor is extremely displeased that despite the strict orders to
stop pillage parties of marauding guards are continually seen returning
to the kremlin among the old guard disorder and pillage were renewed
more violently than ever yesterday evening last night and today the
emperor sees with regret that the picked soldiers appointed to guard his
person who should set an example of discipline carry disobedience to
such a point that they break into the cellars and stores containing army
supplies others have disgraced themselves to the extent of disobeying
sentinels and officers and have abused and beaten them 

 the grand marshal of the palace wrote the governor complains
bitterly that in spite of repeated orders the soldiers continue to
commit nuisances in all the courtyards and even under the very windows
of the emperor 

that army like a herd of cattle run wild and trampling underfoot the
provender which might have saved it from starvation disintegrated and
perished with each additional day it remained in moscow but it did not
go away 

it began to run away only when suddenly seized by a panic caused by the
capture of transport trains on the smolensk road and by the battle of
tarutino the news of that battle of tarutino unexpectedly received
by napoleon at a review evoked in him a desire to punish the russians
 thiers says and he issued the order for departure which the whole
army was demanding 

fleeing from moscow the soldiers took with them everything they had
stolen napoleon too carried away his own personal tresor but on
seeing the baggage trains that impeded the army he was thiers says 
horror struck and yet with his experience of war he did not order all
the superfluous vehicles to be burned as he had done with those of a
certain marshal when approaching moscow he gazed at the caleches and
carriages in which soldiers were riding and remarked that it was a very
good thing as those vehicles could be used to carry provisions the
sick and the wounded 

the plight of the whole army resembled that of a wounded animal which
feels it is perishing and does not know what it is doing to study the
skillful tactics and aims of napoleon and his army from the time it
entered moscow till it was destroyed is like studying the dying leaps
and shudders of a mortally wounded animal very often a wounded animal 
hearing a rustle rushes straight at the hunter's gun runs forward and
back again and hastens its own end napoleon under pressure from his
whole army did the same thing the rustle of the battle of tarutino
frightened the beast and it rushed forward onto the hunter's gun 
reached him turned back and finally like any wild beast ran back along
the most disadvantageous and dangerous path where the old scent was
familiar 

during the whole of that period napoleon who seems to us to have been
the leader of all these movements as the figurehead of a ship may seem
to a savage to guide the vessel acted like a child who holding a couple
of strings inside a carriage thinks he is driving it 





chapter xi

early in the morning of the sixth of october pierre went out of the
shed and on returning stopped by the door to play with a little
blue gray dog with a long body and short bandy legs that jumped about
him this little dog lived in their shed sleeping beside karataev at
night it sometimes made excursions into the town but always returned
again probably it had never had an owner and it still belonged to
nobody and had no name the french called it azor the soldier who
told stories called it femgalka karataev and others called it gray or
sometimes flabby its lack of a master a name or even of a breed or
any definite color did not seem to trouble the blue gray dog in the
least its furry tail stood up firm and round as a plume its bandy legs
served it so well that it would often gracefully lift a hind leg and run
very easily and quickly on three legs as if disdaining to use all
four everything pleased it now it would roll on its back yelping with
delight now bask in the sun with a thoughtful air of importance and
now frolic about playing with a chip of wood or a straw 

pierre's attire by now consisted of a dirty torn shirt the only
remnant of his former clothing a pair of soldier's trousers which by
karataev's advice he tied with string round the ankles for warmth and
a peasant coat and cap physically he had changed much during this
time he no longer seemed stout though he still had the appearance of
solidity and strength hereditary in his family a beard and mustache
covered the lower part of his face and a tangle of hair infested
with lice curled round his head like a cap the look of his eyes
was resolute calm and animatedly alert as never before the former
slackness which had shown itself even in his eyes was now replaced by an
energetic readiness for action and resistance his feet were bare 

pierre first looked down the field across which vehicles and horsemen
were passing that morning then into the distance across the river then
at the dog who was pretending to be in earnest about biting him 
and then at his bare feet which he placed with pleasure in various
positions moving his dirty thick big toes every time he looked at his
bare feet a smile of animated self satisfaction flitted across his face 
the sight of them reminded him of all he had experienced and learned
during these weeks and this recollection was pleasant to him 

for some days the weather had been calm and clear with slight frosts in
the mornings what is called an old wives summer 

in the sunshine the air was warm and that warmth was particularly
pleasant with the invigorating freshness of the morning frost still in
the air 

on everything far and near lay the magic crystal glitter seen only at
that time of autumn the sparrow hills were visible in the distance 
with the village the church and the large white house the bare trees 
the sand the bricks and roofs of the houses the green church spire 
and the corners of the white house in the distance all stood out in the
transparent air in most delicate outline and with unnatural clearness 
near by could be seen the familiar ruins of a half burned mansion
occupied by the french with lilac bushes still showing dark green
beside the fence and even that ruined and befouled house which in dull
weather was repulsively ugly seemed quietly beautiful now in the clear 
motionless brilliance 

a french corporal with coat unbuttoned in a homely way a skullcap on
his head and a short pipe in his mouth came from behind a corner of
the shed and approached pierre with a friendly wink 

 what sunshine monsieur kiril their name for pierre eh just like
spring 

and the corporal leaned against the door and offered pierre his pipe 
though whenever he offered it pierre always declined it 

 to be on the march in such weather he began 

pierre inquired what was being said about leaving and the corporal told
him that nearly all the troops were starting and there ought to be an
order about the prisoners that day sokolov one of the soldiers in the
shed with pierre was dying and pierre told the corporal that something
should be done about him the corporal replied that pierre need not
worry about that as they had an ambulance and a permanent hospital and
arrangements would be made for the sick and that in general everything
that could happen had been foreseen by the authorities 

 besides monsieur kiril you have only to say a word to the captain 
you know he is a man who never forgets anything speak to the captain
when he makes his round he will do anything for you 

 the captain of whom the corporal spoke often had long chats with pierre
and showed him all sorts of favors 

 you see st thomas he said to me the other day monsieur kiril is
a man of education who speaks french he is a russian seigneur who has
had misfortunes but he is a man he knows what's what if he wants
anything and asks me he won't get a refusal when one has studied you
see one likes education and well bred people it is for your sake i
mention it monsieur kiril the other day if it had not been for you
that affair would have ended ill 

and after chatting a while longer the corporal went away the affair
he had alluded to had happened a few days before a fight between the
prisoners and the french soldiers in which pierre had succeeded in
pacifying his comrades some of the prisoners who had heard pierre
talking to the corporal immediately asked what the frenchman had said 
while pierre was repeating what he had been told about the army leaving
moscow a thin sallow tattered french soldier came up to the door of
the shed rapidly and timidly raising his fingers to his forehead by way
of greeting he asked pierre whether the soldier platoche to whom he had
given a shirt to sew was in that shed 

a week before the french had had boot leather and linen issued to them 
which they had given out to the prisoners to make up into boots and
shirts for them 

 ready ready dear fellow said karataev coming out with a neatly
folded shirt 

karataev on account of the warm weather and for convenience at work 
was wearing only trousers and a tattered shirt as black as soot his
hair was bound round workman fashion with a wisp of lime tree bast 
and his round face seemed rounder and pleasanter than ever 

 a promise is own brother to performance i said friday and here it is 
ready said platon smiling and unfolding the shirt he had sewn 

the frenchman glanced around uneasily and then as if overcoming his
hesitation rapidly threw off his uniform and put on the shirt he had
a long greasy flowered silk waistcoat next to his sallow thin bare
body but no shirt he was evidently afraid the prisoners looking on
would laugh at him and thrust his head into the shirt hurriedly none
of the prisoners said a word 

 see it fits well platon kept repeating pulling the shirt straight 

the frenchman having pushed his head and hands through without raising
his eyes looked down at the shirt and examined the seams 

 you see dear man this is not a sewing shop and i had no proper
tools and as they say one needs a tool even to kill a louse said
platon with one of his round smiles obviously pleased with his work 

 it's good quite good thank you said the frenchman in french but
there must be some linen left over 

 it will fit better still when it sets to your body said karataev 
still admiring his handiwork you'll be nice and comfortable 

 thanks thanks old fellow but the bits left over said the
frenchman again and smiled he took out an assignation ruble note and
gave it to karataev but give me the pieces that are over 

pierre saw that platon did not want to understand what the frenchman
was saying and he looked on without interfering karataev thanked the
frenchman for the money and went on admiring his own work the frenchman
insisted on having the pieces returned that were left over and asked
pierre to translate what he said 

 what does he want the bits for said karataev they'd make fine leg
bands for us well never mind 

and karataev with a suddenly changed and saddened expression took
a small bundle of scraps from inside his shirt and gave it to the
frenchman without looking at him oh dear muttered karataev and went
away the frenchman looked at the linen considered for a moment then
looked inquiringly at pierre and as if pierre's look had told him
something suddenly blushed and shouted in a squeaky voice 

 platoche eh platoche keep them yourself and handing back the odd
bits he turned and went out 

 there look at that said karataev swaying his head people said
they were not christians but they too have souls it's what the old
folk used to say a sweating hand's an open hand a dry hand's close 
he's naked but yet he's given it back 

karataev smiled thoughtfully and was silent awhile looking at the
pieces 

 but they'll make grand leg bands dear friend he said and went back
into the shed 





chapter xii

four weeks had passed since pierre had been taken prisoner and though
the french had offered to move him from the men's to the officers shed 
he had stayed in the shed where he was first put 

in burned and devastated moscow pierre experienced almost the extreme
limits of privation a man can endure but thanks to his physical
strength and health of which he had till then been unconscious and
thanks especially to the fact that the privations came so gradually that
it was impossible to say when they began he endured his position
not only lightly but joyfully and just at this time he obtained the
tranquillity and ease of mind he had formerly striven in vain to reach 
he had long sought in different ways that tranquillity of mind that
inner harmony which had so impressed him in the soldiers at the battle
of borodino he had sought it in philanthropy in freemasonry in the
dissipations of town life in wine in heroic feats of self sacrifice 
and in romantic love for natasha he had sought it by reasoning and all
these quests and experiments had failed him and now without thinking
about it he had found that peace and inner harmony only through the
horror of death through privation and through what he recognized in
karataev 

those dreadful moments he had lived through at the executions had as it
were forever washed away from his imagination and memory the agitating
thoughts and feelings that had formerly seemed so important it did
not now occur to him to think of russia or the war or politics or
napoleon it was plain to him that all these things were no business
of his and that he was not called on to judge concerning them and
therefore could not do so russia and summer weather are not bound
together he thought repeating words of karataev's which he found
strangely consoling his intention of killing napoleon and his
calculations of the cabalistic number of the beast of the apocalypse now
seemed to him meaningless and even ridiculous his anger with his wife
and anxiety that his name should not be smirched now seemed not merely
trivial but even amusing what concern was it of his that somewhere or
other that woman was leading the life she preferred what did it matter
to anybody and especially to him whether or not they found out that
their prisoner's name was count bezukhov 

he now often remembered his conversation with prince andrew and quite
agreed with him though he understood prince andrew's thoughts somewhat
differently prince andrew had thought and said that happiness could
only be negative but had said it with a shade of bitterness and irony
as though he was really saying that all desire for positive happiness is
implanted in us merely to torment us and never be satisfied but pierre
believed it without any mental reservation the absence of suffering 
the satisfaction of one's needs and consequent freedom in the choice of
one's occupation that is of one's way of life now seemed to pierre to
be indubitably man's highest happiness here and now for the first time
he fully appreciated the enjoyment of eating when he wanted to eat 
drinking when he wanted to drink sleeping when he wanted to sleep of
warmth when he was cold of talking to a fellow man when he wished to
talk and to hear a human voice the satisfaction of one's needs good
food cleanliness and freedom now that he was deprived of all this 
seemed to pierre to constitute perfect happiness and the choice
of occupation that is of his way of life now that that was so
restricted seemed to him such an easy matter that he forgot that a
superfluity of the comforts of life destroys all joy in satisfying one's
needs while great freedom in the choice of occupation such freedom as
his wealth his education and his social position had given him in his
own life is just what makes the choice of occupation insolubly difficult
and destroys the desire and possibility of having an occupation 

all pierre's daydreams now turned on the time when he would be free yet
subsequently and for the rest of his life he thought and spoke with
enthusiasm of that month of captivity of those irrecoverable strong 
joyful sensations and chiefly of the complete peace of mind and inner
freedom which he experienced only during those weeks 

when on the first day he got up early went out of the shed at dawn and
saw the cupolas and crosses of the new convent of the virgin still dark
at first the hoarfrost on the dusty grass the sparrow hills and the
wooded banks above the winding river vanishing in the purple distance 
when he felt the contact of the fresh air and heard the noise of the
crows flying from moscow across the field and when afterwards light
gleamed from the east and the sun's rim appeared solemnly from behind a
cloud and the cupolas and crosses the hoarfrost the distance and the
river all began to sparkle in the glad light pierre felt a new joy and
strength in life such as he had never before known and this not only
stayed with him during the whole of his imprisonment but even grew in
strength as the hardships of his position increased 

that feeling of alertness and of readiness for anything was still
further strengthened in him by the high opinion his fellow prisoners
formed of him soon after his arrival at the shed with his knowledge
of languages the respect shown him by the french his simplicity his
readiness to give anything asked of him he received the allowance
of three rubles a week made to officers with his strength which he
showed to the soldiers by pressing nails into the walls of the hut his
gentleness to his companions and his capacity for sitting still and
thinking without doing anything which seemed to them incomprehensible 
he appeared to them a rather mysterious and superior being the very
qualities that had been a hindrance if not actually harmful to him in
the world he had lived in his strength his disdain for the comforts of
life his absent mindedness and simplicity here among these people gave
him almost the status of a hero and pierre felt that their opinion
placed responsibilities upon him 





chapter xiii

the french evacuation began on the night between the sixth and seventh
of october kitchens and sheds were dismantled carts loaded and troops
and baggage trains started 

at seven in the morning a french convoy in marching trim wearing shakos
and carrying muskets knapsacks and enormous sacks stood in front
of the sheds and animated french talk mingled with curses sounded all
along the lines 

in the shed everyone was ready dressed belted shod and only awaited
the order to start the sick soldier sokolov pale and thin with dark
shadows round his eyes alone sat in his place barefoot and not dressed 
his eyes prominent from the emaciation of his face gazed inquiringly
at his comrades who were paying no attention to him and he moaned
regularly and quietly it was evidently not so much his sufferings that
caused him to moan he had dysentery as his fear and grief at being
left alone 

pierre girt with a rope round his waist and wearing shoes karataev had
made for him from some leather a french soldier had torn off a tea chest
and brought to have his boots mended with went up to the sick man and
squatted down beside him 

 you know sokolov they are not all going away they have a hospital
here you may be better off than we others said pierre 

 o lord oh it will be the death of me o lord moaned the man in a
louder voice 

 i'll go and ask them again directly said pierre rising and going to
the door of the shed 

just as pierre reached the door the corporal who had offered him a
pipe the day before came up to it with two soldiers the corporal and
soldiers were in marching kit with knapsacks and shakos that had metal
straps and these changed their familiar faces 

the corporal came according to orders to shut the door the prisoners
had to be counted before being let out 

 corporal what will they do with the sick man pierre began 

but even as he spoke he began to doubt whether this was the corporal
he knew or a stranger so unlike himself did the corporal seem at that
moment moreover just as pierre was speaking a sharp rattle of drums
was suddenly heard from both sides the corporal frowned at pierre's
words and uttering some meaningless oaths slammed the door the shed
became semidark and the sharp rattle of the drums on two sides drowned
the sick man's groans 

 there it is it again said pierre to himself and an
involuntary shudder ran down his spine in the corporal's changed face 
in the sound of his voice in the stirring and deafening noise of the
drums he recognized that mysterious callous force which compelled
people against their will to kill their fellow men that force the effect
of which he had witnessed during the executions to fear or to try to
escape that force to address entreaties or exhortations to those who
served as its tools was useless pierre knew this now one had to wait
and endure he did not again go to the sick man nor turn to look at
him but stood frowning by the door of the hut 

when that door was opened and the prisoners crowding against one
another like a flock of sheep squeezed into the exit pierre pushed
his way forward and approached that very captain who as the corporal had
assured him was ready to do anything for him the captain was also in
marching kit and on his cold face appeared that same it which pierre
had recognized in the corporal's words and in the roll of the drums 

 pass on pass on the captain reiterated frowning sternly and
looking at the prisoners who thronged past him 

pierre went up to him though he knew his attempt would be vain 

 what now the officer asked with a cold look as if not recognizing
pierre 

pierre told him about the sick man 

 he'll manage to walk devil take him said the captain pass on pass
on he continued without looking at pierre 

 but he is dying pierre again began 

 be so good shouted the captain frowning angrily 

 dram da da dam dam dam rattled the drums and pierre understood
that this mysterious force completely controlled these men and that it
was now useless to say any more 

the officer prisoners were separated from the soldiers and told to march
in front there were about thirty officers with pierre among them and
about three hundred men 

the officers who had come from the other sheds were all strangers to
pierre and much better dressed than he they looked at him and at his
shoes mistrustfully as at an alien not far from him walked a fat major
with a sallow bloated angry face who was wearing a kazan dressing
gown tied round with a towel and who evidently enjoyed the respect of
his fellow prisoners he kept one hand in which he clasped his tobacco
pouch inside the bosom of his dressing gown and held the stem of his
pipe firmly with the other panting and puffing the major grumbled and
growled at everybody because he thought he was being pushed and that
they were all hurrying when they had nowhere to hurry to and were
all surprised at something when there was nothing to be surprised at 
another a thin little officer was speaking to everyone conjecturing
where they were now being taken and how far they would get that day an
official in felt boots and wearing a commissariat uniform ran round from
side to side and gazed at the ruins of moscow loudly announcing his
observations as to what had been burned down and what this or that part
of the city was that they could see a third officer who by his accent
was a pole disputed with the commissariat officer arguing that he was
mistaken in his identification of the different wards of moscow 

 what are you disputing about said the major angrily what does it
matter whether it is st nicholas or st blasius you see it's burned
down and there's an end of it what are you pushing for isn't the
road wide enough said he turning to a man behind him who was not
pushing him at all 

 oh oh oh what have they done the prisoners on one side and another
were heard saying as they gazed on the charred ruins all beyond the
river and zubova and in the kremlin just look there's not half of
it left yes i told you the whole quarter beyond the river and so it
is 

 well you know it's burned so what's the use of talking said the
major 

as they passed near a church in the khamovniki one of the few unburned
quarters of moscow the whole mass of prisoners suddenly started to one
side and exclamations of horror and disgust were heard 

 ah the villains what heathens yes dead dead so he is and
smeared with something 

pierre too drew near the church where the thing was that evoked these
exclamations and dimly made out something leaning against the palings
surrounding the church from the words of his comrades who saw better
than he did he found that this was the body of a man set upright
against the palings with its face smeared with soot 

 go on what the devil go on thirty thousand devils the convoy
guards began cursing and the french soldiers with fresh virulence 
drove away with their swords the crowd of prisoners who were gazing at
the dead man 





chapter xiv

through the cross streets of the khamovniki quarter the prisoners
marched followed only by their escort and the vehicles and wagons
belonging to that escort but when they reached the supply stores they
came among a huge and closely packed train of artillery mingled with
private vehicles 

at the bridge they all halted waiting for those in front to get across 
from the bridge they had a view of endless lines of moving baggage
trains before and behind them to the right where the kaluga road turns
near neskuchny endless rows of troops and carts stretched away into
the distance these were troops of beauharnais corps which had started
before any of the others behind along the riverside and across the
stone bridge were ney's troops and transport 

davout's troops in whose charge were the prisoners were crossing the
crimean bridge and some were already debouching into the kaluga road 
but the baggage trains stretched out so that the last of beauharnais 
train had not yet got out of moscow and reached the kaluga road when
the vanguard of ney's army was already emerging from the great ordynka
street 

when they had crossed the crimean bridge the prisoners moved a few steps
forward halted and again moved on and from all sides vehicles and men
crowded closer and closer together they advanced the few hundred paces
that separated the bridge from the kaluga road taking more than an
hour to do so and came out upon the square where the streets of the
transmoskva ward and the kaluga road converge and the prisoners jammed
close together had to stand for some hours at that crossway from all
sides like the roar of the sea were heard the rattle of wheels the
tramp of feet and incessant shouts of anger and abuse pierre stood
pressed against the wall of a charred house listening to that noise
which mingled in his imagination with the roll of the drums 

to get a better view several officer prisoners climbed onto the wall of
the half burned house against which pierre was leaning 

 what crowds just look at the crowds they've loaded goods even on
the cannon look there those are furs they exclaimed just see what
the blackguards have looted there see what that one has behind
in the cart why those are settings taken from some icons by
heaven oh the rascals see how that fellow has loaded
himself up he can hardly walk good lord they've even grabbed those
chaises see that fellow there sitting on the trunks heavens 
they're fighting 

 that's right hit him on the snout on his snout like this we
shan't get away before evening look look there why that must be
napoleon's own see what horses and the monograms with a crown it's
like a portable house that fellow's dropped his sack and doesn't see
it fighting again a woman with a baby and not bad looking either 
yes i dare say that's the way they'll let you pass just look 
there's no end to it russian wenches by heaven so they are in
carriages see how comfortably they've settled themselves 

again as at the church in khamovniki a wave of general curiosity
bore all the prisoners forward onto the road and pierre thanks to
his stature saw over the heads of the others what so attracted their
curiosity in three carriages involved among the munition carts closely
squeezed together sat women with rouged faces dressed in glaring
colors who were shouting something in shrill voices 

from the moment pierre had recognized the appearance of the mysterious
force nothing had seemed to him strange or dreadful neither the corpse
smeared with soot for fun nor these women hurrying away nor the burned
ruins of moscow all that he now witnessed scarcely made an impression
on him as if his soul making ready for a hard struggle refused to
receive impressions that might weaken it 

the women's vehicles drove by behind them came more carts soldiers 
wagons soldiers gun carriages carriages soldiers ammunition carts 
more soldiers and now and then women 

pierre did not see the people as individuals but saw their movement 

all these people and horses seemed driven forward by some invisible
power during the hour pierre watched them they all came flowing from
the different streets with one and the same desire to get on quickly 
they all jostled one another began to grow angry and to fight white
teeth gleamed brows frowned ever the same words of abuse flew from
side to side and all the faces bore the same swaggeringly resolute
and coldly cruel expression that had struck pierre that morning on the
corporal's face when the drums were beating 

it was not till nearly evening that the officer commanding the escort
collected his men and with shouts and quarrels forced his way in among
the baggage trains and the prisoners hemmed in on all sides emerged
onto the kaluga road 

they marched very quickly without resting and halted only when the sun
began to set the baggage carts drew up close together and the men
began to prepare for their night's rest they all appeared angry and
dissatisfied for a long time oaths angry shouts and fighting could
be heard from all sides a carriage that followed the escort ran
into one of the carts and knocked a hole in it with its pole several
soldiers ran toward the cart from different sides some beat the
carriage horses on their heads turning them aside others fought among
themselves and pierre saw that one german was badly wounded on the head
by a sword 

it seemed that all these men now that they had stopped amid fields
in the chill dusk of the autumn evening experienced one and the same
feeling of unpleasant awakening from the hurry and eagerness to push on
that had seized them at the start once at a standstill they all seemed
to understand that they did not yet know where they were going and that
much that was painful and difficult awaited them on this journey 

during this halt the escort treated the prisoners even worse than they
had done at the start it was here that the prisoners for the first time
received horseflesh for their meat ration 

from the officer down to the lowest soldier they showed what seemed like
personal spite against each of the prisoners in unexpected contrast to
their former friendly relations 

this spite increased still more when on calling over the roll of
prisoners it was found that in the bustle of leaving moscow one russian
soldier who had pretended to suffer from colic had escaped pierre saw
a frenchman beat a russian soldier cruelly for straying too far from
the road and heard his friend the captain reprimand and threaten to
court martial a noncommissioned officer on account of the escape of the
russian to the noncommissioned officer's excuse that the prisoner was
ill and could not walk the officer replied that the order was to shoot
those who lagged behind pierre felt that that fatal force which had
crushed him during the executions but which he had not felt during his
imprisonment now again controlled his existence it was terrible but
he felt that in proportion to the efforts of that fatal force to crush
him there grew and strengthened in his soul a power of life independent
of it 

he ate his supper of buckwheat soup with horseflesh and chatted with his
comrades 

neither pierre nor any of the others spoke of what they had seen in
moscow or of the roughness of their treatment by the french or of the
order to shoot them which had been announced to them as if in reaction
against the worsening of their position they were all particularly
animated and gay they spoke of personal reminiscences of amusing
scenes they had witnessed during the campaign and avoided all talk of
their present situation 

the sun had set long since bright stars shone out here and there in the
sky a red glow as of a conflagration spread above the horizon from the
rising full moon and that vast red ball swayed strangely in the gray
haze it grew light the evening was ending but the night had not yet
come pierre got up and left his new companions crossing between the
campfires to the other side of the road where he had been told the
common soldier prisoners were stationed he wanted to talk to them on
the road he was stopped by a french sentinel who ordered him back 

pierre turned back not to his companions by the campfire but to an
unharnessed cart where there was nobody tucking his legs under him and
dropping his head he sat down on the cold ground by the wheel of the
cart and remained motionless a long while sunk in thought suddenly he
burst out into a fit of his broad good natured laughter so loud that
men from various sides turned with surprise to see what this strange and
evidently solitary laughter could mean 

 ha ha ha laughed pierre and he said aloud to himself the soldier
did not let me pass they took me and shut me up they hold me captive 
what me me my immortal soul ha ha ha ha ha ha and he laughed
till tears started to his eyes 

a man got up and came to see what this queer big fellow was laughing at
all by himself pierre stopped laughing got up went farther away from
the inquisitive man and looked around him 

the huge endless bivouac that had previously resounded with the
crackling of campfires and the voices of many men had grown quiet the
red campfires were growing paler and dying down high up in the light
sky hung the full moon forests and fields beyond the camp unseen
before were now visible in the distance and farther still beyond
those forests and fields the bright oscillating limitless distance
lured one to itself pierre glanced up at the sky and the twinkling
stars in its faraway depths and all that is me all that is within me 
and it is all i thought pierre and they caught all that and put it
into a shed boarded up with planks he smiled and went and lay down to
sleep beside his companions 





chapter xv

in the early days of october another envoy came to kutuzov with a letter
from napoleon proposing peace and falsely dated from moscow though
napoleon was already not far from kutuzov on the old kaluga road 
kutuzov replied to this letter as he had done to the one formerly
brought by lauriston saying that there could be no question of peace 

soon after that a report was received from dorokhov's guerrilla
detachment operating to the left of tarutino that troops of broussier's
division had been seen at forminsk and that being separated from the
rest of the french army they might easily be destroyed the soldiers and
officers again demanded action generals on the staff excited by the
memory of the easy victory at tarutino urged kutuzov to carry out
dorokhov's suggestion kutuzov did not consider any offensive necessary 
the result was a compromise which was inevitable a small detachment was
sent to forminsk to attack broussier 

by a strange coincidence this task which turned out to be a most
difficult and important one was entrusted to dokhturov that same modest
little dokhturov whom no one had described to us as drawing up plans
of battles dashing about in front of regiments showering crosses on
batteries and so on and who was thought to be and was spoken of as
undecided and undiscerning but whom we find commanding wherever the
position was most difficult all through the russo french wars from
austerlitz to the year 1813 at austerlitz he remained last at the
augezd dam rallying the regiments saving what was possible when all
were flying and perishing and not a single general was left in the rear
guard ill with fever he went to smolensk with twenty thousand men
to defend the town against napoleon's whole army in smolensk at the
malakhov gate he had hardly dozed off in a paroxysm of fever before he
was awakened by the bombardment of the town and smolensk held out all
day long at the battle of borodino when bagration was killed and nine
tenths of the men of our left flank had fallen and the full force of the
french artillery fire was directed against it the man sent there was
this same irresolute and undiscerning dokhturov kutuzov hastening to
rectify a mistake he had made by sending someone else there first 
and the quiet little dokhturov rode thither and borodino became the
greatest glory of the russian army many heroes have been described to
us in verse and prose but of dokhturov scarcely a word has been said 

it was dokhturov again whom they sent to forminsk and from there to
malo yaroslavets the place where the last battle with the french was
fought and where the obvious disintegration of the french army began 
and we are told of many geniuses and heroes of that period of the
campaign but of dokhturov nothing or very little is said and that
dubiously and this silence about dokhturov is the clearest testimony to
his merit 

it is natural for a man who does not understand the workings of a
machine to imagine that a shaving that has fallen into it by chance
and is interfering with its action and tossing about in it is its most
important part the man who does not understand the construction of
the machine cannot conceive that the small connecting cogwheel which
revolves quietly is one of the most essential parts of the machine and
not the shaving which merely harms and hinders the working 

on the tenth of october when dokhturov had gone halfway to forminsk and
stopped at the village of aristovo preparing faithfully to execute the
orders he had received the whole french army having in its convulsive
movement reached murat's position apparently in order to give
battle suddenly without any reason turned off to the left onto the new
kaluga road and began to enter forminsk where only broussier had
been till then at that time dokhturov had under his command besides
dorokhov's detachment the two small guerrilla detachments of figner and
seslavin 

on the evening of october 11 seslavin came to the aristovo headquarters
with a french guardsman he had captured the prisoner said that the
troops that had entered forminsk that day were the vanguard of the whole
army that napoleon was there and the whole army had left moscow four
days previously that same evening a house serf who had come from
borovsk said he had seen an immense army entering the town some
cossacks of dokhturov's detachment reported having sighted the french
guards marching along the road to borovsk from all these reports it was
evident that where they had expected to meet a single division there
was now the whole french army marching from moscow in an unexpected
direction along the kaluga road dokhturov was unwilling to undertake
any action as it was not clear to him now what he ought to do he had
been ordered to attack forminsk but only broussier had been there at
that time and now the whole french army was there ermolov wished to act
on his own judgment but dokhturov insisted that he must have kutuzov's
instructions so it was decided to send a dispatch to the staff 

for this purpose a capable officer bolkhovitinov was chosen who
was to explain the whole affair by word of mouth besides delivering
a written report toward midnight bolkhovitinov having received the
dispatch and verbal instructions galloped off to the general staff
accompanied by a cossack with spare horses 





chapter xvi

it was a warm dark autumn night it had been raining for four days 
having changed horses twice and galloped twenty miles in an hour and a
half over a sticky muddy road bolkhovitinov reached litashevka after
one o'clock at night dismounting at a cottage on whose wattle fence
hung a signboard general staff and throwing down his reins he entered
a dark passage 

 the general on duty quick it's very important said he to someone
who had risen and was sniffing in the dark passage 

 he has been very unwell since the evening and this is the third night
he has not slept said the orderly pleadingly in a whisper you should
wake the captain first 

 but this is very important from general dokhturov said
bolkhovitinov entering the open door which he had found by feeling in
the dark 

the orderly had gone in before him and began waking somebody 

 your honor your honor a courier 

 what what's that from whom came a sleepy voice 

 from dokhturov and from alexey petrovich napoleon is at forminsk 
said bolkhovitinov unable to see in the dark who was speaking but
guessing by the voice that it was not konovnitsyn 

the man who had wakened yawned and stretched himself 

 i don't like waking him he said fumbling for something he is very
ill perhaps this is only a rumor 

 here is the dispatch said bolkhovitinov my orders are to give it at
once to the general on duty 

 wait a moment i'll light a candle you damned rascal where do you
always hide it said the voice of the man who was stretching himself 
to the orderly this was shcherbinin konovnitsyn's adjutant i've
found it i've found it he added 

the orderly was striking a light and shcherbinin was fumbling for
something on the candlestick 

 oh the nasty beasts said he with disgust 

by the light of the sparks bolkhovitinov saw shcherbinin's youthful face
as he held the candle and the face of another man who was still asleep 
this was konovnitsyn 

when the flame of the sulphur splinters kindled by the tinder burned
up first blue and then red shcherbinin lit the tallow candle from
the candlestick of which the cockroaches that had been gnawing it were
running away and looked at the messenger bolkhovitinov was bespattered
all over with mud and had smeared his face by wiping it with his sleeve 

 who gave the report inquired shcherbinin taking the envelope 

 the news is reliable said bolkhovitinov prisoners cossacks and
the scouts all say the same thing 

 there's nothing to be done we'll have to wake him said shcherbinin 
rising and going up to the man in the nightcap who lay covered by a
greatcoat peter petrovich said he konovnitsyn did not stir to
the general staff he said with a smile knowing that those words would
be sure to arouse him 

and in fact the head in the nightcap was lifted at once on
konovnitsyn's handsome resolute face with cheeks flushed by fever 
there still remained for an instant a faraway dreamy expression remote
from present affairs but then he suddenly started and his face assumed
its habitual calm and firm appearance 

 well what is it from whom he asked immediately but without hurry 
blinking at the light 

while listening to the officer's report konovnitsyn broke the seal and
read the dispatch hardly had he done so before he lowered his legs in
their woolen stockings to the earthen floor and began putting on his
boots then he took off his nightcap combed his hair over his temples 
and donned his cap 

 did you get here quickly let us go to his highness 

konovnitsyn had understood at once that the news brought was of great
importance and that no time must be lost he did not consider or ask
himself whether the news was good or bad that did not interest him he
regarded the whole business of the war not with his intelligence or his
reason but by something else there was within him a deep unexpressed
conviction that all would be well but that one must not trust to this
and still less speak about it but must only attend to one's own work 
and he did his work giving his whole strength to the task 

peter petrovich konovnitsyn like dokhturov seems to have been included
merely for propriety's sake in the list of the so called heroes of
1812 the barclays raevskis ermolovs platovs and miloradoviches like
dokhturov he had the reputation of being a man of very limited capacity
and information and like dokhturov he never made plans of battle but
was always found where the situation was most difficult since his
appointment as general on duty he had always slept with his door open 
giving orders that every messenger should be allowed to wake him up in
battle he was always under fire so that kutuzov reproved him for it and
feared to send him to the front and like dokhturov he was one of those
unnoticed cogwheels that without clatter or noise constitute the most
essential part of the machine 

coming out of the hut into the damp dark night konovnitsyn
frowned partly from an increased pain in his head and partly at the
unpleasant thought that occurred to him of how all that nest of
influential men on the staff would be stirred up by this news 
especially bennigsen who ever since tarutino had been at daggers
drawn with kutuzov and how they would make suggestions quarrel issue
orders and rescind them and this premonition was disagreeable to him
though he knew it could not be helped 

and in fact toll to whom he went to communicate the news immediately
began to expound his plans to a general sharing his quarters until
konovnitsyn who listened in weary silence reminded him that they must
go to see his highness 





chapter xvii

kutuzov like all old people did not sleep much at night he often fell
asleep unexpectedly in the daytime but at night lying on his bed
without undressing he generally remained awake thinking 

so he lay now on his bed supporting his large heavy scarred head on
his plump hand with his one eye open meditating and peering into the
darkness 

since bennigsen who corresponded with the emperor and had more
influence than anyone else on the staff had begun to avoid him kutuzov
was more at ease as to the possibility of himself and his troops being
obliged to take part in useless aggressive movements the lesson of the
tarutino battle and of the day before it which kutuzov remembered with
pain must he thought have some effect on others too 

 they must understand that we can only lose by taking the offensive 
patience and time are my warriors my champions thought kutuzov he
knew that an apple should not be plucked while it is green it will fall
of itself when ripe but if picked unripe the apple is spoiled the tree
is harmed and your teeth are set on edge like an experienced sportsman
he knew that the beast was wounded and wounded as only the whole
strength of russia could have wounded it but whether it was mortally
wounded or not was still an undecided question now by the fact of
lauriston and barthelemi having been sent and by the reports of the
guerrillas kutuzov was almost sure that the wound was mortal but he
needed further proofs and it was necessary to wait 

 they want to run to see how they have wounded it wait and we shall
see continual maneuvers continual advances thought he what for 
only to distinguish themselves as if fighting were fun they are
like children from whom one can't get any sensible account of what has
happened because they all want to show how well they can fight but
that's not what is needed now 

 and what ingenious maneuvers they all propose to me it seems to
them that when they have thought of two or three contingencies he
remembered the general plan sent him from petersburg they have
foreseen everything but the contingencies are endless 

the undecided question as to whether the wound inflicted at borodino was
mortal or not had hung over kutuzov's head for a whole month on the one
hand the french had occupied moscow on the other kutuzov felt assured
with all his being that the terrible blow into which he and all the
russians had put their whole strength must have been mortal but in any
case proofs were needed he had waited a whole month for them and grew
more impatient the longer he waited lying on his bed during those
sleepless nights he did just what he reproached those younger generals
for doing he imagined all sorts of possible contingencies just like
the younger men but with this difference that he saw thousands of
contingencies instead of two or three and based nothing on them the
longer he thought the more contingencies presented themselves he
imagined all sorts of movements of the napoleonic army as a whole or
in sections against petersburg or against him or to outflank him 
he thought too of the possibility which he feared most of all that
napoleon might fight him with his own weapon and remain in moscow
awaiting him kutuzov even imagined that napoleon's army might turn back
through medyn and yukhnov but the one thing he could not foresee was
what happened the insane convulsive stampede of napoleon's army during
its first eleven days after leaving moscow a stampede which made
possible what kutuzov had not yet even dared to think of the complete
extermination of the french dorokhov's report about broussier's
division the guerrillas reports of distress in napoleon's army rumors
of preparations for leaving moscow all confirmed the supposition that
the french army was beaten and preparing for flight but these were
only suppositions which seemed important to the younger men but not to
kutuzov with his sixty years experience he knew what value to attach
to rumors knew how apt people who desire anything are to group all news
so that it appears to confirm what they desire and he knew how readily
in such cases they omit all that makes for the contrary and the more
he desired it the less he allowed himself to believe it this question
absorbed all his mental powers all else was to him only life's
customary routine to such customary routine belonged his conversations
with the staff the letters he wrote from tarutino to madame de stael 
the reading of novels the distribution of awards his correspondence
with petersburg and so on but the destruction of the french which he
alone foresaw was his heart's one desire 

on the night of the eleventh of october he lay leaning on his arm and
thinking of that 

there was a stir in the next room and he heard the steps of toll 
konovnitsyn and bolkhovitinov 

 eh who's there come in come in what news the field marshal called
out to them 

while a footman was lighting a candle toll communicated the substance
of the news 

 who brought it asked kutuzov with a look which when the candle was
lit struck toll by its cold severity 

 there can be no doubt about it your highness 

 call him in call him here 

kutuzov sat up with one leg hanging down from the bed and his big paunch
resting against the other which was doubled under him he screwed up his
seeing eye to scrutinize the messenger more carefully as if wishing to
read in his face what preoccupied his own mind 

 tell me tell me friend said he to bolkhovitinov in his low aged
voice as he pulled together the shirt which gaped open on his chest 
 come nearer nearer what news have you brought me eh that napoleon
has left moscow are you sure eh 

bolkhovitinov gave a detailed account from the beginning of all he had
been told to report 

 speak quicker quicker don't torture me kutuzov interrupted him 

bolkhovitinov told him everything and was then silent awaiting
instructions toll was beginning to say something but kutuzov checked
him he tried to say something but his face suddenly puckered and
wrinkled he waved his arm at toll and turned to the opposite side of
the room to the corner darkened by the icons that hung there 

 o lord my creator thou has heard our prayer said he in a
tremulous voice with folded hands russia is saved i thank thee o
lord and he wept 





chapter xviii

from the time he received this news to the end of the campaign all
kutuzov's activity was directed toward restraining his troops by
authority by guile and by entreaty from useless attacks 
maneuvers or encounters with the perishing enemy dokhturov went to
malo yaroslavets but kutuzov lingered with the main army and gave
orders for the evacuation of kaluga a retreat beyond which town seemed
to him quite possible 

everywhere kutuzov retreated but the enemy without waiting for his
retreat fled in the opposite direction 

napoleon's historians describe to us his skilled maneuvers at tarutino
and malo yaroslavets and make conjectures as to what would have
happened had napoleon been in time to penetrate into the rich southern
provinces 

but not to speak of the fact that nothing prevented him from advancing
into those southern provinces for the russian army did not bar his
way the historians forget that nothing could have saved his army for
then already it bore within itself the germs of inevitable ruin how
could that army which had found abundant supplies in moscow and had
trampled them underfoot instead of keeping them and on arriving at
smolensk had looted provisions instead of storing them how could that
army recuperate in kaluga province which was inhabited by russians such
as those who lived in moscow and where fire had the same property of
consuming what was set ablaze 

that army could not recover anywhere since the battle of borodino
and the pillage of moscow it had borne within itself as it were the
chemical elements of dissolution 

the members of what had once been an army napoleon himself and all his
soldiers fled without knowing whither each concerned only to make his
escape as quickly as possible from this position of the hopelessness of
which they were all more or less vaguely conscious 

so it came about that at the council at malo yaroslavets when the
generals pretending to confer together expressed various opinions all
mouths were closed by the opinion uttered by the simple minded soldier
mouton who speaking last said what they all felt that the one thing
needful was to get away as quickly as possible and no one not
even napoleon could say anything against that truth which they all
recognized 

but though they all realized that it was necessary to get away there
still remained a feeling of shame at admitting that they must flee an
external shock was needed to overcome that shame and this shock came in
due time it was what the french called le hourra de l'empereur 

the day after the council at malo yaroslavets napoleon rode out early in
the morning amid the lines of his army with his suite of marshals and
an escort on the pretext of inspecting the army and the scene of the
previous and of the impending battle some cossacks on the prowl for
booty fell in with the emperor and very nearly captured him if the
cossacks did not capture napoleon then what saved him was the very
thing that was destroying the french army the booty on which the
cossacks fell here as at tarutino they went after plunder leaving the
men disregarding napoleon they rushed after the plunder and napoleon
managed to escape 

when les enfants du don might so easily have taken the emperor himself
in the midst of his army it was clear that there was nothing for it but
to fly as fast as possible along the nearest familiar road napoleon
with his forty year old stomach understood that hint not feeling his
former agility and boldness and under the influence of the fright
the cossacks had given him he at once agreed with mouton and issued
orders as the historians tell us to retreat by the smolensk road 

that napoleon agreed with mouton and that the army retreated does
not prove that napoleon caused it to retreat but that the forces which
influenced the whole army and directed it along the mozhaysk that is 
the smolensk road acted simultaneously on him also 





chapter xix

a man in motion always devises an aim for that motion to be able to go
a thousand miles he must imagine that something good awaits him at the
end of those thousand miles one must have the prospect of a promised
land to have the strength to move 

the promised land for the french during their advance had been moscow 
during their retreat it was their native land but that native land
was too far off and for a man going a thousand miles it is absolutely
necessary to set aside his final goal and to say to himself today i
shall get to a place twenty five miles off where i shall rest and
spend the night and during the first day's journey that resting place
eclipses his ultimate goal and attracts all his hopes and desires and
the impulses felt by a single person are always magnified in a crowd 

for the french retreating along the old smolensk road the final
goal their native land was too remote and their immediate goal
was smolensk toward which all their desires and hopes enormously
intensified in the mass urged them on it was not that they knew that
much food and fresh troops awaited them in smolensk nor that they were
told so on the contrary their superior officers and napoleon himself 
knew that provisions were scarce there but because this alone could
give them strength to move on and endure their present privations so
both those who knew and those who did not know deceived themselves and
pushed on to smolensk as to a promised land 

coming out onto the highroad the french fled with surprising energy
and unheard of rapidity toward the goal they had fixed on besides the
common impulse which bound the whole crowd of french into one mass and
supplied them with a certain energy there was another cause binding
them together their great numbers as with the physical law of gravity 
their enormous mass drew the individual human atoms to itself in their
hundreds of thousands they moved like a whole nation 

each of them desired nothing more than to give himself up as a prisoner
to escape from all this horror and misery but on the one hand the force
of this common attraction to smolensk their goal drew each of them in
the same direction on the other hand an army corps could not surrender
to a company and though the french availed themselves of every
convenient opportunity to detach themselves and to surrender on the
slightest decent pretext such pretexts did not always occur their
very numbers and their crowded and swift movement deprived them of that
possibility and rendered it not only difficult but impossible for the
russians to stop this movement to which the french were directing all
their energies beyond a certain limit no mechanical disruption of the
body could hasten the process of decomposition 

a lump of snow cannot be melted instantaneously there is a certain
limit of time in less than which no amount of heat can melt the snow on
the contrary the greater the heat the more solidified the remaining snow
becomes 

of the russian commanders kutuzov alone understood this when the flight
of the french army along the smolensk road became well defined what
konovnitsyn had foreseen on the night of the eleventh of october began
to occur the superior officers all wanted to distinguish themselves 
to cut off to seize to capture and to overthrow the french and all
clamored for action 

kutuzov alone used all his power and such power is very limited in the
case of any commander in chief to prevent an attack 

he could not tell them what we say now why fight why block the road 
losing our own men and inhumanly slaughtering unfortunate wretches what
is the use of that when a third of their army has melted away on the
road from moscow to vyazma without any battle but drawing from his
aged wisdom what they could understand he told them of the golden
bridge and they laughed at and slandered him flinging themselves on 
rending and exulting over the dying beast 

ermolov miloradovich platov and others in proximity to the french
near vyazma could not resist their desire to cut off and break up two
french corps and by way of reporting their intention to kutuzov they
sent him a blank sheet of paper in an envelope 

and try as kutuzov might to restrain the troops our men attacked 
trying to bar the road infantry regiments we are told advanced to the
attack with music and with drums beating and killed and lost thousands
of men 

but they did not cut off or overthrow anybody and the french army 
closing up more firmly at the danger continued while steadily melting
away to pursue its fatal path to smolensk 





book fourteen 1812





chapter i

the battle of borodino with the occupation of moscow that followed it
and the flight of the french without further conflicts is one of the
most instructive phenomena in history 

all historians agree that the external activity of states and nations
in their conflicts with one another is expressed in wars and that as a
direct result of greater or less success in war the political strength
of states and nations increases or decreases 

strange as may be the historical account of how some king or emperor 
having quarreled with another collects an army fights his enemy's
army gains a victory by killing three five or ten thousand men and
subjugates a kingdom and an entire nation of several millions all
the facts of history as far as we know it confirm the truth of the
statement that the greater or lesser success of one army against another
is the cause or at least an essential indication of an increase or
decrease in the strength of the nation even though it is unintelligible
why the defeat of an army a hundredth part of a nation should oblige
that whole nation to submit an army gains a victory and at once the
rights of the conquering nation have increased to the detriment of the
defeated an army has suffered defeat and at once a people loses its
rights in proportion to the severity of the reverse and if its army
suffers a complete defeat the nation is quite subjugated 

so according to history it has been found from the most ancient times 
and so it is to our own day all napoleon's wars serve to confirm this
rule in proportion to the defeat of the austrian army austria loses
its rights and the rights and the strength of france increase the
victories of the french at jena and auerstadt destroy the independent
existence of prussia 

but then in 1812 the french gain a victory near moscow moscow is
taken and after that with no further battles it is not russia that
ceases to exist but the french army of six hundred thousand and
then napoleonic france itself to strain the facts to fit the rules of
history to say that the field of battle at borodino remained in the
hands of the russians or that after moscow there were other battles
that destroyed napoleon's army is impossible 

after the french victory at borodino there was no general engagement nor
any that were at all serious yet the french army ceased to exist what
does this mean if it were an example taken from the history of china 
we might say that it was not an historic phenomenon which is the
historians usual expedient when anything does not fit their standards 
if the matter concerned some brief conflict in which only a small number
of troops took part we might treat it as an exception but this event
occurred before our fathers eyes and for them it was a question of the
life or death of their fatherland and it happened in the greatest of
all known wars 

the period of the campaign of 1812 from the battle of borodino to the
expulsion of the french proved that the winning of a battle does not
produce a conquest and is not even an invariable indication of conquest 
it proved that the force which decides the fate of peoples lies not in
the conquerors nor even in armies and battles but in something else 

the french historians describing the condition of the french army
before it left moscow affirm that all was in order in the grand army 
except the cavalry the artillery and the transport there was no forage
for the horses or the cattle that was a misfortune no one could remedy 
for the peasants of the district burned their hay rather than let the
french have it 

the victory gained did not bring the usual results because the peasants
karp and vlas who after the french had evacuated moscow drove in their
carts to pillage the town and in general personally failed to manifest
any heroic feelings and the whole innumerable multitude of such
peasants did not bring their hay to moscow for the high price offered
them but burned it instead 

let us imagine two men who have come out to fight a duel with rapiers
according to all the rules of the art of fencing the fencing has
gone on for some time suddenly one of the combatants feeling himself
wounded and understanding that the matter is no joke but concerns his
life throws down his rapier and seizing the first cudgel that comes to
hand begins to brandish it then let us imagine that the combatant who
so sensibly employed the best and simplest means to attain his end was
at the same time influenced by traditions of chivalry and desiring to
conceal the facts of the case insisted that he had gained his victory
with the rapier according to all the rules of art one can imagine what
confusion and obscurity would result from such an account of the duel 

the fencer who demanded a contest according to the rules of fencing was
the french army his opponent who threw away the rapier and snatched up
the cudgel was the russian people those who try to explain the matter
according to the rules of fencing are the historians who have described
the event 

after the burning of smolensk a war began which did not follow any
previous traditions of war the burning of towns and villages the
retreats after battles the blow dealt at borodino and the renewed
retreat the burning of moscow the capture of marauders the seizure of
transports and the guerrilla war were all departures from the rules 

napoleon felt this and from the time he took up the correct fencing
attitude in moscow and instead of his opponent's rapier saw a cudgel
raised above his head he did not cease to complain to kutuzov and to
the emperor alexander that the war was being carried on contrary to all
the rules as if there were any rules for killing people in spite of the
complaints of the french as to the nonobservance of the rules in
spite of the fact that to some highly placed russians it seemed rather
disgraceful to fight with a cudgel and they wanted to assume a pose en
quarte or en tierce according to all the rules and to make an adroit
thrust en prime and so on the cudgel of the people's war was lifted
with all its menacing and majestic strength and without consulting
anyone's tastes or rules and regardless of anything else it rose and
fell with stupid simplicity but consistently and belabored the french
till the whole invasion had perished 

and it is well for a people who do not as the french did in 1813 salute
according to all the rules of art and presenting the hilt of their
rapier gracefully and politely hand it to their magnanimous conqueror 
but at the moment of trial without asking what rules others have
adopted in similar cases simply and easily pick up the first cudgel
that comes to hand and strike with it till the feeling of resentment and
revenge in their soul yields to a feeling of contempt and compassion 





chapter ii

one of the most obvious and advantageous departures from the so called
laws of war is the action of scattered groups against men pressed
together in a mass such action always occurs in wars that take on a
national character in such actions instead of two crowds opposing
each other the men disperse attack singly run away when attacked by
stronger forces but again attack when opportunity offers this was done
by the guerrillas in spain by the mountain tribes in the caucasus and
by the russians in 1812 

people have called this kind of war guerrilla warfare and assume that
by so calling it they have explained its meaning but such a war does
not fit in under any rule and is directly opposed to a well known rule
of tactics which is accepted as infallible that rule says that an
attacker should concentrate his forces in order to be stronger than his
opponent at the moment of conflict 

guerrilla war always successful as history shows directly infringes
that rule 

this contradiction arises from the fact that military science assumes
the strength of an army to be identical with its numbers military
science says that the more troops the greater the strength les gros
bataillons ont toujours raison 

 large battalions are always victorious 

for military science to say this is like defining momentum in mechanics
by reference to the mass only stating that momenta are equal or unequal
to each other simply because the masses involved are equal or unequal 

momentum quantity of motion is the product of mass and velocity 

in military affairs the strength of an army is the product of its mass
and some unknown x 

military science seeing in history innumerable instances of the fact
that the size of any army does not coincide with its strength and that
small detachments defeat larger ones obscurely admits the existence
of this unknown factor and tries to discover it now in a geometric
formation now in the equipment employed now and most usually in the
genius of the commanders but the assignment of these various meanings
to the factor does not yield results which accord with the historic
facts 

yet it is only necessary to abandon the false view adopted to gratify
the heroes of the efficacy of the directions issued in wartime by
commanders in order to find this unknown quantity 

that unknown quantity is the spirit of the army that is to say the
greater or lesser readiness to fight and face danger felt by all the men
composing an army quite independently of whether they are or are not 
fighting under the command of a genius in two or three line formation 
with cudgels or with rifles that repeat thirty times a minute men
who want to fight will always put themselves in the most advantageous
conditions for fighting 

the spirit of an army is the factor which multiplied by the mass gives
the resulting force to define and express the significance of this
unknown factor the spirit of an army is a problem for science 

this problem is only solvable if we cease arbitrarily to substitute
for the unknown x itself the conditions under which that force becomes
apparent such as the commands of the general the equipment employed 
and so on mistaking these for the real significance of the factor 
and if we recognize this unknown quantity in its entirety as being
the greater or lesser desire to fight and to face danger only then 
expressing known historic facts by equations and comparing the relative
significance of this factor can we hope to define the unknown 

ten men battalions or divisions fighting fifteen men battalions or
divisions conquer that is kill or take captive all the others while
themselves losing four so that on the one side four and on the other
fifteen were lost consequently the four were equal to the fifteen and
therefore 4x = 15y consequently x y = 15 4 this equation does not
give us the value of the unknown factor but gives us a ratio between two
unknowns and by bringing variously selected historic units battles 
campaigns periods of war into such equations a series of numbers
could be obtained in which certain laws should exist and might be
discovered 

the tactical rule that an army should act in masses when attacking and
in smaller groups in retreat unconsciously confirms the truth that the
strength of an army depends on its spirit to lead men forward under
fire more discipline obtainable only by movement in masses is needed
than is needed to resist attacks but this rule which leaves out of
account the spirit of the army continually proves incorrect and is in
particularly striking contrast to the facts when some strong rise or
fall in the spirit of the troops occurs as in all national wars 

the french retreating in 1812 though according to tactics they should
have separated into detachments to defend themselves congregated into
a mass because the spirit of the army had so fallen that only the mass
held the army together the russians on the contrary ought according
to tactics to have attacked in mass but in fact they split up
into small units because their spirit had so risen that separate
individuals without orders dealt blows at the french without needing
any compulsion to induce them to expose themselves to hardships and
dangers 





chapter iii

the so called partisan war began with the entry of the french into
smolensk 

before partisan warfare had been officially recognized by the
government thousands of enemy stragglers marauders and foragers had
been destroyed by the cossacks and the peasants who killed them off
as instinctively as dogs worry a stray mad dog to death denis davydov 
with his russian instinct was the first to recognize the value of
this terrible cudgel which regardless of the rules of military science
destroyed the french and to him belongs the credit for taking the first
step toward regularizing this method of warfare 

on august 24 davydov's first partisan detachment was formed and then
others were recognized the further the campaign progressed the more
numerous these detachments became 

the irregulars destroyed the great army piecemeal they gathered the
fallen leaves that dropped of themselves from that withered tree the
french army and sometimes shook that tree itself by october when
the french were fleeing toward smolensk there were hundreds of such
companies of various sizes and characters there were some that adopted
all the army methods and had infantry artillery staffs and the
comforts of life others consisted solely of cossack cavalry there were
also small scratch groups of foot and horse and groups of peasants and
landowners that remained unknown a sacristan commanded one party which
captured several hundred prisoners in the course of a month and there
was vasilisa the wife of a village elder who slew hundreds of the
french 

the partisan warfare flamed up most fiercely in the latter days of
october its first period had passed when the partisans themselves 
amazed at their own boldness feared every minute to be surrounded
and captured by the french and hid in the forests without unsaddling 
hardly daring to dismount and always expecting to be pursued by the end
of october this kind of warfare had taken definite shape it had become
clear to all what could be ventured against the french and what could
not now only the commanders of detachments with staffs and moving
according to rules at a distance from the french still regarded many
things as impossible the small bands that had started their activities
long before and had already observed the french closely considered
things possible which the commanders of the big detachments did not dare
to contemplate the cossacks and peasants who crept in among the french
now considered everything possible 

on october 22 denisov who was one of the irregulars was with his
group at the height of the guerrilla enthusiasm since early morning he
and his party had been on the move all day long he had been watching
from the forest that skirted the highroad a large french convoy of
cavalry baggage and russian prisoners separated from the rest of the
army which as was learned from spies and prisoners was moving under a
strong escort to smolensk besides denisov and dolokhov who also led
a small party and moved in denisov's vicinity the commanders of some
large divisions with staffs also knew of this convoy and as denisov
expressed it were sharpening their teeth for it two of the commanders
of large parties one a pole and the other a german sent invitations
to denisov almost simultaneously requesting him to join up with their
divisions to attack the convoy 

 no bwother i have gwown mustaches myself said denisov on reading
these documents and he wrote to the german that despite his heartfelt
desire to serve under so valiant and renowned a general he had to forgo
that pleasure because he was already under the command of the polish
general to the polish general he replied to the same effect informing
him that he was already under the command of the german 

having arranged matters thus denisov and dolokhov intended without
reporting matters to the higher command to attack and seize that
convoy with their own small forces on october 22 it was moving from
the village of mikulino to that of shamshevo to the left of the road
between mikulino and shamshevo there were large forests extending in
some places up to the road itself though in others a mile or more back
from it through these forests denisov and his party rode all day 
sometimes keeping well back in them and sometimes coming to the very
edge but never losing sight of the moving french that morning 
cossacks of denisov's party had seized and carried off into the forest
two wagons loaded with cavalry saddles which had stuck in the mud not
far from mikulino where the forest ran close to the road since then 
and until evening the party had watched the movements of the french
without attacking it was necessary to let the french reach shamshevo
quietly without alarming them and then after joining dolokhov who was
to come that evening to a consultation at a watchman's hut in the forest
less than a mile from shamshevo to surprise the french at dawn falling
like an avalanche on their heads from two sides and rout and capture
them all at one blow 

in their rear more than a mile from mikulino where the forest came
right up to the road six cossacks were posted to report if any fresh
columns of french should show themselves 

beyond shamshevo dolokhov was to observe the road in the same way to
find out at what distance there were other french troops they reckoned
that the convoy had fifteen hundred men denisov had two hundred and
dolokhov might have as many more but the disparity of numbers did not
deter denisov all that he now wanted to know was what troops these were
and to learn that he had to capture a tongue that is a man from
the enemy column that morning's attack on the wagons had been made so
hastily that the frenchmen with the wagons had all been killed only a
little drummer boy had been taken alive and as he was a straggler he
could tell them nothing definite about the troops in that column 

denisov considered it dangerous to make a second attack for fear of
putting the whole column on the alert so he sent tikhon shcherbaty a
peasant of his party to shamshevo to try and seize at least one of the
french quartermasters who had been sent on in advance 





chapter iv

it was a warm rainy autumn day the sky and the horizon were both
the color of muddy water at times a sort of mist descended and then
suddenly heavy slanting rain came down 

denisov in a felt cloak and a sheepskin cap from which the rain ran down
was riding a thin thoroughbred horse with sunken sides like his horse 
which turned its head and laid its ears back he shrank from the driving
rain and gazed anxiously before him his thin face with its short thick
black beard looked angry 

beside denisov rode an esaul denisov's fellow worker also in felt
cloak and sheepskin cap and riding a large sleek don horse 

 a captain of cossacks 

esaul lovayski the third was a tall man as straight as an arrow 
pale faced fair haired with narrow light eyes and with calm
self satisfaction in his face and bearing though it was impossible to
say in what the peculiarity of the horse and rider lay yet at first
glance at the esaul and denisov one saw that the latter was wet and
uncomfortable and was a man mounted on a horse while looking at the
esaul one saw that he was as comfortable and as much at ease as always
and that he was not a man who had mounted a horse but a man who was one
with his horse a being consequently possessed of twofold strength 

a little ahead of them walked a peasant guide wet to the skin and
wearing a gray peasant coat and a white knitted cap 

a little behind on a poor small lean kirghiz mount with an enormous
tail and mane and a bleeding mouth rode a young officer in a blue
french overcoat 

beside him rode an hussar with a boy in a tattered french uniform and
blue cap behind him on the crupper of his horse the boy held on to the
hussar with cold red hands and raising his eyebrows gazed about him
with surprise this was the french drummer boy captured that morning 

behind them along the narrow sodden cutup forest road came hussars in
threes and fours and then cossacks some in felt cloaks some in french
greatcoats and some with horsecloths over their heads the horses 
being drenched by the rain all looked black whether chestnut or bay 
their necks with their wet close clinging manes looked strangely
thin steam rose from them clothes saddles reins were all wet 
slippery and sodden like the ground and the fallen leaves that strewed
the road the men sat huddled up trying not to stir so as to warm the
water that had trickled to their bodies and not admit the fresh cold
water that was leaking in under their seats their knees and at the
back of their necks in the midst of the outspread line of cossacks two
wagons drawn by french horses and by saddled cossack horses that had
been hitched on in front rumbled over the tree stumps and branches and
splashed through the water that lay in the ruts 

denisov's horse swerved aside to avoid a pool in the track and bumped
his rider's knee against a tree 

 oh the devil exclaimed denisov angrily and showing his teeth he
struck his horse three times with his whip splashing himself and his
comrades with mud 

denisov was out of sorts both because of the rain and also from hunger
 none of them had eaten anything since morning and yet more because he
still had no news from dolokhov and the man sent to capture a tongue 
had not returned 

 there'll hardly be another such chance to fall on a transport as today 
it's too risky to attack them by oneself and if we put it off till
another day one of the big guerrilla detachments will snatch the prey
from under our noses thought denisov continually peering forward 
hoping to see a messenger from dolokhov 

on coming to a path in the forest along which he could see far to the
right denisov stopped 

 there's someone coming said he 

the esaul looked in the direction denisov indicated 

 there are two an officer and a cossack but it is not presupposable
that it is the lieutenant colonel himself said the esaul who was fond
of using words the cossacks did not know 

the approaching riders having descended a decline were no longer
visible but they reappeared a few minutes later in front at a weary
gallop and using his leather whip rode an officer disheveled and
drenched whose trousers had worked up to above his knees behind him 
standing in the stirrups trotted a cossack the officer a very young
lad with a broad rosy face and keen merry eyes galloped up to denisov
and handed him a sodden envelope 

 from the general said the officer please excuse its not being quite
dry 

denisov frowning took the envelope and opened it 

 there they kept telling us it's dangerous it's dangerous 
said the officer addressing the esaul while denisov was reading the
dispatch but komarov and i he pointed to the cossack were prepared 
we have each of us two pistols but what's this he asked noticing
the french drummer boy a prisoner you've already been in action may
i speak to him 

 wostov petya exclaimed denisov having run through the dispatch 
 why didn't you say who you were and turning with a smile he held out
his hand to the lad 

the officer was petya rostov 

all the way petya had been preparing himself to behave with denisov as
befitted a grown up man and an officer without hinting at their previous
acquaintance but as soon as denisov smiled at him petya brightened
up blushed with pleasure forgot the official manner he had been
rehearsing and began telling him how he had already been in a battle
near vyazma and how a certain hussar had distinguished himself there 

 well i am glad to see you denisov interrupted him and his face
again assumed its anxious expression 

 michael feoklitych said he to the esaul this is again fwom that
german you know he he indicated petya is serving under him 

and denisov told the esaul that the dispatch just delivered was a
repetition of the german general's demand that he should join forces
with him for an attack on the transport 

 if we don't take it tomowwow he'll snatch it fwom under our noses he
added 

while denisov was talking to the esaul petya abashed by denisov's
cold tone and supposing that it was due to the condition of his
trousers furtively tried to pull them down under his greatcoat so
that no one should notice it while maintaining as martial an air as
possible 

 will there be any orders your honor he asked denisov holding his
hand at the salute and resuming the game of adjutant and general for
which he had prepared himself or shall i remain with your honor 

 orders denisov repeated thoughtfully but can you stay till
tomowwow 

 oh please may i stay with you cried petya 

 but just what did the genewal tell you to weturn at once asked
denisov 

petya blushed 

 he gave me no instructions i think i could he returned inquiringly 

 well all wight said denisov 

and turning to his men he directed a party to go on to the halting place
arranged near the watchman's hut in the forest and told the officer on
the kirghiz horse who performed the duties of an adjutant to go and
find out where dolokhov was and whether he would come that evening 
denisov himself intended going with the esaul and petya to the edge of
the forest where it reached out to shamshevo to have a look at the part
of the french bivouac they were to attack next day 

 well old fellow said he to the peasant guide lead us to
shamshevo 

denisov petya and the esaul accompanied by some cossacks and the
hussar who had the prisoner rode to the left across a ravine to the
edge of the forest 





chapter v

the rain had stopped and only the mist was falling and drops from
the trees denisov the esaul and petya rode silently following the
peasant in the knitted cap who stepping lightly with outturned toes
and moving noiselessly in his bast shoes over the roots and wet leaves 
silently led them to the edge of the forest 

he ascended an incline stopped looked about him and advanced to where
the screen of trees was less dense on reaching a large oak tree that
had not yet shed its leaves he stopped and beckoned mysteriously to
them with his hand 

denisov and petya rode up to him from the spot where the peasant was
standing they could see the french immediately beyond the forest on a
downward slope lay a field of spring rye to the right beyond a steep
ravine was a small village and a landowner's house with a broken roof 
in the village in the house in the garden by the well by the pond 
over all the rising ground and all along the road uphill from the
bridge leading to the village not more than five hundred yards
away crowds of men could be seen through the shimmering mist their
un russian shouting at their horses which were straining uphill with the
carts and their calls to one another could be clearly heard 

 bwing the prisoner here said denisov in a low voice not taking his
eyes off the french 

a cossack dismounted lifted the boy down and took him to denisov 
pointing to the french troops denisov asked him what these and those
of them were the boy thrusting his cold hands into his pockets and
lifting his eyebrows looked at denisov in affright but in spite of
an evident desire to say all he knew gave confused answers merely
assenting to everything denisov asked him denisov turned away from him
frowning and addressed the esaul conveying his own conjectures to him 

petya rapidly turning his head looked now at the drummer boy now
at denisov now at the esaul and now at the french in the village and
along the road trying not to miss anything of importance 

 whether dolokhov comes or not we must seize it eh said denisov with
a merry sparkle in his eyes 

 it is a very suitable spot said the esaul 

 we'll send the infantwy down by the swamps denisov continued 
 they'll cweep up to the garden you'll wide up fwom there with the
cossacks he pointed to a spot in the forest beyond the village and i
with my hussars fwom here and at the signal shot 

 the hollow is impassable there's a swamp there said the esaul the
horses would sink we must ride round more to the left 

while they were talking in undertones the crack of a shot sounded
from the low ground by the pond a puff of white smoke appeared then
another and the sound of hundreds of seemingly merry french voices
shouting together came up from the slope for a moment denisov and the
esaul drew back they were so near that they thought they were the cause
of the firing and shouting but the firing and shouting did not relate
to them down below a man wearing something red was running through the
marsh the french were evidently firing and shouting at him 

 why that's our tikhon said the esaul 

 so it is it is 

 the wascal said denisov 

 he'll get away said the esaul screwing up his eyes 

the man whom they called tikhon having run to the stream plunged in
so that the water splashed in the air and having disappeared for an
instant scrambled out on all fours all black with the wet and ran on 
the french who had been pursuing him stopped 

 smart that said the esaul 

 what a beast said denisov with his former look of vexation what has
he been doing all this time 

 who is he asked petya 

 he's our plastun i sent him to capture a tongue 

 oh yes said petya nodding at the first words denisov uttered as if
he understood it all though he really did not understand anything of
it 

tikhon shcherbaty was one of the most indispensable men in their band 
he was a peasant from pokrovsk near the river gzhat when denisov had
come to pokrovsk at the beginning of his operations and had as usual
summoned the village elder and asked him what he knew about the french 
the elder as though shielding himself had replied as all village
elders did that he had neither seen nor heard anything of them but
when denisov explained that his purpose was to kill the french and
asked if no french had strayed that way the elder replied that some
 more orderers had really been at their village but that tikhon
shcherbaty was the only man who dealt with such matters denisov had
tikhon called and having praised him for his activity said a few words
in the elder's presence about loyalty to the tsar and the country and
the hatred of the french that all sons of the fatherland should cherish 

 we don't do the french any harm said tikhon evidently frightened by
denisov's words we only fooled about with the lads for fun you know 
we killed a score or so of more orderers but we did no harm else 

next day when denisov had left pokrovsk having quite forgotten about
this peasant it was reported to him that tikhon had attached himself
to their party and asked to be allowed to remain with it denisov gave
orders to let him do so 

tikhon who at first did rough work laying campfires fetching water 
flaying dead horses and so on soon showed a great liking and aptitude
for partisan warfare at night he would go out for booty and always
brought back french clothing and weapons and when told to would bring
in french captives also denisov then relieved him from drudgery and
began taking him with him when he went out on expeditions and had him
enrolled among the cossacks 

tikhon did not like riding and always went on foot never lagging
behind the cavalry he was armed with a musketoon which he carried
rather as a joke a pike and an ax which latter he used as a wolf uses
its teeth with equal ease picking fleas out of its fur or crunching
thick bones tikhon with equal accuracy would split logs with blows at
arm's length or holding the head of the ax would cut thin little pegs
or carve spoons in denisov's party he held a peculiar and exceptional
position when anything particularly difficult or nasty had to be
done to push a cart out of the mud with one's shoulders pull a horse
out of a swamp by its tail skin it slink in among the french or walk
more than thirty miles in a day everybody pointed laughingly at tikhon 

 it won't hurt that devil he's as strong as a horse they said of him 

once a frenchman tikhon was trying to capture fired a pistol at him
and shot him in the fleshy part of the back that wound which tikhon
treated only with internal and external applications of vodka was the
subject of the liveliest jokes by the whole detachment jokes in which
tikhon readily joined 

 hallo mate never again gave you a twist the cossacks would banter
him and tikhon purposely writhing and making faces pretended to be
angry and swore at the french with the funniest curses the only effect
of this incident on tikhon was that after being wounded he seldom
brought in prisoners 

he was the bravest and most useful man in the party no one found more
opportunities for attacking no one captured or killed more frenchmen 
and consequently he was made the buffoon of all the cossacks and hussars
and willingly accepted that role now he had been sent by denisov
overnight to shamshevo to capture a tongue but whether because he
had not been content to take only one frenchman or because he had slept
through the night he had crept by day into some bushes right among the
french and as denisov had witnessed from above had been detected by
them 





chapter vi

after talking for some time with the esaul about next day's attack 
which now seeing how near they were to the french he seemed to have
definitely decided on denisov turned his horse and rode back 

 now my lad we'll go and get dwy he said to petya 

as they approached the watchhouse denisov stopped peering into the
forest among the trees a man with long legs and long swinging arms 
wearing a short jacket bast shoes and a kazan hat was approaching
with long light steps he had a musketoon over his shoulder and an ax
stuck in his girdle when he espied denisov he hastily threw something
into the bushes removed his sodden hat by its floppy brim and
approached his commander it was tikhon his wrinkled and pockmarked
face and narrow little eyes beamed with self satisfied merriment he
lifted his head high and gazed at denisov as if repressing a laugh 

 well where did you disappear to inquired denisov 

 where did i disappear to i went to get frenchmen answered tikhon
boldly and hurriedly in a husky but melodious bass voice 

 why did you push yourself in there by daylight you ass well why
haven't you taken one 

 oh i took one all right said tikhon 

 where is he 

 you see i took him first thing at dawn tikhon continued spreading
out his flat feet with outturned toes in their bast shoes i took him
into the forest then i see he's no good and think i'll go and fetch a
likelier one 

 you see what a wogue it's just as i thought said denisov to the
esaul why didn't you bwing that one 

 what was the good of bringing him tikhon interrupted hastily and
angrily that one wouldn't have done for you as if i don't know what
sort you want 

 what a bwute you are well 

 i went for another one tikhon continued and i crept like this
through the wood and lay down he suddenly lay down on his stomach
with a supple movement to show how he had done it one turned up and
i grabbed him like this he jumped up quickly and lightly come
along to the colonel i said he starts yelling and suddenly there
were four of them they rushed at me with their little swords so i went
for them with my ax this way what are you up to says i christ
be with you shouted tikhon waving his arms with an angry scowl and
throwing out his chest 

 yes we saw from the hill how you took to your heels through the
puddles said the esaul screwing up his glittering eyes 

petya badly wanted to laugh but noticed that they all refrained from
laughing he turned his eyes rapidly from tikhon's face to the esaul's
and denisov's unable to make out what it all meant 

 don't play the fool said denisov coughing angrily why didn't you
bwing the first one 

tikhon scratched his back with one hand and his head with the other 
then suddenly his whole face expanded into a beaming foolish grin 
disclosing a gap where he had lost a tooth that was why he was called
shcherbaty the gap toothed denisov smiled and petya burst into a peal
of merry laughter in which tikhon himself joined 

 oh but he was a regular good for nothing said tikhon the clothes
on him poor stuff how could i bring him and so rude your honor why 
he says i'm a general's son myself i won't go he says 

 you are a bwute said denisov i wanted to question 

 but i questioned him said tikhon he said he didn't know much 
 there are a lot of us he says but all poor stuff only soldiers in
name he says shout loud at them he says and you'll take
them all tikhon concluded looking cheerfully and resolutely into
denisov's eyes 

 i'll give you a hundwed sharp lashes that'll teach you to play the
fool said denisov severely 

 but why are you angry remonstrated tikhon just as if i'd never seen
your frenchmen only wait till it gets dark and i'll fetch you any of
them you want three if you like 

 well let's go said denisov and rode all the way to the watchhouse
in silence and frowning angrily 

tikhon followed behind and petya heard the cossacks laughing with him
and at him about some pair of boots he had thrown into the bushes 

when the fit of laughter that had seized him at tikhon's words and smile
had passed and petya realized for a moment that this tikhon had killed a
man he felt uneasy he looked round at the captive drummer boy and felt
a pang in his heart but this uneasiness lasted only a moment he felt
it necessary to hold his head higher to brace himself and to question
the esaul with an air of importance about tomorrow's undertaking that
he might not be unworthy of the company in which he found himself 

the officer who had been sent to inquire met denisov on the way with the
news that dolokhov was soon coming and that all was well with him 

denisov at once cheered up and calling petya to him said well tell
me about yourself 





chapter vii

petya having left his people after their departure from moscow joined
his regiment and was soon taken as orderly by a general commanding a
large guerrilla detachment from the time he received his commission 
and especially since he had joined the active army and taken part in
the battle of vyazma petya had been in a constant state of blissful
excitement at being grown up and in a perpetual ecstatic hurry not to
miss any chance to do something really heroic he was highly delighted
with what he saw and experienced in the army but at the same time
it always seemed to him that the really heroic exploits were being
performed just where he did not happen to be and he was always in a
hurry to get where he was not 

when on the twenty first of october his general expressed a wish to send
somebody to denisov's detachment petya begged so piteously to be sent
that the general could not refuse but when dispatching him he recalled
petya's mad action at the battle of vyazma where instead of riding by
the road to the place to which he had been sent he had galloped to the
advanced line under the fire of the french and had there twice fired
his pistol so now the general explicitly forbade his taking part in any
action whatever of denisov's that was why petya had blushed and grown
confused when denisov asked him whether he could stay before they had
ridden to the outskirts of the forest petya had considered he must carry
out his instructions strictly and return at once but when he saw the
french and saw tikhon and learned that there would certainly be an
attack that night he decided with the rapidity with which young people
change their views that the general whom he had greatly respected till
then was a rubbishy german that denisov was a hero the esaul a hero 
and tikhon a hero too and that it would be shameful for him to leave
them at a moment of difficulty 

it was already growing dusk when denisov petya and the esaul rode up
to the watchhouse in the twilight saddled horses could be seen and
cossacks and hussars who had rigged up rough shelters in the glade and
were kindling glowing fires in a hollow of the forest where the french
could not see the smoke in the passage of the small watchhouse a
cossack with sleeves rolled up was chopping some mutton in the room
three officers of denisov's band were converting a door into a tabletop 
petya took off his wet clothes gave them to be dried and at once began
helping the officers to fix up the dinner table 

in ten minutes the table was ready and a napkin spread on it on the
table were vodka a flask of rum white bread roast mutton and salt 

sitting at table with the officers and tearing the fat savory mutton
with his hands down which the grease trickled petya was in an ecstatic
childish state of love for all men and consequently of confidence that
others loved him in the same way 

 so then what do you think vasili dmitrich said he to denisov it's
all right my staying a day with you and not waiting for a reply he
answered his own question you see i was told to find out well i am
finding out only do let me into the very into the chief i
don't want a reward but i want 

petya clenched his teeth and looked around throwing back his head and
flourishing his arms 

 into the vewy chief denisov repeated with a smile 

 only please let me command something so that i may really command 
petya went on what would it be to you oh you want a knife he
said turning to an officer who wished to cut himself a piece of mutton 

and he handed him his clasp knife the officer admired it 

 please keep it i have several like it said petya blushing 
 heavens i was quite forgetting he suddenly cried i have some
raisins fine ones you know seedless ones we have a new sutler and
he has such capital things i bought ten pounds i am used to something
sweet would you like some and petya ran out into the passage to
his cossack and brought back some bags which contained about five pounds
of raisins have some gentlemen have some 

 you want a coffeepot don't you he asked the esaul i bought a
capital one from our sutler he has splendid things and he's very
honest that's the chief thing i'll be sure to send it to you or
perhaps your flints are giving out or are worn out that happens
sometimes you know i have brought some with me here they are and he
showed a bag a hundred flints i bought them very cheap please take as
many as you want or all if you like 

then suddenly dismayed lest he had said too much petya stopped and
blushed 

he tried to remember whether he had not done anything else that was
foolish and running over the events of the day he remembered the french
drummer boy it's capital for us here but what of him where have they
put him have they fed him haven't they hurt his feelings he thought 
but having caught himself saying too much about the flints he was now
afraid to speak out 

 i might ask he thought but they'll say he's a boy himself and so
he pities the boy i'll show them tomorrow whether i'm a boy will it
seem odd if i ask petya thought well never mind and immediately 
blushing and looking anxiously at the officers to see if they appeared
ironical he said 

 may i call in that boy who was taken prisoner and give him something to
eat perhaps 

 yes he's a poor little fellow said denisov who evidently saw
nothing shameful in this reminder call him in his name is vincent
bosse have him fetched 

 i'll call him said petya 

 yes yes call him a poor little fellow denisov repeated 

petya was standing at the door when denisov said this he slipped in
between the officers came close to denisov and said 

 let me kiss you dear old fellow oh how fine how splendid 

and having kissed denisov he ran out of the hut 

 bosse vincent petya cried stopping outside the door 

 who do you want sir asked a voice in the darkness 

petya replied that he wanted the french lad who had been captured that
day 

 ah vesenny said a cossack 

vincent the boy's name had already been changed by the cossacks into
vesenny vernal and into vesenya by the peasants and soldiers in both
these adaptations the reference to spring vesna matched the impression
made by the young lad 

 he is warming himself there by the bonfire ho vesenya 
vesenya vesenny laughing voices were heard calling to one another in
the darkness 

 he's a smart lad said an hussar standing near petya we gave him
something to eat a while ago he was awfully hungry 

the sound of bare feet splashing through the mud was heard in the
darkness and the drummer boy came to the door 

 ah c'est vous said petya voulez vous manger n'ayez pas peur on
ne vous fera pas de mal he added shyly and affectionately touching
the boy's hand entrez entrez 2 

 ah it's you do you want something to eat don't be
 afraid they won't hurt you 

 2 come in come in 


 merci monsieur said the drummer boy in a trembling almost childish
voice and he began scraping his dirty feet on the threshold 

 thank you sir 


there were many things petya wanted to say to the drummer boy but did
not dare to he stood irresolutely beside him in the passage then in
the darkness he took the boy's hand and pressed it 

 come in come in he repeated in a gentle whisper oh what can i do
for him he thought and opening the door he let the boy pass in first 

when the boy had entered the hut petya sat down at a distance from
him considering it beneath his dignity to pay attention to him but
he fingered the money in his pocket and wondered whether it would seem
ridiculous to give some to the drummer boy 





chapter viii

the arrival of dolokhov diverted petya's attention from the drummer boy 
to whom denisov had had some mutton and vodka given and whom he had had
dressed in a russian coat so that he might be kept with their band and
not sent away with the other prisoners petya had heard in the army many
stories of dolokhov's extraordinary bravery and of his cruelty to the
french so from the moment he entered the hut petya did not take his
eyes from him but braced himself up more and more and held his head
high that he might not be unworthy even of such company 

dolokhov's appearance amazed petya by its simplicity 

denisov wore a cossack coat had a beard had an icon of nicholas the
wonder worker on his breast and his way of speaking and everything he
did indicated his unusual position but dolokhov who in moscow had worn
a persian costume had now the appearance of a most correct officer of
the guards he was clean shaven and wore a guardsman's padded coat with
an order of st george at his buttonhole and a plain forage cap set
straight on his head he took off his wet felt cloak in a corner of
the room and without greeting anyone went up to denisov and began
questioning him about the matter in hand denisov told him of the
designs the large detachments had on the transport of the message petya
had brought and his own replies to both generals then he told him all
he knew of the french detachment 

 that's so but we must know what troops they are and their numbers 
said dolokhov it will be necessary to go there we can't start the
affair without knowing for certain how many there are i like to work
accurately here now wouldn't one of these gentlemen like to ride over
to the french camp with me i have brought a spare uniform 

 i i i'll go with you cried petya 

 there's no need for you to go at all said denisov addressing
dolokhov and as for him i won't let him go on any account 

 i like that exclaimed petya why shouldn't i go 

 because it's useless 

 well you must excuse me because because i shall go and that's
all you'll take me won't you he said turning to dolokhov 

 why not dolokhov answered absently scrutinizing the face of the
french drummer boy have you had that youngster with you long he
asked denisov 

 he was taken today but he knows nothing i'm keeping him with me 

 yes and where do you put the others inquired dolokhov 

 where i send them away and take a weceipt for them shouted denisov 
suddenly flushing and i say boldly that i have not a single man's life
on my conscience would it be difficult for you to send thirty or
thwee hundwed men to town under escort instead of staining i speak
bluntly staining the honor of a soldier 

 that kind of amiable talk would be suitable from this young count of
sixteen said dolokhov with cold irony but it's time for you to drop
it 

 why i've not said anything i only say that i'll certainly go with
you said petya shyly 

 but for you and me old fellow it's time to drop these amenities 
continued dolokhov as if he found particular pleasure in speaking of
this subject which irritated denisov now why have you kept this lad 
he went on swaying his head because you are sorry for him don't we
know those receipts of yours you send a hundred men away and thirty
get there the rest either starve or get killed so isn't it all the
same not to send them 

the esaul screwing up his light colored eyes nodded approvingly 

 that's not the point i'm not going to discuss the matter i do not
wish to take it on my conscience you say they'll die all wight only
not by my fault 

dolokhov began laughing 

 who has told them not to capture me these twenty times over but if
they did catch me they'd string me up to an aspen tree and with all
your chivalry just the same he paused however we must get to work 
tell the cossack to fetch my kit i have two french uniforms in it 
well are you coming with me he asked petya 

 i yes yes certainly cried petya blushing almost to tears and
glancing at denisov 

while dolokhov had been disputing with denisov what should be done with
prisoners petya had once more felt awkward and restless but again he
had no time to grasp fully what they were talking about if grown up 
distinguished men think so it must be necessary and right thought he 
 but above all denisov must not dare to imagine that i'll obey him and
that he can order me about i will certainly go to the french camp with
dolokhov if he can so can i 

and to all denisov's persuasions petya replied that he too was
accustomed to do everything accurately and not just anyhow and that he
never considered personal danger 

 for you'll admit that if we don't know for sure how many of them there
are hundreds of lives may depend on it while there are only two
of us besides i want to go very much and certainly will go so don't
hinder me said he it will only make things worse 





chapter ix

having put on french greatcoats and shakos petya and dolokhov rode to
the clearing from which denisov had reconnoitered the french camp 
and emerging from the forest in pitch darkness they descended into the
hollow on reaching the bottom dolokhov told the cossacks accompanying
him to await him there and rode on at a quick trot along the road to the
bridge petya his heart in his mouth with excitement rode by his side 

 if we're caught i won't be taken alive i have a pistol whispered
he 

 don't talk russian said dolokhov in a hurried whisper and at that
very moment they heard through the darkness the challenge qui vive 
and the click of a musket 

 who goes there 


the blood rushed to petya's face and he grasped his pistol 

 lanciers du 6 me replied dolokhov neither hastening nor slackening
his horse's pace 

 lancers of the 6th regiment 


the black figure of a sentinel stood on the bridge 

 mot d'ordre 

 password 


dolokhov reined in his horse and advanced at a walk 

 dites donc le colonel gerard est ici he asked 

 tell me is colonel gerard here 


 mot d'ordre repeated the sentinel barring the way and not replying 

 quand un officier fait sa ronde les sentinelles ne demandent pas le
mot d'ordre cried dolokhov suddenly flaring up and riding straight
at the sentinel je vous demande si le colonel est ici 

 when an officer is making his round sentinels don't ask
 him for the password i am asking you if the colonel is
 here 


and without waiting for an answer from the sentinel who had stepped
aside dolokhov rode up the incline at a walk 

noticing the black outline of a man crossing the road dolokhov stopped
him and inquired where the commander and officers were the man 
a soldier with a sack over his shoulder stopped came close up to
dolokhov's horse touched it with his hand and explained simply and in
a friendly way that the commander and the officers were higher up
the hill to the right in the courtyard of the farm as he called the
landowner's house 

having ridden up the road on both sides of which french talk could be
heard around the campfires dolokhov turned into the courtyard of the
landowner's house having ridden in he dismounted and approached a
big blazing campfire around which sat several men talking noisily 
something was boiling in a small cauldron at the edge of the fire and
a soldier in a peaked cap and blue overcoat lit up by the fire was
kneeling beside it stirring its contents with a ramrod 

 oh he's a hard nut to crack said one of the officers who was sitting
in the shadow at the other side of the fire 

 he'll make them get a move on those fellows said another laughing 

both fell silent peering out through the darkness at the sound of
dolokhov's and petya's steps as they advanced to the fire leading their
horses 

 bonjour messieurs said dolokhov loudly and clearly 

 good day gentlemen 


there was a stir among the officers in the shadow beyond the fire 
and one tall long necked officer walking round the fire came up to
dolokhov 

 is that you clement he asked where the devil but noticing
his mistake he broke off short and with a frown greeted dolokhov as a
stranger asking what he could do for him 

dolokhov said that he and his companion were trying to overtake their
regiment and addressing the company in general asked whether they knew
anything of the 6th regiment none of them knew anything and petya
thought the officers were beginning to look at him and dolokhov with
hostility and suspicion for some seconds all were silent 

 if you were counting on the evening soup you have come too late said
a voice from behind the fire with a repressed laugh 

dolokhov replied that they were not hungry and must push on farther that
night 

he handed the horses over to the soldier who was stirring the pot and
squatted down on his heels by the fire beside the officer with the long
neck that officer did not take his eyes from dolokhov and again asked
to what regiment he belonged dolokhov as if he had not heard the
question did not reply but lighting a short french pipe which he took
from his pocket began asking the officer in how far the road before them
was safe from cossacks 

 those brigands are everywhere replied an officer from behind the
fire 

dolokhov remarked that the cossacks were a danger only to stragglers
such as his companion and himself but probably they would not dare to
attack large detachments he added inquiringly no one replied 

 well now he'll come away petya thought every moment as he stood by
the campfire listening to the talk 

but dolokhov restarted the conversation which had dropped and began
putting direct questions as to how many men there were in the battalion 
how many battalions and how many prisoners asking about the russian
prisoners with that detachment dolokhov said 

 a horrid business dragging these corpses about with one it would be
better to shoot such rabble and burst into loud laughter so strange
that petya thought the french would immediately detect their disguise 
and involuntarily took a step back from the campfire 

no one replied a word to dolokhov's laughter and a french officer whom
they could not see he lay wrapped in a greatcoat rose and whispered
something to a companion dolokhov got up and called to the soldier who
was holding their horses 

 will they bring our horses or not thought petya instinctively
drawing nearer to dolokhov 

the horses were brought 

 good evening gentlemen said dolokhov 

petya wished to say good night but could not utter a word the
officers were whispering together dolokhov was a long time mounting
his horse which would not stand still then he rode out of the yard at a
footpace petya rode beside him longing to look round to see whether or
not the french were running after them but not daring to 

coming out onto the road dolokhov did not ride back across the open
country but through the village at one spot he stopped and listened 
 do you hear he asked petya recognized the sound of russian voices
and saw the dark figures of russian prisoners round their campfires 
when they had descended to the bridge petya and dolokhov rode past the
sentinel who without saying a word paced morosely up and down it then
they descended into the hollow where the cossacks awaited them 

 well now good by tell denisov at the first shot at daybreak said
dolokhov and was about to ride away but petya seized hold of him 

 really he cried you are such a hero oh how fine how splendid 
how i love you 

 all right all right said dolokhov but petya did not let go of him
and dolokhov saw through the gloom that petya was bending toward him and
wanted to kiss him dolokhov kissed him laughed turned his horse and
vanished into the darkness 





chapter x

having returned to the watchman's hut petya found denisov in the
passage he was awaiting petya's return in a state of agitation 
anxiety and self reproach for having let him go 

 thank god he exclaimed yes thank god he repeated listening to
petya's rapturous account but devil take you i haven't slept because
of you well thank god now lie down we can still get a nap before
morning 

 but no said petya i don't want to sleep yet besides i know
myself if i fall asleep it's finished and then i am used to not
sleeping before a battle 

he sat awhile in the hut joyfully recalling the details of his
expedition and vividly picturing to himself what would happen next day 

then noticing that denisov was asleep he rose and went out of doors 

it was still quite dark outside the rain was over but drops were still
falling from the trees near the watchman's hut the black shapes of the
cossacks shanties and of horses tethered together could be seen behind
the hut the dark shapes of the two wagons with their horses beside them
were discernible and in the hollow the dying campfire gleamed red 
not all the cossacks and hussars were asleep here and there amid the
sounds of falling drops and the munching of the horses near by could be
heard low voices which seemed to be whispering 

petya came out peered into the darkness and went up to the wagons 
someone was snoring under them and around them stood saddled horses
munching their oats in the dark petya recognized his own horse which
he called karabakh though it was of ukranian breed and went up to it 

 well karabakh we'll do some service tomorrow said he sniffing its
nostrils and kissing it 

 why aren't you asleep sir said a cossack who was sitting under a
wagon 

 no ah likhachev isn't that your name do you know i have only just
come back we've been into the french camp 

and petya gave the cossack a detailed account not only of his ride but
also of his object and why he considered it better to risk his life
than to act just anyhow 

 well you should get some sleep now said the cossack 

 no i am used to this said petya i say aren't the flints in your
pistols worn out i brought some with me don't you want any you can
have some 

the cossack bent forward from under the wagon to get a closer look at
petya 

 because i am accustomed to doing everything accurately said petya 
 some fellows do things just anyhow without preparation and then
they're sorry for it afterwards i don't like that 

 just so said the cossack 

 oh yes another thing please my dear fellow will you sharpen my
saber for me it's got bl petya feared to tell a lie and the saber
never had been sharpened can you do it 

 of course i can 

likhachev got up rummaged in his pack and soon petya heard the warlike
sound of steel on whetstone he climbed onto the wagon and sat on its
edge the cossack was sharpening the saber under the wagon 

 i say are the lads asleep asked petya 

 some are and some aren't like us 

 well and that boy 

 vesenny oh he's thrown himself down there in the passage fast asleep
after his fright he was that glad 

after that petya remained silent for a long time listening to the
sounds he heard footsteps in the darkness and a black figure appeared 

 what are you sharpening asked a man coming up to the wagon 

 why this gentleman's saber 

 that's right said the man whom petya took to be an hussar was the
cup left here 

 there by the wheel 

the hussar took the cup 

 it must be daylight soon said he yawning and went away 

petya ought to have known that he was in a forest with denisov's
guerrilla band less than a mile from the road sitting on a wagon
captured from the french beside which horses were tethered that under
it likhachev was sitting sharpening a saber for him that the big dark
blotch to the right was the watchman's hut and the red blotch below to
the left was the dying embers of a campfire that the man who had come
for the cup was an hussar who wanted a drink but he neither knew nor
waited to know anything of all this he was in a fairy kingdom where
nothing resembled reality the big dark blotch might really be the
watchman's hut or it might be a cavern leading to the very depths of
the earth perhaps the red spot was a fire or it might be the eye of an
enormous monster perhaps he was really sitting on a wagon but it might
very well be that he was not sitting on a wagon but on a terribly high
tower from which if he fell he would have to fall for a whole day or a
whole month or go on falling and never reach the bottom perhaps it
was just the cossack likhachev who was sitting under the wagon but it
might be the kindest bravest most wonderful most splendid man in the
world whom no one knew of it might really have been that the hussar
came for water and went back into the hollow but perhaps he had simply
vanished disappeared altogether and dissolved into nothingness 

nothing petya could have seen now would have surprised him he was in a
fairy kingdom where everything was possible 

he looked up at the sky and the sky was a fairy realm like the earth 
it was clearing and over the tops of the trees clouds were swiftly
sailing as if unveiling the stars sometimes it looked as if the clouds
were passing and a clear black sky appeared sometimes it seemed as
if the black spaces were clouds sometimes the sky seemed to be rising
high high overhead and then it seemed to sink so low that one could
touch it with one's hand 

petya's eyes began to close and he swayed a little 

the trees were dripping quiet talking was heard the horses neighed and
jostled one another someone snored 

 ozheg zheg ozheg zheg hissed the saber against the whetstone 
and suddenly petya heard an harmonious orchestra playing some unknown 
sweetly solemn hymn petya was as musical as natasha and more so than
nicholas but had never learned music or thought about it and so the
melody that unexpectedly came to his mind seemed to him particularly
fresh and attractive the music became more and more audible the melody
grew and passed from one instrument to another and what was played was
a fugue though petya had not the least conception of what a fugue is 
each instrument now resembling a violin and now a horn but better
and clearer than violin or horn played its own part and before it had
finished the melody merged with another instrument that began almost the
same air and then with a third and a fourth and they all blended into
one and again became separate and again blended now into solemn church
music now into something dazzlingly brilliant and triumphant 

 oh why that was in a dream petya said to himself as he lurched
forward it's in my ears but perhaps it's music of my own well go
on my music now 

he closed his eyes and from all sides as if from a distance sounds
fluttered grew into harmonies separated blended and again all
mingled into the same sweet and solemn hymn oh this is delightful 
as much as i like and as i like said petya to himself he tried to
conduct that enormous orchestra 

 now softly softly die away and the sounds obeyed him now fuller 
more joyful still more and more joyful and from an unknown depth rose
increasingly triumphant sounds now voices join in ordered petya and
at first from afar he heard men's voices and then women's the voices
grew in harmonious triumphant strength and petya listened to their
surpassing beauty in awe and joy 

with a solemn triumphal march there mingled a song the drip from the
trees and the hissing of the saber ozheg zheg zheg and again the
horses jostled one another and neighed not disturbing the choir but
joining in it 

petya did not know how long this lasted he enjoyed himself all the
time wondered at his enjoyment and regretted that there was no one to
share it he was awakened by likhachev's kindly voice 

 it's ready your honor you can split a frenchman in half with it 

petya woke up 

 it's getting light it's really getting light he exclaimed 

the horses that had previously been invisible could now be seen to their
very tails and a watery light showed itself through the bare branches 
petya shook himself jumped up took a ruble from his pocket and gave it
to likhachev then he flourished the saber tested it and sheathed
it the cossacks were untying their horses and tightening their saddle
girths 

 and here's the commander said likhachev 

denisov came out of the watchman's hut and having called petya gave
orders to get ready 





chapter xi

the men rapidly picked out their horses in the semidarkness tightened
their saddle girths and formed companies denisov stood by the
watchman's hut giving final orders the infantry of the detachment
passed along the road and quickly disappeared amid the trees in the mist
of early dawn hundreds of feet splashing through the mud the esaul
gave some orders to his men petya held his horse by the bridle 
impatiently awaiting the order to mount his face having been bathed
in cold water was all aglow and his eyes were particularly brilliant 
cold shivers ran down his spine and his whole body pulsed rhythmically 

 well is ev'wything weady asked denisov bwing the horses 

the horses were brought denisov was angry with the cossack because the
saddle girths were too slack reproved him and mounted petya put his
foot in the stirrup his horse by habit made as if to nip his leg but
petya leaped quickly into the saddle unconscious of his own weight and 
turning to look at the hussars starting in the darkness behind him rode
up to denisov 

 vasili dmitrich entrust me with some commission please for god's
sake said he 

denisov seemed to have forgotten petya's very existence he turned to
glance at him 

 i ask one thing of you he said sternly to obey me and not shove
yourself forward anywhere 

he did not say another word to petya but rode in silence all the way 
when they had come to the edge of the forest it was noticeably growing
light over the field denisov talked in whispers with the esaul and
the cossacks rode past petya and denisov when they had all ridden by 
denisov touched his horse and rode down the hill slipping onto their
haunches and sliding the horses descended with their riders into the
ravine petya rode beside denisov the pulsation of his body constantly
increasing it was getting lighter and lighter but the mist still hid
distant objects having reached the valley denisov looked back and
nodded to a cossack beside him 

 the signal said he 

the cossack raised his arm and a shot rang out in an instant the tramp
of horses galloping forward was heard shouts came from various sides 
and then more shots 

at the first sound of trampling hoofs and shouting petya lashed his
horse and loosening his rein galloped forward not heeding denisov who
shouted at him it seemed to petya that at the moment the shot was
fired it suddenly became as bright as noon he galloped to the bridge 
cossacks were galloping along the road in front of him on the bridge
he collided with a cossack who had fallen behind but he galloped on 
in front of him soldiers probably frenchmen were running from right
to left across the road one of them fell in the mud under his horse's
feet 

cossacks were crowding about a hut busy with something from the midst
of that crowd terrible screams arose petya galloped up and the
first thing he saw was the pale face and trembling jaw of a frenchman 
clutching the handle of a lance that had been aimed at him 

 hurrah lads ours shouted petya and giving rein to his
excited horse he galloped forward along the village street 

he could hear shooting ahead of him cossacks hussars and ragged
russian prisoners who had come running from both sides of the road 
were shouting something loudly and incoherently a gallant looking
frenchman in a blue overcoat capless and with a frowning red face 
had been defending himself against the hussars when petya galloped
up the frenchman had already fallen too late again flashed through
petya's mind and he galloped on to the place from which the rapid firing
could be heard the shots came from the yard of the landowner's house
he had visited the night before with dolokhov the french were making
a stand there behind a wattle fence in a garden thickly overgrown with
bushes and were firing at the cossacks who crowded at the gateway 
through the smoke as he approached the gate petya saw dolokhov whose
face was of a pale greenish tint shouting to his men go round wait
for the infantry he exclaimed as petya rode up to him 

 wait hurrah ah ah shouted petya and without pausing a moment
galloped to the place whence came the sounds of firing and where the
smoke was thickest 

a volley was heard and some bullets whistled past while others plashed
against something the cossacks and dolokhov galloped after petya into
the gateway of the courtyard in the dense wavering smoke some of the
french threw down their arms and ran out of the bushes to meet the
cossacks while others ran down the hill toward the pond petya was
galloping along the courtyard but instead of holding the reins he waved
both his arms about rapidly and strangely slipping farther and farther
to one side in his saddle his horse having galloped up to a campfire
that was smoldering in the morning light stopped suddenly and petya
fell heavily on to the wet ground the cossacks saw that his arms and
legs jerked rapidly though his head was quite motionless a bullet had
pierced his skull 

after speaking to the senior french officer who came out of the house
with a white handkerchief tied to his sword and announced that
they surrendered dolokhov dismounted and went up to petya who lay
motionless with outstretched arms 

 done for he said with a frown and went to the gate to meet denisov
who was riding toward him 

 killed cried denisov recognizing from a distance the unmistakably
lifeless attitude very familiar to him in which petya's body was lying 

 done for repeated dolokhov as if the utterance of these words
afforded him pleasure and he went quickly up to the prisoners who
were surrounded by cossacks who had hurried up we won't take them he
called out to denisov 

denisov did not reply he rode up to petya dismounted and with
trembling hands turned toward himself the bloodstained mud bespattered
face which had already gone white 

 i am used to something sweet raisins fine ones take them all he
recalled petya's words and the cossacks looked round in surprise at the
sound like the yelp of a dog with which denisov turned away walked to
the wattle fence and seized hold of it 

among the russian prisoners rescued by denisov and dolokhov was pierre
bezukhov 





chapter xii

during the whole of their march from moscow no fresh orders had been
issued by the french authorities concerning the party of prisoners
among whom was pierre on the twenty second of october that party was
no longer with the same troops and baggage trains with which it had left
moscow half the wagons laden with hardtack that had traveled the first
stages with them had been captured by cossacks the other half had gone
on ahead not one of those dismounted cavalrymen who had marched in
front of the prisoners was left they had all disappeared the artillery
the prisoners had seen in front of them during the first days was
now replaced by marshal junot's enormous baggage train convoyed by
westphalians behind the prisoners came a cavalry baggage train 

from vyazma onwards the french army which had till then moved in three
columns went on as a single group the symptoms of disorder that pierre
had noticed at their first halting place after leaving moscow had now
reached the utmost limit 

the road along which they moved was bordered on both sides by dead
horses ragged men who had fallen behind from various regiments
continually changed about now joining the moving column now again
lagging behind it 

several times during the march false alarms had been given and the
soldiers of the escort had raised their muskets fired and run
headlong crushing one another but had afterwards reassembled and
abused each other for their causeless panic 

these three groups traveling together the cavalry stores the convoy of
prisoners and junot's baggage train still constituted a separate and
united whole though each of the groups was rapidly melting away 

of the artillery baggage train which had consisted of a hundred and
twenty wagons not more than sixty now remained the rest had been
captured or left behind some of junot's wagons also had been captured
or abandoned three wagons had been raided and robbed by stragglers
from davout's corps from the talk of the germans pierre learned that
a larger guard had been allotted to that baggage train than to the
prisoners and that one of their comrades a german soldier had been
shot by the marshal's own order because a silver spoon belonging to the
marshal had been found in his possession 

the group of prisoners had melted away most of all of the three hundred
and thirty men who had set out from moscow fewer than a hundred now
remained the prisoners were more burdensome to the escort than even the
cavalry saddles or junot's baggage they understood that the saddles and
junot's spoon might be of some use but that cold and hungry soldiers
should have to stand and guard equally cold and hungry russians who
froze and lagged behind on the road in which case the order was to
shoot them was not merely incomprehensible but revolting and the
escort as if afraid in the grievous condition they themselves were in 
of giving way to the pity they felt for the prisoners and so rendering
their own plight still worse treated them with particular moroseness
and severity 

at dorogobuzh while the soldiers of the convoy after locking the
prisoners in a stable had gone off to pillage their own stores several
of the soldier prisoners tunneled under the wall and ran away but were
recaptured by the french and shot 

the arrangement adopted when they started that the officer prisoners
should be kept separate from the rest had long since been abandoned 
all who could walk went together and after the third stage pierre had
rejoined karataev and the gray blue bandy legged dog that had chosen
karataev for its master 

on the third day after leaving moscow karataev again fell ill with the
fever he had suffered from in the hospital in moscow and as he grew
gradually weaker pierre kept away from him pierre did not know why but
since karataev had begun to grow weaker it had cost him an effort to
go near him when he did so and heard the subdued moaning with which
karataev generally lay down at the halting places and when he smelled
the odor emanating from him which was now stronger than before pierre
moved farther away and did not think about him 

while imprisoned in the shed pierre had learned not with his intellect
but with his whole being by life itself that man is created for
happiness that happiness is within him in the satisfaction of simple
human needs and that all unhappiness arises not from privation but from
superfluity and now during these last three weeks of the march he had
learned still another new consolatory truth that nothing in this world
is terrible he had learned that as there is no condition in which man
can be happy and entirely free so there is no condition in which he
need be unhappy and lack freedom he learned that suffering and freedom
have their limits and that those limits are very near together that the
person in a bed of roses with one crumpled petal suffered as keenly as
he now sleeping on the bare damp earth with one side growing chilled
while the other was warming and that when he had put on tight dancing
shoes he had suffered just as he did now when he walked with bare feet
that were covered with sores his footgear having long since fallen to
pieces he discovered that when he had married his wife of his own free
will as it had seemed to him he had been no more free than now when they
locked him up at night in a stable of all that he himself subsequently
termed his sufferings but which at the time he scarcely felt the worst
was the state of his bare raw and scab covered feet the horseflesh
was appetizing and nourishing the saltpeter flavor of the gunpowder
they used instead of salt was even pleasant there was no great cold 
it was always warm walking in the daytime and at night there were the
campfires the lice that devoured him warmed his body the one thing
that was at first hard to bear was his feet 

after the second day's march pierre having examined his feet by the
campfire thought it would be impossible to walk on them but when
everybody got up he went along limping and when he had warmed up 
walked without feeling the pain though at night his feet were more
terrible to look at than before however he did not look at them now 
but thought of other things 

only now did pierre realize the full strength of life in man and the
saving power he has of transferring his attention from one thing
to another which is like the safety valve of a boiler that allows
superfluous steam to blow off when the pressure exceeds a certain limit 

he did not see and did not hear how they shot the prisoners who lagged
behind though more than a hundred perished in that way he did not
think of karataev who grew weaker every day and evidently would soon
have to share that fate still less did pierre think about himself the
harder his position became and the more terrible the future the more
independent of that position in which he found himself were the joyful
and comforting thoughts memories and imaginings that came to him 





chapter xiii

at midday on the twenty second of october pierre was going uphill along
the muddy slippery road looking at his feet and at the roughness of
the way occasionally he glanced at the familiar crowd around him and
then again at his feet the former and the latter were alike familiar
and his own the blue gray bandy legged dog ran merrily along the side
of the road sometimes in proof of its agility and self satisfaction
lifting one hind leg and hopping along on three and then again going on
all four and rushing to bark at the crows that sat on the carrion the
dog was merrier and sleeker than it had been in moscow all around lay
the flesh of different animals from men to horses in various stages of
decomposition and as the wolves were kept off by the passing men the
dog could eat all it wanted 

it had been raining since morning and had seemed as if at any moment it
might cease and the sky clear but after a short break it began raining
harder than before the saturated road no longer absorbed the water 
which ran along the ruts in streams 

pierre walked along looking from side to side counting his steps in
threes and reckoning them off on his fingers mentally addressing the
rain he repeated now then now then go on pelt harder 

it seemed to him that he was thinking of nothing but far down and
deep within him his soul was occupied with something important and
comforting this something was a most subtle spiritual deduction from a
conversation with karataev the day before 

at their yesterday's halting place feeling chilly by a dying campfire 
pierre had got up and gone to the next one which was burning better 
there platon karataev was sitting covered up head and all with his
greatcoat as if it were a vestment telling the soldiers in his
effective and pleasant though now feeble voice a story pierre knew it
was already past midnight the hour when karataev was usually free of
his fever and particularly lively when pierre reached the fire and
heard platon's voice enfeebled by illness and saw his pathetic face
brightly lit up by the blaze he felt a painful prick at his heart his
feeling of pity for this man frightened him and he wished to go away 
but there was no other fire and pierre sat down trying not to look at
platon 

 well how are you he asked 

 how am i if we grumble at sickness god won't grant us death replied
platon and at once resumed the story he had begun 

 and so brother he continued with a smile on his pale emaciated face
and a particularly happy light in his eyes you see brother 

pierre had long been familiar with that story karataev had told it
to him alone some half dozen times and always with a specially joyful
emotion but well as he knew it pierre now listened to that tale as to
something new and the quiet rapture karataev evidently felt as he told
it communicated itself also to pierre the story was of an old merchant
who lived a good and god fearing life with his family and who went once
to the nizhni fair with a companion a rich merchant 

having put up at an inn they both went to sleep and next morning his
companion was found robbed and with his throat cut a bloodstained knife
was found under the old merchant's pillow he was tried knouted and
his nostrils having been torn off all in due form as karataev put it 
he was sent to hard labor in siberia 

 and so brother it was at this point that pierre came up ten years
or more passed by the old man was living as a convict submitting as
he should and doing no wrong only he prayed to god for death well one
night the convicts were gathered just as we are with the old man among
them and they began telling what each was suffering for and how they
had sinned against god one told how he had taken a life another had
taken two a third had set a house on fire while another had simply
been a vagrant and had done nothing so they asked the old man what
are you being punished for daddy i my dear brothers said he am
being punished for my own and other men's sins but i have not killed
anyone or taken anything that was not mine but have only helped my
poorer brothers i was a merchant my dear brothers and had much
property and he went on to tell them all about it in due order i
don't grieve for myself he says god it seems has chastened me 
only i am sorry for my old wife and the children and the old man began
to weep now it happened that in the group was the very man who had
killed the other merchant where did it happen daddy he said when 
and in what month he asked all about it and his heart began to ache 
so he comes up to the old man like this and falls down at his feet 
 you are perishing because of me daddy he says it's quite true 
lads that this man he says is being tortured innocently and for
nothing i he says did that deed and i put the knife under your
head while you were asleep forgive me daddy he says for christ's
sake 

karataev paused smiling joyously as he gazed into the fire and he drew
the logs together 

 and the old man said god will forgive you we are all sinners in his
sight i suffer for my own sins and he wept bitter tears well 
and what do you think dear friends karataev continued his face
brightening more and more with a rapturous smile as if what he now had
to tell contained the chief charm and the whole meaning of his story 
 what do you think dear fellows that murderer confessed to the
authorities i have taken six lives he says he was a great sinner 
 but what i am most sorry for is this old man don't let him suffer
because of me so he confessed and it was all written down and the
papers sent off in due form the place was a long way off and while
they were judging what with one thing and another filling in the
papers all in due form the authorities i mean time passed the affair
reached the tsar after a while the tsar's decree came to set the
merchant free and give him a compensation that had been awarded the
paper arrived and they began to look for the old man where is the old
man who has been suffering innocently and in vain a paper has come from
the tsar so they began looking for him here karataev's lower jaw
trembled but god had already forgiven him he was dead that's how it
was dear fellows karataev concluded and sat for a long time silent 
gazing before him with a smile 

and pierre's soul was dimly but joyfully filled not by the story itself
but by its mysterious significance by the rapturous joy that lit up
karataev's face as he told it and the mystic significance of that joy 





chapter xiv

 a vos places suddenly cried a voice 

 to your places 


a pleasant feeling of excitement and an expectation of something
joyful and solemn was aroused among the soldiers of the convoy and the
prisoners from all sides came shouts of command and from the left came
smartly dressed cavalrymen on good horses passing the prisoners at a
trot the expression on all faces showed the tension people feel at the
approach of those in authority the prisoners thronged together and were
pushed off the road the convoy formed up 

 the emperor the emperor the marshal the duke and hardly had the
sleek cavalry passed before a carriage drawn by six gray horses rattled
by pierre caught a glimpse of a man in a three cornered hat with a
tranquil look on his handsome plump white face it was one of the
marshals his eye fell on pierre's large and striking figure and in
the expression with which he frowned and looked away pierre thought he
detected sympathy and a desire to conceal that sympathy 

the general in charge of the stores galloped after the carriage with a
red and frightened face whipping up his skinny horse several officers
formed a group and some soldiers crowded round them their faces all
looked excited and worried 

 what did he say what did he say pierre heard them ask 

while the marshal was passing the prisoners had huddled together in a
crowd and pierre saw karataev whom he had not yet seen that morning 
he sat in his short overcoat leaning against a birch tree on his face 
besides the look of joyful emotion it had worn yesterday while telling
the tale of the merchant who suffered innocently there was now an
expression of quiet solemnity 

karataev looked at pierre with his kindly round eyes now filled with
tears evidently wishing him to come near that he might say something to
him but pierre was not sufficiently sure of himself he made as if he
did not notice that look and moved hastily away 

when the prisoners again went forward pierre looked round karataev
was still sitting at the side of the road under the birch tree and two
frenchmen were talking over his head pierre did not look round again
but went limping up the hill 

from behind where karataev had been sitting came the sound of a shot 
pierre heard it plainly but at that moment he remembered that he
had not yet finished reckoning up how many stages still remained to
smolensk a calculation he had begun before the marshal went by and he
again started reckoning two french soldiers ran past pierre one of
whom carried a lowered and smoking gun they both looked pale and
in the expression on their faces one of them glanced timidly at
pierre there was something resembling what he had seen on the face of
the young soldier at the execution pierre looked at the soldier and
remembered that two days before that man had burned his shirt while
drying it at the fire and how they had laughed at him 

behind him where karataev had been sitting the dog began to howl 
 what a stupid beast why is it howling thought pierre 

his comrades the prisoner soldiers walking beside him avoided looking
back at the place where the shot had been fired and the dog was howling 
just as pierre did but there was a set look on all their faces 





chapter xv

the stores the prisoners and the marshal's baggage train stopped at
the village of shamshevo the men crowded together round the campfires 
pierre went up to the fire ate some roast horseflesh lay down with his
back to the fire and immediately fell asleep he again slept as he had
done at mozhaysk after the battle of borodino 

again real events mingled with dreams and again someone he or another 
gave expression to his thoughts and even to the same thoughts that had
been expressed in his dream at mozhaysk 

 life is everything life is god everything changes and moves and that
movement is god and while there is life there is joy in consciousness
of the divine to love life is to love god harder and more blessed
than all else is to love this life in one's sufferings in innocent
sufferings 

 karataev came to pierre's mind 

and suddenly he saw vividly before him a long forgotten kindly old man
who had given him geography lessons in switzerland wait a bit said
the old man and showed pierre a globe this globe was alive a vibrating
ball without fixed dimensions its whole surface consisted of drops
closely pressed together and all these drops moved and changed places 
sometimes several of them merging into one sometimes one dividing
into many each drop tried to spread out and occupy as much space as
possible but others striving to do the same compressed it sometimes
destroyed it and sometimes merged with it 

 that is life said the old teacher 

 how simple and clear it is thought pierre how is it i did not know
it before 

 god is in the midst and each drop tries to expand so as to reflect
him to the greatest extent and it grows merges disappears from the
surface sinks to the depths and again emerges there now karataev
has spread out and disappeared do you understand my child said the
teacher 

 do you understand damn you shouted a voice and pierre woke up 

he lifted himself and sat up a frenchman who had just pushed a russian
soldier away was squatting by the fire engaged in roasting a piece
of meat stuck on a ramrod his sleeves were rolled up and his sinewy 
hairy red hands with their short fingers deftly turned the ramrod his
brown morose face with frowning brows was clearly visible by the glow of
the charcoal 

 it's all the same to him he muttered turning quickly to a soldier
who stood behind him brigand get away 

and twisting the ramrod he looked gloomily at pierre who turned
away and gazed into the darkness a prisoner the russian soldier the
frenchman had pushed away was sitting near the fire patting something
with his hand looking more closely pierre recognized the blue gray dog 
sitting beside the soldier wagging its tail 

 ah he's come said pierre and plat he began but did not finish 

suddenly and simultaneously a crowd of memories awoke in his fancy of
the look platon had given him as he sat under the tree of the shot
heard from that spot of the dog's howl of the guilty faces of the two
frenchmen as they ran past him of the lowered and smoking gun and of
karataev's absence at this halt and he was on the point of realizing
that karataev had been killed but just at that instant he knew not
why the recollection came to his mind of a summer evening he had spent
with a beautiful polish lady on the veranda of his house in kiev and
without linking up the events of the day or drawing a conclusion
from them pierre closed his eyes seeing a vision of the country in
summertime mingled with memories of bathing and of the liquid vibrating
globe and he sank into water so that it closed over his head 

before sunrise he was awakened by shouts and loud and rapid firing 
french soldiers were running past him 

 the cossacks one of them shouted and a moment later a crowd of
russians surrounded pierre 

for a long time he could not understand what was happening to him all
around he heard his comrades sobbing with joy 

 brothers dear fellows darlings old soldiers exclaimed weeping as
they embraced cossacks and hussars 

the hussars and cossacks crowded round the prisoners one offered them
clothes another boots and a third bread pierre sobbed as he sat
among them and could not utter a word he hugged the first soldier who
approached him and kissed him weeping 

dolokhov stood at the gate of the ruined house letting a crowd
of disarmed frenchmen pass by the french excited by all that had
happened were talking loudly among themselves but as they passed
dolokhov who gently switched his boots with his whip and watched them
with cold glassy eyes that boded no good they became silent on the
opposite side stood dolokhov's cossack counting the prisoners and
marking off each hundred with a chalk line on the gate 

 how many dolokhov asked the cossack 

 the second hundred replied the cossack 

 filez filez dolokhov kept saying having adopted this expression
from the french and when his eyes met those of the prisoners they
flashed with a cruel light 

 get along get along 


denisov bareheaded and with a gloomy face walked behind some cossacks
who were carrying the body of petya rostov to a hole that had been dug
in the garden 





chapter xvi

after the twenty eighth of october when the frosts began the flight of
the french assumed a still more tragic character with men freezing 
or roasting themselves to death at the campfires while carriages
with people dressed in furs continued to drive past carrying away the
property that had been stolen by the emperor kings and dukes but
the process of the flight and disintegration of the french army went on
essentially as before 

from moscow to vyazma the french army of seventy three thousand men not
reckoning the guards who did nothing during the whole war but pillage 
was reduced to thirty six thousand though not more than five thousand
had fallen in battle from this beginning the succeeding terms of the
progression could be determined mathematically the french army melted
away and perished at the same rate from moscow to vyazma from vyazma
to smolensk from smolensk to the berezina and from the berezina to
vilna independently of the greater or lesser intensity of the cold the
pursuit the barring of the way or any other particular conditions 
beyond vyazma the french army instead of moving in three columns huddled
together into one mass and so went on to the end berthier wrote to his
emperor we know how far commanding officers allow themselves to diverge
from the truth in describing the condition of an army and this is what
he said 


i deem it my duty to report to your majesty the condition of the various
corps i have had occasion to observe during different stages of the last
two or three days march they are almost disbanded scarcely a quarter
of the soldiers remain with the standards of their regiments the others
go off by themselves in different directions hoping to find food and
escape discipline in general they regard smolensk as the place where
they hope to recover during the last few days many of the men have been
seen to throw away their cartridges and their arms in such a state
of affairs whatever your ultimate plans may be the interest of your
majesty's service demands that the army should be rallied at smolensk
and should first of all be freed from ineffectives such as dismounted
cavalry unnecessary baggage and artillery material that is no longer
in proportion to the present forces the soldiers who are worn out with
hunger and fatigue need these supplies as well as a few days rest 
many have died these last days on the road or at the bivouacs this
state of things is continually becoming worse and makes one fear that
unless a prompt remedy is applied the troops will no longer be under
control in case of an engagement 

november 9 twenty miles from smolensk 


after staggering into smolensk which seemed to them a promised land the
french searching for food killed one another sacked their own stores 
and when everything had been plundered fled farther 

they all went without knowing whither or why they were going still less
did that genius napoleon know it for no one issued any orders to
him but still he and those about him retained their old habits wrote
commands letters reports and orders of the day called one another
sire mon cousin prince d'eckmuhl roi de naples and so on but these
orders and reports were only on paper nothing in them was acted upon
for they could not be carried out and though they entitled one
another majesties highnesses or cousins they all felt that they were
miserable wretches who had done much evil for which they had now to
pay and though they pretended to be concerned about the army each
was thinking only of himself and of how to get away quickly and save
himself 





chapter xvii

the movements of the russian and french armies during the campaign
from moscow back to the niemen were like those in a game of russian
blindman's buff in which two players are blindfolded and one of
them occasionally rings a little bell to inform the catcher of his
whereabouts first he rings his bell fearlessly but when he gets into
a tight place he runs away as quietly as he can and often thinking to
escape runs straight into his opponent's arms 

at first while they were still moving along the kaluga road napoleon's
armies made their presence known but later when they reached the
smolensk road they ran holding the clapper of their bell tight and often
thinking they were escaping ran right into the russians 

owing to the rapidity of the french flight and the russian pursuit
and the consequent exhaustion of the horses the chief means of
approximately ascertaining the enemy's position by cavalry scouting was
not available besides as a result of the frequent and rapid change of
position by each army even what information was obtained could not be
delivered in time if news was received one day that the enemy had been
in a certain position the day before by the third day when something
could have been done that army was already two days march farther on
and in quite another position 

one army fled and the other pursued beyond smolensk there were several
different roads available for the french and one would have thought
that during their stay of four days they might have learned where
the enemy was might have arranged some more advantageous plan and
undertaken something new but after a four days halt the mob with no
maneuvers or plans again began running along the beaten track neither
to the right nor to the left but along the old the worst road through
krasnoe and orsha 

expecting the enemy from behind and not in front the french separated
in their flight and spread out over a distance of twenty four hours in
front of them all fled the emperor then the kings then the dukes the
russian army expecting napoleon to take the road to the right beyond
the dnieper which was the only reasonable thing for him to do themselves
turned to the right and came out onto the highroad at krasnoe and here
as in a game of blindman's buff the french ran into our vanguard seeing
their enemy unexpectedly the french fell into confusion and stopped
short from the sudden fright but then they resumed their flight 
abandoning their comrades who were farther behind then for three days
separate portions of the french army first murat's the vice king's 
then davout's and then ney's ran as it were the gauntlet of the
russian army they abandoned one another abandoned all their heavy
baggage their artillery and half their men and fled getting past the
russians by night by making semicircles to the right 

ney who came last had been busying himself blowing up the walls of
smolensk which were in nobody's way because despite the unfortunate
plight of the french or because of it they wished to punish the floor
against which they had hurt themselves ney who had had a corps of ten
thousand men reached napoleon at orsha with only one thousand men left 
having abandoned all the rest and all his cannon and having crossed the
dnieper at night by stealth at a wooded spot 

from orsha they fled farther along the road to vilna still playing
at blindman's buff with the pursuing army at the berezina they again
became disorganized many were drowned and many surrendered but those
who got across the river fled farther their supreme chief donned a
fur coat and having seated himself in a sleigh galloped on alone 
abandoning his companions the others who could do so drove away too 
leaving those who could not to surrender or die 





chapter xviii

this campaign consisted in a flight of the french during which they did
all they could to destroy themselves from the time they turned onto
the kaluga road to the day their leader fled from the army none of the
movements of the crowd had any sense so one might have thought that
regarding this period of the campaign the historians who attributed
the actions of the mass to the will of one man would have found it
impossible to make the story of the retreat fit their theory but
no mountains of books have been written by the historians about this
campaign and everywhere are described napoleon's arrangements the
maneuvers and his profound plans which guided the army as well as the
military genius shown by his marshals 

the retreat from malo yaroslavets when he had a free road into a
well supplied district and the parallel road was open to him along
which kutuzov afterwards pursued him this unnecessary retreat along
a devastated road is explained to us as being due to profound
considerations similarly profound considerations are given for
his retreat from smolensk to orsha then his heroism at krasnoe is
described where he is reported to have been prepared to accept battle
and take personal command and to have walked about with a birch stick
and said 

 j'ai assez fait l'empereur il est temps de faire le general but
nevertheless immediately ran away again abandoning to its fate the
scattered fragments of the army he left behind 

 i have acted the emperor long enough it is time to act
 the general 


then we are told of the greatness of soul of the marshals especially
of ney a greatness of soul consisting in this that he made his way by
night around through the forest and across the dnieper and escaped to
orsha abandoning standards artillery and nine tenths of his men 

and lastly the final departure of the great emperor from his heroic
army is presented to us by the historians as something great and
characteristic of genius even that final running away described in
ordinary language as the lowest depth of baseness which every child
is taught to be ashamed of even that act finds justification in the
historians language 

when it is impossible to stretch the very elastic threads of historical
ratiocination any farther when actions are clearly contrary to all
that humanity calls right or even just the historians produce a saving
conception of greatness greatness it seems excludes the standards
of right and wrong for the great man nothing is wrong there is no
atrocity for which a great man can be blamed 

 c'est grand say the historians and there no longer exists either
good or evil but only grand and not grand grand is good not
grand is bad grand is the characteristic in their conception of some
special animals called heroes and napoleon escaping home in a warm
fur coat and leaving to perish those who were not merely his comrades
but were in his opinion men he had brought there feels que c'est
grand 2 and his soul is tranquil 

 it is great 

 2 that it is great 

 du sublime he saw something sublime in himself au ridicule il n'y
a qu'un pas said he and the whole world for fifty years has been
repeating sublime grand napoleon le grand du sublime au ridicule
il n'y a qu'un pas 

 from the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step 


and it occurs to no one that to admit a greatness not commensurable with
the standard of right and wrong is merely to admit one's own nothingness
and immeasurable meanness 

for us with the standard of good and evil given us by christ no human
actions are incommensurable and there is no greatness where simplicity 
goodness and truth are absent 





chapter xix

what russian reading the account of the last part of the campaign
of 1812 has not experienced an uncomfortable feeling of regret 
dissatisfaction and perplexity who has not asked himself how it is
that the french were not all captured or destroyed when our three armies
surrounded them in superior numbers when the disordered french hungry
and freezing surrendered in crowds and when as the historians relate 
the aim of the russians was to stop the french to cut them off and
capture them all 

how was it that the russian army which when numerically weaker than the
french had given battle at borodino did not achieve its purpose when it
had surrounded the french on three sides and when its aim was to capture
them can the french be so enormously superior to us that when we had
surrounded them with superior forces we could not beat them how could
that happen 

history or what is called by that name replying to these questions
says that this occurred because kutuzov and tormasov and chichagov and
this man and that man did not execute such and such maneuvers 

but why did they not execute those maneuvers and why if they were
guilty of not carrying out a prearranged plan were they not tried and
punished but even if we admitted that kutuzov chichagov and others
were the cause of the russian failures it is still incomprehensible
why the position of the russian army being what it was at krasnoe and
at the berezina in both cases we had superior forces the french army
with its marshals kings and emperor was not captured if that was what
the russians aimed at 

the explanation of this strange fact given by russian military
historians to the effect that kutuzov hindered an attack is unfounded 
for we know that he could not restrain the troops from attacking at
vyazma and tarutino 

why was the russian army which with inferior forces had withstood the
enemy in full strength at borodino defeated at krasnoe and the berezina
by the disorganized crowds of the french when it was numerically
superior 

if the aim of the russians consisted in cutting off and capturing
napoleon and his marshals and that aim was not merely frustrated but all
attempts to attain it were most shamefully baffled then this last period
of the campaign is quite rightly considered by the french to be a
series of victories and quite wrongly considered victorious by russian
historians 

the russian military historians in so far as they submit to claims
of logic must admit that conclusion and in spite of their lyrical
rhapsodies about valor devotion and so forth must reluctantly admit
that the french retreat from moscow was a series of victories for
napoleon and defeats for kutuzov 

but putting national vanity entirely aside one feels that such a
conclusion involves a contradiction since the series of french
victories brought the french complete destruction while the series
of russian defeats led to the total destruction of their enemy and the
liberation of their country 

the source of this contradiction lies in the fact that the historians
studying the events from the letters of the sovereigns and the generals 
from memoirs reports projects and so forth have attributed to this
last period of the war of 1812 an aim that never existed namely that of
cutting off and capturing napoleon with his marshals and his army 

there never was or could have been such an aim for it would have been
senseless and its attainment quite impossible 

it would have been senseless first because napoleon's disorganized
army was flying from russia with all possible speed that is to say was
doing just what every russian desired so what was the use of performing
various operations on the french who were running away as fast as they
possibly could 

secondly it would have been senseless to block the passage of men whose
whole energy was directed to flight 

thirdly it would have been senseless to sacrifice one's own troops in
order to destroy the french army which without external interference
was destroying itself at such a rate that though its path was not
blocked it could not carry across the frontier more than it actually
did in december namely a hundredth part of the original army 

fourthly it would have been senseless to wish to take captive the
emperor kings and dukes whose capture would have been in the highest
degree embarrassing for the russians as the most adroit diplomatists of
the time joseph de maistre and others recognized still more senseless
would have been the wish to capture army corps of the french when our
own army had melted away to half before reaching krasnoe and a whole
division would have been needed to convoy the corps of prisoners and
when our men were not always getting full rations and the prisoners
already taken were perishing of hunger 

all the profound plans about cutting off and capturing napoleon and his
army were like the plan of a market gardener who when driving out of
his garden a cow that had trampled down the beds he had planted should
run to the gate and hit the cow on the head the only thing to be said
in excuse of that gardener would be that he was very angry but not even
that could be said for those who drew up this project for it was not
they who had suffered from the trampled beds 

but besides the fact that cutting off napoleon with his army would have
been senseless it was impossible 

it was impossible first because as experience shows that a three mile
movement of columns on a battlefield never coincides with the plans the
probability of chichagov kutuzov and wittgenstein effecting a junction
on time at an appointed place was so remote as to be tantamount to
impossibility as in fact thought kutuzov who when he received the plan
remarked that diversions planned over great distances do not yield the
desired results 

secondly it was impossible because to paralyze the momentum with which
napoleon's army was retiring incomparably greater forces than the
russians possessed would have been required 

thirdly it was impossible because the military term to cut off has no
meaning one can cut off a slice of bread but not an army to cut off
an army to bar its road is quite impossible for there is always plenty
of room to avoid capture and there is the night when nothing can be
seen as the military scientists might convince themselves by the
example of krasnoe and of the berezina it is only possible to capture
prisoners if they agree to be captured just as it is only possible
to catch a swallow if it settles on one's hand men can only be taken
prisoners if they surrender according to the rules of strategy and
tactics as the germans did but the french troops quite rightly did not
consider that this suited them since death by hunger and cold awaited
them in flight or captivity alike 

fourthly and chiefly it was impossible because never since the world
began has a war been fought under such conditions as those that obtained
in 1812 and the russian army in its pursuit of the french strained its
strength to the utmost and could not have done more without destroying
itself 

during the movement of the russian army from tarutino to krasnoe it
lost fifty thousand sick or stragglers that is a number equal to the
population of a large provincial town half the men fell out of the army
without a battle 

and it is of this period of the campaign when the army lacked boots
and sheepskin coats was short of provisions and without vodka and
was camping out at night for months in the snow with fifteen degrees
of frost when there were only seven or eight hours of daylight and
the rest was night in which the influence of discipline cannot be
maintained when men were taken into that region of death where
discipline fails not for a few hours only as in a battle but for
months where they were every moment fighting death from hunger and
cold when half the army perished in a single month it is of this period
of the campaign that the historians tell us how miloradovich should have
made a flank march to such and such a place tormasov to another place 
and chichagov should have crossed more than knee deep in snow to
somewhere else and how so and so routed and cut off the french and
so on and so on 

the russians half of whom died did all that could and should have been
done to attain an end worthy of the nation and they are not to blame
because other russians sitting in warm rooms proposed that they should
do what was impossible 

all that strange contradiction now difficult to understand between the
facts and the historical accounts only arises because the historians
dealing with the matter have written the history of the beautiful words
and sentiments of various generals and not the history of the events 

to them the words of miloradovich seem very interesting and so do their
surmises and the rewards this or that general received but the question
of those fifty thousand men who were left in hospitals and in graves
does not even interest them for it does not come within the range of
their investigation 

yet one need only discard the study of the reports and general plans and
consider the movement of those hundreds of thousands of men who took a
direct part in the events and all the questions that seemed insoluble
easily and simply receive an immediate and certain solution 

the aim of cutting off napoleon and his army never existed except in
the imaginations of a dozen people it could not exist because it was
senseless and unattainable 

the people had a single aim to free their land from invasion that aim
was attained in the first place of itself as the french ran away 
and so it was only necessary not to stop their flight secondly it was
attained by the guerrilla warfare which was destroying the french and
thirdly by the fact that a large russian army was following the french 
ready to use its strength in case their movement stopped 

the russian army had to act like a whip to a running animal and the
experienced driver knew it was better to hold the whip raised as a
menace than to strike the running animal on the head 





book fifteen 1812 13





chapter i

when seeing a dying animal a man feels a sense of horror substance
similar to his own is perishing before his eyes but when it is a
beloved and intimate human being that is dying besides this horror at
the extinction of life there is a severance a spiritual wound which
like a physical wound is sometimes fatal and sometimes heals but always
aches and shrinks at any external irritating touch 

after prince andrew's death natasha and princess mary alike felt this 
drooping in spirit and closing their eyes before the menacing cloud of
death that overhung them they dared not look life in the face they
carefully guarded their open wounds from any rough and painful contact 
everything a carriage passing rapidly in the street a summons to
dinner the maid's inquiry what dress to prepare or worse still any
word of insincere or feeble sympathy seemed an insult painfully
irritated the wound interrupting that necessary quiet in which
they both tried to listen to the stern and dreadful choir that still
resounded in their imagination and hindered their gazing into those
mysterious limitless vistas that for an instant had opened out before
them 

only when alone together were they free from such outrage and pain 
they spoke little even to one another and when they did it was of very
unimportant matters 

both avoided any allusion to the future to admit the possibility of
a future seemed to them to insult his memory still more carefully did
they avoid anything relating to him who was dead it seemed to them that
what they had lived through and experienced could not be expressed in
words and that any reference to the details of his life infringed the
majesty and sacredness of the mystery that had been accomplished before
their eyes 

continued abstention from speech and constant avoidance of everything
that might lead up to the subject this halting on all sides at the
boundary of what they might not mention brought before their minds with
still greater purity and clearness what they were both feeling 

but pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete joy 
princess mary in her position as absolute and independent arbiter of
her own fate and guardian and instructor of her nephew was the first to
be called back to life from that realm of sorrow in which she had dwelt
for the first fortnight she received letters from her relations to
which she had to reply the room in which little nicholas had been put
was damp and he began to cough alpatych came to yaroslavl with reports
on the state of their affairs and with advice and suggestions that they
should return to moscow to the house on the vozdvizhenka street which
had remained uninjured and needed only slight repairs life did not
stand still and it was necessary to live hard as it was for princess
mary to emerge from the realm of secluded contemplation in which she
had lived till then and sorry and almost ashamed as she felt to leave
natasha alone yet the cares of life demanded her attention and she
involuntarily yielded to them she went through the accounts with
alpatych conferred with dessalles about her nephew and gave orders and
made preparations for the journey to moscow 

natasha remained alone and from the time princess mary began making
preparations for departure held aloof from her too 

princess mary asked the countess to let natasha go with her to moscow 
and both parents gladly accepted this offer for they saw their daughter
losing strength every day and thought that a change of scene and the
advice of moscow doctors would be good for her 

 i am not going anywhere natasha replied when this was proposed to
her do please just leave me alone and she ran out of the room with
difficulty refraining from tears of vexation and irritation rather than
of sorrow 

after she felt herself deserted by princes mary and alone in her grief 
natasha spent most of the time in her room by herself sitting huddled
up feet and all in the corner of the sofa tearing and twisting
something with her slender nervous fingers and gazing intently and
fixedly at whatever her eyes chanced to fall on this solitude exhausted
and tormented her but she was in absolute need of it as soon as anyone
entered she got up quickly changed her position and expression and
picked up a book or some sewing evidently waiting impatiently for the
intruder to go 

she felt all the time as if she might at any moment penetrate that
on which with a terrible questioning too great for her strength her
spiritual gaze was fixed 

one day toward the end of december natasha pale and thin dressed in a
black woolen gown her plaited hair negligently twisted into a knot was
crouched feet and all in the corner of her sofa nervously crumpling and
smoothing out the end of her sash while she looked at a corner of the
door 

she was gazing in the direction in which he had gone to the other side
of life and that other side of life of which she had never before
thought and which had formerly seemed to her so far away and improbable 
was now nearer and more akin and more comprehensible than this side of
life where everything was either emptiness and desolation or suffering
and indignity 

she was gazing where she knew him to be but she could not imagine him
otherwise than as he had been here she now saw him again as he had been
at mytishchi at troitsa and at yaroslavl 

she saw his face heard his voice repeated his words and her own and
sometimes devised other words they might have spoken 

there he is lying back in an armchair in his velvet cloak leaning
his head on his thin pale hand his chest is dreadfully hollow and his
shoulders raised his lips are firmly closed his eyes glitter and a
wrinkle comes and goes on his pale forehead one of his legs twitches
just perceptibly but rapidly natasha knows that he is struggling with
terrible pain what is that pain like why does he have that pain what
does he feel how does it hurt him thought natasha he noticed her
watching him raised his eyes and began to speak seriously 

 one thing would be terrible said he to bind oneself forever to a
suffering man it would be continual torture and he looked searchingly
at her natasha as usual answered before she had time to think what she
would say she said this can't go on it won't you will get well quite
well 

she now saw him from the commencement of that scene and relived what she
had then felt she recalled his long sad and severe look at those words
and understood the meaning of the rebuke and despair in that protracted
gaze 

 i agreed natasha now said to herself that it would be dreadful if
he always continued to suffer i said it then only because it would have
been dreadful for him but he understood it differently he thought it
would be dreadful for me he then still wished to live and feared death 
and i said it so awkwardly and stupidly i did not say what i meant 
i thought quite differently had i said what i thought i should have
said even if he had to go on dying to die continually before my eyes 
i should have been happy compared with what i am now now there is
nothing nobody did he know that no he did not and never will know
it and now it will never never be possible to put it right and
now he again seemed to be saying the same words to her only in her
imagination natasha this time gave him a different answer she stopped
him and said terrible for you but not for me you know that for me
there is nothing in life but you and to suffer with you is the greatest
happiness for me and he took her hand and pressed it as he had
pressed it that terrible evening four days before his death and in her
imagination she said other tender and loving words which she might have
said then but only spoke now i love thee thee i love love 
she said convulsively pressing her hands and setting her teeth with a
desperate effort 

she was overcome by sweet sorrow and tears were already rising in her
eyes then she suddenly asked herself to whom she was saying this 
again everything was shrouded in hard dry perplexity and again with a
strained frown she peered toward the world where he was and now now
it seemed to her she was penetrating the mystery but at the instant
when it seemed that the incomprehensible was revealing itself to her a
loud rattle of the door handle struck painfully on her ears dunyasha 
her maid entered the room quickly and abruptly with a frightened look
on her face and showing no concern for her mistress 

 come to your papa at once please said she with a strange excited
look a misfortune about peter ilynich a letter she finished
with a sob 





chapter ii

besides a feeling of aloofness from everybody natasha was feeling a
special estrangement from the members of her own family all of
them her father mother and sonya were so near to her so familiar so
commonplace that all their words and feelings seemed an insult to the
world in which she had been living of late and she felt not merely
indifferent to them but regarded them with hostility she heard
dunyasha's words about peter ilynich and a misfortune but did not grasp
them 

 what misfortune what misfortune can happen to them they just live
their own old quiet and commonplace life thought natasha 

as she entered the ballroom her father was hurriedly coming out of
her mother's room his face was puckered up and wet with tears he
had evidently run out of that room to give vent to the sobs that were
choking him when he saw natasha he waved his arms despairingly and
burst into convulsively painful sobs that distorted his soft round face 

 pe petya go go she is calling and weeping like a child
and quickly shuffling on his feeble legs to a chair he almost fell into
it covering his face with his hands 

suddenly an electric shock seemed to run through natasha's whole being 
terrible anguish struck her heart she felt a dreadful ache as if
something was being torn inside her and she were dying but the pain
was immediately followed by a feeling of release from the oppressive
constraint that had prevented her taking part in life the sight of her
father the terribly wild cries of her mother that she heard through the
door made her immediately forget herself and her own grief 

she ran to her father but he feebly waved his arm pointing to her
mother's door princess mary pale and with quivering chin came out
from that room and taking natasha by the arm said something to her 
natasha neither saw nor heard her she went in with rapid steps pausing
at the door for an instant as if struggling with herself and then ran
to her mother 

the countess was lying in an armchair in a strange and awkward position 
stretching out and beating her head against the wall sonya and the
maids were holding her arms 

 natasha natasha cried the countess it's not true it's not
true he's lying natasha she shrieked pushing those around her
away go away all of you it's not true killed ha ha ha 
it's not true 

natasha put one knee on the armchair stooped over her mother embraced
her and with unexpected strength raised her turned her face toward
herself and clung to her 

 mummy darling i am here my dearest mummy she kept on
whispering not pausing an instant 

she did not let go of her mother but struggled tenderly with her 
demanded a pillow and hot water and unfastened and tore open her
mother's dress 

 my dearest darling mummy my precious she whispered
incessantly kissing her head her hands her face and feeling her own
irrepressible and streaming tears tickling her nose and cheeks 

the countess pressed her daughter's hand closed her eyes and became
quiet for a moment suddenly she sat up with unaccustomed swiftness 
glanced vacantly around her and seeing natasha began to press her
daughter's head with all her strength then she turned toward her
daughter's face which was wincing with pain and gazed long at it 

 natasha you love me she said in a soft trustful whisper natasha 
you would not deceive me you'll tell me the whole truth 

natasha looked at her with eyes full of tears and in her look there was
nothing but love and an entreaty for forgiveness 

 my darling mummy she repeated straining all the power of her love to
find some way of taking on herself the excess of grief that crushed her
mother 

and again in a futile struggle with reality her mother refusing to
believe that she could live when her beloved boy was killed in the bloom
of life escaped from reality into a world of delirium 

natasha did not remember how that day passed nor that night nor the
next day and night she did not sleep and did not leave her mother her
persevering and patient love seemed completely to surround the countess
every moment not explaining or consoling but recalling her to life 

during the third night the countess kept very quiet for a few minutes 
and natasha rested her head on the arm of her chair and closed her eyes 
but opened them again on hearing the bedstead creak the countess was
sitting up in bed and speaking softly 

 how glad i am you have come you are tired won't you have some tea 
natasha went up to her you have improved in looks and grown more
manly continued the countess taking her daughter's hand 

 mamma what are you saying 

 natasha he is no more no more 

and embracing her daughter the countess began to weep for the first
time 





chapter iii

princess mary postponed her departure sonya and the count tried to
replace natasha but could not they saw that she alone was able to
restrain her mother from unreasoning despair for three weeks natasha
remained constantly at her mother's side sleeping on a lounge chair
in her room making her eat and drink and talking to her incessantly
because the mere sound of her tender caressing tones soothed her
mother 

the mother's wounded spirit could not heal petya's death had torn from
her half her life when the news of petya's death had come she had been
a fresh and vigorous woman of fifty but a month later she left her room
a listless old woman taking no interest in life but the same blow that
almost killed the countess this second blow restored natasha to life 

a spiritual wound produced by a rending of the spiritual body is like
a physical wound and strange as it may seem just as a deep wound may
heal and its edges join physical and spiritual wounds alike can yet
heal completely only as the result of a vital force from within 

natasha's wound healed in that way she thought her life was ended 
but her love for her mother unexpectedly showed her that the essence of
life love was still active within her love awoke and so did life 

prince andrew's last days had bound princess mary and natasha together 
this new sorrow brought them still closer to one another princess mary
put off her departure and for three weeks looked after natasha as if
she had been a sick child the last weeks passed in her mother's bedroom
had strained natasha's physical strength 

one afternoon noticing natasha shivering with fever princess mary took
her to her own room and made her lie down on the bed natasha lay down 
but when princess mary had drawn the blinds and was going away she
called her back 

 i don't want to sleep mary sit by me a little 

 you are tired try to sleep 

 no no why did you bring me away she will be asking for me 

 she is much better she spoke so well today said princess mary 

natasha lay on the bed and in the semidarkness of the room scanned
princess mary's face 

 is she like him thought natasha yes like and yet not like but she
is quite original strange new and unknown and she loves me what
is in her heart all that is good but how what is her mind like what
does she think about me yes she is splendid 

 mary she said timidly drawing princess mary's hand to herself 
 mary you mustn't think me wicked no mary darling how i love you 
let us be quite quite friends 

and natasha embracing her began kissing her face and hands making
princess mary feel shy but happy by this demonstration of her feelings 

from that day a tender and passionate friendship such as exists only
between women was established between princess mary and natasha they
were continually kissing and saying tender things to one another and
spent most of their time together when one went out the other became
restless and hastened to rejoin her together they felt more in harmony
with one another than either of them felt with herself when alone a
feeling stronger than friendship sprang up between them an exclusive
feeling of life being possible only in each other's presence 

sometimes they were silent for hours sometimes after they were already
in bed they would begin talking and go on till morning they spoke most
of what was long past princess mary spoke of her childhood of her
mother her father and her daydreams and natasha who with a passive
lack of understanding had formerly turned away from that life of
devotion submission and the poetry of christian self sacrifice now
feeling herself bound to princess mary by affection learned to love her
past too and to understand a side of life previously incomprehensible to
her she did not think of applying submission and self abnegation to her
own life for she was accustomed to seek other joys but she understood
and loved in another those previously incomprehensible virtues for
princess mary listening to natasha's tales of childhood and early
youth there also opened out a new and hitherto uncomprehended side of
life belief in life and its enjoyment 

just as before they never mentioned him so as not to lower as they
thought their exalted feelings by words but this silence about him had
the effect of making them gradually begin to forget him without being
conscious of it 

natasha had grown thin and pale and physically so weak that they all
talked about her health and this pleased her but sometimes she was
suddenly overcome by fear not only of death but of sickness weakness 
and loss of good looks and involuntarily she examined her bare arm
carefully surprised at its thinness and in the morning noticed her
drawn and as it seemed to her piteous face in her glass it seemed to
her that things must be so and yet it was dreadfully sad 

one day she went quickly upstairs and found herself out of breath 
unconsciously she immediately invented a reason for going down and
then testing her strength ran upstairs again observing the result 

another time when she called dunyasha her voice trembled so she called
again though she could hear dunyasha coming called her in the deep chest
tones in which she had been wont to sing and listened attentively to
herself 

she did not know and would not have believed it but beneath the layer
of slime that covered her soul and seemed to her impenetrable delicate
young shoots of grass were already sprouting which taking root would so
cover with their living verdure the grief that weighed her down that
it would soon no longer be seen or noticed the wound had begun to heal
from within 

at the end of january princess mary left for moscow and the count
insisted on natasha's going with her to consult the doctors 





chapter iv

after the encounter at vyazma where kutuzov had been unable to hold
back his troops in their anxiety to overwhelm and cut off the enemy and
so on the farther movement of the fleeing french and of the russians
who pursued them continued as far as krasnoe without a battle the
flight was so rapid that the russian army pursuing the french could
not keep up with them cavalry and artillery horses broke down and the
information received of the movements of the french was never reliable 

the men in the russian army were so worn out by this continuous marching
at the rate of twenty seven miles a day that they could not go any
faster 

to realize the degree of exhaustion of the russian army it is only
necessary to grasp clearly the meaning of the fact that while not
losing more than five thousand killed and wounded after tarutino and
less than a hundred prisoners the russian army which left that place a
hundred thousand strong reached krasnoe with only fifty thousand 

the rapidity of the russian pursuit was just as destructive to our army
as the flight of the french was to theirs the only difference was that
the russian army moved voluntarily with no such threat of destruction
as hung over the french and that the sick frenchmen were left behind
in enemy hands while the sick russians left behind were among their
own people the chief cause of the wastage of napoleon's army was
the rapidity of its movement and a convincing proof of this is the
corresponding decrease of the russian army 

kutuzov as far as was in his power instead of trying to check the
movement of the french as was desired in petersburg and by the russian
army generals directed his whole activity here as he had done at
tarutino and vyazma to hastening it on while easing the movement of our
army 

but besides this since the exhaustion and enormous diminution of the
army caused by the rapidity of the advance had become evident another
reason for slackening the pace and delaying presented itself to kutuzov 
the aim of the russian army was to pursue the french the road the
french would take was unknown and so the closer our troops trod on
their heels the greater distance they had to cover only by following
at some distance could one cut across the zigzag path of the french all
the artful maneuvers suggested by our generals meant fresh movements of
the army and a lengthening of its marches whereas the only reasonable
aim was to shorten those marches to that end kutuzov's activity was
directed during the whole campaign from moscow to vilna not casually or
intermittently but so consistently that he never once deviated from it 

kutuzov felt and knew not by reasoning or science but with the whole of
his russian being what every russian soldier felt that the french were
beaten that the enemy was flying and must be driven out but at the
same time he like the soldiers realized all the hardship of this march 
the rapidity of which was unparalleled for such a time of the year 

but to the generals especially the foreign ones in the russian army 
who wished to distinguish themselves to astonish somebody and for some
reason to capture a king or a duke it seemed that now when any battle
must be horrible and senseless was the very time to fight and conquer
somebody kutuzov merely shrugged his shoulders when one after
another they presented projects of maneuvers to be made with those
soldiers ill shod insufficiently clad and half starved who within a
month and without fighting a battle had dwindled to half their number 
and who at the best if the flight continued would have to go a greater
distance than they had already traversed before they reached the
frontier 

this longing to distinguish themselves to maneuver to overthrow and
to cut off showed itself particularly whenever the russians stumbled on
the french army 

so it was at krasnoe where they expected to find one of the three
french columns and stumbled instead on napoleon himself with sixteen
thousand men despite all kutuzov's efforts to avoid that ruinous
encounter and to preserve his troops the massacre of the broken mob
of french soldiers by worn out russians continued at krasnoe for three
days 

toll wrote a disposition the first column will march to so and so 
etc and as usual nothing happened in accord with the disposition 
prince eugene of wurttemberg fired from a hill over the french crowds
that were running past and demanded reinforcements which did not
arrive the french avoiding the russians dispersed and hid themselves
in the forest by night making their way round as best they could and
continued their flight 

miloradovich who said he did not want to know anything about the
commissariat affairs of his detachment and could never be found when
he was wanted that chevalier sans peur et sans reproche as he styled
himself who was fond of parleys with the french sent envoys demanding
their surrender wasted time and did not do what he was ordered to do 

 knight without fear and without reproach 

 i give you that column lads he said riding up to the troops and
pointing out the french to the cavalry 

and the cavalry with spurs and sabers urging on horses that could
scarcely move trotted with much effort to the column presented
to them that is to say to a crowd of frenchmen stark with cold 
frost bitten and starving and the column that had been presented to
them threw down its arms and surrendered as it had long been anxious to
do 

at krasnoe they took twenty six thousand prisoners several hundred
cannon and a stick called a marshal's staff and disputed as to who
had distinguished himself and were pleased with their achievement though
they much regretted not having taken napoleon or at least a marshal or
a hero of some sort and reproached one another and especially kutuzov
for having failed to do so 

these men carried away by their passions were but blind tools of the
most melancholy law of necessity but considered themselves heroes and
imagined that they were accomplishing a most noble and honorable
deed they blamed kutuzov and said that from the very beginning of the
campaign he had prevented their vanquishing napoleon that he thought of
nothing but satisfying his passions and would not advance from the linen
factories because he was comfortable there that at krasnoe he checked
the advance because on learning that napoleon was there he had quite
lost his head and that it was probable that he had an understanding
with napoleon and had been bribed by him and so on and so on 

not only did his contemporaries carried away by their passions talk
in this way but posterity and history have acclaimed napoleon as grand 
while kutuzov is described by foreigners as a crafty dissolute weak
old courtier and by russians as something indefinite a sort of puppet
useful only because he had a russian name 





chapter v

in 1812 and 1813 kutuzov was openly accused of blundering the emperor
was dissatisfied with him and in a history recently written by order
of the highest authorities it is said that kutuzov was a cunning court
liar frightened of the name of napoleon and that by his blunders at
krasnoe and the berezina he deprived the russian army of the glory of
complete victory over the french 

 history of the year 1812 the character of kutuzov and
 reflections on the unsatisfactory results of the battles at
 krasnoe by bogdanovich 

such is the fate not of great men grands hommes whom the russian mind
does not acknowledge but of those rare and always solitary individuals
who discerning the will of providence submit their personal will to
it the hatred and contempt of the crowd punish such men for discerning
the higher laws 

for russian historians strange and terrible to say napoleon that most
insignificant tool of history who never anywhere even in exile showed
human dignity napoleon is the object of adulation and enthusiasm he
is grand but kutuzov the man who from the beginning to the end of his
activity in 1812 never once swerving by word or deed from borodino to
vilna presented an example exceptional in history of self sacrifice
and a present consciousness of the future importance of what was
happening kutuzov seems to them something indefinite and pitiful and
when speaking of him and of the year 1812 they always seem a little
ashamed 

and yet it is difficult to imagine an historical character whose
activity was so unswervingly directed to a single aim and it would be
difficult to imagine any aim more worthy or more consonant with the
will of the whole people still more difficult would it be to find
an instance in history of the aim of an historical personage being so
completely accomplished as that to which all kutuzov's efforts were
directed in 1812 

kutuzov never talked of forty centuries looking down from the
pyramids of the sacrifices he offered for the fatherland or of
what he intended to accomplish or had accomplished in general he
said nothing about himself adopted no pose always appeared to be
the simplest and most ordinary of men and said the simplest and most
ordinary things he wrote letters to his daughters and to madame de
stael read novels liked the society of pretty women jested with
generals officers and soldiers and never contradicted those who tried
to prove anything to him when count rostopchin at the yauza bridge
galloped up to kutuzov with personal reproaches for having caused the
destruction of moscow and said how was it you promised not to abandon
moscow without a battle kutuzov replied and i shall not abandon
moscow without a battle though moscow was then already abandoned when
arakcheev coming to him from the emperor said that ermolov ought to
be appointed chief of the artillery kutuzov replied yes i was
just saying so myself though a moment before he had said quite the
contrary what did it matter to him who then alone amid a senseless
crowd understood the whole tremendous significance of what was
happening what did it matter to him whether rostopchin attributed the
calamities of moscow to him or to himself still less could it matter to
him who was appointed chief of the artillery 

not merely in these cases but continually did that old man who by
experience of life had reached the conviction that thoughts and the
words serving as their expression are not what move people use quite
meaningless words that happened to enter his head 

but that man so heedless of his words did not once during the whole
time of his activity utter one word inconsistent with the single aim
toward which he moved throughout the whole war obviously in spite of
himself in very diverse circumstances he repeatedly expressed his real
thoughts with the bitter conviction that he would not be understood 
beginning with the battle of borodino from which time his disagreement
with those about him began he alone said that the battle of borodino
was a victory and repeated this both verbally and in his dispatches
and reports up to the time of his death he alone said that the loss of
moscow is not the loss of russia in reply to lauriston's proposal of
peace he said there can be no peace for such is the people's will he
alone during the retreat of the french said that all our maneuvers are
useless everything is being accomplished of itself better than we could
desire that the enemy must be offered a golden bridge that neither
the tarutino the vyazma nor the krasnoe battles were necessary that
we must keep some force to reach the frontier with and that he would
not sacrifice a single russian for ten frenchmen 

and this courtier as he is described to us who lies to arakcheev
to please the emperor he alone incurring thereby the emperor's
displeasure said in vilna that to carry the war beyond the frontier is
useless and harmful 

nor do words alone prove that only he understood the meaning of the
events his actions without the smallest deviation were all directed
to one and the same threefold end 1 to brace all his strength for
conflict with the french 2 to defeat them and 3 to drive them out
of russia minimizing as far as possible the sufferings of our people
and of our army 

this procrastinator kutuzov whose motto was patience and time 
this enemy of decisive action gave battle at borodino investing the
preparations for it with unparalleled solemnity this kutuzov who before
the battle of austerlitz began said that it would be lost he alone in
contradiction to everyone else declared till his death that borodino
was a victory despite the assurance of generals that the battle was
lost and despite the fact that for an army to have to retire after
winning a battle was unprecedented he alone during the whole retreat
insisted that battles which were useless then should not be fought 
and that a new war should not be begun nor the frontiers of russia
crossed 

it is easy now to understand the significance of these events if only we
abstain from attributing to the activity of the mass aims that existed
only in the heads of a dozen individuals for the events and results now
lie before us 

but how did that old man alone in opposition to the general opinion 
so truly discern the importance of the people's view of the events that
in all his activity he was never once untrue to it 

the source of that extraordinary power of penetrating the meaning of the
events then occuring lay in the national feeling which he possessed in
full purity and strength 

only the recognition of the fact that he possessed this feeling caused
the people in so strange a manner contrary to the tsar's wish to
select him an old man in disfavor to be their representative in the
national war and only that feeling placed him on that highest human
pedestal from which he the commander in chief devoted all his powers
not to slaying and destroying men but to saving and showing pity on
them 

that simple modest and therefore truly great figure could not be
cast in the false mold of a european hero the supposed ruler of men that
history has invented 

to a lackey no man can be great for a lackey has his own conception of
greatness 





chapter vi

the fifth of november was the first day of what is called the battle of
krasnoe toward evening after much disputing and many mistakes made by
generals who did not go to their proper places and after adjutants had
been sent about with counterorders when it had become plain that the
enemy was everywhere in flight and that there could and would be no
battle kutuzov left krasnoe and went to dobroe whither his headquarters
had that day been transferred 

the day was clear and frosty kutuzov rode to dobroe on his plump little
white horse followed by an enormous suite of discontented generals who
whispered among themselves behind his back all along the road groups of
french prisoners captured that day there were seven thousand of them 
were crowding to warm themselves at campfires near dobroe an immense
crowd of tattered prisoners buzzing with talk and wrapped and bandaged
in anything they had been able to get hold of were standing in the road
beside a long row of unharnessed french guns at the approach of the
commander in chief the buzz of talk ceased and all eyes were fixed on
kutuzov who wearing a white cap with a red band and a padded overcoat
that bulged on his round shoulders moved slowly along the road on his
white horse one of the generals was reporting to him where the guns and
prisoners had been captured 

kutuzov seemed preoccupied and did not listen to what the general was
saying he screwed up his eyes with a dissatisfied look as he gazed
attentively and fixedly at these prisoners who presented a specially
wretched appearance most of them were disfigured by frost bitten noses
and cheeks and nearly all had red swollen and festering eyes 

one group of the french stood close to the road and two of them one of
whom had his face covered with sores were tearing a piece of raw
flesh with their hands there was something horrible and bestial in
the fleeting glance they threw at the riders and in the malevolent
expression with which after a glance at kutuzov the soldier with the
sores immediately turned away and went on with what he was doing 

kutuzov looked long and intently at these two soldiers he puckered his
face screwed up his eyes and pensively swayed his head at another
spot he noticed a russian soldier laughingly patting a frenchman on the
shoulder saying something to him in a friendly manner and kutuzov with
the same expression on his face again swayed his head 

 what were you saying he asked the general who continuing his report
directed the commander in chief's attention to some standards captured
from the french and standing in front of the preobrazhensk regiment 

 ah the standards said kutuzov evidently detaching himself with
difficulty from the thoughts that preoccupied him 

he looked about him absently thousands of eyes were looking at him from
all sides awaiting a word from him 

he stopped in front of the preobrazhensk regiment sighed deeply and
closed his eyes one of his suite beckoned to the soldiers carrying
the standards to advance and surround the commander in chief with them 
kutuzov was silent for a few seconds and then submitting with evident
reluctance to the duty imposed by his position raised his head
and began to speak a throng of officers surrounded him he looked
attentively around at the circle of officers recognizing several of
them 

 i thank you all he said addressing the soldiers and then again the
officers in the stillness around him his slowly uttered words were
distinctly heard i thank you all for your hard and faithful service 
the victory is complete and russia will not forget you honor to you
forever 

he paused and looked around 

 lower its head lower it he said to a soldier who had accidentally
lowered the french eagle he was holding before the preobrazhensk
standards lower lower that's it hurrah lads he added addressing
the men with a rapid movement of his chin 

 hur r rah roared thousands of voices 

while the soldiers were shouting kutuzov leaned forward in his saddle
and bowed his head and his eye lit up with a mild and apparently ironic
gleam 

 you see brothers said he when the shouts had ceased and all at
once his voice and the expression of his face changed it was no longer
the commander in chief speaking but an ordinary old man who wanted to
tell his comrades something very important 

there was a stir among the throng of officers and in the ranks of the
soldiers who moved that they might hear better what he was going to
say 

 you see brothers i know it's hard for you but it can't be helped 
bear up it won't be for long now we'll see our visitors off and then
we'll rest the tsar won't forget your service it is hard for you but
still you are at home while they you see what they have come to said
he pointing to the prisoners worse off than our poorest beggars 
while they were strong we didn't spare ourselves but now we may even
pity them they are human beings too isn't it so lads 

he looked around and in the direct respectful wondering gaze fixed
upon him he read sympathy with what he had said his face grew brighter
and brighter with an old man's mild smile which drew the corners of his
lips and eyes into a cluster of wrinkles he ceased speaking and bowed
his head as if in perplexity 

 but after all who asked them here serves them right the bloody
bastards he cried suddenly lifting his head 

and flourishing his whip he rode off at a gallop for the first time
during the whole campaign and left the broken ranks of the soldiers
laughing joyfully and shouting hurrah 

kutuzov's words were hardly understood by the troops no one could have
repeated the field marshal's address begun solemnly and then changing
into an old man's simplehearted talk but the hearty sincerity of that
speech the feeling of majestic triumph combined with pity for the foe
and consciousness of the justice of our cause exactly expressed by that
old man's good natured expletives was not merely understood but lay
in the soul of every soldier and found expression in their joyous and
long sustained shouts afterwards when one of the generals addressed
kutuzov asking whether he wished his caleche to be sent for kutuzov in
answering unexpectedly gave a sob being evidently greatly moved 





chapter vii

when the troops reached their night's halting place on the eighth of
november the last day of the krasnoe battles it was already growing
dusk all day it had been calm and frosty with occasional lightly
falling snow and toward evening it began to clear through the falling
snow a purple black and starry sky showed itself and the frost grew
keener 

an infantry regiment which had left tarutino three thousand strong but
now numbered only nine hundred was one of the first to arrive that night
at its halting place a village on the highroad the quartermasters who
met the regiment announced that all the huts were full of sick and dead
frenchmen cavalrymen and members of the staff there was only one hut
available for the regimental commander 

the commander rode up to his hut the regiment passed through the
village and stacked its arms in front of the last huts 

like some huge many limbed animal the regiment began to prepare its
lair and its food one part of it dispersed and waded knee deep
through the snow into a birch forest to the right of the village and
immediately the sound of axes and swords the crashing of branches 
and merry voices could be heard from there another section amid the
regimental wagons and horses which were standing in a group was busy
getting out caldrons and rye biscuit and feeding the horses a third
section scattered through the village arranging quarters for the staff
officers carrying out the french corpses that were in the huts and
dragging away boards dry wood and thatch from the roofs for the
campfires or wattle fences to serve for shelter 

some fifteen men with merry shouts were shaking down the high wattle
wall of a shed the roof of which had already been removed 

 now then all together shove cried the voices and the huge surface
of the wall sprinkled with snow and creaking with frost was seen
swaying in the gloom of the night the lower stakes cracked more and
more and at last the wall fell and with it the men who had been pushing
it loud coarse laughter and joyous shouts ensued 

 now then catch hold in twos hand up the lever that's it where
are you shoving to 

 now all together but wait a moment boys with a song 

all stood silent and a soft pleasant velvety voice began to sing at
the end of the third verse as the last note died away twenty voices
roared out at once oo oo oo oo that's it all together heave away 
boys but despite their united efforts the wattle hardly moved and
in the silence that followed the heavy breathing of the men was audible 

 here you of the sixth company devils that you are lend a hand 
will you you may want us one of these days 

some twenty men of the sixth company who were on their way into the
village joined the haulers and the wattle wall which was about
thirty five feet long and seven feet high moved forward along the
village street swaying pressing upon and cutting the shoulders of the
gasping men 

 get along falling what are you stopping for there now 

merry senseless words of abuse flowed freely 

 what are you up to suddenly came the authoritative voice of a
sergeant major who came upon the men who were hauling their burden 
 there are gentry here the general himself is in that hut and you
foul mouthed devils you brutes i'll give it to you shouted he 
hitting the first man who came in his way a swinging blow on the back 
 can't you make less noise 

the men became silent the soldier who had been struck groaned and wiped
his face which had been scratched till it bled by his falling against
the wattle 

 there how that devil hits out he's made my face all bloody said he
in a frightened whisper when the sergeant major had passed on 

 don't you like it said a laughing voice and moderating their tones
the men moved forward 

when they were out of the village they began talking again as loud as
before interlarding their talk with the same aimless expletives 

in the hut which the men had passed the chief officers had gathered and
were in animated talk over their tea about the events of the day and the
maneuvers suggested for tomorrow it was proposed to make a flank march
to the left cut off the vice king murat and capture him 

by the time the soldiers had dragged the wattle fence to its place
the campfires were blazing on all sides ready for cooking the wood
crackled the snow was melting and black shadows of soldiers flitted
to and fro all over the occupied space where the snow had been trodden
down 

axes and choppers were plied all around everything was done without any
orders being given stores of wood were brought for the night shelters
were rigged up for the officers caldrons were being boiled and muskets
and accouterments put in order 

the wattle wall the men had brought was set up in a semicircle by the
eighth company as a shelter from the north propped up by musket rests 
and a campfire was built before it they beat the tattoo called the
roll had supper and settled down round the fires for the night some
repairing their footgear some smoking pipes and some stripping
themselves naked to steam the lice out of their shirts 





chapter viii

one would have thought that under the almost incredibly wretched
conditions the russian soldiers were in at that time lacking warm boots
and sheepskin coats without a roof over their heads in the snow
with eighteen degrees of frost and without even full rations the
commissariat did not always keep up with the troops they would have
presented a very sad and depressing spectacle 

on the contrary the army had never under the best material conditions
presented a more cheerful and animated aspect this was because all who
began to grow depressed or who lost strength were sifted out of the army
day by day all the physically or morally weak had long since been left
behind and only the flower of the army physically and mentally remained 

more men collected behind the wattle fence of the eighth company than
anywhere else two sergeants major were sitting with them and their
campfire blazed brighter than others for leave to sit by their wattle
they demanded contributions of fuel 

 eh makeev what has become of you you son of a bitch are you lost or
have the wolves eaten you fetch some more wood shouted a red haired
and red faced man screwing up his eyes and blinking because of the
smoke but not moving back from the fire and you jackdaw go and fetch
some wood said he to another soldier 

this red haired man was neither a sergeant nor a corporal but being
robust he ordered about those weaker than himself the soldier
they called jackdaw a thin little fellow with a sharp nose rose
obediently and was about to go but at that instant there came into
the light of the fire the slender handsome figure of a young soldier
carrying a load of wood 

 bring it here that's fine 

they split up the wood pressed it down on the fire blew at it with
their mouths and fanned it with the skirts of their greatcoats making
the flames hiss and crackle the men drew nearer and lit their pipes 
the handsome young soldier who had brought the wood setting his arms
akimbo began stamping his cold feet rapidly and deftly on the spot
where he stood 

 mother the dew is cold but clear it's well that i'm a
musketeer he sang pretending to hiccough after each syllable 

 look out your soles will fly off shouted the red haired man 
noticing that the sole of the dancer's boot was hanging loose what a
fellow you are for dancing 

the dancer stopped pulled off the loose piece of leather and threw it
on the fire 

 right enough friend said he and having sat down took out of his
knapsack a scrap of blue french cloth and wrapped it round his foot 
 it's the steam that spoils them he added stretching out his feet
toward the fire 

 they'll soon be issuing us new ones they say that when we've finished
hammering them we're to receive double kits 

 and that son of a bitch petrov has lagged behind after all it seems 
said one sergeant major 

 i've had an eye on him this long while said the other 

 well he's a poor sort of soldier 

 but in the third company they say nine men were missing yesterday 

 yes it's all very well but when a man's feet are frozen how can he
walk 

 eh don't talk nonsense said a sergeant major 

 do you want to be doing the same said an old soldier turning
reproachfully to the man who had spoken of frozen feet 

 well you know said the sharp nosed man they called jackdaw in a
squeaky and unsteady voice raising himself at the other side of the
fire a plump man gets thin but for a thin one it's death take
me now i've got no strength left he added with sudden resolution
turning to the sergeant major tell them to send me to hospital i'm
aching all over anyway i shan't be able to keep up 

 that'll do that'll do replied the sergeant major quietly 

the soldier said no more and the talk went on 

 what a lot of those frenchies were taken today and the fact is that
not one of them had what you might call real boots on said a soldier 
starting a new theme they were no more than make believes 

 the cossacks have taken their boots they were clearing the hut for the
colonel and carried them out it was pitiful to see them boys put in
the dancer as they turned them over one seemed still alive and would
you believe it he jabbered something in their lingo 

 but they're a clean folk lads the first man went on he was
white as white as birchbark and some of them are such fine fellows you
might think they were nobles 

 well what do you think they make soldiers of all classes there 

 but they don't understand our talk at all said the dancer with a
puzzled smile i asked him whose subject he was and he jabbered in his
own way a queer lot 

 but it's strange friends continued the man who had wondered at their
whiteness the peasants at mozhaysk were saying that when they began
burying the dead where the battle was you know well those dead had been
lying there for nearly a month and says the peasant they lie as white
as paper clean and not as much smell as a puff of powder smoke 

 was it from the cold asked someone 

 you're a clever fellow from the cold indeed why it was hot if it
had been from the cold ours would not have rotted either but he
says go up to ours and they are all rotten and maggoty so he says 
 we tie our faces up with kerchiefs and turn our heads away as we drag
them off we can hardly do it but theirs he says are white as paper
and not so much smell as a whiff of gunpowder 

all were silent 

 it must be from their food said the sergeant major they used to
gobble the same food as the gentry 

no one contradicted him 

 that peasant near mozhaysk where the battle was said the men were all
called up from ten villages around and they carted for twenty days and
still didn't finish carting the dead away and as for the wolves he
says 

 that was a real battle said an old soldier it's the only one worth
remembering but since that it's only been tormenting folk 

 and do you know daddy the day before yesterday we ran at them and 
my word they didn't let us get near before they just threw down their
muskets and went on their knees pardon they say that's only one
case they say platov took poleon himself twice but he didn't know
the right charm he catches him and catches him no good he turns into
a bird in his hands and flies away and there's no way of killing him
either 

 you're a first class liar kiselev when i come to look at you 

 liar indeed it's the real truth 

 if he fell into my hands when i'd caught him i'd bury him in the
ground with an aspen stake to fix him down what a lot of men he's
ruined 

 well anyhow we're going to end it he won't come here again remarked
the old soldier yawning 

the conversation flagged and the soldiers began settling down to sleep 

 look at the stars it's wonderful how they shine you would think the
women had spread out their linen said one of the men gazing with
admiration at the milky way 

 that's a sign of a good harvest next year 

 we shall want some more wood 

 you warm your back and your belly gets frozen that's queer 

 o lord 

 what are you pushing for is the fire only for you look how he's
sprawling 

in the silence that ensued the snoring of those who had fallen asleep
could be heard others turned over and warmed themselves now and again
exchanging a few words from a campfire a hundred paces off came a sound
of general merry laughter 

 hark at them roaring there in the fifth company said one of the
soldiers and what a lot of them there are 

one of the men got up and went over to the fifth company 

 they're having such fun said he coming back two frenchies have
turned up one's quite frozen and the other's an awful swaggerer he's
singing songs 

 oh i'll go across and have a look 

and several of the men went over to the fifth company 





chapter ix

the fifth company was bivouacking at the very edge of the forest a huge
campfire was blazing brightly in the midst of the snow lighting up the
branches of trees heavy with hoarfrost 

about midnight they heard the sound of steps in the snow of the forest 
and the crackling of dry branches 

 a bear lads said one of the men 

they all raised their heads to listen and out of the forest into the
bright firelight stepped two strangely clad human figures clinging to
one another 

these were two frenchmen who had been hiding in the forest they came up
to the fire hoarsely uttering something in a language our soldiers did
not understand one was taller than the other he wore an officer's hat
and seemed quite exhausted on approaching the fire he had been going to
sit down but fell the other a short sturdy soldier with a shawl
tied round his head was stronger he raised his companion and said
something pointing to his mouth the soldiers surrounded the frenchmen 
spread a greatcoat on the ground for the sick man and brought some
buckwheat porridge and vodka for both of them 

the exhausted french officer was ramballe and the man with his head
wrapped in the shawl was morel his orderly 

when morel had drunk some vodka and finished his bowl of porridge he
suddenly became unnaturally merry and chattered incessantly to the
soldiers who could not understand him ramballe refused food and
resting his head on his elbow lay silent beside the campfire looking at
the russian soldiers with red and vacant eyes occasionally he emitted
a long drawn groan and then again became silent morel pointing to his
shoulders tried to impress on the soldiers the fact that ramballe was
an officer and ought to be warmed a russian officer who had come up
to the fire sent to ask his colonel whether he would not take a french
officer into his hut to warm him and when the messenger returned and
said that the colonel wished the officer to be brought to him ramballe
was told to go he rose and tried to walk but staggered and would have
fallen had not a soldier standing by held him up 

 you won't do it again eh said one of the soldiers winking and
turning mockingly to ramballe 

 oh you fool why talk rubbish lout that you are a real peasant came
rebukes from all sides addressed to the jesting soldier 

they surrounded ramballe lifted him on the crossed arms of two
soldiers and carried him to the hut ramballe put his arms around their
necks while they carried him and began wailing plaintively 

 oh you fine fellows my kind kind friends these are men oh my
brave kind friends and he leaned his head against the shoulder of one
of the men like a child 

meanwhile morel was sitting in the best place by the fire surrounded by
the soldiers 

morel a short sturdy frenchman with inflamed and streaming eyes was
wearing a woman's cloak and had a shawl tied woman fashion round his
head over his cap he was evidently tipsy and was singing a french song
in a hoarse broken voice with an arm thrown round the nearest soldier 
the soldiers simply held their sides as they watched him 

 now then now then teach us how it goes i'll soon pick it up how is
it said the man a singer and a wag whom morel was embracing 

 vive henri quatre vive ce roi valiant sang morel winking ce
diable a quatre 

 long live henry the fourth that valiant king that rowdy
 devil 


 vivarika vif seruvaru sedyablyaka repeated the soldier flourishing
his arm and really catching the tune 

 bravo ha ha ha rose their rough joyous laughter from all sides 

morel wrinkling up his face laughed too 

 well go on go on 

 qui eut le triple talent 
 de boire de battre 
 et d'etre un vert galant 

 who had a triple talent
 for drinking for fighting 
 and for being a gallant old boy 

 it goes smoothly too well now zaletaev 

 ke zaletaev brought out with effort ke e e e he drawled 
laboriously pursing his lips le trip ta la de bu de ba e
de tra va ga la he sang 

 fine just like the frenchie oh ho ho do you want some more to eat 

 give him some porridge it takes a long time to get filled up after
starving 

they gave him some more porridge and morel with a laugh set to work on
his third bowl all the young soldiers smiled gaily as they watched him 
the older men who thought it undignified to amuse themselves with such
nonsense continued to lie at the opposite side of the fire but one
would occasionally raise himself on an elbow and glance at morel with a
smile 

 they are men too said one of them as he wrapped himself up in his
coat even wormwood grows on its own root 

 o lord o lord how starry it is tremendous that means a hard
frost 

they all grew silent the stars as if knowing that no one was looking
at them began to disport themselves in the dark sky now flaring
up now vanishing now trembling they were busy whispering something
gladsome and mysterious to one another 





chapter x

the french army melted away at the uniform rate of a mathematical
progression and that crossing of the berezina about which so much has
been written was only one intermediate stage in its destruction and
not at all the decisive episode of the campaign if so much has been
and still is written about the berezina on the french side this is only
because at the broken bridge across that river the calamities their army
had been previously enduring were suddenly concentrated at one moment
into a tragic spectacle that remained in every memory and on the
russian side merely because in petersburg far from the seat of war a
plan again one of pfuel's had been devised to catch napoleon in a
strategic trap at the berezina river everyone assured himself that all
would happen according to plan and therefore insisted that it was just
the crossing of the berezina that destroyed the french army in reality
the results of the crossing were much less disastrous to the french in
guns and men lost than krasnoe had been as the figures show 

the sole importance of the crossing of the berezina lies in the fact
that it plainly and indubitably proved the fallacy of all the plans for
cutting off the enemy's retreat and the soundness of the only possible
line of action the one kutuzov and the general mass of the army
demanded namely simply to follow the enemy up the french crowd fled
at a continually increasing speed and all its energy was directed to
reaching its goal it fled like a wounded animal and it was impossible
to block its path this was shown not so much by the arrangements it
made for crossing as by what took place at the bridges when the bridges
broke down unarmed soldiers people from moscow and women with
children who were with the french transport all carried on by vis
inertiae pressed forward into boats and into the ice covered water and
did not surrender 

that impulse was reasonable the condition of fugitives and of pursuers
was equally bad as long as they remained with their own people each
might hope for help from his fellows and the definite place he held
among them but those who surrendered while remaining in the same
pitiful plight would be on a lower level to claim a share in the
necessities of life the french did not need to be informed of the fact
that half the prisoners with whom the russians did not know what to
do perished of cold and hunger despite their captors desire to save
them they felt that it could not be otherwise the most compassionate
russian commanders those favorable to the french and even the frenchmen
in the russian service could do nothing for the prisoners the french
perished from the conditions to which the russian army was itself
exposed it was impossible to take bread and clothes from our hungry and
indispensable soldiers to give to the french who though not harmful or
hated or guilty were simply unnecessary some russians even did that 
but they were exceptions 

certain destruction lay behind the french but in front there was hope 
their ships had been burned there was no salvation save in collective
flight and on that the whole strength of the french was concentrated 

the farther they fled the more wretched became the plight of the
remnant especially after the berezina on which in consequence of the
petersburg plan special hopes had been placed by the russians and
the keener grew the passions of the russian commanders who blamed one
another and kutuzov most of all anticipation that the failure of
the petersburg berezina plan would be attributed to kutuzov led
to dissatisfaction contempt and ridicule more and more strongly
expressed the ridicule and contempt were of course expressed in a
respectful form making it impossible for him to ask wherein he was
to blame they did not talk seriously to him when reporting to him or
asking for his sanction they appeared to be fulfilling a regrettable
formality but they winked behind his back and tried to mislead him at
every turn 

because they could not understand him all these people assumed that
it was useless to talk to the old man that he would never grasp the
profundity of their plans that he would answer with his phrases which
they thought were mere phrases about a golden bridge about the
impossibility of crossing the frontier with a crowd of tatterdemalions 
and so forth they had heard all that before and all he said that it
was necessary to await provisions or that the men had no boots was so
simple while what they proposed was so complicated and clever that
it was evident that he was old and stupid and that they though not in
power were commanders of genius 

after the junction with the army of the brilliant admiral and petersburg
hero wittgenstein this mood and the gossip of the staff reached their
maximum kutuzov saw this and merely sighed and shrugged his shoulders 
only once after the affair of the berezina did he get angry and write
to bennigsen who reported separately to the emperor the following
letter 

 on account of your spells of ill health will your excellency please
be so good as to set off for kaluga on receipt of this and there await
further commands and appointments from his imperial majesty 

but after bennigsen's departure the grand duke tsarevich constantine
pavlovich joined the army he had taken part in the beginning of the
campaign but had subsequently been removed from the army by kutuzov 
now having come to the army he informed kutuzov of the emperor's
displeasure at the poor success of our forces and the slowness of their
advance the emperor intended to join the army personally in a few days 
time 

the old man experienced in court as well as in military affairs this
same kutuzov who in august had been chosen commander in chief
against the sovereign's wishes and who had removed the grand duke and
heir apparent from the army who on his own authority and contrary to the
emperor's will had decided on the abandonment of moscow now realized at
once that his day was over that his part was played and that the power
he was supposed to hold was no longer his and he understood this not
merely from the attitude of the court he saw on the one hand that the
military business in which he had played his part was ended and felt
that his mission was accomplished and at the same time he began to
be conscious of the physical weariness of his aged body and of the
necessity of physical rest 

on the twenty ninth of november kutuzov entered vilna his dear vilna 
as he called it twice during his career kutuzov had been governor of
vilna in that wealthy town which had not been injured he found old
friends and associations besides the comforts of life of which he had
so long been deprived and he suddenly turned from the cares of army
and state and as far as the passions that seethed around him allowed 
immersed himself in the quiet life to which he had formerly been
accustomed as if all that was taking place and all that had still to be
done in the realm of history did not concern him at all 

chichagov one of the most zealous cutters off and breakers up who
had first wanted to effect a diversion in greece and then in warsaw but
never wished to go where he was sent chichagov noted for the boldness
with which he spoke to the emperor and who considered kutuzov to be
under an obligation to him because when he was sent to make peace
with turkey in 1811 independently of kutuzov and found that peace had
already been concluded he admitted to the emperor that the merit of
securing that peace was really kutuzov's this chichagov was the first
to meet kutuzov at the castle where the latter was to stay in undress
naval uniform with a dirk and holding his cap under his arm he handed
kutuzov a garrison report and the keys of the town the contemptuously
respectful attitude of the younger men to the old man in his dotage was
expressed in the highest degree by the behavior of chichagov who knew
of the accusations that were being directed against kutuzov 

when speaking to chichagov kutuzov incidentally mentioned that the
vehicles packed with china that had been captured from him at borisov
had been recovered and would be restored to him 

 you mean to imply that i have nothing to eat out of on the
contrary i can supply you with everything even if you want to give
dinner parties warmly replied chichagov who tried by every word he
spoke to prove his own rectitude and therefore imagined kutuzov to be
animated by the same desire 

kutuzov shrugging his shoulders replied with his subtle penetrating
smile i meant merely to say what i said 

contrary to the emperor's wish kutuzov detained the greater part of the
army at vilna those about him said that he became extraordinarily slack
and physically feeble during his stay in that town he attended to army
affairs reluctantly left everything to his generals and while awaiting
the emperor's arrival led a dissipated life 

having left petersburg on the seventh of december with his suite count
tolstoy prince volkonski arakcheev and others the emperor reached
vilna on the eleventh and in his traveling sleigh drove straight to
the castle in spite of the severe frost some hundred generals and staff
officers in full parade uniform stood in front of the castle as well as
a guard of honor of the semenov regiment 

a courier who galloped to the castle in advance in a troyka with three
foam flecked horses shouted coming and konovnitsyn rushed into the
vestibule to inform kutuzov who was waiting in the hall porter's little
lodge 

a minute later the old man's large stout figure in full dress uniform 
his chest covered with orders and a scarf drawn round his stomach 
waddled out into the porch he put on his hat with its peaks to the
sides and holding his gloves in his hand and walking with an effort
sideways down the steps to the level of the street took in his hand the
report he had prepared for the emperor 

there was running to and fro and whispering another troyka flew
furiously up and then all eyes were turned on an approaching sleigh
in which the figures of the emperor and volkonski could already be
descried 

from the habit of fifty years all this had a physically agitating effect
on the old general he carefully and hastily felt himself all over 
readjusted his hat and pulling himself together drew himself up and 
at the very moment when the emperor having alighted from the sleigh 
lifted his eyes to him handed him the report and began speaking in his
smooth ingratiating voice 

the emperor with a rapid glance scanned kutuzov from head to foot 
frowned for an instant but immediately mastering himself went up to the
old man extended his arms and embraced him and this embrace too owing
to a long standing impression related to his innermost feelings had its
usual effect on kutuzov and he gave a sob 

the emperor greeted the officers and the semenov guard and again
pressing the old man's hand went with him into the castle 

when alone with the field marshal the emperor expressed his
dissatisfaction at the slowness of the pursuit and at the mistakes made
at krasnoe and the berezina and informed him of his intentions for a
future campaign abroad kutuzov made no rejoinder or remark the same
submissive expressionless look with which he had listened to the
emperor's commands on the field of austerlitz seven years before settled
on his face now 

when kutuzov came out of the study and with lowered head was crossing
the ballroom with his heavy waddling gait he was arrested by someone's
voice saying 

 your serene highness 

kutuzov raised his head and looked for a long while into the eyes of
count tolstoy who stood before him holding a silver salver on which lay
a small object kutuzov seemed not to understand what was expected of
him 

suddenly he seemed to remember a scarcely perceptible smile flashed
across his puffy face and bowing low and respectfully he took the
object that lay on the salver it was the order of st george of the
first class 





chapter xi

next day the field marshal gave a dinner and ball which the emperor
honored by his presence kutuzov had received the order of st george
of the first class and the emperor showed him the highest honors but
everyone knew of the imperial dissatisfaction with him the proprieties
were observed and the emperor was the first to set that example 
but everybody understood that the old man was blameworthy and
good for nothing when kutuzov conforming to a custom of catherine's
day ordered the standards that had been captured to be lowered at the
emperor's feet on his entering the ballroom the emperor made a wry face
and muttered something in which some people caught the words the old
comedian 

the emperor's displeasure with kutuzov was specially increased at vilna
by the fact that kutuzov evidently could not or would not understand the
importance of the coming campaign 

when on the following morning the emperor said to the officers assembled
about him you have not only saved russia you have saved europe they
all understood that the war was not ended 

kutuzov alone would not see this and openly expressed his opinion that
no fresh war could improve the position or add to the glory of russia 
but could only spoil and lower the glorious position that russia had
gained he tried to prove to the emperor the impossibility of levying
fresh troops spoke of the hardships already endured by the people of
the possibility of failure and so forth 

this being the field marshal's frame of mind he was naturally regarded
as merely a hindrance and obstacle to the impending war 

to avoid unpleasant encounters with the old man the natural method was
to do what had been done with him at austerlitz and with barclay at
the beginning of the russian campaign to transfer the authority to the
emperor himself thus cutting the ground from under the commander in
chief's feet without upsetting the old man by informing him of the
change 

with this object his staff was gradually reconstructed and its real
strength removed and transferred to the emperor toll konovnitsyn and
ermolov received fresh appointments everyone spoke loudly of the field
marshal's great weakness and failing health 

his health had to be bad for his place to be taken away and given to
another and in fact his health was poor 

so naturally simply and gradually just as he had come from turkey to
the treasury in petersburg to recruit the militia and then to the army
when he was needed there now when his part was played out kutuzov's
place was taken by a new and necessary performer 

the war of 1812 besides its national significance dear to every russian
heart was now to assume another a european significance 

the movement of peoples from west to east was to be succeeded by a
movement of peoples from east to west and for this fresh war another
leader was necessary having qualities and views differing from
kutuzov's and animated by different motives 

alexander i was as necessary for the movement of the peoples from east
to west and for the refixing of national frontiers as kutuzov had been
for the salvation and glory of russia 

kutuzov did not understand what europe the balance of power or
napoleon meant he could not understand it for the representative of
the russian people after the enemy had been destroyed and russia had
been liberated and raised to the summit of her glory there was nothing
left to do as a russian nothing remained for the representative of the
national war but to die and kutuzov died 





chapter xii

as generally happens pierre did not feel the full effects of the
physical privation and strain he had suffered as prisoner until after
they were over after his liberation he reached orel and on the third
day there when preparing to go to kiev he fell ill and was laid up
for three months he had what the doctors termed bilious fever but
despite the fact that the doctors treated him bled him and gave him
medicines to drink he recovered 

scarcely any impression was left on pierre's mind by all that happened
to him from the time of his rescue till his illness he remembered
only the dull gray weather now rainy and now snowy internal physical
distress and pains in his feet and side he remembered a general
impression of the misfortunes and sufferings of people and of being
worried by the curiosity of officers and generals who questioned him he
also remembered his difficulty in procuring a conveyance and horses and
above all he remembered his incapacity to think and feel all that time 
on the day of his rescue he had seen the body of petya rostov that same
day he had learned that prince andrew after surviving the battle of
borodino for more than a month had recently died in the rostovs house
at yaroslavl and denisov who told him this news also mentioned helene's
death supposing that pierre had heard of it long before all this at
the time seemed merely strange to pierre he felt he could not grasp its
significance just then he was only anxious to get away as quickly as
possible from places where people were killing one another to some
peaceful refuge where he could recover himself rest and think over
all the strange new facts he had learned but on reaching orel he
immediately fell ill when he came to himself after his illness he saw
in attendance on him two of his servants terenty and vaska who had
come from moscow and also his cousin the eldest princess who had been
living on his estate at elets and hearing of his rescue and illness had
come to look after him 

it was only gradually during his convalescence that pierre lost the
impressions he had become accustomed to during the last few months
and got used to the idea that no one would oblige him to go anywhere
tomorrow that no one would deprive him of his warm bed and that he
would be sure to get his dinner tea and supper but for a long time in
his dreams he still saw himself in the conditions of captivity in the
same way little by little he came to understand the news he had been
told after his rescue about the death of prince andrew the death of
his wife and the destruction of the french 

a joyous feeling of freedom that complete inalienable freedom natural
to man which he had first experienced at the first halt outside
moscow filled pierre's soul during his convalescence he was surprised
to find that this inner freedom which was independent of external
conditions now had as it were an additional setting of external
liberty he was alone in a strange town without acquaintances no one
demanded anything of him or sent him anywhere he had all he wanted 
the thought of his wife which had been a continual torment to him was no
longer there since she was no more 

 oh how good how splendid said he to himself when a cleanly laid
table was moved up to him with savory beef tea or when he lay down for
the night on a soft clean bed or when he remembered that the french had
gone and that his wife was no more oh how good how splendid 

and by old habit he asked himself the question well and what then 
what am i going to do and he immediately gave himself the answer 
 well i shall live ah how splendid 

the very question that had formerly tormented him the thing he had
continually sought to find the aim of life no longer existed for
him now that search for the aim of life had not merely disappeared
temporarily he felt that it no longer existed for him and could not
present itself again and this very absence of an aim gave him the
complete joyous sense of freedom which constituted his happiness at
this time 

he could not see an aim for he now had faith not faith in any kind of
rule or words or ideas but faith in an ever living ever manifest
god formerly he had sought him in aims he set himself that search for
an aim had been simply a search for god and suddenly in his captivity
he had learned not by words or reasoning but by direct feeling what his
nurse had told him long ago that god is here and everywhere in his
captivity he had learned that in karataev god was greater more infinite
and unfathomable than in the architect of the universe recognized by the
freemasons he felt like a man who after straining his eyes to see into
the far distance finds what he sought at his very feet all his life
he had looked over the heads of the men around him when he should have
merely looked in front of him without straining his eyes 

in the past he had never been able to find that great inscrutable
infinite something he had only felt that it must exist somewhere and
had looked for it in everything near and comprehensible he had seen
only what was limited petty commonplace and senseless he had
equipped himself with a mental telescope and looked into remote space 
where petty worldliness hiding itself in misty distance had seemed to
him great and infinite merely because it was not clearly seen and such
had european life politics freemasonry philosophy and philanthropy
seemed to him but even then at moments of weakness as he had accounted
them his mind had penetrated to those distances and he had there seen
the same pettiness worldliness and senselessness now however he
had learned to see the great eternal and infinite in everything and
therefore to see it and enjoy its contemplation he naturally threw away
the telescope through which he had till now gazed over men's heads and
gladly regarded the ever changing eternally great unfathomable and
infinite life around him and the closer he looked the more tranquil and
happy he became that dreadful question what for which had formerly
destroyed all his mental edifices no longer existed for him to that
question what for a simple answer was now always ready in his soul 
 because there is a god that god without whose will not one hair falls
from a man's head 





chapter xiii

in external ways pierre had hardly changed at all in appearance he
was just what he used to be as before he was absent minded and seemed
occupied not with what was before his eyes but with something special
of his own the difference between his former and present self was that
formerly when he did not grasp what lay before him or was said to
him he had puckered his forehead painfully as if vainly seeking to
distinguish something at a distance at present he still forgot what was
said to him and still did not see what was before his eyes but he now
looked with a scarcely perceptible and seemingly ironic smile at what
was before him and listened to what was said though evidently seeing
and hearing something quite different formerly he had appeared to be
a kindhearted but unhappy man and so people had been inclined to avoid
him now a smile at the joy of life always played round his lips and
sympathy for others shone in his eyes with a questioning look as to
whether they were as contented as he was and people felt pleased by his
presence 

previously he had talked a great deal grew excited when he talked and
seldom listened now he was seldom carried away in conversation and
knew how to listen so that people readily told him their most intimate
secrets 

the princess who had never liked pierre and had been particularly
hostile to him since she had felt herself under obligations to him after
the old count's death now after staying a short time in orel where she
had come intending to show pierre that in spite of his ingratitude she
considered it her duty to nurse him felt to her surprise and vexation
that she had become fond of him pierre did not in any way seek her
approval he merely studied her with interest formerly she had felt
that he regarded her with indifference and irony and so had shrunk into
herself as she did with others and had shown him only the combative side
of her nature but now he seemed to be trying to understand the most
intimate places of her heart and mistrustfully at first but afterwards
gratefully she let him see the hidden kindly sides of her character 

the most cunning man could not have crept into her confidence more
successfully evoking memories of the best times of her youth and
showing sympathy with them yet pierre's cunning consisted simply in
finding pleasure in drawing out the human qualities of the embittered 
hard and in her own way proud princess 

 yes he is a very very kind man when he is not under the influence of
bad people but of people such as myself thought she 

his servants too terenty and vaska in their own way noticed the change
that had taken place in pierre they considered that he had become much
 simpler terenty when he had helped him undress and wished him good
night often lingered with his master's boots in his hands and clothes
over his arm to see whether he would not start a talk and pierre 
noticing that terenty wanted a chat generally kept him there 

 well tell me now how did you get food he would ask 

and terenty would begin talking of the destruction of moscow and of
the old count and would stand for a long time holding the clothes and
talking or sometimes listening to pierre's stories and then would go
out into the hall with a pleasant sense of intimacy with his master and
affection for him 

the doctor who attended pierre and visited him every day though he
considered it his duty as a doctor to pose as a man whose every moment
was of value to suffering humanity would sit for hours with pierre
telling him his favorite anecdotes and his observations on the
characters of his patients in general and especially of the ladies 

 it's a pleasure to talk to a man like that he is not like our
provincials he would say 

there were several prisoners from the french army in orel and the
doctor brought one of them a young italian to see pierre 

this officer began visiting pierre and the princess used to make fun of
the tenderness the italian expressed for him 

the italian seemed happy only when he could come to see pierre talk
with him tell him about his past his life at home and his love 
and pour out to him his indignation against the french and especially
against napoleon 

 if all russians are in the least like you it is sacrilege to fight
such a nation he said to pierre you who have suffered so from the
french do not even feel animosity toward them 

pierre had evoked the passionate affection of the italian merely by
evoking the best side of his nature and taking a pleasure in so doing 

during the last days of pierre's stay in orel his old masonic
acquaintance count willarski who had introduced him to the lodge in
1807 came to see him willarski was married to a russian heiress who
had a large estate in orel province and he occupied a temporary post in
the commissariat department in that town 

hearing that bezukhov was in orel willarski though they had never been
intimate came to him with the professions of friendship and intimacy
that people who meet in a desert generally express for one another 
willarski felt dull in orel and was pleased to meet a man of his own
circle and as he supposed of similar interests 

but to his surprise willarski soon noticed that pierre had lagged much
behind the times and had sunk as he expressed it to himself into
apathy and egotism 

 you are letting yourself go my dear fellow he said 

but for all that willarski found it pleasanter now than it had been
formerly to be with pierre and came to see him every day to pierre as
he looked at and listened to willarski it seemed strange to think that
he had been like that himself but a short time before 

willarski was a married man with a family busy with his family affairs 
his wife's affairs and his official duties he regarded all these
occupations as hindrances to life and considered that they were all
contemptible because their aim was the welfare of himself and his
family military administrative political and masonic interests
continually absorbed his attention and pierre without trying to
change the other's views and without condemning him but with the quiet 
joyful and amused smile now habitual to him was interested in this
strange though very familiar phenomenon 

there was a new feature in pierre's relations with willarski with the
princess with the doctor and with all the people he now met which
gained for him the general good will this was his acknowledgment of
the impossibility of changing a man's convictions by words and his
recognition of the possibility of everyone thinking feeling and seeing
things each from his own point of view this legitimate peculiarity of
each individual which used to excite and irritate pierre now became a
basis of the sympathy he felt for and the interest he took in other
people the difference and sometimes complete contradiction between
men's opinions and their lives and between one man and another pleased
him and drew from him an amused and gentle smile 

in practical matters pierre unexpectedly felt within himself a center
of gravity he had previously lacked formerly all pecuniary questions 
especially requests for money to which as an extremely wealthy man 
he was very exposed produced in him a state of hopeless agitation and
perplexity to give or not to give he had asked himself i have
it and he needs it but someone else needs it still more who needs it
most and perhaps they are both impostors in the old days he had been
unable to find a way out of all these surmises and had given to all
who asked as long as he had anything to give formerly he had been in a
similar state of perplexity with regard to every question concerning his
property when one person advised one thing and another something else 

now to his surprise he found that he no longer felt either doubt or
perplexity about these questions there was now within him a judge who
by some rule unknown to him decided what should or should not be done 

he was as indifferent as heretofore to money matters but now he felt
certain of what ought and what ought not to be done the first time he
had recourse to his new judge was when a french prisoner a colonel 
came to him and after talking a great deal about his exploits 
concluded by making what amounted to a demand that pierre should give
him four thousand francs to send to his wife and children pierre
refused without the least difficulty or effort and was afterwards
surprised how simple and easy had been what used to appear so
insurmountably difficult at the same time that he refused the colonel's
demand he made up his mind that he must have recourse to artifice when
leaving orel to induce the italian officer to accept some money of
which he was evidently in need a further proof to pierre of his own
more settled outlook on practical matters was furnished by his decision
with regard to his wife's debts and to the rebuilding of his houses in
and near moscow 

his head steward came to him at orel and pierre reckoned up with him his
diminished income the burning of moscow had cost him according to the
head steward's calculation about two million rubles 

to console pierre for these losses the head steward gave him an estimate
showing that despite these losses his income would not be diminished but
would even be increased if he refused to pay his wife's debts which he
was under no obligation to meet and did not rebuild his moscow house
and the country house on his moscow estate which had cost him eighty
thousand rubles a year and brought in nothing 

 yes of course that's true said pierre with a cheerful smile i
don't need all that at all by being ruined i have become much richer 

but in january savelich came from moscow and gave him an account of the
state of things there and spoke of the estimate an architect had made
of the cost of rebuilding the town and country houses speaking of this
as of a settled matter about the same time he received letters from
prince vasili and other petersburg acquaintances speaking of his wife's
debts and pierre decided that the steward's proposals which had so
pleased him were wrong and that he must go to petersburg and settle his
wife's affairs and must rebuild in moscow why this was necessary he
did not know but he knew for certain that it was necessary his income
would be reduced by three fourths but he felt it must be done 

willarski was going to moscow and they agreed to travel together 

during the whole time of his convalescence in orel pierre had
experienced a feeling of joy freedom and life but when during his
journey he found himself in the open world and saw hundreds of new
faces that feeling was intensified throughout his journey he felt like
a schoolboy on holiday everyone the stagecoach driver the post house
overseers the peasants on the roads and in the villages had a new
significance for him the presence and remarks of willarski who
continually deplored the ignorance and poverty of russia and its
backwardness compared with europe only heightened pierre's pleasure 
where willarski saw deadness pierre saw an extraordinary strength and
vitality the strength which in that vast space amid the snows maintained
the life of this original peculiar and unique people he did not
contradict willarski and even seemed to agree with him an apparent
agreement being the simplest way to avoid discussions that could lead to
nothing and he smiled joyfully as he listened to him 





chapter xiv

it would be difficult to explain why and whither ants whose heap
has been destroyed are hurrying some from the heap dragging bits of
rubbish larvae and corpses others back to the heap or why they
jostle overtake one another and fight and it would be equally
difficult to explain what caused the russians after the departure of the
french to throng to the place that had formerly been moscow but when
we watch the ants round their ruined heap the tenacity energy and
immense number of the delving insects prove that despite the destruction
of the heap something indestructible which though intangible is the
real strength of the colony still exists and similarly though in
moscow in the month of october there was no government and no churches 
shrines riches or houses it was still the moscow it had been in
august all was destroyed except something intangible yet powerful and
indestructible 

the motives of those who thronged from all sides to moscow after it had
been cleared of the enemy were most diverse and personal and at first
for the most part savage and brutal one motive only they all had in
common a desire to get to the place that had been called moscow to
apply their activities there 

within a week moscow already had fifteen thousand inhabitants in a
fortnight twenty five thousand and so on by the autumn of 1813 the
number ever increasing and increasing exceeded what it had been in
1812 

the first russians to enter moscow were the cossacks of wintzingerode's
detachment peasants from the adjacent villages and residents who had
fled from moscow and had been hiding in its vicinity the russians who
entered moscow finding it plundered plundered it in their turn they
continued what the french had begun trains of peasant carts came to
moscow to carry off to the villages what had been abandoned in the
ruined houses and the streets the cossacks carried off what they could
to their camps and the householders seized all they could find in other
houses and moved it to their own pretending that it was their property 

but the first plunderers were followed by a second and a third
contingent and with increasing numbers plundering became more and more
difficult and assumed more definite forms 

the french found moscow abandoned but with all the organizations of
regular life with diverse branches of commerce and craftsmanship with
luxury and governmental and religious institutions these forms were
lifeless but still existed there were bazaars shops warehouses 
market stalls granaries for the most part still stocked with goods and
there were factories and workshops palaces and wealthy houses filled
with luxuries hospitals prisons government offices churches and
cathedrals the longer the french remained the more these forms of town
life perished until finally all was merged into one confused lifeless
scene of plunder 

the more the plundering by the french continued the more both the
wealth of moscow and the strength of its plunderers was destroyed but
plundering by the russians with which the reoccupation of the city
began had an opposite effect the longer it continued and the greater
the number of people taking part in it the more rapidly was the wealth
of the city and its regular life restored 

besides the plunderers very various people some drawn by curiosity 
some by official duties some by self interest house owners clergy 
officials of all kinds tradesmen artisans and peasants streamed into
moscow as blood flows to the heart 

within a week the peasants who came with empty carts to carry off
plunder were stopped by the authorities and made to cart the corpses
out of the town other peasants having heard of their comrades 
discomfiture came to town bringing rye oats and hay and beat down
one another's prices to below what they had been in former days gangs
of carpenters hoping for high pay arrived in moscow every day and on
all sides logs were being hewn new houses built and old charred ones
repaired tradesmen began trading in booths cookshops and taverns were
opened in partially burned houses the clergy resumed the services
in many churches that had not been burned donors contributed
church property that had been stolen government clerks set up their
baize covered tables and their pigeonholes of documents in small rooms 
the higher authorities and the police organized the distribution of
goods left behind by the french the owners of houses in which much
property had been left brought there from other houses complained of
the injustice of taking everything to the faceted palace in the kremlin 
others insisted that as the french had gathered things from different
houses into this or that house it would be unfair to allow its owner to
keep all that was found there they abused the police and bribed them 
made out estimates at ten times their value for government stores that
had perished in the fire and demanded relief and count rostopchin
wrote proclamations 





chapter xv

at the end of january pierre went to moscow and stayed in an annex of
his house which had not been burned he called on count rostopchin and
on some acquaintances who were back in moscow and he intended to leave
for petersburg two days later everybody was celebrating the victory 
everything was bubbling with life in the ruined but reviving city 
everyone was pleased to see pierre everyone wished to meet him and
everyone questioned him about what he had seen pierre felt particularly
well disposed toward them all but was now instinctively on his
guard for fear of binding himself in any way to all questions put to
him whether important or quite trifling such as where would he live 
was he going to rebuild when was he going to petersburg and would he
mind taking a parcel for someone he replied yes perhaps or i
think so and so on 

he had heard that the rostovs were at kostroma but the thought of
natasha seldom occurred to him if it did it was only as a pleasant
memory of the distant past he felt himself not only free from social
obligations but also from that feeling which it seemed to him he had
aroused in himself 

on the third day after his arrival he heard from the drubetskoys that
princess mary was in moscow the death sufferings and last days of
prince andrew had often occupied pierre's thoughts and now recurred to
him with fresh vividness having heard at dinner that princess mary
was in moscow and living in her house which had not been burned in
vozdvizhenka street he drove that same evening to see her 

on his way to the house pierre kept thinking of prince andrew of their
friendship of his various meetings with him and especially of the last
one at borodino 

 is it possible that he died in the bitter frame of mind he was then in 
is it possible that the meaning of life was not disclosed to him
before he died thought pierre he recalled karataev and his death and
involuntarily began to compare these two men so different and yet so
similar in that they had both lived and both died and in the love he
felt for both of them 

pierre drove up to the house of the old prince in a most serious mood 
the house had escaped the fire it showed signs of damage but its
general aspect was unchanged the old footman who met pierre with a
stern face as if wishing to make the visitor feel that the absence
of the old prince had not disturbed the order of things in the house 
informed him that the princess had gone to her own apartments and that
she received on sundays 

 announce me perhaps she will see me said pierre 

 yes sir said the man please step into the portrait gallery 

a few minutes later the footman returned with dessalles who brought
word from the princess that she would be very glad to see pierre if he
would excuse her want of ceremony and come upstairs to her apartment 

in a rather low room lit by one candle sat the princess and with her
another person dressed in black pierre remembered that the princess
always had lady companions but who they were and what they were like
he never knew or remembered this must be one of her companions he
thought glancing at the lady in the black dress 

the princess rose quickly to meet him and held out her hand 

 yes she said looking at his altered face after he had kissed her
hand so this is how we meet again he spoke of you even at the very
last she went on turning her eyes from pierre to her companion with a
shyness that surprised him for an instant 

 i was so glad to hear of your safety it was the first piece of good
news we had received for a long time 

again the princess glanced round at her companion with even more
uneasiness in her manner and was about to add something but pierre
interrupted her 

 just imagine i knew nothing about him said he i thought he had been
killed all i know i heard at second hand from others i only know that
he fell in with the rostovs what a strange coincidence 

pierre spoke rapidly and with animation he glanced once at the
companion's face saw her attentive and kindly gaze fixed on him and 
as often happens when one is talking felt somehow that this companion
in the black dress was a good kind excellent creature who would not
hinder his conversing freely with princess mary 

but when he mentioned the rostovs princess mary's face expressed still
greater embarrassment she again glanced rapidly from pierre's face to
that of the lady in the black dress and said 

 do you really not recognize her 

pierre looked again at the companion's pale delicate face with its
black eyes and peculiar mouth and something near to him long forgotten
and more than sweet looked at him from those attentive eyes 

 but no it can't be he thought this stern thin pale face that
looks so much older it cannot be she it merely reminds me of her 
but at that moment princess mary said natasha and with difficulty 
effort and stress like the opening of a door grown rusty on its
hinges a smile appeared on the face with the attentive eyes and from
that opening door came a breath of fragrance which suffused pierre with
a happiness he had long forgotten and of which he had not even been
thinking especially at that moment it suffused him seized him and
enveloped him completely when she smiled doubt was no longer possible 
it was natasha and he loved her 

at that moment pierre involuntarily betrayed to her to princess mary 
and above all to himself a secret of which he himself had been unaware 
he flushed joyfully yet with painful distress he tried to hide his
agitation but the more he tried to hide it the more clearly clearer
than any words could have done did he betray to himself to her and to
princess mary that he loved her 

 no it's only the unexpectedness of it thought pierre but as soon as
he tried to continue the conversation he had begun with princess mary he
again glanced at natasha and a still deeper flush suffused his face and
a still stronger agitation of mingled joy and fear seized his soul he
became confused in his speech and stopped in the middle of what he was
saying 

pierre had failed to notice natasha because he did not at all expect to
see her there but he had failed to recognize her because the change in
her since he last saw her was immense she had grown thin and pale but
that was not what made her unrecognizable she was unrecognizable at the
moment he entered because on that face whose eyes had always shone with
a suppressed smile of the joy of life now when he first entered and
glanced at her there was not the least shadow of a smile only her eyes
were kindly attentive and sadly interrogative 

pierre's confusion was not reflected by any confusion on natasha's part 
but only by the pleasure that just perceptibly lit up her whole face 





chapter xvi

 she has come to stay with me said princess mary the count and
countess will be here in a few days the countess is in a dreadful
state but it was necessary for natasha herself to see a doctor they
insisted on her coming with me 

 yes is there a family free from sorrow now said pierre addressing
natasha you know it happened the very day we were rescued i saw him 
what a delightful boy he was 

natasha looked at him and by way of answer to his words her eyes
widened and lit up 

 what can one say or think of as a consolation said pierre nothing 
why had such a splendid boy so full of life to die 

 yes in these days it would be hard to live without faith remarked
princess mary 

 yes yes that is really true pierre hastily interrupted her 

 why is it true natasha asked looking attentively into pierre's eyes 

 how can you ask why said princess mary the thought alone of what
awaits 

natasha without waiting for princess mary to finish again looked
inquiringly at pierre 

 and because pierre continued only one who believes that there is a
god ruling us can bear a loss such as hers and yours 

natasha had already opened her mouth to speak but suddenly stopped 
pierre hurriedly turned away from her and again addressed princess mary 
asking about his friend's last days 

pierre's confusion had now almost vanished but at the same time he felt
that his freedom had also completely gone he felt that there was now a
judge of his every word and action whose judgment mattered more to
him than that of all the rest of the world as he spoke now he was
considering what impression his words would make on natasha he did
not purposely say things to please her but whatever he was saying he
regarded from her standpoint 

princess mary reluctantly as is usual in such cases began telling of
the condition in which she had found prince andrew but pierre's face
quivering with emotion his questions and his eager restless expression 
gradually compelled her to go into details which she feared to recall
for her own sake 

 yes yes and so pierre kept saying as he leaned toward her with
his whole body and eagerly listened to her story yes yes so he
grew tranquil and softened with all his soul he had always sought
one thing to be perfectly good so he could not be afraid of death the
faults he had if he had any were not of his making so he did soften 
what a happy thing that he saw you again he added suddenly turning to
natasha and looking at her with eyes full of tears 

natasha's face twitched she frowned and lowered her eyes for a moment 
she hesitated for an instant whether to speak or not 

 yes that was happiness she then said in her quiet voice with its
deep chest notes for me it certainly was happiness she paused and
he he he said he was wishing for it at the very moment i entered
the room 

natasha's voice broke she blushed pressed her clasped hands on her
knees and then controlling herself with an evident effort lifted her
head and began to speak rapidly 

 we knew nothing of it when we started from moscow i did not dare to
ask about him then suddenly sonya told me he was traveling with us i
had no idea and could not imagine what state he was in all i wanted was
to see him and be with him she said trembling and breathing quickly 

and not letting them interrupt her she went on to tell what she had
never yet mentioned to anyone all she had lived through during those
three weeks of their journey and life at yaroslavl 

pierre listened to her with lips parted and eyes fixed upon her full of
tears as he listened he did not think of prince andrew nor of death 
nor of what she was telling he listened to her and felt only pity for
her for what she was suffering now while she was speaking 

princess mary frowning in her effort to hold back her tears sat beside
natasha and heard for the first time the story of those last days of
her brother's and natasha's love 

evidently natasha needed to tell that painful yet joyful tale 

she spoke mingling most trifling details with the intimate secrets of
her soul and it seemed as if she could never finish several times she
repeated the same thing twice 

dessalles voice was heard outside the door asking whether little
nicholas might come in to say good night 

 well that's all everything said natasha 

she got up quickly just as nicholas entered almost ran to the door
which was hidden by curtains struck her head against it and rushed
from the room with a moan either of pain or sorrow 

pierre gazed at the door through which she had disappeared and did not
understand why he suddenly felt all alone in the world 

princess mary roused him from his abstraction by drawing his attention
to her nephew who had entered the room 

at that moment of emotional tenderness young nicholas face which
resembled his father's affected pierre so much that when he had kissed
the boy he got up quickly took out his handkerchief and went to the
window he wished to take leave of princess mary but she would not let
him go 

 no natasha and i sometimes don't go to sleep till after two so please
don't go i will order supper go downstairs we will come immediately 

before pierre left the room princess mary told him this is the first
time she has talked of him like that 





chapter xvii

pierre was shown into the large brightly lit dining room a few minutes
later he heard footsteps and princess mary entered with natasha natasha
was calm though a severe and grave expression had again settled on her
face they all three of them now experienced that feeling of awkwardness
which usually follows after a serious and heartfelt talk it is
impossible to go back to the same conversation to talk of trifles is
awkward and yet the desire to speak is there and silence seems like
affectation they went silently to table the footmen drew back the
chairs and pushed them up again pierre unfolded his cold table napkin
and resolving to break the silence looked at natasha and at princess
mary they had evidently both formed the same resolution the eyes of
both shone with satisfaction and a confession that besides sorrow life
also has joy 

 do you take vodka count asked princess mary and those words
suddenly banished the shadows of the past now tell us about yourself 
said she one hears such improbable wonders about you 

 yes replied pierre with the smile of mild irony now habitual to him 
 they even tell me wonders i myself never dreamed of mary abramovna
invited me to her house and kept telling me what had happened or ought
to have happened to me stepan stepanych also instructed me how i ought
to tell of my experiences in general i have noticed that it is very
easy to be an interesting man i am an interesting man now people
invite me out and tell me all about myself 

natasha smiled and was on the point of speaking 

 we have been told princess mary interrupted her that you lost two
millions in moscow is that true 

 but i am three times as rich as before returned pierre 

though the position was now altered by his decision to pay his wife's
debts and to rebuild his houses pierre still maintained that he had
become three times as rich as before 

 what i have certainly gained is freedom he began seriously but did
not continue noticing that this theme was too egotistic 

 and are you building 

 yes savelich says i must 

 tell me you did not know of the countess death when you decided to
remain in moscow asked princess mary and immediately blushed noticing
that her question following his mention of freedom ascribed to his
words a meaning he had perhaps not intended 

 no answered pierre evidently not considering awkward the meaning
princess mary had given to his words i heard of it in orel and you
cannot imagine how it shocked me we were not an exemplary couple he
added quickly glancing at natasha and noticing on her face curiosity as
to how he would speak of his wife but her death shocked me terribly 
when two people quarrel they are always both in fault and one's own
guilt suddenly becomes terribly serious when the other is no longer
alive and then such a death without friends and without consolation 
i am very very sorry for her he concluded and was pleased to notice
a look of glad approval on natasha's face 

 yes and so you are once more an eligible bachelor said princess
mary 

pierre suddenly flushed crimson and for a long time tried not to look
at natasha when he ventured to glance her way again her face was cold 
stern and he fancied even contemptuous 

 and did you really see and speak to napoleon as we have been told 
said princess mary 

pierre laughed 

 no not once everybody seems to imagine that being taken prisoner
means being napoleon's guest not only did i never see him but i heard
nothing about him i was in much lower company 

supper was over and pierre who at first declined to speak about his
captivity was gradually led on to do so 

 but it's true that you remained in moscow to kill napoleon natasha
asked with a slight smile i guessed it then when we met at the
sukharev tower do you remember 

pierre admitted that it was true and from that was gradually led by
princess mary's questions and especially by natasha's into giving a
detailed account of his adventures 

at first he spoke with the amused and mild irony now customary with
him toward everybody and especially toward himself but when he came
to describe the horrors and sufferings he had witnessed he was
unconsciously carried away and began speaking with the suppressed
emotion of a man re experiencing in recollection strong impressions he
has lived through 

princess mary with a gentle smile looked now at pierre and now at
natasha in the whole narrative she saw only pierre and his goodness 
natasha leaning on her elbow the expression of her face constantly
changing with the narrative watched pierre with an attention that never
wandered evidently herself experiencing all that he described not only
her look but her exclamations and the brief questions she put showed
pierre that she understood just what he wished to convey it was clear
that she understood not only what he said but also what he wished to 
but could not express in words the account pierre gave of the incident
with the child and the woman for protecting whom he was arrested was
this it was an awful sight children abandoned some in the flames 
one was snatched out before my eyes and there were women who had
their things snatched off and their earrings torn out he flushed and
grew confused then a patrol arrived and all the men all those who were
not looting that is were arrested and i among them 

 i am sure you're not telling us everything i am sure you did
something said natasha and pausing added something fine 

pierre continued when he spoke of the execution he wanted to pass
over the horrible details but natasha insisted that he should not omit
anything 

pierre began to tell about karataev but paused by this time he had
risen from the table and was pacing the room natasha following him with
her eyes then he added 

 no you can't understand what i learned from that illiterate man that
simple fellow 

 yes yes go on said natasha where is he 

 they killed him almost before my eyes 

and pierre his voice trembling continually went on to tell of the last
days of their retreat of karataev's illness and his death 

he told of his adventures as he had never yet recalled them he now as
it were saw a new meaning in all he had gone through now that he was
telling it all to natasha he experienced that pleasure which a man has
when women listen to him not clever women who when listening either try
to remember what they hear to enrich their minds and when opportunity
offers to retell it or who wish to adopt it to some thought of their
own and promptly contribute their own clever comments prepared in their
little mental workshop but the pleasure given by real women gifted with
a capacity to select and absorb the very best a man shows of himself 
natasha without knowing it was all attention she did not lose a word 
no single quiver in pierre's voice no look no twitch of a muscle in
his face nor a single gesture she caught the unfinished word in its
flight and took it straight into her open heart divining the secret
meaning of all pierre's mental travail 

princess mary understood his story and sympathized with him but she
now saw something else that absorbed all her attention she saw the
possibility of love and happiness between natasha and pierre and the
first thought of this filled her heart with gladness 

it was three o'clock in the morning the footmen came in with sad and
stern faces to change the candles but no one noticed them 

pierre finished his story natasha continued to look at him intently
with bright attentive and animated eyes as if trying to understand
something more which he had perhaps left untold pierre in shamefaced
and happy confusion glanced occasionally at her and tried to think what
to say next to introduce a fresh subject princess mary was silent it
occurred to none of them that it was three o'clock and time to go to
bed 

 people speak of misfortunes and sufferings remarked pierre but if
at this moment i were asked would you rather be what you were before
you were taken prisoner or go through all this again then for
heaven's sake let me again have captivity and horseflesh we imagine
that when we are thrown out of our usual ruts all is lost but it is
only then that what is new and good begins while there is life there is
happiness there is much much before us i say this to you he added 
turning to natasha 

 yes yes she said answering something quite different i too should
wish nothing but to relive it all from the beginning 

pierre looked intently at her 

 yes and nothing more said natasha 

 it's not true not true cried pierre i am not to blame for being
alive and wishing to live nor you either 

suddenly natasha bent her head covered her face with her hands and
began to cry 

 what is it natasha said princess mary 

 nothing nothing she smiled at pierre through her tears good night 
it is time for bed 

pierre rose and took his leave 


princess mary and natasha met as usual in the bedroom they talked of
what pierre had told them princess mary did not express her opinion of
pierre nor did natasha speak of him 

 well good night mary said natasha do you know i am often afraid
that by not speaking of him she meant prince andrew for fear of not
doing justice to our feelings we forget him 

princess mary sighed deeply and thereby acknowledged the justice of
natasha's remark but she did not express agreement in words 

 is it possible to forget said she 

 it did me so much good to tell all about it today it was hard and
painful but good very good said natasha i am sure he really loved
him that is why i told him was it all right she added suddenly
blushing 

 to tell pierre oh yes what a splendid man he is said princess
mary 

 do you know mary natasha suddenly said with a mischievous smile
such as princess mary had not seen on her face for a long time he has
somehow grown so clean smooth and fresh as if he had just come out of
a russian bath do you understand out of a moral bath isn't it true 

 yes replied princess mary he has greatly improved 

 with a short coat and his hair cropped just as if well just as if he
had come straight from the bath papa used to 

 i understand why he prince andrew liked no one so much as him 
said princess mary 

 yes and yet he is quite different they say men are friends when they
are quite different that must be true really he is quite unlike him in
everything 

 yes but he's wonderful 

 well good night said natasha 

and the same mischievous smile lingered for a long time on her face as
if it had been forgotten there 





chapter xviii

it was a long time before pierre could fall asleep that night he paced
up and down his room now turning his thoughts on a difficult problem
and frowning now suddenly shrugging his shoulders and wincing and now
smiling happily 

he was thinking of prince andrew of natasha and of their love at one
moment jealous of her past then reproaching himself for that feeling 
it was already six in the morning and he still paced up and down the
room 

 well what's to be done if it cannot be avoided what's to be done 
evidently it has to be so said he to himself and hastily undressing
he got into bed happy and agitated but free from hesitation or
indecision 

 strange and impossible as such happiness seems i must do everything
that she and i may be man and wife he told himself 

a few days previously pierre had decided to go to petersburg on the
friday when he awoke on the thursday savelich came to ask him about
packing for the journey 

 what to petersburg what is petersburg who is there in petersburg 
he asked involuntarily though only to himself oh yes long ago
before this happened i did for some reason mean to go to petersburg 
he reflected why but perhaps i shall go what a good fellow he is and
how attentive and how he remembers everything he thought looking at
savelich's old face and what a pleasant smile he has 

 well savelich do you still not wish to accept your freedom pierre
asked him 

 what's the good of freedom to me your excellency we lived under the
late count the kingdom of heaven be his and we have lived under you
too without ever being wronged 

 and your children 

 the children will live just the same with such masters one can live 

 but what about my heirs said pierre supposing i suddenly marry 
it might happen he added with an involuntary smile 

 if i may take the liberty your excellency it would be a good thing 

 how easy he thinks it thought pierre he doesn't know how terrible
it is and how dangerous too soon or too late it is terrible 

 so what are your orders are you starting tomorrow asked savelich 

 no i'll put it off for a bit i'll tell you later you must forgive
the trouble i have put you to said pierre and seeing savelich smile 
he thought but how strange it is that he should not know that now
there is no petersburg for me and that that must be settled first of
all but probably he knows it well enough and is only pretending shall
i have a talk with him and see what he thinks pierre reflected no 
another time 

at breakfast pierre told the princess his cousin that he had been to
see princess mary the day before and had there met whom do you think 
natasha rostova 

the princess seemed to see nothing more extraordinary in that than if he
had seen anna semenovna 

 do you know her asked pierre 

 i have seen the princess she replied i heard that they were
arranging a match for her with young rostov it would be a very good
thing for the rostovs they are said to be utterly ruined 

 no i mean do you know natasha rostova 

 i heard about that affair of hers at the time it was a great pity 

 no she either doesn't understand or is pretending thought pierre 
 better not say anything to her either 

the princess too had prepared provisions for pierre's journey 

 how kind they all are thought pierre what is surprising is that
they should trouble about these things now when it can no longer be of
interest to them and all for me 

on the same day the chief of police came to pierre inviting him to send
a representative to the faceted palace to recover things that were to be
returned to their owners that day 

 and this man too thought pierre looking into the face of the chief
of police what a fine good looking officer and how kind fancy
bothering about such trifles now and they actually say he is not honest
and takes bribes what nonsense besides why shouldn't he take bribes 
that's the way he was brought up and everybody does it but what a
kind pleasant face and how he smiles as he looks at me 

pierre went to princess mary's to dinner 

as he drove through the streets past the houses that had been burned
down he was surprised by the beauty of those ruins the picturesqueness
of the chimney stacks and tumble down walls of the burned out quarters
of the town stretching out and concealing one another reminded him of
the rhine and the colosseum the cabmen he met and their passengers 
the carpenters cutting the timber for new houses with axes the women
hawkers and the shopkeepers all looked at him with cheerful beaming
eyes that seemed to say ah there he is let's see what will come of
it 

at the entrance to princess mary's house pierre felt doubtful whether
he had really been there the night before and really seen natasha and
talked to her perhaps i imagined it perhaps i shall go in and find
no one there but he had hardly entered the room before he felt her
presence with his whole being by the loss of his sense of freedom she
was in the same black dress with soft folds and her hair was done the
same way as the day before yet she was quite different had she been
like this when he entered the day before he could not for a moment have
failed to recognize her 

she was as he had known her almost as a child and later on as prince
andrew's fiancee a bright questioning light shone in her eyes and on
her face was a friendly and strangely roguish expression 

pierre dined with them and would have spent the whole evening there but
princess mary was going to vespers and pierre left the house with her 

next day he came early dined and stayed the whole evening though
princess mary and natasha were evidently glad to see their visitor and
though all pierre's interest was now centered in that house by the
evening they had talked over everything and the conversation passed from
one trivial topic to another and repeatedly broke off he stayed so long
that princess mary and natasha exchanged glances evidently wondering
when he would go pierre noticed this but could not go he felt uneasy
and embarrassed but sat on because he simply could not get up and take
his leave 

princess mary foreseeing no end to this rose first and complaining of
a headache began to say good night 

 so you are going to petersburg tomorrow she asked 

 no i am not going pierre replied hastily in a surprised tone and as
though offended yes no to petersburg tomorrow but i won't say
good by yet i will call round in case you have any commissions for me 
said he standing before princess mary and turning red but not taking
his departure 

natasha gave him her hand and went out princess mary on the other hand
instead of going away sank into an armchair and looked sternly and
intently at him with her deep radiant eyes the weariness she
had plainly shown before had now quite passed off with a deep and
long drawn sigh she seemed to be prepared for a lengthy talk 

when natasha left the room pierre's confusion and awkwardness
immediately vanished and were replaced by eager excitement he quickly
moved an armchair toward princess mary 

 yes i wanted to tell you said he answering her look as if she had
spoken princess help me what am i to do can i hope princess my
dear friend listen i know it all i know i am not worthy of her i
know it's impossible to speak of it now but i want to be a brother to
her no not that i don't i can't 

he paused and rubbed his face and eyes with his hands 

 well he went on with an evident effort at self control and coherence 
 i don't know when i began to love her but i have loved her and her
alone all my life and i love her so that i cannot imagine life without
her i cannot propose to her at present but the thought that
perhaps she might someday be my wife and that i may be missing that
possibility that possibility is terrible tell me can i hope 
tell me what i am to do dear princess he added after a pause and
touched her hand as she did not reply 

 i am thinking of what you have told me answered princess mary 
 this is what i will say you are right that to speak to her of love at
present 

princess mary stopped she was going to say that to speak of love was
impossible but she stopped because she had seen by the sudden change
in natasha two days before that she would not only not be hurt if pierre
spoke of his love but that it was the very thing she wished for 

 to speak to her now wouldn't do said the princess all the same 

 but what am i to do 

 leave it to me said princess mary i know 

pierre was looking into princess mary's eyes 

 well well he said 

 i know that she loves will love you princess mary corrected
herself 

before her words were out pierre had sprung up and with a frightened
expression seized princess mary's hand 

 what makes you think so you think i may hope you think 

 yes i think so said princess mary with a smile write to her
parents and leave it to me i will tell her when i can i wish it to
happen and my heart tells me it will 

 no it cannot be how happy i am but it can't be how happy i am 
no it can't be pierre kept saying as he kissed princess mary's hands 

 go to petersburg that will be best and i will write to you she
said 

 to petersburg go there very well i'll go but i may come again
tomorrow 

next day pierre came to say good by natasha was less animated than
she had been the day before but that day as he looked at her pierre
sometimes felt as if he was vanishing and that neither he nor she
existed any longer that nothing existed but happiness is it possible 
no it can't be he told himself at every look gesture and word that
filled his soul with joy 

when on saying good by he took her thin slender hand he could not help
holding it a little longer in his own 

 is it possible that this hand that face those eyes all this treasure
of feminine charm so strange to me now is it possible that it will one
day be mine forever as familiar to me as i am to myself no that's
impossible 

 good by count she said aloud i shall look forward very much to
your return she added in a whisper 

and these simple words her look and the expression on her face which
accompanied them formed for two months the subject of inexhaustible
memories interpretations and happy meditations for pierre i shall
look forward very much to your return yes yes how did she say it 
yes i shall look forward very much to your return oh how happy i
am what is happening to me how happy i am said pierre to himself 





chapter xix

there was nothing in pierre's soul now at all like what had troubled it
during his courtship of helene 

he did not repeat to himself with a sickening feeling of shame the words
he had spoken or say oh why did i not say that and whatever made
me say je vous aime on the contrary he now repeated in imagination
every word that he or natasha had spoken and pictured every detail of
her face and smile and did not wish to diminish or add anything but
only to repeat it again and again there was now not a shadow of doubt
in his mind as to whether what he had undertaken was right or wrong 
only one terrible doubt sometimes crossed his mind wasn't it all
a dream isn't princess mary mistaken am i not too conceited and
self confident i believe all this and suddenly princess mary will tell
her and she will be sure to smile and say how strange he must be
deluding himself doesn't he know that he is a man just a man while
i i am something altogether different and higher 

that was the only doubt often troubling pierre he did not now make any
plans the happiness before him appeared so inconceivable that if only
he could attain it it would be the end of all things everything ended
with that 

a joyful unexpected frenzy of which he had thought himself incapable 
possessed him the whole meaning of life not for him alone but for the
whole world seemed to him centered in his love and the possibility of
being loved by her at times everybody seemed to him to be occupied with
one thing only his future happiness sometimes it seemed to him that
other people were all as pleased as he was himself and merely tried to
hide that pleasure by pretending to be busy with other interests in
every word and gesture he saw allusions to his happiness he often
surprised those he met by his significantly happy looks and smiles which
seemed to express a secret understanding between him and them and when
he realized that people might not be aware of his happiness he pitied
them with his whole heart and felt a desire somehow to explain to them
that all that occupied them was a mere frivolous trifle unworthy of
attention 

when it was suggested to him that he should enter the civil service 
or when the war or any general political affairs were discussed on the
assumption that everybody's welfare depended on this or that issue
of events he would listen with a mild and pitying smile and surprise
people by his strange comments but at this time he saw everybody both
those who as he imagined understood the real meaning of life that
is what he was feeling and those unfortunates who evidently did not
understand it in the bright light of the emotion that shone within
himself and at once without any effort saw in everyone he met
everything that was good and worthy of being loved 

when dealing with the affairs and papers of his dead wife her memory
aroused in him no feeling but pity that she had not known the bliss he
now knew prince vasili who having obtained a new post and some
fresh decorations was particularly proud at this time seemed to him a
pathetic kindly old man much to be pitied 

often in afterlife pierre recalled this period of blissful insanity all
the views he formed of men and circumstances at this time remained true
for him always he not only did not renounce them subsequently but when
he was in doubt or inwardly at variance he referred to the views he had
held at this time of his madness and they always proved correct 

 i may have appeared strange and queer then he thought but i was
not so mad as i seemed on the contrary i was then wiser and had
more insight than at any other time and understood all that is worth
understanding in life because because i was happy 

pierre's insanity consisted in not waiting as he used to do to
discover personal attributes which he termed good qualities in people
before loving them his heart was now overflowing with love and by
loving people without cause he discovered indubitable causes for loving
them 





chapter xx

after pierre's departure that first evening when natasha had said to
princess mary with a gaily mocking smile he looks just yes just as
if he had come out of a russian bath in a short coat and with his hair
cropped something hidden and unknown to herself but irrepressible 
awoke in natasha's soul 

everything her face walk look and voice was suddenly altered 
to her own surprise a power of life and hope of happiness rose to the
surface and demanded satisfaction from that evening she seemed to have
forgotten all that had happened to her she no longer complained of her
position did not say a word about the past and no longer feared to
make happy plans for the future she spoke little of pierre but when
princess mary mentioned him a long extinguished light once more kindled
in her eyes and her lips curved with a strange smile 

the change that took place in natasha at first surprised princess mary 
but when she understood its meaning it grieved her can she have loved
my brother so little as to be able to forget him so soon she thought
when she reflected on the change but when she was with natasha she was
not vexed with her and did not reproach her the reawakened power
of life that had seized natasha was so evidently irrepressible and
unexpected by her that in her presence princess mary felt that she had
no right to reproach her even in her heart 

natasha gave herself up so fully and frankly to this new feeling that
she did not try to hide the fact that she was no longer sad but bright
and cheerful 

when princess mary returned to her room after her nocturnal talk with
pierre natasha met her on the threshold 

 he has spoken yes he has spoken she repeated 

and a joyful yet pathetic expression which seemed to beg forgiveness for
her joy settled on natasha's face 

 i wanted to listen at the door but i knew you would tell me 

understandable and touching as the look with which natasha gazed at
her seemed to princess mary and sorry as she was to see her agitation 
these words pained her for a moment she remembered her brother and his
love 

 but what's to be done she can't help it thought the princess 

and with a sad and rather stern look she told natasha all that pierre
had said on hearing that he was going to petersburg natasha was
astounded 

 to petersburg she repeated as if unable to understand 

but noticing the grieved expression on princess mary's face she guessed
the reason of that sadness and suddenly began to cry 

 mary said she tell me what i should do i am afraid of being bad 
whatever you tell me i will do tell me 

 you love him 

 yes whispered natasha 

 then why are you crying i am happy for your sake said princess mary 
who because of those tears quite forgave natasha's joy 

 it won't be just yet someday think what fun it will be when i am his
wife and you marry nicholas 

 natasha i have asked you not to speak of that let us talk about you 

they were silent awhile 

 but why go to petersburg natasha suddenly asked and hastily replied
to her own question but no no he must yes mary he must 





first epilogue 1813 20





chapter i

seven years had passed the storm tossed sea of european history had
subsided within its shores and seemed to have become calm but the
mysterious forces that move humanity mysterious because the laws of
their motion are unknown to us continued to operate 

though the surface of the sea of history seemed motionless the movement
of humanity went on as unceasingly as the flow of time various groups
of people formed and dissolved the coming formation and dissolution of
kingdoms and displacement of peoples was in course of preparation 

the sea of history was not driven spasmodically from shore to shore as
previously it was seething in its depths historic figures were not
borne by the waves from one shore to another as before they now seemed
to rotate on one spot the historical figures at the head of armies 
who formerly reflected the movement of the masses by ordering wars 
campaigns and battles now reflected the restless movement by political
and diplomatic combinations laws and treaties 

the historians call this activity of the historical figures the
reaction 

in dealing with this period they sternly condemn the historical
personages who in their opinion caused what they describe as the
reaction all the well known people of that period from alexander and
napoleon to madame de stael photius schelling fichte chateaubriand 
and the rest pass before their stern judgment seat and are acquitted or
condemned according to whether they conduced to progress or to reaction 

according to their accounts a reaction took place at that time in russia
also and the chief culprit was alexander i the same man who according
to them was the chief cause of the liberal movement at the commencement
of his reign being the savior of russia 

there is no one in russian literature now from schoolboy essayist to
learned historian who does not throw his little stone at alexander for
things he did wrong at this period of his reign 

 he ought to have acted in this way and in that way in this case he did
well and in that case badly he behaved admirably at the beginning of
his reign and during 1812 but acted badly by giving a constitution
to poland forming the holy alliance entrusting power to arakcheev 
favoring golitsyn and mysticism and afterwards shishkov and photius 
he also acted badly by concerning himself with the active army and
disbanding the semenov regiment 

it would take a dozen pages to enumerate all the reproaches the
historians address to him based on their knowledge of what is good for
humanity 

what do these reproaches mean 

do not the very actions for which the historians praise alexander i
 the liberal attempts at the beginning of his reign his struggle with
napoleon the firmness he displayed in 1812 and the campaign of 1813 
flow from the same sources the circumstances of his birth education 
and life that made his personality what it was and from which the
actions for which they blame him the holy alliance the restoration of
poland and the reaction of 1820 and later also flowed 

in what does the substance of those reproaches lie 

it lies in the fact that an historic character like alexander i 
standing on the highest possible pinnacle of human power with the
blinding light of history focused upon him a character exposed to those
strongest of all influences the intrigues flattery and self deception
inseparable from power a character who at every moment of his life
felt a responsibility for all that was happening in europe and not
a fictitious but a live character who like every man had his personal
habits passions and impulses toward goodness beauty and truth that
this character though not lacking in virtue the historians do not
accuse him of that had not the same conception of the welfare of
humanity fifty years ago as a present day professor who from his
youth upwards has been occupied with learning that is with books and
lectures and with taking notes from them 

but even if we assume that fifty years ago alexander i was mistaken in
his view of what was good for the people we must inevitably assume that
the historian who judges alexander will also after the lapse of some
time turn out to be mistaken in his view of what is good for humanity 
this assumption is all the more natural and inevitable because watching
the movement of history we see that every year and with each new
writer opinion as to what is good for mankind changes so that what
once seemed good ten years later seems bad and vice versa and what is
more we find at one and the same time quite contradictory views as to
what is bad and what is good in history some people regard giving a
constitution to poland and forming the holy alliance as praiseworthy in
alexander while others regard it as blameworthy 

the activity of alexander or of napoleon cannot be called useful or
harmful for it is impossible to say for what it was useful or harmful 
if that activity displeases somebody this is only because it does
not agree with his limited understanding of what is good whether the
preservation of my father's house in moscow or the glory of the russian
arms or the prosperity of the petersburg and other universities or the
freedom of poland or the greatness of russia or the balance of power in
europe or a certain kind of european culture called progress appear
to me to be good or bad i must admit that besides these things the
action of every historic character has other more general purposes
inaccessible to me 

but let us assume that what is called science can harmonize all
contradictions and possesses an unchanging standard of good and bad by
which to try historic characters and events let us say that alexander
could have done everything differently let us say that with guidance
from those who blame him and who profess to know the ultimate aim of the
movement of humanity he might have arranged matters according to
the program his present accusers would have given him of nationality 
freedom equality and progress these i think cover the ground let
us assume that this program was possible and had then been formulated 
and that alexander had acted on it what would then have become of the
activity of all those who opposed the tendency that then prevailed in
the government an activity that in the opinion of the historians was
good and beneficent their activity would not have existed there would
have been no life there would have been nothing 

if we admit that human life can be ruled by reason the possibility of
life is destroyed 





chapter ii

if we assume as the historians do that great men lead humanity to the
attainment of certain ends the greatness of russia or of france 
the balance of power in europe the diffusion of the ideas of the
revolution general progress or anything else then it is impossible
to explain the facts of history without introducing the conceptions of
chance and genius 

if the aim of the european wars at the beginning of the nineteenth
century had been the aggrandizement of russia that aim might have been
accomplished without all the preceding wars and without the invasion if
the aim was the aggrandizement of france that might have been attained
without the revolution and without the empire if the aim was the
dissemination of ideas the printing press could have accomplished that
much better than warfare if the aim was the progress of civilization 
it is easy to see that there are other ways of diffusing civilization
more expedient than by the destruction of wealth and of human lives 

why did it happen in this and not in some other way 

because it happened so chance created the situation genius utilized
it says history 

but what is chance what is genius 

the words chance and genius do not denote any really existing thing and
therefore cannot be defined those words only denote a certain stage of
understanding of phenomena i do not know why a certain event occurs i
think that i cannot know it so i do not try to know it and i talk about
chance i see a force producing effects beyond the scope of ordinary
human agencies i do not understand why this occurs and i talk of
genius 

to a herd of rams the ram the herdsman drives each evening into a
special enclosure to feed and that becomes twice as fat as the others
must seem to be a genius and it must appear an astonishing conjunction
of genius with a whole series of extraordinary chances that this ram 
who instead of getting into the general fold every evening goes into a
special enclosure where there are oats that this very ram swelling with
fat is killed for meat 

but the rams need only cease to suppose that all that happens to them
happens solely for the attainment of their sheepish aims they need only
admit that what happens to them may also have purposes beyond their ken 
and they will at once perceive a unity and coherence in what happened
to the ram that was fattened even if they do not know for what purpose
they are fattened they will at least know that all that happened to the
ram did not happen accidentally and will no longer need the conceptions
of chance or genius 

only by renouncing our claim to discern a purpose immediately
intelligible to us and admitting the ultimate purpose to be beyond our
ken may we discern the sequence of experiences in the lives of
historic characters and perceive the cause of the effect they produce
 incommensurable with ordinary human capabilities and then the words
chance and genius become superfluous 

we need only confess that we do not know the purpose of the european
convulsions and that we know only the facts that is the murders first
in france then in italy in africa in prussia in austria in spain 
and in russia and that the movements from the west to the east and from
the east to the west form the essence and purpose of these events and
not only shall we have no need to see exceptional ability and genius in
napoleon and alexander but we shall be unable to consider them to
be anything but like other men and we shall not be obliged to have
recourse to chance for an explanation of those small events which made
these people what they were but it will be clear that all those small
events were inevitable 

by discarding a claim to knowledge of the ultimate purpose we shall
clearly perceive that just as one cannot imagine a blossom or seed for
any single plant better suited to it than those it produces so it is
impossible to imagine any two people more completely adapted down to the
smallest detail for the purpose they had to fulfill than napoleon and
alexander with all their antecedents 





chapter iii

the fundamental and essential significance of the european events of the
beginning of the nineteenth century lies in the movement of the mass of
the european peoples from west to east and afterwards from east to west 
the commencement of that movement was the movement from west to east 
for the peoples of the west to be able to make their warlike movement
to moscow it was necessary 1 that they should form themselves into
a military group of a size able to endure a collision with the warlike
military group of the east 2 that they should abandon all established
traditions and customs and 3 that during their military movement they
should have at their head a man who could justify to himself and to them
the deceptions robberies and murders which would have to be committed
during that movement 

and beginning with the french revolution the old inadequately large
group was destroyed as well as the old habits and traditions and step
by step a group was formed of larger dimensions with new customs and
traditions and a man was produced who would stand at the head of the
coming movement and bear the responsibility for all that had to be done 

a man without convictions without habits without traditions without
a name and not even a frenchman emerges by what seem the strangest
chances from among all the seething french parties and without joining
any one of them is borne forward to a prominent position 

the ignorance of his colleagues the weakness and insignificance of
his opponents the frankness of his falsehoods and the dazzling and
self confident limitations of this man raise him to the head of the
army the brilliant qualities of the soldiers of the army sent to italy 
his opponents reluctance to fight and his own childish audacity and
self confidence secure him military fame innumerable so called chances
accompany him everywhere the disfavor into which he falls with the
rulers of france turns to his advantage his attempts to avoid his
predestined path are unsuccessful he is not received into the russian
service and the appointment he seeks in turkey comes to nothing during
the war in italy he is several times on the verge of destruction and
each time is saved in an unexpected manner owing to various diplomatic
considerations the russian armies just those which might have destroyed
his prestige do not appear upon the scene till he is no longer there 

on his return from italy he finds the government in paris in a process
of dissolution in which all those who are in it are inevitably wiped
out and destroyed and by chance an escape from this dangerous position
presents itself in the form of an aimless and senseless expedition
to africa again so called chance accompanies him impregnable malta
surrenders without a shot his most reckless schemes are crowned with
success the enemy's fleet which subsequently did not let a single boat
pass allows his entire army to elude it in africa a whole series of
outrages are committed against the almost unarmed inhabitants and the
men who commit these crimes especially their leader assure themselves
that this is admirable this is glory it resembles caesar and alexander
the great and is therefore good 

this ideal of glory and grandeur which consists not merely in
considering nothing wrong that one does but in priding oneself on every
crime one commits ascribing to it an incomprehensible supernatural
significance that ideal destined to guide this man and his associates 
had scope for its development in africa whatever he does succeeds the
plague does not touch him the cruelty of murdering prisoners is not
imputed to him as a fault his childishly rash uncalled for and
ignoble departure from africa leaving his comrades in distress is
set down to his credit and again the enemy's fleet twice lets him slip
past when intoxicated by the crimes he has committed so successfully 
he reaches paris the dissolution of the republican government which a
year earlier might have ruined him has reached its extreme limit and
his presence there now as a newcomer free from party entanglements can
only serve to exalt him and though he himself has no plan he is quite
ready for his new role 

he had no plan he was afraid of everything but the parties snatched at
him and demanded his participation 

he alone with his ideal of glory and grandeur developed in italy and
egypt his insane self adulation his boldness in crime and frankness in
lying he alone could justify what had to be done 

he is needed for the place that awaits him and so almost apart from
his will and despite his indecision his lack of a plan and all his
mistakes he is drawn into a conspiracy that aims at seizing power and
the conspiracy is crowned with success 

he is pushed into a meeting of the legislature in alarm he wishes to
flee considering himself lost he pretends to fall into a swoon and
says senseless things that should have ruined him but the once proud
and shrewd rulers of france feeling that their part is played out are
even more bewildered than he and do not say the words they should have
said to destroy him and retain their power 

chance millions of chances give him power and all men as if by
agreement co operate to confirm that power chance forms the characters
of the rulers of france who submit to him chance forms the character
of paul i of russia who recognizes his government chance contrives
a plot against him which not only fails to harm him but confirms his
power chance puts the duc d'enghien in his hands and unexpectedly
causes him to kill him thereby convincing the mob more forcibly than
in any other way that he had the right since he had the might 
chance contrives that though he directs all his efforts to prepare an
expedition against england which would inevitably have ruined him he
never carries out that intention but unexpectedly falls upon mack and
the austrians who surrender without a battle chance and genius give
him the victory at austerlitz and by chance all men not only the
french but all europe except england which does not take part in the
events about to happen despite their former horror and detestation of
his crimes now recognize his authority the title he has given
himself and his ideal of grandeur and glory which seems excellent and
reasonable to them all 

as if measuring themselves and preparing for the coming movement the
western forces push toward the east several times in 1805 1806 1807 
and 1809 gaining strength and growing in 1811 the group of people that
had formed in france unites into one group with the peoples of central
europe the strength of the justification of the man who stands at the
head of the movement grows with the increased size of the group during
the ten year preparatory period this man had formed relations with all
the crowned heads of europe the discredited rulers of the world can
oppose no reasonable ideal to the insensate napoleonic ideal of
glory and grandeur one after another they hasten to display their
insignificance before him the king of prussia sends his wife to seek
the great man's mercy the emperor of austria considers it a favor that
this man receives a daughter of the caesars into his bed the pope the
guardian of all that the nations hold sacred utilizes religion for the
aggrandizement of the great man it is not napoleon who prepares himself
for the accomplishment of his role so much as all those round him who
prepare him to take on himself the whole responsibility for what is
happening and has to happen there is no step no crime or petty fraud
he commits which in the mouths of those around him is not at once
represented as a great deed the most suitable fete the germans can
devise for him is a celebration of jena and auerstadt not only is he
great but so are his ancestors his brothers his stepsons and his
brothers in law everything is done to deprive him of the remains of his
reason and to prepare him for his terrible part and when he is ready so
too are the forces 

the invasion pushes eastward and reaches its final goal moscow that
city is taken the russian army suffers heavier losses than the opposing
armies had suffered in the former war from austerlitz to wagram but
suddenly instead of those chances and that genius which hitherto had
so consistently led him by an uninterrupted series of successes to the
predestined goal an innumerable sequence of inverse chances occur from
the cold in his head at borodino to the sparks which set moscow on
fire and the frosts and instead of genius stupidity and immeasurable
baseness become evident 

the invaders flee turn back flee again and all the chances are now
not for napoleon but always against him 

a countermovement is then accomplished from east to west with a
remarkable resemblance to the preceding movement from west to east 
attempted drives from east to west similar to the contrary movements of
1805 1807 and 1809 precede the great westward movement there is the
same coalescence into a group of enormous dimensions the same adhesion
of the people of central europe to the movement the same hesitation
midway and the same increasing rapidity as the goal is approached 

paris the ultimate goal is reached the napoleonic government and army
are destroyed napoleon himself is no longer of any account all his
actions are evidently pitiful and mean but again an inexplicable chance
occurs the allies detest napoleon whom they regard as the cause of
their sufferings deprived of power and authority his crimes and his
craft exposed he should have appeared to them what he appeared ten
years previously and one year later an outlawed brigand but by some
strange chance no one perceives this his part is not yet ended the man
who ten years before and a year later was considered an outlawed brigand
is sent to an island two days sail from france which for some reason
is presented to him as his dominion and guards are given to him and
millions of money are paid him 





chapter iv

the flood of nations begins to subside into its normal channels the
waves of the great movement abate and on the calm surface eddies are
formed in which float the diplomatists who imagine that they have
caused the floods to abate 

but the smooth sea again suddenly becomes disturbed the diplomatists
think that their disagreements are the cause of this fresh pressure
of natural forces they anticipate war between their sovereigns the
position seems to them insoluble but the wave they feel to be rising
does not come from the quarter they expect it rises again from the same
point as before paris the last backwash of the movement from the west
occurs a backwash which serves to solve the apparently insuperable
diplomatic difficulties and ends the military movement of that period of
history 

the man who had devastated france returns to france alone without any
conspiracy and without soldiers any guard might arrest him but by
strange chance no one does so and all rapturously greet the man they
cursed the day before and will curse again a month later 

this man is still needed to justify the final collective act 

that act is performed 

the last role is played the actor is bidden to disrobe and wash off his
powder and paint he will not be wanted any more 

and some years pass during which he plays a pitiful comedy to himself
in solitude on his island justifying his actions by intrigues and lies
when the justification is no longer needed and displaying to the whole
world what it was that people had mistaken for strength as long as an
unseen hand directed his actions 

the manager having brought the drama to a close and stripped the actor
shows him to us 

 see what you believed in this is he do you now see that it was not he
but i who moved you 

but dazed by the force of the movement it was long before people
understood this 

still greater coherence and inevitability is seen in the life of
alexander i the man who stood at the head of the countermovement from
east to west 

what was needed for him who overshadowing others stood at the head of
that movement from east to west 

what was needed was a sense of justice and a sympathy with european
affairs but a remote sympathy not dulled by petty interests a moral
superiority over those sovereigns of the day who co operated with him 
a mild and attractive personality and a personal grievance against
napoleon and all this was found in alexander i all this had been
prepared by innumerable so called chances in his life his education 
his early liberalism the advisers who surrounded him and by
austerlitz and tilsit and erfurt 

during the national war he was inactive because he was not needed but
as soon as the necessity for a general european war presented itself he
appeared in his place at the given moment and uniting the nations of
europe led them to the goal 

the goal is reached after the final war of 1815 alexander possesses all
possible power how does he use it 

alexander i the pacifier of europe the man who from his early years
had striven only for his people's welfare the originator of the liberal
innovations in his fatherland now that he seemed to possess the utmost
power and therefore to have the possibility of bringing about the
welfare of his peoples at the time when napoleon in exile was drawing
up childish and mendacious plans of how he would have made mankind happy
had he retained power alexander i having fulfilled his mission and
feeling the hand of god upon him suddenly recognizes the insignificance
of that supposed power turns away from it and gives it into the hands
of contemptible men whom he despises saying only 

 not unto us not unto us but unto thy name i too am a man like the
rest of you let me live like a man and think of my soul and of god 

as the sun and each atom of ether is a sphere complete in itself and
yet at the same time only a part of a whole too immense for man to
comprehend so each individual has within himself his own aims and yet
has them to serve a general purpose incomprehensible to man 

a bee settling on a flower has stung a child and the child is afraid
of bees and declares that bees exist to sting people a poet admires the
bee sucking from the chalice of a flower and says it exists to suck the
fragrance of flowers a beekeeper seeing the bee collect pollen from
flowers and carry it to the hive says that it exists to gather honey 
another beekeeper who has studied the life of the hive more closely
says that the bee gathers pollen dust to feed the young bees and rear
a queen and that it exists to perpetuate its race a botanist notices
that the bee flying with the pollen of a male flower to a pistil
fertilizes the latter and sees in this the purpose of the bee's
existence another observing the migration of plants notices that the
bee helps in this work and may say that in this lies the purpose of the
bee but the ultimate purpose of the bee is not exhausted by the first 
the second or any of the processes the human mind can discern the
higher the human intellect rises in the discovery of these purposes 
the more obvious it becomes that the ultimate purpose is beyond our
comprehension 

all that is accessible to man is the relation of the life of the bee to
other manifestations of life and so it is with the purpose of historic
characters and nations 





chapter v

natasha's wedding to bezukhov which took place in 1813 was the last
happy event in the family of the old rostovs count ilya rostov died
that same year and as always happens after the father's death the
family group broke up 

the events of the previous year the burning of moscow and the flight
from it the death of prince andrew natasha's despair petya's death 
and the old countess grief fell blow after blow on the old count's
head he seemed to be unable to understand the meaning of all these
events and bowed his old head in a spiritual sense as if expecting and
inviting further blows which would finish him he seemed now frightened
and distraught and now unnaturally animated and enterprising 

the arrangements for natasha's marriage occupied him for a while he
ordered dinners and suppers and obviously tried to appear cheerful but
his cheerfulness was not infectious as it used to be on the contrary it
evoked the compassion of those who knew and liked him 

when pierre and his wife had left he grew very quiet and began to
complain of depression a few days later he fell ill and took to his
bed he realized from the first that he would not get up again despite
the doctor's encouragement the countess passed a fortnight in an
armchair by his pillow without undressing every time she gave him
his medicine he sobbed and silently kissed her hand on his last day 
sobbing he asked her and his absent son to forgive him for having
dissipated their property that being the chief fault of which he was
conscious after receiving communion and unction he quietly died and
next day a throng of acquaintances who came to pay their last respects
to the deceased filled the house rented by the rostovs all these
acquaintances who had so often dined and danced at his house and had so
often laughed at him now said with a common feeling of self reproach
and emotion as if justifying themselves well whatever he may have
been he was a most worthy man you don't meet such men nowadays and
which of us has not weaknesses of his own 

it was just when the count's affairs had become so involved that it was
impossible to say what would happen if he lived another year that he
unexpectedly died 

nicholas was with the russian army in paris when the news of his
father's death reached him he at once resigned his commission and
without waiting for it to be accepted took leave of absence and went to
moscow the state of the count's affairs became quite obvious a month
after his death surprising everyone by the immense total of small
debts the existence of which no one had suspected the debts amounted to
double the value of the property 

friends and relations advised nicholas to decline the inheritance but
he regarded such a refusal as a slur on his father's memory which he
held sacred and therefore would not hear of refusing and accepted the
inheritance together with the obligation to pay the debts 

the creditors who had so long been silent restrained by a vague
but powerful influence exerted on them while he lived by the count's
careless good nature all proceeded to enforce their claims at once as
always happens in such cases rivalry sprang up as to which should get
paid first and those who like mitenka held promissory notes given them
as presents now became the most exacting of the creditors nicholas was
allowed no respite and no peace and those who had seemed to pity
the old man the cause of their losses if they were losses now
remorselessly pursued the young heir who had voluntarily undertaken the
debts and was obviously not guilty of contracting them 

not one of the plans nicholas tried succeeded the estate was sold by
auction for half its value and half the debts still remained
unpaid nicholas accepted thirty thousand rubles offered him by his
brother in law bezukhov to pay off debts he regarded as genuinely due
for value received and to avoid being imprisoned for the remainder as
the creditors threatened he re entered the government service 

he could not rejoin the army where he would have been made colonel at
the next vacancy for his mother now clung to him as her one hold on
life and so despite his reluctance to remain in moscow among people who
had known him before and despite his abhorrence of the civil service 
he accepted a post in moscow in that service doffed the uniform of
which he was so fond and moved with his mother and sonya to a small
house on the sivtsev vrazhok 

natasha and pierre were living in petersburg at the time and had no
clear idea of nicholas circumstances having borrowed money from his
brother in law nicholas tried to hide his wretched condition from him 
his position was the more difficult because with his salary of twelve
hundred rubles he had not only to keep himself his mother and sonya 
but had to shield his mother from knowledge of their poverty the
countess could not conceive of life without the luxurious conditions she
had been used to from childhood and unable to realize how hard it was
for her son kept demanding now a carriage which they did not keep to
send for a friend now some expensive article of food for herself or
wine for her son or money to buy a present as a surprise for natasha or
sonya or for nicholas himself 

sonya kept house attended on her aunt read to her put up with her
whims and secret ill will and helped nicholas to conceal their poverty
from the old countess nicholas felt himself irredeemably indebted
to sonya for all she was doing for his mother and greatly admired her
patience and devotion but tried to keep aloof from her 

he seemed in his heart to reproach her for being too perfect and
because there was nothing to reproach her with she had all that people
are valued for but little that could have made him love her he felt
that the more he valued her the less he loved her he had taken her at
her word when she wrote giving him his freedom and now behaved as if all
that had passed between them had been long forgotten and could never in
any case be renewed 

nicholas position became worse and worse the idea of putting something
aside out of his salary proved a dream not only did he not save
anything but to comply with his mother's demands he even incurred some
small debts he could see no way out of this situation the idea of
marrying some rich woman which was suggested to him by his female
relations was repugnant to him the other way out his mother's
death never entered his head he wished for nothing and hoped
for nothing and deep in his heart experienced a gloomy and stern
satisfaction in an uncomplaining endurance of his position he tried
to avoid his old acquaintances with their commiseration and offensive
offers of assistance he avoided all distraction and recreation and
even at home did nothing but play cards with his mother pace silently
up and down the room and smoke one pipe after another he seemed
carefully to cherish within himself the gloomy mood which alone enabled
him to endure his position 





chapter vi

at the beginning of winter princess mary came to moscow from reports
current in town she learned how the rostovs were situated and how the
son has sacrificed himself for his mother as people were saying 

 i never expected anything else of him said princess mary to herself 
feeling a joyous sense of her love for him remembering her friendly
relations with all the rostovs which had made her almost a member of the
family she thought it her duty to go to see them but remembering her
relations with nicholas in voronezh she was shy about doing so making
a great effort she did however go to call on them a few weeks after her
arrival in moscow 

nicholas was the first to meet her as the countess room could only be
reached through his but instead of being greeted with pleasure as she
had expected at his first glance at her his face assumed a cold stiff 
proud expression she had not seen on it before he inquired about her
health led the way to his mother and having sat there for five minutes
left the room 

when the princess came out of the countess room nicholas met her again 
and with marked solemnity and stiffness accompanied her to the anteroom 
to her remarks about his mother's health he made no reply what's that
to you leave me in peace his looks seemed to say 

 why does she come prowling here what does she want i can't bear these
ladies and all these civilities said he aloud in sonya's presence 
evidently unable to repress his vexation after the princess carriage
had disappeared 

 oh nicholas how can you talk like that cried sonya hardly able to
conceal her delight she is so kind and mamma is so fond of her 

nicholas did not reply and tried to avoid speaking of the princess any
more but after her visit the old countess spoke of her several times a
day 

she sang her praises insisted that her son must call on her expressed
a wish to see her often but yet always became ill humored when she
began to talk about her 

nicholas tried to keep silence when his mother spoke of the princess 
but his silence irritated her 

 she is a very admirable and excellent young woman said she and you
must go and call on her you would at least be seeing somebody and i
think it must be dull for you only seeing us 

 but i don't in the least want to mamma 

 you used to want to and now you don't really i don't understand you 
my dear one day you are dull and the next you refuse to see anyone 

 but i never said i was dull 

 why you said yourself you don't want even to see her she is a very
admirable young woman and you always liked her but now suddenly you
have got some notion or other in your head you hide everything from
me 

 not at all mamma 

 if i were asking you to do something disagreeable now but i only ask
you to return a call one would think mere politeness required it 
well i have asked you and now i won't interfere any more since you
have secrets from your mother 

 well then i'll go if you wish it 

 it doesn't matter to me i only wish it for your sake 

nicholas sighed bit his mustache and laid out the cards for a
patience trying to divert his mother's attention to another topic 

the same conversation was repeated next day and the day after and the
day after that 

after her visit to the rostovs and her unexpectedly chilly reception by
nicholas princess mary confessed to herself that she had been right in
not wishing to be the first to call 

 i expected nothing else she told herself calling her pride to her
aid i have nothing to do with him and i only wanted to see the
old lady who was always kind to me and to whom i am under many
obligations 

but she could not pacify herself with these reflections a feeling akin
to remorse troubled her when she thought of her visit though she had
firmly resolved not to call on the rostovs again and to forget the whole
matter she felt herself all the time in an awkward position and when
she asked herself what distressed her she had to admit that it was her
relation to rostov his cold polite manner did not express his feeling
for her she knew that but it concealed something and until she could
discover what that something was she felt that she could not be at
ease 

one day in midwinter when sitting in the schoolroom attending to her
nephew's lessons she was informed that rostov had called with a firm
resolution not to betray herself and not show her agitation she sent
for mademoiselle bourienne and went with her to the drawing room 

her first glance at nicholas face told her that he had only come to
fulfill the demands of politeness and she firmly resolved to maintain
the tone in which he addressed her 

they spoke of the countess health of their mutual friends of the
latest war news and when the ten minutes required by propriety had
elapsed after which a visitor may rise nicholas got up to say good by 

with mademoiselle bourienne's help the princess had maintained the
conversation very well but at the very last moment just when he rose 
she was so tired of talking of what did not interest her and her
mind was so full of the question why she alone was granted so little
happiness in life that in a fit of absent mindedness she sat still her
luminous eyes gazing fixedly before her not noticing that he had risen 

nicholas glanced at her and wishing to appear not to notice her
abstraction made some remark to mademoiselle bourienne and then
again looked at the princess she still sat motionless with a look of
suffering on her gentle face he suddenly felt sorry for her and was
vaguely conscious that he might be the cause of the sadness her face
expressed he wished to help her and say something pleasant but could
think of nothing to say 

 good by princess said he 

she started flushed and sighed deeply 

 oh i beg your pardon she said as if waking up are you going
already count well then good by oh but the cushion for the
countess 

 wait a moment i'll fetch it said mademoiselle bourienne and she
left the room 

they both sat silent with an occasional glance at one another 

 yes princess said nicholas at last with a sad smile it doesn't
seem long ago since we first met at bogucharovo but how much water
has flowed since then in what distress we all seemed to be then yet
i would give much to bring back that time but there's no bringing it
back 

princess mary gazed intently into his eyes with her own luminous ones
as he said this she seemed to be trying to fathom the hidden meaning of
his words which would explain his feeling for her 

 yes yes said she but you have no reason to regret the past count 
as i understand your present life i think you will always recall it
with satisfaction because the self sacrifice that fills it now 

 i cannot accept your praise he interrupted her hurriedly on the
contrary i continually reproach myself but this is not at all an
interesting or cheerful subject 

his face again resumed its former stiff and cold expression but the
princess had caught a glimpse of the man she had known and loved and it
was to him that she now spoke 

 i thought you would allow me to tell you this she said i had come
so near to you and to all your family that i thought you would not
consider my sympathy misplaced but i was mistaken and suddenly her
voice trembled i don't know why she continued recovering herself 
 but you used to be different and 

 there are a thousand reasons why laying special emphasis on the why 
 thank you princess he added softly sometimes it is hard 

 so that's why that's why a voice whispered in princess mary's soul 
 no it was not only that gay kind and frank look not only that
handsome exterior that i loved in him i divined his noble resolute 
self sacrificing spirit too she said to herself yes he is poor now
and i am rich yes that's the only reason yes were it not for
that and remembering his former tenderness and looking now at his
kind sorrowful face she suddenly understood the cause of his coldness 

 but why count why she almost cried unconsciously moving closer to
him why tell me you must tell me 

he was silent 

 i don't understand your why count she continued but it's hard for
me i confess it for some reason you wish to deprive me of our former
friendship and that hurts me there were tears in her eyes and in her
voice i have had so little happiness in life that every loss is hard
for me to bear excuse me good by and suddenly she began to cry
and was hurrying from the room 

 princess for god's sake he exclaimed trying to stop her 
 princess 

she turned round for a few seconds they gazed silently into one
another's eyes and what had seemed impossible and remote suddenly became
possible inevitable and very near 





chapter vii

in the winter of 1813 nicholas married princess mary and moved to bald
hills with his wife his mother and sonya 

within four years he had paid off all his remaining debts without
selling any of his wife's property and having received a small
inheritance on the death of a cousin he paid his debt to pierre as well 

in another three years by 1820 he had so managed his affairs that he
was able to buy a small estate adjoining bald hills and was negotiating
to buy back otradnoe that being his pet dream 

having started farming from necessity he soon grew so devoted to it
that it became his favorite and almost his sole occupation nicholas was
a plain farmer he did not like innovations especially the english ones
then coming into vogue he laughed at theoretical treatises on estate
management disliked factories the raising of expensive products 
and the buying of expensive seed corn and did not make a hobby of any
particular part of the work on his estate he always had before his
mind's eye the estate as a whole and not any particular part of it the
chief thing in his eyes was not the nitrogen in the soil nor the oxygen
in the air nor manures nor special plows but that most important
agent by which nitrogen oxygen manure and plow were made
effective the peasant laborer when nicholas first began farming
and began to understand its different branches it was the serf who
especially attracted his attention the peasant seemed to him not merely
a tool but also a judge of farming and an end in himself at first
he watched the serfs trying to understand their aims and what they
considered good and bad and only pretended to direct them and give
orders while in reality learning from them their methods their manner
of speech and their judgment of what was good and bad only when he
had understood the peasants tastes and aspirations had learned to talk
their language to grasp the hidden meaning of their words and felt
akin to them did he begin boldly to manage his serfs that is to
perform toward them the duties demanded of him and nicholas management
produced very brilliant results 

guided by some gift of insight on taking up the management of the
estates he at once unerringly appointed as bailiff village elder and
delegate the very men the serfs would themselves have chosen had they
had the right to choose and these posts never changed hands before
analyzing the properties of manure before entering into the debit and
credit as he ironically called it he found out how many cattle the
peasants had and increased the number by all possible means he kept the
peasant families together in the largest groups possible not allowing
the family groups to divide into separate households he was hard alike
on the lazy the depraved and the weak and tried to get them expelled
from the commune 

he was as careful of the sowing and reaping of the peasants hay
and corn as of his own and few landowners had their crops sown
and harvested so early and so well or got so good a return as did
nicholas 

he disliked having anything to do with the domestic serfs the drones 
as he called them and everyone said he spoiled them by his laxity when
a decision had to be taken regarding a domestic serf especially if one
had to be punished he always felt undecided and consulted everybody in
the house but when it was possible to have a domestic serf conscripted
instead of a land worker he did so without the least hesitation he
never felt any hesitation in dealing with the peasants he knew that his
every decision would be approved by them all with very few exceptions 

he did not allow himself either to be hard on or punish a man or to
make things easy for or reward anyone merely because he felt inclined
to do so he could not have said by what standard he judged what he
should or should not do but the standard was quite firm and definite in
his own mind 

often speaking with vexation of some failure or irregularity he would
say what can one do with our russian peasants and imagined that he
could not bear them 

yet he loved our russian peasants and their way of life with his whole
soul and for that very reason had understood and assimilated the one
way and manner of farming which produced good results 

countess mary was jealous of this passion of her husband's and regretted
that she could not share it but she could not understand the joys and
vexations he derived from that world to her so remote and alien she
could not understand why he was so particularly animated and happy
when after getting up at daybreak and spending the whole morning in the
fields or on the threshing floor he returned from the sowing or mowing
or reaping to have tea with her she did not understand why he spoke
with such admiration and delight of the farming of the thrifty and
well to do peasant matthew ermishin who with his family had carted
corn all night or of the fact that his nicholas sheaves were already
stacked before anyone else had his harvest in she did not understand
why he stepped out from the window to the veranda and smiled under his
mustache and winked so joyfully when warm steady rain began to fall
on the dry and thirsty shoots of the young oats or why when the wind
carried away a threatening cloud during the hay harvest he would return
from the barn flushed sunburned and perspiring with a smell of
wormwood and gentian in his hair and gleefully rubbing his hands would
say well one more day and my grain and the peasants will all be
under cover 

still less did she understand why he kindhearted and always ready to
anticipate her wishes should become almost desperate when she brought
him a petition from some peasant men or women who had appealed to her
to be excused some work why he that kind nicholas should obstinately
refuse her angrily asking her not to interfere in what was not her
business she felt he had a world apart which he loved passionately and
which had laws she had not fathomed 

sometimes when trying to understand him she spoke of the good work he
was doing for his serfs he would be vexed and reply not in the least 
it never entered my head and i wouldn't do that for their good that's
all poetry and old wives talk all that doing good to one's neighbor 
what i want is that our children should not have to go begging i must
put our affairs in order while i am alive that's all and to do that 
order and strictness are essential that's all about it said he 
clenching his vigorous fist and fairness of course he added for
if the peasant is naked and hungry and has only one miserable horse he
can do no good either for himself or for me 

and all nicholas did was fruitful probably just because he refused to
allow himself to think that he was doing good to others for virtue's
sake his means increased rapidly serfs from neighboring estates came
to beg him to buy them and long after his death the memory of his
administration was devoutly preserved among the serfs he was a
master the peasants affairs first and then his own of course he was
not to be trifled with either in a word he was a real master 





chapter viii

one matter connected with his management sometimes worried nicholas and
that was his quick temper together with his old hussar habit of making
free use of his fists at first he saw nothing reprehensible in
this but in the second year of his marriage his view of that form of
punishment suddenly changed 

once in summer he had sent for the village elder from bogucharovo a
man who had succeeded to the post when dron died and who was accused of
dishonesty and various irregularities nicholas went out into the porch
to question him and immediately after the elder had given a few replies
the sound of cries and blows were heard on returning to lunch nicholas
went up to his wife who sat with her head bent low over her embroidery
frame and as usual began to tell her what he had been doing that
morning among other things he spoke of the bogucharovo elder countess
mary turned red and then pale but continued to sit with head bowed and
lips compressed and gave her husband no reply 

 such an insolent scoundrel he cried growing hot again at the mere
recollection of him if he had told me he was drunk and did not see 
but what is the matter with you mary he suddenly asked 

countess mary raised her head and tried to speak but hastily looked
down again and her lips puckered 

 why whatever is the matter my dearest 

the looks of the plain countess mary always improved when she was in
tears she never cried from pain or vexation but always from sorrow or
pity and when she wept her radiant eyes acquired an irresistible charm 

the moment nicholas took her hand she could no longer restrain herself
and began to cry 

 nicholas i saw it he was to blame but why do you nicholas and
she covered her face with her hands 

nicholas said nothing he flushed crimson left her side and paced up
and down the room he understood what she was weeping about but could
not in his heart at once agree with her that what he had regarded
from childhood as quite an everyday event was wrong is it just
sentimentality old wives tales or is she right he asked himself 
before he had solved that point he glanced again at her face filled with
love and pain and he suddenly realized that she was right and that he
had long been sinning against himself 

 mary he said softly going up to her it will never happen again 
i give you my word never he repeated in a trembling voice like a boy
asking for forgiveness 

the tears flowed faster still from the countess eyes she took his hand
and kissed it 

 nicholas when did you break your cameo she asked to change the
subject looking at his finger on which he wore a ring with a cameo of
laocoon's head 

 today it was the same affair oh mary don't remind me of it and
again he flushed i give you my word of honor it shan't occur again 
and let this always be a reminder to me and he pointed to the broken
ring 

after that when in discussions with his village elders or stewards the
blood rushed to his face and his fists began to clench nicholas would
turn the broken ring on his finger and would drop his eyes before the
man who was making him angry but he did forget himself once or twice
within a twelvemonth and then he would go and confess to his wife and
would again promise that this should really be the very last time 

 mary you must despise me he would say i deserve it 

 you should go go away at once if you don't feel strong enough to
control yourself she would reply sadly trying to comfort her husband 

among the gentry of the province nicholas was respected but not liked 
he did not concern himself with the interests of his own class and
consequently some thought him proud and others thought him stupid the
whole summer from spring sowing to harvest he was busy with the work
on his farm in autumn he gave himself up to hunting with the same
business like seriousness leaving home for a month or even two with
his hunt in winter he visited his other villages or spent his time
reading the books he read were chiefly historical and on these he
spent a certain sum every year he was collecting as he said a serious
library and he made it a rule to read through all the books he bought 
he would sit in his study with a grave air reading a task he first
imposed upon himself as a duty but which afterwards became a habit
affording him a special kind of pleasure and a consciousness of
being occupied with serious matters in winter except for business
excursions he spent most of his time at home making himself one with
his family and entering into all the details of his children's relations
with their mother the harmony between him and his wife grew closer and
closer and he daily discovered fresh spiritual treasures in her 

from the time of his marriage sonya had lived in his house before
that nicholas had told his wife all that had passed between himself and
sonya blaming himself and commending her he had asked princess mary to
be gentle and kind to his cousin she thoroughly realized the wrong he
had done sonya felt herself to blame toward her and imagined that her
wealth had influenced nicholas choice she could not find fault with
sonya in any way and tried to be fond of her but often felt ill will
toward her which she could not overcome 

once she had a talk with her friend natasha about sonya and about her
own injustice toward her 

 you know said natasha you have read the gospels a great deal there
is a passage in them that just fits sonya 

 what asked countess mary surprised 

 to him that hath shall be given and from him that hath not shall be
taken away you remember she is one that hath not why i don't know 
perhaps she lacks egotism i don't know but from her is taken away and
everything has been taken away sometimes i am dreadfully sorry for her 
formerly i very much wanted nicholas to marry her but i always had
a sort of presentiment that it would not come off she is a sterile
flower you know like some strawberry blossoms sometimes i am sorry for
her and sometimes i think she doesn't feel it as you or i would 

though countess mary told natasha that those words in the gospel must be
understood differently yet looking at sonya she agreed with natasha's
explanation it really seemed that sonya did not feel her position
trying and had grown quite reconciled to her lot as a sterile flower 
she seemed to be fond not so much of individuals as of the family as a
whole like a cat she had attached herself not to the people but to the
home she waited on the old countess petted and spoiled the children 
was always ready to render the small services for which she had a gift 
and all this was unconsciously accepted from her with insufficient
gratitude 

the country seat at bald hills had been rebuilt though not on the same
scale as under the old prince 

the buildings begun under straitened circumstances were more than
simple the immense house on the old stone foundations was of wood 
plastered only inside it had bare deal floors and was furnished with
very simple hard sofas armchairs tables and chairs made by their own
serf carpenters out of their own birchwood the house was spacious
and had rooms for the house serfs and apartments for visitors whole
families of the rostovs and bolkonskis relations sometimes came to
bald hills with sixteen horses and dozens of servants and stayed for
months besides that four times a year on the name days and birthdays
of the hosts as many as a hundred visitors would gather there for a day
or two the rest of the year life pursued its unbroken routine with its
ordinary occupations and its breakfasts lunches dinners and suppers 
provided out of the produce of the estate 





chapter ix

it was the eve of st nicholas the fifth of december 1820 natasha had
been staying at her brother's with her husband and children since early
autumn pierre had gone to petersburg on business of his own for three
weeks as he said but had remained there nearly seven weeks and was
expected back every minute 

besides the bezukhov family nicholas old friend the retired general
vasili dmitrich denisov was staying with the rostovs this fifth of
december 

on the sixth which was his name day when the house would be full of
visitors nicholas knew he would have to exchange his tartar tunic for
a tail coat and put on narrow boots with pointed toes and drive to
the new church he had built and then receive visitors who would come to
congratulate him offer them refreshments and talk about the elections
of the nobility but he considered himself entitled to spend the eve
of that day in his usual way he examined the bailiff's accounts of
the village in ryazan which belonged to his wife's nephew wrote two
business letters and walked over to the granaries cattle yards and
stables before dinner having taken precautions against the general
drunkenness to be expected on the morrow because it was a great saint's
day he returned to dinner and without having time for a private talk
with his wife sat down at the long table laid for twenty persons at
which the whole household had assembled at that table were his mother 
his mother's old lady companion belova his wife their three children
with their governess and tutor his wife's nephew with his tutor sonya 
denisov natasha her three children their governess and old michael
ivanovich the late prince's architect who was living on in retirement
at bald hills 

countess mary sat at the other end of the table when her husband took
his place she concluded from the rapid manner in which after taking
up his table napkin he pushed back the tumbler and wineglass standing
before him that he was out of humor as was sometimes the case when
he came in to dinner straight from the farm especially before the soup 
countess mary well knew that mood of his and when she herself was in
a good frame of mind quietly waited till he had had his soup and then
began to talk to him and make him admit that there was no cause for his
ill humor but today she quite forgot that and was hurt that he should
be angry with her without any reason and she felt unhappy she asked
him where he had been he replied she again inquired whether
everything was going well on the farm her unnatural tone made him wince
unpleasantly and he replied hastily 

 then i'm not mistaken thought countess mary why is he cross with
me she concluded from his tone that he was vexed with her and wished
to end the conversation she knew her remarks sounded unnatural but
could not refrain from asking some more questions 

thanks to denisov the conversation at table soon became general and
lively and she did not talk to her husband when they left the table
and went as usual to thank the old countess countess mary held out her
hand and kissed her husband and asked him why he was angry with her 

 you always have such strange fancies i didn't even think of being
angry he replied 

but the word always seemed to her to imply yes i am angry but i won't
tell you why 

nicholas and his wife lived together so happily that even sonya and the
old countess who felt jealous and would have liked them to disagree 
could find nothing to reproach them with but even they had their
moments of antagonism occasionally and it was always just after they
had been happiest together they suddenly had a feeling of estrangement
and hostility which occurred most frequently during countess mary's
pregnancies and this was such a time 

 well messieurs et mesdames said nicholas loudly and with apparent
cheerfulness it seemed to countess mary that he did it on purpose to
vex her i have been on my feet since six this morning tomorrow i
shall have to suffer so today i'll go and rest 

and without a word to his wife he went to the little sitting room and
lay down on the sofa 

 that's always the way thought countess mary he talks to everyone
except me i see i see that i am repulsive to him especially when i
am in this condition she looked down at her expanded figure and in the
glass at her pale sallow emaciated face in which her eyes now looked
larger than ever 

and everything annoyed her denisov's shouting and laughter natasha's
talk and especially a quick glance sonya gave her 

sonya was always the first excuse countess mary found for feeling
irritated 

having sat awhile with her visitors without understanding anything of
what they were saying she softly left the room and went to the nursery 

the children were playing at going to moscow in a carriage made of
chairs and invited her to go with them she sat down and played with
them a little but the thought of her husband and his unreasonable
crossness worried her she got up and walking on tiptoe with
difficulty went to the small sitting room 

 perhaps he is not asleep i'll have an explanation with him she
said to herself little andrew her eldest boy imitating his mother 
followed her on tiptoe she did not notice him 

 mary dear i think he is asleep he was so tired said sonya meeting
her in the large sitting room it seemed to countess mary that she
crossed her path everywhere andrew may wake him 

countess mary looked round saw little andrew following her felt that
sonya was right and for that very reason flushed and with evident
difficulty refrained from saying something harsh she made no reply but
to avoid obeying sonya beckoned to andrew to follow her quietly and went
to the door sonya went away by another door from the room in which
nicholas was sleeping came the sound of his even breathing every
slightest tone of which was familiar to his wife as she listened to it
she saw before her his smooth handsome forehead his mustache and his
whole face as she had so often seen it in the stillness of the night
when he slept nicholas suddenly moved and cleared his throat and at
that moment little andrew shouted from outside the door papa mamma's
standing here countess mary turned pale with fright and made signs
to the boy he grew silent and quiet ensued for a moment terrible to
countess mary she knew how nicholas disliked being waked then through
the door she heard nicholas clearing his throat again and stirring and
his voice said crossly 

 i can't get a moment's peace mary is that you why did you bring
him here 

 i only came in to look and did not notice forgive me 

nicholas coughed and said no more countess mary moved away from the
door and took the boy back to the nursery five minutes later little
black eyed three year old natasha her father's pet having learned from
her brother that papa was asleep and mamma was in the sitting room ran
to her father unobserved by her mother the dark eyed little girl boldly
opened the creaking door went up to the sofa with energetic steps of
her sturdy little legs and having examined the position of her father 
who was asleep with his back to her rose on tiptoe and kissed the hand
which lay under his head nicholas turned with a tender smile on his
face 

 natasha natasha came countess mary's frightened whisper from the
door papa wants to sleep 

 no mamma he doesn't want to sleep said little natasha with
conviction he's laughing 

nicholas lowered his legs rose and took his daughter in his arms 

 come in mary he said to his wife 

she went in and sat down by her husband 

 i did not notice him following me she said timidly i just looked
in 

holding his little girl with one arm nicholas glanced at his wife and 
seeing her guilty expression put his other arm around her and kissed
her hair 

 may i kiss mamma he asked natasha 

natasha smiled bashfully 

 again she commanded pointing with a peremptory gesture to the spot
where nicholas had placed the kiss 

 i don't know why you think i am cross said nicholas replying to the
question he knew was in his wife's mind 

 you have no idea how unhappy how lonely i feel when you are like
that it always seems to me 

 mary don't talk nonsense you ought to be ashamed of yourself he
said gaily 

 it seems to be that you can't love me that i am so plain always 
and now in this cond 

 oh how absurd you are it is not beauty that endears it's love that
makes us see beauty it is only malvinas and women of that kind who are
loved for their beauty but do i love my wife i don't love her but 
i don't know how to put it without you or when something comes between
us like this i seem lost and can't do anything now do i love my
finger i don't love it but just try to cut it off 

 i'm not like that myself but i understand so you're not angry with
me 

 awfully angry he said smiling and getting up and smoothing his hair
he began to pace the room 

 do you know mary what i've been thinking he began immediately
thinking aloud in his wife's presence now that they had made it up 

he did not ask if she was ready to listen to him he did not care a
thought had occurred to him and so it belonged to her also and he told
her of his intention to persuade pierre to stay with them till spring 

countess mary listened till he had finished made some remark and in
her turn began thinking aloud her thoughts were about the children 

 you can see the woman in her already she said in french pointing to
little natasha you reproach us women with being illogical here is our
logic i say papa wants to sleep but she says no he's laughing 
and she was right said countess mary with a happy smile 

 yes yes and nicholas taking his little daughter in his strong hand 
lifted her high placed her on his shoulder held her by the legs and
paced the room with her there was an expression of carefree happiness
on the faces of both father and daughter 

 but you know you may be unfair you are too fond of this one his wife
whispered in french 

 yes but what am i to do i try not to show 

at that moment they heard the sound of the door pulley and footsteps in
the hall and anteroom as if someone had arrived 

 somebody has come 

 i am sure it is pierre i will go and see said countess mary and left
the room 

in her absence nicholas allowed himself to give his little daughter a
gallop round the room out of breath he took the laughing child quickly
from his shoulder and pressed her to his heart his capers reminded
him of dancing and looking at the child's round happy little face he
thought of what she would be like when he was an old man taking her
into society and dancing the mazurka with her as his old father had
danced daniel cooper with his daughter 

 it is he it is he nicholas said countess mary re entering the room
a few minutes later now our natasha has come to life you should have
seen her ecstasy and how he caught it for having stayed away so long 
well come along now quick quick it's time you two were parted she
added looking smilingly at the little girl who clung to her father 

nicholas went out holding the child by the hand 

countess mary remained in the sitting room 

 i should never never have believed that one could be so happy she
whispered to herself a smile lit up her face but at the same time she
sighed and her deep eyes expressed a quiet sadness as though she
felt through her happiness that there is another sort of happiness
unattainable in this life and of which she involuntarily thought at that
instant 





chapter x

natasha had married in the early spring of 1813 and in 1820 already had
three daughters besides a son for whom she had longed and whom she was
now nursing she had grown stouter and broader so that it was difficult
to recognize in this robust motherly woman the slim lively natasha of
former days her features were more defined and had a calm soft 
and serene expression in her face there was none of the ever glowing
animation that had formerly burned there and constituted its charm 
now her face and body were often all that one saw and her soul was
not visible at all all that struck the eye was a strong handsome and
fertile woman the old fire very rarely kindled in her face now that
happened only when as was the case that day her husband returned home 
or a sick child was convalescent or when she and countess mary spoke of
prince andrew she never mentioned him to her husband who she imagined
was jealous of prince andrew's memory or on the rare occasions when
something happened to induce her to sing a practice she had quite
abandoned since her marriage at the rare moments when the old fire
did kindle in her handsome fully developed body she was even more
attractive than in former days 

since their marriage natasha and her husband had lived in moscow in
petersburg on their estate near moscow or with her mother that is to
say in nicholas house the young countess bezukhova was not often seen
in society and those who met her there were not pleased with her
and found her neither attractive nor amiable not that natasha liked
solitude she did not know whether she liked it or not she even thought
that she did not but with her pregnancies her confinements the nursing
of her children and sharing every moment of her husband's life she had
demands on her time which could be satisfied only by renouncing society 
all who had known natasha before her marriage wondered at the change
in her as at something extraordinary only the old countess with her
maternal instinct had realized that all natasha's outbursts had been due
to her need of children and a husband as she herself had once exclaimed
at otradnoe not so much in fun as in earnest and her mother was now
surprised at the surprise expressed by those who had never understood
natasha and she kept saying that she had always known that natasha
would make an exemplary wife and mother 

 only she lets her love of her husband and children overflow all
bounds said the countess so that it even becomes absurd 

natasha did not follow the golden rule advocated by clever folk 
especially by the french which says that a girl should not let herself
go when she marries should not neglect her accomplishments should be
even more careful of her appearance than when she was unmarried and
should fascinate her husband as much as she did before he became her
husband natasha on the contrary had at once abandoned all her witchery 
of which her singing had been an unusually powerful part she gave it up
just because it was so powerfully seductive she took no pains with
her manners or with delicacy of speech or with her toilet or to show
herself to her husband in her most becoming attitudes or to avoid
inconveniencing him by being too exacting she acted in contradiction
to all those rules she felt that the allurements instinct had formerly
taught her to use would now be merely ridiculous in the eyes of
her husband to whom she had from the first moment given herself up
entirely that is with her whole soul leaving no corner of it hidden
from him she felt that her unity with her husband was not maintained
by the poetic feelings that had attracted him to her but by something
else indefinite but firm as the bond between her own body and soul 

to fluff out her curls put on fashionable dresses and sing romantic
songs to fascinate her husband would have seemed as strange as to adorn
herself to attract herself to adorn herself for others might perhaps
have been agreeable she did not know but she had no time at all for it 
the chief reason for devoting no time either to singing to dress or
to choosing her words was that she really had no time to spare for these
things 

we know that man has the faculty of becoming completely absorbed in
a subject however trivial it may be and that there is no subject so
trivial that it will not grow to infinite proportions if one's entire
attention is devoted to it 

the subject which wholly engrossed natasha's attention was her family 
that is her husband whom she had to keep so that he should belong
entirely to her and to the home and the children whom she had to bear 
bring into the world nurse and bring up 

and the deeper she penetrated not with her mind only but with her whole
soul her whole being into the subject that absorbed her the larger
did that subject grow and the weaker and more inadequate did her powers
appear so that she concentrated them wholly on that one thing and yet
was unable to accomplish all that she considered necessary 

there were then as now conversations and discussions about women's
rights the relations of husband and wife and their freedom and rights 
though these themes were not yet termed questions as they are now but
these topics were not merely uninteresting to natasha she positively
did not understand them 

these questions then as now existed only for those who see nothing in
marriage but the pleasure married people get from one another that is 
only the beginnings of marriage and not its whole significance which
lies in the family 

discussions and questions of that kind which are like the question of
how to get the greatest gratification from one's dinner did not then
and do not now exist for those for whom the purpose of a dinner is the
nourishment it affords and the purpose of marriage is the family 

if the purpose of dinner is to nourish the body a man who eats two
dinners at once may perhaps get more enjoyment but will not attain his
purpose for his stomach will not digest the two dinners 

if the purpose of marriage is the family the person who wishes to have
many wives or husbands may perhaps obtain much pleasure but in that
case will not have a family 

if the purpose of food is nourishment and the purpose of marriage is the
family the whole question resolves itself into not eating more than one
can digest and not having more wives or husbands than are needed for
the family that is one wife or one husband natasha needed a husband a
husband was given her and he gave her a family and she not only saw no
need of any other or better husband but as all the powers of her soul
were intent on serving that husband and family she could not imagine
and saw no interest in imagining how it would be if things were
different 

natasha did not care for society in general but prized the more the
society of her relatives countess mary and her brother her mother and
sonya she valued the company of those to whom she could come striding
disheveled from the nursery in her dressing gown and with joyful face
show a yellow instead of a green stain on baby's napkin and from whom
she could hear reassuring words to the effect that baby was much better 

to such an extent had natasha let herself go that the way she dressed
and did her hair her ill chosen words and her jealousy she was jealous
of sonya of the governess and of every woman pretty or plain were
habitual subjects of jest to those about her the general opinion was
that pierre was under his wife's thumb which was really true from the
very first days of their married life natasha had announced her demands 
pierre was greatly surprised by his wife's view to him a perfectly
novel one that every moment of his life belonged to her and to the
family his wife's demands astonished him but they also flattered him 
and he submitted to them 

pierre's subjection consisted in the fact that he not only dared not
flirt with but dared not even speak smilingly to any other woman did
not dare dine at the club as a pastime did not dare spend money on a
whim and did not dare absent himself for any length of time except on
business in which his wife included his intellectual pursuits which
she did not in the least understand but to which she attributed great
importance to make up for this at home pierre had the right to
regulate his life and that of the whole family exactly as he chose at
home natasha placed herself in the position of a slave to her husband 
and the whole household went on tiptoe when he was occupied that is was
reading or writing in his study pierre had but to show a partiality for
anything to get just what he liked done always he had only to express a
wish and natasha would jump up and run to fulfill it 

the entire household was governed according to pierre's supposed orders 
that is by his wishes which natasha tried to guess their way of
life and place of residence their acquaintances and ties natasha's
occupations the children's upbringing were all selected not merely
with regard to pierre's expressed wishes but to what natasha from the
thoughts he expressed in conversation supposed his wishes to be and she
deduced the essentials of his wishes quite correctly and having once
arrived at them clung to them tenaciously when pierre himself wanted to
change his mind she would fight him with his own weapons 

thus in a time of trouble ever memorable to him after the birth of their
first child who was delicate when they had to change the wet nurse
three times and natasha fell ill from despair pierre one day told her
of rousseau's view with which he quite agreed that to have a wet
nurse is unnatural and harmful when her next baby was born despite
the opposition of her mother the doctors and even of her husband
himself who were all vigorously opposed to her nursing her baby herself 
a thing then unheard of and considered injurious she insisted on having
her own way and after that nursed all her babies herself 

it very often happened that in a moment of irritation husband and wife
would have a dispute but long afterwards pierre to his surprise and
delight would find in his wife's ideas and actions the very thought
against which she had argued but divested of everything superfluous
that in the excitement of the dispute he had added when expressing his
opinion 

after seven years of marriage pierre had the joyous and firm
consciousness that he was not a bad man and he felt this because he saw
himself reflected in his wife he felt the good and bad within himself
inextricably mingled and overlapping but only what was really good in
him was reflected in his wife all that was not quite good was rejected 
and this was not the result of logical reasoning but was a direct and
mysterious reflection 





chapter xi

two months previously when pierre was already staying with the rostovs
he had received a letter from prince theodore asking him to come
to petersburg to confer on some important questions that were being
discussed there by a society of which pierre was one of the principal
founders 

on reading that letter she always read her husband's letters natasha
herself suggested that he should go to petersburg though she would feel
his absence very acutely she attributed immense importance to all
her husband's intellectual and abstract interests though she did not
understand them and she always dreaded being a hindrance to him in such
matters to pierre's timid look of inquiry after reading the letter she
replied by asking him to go but to fix a definite date for his return 
he was given four weeks leave of absence 

ever since that leave of absence had expired more than a fortnight
before natasha had been in a constant state of alarm depression and
irritability 

denisov now a general on the retired list and much dissatisfied with
the present state of affairs had arrived during that fortnight he
looked at natasha with sorrow and surprise as at a bad likeness of a
person once dear a dull dejected look random replies and talk about
the nursery was all he saw and heard from his former enchantress 

natasha was sad and irritable all that time especially when her mother 
her brother sonya or countess mary in their efforts to console her
tried to excuse pierre and suggested reasons for his delay in returning 

 it's all nonsense all rubbish those discussions which lead to nothing
and all those idiotic societies natasha declared of the very affairs
in the immense importance of which she firmly believed 

and she would go to the nursery to nurse petya her only boy no one
else could tell her anything so comforting or so reasonable as this
little three month old creature when he lay at her breast and she was
conscious of the movement of his lips and the snuffling of his little
nose that creature said you are angry you are jealous you would
like to pay him out you are afraid but here am i and i am he and
that was unanswerable it was more than true 

during that fortnight of anxiety natasha resorted to the baby for
comfort so often and fussed over him so much that she overfed him and
he fell ill she was terrified by his illness and yet that was just
what she needed while attending to him she bore the anxiety about her
husband more easily 

she was nursing her boy when the sound of pierre's sleigh was heard
at the front door and the old nurse knowing how to please her
mistress entered the room inaudibly but hurriedly and with a beaming
face 

 has he come natasha asked quickly in a whisper afraid to move lest
she should rouse the dozing baby 

 he's come ma'am whispered the nurse 

the blood rushed to natasha's face and her feet involuntarily moved but
she could not jump up and run out the baby again opened his eyes and
looked at her you're here he seemed to be saying and again lazily
smacked his lips 

cautiously withdrawing her breast natasha rocked him a little handed
him to the nurse and went with rapid steps toward the door but at the
door she stopped as if her conscience reproached her for having in
her joy left the child too soon and she glanced round the nurse with
raised elbows was lifting the infant over the rail of his cot 

 go ma'am don't worry go she whispered smiling with the kind of
familiarity that grows up between a nurse and her mistress 

natasha ran with light footsteps to the anteroom 

denisov who had come out of the study into the dancing room with his
pipe now for the first time recognized the old natasha a flood of
brilliant joyful light poured from her transfigured face 

 he's come she exclaimed as she ran past and denisov felt that he too
was delighted that pierre whom he did not much care for had returned 

on reaching the vestibule natasha saw a tall figure in a fur coat
unwinding his scarf it's he it's really he he has come she said
to herself and rushing at him embraced him pressed his head to her
breast and then pushed him back and gazed at his ruddy happy face 
covered with hoarfrost yes it is he happy and contented 

then all at once she remembered the tortures of suspense she had
experienced for the last fortnight and the joy that had lit up her
face vanished she frowned and overwhelmed pierre with a torrent of
reproaches and angry words 

 yes it's all very well for you you are pleased you've had a good
time but what about me you might at least have shown consideration
for the children i am nursing and my milk was spoiled petya was at
death's door but you were enjoying yourself yes enjoying 

pierre knew he was not to blame for he could not have come sooner he
knew this outburst was unseemly and would blow over in a minute or two 
above all he knew that he himself was bright and happy he wanted
to smile but dared not even think of doing so he made a piteous 
frightened face and bent down 

 i could not on my honor but how is petya 

 all right now come along i wonder you're not ashamed if only you
could see what i was like without you how i suffered 

 you are well 

 come come she said not letting go of his arm and they went to
their rooms 

when nicholas and his wife came to look for pierre he was in the nursery
holding his baby son who was again awake on his huge right palm and
dandling him a blissful bright smile was fixed on the baby's broad face
with its toothless open mouth the storm was long since over and there
was bright joyous sunshine on natasha's face as she gazed tenderly at
her husband and child 

 and have you talked everything well over with prince theodore she
asked 

 yes capitally 

 you see he holds it up she meant the baby's head but how he did
frighten me you've seen the princess is it true she's in love with
that 

 yes just fancy 

at that moment nicholas and countess mary came in pierre with the baby
on his hand stooped kissed them and replied to their inquiries but
in spite of much that was interesting and had to be discussed the baby
with the little cap on its unsteady head evidently absorbed all his
attention 

 how sweet said countess mary looking at and playing with the baby 
 now nicholas she added turning to her husband i can't understand
how it is you don't see the charm of these delicious marvels 

 i don't and can't replied nicholas looking coldly at the baby a
lump of flesh come along pierre 

 and yet he's such an affectionate father said countess mary 
vindicating her husband but only after they are a year old or so 

 now pierre nurses them splendidly said natasha he says his hand is
just made for a baby's seat just look 

 only not for this pierre suddenly exclaimed with a laugh and
shifting the baby he gave him to the nurse 





chapter xii

as in every large household there were at bald hills several perfectly
distinct worlds which merged into one harmonious whole though each
retained its own peculiarities and made concessions to the others every
event joyful or sad that took place in that house was important to all
these worlds but each had its own special reasons to rejoice or grieve
over that occurrence independently of the others 

for instance pierre's return was a joyful and important event and they
all felt it to be so 

the servants the most reliable judges of their masters because they
judge not by their conversation or expressions of feeling but by their
acts and way of life were glad of pierre's return because they knew that
when he was there count nicholas would cease going every day to attend
to the estate and would be in better spirits and temper and also
because they would all receive handsome presents for the holidays 

the children and their governesses were glad of pierre's return because
no one else drew them into the social life of the household as he did 
he alone could play on the clavichord that ecossaise his only piece 
to which as he said all possible dances could be danced and they felt
sure he had brought presents for them all 

young nicholas now a slim lad of fifteen delicate and intelligent 
with curly light brown hair and beautiful eyes was delighted because
uncle pierre as he called him was the object of his rapturous and
passionate affection no one had instilled into him this love for pierre
whom he saw only occasionally countess mary who had brought him up
had done her utmost to make him love her husband as she loved him and
little nicholas did love his uncle but loved him with just a shade of
contempt pierre however he adored he did not want to be an hussar or
a knight of st george like his uncle nicholas he wanted to be learned 
wise and kind like pierre in pierre's presence his face always shone
with pleasure and he flushed and was breathless when pierre spoke to
him he did not miss a single word he uttered and would afterwards 
with dessalles or by himself recall and reconsider the meaning of
everything pierre had said pierre's past life and his unhappiness prior
to 1812 of which young nicholas had formed a vague poetic picture from
some words he had overheard his adventures in moscow his captivity 
platon karataev of whom he had heard from pierre his love for natasha
 of whom the lad was also particularly fond and especially pierre's
friendship with the father whom nicholas could not remember all this
made pierre in his eyes a hero and a saint 

from broken remarks about natasha and his father from the emotion with
which pierre spoke of that dead father and from the careful reverent
tenderness with which natasha spoke of him the boy who was only just
beginning to guess what love is derived the notion that his father had
loved natasha and when dying had left her to his friend but the father
whom the boy did not remember appeared to him a divinity who could not
be pictured and of whom he never thought without a swelling heart and
tears of sadness and rapture so the boy also was happy that pierre had
arrived 

the guests welcomed pierre because he always helped to enliven and unite
any company he was in 

the grown up members of the family not to mention his wife were
pleased to have back a friend whose presence made life run more smoothly
and peacefully 

the old ladies were pleased with the presents he brought them and
especially that natasha would now be herself again 

pierre felt the different outlooks of these various worlds and made
haste to satisfy all their expectations 

though the most absent minded and forgetful of men pierre with the aid
of a list his wife drew up had now bought everything not forgetting
his mother and brother in law's commissions nor the dress material for
a present to belova nor toys for his wife's nephews in the early days
of his marriage it had seemed strange to him that his wife should expect
him not to forget to procure all the things he undertook to buy and he
had been taken aback by her serious annoyance when on his first trip he
forgot everything but in time he grew used to this demand knowing that
natasha asked nothing for herself and gave him commissions for others
only when he himself had offered to undertake them he now found an
unexpected and childlike pleasure in this purchase of presents for
everyone in the house and never forgot anything if he now incurred
natasha's censure it was only for buying too many and too expensive
things to her other defects as most people thought them but which
to pierre were qualities of untidiness and neglect of herself she now
added stinginess 

from the time that pierre began life as a family man on a footing
entailing heavy expenditure he had noticed to his surprise that he
spent only half as much as before and that his affairs which had been
in disorder of late chiefly because of his first wife's debts had begun
to improve 

life was cheaper because it was circumscribed that most expensive
luxury the kind of life that can be changed at any moment was no
longer his nor did he wish for it he felt that his way of life had now
been settled once for all till death and that to change it was not in
his power and so that way of life proved economical 

with a merry smiling face pierre was sorting his purchases 

 what do you think of this said he unrolling a piece of stuff like a
shopman 

natasha who was sitting opposite to him with her eldest daughter on her
lap turned her sparkling eyes swiftly from her husband to the things he
showed her 

 that's for belova excellent she felt the quality of the material 
 it was a ruble an arshin i suppose 

pierre told her the price 

 too dear natasha remarked how pleased the children will be and
mamma too only you need not have bought me this she added unable to
suppress a smile as she gazed admiringly at a gold comb set with pearls 
of a kind then just coming into fashion 

 adele tempted me she kept on telling me to buy it returned pierre 

 when am i to wear it and natasha stuck it in her coil of hair when
i take little masha into society perhaps they will be fashionable again
by then well let's go now 

and collecting the presents they went first to the nursery and then to
the old countess rooms 

the countess was sitting with her companion belova playing
grand patience as usual when pierre and natasha came into the drawing
room with parcels under their arms 

the countess was now over sixty was quite gray and wore a cap with a
frill that surrounded her face her face had shriveled her upper lip
had sunk in and her eyes were dim 

after the deaths of her son and husband in such rapid succession she
felt herself a being accidentally forgotten in this world and left
without aim or object for her existence she ate drank slept or kept
awake but did not live life gave her no new impressions she wanted
nothing from life but tranquillity and that tranquillity only death
could give her but until death came she had to go on living that is 
to use her vital forces a peculiarity one sees in very young children
and very old people was particularly evident in her her life had
no external aims only a need to exercise her various functions and
inclinations was apparent she had to eat sleep think speak weep 
work give vent to her anger and so on merely because she had a
stomach a brain muscles nerves and a liver she did these things not
under any external impulse as people in the full vigor of life do 
when behind the purpose for which they strive that of exercising their
functions remains unnoticed she talked only because she physically
needed to exercise her tongue and lungs she cried as a child does 
because her nose had to be cleared and so on what for people in their
full vigor is an aim was for her evidently merely a pretext 

thus in the morning especially if she had eaten anything rich the day
before she felt a need of being angry and would choose as the handiest
pretext belova's deafness 

she would begin to say something to her in a low tone from the other end
of the room 

 it seems a little warmer today my dear she would murmur 

and when belova replied oh yes they've come she would mutter
angrily o lord how stupid and deaf she is 

another pretext would be her snuff which would seem too dry or too damp
or not rubbed fine enough after these fits of irritability her face
would grow yellow and her maids knew by infallible symptoms when belova
would again be deaf the snuff damp and the countess face yellow just
as she needed to work off her spleen so she had sometimes to exercise
her still existing faculty of thinking and the pretext for that was a
game of patience when she needed to cry the deceased count would be
the pretext when she wanted to be agitated nicholas and his health
would be the pretext and when she felt a need to speak spitefully the
pretext would be countess mary when her vocal organs needed exercise 
which was usually toward seven o'clock when she had had an after dinner
rest in a darkened room the pretext would be the retelling of the same
stories over and over again to the same audience 

the old lady's condition was understood by the whole household though no
one ever spoke of it and they all made every possible effort to satisfy
her needs only by a rare glance exchanged with a sad smile
between nicholas pierre natasha and countess mary was the common
understanding of her condition expressed 

but those glances expressed something more they said that she had
played her part in life that what they now saw was not her whole self 
that we must all become like her and that they were glad to yield to
her to restrain themselves for this once precious being formerly as
full of life as themselves but now so much to be pitied memento
mori said these glances 

only the really heartless the stupid ones of that household and the
little children failed to understand this and avoided her 





chapter xiii

when pierre and his wife entered the drawing room the countess was in
one of her customary states in which she needed the mental exertion of
playing patience and so though by force of habit she greeted him with
the words she always used when pierre or her son returned after an
absence high time my dear high time we were all weary of waiting
for you well thank god and received her presents with another
customary remark it's not the gift that's precious my dear but that
you give it to me an old woman yet it was evident that she was
not pleased by pierre's arrival at that moment when it diverted her
attention from the unfinished game 

she finished her game of patience and only then examined the presents 
they consisted of a box for cards of splendid workmanship a
bright blue sevres tea cup with shepherdesses depicted on it and with
a lid and a gold snuffbox with the count's portrait on the lid which
pierre had had done by a miniaturist in petersburg the countess had
long wished for such a box but as she did not want to cry just then she
glanced indifferently at the portrait and gave her attention chiefly to
the box for cards 

 thank you my dear you have cheered me up said she as she always
did but best of all you have brought yourself back for i never saw
anything like it you ought to give your wife a scolding what are we
to do with her she is like a mad woman when you are away doesn't see
anything doesn't remember anything she went on repeating her usual
phrases look anna timofeevna she added to her companion see what
a box for cards my son has brought us 

belova admired the presents and was delighted with her dress material 

though pierre natasha nicholas countess mary and denisov had much to
talk about that they could not discuss before the old countess not
that anything was hidden from her but because she had dropped so
far behindhand in many things that had they begun to converse in her
presence they would have had to answer inopportune questions and to
repeat what they had already told her many times that so and so was
dead and so and so was married which she would again be unable to
remember yet they sat at tea round the samovar in the drawing room from
habit and pierre answered the countess questions as to whether prince
vasili had aged and whether countess mary alexeevna had sent greetings
and still thought of them and other matters that interested no one and
to which she herself was indifferent 

conversation of this kind interesting to no one yet unavoidable 
continued all through teatime all the grown up members of the family
were assembled near the round tea table at which sonya presided beside
the samovar the children with their tutors and governesses had had
tea and their voices were audible from the next room at tea all sat
in their accustomed places nicholas beside the stove at a small table
where his tea was handed to him milka the old gray borzoi bitch
 daughter of the first milka with a quite gray face and large black
eyes that seemed more prominent than ever lay on the armchair beside
him denisov whose curly hair mustache and whiskers had turned half
gray sat beside countess mary with his general's tunic unbuttoned 
pierre sat between his wife and the old countess he spoke of what he
knew might interest the old lady and that she could understand he
told her of external social events and of the people who had formed
the circle of her contemporaries and had once been a real living and
distinct group but who were now for the most part scattered about the
world and like herself were garnering the last ears of the harvests they
had sown in earlier years but to the old countess those contemporaries
of hers seemed to be the only serious and real society natasha saw by
pierre's animation that his visit had been interesting and that he had
much to tell them but dare not say it before the old countess denisov 
not being a member of the family did not understand pierre's caution
and being as a malcontent much interested in what was occurring in
petersburg kept urging pierre to tell them about what had happened in
the semenovsk regiment then about arakcheev and then about the bible
society once or twice pierre was carried away and began to speak of
these things but nicholas and natasha always brought him back to the
health of prince ivan and countess mary alexeevna 

 well and all this idiocy gossner and tatawinova denisov asked is
that weally still going on 

 going on pierre exclaimed why more than ever the bible society is
the whole government now 

 what is that mon cher ami asked the countess who had finished her
tea and evidently needed a pretext for being angry after her meal what
are you saying about the government i don't understand 

 well you know maman nicholas interposed knowing how to translate
things into his mother's language prince alexander golitsyn has
founded a society and in consequence has great influence they say 

 arakcheev and golitsyn incautiously remarked pierre are now the
whole government and what a government they see treason everywhere and
are afraid of everything 

 well and how is prince alexander to blame he is a most estimable
man i used to meet him at mary antonovna's said the countess in an
offended tone and still more offended that they all remained silent 
she went on nowadays everyone finds fault a gospel society well and
what harm is there in that and she rose everybody else got up too 
and with a severe expression sailed back to her table in the sitting
room 

the melancholy silence that followed was broken by the sounds of the
children's voices and laughter from the next room evidently some jolly
excitement was going on there 

 finished finished little natasha's gleeful yell rose above them all 

pierre exchanged glances with countess mary and nicholas natasha he
never lost sight of and smiled happily 

 that's delightful music said he 

 it means that anna makarovna has finished her stocking said countess
mary 

 oh i'll go and see said pierre jumping up you know he added 
stopping at the door why i'm especially fond of that music it is
always the first thing that tells me all is well when i was driving
here today the nearer i got to the house the more anxious i grew as i
entered the anteroom i heard andrusha's peals of laughter and that meant
that all was well 

 i know i know that feeling said nicholas but i mustn't go
there those stockings are to be a surprise for me 

pierre went to the children and the shouting and laughter grew still
louder 

 come anna makarovna pierre's voice was heard saying come here into
the middle of the room and at the word of command one two and
when i say three you stand here and you in my arms well now one 
two said pierre and a silence followed three and a rapturously
breathless cry of children's voices filled the room two two they
shouted 

this meant two stockings which by a secret process known only to
herself anna makarovna used to knit at the same time on the same
needles and which when they were ready she always triumphantly drew 
one out of the other in the children's presence 





chapter xiv

soon after this the children came in to say good night they kissed
everyone the tutors and governesses made their bows and they went out 
only young nicholas and his tutor remained dessalles whispered to the
boy to come downstairs 

 no monsieur dessalles i will ask my aunt to let me stay replied
nicholas bolkonski also in a whisper 

 ma tante please let me stay said he going up to his aunt 

his face expressed entreaty agitation and ecstasy countess mary
glanced at him and turned to pierre 

 when you are here he can't tear himself away she said 

 i will bring him to you directly monsieur dessalles good night 
said pierre giving his hand to the swiss tutor and he turned to young
nicholas with a smile you and i haven't seen anything of one another
yet how like he is growing mary he added addressing countess
mary 

 like my father asked the boy flushing crimson and looking up at
pierre with bright ecstatic eyes 

pierre nodded and went on with what he had been saying when the
children had interrupted countess mary sat down doing woolwork natasha
did not take her eyes off her husband nicholas and denisov rose asked
for their pipes smoked went to fetch more tea from sonya who sat weary
but resolute at the samovar and questioned pierre the curly headed 
delicate boy sat with shining eyes unnoticed in a corner starting
every now and then and muttering something to himself and evidently
experiencing a new and powerful emotion as he turned his curly head 
with his thin neck exposed by his turn down collar toward the place
where pierre sat 

the conversation turned on the contemporary gossip about those in power 
in which most people see the chief interest of home politics denisov 
dissatisfied with the government on account of his own disappointments
in the service heard with pleasure of the things done in petersburg
which seemed to him stupid and made forcible and sharp comments on what
pierre told them 

 one used to have to be a german now one must dance with tatawinova
and madame kwudener and wead ecka'tshausen and the bwethwen oh they
should let that fine fellow bonaparte loose he'd knock all this nonsense
out of them fancy giving the command of the semenov wegiment to a
fellow like that schwa'tz he cried 

nicholas though free from denisov's readiness to find fault with
everything also thought that discussion of the government was a very
serious and weighty matter and the fact that a had been appointed
minister of this and b governor general of that and that the emperor
had said so and so and this minister so and so seemed to him very
important and so he thought it necessary to take an interest in these
things and to question pierre the questions put by these two kept the
conversation from changing its ordinary character of gossip about the
higher government circles 

but natasha knowing all her husband's ways and ideas saw that he had
long been wishing but had been unable to divert the conversation to
another channel and express his own deeply felt idea for the sake of
which he had gone to petersburg to consult with his new friend prince
theodore and she helped him by asking how his affairs with prince
theodore had gone 

 what was it about asked nicholas 

 always the same thing said pierre looking round at his listeners 
 everybody sees that things are going so badly that they cannot be
allowed to go on so and that it is the duty of all decent men to
counteract it as far as they can 

 what can decent men do nicholas inquired frowning slightly what
can be done 

 why this 

 come into my study said nicholas 

natasha who had long expected to be fetched to nurse her baby now
heard the nurse calling her and went to the nursery countess mary
followed her the men went into the study and little nicholas bolkonski
followed them unnoticed by his uncle and sat down at the writing table
in a shady corner by the window 

 well what would you do asked denisov 

 always some fantastic schemes said nicholas 

 why this began pierre not sitting down but pacing the room 
sometimes stopping short gesticulating and lisping the position
in petersburg is this the emperor does not look into anything he
has abandoned himself altogether to this mysticism pierre could not
tolerate mysticism in anyone now he seeks only for peace and only
these people sans foi ni loi can give it him people who recklessly
hack at and strangle everything magnitski arakcheev and tutti
quanti you will agree that if you did not look after your estates
yourself but only wanted a quiet life the harsher your steward was the
more readily your object might be attained he said to nicholas 

 without faith or law 

 well what does that lead up to said nicholas 

 well everything is going to ruin robbery in the law courts in the
army nothing but flogging drilling and military settlements the
people are tortured enlightenment is suppressed all that is young and
honest is crushed everyone sees that this cannot go on everything is
strained to such a degree that it will certainly break said pierre as
those who examine the actions of any government have always said since
governments began i told them just one thing in petersburg 

 told whom 

 well you know whom said pierre with a meaning glance from under
his brows prince theodore and all those to encourage culture and
philanthropy is all very well of course the aim is excellent but in the
present circumstances something else is needed 

at that moment nicholas noticed the presence of his nephew his face
darkened and he went up to the boy 

 why are you here 

 why let him be said pierre taking nicholas by the arm and
continuing that is not enough i told them something else is needed 
when you stand expecting the overstrained string to snap at any moment 
when everyone is expecting the inevitable catastrophe as many as
possible must join hands as closely as they can to withstand the general
calamity everything that is young and strong is being enticed away and
depraved one is lured by women another by honors a third by ambition
or money and they go over to that camp no independent men such as you
or i are left what i say is widen the scope of our society let the
mot d'ordre be not virtue alone but independence and action as well 

nicholas who had left his nephew irritably pushed up an armchair sat
down in it and listened to pierre coughing discontentedly and frowning
more and more 

 but action with what aim he cried and what position will you adopt
toward the government 

 why the position of assistants the society need not be secret if the
government allows it not merely is it not hostile to government but
it is a society of true conservatives a society of gentlemen in the full
meaning of that word it is only to prevent some pugachev or other from
killing my children and yours and arakcheev from sending me off to some
military settlement we join hands only for the public welfare and the
general safety 

 yes but it's a secret society and therefore a hostile and harmful one
which can only cause harm 

 why did the tugendbund which saved europe they did not then venture
to suggest that russia had saved europe do any harm the tugendbund
is an alliance of virtue it is love mutual help it is what christ
preached on the cross 

natasha who had come in during the conversation looked joyfully at
her husband it was not what he was saying that pleased her that did not
even interest her for it seemed to her that was all extremely simple
and that she had known it a long time it seemed so to her because she
knew that it sprang from pierre's whole soul but it was his animated
and enthusiastic appearance that made her glad 

the boy with the thin neck stretching out from the turn down collar whom
everyone had forgotten gazed at pierre with even greater and more
rapturous joy every word of pierre's burned into his heart and with a
nervous movement of his fingers he unconsciously broke the sealing wax
and quill pens his hands came upon on his uncle's table 

 it is not at all what you suppose but that is what the german
tugendbund was and what i am proposing 

 no my fwiend the tugendbund is all vewy well for the sausage eaters 
but i don't understand it and can't even pwonounce it interposed
denisov in a loud and resolute voice i agwee that evewything here is
wotten and howwible but the tugendbund i don't understand if we're
not satisfied let us have a bunt of our own that's all wight je suis
vot'e homme 

 i'm your man 


pierre smiled natasha began to laugh but nicholas knitted his brows
still more and began proving to pierre that there was no prospect of
any great change and that all the danger he spoke of existed only in his
imagination pierre maintained the contrary and as his mental faculties
were greater and more resourceful nicholas felt himself cornered this
made him still angrier for he was fully convinced not by reasoning
but by something within him stronger than reason of the justice of his
opinion 

 i will tell you this he said rising and trying with nervously
twitching fingers to prop up his pipe in a corner but finally
abandoning the attempt i can't prove it to you you say that
everything here is rotten and that an overthrow is coming i don't
see it but you also say that our oath of allegiance is a conditional
matter and to that i reply you are my best friend as you know 
but if you formed a secret society and began working against the
government be it what it may i know it is my duty to obey the
government and if arakcheev ordered me to lead a squadron against you
and cut you down i should not hesitate an instant but should do it 
and you may argue about that as you like 

an awkward silence followed these words natasha was the first to speak 
defending her husband and attacking her brother her defense was weak
and inapt but she attained her object the conversation was resumed and
no longer in the unpleasantly hostile tone of nicholas last remark 

when they all got up to go in to supper little nicholas bolkonski went
up to pierre pale and with shining radiant eyes 

 uncle pierre you no if papa were alive would he agree with
you he asked 

and pierre suddenly realized what a special independent complex and
powerful process of thought and feeling must have been going on in
this boy during that conversation and remembering all he had said he
regretted that the lad should have heard him he had however to give
him an answer 

 yes i think so he said reluctantly and left the study 

the lad looked down and seemed now for the first time to notice what he
had done to the things on the table he flushed and went up to nicholas 

 uncle forgive me i did that unintentionally he said pointing to
the broken sealing wax and pens 

nicholas started angrily 

 all right all right he said throwing the bits under the table 

and evidently suppressing his vexation with difficulty he turned away
from the boy 

 you ought not to have been here at all he said 





chapter xv

the conversation at supper was not about politics or societies but
turned on the subject nicholas liked best recollections of 1812 denisov
started these and pierre was particularly agreeable and amusing about
them the family separated on the most friendly terms 

after supper nicholas having undressed in his study and given
instructions to the steward who had been waiting for him went to the
bedroom in his dressing gown where he found his wife still at her
table writing 

 what are you writing mary nicholas asked 

countess mary blushed she was afraid that what she was writing would
not be understood or approved by her husband 

she had wanted to conceal what she was writing from him but at the same
time was glad he had surprised her at it and that she would now have to
tell him 

 a diary nicholas she replied handing him a blue exercise book
filled with her firm bold writing 

 a diary nicholas repeated with a shade of irony and he took up the
book 

it was in french 


december 4 today when andrusha her eldest boy woke up he did not
wish to dress and mademoiselle louise sent for me he was naughty and
obstinate i tried threats but he only grew angrier then i took the
matter in hand i left him alone and began with nurse's help to get the
other children up telling him that i did not love him for a long time
he was silent as if astonished then he jumped out of bed ran to me in
his shirt and sobbed so that i could not calm him for a long time 
it was plain that what troubled him most was that he had grieved me 
afterwards in the evening when i gave him his ticket he again began
crying piteously and kissing me one can do anything with him by
tenderness 


 what is a ticket nicholas inquired 

 i have begun giving the elder ones marks every evening showing how
they have behaved 

nicholas looked into the radiant eyes that were gazing at him and
continued to turn over the pages and read in the diary was set down
everything in the children's lives that seemed noteworthy to their
mother as showing their characters or suggesting general reflections
on educational methods they were for the most part quite insignificant
trifles but did not seem so to the mother or to the father either now
that he read this diary about his children for the first time 

under the date 5 was entered 


mitya was naughty at table papa said he was to have no pudding he had
none but looked so unhappily and greedily at the others while they were
eating i think that punishment by depriving children of sweets only
develops their greediness must tell nicholas this 

nicholas put down the book and looked at his wife the radiant eyes
gazed at him questioningly would he approve or disapprove of her
diary there could be no doubt not only of his approval but also of his
admiration for his wife 

perhaps it need not be done so pedantically thought nicholas or even
done at all but this untiring continual spiritual effort of which the
sole aim was the children's moral welfare delighted him had nicholas
been able to analyze his feelings he would have found that his steady 
tender and proud love of his wife rested on his feeling of wonder at
her spirituality and at the lofty moral world almost beyond his reach 
in which she had her being 

he was proud of her intelligence and goodness recognized his own
insignificance beside her in the spiritual world and rejoiced all the
more that she with such a soul not only belonged to him but was part of
himself 

 i quite quite approve my dearest said he with a significant look 
and after a short pause he added and i behaved badly today you
weren't in the study we began disputing pierre and i and i lost my
temper but he is impossible such a child i don't know what would
become of him if natasha didn't keep him in hand have you any idea
why he went to petersburg they have formed 

 yes i know said countess mary natasha told me 

 well then you know nicholas went on growing hot at the mere
recollection of their discussion he wanted to convince me that it is
every honest man's duty to go against the government and that the oath
of allegiance and duty i am sorry you weren't there they all fell on
me denisov and natasha natasha is absurd how she rules over him and
yet there need only be a discussion and she has no words of her own
but only repeats his sayings added nicholas yielding to that
irresistible inclination which tempts us to judge those nearest and
dearest to us he forgot that what he was saying about natasha could
have been applied word for word to himself in relation to his wife 

 yes i have noticed that said countess mary 

 when i told him that duty and the oath were above everything he
started proving goodness knows what a pity you were not there what
would you have said 

 as i see it you were quite right and i told natasha so pierre says
everybody is suffering tortured and being corrupted and that it
is our duty to help our neighbor of course he is right there said
countess mary but he forgets that we have other duties nearer to us 
duties indicated to us by god himself and that though we might expose
ourselves to risks we must not risk our children 

 yes that's it that's just what i said to him put in nicholas who
fancied he really had said it but they insisted on their own view 
love of one's neighbor and christianity and all this in the presence of
young nicholas who had gone into my study and broke all my things 

 ah nicholas do you know i am often troubled about little nicholas 
said countess mary he is such an exceptional boy i am afraid i
neglect him in favor of my own we all have children and relations while
he has no one he is constantly alone with his thoughts 

 well i don't think you need reproach yourself on his account all that
the fondest mother could do for her son you have done and are doing for
him and of course i am glad of it he is a fine lad a fine lad this
evening he listened to pierre in a sort of trance and fancy as we were
going in to supper i looked and he had broken everything on my table to
bits and he told me of it himself at once i never knew him to tell an
untruth a fine lad a fine lad repeated nicholas who at heart was
not fond of nicholas bolkonski but was always anxious to recognize that
he was a fine lad 

 still i am not the same as his own mother said countess mary i
feel i am not the same and it troubles me a wonderful boy but i am
dreadfully afraid for him it would be good for him to have companions 

 well it won't be for long next summer i'll take him to petersburg 
said nicholas yes pierre always was a dreamer and always will be 
he continued returning to the talk in the study which had evidently
disturbed him well what business is it of mine what goes on
there whether arakcheev is bad and all that what business was it of
mine when i married and was so deep in debt that i was threatened with
prison and had a mother who could not see or understand it and
then there are you and the children and our affairs is it for my own
pleasure that i am at the farm or in the office from morning to night 
no but i know i must work to comfort my mother to repay you and not
to leave the children such beggars as i was 

countess mary wanted to tell him that man does not live by bread alone
and that he attached too much importance to these matters but she knew
she must not say this and that it would be useless to do so she only
took his hand and kissed it he took this as a sign of approval and
a confirmation of his thoughts and after a few minutes reflection
continued to think aloud 

 you know mary today elias mitrofanych this was his overseer came
back from the tambov estate and told me they are already offering eighty
thousand rubles for the forest 

and with an eager face nicholas began to speak of the possibility of
repurchasing otradnoe before long and added another ten years of life
and i shall leave the children in an excellent position 

countess mary listened to her husband and understood all that he told
her she knew that when he thought aloud in this way he would sometimes
ask her what he had been saying and be vexed if he noticed that she
had been thinking about something else but she had to force herself to
attend for what he was saying did not interest her at all she looked
at him and did not think but felt about something different she felt
a submissive tender love for this man who would never understand all
that she understood and this seemed to make her love for him still
stronger and added a touch of passionate tenderness besides this
feeling which absorbed her altogether and hindered her from following
the details of her husband's plans thoughts that had no connection with
what he was saying flitted through her mind she thought of her nephew 
her husband's account of the boy's agitation while pierre was speaking
struck her forcibly and various traits of his gentle sensitive
character recurred to her mind and while thinking of her nephew she
thought also of her own children she did not compare them with him but
compared her feeling for them with her feeling for him and felt
with regret that there was something lacking in her feeling for young
nicholas 

sometimes it seemed to her that this difference arose from the
difference in their ages but she felt herself to blame toward him and
promised in her heart to do better and to accomplish the impossible in
this life to love her husband her children little nicholas and all
her neighbors as christ loved mankind countess mary's soul always
strove toward the infinite the eternal and the absolute and could
therefore never be at peace a stern expression of the lofty secret
suffering of a soul burdened by the body appeared on her face nicholas
gazed at her o god what will become of us if she dies as i always
fear when her face is like that thought he and placing himself before
the icon he began to say his evening prayers 





chapter xvi

natasha and pierre left alone also began to talk as only a husband
and wife can talk that is with extraordinary clearness and rapidity 
understanding and expressing each other's thoughts in ways contrary to
all rules of logic without premises deductions or conclusions and in
a quite peculiar way natasha was so used to this kind of talk with her
husband that for her it was the surest sign of something being wrong
between them if pierre followed a line of logical reasoning when he
began proving anything or talking argumentatively and calmly and she 
led on by his example began to do the same she knew that they were on
the verge of a quarrel 

from the moment they were alone and natasha came up to him with
wide open happy eyes and quickly seizing his head pressed it to her
bosom saying now you are all mine mine you won't escape from that
moment this conversation began contrary to all the laws of logic and
contrary to them because quite different subjects were talked about at
one and the same time this simultaneous discussion of many topics did
not prevent a clear understanding but on the contrary was the surest
sign that they fully understood one another 

just as in a dream when all is uncertain unreasoning and
contradictory except the feeling that guides the dream so in this
intercourse contrary to all laws of reason the words themselves were
not consecutive and clear but only the feeling that prompted them 

natasha spoke to pierre about her brother's life and doings of how she
had suffered and lacked life during his own absence and of how she
was fonder than ever of mary and how mary was in every way better than
herself in saying this natasha was sincere in acknowledging mary's
superiority but at the same time by saying it she made a demand on
pierre that he should all the same prefer her to mary and to all
other women and that now especially after having seen many women in
petersburg he should tell her so afresh 

pierre answering natasha's words told her how intolerable it had been
for him to meet ladies at dinners and balls in petersburg 

 i have quite lost the knack of talking to ladies he said it was
simply dull besides i was very busy 

natasha looked intently at him and went on 

 mary is so splendid she said how she understands children it is as
if she saw straight into their souls yesterday for instance mitya was
naughty 

 how like his father he is pierre interjected 

natasha knew why he mentioned mitya's likeness to nicholas the
recollection of his dispute with his brother in law was unpleasant and
he wanted to know what natasha thought of it 

 nicholas has the weakness of never agreeing with anything not generally
accepted but i understand that you value what opens up a fresh line 
said she repeating words pierre had once uttered 

 no the chief point is that to nicholas ideas and discussions are
an amusement almost a pastime said pierre for instance he is
collecting a library and has made it a rule not to buy a new book
till he has read what he had already bought sismondi and rousseau and
montesquieu he added with a smile you know how much i he began
to soften down what he had said but natasha interrupted him to show
that this was unnecessary 

 so you say ideas are an amusement to him 

 yes and for me nothing else is serious all the time in petersburg i
saw everyone as in a dream when i am taken up by a thought all else is
mere amusement 

 ah i'm so sorry i wasn't there when you met the children said
natasha which was most delighted lisa i'm sure 

 yes pierre replied and went on with what was in his mind nicholas
says we ought not to think but i can't help it besides when i was in
petersburg i felt i can say this to you that the whole affair would go
to pieces without me everyone was pulling his own way but i succeeded
in uniting them all and then my idea is so clear and simple you see 
i don't say that we ought to oppose this and that we may be mistaken 
what i say is join hands you who love the right and let there be but
one banner that of active virtue prince sergey is a fine fellow and
clever 

natasha would have had no doubt as to the greatness of pierre's idea 
but one thing disconcerted her can a man so important and necessary to
society be also my husband how did this happen she wished to express
this doubt to him now who could decide whether he is really cleverer
than all the others she asked herself and passed in review all those
whom pierre most respected judging by what he had said there was no one
he had respected so highly as platon karataev 

 do you know what i am thinking about she asked about platon
karataev would he have approved of you now do you think 

pierre was not at all surprised at this question he understood his
wife's line of thought 

 platon karataev he repeated and pondered evidently sincerely
trying to imagine karataev's opinion on the subject he would not have
understood yet perhaps he would 

 i love you awfully natasha suddenly said awfully awfully 

 no he would not have approved said pierre after reflection what
he would have approved of is our family life he was always so anxious
to find seemliness happiness and peace in everything and i should
have been proud to let him see us there now you talk of my absence 
but you wouldn't believe what a special feeling i have for you after a
separation 

 yes i should think natasha began 

 no it's not that i never leave off loving you and one couldn't love
more but this is something special yes of course he did not
finish because their eyes meeting said the rest 

 what nonsense it is natasha suddenly exclaimed about honeymoons 
and that the greatest happiness is at first on the contrary now is
the best of all if only you did not go away do you remember how
we quarreled and it was always my fault always mine and what we
quarreled about i don't even remember 

 always about the same thing said pierre with a smile jealo 

 don't say it i can't bear it natasha cried and her eyes glittered
coldly and vindictively did you see her she added after a pause 

 no and if i had i shouldn't have recognized her 

they were silent for a while 

 oh do you know while you were talking in the study i was looking at
you natasha began evidently anxious to disperse the cloud that had
come over them you are as like him as two peas like the boy she
meant her little son oh it's time to go to him the milk's
come but i'm sorry to leave you 

they were silent for a few seconds then suddenly turning to one
another at the same time they both began to speak pierre began with
self satisfaction and enthusiasm natasha with a quiet happy smile 
having interrupted one another they both stopped to let the other
continue 

 no what did you say go on go on 

 no you go on i was talking nonsense said natasha 

pierre finished what he had begun it was the sequel to his complacent
reflections on his success in petersburg at that moment it seemed to
him that he was chosen to give a new direction to the whole of russian
society and to the whole world 

 i only wished to say that ideas that have great results are always
simple ones my whole idea is that if vicious people are united and
constitute a power then honest folk must do the same now that's simple
enough 

 yes 

 and what were you going to say 

 i only nonsense 

 but all the same 

 oh nothing only a trifle said natasha smiling still more brightly 
 i only wanted to tell you about petya today nurse was coming to take
him from me and he laughed shut his eyes and clung to me i'm sure
he thought he was hiding awfully sweet there now he's crying well 
good by and she left the room 


meanwhile downstairs in young nicholas bolkonski's bedroom a little lamp
was burning as usual the boy was afraid of the dark and they could
not cure him of it dessalles slept propped up on four pillows and his
roman nose emitted sounds of rhythmic snoring little nicholas who had
just waked up in a cold perspiration sat up in bed and gazed before him
with wide open eyes he had awaked from a terrible dream he had dreamed
that he and uncle pierre wearing helmets such as were depicted in
his plutarch were leading a huge army the army was made up of white
slanting lines that filled the air like the cobwebs that float about in
autumn and which dessalles called les fils de la vierge in front was
glory which was similar to those threads but rather thicker he and
pierre were borne along lightly and joyously nearer and nearer to their
goal suddenly the threads that moved them began to slacken and become
entangled and it grew difficult to move and uncle nicholas stood before
them in a stern and threatening attitude 

 have you done this he said pointing to some broken sealing wax and
pens i loved you but i have orders from arakcheev and will kill
the first of you who moves forward little nicholas turned to look
at pierre but pierre was no longer there in his place was his
father prince andrew and his father had neither shape nor form but he
existed and when little nicholas perceived him he grew faint with love 
he felt himself powerless limp and formless his father caressed and
pitied him but uncle nicholas came nearer and nearer to them terror
seized young nicholas and he awoke 

 my father he thought though there were two good portraits of prince
andrew in the house nicholas never imagined him in human form my
father has been with me and caressed me he approved of me and of uncle
pierre whatever he may tell me i will do it mucius scaevola burned
his hand why should not the same sort of thing happen to me i know
they want me to learn and i will learn but someday i shall have
finished learning and then i will do something i only pray god that
something may happen to me such as happened to plutarch's men and i
will act as they did i will do better everyone shall know me love me 
and be delighted with me and suddenly his bosom heaved with sobs and
he began to cry 

 are you ill he heard dessalles voice asking 

 no answered nicholas and lay back on his pillow 

 he is good and kind and i am fond of him he thought of dessalles 
 but uncle pierre oh what a wonderful man he is and my father oh 
father father yes i will do something with which even he would be
satisfied 





second epilogue





chapter i

history is the life of nations and of humanity to seize and put into
words to describe directly the life of humanity or even of a single
nation appears impossible 

the ancient historians all employed one and the same method to describe
and seize the apparently elusive the life of a people they described
the activity of individuals who ruled the people and regarded the
activity of those men as representing the activity of the whole nation 

the question how did individuals make nations act as they wished and by
what was the will of these individuals themselves guided the ancients
met by recognizing a divinity which subjected the nations to the will of
a chosen man and guided the will of that chosen man so as to accomplish
ends that were predestined 

for the ancients these questions were solved by a belief in the direct
participation of the deity in human affairs 

modern history in theory rejects both these principles 

it would seem that having rejected the belief of the ancients in man's
subjection to the deity and in a predetermined aim toward which nations
are led modern history should study not the manifestations of power but
the causes that produce it but modern history has not done this having
in theory rejected the view held by the ancients it still follows them
in practice 

instead of men endowed with divine authority and directly guided by
the will of god modern history has given us either heroes endowed with
extraordinary superhuman capacities or simply men of very various
kinds from monarchs to journalists who lead the masses instead of the
former divinely appointed aims of the jewish greek or roman nations 
which ancient historians regarded as representing the progress of
humanity modern history has postulated its own aims the welfare of the
french german or english people or in its highest abstraction the
welfare and civilization of humanity in general by which is usually
meant that of the peoples occupying a small northwesterly portion of a
large continent 

modern history has rejected the beliefs of the ancients without
replacing them by a new conception and the logic of the situation has
obliged the historians after they had apparently rejected the divine
authority of the kings and the fate of the ancients to reach the same
conclusion by another road that is to recognize 1 nations guided
by individual men and 2 the existence of a known aim to which these
nations and humanity at large are tending 

at the basis of the works of all the modern historians from gibbon to
buckle despite their seeming disagreements and the apparent novelty of
their outlooks lie those two old unavoidable assumptions 

in the first place the historian describes the activity of individuals
who in his opinion have directed humanity one historian considers
only monarchs generals and ministers as being such men while another
includes also orators learned men reformers philosophers and poets 
secondly it is assumed that the goal toward which humanity is being led
is known to the historians to one of them this goal is the greatness of
the roman spanish or french realm to another it is liberty equality 
and a certain kind of civilization of a small corner of the world called
europe 

in 1789 a ferment arises in paris it grows spreads and is expressed
by a movement of peoples from west to east several times it moves
eastward and collides with a countermovement from the east westward 
in 1812 it reaches its extreme limit moscow and then with remarkable
symmetry a countermovement occurs from east to west attracting to
it as the first movement had done the nations of middle europe the
counter movement reaches the starting point of the first movement in the
west paris and subsides 

during that twenty year period an immense number of fields were left
untilled houses were burned trade changed its direction millions
of men migrated were impoverished or were enriched and millions
of christian men professing the law of love of their fellows slew one
another 

what does all this mean why did it happen what made those people burn
houses and slay their fellow men what were the causes of these events 
what force made men act so these are the instinctive plain and
most legitimate questions humanity asks itself when it encounters the
monuments and tradition of that period 

for a reply to these questions the common sense of mankind turns to the
science of history whose aim is to enable nations and humanity to know
themselves 

if history had retained the conception of the ancients it would have
said that god to reward or punish his people gave napoleon power and
directed his will to the fulfillment of the divine ends and that reply
would have been clear and complete one might believe or disbelieve
in the divine significance of napoleon but for anyone believing in
it there would have been nothing unintelligible in the history of that
period nor would there have been any contradictions 

but modern history cannot give that reply science does not admit the
conception of the ancients as to the direct participation of the deity
in human affairs and therefore history ought to give other answers 

modern history replying to these questions says you want to know what
this movement means what caused it and what force produced these
events then listen 

 louis xiv was a very proud and self confident man he had such and such
mistresses and such and such ministers and he ruled france badly his
descendants were weak men and they too ruled france badly and they had
such and such favorites and such and such mistresses moreover certain
men wrote some books at that time at the end of the eighteenth century
there were a couple of dozen men in paris who began to talk about all
men being free and equal this caused people all over france to begin
to slash at and drown one another they killed the king and many other
people at that time there was in france a man of genius napoleon he
conquered everybody everywhere that is he killed many people because
he was a great genius and for some reason he went to kill africans and
killed them so well and was so cunning and wise that when he returned to
france he ordered everybody to obey him and they all obeyed him having
become an emperor he again went out to kill people in italy austria 
and prussia and there too he killed a great many in russia there
was an emperor alexander who decided to restore order in europe and
therefore fought against napoleon in 1807 he suddenly made friends
with him but in 1811 they again quarreled and again began killing many
people napoleon led six hundred thousand men into russia and captured
moscow then he suddenly ran away from moscow and the emperor
alexander helped by the advice of stein and others united europe to
arm against the disturber of its peace all napoleon's allies suddenly
became his enemies and their forces advanced against the fresh forces he
raised the allies defeated napoleon entered paris forced napoleon to
abdicate and sent him to the island of elba not depriving him of the
title of emperor and showing him every respect though five years before
and one year later they all regarded him as an outlaw and a brigand 
then louis xviii who till then had been the laughingstock both of the
french and the allies began to reign and napoleon shedding tears
before his old guards renounced the throne and went into exile then
the skillful statesmen and diplomatists especially talleyrand who
managed to sit down in a particular chair before anyone else and
thereby extended the frontiers of france talked in vienna and by
these conversations made the nations happy or unhappy suddenly the
diplomatists and monarchs nearly quarreled and were on the point of
again ordering their armies to kill one another but just then napoleon
arrived in france with a battalion and the french who had been hating
him immediately all submitted to him but the allied monarchs were
angry at this and went to fight the french once more and they defeated
the genius napoleon and suddenly recognizing him as a brigand sent him
to the island of st helena and the exile separated from the beloved
france so dear to his heart died a lingering death on that rock and
bequeathed his great deeds to posterity but in europe a reaction
occurred and the sovereigns once again all began to oppress their
subjects 

it would be a mistake to think that this is ironic a caricature of the
historical accounts on the contrary it is a very mild expression of
the contradictory replies not meeting the questions which all the
historians give from the compilers of memoirs and the histories
of separate states to the writers of general histories and the new
histories of the culture of that period 

the strangeness and absurdity of these replies arise from the fact that
modern history like a deaf man answers questions no one has asked 

if the purpose of history be to give a description of the movement of
humanity and of the peoples the first question in the absence of a
reply to which all the rest will be incomprehensible is what is the
power that moves peoples to this modern history laboriously replies
either that napoleon was a great genius or that louis xiv was very
proud or that certain writers wrote certain books 

all that may be so and mankind is ready to agree with it but it is not
what was asked all that would be interesting if we recognized a divine
power based on itself and always consistently directing its nations
through napoleons louis es and writers but we do not acknowledge such
a power and therefore before speaking about napoleons louis es and
authors we ought to be shown the connection existing between these men
and the movement of the nations 

if instead of a divine power some other force has appeared it should
be explained in what this new force consists for the whole interest of
history lies precisely in that force 

history seems to assume that this force is self evident and known to
everyone but in spite of every desire to regard it as known anyone
reading many historical works cannot help doubting whether this new
force so variously understood by the historians themselves is really
quite well known to everybody 





chapter ii

what force moves the nations 

biographical historians and historians of separate nations understand
this force as a power inherent in heroes and rulers in their narration
events occur solely by the will of a napoleon and alexander or in
general of the persons they describe the answers given by this kind
of historian to the question of what force causes events to happen are
satisfactory only as long as there is but one historian to each event 
as soon as historians of different nationalities and tendencies begin
to describe the same event the replies they give immediately lose all
meaning for this force is understood by them all not only differently
but often in quite contradictory ways one historian says that an
event was produced by napoleon's power another that it was produced by
alexander's a third that it was due to the power of some other person 
besides this historians of that kind contradict each other even
in their statement as to the force on which the authority of some
particular person was based thiers a bonapartist says that napoleon's
power was based on his virtue and genius lanfrey a republican says it
was based on his trickery and deception of the people so the historians
of this class by mutually destroying one another's positions destroy
the understanding of the force which produces events and furnish no
reply to history's essential question 

writers of universal history who deal with all the nations seem to
recognize how erroneous is the specialist historians view of the force
which produces events they do not recognize it as a power inherent in
heroes and rulers but as the resultant of a multiplicity of variously
directed forces in describing a war or the subjugation of a people a
general historian looks for the cause of the event not in the power
of one man but in the interaction of many persons connected with the
event 

according to this view the power of historical personages represented
as the product of many forces can no longer it would seem be regarded
as a force that itself produces events yet in most cases universal
historians still employ the conception of power as a force that itself
produces events and treat it as their cause in their exposition an
historic character is first the product of his time and his power only
the resultant of various forces and then his power is itself a force
producing events gervinus schlosser and others for instance at one
time prove napoleon to be a product of the revolution of the ideas of
1789 and so forth and at another plainly say that the campaign of 1812
and other things they do not like were simply the product of napoleon's
misdirected will and that the very ideas of 1789 were arrested in their
development by napoleon's caprice the ideas of the revolution and the
general temper of the age produced napoleon's power but napoleon's
power suppressed the ideas of the revolution and the general temper of
the age 

this curious contradiction is not accidental not only does it occur at
every step but the universal historians accounts are all made up of
a chain of such contradictions this contradiction occurs because after
entering the field of analysis the universal historians stop halfway 

to find component forces equal to the composite or resultant force the
sum of the components must equal the resultant this condition is never
observed by the universal historians and so to explain the resultant
forces they are obliged to admit in addition to the insufficient
components another unexplained force affecting the resultant action 

specialist historians describing the campaign of 1813 or the restoration
of the bourbons plainly assert that these events were produced by the
will of alexander but the universal historian gervinus refuting this
opinion of the specialist historian tries to prove that the campaign of
1813 and the restoration of the bourbons were due to other things beside
alexander's will such as the activity of stein metternich madame de
stael talleyrand fichte chateaubriand and others the historian
evidently decomposes alexander's power into the components talleyrand 
chateaubriand and the rest but the sum of the components that is 
the interactions of chateaubriand talleyrand madame de stael and the
others evidently does not equal the resultant namely the phenomenon
of millions of frenchmen submitting to the bourbons that chateaubriand 
madame de stael and others spoke certain words to one another only
affected their mutual relations but does not account for the submission
of millions and therefore to explain how from these relations of theirs
the submission of millions of people resulted that is how component
forces equal to one a gave a resultant equal to a thousand times a the
historian is again obliged to fall back on power the force he had
denied and to recognize it as the resultant of the forces that is he
has to admit an unexplained force acting on the resultant and that is
just what the universal historians do and consequently they not only
contradict the specialist historians but contradict themselves 

peasants having no clear idea of the cause of rain say according to
whether they want rain or fine weather the wind has blown the clouds
away or the wind has brought up the clouds and in the same way the
universal historians sometimes when it pleases them and fits in with
their theory say that power is the result of events and sometimes 
when they want to prove something else say that power produces events 

a third class of historians the so called historians of
culture following the path laid down by the universal historians who
sometimes accept writers and ladies as forces producing events again
take that force to be something quite different they see it in what is
called culture in mental activity 

the historians of culture are quite consistent in regard to their
progenitors the writers of universal histories for if historical
events may be explained by the fact that certain persons treated one
another in such and such ways why not explain them by the fact that
such and such people wrote such and such books of the immense number of
indications accompanying every vital phenomenon these historians select
the indication of intellectual activity and say that this indication is
the cause but despite their endeavors to prove that the cause of events
lies in intellectual activity only by a great stretch can one admit
that there is any connection between intellectual activity and the
movement of peoples and in no case can one admit that intellectual
activity controls people's actions for that view is not confirmed by
such facts as the very cruel murders of the french revolution resulting
from the doctrine of the equality of man or the very cruel wars and
executions resulting from the preaching of love 

but even admitting as correct all the cunningly devised arguments with
which these histories are filled admitting that nations are governed by
some undefined force called an idea history's essential question still
remains unanswered and to the former power of monarchs and to the
influence of advisers and other people introduced by the universal
historians another newer force the idea is added the connection of
which with the masses needs explanation it is possible to understand
that napoleon had power and so events occurred with some effort one may
even conceive that napoleon together with other influences was the cause
of an event but how a book le contrat social had the effect of making
frenchmen begin to drown one another cannot be understood without an
explanation of the causal nexus of this new force with the event 

undoubtedly some relation exists between all who live contemporaneously 
and so it is possible to find some connection between the intellectual
activity of men and their historical movements just as such a
connection may be found between the movements of humanity and commerce 
handicraft gardening or anything else you please but why intellectual
activity is considered by the historians of culture to be the cause or
expression of the whole historical movement is hard to understand 
only the following considerations can have led the historians to such
a conclusion 1 that history is written by learned men and so it is
natural and agreeable for them to think that the activity of their class
supplies the basis of the movement of all humanity just as a similar
belief is natural and agreeable to traders agriculturists and soldiers
 if they do not express it that is merely because traders and soldiers
do not write history and 2 that spiritual activity enlightenment 
civilization culture ideas are all indistinct indefinite conceptions
under whose banner it is very easy to use words having a still less
definite meaning and which can therefore be readily introduced into any
theory 

but not to speak of the intrinsic quality of histories of this kind
 which may possibly even be of use to someone for something the
histories of culture to which all general histories tend more and more
to approximate are significant from the fact that after seriously
and minutely examining various religious philosophic and political
doctrines as causes of events as soon as they have to describe an
actual historic event such as the campaign of 1812 for instance they
involuntarily describe it as resulting from an exercise of power and say
plainly that that was the result of napoleon's will speaking so the
historians of culture involuntarily contradict themselves and show that
the new force they have devised does not account for what happens in
history and that history can only be explained by introducing a power
which they apparently do not recognize 





chapter iii

a locomotive is moving someone asks what moves it a peasant says
the devil moves it another man says the locomotive moves because its
wheels go round a third asserts that the cause of its movement lies in
the smoke which the wind carries away 

the peasant is irrefutable he has devised a complete explanation to
refute him someone would have to prove to him that there is no devil 
or another peasant would have to explain to him that it is not the devil
but a german who moves the locomotive only then as a result of the
contradiction will they see that they are both wrong but the man who
says that the movement of the wheels is the cause refutes himself for
having once begun to analyze he ought to go on and explain further why
the wheels go round and till he has reached the ultimate cause of the
movement of the locomotive in the pressure of steam in the boiler he
has no right to stop in his search for the cause the man who explains
the movement of the locomotive by the smoke that is carried back has
noticed that the wheels do not supply an explanation and has taken the
first sign that occurs to him and in his turn has offered that as an
explanation 

the only conception that can explain the movement of the locomotive is
that of a force commensurate with the movement observed 

the only conception that can explain the movement of the peoples is that
of some force commensurate with the whole movement of the peoples 

yet to supply this conception various historians take forces of
different kinds all of which are incommensurate with the movement
observed some see it as a force directly inherent in heroes as the
peasant sees the devil in the locomotive others as a force resulting
from several other forces like the movement of the wheels others again
as an intellectual influence like the smoke that is blown away 

so long as histories are written of separate individuals whether
caesars alexanders luthers or voltaires and not the histories
of all absolutely all those who take part in an event it is quite
impossible to describe the movement of humanity without the conception
of a force compelling men to direct their activity toward a certain end 
and the only such conception known to historians is that of power 

this conception is the one handle by means of which the material of
history as at present expounded can be dealt with and anyone who
breaks that handle off as buckle did without finding some other method
of treating historical material merely deprives himself of the one
possible way of dealing with it the necessity of the conception of
power as an explanation of historical events is best demonstrated by
the universal historians and historians of culture themselves for they
professedly reject that conception but inevitably have recourse to it at
every step 

in dealing with humanity's inquiry the science of history up to now
is like money in circulation paper money and coin the biographies and
special national histories are like paper money they can be used and
can circulate and fulfill their purpose without harm to anyone and even
advantageously as long as no one asks what is the security behind them 
you need only forget to ask how the will of heroes produces events and
such histories as thiers will be interesting and instructive and may
perhaps even possess a tinge of poetry but just as doubts of the real
value of paper money arise either because being easy to make too much
of it gets made or because people try to exchange it for gold so also
doubts concerning the real value of such histories arise either because
too many of them are written or because in his simplicity of heart
someone inquires by what force did napoleon do this that is wants
to exchange the current paper money for the real gold of actual
comprehension 

the writers of universal histories and of the history of culture are
like people who recognizing the defects of paper money decide to
substitute for it money made of metal that has not the specific gravity
of gold it may indeed make jingling coin but will do no more than
that paper money may deceive the ignorant but nobody is deceived by
tokens of base metal that have no value but merely jingle as gold is
gold only if it is serviceable not merely for exchange but also for use 
so universal historians will be valuable only when they can reply to
history's essential question what is power the universal historians
give contradictory replies to that question while the historians of
culture evade it and answer something quite different and as counters
of imitation gold can be used only among a group of people who agree to
accept them as gold or among those who do not know the nature of
gold so universal historians and historians of culture not answering
humanity's essential question serve as currency for some purposes of
their own only in universities and among the mass of readers who have a
taste for what they call serious reading 





chapter iv

having abandoned the conception of the ancients as to the divine
subjection of the will of a nation to some chosen man and the subjection
of that man's will to the deity history cannot without contradictions
take a single step till it has chosen one of two things either a return
to the former belief in the direct intervention of the deity in human
affairs or a definite explanation of the meaning of the force producing
historical events and termed power 

a return to the first is impossible the belief has been destroyed and
so it is essential to explain what is meant by power 

napoleon ordered an army to be raised and go to war we are so
accustomed to that idea and have become so used to it that the question 
why did six hundred thousand men go to fight when napoleon uttered
certain words seems to us senseless he had the power and so what he
ordered was done 

this reply is quite satisfactory if we believe that the power was given
him by god but as soon as we do not admit that it becomes essential to
determine what is this power of one man over others 

it cannot be the direct physical power of a strong man over a weak one a
domination based on the application or threat of physical force like
the power of hercules nor can it be based on the effect of moral force 
as in their simplicity some historians think who say that the leading
figures in history are heroes that is men gifted with a special
strength of soul and mind called genius this power cannot be based on
the predominance of moral strength for not to mention heroes such as
napoleon about whose moral qualities opinions differ widely history
shows us that neither a louis xi nor a metternich who ruled over
millions of people had any particular moral qualities but on the
contrary were generally morally weaker than any of the millions they
ruled over 

if the source of power lies neither in the physical nor in the moral
qualities of him who possesses it it must evidently be looked for
elsewhere in the relation to the people of the man who wields the power 

and that is how power is understood by the science of jurisprudence 
that exchange bank of history which offers to exchange history's
understanding of power for true gold 

power is the collective will of the people transferred by expressed or
tacit consent to their chosen rulers 

in the domain of jurisprudence which consists of discussions of how a
state and power might be arranged were it possible for all that to
be arranged it is all very clear but when applied to history that
definition of power needs explanation 

the science of jurisprudence regards the state and power as the ancients
regarded fire namely as something existing absolutely but for history 
the state and power are merely phenomena just as for modern physics
fire is not an element but a phenomenon 

from this fundamental difference between the view held by history and
that held by jurisprudence it follows that jurisprudence can tell
minutely how in its opinion power should be constituted and what
power existing immutably outside time is but to history's questions
about the meaning of the mutations of power in time it can answer
nothing 

if power be the collective will of the people transferred to their
ruler was pugachev a representative of the will of the people if not 
then why was napoleon i why was napoleon iii a criminal when he was
taken prisoner at boulogne and why later on were those criminals whom
he arrested 

do palace revolutions in which sometimes only two or three people take
part transfer the will of the people to a new ruler in international
relations is the will of the people also transferred to their
conqueror was the will of the confederation of the rhine transferred
to napoleon in 1806 was the will of the russian people transferred
to napoleon in 1809 when our army in alliance with the french went to
fight the austrians 

to these questions three answers are possible 

either to assume 1 that the will of the people is always
unconditionally transferred to the ruler or rulers they have chosen and
that therefore every emergence of a new power every struggle
against the power once appointed should be absolutely regarded as an
infringement of the real power or 2 that the will of the people
is transferred to the rulers conditionally under definite and known
conditions and to show that all limitations conflicts and even
destructions of power result from a nonobservance by the rulers of the
conditions under which their power was entrusted to them or 3 that
the will of the people is delegated to the rulers conditionally but
that the conditions are unknown and indefinite and that the appearance
of several authorities their struggles and their falls result solely
from the greater or lesser fulfillment by the rulers of these unknown
conditions on which the will of the people is transferred from some
people to others 

and these are the three ways in which the historians do explain the
relation of the people to their rulers 

some historians those biographical and specialist historians already
referred to in their simplicity failing to understand the question of
the meaning of power seem to consider that the collective will of
the people is unconditionally transferred to historical persons and
therefore when describing some single state they assume that particular
power to be the one absolute and real power and that any other force
opposing this is not a power but a violation of power mere violence 

their theory suitable for primitive and peaceful periods of history 
has the inconvenience in application to complex and stormy periods in
the life of nations during which various powers arise simultaneously and
struggle with one another that a legitimist historian will prove
that the national convention the directory and bonaparte were mere
infringers of the true power while a republican and a bonapartist will
prove the one that the convention and the other that the empire was the
real power and that all the others were violations of power 
evidently the explanations furnished by these historians being mutually
contradictory can only satisfy young children 

recognizing the falsity of this view of history another set of
historians say that power rests on a conditional delegation of the will
of the people to their rulers and that historical leaders have power
only conditionally on carrying out the program that the will of the
people has by tacit agreement prescribed to them but what this program
consists in these historians do not say or if they do they continually
contradict one another 

each historian according to his view of what constitutes a nation's
progress looks for these conditions in the greatness wealth freedom 
or enlightenment of citizens of france or some other country but not
to mention the historians contradictions as to the nature of this
program or even admitting that some one general program of these
conditions exists the facts of history almost always contradict that
theory if the conditions under which power is entrusted consist in the
wealth freedom and enlightenment of the people how is it that louis
xiv and ivan the terrible end their reigns tranquilly while louis xvi
and charles i are executed by their people to this question historians
reply that louis xiv's activity contrary to the program reacted on
louis xvi but why did it not react on louis xiv or on louis xv why
should it react just on louis xvi and what is the time limit for such
reactions to these questions there are and can be no answers equally
little does this view explain why for several centuries the collective
will is not withdrawn from certain rulers and their heirs and
then suddenly during a period of fifty years is transferred to the
convention to the directory to napoleon to alexander to louis xviii 
to napoleon again to charles x to louis philippe to a republican
government and to napoleon iii when explaining these rapid transfers
of the people's will from one individual to another especially in view
of international relations conquests and alliances the historians are
obliged to admit that some of these transfers are not normal delegations
of the people's will but are accidents dependent on cunning on
mistakes on craft or on the weakness of a diplomatist a ruler or a
party leader so that the greater part of the events of history civil
wars revolutions and conquests are presented by these historians
not as the results of free transferences of the people's will but as
results of the ill directed will of one or more individuals that is 
once again as usurpations of power and so these historians also see
and admit historical events which are exceptions to the theory 

these historians resemble a botanist who having noticed that some
plants grow from seeds producing two cotyledons should insist that all
that grows does so by sprouting into two leaves and that the palm the
mushroom and even the oak which blossom into full growth and no longer
resemble two leaves are deviations from the theory 

historians of the third class assume that the will of the people
is transferred to historic personages conditionally but that the
conditions are unknown to us they say that historical personages have
power only because they fulfill the will of the people which has been
delegated to them 

but in that case if the force that moves nations lies not in the
historic leaders but in the nations themselves what significance have
those leaders 

the leaders these historians tell us express the will of the people 
the activity of the leaders represents the activity of the people 

but in that case the question arises whether all the activity of the
leaders serves as an expression of the people's will or only some part
of it if the whole activity of the leaders serves as the expression of
the people's will as some historians suppose then all the details
of the court scandals contained in the biographies of a napoleon or
a catherine serve to express the life of the nation which is evident
nonsense but if it is only some particular side of the activity of an
historical leader which serves to express the people's life as other
so called philosophical historians believe then to determine which
side of the activity of a leader expresses the nation's life we have
first of all to know in what the nation's life consists 

met by this difficulty historians of that class devise some most
obscure impalpable and general abstraction which can cover all
conceivable occurrences and declare this abstraction to be the aim of
humanity's movement the most usual generalizations adopted by almost
all the historians are freedom equality enlightenment progress 
civilization and culture postulating some generalization as the goal
of the movement of humanity the historians study the men of whom the
greatest number of monuments have remained kings ministers generals 
authors reformers popes and journalists to the extent to which in
their opinion these persons have promoted or hindered that abstraction 
but as it is in no way proved that the aim of humanity does consist in
freedom equality enlightenment or civilization and as the connection
of the people with the rulers and enlighteners of humanity is only based
on the arbitrary assumption that the collective will of the people is
always transferred to the men whom we have noticed it happens that the
activity of the millions who migrate burn houses abandon agriculture 
and destroy one another never is expressed in the account of the
activity of some dozen people who did not burn houses practice
agriculture or slay their fellow creatures 

history proves this at every turn is the ferment of the peoples of
the west at the end of the eighteenth century and their drive eastward
explained by the activity of louis xiv xv and xvi their mistresses
and ministers and by the lives of napoleon rousseau diderot 
beaumarchais and others 

is the movement of the russian people eastward to kazan and siberia
expressed by details of the morbid character of ivan the terrible and by
his correspondence with kurbski 

is the movement of the peoples at the time of the crusades explained by
the life and activity of the godfreys and the louis es and their ladies 
for us that movement of the peoples from west to east without
leaders with a crowd of vagrants and with peter the hermit remains
incomprehensible and yet more incomprehensible is the cessation of that
movement when a rational and sacred aim for the crusade the deliverance
of jerusalem had been clearly defined by historic leaders popes kings 
and knights incited the peoples to free the holy land but the people
did not go for the unknown cause which had previously impelled them to
go no longer existed the history of the godfreys and the minnesingers
can evidently not cover the life of the peoples and the history of the
godfreys and the minnesingers has remained the history of godfreys
and minnesingers but the history of the life of the peoples and their
impulses has remained unknown 

still less does the history of authors and reformers explain to us the
life of the peoples 

the history of culture explains to us the impulses and conditions of
life and thought of a writer or a reformer we learn that luther had
a hot temper and said such and such things we learn that rousseau was
suspicious and wrote such and such books but we do not learn why after
the reformation the peoples massacred one another nor why during the
french revolution they guillotined one another 

if we unite both these kinds of history as is done by the newest
historians we shall have the history of monarchs and writers but not
the history of the life of the peoples 





chapter v

the life of the nations is not contained in the lives of a few men for
the connection between those men and the nations has not been found 
the theory that this connection is based on the transference of the
collective will of a people to certain historical personages is an
hypothesis unconfirmed by the experience of history 

the theory of the transference of the collective will of the people to
historic persons may perhaps explain much in the domain of jurisprudence
and be essential for its purposes but in its application to history as
soon as revolutions conquests or civil wars occur that is as soon as
history begins that theory explains nothing 

the theory seems irrefutable just because the act of transference of the
people's will cannot be verified for it never occurred 

whatever happens and whoever may stand at the head of affairs the
theory can always say that such and such a person took the lead because
the collective will was transferred to him 

the replies this theory gives to historical questions are like the
replies of a man who watching the movements of a herd of cattle and
paying no attention to the varying quality of the pasturage in different
parts of the field or to the driving of the herdsman should attribute
the direction the herd takes to what animal happens to be at its head 

 the herd goes in that direction because the animal in front leads
it and the collective will of all the other animals is vested in that
leader this is what historians of the first class say those who assume
the unconditional transference of the people's will 

 if the animals leading the herd change this happens because the
collective will of all the animals is transferred from one leader to
another according to whether the animal is or is not leading them in
the direction selected by the whole herd such is the reply historians
who assume that the collective will of the people is delegated to
rulers under conditions which they regard as known with this method
of observation it often happens that the observer influenced by the
direction he himself prefers regards those as leaders who owing to the
people's change of direction are no longer in front but on one side 
or even in the rear 

 if the animals in front are continually changing and the direction of
the whole herd is constantly altered this is because in order to follow
a given direction the animals transfer their will to the animals that
have attracted our attention and to study the movements of the herd
we must watch the movements of all the prominent animals moving on all
sides of the herd so say the third class of historians who regard all
historical persons from monarchs to journalists as the expression of
their age 

the theory of the transference of the will of the people to historic
persons is merely a paraphrase a restatement of the question in other
words 

what causes historical events power what is power power is the
collective will of the people transferred to one person under what
condition is the will of the people delegated to one person on
condition that that person expresses the will of the whole people that
is power is power in other words power is a word the meaning of which
we do not understand 

if the realm of human knowledge were confined to abstract reasoning 
then having subjected to criticism the explanation of power that
juridical science gives us humanity would conclude that power is merely
a word and has no real existence but to understand phenomena man
has besides abstract reasoning experience by which he verifies his
reflections and experience tells us that power is not merely a word but
an actually existing phenomenon 

not to speak of the fact that no description of the collective activity
of men can do without the conception of power the existence of power is
proved both by history and by observing contemporary events 

whenever an event occurs a man appears or men appear by whose will the
event seems to have taken place napoleon iii issues a decree and the
french go to mexico the king of prussia and bismarck issue decrees and
an army enters bohemia napoleon i issues a decree and an army enters
russia alexander i gives a command and the french submit to the
bourbons experience shows us that whatever event occurs it is always
related to the will of one or of several men who have decreed it 

the historians in accord with the old habit of acknowledging divine
intervention in human affairs want to see the cause of events in
the expression of the will of someone endowed with power but that
supposition is not confirmed either by reason or by experience 

on the one side reflection shows that the expression of a man's will his
words are only part of the general activity expressed in an event 
as for instance in a war or a revolution and so without assuming an
incomprehensible supernatural force a miracle one cannot admit that
words can be the immediate cause of the movements of millions of men 
on the other hand even if we admitted that words could be the cause
of events history shows that the expression of the will of historical
personages does not in most cases produce any effect that is to say 
their commands are often not executed and sometimes the very opposite
of what they order occurs 

without admitting divine intervention in the affairs of humanity we
cannot regard power as the cause of events 

power from the standpoint of experience is merely the relation that
exists between the expression of someone's will and the execution of
that will by others 

to explain the conditions of that relationship we must first establish a
conception of the expression of will referring it to man and not to the
deity 

if the deity issues a command expresses his will as ancient history
tells us the expression of that will is independent of time and is not
caused by anything for the divinity is not controlled by an event but
speaking of commands that are the expression of the will of men acting
in time and in relation to one another to explain the connection of
commands with events we must restore 1 the condition of all that
takes place the continuity of movement in time both of the events and
of the person who commands and 2 the inevitability of the connection
between the person commanding and those who execute his command 





chapter vi

only the expression of the will of the deity not dependent on time can
relate to a whole series of events occurring over a period of years or
centuries and only the deity independent of everything can by his
sole will determine the direction of humanity's movement but man acts
in time and himself takes part in what occurs 

reinstating the first condition omitted that of time we see that no
command can be executed without some preceding order having been given
rendering the execution of the last command possible 

no command ever appears spontaneously or itself covers a whole series
of occurrences but each command follows from another and never refers
to a whole series of events but always to one moment only of an event 

when for instance we say that napoleon ordered armies to go to war 
we combine in one simultaneous expression a whole series of consecutive
commands dependent one on another napoleon could not have commanded
an invasion of russia and never did so today he ordered such and such
papers to be written to vienna to berlin and to petersburg 
tomorrow such and such decrees and orders to the army the fleet the
commissariat and so on and so on millions of commands which formed
a whole series corresponding to a series of events which brought the
french armies into russia 

if throughout his reign napoleon gave commands concerning an invasion
of england and expended on no other undertaking so much time and effort 
and yet during his whole reign never once attempted to execute that
design but undertook an expedition into russia with which country he
considered it desirable to be in alliance a conviction he repeatedly
expressed this came about because his commands did not correspond to
the course of events in the first case but did so correspond in the
latter 

for an order to be certainly executed it is necessary that a man should
order what can be executed but to know what can and what cannot be
executed is impossible not only in the case of napoleon's invasion of
russia in which millions participated but even in the simplest event 
for in either case millions of obstacles may arise to prevent its
execution every order executed is always one of an immense number
unexecuted all the impossible orders inconsistent with the course of
events remain unexecuted only the possible ones get linked up with a
consecutive series of commands corresponding to a series of events and
are executed 

our false conception that an event is caused by a command which precedes
it is due to the fact that when the event has taken place and out of
thousands of others those few commands which were consistent with that
event have been executed we forget about the others that were not
executed because they could not be apart from that the chief source
of our error in this matter is due to the fact that in the historical
accounts a whole series of innumerable diverse and petty events such
for instance as all those which led the french armies to russia is
generalized into one event in accord with the result produced by that
series of events and corresponding with this generalization the whole
series of commands is also generalized into a single expression of will 

we say that napoleon wished to invade russia and invaded it in
reality in all napoleon's activity we never find anything resembling an
expression of that wish but find a series of orders or expressions of
his will very variously and indefinitely directed amid a long series
of unexecuted orders of napoleon's one series for the campaign of 1812 
was carried out not because those orders differed in any way from the
other unexecuted orders but because they coincided with the course of
events that led the french army into russia just as in stencil work
this or that figure comes out not because the color was laid on from
this side or in that way but because it was laid on from all sides over
the figure cut in the stencil 

so that examining the relation in time of the commands to the events 
we find that a command can never be the cause of the event but that a
certain definite dependence exists between the two 

to understand in what this dependence consists it is necessary to
reinstate another omitted condition of every command proceeding not from
the deity but from a man which is that the man who gives the command
himself takes part in the event 

this relation of the commander to those he commands is just what is
called power this relation consists in the following 

for common action people always unite in certain combinations in which
regardless of the difference of the aims set for the common action the
relation between those taking part in it is always the same 

men uniting in these combinations always assume such relations toward
one another that the larger number take a more direct share and the
smaller number a less direct share in the collective action for which
they have combined 

of all the combinations in which men unite for collective action one of
the most striking and definite examples is an army 

every army is composed of lower grades of the service the rank and
file of whom there are always the greatest number of the next higher
military rank corporals and noncommissioned officers of whom there are
fewer and of still higher officers of whom there are still fewer 
and so on to the highest military command which is concentrated in one
person 

a military organization may be quite correctly compared to a cone of
which the base with the largest diameter consists of the rank and file 
the next higher and smaller section of the cone consists of the next
higher grades of the army and so on to the apex the point of which
will represent the commander in chief 

the soldiers of whom there are the most form the lower section of
the cone and its base the soldier himself does the stabbing hacking 
burning and pillaging and always receives orders for these actions
from men above him he himself never gives an order the noncommissioned
officers of whom there are fewer perform the action itself less
frequently than the soldiers but they already give commands an
officer still less often acts directly himself but commands still more
frequently a general does nothing but command the troops indicates the
objective and hardly ever uses a weapon himself the commander in chief
never takes direct part in the action itself but only gives general
orders concerning the movement of the mass of the troops a similar
relation of people to one another is seen in every combination of men
for common activity in agriculture trade and every administration 

and so without particularly analyzing all the contiguous sections of
a cone and of the ranks of an army or the ranks and positions in
any administrative or public business whatever from the lowest to the
highest we see a law by which men to take associated action combine
in such relations that the more directly they participate in performing
the action the less they can command and the more numerous they are 
while the less their direct participation in the action itself the more
they command and the fewer of them there are rising in this way from
the lowest ranks to the man at the top who takes the least direct share
in the action and directs his activity chiefly to commanding 

this relation of the men who command to those they command is what
constitutes the essence of the conception called power 

having restored the condition of time under which all events occur 
we find that a command is executed only when it is related to a
corresponding series of events restoring the essential condition of
relation between those who command and those who execute we find that
by the very nature of the case those who command take the smallest part
in the action itself and that their activity is exclusively directed to
commanding 





chapter vii

when an event is taking place people express their opinions and wishes
about it and as the event results from the collective activity of
many people some one of the opinions or wishes expressed is sure to be
fulfilled if but approximately when one of the opinions expressed
is fulfilled that opinion gets connected with the event as a command
preceding it 

men are hauling a log each of them expresses his opinion as to how and
where to haul it they haul the log away and it happens that this is
done as one of them said he ordered it there we have command and power
in their primary form the man who worked most with his hands could not
think so much about what he was doing or reflect on or command what
would result from the common activity while the man who commanded
more would evidently work less with his hands on account of his greater
verbal activity 

when some larger concourse of men direct their activity to a common aim
there is a yet sharper division of those who because their activity is
given to directing and commanding take less part in the direct work 

when a man works alone he always has a certain set of reflections which
as it seems to him directed his past activity justify his present
activity and guide him in planning his future actions just the same is
done by a concourse of people allowing those who do not take a direct
part in the activity to devise considerations justifications and
surmises concerning their collective activity 

for reasons known or unknown to us the french began to drown and kill
one another and corresponding to the event its justification appears in
people's belief that this was necessary for the welfare of france for
liberty and for equality people ceased to kill one another and
this event was accompanied by its justification in the necessity for a
centralization of power resistance to europe and so on men went
from the west to the east killing their fellow men and the event
was accompanied by phrases about the glory of france the baseness of
england and so on history shows us that these justifications of the
events have no common sense and are all contradictory as in the case of
killing a man as the result of recognizing his rights and the killing
of millions in russia for the humiliation of england but these
justifications have a very necessary significance in their own day 

these justifications release those who produce the events from moral
responsibility these temporary aims are like the broom fixed in front
of a locomotive to clear the snow from the rails in front they clear
men's moral responsibilities from their path 

without such justification there would be no reply to the simplest
question that presents itself when examining each historical event how
is it that millions of men commit collective crimes make war commit
murder and so on 

with the present complex forms of political and social life in europe
can any event that is not prescribed decreed or ordered by monarchs 
ministers parliaments or newspapers be imagined is there any
collective action which cannot find its justification in political
unity in patriotism in the balance of power or in civilization so
that every event that occurs inevitably coincides with some expressed
wish and receiving a justification presents itself as the result of
the will of one man or of several men 

in whatever direction a ship moves the flow of the waves it cuts
will always be noticeable ahead of it to those on board the ship the
movement of those waves will be the only perceptible motion 

only by watching closely moment by moment the movement of that flow and
comparing it with the movement of the ship do we convince ourselves that
every bit of it is occasioned by the forward movement of the ship 
and that we were led into error by the fact that we ourselves were
imperceptibly moving 

we see the same if we watch moment by moment the movement of historical
characters that is re establish the inevitable condition of all that
occurs the continuity of movement in time and do not lose sight of the
essential connection of historical persons with the masses 

when the ship moves in one direction there is one and the same wave
ahead of it when it turns frequently the wave ahead of it also turns
frequently but wherever it may turn there always will be the wave
anticipating its movement 

whatever happens it always appears that just that event was foreseen
and decreed wherever the ship may go the rush of water which neither
directs nor increases its movement foams ahead of it and at a distance
seems to us not merely to move of itself but to govern the ship's
movement also 

examining only those expressions of the will of historical persons
which as commands were related to events historians have assumed
that the events depended on those commands but examining the events
themselves and the connection in which the historical persons stood to
the people we have found that they and their orders were dependent on
events the incontestable proof of this deduction is that however many
commands were issued the event does not take place unless there are
other causes for it but as soon as an event occurs be it what it
may then out of all the continually expressed wishes of different people
some will always be found which by their meaning and their time of
utterance are related as commands to the events 

arriving at this conclusion we can reply directly and positively to
these two essential questions of history 

 1 what is power 

 2 what force produces the movement of the nations 

 1 power is the relation of a given person to other individuals 
in which the more this person expresses opinions predictions and
justifications of the collective action that is performed the less is
his participation in that action 

 2 the movement of nations is caused not by power nor by intellectual
activity nor even by a combination of the two as historians have
supposed but by the activity of all the people who participate in
the events and who always combine in such a way that those taking
the largest direct share in the event take on themselves the least
responsibility and vice versa 

morally the wielder of power appears to cause the event physically
it is those who submit to the power but as the moral activity is
inconceivable without the physical the cause of the event is neither in
the one nor in the other but in the union of the two 

or in other words the conception of a cause is inapplicable to the
phenomena we are examining 

in the last analysis we reach the circle of infinity that final limit
to which in every domain of thought man's reason arrives if it is not
playing with the subject electricity produces heat heat produces
electricity atoms attract each other and atoms repel one another 

speaking of the interaction of heat and electricity and of atoms we
cannot say why this occurs and we say that it is so because it is
inconceivable otherwise because it must be so and that it is a law the
same applies to historical events why war and revolution occur we do
not know we only know that to produce the one or the other action 
people combine in a certain formation in which they all take part and
we say that this is so because it is unthinkable otherwise or in other
words that it is a law 





chapter viii

if history dealt only with external phenomena the establishment of this
simple and obvious law would suffice and we should have finished our
argument but the law of history relates to man a particle of matter
cannot tell us that it does not feel the law of attraction or repulsion
and that that law is untrue but man who is the subject of history 
says plainly i am free and am therefore not subject to the law 

the presence of the problem of man's free will though unexpressed is
felt at every step of history 

all seriously thinking historians have involuntarily encountered this
question all the contradictions and obscurities of history and the
false path historical science has followed are due solely to the lack of
a solution of that question 

if the will of every man were free that is if each man could act as he
pleased all history would be a series of disconnected incidents 

if in a thousand years even one man in a million could act freely that
is as he chose it is evident that one single free act of that man's
in violation of the laws governing human action would destroy the
possibility of the existence of any laws for the whole of humanity 

if there be a single law governing the actions of men free will cannot
exist for then man's will is subject to that law 

in this contradiction lies the problem of free will which from most
ancient times has occupied the best human minds and from most ancient
times has been presented in its whole tremendous significance 

the problem is that regarding man as a subject of observation
from whatever point of view theological historical ethical or
philosophic we find a general law of necessity to which he like all
that exists is subject but regarding him from within ourselves as what
we are conscious of we feel ourselves to be free 

this consciousness is a source of self cognition quite apart from and
independent of reason through his reason man observes himself but only
through consciousness does he know himself 

apart from consciousness of self no observation or application of reason
is conceivable 

to understand observe and draw conclusions man must first of all be
conscious of himself as living a man is only conscious of himself as
a living being by the fact that he wills that is is conscious of
his volition but his will which forms the essence of his life man
recognizes and can but recognize as free 

if observing himself man sees that his will is always directed by
one and the same law whether he observes the necessity of taking
food using his brain or anything else he cannot recognize this
never varying direction of his will otherwise than as a limitation of
it were it not free it could not be limited a man's will seems to him
to be limited just because he is not conscious of it except as free 

you say i am not free but i have lifted my hand and let it fall 
everyone understands that this illogical reply is an irrefutable
demonstration of freedom 

that reply is the expression of a consciousness that is not subject to
reason 

if the consciousness of freedom were not a separate and independent
source of self consciousness it would be subject to reasoning and
to experience but in fact such subjection does not exist and is
inconceivable 

a series of experiments and arguments proves to every man that he as
an object of observation is subject to certain laws and man submits to
them and never resists the laws of gravity or impermeability once he
has become acquainted with them but the same series of experiments
and arguments proves to him that the complete freedom of which he is
conscious in himself is impossible and that his every action depends
on his organization his character and the motives acting upon him yet
man never submits to the deductions of these experiments and arguments 
having learned from experiment and argument that a stone falls
downwards a man indubitably believes this and always expects the law
that he has learned to be fulfilled 

but learning just as certainly that his will is subject to laws he does
not and cannot believe this 

however often experiment and reasoning may show a man that under the
same conditions and with the same character he will do the same thing as
before yet when under the same conditions and with the same character
he approaches for the thousandth time the action that always ends in the
same way he feels as certainly convinced as before the experiment
that he can act as he pleases every man savage or sage however
incontestably reason and experiment may prove to him that it is
impossible to imagine two different courses of action in precisely the
same conditions feels that without this irrational conception which
constitutes the essence of freedom he cannot imagine life he feels
that however impossible it may be it is so for without this conception
of freedom not only would he be unable to understand life but he would
be unable to live for a single moment 

he could not live because all man's efforts all his impulses to life 
are only efforts to increase freedom wealth and poverty fame and
obscurity power and subordination strength and weakness health and
disease culture and ignorance work and leisure repletion and hunger 
virtue and vice are only greater or lesser degrees of freedom 

a man having no freedom cannot be conceived of except as deprived of
life 

if the conception of freedom appears to reason to be a senseless
contradiction like the possibility of performing two actions at one and
the same instant of time or of an effect without a cause that only
proves that consciousness is not subject to reason 

this unshakable irrefutable consciousness of freedom uncontrolled by
experiment or argument recognized by all thinkers and felt by everyone
without exception this consciousness without which no conception of man
is possible constitutes the other side of the question 

man is the creation of an all powerful all good and all seeing god 
what is sin the conception of which arises from the consciousness of
man's freedom that is a question for theology 

the actions of men are subject to general immutable laws expressed in
statistics what is man's responsibility to society the conception of
which results from the conception of freedom that is a question for
jurisprudence 

man's actions proceed from his innate character and the motives acting
upon him what is conscience and the perception of right and wrong
in actions that follows from the consciousness of freedom that is a
question for ethics 

man in connection with the general life of humanity appears subject
to laws which determine that life but the same man apart from that
connection appears to be free how should the past life of nations and
of humanity be regarded as the result of the free or as the result of
the constrained activity of man that is a question for history 

only in our self confident day of the popularization of knowledge thanks
to that most powerful engine of ignorance the diffusion of printed
matter has the question of the freedom of will been put on a level on
which the question itself cannot exist in our time the majority of
so called advanced people that is the crowd of ignoramuses have taken
the work of the naturalists who deal with one side of the question for a
solution of the whole problem 

they say and write and print that the soul and freedom do not exist 
for the life of man is expressed by muscular movements and muscular
movements are conditioned by the activity of the nerves the soul and
free will do not exist because at an unknown period of time we sprang
from the apes they say this not at all suspecting that thousands of
years ago that same law of necessity which with such ardor they are now
trying to prove by physiology and comparative zoology was not merely
acknowledged by all the religions and all the thinkers but has never
been denied they do not see that the role of the natural sciences in
this matter is merely to serve as an instrument for the illumination
of one side of it for the fact that from the point of view of
observation reason and the will are merely secretions of the brain and
that man following the general law may have developed from lower animals
at some unknown period of time only explains from a fresh side
the truth admitted thousands of years ago by all the religious and
philosophic theories that from the point of view of reason man is
subject to the law of necessity but it does not advance by a hair's
breadth the solution of the question which has another opposite side 
based on the consciousness of freedom 

if men descended from the apes at an unknown period of time that is
as comprehensible as that they were made from a handful of earth at a
certain period of time in the first case the unknown quantity is the
time in the second case it is the origin and the question of how
man's consciousness of freedom is to be reconciled with the law of
necessity to which he is subject cannot be solved by comparative
physiology and zoology for in a frog a rabbit or an ape we can
observe only the muscular nervous activity but in man we observe
consciousness as well as the muscular and nervous activity 

the naturalists and their followers thinking they can solve this
question are like plasterers set to plaster one side of the walls of
a church who availing themselves of the absence of the chief
superintendent of the work should in an access of zeal plaster over the
windows icons woodwork and still unbuttressed walls and should be
delighted that from their point of view as plasterers everything is now
so smooth and regular 





chapter ix

for the solution of the question of free will or inevitability history
has this advantage over other branches of knowledge in which the
question is dealt with that for history this question does not refer
to the essence of man's free will but its manifestation in the past and
under certain conditions 

in regard to this question history stands to the other sciences as
experimental science stands to abstract science 

the subject for history is not man's will itself but our presentation of
it 

and so for history the insoluble mystery presented by the
incompatibility of free will and inevitability does not exist as it does
for theology ethics and philosophy history surveys a presentation of
man's life in which the union of these two contradictions has already
taken place 

in actual life each historic event each human action is very clearly
and definitely understood without any sense of contradiction although
each event presents itself as partly free and partly compulsory 

to solve the question of how freedom and necessity are combined and
what constitutes the essence of these two conceptions the philosophy
of history can and should follow a path contrary to that taken by other
sciences instead of first defining the conceptions of freedom and
inevitability in themselves and then ranging the phenomena of life
under those definitions history should deduce a definition of the
conception of freedom and inevitability themselves from the immense
quantity of phenomena of which it is cognizant and that always appear
dependent on these two elements 

whatever presentation of the activity of many men or of an individual
we may consider we always regard it as the result partly of man's free
will and partly of the law of inevitability 

whether we speak of the migration of the peoples and the incursions
of the barbarians or of the decrees of napoleon iii or of someone's
action an hour ago in choosing one direction out of several for his
walk we are unconscious of any contradiction the degree of freedom and
inevitability governing the actions of these people is clearly defined
for us 

our conception of the degree of freedom often varies according to
differences in the point of view from which we regard the event but
every human action appears to us as a certain combination of freedom and
inevitability in every action we examine we see a certain measure of
freedom and a certain measure of inevitability and always the more
freedom we see in any action the less inevitability do we perceive and
the more inevitability the less freedom 

the proportion of freedom to inevitability decreases and increases
according to the point of view from which the action is regarded but
their relation is always one of inverse proportion 

a sinking man who clutches at another and drowns him or a hungry mother
exhausted by feeding her baby who steals some food or a man trained
to discipline who on duty at the word of command kills a defenseless
man seem less guilty that is less free and more subject to the law of
necessity to one who knows the circumstances in which these people were
placed and more free to one who does not know that the man was himself
drowning that the mother was hungry that the soldier was in the ranks 
and so on similarly a man who committed a murder twenty years ago and
has since lived peaceably and harmlessly in society seems less guilty
and his action more due to the law of inevitability to someone who
considers his action after twenty years have elapsed than to one who
examined it the day after it was committed and in the same way every
action of an insane intoxicated or highly excited man appears less
free and more inevitable to one who knows the mental condition of him
who committed the action and seems more free and less inevitable to one
who does not know it in all these cases the conception of freedom
is increased or diminished and the conception of compulsion is
correspondingly decreased or increased according to the point of view
from which the action is regarded so that the greater the conception of
necessity the smaller the conception of freedom and vice versa 

religion the common sense of mankind the science of jurisprudence 
and history itself understand alike this relation between necessity and
freedom 

all cases without exception in which our conception of freedom and
necessity is increased and diminished depend on three considerations 

 1 the relation to the external world of the man who commits the deeds 

 2 his relation to time 

 3 his relation to the causes leading to the action 

the first consideration is the clearness of our perception of the man's
relation to the external world and the greater or lesser clearness
of our understanding of the definite position occupied by the man
in relation to everything coexisting with him this is what makes it
evident that a drowning man is less free and more subject to necessity
than one standing on dry ground and that makes the actions of a man
closely connected with others in a thickly populated district or of one
bound by family official or business duties seem certainly less free
and more subject to necessity than those of a man living in solitude and
seclusion 

if we consider a man alone apart from his relation to everything around
him each action of his seems to us free but if we see his relation
to anything around him if we see his connection with anything
whatever with a man who speaks to him a book he reads the work on
which he is engaged even with the air he breathes or the light that
falls on the things about him we see that each of these circumstances
has an influence on him and controls at least some side of his activity 
and the more we perceive of these influences the more our conception of
his freedom diminishes and the more our conception of the necessity that
weighs on him increases 

the second consideration is the more or less evident time relation of
the man to the world and the clearness of our perception of the place
the man's action occupies in time that is the ground which makes the
fall of the first man resulting in the production of the human race 
appear evidently less free than a man's entry into marriage today it is
the reason why the life and activity of people who lived centuries ago
and are connected with me in time cannot seem to me as free as the life
of a contemporary the consequences of which are still unknown to me 

the degree of our conception of freedom or inevitability depends in this
respect on the greater or lesser lapse of time between the performance
of the action and our judgment of it 

if i examine an act i performed a moment ago in approximately the same
circumstances as those i am in now my action appears to me undoubtedly
free but if i examine an act performed a month ago then being in
different circumstances i cannot help recognizing that if that act had
not been committed much that resulted from it good agreeable and even
essential would not have taken place if i reflect on an action still
more remote ten years ago or more then the consequences of my action
are still plainer to me and i find it hard to imagine what would have
happened had that action not been performed the farther i go back
in memory or what is the same thing the farther i go forward in my
judgment the more doubtful becomes my belief in the freedom of my
action 

in history we find a very similar progress of conviction concerning
the part played by free will in the general affairs of humanity a
contemporary event seems to us to be indubitably the doing of all the
known participants but with a more remote event we already see its
inevitable results which prevent our considering anything else possible 
and the farther we go back in examining events the less arbitrary do
they appear 

the austro prussian war appears to us undoubtedly the result of the
crafty conduct of bismarck and so on the napoleonic wars still seem
to us though already questionably to be the outcome of their heroes 
will but in the crusades we already see an event occupying its definite
place in history and without which we cannot imagine the modern history
of europe though to the chroniclers of the crusades that event appeared
as merely due to the will of certain people in regard to the migration
of the peoples it does not enter anyone's head today to suppose that
the renovation of the european world depended on attila's caprice the
farther back in history the object of our observation lies the more
doubtful does the free will of those concerned in the event become and
the more manifest the law of inevitability 

the third consideration is the degree to which we apprehend that
endless chain of causation inevitably demanded by reason in which each
phenomenon comprehended and therefore man's every action must have
its definite place as a result of what has gone before and as a cause of
what will follow 

the better we are acquainted with the physiological psychological and
historical laws deduced by observation and by which man is controlled 
and the more correctly we perceive the physiological psychological 
and historical causes of the action and the simpler the action we are
observing and the less complex the character and mind of the man in
question the more subject to inevitability and the less free do our
actions and those of others appear 

when we do not at all understand the cause of an action whether a
crime a good action or even one that is simply nonmoral we ascribe a
greater amount of freedom to it in the case of a crime we most urgently
demand the punishment for such an act in the case of a virtuous act we
rate its merit most highly in an indifferent case we recognize in it
more individuality originality and independence but if even one of
the innumerable causes of the act is known to us we recognize a certain
element of necessity and are less insistent on punishment for the crime 
or the acknowledgment of the merit of the virtuous act or the freedom
of the apparently original action that a criminal was reared among
malefactors mitigates his fault in our eyes the self sacrifice of a father
or mother or self sacrifice with the possibility of a reward is more
comprehensible than gratuitous self sacrifice and therefore seems less
deserving of sympathy and less the result of free will the founder of a
sect or party or an inventor impresses us less when we know how or by
what the way was prepared for his activity if we have a large range
of examples if our observation is constantly directed to seeking the
correlation of cause and effect in people's actions their actions
appear to us more under compulsion and less free the more correctly we
connect the effects with the causes if we examined simple actions and
had a vast number of such actions under observation our conception of
their inevitability would be still greater the dishonest conduct of the
son of a dishonest father the misconduct of a woman who had fallen
into bad company a drunkard's relapse into drunkenness and so on are
actions that seem to us less free the better we understand their cause 
if the man whose actions we are considering is on a very low stage of
mental development like a child a madman or a simpleton then 
knowing the causes of the act and the simplicity of the character and
intelligence in question we see so large an element of necessity and so
little free will that as soon as we know the cause prompting the action
we can foretell the result 

on these three considerations alone is based the conception of
irresponsibility for crimes and the extenuating circumstances admitted
by all legislative codes the responsibility appears greater or less
according to our greater or lesser knowledge of the circumstances in
which the man was placed whose action is being judged and according
to the greater or lesser interval of time between the commission of the
action and its investigation and according to the greater or lesser
understanding of the causes that led to the action 





chapter x

thus our conception of free will and inevitability gradually diminishes
or increases according to the greater or lesser connection with the
external world the greater or lesser remoteness of time and the
greater or lesser dependence on the causes in relation to which we
contemplate a man's life 

so that if we examine the case of a man whose connection with the
external world is well known where the time between the action and
its examination is great and where the causes of the action are most
accessible we get the conception of a maximum of inevitability and a
minimum of free will if we examine a man little dependent on external
conditions whose action was performed very recently and the causes of
whose action are beyond our ken we get the conception of a minimum of
inevitability and a maximum of freedom 

in neither case however we may change our point of view however plain
we may make to ourselves the connection between the man and the external
world however inaccessible it may be to us however long or short the
period of time however intelligible or incomprehensible the causes
of the action may be can we ever conceive either complete freedom or
complete necessity 

 1 to whatever degree we may imagine a man to be exempt from the
influence of the external world we never get a conception of freedom
in space every human action is inevitably conditioned by what surrounds
him and by his own body i lift my arm and let it fall my action seems
to me free but asking myself whether i could raise my arm in every
direction i see that i raised it in the direction in which there was
least obstruction to that action either from things around me or from
the construction of my own body i chose one out of all the possible
directions because in it there were fewest obstacles for my action
to be free it was necessary that it should encounter no obstacles to
conceive of a man being free we must imagine him outside space which is
evidently impossible 

 2 however much we approximate the time of judgment to the time of the
deed we never get a conception of freedom in time for if i examine
an action committed a second ago i must still recognize it as not
being free for it is irrevocably linked to the moment at which it was
committed can i lift my arm i lift it but ask myself could i have
abstained from lifting my arm at the moment that has already passed to
convince myself of this i do not lift it the next moment but i am
not now abstaining from doing so at the first moment when i asked the
question time has gone by which i could not detain the arm i then
lifted is no longer the same as the arm i now refrain from lifting 
nor is the air in which i lifted it the same that now surrounds me the
moment in which the first movement was made is irrevocable and at that
moment i could make only one movement and whatever movement i made
would be the only one that i did not lift my arm a moment later does
not prove that i could have abstained from lifting it then and since i
could make only one movement at that single moment of time it could not
have been any other to imagine it as free it is necessary to imagine
it in the present on the boundary between the past and the future that
is outside time which is impossible 

 3 however much the difficulty of understanding the causes may be
increased we never reach a conception of complete freedom that is 
an absence of cause however inaccessible to us may be the cause of the
expression of will in any action our own or another's the first demand
of reason is the assumption of and search for a cause for without a
cause no phenomenon is conceivable i raise my arm to perform an action
independently of any cause but my wish to perform an action without a
cause is the cause of my action 

but even if imagining a man quite exempt from all influences examining
only his momentary action in the present unevoked by any cause we were
to admit so infinitely small a remainder of inevitability as equaled
zero we should even then not have arrived at the conception of complete
freedom in man for a being uninfluenced by the external world standing
outside of time and independent of cause is no longer a man 

in the same way we can never imagine the action of a man quite devoid of
freedom and entirely subject to the law of inevitability 

 1 however we may increase our knowledge of the conditions of space
in which man is situated that knowledge can never be complete for the
number of those conditions is as infinite as the infinity of space and
therefore so long as not all the conditions influencing men are defined 
there is no complete inevitability but a certain measure of freedom
remains 

 2 however we may prolong the period of time between the action we are
examining and the judgment upon it that period will be finite while
time is infinite and so in this respect too there can never be absolute
inevitability 

 3 however accessible may be the chain of causation of any action we
shall never know the whole chain since it is endless and so again we
never reach absolute inevitability 

but besides this even if admitting the remaining minimum of freedom to
equal zero we assumed in some given case as for instance in that of a
dying man an unborn babe or an idiot complete absence of freedom by
so doing we should destroy the very conception of man in the case we are
examining for as soon as there is no freedom there is also no man and
so the conception of the action of a man subject solely to the law of
inevitability without any element of freedom is just as impossible as
the conception of a man's completely free action 

and so to imagine the action of a man entirely subject to the law of
inevitability without any freedom we must assume the knowledge of an
infinite number of space relations an infinitely long period of time 
and an infinite series of causes 

to imagine a man perfectly free and not subject to the law of
inevitability we must imagine him all alone beyond space beyond time 
and free from dependence on cause 

in the first case if inevitability were possible without freedom
we should have reached a definition of inevitability by the laws of
inevitability itself that is a mere form without content 

in the second case if freedom were possible without inevitability we
should have arrived at unconditioned freedom beyond space time and
cause which by the fact of its being unconditioned and unlimited would
be nothing or mere content without form 

we should in fact have reached those two fundamentals of which man's
whole outlook on the universe is constructed the incomprehensible
essence of life and the laws defining that essence 

reason says 1 space with all the forms of matter that give it
visibility is infinite and cannot be imagined otherwise 2 time is
infinite motion without a moment of rest and is unthinkable otherwise 
 3 the connection between cause and effect has no beginning and can
have no end 

consciousness says 1 i alone am and all that exists is but me 
consequently i include space 2 i measure flowing time by the fixed
moment of the present in which alone i am conscious of myself as living 
consequently i am outside time 3 i am beyond cause for i feel myself
to be the cause of every manifestation of my life 

reason gives expression to the laws of inevitability consciousness
gives expression to the essence of freedom 

freedom not limited by anything is the essence of life in man's
consciousness inevitability without content is man's reason in its
three forms 

freedom is the thing examined inevitability is what examines freedom
is the content inevitability is the form 

only by separating the two sources of cognition related to one another
as form to content do we get the mutually exclusive and separately
incomprehensible conceptions of freedom and inevitability 

only by uniting them do we get a clear conception of man's life 

apart from these two concepts which in their union mutually define one
another as form and content no conception of life is possible 

all that we know of the life of man is merely a certain relation of free
will to inevitability that is of consciousness to the laws of reason 

all that we know of the external world of nature is only a certain
relation of the forces of nature to inevitability or of the essence of
life to the laws of reason 

the great natural forces lie outside us and we are not conscious of
them we call those forces gravitation inertia electricity animal
force and so on but we are conscious of the force of life in man and
we call that freedom 

but just as the force of gravitation incomprehensible in itself but
felt by every man is understood by us only to the extent to which we
know the laws of inevitability to which it is subject from the first
knowledge that all bodies have weight up to newton's law so too the
force of free will incomprehensible in itself but of which everyone is
conscious is intelligible to us only in as far as we know the laws of
inevitability to which it is subject from the fact that every man dies 
up to the knowledge of the most complex economic and historic laws 

all knowledge is merely a bringing of this essence of life under the
laws of reason 

man's free will differs from every other force in that man is directly
conscious of it but in the eyes of reason it in no way differs from
any other force the forces of gravitation electricity or chemical
affinity are only distinguished from one another in that they are
differently defined by reason just so the force of man's free will
is distinguished by reason from the other forces of nature only by the
definition reason gives it freedom apart from necessity that is 
apart from the laws of reason that define it differs in no way from
gravitation or heat or the force that makes things grow for reason 
it is only a momentary undefinable sensation of life 

and as the undefinable essence of the force moving the heavenly bodies 
the undefinable essence of the forces of heat and electricity or
of chemical affinity or of the vital force forms the content of
astronomy physics chemistry botany zoology and so on just in the
same way does the force of free will form the content of history 
but just as the subject of every science is the manifestation of this
unknown essence of life while that essence itself can only be the
subject of metaphysics even the manifestation of the force of free will
in human beings in space in time and in dependence on cause forms
the subject of history while free will itself is the subject of
metaphysics 

in the experimental sciences what we know we call the laws of
inevitability what is unknown to us we call vital force vital force is
only an expression for the unknown remainder over and above what we know
of the essence of life 

so also in history what is known to us we call laws of inevitability 
what is unknown we call free will free will is for history only an
expression for the unknown remainder of what we know about the laws of
human life 





chapter xi

history examines the manifestations of man's free will in connection
with the external world in time and in dependence on cause that is it
defines this freedom by the laws of reason and so history is a science
only in so far as this free will is defined by those laws 

the recognition of man's free will as something capable of influencing
historical events that is as not subject to laws is the same for
history as the recognition of a free force moving the heavenly bodies
would be for astronomy 

that assumption would destroy the possibility of the existence of laws 
that is of any science whatever if there is even a single body
moving freely then the laws of kepler and newton are negatived and no
conception of the movement of the heavenly bodies any longer exists if
any single action is due to free will then not a single historical law
can exist nor any conception of historical events 

for history lines exist of the movement of human wills one end
of which is hidden in the unknown but at the other end of which a
consciousness of man's will in the present moves in space time and
dependence on cause 

the more this field of motion spreads out before our eyes the more
evident are the laws of that movement to discover and define those laws
is the problem of history 

from the standpoint from which the science of history now regards its
subject on the path it now follows seeking the causes of events in
man's free will a scientific enunciation of those laws is impossible 
for however man's free will may be restricted as soon as we recognize
it as a force not subject to law the existence of law becomes
impossible 

only by reducing this element of free will to the infinitesimal that
is by regarding it as an infinitely small quantity can we convince
ourselves of the absolute inaccessibility of the causes and then
instead of seeking causes history will take the discovery of laws as
its problem 

the search for these laws has long been begun and the new methods of
thought which history must adopt are being worked out simultaneously
with the self destruction toward which ever dissecting and dissecting
the causes of phenomena the old method of history is moving 

all human sciences have traveled along that path arriving at
infinitesimals mathematics the most exact of sciences abandons the
process of analysis and enters on the new process of the integration
of unknown infinitely small quantities abandoning the conception
of cause mathematics seeks law that is the property common to all
unknown infinitely small elements 

in another form but along the same path of reflection the other sciences
have proceeded when newton enunciated the law of gravity he did not say
that the sun or the earth had a property of attraction he said that all
bodies from the largest to the smallest have the property of attracting
one another that is leaving aside the question of the cause of the
movement of the bodies he expressed the property common to all bodies
from the infinitely large to the infinitely small the same is done by
the natural sciences leaving aside the question of cause they seek for
laws history stands on the same path and if history has for its object
the study of the movement of the nations and of humanity and not the
narration of episodes in the lives of individuals it too setting
aside the conception of cause should seek the laws common to all the
inseparably interconnected infinitesimal elements of free will 





chapter xii

from the time the law of copernicus was discovered and proved the mere
recognition of the fact that it was not the sun but the earth that moves
sufficed to destroy the whole cosmography of the ancients by disproving
that law it might have been possible to retain the old conception of
the movements of the bodies but without disproving it it would seem
impossible to continue studying the ptolemaic worlds but even after
the discovery of the law of copernicus the ptolemaic worlds were still
studied for a long time 

from the time the first person said and proved that the number of births
or of crimes is subject to mathematical laws and that this or that
mode of government is determined by certain geographical and economic
conditions and that certain relations of population to soil produce
migrations of peoples the foundations on which history had been built
were destroyed in their essence 

by refuting these new laws the former view of history might have been
retained but without refuting them it would seem impossible to continue
studying historic events as the results of man's free will for if a
certain mode of government was established or certain migrations
of peoples took place in consequence of such and such geographic 
ethnographic or economic conditions then the free will of those
individuals who appear to us to have established that mode of government
or occasioned the migrations can no longer be regarded as the cause 

and yet the former history continues to be studied side by side with the
laws of statistics geography political economy comparative philology 
and geology which directly contradict its assumptions 

the struggle between the old views and the new was long and stubbornly
fought out in physical philosophy theology stood on guard for the
old views and accused the new of violating revelation but when truth
conquered theology established itself just as firmly on the new
foundation 

just as prolonged and stubborn is the struggle now proceeding between
the old and the new conception of history and theology in the same way
stands on guard for the old view and accuses the new view of subverting
revelation 

in the one case as in the other on both sides the struggle provokes
passion and stifles truth on the one hand there is fear and regret for
the loss of the whole edifice constructed through the ages on the other
is the passion for destruction 

to the men who fought against the rising truths of physical philosophy 
it seemed that if they admitted that truth it would destroy faith in
god in the creation of the firmament and in the miracle of joshua the
son of nun to the defenders of the laws of copernicus and newton to
voltaire for example it seemed that the laws of astronomy destroyed
religion and he utilized the law of gravitation as a weapon against
religion 

just so it now seems as if we have only to admit the law of
inevitability to destroy the conception of the soul of good and evil 
and all the institutions of state and church that have been built up on
those conceptions 

so too like voltaire in his time uninvited defenders of the law of
inevitability today use that law as a weapon against religion though
the law of inevitability in history like the law of copernicus in
astronomy far from destroying even strengthens the foundation on which
the institutions of state and church are erected 

as in the question of astronomy then so in the question of history
now the whole difference of opinion is based on the recognition or
nonrecognition of something absolute serving as the measure of visible
phenomena in astronomy it was the immovability of the earth in history
it is the independence of personality free will 

as with astronomy the difficulty of recognizing the motion of the earth
lay in abandoning the immediate sensation of the earth's fixity and of
the motion of the planets so in history the difficulty of recognizing
the subjection of personality to the laws of space time and cause
lies in renouncing the direct feeling of the independence of one's own
personality but as in astronomy the new view said it is true that we
do not feel the movement of the earth but by admitting its immobility
we arrive at absurdity while by admitting its motion which we do not
feel we arrive at laws so also in history the new view says it is
true that we are not conscious of our dependence but by admitting our
free will we arrive at absurdity while by admitting our dependence on
the external world on time and on cause we arrive at laws 

in the first case it was necessary to renounce the consciousness of an
unreal immobility in space and to recognize a motion we did not feel 
in the present case it is similarly necessary to renounce a freedom
that does not exist and to recognize a dependence of which we are not
conscious 










the mouse the bird and the sausage

once upon a time a mouse a bird and a sausage entered into
partnership and set up house together for a long time all went well 
they lived in great comfort and prospered so far as to be able to add
considerably to their stores the bird's duty was to fly daily into the
wood and bring in fuel the mouse fetched the water and the sausage saw
to the cooking 

when people are too well off they always begin to long for something
new and so it came to pass that the bird while out one day met a
fellow bird to whom he boastfully expatiated on the excellence of his
household arrangements but the other bird sneered at him for being a
poor simpleton who did all the hard work while the other two stayed
at home and had a good time of it for when the mouse had made the fire
and fetched in the water she could retire into her little room and rest
until it was time to set the table the sausage had only to watch the
pot to see that the food was properly cooked and when it was near
dinner-time he just threw himself into the broth or rolled in and out
among the vegetables three or four times and there they were buttered 
and salted and ready to be served then when the bird came home and
had laid aside his burden they sat down to table and when they had
finished their meal they could sleep their fill till the following
morning and that was really a very delightful life 

influenced by those remarks the bird next morning refused to bring in
the wood telling the others that he had been their servant long enough 
and had been a fool into the bargain and that it was now time to make a
change and to try some other way of arranging the work beg and pray
as the mouse and the sausage might it was of no use the bird remained
master of the situation and the venture had to be made they therefore
drew lots and it fell to the sausage to bring in the wood to the mouse
to cook and to the bird to fetch the water 

and now what happened the sausage started in search of wood the bird
made the fire and the mouse put on the pot and then these two waited
till the sausage returned with the fuel for the following day but the
sausage remained so long away that they became uneasy and the bird
flew out to meet him he had not flown far however when he came across
a dog who having met the sausage had regarded him as his legitimate
booty and so seized and swallowed him the bird complained to the dog
of this bare-faced robbery but nothing he said was of any avail for
the dog answered that he found false credentials on the sausage and
that was the reason his life had been forfeited 

he picked up the wood and flew sadly home and told the mouse all he
had seen and heard they were both very unhappy but agreed to make the
best of things and to remain with one another 

so now the bird set the table and the mouse looked after the food and 
wishing to prepare it in the same way as the sausage by rolling in and
out among the vegetables to salt and butter them she jumped into the
pot but she stopped short long before she reached the bottom having
already parted not only with her skin and hair but also with life 

presently the bird came in and wanted to serve up the dinner but he
could nowhere see the cook in his alarm and flurry he threw the wood
here and there about the floor called and searched but no cook was to
be found then some of the wood that had been carelessly thrown down 
caught fire and began to blaze the bird hastened to fetch some water 
but his pail fell into the well and he after it and as he was unable
to recover himself he was drowned 

a tale of two cities

a story of the french revolution

by charles dickens



book the first recalled to life




i the period


it was the best of times 
it was the worst of times 
it was the age of wisdom 
it was the age of foolishness 
it was the epoch of belief 
it was the epoch of incredulity 
it was the season of light 
it was the season of darkness 
it was the spring of hope 
it was the winter of despair 
we had everything before us 
we had nothing before us 
we were all going direct to heaven 
we were all going direct the other way 
in short the period was so far like the present period that some of
its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received for good or for
evil in the superlative degree of comparison only 

there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face on the
throne of england there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with
a fair face on the throne of france in both countries it was clearer
than crystal to the lords of the state preserves of loaves and fishes 
that things in general were settled for ever 

it was the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five 
spiritual revelations were conceded to england at that favoured period 
as at this mrs southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth
blessed birthday of whom a prophetic private in the life guards had
heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements were
made for the swallowing up of london and westminster even the cock-lane
ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years after rapping out its
messages as the spirits of this very year last past supernaturally
deficient in originality rapped out theirs mere messages in the
earthly order of events had lately come to the english crown and people 
from a congress of british subjects in america which strange
to relate have proved more important to the human race than any
communications yet received through any of the chickens of the cock-lane
brood 

france less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her
sister of the shield and trident rolled with exceeding smoothness down
hill making paper money and spending it under the guidance of her
christian pastors she entertained herself besides with such humane
achievements as sentencing a youth to have his hands cut off his tongue
torn out with pincers and his body burned alive because he had not
kneeled down in the rain to do honour to a dirty procession of monks
which passed within his view at a distance of some fifty or sixty
yards it is likely enough that rooted in the woods of france and
norway there were growing trees when that sufferer was put to death 
already marked by the woodman fate to come down and be sawn into
boards to make a certain movable framework with a sack and a knife in
it terrible in history it is likely enough that in the rough outhouses
of some tillers of the heavy lands adjacent to paris there were
sheltered from the weather that very day rude carts bespattered with
rustic mire snuffed about by pigs and roosted in by poultry which
the farmer death had already set apart to be his tumbrils of
the revolution but that woodman and that farmer though they work
unceasingly work silently and no one heard them as they went about
with muffled tread the rather forasmuch as to entertain any suspicion
that they were awake was to be atheistical and traitorous 

in england there was scarcely an amount of order and protection to
justify much national boasting daring burglaries by armed men and
highway robberies took place in the capital itself every night 
families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing
their furniture to upholsterers' warehouses for security the highwayman
in the dark was a city tradesman in the light and being recognised and
challenged by his fellow-tradesman whom he stopped in his character of
 the captain gallantly shot him through the head and rode away the
mail was waylaid by seven robbers and the guard shot three dead and
then got shot dead himself by the other four in consequence of the
failure of his ammunition after which the mail was robbed in peace 
that magnificent potentate the lord mayor of london was made to stand
and deliver on turnham green by one highwayman who despoiled the
illustrious creature in sight of all his retinue prisoners in london
gaols fought battles with their turnkeys and the majesty of the law
fired blunderbusses in among them loaded with rounds of shot and ball 
thieves snipped off diamond crosses from the necks of noble lords at
court drawing-rooms musketeers went into st giles's to search
for contraband goods and the mob fired on the musketeers and the
musketeers fired on the mob and nobody thought any of these occurrences
much out of the common way in the midst of them the hangman ever busy
and ever worse than useless was in constant requisition now stringing
up long rows of miscellaneous criminals now hanging a housebreaker on
saturday who had been taken on tuesday now burning people in the
hand at newgate by the dozen and now burning pamphlets at the door of
westminster hall to-day taking the life of an atrocious murderer 
and to-morrow of a wretched pilferer who had robbed a farmer's boy of
sixpence 

all these things and a thousand like them came to pass in and close
upon the dear old year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five 
environed by them while the woodman and the farmer worked unheeded 
those two of the large jaws and those other two of the plain and the
fair faces trod with stir enough and carried their divine rights
with a high hand thus did the year one thousand seven hundred
and seventy-five conduct their greatnesses and myriads of small
creatures the creatures of this chronicle among the rest along the
roads that lay before them 




ii the mail


it was the dover road that lay on a friday night late in november 
before the first of the persons with whom this history has business 
the dover road lay as to him beyond the dover mail as it lumbered up
shooter's hill he walked up hill in the mire by the side of the mail 
as the rest of the passengers did not because they had the least relish
for walking exercise under the circumstances but because the hill 
and the harness and the mud and the mail were all so heavy that the
horses had three times already come to a stop besides once drawing the
coach across the road with the mutinous intent of taking it back
to blackheath reins and whip and coachman and guard however in
combination had read that article of war which forbade a purpose
otherwise strongly in favour of the argument that some brute animals
are endued with reason and the team had capitulated and returned to
their duty 

with drooping heads and tremulous tails they mashed their way through
the thick mud floundering and stumbling between whiles as if they were
falling to pieces at the larger joints as often as the driver rested
them and brought them to a stand with a wary wo-ho so-ho-then the
near leader violently shook his head and everything upon it like an
unusually emphatic horse denying that the coach could be got up the
hill whenever the leader made this rattle the passenger started as a
nervous passenger might and was disturbed in mind 

there was a steaming mist in all the hollows and it had roamed in its
forlornness up the hill like an evil spirit seeking rest and finding
none a clammy and intensely cold mist it made its slow way through the
air in ripples that visibly followed and overspread one another as the
waves of an unwholesome sea might do it was dense enough to shut out
everything from the light of the coach-lamps but these its own workings 
and a few yards of road and the reek of the labouring horses steamed
into it as if they had made it all 

two other passengers besides the one were plodding up the hill by the
side of the mail all three were wrapped to the cheekbones and over the
ears and wore jack-boots not one of the three could have said from
anything he saw what either of the other two was like and each was
hidden under almost as many wrappers from the eyes of the mind as from
the eyes of the body of his two companions in those days travellers
were very shy of being confidential on a short notice for anybody on
the road might be a robber or in league with robbers as to the latter 
when every posting-house and ale-house could produce somebody in
 the captain's pay ranging from the landlord to the lowest stable
non-descript it was the likeliest thing upon the cards so the guard
of the dover mail thought to himself that friday night in november one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five lumbering up shooter's hill as
he stood on his own particular perch behind the mail beating his feet 
and keeping an eye and a hand on the arm-chest before him where a
loaded blunderbuss lay at the top of six or eight loaded horse-pistols 
deposited on a substratum of cutlass 

the dover mail was in its usual genial position that the guard suspected
the passengers the passengers suspected one another and the guard they
all suspected everybody else and the coachman was sure of nothing but
the horses as to which cattle he could with a clear conscience have
taken his oath on the two testaments that they were not fit for the
journey 

 wo-ho said the coachman so then one more pull and you're at the
top and be damned to you for i have had trouble enough to get you to
it joe 

 halloa the guard replied 

 what o'clock do you make it joe 

 ten minutes good past eleven 

 my blood ejaculated the vexed coachman and not atop of shooter's
yet tst yah get on with you 

the emphatic horse cut short by the whip in a most decided negative 
made a decided scramble for it and the three other horses followed
suit once more the dover mail struggled on with the jack-boots of its
passengers squashing along by its side they had stopped when the coach
stopped and they kept close company with it if any one of the three
had had the hardihood to propose to another to walk on a little ahead
into the mist and darkness he would have put himself in a fair way of
getting shot instantly as a highwayman 

the last burst carried the mail to the summit of the hill the horses
stopped to breathe again and the guard got down to skid the wheel for
the descent and open the coach-door to let the passengers in 

 tst joe cried the coachman in a warning voice looking down from his
box 

 what do you say tom 

they both listened 

 i say a horse at a canter coming up joe 

 i say a horse at a gallop tom returned the guard leaving his hold
of the door and mounting nimbly to his place gentlemen in the king's
name all of you 

with this hurried adjuration he cocked his blunderbuss and stood on
the offensive 

the passenger booked by this history was on the coach-step getting in 
the two other passengers were close behind him and about to follow he
remained on the step half in the coach and half out of they remained
in the road below him they all looked from the coachman to the guard 
and from the guard to the coachman and listened the coachman looked
back and the guard looked back and even the emphatic leader pricked up
his ears and looked back without contradicting 

the stillness consequent on the cessation of the rumbling and labouring
of the coach added to the stillness of the night made it very quiet
indeed the panting of the horses communicated a tremulous motion to
the coach as if it were in a state of agitation the hearts of the
passengers beat loud enough perhaps to be heard but at any rate the
quiet pause was audibly expressive of people out of breath and holding
the breath and having the pulses quickened by expectation 

the sound of a horse at a gallop came fast and furiously up the hill 

 so-ho the guard sang out as loud as he could roar yo there stand 
i shall fire 

the pace was suddenly checked and with much splashing and floundering 
a man's voice called from the mist is that the dover mail 

 never you mind what it is the guard retorted what are you 

 is that the dover mail 

 why do you want to know 

 i want a passenger if it is 

 what passenger 

 mr jarvis lorry 

our booked passenger showed in a moment that it was his name the guard 
the coachman and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully 

 keep where you are the guard called to the voice in the mist 
 because if i should make a mistake it could never be set right in
your lifetime gentleman of the name of lorry answer straight 

 what is the matter asked the passenger then with mildly quavering
speech who wants me is it jerry 

 i don't like jerry's voice if it is jerry growled the guard to
himself he's hoarser than suits me is jerry 

 yes mr lorry 

 what is the matter 

 a despatch sent after you from over yonder t and co 

 i know this messenger guard said mr lorry getting down into the
road assisted from behind more swiftly than politely by the other two
passengers who immediately scrambled into the coach shut the door and
pulled up the window he may come close there's nothing wrong 

 i hope there ain't but i can't make so 'nation sure of that said the
guard in gruff soliloquy hallo you 

 well and hallo you said jerry more hoarsely than before 

 come on at a footpace d'ye mind me and if you've got holsters to that
saddle o' yourn don't let me see your hand go nigh 'em for i'm a devil
at a quick mistake and when i make one it takes the form of lead so
now let's look at you 

the figures of a horse and rider came slowly through the eddying mist 
and came to the side of the mail where the passenger stood the rider
stooped and casting up his eyes at the guard handed the passenger
a small folded paper the rider's horse was blown and both horse and
rider were covered with mud from the hoofs of the horse to the hat of
the man 

 guard said the passenger in a tone of quiet business confidence 

the watchful guard with his right hand at the stock of his raised
blunderbuss his left at the barrel and his eye on the horseman 
answered curtly sir 

 there is nothing to apprehend i belong to tellson's bank you must
know tellson's bank in london i am going to paris on business a crown
to drink i may read this 

 if so be as you're quick sir 

he opened it in the light of the coach-lamp on that side and
read first to himself and then aloud 'wait at dover for mam'selle '
it's not long you see guard jerry say that my answer was recalled
to life 

jerry started in his saddle that's a blazing strange answer too 
 said he at his hoarsest 

 take that message back and they will know that i received this as
well as if i wrote make the best of your way good night 

with those words the passenger opened the coach-door and got in not at
all assisted by his fellow-passengers who had expeditiously secreted
their watches and purses in their boots and were now making a general
pretence of being asleep with no more definite purpose than to escape
the hazard of originating any other kind of action 

the coach lumbered on again with heavier wreaths of mist closing round
it as it began the descent the guard soon replaced his blunderbuss
in his arm-chest and having looked to the rest of its contents and
having looked to the supplementary pistols that he wore in his belt 
looked to a smaller chest beneath his seat in which there were a
few smith's tools a couple of torches and a tinder-box for he was
furnished with that completeness that if the coach-lamps had been blown
and stormed out which did occasionally happen he had only to shut
himself up inside keep the flint and steel sparks well off the straw 
and get a light with tolerable safety and ease if he were lucky in
five minutes 

 tom softly over the coach roof 

 hallo joe 

 did you hear the message 

 i did joe 

 what did you make of it tom 

 nothing at all joe 

 that's a coincidence too the guard mused for i made the same of it
myself 

jerry left alone in the mist and darkness dismounted meanwhile not
only to ease his spent horse but to wipe the mud from his face and
shake the wet out of his hat-brim which might be capable of
holding about half a gallon after standing with the bridle over his
heavily-splashed arm until the wheels of the mail were no longer within
hearing and the night was quite still again he turned to walk down the
hill 

 after that there gallop from temple bar old lady i won't trust your
fore-legs till i get you on the level said this hoarse messenger 
glancing at his mare 'recalled to life ' that's a blazing strange
message much of that wouldn't do for you jerry i say jerry you'd
be in a blazing bad way if recalling to life was to come into fashion 
jerry 




iii the night shadows


a wonderful fact to reflect upon that every human creature is
constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other a
solemn consideration when i enter a great city by night that every
one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret that every
room in every one of them encloses its own secret that every beating
heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there is in some of
its imaginings a secret to the heart nearest it something of the
awfulness even of death itself is referable to this no more can i
turn the leaves of this dear book that i loved and vainly hope in time
to read it all no more can i look into the depths of this unfathomable
water wherein as momentary lights glanced into it i have had glimpses
of buried treasure and other things submerged it was appointed that the
book should shut with a spring for ever and for ever when i had read
but a page it was appointed that the water should be locked in an
eternal frost when the light was playing on its surface and i stood
in ignorance on the shore my friend is dead my neighbour is dead 
my love the darling of my soul is dead it is the inexorable
consolidation and perpetuation of the secret that was always in that
individuality and which i shall carry in mine to my life's end in
any of the burial-places of this city through which i pass is there
a sleeper more inscrutable than its busy inhabitants are in their
innermost personality to me or than i am to them 

as to this his natural and not to be alienated inheritance the
messenger on horseback had exactly the same possessions as the king the
first minister of state or the richest merchant in london so with the
three passengers shut up in the narrow compass of one lumbering old mail
coach they were mysteries to one another as complete as if each had
been in his own coach and six or his own coach and sixty with the
breadth of a county between him and the next 

the messenger rode back at an easy trot stopping pretty often at
ale-houses by the way to drink but evincing a tendency to keep his
own counsel and to keep his hat cocked over his eyes he had eyes that
assorted very well with that decoration being of a surface black with
no depth in the colour or form and much too near together as if they
were afraid of being found out in something singly if they kept too
far apart they had a sinister expression under an old cocked-hat like
a three-cornered spittoon and over a great muffler for the chin and
throat which descended nearly to the wearer's knees when he stopped
for drink he moved this muffler with his left hand only while he
poured his liquor in with his right as soon as that was done he
muffled again 

 no jerry no said the messenger harping on one theme as he rode 
 it wouldn't do for you jerry jerry you honest tradesman it wouldn't
suit your line of business recalled bust me if i don't think he'd
been a drinking 

his message perplexed his mind to that degree that he was fain several
times to take off his hat to scratch his head except on the crown 
which was raggedly bald he had stiff black hair standing jaggedly all
over it and growing down hill almost to his broad blunt nose it was
so like smith's work so much more like the top of a strongly spiked
wall than a head of hair that the best of players at leap-frog might
have declined him as the most dangerous man in the world to go over 

while he trotted back with the message he was to deliver to the night
watchman in his box at the door of tellson's bank by temple bar who
was to deliver it to greater authorities within the shadows of the
night took such shapes to him as arose out of the message and took such
shapes to the mare as arose out of her private topics of uneasiness 
they seemed to be numerous for she shied at every shadow on the road 

what time the mail-coach lumbered jolted rattled and bumped upon
its tedious way with its three fellow-inscrutables inside to whom 
likewise the shadows of the night revealed themselves in the forms
their dozing eyes and wandering thoughts suggested 

tellson's bank had a run upon it in the mail as the bank
passenger with an arm drawn through the leathern strap which did what
lay in it to keep him from pounding against the next passenger 
and driving him into his corner whenever the coach got a special
jolt nodded in his place with half-shut eyes the little
coach-windows and the coach-lamp dimly gleaming through them and the
bulky bundle of opposite passenger became the bank and did a great
stroke of business the rattle of the harness was the chink of money 
and more drafts were honoured in five minutes than even tellson's with
all its foreign and home connection ever paid in thrice the time then
the strong-rooms underground at tellson's with such of their valuable
stores and secrets as were known to the passenger and it was not a
little that he knew about them opened before him and he went in among
them with the great keys and the feebly-burning candle and found them
safe and strong and sound and still just as he had last seen them 

but though the bank was almost always with him and though the coach
 in a confused way like the presence of pain under an opiate was
always with him there was another current of impression that never
ceased to run all through the night he was on his way to dig some one
out of a grave 

now which of the multitude of faces that showed themselves before him
was the true face of the buried person the shadows of the night did
not indicate but they were all the faces of a man of five-and-forty by
years and they differed principally in the passions they expressed 
and in the ghastliness of their worn and wasted state pride contempt 
defiance stubbornness submission lamentation succeeded one another 
so did varieties of sunken cheek cadaverous colour emaciated hands
and figures but the face was in the main one face and every head was
prematurely white a hundred times the dozing passenger inquired of this
spectre 

 buried how long 

the answer was always the same almost eighteen years 

 you had abandoned all hope of being dug out 

 long ago 

 you know that you are recalled to life 

 they tell me so 

 i hope you care to live 

 i can't say 

 shall i show her to you will you come and see her 

the answers to this question were various and contradictory sometimes
the broken reply was wait it would kill me if i saw her too soon 
 sometimes it was given in a tender rain of tears and then it was 
 take me to her sometimes it was staring and bewildered and then it
was i don't know her i don't understand 

after such imaginary discourse the passenger in his fancy would dig 
and dig dig now with a spade now with a great key now with his
hands to dig this wretched creature out got out at last with earth
hanging about his face and hair he would suddenly fan away to dust the
passenger would then start to himself and lower the window to get the
reality of mist and rain on his cheek 

yet even when his eyes were opened on the mist and rain on the moving
patch of light from the lamps and the hedge at the roadside retreating
by jerks the night shadows outside the coach would fall into the train
of the night shadows within the real banking-house by temple bar the
real business of the past day the real strong rooms the real express
sent after him and the real message returned would all be there out
of the midst of them the ghostly face would rise and he would accost
it again 

 buried how long 

 almost eighteen years 

 i hope you care to live 

 i can't say 

dig dig dig until an impatient movement from one of the two
passengers would admonish him to pull up the window draw his arm
securely through the leathern strap and speculate upon the two
slumbering forms until his mind lost its hold of them and they again
slid away into the bank and the grave 

 buried how long 

 almost eighteen years 

 you had abandoned all hope of being dug out 

 long ago 

the words were still in his hearing as just spoken distinctly in
his hearing as ever spoken words had been in his life when the weary
passenger started to the consciousness of daylight and found that the
shadows of the night were gone 

he lowered the window and looked out at the rising sun there was a
ridge of ploughed land with a plough upon it where it had been left
last night when the horses were unyoked beyond a quiet coppice-wood 
in which many leaves of burning red and golden yellow still remained
upon the trees though the earth was cold and wet the sky was clear 
and the sun rose bright placid and beautiful 

 eighteen years said the passenger looking at the sun gracious
creator of day to be buried alive for eighteen years 




iv the preparation


when the mail got successfully to dover in the course of the forenoon 
the head drawer at the royal george hotel opened the coach-door as his
custom was he did it with some flourish of ceremony for a mail journey
from london in winter was an achievement to congratulate an adventurous
traveller upon 

by that time there was only one adventurous traveller left be
congratulated for the two others had been set down at their respective
roadside destinations the mildewy inside of the coach with its damp
and dirty straw its disagreeable smell and its obscurity was rather
like a larger dog-kennel mr lorry the passenger shaking himself out
of it in chains of straw a tangle of shaggy wrapper flapping hat and
muddy legs was rather like a larger sort of dog 

 there will be a packet to calais tomorrow drawer 

 yes sir if the weather holds and the wind sets tolerable fair the
tide will serve pretty nicely at about two in the afternoon sir bed 
sir 

 i shall not go to bed till night but i want a bedroom and a barber 

 and then breakfast sir yes sir that way sir if you please 
show concord gentleman's valise and hot water to concord pull off
gentleman's boots in concord you will find a fine sea-coal fire sir 
fetch barber to concord stir about there now for concord 

the concord bed-chamber being always assigned to a passenger by the
mail and passengers by the mail being always heavily wrapped up from
head to foot the room had the odd interest for the establishment of the
royal george that although but one kind of man was seen to go into it 
all kinds and varieties of men came out of it consequently another
drawer and two porters and several maids and the landlady were all
loitering by accident at various points of the road between the concord
and the coffee-room when a gentleman of sixty formally dressed in a
brown suit of clothes pretty well worn but very well kept with large
square cuffs and large flaps to the pockets passed along on his way to
his breakfast 

the coffee-room had no other occupant that forenoon than the gentleman
in brown his breakfast-table was drawn before the fire and as he sat 
with its light shining on him waiting for the meal he sat so still 
that he might have been sitting for his portrait 

very orderly and methodical he looked with a hand on each knee and a
loud watch ticking a sonorous sermon under his flapped waist-coat 
as though it pitted its gravity and longevity against the levity and
evanescence of the brisk fire he had a good leg and was a little vain
of it for his brown stockings fitted sleek and close and were of a
fine texture his shoes and buckles too though plain were trim he
wore an odd little sleek crisp flaxen wig setting very close to his
head which wig it is to be presumed was made of hair but which
looked far more as though it were spun from filaments of silk or glass 
his linen though not of a fineness in accordance with his stockings 
was as white as the tops of the waves that broke upon the neighbouring
beach or the specks of sail that glinted in the sunlight far at sea a
face habitually suppressed and quieted was still lighted up under the
quaint wig by a pair of moist bright eyes that it must have cost
their owner in years gone by some pains to drill to the composed and
reserved expression of tellson's bank he had a healthy colour in his
cheeks and his face though lined bore few traces of anxiety 
but perhaps the confidential bachelor clerks in tellson's bank were
principally occupied with the cares of other people and perhaps
second-hand cares like second-hand clothes come easily off and on 

completing his resemblance to a man who was sitting for his portrait 
mr lorry dropped off to sleep the arrival of his breakfast roused him 
and he said to the drawer as he moved his chair to it 

 i wish accommodation prepared for a young lady who may come here at any
time to-day she may ask for mr jarvis lorry or she may only ask for a
gentleman from tellson's bank please to let me know 

 yes sir tellson's bank in london sir 

 yes 

 yes sir we have oftentimes the honour to entertain your gentlemen in
their travelling backwards and forwards betwixt london and paris sir a
vast deal of travelling sir in tellson and company's house 

 yes we are quite a french house as well as an english one 

 yes sir not much in the habit of such travelling yourself i think 
sir 

 not of late years it is fifteen years since we since i came last
from france 

 indeed sir that was before my time here sir before our people's
time here sir the george was in other hands at that time sir 

 i believe so 

 but i would hold a pretty wager sir that a house like tellson and
company was flourishing a matter of fifty not to speak of fifteen
years ago 

 you might treble that and say a hundred and fifty yet not be far from
the truth 

 indeed sir 

rounding his mouth and both his eyes as he stepped backward from the
table the waiter shifted his napkin from his right arm to his left 
dropped into a comfortable attitude and stood surveying the guest while
he ate and drank as from an observatory or watchtower according to the
immemorial usage of waiters in all ages 

when mr lorry had finished his breakfast he went out for a stroll on
the beach the little narrow crooked town of dover hid itself away
from the beach and ran its head into the chalk cliffs like a marine
ostrich the beach was a desert of heaps of sea and stones tumbling
wildly about and the sea did what it liked and what it liked was
destruction it thundered at the town and thundered at the cliffs and
brought the coast down madly the air among the houses was of so strong
a piscatory flavour that one might have supposed sick fish went up to be
dipped in it as sick people went down to be dipped in the sea a little
fishing was done in the port and a quantity of strolling about by
night and looking seaward particularly at those times when the tide
made and was near flood small tradesmen who did no business whatever 
sometimes unaccountably realised large fortunes and it was remarkable
that nobody in the neighbourhood could endure a lamplighter 

as the day declined into the afternoon and the air which had been
at intervals clear enough to allow the french coast to be seen became
again charged with mist and vapour mr lorry's thoughts seemed to cloud
too when it was dark and he sat before the coffee-room fire awaiting
his dinner as he had awaited his breakfast his mind was busily digging 
digging digging in the live red coals 

a bottle of good claret after dinner does a digger in the red coals no
harm otherwise than as it has a tendency to throw him out of work 
mr lorry had been idle a long time and had just poured out his last
glassful of wine with as complete an appearance of satisfaction as is
ever to be found in an elderly gentleman of a fresh complexion who has
got to the end of a bottle when a rattling of wheels came up the narrow
street and rumbled into the inn-yard 

he set down his glass untouched this is mam'selle said he 

in a very few minutes the waiter came in to announce that miss manette
had arrived from london and would be happy to see the gentleman from
tellson's 

 so soon 

miss manette had taken some refreshment on the road and required none
then and was extremely anxious to see the gentleman from tellson's
immediately if it suited his pleasure and convenience 

the gentleman from tellson's had nothing left for it but to empty his
glass with an air of stolid desperation settle his odd little flaxen
wig at the ears and follow the waiter to miss manette's apartment 
it was a large dark room furnished in a funereal manner with black
horsehair and loaded with heavy dark tables these had been oiled and
oiled until the two tall candles on the table in the middle of the room
were gloomily reflected on every leaf as if they were buried in deep
graves of black mahogany and no light to speak of could be expected
from them until they were dug out 

the obscurity was so difficult to penetrate that mr lorry picking his
way over the well-worn turkey carpet supposed miss manette to be for
the moment in some adjacent room until having got past the two tall
candles he saw standing to receive him by the table between them and
the fire a young lady of not more than seventeen in a riding-cloak 
and still holding her straw travelling-hat by its ribbon in her hand as
his eyes rested on a short slight pretty figure a quantity of golden
hair a pair of blue eyes that met his own with an inquiring look and
a forehead with a singular capacity remembering how young and smooth
it was of rifting and knitting itself into an expression that was
not quite one of perplexity or wonder or alarm or merely of a bright
fixed attention though it included all the four expressions as his
eyes rested on these things a sudden vivid likeness passed before him 
of a child whom he had held in his arms on the passage across that very
channel one cold time when the hail drifted heavily and the sea ran
high the likeness passed away like a breath along the surface of
the gaunt pier-glass behind her on the frame of which a hospital
procession of negro cupids several headless and all cripples were
offering black baskets of dead sea fruit to black divinities of the
feminine gender and he made his formal bow to miss manette 

 pray take a seat sir in a very clear and pleasant young voice a
little foreign in its accent but a very little indeed 

 i kiss your hand miss said mr lorry with the manners of an earlier
date as he made his formal bow again and took his seat 

 i received a letter from the bank sir yesterday informing me that
some intelligence or discovery 

 the word is not material miss either word will do 

 respecting the small property of my poor father whom i never saw so
long dead 

mr lorry moved in his chair and cast a troubled look towards the
hospital procession of negro cupids as if they had any help for
anybody in their absurd baskets 

 rendered it necessary that i should go to paris there to communicate
with a gentleman of the bank so good as to be despatched to paris for
the purpose 

 myself 

 as i was prepared to hear sir 

she curtseyed to him young ladies made curtseys in those days with a
pretty desire to convey to him that she felt how much older and wiser he
was than she he made her another bow 

 i replied to the bank sir that as it was considered necessary by
those who know and who are so kind as to advise me that i should go to
france and that as i am an orphan and have no friend who could go with
me i should esteem it highly if i might be permitted to place myself 
during the journey under that worthy gentleman's protection the
gentleman had left london but i think a messenger was sent after him to
beg the favour of his waiting for me here 

 i was happy said mr lorry to be entrusted with the charge i shall
be more happy to execute it 

 sir i thank you indeed i thank you very gratefully it was told me
by the bank that the gentleman would explain to me the details of the
business and that i must prepare myself to find them of a surprising
nature i have done my best to prepare myself and i naturally have a
strong and eager interest to know what they are 

 naturally said mr lorry yes i 

after a pause he added again settling the crisp flaxen wig at the
ears it is very difficult to begin 

he did not begin but in his indecision met her glance the young
forehead lifted itself into that singular expression but it was pretty
and characteristic besides being singular and she raised her hand 
as if with an involuntary action she caught at or stayed some passing
shadow 

 are you quite a stranger to me sir 

 am i not mr lorry opened his hands and extended them outwards with
an argumentative smile 

between the eyebrows and just over the little feminine nose the line of
which was as delicate and fine as it was possible to be the expression
deepened itself as she took her seat thoughtfully in the chair by which
she had hitherto remained standing he watched her as she mused and the
moment she raised her eyes again went on 

 in your adopted country i presume i cannot do better than address you
as a young english lady miss manette 

 if you please sir 

 miss manette i am a man of business i have a business charge to
acquit myself of in your reception of it don't heed me any more than
if i was a speaking machine truly i am not much else i will with
your leave relate to you miss the story of one of our customers 

 story 

he seemed wilfully to mistake the word she had repeated when he added 
in a hurry yes customers in the banking business we usually call
our connection our customers he was a french gentleman a scientific
gentleman a man of great acquirements a doctor 

 not of beauvais 

 why yes of beauvais like monsieur manette your father the
gentleman was of beauvais like monsieur manette your father the
gentleman was of repute in paris i had the honour of knowing him there 
our relations were business relations but confidential i was at that
time in our french house and had been oh twenty years 

 at that time i may ask at what time sir 

 i speak miss of twenty years ago he married an english lady and
i was one of the trustees his affairs like the affairs of many other
french gentlemen and french families were entirely in tellson's hands 
in a similar way i am or i have been trustee of one kind or other for
scores of our customers these are mere business relations miss 
there is no friendship in them no particular interest nothing like
sentiment i have passed from one to another in the course of my
business life just as i pass from one of our customers to another in
the course of my business day in short i have no feelings i am a mere
machine to go on 

 but this is my father's story sir and i begin to think the
curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon him that when i was
left an orphan through my mother's surviving my father only two years 
it was you who brought me to england i am almost sure it was you 

mr lorry took the hesitating little hand that confidingly advanced
to take his and he put it with some ceremony to his lips he then
conducted the young lady straightway to her chair again and holding
the chair-back with his left hand and using his right by turns to rub
his chin pull his wig at the ears or point what he said stood looking
down into her face while she sat looking up into his 

 miss manette it was i and you will see how truly i spoke of myself
just now in saying i had no feelings and that all the relations i hold
with my fellow-creatures are mere business relations when you reflect
that i have never seen you since no you have been the ward of
tellson's house since and i have been busy with the other business of
tellson's house since feelings i have no time for them no chance
of them i pass my whole life miss in turning an immense pecuniary
mangle 

after this odd description of his daily routine of employment mr lorry
flattened his flaxen wig upon his head with both hands which was most
unnecessary for nothing could be flatter than its shining surface was
before and resumed his former attitude 

 so far miss as you have remarked this is the story of your
regretted father now comes the difference if your father had not died
when he did don't be frightened how you start 

she did indeed start and she caught his wrist with both her hands 

 pray said mr lorry in a soothing tone bringing his left hand from
the back of the chair to lay it on the supplicatory fingers that clasped
him in so violent a tremble pray control your agitation a matter of
business as i was saying 

her look so discomposed him that he stopped wandered and began anew 

 as i was saying if monsieur manette had not died if he had suddenly
and silently disappeared if he had been spirited away if it had not
been difficult to guess to what dreadful place though no art could
trace him if he had an enemy in some compatriot who could exercise a
privilege that i in my own time have known the boldest people afraid
to speak of in a whisper across the water there for instance the
privilege of filling up blank forms for the consignment of any one
to the oblivion of a prison for any length of time if his wife had
implored the king the queen the court the clergy for any tidings of
him and all quite in vain then the history of your father would have
been the history of this unfortunate gentleman the doctor of beauvais 

 i entreat you to tell me more sir 

 i will i am going to you can bear it 

 i can bear anything but the uncertainty you leave me in at this
moment 

 you speak collectedly and you are collected that's good though
his manner was less satisfied than his words a matter of business 
regard it as a matter of business business that must be done now
if this doctor's wife though a lady of great courage and spirit 
had suffered so intensely from this cause before her little child was
born 

 the little child was a daughter sir 

 a daughter a-a-matter of business don't be distressed miss if the
poor lady had suffered so intensely before her little child was born 
that she came to the determination of sparing the poor child the
inheritance of any part of the agony she had known the pains of by
rearing her in the belief that her father was dead no don't kneel in
heaven's name why should you kneel to me 

 for the truth o dear good compassionate sir for the truth 

 a a matter of business you confuse me and how can i transact
business if i am confused let us be clear-headed if you could kindly
mention now for instance what nine times ninepence are or how many
shillings in twenty guineas it would be so encouraging i should be so
much more at my ease about your state of mind 

without directly answering to this appeal she sat so still when he had
very gently raised her and the hands that had not ceased to clasp
his wrists were so much more steady than they had been that she
communicated some reassurance to mr jarvis lorry 

 that's right that's right courage business you have business before
you useful business miss manette your mother took this course with
you and when she died i believe broken-hearted having never slackened
her unavailing search for your father she left you at two years old 
to grow to be blooming beautiful and happy without the dark cloud
upon you of living in uncertainty whether your father soon wore his
heart out in prison or wasted there through many lingering years 

as he said the words he looked down with an admiring pity on the
flowing golden hair as if he pictured to himself that it might have
been already tinged with grey 

 you know that your parents had no great possession and that what
they had was secured to your mother and to you there has been no new
discovery of money or of any other property but 

he felt his wrist held closer and he stopped the expression in the
forehead which had so particularly attracted his notice and which was
now immovable had deepened into one of pain and horror 

 but he has been been found he is alive greatly changed it is too
probable almost a wreck it is possible though we will hope the best 
still alive your father has been taken to the house of an old servant
in paris and we are going there i to identify him if i can you to
restore him to life love duty rest comfort 

a shiver ran through her frame and from it through his she said in a
low distinct awe-stricken voice as if she were saying it in a dream 

 i am going to see his ghost it will be his ghost not him 

mr lorry quietly chafed the hands that held his arm there there 
there see now see now the best and the worst are known to you now 
you are well on your way to the poor wronged gentleman and with a fair
sea voyage and a fair land journey you will be soon at his dear side 

she repeated in the same tone sunk to a whisper i have been free i
have been happy yet his ghost has never haunted me 

 only one thing more said mr lorry laying stress upon it as a
wholesome means of enforcing her attention he has been found under
another name his own long forgotten or long concealed it would be
worse than useless now to inquire which worse than useless to seek to
know whether he has been for years overlooked or always designedly
held prisoner it would be worse than useless now to make any inquiries 
because it would be dangerous better not to mention the subject 
anywhere or in any way and to remove him for a while at all
events out of france even i safe as an englishman and even
tellson's important as they are to french credit avoid all naming of
the matter i carry about me not a scrap of writing openly referring
to it this is a secret service altogether my credentials entries 
and memoranda are all comprehended in the one line 'recalled to life '
which may mean anything but what is the matter she doesn't notice a
word miss manette 

perfectly still and silent and not even fallen back in her chair she
sat under his hand utterly insensible with her eyes open and fixed
upon him and with that last expression looking as if it were carved or
branded into her forehead so close was her hold upon his arm that he
feared to detach himself lest he should hurt her therefore he called
out loudly for assistance without moving 

a wild-looking woman whom even in his agitation mr lorry observed to
be all of a red colour and to have red hair and to be dressed in some
extraordinary tight-fitting fashion and to have on her head a most
wonderful bonnet like a grenadier wooden measure and good measure too 
or a great stilton cheese came running into the room in advance of the
inn servants and soon settled the question of his detachment from the
poor young lady by laying a brawny hand upon his chest and sending him
flying back against the nearest wall 

 i really think this must be a man was mr lorry's breathless
reflection simultaneously with his coming against the wall 

 why look at you all bawled this figure addressing the inn servants 
 why don't you go and fetch things instead of standing there staring
at me i am not so much to look at am i why don't you go and fetch
things i'll let you know if you don't bring smelling-salts cold
water and vinegar quick i will 

there was an immediate dispersal for these restoratives and she
softly laid the patient on a sofa and tended her with great skill and
gentleness calling her my precious and my bird and spreading her
golden hair aside over her shoulders with great pride and care 

 and you in brown she said indignantly turning to mr lorry 
 couldn't you tell her what you had to tell her without frightening her
to death look at her with her pretty pale face and her cold hands do
you call that being a banker 

mr lorry was so exceedingly disconcerted by a question so hard to
answer that he could only look on at a distance with much feebler
sympathy and humility while the strong woman having banished the inn
servants under the mysterious penalty of letting them know something
not mentioned if they stayed there staring recovered her charge by a
regular series of gradations and coaxed her to lay her drooping head
upon her shoulder 

 i hope she will do well now said mr lorry 

 no thanks to you in brown if she does my darling pretty 

 i hope said mr lorry after another pause of feeble sympathy and
humility that you accompany miss manette to france 

 a likely thing too replied the strong woman if it was ever
intended that i should go across salt water do you suppose providence
would have cast my lot in an island 

this being another question hard to answer mr jarvis lorry withdrew to
consider it 




v the wine-shop


a large cask of wine had been dropped and broken in the street the
accident had happened in getting it out of a cart the cask had tumbled
out with a run the hoops had burst and it lay on the stones just
outside the door of the wine-shop shattered like a walnut-shell 

all the people within reach had suspended their business or their
idleness to run to the spot and drink the wine the rough irregular
stones of the street pointing every way and designed one might have
thought expressly to lame all living creatures that approached them 
had dammed it into little pools these were surrounded each by its own
jostling group or crowd according to its size some men kneeled down 
made scoops of their two hands joined and sipped or tried to help
women who bent over their shoulders to sip before the wine had all
run out between their fingers others men and women dipped in
the puddles with little mugs of mutilated earthenware or even with
handkerchiefs from women's heads which were squeezed dry into infants'
mouths others made small mud-embankments to stem the wine as it ran 
others directed by lookers-on up at high windows darted here and
there to cut off little streams of wine that started away in new
directions others devoted themselves to the sodden and lee-dyed
pieces of the cask licking and even champing the moister wine-rotted
fragments with eager relish there was no drainage to carry off the
wine and not only did it all get taken up but so much mud got taken up
along with it that there might have been a scavenger in the street 
if anybody acquainted with it could have believed in such a miraculous
presence 

a shrill sound of laughter and of amused voices voices of men women 
and children resounded in the street while this wine game lasted there
was little roughness in the sport and much playfulness there was a
special companionship in it an observable inclination on the part
of every one to join some other one which led especially among the
luckier or lighter-hearted to frolicsome embraces drinking of healths 
shaking of hands and even joining of hands and dancing a dozen
together when the wine was gone and the places where it had been
most abundant were raked into a gridiron-pattern by fingers these
demonstrations ceased as suddenly as they had broken out the man who
had left his saw sticking in the firewood he was cutting set it in
motion again the women who had left on a door-step the little pot of
hot ashes at which she had been trying to soften the pain in her own
starved fingers and toes or in those of her child returned to it men
with bare arms matted locks and cadaverous faces who had emerged into
the winter light from cellars moved away to descend again and a gloom
gathered on the scene that appeared more natural to it than sunshine 

the wine was red wine and had stained the ground of the narrow street
in the suburb of saint antoine in paris where it was spilled it had
stained many hands too and many faces and many naked feet and many
wooden shoes the hands of the man who sawed the wood left red marks
on the billets and the forehead of the woman who nursed her baby was
stained with the stain of the old rag she wound about her head again 
those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask had acquired a
tigerish smear about the mouth and one tall joker so besmirched his
head more out of a long squalid bag of a nightcap than in it scrawled
upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine-lees blood 

the time was to come when that wine too would be spilled on the
street-stones and when the stain of it would be red upon many there 

and now that the cloud settled on saint antoine which a momentary
gleam had driven from his sacred countenance the darkness of it was
heavy cold dirt sickness ignorance and want were the lords in
waiting on the saintly presence nobles of great power all of them 
but most especially the last samples of a people that had undergone a
terrible grinding and regrinding in the mill and certainly not in the
fabulous mill which ground old people young shivered at every corner 
passed in and out at every doorway looked from every window fluttered
in every vestige of a garment that the wind shook the mill which
had worked them down was the mill that grinds young people old the
children had ancient faces and grave voices and upon them and upon the
grown faces and ploughed into every furrow of age and coming up afresh 
was the sigh hunger it was prevalent everywhere hunger was pushed out
of the tall houses in the wretched clothing that hung upon poles and
lines hunger was patched into them with straw and rag and wood and
paper hunger was repeated in every fragment of the small modicum of
firewood that the man sawed off hunger stared down from the smokeless
chimneys and started up from the filthy street that had no offal 
among its refuse of anything to eat hunger was the inscription on the
baker's shelves written in every small loaf of his scanty stock of
bad bread at the sausage-shop in every dead-dog preparation that
was offered for sale hunger rattled its dry bones among the roasting
chestnuts in the turned cylinder hunger was shred into atomics in every
farthing porringer of husky chips of potato fried with some reluctant
drops of oil 

its abiding place was in all things fitted to it a narrow winding
street full of offence and stench with other narrow winding streets
diverging all peopled by rags and nightcaps and all smelling of rags
and nightcaps and all visible things with a brooding look upon them
that looked ill in the hunted air of the people there was yet some
wild-beast thought of the possibility of turning at bay depressed and
slinking though they were eyes of fire were not wanting among them nor
compressed lips white with what they suppressed nor foreheads knitted
into the likeness of the gallows-rope they mused about enduring or
inflicting the trade signs and they were almost as many as the shops 
were all grim illustrations of want the butcher and the porkman
painted up only the leanest scrags of meat the baker the coarsest of
meagre loaves the people rudely pictured as drinking in the wine-shops 
croaked over their scanty measures of thin wine and beer and were
gloweringly confidential together nothing was represented in a
flourishing condition save tools and weapons but the cutler's knives
and axes were sharp and bright the smith's hammers were heavy and the
gunmaker's stock was murderous the crippling stones of the pavement 
with their many little reservoirs of mud and water had no footways but
broke off abruptly at the doors the kennel to make amends ran down
the middle of the street when it ran at all which was only after heavy
rains and then it ran by many eccentric fits into the houses across
the streets at wide intervals one clumsy lamp was slung by a rope and
pulley at night when the lamplighter had let these down and lighted 
and hoisted them again a feeble grove of dim wicks swung in a sickly
manner overhead as if they were at sea indeed they were at sea and
the ship and crew were in peril of tempest 

for the time was to come when the gaunt scarecrows of that region
should have watched the lamplighter in their idleness and hunger so
long as to conceive the idea of improving on his method and hauling
up men by those ropes and pulleys to flare upon the darkness of their
condition but the time was not come yet and every wind that blew over
france shook the rags of the scarecrows in vain for the birds fine of
song and feather took no warning 

the wine-shop was a corner shop better than most others in its
appearance and degree and the master of the wine-shop had stood outside
it in a yellow waistcoat and green breeches looking on at the struggle
for the lost wine it's not my affair said he with a final shrug
of the shoulders the people from the market did it let them bring
another 

there his eyes happening to catch the tall joker writing up his joke 
he called to him across the way 

 say then my gaspard what do you do there 

the fellow pointed to his joke with immense significance as is often
the way with his tribe it missed its mark and completely failed as is
often the way with his tribe too 

 what now are you a subject for the mad hospital said the wine-shop
keeper crossing the road and obliterating the jest with a handful of
mud picked up for the purpose and smeared over it why do you write
in the public streets is there tell me thou is there no other place
to write such words in 

in his expostulation he dropped his cleaner hand perhaps accidentally 
perhaps not upon the joker's heart the joker rapped it with his
own took a nimble spring upward and came down in a fantastic dancing
attitude with one of his stained shoes jerked off his foot into his
hand and held out a joker of an extremely not to say wolfishly
practical character he looked under those circumstances 

 put it on put it on said the other call wine wine and finish
there with that advice he wiped his soiled hand upon the joker's
dress such as it was quite deliberately as having dirtied the hand on
his account and then recrossed the road and entered the wine-shop 

this wine-shop keeper was a bull-necked martial-looking man of thirty 
and he should have been of a hot temperament for although it was a
bitter day he wore no coat but carried one slung over his shoulder 
his shirt-sleeves were rolled up too and his brown arms were bare to
the elbows neither did he wear anything more on his head than his own
crisply-curling short dark hair he was a dark man altogether with good
eyes and a good bold breadth between them good-humoured looking on
the whole but implacable-looking too evidently a man of a strong
resolution and a set purpose a man not desirable to be met rushing
down a narrow pass with a gulf on either side for nothing would turn
the man 

madame defarge his wife sat in the shop behind the counter as he
came in madame defarge was a stout woman of about his own age with
a watchful eye that seldom seemed to look at anything a large hand
heavily ringed a steady face strong features and great composure of
manner there was a character about madame defarge from which one might
have predicated that she did not often make mistakes against herself
in any of the reckonings over which she presided madame defarge being
sensitive to cold was wrapped in fur and had a quantity of bright
shawl twined about her head though not to the concealment of her large
earrings her knitting was before her but she had laid it down to pick
her teeth with a toothpick thus engaged with her right elbow supported
by her left hand madame defarge said nothing when her lord came in but
coughed just one grain of cough this in combination with the lifting
of her darkly defined eyebrows over her toothpick by the breadth of a
line suggested to her husband that he would do well to look round the
shop among the customers for any new customer who had dropped in while
he stepped over the way 

the wine-shop keeper accordingly rolled his eyes about until they
rested upon an elderly gentleman and a young lady who were seated in
a corner other company were there two playing cards two playing
dominoes three standing by the counter lengthening out a short supply
of wine as he passed behind the counter he took notice that the
elderly gentleman said in a look to the young lady this is our man 

 what the devil do you do in that galley there said monsieur defarge
to himself i don't know you 

but he feigned not to notice the two strangers and fell into discourse
with the triumvirate of customers who were drinking at the counter 

 how goes it jacques said one of these three to monsieur defarge is
all the spilt wine swallowed 

 every drop jacques answered monsieur defarge 

when this interchange of christian name was effected madame defarge 
picking her teeth with her toothpick coughed another grain of cough 
and raised her eyebrows by the breadth of another line 

 it is not often said the second of the three addressing monsieur
defarge that many of these miserable beasts know the taste of wine or
of anything but black bread and death is it not so jacques 

 it is so jacques monsieur defarge returned 

at this second interchange of the christian name madame defarge still
using her toothpick with profound composure coughed another grain of
cough and raised her eyebrows by the breadth of another line 

the last of the three now said his say as he put down his empty
drinking vessel and smacked his lips 

 ah so much the worse a bitter taste it is that such poor cattle
always have in their mouths and hard lives they live jacques am i
right jacques 

 you are right jacques was the response of monsieur defarge 

this third interchange of the christian name was completed at the moment
when madame defarge put her toothpick by kept her eyebrows up and
slightly rustled in her seat 

 hold then true muttered her husband gentlemen my wife 

the three customers pulled off their hats to madame defarge with three
flourishes she acknowledged their homage by bending her head and
giving them a quick look then she glanced in a casual manner round the
wine-shop took up her knitting with great apparent calmness and repose
of spirit and became absorbed in it 

 gentlemen said her husband who had kept his bright eye observantly
upon her good day the chamber furnished bachelor-fashion that you
wished to see and were inquiring for when i stepped out is on the
fifth floor the doorway of the staircase gives on the little courtyard
close to the left here pointing with his hand near to the window of
my establishment but now that i remember one of you has already been
there and can show the way gentlemen adieu 

they paid for their wine and left the place the eyes of monsieur
defarge were studying his wife at her knitting when the elderly
gentleman advanced from his corner and begged the favour of a word 

 willingly sir said monsieur defarge and quietly stepped with him to
the door 

their conference was very short but very decided almost at the first
word monsieur defarge started and became deeply attentive it had
not lasted a minute when he nodded and went out the gentleman then
beckoned to the young lady and they too went out madame defarge
knitted with nimble fingers and steady eyebrows and saw nothing 

mr jarvis lorry and miss manette emerging from the wine-shop thus 
joined monsieur defarge in the doorway to which he had directed his own
company just before it opened from a stinking little black courtyard 
and was the general public entrance to a great pile of houses inhabited
by a great number of people in the gloomy tile-paved entry to the
gloomy tile-paved staircase monsieur defarge bent down on one knee
to the child of his old master and put her hand to his lips it was
a gentle action but not at all gently done a very remarkable
transformation had come over him in a few seconds he had no good-humour
in his face nor any openness of aspect left but had become a secret 
angry dangerous man 

 it is very high it is a little difficult better to begin slowly 
 thus monsieur defarge in a stern voice to mr lorry as they began
ascending the stairs 

 is he alone the latter whispered 

 alone god help him who should be with him said the other in the
same low voice 

 is he always alone then 

 yes 

 of his own desire 

 of his own necessity as he was when i first saw him after they
found me and demanded to know if i would take him and at my peril be
discreet as he was then so he is now 

 he is greatly changed 

 changed 

the keeper of the wine-shop stopped to strike the wall with his hand 
and mutter a tremendous curse no direct answer could have been half so
forcible mr lorry's spirits grew heavier and heavier as he and his
two companions ascended higher and higher 

such a staircase with its accessories in the older and more crowded
parts of paris would be bad enough now but at that time it was vile
indeed to unaccustomed and unhardened senses every little habitation
within the great foul nest of one high building that is to say 
the room or rooms within every door that opened on the general
staircase left its own heap of refuse on its own landing besides
flinging other refuse from its own windows the uncontrollable and
hopeless mass of decomposition so engendered would have polluted
the air even if poverty and deprivation had not loaded it with their
intangible impurities the two bad sources combined made it almost
insupportable through such an atmosphere by a steep dark shaft of dirt
and poison the way lay yielding to his own disturbance of mind and to
his young companion's agitation which became greater every instant mr 
jarvis lorry twice stopped to rest each of these stoppages was made
at a doleful grating by which any languishing good airs that were left
uncorrupted seemed to escape and all spoilt and sickly vapours seemed
to crawl in through the rusted bars tastes rather than glimpses were
caught of the jumbled neighbourhood and nothing within range nearer
or lower than the summits of the two great towers of notre-dame had any
promise on it of healthy life or wholesome aspirations 

at last the top of the staircase was gained and they stopped for the
third time there was yet an upper staircase of a steeper inclination
and of contracted dimensions to be ascended before the garret story
was reached the keeper of the wine-shop always going a little in
advance and always going on the side which mr lorry took as though he
dreaded to be asked any question by the young lady turned himself about
here and carefully feeling in the pockets of the coat he carried over
his shoulder took out a key 

 the door is locked then my friend said mr lorry surprised 

 ay yes was the grim reply of monsieur defarge 

 you think it necessary to keep the unfortunate gentleman so retired 

 i think it necessary to turn the key monsieur defarge whispered it
closer in his ear and frowned heavily 

 why 

 why because he has lived so long locked up that he would be
frightened rave tear himself to pieces die come to i know not what
harm if his door was left open 

 is it possible exclaimed mr lorry 

 is it possible repeated defarge bitterly yes and a beautiful
world we live in when it is possible and when many other such things
are possible and not only possible but done done see you under
that sky there every day long live the devil let us go on 

this dialogue had been held in so very low a whisper that not a word
of it had reached the young lady's ears but by this time she trembled
under such strong emotion and her face expressed such deep anxiety 
and above all such dread and terror that mr lorry felt it incumbent
on him to speak a word or two of reassurance 

 courage dear miss courage business the worst will be over in a
moment it is but passing the room-door and the worst is over then 
all the good you bring to him all the relief all the happiness you
bring to him begin let our good friend here assist you on that side 
that's well friend defarge come now business business 

they went up slowly and softly the staircase was short and they were
soon at the top there as it had an abrupt turn in it they came all at
once in sight of three men whose heads were bent down close together at
the side of a door and who were intently looking into the room to which
the door belonged through some chinks or holes in the wall on hearing
footsteps close at hand these three turned and rose and showed
themselves to be the three of one name who had been drinking in the
wine-shop 

 i forgot them in the surprise of your visit explained monsieur
defarge leave us good boys we have business here 

the three glided by and went silently down 

there appearing to be no other door on that floor and the keeper of
the wine-shop going straight to this one when they were left alone mr 
lorry asked him in a whisper with a little anger 

 do you make a show of monsieur manette 

 i show him in the way you have seen to a chosen few 

 is that well 

 i think it is well 

 who are the few how do you choose them 

 i choose them as real men of my name jacques is my name to whom the
sight is likely to do good enough you are english that is another
thing stay there if you please a little moment 

with an admonitory gesture to keep them back he stooped and looked in
through the crevice in the wall soon raising his head again he struck
twice or thrice upon the door evidently with no other object than to
make a noise there with the same intention he drew the key across it 
three or four times before he put it clumsily into the lock and turned
it as heavily as he could 

the door slowly opened inward under his hand and he looked into the
room and said something a faint voice answered something little more
than a single syllable could have been spoken on either side 

he looked back over his shoulder and beckoned them to enter mr lorry
got his arm securely round the daughter's waist and held her for he
felt that she was sinking 

 a-a-a-business business he urged with a moisture that was not of
business shining on his cheek come in come in 

 i am afraid of it she answered shuddering 

 of it what 

 i mean of him of my father 

rendered in a manner desperate by her state and by the beckoning of
their conductor he drew over his neck the arm that shook upon his
shoulder lifted her a little and hurried her into the room he sat her
down just within the door and held her clinging to him 

defarge drew out the key closed the door locked it on the inside 
took out the key again and held it in his hand all this he did 
methodically and with as loud and harsh an accompaniment of noise as he
could make finally he walked across the room with a measured tread to
where the window was he stopped there and faced round 

the garret built to be a depository for firewood and the like was dim
and dark for the window of dormer shape was in truth a door in the
roof with a little crane over it for the hoisting up of stores from
the street unglazed and closing up the middle in two pieces like any
other door of french construction to exclude the cold one half of this
door was fast closed and the other was opened but a very little way 
such a scanty portion of light was admitted through these means that it
was difficult on first coming in to see anything and long habit
alone could have slowly formed in any one the ability to do any work
requiring nicety in such obscurity yet work of that kind was being
done in the garret for with his back towards the door and his face
towards the window where the keeper of the wine-shop stood looking at
him a white-haired man sat on a low bench stooping forward and very
busy making shoes 




vi the shoemaker


 good day said monsieur defarge looking down at the white head that
bent low over the shoemaking 

it was raised for a moment and a very faint voice responded to the
salutation as if it were at a distance 

 good day 

 you are still hard at work i see 

after a long silence the head was lifted for another moment and the
voice replied yes i am working this time a pair of haggard eyes
had looked at the questioner before the face had dropped again 

the faintness of the voice was pitiable and dreadful it was not the
faintness of physical weakness though confinement and hard fare no
doubt had their part in it its deplorable peculiarity was that it was
the faintness of solitude and disuse it was like the last feeble echo
of a sound made long and long ago so entirely had it lost the life and
resonance of the human voice that it affected the senses like a once
beautiful colour faded away into a poor weak stain so sunken and
suppressed it was that it was like a voice underground so expressive
it was of a hopeless and lost creature that a famished traveller 
wearied out by lonely wandering in a wilderness would have remembered
home and friends in such a tone before lying down to die 

some minutes of silent work had passed and the haggard eyes had looked
up again not with any interest or curiosity but with a dull mechanical
perception beforehand that the spot where the only visitor they were
aware of had stood was not yet empty 

 i want said defarge who had not removed his gaze from the shoemaker 
 to let in a little more light here you can bear a little more 

the shoemaker stopped his work looked with a vacant air of listening 
at the floor on one side of him then similarly at the floor on the
other side of him then upward at the speaker 

 what did you say 

 you can bear a little more light 

 i must bear it if you let it in laying the palest shadow of a
stress upon the second word 

the opened half-door was opened a little further and secured at that
angle for the time a broad ray of light fell into the garret and
showed the workman with an unfinished shoe upon his lap pausing in his
labour his few common tools and various scraps of leather were at his
feet and on his bench he had a white beard raggedly cut but not very
long a hollow face and exceedingly bright eyes the hollowness and
thinness of his face would have caused them to look large under his yet
dark eyebrows and his confused white hair though they had been really
otherwise but they were naturally large and looked unnaturally so 
his yellow rags of shirt lay open at the throat and showed his body
to be withered and worn he and his old canvas frock and his loose
stockings and all his poor tatters of clothes had in a long seclusion
from direct light and air faded down to such a dull uniformity of
parchment-yellow that it would have been hard to say which was which 

he had put up a hand between his eyes and the light and the very bones
of it seemed transparent so he sat with a steadfastly vacant gaze 
pausing in his work he never looked at the figure before him without
first looking down on this side of himself then on that as if he had
lost the habit of associating place with sound he never spoke without
first wandering in this manner and forgetting to speak 

 are you going to finish that pair of shoes to-day asked defarge 
motioning to mr lorry to come forward 

 what did you say 

 do you mean to finish that pair of shoes to-day 

 i can't say that i mean to i suppose so i don't know 

but the question reminded him of his work and he bent over it again 

mr lorry came silently forward leaving the daughter by the door when
he had stood for a minute or two by the side of defarge the shoemaker
looked up he showed no surprise at seeing another figure but the
unsteady fingers of one of his hands strayed to his lips as he looked at
it his lips and his nails were of the same pale lead-colour and then
the hand dropped to his work and he once more bent over the shoe the
look and the action had occupied but an instant 

 you have a visitor you see said monsieur defarge 

 what did you say 

 here is a visitor 

the shoemaker looked up as before but without removing a hand from his
work 

 come said defarge here is monsieur who knows a well-made shoe when
he sees one show him that shoe you are working at take it monsieur 

mr lorry took it in his hand 

 tell monsieur what kind of shoe it is and the maker's name 

there was a longer pause than usual before the shoemaker replied 

 i forget what it was you asked me what did you say 

 i said couldn't you describe the kind of shoe for monsieur's
information 

 it is a lady's shoe it is a young lady's walking-shoe it is in the
present mode i never saw the mode i have had a pattern in my hand he
glanced at the shoe with some little passing touch of pride 

 and the maker's name said defarge 

now that he had no work to hold he laid the knuckles of the right hand
in the hollow of the left and then the knuckles of the left hand in the
hollow of the right and then passed a hand across his bearded chin and
so on in regular changes without a moment's intermission the task of
recalling him from the vagrancy into which he always sank when he
had spoken was like recalling some very weak person from a swoon or
endeavouring in the hope of some disclosure to stay the spirit of a
fast-dying man 

 did you ask me for my name 

 assuredly i did 

 one hundred and five north tower 

 is that all 

 one hundred and five north tower 

with a weary sound that was not a sigh nor a groan he bent to work
again until the silence was again broken 

 you are not a shoemaker by trade said mr lorry looking steadfastly
at him 

his haggard eyes turned to defarge as if he would have transferred the
question to him but as no help came from that quarter they turned back
on the questioner when they had sought the ground 

 i am not a shoemaker by trade no i was not a shoemaker by trade i-i
learnt it here i taught myself i asked leave to 

he lapsed away even for minutes ringing those measured changes on his
hands the whole time his eyes came slowly back at last to the face
from which they had wandered when they rested on it he started and
resumed in the manner of a sleeper that moment awake reverting to a
subject of last night 

 i asked leave to teach myself and i got it with much difficulty after
a long while and i have made shoes ever since 

as he held out his hand for the shoe that had been taken from him mr 
lorry said still looking steadfastly in his face 

 monsieur manette do you remember nothing of me 

the shoe dropped to the ground and he sat looking fixedly at the
questioner 

 monsieur manette mr lorry laid his hand upon defarge's arm do you
remember nothing of this man look at him look at me is there no old
banker no old business no old servant no old time rising in your
mind monsieur manette 

as the captive of many years sat looking fixedly by turns at mr 
lorry and at defarge some long obliterated marks of an actively intent
intelligence in the middle of the forehead gradually forced themselves
through the black mist that had fallen on him they were overclouded
again they were fainter they were gone but they had been there and
so exactly was the expression repeated on the fair young face of her who
had crept along the wall to a point where she could see him and where
she now stood looking at him with hands which at first had been only
raised in frightened compassion if not even to keep him off and
shut out the sight of him but which were now extending towards him 
trembling with eagerness to lay the spectral face upon her warm young
breast and love it back to life and hope so exactly was the expression
repeated though in stronger characters on her fair young face that it
looked as though it had passed like a moving light from him to her 

darkness had fallen on him in its place he looked at the two less and
less attentively and his eyes in gloomy abstraction sought the ground
and looked about him in the old way finally with a deep long sigh he
took the shoe up and resumed his work 

 have you recognised him monsieur asked defarge in a whisper 

 yes for a moment at first i thought it quite hopeless but i have
unquestionably seen for a single moment the face that i once knew so
well hush let us draw further back hush 

she had moved from the wall of the garret very near to the bench on
which he sat there was something awful in his unconsciousness of the
figure that could have put out its hand and touched him as he stooped
over his labour 

not a word was spoken not a sound was made she stood like a spirit 
beside him and he bent over his work 

it happened at length that he had occasion to change the instrument
in his hand for his shoemaker's knife it lay on that side of him
which was not the side on which she stood he had taken it up and was
stooping to work again when his eyes caught the skirt of her dress he
raised them and saw her face the two spectators started forward 
but she stayed them with a motion of her hand she had no fear of his
striking at her with the knife though they had 

he stared at her with a fearful look and after a while his lips began
to form some words though no sound proceeded from them by degrees in
the pauses of his quick and laboured breathing he was heard to say 

 what is this 

with the tears streaming down her face she put her two hands to her
lips and kissed them to him then clasped them on her breast as if she
laid his ruined head there 

 you are not the gaoler's daughter 

she sighed no 

 who are you 

not yet trusting the tones of her voice she sat down on the bench
beside him he recoiled but she laid her hand upon his arm a strange
thrill struck him when she did so and visibly passed over his frame he
laid the knife down softly as he sat staring at her 

her golden hair which she wore in long curls had been hurriedly pushed
aside and fell down over her neck advancing his hand by little and
little he took it up and looked at it in the midst of the action
he went astray and with another deep sigh fell to work at his
shoemaking 

but not for long releasing his arm she laid her hand upon his
shoulder after looking doubtfully at it two or three times as if to
be sure that it was really there he laid down his work put his hand
to his neck and took off a blackened string with a scrap of folded rag
attached to it he opened this carefully on his knee and it contained
a very little quantity of hair not more than one or two long golden
hairs which he had in some old day wound off upon his finger 

he took her hair into his hand again and looked closely at it it is
the same how can it be when was it how was it 

as the concentrated expression returned to his forehead he seemed to
become conscious that it was in hers too he turned her full to the
light and looked at her 

 she had laid her head upon my shoulder that night when i was summoned
out she had a fear of my going though i had none and when i was
brought to the north tower they found these upon my sleeve 'you will
leave me them they can never help me to escape in the body though they
may in the spirit ' those were the words i said i remember them very
well 

he formed this speech with his lips many times before he could utter it 
but when he did find spoken words for it they came to him coherently 
though slowly 

 how was this was it you 

once more the two spectators started as he turned upon her with a
frightful suddenness but she sat perfectly still in his grasp and only
said in a low voice i entreat you good gentlemen do not come near
us do not speak do not move 

 hark he exclaimed whose voice was that 

his hands released her as he uttered this cry and went up to his white
hair which they tore in a frenzy it died out as everything but his
shoemaking did die out of him and he refolded his little packet and
tried to secure it in his breast but he still looked at her and
gloomily shook his head 

 no no no you are too young too blooming it can't be see what the
prisoner is these are not the hands she knew this is not the face
she knew this is not a voice she ever heard no no she was and he
was before the slow years of the north tower ages ago what is your
name my gentle angel 

hailing his softened tone and manner his daughter fell upon her knees
before him with her appealing hands upon his breast 

 o sir at another time you shall know my name and who my mother was 
and who my father and how i never knew their hard hard history but i
cannot tell you at this time and i cannot tell you here all that i may
tell you here and now is that i pray to you to touch me and to bless
me kiss me kiss me o my dear my dear 

his cold white head mingled with her radiant hair which warmed and
lighted it as though it were the light of freedom shining on him 

 if you hear in my voice i don't know that it is so but i hope it
is if you hear in my voice any resemblance to a voice that once was
sweet music in your ears weep for it weep for it if you touch in
touching my hair anything that recalls a beloved head that lay on your
breast when you were young and free weep for it weep for it if when
i hint to you of a home that is before us where i will be true to you
with all my duty and with all my faithful service i bring back the
remembrance of a home long desolate while your poor heart pined away 
weep for it weep for it 

she held him closer round the neck and rocked him on her breast like a
child 

 if when i tell you dearest dear that your agony is over and that i
have come here to take you from it and that we go to england to be at
peace and at rest i cause you to think of your useful life laid waste 
and of our native france so wicked to you weep for it weep for it and
if when i shall tell you of my name and of my father who is living 
and of my mother who is dead you learn that i have to kneel to my
honoured father and implore his pardon for having never for his sake
striven all day and lain awake and wept all night because the love of
my poor mother hid his torture from me weep for it weep for it weep
for her then and for me good gentlemen thank god i feel his sacred
tears upon my face and his sobs strike against my heart o see thank
god for us thank god 

he had sunk in her arms and his face dropped on her breast a sight so
touching yet so terrible in the tremendous wrong and suffering which
had gone before it that the two beholders covered their faces 

when the quiet of the garret had been long undisturbed and his heaving
breast and shaken form had long yielded to the calm that must follow all
storms emblem to humanity of the rest and silence into which the storm
called life must hush at last they came forward to raise the father and
daughter from the ground he had gradually dropped to the floor and lay
there in a lethargy worn out she had nestled down with him that his
head might lie upon her arm and her hair drooping over him curtained
him from the light 

 if without disturbing him she said raising her hand to mr lorry as
he stooped over them after repeated blowings of his nose all could be
arranged for our leaving paris at once so that from the very door he
could be taken away 

 but consider is he fit for the journey asked mr lorry 

 more fit for that i think than to remain in this city so dreadful to
him 

 it is true said defarge who was kneeling to look on and hear more
than that monsieur manette is for all reasons best out of france 
say shall i hire a carriage and post-horses 

 that's business said mr lorry resuming on the shortest notice his
methodical manners and if business is to be done i had better do it 

 then be so kind urged miss manette as to leave us here you see how
composed he has become and you cannot be afraid to leave him with me
now why should you be if you will lock the door to secure us from
interruption i do not doubt that you will find him when you come back 
as quiet as you leave him in any case i will take care of him until
you return and then we will remove him straight 

both mr lorry and defarge were rather disinclined to this course and
in favour of one of them remaining but as there were not only carriage
and horses to be seen to but travelling papers and as time pressed 
for the day was drawing to an end it came at last to their hastily
dividing the business that was necessary to be done and hurrying away
to do it 

then as the darkness closed in the daughter laid her head down on the
hard ground close at the father's side and watched him the darkness
deepened and deepened and they both lay quiet until a light gleamed
through the chinks in the wall 

mr lorry and monsieur defarge had made all ready for the journey and
had brought with them besides travelling cloaks and wrappers bread and
meat wine and hot coffee monsieur defarge put this provender and the
lamp he carried on the shoemaker's bench there was nothing else in the
garret but a pallet bed and he and mr lorry roused the captive and
assisted him to his feet 

no human intelligence could have read the mysteries of his mind in
the scared blank wonder of his face whether he knew what had happened 
whether he recollected what they had said to him whether he knew that
he was free were questions which no sagacity could have solved they
tried speaking to him but he was so confused and so very slow to
answer that they took fright at his bewilderment and agreed for
the time to tamper with him no more he had a wild lost manner of
occasionally clasping his head in his hands that had not been seen
in him before yet he had some pleasure in the mere sound of his
daughter's voice and invariably turned to it when she spoke 

in the submissive way of one long accustomed to obey under coercion he
ate and drank what they gave him to eat and drink and put on the cloak
and other wrappings that they gave him to wear he readily responded to
his daughter's drawing her arm through his and took and kept her hand
in both his own 

they began to descend monsieur defarge going first with the lamp mr 
lorry closing the little procession they had not traversed many steps
of the long main staircase when he stopped and stared at the roof and
round at the walls 

 you remember the place my father you remember coming up here 

 what did you say 

but before she could repeat the question he murmured an answer as if
she had repeated it 

 remember no i don't remember it was so very long ago 

that he had no recollection whatever of his having been brought from his
prison to that house was apparent to them they heard him mutter 
 one hundred and five north tower and when he looked about him it
evidently was for the strong fortress-walls which had long encompassed
him on their reaching the courtyard he instinctively altered his
tread as being in expectation of a drawbridge and when there was
no drawbridge and he saw the carriage waiting in the open street he
dropped his daughter's hand and clasped his head again 

no crowd was about the door no people were discernible at any of the
many windows not even a chance passerby was in the street an unnatural
silence and desertion reigned there only one soul was to be seen and
that was madame defarge who leaned against the door-post knitting and
saw nothing 

the prisoner had got into a coach and his daughter had followed
him when mr lorry's feet were arrested on the step by his asking 
miserably for his shoemaking tools and the unfinished shoes madame
defarge immediately called to her husband that she would get them and
went knitting out of the lamplight through the courtyard she quickly
brought them down and handed them in and immediately afterwards leaned
against the door-post knitting and saw nothing 

defarge got upon the box and gave the word to the barrier the
postilion cracked his whip and they clattered away under the feeble
over-swinging lamps 

under the over-swinging lamps swinging ever brighter in the better
streets and ever dimmer in the worse and by lighted shops gay crowds 
illuminated coffee-houses and theatre-doors to one of the city
gates soldiers with lanterns at the guard-house there your papers 
travellers see here then monsieur the officer said defarge 
getting down and taking him gravely apart these are the papers of
monsieur inside with the white head they were consigned to me with
him at the he dropped his voice there was a flutter among the
military lanterns and one of them being handed into the coach by an arm
in uniform the eyes connected with the arm looked not an every day
or an every night look at monsieur with the white head it is well 
forward from the uniform adieu from defarge and so under a short
grove of feebler and feebler over-swinging lamps out under the great
grove of stars 

beneath that arch of unmoved and eternal lights some so remote from
this little earth that the learned tell us it is doubtful whether their
rays have even yet discovered it as a point in space where anything
is suffered or done the shadows of the night were broad and black 
all through the cold and restless interval until dawn they once more
whispered in the ears of mr jarvis lorry sitting opposite the buried
man who had been dug out and wondering what subtle powers were for ever
lost to him and what were capable of restoration the old inquiry 

 i hope you care to be recalled to life 

and the old answer 

 i can't say 


the end of the first book 





book the second the golden thread




i five years later


tellson's bank by temple bar was an old-fashioned place even in the
year one thousand seven hundred and eighty it was very small very
dark very ugly very incommodious it was an old-fashioned place 
moreover in the moral attribute that the partners in the house were
proud of its smallness proud of its darkness proud of its ugliness 
proud of its incommodiousness they were even boastful of its eminence
in those particulars and were fired by an express conviction that if
it were less objectionable it would be less respectable this was
no passive belief but an active weapon which they flashed at more
convenient places of business tellson's they said wanted
no elbow-room tellson's wanted no light tellson's wanted no
embellishment noakes and co 's might or snooks brothers' might but
tellson's thank heaven 

any one of these partners would have disinherited his son on the
question of rebuilding tellson's in this respect the house was much
on a par with the country which did very often disinherit its sons for
suggesting improvements in laws and customs that had long been highly
objectionable but were only the more respectable 

thus it had come to pass that tellson's was the triumphant perfection
of inconvenience after bursting open a door of idiotic obstinacy with
a weak rattle in its throat you fell into tellson's down two steps 
and came to your senses in a miserable little shop with two little
counters where the oldest of men made your cheque shake as if the
wind rustled it while they examined the signature by the dingiest of
windows which were always under a shower-bath of mud from fleet-street 
and which were made the dingier by their own iron bars proper and the
heavy shadow of temple bar if your business necessitated your seeing
 the house you were put into a species of condemned hold at the back 
where you meditated on a misspent life until the house came with its
hands in its pockets and you could hardly blink at it in the dismal
twilight your money came out of or went into wormy old wooden
drawers particles of which flew up your nose and down your throat when
they were opened and shut your bank-notes had a musty odour as if they
were fast decomposing into rags again your plate was stowed away among
the neighbouring cesspools and evil communications corrupted its good
polish in a day or two your deeds got into extemporised strong-rooms
made of kitchens and sculleries and fretted all the fat out of their
parchments into the banking-house air your lighter boxes of family
papers went up-stairs into a barmecide room that always had a great
dining-table in it and never had a dinner and where even in the year
one thousand seven hundred and eighty the first letters written to you
by your old love or by your little children were but newly released
from the horror of being ogled through the windows by the heads
exposed on temple bar with an insensate brutality and ferocity worthy of
abyssinia or ashantee 

but indeed at that time putting to death was a recipe much in vogue
with all trades and professions and not least of all with tellson's 
death is nature's remedy for all things and why not legislation's 
accordingly the forger was put to death the utterer of a bad note
was put to death the unlawful opener of a letter was put to death the
purloiner of forty shillings and sixpence was put to death the holder
of a horse at tellson's door who made off with it was put to
death the coiner of a bad shilling was put to death the sounders of
three-fourths of the notes in the whole gamut of crime were put to
death not that it did the least good in the way of prevention it
might almost have been worth remarking that the fact was exactly the
reverse but it cleared off as to this world the trouble of each
particular case and left nothing else connected with it to be looked
after thus tellson's in its day like greater places of business 
its contemporaries had taken so many lives that if the heads laid
low before it had been ranged on temple bar instead of being privately
disposed of they would probably have excluded what little light the
ground floor had in a rather significant manner 

cramped in all kinds of dim cupboards and hutches at tellson's the
oldest of men carried on the business gravely when they took a young
man into tellson's london house they hid him somewhere till he was
old they kept him in a dark place like a cheese until he had the full
tellson flavour and blue-mould upon him then only was he permitted to
be seen spectacularly poring over large books and casting his breeches
and gaiters into the general weight of the establishment 

outside tellson's never by any means in it unless called in was an
odd-job-man an occasional porter and messenger who served as the live
sign of the house he was never absent during business hours unless
upon an errand and then he was represented by his son a grisly urchin
of twelve who was his express image people understood that tellson's 
in a stately way tolerated the odd-job-man the house had always
tolerated some person in that capacity and time and tide had drifted
this person to the post his surname was cruncher and on the youthful
occasion of his renouncing by proxy the works of darkness in the
easterly parish church of hounsditch he had received the added
appellation of jerry 

the scene was mr cruncher's private lodging in hanging-sword-alley 
whitefriars the time half-past seven of the clock on a windy march
morning anno domini seventeen hundred and eighty mr cruncher himself
always spoke of the year of our lord as anna dominoes apparently under
the impression that the christian era dated from the invention of a
popular game by a lady who had bestowed her name upon it 

mr cruncher's apartments were not in a savoury neighbourhood and were
but two in number even if a closet with a single pane of glass in it
might be counted as one but they were very decently kept early as
it was on the windy march morning the room in which he lay abed was
already scrubbed throughout and between the cups and saucers arranged
for breakfast and the lumbering deal table a very clean white cloth
was spread 

mr cruncher reposed under a patchwork counterpane like a harlequin
at home at first he slept heavily but by degrees began to roll
and surge in bed until he rose above the surface with his spiky hair
looking as if it must tear the sheets to ribbons at which juncture he
exclaimed in a voice of dire exasperation 

 bust me if she ain't at it agin 

a woman of orderly and industrious appearance rose from her knees in a
corner with sufficient haste and trepidation to show that she was the
person referred to 

 what said mr cruncher looking out of bed for a boot you're at it
agin are you 

after hailing the morn with this second salutation he threw a boot at
the woman as a third it was a very muddy boot and may introduce the
odd circumstance connected with mr cruncher's domestic economy that 
whereas he often came home after banking hours with clean boots he
often got up next morning to find the same boots covered with clay 

 what said mr cruncher varying his apostrophe after missing his
mark what are you up to aggerawayter 

 i was only saying my prayers 

 saying your prayers you're a nice woman what do you mean by flopping
yourself down and praying agin me 

 i was not praying against you i was praying for you 

 you weren't and if you were i won't be took the liberty with here 
your mother's a nice woman young jerry going a praying agin your
father's prosperity you've got a dutiful mother you have my son 
you've got a religious mother you have my boy going and flopping
herself down and praying that the bread-and-butter may be snatched out
of the mouth of her only child 

master cruncher who was in his shirt took this very ill and turning
to his mother strongly deprecated any praying away of his personal
board 

 and what do you suppose you conceited female said mr cruncher with
unconscious inconsistency that the worth of your prayers may be 
name the price that you put your prayers at 

 they only come from the heart jerry they are worth no more than
that 

 worth no more than that repeated mr cruncher they ain't worth
much then whether or no i won't be prayed agin i tell you i can't
afford it i'm not a going to be made unlucky by your sneaking if
you must go flopping yourself down flop in favour of your husband and
child and not in opposition to 'em if i had had any but a unnat'ral
wife and this poor boy had had any but a unnat'ral mother i might
have made some money last week instead of being counter-prayed and
countermined and religiously circumwented into the worst of luck 
b-u-u-ust me said mr cruncher who all this time had been putting
on his clothes if i ain't what with piety and one blowed thing and
another been choused this last week into as bad luck as ever a poor
devil of a honest tradesman met with young jerry dress yourself my
boy and while i clean my boots keep a eye upon your mother now and
then and if you see any signs of more flopping give me a call for i
tell you here he addressed his wife once more i won't be gone agin 
in this manner i am as rickety as a hackney-coach i'm as sleepy as
laudanum my lines is strained to that degree that i shouldn't know if
it wasn't for the pain in 'em which was me and which somebody else yet
i'm none the better for it in pocket and it's my suspicion that you've
been at it from morning to night to prevent me from being the better for
it in pocket and i won't put up with it aggerawayter and what do you
say now 

growling in addition such phrases as ah yes you're religious too 
you wouldn't put yourself in opposition to the interests of your husband
and child would you not you and throwing off other sarcastic sparks
from the whirling grindstone of his indignation mr cruncher betook
himself to his boot-cleaning and his general preparation for business 
in the meantime his son whose head was garnished with tenderer spikes 
and whose young eyes stood close by one another as his father's did 
kept the required watch upon his mother he greatly disturbed that poor
woman at intervals by darting out of his sleeping closet where he made
his toilet with a suppressed cry of you are going to flop mother 
 halloa father and after raising this fictitious alarm darting in
again with an undutiful grin 

mr cruncher's temper was not at all improved when he came to his
breakfast he resented mrs cruncher's saying grace with particular
animosity 

 now aggerawayter what are you up to at it again 

his wife explained that she had merely asked a blessing 

 don't do it said mr crunches looking about as if he rather expected
to see the loaf disappear under the efficacy of his wife's petitions i
ain't a going to be blest out of house and home i won't have my wittles
blest off my table keep still 

exceedingly red-eyed and grim as if he had been up all night at a party
which had taken anything but a convivial turn jerry cruncher worried
his breakfast rather than ate it growling over it like any four-footed
inmate of a menagerie towards nine o'clock he smoothed his ruffled
aspect and presenting as respectable and business-like an exterior as
he could overlay his natural self with issued forth to the occupation
of the day 

it could scarcely be called a trade in spite of his favourite
description of himself as a honest tradesman his stock consisted of
a wooden stool made out of a broken-backed chair cut down which stool 
young jerry walking at his father's side carried every morning to
beneath the banking-house window that was nearest temple bar where 
with the addition of the first handful of straw that could be gleaned
from any passing vehicle to keep the cold and wet from the odd-job-man's
feet it formed the encampment for the day on this post of his mr 
cruncher was as well known to fleet-street and the temple as the bar
itself and was almost as in-looking 

encamped at a quarter before nine in good time to touch his
three-cornered hat to the oldest of men as they passed in to tellson's 
jerry took up his station on this windy march morning with young jerry
standing by him when not engaged in making forays through the bar to
inflict bodily and mental injuries of an acute description on passing
boys who were small enough for his amiable purpose father and son 
extremely like each other looking silently on at the morning traffic
in fleet-street with their two heads as near to one another as the two
eyes of each were bore a considerable resemblance to a pair of monkeys 
the resemblance was not lessened by the accidental circumstance that
the mature jerry bit and spat out straw while the twinkling eyes of the
youthful jerry were as restlessly watchful of him as of everything else
in fleet-street 

the head of one of the regular indoor messengers attached to tellson's
establishment was put through the door and the word was given 

 porter wanted 

 hooray father here's an early job to begin with 

having thus given his parent god speed young jerry seated himself on
the stool entered on his reversionary interest in the straw his father
had been chewing and cogitated 

 al-ways rusty his fingers is al-ways rusty muttered young jerry 
 where does my father get all that iron rust from he don't get no iron
rust here 




ii a sight


 you know the old bailey well no doubt said one of the oldest of
clerks to jerry the messenger 

 ye-es sir returned jerry in something of a dogged manner i do 
know the bailey 

 just so and you know mr lorry 

 i know mr lorry sir much better than i know the bailey much
better said jerry not unlike a reluctant witness at the establishment
in question than i as a honest tradesman wish to know the bailey 

 very well find the door where the witnesses go in and show the
door-keeper this note for mr lorry he will then let you in 

 into the court sir 

 into the court 

mr cruncher's eyes seemed to get a little closer to one another and to
interchange the inquiry what do you think of this 

 am i to wait in the court sir he asked as the result of that
conference 

 i am going to tell you the door-keeper will pass the note to mr 
lorry and do you make any gesture that will attract mr lorry's
attention and show him where you stand then what you have to do is 
to remain there until he wants you 

 is that all sir 

 that's all he wishes to have a messenger at hand this is to tell him
you are there 

as the ancient clerk deliberately folded and superscribed the note 
mr cruncher after surveying him in silence until he came to the
blotting-paper stage remarked 

 i suppose they'll be trying forgeries this morning 

 treason 

 that's quartering said jerry barbarous 

 it is the law remarked the ancient clerk turning his surprised
spectacles upon him it is the law 

 it's hard in the law to spile a man i think it's hard enough to kill
him but it's wery hard to spile him sir 

 not at all retained the ancient clerk speak well of the law take
care of your chest and voice my good friend and leave the law to take
care of itself i give you that advice 

 it's the damp sir what settles on my chest and voice said jerry i
leave you to judge what a damp way of earning a living mine is 

 well well said the old clerk we all have our various ways of
gaining a livelihood some of us have damp ways and some of us have dry
ways here is the letter go along 

jerry took the letter and remarking to himself with less internal
deference than he made an outward show of you are a lean old one 
too made his bow informed his son in passing of his destination 
and went his way 

they hanged at tyburn in those days so the street outside newgate had
not obtained one infamous notoriety that has since attached to it 
but the gaol was a vile place in which most kinds of debauchery and
villainy were practised and where dire diseases were bred that came
into court with the prisoners and sometimes rushed straight from the
dock at my lord chief justice himself and pulled him off the bench it
had more than once happened that the judge in the black cap pronounced
his own doom as certainly as the prisoner's and even died before him 
for the rest the old bailey was famous as a kind of deadly inn-yard 
from which pale travellers set out continually in carts and coaches on
a violent passage into the other world traversing some two miles and a
half of public street and road and shaming few good citizens if any 
so powerful is use and so desirable to be good use in the beginning it
was famous too for the pillory a wise old institution that inflicted
a punishment of which no one could foresee the extent also for
the whipping-post another dear old institution very humanising and
softening to behold in action also for extensive transactions in
blood-money another fragment of ancestral wisdom systematically
leading to the most frightful mercenary crimes that could be committed
under heaven altogether the old bailey at that date was a choice
illustration of the precept that whatever is is right an aphorism
that would be as final as it is lazy did it not include the troublesome
consequence that nothing that ever was was wrong 

making his way through the tainted crowd dispersed up and down this
hideous scene of action with the skill of a man accustomed to make his
way quietly the messenger found out the door he sought and handed in
his letter through a trap in it for people then paid to see the play
at the old bailey just as they paid to see the play in bedlam only the
former entertainment was much the dearer therefore all the old bailey
doors were well guarded except indeed the social doors by which the
criminals got there and those were always left wide open 

after some delay and demur the door grudgingly turned on its hinges a
very little way and allowed mr jerry cruncher to squeeze himself into
court 

 what's on he asked in a whisper of the man he found himself next
to 

 nothing yet 

 what's coming on 

 the treason case 

 the quartering one eh 

 ah returned the man with a relish he'll be drawn on a hurdle to
be half hanged and then he'll be taken down and sliced before his own
face and then his inside will be taken out and burnt while he looks on 
and then his head will be chopped off and he'll be cut into quarters 
that's the sentence 

 if he's found guilty you mean to say jerry added by way of proviso 

 oh they'll find him guilty said the other don't you be afraid of
that 

mr cruncher's attention was here diverted to the door-keeper whom he
saw making his way to mr lorry with the note in his hand mr lorry
sat at a table among the gentlemen in wigs not far from a wigged
gentleman the prisoner's counsel who had a great bundle of papers
before him and nearly opposite another wigged gentleman with his hands
in his pockets whose whole attention when mr cruncher looked at him
then or afterwards seemed to be concentrated on the ceiling of the
court after some gruff coughing and rubbing of his chin and signing
with his hand jerry attracted the notice of mr lorry who had stood up
to look for him and who quietly nodded and sat down again 

 what's he got to do with the case asked the man he had spoken with 

 blest if i know said jerry 

 what have you got to do with it then if a person may inquire 

 blest if i know that either said jerry 

the entrance of the judge and a consequent great stir and settling
down in the court stopped the dialogue presently the dock became the
central point of interest two gaolers who had been standing there 
went out and the prisoner was brought in and put to the bar 

everybody present except the one wigged gentleman who looked at the
ceiling stared at him all the human breath in the place rolled
at him like a sea or a wind or a fire eager faces strained round
pillars and corners to get a sight of him spectators in back rows
stood up not to miss a hair of him people on the floor of the court 
laid their hands on the shoulders of the people before them to help
themselves at anybody's cost to a view of him stood a-tiptoe got
upon ledges stood upon next to nothing to see every inch of him 
conspicuous among these latter like an animated bit of the spiked wall
of newgate jerry stood aiming at the prisoner the beery breath of a
whet he had taken as he came along and discharging it to mingle with
the waves of other beer and gin and tea and coffee and what not 
that flowed at him and already broke upon the great windows behind him
in an impure mist and rain 

the object of all this staring and blaring was a young man of about
five-and-twenty well-grown and well-looking with a sunburnt cheek and
a dark eye his condition was that of a young gentleman he was plainly
dressed in black or very dark grey and his hair which was long and
dark was gathered in a ribbon at the back of his neck more to be out
of his way than for ornament as an emotion of the mind will express
itself through any covering of the body so the paleness which his
situation engendered came through the brown upon his cheek showing the
soul to be stronger than the sun he was otherwise quite self-possessed 
bowed to the judge and stood quiet 

the sort of interest with which this man was stared and breathed at 
was not a sort that elevated humanity had he stood in peril of a less
horrible sentence had there been a chance of any one of its savage
details being spared by just so much would he have lost in his
fascination the form that was to be doomed to be so shamefully mangled 
was the sight the immortal creature that was to be so butchered
and torn asunder yielded the sensation whatever gloss the various
spectators put upon the interest according to their several arts and
powers of self-deceit the interest was at the root of it ogreish 

silence in the court charles darnay had yesterday pleaded not guilty to
an indictment denouncing him with infinite jingle and jangle for that
he was a false traitor to our serene illustrious excellent and so
forth prince our lord the king by reason of his having on divers
occasions and by divers means and ways assisted lewis the french
king in his wars against our said serene illustrious excellent and
so forth that was to say by coming and going between the dominions of
our said serene illustrious excellent and so forth and those of the
said french lewis and wickedly falsely traitorously and otherwise
evil-adverbiously revealing to the said french lewis what forces our
said serene illustrious excellent and so forth had in preparation
to send to canada and north america this much jerry with his head
becoming more and more spiky as the law terms bristled it made out with
huge satisfaction and so arrived circuitously at the understanding that
the aforesaid and over and over again aforesaid charles darnay stood
there before him upon his trial that the jury were swearing in and
that mr attorney-general was making ready to speak 

the accused who was and who knew he was being mentally hanged 
beheaded and quartered by everybody there neither flinched from
the situation nor assumed any theatrical air in it he was quiet and
attentive watched the opening proceedings with a grave interest 
and stood with his hands resting on the slab of wood before him so
composedly that they had not displaced a leaf of the herbs with which
it was strewn the court was all bestrewn with herbs and sprinkled with
vinegar as a precaution against gaol air and gaol fever 

over the prisoner's head there was a mirror to throw the light down
upon him crowds of the wicked and the wretched had been reflected in
it and had passed from its surface and this earth's together haunted
in a most ghastly manner that abominable place would have been if the
glass could ever have rendered back its reflections as the ocean is one
day to give up its dead some passing thought of the infamy and disgrace
for which it had been reserved may have struck the prisoner's mind be
that as it may a change in his position making him conscious of a bar
of light across his face he looked up and when he saw the glass his
face flushed and his right hand pushed the herbs away 

it happened that the action turned his face to that side of the court
which was on his left about on a level with his eyes there sat 
in that corner of the judge's bench two persons upon whom his look
immediately rested so immediately and so much to the changing of his
aspect that all the eyes that were turned upon him turned to them 

the spectators saw in the two figures a young lady of little more than
twenty and a gentleman who was evidently her father a man of a very
remarkable appearance in respect of the absolute whiteness of his hair 
and a certain indescribable intensity of face not of an active kind 
but pondering and self-communing when this expression was upon him he
looked as if he were old but when it was stirred and broken up as
it was now in a moment on his speaking to his daughter he became a
handsome man not past the prime of life 

his daughter had one of her hands drawn through his arm as she sat by
him and the other pressed upon it she had drawn close to him in her
dread of the scene and in her pity for the prisoner her forehead had
been strikingly expressive of an engrossing terror and compassion
that saw nothing but the peril of the accused this had been so very
noticeable so very powerfully and naturally shown that starers who
had had no pity for him were touched by her and the whisper went about 
 who are they 

jerry the messenger who had made his own observations in his own
manner and who had been sucking the rust off his fingers in his
absorption stretched his neck to hear who they were the crowd about
him had pressed and passed the inquiry on to the nearest attendant and
from him it had been more slowly pressed and passed back at last it got
to jerry 

 witnesses 

 for which side 

 against 

 against what side 

 the prisoner's 

the judge whose eyes had gone in the general direction recalled them 
leaned back in his seat and looked steadily at the man whose life was
in his hand as mr attorney-general rose to spin the rope grind the
axe and hammer the nails into the scaffold 




iii a disappointment


mr attorney-general had to inform the jury that the prisoner before
them though young in years was old in the treasonable practices which
claimed the forfeit of his life that this correspondence with the
public enemy was not a correspondence of to-day or of yesterday or
even of last year or of the year before that it was certain the
prisoner had for longer than that been in the habit of passing and
repassing between france and england on secret business of which
he could give no honest account that if it were in the nature of
traitorous ways to thrive which happily it never was the real
wickedness and guilt of his business might have remained undiscovered 
that providence however had put it into the heart of a person who
was beyond fear and beyond reproach to ferret out the nature of the
prisoner's schemes and struck with horror to disclose them to his
majesty's chief secretary of state and most honourable privy council 
that this patriot would be produced before them that his position and
attitude were on the whole sublime that he had been the prisoner's
friend but at once in an auspicious and an evil hour detecting his
infamy had resolved to immolate the traitor he could no longer cherish
in his bosom on the sacred altar of his country that if statues
were decreed in britain as in ancient greece and rome to public
benefactors this shining citizen would assuredly have had one that as
they were not so decreed he probably would not have one that virtue 
as had been observed by the poets in many passages which he well
knew the jury would have word for word at the tips of their tongues 
whereat the jury's countenances displayed a guilty consciousness that
they knew nothing about the passages was in a manner contagious more
especially the bright virtue known as patriotism or love of country 
that the lofty example of this immaculate and unimpeachable witness
for the crown to refer to whom however unworthily was an honour had
communicated itself to the prisoner's servant and had engendered in him
a holy determination to examine his master's table-drawers and pockets 
and secrete his papers that he mr attorney-general was prepared to
hear some disparagement attempted of this admirable servant but that 
in a general way he preferred him to his mr attorney-general's 
brothers and sisters and honoured him more than his mr 
attorney-general's father and mother that he called with confidence
on the jury to come and do likewise that the evidence of these two
witnesses coupled with the documents of their discovering that would be
produced would show the prisoner to have been furnished with lists of
his majesty's forces and of their disposition and preparation both by
sea and land and would leave no doubt that he had habitually conveyed
such information to a hostile power that these lists could not be
proved to be in the prisoner's handwriting but that it was all the
same that indeed it was rather the better for the prosecution as
showing the prisoner to be artful in his precautions that the proof
would go back five years and would show the prisoner already engaged
in these pernicious missions within a few weeks before the date of the
very first action fought between the british troops and the americans 
that for these reasons the jury being a loyal jury as he knew they
were and being a responsible jury as they knew they were must
positively find the prisoner guilty and make an end of him whether
they liked it or not that they never could lay their heads upon their
pillows that they never could tolerate the idea of their wives laying
their heads upon their pillows that they never could endure the notion
of their children laying their heads upon their pillows in short that
there never more could be for them or theirs any laying of heads upon
pillows at all unless the prisoner's head was taken off that head
mr attorney-general concluded by demanding of them in the name of
everything he could think of with a round turn in it and on the faith
of his solemn asseveration that he already considered the prisoner as
good as dead and gone 

when the attorney-general ceased a buzz arose in the court as if
a cloud of great blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner in
anticipation of what he was soon to become when toned down again the
unimpeachable patriot appeared in the witness-box 

mr solicitor-general then following his leader's lead examined the
patriot john barsad gentleman by name the story of his pure soul was
exactly what mr attorney-general had described it to be perhaps if
it had a fault a little too exactly having released his noble bosom
of its burden he would have modestly withdrawn himself but that the
wigged gentleman with the papers before him sitting not far from mr 
lorry begged to ask him a few questions the wigged gentleman sitting
opposite still looking at the ceiling of the court 

had he ever been a spy himself no he scorned the base insinuation 
what did he live upon his property where was his property he didn't
precisely remember where it was what was it no business of anybody's 
had he inherited it yes he had from whom distant relation very
distant rather ever been in prison certainly not never in a debtors'
prison didn't see what that had to do with it never in a debtors'
prison come once again never yes how many times two or three
times not five or six perhaps of what profession gentleman ever
been kicked might have been frequently no ever kicked downstairs 
decidedly not once received a kick on the top of a staircase and fell
downstairs of his own accord kicked on that occasion for cheating at
dice something to that effect was said by the intoxicated liar who
committed the assault but it was not true swear it was not true 
positively ever live by cheating at play never ever live by play not
more than other gentlemen do ever borrow money of the prisoner yes 
ever pay him no was not this intimacy with the prisoner in reality a
very slight one forced upon the prisoner in coaches inns and packets 
no sure he saw the prisoner with these lists certain knew no more
about the lists no had not procured them himself for instance no 
expect to get anything by this evidence no not in regular government
pay and employment to lay traps oh dear no or to do anything oh dear
no swear that over and over again no motives but motives of sheer
patriotism none whatever 

the virtuous servant roger cly swore his way through the case at a
great rate he had taken service with the prisoner in good faith and
simplicity four years ago he had asked the prisoner aboard the calais
packet if he wanted a handy fellow and the prisoner had engaged him 
he had not asked the prisoner to take the handy fellow as an act of
charity never thought of such a thing he began to have suspicions of
the prisoner and to keep an eye upon him soon afterwards in arranging
his clothes while travelling he had seen similar lists to these in the
prisoner's pockets over and over again he had taken these lists from
the drawer of the prisoner's desk he had not put them there first he
had seen the prisoner show these identical lists to french gentlemen
at calais and similar lists to french gentlemen both at calais and
boulogne he loved his country and couldn't bear it and had given
information he had never been suspected of stealing a silver tea-pot 
he had been maligned respecting a mustard-pot but it turned out to be
only a plated one he had known the last witness seven or eight years 
that was merely a coincidence he didn't call it a particularly curious
coincidence most coincidences were curious neither did he call it a
curious coincidence that true patriotism was his only motive too he
was a true briton and hoped there were many like him 

the blue-flies buzzed again and mr attorney-general called mr jarvis
lorry 

 mr jarvis lorry are you a clerk in tellson's bank 

 i am 

 on a certain friday night in november one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five did business occasion you to travel between london and
dover by the mail 

 it did 

 were there any other passengers in the mail 

 two 

 did they alight on the road in the course of the night 

 they did 

 mr lorry look upon the prisoner was he one of those two passengers 

 i cannot undertake to say that he was 

 does he resemble either of these two passengers 

 both were so wrapped up and the night was so dark and we were all so
reserved that i cannot undertake to say even that 

 mr lorry look again upon the prisoner supposing him wrapped up as
those two passengers were is there anything in his bulk and stature to
render it unlikely that he was one of them 

 no 

 you will not swear mr lorry that he was not one of them 

 no 

 so at least you say he may have been one of them 

 yes except that i remember them both to have been like
myself timorous of highwaymen and the prisoner has not a timorous
air 

 did you ever see a counterfeit of timidity mr lorry 

 i certainly have seen that 

 mr lorry look once more upon the prisoner have you seen him to your
certain knowledge before 

 i have 

 when 

 i was returning from france a few days afterwards and at calais the
prisoner came on board the packet-ship in which i returned and made the
voyage with me 

 at what hour did he come on board 

 at a little after midnight 

 in the dead of the night was he the only passenger who came on board
at that untimely hour 

 he happened to be the only one 

 never mind about 'happening ' mr lorry he was the only passenger who
came on board in the dead of the night 

 he was 

 were you travelling alone mr lorry or with any companion 

 with two companions a gentleman and lady they are here 

 they are here had you any conversation with the prisoner 

 hardly any the weather was stormy and the passage long and rough and
i lay on a sofa almost from shore to shore 

 miss manette 

the young lady to whom all eyes had been turned before and were now
turned again stood up where she had sat her father rose with her and
kept her hand drawn through his arm 

 miss manette look upon the prisoner 

to be confronted with such pity and such earnest youth and beauty was
far more trying to the accused than to be confronted with all the crowd 
standing as it were apart with her on the edge of his grave not all
the staring curiosity that looked on could for the moment nerve him
to remain quite still his hurried right hand parcelled out the herbs
before him into imaginary beds of flowers in a garden and his efforts
to control and steady his breathing shook the lips from which the colour
rushed to his heart the buzz of the great flies was loud again 

 miss manette have you seen the prisoner before 

 yes sir 

 where 

 on board of the packet-ship just now referred to sir and on the same
occasion 

 you are the young lady just now referred to 

 o most unhappily i am 

the plaintive tone of her compassion merged into the less musical voice
of the judge as he said something fiercely answer the questions put
to you and make no remark upon them 

 miss manette had you any conversation with the prisoner on that
passage across the channel 

 yes sir 

 recall it 

in the midst of a profound stillness she faintly began when the
gentleman came on board 

 do you mean the prisoner inquired the judge knitting his brows 

 yes my lord 

 then say the prisoner 

 when the prisoner came on board he noticed that my father turning
her eyes lovingly to him as he stood beside her was much fatigued
and in a very weak state of health my father was so reduced that i was
afraid to take him out of the air and i had made a bed for him on the
deck near the cabin steps and i sat on the deck at his side to take
care of him there were no other passengers that night but we four 
the prisoner was so good as to beg permission to advise me how i could
shelter my father from the wind and weather better than i had done i
had not known how to do it well not understanding how the wind would
set when we were out of the harbour he did it for me he expressed
great gentleness and kindness for my father's state and i am sure he
felt it that was the manner of our beginning to speak together 

 let me interrupt you for a moment had he come on board alone 

 no 

 how many were with him 

 two french gentlemen 

 had they conferred together 

 they had conferred together until the last moment when it was
necessary for the french gentlemen to be landed in their boat 

 had any papers been handed about among them similar to these lists 

 some papers had been handed about among them but i don't know what
papers 

 like these in shape and size 

 possibly but indeed i don't know although they stood whispering very
near to me because they stood at the top of the cabin steps to have the
light of the lamp that was hanging there it was a dull lamp and they
spoke very low and i did not hear what they said and saw only that
they looked at papers 

 now to the prisoner's conversation miss manette 

 the prisoner was as open in his confidence with me which arose out
of my helpless situation as he was kind and good and useful to my
father i hope bursting into tears i may not repay him by doing him
harm to-day 

buzzing from the blue-flies 

 miss manette if the prisoner does not perfectly understand that
you give the evidence which it is your duty to give which you must
give and which you cannot escape from giving with great unwillingness 
he is the only person present in that condition please to go on 

 he told me that he was travelling on business of a delicate and
difficult nature which might get people into trouble and that he was
therefore travelling under an assumed name he said that this business
had within a few days taken him to france and might at intervals 
take him backwards and forwards between france and england for a long
time to come 

 did he say anything about america miss manette be particular 

 he tried to explain to me how that quarrel had arisen and he said
that so far as he could judge it was a wrong and foolish one on
england's part he added in a jesting way that perhaps george
washington might gain almost as great a name in history as george the
third but there was no harm in his way of saying this it was said
laughingly and to beguile the time 

any strongly marked expression of face on the part of a chief actor in
a scene of great interest to whom many eyes are directed will be
unconsciously imitated by the spectators her forehead was painfully
anxious and intent as she gave this evidence and in the pauses when
she stopped for the judge to write it down watched its effect upon
the counsel for and against among the lookers-on there was the same
expression in all quarters of the court insomuch that a great majority
of the foreheads there might have been mirrors reflecting the witness 
when the judge looked up from his notes to glare at that tremendous
heresy about george washington 

mr attorney-general now signified to my lord that he deemed it
necessary as a matter of precaution and form to call the young lady's
father doctor manette who was called accordingly 

 doctor manette look upon the prisoner have you ever seen him before 

 once when he called at my lodgings in london some three years or
three years and a half ago 

 can you identify him as your fellow-passenger on board the packet or
speak to his conversation with your daughter 

 sir i can do neither 

 is there any particular and special reason for your being unable to do
either 

he answered in a low voice there is 

 has it been your misfortune to undergo a long imprisonment without
trial or even accusation in your native country doctor manette 

he answered in a tone that went to every heart a long imprisonment 

 were you newly released on the occasion in question 

 they tell me so 

 have you no remembrance of the occasion 

 none my mind is a blank from some time i cannot even say what
time when i employed myself in my captivity in making shoes to the
time when i found myself living in london with my dear daughter
here she had become familiar to me when a gracious god restored
my faculties but i am quite unable even to say how she had become
familiar i have no remembrance of the process 

mr attorney-general sat down and the father and daughter sat down
together 

a singular circumstance then arose in the case the object in hand being
to show that the prisoner went down with some fellow-plotter untracked 
in the dover mail on that friday night in november five years ago and
got out of the mail in the night as a blind at a place where he did
not remain but from which he travelled back some dozen miles or more 
to a garrison and dockyard and there collected information a witness
was called to identify him as having been at the precise time required 
in the coffee-room of an hotel in that garrison-and-dockyard town 
waiting for another person the prisoner's counsel was cross-examining
this witness with no result except that he had never seen the prisoner
on any other occasion when the wigged gentleman who had all this time
been looking at the ceiling of the court wrote a word or two on a
little piece of paper screwed it up and tossed it to him opening
this piece of paper in the next pause the counsel looked with great
attention and curiosity at the prisoner 

 you say again you are quite sure that it was the prisoner 

the witness was quite sure 

 did you ever see anybody very like the prisoner 

not so like the witness said as that he could be mistaken 

 look well upon that gentleman my learned friend there pointing
to him who had tossed the paper over and then look well upon the
prisoner how say you are they very like each other 

allowing for my learned friend's appearance being careless and slovenly
if not debauched they were sufficiently like each other to surprise 
not only the witness but everybody present when they were thus brought
into comparison my lord being prayed to bid my learned friend lay aside
his wig and giving no very gracious consent the likeness became
much more remarkable my lord inquired of mr stryver the prisoner's
counsel whether they were next to try mr carton name of my learned
friend for treason but mr stryver replied to my lord no but he
would ask the witness to tell him whether what happened once might
happen twice whether he would have been so confident if he had seen
this illustration of his rashness sooner whether he would be so
confident having seen it and more the upshot of which was to smash
this witness like a crockery vessel and shiver his part of the case to
useless lumber 

mr cruncher had by this time taken quite a lunch of rust off his
fingers in his following of the evidence he had now to attend while mr 
stryver fitted the prisoner's case on the jury like a compact suit
of clothes showing them how the patriot barsad was a hired spy and
traitor an unblushing trafficker in blood and one of the greatest
scoundrels upon earth since accursed judas which he certainly did look
rather like how the virtuous servant cly was his friend and partner 
and was worthy to be how the watchful eyes of those forgers and false
swearers had rested on the prisoner as a victim because some family
affairs in france he being of french extraction did require his making
those passages across the channel though what those affairs were a
consideration for others who were near and dear to him forbade him 
even for his life to disclose how the evidence that had been warped
and wrested from the young lady whose anguish in giving it they
had witnessed came to nothing involving the mere little innocent
gallantries and politenesses likely to pass between any young gentleman
and young lady so thrown together with the exception of that
reference to george washington which was altogether too extravagant and
impossible to be regarded in any other light than as a monstrous joke 
how it would be a weakness in the government to break down in this
attempt to practise for popularity on the lowest national antipathies
and fears and therefore mr attorney-general had made the most of it 
how nevertheless it rested upon nothing save that vile and infamous
character of evidence too often disfiguring such cases and of which the
state trials of this country were full but there my lord interposed
 with as grave a face as if it had not been true saying that he could
not sit upon that bench and suffer those allusions 

mr stryver then called his few witnesses and mr cruncher had next to
attend while mr attorney-general turned the whole suit of clothes mr 
stryver had fitted on the jury inside out showing how barsad and
cly were even a hundred times better than he had thought them and the
prisoner a hundred times worse lastly came my lord himself turning
the suit of clothes now inside out now outside in but on the whole
decidedly trimming and shaping them into grave-clothes for the prisoner 

and now the jury turned to consider and the great flies swarmed again 

mr carton who had so long sat looking at the ceiling of the court 
changed neither his place nor his attitude even in this excitement 
while his learned friend mr stryver massing his papers before him 
whispered with those who sat near and from time to time glanced
anxiously at the jury while all the spectators moved more or less and
grouped themselves anew while even my lord himself arose from his seat 
and slowly paced up and down his platform not unattended by a suspicion
in the minds of the audience that his state was feverish this one man
sat leaning back with his torn gown half off him his untidy wig put
on just as it had happened to light on his head after its removal his
hands in his pockets and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all
day something especially reckless in his demeanour not only gave him
a disreputable look but so diminished the strong resemblance he
undoubtedly bore to the prisoner which his momentary earnestness 
when they were compared together had strengthened that many of the
lookers-on taking note of him now said to one another they would
hardly have thought the two were so alike mr cruncher made the
observation to his next neighbour and added i'd hold half a guinea
that he don't get no law-work to do don't look like the sort of one
to get any do he 

yet this mr carton took in more of the details of the scene than he
appeared to take in for now when miss manette's head dropped upon
her father's breast he was the first to see it and to say audibly 
 officer look to that young lady help the gentleman to take her out 
don't you see she will fall 

there was much commiseration for her as she was removed and much
sympathy with her father it had evidently been a great distress to
him to have the days of his imprisonment recalled he had shown
strong internal agitation when he was questioned and that pondering or
brooding look which made him old had been upon him like a heavy cloud 
ever since as he passed out the jury who had turned back and paused a
moment spoke through their foreman 

they were not agreed and wished to retire my lord perhaps with george
washington on his mind showed some surprise that they were not agreed 
but signified his pleasure that they should retire under watch and ward 
and retired himself the trial had lasted all day and the lamps in
the court were now being lighted it began to be rumoured that the
jury would be out a long while the spectators dropped off to get
refreshment and the prisoner withdrew to the back of the dock and sat
down 

mr lorry who had gone out when the young lady and her father went out 
now reappeared and beckoned to jerry who in the slackened interest 
could easily get near him 

 jerry if you wish to take something to eat you can but keep in the
way you will be sure to hear when the jury come in don't be a moment
behind them for i want you to take the verdict back to the bank you
are the quickest messenger i know and will get to temple bar long
before i can 

jerry had just enough forehead to knuckle and he knuckled it in
acknowledgment of this communication and a shilling mr carton came up
at the moment and touched mr lorry on the arm 

 how is the young lady 

 she is greatly distressed but her father is comforting her and she
feels the better for being out of court 

 i'll tell the prisoner so it won't do for a respectable bank gentleman
like you to be seen speaking to him publicly you know 

mr lorry reddened as if he were conscious of having debated the point
in his mind and mr carton made his way to the outside of the bar 
the way out of court lay in that direction and jerry followed him all
eyes ears and spikes 

 mr darnay 

the prisoner came forward directly 

 you will naturally be anxious to hear of the witness miss manette she
will do very well you have seen the worst of her agitation 

 i am deeply sorry to have been the cause of it could you tell her so
for me with my fervent acknowledgments 

 yes i could i will if you ask it 

mr carton's manner was so careless as to be almost insolent he stood 
half turned from the prisoner lounging with his elbow against the bar 

 i do ask it accept my cordial thanks 

 what said carton still only half turned towards him do you expect 
mr darnay 

 the worst 

 it's the wisest thing to expect and the likeliest but i think their
withdrawing is in your favour 

loitering on the way out of court not being allowed jerry heard no
more but left them so like each other in feature so unlike each other
in manner standing side by side both reflected in the glass above
them 

an hour and a half limped heavily away in the thief-and-rascal crowded
passages below even though assisted off with mutton pies and ale 
the hoarse messenger uncomfortably seated on a form after taking that
refection had dropped into a doze when a loud murmur and a rapid tide
of people setting up the stairs that led to the court carried him along
with them 

 jerry jerry mr lorry was already calling at the door when he got
there 

 here sir it's a fight to get back again here i am sir 

mr lorry handed him a paper through the throng quick have you got
it 

 yes sir 

hastily written on the paper was the word acquitted 

 if you had sent the message 'recalled to life ' again muttered
jerry as he turned i should have known what you meant this time 

he had no opportunity of saying or so much as thinking anything else 
until he was clear of the old bailey for the crowd came pouring out
with a vehemence that nearly took him off his legs and a loud buzz
swept into the street as if the baffled blue-flies were dispersing in
search of other carrion 




iv congratulatory


from the dimly-lighted passages of the court the last sediment of the
human stew that had been boiling there all day was straining off when
doctor manette lucie manette his daughter mr lorry the solicitor
for the defence and its counsel mr stryver stood gathered round mr 
charles darnay just released congratulating him on his escape from
death 

it would have been difficult by a far brighter light to recognise
in doctor manette intellectual of face and upright of bearing the
shoemaker of the garret in paris yet no one could have looked at him
twice without looking again even though the opportunity of observation
had not extended to the mournful cadence of his low grave voice and
to the abstraction that overclouded him fitfully without any apparent
reason while one external cause and that a reference to his long
lingering agony would always as on the trial evoke this condition
from the depths of his soul it was also in its nature to arise of
itself and to draw a gloom over him as incomprehensible to those
unacquainted with his story as if they had seen the shadow of the actual
bastille thrown upon him by a summer sun when the substance was three
hundred miles away 

only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from
his mind she was the golden thread that united him to a past beyond his
misery and to a present beyond his misery and the sound of her voice 
the light of her face the touch of her hand had a strong beneficial
influence with him almost always not absolutely always for she could
recall some occasions on which her power had failed but they were few
and slight and she believed them over 

mr darnay had kissed her hand fervently and gratefully and had turned
to mr stryver whom he warmly thanked mr stryver a man of little
more than thirty but looking twenty years older than he was stout 
loud red bluff and free from any drawback of delicacy had a pushing
way of shouldering himself morally and physically into companies and
conversations that argued well for his shouldering his way up in life 

he still had his wig and gown on and he said squaring himself at his
late client to that degree that he squeezed the innocent mr lorry clean
out of the group i am glad to have brought you off with honour mr 
darnay it was an infamous prosecution grossly infamous but not the
less likely to succeed on that account 

 you have laid me under an obligation to you for life in two senses 
 said his late client taking his hand 

 i have done my best for you mr darnay and my best is as good as
another man's i believe 

it clearly being incumbent on some one to say much better mr lorry
said it perhaps not quite disinterestedly but with the interested
object of squeezing himself back again 

 you think so said mr stryver well you have been present all day 
and you ought to know you are a man of business too 

 and as such quoth mr lorry whom the counsel learned in the law had
now shouldered back into the group just as he had previously shouldered
him out of it as such i will appeal to doctor manette to break up
this conference and order us all to our homes miss lucie looks ill mr 
darnay has had a terrible day we are worn out 

 speak for yourself mr lorry said stryver i have a night's work to
do yet speak for yourself 

 i speak for myself answered mr lorry and for mr darnay and for
miss lucie and miss lucie do you not think i may speak for us all 
 he asked her the question pointedly and with a glance at her father 

his face had become frozen as it were in a very curious look at
darnay an intent look deepening into a frown of dislike and distrust 
not even unmixed with fear with this strange expression on him his
thoughts had wandered away 

 my father said lucie softly laying her hand on his 

he slowly shook the shadow off and turned to her 

 shall we go home my father 

with a long breath he answered yes 

the friends of the acquitted prisoner had dispersed under the
impression which he himself had originated that he would not be
released that night the lights were nearly all extinguished in the
passages the iron gates were being closed with a jar and a rattle 
and the dismal place was deserted until to-morrow morning's interest of
gallows pillory whipping-post and branding-iron should repeople it 
walking between her father and mr darnay lucie manette passed into
the open air a hackney-coach was called and the father and daughter
departed in it 

mr stryver had left them in the passages to shoulder his way back
to the robing-room another person who had not joined the group or
interchanged a word with any one of them but who had been leaning
against the wall where its shadow was darkest had silently strolled
out after the rest and had looked on until the coach drove away he now
stepped up to where mr lorry and mr darnay stood upon the pavement 

 so mr lorry men of business may speak to mr darnay now 

nobody had made any acknowledgment of mr carton's part in the day's
proceedings nobody had known of it he was unrobed and was none the
better for it in appearance 

 if you knew what a conflict goes on in the business mind when the
business mind is divided between good-natured impulse and business
appearances you would be amused mr darnay 

mr lorry reddened and said warmly you have mentioned that before 
sir we men of business who serve a house are not our own masters we
have to think of the house more than ourselves 

 i know i know rejoined mr carton carelessly don't be
nettled mr lorry you are as good as another i have no doubt better 
i dare say 

 and indeed sir pursued mr lorry not minding him i really don't
know what you have to do with the matter if you'll excuse me as very
much your elder for saying so i really don't know that it is your
business 

 business bless you i have no business said mr carton 

 it is a pity you have not sir 

 i think so too 

 if you had pursued mr lorry perhaps you would attend to it 

 lord love you no i shouldn't said mr carton 

 well sir cried mr lorry thoroughly heated by his indifference 
 business is a very good thing and a very respectable thing and sir 
if business imposes its restraints and its silences and impediments mr 
darnay as a young gentleman of generosity knows how to make allowance
for that circumstance mr darnay good night god bless you sir 
i hope you have been this day preserved for a prosperous and happy
life chair there 

perhaps a little angry with himself as well as with the barrister mr 
lorry bustled into the chair and was carried off to tellson's carton 
who smelt of port wine and did not appear to be quite sober laughed
then and turned to darnay 

 this is a strange chance that throws you and me together this must
be a strange night to you standing alone here with your counterpart on
these street stones 

 i hardly seem yet returned charles darnay to belong to this world
again 

 i don't wonder at it it's not so long since you were pretty far
advanced on your way to another you speak faintly 

 i begin to think i am faint 

 then why the devil don't you dine i dined myself while those
numskulls were deliberating which world you should belong to this or
some other let me show you the nearest tavern to dine well at 

drawing his arm through his own he took him down ludgate-hill to
fleet-street and so up a covered way into a tavern here they were
shown into a little room where charles darnay was soon recruiting
his strength with a good plain dinner and good wine while carton sat
opposite to him at the same table with his separate bottle of port
before him and his fully half-insolent manner upon him 

 do you feel yet that you belong to this terrestrial scheme again mr 
darnay 

 i am frightfully confused regarding time and place but i am so far
mended as to feel that 

 it must be an immense satisfaction 

he said it bitterly and filled up his glass again which was a large
one 

 as to me the greatest desire i have is to forget that i belong to it 
it has no good in it for me except wine like this nor i for it so we
are not much alike in that particular indeed i begin to think we are
not much alike in any particular you and i 

confused by the emotion of the day and feeling his being there with
this double of coarse deportment to be like a dream charles darnay was
at a loss how to answer finally answered not at all 

 now your dinner is done carton presently said why don't you call a
health mr darnay why don't you give your toast 

 what health what toast 

 why it's on the tip of your tongue it ought to be it must be i'll
swear it's there 

 miss manette then 

 miss manette then 

looking his companion full in the face while he drank the toast carton
flung his glass over his shoulder against the wall where it shivered to
pieces then rang the bell and ordered in another 

 that's a fair young lady to hand to a coach in the dark mr darnay 
 he said filling his new goblet 

a slight frown and a laconic yes were the answer 

 that's a fair young lady to be pitied by and wept for by how does it
feel is it worth being tried for one's life to be the object of such
sympathy and compassion mr darnay 

again darnay answered not a word 

 she was mightily pleased to have your message when i gave it her not
that she showed she was pleased but i suppose she was 

the allusion served as a timely reminder to darnay that this
disagreeable companion had of his own free will assisted him in the
strait of the day he turned the dialogue to that point and thanked him
for it 

 i neither want any thanks nor merit any was the careless rejoinder 
 it was nothing to do in the first place and i don't know why i did
it in the second mr darnay let me ask you a question 

 willingly and a small return for your good offices 

 do you think i particularly like you 

 really mr carton returned the other oddly disconcerted i have
not asked myself the question 

 but ask yourself the question now 

 you have acted as if you do but i don't think you do 

 i don't think i do said carton i begin to have a very good
opinion of your understanding 

 nevertheless pursued darnay rising to ring the bell there is
nothing in that i hope to prevent my calling the reckoning and our
parting without ill-blood on either side 

carton rejoining nothing in life darnay rang do you call the whole
reckoning said carton on his answering in the affirmative then
bring me another pint of this same wine drawer and come and wake me at
ten 

the bill being paid charles darnay rose and wished him good night 
without returning the wish carton rose too with something of a threat
of defiance in his manner and said a last word mr darnay you think
i am drunk 

 i think you have been drinking mr carton 

 think you know i have been drinking 

 since i must say so i know it 

 then you shall likewise know why i am a disappointed drudge sir i
care for no man on earth and no man on earth cares for me 

 much to be regretted you might have used your talents better 

 may be so mr darnay may be not don't let your sober face elate you 
however you don't know what it may come to good night 

when he was left alone this strange being took up a candle went to a
glass that hung against the wall and surveyed himself minutely in it 

 do you particularly like the man he muttered at his own image why
should you particularly like a man who resembles you there is nothing
in you to like you know that ah confound you what a change you have
made in yourself a good reason for taking to a man that he shows you
what you have fallen away from and what you might have been change
places with him and would you have been looked at by those blue eyes as
he was and commiserated by that agitated face as he was come on and
have it out in plain words you hate the fellow 

he resorted to his pint of wine for consolation drank it all in a few
minutes and fell asleep on his arms with his hair straggling over the
table and a long winding-sheet in the candle dripping down upon him 




v the jackal


those were drinking days and most men drank hard so very great is
the improvement time has brought about in such habits that a moderate
statement of the quantity of wine and punch which one man would swallow
in the course of a night without any detriment to his reputation as a
perfect gentleman would seem in these days a ridiculous exaggeration 
the learned profession of the law was certainly not behind any other
learned profession in its bacchanalian propensities neither was mr 
stryver already fast shouldering his way to a large and lucrative
practice behind his compeers in this particular any more than in the
drier parts of the legal race 

a favourite at the old bailey and eke at the sessions mr stryver had
begun cautiously to hew away the lower staves of the ladder on which
he mounted sessions and old bailey had now to summon their favourite 
specially to their longing arms and shouldering itself towards the
visage of the lord chief justice in the court of king's bench the
florid countenance of mr stryver might be daily seen bursting out of
the bed of wigs like a great sunflower pushing its way at the sun from
among a rank garden-full of flaring companions 

it had once been noted at the bar that while mr stryver was a glib
man and an unscrupulous and a ready and a bold he had not that
faculty of extracting the essence from a heap of statements which is
among the most striking and necessary of the advocate's accomplishments 
but a remarkable improvement came upon him as to this the more
business he got the greater his power seemed to grow of getting at its
pith and marrow and however late at night he sat carousing with sydney
carton he always had his points at his fingers' ends in the morning 

sydney carton idlest and most unpromising of men was stryver's great
ally what the two drank together between hilary term and michaelmas 
might have floated a king's ship stryver never had a case in hand 
anywhere but carton was there with his hands in his pockets staring
at the ceiling of the court they went the same circuit and even there
they prolonged their usual orgies late into the night and carton was
rumoured to be seen at broad day going home stealthily and unsteadily
to his lodgings like a dissipated cat at last it began to get about 
among such as were interested in the matter that although sydney carton
would never be a lion he was an amazingly good jackal and that he
rendered suit and service to stryver in that humble capacity 

 ten o'clock sir said the man at the tavern whom he had charged to
wake him ten o'clock sir 

 what's the matter 

 ten o'clock sir 

 what do you mean ten o'clock at night 

 yes sir your honour told me to call you 

 oh i remember very well very well 

after a few dull efforts to get to sleep again which the man
dexterously combated by stirring the fire continuously for five minutes 
he got up tossed his hat on and walked out he turned into the temple 
and having revived himself by twice pacing the pavements of king's
bench-walk and paper-buildings turned into the stryver chambers 

the stryver clerk who never assisted at these conferences had gone
home and the stryver principal opened the door he had his slippers on 
and a loose bed-gown and his throat was bare for his greater ease he
had that rather wild strained seared marking about the eyes which
may be observed in all free livers of his class from the portrait of
jeffries downward and which can be traced under various disguises of
art through the portraits of every drinking age 

 you are a little late memory said stryver 

 about the usual time it may be a quarter of an hour later 

they went into a dingy room lined with books and littered with papers 
where there was a blazing fire a kettle steamed upon the hob and in
the midst of the wreck of papers a table shone with plenty of wine upon
it and brandy and rum and sugar and lemons 

 you have had your bottle i perceive sydney 

 two to-night i think i have been dining with the day's client or
seeing him dine it's all one 

 that was a rare point sydney that you brought to bear upon the
identification how did you come by it when did it strike you 

 i thought he was rather a handsome fellow and i thought i should have
been much the same sort of fellow if i had had any luck 

mr stryver laughed till he shook his precocious paunch 

 you and your luck sydney get to work get to work 

sullenly enough the jackal loosened his dress went into an adjoining
room and came back with a large jug of cold water a basin and a towel
or two steeping the towels in the water and partially wringing them
out he folded them on his head in a manner hideous to behold sat down
at the table and said now i am ready 

 not much boiling down to be done to-night memory said mr stryver 
gaily as he looked among his papers 

 how much 

 only two sets of them 

 give me the worst first 

 there they are sydney fire away 

the lion then composed himself on his back on a sofa on one side of the
drinking-table while the jackal sat at his own paper-bestrewn table
proper on the other side of it with the bottles and glasses ready to
his hand both resorted to the drinking-table without stint but each in
a different way the lion for the most part reclining with his hands in
his waistband looking at the fire or occasionally flirting with some
lighter document the jackal with knitted brows and intent face 
so deep in his task that his eyes did not even follow the hand he
stretched out for his glass which often groped about for a minute or
more before it found the glass for his lips two or three times the
matter in hand became so knotty that the jackal found it imperative on
him to get up and steep his towels anew from these pilgrimages to the
jug and basin he returned with such eccentricities of damp headgear as
no words can describe which were made the more ludicrous by his anxious
gravity 

at length the jackal had got together a compact repast for the lion and
proceeded to offer it to him the lion took it with care and caution 
made his selections from it and his remarks upon it and the jackal
assisted both when the repast was fully discussed the lion put his
hands in his waistband again and lay down to meditate the jackal then
invigorated himself with a bumper for his throttle and a fresh application
to his head and applied himself to the collection of a second meal 
this was administered to the lion in the same manner and was not
disposed of until the clocks struck three in the morning 

 and now we have done sydney fill a bumper of punch said mr 
stryver 

the jackal removed the towels from his head which had been steaming
again shook himself yawned shivered and complied 

 you were very sound sydney in the matter of those crown witnesses
to-day every question told 

 i always am sound am i not 

 i don't gainsay it what has roughened your temper put some punch to
it and smooth it again 

with a deprecatory grunt the jackal again complied 

 the old sydney carton of old shrewsbury school said stryver nodding
his head over him as he reviewed him in the present and the past the
old seesaw sydney up one minute and down the next now in spirits and
now in despondency 

 ah returned the other sighing yes the same sydney with the same
luck even then i did exercises for other boys and seldom did my own 

 and why not 

 god knows it was my way i suppose 

he sat with his hands in his pockets and his legs stretched out before
him looking at the fire 

 carton said his friend squaring himself at him with a bullying air 
as if the fire-grate had been the furnace in which sustained endeavour
was forged and the one delicate thing to be done for the old sydney
carton of old shrewsbury school was to shoulder him into it your way
is and always was a lame way you summon no energy and purpose look
at me 

 oh botheration returned sydney with a lighter and more
good-humoured laugh don't you be moral 

 how have i done what i have done said stryver how do i do what i
do 

 partly through paying me to help you i suppose but it's not worth
your while to apostrophise me or the air about it what you want to
do you do you were always in the front rank and i was always behind 

 i had to get into the front rank i was not born there was i 

 i was not present at the ceremony but my opinion is you were said
carton at this he laughed again and they both laughed 

 before shrewsbury and at shrewsbury and ever since shrewsbury 
 pursued carton you have fallen into your rank and i have fallen into
mine even when we were fellow-students in the student-quarter of paris 
picking up french and french law and other french crumbs that we
didn't get much good of you were always somewhere and i was always
nowhere 

 and whose fault was that 

 upon my soul i am not sure that it was not yours you were always
driving and riving and shouldering and passing to that restless degree
that i had no chance for my life but in rust and repose it's a gloomy
thing however to talk about one's own past with the day breaking 
turn me in some other direction before i go 

 well then pledge me to the pretty witness said stryver holding up
his glass are you turned in a pleasant direction 

apparently not for he became gloomy again 

 pretty witness he muttered looking down into his glass i have had
enough of witnesses to-day and to-night who's your pretty witness 

 the picturesque doctor's daughter miss manette 

 she pretty 

 is she not 

 no 

 why man alive she was the admiration of the whole court 

 rot the admiration of the whole court who made the old bailey a judge
of beauty she was a golden-haired doll 

 do you know sydney said mr stryver looking at him with sharp eyes 
and slowly drawing a hand across his florid face do you know i rather
thought at the time that you sympathised with the golden-haired doll 
and were quick to see what happened to the golden-haired doll 

 quick to see what happened if a girl doll or no doll swoons within a
yard or two of a man's nose he can see it without a perspective-glass 
i pledge you but i deny the beauty and now i'll have no more drink 
i'll get to bed 

when his host followed him out on the staircase with a candle to light
him down the stairs the day was coldly looking in through its grimy
windows when he got out of the house the air was cold and sad the
dull sky overcast the river dark and dim the whole scene like a
lifeless desert and wreaths of dust were spinning round and round
before the morning blast as if the desert-sand had risen far away and
the first spray of it in its advance had begun to overwhelm the city 

waste forces within him and a desert all around this man stood still
on his way across a silent terrace and saw for a moment lying in the
wilderness before him a mirage of honourable ambition self-denial and
perseverance in the fair city of this vision there were airy galleries
from which the loves and graces looked upon him gardens in which the
fruits of life hung ripening waters of hope that sparkled in his sight 
a moment and it was gone climbing to a high chamber in a well of
houses he threw himself down in his clothes on a neglected bed and its
pillow was wet with wasted tears 

sadly sadly the sun rose it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of
good abilities and good emotions incapable of their directed exercise 
incapable of his own help and his own happiness sensible of the blight
on him and resigning himself to let it eat him away 




vi hundreds of people


the quiet lodgings of doctor manette were in a quiet street-corner not
far from soho-square on the afternoon of a certain fine sunday when the
waves of four months had rolled over the trial for treason and carried
it as to the public interest and memory far out to sea mr jarvis
lorry walked along the sunny streets from clerkenwell where he lived 
on his way to dine with the doctor after several relapses into
business-absorption mr lorry had become the doctor's friend and the
quiet street-corner was the sunny part of his life 

on this certain fine sunday mr lorry walked towards soho early in
the afternoon for three reasons of habit firstly because on fine
sundays he often walked out before dinner with the doctor and lucie 
secondly because on unfavourable sundays he was accustomed to be with
them as the family friend talking reading looking out of window and
generally getting through the day thirdly because he happened to have
his own little shrewd doubts to solve and knew how the ways of the
doctor's household pointed to that time as a likely time for solving
them 

a quainter corner than the corner where the doctor lived was not to be
found in london there was no way through it and the front windows of
the doctor's lodgings commanded a pleasant little vista of street that
had a congenial air of retirement on it there were few buildings then 
north of the oxford-road and forest-trees flourished and wild flowers
grew and the hawthorn blossomed in the now vanished fields as a
consequence country airs circulated in soho with vigorous freedom 
instead of languishing into the parish like stray paupers without a
settlement and there was many a good south wall not far off on which
the peaches ripened in their season 

the summer light struck into the corner brilliantly in the earlier part
of the day but when the streets grew hot the corner was in shadow 
though not in shadow so remote but that you could see beyond it into a
glare of brightness it was a cool spot staid but cheerful a wonderful
place for echoes and a very harbour from the raging streets 

there ought to have been a tranquil bark in such an anchorage and
there was the doctor occupied two floors of a large stiff house where
several callings purported to be pursued by day but whereof little was
audible any day and which was shunned by all of them at night in
a building at the back attainable by a courtyard where a plane-tree
rustled its green leaves church-organs claimed to be made and silver
to be chased and likewise gold to be beaten by some mysterious giant
who had a golden arm starting out of the wall of the front hall as if
he had beaten himself precious and menaced a similar conversion of all
visitors very little of these trades or of a lonely lodger rumoured
to live up-stairs or of a dim coach-trimming maker asserted to have
a counting-house below was ever heard or seen occasionally a stray
workman putting his coat on traversed the hall or a stranger peered
about there or a distant clink was heard across the courtyard or a
thump from the golden giant these however were only the exceptions
required to prove the rule that the sparrows in the plane-tree behind
the house and the echoes in the corner before it had their own way
from sunday morning unto saturday night 

doctor manette received such patients here as his old reputation and
its revival in the floating whispers of his story brought him 
his scientific knowledge and his vigilance and skill in conducting
ingenious experiments brought him otherwise into moderate request and
he earned as much as he wanted 

these things were within mr jarvis lorry's knowledge thoughts and
notice when he rang the door-bell of the tranquil house in the corner 
on the fine sunday afternoon 

 doctor manette at home 

expected home 

 miss lucie at home 

expected home 

 miss pross at home 

possibly at home but of a certainty impossible for handmaid to
anticipate intentions of miss pross as to admission or denial of the
fact 

 as i am at home myself said mr lorry i'll go upstairs 

although the doctor's daughter had known nothing of the country of her
birth she appeared to have innately derived from it that ability to
make much of little means which is one of its most useful and most
agreeable characteristics simple as the furniture was it was set off
by so many little adornments of no value but for their taste and fancy 
that its effect was delightful the disposition of everything in the
rooms from the largest object to the least the arrangement of colours 
the elegant variety and contrast obtained by thrift in trifles by
delicate hands clear eyes and good sense were at once so pleasant in
themselves and so expressive of their originator that as mr lorry
stood looking about him the very chairs and tables seemed to ask him 
with something of that peculiar expression which he knew so well by this
time whether he approved 

there were three rooms on a floor and the doors by which they
communicated being put open that the air might pass freely through them
all mr lorry smilingly observant of that fanciful resemblance which
he detected all around him walked from one to another the first was
the best room and in it were lucie's birds and flowers and books 
and desk and work-table and box of water-colours the second was
the doctor's consulting-room used also as the dining-room the third 
changingly speckled by the rustle of the plane-tree in the yard was the
doctor's bedroom and there in a corner stood the disused shoemaker's
bench and tray of tools much as it had stood on the fifth floor of the
dismal house by the wine-shop in the suburb of saint antoine in paris 

 i wonder said mr lorry pausing in his looking about that he keeps
that reminder of his sufferings about him 

 and why wonder at that was the abrupt inquiry that made him start 

it proceeded from miss pross the wild red woman strong of hand whose
acquaintance he had first made at the royal george hotel at dover and
had since improved 

 i should have thought mr lorry began 

 pooh you'd have thought said miss pross and mr lorry left off 

 how do you do inquired that lady then sharply and yet as if to
express that she bore him no malice 

 i am pretty well i thank you answered mr lorry with meekness how
are you 

 nothing to boast of said miss pross 

 indeed 

 ah indeed said miss pross i am very much put out about my
ladybird 

 indeed 

 for gracious sake say something else besides 'indeed ' or you'll
fidget me to death said miss pross whose character dissociated from
stature was shortness 

 really then said mr lorry as an amendment 

 really is bad enough returned miss pross but better yes i am
very much put out 

 may i ask the cause 

 i don't want dozens of people who are not at all worthy of ladybird to
come here looking after her said miss pross 

 do dozens come for that purpose 

 hundreds said miss pross 

it was characteristic of this lady as of some other people before her
time and since that whenever her original proposition was questioned 
she exaggerated it 

 dear me said mr lorry as the safest remark he could think of 

 i have lived with the darling or the darling has lived with me and
paid me for it which she certainly should never have done you may take
your affidavit if i could have afforded to keep either myself or her
for nothing since she was ten years old and it's really very hard 
 said miss pross 

not seeing with precision what was very hard mr lorry shook his head 
using that important part of himself as a sort of fairy cloak that would
fit anything 

 all sorts of people who are not in the least degree worthy of the pet 
are always turning up said miss pross when you began it 

 i began it miss pross 

 didn't you who brought her father to life 

 oh if that was beginning it said mr lorry 

 it wasn't ending it i suppose i say when you began it it was hard
enough not that i have any fault to find with doctor manette except
that he is not worthy of such a daughter which is no imputation on
him for it was not to be expected that anybody should be under any
circumstances but it really is doubly and trebly hard to have crowds
and multitudes of people turning up after him i could have forgiven
him to take ladybird's affections away from me 

mr lorry knew miss pross to be very jealous but he also knew her by
this time to be beneath the service of her eccentricity one of those
unselfish creatures found only among women who will for pure love and
admiration bind themselves willing slaves to youth when they have lost
it to beauty that they never had to accomplishments that they were
never fortunate enough to gain to bright hopes that never shone upon
their own sombre lives he knew enough of the world to know that there
is nothing in it better than the faithful service of the heart so
rendered and so free from any mercenary taint he had such an exalted
respect for it that in the retributive arrangements made by his own
mind we all make such arrangements more or less he stationed miss
pross much nearer to the lower angels than many ladies immeasurably
better got up both by nature and art who had balances at tellson's 

 there never was nor will be but one man worthy of ladybird said
miss pross and that was my brother solomon if he hadn't made a
mistake in life 

here again mr lorry's inquiries into miss pross's personal history had
established the fact that her brother solomon was a heartless scoundrel
who had stripped her of everything she possessed as a stake to
speculate with and had abandoned her in her poverty for evermore with
no touch of compunction miss pross's fidelity of belief in solomon
 deducting a mere trifle for this slight mistake was quite a serious
matter with mr lorry and had its weight in his good opinion of her 

 as we happen to be alone for the moment and are both people of
business he said when they had got back to the drawing-room and had
sat down there in friendly relations let me ask you does the doctor 
in talking with lucie never refer to the shoemaking time yet 

 never 

 and yet keeps that bench and those tools beside him 

 ah returned miss pross shaking her head but i don't say he don't
refer to it within himself 

 do you believe that he thinks of it much 

 i do said miss pross 

 do you imagine mr lorry had begun when miss pross took him up
short with 

 never imagine anything have no imagination at all 

 i stand corrected do you suppose you go so far as to suppose 
sometimes 

 now and then said miss pross 

 do you suppose mr lorry went on with a laughing twinkle in his
bright eye as it looked kindly at her that doctor manette has any
theory of his own preserved through all those years relative to
the cause of his being so oppressed perhaps even to the name of his
oppressor 

 i don't suppose anything about it but what ladybird tells me 

 and that is 

 that she thinks he has 

 now don't be angry at my asking all these questions because i am a
mere dull man of business and you are a woman of business 

 dull miss pross inquired with placidity 

rather wishing his modest adjective away mr lorry replied no no 
no surely not to return to business is it not remarkable that doctor
manette unquestionably innocent of any crime as we are all well assured
he is should never touch upon that question i will not say with me 
though he had business relations with me many years ago and we are now
intimate i will say with the fair daughter to whom he is so devotedly
attached and who is so devotedly attached to him believe me miss
pross i don't approach the topic with you out of curiosity but out of
zealous interest 

 well to the best of my understanding and bad's the best you'll tell
me said miss pross softened by the tone of the apology he is afraid
of the whole subject 

 afraid 

 it's plain enough i should think why he may be it's a dreadful
remembrance besides that his loss of himself grew out of it not
knowing how he lost himself or how he recovered himself he may never
feel certain of not losing himself again that alone wouldn't make the
subject pleasant i should think 

it was a profounder remark than mr lorry had looked for true said
he and fearful to reflect upon yet a doubt lurks in my mind miss
pross whether it is good for doctor manette to have that suppression
always shut up within him indeed it is this doubt and the uneasiness
it sometimes causes me that has led me to our present confidence 

 can't be helped said miss pross shaking her head touch that
string and he instantly changes for the worse better leave it alone 
in short must leave it alone like or no like sometimes he gets up in
the dead of the night and will be heard by us overhead there walking
up and down walking up and down in his room ladybird has learnt to
know then that his mind is walking up and down walking up and down in
his old prison she hurries to him and they go on together walking up
and down walking up and down until he is composed but he never says
a word of the true reason of his restlessness to her and she finds it
best not to hint at it to him in silence they go walking up and down
together walking up and down together till her love and company have
brought him to himself 

notwithstanding miss pross's denial of her own imagination there was a
perception of the pain of being monotonously haunted by one sad idea 
in her repetition of the phrase walking up and down which testified to
her possessing such a thing 

the corner has been mentioned as a wonderful corner for echoes it
had begun to echo so resoundingly to the tread of coming feet that it
seemed as though the very mention of that weary pacing to and fro had
set it going 

 here they are said miss pross rising to break up the conference 
 and now we shall have hundreds of people pretty soon 

it was such a curious corner in its acoustical properties such a
peculiar ear of a place that as mr lorry stood at the open window 
looking for the father and daughter whose steps he heard he fancied
they would never approach not only would the echoes die away as though
the steps had gone but echoes of other steps that never came would be
heard in their stead and would die away for good when they seemed close
at hand however father and daughter did at last appear and miss pross
was ready at the street door to receive them 

miss pross was a pleasant sight albeit wild and red and grim taking
off her darling's bonnet when she came up-stairs and touching it up
with the ends of her handkerchief and blowing the dust off it and
folding her mantle ready for laying by and smoothing her rich hair with
as much pride as she could possibly have taken in her own hair if she
had been the vainest and handsomest of women her darling was a pleasant
sight too embracing her and thanking her and protesting against
her taking so much trouble for her which last she only dared to do
playfully or miss pross sorely hurt would have retired to her own
chamber and cried the doctor was a pleasant sight too looking on at
them and telling miss pross how she spoilt lucie in accents and with
eyes that had as much spoiling in them as miss pross had and would
have had more if it were possible mr lorry was a pleasant sight too 
beaming at all this in his little wig and thanking his bachelor
stars for having lighted him in his declining years to a home but no
hundreds of people came to see the sights and mr lorry looked in vain
for the fulfilment of miss pross's prediction 

dinner-time and still no hundreds of people in the arrangements of
the little household miss pross took charge of the lower regions and
always acquitted herself marvellously her dinners of a very modest
quality were so well cooked and so well served and so neat in their
contrivances half english and half french that nothing could be
better miss pross's friendship being of the thoroughly practical
kind she had ravaged soho and the adjacent provinces in search of
impoverished french who tempted by shillings and half-crowns would
impart culinary mysteries to her from these decayed sons and daughters
of gaul she had acquired such wonderful arts that the woman and girl
who formed the staff of domestics regarded her as quite a sorceress 
or cinderella's godmother who would send out for a fowl a rabbit 
a vegetable or two from the garden and change them into anything she
pleased 

on sundays miss pross dined at the doctor's table but on other days
persisted in taking her meals at unknown periods either in the lower
regions or in her own room on the second floor a blue chamber to
which no one but her ladybird ever gained admittance on this occasion 
miss pross responding to ladybird's pleasant face and pleasant efforts
to please her unbent exceedingly so the dinner was very pleasant too 

it was an oppressive day and after dinner lucie proposed that the
wine should be carried out under the plane-tree and they should sit
there in the air as everything turned upon her and revolved about her 
they went out under the plane-tree and she carried the wine down for
the special benefit of mr lorry she had installed herself some
time before as mr lorry's cup-bearer and while they sat under the
plane-tree talking she kept his glass replenished mysterious backs
and ends of houses peeped at them as they talked and the plane-tree
whispered to them in its own way above their heads 

still the hundreds of people did not present themselves mr darnay
presented himself while they were sitting under the plane-tree but he
was only one 

doctor manette received him kindly and so did lucie but miss pross
suddenly became afflicted with a twitching in the head and body and
retired into the house she was not unfrequently the victim of this
disorder and she called it in familiar conversation a fit of the
jerks 

the doctor was in his best condition and looked specially young the
resemblance between him and lucie was very strong at such times and as
they sat side by side she leaning on his shoulder and he resting
his arm on the back of her chair it was very agreeable to trace the
likeness 

he had been talking all day on many subjects and with unusual
vivacity pray doctor manette said mr darnay as they sat under the
plane-tree and he said it in the natural pursuit of the topic in hand 
which happened to be the old buildings of london have you seen much of
the tower 

 lucie and i have been there but only casually we have seen enough of
it to know that it teems with interest little more 

 i have been there as you remember said darnay with a smile 
though reddening a little angrily in another character and not in a
character that gives facilities for seeing much of it they told me a
curious thing when i was there 

 what was that lucie asked 

 in making some alterations the workmen came upon an old dungeon which
had been for many years built up and forgotten every stone of
its inner wall was covered by inscriptions which had been carved by
prisoners dates names complaints and prayers upon a corner stone
in an angle of the wall one prisoner who seemed to have gone to
execution had cut as his last work three letters they were done with
some very poor instrument and hurriedly with an unsteady hand 
at first they were read as d i c but on being more carefully
examined the last letter was found to be g there was no record or
legend of any prisoner with those initials and many fruitless guesses
were made what the name could have been at length it was suggested
that the letters were not initials but the complete word dig the
floor was examined very carefully under the inscription and in the
earth beneath a stone or tile or some fragment of paving were found
the ashes of a paper mingled with the ashes of a small leathern case
or bag what the unknown prisoner had written will never be read but he
had written something and hidden it away to keep it from the gaoler 

 my father exclaimed lucie you are ill 

he had suddenly started up with his hand to his head his manner and
his look quite terrified them all 

 no my dear not ill there are large drops of rain falling and they
made me start we had better go in 

he recovered himself almost instantly rain was really falling in large
drops and he showed the back of his hand with rain-drops on it but he
said not a single word in reference to the discovery that had been told
of and as they went into the house the business eye of mr lorry
either detected or fancied it detected on his face as it turned
towards charles darnay the same singular look that had been upon it
when it turned towards him in the passages of the court house 

he recovered himself so quickly however that mr lorry had doubts of
his business eye the arm of the golden giant in the hall was not more
steady than he was when he stopped under it to remark to them that he
was not yet proof against slight surprises if he ever would be and
that the rain had startled him 

tea-time and miss pross making tea with another fit of the jerks upon
her and yet no hundreds of people mr carton had lounged in but he
made only two 

the night was so very sultry that although they sat with doors and
windows open they were overpowered by heat when the tea-table was
done with they all moved to one of the windows and looked out into the
heavy twilight lucie sat by her father darnay sat beside her carton
leaned against a window the curtains were long and white and some of
the thunder-gusts that whirled into the corner caught them up to the
ceiling and waved them like spectral wings 

 the rain-drops are still falling large heavy and few said doctor
manette it comes slowly 

 it comes surely said carton 

they spoke low as people watching and waiting mostly do as people in a
dark room watching and waiting for lightning always do 

there was a great hurry in the streets of people speeding away to
get shelter before the storm broke the wonderful corner for echoes
resounded with the echoes of footsteps coming and going yet not a
footstep was there 

 a multitude of people and yet a solitude said darnay when they had
listened for a while 

 is it not impressive mr darnay asked lucie sometimes i have
sat here of an evening until i have fancied but even the shade of
a foolish fancy makes me shudder to-night when all is so black and
solemn 

 let us shudder too we may know what it is 

 it will seem nothing to you such whims are only impressive as we
originate them i think they are not to be communicated i have
sometimes sat alone here of an evening listening until i have made
the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming
by-and-bye into our lives 

 there is a great crowd coming one day into our lives if that be so 
 sydney carton struck in in his moody way 

the footsteps were incessant and the hurry of them became more and more
rapid the corner echoed and re-echoed with the tread of feet some 
as it seemed under the windows some as it seemed in the room some
coming some going some breaking off some stopping altogether all in
the distant streets and not one within sight 

 are all these footsteps destined to come to all of us miss manette or
are we to divide them among us 

 i don't know mr darnay i told you it was a foolish fancy but you
asked for it when i have yielded myself to it i have been alone and
then i have imagined them the footsteps of the people who are to come
into my life and my father's 

 i take them into mine said carton i ask no questions and make no
stipulations there is a great crowd bearing down upon us miss manette 
and i see them by the lightning he added the last words after there
had been a vivid flash which had shown him lounging in the window 

 and i hear them he added again after a peal of thunder here they
come fast fierce and furious 

it was the rush and roar of rain that he typified and it stopped him 
for no voice could be heard in it a memorable storm of thunder and
lightning broke with that sweep of water and there was not a moment's
interval in crash and fire and rain until after the moon rose at
midnight 

the great bell of saint paul's was striking one in the cleared air when
mr lorry escorted by jerry high-booted and bearing a lantern set
forth on his return-passage to clerkenwell there were solitary patches
of road on the way between soho and clerkenwell and mr lorry mindful
of foot-pads always retained jerry for this service though it was
usually performed a good two hours earlier 

 what a night it has been almost a night jerry said mr lorry to
bring the dead out of their graves 

 i never see the night myself master nor yet i don't expect to what
would do that answered jerry 

 good night mr carton said the man of business good night mr 
darnay shall we ever see such a night again together 

perhaps perhaps see the great crowd of people with its rush and roar 
bearing down upon them too 




vii monseigneur in town


monseigneur one of the great lords in power at the court held his
fortnightly reception in his grand hotel in paris monseigneur was in
his inner room his sanctuary of sanctuaries the holiest of holiests to
the crowd of worshippers in the suite of rooms without monseigneur
was about to take his chocolate monseigneur could swallow a great many
things with ease and was by some few sullen minds supposed to be rather
rapidly swallowing france but his morning's chocolate could not so
much as get into the throat of monseigneur without the aid of four
strong men besides the cook 

yes it took four men all four ablaze with gorgeous decoration and the
chief of them unable to exist with fewer than two gold watches in his
pocket emulative of the noble and chaste fashion set by monseigneur to
conduct the happy chocolate to monseigneur's lips one lacquey carried
the chocolate-pot into the sacred presence a second milled and frothed
the chocolate with the little instrument he bore for that function 
a third presented the favoured napkin a fourth he of the two gold
watches poured the chocolate out it was impossible for monseigneur to
dispense with one of these attendants on the chocolate and hold his high
place under the admiring heavens deep would have been the blot upon
his escutcheon if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three
men he must have died of two 

monseigneur had been out at a little supper last night where the comedy
and the grand opera were charmingly represented monseigneur was out at
a little supper most nights with fascinating company so polite and so
impressible was monseigneur that the comedy and the grand opera had far
more influence with him in the tiresome articles of state affairs and
state secrets than the needs of all france a happy circumstance
for france as the like always is for all countries similarly
favoured always was for england by way of example in the regretted
days of the merry stuart who sold it 

monseigneur had one truly noble idea of general public business which
was to let everything go on in its own way of particular public
business monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that it must all go
his way tend to his own power and pocket of his pleasures general and
particular monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that the world
was made for them the text of his order altered from the original
by only a pronoun which is not much ran the earth and the fulness
thereof are mine saith monseigneur 

yet monseigneur had slowly found that vulgar embarrassments crept into
his affairs both private and public and he had as to both classes of
affairs allied himself perforce with a farmer-general as to finances
public because monseigneur could not make anything at all of them and
must consequently let them out to somebody who could as to finances
private because farmer-generals were rich and monseigneur after
generations of great luxury and expense was growing poor hence
monseigneur had taken his sister from a convent while there was yet
time to ward off the impending veil the cheapest garment she could
wear and had bestowed her as a prize upon a very rich farmer-general 
poor in family which farmer-general carrying an appropriate cane with
a golden apple on the top of it was now among the company in the outer
rooms much prostrated before by mankind always excepting superior
mankind of the blood of monseigneur who his own wife included looked
down upon him with the loftiest contempt 

a sumptuous man was the farmer-general thirty horses stood in his
stables twenty-four male domestics sat in his halls six body-women
waited on his wife as one who pretended to do nothing but plunder and
forage where he could the farmer-general howsoever his matrimonial
relations conduced to social morality was at least the greatest reality
among the personages who attended at the hotel of monseigneur that day 

for the rooms though a beautiful scene to look at and adorned with
every device of decoration that the taste and skill of the time could
achieve were in truth not a sound business considered with any
reference to the scarecrows in the rags and nightcaps elsewhere and not
so far off either but that the watching towers of notre dame almost
equidistant from the two extremes could see them both they would
have been an exceedingly uncomfortable business if that could have
been anybody's business at the house of monseigneur military officers
destitute of military knowledge naval officers with no idea of a ship 
civil officers without a notion of affairs brazen ecclesiastics of the
worst world worldly with sensual eyes loose tongues and looser lives 
all totally unfit for their several callings all lying horribly in
pretending to belong to them but all nearly or remotely of the order of
monseigneur and therefore foisted on all public employments from which
anything was to be got these were to be told off by the score and the
score people not immediately connected with monseigneur or the state 
yet equally unconnected with anything that was real or with lives
passed in travelling by any straight road to any true earthly end were
no less abundant doctors who made great fortunes out of dainty remedies
for imaginary disorders that never existed smiled upon their courtly
patients in the ante-chambers of monseigneur projectors who had
discovered every kind of remedy for the little evils with which the
state was touched except the remedy of setting to work in earnest to
root out a single sin poured their distracting babble into any ears
they could lay hold of at the reception of monseigneur unbelieving
philosophers who were remodelling the world with words and making
card-towers of babel to scale the skies with talked with unbelieving
chemists who had an eye on the transmutation of metals at this
wonderful gathering accumulated by monseigneur exquisite gentlemen of
the finest breeding which was at that remarkable time and has been
since to be known by its fruits of indifference to every natural
subject of human interest were in the most exemplary state of
exhaustion at the hotel of monseigneur such homes had these various
notabilities left behind them in the fine world of paris that the spies
among the assembled devotees of monseigneur forming a goodly half
of the polite company would have found it hard to discover among
the angels of that sphere one solitary wife who in her manners and
appearance owned to being a mother indeed except for the mere act of
bringing a troublesome creature into this world which does not go far
towards the realisation of the name of mother there was no such thing
known to the fashion peasant women kept the unfashionable babies close 
and brought them up and charming grandmammas of sixty dressed and
supped as at twenty 

the leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance
upon monseigneur in the outermost room were half a dozen exceptional
people who had had for a few years some vague misgiving in them that
things in general were going rather wrong as a promising way of setting
them right half of the half-dozen had become members of a fantastic
sect of convulsionists and were even then considering within themselves
whether they should foam rage roar and turn cataleptic on the
spot thereby setting up a highly intelligible finger-post to the
future for monseigneur's guidance besides these dervishes were other
three who had rushed into another sect which mended matters with a
jargon about the centre of truth holding that man had got out of the
centre of truth which did not need much demonstration but had not got
out of the circumference and that he was to be kept from flying out of
the circumference and was even to be shoved back into the centre 
by fasting and seeing of spirits among these accordingly much
discoursing with spirits went on and it did a world of good which never
became manifest 

but the comfort was that all the company at the grand hotel of
monseigneur were perfectly dressed if the day of judgment had only been
ascertained to be a dress day everybody there would have been eternally
correct such frizzling and powdering and sticking up of hair such
delicate complexions artificially preserved and mended such gallant
swords to look at and such delicate honour to the sense of smell would
surely keep anything going for ever and ever the exquisite gentlemen
of the finest breeding wore little pendent trinkets that chinked as they
languidly moved these golden fetters rang like precious little bells 
and what with that ringing and with the rustle of silk and brocade and
fine linen there was a flutter in the air that fanned saint antoine and
his devouring hunger far away 

dress was the one unfailing talisman and charm used for keeping all
things in their places everybody was dressed for a fancy ball that
was never to leave off from the palace of the tuileries through
monseigneur and the whole court through the chambers the tribunals
of justice and all society except the scarecrows the fancy ball
descended to the common executioner who in pursuance of the charm was
required to officiate frizzled powdered in a gold-laced coat pumps 
and white silk stockings at the gallows and the wheel the axe was a
rarity monsieur paris as it was the episcopal mode among his brother
professors of the provinces monsieur orleans and the rest to call
him presided in this dainty dress and who among the company at
monseigneur's reception in that seventeen hundred and eightieth year
of our lord could possibly doubt that a system rooted in a frizzled
hangman powdered gold-laced pumped and white-silk stockinged would
see the very stars out 

monseigneur having eased his four men of their burdens and taken his
chocolate caused the doors of the holiest of holiests to be thrown
open and issued forth then what submission what cringing and
fawning what servility what abject humiliation as to bowing down in
body and spirit nothing in that way was left for heaven which may have
been one among other reasons why the worshippers of monseigneur never
troubled it 

bestowing a word of promise here and a smile there a whisper on one
happy slave and a wave of the hand on another monseigneur affably
passed through his rooms to the remote region of the circumference of
truth there monseigneur turned and came back again and so in due
course of time got himself shut up in his sanctuary by the chocolate
sprites and was seen no more 

the show being over the flutter in the air became quite a little storm 
and the precious little bells went ringing downstairs there was soon
but one person left of all the crowd and he with his hat under his arm
and his snuff-box in his hand slowly passed among the mirrors on his
way out 

 i devote you said this person stopping at the last door on his way 
and turning in the direction of the sanctuary to the devil 

with that he shook the snuff from his fingers as if he had shaken the
dust from his feet and quietly walked downstairs 

he was a man of about sixty handsomely dressed haughty in manner and
with a face like a fine mask a face of a transparent paleness every
feature in it clearly defined one set expression on it the nose 
beautifully formed otherwise was very slightly pinched at the top
of each nostril in those two compressions or dints the only little
change that the face ever showed resided they persisted in changing
colour sometimes and they would be occasionally dilated and contracted
by something like a faint pulsation then they gave a look of
treachery and cruelty to the whole countenance examined with
attention its capacity of helping such a look was to be found in the
line of the mouth and the lines of the orbits of the eyes being much
too horizontal and thin still in the effect of the face made it was a
handsome face and a remarkable one 

its owner went downstairs into the courtyard got into his carriage and
drove away not many people had talked with him at the reception he had
stood in a little space apart and monseigneur might have been warmer
in his manner it appeared under the circumstances rather agreeable
to him to see the common people dispersed before his horses and
often barely escaping from being run down his man drove as if he were
charging an enemy and the furious recklessness of the man brought no
check into the face or to the lips of the master the complaint had
sometimes made itself audible even in that deaf city and dumb age 
that in the narrow streets without footways the fierce patrician
custom of hard driving endangered and maimed the mere vulgar in a
barbarous manner but few cared enough for that to think of it a second
time and in this matter as in all others the common wretches were
left to get out of their difficulties as they could 

with a wild rattle and clatter and an inhuman abandonment of
consideration not easy to be understood in these days the carriage
dashed through streets and swept round corners with women screaming
before it and men clutching each other and clutching children out of
its way at last swooping at a street corner by a fountain one of its
wheels came to a sickening little jolt and there was a loud cry from a
number of voices and the horses reared and plunged 

but for the latter inconvenience the carriage probably would not have
stopped carriages were often known to drive on and leave their wounded
behind and why not but the frightened valet had got down in a hurry 
and there were twenty hands at the horses' bridles 

 what has gone wrong said monsieur calmly looking out 

a tall man in a nightcap had caught up a bundle from among the feet of
the horses and had laid it on the basement of the fountain and was
down in the mud and wet howling over it like a wild animal 

 pardon monsieur the marquis said a ragged and submissive man it is
a child 

 why does he make that abominable noise is it his child 

 excuse me monsieur the marquis it is a pity yes 

the fountain was a little removed for the street opened where it was 
into a space some ten or twelve yards square as the tall man suddenly
got up from the ground and came running at the carriage monsieur the
marquis clapped his hand for an instant on his sword-hilt 

 killed shrieked the man in wild desperation extending both arms at
their length above his head and staring at him dead 

the people closed round and looked at monsieur the marquis there was
nothing revealed by the many eyes that looked at him but watchfulness
and eagerness there was no visible menacing or anger neither did the
people say anything after the first cry they had been silent and they
remained so the voice of the submissive man who had spoken was flat
and tame in its extreme submission monsieur the marquis ran his eyes
over them all as if they had been mere rats come out of their holes 

he took out his purse 

 it is extraordinary to me said he that you people cannot take care
of yourselves and your children one or the other of you is for ever in
the way how do i know what injury you have done my horses see give
him that 

he threw out a gold coin for the valet to pick up and all the heads
craned forward that all the eyes might look down at it as it fell the
tall man called out again with a most unearthly cry dead 

he was arrested by the quick arrival of another man for whom the rest
made way on seeing him the miserable creature fell upon his shoulder 
sobbing and crying and pointing to the fountain where some women were
stooping over the motionless bundle and moving gently about it they
were as silent however as the men 

 i know all i know all said the last comer be a brave man my
gaspard it is better for the poor little plaything to die so than to
live it has died in a moment without pain could it have lived an hour
as happily 

 you are a philosopher you there said the marquis smiling how do
they call you 

 they call me defarge 

 of what trade 

 monsieur the marquis vendor of wine 

 pick up that philosopher and vendor of wine said the marquis 
throwing him another gold coin and spend it as you will the horses
there are they right 

without deigning to look at the assemblage a second time monsieur the
marquis leaned back in his seat and was just being driven away with the
air of a gentleman who had accidentally broke some common thing and had
paid for it and could afford to pay for it when his ease was suddenly
disturbed by a coin flying into his carriage and ringing on its floor 

 hold said monsieur the marquis hold the horses who threw that 

he looked to the spot where defarge the vendor of wine had stood a
moment before but the wretched father was grovelling on his face on
the pavement in that spot and the figure that stood beside him was the
figure of a dark stout woman knitting 

 you dogs said the marquis but smoothly and with an unchanged front 
except as to the spots on his nose i would ride over any of you very
willingly and exterminate you from the earth if i knew which rascal
threw at the carriage and if that brigand were sufficiently near it he
should be crushed under the wheels 

so cowed was their condition and so long and hard their experience of
what such a man could do to them within the law and beyond it that not
a voice or a hand or even an eye was raised among the men not one 
but the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily and looked the
marquis in the face it was not for his dignity to notice it his
contemptuous eyes passed over her and over all the other rats and he
leaned back in his seat again and gave the word go on 

he was driven on and other carriages came whirling by in quick
succession the minister the state-projector the farmer-general the
doctor the lawyer the ecclesiastic the grand opera the comedy the
whole fancy ball in a bright continuous flow came whirling by the rats
had crept out of their holes to look on and they remained looking
on for hours soldiers and police often passing between them and the
spectacle and making a barrier behind which they slunk and through
which they peeped the father had long ago taken up his bundle and
bidden himself away with it when the women who had tended the bundle
while it lay on the base of the fountain sat there watching the running
of the water and the rolling of the fancy ball when the one woman who
had stood conspicuous knitting still knitted on with the steadfastness
of fate the water of the fountain ran the swift river ran the day ran
into evening so much life in the city ran into death according to rule 
time and tide waited for no man the rats were sleeping close together
in their dark holes again the fancy ball was lighted up at supper all
things ran their course 




viii monseigneur in the country


a beautiful landscape with the corn bright in it but not abundant 
patches of poor rye where corn should have been patches of poor peas
and beans patches of most coarse vegetable substitutes for wheat on
inanimate nature as on the men and women who cultivated it a prevalent
tendency towards an appearance of vegetating unwillingly a dejected
disposition to give up and wither away 

monsieur the marquis in his travelling carriage which might have been
lighter conducted by four post-horses and two postilions fagged up
a steep hill a blush on the countenance of monsieur the marquis was
no impeachment of his high breeding it was not from within it was
occasioned by an external circumstance beyond his control the setting
sun 

the sunset struck so brilliantly into the travelling carriage when it
gained the hill-top that its occupant was steeped in crimson it will
die out said monsieur the marquis glancing at his hands directly 

in effect the sun was so low that it dipped at the moment when the
heavy drag had been adjusted to the wheel and the carriage slid down
hill with a cinderous smell in a cloud of dust the red glow departed
quickly the sun and the marquis going down together there was no glow
left when the drag was taken off 

but there remained a broken country bold and open a little village
at the bottom of the hill a broad sweep and rise beyond it a
church-tower a windmill a forest for the chase and a crag with a
fortress on it used as a prison round upon all these darkening objects
as the night drew on the marquis looked with the air of one who was
coming near home 

the village had its one poor street with its poor brewery poor
tannery poor tavern poor stable-yard for relays of post-horses poor
fountain all usual poor appointments it had its poor people too all
its people were poor and many of them were sitting at their doors 
shredding spare onions and the like for supper while many were at the
fountain washing leaves and grasses and any such small yieldings of
the earth that could be eaten expressive signs of what made them poor 
were not wanting the tax for the state the tax for the church the tax
for the lord tax local and tax general were to be paid here and to be
paid there according to solemn inscription in the little village until
the wonder was that there was any village left unswallowed 

few children were to be seen and no dogs as to the men and women 
their choice on earth was stated in the prospect life on the lowest
terms that could sustain it down in the little village under the mill 
or captivity and death in the dominant prison on the crag 

heralded by a courier in advance and by the cracking of his postilions'
whips which twined snake-like about their heads in the evening air as
if he came attended by the furies monsieur the marquis drew up in
his travelling carriage at the posting-house gate it was hard by the
fountain and the peasants suspended their operations to look at him 
he looked at them and saw in them without knowing it the slow
sure filing down of misery-worn face and figure that was to make the
meagreness of frenchmen an english superstition which should survive the
truth through the best part of a hundred years 

monsieur the marquis cast his eyes over the submissive faces that
drooped before him as the like of himself had drooped before
monseigneur of the court only the difference was that these faces
drooped merely to suffer and not to propitiate when a grizzled mender
of the roads joined the group 

 bring me hither that fellow said the marquis to the courier 

the fellow was brought cap in hand and the other fellows closed round
to look and listen in the manner of the people at the paris fountain 

 i passed you on the road 

 monseigneur it is true i had the honour of being passed on the road 

 coming up the hill and at the top of the hill both 

 monseigneur it is true 

 what did you look at so fixedly 

 monseigneur i looked at the man 

he stooped a little and with his tattered blue cap pointed under the
carriage all his fellows stooped to look under the carriage 

 what man pig and why look there 

 pardon monseigneur he swung by the chain of the shoe the drag 

 who demanded the traveller 

 monseigneur the man 

 may the devil carry away these idiots how do you call the man you
know all the men of this part of the country who was he 

 your clemency monseigneur he was not of this part of the country of
all the days of my life i never saw him 

 swinging by the chain to be suffocated 

 with your gracious permission that was the wonder of it monseigneur 
his head hanging over like this 

he turned himself sideways to the carriage and leaned back with his
face thrown up to the sky and his head hanging down then recovered
himself fumbled with his cap and made a bow 

 what was he like 

 monseigneur he was whiter than the miller all covered with dust 
white as a spectre tall as a spectre 

the picture produced an immense sensation in the little crowd but all
eyes without comparing notes with other eyes looked at monsieur
the marquis perhaps to observe whether he had any spectre on his
conscience 

 truly you did well said the marquis felicitously sensible that such
vermin were not to ruffle him to see a thief accompanying my carriage 
and not open that great mouth of yours bah put him aside monsieur
gabelle 

monsieur gabelle was the postmaster and some other taxing functionary
united he had come out with great obsequiousness to assist at this
examination and had held the examined by the drapery of his arm in an
official manner 

 bah go aside said monsieur gabelle 

 lay hands on this stranger if he seeks to lodge in your village
to-night and be sure that his business is honest gabelle 

 monseigneur i am flattered to devote myself to your orders 

 did he run away fellow where is that accursed 

the accursed was already under the carriage with some half-dozen
particular friends pointing out the chain with his blue cap some
half-dozen other particular friends promptly hauled him out and
presented him breathless to monsieur the marquis 

 did the man run away dolt when we stopped for the drag 

 monseigneur he precipitated himself over the hill-side head first as
a person plunges into the river 

 see to it gabelle go on 

the half-dozen who were peering at the chain were still among the
wheels like sheep the wheels turned so suddenly that they were lucky
to save their skins and bones they had very little else to save or
they might not have been so fortunate 

the burst with which the carriage started out of the village and up the
rise beyond was soon checked by the steepness of the hill gradually 
it subsided to a foot pace swinging and lumbering upward among the many
sweet scents of a summer night the postilions with a thousand gossamer
gnats circling about them in lieu of the furies quietly mended the
points to the lashes of their whips the valet walked by the horses the
courier was audible trotting on ahead into the dull distance 

at the steepest point of the hill there was a little burial-ground 
with a cross and a new large figure of our saviour on it it was a poor
figure in wood done by some inexperienced rustic carver but he had
studied the figure from the life his own life maybe for it was
dreadfully spare and thin 

to this distressful emblem of a great distress that had long been
growing worse and was not at its worst a woman was kneeling she
turned her head as the carriage came up to her rose quickly and
presented herself at the carriage-door 

 it is you monseigneur monseigneur a petition 

with an exclamation of impatience but with his unchangeable face 
monseigneur looked out 

 how then what is it always petitions 

 monseigneur for the love of the great god my husband the forester 

 what of your husband the forester always the same with you people he
cannot pay something 

 he has paid all monseigneur he is dead 

 well he is quiet can i restore him to you 

 alas no monseigneur but he lies yonder under a little heap of poor
grass 

 well 

 monseigneur there are so many little heaps of poor grass 

 again well 

she looked an old woman but was young her manner was one of passionate
grief by turns she clasped her veinous and knotted hands together
with wild energy and laid one of them on the carriage-door tenderly 
caressingly as if it had been a human breast and could be expected to
feel the appealing touch 

 monseigneur hear me monseigneur hear my petition my husband died of
want so many die of want so many more will die of want 

 again well can i feed them 

 monseigneur the good god knows but i don't ask it my petition is 
that a morsel of stone or wood with my husband's name may be placed
over him to show where he lies otherwise the place will be quickly
forgotten it will never be found when i am dead of the same malady i
shall be laid under some other heap of poor grass monseigneur they
are so many they increase so fast there is so much want monseigneur 
monseigneur 

the valet had put her away from the door the carriage had broken into
a brisk trot the postilions had quickened the pace she was left far
behind and monseigneur again escorted by the furies was rapidly
diminishing the league or two of distance that remained between him and
his chateau 

the sweet scents of the summer night rose all around him and rose as
the rain falls impartially on the dusty ragged and toil-worn group
at the fountain not far away to whom the mender of roads with the aid
of the blue cap without which he was nothing still enlarged upon his
man like a spectre as long as they could bear it by degrees as they
could bear no more they dropped off one by one and lights twinkled
in little casements which lights as the casements darkened and more
stars came out seemed to have shot up into the sky instead of having
been extinguished 

the shadow of a large high-roofed house and of many over-hanging trees 
was upon monsieur the marquis by that time and the shadow was exchanged
for the light of a flambeau as his carriage stopped and the great door
of his chateau was opened to him 

 monsieur charles whom i expect is he arrived from england 

 monseigneur not yet 




ix the gorgon's head


it was a heavy mass of building that chateau of monsieur the marquis 
with a large stone courtyard before it and two stone sweeps of
staircase meeting in a stone terrace before the principal door a stony
business altogether with heavy stone balustrades and stone urns and
stone flowers and stone faces of men and stone heads of lions in
all directions as if the gorgon's head had surveyed it when it was
finished two centuries ago 

up the broad flight of shallow steps monsieur the marquis flambeau
preceded went from his carriage sufficiently disturbing the darkness
to elicit loud remonstrance from an owl in the roof of the great pile
of stable building away among the trees all else was so quiet that the
flambeau carried up the steps and the other flambeau held at the great
door burnt as if they were in a close room of state instead of being
in the open night-air other sound than the owl's voice there was none 
save the falling of a fountain into its stone basin for it was one of
those dark nights that hold their breath by the hour together and then
heave a long low sigh and hold their breath again 

the great door clanged behind him and monsieur the marquis crossed a
hall grim with certain old boar-spears swords and knives of the chase 
grimmer with certain heavy riding-rods and riding-whips of which many a
peasant gone to his benefactor death had felt the weight when his lord
was angry 

avoiding the larger rooms which were dark and made fast for the night 
monsieur the marquis with his flambeau-bearer going on before went up
the staircase to a door in a corridor this thrown open admitted him
to his own private apartment of three rooms his bed-chamber and two
others high vaulted rooms with cool uncarpeted floors great dogs upon
the hearths for the burning of wood in winter time and all luxuries
befitting the state of a marquis in a luxurious age and country 
the fashion of the last louis but one of the line that was never to
break the fourteenth louis was conspicuous in their rich furniture 
but it was diversified by many objects that were illustrations of old
pages in the history of france 

a supper-table was laid for two in the third of the rooms a round
room in one of the chateau's four extinguisher-topped towers a small
lofty room with its window wide open and the wooden jalousie-blinds
closed so that the dark night only showed in slight horizontal lines of
black alternating with their broad lines of stone colour 

 my nephew said the marquis glancing at the supper preparation they
said he was not arrived 

nor was he but he had been expected with monseigneur 

 ah it is not probable he will arrive to-night nevertheless leave the
table as it is i shall be ready in a quarter of an hour 

in a quarter of an hour monseigneur was ready and sat down alone to his
sumptuous and choice supper his chair was opposite to the window and
he had taken his soup and was raising his glass of bordeaux to his
lips when he put it down 

 what is that he calmly asked looking with attention at the
horizontal lines of black and stone colour 

 monseigneur that 

 outside the blinds open the blinds 

it was done 

 well 

 monseigneur it is nothing the trees and the night are all that are
here 

the servant who spoke had thrown the blinds wide had looked out into
the vacant darkness and stood with that blank behind him looking round
for instructions 

 good said the imperturbable master close them again 

that was done too and the marquis went on with his supper he was
half way through it when he again stopped with his glass in his hand 
hearing the sound of wheels it came on briskly and came up to the
front of the chateau 

 ask who is arrived 

it was the nephew of monseigneur he had been some few leagues behind
monseigneur early in the afternoon he had diminished the distance
rapidly but not so rapidly as to come up with monseigneur on the road 
he had heard of monseigneur at the posting-houses as being before him 

he was to be told said monseigneur that supper awaited him then and
there and that he was prayed to come to it in a little while he came 
he had been known in england as charles darnay 

monseigneur received him in a courtly manner but they did not shake
hands 

 you left paris yesterday sir he said to monseigneur as he took his
seat at table 

 yesterday and you 

 i come direct 

 from london 

 yes 

 you have been a long time coming said the marquis with a smile 

 on the contrary i come direct 

 pardon me i mean not a long time on the journey a long time
intending the journey 

 i have been detained by the nephew stopped a moment in his
answer various business 

 without doubt said the polished uncle 

so long as a servant was present no other words passed between them 
when coffee had been served and they were alone together the nephew 
looking at the uncle and meeting the eyes of the face that was like a
fine mask opened a conversation 

 i have come back sir as you anticipate pursuing the object that
took me away it carried me into great and unexpected peril but it is
a sacred object and if it had carried me to death i hope it would have
sustained me 

 not to death said the uncle it is not necessary to say to death 

 i doubt sir returned the nephew whether if it had carried me to
the utmost brink of death you would have cared to stop me there 

the deepened marks in the nose and the lengthening of the fine straight
lines in the cruel face looked ominous as to that the uncle made a
graceful gesture of protest which was so clearly a slight form of good
breeding that it was not reassuring 

 indeed sir pursued the nephew for anything i know you may have
expressly worked to give a more suspicious appearance to the suspicious
circumstances that surrounded me 

 no no no said the uncle pleasantly 

 but however that may be resumed the nephew glancing at him with
deep distrust i know that your diplomacy would stop me by any means 
and would know no scruple as to means 

 my friend i told you so said the uncle with a fine pulsation in the
two marks do me the favour to recall that i told you so long ago 

 i recall it 

 thank you said the marquis very sweetly indeed 

his tone lingered in the air almost like the tone of a musical
instrument 

 in effect sir pursued the nephew i believe it to be at once your
bad fortune and my good fortune that has kept me out of a prison in
france here 

 i do not quite understand returned the uncle sipping his coffee 
 dare i ask you to explain 

 i believe that if you were not in disgrace with the court and had not
been overshadowed by that cloud for years past a letter de cachet would
have sent me to some fortress indefinitely 

 it is possible said the uncle with great calmness for the honour
of the family i could even resolve to incommode you to that extent 
pray excuse me 

 i perceive that happily for me the reception of the day before
yesterday was as usual a cold one observed the nephew 

 i would not say happily my friend returned the uncle with refined
politeness i would not be sure of that a good opportunity for
consideration surrounded by the advantages of solitude might influence
your destiny to far greater advantage than you influence it for
yourself but it is useless to discuss the question i am as you say 
at a disadvantage these little instruments of correction these gentle
aids to the power and honour of families these slight favours that
might so incommode you are only to be obtained now by interest
and importunity they are sought by so many and they are granted
 comparatively to so few it used not to be so but france in all such
things is changed for the worse our not remote ancestors held the right
of life and death over the surrounding vulgar from this room many such
dogs have been taken out to be hanged in the next room my bedroom 
one fellow to our knowledge was poniarded on the spot for professing
some insolent delicacy respecting his daughter his daughter we have
lost many privileges a new philosophy has become the mode and the
assertion of our station in these days might i do not go so far as
to say would but might cause us real inconvenience all very bad very
bad 

the marquis took a gentle little pinch of snuff and shook his head 
as elegantly despondent as he could becomingly be of a country still
containing himself that great means of regeneration 

 we have so asserted our station both in the old time and in the modern
time also said the nephew gloomily that i believe our name to be
more detested than any name in france 

 let us hope so said the uncle detestation of the high is the
involuntary homage of the low 

 there is not pursued the nephew in his former tone a face i can
look at in all this country round about us which looks at me with any
deference on it but the dark deference of fear and slavery 

 a compliment said the marquis to the grandeur of the family 
merited by the manner in which the family has sustained its grandeur 
hah and he took another gentle little pinch of snuff and lightly
crossed his legs 

but when his nephew leaning an elbow on the table covered his eyes
thoughtfully and dejectedly with his hand the fine mask looked at
him sideways with a stronger concentration of keenness closeness 
and dislike than was comportable with its wearer's assumption of
indifference 

 repression is the only lasting philosophy the dark deference of fear
and slavery my friend observed the marquis will keep the dogs
obedient to the whip as long as this roof looking up to it shuts
out the sky 

that might not be so long as the marquis supposed if a picture of the
chateau as it was to be a very few years hence and of fifty like it as
they too were to be a very few years hence could have been shown to
him that night he might have been at a loss to claim his own from
the ghastly fire-charred plunder-wrecked rains as for the roof
he vaunted he might have found that shutting out the sky in a new
way to wit for ever from the eyes of the bodies into which its lead
was fired out of the barrels of a hundred thousand muskets 

 meanwhile said the marquis i will preserve the honour and repose
of the family if you will not but you must be fatigued shall we
terminate our conference for the night 

 a moment more 

 an hour if you please 

 sir said the nephew we have done wrong and are reaping the fruits
of wrong 

 we have done wrong repeated the marquis with an inquiring smile 
and delicately pointing first to his nephew then to himself 

 our family our honourable family whose honour is of so much account
to both of us in such different ways even in my father's time we did
a world of wrong injuring every human creature who came between us and
our pleasure whatever it was why need i speak of my father's time 
when it is equally yours can i separate my father's twin-brother joint
inheritor and next successor from himself 

 death has done that said the marquis 

 and has left me answered the nephew bound to a system that is
frightful to me responsible for it but powerless in it seeking to
execute the last request of my dear mother's lips and obey the last
look of my dear mother's eyes which implored me to have mercy and to
redress and tortured by seeking assistance and power in vain 

 seeking them from me my nephew said the marquis touching him on the
breast with his forefinger they were now standing by the hearth you
will for ever seek them in vain be assured 

every fine straight line in the clear whiteness of his face was
cruelly craftily and closely compressed while he stood looking
quietly at his nephew with his snuff-box in his hand once again he
touched him on the breast as though his finger were the fine point of
a small sword with which in delicate finesse he ran him through the
body and said 

 my friend i will die perpetuating the system under which i have
lived 

when he had said it he took a culminating pinch of snuff and put his
box in his pocket 

 better to be a rational creature he added then after ringing a small
bell on the table and accept your natural destiny but you are lost 
monsieur charles i see 

 this property and france are lost to me said the nephew sadly i
renounce them 

 are they both yours to renounce france may be but is the property it
is scarcely worth mentioning but is it yet 

 i had no intention in the words i used to claim it yet if it passed
to me from you to-morrow 

 which i have the vanity to hope is not probable 

 or twenty years hence 

 you do me too much honour said the marquis still i prefer that
supposition 

 i would abandon it and live otherwise and elsewhere it is little to
relinquish what is it but a wilderness of misery and ruin 

 hah said the marquis glancing round the luxurious room 

 to the eye it is fair enough here but seen in its integrity 
under the sky and by the daylight it is a crumbling tower of waste 
mismanagement extortion debt mortgage oppression hunger nakedness 
and suffering 

 hah said the marquis again in a well-satisfied manner 

 if it ever becomes mine it shall be put into some hands better
qualified to free it slowly if such a thing is possible from the
weight that drags it down so that the miserable people who cannot leave
it and who have been long wrung to the last point of endurance may in
another generation suffer less but it is not for me there is a curse
on it and on all this land 

 and you said the uncle forgive my curiosity do you under your new
philosophy graciously intend to live 

 i must do to live what others of my countrymen even with nobility at
their backs may have to do some day work 

 in england for example 

 yes the family honour sir is safe from me in this country the
family name can suffer from me in no other for i bear it in no other 

the ringing of the bell had caused the adjoining bed-chamber to be
lighted it now shone brightly through the door of communication the
marquis looked that way and listened for the retreating step of his
valet 

 england is very attractive to you seeing how indifferently you have
prospered there he observed then turning his calm face to his nephew
with a smile 

 i have already said that for my prospering there i am sensible i may
be indebted to you sir for the rest it is my refuge 

 they say those boastful english that it is the refuge of many you
know a compatriot who has found a refuge there a doctor 

 yes 

 with a daughter 

 yes 

 yes said the marquis you are fatigued good night 

as he bent his head in his most courtly manner there was a secrecy
in his smiling face and he conveyed an air of mystery to those words 
which struck the eyes and ears of his nephew forcibly at the same
time the thin straight lines of the setting of the eyes and the thin
straight lips and the markings in the nose curved with a sarcasm that
looked handsomely diabolic 

 yes repeated the marquis a doctor with a daughter yes so
commences the new philosophy you are fatigued good night 

it would have been of as much avail to interrogate any stone face
outside the chateau as to interrogate that face of his the nephew
looked at him in vain in passing on to the door 

 good night said the uncle i look to the pleasure of seeing you
again in the morning good repose light monsieur my nephew to his
chamber there and burn monsieur my nephew in his bed if you will he
added to himself before he rang his little bell again and summoned his
valet to his own bedroom 

the valet come and gone monsieur the marquis walked to and fro in his
loose chamber-robe to prepare himself gently for sleep that hot still
night rustling about the room his softly-slippered feet making no
noise on the floor he moved like a refined tiger looked like some
enchanted marquis of the impenitently wicked sort in story whose
periodical change into tiger form was either just going off or just
coming on 

he moved from end to end of his voluptuous bedroom looking again at the
scraps of the day's journey that came unbidden into his mind the slow
toil up the hill at sunset the setting sun the descent the mill the
prison on the crag the little village in the hollow the peasants at
the fountain and the mender of roads with his blue cap pointing out the
chain under the carriage that fountain suggested the paris fountain 
the little bundle lying on the step the women bending over it and the
tall man with his arms up crying dead 

 i am cool now said monsieur the marquis and may go to bed 

so leaving only one light burning on the large hearth he let his thin
gauze curtains fall around him and heard the night break its silence
with a long sigh as he composed himself to sleep 

the stone faces on the outer walls stared blindly at the black night
for three heavy hours for three heavy hours the horses in the stables
rattled at their racks the dogs barked and the owl made a noise with
very little resemblance in it to the noise conventionally assigned to
the owl by men-poets but it is the obstinate custom of such creatures
hardly ever to say what is set down for them 

for three heavy hours the stone faces of the chateau lion and human 
stared blindly at the night dead darkness lay on all the landscape 
dead darkness added its own hush to the hushing dust on all the roads 
the burial-place had got to the pass that its little heaps of poor grass
were undistinguishable from one another the figure on the cross might
have come down for anything that could be seen of it in the village 
taxers and taxed were fast asleep dreaming perhaps of banquets as
the starved usually do and of ease and rest as the driven slave and
the yoked ox may its lean inhabitants slept soundly and were fed and
freed 

the fountain in the village flowed unseen and unheard and the fountain
at the chateau dropped unseen and unheard both melting away like the
minutes that were falling from the spring of time through three dark
hours then the grey water of both began to be ghostly in the light 
and the eyes of the stone faces of the chateau were opened 

lighter and lighter until at last the sun touched the tops of the still
trees and poured its radiance over the hill in the glow the water
of the chateau fountain seemed to turn to blood and the stone faces
crimsoned the carol of the birds was loud and high and on the
weather-beaten sill of the great window of the bed-chamber of monsieur
the marquis one little bird sang its sweetest song with all its might 
at this the nearest stone face seemed to stare amazed and with open
mouth and dropped under-jaw looked awe-stricken 

now the sun was full up and movement began in the village casement
windows opened crazy doors were unbarred and people came forth
shivering chilled as yet by the new sweet air then began the rarely
lightened toil of the day among the village population some to the
fountain some to the fields men and women here to dig and delve men
and women there to see to the poor live stock and lead the bony cows
out to such pasture as could be found by the roadside in the church
and at the cross a kneeling figure or two attendant on the latter
prayers the led cow trying for a breakfast among the weeds at its
foot 

the chateau awoke later as became its quality but awoke gradually and
surely first the lonely boar-spears and knives of the chase had been
reddened as of old then had gleamed trenchant in the morning sunshine 
now doors and windows were thrown open horses in their stables looked
round over their shoulders at the light and freshness pouring in at
doorways leaves sparkled and rustled at iron-grated windows dogs
pulled hard at their chains and reared impatient to be loosed 

all these trivial incidents belonged to the routine of life and the
return of morning surely not so the ringing of the great bell of the
chateau nor the running up and down the stairs nor the hurried
figures on the terrace nor the booting and tramping here and there and
everywhere nor the quick saddling of horses and riding away 

what winds conveyed this hurry to the grizzled mender of roads already
at work on the hill-top beyond the village with his day's dinner not
much to carry lying in a bundle that it was worth no crow's while to
peck at on a heap of stones had the birds carrying some grains of it
to a distance dropped one over him as they sow chance seeds whether or
no the mender of roads ran on the sultry morning as if for his life 
down the hill knee-high in dust and never stopped till he got to the
fountain 

all the people of the village were at the fountain standing about
in their depressed manner and whispering low but showing no other
emotions than grim curiosity and surprise the led cows hastily brought
in and tethered to anything that would hold them were looking stupidly
on or lying down chewing the cud of nothing particularly repaying their
trouble which they had picked up in their interrupted saunter some of
the people of the chateau and some of those of the posting-house and
all the taxing authorities were armed more or less and were crowded
on the other side of the little street in a purposeless way that was
highly fraught with nothing already the mender of roads had penetrated
into the midst of a group of fifty particular friends and was smiting
himself in the breast with his blue cap what did all this portend 
and what portended the swift hoisting-up of monsieur gabelle behind
a servant on horseback and the conveying away of the said gabelle
 double-laden though the horse was at a gallop like a new version of
the german ballad of leonora 

it portended that there was one stone face too many up at the chateau 

the gorgon had surveyed the building again in the night and had added
the one stone face wanting the stone face for which it had waited
through about two hundred years 

it lay back on the pillow of monsieur the marquis it was like a fine
mask suddenly startled made angry and petrified driven home into the
heart of the stone figure attached to it was a knife round its hilt
was a frill of paper on which was scrawled 

 drive him fast to his tomb this from jacques 




x two promises


more months to the number of twelve had come and gone and mr charles
darnay was established in england as a higher teacher of the french
language who was conversant with french literature in this age he
would have been a professor in that age he was a tutor he read with
young men who could find any leisure and interest for the study of a
living tongue spoken all over the world and he cultivated a taste for
its stores of knowledge and fancy he could write of them besides in
sound english and render them into sound english such masters were not
at that time easily found princes that had been and kings that were
to be were not yet of the teacher class and no ruined nobility had
dropped out of tellson's ledgers to turn cooks and carpenters as a
tutor whose attainments made the student's way unusually pleasant and
profitable and as an elegant translator who brought something to his
work besides mere dictionary knowledge young mr darnay soon became
known and encouraged he was well acquainted more-over with the
circumstances of his country and those were of ever-growing interest 
so with great perseverance and untiring industry he prospered 

in london he had expected neither to walk on pavements of gold nor
to lie on beds of roses if he had had any such exalted expectation he
would not have prospered he had expected labour and he found it and
did it and made the best of it in this his prosperity consisted 

a certain portion of his time was passed at cambridge where he
read with undergraduates as a sort of tolerated smuggler who drove a
contraband trade in european languages instead of conveying greek
and latin through the custom-house the rest of his time he passed in
london 

now from the days when it was always summer in eden to these days
when it is mostly winter in fallen latitudes the world of a man has
invariably gone one way charles darnay's way the way of the love of a
woman 

he had loved lucie manette from the hour of his danger he had never
heard a sound so sweet and dear as the sound of her compassionate voice 
he had never seen a face so tenderly beautiful as hers when it was
confronted with his own on the edge of the grave that had been dug for
him but he had not yet spoken to her on the subject the assassination
at the deserted chateau far away beyond the heaving water and the long 
long dusty roads the solid stone chateau which had itself become the
mere mist of a dream had been done a year and he had never yet by so
much as a single spoken word disclosed to her the state of his heart 

that he had his reasons for this he knew full well it was again a
summer day when lately arrived in london from his college occupation 
he turned into the quiet corner in soho bent on seeking an opportunity
of opening his mind to doctor manette it was the close of the summer
day and he knew lucie to be out with miss pross 

he found the doctor reading in his arm-chair at a window the energy
which had at once supported him under his old sufferings and aggravated
their sharpness had been gradually restored to him he was now a
very energetic man indeed with great firmness of purpose strength
of resolution and vigour of action in his recovered energy he was
sometimes a little fitful and sudden as he had at first been in the
exercise of his other recovered faculties but this had never been
frequently observable and had grown more and more rare 

he studied much slept little sustained a great deal of fatigue with
ease and was equably cheerful to him now entered charles darnay at
sight of whom he laid aside his book and held out his hand 

 charles darnay i rejoice to see you we have been counting on your
return these three or four days past mr stryver and sydney carton were
both here yesterday and both made you out to be more than due 

 i am obliged to them for their interest in the matter he answered 
a little coldly as to them though very warmly as to the doctor miss
manette 

 is well said the doctor as he stopped short and your return will
delight us all she has gone out on some household matters but will
soon be home 

 doctor manette i knew she was from home i took the opportunity of her
being from home to beg to speak to you 

there was a blank silence 

 yes said the doctor with evident constraint bring your chair here 
and speak on 

he complied as to the chair but appeared to find the speaking on less
easy 

 i have had the happiness doctor manette of being so intimate here 
 so he at length began for some year and a half that i hope the topic
on which i am about to touch may not 

he was stayed by the doctor's putting out his hand to stop him when he
had kept it so a little while he said drawing it back 

 is lucie the topic 

 she is 

 it is hard for me to speak of her at any time it is very hard for me
to hear her spoken of in that tone of yours charles darnay 

 it is a tone of fervent admiration true homage and deep love doctor
manette he said deferentially 

there was another blank silence before her father rejoined 

 i believe it i do you justice i believe it 

his constraint was so manifest and it was so manifest too that it
originated in an unwillingness to approach the subject that charles
darnay hesitated 

 shall i go on sir 

another blank 

 yes go on 

 you anticipate what i would say though you cannot know how earnestly
i say it how earnestly i feel it without knowing my secret heart and
the hopes and fears and anxieties with which it has long been
laden dear doctor manette i love your daughter fondly dearly 
disinterestedly devotedly if ever there were love in the world i love
her you have loved yourself let your old love speak for me 

the doctor sat with his face turned away and his eyes bent on the
ground at the last words he stretched out his hand again hurriedly 
and cried 

 not that sir let that be i adjure you do not recall that 

his cry was so like a cry of actual pain that it rang in charles
darnay's ears long after he had ceased he motioned with the hand he had
extended and it seemed to be an appeal to darnay to pause the latter
so received it and remained silent 

 i ask your pardon said the doctor in a subdued tone after some
moments i do not doubt your loving lucie you may be satisfied of it 

he turned towards him in his chair but did not look at him or
raise his eyes his chin dropped upon his hand and his white hair
overshadowed his face 

 have you spoken to lucie 

 no 

 nor written 

 never 

 it would be ungenerous to affect not to know that your self-denial is
to be referred to your consideration for her father her father thanks
you 

he offered his hand but his eyes did not go with it 

 i know said darnay respectfully how can i fail to know doctor
manette i who have seen you together from day to day that between
you and miss manette there is an affection so unusual so touching so
belonging to the circumstances in which it has been nurtured that it
can have few parallels even in the tenderness between a father and
child i know doctor manette how can i fail to know that mingled
with the affection and duty of a daughter who has become a woman there
is in her heart towards you all the love and reliance of infancy
itself i know that as in her childhood she had no parent so she is
now devoted to you with all the constancy and fervour of her present
years and character united to the trustfulness and attachment of the
early days in which you were lost to her i know perfectly well that if
you had been restored to her from the world beyond this life you could
hardly be invested in her sight with a more sacred character than that
in which you are always with her i know that when she is clinging to
you the hands of baby girl and woman all in one are round your
neck i know that in loving you she sees and loves her mother at her
own age sees and loves you at my age loves her mother broken-hearted 
loves you through your dreadful trial and in your blessed restoration i
have known this night and day since i have known you in your home 

her father sat silent with his face bent down his breathing was a
little quickened but he repressed all other signs of agitation 

 dear doctor manette always knowing this always seeing her and you
with this hallowed light about you i have forborne and forborne as
long as it was in the nature of man to do it i have felt and do even
now feel that to bring my love even mine between you is to touch
your history with something not quite so good as itself but i love her 
heaven is my witness that i love her 

 i believe it answered her father mournfully i have thought so
before now i believe it 

 but do not believe said darnay upon whose ear the mournful voice
struck with a reproachful sound that if my fortune were so cast as
that being one day so happy as to make her my wife i must at any time
put any separation between her and you i could or would breathe a
word of what i now say besides that i should know it to be hopeless i
should know it to be a baseness if i had any such possibility even at
a remote distance of years harboured in my thoughts and hidden in my
heart if it ever had been there if it ever could be there i could not
now touch this honoured hand 

he laid his own upon it as he spoke 

 no dear doctor manette like you a voluntary exile from france like
you driven from it by its distractions oppressions and miseries like
you striving to live away from it by my own exertions and trusting
in a happier future i look only to sharing your fortunes sharing your
life and home and being faithful to you to the death not to divide
with lucie her privilege as your child companion and friend but to
come in aid of it and bind her closer to you if such a thing can be 

his touch still lingered on her father's hand answering the touch for a
moment but not coldly her father rested his hands upon the arms of
his chair and looked up for the first time since the beginning of the
conference a struggle was evidently in his face a struggle with that
occasional look which had a tendency in it to dark doubt and dread 

 you speak so feelingly and so manfully charles darnay that i thank
you with all my heart and will open all my heart or nearly so have
you any reason to believe that lucie loves you 

 none as yet none 

 is it the immediate object of this confidence that you may at once
ascertain that with my knowledge 

 not even so i might not have the hopefulness to do it for weeks i
might mistaken or not mistaken have that hopefulness to-morrow 

 do you seek any guidance from me 

 i ask none sir but i have thought it possible that you might have it
in your power if you should deem it right to give me some 

 do you seek any promise from me 

 i do seek that 

 what is it 

 i well understand that without you i could have no hope i well
understand that even if miss manette held me at this moment in her
innocent heart do not think i have the presumption to assume so much i
could retain no place in it against her love for her father 

 if that be so do you see what on the other hand is involved in it 

 i understand equally well that a word from her father in any suitor's
favour would outweigh herself and all the world for which reason 
doctor manette said darnay modestly but firmly i would not ask that
word to save my life 

 i am sure of it charles darnay mysteries arise out of close love as
well as out of wide division in the former case they are subtle and
delicate and difficult to penetrate my daughter lucie is in this one
respect such a mystery to me i can make no guess at the state of her
heart 

 may i ask sir if you think she is as he hesitated her father
supplied the rest 

 is sought by any other suitor 

 it is what i meant to say 

her father considered a little before he answered 

 you have seen mr carton here yourself mr stryver is here too 
occasionally if it be at all it can only be by one of these 

 or both said darnay 

 i had not thought of both i should not think either likely you want
a promise from me tell me what it is 

 it is that if miss manette should bring to you at any time on her own
part such a confidence as i have ventured to lay before you you will
bear testimony to what i have said and to your belief in it i hope you
may be able to think so well of me as to urge no influence against
me i say nothing more of my stake in this this is what i ask the
condition on which i ask it and which you have an undoubted right to
require i will observe immediately 

 i give the promise said the doctor without any condition i believe
your object to be purely and truthfully as you have stated it i
believe your intention is to perpetuate and not to weaken the ties
between me and my other and far dearer self if she should ever tell me
that you are essential to her perfect happiness i will give her to you 
if there were charles darnay if there were 

the young man had taken his hand gratefully their hands were joined as
the doctor spoke 

 any fancies any reasons any apprehensions anything whatsoever 
new or old against the man she really loved the direct responsibility
thereof not lying on his head they should all be obliterated for her
sake she is everything to me more to me than suffering more to me
than wrong more to me well this is idle talk 

so strange was the way in which he faded into silence and so strange
his fixed look when he had ceased to speak that darnay felt his own
hand turn cold in the hand that slowly released and dropped it 

 you said something to me said doctor manette breaking into a smile 
 what was it you said to me 

he was at a loss how to answer until he remembered having spoken of a
condition relieved as his mind reverted to that he answered 

 your confidence in me ought to be returned with full confidence on my
part my present name though but slightly changed from my mother's is
not as you will remember my own i wish to tell you what that is and
why i am in england 

 stop said the doctor of beauvais 

 i wish it that i may the better deserve your confidence and have no
secret from you 

 stop 

for an instant the doctor even had his two hands at his ears for
another instant even had his two hands laid on darnay's lips 

 tell me when i ask you not now if your suit should prosper if lucie
should love you you shall tell me on your marriage morning do you
promise 

 willingly 

 give me your hand she will be home directly and it is better she
should not see us together to-night go god bless you 

it was dark when charles darnay left him and it was an hour later and
darker when lucie came home she hurried into the room alone for
miss pross had gone straight up-stairs and was surprised to find his
reading-chair empty 

 my father she called to him father dear 

nothing was said in answer but she heard a low hammering sound in his
bedroom passing lightly across the intermediate room she looked in at
his door and came running back frightened crying to herself with her
blood all chilled what shall i do what shall i do 

her uncertainty lasted but a moment she hurried back and tapped at
his door and softly called to him the noise ceased at the sound of
her voice and he presently came out to her and they walked up and down
together for a long time 

she came down from her bed to look at him in his sleep that night he
slept heavily and his tray of shoemaking tools and his old unfinished
work were all as usual 




xi a companion picture


 sydney said mr stryver on that self-same night or morning to his
jackal mix another bowl of punch i have something to say to you 

sydney had been working double tides that night and the night before 
and the night before that and a good many nights in succession making
a grand clearance among mr stryver's papers before the setting in
of the long vacation the clearance was effected at last the stryver
arrears were handsomely fetched up everything was got rid of until
november should come with its fogs atmospheric and fogs legal and
bring grist to the mill again 

sydney was none the livelier and none the soberer for so much
application it had taken a deal of extra wet-towelling to pull him
through the night a correspondingly extra quantity of wine had preceded
the towelling and he was in a very damaged condition as he now pulled
his turban off and threw it into the basin in which he had steeped it at
intervals for the last six hours 

 are you mixing that other bowl of punch said stryver the portly with
his hands in his waistband glancing round from the sofa where he lay on
his back 

 i am 

 now look here i am going to tell you something that will rather
surprise you and that perhaps will make you think me not quite as
shrewd as you usually do think me i intend to marry 

 do you 

 yes and not for money what do you say now 

 i don't feel disposed to say much who is she 

 guess 

 do i know her 

 guess 

 i am not going to guess at five o'clock in the morning with my brains
frying and sputtering in my head if you want me to guess you must ask
me to dinner 

 well then i'll tell you said stryver coming slowly into a sitting
posture sydney i rather despair of making myself intelligible to you 
because you are such an insensible dog 

 and you returned sydney busy concocting the punch are such a
sensitive and poetical spirit 

 come rejoined stryver laughing boastfully though i don't prefer
any claim to being the soul of romance for i hope i know better still
i am a tenderer sort of fellow than you 

 you are a luckier if you mean that 

 i don't mean that i mean i am a man of more more 

 say gallantry while you are about it suggested carton 

 well i'll say gallantry my meaning is that i am a man said stryver 
inflating himself at his friend as he made the punch who cares more to
be agreeable who takes more pains to be agreeable who knows better how
to be agreeable in a woman's society than you do 

 go on said sydney carton 

 no but before i go on said stryver shaking his head in his bullying
way i'll have this out with you you've been at doctor manette's house
as much as i have or more than i have why i have been ashamed of your
moroseness there your manners have been of that silent and sullen and
hangdog kind that upon my life and soul i have been ashamed of you 
sydney 

 it should be very beneficial to a man in your practice at the bar to
be ashamed of anything returned sydney you ought to be much obliged
to me 

 you shall not get off in that way rejoined stryver shouldering the
rejoinder at him no sydney it's my duty to tell you and i tell you
to your face to do you good that you are a devilish ill-conditioned
fellow in that sort of society you are a disagreeable fellow 

sydney drank a bumper of the punch he had made and laughed 

 look at me said stryver squaring himself i have less need to make
myself agreeable than you have being more independent in circumstances 
why do i do it 

 i never saw you do it yet muttered carton 

 i do it because it's politic i do it on principle and look at me i
get on 

 you don't get on with your account of your matrimonial intentions 
 answered carton with a careless air i wish you would keep to that as
to me will you never understand that i am incorrigible 

he asked the question with some appearance of scorn 

 you have no business to be incorrigible was his friend's answer 
delivered in no very soothing tone 

 i have no business to be at all that i know of said sydney carton 
 who is the lady 

 now don't let my announcement of the name make you uncomfortable 
sydney said mr stryver preparing him with ostentatious friendliness
for the disclosure he was about to make because i know you don't mean
half you say and if you meant it all it would be of no importance i
make this little preface because you once mentioned the young lady to
me in slighting terms 

 i did 

 certainly and in these chambers 

sydney carton looked at his punch and looked at his complacent friend 
drank his punch and looked at his complacent friend 

 you made mention of the young lady as a golden-haired doll the young
lady is miss manette if you had been a fellow of any sensitiveness or
delicacy of feeling in that kind of way sydney i might have been a
little resentful of your employing such a designation but you are not 
you want that sense altogether therefore i am no more annoyed when i
think of the expression than i should be annoyed by a man's opinion of
a picture of mine who had no eye for pictures or of a piece of music
of mine who had no ear for music 

sydney carton drank the punch at a great rate drank it by bumpers 
looking at his friend 

 now you know all about it syd said mr stryver i don't care about
fortune she is a charming creature and i have made up my mind to
please myself on the whole i think i can afford to please myself she
will have in me a man already pretty well off and a rapidly rising man 
and a man of some distinction it is a piece of good fortune for her 
but she is worthy of good fortune are you astonished 

carton still drinking the punch rejoined why should i be
astonished 

 you approve 

carton still drinking the punch rejoined why should i not approve 

 well said his friend stryver you take it more easily than i fancied
you would and are less mercenary on my behalf than i thought you would
be though to be sure you know well enough by this time that your
ancient chum is a man of a pretty strong will yes sydney i have had
enough of this style of life with no other as a change from it i
feel that it is a pleasant thing for a man to have a home when he feels
inclined to go to it when he doesn't he can stay away and i feel
that miss manette will tell well in any station and will always do me
credit so i have made up my mind and now sydney old boy i want to
say a word to you about your prospects you are in a bad way you
know you really are in a bad way you don't know the value of money 
you live hard you'll knock up one of these days and be ill and poor 
you really ought to think about a nurse 

the prosperous patronage with which he said it made him look twice as
big as he was and four times as offensive 

 now let me recommend you pursued stryver to look it in the face 
i have looked it in the face in my different way look it in the face 
you in your different way marry provide somebody to take care of
you never mind your having no enjoyment of women's society nor
understanding of it nor tact for it find out somebody find out some
respectable woman with a little property somebody in the landlady way 
or lodging-letting way and marry her against a rainy day that's the
kind of thing for you now think of it sydney 

 i'll think of it said sydney 




xii the fellow of delicacy


mr stryver having made up his mind to that magnanimous bestowal of good
fortune on the doctor's daughter resolved to make her happiness known
to her before he left town for the long vacation after some mental
debating of the point he came to the conclusion that it would be as
well to get all the preliminaries done with and they could then arrange
at their leisure whether he should give her his hand a week or two
before michaelmas term or in the little christmas vacation between it
and hilary 

as to the strength of his case he had not a doubt about it but clearly
saw his way to the verdict argued with the jury on substantial worldly
grounds the only grounds ever worth taking into account it was a
plain case and had not a weak spot in it he called himself for the
plaintiff there was no getting over his evidence the counsel for
the defendant threw up his brief and the jury did not even turn to
consider after trying it stryver c j was satisfied that no plainer
case could be 

accordingly mr stryver inaugurated the long vacation with a formal
proposal to take miss manette to vauxhall gardens that failing to
ranelagh that unaccountably failing too it behoved him to present
himself in soho and there declare his noble mind 

towards soho therefore mr stryver shouldered his way from the temple 
while the bloom of the long vacation's infancy was still upon it 
anybody who had seen him projecting himself into soho while he was yet
on saint dunstan's side of temple bar bursting in his full-blown way
along the pavement to the jostlement of all weaker people might have
seen how safe and strong he was 

his way taking him past tellson's and he both banking at tellson's and
knowing mr lorry as the intimate friend of the manettes it entered mr 
stryver's mind to enter the bank and reveal to mr lorry the brightness
of the soho horizon so he pushed open the door with the weak rattle
in its throat stumbled down the two steps got past the two ancient
cashiers and shouldered himself into the musty back closet where mr 
lorry sat at great books ruled for figures with perpendicular iron
bars to his window as if that were ruled for figures too and everything
under the clouds were a sum 

 halloa said mr stryver how do you do i hope you are well 

it was stryver's grand peculiarity that he always seemed too big for any
place or space he was so much too big for tellson's that old clerks
in distant corners looked up with looks of remonstrance as though he
squeezed them against the wall the house itself magnificently reading
the paper quite in the far-off perspective lowered displeased as if
the stryver head had been butted into its responsible waistcoat 

the discreet mr lorry said in a sample tone of the voice he would
recommend under the circumstances how do you do mr stryver how do
you do sir and shook hands there was a peculiarity in his manner
of shaking hands always to be seen in any clerk at tellson's who shook
hands with a customer when the house pervaded the air he shook in a
self-abnegating way as one who shook for tellson and co 

 can i do anything for you mr stryver asked mr lorry in his
business character 

 why no thank you this is a private visit to yourself mr lorry i
have come for a private word 

 oh indeed said mr lorry bending down his ear while his eye strayed
to the house afar off 

 i am going said mr stryver leaning his arms confidentially on the
desk whereupon although it was a large double one there appeared to
be not half desk enough for him i am going to make an offer of myself
in marriage to your agreeable little friend miss manette mr lorry 

 oh dear me cried mr lorry rubbing his chin and looking at his
visitor dubiously 

 oh dear me sir repeated stryver drawing back oh dear you sir 
what may your meaning be mr lorry 

 my meaning answered the man of business is of course friendly and
appreciative and that it does you the greatest credit and in short 
my meaning is everything you could desire but really you know mr 
stryver mr lorry paused and shook his head at him in the oddest
manner as if he were compelled against his will to add internally 
 you know there really is so much too much of you 

 well said stryver slapping the desk with his contentious hand 
opening his eyes wider and taking a long breath if i understand you 
mr lorry i'll be hanged 

mr lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means towards that
end and bit the feather of a pen 

 d n it all sir said stryver staring at him am i not eligible 

 oh dear yes yes oh yes you're eligible said mr lorry if you say
eligible you are eligible 

 am i not prosperous asked stryver 

 oh if you come to prosperous you are prosperous said mr lorry 

 and advancing 

 if you come to advancing you know said mr lorry delighted to be
able to make another admission nobody can doubt that 

 then what on earth is your meaning mr lorry demanded stryver 
perceptibly crestfallen 

 well i were you going there now asked mr lorry 

 straight said stryver with a plump of his fist on the desk 

 then i think i wouldn't if i was you 

 why said stryver now i'll put you in a corner forensically
shaking a forefinger at him you are a man of business and bound to
have a reason state your reason why wouldn't you go 

 because said mr lorry i wouldn't go on such an object without
having some cause to believe that i should succeed 

 d n me cried stryver but this beats everything 

mr lorry glanced at the distant house and glanced at the angry
stryver 

 here's a man of business a man of years a man of experience in 
a bank said stryver and having summed up three leading reasons for
complete success he says there's no reason at all says it with his
head on mr stryver remarked upon the peculiarity as if it would have
been infinitely less remarkable if he had said it with his head off 

 when i speak of success i speak of success with the young lady and
when i speak of causes and reasons to make success probable i speak of
causes and reasons that will tell as such with the young lady the young
lady my good sir said mr lorry mildly tapping the stryver arm the
young lady the young lady goes before all 

 then you mean to tell me mr lorry said stryver squaring his
elbows that it is your deliberate opinion that the young lady at
present in question is a mincing fool 

 not exactly so i mean to tell you mr stryver said mr lorry 
reddening that i will hear no disrespectful word of that young lady
from any lips and that if i knew any man which i hope i do not whose
taste was so coarse and whose temper was so overbearing that he could
not restrain himself from speaking disrespectfully of that young lady at
this desk not even tellson's should prevent my giving him a piece of my
mind 

the necessity of being angry in a suppressed tone had put mr stryver's
blood-vessels into a dangerous state when it was his turn to be angry 
mr lorry's veins methodical as their courses could usually be were in
no better state now it was his turn 

 that is what i mean to tell you sir said mr lorry pray let there
be no mistake about it 

mr stryver sucked the end of a ruler for a little while and then stood
hitting a tune out of his teeth with it which probably gave him the
toothache he broke the awkward silence by saying 

 this is something new to me mr lorry you deliberately advise me not
to go up to soho and offer myself my self stryver of the king's bench
bar 

 do you ask me for my advice mr stryver 

 yes i do 

 very good then i give it and you have repeated it correctly 

 and all i can say of it is laughed stryver with a vexed laugh that
this ha ha beats everything past present and to come 

 now understand me pursued mr lorry as a man of business i am
not justified in saying anything about this matter for as a man of
business i know nothing of it but as an old fellow who has carried
miss manette in his arms who is the trusted friend of miss manette and
of her father too and who has a great affection for them both i have
spoken the confidence is not of my seeking recollect now you think i
may not be right 

 not i said stryver whistling i can't undertake to find third
parties in common sense i can only find it for myself i suppose sense
in certain quarters you suppose mincing bread-and-butter nonsense it's
new to me but you are right i dare say 

 what i suppose mr stryver i claim to characterise for myself and
understand me sir said mr lorry quickly flushing again i
will not not even at tellson's have it characterised for me by any
gentleman breathing 

 there i beg your pardon said stryver 

 granted thank you well mr stryver i was about to say it might be
painful to you to find yourself mistaken it might be painful to doctor
manette to have the task of being explicit with you it might be very
painful to miss manette to have the task of being explicit with you you
know the terms upon which i have the honour and happiness to stand with
the family if you please committing you in no way representing you
in no way i will undertake to correct my advice by the exercise of a
little new observation and judgment expressly brought to bear upon
it if you should then be dissatisfied with it you can but test its
soundness for yourself if on the other hand you should be satisfied
with it and it should be what it now is it may spare all sides what is
best spared what do you say 

 how long would you keep me in town 

 oh it is only a question of a few hours i could go to soho in the
evening and come to your chambers afterwards 

 then i say yes said stryver i won't go up there now i am not so
hot upon it as that comes to i say yes and i shall expect you to look
in to-night good morning 

then mr stryver turned and burst out of the bank causing such a
concussion of air on his passage through that to stand up against it
bowing behind the two counters required the utmost remaining strength
of the two ancient clerks those venerable and feeble persons were
always seen by the public in the act of bowing and were popularly
believed when they had bowed a customer out still to keep on bowing in
the empty office until they bowed another customer in 

the barrister was keen enough to divine that the banker would not have
gone so far in his expression of opinion on any less solid ground than
moral certainty unprepared as he was for the large pill he had to
swallow he got it down and now said mr stryver shaking his
forensic forefinger at the temple in general when it was down my way
out of this is to put you all in the wrong 

it was a bit of the art of an old bailey tactician in which he found
great relief you shall not put me in the wrong young lady said mr 
stryver i'll do that for you 

accordingly when mr lorry called that night as late as ten o'clock 
mr stryver among a quantity of books and papers littered out for the
purpose seemed to have nothing less on his mind than the subject of
the morning he even showed surprise when he saw mr lorry and was
altogether in an absent and preoccupied state 

 well said that good-natured emissary after a full half-hour of
bootless attempts to bring him round to the question i have been to
soho 

 to soho repeated mr stryver coldly oh to be sure what am i
thinking of 

 and i have no doubt said mr lorry that i was right in the
conversation we had my opinion is confirmed and i reiterate my
advice 

 i assure you returned mr stryver in the friendliest way that i
am sorry for it on your account and sorry for it on the poor father's
account i know this must always be a sore subject with the family let
us say no more about it 

 i don't understand you said mr lorry 

 i dare say not rejoined stryver nodding his head in a smoothing and
final way no matter no matter 

 but it does matter mr lorry urged 

 no it doesn't i assure you it doesn't having supposed that there was
sense where there is no sense and a laudable ambition where there is
not a laudable ambition i am well out of my mistake and no harm is
done young women have committed similar follies often before and have
repented them in poverty and obscurity often before in an unselfish
aspect i am sorry that the thing is dropped because it would have been
a bad thing for me in a worldly point of view in a selfish aspect i am
glad that the thing has dropped because it would have been a bad thing
for me in a worldly point of view it is hardly necessary to say i could
have gained nothing by it there is no harm at all done i have not
proposed to the young lady and between ourselves i am by no means
certain on reflection that i ever should have committed myself to
that extent mr lorry you cannot control the mincing vanities and
giddinesses of empty-headed girls you must not expect to do it or you
will always be disappointed now pray say no more about it i tell you 
i regret it on account of others but i am satisfied on my own account 
and i am really very much obliged to you for allowing me to sound you 
and for giving me your advice you know the young lady better than i do 
you were right it never would have done 

mr lorry was so taken aback that he looked quite stupidly at mr 
stryver shouldering him towards the door with an appearance of
showering generosity forbearance and goodwill on his erring head 
 make the best of it my dear sir said stryver say no more about it 
thank you again for allowing me to sound you good night 

mr lorry was out in the night before he knew where he was mr stryver
was lying back on his sofa winking at his ceiling 




xiii the fellow of no delicacy


if sydney carton ever shone anywhere he certainly never shone in the
house of doctor manette he had been there often during a whole year 
and had always been the same moody and morose lounger there when he
cared to talk he talked well but the cloud of caring for nothing 
which overshadowed him with such a fatal darkness was very rarely
pierced by the light within him 

and yet he did care something for the streets that environed that house 
and for the senseless stones that made their pavements many a night
he vaguely and unhappily wandered there when wine had brought no
transitory gladness to him many a dreary daybreak revealed his solitary
figure lingering there and still lingering there when the first beams
of the sun brought into strong relief removed beauties of architecture
in spires of churches and lofty buildings as perhaps the quiet time
brought some sense of better things else forgotten and unattainable 
into his mind of late the neglected bed in the temple court had known
him more scantily than ever and often when he had thrown himself upon
it no longer than a few minutes he had got up again and haunted that
neighbourhood 

on a day in august when mr stryver after notifying to his jackal
that he had thought better of that marrying matter had carried his
delicacy into devonshire and when the sight and scent of flowers in the
city streets had some waifs of goodness in them for the worst of health
for the sickliest and of youth for the oldest sydney's feet still trod
those stones from being irresolute and purposeless his feet became
animated by an intention and in the working out of that intention 
they took him to the doctor's door 

he was shown up-stairs and found lucie at her work alone she had
never been quite at her ease with him and received him with some little
embarrassment as he seated himself near her table but looking up at
his face in the interchange of the first few common-places she observed
a change in it 

 i fear you are not well mr carton 

 no but the life i lead miss manette is not conducive to health what
is to be expected of or by such profligates 

 is it not forgive me i have begun the question on my lips a pity to
live no better life 

 god knows it is a shame 

 then why not change it 

looking gently at him again she was surprised and saddened to see that
there were tears in his eyes there were tears in his voice too as he
answered 

 it is too late for that i shall never be better than i am i shall
sink lower and be worse 

he leaned an elbow on her table and covered his eyes with his hand the
table trembled in the silence that followed 

she had never seen him softened and was much distressed he knew her to
be so without looking at her and said 

 pray forgive me miss manette i break down before the knowledge of
what i want to say to you will you hear me 

 if it will do you any good mr carton if it would make you happier 
it would make me very glad 

 god bless you for your sweet compassion 

he unshaded his face after a little while and spoke steadily 

 don't be afraid to hear me don't shrink from anything i say i am like
one who died young all my life might have been 

 no mr carton i am sure that the best part of it might still be i am
sure that you might be much much worthier of yourself 

 say of you miss manette and although i know better although in the
mystery of my own wretched heart i know better i shall never forget
it 

she was pale and trembling he came to her relief with a fixed despair
of himself which made the interview unlike any other that could have
been holden 

 if it had been possible miss manette that you could have returned the
love of the man you see before yourself flung away wasted drunken 
poor creature of misuse as you know him to be he would have been
conscious this day and hour in spite of his happiness that he would
bring you to misery bring you to sorrow and repentance blight you 
disgrace you pull you down with him i know very well that you can have
no tenderness for me i ask for none i am even thankful that it cannot
be 

 without it can i not save you mr carton can i not recall
you forgive me again to a better course can i in no way repay your
confidence i know this is a confidence she modestly said after a
little hesitation and in earnest tears i know you would say this to
no one else can i turn it to no good account for yourself mr carton 

he shook his head 

 to none no miss manette to none if you will hear me through a very
little more all you can ever do for me is done i wish you to know that
you have been the last dream of my soul in my degradation i have not
been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father and of this
home made such a home by you has stirred old shadows that i thought had
died out of me since i knew you i have been troubled by a remorse that
i thought would never reproach me again and have heard whispers from
old voices impelling me upward that i thought were silent for ever i
have had unformed ideas of striving afresh beginning anew shaking off
sloth and sensuality and fighting out the abandoned fight a dream all
a dream that ends in nothing and leaves the sleeper where he lay down 
but i wish you to know that you inspired it 

 will nothing of it remain o mr carton think again try again 

 no miss manette all through it i have known myself to be quite
undeserving and yet i have had the weakness and have still the
weakness to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me 
heap of ashes that i am into fire a fire however inseparable in
its nature from myself quickening nothing lighting nothing doing no
service idly burning away 

 since it is my misfortune mr carton to have made you more unhappy
than you were before you knew me 

 don't say that miss manette for you would have reclaimed me if
anything could you will not be the cause of my becoming worse 

 since the state of your mind that you describe is at all events 
attributable to some influence of mine this is what i mean if i can
make it plain can i use no influence to serve you have i no power for
good with you at all 

 the utmost good that i am capable of now miss manette i have come
here to realise let me carry through the rest of my misdirected life 
the remembrance that i opened my heart to you last of all the world 
and that there was something left in me at this time which you could
deplore and pity 

 which i entreated you to believe again and again most fervently with
all my heart was capable of better things mr carton 

 entreat me to believe it no more miss manette i have proved myself 
and i know better i distress you i draw fast to an end will you let
me believe when i recall this day that the last confidence of my life
was reposed in your pure and innocent breast and that it lies there
alone and will be shared by no one 

 if that will be a consolation to you yes 

 not even by the dearest one ever to be known to you 

 mr carton she answered after an agitated pause the secret is
yours not mine and i promise to respect it 

 thank you and again god bless you 

he put her hand to his lips and moved towards the door 

 be under no apprehension miss manette of my ever resuming this
conversation by so much as a passing word i will never refer to it
again if i were dead that could not be surer than it is henceforth in
the hour of my death i shall hold sacred the one good remembrance and
shall thank and bless you for it that my last avowal of myself was made
to you and that my name and faults and miseries were gently carried
in your heart may it otherwise be light and happy 

he was so unlike what he had ever shown himself to be and it was so
sad to think how much he had thrown away and how much he every day kept
down and perverted that lucie manette wept mournfully for him as he
stood looking back at her 

 be comforted he said i am not worth such feeling miss manette an
hour or two hence and the low companions and low habits that i scorn
but yield to will render me less worth such tears as those than any
wretch who creeps along the streets be comforted but within myself i
shall always be towards you what i am now though outwardly i shall be
what you have heretofore seen me the last supplication but one i make
to you is that you will believe this of me 

 i will mr carton 

 my last supplication of all is this and with it i will relieve
you of a visitor with whom i well know you have nothing in unison and
between whom and you there is an impassable space it is useless to say
it i know but it rises out of my soul for you and for any dear to
you i would do anything if my career were of that better kind that
there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it i would
embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you try to hold
me in your mind at some quiet times as ardent and sincere in this one
thing the time will come the time will not be long in coming when new
ties will be formed about you ties that will bind you yet more tenderly
and strongly to the home you so adorn the dearest ties that will ever
grace and gladden you o miss manette when the little picture of a
happy father's face looks up in yours when you see your own bright
beauty springing up anew at your feet think now and then that there is
a man who would give his life to keep a life you love beside you 

he said farewell said a last god bless you and left her 




xiv the honest tradesman


to the eyes of mr jeremiah cruncher sitting on his stool in
fleet-street with his grisly urchin beside him a vast number and
variety of objects in movement were every day presented who could sit
upon anything in fleet-street during the busy hours of the day and
not be dazed and deafened by two immense processions one ever tending
westward with the sun the other ever tending eastward from the sun 
both ever tending to the plains beyond the range of red and purple where
the sun goes down 

with his straw in his mouth mr cruncher sat watching the two streams 
like the heathen rustic who has for several centuries been on duty
watching one stream saving that jerry had no expectation of their ever
running dry nor would it have been an expectation of a hopeful kind 
since a small part of his income was derived from the pilotage of timid
women mostly of a full habit and past the middle term of life from
tellson's side of the tides to the opposite shore brief as such
companionship was in every separate instance mr cruncher never failed
to become so interested in the lady as to express a strong desire to
have the honour of drinking her very good health and it was from
the gifts bestowed upon him towards the execution of this benevolent
purpose that he recruited his finances as just now observed 

time was when a poet sat upon a stool in a public place and mused in
the sight of men mr cruncher sitting on a stool in a public place 
but not being a poet mused as little as possible and looked about him 

it fell out that he was thus engaged in a season when crowds were
few and belated women few and when his affairs in general were so
unprosperous as to awaken a strong suspicion in his breast that mrs 
cruncher must have been flopping in some pointed manner when an
unusual concourse pouring down fleet-street westward attracted his
attention looking that way mr cruncher made out that some kind of
funeral was coming along and that there was popular objection to this
funeral which engendered uproar 

 young jerry said mr cruncher turning to his offspring it's a
buryin' 

 hooroar father cried young jerry 

the young gentleman uttered this exultant sound with mysterious
significance the elder gentleman took the cry so ill that he watched
his opportunity and smote the young gentleman on the ear 

 what d'ye mean what are you hooroaring at what do you want to conwey
to your own father you young rip this boy is a getting too many for
 me said mr cruncher surveying him him and his hooroars don't
let me hear no more of you or you shall feel some more of me d'ye
hear 

 i warn't doing no harm young jerry protested rubbing his cheek 

 drop it then said mr cruncher i won't have none of your no
harms get a top of that there seat and look at the crowd 

his son obeyed and the crowd approached they were bawling and hissing
round a dingy hearse and dingy mourning coach in which mourning coach
there was only one mourner dressed in the dingy trappings that were
considered essential to the dignity of the position the position
appeared by no means to please him however with an increasing rabble
surrounding the coach deriding him making grimaces at him and
incessantly groaning and calling out yah spies tst yaha spies 
 with many compliments too numerous and forcible to repeat 

funerals had at all times a remarkable attraction for mr cruncher he
always pricked up his senses and became excited when a funeral passed
tellson's naturally therefore a funeral with this uncommon attendance
excited him greatly and he asked of the first man who ran against him 

 what is it brother what's it about 

 i don't know said the man spies yaha tst spies 

he asked another man who is it 

 i don't know returned the man clapping his hands to his mouth
nevertheless and vociferating in a surprising heat and with the
greatest ardour spies yaha tst tst spi ies 

at length a person better informed on the merits of the case tumbled
against him and from this person he learned that the funeral was the
funeral of one roger cly 

 was he a spy asked mr cruncher 

 old bailey spy returned his informant yaha tst yah old bailey
spi i ies 

 why to be sure exclaimed jerry recalling the trial at which he had
assisted i've seen him dead is he 

 dead as mutton returned the other and can't be too dead have 'em
out there spies pull 'em out there spies 

the idea was so acceptable in the prevalent absence of any idea 
that the crowd caught it up with eagerness and loudly repeating the
suggestion to have 'em out and to pull 'em out mobbed the two vehicles
so closely that they came to a stop on the crowd's opening the coach
doors the one mourner scuffled out by himself and was in their hands
for a moment but he was so alert and made such good use of his time 
that in another moment he was scouring away up a bye-street after
shedding his cloak hat long hatband white pocket-handkerchief and
other symbolical tears 

these the people tore to pieces and scattered far and wide with great
enjoyment while the tradesmen hurriedly shut up their shops for a
crowd in those times stopped at nothing and was a monster much dreaded 
they had already got the length of opening the hearse to take the coffin
out when some brighter genius proposed instead its being escorted to
its destination amidst general rejoicing practical suggestions being
much needed this suggestion too was received with acclamation and
the coach was immediately filled with eight inside and a dozen out 
while as many people got on the roof of the hearse as could by any
exercise of ingenuity stick upon it among the first of these volunteers
was jerry cruncher himself who modestly concealed his spiky head from
the observation of tellson's in the further corner of the mourning
coach 

the officiating undertakers made some protest against these changes in
the ceremonies but the river being alarmingly near and several voices
remarking on the efficacy of cold immersion in bringing refractory
members of the profession to reason the protest was faint and brief 
the remodelled procession started with a chimney-sweep driving the
hearse advised by the regular driver who was perched beside him under
close inspection for the purpose and with a pieman also attended
by his cabinet minister driving the mourning coach a bear-leader a
popular street character of the time was impressed as an additional
ornament before the cavalcade had gone far down the strand and his
bear who was black and very mangy gave quite an undertaking air to
that part of the procession in which he walked 

thus with beer-drinking pipe-smoking song-roaring and infinite
caricaturing of woe the disorderly procession went its way recruiting
at every step and all the shops shutting up before it its destination
was the old church of saint pancras far off in the fields it got there
in course of time insisted on pouring into the burial-ground finally 
accomplished the interment of the deceased roger cly in its own way and
highly to its own satisfaction 

the dead man disposed of and the crowd being under the necessity of
providing some other entertainment for itself another brighter
genius or perhaps the same conceived the humour of impeaching casual
passers-by as old bailey spies and wreaking vengeance on them chase
was given to some scores of inoffensive persons who had never been near
the old bailey in their lives in the realisation of this fancy and
they were roughly hustled and maltreated the transition to the sport of
window-breaking and thence to the plundering of public-houses was easy
and natural at last after several hours when sundry summer-houses had
been pulled down and some area-railings had been torn up to arm
the more belligerent spirits a rumour got about that the guards were
coming before this rumour the crowd gradually melted away and perhaps
the guards came and perhaps they never came and this was the usual
progress of a mob 

mr cruncher did not assist at the closing sports but had remained
behind in the churchyard to confer and condole with the undertakers 
the place had a soothing influence on him he procured a pipe from a
neighbouring public-house and smoked it looking in at the railings and
maturely considering the spot 

 jerry said mr cruncher apostrophising himself in his usual way 
 you see that there cly that day and you see with your own eyes that he
was a young 'un and a straight made 'un 

having smoked his pipe out and ruminated a little longer he turned
himself about that he might appear before the hour of closing on his
station at tellson's whether his meditations on mortality had touched
his liver or whether his general health had been previously at all
amiss or whether he desired to show a little attention to an eminent
man is not so much to the purpose as that he made a short call upon
his medical adviser a distinguished surgeon on his way back 

young jerry relieved his father with dutiful interest and reported no
job in his absence the bank closed the ancient clerks came out the
usual watch was set and mr cruncher and his son went home to tea 

 now i tell you where it is said mr cruncher to his wife on
entering if as a honest tradesman my wenturs goes wrong to-night i
shall make sure that you've been praying again me and i shall work you
for it just the same as if i seen you do it 

the dejected mrs cruncher shook her head 

 why you're at it afore my face said mr cruncher with signs of
angry apprehension 

 i am saying nothing 

 well then don't meditate nothing you might as well flop as meditate 
you may as well go again me one way as another drop it altogether 

 yes jerry 

 yes jerry repeated mr cruncher sitting down to tea ah it is 
yes jerry that's about it you may say yes jerry 

mr cruncher had no particular meaning in these sulky corroborations 
but made use of them as people not unfrequently do to express general
ironical dissatisfaction 

 you and your yes jerry said mr cruncher taking a bite out of his
bread-and-butter and seeming to help it down with a large invisible
oyster out of his saucer ah i think so i believe you 

 you are going out to-night asked his decent wife when he took
another bite 

 yes i am 

 may i go with you father asked his son briskly 

 no you mayn't i'm a going as your mother knows a fishing that's
where i'm going to going a fishing 

 your fishing-rod gets rayther rusty don't it father 

 never you mind 

 shall you bring any fish home father 

 if i don't you'll have short commons to-morrow returned that
gentleman shaking his head that's questions enough for you i ain't a
going out till you've been long abed 

he devoted himself during the remainder of the evening to keeping a
most vigilant watch on mrs cruncher and sullenly holding her in
conversation that she might be prevented from meditating any petitions
to his disadvantage with this view he urged his son to hold her in
conversation also and led the unfortunate woman a hard life by dwelling
on any causes of complaint he could bring against her rather than
he would leave her for a moment to her own reflections the devoutest
person could have rendered no greater homage to the efficacy of an
honest prayer than he did in this distrust of his wife it was as if a
professed unbeliever in ghosts should be frightened by a ghost story 

 and mind you said mr cruncher no games to-morrow if i as a
honest tradesman succeed in providing a jinte of meat or two none
of your not touching of it and sticking to bread if i as a honest
tradesman am able to provide a little beer none of your declaring
on water when you go to rome do as rome does rome will be a ugly
customer to you if you don't i 'm your rome you know 

then he began grumbling again 

 with your flying into the face of your own wittles and drink i don't
know how scarce you mayn't make the wittles and drink here by your
flopping tricks and your unfeeling conduct look at your boy he is 
your'n ain't he he's as thin as a lath do you call yourself a mother 
and not know that a mother's first duty is to blow her boy out 

this touched young jerry on a tender place who adjured his mother to
perform her first duty and whatever else she did or neglected above
all things to lay especial stress on the discharge of that maternal
function so affectingly and delicately indicated by his other parent 

thus the evening wore away with the cruncher family until young jerry
was ordered to bed and his mother laid under similar injunctions 
obeyed them mr cruncher beguiled the earlier watches of the night with
solitary pipes and did not start upon his excursion until nearly one
o'clock towards that small and ghostly hour he rose up from his chair 
took a key out of his pocket opened a locked cupboard and brought
forth a sack a crowbar of convenient size a rope and chain and other
fishing tackle of that nature disposing these articles about him
in skilful manner he bestowed a parting defiance on mrs cruncher 
extinguished the light and went out 

young jerry who had only made a feint of undressing when he went to
bed was not long after his father under cover of the darkness he
followed out of the room followed down the stairs followed down the
court followed out into the streets he was in no uneasiness concerning
his getting into the house again for it was full of lodgers and the
door stood ajar all night 

impelled by a laudable ambition to study the art and mystery of his
father's honest calling young jerry keeping as close to house fronts 
walls and doorways as his eyes were close to one another held his
honoured parent in view the honoured parent steering northward had not
gone far when he was joined by another disciple of izaak walton and
the two trudged on together 

within half an hour from the first starting they were beyond the
winking lamps and the more than winking watchmen and were out upon a
lonely road another fisherman was picked up here and that so silently 
that if young jerry had been superstitious he might have supposed the
second follower of the gentle craft to have all of a sudden split
himself into two 

the three went on and young jerry went on until the three stopped
under a bank overhanging the road upon the top of the bank was a low
brick wall surmounted by an iron railing in the shadow of bank and
wall the three turned out of the road and up a blind lane of which
the wall there risen to some eight or ten feet high formed one side 
crouching down in a corner peeping up the lane the next object that
young jerry saw was the form of his honoured parent pretty well
defined against a watery and clouded moon nimbly scaling an iron gate 
he was soon over and then the second fisherman got over and then the
third they all dropped softly on the ground within the gate and lay
there a little listening perhaps then they moved away on their hands
and knees 

it was now young jerry's turn to approach the gate which he did 
holding his breath crouching down again in a corner there and looking
in he made out the three fishermen creeping through some rank grass 
and all the gravestones in the churchyard it was a large churchyard
that they were in looking on like ghosts in white while the church
tower itself looked on like the ghost of a monstrous giant they did not
creep far before they stopped and stood upright and then they began to
fish 

they fished with a spade at first presently the honoured parent
appeared to be adjusting some instrument like a great corkscrew 
whatever tools they worked with they worked hard until the awful
striking of the church clock so terrified young jerry that he made off 
with his hair as stiff as his father's 

but his long-cherished desire to know more about these matters not
only stopped him in his running away but lured him back again they
were still fishing perseveringly when he peeped in at the gate for
the second time but now they seemed to have got a bite there was a
screwing and complaining sound down below and their bent figures were
strained as if by a weight by slow degrees the weight broke away the
earth upon it and came to the surface young jerry very well knew what
it would be but when he saw it and saw his honoured parent about to
wrench it open he was so frightened being new to the sight that he
made off again and never stopped until he had run a mile or more 

he would not have stopped then for anything less necessary than breath 
it being a spectral sort of race that he ran and one highly desirable
to get to the end of he had a strong idea that the coffin he had seen
was running after him and pictured as hopping on behind him bolt
upright upon its narrow end always on the point of overtaking him
and hopping on at his side perhaps taking his arm it was a pursuer to
shun it was an inconsistent and ubiquitous fiend too for while it
was making the whole night behind him dreadful he darted out into the
roadway to avoid dark alleys fearful of its coming hopping out of them
like a dropsical boy's kite without tail and wings it hid in doorways
too rubbing its horrible shoulders against doors and drawing them up
to its ears as if it were laughing it got into shadows on the road 
and lay cunningly on its back to trip him up all this time it was
incessantly hopping on behind and gaining on him so that when the boy
got to his own door he had reason for being half dead and even then
it would not leave him but followed him upstairs with a bump on every
stair scrambled into bed with him and bumped down dead and heavy on
his breast when he fell asleep 

from his oppressed slumber young jerry in his closet was awakened after
daybreak and before sunrise by the presence of his father in the
family room something had gone wrong with him at least so young jerry
inferred from the circumstance of his holding mrs cruncher by the
ears and knocking the back of her head against the head-board of the
bed 

 i told you i would said mr cruncher and i did 

 jerry jerry jerry his wife implored 

 you oppose yourself to the profit of the business said jerry and me
and my partners suffer you was to honour and obey why the devil don't
you 

 i try to be a good wife jerry the poor woman protested with tears 

 is it being a good wife to oppose your husband's business is it
honouring your husband to dishonour his business is it obeying your
husband to disobey him on the wital subject of his business 

 you hadn't taken to the dreadful business then jerry 

 it's enough for you retorted mr cruncher to be the wife of a
honest tradesman and not to occupy your female mind with calculations
when he took to his trade or when he didn't a honouring and obeying
wife would let his trade alone altogether call yourself a religious
woman if you're a religious woman give me a irreligious one you have
no more nat'ral sense of duty than the bed of this here thames river has
of a pile and similarly it must be knocked into you 

the altercation was conducted in a low tone of voice and terminated in
the honest tradesman's kicking off his clay-soiled boots and lying down
at his length on the floor after taking a timid peep at him lying on
his back with his rusty hands under his head for a pillow his son lay
down too and fell asleep again 

there was no fish for breakfast and not much of anything else mr 
cruncher was out of spirits and out of temper and kept an iron pot-lid
by him as a projectile for the correction of mrs cruncher in case
he should observe any symptoms of her saying grace he was brushed
and washed at the usual hour and set off with his son to pursue his
ostensible calling 

young jerry walking with the stool under his arm at his father's side
along sunny and crowded fleet-street was a very different young jerry
from him of the previous night running home through darkness and
solitude from his grim pursuer his cunning was fresh with the day 
and his qualms were gone with the night in which particulars it is not
improbable that he had compeers in fleet-street and the city of london 
that fine morning 

 father said young jerry as they walked along taking care to keep
at arm's length and to have the stool well between them what's a
resurrection-man 

mr cruncher came to a stop on the pavement before he answered how
should i know 

 i thought you knowed everything father said the artless boy 

 hem well returned mr cruncher going on again and lifting off his
hat to give his spikes free play he's a tradesman 

 what's his goods father asked the brisk young jerry 

 his goods said mr cruncher after turning it over in his mind is a
branch of scientific goods 

 persons' bodies ain't it father asked the lively boy 

 i believe it is something of that sort said mr cruncher 

 oh father i should so like to be a resurrection-man when i'm quite
growed up 

mr cruncher was soothed but shook his head in a dubious and moral way 
 it depends upon how you dewelop your talents be careful to dewelop
your talents and never to say no more than you can help to nobody and
there's no telling at the present time what you may not come to be fit
for as young jerry thus encouraged went on a few yards in advance 
to plant the stool in the shadow of the bar mr cruncher added to
himself jerry you honest tradesman there's hopes wot that boy will
yet be a blessing to you and a recompense to you for his mother 




xv knitting


there had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine-shop of monsieur
defarge as early as six o'clock in the morning sallow faces peeping
through its barred windows had descried other faces within bending over
measures of wine monsieur defarge sold a very thin wine at the best
of times but it would seem to have been an unusually thin wine that
he sold at this time a sour wine moreover or a souring for its
influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them gloomy no
vivacious bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape of monsieur
defarge but a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark lay hidden in
the dregs of it 

this had been the third morning in succession on which there had been
early drinking at the wine-shop of monsieur defarge it had begun
on monday and here was wednesday come there had been more of early
brooding than drinking for many men had listened and whispered and
slunk about there from the time of the opening of the door who could
not have laid a piece of money on the counter to save their souls these
were to the full as interested in the place however as if they could
have commanded whole barrels of wine and they glided from seat to seat 
and from corner to corner swallowing talk in lieu of drink with greedy
looks 

notwithstanding an unusual flow of company the master of the wine-shop
was not visible he was not missed for nobody who crossed the
threshold looked for him nobody asked for him nobody wondered to see
only madame defarge in her seat presiding over the distribution of
wine with a bowl of battered small coins before her as much defaced
and beaten out of their original impress as the small coinage of
humanity from whose ragged pockets they had come 

a suspended interest and a prevalent absence of mind were perhaps
observed by the spies who looked in at the wine-shop as they looked in
at every place high and low from the king's palace to the criminal's
gaol games at cards languished players at dominoes musingly built
towers with them drinkers drew figures on the tables with spilt drops
of wine madame defarge herself picked out the pattern on her sleeve
with her toothpick and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible
a long way off 

thus saint antoine in this vinous feature of his until midday it was
high noontide when two dusty men passed through his streets and under
his swinging lamps of whom one was monsieur defarge the other a
mender of roads in a blue cap all adust and athirst the two entered
the wine-shop their arrival had lighted a kind of fire in the breast
of saint antoine fast spreading as they came along which stirred and
flickered in flames of faces at most doors and windows yet no one had
followed them and no man spoke when they entered the wine-shop though
the eyes of every man there were turned upon them 

 good day gentlemen said monsieur defarge 

it may have been a signal for loosening the general tongue it elicited
an answering chorus of good day 

 it is bad weather gentlemen said defarge shaking his head 

upon which every man looked at his neighbour and then all cast down
their eyes and sat silent except one man who got up and went out 

 my wife said defarge aloud addressing madame defarge i have
travelled certain leagues with this good mender of roads called
jacques i met him by accident a day and half's journey out of paris 
he is a good child this mender of roads called jacques give him to
drink my wife 

a second man got up and went out madame defarge set wine before the
mender of roads called jacques who doffed his blue cap to the company 
and drank in the breast of his blouse he carried some coarse dark
bread he ate of this between whiles and sat munching and drinking near
madame defarge's counter a third man got up and went out 

defarge refreshed himself with a draught of wine but he took less
than was given to the stranger as being himself a man to whom it was no
rarity and stood waiting until the countryman had made his breakfast 
he looked at no one present and no one now looked at him not even
madame defarge who had taken up her knitting and was at work 

 have you finished your repast friend he asked in due season 

 yes thank you 

 come then you shall see the apartment that i told you you could
occupy it will suit you to a marvel 

out of the wine-shop into the street out of the street into a
courtyard out of the courtyard up a steep staircase out of the
staircase into a garret formerly the garret where a white-haired man
sat on a low bench stooping forward and very busy making shoes 

no white-haired man was there now but the three men were there who had
gone out of the wine-shop singly and between them and the white-haired
man afar off was the one small link that they had once looked in at
him through the chinks in the wall 

defarge closed the door carefully and spoke in a subdued voice 

 jacques one jacques two jacques three this is the witness
encountered by appointment by me jacques four he will tell you all 
speak jacques five 

the mender of roads blue cap in hand wiped his swarthy forehead with
it and said where shall i commence monsieur 

 commence was monsieur defarge's not unreasonable reply at the
commencement 

 i saw him then messieurs began the mender of roads a year ago this
running summer underneath the carriage of the marquis hanging by the
chain behold the manner of it i leaving my work on the road the sun
going to bed the carriage of the marquis slowly ascending the hill he
hanging by the chain like this 

again the mender of roads went through the whole performance in which
he ought to have been perfect by that time seeing that it had been
the infallible resource and indispensable entertainment of his village
during a whole year 

jacques one struck in and asked if he had ever seen the man before 

 never answered the mender of roads recovering his perpendicular 

jacques three demanded how he afterwards recognised him then 

 by his tall figure said the mender of roads softly and with his
finger at his nose when monsieur the marquis demands that evening 
'say what is he like ' i make response 'tall as a spectre ' 

 you should have said short as a dwarf returned jacques two 

 but what did i know the deed was not then accomplished neither did he
confide in me observe under those circumstances even i do not
offer my testimony monsieur the marquis indicates me with his finger 
standing near our little fountain and says 'to me bring that rascal '
my faith messieurs i offer nothing 

 he is right there jacques murmured defarge to him who had
interrupted go on 

 good said the mender of roads with an air of mystery the tall man
is lost and he is sought how many months nine ten eleven 

 no matter the number said defarge he is well hidden but at last
he is unluckily found go on 

 i am again at work upon the hill-side and the sun is again about to
go to bed i am collecting my tools to descend to my cottage down in the
village below where it is already dark when i raise my eyes and see
coming over the hill six soldiers in the midst of them is a tall man
with his arms bound tied to his sides like this 

with the aid of his indispensable cap he represented a man with his
elbows bound fast at his hips with cords that were knotted behind him 

 i stand aside messieurs by my heap of stones to see the soldiers
and their prisoner pass for it is a solitary road that where any
spectacle is well worth looking at and at first as they approach i
see no more than that they are six soldiers with a tall man bound and
that they are almost black to my sight except on the side of the sun
going to bed where they have a red edge messieurs also i see that
their long shadows are on the hollow ridge on the opposite side of the
road and are on the hill above it and are like the shadows of giants 
also i see that they are covered with dust and that the dust moves
with them as they come tramp tramp but when they advance quite near
to me i recognise the tall man and he recognises me ah but he would
be well content to precipitate himself over the hill-side once again as
on the evening when he and i first encountered close to the same spot 

he described it as if he were there and it was evident that he saw it
vividly perhaps he had not seen much in his life 

 i do not show the soldiers that i recognise the tall man he does not
show the soldiers that he recognises me we do it and we know it with
our eyes 'come on ' says the chief of that company pointing to the
village 'bring him fast to his tomb ' and they bring him faster i
follow his arms are swelled because of being bound so tight his wooden
shoes are large and clumsy and he is lame because he is lame and
consequently slow they drive him with their guns like this 

he imitated the action of a man's being impelled forward by the
butt-ends of muskets 

 as they descend the hill like madmen running a race he falls they
laugh and pick him up again his face is bleeding and covered with dust 
but he cannot touch it thereupon they laugh again they bring him into
the village all the village runs to look they take him past the mill 
and up to the prison all the village sees the prison gate open in the
darkness of the night and swallow him like this 

he opened his mouth as wide as he could and shut it with a sounding
snap of his teeth observant of his unwillingness to mar the effect by
opening it again defarge said go on jacques 

 all the village pursued the mender of roads on tiptoe and in a low
voice withdraws all the village whispers by the fountain all the
village sleeps all the village dreams of that unhappy one within the
locks and bars of the prison on the crag and never to come out of it 
except to perish in the morning with my tools upon my shoulder eating
my morsel of black bread as i go i make a circuit by the prison on
my way to my work there i see him high up behind the bars of a lofty
iron cage bloody and dusty as last night looking through he has no
hand free to wave to me i dare not call to him he regards me like a
dead man 

defarge and the three glanced darkly at one another the looks of all
of them were dark repressed and revengeful as they listened to the
countryman's story the manner of all of them while it was secret was
authoritative too they had the air of a rough tribunal jacques one
and two sitting on the old pallet-bed each with his chin resting on
his hand and his eyes intent on the road-mender jacques three equally
intent on one knee behind them with his agitated hand always gliding
over the network of fine nerves about his mouth and nose defarge
standing between them and the narrator whom he had stationed in the
light of the window by turns looking from him to them and from them to
him 

 go on jacques said defarge 

 he remains up there in his iron cage some days the village looks
at him by stealth for it is afraid but it always looks up from a
distance at the prison on the crag and in the evening when the work
of the day is achieved and it assembles to gossip at the fountain all
faces are turned towards the prison formerly they were turned towards
the posting-house now they are turned towards the prison they
whisper at the fountain that although condemned to death he will not be
executed they say that petitions have been presented in paris showing
that he was enraged and made mad by the death of his child they say
that a petition has been presented to the king himself what do i know 
it is possible perhaps yes perhaps no 

 listen then jacques number one of that name sternly interposed 
 know that a petition was presented to the king and queen all here 
yourself excepted saw the king take it in his carriage in the street 
sitting beside the queen it is defarge whom you see here who at the
hazard of his life darted out before the horses with the petition in
his hand 

 and once again listen jacques said the kneeling number three 
his fingers ever wandering over and over those fine nerves with a
strikingly greedy air as if he hungered for something that was neither
food nor drink the guard horse and foot surrounded the petitioner 
and struck him blows you hear 

 i hear messieurs 

 go on then said defarge 

 again on the other hand they whisper at the fountain resumed the
countryman that he is brought down into our country to be executed on
the spot and that he will very certainly be executed they even whisper
that because he has slain monseigneur and because monseigneur was the
father of his tenants serfs what you will he will be executed as a
parricide one old man says at the fountain that his right hand armed
with the knife will be burnt off before his face that into wounds
which will be made in his arms his breast and his legs there will be
poured boiling oil melted lead hot resin wax and sulphur finally 
that he will be torn limb from limb by four strong horses that old man
says all this was actually done to a prisoner who made an attempt on
the life of the late king louis fifteen but how do i know if he lies 
i am not a scholar 

 listen once again then jacques said the man with the restless hand
and the craving air the name of that prisoner was damiens and it was
all done in open day in the open streets of this city of paris and
nothing was more noticed in the vast concourse that saw it done than
the crowd of ladies of quality and fashion who were full of eager
attention to the last to the last jacques prolonged until nightfall 
when he had lost two legs and an arm and still breathed and it was
done why how old are you 

 thirty-five said the mender of roads who looked sixty 

 it was done when you were more than ten years old you might have seen
it 

 enough said defarge with grim impatience long live the devil go
on 

 well some whisper this some whisper that they speak of nothing else 
even the fountain appears to fall to that tune at length on sunday
night when all the village is asleep come soldiers winding down from
the prison and their guns ring on the stones of the little street 
workmen dig workmen hammer soldiers laugh and sing in the morning by
the fountain there is raised a gallows forty feet high poisoning the
water 

the mender of roads looked through rather than at the low ceiling 
and pointed as if he saw the gallows somewhere in the sky 

 all work is stopped all assemble there nobody leads the cows out 
the cows are there with the rest at midday the roll of drums soldiers
have marched into the prison in the night and he is in the midst
of many soldiers he is bound as before and in his mouth there is
a gag tied so with a tight string making him look almost as if he
laughed he suggested it by creasing his face with his two thumbs 
from the corners of his mouth to his ears on the top of the gallows is
fixed the knife blade upwards with its point in the air he is hanged
there forty feet high and is left hanging poisoning the water 

they looked at one another as he used his blue cap to wipe his face 
on which the perspiration had started afresh while he recalled the
spectacle 

 it is frightful messieurs how can the women and the children draw
water who can gossip of an evening under that shadow under it have
i said when i left the village monday evening as the sun was going to
bed and looked back from the hill the shadow struck across the church 
across the mill across the prison seemed to strike across the earth 
messieurs to where the sky rests upon it 

the hungry man gnawed one of his fingers as he looked at the other
three and his finger quivered with the craving that was on him 

 that's all messieurs i left at sunset as i had been warned to do 
and i walked on that night and half next day until i met as i was
warned i should this comrade with him i came on now riding and now
walking through the rest of yesterday and through last night and here
you see me 

after a gloomy silence the first jacques said good you have acted
and recounted faithfully will you wait for us a little outside the
door 

 very willingly said the mender of roads whom defarge escorted to the
top of the stairs and leaving seated there returned 

the three had risen and their heads were together when he came back to
the garret 

 how say you jacques demanded number one to be registered 

 to be registered as doomed to destruction returned defarge 

 magnificent croaked the man with the craving 

 the chateau and all the race inquired the first 

 the chateau and all the race returned defarge extermination 

the hungry man repeated in a rapturous croak magnificent and began
gnawing another finger 

 are you sure asked jacques two of defarge that no embarrassment
can arise from our manner of keeping the register without doubt it is
safe for no one beyond ourselves can decipher it but shall we always
be able to decipher it or i ought to say will she 

 jacques returned defarge drawing himself up if madame my wife
undertook to keep the register in her memory alone she would not lose
a word of it not a syllable of it knitted in her own stitches and her
own symbols it will always be as plain to her as the sun confide in
madame defarge it would be easier for the weakest poltroon that lives 
to erase himself from existence than to erase one letter of his name or
crimes from the knitted register of madame defarge 

there was a murmur of confidence and approval and then the man who
hungered asked is this rustic to be sent back soon i hope so he is
very simple is he not a little dangerous 

 he knows nothing said defarge at least nothing more than would
easily elevate himself to a gallows of the same height i charge myself
with him let him remain with me i will take care of him and set him
on his road he wishes to see the fine world the king the queen and
court let him see them on sunday 

 what exclaimed the hungry man staring is it a good sign that he
wishes to see royalty and nobility 

 jacques said defarge judiciously show a cat milk if you wish her
to thirst for it judiciously show a dog his natural prey if you wish
him to bring it down one day 

nothing more was said and the mender of roads being found already
dozing on the topmost stair was advised to lay himself down on the
pallet-bed and take some rest he needed no persuasion and was soon
asleep 

worse quarters than defarge's wine-shop could easily have been found
in paris for a provincial slave of that degree saving for a mysterious
dread of madame by which he was constantly haunted his life was very
new and agreeable but madame sat all day at her counter so expressly
unconscious of him and so particularly determined not to perceive that
his being there had any connection with anything below the surface that
he shook in his wooden shoes whenever his eye lighted on her for he
contended with himself that it was impossible to foresee what that lady
might pretend next and he felt assured that if she should take it
into her brightly ornamented head to pretend that she had seen him do a
murder and afterwards flay the victim she would infallibly go through
with it until the play was played out 

therefore when sunday came the mender of roads was not enchanted
 though he said he was to find that madame was to accompany monsieur
and himself to versailles it was additionally disconcerting to have
madame knitting all the way there in a public conveyance it was
additionally disconcerting yet to have madame in the crowd in the
afternoon still with her knitting in her hands as the crowd waited to
see the carriage of the king and queen 

 you work hard madame said a man near her 

 yes answered madame defarge i have a good deal to do 

 what do you make madame 

 many things 

 for instance 

 for instance returned madame defarge composedly shrouds 

the man moved a little further away as soon as he could and the mender
of roads fanned himself with his blue cap feeling it mightily close
and oppressive if he needed a king and queen to restore him he was
fortunate in having his remedy at hand for soon the large-faced king
and the fair-faced queen came in their golden coach attended by the
shining bull's eye of their court a glittering multitude of laughing
ladies and fine lords and in jewels and silks and powder and splendour
and elegantly spurning figures and handsomely disdainful faces of both
sexes the mender of roads bathed himself so much to his temporary
intoxication that he cried long live the king long live the queen 
long live everybody and everything as if he had never heard of
ubiquitous jacques in his time then there were gardens courtyards 
terraces fountains green banks more king and queen more bull's eye 
more lords and ladies more long live they all until he absolutely wept
with sentiment during the whole of this scene which lasted some three
hours he had plenty of shouting and weeping and sentimental company 
and throughout defarge held him by the collar as if to restrain him
from flying at the objects of his brief devotion and tearing them to
pieces 

 bravo said defarge clapping him on the back when it was over like a
patron you are a good boy 

the mender of roads was now coming to himself and was mistrustful of
having made a mistake in his late demonstrations but no 

 you are the fellow we want said defarge in his ear you make
these fools believe that it will last for ever then they are the more
insolent and it is the nearer ended 

 hey cried the mender of roads reflectively that's true 

 these fools know nothing while they despise your breath and would
stop it for ever and ever in you or in a hundred like you rather than
in one of their own horses or dogs they only know what your breath
tells them let it deceive them then a little longer it cannot
deceive them too much 

madame defarge looked superciliously at the client and nodded in
confirmation 

 as to you said she you would shout and shed tears for anything if
it made a show and a noise say would you not 

 truly madame i think so for the moment 

 if you were shown a great heap of dolls and were set upon them to
pluck them to pieces and despoil them for your own advantage you would
pick out the richest and gayest say would you not 

 truly yes madame 

 yes and if you were shown a flock of birds unable to fly and were
set upon them to strip them of their feathers for your own advantage 
you would set upon the birds of the finest feathers would you not 

 it is true madame 

 you have seen both dolls and birds to-day said madame defarge with
a wave of her hand towards the place where they had last been apparent 
 now go home 




xvi still knitting


madame defarge and monsieur her husband returned amicably to the
bosom of saint antoine while a speck in a blue cap toiled through the
darkness and through the dust and down the weary miles of avenue by
the wayside slowly tending towards that point of the compass where
the chateau of monsieur the marquis now in his grave listened to
the whispering trees such ample leisure had the stone faces now 
for listening to the trees and to the fountain that the few village
scarecrows who in their quest for herbs to eat and fragments of dead
stick to burn strayed within sight of the great stone courtyard and
terrace staircase had it borne in upon their starved fancy that
the expression of the faces was altered a rumour just lived in the
village had a faint and bare existence there as its people had that
when the knife struck home the faces changed from faces of pride to
faces of anger and pain also that when that dangling figure was hauled
up forty feet above the fountain they changed again and bore a cruel
look of being avenged which they would henceforth bear for ever in the
stone face over the great window of the bed-chamber where the murder
was done two fine dints were pointed out in the sculptured nose which
everybody recognised and which nobody had seen of old and on the
scarce occasions when two or three ragged peasants emerged from the
crowd to take a hurried peep at monsieur the marquis petrified a
skinny finger would not have pointed to it for a minute before they all
started away among the moss and leaves like the more fortunate hares
who could find a living there 

chateau and hut stone face and dangling figure the red stain on the
stone floor and the pure water in the village well thousands of acres
of land a whole province of france all france itself lay under the
night sky concentrated into a faint hair-breadth line so does a whole
world with all its greatnesses and littlenesses lie in a twinkling
star and as mere human knowledge can split a ray of light and analyse
the manner of its composition so sublimer intelligences may read in
the feeble shining of this earth of ours every thought and act every
vice and virtue of every responsible creature on it 

the defarges husband and wife came lumbering under the starlight 
in their public vehicle to that gate of paris whereunto their
journey naturally tended there was the usual stoppage at the barrier
guardhouse and the usual lanterns came glancing forth for the usual
examination and inquiry monsieur defarge alighted knowing one or two
of the soldiery there and one of the police the latter he was intimate
with and affectionately embraced 

when saint antoine had again enfolded the defarges in his dusky wings 
and they having finally alighted near the saint's boundaries were
picking their way on foot through the black mud and offal of his
streets madame defarge spoke to her husband 

 say then my friend what did jacques of the police tell thee 

 very little to-night but all he knows there is another spy
commissioned for our quarter there may be many more for all that he
can say but he knows of one 

 eh well said madame defarge raising her eyebrows with a cool
business air it is necessary to register him how do they call that
man 

 he is english 

 so much the better his name 

 barsad said defarge making it french by pronunciation but he had
been so careful to get it accurately that he then spelt it with perfect
correctness 

 barsad repeated madame good christian name 

 john 

 john barsad repeated madame after murmuring it once to herself 
 good his appearance is it known 

 age about forty years height about five feet nine black hair 
complexion dark generally rather handsome visage eyes dark face
thin long and sallow nose aquiline but not straight having a
peculiar inclination towards the left cheek expression therefore 
sinister 

 eh my faith it is a portrait said madame laughing he shall be
registered to-morrow 

they turned into the wine-shop which was closed for it was midnight 
and where madame defarge immediately took her post at her desk counted
the small moneys that had been taken during her absence examined the
stock went through the entries in the book made other entries of
her own checked the serving man in every possible way and finally
dismissed him to bed then she turned out the contents of the bowl
of money for the second time and began knotting them up in her
handkerchief in a chain of separate knots for safe keeping through the
night all this while defarge with his pipe in his mouth walked
up and down complacently admiring but never interfering in which
condition indeed as to the business and his domestic affairs he
walked up and down through life 

the night was hot and the shop close shut and surrounded by so foul a
neighbourhood was ill-smelling monsieur defarge's olfactory sense was
by no means delicate but the stock of wine smelt much stronger than
it ever tasted and so did the stock of rum and brandy and aniseed he
whiffed the compound of scents away as he put down his smoked-out pipe 

 you are fatigued said madame raising her glance as she knotted the
money there are only the usual odours 

 i am a little tired her husband acknowledged 

 you are a little depressed too said madame whose quick eyes had
never been so intent on the accounts but they had had a ray or two for
him oh the men the men 

 but my dear began defarge 

 but my dear repeated madame nodding firmly but my dear you are
faint of heart to-night my dear 

 well then said defarge as if a thought were wrung out of his
breast it is a long time 

 it is a long time repeated his wife and when is it not a long time 
vengeance and retribution require a long time it is the rule 

 it does not take a long time to strike a man with lightning said
defarge 

 how long demanded madame composedly does it take to make and store
the lightning tell me 

defarge raised his head thoughtfully as if there were something in that
too 

 it does not take a long time said madame for an earthquake to
swallow a town eh well tell me how long it takes to prepare the
earthquake 

 a long time i suppose said defarge 

 but when it is ready it takes place and grinds to pieces everything
before it in the meantime it is always preparing though it is not
seen or heard that is your consolation keep it 

she tied a knot with flashing eyes as if it throttled a foe 

 i tell thee said madame extending her right hand for emphasis 
 that although it is a long time on the road it is on the road and
coming i tell thee it never retreats and never stops i tell thee it
is always advancing look around and consider the lives of all the world
that we know consider the faces of all the world that we know consider
the rage and discontent to which the jacquerie addresses itself with
more and more of certainty every hour can such things last bah i mock
you 

 my brave wife returned defarge standing before her with his head
a little bent and his hands clasped at his back like a docile and
attentive pupil before his catechist i do not question all this but
it has lasted a long time and it is possible you know well my wife 
it is possible that it may not come during our lives 

 eh well how then demanded madame tying another knot as if there
were another enemy strangled 

 well said defarge with a half complaining and half apologetic shrug 
 we shall not see the triumph 

 we shall have helped it returned madame with her extended hand in
strong action nothing that we do is done in vain i believe with all
my soul that we shall see the triumph but even if not even if i knew
certainly not show me the neck of an aristocrat and tyrant and still i
would 

then madame with her teeth set tied a very terrible knot indeed 

 hold cried defarge reddening a little as if he felt charged with
cowardice i too my dear will stop at nothing 

 yes but it is your weakness that you sometimes need to see your victim
and your opportunity to sustain you sustain yourself without that 
when the time comes let loose a tiger and a devil but wait for the
time with the tiger and the devil chained not shown yet always ready 

madame enforced the conclusion of this piece of advice by striking her
little counter with her chain of money as if she knocked its brains
out and then gathering the heavy handkerchief under her arm in a serene
manner and observing that it was time to go to bed 

next noontide saw the admirable woman in her usual place in the
wine-shop knitting away assiduously a rose lay beside her and if she
now and then glanced at the flower it was with no infraction of her
usual preoccupied air there were a few customers drinking or not
drinking standing or seated sprinkled about the day was very hot 
and heaps of flies who were extending their inquisitive and adventurous
perquisitions into all the glutinous little glasses near madame fell
dead at the bottom their decease made no impression on the other flies
out promenading who looked at them in the coolest manner as if they
themselves were elephants or something as far removed until they met
the same fate curious to consider how heedless flies are perhaps they
thought as much at court that sunny summer day 

a figure entering at the door threw a shadow on madame defarge which she
felt to be a new one she laid down her knitting and began to pin her
rose in her head-dress before she looked at the figure 

it was curious the moment madame defarge took up the rose the
customers ceased talking and began gradually to drop out of the
wine-shop 

 good day madame said the new-comer 

 good day monsieur 

she said it aloud but added to herself as she resumed her knitting 
 hah good day age about forty height about five feet nine black
hair generally rather handsome visage complexion dark eyes dark 
thin long and sallow face aquiline nose but not straight having a
peculiar inclination towards the left cheek which imparts a sinister
expression good day one and all 

 have the goodness to give me a little glass of old cognac and a
mouthful of cool fresh water madame 

madame complied with a polite air 

 marvellous cognac this madame 

it was the first time it had ever been so complimented and madame
defarge knew enough of its antecedents to know better she said 
however that the cognac was flattered and took up her knitting the
visitor watched her fingers for a few moments and took the opportunity
of observing the place in general 

 you knit with great skill madame 

 i am accustomed to it 

 a pretty pattern too 

 you think so said madame looking at him with a smile 

 decidedly may one ask what it is for 

 pastime said madame still looking at him with a smile while her
fingers moved nimbly 

 not for use 

 that depends i may find a use for it one day if i do well said
madame drawing a breath and nodding her head with a stern kind of
coquetry i'll use it 

it was remarkable but the taste of saint antoine seemed to be
decidedly opposed to a rose on the head-dress of madame defarge two
men had entered separately and had been about to order drink when 
catching sight of that novelty they faltered made a pretence of
looking about as if for some friend who was not there and went away 
nor of those who had been there when this visitor entered was there
one left they had all dropped off the spy had kept his eyes open 
but had been able to detect no sign they had lounged away in a
poverty-stricken purposeless accidental manner quite natural and
unimpeachable 

 john thought madame checking off her work as her fingers knitted 
and her eyes looked at the stranger stay long enough and i shall knit
'barsad' before you go 

 you have a husband madame 

 i have 

 children 

 no children 

 business seems bad 

 business is very bad the people are so poor 

 ah the unfortunate miserable people so oppressed too as you say 

 as you say madame retorted correcting him and deftly knitting an
extra something into his name that boded him no good 

 pardon me certainly it was i who said so but you naturally think so 
of course 

 i think returned madame in a high voice i and my husband have
enough to do to keep this wine-shop open without thinking all we
think here is how to live that is the subject we think of and
it gives us from morning to night enough to think about without
embarrassing our heads concerning others i think for others no no 

the spy who was there to pick up any crumbs he could find or make did
not allow his baffled state to express itself in his sinister face but 
stood with an air of gossiping gallantry leaning his elbow on madame
defarge's little counter and occasionally sipping his cognac 

 a bad business this madame of gaspard's execution ah the poor
gaspard with a sigh of great compassion 

 my faith returned madame coolly and lightly if people use knives
for such purposes they have to pay for it he knew beforehand what the
price of his luxury was he has paid the price 

 i believe said the spy dropping his soft voice to a tone
that invited confidence and expressing an injured revolutionary
susceptibility in every muscle of his wicked face i believe there
is much compassion and anger in this neighbourhood touching the poor
fellow between ourselves 

 is there asked madame vacantly 

 is there not 

 here is my husband said madame defarge 

as the keeper of the wine-shop entered at the door the spy saluted
him by touching his hat and saying with an engaging smile good day 
jacques defarge stopped short and stared at him 

 good day jacques the spy repeated with not quite so much
confidence or quite so easy a smile under the stare 

 you deceive yourself monsieur returned the keeper of the wine-shop 
 you mistake me for another that is not my name i am ernest defarge 

 it is all the same said the spy airily but discomfited too good
day 

 good day answered defarge drily 

 i was saying to madame with whom i had the pleasure of chatting when
you entered that they tell me there is and no wonder much sympathy
and anger in saint antoine touching the unhappy fate of poor gaspard 

 no one has told me so said defarge shaking his head i know nothing
of it 

having said it he passed behind the little counter and stood with his
hand on the back of his wife's chair looking over that barrier at the
person to whom they were both opposed and whom either of them would
have shot with the greatest satisfaction 

the spy well used to his business did not change his unconscious
attitude but drained his little glass of cognac took a sip of fresh
water and asked for another glass of cognac madame defarge poured it
out for him took to her knitting again and hummed a little song over
it 

 you seem to know this quarter well that is to say better than i do 
 observed defarge 

 not at all but i hope to know it better i am so profoundly interested
in its miserable inhabitants 

 hah muttered defarge 

 the pleasure of conversing with you monsieur defarge recalls to me 
 pursued the spy that i have the honour of cherishing some interesting
associations with your name 

 indeed said defarge with much indifference 

 yes indeed when doctor manette was released you his old domestic 
had the charge of him i know he was delivered to you you see i am
informed of the circumstances 

 such is the fact certainly said defarge he had had it conveyed
to him in an accidental touch of his wife's elbow as she knitted and
warbled that he would do best to answer but always with brevity 

 it was to you said the spy that his daughter came and it was
from your care that his daughter took him accompanied by a neat brown
monsieur how is he called in a little wig lorry of the bank of
tellson and company over to england 

 such is the fact repeated defarge 

 very interesting remembrances said the spy i have known doctor
manette and his daughter in england 

 yes said defarge 

 you don't hear much about them now said the spy 

 no said defarge 

 in effect madame struck in looking up from her work and her little
song we never hear about them we received the news of their safe
arrival and perhaps another letter or perhaps two but since then 
they have gradually taken their road in life we ours and we have held
no correspondence 

 perfectly so madame replied the spy she is going to be married 

 going echoed madame she was pretty enough to have been married long
ago you english are cold it seems to me 

 oh you know i am english 

 i perceive your tongue is returned madame and what the tongue is i
suppose the man is 

he did not take the identification as a compliment but he made the best
of it and turned it off with a laugh after sipping his cognac to the
end he added 

 yes miss manette is going to be married but not to an englishman to
one who like herself is french by birth and speaking of gaspard ah 
poor gaspard it was cruel cruel it is a curious thing that she is
going to marry the nephew of monsieur the marquis for whom gaspard
was exalted to that height of so many feet in other words the present
marquis but he lives unknown in england he is no marquis there he is
mr charles darnay d'aulnais is the name of his mother's family 

madame defarge knitted steadily but the intelligence had a palpable
effect upon her husband do what he would behind the little counter 
as to the striking of a light and the lighting of his pipe he was
troubled and his hand was not trustworthy the spy would have been no
spy if he had failed to see it or to record it in his mind 

having made at least this one hit whatever it might prove to be
worth and no customers coming in to help him to any other mr barsad
paid for what he had drunk and took his leave taking occasion to say 
in a genteel manner before he departed that he looked forward to the
pleasure of seeing monsieur and madame defarge again for some minutes
after he had emerged into the outer presence of saint antoine the
husband and wife remained exactly as he had left them lest he should
come back 

 can it be true said defarge in a low voice looking down at his wife
as he stood smoking with his hand on the back of her chair what he has
said of ma'amselle manette 

 as he has said it returned madame lifting her eyebrows a little it
is probably false but it may be true 

 if it is defarge began and stopped 

 if it is repeated his wife 

 and if it does come while we live to see it triumph i hope for her
sake destiny will keep her husband out of france 

 her husband's destiny said madame defarge with her usual composure 
 will take him where he is to go and will lead him to the end that is
to end him that is all i know 

 but it is very strange now at least is it not very strange said
defarge rather pleading with his wife to induce her to admit it 
 that after all our sympathy for monsieur her father and herself her
husband's name should be proscribed under your hand at this moment by
the side of that infernal dog's who has just left us 

 stranger things than that will happen when it does come answered
madame i have them both here of a certainty and they are both here
for their merits that is enough 

she rolled up her knitting when she had said those words and presently
took the rose out of the handkerchief that was wound about her head 
either saint antoine had an instinctive sense that the objectionable
decoration was gone or saint antoine was on the watch for its
disappearance howbeit the saint took courage to lounge in very
shortly afterwards and the wine-shop recovered its habitual aspect 

in the evening at which season of all others saint antoine turned
himself inside out and sat on door-steps and window-ledges and came
to the corners of vile streets and courts for a breath of air madame
defarge with her work in her hand was accustomed to pass from place
to place and from group to group a missionary there were many like
her such as the world will do well never to breed again all the women
knitted they knitted worthless things but the mechanical work was a
mechanical substitute for eating and drinking the hands moved for the
jaws and the digestive apparatus if the bony fingers had been still 
the stomachs would have been more famine-pinched 

but as the fingers went the eyes went and the thoughts and as madame
defarge moved on from group to group all three went quicker and fiercer
among every little knot of women that she had spoken with and left
behind 

her husband smoked at his door looking after her with admiration a
great woman said he a strong woman a grand woman a frightfully
grand woman 

darkness closed around and then came the ringing of church bells and
the distant beating of the military drums in the palace courtyard as
the women sat knitting knitting darkness encompassed them another
darkness was closing in as surely when the church bells then ringing
pleasantly in many an airy steeple over france should be melted into
thundering cannon when the military drums should be beating to drown a
wretched voice that night all potent as the voice of power and plenty 
freedom and life so much was closing in about the women who sat
knitting knitting that they their very selves were closing in around
a structure yet unbuilt where they were to sit knitting knitting 
counting dropping heads 




xvii one night


never did the sun go down with a brighter glory on the quiet corner in
soho than one memorable evening when the doctor and his daughter sat
under the plane-tree together never did the moon rise with a milder
radiance over great london than on that night when it found them still
seated under the tree and shone upon their faces through its leaves 

lucie was to be married to-morrow she had reserved this last evening
for her father and they sat alone under the plane-tree 

 you are happy my dear father 

 quite my child 

they had said little though they had been there a long time when it
was yet light enough to work and read she had neither engaged herself
in her usual work nor had she read to him she had employed herself in
both ways at his side under the tree many and many a time but this
time was not quite like any other and nothing could make it so 

 and i am very happy to-night dear father i am deeply happy in the
love that heaven has so blessed my love for charles and charles's love
for me but if my life were not to be still consecrated to you or
if my marriage were so arranged as that it would part us even by
the length of a few of these streets i should be more unhappy and
self-reproachful now than i can tell you even as it is 

even as it was she could not command her voice 

in the sad moonlight she clasped him by the neck and laid her face
upon his breast in the moonlight which is always sad as the light of
the sun itself is as the light called human life is at its coming and
its going 

 dearest dear can you tell me this last time that you feel quite 
quite sure no new affections of mine and no new duties of mine will
ever interpose between us i know it well but do you know it in your
own heart do you feel quite certain 

her father answered with a cheerful firmness of conviction he could
scarcely have assumed quite sure my darling more than that he
added as he tenderly kissed her my future is far brighter lucie 
seen through your marriage than it could have been nay than it ever
was without it 

 if i could hope that my father 

 believe it love indeed it is so consider how natural and how plain
it is my dear that it should be so you devoted and young cannot
fully appreciate the anxiety i have felt that your life should not be
wasted 

she moved her hand towards his lips but he took it in his and repeated
the word 

 wasted my child should not be wasted struck aside from the
natural order of things for my sake your unselfishness cannot entirely
comprehend how much my mind has gone on this but only ask yourself 
how could my happiness be perfect while yours was incomplete 

 if i had never seen charles my father i should have been quite happy
with you 

he smiled at her unconscious admission that she would have been unhappy
without charles having seen him and replied 

 my child you did see him and it is charles if it had not been
charles it would have been another or if it had been no other i
should have been the cause and then the dark part of my life would have
cast its shadow beyond myself and would have fallen on you 

it was the first time except at the trial of her ever hearing him
refer to the period of his suffering it gave her a strange and new
sensation while his words were in her ears and she remembered it long
afterwards 

 see said the doctor of beauvais raising his hand towards the moon 
 i have looked at her from my prison-window when i could not bear her
light i have looked at her when it has been such torture to me to think
of her shining upon what i had lost that i have beaten my head against
my prison-walls i have looked at her in a state so dull and lethargic 
that i have thought of nothing but the number of horizontal lines i
could draw across her at the full and the number of perpendicular lines
with which i could intersect them he added in his inward and pondering
manner as he looked at the moon it was twenty either way i remember 
and the twentieth was difficult to squeeze in 

the strange thrill with which she heard him go back to that time 
deepened as he dwelt upon it but there was nothing to shock her in
the manner of his reference he only seemed to contrast his present
cheerfulness and felicity with the dire endurance that was over 

 i have looked at her speculating thousands of times upon the unborn
child from whom i had been rent whether it was alive whether it had
been born alive or the poor mother's shock had killed it whether it
was a son who would some day avenge his father there was a time in my
imprisonment when my desire for vengeance was unbearable whether it
was a son who would never know his father's story who might even live
to weigh the possibility of his father's having disappeared of his own
will and act whether it was a daughter who would grow to be a woman 

she drew closer to him and kissed his cheek and his hand 

 i have pictured my daughter to myself as perfectly forgetful of
me rather altogether ignorant of me and unconscious of me i have
cast up the years of her age year after year i have seen her married
to a man who knew nothing of my fate i have altogether perished from
the remembrance of the living and in the next generation my place was a
blank 

 my father even to hear that you had such thoughts of a daughter who
never existed strikes to my heart as if i had been that child 

 you lucie it is out of the consolation and restoration you have
brought to me that these remembrances arise and pass between us and
the moon on this last night what did i say just now 

 she knew nothing of you she cared nothing for you 

 so but on other moonlight nights when the sadness and the silence
have touched me in a different way have affected me with something as
like a sorrowful sense of peace as any emotion that had pain for its
foundations could i have imagined her as coming to me in my cell and
leading me out into the freedom beyond the fortress i have seen her
image in the moonlight often as i now see you except that i never held
her in my arms it stood between the little grated window and the door 
but you understand that that was not the child i am speaking of 

 the figure was not the the image the fancy 

 no that was another thing it stood before my disturbed sense of
sight but it never moved the phantom that my mind pursued was another
and more real child of her outward appearance i know no more than
that she was like her mother the other had that likeness too as you
have but was not the same can you follow me lucie hardly i think 
i doubt you must have been a solitary prisoner to understand these
perplexed distinctions 

his collected and calm manner could not prevent her blood from running
cold as he thus tried to anatomise his old condition 

 in that more peaceful state i have imagined her in the moonlight 
coming to me and taking me out to show me that the home of her married
life was full of her loving remembrance of her lost father my picture
was in her room and i was in her prayers her life was active 
cheerful useful but my poor history pervaded it all 

 i was that child my father i was not half so good but in my love
that was i 

 and she showed me her children said the doctor of beauvais and
they had heard of me and had been taught to pity me when they passed
a prison of the state they kept far from its frowning walls and looked
up at its bars and spoke in whispers she could never deliver me i
imagined that she always brought me back after showing me such things 
but then blessed with the relief of tears i fell upon my knees and
blessed her 

 i am that child i hope my father o my dear my dear will you bless
me as fervently to-morrow 

 lucie i recall these old troubles in the reason that i have to-night
for loving you better than words can tell and thanking god for my great
happiness my thoughts when they were wildest never rose near the
happiness that i have known with you and that we have before us 

he embraced her solemnly commended her to heaven and humbly thanked
heaven for having bestowed her on him by-and-bye they went into the
house 

there was no one bidden to the marriage but mr lorry there was even to
be no bridesmaid but the gaunt miss pross the marriage was to make no
change in their place of residence they had been able to extend it 
by taking to themselves the upper rooms formerly belonging to the
apocryphal invisible lodger and they desired nothing more 

doctor manette was very cheerful at the little supper they were only
three at table and miss pross made the third he regretted that charles
was not there was more than half disposed to object to the loving
little plot that kept him away and drank to him affectionately 

so the time came for him to bid lucie good night and they separated 
but in the stillness of the third hour of the morning lucie came
downstairs again and stole into his room not free from unshaped fears 
beforehand 

all things however were in their places all was quiet and he lay
asleep his white hair picturesque on the untroubled pillow and his
hands lying quiet on the coverlet she put her needless candle in the
shadow at a distance crept up to his bed and put her lips to his 
then leaned over him and looked at him 

into his handsome face the bitter waters of captivity had worn but he
covered up their tracks with a determination so strong that he held the
mastery of them even in his sleep a more remarkable face in its quiet 
resolute and guarded struggle with an unseen assailant was not to be
beheld in all the wide dominions of sleep that night 

she timidly laid her hand on his dear breast and put up a prayer that
she might ever be as true to him as her love aspired to be and as his
sorrows deserved then she withdrew her hand and kissed his lips once
more and went away so the sunrise came and the shadows of the leaves
of the plane-tree moved upon his face as softly as her lips had moved
in praying for him 




xviii nine days


the marriage-day was shining brightly and they were ready outside the
closed door of the doctor's room where he was speaking with charles
darnay they were ready to go to church the beautiful bride mr 
lorry and miss pross to whom the event through a gradual process of
reconcilement to the inevitable would have been one of absolute bliss 
but for the yet lingering consideration that her brother solomon should
have been the bridegroom 

 and so said mr lorry who could not sufficiently admire the bride 
and who had been moving round her to take in every point of her quiet 
pretty dress and so it was for this my sweet lucie that i brought
you across the channel such a baby lord bless me how little i thought
what i was doing how lightly i valued the obligation i was conferring
on my friend mr charles 

 you didn't mean it remarked the matter-of-fact miss pross and
therefore how could you know it nonsense 

 really well but don't cry said the gentle mr lorry 

 i am not crying said miss pross you are 

 i my pross by this time mr lorry dared to be pleasant with her 
on occasion 

 you were just now i saw you do it and i don't wonder at it such
a present of plate as you have made 'em is enough to bring tears into
anybody's eyes there's not a fork or a spoon in the collection said
miss pross that i didn't cry over last night after the box came till
i couldn't see it 

 i am highly gratified said mr lorry though upon my honour i
had no intention of rendering those trifling articles of remembrance
invisible to any one dear me this is an occasion that makes a man
speculate on all he has lost dear dear dear to think that there
might have been a mrs lorry any time these fifty years almost 

 not at all from miss pross 

 you think there never might have been a mrs lorry asked the
gentleman of that name 

 pooh rejoined miss pross you were a bachelor in your cradle 

 well observed mr lorry beamingly adjusting his little wig that
seems probable too 

 and you were cut out for a bachelor pursued miss pross before you
were put in your cradle 

 then i think said mr lorry that i was very unhandsomely dealt
with and that i ought to have had a voice in the selection of my
pattern enough now my dear lucie drawing his arm soothingly round
her waist i hear them moving in the next room and miss pross and
i as two formal folks of business are anxious not to lose the final
opportunity of saying something to you that you wish to hear you leave
your good father my dear in hands as earnest and as loving as your
own he shall be taken every conceivable care of during the next
fortnight while you are in warwickshire and thereabouts even tellson's
shall go to the wall comparatively speaking before him and when at
the fortnight's end he comes to join you and your beloved husband on
your other fortnight's trip in wales you shall say that we have sent
him to you in the best health and in the happiest frame now i hear
somebody's step coming to the door let me kiss my dear girl with an
old-fashioned bachelor blessing before somebody comes to claim his
own 

for a moment he held the fair face from him to look at the
well-remembered expression on the forehead and then laid the bright
golden hair against his little brown wig with a genuine tenderness and
delicacy which if such things be old-fashioned were as old as adam 

the door of the doctor's room opened and he came out with charles
darnay he was so deadly pale which had not been the case when they
went in together that no vestige of colour was to be seen in his face 
but in the composure of his manner he was unaltered except that to the
shrewd glance of mr lorry it disclosed some shadowy indication that the
old air of avoidance and dread had lately passed over him like a cold
wind 

he gave his arm to his daughter and took her down-stairs to the chariot
which mr lorry had hired in honour of the day the rest followed in
another carriage and soon in a neighbouring church where no strange
eyes looked on charles darnay and lucie manette were happily married 

besides the glancing tears that shone among the smiles of the little
group when it was done some diamonds very bright and sparkling 
glanced on the bride's hand which were newly released from the
dark obscurity of one of mr lorry's pockets they returned home to
breakfast and all went well and in due course the golden hair that had
mingled with the poor shoemaker's white locks in the paris garret were
mingled with them again in the morning sunlight on the threshold of the
door at parting 

it was a hard parting though it was not for long but her father
cheered her and said at last gently disengaging himself from her
enfolding arms take her charles she is yours 

and her agitated hand waved to them from a chaise window and she was
gone 

the corner being out of the way of the idle and curious and the
preparations having been very simple and few the doctor mr lorry 
and miss pross were left quite alone it was when they turned into
the welcome shade of the cool old hall that mr lorry observed a great
change to have come over the doctor as if the golden arm uplifted
there had struck him a poisoned blow 

he had naturally repressed much and some revulsion might have been
expected in him when the occasion for repression was gone but it was
the old scared lost look that troubled mr lorry and through his absent
manner of clasping his head and drearily wandering away into his own
room when they got up-stairs mr lorry was reminded of defarge the
wine-shop keeper and the starlight ride 

 i think he whispered to miss pross after anxious consideration i
think we had best not speak to him just now or at all disturb him 
i must look in at tellson's so i will go there at once and come back
presently then we will take him a ride into the country and dine
there and all will be well 

it was easier for mr lorry to look in at tellson's than to look out of
tellson's he was detained two hours when he came back he ascended the
old staircase alone having asked no question of the servant going thus
into the doctor's rooms he was stopped by a low sound of knocking 

 good god he said with a start what's that 

miss pross with a terrified face was at his ear o me o me all is
lost cried she wringing her hands what is to be told to ladybird 
he doesn't know me and is making shoes 

mr lorry said what he could to calm her and went himself into the
doctor's room the bench was turned towards the light as it had been
when he had seen the shoemaker at his work before and his head was bent
down and he was very busy 

 doctor manette my dear friend doctor manette 

the doctor looked at him for a moment half inquiringly half as if he
were angry at being spoken to and bent over his work again 

he had laid aside his coat and waistcoat his shirt was open at the
throat as it used to be when he did that work and even the old
haggard faded surface of face had come back to him he worked
hard impatiently as if in some sense of having been interrupted 

mr lorry glanced at the work in his hand and observed that it was a
shoe of the old size and shape he took up another that was lying by
him and asked what it was 

 a young lady's walking shoe he muttered without looking up it
ought to have been finished long ago let it be 

 but doctor manette look at me 

he obeyed in the old mechanically submissive manner without pausing in
his work 

 you know me my dear friend think again this is not your proper
occupation think dear friend 

nothing would induce him to speak more he looked up for an instant at
a time when he was requested to do so but no persuasion would extract
a word from him he worked and worked and worked in silence and
words fell on him as they would have fallen on an echoless wall or on
the air the only ray of hope that mr lorry could discover was that
he sometimes furtively looked up without being asked in that there
seemed a faint expression of curiosity or perplexity as though he were
trying to reconcile some doubts in his mind 

two things at once impressed themselves on mr lorry as important above
all others the first that this must be kept secret from lucie 
the second that it must be kept secret from all who knew him in
conjunction with miss pross he took immediate steps towards the latter
precaution by giving out that the doctor was not well and required a
few days of complete rest in aid of the kind deception to be practised
on his daughter miss pross was to write describing his having been
called away professionally and referring to an imaginary letter of
two or three hurried lines in his own hand represented to have been
addressed to her by the same post 

these measures advisable to be taken in any case mr lorry took in
the hope of his coming to himself if that should happen soon he kept
another course in reserve which was to have a certain opinion that he
thought the best on the doctor's case 

in the hope of his recovery and of resort to this third course
being thereby rendered practicable mr lorry resolved to watch him
attentively with as little appearance as possible of doing so he
therefore made arrangements to absent himself from tellson's for the
first time in his life and took his post by the window in the same
room 

he was not long in discovering that it was worse than useless to speak
to him since on being pressed he became worried he abandoned that
attempt on the first day and resolved merely to keep himself always
before him as a silent protest against the delusion into which he had
fallen or was falling he remained therefore in his seat near the
window reading and writing and expressing in as many pleasant and
natural ways as he could think of that it was a free place 

doctor manette took what was given him to eat and drink and worked on 
that first day until it was too dark to see worked on half an hour
after mr lorry could not have seen for his life to read or write 
when he put his tools aside as useless until morning mr lorry rose
and said to him 

 will you go out 

he looked down at the floor on either side of him in the old manner 
looked up in the old manner and repeated in the old low voice 

 out 

 yes for a walk with me why not 

he made no effort to say why not and said not a word more but mr 
lorry thought he saw as he leaned forward on his bench in the dusk 
with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands that he was in
some misty way asking himself why not the sagacity of the man of
business perceived an advantage here and determined to hold it 

miss pross and he divided the night into two watches and observed him
at intervals from the adjoining room he paced up and down for a long
time before he lay down but when he did finally lay himself down he
fell asleep in the morning he was up betimes and went straight to his
bench and to work 

on this second day mr lorry saluted him cheerfully by his name 
and spoke to him on topics that had been of late familiar to them he
returned no reply but it was evident that he heard what was said and
that he thought about it however confusedly this encouraged mr lorry
to have miss pross in with her work several times during the day 
at those times they quietly spoke of lucie and of her father then
present precisely in the usual manner and as if there were nothing
amiss this was done without any demonstrative accompaniment not long
enough or often enough to harass him and it lightened mr lorry's
friendly heart to believe that he looked up oftener and that he
appeared to be stirred by some perception of inconsistencies surrounding
him 

when it fell dark again mr lorry asked him as before 

 dear doctor will you go out 

as before he repeated out 

 yes for a walk with me why not 

this time mr lorry feigned to go out when he could extract no answer
from him and after remaining absent for an hour returned in the
meanwhile the doctor had removed to the seat in the window and had
sat there looking down at the plane-tree but on mr lorry's return he
slipped away to his bench 

the time went very slowly on and mr lorry's hope darkened and his
heart grew heavier again and grew yet heavier and heavier every day 
the third day came and went the fourth the fifth five days six days 
seven days eight days nine days 

with a hope ever darkening and with a heart always growing heavier and
heavier mr lorry passed through this anxious time the secret was
well kept and lucie was unconscious and happy but he could not fail to
observe that the shoemaker whose hand had been a little out at first 
was growing dreadfully skilful and that he had never been so intent on
his work and that his hands had never been so nimble and expert as in
the dusk of the ninth evening 




xix an opinion


worn out by anxious watching mr lorry fell asleep at his post on the
tenth morning of his suspense he was startled by the shining of the sun
into the room where a heavy slumber had overtaken him when it was dark
night 

he rubbed his eyes and roused himself but he doubted when he had
done so whether he was not still asleep for going to the door of the
doctor's room and looking in he perceived that the shoemaker's bench
and tools were put aside again and that the doctor himself sat reading
at the window he was in his usual morning dress and his face which
mr lorry could distinctly see though still very pale was calmly
studious and attentive 

even when he had satisfied himself that he was awake mr lorry felt
giddily uncertain for some few moments whether the late shoemaking might
not be a disturbed dream of his own for did not his eyes show him his
friend before him in his accustomed clothing and aspect and employed
as usual and was there any sign within their range that the change of
which he had so strong an impression had actually happened 

it was but the inquiry of his first confusion and astonishment the
answer being obvious if the impression were not produced by a real
corresponding and sufficient cause how came he jarvis lorry there 
how came he to have fallen asleep in his clothes on the sofa in doctor
manette's consulting-room and to be debating these points outside the
doctor's bedroom door in the early morning 

within a few minutes miss pross stood whispering at his side if he
had had any particle of doubt left her talk would of necessity have
resolved it but he was by that time clear-headed and had none 
he advised that they should let the time go by until the regular
breakfast-hour and should then meet the doctor as if nothing unusual
had occurred if he appeared to be in his customary state of mind mr 
lorry would then cautiously proceed to seek direction and guidance from
the opinion he had been in his anxiety so anxious to obtain 

miss pross submitting herself to his judgment the scheme was worked
out with care having abundance of time for his usual methodical
toilette mr lorry presented himself at the breakfast-hour in his usual
white linen and with his usual neat leg the doctor was summoned in the
usual way and came to breakfast 

so far as it was possible to comprehend him without overstepping those
delicate and gradual approaches which mr lorry felt to be the only safe
advance he at first supposed that his daughter's marriage had taken
place yesterday an incidental allusion purposely thrown out to
the day of the week and the day of the month set him thinking and
counting and evidently made him uneasy in all other respects however 
he was so composedly himself that mr lorry determined to have the aid
he sought and that aid was his own 

therefore when the breakfast was done and cleared away and he and the
doctor were left together mr lorry said feelingly 

 my dear manette i am anxious to have your opinion in confidence on a
very curious case in which i am deeply interested that is to say it is
very curious to me perhaps to your better information it may be less
so 

glancing at his hands which were discoloured by his late work the
doctor looked troubled and listened attentively he had already glanced
at his hands more than once 

 doctor manette said mr lorry touching him affectionately on the
arm the case is the case of a particularly dear friend of mine pray
give your mind to it and advise me well for his sake and above all 
for his daughter's his daughter's my dear manette 

 if i understand said the doctor in a subdued tone some mental
shock 

 yes 

 be explicit said the doctor spare no detail 

mr lorry saw that they understood one another and proceeded 

 my dear manette it is the case of an old and a prolonged shock 
of great acuteness and severity to the affections the feelings 
the the as you express it the mind the mind it is the case of a
shock under which the sufferer was borne down one cannot say for how
long because i believe he cannot calculate the time himself and there
are no other means of getting at it it is the case of a shock from
which the sufferer recovered by a process that he cannot trace
himself as i once heard him publicly relate in a striking manner it is
the case of a shock from which he has recovered so completely as to
be a highly intelligent man capable of close application of mind and
great exertion of body and of constantly making fresh additions to his
stock of knowledge which was already very large but unfortunately 
there has been he paused and took a deep breath a slight relapse 

the doctor in a low voice asked of how long duration 

 nine days and nights 

 how did it show itself i infer glancing at his hands again in the
resumption of some old pursuit connected with the shock 

 that is the fact 

 now did you ever see him asked the doctor distinctly and
collectedly though in the same low voice engaged in that pursuit
originally 

 once 

 and when the relapse fell on him was he in most respects or in all
respects as he was then 

 i think in all respects 

 you spoke of his daughter does his daughter know of the relapse 

 no it has been kept from her and i hope will always be kept from her 
it is known only to myself and to one other who may be trusted 

the doctor grasped his hand and murmured that was very kind that was
very thoughtful mr lorry grasped his hand in return and neither of
the two spoke for a little while 

 now my dear manette said mr lorry at length in his most
considerate and most affectionate way i am a mere man of business 
and unfit to cope with such intricate and difficult matters i do not
possess the kind of information necessary i do not possess the kind of
intelligence i want guiding there is no man in this world on whom
i could so rely for right guidance as on you tell me how does this
relapse come about is there danger of another could a repetition of it
be prevented how should a repetition of it be treated how does it come
about at all what can i do for my friend no man ever can have been
more desirous in his heart to serve a friend than i am to serve mine 
if i knew how 

 but i don't know how to originate in such a case if your sagacity 
knowledge and experience could put me on the right track i might be
able to do so much unenlightened and undirected i can do so little 
pray discuss it with me pray enable me to see it a little more clearly 
and teach me how to be a little more useful 

doctor manette sat meditating after these earnest words were spoken and
mr lorry did not press him 

 i think it probable said the doctor breaking silence with an effort 
 that the relapse you have described my dear friend was not quite
unforeseen by its subject 

 was it dreaded by him mr lorry ventured to ask 

 very much he said it with an involuntary shudder 

 you have no idea how such an apprehension weighs on the sufferer's
mind and how difficult how almost impossible it is for him to force
himself to utter a word upon the topic that oppresses him 

 would he asked mr lorry be sensibly relieved if he could prevail
upon himself to impart that secret brooding to any one when it is on
him 

 i think so but it is as i have told you next to impossible i even
believe it in some cases to be quite impossible 

 now said mr lorry gently laying his hand on the doctor's arm again 
after a short silence on both sides to what would you refer this
attack 

 i believe returned doctor manette that there had been a strong and
extraordinary revival of the train of thought and remembrance that
was the first cause of the malady some intense associations of a most
distressing nature were vividly recalled i think it is probable that
there had long been a dread lurking in his mind that those associations
would be recalled say under certain circumstances say on a
particular occasion he tried to prepare himself in vain perhaps the
effort to prepare himself made him less able to bear it 

 would he remember what took place in the relapse asked mr lorry 
with natural hesitation 

the doctor looked desolately round the room shook his head and
answered in a low voice not at all 

 now as to the future hinted mr lorry 

 as to the future said the doctor recovering firmness i should have
great hope as it pleased heaven in its mercy to restore him so soon i
should have great hope he yielding under the pressure of a complicated
something long dreaded and long vaguely foreseen and contended against 
and recovering after the cloud had burst and passed i should hope that
the worst was over 

 well well that's good comfort i am thankful said mr lorry 

 i am thankful repeated the doctor bending his head with reverence 

 there are two other points said mr lorry on which i am anxious to
be instructed i may go on 

 you cannot do your friend a better service the doctor gave him his
hand 

 to the first then he is of a studious habit and unusually energetic 
he applies himself with great ardour to the acquisition of professional
knowledge to the conducting of experiments to many things now does
he do too much 

 i think not it may be the character of his mind to be always in
singular need of occupation that may be in part natural to it in
part the result of affliction the less it was occupied with healthy
things the more it would be in danger of turning in the unhealthy
direction he may have observed himself and made the discovery 

 you are sure that he is not under too great a strain 

 i think i am quite sure of it 

 my dear manette if he were overworked now 

 my dear lorry i doubt if that could easily be there has been a
violent stress in one direction and it needs a counterweight 

 excuse me as a persistent man of business assuming for a moment 
that he was overworked it would show itself in some renewal of this
disorder 

 i do not think so i do not think said doctor manette with the
firmness of self-conviction that anything but the one train of
association would renew it i think that henceforth nothing but some
extraordinary jarring of that chord could renew it after what has
happened and after his recovery i find it difficult to imagine any
such violent sounding of that string again i trust and i almost
believe that the circumstances likely to renew it are exhausted 

he spoke with the diffidence of a man who knew how slight a thing
would overset the delicate organisation of the mind and yet with the
confidence of a man who had slowly won his assurance out of personal
endurance and distress it was not for his friend to abate that
confidence he professed himself more relieved and encouraged than he
really was and approached his second and last point he felt it to
be the most difficult of all but remembering his old sunday morning
conversation with miss pross and remembering what he had seen in the
last nine days he knew that he must face it 

 the occupation resumed under the influence of this passing affliction
so happily recovered from said mr lorry clearing his throat we
will call blacksmith's work blacksmith's work we will say to put a
case and for the sake of illustration that he had been used in his bad
time to work at a little forge we will say that he was unexpectedly
found at his forge again is it not a pity that he should keep it by
him 

the doctor shaded his forehead with his hand and beat his foot
nervously on the ground 

 he has always kept it by him said mr lorry with an anxious look at
his friend now would it not be better that he should let it go 

still the doctor with shaded forehead beat his foot nervously on the
ground 

 you do not find it easy to advise me said mr lorry i quite
understand it to be a nice question and yet i think and there he
shook his head and stopped 

 you see said doctor manette turning to him after an uneasy pause 
 it is very hard to explain consistently the innermost workings
of this poor man's mind he once yearned so frightfully for that
occupation and it was so welcome when it came no doubt it relieved
his pain so much by substituting the perplexity of the fingers for
the perplexity of the brain and by substituting as he became more
practised the ingenuity of the hands for the ingenuity of the mental
torture that he has never been able to bear the thought of putting it
quite out of his reach even now when i believe he is more hopeful of
himself than he has ever been and even speaks of himself with a kind
of confidence the idea that he might need that old employment and not
find it gives him a sudden sense of terror like that which one may
fancy strikes to the heart of a lost child 

he looked like his illustration as he raised his eyes to mr lorry's
face 

 but may not mind i ask for information as a plodding man of business
who only deals with such material objects as guineas shillings and
bank-notes may not the retention of the thing involve the retention of
the idea if the thing were gone my dear manette might not the fear go
with it in short is it not a concession to the misgiving to keep the
forge 

there was another silence 

 you see too said the doctor tremulously it is such an old
companion 

 i would not keep it said mr lorry shaking his head for he gained
in firmness as he saw the doctor disquieted i would recommend him to
sacrifice it i only want your authority i am sure it does no good 
come give me your authority like a dear good man for his daughter's
sake my dear manette 

very strange to see what a struggle there was within him 

 in her name then let it be done i sanction it but i would not take
it away while he was present let it be removed when he is not there 
let him miss his old companion after an absence 

mr lorry readily engaged for that and the conference was ended they
passed the day in the country and the doctor was quite restored on the
three following days he remained perfectly well and on the fourteenth
day he went away to join lucie and her husband the precaution that
had been taken to account for his silence mr lorry had previously
explained to him and he had written to lucie in accordance with it and
she had no suspicions 

on the night of the day on which he left the house mr lorry went into
his room with a chopper saw chisel and hammer attended by miss pross
carrying a light there with closed doors and in a mysterious and
guilty manner mr lorry hacked the shoemaker's bench to pieces while
miss pross held the candle as if she were assisting at a murder for
which indeed in her grimness she was no unsuitable figure the
burning of the body previously reduced to pieces convenient for the
purpose was commenced without delay in the kitchen fire and the tools 
shoes and leather were buried in the garden so wicked do destruction
and secrecy appear to honest minds that mr lorry and miss pross 
while engaged in the commission of their deed and in the removal of its
traces almost felt and almost looked like accomplices in a horrible
crime 




xx a plea


when the newly-married pair came home the first person who appeared to
offer his congratulations was sydney carton they had not been at home
many hours when he presented himself he was not improved in habits or
in looks or in manner but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity
about him which was new to the observation of charles darnay 

he watched his opportunity of taking darnay aside into a window and of
speaking to him when no one overheard 

 mr darnay said carton i wish we might be friends 

 we are already friends i hope 

 you are good enough to say so as a fashion of speech but i don't
mean any fashion of speech indeed when i say i wish we might be
friends i scarcely mean quite that either 

charles darnay as was natural asked him in all good-humour and
good-fellowship what he did mean 

 upon my life said carton smiling i find that easier to comprehend
in my own mind than to convey to yours however let me try you
remember a certain famous occasion when i was more drunk than than
usual 

 i remember a certain famous occasion when you forced me to confess that
you had been drinking 

 i remember it too the curse of those occasions is heavy upon me for i
always remember them i hope it may be taken into account one day 
when all days are at an end for me don't be alarmed i am not going to
preach 

 i am not at all alarmed earnestness in you is anything but alarming
to me 

 ah said carton with a careless wave of his hand as if he waved that
away on the drunken occasion in question one of a large number as
you know i was insufferable about liking you and not liking you i
wish you would forget it 

 i forgot it long ago 

 fashion of speech again but mr darnay oblivion is not so easy to
me as you represent it to be to you i have by no means forgotten it 
and a light answer does not help me to forget it 

 if it was a light answer returned darnay i beg your forgiveness
for it i had no other object than to turn a slight thing which to my
surprise seems to trouble you too much aside i declare to you on the
faith of a gentleman that i have long dismissed it from my mind good
heaven what was there to dismiss have i had nothing more important to
remember in the great service you rendered me that day 

 as to the great service said carton i am bound to avow to you when
you speak of it in that way that it was mere professional claptrap i
don't know that i cared what became of you when i rendered it mind i
say when i rendered it i am speaking of the past 

 you make light of the obligation returned darnay but i will not
quarrel with your light answer 

 genuine truth mr darnay trust me i have gone aside from my purpose 
i was speaking about our being friends now you know me you know i am
incapable of all the higher and better flights of men if you doubt it 
ask stryver and he'll tell you so 

 i prefer to form my own opinion without the aid of his 

 well at any rate you know me as a dissolute dog who has never done
any good and never will 

 i don't know that you 'never will ' 

 but i do and you must take my word for it well if you could endure
to have such a worthless fellow and a fellow of such indifferent
reputation coming and going at odd times i should ask that i might be
permitted to come and go as a privileged person here that i might
be regarded as an useless and i would add if it were not for the
resemblance i detected between you and me an unornamental piece of
furniture tolerated for its old service and taken no notice of i
doubt if i should abuse the permission it is a hundred to one if i
should avail myself of it four times in a year it would satisfy me i
dare say to know that i had it 

 will you try 

 that is another way of saying that i am placed on the footing i have
indicated i thank you darnay i may use that freedom with your name 

 i think so carton by this time 

they shook hands upon it and sydney turned away within a minute
afterwards he was to all outward appearance as unsubstantial as ever 

when he was gone and in the course of an evening passed with miss
pross the doctor and mr lorry charles darnay made some mention of
this conversation in general terms and spoke of sydney carton as a
problem of carelessness and recklessness he spoke of him in short not
bitterly or meaning to bear hard upon him but as anybody might who saw
him as he showed himself 

he had no idea that this could dwell in the thoughts of his fair young
wife but when he afterwards joined her in their own rooms he found
her waiting for him with the old pretty lifting of the forehead strongly
marked 

 we are thoughtful to-night said darnay drawing his arm about her 

 yes dearest charles with her hands on his breast and the inquiring
and attentive expression fixed upon him we are rather thoughtful
to-night for we have something on our mind to-night 

 what is it my lucie 

 will you promise not to press one question on me if i beg you not to
ask it 

 will i promise what will i not promise to my love 

what indeed with his hand putting aside the golden hair from the
cheek and his other hand against the heart that beat for him 

 i think charles poor mr carton deserves more consideration and
respect than you expressed for him to-night 

 indeed my own why so 

 that is what you are not to ask me but i think i know he does 

 if you know it it is enough what would you have me do my life 

 i would ask you dearest to be very generous with him always and very
lenient on his faults when he is not by i would ask you to believe that
he has a heart he very very seldom reveals and that there are deep
wounds in it my dear i have seen it bleeding 

 it is a painful reflection to me said charles darnay quite
astounded that i should have done him any wrong i never thought this
of him 

 my husband it is so i fear he is not to be reclaimed there is
scarcely a hope that anything in his character or fortunes is reparable
now but i am sure that he is capable of good things gentle things 
even magnanimous things 

she looked so beautiful in the purity of her faith in this lost man 
that her husband could have looked at her as she was for hours 

 and o my dearest love she urged clinging nearer to him laying her
head upon his breast and raising her eyes to his remember how strong
we are in our happiness and how weak he is in his misery 

the supplication touched him home i will always remember it dear
heart i will remember it as long as i live 

he bent over the golden head and put the rosy lips to his and folded
her in his arms if one forlorn wanderer then pacing the dark streets 
could have heard her innocent disclosure and could have seen the drops
of pity kissed away by her husband from the soft blue eyes so loving of
that husband he might have cried to the night and the words would not
have parted from his lips for the first time 

 god bless her for her sweet compassion 




xxi echoing footsteps


a wonderful corner for echoes it has been remarked that corner where
the doctor lived ever busily winding the golden thread which bound
her husband and her father and herself and her old directress and
companion in a life of quiet bliss lucie sat in the still house in
the tranquilly resounding corner listening to the echoing footsteps of
years 

at first there were times though she was a perfectly happy young wife 
when her work would slowly fall from her hands and her eyes would be
dimmed for there was something coming in the echoes something light 
afar off and scarcely audible yet that stirred her heart too much 
fluttering hopes and doubts hopes of a love as yet unknown to her 
doubts of her remaining upon earth to enjoy that new delight divided
her breast among the echoes then there would arise the sound of
footsteps at her own early grave and thoughts of the husband who would
be left so desolate and who would mourn for her so much swelled to her
eyes and broke like waves 

that time passed and her little lucie lay on her bosom then among the
advancing echoes there was the tread of her tiny feet and the sound of
her prattling words let greater echoes resound as they would the young
mother at the cradle side could always hear those coming they came and
the shady house was sunny with a child's laugh and the divine friend of
children to whom in her trouble she had confided hers seemed to take
her child in his arms as he took the child of old and made it a sacred
joy to her 

ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together 
weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all
their lives and making it predominate nowhere lucie heard in the
echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds her husband's
step was strong and prosperous among them her father's firm and equal 
lo miss pross in harness of string awakening the echoes as an
unruly charger whip-corrected snorting and pawing the earth under the
plane-tree in the garden 

even when there were sounds of sorrow among the rest they were not
harsh nor cruel even when golden hair like her own lay in a halo on a
pillow round the worn face of a little boy and he said with a radiant
smile dear papa and mamma i am very sorry to leave you both and to
leave my pretty sister but i am called and i must go those were not
tears all of agony that wetted his young mother's cheek as the spirit
departed from her embrace that had been entrusted to it suffer them and
forbid them not they see my father's face o father blessed words 

thus the rustling of an angel's wings got blended with the other
echoes and they were not wholly of earth but had in them that breath
of heaven sighs of the winds that blew over a little garden-tomb were
mingled with them also and both were audible to lucie in a hushed
murmur like the breathing of a summer sea asleep upon a sandy shore as
the little lucie comically studious at the task of the morning or
dressing a doll at her mother's footstool chattered in the tongues of
the two cities that were blended in her life 

the echoes rarely answered to the actual tread of sydney carton some
half-dozen times a year at most he claimed his privilege of coming in
uninvited and would sit among them through the evening as he had once
done often he never came there heated with wine and one other thing
regarding him was whispered in the echoes which has been whispered by
all true echoes for ages and ages 

no man ever really loved a woman lost her and knew her with a
blameless though an unchanged mind when she was a wife and a mother 
but her children had a strange sympathy with him an instinctive
delicacy of pity for him what fine hidden sensibilities are touched in
such a case no echoes tell but it is so and it was so here carton
was the first stranger to whom little lucie held out her chubby arms 
and he kept his place with her as she grew the little boy had spoken of
him almost at the last poor carton kiss him for me 

mr stryver shouldered his way through the law like some great engine
forcing itself through turbid water and dragged his useful friend in
his wake like a boat towed astern as the boat so favoured is usually
in a rough plight and mostly under water so sydney had a swamped
life of it but easy and strong custom unhappily so much easier and
stronger in him than any stimulating sense of desert or disgrace made
it the life he was to lead and he no more thought of emerging from his
state of lion's jackal than any real jackal may be supposed to think of
rising to be a lion stryver was rich had married a florid widow with
property and three boys who had nothing particularly shining about them
but the straight hair of their dumpling heads 

these three young gentlemen mr stryver exuding patronage of the most
offensive quality from every pore had walked before him like three
sheep to the quiet corner in soho and had offered as pupils to
lucie's husband delicately saying halloa here are three lumps of
bread-and-cheese towards your matrimonial picnic darnay the polite
rejection of the three lumps of bread-and-cheese had quite bloated mr 
stryver with indignation which he afterwards turned to account in the
training of the young gentlemen by directing them to beware of the
pride of beggars like that tutor-fellow he was also in the habit of
declaiming to mrs stryver over his full-bodied wine on the arts
mrs darnay had once put in practice to catch him and on the
diamond-cut-diamond arts in himself madam which had rendered him not
to be caught some of his king's bench familiars who were occasionally
parties to the full-bodied wine and the lie excused him for the
latter by saying that he had told it so often that he believed
it himself which is surely such an incorrigible aggravation of an
originally bad offence as to justify any such offender's being carried
off to some suitably retired spot and there hanged out of the way 

these were among the echoes to which lucie sometimes pensive sometimes
amused and laughing listened in the echoing corner until her little
daughter was six years old how near to her heart the echoes of her
child's tread came and those of her own dear father's always active
and self-possessed and those of her dear husband's need not be told 
nor how the lightest echo of their united home directed by herself
with such a wise and elegant thrift that it was more abundant than any
waste was music to her nor how there were echoes all about her sweet
in her ears of the many times her father had told her that he found her
more devoted to him married if that could be than single and of the
many times her husband had said to her that no cares and duties seemed
to divide her love for him or her help to him and asked her what is
the magic secret my darling of your being everything to all of us 
as if there were only one of us yet never seeming to be hurried or to
have too much to do 

but there were other echoes from a distance that rumbled menacingly
in the corner all through this space of time and it was now about
little lucie's sixth birthday that they began to have an awful sound 
as of a great storm in france with a dreadful sea rising 

on a night in mid-july one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine mr 
lorry came in late from tellson's and sat himself down by lucie and
her husband in the dark window it was a hot wild night and they were
all three reminded of the old sunday night when they had looked at the
lightning from the same place 

 i began to think said mr lorry pushing his brown wig back that
i should have to pass the night at tellson's we have been so full of
business all day that we have not known what to do first or which way
to turn there is such an uneasiness in paris that we have actually a
run of confidence upon us our customers over there seem not to be able
to confide their property to us fast enough there is positively a mania
among some of them for sending it to england 

 that has a bad look said darnay 

 a bad look you say my dear darnay yes but we don't know what reason
there is in it people are so unreasonable some of us at tellson's are
getting old and we really can't be troubled out of the ordinary course
without due occasion 

 still said darnay you know how gloomy and threatening the sky is 

 i know that to be sure assented mr lorry trying to persuade
himself that his sweet temper was soured and that he grumbled but i
am determined to be peevish after my long day's botheration where is
manette 

 here he is said the doctor entering the dark room at the moment 

 i am quite glad you are at home for these hurries and forebodings by
which i have been surrounded all day long have made me nervous without
reason you are not going out i hope 

 no i am going to play backgammon with you if you like said the
doctor 

 i don't think i do like if i may speak my mind i am not fit to be
pitted against you to-night is the teaboard still there lucie i can't
see 

 of course it has been kept for you 

 thank ye my dear the precious child is safe in bed 

 and sleeping soundly 

 that's right all safe and well i don't know why anything should be
otherwise than safe and well here thank god but i have been so put out
all day and i am not as young as i was my tea my dear thank ye now 
come and take your place in the circle and let us sit quiet and hear
the echoes about which you have your theory 

 not a theory it was a fancy 

 a fancy then my wise pet said mr lorry patting her hand they
are very numerous and very loud though are they not only hear them 

headlong mad and dangerous footsteps to force their way into anybody's
life footsteps not easily made clean again if once stained red the
footsteps raging in saint antoine afar off as the little circle sat in
the dark london window 

saint antoine had been that morning a vast dusky mass of scarecrows
heaving to and fro with frequent gleams of light above the billowy
heads where steel blades and bayonets shone in the sun a tremendous
roar arose from the throat of saint antoine and a forest of naked arms
struggled in the air like shrivelled branches of trees in a winter wind 
all the fingers convulsively clutching at every weapon or semblance of a
weapon that was thrown up from the depths below no matter how far off 

who gave them out whence they last came where they began through what
agency they crookedly quivered and jerked scores at a time over the
heads of the crowd like a kind of lightning no eye in the throng could
have told but muskets were being distributed so were cartridges 
powder and ball bars of iron and wood knives axes pikes every
weapon that distracted ingenuity could discover or devise people who
could lay hold of nothing else set themselves with bleeding hands to
force stones and bricks out of their places in walls every pulse and
heart in saint antoine was on high-fever strain and at high-fever heat 
every living creature there held life as of no account and was demented
with a passionate readiness to sacrifice it 

as a whirlpool of boiling waters has a centre point so all this raging
circled round defarge's wine-shop and every human drop in the caldron
had a tendency to be sucked towards the vortex where defarge himself 
already begrimed with gunpowder and sweat issued orders issued arms 
thrust this man back dragged this man forward disarmed one to arm
another laboured and strove in the thickest of the uproar 

 keep near to me jacques three cried defarge and do you jacques
one and two separate and put yourselves at the head of as many of these
patriots as you can where is my wife 

 eh well here you see me said madame composed as ever but not
knitting to-day madame's resolute right hand was occupied with an axe 
in place of the usual softer implements and in her girdle were a pistol
and a cruel knife 

 where do you go my wife 

 i go said madame with you at present you shall see me at the head
of women by-and-bye 

 come then cried defarge in a resounding voice patriots and
friends we are ready the bastille 

with a roar that sounded as if all the breath in france had been shaped
into the detested word the living sea rose wave on wave depth on
depth and overflowed the city to that point alarm-bells ringing drums
beating the sea raging and thundering on its new beach the attack
began 

deep ditches double drawbridge massive stone walls eight great
towers cannon muskets fire and smoke through the fire and through
the smoke in the fire and in the smoke for the sea cast him up against
a cannon and on the instant he became a cannonier defarge of the
wine-shop worked like a manful soldier two fierce hours 

deep ditch single drawbridge massive stone walls eight great towers 
cannon muskets fire and smoke one drawbridge down work comrades
all work work jacques one jacques two jacques one thousand jacques
two thousand jacques five-and-twenty thousand in the name of all
the angels or the devils which you prefer work thus defarge of the
wine-shop still at his gun which had long grown hot 

 to me women cried madame his wife what we can kill as well as
the men when the place is taken and to her with a shrill thirsty
cry trooping women variously armed but all armed alike in hunger and
revenge 

cannon muskets fire and smoke but still the deep ditch the single
drawbridge the massive stone walls and the eight great towers slight
displacements of the raging sea made by the falling wounded flashing
weapons blazing torches smoking waggonloads of wet straw hard work
at neighbouring barricades in all directions shrieks volleys 
execrations bravery without stint boom smash and rattle and the
furious sounding of the living sea but still the deep ditch and the
single drawbridge and the massive stone walls and the eight great
towers and still defarge of the wine-shop at his gun grown doubly hot
by the service of four fierce hours 

a white flag from within the fortress and a parley this dimly
perceptible through the raging storm nothing audible in it suddenly
the sea rose immeasurably wider and higher and swept defarge of the
wine-shop over the lowered drawbridge past the massive stone outer
walls in among the eight great towers surrendered 

so resistless was the force of the ocean bearing him on that even to
draw his breath or turn his head was as impracticable as if he had been
struggling in the surf at the south sea until he was landed in the
outer courtyard of the bastille there against an angle of a wall he
made a struggle to look about him jacques three was nearly at his side 
madame defarge still heading some of her women was visible in the
inner distance and her knife was in her hand everywhere was tumult 
exultation deafening and maniacal bewilderment astounding noise yet
furious dumb-show 

 the prisoners 

 the records 

 the secret cells 

 the instruments of torture 

 the prisoners 

of all these cries and ten thousand incoherences the prisoners was
the cry most taken up by the sea that rushed in as if there were an
eternity of people as well as of time and space when the foremost
billows rolled past bearing the prison officers with them and
threatening them all with instant death if any secret nook remained
undisclosed defarge laid his strong hand on the breast of one of
these men a man with a grey head who had a lighted torch in his
hand separated him from the rest and got him between himself and the
wall 

 show me the north tower said defarge quick 

 i will faithfully replied the man if you will come with me but
there is no one there 

 what is the meaning of one hundred and five north tower asked
defarge quick 

 the meaning monsieur 

 does it mean a captive or a place of captivity or do you mean that i
shall strike you dead 

 kill him croaked jacques three who had come close up 

 monsieur it is a cell 

 show it me 

 pass this way then 

jacques three with his usual craving on him and evidently disappointed
by the dialogue taking a turn that did not seem to promise bloodshed 
held by defarge's arm as he held by the turnkey's their three heads had
been close together during this brief discourse and it had been as much
as they could do to hear one another even then so tremendous was the
noise of the living ocean in its irruption into the fortress and
its inundation of the courts and passages and staircases all around
outside too it beat the walls with a deep hoarse roar from which 
occasionally some partial shouts of tumult broke and leaped into the
air like spray 

through gloomy vaults where the light of day had never shone past
hideous doors of dark dens and cages down cavernous flights of steps 
and again up steep rugged ascents of stone and brick more like dry
waterfalls than staircases defarge the turnkey and jacques three 
linked hand and arm went with all the speed they could make here and
there especially at first the inundation started on them and swept by 
but when they had done descending and were winding and climbing up a
tower they were alone hemmed in here by the massive thickness of walls
and arches the storm within the fortress and without was only audible
to them in a dull subdued way as if the noise out of which they had
come had almost destroyed their sense of hearing 

the turnkey stopped at a low door put a key in a clashing lock swung
the door slowly open and said as they all bent their heads and passed
in 

 one hundred and five north tower 

there was a small heavily-grated unglazed window high in the wall 
with a stone screen before it so that the sky could be only seen by
stooping low and looking up there was a small chimney heavily barred
across a few feet within there was a heap of old feathery wood-ashes
on the hearth there was a stool and table and a straw bed there were
the four blackened walls and a rusted iron ring in one of them 

 pass that torch slowly along these walls that i may see them said
defarge to the turnkey 

the man obeyed and defarge followed the light closely with his eyes 

 stop look here jacques 

 a m croaked jacques three as he read greedily 

 alexandre manette said defarge in his ear following the letters
with his swart forefinger deeply engrained with gunpowder and here he
wrote 'a poor physician ' and it was he without doubt who scratched
a calendar on this stone what is that in your hand a crowbar give it
me 

he had still the linstock of his gun in his own hand he made a sudden
exchange of the two instruments and turning on the worm-eaten stool and
table beat them to pieces in a few blows 

 hold the light higher he said wrathfully to the turnkey look
among those fragments with care jacques and see here is my knife 
 throwing it to him rip open that bed and search the straw hold the
light higher you 

with a menacing look at the turnkey he crawled upon the hearth and 
peering up the chimney struck and prised at its sides with the crowbar 
and worked at the iron grating across it in a few minutes some mortar
and dust came dropping down which he averted his face to avoid and
in it and in the old wood-ashes and in a crevice in the chimney
into which his weapon had slipped or wrought itself he groped with a
cautious touch 

 nothing in the wood and nothing in the straw jacques 

 nothing 

 let us collect them together in the middle of the cell so light
them you 

the turnkey fired the little pile which blazed high and hot stooping
again to come out at the low-arched door they left it burning and
retraced their way to the courtyard seeming to recover their sense
of hearing as they came down until they were in the raging flood once
more 

they found it surging and tossing in quest of defarge himself saint
antoine was clamorous to have its wine-shop keeper foremost in the guard
upon the governor who had defended the bastille and shot the people 
otherwise the governor would not be marched to the hotel de ville for
judgment otherwise the governor would escape and the people's
blood suddenly of some value after many years of worthlessness be
unavenged 

in the howling universe of passion and contention that seemed to
encompass this grim old officer conspicuous in his grey coat and red
decoration there was but one quite steady figure and that was a
woman's see there is my husband she cried pointing him out 
 see defarge she stood immovable close to the grim old officer and
remained immovable close to him remained immovable close to him through
the streets as defarge and the rest bore him along remained immovable
close to him when he was got near his destination and began to
be struck at from behind remained immovable close to him when the
long-gathering rain of stabs and blows fell heavy was so close to him
when he dropped dead under it that suddenly animated she put her foot
upon his neck and with her cruel knife long ready hewed off his head 

the hour was come when saint antoine was to execute his horrible idea
of hoisting up men for lamps to show what he could be and do saint
antoine's blood was up and the blood of tyranny and domination by the
iron hand was down down on the steps of the hotel de ville where the
governor's body lay down on the sole of the shoe of madame defarge
where she had trodden on the body to steady it for mutilation lower
the lamp yonder cried saint antoine after glaring round for a new
means of death here is one of his soldiers to be left on guard the
swinging sentinel was posted and the sea rushed on 

the sea of black and threatening waters and of destructive upheaving
of wave against wave whose depths were yet unfathomed and whose forces
were yet unknown the remorseless sea of turbulently swaying shapes 
voices of vengeance and faces hardened in the furnaces of suffering
until the touch of pity could make no mark on them 

but in the ocean of faces where every fierce and furious expression was
in vivid life there were two groups of faces each seven in number so
fixedly contrasting with the rest that never did sea roll which bore
more memorable wrecks with it seven faces of prisoners suddenly
released by the storm that had burst their tomb were carried high
overhead all scared all lost all wondering and amazed as if the last
day were come and those who rejoiced around them were lost spirits 
other seven faces there were carried higher seven dead faces whose
drooping eyelids and half-seen eyes awaited the last day impassive
faces yet with a suspended not an abolished expression on them 
faces rather in a fearful pause as having yet to raise the dropped
lids of the eyes and bear witness with the bloodless lips thou didst
it 

seven prisoners released seven gory heads on pikes the keys of the
accursed fortress of the eight strong towers some discovered letters
and other memorials of prisoners of old time long dead of broken
hearts such and such like the loudly echoing footsteps of saint
antoine escort through the paris streets in mid-july one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-nine now heaven defeat the fancy of lucie darnay 
and keep these feet far out of her life for they are headlong mad 
and dangerous and in the years so long after the breaking of the cask
at defarge's wine-shop door they are not easily purified when once
stained red 




xxii the sea still rises


haggard saint antoine had had only one exultant week in which to soften
his modicum of hard and bitter bread to such extent as he could with
the relish of fraternal embraces and congratulations when madame
defarge sat at her counter as usual presiding over the customers 
madame defarge wore no rose in her head for the great brotherhood of
spies had become even in one short week extremely chary of trusting
themselves to the saint's mercies the lamps across his streets had a
portentously elastic swing with them 

madame defarge with her arms folded sat in the morning light and heat 
contemplating the wine-shop and the street in both there were several
knots of loungers squalid and miserable but now with a manifest sense
of power enthroned on their distress the raggedest nightcap awry on
the wretchedest head had this crooked significance in it i know how
hard it has grown for me the wearer of this to support life in myself 
but do you know how easy it has grown for me the wearer of this to
destroy life in you every lean bare arm that had been without work
before had this work always ready for it now that it could strike 
the fingers of the knitting women were vicious with the experience that
they could tear there was a change in the appearance of saint antoine 
the image had been hammering into this for hundreds of years and the
last finishing blows had told mightily on the expression 

madame defarge sat observing it with such suppressed approval as was
to be desired in the leader of the saint antoine women one of her
sisterhood knitted beside her the short rather plump wife of a starved
grocer and the mother of two children withal this lieutenant had
already earned the complimentary name of the vengeance 

 hark said the vengeance listen then who comes 

as if a train of powder laid from the outermost bound of saint antoine
quarter to the wine-shop door had been suddenly fired a fast-spreading
murmur came rushing along 

 it is defarge said madame silence patriots 

defarge came in breathless pulled off a red cap he wore and looked
around him listen everywhere said madame again listen to him 
 defarge stood panting against a background of eager eyes and open
mouths formed outside the door all those within the wine-shop had
sprung to their feet 

 say then my husband what is it 

 news from the other world 

 how then cried madame contemptuously the other world 

 does everybody here recall old foulon who told the famished people
that they might eat grass and who died and went to hell 

 everybody from all throats 

 the news is of him he is among us 

 among us from the universal throat again and dead 

 not dead he feared us so much and with reason that he caused himself
to be represented as dead and had a grand mock-funeral but they have
found him alive hiding in the country and have brought him in i have
seen him but now on his way to the hotel de ville a prisoner i have
said that he had reason to fear us say all had he reason 

wretched old sinner of more than threescore years and ten if he had
never known it yet he would have known it in his heart of hearts if he
could have heard the answering cry 

a moment of profound silence followed defarge and his wife looked
steadfastly at one another the vengeance stooped and the jar of a drum
was heard as she moved it at her feet behind the counter 

 patriots said defarge in a determined voice are we ready 

instantly madame defarge's knife was in her girdle the drum was beating
in the streets as if it and a drummer had flown together by magic and
the vengeance uttering terrific shrieks and flinging her arms about
her head like all the forty furies at once was tearing from house to
house rousing the women 

the men were terrible in the bloody-minded anger with which they looked
from windows caught up what arms they had and came pouring down into
the streets but the women were a sight to chill the boldest from
such household occupations as their bare poverty yielded from their
children from their aged and their sick crouching on the bare ground
famished and naked they ran out with streaming hair urging one
another and themselves to madness with the wildest cries and actions 
villain foulon taken my sister old foulon taken my mother miscreant
foulon taken my daughter then a score of others ran into the midst of
these beating their breasts tearing their hair and screaming foulon
alive foulon who told the starving people they might eat grass foulon
who told my old father that he might eat grass when i had no bread
to give him foulon who told my baby it might suck grass when these
breasts were dry with want o mother of god this foulon o heaven our
suffering hear me my dead baby and my withered father i swear on my
knees on these stones to avenge you on foulon husbands and brothers 
and young men give us the blood of foulon give us the head of foulon 
give us the heart of foulon give us the body and soul of foulon rend
foulon to pieces and dig him into the ground that grass may grow from
him with these cries numbers of the women lashed into blind frenzy 
whirled about striking and tearing at their own friends until they
dropped into a passionate swoon and were only saved by the men
belonging to them from being trampled under foot 

nevertheless not a moment was lost not a moment this foulon was at
the hotel de ville and might be loosed never if saint antoine knew
his own sufferings insults and wrongs armed men and women flocked out
of the quarter so fast and drew even these last dregs after them with
such a force of suction that within a quarter of an hour there was not
a human creature in saint antoine's bosom but a few old crones and the
wailing children 

no they were all by that time choking the hall of examination where
this old man ugly and wicked was and overflowing into the adjacent
open space and streets the defarges husband and wife the vengeance 
and jacques three were in the first press and at no great distance
from him in the hall 

 see cried madame pointing with her knife see the old villain bound
with ropes that was well done to tie a bunch of grass upon his back 
ha ha that was well done let him eat it now madame put her knife
under her arm and clapped her hands as at a play 

the people immediately behind madame defarge explaining the cause of
her satisfaction to those behind them and those again explaining to
others and those to others the neighbouring streets resounded with the
clapping of hands similarly during two or three hours of drawl 
and the winnowing of many bushels of words madame defarge's frequent
expressions of impatience were taken up with marvellous quickness at
a distance the more readily because certain men who had by some
wonderful exercise of agility climbed up the external architecture
to look in from the windows knew madame defarge well and acted as a
telegraph between her and the crowd outside the building 

at length the sun rose so high that it struck a kindly ray as of hope or
protection directly down upon the old prisoner's head the favour was
too much to bear in an instant the barrier of dust and chaff that had
stood surprisingly long went to the winds and saint antoine had got
him 

it was known directly to the furthest confines of the crowd defarge
had but sprung over a railing and a table and folded the miserable
wretch in a deadly embrace madame defarge had but followed and turned
her hand in one of the ropes with which he was tied the vengeance and
jacques three were not yet up with them and the men at the windows
had not yet swooped into the hall like birds of prey from their high
perches when the cry seemed to go up all over the city bring him
out bring him to the lamp 

down and up and head foremost on the steps of the building now on
his knees now on his feet now on his back dragged and struck at 
and stifled by the bunches of grass and straw that were thrust into his
face by hundreds of hands torn bruised panting bleeding yet always
entreating and beseeching for mercy now full of vehement agony of
action with a small clear space about him as the people drew one
another back that they might see now a log of dead wood drawn through
a forest of legs he was hauled to the nearest street corner where one
of the fatal lamps swung and there madame defarge let him go as a cat
might have done to a mouse and silently and composedly looked at him
while they made ready and while he besought her the women passionately
screeching at him all the time and the men sternly calling out to have
him killed with grass in his mouth once he went aloft and the rope
broke and they caught him shrieking twice he went aloft and the rope
broke and they caught him shrieking then the rope was merciful and
held him and his head was soon upon a pike with grass enough in the
mouth for all saint antoine to dance at the sight of 

nor was this the end of the day's bad work for saint antoine so shouted
and danced his angry blood up that it boiled again on hearing when
the day closed in that the son-in-law of the despatched another of the
people's enemies and insulters was coming into paris under a guard
five hundred strong in cavalry alone saint antoine wrote his crimes
on flaring sheets of paper seized him would have torn him out of the
breast of an army to bear foulon company set his head and heart on
pikes and carried the three spoils of the day in wolf-procession
through the streets 

not before dark night did the men and women come back to the children 
wailing and breadless then the miserable bakers' shops were beset by
long files of them patiently waiting to buy bad bread and while
they waited with stomachs faint and empty they beguiled the time by
embracing one another on the triumphs of the day and achieving them
again in gossip gradually these strings of ragged people shortened and
frayed away and then poor lights began to shine in high windows and
slender fires were made in the streets at which neighbours cooked in
common afterwards supping at their doors 

scanty and insufficient suppers those and innocent of meat as of
most other sauce to wretched bread yet human fellowship infused
some nourishment into the flinty viands and struck some sparks of
cheerfulness out of them fathers and mothers who had had their full
share in the worst of the day played gently with their meagre children 
and lovers with such a world around them and before them loved and
hoped 

it was almost morning when defarge's wine-shop parted with its last
knot of customers and monsieur defarge said to madame his wife in
husky tones while fastening the door 

 at last it is come my dear 

 eh well returned madame almost 

saint antoine slept the defarges slept even the vengeance slept with
her starved grocer and the drum was at rest the drum's was the
only voice in saint antoine that blood and hurry had not changed the
vengeance as custodian of the drum could have wakened him up and had
the same speech out of him as before the bastille fell or old foulon
was seized not so with the hoarse tones of the men and women in saint
antoine's bosom 




xxiii fire rises


there was a change on the village where the fountain fell and where
the mender of roads went forth daily to hammer out of the stones on the
highway such morsels of bread as might serve for patches to hold his
poor ignorant soul and his poor reduced body together the prison on the
crag was not so dominant as of yore there were soldiers to guard it 
but not many there were officers to guard the soldiers but not one of
them knew what his men would do beyond this that it would probably not
be what he was ordered 

far and wide lay a ruined country yielding nothing but desolation 
every green leaf every blade of grass and blade of grain was as
shrivelled and poor as the miserable people everything was bowed down 
dejected oppressed and broken habitations fences domesticated
animals men women children and the soil that bore them all worn
out 

monseigneur often a most worthy individual gentleman was a national
blessing gave a chivalrous tone to things was a polite example of
luxurious and shining life and a great deal more to equal purpose 
nevertheless monseigneur as a class had somehow or other brought
things to this strange that creation designed expressly for
monseigneur should be so soon wrung dry and squeezed out there must
be something short-sighted in the eternal arrangements surely thus it
was however and the last drop of blood having been extracted from the
flints and the last screw of the rack having been turned so often that
its purchase crumbled and it now turned and turned with nothing
to bite monseigneur began to run away from a phenomenon so low and
unaccountable 

but this was not the change on the village and on many a village like
it for scores of years gone by monseigneur had squeezed it and wrung
it and had seldom graced it with his presence except for the pleasures
of the chase now found in hunting the people now found in hunting
the beasts for whose preservation monseigneur made edifying spaces
of barbarous and barren wilderness no the change consisted in
the appearance of strange faces of low caste rather than in the
disappearance of the high caste chiselled and otherwise beautified and
beautifying features of monseigneur 

for in these times as the mender of roads worked solitary in the
dust not often troubling himself to reflect that dust he was and
to dust he must return being for the most part too much occupied in
thinking how little he had for supper and how much more he would eat if
he had it in these times as he raised his eyes from his lonely labour 
and viewed the prospect he would see some rough figure approaching on
foot the like of which was once a rarity in those parts but was now
a frequent presence as it advanced the mender of roads would discern
without surprise that it was a shaggy-haired man of almost barbarian
aspect tall in wooden shoes that were clumsy even to the eyes of a
mender of roads grim rough swart steeped in the mud and dust of many
highways dank with the marshy moisture of many low grounds sprinkled
with the thorns and leaves and moss of many byways through woods 

such a man came upon him like a ghost at noon in the july weather 
as he sat on his heap of stones under a bank taking such shelter as he
could get from a shower of hail 

the man looked at him looked at the village in the hollow at the mill 
and at the prison on the crag when he had identified these objects
in what benighted mind he had he said in a dialect that was just
intelligible 

 how goes it jacques 

 all well jacques 

 touch then 

they joined hands and the man sat down on the heap of stones 

 no dinner 

 nothing but supper now said the mender of roads with a hungry face 

 it is the fashion growled the man i meet no dinner anywhere 

he took out a blackened pipe filled it lighted it with flint and
steel pulled at it until it was in a bright glow then suddenly held
it from him and dropped something into it from between his finger and
thumb that blazed and went out in a puff of smoke 

 touch then it was the turn of the mender of roads to say it this
time after observing these operations they again joined hands 

 to-night said the mender of roads 

 to-night said the man putting the pipe in his mouth 

 where 

 here 

he and the mender of roads sat on the heap of stones looking silently at
one another with the hail driving in between them like a pigmy charge
of bayonets until the sky began to clear over the village 

 show me said the traveller then moving to the brow of the hill 

 see returned the mender of roads with extended finger you go down
here and straight through the street and past the fountain 

 to the devil with all that interrupted the other rolling his eye
over the landscape i go through no streets and past no fountains 
well 

 well about two leagues beyond the summit of that hill above the
village 

 good when do you cease to work 

 at sunset 

 will you wake me before departing i have walked two nights without
resting let me finish my pipe and i shall sleep like a child will you
wake me 

 surely 

the wayfarer smoked his pipe out put it in his breast slipped off his
great wooden shoes and lay down on his back on the heap of stones he
was fast asleep directly 

as the road-mender plied his dusty labour and the hail-clouds rolling
away revealed bright bars and streaks of sky which were responded to
by silver gleams upon the landscape the little man who wore a red cap
now in place of his blue one seemed fascinated by the figure on the
heap of stones his eyes were so often turned towards it that he used
his tools mechanically and one would have said to very poor account 
the bronze face the shaggy black hair and beard the coarse woollen
red cap the rough medley dress of home-spun stuff and hairy skins of
beasts the powerful frame attenuated by spare living and the sullen
and desperate compression of the lips in sleep inspired the mender
of roads with awe the traveller had travelled far and his feet were
footsore and his ankles chafed and bleeding his great shoes stuffed
with leaves and grass had been heavy to drag over the many long
leagues and his clothes were chafed into holes as he himself was into
sores stooping down beside him the road-mender tried to get a peep at
secret weapons in his breast or where not but in vain for he slept
with his arms crossed upon him and set as resolutely as his lips 
fortified towns with their stockades guard-houses gates trenches and
drawbridges seemed to the mender of roads to be so much air as against
this figure and when he lifted his eyes from it to the horizon and
looked around he saw in his small fancy similar figures stopped by no
obstacle tending to centres all over france 

the man slept on indifferent to showers of hail and intervals of
brightness to sunshine on his face and shadow to the paltering lumps
of dull ice on his body and the diamonds into which the sun changed
them until the sun was low in the west and the sky was glowing then 
the mender of roads having got his tools together and all things ready
to go down into the village roused him 

 good said the sleeper rising on his elbow two leagues beyond the
summit of the hill 

 about 

 about good 

the mender of roads went home with the dust going on before him
according to the set of the wind and was soon at the fountain 
squeezing himself in among the lean kine brought there to drink and
appearing even to whisper to them in his whispering to all the village 
when the village had taken its poor supper it did not creep to bed 
as it usually did but came out of doors again and remained there a
curious contagion of whispering was upon it and also when it gathered
together at the fountain in the dark another curious contagion of
looking expectantly at the sky in one direction only monsieur gabelle 
chief functionary of the place became uneasy went out on his house-top
alone and looked in that direction too glanced down from behind his
chimneys at the darkening faces by the fountain below and sent word to
the sacristan who kept the keys of the church that there might be need
to ring the tocsin by-and-bye 

the night deepened the trees environing the old chateau keeping its
solitary state apart moved in a rising wind as though they threatened
the pile of building massive and dark in the gloom up the two terrace
flights of steps the rain ran wildly and beat at the great door like a
swift messenger rousing those within uneasy rushes of wind went through
the hall among the old spears and knives and passed lamenting up the
stairs and shook the curtains of the bed where the last marquis
had slept east west north and south through the woods four
heavy-treading unkempt figures crushed the high grass and cracked the
branches striding on cautiously to come together in the courtyard four
lights broke out there and moved away in different directions and all
was black again 

but not for long presently the chateau began to make itself strangely
visible by some light of its own as though it were growing luminous 
then a flickering streak played behind the architecture of the front 
picking out transparent places and showing where balustrades arches 
and windows were then it soared higher and grew broader and brighter 
soon from a score of the great windows flames burst forth and the
stone faces awakened stared out of fire 

a faint murmur arose about the house from the few people who were left
there and there was a saddling of a horse and riding away there was
spurring and splashing through the darkness and bridle was drawn in the
space by the village fountain and the horse in a foam stood at monsieur
gabelle's door help gabelle help every one the tocsin rang
impatiently but other help if that were any there was none the
mender of roads and two hundred and fifty particular friends stood
with folded arms at the fountain looking at the pillar of fire in the
sky it must be forty feet high said they grimly and never moved 

the rider from the chateau and the horse in a foam clattered away
through the village and galloped up the stony steep to the prison on
the crag at the gate a group of officers were looking at the fire 
removed from them a group of soldiers help gentlemen officers the
chateau is on fire valuable objects may be saved from the flames by
timely aid help help the officers looked towards the soldiers who
looked at the fire gave no orders and answered with shrugs and biting
of lips it must burn 

as the rider rattled down the hill again and through the street the
village was illuminating the mender of roads and the two hundred and
fifty particular friends inspired as one man and woman by the idea of
lighting up had darted into their houses and were putting candles in
every dull little pane of glass the general scarcity of everything 
occasioned candles to be borrowed in a rather peremptory manner of
monsieur gabelle and in a moment of reluctance and hesitation on
that functionary's part the mender of roads once so submissive to
authority had remarked that carriages were good to make bonfires with 
and that post-horses would roast 

the chateau was left to itself to flame and burn in the roaring and
raging of the conflagration a red-hot wind driving straight from the
infernal regions seemed to be blowing the edifice away with the rising
and falling of the blaze the stone faces showed as if they were in
torment when great masses of stone and timber fell the face with the
two dints in the nose became obscured anon struggled out of the smoke
again as if it were the face of the cruel marquis burning at the stake
and contending with the fire 

the chateau burned the nearest trees laid hold of by the fire 
scorched and shrivelled trees at a distance fired by the four fierce
figures begirt the blazing edifice with a new forest of smoke molten
lead and iron boiled in the marble basin of the fountain the water ran
dry the extinguisher tops of the towers vanished like ice before the
heat and trickled down into four rugged wells of flame great rents and
splits branched out in the solid walls like crystallisation stupefied
birds wheeled about and dropped into the furnace four fierce figures
trudged away east west north and south along the night-enshrouded
roads guided by the beacon they had lighted towards their next
destination the illuminated village had seized hold of the tocsin and 
abolishing the lawful ringer rang for joy 

not only that but the village light-headed with famine fire and
bell-ringing and bethinking itself that monsieur gabelle had to do with
the collection of rent and taxes though it was but a small instalment
of taxes and no rent at all that gabelle had got in those latter
days became impatient for an interview with him and surrounding his
house summoned him to come forth for personal conference whereupon 
monsieur gabelle did heavily bar his door and retire to hold counsel
with himself the result of that conference was that gabelle again
withdrew himself to his housetop behind his stack of chimneys this time
resolved if his door were broken in he was a small southern man
of retaliative temperament to pitch himself head foremost over the
parapet and crush a man or two below 

probably monsieur gabelle passed a long night up there with the
distant chateau for fire and candle and the beating at his door 
combined with the joy-ringing for music not to mention his having an
ill-omened lamp slung across the road before his posting-house gate 
which the village showed a lively inclination to displace in his favour 
a trying suspense to be passing a whole summer night on the brink of
the black ocean ready to take that plunge into it upon which monsieur
gabelle had resolved but the friendly dawn appearing at last and the
rush-candles of the village guttering out the people happily dispersed 
and monsieur gabelle came down bringing his life with him for that
while 

within a hundred miles and in the light of other fires there were
other functionaries less fortunate that night and other nights whom
the rising sun found hanging across once-peaceful streets where they
had been born and bred also there were other villagers and townspeople
less fortunate than the mender of roads and his fellows upon whom the
functionaries and soldiery turned with success and whom they strung up
in their turn but the fierce figures were steadily wending east west 
north and south be that as it would and whosoever hung fire burned 
the altitude of the gallows that would turn to water and quench it 
no functionary by any stretch of mathematics was able to calculate
successfully 




xxiv drawn to the loadstone rock


in such risings of fire and risings of sea the firm earth shaken by
the rushes of an angry ocean which had now no ebb but was always on the
flow higher and higher to the terror and wonder of the beholders on
the shore three years of tempest were consumed three more birthdays
of little lucie had been woven by the golden thread into the peaceful
tissue of the life of her home 

many a night and many a day had its inmates listened to the echoes in
the corner with hearts that failed them when they heard the thronging
feet for the footsteps had become to their minds as the footsteps of
a people tumultuous under a red flag and with their country declared in
danger changed into wild beasts by terrible enchantment long persisted
in 

monseigneur as a class had dissociated himself from the phenomenon of
his not being appreciated of his being so little wanted in france as
to incur considerable danger of receiving his dismissal from it and
this life together like the fabled rustic who raised the devil with
infinite pains and was so terrified at the sight of him that he could
ask the enemy no question but immediately fled so monseigneur after
boldly reading the lord's prayer backwards for a great number of years 
and performing many other potent spells for compelling the evil one no
sooner beheld him in his terrors than he took to his noble heels 

the shining bull's eye of the court was gone or it would have been the
mark for a hurricane of national bullets it had never been a good
eye to see with had long had the mote in it of lucifer's pride 
sardanapalus's luxury and a mole's blindness but it had dropped
out and was gone the court from that exclusive inner circle to its
outermost rotten ring of intrigue corruption and dissimulation was
all gone together royalty was gone had been besieged in its palace and
 suspended when the last tidings came over 

the august of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two was
come and monseigneur was by this time scattered far and wide 

as was natural the head-quarters and great gathering-place of
monseigneur in london was tellson's bank spirits are supposed to
haunt the places where their bodies most resorted and monseigneur
without a guinea haunted the spot where his guineas used to be 
moreover it was the spot to which such french intelligence as was most
to be relied upon came quickest again tellson's was a munificent
house and extended great liberality to old customers who had fallen
from their high estate again those nobles who had seen the coming
storm in time and anticipating plunder or confiscation had made
provident remittances to tellson's were always to be heard of there
by their needy brethren to which it must be added that every new-comer
from france reported himself and his tidings at tellson's almost as
a matter of course for such variety of reasons tellson's was at that
time as to french intelligence a kind of high exchange and this
was so well known to the public and the inquiries made there were in
consequence so numerous that tellson's sometimes wrote the latest news
out in a line or so and posted it in the bank windows for all who ran
through temple bar to read 

on a steaming misty afternoon mr lorry sat at his desk and charles
darnay stood leaning on it talking with him in a low voice the
penitential den once set apart for interviews with the house was now
the news-exchange and was filled to overflowing it was within half an
hour or so of the time of closing 

 but although you are the youngest man that ever lived said charles
darnay rather hesitating i must still suggest to you 

 i understand that i am too old said mr lorry 

 unsettled weather a long journey uncertain means of travelling a
disorganised country a city that may not be even safe for you 

 my dear charles said mr lorry with cheerful confidence you touch
some of the reasons for my going not for my staying away it is safe
enough for me nobody will care to interfere with an old fellow of hard
upon fourscore when there are so many people there much better worth
interfering with as to its being a disorganised city if it were not a
disorganised city there would be no occasion to send somebody from our
house here to our house there who knows the city and the business of
old and is in tellson's confidence as to the uncertain travelling the
long journey and the winter weather if i were not prepared to submit
myself to a few inconveniences for the sake of tellson's after all
these years who ought to be 

 i wish i were going myself said charles darnay somewhat restlessly 
and like one thinking aloud 

 indeed you are a pretty fellow to object and advise exclaimed mr 
lorry you wish you were going yourself and you a frenchman born you
are a wise counsellor 

 my dear mr lorry it is because i am a frenchman born that the
thought which i did not mean to utter here however has passed through
my mind often one cannot help thinking having had some sympathy for
the miserable people and having abandoned something to them he spoke
here in his former thoughtful manner that one might be listened to 
and might have the power to persuade to some restraint only last night 
after you had left us when i was talking to lucie 

 when you were talking to lucie mr lorry repeated yes i wonder you
are not ashamed to mention the name of lucie wishing you were going to
france at this time of day 

 however i am not going said charles darnay with a smile it is
more to the purpose that you say you are 

 and i am in plain reality the truth is my dear charles mr lorry
glanced at the distant house and lowered his voice you can have no
conception of the difficulty with which our business is transacted and
of the peril in which our books and papers over yonder are involved the
lord above knows what the compromising consequences would be to numbers
of people if some of our documents were seized or destroyed and they
might be at any time you know for who can say that paris is not set
afire to-day or sacked to-morrow now a judicious selection from these
with the least possible delay and the burying of them or otherwise
getting of them out of harm's way is within the power without loss of
precious time of scarcely any one but myself if any one and shall
i hang back when tellson's knows this and says this tellson's whose
bread i have eaten these sixty years because i am a little stiff about
the joints why i am a boy sir to half a dozen old codgers here 

 how i admire the gallantry of your youthful spirit mr lorry 

 tut nonsense sir and my dear charles said mr lorry glancing at
the house again you are to remember that getting things out of
paris at this present time no matter what things is next to an
impossibility papers and precious matters were this very day brought
to us here i speak in strict confidence it is not business-like to
whisper it even to you by the strangest bearers you can imagine 
every one of whom had his head hanging on by a single hair as he passed
the barriers at another time our parcels would come and go as easily
as in business-like old england but now everything is stopped 

 and do you really go to-night 

 i really go to-night for the case has become too pressing to admit of
delay 

 and do you take no one with you 

 all sorts of people have been proposed to me but i will have nothing
to say to any of them i intend to take jerry jerry has been my
bodyguard on sunday nights for a long time past and i am used to him 
nobody will suspect jerry of being anything but an english bull-dog or
of having any design in his head but to fly at anybody who touches his
master 

 i must say again that i heartily admire your gallantry and
youthfulness 

 i must say again nonsense nonsense when i have executed this little
commission i shall perhaps accept tellson's proposal to retire and
live at my ease time enough then to think about growing old 

this dialogue had taken place at mr lorry's usual desk with
monseigneur swarming within a yard or two of it boastful of what he
would do to avenge himself on the rascal-people before long it was too
much the way of monseigneur under his reverses as a refugee and it
was much too much the way of native british orthodoxy to talk of this
terrible revolution as if it were the only harvest ever known under
the skies that had not been sown as if nothing had ever been done or
omitted to be done that had led to it as if observers of the wretched
millions in france and of the misused and perverted resources that
should have made them prosperous had not seen it inevitably coming 
years before and had not in plain words recorded what they saw such
vapouring combined with the extravagant plots of monseigneur for the
restoration of a state of things that had utterly exhausted itself 
and worn out heaven and earth as well as itself was hard to be endured
without some remonstrance by any sane man who knew the truth and it was
such vapouring all about his ears like a troublesome confusion of blood
in his own head added to a latent uneasiness in his mind which had
already made charles darnay restless and which still kept him so 

among the talkers was stryver of the king's bench bar far on his
way to state promotion and therefore loud on the theme broaching
to monseigneur his devices for blowing the people up and exterminating
them from the face of the earth and doing without them and for
accomplishing many similar objects akin in their nature to the abolition
of eagles by sprinkling salt on the tails of the race him darnay heard
with a particular feeling of objection and darnay stood divided between
going away that he might hear no more and remaining to interpose his
word when the thing that was to be went on to shape itself out 

the house approached mr lorry and laying a soiled and unopened letter
before him asked if he had yet discovered any traces of the person to
whom it was addressed the house laid the letter down so close to darnay
that he saw the direction the more quickly because it was his own right
name the address turned into english ran 

 very pressing to monsieur heretofore the marquis st evremonde of
france confided to the cares of messrs tellson and co bankers 
london england 

on the marriage morning doctor manette had made it his one urgent and
express request to charles darnay that the secret of this name should
be unless he the doctor dissolved the obligation kept inviolate
between them nobody else knew it to be his name his own wife had no
suspicion of the fact mr lorry could have none 

 no said mr lorry in reply to the house i have referred it 
i think to everybody now here and no one can tell me where this
gentleman is to be found 

the hands of the clock verging upon the hour of closing the bank there
was a general set of the current of talkers past mr lorry's desk he
held the letter out inquiringly and monseigneur looked at it in the
person of this plotting and indignant refugee and monseigneur looked at
it in the person of that plotting and indignant refugee and this that 
and the other all had something disparaging to say in french or in
english concerning the marquis who was not to be found 

 nephew i believe but in any case degenerate successor of the
polished marquis who was murdered said one happy to say i never
knew him 

 a craven who abandoned his post said another this monseigneur had
been got out of paris legs uppermost and half suffocated in a load of
hay some years ago 

 infected with the new doctrines said a third eyeing the direction
through his glass in passing set himself in opposition to the last
marquis abandoned the estates when he inherited them and left them to
the ruffian herd they will recompense him now i hope as he deserves 

 hey cried the blatant stryver did he though is that the sort of
fellow let us look at his infamous name d n the fellow 

darnay unable to restrain himself any longer touched mr stryver on
the shoulder and said 

 i know the fellow 

 do you by jupiter said stryver i am sorry for it 

 why 

 why mr darnay d'ye hear what he did don't ask why in these
times 

 but i do ask why 

 then i tell you again mr darnay i am sorry for it i am sorry to
hear you putting any such extraordinary questions here is a fellow 
who infected by the most pestilent and blasphemous code of devilry that
ever was known abandoned his property to the vilest scum of the earth
that ever did murder by wholesale and you ask me why i am sorry that a
man who instructs youth knows him well but i'll answer you i am sorry
because i believe there is contamination in such a scoundrel that's
why 

mindful of the secret darnay with great difficulty checked himself and
said you may not understand the gentleman 

 i understand how to put you in a corner mr darnay said bully
stryver and i'll do it if this fellow is a gentleman i don't 
understand him you may tell him so with my compliments you may also
tell him from me that after abandoning his worldly goods and position
to this butcherly mob i wonder he is not at the head of them but no 
gentlemen said stryver looking all round and snapping his fingers 
 i know something of human nature and i tell you that you'll never
find a fellow like this fellow trusting himself to the mercies of such
precious proteges no gentlemen he'll always show 'em a clean pair
of heels very early in the scuffle and sneak away 

with those words and a final snap of his fingers mr stryver
shouldered himself into fleet-street amidst the general approbation of
his hearers mr lorry and charles darnay were left alone at the desk 
in the general departure from the bank 

 will you take charge of the letter said mr lorry you know where to
deliver it 

 i do 

 will you undertake to explain that we suppose it to have been
addressed here on the chance of our knowing where to forward it and
that it has been here some time 

 i will do so do you start for paris from here 

 from here at eight 

 i will come back to see you off 

very ill at ease with himself and with stryver and most other men 
darnay made the best of his way into the quiet of the temple opened the
letter and read it these were its contents 


 prison of the abbaye paris 

 june 21 1792 monsieur heretofore the marquis 

 after having long been in danger of my life at the hands of the
village i have been seized with great violence and indignity and
brought a long journey on foot to paris on the road i have suffered a
great deal nor is that all my house has been destroyed razed to the
ground 

 the crime for which i am imprisoned monsieur heretofore the marquis 
and for which i shall be summoned before the tribunal and shall lose my
life without your so generous help is they tell me treason against
the majesty of the people in that i have acted against them for an
emigrant it is in vain i represent that i have acted for them and not
against according to your commands it is in vain i represent that 
before the sequestration of emigrant property i had remitted the
imposts they had ceased to pay that i had collected no rent that i had
had recourse to no process the only response is that i have acted for
an emigrant and where is that emigrant 

 ah most gracious monsieur heretofore the marquis where is that
emigrant i cry in my sleep where is he i demand of heaven will he
not come to deliver me no answer ah monsieur heretofore the marquis 
i send my desolate cry across the sea hoping it may perhaps reach your
ears through the great bank of tilson known at paris 

 for the love of heaven of justice of generosity of the honour of
your noble name i supplicate you monsieur heretofore the marquis to
succour and release me my fault is that i have been true to you oh
monsieur heretofore the marquis i pray you be you true to me 

 from this prison here of horror whence i every hour tend nearer and
nearer to destruction i send you monsieur heretofore the marquis the
assurance of my dolorous and unhappy service 

 your afflicted 

 gabelle 


the latent uneasiness in darnay's mind was roused to vigourous life
by this letter the peril of an old servant and a good one whose
only crime was fidelity to himself and his family stared him so
reproachfully in the face that as he walked to and fro in the temple
considering what to do he almost hid his face from the passersby 

he knew very well that in his horror of the deed which had culminated
the bad deeds and bad reputation of the old family house in his
resentful suspicions of his uncle and in the aversion with which his
conscience regarded the crumbling fabric that he was supposed to uphold 
he had acted imperfectly he knew very well that in his love for lucie 
his renunciation of his social place though by no means new to his own
mind had been hurried and incomplete he knew that he ought to have
systematically worked it out and supervised it and that he had meant to
do it and that it had never been done 

the happiness of his own chosen english home the necessity of being
always actively employed the swift changes and troubles of the time
which had followed on one another so fast that the events of this week
annihilated the immature plans of last week and the events of the week
following made all new again he knew very well that to the force of
these circumstances he had yielded not without disquiet but still
without continuous and accumulating resistance that he had watched
the times for a time of action and that they had shifted and struggled
until the time had gone by and the nobility were trooping from
france by every highway and byway and their property was in course of
confiscation and destruction and their very names were blotting out 
was as well known to himself as it could be to any new authority in
france that might impeach him for it 

but he had oppressed no man he had imprisoned no man he was so
far from having harshly exacted payment of his dues that he had
relinquished them of his own will thrown himself on a world with no
favour in it won his own private place there and earned his own
bread monsieur gabelle had held the impoverished and involved estate
on written instructions to spare the people to give them what little
there was to give such fuel as the heavy creditors would let them have
in the winter and such produce as could be saved from the same grip in
the summer and no doubt he had put the fact in plea and proof for his
own safety so that it could not but appear now 

this favoured the desperate resolution charles darnay had begun to make 
that he would go to paris 

yes like the mariner in the old story the winds and streams had driven
him within the influence of the loadstone rock and it was drawing him
to itself and he must go everything that arose before his mind drifted
him on faster and faster more and more steadily to the terrible
attraction his latent uneasiness had been that bad aims were being
worked out in his own unhappy land by bad instruments and that he who
could not fail to know that he was better than they was not there 
trying to do something to stay bloodshed and assert the claims of mercy
and humanity with this uneasiness half stifled and half reproaching
him he had been brought to the pointed comparison of himself with the
brave old gentleman in whom duty was so strong upon that comparison
 injurious to himself had instantly followed the sneers of monseigneur 
which had stung him bitterly and those of stryver which above all were
coarse and galling for old reasons upon those had followed gabelle's
letter the appeal of an innocent prisoner in danger of death to his
justice honour and good name 

his resolution was made he must go to paris 

yes the loadstone rock was drawing him and he must sail on until he
struck he knew of no rock he saw hardly any danger the intention
with which he had done what he had done even although he had left
it incomplete presented it before him in an aspect that would be
gratefully acknowledged in france on his presenting himself to assert
it then that glorious vision of doing good which is so often the
sanguine mirage of so many good minds arose before him and he even
saw himself in the illusion with some influence to guide this raging
revolution that was running so fearfully wild 

as he walked to and fro with his resolution made he considered that
neither lucie nor her father must know of it until he was gone 
lucie should be spared the pain of separation and her father always
reluctant to turn his thoughts towards the dangerous ground of old 
should come to the knowledge of the step as a step taken and not in
the balance of suspense and doubt how much of the incompleteness of his
situation was referable to her father through the painful anxiety
to avoid reviving old associations of france in his mind he did not
discuss with himself but that circumstance too had had its influence
in his course 

he walked to and fro with thoughts very busy until it was time to
return to tellson's and take leave of mr lorry as soon as he arrived
in paris he would present himself to this old friend but he must say
nothing of his intention now 

a carriage with post-horses was ready at the bank door and jerry was
booted and equipped 

 i have delivered that letter said charles darnay to mr lorry i
would not consent to your being charged with any written answer but
perhaps you will take a verbal one 

 that i will and readily said mr lorry if it is not dangerous 

 not at all though it is to a prisoner in the abbaye 

 what is his name said mr lorry with his open pocket-book in his
hand 

 gabelle 

 gabelle and what is the message to the unfortunate gabelle in prison 

 simply 'that he has received the letter and will come ' 

 any time mentioned 

 he will start upon his journey to-morrow night 

 any person mentioned 

 no 

he helped mr lorry to wrap himself in a number of coats and cloaks 
and went out with him from the warm atmosphere of the old bank into the
misty air of fleet-street my love to lucie and to little lucie said
mr lorry at parting and take precious care of them till i come back 
 charles darnay shook his head and doubtfully smiled as the carriage
rolled away 

that night it was the fourteenth of august he sat up late and wrote
two fervent letters one was to lucie explaining the strong obligation
he was under to go to paris and showing her at length the reasons
that he had for feeling confident that he could become involved in no
personal danger there the other was to the doctor confiding lucie and
their dear child to his care and dwelling on the same topics with the
strongest assurances to both he wrote that he would despatch letters
in proof of his safety immediately after his arrival 

it was a hard day that day of being among them with the first
reservation of their joint lives on his mind it was a hard matter to
preserve the innocent deceit of which they were profoundly unsuspicious 
but an affectionate glance at his wife so happy and busy made him
resolute not to tell her what impended he had been half moved to do it 
so strange it was to him to act in anything without her quiet aid and
the day passed quickly early in the evening he embraced her and her
scarcely less dear namesake pretending that he would return by-and-bye
 an imaginary engagement took him out and he had secreted a valise
of clothes ready and so he emerged into the heavy mist of the heavy
streets with a heavier heart 

the unseen force was drawing him fast to itself now and all the tides
and winds were setting straight and strong towards it he left his
two letters with a trusty porter to be delivered half an hour before
midnight and no sooner took horse for dover and began his journey 
 for the love of heaven of justice of generosity of the honour of
your noble name was the poor prisoner's cry with which he strengthened
his sinking heart as he left all that was dear on earth behind him and
floated away for the loadstone rock 


the end of the second book 





book the third the track of a storm




i in secret


the traveller fared slowly on his way who fared towards paris from
england in the autumn of the year one thousand seven hundred and
ninety-two more than enough of bad roads bad equipages and bad
horses he would have encountered to delay him though the fallen and
unfortunate king of france had been upon his throne in all his glory 
but the changed times were fraught with other obstacles than
these every town-gate and village taxing-house had its band of
citizen-patriots with their national muskets in a most explosive state
of readiness who stopped all comers and goers cross-questioned them 
inspected their papers looked for their names in lists of their own 
turned them back or sent them on or stopped them and laid them in
hold as their capricious judgment or fancy deemed best for the dawning
republic one and indivisible of liberty equality fraternity or
death 

a very few french leagues of his journey were accomplished when charles
darnay began to perceive that for him along these country roads there
was no hope of return until he should have been declared a good citizen
at paris whatever might befall now he must on to his journey's end 
not a mean village closed upon him not a common barrier dropped across
the road behind him but he knew it to be another iron door in
the series that was barred between him and england the universal
watchfulness so encompassed him that if he had been taken in a net 
or were being forwarded to his destination in a cage he could not have
felt his freedom more completely gone 

this universal watchfulness not only stopped him on the highway twenty
times in a stage but retarded his progress twenty times in a day by
riding after him and taking him back riding before him and stopping him
by anticipation riding with him and keeping him in charge he had been
days upon his journey in france alone when he went to bed tired out in
a little town on the high road still a long way from paris 

nothing but the production of the afflicted gabelle's letter from his
prison of the abbaye would have got him on so far his difficulty at the
guard-house in this small place had been such that he felt his journey
to have come to a crisis and he was therefore as little surprised as
a man could be to find himself awakened at the small inn to which he
had been remitted until morning in the middle of the night 

awakened by a timid local functionary and three armed patriots in rough
red caps and with pipes in their mouths who sat down on the bed 

 emigrant said the functionary i am going to send you on to paris 
under an escort 

 citizen i desire nothing more than to get to paris though i could
dispense with the escort 

 silence growled a red-cap striking at the coverlet with the butt-end
of his musket peace aristocrat 

 it is as the good patriot says observed the timid functionary you
are an aristocrat and must have an escort and must pay for it 

 i have no choice said charles darnay 

 choice listen to him cried the same scowling red-cap as if it was
not a favour to be protected from the lamp-iron 

 it is always as the good patriot says observed the functionary rise
and dress yourself emigrant 

darnay complied and was taken back to the guard-house where other
patriots in rough red caps were smoking drinking and sleeping by
a watch-fire here he paid a heavy price for his escort and hence he
started with it on the wet wet roads at three o'clock in the morning 

the escort were two mounted patriots in red caps and tri-coloured
cockades armed with national muskets and sabres who rode one on either
side of him 

the escorted governed his own horse but a loose line was attached to
his bridle the end of which one of the patriots kept girded round his
wrist in this state they set forth with the sharp rain driving in their
faces clattering at a heavy dragoon trot over the uneven town pavement 
and out upon the mire-deep roads in this state they traversed without
change except of horses and pace all the mire-deep leagues that lay
between them and the capital 

they travelled in the night halting an hour or two after daybreak and
lying by until the twilight fell the escort were so wretchedly clothed 
that they twisted straw round their bare legs and thatched their ragged
shoulders to keep the wet off apart from the personal discomfort of
being so attended and apart from such considerations of present danger
as arose from one of the patriots being chronically drunk and carrying
his musket very recklessly charles darnay did not allow the restraint
that was laid upon him to awaken any serious fears in his breast for 
he reasoned with himself that it could have no reference to the merits
of an individual case that was not yet stated and of representations 
confirmable by the prisoner in the abbaye that were not yet made 

but when they came to the town of beauvais which they did at eventide 
when the streets were filled with people he could not conceal from
himself that the aspect of affairs was very alarming an ominous crowd
gathered to see him dismount of the posting-yard and many voices called
out loudly down with the emigrant 

he stopped in the act of swinging himself out of his saddle and 
resuming it as his safest place said 

 emigrant my friends do you not see me here in france of my own
will 

 you are a cursed emigrant cried a farrier making at him in a
furious manner through the press hammer in hand and you are a cursed
aristocrat 

the postmaster interposed himself between this man and the rider's
bridle at which he was evidently making and soothingly said let him
be let him be he will be judged at paris 

 judged repeated the farrier swinging his hammer ay and condemned
as a traitor at this the crowd roared approval 

checking the postmaster who was for turning his horse's head to the
yard the drunken patriot sat composedly in his saddle looking on with
the line round his wrist darnay said as soon as he could make his
voice heard 

 friends you deceive yourselves or you are deceived i am not a
traitor 

 he lies cried the smith he is a traitor since the decree his life
is forfeit to the people his cursed life is not his own 

at the instant when darnay saw a rush in the eyes of the crowd which
another instant would have brought upon him the postmaster turned his
horse into the yard the escort rode in close upon his horse's flanks 
and the postmaster shut and barred the crazy double gates the farrier
struck a blow upon them with his hammer and the crowd groaned but no
more was done 

 what is this decree that the smith spoke of darnay asked the
postmaster when he had thanked him and stood beside him in the yard 

 truly a decree for selling the property of emigrants 

 when passed 

 on the fourteenth 

 the day i left england 

 everybody says it is but one of several and that there will be
others if there are not already banishing all emigrants and
condemning all to death who return that is what he meant when he said
your life was not your own 

 but there are no such decrees yet 

 what do i know said the postmaster shrugging his shoulders there
may be or there will be it is all the same what would you have 

they rested on some straw in a loft until the middle of the night and
then rode forward again when all the town was asleep among the many
wild changes observable on familiar things which made this wild ride
unreal not the least was the seeming rarity of sleep after long and
lonely spurring over dreary roads they would come to a cluster of poor
cottages not steeped in darkness but all glittering with lights and
would find the people in a ghostly manner in the dead of the night 
circling hand in hand round a shrivelled tree of liberty or all drawn
up together singing a liberty song happily however there was sleep in
beauvais that night to help them out of it and they passed on once more
into solitude and loneliness jingling through the untimely cold and
wet among impoverished fields that had yielded no fruits of the earth
that year diversified by the blackened remains of burnt houses and by
the sudden emergence from ambuscade and sharp reining up across their
way of patriot patrols on the watch on all the roads 

daylight at last found them before the wall of paris the barrier was
closed and strongly guarded when they rode up to it 

 where are the papers of this prisoner demanded a resolute-looking man
in authority who was summoned out by the guard 

naturally struck by the disagreeable word charles darnay requested the
speaker to take notice that he was a free traveller and french citizen 
in charge of an escort which the disturbed state of the country had
imposed upon him and which he had paid for 

 where repeated the same personage without taking any heed of him
whatever are the papers of this prisoner 

the drunken patriot had them in his cap and produced them casting his
eyes over gabelle's letter the same personage in authority showed some
disorder and surprise and looked at darnay with a close attention 

he left escort and escorted without saying a word however and went
into the guard-room meanwhile they sat upon their horses outside the
gate looking about him while in this state of suspense charles
darnay observed that the gate was held by a mixed guard of soldiers and
patriots the latter far outnumbering the former and that while ingress
into the city for peasants' carts bringing in supplies and for similar
traffic and traffickers was easy enough egress even for the homeliest
people was very difficult a numerous medley of men and women not
to mention beasts and vehicles of various sorts was waiting to issue
forth but the previous identification was so strict that they
filtered through the barrier very slowly some of these people knew
their turn for examination to be so far off that they lay down on the
ground to sleep or smoke while others talked together or loitered
about the red cap and tri-colour cockade were universal both among men
and women 

when he had sat in his saddle some half-hour taking note of these
things darnay found himself confronted by the same man in authority 
who directed the guard to open the barrier then he delivered to the
escort drunk and sober a receipt for the escorted and requested him
to dismount he did so and the two patriots leading his tired horse 
turned and rode away without entering the city 

he accompanied his conductor into a guard-room smelling of common wine
and tobacco where certain soldiers and patriots asleep and awake 
drunk and sober and in various neutral states between sleeping and
waking drunkenness and sobriety were standing and lying about the
light in the guard-house half derived from the waning oil-lamps of
the night and half from the overcast day was in a correspondingly
uncertain condition some registers were lying open on a desk and an
officer of a coarse dark aspect presided over these 

 citizen defarge said he to darnay's conductor as he took a slip of
paper to write on is this the emigrant evremonde 

 this is the man 

 your age evremonde 

 thirty-seven 

 married evremonde 

 yes 

 where married 

 in england 

 without doubt where is your wife evremonde 

 in england 

 without doubt you are consigned evremonde to the prison of la
force 

 just heaven exclaimed darnay under what law and for what offence 

the officer looked up from his slip of paper for a moment 

 we have new laws evremonde and new offences since you were here he
said it with a hard smile and went on writing 

 i entreat you to observe that i have come here voluntarily in response
to that written appeal of a fellow-countryman which lies before you i
demand no more than the opportunity to do so without delay is not that
my right 

 emigrants have no rights evremonde was the stolid reply the officer
wrote until he had finished read over to himself what he had written 
sanded it and handed it to defarge with the words in secret 

defarge motioned with the paper to the prisoner that he must accompany
him the prisoner obeyed and a guard of two armed patriots attended
them 

 is it you said defarge in a low voice as they went down the
guardhouse steps and turned into paris who married the daughter of
doctor manette once a prisoner in the bastille that is no more 

 yes replied darnay looking at him with surprise 

 my name is defarge and i keep a wine-shop in the quarter saint
antoine possibly you have heard of me 

 my wife came to your house to reclaim her father yes 

the word wife seemed to serve as a gloomy reminder to defarge to say
with sudden impatience in the name of that sharp female newly-born 
and called la guillotine why did you come to france 

 you heard me say why a minute ago do you not believe it is the
truth 

 a bad truth for you said defarge speaking with knitted brows and
looking straight before him 

 indeed i am lost here all here is so unprecedented so changed so
sudden and unfair that i am absolutely lost will you render me a
little help 

 none defarge spoke always looking straight before him 

 will you answer me a single question 

 perhaps according to its nature you can say what it is 

 in this prison that i am going to so unjustly shall i have some free
communication with the world outside 

 you will see 

 i am not to be buried there prejudged and without any means of
presenting my case 

 you will see but what then other people have been similarly buried
in worse prisons before now 

 but never by me citizen defarge 

defarge glanced darkly at him for answer and walked on in a steady
and set silence the deeper he sank into this silence the fainter hope
there was or so darnay thought of his softening in any slight degree 
he therefore made haste to say 

 it is of the utmost importance to me you know citizen even better
than i of how much importance that i should be able to communicate to
mr lorry of tellson's bank an english gentleman who is now in paris 
the simple fact without comment that i have been thrown into the
prison of la force will you cause that to be done for me 

 i will do defarge doggedly rejoined nothing for you my duty is to
my country and the people i am the sworn servant of both against you 
i will do nothing for you 

charles darnay felt it hopeless to entreat him further and his pride
was touched besides as they walked on in silence he could not but see
how used the people were to the spectacle of prisoners passing along the
streets the very children scarcely noticed him a few passers turned
their heads and a few shook their fingers at him as an aristocrat 
otherwise that a man in good clothes should be going to prison was no
more remarkable than that a labourer in working clothes should be
going to work in one narrow dark and dirty street through which they
passed an excited orator mounted on a stool was addressing an excited
audience on the crimes against the people of the king and the royal
family the few words that he caught from this man's lips first made
it known to charles darnay that the king was in prison and that the
foreign ambassadors had one and all left paris on the road except at
beauvais he had heard absolutely nothing the escort and the universal
watchfulness had completely isolated him 

that he had fallen among far greater dangers than those which had
developed themselves when he left england he of course knew now that
perils had thickened about him fast and might thicken faster and faster
yet he of course knew now he could not but admit to himself that he
might not have made this journey if he could have foreseen the events
of a few days and yet his misgivings were not so dark as imagined by
the light of this later time they would appear troubled as the future
was it was the unknown future and in its obscurity there was ignorant
hope the horrible massacre days and nights long which within a few
rounds of the clock was to set a great mark of blood upon the blessed
garnering time of harvest was as far out of his knowledge as if it had
been a hundred thousand years away the sharp female newly-born and
called la guillotine was hardly known to him or to the generality
of people by name the frightful deeds that were to be soon done were
probably unimagined at that time in the brains of the doers how could
they have a place in the shadowy conceptions of a gentle mind 

of unjust treatment in detention and hardship and in cruel separation
from his wife and child he foreshadowed the likelihood or the
certainty but beyond this he dreaded nothing distinctly with this on
his mind which was enough to carry into a dreary prison courtyard he
arrived at the prison of la force 

a man with a bloated face opened the strong wicket to whom defarge
presented the emigrant evremonde 

 what the devil how many more of them exclaimed the man with the
bloated face 

defarge took his receipt without noticing the exclamation and withdrew 
with his two fellow-patriots 

 what the devil i say again exclaimed the gaoler left with his wife 
 how many more 

the gaoler's wife being provided with no answer to the question merely
replied one must have patience my dear three turnkeys who entered
responsive to a bell she rang echoed the sentiment and one added for
the love of liberty which sounded in that place like an inappropriate
conclusion 

the prison of la force was a gloomy prison dark and filthy and with a
horrible smell of foul sleep in it extraordinary how soon the noisome
flavour of imprisoned sleep becomes manifest in all such places that
are ill cared for 

 in secret too grumbled the gaoler looking at the written paper as
if i was not already full to bursting 

he stuck the paper on a file in an ill-humour and charles darnay
awaited his further pleasure for half an hour sometimes pacing to and
fro in the strong arched room sometimes resting on a stone seat in
either case detained to be imprinted on the memory of the chief and his
subordinates 

 come said the chief at length taking up his keys come with me 
emigrant 

through the dismal prison twilight his new charge accompanied him by
corridor and staircase many doors clanging and locking behind them 
until they came into a large low vaulted chamber crowded with
prisoners of both sexes the women were seated at a long table reading
and writing knitting sewing and embroidering the men were for the
most part standing behind their chairs or lingering up and down the
room 

in the instinctive association of prisoners with shameful crime and
disgrace the new-comer recoiled from this company but the crowning
unreality of his long unreal ride was their all at once rising to
receive him with every refinement of manner known to the time and with
all the engaging graces and courtesies of life 

so strangely clouded were these refinements by the prison manners and
gloom so spectral did they become in the inappropriate squalor and
misery through which they were seen that charles darnay seemed to stand
in a company of the dead ghosts all the ghost of beauty the ghost
of stateliness the ghost of elegance the ghost of pride the ghost of
frivolity the ghost of wit the ghost of youth the ghost of age all
waiting their dismissal from the desolate shore all turning on him eyes
that were changed by the death they had died in coming there 

it struck him motionless the gaoler standing at his side and the other
gaolers moving about who would have been well enough as to appearance
in the ordinary exercise of their functions looked so extravagantly
coarse contrasted with sorrowing mothers and blooming daughters who were
there with the apparitions of the coquette the young beauty and the
mature woman delicately bred that the inversion of all experience and
likelihood which the scene of shadows presented was heightened to its
utmost surely ghosts all surely the long unreal ride some progress
of disease that had brought him to these gloomy shades 

 in the name of the assembled companions in misfortune said a
gentleman of courtly appearance and address coming forward i have the
honour of giving you welcome to la force and of condoling with you
on the calamity that has brought you among us may it soon terminate
happily it would be an impertinence elsewhere but it is not so here 
to ask your name and condition 

charles darnay roused himself and gave the required information in
words as suitable as he could find 

 but i hope said the gentleman following the chief gaoler with his
eyes who moved across the room that you are not in secret 

 i do not understand the meaning of the term but i have heard them say
so 

 ah what a pity we so much regret it but take courage several
members of our society have been in secret at first and it has lasted
but a short time then he added raising his voice i grieve to inform
the society in secret 

there was a murmur of commiseration as charles darnay crossed the room
to a grated door where the gaoler awaited him and many voices among
which the soft and compassionate voices of women were conspicuous gave
him good wishes and encouragement he turned at the grated door to
render the thanks of his heart it closed under the gaoler's hand and
the apparitions vanished from his sight forever 

the wicket opened on a stone staircase leading upward when they had
ascended forty steps the prisoner of half an hour already counted
them the gaoler opened a low black door and they passed into a
solitary cell it struck cold and damp but was not dark 

 yours said the gaoler 

 why am i confined alone 

 how do i know 

 i can buy pen ink and paper 

 such are not my orders you will be visited and can ask then at
present you may buy your food and nothing more 

there were in the cell a chair a table and a straw mattress as
the gaoler made a general inspection of these objects and of the four
walls before going out a wandering fancy wandered through the mind of
the prisoner leaning against the wall opposite to him that this gaoler
was so unwholesomely bloated both in face and person as to look like
a man who had been drowned and filled with water when the gaoler was
gone he thought in the same wandering way now am i left as if i were
dead stopping then to look down at the mattress he turned from it
with a sick feeling and thought and here in these crawling creatures
is the first condition of the body after death 

 five paces by four and a half five paces by four and a half five
paces by four and a half the prisoner walked to and fro in his cell 
counting its measurement and the roar of the city arose like muffled
drums with a wild swell of voices added to them he made shoes he made
shoes he made shoes the prisoner counted the measurement again and
paced faster to draw his mind with him from that latter repetition 
 the ghosts that vanished when the wicket closed there was one among
them the appearance of a lady dressed in black who was leaning in the
embrasure of a window and she had a light shining upon her golden
hair and she looked like let us ride on again for god's sake 
through the illuminated villages with the people all awake he
made shoes he made shoes he made shoes five paces by four and
a half with such scraps tossing and rolling upward from the depths of
his mind the prisoner walked faster and faster obstinately counting
and counting and the roar of the city changed to this extent that it
still rolled in like muffled drums but with the wail of voices that he
knew in the swell that rose above them 




ii the grindstone


tellson's bank established in the saint germain quarter of paris was
in a wing of a large house approached by a courtyard and shut off from
the street by a high wall and a strong gate the house belonged to
a great nobleman who had lived in it until he made a flight from the
troubles in his own cook's dress and got across the borders a
mere beast of the chase flying from hunters he was still in his
metempsychosis no other than the same monseigneur the preparation
of whose chocolate for whose lips had once occupied three strong men
besides the cook in question 

monseigneur gone and the three strong men absolving themselves from the
sin of having drawn his high wages by being more than ready and
willing to cut his throat on the altar of the dawning republic one and
indivisible of liberty equality fraternity or death monseigneur's
house had been first sequestrated and then confiscated for all
things moved so fast and decree followed decree with that fierce
precipitation that now upon the third night of the autumn month
of september patriot emissaries of the law were in possession of
monseigneur's house and had marked it with the tri-colour and were
drinking brandy in its state apartments 

a place of business in london like tellson's place of business in paris 
would soon have driven the house out of its mind and into the gazette 
for what would staid british responsibility and respectability have
said to orange-trees in boxes in a bank courtyard and even to a cupid
over the counter yet such things were tellson's had whitewashed the
cupid but he was still to be seen on the ceiling in the coolest
linen aiming as he very often does at money from morning to
night bankruptcy must inevitably have come of this young pagan in
lombard-street london and also of a curtained alcove in the rear of
the immortal boy and also of a looking-glass let into the wall and
also of clerks not at all old who danced in public on the slightest
provocation yet a french tellson's could get on with these things
exceedingly well and as long as the times held together no man had
taken fright at them and drawn out his money 

what money would be drawn out of tellson's henceforth and what would
lie there lost and forgotten what plate and jewels would tarnish in
tellson's hiding-places while the depositors rusted in prisons 
and when they should have violently perished how many accounts with
tellson's never to be balanced in this world must be carried over into
the next no man could have said that night any more than mr jarvis
lorry could though he thought heavily of these questions he sat by
a newly-lighted wood fire the blighted and unfruitful year was
prematurely cold and on his honest and courageous face there was a
deeper shade than the pendent lamp could throw or any object in the
room distortedly reflect a shade of horror 

he occupied rooms in the bank in his fidelity to the house of which
he had grown to be a part like strong root-ivy it chanced that they
derived a kind of security from the patriotic occupation of the main
building but the true-hearted old gentleman never calculated about
that all such circumstances were indifferent to him so that he did
his duty on the opposite side of the courtyard under a colonnade 
was extensive standing for carriages where indeed some carriages
of monseigneur yet stood against two of the pillars were fastened two
great flaring flambeaux and in the light of these standing out in the
open air was a large grindstone a roughly mounted thing which appeared
to have hurriedly been brought there from some neighbouring smithy 
or other workshop rising and looking out of window at these harmless
objects mr lorry shivered and retired to his seat by the fire he had
opened not only the glass window but the lattice blind outside it and
he had closed both again and he shivered through his frame 

from the streets beyond the high wall and the strong gate there came
the usual night hum of the city with now and then an indescribable ring
in it weird and unearthly as if some unwonted sounds of a terrible
nature were going up to heaven 

 thank god said mr lorry clasping his hands that no one near and
dear to me is in this dreadful town to-night may he have mercy on all
who are in danger 

soon afterwards the bell at the great gate sounded and he thought 
 they have come back and sat listening but there was no loud
irruption into the courtyard as he had expected and he heard the gate
clash again and all was quiet 

the nervousness and dread that were upon him inspired that vague
uneasiness respecting the bank which a great change would naturally
awaken with such feelings roused it was well guarded and he got up to
go among the trusty people who were watching it when his door suddenly
opened and two figures rushed in at sight of which he fell back in
amazement 

lucie and her father lucie with her arms stretched out to him and with
that old look of earnestness so concentrated and intensified that it
seemed as though it had been stamped upon her face expressly to give
force and power to it in this one passage of her life 

 what is this cried mr lorry breathless and confused what is the
matter lucie manette what has happened what has brought you here 
what is it 

with the look fixed upon him in her paleness and wildness she panted
out in his arms imploringly o my dear friend my husband 

 your husband lucie 

 charles 

 what of charles 

 here 

 here in paris 

 has been here some days three or four i don't know how many i can't
collect my thoughts an errand of generosity brought him here unknown to
us he was stopped at the barrier and sent to prison 

the old man uttered an irrepressible cry almost at the same moment the
bell of the great gate rang again and a loud noise of feet and voices
came pouring into the courtyard 

 what is that noise said the doctor turning towards the window 

 don't look cried mr lorry don't look out manette for your life 
don't touch the blind 

the doctor turned with his hand upon the fastening of the window and
said with a cool bold smile 

 my dear friend i have a charmed life in this city i have been
a bastille prisoner there is no patriot in paris in paris in
france who knowing me to have been a prisoner in the bastille would
touch me except to overwhelm me with embraces or carry me in triumph 
my old pain has given me a power that has brought us through the
barrier and gained us news of charles there and brought us here i
knew it would be so i knew i could help charles out of all danger i
told lucie so what is that noise his hand was again upon the window 

 don't look cried mr lorry absolutely desperate no lucie my
dear nor you he got his arm round her and held her don't be so
terrified my love i solemnly swear to you that i know of no harm
having happened to charles that i had no suspicion even of his being in
this fatal place what prison is he in 

 la force 

 la force lucie my child if ever you were brave and serviceable in
your life and you were always both you will compose yourself now to
do exactly as i bid you for more depends upon it than you can think or
i can say there is no help for you in any action on your part to-night 
you cannot possibly stir out i say this because what i must bid you
to do for charles's sake is the hardest thing to do of all you must
instantly be obedient still and quiet you must let me put you in a
room at the back here you must leave your father and me alone for
two minutes and as there are life and death in the world you must not
delay 

 i will be submissive to you i see in your face that you know i can do
nothing else than this i know you are true 

the old man kissed her and hurried her into his room and turned the
key then came hurrying back to the doctor and opened the window and
partly opened the blind and put his hand upon the doctor's arm and
looked out with him into the courtyard 

looked out upon a throng of men and women not enough in number or near
enough to fill the courtyard not more than forty or fifty in all the
people in possession of the house had let them in at the gate and they
had rushed in to work at the grindstone it had evidently been set up
there for their purpose as in a convenient and retired spot 

but such awful workers and such awful work 

the grindstone had a double handle and turning at it madly were two
men whose faces as their long hair flapped back when the whirlings of
the grindstone brought their faces up were more horrible and cruel than
the visages of the wildest savages in their most barbarous disguise 
false eyebrows and false moustaches were stuck upon them and their
hideous countenances were all bloody and sweaty and all awry with
howling and all staring and glaring with beastly excitement and want of
sleep as these ruffians turned and turned their matted locks now flung
forward over their eyes now flung backward over their necks some women
held wine to their mouths that they might drink and what with dropping
blood and what with dropping wine and what with the stream of sparks
struck out of the stone all their wicked atmosphere seemed gore and
fire the eye could not detect one creature in the group free from
the smear of blood shouldering one another to get next at the
sharpening-stone were men stripped to the waist with the stain all
over their limbs and bodies men in all sorts of rags with the stain
upon those rags men devilishly set off with spoils of women's lace
and silk and ribbon with the stain dyeing those trifles through
and through hatchets knives bayonets swords all brought to be
sharpened were all red with it some of the hacked swords were tied to
the wrists of those who carried them with strips of linen and fragments
of dress ligatures various in kind but all deep of the one colour and
as the frantic wielders of these weapons snatched them from the stream
of sparks and tore away into the streets the same red hue was red in
their frenzied eyes eyes which any unbrutalised beholder would have
given twenty years of life to petrify with a well-directed gun 

all this was seen in a moment as the vision of a drowning man or of
any human creature at any very great pass could see a world if it
were there they drew back from the window and the doctor looked for
explanation in his friend's ashy face 

 they are mr lorry whispered the words glancing fearfully round at
the locked room murdering the prisoners if you are sure of what you
say if you really have the power you think you have as i believe you
have make yourself known to these devils and get taken to la force it
may be too late i don't know but let it not be a minute later 

doctor manette pressed his hand hastened bareheaded out of the room 
and was in the courtyard when mr lorry regained the blind 

his streaming white hair his remarkable face and the impetuous
confidence of his manner as he put the weapons aside like water 
carried him in an instant to the heart of the concourse at the stone 
for a few moments there was a pause and a hurry and a murmur and
the unintelligible sound of his voice and then mr lorry saw him 
surrounded by all and in the midst of a line of twenty men long all
linked shoulder to shoulder and hand to shoulder hurried out with
cries of live the bastille prisoner help for the bastille prisoner's
kindred in la force room for the bastille prisoner in front there save
the prisoner evremonde at la force and a thousand answering shouts 

he closed the lattice again with a fluttering heart closed the window
and the curtain hastened to lucie and told her that her father was
assisted by the people and gone in search of her husband he found
her child and miss pross with her but it never occurred to him to be
surprised by their appearance until a long time afterwards when he sat
watching them in such quiet as the night knew 

lucie had by that time fallen into a stupor on the floor at his feet 
clinging to his hand miss pross had laid the child down on his own
bed and her head had gradually fallen on the pillow beside her pretty
charge o the long long night with the moans of the poor wife and o
the long long night with no return of her father and no tidings 

twice more in the darkness the bell at the great gate sounded and the
irruption was repeated and the grindstone whirled and spluttered 
 what is it cried lucie affrighted hush the soldiers' swords are
sharpened there said mr lorry the place is national property now 
and used as a kind of armoury my love 

twice more in all but the last spell of work was feeble and fitful 
soon afterwards the day began to dawn and he softly detached himself
from the clasping hand and cautiously looked out again a man so
besmeared that he might have been a sorely wounded soldier creeping back
to consciousness on a field of slain was rising from the pavement by
the side of the grindstone and looking about him with a vacant air 
shortly this worn-out murderer descried in the imperfect light one of
the carriages of monseigneur and staggering to that gorgeous vehicle 
climbed in at the door and shut himself up to take his rest on its
dainty cushions 

the great grindstone earth had turned when mr lorry looked out again 
and the sun was red on the courtyard but the lesser grindstone stood
alone there in the calm morning air with a red upon it that the sun had
never given and would never take away 




iii the shadow


one of the first considerations which arose in the business mind of mr 
lorry when business hours came round was this that he had no right to
imperil tellson's by sheltering the wife of an emigrant prisoner under
the bank roof his own possessions safety life he would have hazarded
for lucie and her child without a moment's demur but the great trust
he held was not his own and as to that business charge he was a strict
man of business 

at first his mind reverted to defarge and he thought of finding out
the wine-shop again and taking counsel with its master in reference to
the safest dwelling-place in the distracted state of the city but the
same consideration that suggested him repudiated him he lived in the
most violent quarter and doubtless was influential there and deep in
its dangerous workings 

noon coming and the doctor not returning and every minute's delay
tending to compromise tellson's mr lorry advised with lucie she said
that her father had spoken of hiring a lodging for a short term in that
quarter near the banking-house as there was no business objection to
this and as he foresaw that even if it were all well with charles and
he were to be released he could not hope to leave the city mr lorry
went out in quest of such a lodging and found a suitable one high up
in a removed by-street where the closed blinds in all the other windows
of a high melancholy square of buildings marked deserted homes 

to this lodging he at once removed lucie and her child and miss pross 
giving them what comfort he could and much more than he had himself 
he left jerry with them as a figure to fill a doorway that would bear
considerable knocking on the head and returned to his own occupations 
a disturbed and doleful mind he brought to bear upon them and slowly
and heavily the day lagged on with him 

it wore itself out and wore him out with it until the bank closed he
was again alone in his room of the previous night considering what to
do next when he heard a foot upon the stair in a few moments a
man stood in his presence who with a keenly observant look at him 
addressed him by his name 

 your servant said mr lorry do you know me 

he was a strongly made man with dark curling hair from forty-five
to fifty years of age for answer he repeated without any change of
emphasis the words 

 do you know me 

 i have seen you somewhere 

 perhaps at my wine-shop 

much interested and agitated mr lorry said you come from doctor
manette 

 yes i come from doctor manette 

 and what says he what does he send me 

defarge gave into his anxious hand an open scrap of paper it bore the
words in the doctor's writing 

 charles is safe but i cannot safely leave this place yet 
 i have obtained the favour that the bearer has a short note
 from charles to his wife let the bearer see his wife 

it was dated from la force within an hour 

 will you accompany me said mr lorry joyfully relieved after reading
this note aloud to where his wife resides 

 yes returned defarge 

scarcely noticing as yet in what a curiously reserved and mechanical
way defarge spoke mr lorry put on his hat and they went down into the
courtyard there they found two women one knitting 

 madame defarge surely said mr lorry who had left her in exactly
the same attitude some seventeen years ago 

 it is she observed her husband 

 does madame go with us inquired mr lorry seeing that she moved as
they moved 

 yes that she may be able to recognise the faces and know the persons 
it is for their safety 

beginning to be struck by defarge's manner mr lorry looked dubiously
at him and led the way both the women followed the second woman being
the vengeance 

they passed through the intervening streets as quickly as they might 
ascended the staircase of the new domicile were admitted by jerry 
and found lucie weeping alone she was thrown into a transport by the
tidings mr lorry gave her of her husband and clasped the hand that
delivered his note little thinking what it had been doing near him in
the night and might but for a chance have done to him 

 dearest take courage i am well and your father has
 influence around me you cannot answer this 
 kiss our child for me 

that was all the writing it was so much however to her who received
it that she turned from defarge to his wife and kissed one of the
hands that knitted it was a passionate loving thankful womanly
action but the hand made no response dropped cold and heavy and took
to its knitting again 

there was something in its touch that gave lucie a check she stopped in
the act of putting the note in her bosom and with her hands yet at her
neck looked terrified at madame defarge madame defarge met the lifted
eyebrows and forehead with a cold impassive stare 

 my dear said mr lorry striking in to explain there are frequent
risings in the streets and although it is not likely they will ever
trouble you madame defarge wishes to see those whom she has the power
to protect at such times to the end that she may know them that she
may identify them i believe said mr lorry rather halting in his
reassuring words as the stony manner of all the three impressed itself
upon him more and more i state the case citizen defarge 

defarge looked gloomily at his wife and gave no other answer than a
gruff sound of acquiescence 

 you had better lucie said mr lorry doing all he could to
propitiate by tone and manner have the dear child here and our
good pross our good pross defarge is an english lady and knows no
french 

the lady in question whose rooted conviction that she was more than a
match for any foreigner was not to be shaken by distress and danger 
appeared with folded arms and observed in english to the vengeance 
whom her eyes first encountered well i am sure boldface i hope
 you are pretty well she also bestowed a british cough on madame
defarge but neither of the two took much heed of her 

 is that his child said madame defarge stopping in her work for the
first time and pointing her knitting-needle at little lucie as if it
were the finger of fate 

 yes madame answered mr lorry this is our poor prisoner's darling
daughter and only child 

the shadow attendant on madame defarge and her party seemed to fall so
threatening and dark on the child that her mother instinctively
kneeled on the ground beside her and held her to her breast the
shadow attendant on madame defarge and her party seemed then to fall 
threatening and dark on both the mother and the child 

 it is enough my husband said madame defarge i have seen them we
may go 

but the suppressed manner had enough of menace in it not visible and
presented but indistinct and withheld to alarm lucie into saying as
she laid her appealing hand on madame defarge's dress 

 you will be good to my poor husband you will do him no harm you will
help me to see him if you can 

 your husband is not my business here returned madame defarge looking
down at her with perfect composure it is the daughter of your father
who is my business here 

 for my sake then be merciful to my husband for my child's sake she
will put her hands together and pray you to be merciful we are more
afraid of you than of these others 

madame defarge received it as a compliment and looked at her husband 
defarge who had been uneasily biting his thumb-nail and looking at her 
collected his face into a sterner expression 

 what is it that your husband says in that little letter asked madame
defarge with a lowering smile influence he says something touching
influence 

 that my father said lucie hurriedly taking the paper from her
breast but with her alarmed eyes on her questioner and not on it has
much influence around him 

 surely it will release him said madame defarge let it do so 

 as a wife and mother cried lucie most earnestly i implore you to
have pity on me and not to exercise any power that you possess against
my innocent husband but to use it in his behalf o sister-woman think
of me as a wife and mother 

madame defarge looked coldly as ever at the suppliant and said 
turning to her friend the vengeance 

 the wives and mothers we have been used to see since we were as little
as this child and much less have not been greatly considered we have
known their husbands and fathers laid in prison and kept from them 
often enough all our lives we have seen our sister-women suffer in
themselves and in their children poverty nakedness hunger thirst 
sickness misery oppression and neglect of all kinds 

 we have seen nothing else returned the vengeance 

 we have borne this a long time said madame defarge turning her eyes
again upon lucie judge you is it likely that the trouble of one wife
and mother would be much to us now 

she resumed her knitting and went out the vengeance followed defarge
went last and closed the door 

 courage my dear lucie said mr lorry as he raised her courage 
courage so far all goes well with us much much better than it has of
late gone with many poor souls cheer up and have a thankful heart 

 i am not thankless i hope but that dreadful woman seems to throw a
shadow on me and on all my hopes 

 tut tut said mr lorry what is this despondency in the brave
little breast a shadow indeed no substance in it lucie 

but the shadow of the manner of these defarges was dark upon himself 
for all that and in his secret mind it troubled him greatly 




iv calm in storm


doctor manette did not return until the morning of the fourth day of his
absence so much of what had happened in that dreadful time as could be
kept from the knowledge of lucie was so well concealed from her that
not until long afterwards when france and she were far apart did she
know that eleven hundred defenceless prisoners of both sexes and all
ages had been killed by the populace that four days and nights had been
darkened by this deed of horror and that the air around her had been
tainted by the slain she only knew that there had been an attack upon
the prisons that all political prisoners had been in danger and that
some had been dragged out by the crowd and murdered 

to mr lorry the doctor communicated under an injunction of secrecy on
which he had no need to dwell that the crowd had taken him through a
scene of carnage to the prison of la force that in the prison he had
found a self-appointed tribunal sitting before which the prisoners were
brought singly and by which they were rapidly ordered to be put forth
to be massacred or to be released or in a few cases to be sent back
to their cells that presented by his conductors to this tribunal he
had announced himself by name and profession as having been for eighteen
years a secret and unaccused prisoner in the bastille that one of the
body so sitting in judgment had risen and identified him and that this
man was defarge 

that hereupon he had ascertained through the registers on the table 
that his son-in-law was among the living prisoners and had pleaded hard
to the tribunal of whom some members were asleep and some awake some
dirty with murder and some clean some sober and some not for his life
and liberty that in the first frantic greetings lavished on himself as
a notable sufferer under the overthrown system it had been accorded
to him to have charles darnay brought before the lawless court and
examined that he seemed on the point of being at once released when
the tide in his favour met with some unexplained check not intelligible
to the doctor which led to a few words of secret conference that 
the man sitting as president had then informed doctor manette that
the prisoner must remain in custody but should for his sake be held
inviolate in safe custody that immediately on a signal the prisoner
was removed to the interior of the prison again but that he the
doctor had then so strongly pleaded for permission to remain and
assure himself that his son-in-law was through no malice or mischance 
delivered to the concourse whose murderous yells outside the gate had
often drowned the proceedings that he had obtained the permission and
had remained in that hall of blood until the danger was over 

the sights he had seen there with brief snatches of food and sleep by
intervals shall remain untold the mad joy over the prisoners who were
saved had astounded him scarcely less than the mad ferocity against
those who were cut to pieces one prisoner there was he said who had
been discharged into the street free but at whom a mistaken savage had
thrust a pike as he passed out being besought to go to him and dress
the wound the doctor had passed out at the same gate and had found him
in the arms of a company of samaritans who were seated on the bodies
of their victims with an inconsistency as monstrous as anything in this
awful nightmare they had helped the healer and tended the wounded man
with the gentlest solicitude had made a litter for him and escorted him
carefully from the spot had then caught up their weapons and plunged
anew into a butchery so dreadful that the doctor had covered his eyes
with his hands and swooned away in the midst of it 

as mr lorry received these confidences and as he watched the face of
his friend now sixty-two years of age a misgiving arose within him that
such dread experiences would revive the old danger 

but he had never seen his friend in his present aspect he had never
at all known him in his present character for the first time the doctor
felt now that his suffering was strength and power for the first time
he felt that in that sharp fire he had slowly forged the iron which
could break the prison door of his daughter's husband and deliver him 
 it all tended to a good end my friend it was not mere waste and ruin 
as my beloved child was helpful in restoring me to myself i will be
helpful now in restoring the dearest part of herself to her by the aid
of heaven i will do it thus doctor manette and when jarvis lorry saw
the kindled eyes the resolute face the calm strong look and bearing
of the man whose life always seemed to him to have been stopped like a
clock for so many years and then set going again with an energy which
had lain dormant during the cessation of its usefulness he believed 

greater things than the doctor had at that time to contend with would
have yielded before his persevering purpose while he kept himself
in his place as a physician whose business was with all degrees
of mankind bond and free rich and poor bad and good he used his
personal influence so wisely that he was soon the inspecting physician
of three prisons and among them of la force he could now assure lucie
that her husband was no longer confined alone but was mixed with the
general body of prisoners he saw her husband weekly and brought sweet
messages to her straight from his lips sometimes her husband himself
sent a letter to her though never by the doctor's hand but she was
not permitted to write to him for among the many wild suspicions of
plots in the prisons the wildest of all pointed at emigrants who were
known to have made friends or permanent connections abroad 

this new life of the doctor's was an anxious life no doubt still the
sagacious mr lorry saw that there was a new sustaining pride in it 
nothing unbecoming tinged the pride it was a natural and worthy one 
but he observed it as a curiosity the doctor knew that up to that
time his imprisonment had been associated in the minds of his daughter
and his friend with his personal affliction deprivation and weakness 
now that this was changed and he knew himself to be invested through
that old trial with forces to which they both looked for charles's
ultimate safety and deliverance he became so far exalted by the change 
that he took the lead and direction and required them as the weak to
trust to him as the strong the preceding relative positions of himself
and lucie were reversed yet only as the liveliest gratitude and
affection could reverse them for he could have had no pride but in
rendering some service to her who had rendered so much to him all
curious to see thought mr lorry in his amiably shrewd way but all
natural and right so take the lead my dear friend and keep it it
couldn't be in better hands 

but though the doctor tried hard and never ceased trying to get
charles darnay set at liberty or at least to get him brought to trial 
the public current of the time set too strong and fast for him the new
era began the king was tried doomed and beheaded the republic of
liberty equality fraternity or death declared for victory or death
against the world in arms the black flag waved night and day from the
great towers of notre dame three hundred thousand men summoned to rise
against the tyrants of the earth rose from all the varying soils
of france as if the dragon's teeth had been sown broadcast and
had yielded fruit equally on hill and plain on rock in gravel and
alluvial mud under the bright sky of the south and under the clouds of
the north in fell and forest in the vineyards and the olive-grounds
and among the cropped grass and the stubble of the corn along the
fruitful banks of the broad rivers and in the sand of the sea-shore 
what private solicitude could rear itself against the deluge of the year
one of liberty the deluge rising from below not falling from above 
and with the windows of heaven shut not opened 

there was no pause no pity no peace no interval of relenting rest no
measurement of time though days and nights circled as regularly as when
time was young and the evening and morning were the first day other
count of time there was none hold of it was lost in the raging fever
of a nation as it is in the fever of one patient now breaking the
unnatural silence of a whole city the executioner showed the people the
head of the king and now it seemed almost in the same breath the
head of his fair wife which had had eight weary months of imprisoned
widowhood and misery to turn it grey 

and yet observing the strange law of contradiction which obtains in
all such cases the time was long while it flamed by so fast a
revolutionary tribunal in the capital and forty or fifty thousand
revolutionary committees all over the land a law of the suspected 
which struck away all security for liberty or life and delivered over
any good and innocent person to any bad and guilty one prisons gorged
with people who had committed no offence and could obtain no hearing 
these things became the established order and nature of appointed
things and seemed to be ancient usage before they were many weeks old 
above all one hideous figure grew as familiar as if it had been before
the general gaze from the foundations of the world the figure of the
sharp female called la guillotine 

it was the popular theme for jests it was the best cure for headache 
it infallibly prevented the hair from turning grey it imparted a
peculiar delicacy to the complexion it was the national razor which
shaved close who kissed la guillotine looked through the little window
and sneezed into the sack it was the sign of the regeneration of the
human race it superseded the cross models of it were worn on breasts
from which the cross was discarded and it was bowed down to and
believed in where the cross was denied 

it sheared off heads so many that it and the ground it most polluted 
were a rotten red it was taken to pieces like a toy-puzzle for a young
devil and was put together again when the occasion wanted it it hushed
the eloquent struck down the powerful abolished the beautiful and
good twenty-two friends of high public mark twenty-one living and one
dead it had lopped the heads off in one morning in as many minutes 
the name of the strong man of old scripture had descended to the chief
functionary who worked it but so armed he was stronger than his
namesake and blinder and tore away the gates of god's own temple every
day 

among these terrors and the brood belonging to them the doctor walked
with a steady head confident in his power cautiously persistent in his
end never doubting that he would save lucie's husband at last yet the
current of the time swept by so strong and deep and carried the time
away so fiercely that charles had lain in prison one year and three
months when the doctor was thus steady and confident so much more
wicked and distracted had the revolution grown in that december month 
that the rivers of the south were encumbered with the bodies of the
violently drowned by night and prisoners were shot in lines and squares
under the southern wintry sun still the doctor walked among the
terrors with a steady head no man better known than he in paris at
that day no man in a stranger situation silent humane indispensable
in hospital and prison using his art equally among assassins and
victims he was a man apart in the exercise of his skill the
appearance and the story of the bastille captive removed him from all
other men he was not suspected or brought in question any more than if
he had indeed been recalled to life some eighteen years before or were
a spirit moving among mortals 




v the wood-sawyer


one year and three months during all that time lucie was never
sure from hour to hour but that the guillotine would strike off her
husband's head next day every day through the stony streets the
tumbrils now jolted heavily filled with condemned lovely girls bright
women brown-haired black-haired and grey youths stalwart men and
old gentle born and peasant born all red wine for la guillotine all
daily brought into light from the dark cellars of the loathsome prisons 
and carried to her through the streets to slake her devouring thirst 
liberty equality fraternity or death the last much the easiest to
bestow o guillotine 

if the suddenness of her calamity and the whirling wheels of the time 
had stunned the doctor's daughter into awaiting the result in idle
despair it would but have been with her as it was with many but from
the hour when she had taken the white head to her fresh young bosom in
the garret of saint antoine she had been true to her duties she was
truest to them in the season of trial as all the quietly loyal and good
will always be 

as soon as they were established in their new residence and her father
had entered on the routine of his avocations she arranged the little
household as exactly as if her husband had been there everything had
its appointed place and its appointed time little lucie she taught 
as regularly as if they had all been united in their english home the
slight devices with which she cheated herself into the show of a belief
that they would soon be reunited the little preparations for his speedy
return the setting aside of his chair and his books these and the
solemn prayer at night for one dear prisoner especially among the many
unhappy souls in prison and the shadow of death were almost the only
outspoken reliefs of her heavy mind 

she did not greatly alter in appearance the plain dark dresses akin to
mourning dresses which she and her child wore were as neat and as well
attended to as the brighter clothes of happy days she lost her colour 
and the old and intent expression was a constant not an occasional 
thing otherwise she remained very pretty and comely sometimes at
night on kissing her father she would burst into the grief she had
repressed all day and would say that her sole reliance under heaven 
was on him he always resolutely answered nothing can happen to him
without my knowledge and i know that i can save him lucie 

they had not made the round of their changed life many weeks when her
father said to her on coming home one evening 

 my dear there is an upper window in the prison to which charles can
sometimes gain access at three in the afternoon when he can get to
it which depends on many uncertainties and incidents he might see you
in the street he thinks if you stood in a certain place that i can
show you but you will not be able to see him my poor child and even
if you could it would be unsafe for you to make a sign of recognition 

 o show me the place my father and i will go there every day 

from that time in all weathers she waited there two hours as the
clock struck two she was there and at four she turned resignedly away 
when it was not too wet or inclement for her child to be with her they
went together at other times she was alone but she never missed a
single day 

it was the dark and dirty corner of a small winding street the hovel
of a cutter of wood into lengths for burning was the only house at that
end all else was wall on the third day of her being there he noticed
her 

 good day citizeness 

 good day citizen 

this mode of address was now prescribed by decree it had been
established voluntarily some time ago among the more thorough patriots 
but was now law for everybody 

 walking here again citizeness 

 you see me citizen 

the wood-sawyer who was a little man with a redundancy of gesture he
had once been a mender of roads cast a glance at the prison pointed
at the prison and putting his ten fingers before his face to represent
bars peeped through them jocosely 

 but it's not my business said he and went on sawing his wood 

next day he was looking out for her and accosted her the moment she
appeared 

 what walking here again citizeness 

 yes citizen 

 ah a child too your mother is it not my little citizeness 

 do i say yes mamma whispered little lucie drawing close to her 

 yes dearest 

 yes citizen 

 ah but it's not my business my work is my business see my saw i
call it my little guillotine la la la la la la and off his head
comes 

the billet fell as he spoke and he threw it into a basket 

 i call myself the samson of the firewood guillotine see here again 
loo loo loo loo loo loo and off her head comes now a child 
tickle tickle pickle pickle and off its head comes all the
family 

lucie shuddered as he threw two more billets into his basket but it was
impossible to be there while the wood-sawyer was at work and not be in
his sight thenceforth to secure his good will she always spoke to him
first and often gave him drink-money which he readily received 

he was an inquisitive fellow and sometimes when she had quite forgotten
him in gazing at the prison roof and grates and in lifting her heart
up to her husband she would come to herself to find him looking at her 
with his knee on his bench and his saw stopped in its work but it's
not my business he would generally say at those times and would
briskly fall to his sawing again 

in all weathers in the snow and frost of winter in the bitter winds of
spring in the hot sunshine of summer in the rains of autumn and again
in the snow and frost of winter lucie passed two hours of every day at
this place and every day on leaving it she kissed the prison wall 
her husband saw her so she learned from her father it might be once in
five or six times it might be twice or thrice running it might be not
for a week or a fortnight together it was enough that he could and did
see her when the chances served and on that possibility she would have
waited out the day seven days a week 

these occupations brought her round to the december month wherein her
father walked among the terrors with a steady head on a lightly-snowing
afternoon she arrived at the usual corner it was a day of some wild
rejoicing and a festival she had seen the houses as she came along 
decorated with little pikes and with little red caps stuck upon them 
also with tricoloured ribbons also with the standard inscription
 tricoloured letters were the favourite republic one and indivisible 
liberty equality fraternity or death 

the miserable shop of the wood-sawyer was so small that its whole
surface furnished very indifferent space for this legend he had got
somebody to scrawl it up for him however who had squeezed death in
with most inappropriate difficulty on his house-top he displayed pike
and cap as a good citizen must and in a window he had stationed his
saw inscribed as his little sainte guillotine for the great sharp
female was by that time popularly canonised his shop was shut and he
was not there which was a relief to lucie and left her quite alone 

but he was not far off for presently she heard a troubled movement
and a shouting coming along which filled her with fear a moment
afterwards and a throng of people came pouring round the corner by the
prison wall in the midst of whom was the wood-sawyer hand in hand with
the vengeance there could not be fewer than five hundred people and
they were dancing like five thousand demons there was no other music
than their own singing they danced to the popular revolution song 
keeping a ferocious time that was like a gnashing of teeth in unison 
men and women danced together women danced together men danced
together as hazard had brought them together at first they were a
mere storm of coarse red caps and coarse woollen rags but as they
filled the place and stopped to dance about lucie some ghastly
apparition of a dance-figure gone raving mad arose among them they
advanced retreated struck at one another's hands clutched at one
another's heads spun round alone caught one another and spun round
in pairs until many of them dropped while those were down the rest
linked hand in hand and all spun round together then the ring broke 
and in separate rings of two and four they turned and turned until they
all stopped at once began again struck clutched and tore and then
reversed the spin and all spun round another way suddenly they stopped
again paused struck out the time afresh formed into lines the width
of the public way and with their heads low down and their hands high
up swooped screaming off no fight could have been half so terrible
as this dance it was so emphatically a fallen sport a something once
innocent delivered over to all devilry a healthy pastime changed into
a means of angering the blood bewildering the senses and steeling the
heart such grace as was visible in it made it the uglier showing how
warped and perverted all things good by nature were become the maidenly
bosom bared to this the pretty almost-child's head thus distracted the
delicate foot mincing in this slough of blood and dirt were types of
the disjointed time 

this was the carmagnole as it passed leaving lucie frightened and
bewildered in the doorway of the wood-sawyer's house the feathery snow
fell as quietly and lay as white and soft as if it had never been 

 o my father for he stood before her when she lifted up the eyes she
had momentarily darkened with her hand such a cruel bad sight 

 i know my dear i know i have seen it many times don't be
frightened not one of them would harm you 

 i am not frightened for myself my father but when i think of my
husband and the mercies of these people 

 we will set him above their mercies very soon i left him climbing to
the window and i came to tell you there is no one here to see you may
kiss your hand towards that highest shelving roof 

 i do so father and i send him my soul with it 

 you cannot see him my poor dear 

 no father said lucie yearning and weeping as she kissed her hand 
 no 

a footstep in the snow madame defarge i salute you citizeness 
 from the doctor i salute you citizen this in passing nothing more 
madame defarge gone like a shadow over the white road 

 give me your arm my love pass from here with an air of cheerfulness
and courage for his sake that was well done they had left the spot 
 it shall not be in vain charles is summoned for to-morrow 

 for to-morrow 

 there is no time to lose i am well prepared but there are precautions
to be taken that could not be taken until he was actually summoned
before the tribunal he has not received the notice yet but i know
that he will presently be summoned for to-morrow and removed to the
conciergerie i have timely information you are not afraid 

she could scarcely answer i trust in you 

 do so implicitly your suspense is nearly ended my darling he shall
be restored to you within a few hours i have encompassed him with every
protection i must see lorry 

he stopped there was a heavy lumbering of wheels within hearing they
both knew too well what it meant one two three three tumbrils faring
away with their dread loads over the hushing snow 

 i must see lorry the doctor repeated turning her another way 

the staunch old gentleman was still in his trust had never left it he
and his books were in frequent requisition as to property confiscated
and made national what he could save for the owners he saved no
better man living to hold fast by what tellson's had in keeping and to
hold his peace 

a murky red and yellow sky and a rising mist from the seine denoted
the approach of darkness it was almost dark when they arrived at the
bank the stately residence of monseigneur was altogether blighted and
deserted above a heap of dust and ashes in the court ran the letters 
national property republic one and indivisible liberty equality 
fraternity or death 

who could that be with mr lorry the owner of the riding-coat upon the
chair who must not be seen from whom newly arrived did he come out 
agitated and surprised to take his favourite in his arms to whom did
he appear to repeat her faltering words when raising his voice and
turning his head towards the door of the room from which he had issued 
he said removed to the conciergerie and summoned for to-morrow 




vi triumph


the dread tribunal of five judges public prosecutor and determined
jury sat every day their lists went forth every evening and were
read out by the gaolers of the various prisons to their prisoners the
standard gaoler-joke was come out and listen to the evening paper you
inside there 

 charles evremonde called darnay 

so at last began the evening paper at la force 

when a name was called its owner stepped apart into a spot reserved
for those who were announced as being thus fatally recorded charles
evremonde called darnay had reason to know the usage he had seen
hundreds pass away so 

his bloated gaoler who wore spectacles to read with glanced over them
to assure himself that he had taken his place and went through the
list making a similar short pause at each name there were twenty-three
names but only twenty were responded to for one of the prisoners so
summoned had died in gaol and been forgotten and two had already been
guillotined and forgotten the list was read in the vaulted chamber
where darnay had seen the associated prisoners on the night of his
arrival every one of those had perished in the massacre every human
creature he had since cared for and parted with had died on the
scaffold 

there were hurried words of farewell and kindness but the parting was
soon over it was the incident of every day and the society of la force
were engaged in the preparation of some games of forfeits and a little
concert for that evening they crowded to the grates and shed tears
there but twenty places in the projected entertainments had to be
refilled and the time was at best short to the lock-up hour when the
common rooms and corridors would be delivered over to the great dogs
who kept watch there through the night the prisoners were far from
insensible or unfeeling their ways arose out of the condition of the
time similarly though with a subtle difference a species of fervour
or intoxication known without doubt to have led some persons to
brave the guillotine unnecessarily and to die by it was not mere
boastfulness but a wild infection of the wildly shaken public mind in
seasons of pestilence some of us will have a secret attraction to the
disease a terrible passing inclination to die of it and all of us have
like wonders hidden in our breasts only needing circumstances to evoke
them 

the passage to the conciergerie was short and dark the night in its
vermin-haunted cells was long and cold next day fifteen prisoners were
put to the bar before charles darnay's name was called all the fifteen
were condemned and the trials of the whole occupied an hour and a half 

 charles evremonde called darnay was at length arraigned 

his judges sat upon the bench in feathered hats but the rough red cap
and tricoloured cockade was the head-dress otherwise prevailing looking
at the jury and the turbulent audience he might have thought that the
usual order of things was reversed and that the felons were trying the
honest men the lowest cruelest and worst populace of a city never
without its quantity of low cruel and bad were the directing
spirits of the scene noisily commenting applauding disapproving 
anticipating and precipitating the result without a check of the men 
the greater part were armed in various ways of the women some wore
knives some daggers some ate and drank as they looked on many
knitted among these last was one with a spare piece of knitting under
her arm as she worked she was in a front row by the side of a man whom
he had never seen since his arrival at the barrier but whom he directly
remembered as defarge he noticed that she once or twice whispered in
his ear and that she seemed to be his wife but what he most noticed
in the two figures was that although they were posted as close to
himself as they could be they never looked towards him they seemed to
be waiting for something with a dogged determination and they looked at
the jury but at nothing else under the president sat doctor manette 
in his usual quiet dress as well as the prisoner could see he and mr 
lorry were the only men there unconnected with the tribunal who
wore their usual clothes and had not assumed the coarse garb of the
carmagnole 

charles evremonde called darnay was accused by the public prosecutor
as an emigrant whose life was forfeit to the republic under the decree
which banished all emigrants on pain of death it was nothing that the
decree bore date since his return to france there he was and there was
the decree he had been taken in france and his head was demanded 

 take off his head cried the audience an enemy to the republic 

the president rang his bell to silence those cries and asked the
prisoner whether it was not true that he had lived many years in
england 

undoubtedly it was 

was he not an emigrant then what did he call himself 

not an emigrant he hoped within the sense and spirit of the law 

why not the president desired to know 

because he had voluntarily relinquished a title that was distasteful
to him and a station that was distasteful to him and had left
his country he submitted before the word emigrant in the present
acceptation by the tribunal was in use to live by his own industry in
england rather than on the industry of the overladen people of france 

what proof had he of this 

he handed in the names of two witnesses theophile gabelle and
alexandre manette 

but he had married in england the president reminded him 

true but not an english woman 

a citizeness of france 

yes by birth 

her name and family 

 lucie manette only daughter of doctor manette the good physician who
sits there 

this answer had a happy effect upon the audience cries in exaltation
of the well-known good physician rent the hall so capriciously were
the people moved that tears immediately rolled down several ferocious
countenances which had been glaring at the prisoner a moment before as
if with impatience to pluck him out into the streets and kill him 

on these few steps of his dangerous way charles darnay had set his foot
according to doctor manette's reiterated instructions the same cautious
counsel directed every step that lay before him and had prepared every
inch of his road 

the president asked why had he returned to france when he did and not
sooner 

he had not returned sooner he replied simply because he had no means
of living in france save those he had resigned whereas in england 
he lived by giving instruction in the french language and literature 
he had returned when he did on the pressing and written entreaty of
a french citizen who represented that his life was endangered by his
absence he had come back to save a citizen's life and to bear his
testimony at whatever personal hazard to the truth was that criminal
in the eyes of the republic 

the populace cried enthusiastically no and the president rang his
bell to quiet them which it did not for they continued to cry no 
 until they left off of their own will 

the president required the name of that citizen the accused explained
that the citizen was his first witness he also referred with confidence
to the citizen's letter which had been taken from him at the barrier 
but which he did not doubt would be found among the papers then before
the president 

the doctor had taken care that it should be there had assured him that
it would be there and at this stage of the proceedings it was produced
and read citizen gabelle was called to confirm it and did so citizen
gabelle hinted with infinite delicacy and politeness that in the
pressure of business imposed on the tribunal by the multitude of
enemies of the republic with which it had to deal he had been slightly
overlooked in his prison of the abbaye in fact had rather passed out
of the tribunal's patriotic remembrance until three days ago when he
had been summoned before it and had been set at liberty on the jury's
declaring themselves satisfied that the accusation against him was
answered as to himself by the surrender of the citizen evremonde 
called darnay 

doctor manette was next questioned his high personal popularity 
and the clearness of his answers made a great impression but as he
proceeded as he showed that the accused was his first friend on his
release from his long imprisonment that the accused had remained in
england always faithful and devoted to his daughter and himself in
their exile that so far from being in favour with the aristocrat
government there he had actually been tried for his life by it as
the foe of england and friend of the united states as he brought these
circumstances into view with the greatest discretion and with the
straightforward force of truth and earnestness the jury and the
populace became one at last when he appealed by name to monsieur
lorry an english gentleman then and there present who like himself 
had been a witness on that english trial and could corroborate his
account of it the jury declared that they had heard enough and that
they were ready with their votes if the president were content to
receive them 

at every vote the jurymen voted aloud and individually the populace
set up a shout of applause all the voices were in the prisoner's
favour and the president declared him free 

then began one of those extraordinary scenes with which the populace
sometimes gratified their fickleness or their better impulses towards
generosity and mercy or which they regarded as some set-off against
their swollen account of cruel rage no man can decide now to which of
these motives such extraordinary scenes were referable it is probable 
to a blending of all the three with the second predominating no sooner
was the acquittal pronounced than tears were shed as freely as blood
at another time and such fraternal embraces were bestowed upon the
prisoner by as many of both sexes as could rush at him that after
his long and unwholesome confinement he was in danger of fainting from
exhaustion none the less because he knew very well that the very same
people carried by another current would have rushed at him with
the very same intensity to rend him to pieces and strew him over the
streets 

his removal to make way for other accused persons who were to be tried 
rescued him from these caresses for the moment five were to be tried
together next as enemies of the republic forasmuch as they had not
assisted it by word or deed so quick was the tribunal to compensate
itself and the nation for a chance lost that these five came down to
him before he left the place condemned to die within twenty-four
hours the first of them told him so with the customary prison sign
of death a raised finger and they all added in words long live the
republic 

the five had had it is true no audience to lengthen their proceedings 
for when he and doctor manette emerged from the gate there was a great
crowd about it in which there seemed to be every face he had seen in
court except two for which he looked in vain on his coming out the
concourse made at him anew weeping embracing and shouting all by
turns and all together until the very tide of the river on the bank of
which the mad scene was acted seemed to run mad like the people on the
shore 

they put him into a great chair they had among them and which they had
taken either out of the court itself or one of its rooms or passages 
over the chair they had thrown a red flag and to the back of it they
had bound a pike with a red cap on its top in this car of triumph not
even the doctor's entreaties could prevent his being carried to his home
on men's shoulders with a confused sea of red caps heaving about him 
and casting up to sight from the stormy deep such wrecks of faces that
he more than once misdoubted his mind being in confusion and that he
was in the tumbril on his way to the guillotine 

in wild dreamlike procession embracing whom they met and pointing
him out they carried him on reddening the snowy streets with the
prevailing republican colour in winding and tramping through them as
they had reddened them below the snow with a deeper dye they carried
him thus into the courtyard of the building where he lived her father
had gone on before to prepare her and when her husband stood upon his
feet she dropped insensible in his arms 

as he held her to his heart and turned her beautiful head between his
face and the brawling crowd so that his tears and her lips might come
together unseen a few of the people fell to dancing instantly all the
rest fell to dancing and the courtyard overflowed with the carmagnole 
then they elevated into the vacant chair a young woman from the
crowd to be carried as the goddess of liberty and then swelling and
overflowing out into the adjacent streets and along the river's bank 
and over the bridge the carmagnole absorbed them every one and whirled
them away 

after grasping the doctor's hand as he stood victorious and proud
before him after grasping the hand of mr lorry who came panting in
breathless from his struggle against the waterspout of the carmagnole 
after kissing little lucie who was lifted up to clasp her arms round
his neck and after embracing the ever zealous and faithful pross who
lifted her he took his wife in his arms and carried her up to their
rooms 

 lucie my own i am safe 

 o dearest charles let me thank god for this on my knees as i have
prayed to him 

they all reverently bowed their heads and hearts when she was again in
his arms he said to her 

 and now speak to your father dearest no other man in all this france
could have done what he has done for me 

she laid her head upon her father's breast as she had laid his poor
head on her own breast long long ago he was happy in the return he
had made her he was recompensed for his suffering he was proud of his
strength you must not be weak my darling he remonstrated don't
tremble so i have saved him 




vii a knock at the door


 i have saved him it was not another of the dreams in which he had
often come back he was really here and yet his wife trembled and a
vague but heavy fear was upon her 

all the air round was so thick and dark the people were so passionately
revengeful and fitful the innocent were so constantly put to death on
vague suspicion and black malice it was so impossible to forget that
many as blameless as her husband and as dear to others as he was to
her every day shared the fate from which he had been clutched that her
heart could not be as lightened of its load as she felt it ought to be 
the shadows of the wintry afternoon were beginning to fall and even now
the dreadful carts were rolling through the streets her mind pursued
them looking for him among the condemned and then she clung closer to
his real presence and trembled more 

her father cheering her showed a compassionate superiority to this
woman's weakness which was wonderful to see no garret no shoemaking 
no one hundred and five north tower now he had accomplished the task
he had set himself his promise was redeemed he had saved charles let
them all lean upon him 

their housekeeping was of a very frugal kind not only because that was
the safest way of life involving the least offence to the people but
because they were not rich and charles throughout his imprisonment 
had had to pay heavily for his bad food and for his guard and towards
the living of the poorer prisoners partly on this account and
partly to avoid a domestic spy they kept no servant the citizen and
citizeness who acted as porters at the courtyard gate rendered them
occasional service and jerry almost wholly transferred to them by
mr lorry had become their daily retainer and had his bed there every
night 

it was an ordinance of the republic one and indivisible of liberty 
equality fraternity or death that on the door or doorpost of every
house the name of every inmate must be legibly inscribed in letters
of a certain size at a certain convenient height from the ground mr 
jerry cruncher's name therefore duly embellished the doorpost down
below and as the afternoon shadows deepened the owner of that name
himself appeared from overlooking a painter whom doctor manette had
employed to add to the list the name of charles evremonde called
darnay 

in the universal fear and distrust that darkened the time all the usual
harmless ways of life were changed in the doctor's little household as
in very many others the articles of daily consumption that were wanted
were purchased every evening in small quantities and at various small
shops to avoid attracting notice and to give as little occasion as
possible for talk and envy was the general desire 

for some months past miss pross and mr cruncher had discharged the
office of purveyors the former carrying the money the latter the
basket every afternoon at about the time when the public lamps were
lighted they fared forth on this duty and made and brought home
such purchases as were needful although miss pross through her long
association with a french family might have known as much of their
language as of her own if she had had a mind she had no mind in that
direction consequently she knew no more of that nonsense as she was
pleased to call it than mr cruncher did so her manner of marketing
was to plump a noun-substantive at the head of a shopkeeper without any
introduction in the nature of an article and if it happened not to be
the name of the thing she wanted to look round for that thing lay hold
of it and hold on by it until the bargain was concluded she always
made a bargain for it by holding up as a statement of its just price 
one finger less than the merchant held up whatever his number might be 

 now mr cruncher said miss pross whose eyes were red with felicity 
 if you are ready i am 

jerry hoarsely professed himself at miss pross's service he had worn
all his rust off long ago but nothing would file his spiky head down 

 there's all manner of things wanted said miss pross and we shall
have a precious time of it we want wine among the rest nice toasts
these redheads will be drinking wherever we buy it 

 it will be much the same to your knowledge miss i should think 
 retorted jerry whether they drink your health or the old un's 

 who's he said miss pross 

mr cruncher with some diffidence explained himself as meaning old
nick's 

 ha said miss pross it doesn't need an interpreter to explain the
meaning of these creatures they have but one and it's midnight murder 
and mischief 

 hush dear pray pray be cautious cried lucie 

 yes yes yes i'll be cautious said miss pross but i may say
among ourselves that i do hope there will be no oniony and tobaccoey
smotherings in the form of embracings all round going on in the
streets now ladybird never you stir from that fire till i come back 
take care of the dear husband you have recovered and don't move your
pretty head from his shoulder as you have it now till you see me again 
may i ask a question doctor manette before i go 

 i think you may take that liberty the doctor answered smiling 

 for gracious sake don't talk about liberty we have quite enough of
that said miss pross 

 hush dear again lucie remonstrated 

 well my sweet said miss pross nodding her head emphatically the
short and the long of it is that i am a subject of his most gracious
majesty king george the third miss pross curtseyed at the name and
as such my maxim is confound their politics frustrate their knavish
tricks on him our hopes we fix god save the king 

mr cruncher in an access of loyalty growlingly repeated the words
after miss pross like somebody at church 

 i am glad you have so much of the englishman in you though i wish you
had never taken that cold in your voice said miss pross approvingly 
 but the question doctor manette is there it was the good creature's
way to affect to make light of anything that was a great anxiety
with them all and to come at it in this chance manner is there any
prospect yet of our getting out of this place 

 i fear not yet it would be dangerous for charles yet 

 heigh-ho-hum said miss pross cheerfully repressing a sigh as she
glanced at her darling's golden hair in the light of the fire then we
must have patience and wait that's all we must hold up our heads and
fight low as my brother solomon used to say now mr cruncher don't
you move ladybird 

they went out leaving lucie and her husband her father and the
child by a bright fire mr lorry was expected back presently from the
banking house miss pross had lighted the lamp but had put it aside in
a corner that they might enjoy the fire-light undisturbed little lucie
sat by her grandfather with her hands clasped through his arm and he 
in a tone not rising much above a whisper began to tell her a story of
a great and powerful fairy who had opened a prison-wall and let out
a captive who had once done the fairy a service all was subdued and
quiet and lucie was more at ease than she had been 

 what is that she cried all at once 

 my dear said her father stopping in his story and laying his hand
on hers command yourself what a disordered state you are in the
least thing nothing startles you you your father's daughter 

 i thought my father said lucie excusing herself with a pale face
and in a faltering voice that i heard strange feet upon the stairs 

 my love the staircase is as still as death 

as he said the word a blow was struck upon the door 

 oh father father what can this be hide charles save him 

 my child said the doctor rising and laying his hand upon her
shoulder i have saved him what weakness is this my dear let me go
to the door 

he took the lamp in his hand crossed the two intervening outer rooms 
and opened it a rude clattering of feet over the floor and four rough
men in red caps armed with sabres and pistols entered the room 

 the citizen evremonde called darnay said the first 

 who seeks him answered darnay 

 i seek him we seek him i know you evremonde i saw you before the
tribunal to-day you are again the prisoner of the republic 

the four surrounded him where he stood with his wife and child clinging
to him 

 tell me how and why am i again a prisoner 

 it is enough that you return straight to the conciergerie and will
know to-morrow you are summoned for to-morrow 

doctor manette whom this visitation had so turned into stone that he
stood with the lamp in his hand as if he were a statue made to hold it 
moved after these words were spoken put the lamp down and confronting
the speaker and taking him not ungently by the loose front of his red
woollen shirt said 

 you know him you have said do you know me 

 yes i know you citizen doctor 

 we all know you citizen doctor said the other three 

he looked abstractedly from one to another and said in a lower voice 
after a pause 

 will you answer his question to me then how does this happen 

 citizen doctor said the first reluctantly he has been denounced to
the section of saint antoine this citizen pointing out the second who
had entered is from saint antoine 

the citizen here indicated nodded his head and added 

 he is accused by saint antoine 

 of what asked the doctor 

 citizen doctor said the first with his former reluctance ask no
more if the republic demands sacrifices from you without doubt you as
a good patriot will be happy to make them the republic goes before all 
the people is supreme evremonde we are pressed 

 one word the doctor entreated will you tell me who denounced him 

 it is against rule answered the first but you can ask him of saint
antoine here 

the doctor turned his eyes upon that man who moved uneasily on his
feet rubbed his beard a little and at length said 

 well truly it is against rule but he is denounced and gravely by
the citizen and citizeness defarge and by one other 

 what other 

 do you ask citizen doctor 

 yes 

 then said he of saint antoine with a strange look you will be
answered to-morrow now i am dumb 




viii a hand at cards


happily unconscious of the new calamity at home miss pross threaded her
way along the narrow streets and crossed the river by the bridge of the
pont-neuf reckoning in her mind the number of indispensable purchases
she had to make mr cruncher with the basket walked at her side they
both looked to the right and to the left into most of the shops they
passed had a wary eye for all gregarious assemblages of people and
turned out of their road to avoid any very excited group of talkers it
was a raw evening and the misty river blurred to the eye with blazing
lights and to the ear with harsh noises showed where the barges were
stationed in which the smiths worked making guns for the army of the
republic woe to the man who played tricks with that army or got
undeserved promotion in it better for him that his beard had never
grown for the national razor shaved him close 

having purchased a few small articles of grocery and a measure of oil
for the lamp miss pross bethought herself of the wine they wanted 
after peeping into several wine-shops she stopped at the sign of the
good republican brutus of antiquity not far from the national palace 
once and twice the tuileries where the aspect of things rather
took her fancy it had a quieter look than any other place of the same
description they had passed and though red with patriotic caps was
not so red as the rest sounding mr cruncher and finding him of her
opinion miss pross resorted to the good republican brutus of antiquity 
attended by her cavalier 

slightly observant of the smoky lights of the people pipe in mouth 
playing with limp cards and yellow dominoes of the one bare-breasted 
bare-armed soot-begrimed workman reading a journal aloud and of
the others listening to him of the weapons worn or laid aside to be
resumed of the two or three customers fallen forward asleep who in the
popular high-shouldered shaggy black spencer looked in that attitude 
like slumbering bears or dogs the two outlandish customers approached
the counter and showed what they wanted 

as their wine was measuring out a man parted from another man in a
corner and rose to depart in going he had to face miss pross no
sooner did he face her than miss pross uttered a scream and clapped
her hands 

in a moment the whole company were on their feet that somebody was
assassinated by somebody vindicating a difference of opinion was the
likeliest occurrence everybody looked to see somebody fall but only
saw a man and a woman standing staring at each other the man with all
the outward aspect of a frenchman and a thorough republican the woman 
evidently english 

what was said in this disappointing anti-climax by the disciples of the
good republican brutus of antiquity except that it was something very
voluble and loud would have been as so much hebrew or chaldean to miss
pross and her protector though they had been all ears but they had no
ears for anything in their surprise for it must be recorded that
not only was miss pross lost in amazement and agitation but 
mr cruncher though it seemed on his own separate and individual
account was in a state of the greatest wonder 

 what is the matter said the man who had caused miss pross to scream 
speaking in a vexed abrupt voice though in a low tone and in
english 

 oh solomon dear solomon cried miss pross clapping her hands again 
 after not setting eyes upon you or hearing of you for so long a time 
do i find you here 

 don't call me solomon do you want to be the death of me asked the
man in a furtive frightened way 

 brother brother cried miss pross bursting into tears have i ever
been so hard with you that you ask me such a cruel question 

 then hold your meddlesome tongue said solomon and come out if you
want to speak to me pay for your wine and come out who's this man 

miss pross shaking her loving and dejected head at her by no means
affectionate brother said through her tears mr cruncher 

 let him come out too said solomon does he think me a ghost 

apparently mr cruncher did to judge from his looks he said not a
word however and miss pross exploring the depths of her reticule
through her tears with great difficulty paid for her wine as she did
so solomon turned to the followers of the good republican brutus
of antiquity and offered a few words of explanation in the french
language which caused them all to relapse into their former places and
pursuits 

 now said solomon stopping at the dark street corner what do you
want 

 how dreadfully unkind in a brother nothing has ever turned my love away
from cried miss pross to give me such a greeting and show me no
affection 

 there confound it there said solomon making a dab at miss pross's
lips with his own now are you content 

miss pross only shook her head and wept in silence 

 if you expect me to be surprised said her brother solomon i am not
surprised i knew you were here i know of most people who are here if
you really don't want to endanger my existence which i half believe you
do go your ways as soon as possible and let me go mine i am busy i
am an official 

 my english brother solomon mourned miss pross casting up her
tear-fraught eyes that had the makings in him of one of the best and
greatest of men in his native country an official among foreigners and
such foreigners i would almost sooner have seen the dear boy lying in
his 

 i said so cried her brother interrupting i knew it you want to be
the death of me i shall be rendered suspected by my own sister just
as i am getting on 

 the gracious and merciful heavens forbid cried miss pross far
rather would i never see you again dear solomon though i have ever
loved you truly and ever shall say but one affectionate word to me 
and tell me there is nothing angry or estranged between us and i will
detain you no longer 

good miss pross as if the estrangement between them had come of any
culpability of hers as if mr lorry had not known it for a fact years
ago in the quiet corner in soho that this precious brother had spent
her money and left her 

he was saying the affectionate word however with a far more grudging
condescension and patronage than he could have shown if their relative
merits and positions had been reversed which is invariably the case 
all the world over when mr cruncher touching him on the shoulder 
hoarsely and unexpectedly interposed with the following singular
question 

 i say might i ask the favour as to whether your name is john solomon 
or solomon john 

the official turned towards him with sudden distrust he had not
previously uttered a word 

 come said mr cruncher speak out you know which by the way 
was more than he could do himself john solomon or solomon john she
calls you solomon and she must know being your sister and i know
you're john you know which of the two goes first and regarding that
name of pross likewise that warn't your name over the water 

 what do you mean 

 well i don't know all i mean for i can't call to mind what your name
was over the water 

 no 

 no but i'll swear it was a name of two syllables 

 indeed 

 yes t'other one's was one syllable i know you you was a spy witness
at the bailey what in the name of the father of lies own father to
yourself was you called at that time 

 barsad said another voice striking in 

 that's the name for a thousand pound cried jerry 

the speaker who struck in was sydney carton he had his hands behind
him under the skirts of his riding-coat and he stood at mr cruncher's
elbow as negligently as he might have stood at the old bailey itself 

 don't be alarmed my dear miss pross i arrived at mr lorry's to his
surprise yesterday evening we agreed that i would not present myself
elsewhere until all was well or unless i could be useful i present
myself here to beg a little talk with your brother i wish you had a
better employed brother than mr barsad i wish for your sake mr barsad
was not a sheep of the prisons 

sheep was a cant word of the time for a spy under the gaolers the spy 
who was pale turned paler and asked him how he dared 

 i'll tell you said sydney i lighted on you mr barsad coming out
of the prison of the conciergerie while i was contemplating the walls 
an hour or more ago you have a face to be remembered and i remember
faces well made curious by seeing you in that connection and having
a reason to which you are no stranger for associating you with
the misfortunes of a friend now very unfortunate i walked in your
direction i walked into the wine-shop here close after you and
sat near you i had no difficulty in deducing from your unreserved
conversation and the rumour openly going about among your admirers the
nature of your calling and gradually what i had done at random seemed
to shape itself into a purpose mr barsad 

 what purpose the spy asked 

 it would be troublesome and might be dangerous to explain in the
street could you favour me in confidence with some minutes of your
company at the office of tellson's bank for instance 

 under a threat 

 oh did i say that 

 then why should i go there 

 really mr barsad i can't say if you can't 

 do you mean that you won't say sir the spy irresolutely asked 

 you apprehend me very clearly mr barsad i won't 

carton's negligent recklessness of manner came powerfully in aid of his
quickness and skill in such a business as he had in his secret mind 
and with such a man as he had to do with his practised eye saw it and
made the most of it 

 now i told you so said the spy casting a reproachful look at his
sister if any trouble comes of this it's your doing 

 come come mr barsad exclaimed sydney don't be ungrateful 
but for my great respect for your sister i might not have led up so
pleasantly to a little proposal that i wish to make for our mutual
satisfaction do you go with me to the bank 

 i'll hear what you have got to say yes i'll go with you 

 i propose that we first conduct your sister safely to the corner of her
own street let me take your arm miss pross this is not a good city 
at this time for you to be out in unprotected and as your escort
knows mr barsad i will invite him to mr lorry's with us are we
ready come then 

miss pross recalled soon afterwards and to the end of her life
remembered that as she pressed her hands on sydney's arm and looked up
in his face imploring him to do no hurt to solomon there was a braced
purpose in the arm and a kind of inspiration in the eyes which not only
contradicted his light manner but changed and raised the man she was
too much occupied then with fears for the brother who so little deserved
her affection and with sydney's friendly reassurances adequately to
heed what she observed 

they left her at the corner of the street and carton led the way to mr 
lorry's which was within a few minutes' walk john barsad or solomon
pross walked at his side 

mr lorry had just finished his dinner and was sitting before a cheery
little log or two of fire perhaps looking into their blaze for the
picture of that younger elderly gentleman from tellson's who had looked
into the red coals at the royal george at dover now a good many years
ago he turned his head as they entered and showed the surprise with
which he saw a stranger 

 miss pross's brother sir said sydney mr barsad 

 barsad repeated the old gentleman barsad i have an association
with the name and with the face 

 i told you you had a remarkable face mr barsad observed carton 
coolly pray sit down 

as he took a chair himself he supplied the link that mr lorry wanted 
by saying to him with a frown witness at that trial mr lorry
immediately remembered and regarded his new visitor with an undisguised
look of abhorrence 

 mr barsad has been recognised by miss pross as the affectionate
brother you have heard of said sydney and has acknowledged the
relationship i pass to worse news darnay has been arrested again 

struck with consternation the old gentleman exclaimed what do you
tell me i left him safe and free within these two hours and am about
to return to him 

 arrested for all that when was it done mr barsad 

 just now if at all 

 mr barsad is the best authority possible sir said sydney and i
have it from mr barsad's communication to a friend and brother sheep
over a bottle of wine that the arrest has taken place he left the
messengers at the gate and saw them admitted by the porter there is no
earthly doubt that he is retaken 

mr lorry's business eye read in the speaker's face that it was loss
of time to dwell upon the point confused but sensible that something
might depend on his presence of mind he commanded himself and was
silently attentive 

 now i trust said sydney to him that the name and influence of
doctor manette may stand him in as good stead to-morrow you said he
would be before the tribunal again to-morrow mr barsad 

 yes i believe so 

 in as good stead to-morrow as to-day but it may not be so i own
to you i am shaken mr lorry by doctor manette's not having had the
power to prevent this arrest 

 he may not have known of it beforehand said mr lorry 

 but that very circumstance would be alarming when we remember how
identified he is with his son-in-law 

 that's true mr lorry acknowledged with his troubled hand at his
chin and his troubled eyes on carton 

 in short said sydney this is a desperate time when desperate games
are played for desperate stakes let the doctor play the winning game i
will play the losing one no man's life here is worth purchase any one
carried home by the people to-day may be condemned tomorrow now the
stake i have resolved to play for in case of the worst is a friend
in the conciergerie and the friend i purpose to myself to win is mr 
barsad 

 you need have good cards sir said the spy 

 i'll run them over i'll see what i hold mr lorry you know what a
brute i am i wish you'd give me a little brandy 

it was put before him and he drank off a glassful drank off another
glassful pushed the bottle thoughtfully away 

 mr barsad he went on in the tone of one who really was looking
over a hand at cards sheep of the prisons emissary of republican
committees now turnkey now prisoner always spy and secret informer 
so much the more valuable here for being english that an englishman
is less open to suspicion of subornation in those characters than a
frenchman represents himself to his employers under a false name 
that's a very good card mr barsad now in the employ of the republican
french government was formerly in the employ of the aristocratic
english government the enemy of france and freedom that's an excellent
card inference clear as day in this region of suspicion that mr 
barsad still in the pay of the aristocratic english government is the
spy of pitt the treacherous foe of the republic crouching in its bosom 
the english traitor and agent of all mischief so much spoken of and so
difficult to find that's a card not to be beaten have you followed my
hand mr barsad 

 not to understand your play returned the spy somewhat uneasily 

 i play my ace denunciation of mr barsad to the nearest section
committee look over your hand mr barsad and see what you have don't
hurry 

he drew the bottle near poured out another glassful of brandy and
drank it off he saw that the spy was fearful of his drinking himself
into a fit state for the immediate denunciation of him seeing it he
poured out and drank another glassful 

 look over your hand carefully mr barsad take time 

it was a poorer hand than he suspected mr barsad saw losing cards
in it that sydney carton knew nothing of thrown out of his honourable
employment in england through too much unsuccessful hard swearing
there not because he was not wanted there our english reasons for
vaunting our superiority to secrecy and spies are of very modern
date he knew that he had crossed the channel and accepted service in
france first as a tempter and an eavesdropper among his own countrymen
there gradually as a tempter and an eavesdropper among the natives he
knew that under the overthrown government he had been a spy upon saint
antoine and defarge's wine-shop had received from the watchful police
such heads of information concerning doctor manette's imprisonment 
release and history as should serve him for an introduction to
familiar conversation with the defarges and tried them on madame
defarge and had broken down with them signally he always remembered
with fear and trembling that that terrible woman had knitted when he
talked with her and had looked ominously at him as her fingers moved 
he had since seen her in the section of saint antoine over and over
again produce her knitted registers and denounce people whose lives the
guillotine then surely swallowed up he knew as every one employed as
he was did that he was never safe that flight was impossible that
he was tied fast under the shadow of the axe and that in spite of
his utmost tergiversation and treachery in furtherance of the reigning
terror a word might bring it down upon him once denounced and on such
grave grounds as had just now been suggested to his mind he foresaw
that the dreadful woman of whose unrelenting character he had seen many
proofs would produce against him that fatal register and would quash
his last chance of life besides that all secret men are men soon
terrified here were surely cards enough of one black suit to justify
the holder in growing rather livid as he turned them over 

 you scarcely seem to like your hand said sydney with the greatest
composure do you play 

 i think sir said the spy in the meanest manner as he turned to mr 
lorry i may appeal to a gentleman of your years and benevolence to
put it to this other gentleman so much your junior whether he can
under any circumstances reconcile it to his station to play that ace
of which he has spoken i admit that i am a spy and that it is
considered a discreditable station though it must be filled by
somebody but this gentleman is no spy and why should he so demean
himself as to make himself one 

 i play my ace mr barsad said carton taking the answer on himself 
and looking at his watch without any scruple in a very few minutes 

 i should have hoped gentlemen both said the spy always striving to
hook mr lorry into the discussion that your respect for my sister 

 i could not better testify my respect for your sister than by finally
relieving her of her brother said sydney carton 

 you think not sir 

 i have thoroughly made up my mind about it 

the smooth manner of the spy curiously in dissonance with his
ostentatiously rough dress and probably with his usual demeanour 
received such a check from the inscrutability of carton who was a
mystery to wiser and honester men than he that it faltered here and
failed him while he was at a loss carton said resuming his former air
of contemplating cards 

 and indeed now i think again i have a strong impression that i
have another good card here not yet enumerated that friend and
fellow-sheep who spoke of himself as pasturing in the country prisons 
who was he 

 french you don't know him said the spy quickly 

 french eh repeated carton musing and not appearing to notice him
at all though he echoed his word well he may be 

 is i assure you said the spy though it's not important 

 though it's not important repeated carton in the same mechanical
way though it's not important no it's not important no yet i know
the face 

 i think not i am sure not it can't be said the spy 

 it-can't-be muttered sydney carton retrospectively and idling his
glass which fortunately was a small one again can't-be spoke good
french yet like a foreigner i thought 

 provincial said the spy 

 no foreign cried carton striking his open hand on the table as a
light broke clearly on his mind cly disguised but the same man we
had that man before us at the old bailey 

 now there you are hasty sir said barsad with a smile that gave his
aquiline nose an extra inclination to one side there you really give
me an advantage over you cly who i will unreservedly admit at this
distance of time was a partner of mine has been dead several years i
attended him in his last illness he was buried in london at the church
of saint pancras-in-the-fields his unpopularity with the blackguard
multitude at the moment prevented my following his remains but i helped
to lay him in his coffin 

here mr lorry became aware from where he sat of a most remarkable
goblin shadow on the wall tracing it to its source he discovered it
to be caused by a sudden extraordinary rising and stiffening of all the
risen and stiff hair on mr cruncher's head 

 let us be reasonable said the spy and let us be fair to show you
how mistaken you are and what an unfounded assumption yours is i will
lay before you a certificate of cly's burial which i happened to have
carried in my pocket-book with a hurried hand he produced and opened
it ever since there it is oh look at it look at it you may take
it in your hand it's no forgery 

here mr lorry perceived the reflection on the wall to elongate and
mr cruncher rose and stepped forward his hair could not have been more
violently on end if it had been that moment dressed by the cow with the
crumpled horn in the house that jack built 

unseen by the spy mr cruncher stood at his side and touched him on
the shoulder like a ghostly bailiff 

 that there roger cly master said mr cruncher with a taciturn and
iron-bound visage so you put him in his coffin 

 i did 

 who took him out of it 

barsad leaned back in his chair and stammered what do you mean 

 i mean said mr cruncher that he warn't never in it no not he 
i'll have my head took off if he was ever in it 

the spy looked round at the two gentlemen they both looked in
unspeakable astonishment at jerry 

 i tell you said jerry that you buried paving-stones and earth in
that there coffin don't go and tell me that you buried cly it was a
take in me and two more knows it 

 how do you know it 

 what's that to you ecod growled mr cruncher it's you i have got a
old grudge again is it with your shameful impositions upon tradesmen 
i'd catch hold of your throat and choke you for half a guinea 

sydney carton who with mr lorry had been lost in amazement at
this turn of the business here requested mr cruncher to moderate and
explain himself 

 at another time sir he returned evasively the present time is
ill-conwenient for explainin' what i stand to is that he knows well
wot that there cly was never in that there coffin let him say he was 
in so much as a word of one syllable and i'll either catch hold of his
throat and choke him for half a guinea mr cruncher dwelt upon this as
quite a liberal offer or i'll out and announce him 

 humph i see one thing said carton i hold another card mr barsad 
impossible here in raging paris with suspicion filling the air for
you to outlive denunciation when you are in communication with another
aristocratic spy of the same antecedents as yourself who moreover has
the mystery about him of having feigned death and come to life again 
a plot in the prisons of the foreigner against the republic a strong
card a certain guillotine card do you play 

 no returned the spy i throw up i confess that we were so unpopular
with the outrageous mob that i only got away from england at the risk
of being ducked to death and that cly was so ferreted up and down that
he never would have got away at all but for that sham though how this
man knows it was a sham is a wonder of wonders to me 

 never you trouble your head about this man retorted the contentious
mr cruncher you'll have trouble enough with giving your attention to
that gentleman and look here once more mr cruncher could not
be restrained from making rather an ostentatious parade of his
liberality i'd catch hold of your throat and choke you for half a
guinea 

the sheep of the prisons turned from him to sydney carton and said 
with more decision it has come to a point i go on duty soon and
can't overstay my time you told me you had a proposal what is it 
now it is of no use asking too much of me ask me to do anything in my
office putting my head in great extra danger and i had better trust my
life to the chances of a refusal than the chances of consent in short 
i should make that choice you talk of desperation we are all desperate
here remember i may denounce you if i think proper and i can swear my
way through stone walls and so can others now what do you want with
me 

 not very much you are a turnkey at the conciergerie 

 i tell you once for all there is no such thing as an escape possible 
 said the spy firmly 

 why need you tell me what i have not asked you are a turnkey at the
conciergerie 

 i am sometimes 

 you can be when you choose 

 i can pass in and out when i choose 

sydney carton filled another glass with brandy poured it slowly out
upon the hearth and watched it as it dropped it being all spent he
said rising 

 so far we have spoken before these two because it was as well that
the merits of the cards should not rest solely between you and me come
into the dark room here and let us have one final word alone 




ix the game made


while sydney carton and the sheep of the prisons were in the adjoining
dark room speaking so low that not a sound was heard mr lorry looked
at jerry in considerable doubt and mistrust that honest tradesman's
manner of receiving the look did not inspire confidence he changed the
leg on which he rested as often as if he had fifty of those limbs 
and were trying them all he examined his finger-nails with a very
questionable closeness of attention and whenever mr lorry's eye caught
his he was taken with that peculiar kind of short cough requiring the
hollow of a hand before it which is seldom if ever known to be an
infirmity attendant on perfect openness of character 

 jerry said mr lorry come here 

mr cruncher came forward sideways with one of his shoulders in advance
of him 

 what have you been besides a messenger 

after some cogitation accompanied with an intent look at his patron 
mr cruncher conceived the luminous idea of replying agicultooral
character 

 my mind misgives me much said mr lorry angrily shaking a forefinger
at him that you have used the respectable and great house of tellson's
as a blind and that you have had an unlawful occupation of an infamous
description if you have don't expect me to befriend you when you
get back to england if you have don't expect me to keep your secret 
tellson's shall not be imposed upon 

 i hope sir pleaded the abashed mr cruncher that a gentleman like
yourself wot i've had the honour of odd jobbing till i'm grey at it 
would think twice about harming of me even if it wos so i don't say it
is but even if it wos and which it is to be took into account that if
it wos it wouldn't even then be all o' one side there'd be two sides
to it there might be medical doctors at the present hour a picking
up their guineas where a honest tradesman don't pick up his
fardens fardens no nor yet his half fardens half fardens no nor
yet his quarter a banking away like smoke at tellson's and a cocking
their medical eyes at that tradesman on the sly a going in and going
out to their own carriages ah equally like smoke if not more so 
well that 'ud be imposing too on tellson's for you cannot sarse the
goose and not the gander and here's mrs cruncher or leastways wos
in the old england times and would be to-morrow if cause given 
a floppin' again the business to that degree as is ruinating stark
ruinating whereas them medical doctors' wives don't flop catch 'em at
it or if they flop their floppings goes in favour of more patients 
and how can you rightly have one without t'other then wot with
undertakers and wot with parish clerks and wot with sextons and wot
with private watchmen all awaricious and all in it a man wouldn't get
much by it even if it wos so and wot little a man did get would never
prosper with him mr lorry he'd never have no good of it he'd want
all along to be out of the line if he could see his way out being
once in even if it wos so 

 ugh cried mr lorry rather relenting nevertheless i am shocked at
the sight of you 

 now what i would humbly offer to you sir pursued mr cruncher 
 even if it wos so which i don't say it is 

 don't prevaricate said mr lorry 

 no i will not sir returned mr crunches as if nothing were
further from his thoughts or practice which i don't say it is wot i
would humbly offer to you sir would be this upon that there stool at
that there bar sets that there boy of mine brought up and growed up to
be a man wot will errand you message you general-light-job you till
your heels is where your head is if such should be your wishes if it
wos so which i still don't say it is for i will not prewaricate to
you sir let that there boy keep his father's place and take care of
his mother don't blow upon that boy's father do not do it sir and
let that father go into the line of the reg'lar diggin' and make amends
for what he would have undug if it wos so by diggin' of 'em in with
a will and with conwictions respectin' the futur' keepin' of 'em safe 
that mr lorry said mr cruncher wiping his forehead with his
arm as an announcement that he had arrived at the peroration of his
discourse is wot i would respectfully offer to you sir a man don't
see all this here a goin' on dreadful round him in the way of subjects
without heads dear me plentiful enough fur to bring the price down
to porterage and hardly that without havin' his serious thoughts of
things and these here would be mine if it wos so entreatin' of you
fur to bear in mind that wot i said just now i up and said in the good
cause when i might have kep' it back 

 that at least is true said mr lorry say no more now it may be
that i shall yet stand your friend if you deserve it and repent in
action not in words i want no more words 

mr cruncher knuckled his forehead as sydney carton and the spy
returned from the dark room adieu mr barsad said the former our
arrangement thus made you have nothing to fear from me 

he sat down in a chair on the hearth over against mr lorry when they
were alone mr lorry asked him what he had done 

 not much if it should go ill with the prisoner i have ensured access
to him once 

mr lorry's countenance fell 

 it is all i could do said carton to propose too much would be
to put this man's head under the axe and as he himself said nothing
worse could happen to him if he were denounced it was obviously the
weakness of the position there is no help for it 

 but access to him said mr lorry if it should go ill before the
tribunal will not save him 

 i never said it would 

mr lorry's eyes gradually sought the fire his sympathy with his
darling and the heavy disappointment of his second arrest gradually
weakened them he was an old man now overborne with anxiety of late 
and his tears fell 

 you are a good man and a true friend said carton in an altered
voice forgive me if i notice that you are affected i could not see my
father weep and sit by careless and i could not respect your
sorrow more if you were my father you are free from that misfortune 
however 

though he said the last words with a slip into his usual manner there
was a true feeling and respect both in his tone and in his touch 
that mr lorry who had never seen the better side of him was wholly
unprepared for he gave him his hand and carton gently pressed it 

 to return to poor darnay said carton don't tell her of this
interview or this arrangement it would not enable her to go to see
him she might think it was contrived in case of the worse to convey
to him the means of anticipating the sentence 

mr lorry had not thought of that and he looked quickly at carton to
see if it were in his mind it seemed to be he returned the look and
evidently understood it 

 she might think a thousand things carton said and any of them would
only add to her trouble don't speak of me to her as i said to you when
i first came i had better not see her i can put my hand out to do any
little helpful work for her that my hand can find to do without that 
you are going to her i hope she must be very desolate to-night 

 i am going now directly 

 i am glad of that she has such a strong attachment to you and reliance
on you how does she look 

 anxious and unhappy but very beautiful 

 ah 

it was a long grieving sound like a sigh almost like a sob it
attracted mr lorry's eyes to carton's face which was turned to the
fire a light or a shade the old gentleman could not have said which 
passed from it as swiftly as a change will sweep over a hill-side on a
wild bright day and he lifted his foot to put back one of the little
flaming logs which was tumbling forward he wore the white riding-coat
and top-boots then in vogue and the light of the fire touching their
light surfaces made him look very pale with his long brown hair 
all untrimmed hanging loose about him his indifference to fire was
sufficiently remarkable to elicit a word of remonstrance from mr lorry 
his boot was still upon the hot embers of the flaming log when it had
broken under the weight of his foot 

 i forgot it he said 

mr lorry's eyes were again attracted to his face taking note of the
wasted air which clouded the naturally handsome features and having
the expression of prisoners' faces fresh in his mind he was strongly
reminded of that expression 

 and your duties here have drawn to an end sir said carton turning
to him 

 yes as i was telling you last night when lucie came in so
unexpectedly i have at length done all that i can do here i hoped to
have left them in perfect safety and then to have quitted paris i have
my leave to pass i was ready to go 

they were both silent 

 yours is a long life to look back upon sir said carton wistfully 

 i am in my seventy-eighth year 

 you have been useful all your life steadily and constantly occupied 
trusted respected and looked up to 

 i have been a man of business ever since i have been a man indeed i
may say that i was a man of business when a boy 

 see what a place you fill at seventy-eight how many people will miss
you when you leave it empty 

 a solitary old bachelor answered mr lorry shaking his head there
is nobody to weep for me 

 how can you say that wouldn't she weep for you wouldn't her child 

 yes yes thank god i didn't quite mean what i said 

 it is a thing to thank god for is it not 

 surely surely 

 if you could say with truth to your own solitary heart to-night 
'i have secured to myself the love and attachment the gratitude or
respect of no human creature i have won myself a tender place in no
regard i have done nothing good or serviceable to be remembered by '
your seventy-eight years would be seventy-eight heavy curses would they
not 

 you say truly mr carton i think they would be 

sydney turned his eyes again upon the fire and after a silence of a
few moments said 

 i should like to ask you does your childhood seem far off do the
days when you sat at your mother's knee seem days of very long ago 

responding to his softened manner mr lorry answered 

 twenty years back yes at this time of my life no for as i draw
closer and closer to the end i travel in the circle nearer and
nearer to the beginning it seems to be one of the kind smoothings and
preparings of the way my heart is touched now by many remembrances
that had long fallen asleep of my pretty young mother and i so old 
and by many associations of the days when what we call the world was not
so real with me and my faults were not confirmed in me 

 i understand the feeling exclaimed carton with a bright flush and
you are the better for it 

 i hope so 

carton terminated the conversation here by rising to help him on with
his outer coat but you said mr lorry reverting to the theme you
are young 

 yes said carton i am not old but my young way was never the way to
age enough of me 

 and of me i am sure said mr lorry are you going out 

 i'll walk with you to her gate you know my vagabond and restless
habits if i should prowl about the streets a long time don't be
uneasy i shall reappear in the morning you go to the court to-morrow 

 yes unhappily 

 i shall be there but only as one of the crowd my spy will find a
place for me take my arm sir 

mr lorry did so and they went down-stairs and out in the streets a
few minutes brought them to mr lorry's destination carton left him
there but lingered at a little distance and turned back to the gate
again when it was shut and touched it he had heard of her going to
the prison every day she came out here he said looking about him 
 turned this way must have trod on these stones often let me follow in
her steps 

it was ten o'clock at night when he stood before the prison of la force 
where she had stood hundreds of times a little wood-sawyer having
closed his shop was smoking his pipe at his shop-door 

 good night citizen said sydney carton pausing in going by for the
man eyed him inquisitively 

 good night citizen 

 how goes the republic 

 you mean the guillotine not ill sixty-three to-day we shall mount
to a hundred soon samson and his men complain sometimes of being
exhausted ha ha ha he is so droll that samson such a barber 

 do you often go to see him 

 shave always every day what a barber you have seen him at work 

 never 

 go and see him when he has a good batch figure this to yourself 
citizen he shaved the sixty-three to-day in less than two pipes less
than two pipes word of honour 

as the grinning little man held out the pipe he was smoking to explain
how he timed the executioner carton was so sensible of a rising desire
to strike the life out of him that he turned away 

 but you are not english said the wood-sawyer though you wear
english dress 

 yes said carton pausing again and answering over his shoulder 

 you speak like a frenchman 

 i am an old student here 

 aha a perfect frenchman good night englishman 

 good night citizen 

 but go and see that droll dog the little man persisted calling after
him and take a pipe with you 

sydney had not gone far out of sight when he stopped in the middle of
the street under a glimmering lamp and wrote with his pencil on a scrap
of paper then traversing with the decided step of one who remembered
the way well several dark and dirty streets much dirtier than usual 
for the best public thoroughfares remained uncleansed in those times of
terror he stopped at a chemist's shop which the owner was closing with
his own hands a small dim crooked shop kept in a tortuous up-hill
thoroughfare by a small dim crooked man 

giving this citizen too good night as he confronted him at his
counter he laid the scrap of paper before him whew the chemist
whistled softly as he read it hi hi hi 

sydney carton took no heed and the chemist said 

 for you citizen 

 for me 

 you will be careful to keep them separate citizen you know the
consequences of mixing them 

 perfectly 

certain small packets were made and given to him he put them one by
one in the breast of his inner coat counted out the money for them 
and deliberately left the shop there is nothing more to do said he 
glancing upward at the moon until to-morrow i can't sleep 

it was not a reckless manner the manner in which he said these words
aloud under the fast-sailing clouds nor was it more expressive of
negligence than defiance it was the settled manner of a tired man who
had wandered and struggled and got lost but who at length struck into
his road and saw its end 

long ago when he had been famous among his earliest competitors as a
youth of great promise he had followed his father to the grave his
mother had died years before these solemn words which had been
read at his father's grave arose in his mind as he went down the dark
streets among the heavy shadows with the moon and the clouds sailing
on high above him i am the resurrection and the life saith the lord 
he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and
whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 

in a city dominated by the axe alone at night with natural sorrow
rising in him for the sixty-three who had been that day put to death 
and for to-morrow's victims then awaiting their doom in the prisons 
and still of to-morrow's and to-morrow's the chain of association that
brought the words home like a rusty old ship's anchor from the deep 
might have been easily found he did not seek it but repeated them and
went on 

with a solemn interest in the lighted windows where the people were
going to rest forgetful through a few calm hours of the horrors
surrounding them in the towers of the churches where no prayers
were said for the popular revulsion had even travelled that length
of self-destruction from years of priestly impostors plunderers and
profligates in the distant burial-places reserved as they wrote upon
the gates for eternal sleep in the abounding gaols and in the streets
along which the sixties rolled to a death which had become so common and
material that no sorrowful story of a haunting spirit ever arose among
the people out of all the working of the guillotine with a solemn
interest in the whole life and death of the city settling down to its
short nightly pause in fury sydney carton crossed the seine again for
the lighter streets 

few coaches were abroad for riders in coaches were liable to be
suspected and gentility hid its head in red nightcaps and put on heavy
shoes and trudged but the theatres were all well filled and the
people poured cheerfully out as he passed and went chatting home at
one of the theatre doors there was a little girl with a mother looking
for a way across the street through the mud he carried the child over 
and before the timid arm was loosed from his neck asked her for a kiss 

 i am the resurrection and the life saith the lord he that believeth
in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die 

now that the streets were quiet and the night wore on the words
were in the echoes of his feet and were in the air perfectly calm
and steady he sometimes repeated them to himself as he walked but he
heard them always 

the night wore out and as he stood upon the bridge listening to the
water as it splashed the river-walls of the island of paris where the
picturesque confusion of houses and cathedral shone bright in the light
of the moon the day came coldly looking like a dead face out of the
sky then the night with the moon and the stars turned pale and died 
and for a little while it seemed as if creation were delivered over to
death's dominion 

but the glorious sun rising seemed to strike those words that burden
of the night straight and warm to his heart in its long bright rays 
and looking along them with reverently shaded eyes a bridge of light
appeared to span the air between him and the sun while the river
sparkled under it 

the strong tide so swift so deep and certain was like a congenial
friend in the morning stillness he walked by the stream far from the
houses and in the light and warmth of the sun fell asleep on the
bank when he awoke and was afoot again he lingered there yet a little
longer watching an eddy that turned and turned purposeless until the
stream absorbed it and carried it on to the sea like me 

a trading-boat with a sail of the softened colour of a dead leaf then
glided into his view floated by him and died away as its silent track
in the water disappeared the prayer that had broken up out of his heart
for a merciful consideration of all his poor blindnesses and errors 
ended in the words i am the resurrection and the life 

mr lorry was already out when he got back and it was easy to surmise
where the good old man was gone sydney carton drank nothing but a
little coffee ate some bread and having washed and changed to refresh
himself went out to the place of trial 

the court was all astir and a-buzz when the black sheep whom many fell
away from in dread pressed him into an obscure corner among the crowd 
mr lorry was there and doctor manette was there she was there 
sitting beside her father 

when her husband was brought in she turned a look upon him so
sustaining so encouraging so full of admiring love and pitying
tenderness yet so courageous for his sake that it called the healthy
blood into his face brightened his glance and animated his heart if
there had been any eyes to notice the influence of her look on sydney
carton it would have been seen to be the same influence exactly 

before that unjust tribunal there was little or no order of procedure 
ensuring to any accused person any reasonable hearing there could have
been no such revolution if all laws forms and ceremonies had not
first been so monstrously abused that the suicidal vengeance of the
revolution was to scatter them all to the winds 

every eye was turned to the jury the same determined patriots and good
republicans as yesterday and the day before and to-morrow and the day
after eager and prominent among them one man with a craving face and
his fingers perpetually hovering about his lips whose appearance
gave great satisfaction to the spectators a life-thirsting 
cannibal-looking bloody-minded juryman the jacques three of st 
antoine the whole jury as a jury of dogs empannelled to try the deer 

every eye then turned to the five judges and the public prosecutor 
no favourable leaning in that quarter to-day a fell uncompromising 
murderous business-meaning there every eye then sought some other eye
in the crowd and gleamed at it approvingly and heads nodded at one
another before bending forward with a strained attention 

charles evremonde called darnay released yesterday reaccused and
retaken yesterday indictment delivered to him last night suspected and
denounced enemy of the republic aristocrat one of a family of tyrants 
one of a race proscribed for that they had used their abolished
privileges to the infamous oppression of the people charles evremonde 
called darnay in right of such proscription absolutely dead in law 

to this effect in as few or fewer words the public prosecutor 

the president asked was the accused openly denounced or secretly 

 openly president 

 by whom 

 three voices ernest defarge wine-vendor of st antoine 

 good 

 therese defarge his wife 

 good 

 alexandre manette physician 

a great uproar took place in the court and in the midst of it doctor
manette was seen pale and trembling standing where he had been seated 

 president i indignantly protest to you that this is a forgery and
a fraud you know the accused to be the husband of my daughter my
daughter and those dear to her are far dearer to me than my life who
and where is the false conspirator who says that i denounce the husband
of my child 

 citizen manette be tranquil to fail in submission to the authority of
the tribunal would be to put yourself out of law as to what is dearer
to you than life nothing can be so dear to a good citizen as the
republic 

loud acclamations hailed this rebuke the president rang his bell and
with warmth resumed 

 if the republic should demand of you the sacrifice of your child
herself you would have no duty but to sacrifice her listen to what is
to follow in the meanwhile be silent 

frantic acclamations were again raised doctor manette sat down with
his eyes looking around and his lips trembling his daughter drew
closer to him the craving man on the jury rubbed his hands together 
and restored the usual hand to his mouth 

defarge was produced when the court was quiet enough to admit of his
being heard and rapidly expounded the story of the imprisonment and of
his having been a mere boy in the doctor's service and of the release 
and of the state of the prisoner when released and delivered to him 
this short examination followed for the court was quick with its work 

 you did good service at the taking of the bastille citizen 

 i believe so 

here an excited woman screeched from the crowd you were one of the
best patriots there why not say so you were a cannonier that day
there and you were among the first to enter the accursed fortress when
it fell patriots i speak the truth 

it was the vengeance who amidst the warm commendations of the audience 
thus assisted the proceedings the president rang his bell but the
vengeance warming with encouragement shrieked i defy that bell 
 wherein she was likewise much commended 

 inform the tribunal of what you did that day within the bastille 
citizen 

 i knew said defarge looking down at his wife who stood at the
bottom of the steps on which he was raised looking steadily up at him 
 i knew that this prisoner of whom i speak had been confined in a cell
known as one hundred and five north tower i knew it from himself he
knew himself by no other name than one hundred and five north tower 
when he made shoes under my care as i serve my gun that day i resolve 
when the place shall fall to examine that cell it falls i mount to
the cell with a fellow-citizen who is one of the jury directed by a
gaoler i examine it very closely in a hole in the chimney where a
stone has been worked out and replaced i find a written paper this is
that written paper i have made it my business to examine some specimens
of the writing of doctor manette this is the writing of doctor manette 
i confide this paper in the writing of doctor manette to the hands of
the president 

 let it be read 

in a dead silence and stillness the prisoner under trial looking
lovingly at his wife his wife only looking from him to look with
solicitude at her father doctor manette keeping his eyes fixed on the
reader madame defarge never taking hers from the prisoner defarge
never taking his from his feasting wife and all the other eyes there
intent upon the doctor who saw none of them the paper was read as
follows 




x the substance of the shadow


 i alexandre manette unfortunate physician native of beauvais and
afterwards resident in paris write this melancholy paper in my doleful
cell in the bastille during the last month of the year 1767 i write
it at stolen intervals under every difficulty i design to secrete it
in the wall of the chimney where i have slowly and laboriously made a
place of concealment for it some pitying hand may find it there when i
and my sorrows are dust 

 these words are formed by the rusty iron point with which i write with
difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney mixed
with blood in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity hope
has quite departed from my breast i know from terrible warnings i have
noted in myself that my reason will not long remain unimpaired but i
solemnly declare that i am at this time in the possession of my right
mind that my memory is exact and circumstantial and that i write the
truth as i shall answer for these my last recorded words whether they
be ever read by men or not at the eternal judgment-seat 

 one cloudy moonlight night in the third week of december i think the
twenty-second of the month in the year 1757 i was walking on a retired
part of the quay by the seine for the refreshment of the frosty air 
at an hour's distance from my place of residence in the street of the
school of medicine when a carriage came along behind me driven very
fast as i stood aside to let that carriage pass apprehensive that it
might otherwise run me down a head was put out at the window and a
voice called to the driver to stop 

 the carriage stopped as soon as the driver could rein in his horses 
and the same voice called to me by my name i answered the carriage
was then so far in advance of me that two gentlemen had time to open the
door and alight before i came up with it 

 i observed that they were both wrapped in cloaks and appeared to
conceal themselves as they stood side by side near the carriage door 
i also observed that they both looked of about my own age or rather
younger and that they were greatly alike in stature manner voice 
and as far as i could see face too 

 'you are doctor manette ' said one 

 i am 

 'doctor manette formerly of beauvais ' said the other 'the young
physician originally an expert surgeon who within the last year or two
has made a rising reputation in paris '

 'gentlemen ' i returned 'i am that doctor manette of whom you speak so
graciously '

 'we have been to your residence ' said the first 'and not being
so fortunate as to find you there and being informed that you were
probably walking in this direction we followed in the hope of
overtaking you will you please to enter the carriage '

 the manner of both was imperious and they both moved as these words
were spoken so as to place me between themselves and the carriage door 
they were armed i was not 

 'gentlemen ' said i 'pardon me but i usually inquire who does me
the honour to seek my assistance and what is the nature of the case to
which i am summoned '

 the reply to this was made by him who had spoken second 'doctor 
your clients are people of condition as to the nature of the case 
our confidence in your skill assures us that you will ascertain it for
yourself better than we can describe it enough will you please to
enter the carriage '

 i could do nothing but comply and i entered it in silence they both
entered after me the last springing in after putting up the steps the
carriage turned about and drove on at its former speed 

 i repeat this conversation exactly as it occurred i have no doubt that
it is word for word the same i describe everything exactly as it took
place constraining my mind not to wander from the task where i make
the broken marks that follow here i leave off for the time and put my
paper in its hiding-place 

 

 the carriage left the streets behind passed the north barrier and
emerged upon the country road at two-thirds of a league from the
barrier i did not estimate the distance at that time but afterwards
when i traversed it it struck out of the main avenue and presently
stopped at a solitary house we all three alighted and walked by
a damp soft footpath in a garden where a neglected fountain had
overflowed to the door of the house it was not opened immediately in
answer to the ringing of the bell and one of my two conductors struck
the man who opened it with his heavy riding glove across the face 

 there was nothing in this action to attract my particular attention 
for i had seen common people struck more commonly than dogs but the
other of the two being angry likewise struck the man in like manner
with his arm the look and bearing of the brothers were then so exactly
alike that i then first perceived them to be twin brothers 

 from the time of our alighting at the outer gate which we found
locked and which one of the brothers had opened to admit us and had
relocked i had heard cries proceeding from an upper chamber i was
conducted to this chamber straight the cries growing louder as we
ascended the stairs and i found a patient in a high fever of the brain 
lying on a bed 

 the patient was a woman of great beauty and young assuredly not much
past twenty her hair was torn and ragged and her arms were bound to
her sides with sashes and handkerchiefs i noticed that these bonds were
all portions of a gentleman's dress on one of them which was a fringed
scarf for a dress of ceremony i saw the armorial bearings of a noble 
and the letter e 

 i saw this within the first minute of my contemplation of the patient 
for in her restless strivings she had turned over on her face on the
edge of the bed had drawn the end of the scarf into her mouth and was
in danger of suffocation my first act was to put out my hand to relieve
her breathing and in moving the scarf aside the embroidery in the
corner caught my sight 

 i turned her gently over placed my hands upon her breast to calm her
and keep her down and looked into her face her eyes were dilated and
wild and she constantly uttered piercing shrieks and repeated the
words 'my husband my father and my brother ' and then counted up to
twelve and said 'hush ' for an instant and no more she would pause
to listen and then the piercing shrieks would begin again and she
would repeat the cry 'my husband my father and my brother ' and
would count up to twelve and say 'hush ' there was no variation in the
order or the manner there was no cessation but the regular moment's
pause in the utterance of these sounds 

 'how long ' i asked 'has this lasted '

 to distinguish the brothers i will call them the elder and the
younger by the elder i mean him who exercised the most authority it
was the elder who replied 'since about this hour last night '

 'she has a husband a father and a brother '

 'a brother '

 'i do not address her brother '

 he answered with great contempt 'no '

 'she has some recent association with the number twelve '

 the younger brother impatiently rejoined 'with twelve o'clock '

 'see gentlemen ' said i still keeping my hands upon her breast 'how
useless i am as you have brought me if i had known what i was coming
to see i could have come provided as it is time must be lost there
are no medicines to be obtained in this lonely place '

 the elder brother looked to the younger who said haughtily 'there is
a case of medicines here ' and brought it from a closet and put it on
the table 

 

 i opened some of the bottles smelt them and put the stoppers to my
lips if i had wanted to use anything save narcotic medicines that were
poisons in themselves i would not have administered any of those 

 'do you doubt them ' asked the younger brother 

 'you see monsieur i am going to use them ' i replied and said no
more 

 i made the patient swallow with great difficulty and after many
efforts the dose that i desired to give as i intended to repeat it
after a while and as it was necessary to watch its influence i then
sat down by the side of the bed there was a timid and suppressed woman
in attendance wife of the man down-stairs who had retreated into
a corner the house was damp and decayed indifferently
furnished evidently recently occupied and temporarily used some thick
old hangings had been nailed up before the windows to deaden the
sound of the shrieks they continued to be uttered in their regular
succession with the cry 'my husband my father and my brother ' the
counting up to twelve and 'hush ' the frenzy was so violent that i had
not unfastened the bandages restraining the arms but i had looked to
them to see that they were not painful the only spark of encouragement
in the case was that my hand upon the sufferer's breast had this much
soothing influence that for minutes at a time it tranquillised the
figure it had no effect upon the cries no pendulum could be more
regular 

 for the reason that my hand had this effect i assume i had sat by
the side of the bed for half an hour with the two brothers looking on 
before the elder said 

 'there is another patient '

 i was startled and asked 'is it a pressing case '

 'you had better see ' he carelessly answered and took up a light 

 

 the other patient lay in a back room across a second staircase which
was a species of loft over a stable there was a low plastered ceiling
to a part of it the rest was open to the ridge of the tiled roof and
there were beams across hay and straw were stored in that portion of
the place fagots for firing and a heap of apples in sand i had to
pass through that part to get at the other my memory is circumstantial
and unshaken i try it with these details and i see them all in
this my cell in the bastille near the close of the tenth year of my
captivity as i saw them all that night 

 on some hay on the ground with a cushion thrown under his head lay a
handsome peasant boy a boy of not more than seventeen at the most 
he lay on his back with his teeth set his right hand clenched on his
breast and his glaring eyes looking straight upward i could not see
where his wound was as i kneeled on one knee over him but i could see
that he was dying of a wound from a sharp point 

 'i am a doctor my poor fellow ' said i 'let me examine it '

 'i do not want it examined ' he answered 'let it be '

 it was under his hand and i soothed him to let me move his hand away 
the wound was a sword-thrust received from twenty to twenty-four hours
before but no skill could have saved him if it had been looked to
without delay he was then dying fast as i turned my eyes to the elder
brother i saw him looking down at this handsome boy whose life was
ebbing out as if he were a wounded bird or hare or rabbit not at all
as if he were a fellow-creature 

 'how has this been done monsieur ' said i 

 'a crazed young common dog a serf forced my brother to draw upon him 
and has fallen by my brother's sword like a gentleman '

 there was no touch of pity sorrow or kindred humanity in this
answer the speaker seemed to acknowledge that it was inconvenient to
have that different order of creature dying there and that it would
have been better if he had died in the usual obscure routine of his
vermin kind he was quite incapable of any compassionate feeling about
the boy or about his fate 

 the boy's eyes had slowly moved to him as he had spoken and they now
slowly moved to me 

 'doctor they are very proud these nobles but we common dogs are
proud too sometimes they plunder us outrage us beat us kill us but
we have a little pride left sometimes she have you seen her doctor '

 the shrieks and the cries were audible there though subdued by the
distance he referred to them as if she were lying in our presence 

 i said 'i have seen her '

 'she is my sister doctor they have had their shameful rights these
nobles in the modesty and virtue of our sisters many years but we
have had good girls among us i know it and have heard my father say
so she was a good girl she was betrothed to a good young man too a
tenant of his we were all tenants of his that man's who stands there 
the other is his brother the worst of a bad race '

 it was with the greatest difficulty that the boy gathered bodily force
to speak but his spirit spoke with a dreadful emphasis 

 'we were so robbed by that man who stands there as all we common dogs
are by those superior beings taxed by him without mercy obliged to
work for him without pay obliged to grind our corn at his mill obliged
to feed scores of his tame birds on our wretched crops and forbidden
for our lives to keep a single tame bird of our own pillaged and
plundered to that degree that when we chanced to have a bit of meat we
ate it in fear with the door barred and the shutters closed that his
people should not see it and take it from us i say we were so robbed 
and hunted and were made so poor that our father told us it was a
dreadful thing to bring a child into the world and that what we should
most pray for was that our women might be barren and our miserable
race die out '

 i had never before seen the sense of being oppressed bursting forth
like a fire i had supposed that it must be latent in the people
somewhere but i had never seen it break out until i saw it in the
dying boy 

 'nevertheless doctor my sister married he was ailing at that time 
poor fellow and she married her lover that she might tend and comfort
him in our cottage our dog-hut as that man would call it she had not
been married many weeks when that man's brother saw her and admired
her and asked that man to lend her to him for what are husbands among
us he was willing enough but my sister was good and virtuous and
hated his brother with a hatred as strong as mine what did the two
then to persuade her husband to use his influence with her to make her
willing '

 the boy's eyes which had been fixed on mine slowly turned to the
looker-on and i saw in the two faces that all he said was true the two
opposing kinds of pride confronting one another i can see even in this
bastille the gentleman's all negligent indifference the peasant's all
trodden-down sentiment and passionate revenge 

 'you know doctor that it is among the rights of these nobles to
harness us common dogs to carts and drive us they so harnessed him and
drove him you know that it is among their rights to keep us in their
grounds all night quieting the frogs in order that their noble sleep
may not be disturbed they kept him out in the unwholesome mists at
night and ordered him back into his harness in the day but he was
not persuaded no taken out of harness one day at noon to feed if he
could find food he sobbed twelve times once for every stroke of the
bell and died on her bosom '

 nothing human could have held life in the boy but his determination to
tell all his wrong he forced back the gathering shadows of death as
he forced his clenched right hand to remain clenched and to cover his
wound 

 'then with that man's permission and even with his aid his
brother took her away in spite of what i know she must have told his
brother and what that is will not be long unknown to you doctor if
it is now his brother took her away for his pleasure and diversion 
for a little while i saw her pass me on the road when i took the
tidings home our father's heart burst he never spoke one of the words
that filled it i took my young sister for i have another to a place
beyond the reach of this man and where at least she will never be
 his vassal then i tracked the brother here and last night climbed
in a common dog but sword in hand where is the loft window it was
somewhere here '

 the room was darkening to his sight the world was narrowing around
him i glanced about me and saw that the hay and straw were trampled
over the floor as if there had been a struggle 

 'she heard me and ran in i told her not to come near us till he was
dead he came in and first tossed me some pieces of money then struck
at me with a whip but i though a common dog so struck at him as to
make him draw let him break into as many pieces as he will the sword
that he stained with my common blood he drew to defend himself thrust
at me with all his skill for his life '

 my glance had fallen but a few moments before on the fragments of
a broken sword lying among the hay that weapon was a gentleman's in
another place lay an old sword that seemed to have been a soldier's 

 'now lift me up doctor lift me up where is he '

 'he is not here ' i said supporting the boy and thinking that he
referred to the brother 

 'he proud as these nobles are he is afraid to see me where is the
man who was here turn my face to him '

 i did so raising the boy's head against my knee but invested for the
moment with extraordinary power he raised himself completely obliging
me to rise too or i could not have still supported him 

 'marquis ' said the boy turned to him with his eyes opened wide and
his right hand raised 'in the days when all these things are to be
answered for i summon you and yours to the last of your bad race to
answer for them i mark this cross of blood upon you as a sign that
i do it in the days when all these things are to be answered for 
i summon your brother the worst of the bad race to answer for them
separately i mark this cross of blood upon him as a sign that i do
it '

 twice he put his hand to the wound in his breast and with his
forefinger drew a cross in the air he stood for an instant with the
finger yet raised and as it dropped he dropped with it and i laid him
down dead 

 

 when i returned to the bedside of the young woman i found her raving
in precisely the same order of continuity i knew that this might last
for many hours and that it would probably end in the silence of the
grave 

 i repeated the medicines i had given her and i sat at the side of
the bed until the night was far advanced she never abated the piercing
quality of her shrieks never stumbled in the distinctness or the order
of her words they were always 'my husband my father and my brother 
one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven 
twelve hush '

 this lasted twenty-six hours from the time when i first saw her i had
come and gone twice and was again sitting by her when she began to
falter i did what little could be done to assist that opportunity and
by-and-bye she sank into a lethargy and lay like the dead 

 it was as if the wind and rain had lulled at last after a long and
fearful storm i released her arms and called the woman to assist me to
compose her figure and the dress she had torn it was then that i knew
her condition to be that of one in whom the first expectations of being
a mother have arisen and it was then that i lost the little hope i had
had of her 

 'is she dead ' asked the marquis whom i will still describe as the
elder brother coming booted into the room from his horse 

 'not dead ' said i 'but like to die '

 'what strength there is in these common bodies ' he said looking down
at her with some curiosity 

 'there is prodigious strength ' i answered him 'in sorrow and
despair '

 he first laughed at my words and then frowned at them he moved a
chair with his foot near to mine ordered the woman away and said in a
subdued voice 

 'doctor finding my brother in this difficulty with these hinds i
recommended that your aid should be invited your reputation is high 
and as a young man with your fortune to make you are probably mindful
of your interest the things that you see here are things to be seen 
and not spoken of '

 i listened to the patient's breathing and avoided answering 

 'do you honour me with your attention doctor '

 'monsieur ' said i 'in my profession the communications of patients
are always received in confidence ' i was guarded in my answer for i
was troubled in my mind with what i had heard and seen 

 her breathing was so difficult to trace that i carefully tried the
pulse and the heart there was life and no more looking round as i
resumed my seat i found both the brothers intent upon me 

 

 i write with so much difficulty the cold is so severe i am so
fearful of being detected and consigned to an underground cell and total
darkness that i must abridge this narrative there is no confusion or
failure in my memory it can recall and could detail every word that
was ever spoken between me and those brothers 

 she lingered for a week towards the last i could understand some few
syllables that she said to me by placing my ear close to her lips she
asked me where she was and i told her who i was and i told her it
was in vain that i asked her for her family name she faintly shook her
head upon the pillow and kept her secret as the boy had done 

 i had no opportunity of asking her any question until i had told the
brothers she was sinking fast and could not live another day until
then though no one was ever presented to her consciousness save the
woman and myself one or other of them had always jealously sat behind
the curtain at the head of the bed when i was there but when it came to
that they seemed careless what communication i might hold with her as
if the thought passed through my mind i were dying too 

 i always observed that their pride bitterly resented the younger
brother's as i call him having crossed swords with a peasant and that
peasant a boy the only consideration that appeared to affect the mind
of either of them was the consideration that this was highly degrading
to the family and was ridiculous as often as i caught the younger
brother's eyes their expression reminded me that he disliked me deeply 
for knowing what i knew from the boy he was smoother and more polite to
me than the elder but i saw this i also saw that i was an incumbrance
in the mind of the elder too 

 my patient died two hours before midnight at a time by my watch 
answering almost to the minute when i had first seen her i was alone
with her when her forlorn young head drooped gently on one side and
all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended 

 the brothers were waiting in a room down-stairs impatient to ride
away i had heard them alone at the bedside striking their boots with
their riding-whips and loitering up and down 

 'at last she is dead ' said the elder when i went in 

 'she is dead ' said i 

 'i congratulate you my brother ' were his words as he turned round 

 he had before offered me money which i had postponed taking he now
gave me a rouleau of gold i took it from his hand but laid it on
the table i had considered the question and had resolved to accept
nothing 

 'pray excuse me ' said i 'under the circumstances no '

 they exchanged looks but bent their heads to me as i bent mine to
them and we parted without another word on either side 

 

 i am weary weary weary worn down by misery i cannot read what i
have written with this gaunt hand 

 early in the morning the rouleau of gold was left at my door in a
little box with my name on the outside from the first i had anxiously
considered what i ought to do i decided that day to write privately
to the minister stating the nature of the two cases to which i had been
summoned and the place to which i had gone in effect stating all the
circumstances i knew what court influence was and what the immunities
of the nobles were and i expected that the matter would never be
heard of but i wished to relieve my own mind i had kept the matter a
profound secret even from my wife and this too i resolved to state
in my letter i had no apprehension whatever of my real danger but
i was conscious that there might be danger for others if others were
compromised by possessing the knowledge that i possessed 

 i was much engaged that day and could not complete my letter that
night i rose long before my usual time next morning to finish it 
it was the last day of the year the letter was lying before me just
completed when i was told that a lady waited who wished to see me 

 

 i am growing more and more unequal to the task i have set myself it is
so cold so dark my senses are so benumbed and the gloom upon me is so
dreadful 

 the lady was young engaging and handsome but not marked for long
life she was in great agitation she presented herself to me as the
wife of the marquis st evremonde i connected the title by which the
boy had addressed the elder brother with the initial letter embroidered
on the scarf and had no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that i
had seen that nobleman very lately 

 my memory is still accurate but i cannot write the words of our
conversation i suspect that i am watched more closely than i was and i
know not at what times i may be watched she had in part suspected and
in part discovered the main facts of the cruel story of her husband's
share in it and my being resorted to she did not know that the girl
was dead her hope had been she said in great distress to show her 
in secret a woman's sympathy her hope had been to avert the wrath of
heaven from a house that had long been hateful to the suffering many 

 she had reasons for believing that there was a young sister living and
her greatest desire was to help that sister i could tell her nothing
but that there was such a sister beyond that i knew nothing her
inducement to come to me relying on my confidence had been the hope
that i could tell her the name and place of abode whereas to this
wretched hour i am ignorant of both 

 

 these scraps of paper fail me one was taken from me with a warning 
yesterday i must finish my record to-day 

 she was a good compassionate lady and not happy in her marriage how
could she be the brother distrusted and disliked her and his influence
was all opposed to her she stood in dread of him and in dread of her
husband too when i handed her down to the door there was a child a
pretty boy from two to three years old in her carriage 

 'for his sake doctor ' she said pointing to him in tears 'i would do
all i can to make what poor amends i can he will never prosper in his
inheritance otherwise i have a presentiment that if no other innocent
atonement is made for this it will one day be required of him what
i have left to call my own it is little beyond the worth of a few
jewels i will make it the first charge of his life to bestow with the
compassion and lamenting of his dead mother on this injured family if
the sister can be discovered '

 she kissed the boy and said caressing him 'it is for thine own dear
sake thou wilt be faithful little charles ' the child answered her
bravely 'yes ' i kissed her hand and she took him in her arms and
went away caressing him i never saw her more 

 as she had mentioned her husband's name in the faith that i knew it 
i added no mention of it to my letter i sealed my letter and not
trusting it out of my own hands delivered it myself that day 

 that night the last night of the year towards nine o'clock a man in
a black dress rang at my gate demanded to see me and softly followed
my servant ernest defarge a youth up-stairs when my servant came
into the room where i sat with my wife o my wife beloved of my heart 
my fair young english wife we saw the man who was supposed to be at
the gate standing silent behind him 

 an urgent case in the rue st honore he said it would not detain me 
he had a coach in waiting 

 it brought me here it brought me to my grave when i was clear of the
house a black muffler was drawn tightly over my mouth from behind and
my arms were pinioned the two brothers crossed the road from a dark
corner and identified me with a single gesture the marquis took from
his pocket the letter i had written showed it me burnt it in the light
of a lantern that was held and extinguished the ashes with his foot 
not a word was spoken i was brought here i was brought to my living
grave 

 if it had pleased god to put it in the hard heart of either of the
brothers in all these frightful years to grant me any tidings of
my dearest wife so much as to let me know by a word whether alive or
dead i might have thought that he had not quite abandoned them but 
now i believe that the mark of the red cross is fatal to them and that
they have no part in his mercies and them and their descendants to the
last of their race i alexandre manette unhappy prisoner do this last
night of the year 1767 in my unbearable agony denounce to the times
when all these things shall be answered for i denounce them to heaven
and to earth 

a terrible sound arose when the reading of this document was done a
sound of craving and eagerness that had nothing articulate in it but
blood the narrative called up the most revengeful passions of the time 
and there was not a head in the nation but must have dropped before it 

little need in presence of that tribunal and that auditory to show
how the defarges had not made the paper public with the other captured
bastille memorials borne in procession and had kept it biding their
time little need to show that this detested family name had long been
anathematised by saint antoine and was wrought into the fatal register 
the man never trod ground whose virtues and services would have
sustained him in that place that day against such denunciation 

and all the worse for the doomed man that the denouncer was a
well-known citizen his own attached friend the father of his wife one
of the frenzied aspirations of the populace was for imitations of
the questionable public virtues of antiquity and for sacrifices and
self-immolations on the people's altar therefore when the president
said else had his own head quivered on his shoulders that the good
physician of the republic would deserve better still of the republic by
rooting out an obnoxious family of aristocrats and would doubtless feel
a sacred glow and joy in making his daughter a widow and her child an
orphan there was wild excitement patriotic fervour not a touch of
human sympathy 

 much influence around him has that doctor murmured madame defarge 
smiling to the vengeance save him now my doctor save him 

at every juryman's vote there was a roar another and another roar and
roar 

unanimously voted at heart and by descent an aristocrat an enemy
of the republic a notorious oppressor of the people back to the
conciergerie and death within four-and-twenty hours 




xi dusk


the wretched wife of the innocent man thus doomed to die fell under
the sentence as if she had been mortally stricken but she uttered no
sound and so strong was the voice within her representing that it was
she of all the world who must uphold him in his misery and not augment
it that it quickly raised her even from that shock 

the judges having to take part in a public demonstration out of doors 
the tribunal adjourned the quick noise and movement of the court's
emptying itself by many passages had not ceased when lucie stood
stretching out her arms towards her husband with nothing in her face
but love and consolation 

 if i might touch him if i might embrace him once o good citizens if
you would have so much compassion for us 

there was but a gaoler left along with two of the four men who had
taken him last night and barsad the people had all poured out to the
show in the streets barsad proposed to the rest let her embrace
him then it is but a moment it was silently acquiesced in and they
passed her over the seats in the hall to a raised place where he by
leaning over the dock could fold her in his arms 

 farewell dear darling of my soul my parting blessing on my love we
shall meet again where the weary are at rest 

they were her husband's words as he held her to his bosom 

 i can bear it dear charles i am supported from above don't suffer
for me a parting blessing for our child 

 i send it to her by you i kiss her by you i say farewell to her by
you 

 my husband no a moment he was tearing himself apart from her 
 we shall not be separated long i feel that this will break my heart
by-and-bye but i will do my duty while i can and when i leave her god
will raise up friends for her as he did for me 

her father had followed her and would have fallen on his knees to both
of them but that darnay put out a hand and seized him crying 

 no no what have you done what have you done that you should kneel
to us we know now what a struggle you made of old we know now what
you underwent when you suspected my descent and when you knew it we
know now the natural antipathy you strove against and conquered for
her dear sake we thank you with all our hearts and all our love and
duty heaven be with you 

her father's only answer was to draw his hands through his white hair 
and wring them with a shriek of anguish 

 it could not be otherwise said the prisoner all things have worked
together as they have fallen out it was the always-vain endeavour to
discharge my poor mother's trust that first brought my fatal presence
near you good could never come of such evil a happier end was not in
nature to so unhappy a beginning be comforted and forgive me heaven
bless you 

as he was drawn away his wife released him and stood looking after him
with her hands touching one another in the attitude of prayer and
with a radiant look upon her face in which there was even a comforting
smile as he went out at the prisoners' door she turned laid her head
lovingly on her father's breast tried to speak to him and fell at his
feet 

then issuing from the obscure corner from which he had never moved 
sydney carton came and took her up only her father and mr lorry were
with her his arm trembled as it raised her and supported her head 
yet there was an air about him that was not all of pity that had a
flush of pride in it 

 shall i take her to a coach i shall never feel her weight 

he carried her lightly to the door and laid her tenderly down in a
coach her father and their old friend got into it and he took his seat
beside the driver 

when they arrived at the gateway where he had paused in the dark not
many hours before to picture to himself on which of the rough stones of
the street her feet had trodden he lifted her again and carried her up
the staircase to their rooms there he laid her down on a couch where
her child and miss pross wept over her 

 don't recall her to herself he said softly to the latter she is
better so don't revive her to consciousness while she only faints 

 oh carton carton dear carton cried little lucie springing up and
throwing her arms passionately round him in a burst of grief now that
you have come i think you will do something to help mamma something to
save papa o look at her dear carton can you of all the people who
love her bear to see her so 

he bent over the child and laid her blooming cheek against his face he
put her gently from him and looked at her unconscious mother 

 before i go he said and paused i may kiss her 

it was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and touched her face
with his lips he murmured some words the child who was nearest to
him told them afterwards and told her grandchildren when she was a
handsome old lady that she heard him say a life you love 

when he had gone out into the next room he turned suddenly on mr lorry
and her father who were following and said to the latter 

 you had great influence but yesterday doctor manette let it at least
be tried these judges and all the men in power are very friendly to
you and very recognisant of your services are they not 

 nothing connected with charles was concealed from me i had the
strongest assurances that i should save him and i did he returned the
answer in great trouble and very slowly 

 try them again the hours between this and to-morrow afternoon are few
and short but try 

 i intend to try i will not rest a moment 

 that's well i have known such energy as yours do great things before
now though never he added with a smile and a sigh together such
great things as this but try of little worth as life is when we misuse
it it is worth that effort it would cost nothing to lay down if it
were not 

 i will go said doctor manette to the prosecutor and the president
straight and i will go to others whom it is better not to name i will
write too and but stay there is a celebration in the streets and no
one will be accessible until dark 

 that's true well it is a forlorn hope at the best and not much the
forlorner for being delayed till dark i should like to know how you
speed though mind i expect nothing when are you likely to have seen
these dread powers doctor manette 

 immediately after dark i should hope within an hour or two from
this 

 it will be dark soon after four let us stretch the hour or two if i
go to mr lorry's at nine shall i hear what you have done either from
our friend or from yourself 

 yes 

 may you prosper 

mr lorry followed sydney to the outer door and touching him on the
shoulder as he was going away caused him to turn 

 i have no hope said mr lorry in a low and sorrowful whisper 

 nor have i 

 if any one of these men or all of these men were disposed to spare
him which is a large supposition for what is his life or any man's
to them i doubt if they durst spare him after the demonstration in the
court 

 and so do i i heard the fall of the axe in that sound 

mr lorry leaned his arm upon the door-post and bowed his face upon it 

 don't despond said carton very gently don't grieve i encouraged
doctor manette in this idea because i felt that it might one day be
consolatory to her otherwise she might think 'his life was wantonly
thrown away or wasted ' and that might trouble her 

 yes yes yes returned mr lorry drying his eyes you are right 
but he will perish there is no real hope 

 yes he will perish there is no real hope echoed carton 

and walked with a settled step down-stairs 




xii darkness


sydney carton paused in the street not quite decided where to go at
tellson's banking-house at nine he said with a musing face shall i
do well in the mean time to show myself i think so it is best that
these people should know there is such a man as i here it is a sound
precaution and may be a necessary preparation but care care care 
let me think it out 

checking his steps which had begun to tend towards an object he took a
turn or two in the already darkening street and traced the thought
in his mind to its possible consequences his first impression was
confirmed it is best he said finally resolved that these people
should know there is such a man as i here and he turned his face
towards saint antoine 

defarge had described himself that day as the keeper of a wine-shop in
the saint antoine suburb it was not difficult for one who knew the city
well to find his house without asking any question having ascertained
its situation carton came out of those closer streets again and dined
at a place of refreshment and fell sound asleep after dinner for the
first time in many years he had no strong drink since last night he
had taken nothing but a little light thin wine and last night he had
dropped the brandy slowly down on mr lorry's hearth like a man who had
done with it 

it was as late as seven o'clock when he awoke refreshed and went out
into the streets again as he passed along towards saint antoine he
stopped at a shop-window where there was a mirror and slightly altered
the disordered arrangement of his loose cravat and his coat-collar and
his wild hair this done he went on direct to defarge's and went in 

there happened to be no customer in the shop but jacques three of the
restless fingers and the croaking voice this man whom he had seen upon
the jury stood drinking at the little counter in conversation with the
defarges man and wife the vengeance assisted in the conversation like
a regular member of the establishment 

as carton walked in took his seat and asked in very indifferent
french for a small measure of wine madame defarge cast a careless
glance at him and then a keener and then a keener and then advanced
to him herself and asked him what it was he had ordered 

he repeated what he had already said 

 english asked madame defarge inquisitively raising her dark
eyebrows 

after looking at her as if the sound of even a single french word were
slow to express itself to him he answered in his former strong foreign
accent yes madame yes i am english 

madame defarge returned to her counter to get the wine and as he
took up a jacobin journal and feigned to pore over it puzzling out its
meaning he heard her say i swear to you like evremonde 

defarge brought him the wine and gave him good evening 

 how 

 good evening 

 oh good evening citizen filling his glass ah and good wine i
drink to the republic 

defarge went back to the counter and said certainly a little like 
 madame sternly retorted i tell you a good deal like jacques three
pacifically remarked he is so much in your mind see you madame 
 the amiable vengeance added with a laugh yes my faith and you
are looking forward with so much pleasure to seeing him once more
to-morrow 

carton followed the lines and words of his paper with a slow
forefinger and with a studious and absorbed face they were all leaning
their arms on the counter close together speaking low after a silence
of a few moments during which they all looked towards him without
disturbing his outward attention from the jacobin editor they resumed
their conversation 

 it is true what madame says observed jacques three why stop there
is great force in that why stop 

 well well reasoned defarge but one must stop somewhere after all 
the question is still where 

 at extermination said madame 

 magnificent croaked jacques three the vengeance also highly
approved 

 extermination is good doctrine my wife said defarge rather
troubled in general i say nothing against it but this doctor has
suffered much you have seen him to-day you have observed his face when
the paper was read 

 i have observed his face repeated madame contemptuously and angrily 
 yes i have observed his face i have observed his face to be not the
face of a true friend of the republic let him take care of his face 

 and you have observed my wife said defarge in a deprecatory manner 
 the anguish of his daughter which must be a dreadful anguish to him 

 i have observed his daughter repeated madame yes i have observed
his daughter more times than one i have observed her to-day and i
have observed her other days i have observed her in the court and
i have observed her in the street by the prison let me but lift my
finger she seemed to raise it the listener's eyes were always on
his paper and to let it fall with a rattle on the ledge before her as
if the axe had dropped 

 the citizeness is superb croaked the juryman 

 she is an angel said the vengeance and embraced her 

 as to thee pursued madame implacably addressing her husband if it
depended on thee which happily it does not thou wouldst rescue this
man even now 

 no protested defarge not if to lift this glass would do it but i
would leave the matter there i say stop there 

 see you then jacques said madame defarge wrathfully and see you 
too my little vengeance see you both listen for other crimes as
tyrants and oppressors i have this race a long time on my register 
doomed to destruction and extermination ask my husband is that so 

 it is so assented defarge without being asked 

 in the beginning of the great days when the bastille falls he finds
this paper of to-day and he brings it home and in the middle of the
night when this place is clear and shut we read it here on this spot 
by the light of this lamp ask him is that so 

 it is so assented defarge 

 that night i tell him when the paper is read through and the lamp is
burnt out and the day is gleaming in above those shutters and between
those iron bars that i have now a secret to communicate ask him is
that so 

 it is so assented defarge again 

 i communicate to him that secret i smite this bosom with these two
hands as i smite it now and i tell him 'defarge i was brought up
among the fishermen of the sea-shore and that peasant family so injured
by the two evremonde brothers as that bastille paper describes is my
family defarge that sister of the mortally wounded boy upon the ground
was my sister that husband was my sister's husband that unborn child
was their child that brother was my brother that father was my father 
those dead are my dead and that summons to answer for those things
descends to me ' ask him is that so 

 it is so assented defarge once more 

 then tell wind and fire where to stop returned madame but don't
tell me 

both her hearers derived a horrible enjoyment from the deadly nature
of her wrath the listener could feel how white she was without seeing
her and both highly commended it defarge a weak minority interposed
a few words for the memory of the compassionate wife of the marquis but
only elicited from his own wife a repetition of her last reply tell
the wind and the fire where to stop not me 

customers entered and the group was broken up the english customer
paid for what he had had perplexedly counted his change and asked as
a stranger to be directed towards the national palace madame defarge
took him to the door and put her arm on his in pointing out the road 
the english customer was not without his reflections then that it might
be a good deed to seize that arm lift it and strike under it sharp and
deep 

but he went his way and was soon swallowed up in the shadow of the
prison wall at the appointed hour he emerged from it to present
himself in mr lorry's room again where he found the old gentleman
walking to and fro in restless anxiety he said he had been with lucie
until just now and had only left her for a few minutes to come and
keep his appointment her father had not been seen since he quitted the
banking-house towards four o'clock she had some faint hopes that his
mediation might save charles but they were very slight he had been
more than five hours gone where could he be 

mr lorry waited until ten but doctor manette not returning and
he being unwilling to leave lucie any longer it was arranged that he
should go back to her and come to the banking-house again at midnight 
in the meanwhile carton would wait alone by the fire for the doctor 

he waited and waited and the clock struck twelve but doctor manette
did not come back mr lorry returned and found no tidings of him and
brought none where could he be 

they were discussing this question and were almost building up some
weak structure of hope on his prolonged absence when they heard him on
the stairs the instant he entered the room it was plain that all was
lost 

whether he had really been to any one or whether he had been all that
time traversing the streets was never known as he stood staring at
them they asked him no question for his face told them everything 

 i cannot find it said he and i must have it where is it 

his head and throat were bare and as he spoke with a helpless look
straying all around he took his coat off and let it drop on the floor 

 where is my bench i have been looking everywhere for my bench and i
can't find it what have they done with my work time presses i must
finish those shoes 

they looked at one another and their hearts died within them 

 come come said he in a whimpering miserable way let me get to
work give me my work 

receiving no answer he tore his hair and beat his feet upon the
ground like a distracted child 

 don't torture a poor forlorn wretch he implored them with a dreadful
cry but give me my work what is to become of us if those shoes are
not done to-night 

lost utterly lost 

it was so clearly beyond hope to reason with him or try to restore him 
that as if by agreement they each put a hand upon his shoulder and
soothed him to sit down before the fire with a promise that he should
have his work presently he sank into the chair and brooded over the
embers and shed tears as if all that had happened since the garret
time were a momentary fancy or a dream mr lorry saw him shrink into
the exact figure that defarge had had in keeping 

affected and impressed with terror as they both were by this spectacle
of ruin it was not a time to yield to such emotions his lonely
daughter bereft of her final hope and reliance appealed to them both
too strongly again as if by agreement they looked at one another with
one meaning in their faces carton was the first to speak 

 the last chance is gone it was not much yes he had better be taken
to her but before you go will you for a moment steadily attend to
me don't ask me why i make the stipulations i am going to make and
exact the promise i am going to exact i have a reason a good one 

 i do not doubt it answered mr lorry say on 

the figure in the chair between them was all the time monotonously
rocking itself to and fro and moaning they spoke in such a tone as
they would have used if they had been watching by a sick-bed in the
night 

carton stooped to pick up the coat which lay almost entangling his
feet as he did so a small case in which the doctor was accustomed to
carry the lists of his day's duties fell lightly on the floor carton
took it up and there was a folded paper in it we should look
at this he said mr lorry nodded his consent he opened it and
exclaimed thank god 

 what is it asked mr lorry eagerly 

 a moment let me speak of it in its place first he put his hand in
his coat and took another paper from it that is the certificate which
enables me to pass out of this city look at it you see sydney carton 
an englishman 

mr lorry held it open in his hand gazing in his earnest face 

 keep it for me until to-morrow i shall see him to-morrow you
remember and i had better not take it into the prison 

 why not 

 i don't know i prefer not to do so now take this paper that doctor
manette has carried about him it is a similar certificate enabling him
and his daughter and her child at any time to pass the barrier and the
frontier you see 

 yes 

 perhaps he obtained it as his last and utmost precaution against evil 
yesterday when is it dated but no matter don't stay to look put it
up carefully with mine and your own now observe i never doubted until
within this hour or two that he had or could have such a paper it is
good until recalled but it may be soon recalled and i have reason to
think will be 

 they are not in danger 

 they are in great danger they are in danger of denunciation by madame
defarge i know it from her own lips i have overheard words of that
woman's to-night which have presented their danger to me in strong
colours i have lost no time and since then i have seen the spy he
confirms me he knows that a wood-sawyer living by the prison wall 
is under the control of the defarges and has been rehearsed by
madame defarge as to his having seen her he never mentioned lucie's
name making signs and signals to prisoners it is easy to foresee that
the pretence will be the common one a prison plot and that it will
involve her life and perhaps her child's and perhaps her father's for
both have been seen with her at that place don't look so horrified you
will save them all 

 heaven grant i may carton but how 

 i am going to tell you how it will depend on you and it could depend
on no better man this new denunciation will certainly not take place
until after to-morrow probably not until two or three days afterwards 
more probably a week afterwards you know it is a capital crime to
mourn for or sympathise with a victim of the guillotine she and her
father would unquestionably be guilty of this crime and this woman the
inveteracy of whose pursuit cannot be described would wait to add that
strength to her case and make herself doubly sure you follow me 

 so attentively and with so much confidence in what you say that for
the moment i lose sight touching the back of the doctor's chair even
of this distress 

 you have money and can buy the means of travelling to the seacoast
as quickly as the journey can be made your preparations have been
completed for some days to return to england early to-morrow have your
horses ready so that they may be in starting trim at two o'clock in the
afternoon 

 it shall be done 

his manner was so fervent and inspiring that mr lorry caught the
flame and was as quick as youth 

 you are a noble heart did i say we could depend upon no better man 
tell her to-night what you know of her danger as involving her child
and her father dwell upon that for she would lay her own fair head
beside her husband's cheerfully he faltered for an instant then went
on as before for the sake of her child and her father press upon her
the necessity of leaving paris with them and you at that hour tell
her that it was her husband's last arrangement tell her that more
depends upon it than she dare believe or hope you think that her
father even in this sad state will submit himself to her do you not 

 i am sure of it 

 i thought so quietly and steadily have all these arrangements made in
the courtyard here even to the taking of your own seat in the carriage 
the moment i come to you take me in and drive away 

 i understand that i wait for you under all circumstances 

 you have my certificate in your hand with the rest you know and will
reserve my place wait for nothing but to have my place occupied and
then for england 

 why then said mr lorry grasping his eager but so firm and steady
hand it does not all depend on one old man but i shall have a young
and ardent man at my side 

 by the help of heaven you shall promise me solemnly that nothing will
influence you to alter the course on which we now stand pledged to one
another 

 nothing carton 

 remember these words to-morrow change the course or delay in it for
any reason and no life can possibly be saved and many lives must
inevitably be sacrificed 

 i will remember them i hope to do my part faithfully 

 and i hope to do mine now good bye 

though he said it with a grave smile of earnestness and though he even
put the old man's hand to his lips he did not part from him then he
helped him so far to arouse the rocking figure before the dying embers 
as to get a cloak and hat put upon it and to tempt it forth to find
where the bench and work were hidden that it still moaningly besought
to have he walked on the other side of it and protected it to the
courtyard of the house where the afflicted heart so happy in
the memorable time when he had revealed his own desolate heart to
it outwatched the awful night he entered the courtyard and remained
there for a few moments alone looking up at the light in the window of
her room before he went away he breathed a blessing towards it and a
farewell 




xiii fifty-two


in the black prison of the conciergerie the doomed of the day awaited
their fate they were in number as the weeks of the year fifty-two were
to roll that afternoon on the life-tide of the city to the boundless
everlasting sea before their cells were quit of them new occupants
were appointed before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday 
the blood that was to mingle with theirs to-morrow was already set
apart 

two score and twelve were told off from the farmer-general of seventy 
whose riches could not buy his life to the seamstress of twenty whose
poverty and obscurity could not save her physical diseases engendered
in the vices and neglects of men will seize on victims of all degrees 
and the frightful moral disorder born of unspeakable suffering 
intolerable oppression and heartless indifference smote equally
without distinction 

charles darnay alone in a cell had sustained himself with no
flattering delusion since he came to it from the tribunal in every line
of the narrative he had heard he had heard his condemnation he had
fully comprehended that no personal influence could possibly save him 
that he was virtually sentenced by the millions and that units could
avail him nothing 

nevertheless it was not easy with the face of his beloved wife fresh
before him to compose his mind to what it must bear his hold on life
was strong and it was very very hard to loosen by gradual efforts
and degrees unclosed a little here it clenched the tighter there and
when he brought his strength to bear on that hand and it yielded 
this was closed again there was a hurry too in all his thoughts 
a turbulent and heated working of his heart that contended against
resignation if for a moment he did feel resigned then his wife and
child who had to live after him seemed to protest and to make it a
selfish thing 

but all this was at first before long the consideration that there
was no disgrace in the fate he must meet and that numbers went the same
road wrongfully and trod it firmly every day sprang up to stimulate
him next followed the thought that much of the future peace of mind
enjoyable by the dear ones depended on his quiet fortitude so 
by degrees he calmed into the better state when he could raise his
thoughts much higher and draw comfort down 

before it had set in dark on the night of his condemnation he had
travelled thus far on his last way being allowed to purchase the means
of writing and a light he sat down to write until such time as the
prison lamps should be extinguished 

he wrote a long letter to lucie showing her that he had known nothing
of her father's imprisonment until he had heard of it from herself 
and that he had been as ignorant as she of his father's and uncle's
responsibility for that misery until the paper had been read he had
already explained to her that his concealment from herself of the name
he had relinquished was the one condition fully intelligible now that
her father had attached to their betrothal and was the one promise he
had still exacted on the morning of their marriage he entreated her 
for her father's sake never to seek to know whether her father had
become oblivious of the existence of the paper or had had it recalled
to him for the moment or for good by the story of the tower on
that old sunday under the dear old plane-tree in the garden if he had
preserved any definite remembrance of it there could be no doubt that
he had supposed it destroyed with the bastille when he had found no
mention of it among the relics of prisoners which the populace had
discovered there and which had been described to all the world he
besought her though he added that he knew it was needless to console
her father by impressing him through every tender means she could think
of with the truth that he had done nothing for which he could justly
reproach himself but had uniformly forgotten himself for their joint
sakes next to her preservation of his own last grateful love and
blessing and her overcoming of her sorrow to devote herself to their
dear child he adjured her as they would meet in heaven to comfort her
father 

to her father himself he wrote in the same strain but he told her
father that he expressly confided his wife and child to his care and
he told him this very strongly with the hope of rousing him from any
despondency or dangerous retrospect towards which he foresaw he might be
tending 

to mr lorry he commended them all and explained his worldly affairs 
that done with many added sentences of grateful friendship and warm
attachment all was done he never thought of carton his mind was so
full of the others that he never once thought of him 

he had time to finish these letters before the lights were put out when
he lay down on his straw bed he thought he had done with this world 

but it beckoned him back in his sleep and showed itself in shining
forms free and happy back in the old house in soho though it had
nothing in it like the real house unaccountably released and light of
heart he was with lucie again and she told him it was all a dream and
he had never gone away a pause of forgetfulness and then he had even
suffered and had come back to her dead and at peace and yet there
was no difference in him another pause of oblivion and he awoke in the
sombre morning unconscious where he was or what had happened until it
flashed upon his mind this is the day of my death 

thus had he come through the hours to the day when the fifty-two heads
were to fall and now while he was composed and hoped that he could
meet the end with quiet heroism a new action began in his waking
thoughts which was very difficult to master 

he had never seen the instrument that was to terminate his life how
high it was from the ground how many steps it had where he would be
stood how he would be touched whether the touching hands would be dyed
red which way his face would be turned whether he would be the first 
or might be the last these and many similar questions in nowise
directed by his will obtruded themselves over and over again countless
times neither were they connected with fear he was conscious of no
fear rather they originated in a strange besetting desire to know what
to do when the time came a desire gigantically disproportionate to the
few swift moments to which it referred a wondering that was more like
the wondering of some other spirit within his than his own 

the hours went on as he walked to and fro and the clocks struck the
numbers he would never hear again nine gone for ever ten gone for
ever eleven gone for ever twelve coming on to pass away after a hard
contest with that eccentric action of thought which had last perplexed
him he had got the better of it he walked up and down softly
repeating their names to himself the worst of the strife was over 
he could walk up and down free from distracting fancies praying for
himself and for them 

twelve gone for ever 

he had been apprised that the final hour was three and he knew he would
be summoned some time earlier inasmuch as the tumbrils jolted heavily
and slowly through the streets therefore he resolved to keep two
before his mind as the hour and so to strengthen himself in the
interval that he might be able after that time to strengthen others 

walking regularly to and fro with his arms folded on his breast a very
different man from the prisoner who had walked to and fro at la force 
he heard one struck away from him without surprise the hour had
measured like most other hours devoutly thankful to heaven for his
recovered self-possession he thought there is but another now and
turned to walk again 

footsteps in the stone passage outside the door he stopped 

the key was put in the lock and turned before the door was opened or
as it opened a man said in a low voice in english he has never seen
me here i have kept out of his way go you in alone i wait near lose
no time 

the door was quickly opened and closed and there stood before him
face to face quiet intent upon him with the light of a smile on his
features and a cautionary finger on his lip sydney carton 

there was something so bright and remarkable in his look that for the
first moment the prisoner misdoubted him to be an apparition of his own
imagining but he spoke and it was his voice he took the prisoner's
hand and it was his real grasp 

 of all the people upon earth you least expected to see me he said 

 i could not believe it to be you i can scarcely believe it now you
are not the apprehension came suddenly into his mind a prisoner 

 no i am accidentally possessed of a power over one of the keepers
here and in virtue of it i stand before you i come from her your
wife dear darnay 

the prisoner wrung his hand 

 i bring you a request from her 

 what is it 

 a most earnest pressing and emphatic entreaty addressed to you
in the most pathetic tones of the voice so dear to you that you well
remember 

the prisoner turned his face partly aside 

 you have no time to ask me why i bring it or what it means i have
no time to tell you you must comply with it take off those boots you
wear and draw on these of mine 

there was a chair against the wall of the cell behind the prisoner 
carton pressing forward had already with the speed of lightning got
him down into it and stood over him barefoot 

 draw on these boots of mine put your hands to them put your will to
them quick 

 carton there is no escaping from this place it never can be done you
will only die with me it is madness 

 it would be madness if i asked you to escape but do i when i ask you
to pass out at that door tell me it is madness and remain here change
that cravat for this of mine that coat for this of mine while you do
it let me take this ribbon from your hair and shake out your hair like
this of mine 

with wonderful quickness and with a strength both of will and action 
that appeared quite supernatural he forced all these changes upon him 
the prisoner was like a young child in his hands 

 carton dear carton it is madness it cannot be accomplished it never
can be done it has been attempted and has always failed i implore you
not to add your death to the bitterness of mine 

 do i ask you my dear darnay to pass the door when i ask that 
refuse there are pen and ink and paper on this table is your hand
steady enough to write 

 it was when you came in 

 steady it again and write what i shall dictate quick friend quick 

pressing his hand to his bewildered head darnay sat down at the table 
carton with his right hand in his breast stood close beside him 

 write exactly as i speak 

 to whom do i address it 

 to no one carton still had his hand in his breast 

 do i date it 

 no 

the prisoner looked up at each question carton standing over him with
his hand in his breast looked down 

 'if you remember ' said carton dictating 'the words that passed
between us long ago you will readily comprehend this when you see it 
you do remember them i know it is not in your nature to forget them ' 

he was drawing his hand from his breast the prisoner chancing to look
up in his hurried wonder as he wrote the hand stopped closing upon
something 

 have you written 'forget them' carton asked 

 i have is that a weapon in your hand 

 no i am not armed 

 what is it in your hand 

 you shall know directly write on there are but a few words more he
dictated again 'i am thankful that the time has come when i can prove
them that i do so is no subject for regret or grief ' as he said these
words with his eyes fixed on the writer his hand slowly and softly
moved down close to the writer's face 

the pen dropped from darnay's fingers on the table and he looked about
him vacantly 

 what vapour is that he asked 

 vapour 

 something that crossed me 

 i am conscious of nothing there can be nothing here take up the pen
and finish hurry hurry 

as if his memory were impaired or his faculties disordered the
prisoner made an effort to rally his attention as he looked at carton
with clouded eyes and with an altered manner of breathing carton his
hand again in his breast looked steadily at him 

 hurry hurry 

the prisoner bent over the paper once more 

 'if it had been otherwise ' carton's hand was again watchfully and
softly stealing down 'i never should have used the longer opportunity 
if it had been otherwise ' the hand was at the prisoner's face 'i
should but have had so much the more to answer for if it had been
otherwise ' carton looked at the pen and saw it was trailing off into
unintelligible signs 

carton's hand moved back to his breast no more the prisoner sprang up
with a reproachful look but carton's hand was close and firm at his
nostrils and carton's left arm caught him round the waist for a few
seconds he faintly struggled with the man who had come to lay down his
life for him but within a minute or so he was stretched insensible on
the ground 

quickly but with hands as true to the purpose as his heart was carton
dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside combed back
his hair and tied it with the ribbon the prisoner had worn then he
softly called enter there come in and the spy presented himself 

 you see said carton looking up as he kneeled on one knee beside the
insensible figure putting the paper in the breast is your hazard very
great 

 mr carton the spy answered with a timid snap of his fingers my
hazard is not that in the thick of business here if you are true to
the whole of your bargain 

 don't fear me i will be true to the death 

 you must be mr carton if the tale of fifty-two is to be right being
made right by you in that dress i shall have no fear 

 have no fear i shall soon be out of the way of harming you and the
rest will soon be far from here please god now get assistance and
take me to the coach 

 you said the spy nervously 

 him man with whom i have exchanged you go out at the gate by which
you brought me in 

 of course 

 i was weak and faint when you brought me in and i am fainter now you
take me out the parting interview has overpowered me such a thing has
happened here often and too often your life is in your own hands 
quick call assistance 

 you swear not to betray me said the trembling spy as he paused for a
last moment 

 man man returned carton stamping his foot have i sworn by no
solemn vow already to go through with this that you waste the precious
moments now take him yourself to the courtyard you know of place
him yourself in the carriage show him yourself to mr lorry tell him
yourself to give him no restorative but air and to remember my words of
last night and his promise of last night and drive away 

the spy withdrew and carton seated himself at the table resting his
forehead on his hands the spy returned immediately with two men 

 how then said one of them contemplating the fallen figure so
afflicted to find that his friend has drawn a prize in the lottery of
sainte guillotine 

 a good patriot said the other could hardly have been more afflicted
if the aristocrat had drawn a blank 

they raised the unconscious figure placed it on a litter they had
brought to the door and bent to carry it away 

 the time is short evremonde said the spy in a warning voice 

 i know it well answered carton be careful of my friend i entreat
you and leave me 

 come then my children said barsad lift him and come away 

the door closed and carton was left alone straining his powers of
listening to the utmost he listened for any sound that might denote
suspicion or alarm there was none keys turned doors clashed 
footsteps passed along distant passages no cry was raised or hurry
made that seemed unusual breathing more freely in a little while he
sat down at the table and listened again until the clock struck two 

sounds that he was not afraid of for he divined their meaning then
began to be audible several doors were opened in succession and
finally his own a gaoler with a list in his hand looked in merely
saying follow me evremonde and he followed into a large dark room 
at a distance it was a dark winter day and what with the shadows
within and what with the shadows without he could but dimly discern
the others who were brought there to have their arms bound some were
standing some seated some were lamenting and in restless motion 
but these were few the great majority were silent and still looking
fixedly at the ground 

as he stood by the wall in a dim corner while some of the fifty-two
were brought in after him one man stopped in passing to embrace him 
as having a knowledge of him it thrilled him with a great dread of
discovery but the man went on a very few moments after that a young
woman with a slight girlish form a sweet spare face in which there was
no vestige of colour and large widely opened patient eyes rose from
the seat where he had observed her sitting and came to speak to him 

 citizen evremonde she said touching him with her cold hand i am a
poor little seamstress who was with you in la force 

he murmured for answer true i forget what you were accused of 

 plots though the just heaven knows that i am innocent of any is it
likely who would think of plotting with a poor little weak creature
like me 

the forlorn smile with which she said it so touched him that tears
started from his eyes 

 i am not afraid to die citizen evremonde but i have done nothing i
am not unwilling to die if the republic which is to do so much good
to us poor will profit by my death but i do not know how that can be 
citizen evremonde such a poor weak little creature 

as the last thing on earth that his heart was to warm and soften to it
warmed and softened to this pitiable girl 

 i heard you were released citizen evremonde i hoped it was true 

 it was but i was again taken and condemned 

 if i may ride with you citizen evremonde will you let me hold your
hand i am not afraid but i am little and weak and it will give me
more courage 

as the patient eyes were lifted to his face he saw a sudden doubt in
them and then astonishment he pressed the work-worn hunger-worn young
fingers and touched his lips 

 are you dying for him she whispered 

 and his wife and child hush yes 

 o you will let me hold your brave hand stranger 

 hush yes my poor sister to the last 

 

the same shadows that are falling on the prison are falling in that
same hour of the early afternoon on the barrier with the crowd about
it when a coach going out of paris drives up to be examined 

 who goes here whom have we within papers 

the papers are handed out and read 

 alexandre manette physician french which is he 

this is he this helpless inarticulately murmuring wandering old man
pointed out 

 apparently the citizen-doctor is not in his right mind the
revolution-fever will have been too much for him 

greatly too much for him 

 hah many suffer with it lucie his daughter french which is she 

this is she 

 apparently it must be lucie the wife of evremonde is it not 

it is 

 hah evremonde has an assignation elsewhere lucie her child english 
this is she 

she and no other 

 kiss me child of evremonde now thou hast kissed a good republican 
something new in thy family remember it sydney carton advocate 
english which is he 

he lies here in this corner of the carriage he too is pointed out 

 apparently the english advocate is in a swoon 

it is hoped he will recover in the fresher air it is represented that
he is not in strong health and has separated sadly from a friend who is
under the displeasure of the republic 

 is that all it is not a great deal that many are under the
displeasure of the republic and must look out at the little window 
jarvis lorry banker english which is he 

 i am he necessarily being the last 

it is jarvis lorry who has replied to all the previous questions it
is jarvis lorry who has alighted and stands with his hand on the coach
door replying to a group of officials they leisurely walk round the
carriage and leisurely mount the box to look at what little luggage it
carries on the roof the country-people hanging about press nearer to
the coach doors and greedily stare in a little child carried by its
mother has its short arm held out for it that it may touch the wife of
an aristocrat who has gone to the guillotine 

 behold your papers jarvis lorry countersigned 

 one can depart citizen 

 one can depart forward my postilions a good journey 

 i salute you citizens and the first danger passed 

these are again the words of jarvis lorry as he clasps his hands and
looks upward there is terror in the carriage there is weeping there
is the heavy breathing of the insensible traveller 

 are we not going too slowly can they not be induced to go faster 
 asks lucie clinging to the old man 

 it would seem like flight my darling i must not urge them too much 
it would rouse suspicion 

 look back look back and see if we are pursued 

 the road is clear my dearest so far we are not pursued 

houses in twos and threes pass by us solitary farms ruinous buildings 
dye-works tanneries and the like open country avenues of leafless
trees the hard uneven pavement is under us the soft deep mud is on
either side sometimes we strike into the skirting mud to avoid the
stones that clatter us and shake us sometimes we stick in ruts and
sloughs there the agony of our impatience is then so great that in our
wild alarm and hurry we are for getting out and running hiding doing
anything but stopping 

out of the open country in again among ruinous buildings solitary
farms dye-works tanneries and the like cottages in twos and threes 
avenues of leafless trees have these men deceived us and taken us back
by another road is not this the same place twice over thank heaven 
no a village look back look back and see if we are pursued hush 
the posting-house 

leisurely our four horses are taken out leisurely the coach stands in
the little street bereft of horses and with no likelihood upon it
of ever moving again leisurely the new horses come into visible
existence one by one leisurely the new postilions follow sucking and
plaiting the lashes of their whips leisurely the old postilions count
their money make wrong additions and arrive at dissatisfied results 
all the time our overfraught hearts are beating at a rate that would
far outstrip the fastest gallop of the fastest horses ever foaled 

at length the new postilions are in their saddles and the old are left
behind we are through the village up the hill and down the hill and
on the low watery grounds suddenly the postilions exchange speech with
animated gesticulation and the horses are pulled up almost on their
haunches we are pursued 

 ho within the carriage there speak then 

 what is it asks mr lorry looking out at window 

 how many did they say 

 i do not understand you 

 at the last post how many to the guillotine to-day 

 fifty-two 

 i said so a brave number my fellow-citizen here would have it
forty-two ten more heads are worth having the guillotine goes
handsomely i love it hi forward whoop 

the night comes on dark he moves more he is beginning to revive and
to speak intelligibly he thinks they are still together he asks him 
by his name what he has in his hand o pity us kind heaven and help
us look out look out and see if we are pursued 

the wind is rushing after us and the clouds are flying after us and
the moon is plunging after us and the whole wild night is in pursuit of
us but so far we are pursued by nothing else 




xiv the knitting done


in that same juncture of time when the fifty-two awaited their fate
madame defarge held darkly ominous council with the vengeance and
jacques three of the revolutionary jury not in the wine-shop did madame
defarge confer with these ministers but in the shed of the wood-sawyer 
erst a mender of roads the sawyer himself did not participate in the
conference but abided at a little distance like an outer satellite who
was not to speak until required or to offer an opinion until invited 

 but our defarge said jacques three is undoubtedly a good
republican eh 

 there is no better the voluble vengeance protested in her shrill
notes in france 

 peace little vengeance said madame defarge laying her hand with
a slight frown on her lieutenant's lips hear me speak my husband 
fellow-citizen is a good republican and a bold man he has deserved
well of the republic and possesses its confidence but my husband has
his weaknesses and he is so weak as to relent towards this doctor 

 it is a great pity croaked jacques three dubiously shaking his head 
with his cruel fingers at his hungry mouth it is not quite like a good
citizen it is a thing to regret 

 see you said madame i care nothing for this doctor i he may wear
his head or lose it for any interest i have in him it is all one to
me but the evremonde people are to be exterminated and the wife and
child must follow the husband and father 

 she has a fine head for it croaked jacques three i have seen blue
eyes and golden hair there and they looked charming when samson held
them up ogre that he was he spoke like an epicure 

madame defarge cast down her eyes and reflected a little 

 the child also observed jacques three with a meditative enjoyment
of his words has golden hair and blue eyes and we seldom have a child
there it is a pretty sight 

 in a word said madame defarge coming out of her short abstraction 
 i cannot trust my husband in this matter not only do i feel since
last night that i dare not confide to him the details of my projects 
but also i feel that if i delay there is danger of his giving warning 
and then they might escape 

 that must never be croaked jacques three no one must escape we
have not half enough as it is we ought to have six score a day 

 in a word madame defarge went on my husband has not my reason for
pursuing this family to annihilation and i have not his reason for
regarding this doctor with any sensibility i must act for myself 
therefore come hither little citizen 

the wood-sawyer who held her in the respect and himself in the
submission of mortal fear advanced with his hand to his red cap 

 touching those signals little citizen said madame defarge sternly 
 that she made to the prisoners you are ready to bear witness to them
this very day 

 ay ay why not cried the sawyer every day in all weathers from
two to four always signalling sometimes with the little one sometimes
without i know what i know i have seen with my eyes 

he made all manner of gestures while he spoke as if in incidental
imitation of some few of the great diversity of signals that he had
never seen 

 clearly plots said jacques three transparently 

 there is no doubt of the jury inquired madame defarge letting her
eyes turn to him with a gloomy smile 

 rely upon the patriotic jury dear citizeness i answer for my
fellow-jurymen 

 now let me see said madame defarge pondering again yet once more 
can i spare this doctor to my husband i have no feeling either way can
i spare him 

 he would count as one head observed jacques three in a low voice 
 we really have not heads enough it would be a pity i think 

 he was signalling with her when i saw her argued madame defarge i
cannot speak of one without the other and i must not be silent and
trust the case wholly to him this little citizen here for i am not a
bad witness 

the vengeance and jacques three vied with each other in their fervent
protestations that she was the most admirable and marvellous of
witnesses the little citizen not to be outdone declared her to be a
celestial witness 

 he must take his chance said madame defarge no i cannot spare
him you are engaged at three o'clock you are going to see the batch of
to-day executed you 

the question was addressed to the wood-sawyer who hurriedly replied in
the affirmative seizing the occasion to add that he was the most ardent
of republicans and that he would be in effect the most desolate of
republicans if anything prevented him from enjoying the pleasure of
smoking his afternoon pipe in the contemplation of the droll national
barber he was so very demonstrative herein that he might have been
suspected perhaps was by the dark eyes that looked contemptuously at
him out of madame defarge's head of having his small individual fears
for his own personal safety every hour in the day 

 i said madame am equally engaged at the same place after it is
over say at eight to-night come you to me in saint antoine and we
will give information against these people at my section 

the wood-sawyer said he would be proud and flattered to attend the
citizeness the citizeness looking at him he became embarrassed evaded
her glance as a small dog would have done retreated among his wood and
hid his confusion over the handle of his saw 

madame defarge beckoned the juryman and the vengeance a little nearer to
the door and there expounded her further views to them thus 

 she will now be at home awaiting the moment of his death she will
be mourning and grieving she will be in a state of mind to impeach the
justice of the republic she will be full of sympathy with its enemies 
i will go to her 

 what an admirable woman what an adorable woman exclaimed jacques
three rapturously ah my cherished cried the vengeance and
embraced her 

 take you my knitting said madame defarge placing it in her
lieutenant's hands and have it ready for me in my usual seat keep
me my usual chair go you there straight for there will probably be a
greater concourse than usual to-day 

 i willingly obey the orders of my chief said the vengeance with
alacrity and kissing her cheek you will not be late 

 i shall be there before the commencement 

 and before the tumbrils arrive be sure you are there my soul said
the vengeance calling after her for she had already turned into the
street before the tumbrils arrive 

madame defarge slightly waved her hand to imply that she heard and
might be relied upon to arrive in good time and so went through the
mud and round the corner of the prison wall the vengeance and the
juryman looking after her as she walked away were highly appreciative
of her fine figure and her superb moral endowments 

there were many women at that time upon whom the time laid a dreadfully
disfiguring hand but there was not one among them more to be dreaded
than this ruthless woman now taking her way along the streets of a
strong and fearless character of shrewd sense and readiness of great
determination of that kind of beauty which not only seems to impart
to its possessor firmness and animosity but to strike into others an
instinctive recognition of those qualities the troubled time would have
heaved her up under any circumstances but imbued from her childhood
with a brooding sense of wrong and an inveterate hatred of a class 
opportunity had developed her into a tigress she was absolutely without
pity if she had ever had the virtue in her it had quite gone out of
her 

it was nothing to her that an innocent man was to die for the sins of
his forefathers she saw not him but them it was nothing to her that
his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan that was
insufficient punishment because they were her natural enemies and
her prey and as such had no right to live to appeal to her was made
hopeless by her having no sense of pity even for herself if she had
been laid low in the streets in any of the many encounters in which
she had been engaged she would not have pitied herself nor if she had
been ordered to the axe to-morrow would she have gone to it with any
softer feeling than a fierce desire to change places with the man who
sent her there 

such a heart madame defarge carried under her rough robe carelessly
worn it was a becoming robe enough in a certain weird way and her
dark hair looked rich under her coarse red cap lying hidden in her
bosom was a loaded pistol lying hidden at her waist was a sharpened
dagger thus accoutred and walking with the confident tread of such
a character and with the supple freedom of a woman who had habitually
walked in her girlhood bare-foot and bare-legged on the brown
sea-sand madame defarge took her way along the streets 

now when the journey of the travelling coach at that very moment
waiting for the completion of its load had been planned out last night 
the difficulty of taking miss pross in it had much engaged mr lorry's
attention it was not merely desirable to avoid overloading the coach 
but it was of the highest importance that the time occupied in examining
it and its passengers should be reduced to the utmost since their
escape might depend on the saving of only a few seconds here and there 
finally he had proposed after anxious consideration that miss pross
and jerry who were at liberty to leave the city should leave it at
three o'clock in the lightest-wheeled conveyance known to that period 
unencumbered with luggage they would soon overtake the coach and 
passing it and preceding it on the road would order its horses in
advance and greatly facilitate its progress during the precious hours
of the night when delay was the most to be dreaded 

seeing in this arrangement the hope of rendering real service in that
pressing emergency miss pross hailed it with joy she and jerry had
beheld the coach start had known who it was that solomon brought had
passed some ten minutes in tortures of suspense and were now concluding
their arrangements to follow the coach even as madame defarge 
taking her way through the streets now drew nearer and nearer to the
else-deserted lodging in which they held their consultation 

 now what do you think mr cruncher said miss pross whose agitation
was so great that she could hardly speak or stand or move or live 
 what do you think of our not starting from this courtyard another
carriage having already gone from here to-day it might awaken
suspicion 

 my opinion miss returned mr cruncher is as you're right likewise
wot i'll stand by you right or wrong 

 i am so distracted with fear and hope for our precious creatures said
miss pross wildly crying that i am incapable of forming any plan are
 you capable of forming any plan my dear good mr cruncher 

 respectin' a future spear o' life miss returned mr cruncher i
hope so respectin' any present use o' this here blessed old head o'
mine i think not would you do me the favour miss to take notice o'
two promises and wows wot it is my wishes fur to record in this here
crisis 

 oh for gracious sake cried miss pross still wildly crying record
them at once and get them out of the way like an excellent man 

 first said mr cruncher who was all in a tremble and who spoke with
an ashy and solemn visage them poor things well out o' this never no
more will i do it never no more 

 i am quite sure mr cruncher returned miss pross that you
never will do it again whatever it is and i beg you not to think it
necessary to mention more particularly what it is 

 no miss returned jerry it shall not be named to you second them
poor things well out o' this and never no more will i interfere with
mrs cruncher's flopping never no more 

 whatever housekeeping arrangement that may be said miss pross 
striving to dry her eyes and compose herself i have no doubt it
is best that mrs cruncher should have it entirely under her own
superintendence o my poor darlings 

 i go so far as to say miss moreover proceeded mr cruncher with a
most alarming tendency to hold forth as from a pulpit and let my words
be took down and took to mrs cruncher through yourself that wot my
opinions respectin' flopping has undergone a change and that wot i only
hope with all my heart as mrs cruncher may be a flopping at the present
time 

 there there there i hope she is my dear man cried the distracted
miss pross and i hope she finds it answering her expectations 

 forbid it proceeded mr cruncher with additional solemnity 
additional slowness and additional tendency to hold forth and hold
out as anything wot i have ever said or done should be wisited on my
earnest wishes for them poor creeturs now forbid it as we shouldn't all
flop if it was anyways conwenient to get 'em out o' this here dismal
risk forbid it miss wot i say for- bid it this was mr cruncher's
conclusion after a protracted but vain endeavour to find a better one 

and still madame defarge pursuing her way along the streets came
nearer and nearer 

 if we ever get back to our native land said miss pross you may rely
upon my telling mrs cruncher as much as i may be able to remember and
understand of what you have so impressively said and at all events
you may be sure that i shall bear witness to your being thoroughly in
earnest at this dreadful time now pray let us think my esteemed mr 
cruncher let us think 

still madame defarge pursuing her way along the streets came nearer
and nearer 

 if you were to go before said miss pross and stop the vehicle and
horses from coming here and were to wait somewhere for me wouldn't
that be best 

mr cruncher thought it might be best 

 where could you wait for me asked miss pross 

mr cruncher was so bewildered that he could think of no locality but
temple bar alas temple bar was hundreds of miles away and madame
defarge was drawing very near indeed 

 by the cathedral door said miss pross would it be much out of
the way to take me in near the great cathedral door between the two
towers 

 no miss answered mr cruncher 

 then like the best of men said miss pross go to the posting-house
straight and make that change 

 i am doubtful said mr cruncher hesitating and shaking his head 
 about leaving of you you see we don't know what may happen 

 heaven knows we don't returned miss pross but have no fear for me 
take me in at the cathedral at three o'clock or as near it as you can 
and i am sure it will be better than our going from here i feel certain
of it there bless you mr cruncher think-not of me but of the lives
that may depend on both of us 

this exordium and miss pross's two hands in quite agonised entreaty
clasping his decided mr cruncher with an encouraging nod or two he
immediately went out to alter the arrangements and left her by herself
to follow as she had proposed 

the having originated a precaution which was already in course of
execution was a great relief to miss pross the necessity of composing
her appearance so that it should attract no special notice in the
streets was another relief she looked at her watch and it was twenty
minutes past two she had no time to lose but must get ready at once 

afraid in her extreme perturbation of the loneliness of the deserted
rooms and of half-imagined faces peeping from behind every open door
in them miss pross got a basin of cold water and began laving her eyes 
which were swollen and red haunted by her feverish apprehensions she
could not bear to have her sight obscured for a minute at a time by the
dripping water but constantly paused and looked round to see that there
was no one watching her in one of those pauses she recoiled and cried
out for she saw a figure standing in the room 

the basin fell to the ground broken and the water flowed to the feet of
madame defarge by strange stern ways and through much staining blood 
those feet had come to meet that water 

madame defarge looked coldly at her and said the wife of evremonde 
where is she 

it flashed upon miss pross's mind that the doors were all standing open 
and would suggest the flight her first act was to shut them there were
four in the room and she shut them all she then placed herself before
the door of the chamber which lucie had occupied 

madame defarge's dark eyes followed her through this rapid movement 
and rested on her when it was finished miss pross had nothing beautiful
about her years had not tamed the wildness or softened the grimness 
of her appearance but she too was a determined woman in her different
way and she measured madame defarge with her eyes every inch 

 you might from your appearance be the wife of lucifer said miss
pross in her breathing nevertheless you shall not get the better of
me i am an englishwoman 

madame defarge looked at her scornfully but still with something of
miss pross's own perception that they two were at bay she saw a tight 
hard wiry woman before her as mr lorry had seen in the same figure a
woman with a strong hand in the years gone by she knew full well that
miss pross was the family's devoted friend miss pross knew full well
that madame defarge was the family's malevolent enemy 

 on my way yonder said madame defarge with a slight movement of
her hand towards the fatal spot where they reserve my chair and my
knitting for me i am come to make my compliments to her in passing i
wish to see her 

 i know that your intentions are evil said miss pross and you may
depend upon it i'll hold my own against them 

each spoke in her own language neither understood the other's words 
both were very watchful and intent to deduce from look and manner what
the unintelligible words meant 

 it will do her no good to keep herself concealed from me at this
moment said madame defarge good patriots will know what that means 
let me see her go tell her that i wish to see her do you hear 

 if those eyes of yours were bed-winches returned miss pross and i
was an english four-poster they shouldn't loose a splinter of me no 
you wicked foreign woman i am your match 

madame defarge was not likely to follow these idiomatic remarks in
detail but she so far understood them as to perceive that she was set
at naught 

 woman imbecile and pig-like said madame defarge frowning i take no
answer from you i demand to see her either tell her that i demand
to see her or stand out of the way of the door and let me go to her 
 this with an angry explanatory wave of her right arm 

 i little thought said miss pross that i should ever want to
understand your nonsensical language but i would give all i have 
except the clothes i wear to know whether you suspect the truth or any
part of it 

neither of them for a single moment released the other's eyes madame
defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood when miss pross
first became aware of her but she now advanced one step 

 i am a briton said miss pross i am desperate i don't care an
english twopence for myself i know that the longer i keep you here the
greater hope there is for my ladybird i'll not leave a handful of that
dark hair upon your head if you lay a finger on me 

thus miss pross with a shake of her head and a flash of her eyes
between every rapid sentence and every rapid sentence a whole breath 
thus miss pross who had never struck a blow in her life 

but her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought the
irrepressible tears into her eyes this was a courage that madame
defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for weakness ha ha she
laughed you poor wretch what are you worth i address myself to that
doctor then she raised her voice and called out citizen doctor wife
of evremonde child of evremonde any person but this miserable fool 
answer the citizeness defarge 

perhaps the following silence perhaps some latent disclosure in the
expression of miss pross's face perhaps a sudden misgiving apart from
either suggestion whispered to madame defarge that they were gone 
three of the doors she opened swiftly and looked in 

 those rooms are all in disorder there has been hurried packing there
are odds and ends upon the ground there is no one in that room behind
you let me look 

 never said miss pross who understood the request as perfectly as
madame defarge understood the answer 

 if they are not in that room they are gone and can be pursued and
brought back said madame defarge to herself 

 as long as you don't know whether they are in that room or not you are
uncertain what to do said miss pross to herself and you shall not
know that if i can prevent your knowing it and know that or not know
that you shall not leave here while i can hold you 

 i have been in the streets from the first nothing has stopped me 
i will tear you to pieces but i will have you from that door said
madame defarge 

 we are alone at the top of a high house in a solitary courtyard we are
not likely to be heard and i pray for bodily strength to keep you here 
while every minute you are here is worth a hundred thousand guineas to
my darling said miss pross 

madame defarge made at the door miss pross on the instinct of the
moment seized her round the waist in both her arms and held her tight 
it was in vain for madame defarge to struggle and to strike miss pross 
with the vigorous tenacity of love always so much stronger than hate 
clasped her tight and even lifted her from the floor in the struggle
that they had the two hands of madame defarge buffeted and tore her
face but miss pross with her head down held her round the waist and
clung to her with more than the hold of a drowning woman 

soon madame defarge's hands ceased to strike and felt at her encircled
waist it is under my arm said miss pross in smothered tones you
shall not draw it i am stronger than you i bless heaven for it i hold
you till one or other of us faints or dies 

madame defarge's hands were at her bosom miss pross looked up saw
what it was struck at it struck out a flash and a crash and stood
alone blinded with smoke 

all this was in a second as the smoke cleared leaving an awful
stillness it passed out on the air like the soul of the furious woman
whose body lay lifeless on the ground 

in the first fright and horror of her situation miss pross passed the
body as far from it as she could and ran down the stairs to call for
fruitless help happily she bethought herself of the consequences of
what she did in time to check herself and go back it was dreadful to
go in at the door again but she did go in and even went near it to
get the bonnet and other things that she must wear these she put on 
out on the staircase first shutting and locking the door and taking
away the key she then sat down on the stairs a few moments to breathe
and to cry and then got up and hurried away 

by good fortune she had a veil on her bonnet or she could hardly have
gone along the streets without being stopped by good fortune too she
was naturally so peculiar in appearance as not to show disfigurement
like any other woman she needed both advantages for the marks of
gripping fingers were deep in her face and her hair was torn and her
dress hastily composed with unsteady hands was clutched and dragged a
hundred ways 

in crossing the bridge she dropped the door key in the river arriving
at the cathedral some few minutes before her escort and waiting there 
she thought what if the key were already taken in a net what if
it were identified what if the door were opened and the remains
discovered what if she were stopped at the gate sent to prison and
charged with murder in the midst of these fluttering thoughts the
escort appeared took her in and took her away 

 is there any noise in the streets she asked him 

 the usual noises mr cruncher replied and looked surprised by the
question and by her aspect 

 i don't hear you said miss pross what do you say 

it was in vain for mr cruncher to repeat what he said miss pross could
not hear him so i'll nod my head thought mr cruncher amazed at
all events she'll see that and she did 

 is there any noise in the streets now asked miss pross again 
presently 

again mr cruncher nodded his head 

 i don't hear it 

 gone deaf in an hour said mr cruncher ruminating with his mind
much disturbed wot's come to her 

 i feel said miss pross as if there had been a flash and a crash 
and that crash was the last thing i should ever hear in this life 

 blest if she ain't in a queer condition said mr cruncher more and
more disturbed wot can she have been a takin' to keep her courage up 
hark there's the roll of them dreadful carts you can hear that miss 

 i can hear said miss pross seeing that he spoke to her nothing o 
my good man there was first a great crash and then a great stillness 
and that stillness seems to be fixed and unchangeable never to be
broken any more as long as my life lasts 

 if she don't hear the roll of those dreadful carts now very nigh their
journey's end said mr cruncher glancing over his shoulder it's my
opinion that indeed she never will hear anything else in this world 

and indeed she never did 




xv the footsteps die out for ever


along the paris streets the death-carts rumble hollow and harsh six
tumbrils carry the day's wine to la guillotine all the devouring and
insatiate monsters imagined since imagination could record itself 
are fused in the one realisation guillotine and yet there is not in
france with its rich variety of soil and climate a blade a leaf 
a root a sprig a peppercorn which will grow to maturity under
conditions more certain than those that have produced this horror crush
humanity out of shape once more under similar hammers and it will
twist itself into the same tortured forms sow the same seed of
rapacious license and oppression over again and it will surely yield
the same fruit according to its kind 

six tumbrils roll along the streets change these back again to what
they were thou powerful enchanter time and they shall be seen to be
the carriages of absolute monarchs the equipages of feudal nobles the
toilettes of flaring jezebels the churches that are not my father's
house but dens of thieves the huts of millions of starving peasants 
no the great magician who majestically works out the appointed order
of the creator never reverses his transformations if thou be changed
into this shape by the will of god say the seers to the enchanted in
the wise arabian stories then remain so but if thou wear this
form through mere passing conjuration then resume thy former aspect 
 changeless and hopeless the tumbrils roll along 

as the sombre wheels of the six carts go round they seem to plough up
a long crooked furrow among the populace in the streets ridges of faces
are thrown to this side and to that and the ploughs go steadily onward 
so used are the regular inhabitants of the houses to the spectacle that
in many windows there are no people and in some the occupation of the
hands is not so much as suspended while the eyes survey the faces in
the tumbrils here and there the inmate has visitors to see the sight 
then he points his finger with something of the complacency of a
curator or authorised exponent to this cart and to this and seems to
tell who sat here yesterday and who there the day before 

of the riders in the tumbrils some observe these things and all
things on their last roadside with an impassive stare others with
a lingering interest in the ways of life and men some seated with
drooping heads are sunk in silent despair again there are some so
heedful of their looks that they cast upon the multitude such glances as
they have seen in theatres and in pictures several close their eyes 
and think or try to get their straying thoughts together only one and
he a miserable creature of a crazed aspect is so shattered and made
drunk by horror that he sings and tries to dance not one of the whole
number appeals by look or gesture to the pity of the people 

there is a guard of sundry horsemen riding abreast of the tumbrils 
and faces are often turned up to some of them and they are asked some
question it would seem to be always the same question for it is
always followed by a press of people towards the third cart the
horsemen abreast of that cart frequently point out one man in it with
their swords the leading curiosity is to know which is he he stands
at the back of the tumbril with his head bent down to converse with a
mere girl who sits on the side of the cart and holds his hand he has
no curiosity or care for the scene about him and always speaks to the
girl here and there in the long street of st honore cries are raised
against him if they move him at all it is only to a quiet smile as he
shakes his hair a little more loosely about his face he cannot easily
touch his face his arms being bound 

on the steps of a church awaiting the coming-up of the tumbrils stands
the spy and prison-sheep he looks into the first of them not there 
he looks into the second not there he already asks himself has he
sacrificed me when his face clears as he looks into the third 

 which is evremonde says a man behind him 

 that at the back there 

 with his hand in the girl's 

 yes 

the man cries down evremonde to the guillotine all aristocrats 
down evremonde 

 hush hush the spy entreats him timidly 

 and why not citizen 

 he is going to pay the forfeit it will be paid in five minutes more 
let him be at peace 

but the man continuing to exclaim down evremonde the face of
evremonde is for a moment turned towards him evremonde then sees the
spy and looks attentively at him and goes his way 

the clocks are on the stroke of three and the furrow ploughed among the
populace is turning round to come on into the place of execution and
end the ridges thrown to this side and to that now crumble in and
close behind the last plough as it passes on for all are following
to the guillotine in front of it seated in chairs as in a garden of
public diversion are a number of women busily knitting on one of the
fore-most chairs stands the vengeance looking about for her friend 

 therese she cries in her shrill tones who has seen her therese
defarge 

 she never missed before says a knitting-woman of the sisterhood 

 no nor will she miss now cries the vengeance petulantly therese 

 louder the woman recommends 

ay louder vengeance much louder and still she will scarcely hear
thee louder yet vengeance with a little oath or so added and yet
it will hardly bring her send other women up and down to seek her 
lingering somewhere and yet although the messengers have done dread
deeds it is questionable whether of their own wills they will go far
enough to find her 

 bad fortune cries the vengeance stamping her foot in the chair and
here are the tumbrils and evremonde will be despatched in a wink and
she not here see her knitting in my hand and her empty chair ready for
her i cry with vexation and disappointment 

as the vengeance descends from her elevation to do it the tumbrils
begin to discharge their loads the ministers of sainte guillotine are
robed and ready crash a head is held up and the knitting-women who
scarcely lifted their eyes to look at it a moment ago when it could
think and speak count one 

the second tumbril empties and moves on the third comes up crash and
the knitting-women never faltering or pausing in their work count two 

the supposed evremonde descends and the seamstress is lifted out next
after him he has not relinquished her patient hand in getting out but
still holds it as he promised he gently places her with her back to the
crashing engine that constantly whirrs up and falls and she looks into
his face and thanks him 

 but for you dear stranger i should not be so composed for i am
naturally a poor little thing faint of heart nor should i have been
able to raise my thoughts to him who was put to death that we might
have hope and comfort here to-day i think you were sent to me by
heaven 

 or you to me says sydney carton keep your eyes upon me dear child 
and mind no other object 

 i mind nothing while i hold your hand i shall mind nothing when i let
it go if they are rapid 

 they will be rapid fear not 

the two stand in the fast-thinning throng of victims but they speak as
if they were alone eye to eye voice to voice hand to hand heart to
heart these two children of the universal mother else so wide apart
and differing have come together on the dark highway to repair home
together and to rest in her bosom 

 brave and generous friend will you let me ask you one last question i
am very ignorant and it troubles me just a little 

 tell me what it is 

 i have a cousin an only relative and an orphan like myself whom i
love very dearly she is five years younger than i and she lives in a
farmer's house in the south country poverty parted us and she knows
nothing of my fate for i cannot write and if i could how should i
tell her it is better as it is 

 yes yes better as it is 

 what i have been thinking as we came along and what i am still
thinking now as i look into your kind strong face which gives me so
much support is this if the republic really does good to the poor 
and they come to be less hungry and in all ways to suffer less she may
live a long time she may even live to be old 

 what then my gentle sister 

 do you think the uncomplaining eyes in which there is so much
endurance fill with tears and the lips part a little more and tremble 
 that it will seem long to me while i wait for her in the better land
where i trust both you and i will be mercifully sheltered 

 it cannot be my child there is no time there and no trouble there 

 you comfort me so much i am so ignorant am i to kiss you now is the
moment come 

 yes 

she kisses his lips he kisses hers they solemnly bless each other 
the spare hand does not tremble as he releases it nothing worse than
a sweet bright constancy is in the patient face she goes next before
him is gone the knitting-women count twenty-two 

 i am the resurrection and the life saith the lord he that believeth
in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die 

the murmuring of many voices the upturning of many faces the pressing
on of many footsteps in the outskirts of the crowd so that it swells
forward in a mass like one great heave of water all flashes away 
twenty-three 

 

they said of him about the city that night that it was the
peacefullest man's face ever beheld there many added that he looked
sublime and prophetic 

one of the most remarkable sufferers by the same axe a woman had asked
at the foot of the same scaffold not long before to be allowed to
write down the thoughts that were inspiring her if he had given any
utterance to his and they were prophetic they would have been these 

 i see barsad and cly defarge the vengeance the juryman the judge 
long ranks of the new oppressors who have risen on the destruction of
the old perishing by this retributive instrument before it shall cease
out of its present use i see a beautiful city and a brilliant people
rising from this abyss and in their struggles to be truly free in
their triumphs and defeats through long years to come i see the evil
of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural
birth gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out 

 i see the lives for which i lay down my life peaceful useful 
prosperous and happy in that england which i shall see no more i see
her with a child upon her bosom who bears my name i see her father 
aged and bent but otherwise restored and faithful to all men in his
healing office and at peace i see the good old man so long their
friend in ten years' time enriching them with all he has and passing
tranquilly to his reward 

 i see that i hold a sanctuary in their hearts and in the hearts of
their descendants generations hence i see her an old woman weeping
for me on the anniversary of this day i see her and her husband their
course done lying side by side in their last earthly bed and i know
that each was not more honoured and held sacred in the other's soul 
than i was in the souls of both 

 i see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name a man
winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine i see him
winning it so well that my name is made illustrious there by the
light of his i see the blots i threw upon it faded away i see him 
fore-most of just judges and honoured men bringing a boy of my name 
with a forehead that i know and golden hair to this place then fair to
look upon with not a trace of this day's disfigurement and i hear him
tell the child my story with a tender and a faltering voice 

 it is a far far better thing that i do than i have ever done it is a
far far better rest that i go to than i have ever known 
alice's adventures in wonderland

lewis carroll


chapter i down the rabbit-hole

alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the
bank and of having nothing to do once or twice she had peeped into the
book her sister was reading but it had no pictures or conversations in
it and what is the use of a book thought alice without pictures or
conversations 

so she was considering in her own mind as well as she could for the
hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid whether the pleasure
of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and
picking the daisies when suddenly a white rabbit with pink eyes ran
close by her 

there was nothing so very remarkable in that nor did alice think it so
very much out of the way to hear the rabbit say to itself oh dear 
oh dear i shall be late when she thought it over afterwards it
occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this but at the time
it all seemed quite natural but when the rabbit actually took a watch
out of its waistcoat-pocket and looked at it and then hurried on 
alice started to her feet for it flashed across her mind that she had
never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket or a watch
to take out of it and burning with curiosity she ran across the field
after it and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large
rabbit-hole under the hedge 

in another moment down went alice after it never once considering how
in the world she was to get out again 

the rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way and then
dipped suddenly down so suddenly that alice had not a moment to think
about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep
well 

either the well was very deep or she fell very slowly for she had
plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was
going to happen next first she tried to look down and make out what
she was coming to but it was too dark to see anything then she
looked at the sides of the well and noticed that they were filled with
cupboards and book-shelves here and there she saw maps and pictures
hung upon pegs she took down a jar from one of the shelves as
she passed it was labelled orange marmalade but to her great
disappointment it was empty she did not like to drop the jar for fear
of killing somebody so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as
she fell past it 

 well thought alice to herself after such a fall as this i shall
think nothing of tumbling down stairs how brave they'll all think me at
home why i wouldn't say anything about it even if i fell off the top
of the house which was very likely true 

down down down would the fall never come to an end i wonder how
many miles i've fallen by this time she said aloud i must be getting
somewhere near the centre of the earth let me see that would be four
thousand miles down i think for you see alice had learnt several
things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom and though this
was not a very good opportunity for showing off her knowledge as there
was no one to listen to her still it was good practice to say it over 
 yes that's about the right distance but then i wonder what latitude
or longitude i've got to alice had no idea what latitude was or
longitude either but thought they were nice grand words to say 

presently she began again i wonder if i shall fall right through the
earth how funny it'll seem to come out among the people that walk with
their heads downward the antipathies i think she was rather glad
there was no one listening this time as it didn't sound at all the
right word but i shall have to ask them what the name of the country
is you know please ma'am is this new zealand or australia and
she tried to curtsey as she spoke fancy curtseying as you're falling
through the air do you think you could manage it and what an
ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking no it'll never do to
ask perhaps i shall see it written up somewhere 

down down down there was nothing else to do so alice soon began
talking again dinah'll miss me very much to-night i should think 
 dinah was the cat i hope they'll remember her saucer of milk at
tea-time dinah my dear i wish you were down here with me there are no
mice in the air i'm afraid but you might catch a bat and that's very
like a mouse you know but do cats eat bats i wonder and here alice
began to get rather sleepy and went on saying to herself in a dreamy
sort of way do cats eat bats do cats eat bats and sometimes do
bats eat cats for you see as she couldn't answer either question 
it didn't much matter which way she put it she felt that she was dozing
off and had just begun to dream that she was walking hand in hand with
dinah and saying to her very earnestly now dinah tell me the truth 
did you ever eat a bat when suddenly thump thump down she came upon
a heap of sticks and dry leaves and the fall was over 

alice was not a bit hurt and she jumped up on to her feet in a moment 
she looked up but it was all dark overhead before her was another
long passage and the white rabbit was still in sight hurrying down it 
there was not a moment to be lost away went alice like the wind and
was just in time to hear it say as it turned a corner oh my ears
and whiskers how late it's getting she was close behind it when she
turned the corner but the rabbit was no longer to be seen she found
herself in a long low hall which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging
from the roof 

there were doors all round the hall but they were all locked and when
alice had been all the way down one side and up the other trying every
door she walked sadly down the middle wondering how she was ever to
get out again 

suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table all made of solid
glass there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key and alice's
first thought was that it might belong to one of the doors of the hall 
but alas either the locks were too large or the key was too small 
but at any rate it would not open any of them however on the second
time round she came upon a low curtain she had not noticed before and
behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high she tried the
little golden key in the lock and to her great delight it fitted 

alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage not
much larger than a rat-hole she knelt down and looked along the passage
into the loveliest garden you ever saw how she longed to get out of
that dark hall and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and
those cool fountains but she could not even get her head through the
doorway and even if my head would go through thought poor alice it
would be of very little use without my shoulders oh how i wish i could
shut up like a telescope i think i could if i only knew how to begin 
for you see so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately 
that alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really
impossible 

there seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door so she went
back to the table half hoping she might find another key on it or at
any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes this
time she found a little bottle on it which certainly was not here
before said alice and round the neck of the bottle was a paper
label with the words drink me beautifully printed on it in large
letters 

it was all very well to say drink me but the wise little alice was
not going to do that in a hurry no i'll look first she said and
see whether it's marked poison or not for she had read several nice
little histories about children who had got burnt and eaten up by wild
beasts and other unpleasant things all because they would not remember
the simple rules their friends had taught them such as that a red-hot
poker will burn you if you hold it too long and that if you cut your
finger very deeply with a knife it usually bleeds and she had never
forgotten that if you drink much from a bottle marked poison it is
almost certain to disagree with you sooner or later 

however this bottle was not marked poison so alice ventured to taste
it and finding it very nice it had in fact a sort of mixed flavour
of cherry-tart custard pine-apple roast turkey toffee and hot
buttered toast she very soon finished it off 

 what a curious feeling said alice i must be shutting up like a
telescope 

and so it was indeed she was now only ten inches high and her face
brightened up at the thought that she was now the right size for going
through the little door into that lovely garden first however she
waited for a few minutes to see if she was going to shrink any further 
she felt a little nervous about this for it might end you know said
alice to herself in my going out altogether like a candle i wonder
what i should be like then and she tried to fancy what the flame of a
candle is like after the candle is blown out for she could not remember
ever having seen such a thing 

after a while finding that nothing more happened she decided on going
into the garden at once but alas for poor alice when she got to the
door she found she had forgotten the little golden key and when she
went back to the table for it she found she could not possibly reach
it she could see it quite plainly through the glass and she tried her
best to climb up one of the legs of the table but it was too slippery 
and when she had tired herself out with trying the poor little thing
sat down and cried 

 come there's no use in crying like that said alice to herself 
rather sharply i advise you to leave off this minute she generally
gave herself very good advice though she very seldom followed it 
and sometimes she scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into
her eyes and once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having
cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself 
for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people 
 but it's no use now thought poor alice to pretend to be two people 
why there's hardly enough of me left to make one respectable person 

soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table 
she opened it and found in it a very small cake on which the words
 eat me were beautifully marked in currants well i'll eat it said
alice and if it makes me grow larger i can reach the key and if it
makes me grow smaller i can creep under the door so either way i'll
get into the garden and i don't care which happens 

she ate a little bit and said anxiously to herself which way which
way holding her hand on the top of her head to feel which way it was
growing and she was quite surprised to find that she remained the same
size to be sure this generally happens when one eats cake but alice
had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way
things to happen that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on
in the common way 

so she set to work and very soon finished off the cake 


chapter ii the pool of tears

 curiouser and curiouser cried alice she was so much surprised that
for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good english now i'm
opening out like the largest telescope that ever was good-bye feet 
 for when she looked down at her feet they seemed to be almost out of
sight they were getting so far off oh my poor little feet i wonder
who will put on your shoes and stockings for you now dears i'm sure
 i shan't be able i shall be a great deal too far off to trouble
myself about you you must manage the best way you can but i must be
kind to them thought alice or perhaps they won't walk the way i want
to go let me see i'll give them a new pair of boots every christmas 

and she went on planning to herself how she would manage it they must
go by the carrier she thought and how funny it'll seem sending
presents to one's own feet and how odd the directions will look 

 alice's right foot esq 
 hearthrug 
 near the fender 
 with alice's love 

oh dear what nonsense i'm talking 

just then her head struck against the roof of the hall in fact she was
now more than nine feet high and she at once took up the little golden
key and hurried off to the garden door 

poor alice it was as much as she could do lying down on one side to
look through into the garden with one eye but to get through was more
hopeless than ever she sat down and began to cry again 

 you ought to be ashamed of yourself said alice a great girl like
you she might well say this to go on crying in this way stop this
moment i tell you but she went on all the same shedding gallons of
tears until there was a large pool all round her about four inches
deep and reaching half down the hall 

after a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance and
she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming it was the white
rabbit returning splendidly dressed with a pair of white kid gloves in
one hand and a large fan in the other he came trotting along in a great
hurry muttering to himself as he came oh the duchess the duchess 
oh won't she be savage if i've kept her waiting alice felt so
desperate that she was ready to ask help of any one so when the rabbit
came near her she began in a low timid voice if you please sir 
the rabbit started violently dropped the white kid gloves and the fan 
and skurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go 

alice took up the fan and gloves and as the hall was very hot she
kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking dear dear how
queer everything is to-day and yesterday things went on just as usual 
i wonder if i've been changed in the night let me think was i the
same when i got up this morning i almost think i can remember feeling a
little different but if i'm not the same the next question is who
in the world am i ah that's the great puzzle and she began thinking
over all the children she knew that were of the same age as herself to
see if she could have been changed for any of them 

 i'm sure i'm not ada she said for her hair goes in such long
ringlets and mine doesn't go in ringlets at all and i'm sure i can't
be mabel for i know all sorts of things and she oh she knows such a
very little besides she's she and i'm i and oh dear how puzzling
it all is i'll try if i know all the things i used to know let me
see four times five is twelve and four times six is thirteen and
four times seven is oh dear i shall never get to twenty at that rate 
however the multiplication table doesn't signify let's try geography 
london is the capital of paris and paris is the capital of rome and
rome no that's all wrong i'm certain i must have been changed for
mabel i'll try and say how doth the little and she crossed her
hands on her lap as if she were saying lessons and began to repeat it 
but her voice sounded hoarse and strange and the words did not come the
same as they used to do 

 how doth the little crocodile
 improve his shining tail 
 and pour the waters of the nile
 on every golden scale 

 how cheerfully he seems to grin 
 how neatly spread his claws 
 and welcome little fishes in
 with gently smiling jaws 

 i'm sure those are not the right words said poor alice and her eyes
filled with tears again as she went on i must be mabel after all and
i shall have to go and live in that poky little house and have next to
no toys to play with and oh ever so many lessons to learn no i've
made up my mind about it if i'm mabel i'll stay down here it'll be no
use their putting their heads down and saying come up again dear i
shall only look up and say who am i then tell me that first and then 
if i like being that person i'll come up if not i'll stay down here
till i'm somebody else but oh dear cried alice with a sudden burst
of tears i do wish they would put their heads down i am so very tired
of being all alone here 

as she said this she looked down at her hands and was surprised to see
that she had put on one of the rabbit's little white kid gloves while
she was talking how can i have done that she thought i must
be growing small again she got up and went to the table to measure
herself by it and found that as nearly as she could guess she was now
about two feet high and was going on shrinking rapidly she soon found
out that the cause of this was the fan she was holding and she dropped
it hastily just in time to avoid shrinking away altogether 

 that was a narrow escape said alice a good deal frightened at the
sudden change but very glad to find herself still in existence and
now for the garden and she ran with all speed back to the little door 
but alas the little door was shut again and the little golden key was
lying on the glass table as before and things are worse than ever 
thought the poor child for i never was so small as this before never 
and i declare it's too bad that it is 

as she said these words her foot slipped and in another moment splash 
she was up to her chin in salt water her first idea was that she
had somehow fallen into the sea and in that case i can go back by
railway she said to herself alice had been to the seaside once in
her life and had come to the general conclusion that wherever you go
to on the english coast you find a number of bathing machines in the
sea some children digging in the sand with wooden spades then a row
of lodging houses and behind them a railway station however she soon
made out that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she
was nine feet high 

 i wish i hadn't cried so much said alice as she swam about trying
to find her way out i shall be punished for it now i suppose by
being drowned in my own tears that will be a queer thing to be sure 
however everything is queer to-day 

just then she heard something splashing about in the pool a little way
off and she swam nearer to make out what it was at first she thought
it must be a walrus or hippopotamus but then she remembered how small
she was now and she soon made out that it was only a mouse that had
slipped in like herself 

 would it be of any use now thought alice to speak to this mouse 
everything is so out-of-the-way down here that i should think very
likely it can talk at any rate there's no harm in trying so she
began o mouse do you know the way out of this pool i am very tired
of swimming about here o mouse alice thought this must be the right
way of speaking to a mouse she had never done such a thing before but
she remembered having seen in her brother's latin grammar a mouse of
a mouse to a mouse a mouse o mouse the mouse looked at her rather
inquisitively and seemed to her to wink with one of its little eyes 
but it said nothing 

 perhaps it doesn't understand english thought alice i daresay it's
a french mouse come over with william the conqueror for with all
her knowledge of history alice had no very clear notion how long ago
anything had happened so she began again ou est ma chatte which
was the first sentence in her french lesson-book the mouse gave a
sudden leap out of the water and seemed to quiver all over with fright 
 oh i beg your pardon cried alice hastily afraid that she had hurt
the poor animal's feelings i quite forgot you didn't like cats 

 not like cats cried the mouse in a shrill passionate voice would
you like cats if you were me 

 well perhaps not said alice in a soothing tone don't be angry
about it and yet i wish i could show you our cat dinah i think you'd
take a fancy to cats if you could only see her she is such a dear quiet
thing alice went on half to herself as she swam lazily about in the
pool and she sits purring so nicely by the fire licking her paws and
washing her face and she is such a nice soft thing to nurse and she's
such a capital one for catching mice oh i beg your pardon cried
alice again for this time the mouse was bristling all over and she
felt certain it must be really offended we won't talk about her any
more if you'd rather not 

 we indeed cried the mouse who was trembling down to the end of his
tail as if i would talk on such a subject our family always hated
cats nasty low vulgar things don't let me hear the name again 

 i won't indeed said alice in a great hurry to change the subject of
conversation are you are you fond of of dogs the mouse did not
answer so alice went on eagerly there is such a nice little dog near
our house i should like to show you a little bright-eyed terrier you
know with oh such long curly brown hair and it'll fetch things when
you throw them and it'll sit up and beg for its dinner and all sorts
of things i can't remember half of them and it belongs to a farmer 
you know and he says it's so useful it's worth a hundred pounds he
says it kills all the rats and oh dear cried alice in a sorrowful
tone i'm afraid i've offended it again for the mouse was swimming
away from her as hard as it could go and making quite a commotion in
the pool as it went 

so she called softly after it mouse dear do come back again and we
won't talk about cats or dogs either if you don't like them when the
mouse heard this it turned round and swam slowly back to her its
face was quite pale with passion alice thought and it said in a low
trembling voice let us get to the shore and then i'll tell you my
history and you'll understand why it is i hate cats and dogs 

it was high time to go for the pool was getting quite crowded with the
birds and animals that had fallen into it there were a duck and a dodo 
a lory and an eaglet and several other curious creatures alice led the
way and the whole party swam to the shore 




chapter iii a caucus-race and a long tale

they were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank the
birds with draggled feathers the animals with their fur clinging close
to them and all dripping wet cross and uncomfortable 

the first question of course was how to get dry again they had a
consultation about this and after a few minutes it seemed quite natural
to alice to find herself talking familiarly with them as if she had
known them all her life indeed she had quite a long argument with the
lory who at last turned sulky and would only say i am older than
you and must know better and this alice would not allow without
knowing how old it was and as the lory positively refused to tell its
age there was no more to be said 

at last the mouse who seemed to be a person of authority among them 
called out sit down all of you and listen to me i'll soon make you
dry enough they all sat down at once in a large ring with the mouse
in the middle alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it for she felt
sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon 

 ahem said the mouse with an important air are you all ready this
is the driest thing i know silence all round if you please william
the conqueror whose cause was favoured by the pope was soon submitted
to by the english who wanted leaders and had been of late much
accustomed to usurpation and conquest edwin and morcar the earls of
mercia and northumbria 

 ugh said the lory with a shiver 

 i beg your pardon said the mouse frowning but very politely did
you speak 

 not i said the lory hastily 

 i thought you did said the mouse i proceed edwin and morcar 
the earls of mercia and northumbria declared for him and even stigand 
the patriotic archbishop of canterbury found it advisable 

 found what said the duck 

 found it the mouse replied rather crossly of course you know what
 it means 

 i know what it means well enough when i find a thing said the
duck it's generally a frog or a worm the question is what did the
archbishop find 

the mouse did not notice this question but hurriedly went on found
it advisable to go with edgar atheling to meet william and offer him the
crown william's conduct at first was moderate but the insolence of his
normans how are you getting on now my dear it continued turning
to alice as it spoke 

 as wet as ever said alice in a melancholy tone it doesn't seem to
dry me at all 

 in that case said the dodo solemnly rising to its feet i move
that the meeting adjourn for the immediate adoption of more energetic
remedies 

 speak english said the eaglet i don't know the meaning of half
those long words and what's more i don't believe you do either and
the eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile some of the other birds
tittered audibly 

 what i was going to say said the dodo in an offended tone was that
the best thing to get us dry would be a caucus-race 

 what is a caucus-race said alice not that she wanted much to know 
but the dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak 
and no one else seemed inclined to say anything 

 why said the dodo the best way to explain it is to do it and as
you might like to try the thing yourself some winter day i will tell
you how the dodo managed it 

first it marked out a race-course in a sort of circle the exact
shape doesn't matter it said and then all the party were placed
along the course here and there there was no one two three and
away but they began running when they liked and left off when they
liked so that it was not easy to know when the race was over however 
when they had been running half an hour or so and were quite dry again 
the dodo suddenly called out the race is over and they all crowded
round it panting and asking but who has won 

this question the dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought 
and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead
 the position in which you usually see shakespeare in the pictures
of him while the rest waited in silence at last the dodo said 
 everybody has won and all must have prizes 

 but who is to give the prizes quite a chorus of voices asked 

 why she of course said the dodo pointing to alice with one finger 
and the whole party at once crowded round her calling out in a confused
way prizes prizes 

alice had no idea what to do and in despair she put her hand in her
pocket and pulled out a box of comfits luckily the salt water had
not got into it and handed them round as prizes there was exactly one
a-piece all round 

 but she must have a prize herself you know said the mouse 

 of course the dodo replied very gravely what else have you got in
your pocket he went on turning to alice 

 only a thimble said alice sadly 

 hand it over here said the dodo 

then they all crowded round her once more while the dodo solemnly
presented the thimble saying we beg your acceptance of this elegant
thimble and when it had finished this short speech they all cheered 

alice thought the whole thing very absurd but they all looked so grave
that she did not dare to laugh and as she could not think of anything
to say she simply bowed and took the thimble looking as solemn as she
could 

the next thing was to eat the comfits this caused some noise and
confusion as the large birds complained that they could not taste
theirs and the small ones choked and had to be patted on the back 
however it was over at last and they sat down again in a ring and
begged the mouse to tell them something more 

 you promised to tell me your history you know said alice and why
it is you hate c and d she added in a whisper half afraid that it
would be offended again 

 mine is a long and a sad tale said the mouse turning to alice and
sighing 

 it is a long tail certainly said alice looking down with wonder at
the mouse's tail but why do you call it sad and she kept on puzzling
about it while the mouse was speaking so that her idea of the tale was
something like this 

 fury said to a
 mouse that he
 met in the
 house 
 let us
 both go to
 law i will
 prosecute
 you come 
 i'll take no
 denial we
 must have a
 trial for
 really this
 morning i've
 nothing
 to do 
 said the
 mouse to the
 cur such
 a trial 
 dear sir 
 with
 no jury
 or judge 
 would be
 wasting
 our
 breath 
 i'll be
 judge i'll
 be jury 
 said
 cunning
 old fury 
 i'll
 try the
 whole
 cause 
 and
 condemn
 you
 to
 death 


 you are not attending said the mouse to alice severely what are you
thinking of 

 i beg your pardon said alice very humbly you had got to the fifth
bend i think 

 i had not cried the mouse sharply and very angrily 

 a knot said alice always ready to make herself useful and looking
anxiously about her oh do let me help to undo it 

 i shall do nothing of the sort said the mouse getting up and walking
away you insult me by talking such nonsense 

 i didn't mean it pleaded poor alice but you're so easily offended 
you know 

the mouse only growled in reply 

 please come back and finish your story alice called after it and the
others all joined in chorus yes please do but the mouse only shook
its head impatiently and walked a little quicker 

 what a pity it wouldn't stay sighed the lory as soon as it was quite
out of sight and an old crab took the opportunity of saying to her
daughter ah my dear let this be a lesson to you never to lose
your temper hold your tongue ma said the young crab a little
snappishly you're enough to try the patience of an oyster 

 i wish i had our dinah here i know i do said alice aloud addressing
nobody in particular she'd soon fetch it back 

 and who is dinah if i might venture to ask the question said the
lory 

alice replied eagerly for she was always ready to talk about her pet 
 dinah's our cat and she's such a capital one for catching mice you
can't think and oh i wish you could see her after the birds why 
she'll eat a little bird as soon as look at it 

this speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party some of the
birds hurried off at once one old magpie began wrapping itself up very
carefully remarking i really must be getting home the night-air
doesn't suit my throat and a canary called out in a trembling voice to
its children come away my dears it's high time you were all in bed 
on various pretexts they all moved off and alice was soon left alone 

 i wish i hadn't mentioned dinah she said to herself in a melancholy
tone nobody seems to like her down here and i'm sure she's the best
cat in the world oh my dear dinah i wonder if i shall ever see you
any more and here poor alice began to cry again for she felt very
lonely and low-spirited in a little while however she again heard
a little pattering of footsteps in the distance and she looked up
eagerly half hoping that the mouse had changed his mind and was coming
back to finish his story 




chapter iv the rabbit sends in a little bill

it was the white rabbit trotting slowly back again and looking
anxiously about as it went as if it had lost something and she heard
it muttering to itself the duchess the duchess oh my dear paws oh
my fur and whiskers she'll get me executed as sure as ferrets are
ferrets where can i have dropped them i wonder alice guessed in a
moment that it was looking for the fan and the pair of white kid gloves 
and she very good-naturedly began hunting about for them but they were
nowhere to be seen everything seemed to have changed since her swim in
the pool and the great hall with the glass table and the little door 
had vanished completely 

very soon the rabbit noticed alice as she went hunting about and
called out to her in an angry tone why mary ann what are you doing
out here run home this moment and fetch me a pair of gloves and a fan 
quick now and alice was so much frightened that she ran off at once
in the direction it pointed to without trying to explain the mistake it
had made 

 he took me for his housemaid she said to herself as she ran how
surprised he'll be when he finds out who i am but i'd better take him
his fan and gloves that is if i can find them as she said this she
came upon a neat little house on the door of which was a bright brass
plate with the name w rabbit engraved upon it she went in without
knocking and hurried upstairs in great fear lest she should meet the
real mary ann and be turned out of the house before she had found the
fan and gloves 

 how queer it seems alice said to herself to be going messages for
a rabbit i suppose dinah'll be sending me on messages next and she
began fancying the sort of thing that would happen miss alice come
here directly and get ready for your walk coming in a minute 
nurse but i've got to see that the mouse doesn't get out only i don't
think alice went on that they'd let dinah stop in the house if it
began ordering people about like that 

by this time she had found her way into a tidy little room with a table
in the window and on it as she had hoped a fan and two or three pairs
of tiny white kid gloves she took up the fan and a pair of the gloves 
and was just going to leave the room when her eye fell upon a little
bottle that stood near the looking-glass there was no label this time
with the words drink me but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it
to her lips i know something interesting is sure to happen she said
to herself whenever i eat or drink anything so i'll just see what
this bottle does i do hope it'll make me grow large again for really
i'm quite tired of being such a tiny little thing 

it did so indeed and much sooner than she had expected before she had
drunk half the bottle she found her head pressing against the ceiling 
and had to stoop to save her neck from being broken she hastily put
down the bottle saying to herself that's quite enough i hope i shan't
grow any more as it is i can't get out at the door i do wish i hadn't
drunk quite so much 

alas it was too late to wish that she went on growing and growing 
and very soon had to kneel down on the floor in another minute there
was not even room for this and she tried the effect of lying down with
one elbow against the door and the other arm curled round her head 
still she went on growing and as a last resource she put one arm out
of the window and one foot up the chimney and said to herself now i
can do no more whatever happens what will become of me 

luckily for alice the little magic bottle had now had its full effect 
and she grew no larger still it was very uncomfortable and as there
seemed to be no sort of chance of her ever getting out of the room
again no wonder she felt unhappy 

 it was much pleasanter at home thought poor alice when one wasn't
always growing larger and smaller and being ordered about by mice and
rabbits i almost wish i hadn't gone down that rabbit-hole and yet and
yet it's rather curious you know this sort of life i do wonder what
can have happened to me when i used to read fairy-tales i fancied that
kind of thing never happened and now here i am in the middle of one 
there ought to be a book written about me that there ought and when i
grow up i'll write one but i'm grown up now she added in a sorrowful
tone at least there's no room to grow up any more here 

 but then thought alice shall i never get any older than i am
now that'll be a comfort one way never to be an old woman but
then always to have lessons to learn oh i shouldn't like that 

 oh you foolish alice she answered herself how can you learn
lessons in here why there's hardly room for you and no room at all
for any lesson-books 

and so she went on taking first one side and then the other and making
quite a conversation of it altogether but after a few minutes she heard
a voice outside and stopped to listen 

 mary ann mary ann said the voice fetch me my gloves this moment 
then came a little pattering of feet on the stairs alice knew it was
the rabbit coming to look for her and she trembled till she shook the
house quite forgetting that she was now about a thousand times as large
as the rabbit and had no reason to be afraid of it 

presently the rabbit came up to the door and tried to open it but as
the door opened inwards and alice's elbow was pressed hard against it 
that attempt proved a failure alice heard it say to itself then i'll
go round and get in at the window 

 that you won't thought alice and after waiting till she fancied
she heard the rabbit just under the window she suddenly spread out her
hand and made a snatch in the air she did not get hold of anything 
but she heard a little shriek and a fall and a crash of broken glass 
from which she concluded that it was just possible it had fallen into a
cucumber-frame or something of the sort 

next came an angry voice the rabbit's pat pat where are you and
then a voice she had never heard before sure then i'm here digging
for apples yer honour 

 digging for apples indeed said the rabbit angrily here come and
help me out of this sounds of more broken glass 

 now tell me pat what's that in the window 

 sure it's an arm yer honour he pronounced it arrum 

 an arm you goose who ever saw one that size why it fills the whole
window 

 sure it does yer honour but it's an arm for all that 

 well it's got no business there at any rate go and take it away 

there was a long silence after this and alice could only hear whispers
now and then such as sure i don't like it yer honour at all at
all do as i tell you you coward and at last she spread out her
hand again and made another snatch in the air this time there were
two little shrieks and more sounds of broken glass what a number of
cucumber-frames there must be thought alice i wonder what they'll do
next as for pulling me out of the window i only wish they could i'm
sure i don't want to stay in here any longer 

she waited for some time without hearing anything more at last came a
rumbling of little cartwheels and the sound of a good many voices
all talking together she made out the words where's the other
ladder why i hadn't to bring but one bill's got the other bill 
fetch it here lad here put em up at this corner no tie em
together first they don't reach half high enough yet oh they'll
do well enough don't be particular here bill catch hold of this
rope will the roof bear mind that loose slate oh it's coming
down heads below a loud crash now who did that it was bill i
fancy who's to go down the chimney nay i shan't you do it that i
won't then bill's to go down here bill the master says you're to
go down the chimney 

 oh so bill's got to come down the chimney has he said alice to
herself shy they seem to put everything upon bill i wouldn't be in
bill's place for a good deal this fireplace is narrow to be sure but
i think i can kick a little 

she drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could and waited
till she heard a little animal she couldn't guess of what sort it was 
scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close above her then 
saying to herself this is bill she gave one sharp kick and waited to
see what would happen next 

the first thing she heard was a general chorus of there goes bill 
then the rabbit's voice along catch him you by the hedge then
silence and then another confusion of voices hold up his head brandy
now don't choke him how was it old fellow what happened to you tell
us all about it 

last came a little feeble squeaking voice that's bill thought
alice well i hardly know no more thank ye i'm better now but i'm
a deal too flustered to tell you all i know is something comes at me
like a jack-in-the-box and up i goes like a sky-rocket 

 so you did old fellow said the others 

 we must burn the house down said the rabbit's voice and alice called
out as loud as she could if you do i'll set dinah at you 

there was a dead silence instantly and alice thought to herself i
wonder what they will do next if they had any sense they'd take the
roof off after a minute or two they began moving about again and
alice heard the rabbit say a barrowful will do to begin with 

 a barrowful of what thought alice but she had not long to doubt 
for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came rattling in at the
window and some of them hit her in the face i'll put a stop to this 
she said to herself and shouted out you'd better not do that again 
which produced another dead silence 

alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all turning into
little cakes as they lay on the floor and a bright idea came into her
head if i eat one of these cakes she thought it's sure to make
some change in my size and as it can't possibly make me larger it must
make me smaller i suppose 

so she swallowed one of the cakes and was delighted to find that she
began shrinking directly as soon as she was small enough to get through
the door she ran out of the house and found quite a crowd of little
animals and birds waiting outside the poor little lizard bill was
in the middle being held up by two guinea-pigs who were giving it
something out of a bottle they all made a rush at alice the moment she
appeared but she ran off as hard as she could and soon found herself
safe in a thick wood 

 the first thing i've got to do said alice to herself as she wandered
about in the wood is to grow to my right size again and the second
thing is to find my way into that lovely garden i think that will be
the best plan 

it sounded an excellent plan no doubt and very neatly and simply
arranged the only difficulty was that she had not the smallest idea
how to set about it and while she was peering about anxiously among
the trees a little sharp bark just over her head made her look up in a
great hurry 

an enormous puppy was looking down at her with large round eyes and
feebly stretching out one paw trying to touch her poor little thing 
said alice in a coaxing tone and she tried hard to whistle to it but
she was terribly frightened all the time at the thought that it might be
hungry in which case it would be very likely to eat her up in spite of
all her coaxing 

hardly knowing what she did she picked up a little bit of stick and
held it out to the puppy whereupon the puppy jumped into the air off
all its feet at once with a yelp of delight and rushed at the stick 
and made believe to worry it then alice dodged behind a great thistle 
to keep herself from being run over and the moment she appeared on the
other side the puppy made another rush at the stick and tumbled head
over heels in its hurry to get hold of it then alice thinking it was
very like having a game of play with a cart-horse and expecting every
moment to be trampled under its feet ran round the thistle again then
the puppy began a series of short charges at the stick running a very
little way forwards each time and a long way back and barking hoarsely
all the while till at last it sat down a good way off panting with
its tongue hanging out of its mouth and its great eyes half shut 

this seemed to alice a good opportunity for making her escape so she
set off at once and ran till she was quite tired and out of breath and
till the puppy's bark sounded quite faint in the distance 

 and yet what a dear little puppy it was said alice as she leant
against a buttercup to rest herself and fanned herself with one of the
leaves i should have liked teaching it tricks very much if if i'd
only been the right size to do it oh dear i'd nearly forgotten that
i've got to grow up again let me see how is it to be managed i
suppose i ought to eat or drink something or other but the great
question is what 

the great question certainly was what alice looked all round her at
the flowers and the blades of grass but she did not see anything that
looked like the right thing to eat or drink under the circumstances 
there was a large mushroom growing near her about the same height as
herself and when she had looked under it and on both sides of it and
behind it it occurred to her that she might as well look and see what
was on the top of it 

she stretched herself up on tiptoe and peeped over the edge of the
mushroom and her eyes immediately met those of a large caterpillar 
that was sitting on the top with its arms folded quietly smoking a long
hookah and taking not the smallest notice of her or of anything else 




chapter v advice from a caterpillar

the caterpillar and alice looked at each other for some time in silence 
at last the caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and addressed
her in a languid sleepy voice 

 who are you said the caterpillar 

this was not an encouraging opening for a conversation alice replied 
rather shyly i i hardly know sir just at present at least i know
who i was when i got up this morning but i think i must have been
changed several times since then 

 what do you mean by that said the caterpillar sternly explain
yourself 

 i can't explain myself i'm afraid sir said alice because i'm not
myself you see 

 i don't see said the caterpillar 

 i'm afraid i can't put it more clearly alice replied very politely 
 for i can't understand it myself to begin with and being so many
different sizes in a day is very confusing 

 it isn't said the caterpillar 

 well perhaps you haven't found it so yet said alice but when you
have to turn into a chrysalis you will some day you know and then
after that into a butterfly i should think you'll feel it a little
queer won't you 

 not a bit said the caterpillar 

 well perhaps your feelings may be different said alice all i know
is it would feel very queer to me 

 you said the caterpillar contemptuously who are you 

which brought them back again to the beginning of the conversation 
alice felt a little irritated at the caterpillar's making such very
short remarks and she drew herself up and said very gravely i think 
you ought to tell me who you are first 

 why said the caterpillar 

here was another puzzling question and as alice could not think of any
good reason and as the caterpillar seemed to be in a very unpleasant
state of mind she turned away 

 come back the caterpillar called after her i've something important
to say 

this sounded promising certainly alice turned and came back again 

 keep your temper said the caterpillar 

 is that all said alice swallowing down her anger as well as she
could 

 no said the caterpillar 

alice thought she might as well wait as she had nothing else to do and
perhaps after all it might tell her something worth hearing for some
minutes it puffed away without speaking but at last it unfolded its
arms took the hookah out of its mouth again and said so you think
you're changed do you 

 i'm afraid i am sir said alice i can't remember things as i
used and i don't keep the same size for ten minutes together 

 can't remember what things said the caterpillar 

 well i've tried to say how doth the little busy bee but it all came
different alice replied in a very melancholy voice 

 repeat you are old father william said the caterpillar 

alice folded her hands and began 

 you are old father william the young man said 
 and your hair has become very white 
 and yet you incessantly stand on your head 
 do you think at your age it is right 

 in my youth father william replied to his son 
 i feared it might injure the brain 
 but now that i'm perfectly sure i have none 
 why i do it again and again 

 you are old said the youth as i mentioned before 
 and have grown most uncommonly fat 
 yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door 
 pray what is the reason of that 

 in my youth said the sage as he shook his grey locks 
 i kept all my limbs very supple
 by the use of this ointment one shilling the box 
 allow me to sell you a couple 

 you are old said the youth and your jaws are too weak
 for anything tougher than suet 
 yet you finished the goose with the bones and the beak 
 pray how did you manage to do it 

 in my youth said his father i took to the law 
 and argued each case with my wife 
 and the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw 
 has lasted the rest of my life 

 you are old said the youth one would hardly suppose
 that your eye was as steady as ever 
 yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose 
 what made you so awfully clever 

 i have answered three questions and that is enough 
 said his father don't give yourself airs 
 do you think i can listen all day to such stuff 
 be off or i'll kick you down stairs 


 that is not said right said the caterpillar 

 not quite right i'm afraid said alice timidly some of the words
have got altered 

 it is wrong from beginning to end said the caterpillar decidedly and
there was silence for some minutes 

the caterpillar was the first to speak 

 what size do you want to be it asked 

 oh i'm not particular as to size alice hastily replied only one
doesn't like changing so often you know 

 i don't know said the caterpillar 

alice said nothing she had never been so much contradicted in her life
before and she felt that she was losing her temper 

 are you content now said the caterpillar 

 well i should like to be a little larger sir if you wouldn't mind 
said alice three inches is such a wretched height to be 

 it is a very good height indeed said the caterpillar angrily rearing
itself upright as it spoke it was exactly three inches high 

 but i'm not used to it pleaded poor alice in a piteous tone and
she thought of herself i wish the creatures wouldn't be so easily
offended 

 you'll get used to it in time said the caterpillar and it put the
hookah into its mouth and began smoking again 

this time alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again in
a minute or two the caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth
and yawned once or twice and shook itself then it got down off the
mushroom and crawled away in the grass merely remarking as it went 
 one side will make you grow taller and the other side will make you
grow shorter 

 one side of what the other side of what thought alice to herself 

 of the mushroom said the caterpillar just as if she had asked it
aloud and in another moment it was out of sight 

alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute trying
to make out which were the two sides of it and as it was perfectly
round she found this a very difficult question however at last she
stretched her arms round it as far as they would go and broke off a bit
of the edge with each hand 

 and now which is which she said to herself and nibbled a little of
the right-hand bit to try the effect the next moment she felt a violent
blow underneath her chin it had struck her foot 

she was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change but she felt
that there was no time to be lost as she was shrinking rapidly so she
set to work at once to eat some of the other bit her chin was pressed
so closely against her foot that there was hardly room to open her
mouth but she did it at last and managed to swallow a morsel of the
lefthand bit 


 

 

 

 come my head's free at last said alice in a tone of delight which
changed into alarm in another moment when she found that her shoulders
were nowhere to be found all she could see when she looked down was
an immense length of neck which seemed to rise like a stalk out of a
sea of green leaves that lay far below her 

 what can all that green stuff be said alice and where have my
shoulders got to and oh my poor hands how is it i can't see you 
she was moving them about as she spoke but no result seemed to follow 
except a little shaking among the distant green leaves 

as there seemed to be no chance of getting her hands up to her head she
tried to get her head down to them and was delighted to find that her
neck would bend about easily in any direction like a serpent she had
just succeeded in curving it down into a graceful zigzag and was going
to dive in among the leaves which she found to be nothing but the tops
of the trees under which she had been wandering when a sharp hiss made
her draw back in a hurry a large pigeon had flown into her face and
was beating her violently with its wings 

 serpent screamed the pigeon 

 i'm not a serpent said alice indignantly let me alone 

 serpent i say again repeated the pigeon but in a more subdued tone 
and added with a kind of sob i've tried every way and nothing seems
to suit them 

 i haven't the least idea what you're talking about said alice 

 i've tried the roots of trees and i've tried banks and i've tried
hedges the pigeon went on without attending to her but those
serpents there's no pleasing them 

alice was more and more puzzled but she thought there was no use in
saying anything more till the pigeon had finished 

 as if it wasn't trouble enough hatching the eggs said the pigeon 
 but i must be on the look-out for serpents night and day why i
haven't had a wink of sleep these three weeks 

 i'm very sorry you've been annoyed said alice who was beginning to
see its meaning 

 and just as i'd taken the highest tree in the wood continued the
pigeon raising its voice to a shriek and just as i was thinking i
should be free of them at last they must needs come wriggling down from
the sky ugh serpent 

 but i'm not a serpent i tell you said alice i'm a i'm a 

 well what are you said the pigeon i can see you're trying to
invent something 

 i i'm a little girl said alice rather doubtfully as she remembered
the number of changes she had gone through that day 

 a likely story indeed said the pigeon in a tone of the deepest
contempt i've seen a good many little girls in my time but never one
with such a neck as that no no you're a serpent and there's no use
denying it i suppose you'll be telling me next that you never tasted an
egg 

 i have tasted eggs certainly said alice who was a very truthful
child but little girls eat eggs quite as much as serpents do you
know 

 i don't believe it said the pigeon but if they do why then they're
a kind of serpent that's all i can say 

this was such a new idea to alice that she was quite silent for a
minute or two which gave the pigeon the opportunity of adding you're
looking for eggs i know that well enough and what does it matter to me
whether you're a little girl or a serpent 

 it matters a good deal to me said alice hastily but i'm not looking
for eggs as it happens and if i was i shouldn't want yours i don't
like them raw 

 well be off then said the pigeon in a sulky tone as it settled
down again into its nest alice crouched down among the trees as well as
she could for her neck kept getting entangled among the branches and
every now and then she had to stop and untwist it after a while she
remembered that she still held the pieces of mushroom in her hands and
she set to work very carefully nibbling first at one and then at the
other and growing sometimes taller and sometimes shorter until she had
succeeded in bringing herself down to her usual height 

it was so long since she had been anything near the right size that it
felt quite strange at first but she got used to it in a few minutes 
and began talking to herself as usual come there's half my plan done
now how puzzling all these changes are i'm never sure what i'm going
to be from one minute to another however i've got back to my right
size the next thing is to get into that beautiful garden how is that
to be done i wonder as she said this she came suddenly upon an open
place with a little house in it about four feet high whoever lives
there thought alice it'll never do to come upon them this size why 
i should frighten them out of their wits so she began nibbling at the
righthand bit again and did not venture to go near the house till she
had brought herself down to nine inches high 




chapter vi pig and pepper

for a minute or two she stood looking at the house and wondering what
to do next when suddenly a footman in livery came running out of the
wood she considered him to be a footman because he was in livery 
otherwise judging by his face only she would have called him a
fish and rapped loudly at the door with his knuckles it was opened
by another footman in livery with a round face and large eyes like a
frog and both footmen alice noticed had powdered hair that curled all
over their heads she felt very curious to know what it was all about 
and crept a little way out of the wood to listen 

the fish-footman began by producing from under his arm a great letter 
nearly as large as himself and this he handed over to the other 
saying in a solemn tone for the duchess an invitation from the queen
to play croquet the frog-footman repeated in the same solemn tone 
only changing the order of the words a little from the queen an
invitation for the duchess to play croquet 

then they both bowed low and their curls got entangled together 

alice laughed so much at this that she had to run back into the
wood for fear of their hearing her and when she next peeped out the
fish-footman was gone and the other was sitting on the ground near the
door staring stupidly up into the sky 

alice went timidly up to the door and knocked 

 there's no sort of use in knocking said the footman and that for
two reasons first because i'm on the same side of the door as you
are secondly because they're making such a noise inside no one could
possibly hear you and certainly there was a most extraordinary noise
going on within a constant howling and sneezing and every now and then
a great crash as if a dish or kettle had been broken to pieces 

 please then said alice how am i to get in 

 there might be some sense in your knocking the footman went on
without attending to her if we had the door between us for instance 
if you were inside you might knock and i could let you out you know 
he was looking up into the sky all the time he was speaking and this
alice thought decidedly uncivil but perhaps he can't help it she
said to herself his eyes are so very nearly at the top of his head 
but at any rate he might answer questions how am i to get in she
repeated aloud 

 i shall sit here the footman remarked till tomorrow 

at this moment the door of the house opened and a large plate came
skimming out straight at the footman's head it just grazed his nose 
and broke to pieces against one of the trees behind him 

 or next day maybe the footman continued in the same tone exactly
as if nothing had happened 

 how am i to get in asked alice again in a louder tone 

 are you to get in at all said the footman that's the first
question you know 

it was no doubt only alice did not like to be told so it's really
dreadful she muttered to herself the way all the creatures argue 
it's enough to drive one crazy 

the footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for repeating his
remark with variations i shall sit here he said on and off for
days and days 

 but what am i to do said alice 

 anything you like said the footman and began whistling 

 oh there's no use in talking to him said alice desperately he's
perfectly idiotic and she opened the door and went in 

the door led right into a large kitchen which was full of smoke from
one end to the other the duchess was sitting on a three-legged stool in
the middle nursing a baby the cook was leaning over the fire stirring
a large cauldron which seemed to be full of soup 

 there's certainly too much pepper in that soup alice said to herself 
as well as she could for sneezing 

there was certainly too much of it in the air even the duchess
sneezed occasionally and as for the baby it was sneezing and howling
alternately without a moment's pause the only things in the kitchen
that did not sneeze were the cook and a large cat which was sitting on
the hearth and grinning from ear to ear 

 please would you tell me said alice a little timidly for she was
not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first why
your cat grins like that 

 it's a cheshire cat said the duchess and that's why pig 

she said the last word with such sudden violence that alice quite
jumped but she saw in another moment that it was addressed to the baby 
and not to her so she took courage and went on again 

 i didn't know that cheshire cats always grinned in fact i didn't know
that cats could grin 

 they all can said the duchess and most of em do 

 i don't know of any that do alice said very politely feeling quite
pleased to have got into a conversation 

 you don't know much said the duchess and that's a fact 

alice did not at all like the tone of this remark and thought it would
be as well to introduce some other subject of conversation while she
was trying to fix on one the cook took the cauldron of soup off the
fire and at once set to work throwing everything within her reach at
the duchess and the baby the fire-irons came first then followed a
shower of saucepans plates and dishes the duchess took no notice of
them even when they hit her and the baby was howling so much already 
that it was quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not 

 oh please mind what you're doing cried alice jumping up and down in
an agony of terror oh there goes his precious nose as an unusually
large saucepan flew close by it and very nearly carried it off 

 if everybody minded their own business the duchess said in a hoarse
growl the world would go round a deal faster than it does 

 which would not be an advantage said alice who felt very glad to get
an opportunity of showing off a little of her knowledge just think of
what work it would make with the day and night you see the earth takes
twenty-four hours to turn round on its axis 

 talking of axes said the duchess chop off her head 

alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook to see if she meant to take
the hint but the cook was busily stirring the soup and seemed not to
be listening so she went on again twenty-four hours i think or is
it twelve i 

 oh don't bother me said the duchess i never could abide figures 
and with that she began nursing her child again singing a sort of
lullaby to it as she did so and giving it a violent shake at the end of
every line 

 speak roughly to your little boy 
 and beat him when he sneezes 
 he only does it to annoy 
 because he knows it teases 

 chorus 

 in which the cook and the baby joined 

 wow wow wow 

while the duchess sang the second verse of the song she kept tossing
the baby violently up and down and the poor little thing howled so 
that alice could hardly hear the words 

 i speak severely to my boy 
 i beat him when he sneezes 
 for he can thoroughly enjoy
 the pepper when he pleases 

 chorus 

 wow wow wow 

 here you may nurse it a bit if you like the duchess said to alice 
flinging the baby at her as she spoke i must go and get ready to play
croquet with the queen and she hurried out of the room the cook threw
a frying-pan after her as she went out but it just missed her 

alice caught the baby with some difficulty as it was a queer-shaped
little creature and held out its arms and legs in all directions just
like a star-fish thought alice the poor little thing was snorting
like a steam-engine when she caught it and kept doubling itself up and
straightening itself out again so that altogether for the first minute
or two it was as much as she could do to hold it 

as soon as she had made out the proper way of nursing it which was to
twist it up into a sort of knot and then keep tight hold of its right
ear and left foot so as to prevent its undoing itself she carried
it out into the open air if i don't take this child away with me 
thought alice they're sure to kill it in a day or two wouldn't it be
murder to leave it behind she said the last words out loud and the
little thing grunted in reply it had left off sneezing by this time 
 don't grunt said alice that's not at all a proper way of expressing
yourself 

the baby grunted again and alice looked very anxiously into its face to
see what was the matter with it there could be no doubt that it had
a very turn-up nose much more like a snout than a real nose also its
eyes were getting extremely small for a baby altogether alice did not
like the look of the thing at all but perhaps it was only sobbing 
she thought and looked into its eyes again to see if there were any
tears 

no there were no tears if you're going to turn into a pig my dear 
said alice seriously i'll have nothing more to do with you mind
now the poor little thing sobbed again or grunted it was impossible
to say which and they went on for some while in silence 

alice was just beginning to think to herself now what am i to do with
this creature when i get it home when it grunted again so violently 
that she looked down into its face in some alarm this time there could
be no mistake about it it was neither more nor less than a pig and she
felt that it would be quite absurd for her to carry it further 

so she set the little creature down and felt quite relieved to see
it trot away quietly into the wood if it had grown up she said
to herself it would have made a dreadfully ugly child but it makes
rather a handsome pig i think and she began thinking over other
children she knew who might do very well as pigs and was just saying
to herself if one only knew the right way to change them when she
was a little startled by seeing the cheshire cat sitting on a bough of a
tree a few yards off 

the cat only grinned when it saw alice it looked good-natured she
thought still it had very long claws and a great many teeth so she
felt that it ought to be treated with respect 

 cheshire puss she began rather timidly as she did not at all know
whether it would like the name however it only grinned a little wider 
 come it's pleased so far thought alice and she went on would you
tell me please which way i ought to go from here 

 that depends a good deal on where you want to get to said the cat 

 i don't much care where said alice 

 then it doesn't matter which way you go said the cat 

 so long as i get somewhere alice added as an explanation 

 oh you're sure to do that said the cat if you only walk long
enough 

alice felt that this could not be denied so she tried another question 
 what sort of people live about here 

 in that direction the cat said waving its right paw round lives
a hatter and in that direction waving the other paw lives a march
hare visit either you like they're both mad 

 but i don't want to go among mad people alice remarked 

 oh you can't help that said the cat we're all mad here i'm mad 
you're mad 

 how do you know i'm mad said alice 

 you must be said the cat or you wouldn't have come here 

alice didn't think that proved it at all however she went on and how
do you know that you're mad 

 to begin with said the cat a dog's not mad you grant that 

 i suppose so said alice 

 well then the cat went on you see a dog growls when it's angry 
and wags its tail when it's pleased now i growl when i'm pleased and
wag my tail when i'm angry therefore i'm mad 

 i call it purring not growling said alice 

 call it what you like said the cat do you play croquet with the
queen to-day 

 i should like it very much said alice but i haven't been invited
yet 

 you'll see me there said the cat and vanished 

alice was not much surprised at this she was getting so used to queer
things happening while she was looking at the place where it had been 
it suddenly appeared again 

 by-the-bye what became of the baby said the cat i'd nearly
forgotten to ask 

 it turned into a pig alice quietly said just as if it had come back
in a natural way 

 i thought it would said the cat and vanished again 

alice waited a little half expecting to see it again but it did not
appear and after a minute or two she walked on in the direction in
which the march hare was said to live i've seen hatters before she
said to herself the march hare will be much the most interesting and
perhaps as this is may it won't be raving mad at least not so mad as
it was in march as she said this she looked up and there was the cat
again sitting on a branch of a tree 

 did you say pig or fig said the cat 

 i said pig replied alice and i wish you wouldn't keep appearing and
vanishing so suddenly you make one quite giddy 

 all right said the cat and this time it vanished quite slowly 
beginning with the end of the tail and ending with the grin which
remained some time after the rest of it had gone 

 well i've often seen a cat without a grin thought alice but a grin
without a cat it's the most curious thing i ever saw in my life 

she had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the house
of the march hare she thought it must be the right house because the
chimneys were shaped like ears and the roof was thatched with fur it
was so large a house that she did not like to go nearer till she had
nibbled some more of the lefthand bit of mushroom and raised herself to
about two feet high even then she walked up towards it rather timidly 
saying to herself suppose it should be raving mad after all i almost
wish i'd gone to see the hatter instead 




chapter vii a mad tea-party

there was a table set out under a tree in front of the house and the
march hare and the hatter were having tea at it a dormouse was sitting
between them fast asleep and the other two were using it as a
cushion resting their elbows on it and talking over its head very
uncomfortable for the dormouse thought alice only as it's asleep i
suppose it doesn't mind 

the table was a large one but the three were all crowded together at
one corner of it no room no room they cried out when they saw alice
coming there's plenty of room said alice indignantly and she sat
down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table 

 have some wine the march hare said in an encouraging tone 

alice looked all round the table but there was nothing on it but tea 
 i don't see any wine she remarked 

 there isn't any said the march hare 

 then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it said alice angrily 

 it wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited said
the march hare 

 i didn't know it was your table said alice it's laid for a great
many more than three 

 your hair wants cutting said the hatter he had been looking at alice
for some time with great curiosity and this was his first speech 

 you should learn not to make personal remarks alice said with some
severity it's very rude 

the hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this but all he said
was why is a raven like a writing-desk 

 come we shall have some fun now thought alice i'm glad they've
begun asking riddles i believe i can guess that she added aloud 

 do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it said the
march hare 

 exactly so said alice 

 then you should say what you mean the march hare went on 

 i do alice hastily replied at least at least i mean what i
say that's the same thing you know 

 not the same thing a bit said the hatter you might just as well say
that i see what i eat is the same thing as i eat what i see 

 you might just as well say added the march hare that i like what i
get is the same thing as i get what i like 

 you might just as well say added the dormouse who seemed to be
talking in his sleep that i breathe when i sleep is the same thing
as i sleep when i breathe 

 it is the same thing with you said the hatter and here the
conversation dropped and the party sat silent for a minute while alice
thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing-desks 
which wasn't much 

the hatter was the first to break the silence what day of the month
is it he said turning to alice he had taken his watch out of his
pocket and was looking at it uneasily shaking it every now and then 
and holding it to his ear 

alice considered a little and then said the fourth 

 two days wrong sighed the hatter i told you butter wouldn't suit
the works he added looking angrily at the march hare 

 it was the best butter the march hare meekly replied 

 yes but some crumbs must have got in as well the hatter grumbled 
 you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife 

the march hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily then he dipped
it into his cup of tea and looked at it again but he could think of
nothing better to say than his first remark it was the best butter 
you know 

alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity what a
funny watch she remarked it tells the day of the month and doesn't
tell what o'clock it is 

 why should it muttered the hatter does your watch tell you what
year it is 

 of course not alice replied very readily but that's because it
stays the same year for such a long time together 

 which is just the case with mine said the hatter 

alice felt dreadfully puzzled the hatter's remark seemed to have no
sort of meaning in it and yet it was certainly english i don't quite
understand you she said as politely as she could 

 the dormouse is asleep again said the hatter and he poured a little
hot tea upon its nose 

the dormouse shook its head impatiently and said without opening its
eyes of course of course just what i was going to remark myself 

 have you guessed the riddle yet the hatter said turning to alice
again 

 no i give it up alice replied what's the answer 

 i haven't the slightest idea said the hatter 

 nor i said the march hare 

alice sighed wearily i think you might do something better with the
time she said than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers 

 if you knew time as well as i do said the hatter you wouldn't talk
about wasting it it's him 

 i don't know what you mean said alice 

 of course you don't the hatter said tossing his head contemptuously 
 i dare say you never even spoke to time 

 perhaps not alice cautiously replied but i know i have to beat time
when i learn music 

 ah that accounts for it said the hatter he won't stand beating 
now if you only kept on good terms with him he'd do almost anything
you liked with the clock for instance suppose it were nine o'clock in
the morning just time to begin lessons you'd only have to whisper a
hint to time and round goes the clock in a twinkling half-past one 
time for dinner 

 i only wish it was the march hare said to itself in a whisper 

 that would be grand certainly said alice thoughtfully but then i
shouldn't be hungry for it you know 

 not at first perhaps said the hatter but you could keep it to
half-past one as long as you liked 

 is that the way you manage alice asked 

the hatter shook his head mournfully not i he replied we
quarrelled last march just before he went mad you know pointing
with his tea spoon at the march hare it was at the great concert
given by the queen of hearts and i had to sing

 twinkle twinkle little bat 
 how i wonder what you're at 

you know the song perhaps 

 i've heard something like it said alice 

 it goes on you know the hatter continued in this way 

 up above the world you fly 
 like a tea-tray in the sky 
 twinkle twinkle 

here the dormouse shook itself and began singing in its sleep twinkle 
twinkle twinkle twinkle and went on so long that they had to pinch
it to make it stop 

 well i'd hardly finished the first verse said the hatter when the
queen jumped up and bawled out he's murdering the time off with his
head 

 how dreadfully savage exclaimed alice 

 and ever since that the hatter went on in a mournful tone he won't
do a thing i ask it's always six o'clock now 

a bright idea came into alice's head is that the reason so many
tea-things are put out here she asked 

 yes that's it said the hatter with a sigh it's always tea-time 
and we've no time to wash the things between whiles 

 then you keep moving round i suppose said alice 

 exactly so said the hatter as the things get used up 

 but what happens when you come to the beginning again alice ventured
to ask 

 suppose we change the subject the march hare interrupted yawning 
 i'm getting tired of this i vote the young lady tells us a story 

 i'm afraid i don't know one said alice rather alarmed at the
proposal 

 then the dormouse shall they both cried wake up dormouse and
they pinched it on both sides at once 

the dormouse slowly opened his eyes i wasn't asleep he said in a
hoarse feeble voice i heard every word you fellows were saying 

 tell us a story said the march hare 

 yes please do pleaded alice 

 and be quick about it added the hatter or you'll be asleep again
before it's done 

 once upon a time there were three little sisters the dormouse began
in a great hurry and their names were elsie lacie and tillie and
they lived at the bottom of a well 

 what did they live on said alice who always took a great interest in
questions of eating and drinking 

 they lived on treacle said the dormouse after thinking a minute or
two 

 they couldn't have done that you know alice gently remarked they'd
have been ill 

 so they were said the dormouse very ill 

alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of
living would be like but it puzzled her too much so she went on but
why did they live at the bottom of a well 

 take some more tea the march hare said to alice very earnestly 

 i've had nothing yet alice replied in an offended tone so i can't
take more 

 you mean you can't take less said the hatter it's very easy to take
more than nothing 

 nobody asked your opinion said alice 

 who's making personal remarks now the hatter asked triumphantly 

alice did not quite know what to say to this so she helped herself
to some tea and bread-and-butter and then turned to the dormouse and
repeated her question why did they live at the bottom of a well 

the dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it and then
said it was a treacle-well 

 there's no such thing alice was beginning very angrily but the
hatter and the march hare went sh sh and the dormouse sulkily
remarked if you can't be civil you'd better finish the story for
yourself 

 no please go on alice said very humbly i won't interrupt again i
dare say there may be one 

 one indeed said the dormouse indignantly however he consented to
go on and so these three little sisters they were learning to draw 
you know 

 what did they draw said alice quite forgetting her promise 

 treacle said the dormouse without considering at all this time 

 i want a clean cup interrupted the hatter let's all move one place
on 

he moved on as he spoke and the dormouse followed him the march hare
moved into the dormouse's place and alice rather unwillingly took
the place of the march hare the hatter was the only one who got any
advantage from the change and alice was a good deal worse off than
before as the march hare had just upset the milk-jug into his plate 

alice did not wish to offend the dormouse again so she began very
cautiously but i don't understand where did they draw the treacle
from 

 you can draw water out of a water-well said the hatter so i should
think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well eh stupid 

 but they were in the well alice said to the dormouse not choosing to
notice this last remark 

 of course they were said the dormouse well in 

this answer so confused poor alice that she let the dormouse go on for
some time without interrupting it 

 they were learning to draw the dormouse went on yawning and rubbing
its eyes for it was getting very sleepy and they drew all manner of
things everything that begins with an m 

 why with an m said alice 

 why not said the march hare 

alice was silent 

the dormouse had closed its eyes by this time and was going off into
a doze but on being pinched by the hatter it woke up again with
a little shriek and went on that begins with an m such as
mouse-traps and the moon and memory and muchness you know you say
things are much of a muchness did you ever see such a thing as a
drawing of a muchness 

 really now you ask me said alice very much confused i don't
think 

 then you shouldn't talk said the hatter 

this piece of rudeness was more than alice could bear she got up in
great disgust and walked off the dormouse fell asleep instantly and
neither of the others took the least notice of her going though she
looked back once or twice half hoping that they would call after her 
the last time she saw them they were trying to put the dormouse into
the teapot 

 at any rate i'll never go there again said alice as she picked her
way through the wood it's the stupidest tea-party i ever was at in all
my life 

just as she said this she noticed that one of the trees had a door
leading right into it that's very curious she thought but
everything's curious today i think i may as well go in at once and in
she went 

once more she found herself in the long hall and close to the little
glass table now i'll manage better this time she said to herself 
and began by taking the little golden key and unlocking the door that
led into the garden then she went to work nibbling at the mushroom she
had kept a piece of it in her pocket till she was about a foot high 
then she walked down the little passage and then she found herself at
last in the beautiful garden among the bright flower-beds and the cool
fountains 




chapter viii the queen's croquet-ground

a large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden the roses
growing on it were white but there were three gardeners at it busily
painting them red alice thought this a very curious thing and she went
nearer to watch them and just as she came up to them she heard one of
them say look out now five don't go splashing paint over me like
that 

 i couldn't help it said five in a sulky tone seven jogged my
elbow 

on which seven looked up and said that's right five always lay the
blame on others 

 you'd better not talk said five i heard the queen say only
yesterday you deserved to be beheaded 

 what for said the one who had spoken first 

 that's none of your business two said seven 

 yes it is his business said five and i'll tell him it was for
bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions 

seven flung down his brush and had just begun well of all the unjust
things when his eye chanced to fall upon alice as she stood watching
them and he checked himself suddenly the others looked round also and
all of them bowed low 

 would you tell me said alice a little timidly why you are painting
those roses 

five and seven said nothing but looked at two two began in a low
voice why the fact is you see miss this here ought to have been a
red rose-tree and we put a white one in by mistake and if the queen
was to find it out we should all have our heads cut off you know 
so you see miss we're doing our best afore she comes to at this
moment five who had been anxiously looking across the garden called
out the queen the queen and the three gardeners instantly threw
themselves flat upon their faces there was a sound of many footsteps 
and alice looked round eager to see the queen 

first came ten soldiers carrying clubs these were all shaped like
the three gardeners oblong and flat with their hands and feet at the
corners next the ten courtiers these were ornamented all over with
diamonds and walked two and two as the soldiers did after these came
the royal children there were ten of them and the little dears came
jumping merrily along hand in hand in couples they were all ornamented
with hearts next came the guests mostly kings and queens and among
them alice recognised the white rabbit it was talking in a hurried
nervous manner smiling at everything that was said and went by without
noticing her then followed the knave of hearts carrying the king's
crown on a crimson velvet cushion and last of all this grand
procession came the king and queen of hearts 

alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on her face
like the three gardeners but she could not remember ever having heard
of such a rule at processions and besides what would be the use of
a procession thought she if people had all to lie down upon their
faces so that they couldn't see it so she stood still where she was 
and waited 

when the procession came opposite to alice they all stopped and looked
at her and the queen said severely who is this she said it to the
knave of hearts who only bowed and smiled in reply 

 idiot said the queen tossing her head impatiently and turning to
alice she went on what's your name child 

 my name is alice so please your majesty said alice very politely 
but she added to herself why they're only a pack of cards after
all i needn't be afraid of them 

 and who are these said the queen pointing to the three gardeners who
were lying round the rosetree for you see as they were lying on their
faces and the pattern on their backs was the same as the rest of the
pack she could not tell whether they were gardeners or soldiers or
courtiers or three of her own children 

 how should i know said alice surprised at her own courage it's no
business of mine 

the queen turned crimson with fury and after glaring at her for a
moment like a wild beast screamed off with her head off 

 nonsense said alice very loudly and decidedly and the queen was
silent 

the king laid his hand upon her arm and timidly said consider my
dear she is only a child 

the queen turned angrily away from him and said to the knave turn them
over 

the knave did so very carefully with one foot 

 get up said the queen in a shrill loud voice and the three
gardeners instantly jumped up and began bowing to the king the queen 
the royal children and everybody else 

 leave off that screamed the queen you make me giddy and then 
turning to the rose-tree she went on what have you been doing here 

 may it please your majesty said two in a very humble tone going
down on one knee as he spoke we were trying 

 i see said the queen who had meanwhile been examining the roses 
 off with their heads and the procession moved on three of the
soldiers remaining behind to execute the unfortunate gardeners who ran
to alice for protection 

 you shan't be beheaded said alice and she put them into a large
flower-pot that stood near the three soldiers wandered about for a
minute or two looking for them and then quietly marched off after the
others 

 are their heads off shouted the queen 

 their heads are gone if it please your majesty the soldiers shouted
in reply 

 that's right shouted the queen can you play croquet 

the soldiers were silent and looked at alice as the question was
evidently meant for her 

 yes shouted alice 

 come on then roared the queen and alice joined the procession 
wondering very much what would happen next 

 it's it's a very fine day said a timid voice at her side she was
walking by the white rabbit who was peeping anxiously into her face 

 very said alice where's the duchess 

 hush hush said the rabbit in a low hurried tone he looked
anxiously over his shoulder as he spoke and then raised himself upon
tiptoe put his mouth close to her ear and whispered she's under
sentence of execution 

 what for said alice 

 did you say what a pity the rabbit asked 

 no i didn't said alice i don't think it's at all a pity i said
 what for 

 she boxed the queen's ears the rabbit began alice gave a little
scream of laughter oh hush the rabbit whispered in a frightened
tone the queen will hear you you see she came rather late and the
queen said 

 get to your places shouted the queen in a voice of thunder and
people began running about in all directions tumbling up against each
other however they got settled down in a minute or two and the game
began alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in
her life it was all ridges and furrows the balls were live hedgehogs 
the mallets live flamingoes and the soldiers had to double themselves
up and to stand on their hands and feet to make the arches 

the chief difficulty alice found at first was in managing her flamingo 
she succeeded in getting its body tucked away comfortably enough under
her arm with its legs hanging down but generally just as she had got
its neck nicely straightened out and was going to give the hedgehog a
blow with its head it would twist itself round and look up in her face 
with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out
laughing and when she had got its head down and was going to begin
again it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled
itself and was in the act of crawling away besides all this there was
generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she wanted to send the
hedgehog to and as the doubled-up soldiers were always getting up
and walking off to other parts of the ground alice soon came to the
conclusion that it was a very difficult game indeed 

the players all played at once without waiting for turns quarrelling
all the while and fighting for the hedgehogs and in a very short
time the queen was in a furious passion and went stamping about and
shouting off with his head or off with her head about once in a
minute 

alice began to feel very uneasy to be sure she had not as yet had any
dispute with the queen but she knew that it might happen any minute 
 and then thought she what would become of me they're dreadfully
fond of beheading people here the great wonder is that there's any one
left alive 

she was looking about for some way of escape and wondering whether she
could get away without being seen when she noticed a curious appearance
in the air it puzzled her very much at first but after watching it
a minute or two she made it out to be a grin and she said to herself
 it's the cheshire cat now i shall have somebody to talk to 

 how are you getting on said the cat as soon as there was mouth
enough for it to speak with 

alice waited till the eyes appeared and then nodded it's no use
speaking to it she thought till its ears have come or at least one
of them in another minute the whole head appeared and then alice put
down her flamingo and began an account of the game feeling very glad
she had someone to listen to her the cat seemed to think that there was
enough of it now in sight and no more of it appeared 

 i don't think they play at all fairly alice began in rather a
complaining tone and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can't hear
oneself speak and they don't seem to have any rules in particular 
at least if there are nobody attends to them and you've no idea how
confusing it is all the things being alive for instance there's the
arch i've got to go through next walking about at the other end of the
ground and i should have croqueted the queen's hedgehog just now only
it ran away when it saw mine coming 

 how do you like the queen said the cat in a low voice 

 not at all said alice she's so extremely just then she noticed
that the queen was close behind her listening so she went on 
 likely to win that it's hardly worth while finishing the game 

the queen smiled and passed on 

 who are you talking to said the king going up to alice and looking
at the cat's head with great curiosity 

 it's a friend of mine a cheshire cat said alice allow me to
introduce it 

 i don't like the look of it at all said the king however it may
kiss my hand if it likes 

 i'd rather not the cat remarked 

 don't be impertinent said the king and don't look at me like that 
he got behind alice as he spoke 

 a cat may look at a king said alice i've read that in some book 
but i don't remember where 

 well it must be removed said the king very decidedly and he called
the queen who was passing at the moment my dear i wish you would
have this cat removed 

the queen had only one way of settling all difficulties great or small 
 off with his head she said without even looking round 

 i'll fetch the executioner myself said the king eagerly and he
hurried off 

alice thought she might as well go back and see how the game was going
on as she heard the queen's voice in the distance screaming with
passion she had already heard her sentence three of the players to be
executed for having missed their turns and she did not like the look
of things at all as the game was in such confusion that she never knew
whether it was her turn or not so she went in search of her hedgehog 

the hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog which seemed
to alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one of them with the
other the only difficulty was that her flamingo was gone across to the
other side of the garden where alice could see it trying in a helpless
sort of way to fly up into a tree 

by the time she had caught the flamingo and brought it back the fight
was over and both the hedgehogs were out of sight but it doesn't
matter much thought alice as all the arches are gone from this side
of the ground so she tucked it away under her arm that it might not
escape again and went back for a little more conversation with her
friend 

when she got back to the cheshire cat she was surprised to find quite a
large crowd collected round it there was a dispute going on between
the executioner the king and the queen who were all talking at once 
while all the rest were quite silent and looked very uncomfortable 

the moment alice appeared she was appealed to by all three to settle
the question and they repeated their arguments to her though as they
all spoke at once she found it very hard indeed to make out exactly
what they said 

the executioner's argument was that you couldn't cut off a head unless
there was a body to cut it off from that he had never had to do such a
thing before and he wasn't going to begin at his time of life 

the king's argument was that anything that had a head could be
beheaded and that you weren't to talk nonsense 

the queen's argument was that if something wasn't done about it in less
than no time she'd have everybody executed all round it was this last
remark that had made the whole party look so grave and anxious 

alice could think of nothing else to say but it belongs to the duchess 
you'd better ask her about it 

 she's in prison the queen said to the executioner fetch her here 
and the executioner went off like an arrow 

 the cat's head began fading away the moment he was gone and 
by the time he had come back with the duchess it had entirely
disappeared so the king and the executioner ran wildly up and down
looking for it while the rest of the party went back to the game 




chapter ix the mock turtle's story

 you can't think how glad i am to see you again you dear old thing 
said the duchess as she tucked her arm affectionately into alice's and
they walked off together 

alice was very glad to find her in such a pleasant temper and thought
to herself that perhaps it was only the pepper that had made her so
savage when they met in the kitchen 

 when i'm a duchess she said to herself not in a very hopeful tone
though i won't have any pepper in my kitchen at all soup does very
well without maybe it's always pepper that makes people hot-tempered 
she went on very much pleased at having found out a new kind of
rule and vinegar that makes them sour and camomile that makes
them bitter and and barley-sugar and such things that make children
sweet-tempered i only wish people knew that then they wouldn't be so
stingy about it you know 

she had quite forgotten the duchess by this time and was a little
startled when she heard her voice close to her ear you're thinking
about something my dear and that makes you forget to talk i can't
tell you just now what the moral of that is but i shall remember it in
a bit 

 perhaps it hasn't one alice ventured to remark 

 tut tut child said the duchess everything's got a moral if only
you can find it and she squeezed herself up closer to alice's side as
she spoke 

alice did not much like keeping so close to her first because the
duchess was very ugly and secondly because she was exactly the
right height to rest her chin upon alice's shoulder and it was an
uncomfortably sharp chin however she did not like to be rude so she
bore it as well as she could 

 the game's going on rather better now she said by way of keeping up
the conversation a little 

 'tis so said the duchess and the moral of that is oh tis love 
 tis love that makes the world go round 

 somebody said alice whispered that it's done by everybody minding
their own business 

 ah well it means much the same thing said the duchess digging her
sharp little chin into alice's shoulder as she added and the moral
of that is take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of
themselves 

 how fond she is of finding morals in things alice thought to herself 

 i dare say you're wondering why i don't put my arm round your waist 
the duchess said after a pause the reason is that i'm doubtful about
the temper of your flamingo shall i try the experiment 

 he might bite alice cautiously replied not feeling at all anxious to
have the experiment tried 

 very true said the duchess flamingoes and mustard both bite and
the moral of that is birds of a feather flock together 

 only mustard isn't a bird alice remarked 

 right as usual said the duchess what a clear way you have of
putting things 

 it's a mineral i think said alice 

 of course it is said the duchess who seemed ready to agree to
everything that alice said there's a large mustard-mine near here and
the moral of that is the more there is of mine the less there is of
yours 

 oh i know exclaimed alice who had not attended to this last remark 
 it's a vegetable it doesn't look like one but it is 

 i quite agree with you said the duchess and the moral of that
is be what you would seem to be or if you'd like it put more
simply never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might
appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise
than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise 

 i think i should understand that better alice said very politely if
i had it written down but i can't quite follow it as you say it 

 that's nothing to what i could say if i chose the duchess replied in
a pleased tone 

 pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that said
alice 

 oh don't talk about trouble said the duchess i make you a present
of everything i've said as yet 

 a cheap sort of present thought alice i'm glad they don't give
birthday presents like that but she did not venture to say it out
loud 

 thinking again the duchess asked with another dig of her sharp
little chin 

 i've a right to think said alice sharply for she was beginning to
feel a little worried 

 just about as much right said the duchess as pigs have to fly and
the m 

but here to alice's great surprise the duchess's voice died away even
in the middle of her favourite word moral and the arm that was linked
into hers began to tremble alice looked up and there stood the queen
in front of them with her arms folded frowning like a thunderstorm 

 a fine day your majesty the duchess began in a low weak voice 

 now i give you fair warning shouted the queen stamping on the
ground as she spoke either you or your head must be off and that in
about half no time take your choice 

the duchess took her choice and was gone in a moment 

 let's go on with the game the queen said to alice and alice was
too much frightened to say a word but slowly followed her back to the
croquet-ground 

the other guests had taken advantage of the queen's absence and were
resting in the shade however the moment they saw her they hurried
back to the game the queen merely remarking that a moment's delay would
cost them their lives 

all the time they were playing the queen never left off quarrelling with
the other players and shouting off with his head or off with her
head those whom she sentenced were taken into custody by the soldiers 
who of course had to leave off being arches to do this so that by
the end of half an hour or so there were no arches left and all the
players except the king the queen and alice were in custody and
under sentence of execution 

then the queen left off quite out of breath and said to alice have
you seen the mock turtle yet 

 no said alice i don't even know what a mock turtle is 

 it's the thing mock turtle soup is made from said the queen 

 i never saw one or heard of one said alice 

 come on then said the queen and he shall tell you his history 

as they walked off together alice heard the king say in a low voice 
to the company generally you are all pardoned come that's a good
thing she said to herself for she had felt quite unhappy at the
number of executions the queen had ordered 

they very soon came upon a gryphon lying fast asleep in the sun 
 if you don't know what a gryphon is look at the picture up lazy
thing said the queen and take this young lady to see the mock
turtle and to hear his history i must go back and see after some
executions i have ordered and she walked off leaving alice alone with
the gryphon alice did not quite like the look of the creature but on
the whole she thought it would be quite as safe to stay with it as to go
after that savage queen so she waited 

the gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes then it watched the queen till
she was out of sight then it chuckled what fun said the gryphon 
half to itself half to alice 

 what is the fun said alice 

 why she said the gryphon it's all her fancy that they never
executes nobody you know come on 

 everybody says come on here thought alice as she went slowly
after it i never was so ordered about in all my life never 

they had not gone far before they saw the mock turtle in the distance 
sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock and as they came
nearer alice could hear him sighing as if his heart would break she
pitied him deeply what is his sorrow she asked the gryphon and the
gryphon answered very nearly in the same words as before it's all his
fancy that he hasn't got no sorrow you know come on 

so they went up to the mock turtle who looked at them with large eyes
full of tears but said nothing 

 this here young lady said the gryphon she wants for to know your
history she do 

 i'll tell it her said the mock turtle in a deep hollow tone sit
down both of you and don't speak a word till i've finished 

so they sat down and nobody spoke for some minutes alice thought to
herself i don't see how he can even finish if he doesn't begin but
she waited patiently 

 once said the mock turtle at last with a deep sigh i was a real
turtle 

these words were followed by a very long silence broken only by an
occasional exclamation of hjckrrh from the gryphon and the constant
heavy sobbing of the mock turtle alice was very nearly getting up and
saying thank you sir for your interesting story but she could
not help thinking there must be more to come so she sat still and said
nothing 

 when we were little the mock turtle went on at last more calmly 
though still sobbing a little now and then we went to school in the
sea the master was an old turtle we used to call him tortoise 

 why did you call him tortoise if he wasn't one alice asked 

 we called him tortoise because he taught us said the mock turtle
angrily really you are very dull 

 you ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple question 
added the gryphon and then they both sat silent and looked at poor
alice who felt ready to sink into the earth at last the gryphon said
to the mock turtle drive on old fellow don't be all day about it 
and he went on in these words 

 yes we went to school in the sea though you mayn't believe it 

 i never said i didn't interrupted alice 

 you did said the mock turtle 

 hold your tongue added the gryphon before alice could speak again 
the mock turtle went on 

 we had the best of educations in fact we went to school every day 

 i've been to a day-school too said alice you needn't be so proud
as all that 

 with extras asked the mock turtle a little anxiously 

 yes said alice we learned french and music 

 and washing said the mock turtle 

 certainly not said alice indignantly 

 ah then yours wasn't a really good school said the mock turtle in
a tone of great relief now at ours they had at the end of the bill 
 french music and washing extra 

 you couldn't have wanted it much said alice living at the bottom of
the sea 

 i couldn't afford to learn it said the mock turtle with a sigh i
only took the regular course 

 what was that inquired alice 

 reeling and writhing of course to begin with the mock turtle
replied and then the different branches of arithmetic ambition 
distraction uglification and derision 

 i never heard of uglification alice ventured to say what is it 

the gryphon lifted up both its paws in surprise what never heard of
uglifying it exclaimed you know what to beautify is i suppose 

 yes said alice doubtfully it means to make anything prettier 

 well then the gryphon went on if you don't know what to uglify is 
you are a simpleton 

alice did not feel encouraged to ask any more questions about it so she
turned to the mock turtle and said what else had you to learn 

 well there was mystery the mock turtle replied counting off
the subjects on his flappers mystery ancient and modern with
seaography then drawling the drawling-master was an old conger-eel 
that used to come once a week he taught us drawling stretching and
fainting in coils 

 what was that like said alice 

 well i can't show it you myself the mock turtle said i'm too
stiff and the gryphon never learnt it 

 hadn't time said the gryphon i went to the classics master though 
he was an old crab he was 

 i never went to him the mock turtle said with a sigh he taught
laughing and grief they used to say 

 so he did so he did said the gryphon sighing in his turn and both
creatures hid their faces in their paws 

 and how many hours a day did you do lessons said alice in a hurry to
change the subject 

 ten hours the first day said the mock turtle nine the next and so
on 

 what a curious plan exclaimed alice 

 that's the reason they're called lessons the gryphon remarked 
 because they lessen from day to day 

this was quite a new idea to alice and she thought it over a little
before she made her next remark then the eleventh day must have been a
holiday 

 of course it was said the mock turtle 

 and how did you manage on the twelfth alice went on eagerly 

 that's enough about lessons the gryphon interrupted in a very decided
tone tell her something about the games now 




chapter x the lobster quadrille

the mock turtle sighed deeply and drew the back of one flapper across
his eyes he looked at alice and tried to speak but for a minute or
two sobs choked his voice same as if he had a bone in his throat 
said the gryphon and it set to work shaking him and punching him in
the back at last the mock turtle recovered his voice and with tears
running down his cheeks he went on again 

 you may not have lived much under the sea i haven't said
alice and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster 
 alice began to say i once tasted but checked herself hastily and
said no never so you can have no idea what a delightful thing a
lobster quadrille is 

 no indeed said alice what sort of a dance is it 

 why said the gryphon you first form into a line along the
sea-shore 

 two lines cried the mock turtle seals turtles salmon and so on 
then when you've cleared all the jelly-fish out of the way 

 that generally takes some time interrupted the gryphon 

 you advance twice 

 each with a lobster as a partner cried the gryphon 

 of course the mock turtle said advance twice set to partners 

 change lobsters and retire in same order continued the gryphon 

 then you know the mock turtle went on you throw the 

 the lobsters shouted the gryphon with a bound into the air 

 as far out to sea as you can 

 swim after them screamed the gryphon 

 turn a somersault in the sea cried the mock turtle capering wildly
about 

 change lobsters again yelled the gryphon at the top of its voice 

 back to land again and that's all the first figure said the mock
turtle suddenly dropping his voice and the two creatures who had been
jumping about like mad things all this time sat down again very sadly
and quietly and looked at alice 

 it must be a very pretty dance said alice timidly 

 would you like to see a little of it said the mock turtle 

 very much indeed said alice 

 come let's try the first figure said the mock turtle to the gryphon 
 we can do without lobsters you know which shall sing 

 oh you sing said the gryphon i've forgotten the words 

so they began solemnly dancing round and round alice every now and
then treading on her toes when they passed too close and waving their
forepaws to mark the time while the mock turtle sang this very slowly
and sadly 

 will you walk a little faster said a whiting to a snail 
 there's a porpoise close behind us and he's treading on my tail 

 see how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance 
 they are waiting on the shingle will you come and join the dance 

 will you won't you will you won't you will you join the dance 
 will you won't you will you won't you won't you join the dance 

 you can really have no notion how delightful it will be
 when they take us up and throw us with the lobsters out to sea 
 but the snail replied too far too far and gave a look askance 
 said he thanked the whiting kindly but he would not join the dance 

 would not could not would not could not would not join the dance 
 would not could not would not could not could not join the dance 

 what matters it how far we go his scaly friend replied 
 there is another shore you know upon the other side 
 the further off from england the nearer is to france 
 then turn not pale beloved snail but come and join the dance 

 will you won't you will you won't you will you join the dance 
 will you won't you will you won't you won't you join the dance 

 thank you it's a very interesting dance to watch said alice feeling
very glad that it was over at last and i do so like that curious song
about the whiting 

 oh as to the whiting said the mock turtle they you've seen them 
of course 

 yes said alice i've often seen them at dinn she checked herself
hastily 

 i don't know where dinn may be said the mock turtle but if you've
seen them so often of course you know what they're like 

 i believe so alice replied thoughtfully they have their tails in
their mouths and they're all over crumbs 

 you're wrong about the crumbs said the mock turtle crumbs would all
wash off in the sea but they have their tails in their mouths and the
reason is here the mock turtle yawned and shut his eyes tell her
about the reason and all that he said to the gryphon 

 the reason is said the gryphon that they would go with the lobsters
to the dance so they got thrown out to sea so they had to fall a long
way so they got their tails fast in their mouths so they couldn't get
them out again that's all 

 thank you said alice it's very interesting i never knew so much
about a whiting before 

 i can tell you more than that if you like said the gryphon do you
know why it's called a whiting 

 i never thought about it said alice why 

 it does the boots and shoes the gryphon replied very solemnly 

alice was thoroughly puzzled does the boots and shoes she repeated
in a wondering tone 

 why what are your shoes done with said the gryphon i mean what
makes them so shiny 

alice looked down at them and considered a little before she gave her
answer they're done with blacking i believe 

 boots and shoes under the sea the gryphon went on in a deep voice 
 are done with a whiting now you know 

 and what are they made of alice asked in a tone of great curiosity 

 soles and eels of course the gryphon replied rather impatiently 
 any shrimp could have told you that 

 if i'd been the whiting said alice whose thoughts were still running
on the song i'd have said to the porpoise keep back please we
don't want you with us 

 they were obliged to have him with them the mock turtle said no
wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise 

 wouldn't it really said alice in a tone of great surprise 

 of course not said the mock turtle why if a fish came to me and
told me he was going a journey i should say with what porpoise 

 don't you mean purpose said alice 

 i mean what i say the mock turtle replied in an offended tone and
the gryphon added come let's hear some of your adventures 

 i could tell you my adventures beginning from this morning said
alice a little timidly but it's no use going back to yesterday 
because i was a different person then 

 explain all that said the mock turtle 

 no no the adventures first said the gryphon in an impatient tone 
 explanations take such a dreadful time 

so alice began telling them her adventures from the time when she first
saw the white rabbit she was a little nervous about it just at first 
the two creatures got so close to her one on each side and opened
their eyes and mouths so very wide but she gained courage as she went
on her listeners were perfectly quiet till she got to the part about
her repeating you are old father william to the caterpillar and the
words all coming different and then the mock turtle drew a long breath 
and said that's very curious 

 it's all about as curious as it can be said the gryphon 

 it all came different the mock turtle repeated thoughtfully i
should like to hear her try and repeat something now tell her to
begin he looked at the gryphon as if he thought it had some kind of
authority over alice 

 stand up and repeat tis the voice of the sluggard said the
gryphon 

 how the creatures order one about and make one repeat lessons 
thought alice i might as well be at school at once however she
got up and began to repeat it but her head was so full of the lobster
quadrille that she hardly knew what she was saying and the words came
very queer indeed 

 'tis the voice of the lobster i heard him declare 
 you have baked me too brown i must sugar my hair 
 as a duck with its eyelids so he with his nose
 trims his belt and his buttons and turns out his toes 

 later editions continued as follows
 when the sands are all dry he is gay as a lark 
 and will talk in contemptuous tones of the shark 
 but when the tide rises and sharks are around 
 his voice has a timid and tremulous sound 

 that's different from what i used to say when i was a child said the
gryphon 

 well i never heard it before said the mock turtle but it sounds
uncommon nonsense 

alice said nothing she had sat down with her face in her hands 
wondering if anything would ever happen in a natural way again 

 i should like to have it explained said the mock turtle 

 she can't explain it said the gryphon hastily go on with the next
verse 

 but about his toes the mock turtle persisted how could he turn them
out with his nose you know 

 it's the first position in dancing alice said but was dreadfully
puzzled by the whole thing and longed to change the subject 

 go on with the next verse the gryphon repeated impatiently it
begins i passed by his garden 

alice did not dare to disobey though she felt sure it would all come
wrong and she went on in a trembling voice 

 i passed by his garden and marked with one eye 
 how the owl and the panther were sharing a pie 

 later editions continued as follows
 the panther took pie-crust and gravy and meat 
 while the owl had the dish as its share of the treat 
 when the pie was all finished the owl as a boon 
 was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon 
 while the panther received knife and fork with a growl 
 and concluded the banquet 

 what is the use of repeating all that stuff the mock turtle
interrupted if you don't explain it as you go on it's by far the most
confusing thing i ever heard 

 yes i think you'd better leave off said the gryphon and alice was
only too glad to do so 

 shall we try another figure of the lobster quadrille the gryphon went
on or would you like the mock turtle to sing you a song 

 oh a song please if the mock turtle would be so kind alice
replied so eagerly that the gryphon said in a rather offended tone 
 hm no accounting for tastes sing her turtle soup will you old
fellow 

the mock turtle sighed deeply and began in a voice sometimes choked
with sobs to sing this 

 beautiful soup so rich and green 
 waiting in a hot tureen 
 who for such dainties would not stoop 
 soup of the evening beautiful soup 
 soup of the evening beautiful soup 
 beau ootiful soo oop 
 beau ootiful soo oop 
 soo oop of the e e evening 
 beautiful beautiful soup 

 beautiful soup who cares for fish 
 game or any other dish 
 who would not give all else for two
 pennyworth only of beautiful soup 
 pennyworth only of beautiful soup 
 beau ootiful soo oop 
 beau ootiful soo oop 
 soo oop of the e e evening 
 beautiful beauti ful soup 

 chorus again cried the gryphon and the mock turtle had just begun
to repeat it when a cry of the trial's beginning was heard in the
distance 

 come on cried the gryphon and taking alice by the hand it hurried
off without waiting for the end of the song 

 what trial is it alice panted as she ran but the gryphon only
answered come on and ran the faster while more and more faintly
came carried on the breeze that followed them the melancholy words 

 soo oop of the e e evening 
 beautiful beautiful soup 




chapter xi who stole the tarts 

the king and queen of hearts were seated on their throne when they
arrived with a great crowd assembled about them all sorts of little
birds and beasts as well as the whole pack of cards the knave was
standing before them in chains with a soldier on each side to guard
him and near the king was the white rabbit with a trumpet in one hand 
and a scroll of parchment in the other in the very middle of the court
was a table with a large dish of tarts upon it they looked so good 
that it made alice quite hungry to look at them i wish they'd get the
trial done she thought and hand round the refreshments but there
seemed to be no chance of this so she began looking at everything about
her to pass away the time 

alice had never been in a court of justice before but she had read
about them in books and she was quite pleased to find that she knew
the name of nearly everything there that's the judge she said to
herself because of his great wig 

the judge by the way was the king and as he wore his crown over the
wig look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it he did
not look at all comfortable and it was certainly not becoming 

 and that's the jury-box thought alice and those twelve creatures 
 she was obliged to say creatures you see because some of them were
animals and some were birds i suppose they are the jurors she said
this last word two or three times over to herself being rather proud of
it for she thought and rightly too that very few little girls of her
age knew the meaning of it at all however jury-men would have done
just as well 

the twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates what are they
doing alice whispered to the gryphon they can't have anything to put
down yet before the trial's begun 

 they're putting down their names the gryphon whispered in reply for
fear they should forget them before the end of the trial 

 stupid things alice began in a loud indignant voice but she stopped
hastily for the white rabbit cried out silence in the court and the
king put on his spectacles and looked anxiously round to make out who
was talking 

alice could see as well as if she were looking over their shoulders 
that all the jurors were writing down stupid things on their slates 
and she could even make out that one of them didn't know how to spell
 stupid and that he had to ask his neighbour to tell him a nice
muddle their slates'll be in before the trial's over thought alice 

one of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked this of course alice
could not stand and she went round the court and got behind him and
very soon found an opportunity of taking it away she did it so quickly
that the poor little juror it was bill the lizard could not make out
at all what had become of it so after hunting all about for it he was
obliged to write with one finger for the rest of the day and this was
of very little use as it left no mark on the slate 

 herald read the accusation said the king 

on this the white rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet and then
unrolled the parchment scroll and read as follows 

 the queen of hearts she made some tarts 
 all on a summer day 
 the knave of hearts he stole those tarts 
 and took them quite away 

 consider your verdict the king said to the jury 

 not yet not yet the rabbit hastily interrupted there's a great
deal to come before that 

 call the first witness said the king and the white rabbit blew three
blasts on the trumpet and called out first witness 

the first witness was the hatter he came in with a teacup in one
hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other i beg pardon your
majesty he began for bringing these in but i hadn't quite finished
my tea when i was sent for 

 you ought to have finished said the king when did you begin 

the hatter looked at the march hare who had followed him into the
court arm-in-arm with the dormouse fourteenth of march i think it
was he said 

 fifteenth said the march hare 

 sixteenth added the dormouse 

 write that down the king said to the jury and the jury eagerly
wrote down all three dates on their slates and then added them up and
reduced the answer to shillings and pence 

 take off your hat the king said to the hatter 

 it isn't mine said the hatter 

 stolen the king exclaimed turning to the jury who instantly made a
memorandum of the fact 

 i keep them to sell the hatter added as an explanation i've none of
my own i'm a hatter 

here the queen put on her spectacles and began staring at the hatter 
who turned pale and fidgeted 

 give your evidence said the king and don't be nervous or i'll have
you executed on the spot 

this did not seem to encourage the witness at all he kept shifting
from one foot to the other looking uneasily at the queen and in
his confusion he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the
bread-and-butter 

just at this moment alice felt a very curious sensation which puzzled
her a good deal until she made out what it was she was beginning to
grow larger again and she thought at first she would get up and leave
the court but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as
long as there was room for her 

 i wish you wouldn't squeeze so said the dormouse who was sitting
next to her i can hardly breathe 

 i can't help it said alice very meekly i'm growing 

 you've no right to grow here said the dormouse 

 don't talk nonsense said alice more boldly you know you're growing
too 

 yes but i grow at a reasonable pace said the dormouse not in that
ridiculous fashion and he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the
other side of the court 

all this time the queen had never left off staring at the hatter and 
just as the dormouse crossed the court she said to one of the officers
of the court bring me the list of the singers in the last concert on
which the wretched hatter trembled so that he shook both his shoes off 

 give your evidence the king repeated angrily or i'll have you
executed whether you're nervous or not 

 i'm a poor man your majesty the hatter began in a trembling voice 
 and i hadn't begun my tea not above a week or so and what with the
bread-and-butter getting so thin and the twinkling of the tea 

 the twinkling of the what said the king 

 it began with the tea the hatter replied 

 of course twinkling begins with a t said the king sharply do you
take me for a dunce go on 

 i'm a poor man the hatter went on and most things twinkled after
that only the march hare said 

 i didn't the march hare interrupted in a great hurry 

 you did said the hatter 

 i deny it said the march hare 

 he denies it said the king leave out that part 

 well at any rate the dormouse said the hatter went on looking
anxiously round to see if he would deny it too but the dormouse denied
nothing being fast asleep 

 after that continued the hatter i cut some more bread-and-butter 

 but what did the dormouse say one of the jury asked 

 that i can't remember said the hatter 

 you must remember remarked the king or i'll have you executed 

the miserable hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter and went
down on one knee i'm a poor man your majesty he began 

 you're a very poor speaker said the king 

here one of the guinea-pigs cheered and was immediately suppressed by
the officers of the court as that is rather a hard word i will just
explain to you how it was done they had a large canvas bag which tied
up at the mouth with strings into this they slipped the guinea-pig 
head first and then sat upon it 

 i'm glad i've seen that done thought alice i've so often read
in the newspapers at the end of trials there was some attempts
at applause which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the
court and i never understood what it meant till now 

 if that's all you know about it you may stand down continued the
king 

 i can't go no lower said the hatter i'm on the floor as it is 

 then you may sit down the king replied 

here the other guinea-pig cheered and was suppressed 

 come that finished the guinea-pigs thought alice now we shall get
on better 

 i'd rather finish my tea said the hatter with an anxious look at the
queen who was reading the list of singers 

 you may go said the king and the hatter hurriedly left the court 
without even waiting to put his shoes on 

 and just take his head off outside the queen added to one of the
officers but the hatter was out of sight before the officer could get
to the door 

 call the next witness said the king 

the next witness was the duchess's cook she carried the pepper-box in
her hand and alice guessed who it was even before she got into the
court by the way the people near the door began sneezing all at once 

 give your evidence said the king 

 shan't said the cook 

the king looked anxiously at the white rabbit who said in a low voice 
 your majesty must cross-examine this witness 

 well if i must i must the king said with a melancholy air and 
after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till his eyes were
nearly out of sight he said in a deep voice what are tarts made of 

 pepper mostly said the cook 

 treacle said a sleepy voice behind her 

 collar that dormouse the queen shrieked out behead that dormouse 
turn that dormouse out of court suppress him pinch him off with his
whiskers 

for some minutes the whole court was in confusion getting the dormouse
turned out and by the time they had settled down again the cook had
disappeared 

 never mind said the king with an air of great relief call the next
witness and he added in an undertone to the queen really my dear 
you must cross-examine the next witness it quite makes my forehead
ache 

alice watched the white rabbit as he fumbled over the list feeling very
curious to see what the next witness would be like for they haven't
got much evidence yet she said to herself imagine her surprise when
the white rabbit read out at the top of his shrill little voice the
name alice 




chapter xii alice's evidence


 here cried alice quite forgetting in the flurry of the moment how
large she had grown in the last few minutes and she jumped up in such
a hurry that she tipped over the jury-box with the edge of her skirt 
upsetting all the jurymen on to the heads of the crowd below and there
they lay sprawling about reminding her very much of a globe of goldfish
she had accidentally upset the week before 

 oh i beg your pardon she exclaimed in a tone of great dismay and
began picking them up again as quickly as she could for the accident of
the goldfish kept running in her head and she had a vague sort of idea
that they must be collected at once and put back into the jury-box or
they would die 

 the trial cannot proceed said the king in a very grave voice until
all the jurymen are back in their proper places all he repeated with
great emphasis looking hard at alice as he said do 

alice looked at the jury-box and saw that in her haste she had put
the lizard in head downwards and the poor little thing was waving its
tail about in a melancholy way being quite unable to move she soon got
it out again and put it right not that it signifies much she said
to herself i should think it would be quite as much use in the trial
one way up as the other 

as soon as the jury had a little recovered from the shock of being
upset and their slates and pencils had been found and handed back to
them they set to work very diligently to write out a history of the
accident all except the lizard who seemed too much overcome to do
anything but sit with its mouth open gazing up into the roof of the
court 

 what do you know about this business the king said to alice 

 nothing said alice 

 nothing whatever persisted the king 

 nothing whatever said alice 

 that's very important the king said turning to the jury they were
just beginning to write this down on their slates when the white rabbit
interrupted unimportant your majesty means of course he said in a
very respectful tone but frowning and making faces at him as he spoke 

 unimportant of course i meant the king hastily said and went on
to himself in an undertone 

 important unimportant unimportant important as if he were trying
which word sounded best 

some of the jury wrote it down important and some unimportant 
alice could see this as she was near enough to look over their slates 
 but it doesn't matter a bit she thought to herself 

at this moment the king who had been for some time busily writing in
his note-book cackled out silence and read out from his book rule
forty-two all persons more than a mile high to leave the court 

everybody looked at alice 

 i'm not a mile high said alice 

 you are said the king 

 nearly two miles high added the queen 

 well i shan't go at any rate said alice besides that's not a
regular rule you invented it just now 

 it's the oldest rule in the book said the king 

 then it ought to be number one said alice 

the king turned pale and shut his note-book hastily consider your
verdict he said to the jury in a low trembling voice 

 there's more evidence to come yet please your majesty said the white
rabbit jumping up in a great hurry this paper has just been picked
up 

 what's in it said the queen 

 i haven't opened it yet said the white rabbit but it seems to be a
letter written by the prisoner to to somebody 

 it must have been that said the king unless it was written to
nobody which isn't usual you know 

 who is it directed to said one of the jurymen 

 it isn't directed at all said the white rabbit in fact there's
nothing written on the outside he unfolded the paper as he spoke and
added it isn't a letter after all it's a set of verses 

 are they in the prisoner's handwriting asked another of the jurymen 

 no they're not said the white rabbit and that's the queerest thing
about it the jury all looked puzzled 

 he must have imitated somebody else's hand said the king the jury
all brightened up again 

 please your majesty said the knave i didn't write it and they
can't prove i did there's no name signed at the end 

 if you didn't sign it said the king that only makes the matter
worse you must have meant some mischief or else you'd have signed your
name like an honest man 

there was a general clapping of hands at this it was the first really
clever thing the king had said that day 

 that proves his guilt said the queen 

 it proves nothing of the sort said alice why you don't even know
what they're about 

 read them said the king 

the white rabbit put on his spectacles where shall i begin please
your majesty he asked 

 begin at the beginning the king said gravely and go on till you
come to the end then stop 

these were the verses the white rabbit read 

 they told me you had been to her 
 and mentioned me to him 
 she gave me a good character 
 but said i could not swim 

 he sent them word i had not gone
 we know it to be true 
 if she should push the matter on 
 what would become of you 

 i gave her one they gave him two 
 you gave us three or more 
 they all returned from him to you 
 though they were mine before 

 if i or she should chance to be
 involved in this affair 
 he trusts to you to set them free 
 exactly as we were 

 my notion was that you had been
 before she had this fit 
 an obstacle that came between
 him and ourselves and it 

 don't let him know she liked them best 
 for this must ever be
 a secret kept from all the rest 
 between yourself and me 

 that's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet said the
king rubbing his hands so now let the jury 

 if any one of them can explain it said alice she had grown so large
in the last few minutes that she wasn't a bit afraid of interrupting
him i'll give him sixpence i don't believe there's an atom of
meaning in it 

the jury all wrote down on their slates she doesn't believe there's an
atom of meaning in it but none of them attempted to explain the paper 

 if there's no meaning in it said the king that saves a world of
trouble you know as we needn't try to find any and yet i don't know 
he went on spreading out the verses on his knee and looking at them
with one eye i seem to see some meaning in them after all said
i could not swim you can't swim can you he added turning to the
knave 

the knave shook his head sadly do i look like it he said which he
certainly did not being made entirely of cardboard 

 all right so far said the king and he went on muttering over
the verses to himself we know it to be true that's the jury of
course i gave her one they gave him two why that must be what he
did with the tarts you know 

 but it goes on they all returned from him to you said alice 

 why there they are said the king triumphantly pointing to the tarts
on the table nothing can be clearer than that then again before she
had this fit you never had fits my dear i think he said to the
queen 

 never said the queen furiously throwing an inkstand at the lizard
as she spoke the unfortunate little bill had left off writing on his
slate with one finger as he found it made no mark but he now hastily
began again using the ink that was trickling down his face as long as
it lasted 

 then the words don't fit you said the king looking round the court
with a smile there was a dead silence 

 it's a pun the king added in an offended tone and everybody laughed 
 let the jury consider their verdict the king said for about the
twentieth time that day 

 no no said the queen sentence first verdict afterwards 

 stuff and nonsense said alice loudly the idea of having the
sentence first 

 hold your tongue said the queen turning purple 

 i won't said alice 

 off with her head the queen shouted at the top of her voice nobody
moved 

 who cares for you said alice she had grown to her full size by this
time you're nothing but a pack of cards 

at this the whole pack rose up into the air and came flying down upon
her she gave a little scream half of fright and half of anger and
tried to beat them off and found herself lying on the bank with her
head in the lap of her sister who was gently brushing away some dead
leaves that had fluttered down from the trees upon her face 

 wake up alice dear said her sister why what a long sleep you've
had 

 oh i've had such a curious dream said alice and she told her
sister as well as she could remember them all these strange adventures
of hers that you have just been reading about and when she had
finished her sister kissed her and said it was a curious dream 
dear certainly but now run in to your tea it's getting late so
alice got up and ran off thinking while she ran as well she might 
what a wonderful dream it had been 

but her sister sat still just as she left her leaning her head on her
hand watching the setting sun and thinking of little alice and all her
wonderful adventures till she too began dreaming after a fashion and
this was her dream 

first she dreamed of little alice herself and once again the tiny
hands were clasped upon her knee and the bright eager eyes were looking
up into hers she could hear the very tones of her voice and see that
queer little toss of her head to keep back the wandering hair that
would always get into her eyes and still as she listened or seemed to
listen the whole place around her became alive with the strange creatures
of her little sister's dream 

the long grass rustled at her feet as the white rabbit hurried by the
frightened mouse splashed his way through the neighbouring pool she
could hear the rattle of the teacups as the march hare and his friends
shared their never-ending meal and the shrill voice of the queen
ordering off her unfortunate guests to execution once more the pig-baby
was sneezing on the duchess's knee while plates and dishes crashed
around it once more the shriek of the gryphon the squeaking of the
lizard's slate-pencil and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs 
filled the air mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable mock
turtle 

so she sat on with closed eyes and half believed herself in
wonderland though she knew she had but to open them again and all
would change to dull reality the grass would be only rustling in the
wind and the pool rippling to the waving of the reeds the rattling
teacups would change to tinkling sheep-bells and the queen's shrill
cries to the voice of the shepherd boy and the sneeze of the baby the
shriek of the gryphon and all the other queer noises would change she
knew to the confused clamour of the busy farm-yard while the lowing
of the cattle in the distance would take the place of the mock turtle's
heavy sobs 

lastly she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers
would in the after-time be herself a grown woman and how she would
keep through all her riper years the simple and loving heart of her
childhood and how she would gather about her other little children and
make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale perhaps even
with the dream of wonderland of long ago and how she would feel with
all their simple sorrows and find a pleasure in all their simple joys 
remembering her own child-life and the happy summer days 

 the end
 dracula

 by 

 bram stoker


 to

 my dear friend

 hommy-beg



chapter i

jonathan harker's journal

 kept in shorthand 


 3 may bistritz left munich at 8 35 p m on 1st may arriving at
vienna early next morning should have arrived at 6 46 but train was an
hour late buda-pesth seems a wonderful place from the glimpse which i
got of it from the train and the little i could walk through the
streets i feared to go very far from the station as we had arrived
late and would start as near the correct time as possible the
impression i had was that we were leaving the west and entering the
east the most western of splendid bridges over the danube which is
here of noble width and depth took us among the traditions of turkish
rule 

we left in pretty good time and came after nightfall to klausenburgh 
here i stopped for the night at the hotel royale i had for dinner or
rather supper a chicken done up some way with red pepper which was
very good but thirsty mem get recipe for mina i asked the
waiter and he said it was called  paprika hendl   and that as it was a
national dish i should be able to get it anywhere along the
carpathians i found my smattering of german very useful here indeed i
don't know how i should be able to get on without it 

having had some time at my disposal when in london i had visited the
british museum and made search among the books and maps in the library
regarding transylvania it had struck me that some foreknowledge of the
country could hardly fail to have some importance in dealing with a
nobleman of that country i find that the district he named is in the
extreme east of the country just on the borders of three states 
transylvania moldavia and bukovina in the midst of the carpathian
mountains one of the wildest and least known portions of europe i was
not able to light on any map or work giving the exact locality of the
castle dracula as there are no maps of this country as yet to compare
with our own ordnance survey maps but i found that bistritz the post
town named by count dracula is a fairly well-known place i shall enter
here some of my notes as they may refresh my memory when i talk over my
travels with mina 

in the population of transylvania there are four distinct nationalities 
saxons in the south and mixed with them the wallachs who are the
descendants of the dacians magyars in the west and szekelys in the
east and north i am going among the latter who claim to be descended
from attila and the huns this may be so for when the magyars conquered
the country in the eleventh century they found the huns settled in it i
read that every known superstition in the world is gathered into the
horseshoe of the carpathians as if it were the centre of some sort of
imaginative whirlpool if so my stay may be very interesting mem i
must ask the count all about them 

i did not sleep well though my bed was comfortable enough for i had
all sorts of queer dreams there was a dog howling all night under my
window which may have had something to do with it or it may have been
the paprika for i had to drink up all the water in my carafe and was
still thirsty towards morning i slept and was wakened by the continuous
knocking at my door so i guess i must have been sleeping soundly then 
i had for breakfast more paprika and a sort of porridge of maize flour
which they said was  mamaliga   and egg-plant stuffed with forcemeat a
very excellent dish which they call  impletata   mem get recipe
for this also i had to hurry breakfast for the train started a little
before eight or rather it ought to have done so for after rushing to
the station at 7 30 i had to sit in the carriage for more than an hour
before we began to move it seems to me that the further east you go the
more unpunctual are the trains what ought they to be in china 

all day long we seemed to dawdle through a country which was full of
beauty of every kind sometimes we saw little towns or castles on the
top of steep hills such as we see in old missals sometimes we ran by
rivers and streams which seemed from the wide stony margin on each side
of them to be subject to great floods it takes a lot of water and
running strong to sweep the outside edge of a river clear at every
station there were groups of people sometimes crowds and in all sorts
of attire some of them were just like the peasants at home or those i
saw coming through france and germany with short jackets and round hats
and home-made trousers but others were very picturesque the women
looked pretty except when you got near them but they were very clumsy
about the waist they had all full white sleeves of some kind or other 
and most of them had big belts with a lot of strips of something
fluttering from them like the dresses in a ballet but of course there
were petticoats under them the strangest figures we saw were the
slovaks who were more barbarian than the rest with their big cow-boy
hats great baggy dirty-white trousers white linen shirts and enormous
heavy leather belts nearly a foot wide all studded over with brass
nails they wore high boots with their trousers tucked into them and
had long black hair and heavy black moustaches they are very
picturesque but do not look prepossessing on the stage they would be
set down at once as some old oriental band of brigands they are 
however i am told very harmless and rather wanting in natural
self-assertion 

it was on the dark side of twilight when we got to bistritz which is a
very interesting old place being practically on the frontier for the
borgo pass leads from it into bukovina it has had a very stormy
existence and it certainly shows marks of it fifty years ago a series
of great fires took place which made terrible havoc on five separate
occasions at the very beginning of the seventeenth century it underwent
a siege of three weeks and lost 13 000 people the casualties of war
proper being assisted by famine and disease 

count dracula had directed me to go to the golden krone hotel which i
found to my great delight to be thoroughly old-fashioned for of
course i wanted to see all i could of the ways of the country i was
evidently expected for when i got near the door i faced a
cheery-looking elderly woman in the usual peasant dress white
undergarment with long double apron front and back of coloured stuff
fitting almost too tight for modesty when i came close she bowed and
said  the herr englishman    yes   i said  jonathan harker   she
smiled and gave some message to an elderly man in white shirt-sleeves 
who had followed her to the door he went but immediately returned with
a letter 

  my friend welcome to the carpathians i am anxiously expecting
 you sleep well to-night at three to-morrow the diligence will
 start for bukovina a place on it is kept for you at the borgo
 pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me i trust
 that your journey from london has been a happy one and that you
 will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land 

 your friend 

 dracula  


 4 may i found that my landlord had got a letter from the count 
directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me but on
making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent and
pretended that he could not understand my german this could not be
true because up to then he had understood it perfectly at least he
answered my questions exactly as if he did he and his wife the old
lady who had received me looked at each other in a frightened sort of
way he mumbled out that the money had been sent in a letter and that
was all he knew when i asked him if he knew count dracula and could
tell me anything of his castle both he and his wife crossed themselves 
and saying that they knew nothing at all simply refused to speak
further it was so near the time of starting that i had no time to ask
any one else for it was all very mysterious and not by any means
comforting 

just before i was leaving the old lady came up to my room and said in a
very hysterical way 

 must you go oh young herr must you go   she was in such an excited
state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what german she knew and
mixed it all up with some other language which i did not know at all i
was just able to follow her by asking many questions when i told her
that i must go at once and that i was engaged on important business 
she asked again 

 do you know what day it is   i answered that it was the fourth of may 
she shook her head as she said again 

 oh yes i know that i know that but do you know what day it is   on
my saying that i did not understand she went on 

 it is the eve of st george's day do you not know that to-night when
the clock strikes midnight all the evil things in the world will have
full sway do you know where you are going and what you are going to  
she was in such evident distress that i tried to comfort her but
without effect finally she went down on her knees and implored me not
to go at least to wait a day or two before starting it was all very
ridiculous but i did not feel comfortable however there was business
to be done and i could allow nothing to interfere with it i therefore
tried to raise her up and said as gravely as i could that i thanked
her but my duty was imperative and that i must go she then rose and
dried her eyes and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me i
did not know what to do for as an english churchman i have been
taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous and yet it
seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a
state of mind she saw i suppose the doubt in my face for she put the
rosary round my neck and said  for your mother's sake   and went out
of the room i am writing up this part of the diary whilst i am waiting
for the coach which is of course late and the crucifix is still
round my neck whether it is the old lady's fear or the many ghostly
traditions of this place or the crucifix itself i do not know but i
am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual if this book should
ever reach mina before i do let it bring my good-bye here comes the
coach 

 

 5 may the castle the grey of the morning has passed and the sun is
high over the distant horizon which seems jagged whether with trees or
hills i know not for it is so far off that big things and little are
mixed i am not sleepy and as i am not to be called till i awake 
naturally i write till sleep comes there are many odd things to put
down and lest who reads them may fancy that i dined too well before i
left bistritz let me put down my dinner exactly i dined on what they
called  robber steak  bits of bacon onion and beef seasoned with red
pepper and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire in the simple
style of the london cat's meat the wine was golden mediasch which
produces a queer sting on the tongue which is however not
disagreeable i had only a couple of glasses of this and nothing else 

when i got on the coach the driver had not taken his seat and i saw him
talking with the landlady they were evidently talking of me for every
now and then they looked at me and some of the people who were sitting
on the bench outside the door which they call by a name meaning
 word-bearer  came and listened and then looked at me most of them
pityingly i could hear a lot of words often repeated queer words for
there were many nationalities in the crowd so i quietly got my polyglot
dictionary from my bag and looked them out i must say they were not
cheering to me for amongst them were  ordog  satan  pokol  hell 
 stregoica  witch  vrolok  and  vlkoslak  both of which mean the same
thing one being slovak and the other servian for something that is
either were-wolf or vampire mem i must ask the count about these
superstitions 

when we started the crowd round the inn door which had by this time
swelled to a considerable size all made the sign of the cross and
pointed two fingers towards me with some difficulty i got a
fellow-passenger to tell me what they meant he would not answer at
first but on learning that i was english he explained that it was a
charm or guard against the evil eye this was not very pleasant for me 
just starting for an unknown place to meet an unknown man but every one
seemed so kind-hearted and so sorrowful and so sympathetic that i
could not but be touched i shall never forget the last glimpse which i
had of the inn-yard and its crowd of picturesque figures all crossing
themselves as they stood round the wide archway with its background of
rich foliage of oleander and orange trees in green tubs clustered in the
centre of the yard then our driver whose wide linen drawers covered
the whole front of the box-seat  gotza  they call them cracked his big
whip over his four small horses which ran abreast and we set off on
our journey 

i soon lost sight and recollection of ghostly fears in the beauty of the
scene as we drove along although had i known the language or rather
languages which my fellow-passengers were speaking i might not have
been able to throw them off so easily before us lay a green sloping
land full of forests and woods with here and there steep hills crowned
with clumps of trees or with farmhouses the blank gable end to the
road there was everywhere a bewildering mass of fruit blossom apple 
plum pear cherry and as we drove by i could see the green grass under
the trees spangled with the fallen petals in and out amongst these
green hills of what they call here the  mittel land  ran the road 
losing itself as it swept round the grassy curve or was shut out by the
straggling ends of pine woods which here and there ran down the
hillsides like tongues of flame the road was rugged but still we
seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste i could not understand then
what the haste meant but the driver was evidently bent on losing no
time in reaching borgo prund i was told that this road is in summertime
excellent but that it had not yet been put in order after the winter
snows in this respect it is different from the general run of roads in
the carpathians for it is an old tradition that they are not to be kept
in too good order of old the hospadars would not repair them lest the
turk should think that they were preparing to bring in foreign troops 
and so hasten the war which was always really at loading point 

beyond the green swelling hills of the mittel land rose mighty slopes
of forest up to the lofty steeps of the carpathians themselves right
and left of us they towered with the afternoon sun falling full upon
them and bringing out all the glorious colours of this beautiful range 
deep blue and purple in the shadows of the peaks green and brown where
grass and rock mingled and an endless perspective of jagged rock and
pointed crags till these were themselves lost in the distance where
the snowy peaks rose grandly here and there seemed mighty rifts in the
mountains through which as the sun began to sink we saw now and again
the white gleam of falling water one of my companions touched my arm as
we swept round the base of a hill and opened up the lofty snow-covered
peak of a mountain which seemed as we wound on our serpentine way to
be right before us 

 look isten szek    god's seat   and he crossed himself reverently 

as we wound on our endless way and the sun sank lower and lower behind
us the shadows of the evening began to creep round us this was
emphasised by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the
sunset and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink here and there
we passed cszeks and slovaks all in picturesque attire but i noticed
that goitre was painfully prevalent by the roadside were many crosses 
and as we swept by my companions all crossed themselves here and there
was a peasant man or woman kneeling before a shrine who did not even
turn round as we approached but seemed in the self-surrender of
devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the outer world there were
many things new to me for instance hay-ricks in the trees and here
and there very beautiful masses of weeping birch their white stems
shining like silver through the delicate green of the leaves now and
again we passed a leiter-wagon the ordinary peasant's cart with its
long snake-like vertebra calculated to suit the inequalities of the
road on this were sure to be seated quite a group of home-coming
peasants the cszeks with their white and the slovaks with their
coloured sheepskins the latter carrying lance-fashion their long
staves with axe at end as the evening fell it began to get very cold 
and the growing twilight seemed to merge into one dark mistiness the
gloom of the trees oak beech and pine though in the valleys which
ran deep between the spurs of the hills as we ascended through the
pass the dark firs stood out here and there against the background of
late-lying snow sometimes as the road was cut through the pine woods
that seemed in the darkness to be closing down upon us great masses of
greyness which here and there bestrewed the trees produced a
peculiarly weird and solemn effect which carried on the thoughts and
grim fancies engendered earlier in the evening when the falling sunset
threw into strange relief the ghost-like clouds which amongst the
carpathians seem to wind ceaselessly through the valleys sometimes the
hills were so steep that despite our driver's haste the horses could
only go slowly i wished to get down and walk up them as we do at home 
but the driver would not hear of it  no no   he said  you must not
walk here the dogs are too fierce  and then he added with what he
evidently meant for grim pleasantry for he looked round to catch the
approving smile of the rest  and you may have enough of such matters
before you go to sleep   the only stop he would make was a moment's
pause to light his lamps 

when it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement amongst the
passengers and they kept speaking to him one after the other as
though urging him to further speed he lashed the horses unmercifully
with his long whip and with wild cries of encouragement urged them on
to further exertions then through the darkness i could see a sort of
patch of grey light ahead of us as though there were a cleft in the
hills the excitement of the passengers grew greater the crazy coach
rocked on its great leather springs and swayed like a boat tossed on a
stormy sea i had to hold on the road grew more level and we appeared
to fly along then the mountains seemed to come nearer to us on each
side and to frown down upon us we were entering on the borgo pass one
by one several of the passengers offered me gifts which they pressed
upon me with an earnestness which would take no denial these were
certainly of an odd and varied kind but each was given in simple good
faith with a kindly word and a blessing and that strange mixture of
fear-meaning movements which i had seen outside the hotel at
bistritz the sign of the cross and the guard against the evil eye 
then as we flew along the driver leaned forward and on each side the
passengers craning over the edge of the coach peered eagerly into the
darkness it was evident that something very exciting was either
happening or expected but though i asked each passenger no one would
give me the slightest explanation this state of excitement kept on for
some little time and at last we saw before us the pass opening out on
the eastern side there were dark rolling clouds overhead and in the
air the heavy oppressive sense of thunder it seemed as though the
mountain range had separated two atmospheres and that now we had got
into the thunderous one i was now myself looking out for the conveyance
which was to take me to the count each moment i expected to see the
glare of lamps through the blackness but all was dark the only light
was the flickering rays of our own lamps in which the steam from our
hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud we could see now the sandy
road lying white before us but there was on it no sign of a vehicle 
the passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness which seemed to mock
my own disappointment i was already thinking what i had best do when
the driver looking at his watch said to the others something which i
could hardly hear it was spoken so quietly and in so low a tone i
thought it was  an hour less than the time   then turning to me he said
in german worse than my own 

 there is no carriage here the herr is not expected after all he will
now come on to bukovina and return to-morrow or the next day better
the next day   whilst he was speaking the horses began to neigh and
snort and plunge wildly so that the driver had to hold them up then 
amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a universal crossing
of themselves a caleche with four horses drove up behind us overtook
us and drew up beside the coach i could see from the flash of our
lamps as the rays fell on them that the horses were coal-black and
splendid animals they were driven by a tall man with a long brown
beard and a great black hat which seemed to hide his face from us i
could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes which seemed red
in the lamplight as he turned to us he said to the driver 

 you are early to-night my friend   the man stammered in reply 

 the english herr was in a hurry   to which the stranger replied 

 that is why i suppose you wished him to go on to bukovina you cannot
deceive me my friend i know too much and my horses are swift   as he
spoke he smiled and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth with
very red lips and sharp-looking teeth as white as ivory one of my
companions whispered to another the line from burger's  lenore  

  denn die todten reiten schnell  
  for the dead travel fast   

the strange driver evidently heard the words for he looked up with a
gleaming smile the passenger turned his face away at the same time
putting out his two fingers and crossing himself  give me the herr's
luggage   said the driver and with exceeding alacrity my bags were
handed out and put in the caleche then i descended from the side of the
coach as the caleche was close alongside the driver helping me with a
hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel his strength must have been
prodigious without a word he shook his reins the horses turned and we
swept into the darkness of the pass as i looked back i saw the steam
from the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps and projected
against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves then
the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses and off they swept
on their way to bukovina as they sank into the darkness i felt a
strange chill and a lonely feeling came over me but a cloak was thrown
over my shoulders and a rug across my knees and the driver said in
excellent german 

 the night is chill mein herr and my master the count bade me take all
care of you there is a flask of slivovitz the plum brandy of the
country underneath the seat if you should require it   i did not take
any but it was a comfort to know it was there all the same i felt a
little strangely and not a little frightened i think had there been
any alternative i should have taken it instead of prosecuting that
unknown night journey the carriage went at a hard pace straight along 
then we made a complete turn and went along another straight road it
seemed to me that we were simply going over and over the same ground
again and so i took note of some salient point and found that this was
so i would have liked to have asked the driver what this all meant but
i really feared to do so for i thought that placed as i was any
protest would have had no effect in case there had been an intention to
delay by-and-by however as i was curious to know how time was
passing i struck a match and by its flame looked at my watch it was
within a few minutes of midnight this gave me a sort of shock for i
suppose the general superstition about midnight was increased by my
recent experiences i waited with a sick feeling of suspense 

then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road a
long agonised wailing as if from fear the sound was taken up by
another dog and then another and another till borne on the wind which
now sighed softly through the pass a wild howling began which seemed
to come from all over the country as far as the imagination could grasp
it through the gloom of the night at the first howl the horses began to
strain and rear but the driver spoke to them soothingly and they
quieted down but shivered and sweated as though after a runaway from
sudden fright then far off in the distance from the mountains on each
side of us began a louder and a sharper howling that of wolves which
affected both the horses and myself in the same way for i was minded to
jump from the caleche and run whilst they reared again and plunged
madly so that the driver had to use all his great strength to keep them
from bolting in a few minutes however my own ears got accustomed to
the sound and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able
to descend and to stand before them he petted and soothed them and
whispered something in their ears as i have heard of horse-tamers
doing and with extraordinary effect for under his caresses they became
quite manageable again though they still trembled the driver again
took his seat and shaking his reins started off at a great pace this
time after going to the far side of the pass he suddenly turned down a
narrow roadway which ran sharply to the right 

soon we were hemmed in with trees which in places arched right over the
roadway till we passed as through a tunnel and again great frowning
rocks guarded us boldly on either side though we were in shelter we
could hear the rising wind for it moaned and whistled through the
rocks and the branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along 
it grew colder and colder still and fine powdery snow began to fall 
so that soon we and all around us were covered with a white blanket the
keen wind still carried the howling of the dogs though this grew
fainter as we went on our way the baying of the wolves sounded nearer
and nearer as though they were closing round on us from every side i
grew dreadfully afraid and the horses shared my fear the driver 
however was not in the least disturbed he kept turning his head to
left and right but i could not see anything through the darkness 

suddenly away on our left i saw a faint flickering blue flame the
driver saw it at the same moment he at once checked the horses and 
jumping to the ground disappeared into the darkness i did not know
what to do the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer but while
i wondered the driver suddenly appeared again and without a word took
his seat and we resumed our journey i think i must have fallen asleep
and kept dreaming of the incident for it seemed to be repeated
endlessly and now looking back it is like a sort of awful nightmare 
once the flame appeared so near the road that even in the darkness
around us i could watch the driver's motions he went rapidly to where
the blue flame arose it must have been very faint for it did not seem
to illumine the place around it at all and gathering a few stones 
formed them into some device once there appeared a strange optical
effect when he stood between me and the flame he did not obstruct it 
for i could see its ghostly flicker all the same this startled me but
as the effect was only momentary i took it that my eyes deceived me
straining through the darkness then for a time there were no blue
flames and we sped onwards through the gloom with the howling of the
wolves around us as though they were following in a moving circle 

at last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he
had yet gone and during his absence the horses began to tremble worse
than ever and to snort and scream with fright i could not see any cause
for it for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether but just
then the moon sailing through the black clouds appeared behind the
jagged crest of a beetling pine-clad rock and by its light i saw
around us a ring of wolves with white teeth and lolling red tongues 
with long sinewy limbs and shaggy hair they were a hundred times more
terrible in the grim silence which held them than even when they howled 
for myself i felt a sort of paralysis of fear it is only when a man
feels himself face to face with such horrors that he can understand
their true import 

all at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had
some peculiar effect on them the horses jumped about and reared and
looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to see 
but the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side and they
had perforce to remain within it i called to the coachman to come for
it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break out through the
ring and to aid his approach i shouted and beat the side of the
caleche hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from that side so as
to give him a chance of reaching the trap how he came there i know
not but i heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious command and
looking towards the sound saw him stand in the roadway as he swept his
long arms as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle the wolves
fell back and back further still just then a heavy cloud passed across
the face of the moon so that we were again in darkness 

when i could see again the driver was climbing into the caleche and the
wolves had disappeared this was all so strange and uncanny that a
dreadful fear came upon me and i was afraid to speak or move the time
seemed interminable as we swept on our way now in almost complete
darkness for the rolling clouds obscured the moon we kept on
ascending with occasional periods of quick descent but in the main
always ascending suddenly i became conscious of the fact that the
driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a
vast ruined castle from whose tall black windows came no ray of light 
and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line against the moonlit
sky 




chapter ii

jonathan harker's journal continued 


 5 may i must have been asleep for certainly if i had been fully
awake i must have noticed the approach of such a remarkable place in
the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size and as several dark
ways led from it under great round arches it perhaps seemed bigger than
it really is i have not yet been able to see it by daylight 

when the caleche stopped the driver jumped down and held out his hand
to assist me to alight again i could not but notice his prodigious
strength his hand actually seemed like a steel vice that could have
crushed mine if he had chosen then he took out my traps and placed
them on the ground beside me as i stood close to a great door old and
studded with large iron nails and set in a projecting doorway of
massive stone i could see even in the dim light that the stone was
massively carved but that the carving had been much worn by time and
weather as i stood the driver jumped again into his seat and shook the
reins the horses started forward and trap and all disappeared down one
of the dark openings 

i stood in silence where i was for i did not know what to do of bell
or knocker there was no sign through these frowning walls and dark
window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate the
time i waited seemed endless and i felt doubts and fears crowding upon
me what sort of place had i come to and among what kind of people 
what sort of grim adventure was it on which i had embarked was this a
customary incident in the life of a solicitor's clerk sent out to
explain the purchase of a london estate to a foreigner solicitor's
clerk mina would not like that solicitor for just before leaving
london i got word that my examination was successful and i am now a
full-blown solicitor i began to rub my eyes and pinch myself to see if
i were awake it all seemed like a horrible nightmare to me and i
expected that i should suddenly awake and find myself at home with
the dawn struggling in through the windows as i had now and again felt
in the morning after a day of overwork but my flesh answered the
pinching test and my eyes were not to be deceived i was indeed awake
and among the carpathians all i could do now was to be patient and to
wait the coming of the morning 

just as i had come to this conclusion i heard a heavy step approaching
behind the great door and saw through the chinks the gleam of a coming
light then there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of
massive bolts drawn back a key was turned with the loud grating noise
of long disuse and the great door swung back 

within stood a tall old man clean shaven save for a long white
moustache and clad in black from head to foot without a single speck
of colour about him anywhere he held in his hand an antique silver
lamp in which the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind 
throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the
open door the old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly
gesture saying in excellent english but with a strange intonation 

 welcome to my house enter freely and of your own will   he made no
motion of stepping to meet me but stood like a statue as though his
gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone the instant however that
i had stepped over the threshold he moved impulsively forward and
holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince 
an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed as cold as
ice more like the hand of a dead than a living man again he said 

 welcome to my house come freely go safely and leave something of the
happiness you bring   the strength of the handshake was so much akin to
that which i had noticed in the driver whose face i had not seen that
for a moment i doubted if it were not the same person to whom i was
speaking so to make sure i said interrogatively 

 count dracula   he bowed in a courtly way as he replied 

 i am dracula and i bid you welcome mr harker to my house come in 
the night air is chill and you must need to eat and rest   as he was
speaking he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall and stepping out 
took my luggage he had carried it in before i could forestall him i
protested but he insisted 

 nay sir you are my guest it is late and my people are not
available let me see to your comfort myself   he insisted on carrying
my traps along the passage and then up a great winding stair and
along another great passage on whose stone floor our steps rang
heavily at the end of this he threw open a heavy door and i rejoiced
to see within a well-lit room in which a table was spread for supper 
and on whose mighty hearth a great fire of logs freshly replenished 
flamed and flared 

the count halted putting down my bags closed the door and crossing
the room opened another door which led into a small octagonal room lit
by a single lamp and seemingly without a window of any sort passing
through this he opened another door and motioned me to enter it was a
welcome sight for here was a great bedroom well lighted and warmed with
another log fire also added to but lately for the top logs were
fresh which sent a hollow roar up the wide chimney the count himself
left my luggage inside and withdrew saying before he closed the
door 

 you will need after your journey to refresh yourself by making your
toilet i trust you will find all you wish when you are ready come
into the other room where you will find your supper prepared  

the light and warmth and the count's courteous welcome seemed to have
dissipated all my doubts and fears having then reached my normal state 
i discovered that i was half famished with hunger so making a hasty
toilet i went into the other room 

i found supper already laid out my host who stood on one side of the
great fireplace leaning against the stonework made a graceful wave of
his hand to the table and said 

 i pray you be seated and sup how you please you will i trust excuse
me that i do not join you but i have dined already and i do not sup  

i handed to him the sealed letter which mr hawkins had entrusted to me 
he opened it and read it gravely then with a charming smile he handed
it to me to read one passage of it at least gave me a thrill of
pleasure 

 i must regret that an attack of gout from which malady i am a constant
sufferer forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for some time to
come but i am happy to say i can send a sufficient substitute one in
whom i have every possible confidence he is a young man full of energy
and talent in his own way and of a very faithful disposition he is
discreet and silent and has grown into manhood in my service he shall
be ready to attend on you when you will during his stay and shall take
your instructions in all matters  

the count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish and i
fell to at once on an excellent roast chicken this with some cheese
and a salad and a bottle of old tokay of which i had two glasses was
my supper during the time i was eating it the count asked me many
questions as to my journey and i told him by degrees all i had
experienced 

by this time i had finished my supper and by my host's desire had drawn
up a chair by the fire and begun to smoke a cigar which he offered me 
at the same time excusing himself that he did not smoke i had now an
opportunity of observing him and found him of a very marked
physiognomy 

his face was a strong a very strong aquiline with high bridge of the
thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils with lofty domed forehead and
hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere his
eyebrows were very massive almost meeting over the nose and with bushy
hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion the mouth so far as i
could see it under the heavy moustache was fixed and rather
cruel-looking with peculiarly sharp white teeth these protruded over
the lips whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a
man of his years for the rest his ears were pale and at the tops
extremely pointed the chin was broad and strong and the cheeks firm
though thin the general effect was one of extraordinary pallor 

hitherto i had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees
in the firelight and they had seemed rather white and fine but seeing
them now close to me i could not but notice that they were rather
coarse broad with squat fingers strange to say there were hairs in
the centre of the palm the nails were long and fine and cut to a sharp
point as the count leaned over me and his hands touched me i could not
repress a shudder it may have been that his breath was rank but a
horrible feeling of nausea came over me which do what i would i could
not conceal the count evidently noticing it drew back and with a
grim sort of smile which showed more than he had yet done his
protuberant teeth sat himself down again on his own side of the
fireplace we were both silent for a while and as i looked towards the
window i saw the first dim streak of the coming dawn there seemed a
strange stillness over everything but as i listened i heard as if from
down below in the valley the howling of many wolves the count's eyes
gleamed and he said 

 listen to them the children of the night what music they make  
seeing i suppose some expression in my face strange to him he
added 

 ah sir you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the
hunter   then he rose and said 

 but you must be tired your bedroom is all ready and to-morrow you
shall sleep as late as you will i have to be away till the afternoon 
so sleep well and dream well   with a courteous bow he opened for me
himself the door to the octagonal room and i entered my bedroom 

i am all in a sea of wonders i doubt i fear i think strange things 
which i dare not confess to my own soul god keep me if only for the
sake of those dear to me 

 

 7 may it is again early morning but i have rested and enjoyed the
last twenty-four hours i slept till late in the day and awoke of my
own accord when i had dressed myself i went into the room where we had
supped and found a cold breakfast laid out with coffee kept hot by the
pot being placed on the hearth there was a card on the table on which
was written 

 i have to be absent for a while do not wait for me d   i set to and
enjoyed a hearty meal when i had done i looked for a bell so that i
might let the servants know i had finished but i could not find one 
there are certainly odd deficiencies in the house considering the
extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round me the table service
is of gold and so beautifully wrought that it must be of immense value 
the curtains and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of
my bed are of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics and must have
been of fabulous value when they were made for they are centuries old 
though in excellent order i saw something like them in hampton court 
but there they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten but still in none of
the rooms is there a mirror there is not even a toilet glass on my
table and i had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before i
could either shave or brush my hair i have not yet seen a servant
anywhere or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves 
some time after i had finished my meal i do not know whether to call it
breakfast or dinner for it was between five and six o'clock when i had
it i looked about for something to read for i did not like to go about
the castle until i had asked the count's permission there was
absolutely nothing in the room book newspaper or even writing
materials so i opened another door in the room and found a sort of
library the door opposite mine i tried but found it locked 

in the library i found to my great delight a vast number of english
books whole shelves full of them and bound volumes of magazines and
newspapers a table in the centre was littered with english magazines
and newspapers though none of them were of very recent date the books
were of the most varied kind history geography politics political
economy botany geology law all relating to england and english life
and customs and manners there were even such books of reference as the
london directory the  red  and  blue  books whitaker's almanac the
army and navy lists and it somehow gladdened my heart to see it the
law list 

whilst i was looking at the books the door opened and the count
entered he saluted me in a hearty way and hoped that i had had a good
night's rest then he went on 

 i am glad you found your way in here for i am sure there is much that
will interest you these companions  and he laid his hand on some of
the books  have been good friends to me and for some years past ever
since i had the idea of going to london have given me many many hours
of pleasure through them i have come to know your great england and to
know her is to love her i long to go through the crowded streets of
your mighty london to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of
humanity to share its life its change its death and all that makes
it what it is but alas as yet i only know your tongue through books 
to you my friend i look that i know it to speak  

 but count   i said  you know and speak english thoroughly   he bowed
gravely 

 i thank you my friend for your all too-flattering estimate but yet i
fear that i am but a little way on the road i would travel true i know
the grammar and the words but yet i know not how to speak them  

 indeed   i said  you speak excellently  

 not so   he answered  well i know that did i move and speak in your
london none there are who would not know me for a stranger that is not
enough for me here i am noble i am boyar the common people know me 
and i am master but a stranger in a strange land he is no one men
know him not and to know not is to care not for i am content if i am
like the rest so that no man stops if he see me or pause in his
speaking if he hear my words 'ha ha a stranger ' i have been so long
master that i would be master still or at least that none other should
be master of me you come to me not alone as agent of my friend peter
hawkins of exeter to tell me all about my new estate in london you
shall i trust rest here with me awhile so that by our talking i may
learn the english intonation and i would that you tell me when i make
error even of the smallest in my speaking i am sorry that i had to be
away so long to-day but you will i know forgive one who has so many
important affairs in hand  

of course i said all i could about being willing and asked if i might
come into that room when i chose he answered  yes certainly   and
added 

 you may go anywhere you wish in the castle except where the doors are
locked where of course you will not wish to go there is reason that
all things are as they are and did you see with my eyes and know with
my knowledge you would perhaps better understand   i said i was sure of
this and then he went on 

 we are in transylvania and transylvania is not england our ways are
not your ways and there shall be to you many strange things nay from
what you have told me of your experiences already you know something of
what strange things there may be  

this led to much conversation and as it was evident that he wanted to
talk if only for talking's sake i asked him many questions regarding
things that had already happened to me or come within my notice 
sometimes he sheered off the subject or turned the conversation by
pretending not to understand but generally he answered all i asked most
frankly then as time went on and i had got somewhat bolder i asked
him of some of the strange things of the preceding night as for
instance why the coachman went to the places where he had seen the blue
flames he then explained to me that it was commonly believed that on a
certain night of the year last night in fact when all evil spirits
are supposed to have unchecked sway a blue flame is seen over any place
where treasure has been concealed  that treasure has been hidden   he
went on  in the region through which you came last night there can be
but little doubt for it was the ground fought over for centuries by the
wallachian the saxon and the turk why there is hardly a foot of soil
in all this region that has not been enriched by the blood of men 
patriots or invaders in old days there were stirring times when the
austrian and the hungarian came up in hordes and the patriots went out
to meet them men and women the aged and the children too and waited
their coming on the rocks above the passes that they might sweep
destruction on them with their artificial avalanches when the invader
was triumphant he found but little for whatever there was had been
sheltered in the friendly soil  

 but how   said i  can it have remained so long undiscovered when
there is a sure index to it if men will but take the trouble to look  
the count smiled and as his lips ran back over his gums the long 
sharp canine teeth showed out strangely he answered 

 because your peasant is at heart a coward and a fool those flames only
appear on one night and on that night no man of this land will if he
can help it stir without his doors and dear sir even if he did he
would not know what to do why even the peasant that you tell me of who
marked the place of the flame would not know where to look in daylight
even for his own work even you would not i dare be sworn be able to
find these places again  

 there you are right   i said  i know no more than the dead where even
to look for them   then we drifted into other matters 

 come   he said at last  tell me of london and of the house which you
have procured for me   with an apology for my remissness i went into my
own room to get the papers from my bag whilst i was placing them in
order i heard a rattling of china and silver in the next room and as i
passed through noticed that the table had been cleared and the lamp
lit for it was by this time deep into the dark the lamps were also lit
in the study or library and i found the count lying on the sofa 
reading of all things in the world an english bradshaw's guide when i
came in he cleared the books and papers from the table and with him i
went into plans and deeds and figures of all sorts he was interested in
everything and asked me a myriad questions about the place and its
surroundings he clearly had studied beforehand all he could get on the
subject of the neighbourhood for he evidently at the end knew very much
more than i did when i remarked this he answered 

 well but my friend is it not needful that i should when i go there
i shall be all alone and my friend harker jonathan nay pardon me i
fall into my country's habit of putting your patronymic first my friend
jonathan harker will not be by my side to correct and aid me he will be
in exeter miles away probably working at papers of the law with my
other friend peter hawkins so  

we went thoroughly into the business of the purchase of the estate at
purfleet when i had told him the facts and got his signature to the
necessary papers and had written a letter with them ready to post to
mr hawkins he began to ask me how i had come across so suitable a
place i read to him the notes which i had made at the time and which i
inscribe here 

 at purfleet on a by-road i came across just such a place as seemed to
be required and where was displayed a dilapidated notice that the place
was for sale it is surrounded by a high wall of ancient structure 
built of heavy stones and has not been repaired for a large number of
years the closed gates are of heavy old oak and iron all eaten with
rust 

 the estate is called carfax no doubt a corruption of the old quatre
face as the house is four-sided agreeing with the cardinal points of
the compass it contains in all some twenty acres quite surrounded by
the solid stone wall above mentioned there are many trees on it which
make it in places gloomy and there is a deep dark-looking pond or
small lake evidently fed by some springs as the water is clear and
flows away in a fair-sized stream the house is very large and of all
periods back i should say to mediaeval times for one part is of stone
immensely thick with only a few windows high up and heavily barred with
iron it looks like part of a keep and is close to an old chapel or
church i could not enter it as i had not the key of the door leading
to it from the house but i have taken with my kodak views of it from
various points the house has been added to but in a very straggling
way and i can only guess at the amount of ground it covers which must
be very great there are but few houses close at hand one being a very
large house only recently added to and formed into a private lunatic
asylum it is not however visible from the grounds  

when i had finished he said 

 i am glad that it is old and big i myself am of an old family and to
live in a new house would kill me a house cannot be made habitable in a
day and after all how few days go to make up a century i rejoice
also that there is a chapel of old times we transylvanian nobles love
not to think that our bones may lie amongst the common dead i seek not
gaiety nor mirth not the bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and
sparkling waters which please the young and gay i am no longer young 
and my heart through weary years of mourning over the dead is not
attuned to mirth moreover the walls of my castle are broken the
shadows are many and the wind breathes cold through the broken
battlements and casements i love the shade and the shadow and would
be alone with my thoughts when i may   somehow his words and his look
did not seem to accord or else it was that his cast of face made his
smile look malignant and saturnine 

presently with an excuse he left me asking me to put all my papers
together he was some little time away and i began to look at some of
the books around me one was an atlas which i found opened naturally at
england as if that map had been much used on looking at it i found in
certain places little rings marked and on examining these i noticed
that one was near london on the east side manifestly where his new
estate was situated the other two were exeter and whitby on the
yorkshire coast 

it was the better part of an hour when the count returned  aha   he
said  still at your books good but you must not work always come i
am informed that your supper is ready   he took my arm and we went into
the next room where i found an excellent supper ready on the table the
count again excused himself as he had dined out on his being away from
home but he sat as on the previous night and chatted whilst i ate 
after supper i smoked as on the last evening and the count stayed with
me chatting and asking questions on every conceivable subject hour
after hour i felt that it was getting very late indeed but i did not
say anything for i felt under obligation to meet my host's wishes in
every way i was not sleepy as the long sleep yesterday had fortified
me but i could not help experiencing that chill which comes over one at
the coming of the dawn which is like in its way the turn of the tide 
they say that people who are near death die generally at the change to
the dawn or at the turn of the tide any one who has when tired and
tied as it were to his post experienced this change in the atmosphere
can well believe it all at once we heard the crow of a cock coming up
with preternatural shrillness through the clear morning air count
dracula jumping to his feet said 

 why there is the morning again how remiss i am to let you stay up so
long you must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of
england less interesting so that i may not forget how time flies by
us   and with a courtly bow he quickly left me 

i went into my own room and drew the curtains but there was little to
notice my window opened into the courtyard all i could see was the
warm grey of quickening sky so i pulled the curtains again and have
written of this day 

 

 8 may i began to fear as i wrote in this book that i was getting too
diffuse but now i am glad that i went into detail from the first for
there is something so strange about this place and all in it that i
cannot but feel uneasy i wish i were safe out of it or that i had
never come it may be that this strange night-existence is telling on
me but would that that were all if there were any one to talk to i
could bear it but there is no one i have only the count to speak with 
and he i fear i am myself the only living soul within the place let
me be prosaic so far as facts can be it will help me to bear up and
imagination must not run riot with me if it does i am lost let me say
at once how i stand or seem to 

i only slept a few hours when i went to bed and feeling that i could
not sleep any more got up i had hung my shaving glass by the window 
and was just beginning to shave suddenly i felt a hand on my shoulder 
and heard the count's voice saying to me  good-morning   i started for
it amazed me that i had not seen him since the reflection of the glass
covered the whole room behind me in starting i had cut myself slightly 
but did not notice it at the moment having answered the count's
salutation i turned to the glass again to see how i had been mistaken 
this time there could be no error for the man was close to me and i
could see him over my shoulder but there was no reflection of him in
the mirror the whole room behind me was displayed but there was no
sign of a man in it except myself this was startling and coming on
the top of so many strange things was beginning to increase that vague
feeling of uneasiness which i always have when the count is near but at
the instant i saw that the cut had bled a little and the blood was
trickling over my chin i laid down the razor turning as i did so half
round to look for some sticking plaster when the count saw my face his
eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury and he suddenly made a grab at
my throat i drew away and his hand touched the string of beads which
held the crucifix it made an instant change in him for the fury passed
so quickly that i could hardly believe that it was ever there 

 take care   he said  take care how you cut yourself it is more
dangerous than you think in this country   then seizing the shaving
glass he went on  and this is the wretched thing that has done the
mischief it is a foul bauble of man's vanity away with it   and
opening the heavy window with one wrench of his terrible hand he flung
out the glass which was shattered into a thousand pieces on the stones
of the courtyard far below then he withdrew without a word it is very
annoying for i do not see how i am to shave unless in my watch-case or
the bottom of the shaving-pot which is fortunately of metal 

when i went into the dining-room breakfast was prepared but i could
not find the count anywhere so i breakfasted alone it is strange that
as yet i have not seen the count eat or drink he must be a very
peculiar man after breakfast i did a little exploring in the castle i
went out on the stairs and found a room looking towards the south the
view was magnificent and from where i stood there was every opportunity
of seeing it the castle is on the very edge of a terrible precipice a
stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without
touching anything as far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree
tops with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm here and
there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through
the forests 

but i am not in heart to describe beauty for when i had seen the view i
explored further doors doors doors everywhere and all locked and
bolted in no place save from the windows in the castle walls is there
an available exit 

the castle is a veritable prison and i am a prisoner 




chapter iii

jonathan harker's journal continued 


when i found that i was a prisoner a sort of wild feeling came over me 
i rushed up and down the stairs trying every door and peering out of
every window i could find but after a little the conviction of my
helplessness overpowered all other feelings when i look back after a
few hours i think i must have been mad for the time for i behaved much
as a rat does in a trap when however the conviction had come to me
that i was helpless i sat down quietly as quietly as i have ever done
anything in my life and began to think over what was best to be done i
am thinking still and as yet have come to no definite conclusion of
one thing only am i certain that it is no use making my ideas known to
the count he knows well that i am imprisoned and as he has done it
himself and has doubtless his own motives for it he would only deceive
me if i trusted him fully with the facts so far as i can see my only
plan will be to keep my knowledge and my fears to myself and my eyes
open i am i know either being deceived like a baby by my own fears 
or else i am in desperate straits and if the latter be so i need and
shall need all my brains to get through 

i had hardly come to this conclusion when i heard the great door below
shut and knew that the count had returned he did not come at once into
the library so i went cautiously to my own room and found him making
the bed this was odd but only confirmed what i had all along
thought that there were no servants in the house when later i saw him
through the chink of the hinges of the door laying the table in the
dining-room i was assured of it for if he does himself all these
menial offices surely it is proof that there is no one else to do them 
this gave me a fright for if there is no one else in the castle it
must have been the count himself who was the driver of the coach that
brought me here this is a terrible thought for if so what does it
mean that he could control the wolves as he did by only holding up his
hand in silence how was it that all the people at bistritz and on the
coach had some terrible fear for me what meant the giving of the
crucifix of the garlic of the wild rose of the mountain ash bless
that good good woman who hung the crucifix round my neck for it is a
comfort and a strength to me whenever i touch it it is odd that a thing
which i have been taught to regard with disfavour and as idolatrous
should in a time of loneliness and trouble be of help is it that there
is something in the essence of the thing itself or that it is a medium 
a tangible help in conveying memories of sympathy and comfort some
time if it may be i must examine this matter and try to make up my
mind about it in the meantime i must find out all i can about count
dracula as it may help me to understand to-night he may talk of
himself if i turn the conversation that way i must be very careful 
however not to awake his suspicion 

 

 midnight i have had a long talk with the count i asked him a few
questions on transylvania history and he warmed up to the subject
wonderfully in his speaking of things and people and especially of
battles he spoke as if he had been present at them all this he
afterwards explained by saying that to a boyar the pride of his house
and name is his own pride that their glory is his glory that their
fate is his fate whenever he spoke of his house he always said  we  
and spoke almost in the plural like a king speaking i wish i could put
down all he said exactly as he said it for to me it was most
fascinating it seemed to have in it a whole history of the country he
grew excited as he spoke and walked about the room pulling his great
white moustache and grasping anything on which he laid his hands as
though he would crush it by main strength one thing he said which i
shall put down as nearly as i can for it tells in its way the story of
his race 

 we szekelys have a right to be proud for in our veins flows the blood
of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship here 
in the whirlpool of european races the ugric tribe bore down from
iceland the fighting spirit which thor and wodin gave them which their
berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of europe ay 
and of asia and africa too till the peoples thought that the
were-wolves themselves had come here too when they came they found
the huns whose warlike fury had swept the earth like a living flame 
till the dying peoples held that in their veins ran the blood of those
old witches who expelled from scythia had mated with the devils in the
desert fools fools what devil or what witch was ever so great as
attila whose blood is in these veins   he held up his arms  is it a
wonder that we were a conquering race that we were proud that when the
magyar the lombard the avar the bulgar or the turk poured his
thousands on our frontiers we drove them back is it strange that when
arpad and his legions swept through the hungarian fatherland he found us
here when he reached the frontier that the honfoglalas was completed
there and when the hungarian flood swept eastward the szekelys were
claimed as kindred by the victorious magyars and to us for centuries
was trusted the guarding of the frontier of turkey-land ay and more
than that endless duty of the frontier guard for as the turks say 
'water sleeps and enemy is sleepless ' who more gladly than we
throughout the four nations received the 'bloody sword ' or at its
warlike call flocked quicker to the standard of the king when was
redeemed that great shame of my nation the shame of cassova when the
flags of the wallach and the magyar went down beneath the crescent who
was it but one of my own race who as voivode crossed the danube and beat
the turk on his own ground this was a dracula indeed woe was it that
his own unworthy brother when he had fallen sold his people to the
turk and brought the shame of slavery on them was it not this dracula 
indeed who inspired that other of his race who in a later age again and
again brought his forces over the great river into turkey-land who 
when he was beaten back came again and again and again though he had
to come alone from the bloody field where his troops were being
slaughtered since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph they
said that he thought only of himself bah what good are peasants
without a leader where ends the war without a brain and heart to
conduct it again when after the battle of mohacs we threw off the
hungarian yoke we of the dracula blood were amongst their leaders for
our spirit would not brook that we were not free ah young sir the
szekelys and the dracula as their heart's blood their brains and
their swords can boast a record that mushroom growths like the
hapsburgs and the romanoffs can never reach the warlike days are over 
blood is too precious a thing in these days of dishonourable peace and
the glories of the great races are as a tale that is told  

it was by this time close on morning and we went to bed mem this
diary seems horribly like the beginning of the  arabian nights   for
everything has to break off at cockcrow or like the ghost of hamlet's
father 

 

 12 may let me begin with facts bare meagre facts verified by
books and figures and of which there can be no doubt i must not
confuse them with experiences which will have to rest on my own
observation or my memory of them last evening when the count came from
his room he began by asking me questions on legal matters and on the
doing of certain kinds of business i had spent the day wearily over
books and simply to keep my mind occupied went over some of the
matters i had been examined in at lincoln's inn there was a certain
method in the count's inquiries so i shall try to put them down in
sequence the knowledge may somehow or some time be useful to me 

first he asked if a man in england might have two solicitors or more i
told him he might have a dozen if he wished but that it would not be
wise to have more than one solicitor engaged in one transaction as only
one could act at a time and that to change would be certain to militate
against his interest he seemed thoroughly to understand and went on to
ask if there would be any practical difficulty in having one man to
attend say to banking and another to look after shipping in case
local help were needed in a place far from the home of the banking
solicitor i asked him to explain more fully so that i might not by any
chance mislead him so he said 

 i shall illustrate your friend and mine mr peter hawkins from under
the shadow of your beautiful cathedral at exeter which is far from
london buys for me through your good self my place at london good now
here let me say frankly lest you should think it strange that i have
sought the services of one so far off from london instead of some one
resident there that my motive was that no local interest might be
served save my wish only and as one of london residence might perhaps 
have some purpose of himself or friend to serve i went thus afield to
seek my agent whose labours should be only to my interest now suppose
i who have much of affairs wish to ship goods say to newcastle or
durham or harwich or dover might it not be that it could with more
ease be done by consigning to one in these ports   i answered that
certainly it would be most easy but that we solicitors had a system of
agency one for the other so that local work could be done locally on
instruction from any solicitor so that the client simply placing
himself in the hands of one man could have his wishes carried out by
him without further trouble 

 but   said he  i could be at liberty to direct myself is it not so  

 of course   i replied and  such is often done by men of business who
do not like the whole of their affairs to be known by any one person  

 good   he said and then went on to ask about the means of making
consignments and the forms to be gone through and of all sorts of
difficulties which might arise but by forethought could be guarded
against i explained all these things to him to the best of my ability 
and he certainly left me under the impression that he would have made a
wonderful solicitor for there was nothing that he did not think of or
foresee for a man who was never in the country and who did not
evidently do much in the way of business his knowledge and acumen were
wonderful when he had satisfied himself on these points of which he had
spoken and i had verified all as well as i could by the books
available he suddenly stood up and said 

 have you written since your first letter to our friend mr peter
hawkins or to any other   it was with some bitterness in my heart that
i answered that i had not that as yet i had not seen any opportunity of
sending letters to anybody 

 then write now my young friend   he said laying a heavy hand on my
shoulder  write to our friend and to any other and say if it will
please you that you shall stay with me until a month from now  

 do you wish me to stay so long   i asked for my heart grew cold at the
thought 

 i desire it much nay i will take no refusal when your master 
employer what you will engaged that someone should come on his behalf 
it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted i have not
stinted is it not so  

what could i do but bow acceptance it was mr hawkins's interest not
mine and i had to think of him not myself and besides while count
dracula was speaking there was that in his eyes and in his bearing
which made me remember that i was a prisoner and that if i wished it i
could have no choice the count saw his victory in my bow and his
mastery in the trouble of my face for he began at once to use them but
in his own smooth resistless way 

 i pray you my good young friend that you will not discourse of things
other than business in your letters it will doubtless please your
friends to know that you are well and that you look forward to getting
home to them is it not so   as he spoke he handed me three sheets of
note-paper and three envelopes they were all of the thinnest foreign
post and looking at them then at him and noticing his quiet smile 
with the sharp canine teeth lying over the red underlip i understood
as well as if he had spoken that i should be careful what i wrote for
he would be able to read it so i determined to write only formal notes
now but to write fully to mr hawkins in secret and also to mina for
to her i could write in shorthand which would puzzle the count if he
did see it when i had written my two letters i sat quiet reading a
book whilst the count wrote several notes referring as he wrote them to
some books on his table then he took up my two and placed them with his
own and put by his writing materials after which the instant the door
had closed behind him i leaned over and looked at the letters which
were face down on the table i felt no compunction in doing so for
under the circumstances i felt that i should protect myself in every way
i could 

one of the letters was directed to samuel f billington no 7 the
crescent whitby another to herr leutner varna the third was to
coutts and co london and the fourth to herren klopstock and billreuth 
bankers buda-pesth the second and fourth were unsealed i was just
about to look at them when i saw the door-handle move i sank back in my
seat having just had time to replace the letters as they had been and
to resume my book before the count holding still another letter in his
hand entered the room he took up the letters on the table and stamped
them carefully and then turning to me said 

 i trust you will forgive me but i have much work to do in private this
evening you will i hope find all things as you wish   at the door he
turned and after a moment's pause said 

 let me advise you my dear young friend nay let me warn you with all
seriousness that should you leave these rooms you will not by any
chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle it is old and has
many memories and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely be
warned should sleep now or ever overcome you or be like to do then
haste to your own chamber or to these rooms for your rest will then be
safe but if you be not careful in this respect then  he finished his
speech in a gruesome way for he motioned with his hands as if he were
washing them i quite understood my only doubt was as to whether any
dream could be more terrible than the unnatural horrible net of gloom
and mystery which seemed closing around me 

 

 later i endorse the last words written but this time there is no
doubt in question i shall not fear to sleep in any place where he is
not i have placed the crucifix over the head of my bed i imagine that
my rest is thus freer from dreams and there it shall remain 

when he left me i went to my room after a little while not hearing any
sound i came out and went up the stone stair to where i could look out
towards the south there was some sense of freedom in the vast expanse 
inaccessible though it was to me as compared with the narrow darkness
of the courtyard looking out on this i felt that i was indeed in
prison and i seemed to want a breath of fresh air though it were of
the night i am beginning to feel this nocturnal existence tell on me 
it is destroying my nerve i start at my own shadow and am full of all
sorts of horrible imaginings god knows that there is ground for my
terrible fear in this accursed place i looked out over the beautiful
expanse bathed in soft yellow moonlight till it was almost as light as
day in the soft light the distant hills became melted and the shadows
in the valleys and gorges of velvety blackness the mere beauty seemed
to cheer me there was peace and comfort in every breath i drew as i
leaned from the window my eye was caught by something moving a storey
below me and somewhat to my left where i imagined from the order of
the rooms that the windows of the count's own room would look out the
window at which i stood was tall and deep stone-mullioned and though
weatherworn was still complete but it was evidently many a day since
the case had been there i drew back behind the stonework and looked
carefully out 

what i saw was the count's head coming out from the window i did not
see the face but i knew the man by the neck and the movement of his
back and arms in any case i could not mistake the hands which i had had
so many opportunities of studying i was at first interested and
somewhat amused for it is wonderful how small a matter will interest
and amuse a man when he is a prisoner but my very feelings changed to
repulsion and terror when i saw the whole man slowly emerge from the
window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss 
 face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings at
first i could not believe my eyes i thought it was some trick of the
moonlight some weird effect of shadow but i kept looking and it could
be no delusion i saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the
stones worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years and by thus
using every projection and inequality move downwards with considerable
speed just as a lizard moves along a wall 

what manner of man is this or what manner of creature is it in the
semblance of man i feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering
me i am in fear in awful fear and there is no escape for me i am
encompassed about with terrors that i dare not think of 

 

 15 may once more have i seen the count go out in his lizard fashion 
he moved downwards in a sidelong way some hundred feet down and a good
deal to the left he vanished into some hole or window when his head
had disappeared i leaned out to try and see more but without
avail the distance was too great to allow a proper angle of sight i
knew he had left the castle now and thought to use the opportunity to
explore more than i had dared to do as yet i went back to the room and
taking a lamp tried all the doors they were all locked as i had
expected and the locks were comparatively new but i went down the
stone stairs to the hall where i had entered originally i found i could
pull back the bolts easily enough and unhook the great chains but the
door was locked and the key was gone that key must be in the count's
room i must watch should his door be unlocked so that i may get it and
escape i went on to make a thorough examination of the various stairs
and passages and to try the doors that opened from them one or two
small rooms near the hall were open but there was nothing to see in
them except old furniture dusty with age and moth-eaten at last 
however i found one door at the top of the stairway which though it
seemed to be locked gave a little under pressure i tried it harder 
and found that it was not really locked but that the resistance came
from the fact that the hinges had fallen somewhat and the heavy door
rested on the floor here was an opportunity which i might not have
again so i exerted myself and with many efforts forced it back so that
i could enter i was now in a wing of the castle further to the right
than the rooms i knew and a storey lower down from the windows i could
see that the suite of rooms lay along to the south of the castle the
windows of the end room looking out both west and south on the latter
side as well as to the former there was a great precipice the castle
was built on the corner of a great rock so that on three sides it was
quite impregnable and great windows were placed here where sling or
bow or culverin could not reach and consequently light and comfort 
impossible to a position which had to be guarded were secured to the
west was a great valley and then rising far away great jagged
mountain fastnesses rising peak on peak the sheer rock studded with
mountain ash and thorn whose roots clung in cracks and crevices and
crannies of the stone this was evidently the portion of the castle
occupied by the ladies in bygone days for the furniture had more air of
comfort than any i had seen the windows were curtainless and the
yellow moonlight flooding in through the diamond panes enabled one to
see even colours whilst it softened the wealth of dust which lay over
all and disguised in some measure the ravages of time and the moth my
lamp seemed to be of little effect in the brilliant moonlight but i was
glad to have it with me for there was a dread loneliness in the place
which chilled my heart and made my nerves tremble still it was better
than living alone in the rooms which i had come to hate from the
presence of the count and after trying a little to school my nerves i
found a soft quietude come over me here i am sitting at a little oak
table where in old times possibly some fair lady sat to pen with much
thought and many blushes her ill-spelt love-letter and writing in my
diary in shorthand all that has happened since i closed it last it is
nineteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance and yet unless my
senses deceive me the old centuries had and have powers of their own
which mere  modernity  cannot kill 

 

 later the morning of 16 may god preserve my sanity for to this i
am reduced safety and the assurance of safety are things of the past 
whilst i live on here there is but one thing to hope for that i may not
go mad if indeed i be not mad already if i be sane then surely it
is maddening to think that of all the foul things that lurk in this
hateful place the count is the least dreadful to me that to him alone i
can look for safety even though this be only whilst i can serve his
purpose great god merciful god let me be calm for out of that way
lies madness indeed i begin to get new lights on certain things which
have puzzled me up to now i never quite knew what shakespeare meant
when he made hamlet say 

  my tablets quick my tablets 
 'tis meet that i put it down   etc 

for now feeling as though my own brain were unhinged or as if the shock
had come which must end in its undoing i turn to my diary for repose 
the habit of entering accurately must help to soothe me 

the count's mysterious warning frightened me at the time it frightens
me more now when i think of it for in future he has a fearful hold upon
me i shall fear to doubt what he may say 

when i had written in my diary and had fortunately replaced the book and
pen in my pocket i felt sleepy the count's warning came into my mind 
but i took a pleasure in disobeying it the sense of sleep was upon me 
and with it the obstinacy which sleep brings as outrider the soft
moonlight soothed and the wide expanse without gave a sense of freedom
which refreshed me i determined not to return to-night to the
gloom-haunted rooms but to sleep here where of old ladies had sat
and sung and lived sweet lives whilst their gentle breasts were sad for
their menfolk away in the midst of remorseless wars i drew a great
couch out of its place near the corner so that as i lay i could look
at the lovely view to east and south and unthinking of and uncaring for
the dust composed myself for sleep i suppose i must have fallen
asleep i hope so but i fear for all that followed was startlingly
real so real that now sitting here in the broad full sunlight of the
morning i cannot in the least believe that it was all sleep 

i was not alone the room was the same unchanged in any way since i
came into it i could see along the floor in the brilliant moonlight 
my own footsteps marked where i had disturbed the long accumulation of
dust in the moonlight opposite me were three young women ladies by
their dress and manner i thought at the time that i must be dreaming
when i saw them for though the moonlight was behind them they threw
no shadow on the floor they came close to me and looked at me for some
time and then whispered together two were dark and had high aquiline
noses like the count and great dark piercing eyes that seemed to be
almost red when contrasted with the pale yellow moon the other was
fair as fair as can be with great wavy masses of golden hair and eyes
like pale sapphires i seemed somehow to know her face and to know it
in connection with some dreamy fear but i could not recollect at the
moment how or where all three had brilliant white teeth that shone like
pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips there was something
about them that made me uneasy some longing and at the same time some
deadly fear i felt in my heart a wicked burning desire that they would
kiss me with those red lips it is not good to note this down lest some
day it should meet mina's eyes and cause her pain but it is the truth 
they whispered together and then they all three laughed such a
silvery musical laugh but as hard as though the sound never could have
come through the softness of human lips it was like the intolerable 
tingling sweetness of water-glasses when played on by a cunning hand 
the fair girl shook her head coquettishly and the other two urged her
on one said 

 go on you are first and we shall follow yours is the right to
begin   the other added 

 he is young and strong there are kisses for us all   i lay quiet 
looking out under my eyelashes in an agony of delightful anticipation 
the fair girl advanced and bent over me till i could feel the movement
of her breath upon me sweet it was in one sense honey-sweet and sent
the same tingling through the nerves as her voice but with a bitter
underlying the sweet a bitter offensiveness as one smells in blood 

i was afraid to raise my eyelids but looked out and saw perfectly under
the lashes the girl went on her knees and bent over me simply
gloating there was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling
and repulsive and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips
like an animal till i could see in the moonlight the moisture shining
on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white sharp
teeth lower and lower went her head as the lips went below the range of
my mouth and chin and seemed about to fasten on my throat then she
paused and i could hear the churning sound of her tongue as it licked
her teeth and lips and could feel the hot breath on my neck then the
skin of my throat began to tingle as one's flesh does when the hand that
is to tickle it approaches nearer nearer i could feel the soft 
shivering touch of the lips on the super-sensitive skin of my throat 
and the hard dents of two sharp teeth just touching and pausing there 
i closed my eyes in a languorous ecstasy and waited waited with beating
heart 

but at that instant another sensation swept through me as quick as
lightning i was conscious of the presence of the count and of his
being as if lapped in a storm of fury as my eyes opened involuntarily i
saw his strong hand grasp the slender neck of the fair woman and with
giant's power draw it back the blue eyes transformed with fury the
white teeth champing with rage and the fair cheeks blazing red with
passion but the count never did i imagine such wrath and fury even to
the demons of the pit his eyes were positively blazing the red light
in them was lurid as if the flames of hell-fire blazed behind them his
face was deathly pale and the lines of it were hard like drawn wires 
the thick eyebrows that met over the nose now seemed like a heaving bar
of white-hot metal with a fierce sweep of his arm he hurled the woman
from him and then motioned to the others as though he were beating
them back it was the same imperious gesture that i had seen used to the
wolves in a voice which though low and almost in a whisper seemed to
cut through the air and then ring round the room he said 

 how dare you touch him any of you how dare you cast eyes on him when
i had forbidden it back i tell you all this man belongs to me beware
how you meddle with him or you'll have to deal with me   the fair girl 
with a laugh of ribald coquetry turned to answer him 

 you yourself never loved you never love   on this the other women
joined and such a mirthless hard soulless laughter rang through the
room that it almost made me faint to hear it seemed like the pleasure
of fiends then the count turned after looking at my face attentively 
and said in a soft whisper 

 yes i too can love you yourselves can tell it from the past is it
not so well now i promise you that when i am done with him you shall
kiss him at your will now go go i must awaken him for there is work
to be done  

 are we to have nothing to-night   said one of them with a low laugh 
as she pointed to the bag which he had thrown upon the floor and which
moved as though there were some living thing within it for answer he
nodded his head one of the women jumped forward and opened it if my
ears did not deceive me there was a gasp and a low wail as of a
half-smothered child the women closed round whilst i was aghast with
horror but as i looked they disappeared and with them the dreadful
bag there was no door near them and they could not have passed me
without my noticing they simply seemed to fade into the rays of the
moonlight and pass out through the window for i could see outside the
dim shadowy forms for a moment before they entirely faded away 

then the horror overcame me and i sank down unconscious 




chapter iv

jonathan harker's journal continued 


i awoke in my own bed if it be that i had not dreamt the count must
have carried me here i tried to satisfy myself on the subject but
could not arrive at any unquestionable result to be sure there were
certain small evidences such as that my clothes were folded and laid by
in a manner which was not my habit my watch was still unwound and i am
rigorously accustomed to wind it the last thing before going to bed and
many such details but these things are no proof for they may have been
evidences that my mind was not as usual and from some cause or
another i had certainly been much upset i must watch for proof of one
thing i am glad if it was that the count carried me here and undressed
me he must have been hurried in his task for my pockets are intact i
am sure this diary would have been a mystery to him which he would not
have brooked he would have taken or destroyed it as i look round this
room although it has been to me so full of fear it is now a sort of
sanctuary for nothing can be more dreadful than those awful women who
were who are waiting to suck my blood 

 

 18 may i have been down to look at that room again in daylight for
i must know the truth when i got to the doorway at the top of the
stairs i found it closed it had been so forcibly driven against the
jamb that part of the woodwork was splintered i could see that the bolt
of the lock had not been shot but the door is fastened from the inside 
i fear it was no dream and must act on this surmise 

 

 19 may i am surely in the toils last night the count asked me in
the suavest tones to write three letters one saying that my work here
was nearly done and that i should start for home within a few days 
another that i was starting on the next morning from the time of the
letter and the third that i had left the castle and arrived at
bistritz i would fain have rebelled but felt that in the present state
of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the count whilst i
am so absolutely in his power and to refuse would be to excite his
suspicion and to arouse his anger he knows that i know too much and
that i must not live lest i be dangerous to him my only chance is to
prolong my opportunities something may occur which will give me a
chance to escape i saw in his eyes something of that gathering wrath
which was manifest when he hurled that fair woman from him he explained
to me that posts were few and uncertain and that my writing now would
ensure ease of mind to my friends and he assured me with so much
impressiveness that he would countermand the later letters which would
be held over at bistritz until due time in case chance would admit of my
prolonging my stay that to oppose him would have been to create new
suspicion i therefore pretended to fall in with his views and asked
him what dates i should put on the letters he calculated a minute and
then said 

 the first should be june 12 the second june 19 and the third june
29  

i know now the span of my life god help me 

 

 28 may there is a chance of escape or at any rate of being able to
send word home a band of szgany have come to the castle and are
encamped in the courtyard these szgany are gipsies i have notes of
them in my book they are peculiar to this part of the world though
allied to the ordinary gipsies all the world over there are thousands
of them in hungary and transylvania who are almost outside all law 
they attach themselves as a rule to some great noble or boyar and
call themselves by his name they are fearless and without religion 
save superstition and they talk only their own varieties of the romany
tongue 

i shall write some letters home and shall try to get them to have them
posted i have already spoken them through my window to begin
acquaintanceship they took their hats off and made obeisance and many
signs which however i could not understand any more than i could
their spoken language 

 

i have written the letters mina's is in shorthand and i simply ask mr 
hawkins to communicate with her to her i have explained my situation 
but without the horrors which i may only surmise it would shock and
frighten her to death were i to expose my heart to her should the
letters not carry then the count shall not yet know my secret or the
extent of my knowledge 

 

i have given the letters i threw them through the bars of my window
with a gold piece and made what signs i could to have them posted the
man who took them pressed them to his heart and bowed and then put them
in his cap i could do no more i stole back to the study and began to
read as the count did not come in i have written here 

 

the count has come he sat down beside me and said in his smoothest
voice as he opened two letters 

 the szgany has given me these of which though i know not whence they
come i shall of course take care see   he must have looked at
it  one is from you and to my friend peter hawkins the other  here
he caught sight of the strange symbols as he opened the envelope and
the dark look came into his face and his eyes blazed wickedly  the
other is a vile thing an outrage upon friendship and hospitality it is
not signed well so it cannot matter to us   and he calmly held letter
and envelope in the flame of the lamp till they were consumed then he
went on 

 the letter to hawkins that i shall of course send on since it is
yours your letters are sacred to me your pardon my friend that
unknowingly i did break the seal will you not cover it again   he held
out the letter to me and with a courteous bow handed me a clean
envelope i could only redirect it and hand it to him in silence when
he went out of the room i could hear the key turn softly a minute later
i went over and tried it and the door was locked 

when an hour or two after the count came quietly into the room his
coming awakened me for i had gone to sleep on the sofa he was very
courteous and very cheery in his manner and seeing that i had been
sleeping he said 

 so my friend you are tired get to bed there is the surest rest i
may not have the pleasure to talk to-night since there are many labours
to me but you will sleep i pray   i passed to my room and went to bed 
and strange to say slept without dreaming despair has its own calms 

 

 31 may this morning when i woke i thought i would provide myself
with some paper and envelopes from my bag and keep them in my pocket so
that i might write in case i should get an opportunity but again a
surprise again a shock 

every scrap of paper was gone and with it all my notes my memoranda 
relating to railways and travel my letter of credit in fact all that
might be useful to me were i once outside the castle i sat and pondered
awhile and then some thought occurred to me and i made search of my
portmanteau and in the wardrobe where i had placed my clothes 

the suit in which i had travelled was gone and also my overcoat and
rug i could find no trace of them anywhere this looked like some new
scheme of villainy 

 

 17 june this morning as i was sitting on the edge of my bed
cudgelling my brains i heard without a cracking of whips and pounding
and scraping of horses' feet up the rocky path beyond the courtyard 
with joy i hurried to the window and saw drive into the yard two great
leiter-wagons each drawn by eight sturdy horses and at the head of
each pair a slovak with his wide hat great nail-studded belt dirty
sheepskin and high boots they had also their long staves in hand i
ran to the door intending to descend and try and join them through the
main hall as i thought that way might be opened for them again a
shock my door was fastened on the outside 

then i ran to the window and cried to them they looked up at me
stupidly and pointed but just then the  hetman  of the szgany came out 
and seeing them pointing to my window said something at which they
laughed henceforth no effort of mine no piteous cry or agonised
entreaty would make them even look at me they resolutely turned away 
the leiter-wagons contained great square boxes with handles of thick
rope these were evidently empty by the ease with which the slovaks
handled them and by their resonance as they were roughly moved when
they were all unloaded and packed in a great heap in one corner of the
yard the slovaks were given some money by the szgany and spitting on
it for luck lazily went each to his horse's head shortly afterwards i
heard the cracking of their whips die away in the distance 

 

 24 june before morning last night the count left me early and
locked himself into his own room as soon as i dared i ran up the
winding stair and looked out of the window which opened south i
thought i would watch for the count for there is something going on 
the szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of
some kind i know it for now and then i hear a far-away muffled sound
as of mattock and spade and whatever it is it must be the end of some
ruthless villainy 

i had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour when i saw
something coming out of the count's window i drew back and watched
carefully and saw the whole man emerge it was a new shock to me to
find that he had on the suit of clothes which i had worn whilst
travelling here and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which i
had seen the women take away there could be no doubt as to his quest 
and in my garb too this then is his new scheme of evil that he will
allow others to see me as they think so that he may both leave
evidence that i have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own
letters and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local
people be attributed to me 

it makes me rage to think that this can go on and whilst i am shut up
here a veritable prisoner but without that protection of the law which
is even a criminal's right and consolation 

i thought i would watch for the count's return and for a long time sat
doggedly at the window then i began to notice that there were some
quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight they were
like the tiniest grains of dust and they whirled round and gathered in
clusters in a nebulous sort of way i watched them with a sense of
soothing and a sort of calm stole over me i leaned back in the
embrasure in a more comfortable position so that i could enjoy more
fully the aerial gambolling 

something made me start up a low piteous howling of dogs somewhere far
below in the valley which was hidden from my sight louder it seemed to
ring in my ears and the floating motes of dust to take new shapes to
the sound as they danced in the moonlight i felt myself struggling to
awake to some call of my instincts nay my very soul was struggling 
and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call i
was becoming hypnotised quicker and quicker danced the dust the
moonbeams seemed to quiver as they went by me into the mass of gloom
beyond more and more they gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom
shapes and then i started broad awake and in full possession of my
senses and ran screaming from the place the phantom shapes which were
becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams were those of the
three ghostly women to whom i was doomed i fled and felt somewhat
safer in my own room where there was no moonlight and where the lamp
was burning brightly 

when a couple of hours had passed i heard something stirring in the
count's room something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed and then
there was silence deep awful silence which chilled me with a
beating heart i tried the door but i was locked in my prison and
could do nothing i sat down and simply cried 

as i sat i heard a sound in the courtyard without the agonised cry of a
woman i rushed to the window and throwing it up peered out between
the bars there indeed was a woman with dishevelled hair holding her
hands over her heart as one distressed with running she was leaning
against a corner of the gateway when she saw my face at the window she
threw herself forward and shouted in a voice laden with menace 

 monster give me my child  

she threw herself on her knees and raising up her hands cried the same
words in tones which wrung my heart then she tore her hair and beat her
breast and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant
emotion finally she threw herself forward and though i could not see
her i could hear the beating of her naked hands against the door 

somewhere high overhead probably on the tower i heard the voice of the
count calling in his harsh metallic whisper his call seemed to be
answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves before many minutes
had passed a pack of them poured like a pent-up dam when liberated 
through the wide entrance into the courtyard 

there was no cry from the woman and the howling of the wolves was but
short before long they streamed away singly licking their lips 

i could not pity her for i knew now what had become of her child and
she was better dead 

what shall i do what can i do how can i escape from this dreadful
thing of night and gloom and fear 

 

 25 june morning no man knows till he has suffered from the night
how sweet and how dear to his heart and eye the morning can be when the
sun grew so high this morning that it struck the top of the great
gateway opposite my window the high spot which it touched seemed to me
as if the dove from the ark had lighted there my fear fell from me as
if it had been a vaporous garment which dissolved in the warmth i must
take action of some sort whilst the courage of the day is upon me last
night one of my post-dated letters went to post the first of that fatal
series which is to blot out the very traces of my existence from the
earth 

let me not think of it action 

it has always been at night-time that i have been molested or
threatened or in some way in danger or in fear i have not yet seen the
count in the daylight can it be that he sleeps when others wake that
he may be awake whilst they sleep if i could only get into his room 
but there is no possible way the door is always locked no way for me 

yes there is a way if one dares to take it where his body has gone
why may not another body go i have seen him myself crawl from his
window why should not i imitate him and go in by his window the
chances are desperate but my need is more desperate still i shall risk
it at the worst it can only be death and a man's death is not a
calf's and the dreaded hereafter may still be open to me god help me
in my task good-bye mina if i fail good-bye my faithful friend and
second father good-bye all and last of all mina 

 

 same day later i have made the effort and god helping me have
come safely back to this room i must put down every detail in order i
went whilst my courage was fresh straight to the window on the south
side and at once got outside on the narrow ledge of stone which runs
around the building on this side the stones are big and roughly cut 
and the mortar has by process of time been washed away between them i
took off my boots and ventured out on the desperate way i looked down
once so as to make sure that a sudden glimpse of the awful depth would
not overcome me but after that kept my eyes away from it i knew pretty
well the direction and distance of the count's window and made for it
as well as i could having regard to the opportunities available i did
not feel dizzy i suppose i was too excited and the time seemed
ridiculously short till i found myself standing on the window-sill and
trying to raise up the sash i was filled with agitation however when
i bent down and slid feet foremost in through the window then i looked
around for the count but with surprise and gladness made a discovery 
the room was empty it was barely furnished with odd things which
seemed to have never been used the furniture was something the same
style as that in the south rooms and was covered with dust i looked
for the key but it was not in the lock and i could not find it
anywhere the only thing i found was a great heap of gold in one
corner gold of all kinds roman and british and austrian and
hungarian and greek and turkish money covered with a film of dust as
though it had lain long in the ground none of it that i noticed was
less than three hundred years old there were also chains and ornaments 
some jewelled but all of them old and stained 

at one corner of the room was a heavy door i tried it for since i
could not find the key of the room or the key of the outer door which
was the main object of my search i must make further examination or
all my efforts would be in vain it was open and led through a stone
passage to a circular stairway which went steeply down i descended 
minding carefully where i went for the stairs were dark being only lit
by loopholes in the heavy masonry at the bottom there was a dark 
tunnel-like passage through which came a deathly sickly odour the
odour of old earth newly turned as i went through the passage the smell
grew closer and heavier at last i pulled open a heavy door which stood
ajar and found myself in an old ruined chapel which had evidently
been used as a graveyard the roof was broken and in two places were
steps leading to vaults but the ground had recently been dug over and
the earth placed in great wooden boxes manifestly those which had been
brought by the slovaks there was nobody about and i made search for
any further outlet but there was none then i went over every inch of
the ground so as not to lose a chance i went down even into the
vaults where the dim light struggled although to do so was a dread to
my very soul into two of these i went but saw nothing except fragments
of old coffins and piles of dust in the third however i made a
discovery 

there in one of the great boxes of which there were fifty in all on a
pile of newly dug earth lay the count he was either dead or asleep i
could not say which for the eyes were open and stony but without the
glassiness of death and the cheeks had the warmth of life through all
their pallor the lips were as red as ever but there was no sign of
movement no pulse no breath no beating of the heart i bent over him 
and tried to find any sign of life but in vain he could not have lain
there long for the earthy smell would have passed away in a few hours 
by the side of the box was its cover pierced with holes here and there 
i thought he might have the keys on him but when i went to search i saw
the dead eyes and in them dead though they were such a look of hate 
though unconscious of me or my presence that i fled from the place and
leaving the count's room by the window crawled again up the castle
wall regaining my room i threw myself panting upon the bed and tried
to think 

 

 29 june to-day is the date of my last letter and the count has
taken steps to prove that it was genuine for again i saw him leave the
castle by the same window and in my clothes as he went down the wall 
lizard fashion i wished i had a gun or some lethal weapon that i might
destroy him but i fear that no weapon wrought alone by man's hand would
have any effect on him i dared not wait to see him return for i feared
to see those weird sisters i came back to the library and read there
till i fell asleep 

i was awakened by the count who looked at me as grimly as a man can
look as he said 

 to-morrow my friend we must part you return to your beautiful
england i to some work which may have such an end that we may never
meet your letter home has been despatched to-morrow i shall not be
here but all shall be ready for your journey in the morning come the
szgany who have some labours of their own here and also come some
slovaks when they have gone my carriage shall come for you and shall
bear you to the borgo pass to meet the diligence from bukovina to
bistritz but i am in hopes that i shall see more of you at castle
dracula   i suspected him and determined to test his sincerity 
sincerity it seems like a profanation of the word to write it in
connection with such a monster so asked him point-blank 

 why may i not go to-night  

 because dear sir my coachman and horses are away on a mission  

 but i would walk with pleasure i want to get away at once   he smiled 
such a soft smooth diabolical smile that i knew there was some trick
behind his smoothness he said 

 and your baggage  

 i do not care about it i can send for it some other time  

the count stood up and said with a sweet courtesy which made me rub my
eyes it seemed so real 

 you english have a saying which is close to my heart for its spirit is
that which rules our boyars 'welcome the coming speed the parting
guest ' come with me my dear young friend not an hour shall you wait
in my house against your will though sad am i at your going and that
you so suddenly desire it come   with a stately gravity he with the
lamp preceded me down the stairs and along the hall suddenly he
stopped 

 hark  

close at hand came the howling of many wolves it was almost as if the
sound sprang up at the rising of his hand just as the music of a great
orchestra seems to leap under the baton of the conductor after a pause
of a moment he proceeded in his stately way to the door drew back
the ponderous bolts unhooked the heavy chains and began to draw it
open 

to my intense astonishment i saw that it was unlocked suspiciously i
looked all round but could see no key of any kind 

as the door began to open the howling of the wolves without grew louder
and angrier their red jaws with champing teeth and their blunt-clawed
feet as they leaped came in through the opening door i knew then that
to struggle at the moment against the count was useless with such
allies as these at his command i could do nothing but still the door
continued slowly to open and only the count's body stood in the gap 
suddenly it struck me that this might be the moment and means of my
doom i was to be given to the wolves and at my own instigation there
was a diabolical wickedness in the idea great enough for the count and
as a last chance i cried out 

 shut the door i shall wait till morning   and covered my face with my
hands to hide my tears of bitter disappointment with one sweep of his
powerful arm the count threw the door shut and the great bolts clanged
and echoed through the hall as they shot back into their places 

in silence we returned to the library and after a minute or two i went
to my own room the last i saw of count dracula was his kissing his hand
to me with a red light of triumph in his eyes and with a smile that
judas in hell might be proud of 

when i was in my room and about to lie down i thought i heard a
whispering at my door i went to it softly and listened unless my ears
deceived me i heard the voice of the count 

 back back to your own place your time is not yet come wait have
patience to-night is mine to-morrow night is yours   there was a low 
sweet ripple of laughter and in a rage i threw open the door and saw
without the three terrible women licking their lips as i appeared they
all joined in a horrible laugh and ran away 

i came back to my room and threw myself on my knees it is then so near
the end to-morrow to-morrow lord help me and those to whom i am
dear 

 

 30 june morning these may be the last words i ever write in this
diary i slept till just before the dawn and when i woke threw myself
on my knees for i determined that if death came he should find me
ready 

at last i felt that subtle change in the air and knew that the morning
had come then came the welcome cock-crow and i felt that i was safe 
with a glad heart i opened my door and ran down to the hall i had seen
that the door was unlocked and now escape was before me with hands
that trembled with eagerness i unhooked the chains and drew back the
massive bolts 

but the door would not move despair seized me i pulled and pulled at
the door and shook it till massive as it was it rattled in its
casement i could see the bolt shot it had been locked after i left the
count 

then a wild desire took me to obtain that key at any risk and i
determined then and there to scale the wall again and gain the count's
room he might kill me but death now seemed the happier choice of
evils without a pause i rushed up to the east window and scrambled
down the wall as before into the count's room it was empty but that
was as i expected i could not see a key anywhere but the heap of gold
remained i went through the door in the corner and down the winding
stair and along the dark passage to the old chapel i knew now well
enough where to find the monster i sought 

the great box was in the same place close against the wall but the lid
was laid on it not fastened down but with the nails ready in their
places to be hammered home i knew i must reach the body for the key so
i raised the lid and laid it back against the wall and then i saw
something which filled my very soul with horror there lay the count 
but looking as if his youth had been half renewed for the white hair
and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey the cheeks were fuller 
and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath the mouth was redder than
ever for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood which trickled from the
corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck even the deep 
burning eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh for the lids and pouches
underneath were bloated it seemed as if the whole awful creature were
simply gorged with blood he lay like a filthy leech exhausted with his
repletion i shuddered as i bent over to touch him and every sense in
me revolted at the contact but i had to search or i was lost the
coming night might see my own body a banquet in a similar way to those
horrid three i felt all over the body but no sign could i find of the
key then i stopped and looked at the count there was a mocking smile
on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad this was the being i
was helping to transfer to london where perhaps for centuries to come
he might amongst its teeming millions satiate his lust for blood and
create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the
helpless the very thought drove me mad a terrible desire came upon me
to rid the world of such a monster there was no lethal weapon at hand 
but i seized a shovel which the workmen had been using to fill the
cases and lifting it high struck with the edge downward at the
hateful face but as i did so the head turned and the eyes fell full
upon me with all their blaze of basilisk horror the sight seemed to
paralyse me and the shovel turned in my hand and glanced from the face 
merely making a deep gash above the forehead the shovel fell from my
hand across the box and as i pulled it away the flange of the blade
caught the edge of the lid which fell over again and hid the horrid
thing from my sight the last glimpse i had was of the bloated face 
blood-stained and fixed with a grin of malice which would have held its
own in the nethermost hell 

i thought and thought what should be my next move but my brain seemed
on fire and i waited with a despairing feeling growing over me as i
waited i heard in the distance a gipsy song sung by merry voices coming
closer and through their song the rolling of heavy wheels and the
cracking of whips the szgany and the slovaks of whom the count had
spoken were coming with a last look around and at the box which
contained the vile body i ran from the place and gained the count's
room determined to rush out at the moment the door should be opened 
with strained ears i listened and heard downstairs the grinding of the
key in the great lock and the falling back of the heavy door there must
have been some other means of entry or some one had a key for one of
the locked doors then there came the sound of many feet tramping and
dying away in some passage which sent up a clanging echo i turned to
run down again towards the vault where i might find the new entrance 
but at the moment there seemed to come a violent puff of wind and the
door to the winding stair blew to with a shock that set the dust from
the lintels flying when i ran to push it open i found that it was
hopelessly fast i was again a prisoner and the net of doom was closing
round me more closely 

as i write there is in the passage below a sound of many tramping feet
and the crash of weights being set down heavily doubtless the boxes 
with their freight of earth there is a sound of hammering it is the
box being nailed down now i can hear the heavy feet tramping again
along the hall with many other idle feet coming behind them 

the door is shut and the chains rattle there is a grinding of the key
in the lock i can hear the key withdraw then another door opens and
shuts i hear the creaking of lock and bolt 

hark in the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy wheels 
the crack of whips and the chorus of the szgany as they pass into the
distance 

i am alone in the castle with those awful women faugh mina is a woman 
and there is nought in common they are devils of the pit 

i shall not remain alone with them i shall try to scale the castle wall
farther than i have yet attempted i shall take some of the gold with
me lest i want it later i may find a way from this dreadful place 

and then away for home away to the quickest and nearest train away
from this cursed spot from this cursed land where the devil and his
children still walk with earthly feet 

at least god's mercy is better than that of these monsters and the
precipice is steep and high at its foot a man may sleep as a man 
good-bye all mina 




chapter v

 letter from miss mina murray to miss lucy westenra 


  9 may 

 my dearest lucy 

 forgive my long delay in writing but i have been simply overwhelmed
with work the life of an assistant schoolmistress is sometimes trying 
i am longing to be with you and by the sea where we can talk together
freely and build our castles in the air i have been working very hard
lately because i want to keep up with jonathan's studies and i have
been practising shorthand very assiduously when we are married i shall
be able to be useful to jonathan and if i can stenograph well enough i
can take down what he wants to say in this way and write it out for
him on the typewriter at which also i am practising very hard he
and i sometimes write letters in shorthand and he is keeping a
stenographic journal of his travels abroad when i am with you i
shall keep a diary in the same way i don't mean one of those
two-pages-to-the-week-with-sunday-squeezed-in-a-corner diaries but a
sort of journal which i can write in whenever i feel inclined i do not
suppose there will be much of interest to other people but it is not
intended for them i may show it to jonathan some day if there is in it
anything worth sharing but it is really an exercise book i shall try
to do what i see lady journalists do interviewing and writing
descriptions and trying to remember conversations i am told that with
a little practice one can remember all that goes on or that one hears
said during a day however we shall see i will tell you of my little
plans when we meet i have just had a few hurried lines from jonathan
from transylvania he is well and will be returning in about a week i
am longing to hear all his news it must be so nice to see strange
countries i wonder if we i mean jonathan and i shall ever see them
together there is the ten o'clock bell ringing good-bye 

 your loving

 mina 

 tell me all the news when you write you have not told me anything for
a long time i hear rumours and especially of a tall handsome 
curly-haired man  


 letter lucy westenra to mina murray 

  17 chatham street 

  wednesday 

 my dearest mina 

 i must say you tax me very unfairly with being a bad correspondent i
wrote to you twice since we parted and your last letter was only your
 second besides i have nothing to tell you there is really nothing
to interest you town is very pleasant just now and we go a good deal
to picture-galleries and for walks and rides in the park as to the
tall curly-haired man i suppose it was the one who was with me at the
last pop some one has evidently been telling tales that was mr 
holmwood he often comes to see us and he and mamma get on very well
together they have so many things to talk about in common we met some
time ago a man that would just do for you if you were not already
engaged to jonathan he is an excellent parti being handsome well
off and of good birth he is a doctor and really clever just fancy he
is only nine-and-twenty and he has an immense lunatic asylum all under
his own care mr holmwood introduced him to me and he called here to
see us and often comes now i think he is one of the most resolute men
i ever saw and yet the most calm he seems absolutely imperturbable i
can fancy what a wonderful power he must have over his patients he has
a curious habit of looking one straight in the face as if trying to
read one's thoughts he tries this on very much with me but i flatter
myself he has got a tough nut to crack i know that from my glass do
you ever try to read your own face i do and i can tell you it is not
a bad study and gives you more trouble than you can well fancy if you
have never tried it he says that i afford him a curious psychological
study and i humbly think i do i do not as you know take sufficient
interest in dress to be able to describe the new fashions dress is a
bore that is slang again but never mind arthur says that every day 
there it is all out mina we have told all our secrets to each other
since we were children we have slept together and eaten together and
laughed and cried together and now though i have spoken i would like
to speak more oh mina couldn't you guess i love him i am blushing
as i write for although i think he loves me he has not told me so in
words but oh mina i love him i love him i love him there that
does me good i wish i were with you dear sitting by the fire
undressing as we used to sit and i would try to tell you what i feel 
i do not know how i am writing this even to you i am afraid to stop 
or i should tear up the letter and i don't want to stop for i do so
want to tell you all let me hear from you at once and tell me all
that you think about it mina i must stop good-night bless me in your
prayers and mina pray for my happiness 

 lucy 

 p s i need not tell you this is a secret good-night again 

 l  

 letter lucy westenra to mina murray 

  24 may 

 my dearest mina 

 thanks and thanks and thanks again for your sweet letter it was so
nice to be able to tell you and to have your sympathy 

 my dear it never rains but it pours how true the old proverbs are 
here am i who shall be twenty in september and yet i never had a
proposal till to-day not a real proposal and to-day i have had three 
just fancy three proposals in one day isn't it awful i feel sorry 
really and truly sorry for two of the poor fellows oh mina i am so
happy that i don't know what to do with myself and three proposals 
but for goodness' sake don't tell any of the girls or they would be
getting all sorts of extravagant ideas and imagining themselves injured
and slighted if in their very first day at home they did not get six at
least some girls are so vain you and i mina dear who are engaged and
are going to settle down soon soberly into old married women can
despise vanity well i must tell you about the three but you must keep
it a secret dear from every one except of course jonathan you
will tell him because i would if i were in your place certainly tell
arthur a woman ought to tell her husband everything don't you think
so dear and i must be fair men like women certainly their wives to
be quite as fair as they are and women i am afraid are not always
quite as fair as they should be well my dear number one came just
before lunch i told you of him dr john seward the lunatic-asylum
man with the strong jaw and the good forehead he was very cool
outwardly but was nervous all the same he had evidently been schooling
himself as to all sorts of little things and remembered them but he
almost managed to sit down on his silk hat which men don't generally do
when they are cool and then when he wanted to appear at ease he kept
playing with a lancet in a way that made me nearly scream he spoke to
me mina very straightforwardly he told me how dear i was to him 
though he had known me so little and what his life would be with me to
help and cheer him he was going to tell me how unhappy he would be if i
did not care for him but when he saw me cry he said that he was a brute
and would not add to my present trouble then he broke off and asked if
i could love him in time and when i shook my head his hands trembled 
and then with some hesitation he asked me if i cared already for any one
else he put it very nicely saying that he did not want to wring my
confidence from me but only to know because if a woman's heart was
free a man might have hope and then mina i felt a sort of duty to
tell him that there was some one i only told him that much and then he
stood up and he looked very strong and very grave as he took both my
hands in his and said he hoped i would be happy and that if i ever
wanted a friend i must count him one of my best oh mina dear i can't
help crying and you must excuse this letter being all blotted being
proposed to is all very nice and all that sort of thing but it isn't at
all a happy thing when you have to see a poor fellow whom you know
loves you honestly going away and looking all broken-hearted and to
know that no matter what he may say at the moment you are passing
quite out of his life my dear i must stop here at present i feel so
miserable though i am so happy 

  evening 

 arthur has just gone and i feel in better spirits than when i left
off so i can go on telling you about the day well my dear number two
came after lunch he is such a nice fellow an american from texas and
he looks so young and so fresh that it seems almost impossible that he
has been to so many places and has had such adventures i sympathise
with poor desdemona when she had such a dangerous stream poured in her
ear even by a black man i suppose that we women are such cowards that
we think a man will save us from fears and we marry him i know now
what i would do if i were a man and wanted to make a girl love me no i
don't for there was mr morris telling us his stories and arthur never
told any and yet my dear i am somewhat previous mr quincey p 
morris found me alone it seems that a man always does find a girl
alone no he doesn't for arthur tried twice to make a chance and i
helping him all i could i am not ashamed to say it now i must tell you
beforehand that mr morris doesn't always speak slang that is to say 
he never does so to strangers or before them for he is really well
educated and has exquisite manners but he found out that it amused me
to hear him talk american slang and whenever i was present and there
was no one to be shocked he said such funny things i am afraid my
dear he has to invent it all for it fits exactly into whatever else he
has to say but this is a way slang has i do not know myself if i shall
ever speak slang i do not know if arthur likes it as i have never
heard him use any as yet well mr morris sat down beside me and looked
as happy and jolly as he could but i could see all the same that he was
very nervous he took my hand in his and said ever so sweetly 

 'miss lucy i know i ain't good enough to regulate the fixin's of your
little shoes but i guess if you wait till you find a man that is you
will go join them seven young women with the lamps when you quit won't
you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down the long road
together driving in double harness '

 well he did look so good-humoured and so jolly that it didn't seem
half so hard to refuse him as it did poor dr seward so i said as
lightly as i could that i did not know anything of hitching and that i
wasn't broken to harness at all yet then he said that he had spoken in
a light manner and he hoped that if he had made a mistake in doing so
on so grave so momentous an occasion for him i would forgive him he
really did look serious when he was saying it and i couldn't help
feeling a bit serious too i know mina you will think me a horrid
flirt though i couldn't help feeling a sort of exultation that he was
number two in one day and then my dear before i could say a word he
began pouring out a perfect torrent of love-making laying his very
heart and soul at my feet he looked so earnest over it that i shall
never again think that a man must be playful always and never earnest 
because he is merry at times i suppose he saw something in my face
which checked him for he suddenly stopped and said with a sort of
manly fervour that i could have loved him for if i had been free 

 'lucy you are an honest-hearted girl i know i should not be here
speaking to you as i am now if i did not believe you clean grit right
through to the very depths of your soul tell me like one good fellow
to another is there any one else that you care for and if there is
i'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again but will be if you will
let me a very faithful friend '

 my dear mina why are men so noble when we women are so little worthy
of them here was i almost making fun of this great-hearted true
gentleman i burst into tears i am afraid my dear you will think
this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one and i really felt very
badly why can't they let a girl marry three men or as many as want
her and save all this trouble but this is heresy and i must not say
it i am glad to say that though i was crying i was able to look into
mr morris's brave eyes and i told him out straight 

 'yes there is some one i love though he has not told me yet that he
even loves me ' i was right to speak to him so frankly for quite a
light came into his face and he put out both his hands and took mine i
think i put them into his and said in a hearty way 

 'that's my brave girl it's better worth being late for a chance of
winning you than being in time for any other girl in the world don't
cry my dear if it's for me i'm a hard nut to crack and i take it
standing up if that other fellow doesn't know his happiness well he'd
better look for it soon or he'll have to deal with me little girl 
your honesty and pluck have made me a friend and that's rarer than a
lover it's more unselfish anyhow my dear i'm going to have a pretty
lonely walk between this and kingdom come won't you give me one kiss 
it'll be something to keep off the darkness now and then you can you
know if you like for that other good fellow he must be a good fellow 
my dear and a fine fellow or you could not love him hasn't spoken
yet ' that quite won me mina for it was brave and sweet of him and
noble too to a rival wasn't it and he so sad so i leant over and
kissed him he stood up with my two hands in his and as he looked down
into my face i am afraid i was blushing very much he said 

 'little girl i hold your hand and you've kissed me and if these
things don't make us friends nothing ever will thank you for your sweet
honesty to me and good-bye ' he wrung my hand and taking up his hat 
went straight out of the room without looking back without a tear or a
quiver or a pause and i am crying like a baby oh why must a man like
that be made unhappy when there are lots of girls about who would
worship the very ground he trod on i know i would if i were free only
i don't want to be free my dear this quite upset me and i feel i
cannot write of happiness just at once after telling you of it and i
don't wish to tell of the number three until it can be all happy 

 ever your loving

 lucy 

 p s oh about number three i needn't tell you of number three need
i besides it was all so confused it seemed only a moment from his
coming into the room till both his arms were round me and he was
kissing me i am very very happy and i don't know what i have done to
deserve it i must only try in the future to show that i am not
ungrateful to god for all his goodness to me in sending to me such a
lover such a husband and such a friend 

 good-bye  


 dr seward's diary 

 kept in phonograph 

 25 may ebb tide in appetite to-day cannot eat cannot rest so
diary instead since my rebuff of yesterday i have a sort of empty
feeling nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be worth
the doing as i knew that the only cure for this sort of thing was
work i went down amongst the patients i picked out one who has
afforded me a study of much interest he is so quaint that i am
determined to understand him as well as i can to-day i seemed to get
nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery 

i questioned him more fully than i had ever done with a view to making
myself master of the facts of his hallucination in my manner of doing
it there was i now see something of cruelty i seemed to wish to keep
him to the point of his madness a thing which i avoid with the patients
as i would the mouth of hell 

 mem under what circumstances would i not avoid the pit of hell 
 omnia romae venalia sunt hell has its price verb sap if there be
anything behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards
 accurately so i had better commence to do so therefore 

r m renfield aetat 59 sanguine temperament great physical strength 
morbidly excitable periods of gloom ending in some fixed idea which i
cannot make out i presume that the sanguine temperament itself and the
disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished finish a possibly
dangerous man probably dangerous if unselfish in selfish men caution
is as secure an armour for their foes as for themselves what i think of
on this point is when self is the fixed point the centripetal force is
balanced with the centrifugal when duty a cause etc is the fixed
point the latter force is paramount and only accident or a series of
accidents can balance it 


 letter quincey p morris to hon arthur holmwood 

  25 may 

 my dear art 

 we've told yarns by the camp-fire in the prairies and dressed one
another's wounds after trying a landing at the marquesas and drunk
healths on the shore of titicaca there are more yarns to be told and
other wounds to be healed and another health to be drunk won't you let
this be at my camp-fire to-morrow night i have no hesitation in asking
you as i know a certain lady is engaged to a certain dinner-party and
that you are free there will only be one other our old pal at the
korea jack seward he's coming too and we both want to mingle our
weeps over the wine-cup and to drink a health with all our hearts to
the happiest man in all the wide world who has won the noblest heart
that god has made and the best worth winning we promise you a hearty
welcome and a loving greeting and a health as true as your own right
hand we shall both swear to leave you at home if you drink too deep to
a certain pair of eyes come 

 yours as ever and always 

 quincey p morris  


 telegram from arthur holmwood to quincey p morris 

  26 may 

 count me in every time i bear messages which will make both your ears
tingle 

 art  




chapter vi

mina murray's journal


 24 july whitby lucy met me at the station looking sweeter and
lovelier than ever and we drove up to the house at the crescent in
which they have rooms this is a lovely place the little river the
esk runs through a deep valley which broadens out as it comes near the
harbour a great viaduct runs across with high piers through which the
view seems somehow further away than it really is the valley is
beautifully green and it is so steep that when you are on the high land
on either side you look right across it unless you are near enough to
see down the houses of the old town the side away from us are all
red-roofed and seem piled up one over the other anyhow like the
pictures we see of nuremberg right over the town is the ruin of whitby
abbey which was sacked by the danes and which is the scene of part of
 marmion   where the girl was built up in the wall it is a most noble
ruin of immense size and full of beautiful and romantic bits there is
a legend that a white lady is seen in one of the windows between it and
the town there is another church the parish one round which is a big
graveyard all full of tombstones this is to my mind the nicest spot in
whitby for it lies right over the town and has a full view of the
harbour and all up the bay to where the headland called kettleness
stretches out into the sea it descends so steeply over the harbour that
part of the bank has fallen away and some of the graves have been
destroyed in one place part of the stonework of the graves stretches
out over the sandy pathway far below there are walks with seats beside
them through the churchyard and people go and sit there all day long
looking at the beautiful view and enjoying the breeze i shall come and
sit here very often myself and work indeed i am writing now with my
book on my knee and listening to the talk of three old men who are
sitting beside me they seem to do nothing all day but sit up here and
talk 

the harbour lies below me with on the far side one long granite wall
stretching out into the sea with a curve outwards at the end of it in
the middle of which is a lighthouse a heavy sea-wall runs along outside
of it on the near side the sea-wall makes an elbow crooked inversely 
and its end too has a lighthouse between the two piers there is a
narrow opening into the harbour which then suddenly widens 

it is nice at high water but when the tide is out it shoals away to
nothing and there is merely the stream of the esk running between
banks of sand with rocks here and there outside the harbour on this
side there rises for about half a mile a great reef the sharp edge of
which runs straight out from behind the south lighthouse at the end of
it is a buoy with a bell which swings in bad weather and sends in a
mournful sound on the wind they have a legend here that when a ship is
lost bells are heard out at sea i must ask the old man about this he
is coming this way 

he is a funny old man he must be awfully old for his face is all
gnarled and twisted like the bark of a tree he tells me that he is
nearly a hundred and that he was a sailor in the greenland fishing
fleet when waterloo was fought he is i am afraid a very sceptical
person for when i asked him about the bells at sea and the white lady
at the abbey he said very brusquely 

 i wouldn't fash masel' about them miss them things be all wore out 
mind i don't say that they never was but i do say that they wasn't in
my time they be all very well for comers and trippers an' the like 
but not for a nice young lady like you them feet-folks from york and
leeds that be always eatin' cured herrin's an' drinkin' tea an' lookin'
out to buy cheap jet would creed aught i wonder masel' who'd be
bothered tellin' lies to them even the newspapers which is full of
fool-talk   i thought he would be a good person to learn interesting
things from so i asked him if he would mind telling me something about
the whale-fishing in the old days he was just settling himself to begin
when the clock struck six whereupon he laboured to get up and said 

 i must gang ageeanwards home now miss my grand-daughter doesn't like
to be kept waitin' when the tea is ready for it takes me time to
crammle aboon the grees for there be a many of 'em an' miss i lack
belly-timber sairly by the clock  

he hobbled away and i could see him hurrying as well as he could down
the steps the steps are a great feature on the place they lead from
the town up to the church there are hundreds of them i do not know how
many and they wind up in a delicate curve the slope is so gentle that
a horse could easily walk up and down them i think they must originally
have had something to do with the abbey i shall go home too lucy went
out visiting with her mother and as they were only duty calls i did
not go they will be home by this 

 

 1 august i came up here an hour ago with lucy and we had a most
interesting talk with my old friend and the two others who always come
and join him he is evidently the sir oracle of them and i should think
must have been in his time a most dictatorial person he will not admit
anything and downfaces everybody if he can't out-argue them he bullies
them and then takes their silence for agreement with his views lucy
was looking sweetly pretty in her white lawn frock she has got a
beautiful colour since she has been here i noticed that the old men did
not lose any time in coming up and sitting near her when we sat down 
she is so sweet with old people i think they all fell in love with her
on the spot even my old man succumbed and did not contradict her but
gave me double share instead i got him on the subject of the legends 
and he went off at once into a sort of sermon i must try to remember it
and put it down 

 it be all fool-talk lock stock and barrel that's what it be an'
nowt else these bans an' wafts an' boh-ghosts an' barguests an' bogles
an' all anent them is only fit to set bairns an' dizzy women
a-belderin' they be nowt but air-blebs they an' all grims an' signs
an' warnin's be all invented by parsons an' illsome beuk-bodies an'
railway touters to skeer an' scunner hafflin's an' to get folks to do
somethin' that they don't other incline to it makes me ireful to think
o' them why it's them that not content with printin' lies on paper
an' preachin' them out of pulpits does want to be cuttin' them on the
tombstones look here all around you in what airt ye will all them
steans holdin' up their heads as well as they can out of their pride 
is acant simply tumblin' down with the weight o' the lies wrote on
them 'here lies the body' or 'sacred to the memory' wrote on all of
them an' yet in nigh half of them there bean't no bodies at all an'
the memories of them bean't cared a pinch of snuff about much less
sacred lies all of them nothin' but lies of one kind or another my
gog but it'll be a quare scowderment at the day of judgment when they
come tumblin' up in their death-sarks all jouped together an' tryin' to
drag their tombsteans with them to prove how good they was some of them
trimmlin' and ditherin' with their hands that dozzened an' slippy from
lyin' in the sea that they can't even keep their grup o' them  

i could see from the old fellow's self-satisfied air and the way in
which he looked round for the approval of his cronies that he was
 showing off   so i put in a word to keep him going 

 oh mr swales you can't be serious surely these tombstones are not
all wrong  

 yabblins there may be a poorish few not wrong savin' where they make
out the people too good for there be folk that do think a balm-bowl be
like the sea if only it be their own the whole thing be only lies now
look you here you come here a stranger an' you see this kirk-garth   i
nodded for i thought it better to assent though i did not quite
understand his dialect i knew it had something to do with the church 
he went on  and you consate that all these steans be aboon folk that be
happed here snod an' snog   i assented again  then that be just where
the lie comes in why there be scores of these lay-beds that be toom as
old dun's 'bacca-box on friday night   he nudged one of his companions 
and they all laughed  and my gog how could they be otherwise look at
that one the aftest abaft the bier-bank read it   i went over and
read 

 edward spencelagh master mariner murdered by pirates off the coast of
andres april 1854 aet 30   when i came back mr swales went on 

 who brought him home i wonder to hap him here murdered off the coast
of andres an' you consated his body lay under why i could name ye a
dozen whose bones lie in the greenland seas above  he pointed
northwards  or where the currents may have drifted them there be the
steans around ye ye can with your young eyes read the small-print of
the lies from here this braithwaite lowrey i knew his father lost in
the lively off greenland in '20 or andrew woodhouse drowned in the
same seas in 1777 or john paxton drowned off cape farewell a year
later or old john rawlings whose grandfather sailed with me drowned
in the gulf of finland in '50 do ye think that all these men will have
to make a rush to whitby when the trumpet sounds i have me antherums
aboot it i tell ye that when they got here they'd be jommlin' an'
jostlin' one another that way that it 'ud be like a fight up on the ice
in the old days when we'd be at one another from daylight to dark an'
tryin' to tie up our cuts by the light of the aurora borealis   this was
evidently local pleasantry for the old man cackled over it and his
cronies joined in with gusto 

 but   i said  surely you are not quite correct for you start on the
assumption that all the poor people or their spirits will have to
take their tombstones with them on the day of judgment do you think
that will be really necessary  

 well what else be they tombstones for answer me that miss  

 to please their relatives i suppose  

 to please their relatives you suppose   this he said with intense
scorn  how will it pleasure their relatives to know that lies is wrote
over them and that everybody in the place knows that they be lies   he
pointed to a stone at our feet which had been laid down as a slab on
which the seat was rested close to the edge of the cliff  read the
lies on that thruff-stean   he said the letters were upside down to me
from where i sat but lucy was more opposite to them so she leant over
and read 

 sacred to the memory of george canon who died in the hope of a
glorious resurrection on july 29 1873 falling from the rocks at
kettleness this tomb was erected by his sorrowing mother to her dearly
beloved son 'he was the only son of his mother and she was a widow '
really mr swales i don't see anything very funny in that   she spoke
her comment very gravely and somewhat severely 

 ye don't see aught funny ha ha but that's because ye don't gawm the
sorrowin' mother was a hell-cat that hated him because he was
acrewk'd a regular lamiter he was an' he hated her so that he
committed suicide in order that she mightn't get an insurance she put on
his life he blew nigh the top of his head off with an old musket that
they had for scarin' the crows with 'twarn't for crows then for it
brought the clegs and the dowps to him that's the way he fell off the
rocks and as to hopes of a glorious resurrection i've often heard him
say masel' that he hoped he'd go to hell for his mother was so pious
that she'd be sure to go to heaven an' he didn't want to addle where
she was now isn't that stean at any rate  he hammered it with his
stick as he spoke  a pack of lies and won't it make gabriel keckle
when geordie comes pantin' up the grees with the tombstean balanced on
his hump and asks it to be took as evidence  

i did not know what to say but lucy turned the conversation as she
said rising up 

 oh why did you tell us of this it is my favourite seat and i cannot
leave it and now i find i must go on sitting over the grave of a
suicide  

 that won't harm ye my pretty an' it may make poor geordie gladsome to
have so trim a lass sittin' on his lap that won't hurt ye why i've
sat here off an' on for nigh twenty years past an' it hasn't done me
no harm don't ye fash about them as lies under ye or that doesn' lie
there either it'll be time for ye to be getting scart when ye see the
tombsteans all run away with and the place as bare as a stubble-field 
there's the clock an' i must gang my service to ye ladies   and off
he hobbled 

lucy and i sat awhile and it was all so beautiful before us that we
took hands as we sat and she told me all over again about arthur and
their coming marriage that made me just a little heart-sick for i
haven't heard from jonathan for a whole month 

 

 the same day i came up here alone for i am very sad there was no
letter for me i hope there cannot be anything the matter with jonathan 
the clock has just struck nine i see the lights scattered all over the
town sometimes in rows where the streets are and sometimes singly 
they run right up the esk and die away in the curve of the valley to my
left the view is cut off by a black line of roof of the old house next
the abbey the sheep and lambs are bleating in the fields away behind
me and there is a clatter of a donkey's hoofs up the paved road below 
the band on the pier is playing a harsh waltz in good time and further
along the quay there is a salvation army meeting in a back street 
neither of the bands hears the other but up here i hear and see them
both i wonder where jonathan is and if he is thinking of me i wish he
were here 


 dr seward's diary 

 5 june the case of renfield grows more interesting the more i get to
understand the man he has certain qualities very largely developed 
selfishness secrecy and purpose i wish i could get at what is the
object of the latter he seems to have some settled scheme of his own 
but what it is i do not yet know his redeeming quality is a love of
animals though indeed he has such curious turns in it that i
sometimes imagine he is only abnormally cruel his pets are of odd
sorts just now his hobby is catching flies he has at present such a
quantity that i have had myself to expostulate to my astonishment he
did not break out into a fury as i expected but took the matter in
simple seriousness he thought for a moment and then said  may i have
three days i shall clear them away   of course i said that would do i
must watch him 

 

 18 june he has turned his mind now to spiders and has got several
very big fellows in a box he keeps feeding them with his flies and
the number of the latter is becoming sensibly diminished although he
has used half his food in attracting more flies from outside to his
room 

 

 1 july his spiders are now becoming as great a nuisance as his
flies and to-day i told him that he must get rid of them he looked
very sad at this so i said that he must clear out some of them at all
events he cheerfully acquiesced in this and i gave him the same time
as before for reduction he disgusted me much while with him for when a
horrid blow-fly bloated with some carrion food buzzed into the room 
he caught it held it exultantly for a few moments between his finger
and thumb and before i knew what he was going to do put it in his
mouth and ate it i scolded him for it but he argued quietly that it
was very good and very wholesome that it was life strong life and
gave life to him this gave me an idea or the rudiment of one i must
watch how he gets rid of his spiders he has evidently some deep problem
in his mind for he keeps a little note-book in which he is always
jotting down something whole pages of it are filled with masses of
figures generally single numbers added up in batches and then the
totals added in batches again as though he were  focussing  some
account as the auditors put it 

 

 8 july there is a method in his madness and the rudimentary idea in
my mind is growing it will be a whole idea soon and then oh 
unconscious cerebration you will have to give the wall to your
conscious brother i kept away from my friend for a few days so that i
might notice if there were any change things remain as they were except
that he has parted with some of his pets and got a new one he has
managed to get a sparrow and has already partially tamed it his means
of taming is simple for already the spiders have diminished those that
do remain however are well fed for he still brings in the flies by
tempting them with his food 

 

 19 july we are progressing my friend has now a whole colony of
sparrows and his flies and spiders are almost obliterated when i came
in he ran to me and said he wanted to ask me a great favour a very 
very great favour and as he spoke he fawned on me like a dog i asked
him what it was and he said with a sort of rapture in his voice and
bearing 

 a kitten a nice little sleek playful kitten that i can play with 
and teach and feed and feed and feed   i was not unprepared for this
request for i had noticed how his pets went on increasing in size and
vivacity but i did not care that his pretty family of tame sparrows
should be wiped out in the same manner as the flies and the spiders so
i said i would see about it and asked him if he would not rather have a
cat than a kitten his eagerness betrayed him as he answered 

 oh yes i would like a cat i only asked for a kitten lest you should
refuse me a cat no one would refuse me a kitten would they   i shook
my head and said that at present i feared it would not be possible but
that i would see about it his face fell and i could see a warning of
danger in it for there was a sudden fierce sidelong look which meant
killing the man is an undeveloped homicidal maniac i shall test him
with his present craving and see how it will work out then i shall know
more 

 

 10 p m i have visited him again and found him sitting in a corner
brooding when i came in he threw himself on his knees before me and
implored me to let him have a cat that his salvation depended upon it 
i was firm however and told him that he could not have it whereupon
he went without a word and sat down gnawing his fingers in the corner
where i had found him i shall see him in the morning early 

 

 20 july visited renfield very early before the attendant went his
rounds found him up and humming a tune he was spreading out his sugar 
which he had saved in the window and was manifestly beginning his
fly-catching again and beginning it cheerfully and with a good grace i
looked around for his birds and not seeing them asked him where they
were he replied without turning round that they had all flown away 
there were a few feathers about the room and on his pillow a drop of
blood i said nothing but went and told the keeper to report to me if
there were anything odd about him during the day 

 

 11 a m the attendant has just been to me to say that renfield has
been very sick and has disgorged a whole lot of feathers  my belief is 
doctor   he said  that he has eaten his birds and that he just took
and ate them raw  

 

 11 p m i gave renfield a strong opiate to-night enough to make
even him sleep and took away his pocket-book to look at it the thought
that has been buzzing about my brain lately is complete and the theory
proved my homicidal maniac is of a peculiar kind i shall have to
invent a new classification for him and call him a zoophagous
 life-eating maniac what he desires is to absorb as many lives as he
can and he has laid himself out to achieve it in a cumulative way he
gave many flies to one spider and many spiders to one bird and then
wanted a cat to eat the many birds what would have been his later
steps it would almost be worth while to complete the experiment it
might be done if there were only a sufficient cause men sneered at
vivisection and yet look at its results to-day why not advance science
in its most difficult and vital aspect the knowledge of the brain had
i even the secret of one such mind did i hold the key to the fancy of
even one lunatic i might advance my own branch of science to a pitch
compared with which burdon-sanderson's physiology or ferrier's
brain-knowledge would be as nothing if only there were a sufficient
cause i must not think too much of this or i may be tempted a good
cause might turn the scale with me for may not i too be of an
exceptional brain congenitally 

how well the man reasoned lunatics always do within their own scope i
wonder at how many lives he values a man or if at only one he has
closed the account most accurately and to-day begun a new record how
many of us begin a new record with each day of our lives 

to me it seems only yesterday that my whole life ended with my new hope 
and that truly i began a new record so it will be until the great
recorder sums me up and closes my ledger account with a balance to
profit or loss oh lucy lucy i cannot be angry with you nor can i be
angry with my friend whose happiness is yours but i must only wait on
hopeless and work work work 

if i only could have as strong a cause as my poor mad friend there a
good unselfish cause to make me work that would be indeed happiness 


 mina murray's journal 

 26 july i am anxious and it soothes me to express myself here it
is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time and
there is also something about the shorthand symbols that makes it
different from writing i am unhappy about lucy and about jonathan i
had not heard from jonathan for some time and was very concerned but
yesterday dear mr hawkins who is always so kind sent me a letter from
him i had written asking him if he had heard and he said the enclosed
had just been received it is only a line dated from castle dracula 
and says that he is just starting for home that is not like jonathan 
i do not understand it and it makes me uneasy then too lucy 
although she is so well has lately taken to her old habit of walking in
her sleep her mother has spoken to me about it and we have decided
that i am to lock the door of our room every night mrs westenra has
got an idea that sleep-walkers always go out on roofs of houses and
along the edges of cliffs and then get suddenly wakened and fall over
with a despairing cry that echoes all over the place poor dear she is
naturally anxious about lucy and she tells me that her husband lucy's
father had the same habit that he would get up in the night and dress
himself and go out if he were not stopped lucy is to be married in the
autumn and she is already planning out her dresses and how her house is
to be arranged i sympathise with her for i do the same only jonathan
and i will start in life in a very simple way and shall have to try to
make both ends meet mr holmwood he is the hon arthur holmwood only
son of lord godalming is coming up here very shortly as soon as he can
leave town for his father is not very well and i think dear lucy is
counting the moments till he comes she wants to take him up to the seat
on the churchyard cliff and show him the beauty of whitby i daresay it
is the waiting which disturbs her she will be all right when he
arrives 

 

 27 july no news from jonathan i am getting quite uneasy about him 
though why i should i do not know but i do wish that he would write if
it were only a single line lucy walks more than ever and each night i
am awakened by her moving about the room fortunately the weather is so
hot that she cannot get cold but still the anxiety and the perpetually
being wakened is beginning to tell on me and i am getting nervous and
wakeful myself thank god lucy's health keeps up mr holmwood has been
suddenly called to ring to see his father who has been taken seriously
ill lucy frets at the postponement of seeing him but it does not touch
her looks she is a trifle stouter and her cheeks are a lovely
rose-pink she has lost that anaemic look which she had i pray it will
all last 

 

 3 august another week gone and no news from jonathan not even to
mr hawkins from whom i have heard oh i do hope he is not ill he
surely would have written i look at that last letter of his but
somehow it does not satisfy me it does not read like him and yet it is
his writing there is no mistake of that lucy has not walked much in
her sleep the last week but there is an odd concentration about her
which i do not understand even in her sleep she seems to be watching
me she tries the door and finding it locked goes about the room
searching for the key 

 6 august another three days and no news this suspense is getting
dreadful if i only knew where to write to or where to go to i should
feel easier but no one has heard a word of jonathan since that last
letter i must only pray to god for patience lucy is more excitable
than ever but is otherwise well last night was very threatening and
the fishermen say that we are in for a storm i must try to watch it and
learn the weather signs to-day is a grey day and the sun as i write is
hidden in thick clouds high over kettleness everything is grey except
the green grass which seems like emerald amongst it grey earthy rock 
grey clouds tinged with the sunburst at the far edge hang over the
grey sea into which the sand-points stretch like grey fingers the sea
is tumbling in over the shallows and the sandy flats with a roar 
muffled in the sea-mists drifting inland the horizon is lost in a grey
mist all is vastness the clouds are piled up like giant rocks and
there is a  brool  over the sea that sounds like some presage of doom 
dark figures are on the beach here and there sometimes half shrouded in
the mist and seem  men like trees walking   the fishing-boats are
racing for home and rise and dip in the ground swell as they sweep into
the harbour bending to the scuppers here comes old mr swales he is
making straight for me and i can see by the way he lifts his hat that
he wants to talk 

i have been quite touched by the change in the poor old man when he sat
down beside me he said in a very gentle way 

 i want to say something to you miss   i could see he was not at ease 
so i took his poor old wrinkled hand in mine and asked him to speak
fully so he said leaving his hand in mine 

 i'm afraid my deary that i must have shocked you by all the wicked
things i've been sayin' about the dead and such like for weeks past 
but i didn't mean them and i want ye to remember that when i'm gone we
aud folks that be daffled and with one foot abaft the krok-hooal don't
altogether like to think of it and we don't want to feel scart of it 
an' that's why i've took to makin' light of it so that i'd cheer up my
own heart a bit but lord love ye miss i ain't afraid of dyin' not a
bit only i don't want to die if i can help it my time must be nigh at
hand now for i be aud and a hundred years is too much for any man to
expect and i'm so nigh it that the aud man is already whettin' his
scythe ye see i can't get out o' the habit of caffin' about it all at
once the chafts will wag as they be used to some day soon the angel of
death will sound his trumpet for me but don't ye dooal an' greet my
deary   for he saw that i was crying  if he should come this very
night i'd not refuse to answer his call for life be after all only a
waitin' for somethin' else than what we're doin' and death be all that
we can rightly depend on but i'm content for it's comin' to me my
deary and comin' quick it may be comin' while we be lookin' and
wonderin' maybe it's in that wind out over the sea that's bringin' with
it loss and wreck and sore distress and sad hearts look look   he
cried suddenly  there's something in that wind and in the hoast beyont
that sounds and looks and tastes and smells like death it's in the
air i feel it comin' lord make me answer cheerful when my call
comes   he held up his arms devoutly and raised his hat his mouth
moved as though he were praying after a few minutes' silence he got
up shook hands with me and blessed me and said good-bye and hobbled
off it all touched me and upset me very much 

i was glad when the coastguard came along with his spy-glass under his
arm he stopped to talk with me as he always does but all the time
kept looking at a strange ship 

 i can't make her out   he said  she's a russian by the look of her 
but she's knocking about in the queerest way she doesn't know her mind
a bit she seems to see the storm coming but can't decide whether to
run up north in the open or to put in here look there again she is
steered mighty strangely for she doesn't mind the hand on the wheel 
changes about with every puff of wind we'll hear more of her before
this time to-morrow  




chapter vii

cutting from  the dailygraph   8 august


 pasted in mina murray's journal 

from a correspondent 

 whitby 

one of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been
experienced here with results both strange and unique the weather had
been somewhat sultry but not to any degree uncommon in the month of
august saturday evening was as fine as was ever known and the great
body of holiday-makers laid out yesterday for visits to mulgrave woods 
robin hood's bay rig mill runswick staithes and the various trips in
the neighbourhood of whitby the steamers emma and scarborough made
trips up and down the coast and there was an unusual amount of
 tripping  both to and from whitby the day was unusually fine till the
afternoon when some of the gossips who frequent the east cliff
churchyard and from that commanding eminence watch the wide sweep of
sea visible to the north and east called attention to a sudden show of
 mares'-tails  high in the sky to the north-west the wind was then
blowing from the south-west in the mild degree which in barometrical
language is ranked  no 2 light breeze   the coastguard on duty at once
made report and one old fisherman who for more than half a century has
kept watch on weather signs from the east cliff foretold in an emphatic
manner the coming of a sudden storm the approach of sunset was so very
beautiful so grand in its masses of splendidly-coloured clouds that
there was quite an assemblage on the walk along the cliff in the old
churchyard to enjoy the beauty before the sun dipped below the black
mass of kettleness standing boldly athwart the western sky its
downward way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour flame 
purple pink green violet and all the tints of gold with here and
there masses not large but of seemingly absolute blackness in all
sorts of shapes as well outlined as colossal silhouettes the
experience was not lost on the painters and doubtless some of the
sketches of the  prelude to the great storm  will grace the r a and r 
i walls in may next more than one captain made up his mind then and
there that his  cobble  or his  mule   as they term the different
classes of boats would remain in the harbour till the storm had passed 
the wind fell away entirely during the evening and at midnight there
was a dead calm a sultry heat and that prevailing intensity which on
the approach of thunder affects persons of a sensitive nature there
were but few lights in sight at sea for even the coasting steamers 
which usually  hug  the shore so closely kept well to seaward and but
few fishing-boats were in sight the only sail noticeable was a foreign
schooner with all sails set which was seemingly going westwards the
foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for
comment whilst she remained in sight and efforts were made to signal
her to reduce sail in face of her danger before the night shut down she
was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating
swell of the sea 

  as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean  

shortly before ten o'clock the stillness of the air grew quite
oppressive and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep
inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard and the
band on the pier with its lively french air was like a discord in the
great harmony of nature's silence a little after midnight came a
strange sound from over the sea and high overhead the air began to
carry a strange faint hollow booming 

then without warning the tempest broke with a rapidity which at the
time seemed incredible and even afterwards is impossible to realize 
the whole aspect of nature at once became convulsed the waves rose in
growing fury each overtopping its fellow till in a very few minutes
the lately glassy sea was like a roaring and devouring monster 
white-crested waves beat madly on the level sands and rushed up the
shelving cliffs others broke over the piers and with their spume swept
the lanthorns of the lighthouses which rise from the end of either pier
of whitby harbour the wind roared like thunder and blew with such
force that it was with difficulty that even strong men kept their feet 
or clung with grim clasp to the iron stanchions it was found necessary
to clear the entire piers from the mass of onlookers or else the
fatalities of the night would have been increased manifold to add to
the difficulties and dangers of the time masses of sea-fog came
drifting inland white wet clouds which swept by in ghostly fashion 
so dank and damp and cold that it needed but little effort of
imagination to think that the spirits of those lost at sea were
touching their living brethren with the clammy hands of death and many
a one shuddered as the wreaths of sea-mist swept by at times the mist
cleared and the sea for some distance could be seen in the glare of the
lightning which now came thick and fast followed by such sudden peals
of thunder that the whole sky overhead seemed trembling under the shock
of the footsteps of the storm 

some of the scenes thus revealed were of immeasurable grandeur and of
absorbing interest the sea running mountains high threw skywards with
each wave mighty masses of white foam which the tempest seemed to
snatch at and whirl away into space here and there a fishing-boat with
a rag of sail running madly for shelter before the blast now and again
the white wings of a storm-tossed sea-bird on the summit of the east
cliff the new searchlight was ready for experiment but had not yet been
tried the officers in charge of it got it into working order and in
the pauses of the inrushing mist swept with it the surface of the sea 
once or twice its service was most effective as when a fishing-boat 
with gunwale under water rushed into the harbour able by the guidance
of the sheltering light to avoid the danger of dashing against the
piers as each boat achieved the safety of the port there was a shout of
joy from the mass of people on shore a shout which for a moment seemed
to cleave the gale and was then swept away in its rush 

before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner
with all sails set apparently the same vessel which had been noticed
earlier in the evening the wind had by this time backed to the east 
and there was a shudder amongst the watchers on the cliff as they
realized the terrible danger in which she now was between her and the
port lay the great flat reef on which so many good ships have from time
to time suffered and with the wind blowing from its present quarter 
it would be quite impossible that she should fetch the entrance of the
harbour it was now nearly the hour of high tide but the waves were so
great that in their troughs the shallows of the shore were almost
visible and the schooner with all sails set was rushing with such
speed that in the words of one old salt  she must fetch up somewhere 
if it was only in hell   then came another rush of sea-fog greater than
any hitherto a mass of dank mist which seemed to close on all things
like a grey pall and left available to men only the organ of hearing 
for the roar of the tempest and the crash of the thunder and the
booming of the mighty billows came through the damp oblivion even louder
than before the rays of the searchlight were kept fixed on the harbour
mouth across the east pier where the shock was expected and men waited
breathless the wind suddenly shifted to the north-east and the remnant
of the sea-fog melted in the blast and then mirabile dictu between
the piers leaping from wave to wave as it rushed at headlong speed 
swept the strange schooner before the blast with all sail set and
gained the safety of the harbour the searchlight followed her and a
shudder ran through all who saw her for lashed to the helm was a
corpse with drooping head which swung horribly to and fro at each
motion of the ship no other form could be seen on deck at all a great
awe came on all as they realised that the ship as if by a miracle had
found the harbour unsteered save by the hand of a dead man however 
all took place more quickly than it takes to write these words the
schooner paused not but rushing across the harbour pitched herself on
that accumulation of sand and gravel washed by many tides and many
storms into the south-east corner of the pier jutting under the east
cliff known locally as tate hill pier 

there was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up on
the sand heap every spar rope and stay was strained and some of the
 top-hammer  came crashing down but strangest of all the very instant
the shore was touched an immense dog sprang up on deck from below as
if shot up by the concussion and running forward jumped from the bow
on the sand making straight for the steep cliff where the churchyard
hangs over the laneway to the east pier so steeply that some of the flat
tombstones  thruff-steans  or  through-stones   as they call them in
the whitby vernacular actually project over where the sustaining cliff
has fallen away it disappeared in the darkness which seemed
intensified just beyond the focus of the searchlight 

it so happened that there was no one at the moment on tate hill pier as
all those whose houses are in close proximity were either in bed or were
out on the heights above thus the coastguard on duty on the eastern
side of the harbour who at once ran down to the little pier was the
first to climb on board the men working the searchlight after scouring
the entrance of the harbour without seeing anything then turned the
light on the derelict and kept it there the coastguard ran aft and
when he came beside the wheel bent over to examine it and recoiled at
once as though under some sudden emotion this seemed to pique general
curiosity and quite a number of people began to run it is a good way
round from the west cliff by the drawbridge to tate hill pier but your
correspondent is a fairly good runner and came well ahead of the crowd 
when i arrived however i found already assembled on the pier a crowd 
whom the coastguard and police refused to allow to come on board by the
courtesy of the chief boatman i was as your correspondent permitted
to climb on deck and was one of a small group who saw the dead seaman
whilst actually lashed to the wheel 

it was no wonder that the coastguard was surprised or even awed for
not often can such a sight have been seen the man was simply fastened
by his hands tied one over the other to a spoke of the wheel between
the inner hand and the wood was a crucifix the set of beads on which it
was fastened being around both wrists and wheel and all kept fast by
the binding cords the poor fellow may have been seated at one time but
the flapping and buffeting of the sails had worked through the rudder of
the wheel and dragged him to and fro so that the cords with which he
was tied had cut the flesh to the bone accurate note was made of the
state of things and a doctor surgeon j m caffyn of 33 east elliot
place who came immediately after me declared after making
examination that the man must have been dead for quite two days in his
pocket was a bottle carefully corked empty save for a little roll of
paper which proved to be the addendum to the log the coastguard said
the man must have tied up his own hands fastening the knots with his
teeth the fact that a coastguard was the first on board may save some
complications later on in the admiralty court for coastguards cannot
claim the salvage which is the right of the first civilian entering on a
derelict already however the legal tongues are wagging and one young
law student is loudly asserting that the rights of the owner are already
completely sacrificed his property being held in contravention of the
statutes of mortmain since the tiller as emblemship if not proof of
delegated possession is held in a dead hand it is needless to say
that the dead steersman has been reverently removed from the place where
he held his honourable watch and ward till death a steadfastness as
noble as that of the young casabianca and placed in the mortuary to
await inquest 

already the sudden storm is passing and its fierceness is abating 
crowds are scattering homeward and the sky is beginning to redden over
the yorkshire wolds i shall send in time for your next issue further
details of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously into
harbour in the storm 

 whitby 

 9 august the sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in the
storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itself it
turns out that the schooner is a russian from varna and is called the
 demeter she is almost entirely in ballast of silver sand with only a
small amount of cargo a number of great wooden boxes filled with mould 
this cargo was consigned to a whitby solicitor mr s f billington of
7 the crescent who this morning went aboard and formally took
possession of the goods consigned to him the russian consul too 
acting for the charter-party took formal possession of the ship and
paid all harbour dues etc nothing is talked about here to-day except
the strange coincidence the officials of the board of trade have been
most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with
existing regulations as the matter is to be a  nine days' wonder   they
are evidently determined that there shall be no cause of after
complaint a good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which
landed when the ship struck and more than a few of the members of the
s p c a which is very strong in whitby have tried to befriend the
animal to the general disappointment however it was not to be found 
it seems to have disappeared entirely from the town it may be that it
was frightened and made its way on to the moors where it is still
hiding in terror there are some who look with dread on such a
possibility lest later on it should in itself become a danger for it
is evidently a fierce brute early this morning a large dog a half-bred
mastiff belonging to a coal merchant close to tate hill pier was found
dead in the roadway opposite to its master's yard it had been fighting 
and manifestly had had a savage opponent for its throat was torn away 
and its belly was slit open as if with a savage claw 

 

 later by the kindness of the board of trade inspector i have been
permitted to look over the log-book of the demeter which was in order
up to within three days but contained nothing of special interest
except as to facts of missing men the greatest interest however is
with regard to the paper found in the bottle which was to-day produced
at the inquest and a more strange narrative than the two between them
unfold it has not been my lot to come across as there is no motive for
concealment i am permitted to use them and accordingly send you a
rescript simply omitting technical details of seamanship and
supercargo it almost seems as though the captain had been seized with
some kind of mania before he had got well into blue water and that
this had developed persistently throughout the voyage of course my
statement must be taken cum grano since i am writing from the
dictation of a clerk of the russian consul who kindly translated for
me time being short 

 log of the  demeter  


 varna to whitby 

 written 18 july things so strange happening that i shall keep
accurate note henceforth till we land 

 

on 6 july we finished taking in cargo silver sand and boxes of earth 
at noon set sail east wind fresh crew five hands two mates 
cook and myself captain 

 

on 11 july at dawn entered bosphorus boarded by turkish customs
officers backsheesh all correct under way at 4 p m 

 

on 12 july through dardanelles more customs officers and flagboat of
guarding squadron backsheesh again work of officers thorough but
quick want us off soon at dark passed into archipelago 

 

on 13 july passed cape matapan crew dissatisfied about something 
seemed scared but would not speak out 

 

on 14 july was somewhat anxious about crew men all steady fellows who
sailed with me before mate could not make out what was wrong they only
told him there was something and crossed themselves mate lost temper
with one of them that day and struck him expected fierce quarrel but
all was quiet 

 

on 16 july mate reported in the morning that one of crew petrofsky was
missing could not account for it took larboard watch eight bells last
night was relieved by abramoff but did not go to bunk men more
downcast than ever all said they expected something of the kind but
would not say more than there was something aboard mate getting very
impatient with them feared some trouble ahead 

 

on 17 july yesterday one of the men olgaren came to my cabin and in
an awestruck way confided to me that he thought there was a strange man
aboard the ship he said that in his watch he had been sheltering
behind the deck-house as there was a rain-storm when he saw a tall 
thin man who was not like any of the crew come up the companion-way 
and go along the deck forward and disappear he followed cautiously 
but when he got to bows found no one and the hatchways were all closed 
he was in a panic of superstitious fear and i am afraid the panic may
spread to allay it i shall to-day search entire ship carefully from
stem to stern 

 

later in the day i got together the whole crew and told them as they
evidently thought there was some one in the ship we would search from
stem to stern first mate angry said it was folly and to yield to such
foolish ideas would demoralise the men said he would engage to keep
them out of trouble with a handspike i let him take the helm while the
rest began thorough search all keeping abreast with lanterns we left
no corner unsearched as there were only the big wooden boxes there
were no odd corners where a man could hide men much relieved when
search over and went back to work cheerfully first mate scowled but
said nothing 

 

 22 july rough weather last three days and all hands busy with
sails no time to be frightened men seem to have forgotten their dread 
mate cheerful again and all on good terms praised men for work in bad
weather passed gibralter and out through straits all well 

 

 24 july there seems some doom over this ship already a hand short 
and entering on the bay of biscay with wild weather ahead and yet last
night another man lost disappeared like the first he came off his
watch and was not seen again men all in a panic of fear sent a round
robin asking to have double watch as they fear to be alone mate
angry fear there will be some trouble as either he or the men will do
some violence 

 

 28 july four days in hell knocking about in a sort of maelstrom 
and the wind a tempest no sleep for any one men all worn out hardly
know how to set a watch since no one fit to go on second mate
volunteered to steer and watch and let men snatch a few hours' sleep 
wind abating seas still terrific but feel them less as ship is
steadier 

 

 29 july another tragedy had single watch to-night as crew too
tired to double when morning watch came on deck could find no one
except steersman raised outcry and all came on deck thorough search 
but no one found are now without second mate and crew in a panic mate
and i agreed to go armed henceforth and wait for any sign of cause 

 

 30 july last night rejoiced we are nearing england weather fine 
all sails set retired worn out slept soundly awaked by mate telling
me that both man of watch and steersman missing only self and mate and
two hands left to work ship 

 

 1 august two days of fog and not a sail sighted had hoped when in
the english channel to be able to signal for help or get in somewhere 
not having power to work sails have to run before wind dare not lower 
as could not raise them again we seem to be drifting to some terrible
doom mate now more demoralised than either of men his stronger nature
seems to have worked inwardly against himself men are beyond fear 
working stolidly and patiently with minds made up to worst they are
russian he roumanian 

 

 2 august midnight woke up from few minutes' sleep by hearing a cry 
seemingly outside my port could see nothing in fog rushed on deck and
ran against mate tells me heard cry and ran but no sign of man on
watch one more gone lord help us mate says we must be past straits
of dover as in a moment of fog lifting he saw north foreland just as
he heard the man cry out if so we are now off in the north sea and
only god can guide us in the fog which seems to move with us and god
seems to have deserted us 

 

 3 august at midnight i went to relieve the man at the wheel and
when i got to it found no one there the wind was steady and as we ran
before it there was no yawing i dared not leave it so shouted for the
mate after a few seconds he rushed up on deck in his flannels he
looked wild-eyed and haggard and i greatly fear his reason has given
way he came close to me and whispered hoarsely with his mouth to my
ear as though fearing the very air might hear   it is here i know
it now on the watch last night i saw it like a man tall and thin 
and ghastly pale it was in the bows and looking out i crept behind
it and gave it my knife but the knife went through it empty as the
air   and as he spoke he took his knife and drove it savagely into
space then he went on  but it is here and i'll find it it is in the
hold perhaps in one of those boxes i'll unscrew them one by one and
see you work the helm   and with a warning look and his finger on his
lip he went below there was springing up a choppy wind and i could
not leave the helm i saw him come out on deck again with a tool-chest
and a lantern and go down the forward hatchway he is mad stark 
raving mad and it's no use my trying to stop him he can't hurt those
big boxes they are invoiced as  clay   and to pull them about is as
harmless a thing as he can do so here i stay and mind the helm and
write these notes i can only trust in god and wait till the fog clears 
then if i can't steer to any harbour with the wind that is i shall cut
down sails and lie by and signal for help 

 

it is nearly all over now just as i was beginning to hope that the mate
would come out calmer for i heard him knocking away at something in the
hold and work is good for him there came up the hatchway a sudden 
startled scream which made my blood run cold and up on the deck he
came as if shot from a gun a raging madman with his eyes rolling and
his face convulsed with fear  save me save me   he cried and then
looked round on the blanket of fog his horror turned to despair and in
a steady voice he said  you had better come too captain before it is
too late he is there i know the secret now the sea will save me
from him and it is all that is left   before i could say a word or
move forward to seize him he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately
threw himself into the sea i suppose i know the secret too now it was
this madman who had got rid of the men one by one and now he has
followed them himself god help me how am i to account for all these
horrors when i get to port when i get to port will that ever be 

 

 4 august still fog which the sunrise cannot pierce i know there is
sunrise because i am a sailor why else i know not i dared not go
below i dared not leave the helm so here all night i stayed and in
the dimness of the night i saw it him god forgive me but the mate was
right to jump overboard it was better to die like a man to die like a
sailor in blue water no man can object but i am captain and i must not
leave my ship but i shall baffle this fiend or monster for i shall tie
my hands to the wheel when my strength begins to fail and along with
them i shall tie that which he it dare not touch and then come good
wind or foul i shall save my soul and my honour as a captain i am
growing weaker and the night is coming on if he can look me in the
face again i may not have time to act if we are wrecked mayhap
this bottle may be found and those who find it may understand if not 
 well then all men shall know that i have been true to my trust god
and the blessed virgin and the saints help a poor ignorant soul trying
to do his duty 

 

of course the verdict was an open one there is no evidence to adduce 
and whether or not the man himself committed the murders there is now
none to say the folk here hold almost universally that the captain is
simply a hero and he is to be given a public funeral already it is
arranged that his body is to be taken with a train of boats up the esk
for a piece and then brought back to tate hill pier and up the abbey
steps for he is to be buried in the churchyard on the cliff the owners
of more than a hundred boats have already given in their names as
wishing to follow him to the grave 

no trace has ever been found of the great dog at which there is much
mourning for with public opinion in its present state he would i
believe be adopted by the town to-morrow will see the funeral and so
will end this one more  mystery of the sea  


 mina murray's journal 

 8 august lucy was very restless all night and i too could not
sleep the storm was fearful and as it boomed loudly among the
chimney-pots it made me shudder when a sharp puff came it seemed to be
like a distant gun strangely enough lucy did not wake but she got up
twice and dressed herself fortunately each time i awoke in time and
managed to undress her without waking her and got her back to bed it
is a very strange thing this sleep-walking for as soon as her will is
thwarted in any physical way her intention if there be any 
disappears and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine of her
life 

early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see
if anything had happened in the night there were very few people about 
and though the sun was bright and the air clear and fresh the big 
grim-looking waves that seemed dark themselves because the foam that
topped them was like snow forced themselves in through the narrow mouth
of the harbour like a bullying man going through a crowd somehow i
felt glad that jonathan was not on the sea last night but on land but 
oh is he on land or sea where is he and how i am getting fearfully
anxious about him if i only knew what to do and could do anything 

 

 10 august the funeral of the poor sea-captain to-day was most
touching every boat in the harbour seemed to be there and the coffin
was carried by captains all the way from tate hill pier up to the
churchyard lucy came with me and we went early to our old seat whilst
the cortege of boats went up the river to the viaduct and came down
again we had a lovely view and saw the procession nearly all the way 
the poor fellow was laid to rest quite near our seat so that we stood on
it when the time came and saw everything poor lucy seemed much upset 
she was restless and uneasy all the time and i cannot but think that
her dreaming at night is telling on her she is quite odd in one thing 
she will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness or if
there be she does not understand it herself there is an additional
cause in that poor old mr swales was found dead this morning on our
seat his neck being broken he had evidently as the doctor said 
fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright for there was a look of
fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudder poor
dear old man perhaps he had seen death with his dying eyes lucy is so
sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other
people do just now she was quite upset by a little thing which i did
not much heed though i am myself very fond of animals one of the men
who came up here often to look for the boats was followed by his dog 
the dog is always with him they are both quiet persons and i never saw
the man angry nor heard the dog bark during the service the dog would
not come to its master who was on the seat with us but kept a few
yards off barking and howling its master spoke to it gently and then
harshly and then angrily but it would neither come nor cease to make a
noise it was in a sort of fury with its eyes savage and all its hairs
bristling out like a cat's tail when puss is on the war-path finally
the man too got angry and jumped down and kicked the dog and then
took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged and half threw it on
the tombstone on which the seat is fixed the moment it touched the
stone the poor thing became quiet and fell all into a tremble it did
not try to get away but crouched down quivering and cowering and was
in such a pitiable state of terror that i tried though without effect 
to comfort it lucy was full of pity too but she did not attempt to
touch the dog but looked at it in an agonised sort of way i greatly
fear that she is of too super-sensitive a nature to go through the world
without trouble she will be dreaming of this to-night i am sure the
whole agglomeration of things the ship steered into port by a dead
man his attitude tied to the wheel with a crucifix and beads the
touching funeral the dog now furious and now in terror will all
afford material for her dreams 

i think it will be best for her to go to bed tired out physically so i
shall take her for a long walk by the cliffs to robin hood's bay and
back she ought not to have much inclination for sleep-walking then 




chapter viii

mina murray's journal


 same day 11 o'clock p m oh but i am tired if it were not that i
had made my diary a duty i should not open it to-night we had a lovely
walk lucy after a while was in gay spirits owing i think to some
dear cows who came nosing towards us in a field close to the lighthouse 
and frightened the wits out of us i believe we forgot everything
except of course personal fear and it seemed to wipe the slate clean
and give us a fresh start we had a capital  severe tea  at robin hood's
bay in a sweet little old-fashioned inn with a bow-window right over
the seaweed-covered rocks of the strand i believe we should have
shocked the  new woman  with our appetites men are more tolerant bless
them then we walked home with some or rather many stoppages to rest 
and with our hearts full of a constant dread of wild bulls lucy was
really tired and we intended to creep off to bed as soon as we could 
the young curate came in however and mrs westenra asked him to stay
for supper lucy and i had both a fight for it with the dusty miller i
know it was a hard fight on my part and i am quite heroic i think that
some day the bishops must get together and see about breeding up a new
class of curates who don't take supper no matter how they may be
pressed to and who will know when girls are tired lucy is asleep and
breathing softly she has more colour in her cheeks than usual and
looks oh so sweet if mr holmwood fell in love with her seeing her
only in the drawing-room i wonder what he would say if he saw her now 
some of the  new women  writers will some day start an idea that men and
women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or
accepting but i suppose the new woman won't condescend in future to
accept she will do the proposing herself and a nice job she will make
of it too there's some consolation in that i am so happy to-night 
because dear lucy seems better i really believe she has turned the
corner and that we are over her troubles with dreaming i should be
quite happy if i only knew if jonathan god bless and keep him 

 

 11 august 3 a m diary again no sleep now so i may as well write 
i am too agitated to sleep we have had such an adventure such an
agonising experience i fell asleep as soon as i had closed my diary 
suddenly i became broad awake and sat up with a horrible sense of fear
upon me and of some feeling of emptiness around me the room was dark 
so i could not see lucy's bed i stole across and felt for her the bed
was empty i lit a match and found that she was not in the room the
door was shut but not locked as i had left it i feared to wake her
mother who has been more than usually ill lately so threw on some
clothes and got ready to look for her as i was leaving the room it
struck me that the clothes she wore might give me some clue to her
dreaming intention dressing-gown would mean house dress outside 
dressing-gown and dress were both in their places  thank god   i said
to myself  she cannot be far as she is only in her nightdress   i ran
downstairs and looked in the sitting-room not there then i looked in
all the other open rooms of the house with an ever-growing fear
chilling my heart finally i came to the hall door and found it open it
was not wide open but the catch of the lock had not caught the people
of the house are careful to lock the door every night so i feared that
lucy must have gone out as she was there was no time to think of what
might happen a vague overmastering fear obscured all details i took a
big heavy shawl and ran out the clock was striking one as i was in the
crescent and there was not a soul in sight i ran along the north
terrace but could see no sign of the white figure which i expected at
the edge of the west cliff above the pier i looked across the harbour to
the east cliff in the hope or fear i don't know which of seeing lucy
in our favourite seat there was a bright full moon with heavy black 
driving clouds which threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of
light and shade as they sailed across for a moment or two i could see
nothing as the shadow of a cloud obscured st mary's church and all
around it then as the cloud passed i could see the ruins of the abbey
coming into view and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as
a sword-cut moved along the church and the churchyard became gradually
visible whatever my expectation was it was not disappointed for
there on our favourite seat the silver light of the moon struck a
half-reclining figure snowy white the coming of the cloud was too
quick for me to see much for shadow shut down on light almost
immediately but it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind
the seat where the white figure shone and bent over it what it was 
whether man or beast i could not tell i did not wait to catch another
glance but flew down the steep steps to the pier and along by the
fish-market to the bridge which was the only way to reach the east
cliff the town seemed as dead for not a soul did i see i rejoiced
that it was so for i wanted no witness of poor lucy's condition the
time and distance seemed endless and my knees trembled and my breath
came laboured as i toiled up the endless steps to the abbey i must have
gone fast and yet it seemed to me as if my feet were weighted with
lead and as though every joint in my body were rusty when i got almost
to the top i could see the seat and the white figure for i was now
close enough to distinguish it even through the spells of shadow there
was undoubtedly something long and black bending over the
half-reclining white figure i called in fright  lucy lucy   and
something raised a head and from where i was i could see a white face
and red gleaming eyes lucy did not answer and i ran on to the
entrance of the churchyard as i entered the church was between me and
the seat and for a minute or so i lost sight of her when i came in
view again the cloud had passed and the moonlight struck so brilliantly
that i could see lucy half reclining with her head lying over the back
of the seat she was quite alone and there was not a sign of any living
thing about 

when i bent over her i could see that she was still asleep her lips
were parted and she was breathing not softly as usual with her but in
long heavy gasps as though striving to get her lungs full at every
breath as i came close she put up her hand in her sleep and pulled the
collar of her nightdress close around her throat whilst she did so
there came a little shudder through her as though she felt the cold i
flung the warm shawl over her and drew the edges tight round her neck 
for i dreaded lest she should get some deadly chill from the night air 
unclad as she was i feared to wake her all at once so in order to
have my hands free that i might help her i fastened the shawl at her
throat with a big safety-pin but i must have been clumsy in my anxiety
and pinched or pricked her with it for by-and-by when her breathing
became quieter she put her hand to her throat again and moaned when i
had her carefully wrapped up i put my shoes on her feet and then began
very gently to wake her at first she did not respond but gradually she
became more and more uneasy in her sleep moaning and sighing
occasionally at last as time was passing fast and for many other
reasons i wished to get her home at once i shook her more forcibly 
till finally she opened her eyes and awoke she did not seem surprised
to see me as of course she did not realise all at once where she was 
lucy always wakes prettily and even at such a time when her body must
have been chilled with cold and her mind somewhat appalled at waking
unclad in a churchyard at night she did not lose her grace she
trembled a little and clung to me when i told her to come at once with
me home she rose without a word with the obedience of a child as we
passed along the gravel hurt my feet and lucy noticed me wince she
stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes but i would not 
however when we got to the pathway outside the churchyard where there
was a puddle of water remaining from the storm i daubed my feet with
mud using each foot in turn on the other so that as we went home no
one in case we should meet any one should notice my bare feet 

fortune favoured us and we got home without meeting a soul once we saw
a man who seemed not quite sober passing along a street in front of
us but we hid in a door till he had disappeared up an opening such as
there are here steep little closes or  wynds   as they call them in
scotland my heart beat so loud all the time that sometimes i thought i
should faint i was filled with anxiety about lucy not only for her
health lest she should suffer from the exposure but for her reputation
in case the story should get wind when we got in and had washed our
feet and had said a prayer of thankfulness together i tucked her into
bed before falling asleep she asked even implored me not to say a
word to any one even her mother about her sleep-walking adventure i
hesitated at first to promise but on thinking of the state of her
mother's health and how the knowledge of such a thing would fret her 
and thinking too of how such a story might become distorted nay 
infallibly would in case it should leak out i thought it wiser to do
so i hope i did right i have locked the door and the key is tied to
my wrist so perhaps i shall not be again disturbed lucy is sleeping
soundly the reflex of the dawn is high and far over the sea 

 

 same day noon all goes well lucy slept till i woke her and seemed
not to have even changed her side the adventure of the night does not
seem to have harmed her on the contrary it has benefited her for she
looks better this morning than she has done for weeks i was sorry to
notice that my clumsiness with the safety-pin hurt her indeed it might
have been serious for the skin of her throat was pierced i must have
pinched up a piece of loose skin and have transfixed it for there are
two little red points like pin-pricks and on the band of her nightdress
was a drop of blood when i apologised and was concerned about it she
laughed and petted me and said she did not even feel it fortunately it
cannot leave a scar as it is so tiny 

 

 same day night we passed a happy day the air was clear and the
sun bright and there was a cool breeze we took our lunch to mulgrave
woods mrs westenra driving by the road and lucy and i walking by the
cliff-path and joining her at the gate i felt a little sad myself for
i could not but feel how absolutely happy it would have been had
jonathan been with me but there i must only be patient in the evening
we strolled in the casino terrace and heard some good music by spohr
and mackenzie and went to bed early lucy seems more restful than she
has been for some time and fell asleep at once i shall lock the door
and secure the key the same as before though i do not expect any
trouble to-night 

 

 12 august my expectations were wrong for twice during the night i
was wakened by lucy trying to get out she seemed even in her sleep to
be a little impatient at finding the door shut and went back to bed
under a sort of protest i woke with the dawn and heard the birds
chirping outside of the window lucy woke too and i was glad to see 
was even better than on the previous morning all her old gaiety of
manner seemed to have come back and she came and snuggled in beside me
and told me all about arthur i told her how anxious i was about
jonathan and then she tried to comfort me well she succeeded
somewhat for though sympathy can't alter facts it can help to make
them more bearable 

 

 13 august another quiet day and to bed with the key on my wrist as
before again i awoke in the night and found lucy sitting up in bed 
still asleep pointing to the window i got up quietly and pulling
aside the blind looked out it was brilliant moonlight and the soft
effect of the light over the sea and sky merged together in one great 
silent mystery was beautiful beyond words between me and the moonlight
flitted a great bat coming and going in great whirling circles once or
twice it came quite close but was i suppose frightened at seeing me 
and flitted away across the harbour towards the abbey when i came back
from the window lucy had lain down again and was sleeping peacefully 
she did not stir again all night 

 

 14 august on the east cliff reading and writing all day lucy seems
to have become as much in love with the spot as i am and it is hard to
get her away from it when it is time to come home for lunch or tea or
dinner this afternoon she made a funny remark we were coming home for
dinner and had come to the top of the steps up from the west pier and
stopped to look at the view as we generally do the setting sun low
down in the sky was just dropping behind kettleness the red light was
thrown over on the east cliff and the old abbey and seemed to bathe
everything in a beautiful rosy glow we were silent for a while and
suddenly lucy murmured as if to herself 

 his red eyes again they are just the same   it was such an odd
expression coming apropos of nothing that it quite startled me i
slewed round a little so as to see lucy well without seeming to stare
at her and saw that she was in a half-dreamy state with an odd look on
her face that i could not quite make out so i said nothing but
followed her eyes she appeared to be looking over at our own seat 
whereon was a dark figure seated alone i was a little startled myself 
for it seemed for an instant as if the stranger had great eyes like
burning flames but a second look dispelled the illusion the red
sunlight was shining on the windows of st mary's church behind our
seat and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the
refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light moved i
called lucy's attention to the peculiar effect and she became herself
with a start but she looked sad all the same it may have been that she
was thinking of that terrible night up there we never refer to it so i
said nothing and we went home to dinner lucy had a headache and went
early to bed i saw her asleep and went out for a little stroll myself 
i walked along the cliffs to the westward and was full of sweet
sadness for i was thinking of jonathan when coming home it was then
bright moonlight so bright that though the front of our part of the
crescent was in shadow everything could be well seen i threw a glance
up at our window and saw lucy's head leaning out i thought that
perhaps she was looking out for me so i opened my handkerchief and
waved it she did not notice or make any movement whatever just then 
the moonlight crept round an angle of the building and the light fell
on the window there distinctly was lucy with her head lying up against
the side of the window-sill and her eyes shut she was fast asleep and
by her seated on the window-sill was something that looked like a
good-sized bird i was afraid she might get a chill so i ran upstairs 
but as i came into the room she was moving back to her bed fast
asleep and breathing heavily she was holding her hand to her throat 
as though to protect it from cold 

i did not wake her but tucked her up warmly i have taken care that the
door is locked and the window securely fastened 

she looks so sweet as she sleeps but she is paler than is her wont and
there is a drawn haggard look under her eyes which i do not like i
fear she is fretting about something i wish i could find out what it
is 

 

 15 august rose later than usual lucy was languid and tired and
slept on after we had been called we had a happy surprise at breakfast 
arthur's father is better and wants the marriage to come off soon lucy
is full of quiet joy and her mother is glad and sorry at once later on
in the day she told me the cause she is grieved to lose lucy as her
very own but she is rejoiced that she is soon to have some one to
protect her poor dear sweet lady she confided to me that she has got
her death-warrant she has not told lucy and made me promise secrecy 
her doctor told her that within a few months at most she must die for
her heart is weakening at any time even now a sudden shock would be
almost sure to kill her ah we were wise to keep from her the affair of
the dreadful night of lucy's sleep-walking 

 

 17 august no diary for two whole days i have not had the heart to
write some sort of shadowy pall seems to be coming over our happiness 
no news from jonathan and lucy seems to be growing weaker whilst her
mother's hours are numbering to a close i do not understand lucy's
fading away as she is doing she eats well and sleeps well and enjoys
the fresh air but all the time the roses in her cheeks are fading and
she gets weaker and more languid day by day at night i hear her gasping
as if for air i keep the key of our door always fastened to my wrist at
night but she gets up and walks about the room and sits at the open
window last night i found her leaning out when i woke up and when i
tried to wake her i could not she was in a faint when i managed to
restore her she was as weak as water and cried silently between long 
painful struggles for breath when i asked her how she came to be at the
window she shook her head and turned away i trust her feeling ill may
not be from that unlucky prick of the safety-pin i looked at her throat
just now as she lay asleep and the tiny wounds seem not to have healed 
they are still open and if anything larger than before and the
edges of them are faintly white they are like little white dots with
red centres unless they heal within a day or two i shall insist on the
doctor seeing about them 


 letter samuel f billington and son solicitors whitby to messrs 
carter paterson and co london 

  17 august 

 dear sirs 

 herewith please receive invoice of goods sent by great northern
railway same are to be delivered at carfax near purfleet immediately
on receipt at goods station king's cross the house is at present empty 
but enclosed please find keys all of which are labelled 

 you will please deposit the boxes fifty in number which form the
consignment in the partially ruined building forming part of the house
and marked 'a' on rough diagram enclosed your agent will easily
recognise the locality as it is the ancient chapel of the mansion the
goods leave by the train at 9 30 to-night and will be due at king's
cross at 4 30 to-morrow afternoon as our client wishes the delivery
made as soon as possible we shall be obliged by your having teams ready
at king's cross at the time named and forthwith conveying the goods to
destination in order to obviate any delays possible through any routine
requirements as to payment in your departments we enclose cheque
herewith for ten pounds 10 receipt of which please acknowledge 
should the charge be less than this amount you can return balance if
greater we shall at once send cheque for difference on hearing from
you you are to leave the keys on coming away in the main hall of the
house where the proprietor may get them on his entering the house by
means of his duplicate key 

 pray do not take us as exceeding the bounds of business courtesy in
pressing you in all ways to use the utmost expedition 

  we are dear sirs 

 faithfully yours 

 samuel f billington and son   


 letter messrs carter paterson and co london to messrs billington and
son whitby 

  21 august 

 dear sirs 

 we beg to acknowledge 10 received and to return cheque  1 17s 9d 
amount of overplus as shown in receipted account herewith goods are
delivered in exact accordance with instructions and keys left in parcel
in main hall as directed 

 we are dear sirs 

 yours respectfully 

  pro carter paterson and co  


 mina murray's journal 

 18 august i am happy to-day and write sitting on the seat in the
churchyard lucy is ever so much better last night she slept well all
night and did not disturb me once the roses seem coming back already
to her cheeks though she is still sadly pale and wan-looking if she
were in any way anaemic i could understand it but she is not she is in
gay spirits and full of life and cheerfulness all the morbid reticence
seems to have passed from her and she has just reminded me as if i
needed any reminding of that night and that it was here on this
very seat i found her asleep as she told me she tapped playfully with
the heel of her boot on the stone slab and said 

 my poor little feet didn't make much noise then i daresay poor old mr 
swales would have told me that it was because i didn't want to wake up
geordie   as she was in such a communicative humour i asked her if she
had dreamed at all that night before she answered that sweet puckered
look came into her forehead which arthur i call him arthur from her
habit says he loves and indeed i don't wonder that he does then she
went on in a half-dreaming kind of way as if trying to recall it to
herself 

 i didn't quite dream but it all seemed to be real i only wanted to be
here in this spot i don't know why for i was afraid of something i
don't know what i remember though i suppose i was asleep passing
through the streets and over the bridge a fish leaped as i went by and
i leaned over to look at it and i heard a lot of dogs howling the
whole town seemed as if it must be full of dogs all howling at once as
i went up the steps then i had a vague memory of something long and
dark with red eyes just as we saw in the sunset and something very
sweet and very bitter all around me at once and then i seemed sinking
into deep green water and there was a singing in my ears as i have
heard there is to drowning men and then everything seemed passing away
from me my soul seemed to go out from my body and float about the air 
i seem to remember that once the west lighthouse was right under me 
and then there was a sort of agonising feeling as if i were in an
earthquake and i came back and found you shaking my body i saw you do
it before i felt you  

then she began to laugh it seemed a little uncanny to me and i
listened to her breathlessly i did not quite like it and thought it
better not to keep her mind on the subject so we drifted on to other
subjects and lucy was like her old self again when we got home the
fresh breeze had braced her up and her pale cheeks were really more
rosy her mother rejoiced when she saw her and we all spent a very
happy evening together 

 

 19 august joy joy joy although not all joy at last news of
jonathan the dear fellow has been ill that is why he did not write i
am not afraid to think it or say it now that i know mr hawkins sent
me on the letter and wrote himself oh so kindly i am to leave in the
morning and go over to jonathan and to help to nurse him if necessary 
and to bring him home mr hawkins says it would not be a bad thing if
we were to be married out there i have cried over the good sister's
letter till i can feel it wet against my bosom where it lies it is of
jonathan and must be next my heart for he is in my heart my journey
is all mapped out and my luggage ready i am only taking one change of
dress lucy will bring my trunk to london and keep it till i send for
it for it may be that i must write no more i must keep it to say
to jonathan my husband the letter that he has seen and touched must
comfort me till we meet 


 letter sister agatha hospital of st joseph and ste mary 
buda-pesth to miss wilhelmina murray 

  12 august 

 dear madam 

 i write by desire of mr jonathan harker who is himself not strong
enough to write though progressing well thanks to god and st joseph
and ste mary he has been under our care for nearly six weeks 
suffering from a violent brain fever he wishes me to convey his love 
and to say that by this post i write for him to mr peter hawkins 
exeter to say with his dutiful respects that he is sorry for his
delay and that all of his work is completed he will require some few
weeks' rest in our sanatorium in the hills but will then return he
wishes me to say that he has not sufficient money with him and that he
would like to pay for his staying here so that others who need shall
not be wanting for help 

 believe me 

 yours with sympathy and all blessings 

 sister agatha 

 p s my patient being asleep i open this to let you know something
more he has told me all about you and that you are shortly to be his
wife all blessings to you both he has had some fearful shock so says
our doctor and in his delirium his ravings have been dreadful of
wolves and poison and blood of ghosts and demons and i fear to say of
what be careful with him always that there may be nothing to excite him
of this kind for a long time to come the traces of such an illness as
his do not lightly die away we should have written long ago but we
knew nothing of his friends and there was on him nothing that any one
could understand he came in the train from klausenburg and the guard
was told by the station-master there that he rushed into the station
shouting for a ticket for home seeing from his violent demeanour that
he was english they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the
way thither that the train reached 

 be assured that he is well cared for he has won all hearts by his
sweetness and gentleness he is truly getting on well and i have no
doubt will in a few weeks be all himself but be careful of him for
safety's sake there are i pray god and st joseph and ste mary many 
many happy years for you both  


 dr seward's diary 

 19 august strange and sudden change in renfield last night about
eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does when
setting the attendant was struck by his manner and knowing my interest
in him encouraged him to talk he is usually respectful to the
attendant and at times servile but to-night the man tells me he was
quite haughty would not condescend to talk with him at all all he
would say was 

  i don't want to talk to you you don't count now the master is at
 hand  

the attendant thinks it is some sudden form of religious mania which has
seized him if so we must look out for squalls for a strong man with
homicidal and religious mania at once might be dangerous the
combination is a dreadful one at nine o'clock i visited him myself his
attitude to me was the same as that to the attendant in his sublime
self-feeling the difference between myself and attendant seemed to him
as nothing it looks like religious mania and he will soon think that
he himself is god these infinitesimal distinctions between man and man
are too paltry for an omnipotent being how these madmen give themselves
away the real god taketh heed lest a sparrow fall but the god created
from human vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow oh 
if men only knew 

for half an hour or more renfield kept getting excited in greater and
greater degree i did not pretend to be watching him but i kept strict
observation all the same all at once that shifty look came into his
eyes which we always see when a madman has seized an idea and with it
the shifty movement of the head and back which asylum attendants come to
know so well he became quite quiet and went and sat on the edge of his
bed resignedly and looked into space with lack-lustre eyes i thought i
would find out if his apathy were real or only assumed and tried to
lead him to talk of his pets a theme which had never failed to excite
his attention at first he made no reply but at length said testily 

 bother them all i don't care a pin about them  

 what   i said  you don't mean to tell me you don't care about
spiders   spiders at present are his hobby and the note-book is filling
up with columns of small figures to this he answered enigmatically 

 the bride-maidens rejoice the eyes that wait the coming of the bride 
but when the bride draweth nigh then the maidens shine not to the eyes
that are filled  

he would not explain himself but remained obstinately seated on his bed
all the time i remained with him 

i am weary to-night and low in spirits i cannot but think of lucy and
how different things might have been if i don't sleep at once chloral 
the modern morpheus i must be careful not to let
it grow into a habit no i shall take none to-night i have thought of
lucy and i shall not dishonour her by mixing the two if need be 
to-night shall be sleepless 

 

 later glad i made the resolution gladder that i kept to it i had
lain tossing about and had heard the clock strike only twice when the
night-watchman came to me sent up from the ward to say that renfield
had escaped i threw on my clothes and ran down at once my patient is
too dangerous a person to be roaming about those ideas of his might
work out dangerously with strangers the attendant was waiting for me 
he said he had seen him not ten minutes before seemingly asleep in his
bed when he had looked through the observation-trap in the door his
attention was called by the sound of the window being wrenched out he
ran back and saw his feet disappear through the window and had at once
sent up for me he was only in his night-gear and cannot be far off 
the attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should
go than to follow him as he might lose sight of him whilst getting out
of the building by the door he is a bulky man and couldn't get through
the window i am thin so with his aid i got out but feet foremost 
and as we were only a few feet above ground landed unhurt the
attendant told me the patient had gone to the left and had taken a
straight line so i ran as quickly as i could as i got through the belt
of trees i saw a white figure scale the high wall which separates our
grounds from those of the deserted house 

i ran back at once told the watchman to get three or four men
immediately and follow me into the grounds of carfax in case our friend
might be dangerous i got a ladder myself and crossing the wall 
dropped down on the other side i could see renfield's figure just
disappearing behind the angle of the house so i ran after him on the
far side of the house i found him pressed close against the old
ironbound oak door of the chapel he was talking apparently to some
one but i was afraid to go near enough to hear what he was saying lest
i might frighten him and he should run off chasing an errant swarm of
bees is nothing to following a naked lunatic when the fit of escaping
is upon him after a few minutes however i could see that he did not
take note of anything around him and so ventured to draw nearer to
him the more so as my men had now crossed the wall and were closing him
in i heard him say 

 i am here to do your bidding master i am your slave and you will
reward me for i shall be faithful i have worshipped you long and afar
off now that you are near i await your commands and you will not pass
me by will you dear master in your distribution of good things  

he is a selfish old beggar anyhow he thinks of the loaves and fishes
even when he believes he is in a real presence his manias make a
startling combination when we closed in on him he fought like a tiger 
he is immensely strong for he was more like a wild beast than a man i
never saw a lunatic in such a paroxysm of rage before and i hope i
shall not again it is a mercy that we have found out his strength and
his danger in good time with strength and determination like his he
might have done wild work before he was caged he is safe now at any
rate jack sheppard himself couldn't get free from the strait-waistcoat
that keeps him restrained and he's chained to the wall in the padded
room his cries are at times awful but the silences that follow are
more deadly still for he means murder in every turn and movement 

just now he spoke coherent words for the first time 

 i shall be patient master it is coming coming coming  

so i took the hint and came too i was too excited to sleep but this
diary has quieted me and i feel i shall get some sleep to-night 




chapter ix


 letter mina harker to lucy westenra 

  buda-pesth 24 august 

 my dearest lucy 

 i know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened since we
parted at the railway station at whitby well my dear i got to hull
all right and caught the boat to hamburg and then the train on here i
feel that i can hardly recall anything of the journey except that i
knew i was coming to jonathan and that as i should have to do some
nursing i had better get all the sleep i could i found my dear one 
oh so thin and pale and weak-looking all the resolution has gone out
of his dear eyes and that quiet dignity which i told you was in his
face has vanished he is only a wreck of himself and he does not
remember anything that has happened to him for a long time past at
least he wants me to believe so and i shall never ask he has had some
terrible shock and i fear it might tax his poor brain if he were to try
to recall it sister agatha who is a good creature and a born nurse 
tells me that he raved of dreadful things whilst he was off his head i
wanted her to tell me what they were but she would only cross herself 
and say she would never tell that the ravings of the sick were the
secrets of god and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear
them she should respect her trust she is a sweet good soul and the
next day when she saw i was troubled she opened up the subject again 
and after saying that she could never mention what my poor dear raved
about added 'i can tell you this much my dear that it was not about
anything which he has done wrong himself and you as his wife to be 
have no cause to be concerned he has not forgotten you or what he owes
to you his fear was of great and terrible things which no mortal can
treat of ' i do believe the dear soul thought i might be jealous lest my
poor dear should have fallen in love with any other girl the idea of
 my being jealous about jonathan and yet my dear let me whisper i
felt a thrill of joy through me when i knew that no other woman was a
cause of trouble i am now sitting by his bedside where i can see his
face while he sleeps he is waking 

 when he woke he asked me for his coat as he wanted to get something
from the pocket i asked sister agatha and she brought all his things 
i saw that amongst them was his note-book and was going to ask him to
let me look at it for i knew then that i might find some clue to his
trouble but i suppose he must have seen my wish in my eyes for he sent
me over to the window saying he wanted to be quite alone for a moment 
then he called me back and when i came he had his hand over the
note-book and he said to me very solemnly 

 'wilhelmina' i knew then that he was in deadly earnest for he has
never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him 'you know 
dear my ideas of the trust between husband and wife there should be no
secret no concealment i have had a great shock and when i try to
think of what it is i feel my head spin round and i do not know if it
was all real or the dreaming of a madman you know i have had brain
fever and that is to be mad the secret is here and i do not want to
know it i want to take up my life here with our marriage ' for my
dear we had decided to be married as soon as the formalities are
complete 'are you willing wilhelmina to share my ignorance here is
the book take it and keep it read it if you will but never let me
know unless indeed some solemn duty should come upon me to go back to
the bitter hours asleep or awake sane or mad recorded here ' he fell
back exhausted and i put the book under his pillow and kissed him i
have asked sister agatha to beg the superior to let our wedding be this
afternoon and am waiting her reply 

 

 she has come and told me that the chaplain of the english mission
church has been sent for we are to be married in an hour or as soon
after as jonathan awakes 

 

 lucy the time has come and gone i feel very solemn but very very
happy jonathan woke a little after the hour and all was ready and he
sat up in bed propped up with pillows he answered his 'i will' firmly
and strongly i could hardly speak my heart was so full that even those
words seemed to choke me the dear sisters were so kind please god i
shall never never forget them nor the grave and sweet responsibilities
i have taken upon me i must tell you of my wedding present when the
chaplain and the sisters had left me alone with my husband oh lucy it
is the first time i have written the words 'my husband' left me alone
with my husband i took the book from under his pillow and wrapped it
up in white paper and tied it with a little bit of pale blue ribbon
which was round my neck and sealed it over the knot with sealing-wax 
and for my seal i used my wedding ring then i kissed it and showed it
to my husband and told him that i would keep it so and then it would
be an outward and visible sign for us all our lives that we trusted each
other that i would never open it unless it were for his own dear sake
or for the sake of some stern duty then he took my hand in his and oh 
lucy it was the first time he took his wife's hand and said that it
was the dearest thing in all the wide world and that he would go
through all the past again to win it if need be the poor dear meant to
have said a part of the past but he cannot think of time yet and i
shall not wonder if at first he mixes up not only the month but the
year 

 well my dear what could i say i could only tell him that i was the
happiest woman in all the wide world and that i had nothing to give him
except myself my life and my trust and that with these went my love
and duty for all the days of my life and my dear when he kissed me 
and drew me to him with his poor weak hands it was like a very solemn
pledge between us 

 lucy dear do you know why i tell you all this it is not only because
it is all sweet to me but because you have been and are very dear to
me it was my privilege to be your friend and guide when you came from
the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life i want you to see now 
and with the eyes of a very happy wife whither duty has led me so that
in your own married life you too may be all happy as i am my dear 
please almighty god your life may be all it promises a long day of
sunshine with no harsh wind no forgetting duty no distrust i must
not wish you no pain for that can never be but i do hope you will be
 always as happy as i am now good-bye my dear i shall post this at
once and perhaps write you very soon again i must stop for jonathan
is waking i must attend to my husband 

 your ever-loving

 mina harker  


 letter lucy westenra to mina harker 

  whitby 30 august 

 my dearest mina 

 oceans of love and millions of kisses and may you soon be in your own
home with your husband i wish you could be coming home soon enough to
stay with us here the strong air would soon restore jonathan it has
quite restored me i have an appetite like a cormorant am full of
life and sleep well you will be glad to know that i have quite given
up walking in my sleep i think i have not stirred out of my bed for a
week that is when i once got into it at night arthur says i am getting
fat by the way i forgot to tell you that arthur is here we have such
walks and drives and rides and rowing and tennis and fishing
together and i love him more than ever he tells me that he loves me
more but i doubt that for at first he told me that he couldn't love me
more than he did then but this is nonsense there he is calling to me 
so no more just at present from your loving

 lucy 

 p s mother sends her love she seems better poor dear  p p 
s we are to be married on 28 september  


 dr seward's diary 

 20 august the case of renfield grows even more interesting he has
now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his passion 
for the first week after his attack he was perpetually violent then one
night just as the moon rose he grew quiet and kept murmuring to
himself  now i can wait now i can wait   the attendant came to tell
me so i ran down at once to have a look at him he was still in the
strait-waistcoat and in the padded room but the suffused look had gone
from his face and his eyes had something of their old pleading i might
almost say  cringing  softness i was satisfied with his present
condition and directed him to be relieved the attendants hesitated 
but finally carried out my wishes without protest it was a strange
thing that the patient had humour enough to see their distrust for 
coming close to me he said in a whisper all the while looking
furtively at them 

 they think i could hurt you fancy me hurting you the fools  

it was soothing somehow to the feelings to find myself dissociated
even in the mind of this poor madman from the others but all the same i
do not follow his thought am i to take it that i have anything in
common with him so that we are as it were to stand together or has
he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well-being is needful
to him i must find out later on to-night he will not speak even the
offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat will not tempt him he will
only say  i don't take any stock in cats i have more to think of now 
and i can wait i can wait  

after a while i left him the attendant tells me that he was quiet
until just before dawn and that then he began to get uneasy and at
length violent until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted
him so that he swooned into a sort of coma 

 

 three nights has the same thing happened violent all day then quiet
from moonrise to sunrise i wish i could get some clue to the cause it
would almost seem as if there was some influence which came and went 
happy thought we shall to-night play sane wits against mad ones he
escaped before without our help to-night he shall escape with it we
shall give him a chance and have the men ready to follow in case they
are required 

 

 23 august  the unexpected always happens   how well disraeli knew
life our bird when he found the cage open would not fly so all our
subtle arrangements were for nought at any rate we have proved one
thing that the spells of quietness last a reasonable time we shall in
future be able to ease his bonds for a few hours each day i have given
orders to the night attendant merely to shut him in the padded room 
when once he is quiet until an hour before sunrise the poor soul's
body will enjoy the relief even if his mind cannot appreciate it hark 
the unexpected again i am called the patient has once more escaped 

 

 later another night adventure renfield artfully waited until the
attendant was entering the room to inspect then he dashed out past him
and flew down the passage i sent word for the attendants to follow 
again he went into the grounds of the deserted house and we found him
in the same place pressed against the old chapel door when he saw me
he became furious and had not the attendants seized him in time he
would have tried to kill me as we were holding him a strange thing
happened he suddenly redoubled his efforts and then as suddenly grew
calm i looked round instinctively but could see nothing then i caught
the patient's eye and followed it but could trace nothing as it looked
into the moonlit sky except a big bat which was flapping its silent and
ghostly way to the west bats usually wheel and flit about but this one
seemed to go straight on as if it knew where it was bound for or had
some intention of its own the patient grew calmer every instant and
presently said 

 you needn't tie me i shall go quietly   without trouble we came back
to the house i feel there is something ominous in his calm and shall
not forget this night 


 lucy westenra's diary 

 hillingham 24 august i must imitate mina and keep writing things
down then we can have long talks when we do meet i wonder when it will
be i wish she were with me again for i feel so unhappy last night i
seemed to be dreaming again just as i was at whitby perhaps it is the
change of air or getting home again it is all dark and horrid to me 
for i can remember nothing but i am full of vague fear and i feel so
weak and worn out when arthur came to lunch he looked quite grieved
when he saw me and i hadn't the spirit to try to be cheerful i wonder
if i could sleep in mother's room to-night i shall make an excuse and
try 

 

 25 august another bad night mother did not seem to take to my
proposal she seems not too well herself and doubtless she fears to
worry me i tried to keep awake and succeeded for a while but when the
clock struck twelve it waked me from a doze so i must have been falling
asleep there was a sort of scratching or flapping at the window but i
did not mind it and as i remember no more i suppose i must then have
fallen asleep more bad dreams i wish i could remember them this
morning i am horribly weak my face is ghastly pale and my throat pains
me it must be something wrong with my lungs for i don't seem ever to
get air enough i shall try to cheer up when arthur comes or else i
know he will be miserable to see me so 


 letter arthur holmwood to dr seward 

  albemarle hotel 31 august 

 my dear jack 

 i want you to do me a favour lucy is ill that is she has no special
disease but she looks awful and is getting worse every day i have
asked her if there is any cause i do not dare to ask her mother for to
disturb the poor lady's mind about her daughter in her present state of
health would be fatal mrs westenra has confided to me that her doom is
spoken disease of the heart though poor lucy does not know it yet i
am sure that there is something preying on my dear girl's mind i am
almost distracted when i think of her to look at her gives me a pang i
told her i should ask you to see her and though she demurred at
first i know why old fellow she finally consented it will be a
painful task for you i know old friend but it is for her sake and
i must not hesitate to ask or you to act you are to come to lunch at
hillingham to-morrow two o'clock so as not to arouse any suspicion in
mrs westenra and after lunch lucy will take an opportunity of being
alone with you i shall come in for tea and we can go away together i
am filled with anxiety and want to consult with you alone as soon as i
can after you have seen her do not fail 

 arthur  


 telegram arthur holmwood to seward 

  1 september 

 am summoned to see my father who is worse am writing write me fully
by to-night's post to ring wire me if necessary  


 letter from dr seward to arthur holmwood 

  2 september 

 my dear old fellow 

 with regard to miss westenra's health i hasten to let you know at once
that in my opinion there is not any functional disturbance or any malady
that i know of at the same time i am not by any means satisfied with
her appearance she is woefully different from what she was when i saw
her last of course you must bear in mind that i did not have full
opportunity of examination such as i should wish our very friendship
makes a little difficulty which not even medical science or custom can
bridge over i had better tell you exactly what happened leaving you to
draw in a measure your own conclusions i shall then say what i have
done and propose doing 

 i found miss westenra in seemingly gay spirits her mother was present 
and in a few seconds i made up my mind that she was trying all she knew
to mislead her mother and prevent her from being anxious i have no
doubt she guesses if she does not know what need of caution there is 
we lunched alone and as we all exerted ourselves to be cheerful we
got as some kind of reward for our labours some real cheerfulness
amongst us then mrs westenra went to lie down and lucy was left with
me we went into her boudoir and till we got there her gaiety remained 
for the servants were coming and going as soon as the door was closed 
however the mask fell from her face and she sank down into a chair
with a great sigh and hid her eyes with her hand when i saw that her
high spirits had failed i at once took advantage of her reaction to
make a diagnosis she said to me very sweetly 

 'i cannot tell you how i loathe talking about myself ' i reminded her
that a doctor's confidence was sacred but that you were grievously
anxious about her she caught on to my meaning at once and settled that
matter in a word 'tell arthur everything you choose i do not care for
myself but all for him ' so i am quite free 

 i could easily see that she is somewhat bloodless but i could not see
the usual anaemic signs and by a chance i was actually able to test the
quality of her blood for in opening a window which was stiff a cord
gave way and she cut her hand slightly with broken glass it was a
slight matter in itself but it gave me an evident chance and i secured
a few drops of the blood and have analysed them the qualitative
analysis gives a quite normal condition and shows i should infer in
itself a vigorous state of health in other physical matters i was quite
satisfied that there is no need for anxiety but as there must be a
cause somewhere i have come to the conclusion that it must be something
mental she complains of difficulty in breathing satisfactorily at
times and of heavy lethargic sleep with dreams that frighten her but
regarding which she can remember nothing she says that as a child she
used to walk in her sleep and that when in whitby the habit came back 
and that once she walked out in the night and went to east cliff where
miss murray found her but she assures me that of late the habit has not
returned i am in doubt and so have done the best thing i know of i
have written to my old friend and master professor van helsing of
amsterdam who knows as much about obscure diseases as any one in the
world i have asked him to come over and as you told me that all things
were to be at your charge i have mentioned to him who you are and your
relations to miss westenra this my dear fellow is in obedience to
your wishes for i am only too proud and happy to do anything i can for
her van helsing would i know do anything for me for a personal
reason so no matter on what ground he comes we must accept his
wishes he is a seemingly arbitrary man but this is because he knows
what he is talking about better than any one else he is a philosopher
and a metaphysician and one of the most advanced scientists of his day 
and he has i believe an absolutely open mind this with an iron
nerve a temper of the ice-brook an indomitable resolution 
self-command and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings and the
kindliest and truest heart that beats these form his equipment for the
noble work that he is doing for mankind work both in theory and
practice for his views are as wide as his all-embracing sympathy i
tell you these facts that you may know why i have such confidence in
him i have asked him to come at once i shall see miss westenra
to-morrow again she is to meet me at the stores so that i may not
alarm her mother by too early a repetition of my call 

 yours always 

 john seward  


 letter abraham van helsing m d d ph d lit etc etc to dr 
seward 

  2 september 

 my good friend 

 when i have received your letter i am already coming to you by good
fortune i can leave just at once without wrong to any of those who have
trusted me were fortune other then it were bad for those who have
trusted for i come to my friend when he call me to aid those he holds
dear tell your friend that when that time you suck from my wound so
swiftly the poison of the gangrene from that knife that our other
friend too nervous let slip you did more for him when he wants my
aids and you call for them than all his great fortune could do but it
is pleasure added to do for him your friend it is to you that i come 
have then rooms for me at the great eastern hotel so that i may be near
to hand and please it so arrange that we may see the young lady not too
late on to-morrow for it is likely that i may have to return here that
night but if need be i shall come again in three days and stay longer
if it must till then good-bye my friend john 

  van helsing  


 letter dr seward to hon arthur holmwood 

  3 september 

 my dear art 

 van helsing has come and gone he came on with me to hillingham and
found that by lucy's discretion her mother was lunching out so that
we were alone with her van helsing made a very careful examination of
the patient he is to report to me and i shall advise you for of
course i was not present all the time he is i fear much concerned 
but says he must think when i told him of our friendship and how you
trust to me in the matter he said 'you must tell him all you think 
tell him what i think if you can guess it if you will nay i am not
jesting this is no jest but life and death perhaps more ' i asked
what he meant by that for he was very serious this was when we had
come back to town and he was having a cup of tea before starting on his
return to amsterdam he would not give me any further clue you must not
be angry with me art because his very reticence means that all his
brains are working for her good he will speak plainly enough when the
time comes be sure so i told him i would simply write an account of
our visit just as if i were doing a descriptive special article for
 the daily telegraph he seemed not to notice but remarked that the
smuts in london were not quite so bad as they used to be when he was a
student here i am to get his report to-morrow if he can possibly make
it in any case i am to have a letter 

 well as to the visit lucy was more cheerful than on the day i first
saw her and certainly looked better she had lost something of the
ghastly look that so upset you and her breathing was normal she was
very sweet to the professor as she always is and tried to make him
feel at ease though i could see that the poor girl was making a hard
struggle for it i believe van helsing saw it too for i saw the quick
look under his bushy brows that i knew of old then he began to chat of
all things except ourselves and diseases and with such an infinite
geniality that i could see poor lucy's pretense of animation merge into
reality then without any seeming change he brought the conversation
gently round to his visit and suavely said 

 'my dear young miss i have the so great pleasure because you are so
much beloved that is much my dear ever were there that which i do not
see they told me you were down in the spirit and that you were of a
ghastly pale to them i say  pouf  ' and he snapped his fingers at me
and went on 'but you and i shall show them how wrong they are how can
he' and he pointed at me with the same look and gesture as that with
which once he pointed me out to his class on or rather after a
particular occasion which he never fails to remind me of 'know anything
of a young ladies he has his madams to play with and to bring them
back to happiness and to those that love them it is much to do and 
oh but there are rewards in that we can bestow such happiness but the
young ladies he has no wife nor daughter and the young do not tell
themselves to the young but to the old like me who have known so many
sorrows and the causes of them so my dear we will send him away to
smoke the cigarette in the garden whiles you and i have little talk all
to ourselves ' i took the hint and strolled about and presently the
professor came to the window and called me in he looked grave but
said 'i have made careful examination but there is no functional
cause with you i agree that there has been much blood lost it has
been but is not but the conditions of her are in no way anaemic i have
asked her to send me her maid that i may ask just one or two question 
that so i may not chance to miss nothing i know well what she will say 
and yet there is cause there is always cause for everything i must go
back home and think you must send to me the telegram every day and if
there be cause i shall come again the disease for not to be all well
is a disease interest me and the sweet young dear she interest me
too she charm me and for her if not for you or disease i come '

 as i tell you he would not say a word more even when we were alone 
and so now art you know all i know i shall keep stern watch i trust
your poor father is rallying it must be a terrible thing to you my
dear old fellow to be placed in such a position between two people who
are both so dear to you i know your idea of duty to your father and
you are right to stick to it but if need be i shall send you word to
come at once to lucy so do not be over-anxious unless you hear from
me  


 dr seward's diary 

 4 september zoophagous patient still keeps up our interest in him 
he had only one outburst and that was yesterday at an unusual time just
before the stroke of noon he began to grow restless the attendant knew
the symptoms and at once summoned aid fortunately the men came at a
run and were just in time for at the stroke of noon he became so
violent that it took all their strength to hold him in about five
minutes however he began to get more and more quiet and finally sank
into a sort of melancholy in which state he has remained up to now the
attendant tells me that his screams whilst in the paroxysm were really
appalling i found my hands full when i got in attending to some of the
other patients who were frightened by him indeed i can quite
understand the effect for the sounds disturbed even me though i was
some distance away it is now after the dinner-hour of the asylum and
as yet my patient sits in a corner brooding with a dull sullen 
woe-begone look in his face which seems rather to indicate than to show
something directly i cannot quite understand it 

 

 later another change in my patient at five o'clock i looked in on
him and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he used to be he
was catching flies and eating them and was keeping note of his capture
by making nail-marks on the edge of the door between the ridges of
padding when he saw me he came over and apologised for his bad
conduct and asked me in a very humble cringing way to be led back to
his own room and to have his note-book again i thought it well to
humour him so he is back in his room with the window open he has the
sugar of his tea spread out on the window-sill and is reaping quite a
harvest of flies he is not now eating them but putting them into a
box as of old and is already examining the corners of his room to find
a spider i tried to get him to talk about the past few days for any
clue to his thoughts would be of immense help to me but he would not
rise for a moment or two he looked very sad and said in a sort of
far-away voice as though saying it rather to himself than to me 

 all over all over he has deserted me no hope for me now unless i do
it for myself   then suddenly turning to me in a resolute way he said 
 doctor won't you be very good to me and let me have a little more
sugar i think it would be good for me  

 and the flies   i said 

 yes the flies like it too and i like the flies therefore i like
it   and there are people who know so little as to think that madmen do
not argue i procured him a double supply and left him as happy a man
as i suppose any in the world i wish i could fathom his mind 

 

 midnight another change in him i had been to see miss westenra 
whom i found much better and had just returned and was standing at our
own gate looking at the sunset when once more i heard him yelling as
his room is on this side of the house i could hear it better than in
the morning it was a shock to me to turn from the wonderful smoky
beauty of a sunset over london with its lurid lights and inky shadows
and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds even as on foul
water and to realise all the grim sternness of my own cold stone
building with its wealth of breathing misery and my own desolate heart
to endure it all i reached him just as the sun was going down and from
his window saw the red disc sink as it sank he became less and less
frenzied and just as it dipped he slid from the hands that held him an
inert mass on the floor it is wonderful however what intellectual
recuperative power lunatics have for within a few minutes he stood up
quite calmly and looked around him i signalled to the attendants not to
hold him for i was anxious to see what he would do he went straight
over to the window and brushed out the crumbs of sugar then he took his
fly-box and emptied it outside and threw away the box then he shut
the window and crossing over sat down on his bed all this surprised
me so i asked him  are you not going to keep flies any more  

 no   said he  i am sick of all that rubbish   he certainly is a
wonderfully interesting study i wish i could get some glimpse of his
mind or of the cause of his sudden passion stop there may be a clue
after all if we can find why to-day his paroxysms came on at high noon
and at sunset can it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at
periods which affects certain natures as at times the moon does others 
we shall see 


 telegram seward london to van helsing amsterdam 

  4 september patient still better to-day  


 telegram seward london to van helsing amsterdam 

  5 september patient greatly improved good appetite sleeps
naturally good spirits colour coming back  


 telegram seward london to van helsing amsterdam 

  6 september terrible change for the worse come at once do not
lose an hour i hold over telegram to holmwood till have seen you  




chapter x


 letter dr seward to hon arthur holmwood 

  6 september 

 my dear art 

 my news to-day is not so good lucy this morning had gone back a bit 
there is however one good thing which has arisen from it mrs 
westenra was naturally anxious concerning lucy and has consulted me
professionally about her i took advantage of the opportunity and told
her that my old master van helsing the great specialist was coming to
stay with me and that i would put her in his charge conjointly with
myself so now we can come and go without alarming her unduly for a
shock to her would mean sudden death and this in lucy's weak
condition might be disastrous to her we are hedged in with
difficulties all of us my poor old fellow but please god we shall
come through them all right if any need i shall write so that if you
do not hear from me take it for granted that i am simply waiting for
news in haste

yours ever 

 john seward  


 dr seward's diary 

 7 september the first thing van helsing said to me when we met at
liverpool street was 

 have you said anything to our young friend the lover of her  

 no   i said  i waited till i had seen you as i said in my telegram i
wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were coming as miss
westenra was not so well and that i should let him know if need be  

 right my friend   he said  quite right better he not know as yet 
perhaps he shall never know i pray so but if it be needed then he
shall know all and my good friend john let me caution you you deal
with the madmen all men are mad in some way or the other and inasmuch
as you deal discreetly with your madmen so deal with god's madmen 
too the rest of the world you tell not your madmen what you do nor why
you do it you tell them not what you think so you shall keep knowledge
in its place where it may rest where it may gather its kind around it
and breed you and i shall keep as yet what we know here and here   he
touched me on the heart and on the forehead and then touched himself
the same way  i have for myself thoughts at the present later i shall
unfold to you  

 why not now   i asked  it may do some good we may arrive at some
decision   he stopped and looked at me and said 

 my friend john when the corn is grown even before it has
ripened while the milk of its mother-earth is in him and the sunshine
has not yet begun to paint him with his gold the husbandman he pull the
ear and rub him between his rough hands and blow away the green chaff 
and say to you 'look he's good corn he will make good crop when the
time comes '  i did not see the application and told him so for reply
he reached over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully as
he used long ago to do at lectures and said  the good husbandman tell
you so then because he knows but not till then but you do not find the
good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow that is for
the children who play at husbandry and not for those who take it as of
the work of their life see you now friend john i have sown my corn 
and nature has her work to do in making it sprout if he sprout at all 
there's some promise and i wait till the ear begins to swell   he broke
off for he evidently saw that i understood then he went on and very
gravely 

 you were always a careful student and your case-book was ever more
full than the rest you were only student then now you are master and
i trust that good habit have not fail remember my friend that
knowledge is stronger than memory and we should not trust the weaker 
even if you have not kept the good practise let me tell you that this
case of our dear miss is one that may be mind i say may be of such
interest to us and others that all the rest may not make him kick the
beam as your peoples say take then good note of it nothing is too
small i counsel you put down in record even your doubts and surmises 
hereafter it may be of interest to you to see how true you guess we
learn from failure not from success  

when i described lucy's symptoms the same as before but infinitely
more marked he looked very grave but said nothing he took with him a
bag in which were many instruments and drugs  the ghastly paraphernalia
of our beneficial trade   as he once called in one of his lectures the
equipment of a professor of the healing craft when we were shown in 
mrs westenra met us she was alarmed but not nearly so much as i
expected to find her nature in one of her beneficent moods has ordained
that even death has some antidote to its own terrors here in a case
where any shock may prove fatal matters are so ordered that from some
cause or other the things not personal even the terrible change in her
daughter to whom she is so attached do not seem to reach her it is
something like the way dame nature gathers round a foreign body an
envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that
which it would otherwise harm by contact if this be an ordered
selfishness then we should pause before we condemn any one for the vice
of egoism for there may be deeper root for its causes than we have
knowledge of 

i used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology and laid down
a rule that she should not be present with lucy or think of her illness
more than was absolutely required she assented readily so readily that
i saw again the hand of nature fighting for life van helsing and i were
shown up to lucy's room if i was shocked when i saw her yesterday i
was horrified when i saw her to-day she was ghastly chalkily pale the
red seemed to have gone even from her lips and gums and the bones of
her face stood out prominently her breathing was painful to see or
hear van helsing's face grew set as marble and his eyebrows converged
till they almost touched over his nose lucy lay motionless and did not
seem to have strength to speak so for a while we were all silent then
van helsing beckoned to me and we went gently out of the room the
instant we had closed the door he stepped quickly along the passage to
the next door which was open then he pulled me quickly in with him and
closed the door  my god   he said  this is dreadful there is no time
to be lost she will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's
action as it should be there must be transfusion of blood at once is
it you or me  

 i am younger and stronger professor it must be me  

 then get ready at once i will bring up my bag i am prepared  

i went downstairs with him and as we were going there was a knock at
the hall-door when we reached the hall the maid had just opened the
door and arthur was stepping quickly in he rushed up to me saying in
an eager whisper 

 jack i was so anxious i read between the lines of your letter and
have been in an agony the dad was better so i ran down here to see for
myself is not that gentleman dr van helsing i am so thankful to you 
sir for coming   when first the professor's eye had lit upon him he had
been angry at his interruption at such a time but now as he took in
his stalwart proportions and recognised the strong young manhood which
seemed to emanate from him his eyes gleamed without a pause he said to
him gravely as he held out his hand 

 sir you have come in time you are the lover of our dear miss she is
bad very very bad nay my child do not go like that   for he
suddenly grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting  you are to
help her you can do more than any that live and your courage is your
best help  

 what can i do   asked arthur hoarsely  tell me and i shall do it my
life is hers and i would give the last drop of blood in my body for
her   the professor has a strongly humorous side and i could from old
knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer 

 my young sir i do not ask so much as that not the last  

 what shall i do   there was fire in his eyes and his open nostril
quivered with intent van helsing slapped him on the shoulder  come  
he said  you are a man and it is a man we want you are better than
me better than my friend john   arthur looked bewildered and the
professor went on by explaining in a kindly way 

 young miss is bad very bad she wants blood and blood she must have
or die my friend john and i have consulted and we are about to perform
what we call transfusion of blood to transfer from full veins of one to
the empty veins which pine for him john was to give his blood as he is
the more young and strong than me  here arthur took my hand and wrung
it hard in silence  but now you are here you are more good than us 
old or young who toil much in the world of thought our nerves are not
so calm and our blood not so bright than yours   arthur turned to him
and said 

 if you only knew how gladly i would die for her you would
understand  

he stopped with a sort of choke in his voice 

 good boy   said van helsing  in the not-so-far-off you will be happy
that you have done all for her you love come now and be silent you
shall kiss her once before it is done but then you must go and you
must leave at my sign say no word to madame you know how it is with
her there must be no shock any knowledge of this would be one come  

we all went up to lucy's room arthur by direction remained outside 
lucy turned her head and looked at us but said nothing she was not
asleep but she was simply too weak to make the effort her eyes spoke
to us that was all van helsing took some things from his bag and laid
them on a little table out of sight then he mixed a narcotic and
coming over to the bed said cheerily 

 now little miss here is your medicine drink it off like a good
child see i lift you so that to swallow is easy yes   she had made
the effort with success 

it astonished me how long the drug took to act this in fact marked
the extent of her weakness the time seemed endless until sleep began to
flicker in her eyelids at last however the narcotic began to manifest
its potency and she fell into a deep sleep when the professor was
satisfied he called arthur into the room and bade him strip off his
coat then he added  you may take that one little kiss whiles i bring
over the table friend john help to me   so neither of us looked whilst
he bent over her 

van helsing turning to me said 

 he is so young and strong and of blood so pure that we need not
defibrinate it  

then with swiftness but with absolute method van helsing performed the
operation as the transfusion went on something like life seemed to come
back to poor lucy's cheeks and through arthur's growing pallor the joy
of his face seemed absolutely to shine after a bit i began to grow
anxious for the loss of blood was telling on arthur strong man as he
was it gave me an idea of what a terrible strain lucy's system must
have undergone that what weakened arthur only partially restored her 
but the professor's face was set and he stood watch in hand and with
his eyes fixed now on the patient and now on arthur i could hear my own
heart beat presently he said in a soft voice  do not stir an instant 
it is enough you attend him i will look to her   when all was over i
could see how much arthur was weakened i dressed the wound and took his
arm to bring him away when van helsing spoke without turning round the
man seems to have eyes in the back of his head 

 the brave lover i think deserve another kiss which he shall have
presently   and as he had now finished his operation he adjusted the
pillow to the patient's head as he did so the narrow black velvet band
which she seems always to wear round her throat buckled with an old
diamond buckle which her lover had given her was dragged a little up 
and showed a red mark on her throat arthur did not notice it but i
could hear the deep hiss of indrawn breath which is one of van helsing's
ways of betraying emotion he said nothing at the moment but turned to
me saying  now take down our brave young lover give him of the port
wine and let him lie down a while he must then go home and rest sleep
much and eat much that he may be recruited of what he has so given to
his love he must not stay here hold a moment i may take it sir 
that you are anxious of result then bring it with you that in all ways
the operation is successful you have saved her life this time and you
can go home and rest easy in mind that all that can be is i shall tell
her all when she is well she shall love you none the less for what you
have done good-bye  

when arthur had gone i went back to the room lucy was sleeping gently 
but her breathing was stronger i could see the counterpane move as her
breast heaved by the bedside sat van helsing looking at her intently 
the velvet band again covered the red mark i asked the professor in a
whisper 

 what do you make of that mark on her throat  

 what do you make of it  

 i have not examined it yet   i answered and then and there proceeded
to loose the band just over the external jugular vein there were two
punctures not large but not wholesome-looking there was no sign of
disease but the edges were white and worn-looking as if by some
trituration it at once occurred to me that this wound or whatever it
was might be the means of that manifest loss of blood but i abandoned
the idea as soon as formed for such a thing could not be the whole bed
would have been drenched to a scarlet with the blood which the girl must
have lost to leave such a pallor as she had before the transfusion 

 well   said van helsing 

 well   said i  i can make nothing of it   the professor stood up  i
must go back to amsterdam to-night   he said  there are books and
things there which i want you must remain here all the night and you
must not let your sight pass from her  

 shall i have a nurse   i asked 

 we are the best nurses you and i you keep watch all night see that
she is well fed and that nothing disturbs her you must not sleep all
the night later on we can sleep you and i i shall be back as soon as
possible and then we may begin  

 may begin   i said  what on earth do you mean  

 we shall see   he answered as he hurried out he came back a moment
later and put his head inside the door and said with warning finger held
up 

 remember she is your charge if you leave her and harm befall you
shall not sleep easy hereafter  


 dr seward's diary continued 

 8 september i sat up all night with lucy the opiate worked itself
off towards dusk and she waked naturally she looked a different being
from what she had been before the operation her spirits even were good 
and she was full of a happy vivacity but i could see evidences of the
absolute prostration which she had undergone when i told mrs westenra
that dr van helsing had directed that i should sit up with her she
almost pooh-poohed the idea pointing out her daughter's renewed
strength and excellent spirits i was firm however and made
preparations for my long vigil when her maid had prepared her for the
night i came in having in the meantime had supper and took a seat by
the bedside she did not in any way make objection but looked at me
gratefully whenever i caught her eye after a long spell she seemed
sinking off to sleep but with an effort seemed to pull herself together
and shook it off this was repeated several times with greater effort
and with shorter pauses as the time moved on it was apparent that she
did not want to sleep so i tackled the subject at once 

 you do not want to go to sleep  

 no i am afraid  

 afraid to go to sleep why so it is the boon we all crave for  

 ah not if you were like me if sleep was to you a presage of horror  

 a presage of horror what on earth do you mean  

 i don't know oh i don't know and that is what is so terrible all
this weakness comes to me in sleep until i dread the very thought  

 but my dear girl you may sleep to-night i am here watching you and
i can promise that nothing will happen  

 ah i can trust you   i seized the opportunity and said  i promise
you that if i see any evidence of bad dreams i will wake you at once  

 you will oh will you really how good you are to me then i will
sleep   and almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief and sank
back asleep 

all night long i watched by her she never stirred but slept on and on
in a deep tranquil life-giving health-giving sleep her lips were
slightly parted and her breast rose and fell with the regularity of a
pendulum there was a smile on her face and it was evident that no bad
dreams had come to disturb her peace of mind 

in the early morning her maid came and i left her in her care and took
myself back home for i was anxious about many things i sent a short
wire to van helsing and to arthur telling them of the excellent result
of the operation my own work with its manifold arrears took me all
day to clear off it was dark when i was able to inquire about my
zoophagous patient the report was good he had been quite quiet for the
past day and night a telegram came from van helsing at amsterdam whilst
i was at dinner suggesting that i should be at hillingham to-night as
it might be well to be at hand and stating that he was leaving by the
night mail and would join me early in the morning 

 

 9 september i was pretty tired and worn out when i got to
hillingham for two nights i had hardly had a wink of sleep and my
brain was beginning to feel that numbness which marks cerebral
exhaustion lucy was up and in cheerful spirits when she shook hands
with me she looked sharply in my face and said 

 no sitting up to-night for you you are worn out i am quite well
again indeed i am and if there is to be any sitting up it is i who
will sit up with you   i would not argue the point but went and had my
supper lucy came with me and enlivened by her charming presence i
made an excellent meal and had a couple of glasses of the more than
excellent port then lucy took me upstairs and showed me a room next
her own where a cozy fire was burning  now   she said  you must stay
here i shall leave this door open and my door too you can lie on the
sofa for i know that nothing would induce any of you doctors to go to
bed whilst there is a patient above the horizon if i want anything i
shall call out and you can come to me at once   i could not but
acquiesce for i was  dog-tired   and could not have sat up had i tried 
so on her renewing her promise to call me if she should want anything 
i lay on the sofa and forgot all about everything 


 lucy westenra's diary 

 9 september i feel so happy to-night i have been so miserably weak 
that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after
a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky somehow arthur feels very 
very close to me i seem to feel his presence warm about me i suppose
it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn our inner
eyes and sympathy on ourselves whilst health and strength give love
rein and in thought and feeling he can wander where he wills i know
where my thoughts are if arthur only knew my dear my dear your ears
must tingle as you sleep as mine do waking oh the blissful rest of
last night how i slept with that dear good dr seward watching me 
and to-night i shall not fear to sleep since he is close at hand and
within call thank everybody for being so good to me thank god 
good-night arthur 


 dr seward's diary 

 10 september i was conscious of the professor's hand on my head and
started awake all in a second that is one of the things that we learn
in an asylum at any rate 

 and how is our patient  

 well when i left her or rather when she left me   i answered 

 come let us see   he said and together we went into the room 

the blind was down and i went over to raise it gently whilst van
helsing stepped with his soft cat-like tread over to the bed 

as i raised the blind and the morning sunlight flooded the room i
heard the professor's low hiss of inspiration and knowing its rarity a
deadly fear shot through my heart as i passed over he moved back and
his exclamation of horror  gott in himmel   needed no enforcement from
his agonised face he raised his hand and pointed to the bed and his
iron face was drawn and ashen white i felt my knees begin to tremble 

there on the bed seemingly in a swoon lay poor lucy more horribly
white and wan-looking than ever even the lips were white and the gums
seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth as we sometimes see in a
corpse after a prolonged illness van helsing raised his foot to stamp
in anger but the instinct of his life and all the long years of habit
stood to him and he put it down again softly  quick   he said  bring
the brandy   i flew to the dining-room and returned with the decanter 
he wetted the poor white lips with it and together we rubbed palm and
wrist and heart he felt her heart and after a few moments of agonising
suspense said 

 it is not too late it beats though but feebly all our work is
undone we must begin again there is no young arthur here now i have
to call on you yourself this time friend john   as he spoke he was
dipping into his bag and producing the instruments for transfusion i
had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt-sleeve there was no
possibility of an opiate just at present and no need of one and so 
without a moment's delay we began the operation after a time it did
not seem a short time either for the draining away of one's blood no
matter how willingly it be given is a terrible feeling van helsing
held up a warning finger  do not stir   he said  but i fear that with
growing strength she may wake and that would make danger oh so much
danger but i shall precaution take i shall give hypodermic injection
of morphia   he proceeded then swiftly and deftly to carry out his
intent the effect on lucy was not bad for the faint seemed to merge
subtly into the narcotic sleep it was with a feeling of personal pride
that i could see a faint tinge of colour steal back into the pallid
cheeks and lips no man knows till he experiences it what it is to
feel his own life-blood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves 

the professor watched me critically  that will do   he said  already  
i remonstrated  you took a great deal more from art   to which he
smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied 

 he is her lover her fiance you have work much work to do for her
and for others and the present will suffice  

when we stopped the operation he attended to lucy whilst i applied
digital pressure to my own incision i laid down whilst i waited his
leisure to attend to me for i felt faint and a little sick by-and-by
he bound up my wound and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine for
myself as i was leaving the room he came after me and half
whispered 

 mind nothing must be said of this if our young lover should turn up
unexpected as before no word to him it would at once frighten him and
enjealous him too there must be none so  

when i came back he looked at me carefully and then said 

 you are not much the worse go into the room and lie on your sofa and
rest awhile then have much breakfast and come here to me  

i followed out his orders for i knew how right and wise they were i
had done my part and now my next duty was to keep up my strength i
felt very weak and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at
what had occurred i fell asleep on the sofa however wondering over
and over again how lucy had made such a retrograde movement and how
she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign anywhere to
show for it i think i must have continued my wonder in my dreams for 
sleeping and waking my thoughts always came back to the little
punctures in her throat and the ragged exhausted appearance of their
edges tiny though they were 

lucy slept well into the day and when she woke she was fairly well and
strong though not nearly so much so as the day before when van helsing
had seen her he went out for a walk leaving me in charge with strict
injunctions that i was not to leave her for a moment i could hear his
voice in the hall asking the way to the nearest telegraph office 

lucy chatted with me freely and seemed quite unconscious that anything
had happened i tried to keep her amused and interested when her mother
came up to see her she did not seem to notice any change whatever but
said to me gratefully 

 we owe you so much dr seward for all you have done but you really
must now take care not to overwork yourself you are looking pale
yourself you want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit that you
do   as she spoke lucy turned crimson though it was only momentarily 
for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long such an unwonted
drain to the head the reaction came in excessive pallor as she turned
imploring eyes on me i smiled and nodded and laid my finger on my
lips with a sigh she sank back amid her pillows 

van helsing returned in a couple of hours and presently said to me 
 now you go home and eat much and drink enough make yourself strong i
stay here to-night and i shall sit up with little miss myself you and
i must watch the case and we must have none other to know i have grave
reasons no do not ask them think what you will do not fear to think
even the most not-probable good-night  

in the hall two of the maids came to me and asked if they or either of
them might not sit up with miss lucy they implored me to let them and
when i said it was dr van helsing's wish that either he or i should sit
up they asked me quite piteously to intercede with the  foreign
gentleman   i was much touched by their kindness perhaps it is because
i am weak at present and perhaps because it was on lucy's account that
their devotion was manifested for over and over again have i seen
similar instances of woman's kindness i got back here in time for a
late dinner went my rounds all well and set this down whilst waiting
for sleep it is coming 

 

 11 september this afternoon i went over to hillingham found van
helsing in excellent spirits and lucy much better shortly after i had
arrived a big parcel from abroad came for the professor he opened it
with much impressment assumed of course and showed a great bundle of
white flowers 

 these are for you miss lucy   he said 

 for me oh dr van helsing  

 yes my dear but not for you to play with these are medicines   here
lucy made a wry face  nay but they are not to take in a decoction or
in nauseous form so you need not snub that so charming nose or i shall
point out to my friend arthur what woes he may have to endure in seeing
so much beauty that he so loves so much distort aha my pretty miss 
that bring the so nice nose all straight again this is medicinal but
you do not know how i put him in your window i make pretty wreath and
hang him round your neck so that you sleep well oh yes they like the
lotus flower make your trouble forgotten it smell so like the waters
of lethe and of that fountain of youth that the conquistadores sought
for in the floridas and find him all too late  

whilst he was speaking lucy had been examining the flowers and smelling
them now she threw them down saying with half-laughter and
half-disgust 

 oh professor i believe you are only putting up a joke on me why 
these flowers are only common garlic  

to my surprise van helsing rose up and said with all his sternness his
iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting 

 no trifling with me i never jest there is grim purpose in all i do 
and i warn you that you do not thwart me take care for the sake of
others if not for your own   then seeing poor lucy scared as she might
well be he went on more gently  oh little miss my dear do not fear
me i only do for your good but there is much virtue to you in those so
common flowers see i place them myself in your room i make myself the
wreath that you are to wear but hush no telling to others that make so
inquisitive questions we must obey and silence is a part of obedience 
and obedience is to bring you strong and well into loving arms that wait
for you now sit still awhile come with me friend john and you shall
help me deck the room with my garlic which is all the way from haarlem 
where my friend vanderpool raise herb in his glass-houses all the year 
i had to telegraph yesterday or they would not have been here  

we went into the room taking the flowers with us the professor's
actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopoeia
that i ever heard of first he fastened up the windows and latched them
securely next taking a handful of the flowers he rubbed them all over
the sashes as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get
in would be laden with the garlic smell then with the wisp he rubbed
all over the jamb of the door above below and at each side and round
the fireplace in the same way it all seemed grotesque to me and
presently i said 

 well professor i know you always have a reason for what you do but
this certainly puzzles me it is well we have no sceptic here or he
would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit  

 perhaps i am   he answered quietly as he began to make the wreath which
lucy was to wear round her neck 

we then waited whilst lucy made her toilet for the night and when she
was in bed he came and himself fixed the wreath of garlic round her
neck the last words he said to her were 

 take care you do not disturb it and even if the room feel close do
not to-night open the window or the door  

 i promise   said lucy  and thank you both a thousand times for all
your kindness to me oh what have i done to be blessed with such
friends  

as we left the house in my fly which was waiting van helsing said 

 to-night i can sleep in peace and sleep i want two nights of travel 
much reading in the day between and much anxiety on the day to follow 
and a night to sit up without to wink to-morrow in the morning early
you call for me and we come together to see our pretty miss so much
more strong for my 'spell' which i have work ho ho  

he seemed so confident that i remembering my own confidence two nights
before and with the baneful result felt awe and vague terror it must
have been my weakness that made me hesitate to tell it to my friend but
i felt it all the more like unshed tears 




chapter xi

 lucy westenra's diary 


 12 september how good they all are to me i quite love that dear dr 
van helsing i wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers he
positively frightened me he was so fierce and yet he must have been
right for i feel comfort from them already somehow i do not dread
being alone to-night and i can go to sleep without fear i shall not
mind any flapping outside the window oh the terrible struggle that i
have had against sleep so often of late the pain of the sleeplessness 
or the pain of the fear of sleep with such unknown horrors as it has
for me how blessed are some people whose lives have no fears no
dreads to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly and brings
nothing but sweet dreams well here i am to-night hoping for sleep 
and lying like ophelia in the play with  virgin crants and maiden
strewments   i never liked garlic before but to-night it is delightful 
there is peace in its smell i feel sleep coming already good-night 
everybody 


 dr seward's diary 

 13 september called at the berkeley and found van helsing as usual 
up to time the carriage ordered from the hotel was waiting the
professor took his bag which he always brings with him now 

let all be put down exactly van helsing and i arrived at hillingham at
eight o'clock it was a lovely morning the bright sunshine and all the
fresh feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of nature's
annual work the leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colours 
but had not yet begun to drop from the trees when we entered we met
mrs westenra coming out of the morning room she is always an early
riser she greeted us warmly and said 

 you will be glad to know that lucy is better the dear child is still
asleep i looked into her room and saw her but did not go in lest i
should disturb her   the professor smiled and looked quite jubilant he
rubbed his hands together and said 

 aha i thought i had diagnosed the case my treatment is working   to
which she answered 

 you must not take all the credit to yourself doctor lucy's state this
morning is due in part to me  

 how you do mean ma'am   asked the professor 

 well i was anxious about the dear child in the night and went into
her room she was sleeping soundly so soundly that even my coming did
not wake her but the room was awfully stuffy there were a lot of those
horrible strong-smelling flowers about everywhere and she had actually
a bunch of them round her neck i feared that the heavy odour would be
too much for the dear child in her weak state so i took them all away
and opened a bit of the window to let in a little fresh air you will be
pleased with her i am sure  

she moved off into her boudoir where she usually breakfasted early as
she had spoken i watched the professor's face and saw it turn ashen
grey he had been able to retain his self-command whilst the poor lady
was present for he knew her state and how mischievous a shock would be 
he actually smiled on her as he held open the door for her to pass into
her room but the instant she had disappeared he pulled me suddenly and
forcibly into the dining-room and closed the door 

then for the first time in my life i saw van helsing break down he
raised his hands over his head in a sort of mute despair and then beat
his palms together in a helpless way finally he sat down on a chair 
and putting his hands before his face began to sob with loud dry sobs
that seemed to come from the very racking of his heart then he raised
his arms again as though appealing to the whole universe  god god 
god   he said  what have we done what has this poor thing done that
we are so sore beset is there fate amongst us still sent down from the
pagan world of old that such things must be and in such way this poor
mother all unknowing and all for the best as she think does such
thing as lose her daughter body and soul and we must not tell her we
must not even warn her or she die and then both die oh how we are
beset how are all the powers of the devils against us   suddenly he
jumped to his feet  come   he said  come we must see and act devils
or no devils or all the devils at once it matters not we fight him
all the same   he went to the hall-door for his bag and together we
went up to lucy's room 

once again i drew up the blind whilst van helsing went towards the bed 
this time he did not start as he looked on the poor face with the same
awful waxen pallor as before he wore a look of stern sadness and
infinite pity 

 as i expected   he murmured with that hissing inspiration of his which
meant so much without a word he went and locked the door and then
began to set out on the little table the instruments for yet another
operation of transfusion of blood i had long ago recognised the
necessity and begun to take off my coat but he stopped me with a
warning hand  no   he said  to-day you must operate i shall provide 
you are weakened already   as he spoke he took off his coat and rolled
up his shirt-sleeve 

again the operation again the narcotic again some return of colour to
the ashy cheeks and the regular breathing of healthy sleep this time i
watched whilst van helsing recruited himself and rested 

presently he took an opportunity of telling mrs westenra that she must
not remove anything from lucy's room without consulting him that the
flowers were of medicinal value and that the breathing of their odour
was a part of the system of cure then he took over the care of the case
himself saying that he would watch this night and the next and would
send me word when to come 

after another hour lucy waked from her sleep fresh and bright and
seemingly not much the worse for her terrible ordeal 

what does it all mean i am beginning to wonder if my long habit of life
amongst the insane is beginning to tell upon my own brain 


 lucy westenra's diary 

 17 september four days and nights of peace i am getting so strong
again that i hardly know myself it is as if i had passed through some
long nightmare and had just awakened to see the beautiful sunshine and
feel the fresh air of the morning around me i have a dim
half-remembrance of long anxious times of waiting and fearing darkness
in which there was not even the pain of hope to make present distress
more poignant and then long spells of oblivion and the rising back to
life as a diver coming up through a great press of water since 
however dr van helsing has been with me all this bad dreaming seems
to have passed away the noises that used to frighten me out of my
wits the flapping against the windows the distant voices which seemed
so close to me the harsh sounds that came from i know not where and
commanded me to do i know not what have all ceased i go to bed now
without any fear of sleep i do not even try to keep awake i have grown
quite fond of the garlic and a boxful arrives for me every day from
haarlem to-night dr van helsing is going away as he has to be for a
day in amsterdam but i need not be watched i am well enough to be left
alone thank god for mother's sake and dear arthur's and for all our
friends who have been so kind i shall not even feel the change for
last night dr van helsing slept in his chair a lot of the time i found
him asleep twice when i awoke but i did not fear to go to sleep again 
although the boughs or bats or something napped almost angrily against
the window-panes 


  the pall mall gazette   18 september 

 the escaped wolf 

 perilous adventure of our interviewer 

 interview with the keeper in the zoological gardens 

after many inquiries and almost as many refusals and perpetually using
the words  pall mall gazette  as a sort of talisman i managed to find
the keeper of the section of the zoological gardens in which the wolf
department is included thomas bilder lives in one of the cottages in
the enclosure behind the elephant-house and was just sitting down to
his tea when i found him thomas and his wife are hospitable folk 
elderly and without children and if the specimen i enjoyed of their
hospitality be of the average kind their lives must be pretty
comfortable the keeper would not enter on what he called  business 
until the supper was over and we were all satisfied then when the
table was cleared and he had lit his pipe he said 

 now sir you can go on and arsk me what you want you'll excoose me
refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjects afore meals i gives the
wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our section their tea afore
i begins to arsk them questions  

 how do you mean ask them questions   i queried wishful to get him
into a talkative humour 

 'ittin' of them over the 'ead with a pole is one way scratchin' of
their hears is another when gents as is flush wants a bit of a show-orf
to their gals i don't so much mind the fust the 'ittin' with a pole
afore i chucks in their dinner but i waits till they've 'ad their
sherry and kawffee so to speak afore i tries on with the
ear-scratchin' mind you   he added philosophically  there's a deal of
the same nature in us as in them theer animiles here's you a-comin' and
arskin' of me questions about my business and i that grumpy-like that
only for your bloomin' 'arf-quid i'd 'a' seen you blowed fust 'fore i'd
answer not even when you arsked me sarcastic-like if i'd like you to
arsk the superintendent if you might arsk me questions without offence
did i tell yer to go to 'ell  

 you did  

 an' when you said you'd report me for usin' of obscene language that
was 'ittin' me over the 'ead but the 'arf-quid made that all right i
weren't a-goin' to fight so i waited for the food and did with my 'owl
as the wolves and lions and tigers does but lor' love yer 'art now
that the old 'ooman has stuck a chunk of her tea-cake in me an' rinsed
me out with her bloomin' old teapot and i've lit hup you may scratch
my ears for all you're worth and won't git even a growl out of me 
drive along with your questions i know what yer a-comin' at that 'ere
escaped wolf  

 exactly i want you to give me your view of it just tell me how it
happened and when i know the facts i'll get you to say what you
consider was the cause of it and how you think the whole affair will
end  

 all right guv'nor this 'ere is about the 'ole story that 'ere wolf
what we called bersicker was one of three grey ones that came from
norway to jamrach's which we bought off him four years ago he was a
nice well-behaved wolf that never gave no trouble to talk of i'm more
surprised at 'im for wantin' to get out nor any other animile in the
place but there you can't trust wolves no more nor women  

 don't you mind him sir   broke in mrs tom with a cheery laugh  'e's
got mindin' the animiles so long that blest if he ain't like a old wolf
'isself but there ain't no 'arm in 'im  

 well sir it was about two hours after feedin' yesterday when i first
hear my disturbance i was makin' up a litter in the monkey-house for a
young puma which is ill but when i heard the yelpin' and 'owlin' i kem
away straight there was bersicker a-tearin' like a mad thing at the
bars as if he wanted to get out there wasn't much people about that
day and close at hand was only one man a tall thin chap with a 'ook
nose and a pointed beard with a few white hairs runnin' through it he
had a 'ard cold look and red eyes and i took a sort of mislike to him 
for it seemed as if it was 'im as they was hirritated at he 'ad white
kid gloves on 'is 'ands and he pointed out the animiles to me and says 
'keeper these wolves seem upset at something '

 'maybe it's you ' says i for i did not like the airs as he give
'isself he didn't git angry as i 'oped he would but he smiled a kind
of insolent smile with a mouth full of white sharp teeth 'oh no they
wouldn't like me ' 'e says 

 'ow yes they would ' says i a-imitatin' of him 'they always likes a
bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea-time which you 'as a
bagful '

 well it was a odd thing but when the animiles see us a-talkin' they
lay down and when i went over to bersicker he let me stroke his ears
same as ever that there man kem over and blessed but if he didn't put
in his hand and stroke the old wolf's ears too 

 'tyke care ' says i 'bersicker is quick '

 'never mind ' he says 'i'm used to 'em '

 'are you in the business yourself ' i says tyking off my 'at for a
man what trades in wolves anceterer is a good friend to keepers 

 'no' says he 'not exactly in the business but i 'ave made pets of
several ' and with that he lifts his 'at as perlite as a lord and walks
away old bersicker kep' a-lookin' arter 'im till 'e was out of sight 
and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldn't come hout the 'ole
hevening well larst night so soon as the moon was hup the wolves
here all began a-'owling there warn't nothing for them to 'owl at 
there warn't no one near except some one that was evidently a-callin' a
dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the park road once or twice
i went out to see that all was right and it was and then the 'owling
stopped just before twelve o'clock i just took a look round afore
turnin' in an' bust me but when i kem opposite to old bersicker's
cage i see the rails broken and twisted about and the cage empty and
that's all i know for certing  

 did any one else see anything  

 one of our gard'ners was a-comin' 'ome about that time from a 'armony 
when he sees a big grey dog comin' out through the garding 'edges at
least so he says but i don't give much for it myself for if he did 'e
never said a word about it to his missis when 'e got 'ome and it was
only after the escape of the wolf was made known and we had been up all
night-a-huntin' of the park for bersicker that he remembered seein'
anything my own belief was that the 'armony 'ad got into his 'ead  

 now mr bilder can you account in any way for the escape of the
wolf  

 well sir   he said with a suspicious sort of modesty  i think i can 
but i don't know as 'ow you'd be satisfied with the theory  

 certainly i shall if a man like you who knows the animals from
experience can't hazard a good guess at any rate who is even to try  

 well then sir i accounts for it this way it seems to me that 'ere
wolf escaped simply because he wanted to get out  

from the hearty way that both thomas and his wife laughed at the joke i
could see that it had done service before and that the whole
explanation was simply an elaborate sell i couldn't cope in badinage
with the worthy thomas but i thought i knew a surer way to his heart 
so i said 

 now mr bilder we'll consider that first half-sovereign worked off 
and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me
what you think will happen  

 right y'are sir   he said briskly  ye'll excoose me i know for
a-chaffin' of ye but the old woman here winked at me which was as much
as telling me to go on  

 well i never   said the old lady 

 my opinion is this that 'ere wolf is a-'idin' of somewheres the
gard'ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin' northward faster
than a horse could go but i don't believe him for yer see sir 
wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does they not bein' built that
way wolves is fine things in a storybook and i dessay when they gets
in packs and does be chivyin' somethin' that's more afeared than they is
they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up whatever it is but 
lor' bless you in real life a wolf is only a low creature not half so
clever or bold as a good dog and not half a quarter so much fight in
'im this one ain't been used to fightin' or even to providin' for
hisself and more like he's somewhere round the park a-'idin' an'
a-shiverin' of and if he thinks at all wonderin' where he is to get
his breakfast from or maybe he's got down some area and is in a
coal-cellar my eye won't some cook get a rum start when she sees his
green eyes a-shining at her out of the dark if he can't get food he's
bound to look for it and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcher's
shop in time if he doesn't and some nursemaid goes a-walkin' orf with
a soldier leavin' of the hinfant in the perambulator well then i
shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby the less that's
all  

i was handing him the half-sovereign when something came bobbing up
against the window and mr bilder's face doubled its natural length
with surprise 

 god bless me   he said  if there ain't old bersicker come back by
'isself  

he went to the door and opened it a most unnecessary proceeding it
seemed to me i have always thought that a wild animal never looks so
well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us a
personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea 

after all however there is nothing like custom for neither bilder nor
his wife thought any more of the wolf than i should of a dog the animal
itself was as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all
picture-wolves red riding hood's quondam friend whilst moving her
confidence in masquerade 

the whole scene was an unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos the
wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed london and set all the
children in the town shivering in their shoes was there in a sort of
penitent mood and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine
prodigal son old bilder examined him all over with most tender
solicitude and when he had finished with his penitent said 

 there i knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble 
didn't i say it all along here's his head all cut and full of broken
glass 'e's been a-gettin' over some bloomin' wall or other it's a
shyme that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles 
this 'ere's what comes of it come along bersicker  

he took the wolf and locked him up in a cage with a piece of meat that
satisfied in quantity at any rate the elementary conditions of the
fatted calf and went off to report 

i came off too to report the only exclusive information that is given
to-day regarding the strange escapade at the zoo 


 dr seward's diary 

 17 september i was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my
books which through press of other work and the many visits to lucy 
had fallen sadly into arrear suddenly the door was burst open and in
rushed my patient with his face distorted with passion i was
thunderstruck for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord
into the superintendent's study is almost unknown without an instant's
pause he made straight at me he had a dinner-knife in his hand and 
as i saw he was dangerous i tried to keep the table between us he was
too quick and too strong for me however for before i could get my
balance he had struck at me and cut my left wrist rather severely 
before he could strike again however i got in my right and he was
sprawling on his back on the floor my wrist bled freely and quite a
little pool trickled on to the carpet i saw that my friend was not
intent on further effort and occupied myself binding up my wrist 
keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time when the
attendants rushed in and we turned our attention to him his employment
positively sickened me he was lying on his belly on the floor licking
up like a dog the blood which had fallen from my wounded wrist he was
easily secured and to my surprise went with the attendants quite
placidly simply repeating over and over again  the blood is the life 
the blood is the life  

i cannot afford to lose blood just at present i have lost too much of
late for my physical good and then the prolonged strain of lucy's
illness and its horrible phases is telling on me i am over-excited and
weary and i need rest rest rest happily van helsing has not summoned
me so i need not forego my sleep to-night i could not well do without
it 


 telegram van helsing antwerp to seward carfax 

 sent to carfax sussex as no county given delivered late by
twenty-two hours 

  17 september do not fail to be at hillingham to-night if not
watching all the time frequently visit and see that flowers are as
placed very important do not fail shall be with you as soon as
possible after arrival  


 dr seward's diary 

 18 september just off for train to london the arrival of van
helsing's telegram filled me with dismay a whole night lost and i know
by bitter experience what may happen in a night of course it is
possible that all may be well but what may have happened surely
there is some horrible doom hanging over us that every possible accident
should thwart us in all we try to do i shall take this cylinder with
me and then i can complete my entry on lucy's phonograph 


 memorandum left by lucy westenra 

 17 september night i write this and leave it to be seen so that no
one may by any chance get into trouble through me this is an exact
record of what took place to-night i feel i am dying of weakness and
have barely strength to write but it must be done if i die in the
doing 

i went to bed as usual taking care that the flowers were placed as dr 
van helsing directed and soon fell asleep 

i was waked by the flapping at the window which had begun after that
sleep-walking on the cliff at whitby when mina saved me and which now i
know so well i was not afraid but i did wish that dr seward was in
the next room as dr van helsing said he would be so that i might have
called him i tried to go to sleep but could not then there came to me
the old fear of sleep and i determined to keep awake perversely sleep
would try to come then when i did not want it so as i feared to be
alone i opened my door and called out  is there anybody there   there
was no answer i was afraid to wake mother and so closed my door again 
then outside in the shrubbery i heard a sort of howl like a dog's but
more fierce and deeper i went to the window and looked out but could
see nothing except a big bat which had evidently been buffeting its
wings against the window so i went back to bed again but determined
not to go to sleep presently the door opened and mother looked in 
seeing by my moving that i was not asleep came in and sat by me she
said to me even more sweetly and softly than her wont 

 i was uneasy about you darling and came in to see that you were all
right  

i feared she might catch cold sitting there and asked her to come in
and sleep with me so she came into bed and lay down beside me she did
not take off her dressing gown for she said she would only stay a while
and then go back to her own bed as she lay there in my arms and i in
hers the flapping and buffeting came to the window again she was
startled and a little frightened and cried out  what is that   i tried
to pacify her and at last succeeded and she lay quiet but i could
hear her poor dear heart still beating terribly after a while there was
the low howl again out in the shrubbery and shortly after there was a
crash at the window and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor 
the window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in and in the
aperture of the broken panes there was the head of a great gaunt grey
wolf mother cried out in a fright and struggled up into a sitting
posture and clutched wildly at anything that would help her amongst
other things she clutched the wreath of flowers that dr van helsing
insisted on my wearing round my neck and tore it away from me for a
second or two she sat up pointing at the wolf and there was a strange
and horrible gurgling in her throat then she fell over as if struck
with lightning and her head hit my forehead and made me dizzy for a
moment or two the room and all round seemed to spin round i kept my
eyes fixed on the window but the wolf drew his head back and a whole
myriad of little specks seemed to come blowing in through the broken
window and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of dust that
travellers describe when there is a simoon in the desert i tried to
stir but there was some spell upon me and dear mother's poor body 
which seemed to grow cold already for her dear heart had ceased to
beat weighed me down and i remembered no more for a while 

the time did not seem long but very very awful till i recovered
consciousness again somewhere near a passing bell was tolling the
dogs all round the neighbourhood were howling and in our shrubbery 
seemingly just outside a nightingale was singing i was dazed and
stupid with pain and terror and weakness but the sound of the
nightingale seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort
me the sounds seemed to have awakened the maids too for i could hear
their bare feet pattering outside my door i called to them and they
came in and when they saw what had happened and what it was that lay
over me on the bed they screamed out the wind rushed in through the
broken window and the door slammed to they lifted off the body of my
dear mother and laid her covered up with a sheet on the bed after i
had got up they were all so frightened and nervous that i directed them
to go to the dining-room and have each a glass of wine the door flew
open for an instant and closed again the maids shrieked and then went
in a body to the dining-room and i laid what flowers i had on my dear
mother's breast when they were there i remembered what dr van helsing
had told me but i didn't like to remove them and besides i would
have some of the servants to sit up with me now i was surprised that
the maids did not come back i called them but got no answer so i went
to the dining-room to look for them 

my heart sank when i saw what had happened they all four lay helpless
on the floor breathing heavily the decanter of sherry was on the table
half full but there was a queer acrid smell about i was suspicious 
and examined the decanter it smelt of laudanum and looking on the
sideboard i found that the bottle which mother's doctor uses for
her oh did use was empty what am i to do what am i to do i am back
in the room with mother i cannot leave her and i am alone save for
the sleeping servants whom some one has drugged alone with the dead i
dare not go out for i can hear the low howl of the wolf through the
broken window 

the air seems full of specks floating and circling in the draught from
the window and the lights burn blue and dim what am i to do god
shield me from harm this night i shall hide this paper in my breast 
where they shall find it when they come to lay me out my dear mother
gone it is time that i go too good-bye dear arthur if i should not
survive this night god keep you dear and god help me 




chapter xii

dr seward's diary


 18 september i drove at once to hillingham and arrived early 
keeping my cab at the gate i went up the avenue alone i knocked gently
and rang as quietly as possible for i feared to disturb lucy or her
mother and hoped to only bring a servant to the door after a while 
finding no response i knocked and rang again still no answer i cursed
the laziness of the servants that they should lie abed at such an
hour for it was now ten o'clock and so rang and knocked again but
more impatiently but still without response hitherto i had blamed only
the servants but now a terrible fear began to assail me was this
desolation but another link in the chain of doom which seemed drawing
tight around us was it indeed a house of death to which i had come too
late i knew that minutes even seconds of delay might mean hours of
danger to lucy if she had had again one of those frightful relapses 
and i went round the house to try if i could find by chance an entry
anywhere 

i could find no means of ingress every window and door was fastened and
locked and i returned baffled to the porch as i did so i heard the
rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet they stopped at the
gate and a few seconds later i met van helsing running up the avenue 
when he saw me he gasped out 

 then it was you and just arrived how is she are we too late did you
not get my telegram  

i answered as quickly and coherently as i could that i had only got his
telegram early in the morning and had not lost a minute in coming here 
and that i could not make any one in the house hear me he paused and
raised his hat as he said solemnly 

 then i fear we are too late god's will be done   with his usual
recuperative energy he went on  come if there be no way open to get
in we must make one time is all in all to us now  

we went round to the back of the house where there was a kitchen
window the professor took a small surgical saw from his case and
handing it to me pointed to the iron bars which guarded the window i
attacked them at once and had very soon cut through three of them then
with a long thin knife we pushed back the fastening of the sashes and
opened the window i helped the professor in and followed him there
was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms which were close at
hand we tried all the rooms as we went along and in the dining-room 
dimly lit by rays of light through the shutters found four
servant-women lying on the floor there was no need to think them dead 
for their stertorous breathing and the acrid smell of laudanum in the
room left no doubt as to their condition van helsing and i looked at
each other and as we moved away he said  we can attend to them later  
then we ascended to lucy's room for an instant or two we paused at the
door to listen but there was no sound that we could hear with white
faces and trembling hands we opened the door gently and entered the
room 

how shall i describe what we saw on the bed lay two women lucy and her
mother the latter lay farthest in and she was covered with a white
sheet the edge of which had been blown back by the draught through the
broken window showing the drawn white face with a look of terror
fixed upon it by her side lay lucy with face white and still more
drawn the flowers which had been round her neck we found upon her
mother's bosom and her throat was bare showing the two little wounds
which we had noticed before but looking horribly white and mangled 
without a word the professor bent over the bed his head almost touching
poor lucy's breast then he gave a quick turn of his head as of one who
listens and leaping to his feet he cried out to me 

 it is not yet too late quick quick bring the brandy  

i flew downstairs and returned with it taking care to smell and taste
it lest it too were drugged like the decanter of sherry which i found
on the table the maids were still breathing but more restlessly and i
fancied that the narcotic was wearing off i did not stay to make sure 
but returned to van helsing he rubbed the brandy as on another
occasion on her lips and gums and on her wrists and the palms of her
hands he said to me 

 i can do this all that can be at the present you go wake those maids 
flick them in the face with a wet towel and flick them hard make them
get heat and fire and a warm bath this poor soul is nearly as cold as
that beside her she will need be heated before we can do anything
more  

i went at once and found little difficulty in waking three of the
women the fourth was only a young girl and the drug had evidently
affected her more strongly so i lifted her on the sofa and let her
sleep the others were dazed at first but as remembrance came back to
them they cried and sobbed in a hysterical manner i was stern with
them however and would not let them talk i told them that one life
was bad enough to lose and that if they delayed they would sacrifice
miss lucy so sobbing and crying they went about their way half clad
as they were and prepared fire and water fortunately the kitchen and
boiler fires were still alive and there was no lack of hot water we
got a bath and carried lucy out as she was and placed her in it whilst
we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall door one
of the maids ran off hurried on some more clothes and opened it then
she returned and whispered to us that there was a gentleman who had come
with a message from mr holmwood i bade her simply tell him that he
must wait for we could see no one now she went away with the message 
and engrossed with our work i clean forgot all about him 

i never saw in all my experience the professor work in such deadly
earnest i knew as he knew that it was a stand-up fight with death 
and in a pause told him so he answered me in a way that i did not
understand but with the sternest look that his face could wear 

 if that were all i would stop here where we are now and let her fade
away into peace for i see no light in life over her horizon   he went
on with his work with if possible renewed and more frenzied vigour 

presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to
be of some effect lucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the
stethoscope and her lungs had a perceptible movement van helsing's
face almost beamed and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her in
a hot sheet to dry her he said to me 

 the first gain is ours check to the king  

we took lucy into another room which had by now been prepared and laid
her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throat i noticed
that van helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her throat she was
still unconscious and was quite as bad as if not worse than we had
ever seen her 

van helsing called in one of the women and told her to stay with her
and not to take her eyes off her till we returned and then beckoned me
out of the room 

 we must consult as to what is to be done   he said as we descended the
stairs in the hall he opened the dining-room door and we passed in he
closing the door carefully behind him the shutters had been opened but
the blinds were already down with that obedience to the etiquette of
death which the british woman of the lower classes always rigidly
observes the room was therefore dimly dark it was however light
enough for our purposes van helsing's sternness was somewhat relieved
by a look of perplexity he was evidently torturing his mind about
something so i waited for an instant and he spoke 

 what are we to do now where are we to turn for help we must have
another transfusion of blood and that soon or that poor girl's life
won't be worth an hour's purchase you are exhausted already i am
exhausted too i fear to trust those women even if they would have
courage to submit what are we to do for some one who will open his
veins for her  

 what's the matter with me anyhow  

the voice came from the sofa across the room and its tones brought
relief and joy to my heart for they were those of quincey morris van
helsing started angrily at the first sound but his face softened and a
glad look came into his eyes as i cried out  quincey morris   and
rushed towards him with outstretched hands 

 what brought you here   i cried as our hands met 

 i guess art is the cause  

he handed me a telegram 

 have not heard from seward for three days and am terribly anxious 
cannot leave father still in same condition send me word how lucy is 
do not delay holmwood  

 i think i came just in the nick of time you know you have only to tell
me what to do  

van helsing strode forward and took his hand looking him straight in
the eyes as he said 

 a brave man's blood is the best thing on this earth when a woman is in
trouble you're a man and no mistake well the devil may work against
us for all he's worth but god sends us men when we want them  

once again we went through that ghastly operation i have not the heart
to go through with the details lucy had got a terrible shock and it
told on her more than before for though plenty of blood went into her
veins her body did not respond to the treatment as well as on the other
occasions her struggle back into life was something frightful to see
and hear however the action of both heart and lungs improved and van
helsing made a subcutaneous injection of morphia as before and with
good effect her faint became a profound slumber the professor watched
whilst i went downstairs with quincey morris and sent one of the maids
to pay off one of the cabmen who were waiting i left quincey lying down
after having a glass of wine and told the cook to get ready a good
breakfast then a thought struck me and i went back to the room where
lucy now was when i came softly in i found van helsing with a sheet or
two of note-paper in his hand he had evidently read it and was
thinking it over as he sat with his hand to his brow there was a look
of grim satisfaction in his face as of one who has had a doubt solved 
he handed me the paper saying only  it dropped from lucy's breast when
we carried her to the bath  

when i had read it i stood looking at the professor and after a pause
asked him  in god's name what does it all mean was she or is she 
mad or what sort of horrible danger is it   i was so bewildered that i
did not know what to say more van helsing put out his hand and took the
paper saying 

 do not trouble about it now forget it for the present you shall know
and understand it all in good time but it will be later and now what
is it that you came to me to say   this brought me back to fact and i
was all myself again 

 i came to speak about the certificate of death if we do not act
properly and wisely there may be an inquest and that paper would have
to be produced i am in hopes that we need have no inquest for if we
had it would surely kill poor lucy if nothing else did i know and you
know and the other doctor who attended her knows that mrs westenra
had disease of the heart and we can certify that she died of it let us
fill up the certificate at once and i shall take it myself to the
registrar and go on to the undertaker  

 good oh my friend john well thought of truly miss lucy if she be
sad in the foes that beset her is at least happy in the friends that
love her one two three all open their veins for her besides one old
man ah yes i know friend john i am not blind i love you all the
more for it now go  

in the hall i met quincey morris with a telegram for arthur telling him
that mrs westenra was dead that lucy also had been ill but was now
going on better and that van helsing and i were with her i told him
where i was going and he hurried me out but as i was going said 

 when you come back jack may i have two words with you all to
ourselves   i nodded in reply and went out i found no difficulty about
the registration and arranged with the local undertaker to come up in
the evening to measure for the coffin and to make arrangements 

when i got back quincey was waiting for me i told him i would see him
as soon as i knew about lucy and went up to her room she was still
sleeping and the professor seemingly had not moved from his seat at her
side from his putting his finger to his lips i gathered that he
expected her to wake before long and was afraid of forestalling nature 
so i went down to quincey and took him into the breakfast-room where
the blinds were not drawn down and which was a little more cheerful or
rather less cheerless than the other rooms when we were alone he said
to me 

 jack seward i don't want to shove myself in anywhere where i've no
right to be but this is no ordinary case you know i loved that girl
and wanted to marry her but although that's all past and gone i can't
help feeling anxious about her all the same what is it that's wrong
with her the dutchman and a fine old fellow he is i can see
that said that time you two came into the room that you must have
 another transfusion of blood and that both you and he were exhausted 
now i know well that you medical men speak in camera and that a man
must not expect to know what they consult about in private but this is
no common matter and whatever it is i have done my part is not that
so  

 that's so   i said and he went on 

 i take it that both you and van helsing had done already what i did
to-day is not that so  

 that's so  

 and i guess art was in it too when i saw him four days ago down at his
own place he looked queer i have not seen anything pulled down so quick
since i was on the pampas and had a mare that i was fond of go to grass
all in a night one of those big bats that they call vampires had got at
her in the night and what with his gorge and the vein left open there
wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up and i had to put a
bullet through her as she lay jack if you may tell me without
betraying confidence arthur was the first is not that so   as he spoke
the poor fellow looked terribly anxious he was in a torture of suspense
regarding the woman he loved and his utter ignorance of the terrible
mystery which seemed to surround her intensified his pain his very
heart was bleeding and it took all the manhood of him and there was a
royal lot of it too to keep him from breaking down i paused before
answering for i felt that i must not betray anything which the
professor wished kept secret but already he knew so much and guessed
so much that there could be no reason for not answering so i answered
in the same phrase  that's so  

 and how long has this been going on  

 about ten days  

 ten days then i guess jack seward that that poor pretty creature
that we all love has had put into her veins within that time the blood
of four strong men man alive her whole body wouldn't hold it   then 
coming close to me he spoke in a fierce half-whisper  what took it
out  

i shook my head  that   i said  is the crux van helsing is simply
frantic about it and i am at my wits' end i can't even hazard a guess 
there has been a series of little circumstances which have thrown out
all our calculations as to lucy being properly watched but these shall
not occur again here we stay until all be well or ill   quincey held
out his hand  count me in   he said  you and the dutchman will tell me
what to do and i'll do it  

when she woke late in the afternoon lucy's first movement was to feel
in her breast and to my surprise produced the paper which van helsing
had given me to read the careful professor had replaced it where it had
come from lest on waking she should be alarmed her eye then lit on van
helsing and on me too and gladdened then she looked around the room 
and seeing where she was shuddered she gave a loud cry and put her
poor thin hands before her pale face we both understood what that
meant that she had realised to the full her mother's death so we tried
what we could to comfort her doubtless sympathy eased her somewhat but
she was very low in thought and spirit and wept silently and weakly for
a long time we told her that either or both of us would now remain with
her all the time and that seemed to comfort her towards dusk she fell
into a doze here a very odd thing occurred whilst still asleep she
took the paper from her breast and tore it in two van helsing stepped
over and took the pieces from her all the same however she went on
with the action of tearing as though the material were still in her
hands finally she lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering
the fragments van helsing seemed surprised and his brows gathered as
if in thought but he said nothing 

 

 19 september all last night she slept fitfully being always afraid
to sleep and something weaker when she woke from it the professor and
i took it in turns to watch and we never left her for a moment
unattended quincey morris said nothing about his intention but i knew
that all night long he patrolled round and round the house 

when the day came its searching light showed the ravages in poor lucy's
strength she was hardly able to turn her head and the little
nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good at times she
slept and both van helsing and i noticed the difference in her between
sleeping and waking whilst asleep she looked stronger although more
haggard and her breathing was softer her open mouth showed the pale
gums drawn back from the teeth which thus looked positively longer and
sharper than usual when she woke the softness of her eyes evidently
changed the expression for she looked her own self although a dying
one in the afternoon she asked for arthur and we telegraphed for him 
quincey went off to meet him at the station 

when he arrived it was nearly six o'clock and the sun was setting full
and warm and the red light streamed in through the window and gave more
colour to the pale cheeks when he saw her arthur was simply choking
with emotion and none of us could speak in the hours that had passed 
the fits of sleep or the comatose condition that passed for it had
grown more frequent so that the pauses when conversation was possible
were shortened arthur's presence however seemed to act as a
stimulant she rallied a little and spoke to him more brightly than she
had done since we arrived he too pulled himself together and spoke as
cheerily as he could so that the best was made of everything 

it was now nearly one o'clock and he and van helsing are sitting with
her i am to relieve them in a quarter of an hour and i am entering
this on lucy's phonograph until six o'clock they are to try to rest i
fear that to-morrow will end our watching for the shock has been too
great the poor child cannot rally god help us all 


 letter mina harker to lucy westenra 

 unopened by her 

  17 september 

 my dearest lucy 

 it seems an age since i heard from you or indeed since i wrote you
will pardon me i know for all my faults when you have read all my
budget of news well i got my husband back all right when we arrived
at exeter there was a carriage waiting for us and in it though he had
an attack of gout mr hawkins he took us to his house where there
were rooms for us all nice and comfortable and we dined together after
dinner mr hawkins said 

 'my dears i want to drink your health and prosperity and may every
blessing attend you both i know you both from children and have with
love and pride seen you grow up now i want you to make your home here
with me i have left to me neither chick nor child all are gone and in
my will i have left you everything ' i cried lucy dear as jonathan and
the old man clasped hands our evening was a very very happy one 

 so here we are installed in this beautiful old house and from both my
bedroom and the drawing-room i can see the great elms of the cathedral
close with their great black stems standing out against the old yellow
stone of the cathedral and i can hear the rooks overhead cawing and
cawing and chattering and gossiping all day after the manner of
rooks and humans i am busy i need not tell you arranging things and
housekeeping jonathan and mr hawkins are busy all day for now that
jonathan is a partner mr hawkins wants to tell him all about the
clients 

 how is your dear mother getting on i wish i could run up to town for a
day or two to see you dear but i dare not go yet with so much on my
shoulders and jonathan wants looking after still he is beginning to
put some flesh on his bones again but he was terribly weakened by the
long illness even now he sometimes starts out of his sleep in a sudden
way and awakes all trembling until i can coax him back to his usual
placidity however thank god these occasions grow less frequent as the
days go on and they will in time pass away altogether i trust and now
i have told you my news let me ask yours when are you to be married 
and where and who is to perform the ceremony and what are you to wear 
and is it to be a public or a private wedding tell me all about it 
dear tell me all about everything for there is nothing which interests
you which will not be dear to me jonathan asks me to send his
'respectful duty ' but i do not think that is good enough from the
junior partner of the important firm hawkins and harker and so as you
love me and he loves me and i love you with all the moods and tenses
of the verb i send you simply his 'love' instead good-bye my dearest
lucy and all blessings on you 

 yours 

 mina harker  


 report from patrick hennessey m d m r c s l k q c p i 
etc etc to john seward m d 

  20 september 

 my dear sir 

 in accordance with your wishes i enclose report of the conditions of
everything left in my charge with regard to patient renfield there
is more to say he has had another outbreak which might have had a
dreadful ending but which as it fortunately happened was unattended
with any unhappy results this afternoon a carrier's cart with two men
made a call at the empty house whose grounds abut on ours the house to
which you will remember the patient twice ran away the men stopped at
our gate to ask the porter their way as they were strangers i was
myself looking out of the study window having a smoke after dinner and
saw one of them come up to the house as he passed the window of
renfield's room the patient began to rate him from within and called
him all the foul names he could lay his tongue to the man who seemed a
decent fellow enough contented himself by telling him to  shut up for a
foul-mouthed beggar   whereon our man accused him of robbing him and
wanting to murder him and said that he would hinder him if he were to
swing for it i opened the window and signed to the man not to notice 
so he contented himself after looking the place over and making up his
mind as to what kind of a place he had got to by saying 'lor' bless
yer sir i wouldn't mind what was said to me in a bloomin' madhouse i
pity ye and the guv'nor for havin' to live in the house with a wild
beast like that ' then he asked his way civilly enough and i told him
where the gate of the empty house was he went away followed by threats
and curses and revilings from our man i went down to see if i could
make out any cause for his anger since he is usually such a
well-behaved man and except his violent fits nothing of the kind had
ever occurred i found him to my astonishment quite composed and most
genial in his manner i tried to get him to talk of the incident but he
blandly asked me questions as to what i meant and led me to believe
that he was completely oblivious of the affair it was i am sorry to
say however only another instance of his cunning for within half an
hour i heard of him again this time he had broken out through the
window of his room and was running down the avenue i called to the
attendants to follow me and ran after him for i feared he was intent
on some mischief my fear was justified when i saw the same cart which
had passed before coming down the road having on it some great wooden
boxes the men were wiping their foreheads and were flushed in the
face as if with violent exercise before i could get up to him the
patient rushed at them and pulling one of them off the cart began to
knock his head against the ground if i had not seized him just at the
moment i believe he would have killed the man there and then the other
fellow jumped down and struck him over the head with the butt-end of his
heavy whip it was a terrible blow but he did not seem to mind it but
seized him also and struggled with the three of us pulling us to and
fro as if we were kittens you know i am no light weight and the others
were both burly men at first he was silent in his fighting but as we
began to master him and the attendants were putting a strait-waistcoat
on him he began to shout 'i'll frustrate them they shan't rob me 
they shan't murder me by inches i'll fight for my lord and master ' and
all sorts of similar incoherent ravings it was with very considerable
difficulty that they got him back to the house and put him in the padded
room one of the attendants hardy had a finger broken however i set
it all right and he is going on well 

 the two carriers were at first loud in their threats of actions for
damages and promised to rain all the penalties of the law on us their
threats were however mingled with some sort of indirect apology for
the defeat of the two of them by a feeble madman they said that if it
had not been for the way their strength had been spent in carrying and
raising the heavy boxes to the cart they would have made short work of
him they gave as another reason for their defeat the extraordinary
state of drouth to which they had been reduced by the dusty nature of
their occupation and the reprehensible distance from the scene of their
labours of any place of public entertainment i quite understood their
drift and after a stiff glass of grog or rather more of the same and
with each a sovereign in hand they made light of the attack and swore
that they would encounter a worse madman any day for the pleasure of
meeting so 'bloomin' good a bloke' as your correspondent i took their
names and addresses in case they might be needed they are as
follows jack smollet of dudding's rents king george's road great
walworth and thomas snelling peter farley's row guide court bethnal
green they are both in the employment of harris and sons moving and
shipment company orange master's yard soho 

 i shall report to you any matter of interest occurring here and shall
wire you at once if there is anything of importance 

 believe me dear sir 

 yours faithfully 

 patrick hennessey  


 letter mina harker to lucy westenra 

 unopened by her 

  18 september 

 my dearest lucy 

 such a sad blow has befallen us mr hawkins has died very suddenly 
some may not think it so sad for us but we had both come to so love him
that it really seems as though we had lost a father i never knew either
father or mother so that the dear old man's death is a real blow to me 
jonathan is greatly distressed it is not only that he feels sorrow 
deep sorrow for the dear good man who has befriended him all his life 
and now at the end has treated him like his own son and left him a
fortune which to people of our modest bringing up is wealth beyond the
dream of avarice but jonathan feels it on another account he says the
amount of responsibility which it puts upon him makes him nervous he
begins to doubt himself i try to cheer him up and my belief in him 
helps him to have a belief in himself but it is here that the grave
shock that he experienced tells upon him the most oh it is too hard
that a sweet simple noble strong nature such as his a nature which
enabled him by our dear good friend's aid to rise from clerk to master
in a few years should be so injured that the very essence of its
strength is gone forgive me dear if i worry you with my troubles in
the midst of your own happiness but lucy dear i must tell some one 
for the strain of keeping up a brave and cheerful appearance to jonathan
tries me and i have no one here that i can confide in i dread coming
up to london as we must do the day after to-morrow for poor mr 
hawkins left in his will that he was to be buried in the grave with his
father as there are no relations at all jonathan will have to be chief
mourner i shall try to run over to see you dearest if only for a few
minutes forgive me for troubling you with all blessings 

 your loving

 mina harker  


 dr seward's diary 

 20 september only resolution and habit can let me make an entry
to-night i am too miserable too low-spirited too sick of the world
and all in it including life itself that i would not care if i heard
this moment the flapping of the wings of the angel of death and he has
been flapping those grim wings to some purpose of late lucy's mother
and arthur's father and now let me get on with my work 

i duly relieved van helsing in his watch over lucy we wanted arthur to
go to rest also but he refused at first it was only when i told him
that we should want him to help us during the day and that we must not
all break down for want of rest lest lucy should suffer that he agreed
to go van helsing was very kind to him  come my child   he said 
 come with me you are sick and weak and have had much sorrow and much
mental pain as well as that tax on your strength that we know of you
must not be alone for to be alone is to be full of fears and alarms 
come to the drawing-room where there is a big fire and there are two
sofas you shall lie on one and i on the other and our sympathy will
be comfort to each other even though we do not speak and even if we
sleep   arthur went off with him casting back a longing look on lucy's
face which lay in her pillow almost whiter than the lawn she lay
quite still and i looked round the room to see that all was as it
should be i could see that the professor had carried out in this room 
as in the other his purpose of using the garlic the whole of the
window-sashes reeked with it and round lucy's neck over the silk
handkerchief which van helsing made her keep on was a rough chaplet of
the same odorous flowers lucy was breathing somewhat stertorously and
her face was at its worst for the open mouth showed the pale gums her
teeth in the dim uncertain light seemed longer and sharper than they
had been in the morning in particular by some trick of the light the
canine teeth looked longer and sharper than the rest i sat down by her 
and presently she moved uneasily at the same moment there came a sort
of dull flapping or buffeting at the window i went over to it softly 
and peeped out by the corner of the blind there was a full moonlight 
and i could see that the noise was made by a great bat which wheeled
round doubtless attracted by the light although so dim and every now
and again struck the window with its wings when i came back to my seat 
i found that lucy had moved slightly and had torn away the garlic
flowers from her throat i replaced them as well as i could and sat
watching her 

presently she woke and i gave her food as van helsing had prescribed 
she took but a little and that languidly there did not seem to be with
her now the unconscious struggle for life and strength that had hitherto
so marked her illness it struck me as curious that the moment she
became conscious she pressed the garlic flowers close to her it was
certainly odd that whenever she got into that lethargic state with the
stertorous breathing she put the flowers from her but that when she
waked she clutched them close there was no possibility of making any
mistake about this for in the long hours that followed she had many
spells of sleeping and waking and repeated both actions many times 

at six o'clock van helsing came to relieve me arthur had then fallen
into a doze and he mercifully let him sleep on when he saw lucy's face
i could hear the sissing indraw of his breath and he said to me in a
sharp whisper  draw up the blind i want light   then he bent down 
and with his face almost touching lucy's examined her carefully he
removed the flowers and lifted the silk handkerchief from her throat as
he did so he started back and i could hear his ejaculation  mein
gott   as it was smothered in his throat i bent over and looked too 
and as i noticed some queer chill came over me 

the wounds on the throat had absolutely disappeared 

for fully five minutes van helsing stood looking at her with his face
at its sternest then he turned to me and said calmly 

 she is dying it will not be long now it will be much difference mark
me whether she dies conscious or in her sleep wake that poor boy and
let him come and see the last he trusts us and we have promised him  

i went to the dining-room and waked him he was dazed for a moment but
when he saw the sunlight streaming in through the edges of the shutters
he thought he was late and expressed his fear i assured him that lucy
was still asleep but told him as gently as i could that both van
helsing and i feared that the end was near he covered his face with his
hands and slid down on his knees by the sofa where he remained 
perhaps a minute with his head buried praying whilst his shoulders
shook with grief i took him by the hand and raised him up  come   i
said  my dear old fellow summon all your fortitude it will be best
and easiest for her  

when we came into lucy's room i could see that van helsing had with
his usual forethought been putting matters straight and making
everything look as pleasing as possible he had even brushed lucy's
hair so that it lay on the pillow in its usual sunny ripples when we
came into the room she opened her eyes and seeing him whispered
softly 

 arthur oh my love i am so glad you have come   he was stooping to
kiss her when van helsing motioned him back  no   he whispered  not
yet hold her hand it will comfort her more  

so arthur took her hand and knelt beside her and she looked her best 
with all the soft lines matching the angelic beauty of her eyes then
gradually her eyes closed and she sank to sleep for a little bit her
breast heaved softly and her breath came and went like a tired child's 

and then insensibly there came the strange change which i had noticed in
the night her breathing grew stertorous the mouth opened and the pale
gums drawn back made the teeth look longer and sharper than ever in a
sort of sleep-waking vague unconscious way she opened her eyes which
were now dull and hard at once and said in a soft voluptuous voice 
such as i had never heard from her lips 

 arthur oh my love i am so glad you have come kiss me   arthur bent
eagerly over to kiss her but at that instant van helsing who like me 
had been startled by her voice swooped upon him and catching him by
the neck with both hands dragged him back with a fury of strength which
i never thought he could have possessed and actually hurled him almost
across the room 

 not for your life   he said  not for your living soul and hers   and
he stood between them like a lion at bay 

arthur was so taken aback that he did not for a moment know what to do
or say and before any impulse of violence could seize him he realised
the place and the occasion and stood silent waiting 

i kept my eyes fixed on lucy as did van helsing and we saw a spasm as
of rage flit like a shadow over her face the sharp teeth champed
together then her eyes closed and she breathed heavily 

very shortly after she opened her eyes in all their softness and
putting out her poor pale thin hand took van helsing's great brown
one drawing it to her she kissed it  my true friend   she said in a
faint voice but with untellable pathos  my true friend and his oh 
guard him and give me peace  

 i swear it   he said solemnly kneeling beside her and holding up his
hand as one who registers an oath then he turned to arthur and said
to him  come my child take her hand in yours and kiss her on the
forehead and only once  

their eyes met instead of their lips and so they parted 

lucy's eyes closed and van helsing who had been watching closely took
arthur's arm and drew him away 

and then lucy's breathing became stertorous again and all at once it
ceased 

 it is all over   said van helsing  she is dead  

i took arthur by the arm and led him away to the drawing-room where he
sat down and covered his face with his hands sobbing in a way that
nearly broke me down to see 

i went back to the room and found van helsing looking at poor lucy and
his face was sterner than ever some change had come over her body 
death had given back part of her beauty for her brow and cheeks had
recovered some of their flowing lines even the lips had lost their
deadly pallor it was as if the blood no longer needed for the working
of the heart had gone to make the harshness of death as little rude as
might be 

  we thought her dying whilst she slept 
 and sleeping when she died  

i stood beside van helsing and said 

 ah well poor girl there is peace for her at last it is the end  

he turned to me and said with grave solemnity 

 not so alas not so it is only the beginning  

when i asked him what he meant he only shook his head and answered 

 we can do nothing as yet wait and see  




chapter xiii

dr seward's diary continued 


the funeral was arranged for the next succeeding day so that lucy and
her mother might be buried together i attended to all the ghastly
formalities and the urbane undertaker proved that his staff were
afflicted or blessed with something of his own obsequious suavity 
even the woman who performed the last offices for the dead remarked to
me in a confidential brother-professional way when she had come out
from the death-chamber 

 she makes a very beautiful corpse sir it's quite a privilege to
attend on her it's not too much to say that she will do credit to our
establishment  

i noticed that van helsing never kept far away this was possible from
the disordered state of things in the household there were no relatives
at hand and as arthur had to be back the next day to attend at his
father's funeral we were unable to notify any one who should have been
bidden under the circumstances van helsing and i took it upon
ourselves to examine papers etc he insisted upon looking over lucy's
papers himself i asked him why for i feared that he being a
foreigner might not be quite aware of english legal requirements and
so might in ignorance make some unnecessary trouble he answered me 

 i know i know you forget that i am a lawyer as well as a doctor but
this is not altogether for the law you knew that when you avoided the
coroner i have more than him to avoid there may be papers more such
as this  

as he spoke he took from his pocket-book the memorandum which had been
in lucy's breast and which she had torn in her sleep 

 when you find anything of the solicitor who is for the late mrs 
westenra seal all her papers and write him to-night for me i watch
here in the room and in miss lucy's old room all night and i myself
search for what may be it is not well that her very thoughts go into
the hands of strangers  

i went on with my part of the work and in another half hour had found
the name and address of mrs westenra's solicitor and had written to
him all the poor lady's papers were in order explicit directions
regarding the place of burial were given i had hardly sealed the
letter when to my surprise van helsing walked into the room 
saying 

 can i help you friend john i am free and if i may my service is to
you  

 have you got what you looked for   i asked to which he replied 

 i did not look for any specific thing i only hoped to find and find i
have all that there was only some letters and a few memoranda and a
diary new begun but i have them here and we shall for the present say
nothing of them i shall see that poor lad to-morrow evening and with
his sanction i shall use some  

when we had finished the work in hand he said to me 

 and now friend john i think we may to bed we want sleep both you
and i and rest to recuperate to-morrow we shall have much to do but
for the to-night there is no need of us alas  

before turning in we went to look at poor lucy the undertaker had
certainly done his work well for the room was turned into a small
 chapelle ardente there was a wilderness of beautiful white flowers 
and death was made as little repulsive as might be the end of the
winding-sheet was laid over the face when the professor bent over and
turned it gently back we both started at the beauty before us the tall
wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it well all lucy's
loveliness had come back to her in death and the hours that had passed 
instead of leaving traces of  decay's effacing fingers   had but
restored the beauty of life till positively i could not believe my eyes
that i was looking at a corpse 

the professor looked sternly grave he had not loved her as i had and
there was no need for tears in his eyes he said to me  remain till i
return   and left the room he came back with a handful of wild garlic
from the box waiting in the hall but which had not been opened and
placed the flowers amongst the others on and around the bed then he
took from his neck inside his collar a little gold crucifix and
placed it over the mouth he restored the sheet to its place and we
came away 

i was undressing in my own room when with a premonitory tap at the
door he entered and at once began to speak 

 to-morrow i want you to bring me before night a set of post-mortem
knives  

 must we make an autopsy   i asked 

 yes and no i want to operate but not as you think let me tell you
now but not a word to another i want to cut off her head and take out
her heart ah you a surgeon and so shocked you whom i have seen with
no tremble of hand or heart do operations of life and death that make
the rest shudder oh but i must not forget my dear friend john that
you loved her and i have not forgotten it for it is i that shall
operate and you must only help i would like to do it to-night but for
arthur i must not he will be free after his father's funeral to-morrow 
and he will want to see her to see it then when she is coffined
ready for the next day you and i shall come when all sleep we shall
unscrew the coffin-lid and shall do our operation and then replace
all so that none know save we alone  

 but why do it at all the girl is dead why mutilate her poor body
without need and if there is no necessity for a post-mortem and nothing
to gain by it no good to her to us to science to human
knowledge why do it without such it is monstrous  

for answer he put his hand on my shoulder and said with infinite
tenderness 

 friend john i pity your poor bleeding heart and i love you the more
because it does so bleed if i could i would take on myself the burden
that you do bear but there are things that you know not but that you
shall know and bless me for knowing though they are not pleasant
things john my child you have been my friend now many years and yet
did you ever know me to do any without good cause i may err i am but
man but i believe in all i do was it not for these causes that you
send for me when the great trouble came yes were you not amazed nay
horrified when i would not let arthur kiss his love though she was
dying and snatched him away by all my strength yes and yet you saw
how she thanked me with her so beautiful dying eyes her voice too so
weak and she kiss my rough old hand and bless me yes and did you not
hear me swear promise to her that so she closed her eyes grateful yes 

 well i have good reason now for all i want to do you have for many
years trust me you have believe me weeks past when there be things so
strange that you might have well doubt believe me yet a little friend
john if you trust me not then i must tell what i think and that is
not perhaps well and if i work as work i shall no matter trust or no
trust without my friend trust in me i work with heavy heart and feel 
oh so lonely when i want all help and courage that may be   he paused a
moment and went on solemnly  friend john there are strange and
terrible days before us let us not be two but one that so we work to
a good end will you not have faith in me  

i took his hand and promised him i held my door open as he went away 
and watched him go into his room and close the door as i stood without
moving i saw one of the maids pass silently along the passage she had
her back towards me so did not see me and go into the room where lucy
lay the sight touched me devotion is so rare and we are so grateful
to those who show it unasked to those we love here was a poor girl
putting aside the terrors which she naturally had of death to go watch
alone by the bier of the mistress whom she loved so that the poor clay
might not be lonely till laid to eternal rest 

 

i must have slept long and soundly for it was broad daylight when van
helsing waked me by coming into my room he came over to my bedside and
said 

 you need not trouble about the knives we shall not do it  

 why not   i asked for his solemnity of the night before had greatly
impressed me 

 because   he said sternly  it is too late or too early see   here he
held up the little golden crucifix  this was stolen in the night  

 how stolen   i asked in wonder  since you have it now  

 because i get it back from the worthless wretch who stole it from the
woman who robbed the dead and the living her punishment will surely
come but not through me she knew not altogether what she did and thus
unknowing she only stole now we must wait  

he went away on the word leaving me with a new mystery to think of a
new puzzle to grapple with 

the forenoon was a dreary time but at noon the solicitor came mr 
marquand of wholeman sons marquand and lidderdale he was very genial
and very appreciative of what we had done and took off our hands all
cares as to details during lunch he told us that mrs westenra had for
some time expected sudden death from her heart and had put her affairs
in absolute order he informed us that with the exception of a certain
entailed property of lucy's father's which now in default of direct
issue went back to a distant branch of the family the whole estate 
real and personal was left absolutely to arthur holmwood when he had
told us so much he went on 

 frankly we did our best to prevent such a testamentary disposition and
pointed out certain contingencies that might leave her daughter either
penniless or not so free as she should be to act regarding a matrimonial
alliance indeed we pressed the matter so far that we almost came into
collision for she asked us if we were or were not prepared to carry out
her wishes of course we had then no alternative but to accept we were
right in principle and ninety-nine times out of a hundred we should
have proved by the logic of events the accuracy of our judgment 
frankly however i must admit that in this case any other form of
disposition would have rendered impossible the carrying out of her
wishes for by her predeceasing her daughter the latter would have come
into possession of the property and even had she only survived her
mother by five minutes her property would in case there were no
will and a will was a practical impossibility in such a case have been
treated at her decease as under intestacy in which case lord godalming 
though so dear a friend would have had no claim in the world and the
inheritors being remote would not be likely to abandon their just
rights for sentimental reasons regarding an entire stranger i assure
you my dear sirs i am rejoiced at the result perfectly rejoiced  

he was a good fellow but his rejoicing at the one little part in which
he was officially interested of so great a tragedy was an
object-lesson in the limitations of sympathetic understanding 

he did not remain long but said he would look in later in the day and
see lord godalming his coming however had been a certain comfort to
us since it assured us that we should not have to dread hostile
criticism as to any of our acts arthur was expected at five o'clock so
a little before that time we visited the death-chamber it was so in
very truth for now both mother and daughter lay in it the undertaker 
true to his craft had made the best display he could of his goods and
there was a mortuary air about the place that lowered our spirits at
once van helsing ordered the former arrangement to be adhered to 
explaining that as lord godalming was coming very soon it would be
less harrowing to his feelings to see all that was left of his fiancee 
quite alone the undertaker seemed shocked at his own stupidity and
exerted himself to restore things to the condition in which we left them
the night before so that when arthur came such shocks to his feelings
as we could avoid were saved 

poor fellow he looked desperately sad and broken even his stalwart
manhood seemed to have shrunk somewhat under the strain of his
much-tried emotions he had i knew been very genuinely and devotedly
attached to his father and to lose him and at such a time was a
bitter blow to him with me he was warm as ever and to van helsing he
was sweetly courteous but i could not help seeing that there was some
constraint with him the professor noticed it too and motioned me to
bring him upstairs i did so and left him at the door of the room as i
felt he would like to be quite alone with her but he took my arm and
led me in saying huskily 

 you loved her too old fellow she told me all about it and there was
no friend had a closer place in her heart than you i don't know how to
thank you for all you have done for her i can't think yet  

here he suddenly broke down and threw his arms round my shoulders and
laid his head on my breast crying 

 oh jack jack what shall i do the whole of life seems gone from me
all at once and there is nothing in the wide world for me to live for  

i comforted him as well as i could in such cases men do not need much
expression a grip of the hand the tightening of an arm over the
shoulder a sob in unison are expressions of sympathy dear to a man's
heart i stood still and silent till his sobs died away and then i said
softly to him 

 come and look at her  

together we moved over to the bed and i lifted the lawn from her face 
god how beautiful she was every hour seemed to be enhancing her
loveliness it frightened and amazed me somewhat and as for arthur he
fell a-trembling and finally was shaken with doubt as with an ague at
last after a long pause he said to me in a faint whisper 

 jack is she really dead  

i assured him sadly that it was so and went on to suggest for i felt
that such a horrible doubt should not have life for a moment longer than
i could help that it often happened that after death faces became
softened and even resolved into their youthful beauty that this was
especially so when death had been preceded by any acute or prolonged
suffering it seemed to quite do away with any doubt and after
kneeling beside the couch for a while and looking at her lovingly and
long he turned aside i told him that that must be good-bye as the
coffin had to be prepared so he went back and took her dead hand in his
and kissed it and bent over and kissed her forehead he came away 
fondly looking back over his shoulder at her as he came 

i left him in the drawing-room and told van helsing that he had said
good-bye so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker's men
to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin when he
came out of the room again i told him of arthur's question and he
replied 

 i am not surprised just now i doubted for a moment myself  

we all dined together and i could see that poor art was trying to make
the best of things van helsing had been silent all dinner-time but
when we had lit our cigars he said 

 lord   but arthur interrupted him 

 no no not that for god's sake not yet at any rate forgive me sir 
i did not mean to speak offensively it is only because my loss is so
recent  

the professor answered very sweetly 

 i only used that name because i was in doubt i must not call you
'mr ' and i have grown to love you yes my dear boy to love you as
arthur  

arthur held out his hand and took the old man's warmly 

 call me what you will   he said  i hope i may always have the title of
a friend and let me say that i am at a loss for words to thank you for
your goodness to my poor dear   he paused a moment and went on  i know
that she understood your goodness even better than i do and if i was
rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so you remember  the
professor nodded  you must forgive me  

he answered with a grave kindness 

 i know it was hard for you to quite trust me then for to trust such
violence needs to understand and i take it that you do not that you
cannot trust me now for you do not yet understand and there may be
more times when i shall want you to trust when you cannot and may
not and must not yet understand but the time will come when your trust
shall be whole and complete in me and when you shall understand as
though the sunlight himself shone through then you shall bless me from
first to last for your own sake and for the sake of others and for her
dear sake to whom i swore to protect  

 and indeed indeed sir   said arthur warmly  i shall in all ways
trust you i know and believe you have a very noble heart and you are
jack's friend and you were hers you shall do what you like  

the professor cleared his throat a couple of times as though about to
speak and finally said 

 may i ask you something now  

 certainly  

 you know that mrs westenra left you all her property  

 no poor dear i never thought of it  

 and as it is all yours you have a right to deal with it as you will i
want you to give me permission to read all miss lucy's papers and
letters believe me it is no idle curiosity i have a motive of which 
be sure she would have approved i have them all here i took them
before we knew that all was yours so that no strange hand might touch
them no strange eye look through words into her soul i shall keep
them if i may even you may not see them yet but i shall keep them
safe no word shall be lost and in the good time i shall give them back
to you it's a hard thing i ask but you will do it will you not for
lucy's sake  

arthur spoke out heartily like his old self 

 dr van helsing you may do what you will i feel that in saying this i
am doing what my dear one would have approved i shall not trouble you
with questions till the time comes  

the old professor stood up as he said solemnly 

 and you are right there will be pain for us all but it will not be
all pain nor will this pain be the last we and you too you most of
all my dear boy will have to pass through the bitter water before we
reach the sweet but we must be brave of heart and unselfish and do our
duty and all will be well  

i slept on a sofa in arthur's room that night van helsing did not go to
bed at all he went to and fro as if patrolling the house and was
never out of sight of the room where lucy lay in her coffin strewn with
the wild garlic flowers which sent through the odour of lily and rose 
a heavy overpowering smell into the night 


 mina harker's journal 

 22 september in the train to exeter jonathan sleeping 

it seems only yesterday that the last entry was made and yet how much
between then in whitby and all the world before me jonathan away and
no news of him and now married to jonathan jonathan a solicitor a
partner rich master of his business mr hawkins dead and buried and
jonathan with another attack that may harm him some day he may ask me
about it down it all goes i am rusty in my shorthand see what
unexpected prosperity does for us so it may be as well to freshen it up
again with an exercise anyhow 

the service was very simple and very solemn there were only ourselves
and the servants there one or two old friends of his from exeter his
london agent and a gentleman representing sir john paxton the
president of the incorporated law society jonathan and i stood hand in
hand and we felt that our best and dearest friend was gone from us 

we came back to town quietly taking a 'bus to hyde park corner 
jonathan thought it would interest me to go into the row for a while so
we sat down but there were very few people there and it was
sad-looking and desolate to see so many empty chairs it made us think
of the empty chair at home so we got up and walked down piccadilly 
jonathan was holding me by the arm the way he used to in old days
before i went to school i felt it very improper for you can't go on
for some years teaching etiquette and decorum to other girls without the
pedantry of it biting into yourself a bit but it was jonathan and he
was my husband and we didn't know anybody who saw us and we didn't
care if they did so on we walked i was looking at a very beautiful
girl in a big cart-wheel hat sitting in a victoria outside guiliano's 
when i felt jonathan clutch my arm so tight that he hurt me and he said
under his breath  my god   i am always anxious about jonathan for i
fear that some nervous fit may upset him again so i turned to him
quickly and asked him what it was that disturbed him 

he was very pale and his eyes seemed bulging out as half in terror and
half in amazement he gazed at a tall thin man with a beaky nose and
black moustache and pointed beard who was also observing the pretty
girl he was looking at her so hard that he did not see either of us 
and so i had a good view of him his face was not a good face it was
hard and cruel and sensual and his big white teeth that looked all
the whiter because his lips were so red were pointed like an animal's 
jonathan kept staring at him till i was afraid he would notice i
feared he might take it ill he looked so fierce and nasty i asked
jonathan why he was disturbed and he answered evidently thinking that
i knew as much about it as he did  do you see who it is  

 no dear   i said  i don't know him who is it   his answer seemed to
shock and thrill me for it was said as if he did not know that it was
to me mina to whom he was speaking 

 it is the man himself  

the poor dear was evidently terrified at something very greatly
terrified i do believe that if he had not had me to lean on and to
support him he would have sunk down he kept staring a man came out of
the shop with a small parcel and gave it to the lady who then drove
off the dark man kept his eyes fixed on her and when the carriage
moved up piccadilly he followed in the same direction and hailed a
hansom jonathan kept looking after him and said as if to himself 

 i believe it is the count but he has grown young my god if this be
so oh my god my god if i only knew if i only knew   he was
distressing himself so much that i feared to keep his mind on the
subject by asking him any questions so i remained silent i drew him
away quietly and he holding my arm came easily we walked a little
further and then went in and sat for a while in the green park it was
a hot day for autumn and there was a comfortable seat in a shady place 
after a few minutes' staring at nothing jonathan's eyes closed and he
went quietly into a sleep with his head on my shoulder i thought it
was the best thing for him so did not disturb him in about twenty
minutes he woke up and said to me quite cheerfully 

 why mina have i been asleep oh do forgive me for being so rude 
come and we'll have a cup of tea somewhere   he had evidently forgotten
all about the dark stranger as in his illness he had forgotten all that
this episode had reminded him of i don't like this lapsing into
forgetfulness it may make or continue some injury to the brain i must
not ask him for fear i shall do more harm than good but i must somehow
learn the facts of his journey abroad the time is come i fear when i
must open that parcel and know what is written oh jonathan you will 
i know forgive me if i do wrong but it is for your own dear sake 

 

 later a sad home-coming in every way the house empty of the dear
soul who was so good to us jonathan still pale and dizzy under a slight
relapse of his malady and now a telegram from van helsing whoever he
may be 

 you will be grieved to hear that mrs westenra died five days ago and
that lucy died the day before yesterday they were both buried to-day  

oh what a wealth of sorrow in a few words poor mrs westenra poor
lucy gone gone never to return to us and poor poor arthur to have
lost such sweetness out of his life god help us all to bear our
troubles 


 dr seward's diary 

 22 september it is all over arthur has gone back to ring and has
taken quincey morris with him what a fine fellow is quincey i believe
in my heart of hearts that he suffered as much about lucy's death as any
of us but he bore himself through it like a moral viking if america
can go on breeding men like that she will be a power in the world
indeed van helsing is lying down having a rest preparatory to his
journey he goes over to amsterdam to-night but says he returns
to-morrow night that he only wants to make some arrangements which can
only be made personally he is to stop with me then if he can he says
he has work to do in london which may take him some time poor old
fellow i fear that the strain of the past week has broken down even his
iron strength all the time of the burial he was i could see putting
some terrible restraint on himself when it was all over we were
standing beside arthur who poor fellow was speaking of his part in
the operation where his blood had been transfused to his lucy's veins i
could see van helsing's face grow white and purple by turns arthur was
saying that he felt since then as if they two had been really married
and that she was his wife in the sight of god none of us said a word of
the other operations and none of us ever shall arthur and quincey went
away together to the station and van helsing and i came on here the
moment we were alone in the carriage he gave way to a regular fit of
hysterics he has denied to me since that it was hysterics and insisted
that it was only his sense of humour asserting itself under very
terrible conditions he laughed till he cried and i had to draw down
the blinds lest any one should see us and misjudge and then he cried 
till he laughed again and laughed and cried together just as a woman
does i tried to be stern with him as one is to a woman under the
circumstances but it had no effect men and women are so different in
manifestations of nervous strength or weakness then when his face grew
grave and stern again i asked him why his mirth and why at such a time 
his reply was in a way characteristic of him for it was logical and
forceful and mysterious he said 

 ah you don't comprehend friend john do not think that i am not sad 
though i laugh see i have cried even when the laugh did choke me but
no more think that i am all sorry when i cry for the laugh he come
just the same keep it always with you that laughter who knock at your
door and say 'may i come in ' is not the true laughter no he is a
king and he come when and how he like he ask no person he choose no
time of suitability he say 'i am here ' behold in example i grieve my
heart out for that so sweet young girl i give my blood for her though
i am old and worn i give my time my skill my sleep i let my other
sufferers want that so she may have all and yet i can laugh at her very
grave laugh when the clay from the spade of the sexton drop upon her
coffin and say 'thud thud ' to my heart till it send back the blood
from my cheek my heart bleed for that poor boy that dear boy so of
the age of mine own boy had i been so blessed that he live and with his
hair and eyes the same there you know now why i love him so and yet
when he say things that touch my husband-heart to the quick and make my
father-heart yearn to him as to no other man not even to you friend
john for we are more level in experiences than father and son yet even
at such moment king laugh he come to me and shout and bellow in my ear 
'here i am here i am ' till the blood come dance back and bring some of
the sunshine that he carry with him to my cheek oh friend john it is
a strange world a sad world a world full of miseries and woes and
troubles and yet when king laugh come he make them all dance to the
tune he play bleeding hearts and dry bones of the churchyard and
tears that burn as they fall all dance together to the music that he
make with that smileless mouth of him and believe me friend john that
he is good to come and kind ah we men and women are like ropes drawn
tight with strain that pull us different ways then tears come and 
like the rain on the ropes they brace us up until perhaps the strain
become too great and we break but king laugh he come like the
sunshine and he ease off the strain again and we bear to go on with
our labour what it may be  

i did not like to wound him by pretending not to see his idea but as i
did not yet understand the cause of his laughter i asked him as he
answered me his face grew stern and he said in quite a different
tone 

 oh it was the grim irony of it all this so lovely lady garlanded with
flowers that looked so fair as life till one by one we wondered if she
were truly dead she laid in that so fine marble house in that lonely
churchyard where rest so many of her kin laid there with the mother
who loved her and whom she loved and that sacred bell going 'toll 
toll toll ' so sad and slow and those holy men with the white
garments of the angel pretending to read books and yet all the time
their eyes never on the page and all of us with the bowed head and all
for what she is dead so is it not  

 well for the life of me professor   i said  i can't see anything to
laugh at in all that why your explanation makes it a harder puzzle
than before but even if the burial service was comic what about poor
art and his trouble why his heart was simply breaking  

 just so said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins had
made her truly his bride  

 yes and it was a sweet and comforting idea for him  

 quite so but there was a difficulty friend john if so that then
what about the others ho ho then this so sweet maid is a polyandrist 
and me with my poor wife dead to me but alive by church's law though
no wits all gone even i who am faithful husband to this now-no-wife 
am bigamist  

 i don't see where the joke comes in there either   i said and i did
not feel particularly pleased with him for saying such things he laid
his hand on my arm and said 

 friend john forgive me if i pain i showed not my feeling to others
when it would wound but only to you my old friend whom i can trust 
if you could have looked into my very heart then when i want to laugh 
if you could have done so when the laugh arrived if you could do so
now when king laugh have pack up his crown and all that is to him for
he go far far away from me and for a long long time maybe you would
perhaps pity me the most of all  

i was touched by the tenderness of his tone and asked why 

 because i know  

and now we are all scattered and for many a long day loneliness will
sit over our roofs with brooding wings lucy lies in the tomb of her
kin a lordly death-house in a lonely churchyard away from teeming
london where the air is fresh and the sun rises over hampstead hill 
and where wild flowers grow of their own accord 

so i can finish this diary and god only knows if i shall ever begin
another if i do or if i even open this again it will be to deal with
different people and different themes for here at the end where the
romance of my life is told ere i go back to take up the thread of my
life-work i say sadly and without hope 

  finis  


  the westminster gazette   25 september 

 a hampstead mystery 


the neighbourhood of hampstead is just at present exercised with a
series of events which seem to run on lines parallel to those of what
was known to the writers of headlines as  the kensington horror   or
 the stabbing woman   or  the woman in black   during the past two or
three days several cases have occurred of young children straying from
home or neglecting to return from their playing on the heath in all
these cases the children were too young to give any properly
intelligible account of themselves but the consensus of their excuses
is that they had been with a  bloofer lady   it has always been late in
the evening when they have been missed and on two occasions the
children have not been found until early in the following morning it is
generally supposed in the neighbourhood that as the first child missed
gave as his reason for being away that a  bloofer lady  had asked him to
come for a walk the others had picked up the phrase and used it as
occasion served this is the more natural as the favourite game of the
little ones at present is luring each other away by wiles a
correspondent writes us that to see some of the tiny tots pretending to
be the  bloofer lady  is supremely funny some of our caricaturists
might he says take a lesson in the irony of grotesque by comparing the
reality and the picture it is only in accordance with general
principles of human nature that the  bloofer lady  should be the popular
role at these al fresco performances our correspondent naively says
that even ellen terry could not be so winningly attractive as some of
these grubby-faced little children pretend and even imagine
themselves to be 

there is however possibly a serious side to the question for some of
the children indeed all who have been missed at night have been
slightly torn or wounded in the throat the wounds seem such as might be
made by a rat or a small dog and although of not much importance
individually would tend to show that whatever animal inflicts them has
a system or method of its own the police of the division have been
instructed to keep a sharp look-out for straying children especially
when very young in and around hampstead heath and for any stray dog
which may be about 


  the westminster gazette   25 september 

 extra special 

 the hampstead horror 

 another child injured 

 the  bloofer lady   

we have just received intelligence that another child missed last
night was only discovered late in the morning under a furze bush at the
shooter's hill side of hampstead heath which is perhaps less
frequented than the other parts it has the same tiny wound in the
throat as has been noticed in other cases it was terribly weak and
looked quite emaciated it too when partially restored had the common
story to tell of being lured away by the  bloofer lady  




chapter xiv

mina harker's journal


 23 september jonathan is better after a bad night i am so glad that
he has plenty of work to do for that keeps his mind off the terrible
things and oh i am rejoiced that he is not now weighed down with the
responsibility of his new position i knew he would be true to himself 
and now how proud i am to see my jonathan rising to the height of his
advancement and keeping pace in all ways with the duties that come upon
him he will be away all day till late for he said he could not lunch
at home my household work is done so i shall take his foreign journal 
and lock myself up in my room and read it 


 24 september i hadn't the heart to write last night that terrible
record of jonathan's upset me so poor dear how he must have suffered 
whether it be true or only imagination i wonder if there is any truth
in it at all did he get his brain fever and then write all those
terrible things or had he some cause for it all i suppose i shall
never know for i dare not open the subject to him and yet that man
we saw yesterday he seemed quite certain of him poor fellow i
suppose it was the funeral upset him and sent his mind back on some
train of thought he believes it all himself i remember how on our
wedding-day he said  unless some solemn duty come upon me to go back to
the bitter hours asleep or awake mad or sane   there seems to be
through it all some thread of continuity that fearful count was
coming to london if it should be and he came to london with his
teeming millions there may be a solemn duty and if it come we must
not shrink from it i shall be prepared i shall get my typewriter
this very hour and begin transcribing then we shall be ready for other
eyes if required and if it be wanted then perhaps if i am ready 
poor jonathan may not be upset for i can speak for him and never let
him be troubled or worried with it at all if ever jonathan quite gets
over the nervousness he may want to tell me of it all and i can ask him
questions and find out things and see how i may comfort him 


 letter van helsing to mrs harker 

  24 september 

 confidence 

 dear madam 

 i pray you to pardon my writing in that i am so far friend as that i
sent to you sad news of miss lucy westenra's death by the kindness of
lord godalming i am empowered to read her letters and papers for i am
deeply concerned about certain matters vitally important in them i find
some letters from you which show how great friends you were and how you
love her oh madam mina by that love i implore you help me it is
for others' good that i ask to redress great wrong and to lift much
and terrible troubles that may be more great than you can know may it
be that i see you you can trust me i am friend of dr john seward and
of lord godalming that was arthur of miss lucy i must keep it private
for the present from all i should come to exeter to see you at once if
you tell me i am privilege to come and where and when i implore your
pardon madam i have read your letters to poor lucy and know how good
you are and how your husband suffer so i pray you if it may be 
enlighten him not lest it may harm again your pardon and forgive me 

 van helsing  


 telegram mrs harker to van helsing 

  25 september come to-day by quarter-past ten train if you can catch
it can see you any time you call 

 wilhelmina harker  

mina harker's journal 

 25 september i cannot help feeling terribly excited as the time
draws near for the visit of dr van helsing for somehow i expect that
it will throw some light upon jonathan's sad experience and as he
attended poor dear lucy in her last illness he can tell me all about
her that is the reason of his coming it is concerning lucy and her
sleep-walking and not about jonathan then i shall never know the real
truth now how silly i am that awful journal gets hold of my
imagination and tinges everything with something of its own colour of
course it is about lucy that habit came back to the poor dear and that
awful night on the cliff must have made her ill i had almost forgotten
in my own affairs how ill she was afterwards she must have told him
of her sleep-walking adventure on the cliff and that i knew all about
it and now he wants me to tell him what she knows so that he may
understand i hope i did right in not saying anything of it to mrs 
westenra i should never forgive myself if any act of mine were it even
a negative one brought harm on poor dear lucy i hope too dr van
helsing will not blame me i have had so much trouble and anxiety of
late that i feel i cannot bear more just at present 

i suppose a cry does us all good at times clears the air as other rain
does perhaps it was reading the journal yesterday that upset me and
then jonathan went away this morning to stay away from me a whole day
and night the first time we have been parted since our marriage i do
hope the dear fellow will take care of himself and that nothing will
occur to upset him it is two o'clock and the doctor will be here soon
now i shall say nothing of jonathan's journal unless he asks me i am
so glad i have type-written out my own journal so that in case he asks
about lucy i can hand it to him it will save much questioning 

 

 later he has come and gone oh what a strange meeting and how it
all makes my head whirl round i feel like one in a dream can it be all
possible or even a part of it if i had not read jonathan's journal
first i should never have accepted even a possibility poor poor dear
jonathan how he must have suffered please the good god all this may
not upset him again i shall try to save him from it but it may be even
a consolation and a help to him terrible though it be and awful in its
consequences to know for certain that his eyes and ears and brain did
not deceive him and that it is all true it may be that it is the doubt
which haunts him that when the doubt is removed no matter
which waking or dreaming may prove the truth he will be more
satisfied and better able to bear the shock dr van helsing must be a
good man as well as a clever one if he is arthur's friend and dr 
seward's and if they brought him all the way from holland to look after
lucy i feel from having seen him that he is good and kind and of a
noble nature when he comes to-morrow i shall ask him about jonathan 
and then please god all this sorrow and anxiety may lead to a good
end i used to think i would like to practise interviewing jonathan's
friend on  the exeter news  told him that memory was everything in such
work that you must be able to put down exactly almost every word
spoken even if you had to refine some of it afterwards here was a rare
interview i shall try to record it verbatim 

it was half-past two o'clock when the knock came i took my courage a
deux mains and waited in a few minutes mary opened the door and
announced  dr van helsing  

i rose and bowed and he came towards me a man of medium weight 
strongly built with his shoulders set back over a broad deep chest and
a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck the poise
of the head strikes one at once as indicative of thought and power the
head is noble well-sized broad and large behind the ears the face 
clean-shaven shows a hard square chin a large resolute mobile
mouth a good-sized nose rather straight but with quick sensitive
nostrils that seem to broaden as the big bushy brows come down and the
mouth tightens the forehead is broad and fine rising at first almost
straight and then sloping back above two bumps or ridges wide apart 
such a forehead that the reddish hair cannot possibly tumble over it 
but falls naturally back and to the sides big dark blue eyes are set
widely apart and are quick and tender or stern with the man's moods he
said to me 

 mrs harker is it not   i bowed assent 

 that was miss mina murray   again i assented 

 it is mina murray that i came to see that was friend of that poor dear
child lucy westenra madam mina it is on account of the dead i come  

 sir   i said  you could have no better claim on me than that you were
a friend and helper of lucy westenra   and i held out my hand he took
it and said tenderly 

 oh madam mina i knew that the friend of that poor lily girl must be
good but i had yet to learn   he finished his speech with a courtly
bow i asked him what it was that he wanted to see me about so he at
once began 

 i have read your letters to miss lucy forgive me but i had to begin
to inquire somewhere and there was none to ask i know that you were
with her at whitby she sometimes kept a diary you need not look
surprised madam mina it was begun after you had left and was in
imitation of you and in that diary she traces by inference certain
things to a sleep-walking in which she puts down that you saved her in
great perplexity then i come to you and ask you out of your so much
kindness to tell me all of it that you can remember  

 i can tell you i think dr van helsing all about it  

 ah then you have good memory for facts for details it is not always
so with young ladies  

 no doctor but i wrote it all down at the time i can show it to you
if you like  

 oh madam mina i will be grateful you will do me much favour   i
could not resist the temptation of mystifying him a bit i suppose it is
some of the taste of the original apple that remains still in our
mouths so i handed him the shorthand diary he took it with a grateful
bow and said 

 may i read it  

 if you wish   i answered as demurely as i could he opened it and for
an instant his face fell then he stood up and bowed 

 oh you so clever woman   he said  i knew long that mr jonathan was a
man of much thankfulness but see his wife have all the good things 
and will you not so much honour me and so help me as to read it for me 
alas i know not the shorthand   by this time my little joke was over 
and i was almost ashamed so i took the typewritten copy from my
workbasket and handed it to him 

 forgive me   i said  i could not help it but i had been thinking that
it was of dear lucy that you wished to ask and so that you might not
have time to wait not on my account but because i know your time must
be precious i have written it out on the typewriter for you  

he took it and his eyes glistened  you are so good   he said  and may
i read it now i may want to ask you some things when i have read  

 by all means   i said  read it over whilst i order lunch and then you
can ask me questions whilst we eat   he bowed and settled himself in a
chair with his back to the light and became absorbed in the papers 
whilst i went to see after lunch chiefly in order that he might not be
disturbed when i came back i found him walking hurriedly up and down
the room his face all ablaze with excitement he rushed up to me and
took me by both hands 

 oh madam mina   he said  how can i say what i owe to you this paper
is as sunshine it opens the gate to me i am daze i am dazzle with so
much light and yet clouds roll in behind the light every time but that
you do not cannot comprehend oh but i am grateful to you you so
clever woman madam  he said this very solemnly  if ever abraham van
helsing can do anything for you or yours i trust you will let me know 
it will be pleasure and delight if i may serve you as a friend as a
friend but all i have ever learned all i can ever do shall be for you
and those you love there are darknesses in life and there are lights 
you are one of the lights you will have happy life and good life and
your husband will be blessed in you  

 but doctor you praise me too much and and you do not know me  

 not know you i who am old and who have studied all my life men and
women i who have made my specialty the brain and all that belongs to
him and all that follow from him and i have read your diary that you
have so goodly written for me and which breathes out truth in every
line i who have read your so sweet letter to poor lucy of your
marriage and your trust not know you oh madam mina good women tell
all their lives and by day and by hour and by minute such things that
angels can read and we men who wish to know have in us something of
angels' eyes your husband is noble nature and you are noble too for
you trust and trust cannot be where there is mean nature and your
husband tell me of him is he quite well is all that fever gone and
is he strong and hearty   i saw here an opening to ask him about
jonathan so i said 

 he was almost recovered but he has been greatly upset by mr hawkins's
death   he interrupted 

 oh yes i know i know i have read your last two letters   i went
on 

 i suppose this upset him for when we were in town on thursday last he
had a sort of shock  

 a shock and after brain fever so soon that was not good what kind of
a shock was it  

 he thought he saw some one who recalled something terrible something
which led to his brain fever   and here the whole thing seemed to
overwhelm me in a rush the pity for jonathan the horror which he
experienced the whole fearful mystery of his diary and the fear that
has been brooding over me ever since all came in a tumult i suppose i
was hysterical for i threw myself on my knees and held up my hands to
him and implored him to make my husband well again he took my hands
and raised me up and made me sit on the sofa and sat by me he held my
hand in his and said to me with oh such infinite sweetness 

 my life is a barren and lonely one and so full of work that i have not
had much time for friendships but since i have been summoned to here by
my friend john seward i have known so many good people and seen such
nobility that i feel more than ever and it has grown with my advancing
years the loneliness of my life believe me then that i come here
full of respect for you and you have given me hope hope not in what i
am seeking of but that there are good women still left to make life
happy good women whose lives and whose truths may make good lesson for
the children that are to be i am glad glad that i may here be of some
use to you for if your husband suffer he suffer within the range of my
study and experience i promise you that i will gladly do all for him
that i can all to make his life strong and manly and your life a happy
one now you must eat you are overwrought and perhaps over-anxious 
husband jonathan would not like to see you so pale and what he like not
where he love is not to his good therefore for his sake you must eat
and smile you have told me all about lucy and so now we shall not
speak of it lest it distress i shall stay in exeter to-night for i
want to think much over what you have told me and when i have thought i
will ask you questions if i may and then too you will tell me of
husband jonathan's trouble so far as you can but not yet you must eat
now afterwards you shall tell me all  

after lunch when we went back to the drawing-room he said to me 

 and now tell me all about him   when it came to speaking to this great
learned man i began to fear that he would think me a weak fool and
jonathan a madman that journal is all so strange and i hesitated to go
on but he was so sweet and kind and he had promised to help and i
trusted him so i said 

 dr van helsing what i have to tell you is so queer that you must not
laugh at me or at my husband i have been since yesterday in a sort of
fever of doubt you must be kind to me and not think me foolish that i
have even half believed some very strange things   he reassured me by
his manner as well as his words when he said 

 oh my dear if you only know how strange is the matter regarding which
i am here it is you who would laugh i have learned not to think little
of any one's belief no matter how strange it be i have tried to keep
an open mind and it is not the ordinary things of life that could close
it but the strange things the extraordinary things the things that
make one doubt if they be mad or sane  

 thank you thank you a thousand times you have taken a weight off my
mind if you will let me i shall give you a paper to read it is long 
but i have typewritten it out it will tell you my trouble and
jonathan's it is the copy of his journal when abroad and all that
happened i dare not say anything of it you will read for yourself and
judge and then when i see you perhaps you will be very kind and tell
me what you think  

 i promise   he said as i gave him the papers  i shall in the morning 
so soon as i can come to see you and your husband if i may  

 jonathan will be here at half-past eleven and you must come to lunch
with us and see him then you could catch the quick 3 34 train which
will leave you at paddington before eight   he was surprised at my
knowledge of the trains off-hand but he does not know that i have made
up all the trains to and from exeter so that i may help jonathan in
case he is in a hurry 

so he took the papers with him and went away and i sit here
thinking thinking i don't know what 

 

 letter by hand van helsing to mrs harker 

  25 september 6 o'clock 

 dear madam mina 

 i have read your husband's so wonderful diary you may sleep without
doubt strange and terrible as it is it is true i will pledge my
life on it it may be worse for others but for him and you there is no
dread he is a noble fellow and let me tell you from experience of men 
that one who would do as he did in going down that wall and to that
room ay and going a second time is not one to be injured in
permanence by a shock his brain and his heart are all right this i
swear before i have even seen him so be at rest i shall have much to
ask him of other things i am blessed that to-day i come to see you for
i have learn all at once so much that again i am dazzle dazzle more
than ever and i must think 

 yours the most faithful 

 abraham van helsing  


 letter mrs harker to van helsing 

  25 september 6 30 p m 

 my dear dr van helsing 

 a thousand thanks for your kind letter which has taken a great weight
off my mind and yet if it be true what terrible things there are in
the world and what an awful thing if that man that monster be really
in london i fear to think i have this moment whilst writing had a
wire from jonathan saying that he leaves by the 6 25 to-night from
launceston and will be here at 10 18 so that i shall have no fear
to-night will you therefore instead of lunching with us please come
to breakfast at eight o'clock if this be not too early for you you can
get away if you are in a hurry by the 10 30 train which will bring
you to paddington by 2 35 do not answer this as i shall take it that 
if i do not hear you will come to breakfast 

 believe me 

 your faithful and grateful friend 

 mina harker  


 jonathan harker's journal 

 26 september i thought never to write in this diary again but the
time has come when i got home last night mina had supper ready and
when we had supped she told me of van helsing's visit and of her having
given him the two diaries copied out and of how anxious she has been
about me she showed me in the doctor's letter that all i wrote down was
true it seems to have made a new man of me it was the doubt as to the
reality of the whole thing that knocked me over i felt impotent and in
the dark and distrustful but now that i know i am not afraid even
of the count he has succeeded after all then in his design in getting
to london and it was he i saw he has got younger and how van helsing
is the man to unmask him and hunt him out if he is anything like what
mina says we sat late and talked it all over mina is dressing and i
shall call at the hotel in a few minutes and bring him over 

he was i think surprised to see me when i came into the room where he
was and introduced myself he took me by the shoulder and turned my
face round to the light and said after a sharp scrutiny 

 but madam mina told me you were ill that you had had a shock   it was
so funny to hear my wife called  madam mina  by this kindly 
strong-faced old man i smiled and said 

 i was ill i have had a shock but you have cured me already  

 and how  

 by your letter to mina last night i was in doubt and then everything
took a hue of unreality and i did not know what to trust even the
evidence of my own senses not knowing what to trust i did not know
what to do and so had only to keep on working in what had hitherto been
the groove of my life the groove ceased to avail me and i mistrusted
myself doctor you don't know what it is to doubt everything even
yourself no you don't you couldn't with eyebrows like yours   he
seemed pleased and laughed as he said 

 so you are physiognomist i learn more here with each hour i am with
so much pleasure coming to you to breakfast and oh sir you will
pardon praise from an old man but you are blessed in your wife   i
would listen to him go on praising mina for a day so i simply nodded
and stood silent 

 she is one of god's women fashioned by his own hand to show us men and
other women that there is a heaven where we can enter and that its
light can be here on earth so true so sweet so noble so little an
egoist and that let me tell you is much in this age so sceptical and
selfish and you sir i have read all the letters to poor miss lucy 
and some of them speak of you so i know you since some days from the
knowing of others but i have seen your true self since last night you
will give me your hand will you not and let us be friends for all our
lives  

we shook hands and he was so earnest and so kind that it made me quite
choky 

 and now   he said  may i ask you for some more help i have a great
task to do and at the beginning it is to know you can help me here 
can you tell me what went before your going to transylvania later on i
may ask more help and of a different kind but at first this will do  

 look here sir   i said  does what you have to do concern the count  

 it does   he said solemnly 

 then i am with you heart and soul as you go by the 10 30 train you
will not have time to read them but i shall get the bundle of papers 
you can take them with you and read them in the train  

after breakfast i saw him to the station when we were parting he
said 

 perhaps you will come to town if i send to you and take madam mina
too  

 we shall both come when you will   i said 

i had got him the morning papers and the london papers of the previous
night and while we were talking at the carriage window waiting for the
train to start he was turning them over his eyes suddenly seemed to
catch something in one of them  the westminster gazette  i knew it by
the colour and he grew quite white he read something intently 
groaning to himself  mein gott mein gott so soon so soon   i do not
think he remembered me at the moment just then the whistle blew and
the train moved off this recalled him to himself and he leaned out of
the window and waved his hand calling out  love to madam mina i shall
write so soon as ever i can  


 dr seward's diary 

 26 september truly there is no such thing as finality not a week
since i said  finis   and yet here i am starting fresh again or rather
going on with the same record until this afternoon i had no cause to
think of what is done renfield had become to all intents as sane as
he ever was he was already well ahead with his fly business and he had
just started in the spider line also so he had not been of any trouble
to me i had a letter from arthur written on sunday and from it i
gather that he is bearing up wonderfully well quincey morris is with
him and that is much of a help for he himself is a bubbling well of
good spirits quincey wrote me a line too and from him i hear that
arthur is beginning to recover something of his old buoyancy so as to
them all my mind is at rest as for myself i was settling down to my
work with the enthusiasm which i used to have for it so that i might
fairly have said that the wound which poor lucy left on me was becoming
cicatrised everything is however now reopened and what is to be the
end god only knows i have an idea that van helsing thinks he knows 
too but he will only let out enough at a time to whet curiosity he
went to exeter yesterday and stayed there all night to-day he came
back and almost bounded into the room at about half-past five o'clock 
and thrust last night's  westminster gazette  into my hand 

 what do you think of that   he asked as he stood back and folded his
arms 

i looked over the paper for i really did not know what he meant but he
took it from me and pointed out a paragraph about children being decoyed
away at hampstead it did not convey much to me until i reached a
passage where it described small punctured wounds on their throats an
idea struck me and i looked up  well   he said 

 it is like poor lucy's  

 and what do you make of it  

 simply that there is some cause in common whatever it was that injured
her has injured them   i did not quite understand his answer 

 that is true indirectly but not directly  

 how do you mean professor   i asked i was a little inclined to take
his seriousness lightly for after all four days of rest and freedom
from burning harrowing anxiety does help to restore one's spirits but
when i saw his face it sobered me never even in the midst of our
despair about poor lucy had he looked more stern 

 tell me   i said  i can hazard no opinion i do not know what to
think and i have no data on which to found a conjecture  

 do you mean to tell me friend john that you have no suspicion as to
what poor lucy died of not after all the hints given not only by
events but by me  

 of nervous prostration following on great loss or waste of blood  

 and how the blood lost or waste   i shook my head he stepped over and
sat down beside me and went on 

 you are clever man friend john you reason well and your wit is bold 
but you are too prejudiced you do not let your eyes see nor your ears
hear and that which is outside your daily life is not of account to
you do you not think that there are things which you cannot understand 
and yet which are that some people see things that others cannot but
there are things old and new which must not be contemplate by men's
eyes because they know or think they know some things which other men
have told them ah it is the fault of our science that it wants to
explain all and if it explain not then it says there is nothing to
explain but yet we see around us every day the growth of new beliefs 
which think themselves new and which are yet but the old which pretend
to be young like the fine ladies at the opera i suppose now you do not
believe in corporeal transference no nor in materialisation no nor
in astral bodies no nor in the reading of thought no nor in
hypnotism  

 yes   i said  charcot has proved that pretty well   he smiled as he
went on  then you are satisfied as to it yes and of course then you
understand how it act and can follow the mind of the great
charcot alas that he is no more into the very soul of the patient
that he influence no then friend john am i to take it that you
simply accept fact and are satisfied to let from premise to conclusion
be a blank no then tell me for i am student of the brain how you
accept the hypnotism and reject the thought reading let me tell you my
friend that there are things done to-day in electrical science which
would have been deemed unholy by the very men who discovered
electricity who would themselves not so long before have been burned
as wizards there are always mysteries in life why was it that
methuselah lived nine hundred years and 'old parr' one hundred and
sixty-nine and yet that poor lucy with four men's blood in her poor
veins could not live even one day for had she live one more day we
could have save her do you know all the mystery of life and death do
you know the altogether of comparative anatomy and can say wherefore the
qualities of brutes are in some men and not in others can you tell me
why when other spiders die small and soon that one great spider lived
for centuries in the tower of the old spanish church and grew and grew 
till on descending he could drink the oil of all the church lamps can
you tell me why in the pampas ay and elsewhere there are bats that
come at night and open the veins of cattle and horses and suck dry their
veins how in some islands of the western seas there are bats which hang
on the trees all day and those who have seen describe as like giant
nuts or pods and that when the sailors sleep on the deck because that
it is hot flit down on them and then and then in the morning are
found dead men white as even miss lucy was  

 good god professor   i said starting up  do you mean to tell me that
lucy was bitten by such a bat and that such a thing is here in london
in the nineteenth century   he waved his hand for silence and went
on 

 can you tell me why the tortoise lives more long than generations of
men why the elephant goes on and on till he have seen dynasties and
why the parrot never die only of bite of cat or dog or other complaint 
can you tell me why men believe in all ages and places that there are
some few who live on always if they be permit that there are men and
women who cannot die we all know because science has vouched for the
fact that there have been toads shut up in rocks for thousands of
years shut in one so small hole that only hold him since the youth of
the world can you tell me how the indian fakir can make himself to die
and have been buried and his grave sealed and corn sowed on it and the
corn reaped and be cut and sown and reaped and cut again and then men
come and take away the unbroken seal and that there lie the indian
fakir not dead but that rise up and walk amongst them as before   here
i interrupted him i was getting bewildered he so crowded on my mind
his list of nature's eccentricities and possible impossibilities that my
imagination was getting fired i had a dim idea that he was teaching me
some lesson as long ago he used to do in his study at amsterdam but
he used then to tell me the thing so that i could have the object of
thought in mind all the time but now i was without this help yet i
wanted to follow him so i said 

 professor let me be your pet student again tell me the thesis so
that i may apply your knowledge as you go on at present i am going in
my mind from point to point as a mad man and not a sane one follows an
idea i feel like a novice lumbering through a bog in a mist jumping
from one tussock to another in the mere blind effort to move on without
knowing where i am going  

 that is good image   he said  well i shall tell you my thesis is
this i want you to believe  

 to believe what  

 to believe in things that you cannot let me illustrate i heard once
of an american who so defined faith 'that faculty which enables us to
believe things which we know to be untrue ' for one i follow that man 
he meant that we shall have an open mind and not let a little bit of
truth check the rush of a big truth like a small rock does a railway
truck we get the small truth first good we keep him and we value
him but all the same we must not let him think himself all the truth in
the universe  

 then you want me not to let some previous conviction injure the
receptivity of my mind with regard to some strange matter do i read
your lesson aright  

 ah you are my favourite pupil still it is worth to teach you now
that you are willing to understand you have taken the first step to
understand you think then that those so small holes in the children's
throats were made by the same that made the hole in miss lucy  

 i suppose so   he stood up and said solemnly 

 then you are wrong oh would it were so but alas no it is worse 
far far worse  

 in god's name professor van helsing what do you mean   i cried 

he threw himself with a despairing gesture into a chair and placed his
elbows on the table covering his face with his hands as he spoke 

 they were made by miss lucy  




chapter xv

dr seward's diary continued 


for a while sheer anger mastered me it was as if he had during her life
struck lucy on the face i smote the table hard and rose up as i said to
him 

 dr van helsing are you mad   he raised his head and looked at me and
somehow the tenderness of his face calmed me at once  would i were   he
said  madness were easy to bear compared with truth like this oh my
friend why think you did i go so far round why take so long to tell
you so simple a thing was it because i hate you and have hated you all
my life was it because i wished to give you pain was it that i wanted 
now so late revenge for that time when you saved my life and from a
fearful death ah no  

 forgive me   said i he went on 

 my friend it was because i wished to be gentle in the breaking to you 
for i know you have loved that so sweet lady but even yet i do not
expect you to believe it is so hard to accept at once any abstract
truth that we may doubt such to be possible when we have always
believed the 'no' of it it is more hard still to accept so sad a
concrete truth and of such a one as miss lucy to-night i go to prove
it dare you come with me  

this staggered me a man does not like to prove such a truth byron
excepted from the category jealousy 

  and prove the very truth he most abhorred  

he saw my hesitation and spoke 

 the logic is simple no madman's logic this time jumping from tussock
to tussock in a misty bog if it be not true then proof will be relief 
at worst it will not harm if it be true ah there is the dread yet
very dread should help my cause for in it is some need of belief come 
i tell you what i propose first that we go off now and see that child
in the hospital dr vincent of the north hospital where the papers
say the child is is friend of mine and i think of yours since you were
in class at amsterdam he will let two scientists see his case if he
will not let two friends we shall tell him nothing but only that we
wish to learn and then  

 and then   he took a key from his pocket and held it up  and then we
spend the night you and i in the churchyard where lucy lies this is
the key that lock the tomb i had it from the coffin-man to give to
arthur   my heart sank within me for i felt that there was some fearful
ordeal before us i could do nothing however so i plucked up what
heart i could and said that we had better hasten as the afternoon was
passing 

we found the child awake it had had a sleep and taken some food and
altogether was going on well dr vincent took the bandage from its
throat and showed us the punctures there was no mistaking the
similarity to those which had been on lucy's throat they were smaller 
and the edges looked fresher that was all we asked vincent to what he
attributed them and he replied that it must have been a bite of some
animal perhaps a rat but for his own part he was inclined to think
that it was one of the bats which are so numerous on the northern
heights of london  out of so many harmless ones   he said  there may
be some wild specimen from the south of a more malignant species some
sailor may have brought one home and it managed to escape or even from
the zoological gardens a young one may have got loose or one be bred
there from a vampire these things do occur you know only ten days ago
a wolf got out and was i believe traced up in this direction for a
week after the children were playing nothing but red riding hood on the
heath and in every alley in the place until this 'bloofer lady' scare
came along since when it has been quite a gala-time with them even
this poor little mite when he woke up to-day asked the nurse if he
might go away when she asked him why he wanted to go he said he wanted
to play with the 'bloofer lady ' 

 i hope   said van helsing  that when you are sending the child home
you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it these fancies
to stray are most dangerous and if the child were to remain out another
night it would probably be fatal but in any case i suppose you will
not let it away for some days  

 certainly not not for a week at least longer if the wound is not
healed  

our visit to the hospital took more time than we had reckoned on and
the sun had dipped before we came out when van helsing saw how dark it
was he said 

 there is no hurry it is more late than i thought come let us seek
somewhere that we may eat and then we shall go on our way  

we dined at  jack straw's castle  along with a little crowd of
bicyclists and others who were genially noisy about ten o'clock we
started from the inn it was then very dark and the scattered lamps
made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual
radius the professor had evidently noted the road we were to go for he
went on unhesitatingly but as for me i was in quite a mixup as to
locality as we went further we met fewer and fewer people till at
last we were somewhat surprised when we met even the patrol of horse
police going their usual suburban round at last we reached the wall of
the churchyard which we climbed over with some little difficulty for
it was very dark and the whole place seemed so strange to us we found
the westenra tomb the professor took the key opened the creaky door 
and standing back politely but quite unconsciously motioned me to
precede him there was a delicious irony in the offer in the
courtliness of giving preference on such a ghastly occasion my
companion followed me quickly and cautiously drew the door to after
carefully ascertaining that the lock was a falling and not a spring 
one in the latter case we should have been in a bad plight then he
fumbled in his bag and taking out a matchbox and a piece of candle 
proceeded to make a light the tomb in the day-time and when wreathed
with fresh flowers had looked grim and gruesome enough but now some
days afterwards when the flowers hung lank and dead their whites
turning to rust and their greens to browns when the spider and the
beetle had resumed their accustomed dominance when time-discoloured
stone and dust-encrusted mortar and rusty dank iron and tarnished
brass and clouded silver-plating gave back the feeble glimmer of a
candle the effect was more miserable and sordid than could have been
imagined it conveyed irresistibly the idea that life animal life was
not the only thing which could pass away 

van helsing went about his work systematically holding his candle so
that he could read the coffin plates and so holding it that the sperm
dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal he
made assurance of lucy's coffin another search in his bag and he took
out a turnscrew 

 what are you going to do   i asked 

 to open the coffin you shall yet be convinced   straightway he began
taking out the screws and finally lifted off the lid showing the
casing of lead beneath the sight was almost too much for me it seemed
to be as much an affront to the dead as it would have been to have
stripped off her clothing in her sleep whilst living i actually took
hold of his hand to stop him he only said  you shall see   and again
fumbling in his bag took out a tiny fret-saw striking the turnscrew
through the lead with a swift downward stab which made me wince he
made a small hole which was however big enough to admit the point of
the saw i had expected a rush of gas from the week-old corpse we
doctors who have had to study our dangers have to become accustomed to
such things and i drew back towards the door but the professor never
stopped for a moment he sawed down a couple of feet along one side of
the lead coffin and then across and down the other side taking the
edge of the loose flange he bent it back towards the foot of the
coffin and holding up the candle into the aperture motioned to me to
look 

i drew near and looked the coffin was empty 

it was certainly a surprise to me and gave me a considerable shock but
van helsing was unmoved he was now more sure than ever of his ground 
and so emboldened to proceed in his task  are you satisfied now friend
john   he asked 

i felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as
i answered him 

 i am satisfied that lucy's body is not in that coffin but that only
proves one thing  

 and what is that friend john  

 that it is not there  

 that is good logic   he said  so far as it goes but how do you how
can you account for it not being there  

 perhaps a body-snatcher   i suggested  some of the undertaker's people
may have stolen it   i felt that i was speaking folly and yet it was
the only real cause which i could suggest the professor sighed  ah
well   he said  we must have more proof come with me  

he put on the coffin-lid again gathered up all his things and placed
them in the bag blew out the light and placed the candle also in the
bag we opened the door and went out behind us he closed the door and
locked it he handed me the key saying  will you keep it you had
better be assured   i laughed it was not a very cheerful laugh i am
bound to say as i motioned him to keep it  a key is nothing   i said 
 there may be duplicates and anyhow it is not difficult to pick a lock
of that kind   he said nothing but put the key in his pocket then he
told me to watch at one side of the churchyard whilst he would watch at
the other i took up my place behind a yew-tree and i saw his dark
figure move until the intervening headstones and trees hid it from my
sight 

it was a lonely vigil just after i had taken my place i heard a distant
clock strike twelve and in time came one and two i was chilled and
unnerved and angry with the professor for taking me on such an errand
and with myself for coming i was too cold and too sleepy to be keenly
observant and not sleepy enough to betray my trust so altogether i had
a dreary miserable time 

suddenly as i turned round i thought i saw something like a white
streak moving between two dark yew-trees at the side of the churchyard
farthest from the tomb at the same time a dark mass moved from the
professor's side of the ground and hurriedly went towards it then i
too moved but i had to go round headstones and railed-off tombs and i
stumbled over graves the sky was overcast and somewhere far off an
early cock crew a little way off beyond a line of scattered
juniper-trees which marked the pathway to the church a white dim
figure flitted in the direction of the tomb the tomb itself was hidden
by trees and i could not see where the figure disappeared i heard the
rustle of actual movement where i had first seen the white figure and
coming over found the professor holding in his arms a tiny child when
he saw me he held it out to me and said 

 are you satisfied now  

 no   i said in a way that i felt was aggressive 

 do you not see the child  

 yes it is a child but who brought it here and is it wounded   i
asked 

 we shall see   said the professor and with one impulse we took our way
out of the churchyard he carrying the sleeping child 

when we had got some little distance away we went into a clump of
trees and struck a match and looked at the child's throat it was
without a scratch or scar of any kind 

 was i right   i asked triumphantly 

 we were just in time   said the professor thankfully 

we had now to decide what we were to do with the child and so consulted
about it if we were to take it to a police-station we should have to
give some account of our movements during the night at least we should
have had to make some statement as to how we had come to find the child 
so finally we decided that we would take it to the heath and when we
heard a policeman coming would leave it where he could not fail to find
it we would then seek our way home as quickly as we could all fell out
well at the edge of hampstead heath we heard a policeman's heavy
tramp and laying the child on the pathway we waited and watched until
he saw it as he flashed his lantern to and fro we heard his exclamation
of astonishment and then we went away silently by good chance we got a
cab near the  spaniards   and drove to town 

i cannot sleep so i make this entry but i must try to get a few hours'
sleep as van helsing is to call for me at noon he insists that i shall
go with him on another expedition 

 

 27 september it was two o'clock before we found a suitable
opportunity for our attempt the funeral held at noon was all completed 
and the last stragglers of the mourners had taken themselves lazily
away when looking carefully from behind a clump of alder-trees we saw
the sexton lock the gate after him we knew then that we were safe till
morning did we desire it but the professor told me that we should not
want more than an hour at most again i felt that horrid sense of the
reality of things in which any effort of imagination seemed out of
place and i realised distinctly the perils of the law which we were
incurring in our unhallowed work besides i felt it was all so useless 
outrageous as it was to open a leaden coffin to see if a woman dead
nearly a week were really dead it now seemed the height of folly to
open the tomb again when we knew from the evidence of our own
eyesight that the coffin was empty i shrugged my shoulders however 
and rested silent for van helsing had a way of going on his own road 
no matter who remonstrated he took the key opened the vault and again
courteously motioned me to precede the place was not so gruesome as
last night but oh how unutterably mean-looking when the sunshine
streamed in van helsing walked over to lucy's coffin and i followed 
he bent over and again forced back the leaden flange and then a shock
of surprise and dismay shot through me 

there lay lucy seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her
funeral she was if possible more radiantly beautiful than ever and i
could not believe that she was dead the lips were red nay redder than
before and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom 

 is this a juggle   i said to him 

 are you convinced now   said the professor in response and as he spoke
he put over his hand and in a way that made me shudder pulled back the
dead lips and showed the white teeth 

 see   he went on  see they are even sharper than before with this
and this  and he touched one of the canine teeth and that below
it  the little children can be bitten are you of belief now friend
john   once more argumentative hostility woke within me i could not
accept such an overwhelming idea as he suggested so with an attempt to
argue of which i was even at the moment ashamed i said 

 she may have been placed here since last night  

 indeed that is so and by whom  

 i do not know some one has done it  

 and yet she has been dead one week most peoples in that time would not
look so   i had no answer for this so was silent van helsing did not
seem to notice my silence at any rate he showed neither chagrin nor
triumph he was looking intently at the face of the dead woman raising
the eyelids and looking at the eyes and once more opening the lips and
examining the teeth then he turned to me and said 

 here there is one thing which is different from all recorded here is
some dual life that is not as the common she was bitten by the vampire
when she was in a trance sleep-walking oh you start you do not know
that friend john but you shall know it all later and in trance could
he best come to take more blood in trance she died and in trance she
is un-dead too so it is that she differ from all other usually when
the un-dead sleep at home  as he spoke he made a comprehensive sweep of
his arm to designate what to a vampire was  home   their face show what
they are but this so sweet that was when she not un-dead she go back to
the nothings of the common dead there is no malign there see and so
it make hard that i must kill her in her sleep   this turned my blood
cold and it began to dawn upon me that i was accepting van helsing's
theories but if she were really dead what was there of terror in the
idea of killing her he looked up at me and evidently saw the change in
my face for he said almost joyously 

 ah you believe now  

i answered  do not press me too hard all at once i am willing to
accept how will you do this bloody work  

 i shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic and i shall
drive a stake through her body   it made me shudder to think of so
mutilating the body of the woman whom i had loved and yet the feeling
was not so strong as i had expected i was in fact beginning to
shudder at the presence of this being this un-dead as van helsing
called it and to loathe it is it possible that love is all subjective 
or all objective 

i waited a considerable time for van helsing to begin but he stood as
if wrapped in thought presently he closed the catch of his bag with a
snap and said 

 i have been thinking and have made up my mind as to what is best if i
did simply follow my inclining i would do now at this moment what is
to be done but there are other things to follow and things that are
thousand times more difficult in that them we do not know this is
simple she have yet no life taken though that is of time and to act
now would be to take danger from her for ever but then we may have to
want arthur and how shall we tell him of this if you who saw the
wounds on lucy's throat and saw the wounds so similar on the child's at
the hospital if you who saw the coffin empty last night and full
to-day with a woman who have not change only to be more rose and more
beautiful in a whole week after she die if you know of this and know
of the white figure last night that brought the child to the churchyard 
and yet of your own senses you did not believe how then can i expect
arthur who know none of those things to believe he doubted me when i
took him from her kiss when she was dying i know he has forgiven me
because in some mistaken idea i have done things that prevent him say
good-bye as he ought and he may think that in some more mistaken idea
this woman was buried alive and that in most mistake of all we have
killed her he will then argue back that it is we mistaken ones that
have killed her by our ideas and so he will be much unhappy always yet
he never can be sure and that is the worst of all and he will
sometimes think that she he loved was buried alive and that will paint
his dreams with horrors of what she must have suffered and again he
will think that we may be right and that his so beloved was after all 
an un-dead no i told him once and since then i learn much now since
i know it is all true a hundred thousand times more do i know that he
must pass through the bitter waters to reach the sweet he poor fellow 
must have one hour that will make the very face of heaven grow black to
him then we can act for good all round and send him peace my mind is
made up let us go you return home for to-night to your asylum and see
that all be well as for me i shall spend the night here in this
churchyard in my own way to-morrow night you will come to me to the
berkeley hotel at ten of the clock i shall send for arthur to come too 
and also that so fine young man of america that gave his blood later we
shall all have work to do i come with you so far as piccadilly and
there dine for i must be back here before the sun set  

so we locked the tomb and came away and got over the wall of the
churchyard which was not much of a task and drove back to piccadilly 


 note left by van helsing in his portmanteau berkeley hotel directed to
john seward m d 

 not delivered 

  27 september 

 friend john 

 i write this in case anything should happen i go alone to watch in
that churchyard it pleases me that the un-dead miss lucy shall not
leave to-night that so on the morrow night she may be more eager 
therefore i shall fix some things she like not garlic and a
crucifix and so seal up the door of the tomb she is young as un-dead 
and will heed moreover these are only to prevent her coming out they
may not prevail on her wanting to get in for then the un-dead is
desperate and must find the line of least resistance whatsoever it may
be i shall be at hand all the night from sunset till after the sunrise 
and if there be aught that may be learned i shall learn it for miss
lucy or from her i have no fear but that other to whom is there that
she is un-dead he have now the power to seek her tomb and find shelter 
he is cunning as i know from mr jonathan and from the way that all
along he have fooled us when he played with us for miss lucy's life and
we lost and in many ways the un-dead are strong he have always the
strength in his hand of twenty men even we four who gave our strength
to miss lucy it also is all to him besides he can summon his wolf and
i know not what so if it be that he come thither on this night he shall
find me but none other shall until it be too late but it may be that
he will not attempt the place there is no reason why he should his
hunting ground is more full of game than the churchyard where the
un-dead woman sleep and the one old man watch 

 therefore i write this in case take the papers that are with this 
the diaries of harker and the rest and read them and then find this
great un-dead and cut off his head and burn his heart or drive a stake
through it so that the world may rest from him 

 if it be so farewell 

 van helsing  



 dr seward's diary 

 28 september it is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for
one yesterday i was almost willing to accept van helsing's monstrous
ideas but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on
common sense i have no doubt that he believes it all i wonder if his
mind can have become in any way unhinged surely there must be some 
rational explanation of all these mysterious things is it possible that
the professor can have done it himself he is so abnormally clever that
if he went off his head he would carry out his intent with regard to
some fixed idea in a wonderful way i am loath to think it and indeed
it would be almost as great a marvel as the other to find that van
helsing was mad but anyhow i shall watch him carefully i may get some
light on the mystery 

 

 29 september morning last night at a little before ten o'clock 
arthur and quincey came into van helsing's room he told us all that he
wanted us to do but especially addressing himself to arthur as if all
our wills were centred in his he began by saying that he hoped we would
all come with him too  for   he said  there is a grave duty to be done
there you were doubtless surprised at my letter   this query was
directly addressed to lord godalming 

 i was it rather upset me for a bit there has been so much trouble
around my house of late that i could do without any more i have been
curious too as to what you mean quincey and i talked it over but the
more we talked the more puzzled we got till now i can say for myself
that i'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything  

 me too   said quincey morris laconically 

 oh   said the professor  then you are nearer the beginning both of
you than friend john here who has to go a long way back before he can
even get so far as to begin  

it was evident that he recognised my return to my old doubting frame of
mind without my saying a word then turning to the other two he said
with intense gravity 

 i want your permission to do what i think good this night it is i
know much to ask and when you know what it is i propose to do you will
know and only then how much therefore may i ask that you promise me
in the dark so that afterwards though you may be angry with me for a
time i must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may
be you shall not blame yourselves for anything  

 that's frank anyhow   broke in quincey  i'll answer for the professor 
i don't quite see his drift but i swear he's honest and that's good
enough for me  

 i thank you sir   said van helsing proudly  i have done myself the
honour of counting you one trusting friend and such endorsement is dear
to me   he held out a hand which quincey took 

then arthur spoke out 

 dr van helsing i don't quite like to 'buy a pig in a poke ' as they
say in scotland and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentleman
or my faith as a christian is concerned i cannot make such a promise 
if you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either of
these two then i give my consent at once though for the life of me i
cannot understand what you are driving at  

 i accept your limitation   said van helsing  and all i ask of you is
that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine you will first
consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your
reservations  

 agreed   said arthur  that is only fair and now that the
 pourparlers are over may i ask what it is we are to do  

 i want you to come with me and to come in secret to the churchyard at
kingstead  

arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way 

 where poor lucy is buried   the professor bowed arthur went on  and
when there  

 to enter the tomb   arthur stood up 

 professor are you in earnest or it is some monstrous joke pardon me 
i see that you are in earnest   he sat down again but i could see that
he sat firmly and proudly as one who is on his dignity there was
silence until he asked again 

 and when in the tomb  

 to open the coffin  

 this is too much   he said angrily rising again  i am willing to be
patient in all things that are reasonable but in this this desecration
of the grave of one who   he fairly choked with indignation the
professor looked pityingly at him 

 if i could spare you one pang my poor friend   he said  god knows i
would but this night our feet must tread in thorny paths or later and
for ever the feet you love must walk in paths of flame  

arthur looked up with set white face and said 

 take care sir take care  

 would it not be well to hear what i have to say   said van helsing 
 and then you will at least know the limit of my purpose shall i go
on  

 that's fair enough   broke in morris 

after a pause van helsing went on evidently with an effort 

 miss lucy is dead is it not so yes then there can be no wrong to
her but if she be not dead  

arthur jumped to his feet 

 good god   he cried  what do you mean has there been any mistake has
she been buried alive   he groaned in anguish that not even hope could
soften 

 i did not say she was alive my child i did not think it i go no
further than to say that she might be un-dead  

 un-dead not alive what do you mean is this all a nightmare or what
is it  

 there are mysteries which men can only guess at which age by age they
may solve only in part believe me we are now on the verge of one but
i have not done may i cut off the head of dead miss lucy  

 heavens and earth no   cried arthur in a storm of passion  not for
the wide world will i consent to any mutilation of her dead body dr 
van helsing you try me too far what have i done to you that you should
torture me so what did that poor sweet girl do that you should want to
cast such dishonour on her grave are you mad that speak such things or
am i mad to listen to them don't dare to think more of such a
desecration i shall not give my consent to anything you do i have a
duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage and by god i shall do
it  

van helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated and
said gravely and sternly 

 my lord godalming i too have a duty to do a duty to others a duty
to you a duty to the dead and by god i shall do it all i ask you
now is that you come with me that you look and listen and if when
later i make the same request you do not be more eager for its
fulfilment even than i am then then i shall do my duty whatever it
may seem to me and then to follow of your lordship's wishes i shall
hold myself at your disposal to render an account to you when and where
you will   his voice broke a little and he went on with a voice full of
pity 

 but i beseech you do not go forth in anger with me in a long life of
acts which were often not pleasant to do and which sometimes did wring
my heart i have never had so heavy a task as now believe me that if
the time comes for you to change your mind towards me one look from
you will wipe away all this so sad hour for i would do what a man can
to save you from sorrow just think for why should i give myself so
much of labour and so much of sorrow i have come here from my own land
to do what i can of good at the first to please my friend john and
then to help a sweet young lady whom too i came to love for her i
am ashamed to say so much but i say it in kindness i gave what you
gave the blood of my veins i gave it i who was not like you her
lover but only her physician and her friend i gave to her my nights
and days before death after death and if my death can do her good
even now when she is the dead un-dead she shall have it freely   he
said this with a very grave sweet pride and arthur was much affected
by it he took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice 

 oh it is hard to think of it and i cannot understand but at least i
shall go with you and wait  




chapter xvi

dr seward's diary continued 


it was just a quarter before twelve o'clock when we got into the
churchyard over the low wall the night was dark with occasional gleams
of moonlight between the rents of the heavy clouds that scudded across
the sky we all kept somehow close together with van helsing slightly
in front as he led the way when we had come close to the tomb i looked
well at arthur for i feared that the proximity to a place laden with so
sorrowful a memory would upset him but he bore himself well i took it
that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some way a counteractant
to his grief the professor unlocked the door and seeing a natural
hesitation amongst us for various reasons solved the difficulty by
entering first himself the rest of us followed and he closed the door 
he then lit a dark lantern and pointed to the coffin arthur stepped
forward hesitatingly van helsing said to me 

 you were with me here yesterday was the body of miss lucy in that
coffin  

 it was   the professor turned to the rest saying 

 you hear and yet there is no one who does not believe with me   he
took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin arthur
looked on very pale but silent when the lid was removed he stepped
forward he evidently did not know that there was a leaden coffin or 
at any rate had not thought of it when he saw the rent in the lead 
the blood rushed to his face for an instant but as quickly fell away
again so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness he was still silent 
van helsing forced back the leaden flange and we all looked in and
recoiled 

the coffin was empty 

for several minutes no one spoke a word the silence was broken by
quincey morris 

 professor i answered for you your word is all i want i wouldn't ask
such a thing ordinarily i wouldn't so dishonour you as to imply a
doubt but this is a mystery that goes beyond any honour or dishonour 
is this your doing  

 i swear to you by all that i hold sacred that i have not removed nor
touched her what happened was this two nights ago my friend seward and
i came here with good purpose believe me i opened that coffin which
was then sealed up and we found it as now empty we then waited and
saw something white come through the trees the next day we came here in
day-time and she lay there did she not friend john  

 yes  

 that night we were just in time one more so small child was missing 
and we find it thank god unharmed amongst the graves yesterday i came
here before sundown for at sundown the un-dead can move i waited here
all the night till the sun rose but i saw nothing it was most probable
that it was because i had laid over the clamps of those doors garlic 
which the un-dead cannot bear and other things which they shun last
night there was no exodus so to-night before the sundown i took away my
garlic and other things and so it is we find this coffin empty but
bear with me so far there is much that is strange wait you with me
outside unseen and unheard and things much stranger are yet to be 
so  here he shut the dark slide of his lantern  now to the outside  
he opened the door and we filed out he coming last and locking the
door behind him 

oh but it seemed fresh and pure in the night air after the terror of
that vault how sweet it was to see the clouds race by and the passing
gleams of the moonlight between the scudding clouds crossing and
passing like the gladness and sorrow of a man's life how sweet it was
to breathe the fresh air that had no taint of death and decay how
humanising to see the red lighting of the sky beyond the hill and to
hear far away the muffled roar that marks the life of a great city each
in his own way was solemn and overcome arthur was silent and was i
could see striving to grasp the purpose and the inner meaning of the
mystery i was myself tolerably patient and half inclined again to
throw aside doubt and to accept van helsing's conclusions quincey
morris was phlegmatic in the way of a man who accepts all things and
accepts them in the spirit of cool bravery with hazard of all he has to
stake not being able to smoke he cut himself a good-sized plug of
tobacco and began to chew as to van helsing he was employed in a
definite way first he took from his bag a mass of what looked like
thin wafer-like biscuit which was carefully rolled up in a white
napkin next he took out a double-handful of some whitish stuff like
dough or putty he crumbled the wafer up fine and worked it into the
mass between his hands this he then took and rolling it into thin
strips began to lay them into the crevices between the door and its
setting in the tomb i was somewhat puzzled at this and being close 
asked him what it was that he was doing arthur and quincey drew near
also as they too were curious he answered 

 i am closing the tomb so that the un-dead may not enter  

 and is that stuff you have put there going to do it   asked quincey 
 great scott is this a game  

 it is  

 what is that which you are using   this time the question was by
arthur van helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered 

 the host i brought it from amsterdam i have an indulgence   it was an
answer that appalled the most sceptical of us and we felt individually
that in the presence of such earnest purpose as the professor's a
purpose which could thus use the to him most sacred of things it was
impossible to distrust in respectful silence we took the places
assigned to us close round the tomb but hidden from the sight of any
one approaching i pitied the others especially arthur i had myself
been apprenticed by my former visits to this watching horror and yet i 
who had up to an hour ago repudiated the proofs felt my heart sink
within me never did tombs look so ghastly white never did cypress or
yew or juniper so seem the embodiment of funereal gloom never did tree
or grass wave or rustle so ominously never did bough creak so
mysteriously and never did the far-away howling of dogs send such a
woeful presage through the night 

there was a long spell of silence a big aching void and then from the
professor a keen  s-s-s-s   he pointed and far down the avenue of yews
we saw a white figure advance a dim white figure which held something
dark at its breast the figure stopped and at the moment a ray of
moonlight fell upon the masses of driving clouds and showed in startling
prominence a dark-haired woman dressed in the cerements of the grave 
we could not see the face for it was bent down over what we saw to be a
fair-haired child there was a pause and a sharp little cry such as a
child gives in sleep or a dog as it lies before the fire and dreams we
were starting forward but the professor's warning hand seen by us as
he stood behind a yew-tree kept us back and then as we looked the
white figure moved forwards again it was now near enough for us to see
clearly and the moonlight still held my own heart grew cold as ice 
and i could hear the gasp of arthur as we recognised the features of
lucy westenra lucy westenra but yet how changed the sweetness was
turned to adamantine heartless cruelty and the purity to voluptuous
wantonness van helsing stepped out and obedient to his gesture we
all advanced too the four of us ranged in a line before the door of the
tomb van helsing raised his lantern and drew the slide by the
concentrated light that fell on lucy's face we could see that the lips
were crimson with fresh blood and that the stream had trickled over her
chin and stained the purity of her lawn death-robe 

we shuddered with horror i could see by the tremulous light that even
van helsing's iron nerve had failed arthur was next to me and if i had
not seized his arm and held him up he would have fallen 

when lucy i call the thing that was before us lucy because it bore her
shape saw us she drew back with an angry snarl such as a cat gives
when taken unawares then her eyes ranged over us lucy's eyes in form
and colour but lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell-fire instead of
the pure gentle orbs we knew at that moment the remnant of my love
passed into hate and loathing had she then to be killed i could have
done it with savage delight as she looked her eyes blazed with unholy
light and the face became wreathed with a voluptuous smile oh god 
how it made me shudder to see it with a careless motion she flung to
the ground callous as a devil the child that up to now she had
clutched strenuously to her breast growling over it as a dog growls
over a bone the child gave a sharp cry and lay there moaning there
was a cold-bloodedness in the act which wrung a groan from arthur when
she advanced to him with outstretched arms and a wanton smile he fell
back and hid his face in his hands 

she still advanced however and with a languorous voluptuous grace 
said 

 come to me arthur leave these others and come to me my arms are
hungry for you come and we can rest together come my husband come  

there was something diabolically sweet in her tones something of the
tingling of glass when struck which rang through the brains even of us
who heard the words addressed to another as for arthur he seemed under
a spell moving his hands from his face he opened wide his arms she
was leaping for them when van helsing sprang forward and held between
them his little golden crucifix she recoiled from it and with a
suddenly distorted face full of rage dashed past him as if to enter
the tomb 

when within a foot or two of the door however she stopped as if
arrested by some irresistible force then she turned and her face was
shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by the lamp which had now no
quiver from van helsing's iron nerves never did i see such baffled
malice on a face and never i trust shall such ever be seen again by
mortal eyes the beautiful colour became livid the eyes seemed to throw
out sparks of hell-fire the brows were wrinkled as though the folds of
the flesh were the coils of medusa's snakes and the lovely 
blood-stained mouth grew to an open square as in the passion masks of
the greeks and japanese if ever a face meant death if looks could
kill we saw it at that moment 

and so for full half a minute which seemed an eternity she remained
between the lifted crucifix and the sacred closing of her means of
entry van helsing broke the silence by asking arthur 

 answer me oh my friend am i to proceed in my work  

arthur threw himself on his knees and hid his face in his hands as he
answered 

 do as you will friend do as you will there can be no horror like
this ever any more   and he groaned in spirit quincey and i
simultaneously moved towards him and took his arms we could hear the
click of the closing lantern as van helsing held it down coming close
to the tomb he began to remove from the chinks some of the sacred
emblem which he had placed there we all looked on in horrified
amazement as we saw when he stood back the woman with a corporeal
body as real at that moment as our own pass in through the interstice
where scarce a knife-blade could have gone we all felt a glad sense of
relief when we saw the professor calmly restoring the strings of putty
to the edges of the door 

when this was done he lifted the child and said 

 come now my friends we can do no more till to-morrow there is a
funeral at noon so here we shall all come before long after that the
friends of the dead will all be gone by two and when the sexton lock
the gate we shall remain then there is more to do but not like this of
to-night as for this little one he is not much harm and by to-morrow
night he shall be well we shall leave him where the police will find
him as on the other night and then to home   coming close to arthur 
he said 

 my friend arthur you have had a sore trial but after when you look
back you will see how it was necessary you are now in the bitter
waters my child by this time to-morrow you will please god have
passed them and have drunk of the sweet waters so do not mourn
overmuch till then i shall not ask you to forgive me  

arthur and quincey came home with me and we tried to cheer each other
on the way we had left the child in safety and were tired so we all
slept with more or less reality of sleep 

 

 29 september night a little before twelve o'clock we three arthur 
quincey morris and myself called for the professor it was odd to
notice that by common consent we had all put on black clothes of
course arthur wore black for he was in deep mourning but the rest of
us wore it by instinct we got to the churchyard by half-past one and
strolled about keeping out of official observation so that when the
gravediggers had completed their task and the sexton under the belief
that every one had gone had locked the gate we had the place all to
ourselves van helsing instead of his little black bag had with him a
long leather one something like a cricketing bag it was manifestly of
fair weight 

when we were alone and had heard the last of the footsteps die out up
the road we silently and as if by ordered intention followed the
professor to the tomb he unlocked the door and we entered closing it
behind us then he took from his bag the lantern which he lit and also
two wax candles which when lighted he stuck by melting their own
ends on other coffins so that they might give light sufficient to work
by when he again lifted the lid off lucy's coffin we all looked arthur
trembling like an aspen and saw that the body lay there in all its
death-beauty but there was no love in my own heart nothing but
loathing for the foul thing which had taken lucy's shape without her
soul i could see even arthur's face grow hard as he looked presently
he said to van helsing 

 is this really lucy's body or only a demon in her shape  

 it is her body and yet not it but wait a while and you all see her
as she was and is  

she seemed like a nightmare of lucy as she lay there the pointed teeth 
the bloodstained voluptuous mouth which it made one shudder to
see the whole carnal and unspiritual appearance seeming like a
devilish mockery of lucy's sweet purity van helsing with his usual
methodicalness began taking the various contents from his bag and
placing them ready for use first he took out a soldering iron and some
plumbing solder and then a small oil-lamp which gave out when lit in
a corner of the tomb gas which burned at fierce heat with a blue
flame then his operating knives which he placed to hand and last a
round wooden stake some two and a half or three inches thick and about
three feet long one end of it was hardened by charring in the fire and
was sharpened to a fine point with this stake came a heavy hammer such
as in households is used in the coal-cellar for breaking the lumps to
me a doctor's preparations for work of any kind are stimulating and
bracing but the effect of these things on both arthur and quincey was
to cause them a sort of consternation they both however kept their
courage and remained silent and quiet 

when all was ready van helsing said 

 before we do anything let me tell you this it is out of the lore and
experience of the ancients and of all those who have studied the powers
of the un-dead when they become such there comes with the change the
curse of immortality they cannot die but must go on age after age
adding new victims and multiplying the evils of the world for all that
die from the preying of the un-dead becomes themselves un-dead and prey
on their kind and so the circle goes on ever widening like as the
ripples from a stone thrown in the water friend arthur if you had met
that kiss which you know of before poor lucy die or again last night
when you open your arms to her you would in time when you had died 
have become nosferatu as they call it in eastern europe and would
all time make more of those un-deads that so have fill us with horror 
the career of this so unhappy dear lady is but just begun those
children whose blood she suck are not as yet so much the worse but if
she live on un-dead more and more they lose their blood and by her
power over them they come to her and so she draw their blood with that
so wicked mouth but if she die in truth then all cease the tiny
wounds of the throats disappear and they go back to their plays
unknowing ever of what has been but of the most blessed of all when
this now un-dead be made to rest as true dead then the soul of the poor
lady whom we love shall again be free instead of working wickedness by
night and growing more debased in the assimilating of it by day she
shall take her place with the other angels so that my friend it will
be a blessed hand for her that shall strike the blow that sets her free 
to this i am willing but is there none amongst us who has a better
right will it be no joy to think of hereafter in the silence of the
night when sleep is not 'it was my hand that sent her to the stars it
was the hand of him that loved her best the hand that of all she would
herself have chosen had it been to her to choose ' tell me if there be
such a one amongst us  

we all looked at arthur he saw too what we all did the infinite
kindness which suggested that his should be the hand which would restore
lucy to us as a holy and not an unholy memory he stepped forward and
said bravely though his hand trembled and his face was as pale as
snow 

 my true friend from the bottom of my broken heart i thank you tell me
what i am to do and i shall not falter   van helsing laid a hand on his
shoulder and said 

 brave lad a moment's courage and it is done this stake must be
driven through her it will be a fearful ordeal be not deceived in
that but it will be only a short time and you will then rejoice more
than your pain was great from this grim tomb you will emerge as though
you tread on air but you must not falter when once you have begun only
think that we your true friends are round you and that we pray for
you all the time  

 go on   said arthur hoarsely  tell me what i am to do  

 take this stake in your left hand ready to place the point over the
heart and the hammer in your right then when we begin our prayer for
the dead i shall read him i have here the book and the others shall
follow strike in god's name that so all may be well with the dead that
we love and that the un-dead pass away  

arthur took the stake and the hammer and when once his mind was set on
action his hands never trembled nor even quivered van helsing opened
his missal and began to read and quincey and i followed as well as we
could arthur placed the point over the heart and as i looked i could
see its dint in the white flesh then he struck with all his might 

the thing in the coffin writhed and a hideous blood-curdling screech
came from the opened red lips the body shook and quivered and twisted
in wild contortions the sharp white teeth champed together till the
lips were cut and the mouth was smeared with a crimson foam but arthur
never faltered he looked like a figure of thor as his untrembling arm
rose and fell driving deeper and deeper the mercy-bearing stake whilst
the blood from the pierced heart welled and spurted up around it his
face was set and high duty seemed to shine through it the sight of it
gave us courage so that our voices seemed to ring through the little
vault 

and then the writhing and quivering of the body became less and the
teeth seemed to champ and the face to quiver finally it lay still the
terrible task was over 

the hammer fell from arthur's hand he reeled and would have fallen had
we not caught him the great drops of sweat sprang from his forehead 
and his breath came in broken gasps it had indeed been an awful strain
on him and had he not been forced to his task by more than human
considerations he could never have gone through with it for a few
minutes we were so taken up with him that we did not look towards the
coffin when we did however a murmur of startled surprise ran from one
to the other of us we gazed so eagerly that arthur rose for he had
been seated on the ground and came and looked too and then a glad 
strange light broke over his face and dispelled altogether the gloom of
horror that lay upon it 

there in the coffin lay no longer the foul thing that we had so dreaded
and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded as a
privilege to the one best entitled to it but lucy as we had seen her in
her life with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity true that
there were there as we had seen them in life the traces of care and
pain and waste but these were all dear to us for they marked her truth
to what we knew one and all we felt that the holy calm that lay like
sunshine over the wasted face and form was only an earthly token and
symbol of the calm that was to reign for ever 

van helsing came and laid his hand on arthur's shoulder and said to
him 

 and now arthur my friend dear lad am i not forgiven  

the reaction of the terrible strain came as he took the old man's hand
in his and raising it to his lips pressed it and said 

 forgiven god bless you that you have given my dear one her soul again 
and me peace   he put his hands on the professor's shoulder and laying
his head on his breast cried for a while silently whilst we stood
unmoving when he raised his head van helsing said to him 

 and now my child you may kiss her kiss her dead lips if you will as
she would have you to if for her to choose for she is not a grinning
devil now not any more a foul thing for all eternity no longer she is
the devil's un-dead she is god's true dead whose soul is with him  

arthur bent and kissed her and then we sent him and quincey out of the
tomb the professor and i sawed the top off the stake leaving the point
of it in the body then we cut off the head and filled the mouth with
garlic we soldered up the leaden coffin screwed on the coffin-lid 
and gathering up our belongings came away when the professor locked
the door he gave the key to arthur 

outside the air was sweet the sun shone and the birds sang and it
seemed as if all nature were tuned to a different pitch there was
gladness and mirth and peace everywhere for we were at rest ourselves
on one account and we were glad though it was with a tempered joy 

before we moved away van helsing said 

 now my friends one step of our work is done one the most harrowing
to ourselves but there remains a greater task to find out the author
of all this our sorrow and to stamp him out i have clues which we can
follow but it is a long task and a difficult and there is danger in
it and pain shall you not all help me we have learned to believe all
of us is it not so and since so do we not see our duty yes and do
we not promise to go on to the bitter end  

each in turn we took his hand and the promise was made then said the
professor as we moved off 

 two nights hence you shall meet with me and dine together at seven of
the clock with friend john i shall entreat two others two that you
know not as yet and i shall be ready to all our work show and our plans
unfold friend john you come with me home for i have much to consult
about and you can help me to-night i leave for amsterdam but shall
return to-morrow night and then begins our great quest but first i
shall have much to say so that you may know what is to do and to dread 
then our promise shall be made to each other anew for there is a
terrible task before us and once our feet are on the ploughshare we
must not draw back  




chapter xvii

dr seward's diary continued 


when we arrived at the berkeley hotel van helsing found a telegram
waiting for him 

  am coming up by train jonathan at whitby important news mina
 harker  

the professor was delighted  ah that wonderful madam mina   he said 
 pearl among women she arrive but i cannot stay she must go to your
house friend john you must meet her at the station telegraph her en
route so that she may be prepared  

when the wire was despatched he had a cup of tea over it he told me of
a diary kept by jonathan harker when abroad and gave me a typewritten
copy of it as also of mrs harker's diary at whitby  take these   he
said  and study them well when i have returned you will be master of
all the facts and we can then better enter on our inquisition keep
them safe for there is in them much of treasure you will need all your
faith even you who have had such an experience as that of to-day what
is here told   he laid his hand heavily and gravely on the packet of
papers as he spoke  may be the beginning of the end to you and me and
many another or it may sound the knell of the un-dead who walk the
earth read all i pray you with the open mind and if you can add in
any way to the story here told do so for it is all-important you have
kept diary of all these so strange things is it not so yes then we
shall go through all these together when we meet   he then made ready
for his departure and shortly after drove off to liverpool street i
took my way to paddington where i arrived about fifteen minutes before
the train came in 

the crowd melted away after the bustling fashion common to arrival
platforms and i was beginning to feel uneasy lest i might miss my
guest when a sweet-faced dainty-looking girl stepped up to me and 
after a quick glance said  dr seward is it not  

 and you are mrs harker   i answered at once whereupon she held out
her hand 

 i knew you from the description of poor dear lucy but   she stopped
suddenly and a quick blush overspread her face 

the blush that rose to my own cheeks somehow set us both at ease for it
was a tacit answer to her own i got her luggage which included a
typewriter and we took the underground to fenchurch street after i had
sent a wire to my housekeeper to have a sitting-room and bedroom
prepared at once for mrs harker 

in due time we arrived she knew of course that the place was a
lunatic asylum but i could see that she was unable to repress a shudder
when we entered 

she told me that if she might she would come presently to my study as
she had much to say so here i am finishing my entry in my phonograph
diary whilst i await her as yet i have not had the chance of looking at
the papers which van helsing left with me though they lie open before
me i must get her interested in something so that i may have an
opportunity of reading them she does not know how precious time is or
what a task we have in hand i must be careful not to frighten her here
she is 


 mina harker's journal 

 29 september after i had tidied myself i went down to dr seward's
study at the door i paused a moment for i thought i heard him talking
with some one as however he had pressed me to be quick i knocked at
the door and on his calling out  come in   i entered 

to my intense surprise there was no one with him he was quite alone 
and on the table opposite him was what i knew at once from the
description to be a phonograph i had never seen one and was much
interested 

 i hope i did not keep you waiting   i said  but i stayed at the door
as i heard you talking and thought there was some one with you  

 oh   he replied with a smile  i was only entering my diary  

 your diary   i asked him in surprise 

 yes   he answered  i keep it in this   as he spoke he laid his hand on
the phonograph i felt quite excited over it and blurted out 

 why this beats even shorthand may i hear it say something  

 certainly   he replied with alacrity and stood up to put it in train
for speaking then he paused and a troubled look overspread his face 

 the fact is   he began awkwardly  i only keep my diary in it and as
it is entirely almost entirely about my cases it may be awkward that
is i mean   he stopped and i tried to help him out of his
embarrassment 

 you helped to attend dear lucy at the end let me hear how she died 
for all that i know of her i shall be very grateful she was very very
dear to me  

to my surprise he answered with a horrorstruck look in his face 

 tell you of her death not for the wide world  

 why not   i asked for some grave terrible feeling was coming over me 
again he paused and i could see that he was trying to invent an excuse 
at length he stammered out 

 you see i do not know how to pick out any particular part of the
diary   even while he was speaking an idea dawned upon him and he said
with unconscious simplicity in a different voice and with the naivete
of a child  that's quite true upon my honour honest indian   i could
not but smile at which he grimaced  i gave myself away that time   he
said  but do you know that although i have kept the diary for months
past it never once struck me how i was going to find any particular
part of it in case i wanted to look it up   by this time my mind was
made up that the diary of a doctor who attended lucy might have
something to add to the sum of our knowledge of that terrible being and
i said boldly 

 then dr seward you had better let me copy it out for you on my
typewriter   he grew to a positively deathly pallor as he said 

 no no no for all the world i wouldn't let you know that terrible
story  

then it was terrible my intuition was right for a moment i thought 
and as my eyes ranged the room unconsciously looking for something or
some opportunity to aid me they lit on a great batch of typewriting on
the table his eyes caught the look in mine and without his thinking 
followed their direction as they saw the parcel he realised my meaning 

 you do not know me   i said  when you have read those papers my own
diary and my husband's also which i have typed you will know me
better i have not faltered in giving every thought of my own heart in
this cause but of course you do not know me yet and i must not
expect you to trust me so far  

he is certainly a man of noble nature poor dear lucy was right about
him he stood up and opened a large drawer in which were arranged in
order a number of hollow cylinders of metal covered with dark wax and
said 

 you are quite right i did not trust you because i did not know you 
but i know you now and let me say that i should have known you long
ago i know that lucy told you of me she told me of you too may i make
the only atonement in my power take the cylinders and hear them the
first half-dozen of them are personal to me and they will not horrify
you then you will know me better dinner will by then be ready in the
meantime i shall read over some of these documents and shall be better
able to understand certain things   he carried the phonograph himself up
to my sitting-room and adjusted it for me now i shall learn something
pleasant i am sure for it will tell me the other side of a true love
episode of which i know one side already 


 dr seward's diary 

 29 september i was so absorbed in that wonderful diary of jonathan
harker and that other of his wife that i let the time run on without
thinking mrs harker was not down when the maid came to announce
dinner so i said  she is possibly tired let dinner wait an hour   and
i went on with my work i had just finished mrs harker's diary when
she came in she looked sweetly pretty but very sad and her eyes were
flushed with crying this somehow moved me much of late i have had
cause for tears god knows but the relief of them was denied me and
now the sight of those sweet eyes brightened with recent tears went
straight to my heart so i said as gently as i could 

 i greatly fear i have distressed you  

 oh no not distressed me   she replied  but i have been more touched
than i can say by your grief that is a wonderful machine but it is
cruelly true it told me in its very tones the anguish of your heart 
it was like a soul crying out to almighty god no one must hear them
spoken ever again see i have tried to be useful i have copied out the
words on my typewriter and none other need now hear your heart beat as
i did  

 no one need ever know shall ever know   i said in a low voice she
laid her hand on mine and said very gravely 

 ah but they must  

 must but why   i asked 

 because it is a part of the terrible story a part of poor dear lucy's
death and all that led to it because in the struggle which we have
before us to rid the earth of this terrible monster we must have all
the knowledge and all the help which we can get i think that the
cylinders which you gave me contained more than you intended me to know 
but i can see that there are in your record many lights to this dark
mystery you will let me help will you not i know all up to a certain
point and i see already though your diary only took me to 7 september 
how poor lucy was beset and how her terrible doom was being wrought
out jonathan and i have been working day and night since professor van
helsing saw us he is gone to whitby to get more information and he
will be here to-morrow to help us we need have no secrets amongst us 
working together and with absolute trust we can surely be stronger than
if some of us were in the dark   she looked at me so appealingly and at
the same time manifested such courage and resolution in her bearing 
that i gave in at once to her wishes  you shall   i said  do as you
like in the matter god forgive me if i do wrong there are terrible
things yet to learn of but if you have so far travelled on the road to
poor lucy's death you will not be content i know to remain in the
dark nay the end the very end may give you a gleam of peace come 
there is dinner we must keep one another strong for what is before us 
we have a cruel and dreadful task when you have eaten you shall learn
the rest and i shall answer any questions you ask if there be anything
which you do not understand though it was apparent to us who were
present  


 mina harker's journal 

 29 september after dinner i came with dr seward to his study he
brought back the phonograph from my room and i took my typewriter he
placed me in a comfortable chair and arranged the phonograph so that i
could touch it without getting up and showed me how to stop it in case
i should want to pause then he very thoughtfully took a chair with his
back to me so that i might be as free as possible and began to read i
put the forked metal to my ears and listened 

when the terrible story of lucy's death and and all that followed was
done i lay back in my chair powerless fortunately i am not of a
fainting disposition when dr seward saw me he jumped up with a
horrified exclamation and hurriedly taking a case-bottle from a
cupboard gave me some brandy which in a few minutes somewhat restored
me my brain was all in a whirl and only that there came through all
the multitude of horrors the holy ray of light that my dear dear lucy
was at last at peace i do not think i could have borne it without
making a scene it is all so wild and mysterious and strange that if i
had not known jonathan's experience in transylvania i could not have
believed as it was i didn't know what to believe and so got out of my
difficulty by attending to something else i took the cover off my
typewriter and said to dr seward 

 let me write this all out now we must be ready for dr van helsing
when he comes i have sent a telegram to jonathan to come on here when
he arrives in london from whitby in this matter dates are everything 
and i think that if we get all our material ready and have every item
put in chronological order we shall have done much you tell me that
lord godalming and mr morris are coming too let us be able to tell him
when they come   he accordingly set the phonograph at a slow pace and i
began to typewrite from the beginning of the seventh cylinder i used
manifold and so took three copies of the diary just as i had done with
all the rest it was late when i got through but dr seward went about
his work of going his round of the patients when he had finished he
came back and sat near me reading so that i did not feel too lonely
whilst i worked how good and thoughtful he is the world seems full of
good men even if there are monsters in it before i left him i
remembered what jonathan put in his diary of the professor's
perturbation at reading something in an evening paper at the station at
exeter so seeing that dr seward keeps his newspapers i borrowed the
files of  the westminster gazette  and  the pall mall gazette   and took
them to my room i remember how much  the dailygraph  and  the whitby
gazette   of which i had made cuttings helped us to understand the
terrible events at whitby when count dracula landed so i shall look
through the evening papers since then and perhaps i shall get some new
light i am not sleepy and the work will help to keep me quiet 


 dr seward's diary 

 30 september mr harker arrived at nine o'clock he had got his
wife's wire just before starting he is uncommonly clever if one can
judge from his face and full of energy if this journal be true and
judging by one's own wonderful experiences it must be he is also a man
of great nerve that going down to the vault a second time was a
remarkable piece of daring after reading his account of it i was
prepared to meet a good specimen of manhood but hardly the quiet 
business-like gentleman who came here to-day 

 

 later after lunch harker and his wife went back to their own room 
and as i passed a while ago i heard the click of the typewriter they
are hard at it mrs harker says that they are knitting together in
chronological order every scrap of evidence they have harker has got
the letters between the consignee of the boxes at whitby and the
carriers in london who took charge of them he is now reading his wife's
typescript of my diary i wonder what they make out of it here it
is 

 strange that it never struck me that the very next house might be
 the count's hiding-place goodness knows that we had enough clues
 from the conduct of the patient renfield the bundle of letters
 relating to the purchase of the house were with the typescript oh 
 if we had only had them earlier we might have saved poor lucy 
 stop that way madness lies harker has gone back and is again
 collating his material he says that by dinner-time they will be
 able to show a whole connected narrative he thinks that in the
 meantime i should see renfield as hitherto he has been a sort of
 index to the coming and going of the count i hardly see this yet 
 but when i get at the dates i suppose i shall what a good thing
 that mrs harker put my cylinders into type we never could have
 found the dates otherwise 

 i found renfield sitting placidly in his room with his hands
 folded smiling benignly at the moment he seemed as sane as any
 one i ever saw i sat down and talked with him on a lot of
 subjects all of which he treated naturally he then of his own
 accord spoke of going home a subject he has never mentioned to my
 knowledge during his sojourn here in fact he spoke quite
 confidently of getting his discharge at once i believe that had i
 not had the chat with harker and read the letters and the dates of
 his outbursts i should have been prepared to sign for him after a
 brief time of observation as it is i am darkly suspicious all
 those outbreaks were in some way linked with the proximity of the
 count what then does this absolute content mean can it be that
 his instinct is satisfied as to the vampire's ultimate triumph 
 stay he is himself zoophagous and in his wild ravings outside the
 chapel door of the deserted house he always spoke of  master   this
 all seems confirmation of our idea however after a while i came
 away my friend is just a little too sane at present to make it
 safe to probe him too deep with questions he might begin to think 
 and then so i came away i mistrust these quiet moods of his so
 i have given the attendant a hint to look closely after him and to
 have a strait-waistcoat ready in case of need 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 29 september in train to london when i received mr billington's
courteous message that he would give me any information in his power i
thought it best to go down to whitby and make on the spot such
inquiries as i wanted it was now my object to trace that horrid cargo
of the count's to its place in london later we may be able to deal
with it billington junior a nice lad met me at the station and
brought me to his father's house where they had decided that i must
stay the night they are hospitable with true yorkshire hospitality 
give a guest everything and leave him free to do as he likes they all
knew that i was busy and that my stay was short and mr billington had
ready in his office all the papers concerning the consignment of boxes 
it gave me almost a turn to see again one of the letters which i had
seen on the count's table before i knew of his diabolical plans 
everything had been carefully thought out and done systematically and
with precision he seemed to have been prepared for every obstacle which
might be placed by accident in the way of his intentions being carried
out to use an americanism he had  taken no chances   and the absolute
accuracy with which his instructions were fulfilled was simply the
logical result of his care i saw the invoice and took note of it 
 fifty cases of common earth to be used for experimental purposes  
also the copy of letter to carter paterson and their reply of both of
these i got copies this was all the information mr billington could
give me so i went down to the port and saw the coastguards the customs
officers and the harbour-master they had all something to say of the
strange entry of the ship which is already taking its place in local
tradition but no one could add to the simple description  fifty cases
of common earth   i then saw the station-master who kindly put me in
communication with the men who had actually received the boxes their
tally was exact with the list and they had nothing to add except that
the boxes were  main and mortal heavy   and that shifting them was dry
work one of them added that it was hard lines that there wasn't any
gentleman  such-like as yourself squire   to show some sort of
appreciation of their efforts in a liquid form another put in a rider
that the thirst then generated was such that even the time which had
elapsed had not completely allayed it needless to add i took care
before leaving to lift for ever and adequately this source of
reproach 

 

 30 september the station-master was good enough to give me a line to
his old companion the station-master at king's cross so that when i
arrived there in the morning i was able to ask him about the arrival of
the boxes he too put me at once in communication with the proper
officials and i saw that their tally was correct with the original
invoice the opportunities of acquiring an abnormal thirst had been here
limited a noble use of them had however been made and again i was
compelled to deal with the result in an ex post facto manner 

from thence i went on to carter paterson's central office where i met
with the utmost courtesy they looked up the transaction in their
day-book and letter-book and at once telephoned to their king's cross
office for more details by good fortune the men who did the teaming
were waiting for work and the official at once sent them over sending
also by one of them the way-bill and all the papers connected with the
delivery of the boxes at carfax here again i found the tally agreeing
exactly the carriers' men were able to supplement the paucity of the
written words with a few details these were i shortly found connected
almost solely with the dusty nature of the job and of the consequent
thirst engendered in the operators on my affording an opportunity 
through the medium of the currency of the realm of the allaying at a
later period this beneficial evil one of the men remarked 

 that 'ere 'ouse guv'nor is the rummiest i ever was in blyme but it
ain't been touched sence a hundred years there was dust that thick in
the place that you might have slep' on it without 'urtin' of yer bones 
an' the place was that neglected that yer might 'ave smelled ole
jerusalem in it but the ole chapel that took the cike that did me
and my mate we thort we wouldn't never git out quick enough lor' i
wouldn't take less nor a quid a moment to stay there arter dark  

having been in the house i could well believe him but if he knew what
i know he would i think have raised his terms 

of one thing i am now satisfied that all the boxes which arrived at
whitby from varna in the demeter were safely deposited in the old
chapel at carfax there should be fifty of them there unless any have
since been removed as from dr seward's diary i fear 

i shall try to see the carter who took away the boxes from carfax when
renfield attacked them by following up this clue we may learn a good
deal 

 

 later mina and i have worked all day and we have put all the papers
into order 


 mina harker's journal 

 30 september i am so glad that i hardly know how to contain myself 
it is i suppose the reaction from the haunting fear which i have had 
that this terrible affair and the reopening of his old wound might act
detrimentally on jonathan i saw him leave for whitby with as brave a
face as i could but i was sick with apprehension the effort has 
however done him good he was never so resolute never so strong never
so full of volcanic energy as at present it is just as that dear good
professor van helsing said he is true grit and he improves under
strain that would kill a weaker nature he came back full of life and
hope and determination we have got everything in order for to-night i
feel myself quite wild with excitement i suppose one ought to pity any
thing so hunted as is the count that is just it this thing is not
human not even beast to read dr seward's account of poor lucy's
death and what followed is enough to dry up the springs of pity in
one's heart 

 

 later lord godalming and mr morris arrived earlier than we
expected dr seward was out on business and had taken jonathan with
him so i had to see them it was to me a painful meeting for it
brought back all poor dear lucy's hopes of only a few months ago of
course they had heard lucy speak of me and it seemed that dr van
helsing too has been quite  blowing my trumpet   as mr morris
expressed it poor fellows neither of them is aware that i know all
about the proposals they made to lucy they did not quite know what to
say or do as they were ignorant of the amount of my knowledge so they
had to keep on neutral subjects however i thought the matter over and
came to the conclusion that the best thing i could do would be to post
them in affairs right up to date i knew from dr seward's diary that
they had been at lucy's death her real death and that i need not fear
to betray any secret before the time so i told them as well as i
could that i had read all the papers and diaries and that my husband
and i having typewritten them had just finished putting them in order 
i gave them each a copy to read in the library when lord godalming got
his and turned it over it does make a pretty good pile he said 

 did you write all this mrs harker  

i nodded and he went on 

 i don't quite see the drift of it but you people are all so good and
kind and have been working so earnestly and so energetically that all
i can do is to accept your ideas blindfold and try to help you i have
had one lesson already in accepting facts that should make a man humble
to the last hour of his life besides i know you loved my poor lucy  
here he turned away and covered his face with his hands i could hear
the tears in his voice mr morris with instinctive delicacy just laid
a hand for a moment on his shoulder and then walked quietly out of the
room i suppose there is something in woman's nature that makes a man
free to break down before her and express his feelings on the tender or
emotional side without feeling it derogatory to his manhood for when
lord godalming found himself alone with me he sat down on the sofa and
gave way utterly and openly i sat down beside him and took his hand i
hope he didn't think it forward of me and that if he ever thinks of it
afterwards he never will have such a thought there i wrong him i
 know he never will he is too true a gentleman i said to him for i
could see that his heart was breaking 

 i loved dear lucy and i know what she was to you and what you were to
her she and i were like sisters and now she is gone will you not let
me be like a sister to you in your trouble i know what sorrows you have
had though i cannot measure the depth of them if sympathy and pity can
help in your affliction won't you let me be of some little service for
lucy's sake  

in an instant the poor dear fellow was overwhelmed with grief it seemed
to me that all that he had of late been suffering in silence found a
vent at once he grew quite hysterical and raising his open hands beat
his palms together in a perfect agony of grief he stood up and then sat
down again and the tears rained down his cheeks i felt an infinite
pity for him and opened my arms unthinkingly with a sob he laid his
head on my shoulder and cried like a wearied child whilst he shook with
emotion 

we women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above
smaller matters when the mother-spirit is invoked i felt this big
sorrowing man's head resting on me as though it were that of the baby
that some day may lie on my bosom and i stroked his hair as though he
were my own child i never thought at the time how strange it all was 

after a little bit his sobs ceased and he raised himself with an
apology though he made no disguise of his emotion he told me that for
days and nights past weary days and sleepless nights he had been
unable to speak with any one as a man must speak in his time of
sorrow there was no woman whose sympathy could be given to him or with
whom owing to the terrible circumstance with which his sorrow was
surrounded he could speak freely  i know now how i suffered   he said 
as he dried his eyes  but i do not know even yet and none other can
ever know how much your sweet sympathy has been to me to-day i shall
know better in time and believe me that though i am not ungrateful
now my gratitude will grow with my understanding you will let me be
like a brother will you not for all our lives for dear lucy's sake  

 for dear lucy's sake   i said as we clasped hands  ay and for your
own sake   he added  for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever worth
the winning you have won mine to-day if ever the future should bring
to you a time when you need a man's help believe me you will not call
in vain god grant that no such time may ever come to you to break the
sunshine of your life but if it should ever come promise me that you
will let me know   he was so earnest and his sorrow was so fresh that
i felt it would comfort him so i said 

 i promise  

as i came along the corridor i saw mr morris looking out of a window 
he turned as he heard my footsteps  how is art   he said then noticing
my red eyes he went on  ah i see you have been comforting him poor
old fellow he needs it no one but a woman can help a man when he is in
trouble of the heart and he had no one to comfort him  

he bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for him i saw the
manuscript in his hand and i knew that when he read it he would realise
how much i knew so i said to him 

 i wish i could comfort all who suffer from the heart will you let me
be your friend and will you come to me for comfort if you need it you
will know later on why i speak   he saw that i was in earnest and
stooping took my hand and raising it to his lips kissed it it seemed
but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish a soul and impulsively i
bent over and kissed him the tears rose in his eyes and there was a
momentary choking in his throat he said quite calmly 

 little girl you will never regret that true-hearted kindness so long
as ever you live   then he went into the study to his friend 

 little girl   the very words he had used to lucy and oh but he
proved himself a friend 




chapter xviii

dr seward's diary


 30 september i got home at five o'clock and found that godalming
and morris had not only arrived but had already studied the transcript
of the various diaries and letters which harker and his wonderful wife
had made and arranged harker had not yet returned from his visit to the
carriers' men of whom dr hennessey had written to me mrs harker gave
us a cup of tea and i can honestly say that for the first time since i
have lived in it this old house seemed like home when we had
finished mrs harker said 

 dr seward may i ask a favour i want to see your patient mr 
renfield do let me see him what you have said of him in your diary
interests me so much   she looked so appealing and so pretty that i
could not refuse her and there was no possible reason why i should so
i took her with me when i went into the room i told the man that a
lady would like to see him to which he simply answered  why  

 she is going through the house and wants to see every one in it   i
answered  oh very well   he said  let her come in by all means but
just wait a minute till i tidy up the place   his method of tidying was
peculiar he simply swallowed all the flies and spiders in the boxes
before i could stop him it was quite evident that he feared or was
jealous of some interference when he had got through his disgusting
task he said cheerfully  let the lady come in   and sat down on the
edge of his bed with his head down but with his eyelids raised so that
he could see her as she entered for a moment i thought that he might
have some homicidal intent i remembered how quiet he had been just
before he attacked me in my own study and i took care to stand where i
could seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at her she
came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at once command
the respect of any lunatic for easiness is one of the qualities mad
people most respect she walked over to him smiling pleasantly and
held out her hand 

 good-evening mr renfield   said she  you see i know you for dr 
seward has told me of you   he made no immediate reply but eyed her all
over intently with a set frown on his face this look gave way to one
of wonder which merged in doubt then to my intense astonishment he
said 

 you're not the girl the doctor wanted to marry are you you can't be 
you know for she's dead   mrs harker smiled sweetly as she replied 

 oh no i have a husband of my own to whom i was married before i ever
saw dr seward or he me i am mrs harker  

 then what are you doing here  

 my husband and i are staying on a visit with dr seward  

 then don't stay  

 but why not   i thought that this style of conversation might not be
pleasant to mrs harker any more than it was to me so i joined in 

 how did you know i wanted to marry any one   his reply was simply
contemptuous given in a pause in which he turned his eyes from mrs 
harker to me instantly turning them back again 

 what an asinine question  

 i don't see that at all mr renfield   said mrs harker at once
championing me he replied to her with as much courtesy and respect as
he had shown contempt to me 

 you will of course understand mrs harker that when a man is so
loved and honoured as our host is everything regarding him is of
interest in our little community dr seward is loved not only by his
household and his friends but even by his patients who being some of
them hardly in mental equilibrium are apt to distort causes and
effects since i myself have been an inmate of a lunatic asylum i
cannot but notice that the sophistic tendencies of some of its inmates
lean towards the errors of non causa and ignoratio elenchi   i
positively opened my eyes at this new development here was my own pet
lunatic the most pronounced of his type that i had ever met
with talking elemental philosophy and with the manner of a polished
gentleman i wonder if it was mrs harker's presence which had touched
some chord in his memory if this new phase was spontaneous or in any
way due to her unconscious influence she must have some rare gift or
power 

we continued to talk for some time and seeing that he was seemingly
quite reasonable she ventured looking at me questioningly as she
began to lead him to his favourite topic i was again astonished for
he addressed himself to the question with the impartiality of the
completest sanity he even took himself as an example when he mentioned
certain things 

 why i myself am an instance of a man who had a strange belief indeed 
it was no wonder that my friends were alarmed and insisted on my being
put under control i used to fancy that life was a positive and
perpetual entity and that by consuming a multitude of live things no
matter how low in the scale of creation one might indefinitely prolong
life at times i held the belief so strongly that i actually tried to
take human life the doctor here will bear me out that on one occasion i
tried to kill him for the purpose of strengthening my vital powers by
the assimilation with my own body of his life through the medium of his
blood relying of course upon the scriptural phrase 'for the blood is
the life ' though indeed the vendor of a certain nostrum has
vulgarised the truism to the very point of contempt isn't that true 
doctor   i nodded assent for i was so amazed that i hardly knew what to
either think or say it was hard to imagine that i had seen him eat up
his spiders and flies not five minutes before looking at my watch i
saw that i should go to the station to meet van helsing so i told mrs 
harker that it was time to leave she came at once after saying
pleasantly to mr renfield  good-bye and i hope i may see you often 
under auspices pleasanter to yourself   to which to my astonishment he
replied 

 good-bye my dear i pray god i may never see your sweet face again 
may he bless and keep you  

when i went to the station to meet van helsing i left the boys behind
me poor art seemed more cheerful than he has been since lucy first took
ill and quincey is more like his own bright self than he has been for
many a long day 

van helsing stepped from the carriage with the eager nimbleness of a
boy he saw me at once and rushed up to me saying 

 ah friend john how goes all well so i have been busy for i come
here to stay if need be all affairs are settled with me and i have
much to tell madam mina is with you yes and her so fine husband and
arthur and my friend quincey they are with you too good  

as i drove to the house i told him of what had passed and of how my own
diary had come to be of some use through mrs harker's suggestion at
which the professor interrupted me 

 ah that wonderful madam mina she has man's brain a brain that a man
should have were he much gifted and a woman's heart the good god
fashioned her for a purpose believe me when he made that so good
combination friend john up to now fortune has made that woman of help
to us after to-night she must not have to do with this so terrible
affair it is not good that she run a risk so great we men are
determined nay are we not pledged to destroy this monster but it is
no part for a woman even if she be not harmed her heart may fail her
in so much and so many horrors and hereafter she may suffer both in
waking from her nerves and in sleep from her dreams and besides 
she is young woman and not so long married there may be other things to
think of some time if not now you tell me she has wrote all then she
must consult with us but to-morrow she say good-bye to this work and
we go alone   i agreed heartily with him and then i told him what we
had found in his absence that the house which dracula had bought was
the very next one to my own he was amazed and a great concern seemed
to come on him  oh that we had known it before   he said  for then we
might have reached him in time to save poor lucy however 'the milk
that is spilt cries not out afterwards ' as you say we shall not think
of that but go on our way to the end   then he fell into a silence that
lasted till we entered my own gateway before we went to prepare for
dinner he said to mrs harker 

 i am told madam mina by my friend john that you and your husband have
put up in exact order all things that have been up to this moment  

 not up to this moment professor   she said impulsively  but up to
this morning  

 but why not up to now we have seen hitherto how good light all the
little things have made we have told our secrets and yet no one who
has told is the worse for it  

mrs harker began to blush and taking a paper from her pockets she
said 

 dr van helsing will you read this and tell me if it must go in it
is my record of to-day i too have seen the need of putting down at
present everything however trivial but there is little in this except
what is personal must it go in   the professor read it over gravely 
and handed it back saying 

 it need not go in if you do not wish it but i pray that it may it can
but make your husband love you the more and all us your friends more
honour you as well as more esteem and love   she took it back with
another blush and a bright smile 

and so now up to this very hour all the records we have are complete
and in order the professor took away one copy to study after dinner 
and before our meeting which is fixed for nine o'clock the rest of us
have already read everything so when we meet in the study we shall all
be informed as to facts and can arrange our plan of battle with this
terrible and mysterious enemy 


 mina harker's journal 

 30 september when we met in dr seward's study two hours after
dinner which had been at six o'clock we unconsciously formed a sort of
board or committee professor van helsing took the head of the table to
which dr seward motioned him as he came into the room he made me sit
next to him on his right and asked me to act as secretary jonathan sat
next to me opposite us were lord godalming dr seward and mr 
morris lord godalming being next the professor and dr seward in the
centre the professor said 

 i may i suppose take it that we are all acquainted with the facts
that are in these papers   we all expressed assent and he went on 

 then it were i think good that i tell you something of the kind of
enemy with which we have to deal i shall then make known to you
something of the history of this man which has been ascertained for me 
so we then can discuss how we shall act and can take our measure
according 

 there are such beings as vampires some of us have evidence that they
exist even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience the
teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane
peoples i admit that at the first i was sceptic were it not that
through long years i have train myself to keep an open mind i could not
have believe until such time as that fact thunder on my ear 'see see 
i prove i prove ' alas had i known at the first what now i know nay 
had i even guess at him one so precious life had been spared to many of
us who did love her but that is gone and we must so work that other
poor souls perish not whilst we can save the nosferatu do not die
like the bee when he sting once he is only stronger and being
stronger have yet more power to work evil this vampire which is
amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men he is of
cunning more than mortal for his cunning be the growth of ages he have
still the aids of necromancy which is as his etymology imply the
divination by the dead and all the dead that he can come nigh to are
for him at command he is brute and more than brute he is devil in
callous and the heart of him is not he can within limitations appear
at will when and where and in any of the forms that are to him he
can within his range direct the elements the storm the fog the
thunder he can command all the meaner things the rat and the owl and
the bat the moth and the fox and the wolf he can grow and become
small and he can at times vanish and come unknown how then are we to
begin our strike to destroy him how shall we find his where and having
found it how can we destroy my friends this is much it is a terrible
task that we undertake and there may be consequence to make the brave
shudder for if we fail in this our fight he must surely win and then
where end we life is nothings i heed him not but to fail here is not
mere life or death it is that we become as him that we henceforward
become foul things of the night like him without heart or conscience 
preying on the bodies and the souls of those we love best to us for
ever are the gates of heaven shut for who shall open them to us again 
we go on for all time abhorred by all a blot on the face of god's
sunshine an arrow in the side of him who died for man but we are face
to face with duty and in such case must we shrink for me i say no 
but then i am old and life with his sunshine his fair places his
song of birds his music and his love lie far behind you others are
young some have seen sorrow but there are fair days yet in store what
say you  

whilst he was speaking jonathan had taken my hand i feared oh so
much that the appalling nature of our danger was overcoming him when i
saw his hand stretch out but it was life to me to feel its touch so
strong so self-reliant so resolute a brave man's hand can speak for
itself it does not even need a woman's love to hear its music 

when the professor had done speaking my husband looked in my eyes and i
in his there was no need for speaking between us 

 i answer for mina and myself   he said 

 count me in professor   said mr quincey morris laconically as usual 

 i am with you   said lord godalming  for lucy's sake if for no other
reason  

dr seward simply nodded the professor stood up and after laying his
golden crucifix on the table held out his hand on either side i took
his right hand and lord godalming his left jonathan held my right with
his left and stretched across to mr morris so as we all took hands our
solemn compact was made i felt my heart icy cold but it did not even
occur to me to draw back we resumed our places and dr van helsing
went on with a sort of cheerfulness which showed that the serious work
had begun it was to be taken as gravely and in as businesslike a way 
as any other transaction of life 

 well you know what we have to contend against but we too are not
without strength we have on our side power of combination a power
denied to the vampire kind we have sources of science we are free to
act and think and the hours of the day and the night are ours equally 
in fact so far as our powers extend they are unfettered and we are
free to use them we have self-devotion in a cause and an end to
achieve which is not a selfish one these things are much 

 now let us see how far the general powers arrayed against us are
restrict and how the individual cannot in fine let us consider the
limitations of the vampire in general and of this one in particular 

 all we have to go upon are traditions and superstitions these do not
at the first appear much when the matter is one of life and death nay
of more than either life or death yet must we be satisfied in the
first place because we have to be no other means is at our control and
secondly because after all these things tradition and
superstition are everything does not the belief in vampires rest for
others though not alas for us on them a year ago which of us would
have received such a possibility in the midst of our scientific 
sceptical matter-of-fact nineteenth century we even scouted a belief
that we saw justified under our very eyes take it then that the
vampire and the belief in his limitations and his cure rest for the
moment on the same base for let me tell you he is known everywhere
that men have been in old greece in old rome he flourish in germany
all over in france in india even in the chernosese and in china so
far from us in all ways there even is he and the peoples fear him at
this day he have follow the wake of the berserker icelander the
devil-begotten hun the slav the saxon the magyar so far then we
have all we may act upon and let me tell you that very much of the
beliefs are justified by what we have seen in our own so unhappy
experience the vampire live on and cannot die by mere passing of the
time he can flourish when that he can fatten on the blood of the
living even more we have seen amongst us that he can even grow
younger that his vital faculties grow strenuous and seem as though
they refresh themselves when his special pabulum is plenty but he
cannot flourish without this diet he eat not as others even friend
jonathan who lived with him for weeks did never see him to eat never 
he throws no shadow he make in the mirror no reflect as again
jonathan observe he has the strength of many of his hand witness again
jonathan when he shut the door against the wolfs and when he help him
from the diligence too he can transform himself to wolf as we gather
from the ship arrival in whitby when he tear open the dog he can be as
bat as madam mina saw him on the window at whitby and as friend john
saw him fly from this so near house and as my friend quincey saw him at
the window of miss lucy he can come in mist which he create that noble
ship's captain proved him of this but from what we know the distance
he can make this mist is limited and it can only be round himself he
come on moonlight rays as elemental dust as again jonathan saw those
sisters in the castle of dracula he become so small we ourselves saw
miss lucy ere she was at peace slip through a hairbreadth space at the
tomb door he can when once he find his way come out from anything or
into anything no matter how close it be bound or even fused up with
fire solder you call it he can see in the dark no small power this 
in a world which is one half shut from the light ah but hear me
through he can do all these things yet he is not free nay he is even
more prisoner than the slave of the galley than the madman in his cell 
he cannot go where he lists he who is not of nature has yet to obey
some of nature's laws why we know not he may not enter anywhere at the
first unless there be some one of the household who bid him to come 
though afterwards he can come as he please his power ceases as does
that of all evil things at the coming of the day only at certain times
can he have limited freedom if he be not at the place whither he is
bound he can only change himself at noon or at exact sunrise or sunset 
these things are we told and in this record of ours we have proof by
inference thus whereas he can do as he will within his limit when he
have his earth-home his coffin-home his hell-home the place
unhallowed as we saw when he went to the grave of the suicide at
whitby still at other time he can only change when the time come it is
said too that he can only pass running water at the slack or the flood
of the tide then there are things which so afflict him that he has no
power as the garlic that we know of and as for things sacred as this
symbol my crucifix that was amongst us even now when we resolve to
them he is nothing but in their presence he take his place far off and
silent with respect there are others too which i shall tell you of 
lest in our seeking we may need them the branch of wild rose on his
coffin keep him that he move not from it a sacred bullet fired into the
coffin kill him so that he be true dead and as for the stake through
him we know already of its peace or the cut-off head that giveth rest 
we have seen it with our eyes 

 thus when we find the habitation of this man-that-was we can confine
him to his coffin and destroy him if we obey what we know but he is
clever i have asked my friend arminius of buda-pesth university to
make his record and from all the means that are he tell me of what he
has been he must indeed have been that voivode dracula who won his
name against the turk over the great river on the very frontier of
turkey-land if it be so then was he no common man for in that time 
and for centuries after he was spoken of as the cleverest and the most
cunning as well as the bravest of the sons of the 'land beyond the
forest ' that mighty brain and that iron resolution went with him to his
grave and are even now arrayed against us the draculas were says
arminius a great and noble race though now and again were scions who
were held by their coevals to have had dealings with the evil one they
learned his secrets in the scholomance amongst the mountains over lake
hermanstadt where the devil claims the tenth scholar as his due in the
records are such words as 'stregoica' witch 'ordog ' and
'pokol' satan and hell and in one manuscript this very dracula is
spoken of as 'wampyr ' which we all understand too well there have been
from the loins of this very one great men and good women and their
graves make sacred the earth where alone this foulness can dwell for it
is not the least of its terrors that this evil thing is rooted deep in
all good in soil barren of holy memories it cannot rest  

whilst they were talking mr morris was looking steadily at the window 
and he now got up quietly and went out of the room there was a little
pause and then the professor went on 

 and now we must settle what we do we have here much data and we must
proceed to lay out our campaign we know from the inquiry of jonathan
that from the castle to whitby came fifty boxes of earth all of which
were delivered at carfax we also know that at least some of these boxes
have been removed it seems to me that our first step should be to
ascertain whether all the rest remain in the house beyond that wall
where we look to-day or whether any more have been removed if the
latter we must trace  

here we were interrupted in a very startling way outside the house came
the sound of a pistol-shot the glass of the window was shattered with a
bullet which ricochetting from the top of the embrasure struck the
far wall of the room i am afraid i am at heart a coward for i shrieked
out the men all jumped to their feet lord godalming flew over to the
window and threw up the sash as he did so we heard mr morris's voice
without 

 sorry i fear i have alarmed you i shall come in and tell you about
it   a minute later he came in and said 

 it was an idiotic thing of me to do and i ask your pardon mrs 
harker most sincerely i fear i must have frightened you terribly but
the fact is that whilst the professor was talking there came a big bat
and sat on the window-sill i have got such a horror of the damned
brutes from recent events that i cannot stand them and i went out to
have a shot as i have been doing of late of evenings whenever i have
seen one you used to laugh at me for it then art  

 did you hit it   asked dr van helsing 

 i don't know i fancy not for it flew away into the wood   without
saying any more he took his seat and the professor began to resume his
statement 

 we must trace each of these boxes and when we are ready we must
either capture or kill this monster in his lair or we must so to
speak sterilise the earth so that no more he can seek safety in it 
thus in the end we may find him in his form of man between the hours of
noon and sunset and so engage with him when he is at his most weak 

 and now for you madam mina this night is the end until all be well 
you are too precious to us to have such risk when we part to-night you
no more must question we shall tell you all in good time we are men
and are able to bear but you must be our star and our hope and we
shall act all the more free that you are not in the danger such as we
are  

all the men even jonathan seemed relieved but it did not seem to me
good that they should brave danger and perhaps lessen their
safety strength being the best safety through care of me but their
minds were made up and though it was a bitter pill for me to swallow 
i could say nothing save to accept their chivalrous care of me 

mr morris resumed the discussion 

 as there is no time to lose i vote we have a look at his house right
now time is everything with him and swift action on our part may save
another victim  

i own that my heart began to fail me when the time for action came so
close but i did not say anything for i had a greater fear that if i
appeared as a drag or a hindrance to their work they might even leave
me out of their counsels altogether they have now gone off to carfax 
with means to get into the house 

manlike they had told me to go to bed and sleep as if a woman can
sleep when those she loves are in danger i shall lie down and pretend
to sleep lest jonathan have added anxiety about me when he returns 


 dr seward's diary 

 1 october 4 a m just as we were about to leave the house an
urgent message was brought to me from renfield to know if i would see
him at once as he had something of the utmost importance to say to me 
i told the messenger to say that i would attend to his wishes in the
morning i was busy just at the moment the attendant added 

 he seems very importunate sir i have never seen him so eager i don't
know but what if you don't see him soon he will have one of his
violent fits   i knew the man would not have said this without some
cause so i said  all right i'll go now  and i asked the others to
wait a few minutes for me as i had to go and see my  patient  

 take me with you friend john   said the professor  his case in your
diary interest me much and it had bearing too now and again on our 
case i should much like to see him and especial when his mind is
disturbed  

 may i come also   asked lord godalming 

 me too   said quincey morris  may i come   said harker i nodded and
we all went down the passage together 

we found him in a state of considerable excitement but far more
rational in his speech and manner than i had ever seen him there was an
unusual understanding of himself which was unlike anything i had ever
met with in a lunatic and he took it for granted that his reasons would
prevail with others entirely sane we all four went into the room but
none of the others at first said anything his request was that i would
at once release him from the asylum and send him home this he backed up
with arguments regarding his complete recovery and adduced his own
existing sanity  i appeal to your friends   he said  they will 
perhaps not mind sitting in judgment on my case by the way you have
not introduced me   i was so much astonished that the oddness of
introducing a madman in an asylum did not strike me at the moment and 
besides there was a certain dignity in the man's manner so much of
the habit of equality that i at once made the introduction  lord
godalming professor van helsing mr quincey morris of texas mr 
renfield   he shook hands with each of them saying in turn 

 lord godalming i had the honour of seconding your father at the
windham i grieve to know by your holding the title that he is no
more he was a man loved and honoured by all who knew him and in his
youth was i have heard the inventor of a burnt rum punch much
patronised on derby night mr morris you should be proud of your great
state its reception into the union was a precedent which may have
far-reaching effects hereafter when the pole and the tropics may hold
alliance to the stars and stripes the power of treaty may yet prove a
vast engine of enlargement when the monroe doctrine takes its true
place as a political fable what shall any man say of his pleasure at
meeting van helsing sir i make no apology for dropping all forms of
conventional prefix when an individual has revolutionised therapeutics
by his discovery of the continuous evolution of brain-matter 
conventional forms are unfitting since they would seem to limit him to
one of a class you gentlemen who by nationality by heredity or by
the possession of natural gifts are fitted to hold your respective
places in the moving world i take to witness that i am as sane as at
least the majority of men who are in full possession of their liberties 
and i am sure that you dr seward humanitarian and medico-jurist as
well as scientist will deem it a moral duty to deal with me as one to
be considered as under exceptional circumstances   he made this last
appeal with a courtly air of conviction which was not without its own
charm 

i think we were all staggered for my own part i was under the
conviction despite my knowledge of the man's character and history 
that his reason had been restored and i felt under a strong impulse to
tell him that i was satisfied as to his sanity and would see about the
necessary formalities for his release in the morning i thought it
better to wait however before making so grave a statement for of old
i knew the sudden changes to which this particular patient was liable 
so i contented myself with making a general statement that he appeared
to be improving very rapidly that i would have a longer chat with him
in the morning and would then see what i could do in the direction of
meeting his wishes this did not at all satisfy him for he said
quickly 

 but i fear dr seward that you hardly apprehend my wish i desire to
go at once here now this very hour this very moment if i may time
presses and in our implied agreement with the old scytheman it is of
the essence of the contract i am sure it is only necessary to put
before so admirable a practitioner as dr seward so simple yet so
momentous a wish to ensure its fulfilment   he looked at me keenly and
seeing the negative in my face turned to the others and scrutinised
them closely not meeting any sufficient response he went on 

 is it possible that i have erred in my supposition  

 you have   i said frankly but at the same time as i felt brutally 
there was a considerable pause and then he said slowly 

 then i suppose i must only shift my ground of request let me ask for
this concession boon privilege what you will i am content to implore
in such a case not on personal grounds but for the sake of others i
am not at liberty to give you the whole of my reasons but you may i
assure you take it from me that they are good ones sound and
unselfish and spring from the highest sense of duty could you look 
sir into my heart you would approve to the full the sentiments which
animate me nay more you would count me amongst the best and truest of
your friends   again he looked at us all keenly i had a growing
conviction that this sudden change of his entire intellectual method was
but yet another form or phase of his madness and so determined to let
him go on a little longer knowing from experience that he would like
all lunatics give himself away in the end van helsing was gazing at
him with a look of utmost intensity his bushy eyebrows almost meeting
with the fixed concentration of his look he said to renfield in a tone
which did not surprise me at the time but only when i thought of it
afterwards for it was as of one addressing an equal 

 can you not tell frankly your real reason for wishing to be free
to-night i will undertake that if you will satisfy even me a stranger 
without prejudice and with the habit of keeping an open mind dr 
seward will give you at his own risk and on his own responsibility the
privilege you seek   he shook his head sadly and with a look of
poignant regret on his face the professor went on 

 come sir bethink yourself you claim the privilege of reason in the
highest degree since you seek to impress us with your complete
reasonableness you do this whose sanity we have reason to doubt since
you are not yet released from medical treatment for this very defect if
you will not help us in our effort to choose the wisest course how can
we perform the duty which you yourself put upon us be wise and help
us and if we can we shall aid you to achieve your wish   he still shook
his head as he said 

 dr van helsing i have nothing to say your argument is complete and
if i were free to speak i should not hesitate a moment but i am not my
own master in the matter i can only ask you to trust me if i am
refused the responsibility does not rest with me   i thought it was now
time to end the scene which was becoming too comically grave so i went
towards the door simply saying 

 come my friends we have work to do good-night  

as however i got near the door a new change came over the patient he
moved towards me so quickly that for the moment i feared that he was
about to make another homicidal attack my fears however were
groundless for he held up his two hands imploringly and made his
petition in a moving manner as he saw that the very excess of his
emotion was militating against him by restoring us more to our old
relations he became still more demonstrative i glanced at van helsing 
and saw my conviction reflected in his eyes so i became a little more
fixed in my manner if not more stern and motioned to him that his
efforts were unavailing i had previously seen something of the same
constantly growing excitement in him when he had to make some request of
which at the time he had thought much such for instance as when he
wanted a cat and i was prepared to see the collapse into the same
sullen acquiescence on this occasion my expectation was not realised 
for when he found that his appeal would not be successful he got into
quite a frantic condition he threw himself on his knees and held up
his hands wringing them in plaintive supplication and poured forth a
torrent of entreaty with the tears rolling down his cheeks and his
whole face and form expressive of the deepest emotion 

 let me entreat you dr seward oh let me implore you to let me out
of this house at once send me away how you will and where you will 
send keepers with me with whips and chains let them take me in a
strait-waistcoat manacled and leg-ironed even to a gaol but let me go
out of this you don't know what you do by keeping me here i am
speaking from the depths of my heart of my very soul you don't know
whom you wrong or how and i may not tell woe is me i may not tell 
by all you hold sacred by all you hold dear by your love that is
lost by your hope that lives for the sake of the almighty take me out
of this and save my soul from guilt can't you hear me man can't you
understand will you never learn don't you know that i am sane and
earnest now that i am no lunatic in a mad fit but a sane man fighting
for his soul oh hear me hear me let me go let me go let me go  

i thought that the longer this went on the wilder he would get and so
would bring on a fit so i took him by the hand and raised him up 

 come   i said sternly  no more of this we have had quite enough
already get to your bed and try to behave more discreetly  

he suddenly stopped and looked at me intently for several moments then 
without a word he rose and moving over sat down on the side of the
bed the collapse had come as on former occasion just as i had
expected 

when i was leaving the room last of our party he said to me in a
quiet well-bred voice 

 you will i trust dr seward do me the justice to bear in mind later
on that i did what i could to convince you to-night  




chapter xix

jonathan harker's journal


 1 october 5 a m i went with the party to the search with an easy
mind for i think i never saw mina so absolutely strong and well i am
so glad that she consented to hold back and let us men do the work 
somehow it was a dread to me that she was in this fearful business at
all but now that her work is done and that it is due to her energy and
brains and foresight that the whole story is put together in such a way
that every point tells she may well feel that her part is finished and
that she can henceforth leave the rest to us we were i think all a
little upset by the scene with mr renfield when we came away from his
room we were silent till we got back to the study then mr morris said
to dr seward 

 say jack if that man wasn't attempting a bluff he is about the
sanest lunatic i ever saw i'm not sure but i believe that he had some
serious purpose and if he had it was pretty rough on him not to get a
chance   lord godalming and i were silent but dr van helsing added 

 friend john you know more of lunatics than i do and i'm glad of it 
for i fear that if it had been to me to decide i would before that last
hysterical outburst have given him free but we live and learn and in
our present task we must take no chance as my friend quincey would say 
all is best as they are   dr seward seemed to answer them both in a
dreamy kind of way 

 i don't know but that i agree with you if that man had been an
ordinary lunatic i would have taken my chance of trusting him but he
seems so mixed up with the count in an indexy kind of way that i am
afraid of doing anything wrong by helping his fads i can't forget how
he prayed with almost equal fervour for a cat and then tried to tear my
throat out with his teeth besides he called the count 'lord and
master ' and he may want to get out to help him in some diabolical way 
that horrid thing has the wolves and the rats and his own kind to help
him so i suppose he isn't above trying to use a respectable lunatic he
certainly did seem earnest though i only hope we have done what is
best these things in conjunction with the wild work we have in hand 
help to unnerve a man   the professor stepped over and laying his hand
on his shoulder said in his grave kindly way 

 friend john have no fear we are trying to do our duty in a very sad
and terrible case we can only do as we deem best what else have we to
hope for except the pity of the good god   lord godalming had slipped
away for a few minutes but now he returned he held up a little silver
whistle as he remarked 

 that old place may be full of rats and if so i've got an antidote on
call   having passed the wall we took our way to the house taking care
to keep in the shadows of the trees on the lawn when the moonlight shone
out when we got to the porch the professor opened his bag and took out
a lot of things which he laid on the step sorting them into four
little groups evidently one for each then he spoke 

 my friends we are going into a terrible danger and we need arms of
many kinds our enemy is not merely spiritual remember that he has the
strength of twenty men and that though our necks or our windpipes are
of the common kind and therefore breakable or crushable his are not
amenable to mere strength a stronger man or a body of men more strong
in all than him can at certain times hold him but they cannot hurt him
as we can be hurt by him we must therefore guard ourselves from his
touch keep this near your heart  as he spoke he lifted a little silver
crucifix and held it out to me i being nearest to him  put these
flowers round your neck  here he handed to me a wreath of withered
garlic blossoms  for other enemies more mundane this revolver and this
knife and for aid in all these so small electric lamps which you can
fasten to your breast and for all and above all at the last this 
which we must not desecrate needless   this was a portion of sacred
wafer which he put in an envelope and handed to me each of the others
was similarly equipped  now   he said  friend john where are the
skeleton keys if so that we can open the door we need not break house
by the window as before at miss lucy's  

dr seward tried one or two skeleton keys his mechanical dexterity as a
surgeon standing him in good stead presently he got one to suit after
a little play back and forward the bolt yielded and with a rusty
clang shot back we pressed on the door the rusty hinges creaked and
it slowly opened it was startlingly like the image conveyed to me in
dr seward's diary of the opening of miss westenra's tomb i fancy that
the same idea seemed to strike the others for with one accord they
shrank back the professor was the first to move forward and stepped
into the open door 

  in manus tuas domine   he said crossing himself as he passed over
the threshold we closed the door behind us lest when we should have
lit our lamps we should possibly attract attention from the road the
professor carefully tried the lock lest we might not be able to open it
from within should we be in a hurry making our exit then we all lit our
lamps and proceeded on our search 

the light from the tiny lamps fell in all sorts of odd forms as the
rays crossed each other or the opacity of our bodies threw great
shadows i could not for my life get away from the feeling that there
was some one else amongst us i suppose it was the recollection so
powerfully brought home to me by the grim surroundings of that terrible
experience in transylvania i think the feeling was common to us all 
for i noticed that the others kept looking over their shoulders at every
sound and every new shadow just as i felt myself doing 

the whole place was thick with dust the floor was seemingly inches
deep except where there were recent footsteps in which on holding down
my lamp i could see marks of hobnails where the dust was cracked the
walls were fluffy and heavy with dust and in the corners were masses of
spider's webs whereon the dust had gathered till they looked like old
tattered rags as the weight had torn them partly down on a table in the
hall was a great bunch of keys with a time-yellowed label on each they
had been used several times for on the table were several similar rents
in the blanket of dust similar to that exposed when the professor
lifted them he turned to me and said 

 you know this place jonathan you have copied maps of it and you know
it at least more than we do which is the way to the chapel   i had an
idea of its direction though on my former visit i had not been able to
get admission to it so i led the way and after a few wrong turnings
found myself opposite a low arched oaken door ribbed with iron bands 
 this is the spot   said the professor as he turned his lamp on a small
map of the house copied from the file of my original correspondence
regarding the purchase with a little trouble we found the key on the
bunch and opened the door we were prepared for some unpleasantness for
as we were opening the door a faint malodorous air seemed to exhale
through the gaps but none of us ever expected such an odour as we
encountered none of the others had met the count at all at close
quarters and when i had seen him he was either in the fasting stage of
his existence in his rooms or when he was gloated with fresh blood in
a ruined building open to the air but here the place was small and
close and the long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul there was
an earthy smell as of some dry miasma which came through the fouler
air but as to the odour itself how shall i describe it it was not
alone that it was composed of all the ills of mortality and with the
pungent acrid smell of blood but it seemed as though corruption had
become itself corrupt faugh it sickens me to think of it every breath
exhaled by that monster seemed to have clung to the place and
intensified its loathsomeness 

under ordinary circumstances such a stench would have brought our
enterprise to an end but this was no ordinary case and the high and
terrible purpose in which we were involved gave us a strength which rose
above merely physical considerations after the involuntary shrinking
consequent on the first nauseous whiff we one and all set about our
work as though that loathsome place were a garden of roses 

we made an accurate examination of the place the professor saying as we
began 

 the first thing is to see how many of the boxes are left we must then
examine every hole and corner and cranny and see if we cannot get some
clue as to what has become of the rest   a glance was sufficient to show
how many remained for the great earth chests were bulky and there was
no mistaking them 

there were only twenty-nine left out of the fifty once i got a fright 
for seeing lord godalming suddenly turn and look out of the vaulted
door into the dark passage beyond i looked too and for an instant my
heart stood still somewhere looking out from the shadow i seemed to
see the high lights of the count's evil face the ridge of the nose the
red eyes the red lips the awful pallor it was only for a moment for 
as lord godalming said  i thought i saw a face but it was only the
shadows   and resumed his inquiry i turned my lamp in the direction 
and stepped into the passage there was no sign of any one and as there
were no corners no doors no aperture of any kind but only the solid
walls of the passage there could be no hiding-place even for him i
took it that fear had helped imagination and said nothing 

a few minutes later i saw morris step suddenly back from a corner which
he was examining we all followed his movements with our eyes for
undoubtedly some nervousness was growing on us and we saw a whole mass
of phosphorescence which twinkled like stars we all instinctively drew
back the whole place was becoming alive with rats 

for a moment or two we stood appalled all save lord godalming who was
seemingly prepared for such an emergency rushing over to the great
iron-bound oaken door which dr seward had described from the outside 
and which i had seen myself he turned the key in the lock drew the
huge bolts and swung the door open then taking his little silver
whistle from his pocket he blew a low shrill call it was answered
from behind dr seward's house by the yelping of dogs and after about a
minute three terriers came dashing round the corner of the house 
unconsciously we had all moved towards the door and as we moved i
noticed that the dust had been much disturbed the boxes which had been
taken out had been brought this way but even in the minute that had
elapsed the number of the rats had vastly increased they seemed to
swarm over the place all at once till the lamplight shining on their
moving dark bodies and glittering baleful eyes made the place look
like a bank of earth set with fireflies the dogs dashed on but at the
threshold suddenly stopped and snarled and then simultaneously lifting
their noses began to howl in most lugubrious fashion the rats were
multiplying in thousands and we moved out 

lord godalming lifted one of the dogs and carrying him in placed him
on the floor the instant his feet touched the ground he seemed to
recover his courage and rushed at his natural enemies they fled before
him so fast that before he had shaken the life out of a score the other
dogs who had by now been lifted in the same manner had but small prey
ere the whole mass had vanished 

with their going it seemed as if some evil presence had departed for
the dogs frisked about and barked merrily as they made sudden darts at
their prostrate foes and turned them over and over and tossed them in
the air with vicious shakes we all seemed to find our spirits rise 
whether it was the purifying of the deadly atmosphere by the opening of
the chapel door or the relief which we experienced by finding ourselves
in the open i know not but most certainly the shadow of dread seemed to
slip from us like a robe and the occasion of our coming lost something
of its grim significance though we did not slacken a whit in our
resolution we closed the outer door and barred and locked it and
bringing the dogs with us began our search of the house we found
nothing throughout except dust in extraordinary proportions and all
untouched save for my own footsteps when i had made my first visit 
never once did the dogs exhibit any symptom of uneasiness and even when
we returned to the chapel they frisked about as though they had been
rabbit-hunting in a summer wood 

the morning was quickening in the east when we emerged from the front 
dr van helsing had taken the key of the hall-door from the bunch and
locked the door in orthodox fashion putting the key into his pocket
when he had done 

 so far   he said  our night has been eminently successful no harm has
come to us such as i feared might be and yet we have ascertained how
many boxes are missing more than all do i rejoice that this our
first and perhaps our most difficult and dangerous step has been
accomplished without the bringing thereinto our most sweet madam mina or
troubling her waking or sleeping thoughts with sights and sounds and
smells of horror which she might never forget one lesson too we have
learned if it be allowable to argue a particulari that the brute
beasts which are to the count's command are yet themselves not amenable
to his spiritual power for look these rats that would come to his
call just as from his castle top he summon the wolves to your going and
to that poor mother's cry though they come to him they run pell-mell
from the so little dogs of my friend arthur we have other matters
before us other dangers other fears and that monster he has not used
his power over the brute world for the only or the last time to-night 
so be it that he has gone elsewhere good it has given us opportunity
to cry 'check' in some ways in this chess game which we play for the
stake of human souls and now let us go home the dawn is close at hand 
and we have reason to be content with our first night's work it may be
ordained that we have many nights and days to follow if full of peril 
but we must go on and from no danger shall we shrink  

the house was silent when we got back save for some poor creature who
was screaming away in one of the distant wards and a low moaning sound
from renfield's room the poor wretch was doubtless torturing himself 
after the manner of the insane with needless thoughts of pain 

i came tiptoe into our own room and found mina asleep breathing so
softly that i had to put my ear down to hear it she looks paler than
usual i hope the meeting to-night has not upset her i am truly
thankful that she is to be left out of our future work and even of our
deliberations it is too great a strain for a woman to bear i did not
think so at first but i know better now therefore i am glad that it is
settled there may be things which would frighten her to hear and yet
to conceal them from her might be worse than to tell her if once she
suspected that there was any concealment henceforth our work is to be a
sealed book to her till at least such time as we can tell her that all
is finished and the earth free from a monster of the nether world i
daresay it will be difficult to begin to keep silence after such
confidence as ours but i must be resolute and to-morrow i shall keep
dark over to-night's doings and shall refuse to speak of anything that
has happened i rest on the sofa so as not to disturb her 

 

 1 october later i suppose it was natural that we should have all
overslept ourselves for the day was a busy one and the night had no
rest at all even mina must have felt its exhaustion for though i slept
till the sun was high i was awake before her and had to call two or
three times before she awoke indeed she was so sound asleep that for a
few seconds she did not recognize me but looked at me with a sort of
blank terror as one looks who has been waked out of a bad dream she
complained a little of being tired and i let her rest till later in the
day we now know of twenty-one boxes having been removed and if it be
that several were taken in any of these removals we may be able to trace
them all such will of course immensely simplify our labour and the
sooner the matter is attended to the better i shall look up thomas
snelling to-day 


 dr seward's diary 

 1 october it was towards noon when i was awakened by the professor
walking into my room he was more jolly and cheerful than usual and it
is quite evident that last night's work has helped to take some of the
brooding weight off his mind after going over the adventure of the
night he suddenly said 

 your patient interests me much may it be that with you i visit him
this morning or if that you are too occupy i can go alone if it may
be it is a new experience to me to find a lunatic who talk philosophy 
and reason so sound   i had some work to do which pressed so i told him
that if he would go alone i would be glad as then i should not have to
keep him waiting so i called an attendant and gave him the necessary
instructions before the professor left the room i cautioned him against
getting any false impression from my patient  but   he answered  i
want him to talk of himself and of his delusion as to consuming live
things he said to madam mina as i see in your diary of yesterday that
he had once had such a belief why do you smile friend john  

 excuse me   i said  but the answer is here   i laid my hand on the
type-written matter  when our sane and learned lunatic made that very
statement of how he used to consume life his mouth was actually
nauseous with the flies and spiders which he had eaten just before mrs 
harker entered the room   van helsing smiled in turn  good   he said 
 your memory is true friend john i should have remembered and yet it
is this very obliquity of thought and memory which makes mental disease
such a fascinating study perhaps i may gain more knowledge out of the
folly of this madman than i shall from the teaching of the most wise 
who knows   i went on with my work and before long was through that in
hand it seemed that the time had been very short indeed but there was
van helsing back in the study  do i interrupt   he asked politely as he
stood at the door 

 not at all   i answered  come in my work is finished and i am free 
i can go with you now if you like 

 it is needless i have seen him  

 well  

 i fear that he does not appraise me at much our interview was short 
when i entered his room he was sitting on a stool in the centre with
his elbows on his knees and his face was the picture of sullen
discontent i spoke to him as cheerfully as i could and with such a
measure of respect as i could assume he made no reply whatever  don't
you know me   i asked his answer was not reassuring  i know you well
enough you are the old fool van helsing i wish you would take yourself
and your idiotic brain theories somewhere else damn all thick-headed
dutchmen   not a word more would he say but sat in his implacable
sullenness as indifferent to me as though i had not been in the room at
all thus departed for this time my chance of much learning from this so
clever lunatic so i shall go if i may and cheer myself with a few
happy words with that sweet soul madam mina friend john it does
rejoice me unspeakable that she is no more to be pained no more to be
worried with our terrible things though we shall much miss her help it
is better so  

 i agree with you with all my heart   i answered earnestly for i did
not want him to weaken in this matter  mrs harker is better out of it 
things are quite bad enough for us all men of the world and who have
been in many tight places in our time but it is no place for a woman 
and if she had remained in touch with the affair it would in time
infallibly have wrecked her  

so van helsing has gone to confer with mrs harker and harker quincey
and art are all out following up the clues as to the earth-boxes i
shall finish my round of work and we shall meet to-night 


 mina harker's journal 

 1 october it is strange to me to be kept in the dark as i am to-day 
after jonathan's full confidence for so many years to see him
manifestly avoid certain matters and those the most vital of all this
morning i slept late after the fatigues of yesterday and though
jonathan was late too he was the earlier he spoke to me before he went
out never more sweetly or tenderly but he never mentioned a word of
what had happened in the visit to the count's house and yet he must
have known how terribly anxious i was poor dear fellow i suppose it
must have distressed him even more than it did me they all agreed that
it was best that i should not be drawn further into this awful work and
i acquiesced but to think that he keeps anything from me and now i am
crying like a silly fool when i know it comes from my husband's great
love and from the good good wishes of those other strong men 

that has done me good well some day jonathan will tell me all and
lest it should ever be that he should think for a moment that i kept
anything from him i still keep my journal as usual then if he has
feared of my trust i shall show it to him with every thought of my
heart put down for his dear eyes to read i feel strangely sad and
low-spirited to-day i suppose it is the reaction from the terrible
excitement 

last night i went to bed when the men had gone simply because they told
me to i didn't feel sleepy and i did feel full of devouring anxiety i
kept thinking over everything that has been ever since jonathan came to
see me in london and it all seems like a horrible tragedy with fate
pressing on relentlessly to some destined end everything that one does
seems no matter how right it may be to bring on the very thing which
is most to be deplored if i hadn't gone to whitby perhaps poor dear
lucy would be with us now she hadn't taken to visiting the churchyard
till i came and if she hadn't come there in the day-time with me she
wouldn't have walked there in her sleep and if she hadn't gone there at
night and asleep that monster couldn't have destroyed her as he did 
oh why did i ever go to whitby there now crying again i wonder what
has come over me to-day i must hide it from jonathan for if he knew
that i had been crying twice in one morning i who never cried on my
own account and whom he has never caused to shed a tear the dear
fellow would fret his heart out i shall put a bold face on and if i do
feel weepy he shall never see it i suppose it is one of the lessons
that we poor women have to learn 

i can't quite remember how i fell asleep last night i remember hearing
the sudden barking of the dogs and a lot of queer sounds like praying
on a very tumultuous scale from mr renfield's room which is somewhere
under this and then there was silence over everything silence so
profound that it startled me and i got up and looked out of the window 
all was dark and silent the black shadows thrown by the moonlight
seeming full of a silent mystery of their own not a thing seemed to be
stirring but all to be grim and fixed as death or fate so that a thin
streak of white mist that crept with almost imperceptible slowness
across the grass towards the house seemed to have a sentience and a
vitality of its own i think that the digression of my thoughts must
have done me good for when i got back to bed i found a lethargy
creeping over me i lay a while but could not quite sleep so i got out
and looked out of the window again the mist was spreading and was now
close up to the house so that i could see it lying thick against the
wall as though it were stealing up to the windows the poor man was
more loud than ever and though i could not distinguish a word he said 
i could in some way recognise in his tones some passionate entreaty on
his part then there was the sound of a struggle and i knew that the
attendants were dealing with him i was so frightened that i crept into
bed and pulled the clothes over my head putting my fingers in my ears 
i was not then a bit sleepy at least so i thought but i must have
fallen asleep for except dreams i do not remember anything until the
morning when jonathan woke me i think that it took me an effort and a
little time to realise where i was and that it was jonathan who was
bending over me my dream was very peculiar and was almost typical of
the way that waking thoughts become merged in or continued in dreams 

i thought that i was asleep and waiting for jonathan to come back i
was very anxious about him and i was powerless to act my feet and my
hands and my brain were weighted so that nothing could proceed at the
usual pace and so i slept uneasily and thought then it began to dawn
upon me that the air was heavy and dank and cold i put back the
clothes from my face and found to my surprise that all was dim
around the gaslight which i had left lit for jonathan but turned down 
came only like a tiny red spark through the fog which had evidently
grown thicker and poured into the room then it occurred to me that i
had shut the window before i had come to bed i would have got out to
make certain on the point but some leaden lethargy seemed to chain my
limbs and even my will i lay still and endured that was all i closed
my eyes but could still see through my eyelids it is wonderful what
tricks our dreams play us and how conveniently we can imagine the
mist grew thicker and thicker and i could see now how it came in for i
could see it like smoke or with the white energy of boiling
water pouring in not through the window but through the joinings of
the door it got thicker and thicker till it seemed as if it became
concentrated into a sort of pillar of cloud in the room through the top
of which i could see the light of the gas shining like a red eye things
began to whirl through my brain just as the cloudy column was now
whirling in the room and through it all came the scriptural words  a
pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night   was it indeed some such
spiritual guidance that was coming to me in my sleep but the pillar was
composed of both the day and the night-guiding for the fire was in the
red eye which at the thought got a new fascination for me till as i
looked the fire divided and seemed to shine on me through the fog like
two red eyes such as lucy told me of in her momentary mental wandering
when on the cliff the dying sunlight struck the windows of st mary's
church suddenly the horror burst upon me that it was thus that jonathan
had seen those awful women growing into reality through the whirling mist
in the moonlight and in my dream i must have fainted for all became
black darkness the last conscious effort which imagination made was to
show me a livid white face bending over me out of the mist i must be
careful of such dreams for they would unseat one's reason if there were
too much of them i would get dr van helsing or dr seward to prescribe
something for me which would make me sleep only that i fear to alarm
them such a dream at the present time would become woven into their
fears for me to-night i shall strive hard to sleep naturally if i do
not i shall to-morrow night get them to give me a dose of chloral that
cannot hurt me for once and it will give me a good night's sleep last
night tired me more than if i had not slept at all 

 

 2 october 10 p m last night i slept but did not dream i must have
slept soundly for i was not waked by jonathan coming to bed but the
sleep has not refreshed me for to-day i feel terribly weak and
spiritless i spent all yesterday trying to read or lying down dozing 
in the afternoon mr renfield asked if he might see me poor man he was
very gentle and when i came away he kissed my hand and bade god bless
me some way it affected me much i am crying when i think of him this
is a new weakness of which i must be careful jonathan would be
miserable if he knew i had been crying he and the others were out till
dinner-time and they all came in tired i did what i could to brighten
them up and i suppose that the effort did me good for i forgot how
tired i was after dinner they sent me to bed and all went off to smoke
together as they said but i knew that they wanted to tell each other
of what had occurred to each during the day i could see from jonathan's
manner that he had something important to communicate i was not so
sleepy as i should have been so before they went i asked dr seward to
give me a little opiate of some kind as i had not slept well the night
before he very kindly made me up a sleeping draught which he gave to
me telling me that it would do me no harm as it was very mild i
have taken it and am waiting for sleep which still keeps aloof i hope
i have not done wrong for as sleep begins to flirt with me a new fear
comes that i may have been foolish in thus depriving myself of the
power of waking i might want it here comes sleep good-night 




chapter xx

jonathan harker's journal


 1 october evening i found thomas snelling in his house at bethnal
green but unhappily he was not in a condition to remember anything the
very prospect of beer which my expected coming had opened to him had
proved too much and he had begun too early on his expected debauch i
learned however from his wife who seemed a decent poor soul that he
was only the assistant to smollet who of the two mates was the
responsible person so off i drove to walworth and found mr joseph
smollet at home and in his shirtsleeves taking a late tea out of a
saucer he is a decent intelligent fellow distinctly a good reliable
type of workman and with a headpiece of his own he remembered all
about the incident of the boxes and from a wonderful dog's-eared
notebook which he produced from some mysterious receptacle about the
seat of his trousers and which had hieroglyphical entries in thick 
half-obliterated pencil he gave me the destinations of the boxes there
were he said six in the cartload which he took from carfax and left at
197 chicksand street mile end new town and another six which he
deposited at jamaica lane bermondsey if then the count meant to
scatter these ghastly refuges of his over london these places were
chosen as the first of delivery so that later he might distribute more
fully the systematic manner in which this was done made me think that
he could not mean to confine himself to two sides of london he was now
fixed on the far east of the northern shore on the east of the southern
shore and on the south the north and west were surely never meant to
be left out of his diabolical scheme let alone the city itself and the
very heart of fashionable london in the south-west and west i went back
to smollet and asked him if he could tell us if any other boxes had
been taken from carfax 

he replied 

 well guv'nor you've treated me wery 'an'some  i had given him half a
sovereign  an' i'll tell yer all i know i heard a man by the name of
bloxam say four nights ago in the 'are an' 'ounds in pincher's alley 
as 'ow he an' his mate 'ad 'ad a rare dusty job in a old 'ouse at
purfect there ain't a-many such jobs as this 'ere an' i'm thinkin'
that maybe sam bloxam could tell ye summut   i asked if he could tell me
where to find him i told him that if he could get me the address it
would be worth another half-sovereign to him so he gulped down the rest
of his tea and stood up saying that he was going to begin the search
then and there at the door he stopped and said 

 look 'ere guv'nor there ain't no sense in me a-keepin' you 'ere i
may find sam soon or i mayn't but anyhow he ain't like to be in a way
to tell ye much to-night sam is a rare one when he starts on the booze 
if you can give me a envelope with a stamp on it and put yer address on
it i'll find out where sam is to be found and post it ye to-night but
ye'd better be up arter 'im soon in the mornin' or maybe ye won't ketch
'im for sam gets off main early never mind the booze the night afore  

this was all practical so one of the children went off with a penny to
buy an envelope and a sheet of paper and to keep the change when she
came back i addressed the envelope and stamped it and when smollet had
again faithfully promised to post the address when found i took my way
to home we're on the track anyhow i am tired to-night and want sleep 
mina is fast asleep and looks a little too pale her eyes look as
though she had been crying poor dear i've no doubt it frets her to be
kept in the dark and it may make her doubly anxious about me and the
others but it is best as it is it is better to be disappointed and
worried in such a way now than to have her nerve broken the doctors
were quite right to insist on her being kept out of this dreadful
business i must be firm for on me this particular burden of silence
must rest i shall not ever enter on the subject with her under any
circumstances indeed it may not be a hard task after all for she
herself has become reticent on the subject and has not spoken of the
count or his doings ever since we told her of our decision 

 

 2 october evening a long and trying and exciting day by the first
post i got my directed envelope with a dirty scrap of paper enclosed on
which was written with a carpenter's pencil in a sprawling hand 

 sam bloxam korkrans 4 poters cort bartel street walworth arsk for
the depite  

i got the letter in bed and rose without waking mina she looked heavy
and sleepy and pale and far from well i determined not to wake her 
but that when i should return from this new search i would arrange for
her going back to exeter i think she would be happier in our own home 
with her daily tasks to interest her than in being here amongst us and
in ignorance i only saw dr seward for a moment and told him where i
was off to promising to come back and tell the rest so soon as i should
have found out anything i drove to walworth and found with some
difficulty potter's court mr smollet's spelling misled me as i asked
for poter's court instead of potter's court however when i had found
the court i had no difficulty in discovering corcoran's lodging-house 
when i asked the man who came to the door for the  depite   he shook his
head and said  i dunno 'im there ain't no such a person 'ere i never
'eard of 'im in all my bloomin' days don't believe there ain't nobody
of that kind livin' ere or anywheres   i took out smollet's letter and
as i read it it seemed to me that the lesson of the spelling of the name
of the court might guide me  what are you   i asked 

 i'm the depity   he answered i saw at once that i was on the right
track phonetic spelling had again misled me a half-crown tip put the
deputy's knowledge at my disposal and i learned that mr bloxam who
had slept off the remains of his beer on the previous night at
corcoran's had left for his work at poplar at five o'clock that
morning he could not tell me where the place of work was situated but
he had a vague idea that it was some kind of a  new-fangled ware'us  
and with this slender clue i had to start for poplar it was twelve
o'clock before i got any satisfactory hint of such a building and this
i got at a coffee-shop where some workmen were having their dinner one
of these suggested that there was being erected at cross angel street a
new  cold storage  building and as this suited the condition of a
 new-fangled ware'us   i at once drove to it an interview with a surly
gatekeeper and a surlier foreman both of whom were appeased with the
coin of the realm put me on the track of bloxam he was sent for on my
suggesting that i was willing to pay his day's wages to his foreman for
the privilege of asking him a few questions on a private matter he was
a smart enough fellow though rough of speech and bearing when i had
promised to pay for his information and given him an earnest he told me
that he had made two journeys between carfax and a house in piccadilly 
and had taken from this house to the latter nine great boxes  main
heavy ones  with a horse and cart hired by him for this purpose i
asked him if he could tell me the number of the house in piccadilly to
which he replied 

 well guv'nor i forgits the number but it was only a few doors from a
big white church or somethink of the kind not long built it was a
dusty old 'ouse too though nothin' to the dustiness of the 'ouse we
tooked the bloomin' boxes from  

 how did you get into the houses if they were both empty  

 there was the old party what engaged me a-waitin' in the 'ouse at
purfleet he 'elped me to lift the boxes and put them in the dray curse
me but he was the strongest chap i ever struck an' him a old feller 
with a white moustache one that thin you would think he couldn't throw
a shadder  

how this phrase thrilled through me 

 why 'e took up 'is end o' the boxes like they was pounds of tea and
me a-puffin' an' a-blowin' afore i could up-end mine anyhow an' i'm no
chicken neither  

 how did you get into the house in piccadilly   i asked 

 he was there too he must 'a' started off and got there afore me for
when i rung of the bell he kem an' opened the door 'isself an' 'elped me
to carry the boxes into the 'all  

 the whole nine   i asked 

 yus there was five in the first load an' four in the second it was
main dry work an' i don't so well remember 'ow i got 'ome   i
interrupted him 

 were the boxes left in the hall  

 yus it was a big 'all an' there was nothin' else in it   i made one
more attempt to further matters 

 you didn't have any key  

 never used no key nor nothink the old gent he opened the door 'isself
an' shut it again when i druv off i don't remember the last time but
that was the beer  

 and you can't remember the number of the house  

 no sir but ye needn't have no difficulty about that it's a 'igh 'un
with a stone front with a bow on it an' 'igh steps up to the door i
know them steps 'avin' 'ad to carry the boxes up with three loafers
what come round to earn a copper the old gent give them shillin's an'
they seein' they got so much they wanted more but 'e took one of them
by the shoulder and was like to throw 'im down the steps till the lot
of them went away cussin'   i thought that with this description i could
find the house so having paid my friend for his information i started
off for piccadilly i had gained a new painful experience the count
could it was evident handle the earth-boxes himself if so time was
precious for now that he had achieved a certain amount of
distribution he could by choosing his own time complete the task
unobserved at piccadilly circus i discharged my cab and walked
westward beyond the junior constitutional i came across the house
described and was satisfied that this was the next of the lairs
arranged by dracula the house looked as though it had been long
untenanted the windows were encrusted with dust and the shutters were
up all the framework was black with time and from the iron the paint
had mostly scaled away it was evident that up to lately there had been
a large notice-board in front of the balcony it had however been
roughly torn away the uprights which had supported it still remaining 
behind the rails of the balcony i saw there were some loose boards 
whose raw edges looked white i would have given a good deal to have
been able to see the notice-board intact as it would perhaps have
given some clue to the ownership of the house i remembered my
experience of the investigation and purchase of carfax and i could not
but feel that if i could find the former owner there might be some means
discovered of gaining access to the house 

there was at present nothing to be learned from the piccadilly side and
nothing could be done so i went round to the back to see if anything
could be gathered from this quarter the mews were active the
piccadilly houses being mostly in occupation i asked one or two of the
grooms and helpers whom i saw around if they could tell me anything
about the empty house one of them said that he heard it had lately been
taken but he couldn't say from whom he told me however that up to
very lately there had been a notice-board of  for sale  up and that
perhaps mitchell sons and candy the house agents could tell me
something as he thought he remembered seeing the name of that firm on
the board i did not wish to seem too eager or to let my informant know
or guess too much so thanking him in the usual manner i strolled
away it was now growing dusk and the autumn night was closing in so i
did not lose any time having learned the address of mitchell sons and
candy from a directory at the berkeley i was soon at their office in
sackville street 

the gentleman who saw me was particularly suave in manner but
uncommunicative in equal proportion having once told me that the
piccadilly house which throughout our interview he called a
 mansion  was sold he considered my business as concluded when i
asked who had purchased it he opened his eyes a thought wider and
paused a few seconds before replying 

 it is sold sir  

 pardon me   i said with equal politeness  but i have a special reason
for wishing to know who purchased it  

again he paused longer and raised his eyebrows still more  it is sold 
sir   was again his laconic reply 

 surely   i said  you do not mind letting me know so much  

 but i do mind   he answered  the affairs of their clients are
absolutely safe in the hands of mitchell sons and candy   this was
manifestly a prig of the first water and there was no use arguing with
him i thought i had best meet him on his own ground so i said 

 your clients sir are happy in having so resolute a guardian of their
confidence i am myself a professional man   here i handed him my card 
 in this instance i am not prompted by curiosity i act on the part of
lord godalming who wishes to know something of the property which was 
he understood lately for sale   these words put a different complexion
on affairs he said 

 i would like to oblige you if i could mr harker and especially would
i like to oblige his lordship we once carried out a small matter of
renting some chambers for him when he was the honourable arthur
holmwood if you will let me have his lordship's address i will consult
the house on the subject and will in any case communicate with his
lordship by to-night's post it will be a pleasure if we can so far
deviate from our rules as to give the required information to his
lordship  

i wanted to secure a friend and not to make an enemy so i thanked him 
gave the address at dr seward's and came away it was now dark and i
was tired and hungry i got a cup of tea at the aerated bread company
and came down to purfleet by the next train 

i found all the others at home mina was looking tired and pale but she
made a gallant effort to be bright and cheerful it wrung my heart to
think that i had had to keep anything from her and so caused her
inquietude thank god this will be the last night of her looking on at
our conferences and feeling the sting of our not showing our
confidence it took all my courage to hold to the wise resolution of
keeping her out of our grim task she seems somehow more reconciled or
else the very subject seems to have become repugnant to her for when
any accidental allusion is made she actually shudders i am glad we
made our resolution in time as with such a feeling as this our growing
knowledge would be torture to her 

i could not tell the others of the day's discovery till we were alone 
so after dinner followed by a little music to save appearances even
amongst ourselves i took mina to her room and left her to go to bed 
the dear girl was more affectionate with me than ever and clung to me
as though she would detain me but there was much to be talked of and i
came away thank god the ceasing of telling things has made no
difference between us 

when i came down again i found the others all gathered round the fire in
the study in the train i had written my diary so far and simply read
it off to them as the best means of letting them get abreast of my own
information when i had finished van helsing said 

 this has been a great day's work friend jonathan doubtless we are on
the track of the missing boxes if we find them all in that house then
our work is near the end but if there be some missing we must search
until we find them then shall we make our final coup and hunt the
wretch to his real death   we all sat silent awhile and all at once mr 
morris spoke 

 say how are we going to get into that house  

 we got into the other   answered lord godalming quickly 

 but art this is different we broke house at carfax but we had night
and a walled park to protect us it will be a mighty different thing to
commit burglary in piccadilly either by day or night i confess i don't
see how we are going to get in unless that agency duck can find us a key
of some sort perhaps we shall know when you get his letter in the
morning   lord godalming's brows contracted and he stood up and walked
about the room by-and-by he stopped and said turning from one to
another of us 

 quincey's head is level this burglary business is getting serious we
got off once all right but we have now a rare job on hand unless we
can find the count's key basket  

as nothing could well be done before morning and as it would be at
least advisable to wait till lord godalming should hear from mitchell's 
we decided not to take any active step before breakfast time for a good
while we sat and smoked discussing the matter in its various lights and
bearings i took the opportunity of bringing this diary right up to the
moment i am very sleepy and shall go to bed 

just a line mina sleeps soundly and her breathing is regular her
forehead is puckered up into little wrinkles as though she thinks even
in her sleep she is still too pale but does not look so haggard as she
did this morning to-morrow will i hope mend all this she will be
herself at home in exeter oh but i am sleepy 


 dr seward's diary 

 1 october i am puzzled afresh about renfield his moods change so
rapidly that i find it difficult to keep touch of them and as they
always mean something more than his own well-being they form a more
than interesting study this morning when i went to see him after his
repulse of van helsing his manner was that of a man commanding destiny 
he was in fact commanding destiny subjectively he did not really
care for any of the things of mere earth he was in the clouds and
looked down on all the weaknesses and wants of us poor mortals i
thought i would improve the occasion and learn something so i asked
him 

 what about the flies these times   he smiled on me in quite a superior
sort of way such a smile as would have become the face of malvolio as
he answered me 

 the fly my dear sir has one striking feature its wings are typical
of the aerial powers of the psychic faculties the ancients did well
when they typified the soul as a butterfly  

i thought i would push his analogy to its utmost logically so i said
quickly 

 oh it is a soul you are after now is it   his madness foiled his
reason and a puzzled look spread over his face as shaking his head
with a decision which i had but seldom seen in him he said 

 oh no oh no i want no souls life is all i want   here he brightened
up  i am pretty indifferent about it at present life is all right i
have all i want you must get a new patient doctor if you wish to
study zoophagy  

this puzzled me a little so i drew him on 

 then you command life you are a god i suppose   he smiled with an
ineffably benign superiority 

 oh no far be it from me to arrogate to myself the attributes of the
deity i am not even concerned in his especially spiritual doings if i
may state my intellectual position i am so far as concerns things
purely terrestrial somewhat in the position which enoch occupied
spiritually   this was a poser to me i could not at the moment recall
enoch's appositeness so i had to ask a simple question though i felt
that by so doing i was lowering myself in the eyes of the lunatic 

 and why with enoch  

 because he walked with god   i could not see the analogy but did not
like to admit it so i harked back to what he had denied 

 so you don't care about life and you don't want souls why not   i put
my question quickly and somewhat sternly on purpose to disconcert him 
the effort succeeded for an instant he unconsciously relapsed into his
old servile manner bent low before me and actually fawned upon me as
he replied 

 i don't want any souls indeed indeed i don't i couldn't use them if
i had them they would be no manner of use to me i couldn't eat them
or   he suddenly stopped and the old cunning look spread over his
face like a wind-sweep on the surface of the water  and doctor as to
life what is it after all when you've got all you require and you
know that you will never want that is all i have friends good
friends like you dr seward  this was said with a leer of
inexpressible cunning  i know that i shall never lack the means of
life  

i think that through the cloudiness of his insanity he saw some
antagonism in me for he at once fell back on the last refuge of such as
he a dogged silence after a short time i saw that for the present it
was useless to speak to him he was sulky and so i came away 

later in the day he sent for me ordinarily i would not have come
without special reason but just at present i am so interested in him
that i would gladly make an effort besides i am glad to have anything
to help to pass the time harker is out following up clues and so are
lord godalming and quincey van helsing sits in my study poring over the
record prepared by the harkers he seems to think that by accurate
knowledge of all details he will light upon some clue he does not wish
to be disturbed in the work without cause i would have taken him with
me to see the patient only i thought that after his last repulse he
might not care to go again there was also another reason renfield
might not speak so freely before a third person as when he and i were
alone 

i found him sitting out in the middle of the floor on his stool a pose
which is generally indicative of some mental energy on his part when i
came in he said at once as though the question had been waiting on his
lips 

 what about souls   it was evident then that my surmise had been
correct unconscious cerebration was doing its work even with the
lunatic i determined to have the matter out  what about them
yourself   i asked he did not reply for a moment but looked all round
him and up and down as though he expected to find some inspiration for
an answer 

 i don't want any souls   he said in a feeble apologetic way the
matter seemed preying on his mind and so i determined to use it to  be
cruel only to be kind   so i said 

 you like life and you want life  

 oh yes but that is all right you needn't worry about that  

 but   i asked  how are we to get the life without getting the soul
also   this seemed to puzzle him so i followed it up 

 a nice time you'll have some time when you're flying out there with
the souls of thousands of flies and spiders and birds and cats buzzing
and twittering and miauing all round you you've got their lives you
know and you must put up with their souls   something seemed to affect
his imagination for he put his fingers to his ears and shut his eyes 
screwing them up tightly just as a small boy does when his face is being
soaped there was something pathetic in it that touched me it also gave
me a lesson for it seemed that before me was a child only a child 
though the features were worn and the stubble on the jaws was white it
was evident that he was undergoing some process of mental disturbance 
and knowing how his past moods had interpreted things seemingly foreign
to himself i thought i would enter into his mind as well as i could and
go with him the first step was to restore confidence so i asked him 
speaking pretty loud so that he would hear me through his closed ears 

 would you like some sugar to get your flies round again   he seemed to
wake up all at once and shook his head with a laugh he replied 

 not much flies are poor things after all   after a pause he added 
 but i don't want their souls buzzing round me all the same  

 or spiders   i went on 

 blow spiders what's the use of spiders there isn't anything in them
to eat or  he stopped suddenly as though reminded of a forbidden
topic 

 so so   i thought to myself  this is the second time he has suddenly
stopped at the word 'drink' what does it mean   renfield seemed himself
aware of having made a lapse for he hurried on as though to distract
my attention from it 

 i don't take any stock at all in such matters 'rats and mice and such
small deer ' as shakespeare has it 'chicken-feed of the larder' they
might be called i'm past all that sort of nonsense you might as well
ask a man to eat molecules with a pair of chop-sticks as to try to
interest me about the lesser carnivora when i know of what is before
me  

 i see   i said  you want big things that you can make your teeth meet
in how would you like to breakfast on elephant  

 what ridiculous nonsense you are talking   he was getting too wide
awake so i thought i would press him hard  i wonder   i said
reflectively  what an elephant's soul is like  

the effect i desired was obtained for he at once fell from his
high-horse and became a child again 

 i don't want an elephant's soul or any soul at all   he said for a
few moments he sat despondently suddenly he jumped to his feet with
his eyes blazing and all the signs of intense cerebral excitement  to
hell with you and your souls   he shouted  why do you plague me about
souls haven't i got enough to worry and pain and distract me already 
without thinking of souls   he looked so hostile that i thought he was
in for another homicidal fit so i blew my whistle the instant 
however that i did so he became calm and said apologetically 

 forgive me doctor i forgot myself you do not need any help i am so
worried in my mind that i am apt to be irritable if you only knew the
problem i have to face and that i am working out you would pity and
tolerate and pardon me pray do not put me in a strait-waistcoat i
want to think and i cannot think freely when my body is confined i am
sure you will understand   he had evidently self-control so when the
attendants came i told them not to mind and they withdrew renfield
watched them go when the door was closed he said with considerable
dignity and sweetness 

 dr seward you have been very considerate towards me believe me that
i am very very grateful to you   i thought it well to leave him in this
mood and so i came away there is certainly something to ponder over in
this man's state several points seem to make what the american
interviewer calls  a story   if one could only get them in proper order 
here they are 

will not mention  drinking  

fears the thought of being burdened with the  soul  of anything 

has no dread of wanting  life  in the future 

despises the meaner forms of life altogether though he dreads being
haunted by their souls 

logically all these things point one way he has assurance of some kind
that he will acquire some higher life he dreads the consequence the
burden of a soul then it is a human life he looks to 

and the assurance 

merciful god the count has been to him and there is some new scheme of
terror afoot 

 

 later i went after my round to van helsing and told him my
suspicion he grew very grave and after thinking the matter over for a
while asked me to take him to renfield i did so as we came to the door
we heard the lunatic within singing gaily as he used to do in the time
which now seems so long ago when we entered we saw with amazement that
he had spread out his sugar as of old the flies lethargic with the
autumn were beginning to buzz into the room we tried to make him talk
of the subject of our previous conversation but he would not attend he
went on with his singing just as though we had not been present he had
got a scrap of paper and was folding it into a note-book we had to come
away as ignorant as we went in 

his is a curious case indeed we must watch him to-night 


 letter mitchell sons and candy to lord godalming 

  1 october 

 my lord 

 we are at all times only too happy to meet your wishes we beg with
regard to the desire of your lordship expressed by mr harker on your
behalf to supply the following information concerning the sale and
purchase of no 347 piccadilly the original vendors are the executors
of the late mr archibald winter-suffield the purchaser is a foreign
nobleman count de ville who effected the purchase himself paying the
purchase money in notes 'over the counter ' if your lordship will pardon
us using so vulgar an expression beyond this we know nothing whatever
of him 

 we are my lord 

 your lordship's humble servants 

 mitchell sons and candy  


 dr seward's diary 

 2 october i placed a man in the corridor last night and told him to
make an accurate note of any sound he might hear from renfield's room 
and gave him instructions that if there should be anything strange he
was to call me after dinner when we had all gathered round the fire
in the study mrs harker having gone to bed we discussed the attempts
and discoveries of the day harker was the only one who had any result 
and we are in great hopes that his clue may be an important one 

before going to bed i went round to the patient's room and looked in
through the observation trap he was sleeping soundly and his heart
rose and fell with regular respiration 

this morning the man on duty reported to me that a little after midnight
he was restless and kept saying his prayers somewhat loudly i asked him
if that was all he replied that it was all he heard there was
something about his manner so suspicious that i asked him point blank if
he had been asleep he denied sleep but admitted to having  dozed  for
a while it is too bad that men cannot be trusted unless they are
watched 

to-day harker is out following up his clue and art and quincey are
looking after horses godalming thinks that it will be well to have
horses always in readiness for when we get the information which we
seek there will be no time to lose we must sterilise all the imported
earth between sunrise and sunset we shall thus catch the count at his
weakest and without a refuge to fly to van helsing is off to the
british museum looking up some authorities on ancient medicine the old
physicians took account of things which their followers do not accept 
and the professor is searching for witch and demon cures which may be
useful to us later 

i sometimes think we must be all mad and that we shall wake to sanity in
strait-waistcoats 

 

 later we have met again we seem at last to be on the track and our
work of to-morrow may be the beginning of the end i wonder if
renfield's quiet has anything to do with this his moods have so
followed the doings of the count that the coming destruction of the
monster may be carried to him in some subtle way if we could only get
some hint as to what passed in his mind between the time of my argument
with him to-day and his resumption of fly-catching it might afford us a
valuable clue he is now seemingly quiet for a spell is he that
wild yell seemed to come from his room 

 

the attendant came bursting into my room and told me that renfield had
somehow met with some accident he had heard him yell and when he went
to him found him lying on his face on the floor all covered with blood 
i must go at once 




chapter xxi

dr seward's diary


 3 october let me put down with exactness all that happened as well
as i can remember it since last i made an entry not a detail that i
can recall must be forgotten in all calmness i must proceed 

when i came to renfield's room i found him lying on the floor on his
left side in a glittering pool of blood when i went to move him it
became at once apparent that he had received some terrible injuries 
there seemed none of that unity of purpose between the parts of the body
which marks even lethargic sanity as the face was exposed i could see
that it was horribly bruised as though it had been beaten against the
floor indeed it was from the face wounds that the pool of blood
originated the attendant who was kneeling beside the body said to me as
we turned him over 

 i think sir his back is broken see both his right arm and leg and
the whole side of his face are paralysed   how such a thing could have
happened puzzled the attendant beyond measure he seemed quite
bewildered and his brows were gathered in as he said 

 i can't understand the two things he could mark his face like that by
beating his own head on the floor i saw a young woman do it once at the
eversfield asylum before anyone could lay hands on her and i suppose he
might have broke his neck by falling out of bed if he got in an awkward
kink but for the life of me i can't imagine how the two things
occurred if his back was broke he couldn't beat his head and if his
face was like that before the fall out of bed there would be marks of
it   i said to him 

 go to dr van helsing and ask him to kindly come here at once i want
him without an instant's delay   the man ran off and within a few
minutes the professor in his dressing gown and slippers appeared when
he saw renfield on the ground he looked keenly at him a moment and
then turned to me i think he recognised my thought in my eyes for he
said very quietly manifestly for the ears of the attendant 

 ah a sad accident he will need very careful watching and much
attention i shall stay with you myself but i shall first dress myself 
if you will remain i shall in a few minutes join you  

the patient was now breathing stertorously and it was easy to see that
he had suffered some terrible injury van helsing returned with
extraordinary celerity bearing with him a surgical case he had
evidently been thinking and had his mind made up for almost before he
looked at the patient he whispered to me 

 send the attendant away we must be alone with him when he becomes
conscious after the operation   so i said 

 i think that will do now simmons we have done all that we can at
present you had better go your round and dr van helsing will operate 
let me know instantly if there be anything unusual anywhere  

the man withdrew and we went into a strict examination of the patient 
the wounds of the face was superficial the real injury was a depressed
fracture of the skull extending right up through the motor area the
professor thought a moment and said 

 we must reduce the pressure and get back to normal conditions as far
as can be the rapidity of the suffusion shows the terrible nature of
his injury the whole motor area seems affected the suffusion of the
brain will increase quickly so we must trephine at once or it may be
too late   as he was speaking there was a soft tapping at the door i
went over and opened it and found in the corridor without arthur and
quincey in pajamas and slippers the former spoke 

 i heard your man call up dr van helsing and tell him of an accident 
so i woke quincey or rather called for him as he was not asleep things
are moving too quickly and too strangely for sound sleep for any of us
these times i've been thinking that to-morrow night will not see things
as they have been we'll have to look back and forward a little more
than we have done may we come in   i nodded and held the door open
till they had entered then i closed it again when quincey saw the
attitude and state of the patient and noted the horrible pool on the
floor he said softly 

 my god what has happened to him poor poor devil   i told him
briefly and added that we expected he would recover consciousness after
the operation for a short time at all events he went at once and sat
down on the edge of the bed with godalming beside him we all watched
in patience 

 we shall wait   said van helsing  just long enough to fix the best
spot for trephining so that we may most quickly and perfectly remove
the blood clot for it is evident that the haemorrhage is increasing  

the minutes during which we waited passed with fearful slowness i had a
horrible sinking in my heart and from van helsing's face i gathered
that he felt some fear or apprehension as to what was to come i dreaded
the words that renfield might speak i was positively afraid to think 
but the conviction of what was coming was on me as i have read of men
who have heard the death-watch the poor man's breathing came in
uncertain gasps each instant he seemed as though he would open his eyes
and speak but then would follow a prolonged stertorous breath and he
would relapse into a more fixed insensibility inured as i was to sick
beds and death this suspense grew and grew upon me i could almost
hear the beating of my own heart and the blood surging through my
temples sounded like blows from a hammer the silence finally became
agonising i looked at my companions one after another and saw from
their flushed faces and damp brows that they were enduring equal
torture there was a nervous suspense over us all as though overhead
some dread bell would peal out powerfully when we should least expect
it 

at last there came a time when it was evident that the patient was
sinking fast he might die at any moment i looked up at the professor
and caught his eyes fixed on mine his face was sternly set as he
spoke 

 there is no time to lose his words may be worth many lives i have
been thinking so as i stood here it may be there is a soul at stake 
we shall operate just above the ear  

without another word he made the operation for a few moments the
breathing continued to be stertorous then there came a breath so
prolonged that it seemed as though it would tear open his chest 
suddenly his eyes opened and became fixed in a wild helpless stare 
this was continued for a few moments then it softened into a glad
surprise and from the lips came a sigh of relief he moved
convulsively and as he did so said 

 i'll be quiet doctor tell them to take off the strait-waistcoat i
have had a terrible dream and it has left me so weak that i cannot
move what's wrong with my face it feels all swollen and it smarts
dreadfully   he tried to turn his head but even with the effort his
eyes seemed to grow glassy again so i gently put it back then van
helsing said in a quiet grave tone 

 tell us your dream mr renfield   as he heard the voice his face
brightened through its mutilation and he said 

 that is dr van helsing how good it is of you to be here give me some
water my lips are dry and i shall try to tell you i dreamed  he
stopped and seemed fainting i called quietly to quincey  the
brandy it is in my study quick   he flew and returned with a glass 
the decanter of brandy and a carafe of water we moistened the parched
lips and the patient quickly revived it seemed however that his poor
injured brain had been working in the interval for when he was quite
conscious he looked at me piercingly with an agonised confusion which i
shall never forget and said 

 i must not deceive myself it was no dream but all a grim reality  
then his eyes roved round the room as they caught sight of the two
figures sitting patiently on the edge of the bed he went on 

 if i were not sure already i would know from them   for an instant his
eyes closed not with pain or sleep but voluntarily as though he were
bringing all his faculties to bear when he opened them he said 
hurriedly and with more energy than he had yet displayed 

 quick doctor quick i am dying i feel that i have but a few minutes 
and then i must go back to death or worse wet my lips with brandy
again i have something that i must say before i die or before my poor
crushed brain dies anyhow thank you it was that night after you left
me when i implored you to let me go away i couldn't speak then for i
felt my tongue was tied but i was as sane then except in that way as
i am now i was in an agony of despair for a long time after you left
me it seemed hours then there came a sudden peace to me my brain
seemed to become cool again and i realised where i was i heard the
dogs bark behind our house but not where he was   as he spoke van
helsing's eyes never blinked but his hand came out and met mine and
gripped it hard he did not however betray himself he nodded slightly
and said  go on   in a low voice renfield proceeded 

 he came up to the window in the mist as i had seen him often before 
but he was solid then not a ghost and his eyes were fierce like a
man's when angry he was laughing with his red mouth the sharp white
teeth glinted in the moonlight when he turned to look back over the belt
of trees to where the dogs were barking i wouldn't ask him to come in
at first though i knew he wanted to just as he had wanted all along 
then he began promising me things not in words but by doing them   he
was interrupted by a word from the professor 

 how  

 by making them happen just as he used to send in the flies when the
sun was shining great big fat ones with steel and sapphire on their
wings and big moths in the night with skull and cross-bones on their
backs   van helsing nodded to him as he whispered to me unconsciously 

 the acherontia aitetropos of the sphinges what you call the
'death's-head moth'   the patient went on without stopping 

 then he began to whisper 'rats rats rats hundreds thousands 
millions of them and every one a life and dogs to eat them and cats
too all lives all red blood with years of life in it and not merely
buzzing flies ' i laughed at him for i wanted to see what he could do 
then the dogs howled away beyond the dark trees in his house he
beckoned me to the window i got up and looked out and he raised his
hands and seemed to call out without using any words a dark mass
spread over the grass coming on like the shape of a flame of fire and
then he moved the mist to the right and left and i could see that there
were thousands of rats with their eyes blazing red like his only
smaller he held up his hand and they all stopped and i thought he
seemed to be saying 'all these lives will i give you ay and many more
and greater through countless ages if you will fall down and worship
me ' and then a red cloud like the colour of blood seemed to close
over my eyes and before i knew what i was doing i found myself opening
the sash and saying to him 'come in lord and master ' the rats were
all gone but he slid into the room through the sash though it was only
open an inch wide just as the moon herself has often come in through
the tiniest crack and has stood before me in all her size and
splendour  

his voice was weaker so i moistened his lips with the brandy again and
he continued but it seemed as though his memory had gone on working in
the interval for his story was further advanced i was about to call him
back to the point but van helsing whispered to me  let him go on do
not interrupt him he cannot go back and maybe could not proceed at all
if once he lost the thread of his thought   he proceeded 

 all day i waited to hear from him but he did not send me anything not
even a blow-fly and when the moon got up i was pretty angry with him 
when he slid in through the window though it was shut and did not even
knock i got mad with him he sneered at me and his white face looked
out of the mist with his red eyes gleaming and he went on as though he
owned the whole place and i was no one he didn't even smell the same
as he went by me i couldn't hold him i thought that somehow mrs 
harker had come into the room  

the two men sitting on the bed stood up and came over standing behind
him so that he could not see them but where they could hear better 
they were both silent but the professor started and quivered his face 
however grew grimmer and sterner still renfield went on without
noticing 

 when mrs harker came in to see me this afternoon she wasn't the same 
it was like tea after the teapot had been watered   here we all moved 
but no one said a word he went on 

 i didn't know that she was here till she spoke and she didn't look the
same i don't care for the pale people i like them with lots of blood
in them and hers had all seemed to have run out i didn't think of it
at the time but when she went away i began to think and it made me mad
to know that he had been taking the life out of her   i could feel that
the rest quivered as i did but we remained otherwise still  so when
he came to-night i was ready for him i saw the mist stealing in and i
grabbed it tight i had heard that madmen have unnatural strength and
as i knew i was a madman at times anyhow i resolved to use my power 
ay and he felt it too for he had to come out of the mist to struggle
with me i held tight and i thought i was going to win for i didn't
mean him to take any more of her life till i saw his eyes they burned
into me and my strength became like water he slipped through it and
when i tried to cling to him he raised me up and flung me down there
was a red cloud before me and a noise like thunder and the mist seemed
to steal away under the door   his voice was becoming fainter and his
breath more stertorous van helsing stood up instinctively 

 we know the worst now   he said  he is here and we know his purpose 
it may not be too late let us be armed the same as we were the other
night but lose no time there is not an instant to spare   there was no
need to put our fear nay our conviction into words we shared them in
common we all hurried and took from our rooms the same things that we
had when we entered the count's house the professor had his ready and
as we met in the corridor he pointed to them significantly as he said 

 they never leave me and they shall not till this unhappy business is
over be wise also my friends it is no common enemy that we deal with 
alas alas that that dear madam mina should suffer   he stopped his
voice was breaking and i do not know if rage or terror predominated in
my own heart 

outside the harkers' door we paused art and quincey held back and the
latter said 

 should we disturb her  

 we must   said van helsing grimly  if the door be locked i shall
break it in  

 may it not frighten her terribly it is unusual to break into a lady's
room  

van helsing said solemnly  you are always right but this is life and
death all chambers are alike to the doctor and even were they not they
are all as one to me to-night friend john when i turn the handle if
the door does not open do you put your shoulder down and shove and you
too my friends now  

he turned the handle as he spoke but the door did not yield we threw
ourselves against it with a crash it burst open and we almost fell
headlong into the room the professor did actually fall and i saw
across him as he gathered himself up from hands and knees what i saw
appalled me i felt my hair rise like bristles on the back of my neck 
and my heart seemed to stand still 

the moonlight was so bright that through the thick yellow blind the room
was light enough to see on the bed beside the window lay jonathan
harker his face flushed and breathing heavily as though in a stupor 
kneeling on the near edge of the bed facing outwards was the white-clad
figure of his wife by her side stood a tall thin man clad in black 
his face was turned from us but the instant we saw we all recognised
the count in every way even to the scar on his forehead with his left
hand he held both mrs harker's hands keeping them away with her arms
at full tension his right hand gripped her by the back of the neck 
forcing her face down on his bosom her white nightdress was smeared
with blood and a thin stream trickled down the man's bare breast which
was shown by his torn-open dress the attitude of the two had a terrible
resemblance to a child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk to
compel it to drink as we burst into the room the count turned his
face and the hellish look that i had heard described seemed to leap
into it his eyes flamed red with devilish passion the great nostrils
of the white aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge and the
white sharp teeth behind the full lips of the blood-dripping mouth 
champed together like those of a wild beast with a wrench which threw
his victim back upon the bed as though hurled from a height he turned
and sprang at us but by this time the professor had gained his feet 
and was holding towards him the envelope which contained the sacred
wafer the count suddenly stopped just as poor lucy had done outside
the tomb and cowered back further and further back he cowered as we 
lifting our crucifixes advanced the moonlight suddenly failed as a
great black cloud sailed across the sky and when the gaslight sprang up
under quincey's match we saw nothing but a faint vapour this as we
looked trailed under the door which with the recoil from its bursting
open had swung back to its old position van helsing art and i moved
forward to mrs harker who by this time had drawn her breath and with
it had given a scream so wild so ear-piercing so despairing that it
seems to me now that it will ring in my ears till my dying day for a
few seconds she lay in her helpless attitude and disarray her face was
ghastly with a pallor which was accentuated by the blood which smeared
her lips and cheeks and chin from her throat trickled a thin stream of
blood her eyes were mad with terror then she put before her face her
poor crushed hands which bore on their whiteness the red mark of the
count's terrible grip and from behind them came a low desolate wail
which made the terrible scream seem only the quick expression of an
endless grief van helsing stepped forward and drew the coverlet gently
over her body whilst art after looking at her face for an instant
despairingly ran out of the room van helsing whispered to me 

 jonathan is in a stupor such as we know the vampire can produce we can
do nothing with poor madam mina for a few moments till she recovers
herself i must wake him   he dipped the end of a towel in cold water
and with it began to flick him on the face his wife all the while
holding her face between her hands and sobbing in a way that was
heart-breaking to hear i raised the blind and looked out of the
window there was much moonshine and as i looked i could see quincey
morris run across the lawn and hide himself in the shadow of a great
yew-tree it puzzled me to think why he was doing this but at the
instant i heard harker's quick exclamation as he woke to partial
consciousness and turned to the bed on his face as there might well
be was a look of wild amazement he seemed dazed for a few seconds and
then full consciousness seemed to burst upon him all at once and he
started up his wife was aroused by the quick movement and turned to
him with her arms stretched out as though to embrace him instantly 
however she drew them in again and putting her elbows together held
her hands before her face and shuddered till the bed beneath her shook 

 in god's name what does this mean   harker cried out  dr seward dr 
van helsing what is it what has happened what is wrong mina dear 
what is it what does that blood mean my god my god has it come to
this   and raising himself to his knees he beat his hands wildly
together  good god help us help her oh help her   with a quick
movement he jumped from bed and began to pull on his clothes all the
man in him awake at the need for instant exertion  what has happened 
tell me all about it   he cried without pausing  dr van helsing you
love mina i know oh do something to save her it cannot have gone too
far yet guard her while i look for him   his wife through her terror
and horror and distress saw some sure danger to him instantly
forgetting her own grief she seized hold of him and cried out 

 no no jonathan you must not leave me i have suffered enough
to-night god knows without the dread of his harming you you must stay
with me stay with these friends who will watch over you   her
expression became frantic as she spoke and he yielding to her she
pulled him down sitting on the bed side and clung to him fiercely 

van helsing and i tried to calm them both the professor held up his
little golden crucifix and said with wonderful calmness 

 do not fear my dear we are here and whilst this is close to you no
foul thing can approach you are safe for to-night and we must be calm
and take counsel together   she shuddered and was silent holding down
her head on her husband's breast when she raised it his white
night-robe was stained with blood where her lips had touched and where
the thin open wound in her neck had sent forth drops the instant she
saw it she drew back with a low wail and whispered amidst choking
sobs 

 unclean unclean i must touch him or kiss him no more oh that it
should be that it is i who am now his worst enemy and whom he may have
most cause to fear   to this he spoke out resolutely 

 nonsense mina it is a shame to me to hear such a word i would not
hear it of you and i shall not hear it from you may god judge me by my
deserts and punish me with more bitter suffering than even this hour 
if by any act or will of mine anything ever come between us   he put out
his arms and folded her to his breast and for a while she lay there
sobbing he looked at us over her bowed head with eyes that blinked
damply above his quivering nostrils his mouth was set as steel after a
while her sobs became less frequent and more faint and then he said to
me speaking with a studied calmness which i felt tried his nervous
power to the utmost 

 and now dr seward tell me all about it too well i know the broad
fact tell me all that has been   i told him exactly what had happened 
and he listened with seeming impassiveness but his nostrils twitched
and his eyes blazed as i told how the ruthless hands of the count had
held his wife in that terrible and horrid position with her mouth to
the open wound in his breast it interested me even at that moment to
see that whilst the face of white set passion worked convulsively over
the bowed head the hands tenderly and lovingly stroked the ruffled
hair just as i had finished quincey and godalming knocked at the door 
they entered in obedience to our summons van helsing looked at me
questioningly i understood him to mean if we were to take advantage of
their coming to divert if possible the thoughts of the unhappy husband
and wife from each other and from themselves so on nodding acquiescence
to him he asked them what they had seen or done to which lord godalming
answered 

 i could not see him anywhere in the passage or in any of our rooms i
looked in the study but though he had been there he had gone he had 
however   he stopped suddenly looking at the poor drooping figure on
the bed van helsing said gravely 

 go on friend arthur we want here no more concealments our hope now
is in knowing all tell freely   so art went on 

 he had been there and though it could only have been for a few
seconds he made rare hay of the place all the manuscript had been
burned and the blue flames were flickering amongst the white ashes the
cylinders of your phonograph too were thrown on the fire and the wax
had helped the flames   here i interrupted  thank god there is the
other copy in the safe   his face lit for a moment but fell again as he
went on  i ran downstairs then but could see no sign of him i looked
into renfield's room but there was no trace there except   again he
paused  go on   said harker hoarsely so he bowed his head and
moistening his lips with his tongue added  except that the poor fellow
is dead   mrs harker raised her head looking from one to the other of
us she said solemnly 

 god's will be done   i could not but feel that art was keeping back
something but as i took it that it was with a purpose i said nothing 
van helsing turned to morris and asked 

 and you friend quincey have you any to tell  

 a little   he answered  it may be much eventually but at present i
can't say i thought it well to know if possible where the count would
go when he left the house i did not see him but i saw a bat rise from
renfield's window and flap westward i expected to see him in some
shape go back to carfax but he evidently sought some other lair he
will not be back to-night for the sky is reddening in the east and the
dawn is close we must work to-morrow  

he said the latter words through his shut teeth for a space of perhaps
a couple of minutes there was silence and i could fancy that i could
hear the sound of our hearts beating then van helsing said placing his
hand very tenderly on mrs harker's head 

 and now madam mina poor dear dear madam mina tell us exactly what
happened god knows that i do not want that you be pained but it is
need that we know all for now more than ever has all work to be done
quick and sharp and in deadly earnest the day is close to us that must
end all if it may be so and now is the chance that we may live and
learn  

the poor dear lady shivered and i could see the tension of her nerves
as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and
lower still on his breast then she raised her head proudly and held
out one hand to van helsing who took it in his and after stooping and
kissing it reverently held it fast the other hand was locked in that
of her husband who held his other arm thrown round her protectingly 
after a pause in which she was evidently ordering her thoughts she
began 

 i took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me but for a
long time it did not act i seemed to become more wakeful and myriads
of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind all of them
connected with death and vampires with blood and pain and trouble  
her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and said
lovingly  do not fret dear you must be brave and strong and help me
through the horrible task if you only knew what an effort it is to me
to tell of this fearful thing at all you would understand how much i
need your help well i saw i must try to help the medicine to its work
with my will if it was to do me any good so i resolutely set myself to
sleep sure enough sleep must soon have come to me for i remember no
more jonathan coming in had not waked me for he lay by my side when
next i remember there was in the room the same thin white mist that i
had before noticed but i forget now if you know of this you will find
it in my diary which i shall show you later i felt the same vague
terror which had come to me before and the same sense of some presence 
i turned to wake jonathan but found that he slept so soundly that it
seemed as if it was he who had taken the sleeping draught and not i i
tried but i could not wake him this caused me a great fear and i
looked around terrified then indeed my heart sank within me beside
the bed as if he had stepped out of the mist or rather as if the mist
had turned into his figure for it had entirely disappeared stood a
tall thin man all in black i knew him at once from the description of
the others the waxen face the high aquiline nose on which the light
fell in a thin white line the parted red lips with the sharp white
teeth showing between and the red eyes that i had seemed to see in the
sunset on the windows of st mary's church at whitby i knew too the
red scar on his forehead where jonathan had struck him for an instant
my heart stood still and i would have screamed out only that i was
paralysed in the pause he spoke in a sort of keen cutting whisper 
pointing as he spoke to jonathan 

 'silence if you make a sound i shall take him and dash his brains out
before your very eyes ' i was appalled and was too bewildered to do or
say anything with a mocking smile he placed one hand upon my shoulder
and holding me tight bared my throat with the other saying as he did
so 'first a little refreshment to reward my exertions you may as well
be quiet it is not the first time or the second that your veins have
appeased my thirst ' i was bewildered and strangely enough i did not
want to hinder him i suppose it is a part of the horrible curse that
such is when his touch is on his victim and oh my god my god pity
me he placed his reeking lips upon my throat   her husband groaned
again she clasped his hand harder and looked at him pityingly as if
he were the injured one and went on 

 i felt my strength fading away and i was in a half swoon how long
this horrible thing lasted i know not but it seemed that a long time
must have passed before he took his foul awful sneering mouth away i
saw it drip with the fresh blood   the remembrance seemed for a while to
overpower her and she drooped and would have sunk down but for her
husband's sustaining arm with a great effort she recovered herself and
went on 

 then he spoke to me mockingly 'and so you like the others would play
your brains against mine you would help these men to hunt me and
frustrate me in my designs you know now and they know in part already 
and will know in full before long what it is to cross my path they
should have kept their energies for use closer to home whilst they
played wits against me against me who commanded nations and intrigued
for them and fought for them hundreds of years before they were
born i was countermining them and you their best beloved one are now
to me flesh of my flesh blood of my blood kin of my kin my bountiful
wine-press for a while and shall be later on my companion and my
helper you shall be avenged in turn for not one of them but shall
minister to your needs but as yet you are to be punished for what you
have done you have aided in thwarting me now you shall come to my
call when my brain says  come   to you you shall cross land or sea to
do my bidding and to that end this ' with that he pulled open his
shirt and with his long sharp nails opened a vein in his breast when
the blood began to spurt out he took my hands in one of his holding
them tight and with the other seized my neck and pressed my mouth to
the wound so that i must either suffocate or swallow some of the oh
my god my god what have i done what have i done to deserve such a
fate i who have tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my
days god pity me look down on a poor soul in worse than mortal peril 
and in mercy pity those to whom she is dear   then she began to rub her
lips as though to cleanse them from pollution 

as she was telling her terrible story the eastern sky began to quicken 
and everything became more and more clear harker was still and quiet 
but over his face as the awful narrative went on came a grey look
which deepened and deepened in the morning light till when the first
red streak of the coming dawn shot up the flesh stood darkly out
against the whitening hair 

we have arranged that one of us is to stay within call of the unhappy
pair till we can meet together and arrange about taking action 

of this i am sure the sun rises to-day on no more miserable house in
all the great round of its daily course 




chapter xxii

jonathan harker's journal


 3 october as i must do something or go mad i write this diary it
is now six o'clock and we are to meet in the study in half an hour and
take something to eat for dr van helsing and dr seward are agreed
that if we do not eat we cannot work our best our best will be god
knows required to-day i must keep writing at every chance for i dare
not stop to think all big and little must go down perhaps at the end
the little things may teach us most the teaching big or little could
not have landed mina or me anywhere worse than we are to-day however 
we must trust and hope poor mina told me just now with the tears
running down her dear cheeks that it is in trouble and trial that our
faith is tested that we must keep on trusting and that god will aid us
up to the end the end oh my god what end to work to work 

when dr van helsing and dr seward had come back from seeing poor
renfield we went gravely into what was to be done first dr seward
told us that when he and dr van helsing had gone down to the room below
they had found renfield lying on the floor all in a heap his face was
all bruised and crushed in and the bones of the neck were broken 

dr seward asked the attendant who was on duty in the passage if he had
heard anything he said that he had been sitting down he confessed to
half dozing when he heard loud voices in the room and then renfield
had called out loudly several times  god god god   after that there
was a sound of falling and when he entered the room he found him lying
on the floor face down just as the doctors had seen him van helsing
asked if he had heard  voices  or  a voice   and he said he could not
say that at first it had seemed to him as if there were two but as
there was no one in the room it could have been only one he could swear
to it if required that the word  god  was spoken by the patient dr 
seward said to us when we were alone that he did not wish to go into
the matter the question of an inquest had to be considered and it
would never do to put forward the truth as no one would believe it as
it was he thought that on the attendant's evidence he could give a
certificate of death by misadventure in falling from bed in case the
coroner should demand it there would be a formal inquest necessarily
to the same result 

when the question began to be discussed as to what should be our next
step the very first thing we decided was that mina should be in full
confidence that nothing of any sort no matter how painful should be
kept from her she herself agreed as to its wisdom and it was pitiful
to see her so brave and yet so sorrowful and in such a depth of
despair  there must be no concealment   she said  alas we have had
too much already and besides there is nothing in all the world that can
give me more pain than i have already endured than i suffer now 
whatever may happen it must be of new hope or of new courage to me  
van helsing was looking at her fixedly as she spoke and said suddenly
but quietly 

 but dear madam mina are you not afraid not for yourself but for
others from yourself after what has happened   her face grew set in its
lines but her eyes shone with the devotion of a martyr as she
answered 

 ah no for my mind is made up  

 to what   he asked gently whilst we were all very still for each in
our own way we had a sort of vague idea of what she meant her answer
came with direct simplicity as though she were simply stating a fact 

 because if i find in myself and i shall watch keenly for it a sign of
harm to any that i love i shall die  

 you would not kill yourself   he asked hoarsely 

 i would if there were no friend who loved me who would save me such a
pain and so desperate an effort   she looked at him meaningly as she
spoke he was sitting down but now he rose and came close to her and
put his hand on her head as he said solemnly 

 my child there is such an one if it were for your good for myself i
could hold it in my account with god to find such an euthanasia for you 
even at this moment if it were best nay were it safe but my
child   for a moment he seemed choked and a great sob rose in his
throat he gulped it down and went on 

 there are here some who would stand between you and death you must not
die you must not die by any hand but least of all by your own until
the other who has fouled your sweet life is true dead you must not
die for if he is still with the quick un-dead your death would make
you even as he is no you must live you must struggle and strive to
live though death would seem a boon unspeakable you must fight death
himself though he come to you in pain or in joy by the day or the
night in safety or in peril on your living soul i charge you that you
do not die nay nor think of death till this great evil be past   the
poor dear grew white as death and shock and shivered as i have seen a
quicksand shake and shiver at the incoming of the tide we were all
silent we could do nothing at length she grew more calm and turning to
him said sweetly but oh so sorrowfully as she held out her hand 

 i promise you my dear friend that if god will let me live i shall
strive to do so till if it may be in his good time this horror may
have passed away from me   she was so good and brave that we all felt
that our hearts were strengthened to work and endure for her and we
began to discuss what we were to do i told her that she was to have all
the papers in the safe and all the papers or diaries and phonographs we
might hereafter use and was to keep the record as she had done before 
she was pleased with the prospect of anything to do if  pleased  could
be used in connection with so grim an interest 

as usual van helsing had thought ahead of everyone else and was
prepared with an exact ordering of our work 

 it is perhaps well   he said  that at our meeting after our visit to
carfax we decided not to do anything with the earth-boxes that lay
there had we done so the count must have guessed our purpose and
would doubtless have taken measures in advance to frustrate such an
effort with regard to the others but now he does not know our
intentions nay more in all probability he does not know that such a
power exists to us as can sterilise his lairs so that he cannot use
them as of old we are now so much further advanced in our knowledge as
to their disposition that when we have examined the house in
piccadilly we may track the very last of them to-day then is ours 
and in it rests our hope the sun that rose on our sorrow this morning
guards us in its course until it sets to-night that monster must
retain whatever form he now has he is confined within the limitations
of his earthly envelope he cannot melt into thin air nor disappear
through cracks or chinks or crannies if he go through a doorway he
must open the door like a mortal and so we have this day to hunt out
all his lairs and sterilise them so we shall if we have not yet catch
him and destroy him drive him to bay in some place where the catching
and the destroying shall be in time sure   here i started up for i
could not contain myself at the thought that the minutes and seconds so
preciously laden with mina's life and happiness were flying from us 
since whilst we talked action was impossible but van helsing held up
his hand warningly  nay friend jonathan   he said  in this the
quickest way home is the longest way so your proverb say we shall all
act and act with desperate quick when the time has come but think in
all probable the key of the situation is in that house in piccadilly 
the count may have many houses which he has bought of them he will have
deeds of purchase keys and other things he will have paper that he
write on he will have his book of cheques there are many belongings
that he must have somewhere why not in this place so central so quiet 
where he come and go by the front or the back at all hour when in the
very vast of the traffic there is none to notice we shall go there and
search that house and when we learn what it holds then we do what our
friend arthur call in his phrases of hunt 'stop the earths' and so we
run down our old fox so is it not  

 then let us come at once   i cried  we are wasting the precious 
precious time   the professor did not move but simply said 

 and how are we to get into that house in piccadilly  

 any way   i cried  we shall break in if need be  

 and your police where will they be and what will they say  

i was staggered but i knew that if he wished to delay he had a good
reason for it so i said as quietly as i could 

 don't wait more than need be you know i am sure what torture i am
in  

 ah my child that i do and indeed there is no wish of me to add to
your anguish but just think what can we do until all the world be at
movement then will come our time i have thought and thought and it
seems to me that the simplest way is the best of all now we wish to get
into the house but we have no key is it not so   i nodded 

 now suppose that you were in truth the owner of that house and could
not still get it and think there was to you no conscience of the
housebreaker what would you do  

 i should get a respectable locksmith and set him to work to pick the
lock for me  

 and your police they would interfere would they not  

 oh no not if they knew the man was properly employed  

 then   he looked at me as keenly as he spoke  all that is in doubt is
the conscience of the employer and the belief of your policemen as to
whether or no that employer has a good conscience or a bad one your
police must indeed be zealous men and clever oh so clever in reading
the heart that they trouble themselves in such matter no no my
friend jonathan you go take the lock off a hundred empty house in this
your london or of any city in the world and if you do it as such
things are rightly done and at the time such things are rightly done 
no one will interfere i have read of a gentleman who owned a so fine
house in london and when he went for months of summer to switzerland
and lock up his house some burglar came and broke window at back and
got in then he went and made open the shutters in front and walk out
and in through the door before the very eyes of the police then he
have an auction in that house and advertise it and put up big notice 
and when the day come he sell off by a great auctioneer all the goods of
that other man who own them then he go to a builder and he sell him
that house making an agreement that he pull it down and take all away
within a certain time and your police and other authority help him all
they can and when that owner come back from his holiday in switzerland
he find only an empty hole where his house had been this was all done
 en regle and in our work we shall be en regle too we shall not go
so early that the policemen who have then little to think of shall deem
it strange but we shall go after ten o'clock when there are many
about and such things would be done were we indeed owners of the
house  

i could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of mina's
face became relaxed a thought there was hope in such good counsel van
helsing went on 

 when once within that house we may find more clues at any rate some of
us can remain there whilst the rest find the other places where there be
more earth-boxes at bermondsey and mile end  

lord godalming stood up  i can be of some use here   he said  i shall
wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will be most
convenient  

 look here old fellow   said morris  it is a capital idea to have all
ready in case we want to go horsebacking but don't you think that one
of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a byway of
walworth or mile end would attract too much attention for our purposes 
it seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south or east and
even leave them somewhere near the neighbourhood we are going to  

 friend quincey is right   said the professor  his head is what you
call in plane with the horizon it is a difficult thing that we go to
do and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may  

mina took a growing interest in everything and i was rejoiced to see
that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the
terrible experience of the night she was very very pale almost
ghastly and so thin that her lips were drawn away showing her teeth in
somewhat of prominence i did not mention this last lest it should give
her needless pain but it made my blood run cold in my veins to think of
what had occurred with poor lucy when the count had sucked her blood as
yet there was no sign of the teeth growing sharper but the time as yet
was short and there was time for fear 

when we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of the
disposition of our forces there were new sources of doubt it was
finally agreed that before starting for piccadilly we should destroy the
count's lair close at hand in case he should find it out too soon we
should thus be still ahead of him in our work of destruction and his
presence in his purely material shape and at his weakest might give us
some new clue 

as to the disposal of forces it was suggested by the professor that 
after our visit to carfax we should all enter the house in piccadilly 
that the two doctors and i should remain there whilst lord godalming
and quincey found the lairs at walworth and mile end and destroyed them 
it was possible if not likely the professor urged that the count
might appear in piccadilly during the day and that if so we might be
able to cope with him then and there at any rate we might be able to
follow him in force to this plan i strenuously objected and so far as
my going was concerned for i said that i intended to stay and protect
mina i thought that my mind was made up on the subject but mina would
not listen to my objection she said that there might be some law matter
in which i could be useful that amongst the count's papers might be
some clue which i could understand out of my experience in transylvania 
and that as it was all the strength we could muster was required to
cope with the count's extraordinary power i had to give in for mina's
resolution was fixed she said that it was the last hope for her that
we should all work together  as for me   she said  i have no fear 
things have been as bad as they can be and whatever may happen must
have in it some element of hope or comfort go my husband god can if
he wishes it guard me as well alone as with any one present   so i
started up crying out  then in god's name let us come at once for we
are losing time the count may come to piccadilly earlier than we
think  

 not so   said van helsing holding up his hand 

 but why   i asked 

 do you forget   he said with actually a smile  that last night he
banqueted heavily and will sleep late  

did i forget shall i ever can i ever can any of us ever forget that
terrible scene mina struggled hard to keep her brave countenance but
the pain overmastered her and she put her hands before her face and
shuddered whilst she moaned van helsing had not intended to recall her
frightful experience he had simply lost sight of her and her part in
the affair in his intellectual effort when it struck him what he said 
he was horrified at his thoughtlessness and tried to comfort her  oh 
madam mina   he said  dear dear madam mina alas that i of all who so
reverence you should have said anything so forgetful these stupid old
lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so but you will
forget it will you not   he bent low beside her as he spoke she took
his hand and looking at him through her tears said hoarsely 

 no i shall not forget for it is well that i remember and with it i
have so much in memory of you that is sweet that i take it all
together now you must all be going soon breakfast is ready and we
must all eat that we may be strong  

breakfast was a strange meal to us all we tried to be cheerful and
encourage each other and mina was the brightest and most cheerful of
us when it was over van helsing stood up and said 

 now my dear friends we go forth to our terrible enterprise are we
all armed as we were on that night when first we visited our enemy's
lair armed against ghostly as well as carnal attack   we all assured
him  then it is well now madam mina you are in any case quite safe
here until the sunset and before then we shall return if we shall
return but before we go let me see you armed against personal attack i
have myself since you came down prepared your chamber by the placing
of things of which we know so that he may not enter now let me guard
yourself on your forehead i touch this piece of sacred wafer in the
name of the father the son and  

there was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear as he
had placed the wafer on mina's forehead it had seared it had burned
into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white-hot metal my poor
darling's brain had told her the significance of the fact as quickly as
her nerves received the pain of it and the two so overwhelmed her that
her overwrought nature had its voice in that dreadful scream but the
words to her thought came quickly the echo of the scream had not ceased
to ring on the air when there came the reaction and she sank on her
knees on the floor in an agony of abasement pulling her beautiful hair
over her face as the leper of old his mantle she wailed out 

 unclean unclean even the almighty shuns my polluted flesh i must
bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the judgment day   they
all paused i had thrown myself beside her in an agony of helpless
grief and putting my arms around held her tight for a few minutes our
sorrowful hearts beat together whilst the friends around us turned away
their eyes that ran tears silently then van helsing turned and said
gravely so gravely that i could not help feeling that he was in some
way inspired and was stating things outside himself 

 it may be that you may have to bear that mark till god himself see fit 
as he most surely shall on the judgment day to redress all wrongs of
the earth and of his children that he has placed thereon and oh madam
mina my dear my dear may we who love you be there to see when that
red scar the sign of god's knowledge of what has been shall pass away 
and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know for so surely as
we live that scar shall pass away when god sees right to lift the
burden that is hard upon us till then we bear our cross as his son did
in obedience to his will it may be that we are chosen instruments of
his good pleasure and that we ascend to his bidding as that other
through stripes and shame through tears and blood through doubts and
fears and all that makes the difference between god and man  

there was hope in his words and comfort and they made for resignation 
mina and i both felt so and simultaneously we each took one of the old
man's hands and bent over and kissed it then without a word we all
knelt down together and all holding hands swore to be true to each
other we men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of sorrow from the
head of her whom each in his own way we loved and we prayed for help
and guidance in the terrible task which lay before us 

it was then time to start so i said farewell to mina a parting which
neither of us shall forget to our dying day and we set out 

to one thing i have made up my mind if we find out that mina must be a
vampire in the end then she shall not go into that unknown and terrible
land alone i suppose it is thus that in old times one vampire meant
many just as their hideous bodies could only rest in sacred earth so
the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for their ghastly ranks 

we entered carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on
the first occasion it was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic
surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for such
fear as already we knew had not our minds been made up and had there
not been terrible memories to spur us on we could hardly have proceeded
with our task we found no papers or any sign of use in the house and
in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we had seen them last 
dr van helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before them 

 and now my friends we have a duty here to do we must sterilise this
earth so sacred of holy memories that he has brought from a far
distant land for such fell use he has chosen this earth because it has
been holy thus we defeat him with his own weapon for we make it more
holy still it was sanctified to such use of man now we sanctify it to
god   as he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench and
very soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open the earth smelled
musty and close but we did not somehow seem to mind for our attention
was concentrated on the professor taking from his box a piece of the
sacred wafer he laid it reverently on the earth and then shutting down
the lid began to screw it home we aiding him as he worked 

one by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes and left
them as we had found them to all appearance but in each was a portion
of the host 

when we closed the door behind us the professor said solemnly 

 so much is already done if it may be that with all the others we can
be so successful then the sunset of this evening may shine on madam
mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain  

as we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our
train we could see the front of the asylum i looked eagerly and in the
window of my own room saw mina i waved my hand to her and nodded to
tell that our work there was successfully accomplished she nodded in
reply to show that she understood the last i saw she was waving her
hand in farewell it was with a heavy heart that we sought the station
and just caught the train which was steaming in as we reached the
platform 

i have written this in the train 

 

 piccadilly 12 30 o'clock just before we reached fenchurch street
lord godalming said to me 

 quincey and i will find a locksmith you had better not come with us in
case there should be any difficulty for under the circumstances it
wouldn't seem so bad for us to break into an empty house but you are a
solicitor and the incorporated law society might tell you that you
should have known better   i demurred as to my not sharing any danger
even of odium but he went on  besides it will attract less attention
if there are not too many of us my title will make it all right with
the locksmith and with any policeman that may come along you had
better go with jack and the professor and stay in the green park 
somewhere in sight of the house and when you see the door opened and
the smith has gone away do you all come across we shall be on the
lookout for you and shall let you in  

 the advice is good   said van helsing so we said no more godalming
and morris hurried off in a cab we following in another at the corner
of arlington street our contingent got out and strolled into the green
park my heart beat as i saw the house on which so much of our hope was
centred looming up grim and silent in its deserted condition amongst
its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours we sat down on a bench
within good view and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little
attention as possible the minutes seemed to pass with leaden feet as we
waited for the coming of the others 

at length we saw a four-wheeler drive up out of it in leisurely
fashion got lord godalming and morris and down from the box descended
a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools morris paid
the cabman who touched his hat and drove away together the two
ascended the steps and lord godalming pointed out what he wanted done 
the workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on one of the spikes
of the rail saying something to a policeman who just then sauntered
along the policeman nodded acquiescence and the man kneeling down
placed his bag beside him after searching through it he took out a
selection of tools which he produced to lay beside him in orderly
fashion then he stood up looked into the keyhole blew into it and
turning to his employers made some remark lord godalming smiled and
the man lifted a good-sized bunch of keys selecting one of them he
began to probe the lock as if feeling his way with it after fumbling
about for a bit he tried a second and then a third all at once the
door opened under a slight push from him and he and the two others
entered the hall we sat still my own cigar burnt furiously but van
helsing's went cold altogether we waited patiently as we saw the
workman come out and bring in his bag then he held the door partly
open steadying it with his knees whilst he fitted a key to the lock 
this he finally handed to lord godalming who took out his purse and
gave him something the man touched his hat took his bag put on his
coat and departed not a soul took the slightest notice of the whole
transaction 

when the man had fairly gone we three crossed the street and knocked at
the door it was immediately opened by quincey morris beside whom stood
lord godalming lighting a cigar 

 the place smells so vilely   said the latter as we came in it did
indeed smell vilely like the old chapel at carfax and with our
previous experience it was plain to us that the count had been using the
place pretty freely we moved to explore the house all keeping together
in case of attack for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy to deal
with and as yet we did not know whether the count might not be in the
house in the dining-room which lay at the back of the hall we found
eight boxes of earth eight boxes only out of the nine which we sought 
our work was not over and would never be until we should have found the
missing box first we opened the shutters of the window which looked out
across a narrow stone-flagged yard at the blank face of a stable 
pointed to look like the front of a miniature house there were no
windows in it so we were not afraid of being over-looked we did not
lose any time in examining the chests with the tools which we had
brought with us we opened them one by one and treated them as we had
treated those others in the old chapel it was evident to us that the
count was not at present in the house and we proceeded to search for
any of his effects 

after a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms from basement to attic 
we came to the conclusion that the dining-room contained any effects
which might belong to the count and so we proceeded to minutely examine
them they lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the great dining-room
table there were title deeds of the piccadilly house in a great bundle 
deeds of the purchase of the houses at mile end and bermondsey 
note-paper envelopes and pens and ink all were covered up in thin
wrapping paper to keep them from the dust there were also a clothes
brush a brush and comb and a jug and basin the latter containing
dirty water which was reddened as if with blood last of all was a
little heap of keys of all sorts and sizes probably those belonging to
the other houses when we had examined this last find lord godalming
and quincey morris taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the
houses in the east and the south took with them the keys in a great
bunch and set out to destroy the boxes in these places the rest of us
are with what patience we can waiting their return or the coming of
the count 




chapter xxiii

dr seward's diary


 3 october the time seemed terrible long whilst we were waiting for
the coming of godalming and quincey morris the professor tried to keep
our minds active by using them all the time i could see his beneficent
purpose by the side glances which he threw from time to time at harker 
the poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is appalling to see 
last night he was a frank happy-looking man with strong youthful
face full of energy and with dark brown hair to-day he is a drawn 
haggard old man whose white hair matches well with the hollow burning
eyes and grief-written lines of his face his energy is still intact in
fact he is like a living flame this may yet be his salvation for if
all go well it will tide him over the despairing period he will then 
in a kind of way wake again to the realities of life poor fellow i
thought my own trouble was bad enough but his the professor knows
this well enough and is doing his best to keep his mind active what he
has been saying was under the circumstances of absorbing interest so
well as i can remember here it is 

 i have studied over and over again since they came into my hands all
the papers relating to this monster and the more i have studied the
greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out all through there
are signs of his advance not only of his power but of his knowledge of
it as i learned from the researches of my friend arminus of buda-pesth 
he was in life a most wonderful man soldier statesman and
alchemist which latter was the highest development of the
science-knowledge of his time he had a mighty brain a learning beyond
compare and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse he dared even to
attend the scholomance and there was no branch of knowledge of his time
that he did not essay well in him the brain powers survived the
physical death though it would seem that memory was not all complete 
in some faculties of mind he has been and is only a child but he is
growing and some things that were childish at the first are now of
man's stature he is experimenting and doing it well and if it had not
been that we have crossed his path he would be yet he may be yet if we
fail the father or furtherer of a new order of beings whose road must
lead through death not life  

harker groaned and said  and this is all arrayed against my darling 
but how is he experimenting the knowledge may help us to defeat him  

 he has all along since his coming been trying his power slowly but
surely that big child-brain of his is working well for us it is as
yet a child-brain for had he dared at the first to attempt certain
things he would long ago have been beyond our power however he means
to succeed and a man who has centuries before him can afford to wait
and to go slow festina lente may well be his motto  

 i fail to understand   said harker wearily  oh do be more plain to
me perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain  

the professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke 

 ah my child i will be plain do you not see how of late this
monster has been creeping into knowledge experimentally how he has been
making use of the zoophagous patient to effect his entry into friend
john's home for your vampire though in all afterwards he can come when
and how he will must at the first make entry only when asked thereto by
an inmate but these are not his most important experiments do we not
see how at the first all these so great boxes were moved by others he
knew not then but that must be so but all the time that so great
child-brain of his was growing and he began to consider whether he
might not himself move the box so he began to help and then when he
found that this be all-right he try to move them all alone and so he
progress and he scatter these graves of him and none but he know where
they are hidden he may have intend to bury them deep in the ground so
that he only use them in the night or at such time as he can change his
form they do him equal well and none may know these are his
hiding-place but my child do not despair this knowledge come to him
just too late already all of his lairs but one be sterilise as for him 
and before the sunset this shall be so then he have no place where he
can move and hide i delayed this morning that so we might be sure is
there not more at stake for us than for him then why we not be even
more careful than him by my clock it is one hour and already if all be
well friend arthur and quincey are on their way to us to-day is our
day and we must go sure if slow and lose no chance see there are
five of us when those absent ones return  

whilst he was speaking we were startled by a knock at the hall door the
double postman's knock of the telegraph boy we all moved out to the
hall with one impulse and van helsing holding up his hand to us to
keep silence stepped to the door and opened it the boy handed in a
despatch the professor closed the door again and after looking at the
direction opened it and read aloud 

 look out for d he has just now 12 45 come from carfax hurriedly and
hastened towards the south he seems to be going the round and may want
to see you mina  

there was a pause broken by jonathan harker's voice 

 now god be thanked we shall soon meet   van helsing turned to him
quickly and said 

 god will act in his own way and time do not fear and do not rejoice
as yet for what we wish for at the moment may be our undoings  

 i care for nothing now   he answered hotly  except to wipe out this
brute from the face of creation i would sell my soul to do it  

 oh hush hush my child   said van helsing  god does not purchase
souls in this wise and the devil though he may purchase does not keep
faith but god is merciful and just and knows your pain and your
devotion to that dear madam mina think you how her pain would be
doubled did she but hear your wild words do not fear any of us we are
all devoted to this cause and to-day shall see the end the time is
coming for action to-day this vampire is limit to the powers of man 
and till sunset he may not change it will take him time to arrive
here see it is twenty minutes past one and there are yet some times
before he can hither come be he never so quick what we must hope for
is that my lord arthur and quincey arrive first  

about half an hour after we had received mrs harker's telegram there
came a quiet resolute knock at the hall door it was just an ordinary
knock such as is given hourly by thousands of gentlemen but it made
the professor's heart and mine beat loudly we looked at each other and
together moved out into the hall we each held ready to use our various
armaments the spiritual in the left hand the mortal in the right van
helsing pulled back the latch and holding the door half open stood
back having both hands ready for action the gladness of our hearts
must have shown upon our faces when on the step close to the door we
saw lord godalming and quincey morris they came quickly in and closed
the door behind them the former saying as they moved along the
hall 

 it is all right we found both places six boxes in each and we
destroyed them all  

 destroyed   asked the professor 

 for him   we were silent for a minute and then quincey said 

 there's nothing to do but to wait here if however he doesn't turn up
by five o'clock we must start off for it won't do to leave mrs harker
alone after sunset  

 he will be here before long now   said van helsing who had been
consulting his pocket-book   nota bene in madam's telegram he went
south from carfax that means he went to cross the river and he could
only do so at slack of tide which should be something before one
o'clock that he went south has a meaning for us he is as yet only
suspicious and he went from carfax first to the place where he would
suspect interference least you must have been at bermondsey only a
short time before him that he is not here already shows that he went to
mile end next this took him some time for he would then have to be
carried over the river in some way believe me my friends we shall not
have long to wait now we should have ready some plan of attack so that
we may throw away no chance hush there is no time now have all your
arms be ready   he held up a warning hand as he spoke for we all could
hear a key softly inserted in the lock of the hall door 

i could not but admire even at such a moment the way in which a
dominant spirit asserted itself in all our hunting parties and
adventures in different parts of the world quincey morris had always
been the one to arrange the plan of action and arthur and i had been
accustomed to obey him implicitly now the old habit seemed to be
renewed instinctively with a swift glance around the room he at once
laid out our plan of attack and without speaking a word with a
gesture placed us each in position van helsing harker and i were
just behind the door so that when it was opened the professor could
guard it whilst we two stepped between the incomer and the door 
godalming behind and quincey in front stood just out of sight ready to
move in front of the window we waited in a suspense that made the
seconds pass with nightmare slowness the slow careful steps came along
the hall the count was evidently prepared for some surprise at least
he feared it 

suddenly with a single bound he leaped into the room winning a way past
us before any of us could raise a hand to stay him there was something
so panther-like in the movement something so unhuman that it seemed
to sober us all from the shock of his coming the first to act was
harker who with a quick movement threw himself before the door
leading into the room in the front of the house as the count saw us a
horrible sort of snarl passed over his face showing the eye-teeth long
and pointed but the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of
lion-like disdain his expression again changed as with a single
impulse we all advanced upon him it was a pity that we had not some
better organised plan of attack for even at the moment i wondered what
we were to do i did not myself know whether our lethal weapons would
avail us anything harker evidently meant to try the matter for he had
ready his great kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him the
blow was a powerful one only the diabolical quickness of the count's
leap back saved him a second less and the trenchant blade had shorne
through his heart as it was the point just cut the cloth of his coat 
making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank-notes and a stream of gold
fell out the expression of the count's face was so hellish that for a
moment i feared for harker though i saw him throw the terrible knife
aloft again for another stroke instinctively i moved forward with a
protective impulse holding the crucifix and wafer in my left hand i
felt a mighty power fly along my arm and it was without surprise that i
saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously
by each one of us it would be impossible to describe the expression of
hate and baffled malignity of anger and hellish rage which came over
the count's face his waxen hue became greenish-yellow by the contrast
of his burning eyes and the red scar on the forehead showed on the
pallid skin like a palpitating wound the next instant with a sinuous
dive he swept under harker's arm ere his blow could fall and grasping
a handful of the money from the floor dashed across the room threw
himself at the window amid the crash and glitter of the falling glass 
he tumbled into the flagged area below through the sound of the
shivering glass i could hear the  ting  of the gold as some of the
sovereigns fell on the flagging 

we ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the ground he rushing up
the steps crossed the flagged yard and pushed open the stable door 
there he turned and spoke to us 

 you think to baffle me you with your pale faces all in a row like
sheep in a butcher's you shall be sorry yet each one of you you think
you have left me without a place to rest but i have more my revenge is
just begun i spread it over centuries and time is on my side your
girls that you all love are mine already and through them you and
others shall yet be mine my creatures to do my bidding and to be my
jackals when i want to feed bah   with a contemptuous sneer he passed
quickly through the door and we heard the rusty bolt creak as he
fastened it behind him a door beyond opened and shut the first of us
to speak was the professor as realising the difficulty of following
him through the stable we moved toward the hall 

 we have learnt something much notwithstanding his brave words he
fears us he fear time he fear want for if not why he hurry so his
very tone betray him or my ears deceive why take that money you
follow quick you are hunters of wild beast and understand it so for
me i make sure that nothing here may be of use to him if so that he
return   as he spoke he put the money remaining into his pocket took
the title-deeds in the bundle as harker had left them and swept the
remaining things into the open fireplace where he set fire to them with
a match 

godalming and morris had rushed out into the yard and harker had
lowered himself from the window to follow the count he had however 
bolted the stable door and by the time they had forced it open there
was no sign of him van helsing and i tried to make inquiry at the back
of the house but the mews was deserted and no one had seen him depart 

it was now late in the afternoon and sunset was not far off we had to
recognise that our game was up with heavy hearts we agreed with the
professor when he said 

 let us go back to madam mina poor poor dear madam mina all we can do
just now is done and we can there at least protect her but we need
not despair there is but one more earth-box and we must try to find
it when that is done all may yet be well   i could see that he spoke as
bravely as he could to comfort harker the poor fellow was quite broken
down now and again he gave a low groan which he could not suppress he
was thinking of his wife 

with sad hearts we came back to my house where we found mrs harker
waiting us with an appearance of cheerfulness which did honour to her
bravery and unselfishness when she saw our faces her own became as
pale as death for a second or two her eyes were closed as if she were
in secret prayer and then she said cheerfully 

 i can never thank you all enough oh my poor darling   as she spoke 
she took her husband's grey head in her hands and kissed it  lay your
poor head here and rest it all will yet be well dear god will protect
us if he so will it in his good intent   the poor fellow groaned there
was no place for words in his sublime misery 

we had a sort of perfunctory supper together and i think it cheered us
all up somewhat it was perhaps the mere animal heat of food to hungry
people for none of us had eaten anything since breakfast or the sense
of companionship may have helped us but anyhow we were all less
miserable and saw the morrow as not altogether without hope true to
our promise we told mrs harker everything which had passed and
although she grew snowy white at times when danger had seemed to
threaten her husband and red at others when his devotion to her was
manifested she listened bravely and with calmness when we came to the
part where harker had rushed at the count so recklessly she clung to
her husband's arm and held it tight as though her clinging could
protect him from any harm that might come she said nothing however 
till the narration was all done and matters had been brought right up
to the present time then without letting go her husband's hand she
stood up amongst us and spoke oh that i could give any idea of the
scene of that sweet sweet good good woman in all the radiant beauty
of her youth and animation with the red scar on her forehead of which
she was conscious and which we saw with grinding of our
teeth remembering whence and how it came her loving kindness against
our grim hate her tender faith against all our fears and doubting and
we knowing that so far as symbols went she with all her goodness and
purity and faith was outcast from god 

 jonathan   she said and the word sounded like music on her lips it was
so full of love and tenderness  jonathan dear and you all my true 
true friends i want you to bear something in mind through all this
dreadful time i know that you must fight that you must destroy even as
you destroyed the false lucy so that the true lucy might live hereafter 
but it is not a work of hate that poor soul who has wrought all this
misery is the saddest case of all just think what will be his joy when
he too is destroyed in his worser part that his better part may have
spiritual immortality you must be pitiful to him too though it may
not hold your hands from his destruction  

as she spoke i could see her husband's face darken and draw together as
though the passion in him were shrivelling his being to its core 
instinctively the clasp on his wife's hand grew closer till his
knuckles looked white she did not flinch from the pain which i knew she
must have suffered but looked at him with eyes that were more appealing
than ever as she stopped speaking he leaped to his feet almost tearing
his hand from hers as he spoke 

 may god give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy that
earthly life of him which we are aiming at if beyond it i could send
his soul for ever and ever to burning hell i would do it  

 oh hush oh hush in the name of the good god don't say such things 
jonathan my husband or you will crush me with fear and horror just
think my dear i have been thinking all this long long day of it that
 perhaps some day i too may need such pity and that some
other like you and with equal cause for anger may deny it to me oh 
my husband my husband indeed i would have spared you such a thought
had there been another way but i pray that god may not have treasured
your wild words except as the heart-broken wail of a very loving and
sorely stricken man oh god let these poor white hairs go in evidence
of what he has suffered who all his life has done no wrong and on whom
so many sorrows have come  

we men were all in tears now there was no resisting them and we wept
openly she wept too to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailed 
her husband flung himself on his knees beside her and putting his arms
round her hid his face in the folds of her dress van helsing beckoned
to us and we stole out of the room leaving the two loving hearts alone
with their god 

before they retired the professor fixed up the room against any coming
of the vampire and assured mrs harker that she might rest in peace 
she tried to school herself to the belief and manifestly for her
husband's sake tried to seem content it was a brave struggle and was 
i think and believe not without its reward van helsing had placed at
hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergency 
when they had retired quincey godalming and i arranged that we should
sit up dividing the night between us and watch over the safety of the
poor stricken lady the first watch falls to quincey so the rest of us
shall be off to bed as soon as we can godalming has already turned in 
for his is the second watch now that my work is done i too shall go
to bed 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 3-4 october close to midnight i thought yesterday would never end 
there was over me a yearning for sleep in some sort of blind belief
that to wake would be to find things changed and that any change must
now be for the better before we parted we discussed what our next step
was to be but we could arrive at no result all we knew was that one
earth-box remained and that the count alone knew where it was if he
chooses to lie hidden he may baffle us for years and in the
meantime the thought is too horrible i dare not think of it even now 
this i know that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection that
one is my poor wronged darling i love her a thousand times more for her
sweet pity of last night a pity that made my own hate of the monster
seem despicable surely god will not permit the world to be the poorer
by the loss of such a creature this is hope to me we are all drifting
reefwards now and faith is our only anchor thank god mina is
sleeping and sleeping without dreams i fear what her dreams might be
like with such terrible memories to ground them in she has not been so
calm within my seeing since the sunset then for a while there came
over her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of march 
i thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her
face but somehow now i think it has a deeper meaning i am not sleepy
myself though i am weary weary to death however i must try to sleep 
for there is to-morrow to think of and there is no rest for me
until 

 

 later i must have fallen asleep for i was awaked by mina who was
sitting up in bed with a startled look on her face i could see easily 
for we did not leave the room in darkness she had placed a warning hand
over my mouth and now she whispered in my ear 

 hush there is someone in the corridor   i got up softly and crossing
the room gently opened the door 

just outside stretched on a mattress lay mr morris wide awake he
raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me 

 hush go back to bed it is all right one of us will be here all
night we don't mean to take any chances  

his look and gesture forbade discussion so i came back and told mina 
she sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her poor pale
face as she put her arms round me and said softly 

 oh thank god for good brave men   with a sigh she sank back again to
sleep i write this now as i am not sleepy though i must try again 

 

 4 october morning once again during the night i was wakened by
mina this time we had all had a good sleep for the grey of the coming
dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs and the gas flame was
like a speck rather than a disc of light she said to me hurriedly 

 go call the professor i want to see him at once  

 why   i asked 

 i have an idea i suppose it must have come in the night and matured
without my knowing it he must hypnotise me before the dawn and then i
shall be able to speak go quick dearest the time is getting close   i
went to the door dr seward was resting on the mattress and seeing
me he sprang to his feet 

 is anything wrong   he asked in alarm 

 no   i replied  but mina wants to see dr van helsing at once  

 i will go   he said and hurried into the professor's room 

in two or three minutes later van helsing was in the room in his
dressing-gown and mr morris and lord godalming were with dr seward at
the door asking questions when the professor saw mina a smile a
positive smile ousted the anxiety of his face he rubbed his hands as he
said 

 oh my dear madam mina this is indeed a change see friend jonathan 
we have got our dear madam mina as of old back to us to-day   then
turning to her he said cheerfully  and what am i do for you for at
this hour you do not want me for nothings  

 i want you to hypnotise me   she said  do it before the dawn for i
feel that then i can speak and speak freely be quick for the time is
short   without a word he motioned her to sit up in bed 

looking fixedly at her he commenced to make passes in front of her 
from over the top of her head downward with each hand in turn mina
gazed at him fixedly for a few minutes during which my own heart beat
like a trip hammer for i felt that some crisis was at hand gradually
her eyes closed and she sat stock still only by the gentle heaving of
her bosom could one know that she was alive the professor made a few
more passes and then stopped and i could see that his forehead was
covered with great beads of perspiration mina opened her eyes but she
did not seem the same woman there was a far-away look in her eyes and
her voice had a sad dreaminess which was new to me raising his hand to
impose silence the professor motioned to me to bring the others in 
they came on tip-toe closing the door behind them and stood at the
foot of the bed looking on mina appeared not to see them the
stillness was broken by van helsing's voice speaking in a low level tone
which would not break the current of her thoughts 

 where are you   the answer came in a neutral way 

 i do not know sleep has no place it can call its own   for several
minutes there was silence mina sat rigid and the professor stood
staring at her fixedly the rest of us hardly dared to breathe the room
was growing lighter without taking his eyes from mina's face dr van
helsing motioned me to pull up the blind i did so and the day seemed
just upon us a red streak shot up and a rosy light seemed to diffuse
itself through the room on the instant the professor spoke again 

 where are you now   the answer came dreamily but with intention it
were as though she were interpreting something i have heard her use the
same tone when reading her shorthand notes 

 i do not know it is all strange to me  

 what do you see  

 i can see nothing it is all dark  

 what do you hear   i could detect the strain in the professor's patient
voice 

 the lapping of water it is gurgling by and little waves leap i can
hear them on the outside  

 then you are on a ship   we all looked at each other trying to glean
something each from the other we were afraid to think the answer came
quick 

 oh yes  

 what else do you hear  

 the sound of men stamping overhead as they run about there is the
creaking of a chain and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan
falls into the rachet  

 what are you doing  

 i am still oh so still it is like death   the voice faded away into
a deep breath as of one sleeping and the open eyes closed again 

by this time the sun had risen and we were all in the full light of
day dr van helsing placed his hands on mina's shoulders and laid her
head down softly on her pillow she lay like a sleeping child for a few
moments and then with a long sigh awoke and stared in wonder to see
us all around her  have i been talking in my sleep   was all she said 
she seemed however to know the situation without telling though she
was eager to know what she had told the professor repeated the
conversation and she said 

 then there is not a moment to lose it may not be yet too late   mr 
morris and lord godalming started for the door but the professor's calm
voice called them back 

 stay my friends that ship wherever it was was weighing anchor
whilst she spoke there are many ships weighing anchor at the moment in
your so great port of london which of them is it that you seek god be
thanked that we have once again a clue though whither it may lead us we
know not we have been blind somewhat blind after the manner of men 
since when we can look back we see what we might have seen looking
forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen alas but
that sentence is a puddle is it not we can know now what was in the
count's mind when he seize that money though jonathan's so fierce
knife put him in the danger that even he dread he meant escape hear
me escape he saw that with but one earth-box left and a pack of men
following like dogs after a fox this london was no place for him he
have take his last earth-box on board a ship and he leave the land he
think to escape but no we follow him tally ho as friend arthur would
say when he put on his red frock our old fox is wily oh so wily and
we must follow with wile i too am wily and i think his mind in a
little while in meantime we may rest and in peace for there are waters
between us which he do not want to pass and which he could not if he
would unless the ship were to touch the land and then only at full or
slack tide see and the sun is just rose and all day to sunset is to
us let us take bath and dress and have breakfast which we all need 
and which we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with
us   mina looked at him appealingly as she asked 

 but why need we seek him further when he is gone away from us   he
took her hand and patted it as he replied 

 ask me nothings as yet when we have breakfast then i answer all
questions   he would say no more and we separated to dress 

after breakfast mina repeated her question he looked at her gravely for
a minute and then said sorrowfully 

 because my dear dear madam mina now more than ever must we find him
even if we have to follow him to the jaws of hell   she grew paler as
she asked faintly 

 why  

 because   he answered solemnly  he can live for centuries and you are
but mortal woman time is now to be dreaded since once he put that mark
upon your throat  

i was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint 




chapter xxiv

dr seward's phonograph diary spoken by van helsing


this to jonathan harker 

you are to stay with your dear madam mina we shall go to make our
search if i can call it so for it is not search but knowing and we
seek confirmation only but do you stay and take care of her to-day 
this is your best and most holiest office this day nothing can find him
here let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already 
for i have tell them he our enemy have gone away he have gone back
to his castle in transylvania i know it so well as if a great hand of
fire wrote it on the wall he have prepare for this in some way and
that last earth-box was ready to ship somewheres for this he took the
money for this he hurry at the last lest we catch him before the sun
go down it was his last hope save that he might hide in the tomb that
he think poor miss lucy being as he thought like him keep open to him 
but there was not of time when that fail he make straight for his last
resource his last earth-work i might say did i wish double entente 
he is clever oh so clever he know that his game here was finish and
so he decide he go back home he find ship going by the route he came 
and he go in it we go off now to find what ship and whither bound 
when we have discover that we come back and tell you all then we will
comfort you and poor dear madam mina with new hope for it will be hope
when you think it over that all is not lost this very creature that we
pursue he take hundreds of years to get so far as london and yet in
one day when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out he is
finite though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do 
but we are strong each in our purpose and we are all more strong
together take heart afresh dear husband of madam mina this battle is
but begun and in the end we shall win so sure as that god sits on high
to watch over his children therefore be of much comfort till we return 

van helsing 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 4 october when i read to mina van helsing's message in the
phonograph the poor girl brightened up considerably already the
certainty that the count is out of the country has given her comfort 
and comfort is strength to her for my own part now that his horrible
danger is not face to face with us it seems almost impossible to
believe in it even my own terrible experiences in castle dracula seem
like a long-forgotten dream here in the crisp autumn air in the bright
sunlight 

alas how can i disbelieve in the midst of my thought my eye fell on
the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead whilst that lasts 
there can be no disbelief and afterwards the very memory of it will
keep faith crystal clear mina and i fear to be idle so we have been
over all the diaries again and again somehow although the reality
seems greater each time the pain and the fear seem less there is
something of a guiding purpose manifest throughout which is comforting 
mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate good it may
be i shall try to think as she does we have never spoken to each other
yet of the future it is better to wait till we see the professor and
the others after their investigations 

the day is running by more quickly than i ever thought a day could run
for me again it is now three o'clock 


 mina harker's journal 

 5 october 5 p m our meeting for report present professor van
helsing lord godalming dr seward mr quincey morris jonathan
harker mina harker 

dr van helsing described what steps were taken during the day to
discover on what boat and whither bound count dracula made his escape 

 as i knew that he wanted to get back to transylvania i felt sure that
he must go by the danube mouth or by somewhere in the black sea since
by that way he come it was a dreary blank that was before us omne
ignotum pro magnifico and so with heavy hearts we start to find what
ships leave for the black sea last night he was in sailing ship since
madam mina tell of sails being set these not so important as to go in
your list of the shipping in the times and so we go by suggestion of
lord godalming to your lloyd's where are note of all ships that sail 
however so small there we find that only one black-sea-bound ship go
out with the tide she is the czarina catherine and she sail from
doolittle's wharf for varna and thence on to other parts and up the
danube 'soh ' said i 'this is the ship whereon is the count ' so off
we go to doolittle's wharf and there we find a man in an office of wood
so small that the man look bigger than the office from him we inquire
of the goings of the czarina catherine he swear much and he red face
and loud of voice but he good fellow all the same and when quincey
give him something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up and
put it in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing he
still better fellow and humble servant to us he come with us and ask
many men who are rough and hot these be better fellows too when they
have been no more thirsty they say much of blood and bloom and of
others which i comprehend not though i guess what they mean but
nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know 

 they make known to us among them how last afternoon at about five
o'clock comes a man so hurry a tall man thin and pale with high nose
and teeth so white and eyes that seem to be burning that he be all in
black except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or the
time that he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to what ship
sails for the black sea and for where some took him to the office and
then to the ship where he will not go aboard but halt at shore end of
gang-plank and ask that the captain come to him the captain come when
told that he will be pay well and though he swear much at the first he
agree to term then the thin man go and some one tell him where horse
and cart can be hired he go there and soon he come again himself
driving cart on which a great box this he himself lift down though it
take several to put it on truck for the ship he give much talk to
captain as to how and where his box is to be place but the captain like
it not and swear at him in many tongues and tell him that if he like he
can come and see where it shall be but he say 'no' that he come not
yet for that he have much to do whereupon the captain tell him that he
had better be quick with blood for that his ship will leave the
place of blood before the turn of the tide with blood then the thin
man smile and say that of course he must go when he think fit but he
will be surprise if he go quite so soon the captain swear again 
polyglot and the thin man make him bow and thank him and say that he
will so far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the
sailing final the captain more red than ever and in more tongues tell
him that he doesn't want no frenchmen with bloom upon them and also
with blood in his ship with blood on her also and so after asking
where there might be close at hand a ship where he might purchase ship
forms he departed 

 no one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared ' as they said for
they had something else to think of well with blood again for it soon
became apparent to all that the czarina catherine would not sail as
was expected a thin mist began to creep up from the river and it grew 
and grew till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around her 
the captain swore polyglot very polyglot polyglot with bloom and
blood but he could do nothing the water rose and rose and he began to
fear that he would lose the tide altogether he was in no friendly mood 
when just at full tide the thin man came up the gang-plank again and
asked to see where his box had been stowed then the captain replied
that he wished that he and his box old and with much bloom and
blood were in hell but the thin man did not be offend and went down
with the mate and saw where it was place and came up and stood awhile
on deck in fog he must have come off by himself for none notice him 
indeed they thought not of him for soon the fog begin to melt away and
all was clear again my friends of the thirst and the language that was
of bloom and blood laughed as they told how the captain's swears
exceeded even his usual polyglot and was more than ever full of
picturesque when on questioning other mariners who were on movement up
and down on the river that hour he found that few of them had seen any
of fog at all except where it lay round the wharf however the ship
went out on the ebb tide and was doubtless by morning far down the
river mouth she was by then when they told us well out to sea 

 and so my dear madam mina it is that we have to rest for a time for
our enemy is on the sea with the fog at his command on his way to the
danube mouth to sail a ship takes time go she never so quick and when
we start we go on land more quick and we meet him there our best hope
is to come on him when in the box between sunrise and sunset for then
he can make no struggle and we may deal with him as we should there
are days for us in which we can make ready our plan we know all about
where he go for we have seen the owner of the ship who have shown us
invoices and all papers that can be the box we seek is to be landed in
varna and to be given to an agent one ristics who will there present
his credentials and so our merchant friend will have done his part 
when he ask if there be any wrong for that so he can telegraph and
have inquiry made at varna we say 'no' for what is to be done is not
for police or of the customs it must be done by us alone and in our own
way  

when dr van helsing had done speaking i asked him if he were certain
that the count had remained on board the ship he replied  we have the
best proof of that your own evidence when in the hypnotic trance this
morning   i asked him again if it were really necessary that they should
pursue the count for oh i dread jonathan leaving me and i know that
he would surely go if the others went he answered in growing passion 
at first quietly as he went on however he grew more angry and more
forceful till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least some
of that personal dominance which made him so long a master amongst
men 

 yes it is necessary necessary necessary for your sake in the first 
and then for the sake of humanity this monster has done much harm
already in the narrow scope where he find himself and in the short
time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small measure in
darkness and not knowing all this have i told these others you my
dear madam mina will learn it in the phonograph of my friend john or
in that of your husband i have told them how the measure of leaving his
own barren land barren of peoples and coming to a new land where life
of man teems till they are like the multitude of standing corn was the
work of centuries were another of the un-dead like him to try to do
what he has done perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have
been or that will be could aid him with this one all the forces of
nature that are occult and deep and strong must have worked together in
some wondrous way the very place where he have been alive un-dead for
all these centuries is full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical
world there are deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither 
there have been volcanoes some of whose openings still send out waters
of strange properties and gases that kill or make to vivify doubtless 
there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of
occult forces which work for physical life in strange way and in
himself were from the first some great qualities in a hard and warlike
time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve more subtle brain 
more braver heart than any man in him some vital principle have in
strange way found their utmost and as his body keep strong and grow and
thrive so his brain grow too all this without that diabolic aid which
is surely to him for it have to yield to the powers that come from 
and are symbolic of good and now this is what he is to us he have
infect you oh forgive me my dear that i must say such but it is for
good of you that i speak he infect you in such wise that even if he do
no more you have only to live to live in your own old sweet way and
so in time death which is of man's common lot and with god's sanction 
shall make you like to him this must not be we have sworn together
that it must not thus are we ministers of god's own wish that the
world and men for whom his son die will not be given over to monsters 
whose very existence would defame him he have allowed us to redeem one
soul already and we go out as the old knights of the cross to redeem
more like them we shall travel towards the sunrise and like them if
we fall we fall in good cause   he paused and i said 

 but will not the count take his rebuff wisely since he has been driven
from england will he not avoid it as a tiger does the village from
which he has been hunted  

 aha   he said  your simile of the tiger good for me and i shall
adopt him your man-eater as they of india call the tiger who has once
tasted blood of the human care no more for the other prey but prowl
unceasing till he get him this that we hunt from our village is a
tiger too a man-eater and he never cease to prowl nay in himself he
is not one to retire and stay afar in his life his living life he go
over the turkey frontier and attack his enemy on his own ground he be
beaten back but did he stay no he come again and again and again 
look at his persistence and endurance with the child-brain that was to
him he have long since conceive the idea of coming to a great city what
does he do he find out the place of all the world most of promise for
him then he deliberately set himself down to prepare for the task he
find in patience just how is his strength and what are his powers he
study new tongues he learn new social life new environment of old
ways the politic the law the finance the science the habit of a new
land and a new people who have come to be since he was his glimpse that
he have had whet his appetite only and enkeen his desire nay it help
him to grow as to his brain for it all prove to him how right he was at
the first in his surmises he have done this alone all alone from a
ruin tomb in a forgotten land what more may he not do when the greater
world of thought is open to him he that can smile at death as we know
him who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole
peoples oh if such an one was to come from god and not the devil 
what a force for good might he not be in this old world of ours but we
are pledged to set the world free our toil must be in silence and our
efforts all in secret for in this enlightened age when men believe not
even what they see the doubting of wise men would be his greatest
strength it would be at once his sheath and his armour and his weapons
to destroy us his enemies who are willing to peril even our own souls
for the safety of one we love for the good of mankind and for the
honour and glory of god  

after a general discussion it was determined that for to-night nothing
be definitely settled that we should all sleep on the facts and try to
think out the proper conclusions to-morrow at breakfast we are to
meet again and after making our conclusions known to one another we
shall decide on some definite cause of action 

 

i feel a wonderful peace and rest to-night it is as if some haunting
presence were removed from me perhaps 

my surmise was not finished could not be for i caught sight in the
mirror of the red mark upon my forehead and i knew that i was still
unclean 


 dr seward's diary 

 5 october we all rose early and i think that sleep did much for
each and all of us when we met at early breakfast there was more
general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience
again 

it is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature let
any obstructing cause no matter what be removed in any way even by
death and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment more
than once as we sat around the table my eyes opened in wonder whether
the whole of the past days had not been a dream it was only when i
caught sight of the red blotch on mrs harker's forehead that i was
brought back to reality even now when i am gravely revolving the
matter it is almost impossible to realise that the cause of all our
trouble is still existent even mrs harker seems to lose sight of her
trouble for whole spells it is only now and again when something
recalls it to her mind that she thinks of her terrible scar we are to
meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on our course of
action i see only one immediate difficulty i know it by instinct
rather than reason we shall all have to speak frankly and yet i fear
that in some mysterious way poor mrs harker's tongue is tied i know 
that she forms conclusions of her own and from all that has been i can
guess how brilliant and how true they must be but she will not or
cannot give them utterance i have mentioned this to van helsing and
he and i are to talk it over when we are alone i suppose it is some of
that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning to work the
count had his own purposes when he gave her what van helsing called  the
vampire's baptism of blood   well there may be a poison that distils
itself out of good things in an age when the existence of ptomaines is
a mystery we should not wonder at anything one thing i know that if my
instinct be true regarding poor mrs harker's silences then there is a
terrible difficulty an unknown danger in the work before us the same
power that compels her silence may compel her speech i dare not think
further for so i should in my thoughts dishonour a noble woman 

van helsing is coming to my study a little before the others i shall
try to open the subject with him 

 

 later when the professor came in we talked over the state of
things i could see that he had something on his mind which he wanted to
say but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject after beating
about the bush a little he said suddenly 

 friend john there is something that you and i must talk of alone just
at the first at any rate later we may have to take the others into our
confidence  then he stopped so i waited he went on 

 madam mina our poor dear madam mina is changing   a cold shiver ran
through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed van helsing
continued 

 with the sad experience of miss lucy we must this time be warned
before things go too far our task is now in reality more difficult than
ever and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst importance i
can see the characteristics of the vampire coming in her face it is now
but very very slight but it is to be seen if we have eyes to notice
without to prejudge her teeth are some sharper and at times her eyes
are more hard but these are not all there is to her the silence now
often as so it was with miss lucy she did not speak even when she
wrote that which she wished to be known later now my fear is this if
it be that she can by our hypnotic trance tell what the count see and
hear is it not more true that he who have hypnotise her first and who
have drink of her very blood and make her drink of his should if he
will compel her mind to disclose to him that which she know   i nodded
acquiescence he went on 

 then what we must do is to prevent this we must keep her ignorant of
our intent and so she cannot tell what she know not this is a painful
task oh so painful that it heart-break me to think of but it must be 
when to-day we meet i must tell her that for reason which we will not
to speak she must not more be of our council but be simply guarded by
us   he wiped his forehead which had broken out in profuse perspiration
at the thought of the pain which he might have to inflict upon the poor
soul already so tortured i knew that it would be some sort of comfort
to him if i told him that i also had come to the same conclusion for at
any rate it would take away the pain of doubt i told him and the
effect was as i expected 

it is now close to the time of our general gathering van helsing has
gone away to prepare for the meeting and his painful part of it i
really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone 

 

 later at the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief was
experienced by both van helsing and myself mrs harker had sent a
message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present as
she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our movements
without her presence to embarrass us the professor and i looked at each
other for an instant and somehow we both seemed relieved for my own
part i thought that if mrs harker realised the danger herself it was
much pain as well as much danger averted under the circumstances we
agreed by a questioning look and answer with finger on lip to
preserve silence in our suspicions until we should have been able to
confer alone again we went at once into our plan of campaign van
helsing roughly put the facts before us first 

 the czarina catherine left the thames yesterday morning it will take
her at the quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to
reach varna but we can travel overland to the same place in three days 
now if we allow for two days less for the ship's voyage owing to such
weather influences as we know that the count can bring to bear and if
we allow a whole day and night for any delays which may occur to us 
then we have a margin of nearly two weeks thus in order to be quite
safe we must leave here on 17th at latest then we shall at any rate
be in varna a day before the ship arrives and able to make such
preparations as may be necessary of course we shall all go armed armed
against evil things spiritual as well as physical   here quincey morris
added 

 i understand that the count comes from a wolf country and it may be
that he shall get there before us i propose that we add winchesters to
our armament i have a kind of belief in a winchester when there is any
trouble of that sort around do you remember art when we had the pack
after us at tobolsk what wouldn't we have given then for a repeater
apiece  

 good   said van helsing  winchesters it shall be quincey's head is
level at all times but most so when there is to hunt metaphor be more
dishonour to science than wolves be of danger to man in the meantime we
can do nothing here and as i think that varna is not familiar to any of
us why not go there more soon it is as long to wait here as there 
to-night and to-morrow we can get ready and then if all be well we
four can set out on our journey  

 we four   said harker interrogatively looking from one to another of
us 

 of course   answered the professor quickly  you must remain to take
care of your so sweet wife   harker was silent for awhile and then said
in a hollow voice 

 let us talk of that part of it in the morning i want to consult with
mina   i thought that now was the time for van helsing to warn him not
to disclose our plans to her but he took no notice i looked at him
significantly and coughed for answer he put his finger on his lips and
turned away 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 5 october afternoon for some time after our meeting this morning i
could not think the new phases of things leave my mind in a state of
wonder which allows no room for active thought mina's determination not
to take any part in the discussion set me thinking and as i could not
argue the matter with her i could only guess i am as far as ever from
a solution now the way the others received it too puzzled me the
last time we talked of the subject we agreed that there was to be no
more concealment of anything amongst us mina is sleeping now calmly
and sweetly like a little child her lips are curved and her face beams
with happiness thank god there are such moments still for her 

 

 later how strange it all is i sat watching mina's happy sleep and
came as near to being happy myself as i suppose i shall ever be as the
evening drew on and the earth took its shadows from the sun sinking
lower the silence of the room grew more and more solemn to me all at
once mina opened her eyes and looking at me tenderly said 

 jonathan i want you to promise me something on your word of honour a
promise made to me but made holily in god's hearing and not to be
broken though i should go down on my knees and implore you with bitter
tears quick you must make it to me at once  

 mina   i said  a promise like that i cannot make at once i may have
no right to make it  

 but dear one   she said with such spiritual intensity that her eyes
were like pole stars  it is i who wish it and it is not for myself 
you can ask dr van helsing if i am not right if he disagrees you may
do as you will nay more if you all agree later you are absolved
from the promise  

 i promise   i said and for a moment she looked supremely happy though
to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her forehead 
she said 

 promise me that you will not tell me anything of the plans formed for
the campaign against the count not by word or inference or
implication not at any time whilst this remains to me   and she
solemnly pointed to the scar i saw that she was in earnest and said
solemnly 

 i promise   and as i said it i felt that from that instant a door had
been shut between us 

 

 later midnight mina has been bright and cheerful all the evening 
so much so that all the rest seemed to take courage as if infected
somewhat with her gaiety as a result even i myself felt as if the pall
of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted we all retired
early mina is now sleeping like a little child it is a wonderful thing
that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible
trouble thank god for it for then at least she can forget her care 
perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did to-night i shall
try it oh for a dreamless sleep 

 

 6 october morning another surprise mina woke me early about the
same time as yesterday and asked me to bring dr van helsing i thought
that it was another occasion for hypnotism and without question went
for the professor he had evidently expected some such call for i found
him dressed in his room his door was ajar so that he could hear the
opening of the door of our room he came at once as he passed into the
room he asked mina if the others might come too 

 no   she said quite simply  it will not be necessary you can tell
them just as well i must go with you on your journey  

dr van helsing was as startled as i was after a moment's pause he
asked 

 but why  

 you must take me with you i am safer with you and you shall be safer 
too  

 but why dear madam mina you know that your safety is our solemnest
duty we go into danger to which you are or may be more liable than
any of us from from circumstances things that have been   he paused 
embarrassed 

as she replied she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead 

 i know that is why i must go i can tell you now whilst the sun is
coming up i may not be able again i know that when the count wills me
i must go i know that if he tells me to come in secret i must come by
wile by any device to hoodwink even jonathan   god saw the look that
she turned on me as she spoke and if there be indeed a recording angel
that look is noted to her everlasting honour i could only clasp her
hand i could not speak my emotion was too great for even the relief of
tears she went on 

 you men are brave and strong you are strong in your numbers for you
can defy that which would break down the human endurance of one who had
to guard alone besides i may be of service since you can hypnotise me
and so learn that which even i myself do not know   dr van helsing said
very gravely 

 madam mina you are as always most wise you shall with us come and
together we shall do that which we go forth to achieve   when he had
spoken mina's long spell of silence made me look at her she had fallen
back on her pillow asleep she did not even wake when i had pulled up
the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the room van helsing
motioned to me to come with him quietly we went to his room and within
a minute lord godalming dr seward and mr morris were with us also 
he told them what mina had said and went on 

 in the morning we shall leave for varna we have now to deal with a
new factor madam mina oh but her soul is true it is to her an agony
to tell us so much as she has done but it is most right and we are
warned in time there must be no chance lost and in varna we must be
ready to act the instant when that ship arrives  

 what shall we do exactly   asked mr morris laconically the professor
paused before replying 

 we shall at the first board that ship then when we have identified
the box we shall place a branch of the wild rose on it this we shall
fasten for when it is there none can emerge so at least says the
superstition and to superstition must we trust at the first it was
man's faith in the early and it have its root in faith still then 
when we get the opportunity that we seek when none are near to see we
shall open the box and and all will be well  

 i shall not wait for any opportunity   said morris  when i see the box
i shall open it and destroy the monster though there were a thousand
men looking on and if i am to be wiped out for it the next moment   i
grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a piece of steel 
i think he understood my look i hope he did 

 good boy   said dr van helsing  brave boy quincey is all man god
bless him for it my child believe me none of us shall lag behind or
pause from any fear i do but say what we may do what we must do but 
indeed indeed we cannot say what we shall do there are so many things
which may happen and their ways and their ends are so various that
until the moment we may not say we shall all be armed in all ways and
when the time for the end has come our effort shall not be lack now
let us to-day put all our affairs in order let all things which touch
on others dear to us and who on us depend be complete for none of us
can tell what or when or how the end may be as for me my own
affairs are regulate and as i have nothing else to do i shall go make
arrangements for the travel i shall have all tickets and so forth for
our journey  

there was nothing further to be said and we parted i shall now settle
up all my affairs of earth and be ready for whatever may come 

 

 later it is all done my will is made and all complete mina if she
survive is my sole heir if it should not be so then the others who
have been so good to us shall have remainder 

it is now drawing towards the sunset mina's uneasiness calls my
attention to it i am sure that there is something on her mind which the
time of exact sunset will reveal these occasions are becoming harrowing
times for us all for each sunrise and sunset opens up some new
danger some new pain which however may in god's will be means to a
good end i write all these things in the diary since my darling must
not hear them now but if it may be that she can see them again they
shall be ready 

she is calling to me 




chapter xxv

dr seward's diary


 11 october evening jonathan harker has asked me to note this as he
says he is hardly equal to the task and he wants an exact record kept 

i think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see mrs 
harker a little before the time of sunset we have of late come to
understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of peculiar freedom 
when her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduing
or restraining her or inciting her to action this mood or condition
begins some half hour or more before actual sunrise or sunset and lasts
till either the sun is high or whilst the clouds are still aglow with
the rays streaming above the horizon at first there is a sort of
negative condition as if some tie were loosened and then the absolute
freedom quickly follows when however the freedom ceases the
change-back or relapse comes quickly preceded only by a spell of
warning silence 

to-night when we met she was somewhat constrained and bore all the
signs of an internal struggle i put it down myself to her making a
violent effort at the earliest instant she could do so a very few
minutes however gave her complete control of herself then motioning
her husband to sit beside her on the sofa where she was half reclining 
she made the rest of us bring chairs up close taking her husband's hand
in hers began 

 we are all here together in freedom for perhaps the last time i know 
dear i know that you will always be with me to the end   this was to
her husband whose hand had as we could see tightened upon hers  in
the morning we go out upon our task and god alone knows what may be in
store for any of us you are going to be so good to me as to take me
with you i know that all that brave earnest men can do for a poor weak
woman whose soul perhaps is lost no no not yet but is at any rate
at stake you will do but you must remember that i am not as you are 
there is a poison in my blood in my soul which may destroy me which
must destroy me unless some relief comes to us oh my friends you
know as well as i do that my soul is at stake and though i know there
is one way out for me you must not and i must not take it   she looked
appealingly to us all in turn beginning and ending with her husband 

 what is that way   asked van helsing in a hoarse voice  what is that
way which we must not may not take  

 that i may die now either by my own hand or that of another before
the greater evil is entirely wrought i know and you know that were i
once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit even as you
did my poor lucy's were death or the fear of death the only thing
that stood in the way i would not shrink to die here now amidst the
friends who love me but death is not all i cannot believe that to die
in such a case when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be
done is god's will therefore i on my part give up here the
certainty of eternal rest and go out into the dark where may be the
blackest things that the world or the nether world holds   we were all
silent for we knew instinctively that this was only a prelude the
faces of the others were set and harker's grew ashen grey perhaps he
guessed better than any of us what was coming she continued 

 this is what i can give into the hotch-pot   i could not but note the
quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place and with all
seriousness  what will each of you give your lives i know   she went
on quickly  that is easy for brave men your lives are god's and you
can give them back to him but what will you give to me   she looked
again questioningly but this time avoided her husband's face quincey
seemed to understand he nodded and her face lit up  then i shall tell
you plainly what i want for there must be no doubtful matter in this
connection between us now you must promise me one and all even you 
my beloved husband that should the time come you will kill me  

 what is that time   the voice was quincey's but it was low and
strained 

 when you shall be convinced that i am so changed that it is better that
i die that i may live when i am thus dead in the flesh then you will 
without a moment's delay drive a stake through me and cut off my head 
or do whatever else may be wanting to give me rest  

quincey was the first to rise after the pause he knelt down before her
and taking her hand in his said solemnly 

 i'm only a rough fellow who hasn't perhaps lived as a man should to
win such a distinction but i swear to you by all that i hold sacred and
dear that should the time ever come i shall not flinch from the duty
that you have set us and i promise you too that i shall make all
certain for if i am only doubtful i shall take it that the time has
come  

 my true friend   was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears as 
bending over she kissed his hand 

 i swear the same my dear madam mina   said van helsing 

 and i   said lord godalming each of them in turn kneeling to her to
take the oath i followed myself then her husband turned to her
wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the snowy whiteness of
his hair and asked 

 and must i too make such a promise oh my wife  

 you too my dearest   she said with infinite yearning of pity in her
voice and eyes  you must not shrink you are nearest and dearest and
all the world to me our souls are knit into one for all life and all
time think dear that there have been times when brave men have killed
their wives and their womenkind to keep them from falling into the
hands of the enemy their hands did not falter any the more because
those that they loved implored them to slay them it is men's duty
towards those whom they love in such times of sore trial and oh my
dear if it is to be that i must meet death at any hand let it be at
the hand of him that loves me best dr van helsing i have not
forgotten your mercy in poor lucy's case to him who loved  she stopped
with a flying blush and changed her phrase  to him who had best right
to give her peace if that time shall come again i look to you to make
it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving hand which
set me free from the awful thrall upon me  

 again i swear   came the professor's resonant voice mrs harker
smiled positively smiled as with a sigh of relief she leaned back and
said 

 and now one word of warning a warning which you must never forget 
this time if it ever come may come quickly and unexpectedly and in
such case you must lose no time in using your opportunity at such a
time i myself might be nay if the time ever comes shall be leagued
with your enemy against you  

 one more request   she became very solemn as she said this  it is not
vital and necessary like the other but i want you to do one thing for
me if you will   we all acquiesced but no one spoke there was no need
to speak 

 i want you to read the burial service   she was interrupted by a deep
groan from her husband taking his hand in hers she held it over her
heart and continued  you must read it over me some day whatever may
be the issue of all this fearful state of things it will be a sweet
thought to all or some of us you my dearest will i hope read it for
then it will be in your voice in my memory for ever come what may  

 but oh my dear one   he pleaded  death is afar off from you  

 nay   she said holding up a warning hand  i am deeper in death at
this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me  

 oh my wife must i read it   he said before he began 

 it would comfort me my husband   was all she said and he began to
read when she had got the book ready 

 how can i how could any one tell of that strange scene its
solemnity its gloom its sadness its horror and withal its
sweetness even a sceptic who can see nothing but a travesty of bitter
truth in anything holy or emotional would have been melted to the heart
had he seen that little group of loving and devoted friends kneeling
round that stricken and sorrowing lady or heard the tender passion of
her husband's voice as in tones so broken with emotion that often he
had to pause he read the simple and beautiful service from the burial
of the dead i i cannot go on words and v-voice f-fail m-me  

 

she was right in her instinct strange as it all was bizarre as it may
hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the time it
comforted us much and the silence which showed mrs harker's coming
relapse from her freedom of soul did not seem so full of despair to any
of us as we had dreaded 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 15 october varna we left charing cross on the morning of the 12th 
got to paris the same night and took the places secured for us in the
orient express we travelled night and day arriving here at about five
o'clock lord godalming went to the consulate to see if any telegram had
arrived for him whilst the rest of us came on to this hotel  the
odessus   the journey may have had incidents i was however too eager
to get on to care for them until the czarina catherine comes into
port there will be no interest for me in anything in the wide world 
thank god mina is well and looks to be getting stronger her colour is
coming back she sleeps a great deal throughout the journey she slept
nearly all the time before sunrise and sunset however she is very
wakeful and alert and it has become a habit for van helsing to
hypnotise her at such times at first some effort was needed and he
had to make many passes but now she seems to yield at once as if by
habit and scarcely any action is needed he seems to have power at
these particular moments to simply will and her thoughts obey him he
always asks her what she can see and hear she answers to the first 

 nothing all is dark   and to the second 

 i can hear the waves lapping against the ship and the water rushing
by canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak the wind is
high i can hear it in the shrouds and the bow throws back the foam  
it is evident that the czarina catherine is still at sea hastening on
her way to varna lord godalming has just returned he had four
telegrams one each day since we started and all to the same effect 
that the czarina catherine had not been reported to lloyd's from
anywhere he had arranged before leaving london that his agent should
send him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported he
was to have a message even if she were not reported so that he might be
sure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire 

we had dinner and went to bed early to-morrow we are to see the
vice-consul and to arrange if we can about getting on board the ship
as soon as she arrives van helsing says that our chance will be to get
on the boat between sunrise and sunset the count even if he takes the
form of a bat cannot cross the running water of his own volition and
so cannot leave the ship as he dare not change to man's form without
suspicion which he evidently wishes to avoid he must remain in the
box if then we can come on board after sunrise he is at our mercy 
for we can open the box and make sure of him as we did of poor lucy 
before he wakes what mercy he shall get from us will not count for
much we think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or the
seamen thank god this is the country where bribery can do anything 
and we are well supplied with money we have only to make sure that the
ship cannot come into port between sunset and sunrise without our being
warned and we shall be safe judge moneybag will settle this case i
think 

 

 16 october mina's report still the same lapping waves and rushing
water darkness and favouring winds we are evidently in good time and
when we hear of the czarina catherine we shall be ready as she must
pass the dardanelles we are sure to have some report 

 

 17 october everything is pretty well fixed now i think to welcome
the count on his return from his tour godalming told the shippers that
he fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen from
a friend of his and got a half consent that he might open it at his own
risk the owner gave him a paper telling the captain to give him every
facility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship and also a
similar authorisation to his agent at varna we have seen the agent who
was much impressed with godalming's kindly manner to him and we are all
satisfied that whatever he can do to aid our wishes will be done we
have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open if the
count is there van helsing and seward will cut off his head at once and
drive a stake through his heart morris and godalming and i shall
prevent interference even if we have to use the arms which we shall
have ready the professor says that if we can so treat the count's body 
it will soon after fall into dust in such case there would be no
evidence against us in case any suspicion of murder were aroused but
even if it were not we should stand or fall by our act and perhaps
some day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us and
a rope for myself i should take the chance only too thankfully if it
were to come we mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out our
intent we have arranged with certain officials that the instant the
 czarina catherine is seen we are to be informed by a special
messenger 

 

 24 october a whole week of waiting daily telegrams to godalming 
but only the same story  not yet reported   mina's morning and evening
hypnotic answer is unvaried lapping waves rushing water and creaking
masts 

 telegram october 24th 

 rufus smith lloyd's london to lord godalming care of h b m 
vice-consul varna 

  czarina catherine reported this morning from dardanelles  


 dr seward's diary 

 25 october how i miss my phonograph to write diary with a pen is
irksome to me but van helsing says i must we were all wild with
excitement yesterday when godalming got his telegram from lloyd's i
know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is heard mrs 
harker alone of our party did not show any signs of emotion after
all it is not strange that she did not for we took special care not to
let her know anything about it and we all tried not to show any
excitement when we were in her presence in old days she would i am
sure have noticed no matter how we might have tried to conceal it but
in this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeks the
lethargy grows upon her and though she seems strong and well and is
getting back some of her colour van helsing and i are not satisfied we
talk of her often we have not however said a word to the others it
would break poor harker's heart certainly his nerve if he knew that we
had even a suspicion on the subject van helsing examines he tells me 
her teeth very carefully whilst she is in the hypnotic condition for
he says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is no active
danger of a change in her if this change should come it would be
necessary to take steps we both know what those steps would have to
be though we do not mention our thoughts to each other we should
neither of us shrink from the task awful though it be to contemplate 
 euthanasia  is an excellent and a comforting word i am grateful to
whoever invented it 

it is only about 24 hours' sail from the dardanelles to here at the
rate the czarina catherine has come from london she should therefore
arrive some time in the morning but as she cannot possibly get in
before then we are all about to retire early we shall get up at one
o'clock so as to be ready 

 

 25 october noon no news yet of the ship's arrival mrs harker's
hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual so it is possible
that we may get news at any moment we men are all in a fever of
excitement except harker who is calm his hands are cold as ice and
an hour ago i found him whetting the edge of the great ghoorka knife
which he now always carries with him it will be a bad lookout for the
count if the edge of that  kukri  ever touches his throat driven by
that stern ice-cold hand 

van helsing and i were a little alarmed about mrs harker to-day about
noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like although we
kept silence to the others we were neither of us happy about it she
had been restless all the morning so that we were at first glad to know
that she was sleeping when however her husband mentioned casually
that she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her we went to
her room to see for ourselves she was breathing naturally and looked so
well and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her than
anything else poor girl she has so much to forget that it is no wonder
that sleep if it brings oblivion to her does her good 

 

 later our opinion was justified for when after a refreshing sleep
of some hours she woke up she seemed brighter and better than she had
been for days at sunset she made the usual hypnotic report wherever he
may be in the black sea the count is hurrying to his destination to
his doom i trust 

 

 26 october another day and no tidings of the czarina catherine 
she ought to be here by now that she is still journeying somewhere is
apparent for mrs harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the
same it is possible that the vessel may be lying by at times for fog 
some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches of fog
both to north and south of the port we must continue our watching as
the ship may now be signalled any moment 

 

 27 october noon most strange no news yet of the ship we wait for 
mrs harker reported last night and this morning as usual  lapping
waves and rushing water   though she added that  the waves were very
faint   the telegrams from london have been the same  no further
report   van helsing is terribly anxious and told me just now that he
fears the count is escaping us he added significantly 

 i did not like that lethargy of madam mina's souls and memories can do
strange things during trance   i was about to ask him more but harker
just then came in and he held up a warning hand we must try to-night
at sunset to make her speak more fully when in her hypnotic state 

 

 28 october telegram rufus smith london to lord godalming 
 care h b m vice consul varna 

   czarina catherine reported entering galatz at one o'clock
 to-day  


 dr seward's diary 

 28 october when the telegram came announcing the arrival in galatz i
do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have been
expected true we did not know whence or how or when the bolt would
come but i think we all expected that something strange would happen 
the delay of arrival at varna made us individually satisfied that things
would not be just as we had expected we only waited to learn where the
change would occur none the less however was it a surprise i suppose
that nature works on such a hopeful basis that we believe against
ourselves that things will be as they ought to be not as we should know
that they will be transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels even if
it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man it was an odd experience and we all
took it differently van helsing raised his hand over his head for a
moment as though in remonstrance with the almighty but he said not a
word and in a few seconds stood up with his face sternly set lord
godalming grew very pale and sat breathing heavily i was myself half
stunned and looked in wonder at one after another quincey morris
tightened his belt with that quick movement which i knew so well in our
old wandering days it meant  action   mrs harker grew ghastly white so
that the scar on her forehead seemed to burn but she folded her hands
meekly and looked up in prayer harker smiled actually smiled the
dark bitter smile of one who is without hope but at the same time his
action belied his words for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of
the great kukri knife and rested there  when does the next train start
for galatz   said van helsing to us generally 

 at 6 30 to-morrow morning   we all started for the answer came from
mrs harker 

 how on earth do you know   said art 

 you forget or perhaps you do not know though jonathan does and so
does dr van helsing that i am the train fiend at home in exeter i
always used to make up the time-tables so as to be helpful to my
husband i found it so useful sometimes that i always make a study of
the time-tables now i knew that if anything were to take us to castle
dracula we should go by galatz or at any rate through bucharest so i
learned the times very carefully unhappily there are not many to learn 
as the only train to-morrow leaves as i say  

 wonderful woman   murmured the professor 

 can't we get a special   asked lord godalming van helsing shook his
head  i fear not this land is very different from yours or mine even
if we did have a special it would probably not arrive as soon as our
regular train moreover we have something to prepare we must think 
now let us organize you friend arthur go to the train and get the
tickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in the morning do
you friend jonathan go to the agent of the ship and get from him
letters to the agent in galatz with authority to make search the ship
just as it was here morris quincey you see the vice-consul and get
his aid with his fellow in galatz and all he can do to make our way
smooth so that no times be lost when over the danube john will stay
with madam mina and me and we shall consult for so if time be long you
may be delayed and it will not matter when the sun set since i am here
with madam to make report  

 and i   said mrs harker brightly and more like her old self than she
had been for many a long day  shall try to be of use in all ways and
shall think and write for you as i used to do something is shifting
from me in some strange way and i feel freer than i have been of late  
the three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to
realise the significance of her words but van helsing and i turning to
each other met each a grave and troubled glance we said nothing at the
time however 

when the three men had gone out to their tasks van helsing asked mrs 
harker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of
harker's journal at the castle she went away to get it when the door
was shut upon her he said to me 

 we mean the same speak out  

 there is some change it is a hope that makes me sick for it may
deceive us  

 quite so do you know why i asked her to get the manuscript  

 no   said i  unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone  

 you are in part right friend john but only in part i want to tell
you something and oh my friend i am taking a great a terrible risk 
but i believe it is right in the moment when madam mina said those
words that arrest both our understanding an inspiration came to me in
the trance of three days ago the count sent her his spirit to read her
mind or more like he took her to see him in his earth-box in the ship
with water rushing just as it go free at rise and set of sun he learn
then that we are here for she have more to tell in her open life with
eyes to see and ears to hear than he shut as he is in his coffin-box 
now he make his most effort to escape us at present he want her not 

 he is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his call 
but he cut her off take her as he can do out of his own power that
so she come not to him ah there i have hope that our man-brains that
have been of man so long and that have not lost the grace of god will
come higher than his child-brain that lie in his tomb for centuries 
that grow not yet to our stature and that do only work selfish and
therefore small here comes madam mina not a word to her of her trance 
she know it not and it would overwhelm her and make despair just when
we want all her hope all her courage when most we want all her great
brain which is trained like man's brain but is of sweet woman and have
a special power which the count give her and which he may not take away
altogether though he think not so hush let me speak and you shall
learn oh john my friend we are in awful straits i fear as i never
feared before we can only trust the good god silence here she comes  

i thought that the professor was going to break down and have hysterics 
just as he had when lucy died but with a great effort he controlled
himself and was at perfect nervous poise when mrs harker tripped into
the room bright and happy-looking and in the doing of work seemingly
forgetful of her misery as she came in she handed a number of sheets
of typewriting to van helsing he looked over them gravely his face
brightening up as he read then holding the pages between his finger and
thumb he said 

 friend john to you with so much of experience already and you too 
dear madam mina that are young here is a lesson do not fear ever to
think a half-thought has been buzzing often in my brain but i fear to
let him loose his wings here now with more knowledge i go back to
where that half-thought come from and i find that he be no half-thought
at all that be a whole thought though so young that he is not yet
strong to use his little wings nay like the  ugly duck  of my friend
hans andersen he be no duck-thought at all but a big swan-thought that
sail nobly on big wings when the time come for him to try them see i
read here what jonathan have written 

 that other of his race who in a later age again and again brought
his forces over the great river into turkey land who when he was
beaten back came again and again and again though he had to come
alone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered 
since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph  

 what does this tell us not much no the count's child-thought see
nothing therefore he speak so free your man-thought see nothing my
man-thought see nothing till just now no but there comes another word
from some one who speak without thought because she too know not what
it mean what it might mean just as there are elements which rest 
yet when in nature's course they move on their way and they touch then
pouf and there comes a flash of light heaven wide that blind and kill
and destroy some but that show up all earth below for leagues and
leagues is it not so well i shall explain to begin have you ever
study the philosophy of crime 'yes' and 'no ' you john yes for it is
a study of insanity you no madam mina for crime touch you not not
but once still your mind works true and argues not a particulari ad
universale there is this peculiarity in criminals it is so constant 
in all countries and at all times that even police who know not much
from philosophy come to know it empirically that it is that is to
be empiric the criminal always work at one crime that is the true
criminal who seems predestinate to crime and who will of none other 
this criminal has not full man-brain he is clever and cunning and
resourceful but he be not of man-stature as to brain he be of
child-brain in much now this criminal of ours is predestinate to crime
also he too have child-brain and it is of the child to do what he
have done the little bird the little fish the little animal learn not
by principle but empirically and when he learn to do then there is to
him the ground to start from to do more ' dos pou sto ' said
archimedes 'give me a fulcrum and i shall move the world ' to do once 
is the fulcrum whereby child-brain become man-brain and until he have
the purpose to do more he continue to do the same again every time 
just as he have done before oh my dear i see that your eyes are
opened and that to you the lightning flash show all the leagues   for
mrs harker began to clap her hands and her eyes sparkled he went on 

 now you shall speak tell us two dry men of science what you see with
those so bright eyes   he took her hand and held it whilst she spoke 
his finger and thumb closed on her pulse as i thought instinctively and
unconsciously as she spoke 

 the count is a criminal and of criminal type nordau and lombroso would
so classify him and qua criminal he is of imperfectly formed mind 
thus in a difficulty he has to seek resource in habit his past is a
clue and the one page of it that we know and that from his own
lips tells that once before when in what mr morris would call a
'tight place ' he went back to his own country from the land he had
tried to invade and thence without losing purpose prepared himself
for a new effort he came again better equipped for his work and won 
so he came to london to invade a new land he was beaten and when all
hope of success was lost and his existence in danger he fled back over
the sea to his home just as formerly he had fled back over the danube
from turkey land  

 good good oh you so clever lady   said van helsing 
enthusiastically as he stooped and kissed her hand a moment later he
said to me as calmly as though we had been having a sick-room
consultation 

 seventy-two only and in all this excitement i have hope   turning to
her again he said with keen expectation 

 but go on go on there is more to tell if you will be not afraid 
john and i know i do in any case and shall tell you if you are right 
speak without fear  

 i will try to but you will forgive me if i seem egotistical  

 nay fear not you must be egotist for it is of you that we think  

 then as he is criminal he is selfish and as his intellect is small
and his action is based on selfishness he confines himself to one
purpose that purpose is remorseless as he fled back over the danube 
leaving his forces to be cut to pieces so now he is intent on being
safe careless of all so his own selfishness frees my soul somewhat
from the terrible power which he acquired over me on that dreadful
night i felt it oh i felt it thank god for his great mercy my soul
is freer than it has been since that awful hour and all that haunts me
is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may have used my knowledge for
his ends   the professor stood up 

 he has so used your mind and by it he has left us here in varna 
whilst the ship that carried him rushed through enveloping fog up to
galatz where doubtless he had made preparation for escaping from us 
but his child-mind only saw so far and it may be that as ever is in
god's providence the very thing that the evil-doer most reckoned on for
his selfish good turns out to be his chiefest harm the hunter is taken
in his own snare as the great psalmist says for now that he think he
is free from every trace of us all and that he has escaped us with so
many hours to him then his selfish child-brain will whisper him to
sleep he think too that as he cut himself off from knowing your mind 
there can be no knowledge of him to you there is where he fail that
terrible baptism of blood which he give you makes you free to go to him
in spirit as you have as yet done in your times of freedom when the
sun rise and set at such times you go by my volition and not by his 
and this power to good of you and others as you have won from your
suffering at his hands this is now all the more precious that he know
it not and to guard himself have even cut himself off from his
knowledge of our where we however are not selfish and we believe
that god is with us through all this blackness and these many dark
hours we shall follow him and we shall not flinch even if we peril
ourselves that we become like him friend john this has been a great
hour and it have done much to advance us on our way you must be scribe
and write him all down so that when the others return from their work
you can give it to them then they shall know as we do  

and so i have written it whilst we wait their return and mrs harker
has written with her typewriter all since she brought the ms to us 




chapter xxvi

dr seward's diary


 29 october this is written in the train from varna to galatz last
night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset each of us
had done his work as well as he could so far as thought and endeavour 
and opportunity go we are prepared for the whole of our journey and
for our work when we get to galatz when the usual time came round mrs 
harker prepared herself for her hypnotic effort and after a longer and
more serious effort on the part of van helsing than has been usually
necessary she sank into the trance usually she speaks on a hint but
this time the professor had to ask her questions and to ask them pretty
resolutely before we could learn anything at last her answer came 

 i can see nothing we are still there are no waves lapping but only a
steady swirl of water softly running against the hawser i can hear
men's voices calling near and far and the roll and creak of oars in
the rowlocks a gun is fired somewhere the echo of it seems far away 
there is tramping of feet overhead and ropes and chains are dragged
along what is this there is a gleam of light i can feel the air
blowing upon me  

here she stopped she had risen as if impulsively from where she lay
on the sofa and raised both her hands palms upwards as if lifting a
weight van helsing and i looked at each other with understanding 
quincey raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her intently whilst
harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of his kukri there
was a long pause we all knew that the time when she could speak was
passing but we felt that it was useless to say anything suddenly she
sat up and as she opened her eyes said sweetly 

 would none of you like a cup of tea you must all be so tired   we
could only make her happy and so acquiesced she bustled off to get
tea when she had gone van helsing said 

 you see my friends he is close to land he has left his
earth-chest but he has yet to get on shore in the night he may lie
hidden somewhere but if he be not carried on shore or if the ship do
not touch it he cannot achieve the land in such case he can if it be
in the night change his form and can jump or fly on shore as he did
at whitby but if the day come before he get on shore then unless he
be carried he cannot escape and if he be carried then the customs men
may discover what the box contain thus in fine if he escape not on
shore to-night or before dawn there will be the whole day lost to him 
we may then arrive in time for if he escape not at night we shall come
on him in daytime boxed up and at our mercy for he dare not be his
true self awake and visible lest he be discovered  

there was no more to be said so we waited in patience until the dawn 
at which time we might learn more from mrs harker 

early this morning we listened with breathless anxiety for her
response in her trance the hypnotic stage was even longer in coming
than before and when it came the time remaining until full sunrise was
so short that we began to despair van helsing seemed to throw his whole
soul into the effort at last in obedience to his will she made
reply 

 all is dark i hear lapping water level with me and some creaking as
of wood on wood   she paused and the red sun shot up we must wait till
to-night 

and so it is that we are travelling towards galatz in an agony of
expectation we are due to arrive between two and three in the morning 
but already at bucharest we are three hours late so we cannot
possibly get in till well after sun-up thus we shall have two more
hypnotic messages from mrs harker either or both may possibly throw
more light on what is happening 

 

 later sunset has come and gone fortunately it came at a time when
there was no distraction for had it occurred whilst we were at a
station we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation 
mrs harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than
this morning i am in fear that her power of reading the count's
sensations may die away just when we want it most it seems to me that
her imagination is beginning to work whilst she has been in the trance
hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts if this goes
on it may ultimately mislead us if i thought that the count's power
over her would die away equally with her power of knowledge it would be
a happy thought but i am afraid that it may not be so when she did
speak her words were enigmatical 

 something is going out i can feel it pass me like a cold wind i can
hear far off confused sounds as of men talking in strange tongues 
fierce-falling water and the howling of wolves   she stopped and a
shudder ran through her increasing in intensity for a few seconds 
till at the end she shook as though in a palsy she said no more even
in answer to the professor's imperative questioning when she woke from
the trance she was cold and exhausted and languid but her mind was
all alert she could not remember anything but asked what she had said 
when she was told she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in
silence 

 

 30 october 7 a m we are near galatz now and i may not have time
to write later sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by us all 
knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic trance 
van helsing began his passes earlier than usual they produced no
effect however until the regular time when she yielded with a still
greater difficulty only a minute before the sun rose the professor
lost no time in his questioning her answer came with equal quickness 

 all is dark i hear water swirling by level with my ears and the
creaking of wood on wood cattle low far off there is another sound a
queer one like   she stopped and grew white and whiter still 

 go on go on speak i command you   said van helsing in an agonised
voice at the same time there was despair in his eyes for the risen sun
was reddening even mrs harker's pale face she opened her eyes and we
all started as she said sweetly and seemingly with the utmost
unconcern 

 oh professor why ask me to do what you know i can't i don't remember
anything   then seeing the look of amazement on our faces she said 
turning from one to the other with a troubled look 

 what have i said what have i done i know nothing only that i was
lying here half asleep and heard you say go on speak i command you '
it seemed so funny to hear you order me about as if i were a bad
child  

 oh madam mina   he said sadly  it is proof if proof be needed of
how i love and honour you when a word for your good spoken more
earnest than ever can seem so strange because it is to order her whom i
am proud to obey  

the whistles are sounding we are nearing galatz we are on fire with
anxiety and eagerness 


 mina harker's journal 

 30 october mr morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been
ordered by telegraph he being the one who could best be spared since
he does not speak any foreign language the forces were distributed
much as they had been at varna except that lord godalming went to the
vice-consul as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some
sort to the official we being in extreme hurry jonathan and the two
doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival
of the czarina catherine 

 

 later lord godalming has returned the consul is away and the
vice-consul sick so the routine work has been attended to by a clerk 
he was very obliging and offered to do anything in his power 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 30 october at nine o'clock dr van helsing dr seward and i called
on messrs mackenzie and steinkoff the agents of the london firm of
hapgood they had received a wire from london in answer to lord
godalming's telegraphed request asking us to show them any civility in
their power they were more than kind and courteous and took us at once
on board the czarina catherine which lay at anchor out in the river
harbour there we saw the captain donelson by name who told us of his
voyage he said that in all his life he had never had so favourable a
run 

 man   he said  but it made us afeard for we expeckit that we should
have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck so as to keep up the
average it's no canny to run frae london to the black sea wi' a wind
ahint ye as though the deil himself were blawin' on yer sail for his
ain purpose an' a' the time we could no speer a thing gin we were nigh
a ship or a port or a headland a fog fell on us and travelled wi' us 
till when after it had lifted and we looked out the deil a thing could
we see we ran by gibraltar wi'oot bein' able to signal an' till we
came to the dardanelles and had to wait to get our permit to pass we
never were within hail o' aught at first i inclined to slack off sail
and beat about till the fog was lifted but whiles i thocht that if the
deil was minded to get us into the black sea quick he was like to do it
whether we would or no if we had a quick voyage it would be no to our
miscredit wi' the owners or no hurt to our traffic an' the old mon who
had served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no
hinderin' him   this mixture of simplicity and cunning of superstition
and commercial reasoning aroused van helsing who said 

 mine friend that devil is more clever than he is thought by some and
he know when he meet his match   the skipper was not displeased with the
compliment and went on 

 when we got past the bosphorus the men began to grumble some o' them 
the roumanians came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had
been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had started
frae london i had seen them speer at the fellow and put out their twa
fingers when they saw him to guard against the evil eye man but the
supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly rideeculous i sent them aboot
their business pretty quick but as just after a fog closed in on us i
felt a wee bit as they did anent something though i wouldn't say it was
agin the big box well on we went and as the fog didn't let up for
five days i joost let the wind carry us for if the deil wanted to get
somewheres well he would fetch it up a'reet an' if he didn't well 
we'd keep a sharp lookout anyhow sure eneuch we had a fair way and
deep water all the time and two days ago when the mornin' sun came
through the fog we found ourselves just in the river opposite galatz 
the roumanians were wild and wanted me right or wrong to take out the
box and fling it in the river i had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a
handspike an' when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in
his hand i had convinced them that evil eye or no evil eye the
property and the trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the
river danube they had mind ye taken the box on the deck ready to
fling in and as it was marked galatz via varna i thocht i'd let it
lie till we discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither we
didn't do much clearin' that day an' had to remain the nicht at anchor 
but in the mornin' braw an' airly an hour before sun-up a man came
aboard wi' an order written to him from england to receive a box
marked for one count dracula sure eneuch the matter was one ready to
his hand he had his papers a' reet an' glad i was to be rid o' the
dam' thing for i was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it if the deil
did have any luggage aboord the ship i'm thinkin' it was nane ither
than that same  

 what was the name of the man who took it   asked dr van helsing with
restrained eagerness 

 i'll be tellin' ye quick   he answered and stepping down to his
cabin produced a receipt signed  immanuel hildesheim   burgen-strasse
16 was the address we found out that this was all the captain knew so
with thanks we came away 

we found hildesheim in his office a hebrew of rather the adelphi
theatre type with a nose like a sheep and a fez his arguments were
pointed with specie we doing the punctuation and with a little
bargaining he told us what he knew this turned out to be simple but
important he had received a letter from mr de ville of london telling
him to receive if possible before sunrise so as to avoid customs a box
which would arrive at galatz in the czarina catherine this he was to
give in charge to a certain petrof skinsky who dealt with the slovaks
who traded down the river to the port he had been paid for his work by
an english bank note which had been duly cashed for gold at the danube
international bank when skinsky had come to him he had taken him to
the ship and handed over the box so as to save porterage that was all
he knew 

we then sought for skinsky but were unable to find him one of his
neighbours who did not seem to bear him any affection said that he had
gone away two days before no one knew whither this was corroborated by
his landlord who had received by messenger the key of the house
together with the rent due in english money this had been between ten
and eleven o'clock last night we were at a standstill again 

whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out that
the body of skinsky had been found inside the wall of the churchyard of
st peter and that the throat had been torn open as if by some wild
animal those we had been speaking with ran off to see the horror the
women crying out  this is the work of a slovak   we hurried away lest we
should have been in some way drawn into the affair and so detained 

as we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion we were all
convinced that the box was on its way by water to somewhere but where
that might be we would have to discover with heavy hearts we came home
to the hotel to mina 

when we met together the first thing was to consult as to taking mina
again into our confidence things are getting desperate and it is at
least a chance though a hazardous one as a preliminary step i was
released from my promise to her 


 mina harker's journal 

 30 october evening they were so tired and worn out and dispirited
that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest so i asked
them all to lie down for half an hour whilst i should enter everything
up to the moment i feel so grateful to the man who invented the
 traveller's  typewriter and to mr morris for getting this one for
me i should have felt quite astray doing the work if i had to write
with a pen 

it is all done poor dear dear jonathan what he must have suffered 
what must he be suffering now he lies on the sofa hardly seeming to
breathe and his whole body appears in collapse his brows are knit his
face is drawn with pain poor fellow maybe he is thinking and i can
see his face all wrinkled up with the concentration of his thoughts oh 
if i could only help at all i shall do what i can 

i have asked dr van helsing and he has got me all the papers that i
have not yet seen whilst they are resting i shall go over all
carefully and perhaps i may arrive at some conclusion i shall try to
follow the professor's example and think without prejudice on the facts
before me 

 

i do believe that under god's providence i have made a discovery i
shall get the maps and look over them 

 

i am more than ever sure that i am right my new conclusion is ready so
i shall get our party together and read it they can judge it it is
well to be accurate and every minute is precious 


 mina harker's memorandum 

 entered in her journal 

 ground of inquiry count dracula's problem is to get back to his own
place 

 a he must be brought back by some one this is evident for had he
power to move himself as he wished he could go either as man or wolf 
or bat or in some other way he evidently fears discovery or
interference in the state of helplessness in which he must be confined
as he is between dawn and sunset in his wooden box 

 b how is he to be taken here a process of exclusions may help
us by road by rail by water 

1 by road there are endless difficulties especially in leaving the
city 

 x there are people and people are curious and investigate a hint 
a surmise a doubt as to what might be in the box would destroy him 

 y there are or there may be customs and octroi officers to pass 

 z his pursuers might follow this is his highest fear and in order
to prevent his being betrayed he has repelled so far as he can even
his victim me 

2 by rail there is no one in charge of the box it would have to
take its chance of being delayed and delay would be fatal with enemies
on the track true he might escape at night but what would he be if
left in a strange place with no refuge that he could fly to this is not
what he intends and he does not mean to risk it 

3 by water here is the safest way in one respect but with most
danger in another on the water he is powerless except at night even
then he can only summon fog and storm and snow and his wolves but were
he wrecked the living water would engulf him helpless and he would
indeed be lost he could have the vessel drive to land but if it were
unfriendly land wherein he was not free to move his position would
still be desperate 

we know from the record that he was on the water so what we have to do
is to ascertain what water 

the first thing is to realise exactly what he has done as yet we may 
then get a light on what his later task is to be 

 firstly we must differentiate between what he did in london as part
of his general plan of action when he was pressed for moments and had
to arrange as best he could 

 secondly we must see as well as we can surmise it from the facts we
know of what he has done here 

as to the first he evidently intended to arrive at galatz and sent
invoice to varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain his means of
exit from england his immediate and sole purpose then was to escape 
the proof of this is the letter of instructions sent to immanuel
hildesheim to clear and take away the box before sunrise there is
also the instruction to petrof skinsky these we must only guess at but
there must have been some letter or message since skinsky came to
hildesheim 

that so far his plans were successful we know the czarina catherine 
made a phenomenally quick journey so much so that captain donelson's
suspicions were aroused but his superstition united with his canniness
played the count's game for him and he ran with his favouring wind
through fogs and all till he brought up blindfold at galatz that the
count's arrangements were well made has been proved hildesheim cleared
the box took it off and gave it to skinsky skinsky took it and here
we lose the trail we only know that the box is somewhere on the water 
moving along the customs and the octroi if there be any have been
avoided 

now we come to what the count must have done after his arrival on
land at galatz 

the box was given to skinsky before sunrise at sunrise the count could
appear in his own form here we ask why skinsky was chosen at all to
aid in the work in my husband's diary skinsky is mentioned as dealing
with the slovaks who trade down the river to the port and the man's
remark that the murder was the work of a slovak showed the general
feeling against his class the count wanted isolation 

my surmise is this that in london the count decided to get back to his
castle by water as the most safe and secret way he was brought from
the castle by szgany and probably they delivered their cargo to slovaks
who took the boxes to varna for there they were shipped for london 
thus the count had knowledge of the persons who could arrange this
service when the box was on land before sunrise or after sunset he
came out from his box met skinsky and instructed him what to do as to
arranging the carriage of the box up some river when this was done and
he knew that all was in train he blotted out his traces as he thought 
by murdering his agent 

i have examined the map and find that the river most suitable for the
slovaks to have ascended is either the pruth or the sereth i read in
the typescript that in my trance i heard cows low and water swirling
level with my ears and the creaking of wood the count in his box then 
was on a river in an open boat propelled probably either by oars or
poles for the banks are near and it is working against stream there
would be no such sound if floating down stream 

of course it may not be either the sereth or the pruth but we may
possibly investigate further now of these two the pruth is the more
easily navigated but the sereth is at fundu joined by the bistritza
which runs up round the borgo pass the loop it makes is manifestly as
close to dracula's castle as can be got by water 


 mina harker's journal continued 

when i had done reading jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me the
others kept shaking me by both hands and dr van helsing said 

 our dear madam mina is once more our teacher her eyes have been where
we were blinded now we are on the track once again and this time we
may succeed our enemy is at his most helpless and if we can come on
him by day on the water our task will be over he has a start but he
is powerless to hasten as he may not leave his box lest those who carry
him may suspect for them to suspect would be to prompt them to throw
him in the stream where he perish this he knows and will not now men 
to our council of war for here and now we must plan what each and all
shall do  

 i shall get a steam launch and follow him   said lord godalming 

 and i horses to follow on the bank lest by chance he land   said mr 
morris 

 good   said the professor  both good but neither must go alone there
must be force to overcome force if need be the slovak is strong and
rough and he carries rude arms   all the men smiled for amongst them
they carried a small arsenal said mr morris 

 i have brought some winchesters they are pretty handy in a crowd and
there may be wolves the count if you remember took some other
precautions he made some requisitions on others that mrs harker could
not quite hear or understand we must be ready at all points   dr 
seward said 

 i think i had better go with quincey we have been accustomed to hunt
together and we two well armed will be a match for whatever may come
along you must not be alone art it may be necessary to fight the
slovaks and a chance thrust for i don't suppose these fellows carry
guns would undo all our plans there must be no chances this time we
shall not rest until the count's head and body have been separated and
we are sure that he cannot re-incarnate   he looked at jonathan as he
spoke and jonathan looked at me i could see that the poor dear was
torn about in his mind of course he wanted to be with me but then the
boat service would most likely be the one which would destroy the 
the the vampire why did i hesitate to write the word he was
silent awhile and during his silence dr van helsing spoke 

 friend jonathan this is to you for twice reasons first because you
are young and brave and can fight and all energies may be needed at the
last and again that it is your right to destroy him that which has
wrought such woe to you and yours be not afraid for madam mina she
will be my care if i may i am old my legs are not so quick to run as
once and i am not used to ride so long or to pursue as need be or to
fight with lethal weapons but i can be of other service i can fight in
other way and i can die if need be as well as younger men now let
me say that what i would is this while you my lord godalming and
friend jonathan go in your so swift little steamboat up the river and
whilst john and quincey guard the bank where perchance he might be
landed i will take madam mina right into the heart of the enemy's
country whilst the old fox is tied in his box floating on the running
stream whence he cannot escape to land where he dares not raise the lid
of his coffin-box lest his slovak carriers should in fear leave him to
perish we shall go in the track where jonathan went from bistritz
over the borgo and find our way to the castle of dracula here madam
mina's hypnotic power will surely help and we shall find our way all
dark and unknown otherwise after the first sunrise when we are near
that fateful place there is much to be done and other places to be
made sanctify so that that nest of vipers be obliterated   here
jonathan interrupted him hotly 

 do you mean to say professor van helsing that you would bring mina 
in her sad case and tainted as she is with that devil's illness right
into the jaws of his death-trap not for the world not for heaven or
hell   he became almost speechless for a minute and then went on 

 do you know what the place is have you seen that awful den of hellish
infamy with the very moonlight alive with grisly shapes and every
speck of dust that whirls in the wind a devouring monster in embryo 
have you felt the vampire's lips upon your throat   here he turned to
me and as his eyes lit on my forehead he threw up his arms with a cry 
 oh my god what have we done to have this terror upon us   and he sank
down on the sofa in a collapse of misery the professor's voice as he
spoke in clear sweet tones which seemed to vibrate in the air calmed
us all 

 oh my friend it is because i would save madam mina from that awful
place that i would go god forbid that i should take her into that
place there is work wild work to be done there that her eyes may not
see we men here all save jonathan have seen with their own eyes what
is to be done before that place can be purify remember that we are in
terrible straits if the count escape us this time and he is strong and
subtle and cunning he may choose to sleep him for a century and then
in time our dear one  he took my hand  would come to him to keep him
company and would be as those others that you jonathan saw you have
told us of their gloating lips you heard their ribald laugh as they
clutched the moving bag that the count threw to them you shudder and
well may it be forgive me that i make you so much pain but it is
necessary my friend is it not a dire need for the which i am giving 
possibly my life if it were that any one went into that place to stay 
it is i who would have to go to keep them company  

 do as you will   said jonathan with a sob that shook him all over  we
are in the hands of god  

 

 later oh it did me good to see the way that these brave men worked 
how can women help loving men when they are so earnest and so true and
so brave and too it made me think of the wonderful power of money 
what can it not do when it is properly applied and what might it do
when basely used i felt so thankful that lord godalming is rich and
that both he and mr morris who also has plenty of money are willing
to spend it so freely for if they did not our little expedition could
not start either so promptly or so well equipped as it will within
another hour it is not three hours since it was arranged what part each
of us was to do and now lord godalming and jonathan have a lovely steam
launch with steam up ready to start at a moment's notice dr seward
and mr morris have half a dozen good horses well appointed we have
all the maps and appliances of various kinds that can be had professor
van helsing and i are to leave by the 11 40 train to-night for veresti 
where we are to get a carriage to drive to the borgo pass we are
bringing a good deal of ready money as we are to buy a carriage and
horses we shall drive ourselves for we have no one whom we can trust
in the matter the professor knows something of a great many languages 
so we shall get on all right we have all got arms even for me a
large-bore revolver jonathan would not be happy unless i was armed like
the rest alas i cannot carry one arm that the rest do the scar on my
forehead forbids that dear dr van helsing comforts me by telling me
that i am fully armed as there may be wolves the weather is getting
colder every hour and there are snow-flurries which come and go as
warnings 

 

 later it took all my courage to say good-bye to my darling we may
never meet again courage mina the professor is looking at you keenly 
his look is a warning there must be no tears now unless it may be that
god will let them fall in gladness 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 october 30 night i am writing this in the light from the furnace
door of the steam launch lord godalming is firing up he is an
experienced hand at the work as he has had for years a launch of his
own on the thames and another on the norfolk broads regarding our
plans we finally decided that mina's guess was correct and that if any
waterway was chosen for the count's escape back to his castle the
sereth and then the bistritza at its junction would be the one we took
it that somewhere about the 47th degree north latitude would be the
place chosen for the crossing the country between the river and the
carpathians we have no fear in running at good speed up the river at
night there is plenty of water and the banks are wide enough apart to
make steaming even in the dark easy enough lord godalming tells me to
sleep for a while as it is enough for the present for one to be on
watch but i cannot sleep how can i with the terrible danger hanging
over my darling and her going out into that awful place my only
comfort is that we are in the hands of god only for that faith it would
be easier to die than to live and so be quit of all the trouble mr 
morris and dr seward were off on their long ride before we started 
they are to keep up the right bank far enough off to get on higher
lands where they can see a good stretch of river and avoid the following
of its curves they have for the first stages two men to ride and lead
their spare horses four in all so as not to excite curiosity when
they dismiss the men which shall be shortly they shall themselves look
after the horses it may be necessary for us to join forces if so they
can mount our whole party one of the saddles has a movable horn and
can be easily adapted for mina if required 

it is a wild adventure we are on here as we are rushing along through
the darkness with the cold from the river seeming to rise up and strike
us with all the mysterious voices of the night around us it all comes
home we seem to be drifting into unknown places and unknown ways into
a whole world of dark and dreadful things godalming is shutting the
furnace door 

 

 31 october still hurrying along the day has come and godalming is
sleeping i am on watch the morning is bitterly cold the furnace heat
is grateful though we have heavy fur coats as yet we have passed only
a few open boats but none of them had on board any box or package of
anything like the size of the one we seek the men were scared every
time we turned our electric lamp on them and fell on their knees and
prayed 

 

 1 november evening no news all day we have found nothing of the
kind we seek we have now passed into the bistritza and if we are wrong
in our surmise our chance is gone we have over-hauled every boat big
and little early this morning one crew took us for a government boat 
and treated us accordingly we saw in this a way of smoothing matters 
so at fundu where the bistritza runs into the sereth we got a
roumanian flag which we now fly conspicuously with every boat which we
have over-hauled since then this trick has succeeded we have had every
deference shown to us and not once any objection to whatever we chose
to ask or do some of the slovaks tell us that a big boat passed them 
going at more than usual speed as she had a double crew on board this
was before they came to fundu so they could not tell us whether the
boat turned into the bistritza or continued on up the sereth at fundu
we could not hear of any such boat so she must have passed there in the
night i am feeling very sleepy the cold is perhaps beginning to tell
upon me and nature must have rest some time godalming insists that he
shall keep the first watch god bless him for all his goodness to poor
dear mina and me 

 

 2 november morning it is broad daylight that good fellow would not
wake me he says it would have been a sin to for i slept peacefully and
was forgetting my trouble it seems brutally selfish to me to have slept
so long and let him watch all night but he was quite right i am a new
man this morning and as i sit here and watch him sleeping i can do
all that is necessary both as to minding the engine steering and
keeping watch i can feel that my strength and energy are coming back to
me i wonder where mina is now and van helsing they should have got to
veresti about noon on wednesday it would take them some time to get the
carriage and horses so if they had started and travelled hard they
would be about now at the borgo pass god guide and help them i am
afraid to think what may happen if we could only go faster but we
cannot the engines are throbbing and doing their utmost i wonder how
dr seward and mr morris are getting on there seem to be endless
streams running down the mountains into this river but as none of them
are very large at present at all events though they are terrible
doubtless in winter and when the snow melts the horsemen may not have
met much obstruction i hope that before we get to strasba we may see
them for if by that time we have not overtaken the count it may be
necessary to take counsel together what to do next 


 dr seward's diary 

 2 november three days on the road no news and no time to write it
if there had been for every moment is precious we have had only the
rest needful for the horses but we are both bearing it wonderfully 
those adventurous days of ours are turning up useful we must push on 
we shall never feel happy till we get the launch in sight again 

 

 3 november we heard at fundu that the launch had gone up the
bistritza i wish it wasn't so cold there are signs of snow coming and
if it falls heavy it will stop us in such case we must get a sledge and
go on russian fashion 

 

 4 november to-day we heard of the launch having been detained by an
accident when trying to force a way up the rapids the slovak boats get
up all right by aid of a rope and steering with knowledge some went up
only a few hours before godalming is an amateur fitter himself and
evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again finally they got
up the rapids all right with local help and are off on the chase
afresh i fear that the boat is not any better for the accident the
peasantry tell us that after she got upon smooth water again she kept
stopping every now and again so long as she was in sight we must push
on harder than ever our help may be wanted soon 


 mina harker's journal 

 31 october arrived at veresti at noon the professor tells me that
this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotise me at all and that all i
could say was  dark and quiet   he is off now buying a carriage and
horses he says that he will later on try to buy additional horses so
that we may be able to change them on the way we have something more
than 70 miles before us the country is lovely and most interesting if
only we were under different conditions how delightful it would be to
see it all if jonathan and i were driving through it alone what a
pleasure it would be to stop and see people and learn something of
their life and to fill our minds and memories with all the colour and
picturesqueness of the whole wild beautiful country and the quaint
people but alas 

 

 later dr van helsing has returned he has got the carriage and
horses we are to have some dinner and to start in an hour the
landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions it seems enough
for a company of soldiers the professor encourages her and whispers to
me that it may be a week before we can get any good food again he has
been shopping too and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur coats
and wraps and all sorts of warm things there will not be any chance of
our being cold 

 

we shall soon be off i am afraid to think what may happen to us we are
truly in the hands of god he alone knows what may be and i pray him 
with all the strength of my sad and humble soul that he will watch over
my beloved husband that whatever may happen jonathan may know that i
loved him and honoured him more than i can say and that my latest and
truest thought will be always for him 




chapter xxvii

mina harker's journal


 1 november all day long we have travelled and at a good speed the
horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated for they go
willingly their full stage at best speed we have now had so many
changes and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged to
think that the journey will be an easy one dr van helsing is laconic 
he tells the farmers that he is hurrying to bistritz and pays them well
to make the exchange of horses we get hot soup or coffee or tea and
off we go it is a lovely country full of beauties of all imaginable
kinds and the people are brave and strong and simple and seem full
of nice qualities they are very very superstitious in the first
house where we stopped when the woman who served us saw the scar on my
forehead she crossed herself and put out two fingers towards me to
keep off the evil eye i believe they went to the trouble of putting an
extra amount of garlic into our food and i can't abide garlic ever
since then i have taken care not to take off my hat or veil and so have
escaped their suspicions we are travelling fast and as we have no
driver with us to carry tales we go ahead of scandal but i daresay
that fear of the evil eye will follow hard behind us all the way the
professor seems tireless all day he would not take any rest though he
made me sleep for a long spell at sunset time he hypnotised me and he
says that i answered as usual  darkness lapping water and creaking
wood  so our enemy is still on the river i am afraid to think of
jonathan but somehow i have now no fear for him or for myself i write
this whilst we wait in a farmhouse for the horses to be got ready dr 
van helsing is sleeping poor dear he looks very tired and old and
grey but his mouth is set as firmly as a conqueror's even in his sleep
he is instinct with resolution when we have well started i must make
him rest whilst i drive i shall tell him that we have days before us 
and we must not break down when most of all his strength will be
needed all is ready we are off shortly 

 

 2 november morning i was successful and we took turns driving all
night now the day is on us bright though cold there is a strange
heaviness in the air i say heaviness for want of a better word i mean
that it oppresses us both it is very cold and only our warm furs keep
us comfortable at dawn van helsing hypnotised me he says i answered
 darkness creaking wood and roaring water   so the river is changing as
they ascend i do hope that my darling will not run any chance of
danger more than need be but we are in god's hands 

 

 2 november night all day long driving the country gets wilder as
we go and the great spurs of the carpathians which at veresti seemed
so far from us and so low on the horizon now seem to gather round us
and tower in front we both seem in good spirits i think we make an
effort each to cheer the other in the doing so we cheer ourselves dr 
van helsing says that by morning we shall reach the borgo pass the
houses are very few here now and the professor says that the last horse
we got will have to go on with us as we may not be able to change he
got two in addition to the two we changed so that now we have a rude
four-in-hand the dear horses are patient and good and they give us no
trouble we are not worried with other travellers and so even i can
drive we shall get to the pass in daylight we do not want to arrive
before so we take it easy and have each a long rest in turn oh what
will to-morrow bring to us we go to seek the place where my poor
darling suffered so much god grant that we may be guided aright and
that he will deign to watch over my husband and those dear to us both 
and who are in such deadly peril as for me i am not worthy in his
sight alas i am unclean to his eyes and shall be until he may deign
to let me stand forth in his sight as one of those who have not incurred
his wrath 


 memorandum by abraham van helsing 

 4 november this to my old and true friend john seward m d of
purfleet london in case i may not see him it may explain it is
morning and i write by a fire which all the night i have kept
alive madam mina aiding me it is cold cold so cold that the grey
heavy sky is full of snow which when it falls will settle for all
winter as the ground is hardening to receive it it seems to have
affected madam mina she has been so heavy of head all day that she was
not like herself she sleeps and sleeps and sleeps she who is usual
so alert have done literally nothing all the day she even have lost
her appetite she make no entry into her little diary she who write so
faithful at every pause something whisper to me that all is not well 
however to-night she is more vif her long sleep all day have refresh
and restore her for now she is all sweet and bright as ever at sunset
i try to hypnotise her but alas with no effect the power has grown
less and less with each day and to-night it fail me altogether well 
god's will be done whatever it may be and whithersoever it may lead 

now to the historical for as madam mina write not in her stenography i
must in my cumbrous old fashion that so each day of us may not go
unrecorded 

we got to the borgo pass just after sunrise yesterday morning when i
saw the signs of the dawn i got ready for the hypnotism we stopped our
carriage and got down so that there might be no disturbance i made a
couch with furs and madam mina lying down yield herself as usual but
more slow and more short time than ever to the hypnotic sleep as
before came the answer  darkness and the swirling of water   then she
woke bright and radiant and we go on our way and soon reach the pass 
at this time and place she become all on fire with zeal some new
guiding power be in her manifested for she point to a road and say 

 this is the way  

 how know you it   i ask 

 of course i know it   she answer and with a pause add  have not my
jonathan travelled it and wrote of his travel  

at first i think somewhat strange but soon i see that there be only one
such by-road it is used but little and very different from the coach
road from the bukovina to bistritz which is more wide and hard and
more of use 

so we came down this road when we meet other ways not always were we
sure that they were roads at all for they be neglect and light snow
have fallen the horses know and they only i give rein to them and
they go on so patient by-and-by we find all the things which jonathan
have note in that wonderful diary of him then we go on for long long
hours and hours at the first i tell madam mina to sleep she try and
she succeed she sleep all the time till at the last i feel myself to
suspicious grow and attempt to wake her but she sleep on and i may
not wake her though i try i do not wish to try too hard lest i harm
her for i know that she have suffer much and sleep at times be
all-in-all to her i think i drowse myself for all of sudden i feel
guilt as though i have done something i find myself bolt up with the
reins in my hand and the good horses go along jog jog just as ever i
look down and find madam mina still sleep it is now not far off sunset
time and over the snow the light of the sun flow in big yellow flood 
so that we throw great long shadow on where the mountain rise so steep 
for we are going up and up and all is oh so wild and rocky as though
it were the end of the world 

then i arouse madam mina this time she wake with not much trouble and
then i try to put her to hypnotic sleep but she sleep not being as
though i were not still i try and try till all at once i find her and
myself in dark so i look round and find that the sun have gone down 
madam mina laugh and i turn and look at her she is now quite awake 
and look so well as i never saw her since that night at carfax when we
first enter the count's house i am amaze and not at ease then but she
is so bright and tender and thoughtful for me that i forget all fear i
light a fire for we have brought supply of wood with us and she
prepare food while i undo the horses and set them tethered in shelter 
to feed then when i return to the fire she have my supper ready i go
to help her but she smile and tell me that she have eat already that
she was so hungry that she would not wait i like it not and i have
grave doubts but i fear to affright her and so i am silent of it she
help me and i eat alone and then we wrap in fur and lie beside the
fire and i tell her to sleep while i watch but presently i forget all
of watching and when i sudden remember that i watch i find her lying
quiet but awake and looking at me with so bright eyes once twice
more the same occur and i get much sleep till before morning when i
wake i try to hypnotise her but alas though she shut her eyes
obedient she may not sleep the sun rise up and up and up and then
sleep come to her too late but so heavy that she will not wake i have
to lift her up and place her sleeping in the carriage when i have
harnessed the horses and made all ready madam still sleep and she look
in her sleep more healthy and more redder than before and i like it
not and i am afraid afraid afraid i am afraid of all things even
to think but i must go on my way the stake we play for is life and
death or more than these and we must not flinch 

 

 5 november morning let me be accurate in everything for though you
and i have seen some strange things together you may at the first think
that i van helsing am mad that the many horrors and the so long
strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain 

all yesterday we travel ever getting closer to the mountains and
moving into a more and more wild and desert land there are great 
frowning precipices and much falling water and nature seem to have held
sometime her carnival madam mina still sleep and sleep and though i
did have hunger and appeased it i could not waken her even for food i
began to fear that the fatal spell of the place was upon her tainted as
she is with that vampire baptism  well   said i to myself  if it be
that she sleep all the day it shall also be that i do not sleep at
night   as we travel on the rough road for a road of an ancient and
imperfect kind there was i held down my head and slept again i waked
with a sense of guilt and of time passed and found madam mina still
sleeping and the sun low down but all was indeed changed the frowning
mountains seemed further away and we were near the top of a
steep-rising hill on summit of which was such a castle as jonathan tell
of in his diary at once i exulted and feared for now for good or ill 
the end was near 

i woke madam mina and again tried to hypnotise her but alas 
unavailing till too late then ere the great dark came upon us for
even after down-sun the heavens reflected the gone sun on the snow and
all was for a time in a great twilight i took out the horses and fed
them in what shelter i could then i make a fire and near it i make
madam mina now awake and more charming than ever sit comfortable amid
her rugs i got ready food but she would not eat simply saying that
she had not hunger i did not press her knowing her unavailingness but
i myself eat for i must needs now be strong for all then with the
fear on me of what might be i drew a ring so big for her comfort round
where madam mina sat and over the ring i passed some of the wafer and
i broke it fine so that all was well guarded she sat still all the
time so still as one dead and she grew whiter and ever whiter till the
snow was not more pale and no word she said but when i drew near she
clung to me and i could know that the poor soul shook her from head to
feet with a tremor that was pain to feel i said to her presently when
she had grown more quiet 

 will you not come over to the fire   for i wished to make a test of
what she could she rose obedient but when she have made a step she
stopped and stood as one stricken 

 why not go on   i asked she shook her head and coming back sat
down in her place then looking at me with open eyes as of one waked
from sleep she said simply 

 i cannot   and remained silent i rejoiced for i knew that what she
could not none of those that we dreaded could though there might be
danger to her body yet her soul was safe 

presently the horses began to scream and tore at their tethers till i
came to them and quieted them when they did feel my hands on them they
whinnied low as in joy and licked at my hands and were quiet for a
time many times through the night did i come to them till it arrive to
the cold hour when all nature is at lowest and every time my coming was
with quiet of them in the cold hour the fire began to die and i was
about stepping forth to replenish it for now the snow came in flying
sweeps and with it a chill mist even in the dark there was a light of
some kind as there ever is over snow and it seemed as though the
snow-flurries and the wreaths of mist took shape as of women with
trailing garments all was in dead grim silence only that the horses
whinnied and cowered as if in terror of the worst i began to
fear horrible fears but then came to me the sense of safety in that
ring wherein i stood i began too to think that my imaginings were of
the night and the gloom and the unrest that i have gone through and
all the terrible anxiety it was as though my memories of all jonathan's
horrid experience were befooling me for the snow flakes and the mist
began to wheel and circle round till i could get as though a shadowy
glimpse of those women that would have kissed him and then the horses
cowered lower and lower and moaned in terror as men do in pain even
the madness of fright was not to them so that they could break away i
feared for my dear madam mina when these weird figures drew near and
circled round i looked at her but she sat calm and smiled at me when
i would have stepped to the fire to replenish it she caught me and held
me back and whispered like a voice that one hears in a dream so low
it was 

 no no do not go without here you are safe   i turned to her and
looking in her eyes said 

 but you it is for you that i fear   whereat she laughed a laugh low
and unreal and said 

 fear for me why fear for me none safer in all the world from them
than i am   and as i wondered at the meaning of her words a puff of
wind made the flame leap up and i see the red scar on her forehead 
then alas i knew did i not i would soon have learned for the
wheeling figures of mist and snow came closer but keeping ever without
the holy circle then they began to materialise till if god have not
take away my reason for i saw it through my eyes there were before me
in actual flesh the same three women that jonathan saw in the room when
they would have kissed his throat i knew the swaying round forms the
bright hard eyes the white teeth the ruddy colour the voluptuous
lips they smiled ever at poor dear madam mina and as their laugh came
through the silence of the night they twined their arms and pointed to
her and said in those so sweet tingling tones that jonathan said were
of the intolerable sweetness of the water-glasses 

 come sister come to us come come   in fear i turned to my poor
madam mina and my heart with gladness leapt like flame for oh the
terror in her sweet eyes the repulsion the horror told a story to my
heart that was all of hope god be thanked she was not yet of them i
seized some of the firewood which was by me and holding out some of the
wafer advanced on them towards the fire they drew back before me and
laughed their low horrid laugh i fed the fire and feared them not for
i knew that we were safe within our protections they could not
approach me whilst so armed nor madam mina whilst she remained within
the ring which she could not leave no more than they could enter the
horses had ceased to moan and lay still on the ground the snow fell on
them softly and they grew whiter i knew that there was for the poor
beasts no more of terror 

and so we remained till the red of the dawn to fall through the
snow-gloom i was desolate and afraid and full of woe and terror but
when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again 
at the first coming of the dawn the horrid figures melted in the
whirling mist and snow the wreaths of transparent gloom moved away
towards the castle and were lost 

instinctively with the dawn coming i turned to madam mina intending
to hypnotise her but she lay in a deep and sudden sleep from which i
could not wake her i tried to hypnotise through her sleep but she made
no response none at all and the day broke i fear yet to stir i have
made my fire and have seen the horses they are all dead to-day i have
much to do here and i keep waiting till the sun is up high for there
may be places where i must go where that sunlight though snow and mist
obscure it will be to me a safety 

i will strengthen me with breakfast and then i will to my terrible
work madam mina still sleeps and god be thanked she is calm in her
sleep 


 jonathan harker's journal 

 4 november evening the accident to the launch has been a terrible
thing for us only for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago 
and by now my dear mina would have been free i fear to think of her 
off on the wolds near that horrid place we have got horses and we
follow on the track i note this whilst godalming is getting ready we
have our arms the szgany must look out if they mean fight oh if only
morris and seward were with us we must only hope if i write no more
good-bye mina god bless and keep you 


 dr seward's diary 

 5 november with the dawn we saw the body of szgany before us dashing
away from the river with their leiter-wagon they surrounded it in a
cluster and hurried along as though beset the snow is falling lightly
and there is a strange excitement in the air it may be our own
feelings but the depression is strange far off i hear the howling of
wolves the snow brings them down from the mountains and there are
dangers to all of us and from all sides the horses are nearly ready 
and we are soon off we ride to death of some one god alone knows who 
or where or what or when or how it may be 


 dr van helsing's memorandum 

 5 november afternoon i am at least sane thank god for that mercy
at all events though the proving it has been dreadful when i left
madam mina sleeping within the holy circle i took my way to the castle 
the blacksmith hammer which i took in the carriage from veresti was
useful though the doors were all open i broke them off the rusty
hinges lest some ill-intent or ill-chance should close them so that
being entered i might not get out jonathan's bitter experience served
me here by memory of his diary i found my way to the old chapel for i
knew that here my work lay the air was oppressive it seemed as if
there was some sulphurous fume which at times made me dizzy either
there was a roaring in my ears or i heard afar off the howl of wolves 
then i bethought me of my dear madam mina and i was in terrible plight 
the dilemma had me between his horns 

her i had not dare to take into this place but left safe from the
vampire in that holy circle and yet even there would be the wolf i
resolve me that my work lay here and that as to the wolves we must
submit if it were god's will at any rate it was only death and
freedom beyond so did i choose for her had it but been for myself the
choice had been easy the maw of the wolf were better to rest in than
the grave of the vampire so i make my choice to go on with my work 

i knew that there were at least three graves to find graves that are
inhabit so i search and search and i find one of them she lay in her
vampire sleep so full of life and voluptuous beauty that i shudder as
though i have come to do murder ah i doubt not that in old time when
such things were many a man who set forth to do such a task as mine 
found at the last his heart fail him and then his nerve so he delay 
and delay and delay till the mere beauty and the fascination of the
wanton un-dead have hypnotise him and he remain on and on till sunset
come and the vampire sleep be over then the beautiful eyes of the fair
woman open and look love and the voluptuous mouth present to a
kiss and man is weak and there remain one more victim in the vampire
fold one more to swell the grim and grisly ranks of the un-dead 

there is some fascination surely when i am moved by the mere presence
of such an one even lying as she lay in a tomb fretted with age and
heavy with the dust of centuries though there be that horrid odour such
as the lairs of the count have had yes i was moved i van helsing 
with all my purpose and with my motive for hate i was moved to a
yearning for delay which seemed to paralyse my faculties and to clog my
very soul it may have been that the need of natural sleep and the
strange oppression of the air were beginning to overcome me certain it
was that i was lapsing into sleep the open-eyed sleep of one who yields
to a sweet fascination when there came through the snow-stilled air a
long low wail so full of woe and pity that it woke me like the sound
of a clarion for it was the voice of my dear madam mina that i heard 

then i braced myself again to my horrid task and found by wrenching
away tomb-tops one other of the sisters the other dark one i dared not
pause to look on her as i had on her sister lest once more i should
begin to be enthrall but i go on searching until presently i find in
a high great tomb as if made to one much beloved that other fair sister
which like jonathan i had seen to gather herself out of the atoms of
the mist she was so fair to look on so radiantly beautiful so
exquisitely voluptuous that the very instinct of man in me which calls
some of my sex to love and to protect one of hers made my head whirl
with new emotion but god be thanked that soul-wail of my dear madam
mina had not died out of my ears and before the spell could be wrought
further upon me i had nerved myself to my wild work by this time i had
searched all the tombs in the chapel so far as i could tell and as
there had been only three of these un-dead phantoms around us in the
night i took it that there were no more of active un-dead existent 
there was one great tomb more lordly than all the rest huge it was and
nobly proportioned on it was but one word

 dracula 

this then was the un-dead home of the king-vampire to whom so many more
were due its emptiness spoke eloquent to make certain what i knew 
before i began to restore these women to their dead selves through my
awful work i laid in dracula's tomb some of the wafer and so banished
him from it un-dead for ever 

then began my terrible task and i dreaded it had it been but one it
had been easy comparative but three to begin twice more after i had
been through a deed of horror for if it was terrible with the sweet
miss lucy what would it not be with these strange ones who had survived
through centuries and who had been strengthened by the passing of the
years who would if they could have fought for their foul lives 

oh my friend john but it was butcher work had i not been nerved by
thoughts of other dead and of the living over whom hung such a pall of
fear i could not have gone on i tremble and tremble even yet though
till all was over god be thanked my nerve did stand had i not seen
the repose in the first place and the gladness that stole over it just
ere the final dissolution came as realisation that the soul had been
won i could not have gone further with my butchery i could not have
endured the horrid screeching as the stake drove home the plunging of
writhing form and lips of bloody foam i should have fled in terror and
left my work undone but it is over and the poor souls i can pity them
now and weep as i think of them placid each in her full sleep of death
for a short moment ere fading for friend john hardly had my knife
severed the head of each before the whole body began to melt away and
crumble in to its native dust as though the death that should have come
centuries agone had at last assert himself and say at once and loud  i
am here  

before i left the castle i so fixed its entrances that never more can
the count enter there un-dead 

when i stepped into the circle where madam mina slept she woke from her
sleep and seeing me cried out in pain that i had endured too much 

 come   she said  come away from this awful place let us go to meet my
husband who is i know coming towards us   she was looking thin and
pale and weak but her eyes were pure and glowed with fervour i was
glad to see her paleness and her illness for my mind was full of the
fresh horror of that ruddy vampire sleep 

and so with trust and hope and yet full of fear we go eastward to meet
our friends and him whom madam mina tell me that she know are
coming to meet us 


 mina harker's journal 

 6 november it was late in the afternoon when the professor and i
took our way towards the east whence i knew jonathan was coming we did
not go fast though the way was steeply downhill for we had to take
heavy rugs and wraps with us we dared not face the possibility of being
left without warmth in the cold and the snow we had to take some of our
provisions too for we were in a perfect desolation and so far as we
could see through the snowfall there was not even the sign of
habitation when we had gone about a mile i was tired with the heavy
walking and sat down to rest then we looked back and saw where the
clear line of dracula's castle cut the sky for we were so deep under
the hill whereon it was set that the angle of perspective of the
carpathian mountains was far below it we saw it in all its grandeur 
perched a thousand feet on the summit of a sheer precipice and with
seemingly a great gap between it and the steep of the adjacent mountain
on any side there was something wild and uncanny about the place we
could hear the distant howling of wolves they were far off but the
sound even though coming muffled through the deadening snowfall was
full of terror i knew from the way dr van helsing was searching about
that he was trying to seek some strategic point where we would be less
exposed in case of attack the rough roadway still led downwards we
could trace it through the drifted snow 

in a little while the professor signalled to me so i got up and joined
him he had found a wonderful spot a sort of natural hollow in a rock 
with an entrance like a doorway between two boulders he took me by the
hand and drew me in  see   he said  here you will be in shelter and
if the wolves do come i can meet them one by one   he brought in our
furs and made a snug nest for me and got out some provisions and
forced them upon me but i could not eat to even try to do so was
repulsive to me and much as i would have liked to please him i could
not bring myself to the attempt he looked very sad but did not
reproach me taking his field-glasses from the case he stood on the top
of the rock and began to search the horizon suddenly he called out 

 look madam mina look look   i sprang up and stood beside him on the
rock he handed me his glasses and pointed the snow was now falling
more heavily and swirled about fiercely for a high wind was beginning
to blow however there were times when there were pauses between the
snow flurries and i could see a long way round from the height where we
were it was possible to see a great distance and far off beyond the
white waste of snow i could see the river lying like a black ribbon in
kinks and curls as it wound its way straight in front of us and not far
off in fact so near that i wondered we had not noticed before came a
group of mounted men hurrying along in the midst of them was a cart a
long leiter-wagon which swept from side to side like a dog's tail
wagging with each stern inequality of the road outlined against the
snow as they were i could see from the men's clothes that they were
peasants or gypsies of some kind 

on the cart was a great square chest my heart leaped as i saw it for i
felt that the end was coming the evening was now drawing close and
well i knew that at sunset the thing which was till then imprisoned
there would take new freedom and could in any of many forms elude all
pursuit in fear i turned to the professor to my consternation 
however he was not there an instant later i saw him below me round
the rock he had drawn a circle such as we had found shelter in last
night when he had completed it he stood beside me again saying 

 at least you shall be safe here from him   he took the glasses from
me and at the next lull of the snow swept the whole space below us 
 see   he said  they come quickly they are flogging the horses and
galloping as hard as they can   he paused and went on in a hollow
voice 

 they are racing for the sunset we may be too late god's will be
done   down came another blinding rush of driving snow and the whole
landscape was blotted out it soon passed however and once more his
glasses were fixed on the plain then came a sudden cry 

 look look look see two horsemen follow fast coming up from the
south it must be quincey and john take the glass look before the snow
blots it all out   i took it and looked the two men might be dr seward
and mr morris i knew at all events that neither of them was jonathan 
at the same time i knew that jonathan was not far off looking around
i saw on the north side of the coming party two other men riding at
break-neck speed one of them i knew was jonathan and the other i took 
of course to be lord godalming they too were pursuing the party with
the cart when i told the professor he shouted in glee like a schoolboy 
and after looking intently till a snow fall made sight impossible he
laid his winchester rifle ready for use against the boulder at the
opening of our shelter  they are all converging   he said  when the
time comes we shall have gypsies on all sides   i got out my revolver
ready to hand for whilst we were speaking the howling of wolves came
louder and closer when the snow storm abated a moment we looked again 
it was strange to see the snow falling in such heavy flakes close to us 
and beyond the sun shining more and more brightly as it sank down
towards the far mountain tops sweeping the glass all around us i could
see here and there dots moving singly and in twos and threes and larger
numbers the wolves were gathering for their prey 

every instant seemed an age whilst we waited the wind came now in
fierce bursts and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us in
circling eddies at times we could not see an arm's length before us 
but at others as the hollow-sounding wind swept by us it seemed to
clear the air-space around us so that we could see afar off we had of
late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset that we knew
with fair accuracy when it would be and we knew that before long the
sun would set it was hard to believe that by our watches it was less
than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the various
bodies began to converge close upon us the wind came now with fiercer
and more bitter sweeps and more steadily from the north it seemingly
had driven the snow clouds from us for with only occasional bursts 
the snow fell we could distinguish clearly the individuals of each
party the pursued and the pursuers strangely enough those pursued did
not seem to realise or at least to care that they were pursued they
seemed however to hasten with redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower
and lower on the mountain tops 

closer and closer they drew the professor and i crouched down behind
our rock and held our weapons ready i could see that he was determined
that they should not pass one and all were quite unaware of our
presence 

all at once two voices shouted out to  halt   one was my jonathan's 
raised in a high key of passion the other mr morris' strong resolute
tone of quiet command the gypsies may not have known the language but
there was no mistaking the tone in whatever tongue the words were
spoken instinctively they reined in and at the instant lord godalming
and jonathan dashed up at one side and dr seward and mr morris on the
other the leader of the gypsies a splendid-looking fellow who sat his
horse like a centaur waved them back and in a fierce voice gave to his
companions some word to proceed they lashed the horses which sprang
forward but the four men raised their winchester rifles and in an
unmistakable way commanded them to stop at the same moment dr van
helsing and i rose behind the rock and pointed our weapons at them 
seeing that they were surrounded the men tightened their reins and drew
up the leader turned to them and gave a word at which every man of the
gypsy party drew what weapon he carried knife or pistol and held
himself in readiness to attack issue was joined in an instant 

the leader with a quick movement of his rein threw his horse out in
front and pointing first to the sun now close down on the hill
tops and then to the castle said something which i did not understand 
for answer all four men of our party threw themselves from their horses
and dashed towards the cart i should have felt terrible fear at seeing
jonathan in such danger but that the ardour of battle must have been
upon me as well as the rest of them i felt no fear but only a wild 
surging desire to do something seeing the quick movement of our
parties the leader of the gypsies gave a command his men instantly
formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined endeavour each one
shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness to carry out the
order 

in the midst of this i could see that jonathan on one side of the ring
of men and quincey on the other were forcing a way to the cart it was
evident that they were bent on finishing their task before the sun
should set nothing seemed to stop or even to hinder them neither the
levelled weapons nor the flashing knives of the gypsies in front nor
the howling of the wolves behind appeared to even attract their
attention jonathan's impetuosity and the manifest singleness of his
purpose seemed to overawe those in front of him instinctively they
cowered aside and let him pass in an instant he had jumped upon the
cart and with a strength which seemed incredible raised the great
box and flung it over the wheel to the ground in the meantime mr 
morris had had to use force to pass through his side of the ring of
szgany all the time i had been breathlessly watching jonathan i had 
with the tail of my eye seen him pressing desperately forward and had
seen the knives of the gypsies flash as he won a way through them and
they cut at him he had parried with his great bowie knife and at first
i thought that he too had come through in safety but as he sprang
beside jonathan who had by now jumped from the cart i could see that
with his left hand he was clutching at his side and that the blood was
spurting through his fingers he did not delay notwithstanding this for
as jonathan with desperate energy attacked one end of the chest 
attempting to prize off the lid with his great kukri knife he attacked
the other frantically with his bowie under the efforts of both men the
lid began to yield the nails drew with a quick screeching sound and
the top of the box was thrown back 

by this time the gypsies seeing themselves covered by the winchesters 
and at the mercy of lord godalming and dr seward had given in and made
no resistance the sun was almost down on the mountain tops and the
shadows of the whole group fell long upon the snow i saw the count
lying within the box upon the earth some of which the rude falling from
the cart had scattered over him he was deathly pale just like a waxen
image and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which i
knew too well 

as i looked the eyes saw the sinking sun and the look of hate in them
turned to triumph 

but on the instant came the sweep and flash of jonathan's great knife 
i shrieked as i saw it shear through the throat whilst at the same
moment mr morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart 

it was like a miracle but before our very eyes and almost in the
drawing of a breath the whole body crumble into dust and passed from
our sight 

i shall be glad as long as i live that even in that moment of final
dissolution there was in the face a look of peace such as i never
could have imagined might have rested there 

the castle of dracula now stood out against the red sky and every stone
of its broken battlements was articulated against the light of the
setting sun 

the gypsies taking us as in some way the cause of the extraordinary
disappearance of the dead man turned without a word and rode away as
if for their lives those who were unmounted jumped upon the
leiter-wagon and shouted to the horsemen not to desert them the wolves 
which had withdrawn to a safe distance followed in their wake leaving
us alone 

mr morris who had sunk to the ground leaned on his elbow holding his
hand pressed to his side the blood still gushed through his fingers i
flew to him for the holy circle did not now keep me back so did the
two doctors jonathan knelt behind him and the wounded man laid back his
head on his shoulder with a sigh he took with a feeble effort my hand
in that of his own which was unstained he must have seen the anguish of
my heart in my face for he smiled at me and said 

 i am only too happy to have been of any service oh god   he cried
suddenly struggling up to a sitting posture and pointing to me  it was
worth for this to die look look  

the sun was now right down upon the mountain top and the red gleams
fell upon my face so that it was bathed in rosy light with one impulse
the men sank on their knees and a deep and earnest  amen  broke from all
as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger the dying man
spoke 

 now god be thanked that all has not been in vain see the snow is not
more stainless than her forehead the curse has passed away  

and to our bitter grief with a smile and in silence he died a
gallant gentleman 




 note


seven years ago we all went through the flames and the happiness of
some of us since then is we think well worth the pain we endured it
is an added joy to mina and to me that our boy's birthday is the same
day as that on which quincey morris died his mother holds i know the
secret belief that some of our brave friend's spirit has passed into
him his bundle of names links all our little band of men together but
we call him quincey 

in the summer of this year we made a journey to transylvania and went
over the old ground which was and is to us so full of vivid and
terrible memories it was almost impossible to believe that the things
which we had seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears were
living truths every trace of all that had been was blotted out the
castle stood as before reared high above a waste of desolation 

when we got home we were talking of the old time which we could all
look back on without despair for godalming and seward are both happily
married i took the papers from the safe where they had been ever since
our return so long ago we were struck with the fact that in all the
mass of material of which the record is composed there is hardly one
authentic document nothing but a mass of typewriting except the later
note-books of mina and seward and myself and van helsing's memorandum 
we could hardly ask any one even did we wish to to accept these as
proofs of so wild a story van helsing summed it all up as he said with
our boy on his knee 

 we want no proofs we ask none to believe us this boy will some day
know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is already he knows her
sweetness and loving care later on he will understand how some men so
loved her that they did dare much for her sake  

jonathan harker 

 the end

frankenstein 


or the modern prometheus




by


mary wollstonecraft godwin shelley






contents




letter 1

 to mrs saville england 


st petersburgh dec 11th 17 


you will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the
commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil
forebodings i arrived here yesterday and my first task is to assure
my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success
of my undertaking 

i am already far north of london and as i walk in the streets of
petersburgh i feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks which
braces my nerves and fills me with delight do you understand this
feeling this breeze which has travelled from the regions towards
which i am advancing gives me a foretaste of those icy climes 
inspirited by this wind of promise my daydreams become more fervent
and vivid i try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of
frost and desolation it ever presents itself to my imagination as the
region of beauty and delight there margaret the sun is for ever
visible its broad disk just skirting the horizon and diffusing a
perpetual splendour there for with your leave my sister i will put
some trust in preceding navigators there snow and frost are banished 
and sailing over a calm sea we may be wafted to a land surpassing in
wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable
globe its productions and features may be without example as the
phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered
solitudes what may not be expected in a country of eternal light i
may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle and may
regulate a thousand celestial observations that require only this
voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever i
shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world
never before visited and may tread a land never before imprinted by
the foot of man these are my enticements and they are sufficient to
conquer all fear of danger or death and to induce me to commence this
laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little
boat with his holiday mates on an expedition of discovery up his
native river but supposing all these conjectures to be false you
cannot contest the inestimable benefit which i shall confer on all
mankind to the last generation by discovering a passage near the pole
to those countries to reach which at present so many months are
requisite or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet which if at
all possible can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine 

these reflections have dispelled the agitation with which i began my
letter and i feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me
to heaven for nothing contributes so much to tranquillise the mind as
a steady purpose a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual
eye this expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years i
have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have
been made in the prospect of arriving at the north pacific ocean
through the seas which surround the pole you may remember that a
history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the
whole of our good uncle thomas library my education was neglected 
yet i was passionately fond of reading these volumes were my study
day and night and my familiarity with them increased that regret which
i had felt as a child on learning that my father's dying injunction
had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life 

these visions faded when i perused for the first time those poets
whose effusions entranced my soul and lifted it to heaven i also
became a poet and for one year lived in a paradise of my own creation 
i imagined that i also might obtain a niche in the temple where the
names of homer and shakespeare are consecrated you are well
acquainted with my failure and how heavily i bore the disappointment 
but just at that time i inherited the fortune of my cousin and my
thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent 

six years have passed since i resolved on my present undertaking i
can even now remember the hour from which i dedicated myself to this
great enterprise i commenced by inuring my body to hardship i
accompanied the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the north sea 
i voluntarily endured cold famine thirst and want of sleep i often
worked harder than the common sailors during the day and devoted my
nights to the study of mathematics the theory of medicine and those
branches of physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive
the greatest practical advantage twice i actually hired myself as an
under-mate in a greenland whaler and acquitted myself to admiration i
must own i felt a little proud when my captain offered me the second
dignity in the vessel and entreated me to remain with the greatest
earnestness so valuable did he consider my services 

and now dear margaret do i not deserve to accomplish some great purpose 
my life might have been passed in ease and luxury but i preferred glory to
every enticement that wealth placed in my path oh that some encouraging
voice would answer in the affirmative my courage and my resolution is
firm but my hopes fluctuate and my spirits are often depressed i am
about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage the emergencies of which
will demand all my fortitude i am required not only to raise the spirits
of others but sometimes to sustain my own when theirs are failing 

this is the most favourable period for travelling in russia they fly
quickly over the snow in their sledges the motion is pleasant and in
my opinion far more agreeable than that of an english stagecoach the
cold is not excessive if you are wrapped in furs a dress which i have
already adopted for there is a great difference between walking the
deck and remaining seated motionless for hours when no exercise
prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins i have no
ambition to lose my life on the post-road between st petersburgh and
archangel 

i shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks and my
intention is to hire a ship there which can easily be done by paying the
insurance for the owner and to engage as many sailors as i think necessary
among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing i do not intend to
sail until the month of june and when shall i return ah dear sister how
can i answer this question if i succeed many many months perhaps years 
will pass before you and i may meet if i fail you will see me again soon 
or never 

farewell my dear excellent margaret heaven shower down blessings on you 
and save me that i may again and again testify my gratitude for all your
love and kindness 

your affectionate brother 

r walton






letter 2




 to mrs saville england 


archangel 28th march 17 


how slowly the time passes here encompassed as i am by frost and snow 
yet a second step is taken towards my enterprise i have hired a
vessel and am occupied in collecting my sailors those whom i have
already engaged appear to be men on whom i can depend and are certainly
possessed of dauntless courage 

but i have one want which i have never yet been able to satisfy and the
absence of the object of which i now feel as a most severe evil i have no
friend margaret when i am glowing with the enthusiasm of success there
will be none to participate my joy if i am assailed by disappointment no
one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection i shall commit my thoughts
to paper it is true but that is a poor medium for the communication of
feeling i desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me whose
eyes would reply to mine you may deem me romantic my dear sister but i
bitterly feel the want of a friend i have no one near me gentle yet
courageous possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind whose
tastes are like my own to approve or amend my plans how would such a
friend repair the faults of your poor brother i am too ardent in execution
and too impatient of difficulties but it is a still greater evil to me
that i am self-educated for the first fourteen years of my life i ran wild
on a common and read nothing but our uncle thomas books of voyages 
at that age i became acquainted with the celebrated poets of our own
country but it was only when it had ceased to be in my power to derive its
most important benefits from such a conviction that i perceived the
necessity of becoming acquainted with more languages than that of my native
country now i am twenty-eight and am in reality more illiterate than many
schoolboys of fifteen it is true that i have thought more and that my
daydreams are more extended and magnificent but they want as the painters
call it keeping and i greatly need a friend who would have sense
enough not to despise me as romantic and affection enough for me to
endeavour to regulate my mind 

well these are useless complaints i shall certainly find no friend on the
wide ocean nor even here in archangel among merchants and seamen yet
some feelings unallied to the dross of human nature beat even in these
rugged bosoms my lieutenant for instance is a man of wonderful courage
and enterprise he is madly desirous of glory or rather to word my phrase
more characteristically of advancement in his profession he is an
englishman and in the midst of national and professional prejudices 
unsoftened by cultivation retains some of the noblest endowments of
humanity i first became acquainted with him on board a whale vessel 
finding that he was unemployed in this city i easily engaged him to assist
in my enterprise 

the master is a person of an excellent disposition and is remarkable in the
ship for his gentleness and the mildness of his discipline this
circumstance added to his well-known integrity and dauntless courage made
me very desirous to engage him a youth passed in solitude my best years
spent under your gentle and feminine fosterage has so refined the
groundwork of my character that i cannot overcome an intense distaste to
the usual brutality exercised on board ship i have never believed it to be
necessary and when i heard of a mariner equally noted for his kindliness
of heart and the respect and obedience paid to him by his crew i felt
myself peculiarly fortunate in being able to secure his services i heard
of him first in rather a romantic manner from a lady who owes to him the
happiness of her life this briefly is his story some years ago he loved
a young russian lady of moderate fortune and having amassed a considerable
sum in prize-money the father of the girl consented to the match he saw
his mistress once before the destined ceremony but she was bathed in
tears and throwing herself at his feet entreated him to spare her 
confessing at the same time that she loved another but that he was poor 
and that her father would never consent to the union my generous friend
reassured the suppliant and on being informed of the name of her lover 
instantly abandoned his pursuit he had already bought a farm with his
money on which he had designed to pass the remainder of his life but he
bestowed the whole on his rival together with the remains of his
prize-money to purchase stock and then himself solicited the young
woman's father to consent to her marriage with her lover but the old
man decidedly refused thinking himself bound in honour to my friend who 
when he found the father inexorable quitted his country nor returned
until he heard that his former mistress was married according to her
inclinations what a noble fellow you will exclaim he is
so but then he is wholly uneducated he is as silent as a turk and a kind
of ignorant carelessness attends him which while it renders his conduct
the more astonishing detracts from the interest and sympathy which
otherwise he would command 

yet do not suppose because i complain a little or because i can
conceive a consolation for my toils which i may never know that i am
wavering in my resolutions those are as fixed as fate and my voyage
is only now delayed until the weather shall permit my embarkation the
winter has been dreadfully severe but the spring promises well and it
is considered as a remarkably early season so that perhaps i may sail
sooner than i expected i shall do nothing rashly you know me
sufficiently to confide in my prudence and considerateness whenever the
safety of others is committed to my care 

i cannot describe to you my sensations on the near prospect of my
undertaking it is impossible to communicate to you a conception of
the trembling sensation half pleasurable and half fearful with which
i am preparing to depart i am going to unexplored regions to the
land of mist and snow but i shall kill no albatross therefore do not
be alarmed for my safety or if i should come back to you as worn and
woeful as the ancient mariner you will smile at my allusion but i
will disclose a secret i have often attributed my attachment to my
passionate enthusiasm for the dangerous mysteries of ocean to that
production of the most imaginative of modern poets there is something
at work in my soul which i do not understand i am practically
industrious painstaking a workman to execute with perseverance and
labour but besides this there is a love for the marvellous a belief
in the marvellous intertwined in all my projects which hurries me out
of the common pathways of men even to the wild sea and unvisited
regions i am about to explore 

but to return to dearer considerations shall i meet you again after
having traversed immense seas and returned by the most southern cape of
africa or america i dare not expect such success yet i cannot bear to
look on the reverse of the picture continue for the present to write to
me by every opportunity i may receive your letters on some occasions when
i need them most to support my spirits i love you very tenderly 
remember me with affection should you never hear from me again 

your affectionate brother 
 robert walton






letter 3




 to mrs saville england 


july 7th 17 


my dear sister 

i write a few lines in haste to say that i am safe and well advanced
on my voyage this letter will reach england by a merchantman now on
its homeward voyage from archangel more fortunate than i who may not
see my native land perhaps for many years i am however in good
spirits my men are bold and apparently firm of purpose nor do the
floating sheets of ice that continually pass us indicating the dangers
of the region towards which we are advancing appear to dismay them we
have already reached a very high latitude but it is the height of
summer and although not so warm as in england the southern gales 
which blow us speedily towards those shores which i so ardently desire
to attain breathe a degree of renovating warmth which i had not
expected 

no incidents have hitherto befallen us that would make a figure in a
letter one or two stiff gales and the springing of a leak are
accidents which experienced navigators scarcely remember to record and
i shall be well content if nothing worse happen to us during our voyage 

adieu my dear margaret be assured that for my own sake as well as
yours i will not rashly encounter danger i will be cool 
persevering and prudent 

but success shall crown my endeavours wherefore not thus far i
have gone tracing a secure way over the pathless seas the very stars
themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph why not
still proceed over the untamed yet obedient element what can stop the
determined heart and resolved will of man 

my swelling heart involuntarily pours itself out thus but i must
finish heaven bless my beloved sister 

r w 






letter 4




 to mrs saville england 


august 5th 17 


so strange an accident has happened to us that i cannot forbear
recording it although it is very probable that you will see me before
these papers can come into your possession 

last monday july 31st we were nearly surrounded by ice which closed
in the ship on all sides scarcely leaving her the sea-room in which
she floated our situation was somewhat dangerous especially as we
were compassed round by a very thick fog we accordingly lay to 
hoping that some change would take place in the atmosphere and weather 

about two o'clock the mist cleared away and we beheld stretched out
in every direction vast and irregular plains of ice which seemed to
have no end some of my comrades groaned and my own mind began to
grow watchful with anxious thoughts when a strange sight suddenly
attracted our attention and diverted our solicitude from our own
situation we perceived a low carriage fixed on a sledge and drawn by
dogs pass on towards the north at the distance of half a mile a
being which had the shape of a man but apparently of gigantic stature 
sat in the sledge and guided the dogs we watched the rapid progress
of the traveller with our telescopes until he was lost among the
distant inequalities of the ice 

this appearance excited our unqualified wonder we were as we believed 
many hundred miles from any land but this apparition seemed to denote that
it was not in reality so distant as we had supposed shut in however by
ice it was impossible to follow his track which we had observed with the
greatest attention 

about two hours after this occurrence we heard the ground sea and before
night the ice broke and freed our ship we however lay to until the
morning fearing to encounter in the dark those large loose masses which
float about after the breaking up of the ice i profited of this time to
rest for a few hours 

in the morning however as soon as it was light i went upon deck and
found all the sailors busy on one side of the vessel apparently
talking to someone in the sea it was in fact a sledge like that we
had seen before which had drifted towards us in the night on a large
fragment of ice only one dog remained alive but there was a human
being within it whom the sailors were persuading to enter the vessel 
he was not as the other traveller seemed to be a savage inhabitant of
some undiscovered island but a european when i appeared on deck the
master said here is our captain and he will not allow you to perish
on the open sea 

on perceiving me the stranger addressed me in english although with a
foreign accent before i come on board your vessel said he 
 will you have the kindness to inform me whither you are bound 

you may conceive my astonishment on hearing such a question addressed
to me from a man on the brink of destruction and to whom i should have
supposed that my vessel would have been a resource which he would not
have exchanged for the most precious wealth the earth can afford i
replied however that we were on a voyage of discovery towards the
northern pole 

upon hearing this he appeared satisfied and consented to come on board 
good god margaret if you had seen the man who thus capitulated for
his safety your surprise would have been boundless his limbs were
nearly frozen and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and
suffering i never saw a man in so wretched a condition we attempted
to carry him into the cabin but as soon as he had quitted the fresh
air he fainted we accordingly brought him back to the deck and
restored him to animation by rubbing him with brandy and forcing him to
swallow a small quantity as soon as he showed signs of life we
wrapped him up in blankets and placed him near the chimney of the
kitchen stove by slow degrees he recovered and ate a little soup 
which restored him wonderfully 

two days passed in this manner before he was able to speak and i often
feared that his sufferings had deprived him of understanding when he
had in some measure recovered i removed him to my own cabin and
attended on him as much as my duty would permit i never saw a more
interesting creature his eyes have generally an expression of
wildness and even madness but there are moments when if anyone
performs an act of kindness towards him or does him any the most
trifling service his whole countenance is lighted up as it were with
a beam of benevolence and sweetness that i never saw equalled but he
is generally melancholy and despairing and sometimes he gnashes his
teeth as if impatient of the weight of woes that oppresses him 

when my guest was a little recovered i had great trouble to keep off
the men who wished to ask him a thousand questions but i would not
allow him to be tormented by their idle curiosity in a state of body
and mind whose restoration evidently depended upon entire repose 
once however the lieutenant asked why he had come so far upon the ice
in so strange a vehicle 

his countenance instantly assumed an aspect of the deepest gloom and
he replied to seek one who fled from me 

 and did the man whom you pursued travel in the same fashion 

 yes 

 then i fancy we have seen him for the day before we picked you up we
saw some dogs drawing a sledge with a man in it across the ice 

this aroused the stranger's attention and he asked a multitude of
questions concerning the route which the daemon as he called him had
pursued soon after when he was alone with me he said i have 
doubtless excited your curiosity as well as that of these good
people but you are too considerate to make inquiries 

 certainly it would indeed be very impertinent and inhuman in me to
trouble you with any inquisitiveness of mine 

 and yet you rescued me from a strange and perilous situation you have
benevolently restored me to life 

soon after this he inquired if i thought that the breaking up of the
ice had destroyed the other sledge i replied that i could not answer
with any degree of certainty for the ice had not broken until near
midnight and the traveller might have arrived at a place of safety
before that time but of this i could not judge 

from this time a new spirit of life animated the decaying frame of the
stranger he manifested the greatest eagerness to be upon deck to watch for
the sledge which had before appeared but i have persuaded him to remain in
the cabin for he is far too weak to sustain the rawness of the atmosphere 
i have promised that someone should watch for him and give him instant
notice if any new object should appear in sight 

such is my journal of what relates to this strange occurrence up to the
present day the stranger has gradually improved in health but is very
silent and appears uneasy when anyone except myself enters his cabin 
yet his manners are so conciliating and gentle that the sailors are all
interested in him although they have had very little communication
with him for my own part i begin to love him as a brother and his
constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion he must
have been a noble creature in his better days being even now in wreck
so attractive and amiable 

i said in one of my letters my dear margaret that i should find no friend
on the wide ocean yet i have found a man who before his spirit had been
broken by misery i should have been happy to have possessed as the brother
of my heart 

i shall continue my journal concerning the stranger at intervals 
should i have any fresh incidents to record 




august 13th 17 


my affection for my guest increases every day he excites at once my
admiration and my pity to an astonishing degree how can i see so
noble a creature destroyed by misery without feeling the most poignant
grief he is so gentle yet so wise his mind is so cultivated and
when he speaks although his words are culled with the choicest art 
yet they flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence 

he is now much recovered from his illness and is continually on the deck 
apparently watching for the sledge that preceded his own yet although
unhappy he is not so utterly occupied by his own misery but that he
interests himself deeply in the projects of others he has frequently
conversed with me on mine which i have communicated to him without
disguise he entered attentively into all my arguments in favour of my
eventual success and into every minute detail of the measures i had taken
to secure it i was easily led by the sympathy which he evinced to use the
language of my heart to give utterance to the burning ardour of my soul
and to say with all the fervour that warmed me how gladly i would
sacrifice my fortune my existence my every hope to the furtherance of my
enterprise one man's life or death were but a small price to pay for
the acquirement of the knowledge which i sought for the dominion i should
acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race as i spoke a
dark gloom spread over my listener's countenance at first i
perceived that he tried to suppress his emotion he placed his hands before
his eyes and my voice quivered and failed me as i beheld tears trickle
fast from between his fingers a groan burst from his heaving breast i
paused at length he spoke in broken accents unhappy man do you
share my madness have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught hear me 
let me reveal my tale and you will dash the cup from your lips 

such words you may imagine strongly excited my curiosity but the
paroxysm of grief that had seized the stranger overcame his weakened
powers and many hours of repose and tranquil conversation were
necessary to restore his composure 

having conquered the violence of his feelings he appeared to despise
himself for being the slave of passion and quelling the dark tyranny of
despair he led me again to converse concerning myself personally he asked
me the history of my earlier years the tale was quickly told but it
awakened various trains of reflection i spoke of my desire of finding a
friend of my thirst for a more intimate sympathy with a fellow mind than
had ever fallen to my lot and expressed my conviction that a man could
boast of little happiness who did not enjoy this blessing 

 i agree with you replied the stranger we are
unfashioned creatures but half made up if one wiser better dearer than
ourselves such a friend ought to be do not lend his aid to
perfectionate our weak and faulty natures i once had a friend the most
noble of human creatures and am entitled therefore to judge respecting
friendship you have hope and the world before you and have no cause for
despair but i i have lost everything and cannot begin life
anew 

as he said this his countenance became expressive of a calm settled
grief that touched me to the heart but he was silent and presently
retired to his cabin 

even broken in spirit as he is no one can feel more deeply than he
does the beauties of nature the starry sky the sea and every sight
afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have the power of
elevating his soul from earth such a man has a double existence he
may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments yet when he
has retired into himself he will be like a celestial spirit that has a
halo around him within whose circle no grief or folly ventures 

will you smile at the enthusiasm i express concerning this divine
wanderer you would not if you saw him you have been tutored and
refined by books and retirement from the world and you are therefore
somewhat fastidious but this only renders you the more fit to
appreciate the extraordinary merits of this wonderful man sometimes i
have endeavoured to discover what quality it is which he possesses that
elevates him so immeasurably above any other person i ever knew i
believe it to be an intuitive discernment a quick but never-failing
power of judgment a penetration into the causes of things unequalled
for clearness and precision add to this a facility of expression and a
voice whose varied intonations are soul-subduing music 




august 19th 17 


yesterday the stranger said to me you may easily perceive captain
walton that i have suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes i had
determined at one time that the memory of these evils should die with
me but you have won me to alter my determination you seek for
knowledge and wisdom as i once did and i ardently hope that the
gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you as mine
has been i do not know that the relation of my disasters will be
useful to you yet when i reflect that you are pursuing the same
course exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me
what i am i imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale one
that may direct you if you succeed in your undertaking and console you
in case of failure prepare to hear of occurrences which are usually
deemed marvellous were we among the tamer scenes of nature i might
fear to encounter your unbelief perhaps your ridicule but many things
will appear possible in these wild and mysterious regions which would
provoke the laughter of those unacquainted with the ever-varied powers
of nature nor can i doubt but that my tale conveys in its series
internal evidence of the truth of the events of which it is composed 

you may easily imagine that i was much gratified by the offered
communication yet i could not endure that he should renew his grief by
a recital of his misfortunes i felt the greatest eagerness to hear
the promised narrative partly from curiosity and partly from a strong
desire to ameliorate his fate if it were in my power i expressed
these feelings in my answer 

 i thank you he replied for your sympathy but it is
useless my fate is nearly fulfilled i wait but for one event and then i
shall repose in peace i understand your feeling continued he 
perceiving that i wished to interrupt him but you are mistaken my
friend if thus you will allow me to name you nothing can alter my
destiny listen to my history and you will perceive how irrevocably it is
determined 

he then told me that he would commence his narrative the next day when i
should be at leisure this promise drew from me the warmest thanks i have
resolved every night when i am not imperatively occupied by my duties to
record as nearly as possible in his own words what he has related during
the day if i should be engaged i will at least make notes this
manuscript will doubtless afford you the greatest pleasure but to me who
know him and who hear it from his own lips with what interest and
sympathy shall i read it in some future day even now as i commence my
task his full-toned voice swells in my ears his lustrous eyes dwell on me
with all their melancholy sweetness i see his thin hand raised in
animation while the lineaments of his face are irradiated by the soul
within strange and harrowing must be his story frightful the storm which
embraced the gallant vessel on its course and wrecked it thus 





chapter 1

i am by birth a genevese and my family is one of the most
distinguished of that republic my ancestors had been for many years
counsellors and syndics and my father had filled several public
situations with honour and reputation he was respected by all who
knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public
business he passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the
affairs of his country a variety of circumstances had prevented his
marrying early nor was it until the decline of life that he became a
husband and the father of a family 

as the circumstances of his marriage illustrate his character i cannot
refrain from relating them one of his most intimate friends was a
merchant who from a flourishing state fell through numerous
mischances into poverty this man whose name was beaufort was of a
proud and unbending disposition and could not bear to live in poverty
and oblivion in the same country where he had formerly been
distinguished for his rank and magnificence having paid his debts 
therefore in the most honourable manner he retreated with his
daughter to the town of lucerne where he lived unknown and in
wretchedness my father loved beaufort with the truest friendship and
was deeply grieved by his retreat in these unfortunate circumstances 
he bitterly deplored the false pride which led his friend to a conduct
so little worthy of the affection that united them he lost no time in
endeavouring to seek him out with the hope of persuading him to begin
the world again through his credit and assistance 

beaufort had taken effectual measures to conceal himself and it was ten
months before my father discovered his abode overjoyed at this discovery 
he hastened to the house which was situated in a mean street near the
reuss but when he entered misery and despair alone welcomed him beaufort
had saved but a very small sum of money from the wreck of his fortunes but
it was sufficient to provide him with sustenance for some months and in
the meantime he hoped to procure some respectable employment in a
merchant's house the interval was consequently spent in inaction 
his grief only became more deep and rankling when he had leisure for
reflection and at length it took so fast hold of his mind that at the end
of three months he lay on a bed of sickness incapable of any exertion 

his daughter attended him with the greatest tenderness but she saw
with despair that their little fund was rapidly decreasing and that
there was no other prospect of support but caroline beaufort
possessed a mind of an uncommon mould and her courage rose to support
her in her adversity she procured plain work she plaited straw and
by various means contrived to earn a pittance scarcely sufficient to
support life 

several months passed in this manner her father grew worse her time
was more entirely occupied in attending him her means of subsistence
decreased and in the tenth month her father died in her arms leaving
her an orphan and a beggar this last blow overcame her and she knelt
by beaufort's coffin weeping bitterly when my father entered the
chamber he came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl who
committed herself to his care and after the interment of his friend he
conducted her to geneva and placed her under the protection of a
relation two years after this event caroline became his wife 

there was a considerable difference between the ages of my parents but
this circumstance seemed to unite them only closer in bonds of devoted
affection there was a sense of justice in my father's upright mind
which rendered it necessary that he should approve highly to love
strongly perhaps during former years he had suffered from the
late-discovered unworthiness of one beloved and so was disposed to set
a greater value on tried worth there was a show of gratitude and
worship in his attachment to my mother differing wholly from the
doting fondness of age for it was inspired by reverence for her
virtues and a desire to be the means of in some degree recompensing
her for the sorrows she had endured but which gave inexpressible grace
to his behaviour to her everything was made to yield to her wishes
and her convenience he strove to shelter her as a fair exotic is
sheltered by the gardener from every rougher wind and to surround her
with all that could tend to excite pleasurable emotion in her soft and
benevolent mind her health and even the tranquillity of her hitherto
constant spirit had been shaken by what she had gone through during
the two years that had elapsed previous to their marriage my father had
gradually relinquished all his public functions and immediately after
their union they sought the pleasant climate of italy and the change
of scene and interest attendant on a tour through that land of wonders 
as a restorative for her weakened frame 

from italy they visited germany and france i their eldest child was born
at naples and as an infant accompanied them in their rambles i remained
for several years their only child much as they were attached to each
other they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very
mine of love to bestow them upon me my mother's tender caresses and
my father's smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my
first recollections i was their plaything and their idol and something
better their child the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on
them by heaven whom to bring up to good and whose future lot it was in
their hands to direct to happiness or misery according as they fulfilled
their duties towards me with this deep consciousness of what they owed
towards the being to which they had given life added to the active spirit
of tenderness that animated both it may be imagined that while during
every hour of my infant life i received a lesson of patience of charity 
and of self-control i was so guided by a silken cord that all seemed but
one train of enjoyment to me 

for a long time i was their only care my mother had much desired to have a
daughter but i continued their single offspring when i was about five
years old while making an excursion beyond the frontiers of italy they
passed a week on the shores of the lake of como their benevolent
disposition often made them enter the cottages of the poor this to my
mother was more than a duty it was a necessity a
passion remembering what she had suffered and how she had been
relieved for her to act in her turn the guardian angel to the
afflicted during one of their walks a poor cot in the foldings of a vale
attracted their notice as being singularly disconsolate while the number
of half-clothed children gathered about it spoke of penury in its worst
shape one day when my father had gone by himself to milan my mother 
accompanied by me visited this abode she found a peasant and his wife 
hard working bent down by care and labour distributing a scanty meal to
five hungry babes among these there was one which attracted my mother far
above all the rest she appeared of a different stock the four others were
dark-eyed hardy little vagrants this child was thin and very fair her
hair was the brightest living gold and despite the poverty of her
clothing seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head her brow was
clear and ample her blue eyes cloudless and her lips and the moulding of
her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness that none could behold
her without looking on her as of a distinct species a being heaven-sent 
and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features 

the peasant woman perceiving that my mother fixed eyes of wonder and
admiration on this lovely girl eagerly communicated her history she was
not her child but the daughter of a milanese nobleman her mother was a
german and had died on giving her birth the infant had been placed with
these good people to nurse they were better off then they had not been
long married and their eldest child was but just born the father of their
charge was one of those italians nursed in the memory of the antique glory
of italy one among the schiavi ognor frementi who exerted
himself to obtain the liberty of his country he became the victim of its
weakness whether he had died or still lingered in the dungeons of austria
was not known his property was confiscated his child became an orphan and
a beggar she continued with her foster parents and bloomed in their rude
abode fairer than a garden rose among dark-leaved brambles 

when my father returned from milan he found playing with me in the hall of
our villa a child fairer than pictured cherub a creature who seemed
to shed radiance from her looks and whose form and motions were lighter
than the chamois of the hills the apparition was soon explained with his
permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their
charge to her they were fond of the sweet orphan her presence had seemed
a blessing to them but it would be unfair to her to keep her in poverty
and want when providence afforded her such powerful protection they
consulted their village priest and the result was that elizabeth lavenza
became the inmate of my parents house my more than
sister the beautiful and adored companion of all my occupations and
my pleasures 

everyone loved elizabeth the passionate and almost reverential
attachment with which all regarded her became while i shared it my
pride and my delight on the evening previous to her being brought to
my home my mother had said playfully i have a pretty present for my
victor tomorrow he shall have it and when on the morrow she
presented elizabeth to me as her promised gift i with childish
seriousness interpreted her words literally and looked upon elizabeth
as mine mine to protect love and cherish all praises bestowed on
her i received as made to a possession of my own we called each other
familiarly by the name of cousin no word no expression could body
forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me my more than
sister since till death she was to be mine only 





chapter 2

we were brought up together there was not quite a year difference in
our ages i need not say that we were strangers to any species of
disunion or dispute harmony was the soul of our companionship and
the diversity and contrast that subsisted in our characters drew us
nearer together elizabeth was of a calmer and more concentrated
disposition but with all my ardour i was capable of a more intense
application and was more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge 
she busied herself with following the aerial creations of the poets 
and in the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our swiss
home the sublime shapes of the mountains the changes of the seasons 
tempest and calm the silence of winter and the life and turbulence of
our alpine summers she found ample scope for admiration and delight 
while my companion contemplated with a serious and satisfied spirit the
magnificent appearances of things i delighted in investigating their
causes the world was to me a secret which i desired to divine 
curiosity earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature 
gladness akin to rapture as they were unfolded to me are among the
earliest sensations i can remember 

on the birth of a second son my junior by seven years my parents gave
up entirely their wandering life and fixed themselves in their native
country we possessed a house in geneva and a campagne on belrive 
the eastern shore of the lake at the distance of rather more than a
league from the city we resided principally in the latter and the
lives of my parents were passed in considerable seclusion it was my
temper to avoid a crowd and to attach myself fervently to a few i was
indifferent therefore to my school-fellows in general but i united
myself in the bonds of the closest friendship to one among them henry
clerval was the son of a merchant of geneva he was a boy of singular
talent and fancy he loved enterprise hardship and even danger for
its own sake he was deeply read in books of chivalry and romance he
composed heroic songs and began to write many a tale of enchantment and
knightly adventure he tried to make us act plays and to enter into
masquerades in which the characters were drawn from the heroes of
roncesvalles of the round table of king arthur and the chivalrous
train who shed their blood to redeem the holy sepulchre from the hands
of the infidels 

no human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself my
parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence 
we felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to
their caprice but the agents and creators of all the many delights
which we enjoyed when i mingled with other families i distinctly
discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was and gratitude assisted
the development of filial love 

my temper was sometimes violent and my passions vehement but by some
law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits
but to an eager desire to learn and not to learn all things
indiscriminately i confess that neither the structure of languages 
nor the code of governments nor the politics of various states
possessed attractions for me it was the secrets of heaven and earth
that i desired to learn and whether it was the outward substance of
things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man
that occupied me still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical 
or in its highest sense the physical secrets of the world 

meanwhile clerval occupied himself so to speak with the moral
relations of things the busy stage of life the virtues of heroes 
and the actions of men were his theme and his hope and his dream was
to become one among those whose names are recorded in story as the
gallant and adventurous benefactors of our species the saintly soul
of elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home 
her sympathy was ours her smile her soft voice the sweet glance of
her celestial eyes were ever there to bless and animate us she was
the living spirit of love to soften and attract i might have become
sullen in my study rough through the ardour of my nature but that
she was there to subdue me to a semblance of her own gentleness and
clerval could aught ill entrench on the noble spirit of clerval yet
he might not have been so perfectly humane so thoughtful in his
generosity so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion for
adventurous exploit had she not unfolded to him the real loveliness of
beneficence and made the doing good the end and aim of his soaring
ambition 

i feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood 
before misfortune had tainted my mind and changed its bright visions of
extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self besides 
in drawing the picture of my early days i also record those events which
led by insensible steps to my after tale of misery for when i would
account to myself for the birth of that passion which afterwards ruled my
destiny i find it arise like a mountain river from ignoble and almost
forgotten sources but swelling as it proceeded it became the torrent
which in its course has swept away all my hopes and joys 

natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate i desire 
therefore in this narration to state those facts which led to my
predilection for that science when i was thirteen years of age we all went
on a party of pleasure to the baths near thonon the inclemency of the
weather obliged us to remain a day confined to the inn in this house i
chanced to find a volume of the works of cornelius agrippa i opened it
with apathy the theory which he attempts to demonstrate and the wonderful
facts which he relates soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm a new
light seemed to dawn upon my mind and bounding with joy i communicated my
discovery to my father my father looked carelessly at the title page of my
book and said ah cornelius agrippa my dear victor do not waste
your time upon this it is sad trash 

if instead of this remark my father had taken the pains to explain to me
that the principles of agrippa had been entirely exploded and that a modern
system of science had been introduced which possessed much greater powers
than the ancient because the powers of the latter were chimerical while
those of the former were real and practical under such circumstances i
should certainly have thrown agrippa aside and have contented my
imagination warmed as it was by returning with greater ardour to my
former studies it is even possible that the train of my ideas would never
have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin but the cursory glance
my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was
acquainted with its contents and i continued to read with the greatest
avidity 

when i returned home my first care was to procure the whole works of this
author and afterwards of paracelsus and albertus magnus i read and
studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight they appeared to me
treasures known to few besides myself i have described myself as always
having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of
nature in spite of the intense labour and wonderful discoveries of modern
philosophers i always came from my studies discontented and unsatisfied 
sir isaac newton is said to have avowed that he felt like a child picking
up shells beside the great and unexplored ocean of truth those of his
successors in each branch of natural philosophy with whom i was acquainted
appeared even to my boy's apprehensions as tyros engaged in the same
pursuit 

the untaught peasant beheld the elements around him and was acquainted
with their practical uses the most learned philosopher knew little
more he had partially unveiled the face of nature but her immortal
lineaments were still a wonder and a mystery he might dissect 
anatomise and give names but not to speak of a final cause causes
in their secondary and tertiary grades were utterly unknown to him i
had gazed upon the fortifications and impediments that seemed to keep
human beings from entering the citadel of nature and rashly and
ignorantly i had repined 

but here were books and here were men who had penetrated deeper and knew
more i took their word for all that they averred and i became their
disciple it may appear strange that such should arise in the eighteenth
century but while i followed the routine of education in the schools of
geneva i was to a great degree self-taught with regard to my favourite
studies my father was not scientific and i was left to struggle with a
child's blindness added to a student's thirst for knowledge 
under the guidance of my new preceptors i entered with the greatest
diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and the elixir
of life but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention wealth was an
inferior object but what glory would attend the discovery if i could
banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but
a violent death 

nor were these my only visions the raising of ghosts or devils was a
promise liberally accorded by my favourite authors the fulfilment of which
i most eagerly sought and if my incantations were always unsuccessful i
attributed the failure rather to my own inexperience and mistake than to a
want of skill or fidelity in my instructors and thus for a time i was
occupied by exploded systems mingling like an unadept a thousand
contradictory theories and floundering desperately in a very slough of
multifarious knowledge guided by an ardent imagination and childish
reasoning till an accident again changed the current of my ideas 

when i was about fifteen years old we had retired to our house near
belrive when we witnessed a most violent and terrible thunderstorm it
advanced from behind the mountains of jura and the thunder burst at once
with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavens i remained 
while the storm lasted watching its progress with curiosity and delight 
as i stood at the door on a sudden i beheld a stream of fire issue from an
old and beautiful oak which stood about twenty yards from our house and so
soon as the dazzling light vanished the oak had disappeared and nothing
remained but a blasted stump when we visited it the next morning we found
the tree shattered in a singular manner it was not splintered by the
shock but entirely reduced to thin ribbons of wood i never beheld
anything so utterly destroyed 

before this i was not unacquainted with the more obvious laws of
electricity on this occasion a man of great research in natural
philosophy was with us and excited by this catastrophe he entered on
the explanation of a theory which he had formed on the subject of
electricity and galvanism which was at once new and astonishing to me 
all that he said threw greatly into the shade cornelius agrippa 
albertus magnus and paracelsus the lords of my imagination but by
some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my
accustomed studies it seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever
be known all that had so long engaged my attention suddenly grew
despicable by one of those caprices of the mind which we are perhaps
most subject to in early youth i at once gave up my former
occupations set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed
and abortive creation and entertained the greatest disdain for a
would-be science which could never even step within the threshold of
real knowledge in this mood of mind i betook myself to the
mathematics and the branches of study appertaining to that science as
being built upon secure foundations and so worthy of my consideration 

thus strangely are our souls constructed and by such slight ligaments
are we bound to prosperity or ruin when i look back it seems to me
as if this almost miraculous change of inclination and will was the
immediate suggestion of the guardian angel of my life the last effort
made by the spirit of preservation to avert the storm that was even
then hanging in the stars and ready to envelop me her victory was
announced by an unusual tranquillity and gladness of soul which
followed the relinquishing of my ancient and latterly tormenting
studies it was thus that i was to be taught to associate evil with
their prosecution happiness with their disregard 

it was a strong effort of the spirit of good but it was ineffectual 
destiny was too potent and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and
terrible destruction 





chapter 3

when i had attained the age of seventeen my parents resolved that i
should become a student at the university of ingolstadt i had
hitherto attended the schools of geneva but my father thought it
necessary for the completion of my education that i should be made
acquainted with other customs than those of my native country my
departure was therefore fixed at an early date but before the day
resolved upon could arrive the first misfortune of my life
occurred an omen as it were of my future misery 

elizabeth had caught the scarlet fever her illness was severe and she was
in the greatest danger during her illness many arguments had been urged to
persuade my mother to refrain from attending upon her she had at first
yielded to our entreaties but when she heard that the life of her
favourite was menaced she could no longer control her anxiety she
attended her sickbed her watchful attentions triumphed over the malignity
of the distemper elizabeth was saved but the consequences of this
imprudence were fatal to her preserver on the third day my mother
sickened her fever was accompanied by the most alarming symptoms and the
looks of her medical attendants prognosticated the worst event on her
deathbed the fortitude and benignity of this best of women did not desert
her she joined the hands of elizabeth and myself my
children she said my firmest hopes of future happiness were
placed on the prospect of your union this expectation will now be the
consolation of your father elizabeth my love you must supply my place to
my younger children alas i regret that i am taken from you and happy
and beloved as i have been is it not hard to quit you all but these are
not thoughts befitting me i will endeavour to resign myself cheerfully to
death and will indulge a hope of meeting you in another world 

she died calmly and her countenance expressed affection even in death 
i need not describe the feelings of those whose dearest ties are rent
by that most irreparable evil the void that presents itself to the
soul and the despair that is exhibited on the countenance it is so
long before the mind can persuade itself that she whom we saw every day
and whose very existence appeared a part of our own can have departed
for ever that the brightness of a beloved eye can have been
extinguished and the sound of a voice so familiar and dear to the ear
can be hushed never more to be heard these are the reflections of
the first days but when the lapse of time proves the reality of the
evil then the actual bitterness of grief commences yet from whom has
not that rude hand rent away some dear connection and why should i
describe a sorrow which all have felt and must feel the time at
length arrives when grief is rather an indulgence than a necessity and
the smile that plays upon the lips although it may be deemed a
sacrilege is not banished my mother was dead but we had still
duties which we ought to perform we must continue our course with the
rest and learn to think ourselves fortunate whilst one remains whom the
spoiler has not seized 

my departure for ingolstadt which had been deferred by these events 
was now again determined upon i obtained from my father a respite of
some weeks it appeared to me sacrilege so soon to leave the repose 
akin to death of the house of mourning and to rush into the thick of
life i was new to sorrow but it did not the less alarm me i was
unwilling to quit the sight of those that remained to me and above
all i desired to see my sweet elizabeth in some degree consoled 

she indeed veiled her grief and strove to act the comforter to us all 
she looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and
zeal she devoted herself to those whom she had been taught to call
her uncle and cousins never was she so enchanting as at this time 
when she recalled the sunshine of her smiles and spent them upon us 
she forgot even her own regret in her endeavours to make us forget 

the day of my departure at length arrived clerval spent the last
evening with us he had endeavoured to persuade his father to permit
him to accompany me and to become my fellow student but in vain his
father was a narrow-minded trader and saw idleness and ruin in the
aspirations and ambition of his son henry deeply felt the misfortune
of being debarred from a liberal education he said little but when
he spoke i read in his kindling eye and in his animated glance a
restrained but firm resolve not to be chained to the miserable details
of commerce 

we sat late we could not tear ourselves away from each other nor
persuade ourselves to say the word farewell it was said and we
retired under the pretence of seeking repose each fancying that the
other was deceived but when at morning's dawn i descended to the
carriage which was to convey me away they were all there my father
again to bless me clerval to press my hand once more my elizabeth to
renew her entreaties that i would write often and to bestow the last
feminine attentions on her playmate and friend 

i threw myself into the chaise that was to convey me away and indulged in
the most melancholy reflections i who had ever been surrounded by
amiable companions continually engaged in endeavouring to bestow mutual
pleasure i was now alone in the university whither i was going i
must form my own friends and be my own protector my life had hitherto
been remarkably secluded and domestic and this had given me invincible
repugnance to new countenances i loved my brothers elizabeth and
clerval these were old familiar faces but i believed myself
totally unfitted for the company of strangers such were my reflections as
i commenced my journey but as i proceeded my spirits and hopes rose i
ardently desired the acquisition of knowledge i had often when at home 
thought it hard to remain during my youth cooped up in one place and had
longed to enter the world and take my station among other human beings 
now my desires were complied with and it would indeed have been folly to
repent 

i had sufficient leisure for these and many other reflections during my
journey to ingolstadt which was long and fatiguing at length the
high white steeple of the town met my eyes i alighted and was
conducted to my solitary apartment to spend the evening as i pleased 

the next morning i delivered my letters of introduction and paid a visit to
some of the principal professors chance or rather the evil
influence the angel of destruction which asserted omnipotent sway over me
from the moment i turned my reluctant steps from my father's
door led me first to m krempe professor of natural philosophy he
was an uncouth man but deeply imbued in the secrets of his science he
asked me several questions concerning my progress in the different branches
of science appertaining to natural philosophy i replied carelessly and
partly in contempt mentioned the names of my alchemists as the principal
authors i had studied the professor stared have you he
said really spent your time in studying such nonsense 

i replied in the affirmative every minute continued m krempe with
warmth every instant that you have wasted on those books is utterly
and entirely lost you have burdened your memory with exploded systems
and useless names good god in what desert land have you lived 
where no one was kind enough to inform you that these fancies which you
have so greedily imbibed are a thousand years old and as musty as they
are ancient i little expected in this enlightened and scientific
age to find a disciple of albertus magnus and paracelsus my dear
sir you must begin your studies entirely anew 

so saying he stepped aside and wrote down a list of several books
treating of natural philosophy which he desired me to procure and
dismissed me after mentioning that in the beginning of the following
week he intended to commence a course of lectures upon natural
philosophy in its general relations and that m waldman a fellow
professor would lecture upon chemistry the alternate days that he
omitted 

i returned home not disappointed for i have said that i had long
considered those authors useless whom the professor reprobated but i
returned not at all the more inclined to recur to these studies in any
shape m krempe was a little squat man with a gruff voice and a
repulsive countenance the teacher therefore did not prepossess me in
favour of his pursuits in rather a too philosophical and connected a
strain perhaps i have given an account of the conclusions i had come
to concerning them in my early years as a child i had not been
content with the results promised by the modern professors of natural
science with a confusion of ideas only to be accounted for by my
extreme youth and my want of a guide on such matters i had retrod the
steps of knowledge along the paths of time and exchanged the
discoveries of recent inquirers for the dreams of forgotten alchemists 
besides i had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy 
it was very different when the masters of the science sought
immortality and power such views although futile were grand but now
the scene was changed the ambition of the inquirer seemed to limit
itself to the annihilation of those visions on which my interest in
science was chiefly founded i was required to exchange chimeras of
boundless grandeur for realities of little worth 

such were my reflections during the first two or three days of my
residence at ingolstadt which were chiefly spent in becoming
acquainted with the localities and the principal residents in my new
abode but as the ensuing week commenced i thought of the information
which m krempe had given me concerning the lectures and although i
could not consent to go and hear that little conceited fellow deliver
sentences out of a pulpit i recollected what he had said of m 
waldman whom i had never seen as he had hitherto been out of town 

partly from curiosity and partly from idleness i went into the lecturing
room which m waldman entered shortly after this professor was very
unlike his colleague he appeared about fifty years of age but with an
aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence a few grey hairs covered his
temples but those at the back of his head were nearly black his person
was short but remarkably erect and his voice the sweetest i had ever heard 
he began his lecture by a recapitulation of the history of chemistry and
the various improvements made by different men of learning pronouncing
with fervour the names of the most distinguished discoverers he then took
a cursory view of the present state of the science and explained many of
its elementary terms after having made a few preparatory experiments he
concluded with a panegyric upon modern chemistry the terms of which i
shall never forget 

 the ancient teachers of this science said he 
 promised impossibilities and performed nothing the modern masters
promise very little they know that metals cannot be transmuted and that
the elixir of life is a chimera but these philosophers whose hands seem
only made to dabble in dirt and their eyes to pore over the microscope or
crucible have indeed performed miracles they penetrate into the recesses
of nature and show how she works in her hiding-places they ascend into the
heavens they have discovered how the blood circulates and the nature of
the air we breathe they have acquired new and almost unlimited powers 
they can command the thunders of heaven mimic the earthquake and even
mock the invisible world with its own shadows 

such were the professor's words rather let me say such the words of
the fate enounced to destroy me as he went on i felt as if my soul
were grappling with a palpable enemy one by one the various keys were
touched which formed the mechanism of my being chord after chord was
sounded and soon my mind was filled with one thought one conception 
one purpose so much has been done exclaimed the soul of
frankenstein more far more will i achieve treading in the steps
already marked i will pioneer a new way explore unknown powers and
unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation 

i closed not my eyes that night my internal being was in a state of
insurrection and turmoil i felt that order would thence arise but i
had no power to produce it by degrees after the morning's dawn 
sleep came i awoke and my yesternight's thoughts were as a dream 
there only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies and to
devote myself to a science for which i believed myself to possess a
natural talent on the same day i paid m waldman a visit his
manners in private were even more mild and attractive than in public 
for there was a certain dignity in his mien during his lecture which in
his own house was replaced by the greatest affability and kindness i
gave him pretty nearly the same account of my former pursuits as i had
given to his fellow professor he heard with attention the little
narration concerning my studies and smiled at the names of cornelius
agrippa and paracelsus but without the contempt that m krempe had
exhibited he said that these were men to whose indefatigable zeal
modern philosophers were indebted for most of the foundations of their
knowledge they had left to us as an easier task to give new names
and arrange in connected classifications the facts which they in a
great degree had been the instruments of bringing to light the
labours of men of genius however erroneously directed scarcely ever
fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind i
listened to his statement which was delivered without any presumption
or affectation and then added that his lecture had removed my
prejudices against modern chemists i expressed myself in measured
terms with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his
instructor without letting escape inexperience in life would have
made me ashamed any of the enthusiasm which stimulated my intended
labours i requested his advice concerning the books i ought to
procure 

 i am happy said m waldman to have gained a
disciple and if your application equals your ability i have no doubt of
your success chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the
greatest improvements have been and may be made it is on that account that
i have made it my peculiar study but at the same time i have not
neglected the other branches of science a man would make but a very sorry
chemist if he attended to that department of human knowledge alone if your
wish is to become really a man of science and not merely a petty
experimentalist i should advise you to apply to every branch of natural
philosophy including mathematics 

he then took me into his laboratory and explained to me the uses of his
various machines instructing me as to what i ought to procure and
promising me the use of his own when i should have advanced far enough in
the science not to derange their mechanism he also gave me the list of
books which i had requested and i took my leave 

thus ended a day memorable to me it decided my future destiny 





chapter 4

from this day natural philosophy and particularly chemistry in the
most comprehensive sense of the term became nearly my sole occupation 
i read with ardour those works so full of genius and discrimination 
which modern inquirers have written on these subjects i attended the
lectures and cultivated the acquaintance of the men of science of the
university and i found even in m krempe a great deal of sound sense
and real information combined it is true with a repulsive
physiognomy and manners but not on that account the less valuable in
m waldman i found a true friend his gentleness was never tinged by
dogmatism and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and
good nature that banished every idea of pedantry in a thousand ways
he smoothed for me the path of knowledge and made the most abstruse
inquiries clear and facile to my apprehension my application was at
first fluctuating and uncertain it gained strength as i proceeded and
soon became so ardent and eager that the stars often disappeared in the
light of morning whilst i was yet engaged in my laboratory 

as i applied so closely it may be easily conceived that my progress
was rapid my ardour was indeed the astonishment of the students and
my proficiency that of the masters professor krempe often asked me 
with a sly smile how cornelius agrippa went on whilst m waldman
expressed the most heartfelt exultation in my progress two years
passed in this manner during which i paid no visit to geneva but was
engaged heart and soul in the pursuit of some discoveries which i
hoped to make none but those who have experienced them can conceive
of the enticements of science in other studies you go as far as
others have gone before you and there is nothing more to know but in
a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder 
a mind of moderate capacity which closely pursues one study must
infallibly arrive at great proficiency in that study and i who
continually sought the attainment of one object of pursuit and was
solely wrapped up in this improved so rapidly that at the end of two
years i made some discoveries in the improvement of some chemical
instruments which procured me great esteem and admiration at the
university when i had arrived at this point and had become as well
acquainted with the theory and practice of natural philosophy as
depended on the lessons of any of the professors at ingolstadt my
residence there being no longer conducive to my improvements i thought
of returning to my friends and my native town when an incident
happened that protracted my stay 

one of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was
the structure of the human frame and indeed any animal endued with
life whence i often asked myself did the principle of life proceed 
it was a bold question and one which has ever been considered as a
mystery yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming
acquainted if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our
inquiries i revolved these circumstances in my mind and determined
thenceforth to apply myself more particularly to those branches of
natural philosophy which relate to physiology unless i had been
animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm my application to this
study would have been irksome and almost intolerable to examine the
causes of life we must first have recourse to death i became
acquainted with the science of anatomy but this was not sufficient i
must also observe the natural decay and corruption of the human body 
in my education my father had taken the greatest precautions that my
mind should be impressed with no supernatural horrors i do not ever
remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition or to have feared
the apparition of a spirit darkness had no effect upon my fancy and
a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of
life which from being the seat of beauty and strength had become
food for the worm now i was led to examine the cause and progress of
this decay and forced to spend days and nights in vaults and
charnel-houses my attention was fixed upon every object the most
insupportable to the delicacy of the human feelings i saw how the
fine form of man was degraded and wasted i beheld the corruption of
death succeed to the blooming cheek of life i saw how the worm
inherited the wonders of the eye and brain i paused examining and
analysing all the minutiae of causation as exemplified in the change
from life to death and death to life until from the midst of this
darkness a sudden light broke in upon me a light so brilliant and
wondrous yet so simple that while i became dizzy with the immensity
of the prospect which it illustrated i was surprised that among so
many men of genius who had directed their inquiries towards the same
science that i alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a
secret 

remember i am not recording the vision of a madman the sun does not
more certainly shine in the heavens than that which i now affirm is
true some miracle might have produced it yet the stages of the
discovery were distinct and probable after days and nights of
incredible labour and fatigue i succeeded in discovering the cause of
generation and life nay more i became myself capable of bestowing
animation upon lifeless matter 

the astonishment which i had at first experienced on this discovery
soon gave place to delight and rapture after so much time spent in
painful labour to arrive at once at the summit of my desires was the
most gratifying consummation of my toils but this discovery was so
great and overwhelming that all the steps by which i had been
progressively led to it were obliterated and i beheld only the result 
what had been the study and desire of the wisest men since the creation
of the world was now within my grasp not that like a magic scene it
all opened upon me at once the information i had obtained was of a
nature rather to direct my endeavours so soon as i should point them
towards the object of my search than to exhibit that object already
accomplished i was like the arabian who had been buried with the dead
and found a passage to life aided only by one glimmering and seemingly
ineffectual light 

i see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes
express my friend that you expect to be informed of the secret with
which i am acquainted that cannot be listen patiently until the end
of my story and you will easily perceive why i am reserved upon that
subject i will not lead you on unguarded and ardent as i then was 
to your destruction and infallible misery learn from me if not by my
precepts at least by my example how dangerous is the acquirement of
knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town
to be the world than he who aspires to become greater than his nature
will allow 

when i found so astonishing a power placed within my hands i hesitated
a long time concerning the manner in which i should employ it 
although i possessed the capacity of bestowing animation yet to
prepare a frame for the reception of it with all its intricacies of
fibres muscles and veins still remained a work of inconceivable
difficulty and labour i doubted at first whether i should attempt the
creation of a being like myself or one of simpler organization but my
imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to
doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful
as man the materials at present within my command hardly appeared
adequate to so arduous an undertaking but i doubted not that i should
ultimately succeed i prepared myself for a multitude of reverses my
operations might be incessantly baffled and at last my work be
imperfect yet when i considered the improvement which every day takes
place in science and mechanics i was encouraged to hope my present
attempts would at least lay the foundations of future success nor
could i consider the magnitude and complexity of my plan as any
argument of its impracticability it was with these feelings that i
began the creation of a human being as the minuteness of the parts
formed a great hindrance to my speed i resolved contrary to my first
intention to make the being of a gigantic stature that is to say 
about eight feet in height and proportionably large after having
formed this determination and having spent some months in successfully
collecting and arranging my materials i began 

no one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards like
a hurricane in the first enthusiasm of success life and death
appeared to me ideal bounds which i should first break through and
pour a torrent of light into our dark world a new species would bless
me as its creator and source many happy and excellent natures would
owe their being to me no father could claim the gratitude of his
child so completely as i should deserve theirs pursuing these
reflections i thought that if i could bestow animation upon lifeless
matter i might in process of time although i now found it impossible 
renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption 

these thoughts supported my spirits while i pursued my undertaking
with unremitting ardour my cheek had grown pale with study and my
person had become emaciated with confinement sometimes on the very
brink of certainty i failed yet still i clung to the hope which the
next day or the next hour might realise one secret which i alone
possessed was the hope to which i had dedicated myself and the moon
gazed on my midnight labours while with unrelaxed and breathless
eagerness i pursued nature to her hiding-places who shall conceive
the horrors of my secret toil as i dabbled among the unhallowed damps
of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless
clay my limbs now tremble and my eyes swim with the remembrance but
then a resistless and almost frantic impulse urged me forward i seemed
to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit it was
indeed but a passing trance that only made me feel with renewed
acuteness so soon as the unnatural stimulus ceasing to operate i had
returned to my old habits i collected bones from charnel-houses and
disturbed with profane fingers the tremendous secrets of the human
frame in a solitary chamber or rather cell at the top of the house 
and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase 
i kept my workshop of filthy creation my eyeballs were starting from
their sockets in attending to the details of my employment the
dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of my materials 
and often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation 
whilst still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased i
brought my work near to a conclusion 

the summer months passed while i was thus engaged heart and soul in
one pursuit it was a most beautiful season never did the fields
bestow a more plentiful harvest or the vines yield a more luxuriant
vintage but my eyes were insensible to the charms of nature and the
same feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also
to forget those friends who were so many miles absent and whom i had
not seen for so long a time i knew my silence disquieted them and i
well remembered the words of my father i know that while you are
pleased with yourself you will think of us with affection and we shall
hear regularly from you you must pardon me if i regard any
interruption in your correspondence as a proof that your other duties
are equally neglected 

i knew well therefore what would be my father's feelings but i could
not tear my thoughts from my employment loathsome in itself but which
had taken an irresistible hold of my imagination i wished as it
were to procrastinate all that related to my feelings of affection
until the great object which swallowed up every habit of my nature 
should be completed 

i then thought that my father would be unjust if he ascribed my neglect
to vice or faultiness on my part but i am now convinced that he was
justified in conceiving that i should not be altogether free from
blame a human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and
peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to
disturb his tranquillity i do not think that the pursuit of knowledge
is an exception to this rule if the study to which you apply yourself
has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for
those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix then that
study is certainly unlawful that is to say not befitting the human
mind if this rule were always observed if no man allowed any pursuit
whatsoever to interfere with the tranquillity of his domestic
affections greece had not been enslaved caesar would have spared his
country america would have been discovered more gradually and the
empires of mexico and peru had not been destroyed 

but i forget that i am moralizing in the most interesting part of my
tale and your looks remind me to proceed 

my father made no reproach in his letters and only took notice of my
silence by inquiring into my occupations more particularly than before 
winter spring and summer passed away during my labours but i did not
watch the blossom or the expanding leaves sights which before always
yielded me supreme delight so deeply was i engrossed in my
occupation the leaves of that year had withered before my work drew near
to a close and now every day showed me more plainly how well i had
succeeded but my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety and i appeared
rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines or any other
unwholesome trade than an artist occupied by his favourite employment 
every night i was oppressed by a slow fever and i became nervous to a most
painful degree the fall of a leaf startled me and i shunned my fellow
creatures as if i had been guilty of a crime sometimes i grew alarmed at
the wreck i perceived that i had become the energy of my purpose alone
sustained me my labours would soon end and i believed that exercise and
amusement would then drive away incipient disease and i promised myself
both of these when my creation should be complete 





chapter 5

it was on a dreary night of november that i beheld the accomplishment
of my toils with an anxiety that almost amounted to agony i
collected the instruments of life around me that i might infuse a
spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet it was
already one in the morning the rain pattered dismally against the
panes and my candle was nearly burnt out when by the glimmer of the
half-extinguished light i saw the dull yellow eye of the creature
open it breathed hard and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs 

how can i describe my emotions at this catastrophe or how delineate
the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care i had endeavoured to
form his limbs were in proportion and i had selected his features as
beautiful beautiful great god his yellow skin scarcely covered
the work of muscles and arteries beneath his hair was of a lustrous
black and flowing his teeth of a pearly whiteness but these
luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes 
that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which
they were set his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips 

the different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings
of human nature i had worked hard for nearly two years for the sole
purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body for this i had
deprived myself of rest and health i had desired it with an ardour
that far exceeded moderation but now that i had finished the beauty
of the dream vanished and breathless horror and disgust filled my
heart unable to endure the aspect of the being i had created i
rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my
bed-chamber unable to compose my mind to sleep at length lassitude
succeeded to the tumult i had before endured and i threw myself on the
bed in my clothes endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness 
but it was in vain i slept indeed but i was disturbed by the wildest
dreams i thought i saw elizabeth in the bloom of health walking in
the streets of ingolstadt delighted and surprised i embraced her 
but as i imprinted the first kiss on her lips they became livid with
the hue of death her features appeared to change and i thought that i
held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms a shroud enveloped her
form and i saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds of the flannel 
i started from my sleep with horror a cold dew covered my forehead my
teeth chattered and every limb became convulsed when by the dim and
yellow light of the moon as it forced its way through the window
shutters i beheld the wretch the miserable monster whom i had
created he held up the curtain of the bed and his eyes if eyes they
may be called were fixed on me his jaws opened and he muttered some
inarticulate sounds while a grin wrinkled his cheeks he might have
spoken but i did not hear one hand was stretched out seemingly to
detain me but i escaped and rushed downstairs i took refuge in the
courtyard belonging to the house which i inhabited where i remained
during the rest of the night walking up and down in the greatest
agitation listening attentively catching and fearing each sound as if
it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which i
had so miserably given life 

oh no mortal could support the horror of that countenance a mummy
again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch i
had gazed on him while unfinished he was ugly then but when those
muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion it became a thing
such as even dante could not have conceived 

i passed the night wretchedly sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and
hardly that i felt the palpitation of every artery at others i nearly
sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness mingled with
this horror i felt the bitterness of disappointment dreams that had
been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a
hell to me and the change was so rapid the overthrow so complete 

morning dismal and wet at length dawned and discovered to my
sleepless and aching eyes the church of ingolstadt its white steeple
and clock which indicated the sixth hour the porter opened the gates
of the court which had that night been my asylum and i issued into
the streets pacing them with quick steps as if i sought to avoid the
wretch whom i feared every turning of the street would present to my
view i did not dare return to the apartment which i inhabited but
felt impelled to hurry on although drenched by the rain which poured
from a black and comfortless sky 

i continued walking in this manner for some time endeavouring by
bodily exercise to ease the load that weighed upon my mind i
traversed the streets without any clear conception of where i was or
what i was doing my heart palpitated in the sickness of fear and i
hurried on with irregular steps not daring to look about me 
 
 like one who on a lonely road 
 doth walk in fear and dread 
 and having once turned round walks on 
 and turns no more his head 
 because he knows a frightful fiend
 doth close behind him tread 
 
 coleridge's ancient mariner 



continuing thus i came at length opposite to the inn at which the various
diligences and carriages usually stopped here i paused i knew not why 
but i remained some minutes with my eyes fixed on a coach that was coming
towards me from the other end of the street as it drew nearer i observed
that it was the swiss diligence it stopped just where i was standing and
on the door being opened i perceived henry clerval who on seeing me 
instantly sprung out my dear frankenstein exclaimed he 
 how glad i am to see you how fortunate that you should be here at
the very moment of my alighting 

nothing could equal my delight on seeing clerval his presence brought back
to my thoughts my father elizabeth and all those scenes of home so dear
to my recollection i grasped his hand and in a moment forgot my horror
and misfortune i felt suddenly and for the first time during many months 
calm and serene joy i welcomed my friend therefore in the most cordial
manner and we walked towards my college clerval continued talking for
some time about our mutual friends and his own good fortune in being
permitted to come to ingolstadt you may easily believe said
he how great was the difficulty to persuade my father that all
necessary knowledge was not comprised in the noble art of book-keeping 
and indeed i believe i left him incredulous to the last for his constant
answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that of the dutch
schoolmaster in the vicar of wakefield i have ten thousand florins
a year without greek i eat heartily without greek but his
affection for me at length overcame his dislike of learning and he has
permitted me to undertake a voyage of discovery to the land of
knowledge 

 it gives me the greatest delight to see you but tell me how you left
my father brothers and elizabeth 

 very well and very happy only a little uneasy that they hear from
you so seldom by the by i mean to lecture you a little upon their
account myself but my dear frankenstein continued he stopping
short and gazing full in my face i did not before remark how very ill
you appear so thin and pale you look as if you had been watching for
several nights 

 you have guessed right i have lately been so deeply engaged in one
occupation that i have not allowed myself sufficient rest as you see 
but i hope i sincerely hope that all these employments are now at an
end and that i am at length free 

i trembled excessively i could not endure to think of and far less to
allude to the occurrences of the preceding night i walked with a
quick pace and we soon arrived at my college i then reflected and
the thought made me shiver that the creature whom i had left in my
apartment might still be there alive and walking about i dreaded to
behold this monster but i feared still more that henry should see him 
entreating him therefore to remain a few minutes at the bottom of the
stairs i darted up towards my own room my hand was already on the
lock of the door before i recollected myself i then paused and a
cold shivering came over me i threw the door forcibly open as
children are accustomed to do when they expect a spectre to stand in
waiting for them on the other side but nothing appeared i stepped
fearfully in the apartment was empty and my bedroom was also freed
from its hideous guest i could hardly believe that so great a good
fortune could have befallen me but when i became assured that my enemy
had indeed fled i clapped my hands for joy and ran down to clerval 

we ascended into my room and the servant presently brought breakfast 
but i was unable to contain myself it was not joy only that possessed
me i felt my flesh tingle with excess of sensitiveness and my pulse
beat rapidly i was unable to remain for a single instant in the same
place i jumped over the chairs clapped my hands and laughed aloud 
clerval at first attributed my unusual spirits to joy on his arrival 
but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes
for which he could not account and my loud unrestrained heartless
laughter frightened and astonished him 

 my dear victor cried he what for god's sake 
is the matter do not laugh in that manner how ill you are what is the
cause of all this 

 do not ask me cried i putting my hands before my eyes for i
thought i saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room he can
tell oh save me save me i imagined that the monster seized me 
i struggled furiously and fell down in a fit 

poor clerval what must have been his feelings a meeting which he
anticipated with such joy so strangely turned to bitterness but i
was not the witness of his grief for i was lifeless and did not
recover my senses for a long long time 

this was the commencement of a nervous fever which confined me for
several months during all that time henry was my only nurse i
afterwards learned that knowing my father's advanced age and unfitness
for so long a journey and how wretched my sickness would make
elizabeth he spared them this grief by concealing the extent of my
disorder he knew that i could not have a more kind and attentive
nurse than himself and firm in the hope he felt of my recovery he
did not doubt that instead of doing harm he performed the kindest
action that he could towards them 

but i was in reality very ill and surely nothing but the unbounded and
unremitting attentions of my friend could have restored me to life 
the form of the monster on whom i had bestowed existence was for ever
before my eyes and i raved incessantly concerning him doubtless my
words surprised henry he at first believed them to be the wanderings
of my disturbed imagination but the pertinacity with which i
continually recurred to the same subject persuaded him that my disorder
indeed owed its origin to some uncommon and terrible event 

by very slow degrees and with frequent relapses that alarmed and
grieved my friend i recovered i remember the first time i became
capable of observing outward objects with any kind of pleasure i
perceived that the fallen leaves had disappeared and that the young
buds were shooting forth from the trees that shaded my window it was
a divine spring and the season contributed greatly to my
convalescence i felt also sentiments of joy and affection revive in
my bosom my gloom disappeared and in a short time i became as
cheerful as before i was attacked by the fatal passion 

 dearest clerval exclaimed i how kind how very good
you are to me this whole winter instead of being spent in study as you
promised yourself has been consumed in my sick room how shall i ever
repay you i feel the greatest remorse for the disappointment of which i
have been the occasion but you will forgive me 

 you will repay me entirely if you do not discompose yourself but get
well as fast as you can and since you appear in such good spirits i
may speak to you on one subject may i not 

i trembled one subject what could it be could he allude to an object on
whom i dared not even think 

 compose yourself said clerval who observed my change of
colour i will not mention it if it agitates you but your father
and cousin would be very happy if they received a letter from you in your
own handwriting they hardly know how ill you have been and are uneasy at
your long silence 

 is that all my dear henry how could you suppose that my first
thought would not fly towards those dear dear friends whom i love and
who are so deserving of my love 

 if this is your present temper my friend you will perhaps be glad
to see a letter that has been lying here some days for you it is from
your cousin i believe 





chapter 6

clerval then put the following letter into my hands it was from my
own elizabeth 

 my dearest cousin 

 you have been ill very ill and even the constant letters of dear
kind henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account you are
forbidden to write to hold a pen yet one word from you dear victor 
is necessary to calm our apprehensions for a long time i have thought
that each post would bring this line and my persuasions have
restrained my uncle from undertaking a journey to ingolstadt i have
prevented his encountering the inconveniences and perhaps dangers of so
long a journey yet how often have i regretted not being able to
perform it myself i figure to myself that the task of attending on
your sickbed has devolved on some mercenary old nurse who could never
guess your wishes nor minister to them with the care and affection of
your poor cousin yet that is over now clerval writes that indeed
you are getting better i eagerly hope that you will confirm this
intelligence soon in your own handwriting 

 get well and return to us you will find a happy cheerful home and
friends who love you dearly your father's health is vigorous and he
asks but to see you but to be assured that you are well and not a
care will ever cloud his benevolent countenance how pleased you would
be to remark the improvement of our ernest he is now sixteen and full
of activity and spirit he is desirous to be a true swiss and to enter
into foreign service but we cannot part with him at least until his
elder brother returns to us my uncle is not pleased with the idea of
a military career in a distant country but ernest never had your
powers of application he looks upon study as an odious fetter his
time is spent in the open air climbing the hills or rowing on the
lake i fear that he will become an idler unless we yield the point
and permit him to enter on the profession which he has selected 

 little alteration except the growth of our dear children has taken
place since you left us the blue lake and snow-clad mountains they
never change and i think our placid home and our contented hearts are
regulated by the same immutable laws my trifling occupations take up
my time and amuse me and i am rewarded for any exertions by seeing
none but happy kind faces around me since you left us but one
change has taken place in our little household do you remember on
what occasion justine moritz entered our family probably you do not 
i will relate her history therefore in a few words madame moritz 
her mother was a widow with four children of whom justine was the
third this girl had always been the favourite of her father but
through a strange perversity her mother could not endure her and
after the death of m moritz treated her very ill my aunt observed
this and when justine was twelve years of age prevailed on her mother
to allow her to live at our house the republican institutions of our
country have produced simpler and happier manners than those which
prevail in the great monarchies that surround it hence there is less
distinction between the several classes of its inhabitants and the
lower orders being neither so poor nor so despised their manners are
more refined and moral a servant in geneva does not mean the same
thing as a servant in france and england justine thus received in
our family learned the duties of a servant a condition which in our
fortunate country does not include the idea of ignorance and a
sacrifice of the dignity of a human being 

 justine you may remember was a great favourite of yours and i
recollect you once remarked that if you were in an ill humour one
glance from justine could dissipate it for the same reason that
ariosto gives concerning the beauty of angelica she looked so
frank-hearted and happy my aunt conceived a great attachment for her 
by which she was induced to give her an education superior to that
which she had at first intended this benefit was fully repaid 
justine was the most grateful little creature in the world i do not
mean that she made any professions i never heard one pass her lips but
you could see by her eyes that she almost adored her protectress 
although her disposition was gay and in many respects inconsiderate 
yet she paid the greatest attention to every gesture of my aunt she
thought her the model of all excellence and endeavoured to imitate her
phraseology and manners so that even now she often reminds me of her 

 when my dearest aunt died every one was too much occupied in their own
grief to notice poor justine who had attended her during her illness
with the most anxious affection poor justine was very ill but other
trials were reserved for her 

 one by one her brothers and sister died and her mother with the
exception of her neglected daughter was left childless the
conscience of the woman was troubled she began to think that the
deaths of her favourites was a judgement from heaven to chastise her
partiality she was a roman catholic and i believe her confessor
confirmed the idea which she had conceived accordingly a few months
after your departure for ingolstadt justine was called home by her
repentant mother poor girl she wept when she quitted our house she
was much altered since the death of my aunt grief had given softness
and a winning mildness to her manners which had before been remarkable
for vivacity nor was her residence at her mother's house of a nature
to restore her gaiety the poor woman was very vacillating in her
repentance she sometimes begged justine to forgive her unkindness 
but much oftener accused her of having caused the deaths of her
brothers and sister perpetual fretting at length threw madame moritz
into a decline which at first increased her irritability but she is
now at peace for ever she died on the first approach of cold weather 
at the beginning of this last winter justine has just returned to us 
and i assure you i love her tenderly she is very clever and gentle 
and extremely pretty as i mentioned before her mien and her
expression continually remind me of my dear aunt 

 i must say also a few words to you my dear cousin of little darling
william i wish you could see him he is very tall of his age with
sweet laughing blue eyes dark eyelashes and curling hair when he
smiles two little dimples appear on each cheek which are rosy with
health he has already had one or two little wives but louisa biron
is his favourite a pretty little girl of five years of age 

 now dear victor i dare say you wish to be indulged in a little
gossip concerning the good people of geneva the pretty miss mansfield
has already received the congratulatory visits on her approaching
marriage with a young englishman john melbourne esq her ugly
sister manon married m duvillard the rich banker last autumn your
favourite schoolfellow louis manoir has suffered several misfortunes
since the departure of clerval from geneva but he has already
recovered his spirits and is reported to be on the point of marrying a
lively pretty frenchwoman madame tavernier she is a widow and much
older than manoir but she is very much admired and a favourite with
everybody 

 i have written myself into better spirits dear cousin but my anxiety
returns upon me as i conclude write dearest victor one line one
word will be a blessing to us ten thousand thanks to henry for his
kindness his affection and his many letters we are sincerely
grateful adieu my cousin take care of yourself and i entreat
you write 

 elizabeth lavenza 


 geneva march 18th 17 



 dear dear elizabeth i exclaimed when i had read her
letter i will write instantly and relieve them from the anxiety
they must feel i wrote and this exertion greatly fatigued me but
my convalescence had commenced and proceeded regularly in another
fortnight i was able to leave my chamber 

one of my first duties on my recovery was to introduce clerval to the
several professors of the university in doing this i underwent a
kind of rough usage ill befitting the wounds that my mind had
sustained ever since the fatal night the end of my labours and the
beginning of my misfortunes i had conceived a violent antipathy even
to the name of natural philosophy when i was otherwise quite restored
to health the sight of a chemical instrument would renew all the agony
of my nervous symptoms henry saw this and had removed all my
apparatus from my view he had also changed my apartment for he
perceived that i had acquired a dislike for the room which had
previously been my laboratory but these cares of clerval were made of
no avail when i visited the professors m waldman inflicted torture
when he praised with kindness and warmth the astonishing progress i
had made in the sciences he soon perceived that i disliked the
subject but not guessing the real cause he attributed my feelings to
modesty and changed the subject from my improvement to the science
itself with a desire as i evidently saw of drawing me out what
could i do he meant to please and he tormented me i felt as if he
had placed carefully one by one in my view those instruments which
were to be afterwards used in putting me to a slow and cruel death i
writhed under his words yet dared not exhibit the pain i felt 
clerval whose eyes and feelings were always quick in discerning the
sensations of others declined the subject alleging in excuse his
total ignorance and the conversation took a more general turn i
thanked my friend from my heart but i did not speak i saw plainly
that he was surprised but he never attempted to draw my secret from
me and although i loved him with a mixture of affection and reverence
that knew no bounds yet i could never persuade myself to confide in
him that event which was so often present to my recollection but which
i feared the detail to another would only impress more deeply 

m krempe was not equally docile and in my condition at that time of
almost insupportable sensitiveness his harsh blunt encomiums gave me even
more pain than the benevolent approbation of m waldman d n
the fellow cried he why m clerval i assure you he has
outstript us all ay stare if you please but it is nevertheless true a
youngster who but a few years ago believed in cornelius agrippa as firmly
as in the gospel has now set himself at the head of the university and if
he is not soon pulled down we shall all be out of countenance ay 
ay continued he observing my face expressive of suffering 
 m frankenstein is modest an excellent quality in a young man 
young men should be diffident of themselves you know m clerval i was
myself when young but that wears out in a very short time 

m krempe had now commenced an eulogy on himself which happily turned
the conversation from a subject that was so annoying to me 

clerval had never sympathised in my tastes for natural science and his
literary pursuits differed wholly from those which had occupied me he
came to the university with the design of making himself complete
master of the oriental languages and thus he should open a field for
the plan of life he had marked out for himself resolved to pursue no
inglorious career he turned his eyes toward the east as affording
scope for his spirit of enterprise the persian arabic and sanskrit
languages engaged his attention and i was easily induced to enter on
the same studies idleness had ever been irksome to me and now that i
wished to fly from reflection and hated my former studies i felt
great relief in being the fellow-pupil with my friend and found not
only instruction but consolation in the works of the orientalists i
did not like him attempt a critical knowledge of their dialects for
i did not contemplate making any other use of them than temporary
amusement i read merely to understand their meaning and they well
repaid my labours their melancholy is soothing and their joy
elevating to a degree i never experienced in studying the authors of
any other country when you read their writings life appears to
consist in a warm sun and a garden of roses in the smiles and frowns
of a fair enemy and the fire that consumes your own heart how
different from the manly and heroical poetry of greece and rome 

summer passed away in these occupations and my return to geneva was
fixed for the latter end of autumn but being delayed by several
accidents winter and snow arrived the roads were deemed impassable 
and my journey was retarded until the ensuing spring i felt this
delay very bitterly for i longed to see my native town and my beloved
friends my return had only been delayed so long from an
unwillingness to leave clerval in a strange place before he had become
acquainted with any of its inhabitants the winter however was spent
cheerfully and although the spring was uncommonly late when it came
its beauty compensated for its dilatoriness 

the month of may had already commenced and i expected the letter daily
which was to fix the date of my departure when henry proposed a
pedestrian tour in the environs of ingolstadt that i might bid a
personal farewell to the country i had so long inhabited i acceded
with pleasure to this proposition i was fond of exercise and clerval
had always been my favourite companion in the ramble of this nature
that i had taken among the scenes of my native country 

we passed a fortnight in these perambulations my health and spirits
had long been restored and they gained additional strength from the
salubrious air i breathed the natural incidents of our progress and
the conversation of my friend study had before secluded me from the
intercourse of my fellow-creatures and rendered me unsocial but
clerval called forth the better feelings of my heart he again taught
me to love the aspect of nature and the cheerful faces of children 
excellent friend how sincerely you did love me and endeavour to
elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own a selfish
pursuit had cramped and narrowed me until your gentleness and
affection warmed and opened my senses i became the same happy creature
who a few years ago loved and beloved by all had no sorrow or care 
when happy inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most
delightful sensations a serene sky and verdant fields filled me with
ecstasy the present season was indeed divine the flowers of spring
bloomed in the hedges while those of summer were already in bud i
was undisturbed by thoughts which during the preceding year had pressed
upon me notwithstanding my endeavours to throw them off with an
invincible burden 

henry rejoiced in my gaiety and sincerely sympathised in my feelings he
exerted himself to amuse me while he expressed the sensations that filled
his soul the resources of his mind on this occasion were truly
astonishing his conversation was full of imagination and very often in
imitation of the persian and arabic writers he invented tales of wonderful
fancy and passion at other times he repeated my favourite poems or drew
me out into arguments which he supported with great ingenuity 

we returned to our college on a sunday afternoon the peasants were
dancing and every one we met appeared gay and happy my own spirits were
high and i bounded along with feelings of unbridled joy and hilarity 





chapter 7

on my return i found the following letter from my father 

 my dear victor 

 you have probably waited impatiently for a letter to fix the date of
your return to us and i was at first tempted to write only a few
lines merely mentioning the day on which i should expect you but
that would be a cruel kindness and i dare not do it what would be
your surprise my son when you expected a happy and glad welcome to
behold on the contrary tears and wretchedness and how victor can
i relate our misfortune absence cannot have rendered you callous to
our joys and griefs and how shall i inflict pain on my long absent
son i wish to prepare you for the woeful news but i know it is
impossible even now your eye skims over the page to seek the words
which are to convey to you the horrible tidings 

 william is dead that sweet child whose smiles delighted and warmed
my heart who was so gentle yet so gay victor he is murdered 

 i will not attempt to console you but will simply relate the
circumstances of the transaction 

 last thursday may 7th i my niece and your two brothers went to
walk in plainpalais the evening was warm and serene and we prolonged
our walk farther than usual it was already dusk before we thought of
returning and then we discovered that william and ernest who had gone
on before were not to be found we accordingly rested on a seat until
they should return presently ernest came and enquired if we had seen
his brother he said that he had been playing with him that william
had run away to hide himself and that he vainly sought for him and
afterwards waited for a long time but that he did not return 

 this account rather alarmed us and we continued to search for him
until night fell when elizabeth conjectured that he might have
returned to the house he was not there we returned again with
torches for i could not rest when i thought that my sweet boy had
lost himself and was exposed to all the damps and dews of night 
elizabeth also suffered extreme anguish about five in the morning i
discovered my lovely boy whom the night before i had seen blooming and
active in health stretched on the grass livid and motionless the
print of the murder's finger was on his neck 

 he was conveyed home and the anguish that was visible in my
countenance betrayed the secret to elizabeth she was very earnest to
see the corpse at first i attempted to prevent her but she persisted 
and entering the room where it lay hastily examined the neck of the
victim and clasping her hands exclaimed o god i have murdered my
darling child 

 she fainted and was restored with extreme difficulty when she again
lived it was only to weep and sigh she told me that that same
evening william had teased her to let him wear a very valuable
miniature that she possessed of your mother this picture is gone and
was doubtless the temptation which urged the murderer to the deed we
have no trace of him at present although our exertions to discover him
are unremitted but they will not restore my beloved william 

 come dearest victor you alone can console elizabeth she weeps
continually and accuses herself unjustly as the cause of his death 
her words pierce my heart we are all unhappy but will not that be an
additional motive for you my son to return and be our comforter 
your dear mother alas victor i now say thank god she did not live
to witness the cruel miserable death of her youngest darling 

 come victor not brooding thoughts of vengeance against the assassin 
but with feelings of peace and gentleness that will heal instead of
festering the wounds of our minds enter the house of mourning my
friend but with kindness and affection for those who love you and not
with hatred for your enemies 

 your affectionate and afflicted father 

 alphonse frankenstein 



 geneva may 12th 17 



clerval who had watched my countenance as i read this letter was
surprised to observe the despair that succeeded the joy i at first
expressed on receiving new from my friends i threw the letter on the
table and covered my face with my hands 

 my dear frankenstein exclaimed henry when he perceived me
weep with bitterness are you always to be unhappy my dear friend 
what has happened 

i motioned him to take up the letter while i walked up and down the
room in the extremest agitation tears also gushed from the eyes of
clerval as he read the account of my misfortune 

 i can offer you no consolation my friend said he 
 your disaster is irreparable what do you intend to do 

 to go instantly to geneva come with me henry to order the horses 

during our walk clerval endeavoured to say a few words of consolation 
he could only express his heartfelt sympathy poor william said he 
 dear lovely child he now sleeps with his angel mother who that had
seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty but must weep over his
untimely loss to die so miserably to feel the murderer's grasp how
much more a murdered that could destroy radiant innocence poor little
fellow one only consolation have we his friends mourn and weep but
he is at rest the pang is over his sufferings are at an end for ever 
a sod covers his gentle form and he knows no pain he can no longer
be a subject for pity we must reserve that for his miserable
survivors 

clerval spoke thus as we hurried through the streets the words
impressed themselves on my mind and i remembered them afterwards in
solitude but now as soon as the horses arrived i hurried into a
cabriolet and bade farewell to my friend 

my journey was very melancholy at first i wished to hurry on for i longed
to console and sympathise with my loved and sorrowing friends but when i
drew near my native town i slackened my progress i could hardly sustain
the multitude of feelings that crowded into my mind i passed through
scenes familiar to my youth but which i had not seen for nearly six years 
how altered every thing might be during that time one sudden and
desolating change had taken place but a thousand little circumstances
might have by degrees worked other alterations which although they were
done more tranquilly might not be the less decisive fear overcame me i
dared no advance dreading a thousand nameless evils that made me tremble 
although i was unable to define them 

i remained two days at lausanne in this painful state of mind i
contemplated the lake the waters were placid all around was calm and the
snowy mountains the palaces of nature were not changed by
degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me and i continued my journey
towards geneva 

the road ran by the side of the lake which became narrower as i
approached my native town i discovered more distinctly the black
sides of jura and the bright summit of mont blanc i wept like a
child dear mountains my own beautiful lake how do you welcome your
wanderer your summits are clear the sky and lake are blue and
placid is this to prognosticate peace or to mock at my unhappiness 

i fear my friend that i shall render myself tedious by dwelling on
these preliminary circumstances but they were days of comparative
happiness and i think of them with pleasure my country my beloved
country who but a native can tell the delight i took in again
beholding thy streams thy mountains and more than all thy lovely
lake 

yet as i drew nearer home grief and fear again overcame me night also
closed around and when i could hardly see the dark mountains i felt still
more gloomily the picture appeared a vast and dim scene of evil and i
foresaw obscurely that i was destined to become the most wretched of human
beings alas i prophesied truly and failed only in one single
circumstance that in all the misery i imagined and dreaded i did not
conceive the hundredth part of the anguish i was destined to endure 

it was completely dark when i arrived in the environs of geneva the gates
of the town were already shut and i was obliged to pass the night at
secheron a village at the distance of half a league from the city the sky
was serene and as i was unable to rest i resolved to visit the spot
where my poor william had been murdered as i could not pass through the
town i was obliged to cross the lake in a boat to arrive at plainpalais 
during this short voyage i saw the lightning playing on the summit of mont
blanc in the most beautiful figures the storm appeared to approach
rapidly and on landing i ascended a low hill that i might observe its
progress it advanced the heavens were clouded and i soon felt the rain
coming slowly in large drops but its violence quickly increased 

i quitted my seat and walked on although the darkness and storm
increased every minute and the thunder burst with a terrific crash
over my head it was echoed from saleve the juras and the alps of
savoy vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes illuminating the
lake making it appear like a vast sheet of fire then for an instant
every thing seemed of a pitchy darkness until the eye recovered itself
from the preceding flash the storm as is often the case in
switzerland appeared at once in various parts of the heavens the
most violent storm hung exactly north of the town over the part of the
lake which lies between the promontory of belrive and the village of
copet another storm enlightened jura with faint flashes and another
darkened and sometimes disclosed the mole a peaked mountain to the
east of the lake 

while i watched the tempest so beautiful yet terrific i wandered on with
a hasty step this noble war in the sky elevated my spirits i clasped my
hands and exclaimed aloud william dear angel this is thy
funeral this thy dirge as i said these words i perceived in the
gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me i stood
fixed gazing intently i could not be mistaken a flash of lightning
illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me its
gigantic stature and the deformity of its aspect more hideous than belongs
to humanity instantly informed me that it was the wretch the filthy
daemon to whom i had given life what did he there could he be i
shuddered at the conception the murderer of my brother no sooner did that
idea cross my imagination than i became convinced of its truth my teeth
chattered and i was forced to lean against a tree for support the figure
passed me quickly and i lost it in the gloom nothing in human shape could
have destroyed the fair child he was the murderer i could not
doubt it the mere presence of the idea was an irresistible proof of the
fact i thought of pursuing the devil but it would have been in vain for
another flash discovered him to me hanging among the rocks of the nearly
perpendicular ascent of mont saleve a hill that bounds plainpalais on the
south he soon reached the summit and disappeared 

i remained motionless the thunder ceased but the rain still
continued and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness i
revolved in my mind the events which i had until now sought to forget 
the whole train of my progress toward the creation the appearance of
the works of my own hands at my bedside its departure two years had
now nearly elapsed since the night on which he first received life and
was this his first crime alas i had turned loose into the world a
depraved wretch whose delight was in carnage and misery had he not
murdered my brother 

no one can conceive the anguish i suffered during the remainder of the
night which i spent cold and wet in the open air but i did not
feel the inconvenience of the weather my imagination was busy in
scenes of evil and despair i considered the being whom i had cast
among mankind and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes
of horror such as the deed which he had now done nearly in the light
of my own vampire my own spirit let loose from the grave and forced
to destroy all that was dear to me 

day dawned and i directed my steps towards the town the gates were
open and i hastened to my father's house my first thought was to
discover what i knew of the murderer and cause instant pursuit to be
made but i paused when i reflected on the story that i had to tell a
being whom i myself had formed and endued with life had met me at
midnight among the precipices of an inaccessible mountain i
remembered also the nervous fever with which i had been seized just at
the time that i dated my creation and which would give an air of
delirium to a tale otherwise so utterly improbable i well knew that
if any other had communicated such a relation to me i should have
looked upon it as the ravings of insanity besides the strange nature
of the animal would elude all pursuit even if i were so far credited
as to persuade my relatives to commence it and then of what use would
be pursuit who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the
overhanging sides of mont saleve these reflections determined me and
i resolved to remain silent 

it was about five in the morning when i entered my father's house i
told the servants not to disturb the family and went into the library
to attend their usual hour of rising 

six years had elapsed passed in a dream but for one indelible trace and i
stood in the same place where i had last embraced my father before my
departure for ingolstadt beloved and venerable parent he still remained
to me i gazed on the picture of my mother which stood over the
mantel-piece it was an historical subject painted at my father's
desire and represented caroline beaufort in an agony of despair kneeling
by the coffin of her dead father her garb was rustic and her cheek pale 
but there was an air of dignity and beauty that hardly permitted the
sentiment of pity below this picture was a miniature of william and my
tears flowed when i looked upon it while i was thus engaged ernest
entered he had heard me arrive and hastened to welcome me 
 welcome my dearest victor said he ah i wish you
had come three months ago and then you would have found us all joyous and
delighted you come to us now to share a misery which nothing can
alleviate yet your presence will i hope revive our father who seems
sinking under his misfortune and your persuasions will induce poor
elizabeth to cease her vain and tormenting self-accusations poor
william he was our darling and our pride 

tears unrestrained fell from my brother's eyes a sense of mortal
agony crept over my frame before i had only imagined the
wretchedness of my desolated home the reality came on me as a new and
a not less terrible disaster i tried to calm ernest i enquired more
minutely concerning my father and here i named my cousin 

 she most of all said ernest requires consolation she accused
herself of having caused the death of my brother and that made her
very wretched but since the murderer has been discovered 

 the murderer discovered good god how can that be who could attempt
to pursue him it is impossible one might as well try to overtake the
winds or confine a mountain-stream with a straw i saw him too he
was free last night 

 i do not know what you mean replied my brother in accents of
wonder but to us the discovery we have made completes our misery no
one would believe it at first and even now elizabeth will not be
convinced notwithstanding all the evidence indeed who would credit
that justine moritz who was so amiable and fond of all the family 
could suddenly become so capable of so frightful so appalling a crime 

 justine moritz poor poor girl is she the accused but it is
wrongfully every one knows that no one believes it surely ernest 

 no one did at first but several circumstances came out that have
almost forced conviction upon us and her own behaviour has been so
confused as to add to the evidence of facts a weight that i fear 
leaves no hope for doubt but she will be tried today and you will
then hear all 

he then related that the morning on which the murder of poor william
had been discovered justine had been taken ill and confined to her
bed for several days during this interval one of the servants 
happening to examine the apparel she had worn on the night of the
murder had discovered in her pocket the picture of my mother which
had been judged to be the temptation of the murderer the servant
instantly showed it to one of the others who without saying a word to
any of the family went to a magistrate and upon their deposition 
justine was apprehended on being charged with the fact the poor girl
confirmed the suspicion in a great measure by her extreme confusion of
manner 

this was a strange tale but it did not shake my faith and i replied
earnestly you are all mistaken i know the murderer justine poor 
good justine is innocent 

at that instant my father entered i saw unhappiness deeply impressed
on his countenance but he endeavoured to welcome me cheerfully and 
after we had exchanged our mournful greeting would have introduced
some other topic than that of our disaster had not ernest exclaimed 
 good god papa victor says that he knows who was the murderer of
poor william 

 we do also unfortunately replied my father for indeed i had
rather have been for ever ignorant than have discovered so much
depravity and ungratitude in one i valued so highly 

 my dear father you are mistaken justine is innocent 

 if she is god forbid that she should suffer as guilty she is to be
tried today and i hope i sincerely hope that she will be acquitted 

this speech calmed me i was firmly convinced in my own mind that
justine and indeed every human being was guiltless of this murder i
had no fear therefore that any circumstantial evidence could be
brought forward strong enough to convict her my tale was not one to
announce publicly its astounding horror would be looked upon as
madness by the vulgar did any one indeed exist except i the
creator who would believe unless his senses convinced him in the
existence of the living monument of presumption and rash ignorance
which i had let loose upon the world 

we were soon joined by elizabeth time had altered her since i last
beheld her it had endowed her with loveliness surpassing the beauty of
her childish years there was the same candour the same vivacity but
it was allied to an expression more full of sensibility and intellect 
she welcomed me with the greatest affection your arrival my dear
cousin said she fills me with hope you perhaps will find some
means to justify my poor guiltless justine alas who is safe if she
be convicted of crime i rely on her innocence as certainly as i do
upon my own our misfortune is doubly hard to us we have not only
lost that lovely darling boy but this poor girl whom i sincerely
love is to be torn away by even a worse fate if she is condemned i
never shall know joy more but she will not i am sure she will not 
and then i shall be happy again even after the sad death of my little
william 

 she is innocent my elizabeth said i and that shall
be proved fear nothing but let your spirits be cheered by the assurance
of her acquittal 

 how kind and generous you are every one else believes in her guilt 
and that made me wretched for i knew that it was impossible and to
see every one else prejudiced in so deadly a manner rendered me
hopeless and despairing she wept 

 dearest niece said my father dry your tears if she
is as you believe innocent rely on the justice of our laws and the
activity with which i shall prevent the slightest shadow of
partiality 





chapter 8

we passed a few sad hours until eleven o'clock when the trial was to
commence my father and the rest of the family being obliged to attend
as witnesses i accompanied them to the court during the whole of
this wretched mockery of justice i suffered living torture it was to
be decided whether the result of my curiosity and lawless devices would
cause the death of two of my fellow beings one a smiling babe full of
innocence and joy the other far more dreadfully murdered with every
aggravation of infamy that could make the murder memorable in horror 
justine also was a girl of merit and possessed qualities which promised
to render her life happy now all was to be obliterated in an
ignominious grave and i the cause a thousand times rather would i
have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to justine but i
was absent when it was committed and such a declaration would have
been considered as the ravings of a madman and would not have
exculpated her who suffered through me 

the appearance of justine was calm she was dressed in mourning and
her countenance always engaging was rendered by the solemnity of her
feelings exquisitely beautiful yet she appeared confident in
innocence and did not tremble although gazed on and execrated by
thousands for all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have
excited was obliterated in the minds of the spectators by the
imagination of the enormity she was supposed to have committed she
was tranquil yet her tranquillity was evidently constrained and as
her confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guilt she
worked up her mind to an appearance of courage when she entered the
court she threw her eyes round it and quickly discovered where we were
seated a tear seemed to dim her eye when she saw us but she quickly
recovered herself and a look of sorrowful affection seemed to attest
her utter guiltlessness 

the trial began and after the advocate against her had stated the
charge several witnesses were called several strange facts combined
against her which might have staggered anyone who had not such proof
of her innocence as i had she had been out the whole of the night on
which the murder had been committed and towards morning had been
perceived by a market-woman not far from the spot where the body of the
murdered child had been afterwards found the woman asked her what she
did there but she looked very strangely and only returned a confused
and unintelligible answer she returned to the house about eight
o'clock and when one inquired where she had passed the night she
replied that she had been looking for the child and demanded earnestly
if anything had been heard concerning him when shown the body she
fell into violent hysterics and kept her bed for several days the
picture was then produced which the servant had found in her pocket 
and when elizabeth in a faltering voice proved that it was the same
which an hour before the child had been missed she had placed round
his neck a murmur of horror and indignation filled the court 

justine was called on for her defence as the trial had proceeded her
countenance had altered surprise horror and misery were strongly
expressed sometimes she struggled with her tears but when she was
desired to plead she collected her powers and spoke in an audible
although variable voice 

 god knows she said how entirely i am innocent but i
do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me i rest my innocence
on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced
against me and i hope the character i have always borne will incline my
judges to a favourable interpretation where any circumstance appears
doubtful or suspicious 

she then related that by the permission of elizabeth she had passed
the evening of the night on which the murder had been committed at the
house of an aunt at chene a village situated at about a league from
geneva on her return at about nine o'clock she met a man who asked
her if she had seen anything of the child who was lost she was
alarmed by this account and passed several hours in looking for him 
when the gates of geneva were shut and she was forced to remain
several hours of the night in a barn belonging to a cottage being
unwilling to call up the inhabitants to whom she was well known most
of the night she spent here watching towards morning she believed that
she slept for a few minutes some steps disturbed her and she awoke 
it was dawn and she quitted her asylum that she might again endeavour
to find my brother if she had gone near the spot where his body lay 
it was without her knowledge that she had been bewildered when
questioned by the market-woman was not surprising since she had passed
a sleepless night and the fate of poor william was yet uncertain 
concerning the picture she could give no account 

 i know continued the unhappy victim how heavily and
fatally this one circumstance weighs against me but i have no power of
explaining it and when i have expressed my utter ignorance i am only left
to conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been
placed in my pocket but here also i am checked i believe that i have no
enemy on earth and none surely would have been so wicked as to destroy me
wantonly did the murderer place it there i know of no opportunity
afforded him for so doing or if i had why should he have stolen the
jewel to part with it again so soon 

 i commit my cause to the justice of my judges yet i see no room for
hope i beg permission to have a few witnesses examined concerning my
character and if their testimony shall not overweigh my supposed
guilt i must be condemned although i would pledge my salvation on my
innocence 

several witnesses were called who had known her for many years and
they spoke well of her but fear and hatred of the crime of which they
supposed her guilty rendered them timorous and unwilling to come
forward elizabeth saw even this last resource her excellent
dispositions and irreproachable conduct about to fail the accused 
when although violently agitated she desired permission to address
the court 

 i am said she the cousin of the unhappy child who
was murdered or rather his sister for i was educated by and have lived
with his parents ever since and even long before his birth it may
therefore be judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasion but
when i see a fellow creature about to perish through the cowardice of her
pretended friends i wish to be allowed to speak that i may say what i
know of her character i am well acquainted with the accused i have lived
in the same house with her at one time for five and at another for nearly
two years during all that period she appeared to me the most amiable and
benevolent of human creatures she nursed madame frankenstein my aunt in
her last illness with the greatest affection and care and afterwards
attended her own mother during a tedious illness in a manner that excited
the admiration of all who knew her after which she again lived in my
uncle's house where she was beloved by all the family she was
warmly attached to the child who is now dead and acted towards him like a
most affectionate mother for my own part i do not hesitate to say that 
notwithstanding all the evidence produced against her i believe and rely
on her perfect innocence she had no temptation for such an action as to
the bauble on which the chief proof rests if she had earnestly desired it 
i should have willingly given it to her so much do i esteem and value
her 

a murmur of approbation followed elizabeth's simple and powerful
appeal but it was excited by her generous interference and not in
favour of poor justine on whom the public indignation was turned with
renewed violence charging her with the blackest ingratitude she
herself wept as elizabeth spoke but she did not answer my own
agitation and anguish was extreme during the whole trial i believed
in her innocence i knew it could the daemon who had i did not for a
minute doubt murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have
betrayed the innocent to death and ignominy i could not sustain the
horror of my situation and when i perceived that the popular voice and
the countenances of the judges had already condemned my unhappy victim 
i rushed out of the court in agony the tortures of the accused did
not equal mine she was sustained by innocence but the fangs of
remorse tore my bosom and would not forgo their hold 

i passed a night of unmingled wretchedness in the morning i went to
the court my lips and throat were parched i dared not ask the fatal
question but i was known and the officer guessed the cause of my
visit the ballots had been thrown they were all black and justine
was condemned 

i cannot pretend to describe what i then felt i had before
experienced sensations of horror and i have endeavoured to bestow upon
them adequate expressions but words cannot convey an idea of the
heart-sickening despair that i then endured the person to whom i
addressed myself added that justine had already confessed her guilt 
 that evidence he observed was hardly required in so glaring a
case but i am glad of it and indeed none of our judges like to
condemn a criminal upon circumstantial evidence be it ever so
decisive 

this was strange and unexpected intelligence what could it mean had
my eyes deceived me and was i really as mad as the whole world would
believe me to be if i disclosed the object of my suspicions i
hastened to return home and elizabeth eagerly demanded the result 

 my cousin replied i it is decided as you may have expected all
judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer than that one guilty
should escape but she has confessed 

this was a dire blow to poor elizabeth who had relied with firmness upon
justine's innocence alas said she how shall i
ever again believe in human goodness justine whom i loved and esteemed as
my sister how could she put on those smiles of innocence only to betray 
her mild eyes seemed incapable of any severity or guile and yet she has
committed a murder 

soon after we heard that the poor victim had expressed a desire to see my
cousin my father wished her not to go but said that he left it to her own
judgment and feelings to decide yes said elizabeth 
 i will go although she is guilty and you victor shall accompany
me i cannot go alone the idea of this visit was torture to me yet
i could not refuse 

we entered the gloomy prison chamber and beheld justine sitting on some
straw at the farther end her hands were manacled and her head rested on
her knees she rose on seeing us enter and when we were left alone with
her she threw herself at the feet of elizabeth weeping bitterly my
cousin wept also 

 oh justine said she why did you rob me of my last consolation 
i relied on your innocence and although i was then very wretched i
was not so miserable as i am now 

 and do you also believe that i am so very very wicked do you also
join with my enemies to crush me to condemn me as a murderer her
voice was suffocated with sobs 

 rise my poor girl said elizabeth why do you kneel 
if you are innocent i am not one of your enemies i believed you
guiltless notwithstanding every evidence until i heard that you had
yourself declared your guilt that report you say is false and be
assured dear justine that nothing can shake my confidence in you for a
moment but your own confession 

 i did confess but i confessed a lie i confessed that i might
obtain absolution but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than
all my other sins the god of heaven forgive me ever since i was
condemned my confessor has besieged me he threatened and menaced 
until i almost began to think that i was the monster that he said i
was he threatened excommunication and hell fire in my last moments if
i continued obdurate dear lady i had none to support me all looked
on me as a wretch doomed to ignominy and perdition what could i do 
in an evil hour i subscribed to a lie and now only am i truly
miserable 

she paused weeping and then continued i thought with horror my
sweet lady that you should believe your justine whom your blessed
aunt had so highly honoured and whom you loved was a creature capable
of a crime which none but the devil himself could have perpetrated 
dear william dearest blessed child i soon shall see you again in
heaven where we shall all be happy and that consoles me going as i
am to suffer ignominy and death 

 oh justine forgive me for having for one moment distrusted you 
why did you confess but do not mourn dear girl do not fear i
will proclaim i will prove your innocence i will melt the stony
hearts of your enemies by my tears and prayers you shall not die 
you my playfellow my companion my sister perish on the scaffold 
no no i never could survive so horrible a misfortune 

justine shook her head mournfully i do not fear to die she said 
 that pang is past god raises my weakness and gives me courage to
endure the worst i leave a sad and bitter world and if you remember
me and think of me as of one unjustly condemned i am resigned to the
fate awaiting me learn from me dear lady to submit in patience to
the will of heaven 

during this conversation i had retired to a corner of the prison room 
where i could conceal the horrid anguish that possessed me despair 
who dared talk of that the poor victim who on the morrow was to pass
the awful boundary between life and death felt not as i did such
deep and bitter agony i gnashed my teeth and ground them together 
uttering a groan that came from my inmost soul justine started when
she saw who it was she approached me and said dear sir you are very
kind to visit me you i hope do not believe that i am guilty 

i could not answer no justine said elizabeth he is more
convinced of your innocence than i was for even when he heard that you
had confessed he did not credit it 

 i truly thank him in these last moments i feel the sincerest
gratitude towards those who think of me with kindness how sweet is
the affection of others to such a wretch as i am it removes more than
half my misfortune and i feel as if i could die in peace now that my
innocence is acknowledged by you dear lady and your cousin 

thus the poor sufferer tried to comfort others and herself she indeed
gained the resignation she desired but i the true murderer felt the
never-dying worm alive in my bosom which allowed of no hope or
consolation elizabeth also wept and was unhappy but hers also was
the misery of innocence which like a cloud that passes over the fair
moon for a while hides but cannot tarnish its brightness anguish and
despair had penetrated into the core of my heart i bore a hell within
me which nothing could extinguish we stayed several hours with
justine and it was with great difficulty that elizabeth could tear
herself away i wish cried she that i were to die with you i
cannot live in this world of misery 

justine assumed an air of cheerfulness while she with difficulty
repressed her bitter tears she embraced elizabeth and said in a voice
of half-suppressed emotion farewell sweet lady dearest elizabeth 
my beloved and only friend may heaven in its bounty bless and
preserve you may this be the last misfortune that you will ever
suffer live and be happy and make others so 

and on the morrow justine died elizabeth's heart-rending eloquence
failed to move the judges from their settled conviction in the
criminality of the saintly sufferer my passionate and indignant
appeals were lost upon them and when i received their cold answers
and heard the harsh unfeeling reasoning of these men my purposed
avowal died away on my lips thus i might proclaim myself a madman 
but not revoke the sentence passed upon my wretched victim she
perished on the scaffold as a murderess 

from the tortures of my own heart i turned to contemplate the deep and
voiceless grief of my elizabeth this also was my doing and my
father's woe and the desolation of that late so smiling home all was
the work of my thrice-accursed hands ye weep unhappy ones but these
are not your last tears again shall you raise the funeral wail and
the sound of your lamentations shall again and again be heard 
frankenstein your son your kinsman your early much-loved friend he
who would spend each vital drop of blood for your sakes who has no
thought nor sense of joy except as it is mirrored also in your dear
countenances who would fill the air with blessings and spend his life
in serving you he bids you weep to shed countless tears happy beyond
his hopes if thus inexorable fate be satisfied and if the destruction
pause before the peace of the grave have succeeded to your sad torments 

thus spoke my prophetic soul as torn by remorse horror and despair 
i beheld those i loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of william and
justine the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts 





chapter 9

nothing is more painful to the human mind than after the feelings have
been worked up by a quick succession of events the dead calmness of
inaction and certainty which follows and deprives the soul both of hope
and fear justine died she rested and i was alive the blood flowed
freely in my veins but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my
heart which nothing could remove sleep fled from my eyes i wandered
like an evil spirit for i had committed deeds of mischief beyond
description horrible and more much more i persuaded myself was yet
behind yet my heart overflowed with kindness and the love of virtue 
i had begun life with benevolent intentions and thirsted for the moment
when i should put them in practice and make myself useful to my fellow
beings now all was blasted instead of that serenity of conscience
which allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction and
from thence to gather promise of new hopes i was seized by remorse and
the sense of guilt which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures
such as no language can describe 

this state of mind preyed upon my health which had perhaps never
entirely recovered from the first shock it had sustained i shunned
the face of man all sound of joy or complacency was torture to me 
solitude was my only consolation deep dark deathlike solitude 

my father observed with pain the alteration perceptible in my disposition
and habits and endeavoured by arguments deduced from the feelings of his
serene conscience and guiltless life to inspire me with fortitude and
awaken in me the courage to dispel the dark cloud which brooded over me 
 do you think victor said he that i do not suffer
also no one could love a child more than i loved your
brother tears came into his eyes as he spoke but
is it not a duty to the survivors that we should refrain from augmenting
their unhappiness by an appearance of immoderate grief it is also a duty
owed to yourself for excessive sorrow prevents improvement or enjoyment 
or even the discharge of daily usefulness without which no man is fit for
society 

this advice although good was totally inapplicable to my case i
should have been the first to hide my grief and console my friends if
remorse had not mingled its bitterness and terror its alarm with my
other sensations now i could only answer my father with a look of
despair and endeavour to hide myself from his view 

about this time we retired to our house at belrive this change was
particularly agreeable to me the shutting of the gates regularly at
ten o'clock and the impossibility of remaining on the lake after that
hour had rendered our residence within the walls of geneva very irksome
to me i was now free often after the rest of the family had
retired for the night i took the boat and passed many hours upon the
water sometimes with my sails set i was carried by the wind and
sometimes after rowing into the middle of the lake i left the boat to
pursue its own course and gave way to my own miserable reflections i
was often tempted when all was at peace around me and i the only
unquiet thing that wandered restless in a scene so beautiful and
heavenly if i except some bat or the frogs whose harsh and
interrupted croaking was heard only when i approached the shore often 
i say i was tempted to plunge into the silent lake that the waters
might close over me and my calamities for ever but i was restrained 
when i thought of the heroic and suffering elizabeth whom i tenderly
loved and whose existence was bound up in mine i thought also of my
father and surviving brother should i by my base desertion leave them
exposed and unprotected to the malice of the fiend whom i had let loose
among them 

at these moments i wept bitterly and wished that peace would revisit my
mind only that i might afford them consolation and happiness but that
could not be remorse extinguished every hope i had been the author of
unalterable evils and i lived in daily fear lest the monster whom i had
created should perpetrate some new wickedness i had an obscure feeling
that all was not over and that he would still commit some signal crime 
which by its enormity should almost efface the recollection of the past 
there was always scope for fear so long as anything i loved remained
behind my abhorrence of this fiend cannot be conceived when i thought of
him i gnashed my teeth my eyes became inflamed and i ardently wished to
extinguish that life which i had so thoughtlessly bestowed when i
reflected on his crimes and malice my hatred and revenge burst all bounds
of moderation i would have made a pilgrimage to the highest peak of the
andes could i when there have precipitated him to their base i wished
to see him again that i might wreak the utmost extent of abhorrence on his
head and avenge the deaths of william and justine 

our house was the house of mourning my father's health was deeply
shaken by the horror of the recent events elizabeth was sad and
desponding she no longer took delight in her ordinary occupations all
pleasure seemed to her sacrilege toward the dead eternal woe and tears she
then thought was the just tribute she should pay to innocence so blasted
and destroyed she was no longer that happy creature who in earlier youth
wandered with me on the banks of the lake and talked with ecstasy of our
future prospects the first of those sorrows which are sent to wean us from
the earth had visited her and its dimming influence quenched her dearest
smiles 

 when i reflect my dear cousin said she on the miserable death of
justine moritz i no longer see the world and its works as they before
appeared to me before i looked upon the accounts of vice and
injustice that i read in books or heard from others as tales of ancient
days or imaginary evils at least they were remote and more familiar to
reason than to the imagination but now misery has come home and men
appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other's blood yet i am
certainly unjust everybody believed that poor girl to be guilty and
if she could have committed the crime for which she suffered assuredly
she would have been the most depraved of human creatures for the sake
of a few jewels to have murdered the son of her benefactor and friend 
a child whom she had nursed from its birth and appeared to love as if
it had been her own i could not consent to the death of any human
being but certainly i should have thought such a creature unfit to
remain in the society of men but she was innocent i know i feel
she was innocent you are of the same opinion and that confirms me 
alas victor when falsehood can look so like the truth who can
assure themselves of certain happiness i feel as if i were walking on
the edge of a precipice towards which thousands are crowding and
endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss william and justine were
assassinated and the murderer escapes he walks about the world free 
and perhaps respected but even if i were condemned to suffer on the
scaffold for the same crimes i would not change places with such a
wretch 

i listened to this discourse with the extremest agony i not in deed 
but in effect was the true murderer elizabeth read my anguish in my
countenance and kindly taking my hand said my dearest friend you
must calm yourself these events have affected me god knows how
deeply but i am not so wretched as you are there is an expression of
despair and sometimes of revenge in your countenance that makes me
tremble dear victor banish these dark passions remember the
friends around you who centre all their hopes in you have we lost
the power of rendering you happy ah while we love while we are
true to each other here in this land of peace and beauty your native
country we may reap every tranquil blessing what can disturb our
peace 

and could not such words from her whom i fondly prized before every
other gift of fortune suffice to chase away the fiend that lurked in my
heart even as she spoke i drew near to her as if in terror lest at
that very moment the destroyer had been near to rob me of her 

thus not the tenderness of friendship nor the beauty of earth nor of
heaven could redeem my soul from woe the very accents of love were
ineffectual i was encompassed by a cloud which no beneficial
influence could penetrate the wounded deer dragging its fainting
limbs to some untrodden brake there to gaze upon the arrow which had
pierced it and to die was but a type of me 

sometimes i could cope with the sullen despair that overwhelmed me but
sometimes the whirlwind passions of my soul drove me to seek by bodily
exercise and by change of place some relief from my intolerable
sensations it was during an access of this kind that i suddenly left
my home and bending my steps towards the near alpine valleys sought
in the magnificence the eternity of such scenes to forget myself and
my ephemeral because human sorrows my wanderings were directed
towards the valley of chamounix i had visited it frequently during my
boyhood six years had passed since then i was a wreck but nought
had changed in those savage and enduring scenes 

i performed the first part of my journey on horseback i afterwards
hired a mule as the more sure-footed and least liable to receive
injury on these rugged roads the weather was fine it was about the
middle of the month of august nearly two months after the death of
justine that miserable epoch from which i dated all my woe the
weight upon my spirit was sensibly lightened as i plunged yet deeper in
the ravine of arve the immense mountains and precipices that overhung
me on every side the sound of the river raging among the rocks and
the dashing of the waterfalls around spoke of a power mighty as
omnipotence and i ceased to fear or to bend before any being less
almighty than that which had created and ruled the elements here
displayed in their most terrific guise still as i ascended higher 
the valley assumed a more magnificent and astonishing character 
ruined castles hanging on the precipices of piny mountains the
impetuous arve and cottages every here and there peeping forth from
among the trees formed a scene of singular beauty but it was
augmented and rendered sublime by the mighty alps whose white and
shining pyramids and domes towered above all as belonging to another
earth the habitations of another race of beings 

i passed the bridge of pelissier where the ravine which the river
forms opened before me and i began to ascend the mountain that
overhangs it soon after i entered the valley of chamounix this
valley is more wonderful and sublime but not so beautiful and
picturesque as that of servox through which i had just passed the
high and snowy mountains were its immediate boundaries but i saw no
more ruined castles and fertile fields immense glaciers approached
the road i heard the rumbling thunder of the falling avalanche and
marked the smoke of its passage mont blanc the supreme and
magnificent mont blanc raised itself from the surrounding aiguilles 
and its tremendous dome overlooked the valley 

a tingling long-lost sense of pleasure often came across me during this
journey some turn in the road some new object suddenly perceived and
recognised reminded me of days gone by and were associated with the
lighthearted gaiety of boyhood the very winds whispered in soothing
accents and maternal nature bade me weep no more then again the
kindly influence ceased to act i found myself fettered again to grief
and indulging in all the misery of reflection then i spurred on my
animal striving so to forget the world my fears and more than all 
myself or in a more desperate fashion i alighted and threw myself on
the grass weighed down by horror and despair 

at length i arrived at the village of chamounix exhaustion succeeded
to the extreme fatigue both of body and of mind which i had endured 
for a short space of time i remained at the window watching the pallid
lightnings that played above mont blanc and listening to the rushing of
the arve which pursued its noisy way beneath the same lulling sounds
acted as a lullaby to my too keen sensations when i placed my head
upon my pillow sleep crept over me i felt it as it came and blessed
the giver of oblivion 





chapter 10

i spent the following day roaming through the valley i stood beside
the sources of the arveiron which take their rise in a glacier that
with slow pace is advancing down from the summit of the hills to
barricade the valley the abrupt sides of vast mountains were before
me the icy wall of the glacier overhung me a few shattered pines were
scattered around and the solemn silence of this glorious
presence-chamber of imperial nature was broken only by the brawling
waves or the fall of some vast fragment the thunder sound of the
avalanche or the cracking reverberated along the mountains of the
accumulated ice which through the silent working of immutable laws 
was ever and anon rent and torn as if it had been but a plaything in
their hands these sublime and magnificent scenes afforded me the
greatest consolation that i was capable of receiving they elevated me
from all littleness of feeling and although they did not remove my
grief they subdued and tranquillised it in some degree also they
diverted my mind from the thoughts over which it had brooded for the
last month i retired to rest at night my slumbers as it were 
waited on and ministered to by the assemblance of grand shapes which i
had contemplated during the day they congregated round me the
unstained snowy mountain-top the glittering pinnacle the pine woods 
and ragged bare ravine the eagle soaring amidst the clouds they all
gathered round me and bade me be at peace 

where had they fled when the next morning i awoke all of
soul-inspiriting fled with sleep and dark melancholy clouded every
thought the rain was pouring in torrents and thick mists hid the
summits of the mountains so that i even saw not the faces of those
mighty friends still i would penetrate their misty veil and seek them
in their cloudy retreats what were rain and storm to me my mule was
brought to the door and i resolved to ascend to the summit of
montanvert i remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous
and ever-moving glacier had produced upon my mind when i first saw it 
it had then filled me with a sublime ecstasy that gave wings to the
soul and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy 
the sight of the awful and majestic in nature had indeed always the
effect of solemnising my mind and causing me to forget the passing
cares of life i determined to go without a guide for i was well
acquainted with the path and the presence of another would destroy the
solitary grandeur of the scene 

the ascent is precipitous but the path is cut into continual and short
windings which enable you to surmount the perpendicularity of the
mountain it is a scene terrifically desolate in a thousand spots
the traces of the winter avalanche may be perceived where trees lie
broken and strewed on the ground some entirely destroyed others bent 
leaning upon the jutting rocks of the mountain or transversely upon
other trees the path as you ascend higher is intersected by ravines
of snow down which stones continually roll from above one of them is
particularly dangerous as the slightest sound such as even speaking
in a loud voice produces a concussion of air sufficient to draw
destruction upon the head of the speaker the pines are not tall or
luxuriant but they are sombre and add an air of severity to the scene 
i looked on the valley beneath vast mists were rising from the rivers
which ran through it and curling in thick wreaths around the opposite
mountains whose summits were hid in the uniform clouds while rain
poured from the dark sky and added to the melancholy impression i
received from the objects around me alas why does man boast of
sensibilities superior to those apparent in the brute it only renders
them more necessary beings if our impulses were confined to hunger 
thirst and desire we might be nearly free but now we are moved by
every wind that blows and a chance word or scene that that word may
convey to us 

 we rest a dream has power to poison sleep 
 we rise one wand'ring thought pollutes the day 
 we feel conceive or reason laugh or weep 
 embrace fond woe or cast our cares away 
 it is the same for be it joy or sorrow 
 the path of its departure still is free 
 man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow 
 nought may endure but mutability 



it was nearly noon when i arrived at the top of the ascent for some
time i sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of ice a mist covered
both that and the surrounding mountains presently a breeze dissipated
the cloud and i descended upon the glacier the surface is very
uneven rising like the waves of a troubled sea descending low and
interspersed by rifts that sink deep the field of ice is almost a
league in width but i spent nearly two hours in crossing it the
opposite mountain is a bare perpendicular rock from the side where i
now stood montanvert was exactly opposite at the distance of a league 
and above it rose mont blanc in awful majesty i remained in a recess
of the rock gazing on this wonderful and stupendous scene the sea 
or rather the vast river of ice wound among its dependent mountains 
whose aerial summits hung over its recesses their icy and glittering
peaks shone in the sunlight over the clouds my heart which was
before sorrowful now swelled with something like joy i exclaimed 
 wandering spirits if indeed ye wander and do not rest in your narrow
beds allow me this faint happiness or take me as your companion 
away from the joys of life 

as i said this i suddenly beheld the figure of a man at some distance 
advancing towards me with superhuman speed he bounded over the
crevices in the ice among which i had walked with caution his
stature also as he approached seemed to exceed that of man i was
troubled a mist came over my eyes and i felt a faintness seize me 
but i was quickly restored by the cold gale of the mountains i
perceived as the shape came nearer sight tremendous and abhorred 
that it was the wretch whom i had created i trembled with rage and
horror resolving to wait his approach and then close with him in
mortal combat he approached his countenance bespoke bitter anguish 
combined with disdain and malignity while its unearthly ugliness
rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes but i scarcely
observed this rage and hatred had at first deprived me of utterance 
and i recovered only to overwhelm him with words expressive of furious
detestation and contempt 

 devil i exclaimed do you dare approach me and do
not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head 
begone vile insect or rather stay that i may trample you to dust and 
oh that i could with the extinction of your miserable existence restore
those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered 

 i expected this reception said the daemon all men hate the
wretched how then must i be hated who am miserable beyond all
living things yet you my creator detest and spurn me thy creature 
to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of
one of us you purpose to kill me how dare you sport thus with life 
do your duty towards me and i will do mine towards you and the rest of
mankind if you will comply with my conditions i will leave them and
you at peace but if you refuse i will glut the maw of death until it
be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends 

 abhorred monster fiend that thou art the tortures of hell are too
mild a vengeance for thy crimes wretched devil you reproach me with
your creation come on then that i may extinguish the spark which i
so negligently bestowed 

my rage was without bounds i sprang on him impelled by all the
feelings which can arm one being against the existence of another 

he easily eluded me and said 

 be calm i entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred
on my devoted head have i not suffered enough that you seek to
increase my misery life although it may only be an accumulation of
anguish is dear to me and i will defend it remember thou hast made
me more powerful than thyself my height is superior to thine my
joints more supple but i will not be tempted to set myself in
opposition to thee i am thy creature and i will be even mild and
docile to my natural lord and king if thou wilt also perform thy part 
the which thou owest me oh frankenstein be not equitable to every
other and trample upon me alone to whom thy justice and even thy
clemency and affection is most due remember that i am thy creature 
i ought to be thy adam but i am rather the fallen angel whom thou
drivest from joy for no misdeed everywhere i see bliss from which i
alone am irrevocably excluded i was benevolent and good misery made
me a fiend make me happy and i shall again be virtuous 

 begone i will not hear you there can be no community between you
and me we are enemies begone or let us try our strength in a fight 
in which one must fall 

 how can i move thee will no entreaties cause thee to turn a
favourable eye upon thy creature who implores thy goodness and
compassion believe me frankenstein i was benevolent my soul glowed
with love and humanity but am i not alone miserably alone you my
creator abhor me what hope can i gather from your fellow creatures 
who owe me nothing they spurn and hate me the desert mountains and
dreary glaciers are my refuge i have wandered here many days the
caves of ice which i only do not fear are a dwelling to me and the
only one which man does not grudge these bleak skies i hail for they
are kinder to me than your fellow beings if the multitude of mankind
knew of my existence they would do as you do and arm themselves for
my destruction shall i not then hate them who abhor me i will keep
no terms with my enemies i am miserable and they shall share my
wretchedness yet it is in your power to recompense me and deliver
them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great that
not only you and your family but thousands of others shall be
swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage let your compassion be
moved and do not disdain me listen to my tale when you have heard
that abandon or commiserate me as you shall judge that i deserve 
but hear me the guilty are allowed by human laws bloody as they
are to speak in their own defence before they are condemned listen
to me frankenstein you accuse me of murder and yet you would with
a satisfied conscience destroy your own creature oh praise the
eternal justice of man yet i ask you not to spare me listen to me 
and then if you can and if you will destroy the work of your hands 

 why do you call to my remembrance i rejoined circumstances of
which i shudder to reflect that i have been the miserable origin and
author cursed be the day abhorred devil in which you first saw
light cursed although i curse myself be the hands that formed you 
you have made me wretched beyond expression you have left me no power
to consider whether i am just to you or not begone relieve me from
the sight of your detested form 

 thus i relieve thee my creator he said and placed his hated hands
before my eyes which i flung from me with violence thus i take from
thee a sight which you abhor still thou canst listen to me and grant
me thy compassion by the virtues that i once possessed i demand this
from you hear my tale it is long and strange and the temperature of
this place is not fitting to your fine sensations come to the hut upon
the mountain the sun is yet high in the heavens before it descends
to hide itself behind your snowy precipices and illuminate another
world you will have heard my story and can decide on you it rests 
whether i quit for ever the neighbourhood of man and lead a harmless
life or become the scourge of your fellow creatures and the author of
your own speedy ruin 

as he said this he led the way across the ice i followed my heart
was full and i did not answer him but as i proceeded i weighed the
various arguments that he had used and determined at least to listen to
his tale i was partly urged by curiosity and compassion confirmed my
resolution i had hitherto supposed him to be the murderer of my
brother and i eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of this opinion 
for the first time also i felt what the duties of a creator towards
his creature were and that i ought to render him happy before i
complained of his wickedness these motives urged me to comply with
his demand we crossed the ice therefore and ascended the opposite
rock the air was cold and the rain again began to descend we
entered the hut the fiend with an air of exultation i with a heavy
heart and depressed spirits but i consented to listen and seating
myself by the fire which my odious companion had lighted he thus began
his tale 





chapter 11

 it is with considerable difficulty that i remember the original era of
my being all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct 
a strange multiplicity of sensations seized me and i saw felt heard 
and smelt at the same time and it was indeed a long time before i
learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses by
degrees i remember a stronger light pressed upon my nerves so that i
was obliged to shut my eyes darkness then came over me and troubled
me but hardly had i felt this when by opening my eyes as i now
suppose the light poured in upon me again i walked and i believe 
descended but i presently found a great alteration in my sensations 
before dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me impervious to my
touch or sight but i now found that i could wander on at liberty with
no obstacles which i could not either surmount or avoid the light
became more and more oppressive to me and the heat wearying me as i
walked i sought a place where i could receive shade this was the
forest near ingolstadt and here i lay by the side of a brook resting
from my fatigue until i felt tormented by hunger and thirst this
roused me from my nearly dormant state and i ate some berries which i
found hanging on the trees or lying on the ground i slaked my thirst
at the brook and then lying down was overcome by sleep 

 it was dark when i awoke i felt cold also and half frightened as it
were instinctively finding myself so desolate before i had quitted
your apartment on a sensation of cold i had covered myself with some
clothes but these were insufficient to secure me from the dews of
night i was a poor helpless miserable wretch i knew and could
distinguish nothing but feeling pain invade me on all sides i sat
down and wept 

 soon a gentle light stole over the heavens and gave me a sensation of
pleasure i started up and beheld a radiant form rise from among the
trees the moon i gazed with a kind of wonder it moved slowly 
but it enlightened my path and i again went out in search of berries 
i was still cold when under one of the trees i found a huge cloak with
which i covered myself and sat down upon the ground no distinct
ideas occupied my mind all was confused i felt light and hunger 
and thirst and darkness innumerable sounds rang in my ears and on
all sides various scents saluted me the only object that i could
distinguish was the bright moon and i fixed my eyes on that with
pleasure 

 several changes of day and night passed and the orb of night had
greatly lessened when i began to distinguish my sensations from each
other i gradually saw plainly the clear stream that supplied me with
drink and the trees that shaded me with their foliage i was delighted
when i first discovered that a pleasant sound which often saluted my
ears proceeded from the throats of the little winged animals who had
often intercepted the light from my eyes i began also to observe 
with greater accuracy the forms that surrounded me and to perceive the
boundaries of the radiant roof of light which canopied me sometimes i
tried to imitate the pleasant songs of the birds but was unable 
sometimes i wished to express my sensations in my own mode but the
uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into
silence again 

 the moon had disappeared from the night and again with a lessened
form showed itself while i still remained in the forest my
sensations had by this time become distinct and my mind received every
day additional ideas my eyes became accustomed to the light and to
perceive objects in their right forms i distinguished the insect from
the herb and by degrees one herb from another i found that the
sparrow uttered none but harsh notes whilst those of the blackbird and
thrush were sweet and enticing 

 one day when i was oppressed by cold i found a fire which had been
left by some wandering beggars and was overcome with delight at the
warmth i experienced from it in my joy i thrust my hand into the live
embers but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain how strange 
i thought that the same cause should produce such opposite effects i
examined the materials of the fire and to my joy found it to be
composed of wood i quickly collected some branches but they were wet
and would not burn i was pained at this and sat still watching the
operation of the fire the wet wood which i had placed near the heat
dried and itself became inflamed i reflected on this and by touching
the various branches i discovered the cause and busied myself in
collecting a great quantity of wood that i might dry it and have a
plentiful supply of fire when night came on and brought sleep with
it i was in the greatest fear lest my fire should be extinguished i
covered it carefully with dry wood and leaves and placed wet branches
upon it and then spreading my cloak i lay on the ground and sank
into sleep 

 it was morning when i awoke and my first care was to visit the fire 
i uncovered it and a gentle breeze quickly fanned it into a flame i
observed this also and contrived a fan of branches which roused the
embers when they were nearly extinguished when night came again i
found with pleasure that the fire gave light as well as heat and that
the discovery of this element was useful to me in my food for i found
some of the offals that the travellers had left had been roasted and
tasted much more savoury than the berries i gathered from the trees i
tried therefore to dress my food in the same manner placing it on
the live embers i found that the berries were spoiled by this
operation and the nuts and roots much improved 

 food however became scarce and i often spent the whole day
searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger when
i found this i resolved to quit the place that i had hitherto
inhabited to seek for one where the few wants i experienced would be
more easily satisfied in this emigration i exceedingly lamented the
loss of the fire which i had obtained through accident and knew not how
to reproduce it i gave several hours to the serious consideration of
this difficulty but i was obliged to relinquish all attempt to supply
it and wrapping myself up in my cloak i struck across the wood
towards the setting sun i passed three days in these rambles and at
length discovered the open country a great fall of snow had taken
place the night before and the fields were of one uniform white the
appearance was disconsolate and i found my feet chilled by the cold
damp substance that covered the ground 

 it was about seven in the morning and i longed to obtain food and
shelter at length i perceived a small hut on a rising ground which
had doubtless been built for the convenience of some shepherd this
was a new sight to me and i examined the structure with great
curiosity finding the door open i entered an old man sat in it 
near a fire over which he was preparing his breakfast he turned on
hearing a noise and perceiving me shrieked loudly and quitting the
hut ran across the fields with a speed of which his debilitated form
hardly appeared capable his appearance different from any i had ever
before seen and his flight somewhat surprised me but i was enchanted
by the appearance of the hut here the snow and rain could not
penetrate the ground was dry and it presented to me then as exquisite
and divine a retreat as pandaemonium appeared to the daemons of hell
after their sufferings in the lake of fire i greedily devoured the
remnants of the shepherd's breakfast which consisted of bread cheese 
milk and wine the latter however i did not like then overcome by
fatigue i lay down among some straw and fell asleep 

 it was noon when i awoke and allured by the warmth of the sun which
shone brightly on the white ground i determined to recommence my
travels and depositing the remains of the peasant's breakfast in a
wallet i found i proceeded across the fields for several hours until
at sunset i arrived at a village how miraculous did this appear the
huts the neater cottages and stately houses engaged my admiration by
turns the vegetables in the gardens the milk and cheese that i saw
placed at the windows of some of the cottages allured my appetite one
of the best of these i entered but i had hardly placed my foot within
the door before the children shrieked and one of the women fainted 
the whole village was roused some fled some attacked me until 
grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons i
escaped to the open country and fearfully took refuge in a low hovel 
quite bare and making a wretched appearance after the palaces i had
beheld in the village this hovel however joined a cottage of a neat
and pleasant appearance but after my late dearly bought experience i
dared not enter it my place of refuge was constructed of wood but so
low that i could with difficulty sit upright in it no wood however 
was placed on the earth which formed the floor but it was dry and
although the wind entered it by innumerable chinks i found it an
agreeable asylum from the snow and rain 

 here then i retreated and lay down happy to have found a shelter 
however miserable from the inclemency of the season and still more
from the barbarity of man as soon as morning dawned i crept from my
kennel that i might view the adjacent cottage and discover if i could
remain in the habitation i had found it was situated against the back
of the cottage and surrounded on the sides which were exposed by a pig
sty and a clear pool of water one part was open and by that i had
crept in but now i covered every crevice by which i might be perceived
with stones and wood yet in such a manner that i might move them on
occasion to pass out all the light i enjoyed came through the sty and
that was sufficient for me 

 having thus arranged my dwelling and carpeted it with clean straw i
retired for i saw the figure of a man at a distance and i remembered
too well my treatment the night before to trust myself in his power i
had first however provided for my sustenance for that day by a loaf
of coarse bread which i purloined and a cup with which i could drink
more conveniently than from my hand of the pure water which flowed by
my retreat the floor was a little raised so that it was kept
perfectly dry and by its vicinity to the chimney of the cottage it was
tolerably warm 

 being thus provided i resolved to reside in this hovel until
something should occur which might alter my determination it was
indeed a paradise compared to the bleak forest my former residence 
the rain-dropping branches and dank earth i ate my breakfast with
pleasure and was about to remove a plank to procure myself a little
water when i heard a step and looking through a small chink i beheld
a young creature with a pail on her head passing before my hovel the
girl was young and of gentle demeanour unlike what i have since found
cottagers and farmhouse servants to be yet she was meanly dressed a
coarse blue petticoat and a linen jacket being her only garb her fair
hair was plaited but not adorned she looked patient yet sad i lost
sight of her and in about a quarter of an hour she returned bearing
the pail which was now partly filled with milk as she walked along 
seemingly incommoded by the burden a young man met her whose
countenance expressed a deeper despondence uttering a few sounds with
an air of melancholy he took the pail from her head and bore it to the
cottage himself she followed and they disappeared presently i saw
the young man again with some tools in his hand cross the field
behind the cottage and the girl was also busied sometimes in the
house and sometimes in the yard 

 on examining my dwelling i found that one of the windows of the
cottage had formerly occupied a part of it but the panes had been
filled up with wood in one of these was a small and almost
imperceptible chink through which the eye could just penetrate 
through this crevice a small room was visible whitewashed and clean
but very bare of furniture in one corner near a small fire sat an
old man leaning his head on his hands in a disconsolate attitude the
young girl was occupied in arranging the cottage but presently she
took something out of a drawer which employed her hands and she sat
down beside the old man who taking up an instrument began to play
and to produce sounds sweeter than the voice of the thrush or the
nightingale it was a lovely sight even to me poor wretch who had
never beheld aught beautiful before the silver hair and benevolent
countenance of the aged cottager won my reverence while the gentle
manners of the girl enticed my love he played a sweet mournful air
which i perceived drew tears from the eyes of his amiable companion of
which the old man took no notice until she sobbed audibly he then
pronounced a few sounds and the fair creature leaving her work knelt
at his feet he raised her and smiled with such kindness and affection
that i felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature they were
a mixture of pain and pleasure such as i had never before experienced 
either from hunger or cold warmth or food and i withdrew from the
window unable to bear these emotions 

 soon after this the young man returned bearing on his shoulders a
load of wood the girl met him at the door helped to relieve him of
his burden and taking some of the fuel into the cottage placed it on
the fire then she and the youth went apart into a nook of the cottage 
and he showed her a large loaf and a piece of cheese she seemed
pleased and went into the garden for some roots and plants which she
placed in water and then upon the fire she afterwards continued her
work whilst the young man went into the garden and appeared busily
employed in digging and pulling up roots after he had been employed
thus about an hour the young woman joined him and they entered the
cottage together 

 the old man had in the meantime been pensive but on the appearance
of his companions he assumed a more cheerful air and they sat down to
eat the meal was quickly dispatched the young woman was again
occupied in arranging the cottage the old man walked before the
cottage in the sun for a few minutes leaning on the arm of the youth 
nothing could exceed in beauty the contrast between these two excellent
creatures one was old with silver hairs and a countenance beaming
with benevolence and love the younger was slight and graceful in his
figure and his features were moulded with the finest symmetry yet his
eyes and attitude expressed the utmost sadness and despondency the
old man returned to the cottage and the youth with tools different
from those he had used in the morning directed his steps across the
fields 

 night quickly shut in but to my extreme wonder i found that the
cottagers had a means of prolonging light by the use of tapers and was
delighted to find that the setting of the sun did not put an end to the
pleasure i experienced in watching my human neighbours in the evening
the young girl and her companion were employed in various occupations
which i did not understand and the old man again took up the
instrument which produced the divine sounds that had enchanted me in
the morning so soon as he had finished the youth began not to play 
but to utter sounds that were monotonous and neither resembling the
harmony of the old man's instrument nor the songs of the birds i since
found that he read aloud but at that time i knew nothing of the
science of words or letters 

 the family after having been thus occupied for a short time 
extinguished their lights and retired as i conjectured to rest 





chapter 12

 i lay on my straw but i could not sleep i thought of the
occurrences of the day what chiefly struck me was the gentle manners
of these people and i longed to join them but dared not i
remembered too well the treatment i had suffered the night before from
the barbarous villagers and resolved whatever course of conduct i
might hereafter think it right to pursue that for the present i would
remain quietly in my hovel watching and endeavouring to discover the
motives which influenced their actions 

 the cottagers arose the next morning before the sun the young woman
arranged the cottage and prepared the food and the youth departed
after the first meal 

 this day was passed in the same routine as that which preceded it 
the young man was constantly employed out of doors and the girl in
various laborious occupations within the old man whom i soon
perceived to be blind employed his leisure hours on his instrument or
in contemplation nothing could exceed the love and respect which the
younger cottagers exhibited towards their venerable companion they
performed towards him every little office of affection and duty with
gentleness and he rewarded them by his benevolent smiles 

 they were not entirely happy the young man and his companion often
went apart and appeared to weep i saw no cause for their unhappiness 
but i was deeply affected by it if such lovely creatures were
miserable it was less strange that i an imperfect and solitary being 
should be wretched yet why were these gentle beings unhappy they
possessed a delightful house for such it was in my eyes and every
luxury they had a fire to warm them when chill and delicious viands
when hungry they were dressed in excellent clothes and still more 
they enjoyed one another's company and speech interchanging each day
looks of affection and kindness what did their tears imply did they
really express pain i was at first unable to solve these questions 
but perpetual attention and time explained to me many appearances which
were at first enigmatic 

 a considerable period elapsed before i discovered one of the causes of
the uneasiness of this amiable family it was poverty and they
suffered that evil in a very distressing degree their nourishment
consisted entirely of the vegetables of their garden and the milk of
one cow which gave very little during the winter when its masters
could scarcely procure food to support it they often i believe 
suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly especially the two
younger cottagers for several times they placed food before the old
man when they reserved none for themselves 

 this trait of kindness moved me sensibly i had been accustomed 
during the night to steal a part of their store for my own
consumption but when i found that in doing this i inflicted pain on
the cottagers i abstained and satisfied myself with berries nuts and
roots which i gathered from a neighbouring wood 

 i discovered also another means through which i was enabled to assist
their labours i found that the youth spent a great part of each day
in collecting wood for the family fire and during the night i often
took his tools the use of which i quickly discovered and brought home
firing sufficient for the consumption of several days 

 i remember the first time that i did this the young woman when she
opened the door in the morning appeared greatly astonished on seeing a great
pile of wood on the outside she uttered some words in a loud voice and the
youth joined her who also expressed surprise i observed with pleasure 
that he did not go to the forest that day but spent it in repairing the
cottage and cultivating the garden 

 by degrees i made a discovery of still greater moment i found that
these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and
feelings to one another by articulate sounds i perceived that the words
they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain smiles or sadness in the
minds and countenances of the hearers this was indeed a godlike science 
and i ardently desired to become acquainted with it but i was baffled in
every attempt i made for this purpose their pronunciation was quick and
the words they uttered not having any apparent connection with visible
objects i was unable to discover any clue by which i could unravel the
mystery of their reference by great application however and after having
remained during the space of several revolutions of the moon in my hovel i
discovered the names that were given to some of the most familiar objects of
discourse i learned and applied the words fire milk bread and
 wood i learned also the names of the cottagers themselves the youth
and his companion had each of them several names but the old man had only
one which was father the girl was called sister or
 agatha and the youth felix brother or son i cannot
describe the delight i felt when i learned the ideas appropriated to each of
these sounds and was able to pronounce them i distinguished several other
words without being able as yet to understand or apply them such as good 
dearest unhappy 

 i spent the winter in this manner the gentle manners and beauty of
the cottagers greatly endeared them to me when they were unhappy i
felt depressed when they rejoiced i sympathised in their joys i saw
few human beings besides them and if any other happened to enter the
cottage their harsh manners and rude gait only enhanced to me the
superior accomplishments of my friends the old man i could perceive 
often endeavoured to encourage his children as sometimes i found that
he called them to cast off their melancholy he would talk in a
cheerful accent with an expression of goodness that bestowed pleasure
even upon me agatha listened with respect her eyes sometimes filled
with tears which she endeavoured to wipe away unperceived but i
generally found that her countenance and tone were more cheerful after
having listened to the exhortations of her father it was not thus
with felix he was always the saddest of the group and even to my
unpractised senses he appeared to have suffered more deeply than his
friends but if his countenance was more sorrowful his voice was more
cheerful than that of his sister especially when he addressed the old
man 

 i could mention innumerable instances which although slight marked
the dispositions of these amiable cottagers in the midst of poverty
and want felix carried with pleasure to his sister the first little
white flower that peeped out from beneath the snowy ground early in
the morning before she had risen he cleared away the snow that
obstructed her path to the milk-house drew water from the well and
brought the wood from the outhouse where to his perpetual
astonishment he found his store always replenished by an invisible
hand in the day i believe he worked sometimes for a neighbouring
farmer because he often went forth and did not return until dinner 
yet brought no wood with him at other times he worked in the garden 
but as there was little to do in the frosty season he read to the old
man and agatha 

 this reading had puzzled me extremely at first but by degrees i
discovered that he uttered many of the same sounds when he read as when
he talked i conjectured therefore that he found on the paper signs
for speech which he understood and i ardently longed to comprehend
these also but how was that possible when i did not even understand
the sounds for which they stood as signs i improved however 
sensibly in this science but not sufficiently to follow up any kind of
conversation although i applied my whole mind to the endeavour for i
easily perceived that although i eagerly longed to discover myself to
the cottagers i ought not to make the attempt until i had first become
master of their language which knowledge might enable me to make them
overlook the deformity of my figure for with this also the contrast
perpetually presented to my eyes had made me acquainted 

 i had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers their grace beauty 
and delicate complexions but how was i terrified when i viewed myself
in a transparent pool at first i started back unable to believe that
it was indeed i who was reflected in the mirror and when i became
fully convinced that i was in reality the monster that i am i was
filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification 
alas i did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable
deformity 

 as the sun became warmer and the light of day longer the snow
vanished and i beheld the bare trees and the black earth from this
time felix was more employed and the heart-moving indications of
impending famine disappeared their food as i afterwards found was
coarse but it was wholesome and they procured a sufficiency of it 
several new kinds of plants sprang up in the garden which they
dressed and these signs of comfort increased daily as the season
advanced 

 the old man leaning on his son walked each day at noon when it did
not rain as i found it was called when the heavens poured forth its
waters this frequently took place but a high wind quickly dried the
earth and the season became far more pleasant than it had been 

 my mode of life in my hovel was uniform during the morning i
attended the motions of the cottagers and when they were dispersed in
various occupations i slept the remainder of the day was spent in
observing my friends when they had retired to rest if there was any
moon or the night was star-light i went into the woods and collected
my own food and fuel for the cottage when i returned as often as it
was necessary i cleared their path from the snow and performed those
offices that i had seen done by felix i afterwards found that these
labours performed by an invisible hand greatly astonished them and
once or twice i heard them on these occasions utter the words good
spirit wonderful but i did not then understand the signification
of these terms 

 my thoughts now became more active and i longed to discover the
motives and feelings of these lovely creatures i was inquisitive to
know why felix appeared so miserable and agatha so sad i thought
 foolish wretch that it might be in my power to restore happiness to
these deserving people when i slept or was absent the forms of the
venerable blind father the gentle agatha and the excellent felix
flitted before me i looked upon them as superior beings who would be
the arbiters of my future destiny i formed in my imagination a
thousand pictures of presenting myself to them and their reception of
me i imagined that they would be disgusted until by my gentle
demeanour and conciliating words i should first win their favour and
afterwards their love 

 these thoughts exhilarated me and led me to apply with fresh ardour to
the acquiring the art of language my organs were indeed harsh but
supple and although my voice was very unlike the soft music of their
tones yet i pronounced such words as i understood with tolerable ease 
it was as the ass and the lap-dog yet surely the gentle ass whose
intentions were affectionate although his manners were rude deserved
better treatment than blows and execration 

 the pleasant showers and genial warmth of spring greatly altered the
aspect of the earth men who before this change seemed to have been
hid in caves dispersed themselves and were employed in various arts of
cultivation the birds sang in more cheerful notes and the leaves
began to bud forth on the trees happy happy earth fit habitation
for gods which so short a time before was bleak damp and
unwholesome my spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of
nature the past was blotted from my memory the present was tranquil 
and the future gilded by bright rays of hope and anticipations of joy 





chapter 13

 i now hasten to the more moving part of my story i shall relate
events that impressed me with feelings which from what i had been 
have made me what i am 

 spring advanced rapidly the weather became fine and the skies
cloudless it surprised me that what before was desert and gloomy
should now bloom with the most beautiful flowers and verdure my
senses were gratified and refreshed by a thousand scents of delight and
a thousand sights of beauty 

 it was on one of these days when my cottagers periodically rested
from labour the old man played on his guitar and the children
listened to him that i observed the countenance of felix was
melancholy beyond expression he sighed frequently and once his father
paused in his music and i conjectured by his manner that he inquired
the cause of his son's sorrow felix replied in a cheerful accent and
the old man was recommencing his music when someone tapped at the door 

 it was a lady on horseback accompanied by a country-man as a guide 
the lady was dressed in a dark suit and covered with a thick black
veil agatha asked a question to which the stranger only replied by
pronouncing in a sweet accent the name of felix her voice was
musical but unlike that of either of my friends on hearing this word 
felix came up hastily to the lady who when she saw him threw up her
veil and i beheld a countenance of angelic beauty and expression her
hair of a shining raven black and curiously braided her eyes were
dark but gentle although animated her features of a regular
proportion and her complexion wondrously fair each cheek tinged with
a lovely pink 

 felix seemed ravished with delight when he saw her every trait of
sorrow vanished from his face and it instantly expressed a degree of
ecstatic joy of which i could hardly have believed it capable his
eyes sparkled as his cheek flushed with pleasure and at that moment i
thought him as beautiful as the stranger she appeared affected by
different feelings wiping a few tears from her lovely eyes she held
out her hand to felix who kissed it rapturously and called her as
well as i could distinguish his sweet arabian she did not appear to
understand him but smiled he assisted her to dismount and
dismissing her guide conducted her into the cottage some
conversation took place between him and his father and the young
stranger knelt at the old man's feet and would have kissed his hand 
but he raised her and embraced her affectionately 

 i soon perceived that although the stranger uttered articulate sounds
and appeared to have a language of her own she was neither understood
by nor herself understood the cottagers they made many signs which i
did not comprehend but i saw that her presence diffused gladness
through the cottage dispelling their sorrow as the sun dissipates the
morning mists felix seemed peculiarly happy and with smiles of
delight welcomed his arabian agatha the ever-gentle agatha kissed
the hands of the lovely stranger and pointing to her brother made
signs which appeared to me to mean that he had been sorrowful until she
came some hours passed thus while they by their countenances 
expressed joy the cause of which i did not comprehend presently i
found by the frequent recurrence of some sound which the stranger
repeated after them that she was endeavouring to learn their language 
and the idea instantly occurred to me that i should make use of the
same instructions to the same end the stranger learned about twenty
words at the first lesson most of them indeed were those which i had
before understood but i profited by the others 

 as night came on agatha and the arabian retired early when they
separated felix kissed the hand of the stranger and said good night
sweet safie he sat up much longer conversing with his father and
by the frequent repetition of her name i conjectured that their lovely
guest was the subject of their conversation i ardently desired to
understand them and bent every faculty towards that purpose but found
it utterly impossible 

 the next morning felix went out to his work and after the usual
occupations of agatha were finished the arabian sat at the feet of the
old man and taking his guitar played some airs so entrancingly
beautiful that they at once drew tears of sorrow and delight from my
eyes she sang and her voice flowed in a rich cadence swelling or
dying away like a nightingale of the woods 

 when she had finished she gave the guitar to agatha who at first
declined it she played a simple air and her voice accompanied it in
sweet accents but unlike the wondrous strain of the stranger the old
man appeared enraptured and said some words which agatha endeavoured to
explain to safie and by which he appeared to wish to express that she
bestowed on him the greatest delight by her music 

 the days now passed as peaceably as before with the sole alteration
that joy had taken place of sadness in the countenances of my friends 
safie was always gay and happy she and i improved rapidly in the
knowledge of language so that in two months i began to comprehend most
of the words uttered by my protectors 

 in the meanwhile also the black ground was covered with herbage and
the green banks interspersed with innumerable flowers sweet to the
scent and the eyes stars of pale radiance among the moonlight woods 
the sun became warmer the nights clear and balmy and my nocturnal
rambles were an extreme pleasure to me although they were considerably
shortened by the late setting and early rising of the sun for i never
ventured abroad during daylight fearful of meeting with the same
treatment i had formerly endured in the first village which i entered 

 my days were spent in close attention that i might more speedily
master the language and i may boast that i improved more rapidly than
the arabian who understood very little and conversed in broken
accents whilst i comprehended and could imitate almost every word that
was spoken 

 while i improved in speech i also learned the science of letters as
it was taught to the stranger and this opened before me a wide field
for wonder and delight 

 the book from which felix instructed safie was volney's ruins
of empires i should not have understood the purport of this book had not
felix in reading it given very minute explanations he had chosen this
work he said because the declamatory style was framed in imitation of the
eastern authors through this work i obtained a cursory knowledge of history
and a view of the several empires at present existing in the world it gave
me an insight into the manners governments and religions of the different
nations of the earth i heard of the slothful asiatics of the stupendous
genius and mental activity of the grecians of the wars and wonderful virtue
of the early romans of their subsequent degenerating of the
decline of that mighty empire of chivalry christianity and kings i heard
of the discovery of the american hemisphere and wept with safie over the
hapless fate of its original inhabitants 

 these wonderful narrations inspired me with strange feelings was
man indeed at once so powerful so virtuous and magnificent yet so
vicious and base he appeared at one time a mere scion of the evil
principle and at another as all that can be conceived of noble and
godlike to be a great and virtuous man appeared the highest honour
that can befall a sensitive being to be base and vicious as many on
record have been appeared the lowest degradation a condition more
abject than that of the blind mole or harmless worm for a long time i
could not conceive how one man could go forth to murder his fellow or
even why there were laws and governments but when i heard details of
vice and bloodshed my wonder ceased and i turned away with disgust and
loathing 

 every conversation of the cottagers now opened new wonders to me 
while i listened to the instructions which felix bestowed upon the
arabian the strange system of human society was explained to me i
heard of the division of property of immense wealth and squalid
poverty of rank descent and noble blood 

 the words induced me to turn towards myself i learned that the
possessions most esteemed by your fellow creatures were high and
unsullied descent united with riches a man might be respected with
only one of these advantages but without either he was considered 
except in very rare instances as a vagabond and a slave doomed to
waste his powers for the profits of the chosen few and what was i of
my creation and creator i was absolutely ignorant but i knew that i
possessed no money no friends no kind of property i was besides 
endued with a figure hideously deformed and loathsome i was not even
of the same nature as man i was more agile than they and could
subsist upon coarser diet i bore the extremes of heat and cold with
less injury to my frame my stature far exceeded theirs when i looked
around i saw and heard of none like me was i then a monster a blot
upon the earth from which all men fled and whom all men disowned 

 i cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted
upon me i tried to dispel them but sorrow only increased with
knowledge oh that i had for ever remained in my native wood nor
known nor felt beyond the sensations of hunger thirst and heat 

 of what a strange nature is knowledge it clings to the mind when it
has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock i wished sometimes to
shake off all thought and feeling but i learned that there was but one
means to overcome the sensation of pain and that was death a state
which i feared yet did not understand i admired virtue and good
feelings and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my
cottagers but i was shut out from intercourse with them except
through means which i obtained by stealth when i was unseen and
unknown and which rather increased than satisfied the desire i had of
becoming one among my fellows the gentle words of agatha and the
animated smiles of the charming arabian were not for me the mild
exhortations of the old man and the lively conversation of the loved
felix were not for me miserable unhappy wretch 

 other lessons were impressed upon me even more deeply i heard of the
difference of sexes and the birth and growth of children how the
father doted on the smiles of the infant and the lively sallies of the
older child how all the life and cares of the mother were wrapped up
in the precious charge how the mind of youth expanded and gained
knowledge of brother sister and all the various relationships which
bind one human being to another in mutual bonds 

 but where were my friends and relations no father had watched my
infant days no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses or if
they had all my past life was now a blot a blind vacancy in which i
distinguished nothing from my earliest remembrance i had been as i
then was in height and proportion i had never yet seen a being
resembling me or who claimed any intercourse with me what was i the
question again recurred to be answered only with groans 

 i will soon explain to what these feelings tended but allow me now to
return to the cottagers whose story excited in me such various
feelings of indignation delight and wonder but which all terminated
in additional love and reverence for my protectors for so i loved in
an innocent half-painful self-deceit to call them 





chapter 14

 some time elapsed before i learned the history of my friends it was
one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind unfolding
as it did a number of circumstances each interesting and wonderful to
one so utterly inexperienced as i was 

 the name of the old man was de lacey he was descended from a good
family in france where he had lived for many years in affluence 
respected by his superiors and beloved by his equals his son was bred
in the service of his country and agatha had ranked with ladies of the
highest distinction a few months before my arrival they had lived in
a large and luxurious city called paris surrounded by friends and
possessed of every enjoyment which virtue refinement of intellect or
taste accompanied by a moderate fortune could afford 

 the father of safie had been the cause of their ruin he was a
turkish merchant and had inhabited paris for many years when for some
reason which i could not learn he became obnoxious to the government 
he was seized and cast into prison the very day that safie arrived from
constantinople to join him he was tried and condemned to death the
injustice of his sentence was very flagrant all paris was indignant 
and it was judged that his religion and wealth rather than the crime
alleged against him had been the cause of his condemnation 

 felix had accidentally been present at the trial his horror and
indignation were uncontrollable when he heard the decision of the
court he made at that moment a solemn vow to deliver him and then
looked around for the means after many fruitless attempts to gain
admittance to the prison he found a strongly grated window in an
unguarded part of the building which lighted the dungeon of the
unfortunate muhammadan who loaded with chains waited in despair the
execution of the barbarous sentence felix visited the grate at night
and made known to the prisoner his intentions in his favour the turk 
amazed and delighted endeavoured to kindle the zeal of his deliverer
by promises of reward and wealth felix rejected his offers with
contempt yet when he saw the lovely safie who was allowed to visit
her father and who by her gestures expressed her lively gratitude the
youth could not help owning to his own mind that the captive possessed
a treasure which would fully reward his toil and hazard 

 the turk quickly perceived the impression that his daughter had made
on the heart of felix and endeavoured to secure him more entirely in
his interests by the promise of her hand in marriage so soon as he
should be conveyed to a place of safety felix was too delicate to
accept this offer yet he looked forward to the probability of the
event as to the consummation of his happiness 

 during the ensuing days while the preparations were going forward for
the escape of the merchant the zeal of felix was warmed by several
letters that he received from this lovely girl who found means to
express her thoughts in the language of her lover by the aid of an old
man a servant of her father who understood french she thanked him in
the most ardent terms for his intended services towards her parent and
at the same time she gently deplored her own fate 

 i have copies of these letters for i found means during my residence
in the hovel to procure the implements of writing and the letters
were often in the hands of felix or agatha before i depart i will
give them to you they will prove the truth of my tale but at present 
as the sun is already far declined i shall only have time to repeat
the substance of them to you 

 safie related that her mother was a christian arab seized and made a
slave by the turks recommended by her beauty she had won the heart of
the father of safie who married her the young girl spoke in high and
enthusiastic terms of her mother who born in freedom spurned the
bondage to which she was now reduced she instructed her daughter in
the tenets of her religion and taught her to aspire to higher powers of
intellect and an independence of spirit forbidden to the female
followers of muhammad this lady died but her lessons were indelibly
impressed on the mind of safie who sickened at the prospect of again
returning to asia and being immured within the walls of a harem 
allowed only to occupy herself with infantile amusements ill-suited to
the temper of her soul now accustomed to grand ideas and a noble
emulation for virtue the prospect of marrying a christian and
remaining in a country where women were allowed to take a rank in
society was enchanting to her 

 the day for the execution of the turk was fixed but on the night
previous to it he quitted his prison and before morning was distant
many leagues from paris felix had procured passports in the name of
his father sister and himself he had previously communicated his
plan to the former who aided the deceit by quitting his house under
the pretence of a journey and concealed himself with his daughter in
an obscure part of paris 

 felix conducted the fugitives through france to lyons and across mont
cenis to leghorn where the merchant had decided to wait a favourable
opportunity of passing into some part of the turkish dominions 

 safie resolved to remain with her father until the moment of his
departure before which time the turk renewed his promise that she
should be united to his deliverer and felix remained with them in
expectation of that event and in the meantime he enjoyed the society
of the arabian who exhibited towards him the simplest and tenderest
affection they conversed with one another through the means of an
interpreter and sometimes with the interpretation of looks and safie
sang to him the divine airs of her native country 

 the turk allowed this intimacy to take place and encouraged the hopes
of the youthful lovers while in his heart he had formed far other
plans he loathed the idea that his daughter should be united to a
christian but he feared the resentment of felix if he should appear
lukewarm for he knew that he was still in the power of his deliverer
if he should choose to betray him to the italian state which they
inhabited he revolved a thousand plans by which he should be enabled
to prolong the deceit until it might be no longer necessary and
secretly to take his daughter with him when he departed his plans
were facilitated by the news which arrived from paris 

 the government of france were greatly enraged at the escape of their
victim and spared no pains to detect and punish his deliverer the
plot of felix was quickly discovered and de lacey and agatha were
thrown into prison the news reached felix and roused him from his
dream of pleasure his blind and aged father and his gentle sister lay
in a noisome dungeon while he enjoyed the free air and the society of
her whom he loved this idea was torture to him he quickly arranged
with the turk that if the latter should find a favourable opportunity
for escape before felix could return to italy safie should remain as a
boarder at a convent at leghorn and then quitting the lovely arabian 
he hastened to paris and delivered himself up to the vengeance of the
law hoping to free de lacey and agatha by this proceeding 

 he did not succeed they remained confined for five months before the
trial took place the result of which deprived them of their fortune
and condemned them to a perpetual exile from their native country 

 they found a miserable asylum in the cottage in germany where i
discovered them felix soon learned that the treacherous turk for
whom he and his family endured such unheard-of oppression on
discovering that his deliverer was thus reduced to poverty and ruin 
became a traitor to good feeling and honour and had quitted italy with
his daughter insultingly sending felix a pittance of money to aid him 
as he said in some plan of future maintenance 

 such were the events that preyed on the heart of felix and rendered
him when i first saw him the most miserable of his family he could
have endured poverty and while this distress had been the meed of his
virtue he gloried in it but the ingratitude of the turk and the loss
of his beloved safie were misfortunes more bitter and irreparable the
arrival of the arabian now infused new life into his soul 

 when the news reached leghorn that felix was deprived of his wealth
and rank the merchant commanded his daughter to think no more of her
lover but to prepare to return to her native country the generous
nature of safie was outraged by this command she attempted to
expostulate with her father but he left her angrily reiterating his
tyrannical mandate 

 a few days after the turk entered his daughter's apartment and told
her hastily that he had reason to believe that his residence at leghorn
had been divulged and that he should speedily be delivered up to the
french government he had consequently hired a vessel to convey him to
constantinople for which city he should sail in a few hours he
intended to leave his daughter under the care of a confidential
servant to follow at her leisure with the greater part of his
property which had not yet arrived at leghorn 

 when alone safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it
would become her to pursue in this emergency a residence in turkey
was abhorrent to her her religion and her feelings were alike averse
to it by some papers of her father which fell into her hands she
heard of the exile of her lover and learnt the name of the spot where
he then resided she hesitated some time but at length she formed her
determination taking with her some jewels that belonged to her and a
sum of money she quitted italy with an attendant a native of leghorn 
but who understood the common language of turkey and departed for
germany 

 she arrived in safety at a town about twenty leagues from the cottage
of de lacey when her attendant fell dangerously ill safie nursed her
with the most devoted affection but the poor girl died and the
arabian was left alone unacquainted with the language of the country
and utterly ignorant of the customs of the world she fell however 
into good hands the italian had mentioned the name of the spot for
which they were bound and after her death the woman of the house in
which they had lived took care that safie should arrive in safety at
the cottage of her lover 





chapter 15

 such was the history of my beloved cottagers it impressed me deeply 
i learned from the views of social life which it developed to admire
their virtues and to deprecate the vices of mankind 

 as yet i looked upon crime as a distant evil benevolence and
generosity were ever present before me inciting within me a desire to
become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities
were called forth and displayed but in giving an account of the
progress of my intellect i must not omit a circumstance which occurred
in the beginning of the month of august of the same year 

 one night during my accustomed visit to the neighbouring wood where i
collected my own food and brought home firing for my protectors i found on
the ground a leathern portmanteau containing several articles of dress and
some books i eagerly seized the prize and returned with it to my hovel 
fortunately the books were written in the language the elements of which i
had acquired at the cottage they consisted of paradise lost a volume
of plutarch's lives and the sorrows of werter the
possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight i now continually
studied and exercised my mind upon these histories whilst my friends were
employed in their ordinary occupations 

 i can hardly describe to you the effect of these books they produced
in me an infinity of new images and feelings that sometimes raised me
to ecstasy but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection in
the sorrows of werter besides the interest of its simple and affecting
story so many opinions are canvassed and so many lights thrown upon
what had hitherto been to me obscure subjects that i found in it a
never-ending source of speculation and astonishment the gentle and
domestic manners it described combined with lofty sentiments and
feelings which had for their object something out of self accorded
well with my experience among my protectors and with the wants which
were for ever alive in my own bosom but i thought werter himself a
more divine being than i had ever beheld or imagined his character
contained no pretension but it sank deep the disquisitions upon
death and suicide were calculated to fill me with wonder i did not
pretend to enter into the merits of the case yet i inclined towards
the opinions of the hero whose extinction i wept without precisely
understanding it 

 as i read however i applied much personally to my own feelings and
condition i found myself similar yet at the same time strangely
unlike to the beings concerning whom i read and to whose conversation i
was a listener i sympathised with and partly understood them but i
was unformed in mind i was dependent on none and related to none 
 the path of my departure was free and there was none to lament my
annihilation my person was hideous and my stature gigantic what did
this mean who was i what was i whence did i come what was my
destination these questions continually recurred but i was unable to
solve them 

 the volume of plutarch's lives which i possessed contained the
histories of the first founders of the ancient republics this book
had a far different effect upon me from the sorrows of werter i
learned from werter's imaginations despondency and gloom but plutarch
taught me high thoughts he elevated me above the wretched sphere of my
own reflections to admire and love the heroes of past ages many
things i read surpassed my understanding and experience i had a very
confused knowledge of kingdoms wide extents of country mighty rivers 
and boundless seas but i was perfectly unacquainted with towns and
large assemblages of men the cottage of my protectors had been the
only school in which i had studied human nature but this book
developed new and mightier scenes of action i read of men concerned
in public affairs governing or massacring their species i felt the
greatest ardour for virtue rise within me and abhorrence for vice as
far as i understood the signification of those terms relative as they
were as i applied them to pleasure and pain alone induced by these
feelings i was of course led to admire peaceable lawgivers numa 
solon and lycurgus in preference to romulus and theseus the
patriarchal lives of my protectors caused these impressions to take a
firm hold on my mind perhaps if my first introduction to humanity had
been made by a young soldier burning for glory and slaughter i should
have been imbued with different sensations 

 but paradise lost excited different and far deeper emotions i read
it as i had read the other volumes which had fallen into my hands as
a true history it moved every feeling of wonder and awe that the
picture of an omnipotent god warring with his creatures was capable of
exciting i often referred the several situations as their similarity
struck me to my own like adam i was apparently united by no link to
any other being in existence but his state was far different from mine
in every other respect he had come forth from the hands of god a
perfect creature happy and prosperous guarded by the especial care of
his creator he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from
beings of a superior nature but i was wretched helpless and alone 
many times i considered satan as the fitter emblem of my condition for
often like him when i viewed the bliss of my protectors the bitter
gall of envy rose within me 

 another circumstance strengthened and confirmed these feelings soon
after my arrival in the hovel i discovered some papers in the pocket of
the dress which i had taken from your laboratory at first i had
neglected them but now that i was able to decipher the characters in
which they were written i began to study them with diligence it was
your journal of the four months that preceded my creation you
minutely described in these papers every step you took in the progress
of your work this history was mingled with accounts of domestic
occurrences you doubtless recollect these papers here they are 
everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed
origin the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances
which produced it is set in view the minutest description of my odious
and loathsome person is given in language which painted your own
horrors and rendered mine indelible i sickened as i read hateful
day when i received life i exclaimed in agony accursed creator 
why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in
disgust god in pity made man beautiful and alluring after his own
image but my form is a filthy type of yours more horrid even from the
very resemblance satan had his companions fellow devils to admire
and encourage him but i am solitary and abhorred 

 these were the reflections of my hours of despondency and solitude 
but when i contemplated the virtues of the cottagers their amiable and
benevolent dispositions i persuaded myself that when they should
become acquainted with my admiration of their virtues they would
compassionate me and overlook my personal deformity could they turn
from their door one however monstrous who solicited their compassion
and friendship i resolved at least not to despair but in every way
to fit myself for an interview with them which would decide my fate i
postponed this attempt for some months longer for the importance
attached to its success inspired me with a dread lest i should fail 
besides i found that my understanding improved so much with every
day's experience that i was unwilling to commence this undertaking
until a few more months should have added to my sagacity 

 several changes in the meantime took place in the cottage the
presence of safie diffused happiness among its inhabitants and i also
found that a greater degree of plenty reigned there felix and agatha
spent more time in amusement and conversation and were assisted in
their labours by servants they did not appear rich but they were
contented and happy their feelings were serene and peaceful while
mine became every day more tumultuous increase of knowledge only
discovered to me more clearly what a wretched outcast i was i
cherished hope it is true but it vanished when i beheld my person
reflected in water or my shadow in the moonshine even as that frail
image and that inconstant shade 

 i endeavoured to crush these fears and to fortify myself for the trial
which in a few months i resolved to undergo and sometimes i allowed my
thoughts unchecked by reason to ramble in the fields of paradise and
dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathising with my
feelings and cheering my gloom their angelic countenances breathed
smiles of consolation but it was all a dream no eve soothed my
sorrows nor shared my thoughts i was alone i remembered adam's
supplication to his creator but where was mine he had abandoned me 
and in the bitterness of my heart i cursed him 

 autumn passed thus i saw with surprise and grief the leaves decay
and fall and nature again assume the barren and bleak appearance it
had worn when i first beheld the woods and the lovely moon yet i did
not heed the bleakness of the weather i was better fitted by my
conformation for the endurance of cold than heat but my chief
delights were the sight of the flowers the birds and all the gay
apparel of summer when those deserted me i turned with more attention
towards the cottagers their happiness was not decreased by the
absence of summer they loved and sympathised with one another and
their joys depending on each other were not interrupted by the
casualties that took place around them the more i saw of them the
greater became my desire to claim their protection and kindness my
heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures to see
their sweet looks directed towards me with affection was the utmost
limit of my ambition i dared not think that they would turn them from
me with disdain and horror the poor that stopped at their door were
never driven away i asked it is true for greater treasures than a
little food or rest i required kindness and sympathy but i did not
believe myself utterly unworthy of it 

 the winter advanced and an entire revolution of the seasons had taken
place since i awoke into life my attention at this time was solely
directed towards my plan of introducing myself into the cottage of my
protectors i revolved many projects but that on which i finally
fixed was to enter the dwelling when the blind old man should be alone 
i had sagacity enough to discover that the unnatural hideousness of my
person was the chief object of horror with those who had formerly
beheld me my voice although harsh had nothing terrible in it i
thought therefore that if in the absence of his children i could gain
the good will and mediation of the old de lacey i might by his means
be tolerated by my younger protectors 

 one day when the sun shone on the red leaves that strewed the ground
and diffused cheerfulness although it denied warmth safie agatha 
and felix departed on a long country walk and the old man at his own
desire was left alone in the cottage when his children had departed 
he took up his guitar and played several mournful but sweet airs more
sweet and mournful than i had ever heard him play before at first his
countenance was illuminated with pleasure but as he continued 
thoughtfulness and sadness succeeded at length laying aside the
instrument he sat absorbed in reflection 

 my heart beat quick this was the hour and moment of trial which
would decide my hopes or realise my fears the servants were gone to a
neighbouring fair all was silent in and around the cottage it was an
excellent opportunity yet when i proceeded to execute my plan my
limbs failed me and i sank to the ground again i rose and exerting
all the firmness of which i was master removed the planks which i had
placed before my hovel to conceal my retreat the fresh air revived
me and with renewed determination i approached the door of their
cottage 

 i knocked who is there said the old man come in 

 i entered pardon this intrusion said i i am
a traveller in want of a little rest you would greatly oblige me if you
would allow me to remain a few minutes before the fire 

 enter said de lacey and i will try in what
manner i can to relieve your wants but unfortunately my children are
from home and as i am blind i am afraid i shall find it difficult to
procure food for you 

 do not trouble yourself my kind host i have food it is
warmth and rest only that i need 

 i sat down and a silence ensued i knew that every minute was
precious to me yet i remained irresolute in what manner to commence
the interview when the old man addressed me 

 by your language stranger i suppose you are my countryman are you
french 

 no but i was educated by a french family and understand that
language only i am now going to claim the protection of some friends 
whom i sincerely love and of whose favour i have some hopes 

 are they germans 

 no they are french but let us change the subject i am an
unfortunate and deserted creature i look around and i have no relation
or friend upon earth these amiable people to whom i go have never
seen me and know little of me i am full of fears for if i fail
there i am an outcast in the world for ever 

 do not despair to be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate but
the hearts of men when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest are
full of brotherly love and charity rely therefore on your hopes 
and if these friends are good and amiable do not despair 

 they are kind they are the most excellent creatures in the world 
but unfortunately they are prejudiced against me i have good
dispositions my life has been hitherto harmless and in some degree
beneficial but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes and where they
ought to see a feeling and kind friend they behold only a detestable
monster 

 that is indeed unfortunate but if you are really blameless cannot
you undeceive them 

 i am about to undertake that task and it is on that account that i
feel so many overwhelming terrors i tenderly love these friends i
have unknown to them been for many months in the habits of daily
kindness towards them but they believe that i wish to injure them and
it is that prejudice which i wish to overcome 

 where do these friends reside 

 near this spot 

 the old man paused and then continued if you will unreservedly
confide to me the particulars of your tale i perhaps may be of use in
undeceiving them i am blind and cannot judge of your countenance but
there is something in your words which persuades me that you are
sincere i am poor and an exile but it will afford me true pleasure
to be in any way serviceable to a human creature 

 excellent man i thank you and accept your generous offer you
raise me from the dust by this kindness and i trust that by your aid 
i shall not be driven from the society and sympathy of your fellow
creatures 

 heaven forbid even if you were really criminal for that can only
drive you to desperation and not instigate you to virtue i also am
unfortunate i and my family have been condemned although innocent 
judge therefore if i do not feel for your misfortunes 

 how can i thank you my best and only benefactor from your lips
first have i heard the voice of kindness directed towards me i shall
be for ever grateful and your present humanity assures me of success
with those friends whom i am on the point of meeting 

 may i know the names and residence of those friends 

 i paused this i thought was the moment of decision which was to
rob me of or bestow happiness on me for ever i struggled vainly for
firmness sufficient to answer him but the effort destroyed all my
remaining strength i sank on the chair and sobbed aloud at that
moment i heard the steps of my younger protectors i had not a moment
to lose but seizing the hand of the old man i cried now is the
time save and protect me you and your family are the friends whom i
seek do not you desert me in the hour of trial 

 great god exclaimed the old man who are you 

 at that instant the cottage door was opened and felix safie and
agatha entered who can describe their horror and consternation on
beholding me agatha fainted and safie unable to attend to her
friend rushed out of the cottage felix darted forward and with
supernatural force tore me from his father to whose knees i clung in
a transport of fury he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently
with a stick i could have torn him limb from limb as the lion rends
the antelope but my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness and
i refrained i saw him on the point of repeating his blow when 
overcome by pain and anguish i quitted the cottage and in the general
tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel 





chapter 16

 cursed cursed creator why did i live why in that instant did i
not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly
bestowed i know not despair had not yet taken possession of me my
feelings were those of rage and revenge i could with pleasure have
destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with
their shrieks and misery 

 when night came i quitted my retreat and wandered in the wood and
now no longer restrained by the fear of discovery i gave vent to my
anguish in fearful howlings i was like a wild beast that had broken
the toils destroying the objects that obstructed me and ranging
through the wood with a stag-like swiftness oh what a miserable
night i passed the cold stars shone in mockery and the bare trees
waved their branches above me now and then the sweet voice of a bird
burst forth amidst the universal stillness all save i were at rest
or in enjoyment i like the arch-fiend bore a hell within me and
finding myself unsympathised with wished to tear up the trees spread
havoc and destruction around me and then to have sat down and enjoyed
the ruin 

 but this was a luxury of sensation that could not endure i became
fatigued with excess of bodily exertion and sank on the damp grass in
the sick impotence of despair there was none among the myriads of men
that existed who would pity or assist me and should i feel kindness
towards my enemies no from that moment i declared everlasting war
against the species and more than all against him who had formed me
and sent me forth to this insupportable misery 

 the sun rose i heard the voices of men and knew that it was
impossible to return to my retreat during that day accordingly i hid
myself in some thick underwood determining to devote the ensuing hours
to reflection on my situation 

 the pleasant sunshine and the pure air of day restored me to some
degree of tranquillity and when i considered what had passed at the
cottage i could not help believing that i had been too hasty in my
conclusions i had certainly acted imprudently it was apparent that
my conversation had interested the father in my behalf and i was a
fool in having exposed my person to the horror of his children i
ought to have familiarised the old de lacey to me and by degrees to
have discovered myself to the rest of his family when they should have
been prepared for my approach but i did not believe my errors to be
irretrievable and after much consideration i resolved to return to the
cottage seek the old man and by my representations win him to my
party 

 these thoughts calmed me and in the afternoon i sank into a profound
sleep but the fever of my blood did not allow me to be visited by
peaceful dreams the horrible scene of the preceding day was for ever
acting before my eyes the females were flying and the enraged felix
tearing me from his father's feet i awoke exhausted and finding that
it was already night i crept forth from my hiding-place and went in
search of food 

 when my hunger was appeased i directed my steps towards the
well-known path that conducted to the cottage all there was at peace 
i crept into my hovel and remained in silent expectation of the
accustomed hour when the family arose that hour passed the sun
mounted high in the heavens but the cottagers did not appear i
trembled violently apprehending some dreadful misfortune the inside
of the cottage was dark and i heard no motion i cannot describe the
agony of this suspense 

 presently two countrymen passed by but pausing near the cottage they
entered into conversation using violent gesticulations but i did not
understand what they said as they spoke the language of the country 
which differed from that of my protectors soon after however felix
approached with another man i was surprised as i knew that he had not
quitted the cottage that morning and waited anxiously to discover from
his discourse the meaning of these unusual appearances 

 do you consider said his companion to him 
 that you will be obliged to pay three months rent and to lose
the produce of your garden i do not wish to take any unfair advantage and
i beg therefore that you will take some days to consider of your
determination 

 it is utterly useless replied felix we can
never again inhabit your cottage the life of my father is in the greatest
danger owing to the dreadful circumstance that i have related my wife and
my sister will never recover from their horror i entreat you not to reason
with me any more take possession of your tenement and let me fly from this
place 

 felix trembled violently as he said this he and his companion
entered the cottage in which they remained for a few minutes and then
departed i never saw any of the family of de lacey more 

 i continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of
utter and stupid despair my protectors had departed and had broken
the only link that held me to the world for the first time the
feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom and i did not strive to
control them but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream i
bent my mind towards injury and death when i thought of my friends 
of the mild voice of de lacey the gentle eyes of agatha and the
exquisite beauty of the arabian these thoughts vanished and a gush of
tears somewhat soothed me but again when i reflected that they had
spurned and deserted me anger returned a rage of anger and unable to
injure anything human i turned my fury towards inanimate objects as
night advanced i placed a variety of combustibles around the cottage 
and after having destroyed every vestige of cultivation in the garden 
i waited with forced impatience until the moon had sunk to commence my
operations 

 as the night advanced a fierce wind arose from the woods and quickly
dispersed the clouds that had loitered in the heavens the blast tore
along like a mighty avalanche and produced a kind of insanity in my
spirits that burst all bounds of reason and reflection i lighted the
dry branch of a tree and danced with fury around the devoted cottage 
my eyes still fixed on the western horizon the edge of which the moon
nearly touched a part of its orb was at length hid and i waved my
brand it sank and with a loud scream i fired the straw and heath 
and bushes which i had collected the wind fanned the fire and the
cottage was quickly enveloped by the flames which clung to it and
licked it with their forked and destroying tongues 

 as soon as i was convinced that no assistance could save any part of
the habitation i quitted the scene and sought for refuge in the woods 

 and now with the world before me whither should i bend my steps i
resolved to fly far from the scene of my misfortunes but to me hated
and despised every country must be equally horrible at length the
thought of you crossed my mind i learned from your papers that you
were my father my creator and to whom could i apply with more fitness
than to him who had given me life among the lessons that felix had
bestowed upon safie geography had not been omitted i had learned from
these the relative situations of the different countries of the earth 
you had mentioned geneva as the name of your native town and towards
this place i resolved to proceed 

 but how was i to direct myself i knew that i must travel in a
southwesterly direction to reach my destination but the sun was my
only guide i did not know the names of the towns that i was to pass
through nor could i ask information from a single human being but i
did not despair from you only could i hope for succour although
towards you i felt no sentiment but that of hatred unfeeling 
heartless creator you had endowed me with perceptions and passions
and then cast me abroad an object for the scorn and horror of mankind 
but on you only had i any claim for pity and redress and from you i
determined to seek that justice which i vainly attempted to gain from
any other being that wore the human form 

 my travels were long and the sufferings i endured intense it was
late in autumn when i quitted the district where i had so long resided 
i travelled only at night fearful of encountering the visage of a
human being nature decayed around me and the sun became heatless 
rain and snow poured around me mighty rivers were frozen the surface
of the earth was hard and chill and bare and i found no shelter oh 
earth how often did i imprecate curses on the cause of my being the
mildness of my nature had fled and all within me was turned to gall
and bitterness the nearer i approached to your habitation the more
deeply did i feel the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart snow
fell and the waters were hardened but i rested not a few incidents
now and then directed me and i possessed a map of the country but i
often wandered wide from my path the agony of my feelings allowed me
no respite no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could
not extract its food but a circumstance that happened when i arrived
on the confines of switzerland when the sun had recovered its warmth
and the earth again began to look green confirmed in an especial
manner the bitterness and horror of my feelings 

 i generally rested during the day and travelled only when i was
secured by night from the view of man one morning however finding
that my path lay through a deep wood i ventured to continue my journey
after the sun had risen the day which was one of the first of spring 
cheered even me by the loveliness of its sunshine and the balminess of
the air i felt emotions of gentleness and pleasure that had long
appeared dead revive within me half surprised by the novelty of
these sensations i allowed myself to be borne away by them and
forgetting my solitude and deformity dared to be happy soft tears
again bedewed my cheeks and i even raised my humid eyes with
thankfulness towards the blessed sun which bestowed such joy upon me 

 i continued to wind among the paths of the wood until i came to its
boundary which was skirted by a deep and rapid river into which many
of the trees bent their branches now budding with the fresh spring 
here i paused not exactly knowing what path to pursue when i heard
the sound of voices that induced me to conceal myself under the shade
of a cypress i was scarcely hid when a young girl came running
towards the spot where i was concealed laughing as if she ran from
someone in sport she continued her course along the precipitous sides
of the river when suddenly her foot slipped and she fell into the
rapid stream i rushed from my hiding-place and with extreme labour 
from the force of the current saved her and dragged her to shore she
was senseless and i endeavoured by every means in my power to restore
animation when i was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a rustic 
who was probably the person from whom she had playfully fled on
seeing me he darted towards me and tearing the girl from my arms 
hastened towards the deeper parts of the wood i followed speedily i
hardly knew why but when the man saw me draw near he aimed a gun 
which he carried at my body and fired i sank to the ground and my
injurer with increased swiftness escaped into the wood 

 this was then the reward of my benevolence i had saved a human being
from destruction and as a recompense i now writhed under the miserable
pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone the feelings of
kindness and gentleness which i had entertained but a few moments
before gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth inflamed by
pain i vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind but the
agony of my wound overcame me my pulses paused and i fainted 

 for some weeks i led a miserable life in the woods endeavouring to
cure the wound which i had received the ball had entered my shoulder 
and i knew not whether it had remained there or passed through at any
rate i had no means of extracting it my sufferings were augmented
also by the oppressive sense of the injustice and ingratitude of their
infliction my daily vows rose for revenge a deep and deadly revenge 
such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish i had
endured 

 after some weeks my wound healed and i continued my journey the
labours i endured were no longer to be alleviated by the bright sun or
gentle breezes of spring all joy was but a mockery which insulted my
desolate state and made me feel more painfully that i was not made for
the enjoyment of pleasure 

 but my toils now drew near a close and in two months from this time i
reached the environs of geneva 

 it was evening when i arrived and i retired to a hiding-place among
the fields that surround it to meditate in what manner i should apply
to you i was oppressed by fatigue and hunger and far too unhappy to
enjoy the gentle breezes of evening or the prospect of the sun setting
behind the stupendous mountains of jura 

 at this time a slight sleep relieved me from the pain of reflection 
which was disturbed by the approach of a beautiful child who came
running into the recess i had chosen with all the sportiveness of
infancy suddenly as i gazed on him an idea seized me that this
little creature was unprejudiced and had lived too short a time to have
imbibed a horror of deformity if therefore i could seize him and
educate him as my companion and friend i should not be so desolate in
this peopled earth 

 urged by this impulse i seized on the boy as he passed and drew him
towards me as soon as he beheld my form he placed his hands before
his eyes and uttered a shrill scream i drew his hand forcibly from his
face and said child what is the meaning of this i do not intend to
hurt you listen to me 

 he struggled violently let me go he cried 
 monster ugly wretch you wish to eat me and tear me to pieces you
are an ogre let me go or i will tell my papa 

 boy you will never see your father again you must come with me 

 hideous monster let me go my papa is a syndic he is m 
frankenstein he will punish you you dare not keep me 

 frankenstein you belong then to my enemy to him towards whom i have
sworn eternal revenge you shall be my first victim 

 the child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried
despair to my heart i grasped his throat to silence him and in a
moment he lay dead at my feet 

 i gazed on my victim and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish
triumph clapping my hands i exclaimed i too can create desolation 
my enemy is not invulnerable this death will carry despair to him and
a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him 

 as i fixed my eyes on the child i saw something glittering on his
breast i took it it was a portrait of a most lovely woman in spite
of my malignity it softened and attracted me for a few moments i
gazed with delight on her dark eyes fringed by deep lashes and her
lovely lips but presently my rage returned i remembered that i was
for ever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could
bestow and that she whose resemblance i contemplated would in
regarding me have changed that air of divine benignity to one
expressive of disgust and affright 

 can you wonder that such thoughts transported me with rage i only
wonder that at that moment instead of venting my sensations in
exclamations and agony i did not rush among mankind and perish in the
attempt to destroy them 

 while i was overcome by these feelings i left the spot where i had
committed the murder and seeking a more secluded hiding-place i
entered a barn which had appeared to me to be empty a woman was
sleeping on some straw she was young not indeed so beautiful as her
whose portrait i held but of an agreeable aspect and blooming in the
loveliness of youth and health here i thought is one of those whose
joy-imparting smiles are bestowed on all but me and then i bent over
her and whispered awake fairest thy lover is near he who would
give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes my
beloved awake 

 the sleeper stirred a thrill of terror ran through me should she
indeed awake and see me and curse me and denounce the murderer thus
would she assuredly act if her darkened eyes opened and she beheld me 
the thought was madness it stirred the fiend within me not i but
she shall suffer the murder i have committed because i am for ever
robbed of all that she could give me she shall atone the crime had
its source in her be hers the punishment thanks to the lessons of
felix and the sanguinary laws of man i had learned now to work
mischief i bent over her and placed the portrait securely in one of
the folds of her dress she moved again and i fled 

 for some days i haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place 
sometimes wishing to see you sometimes resolved to quit the world and
its miseries for ever at length i wandered towards these mountains 
and have ranged through their immense recesses consumed by a burning
passion which you alone can gratify we may not part until you have
promised to comply with my requisition i am alone and miserable man
will not associate with me but one as deformed and horrible as myself
would not deny herself to me my companion must be of the same species
and have the same defects this being you must create 





chapter 17

the being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the
expectation of a reply but i was bewildered perplexed and unable to
arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his
proposition he continued 

 you must create a female for me with whom i can live in the
interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being this you alone
can do and i demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to
concede 

the latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had
died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers and
as he said this i could no longer suppress the rage that burned within
me 

 i do refuse it i replied and no torture shall ever extort a
consent from me you may render me the most miserable of men but you
shall never make me base in my own eyes shall i create another like
yourself whose joint wickedness might desolate the world begone i
have answered you you may torture me but i will never consent 

 you are in the wrong replied the fiend and instead
of threatening i am content to reason with you i am malicious because i
am miserable am i not shunned and hated by all mankind you my creator 
would tear me to pieces and triumph remember that and tell me why i
should pity man more than he pities me you would not call it murder if you
could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and destroy my frame the
work of your own hands shall i respect man when he condemns me let him
live with me in the interchange of kindness and instead of injury i would
bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance 
but that cannot be the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our
union yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery i will
revenge my injuries if i cannot inspire love i will cause fear and
chiefly towards you my arch-enemy because my creator do i swear
inextinguishable hatred have a care i will work at your destruction nor
finish until i desolate your heart so that you shall curse the hour of
your birth 

a fiendish rage animated him as he said this his face was wrinkled
into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold but presently
he calmed himself and proceeded 

 i intended to reason this passion is detrimental to me for you do
not reflect that you are the cause of its excess if any being felt
emotions of benevolence towards me i should return them a hundred and a
hundredfold for that one creature's sake i would make peace with the
whole kind but i now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be realised 
what i ask of you is reasonable and moderate i demand a creature of
another sex but as hideous as myself the gratification is small but it
is all that i can receive and it shall content me it is true we shall be
monsters cut off from all the world but on that account we shall be more
attached to one another our lives will not be happy but they will be
harmless and free from the misery i now feel oh my creator make me
happy let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit let me see that i
excite the sympathy of some existing thing do not deny me my
request 

i was moved i shuddered when i thought of the possible consequences
of my consent but i felt that there was some justice in his argument 
his tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature
of fine sensations and did i not as his maker owe him all the portion
of happiness that it was in my power to bestow he saw my change of
feeling and continued 

 if you consent neither you nor any other human being shall ever see
us again i will go to the vast wilds of south america my food is not
that of man i do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite 
acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment my companion will
be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same fare 
we shall make our bed of dried leaves the sun will shine on us as on
man and will ripen our food the picture i present to you is peaceful
and human and you must feel that you could deny it only in the
wantonness of power and cruelty pitiless as you have been towards me 
i now see compassion in your eyes let me seize the favourable moment
and persuade you to promise what i so ardently desire 

 you propose replied i to fly from the habitations of
man to dwell in those wilds where the beasts of the field will be your
only companions how can you who long for the love and sympathy of man 
persevere in this exile you will return and again seek their kindness and
you will meet with their detestation your evil passions will be renewed 
and you will then have a companion to aid you in the task of destruction 
this may not be cease to argue the point for i cannot consent 

 how inconstant are your feelings but a moment ago you were moved by
my representations and why do you again harden yourself to my complaints 
i swear to you by the earth which i inhabit and by you that made me that
with the companion you bestow i will quit the neighbourhood of man and
dwell as it may chance in the most savage of places my evil passions
will have fled for i shall meet with sympathy my life will flow quietly
away and in my dying moments i shall not curse my maker 

his words had a strange effect upon me i compassionated him and
sometimes felt a wish to console him but when i looked upon him when
i saw the filthy mass that moved and talked my heart sickened and my
feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred i tried to stifle
these sensations i thought that as i could not sympathise with him i
had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which
was yet in my power to bestow 

 you swear i said to be harmless but have you not
already shown a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust
you may not even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by
affording a wider scope for your revenge 

 how is this i must not be trifled with and i demand an answer if
i have no ties and no affections hatred and vice must be my portion 
the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes and i shall
become a thing of whose existence everyone will be ignorant my vices
are the children of a forced solitude that i abhor and my virtues will
necessarily arise when i live in communion with an equal i shall feel
the affections of a sensitive being and become linked to the chain of
existence and events from which i am now excluded 

i paused some time to reflect on all he had related and the various
arguments which he had employed i thought of the promise of virtues which
he had displayed on the opening of his existence and the subsequent blight
of all kindly feeling by the loathing and scorn which his protectors had
manifested towards him his power and threats were not omitted in my
calculations a creature who could exist in the ice-caves of the glaciers
and hide himself from pursuit among the ridges of inaccessible precipices
was a being possessing faculties it would be vain to cope with after a
long pause of reflection i concluded that the justice due both to him and
my fellow creatures demanded of me that i should comply with his request 
turning to him therefore i said 

 i consent to your demand on your solemn oath to quit europe for ever 
and every other place in the neighbourhood of man as soon as i shall
deliver into your hands a female who will accompany you in your exile 

 i swear he cried by the sun and by the blue sky of
heaven and by the fire of love that burns my heart that if you grant my
prayer while they exist you shall never behold me again depart to your
home and commence your labours i shall watch their progress with
unutterable anxiety and fear not but that when you are ready i shall
appear 

saying this he suddenly quitted me fearful perhaps of any change in
my sentiments i saw him descend the mountain with greater speed than
the flight of an eagle and quickly lost among the undulations of the
sea of ice 

his tale had occupied the whole day and the sun was upon the verge of
the horizon when he departed i knew that i ought to hasten my descent
towards the valley as i should soon be encompassed in darkness but my
heart was heavy and my steps slow the labour of winding among the
little paths of the mountain and fixing my feet firmly as i advanced
perplexed me occupied as i was by the emotions which the occurrences
of the day had produced night was far advanced when i came to the
halfway resting-place and seated myself beside the fountain the stars
shone at intervals as the clouds passed from over them the dark pines
rose before me and every here and there a broken tree lay on the
ground it was a scene of wonderful solemnity and stirred strange
thoughts within me i wept bitterly and clasping my hands in agony i
exclaimed oh stars and clouds and winds ye are all about to mock
me if ye really pity me crush sensation and memory let me become as
nought but if not depart depart and leave me in darkness 

these were wild and miserable thoughts but i cannot describe to you
how the eternal twinkling of the stars weighed upon me and how i
listened to every blast of wind as if it were a dull ugly siroc on its
way to consume me 

morning dawned before i arrived at the village of chamounix i took no
rest but returned immediately to geneva even in my own heart i could
give no expression to my sensations they weighed on me with a
mountain's weight and their excess destroyed my agony beneath them 
thus i returned home and entering the house presented myself to the
family my haggard and wild appearance awoke intense alarm but i
answered no question scarcely did i speak i felt as if i were placed
under a ban as if i had no right to claim their sympathies as if
never more might i enjoy companionship with them yet even thus i
loved them to adoration and to save them i resolved to dedicate
myself to my most abhorred task the prospect of such an occupation
made every other circumstance of existence pass before me like a dream 
and that thought only had to me the reality of life 





chapter 18

day after day week after week passed away on my return to geneva and
i could not collect the courage to recommence my work i feared the
vengeance of the disappointed fiend yet i was unable to overcome my
repugnance to the task which was enjoined me i found that i could not
compose a female without again devoting several months to profound
study and laborious disquisition i had heard of some discoveries
having been made by an english philosopher the knowledge of which was
material to my success and i sometimes thought of obtaining my
father's consent to visit england for this purpose but i clung to
every pretence of delay and shrank from taking the first step in an
undertaking whose immediate necessity began to appear less absolute to
me a change indeed had taken place in me my health which had
hitherto declined was now much restored and my spirits when
unchecked by the memory of my unhappy promise rose proportionably my
father saw this change with pleasure and he turned his thoughts
towards the best method of eradicating the remains of my melancholy 
which every now and then would return by fits and with a devouring
blackness overcast the approaching sunshine at these moments i took
refuge in the most perfect solitude i passed whole days on the lake
alone in a little boat watching the clouds and listening to the
rippling of the waves silent and listless but the fresh air and
bright sun seldom failed to restore me to some degree of composure and
on my return i met the salutations of my friends with a readier smile
and a more cheerful heart 

it was after my return from one of these rambles that my father 
calling me aside thus addressed me 

 i am happy to remark my dear son that you have resumed your former
pleasures and seem to be returning to yourself and yet you are still
unhappy and still avoid our society for some time i was lost in
conjecture as to the cause of this but yesterday an idea struck me 
and if it is well founded i conjure you to avow it reserve on such a
point would be not only useless but draw down treble misery on us all 

i trembled violently at his exordium and my father continued 

 i confess my son that i have always looked forward to your
marriage with our dear elizabeth as the tie of our domestic comfort and the
stay of my declining years you were attached to each other from your
earliest infancy you studied together and appeared in dispositions and
tastes entirely suited to one another but so blind is the experience of
man that what i conceived to be the best assistants to my plan may have
entirely destroyed it you perhaps regard her as your sister without any
wish that she might become your wife nay you may have met with another
whom you may love and considering yourself as bound in honour to
elizabeth this struggle may occasion the poignant misery which you appear
to feel 

 my dear father reassure yourself i love my cousin tenderly and
sincerely i never saw any woman who excited as elizabeth does my
warmest admiration and affection my future hopes and prospects are
entirely bound up in the expectation of our union 

 the expression of your sentiments of this subject my dear victor 
gives me more pleasure than i have for some time experienced if you
feel thus we shall assuredly be happy however present events may cast
a gloom over us but it is this gloom which appears to have taken so
strong a hold of your mind that i wish to dissipate tell me 
therefore whether you object to an immediate solemnisation of the
marriage we have been unfortunate and recent events have drawn us
from that everyday tranquillity befitting my years and infirmities you
are younger yet i do not suppose possessed as you are of a competent
fortune that an early marriage would at all interfere with any future
plans of honour and utility that you may have formed do not suppose 
however that i wish to dictate happiness to you or that a delay on
your part would cause me any serious uneasiness interpret my words
with candour and answer me i conjure you with confidence and
sincerity 

i listened to my father in silence and remained for some time incapable
of offering any reply i revolved rapidly in my mind a multitude of
thoughts and endeavoured to arrive at some conclusion alas to me
the idea of an immediate union with my elizabeth was one of horror and
dismay i was bound by a solemn promise which i had not yet fulfilled
and dared not break or if i did what manifold miseries might not
impend over me and my devoted family could i enter into a festival
with this deadly weight yet hanging round my neck and bowing me to the
ground i must perform my engagement and let the monster depart with
his mate before i allowed myself to enjoy the delight of a union from
which i expected peace 

i remembered also the necessity imposed upon me of either journeying to
england or entering into a long correspondence with those philosophers
of that country whose knowledge and discoveries were of indispensable
use to me in my present undertaking the latter method of obtaining
the desired intelligence was dilatory and unsatisfactory besides i
had an insurmountable aversion to the idea of engaging myself in my
loathsome task in my father's house while in habits of familiar
intercourse with those i loved i knew that a thousand fearful
accidents might occur the slightest of which would disclose a tale to
thrill all connected with me with horror i was aware also that i
should often lose all self-command all capacity of hiding the
harrowing sensations that would possess me during the progress of my
unearthly occupation i must absent myself from all i loved while thus
employed once commenced it would quickly be achieved and i might be
restored to my family in peace and happiness my promise fulfilled 
the monster would depart for ever or so my fond fancy imaged some
accident might meanwhile occur to destroy him and put an end to my
slavery for ever 

these feelings dictated my answer to my father i expressed a wish to
visit england but concealing the true reasons of this request i
clothed my desires under a guise which excited no suspicion while i
urged my desire with an earnestness that easily induced my father to
comply after so long a period of an absorbing melancholy that
resembled madness in its intensity and effects he was glad to find
that i was capable of taking pleasure in the idea of such a journey 
and he hoped that change of scene and varied amusement would before my
return have restored me entirely to myself 

the duration of my absence was left to my own choice a few months or
at most a year was the period contemplated one paternal kind
precaution he had taken to ensure my having a companion without
previously communicating with me he had in concert with elizabeth 
arranged that clerval should join me at strasburgh this interfered
with the solitude i coveted for the prosecution of my task yet at the
commencement of my journey the presence of my friend could in no way be
an impediment and truly i rejoiced that thus i should be saved many
hours of lonely maddening reflection nay henry might stand between
me and the intrusion of my foe if i were alone would he not at times
force his abhorred presence on me to remind me of my task or to
contemplate its progress 

to england therefore i was bound and it was understood that my union
with elizabeth should take place immediately on my return my father's
age rendered him extremely averse to delay for myself there was one
reward i promised myself from my detested toils one consolation for my
unparalleled sufferings it was the prospect of that day when 
enfranchised from my miserable slavery i might claim elizabeth and
forget the past in my union with her 

i now made arrangements for my journey but one feeling haunted me
which filled me with fear and agitation during my absence i should
leave my friends unconscious of the existence of their enemy and
unprotected from his attacks exasperated as he might be by my
departure but he had promised to follow me wherever i might go and
would he not accompany me to england this imagination was dreadful in
itself but soothing inasmuch as it supposed the safety of my friends 
i was agonised with the idea of the possibility that the reverse of
this might happen but through the whole period during which i was the
slave of my creature i allowed myself to be governed by the impulses of
the moment and my present sensations strongly intimated that the fiend
would follow me and exempt my family from the danger of his
machinations 

it was in the latter end of september that i again quitted my native
country my journey had been my own suggestion and elizabeth
therefore acquiesced but she was filled with disquiet at the idea of
my suffering away from her the inroads of misery and grief it had
been her care which provided me a companion in clerval and yet a man
is blind to a thousand minute circumstances which call forth a woman's
sedulous attention she longed to bid me hasten my return a thousand
conflicting emotions rendered her mute as she bade me a tearful silent
farewell 

i threw myself into the carriage that was to convey me away hardly
knowing whither i was going and careless of what was passing around 
i remembered only and it was with a bitter anguish that i reflected on
it to order that my chemical instruments should be packed to go with
me filled with dreary imaginations i passed through many beautiful
and majestic scenes but my eyes were fixed and unobserving i could
only think of the bourne of my travels and the work which was to occupy
me whilst they endured 

after some days spent in listless indolence during which i traversed
many leagues i arrived at strasburgh where i waited two days for
clerval he came alas how great was the contrast between us he
was alive to every new scene joyful when he saw the beauties of the
setting sun and more happy when he beheld it rise and recommence a new
day he pointed out to me the shifting colours of the landscape and
the appearances of the sky this is what it is to live he cried 
 now i enjoy existence but you my dear frankenstein wherefore are
you desponding and sorrowful in truth i was occupied by gloomy
thoughts and neither saw the descent of the evening star nor the golden
sunrise reflected in the rhine and you my friend would be far more
amused with the journal of clerval who observed the scenery with an
eye of feeling and delight than in listening to my reflections i a
miserable wretch haunted by a curse that shut up every avenue to
enjoyment 

we had agreed to descend the rhine in a boat from strasburgh to
rotterdam whence we might take shipping for london during this
voyage we passed many willowy islands and saw several beautiful towns 
we stayed a day at mannheim and on the fifth from our departure from
strasburgh arrived at mainz the course of the rhine below mainz
becomes much more picturesque the river descends rapidly and winds
between hills not high but steep and of beautiful forms we saw
many ruined castles standing on the edges of precipices surrounded by
black woods high and inaccessible this part of the rhine indeed 
presents a singularly variegated landscape in one spot you view
rugged hills ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices with
the dark rhine rushing beneath and on the sudden turn of a promontory 
flourishing vineyards with green sloping banks and a meandering river
and populous towns occupy the scene 

we travelled at the time of the vintage and heard the song of the labourers
as we glided down the stream even i depressed in mind and my spirits
continually agitated by gloomy feelings even i was pleased i lay at the
bottom of the boat and as i gazed on the cloudless blue sky i seemed to
drink in a tranquillity to which i had long been a stranger and if these
were my sensations who can describe those of henry he felt as if he had
been transported to fairy-land and enjoyed a happiness seldom tasted by
man i have seen he said the most beautiful scenes
of my own country i have visited the lakes of lucerne and uri where the
snowy mountains descend almost perpendicularly to the water casting black
and impenetrable shades which would cause a gloomy and mournful appearance
were it not for the most verdant islands that relieve the eye by their gay
appearance i have seen this lake agitated by a tempest when the wind tore
up whirlwinds of water and gave you an idea of what the water-spout must be
on the great ocean and the waves dash with fury the base of the mountain 
where the priest and his mistress were overwhelmed by an avalanche and
where their dying voices are still said to be heard amid the pauses of the
nightly wind i have seen the mountains of la valais and the pays de vaud 
but this country victor pleases me more than all those wonders the
mountains of switzerland are more majestic and strange but there is a
charm in the banks of this divine river that i never before saw equalled 
look at that castle which overhangs yon precipice and that also on the
island almost concealed amongst the foliage of those lovely trees and now
that group of labourers coming from among their vines and that village
half hid in the recess of the mountain oh surely the spirit that inhabits
and guards this place has a soul more in harmony with man than those who
pile the glacier or retire to the inaccessible peaks of the mountains of
our own country 

clerval beloved friend even now it delights me to record your words and
to dwell on the praise of which you are so eminently deserving he was a
being formed in the very poetry of nature his wild and
enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart his
soul overflowed with ardent affections and his friendship was of that
devoted and wondrous nature that the worldly-minded teach us to look for only
in the imagination but even human sympathies were not sufficient to
satisfy his eager mind the scenery of external nature which others regard
only with admiration he loved with ardour 

 the sounding cataract
 haunted him like a passion the tall rock 
 the mountain and the deep and gloomy wood 
 their colours and their forms were then to him
 an appetite a feeling and a love 
 that had no need of a remoter charm 
 by thought supplied or any interest
 unborrow'd from the eye 
 
 wordsworth's tintern abbey 



and where does he now exist is this gentle and lovely being lost
for ever has this mind so replete with ideas imaginations fanciful
and magnificent which formed a world whose existence depended on the
life of its creator has this mind perished does it now only exist
in my memory no it is not thus your form so divinely wrought and
beaming with beauty has decayed but your spirit still visits and
consoles your unhappy friend 

pardon this gush of sorrow these ineffectual words are but a slight
tribute to the unexampled worth of henry but they soothe my heart 
overflowing with the anguish which his remembrance creates i will
proceed with my tale 

beyond cologne we descended to the plains of holland and we resolved to
post the remainder of our way for the wind was contrary and the stream of
the river was too gentle to aid us 

our journey here lost the interest arising from beautiful scenery but we
arrived in a few days at rotterdam whence we proceeded by sea to england 
it was on a clear morning in the latter days of december that i first saw
the white cliffs of britain the banks of the thames presented a new scene 
they were flat but fertile and almost every town was marked by the
remembrance of some story we saw tilbury fort and remembered the spanish
armada gravesend woolwich and greenwich places which i had heard
of even in my country 

at length we saw the numerous steeples of london st paul's towering
above all and the tower famed in english history 





chapter 19

london was our present point of rest we determined to remain several
months in this wonderful and celebrated city clerval desired the
intercourse of the men of genius and talent who flourished at this
time but this was with me a secondary object i was principally
occupied with the means of obtaining the information necessary for the
completion of my promise and quickly availed myself of the letters of
introduction that i had brought with me addressed to the most
distinguished natural philosophers 

if this journey had taken place during my days of study and happiness 
it would have afforded me inexpressible pleasure but a blight had
come over my existence and i only visited these people for the sake of
the information they might give me on the subject in which my interest
was so terribly profound company was irksome to me when alone i
could fill my mind with the sights of heaven and earth the voice of
henry soothed me and i could thus cheat myself into a transitory
peace but busy uninteresting joyous faces brought back despair to
my heart i saw an insurmountable barrier placed between me and my
fellow men this barrier was sealed with the blood of william and
justine and to reflect on the events connected with those names filled
my soul with anguish 

but in clerval i saw the image of my former self he was inquisitive
and anxious to gain experience and instruction the difference of
manners which he observed was to him an inexhaustible source of
instruction and amusement he was also pursuing an object he had long
had in view his design was to visit india in the belief that he had
in his knowledge of its various languages and in the views he had
taken of its society the means of materially assisting the progress of
european colonization and trade in britain only could he further the
execution of his plan he was for ever busy and the only check to his
enjoyments was my sorrowful and dejected mind i tried to conceal this
as much as possible that i might not debar him from the pleasures
natural to one who was entering on a new scene of life undisturbed by
any care or bitter recollection i often refused to accompany him 
alleging another engagement that i might remain alone i now also
began to collect the materials necessary for my new creation and this
was to me like the torture of single drops of water continually falling
on the head every thought that was devoted to it was an extreme
anguish and every word that i spoke in allusion to it caused my lips
to quiver and my heart to palpitate 

after passing some months in london we received a letter from a person in
scotland who had formerly been our visitor at geneva he mentioned the
beauties of his native country and asked us if those were not sufficient
allurements to induce us to prolong our journey as far north as perth 
where he resided clerval eagerly desired to accept this invitation and i 
although i abhorred society wished to view again mountains and streams and
all the wondrous works with which nature adorns her chosen dwelling-places 

we had arrived in england at the beginning of october and it was now
february we accordingly determined to commence our journey towards the
north at the expiration of another month in this expedition we did not
intend to follow the great road to edinburgh but to visit windsor oxford 
matlock and the cumberland lakes resolving to arrive at the completion of
this tour about the end of july i packed up my chemical instruments and
the materials i had collected resolving to finish my labours in some
obscure nook in the northern highlands of scotland 

we quitted london on the 27th of march and remained a few days at
windsor rambling in its beautiful forest this was a new scene to us
mountaineers the majestic oaks the quantity of game and the herds of
stately deer were all novelties to us 

from thence we proceeded to oxford as we entered this city our minds
were filled with the remembrance of the events that had been transacted
there more than a century and a half before it was here that charles
i had collected his forces this city had remained faithful to him 
after the whole nation had forsaken his cause to join the standard of
parliament and liberty the memory of that unfortunate king and his
companions the amiable falkland the insolent goring his queen and
son gave a peculiar interest to every part of the city which they
might be supposed to have inhabited the spirit of elder days found a
dwelling here and we delighted to trace its footsteps if these
feelings had not found an imaginary gratification the appearance of
the city had yet in itself sufficient beauty to obtain our admiration 
the colleges are ancient and picturesque the streets are almost
magnificent and the lovely isis which flows beside it through meadows
of exquisite verdure is spread forth into a placid expanse of waters 
which reflects its majestic assemblage of towers and spires and
domes embosomed among aged trees 

i enjoyed this scene and yet my enjoyment was embittered both by the
memory of the past and the anticipation of the future i was formed
for peaceful happiness during my youthful days discontent never
visited my mind and if i was ever overcome by ennui the sight of what
is beautiful in nature or the study of what is excellent and sublime in
the productions of man could always interest my heart and communicate
elasticity to my spirits but i am a blasted tree the bolt has
entered my soul and i felt then that i should survive to exhibit what
i shall soon cease to be a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity 
pitiable to others and intolerable to myself 

we passed a considerable period at oxford rambling among its environs
and endeavouring to identify every spot which might relate to the most
animating epoch of english history our little voyages of discovery
were often prolonged by the successive objects that presented
themselves we visited the tomb of the illustrious hampden and the
field on which that patriot fell for a moment my soul was elevated
from its debasing and miserable fears to contemplate the divine ideas
of liberty and self-sacrifice of which these sights were the monuments
and the remembrancers for an instant i dared to shake off my chains
and look around me with a free and lofty spirit but the iron had eaten
into my flesh and i sank again trembling and hopeless into my
miserable self 

we left oxford with regret and proceeded to matlock which was our next
place of rest the country in the neighbourhood of this village
resembled to a greater degree the scenery of switzerland but
everything is on a lower scale and the green hills want the crown of
distant white alps which always attend on the piny mountains of my
native country we visited the wondrous cave and the little cabinets
of natural history where the curiosities are disposed in the same
manner as in the collections at servox and chamounix the latter name
made me tremble when pronounced by henry and i hastened to quit
matlock with which that terrible scene was thus associated 

from derby still journeying northwards we passed two months in
cumberland and westmorland i could now almost fancy myself among the
swiss mountains the little patches of snow which yet lingered on the
northern sides of the mountains the lakes and the dashing of the
rocky streams were all familiar and dear sights to me here also we
made some acquaintances who almost contrived to cheat me into
happiness the delight of clerval was proportionably greater than
mine his mind expanded in the company of men of talent and he found
in his own nature greater capacities and resources than he could have
imagined himself to have possessed while he associated with his
inferiors i could pass my life here said he to me and among
these mountains i should scarcely regret switzerland and the rhine 

but he found that a traveller's life is one that includes much pain
amidst its enjoyments his feelings are for ever on the stretch and
when he begins to sink into repose he finds himself obliged to quit
that on which he rests in pleasure for something new which again
engages his attention and which also he forsakes for other novelties 

we had scarcely visited the various lakes of cumberland and westmorland
and conceived an affection for some of the inhabitants when the period
of our appointment with our scotch friend approached and we left them
to travel on for my own part i was not sorry i had now neglected my
promise for some time and i feared the effects of the daemon's
disappointment he might remain in switzerland and wreak his vengeance
on my relatives this idea pursued me and tormented me at every moment
from which i might otherwise have snatched repose and peace i waited
for my letters with feverish impatience if they were delayed i was
miserable and overcome by a thousand fears and when they arrived and i
saw the superscription of elizabeth or my father i hardly dared to
read and ascertain my fate sometimes i thought that the fiend
followed me and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companion 
when these thoughts possessed me i would not quit henry for a moment 
but followed him as his shadow to protect him from the fancied rage of
his destroyer i felt as if i had committed some great crime the
consciousness of which haunted me i was guiltless but i had indeed
drawn down a horrible curse upon my head as mortal as that of crime 

i visited edinburgh with languid eyes and mind and yet that city might
have interested the most unfortunate being clerval did not like it so well
as oxford for the antiquity of the latter city was more pleasing to him 
but the beauty and regularity of the new town of edinburgh its romantic
castle and its environs the most delightful in the world arthur's
seat st bernard's well and the pentland hills compensated him for
the change and filled him with cheerfulness and admiration but i was
impatient to arrive at the termination of my journey 

we left edinburgh in a week passing through coupar st andrew's and
along the banks of the tay to perth where our friend expected us 
but i was in no mood to laugh and talk with strangers or enter into
their feelings or plans with the good humour expected from a guest and
accordingly i told clerval that i wished to make the tour of scotland
alone do you said i enjoy yourself and let this be our
rendezvous i may be absent a month or two but do not interfere with
my motions i entreat you leave me to peace and solitude for a short
time and when i return i hope it will be with a lighter heart more
congenial to your own temper 

henry wished to dissuade me but seeing me bent on this plan ceased to
remonstrate he entreated me to write often i had rather be with
you he said in your solitary rambles than with these scotch
people whom i do not know hasten then my dear friend to return 
that i may again feel myself somewhat at home which i cannot do in
your absence 

having parted from my friend i determined to visit some remote spot of
scotland and finish my work in solitude i did not doubt but that the
monster followed me and would discover himself to me when i should have
finished that he might receive his companion 

with this resolution i traversed the northern highlands and fixed on one of
the remotest of the orkneys as the scene of my labours it was a place
fitted for such a work being hardly more than a rock whose high sides were
continually beaten upon by the waves the soil was barren scarcely
affording pasture for a few miserable cows and oatmeal for its
inhabitants which consisted of five persons whose gaunt and scraggy limbs
gave tokens of their miserable fare vegetables and bread when they
indulged in such luxuries and even fresh water was to be procured from
the mainland which was about five miles distant 

on the whole island there were but three miserable huts and one of
these was vacant when i arrived this i hired it contained but two
rooms and these exhibited all the squalidness of the most miserable
penury the thatch had fallen in the walls were unplastered and the
door was off its hinges i ordered it to be repaired bought some
furniture and took possession an incident which would doubtless have
occasioned some surprise had not all the senses of the cottagers been
benumbed by want and squalid poverty as it was i lived ungazed at
and unmolested hardly thanked for the pittance of food and clothes
which i gave so much does suffering blunt even the coarsest sensations
of men 

in this retreat i devoted the morning to labour but in the evening 
when the weather permitted i walked on the stony beach of the sea to
listen to the waves as they roared and dashed at my feet it was a
monotonous yet ever-changing scene i thought of switzerland it was
far different from this desolate and appalling landscape its hills
are covered with vines and its cottages are scattered thickly in the
plains its fair lakes reflect a blue and gentle sky and when
troubled by the winds their tumult is but as the play of a lively
infant when compared to the roarings of the giant ocean 

in this manner i distributed my occupations when i first arrived but
as i proceeded in my labour it became every day more horrible and
irksome to me sometimes i could not prevail on myself to enter my
laboratory for several days and at other times i toiled day and night
in order to complete my work it was indeed a filthy process in
which i was engaged during my first experiment a kind of
enthusiastic frenzy had blinded me to the horror of my employment my
mind was intently fixed on the consummation of my labour and my eyes
were shut to the horror of my proceedings but now i went to it in
cold blood and my heart often sickened at the work of my hands 

thus situated employed in the most detestable occupation immersed in
a solitude where nothing could for an instant call my attention from
the actual scene in which i was engaged my spirits became unequal i
grew restless and nervous every moment i feared to meet my
persecutor sometimes i sat with my eyes fixed on the ground fearing
to raise them lest they should encounter the object which i so much
dreaded to behold i feared to wander from the sight of my fellow
creatures lest when alone he should come to claim his companion 

in the mean time i worked on and my labour was already considerably
advanced i looked towards its completion with a tremulous and eager
hope which i dared not trust myself to question but which was
intermixed with obscure forebodings of evil that made my heart sicken
in my bosom 





chapter 20

i sat one evening in my laboratory the sun had set and the moon was just
rising from the sea i had not sufficient light for my employment and i
remained idle in a pause of consideration of whether i should leave my
labour for the night or hasten its conclusion by an unremitting attention
to it as i sat a train of reflection occurred to me which led me to
consider the effects of what i was now doing three years before i was
engaged in the same manner and had created a fiend whose unparalleled
barbarity had desolated my heart and filled it for ever with the bitterest
remorse i was now about to form another being of whose dispositions i was
alike ignorant she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her
mate and delight for its own sake in murder and wretchedness he had
sworn to quit the neighbourhood of man and hide himself in deserts but she
had not and she who in all probability was to become a thinking and
reasoning animal might refuse to comply with a compact made before her
creation they might even hate each other the creature who already lived
loathed his own deformity and might he not conceive a greater abhorrence
for it when it came before his eyes in the female form she also might turn
with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man she might quit him 
and he be again alone exasperated by the fresh provocation of being
deserted by one of his own species 

even if they were to leave europe and inhabit the deserts of the new world 
yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the daemon
thirsted would be children and a race of devils would be propagated upon
the earth who might make the very existence of the species of man a
condition precarious and full of terror had i right for my own benefit 
to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations i had before been moved
by the sophisms of the being i had created i had been struck senseless by
his fiendish threats but now for the first time the wickedness of my
promise burst upon me i shuddered to think that future ages might curse me
as their pest whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at
the price perhaps of the existence of the whole human race 

i trembled and my heart failed within me when on looking up i saw by
the light of the moon the daemon at the casement a ghastly grin
wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me where i sat fulfilling the task
which he had allotted to me yes he had followed me in my travels he
had loitered in forests hid himself in caves or taken refuge in wide
and desert heaths and he now came to mark my progress and claim the
fulfilment of my promise 

as i looked on him his countenance expressed the utmost extent of
malice and treachery i thought with a sensation of madness on my
promise of creating another like to him and trembling with passion 
tore to pieces the thing on which i was engaged the wretch saw me
destroy the creature on whose future existence he depended for
happiness and with a howl of devilish despair and revenge withdrew 

i left the room and locking the door made a solemn vow in my own
heart never to resume my labours and then with trembling steps i
sought my own apartment i was alone none were near me to dissipate
the gloom and relieve me from the sickening oppression of the most
terrible reveries 

several hours passed and i remained near my window gazing on the sea 
it was almost motionless for the winds were hushed and all nature
reposed under the eye of the quiet moon a few fishing vessels alone
specked the water and now and then the gentle breeze wafted the sound
of voices as the fishermen called to one another i felt the silence 
although i was hardly conscious of its extreme profundity until my ear
was suddenly arrested by the paddling of oars near the shore and a
person landed close to my house 

in a few minutes after i heard the creaking of my door as if some one
endeavoured to open it softly i trembled from head to foot i felt a
presentiment of who it was and wished to rouse one of the peasants who
dwelt in a cottage not far from mine but i was overcome by the sensation
of helplessness so often felt in frightful dreams when you in vain
endeavour to fly from an impending danger and was rooted to the spot 

presently i heard the sound of footsteps along the passage the door
opened and the wretch whom i dreaded appeared shutting the door he
approached me and said in a smothered voice 

 you have destroyed the work which you began what is it that you
intend do you dare to break your promise i have endured toil and misery 
i left switzerland with you i crept along the shores of the rhine among
its willow islands and over the summits of its hills i have dwelt many
months in the heaths of england and among the deserts of scotland i have
endured incalculable fatigue and cold and hunger do you dare destroy my
hopes 

 begone i do break my promise never will i create another like
yourself equal in deformity and wickedness 

 slave i before reasoned with you but you have proved yourself
unworthy of my condescension remember that i have power you believe
yourself miserable but i can make you so wretched that the light of
day will be hateful to you you are my creator but i am your master 
obey 

 the hour of my irresolution is past and the period of your power is
arrived your threats cannot move me to do an act of wickedness but
they confirm me in a determination of not creating you a companion in
vice shall i in cool blood set loose upon the earth a daemon whose
delight is in death and wretchedness begone i am firm and your
words will only exasperate my rage 

the monster saw my determination in my face and gnashed his teeth in the
impotence of anger shall each man cried he find a
wife for his bosom and each beast have his mate and i be alone i had
feelings of affection and they were requited by detestation and scorn 
man you may hate but beware your hours will pass in dread and misery 
and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness for
ever are you to be happy while i grovel in the intensity of my
wretchedness you can blast my other passions but revenge
remains revenge henceforth dearer than light or food i may die but
first you my tyrant and tormentor shall curse the sun that gazes on your
misery beware for i am fearless and therefore powerful i will watch with
the wiliness of a snake that i may sting with its venom man you shall
repent of the injuries you inflict 

 devil cease and do not poison the air with these sounds of malice 
i have declared my resolution to you and i am no coward to bend
beneath words leave me i am inexorable 

 it is well i go but remember i shall be with you on your
wedding-night 

i started forward and exclaimed villain before you sign my
death-warrant be sure that you are yourself safe 

i would have seized him but he eluded me and quitted the house with
precipitation in a few moments i saw him in his boat which shot
across the waters with an arrowy swiftness and was soon lost amidst the
waves 

all was again silent but his words rang in my ears i burned with rage to
pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean i
walked up and down my room hastily and perturbed while my imagination
conjured up a thousand images to torment and sting me why had i not
followed him and closed with him in mortal strife but i had suffered him
to depart and he had directed his course towards the mainland i shuddered
to think who might be the next victim sacrificed to his insatiate revenge 
and then i thought again of his words i will be with you on
your wedding-night that then was the period fixed for the
fulfilment of my destiny in that hour i should die and at once satisfy and
extinguish his malice the prospect did not move me to fear yet when i
thought of my beloved elizabeth of her tears and endless sorrow when she
should find her lover so barbarously snatched from her tears the first i
had shed for many months streamed from my eyes and i resolved not to fall
before my enemy without a bitter struggle 

the night passed away and the sun rose from the ocean my feelings became
calmer if it may be called calmness when the violence of rage sinks into
the depths of despair i left the house the horrid scene of the last
night's contention and walked on the beach of the sea which i
almost regarded as an insuperable barrier between me and my fellow
creatures nay a wish that such should prove the fact stole across me i
desired that i might pass my life on that barren rock wearily it is true 
but uninterrupted by any sudden shock of misery if i returned it was to
be sacrificed or to see those whom i most loved die under the grasp of a
daemon whom i had myself created 

i walked about the isle like a restless spectre separated from all it
loved and miserable in the separation when it became noon and the
sun rose higher i lay down on the grass and was overpowered by a deep
sleep i had been awake the whole of the preceding night my nerves
were agitated and my eyes inflamed by watching and misery the sleep
into which i now sank refreshed me and when i awoke i again felt as
if i belonged to a race of human beings like myself and i began to
reflect upon what had passed with greater composure yet still the
words of the fiend rang in my ears like a death-knell they appeared
like a dream yet distinct and oppressive as a reality 

the sun had far descended and i still sat on the shore satisfying my
appetite which had become ravenous with an oaten cake when i saw a
fishing-boat land close to me and one of the men brought me a packet 
it contained letters from geneva and one from clerval entreating me to
join him he said that he was wearing away his time fruitlessly where
he was that letters from the friends he had formed in london desired
his return to complete the negotiation they had entered into for his
indian enterprise he could not any longer delay his departure but as
his journey to london might be followed even sooner than he now
conjectured by his longer voyage he entreated me to bestow as much of
my society on him as i could spare he besought me therefore to
leave my solitary isle and to meet him at perth that we might proceed
southwards together this letter in a degree recalled me to life and
i determined to quit my island at the expiration of two days 

yet before i departed there was a task to perform on which i shuddered
to reflect i must pack up my chemical instruments and for that purpose i
must enter the room which had been the scene of my odious work and i must
handle those utensils the sight of which was sickening to me the next
morning at daybreak i summoned sufficient courage and unlocked the door
of my laboratory the remains of the half-finished creature whom i had
destroyed lay scattered on the floor and i almost felt as if i had
mangled the living flesh of a human being i paused to collect myself and
then entered the chamber with trembling hand i conveyed the instruments
out of the room but i reflected that i ought not to leave the relics of my
work to excite the horror and suspicion of the peasants and i accordingly
put them into a basket with a great quantity of stones and laying them
up determined to throw them into the sea that very night and in the
meantime i sat upon the beach employed in cleaning and arranging my
chemical apparatus 

nothing could be more complete than the alteration that had taken place
in my feelings since the night of the appearance of the daemon i had
before regarded my promise with a gloomy despair as a thing that with
whatever consequences must be fulfilled but i now felt as if a film
had been taken from before my eyes and that i for the first time saw
clearly the idea of renewing my labours did not for one instant occur
to me the threat i had heard weighed on my thoughts but i did not
reflect that a voluntary act of mine could avert it i had resolved in
my own mind that to create another like the fiend i had first made
would be an act of the basest and most atrocious selfishness and i
banished from my mind every thought that could lead to a different
conclusion 

between two and three in the morning the moon rose and i then putting my
basket aboard a little skiff sailed out about four miles from the shore 
the scene was perfectly solitary a few boats were returning towards land 
but i sailed away from them i felt as if i was about the commission of a
dreadful crime and avoided with shuddering anxiety any encounter with my
fellow creatures at one time the moon which had before been clear was
suddenly overspread by a thick cloud and i took advantage of the moment of
darkness and cast my basket into the sea i listened to the gurgling sound
as it sank and then sailed away from the spot the sky became clouded but
the air was pure although chilled by the northeast breeze that was then
rising but it refreshed me and filled me with such agreeable sensations
that i resolved to prolong my stay on the water and fixing the rudder in a
direct position stretched myself at the bottom of the boat clouds hid the
moon everything was obscure and i heard only the sound of the boat as its
keel cut through the waves the murmur lulled me and in a short time i
slept soundly 

i do not know how long i remained in this situation but when i awoke i
found that the sun had already mounted considerably the wind was high and
the waves continually threatened the safety of my little skiff i found
that the wind was northeast and must have driven me far from the coast from
which i had embarked i endeavoured to change my course but quickly found
that if i again made the attempt the boat would be instantly filled with
water thus situated my only resource was to drive before the wind i
confess that i felt a few sensations of terror i had no compass with me
and was so slenderly acquainted with the geography of this part of the
world that the sun was of little benefit to me i might be driven into the
wide atlantic and feel all the tortures of starvation or be swallowed up in
the immeasurable waters that roared and buffeted around me i had already
been out many hours and felt the torment of a burning thirst a prelude to
my other sufferings i looked on the heavens which were covered by clouds
that flew before the wind only to be replaced by others i looked upon the
sea it was to be my grave fiend i exclaimed your
task is already fulfilled i thought of elizabeth of my father and
of clerval all left behind on whom the monster might satisfy his
sanguinary and merciless passions this idea plunged me into a reverie so
despairing and frightful that even now when the scene is on the point of
closing before me for ever i shudder to reflect on it 

some hours passed thus but by degrees as the sun declined towards the
horizon the wind died away into a gentle breeze and the sea became
free from breakers but these gave place to a heavy swell i felt sick
and hardly able to hold the rudder when suddenly i saw a line of high
land towards the south 

almost spent as i was by fatigue and the dreadful suspense i endured
for several hours this sudden certainty of life rushed like a flood of
warm joy to my heart and tears gushed from my eyes 

how mutable are our feelings and how strange is that clinging love we have
of life even in the excess of misery i constructed another sail with a
part of my dress and eagerly steered my course towards the land it had a
wild and rocky appearance but as i approached nearer i easily perceived
the traces of cultivation i saw vessels near the shore and found myself
suddenly transported back to the neighbourhood of civilised man i
carefully traced the windings of the land and hailed a steeple which i at
length saw issuing from behind a small promontory as i was in a state of
extreme debility i resolved to sail directly towards the town as a place
where i could most easily procure nourishment fortunately i had money with
me as i turned the promontory i perceived a small neat town and a good
harbour which i entered my heart bounding with joy at my unexpected
escape 

as i was occupied in fixing the boat and arranging the sails several
people crowded towards the spot they seemed much surprised at my
appearance but instead of offering me any assistance whispered
together with gestures that at any other time might have produced in me
a slight sensation of alarm as it was i merely remarked that they
spoke english and i therefore addressed them in that language my
good friends said i will you be so kind as to tell me the name of
this town and inform me where i am 

 you will know that soon enough replied a man with a hoarse voice 
 maybe you are come to a place that will not prove much to your taste 
but you will not be consulted as to your quarters i promise you 

i was exceedingly surprised on receiving so rude an answer from a
stranger and i was also disconcerted on perceiving the frowning and
angry countenances of his companions why do you answer me so
roughly i replied surely it is not the custom of englishmen to
receive strangers so inhospitably 

 i do not know said the man what the custom of the
english may be but it is the custom of the irish to hate villains 

while this strange dialogue continued i perceived the crowd rapidly
increase their faces expressed a mixture of curiosity and anger which
annoyed and in some degree alarmed me i inquired the way to the inn but
no one replied i then moved forward and a murmuring sound arose from the
crowd as they followed and surrounded me when an ill-looking man
approaching tapped me on the shoulder and said come sir you must
follow me to mr kirwin's to give an account of yourself 

 who is mr kirwin why am i to give an account of myself is not
this a free country 

 ay sir free enough for honest folks mr kirwin is a magistrate 
and you are to give an account of the death of a gentleman who was
found murdered here last night 

this answer startled me but i presently recovered myself i was innocent 
that could easily be proved accordingly i followed my conductor in silence
and was led to one of the best houses in the town i was ready to sink from
fatigue and hunger but being surrounded by a crowd i thought it politic
to rouse all my strength that no physical debility might be construed into
apprehension or conscious guilt little did i then expect the calamity that
was in a few moments to overwhelm me and extinguish in horror and despair
all fear of ignominy or death 

i must pause here for it requires all my fortitude to recall the memory of
the frightful events which i am about to relate in proper detail to my
recollection 





chapter 21

i was soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate an old
benevolent man with calm and mild manners he looked upon me however 
with some degree of severity and then turning towards my conductors 
he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion 

about half a dozen men came forward and one being selected by the
magistrate he deposed that he had been out fishing the night before with
his son and brother-in-law daniel nugent when about ten o'clock 
they observed a strong northerly blast rising and they accordingly put in
for port it was a very dark night as the moon had not yet risen they did
not land at the harbour but as they had been accustomed at a creek about
two miles below he walked on first carrying a part of the fishing tackle 
and his companions followed him at some distance as he was proceeding
along the sands he struck his foot against something and fell at his
length on the ground his companions came up to assist him and by the
light of their lantern they found that he had fallen on the body of a man 
who was to all appearance dead their first supposition was that it was the
corpse of some person who had been drowned and was thrown on shore by the
waves but on examination they found that the clothes were not wet and even
that the body was not then cold they instantly carried it to the cottage
of an old woman near the spot and endeavoured but in vain to restore it
to life it appeared to be a handsome young man about five and twenty
years of age he had apparently been strangled for there was no sign of
any violence except the black mark of fingers on his neck 

the first part of this deposition did not in the least interest me but
when the mark of the fingers was mentioned i remembered the murder of
my brother and felt myself extremely agitated my limbs trembled and a
mist came over my eyes which obliged me to lean on a chair for
support the magistrate observed me with a keen eye and of course drew
an unfavourable augury from my manner 

the son confirmed his father's account but when daniel nugent was
called he swore positively that just before the fall of his companion he
saw a boat with a single man in it at a short distance from the shore 
and as far as he could judge by the light of a few stars it was the same
boat in which i had just landed 

a woman deposed that she lived near the beach and was standing at the door
of her cottage waiting for the return of the fishermen about an hour
before she heard of the discovery of the body when she saw a boat with
only one man in it push off from that part of the shore where the corpse
was afterwards found 

another woman confirmed the account of the fishermen having brought the
body into her house it was not cold they put it into a bed and
rubbed it and daniel went to the town for an apothecary but life was
quite gone 

several other men were examined concerning my landing and they agreed
that with the strong north wind that had arisen during the night it
was very probable that i had beaten about for many hours and had been
obliged to return nearly to the same spot from which i had departed 
besides they observed that it appeared that i had brought the body
from another place and it was likely that as i did not appear to know
the shore i might have put into the harbour ignorant of the distance
of the town of from the place where i had deposited the corpse 

mr kirwin on hearing this evidence desired that i should be taken into
the room where the body lay for interment that it might be observed what
effect the sight of it would produce upon me this idea was probably
suggested by the extreme agitation i had exhibited when the mode of the
murder had been described i was accordingly conducted by the magistrate
and several other persons to the inn i could not help being struck by the
strange coincidences that had taken place during this eventful night but 
knowing that i had been conversing with several persons in the island i had
inhabited about the time that the body had been found i was perfectly
tranquil as to the consequences of the affair 

i entered the room where the corpse lay and was led up to the coffin how
can i describe my sensations on beholding it i feel yet parched with
horror nor can i reflect on that terrible moment without shuddering and
agony the examination the presence of the magistrate and witnesses 
passed like a dream from my memory when i saw the lifeless form of henry
clerval stretched before me i gasped for breath and throwing myself on
the body i exclaimed have my murderous machinations deprived you
also my dearest henry of life two i have already destroyed other
victims await their destiny but you clerval my friend my
benefactor 

the human frame could no longer support the agonies that i endured and
i was carried out of the room in strong convulsions 

a fever succeeded to this i lay for two months on the point of death my
ravings as i afterwards heard were frightful i called myself the
murderer of william of justine and of clerval sometimes i entreated my
attendants to assist me in the destruction of the fiend by whom i was
tormented and at others i felt the fingers of the monster already grasping
my neck and screamed aloud with agony and terror fortunately as i spoke
my native language mr kirwin alone understood me but my gestures and
bitter cries were sufficient to affright the other witnesses 

why did i not die more miserable than man ever was before why did i not
sink into forgetfulness and rest death snatches away many blooming
children the only hopes of their doting parents how many brides and
youthful lovers have been one day in the bloom of health and hope and the
next a prey for worms and the decay of the tomb of what materials was i
made that i could thus resist so many shocks which like the turning of
the wheel continually renewed the torture 

but i was doomed to live and in two months found myself as awaking from
a dream in a prison stretched on a wretched bed surrounded by
gaolers turnkeys bolts and all the miserable apparatus of a dungeon 
it was morning i remember when i thus awoke to understanding i had
forgotten the particulars of what had happened and only felt as if some
great misfortune had suddenly overwhelmed me but when i looked around
and saw the barred windows and the squalidness of the room in which i
was all flashed across my memory and i groaned bitterly 

this sound disturbed an old woman who was sleeping in a chair beside
me she was a hired nurse the wife of one of the turnkeys and her
countenance expressed all those bad qualities which often characterise
that class the lines of her face were hard and rude like that of
persons accustomed to see without sympathising in sights of misery her
tone expressed her entire indifference she addressed me in english 
and the voice struck me as one that i had heard during my sufferings 

 are you better now sir said she 

i replied in the same language with a feeble voice i believe i am 
but if it be all true if indeed i did not dream i am sorry that i am
still alive to feel this misery and horror 

 for that matter replied the old woman if you mean about the
gentleman you murdered i believe that it were better for you if you
were dead for i fancy it will go hard with you however that's none
of my business i am sent to nurse you and get you well i do my duty
with a safe conscience it were well if everybody did the same 

i turned with loathing from the woman who could utter so unfeeling a
speech to a person just saved on the very edge of death but i felt
languid and unable to reflect on all that had passed the whole series
of my life appeared to me as a dream i sometimes doubted if indeed it
were all true for it never presented itself to my mind with the force
of reality 

as the images that floated before me became more distinct i grew
feverish a darkness pressed around me no one was near me who soothed
me with the gentle voice of love no dear hand supported me the
physician came and prescribed medicines and the old woman prepared
them for me but utter carelessness was visible in the first and the
expression of brutality was strongly marked in the visage of the
second who could be interested in the fate of a murderer but the
hangman who would gain his fee 

these were my first reflections but i soon learned that mr kirwin had
shown me extreme kindness he had caused the best room in the prison
to be prepared for me wretched indeed was the best and it was he who
had provided a physician and a nurse it is true he seldom came to
see me for although he ardently desired to relieve the sufferings of
every human creature he did not wish to be present at the agonies and
miserable ravings of a murderer he came therefore sometimes to see
that i was not neglected but his visits were short and with long
intervals 

one day while i was gradually recovering i was seated in a chair my eyes
half open and my cheeks livid like those in death i was overcome by gloom
and misery and often reflected i had better seek death than desire to
remain in a world which to me was replete with wretchedness at one time i
considered whether i should not declare myself guilty and suffer the
penalty of the law less innocent than poor justine had been such were my
thoughts when the door of my apartment was opened and mr kirwin entered 
his countenance expressed sympathy and compassion he drew a chair close to
mine and addressed me in french 

 i fear that this place is very shocking to you can i do anything to
make you more comfortable 

 i thank you but all that you mention is nothing to me on the whole
earth there is no comfort which i am capable of receiving 

 i know that the sympathy of a stranger can be but of little relief to
one borne down as you are by so strange a misfortune but you will i
hope soon quit this melancholy abode for doubtless evidence can
easily be brought to free you from the criminal charge 

 that is my least concern i am by a course of strange events become
the most miserable of mortals persecuted and tortured as i am and
have been can death be any evil to me 

 nothing indeed could be more unfortunate and agonising than the
strange chances that have lately occurred you were thrown by some
surprising accident on this shore renowned for its hospitality 
seized immediately and charged with murder the first sight that was
presented to your eyes was the body of your friend murdered in so
unaccountable a manner and placed as it were by some fiend across
your path 

as mr kirwin said this notwithstanding the agitation i endured on
this retrospect of my sufferings i also felt considerable surprise at
the knowledge he seemed to possess concerning me i suppose some
astonishment was exhibited in my countenance for mr kirwin hastened
to say 

 immediately upon your being taken ill all the papers that were on
your person were brought me and i examined them that i might discover some
trace by which i could send to your relations an account of your misfortune
and illness i found several letters and among others one which i
discovered from its commencement to be from your father i instantly wrote
to geneva nearly two months have elapsed since the departure of my letter 
but you are ill even now you tremble you are unfit for agitation of any
kind 

 this suspense is a thousand times worse than the most horrible event 
tell me what new scene of death has been acted and whose murder i am
now to lament 

 your family is perfectly well said mr kirwin with
gentleness and someone a friend is come to visit you 

i know not by what chain of thought the idea presented itself but it
instantly darted into my mind that the murderer had come to mock at my
misery and taunt me with the death of clerval as a new incitement for
me to comply with his hellish desires i put my hand before my eyes 
and cried out in agony 

 oh take him away i cannot see him for god's sake do not
let him enter 

mr kirwin regarded me with a troubled countenance he could not help
regarding my exclamation as a presumption of my guilt and said in
rather a severe tone 

 i should have thought young man that the presence of your father
would have been welcome instead of inspiring such violent repugnance 

 my father cried i while every feature and every muscle was relaxed
from anguish to pleasure is my father indeed come how kind how
very kind but where is he why does he not hasten to me 

my change of manner surprised and pleased the magistrate perhaps he
thought that my former exclamation was a momentary return of delirium 
and now he instantly resumed his former benevolence he rose and
quitted the room with my nurse and in a moment my father entered it 

nothing at this moment could have given me greater pleasure than the
arrival of my father i stretched out my hand to him and cried 

 are you then safe and elizabeth and ernest 

my father calmed me with assurances of their welfare and endeavoured by
dwelling on these subjects so interesting to my heart to raise my
desponding spirits but he soon felt that a prison cannot be the abode of
cheerfulness what a place is this that you inhabit my son 
said he looking mournfully at the barred windows and wretched appearance
of the room you travelled to seek happiness but a fatality seems
to pursue you and poor clerval 

the name of my unfortunate and murdered friend was an agitation too
great to be endured in my weak state i shed tears 

 alas yes my father replied i some destiny of the
most horrible kind hangs over me and i must live to fulfil it or surely i
should have died on the coffin of henry 

we were not allowed to converse for any length of time for the
precarious state of my health rendered every precaution necessary that
could ensure tranquillity mr kirwin came in and insisted that my
strength should not be exhausted by too much exertion but the
appearance of my father was to me like that of my good angel and i
gradually recovered my health 

as my sickness quitted me i was absorbed by a gloomy and black
melancholy that nothing could dissipate the image of clerval was
for ever before me ghastly and murdered more than once the agitation
into which these reflections threw me made my friends dread a dangerous
relapse alas why did they preserve so miserable and detested a
life it was surely that i might fulfil my destiny which is now
drawing to a close soon oh very soon will death extinguish these
throbbings and relieve me from the mighty weight of anguish that bears
me to the dust and in executing the award of justice i shall also
sink to rest then the appearance of death was distant although the
wish was ever present to my thoughts and i often sat for hours
motionless and speechless wishing for some mighty revolution that
might bury me and my destroyer in its ruins 

the season of the assizes approached i had already been three months
in prison and although i was still weak and in continual danger of a
relapse i was obliged to travel nearly a hundred miles to the country
town where the court was held mr kirwin charged himself with every
care of collecting witnesses and arranging my defence i was spared
the disgrace of appearing publicly as a criminal as the case was not
brought before the court that decides on life and death the grand
jury rejected the bill on its being proved that i was on the orkney
islands at the hour the body of my friend was found and a fortnight
after my removal i was liberated from prison 

my father was enraptured on finding me freed from the vexations of a
criminal charge that i was again allowed to breathe the fresh
atmosphere and permitted to return to my native country i did not
participate in these feelings for to me the walls of a dungeon or a
palace were alike hateful the cup of life was poisoned for ever and
although the sun shone upon me as upon the happy and gay of heart i
saw around me nothing but a dense and frightful darkness penetrated by
no light but the glimmer of two eyes that glared upon me sometimes
they were the expressive eyes of henry languishing in death the dark
orbs nearly covered by the lids and the long black lashes that fringed
them sometimes it was the watery clouded eyes of the monster as i
first saw them in my chamber at ingolstadt 

my father tried to awaken in me the feelings of affection he talked
of geneva which i should soon visit of elizabeth and ernest but
these words only drew deep groans from me sometimes indeed i felt a
wish for happiness and thought with melancholy delight of my beloved
cousin or longed with a devouring maladie du pays to see once more
the blue lake and rapid rhone that had been so dear to me in early
childhood but my general state of feeling was a torpor in which a
prison was as welcome a residence as the divinest scene in nature and
these fits were seldom interrupted but by paroxysms of anguish and
despair at these moments i often endeavoured to put an end to the
existence i loathed and it required unceasing attendance and vigilance
to restrain me from committing some dreadful act of violence 

yet one duty remained to me the recollection of which finally
triumphed over my selfish despair it was necessary that i should
return without delay to geneva there to watch over the lives of those
i so fondly loved and to lie in wait for the murderer that if any
chance led me to the place of his concealment or if he dared again to
blast me by his presence i might with unfailing aim put an end to
the existence of the monstrous image which i had endued with the
mockery of a soul still more monstrous my father still desired to
delay our departure fearful that i could not sustain the fatigues of a
journey for i was a shattered wreck the shadow of a human being my
strength was gone i was a mere skeleton and fever night and day
preyed upon my wasted frame 

still as i urged our leaving ireland with such inquietude and impatience 
my father thought it best to yield we took our passage on board a vessel
bound for havre-de-grace and sailed with a fair wind from the irish shores 
it was midnight i lay on the deck looking at the stars and listening to
the dashing of the waves i hailed the darkness that shut ireland from my
sight and my pulse beat with a feverish joy when i reflected that i should
soon see geneva the past appeared to me in the light of a frightful dream 
yet the vessel in which i was the wind that blew me from the detested
shore of ireland and the sea which surrounded me told me too forcibly
that i was deceived by no vision and that clerval my friend and dearest
companion had fallen a victim to me and the monster of my creation i
repassed in my memory my whole life my quiet happiness while residing
with my family in geneva the death of my mother and my departure for
ingolstadt i remembered shuddering the mad enthusiasm that hurried me on
to the creation of my hideous enemy and i called to mind the night in
which he first lived i was unable to pursue the train of thought a
thousand feelings pressed upon me and i wept bitterly 

ever since my recovery from the fever i had been in the custom of taking
every night a small quantity of laudanum for it was by means of this drug
only that i was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of
life oppressed by the recollection of my various misfortunes i now
swallowed double my usual quantity and soon slept profoundly but sleep did
not afford me respite from thought and misery my dreams presented a
thousand objects that scared me towards morning i was possessed by a kind
of nightmare i felt the fiend's grasp in my neck and could not free
myself from it groans and cries rang in my ears my father who was
watching over me perceiving my restlessness awoke me the dashing waves
were around the cloudy sky above the fiend was not here a sense of
security a feeling that a truce was established between the present hour
and the irresistible disastrous future imparted to me a kind of calm
forgetfulness of which the human mind is by its structure peculiarly
susceptible 





chapter 22

the voyage came to an end we landed and proceeded to paris i soon
found that i had overtaxed my strength and that i must repose before i
could continue my journey my father's care and attentions were
indefatigable but he did not know the origin of my sufferings and
sought erroneous methods to remedy the incurable ill he wished me to
seek amusement in society i abhorred the face of man oh not
abhorred they were my brethren my fellow beings and i felt
attracted even to the most repulsive among them as to creatures of an
angelic nature and celestial mechanism but i felt that i had no right
to share their intercourse i had unchained an enemy among them whose
joy it was to shed their blood and to revel in their groans how they
would each and all abhor me and hunt me from the world did they know
my unhallowed acts and the crimes which had their source in me 

my father yielded at length to my desire to avoid society and strove by
various arguments to banish my despair sometimes he thought that i
felt deeply the degradation of being obliged to answer a charge of
murder and he endeavoured to prove to me the futility of pride 

 alas my father said i how little do you know me 
human beings their feelings and passions would indeed be degraded if such
a wretch as i felt pride justine poor unhappy justine was as innocent
as i and she suffered the same charge she died for it and i am the cause
of this i murdered her william justine and henry they all
died by my hands 

my father had often during my imprisonment heard me make the same
assertion when i thus accused myself he sometimes seemed to desire an
explanation and at others he appeared to consider it as the offspring of
delirium and that during my illness some idea of this kind had presented
itself to my imagination the remembrance of which i preserved in my
convalescence i avoided explanation and maintained a continual silence
concerning the wretch i had created i had a persuasion that i should be
supposed mad and this in itself would for ever have chained my tongue but 
besides i could not bring myself to disclose a secret which would fill my
hearer with consternation and make fear and unnatural horror the inmates of
his breast i checked therefore my impatient thirst for sympathy and was
silent when i would have given the world to have confided the fatal secret 
yet still words like those i have recorded would burst uncontrollably
from me i could offer no explanation of them but their truth in part
relieved the burden of my mysterious woe 

upon this occasion my father said with an expression of unbounded wonder 
 my dearest victor what infatuation is this my dear son i entreat
you never to make such an assertion again 

 i am not mad i cried energetically the sun and the heavens who
have viewed my operations can bear witness of my truth i am the
assassin of those most innocent victims they died by my machinations 
a thousand times would i have shed my own blood drop by drop to have
saved their lives but i could not my father indeed i could not
sacrifice the whole human race 

the conclusion of this speech convinced my father that my ideas were
deranged and he instantly changed the subject of our conversation and
endeavoured to alter the course of my thoughts he wished as much as
possible to obliterate the memory of the scenes that had taken place in
ireland and never alluded to them or suffered me to speak of my
misfortunes 

as time passed away i became more calm misery had her dwelling in my
heart but i no longer talked in the same incoherent manner of my own
crimes sufficient for me was the consciousness of them by the utmost
self-violence i curbed the imperious voice of wretchedness which
sometimes desired to declare itself to the whole world and my manners
were calmer and more composed than they had ever been since my journey
to the sea of ice 

a few days before we left paris on our way to switzerland i received the
following letter from elizabeth 

 my dear friend 

 it gave me the greatest pleasure to receive a letter from my uncle
dated at paris you are no longer at a formidable distance and i may
hope to see you in less than a fortnight my poor cousin how much you
must have suffered i expect to see you looking even more ill than
when you quitted geneva this winter has been passed most miserably 
tortured as i have been by anxious suspense yet i hope to see peace in
your countenance and to find that your heart is not totally void of
comfort and tranquillity 

 yet i fear that the same feelings now exist that made you so miserable
a year ago even perhaps augmented by time i would not disturb you at
this period when so many misfortunes weigh upon you but a
conversation that i had with my uncle previous to his departure renders
some explanation necessary before we meet 

explanation you may possibly say what can elizabeth have to explain if
you really say this my questions are answered and all my doubts satisfied 
but you are distant from me and it is possible that you may dread and yet
be pleased with this explanation and in a probability of this being the
case i dare not any longer postpone writing what during your absence i
have often wished to express to you but have never had the courage to begin 

 you well know victor that our union had been the favourite plan of
your parents ever since our infancy we were told this when young and
taught to look forward to it as an event that would certainly take
place we were affectionate playfellows during childhood and i
believe dear and valued friends to one another as we grew older but
as brother and sister often entertain a lively affection towards each
other without desiring a more intimate union may not such also be our
case tell me dearest victor answer me i conjure you by our mutual
happiness with simple truth do you not love another 

 you have travelled you have spent several years of your life at
ingolstadt and i confess to you my friend that when i saw you last
autumn so unhappy flying to solitude from the society of every
creature i could not help supposing that you might regret our
connection and believe yourself bound in honour to fulfil the wishes of
your parents although they opposed themselves to your inclinations 
but this is false reasoning i confess to you my friend that i love
you and that in my airy dreams of futurity you have been my constant
friend and companion but it is your happiness i desire as well as my
own when i declare to you that our marriage would render me eternally
miserable unless it were the dictate of your own free choice even now
i weep to think that borne down as you are by the cruellest
misfortunes you may stifle by the word honour all hope of that
love and happiness which would alone restore you to yourself i who
have so disinterested an affection for you may increase your miseries
tenfold by being an obstacle to your wishes ah victor be assured
that your cousin and playmate has too sincere a love for you not to be
made miserable by this supposition be happy my friend and if you
obey me in this one request remain satisfied that nothing on earth
will have the power to interrupt my tranquillity 

 do not let this letter disturb you do not answer tomorrow or the
next day or even until you come if it will give you pain my uncle
will send me news of your health and if i see but one smile on your
lips when we meet occasioned by this or any other exertion of mine i
shall need no other happiness 

 elizabeth lavenza 



 geneva may 18th 17 



this letter revived in my memory what i had before forgotten the threat of
the fiend i will be with you on your
wedding-night such was my sentence and on that night would the
daemon employ every art to destroy me and tear me from the glimpse of
happiness which promised partly to console my sufferings on that night he
had determined to consummate his crimes by my death well be it so a
deadly struggle would then assuredly take place in which if he were
victorious i should be at peace and his power over me be at an end if he
were vanquished i should be a free man alas what freedom such as the
peasant enjoys when his family have been massacred before his eyes his
cottage burnt his lands laid waste and he is turned adrift homeless 
penniless and alone but free such would be my liberty except that in my
elizabeth i possessed a treasure alas balanced by those horrors of
remorse and guilt which would pursue me until death 

sweet and beloved elizabeth i read and reread her letter and some
softened feelings stole into my heart and dared to whisper paradisiacal
dreams of love and joy but the apple was already eaten and the
angel's arm bared to drive me from all hope yet i would die to make
her happy if the monster executed his threat death was inevitable yet 
again i considered whether my marriage would hasten my fate my
destruction might indeed arrive a few months sooner but if my torturer
should suspect that i postponed it influenced by his menaces he would
surely find other and perhaps more dreadful means of revenge he had vowed
 to be with me on my wedding-night yet he did not consider that
threat as binding him to peace in the meantime for as if to show me that
he was not yet satiated with blood he had murdered clerval immediately
after the enunciation of his threats i resolved therefore that if my
immediate union with my cousin would conduce either to hers or my
father's happiness my adversary's designs against my life
should not retard it a single hour 

in this state of mind i wrote to elizabeth my letter was calm and
affectionate i fear my beloved girl i said little happiness
remains for us on earth yet all that i may one day enjoy is centred in
you chase away your idle fears to you alone do i consecrate my life
and my endeavours for contentment i have one secret elizabeth a
dreadful one when revealed to you it will chill your frame with
horror and then far from being surprised at my misery you will only
wonder that i survive what i have endured i will confide this tale of
misery and terror to you the day after our marriage shall take place 
for my sweet cousin there must be perfect confidence between us but
until then i conjure you do not mention or allude to it this i most
earnestly entreat and i know you will comply 

in about a week after the arrival of elizabeth's letter we returned
to geneva the sweet girl welcomed me with warm affection yet tears were
in her eyes as she beheld my emaciated frame and feverish cheeks i saw a
change in her also she was thinner and had lost much of that heavenly
vivacity that had before charmed me but her gentleness and soft looks of
compassion made her a more fit companion for one blasted and miserable as i
was 

the tranquillity which i now enjoyed did not endure memory brought madness
with it and when i thought of what had passed a real insanity possessed
me sometimes i was furious and burnt with rage sometimes low and
despondent i neither spoke nor looked at anyone but sat motionless 
bewildered by the multitude of miseries that overcame me 

elizabeth alone had the power to draw me from these fits her gentle voice
would soothe me when transported by passion and inspire me with human
feelings when sunk in torpor she wept with me and for me when reason
returned she would remonstrate and endeavour to inspire me with
resignation ah it is well for the unfortunate to be resigned but for the
guilty there is no peace the agonies of remorse poison the luxury there is
otherwise sometimes found in indulging the excess of grief 

soon after my arrival my father spoke of my immediate marriage with
elizabeth i remained silent 

 have you then some other attachment 

 none on earth i love elizabeth and look forward to our union with
delight let the day therefore be fixed and on it i will consecrate
myself in life or death to the happiness of my cousin 

 my dear victor do not speak thus heavy misfortunes have befallen
us but let us only cling closer to what remains and transfer our love
for those whom we have lost to those who yet live our circle will be
small but bound close by the ties of affection and mutual misfortune 
and when time shall have softened your despair new and dear objects of
care will be born to replace those of whom we have been so cruelly
deprived 

such were the lessons of my father but to me the remembrance of the
threat returned nor can you wonder that omnipotent as the fiend had
yet been in his deeds of blood i should almost regard him as
invincible and that when he had pronounced the words i shall be with
you on your wedding-night i should regard the threatened fate as
unavoidable but death was no evil to me if the loss of elizabeth were
balanced with it and i therefore with a contented and even cheerful
countenance agreed with my father that if my cousin would consent the
ceremony should take place in ten days and thus put as i imagined 
the seal to my fate 

great god if for one instant i had thought what might be the hellish
intention of my fiendish adversary i would rather have banished myself
for ever from my native country and wandered a friendless outcast over
the earth than have consented to this miserable marriage but as if
possessed of magic powers the monster had blinded me to his real
intentions and when i thought that i had prepared only my own death i
hastened that of a far dearer victim 

as the period fixed for our marriage drew nearer whether from cowardice or
a prophetic feeling i felt my heart sink within me but i concealed my
feelings by an appearance of hilarity that brought smiles and joy to the
countenance of my father but hardly deceived the ever-watchful and nicer
eye of elizabeth she looked forward to our union with placid contentment 
not unmingled with a little fear which past misfortunes had impressed 
that what now appeared certain and tangible happiness might soon dissipate
into an airy dream and leave no trace but deep and everlasting regret 

preparations were made for the event congratulatory visits were received 
and all wore a smiling appearance i shut up as well as i could in my own
heart the anxiety that preyed there and entered with seeming earnestness
into the plans of my father although they might only serve as the
decorations of my tragedy through my father's exertions a part of
the inheritance of elizabeth had been restored to her by the austrian
government a small possession on the shores of como belonged to her it
was agreed that immediately after our union we should proceed to villa
lavenza and spend our first days of happiness beside the beautiful lake
near which it stood 

in the meantime i took every precaution to defend my person in case the
fiend should openly attack me i carried pistols and a dagger
constantly about me and was ever on the watch to prevent artifice and
by these means gained a greater degree of tranquillity indeed as the
period approached the threat appeared more as a delusion not to be
regarded as worthy to disturb my peace while the happiness i hoped for
in my marriage wore a greater appearance of certainty as the day fixed
for its solemnisation drew nearer and i heard it continually spoken of
as an occurrence which no accident could possibly prevent 

elizabeth seemed happy my tranquil demeanour contributed greatly to
calm her mind but on the day that was to fulfil my wishes and my
destiny she was melancholy and a presentiment of evil pervaded her 
and perhaps also she thought of the dreadful secret which i had
promised to reveal to her on the following day my father was in the
meantime overjoyed and in the bustle of preparation only recognised in
the melancholy of his niece the diffidence of a bride 

after the ceremony was performed a large party assembled at my
father's but it was agreed that elizabeth and i should commence our
journey by water sleeping that night at evian and continuing our
voyage on the following day the day was fair the wind favourable 
all smiled on our nuptial embarkation 

those were the last moments of my life during which i enjoyed the
feeling of happiness we passed rapidly along the sun was hot but we
were sheltered from its rays by a kind of canopy while we enjoyed the
beauty of the scene sometimes on one side of the lake where we saw
mont saleve the pleasant banks of montalegre and at a distance 
surmounting all the beautiful mont blanc and the assemblage of snowy
mountains that in vain endeavour to emulate her sometimes coasting the
opposite banks we saw the mighty jura opposing its dark side to the
ambition that would quit its native country and an almost
insurmountable barrier to the invader who should wish to enslave it 

i took the hand of elizabeth you are sorrowful my love ah if
you knew what i have suffered and what i may yet endure you would
endeavour to let me taste the quiet and freedom from despair that this
one day at least permits me to enjoy 

 be happy my dear victor replied elizabeth there is i hope 
nothing to distress you and be assured that if a lively joy is not
painted in my face my heart is contented something whispers to me
not to depend too much on the prospect that is opened before us but i
will not listen to such a sinister voice observe how fast we move
along and how the clouds which sometimes obscure and sometimes rise
above the dome of mont blanc render this scene of beauty still more
interesting look also at the innumerable fish that are swimming in
the clear waters where we can distinguish every pebble that lies at
the bottom what a divine day how happy and serene all nature
appears 

thus elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts and mine from all
reflection upon melancholy subjects but her temper was fluctuating 
joy for a few instants shone in her eyes but it continually gave place
to distraction and reverie 

the sun sank lower in the heavens we passed the river drance and
observed its path through the chasms of the higher and the glens of the
lower hills the alps here come closer to the lake and we approached
the amphitheatre of mountains which forms its eastern boundary the
spire of evian shone under the woods that surrounded it and the range
of mountain above mountain by which it was overhung 

the wind which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity 
sank at sunset to a light breeze the soft air just ruffled the water
and caused a pleasant motion among the trees as we approached the
shore from which it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers and
hay the sun sank beneath the horizon as we landed and as i touched
the shore i felt those cares and fears revive which soon were to clasp
me and cling to me for ever 





chapter 23

it was eight o'clock when we landed we walked for a short time on the
shore enjoying the transitory light and then retired to the inn and
contemplated the lovely scene of waters woods and mountains obscured
in darkness yet still displaying their black outlines 

the wind which had fallen in the south now rose with great violence
in the west the moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was
beginning to descend the clouds swept across it swifter than the
flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays while the lake reflected the
scene of the busy heavens rendered still busier by the restless waves
that were beginning to rise suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended 

i had been calm during the day but so soon as night obscured the
shapes of objects a thousand fears arose in my mind i was anxious
and watchful while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in
my bosom every sound terrified me but i resolved that i would sell my
life dearly and not shrink from the conflict until my own life or that
of my adversary was extinguished 

elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence 
but there was something in my glance which communicated terror to her and
trembling she asked what is it that agitates you my dear victor 
what is it you fear 

 oh peace peace my love replied i this night and
all will be safe but this night is dreadful very dreadful 

i passed an hour in this state of mind when suddenly i reflected how
fearful the combat which i momentarily expected would be to my wife 
and i earnestly entreated her to retire resolving not to join her
until i had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy 

she left me and i continued some time walking up and down the passages
of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to
my adversary but i discovered no trace of him and was beginning to
conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the
execution of his menaces when suddenly i heard a shrill and dreadful
scream it came from the room into which elizabeth had retired as i
heard it the whole truth rushed into my mind my arms dropped the
motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended i could feel the blood
trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs this
state lasted but for an instant the scream was repeated and i rushed
into the room 

great god why did i not then expire why am i here to relate the
destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth she was
there lifeless and inanimate thrown across the bed her head hanging down
and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair everywhere i
turn i see the same figure her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung
by the murderer on its bridal bier could i behold this and live alas 
life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated for a moment
only did i lose recollection i fell senseless on the ground 

when i recovered i found myself surrounded by the people of the inn their
countenances expressed a breathless terror but the horror of others
appeared only as a mockery a shadow of the feelings that oppressed me i
escaped from them to the room where lay the body of elizabeth my love my
wife so lately living so dear so worthy she had been moved from the
posture in which i had first beheld her and now as she lay her head upon
her arm and a handkerchief thrown across her face and neck i might have
supposed her asleep i rushed towards her and embraced her with ardour but
the deadly languor and coldness of the limbs told me that what i now held
in my arms had ceased to be the elizabeth whom i had loved and cherished 
the murderous mark of the fiend's grasp was on her neck and the
breath had ceased to issue from her lips 

while i still hung over her in the agony of despair i happened to look up 
the windows of the room had before been darkened and i felt a kind of
panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber 
the shutters had been thrown back and with a sensation of horror not to be
described i saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred 
a grin was on the face of the monster he seemed to jeer as with his
fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife i rushed towards
the window and drawing a pistol from my bosom fired but he eluded me 
leaped from his station and running with the swiftness of lightning 
plunged into the lake 

the report of the pistol brought a crowd into the room i pointed to
the spot where he had disappeared and we followed the track with
boats nets were cast but in vain after passing several hours we
returned hopeless most of my companions believing it to have been a
form conjured up by my fancy after having landed they proceeded to
search the country parties going in different directions among the
woods and vines 

i attempted to accompany them and proceeded a short distance from the
house but my head whirled round my steps were like those of a drunken
man i fell at last in a state of utter exhaustion a film covered my
eyes and my skin was parched with the heat of fever in this state i
was carried back and placed on a bed hardly conscious of what had
happened my eyes wandered round the room as if to seek something that
i had lost 

after an interval i arose and as if by instinct crawled into the room
where the corpse of my beloved lay there were women weeping around i
hung over it and joined my sad tears to theirs all this time no
distinct idea presented itself to my mind but my thoughts rambled to
various subjects reflecting confusedly on my misfortunes and their
cause i was bewildered in a cloud of wonder and horror the death
of william the execution of justine the murder of clerval and lastly
of my wife even at that moment i knew not that my only remaining
friends were safe from the malignity of the fiend my father even now
might be writhing under his grasp and ernest might be dead at his
feet this idea made me shudder and recalled me to action i started
up and resolved to return to geneva with all possible speed 

there were no horses to be procured and i must return by the lake but the
wind was unfavourable and the rain fell in torrents however it was
hardly morning and i might reasonably hope to arrive by night i hired men
to row and took an oar myself for i had always experienced relief from
mental torment in bodily exercise but the overflowing misery i now felt 
and the excess of agitation that i endured rendered me incapable of any
exertion i threw down the oar and leaning my head upon my hands gave way
to every gloomy idea that arose if i looked up i saw scenes which were
familiar to me in my happier time and which i had contemplated but the day
before in the company of her who was now but a shadow and a recollection 
tears streamed from my eyes the rain had ceased for a moment and i saw
the fish play in the waters as they had done a few hours before they had
then been observed by elizabeth nothing is so painful to the human mind as
a great and sudden change the sun might shine or the clouds might lower 
but nothing could appear to me as it had done the day before a fiend had
snatched from me every hope of future happiness no creature had ever been
so miserable as i was so frightful an event is single in the history of
man 

but why should i dwell upon the incidents that followed this last
overwhelming event mine has been a tale of horrors i have reached their
 acme and what i must now relate can but be tedious to you know
that one by one my friends were snatched away i was left desolate my
own strength is exhausted and i must tell in a few words what remains of
my hideous narration 

i arrived at geneva my father and ernest yet lived but the former sunk
under the tidings that i bore i see him now excellent and venerable old
man his eyes wandered in vacancy for they had lost their charm and their
delight his elizabeth his more than daughter whom he doted on with
all that affection which a man feels who in the decline of life having
few affections clings more earnestly to those that remain cursed cursed
be the fiend that brought misery on his grey hairs and doomed him to waste
in wretchedness he could not live under the horrors that were accumulated
around him the springs of existence suddenly gave way he was unable to
rise from his bed and in a few days he died in my arms 

what then became of me i know not i lost sensation and chains and
darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me sometimes 
indeed i dreamt that i wandered in flowery meadows and pleasant vales
with the friends of my youth but i awoke and found myself in a
dungeon melancholy followed but by degrees i gained a clear
conception of my miseries and situation and was then released from my
prison for they had called me mad and during many months as i
understood a solitary cell had been my habitation 

liberty however had been a useless gift to me had i not as i
awakened to reason at the same time awakened to revenge as the
memory of past misfortunes pressed upon me i began to reflect on their
cause the monster whom i had created the miserable daemon whom i had
sent abroad into the world for my destruction i was possessed by a
maddening rage when i thought of him and desired and ardently prayed
that i might have him within my grasp to wreak a great and signal
revenge on his cursed head 

nor did my hate long confine itself to useless wishes i began to
reflect on the best means of securing him and for this purpose about
a month after my release i repaired to a criminal judge in the town
and told him that i had an accusation to make that i knew the
destroyer of my family and that i required him to exert his whole
authority for the apprehension of the murderer 

the magistrate listened to me with attention and kindness be
assured sir said he no pains or exertions on my part shall
be spared to discover the villain 

 i thank you replied i listen therefore to the
deposition that i have to make it is indeed a tale so strange that i
should fear you would not credit it were there not something in truth
which however wonderful forces conviction the story is too connected to
be mistaken for a dream and i have no motive for falsehood my
manner as i thus addressed him was impressive but calm i had formed in my
own heart a resolution to pursue my destroyer to death and this purpose
quieted my agony and for an interval reconciled me to life i now related
my history briefly but with firmness and precision marking the dates with
accuracy and never deviating into invective or exclamation 

the magistrate appeared at first perfectly incredulous but as i continued
he became more attentive and interested i saw him sometimes shudder with
horror at others a lively surprise unmingled with disbelief was painted
on his countenance 

when i had concluded my narration i said this is the being whom i
accuse and for whose seizure and punishment i call upon you to exert your
whole power it is your duty as a magistrate and i believe and hope that
your feelings as a man will not revolt from the execution of those
functions on this occasion 

this address caused a considerable change in the physiognomy of my own
auditor he had heard my story with that half kind of belief that is given
to a tale of spirits and supernatural events but when he was called upon
to act officially in consequence the whole tide of his incredulity
returned he however answered mildly i would willingly afford you
every aid in your pursuit but the creature of whom you speak appears to
have powers which would put all my exertions to defiance who can follow an
animal which can traverse the sea of ice and inhabit caves and dens where
no man would venture to intrude besides some months have elapsed since
the commission of his crimes and no one can conjecture to what place he
has wandered or what region he may now inhabit 

 i do not doubt that he hovers near the spot which i inhabit and if
he has indeed taken refuge in the alps he may be hunted like the chamois
and destroyed as a beast of prey but i perceive your thoughts you do not
credit my narrative and do not intend to pursue my enemy with the
punishment which is his desert 

as i spoke rage sparkled in my eyes the magistrate was intimidated 
 you are mistaken said he i will exert myself and if
it is in my power to seize the monster be assured that he shall suffer
punishment proportionate to his crimes but i fear from what you have
yourself described to be his properties that this will prove
impracticable and thus while every proper measure is pursued you should
make up your mind to disappointment 

 that cannot be but all that i can say will be of little avail my
revenge is of no moment to you yet while i allow it to be a vice i
confess that it is the devouring and only passion of my soul my rage
is unspeakable when i reflect that the murderer whom i have turned
loose upon society still exists you refuse my just demand i have
but one resource and i devote myself either in my life or death to
his destruction 

i trembled with excess of agitation as i said this there was a frenzy
in my manner and something i doubt not of that haughty fierceness
which the martyrs of old are said to have possessed but to a genevan
magistrate whose mind was occupied by far other ideas than those of
devotion and heroism this elevation of mind had much the appearance of
madness he endeavoured to soothe me as a nurse does a child and
reverted to my tale as the effects of delirium 

 man i cried how ignorant art thou in thy pride of
wisdom cease you know not what it is you say 

i broke from the house angry and disturbed and retired to meditate on
some other mode of action 





chapter 24

my present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was
swallowed up and lost i was hurried away by fury revenge alone
endowed me with strength and composure it moulded my feelings and
allowed me to be calculating and calm at periods when otherwise
delirium or death would have been my portion 

my first resolution was to quit geneva for ever my country which when i
was happy and beloved was dear to me now in my adversity became
hateful i provided myself with a sum of money together with a few jewels
which had belonged to my mother and departed 

and now my wanderings began which are to cease but with life i have
traversed a vast portion of the earth and have endured all the hardships
which travellers in deserts and barbarous countries are wont to meet how i
have lived i hardly know many times have i stretched my failing limbs upon
the sandy plain and prayed for death but revenge kept me alive i dared
not die and leave my adversary in being 

when i quitted geneva my first labour was to gain some clue by which i
might trace the steps of my fiendish enemy but my plan was unsettled 
and i wandered many hours round the confines of the town uncertain
what path i should pursue as night approached i found myself at the
entrance of the cemetery where william elizabeth and my father
reposed i entered it and approached the tomb which marked their
graves everything was silent except the leaves of the trees which
were gently agitated by the wind the night was nearly dark and the
scene would have been solemn and affecting even to an uninterested
observer the spirits of the departed seemed to flit around and to
cast a shadow which was felt but not seen around the head of the
mourner 

the deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to
rage and despair they were dead and i lived their murderer also lived 
and to destroy him i must drag out my weary existence i knelt on the grass
and kissed the earth and with quivering lips exclaimed by the
sacred earth on which i kneel by the shades that wander near me by the
deep and eternal grief that i feel i swear and by thee o night and the
spirits that preside over thee to pursue the daemon who caused this misery 
until he or i shall perish in mortal conflict for this purpose i will
preserve my life to execute this dear revenge will i again behold the sun
and tread the green herbage of earth which otherwise should vanish from my
eyes for ever and i call on you spirits of the dead and on you wandering
ministers of vengeance to aid and conduct me in my work let the cursed
and hellish monster drink deep of agony let him feel the despair that now
torments me 

i had begun my adjuration with solemnity and an awe which almost assured me
that the shades of my murdered friends heard and approved my devotion but
the furies possessed me as i concluded and rage choked my utterance 

i was answered through the stillness of night by a loud and fiendish
laugh it rang on my ears long and heavily the mountains re-echoed
it and i felt as if all hell surrounded me with mockery and laughter 
surely in that moment i should have been possessed by frenzy and have
destroyed my miserable existence but that my vow was heard and that i
was reserved for vengeance the laughter died away when a well-known
and abhorred voice apparently close to my ear addressed me in an
audible whisper i am satisfied miserable wretch you have
determined to live and i am satisfied 

i darted towards the spot from which the sound proceeded but the devil
eluded my grasp suddenly the broad disk of the moon arose and shone
full upon his ghastly and distorted shape as he fled with more than
mortal speed 

i pursued him and for many months this has been my task guided by a
slight clue i followed the windings of the rhone but vainly the
blue mediterranean appeared and by a strange chance i saw the fiend
enter by night and hide himself in a vessel bound for the black sea i
took my passage in the same ship but he escaped i know not how 

amidst the wilds of tartary and russia although he still evaded me i
have ever followed in his track sometimes the peasants scared by
this horrid apparition informed me of his path sometimes he himself 
who feared that if i lost all trace of him i should despair and die 
left some mark to guide me the snows descended on my head and i saw
the print of his huge step on the white plain to you first entering
on life to whom care is new and agony unknown how can you understand
what i have felt and still feel cold want and fatigue were the
least pains which i was destined to endure i was cursed by some devil
and carried about with me my eternal hell yet still a spirit of good
followed and directed my steps and when i most murmured would suddenly
extricate me from seemingly insurmountable difficulties sometimes 
when nature overcome by hunger sank under the exhaustion a repast
was prepared for me in the desert that restored and inspirited me the
fare was indeed coarse such as the peasants of the country ate but
i will not doubt that it was set there by the spirits that i had
invoked to aid me often when all was dry the heavens cloudless and
i was parched by thirst a slight cloud would bedim the sky shed the
few drops that revived me and vanish 

i followed when i could the courses of the rivers but the daemon
generally avoided these as it was here that the population of the
country chiefly collected in other places human beings were seldom
seen and i generally subsisted on the wild animals that crossed my
path i had money with me and gained the friendship of the villagers
by distributing it or i brought with me some food that i had killed 
which after taking a small part i always presented to those who had
provided me with fire and utensils for cooking 

my life as it passed thus was indeed hateful to me and it was during
sleep alone that i could taste joy o blessed sleep often when most
miserable i sank to repose and my dreams lulled me even to rapture the
spirits that guarded me had provided these moments or rather hours of
happiness that i might retain strength to fulfil my pilgrimage deprived of
this respite i should have sunk under my hardships during the day i was
sustained and inspirited by the hope of night for in sleep i saw my
friends my wife and my beloved country again i saw the benevolent
countenance of my father heard the silver tones of my elizabeth's
voice and beheld clerval enjoying health and youth often when wearied by
a toilsome march i persuaded myself that i was dreaming until night should
come and that i should then enjoy reality in the arms of my dearest
friends what agonising fondness did i feel for them how did i cling to
their dear forms as sometimes they haunted even my waking hours and
persuade myself that they still lived at such moments vengeance that
burned within me died in my heart and i pursued my path towards the
destruction of the daemon more as a task enjoined by heaven as the
mechanical impulse of some power of which i was unconscious than as the
ardent desire of my soul 

what his feelings were whom i pursued i cannot know sometimes indeed he
left marks in writing on the barks of the trees or cut in stone that guided
me and instigated my fury my reign is not yet
over these words were legible in one of these
inscriptions you live and my power is complete follow me i
seek the everlasting ices of the north where you will feel the misery of
cold and frost to which i am impassive you will find near this place if
you follow not too tardily a dead hare eat and be refreshed come on my
enemy we have yet to wrestle for our lives but many hard and miserable
hours must you endure until that period shall arrive 

scoffing devil again do i vow vengeance again do i devote thee 
miserable fiend to torture and death never will i give up my search
until he or i perish and then with what ecstasy shall i join my
elizabeth and my departed friends who even now prepare for me the
reward of my tedious toil and horrible pilgrimage 

as i still pursued my journey to the northward the snows thickened and the
cold increased in a degree almost too severe to support the peasants were
shut up in their hovels and only a few of the most hardy ventured forth to
seize the animals whom starvation had forced from their hiding-places to
seek for prey the rivers were covered with ice and no fish could be
procured and thus i was cut off from my chief article of maintenance 

the triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my labours one
inscription that he left was in these words prepare your toils
only begin wrap yourself in furs and provide food for we shall soon enter
upon a journey where your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting
hatred 

my courage and perseverance were invigorated by these scoffing words i
resolved not to fail in my purpose and calling on heaven to support
me i continued with unabated fervour to traverse immense deserts 
until the ocean appeared at a distance and formed the utmost boundary
of the horizon oh how unlike it was to the blue seasons of the
south covered with ice it was only to be distinguished from land by
its superior wildness and ruggedness the greeks wept for joy when
they beheld the mediterranean from the hills of asia and hailed with
rapture the boundary of their toils i did not weep but i knelt down
and with a full heart thanked my guiding spirit for conducting me in
safety to the place where i hoped notwithstanding my adversary's gibe 
to meet and grapple with him 

some weeks before this period i had procured a sledge and dogs and thus
traversed the snows with inconceivable speed i know not whether the
fiend possessed the same advantages but i found that as before i had
daily lost ground in the pursuit i now gained on him so much so that
when i first saw the ocean he was but one day's journey in advance and
i hoped to intercept him before he should reach the beach with new
courage therefore i pressed on and in two days arrived at a wretched
hamlet on the seashore i inquired of the inhabitants concerning the
fiend and gained accurate information a gigantic monster they said 
had arrived the night before armed with a gun and many pistols 
putting to flight the inhabitants of a solitary cottage through fear of
his terrific appearance he had carried off their store of winter
food and placing it in a sledge to draw which he had seized on a
numerous drove of trained dogs he had harnessed them and the same
night to the joy of the horror-struck villagers had pursued his
journey across the sea in a direction that led to no land and they
conjectured that he must speedily be destroyed by the breaking of the
ice or frozen by the eternal frosts 

on hearing this information i suffered a temporary access of despair 
he had escaped me and i must commence a destructive and almost endless
journey across the mountainous ices of the ocean amidst cold that few
of the inhabitants could long endure and which i the native of a
genial and sunny climate could not hope to survive yet at the idea
that the fiend should live and be triumphant my rage and vengeance
returned and like a mighty tide overwhelmed every other feeling 
after a slight repose during which the spirits of the dead hovered
round and instigated me to toil and revenge i prepared for my journey 

i exchanged my land-sledge for one fashioned for the inequalities of
the frozen ocean and purchasing a plentiful stock of provisions i
departed from land 

i cannot guess how many days have passed since then but i have endured
misery which nothing but the eternal sentiment of a just retribution
burning within my heart could have enabled me to support immense and
rugged mountains of ice often barred up my passage and i often heard
the thunder of the ground sea which threatened my destruction but
again the frost came and made the paths of the sea secure 

by the quantity of provision which i had consumed i should guess that
i had passed three weeks in this journey and the continual protraction
of hope returning back upon the heart often wrung bitter drops of
despondency and grief from my eyes despair had indeed almost secured
her prey and i should soon have sunk beneath this misery once after
the poor animals that conveyed me had with incredible toil gained the
summit of a sloping ice mountain and one sinking under his fatigue 
died i viewed the expanse before me with anguish when suddenly my eye
caught a dark speck upon the dusky plain i strained my sight to
discover what it could be and uttered a wild cry of ecstasy when i
distinguished a sledge and the distorted proportions of a well-known
form within oh with what a burning gush did hope revisit my heart 
warm tears filled my eyes which i hastily wiped away that they might
not intercept the view i had of the daemon but still my sight was
dimmed by the burning drops until giving way to the emotions that
oppressed me i wept aloud 

but this was not the time for delay i disencumbered the dogs of their
dead companion gave them a plentiful portion of food and after an
hour's rest which was absolutely necessary and yet which was bitterly
irksome to me i continued my route the sledge was still visible nor
did i again lose sight of it except at the moments when for a short
time some ice-rock concealed it with its intervening crags i indeed
perceptibly gained on it and when after nearly two days journey i
beheld my enemy at no more than a mile distant my heart bounded within
me 

but now when i appeared almost within grasp of my foe my hopes were
suddenly extinguished and i lost all trace of him more utterly than i had
ever done before a ground sea was heard the thunder of its progress as
the waters rolled and swelled beneath me became every moment more ominous
and terrific i pressed on but in vain the wind arose the sea roared 
and as with the mighty shock of an earthquake it split and cracked with a
tremendous and overwhelming sound the work was soon finished in a few
minutes a tumultuous sea rolled between me and my enemy and i was left
drifting on a scattered piece of ice that was continually lessening and
thus preparing for me a hideous death 

in this manner many appalling hours passed several of my dogs died and i
myself was about to sink under the accumulation of distress when i saw your
vessel riding at anchor and holding forth to me hopes of succour and life 
i had no conception that vessels ever came so far north and was astounded
at the sight i quickly destroyed part of my sledge to construct oars and
by these means was enabled with infinite fatigue to move my ice raft in
the direction of your ship i had determined if you were going southwards 
still to trust myself to the mercy of the seas rather than abandon my
purpose i hoped to induce you to grant me a boat with which i could pursue
my enemy but your direction was northwards you took me on board when my
vigour was exhausted and i should soon have sunk under my multiplied
hardships into a death which i still dread for my task is unfulfilled 

oh when will my guiding spirit in conducting me to the daemon allow
me the rest i so much desire or must i die and he yet live if i do 
swear to me walton that he shall not escape that you will seek him
and satisfy my vengeance in his death and do i dare to ask of you to
undertake my pilgrimage to endure the hardships that i have undergone 
no i am not so selfish yet when i am dead if he should appear if
the ministers of vengeance should conduct him to you swear that he
shall not live swear that he shall not triumph over my accumulated
woes and survive to add to the list of his dark crimes he is eloquent
and persuasive and once his words had even power over my heart but
trust him not his soul is as hellish as his form full of treachery
and fiend-like malice hear him not call on the names of william 
justine clerval elizabeth my father and of the wretched victor and
thrust your sword into his heart i will hover near and direct the
steel aright 

walton in continuation 


august 26th 17 


you have read this strange and terrific story margaret and do you not
feel your blood congeal with horror like that which even now curdles
mine sometimes seized with sudden agony he could not continue his
tale at others his voice broken yet piercing uttered with
difficulty the words so replete with anguish his fine and lovely eyes
were now lighted up with indignation now subdued to downcast sorrow
and quenched in infinite wretchedness sometimes he commanded his
countenance and tones and related the most horrible incidents with a
tranquil voice suppressing every mark of agitation then like a
volcano bursting forth his face would suddenly change to an expression
of the wildest rage as he shrieked out imprecations on his persecutor 

his tale is connected and told with an appearance of the simplest truth 
yet i own to you that the letters of felix and safie which he showed me 
and the apparition of the monster seen from our ship brought to me a
greater conviction of the truth of his narrative than his asseverations 
however earnest and connected such a monster has then really existence 
i cannot doubt it yet i am lost in surprise and admiration sometimes i
endeavoured to gain from frankenstein the particulars of his
creature's formation but on this point he was impenetrable 

 are you mad my friend said he or whither does your
senseless curiosity lead you would you also create for yourself and the
world a demoniacal enemy peace peace learn my miseries and do not seek
to increase your own 

frankenstein discovered that i made notes concerning his history he asked
to see them and then himself corrected and augmented them in many places 
but principally in giving the life and spirit to the conversations he held
with his enemy since you have preserved my narration said
he i would not that a mutilated one should go down to
posterity 

thus has a week passed away while i have listened to the strangest
tale that ever imagination formed my thoughts and every feeling of my
soul have been drunk up by the interest for my guest which this tale
and his own elevated and gentle manners have created i wish to soothe
him yet can i counsel one so infinitely miserable so destitute of
every hope of consolation to live oh no the only joy that he can
now know will be when he composes his shattered spirit to peace and
death yet he enjoys one comfort the offspring of solitude and
delirium he believes that when in dreams he holds converse with his
friends and derives from that communion consolation for his miseries or
excitements to his vengeance that they are not the creations of his
fancy but the beings themselves who visit him from the regions of a
remote world this faith gives a solemnity to his reveries that render
them to me almost as imposing and interesting as truth 

our conversations are not always confined to his own history and
misfortunes on every point of general literature he displays
unbounded knowledge and a quick and piercing apprehension his
eloquence is forcible and touching nor can i hear him when he relates
a pathetic incident or endeavours to move the passions of pity or love 
without tears what a glorious creature must he have been in the days
of his prosperity when he is thus noble and godlike in ruin he seems
to feel his own worth and the greatness of his fall 

 when younger said he i believed myself destined for
some great enterprise my feelings are profound but i possessed a coolness
of judgment that fitted me for illustrious achievements this sentiment of
the worth of my nature supported me when others would have been oppressed 
for i deemed it criminal to throw away in useless grief those talents that
might be useful to my fellow creatures when i reflected on the work i had
completed no less a one than the creation of a sensitive and rational
animal i could not rank myself with the herd of common projectors but
this thought which supported me in the commencement of my career now
serves only to plunge me lower in the dust all my speculations and hopes
are as nothing and like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence i am
chained in an eternal hell my imagination was vivid yet my powers of
analysis and application were intense by the union of these qualities i
conceived the idea and executed the creation of a man even now i cannot
recollect without passion my reveries while the work was incomplete i trod
heaven in my thoughts now exulting in my powers now burning with the idea
of their effects from my infancy i was imbued with high hopes and a lofty
ambition but how am i sunk oh my friend if you had known me as i once
was you would not recognise me in this state of degradation despondency
rarely visited my heart a high destiny seemed to bear me on until i fell 
never never again to rise 

must i then lose this admirable being i have longed for a friend i have
sought one who would sympathise with and love me behold on these desert
seas i have found such a one but i fear i have gained him only to know his
value and lose him i would reconcile him to life but he repulses the idea 

 i thank you walton he said for your kind intentions towards so
miserable a wretch but when you speak of new ties and fresh
affections think you that any can replace those who are gone can any
man be to me as clerval was or any woman another elizabeth even
where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence 
the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our
minds which hardly any later friend can obtain they know our
infantine dispositions which however they may be afterwards modified 
are never eradicated and they can judge of our actions with more
certain conclusions as to the integrity of our motives a sister or a
brother can never unless indeed such symptoms have been shown early 
suspect the other of fraud or false dealing when another friend 
however strongly he may be attached may in spite of himself be
contemplated with suspicion but i enjoyed friends dear not only
through habit and association but from their own merits and wherever
i am the soothing voice of my elizabeth and the conversation of
clerval will be ever whispered in my ear they are dead and but one
feeling in such a solitude can persuade me to preserve my life if i
were engaged in any high undertaking or design fraught with extensive
utility to my fellow creatures then could i live to fulfil it but
such is not my destiny i must pursue and destroy the being to whom i
gave existence then my lot on earth will be fulfilled and i may die 

my beloved sister 

september 2d 


i write to you encompassed by peril and ignorant whether i am ever
doomed to see again dear england and the dearer friends that inhabit
it i am surrounded by mountains of ice which admit of no escape and
threaten every moment to crush my vessel the brave fellows whom i
have persuaded to be my companions look towards me for aid but i have
none to bestow there is something terribly appalling in our
situation yet my courage and hopes do not desert me yet it is
terrible to reflect that the lives of all these men are endangered
through me if we are lost my mad schemes are the cause 

and what margaret will be the state of your mind you will not hear of my
destruction and you will anxiously await my return years will pass and
you will have visitings of despair and yet be tortured by hope oh my
beloved sister the sickening failing of your heart-felt expectations is 
in prospect more terrible to me than my own death but you have a husband
and lovely children you may be happy heaven bless you and make you so 

my unfortunate guest regards me with the tenderest compassion he
endeavours to fill me with hope and talks as if life were a possession
which he valued he reminds me how often the same accidents have
happened to other navigators who have attempted this sea and in spite
of myself he fills me with cheerful auguries even the sailors feel
the power of his eloquence when he speaks they no longer despair he
rouses their energies and while they hear his voice they believe these
vast mountains of ice are mole-hills which will vanish before the
resolutions of man these feelings are transitory each day of
expectation delayed fills them with fear and i almost dread a mutiny
caused by this despair 

september 5th 


a scene has just passed of such uncommon interest that although it is
highly probable that these papers may never reach you yet i cannot
forbear recording it 

we are still surrounded by mountains of ice still in imminent danger
of being crushed in their conflict the cold is excessive and many of
my unfortunate comrades have already found a grave amidst this scene of
desolation frankenstein has daily declined in health a feverish fire
still glimmers in his eyes but he is exhausted and when suddenly
roused to any exertion he speedily sinks again into apparent
lifelessness 

i mentioned in my last letter the fears i entertained of a mutiny 
this morning as i sat watching the wan countenance of my friend his
eyes half closed and his limbs hanging listlessly i was roused by half
a dozen of the sailors who demanded admission into the cabin they
entered and their leader addressed me he told me that he and his
companions had been chosen by the other sailors to come in deputation
to me to make me a requisition which in justice i could not refuse 
we were immured in ice and should probably never escape but they
feared that if as was possible the ice should dissipate and a free
passage be opened i should be rash enough to continue my voyage and
lead them into fresh dangers after they might happily have surmounted
this they insisted therefore that i should engage with a solemn
promise that if the vessel should be freed i would instantly direct my
course southwards 

this speech troubled me i had not despaired nor had i yet conceived
the idea of returning if set free yet could i in justice or even in
possibility refuse this demand i hesitated before i answered when
frankenstein who had at first been silent and indeed appeared hardly
to have force enough to attend now roused himself his eyes sparkled 
and his cheeks flushed with momentary vigour turning towards the men 
he said 

 what do you mean what do you demand of your captain are you then 
so easily turned from your design did you not call this a glorious
expedition and wherefore was it glorious not because the way was
smooth and placid as a southern sea but because it was full of dangers and
terror because at every new incident your fortitude was to be called forth
and your courage exhibited because danger and death surrounded it and
these you were to brave and overcome for this was it a glorious for this
was it an honourable undertaking you were hereafter to be hailed as the
benefactors of your species your names adored as belonging to brave men
who encountered death for honour and the benefit of mankind and now 
behold with the first imagination of danger or if you will the first
mighty and terrific trial of your courage you shrink away and are content
to be handed down as men who had not strength enough to endure cold and
peril and so poor souls they were chilly and returned to their warm
firesides why that requires not this preparation ye need not have come
thus far and dragged your captain to the shame of a defeat merely to prove
yourselves cowards oh be men or be more than men be steady to your
purposes and firm as a rock this ice is not made of such stuff as your
hearts may be it is mutable and cannot withstand you if you say that it
shall not do not return to your families with the stigma of disgrace
marked on your brows return as heroes who have fought and conquered and
who know not what it is to turn their backs on the foe 

he spoke this with a voice so modulated to the different feelings expressed
in his speech with an eye so full of lofty design and heroism that can
you wonder that these men were moved they looked at one another and were
unable to reply i spoke i told them to retire and consider of what had
been said that i would not lead them farther north if they strenuously
desired the contrary but that i hoped that with reflection their courage
would return 

they retired and i turned towards my friend but he was sunk in languor and
almost deprived of life 

how all this will terminate i know not but i had rather die than
return shamefully my purpose unfulfilled yet i fear such will be my
fate the men unsupported by ideas of glory and honour can never
willingly continue to endure their present hardships 

september 7th 


the die is cast i have consented to return if we are not destroyed 
thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision i come back
ignorant and disappointed it requires more philosophy than i possess
to bear this injustice with patience 

september 12th 


it is past i am returning to england i have lost my hopes of utility
and glory i have lost my friend but i will endeavour to detail these
bitter circumstances to you my dear sister and while i am wafted
towards england and towards you i will not despond 

september 9th the ice began to move and roarings like thunder were heard
at a distance as the islands split and cracked in every direction we were
in the most imminent peril but as we could only remain passive my chief
attention was occupied by my unfortunate guest whose illness increased in
such a degree that he was entirely confined to his bed the ice cracked
behind us and was driven with force towards the north a breeze sprang from
the west and on the 11th the passage towards the south became perfectly
free when the sailors saw this and that their return to their native
country was apparently assured a shout of tumultuous joy broke from them 
loud and long-continued frankenstein who was dozing awoke and asked the
cause of the tumult they shout i said because they
will soon return to england 

 do you then really return 

 alas yes i cannot withstand their demands i cannot lead them
unwillingly to danger and i must return 

 do so if you will but i will not you may give up your purpose but
mine is assigned to me by heaven and i dare not i am weak but
surely the spirits who assist my vengeance will endow me with
sufficient strength saying this he endeavoured to spring from the
bed but the exertion was too great for him he fell back and fainted 

it was long before he was restored and i often thought that life was
entirely extinct at length he opened his eyes he breathed with
difficulty and was unable to speak the surgeon gave him a composing
draught and ordered us to leave him undisturbed in the meantime he
told me that my friend had certainly not many hours to live 

his sentence was pronounced and i could only grieve and be patient i sat
by his bed watching him his eyes were closed and i thought he slept but
presently he called to me in a feeble voice and bidding me come near 
said alas the strength i relied on is gone i feel that i shall
soon die and he my enemy and persecutor may still be in being think
not walton that in the last moments of my existence i feel that burning
hatred and ardent desire of revenge i once expressed but i feel myself
justified in desiring the death of my adversary during these last days i
have been occupied in examining my past conduct nor do i find it blamable 
in a fit of enthusiastic madness i created a rational creature and was
bound towards him to assure as far as was in my power his happiness and
well-being this was my duty but there was another still paramount to
that my duties towards the beings of my own species had greater claims to
my attention because they included a greater proportion of happiness or
misery urged by this view i refused and i did right in refusing to
create a companion for the first creature he showed unparalleled malignity
and selfishness in evil he destroyed my friends he devoted to destruction
beings who possessed exquisite sensations happiness and wisdom nor do i
know where this thirst for vengeance may end miserable himself that he may
render no other wretched he ought to die the task of his destruction was
mine but i have failed when actuated by selfish and vicious motives i
asked you to undertake my unfinished work and i renew this request now 
when i am only induced by reason and virtue 

 yet i cannot ask you to renounce your country and friends to fulfil
this task and now that you are returning to england you will have
little chance of meeting with him but the consideration of these
points and the well balancing of what you may esteem your duties i
leave to you my judgment and ideas are already disturbed by the near
approach of death i dare not ask you to do what i think right for i
may still be misled by passion 

 that he should live to be an instrument of mischief disturbs me in
other respects this hour when i momentarily expect my release is the
only happy one which i have enjoyed for several years the forms of
the beloved dead flit before me and i hasten to their arms farewell 
walton seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition even if it
be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in
science and discoveries yet why do i say this i have myself been
blasted in these hopes yet another may succeed 

his voice became fainter as he spoke and at length exhausted by his
effort he sank into silence about half an hour afterwards he
attempted again to speak but was unable he pressed my hand feebly and
his eyes closed for ever while the irradiation of a gentle smile passed
away from his lips 

margaret what comment can i make on the untimely extinction of this
glorious spirit what can i say that will enable you to understand the
depth of my sorrow all that i should express would be inadequate and
feeble my tears flow my mind is overshadowed by a cloud of
disappointment but i journey towards england and i may there find
consolation 

i am interrupted what do these sounds portend it is midnight the
breeze blows fairly and the watch on deck scarcely stir again there
is a sound as of a human voice but hoarser it comes from the cabin
where the remains of frankenstein still lie i must arise and examine 
good night my sister 

great god what a scene has just taken place i am yet dizzy with the
remembrance of it i hardly know whether i shall have the power to detail
it yet the tale which i have recorded would be incomplete without this
final and wonderful catastrophe 

i entered the cabin where lay the remains of my ill-fated and admirable
friend over him hung a form which i cannot find words to
describe gigantic in stature yet uncouth and distorted in its
proportions as he hung over the coffin his face was concealed by long
locks of ragged hair but one vast hand was extended in colour and
apparent texture like that of a mummy when he heard the sound of my
approach he ceased to utter exclamations of grief and horror and sprung
towards the window never did i behold a vision so horrible as his face of
such loathsome yet appalling hideousness i shut my eyes involuntarily and
endeavoured to recollect what were my duties with regard to this destroyer 
i called on him to stay 

he paused looking on me with wonder and again turning towards the
lifeless form of his creator he seemed to forget my presence and
every feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some
uncontrollable passion 

 that is also my victim he exclaimed in his murder my
crimes are consummated the miserable series of my being is wound to its
close oh frankenstein generous and self-devoted being what does it
avail that i now ask thee to pardon me i who irretrievably destroyed thee
by destroying all thou lovedst alas he is cold he cannot answer
me 

his voice seemed suffocated and my first impulses which had suggested to
me the duty of obeying the dying request of my friend in destroying his
enemy were now suspended by a mixture of curiosity and compassion i
approached this tremendous being i dared not again raise my eyes to his
face there was something so scaring and unearthly in his ugliness i
attempted to speak but the words died away on my lips the monster
continued to utter wild and incoherent self-reproaches at length i
gathered resolution to address him in a pause of the tempest of his passion 

 your repentance i said is now superfluous if you
had listened to the voice of conscience and heeded the stings of remorse
before you had urged your diabolical vengeance to this extremity 
frankenstein would yet have lived 

 and do you dream said the daemon do you think that i was then
dead to agony and remorse he he continued pointing to the corpse 
 he suffered not in the consummation of the deed oh not the
ten-thousandth portion of the anguish that was mine during the
lingering detail of its execution a frightful selfishness hurried me
on while my heart was poisoned with remorse think you that the
groans of clerval were music to my ears my heart was fashioned to be
susceptible of love and sympathy and when wrenched by misery to vice
and hatred it did not endure the violence of the change without
torture such as you cannot even imagine 

 after the murder of clerval i returned to switzerland heart-broken
and overcome i pitied frankenstein my pity amounted to horror i
abhorred myself but when i discovered that he the author at once of
my existence and of its unspeakable torments dared to hope for
happiness that while he accumulated wretchedness and despair upon me
he sought his own enjoyment in feelings and passions from the
indulgence of which i was for ever barred then impotent envy and bitter
indignation filled me with an insatiable thirst for vengeance i
recollected my threat and resolved that it should be accomplished i
knew that i was preparing for myself a deadly torture but i was the
slave not the master of an impulse which i detested yet could not
disobey yet when she died nay then i was not miserable i had
cast off all feeling subdued all anguish to riot in the excess of my
despair evil thenceforth became my good urged thus far i had no
choice but to adapt my nature to an element which i had willingly
chosen the completion of my demoniacal design became an insatiable
passion and now it is ended there is my last victim 

i was at first touched by the expressions of his misery yet when i called
to mind what frankenstein had said of his powers of eloquence and
persuasion and when i again cast my eyes on the lifeless form of my
friend indignation was rekindled within me wretch i said 
 it is well that you come here to whine over the desolation that you
have made you throw a torch into a pile of buildings and when they are
consumed you sit among the ruins and lament the fall hypocritical fiend 
if he whom you mourn still lived still would he be the object again would
he become the prey of your accursed vengeance it is not pity that you
feel you lament only because the victim of your malignity is withdrawn
from your power 

 oh it is not thus not thus interrupted the being 
 yet such must be the impression conveyed to you by what appears to
be the purport of my actions yet i seek not a fellow feeling in my misery 
no sympathy may i ever find when i first sought it it was the love of
virtue the feelings of happiness and affection with which my whole being
overflowed that i wished to be participated but now that virtue has
become to me a shadow and that happiness and affection are turned into
bitter and loathing despair in what should i seek for sympathy i am
content to suffer alone while my sufferings shall endure when i die i am
well satisfied that abhorrence and opprobrium should load my memory once
my fancy was soothed with dreams of virtue of fame and of enjoyment once
i falsely hoped to meet with beings who pardoning my outward form would
love me for the excellent qualities which i was capable of unfolding i was
nourished with high thoughts of honour and devotion but now crime has
degraded me beneath the meanest animal no guilt no mischief no
malignity no misery can be found comparable to mine when i run over the
frightful catalogue of my sins i cannot believe that i am the same
creature whose thoughts were once filled with sublime and transcendent
visions of the beauty and the majesty of goodness but it is even so the
fallen angel becomes a malignant devil yet even that enemy of god and man
had friends and associates in his desolation i am alone 

 you who call frankenstein your friend seem to have a knowledge of my
crimes and his misfortunes but in the detail which he gave you of them
he could not sum up the hours and months of misery which i endured
wasting in impotent passions for while i destroyed his hopes i did
not satisfy my own desires they were for ever ardent and craving still
i desired love and fellowship and i was still spurned was there no
injustice in this am i to be thought the only criminal when all
humankind sinned against me why do you not hate felix who drove his
friend from his door with contumely why do you not execrate the rustic
who sought to destroy the saviour of his child nay these are virtuous
and immaculate beings i the miserable and the abandoned am an
abortion to be spurned at and kicked and trampled on even now my
blood boils at the recollection of this injustice 

 but it is true that i am a wretch i have murdered the lovely and
the helpless i have strangled the innocent as they slept and grasped to
death his throat who never injured me or any other living thing i have
devoted my creator the select specimen of all that is worthy of love and
admiration among men to misery i have pursued him even to that
irremediable ruin there he lies white and cold in death you hate me but
your abhorrence cannot equal that with which i regard myself i look on the
hands which executed the deed i think on the heart in which the
imagination of it was conceived and long for the moment when these hands
will meet my eyes when that imagination will haunt my thoughts no more 

 fear not that i shall be the instrument of future mischief my work
is nearly complete neither yours nor any man's death is needed to
consummate the series of my being and accomplish that which must be done 
but it requires my own do not think that i shall be slow to perform this
sacrifice i shall quit your vessel on the ice raft which brought me
thither and shall seek the most northern extremity of the globe i shall
collect my funeral pile and consume to ashes this miserable frame that its
remains may afford no light to any curious and unhallowed wretch who would
create such another as i have been i shall die i shall no longer feel the
agonies which now consume me or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied yet
unquenched he is dead who called me into being and when i shall be no
more the very remembrance of us both will speedily vanish i shall no
longer see the sun or stars or feel the winds play on my cheeks light 
feeling and sense will pass away and in this condition must i find my
happiness some years ago when the images which this world affords first
opened upon me when i felt the cheering warmth of summer and heard the
rustling of the leaves and the warbling of the birds and these were all to
me i should have wept to die now it is my only consolation polluted by
crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse where can i find rest but in
death 

 farewell i leave you and in you the last of humankind whom these
eyes will ever behold farewell frankenstein if thou wert yet alive
and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me it would be better
satiated in my life than in my destruction but it was not so thou
didst seek my extinction that i might not cause greater wretchedness 
and if yet in some mode unknown to me thou hadst not ceased to think
and feel thou wouldst not desire against me a vengeance greater than
that which i feel blasted as thou wert my agony was still superior to
thine for the bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankle in my
wounds until death shall close them for ever 

 but soon he cried with sad and solemn enthusiasm i
shall die and what i now feel be no longer felt soon these burning
miseries will be extinct i shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and
exult in the agony of the torturing flames the light of that conflagration
will fade away my ashes will be swept into the sea by the winds my spirit
will sleep in peace or if it thinks it will not surely think thus 
farewell 

he sprang from the cabin-window as he said this upon the ice raft
which lay close to the vessel he was soon borne away by the waves and
lost in darkness and distance 




fairy tales

by the brothers grimm



preparer's note

 the text is based on translations from
 the grimms kinder und hausmarchen by
 edgar taylor and marian edwardes 




contents 

 the golden bird
 hans in luck
 jorinda and jorindel
 the travelling musicians
 old sultan
 the straw the coal and the bean
 briar rose
 the dog and the sparrow
 the twelve dancing princesses
 the fisherman and his wife
 the willow-wren and the bear
 the frog-prince
 cat and mouse in partnership
 the goose-girl
 the adventures of chanticleer and partlet
 1 how they went to the mountains to eat nuts
 2 how chanticleer and partlet went to visit mr korbes
 rapunzel
 fundevogel
 the valiant little tailor
 hansel and gretel
 the mouse the bird and the sausage
 mother holle
 little red-cap little red riding hood
 the robber bridegroom
 tom thumb
 rumpelstiltskin
 clever gretel
 the old man and his grandson
 the little peasant
 frederick and catherine
 sweetheart roland
 snowdrop
 the pink
 clever elsie
 the miser in the bush
 ashputtel
 the white snake
 the wolf and the seven little kids
 the queen bee
 the elves and the shoemaker
 the juniper-tree
 the juniper-tree 
 the turnip
 clever hans
 the three languages
 the fox and the cat
 the four clever brothers
 lily and the lion
 the fox and the horse
 the blue light
 the raven
 the golden goose
 the water of life
 the twelve huntsmen
 the king of the golden mountain
 doctor knowall
 the seven ravens
 the wedding of mrs fox
 first story
 second story
 the salad
 the story of the youth who went forth to learn what fear was
 king grisly-beard
 iron hans
 cat-skin
 snow-white and rose-red




the brothers grimm fairy tales




the golden bird

a certain king had a beautiful garden and in the garden stood a tree
which bore golden apples these apples were always counted and about
the time when they began to grow ripe it was found that every night one
of them was gone the king became very angry at this and ordered the
gardener to keep watch all night under the tree the gardener set his
eldest son to watch but about twelve o'clock he fell asleep and in
the morning another of the apples was missing then the second son was
ordered to watch and at midnight he too fell asleep and in the morning
another apple was gone then the third son offered to keep watch but
the gardener at first would not let him for fear some harm should come
to him however at last he consented and the young man laid himself
under the tree to watch as the clock struck twelve he heard a rustling
noise in the air and a bird came flying that was of pure gold and as
it was snapping at one of the apples with its beak the gardener's son
jumped up and shot an arrow at it but the arrow did the bird no harm 
only it dropped a golden feather from its tail and then flew away 
the golden feather was brought to the king in the morning and all the
council was called together everyone agreed that it was worth more than
all the wealth of the kingdom but the king said one feather is of no
use to me i must have the whole bird 

then the gardener's eldest son set out and thought to find the golden
bird very easily and when he had gone but a little way he came to a
wood and by the side of the wood he saw a fox sitting so he took his
bow and made ready to shoot at it then the fox said do not shoot me 
for i will give you good counsel i know what your business is and
that you want to find the golden bird you will reach a village in the
evening and when you get there you will see two inns opposite to each
other one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at go not in
there but rest for the night in the other though it may appear to you
to be very poor and mean but the son thought to himself what can
such a beast as this know about the matter so he shot his arrow at
the fox but he missed it and it set up its tail above its back and
ran into the wood then he went his way and in the evening came to
the village where the two inns were and in one of these were people
singing and dancing and feasting but the other looked very dirty 
and poor i should be very silly said he if i went to that shabby
house and left this charming place so he went into the smart house 
and ate and drank at his ease and forgot the bird and his country too 

time passed on and as the eldest son did not come back and no tidings
were heard of him the second son set out and the same thing happened
to him he met the fox who gave him the good advice but when he came
to the two inns his eldest brother was standing at the window where
the merrymaking was and called to him to come in and he could not
withstand the temptation but went in and forgot the golden bird and
his country in the same manner 

time passed on again and the youngest son too wished to set out into
the wide world to seek for the golden bird but his father would not
listen to it for a long while for he was very fond of his son and
was afraid that some ill luck might happen to him also and prevent his
coming back however at last it was agreed he should go for he would
not rest at home and as he came to the wood he met the fox and heard
the same good counsel but he was thankful to the fox and did not
attempt his life as his brothers had done so the fox said sit upon my
tail and you will travel faster so he sat down and the fox began to
run and away they went over stock and stone so quick that their hair
whistled in the wind 

when they came to the village the son followed the fox's counsel and
without looking about him went to the shabby inn and rested there all
night at his ease in the morning came the fox again and met him as he
was beginning his journey and said go straight forward till you come
to a castle before which lie a whole troop of soldiers fast asleep and
snoring take no notice of them but go into the castle and pass on and
on till you come to a room where the golden bird sits in a wooden cage 
close by it stands a beautiful golden cage but do not try to take the
bird out of the shabby cage and put it into the handsome one otherwise
you will repent it then the fox stretched out his tail again and the
young man sat himself down and away they went over stock and stone till
their hair whistled in the wind 

before the castle gate all was as the fox had said so the son went in
and found the chamber where the golden bird hung in a wooden cage and
below stood the golden cage and the three golden apples that had been
lost were lying close by it then thought he to himself it will be a
very droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in this shabby cage so
he opened the door and took hold of it and put it into the golden cage 
but the bird set up such a loud scream that all the soldiers awoke and
they took him prisoner and carried him before the king the next morning
the court sat to judge him and when all was heard it sentenced him to
die unless he should bring the king the golden horse which could run as
swiftly as the wind and if he did this he was to have the golden bird
given him for his own 

so he set out once more on his journey sighing and in great despair 
when on a sudden his friend the fox met him and said you see now
what has happened on account of your not listening to my counsel i will
still however tell you how to find the golden horse if you will do as
i bid you you must go straight on till you come to the castle where the
horse stands in his stall by his side will lie the groom fast asleep
and snoring take away the horse quietly but be sure to put the old
leathern saddle upon him and not the golden one that is close by it 
then the son sat down on the fox's tail and away they went over stock
and stone till their hair whistled in the wind 

all went right and the groom lay snoring with his hand upon the golden
saddle but when the son looked at the horse he thought it a great pity
to put the leathern saddle upon it i will give him the good one 
said he i am sure he deserves it as he took up the golden saddle the
groom awoke and cried out so loud that all the guards ran in and took
him prisoner and in the morning he was again brought before the court
to be judged and was sentenced to die but it was agreed that if he
could bring thither the beautiful princess he should live and have the
bird and the horse given him for his own 

then he went his way very sorrowful but the old fox came and said why
did not you listen to me if you had you would have carried away
both the bird and the horse yet will i once more give you counsel go
straight on and in the evening you will arrive at a castle at twelve
o'clock at night the princess goes to the bathing-house go up to her
and give her a kiss and she will let you lead her away but take care
you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her father and mother 
then the fox stretched out his tail and so away they went over stock
and stone till their hair whistled again 

as they came to the castle all was as the fox had said and at twelve
o'clock the young man met the princess going to the bath and gave her the
kiss and she agreed to run away with him but begged with many tears
that he would let her take leave of her father at first he refused 
but she wept still more and more and fell at his feet till at last
he consented but the moment she came to her father's house the guards
awoke and he was taken prisoner again 

then he was brought before the king and the king said you shall never
have my daughter unless in eight days you dig away the hill that stops
the view from my window now this hill was so big that the whole world
could not take it away and when he had worked for seven days and had
done very little the fox came and said lie down and go to sleep i
will work for you and in the morning he awoke and the hill was gone 
so he went merrily to the king and told him that now that it was
removed he must give him the princess 

then the king was obliged to keep his word and away went the young man
and the princess and the fox came and said to him we will have all
three the princess the horse and the bird ah said the young man 
 that would be a great thing but how can you contrive it 

 if you will only listen said the fox it can be done when you come
to the king and he asks for the beautiful princess you must say here
she is then he will be very joyful and you will mount the golden
horse that they are to give you and put out your hand to take leave of
them but shake hands with the princess last then lift her quickly on
to the horse behind you clap your spurs to his side and gallop away as
fast as you can 

all went right then the fox said when you come to the castle where
the bird is i will stay with the princess at the door and you will
ride in and speak to the king and when he sees that it is the right
horse he will bring out the bird but you must sit still and say that
you want to look at it to see whether it is the true golden bird and
when you get it into your hand ride away 

this too happened as the fox said they carried off the bird the
princess mounted again and they rode on to a great wood then the fox
came and said pray kill me and cut off my head and my feet but the
young man refused to do it so the fox said i will at any rate give
you good counsel beware of two things ransom no one from the gallows 
and sit down by the side of no river then away he went well 
thought the young man it is no hard matter to keep that advice 

he rode on with the princess till at last he came to the village where
he had left his two brothers and there he heard a great noise and
uproar and when he asked what was the matter the people said two men
are going to be hanged as he came nearer he saw that the two men were
his brothers who had turned robbers so he said cannot they in any
way be saved but the people said no unless he would bestow all his
money upon the rascals and buy their liberty then he did not stay to
think about the matter but paid what was asked and his brothers were
given up and went on with him towards their home 

and as they came to the wood where the fox first met them it was so
cool and pleasant that the two brothers said let us sit down by the
side of the river and rest a while to eat and drink so he said 
 yes and forgot the fox's counsel and sat down on the side of the
river and while he suspected nothing they came behind and threw him
down the bank and took the princess the horse and the bird and went
home to the king their master and said all this have we won by our
labour then there was great rejoicing made but the horse would not
eat the bird would not sing and the princess wept 

the youngest son fell to the bottom of the river's bed luckily it was
nearly dry but his bones were almost broken and the bank was so steep
that he could find no way to get out then the old fox came once more 
and scolded him for not following his advice otherwise no evil would
have befallen him yet said he i cannot leave you here so lay hold
of my tail and hold fast then he pulled him out of the river and said
to him as he got upon the bank your brothers have set watch to kill
you if they find you in the kingdom so he dressed himself as a poor
man and came secretly to the king's court and was scarcely within the
doors when the horse began to eat and the bird to sing and the princess
left off weeping then he went to the king and told him all his
brothers roguery and they were seized and punished and he had the
princess given to him again and after the king's death he was heir to
his kingdom 

a long while after he went to walk one day in the wood and the old fox
met him and besought him with tears in his eyes to kill him and cut
off his head and feet and at last he did so and in a moment the
fox was changed into a man and turned out to be the brother of the
princess who had been lost a great many many years 




hans in luck

some men are born to good luck all they do or try to do comes
right all that falls to them is so much gain all their geese are
swans all their cards are trumps toss them which way you will they
will always like poor puss alight upon their legs and only move on so
much the faster the world may very likely not always think of them as
they think of themselves but what care they for the world what can it
know about the matter 

one of these lucky beings was neighbour hans seven long years he had
worked hard for his master at last he said master my time is up i
must go home and see my poor mother once more so pray pay me my wages
and let me go and the master said you have been a faithful and good
servant hans so your pay shall be handsome then he gave him a lump
of silver as big as his head 

hans took out his pocket-handkerchief put the piece of silver into it 
threw it over his shoulder and jogged off on his road homewards as he
went lazily on dragging one foot after another a man came in sight 
trotting gaily along on a capital horse ah said hans aloud what a
fine thing it is to ride on horseback there he sits as easy and happy
as if he was at home in the chair by his fireside he trips against no
stones saves shoe-leather and gets on he hardly knows how hans did
not speak so softly but the horseman heard it all and said well 
friend why do you go on foot then ah said he i have this load to
carry to be sure it is silver but it is so heavy that i can't hold up
my head and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly what do you say
of making an exchange said the horseman i will give you my horse 
and you shall give me the silver which will save you a great deal of
trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you with all my
heart said hans but as you are so kind to me i must tell you one
thing you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you 
however the horseman got off took the silver helped hans up gave him
the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other and said when
you want to go very fast smack your lips loudly together and cry
 jip 

hans was delighted as he sat on the horse drew himself up squared his
elbows turned out his toes cracked his whip and rode merrily off one
minute whistling a merry tune and another singing 

 no care and no sorrow 
 a fig for the morrow 
 we'll laugh and be merry 
 sing neigh down derry 

after a time he thought he should like to go a little faster so he
smacked his lips and cried jip away went the horse full gallop and
before hans knew what he was about he was thrown off and lay on his
back by the road-side his horse would have ran off if a shepherd who
was coming by driving a cow had not stopped it hans soon came to
himself and got upon his legs again sadly vexed and said to the
shepherd this riding is no joke when a man has the luck to get upon
a beast like this that stumbles and flings him off as if it would break
his neck however i'm off now once for all i like your cow now a great
deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick and has
spoiled my best coat you see in this puddle which by the by smells
not very like a nosegay one can walk along at one's leisure behind that
cow keep good company and have milk butter and cheese every day 
into the bargain what would i give to have such a prize well said
the shepherd if you are so fond of her i will change my cow for your
horse i like to do good to my neighbours even though i lose by it
myself done said hans merrily what a noble heart that good man
has thought he then the shepherd jumped upon the horse wished hans
and the cow good morning and away he rode 

hans brushed his coat wiped his face and hands rested a while and
then drove off his cow quietly and thought his bargain a very lucky
one if i have only a piece of bread and i certainly shall always be
able to get that i can whenever i like eat my butter and cheese with
it and when i am thirsty i can milk my cow and drink the milk and what
can i wish for more when he came to an inn he halted ate up all his
bread and gave away his last penny for a glass of beer when he had
rested himself he set off again driving his cow towards his mother's
village but the heat grew greater as soon as noon came on till at
last as he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than
an hour to cross he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue
clave to the roof of his mouth i can find a cure for this thought
he now i will milk my cow and quench my thirst so he tied her to the
stump of a tree and held his leathern cap to milk into but not a drop
was to be had who would have thought that this cow which was to bring
him milk and butter and cheese was all that time utterly dry hans had
not thought of looking to that 

while he was trying his luck in milking and managing the matter very
clumsily the uneasy beast began to think him very troublesome and at
last gave him such a kick on the head as knocked him down and there he
lay a long while senseless luckily a butcher soon came by driving a
pig in a wheelbarrow what is the matter with you my man said the
butcher as he helped him up hans told him what had happened how he
was dry and wanted to milk his cow but found the cow was dry too then
the butcher gave him a flask of ale saying there drink and refresh
yourself your cow will give you no milk don't you see she is an old
beast good for nothing but the slaughter-house alas alas said
hans who would have thought it what a shame to take my horse and
give me only a dry cow if i kill her what will she be good for i hate
cow-beef it is not tender enough for me if it were a pig now like
that fat gentleman you are driving along at his ease one could do
something with it it would at any rate make sausages well said
the butcher i don't like to say no when one is asked to do a kind 
neighbourly thing to please you i will change and give you my fine fat
pig for the cow heaven reward you for your kindness and self-denial 
said hans as he gave the butcher the cow and taking the pig off the
wheel-barrow drove it away holding it by the string that was tied to
its leg 

so on he jogged and all seemed now to go right with him he had met
with some misfortunes to be sure but he was now well repaid for all 
how could it be otherwise with such a travelling companion as he had at
last got 

the next man he met was a countryman carrying a fine white goose the
countryman stopped to ask what was o'clock this led to further chat 
and hans told him all his luck how he had so many good bargains and
how all the world went gay and smiling with him the countryman then
began to tell his tale and said he was going to take the goose to a
christening feel said he how heavy it is and yet it is only eight
weeks old whoever roasts and eats it will find plenty of fat upon it 
it has lived so well you're right said hans as he weighed it in
his hand but if you talk of fat my pig is no trifle meantime the
countryman began to look grave and shook his head hark ye said he 
 my worthy friend you seem a good sort of fellow so i can't help doing
you a kind turn your pig may get you into a scrape in the village i
just came from the squire has had a pig stolen out of his sty i was
dreadfully afraid when i saw you that you had got the squire's pig if
you have and they catch you it will be a bad job for you the least
they will do will be to throw you into the horse-pond can you swim 

poor hans was sadly frightened good man cried he pray get me out
of this scrape i know nothing of where the pig was either bred or born 
but he may have been the squire's for aught i can tell you know this
country better than i do take my pig and give me the goose i ought
to have something into the bargain said the countryman give a fat
goose for a pig indeed tis not everyone would do so much for you as
that however i will not be hard upon you as you are in trouble then
he took the string in his hand and drove off the pig by a side path 
while hans went on the way homewards free from care after all 
thought he that chap is pretty well taken in i don't care whose pig
it is but wherever it came from it has been a very good friend to me i
have much the best of the bargain first there will be a capital roast 
then the fat will find me in goose-grease for six months and then there
are all the beautiful white feathers i will put them into my pillow 
and then i am sure i shall sleep soundly without rocking how happy my
mother will be talk of a pig indeed give me a fine fat goose 

as he came to the next village he saw a scissor-grinder with his wheel 
working and singing 

 o'er hill and o'er dale
 so happy i roam 
 work light and live well 
 all the world is my home 
 then who so blythe so merry as i 

hans stood looking on for a while and at last said you must be well
off master grinder you seem so happy at your work yes said the
other mine is a golden trade a good grinder never puts his hand
into his pocket without finding money in it but where did you get that
beautiful goose i did not buy it i gave a pig for it and where
did you get the pig i gave a cow for it and the cow i gave a
horse for it and the horse i gave a lump of silver as big as my
head for it and the silver oh i worked hard for that seven long
years you have thriven well in the world hitherto said the grinder 
 now if you could find money in your pocket whenever you put your hand
in it your fortune would be made very true but how is that to be
managed how why you must turn grinder like myself said the other 
 you only want a grindstone the rest will come of itself here is one
that is but little the worse for wear i would not ask more than the
value of your goose for it will you buy how can you ask said
hans i should be the happiest man in the world if i could have money
whenever i put my hand in my pocket what could i want more there's
the goose now said the grinder as he gave him a common rough stone
that lay by his side this is a most capital stone do but work it well
enough and you can make an old nail cut with it 

hans took the stone and went his way with a light heart his eyes
sparkled for joy and he said to himself surely i must have been born
in a lucky hour everything i could want or wish for comes of itself 
people are so kind they seem really to think i do them a favour in
letting them make me rich and giving me good bargains 

meantime he began to be tired and hungry too for he had given away his
last penny in his joy at getting the cow 

at last he could go no farther for the stone tired him sadly and he
dragged himself to the side of a river that he might take a drink of
water and rest a while so he laid the stone carefully by his side on
the bank but as he stooped down to drink he forgot it pushed it a
little and down it rolled plump into the stream 

for a while he watched it sinking in the deep clear water then sprang
up and danced for joy and again fell upon his knees and thanked heaven 
with tears in his eyes for its kindness in taking away his only plague 
the ugly heavy stone 

 how happy am i cried he nobody was ever so lucky as i then up he
got with a light heart free from all his troubles and walked on till
he reached his mother's house and told her how very easy the road to
good luck was 




jorinda and jorindel

there was once an old castle that stood in the middle of a deep gloomy
wood and in the castle lived an old fairy now this fairy could take
any shape she pleased all the day long she flew about in the form of
an owl or crept about the country like a cat but at night she always
became an old woman again when any young man came within a hundred
paces of her castle he became quite fixed and could not move a step
till she came and set him free which she would not do till he had given
her his word never to come there again but when any pretty maiden came
within that space she was changed into a bird and the fairy put her
into a cage and hung her up in a chamber in the castle there were
seven hundred of these cages hanging in the castle and all with
beautiful birds in them 

now there was once a maiden whose name was jorinda she was prettier
than all the pretty girls that ever were seen before and a shepherd
lad whose name was jorindel was very fond of her and they were soon
to be married one day they went to walk in the wood that they might be
alone and jorindel said we must take care that we don't go too near
to the fairy's castle it was a beautiful evening the last rays of the
setting sun shone bright through the long stems of the trees upon
the green underwood beneath and the turtle-doves sang from the tall
birches 

jorinda sat down to gaze upon the sun jorindel sat by her side and
both felt sad they knew not why but it seemed as if they were to be
parted from one another for ever they had wandered a long way and when
they looked to see which way they should go home they found themselves
at a loss to know what path to take 

the sun was setting fast and already half of its circle had sunk behind
the hill jorindel on a sudden looked behind him and saw through the
bushes that they had without knowing it sat down close under the old
walls of the castle then he shrank for fear turned pale and trembled 
jorinda was just singing 

 the ring-dove sang from the willow spray 
 well-a-day well-a-day 
 he mourn'd for the fate of his darling mate 
 well-a-day 

when her song stopped suddenly jorindel turned to see the reason and
beheld his jorinda changed into a nightingale so that her song ended
with a mournful jug jug an owl with fiery eyes flew three times
round them and three times screamed 

 tu whu tu whu tu whu 

jorindel could not move he stood fixed as a stone and could neither
weep nor speak nor stir hand or foot and now the sun went quite down 
the gloomy night came the owl flew into a bush and a moment after the
old fairy came forth pale and meagre with staring eyes and a nose and
chin that almost met one another 

she mumbled something to herself seized the nightingale and went away
with it in her hand poor jorindel saw the nightingale was gone but
what could he do he could not speak he could not move from the spot
where he stood at last the fairy came back and sang with a hoarse
voice 

 till the prisoner is fast 
 and her doom is cast 
 there stay oh stay 
 when the charm is around her 
 and the spell has bound her 
 hie away away 

on a sudden jorindel found himself free then he fell on his knees
before the fairy and prayed her to give him back his dear jorinda but
she laughed at him and said he should never see her again then she
went her way 

he prayed he wept he sorrowed but all in vain alas he said what
will become of me he could not go back to his own home so he went to
a strange village and employed himself in keeping sheep many a time
did he walk round and round as near to the hated castle as he dared go 
but all in vain he heard or saw nothing of jorinda 

at last he dreamt one night that he found a beautiful purple flower 
and that in the middle of it lay a costly pearl and he dreamt that he
plucked the flower and went with it in his hand into the castle and
that everything he touched with it was disenchanted and that there he
found his jorinda again 

in the morning when he awoke he began to search over hill and dale for
this pretty flower and eight long days he sought for it in vain but
on the ninth day early in the morning he found the beautiful purple
flower and in the middle of it was a large dewdrop as big as a costly
pearl then he plucked the flower and set out and travelled day and
night till he came again to the castle 

he walked nearer than a hundred paces to it and yet he did not become
fixed as before but found that he could go quite close up to the door 
jorindel was very glad indeed to see this then he touched the door with
the flower and it sprang open so that he went in through the court 
and listened when he heard so many birds singing at last he came to the
chamber where the fairy sat with the seven hundred birds singing in
the seven hundred cages when she saw jorindel she was very angry and
screamed with rage but she could not come within two yards of him for
the flower he held in his hand was his safeguard he looked around at
the birds but alas there were many many nightingales and how then
should he find out which was his jorinda while he was thinking what to
do he saw the fairy had taken down one of the cages and was making the
best of her way off through the door he ran or flew after her touched
the cage with the flower and jorinda stood before him and threw her
arms round his neck looking as beautiful as ever as beautiful as when
they walked together in the wood 

then he touched all the other birds with the flower so that they all
took their old forms again and he took jorinda home where they were
married and lived happily together many years and so did a good many
other lads whose maidens had been forced to sing in the old fairy's
cages by themselves much longer than they liked 




the travelling musicians

an honest farmer had once an ass that had been a faithful servant to him
a great many years but was now growing old and every day more and more
unfit for work his master therefore was tired of keeping him and
began to think of putting an end to him but the ass who saw that some
mischief was in the wind took himself slyly off and began his journey
towards the great city for there thought he i may turn musician 

after he had travelled a little way he spied a dog lying by the
roadside and panting as if he were tired what makes you pant so my
friend said the ass alas said the dog my master was going to
knock me on the head because i am old and weak and can no longer make
myself useful to him in hunting so i ran away but what can i do to
earn my livelihood hark ye said the ass i am going to the great
city to turn musician suppose you go with me and try what you can
do in the same way the dog said he was willing and they jogged on
together 

they had not gone far before they saw a cat sitting in the middle of the
road and making a most rueful face pray my good lady said the ass 
 what's the matter with you you look quite out of spirits ah me 
said the cat how can one be in good spirits when one's life is in
danger because i am beginning to grow old and had rather lie at my
ease by the fire than run about the house after the mice my mistress
laid hold of me and was going to drown me and though i have been lucky
enough to get away from her i do not know what i am to live upon 
 oh said the ass by all means go with us to the great city you are
a good night singer and may make your fortune as a musician the cat
was pleased with the thought and joined the party 

soon afterwards as they were passing by a farmyard they saw a cock
perched upon a gate and screaming out with all his might and main 
 bravo said the ass upon my word you make a famous noise pray what
is all this about why said the cock i was just now saying that
we should have fine weather for our washing-day and yet my mistress and
the cook don't thank me for my pains but threaten to cut off my
head tomorrow and make broth of me for the guests that are coming
on sunday heaven forbid said the ass come with us master
chanticleer it will be better at any rate than staying here to have
your head cut off besides who knows if we care to sing in tune we
may get up some kind of a concert so come along with us with all my
heart said the cock so they all four went on jollily together 

they could not however reach the great city the first day so when
night came on they went into a wood to sleep the ass and the dog laid
themselves down under a great tree and the cat climbed up into the
branches while the cock thinking that the higher he sat the safer he
should be flew up to the very top of the tree and then according to
his custom before he went to sleep looked out on all sides of him to
see that everything was well in doing this he saw afar off something
bright and shining and calling to his companions said there must be a
house no great way off for i see a light if that be the case said
the ass we had better change our quarters for our lodging is not the
best in the world besides added the dog i should not be the
worse for a bone or two or a bit of meat so they walked off together
towards the spot where chanticleer had seen the light and as they drew
near it became larger and brighter till they at last came close to a
house in which a gang of robbers lived 

the ass being the tallest of the company marched up to the window and
peeped in well donkey said chanticleer what do you see what
do i see replied the ass why i see a table spread with all kinds of
good things and robbers sitting round it making merry that would
be a noble lodging for us said the cock yes said the ass if we
could only get in so they consulted together how they should contrive
to get the robbers out and at last they hit upon a plan the ass placed
himself upright on his hind legs with his forefeet resting against the
window the dog got upon his back the cat scrambled up to the dog's
shoulders and the cock flew up and sat upon the cat's head when
all was ready a signal was given and they began their music the ass
brayed the dog barked the cat mewed and the cock screamed and then
they all broke through the window at once and came tumbling into
the room amongst the broken glass with a most hideous clatter the
robbers who had been not a little frightened by the opening concert 
had now no doubt that some frightful hobgoblin had broken in upon them 
and scampered away as fast as they could 

the coast once clear our travellers soon sat down and dispatched what
the robbers had left with as much eagerness as if they had not expected
to eat again for a month as soon as they had satisfied themselves they
put out the lights and each once more sought out a resting-place to
his own liking the donkey laid himself down upon a heap of straw in
the yard the dog stretched himself upon a mat behind the door the
cat rolled herself up on the hearth before the warm ashes and the
cock perched upon a beam on the top of the house and as they were all
rather tired with their journey they soon fell asleep 

but about midnight when the robbers saw from afar that the lights were
out and that all seemed quiet they began to think that they had been in
too great a hurry to run away and one of them who was bolder than
the rest went to see what was going on finding everything still he
marched into the kitchen and groped about till he found a match in
order to light a candle and then espying the glittering fiery eyes of
the cat he mistook them for live coals and held the match to them to
light it but the cat not understanding this joke sprang at his face 
and spat and scratched at him this frightened him dreadfully and away
he ran to the back door but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the
leg and as he was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him and the
cock who had been awakened by the noise crowed with all his might at
this the robber ran back as fast as he could to his comrades and told
the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house and had spat at
him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers how a man with a
knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door and stabbed him
in the leg how a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a
club and how the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out 
 throw the rascal up here after this the robbers never dared to go
back to the house but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters
that they took up their abode there and there they are i dare say at
this very day 




old sultan

a shepherd had a faithful dog called sultan who was grown very old 
and had lost all his teeth and one day when the shepherd and his wife
were standing together before the house the shepherd said i will shoot
old sultan tomorrow morning for he is of no use now but his wife
said pray let the poor faithful creature live he has served us well a
great many years and we ought to give him a livelihood for the rest of
his days but what can we do with him said the shepherd he has not
a tooth in his head and the thieves don't care for him at all to
be sure he has served us but then he did it to earn his livelihood 
tomorrow shall be his last day depend upon it 

poor sultan who was lying close by them heard all that the shepherd
and his wife said to one another and was very much frightened to think
tomorrow would be his last day so in the evening he went to his good
friend the wolf who lived in the wood and told him all his sorrows 
and how his master meant to kill him in the morning make yourself
easy said the wolf i will give you some good advice your master 
you know goes out every morning very early with his wife into the
field and they take their little child with them and lay it down
behind the hedge in the shade while they are at work now do you lie
down close by the child and pretend to be watching it and i will come
out of the wood and run away with it you must run after me as fast as
you can and i will let it drop then you may carry it back and they
will think you have saved their child and will be so thankful to you
that they will take care of you as long as you live the dog liked this
plan very well and accordingly so it was managed the wolf ran with the
child a little way the shepherd and his wife screamed out but sultan
soon overtook him and carried the poor little thing back to his master
and mistress then the shepherd patted him on the head and said old
sultan has saved our child from the wolf and therefore he shall live
and be well taken care of and have plenty to eat wife go home and
give him a good dinner and let him have my old cushion to sleep on
as long as he lives so from this time forward sultan had all that he
could wish for 

soon afterwards the wolf came and wished him joy and said now my
good fellow you must tell no tales but turn your head the other way
when i want to taste one of the old shepherd's fine fat sheep no 
said the sultan i will be true to my master however the wolf
thought he was in joke and came one night to get a dainty morsel but
sultan had told his master what the wolf meant to do so he laid wait
for him behind the barn door and when the wolf was busy looking out for
a good fat sheep he had a stout cudgel laid about his back that combed
his locks for him finely 

then the wolf was very angry and called sultan an old rogue and
swore he would have his revenge so the next morning the wolf sent the
boar to challenge sultan to come into the wood to fight the matter now
sultan had nobody he could ask to be his second but the shepherd's old
three-legged cat so he took her with him and as the poor thing limped
along with some trouble she stuck up her tail straight in the air 

the wolf and the wild boar were first on the ground and when they
espied their enemies coming and saw the cat's long tail standing
straight in the air they thought she was carrying a sword for sultan to
fight with and every time she limped they thought she was picking up
a stone to throw at them so they said they should not like this way of
fighting and the boar lay down behind a bush and the wolf jumped
up into a tree sultan and the cat soon came up and looked about and
wondered that no one was there the boar however had not quite hidden
himself for his ears stuck out of the bush and when he shook one of
them a little the cat seeing something move and thinking it was a
mouse sprang upon it and bit and scratched it so that the boar jumped
up and grunted and ran away roaring out look up in the tree there
sits the one who is to blame so they looked up and espied the wolf
sitting amongst the branches and they called him a cowardly rascal 
and would not suffer him to come down till he was heartily ashamed of
himself and had promised to be good friends again with old sultan 




the straw the coal and the bean

in a village dwelt a poor old woman who had gathered together a dish
of beans and wanted to cook them so she made a fire on her hearth and
that it might burn the quicker she lighted it with a handful of straw 
when she was emptying the beans into the pan one dropped without her
observing it and lay on the ground beside a straw and soon afterwards
a burning coal from the fire leapt down to the two then the straw
began and said dear friends from whence do you come here the coal
replied i fortunately sprang out of the fire and if i had not escaped
by sheer force my death would have been certain i should have been
burnt to ashes the bean said i too have escaped with a whole skin 
but if the old woman had got me into the pan i should have been made
into broth without any mercy like my comrades and would a better
fate have fallen to my lot said the straw the old woman has
destroyed all my brethren in fire and smoke she seized sixty of them at
once and took their lives i luckily slipped through her fingers 

 but what are we to do now said the coal 

 i think answered the bean that as we have so fortunately escaped
death we should keep together like good companions and lest a new
mischance should overtake us here we should go away together and
repair to a foreign country 

the proposition pleased the two others and they set out on their way
together soon however they came to a little brook and as there was
no bridge or foot-plank they did not know how they were to get over
it the straw hit on a good idea and said i will lay myself straight
across and then you can walk over on me as on a bridge the straw
therefore stretched itself from one bank to the other and the coal 
who was of an impetuous disposition tripped quite boldly on to the
newly-built bridge but when she had reached the middle and heard the
water rushing beneath her she was after all afraid and stood still 
and ventured no farther the straw however began to burn broke in
two pieces and fell into the stream the coal slipped after her hissed
when she got into the water and breathed her last the bean who had
prudently stayed behind on the shore could not but laugh at the event 
was unable to stop and laughed so heartily that she burst it would
have been all over with her likewise if by good fortune a tailor who
was travelling in search of work had not sat down to rest by the brook 
as he had a compassionate heart he pulled out his needle and thread 
and sewed her together the bean thanked him most prettily but as the
tailor used black thread all beans since then have a black seam 




briar rose

a king and queen once upon a time reigned in a country a great way off 
where there were in those days fairies now this king and queen had
plenty of money and plenty of fine clothes to wear and plenty of
good things to eat and drink and a coach to ride out in every day but
though they had been married many years they had no children and this
grieved them very much indeed but one day as the queen was walking
by the side of the river at the bottom of the garden she saw a poor
little fish that had thrown itself out of the water and lay gasping
and nearly dead on the bank then the queen took pity on the little
fish and threw it back again into the river and before it swam away
it lifted its head out of the water and said i know what your wish is 
and it shall be fulfilled in return for your kindness to me you will
soon have a daughter what the little fish had foretold soon came to
pass and the queen had a little girl so very beautiful that the king
could not cease looking on it for joy and said he would hold a great
feast and make merry and show the child to all the land so he asked
his kinsmen and nobles and friends and neighbours but the queen
said i will have the fairies also that they might be kind and good
to our little daughter now there were thirteen fairies in the kingdom 
but as the king and queen had only twelve golden dishes for them to eat
out of they were forced to leave one of the fairies without asking her 
so twelve fairies came each with a high red cap on her head and red
shoes with high heels on her feet and a long white wand in her hand 
and after the feast was over they gathered round in a ring and gave all
their best gifts to the little princess one gave her goodness another
beauty another riches and so on till she had all that was good in the
world 

just as eleven of them had done blessing her a great noise was heard in
the courtyard and word was brought that the thirteenth fairy was
come with a black cap on her head and black shoes on her feet and a
broomstick in her hand and presently up she came into the dining-hall 
now as she had not been asked to the feast she was very angry and
scolded the king and queen very much and set to work to take her
revenge so she cried out the king's daughter shall in her fifteenth
year be wounded by a spindle and fall down dead then the twelfth of
the friendly fairies who had not yet given her gift came forward and
said that the evil wish must be fulfilled but that she could soften its
mischief so her gift was that the king's daughter when the spindle
wounded her should not really die but should only fall asleep for a
hundred years 

however the king hoped still to save his dear child altogether from
the threatened evil so he ordered that all the spindles in the kingdom
should be bought up and burnt but all the gifts of the first eleven
fairies were in the meantime fulfilled for the princess was so
beautiful and well behaved and good and wise that everyone who knew
her loved her 

it happened that on the very day she was fifteen years old the king
and queen were not at home and she was left alone in the palace so she
roved about by herself and looked at all the rooms and chambers till
at last she came to an old tower to which there was a narrow staircase
ending with a little door in the door there was a golden key and when
she turned it the door sprang open and there sat an old lady spinning
away very busily why how now good mother said the princess what
are you doing there spinning said the old lady and nodded her
head humming a tune while buzz went the wheel how prettily that
little thing turns round said the princess and took the spindle
and began to try and spin but scarcely had she touched it before the
fairy's prophecy was fulfilled the spindle wounded her and she fell
down lifeless on the ground 

however she was not dead but had only fallen into a deep sleep and
the king and the queen who had just come home and all their court 
fell asleep too and the horses slept in the stables and the dogs in
the court the pigeons on the house-top and the very flies slept upon
the walls even the fire on the hearth left off blazing and went to
sleep the jack stopped and the spit that was turning about with a
goose upon it for the king's dinner stood still and the cook who was
at that moment pulling the kitchen-boy by the hair to give him a box
on the ear for something he had done amiss let him go and both fell
asleep the butler who was slyly tasting the ale fell asleep with the
jug at his lips and thus everything stood still and slept soundly 

a large hedge of thorns soon grew round the palace and every year it
became higher and thicker till at last the old palace was surrounded
and hidden so that not even the roof or the chimneys could be seen but
there went a report through all the land of the beautiful sleeping briar
rose for so the king's daughter was called so that from time to
time several kings sons came and tried to break through the thicket
into the palace this however none of them could ever do for the
thorns and bushes laid hold of them as it were with hands and there
they stuck fast and died wretchedly 

after many many years there came a king's son into that land and an
old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns and how a beautiful
palace stood behind it and how a wonderful princess called briar rose 
lay in it asleep with all her court he told too how he had heard
from his grandfather that many many princes had come and had tried to
break through the thicket but that they had all stuck fast in it and
died then the young prince said all this shall not frighten me i
will go and see this briar rose the old man tried to hinder him but
he was bent upon going 

now that very day the hundred years were ended and as the prince came
to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering shrubs through
which he went with ease and they shut in after him as thick as ever 
then he came at last to the palace and there in the court lay the dogs
asleep and the horses were standing in the stables and on the roof sat
the pigeons fast asleep with their heads under their wings and when he
came into the palace the flies were sleeping on the walls the spit
was standing still the butler had the jug of ale at his lips going
to drink a draught the maid sat with a fowl in her lap ready to be
plucked and the cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand as
if she was going to beat the boy 

then he went on still farther and all was so still that he could hear
every breath he drew till at last he came to the old tower and opened
the door of the little room in which briar rose was and there she lay 
fast asleep on a couch by the window she looked so beautiful that he
could not take his eyes off her so he stooped down and gave her a kiss 
but the moment he kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke and smiled
upon him and they went out together and soon the king and queen also
awoke and all the court and gazed on each other with great wonder 
and the horses shook themselves and the dogs jumped up and barked the
pigeons took their heads from under their wings and looked about and
flew into the fields the flies on the walls buzzed again the fire in
the kitchen blazed up round went the jack and round went the spit 
with the goose for the king's dinner upon it the butler finished his
draught of ale the maid went on plucking the fowl and the cook gave
the boy the box on his ear 

and then the prince and briar rose were married and the wedding feast
was given and they lived happily together all their lives long 




the dog and the sparrow

a shepherd's dog had a master who took no care of him but often let him
suffer the greatest hunger at last he could bear it no longer so he
took to his heels and off he ran in a very sad and sorrowful mood 
on the road he met a sparrow that said to him why are you so sad 
my friend because said the dog i am very very hungry and have
nothing to eat if that be all answered the sparrow come with me
into the next town and i will soon find you plenty of food so on they
went together into the town and as they passed by a butcher's shop 
the sparrow said to the dog stand there a little while till i peck you
down a piece of meat so the sparrow perched upon the shelf and having
first looked carefully about her to see if anyone was watching her she
pecked and scratched at a steak that lay upon the edge of the shelf 
till at last down it fell then the dog snapped it up and scrambled
away with it into a corner where he soon ate it all up well said
the sparrow you shall have some more if you will so come with me to
the next shop and i will peck you down another steak when the dog had
eaten this too the sparrow said to him well my good friend have you
had enough now i have had plenty of meat answered he but i should
like to have a piece of bread to eat after it come with me then 
said the sparrow and you shall soon have that too so she took him
to a baker's shop and pecked at two rolls that lay in the window till
they fell down and as the dog still wished for more she took him to
another shop and pecked down some more for him when that was eaten the
sparrow asked him whether he had had enough now yes said he and
now let us take a walk a little way out of the town so they both went
out upon the high road but as the weather was warm they had not gone
far before the dog said i am very much tired i should like to take a
nap very well answered the sparrow do so and in the meantime
i will perch upon that bush so the dog stretched himself out on the
road and fell fast asleep whilst he slept there came by a carter with
a cart drawn by three horses and loaded with two casks of wine the
sparrow seeing that the carter did not turn out of the way but would
go on in the track in which the dog lay so as to drive over him called
out stop stop mr carter or it shall be the worse for you but the
carter grumbling to himself you make it the worse for me indeed 
what can you do cracked his whip and drove his cart over the poor
dog so that the wheels crushed him to death there cried the
sparrow thou cruel villain thou hast killed my friend the dog now
mind what i say this deed of thine shall cost thee all thou art worth 
 do your worst and welcome said the brute what harm can you do me 
and passed on but the sparrow crept under the tilt of the cart and
pecked at the bung of one of the casks till she loosened it and then
all the wine ran out without the carter seeing it at last he looked
round and saw that the cart was dripping and the cask quite empty 
 what an unlucky wretch i am cried he not wretch enough yet said
the sparrow as she alighted upon the head of one of the horses and
pecked at him till he reared up and kicked when the carter saw this 
he drew out his hatchet and aimed a blow at the sparrow meaning to kill
her but she flew away and the blow fell upon the poor horse's head
with such force that he fell down dead unlucky wretch that i am 
cried he not wretch enough yet said the sparrow and as the carter
went on with the other two horses she again crept under the tilt of the
cart and pecked out the bung of the second cask so that all the wine
ran out when the carter saw this he again cried out miserable wretch
that i am but the sparrow answered not wretch enough yet and
perched on the head of the second horse and pecked at him too the
carter ran up and struck at her again with his hatchet but away she
flew and the blow fell upon the second horse and killed him on the
spot unlucky wretch that i am said he not wretch enough yet said
the sparrow and perching upon the third horse she began to peck him
too the carter was mad with fury and without looking about him or
caring what he was about struck again at the sparrow but killed his
third horse as he done the other two alas miserable wretch that i
am cried he not wretch enough yet answered the sparrow as she flew
away now will i plague and punish thee at thy own house the
carter was forced at last to leave his cart behind him and to go home
overflowing with rage and vexation alas said he to his wife what
ill luck has befallen me my wine is all spilt and my horses all three
dead alas husband replied she and a wicked bird has come into
the house and has brought with her all the birds in the world i am
sure and they have fallen upon our corn in the loft and are eating it
up at such a rate away ran the husband upstairs and saw thousands of
birds sitting upon the floor eating up his corn with the sparrow in the
midst of them unlucky wretch that i am cried the carter for he saw
that the corn was almost all gone not wretch enough yet said the
sparrow thy cruelty shall cost thee thy life yet and away she flew 

the carter seeing that he had thus lost all that he had went down
into his kitchen and was still not sorry for what he had done but sat
himself angrily and sulkily in the chimney corner but the sparrow sat
on the outside of the window and cried carter thy cruelty shall cost
thee thy life with that he jumped up in a rage seized his hatchet 
and threw it at the sparrow but it missed her and only broke the
window the sparrow now hopped in perched upon the window-seat and
cried carter it shall cost thee thy life then he became mad and
blind with rage and struck the window-seat with such force that he
cleft it in two and as the sparrow flew from place to place the carter
and his wife were so furious that they broke all their furniture 
glasses chairs benches the table and at last the walls without
touching the bird at all in the end however they caught her and the
wife said shall i kill her at once no cried he that is letting
her off too easily she shall die a much more cruel death i will eat
her but the sparrow began to flutter about and stretch out her neck
and cried carter it shall cost thee thy life yet with that he
could wait no longer so he gave his wife the hatchet and cried wife 
strike at the bird and kill her in my hand and the wife struck but
she missed her aim and hit her husband on the head so that he fell down
dead and the sparrow flew quietly home to her nest 




the twelve dancing princesses

there was a king who had twelve beautiful daughters they slept in
twelve beds all in one room and when they went to bed the doors were
shut and locked up but every morning their shoes were found to be quite
worn through as if they had been danced in all night and yet nobody
could find out how it happened or where they had been 

then the king made it known to all the land that if any person could
discover the secret and find out where it was that the princesses
danced in the night he should have the one he liked best for his
wife and should be king after his death but whoever tried and did not
succeed after three days and nights should be put to death 

a king's son soon came he was well entertained and in the evening was
taken to the chamber next to the one where the princesses lay in their
twelve beds there he was to sit and watch where they went to dance 
and in order that nothing might pass without his hearing it the door
of his chamber was left open but the king's son soon fell asleep and
when he awoke in the morning he found that the princesses had all been
dancing for the soles of their shoes were full of holes the same thing
happened the second and third night so the king ordered his head to be
cut off after him came several others but they had all the same luck 
and all lost their lives in the same manner 

now it chanced that an old soldier who had been wounded in battle
and could fight no longer passed through the country where this king
reigned and as he was travelling through a wood he met an old woman 
who asked him where he was going i hardly know where i am going or
what i had better do said the soldier but i think i should like very
well to find out where it is that the princesses dance and then in time
i might be a king well said the old dame that is no very hard
task only take care not to drink any of the wine which one of the
princesses will bring to you in the evening and as soon as she leaves
you pretend to be fast asleep 

then she gave him a cloak and said as soon as you put that on
you will become invisible and you will then be able to follow the
princesses wherever they go when the soldier heard all this good
counsel he determined to try his luck so he went to the king and said
he was willing to undertake the task 

he was as well received as the others had been and the king ordered
fine royal robes to be given him and when the evening came he was led
to the outer chamber just as he was going to lie down the eldest of
the princesses brought him a cup of wine but the soldier threw it all
away secretly taking care not to drink a drop then he laid himself
down on his bed and in a little while began to snore very loud as if
he was fast asleep when the twelve princesses heard this they laughed
heartily and the eldest said this fellow too might have done a wiser
thing than lose his life in this way then they rose up and opened
their drawers and boxes and took out all their fine clothes and
dressed themselves at the glass and skipped about as if they were eager
to begin dancing but the youngest said i don't know how it is while
you are so happy i feel very uneasy i am sure some mischance will
befall us you simpleton said the eldest you are always afraid 
have you forgotten how many kings sons have already watched in vain 
and as for this soldier even if i had not given him his sleeping
draught he would have slept soundly enough 

when they were all ready they went and looked at the soldier but he
snored on and did not stir hand or foot so they thought they were
quite safe and the eldest went up to her own bed and clapped her hands 
and the bed sank into the floor and a trap-door flew open the soldier
saw them going down through the trap-door one after another the eldest
leading the way and thinking he had no time to lose he jumped up put
on the cloak which the old woman had given him and followed them 
but in the middle of the stairs he trod on the gown of the youngest
princess and she cried out to her sisters all is not right someone
took hold of my gown you silly creature said the eldest it is
nothing but a nail in the wall then down they all went and at the
bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees and
the leaves were all of silver and glittered and sparkled beautifully 
the soldier wished to take away some token of the place so he broke
off a little branch and there came a loud noise from the tree then the
youngest daughter said again i am sure all is not right did not you
hear that noise that never happened before but the eldest said it
is only our princes who are shouting for joy at our approach 

then they came to another grove of trees where all the leaves were of
gold and afterwards to a third where the leaves were all glittering
diamonds and the soldier broke a branch from each and every time there
was a loud noise which made the youngest sister tremble with fear but
the eldest still said it was only the princes who were crying for joy 
so they went on till they came to a great lake and at the side of the
lake there lay twelve little boats with twelve handsome princes in them 
who seemed to be waiting there for the princesses 

one of the princesses went into each boat and the soldier stepped into
the same boat with the youngest as they were rowing over the lake the
prince who was in the boat with the youngest princess and the soldier
said i do not know why it is but though i am rowing with all my might
we do not get on so fast as usual and i am quite tired the boat
seems very heavy today it is only the heat of the weather said the
princess i feel it very warm too 

on the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle from
which came the merry music of horns and trumpets there they all landed 
and went into the castle and each prince danced with his princess and
the soldier who was all the time invisible danced with them too and
when any of the princesses had a cup of wine set by her he drank it
all up so that when she put the cup to her mouth it was empty at this 
too the youngest sister was terribly frightened but the eldest always
silenced her they danced on till three o'clock in the morning and then
all their shoes were worn out so that they were obliged to leave off 
the princes rowed them back again over the lake but this time the
soldier placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess and on the
opposite shore they took leave of each other the princesses promising
to come again the next night 

when they came to the stairs the soldier ran on before the princesses 
and laid himself down and as the twelve sisters slowly came up very
much tired they heard him snoring in his bed so they said now all
is quite safe then they undressed themselves put away their fine
clothes pulled off their shoes and went to bed in the morning the
soldier said nothing about what had happened but determined to see more
of this strange adventure and went again the second and third night 
and every thing happened just as before the princesses danced each time
till their shoes were worn to pieces and then returned home however 
on the third night the soldier carried away one of the golden cups as a
token of where he had been 

as soon as the time came when he was to declare the secret he was taken
before the king with the three branches and the golden cup and the
twelve princesses stood listening behind the door to hear what he would
say and when the king asked him where do my twelve daughters dance at
night he answered with twelve princes in a castle under ground and
then he told the king all that had happened and showed him the three
branches and the golden cup which he had brought with him then the king
called for the princesses and asked them whether what the soldier said
was true and when they saw that they were discovered and that it was
of no use to deny what had happened they confessed it all and the king
asked the soldier which of them he would choose for his wife and he
answered i am not very young so i will have the eldest and they
were married that very day and the soldier was chosen to be the king's
heir 




the fisherman and his wife

there was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty close
by the seaside the fisherman used to go out all day long a-fishing and
one day as he sat on the shore with his rod looking at the sparkling
waves and watching his line all on a sudden his float was dragged away
deep into the water and in drawing it up he pulled out a great fish 
but the fish said pray let me live i am not a real fish i am an
enchanted prince put me in the water again and let me go oh ho 
said the man you need not make so many words about the matter i will
have nothing to do with a fish that can talk so swim away sir as soon
as you please then he put him back into the water and the fish darted
straight down to the bottom and left a long streak of blood behind him
on the wave 

when the fisherman went home to his wife in the pigsty he told her how
he had caught a great fish and how it had told him it was an enchanted
prince and how on hearing it speak he had let it go again did not
you ask it for anything said the wife we live very wretchedly here 
in this nasty dirty pigsty do go back and tell the fish we want a snug
little cottage 

the fisherman did not much like the business however he went to the
seashore and when he came back there the water looked all yellow and
green and he stood at the water's edge and said 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

then the fish came swimming to him and said well what is her will 
what does your wife want ah said the fisherman she says that when
i had caught you i ought to have asked you for something before i let
you go she does not like living any longer in the pigsty and wants
a snug little cottage go home then said the fish she is in the
cottage already so the man went home and saw his wife standing at the
door of a nice trim little cottage come in come in said she is
not this much better than the filthy pigsty we had and there was a
parlour and a bedchamber and a kitchen and behind the cottage there
was a little garden planted with all sorts of flowers and fruits and
there was a courtyard behind full of ducks and chickens ah said the
fisherman how happily we shall live now we will try to do so at
least said his wife 

everything went right for a week or two and then dame ilsabill said 
 husband there is not near room enough for us in this cottage the
courtyard and the garden are a great deal too small i should like to
have a large stone castle to live in go to the fish again and tell him
to give us a castle wife said the fisherman i don't like to go to
him again for perhaps he will be angry we ought to be easy with this
pretty cottage to live in nonsense said the wife he will do it
very willingly i know go along and try 

the fisherman went but his heart was very heavy and when he came to
the sea it looked blue and gloomy though it was very calm and he went
close to the edge of the waves and said 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

 well what does she want now said the fish ah said the man 
dolefully my wife wants to live in a stone castle go home then 
said the fish she is standing at the gate of it already so away went
the fisherman and found his wife standing before the gate of a great
castle see said she is not this grand with that they went into
the castle together and found a great many servants there and the
rooms all richly furnished and full of golden chairs and tables and
behind the castle was a garden and around it was a park half a
mile long full of sheep and goats and hares and deer and in the
courtyard were stables and cow-houses well said the man now we
will live cheerful and happy in this beautiful castle for the rest of
our lives perhaps we may said the wife but let us sleep upon it 
before we make up our minds to that so they went to bed 

the next morning when dame ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight and
she jogged the fisherman with her elbow and said get up husband 
and bestir yourself for we must be king of all the land wife wife 
said the man why should we wish to be the king i will not be king 
 then i will said she but wife said the fisherman how can you
be king the fish cannot make you a king husband said she say
no more about it but go and try i will be king so the man went away
quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king this time
the sea looked a dark grey colour and was overspread with curling waves
and the ridges of foam as he cried out 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

 well what would she have now said the fish alas said the poor
man my wife wants to be king go home said the fish she is king
already 

then the fisherman went home and as he came close to the palace he saw
a troop of soldiers and heard the sound of drums and trumpets and when
he went in he saw his wife sitting on a throne of gold and diamonds 
with a golden crown upon her head and on each side of her stood six
fair maidens each a head taller than the other well wife said the
fisherman are you king yes said she i am king and when he had
looked at her for a long time he said ah wife what a fine thing it
is to be king now we shall never have anything more to wish for as long
as we live i don't know how that may be said she never is a long
time i am king it is true but i begin to be tired of that and i
think i should like to be emperor alas wife why should you wish to
be emperor said the fisherman husband said she go to the fish 
i say i will be emperor ah wife replied the fisherman the fish
cannot make an emperor i am sure and i should not like to ask him for
such a thing i am king said ilsabill and you are my slave so go
at once 

so the fisherman was forced to go and he muttered as he went along 
 this will come to no good it is too much to ask the fish will be
tired at last and then we shall be sorry for what we have done he
soon came to the seashore and the water was quite black and muddy and
a mighty whirlwind blew over the waves and rolled them about but he
went as near as he could to the water's brink and said 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

 what would she have now said the fish ah said the fisherman 
 she wants to be emperor go home said the fish she is emperor
already 

so he went home again and as he came near he saw his wife ilsabill
sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold with a great crown on
her head full two yards high and on each side of her stood her guards
and attendants in a row each one smaller than the other from the
tallest giant down to a little dwarf no bigger than my finger and
before her stood princes and dukes and earls and the fisherman went
up to her and said wife are you emperor yes said she i am
emperor ah said the man as he gazed upon her what a fine thing
it is to be emperor husband said she why should we stop at being
emperor i will be pope next o wife wife said he how can you be
pope there is but one pope at a time in christendom husband said
she i will be pope this very day but replied the husband the
fish cannot make you pope what nonsense said she if he can make
an emperor he can make a pope go and try him 

so the fisherman went but when he came to the shore the wind was raging
and the sea was tossed up and down in boiling waves and the ships were
in trouble and rolled fearfully upon the tops of the billows in the
middle of the heavens there was a little piece of blue sky but towards
the south all was red as if a dreadful storm was rising at this sight
the fisherman was dreadfully frightened and he trembled so that his
knees knocked together but still he went down near to the shore and
said 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

 what does she want now said the fish ah said the fisherman my
wife wants to be pope go home said the fish she is pope already 

then the fisherman went home and found ilsabill sitting on a throne
that was two miles high and she had three great crowns on her head and
around her stood all the pomp and power of the church and on each side
of her were two rows of burning lights of all sizes the greatest as
large as the highest and biggest tower in the world and the least no
larger than a small rushlight wife said the fisherman as he looked
at all this greatness are you pope yes said she i am pope 
 well wife replied he it is a grand thing to be pope and now
you must be easy for you can be nothing greater i will think about
that said the wife then they went to bed but dame ilsabill could not
sleep all night for thinking what she should be next at last as she
was dropping asleep morning broke and the sun rose ha thought she 
as she woke up and looked at it through the window after all i cannot
prevent the sun rising at this thought she was very angry and wakened
her husband and said husband go to the fish and tell him i must
be lord of the sun and moon the fisherman was half asleep but the
thought frightened him so much that he started and fell out of bed 
 alas wife said he cannot you be easy with being pope no 
said she i am very uneasy as long as the sun and moon rise without my
leave go to the fish at once 

then the man went shivering with fear and as he was going down to
the shore a dreadful storm arose so that the trees and the very rocks
shook and all the heavens became black with stormy clouds and the
lightnings played and the thunders rolled and you might have seen in
the sea great black waves swelling up like mountains with crowns of
white foam upon their heads and the fisherman crept towards the sea 
and cried out as well as he could 

 o man of the sea 
 hearken to me 
 my wife ilsabill
 will have her own will 
 and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee 

 what does she want now said the fish ah said he she wants to
be lord of the sun and moon go home said the fish to your pigsty
again 

and there they live to this very day 




the willow-wren and the bear

once in summer-time the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest 
and the bear heard a bird singing so beautifully that he said brother
wolf what bird is it that sings so well that is the king of birds 
said the wolf before whom we must bow down in reality the bird was
the willow-wren if that's the case said the bear i should very
much like to see his royal palace come take me thither that is not
done quite as you seem to think said the wolf you must wait until
the queen comes soon afterwards the queen arrived with some food in
her beak and the lord king came too and they began to feed their young
ones the bear would have liked to go at once but the wolf held him
back by the sleeve and said no you must wait until the lord and lady
queen have gone away again so they took stock of the hole where the
nest lay and trotted away the bear however could not rest until he
had seen the royal palace and when a short time had passed went to it
again the king and queen had just flown out so he peeped in and saw
five or six young ones lying there is that the royal palace cried
the bear it is a wretched palace and you are not king's children you
are disreputable children when the young wrens heard that they were
frightfully angry and screamed no that we are not our parents are
honest people bear you will have to pay for that 

the bear and the wolf grew uneasy and turned back and went into their
holes the young willow-wrens however continued to cry and scream and
when their parents again brought food they said we will not so much as
touch one fly's leg no not if we were dying of hunger until you have
settled whether we are respectable children or not the bear has been
here and has insulted us then the old king said be easy he shall
be punished and he at once flew with the queen to the bear's cave and
called in old growler why have you insulted my children you shall
suffer for it we will punish you by a bloody war thus war was
announced to the bear and all four-footed animals were summoned to take
part in it oxen asses cows deer and every other animal the earth
contained and the willow-wren summoned everything which flew in the
air not only birds large and small but midges and hornets bees and
flies had to come 

when the time came for the war to begin the willow-wren sent out spies
to discover who was the enemy's commander-in-chief the gnat who was
the most crafty flew into the forest where the enemy was assembled 
and hid herself beneath a leaf of the tree where the password was to be
announced there stood the bear and he called the fox before him
and said fox you are the most cunning of all animals you shall be
general and lead us good said the fox but what signal shall we
agree upon no one knew that so the fox said i have a fine long
bushy tail which almost looks like a plume of red feathers when i lift
my tail up quite high all is going well and you must charge but if i
let it hang down run away as fast as you can when the gnat had heard
that she flew away again and revealed everything down to the minutest
detail to the willow-wren when day broke and the battle was to begin 
all the four-footed animals came running up with such a noise that the
earth trembled the willow-wren with his army also came flying through
the air with such a humming and whirring and swarming that every one
was uneasy and afraid and on both sides they advanced against each
other but the willow-wren sent down the hornet with orders to settle
beneath the fox's tail and sting with all his might when the fox felt
the first string he started so that he lifted one leg from pain but
he bore it and still kept his tail high in the air at the second
sting he was forced to put it down for a moment at the third he could
hold out no longer screamed and put his tail between his legs when
the animals saw that they thought all was lost and began to flee each
into his hole and the birds had won the battle 

then the king and queen flew home to their children and cried 
 children rejoice eat and drink to your heart's content we have won
the battle but the young wrens said we will not eat yet the bear
must come to the nest and beg for pardon and say that we are honourable
children before we will do that then the willow-wren flew to the
bear's hole and cried growler you are to come to the nest to my
children and beg their pardon or else every rib of your body shall
be broken so the bear crept thither in the greatest fear and begged
their pardon and now at last the young wrens were satisfied and sat
down together and ate and drank and made merry till quite late into the
night 




the frog-prince

one fine evening a young princess put on her bonnet and clogs and went
out to take a walk by herself in a wood and when she came to a cool
spring of water that rose in the midst of it she sat herself down
to rest a while now she had a golden ball in her hand which was her
favourite plaything and she was always tossing it up into the air and
catching it again as it fell after a time she threw it up so high that
she missed catching it as it fell and the ball bounded away and rolled
along upon the ground till at last it fell down into the spring the
princess looked into the spring after her ball but it was very deep so
deep that she could not see the bottom of it then she began to bewail
her loss and said alas if i could only get my ball again i would
give all my fine clothes and jewels and everything that i have in the
world 

whilst she was speaking a frog put its head out of the water and said 
 princess why do you weep so bitterly alas said she what can you
do for me you nasty frog my golden ball has fallen into the spring 
the frog said i want not your pearls and jewels and fine clothes 
but if you will love me and let me live with you and eat from off
your golden plate and sleep upon your bed i will bring you your ball
again what nonsense thought the princess this silly frog is
talking he can never even get out of the spring to visit me though
he may be able to get my ball for me and therefore i will tell him he
shall have what he asks so she said to the frog well if you will
bring me my ball i will do all you ask then the frog put his head
down and dived deep under the water and after a little while he came
up again with the ball in his mouth and threw it on the edge of the
spring as soon as the young princess saw her ball she ran to pick
it up and she was so overjoyed to have it in her hand again that she
never thought of the frog but ran home with it as fast as she could 
the frog called after her stay princess and take me with you as you
said but she did not stop to hear a word 

the next day just as the princess had sat down to dinner she heard a
strange noise tap tap plash plash as if something was coming up the
marble staircase and soon afterwards there was a gentle knock at the
door and a little voice cried out and said 

 open the door my princess dear 
 open the door to thy true love here 
 and mind the words that thou and i said
 by the fountain cool in the greenwood shade 

then the princess ran to the door and opened it and there she saw
the frog whom she had quite forgotten at this sight she was sadly
frightened and shutting the door as fast as she could came back to her
seat the king her father seeing that something had frightened her 
asked her what was the matter there is a nasty frog said she at
the door that lifted my ball for me out of the spring this morning i
told him that he should live with me here thinking that he could never
get out of the spring but there he is at the door and he wants to come
in 

while she was speaking the frog knocked again at the door and said 

 open the door my princess dear 
 open the door to thy true love here 
 and mind the words that thou and i said
 by the fountain cool in the greenwood shade 

then the king said to the young princess as you have given your word
you must keep it so go and let him in she did so and the frog hopped
into the room and then straight on tap tap plash plash from the
bottom of the room to the top till he came up close to the table where
the princess sat pray lift me upon chair said he to the princess 
 and let me sit next to you as soon as she had done this the frog
said put your plate nearer to me that i may eat out of it this
she did and when he had eaten as much as he could he said now i am
tired carry me upstairs and put me into your bed and the princess 
though very unwilling took him up in her hand and put him upon the
pillow of her own bed where he slept all night long as soon as it was
light he jumped up hopped downstairs and went out of the house 
 now then thought the princess at last he is gone and i shall be
troubled with him no more 

but she was mistaken for when night came again she heard the same
tapping at the door and the frog came once more and said 

 open the door my princess dear 
 open the door to thy true love here 
 and mind the words that thou and i said
 by the fountain cool in the greenwood shade 

and when the princess opened the door the frog came in and slept upon
her pillow as before till the morning broke and the third night he did
the same but when the princess awoke on the following morning she was
astonished to see instead of the frog a handsome prince gazing on her
with the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen and standing at the head
of her bed 

he told her that he had been enchanted by a spiteful fairy who had
changed him into a frog and that he had been fated so to abide till
some princess should take him out of the spring and let him eat from
her plate and sleep upon her bed for three nights you said the
prince have broken his cruel charm and now i have nothing to wish for
but that you should go with me into my father's kingdom where i will
marry you and love you as long as you live 

the young princess you may be sure was not long in saying yes to
all this and as they spoke a gay coach drove up with eight beautiful
horses decked with plumes of feathers and a golden harness and behind
the coach rode the prince's servant faithful heinrich who had bewailed
the misfortunes of his dear master during his enchantment so long and so
bitterly that his heart had well-nigh burst 

they then took leave of the king and got into the coach with eight
horses and all set out full of joy and merriment for the prince's
kingdom which they reached safely and there they lived happily a great
many years 




cat and mouse in partnership

a certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse and had said so much
to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her that at
length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together 
 but we must make a provision for winter or else we shall suffer
from hunger said the cat and you little mouse cannot venture
everywhere or you will be caught in a trap some day the good advice
was followed and a pot of fat was bought but they did not know where
to put it at length after much consideration the cat said i know no
place where it will be better stored up than in the church for no one
dares take anything away from there we will set it beneath the altar 
and not touch it until we are really in need of it so the pot was
placed in safety but it was not long before the cat had a great
yearning for it and said to the mouse i want to tell you something 
little mouse my cousin has brought a little son into the world and has
asked me to be godmother he is white with brown spots and i am to hold
him over the font at the christening let me go out today and you look
after the house by yourself yes yes answered the mouse by all
means go and if you get anything very good to eat think of me i
should like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself all this 
however was untrue the cat had no cousin and had not been asked to
be godmother she went straight to the church stole to the pot of fat 
began to lick at it and licked the top of the fat off then she took a
walk upon the roofs of the town looked out for opportunities and then
stretched herself in the sun and licked her lips whenever she thought
of the pot of fat and not until it was evening did she return home 
 well here you are again said the mouse no doubt you have had a
merry day all went off well answered the cat what name did they
give the child top off said the cat quite coolly top off cried
the mouse that is a very odd and uncommon name is it a usual one in
your family what does that matter said the cat it is no worse
than crumb-stealer as your godchildren are called 

before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning she said to
the mouse you must do me a favour and once more manage the house for
a day alone i am again asked to be godmother and as the child has a
white ring round its neck i cannot refuse the good mouse consented 
but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church and devoured
half the pot of fat nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to
oneself said she and was quite satisfied with her day's work when
she went home the mouse inquired and what was the child christened 
 half-done answered the cat half-done what are you saying i
never heard the name in my life i'll wager anything it is not in the
calendar 

the cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking all good
things go in threes said she i am asked to stand godmother again 
the child is quite black only it has white paws but with that
exception it has not a single white hair on its whole body this only
happens once every few years you will let me go won't you top-off 
half-done answered the mouse they are such odd names they make me
very thoughtful you sit at home said the cat in your dark-grey
fur coat and long tail and are filled with fancies that's because
you do not go out in the daytime during the cat's absence the mouse
cleaned the house and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely
emptied the pot of fat when everything is eaten up one has some
peace said she to herself and well filled and fat she did not return
home till night the mouse at once asked what name had been given to
the third child it will not please you more than the others said the
cat he is called all-gone all-gone cried the mouse that is the
most suspicious name of all i have never seen it in print all-gone 
what can that mean and she shook her head curled herself up and lay
down to sleep 

from this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother but
when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found
outside the mouse thought of their provision and said come cat 
we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves we
shall enjoy that yes answered the cat you will enjoy it as much
as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the
window they set out on their way but when they arrived the pot of
fat certainly was still in its place but it was empty alas said the
mouse now i see what has happened now it comes to light you are a true
friend you have devoured all when you were standing godmother first
top off then half-done then will you hold your tongue cried the
cat one word more and i will eat you too all-gone was already on
the poor mouse's lips scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang
on her seized her and swallowed her down verily that is the way of
the world 




the goose-girl

the king of a great land died and left his queen to take care of their
only child this child was a daughter who was very beautiful and her
mother loved her dearly and was very kind to her and there was a good
fairy too who was fond of the princess and helped her mother to watch
over her when she grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived a
great way off and as the time drew near for her to be married she
got ready to set off on her journey to his country then the queen her
mother packed up a great many costly things jewels and gold and
silver trinkets fine dresses and in short everything that became a
royal bride and she gave her a waiting-maid to ride with her and give
her into the bridegroom's hands and each had a horse for the journey 
now the princess's horse was the fairy's gift and it was called falada 
and could speak 

when the time came for them to set out the fairy went into her
bed-chamber and took a little knife and cut off a lock of her hair 
and gave it to the princess and said take care of it dear child for
it is a charm that may be of use to you on the road then they all took
a sorrowful leave of the princess and she put the lock of hair into
her bosom got upon her horse and set off on her journey to her
bridegroom's kingdom 

one day as they were riding along by a brook the princess began to
feel very thirsty and she said to her maid pray get down and fetch
me some water in my golden cup out of yonder brook for i want to
drink nay said the maid if you are thirsty get off yourself and
stoop down by the water and drink i shall not be your waiting-maid any
longer then she was so thirsty that she got down and knelt over the
little brook and drank for she was frightened and dared not bring out
her golden cup and she wept and said alas what will become of me 
and the lock answered her and said 

 alas alas if thy mother knew it 
 sadly sadly would she rue it 

but the princess was very gentle and meek so she said nothing to her
maid's ill behaviour but got upon her horse again 

then all rode farther on their journey till the day grew so warm and
the sun so scorching that the bride began to feel very thirsty again 
and at last when they came to a river she forgot her maid's rude
speech and said pray get down and fetch me some water to drink in
my golden cup but the maid answered her and even spoke more haughtily
than before drink if you will but i shall not be your waiting-maid 
then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her horse and lay
down and held her head over the running stream and cried and said 
 what will become of me and the lock of hair answered her again 

 alas alas if thy mother knew it 
 sadly sadly would she rue it 

and as she leaned down to drink the lock of hair fell from her bosom 
and floated away with the water now she was so frightened that she did
not see it but her maid saw it and was very glad for she knew the
charm and she saw that the poor bride would be in her power now that
she had lost the hair so when the bride had done drinking and would
have got upon falada again the maid said i shall ride upon falada 
and you may have my horse instead so she was forced to give up her
horse and soon afterwards to take off her royal clothes and put on her
maid's shabby ones 

at last as they drew near the end of their journey this treacherous
servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what had
happened but falada saw it all and marked it well 

then the waiting-maid got upon falada and the real bride rode upon the
other horse and they went on in this way till at last they came to the
royal court there was great joy at their coming and the prince flew to
meet them and lifted the maid from her horse thinking she was the one
who was to be his wife and she was led upstairs to the royal chamber 
but the true princess was told to stay in the court below 

now the old king happened just then to have nothing else to do so he
amused himself by sitting at his kitchen window looking at what was
going on and he saw her in the courtyard as she looked very pretty 
and too delicate for a waiting-maid he went up into the royal chamber
to ask the bride who it was she had brought with her that was thus left
standing in the court below i brought her with me for the sake of her
company on the road said she pray give the girl some work to do 
that she may not be idle the old king could not for some time think
of any work for her to do but at last he said i have a lad who takes
care of my geese she may go and help him now the name of this lad 
that the real bride was to help in watching the king's geese was
curdken 

but the false bride said to the prince dear husband pray do me one
piece of kindness that i will said the prince then tell one of
your slaughterers to cut off the head of the horse i rode upon for it
was very unruly and plagued me sadly on the road but the truth was 
she was very much afraid lest falada should some day or other speak and
tell all she had done to the princess she carried her point and the
faithful falada was killed but when the true princess heard of it she
wept and begged the man to nail up falada's head against a large
dark gate of the city through which she had to pass every morning
and evening that there she might still see him sometimes then the
slaughterer said he would do as she wished and cut off the head and
nailed it up under the dark gate 

early the next morning as she and curdken went out through the gate 
she said sorrowfully 

 falada falada there thou hangest 

and the head answered 

 bride bride there thou gangest 
 alas alas if thy mother knew it 
 sadly sadly would she rue it 

then they went out of the city and drove the geese on and when she
came to the meadow she sat down upon a bank there and let down her
waving locks of hair which were all of pure silver and when curdken
saw it glitter in the sun he ran up and would have pulled some of the
locks out but she cried 

 blow breezes blow 
 let curdken's hat go 
 blow breezes blow 
 let him after it go 
 o'er hills dales and rocks 
 away be it whirl'd
 till the silvery locks
 are all comb'd and curl'd 

then there came a wind so strong that it blew off curdken's hat and
away it flew over the hills and he was forced to turn and run after
it till by the time he came back she had done combing and curling her
hair and had put it up again safe then he was very angry and sulky 
and would not speak to her at all but they watched the geese until it
grew dark in the evening and then drove them homewards 

the next morning as they were going through the dark gate the poor
girl looked up at falada's head and cried 

 falada falada there thou hangest 

and the head answered 

 bride bride there thou gangest 
 alas alas if thy mother knew it 
 sadly sadly would she rue it 

then she drove on the geese and sat down again in the meadow and began
to comb out her hair as before and curdken ran up to her and wanted to
take hold of it but she cried out quickly 

 blow breezes blow 
 let curdken's hat go 
 blow breezes blow 
 let him after it go 
 o'er hills dales and rocks 
 away be it whirl'd
 till the silvery locks
 are all comb'd and curl'd 

then the wind came and blew away his hat and off it flew a great way 
over the hills and far away so that he had to run after it and when
he came back she had bound up her hair again and all was safe so they
watched the geese till it grew dark 

in the evening after they came home curdken went to the old king and
said i cannot have that strange girl to help me to keep the geese any
longer why said the king because instead of doing any good she
does nothing but tease me all day long then the king made him tell him
what had happened and curdken said when we go in the morning through
the dark gate with our flock of geese she cries and talks with the head
of a horse that hangs upon the wall and says 

 falada falada there thou hangest 

and the head answers 

 bride bride there thou gangest 
 alas alas if thy mother knew it 
 sadly sadly would she rue it 

and curdken went on telling the king what had happened upon the meadow
where the geese fed how his hat was blown away and how he was forced
to run after it and to leave his flock of geese to themselves but the
old king told the boy to go out again the next day and when morning
came he placed himself behind the dark gate and heard how she spoke
to falada and how falada answered then he went into the field and
hid himself in a bush by the meadow's side and he soon saw with his own
eyes how they drove the flock of geese and how after a little time 
she let down her hair that glittered in the sun and then he heard her
say 

 blow breezes blow 
 let curdken's hat go 
 blow breezes blow 
 let him after it go 
 o'er hills dales and rocks 
 away be it whirl'd
 till the silvery locks
 are all comb'd and curl'd 

and soon came a gale of wind and carried away curdken's hat and away
went curdken after it while the girl went on combing and curling her
hair all this the old king saw so he went home without being seen and
when the little goose-girl came back in the evening he called her aside 
and asked her why she did so but she burst into tears and said that
i must not tell you or any man or i shall lose my life 

but the old king begged so hard that she had no peace till she had told
him all the tale from beginning to end word for word and it was very
lucky for her that she did so for when she had done the king ordered
royal clothes to be put upon her and gazed on her with wonder she was
so beautiful then he called his son and told him that he had only a
false bride for that she was merely a waiting-maid while the true
bride stood by and the young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty and
heard how meek and patient she had been and without saying anything to
the false bride the king ordered a great feast to be got ready for all
his court the bridegroom sat at the top with the false princess on one
side and the true one on the other but nobody knew her again for her
beauty was quite dazzling to their eyes and she did not seem at all
like the little goose-girl now that she had her brilliant dress on 

when they had eaten and drank and were very merry the old king said
he would tell them a tale so he began and told all the story of the
princess as if it was one that he had once heard and he asked the
true waiting-maid what she thought ought to be done to anyone who would
behave thus nothing better said this false bride than that she
should be thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails and that
two white horses should be put to it and should drag it from street to
street till she was dead thou art she said the old king and as
thou has judged thyself so shall it be done to thee and the young
king was then married to his true wife and they reigned over the
kingdom in peace and happiness all their lives and the good fairy came
to see them and restored the faithful falada to life again 




the adventures of chanticleer and partlet


1 how they went to the mountains to eat nuts

 the nuts are quite ripe now said chanticleer to his wife partlet 
 suppose we go together to the mountains and eat as many as we can 
before the squirrel takes them all away with all my heart said
partlet let us go and make a holiday of it together 

so they went to the mountains and as it was a lovely day they stayed
there till the evening now whether it was that they had eaten so many
nuts that they could not walk or whether they were lazy and would not 
i do not know however they took it into their heads that it did not
become them to go home on foot so chanticleer began to build a little
carriage of nutshells and when it was finished partlet jumped into
it and sat down and bid chanticleer harness himself to it and draw her
home that's a good joke said chanticleer no that will never do 
i had rather by half walk home i'll sit on the box and be coachman 
if you like but i'll not draw while this was passing a duck came
quacking up and cried out you thieving vagabonds what business have
you in my grounds i'll give it you well for your insolence and upon
that she fell upon chanticleer most lustily but chanticleer was no
coward and returned the duck's blows with his sharp spurs so fiercely
that she soon began to cry out for mercy which was only granted her
upon condition that she would draw the carriage home for them this she
agreed to do and chanticleer got upon the box and drove crying now 
duck get on as fast as you can and away they went at a pretty good
pace 

after they had travelled along a little way they met a needle and a pin
walking together along the road and the needle cried out stop stop 
and said it was so dark that they could hardly find their way and such
dirty walking they could not get on at all he told them that he and his
friend the pin had been at a public-house a few miles off and had sat
drinking till they had forgotten how late it was he begged therefore
that the travellers would be so kind as to give them a lift in their
carriage chanticleer observing that they were but thin fellows and not
likely to take up much room told them they might ride but made them
promise not to dirty the wheels of the carriage in getting in nor to
tread on partlet's toes 

late at night they arrived at an inn and as it was bad travelling in
the dark and the duck seemed much tired and waddled about a good
deal from one side to the other they made up their minds to fix their
quarters there but the landlord at first was unwilling and said his
house was full thinking they might not be very respectable company 
however they spoke civilly to him and gave him the egg which partlet
had laid by the way and said they would give him the duck who was in
the habit of laying one every day so at last he let them come in and
they bespoke a handsome supper and spent the evening very jollily 

early in the morning before it was quite light and when nobody was
stirring in the inn chanticleer awakened his wife and fetching the
egg they pecked a hole in it ate it up and threw the shells into the
fireplace they then went to the pin and needle who were fast asleep 
and seizing them by the heads stuck one into the landlord's easy chair
and the other into his handkerchief and having done this they crept
away as softly as possible however the duck who slept in the open
air in the yard heard them coming and jumping into the brook which ran
close by the inn soon swam out of their reach 

an hour or two afterwards the landlord got up and took his handkerchief
to wipe his face but the pin ran into him and pricked him then he
walked into the kitchen to light his pipe at the fire but when he
stirred it up the eggshells flew into his eyes and almost blinded him 
 bless me said he all the world seems to have a design against my
head this morning and so saying he threw himself sulkily into his
easy chair but oh dear the needle ran into him and this time the
pain was not in his head he now flew into a very great passion and 
suspecting the company who had come in the night before he went to look
after them but they were all off so he swore that he never again
would take in such a troop of vagabonds who ate a great deal paid no
reckoning and gave him nothing for his trouble but their apish tricks 


2 how chanticleer and partlet went to visit mr korbes

another day chanticleer and partlet wished to ride out together 
so chanticleer built a handsome carriage with four red wheels and
harnessed six mice to it and then he and partlet got into the carriage 
and away they drove soon afterwards a cat met them and said where
are you going and chanticleer replied 

 all on our way
 a visit to pay
 to mr korbes the fox today 

then the cat said take me with you chanticleer said with all my
heart get up behind and be sure you do not fall off 

 take care of this handsome coach of mine 
 nor dirty my pretty red wheels so fine 
 now mice be ready 
 and wheels run steady 
 for we are going a visit to pay
 to mr korbes the fox today 

soon after came up a millstone an egg a duck and a pin and
chanticleer gave them all leave to get into the carriage and go with
them 

when they arrived at mr korbes's house he was not at home so the mice
drew the carriage into the coach-house chanticleer and partlet flew
upon a beam the cat sat down in the fireplace the duck got into
the washing cistern the pin stuck himself into the bed pillow the
millstone laid himself over the house door and the egg rolled himself
up in the towel 

when mr korbes came home he went to the fireplace to make a fire but
the cat threw all the ashes in his eyes so he ran to the kitchen to
wash himself but there the duck splashed all the water in his face and
when he tried to wipe himself the egg broke to pieces in the towel all
over his face and eyes then he was very angry and went without his
supper to bed but when he laid his head on the pillow the pin ran into
his cheek at this he became quite furious and jumping up would have
run out of the house but when he came to the door the millstone fell
down on his head and killed him on the spot 


3 how partlet died and was buried and how chanticleer died of grief

another day chanticleer and partlet agreed to go again to the mountains
to eat nuts and it was settled that all the nuts which they found
should be shared equally between them now partlet found a very large
nut but she said nothing about it to chanticleer and kept it all to
herself however it was so big that she could not swallow it and it
stuck in her throat then she was in a great fright and cried out to
chanticleer pray run as fast as you can and fetch me some water or i
shall be choked chanticleer ran as fast as he could to the river and
said river give me some water for partlet lies in the mountain and
will be choked by a great nut the river said run first to the bride 
and ask her for a silken cord to draw up the water chanticleer ran to
the bride and said bride you must give me a silken cord for then
the river will give me water and the water i will carry to partlet who
lies on the mountain and will be choked by a great nut but the bride
said run first and bring me my garland that is hanging on a willow
in the garden then chanticleer ran to the garden and took the garland
from the bough where it hung and brought it to the bride and then
the bride gave him the silken cord and he took the silken cord to
the river and the river gave him water and he carried the water to
partlet but in the meantime she was choked by the great nut and lay
quite dead and never moved any more 

then chanticleer was very sorry and cried bitterly and all the beasts
came and wept with him over poor partlet and six mice built a little
hearse to carry her to her grave and when it was ready they harnessed
themselves before it and chanticleer drove them on the way they
met the fox where are you going chanticleer said he to bury my
partlet said the other may i go with you said the fox yes but
you must get up behind or my horses will not be able to draw you then
the fox got up behind and presently the wolf the bear the goat and
all the beasts of the wood came and climbed upon the hearse 

so on they went till they came to a rapid stream how shall we get
over said chanticleer then said a straw i will lay myself across 
and you may pass over upon me but as the mice were going over the
straw slipped away and fell into the water and the six mice all fell in
and were drowned what was to be done then a large log of wood came
and said i am big enough i will lay myself across the stream and you
shall pass over upon me so he laid himself down but they managed
so clumsily that the log of wood fell in and was carried away by the
stream then a stone who saw what had happened came up and kindly
offered to help poor chanticleer by laying himself across the stream 
and this time he got safely to the other side with the hearse and
managed to get partlet out of it but the fox and the other mourners 
who were sitting behind were too heavy and fell back into the water
and were all carried away by the stream and drowned 

thus chanticleer was left alone with his dead partlet and having dug
a grave for her he laid her in it and made a little hillock over her 
then he sat down by the grave and wept and mourned till at last he
died too and so all were dead 




rapunzel

there were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a
child at length the woman hoped that god was about to grant her desire 
these people had a little window at the back of their house from which
a splendid garden could be seen which was full of the most beautiful
flowers and herbs it was however surrounded by a high wall and no
one dared to go into it because it belonged to an enchantress who had
great power and was dreaded by all the world one day the woman was
standing by this window and looking down into the garden when she saw a
bed which was planted with the most beautiful rampion rapunzel and it
looked so fresh and green that she longed for it she quite pined away 
and began to look pale and miserable then her husband was alarmed and
asked what ails you dear wife ah she replied if i can't eat
some of the rampion which is in the garden behind our house i shall
die the man who loved her thought sooner than let your wife die 
bring her some of the rampion yourself let it cost what it will 
at twilight he clambered down over the wall into the garden of the
enchantress hastily clutched a handful of rampion and took it to his
wife she at once made herself a salad of it and ate it greedily it
tasted so good to her so very good that the next day she longed for it
three times as much as before if he was to have any rest her husband
must once more descend into the garden in the gloom of evening
therefore he let himself down again but when he had clambered down the
wall he was terribly afraid for he saw the enchantress standing before
him how can you dare said she with angry look descend into my
garden and steal my rampion like a thief you shall suffer for it 
 ah answered he let mercy take the place of justice i only made
up my mind to do it out of necessity my wife saw your rampion from the
window and felt such a longing for it that she would have died if she
had not got some to eat then the enchantress allowed her anger to be
softened and said to him if the case be as you say i will allow
you to take away with you as much rampion as you will only i make one
condition you must give me the child which your wife will bring into
the world it shall be well treated and i will care for it like a
mother the man in his terror consented to everything and when the
woman was brought to bed the enchantress appeared at once gave the
child the name of rapunzel and took it away with her 

rapunzel grew into the most beautiful child under the sun when she was
twelve years old the enchantress shut her into a tower which lay in
a forest and had neither stairs nor door but quite at the top was a
little window when the enchantress wanted to go in she placed herself
beneath it and cried 

 rapunzel rapunzel 
 let down your hair to me 

rapunzel had magnificent long hair fine as spun gold and when she
heard the voice of the enchantress she unfastened her braided tresses 
wound them round one of the hooks of the window above and then the hair
fell twenty ells down and the enchantress climbed up by it 

after a year or two it came to pass that the king's son rode through
the forest and passed by the tower then he heard a song which was so
charming that he stood still and listened this was rapunzel who in her
solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound the king's
son wanted to climb up to her and looked for the door of the tower 
but none was to be found he rode home but the singing had so deeply
touched his heart that every day he went out into the forest and
listened to it once when he was thus standing behind a tree he saw
that an enchantress came there and he heard how she cried 

 rapunzel rapunzel 
 let down your hair to me 

then rapunzel let down the braids of her hair and the enchantress
climbed up to her if that is the ladder by which one mounts i too
will try my fortune said he and the next day when it began to grow
dark he went to the tower and cried 

 rapunzel rapunzel 
 let down your hair to me 

immediately the hair fell down and the king's son climbed up 

at first rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man such as her eyes
had never yet beheld came to her but the king's son began to talk to
her quite like a friend and told her that his heart had been so stirred
that it had let him have no rest and he had been forced to see her 
then rapunzel lost her fear and when he asked her if she would take
him for her husband and she saw that he was young and handsome she
thought he will love me more than old dame gothel does and she said
yes and laid her hand in his she said i will willingly go away with
you but i do not know how to get down bring with you a skein of silk
every time that you come and i will weave a ladder with it and when
that is ready i will descend and you will take me on your horse they
agreed that until that time he should come to her every evening for the
old woman came by day the enchantress remarked nothing of this until
once rapunzel said to her tell me dame gothel how it happens that
you are so much heavier for me to draw up than the young king's son he
is with me in a moment ah you wicked child cried the enchantress 
 what do i hear you say i thought i had separated you from all
the world and yet you have deceived me in her anger she clutched
rapunzel's beautiful tresses wrapped them twice round her left hand 
seized a pair of scissors with the right and snip snap they were cut
off and the lovely braids lay on the ground and she was so pitiless
that she took poor rapunzel into a desert where she had to live in great
grief and misery 

on the same day that she cast out rapunzel however the enchantress
fastened the braids of hair which she had cut off to the hook of the
window and when the king's son came and cried 

 rapunzel rapunzel 
 let down your hair to me 

she let the hair down the king's son ascended but instead of finding
his dearest rapunzel he found the enchantress who gazed at him with
wicked and venomous looks aha she cried mockingly you would fetch
your dearest but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest 
the cat has got it and will scratch out your eyes as well rapunzel is
lost to you you will never see her again the king's son was beside
himself with pain and in his despair he leapt down from the tower he
escaped with his life but the thorns into which he fell pierced his
eyes then he wandered quite blind about the forest ate nothing but
roots and berries and did naught but lament and weep over the loss of
his dearest wife thus he roamed about in misery for some years and at
length came to the desert where rapunzel with the twins to which she
had given birth a boy and a girl lived in wretchedness he heard a
voice and it seemed so familiar to him that he went towards it and
when he approached rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck and wept two
of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again and he could
see with them as before he led her to his kingdom where he was
joyfully received and they lived for a long time afterwards happy and
contented 




fundevogel

there was once a forester who went into the forest to hunt and as
he entered it he heard a sound of screaming as if a little child were
there he followed the sound and at last came to a high tree and at
the top of this a little child was sitting for the mother had fallen
asleep under the tree with the child and a bird of prey had seen it in
her arms had flown down snatched it away and set it on the high tree 

the forester climbed up brought the child down and thought to himself 
 you will take him home with you and bring him up with your lina he
took it home therefore and the two children grew up together and the
one which he had found on a tree was called fundevogel because a bird
had carried it away fundevogel and lina loved each other so dearly that
when they did not see each other they were sad 

now the forester had an old cook who one evening took two pails and
began to fetch water and did not go once only but many times out
to the spring lina saw this and said listen old sanna why are you
fetching so much water if you will never repeat it to anyone i will
tell you why so lina said no she would never repeat it to anyone 
and then the cook said early tomorrow morning when the forester
is out hunting i will heat the water and when it is boiling in the
kettle i will throw in fundevogel and will boil him in it 

early next morning the forester got up and went out hunting and when he
was gone the children were still in bed then lina said to fundevogel 
 if you will never leave me i too will never leave you fundevogel
said neither now nor ever will i leave you then said lina then
will i tell you last night old sanna carried so many buckets of water
into the house that i asked her why she was doing that and she said
that if i would promise not to tell anyone and she said that early
tomorrow morning when father was out hunting she would set the kettle
full of water throw you into it and boil you but we will get up
quickly dress ourselves and go away together 

the two children therefore got up dressed themselves quickly and went
away when the water in the kettle was boiling the cook went into the
bedroom to fetch fundevogel and throw him into it but when she came in 
and went to the beds both the children were gone then she was terribly
alarmed and she said to herself what shall i say now when the
forester comes home and sees that the children are gone they must be
followed instantly to get them back again 

then the cook sent three servants after them who were to run and
overtake the children the children however were sitting outside the
forest and when they saw from afar the three servants running lina
said to fundevogel never leave me and i will never leave you 
fundevogel said neither now nor ever then said lina do you become
a rose-tree and i the rose upon it when the three servants came to
the forest nothing was there but a rose-tree and one rose on it but
the children were nowhere then said they there is nothing to be done
here and they went home and told the cook that they had seen nothing
in the forest but a little rose-bush with one rose on it then the
old cook scolded and said you simpletons you should have cut the
rose-bush in two and have broken off the rose and brought it home with
you go and do it at once they had therefore to go out and look for
the second time the children however saw them coming from a distance 
then lina said fundevogel never leave me and i will never leave
you fundevogel said neither now nor ever said lina then do you
become a church and i'll be the chandelier in it so when the three
servants came nothing was there but a church with a chandelier in
it they said therefore to each other what can we do here let us go
home when they got home the cook asked if they had not found them 
so they said no they had found nothing but a church and there was a
chandelier in it and the cook scolded them and said you fools why
did you not pull the church to pieces and bring the chandelier home
with you and now the old cook herself got on her legs and went with
the three servants in pursuit of the children the children however 
saw from afar that the three servants were coming and the cook waddling
after them then said lina fundevogel never leave me and i will
never leave you then said fundevogel neither now nor ever 
said lina be a fishpond and i will be the duck upon it the cook 
however came up to them and when she saw the pond she lay down by it 
and was about to drink it up but the duck swam quickly to her seized
her head in its beak and drew her into the water and there the old
witch had to drown then the children went home together and were
heartily delighted and if they have not died they are living still 




the valiant little tailor

one summer's morning a little tailor was sitting on his table by the
window he was in good spirits and sewed with all his might then came
a peasant woman down the street crying good jams cheap good jams 
cheap this rang pleasantly in the tailor's ears he stretched his
delicate head out of the window and called come up here dear woman 
here you will get rid of your goods the woman came up the three steps
to the tailor with her heavy basket and he made her unpack all the pots
for him he inspected each one lifted it up put his nose to it and
at length said the jam seems to me to be good so weigh me out four
ounces dear woman and if it is a quarter of a pound that is of no
consequence the woman who had hoped to find a good sale gave him
what he desired but went away quite angry and grumbling now this jam
shall be blessed by god cried the little tailor and give me health
and strength so he brought the bread out of the cupboard cut himself
a piece right across the loaf and spread the jam over it this won't
taste bitter said he but i will just finish the jacket before i
take a bite he laid the bread near him sewed on and in his joy made
bigger and bigger stitches in the meantime the smell of the sweet jam
rose to where the flies were sitting in great numbers and they were
attracted and descended on it in hosts hi who invited you said the
little tailor and drove the unbidden guests away the flies however 
who understood no german would not be turned away but came back
again in ever-increasing companies the little tailor at last lost all
patience and drew a piece of cloth from the hole under his work-table 
and saying wait and i will give it to you struck it mercilessly on
them when he drew it away and counted there lay before him no fewer
than seven dead and with legs stretched out are you a fellow of that
sort said he and could not help admiring his own bravery the whole
town shall know of this and the little tailor hastened to cut himself
a girdle stitched it and embroidered on it in large letters seven at
one stroke what the town he continued the whole world shall hear
of it and his heart wagged with joy like a lamb's tail the tailor
put on the girdle and resolved to go forth into the world because he
thought his workshop was too small for his valour before he went away 
he sought about in the house to see if there was anything which he could
take with him however he found nothing but an old cheese and that
he put in his pocket in front of the door he observed a bird which
had caught itself in the thicket it had to go into his pocket with the
cheese now he took to the road boldly and as he was light and nimble 
he felt no fatigue the road led him up a mountain and when he had
reached the highest point of it there sat a powerful giant looking
peacefully about him the little tailor went bravely up spoke to him 
and said good day comrade so you are sitting there overlooking the
wide-spread world i am just on my way thither and want to try my luck 
have you any inclination to go with me the giant looked contemptuously
at the tailor and said you ragamuffin you miserable creature 

 oh indeed answered the little tailor and unbuttoned his coat and
showed the giant the girdle there may you read what kind of a man i
am the giant read seven at one stroke and thought that they had
been men whom the tailor had killed and began to feel a little respect
for the tiny fellow nevertheless he wished to try him first and took
a stone in his hand and squeezed it together so that water dropped out
of it do that likewise said the giant if you have strength is
that all said the tailor that is child's play with us and put his
hand into his pocket brought out the soft cheese and pressed it until
the liquid ran out of it faith said he that was a little better 
wasn't it the giant did not know what to say and could not believe it
of the little man then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high
that the eye could scarcely follow it now little mite of a man do
that likewise well thrown said the tailor but after all the stone
came down to earth again i will throw you one which shall never come
back at all and he put his hand into his pocket took out the bird 
and threw it into the air the bird delighted with its liberty 
rose flew away and did not come back how does that shot please you 
comrade asked the tailor you can certainly throw said the giant 
 but now we will see if you are able to carry anything properly he
took the little tailor to a mighty oak tree which lay there felled on
the ground and said if you are strong enough help me to carry the
tree out of the forest readily answered the little man take you
the trunk on your shoulders and i will raise up the branches and twigs 
after all they are the heaviest the giant took the trunk on his
shoulder but the tailor seated himself on a branch and the giant who
could not look round had to carry away the whole tree and the little
tailor into the bargain he behind was quite merry and happy and
whistled the song three tailors rode forth from the gate as if
carrying the tree were child's play the giant after he had dragged the
heavy burden part of the way could go no further and cried hark
you i shall have to let the tree fall the tailor sprang nimbly down 
seized the tree with both arms as if he had been carrying it and said
to the giant you are such a great fellow and yet cannot even carry
the tree 

they went on together and as they passed a cherry-tree the giant laid
hold of the top of the tree where the ripest fruit was hanging bent it
down gave it into the tailor's hand and bade him eat but the little
tailor was much too weak to hold the tree and when the giant let it go 
it sprang back again and the tailor was tossed into the air with it 
when he had fallen down again without injury the giant said what is
this have you not strength enough to hold the weak twig there is no
lack of strength answered the little tailor do you think that could
be anything to a man who has struck down seven at one blow i leapt over
the tree because the huntsmen are shooting down there in the thicket 
jump as i did if you can do it the giant made the attempt but he
could not get over the tree and remained hanging in the branches so
that in this also the tailor kept the upper hand 

the giant said if you are such a valiant fellow come with me into our
cavern and spend the night with us the little tailor was willing and
followed him when they went into the cave other giants were sitting
there by the fire and each of them had a roasted sheep in his hand and
was eating it the little tailor looked round and thought it is much
more spacious here than in my workshop the giant showed him a bed and
said he was to lie down in it and sleep the bed however was too
big for the little tailor he did not lie down in it but crept into
a corner when it was midnight and the giant thought that the little
tailor was lying in a sound sleep he got up took a great iron bar 
cut through the bed with one blow and thought he had finished off the
grasshopper for good with the earliest dawn the giants went into the
forest and had quite forgotten the little tailor when all at once he
walked up to them quite merrily and boldly the giants were terrified 
they were afraid that he would strike them all dead and ran away in a
great hurry 

the little tailor went onwards always following his own pointed nose 
after he had walked for a long time he came to the courtyard of a royal
palace and as he felt weary he lay down on the grass and fell asleep 
whilst he lay there the people came and inspected him on all sides and
read on his girdle seven at one stroke ah said they what does
the great warrior want here in the midst of peace he must be a mighty
lord they went and announced him to the king and gave it as their
opinion that if war should break out this would be a weighty and useful
man who ought on no account to be allowed to depart the counsel pleased
the king and he sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to offer
him military service when he awoke the ambassador remained standing by
the sleeper waited until he stretched his limbs and opened his eyes 
and then conveyed to him this proposal for this very reason have
i come here the tailor replied i am ready to enter the king's
service he was therefore honourably received and a special dwelling
was assigned him 

the soldiers however were set against the little tailor and wished
him a thousand miles away what is to be the end of this they said
among themselves if we quarrel with him and he strikes about him 
seven of us will fall at every blow not one of us can stand against
him they came therefore to a decision betook themselves in a body to
the king and begged for their dismissal we are not prepared said
they to stay with a man who kills seven at one stroke the king was
sorry that for the sake of one he should lose all his faithful servants 
wished that he had never set eyes on the tailor and would willingly
have been rid of him again but he did not venture to give him his
dismissal for he dreaded lest he should strike him and all his people
dead and place himself on the royal throne he thought about it for a
long time and at last found good counsel he sent to the little tailor
and caused him to be informed that as he was a great warrior he had one
request to make to him in a forest of his country lived two giants 
who caused great mischief with their robbing murdering ravaging 
and burning and no one could approach them without putting himself in
danger of death if the tailor conquered and killed these two giants he
would give him his only daughter to wife and half of his kingdom as a
dowry likewise one hundred horsemen should go with him to assist him 
 that would indeed be a fine thing for a man like me thought the
little tailor one is not offered a beautiful princess and half a
kingdom every day of one's life oh yes he replied i will soon
subdue the giants and do not require the help of the hundred horsemen
to do it he who can hit seven with one blow has no need to be afraid of
two 

the little tailor went forth and the hundred horsemen followed him 
when he came to the outskirts of the forest he said to his followers 
 just stay waiting here i alone will soon finish off the giants then
he bounded into the forest and looked about right and left after a
while he perceived both giants they lay sleeping under a tree and
snored so that the branches waved up and down the little tailor not
idle gathered two pocketsful of stones and with these climbed up the
tree when he was halfway up he slipped down by a branch until he sat
just above the sleepers and then let one stone after another fall on
the breast of one of the giants for a long time the giant felt nothing 
but at last he awoke pushed his comrade and said why are you
knocking me you must be dreaming said the other i am not knocking
you they laid themselves down to sleep again and then the tailor
threw a stone down on the second what is the meaning of this cried
the other why are you pelting me i am not pelting you answered
the first growling they disputed about it for a time but as they were
weary they let the matter rest and their eyes closed once more the
little tailor began his game again picked out the biggest stone and
threw it with all his might on the breast of the first giant that
is too bad cried he and sprang up like a madman and pushed his
companion against the tree until it shook the other paid him back in
the same coin and they got into such a rage that they tore up trees and
belaboured each other so long that at last they both fell down dead on
the ground at the same time then the little tailor leapt down it is
a lucky thing said he that they did not tear up the tree on which
i was sitting or i should have had to sprint on to another like a
squirrel but we tailors are nimble he drew out his sword and gave
each of them a couple of thrusts in the breast and then went out to the
horsemen and said the work is done i have finished both of them
off but it was hard work they tore up trees in their sore need and
defended themselves with them but all that is to no purpose when a man
like myself comes who can kill seven at one blow but are you not
wounded asked the horsemen you need not concern yourself about
that answered the tailor they have not bent one hair of mine the
horsemen would not believe him and rode into the forest there they
found the giants swimming in their blood and all round about lay the
torn-up trees 

the little tailor demanded of the king the promised reward he however 
repented of his promise and again bethought himself how he could get
rid of the hero before you receive my daughter and the half of my
kingdom said he to him you must perform one more heroic deed in
the forest roams a unicorn which does great harm and you must catch
it first i fear one unicorn still less than two giants seven at one
blow is my kind of affair he took a rope and an axe with him went
forth into the forest and again bade those who were sent with him to
wait outside he had not long to seek the unicorn soon came towards
him and rushed directly on the tailor as if it would gore him with its
horn without more ado softly softly it can't be done as quickly as
that said he and stood still and waited until the animal was quite
close and then sprang nimbly behind the tree the unicorn ran against
the tree with all its strength and stuck its horn so fast in the trunk
that it had not the strength enough to draw it out again and thus it
was caught now i have got the bird said the tailor and came out
from behind the tree and put the rope round its neck and then with his
axe he hewed the horn out of the tree and when all was ready he led the
beast away and took it to the king 

the king still would not give him the promised reward and made a third
demand before the wedding the tailor was to catch him a wild boar that
made great havoc in the forest and the huntsmen should give him their
help willingly said the tailor that is child's play he did not
take the huntsmen with him into the forest and they were well pleased
that he did not for the wild boar had several times received them in
such a manner that they had no inclination to lie in wait for him when
the boar perceived the tailor it ran on him with foaming mouth and
whetted tusks and was about to throw him to the ground but the hero
fled and sprang into a chapel which was near and up to the window at
once and in one bound out again the boar ran after him but the tailor
ran round outside and shut the door behind it and then the raging
beast which was much too heavy and awkward to leap out of the window 
was caught the little tailor called the huntsmen thither that they
might see the prisoner with their own eyes the hero however went to
the king who was now whether he liked it or not obliged to keep his
promise and gave his daughter and the half of his kingdom had he known
that it was no warlike hero but a little tailor who was standing before
him it would have gone to his heart still more than it did the wedding
was held with great magnificence and small joy and out of a tailor a
king was made 

after some time the young queen heard her husband say in his dreams at
night boy make me the doublet and patch the pantaloons or else i
will rap the yard-measure over your ears then she discovered in what
state of life the young lord had been born and next morning complained
of her wrongs to her father and begged him to help her to get rid of
her husband who was nothing else but a tailor the king comforted her
and said leave your bedroom door open this night and my servants
shall stand outside and when he has fallen asleep shall go in bind
him and take him on board a ship which shall carry him into the wide
world the woman was satisfied with this but the king's armour-bearer 
who had heard all was friendly with the young lord and informed him of
the whole plot i'll put a screw into that business said the little
tailor at night he went to bed with his wife at the usual time and
when she thought that he had fallen asleep she got up opened the door 
and then lay down again the little tailor who was only pretending to
be asleep began to cry out in a clear voice boy make me the doublet
and patch me the pantaloons or i will rap the yard-measure over your
ears i smote seven at one blow i killed two giants i brought away one
unicorn and caught a wild boar and am i to fear those who are standing
outside the room when these men heard the tailor speaking thus they
were overcome by a great dread and ran as if the wild huntsman were
behind them and none of them would venture anything further against
him so the little tailor was and remained a king to the end of his
life 




hansel and gretel

hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his
two children the boy was called hansel and the girl gretel he had
little to bite and to break and once when great dearth fell on the
land he could no longer procure even daily bread now when he thought
over this by night in his bed and tossed about in his anxiety he
groaned and said to his wife what is to become of us how are we
to feed our poor children when we no longer have anything even for
ourselves i'll tell you what husband answered the woman early
tomorrow morning we will take the children out into the forest to where
it is the thickest there we will light a fire for them and give each
of them one more piece of bread and then we will go to our work and
leave them alone they will not find the way home again and we shall be
rid of them no wife said the man i will not do that how can i
bear to leave my children alone in the forest the wild animals would
soon come and tear them to pieces o you fool said she then we
must all four die of hunger you may as well plane the planks for our
coffins and she left him no peace until he consented but i feel very
sorry for the poor children all the same said the man 

the two children had also not been able to sleep for hunger and had
heard what their stepmother had said to their father gretel wept
bitter tears and said to hansel now all is over with us be quiet 
gretel said hansel do not distress yourself i will soon find a way
to help us and when the old folks had fallen asleep he got up put
on his little coat opened the door below and crept outside the moon
shone brightly and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house
glittered like real silver pennies hansel stooped and stuffed the
little pocket of his coat with as many as he could get in then he went
back and said to gretel be comforted dear little sister and sleep in
peace god will not forsake us and he lay down again in his bed when
day dawned but before the sun had risen the woman came and awoke the
two children saying get up you sluggards we are going into the
forest to fetch wood she gave each a little piece of bread and said 
 there is something for your dinner but do not eat it up before then 
for you will get nothing else gretel took the bread under her apron 
as hansel had the pebbles in his pocket then they all set out together
on the way to the forest when they had walked a short time hansel
stood still and peeped back at the house and did so again and again 
his father said hansel what are you looking at there and staying
behind for pay attention and do not forget how to use your legs ah 
father said hansel i am looking at my little white cat which is
sitting up on the roof and wants to say goodbye to me the wife said 
 fool that is not your little cat that is the morning sun which is
shining on the chimneys hansel however had not been looking back at
the cat but had been constantly throwing one of the white pebble-stones
out of his pocket on the road 

when they had reached the middle of the forest the father said now 
children pile up some wood and i will light a fire that you may not
be cold hansel and gretel gathered brushwood together as high as a
little hill the brushwood was lighted and when the flames were burning
very high the woman said now children lay yourselves down by the
fire and rest we will go into the forest and cut some wood when we
have done we will come back and fetch you away 

hansel and gretel sat by the fire and when noon came each ate a little
piece of bread and as they heard the strokes of the wood-axe they
believed that their father was near it was not the axe however but
a branch which he had fastened to a withered tree which the wind was
blowing backwards and forwards and as they had been sitting such a long
time their eyes closed with fatigue and they fell fast asleep when
at last they awoke it was already dark night gretel began to cry and
said how are we to get out of the forest now but hansel comforted
her and said just wait a little until the moon has risen and then we
will soon find the way and when the full moon had risen hansel took
his little sister by the hand and followed the pebbles which shone like
newly-coined silver pieces and showed them the way 

they walked the whole night long and by break of day came once more
to their father's house they knocked at the door and when the woman
opened it and saw that it was hansel and gretel she said you naughty
children why have you slept so long in the forest we thought you were
never coming back at all the father however rejoiced for it had cut
him to the heart to leave them behind alone 

not long afterwards there was once more great dearth throughout the
land and the children heard their mother saying at night to their
father everything is eaten again we have one half loaf left and that
is the end the children must go we will take them farther into the
wood so that they will not find their way out again there is no other
means of saving ourselves the man's heart was heavy and he thought 
 it would be better for you to share the last mouthful with your
children the woman however would listen to nothing that he had to
say but scolded and reproached him he who says a must say b likewise 
and as he had yielded the first time he had to do so a second time
also 

the children however were still awake and had heard the conversation 
when the old folks were asleep hansel again got up and wanted to go
out and pick up pebbles as he had done before but the woman had locked
the door and hansel could not get out nevertheless he comforted his
little sister and said do not cry gretel go to sleep quietly the
good god will help us 

early in the morning came the woman and took the children out of their
beds their piece of bread was given to them but it was still smaller
than the time before on the way into the forest hansel crumbled his
in his pocket and often stood still and threw a morsel on the ground 
 hansel why do you stop and look round said the father go on i
am looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof and
wants to say goodbye to me answered hansel fool said the woman 
 that is not your little pigeon that is the morning sun that is shining
on the chimney hansel however little by little threw all the crumbs
on the path 

the woman led the children still deeper into the forest where they had
never in their lives been before then a great fire was again made and
the mother said just sit there you children and when you are tired
you may sleep a little we are going into the forest to cut wood and in
the evening when we are done we will come and fetch you away when
it was noon gretel shared her piece of bread with hansel who had
scattered his by the way then they fell asleep and evening passed but
no one came to the poor children they did not awake until it was dark
night and hansel comforted his little sister and said just wait 
gretel until the moon rises and then we shall see the crumbs of bread
which i have strewn about they will show us our way home again when
the moon came they set out but they found no crumbs for the many
thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields had picked
them all up hansel said to gretel we shall soon find the way but
they did not find it they walked the whole night and all the next day
too from morning till evening but they did not get out of the forest 
and were very hungry for they had nothing to eat but two or three
berries which grew on the ground and as they were so weary that their
legs would carry them no longer they lay down beneath a tree and fell
asleep 

it was now three mornings since they had left their father's house they
began to walk again but they always came deeper into the forest and if
help did not come soon they must die of hunger and weariness when it
was mid-day they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough 
which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it and
when its song was over it spread its wings and flew away before them 
and they followed it until they reached a little house on the roof of
which it alighted and when they approached the little house they saw
that it was built of bread and covered with cakes but that the windows
were of clear sugar we will set to work on that said hansel and
have a good meal i will eat a bit of the roof and you gretel can eat
some of the window it will taste sweet hansel reached up above and
broke off a little of the roof to try how it tasted and gretel leant
against the window and nibbled at the panes then a soft voice cried
from the parlour 

 nibble nibble gnaw 
 who is nibbling at my little house 

the children answered 

 the wind the wind 
 the heaven-born wind 

and went on eating without disturbing themselves hansel who liked the
taste of the roof tore down a great piece of it and gretel pushed out
the whole of one round window-pane sat down and enjoyed herself with
it suddenly the door opened and a woman as old as the hills who
supported herself on crutches came creeping out hansel and gretel were
so terribly frightened that they let fall what they had in their
hands the old woman however nodded her head and said oh you dear
children who has brought you here do come in and stay with me no
harm shall happen to you she took them both by the hand and led them
into her little house then good food was set before them milk and
pancakes with sugar apples and nuts afterwards two pretty little
beds were covered with clean white linen and hansel and gretel lay down
in them and thought they were in heaven 

the old woman had only pretended to be so kind she was in reality
a wicked witch who lay in wait for children and had only built the
little house of bread in order to entice them there when a child fell
into her power she killed it cooked and ate it and that was a feast
day with her witches have red eyes and cannot see far but they have
a keen scent like the beasts and are aware when human beings draw near 
when hansel and gretel came into her neighbourhood she laughed with
malice and said mockingly i have them they shall not escape me
again early in the morning before the children were awake she was
already up and when she saw both of them sleeping and looking so
pretty with their plump and rosy cheeks she muttered to herself that
will be a dainty mouthful then she seized hansel with her shrivelled
hand carried him into a little stable and locked him in behind a
grated door scream as he might it would not help him then she went to
gretel shook her till she awoke and cried get up lazy thing fetch
some water and cook something good for your brother he is in the
stable outside and is to be made fat when he is fat i will eat him 
gretel began to weep bitterly but it was all in vain for she was
forced to do what the wicked witch commanded 

and now the best food was cooked for poor hansel but gretel got nothing
but crab-shells every morning the woman crept to the little stable and
cried hansel stretch out your finger that i may feel if you will soon
be fat hansel however stretched out a little bone to her and
the old woman who had dim eyes could not see it and thought it was
hansel's finger and was astonished that there was no way of fattening
him when four weeks had gone by and hansel still remained thin she
was seized with impatience and would not wait any longer now then 
gretel she cried to the girl stir yourself and bring some water 
let hansel be fat or lean tomorrow i will kill him and cook him ah 
how the poor little sister did lament when she had to fetch the water 
and how her tears did flow down her cheeks dear god do help us she
cried if the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us we should
at any rate have died together just keep your noise to yourself 
said the old woman it won't help you at all 

early in the morning gretel had to go out and hang up the cauldron with
the water and light the fire we will bake first said the old woman 
 i have already heated the oven and kneaded the dough she pushed poor
gretel out to the oven from which flames of fire were already darting 
 creep in said the witch and see if it is properly heated so that
we can put the bread in and once gretel was inside she intended to
shut the oven and let her bake in it and then she would eat her too 
but gretel saw what she had in mind and said i do not know how i am
to do it how do i get in silly goose said the old woman the door
is big enough just look i can get in myself and she crept up and
thrust her head into the oven then gretel gave her a push that drove
her far into it and shut the iron door and fastened the bolt oh then
she began to howl quite horribly but gretel ran away and the godless
witch was miserably burnt to death 

gretel however ran like lightning to hansel opened his little stable 
and cried hansel we are saved the old witch is dead then hansel
sprang like a bird from its cage when the door is opened how they did
rejoice and embrace each other and dance about and kiss each other and
as they had no longer any need to fear her they went into the witch's
house and in every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels 
 these are far better than pebbles said hansel and thrust into his
pockets whatever could be got in and gretel said i too will take
something home with me and filled her pinafore full but now we must
be off said hansel that we may get out of the witch's forest 

when they had walked for two hours they came to a great stretch of
water we cannot cross said hansel i see no foot-plank and no
bridge and there is also no ferry answered gretel but a white
duck is swimming there if i ask her she will help us over then she
cried 

 little duck little duck dost thou see 
 hansel and gretel are waiting for thee 
 there's never a plank or bridge in sight 
 take us across on thy back so white 

the duck came to them and hansel seated himself on its back and told
his sister to sit by him no replied gretel that will be too heavy
for the little duck she shall take us across one after the other the
good little duck did so and when they were once safely across and had
walked for a short time the forest seemed to be more and more familiar
to them and at length they saw from afar their father's house then
they began to run rushed into the parlour and threw themselves round
their father's neck the man had not known one happy hour since he had
left the children in the forest the woman however was dead gretel
emptied her pinafore until pearls and precious stones ran about the
room and hansel threw one handful after another out of his pocket to
add to them then all anxiety was at an end and they lived together
in perfect happiness my tale is done there runs a mouse whosoever
catches it may make himself a big fur cap out of it 




the mouse the bird and the sausage

once upon a time a mouse a bird and a sausage entered into
partnership and set up house together for a long time all went well 
they lived in great comfort and prospered so far as to be able to add
considerably to their stores the bird's duty was to fly daily into the
wood and bring in fuel the mouse fetched the water and the sausage saw
to the cooking 

when people are too well off they always begin to long for something
new and so it came to pass that the bird while out one day met a
fellow bird to whom he boastfully expatiated on the excellence of his
household arrangements but the other bird sneered at him for being a
poor simpleton who did all the hard work while the other two stayed
at home and had a good time of it for when the mouse had made the fire
and fetched in the water she could retire into her little room and rest
until it was time to set the table the sausage had only to watch the
pot to see that the food was properly cooked and when it was near
dinner-time he just threw himself into the broth or rolled in and out
among the vegetables three or four times and there they were buttered 
and salted and ready to be served then when the bird came home and
had laid aside his burden they sat down to table and when they had
finished their meal they could sleep their fill till the following
morning and that was really a very delightful life 

influenced by those remarks the bird next morning refused to bring in
the wood telling the others that he had been their servant long enough 
and had been a fool into the bargain and that it was now time to make a
change and to try some other way of arranging the work beg and pray
as the mouse and the sausage might it was of no use the bird remained
master of the situation and the venture had to be made they therefore
drew lots and it fell to the sausage to bring in the wood to the mouse
to cook and to the bird to fetch the water 

and now what happened the sausage started in search of wood the bird
made the fire and the mouse put on the pot and then these two waited
till the sausage returned with the fuel for the following day but the
sausage remained so long away that they became uneasy and the bird
flew out to meet him he had not flown far however when he came across
a dog who having met the sausage had regarded him as his legitimate
booty and so seized and swallowed him the bird complained to the dog
of this bare-faced robbery but nothing he said was of any avail for
the dog answered that he found false credentials on the sausage and
that was the reason his life had been forfeited 

he picked up the wood and flew sadly home and told the mouse all he
had seen and heard they were both very unhappy but agreed to make the
best of things and to remain with one another 

so now the bird set the table and the mouse looked after the food and 
wishing to prepare it in the same way as the sausage by rolling in and
out among the vegetables to salt and butter them she jumped into the
pot but she stopped short long before she reached the bottom having
already parted not only with her skin and hair but also with life 

presently the bird came in and wanted to serve up the dinner but he
could nowhere see the cook in his alarm and flurry he threw the wood
here and there about the floor called and searched but no cook was to
be found then some of the wood that had been carelessly thrown down 
caught fire and began to blaze the bird hastened to fetch some water 
but his pail fell into the well and he after it and as he was unable
to recover himself he was drowned 




mother holle

once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters one of them
was beautiful and industrious the other ugly and lazy the mother 
however loved the ugly and lazy one best because she was her own
daughter and so the other who was only her stepdaughter was made
to do all the work of the house and was quite the cinderella of the
family her stepmother sent her out every day to sit by the well in
the high road there to spin until she made her fingers bleed now it
chanced one day that some blood fell on to the spindle and as the girl
stopped over the well to wash it off the spindle suddenly sprang out
of her hand and fell into the well she ran home crying to tell of her
misfortune but her stepmother spoke harshly to her and after giving
her a violent scolding said unkindly as you have let the spindle fall
into the well you may go yourself and fetch it out 

the girl went back to the well not knowing what to do and at last in
her distress she jumped into the water after the spindle 

she remembered nothing more until she awoke and found herself in a
beautiful meadow full of sunshine and with countless flowers blooming
in every direction 

she walked over the meadow and presently she came upon a baker's oven
full of bread and the loaves cried out to her take us out take us
out or alas we shall be burnt to a cinder we were baked through long
ago so she took the bread-shovel and drew them all out 

she went on a little farther till she came to a tree full of apples 
 shake me shake me i pray cried the tree my apples one and all 
are ripe so she shook the tree and the apples came falling down upon
her like rain but she continued shaking until there was not a single
apple left upon it then she carefully gathered the apples together in a
heap and walked on again 

the next thing she came to was a little house and there she saw an old
woman looking out with such large teeth that she was terrified and
turned to run away but the old woman called after her what are you
afraid of dear child stay with me if you will do the work of my house
properly for me i will make you very happy you must be very careful 
however to make my bed in the right way for i wish you always to shake
it thoroughly so that the feathers fly about then they say down there
in the world that it is snowing for i am mother holle the old woman
spoke so kindly that the girl summoned up courage and agreed to enter
into her service 

she took care to do everything according to the old woman's bidding and
every time she made the bed she shook it with all her might so that the
feathers flew about like so many snowflakes the old woman was as good
as her word she never spoke angrily to her and gave her roast and
boiled meats every day 

so she stayed on with mother holle for some time and then she began
to grow unhappy she could not at first tell why she felt sad but she
became conscious at last of great longing to go home then she knew she
was homesick although she was a thousand times better off with mother
holle than with her mother and sister after waiting awhile she went
to mother holle and said i am so homesick that i cannot stay with
you any longer for although i am so happy here i must return to my own
people 

then mother holle said i am pleased that you should want to go back
to your own people and as you have served me so well and faithfully i
will take you home myself 

thereupon she led the girl by the hand up to a broad gateway the gate
was opened and as the girl passed through a shower of gold fell upon
her and the gold clung to her so that she was covered with it from
head to foot 

 that is a reward for your industry said mother holle and as she
spoke she handed her the spindle which she had dropped into the well 

the gate was then closed and the girl found herself back in the old
world close to her mother's house as she entered the courtyard the
cock who was perched on the well called out 

 cock-a-doodle-doo 
 your golden daughter's come back to you 

then she went in to her mother and sister and as she was so richly
covered with gold they gave her a warm welcome she related to them
all that had happened and when the mother heard how she had come by her
great riches she thought she should like her ugly lazy daughter to go
and try her fortune so she made the sister go and sit by the well
and spin and the girl pricked her finger and thrust her hand into a
thorn-bush so that she might drop some blood on to the spindle then
she threw it into the well and jumped in herself 

like her sister she awoke in the beautiful meadow and walked over it
till she came to the oven take us out take us out or alas we shall
be burnt to a cinder we were baked through long ago cried the loaves
as before but the lazy girl answered do you think i am going to dirty
my hands for you and walked on 

presently she came to the apple-tree shake me shake me i pray my
apples one and all are ripe it cried but she only answered a nice
thing to ask me to do one of the apples might fall on my head and
passed on 

at last she came to mother holle's house and as she had heard all about
the large teeth from her sister she was not afraid of them and engaged
herself without delay to the old woman 

the first day she was very obedient and industrious and exerted herself
to please mother holle for she thought of the gold she should get in
return the next day however she began to dawdle over her work and
the third day she was more idle still then she began to lie in bed in
the mornings and refused to get up worse still she neglected to
make the old woman's bed properly and forgot to shake it so that the
feathers might fly about so mother holle very soon got tired of her 
and told her she might go the lazy girl was delighted at this and
thought to herself the gold will soon be mine mother holle led her 
as she had led her sister to the broad gateway but as she was passing
through instead of the shower of gold a great bucketful of pitch came
pouring over her 

 that is in return for your services said the old woman and she shut
the gate 

so the lazy girl had to go home covered with pitch and the cock on the
well called out as she saw her 

 cock-a-doodle-doo 
 your dirty daughter's come back to you 

but try what she would she could not get the pitch off and it stuck to
her as long as she lived 




little red-cap little red riding hood

once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by everyone
who looked at her but most of all by her grandmother and there was
nothing that she would not have given to the child once she gave her a
little cap of red velvet which suited her so well that she would never
wear anything else so she was always called little red-cap 

one day her mother said to her come little red-cap here is a piece
of cake and a bottle of wine take them to your grandmother she is ill
and weak and they will do her good set out before it gets hot and
when you are going walk nicely and quietly and do not run off the path 
or you may fall and break the bottle and then your grandmother will
get nothing and when you go into her room don't forget to say good
morning and don't peep into every corner before you do it 

 i will take great care said little red-cap to her mother and gave
her hand on it 

the grandmother lived out in the wood half a league from the village 
and just as little red-cap entered the wood a wolf met her red-cap
did not know what a wicked creature he was and was not at all afraid of
him 

 good day little red-cap said he 

 thank you kindly wolf 

 whither away so early little red-cap 

 to my grandmother's 

 what have you got in your apron 

 cake and wine yesterday was baking-day so poor sick grandmother is to
have something good to make her stronger 

 where does your grandmother live little red-cap 

 a good quarter of a league farther on in the wood her house stands
under the three large oak-trees the nut-trees are just below you
surely must know it replied little red-cap 

the wolf thought to himself what a tender young creature what a nice
plump mouthful she will be better to eat than the old woman i must
act craftily so as to catch both so he walked for a short time by
the side of little red-cap and then he said see little red-cap how
pretty the flowers are about here why do you not look round i believe 
too that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing you
walk gravely along as if you were going to school while everything else
out here in the wood is merry 

little red-cap raised her eyes and when she saw the sunbeams dancing
here and there through the trees and pretty flowers growing everywhere 
she thought suppose i take grandmother a fresh nosegay that would
please her too it is so early in the day that i shall still get there
in good time and so she ran from the path into the wood to look for
flowers and whenever she had picked one she fancied that she saw a
still prettier one farther on and ran after it and so got deeper and
deeper into the wood 

meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's house and knocked
at the door 

 who is there 

 little red-cap replied the wolf she is bringing cake and wine open
the door 

 lift the latch called out the grandmother i am too weak and cannot
get up 

the wolf lifted the latch the door sprang open and without saying a
word he went straight to the grandmother's bed and devoured her then
he put on her clothes dressed himself in her cap laid himself in bed
and drew the curtains 

little red-cap however had been running about picking flowers 
and when she had gathered so many that she could carry no more she
remembered her grandmother and set out on the way to her 

she was surprised to find the cottage-door standing open and when she
went into the room she had such a strange feeling that she said to
herself oh dear how uneasy i feel today and at other times i like
being with grandmother so much she called out good morning but
received no answer so she went to the bed and drew back the curtains 
there lay her grandmother with her cap pulled far over her face and
looking very strange 

 oh grandmother she said what big ears you have 

 the better to hear you with my child was the reply 

 but grandmother what big eyes you have she said 

 the better to see you with my dear 

 but grandmother what large hands you have 

 the better to hug you with 

 oh but grandmother what a terrible big mouth you have 

 the better to eat you with 

and scarcely had the wolf said this than with one bound he was out of
bed and swallowed up red-cap 

when the wolf had appeased his appetite he lay down again in the bed 
fell asleep and began to snore very loud the huntsman was just passing
the house and thought to himself how the old woman is snoring i must
just see if she wants anything so he went into the room and when he
came to the bed he saw that the wolf was lying in it do i find you
here you old sinner said he i have long sought you then just as
he was going to fire at him it occurred to him that the wolf might have
devoured the grandmother and that she might still be saved so he did
not fire but took a pair of scissors and began to cut open the stomach
of the sleeping wolf when he had made two snips he saw the little
red-cap shining and then he made two snips more and the little girl
sprang out crying ah how frightened i have been how dark it was
inside the wolf and after that the aged grandmother came out alive
also but scarcely able to breathe red-cap however quickly fetched
great stones with which they filled the wolf's belly and when he awoke 
he wanted to run away but the stones were so heavy that he collapsed at
once and fell dead 

then all three were delighted the huntsman drew off the wolf's skin and
went home with it the grandmother ate the cake and drank the wine which
red-cap had brought and revived but red-cap thought to herself as
long as i live i will never by myself leave the path to run into the
wood when my mother has forbidden me to do so 




it also related that once when red-cap was again taking cakes to the old
grandmother another wolf spoke to her and tried to entice her from the
path red-cap however was on her guard and went straight forward on
her way and told her grandmother that she had met the wolf and that he
had said good morning to her but with such a wicked look in his eyes 
that if they had not been on the public road she was certain he would
have eaten her up well said the grandmother we will shut the door 
that he may not come in soon afterwards the wolf knocked and cried 
 open the door grandmother i am little red-cap and am bringing you
some cakes but they did not speak or open the door so the grey-beard
stole twice or thrice round the house and at last jumped on the roof 
intending to wait until red-cap went home in the evening and then to
steal after her and devour her in the darkness but the grandmother
saw what was in his thoughts in front of the house was a great stone
trough so she said to the child take the pail red-cap i made some
sausages yesterday so carry the water in which i boiled them to the
trough red-cap carried until the great trough was quite full then the
smell of the sausages reached the wolf and he sniffed and peeped down 
and at last stretched out his neck so far that he could no longer keep
his footing and began to slip and slipped down from the roof straight
into the great trough and was drowned but red-cap went joyously home 
and no one ever did anything to harm her again 




the robber bridegroom

there was once a miller who had one beautiful daughter and as she was
grown up he was anxious that she should be well married and provided
for he said to himself i will give her to the first suitable man who
comes and asks for her hand not long after a suitor appeared and as
he appeared to be very rich and the miller could see nothing in him with
which to find fault he betrothed his daughter to him but the girl did
not care for the man as a girl ought to care for her betrothed husband 
she did not feel that she could trust him and she could not look at him
nor think of him without an inward shudder one day he said to her you
have not yet paid me a visit although we have been betrothed for some
time i do not know where your house is she answered my house is
out there in the dark forest he said she tried to excuse herself by
saying that she would not be able to find the way thither her betrothed
only replied you must come and see me next sunday i have already
invited guests for that day and that you may not mistake the way i
will strew ashes along the path 

when sunday came and it was time for the girl to start a feeling of
dread came over her which she could not explain and that she might
be able to find her path again she filled her pockets with peas and
lentils to sprinkle on the ground as she went along on reaching the
entrance to the forest she found the path strewed with ashes and these
she followed throwing down some peas on either side of her at every
step she took she walked the whole day until she came to the deepest 
darkest part of the forest there she saw a lonely house looking so
grim and mysterious that it did not please her at all she stepped
inside but not a soul was to be seen and a great silence reigned
throughout suddenly a voice cried 

 turn back turn back young maiden fair 
 linger not in this murderers lair 

the girl looked up and saw that the voice came from a bird hanging in a
cage on the wall again it cried 

 turn back turn back young maiden fair 
 linger not in this murderers lair 

the girl passed on going from room to room of the house but they were
all empty and still she saw no one at last she came to the cellar 
and there sat a very very old woman who could not keep her head from
shaking can you tell me asked the girl if my betrothed husband
lives here 

 ah you poor child answered the old woman what a place for you to
come to this is a murderers den you think yourself a promised bride 
and that your marriage will soon take place but it is with death that
you will keep your marriage feast look do you see that large cauldron
of water which i am obliged to keep on the fire as soon as they have
you in their power they will kill you without mercy and cook and eat
you for they are eaters of men if i did not take pity on you and save
you you would be lost 

thereupon the old woman led her behind a large cask which quite hid her
from view keep as still as a mouse she said do not move or speak 
or it will be all over with you tonight when the robbers are
all asleep we will flee together i have long been waiting for an
opportunity to escape 

the words were hardly out of her mouth when the godless crew returned 
dragging another young girl along with them they were all drunk and
paid no heed to her cries and lamentations they gave her wine to drink 
three glasses full one of white wine one of red and one of yellow 
and with that her heart gave way and she died then they tore off her
dainty clothing laid her on a table and cut her beautiful body into
pieces and sprinkled salt upon it 

the poor betrothed girl crouched trembling and shuddering behind the
cask for she saw what a terrible fate had been intended for her by
the robbers one of them now noticed a gold ring still remaining on
the little finger of the murdered girl and as he could not draw it off
easily he took a hatchet and cut off the finger but the finger sprang
into the air and fell behind the cask into the lap of the girl who was
hiding there the robber took a light and began looking for it but he
could not find it have you looked behind the large cask said one of
the others but the old woman called out come and eat your suppers 
and let the thing be till tomorrow the finger won't run away 

 the old woman is right said the robbers and they ceased looking for
the finger and sat down 

the old woman then mixed a sleeping draught with their wine and before
long they were all lying on the floor of the cellar fast asleep and
snoring as soon as the girl was assured of this she came from behind
the cask she was obliged to step over the bodies of the sleepers who
were lying close together and every moment she was filled with renewed
dread lest she should awaken them but god helped her so that she
passed safely over them and then she and the old woman went upstairs 
opened the door and hastened as fast as they could from the murderers 
den they found the ashes scattered by the wind but the peas and
lentils had sprouted and grown sufficiently above the ground to guide
them in the moonlight along the path all night long they walked and it
was morning before they reached the mill then the girl told her father
all that had happened 

the day came that had been fixed for the marriage the bridegroom
arrived and also a large company of guests for the miller had taken
care to invite all his friends and relations as they sat at the feast 
each guest in turn was asked to tell a tale the bride sat still and did
not say a word 

 and you my love said the bridegroom turning to her is there no
tale you know tell us something 

 i will tell you a dream then said the bride i went alone through a
forest and came at last to a house not a soul could i find within but
a bird that was hanging in a cage on the wall cried 

 turn back turn back young maiden fair 
 linger not in this murderers lair 

and again a second time it said these words 

 my darling this is only a dream 

 i went on through the house from room to room but they were all empty 
and everything was so grim and mysterious at last i went down to the
cellar and there sat a very very old woman who could not keep her
head still i asked her if my betrothed lived here and she answered 
 ah you poor child you are come to a murderers den your betrothed
does indeed live here but he will kill you without mercy and afterwards
cook and eat you 

 my darling this is only a dream 

 the old woman hid me behind a large cask and scarcely had she done
this when the robbers returned home dragging a young girl along with
them they gave her three kinds of wine to drink white red and
yellow and with that she died 

 my darling this is only a dream 

 then they tore off her dainty clothing and cut her beautiful body into
pieces and sprinkled salt upon it 

 my darling this is only a dream 

 and one of the robbers saw that there was a gold ring still left on her
finger and as it was difficult to draw off he took a hatchet and cut
off her finger but the finger sprang into the air and fell behind the
great cask into my lap and here is the finger with the ring and
with these words the bride drew forth the finger and shewed it to the
assembled guests 

the bridegroom who during this recital had grown deadly pale up and
tried to escape but the guests seized him and held him fast they
delivered him up to justice and he and all his murderous band were
condemned to death for their wicked deeds 




tom thumb

a poor woodman sat in his cottage one night smoking his pipe by the
fireside while his wife sat by his side spinning how lonely it is 
wife said he as he puffed out a long curl of smoke for you and me
to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about and amuse
us while other people seem so happy and merry with their children 
 what you say is very true said the wife sighing and turning round
her wheel how happy should i be if i had but one child if it were
ever so small nay if it were no bigger than my thumb i should be very
happy and love it dearly now odd as you may think it it came to
pass that this good woman's wish was fulfilled just in the very way she
had wished it for not long afterwards she had a little boy who was
quite healthy and strong but was not much bigger than my thumb so
they said well we cannot say we have not got what we wished for and 
little as he is we will love him dearly and they called him thomas
thumb 

they gave him plenty of food yet for all they could do he never grew
bigger but kept just the same size as he had been when he was born 
still his eyes were sharp and sparkling and he soon showed himself to
be a clever little fellow who always knew well what he was about 

one day as the woodman was getting ready to go into the wood to cut
fuel he said i wish i had someone to bring the cart after me for i
want to make haste oh father cried tom i will take care of that 
the cart shall be in the wood by the time you want it then the woodman
laughed and said how can that be you cannot reach up to the horse's
bridle never mind that father said tom if my mother will only
harness the horse i will get into his ear and tell him which way to
go well said the father we will try for once 

when the time came the mother harnessed the horse to the cart and put
tom into his ear and as he sat there the little man told the beast how
to go crying out go on and stop as he wanted and thus the horse
went on just as well as if the woodman had driven it himself into the
wood it happened that as the horse was going a little too fast and tom
was calling out gently gently two strangers came up what an odd
thing that is said one there is a cart going along and i hear a
carter talking to the horse but yet i can see no one that is queer 
indeed said the other let us follow the cart and see where it
goes so they went on into the wood till at last they came to the
place where the woodman was then tom thumb seeing his father cried
out see father here i am with the cart all right and safe now take
me down so his father took hold of the horse with one hand and with
the other took his son out of the horse's ear and put him down upon a
straw where he sat as merry as you please 

the two strangers were all this time looking on and did not know what
to say for wonder at last one took the other aside and said that
little urchin will make our fortune if we can get him and carry him
about from town to town as a show we must buy him so they went up to
the woodman and asked him what he would take for the little man he
will be better off said they with us than with you i won't sell
him at all said the father my own flesh and blood is dearer to me
than all the silver and gold in the world but tom hearing of the
bargain they wanted to make crept up his father's coat to his shoulder
and whispered in his ear take the money father and let them have me 
i'll soon come back to you 

so the woodman at last said he would sell tom to the strangers for a
large piece of gold and they paid the price where would you like to
sit said one of them oh put me on the rim of your hat that will be
a nice gallery for me i can walk about there and see the country as we
go along so they did as he wished and when tom had taken leave of his
father they took him away with them 

they journeyed on till it began to be dusky and then the little man
said let me get down i'm tired so the man took off his hat and
put him down on a clod of earth in a ploughed field by the side of the
road but tom ran about amongst the furrows and at last slipped into
an old mouse-hole good night my masters said he i'm off mind and
look sharp after me the next time then they ran at once to the place 
and poked the ends of their sticks into the mouse-hole but all in vain 
tom only crawled farther and farther in and at last it became quite
dark so that they were forced to go their way without their prize as
sulky as could be 

when tom found they were gone he came out of his hiding-place what
dangerous walking it is said he in this ploughed field if i were to
fall from one of these great clods i should undoubtedly break my neck 
at last by good luck he found a large empty snail-shell this is
lucky said he i can sleep here very well and in he crept 

just as he was falling asleep he heard two men passing by chatting
together and one said to the other how can we rob that rich parson's
house of his silver and gold i'll tell you cried tom what noise
was that said the thief frightened i'm sure i heard someone speak 
they stood still listening and tom said take me with you and i'll
soon show you how to get the parson's money but where are you said
they look about on the ground answered he and listen where the
sound comes from at last the thieves found him out and lifted him
up in their hands you little urchin they said what can you do for
us why i can get between the iron window-bars of the parson's house 
and throw you out whatever you want that's a good thought said the
thieves come along we shall see what you can do 

when they came to the parson's house tom slipped through the
window-bars into the room and then called out as loud as he could bawl 
 will you have all that is here at this the thieves were frightened 
and said softly softly speak low that you may not awaken anybody 
but tom seemed as if he did not understand them and bawled out again 
 how much will you have shall i throw it all out now the cook lay in
the next room and hearing a noise she raised herself up in her bed and
listened meantime the thieves were frightened and ran off a little
way but at last they plucked up their hearts and said the little
urchin is only trying to make fools of us so they came back and
whispered softly to him saying now let us have no more of your
roguish jokes but throw us out some of the money then tom called out
as loud as he could very well hold your hands here it comes 

the cook heard this quite plain so she sprang out of bed and ran to
open the door the thieves ran off as if a wolf was at their tails and
the maid having groped about and found nothing went away for a light 
by the time she came back tom had slipped off into the barn and when
she had looked about and searched every hole and corner and found
nobody she went to bed thinking she must have been dreaming with her
eyes open 

the little man crawled about in the hay-loft and at last found a snug
place to finish his night's rest in so he laid himself down meaning
to sleep till daylight and then find his way home to his father and
mother but alas how woefully he was undone what crosses and sorrows
happen to us all in this world the cook got up early before daybreak 
to feed the cows and going straight to the hay-loft carried away
a large bundle of hay with the little man in the middle of it fast
asleep he still however slept on and did not awake till he found
himself in the mouth of the cow for the cook had put the hay into the
cow's rick and the cow had taken tom up in a mouthful of it good
lack-a-day said he how came i to tumble into the mill but he soon
found out where he really was and was forced to have all his wits about
him that he might not get between the cow's teeth and so be crushed to
death at last down he went into her stomach it is rather dark said
he they forgot to build windows in this room to let the sun in a
candle would be no bad thing 

though he made the best of his bad luck he did not like his quarters at
all and the worst of it was that more and more hay was always coming
down and the space left for him became smaller and smaller at last he
cried out as loud as he could don't bring me any more hay don't bring
me any more hay 

the maid happened to be just then milking the cow and hearing someone
speak but seeing nobody and yet being quite sure it was the same voice
that she had heard in the night she was so frightened that she fell off
her stool and overset the milk-pail as soon as she could pick herself
up out of the dirt she ran off as fast as she could to her master the
parson and said sir sir the cow is talking but the parson
said woman thou art surely mad however he went with her into the
cow-house to try and see what was the matter 

scarcely had they set foot on the threshold when tom called out don't
bring me any more hay then the parson himself was frightened and
thinking the cow was surely bewitched told his man to kill her on the
spot so the cow was killed and cut up and the stomach in which tom
lay was thrown out upon a dunghill 

tom soon set himself to work to get out which was not a very easy
task but at last just as he had made room to get his head out fresh
ill-luck befell him a hungry wolf sprang out and swallowed up the
whole stomach with tom in it at one gulp and ran away 

tom however was still not disheartened and thinking the wolf would
not dislike having some chat with him as he was going along he called
out my good friend i can show you a famous treat where's that 
said the wolf in such and such a house said tom describing his own
father's house you can crawl through the drain into the kitchen and
then into the pantry and there you will find cakes ham beef cold
chicken roast pig apple-dumplings and everything that your heart can
wish 

the wolf did not want to be asked twice so that very night he went to
the house and crawled through the drain into the kitchen and then into
the pantry and ate and drank there to his heart's content as soon as
he had had enough he wanted to get away but he had eaten so much that
he could not go out by the same way he came in 

this was just what tom had reckoned upon and now he began to set up a
great shout making all the noise he could will you be easy said the
wolf you'll awaken everybody in the house if you make such a clatter 
 what's that to me said the little man you have had your frolic now
i've a mind to be merry myself and he began singing and shouting as
loud as he could 

the woodman and his wife being awakened by the noise peeped through
a crack in the door but when they saw a wolf was there you may well
suppose that they were sadly frightened and the woodman ran for his
axe and gave his wife a scythe do you stay behind said the woodman 
 and when i have knocked him on the head you must rip him up with the
scythe tom heard all this and cried out father father i am here 
the wolf has swallowed me and his father said heaven be praised we
have found our dear child again and he told his wife not to use the
scythe for fear she should hurt him then he aimed a great blow and
struck the wolf on the head and killed him on the spot and when he was
dead they cut open his body and set tommy free ah said the father 
 what fears we have had for you yes father answered he i have
travelled all over the world i think in one way or other since we
parted and now i am very glad to come home and get fresh air again 
 why where have you been said his father i have been in a
mouse-hole and in a snail-shell and down a cow's throat and in the
wolf's belly and yet here i am again safe and sound 

 well said they you are come back and we will not sell you again
for all the riches in the world 

then they hugged and kissed their dear little son and gave him plenty
to eat and drink for he was very hungry and then they fetched new
clothes for him for his old ones had been quite spoiled on his journey 
so master thumb stayed at home with his father and mother in peace for
though he had been so great a traveller and had done and seen so many
fine things and was fond enough of telling the whole story he always
agreed that after all there's no place like home 




rumpelstiltskin

by the side of a wood in a country a long way off ran a fine stream
of water and upon the stream there stood a mill the miller's house was
close by and the miller you must know had a very beautiful daughter 
she was moreover very shrewd and clever and the miller was so proud
of her that he one day told the king of the land who used to come and
hunt in the wood that his daughter could spin gold out of straw now
this king was very fond of money and when he heard the miller's boast
his greediness was raised and he sent for the girl to be brought before
him then he led her to a chamber in his palace where there was a great
heap of straw and gave her a spinning-wheel and said all this must
be spun into gold before morning as you love your life it was in vain
that the poor maiden said that it was only a silly boast of her father 
for that she could do no such thing as spin straw into gold the chamber
door was locked and she was left alone 

she sat down in one corner of the room and began to bewail her hard
fate when on a sudden the door opened and a droll-looking little man
hobbled in and said good morrow to you my good lass what are you
weeping for alas said she i must spin this straw into gold and
i know not how what will you give me said the hobgoblin to do it
for you my necklace replied the maiden he took her at her word 
and sat himself down to the wheel and whistled and sang 

 round about round about 
 lo and behold 
 reel away reel away 
 straw into gold 

and round about the wheel went merrily the work was quickly done and
the straw was all spun into gold 

when the king came and saw this he was greatly astonished and pleased 
but his heart grew still more greedy of gain and he shut up the poor
miller's daughter again with a fresh task then she knew not what to do 
and sat down once more to weep but the dwarf soon opened the door and
said what will you give me to do your task the ring on my finger 
said she so her little friend took the ring and began to work at the
wheel again and whistled and sang 

 round about round about 
 lo and behold 
 reel away reel away 
 straw into gold 

till long before morning all was done again 

the king was greatly delighted to see all this glittering treasure 
but still he had not enough so he took the miller's daughter to a yet
larger heap and said all this must be spun tonight and if it is 
you shall be my queen as soon as she was alone that dwarf came in and
said what will you give me to spin gold for you this third time 
 i have nothing left said she then say you will give me said
the little man the first little child that you may have when you are
queen that may never be thought the miller's daughter and as she
knew no other way to get her task done she said she would do what he
asked round went the wheel again to the old song and the manikin once
more spun the heap into gold the king came in the morning and finding
all he wanted was forced to keep his word so he married the miller's
daughter and she really became queen 

at the birth of her first little child she was very glad and forgot the
dwarf and what she had said but one day he came into her room where
she was sitting playing with her baby and put her in mind of it then
she grieved sorely at her misfortune and said she would give him all
the wealth of the kingdom if he would let her off but in vain till at
last her tears softened him and he said i will give you three days 
grace and if during that time you tell me my name you shall keep your
child 

now the queen lay awake all night thinking of all the odd names that
she had ever heard and she sent messengers all over the land to find
out new ones the next day the little man came and she began with
timothy ichabod benjamin jeremiah and all the names she could
remember but to all and each of them he said madam that is not my
name 

the second day she began with all the comical names she could hear of 
bandy-legs hunchback crook-shanks and so on but the little gentleman
still said to every one of them madam that is not my name 

the third day one of the messengers came back and said i have
travelled two days without hearing of any other names but yesterday as
i was climbing a high hill among the trees of the forest where the fox
and the hare bid each other good night i saw a little hut and before
the hut burnt a fire and round about the fire a funny little dwarf was
dancing upon one leg and singing 

 merrily the feast i'll make 
 today i'll brew tomorrow bake 
 merrily i'll dance and sing 
 for next day will a stranger bring 
 little does my lady dream
 rumpelstiltskin is my name 

when the queen heard this she jumped for joy and as soon as her little
friend came she sat down upon her throne and called all her court round
to enjoy the fun and the nurse stood by her side with the baby in her
arms as if it was quite ready to be given up then the little man began
to chuckle at the thought of having the poor child to take home with
him to his hut in the woods and he cried out now lady what is my
name is it john asked she no madam is it tom no madam 
 is it jemmy it is not can your name be rumpelstiltskin said the
lady slyly some witch told you that some witch told you that cried
the little man and dashed his right foot in a rage so deep into the
floor that he was forced to lay hold of it with both hands to pull it
out 

then he made the best of his way off while the nurse laughed and the
baby crowed and all the court jeered at him for having had so much
trouble for nothing and said we wish you a very good morning and a
merry feast mr rumplestiltskin 




clever gretel

there was once a cook named gretel who wore shoes with red heels and
when she walked out with them on she turned herself this way and that 
was quite happy and thought you certainly are a pretty girl and when
she came home she drank in her gladness of heart a draught of wine 
and as wine excites a desire to eat she tasted the best of whatever she
was cooking until she was satisfied and said the cook must know what
the food is like 

it came to pass that the master one day said to her gretel there is a
guest coming this evening prepare me two fowls very daintily i will
see to it master answered gretel she killed two fowls scalded them 
plucked them put them on the spit and towards evening set them before
the fire that they might roast the fowls began to turn brown and were
nearly ready but the guest had not yet arrived then gretel called out
to her master if the guest does not come i must take the fowls away
from the fire but it will be a sin and a shame if they are not eaten
the moment they are at their juiciest the master said i will run
myself and fetch the guest when the master had turned his back 
gretel laid the spit with the fowls on one side and thought standing
so long by the fire there makes one sweat and thirsty who knows
when they will come meanwhile i will run into the cellar and take a
drink she ran down set a jug said god bless it for you gretel 
and took a good drink and thought that wine should flow on and should
not be interrupted and took yet another hearty draught 

then she went and put the fowls down again to the fire basted them 
and drove the spit merrily round but as the roast meat smelt so good 
gretel thought something might be wrong it ought to be tasted 
she touched it with her finger and said ah how good fowls are it
certainly is a sin and a shame that they are not eaten at the right
time she ran to the window to see if the master was not coming with
his guest but she saw no one and went back to the fowls and thought 
 one of the wings is burning i had better take it off and eat it 
so she cut it off ate it and enjoyed it and when she had done she
thought the other must go down too or else master will observe that
something is missing when the two wings were eaten she went and
looked for her master and did not see him it suddenly occurred to
her who knows they are perhaps not coming at all and have turned in
somewhere then she said well gretel enjoy yourself one fowl has
been cut into take another drink and eat it up entirely when it is
eaten you will have some peace why should god's good gifts be spoilt 
so she ran into the cellar again took an enormous drink and ate up the
one chicken in great glee when one of the chickens was swallowed down 
and still her master did not come gretel looked at the other and said 
 what one is the other should be likewise the two go together what's
right for the one is right for the other i think if i were to take
another draught it would do me no harm so she took another hearty
drink and let the second chicken follow the first 

while she was making the most of it her master came and cried hurry
up gretel the guest is coming directly after me yes sir i will
soon serve up answered gretel meantime the master looked to see that
the table was properly laid and took the great knife wherewith he was
going to carve the chickens and sharpened it on the steps presently
the guest came and knocked politely and courteously at the house-door 
gretel ran and looked to see who was there and when she saw the guest 
she put her finger to her lips and said hush hush go away as quickly
as you can if my master catches you it will be the worse for you he
certainly did ask you to supper but his intention is to cut off your
two ears just listen how he is sharpening the knife for it the guest
heard the sharpening and hurried down the steps again as fast as he
could gretel was not idle she ran screaming to her master and cried 
 you have invited a fine guest why gretel what do you mean by
that yes said she he has taken the chickens which i was just
going to serve up off the dish and has run away with them that's a
nice trick said her master and lamented the fine chickens if he had
but left me one so that something remained for me to eat he called to
him to stop but the guest pretended not to hear then he ran after him
with the knife still in his hand crying just one just one meaning
that the guest should leave him just one chicken and not take both the
guest however thought no otherwise than that he was to give up one of
his ears and ran as if fire were burning under him in order to take
them both with him 




the old man and his grandson

there was once a very old man whose eyes had become dim his ears dull
of hearing his knees trembled and when he sat at table he could hardly
hold the spoon and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run
out of his mouth his son and his son's wife were disgusted at this so
the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove 
and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl and not even enough
of it and he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of
tears once too his trembling hands could not hold the bowl and it
fell to the ground and broke the young wife scolded him but he said
nothing and only sighed then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few
half-pence out of which he had to eat 

they were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old
began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground what are
you doing there asked the father i am making a little trough 
answered the child for father and mother to eat out of when i am big 

the man and his wife looked at each other for a while and presently
began to cry then they took the old grandfather to the table and
henceforth always let him eat with them and likewise said nothing if he
did spill a little of anything 




the little peasant

there was a certain village wherein no one lived but really rich
peasants and just one poor one whom they called the little peasant he
had not even so much as a cow and still less money to buy one and
yet he and his wife did so wish to have one one day he said to her 
 listen i have a good idea there is our gossip the carpenter he shall
make us a wooden calf and paint it brown so that it looks like any
other and in time it will certainly get big and be a cow the woman
also liked the idea and their gossip the carpenter cut and planed
the calf and painted it as it ought to be and made it with its head
hanging down as if it were eating 

next morning when the cows were being driven out the little peasant
called the cow-herd in and said look i have a little calf there 
but it is still small and has to be carried the cow-herd said all
right and took it in his arms and carried it to the pasture and set
it among the grass the little calf always remained standing like one
which was eating and the cow-herd said it will soon run by itself 
just look how it eats already at night when he was going to drive the
herd home again he said to the calf if you can stand there and eat
your fill you can also go on your four legs i don't care to drag you
home again in my arms but the little peasant stood at his door and
waited for his little calf and when the cow-herd drove the cows through
the village and the calf was missing he inquired where it was the
cow-herd answered it is still standing out there eating it would not
stop and come with us but the little peasant said oh but i must
have my beast back again then they went back to the meadow together 
but someone had stolen the calf and it was gone the cow-herd said it
must have run away the peasant however said don't tell me
that and led the cow-herd before the mayor who for his carelessness
condemned him to give the peasant a cow for the calf which had run away 

and now the little peasant and his wife had the cow for which they had
so long wished and they were heartily glad but they had no food for
it and could give it nothing to eat so it soon had to be killed they
salted the flesh and the peasant went into the town and wanted to sell
the skin there so that he might buy a new calf with the proceeds on
the way he passed by a mill and there sat a raven with broken wings 
and out of pity he took him and wrapped him in the skin but as the
weather grew so bad and there was a storm of rain and wind he could
go no farther and turned back to the mill and begged for shelter the
miller's wife was alone in the house and said to the peasant lay
yourself on the straw there and gave him a slice of bread and cheese 
the peasant ate it and lay down with his skin beside him and the woman
thought he is tired and has gone to sleep in the meantime came the
parson the miller's wife received him well and said my husband is
out so we will have a feast the peasant listened and when he heard
them talk about feasting he was vexed that he had been forced to make
shift with a slice of bread and cheese then the woman served up four
different things roast meat salad cakes and wine 

just as they were about to sit down and eat there was a knocking
outside the woman said oh heavens it is my husband she quickly
hid the roast meat inside the tiled stove the wine under the pillow 
the salad on the bed the cakes under it and the parson in the closet
on the porch then she opened the door for her husband and said thank
heaven you are back again there is such a storm it looks as if the
world were coming to an end the miller saw the peasant lying on the
straw and asked what is that fellow doing there ah said the
wife the poor knave came in the storm and rain and begged for
shelter so i gave him a bit of bread and cheese and showed him where
the straw was the man said i have no objection but be quick and get
me something to eat the woman said but i have nothing but bread and
cheese i am contented with anything replied the husband so far as
i am concerned bread and cheese will do and looked at the peasant and
said come and eat some more with me the peasant did not require to
be invited twice but got up and ate after this the miller saw the skin
in which the raven was lying on the ground and asked what have you
there the peasant answered i have a soothsayer inside it can
he foretell anything to me said the miller why not answered
the peasant but he only says four things and the fifth he keeps to
himself the miller was curious and said let him foretell something
for once then the peasant pinched the raven's head so that he croaked
and made a noise like krr krr the miller said what did he say the
peasant answered in the first place he says that there is some wine
hidden under the pillow bless me cried the miller and went there
and found the wine now go on said he the peasant made the raven
croak again and said in the second place he says that there is some
roast meat in the tiled stove upon my word cried the miller and
went thither and found the roast meat the peasant made the raven
prophesy still more and said thirdly he says that there is some
salad on the bed that would be a fine thing cried the miller and
went there and found the salad at last the peasant pinched the raven
once more till he croaked and said fourthly he says that there
are some cakes under the bed that would be a fine thing cried the
miller and looked there and found the cakes 

and now the two sat down to the table together but the miller's wife
was frightened to death and went to bed and took all the keys with
her the miller would have liked much to know the fifth but the little
peasant said first we will quickly eat the four things for the fifth
is something bad so they ate and after that they bargained how much
the miller was to give for the fifth prophecy until they agreed on
three hundred talers then the peasant once more pinched the raven's
head till he croaked loudly the miller asked what did he say the
peasant replied he says that the devil is hiding outside there in
the closet on the porch the miller said the devil must go out and
opened the house-door then the woman was forced to give up the keys 
and the peasant unlocked the closet the parson ran out as fast as he
could and the miller said it was true i saw the black rascal with my
own eyes the peasant however made off next morning by daybreak with
the three hundred talers 

at home the small peasant gradually launched out he built a beautiful
house and the peasants said the small peasant has certainly been to
the place where golden snow falls and people carry the gold home in
shovels then the small peasant was brought before the mayor and
bidden to say from whence his wealth came he answered i sold my cow's
skin in the town for three hundred talers when the peasants heard
that they too wished to enjoy this great profit and ran home killed
all their cows and stripped off their skins in order to sell them in
the town to the greatest advantage the mayor however said but my
servant must go first when she came to the merchant in the town he
did not give her more than two talers for a skin and when the others
came he did not give them so much and said what can i do with all
these skins 

then the peasants were vexed that the small peasant should have thus
outwitted them wanted to take vengeance on him and accused him of this
treachery before the mayor the innocent little peasant was unanimously
sentenced to death and was to be rolled into the water in a barrel
pierced full of holes he was led forth and a priest was brought who
was to say a mass for his soul the others were all obliged to retire to
a distance and when the peasant looked at the priest he recognized the
man who had been with the miller's wife he said to him i set you free
from the closet set me free from the barrel at this same moment up
came with a flock of sheep the very shepherd whom the peasant knew had
long been wishing to be mayor so he cried with all his might no i
will not do it if the whole world insists on it i will not do it the
shepherd hearing that came up to him and asked what are you about 
what is it that you will not do the peasant said they want to make
me mayor if i will but put myself in the barrel but i will not do it 
the shepherd said if nothing more than that is needful in order to be
mayor i would get into the barrel at once the peasant said if you
will get in you will be mayor the shepherd was willing and got in 
and the peasant shut the top down on him then he took the shepherd's
flock for himself and drove it away the parson went to the crowd 
and declared that the mass had been said then they came and rolled the
barrel towards the water when the barrel began to roll the shepherd
cried i am quite willing to be mayor they believed no otherwise than
that it was the peasant who was saying this and answered that is
what we intend but first you shall look about you a little down below
there and they rolled the barrel down into the water 

after that the peasants went home and as they were entering the
village the small peasant also came quietly in driving a flock of
sheep and looking quite contented then the peasants were astonished 
and said peasant from whence do you come have you come out of the
water yes truly replied the peasant i sank deep deep down 
until at last i got to the bottom i pushed the bottom out of the
barrel and crept out and there were pretty meadows on which a number
of lambs were feeding and from thence i brought this flock away with
me said the peasants are there any more there oh yes said he 
 more than i could want then the peasants made up their minds that
they too would fetch some sheep for themselves a flock apiece but the
mayor said i come first so they went to the water together and just
then there were some of the small fleecy clouds in the blue sky which
are called little lambs and they were reflected in the water whereupon
the peasants cried we already see the sheep down below the mayor
pressed forward and said i will go down first and look about me and
if things promise well i'll call you so he jumped in splash went
the water it sounded as if he were calling them and the whole crowd
plunged in after him as one man then the entire village was dead and
the small peasant as sole heir became a rich man 




frederick and catherine

there was once a man called frederick he had a wife whose name was
catherine and they had not long been married one day frederick said 
 kate i am going to work in the fields when i come back i shall be
hungry so let me have something nice cooked and a good draught of ale 
 very well said she it shall all be ready when dinner-time drew
nigh catherine took a nice steak which was all the meat she had and
put it on the fire to fry the steak soon began to look brown and to
crackle in the pan and catherine stood by with a fork and turned it 
then she said to herself the steak is almost ready i may as well go
to the cellar for the ale so she left the pan on the fire and took a
large jug and went into the cellar and tapped the ale cask the beer ran
into the jug and catherine stood looking on at last it popped into her
head the dog is not shut up he may be running away with the steak 
that's well thought of so up she ran from the cellar and sure enough
the rascally cur had got the steak in his mouth and was making off with
it 

away ran catherine and away ran the dog across the field but he ran
faster than she and stuck close to the steak it's all gone and what
can't be cured must be endured said catherine so she turned round 
and as she had run a good way and was tired she walked home leisurely
to cool herself 

now all this time the ale was running too for catherine had not turned
the cock and when the jug was full the liquor ran upon the floor till
the cask was empty when she got to the cellar stairs she saw what had
happened my stars said she what shall i do to keep frederick from
seeing all this slopping about so she thought a while and at last
remembered that there was a sack of fine meal bought at the last fair 
and that if she sprinkled this over the floor it would suck up the ale
nicely what a lucky thing said she that we kept that meal we have
now a good use for it so away she went for it but she managed to set
it down just upon the great jug full of beer and upset it and thus
all the ale that had been saved was set swimming on the floor also ah 
well said she when one goes another may as well follow then she
strewed the meal all about the cellar and was quite pleased with her
cleverness and said how very neat and clean it looks 

at noon frederick came home now wife cried he what have you for
dinner o frederick answered she i was cooking you a steak but
while i went down to draw the ale the dog ran away with it and while
i ran after him the ale ran out and when i went to dry up the ale
with the sack of meal that we got at the fair i upset the jug but the
cellar is now quite dry and looks so clean kate kate said he 
 how could you do all this why did you leave the steak to fry and the
ale to run and then spoil all the meal why frederick said she i
did not know i was doing wrong you should have told me before 

the husband thought to himself if my wife manages matters thus i must
look sharp myself now he had a good deal of gold in the house so he
said to catherine what pretty yellow buttons these are i shall put
them into a box and bury them in the garden but take care that you
never go near or meddle with them no frederick said she that
i never will as soon as he was gone there came by some pedlars with
earthenware plates and dishes and they asked her whether she would buy 
 oh dear me i should like to buy very much but i have no money if
you had any use for yellow buttons i might deal with you yellow
buttons said they let us have a look at them go into the garden
and dig where i tell you and you will find the yellow buttons i dare
not go myself so the rogues went and when they found what these
yellow buttons were they took them all away and left her plenty of
plates and dishes then she set them all about the house for a show 
and when frederick came back he cried out kate what have you been
doing see said she i have bought all these with your yellow
buttons but i did not touch them myself the pedlars went themselves
and dug them up wife wife said frederick what a pretty piece of
work you have made those yellow buttons were all my money how came you
to do such a thing why answered she i did not know there was any
harm in it you should have told me 

catherine stood musing for a while and at last said to her husband 
 hark ye frederick we will soon get the gold back let us run after
the thieves well we will try answered he but take some butter
and cheese with you that we may have something to eat by the way 
 very well said she and they set out and as frederick walked the
fastest he left his wife some way behind it does not matter thought
she when we turn back i shall be so much nearer home than he 

presently she came to the top of a hill down the side of which there
was a road so narrow that the cart wheels always chafed the trees
on each side as they passed ah see now said she how they have
bruised and wounded those poor trees they will never get well so she
took pity on them and made use of the butter to grease them all so
that the wheels might not hurt them so much while she was doing this
kind office one of her cheeses fell out of the basket and rolled down
the hill catherine looked but could not see where it had gone so she
said well i suppose the other will go the same way and find you he
has younger legs than i have then she rolled the other cheese after
it and away it went nobody knows where down the hill but she said
she supposed that they knew the road and would follow her and she
could not stay there all day waiting for them 

at last she overtook frederick who desired her to give him something to
eat then she gave him the dry bread where are the butter and cheese 
said he oh answered she i used the butter to grease those poor
trees that the wheels chafed so and one of the cheeses ran away so i
sent the other after it to find it and i suppose they are both on
the road together somewhere what a goose you are to do such silly
things said the husband how can you say so said she i am sure
you never told me not 

they ate the dry bread together and frederick said kate i hope you
locked the door safe when you came away no answered she you did
not tell me then go home and do it now before we go any farther 
said frederick and bring with you something to eat 

catherine did as he told her and thought to herself by the way 
 frederick wants something to eat but i don't think he is very fond of
butter and cheese i'll bring him a bag of fine nuts and the vinegar 
for i have often seen him take some 

when she reached home she bolted the back door but the front door she
took off the hinges and said frederick told me to lock the door but
surely it can nowhere be so safe if i take it with me so she took
her time by the way and when she overtook her husband she cried
out there frederick there is the door itself you may watch it as
carefully as you please alas alas said he what a clever wife i
have i sent you to make the house fast and you take the door away so
that everybody may go in and out as they please however as you have
brought the door you shall carry it about with you for your pains 
 very well answered she i'll carry the door but i'll not carry the
nuts and vinegar bottle also that would be too much of a load so if
you please i'll fasten them to the door 

frederick of course made no objection to that plan and they set off
into the wood to look for the thieves but they could not find them and
when it grew dark they climbed up into a tree to spend the night there 
scarcely were they up than who should come by but the very rogues they
were looking for they were in truth great rascals and belonged to that
class of people who find things before they are lost they were tired 
so they sat down and made a fire under the very tree where frederick and
catherine were frederick slipped down on the other side and picked up
some stones then he climbed up again and tried to hit the thieves on
the head with them but they only said it must be near morning for
the wind shakes the fir-apples down 

catherine who had the door on her shoulder began to be very tired 
but she thought it was the nuts upon it that were so heavy so she said
softly frederick i must let the nuts go no answered he not
now they will discover us i can't help that they must go well 
then make haste and throw them down if you will then away rattled
the nuts down among the boughs and one of the thieves cried bless me 
it is hailing 

a little while after catherine thought the door was still very heavy 
so she whispered to frederick i must throw the vinegar down pray
don't answered he it will discover us i can't help that said
she go it must so she poured all the vinegar down and the thieves
said what a heavy dew there is 

at last it popped into catherine's head that it was the door itself that
was so heavy all the time so she whispered frederick i must throw
the door down soon but he begged and prayed her not to do so for he
was sure it would betray them here goes however said she and down
went the door with such a clatter upon the thieves that they cried
out murder and not knowing what was coming ran away as fast as they
could and left all the gold so when frederick and catherine came down 
there they found all their money safe and sound 




sweetheart roland

there was once upon a time a woman who was a real witch and had two
daughters one ugly and wicked and this one she loved because she was
her own daughter and one beautiful and good and this one she hated 
because she was her stepdaughter the stepdaughter once had a pretty
apron which the other fancied so much that she became envious and
told her mother that she must and would have that apron be quiet my
child said the old woman and you shall have it your stepsister has
long deserved death tonight when she is asleep i will come and cut her
head off only be careful that you are at the far side of the bed and
push her well to the front it would have been all over with the poor
girl if she had not just then been standing in a corner and heard
everything all day long she dared not go out of doors and when bedtime
had come the witch's daughter got into bed first so as to lie at the
far side but when she was asleep the other pushed her gently to the
front and took for herself the place at the back close by the wall in
the night the old woman came creeping in she held an axe in her right
hand and felt with her left to see if anyone were lying at the outside 
and then she grasped the axe with both hands and cut her own child's
head off 

when she had gone away the girl got up and went to her sweetheart who
was called roland and knocked at his door when he came out she said
to him listen dearest roland we must fly in all haste my stepmother
wanted to kill me but has struck her own child when daylight comes 
and she sees what she has done we shall be lost but said roland 
 i counsel you first to take away her magic wand or we cannot escape
if she pursues us the maiden fetched the magic wand and she took the
dead girl's head and dropped three drops of blood on the ground one in
front of the bed one in the kitchen and one on the stairs then she
hurried away with her lover 

when the old witch got up next morning she called her daughter and
wanted to give her the apron but she did not come then the witch
cried where are you here on the stairs i am sweeping answered
the first drop of blood the old woman went out but saw no one on the
stairs and cried again where are you here in the kitchen i am
warming myself cried the second drop of blood she went into the
kitchen but found no one then she cried again where are you ah 
here in the bed i am sleeping cried the third drop of blood she went
into the room to the bed what did she see there her own child 
whose head she had cut off bathed in her blood the witch fell into
a passion sprang to the window and as she could look forth quite far
into the world she perceived her stepdaughter hurrying away with her
sweetheart roland that shall not help you cried she even if you
have got a long way off you shall still not escape me she put on her
many-league boots in which she covered an hour's walk at every step 
and it was not long before she overtook them the girl however when
she saw the old woman striding towards her changed with her magic
wand her sweetheart roland into a lake and herself into a duck
swimming in the middle of it the witch placed herself on the shore 
threw breadcrumbs in and went to endless trouble to entice the duck 
but the duck did not let herself be enticed and the old woman had to
go home at night as she had come at this the girl and her sweetheart
roland resumed their natural shapes again and they walked on the whole
night until daybreak then the maiden changed herself into a beautiful
flower which stood in the midst of a briar hedge and her sweetheart
roland into a fiddler it was not long before the witch came striding up
towards them and said to the musician dear musician may i pluck that
beautiful flower for myself oh yes he replied i will play to
you while you do it as she was hastily creeping into the hedge and was
just going to pluck the flower knowing perfectly well who the flower
was he began to play and whether she would or not she was forced
to dance for it was a magical dance the faster he played the more
violent springs was she forced to make and the thorns tore her clothes
from her body and pricked her and wounded her till she bled and as he
did not stop she had to dance till she lay dead on the ground 

as they were now set free roland said now i will go to my father and
arrange for the wedding then in the meantime i will stay here and
wait for you said the girl and that no one may recognize me i will
change myself into a red stone landmark then roland went away and the
girl stood like a red landmark in the field and waited for her beloved 
but when roland got home he fell into the snares of another who so
fascinated him that he forgot the maiden the poor girl remained there a
long time but at length as he did not return at all she was sad and
changed herself into a flower and thought someone will surely come
this way and trample me down 

it befell however that a shepherd kept his sheep in the field and saw
the flower and as it was so pretty plucked it took it with him and
laid it away in his chest from that time forth strange things happened
in the shepherd's house when he arose in the morning all the work was
already done the room was swept the table and benches cleaned the
fire in the hearth was lighted and the water was fetched and at noon 
when he came home the table was laid and a good dinner served he
could not conceive how this came to pass for he never saw a human being
in his house and no one could have concealed himself in it he was
certainly pleased with this good attendance but still at last he was so
afraid that he went to a wise woman and asked for her advice the wise
woman said there is some enchantment behind it listen very early some
morning if anything is moving in the room and if you see anything no
matter what it is throw a white cloth over it and then the magic will
be stopped 

the shepherd did as she bade him and next morning just as day dawned 
he saw the chest open and the flower come out swiftly he
sprang towards it and threw a white cloth over it instantly the
transformation came to an end and a beautiful girl stood before him 
who admitted to him that she had been the flower and that up to this
time she had attended to his house-keeping she told him her story 
and as she pleased him he asked her if she would marry him but she
answered no for she wanted to remain faithful to her sweetheart
roland although he had deserted her nevertheless she promised not to
go away but to continue keeping house for the shepherd 

and now the time drew near when roland's wedding was to be celebrated 
and then according to an old custom in the country it was announced
that all the girls were to be present at it and sing in honour of the
bridal pair when the faithful maiden heard of this she grew so sad
that she thought her heart would break and she would not go thither 
but the other girls came and took her when it came to her turn to sing 
she stepped back until at last she was the only one left and then she
could not refuse but when she began her song and it reached roland's
ears he sprang up and cried i know the voice that is the true
bride i will have no other everything he had forgotten and which had
vanished from his mind had suddenly come home again to his heart then
the faithful maiden held her wedding with her sweetheart roland and
grief came to an end and joy began 




snowdrop

it was the middle of winter when the broad flakes of snow were falling
around that the queen of a country many thousand miles off sat working
at her window the frame of the window was made of fine black ebony and
as she sat looking out upon the snow she pricked her finger and three
drops of blood fell upon it then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red
drops that sprinkled the white snow and said would that my little
daughter may be as white as that snow as red as that blood and as
black as this ebony windowframe and so the little girl really did grow
up her skin was as white as snow her cheeks as rosy as the blood and
her hair as black as ebony and she was called snowdrop 

but this queen died and the king soon married another wife who became
queen and was very beautiful but so vain that she could not bear
to think that anyone could be handsomer than she was she had a fairy
looking-glass to which she used to go and then she would gaze upon
herself in it and say 

 tell me glass tell me true 
 of all the ladies in the land 
 who is fairest tell me who 

and the glass had always answered 

 thou queen art the fairest in all the land 

but snowdrop grew more and more beautiful and when she was seven years
old she was as bright as the day and fairer than the queen herself 
then the glass one day answered the queen when she went to look in it
as usual 

 thou queen art fair and beauteous to see 
 but snowdrop is lovelier far than thee 

when she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy and called to
one of her servants and said take snowdrop away into the wide wood 
that i may never see her any more then the servant led her away but
his heart melted when snowdrop begged him to spare her life and he
said i will not hurt you thou pretty child so he left her by
herself and though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would
tear her in pieces he felt as if a great weight were taken off his
heart when he had made up his mind not to kill her but to leave her to
her fate with the chance of someone finding and saving her 

then poor snowdrop wandered along through the wood in great fear and
the wild beasts roared about her but none did her any harm in the
evening she came to a cottage among the hills and went in to rest for
her little feet would carry her no further everything was spruce and
neat in the cottage on the table was spread a white cloth and there
were seven little plates seven little loaves and seven little glasses
with wine in them and seven knives and forks laid in order and by
the wall stood seven little beds as she was very hungry she picked
a little piece of each loaf and drank a very little wine out of each
glass and after that she thought she would lie down and rest so she
tried all the little beds but one was too long and another was too
short till at last the seventh suited her and there she laid herself
down and went to sleep 

by and by in came the masters of the cottage now they were seven little
dwarfs that lived among the mountains and dug and searched for gold 
they lighted up their seven lamps and saw at once that all was not
right the first said who has been sitting on my stool the second 
 who has been eating off my plate the third who has been picking my
bread the fourth who has been meddling with my spoon the fifth 
 who has been handling my fork the sixth who has been cutting with
my knife the seventh who has been drinking my wine then the first
looked round and said who has been lying on my bed and the rest came
running to him and everyone cried out that somebody had been upon his
bed but the seventh saw snowdrop and called all his brethren to come
and see her and they cried out with wonder and astonishment and brought
their lamps to look at her and said good heavens what a lovely child
she is and they were very glad to see her and took care not to wake
her and the seventh dwarf slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs
in turn till the night was gone 

in the morning snowdrop told them all her story and they pitied her 
and said if she would keep all things in order and cook and wash and
knit and spin for them she might stay where she was and they would
take good care of her then they went out all day long to their work 
seeking for gold and silver in the mountains but snowdrop was left at
home and they warned her and said the queen will soon find out where
you are so take care and let no one in 

but the queen now that she thought snowdrop was dead believed that she
must be the handsomest lady in the land and she went to her glass and
said 

 tell me glass tell me true 
 of all the ladies in the land 
 who is fairest tell me who 

and the glass answered 

 thou queen art the fairest in all this land 
 but over the hills in the greenwood shade 
 where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made 
 there snowdrop is hiding her head and she
 is lovelier far o queen than thee 

then the queen was very much frightened for she knew that the glass
always spoke the truth and was sure that the servant had betrayed her 
and she could not bear to think that anyone lived who was more beautiful
than she was so she dressed herself up as an old pedlar and went
her way over the hills to the place where the dwarfs dwelt then she
knocked at the door and cried fine wares to sell snowdrop looked
out at the window and said good day good woman what have you to
sell good wares fine wares said she laces and bobbins of all
colours i will let the old lady in she seems to be a very good
sort of body thought snowdrop as she ran down and unbolted the door 
 bless me said the old woman how badly your stays are laced let me
lace them up with one of my nice new laces snowdrop did not dream of
any mischief so she stood before the old woman but she set to work
so nimbly and pulled the lace so tight that snowdrop's breath was
stopped and she fell down as if she were dead there's an end to all
thy beauty said the spiteful queen and went away home 

in the evening the seven dwarfs came home and i need not say how
grieved they were to see their faithful snowdrop stretched out upon the
ground as if she was quite dead however they lifted her up and when
they found what ailed her they cut the lace and in a little time she
began to breathe and very soon came to life again then they said the
old woman was the queen herself take care another time and let no one
in when we are away 

when the queen got home she went straight to her glass and spoke to it
as before but to her great grief it still said 

 thou queen art the fairest in all this land 
 but over the hills in the greenwood shade 
 where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made 
 there snowdrop is hiding her head and she
 is lovelier far o queen than thee 

then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice to see that
snowdrop still lived and she dressed herself up again but in quite
another dress from the one she wore before and took with her a poisoned
comb when she reached the dwarfs cottage she knocked at the door and
cried fine wares to sell but snowdrop said i dare not let anyone
in then the queen said only look at my beautiful combs and gave
her the poisoned one and it looked so pretty that she took it up and
put it into her hair to try it but the moment it touched her head 
the poison was so powerful that she fell down senseless there you may
lie said the queen and went her way but by good luck the dwarfs
came in very early that evening and when they saw snowdrop lying on
the ground they thought what had happened and soon found the poisoned
comb and when they took it away she got well and told them all that
had passed and they warned her once more not to open the door to
anyone 

meantime the queen went home to her glass and shook with rage when she
read the very same answer as before and she said snowdrop shall die 
if it cost me my life so she went by herself into her chamber and got
ready a poisoned apple the outside looked very rosy and tempting but
whoever tasted it was sure to die then she dressed herself up as a
peasant's wife and travelled over the hills to the dwarfs cottage 
and knocked at the door but snowdrop put her head out of the window and
said i dare not let anyone in for the dwarfs have told me not do
as you please said the old woman but at any rate take this pretty
apple i will give it you no said snowdrop i dare not take it 
 you silly girl answered the other what are you afraid of do you
think it is poisoned come do you eat one part and i will eat the
other now the apple was so made up that one side was good though the
other side was poisoned then snowdrop was much tempted to taste for
the apple looked so very nice and when she saw the old woman eat she
could wait no longer but she had scarcely put the piece into her mouth 
when she fell down dead upon the ground this time nothing will save
thee said the queen and she went home to her glass and at last it
said 

 thou queen art the fairest of all the fair 

and then her wicked heart was glad and as happy as such a heart could
be 

when evening came and the dwarfs had gone home they found snowdrop
lying on the ground no breath came from her lips and they were afraid
that she was quite dead they lifted her up and combed her hair and
washed her face with wine and water but all was in vain for the little
girl seemed quite dead so they laid her down upon a bier and all seven
watched and bewailed her three whole days and then they thought they
would bury her but her cheeks were still rosy and her face looked just
as it did while she was alive so they said we will never bury her in
the cold ground and they made a coffin of glass so that they might
still look at her and wrote upon it in golden letters what her name
was and that she was a king's daughter and the coffin was set among
the hills and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and watched and the
birds of the air came too and bemoaned snowdrop and first of all came
an owl and then a raven and at last a dove and sat by her side 

and thus snowdrop lay for a long long time and still only looked as
though she was asleep for she was even now as white as snow and as red
as blood and as black as ebony at last a prince came and called at the
dwarfs house and he saw snowdrop and read what was written in golden
letters then he offered the dwarfs money and prayed and besought them
to let him take her away but they said we will not part with her for
all the gold in the world at last however they had pity on him and
gave him the coffin but the moment he lifted it up to carry it home
with him the piece of apple fell from between her lips and snowdrop
awoke and said where am i and the prince said thou art quite safe
with me 

then he told her all that had happened and said i love you far better
than all the world so come with me to my father's palace and you shall
be my wife and snowdrop consented and went home with the prince 
and everything was got ready with great pomp and splendour for their
wedding 

to the feast was asked among the rest snowdrop's old enemy the queen 
and as she was dressing herself in fine rich clothes she looked in the
glass and said 

 tell me glass tell me true 
 of all the ladies in the land 
 who is fairest tell me who 

and the glass answered 

 thou lady art loveliest here i ween 
 but lovelier far is the new-made queen 

when she heard this she started with rage but her envy and curiosity
were so great that she could not help setting out to see the bride and
when she got there and saw that it was no other than snowdrop who as
she thought had been dead a long while she choked with rage and fell
down and died but snowdrop and the prince lived and reigned happily
over that land many many years and sometimes they went up into the
mountains and paid a visit to the little dwarfs who had been so kind
to snowdrop in her time of need 




the pink

there was once upon a time a queen to whom god had given no children 
every morning she went into the garden and prayed to god in heaven to
bestow on her a son or a daughter then an angel from heaven came to her
and said be at rest you shall have a son with the power of wishing 
so that whatsoever in the world he wishes for that shall he have then
she went to the king and told him the joyful tidings and when the time
was come she gave birth to a son and the king was filled with gladness 

every morning she went with the child to the garden where the wild
beasts were kept and washed herself there in a clear stream it
happened once when the child was a little older that it was lying in
her arms and she fell asleep then came the old cook who knew that the
child had the power of wishing and stole it away and he took a hen 
and cut it in pieces and dropped some of its blood on the queen's apron
and on her dress then he carried the child away to a secret place 
where a nurse was obliged to suckle it and he ran to the king and
accused the queen of having allowed her child to be taken from her by
the wild beasts when the king saw the blood on her apron he believed
this fell into such a passion that he ordered a high tower to be built 
in which neither sun nor moon could be seen and had his wife put into
it and walled up here she was to stay for seven years without meat
or drink and die of hunger but god sent two angels from heaven in the
shape of white doves which flew to her twice a day and carried her
food until the seven years were over 

the cook however thought to himself if the child has the power of
wishing and i am here he might very easily get me into trouble so
he left the palace and went to the boy who was already big enough to
speak and said to him wish for a beautiful palace for yourself with
a garden and all else that pertains to it scarcely were the words out
of the boy's mouth when everything was there that he had wished for 
after a while the cook said to him it is not well for you to be so
alone wish for a pretty girl as a companion then the king's son
wished for one and she immediately stood before him and was more
beautiful than any painter could have painted her the two played
together and loved each other with all their hearts and the old cook
went out hunting like a nobleman the thought occurred to him however 
that the king's son might some day wish to be with his father and thus
bring him into great peril so he went out and took the maiden aside 
and said tonight when the boy is asleep go to his bed and plunge this
knife into his heart and bring me his heart and tongue and if you do
not do it you shall lose your life thereupon he went away and when
he returned next day she had not done it and said why should i shed
the blood of an innocent boy who has never harmed anyone the cook once
more said if you do not do it it shall cost you your own life when
he had gone away she had a little hind brought to her and ordered her
to be killed and took her heart and tongue and laid them on a plate 
and when she saw the old man coming she said to the boy lie down in
your bed and draw the clothes over you then the wicked wretch came in
and said where are the boy's heart and tongue the girl reached the
plate to him but the king's son threw off the quilt and said you old
sinner why did you want to kill me now will i pronounce thy sentence 
you shall become a black poodle and have a gold collar round your neck 
and shall eat burning coals till the flames burst forth from your
throat and when he had spoken these words the old man was changed
into a poodle dog and had a gold collar round his neck and the cooks
were ordered to bring up some live coals and these he ate until the
flames broke forth from his throat the king's son remained there a
short while longer and he thought of his mother and wondered if she
were still alive at length he said to the maiden i will go home to my
own country if you will go with me i will provide for you ah 
she replied the way is so long and what shall i do in a strange land
where i am unknown as she did not seem quite willing and as they
could not be parted from each other he wished that she might be changed
into a beautiful pink and took her with him then he went away to his
own country and the poodle had to run after him he went to the tower
in which his mother was confined and as it was so high he wished for
a ladder which would reach up to the very top then he mounted up and
looked inside and cried beloved mother lady queen are you still
alive or are you dead she answered i have just eaten and am still
satisfied for she thought the angels were there said he i am your
dear son whom the wild beasts were said to have torn from your arms 
but i am alive still and will soon set you free then he descended
again and went to his father and caused himself to be announced as a
strange huntsman and asked if he could offer him service the king said
yes if he was skilful and could get game for him he should come to
him but that deer had never taken up their quarters in any part of the
district or country then the huntsman promised to procure as much game
for him as he could possibly use at the royal table so he summoned all
the huntsmen together and bade them go out into the forest with him 
and he went with them and made them form a great circle open at one end
where he stationed himself and began to wish two hundred deer and more
came running inside the circle at once and the huntsmen shot them 
then they were all placed on sixty country carts and driven home to the
king and for once he was able to deck his table with game after having
had none at all for years 

now the king felt great joy at this and commanded that his entire
household should eat with him next day and made a great feast when
they were all assembled together he said to the huntsman as you are
so clever you shall sit by me he replied lord king your majesty
must excuse me i am a poor huntsman but the king insisted on it 
and said you shall sit by me until he did it whilst he was sitting
there he thought of his dearest mother and wished that one of the
king's principal servants would begin to speak of her and would ask how
it was faring with the queen in the tower and if she were alive still 
or had perished hardly had he formed the wish than the marshal began 
and said your majesty we live joyously here but how is the queen
living in the tower is she still alive or has she died but the king
replied she let my dear son be torn to pieces by wild beasts i will
not have her named then the huntsman arose and said gracious lord
father she is alive still and i am her son and i was not carried away
by wild beasts but by that wretch the old cook who tore me from her
arms when she was asleep and sprinkled her apron with the blood of a
chicken thereupon he took the dog with the golden collar and said 
 that is the wretch and caused live coals to be brought and these the
dog was compelled to devour before the sight of all until flames burst
forth from its throat on this the huntsman asked the king if he would
like to see the dog in his true shape and wished him back into the form
of the cook in the which he stood immediately with his white apron 
and his knife by his side when the king saw him he fell into a passion 
and ordered him to be cast into the deepest dungeon then the huntsman
spoke further and said father will you see the maiden who brought me
up so tenderly and who was afterwards to murder me but did not do it 
though her own life depended on it the king replied yes i would
like to see her the son said most gracious father i will show her
to you in the form of a beautiful flower and he thrust his hand into
his pocket and brought forth the pink and placed it on the royal table 
and it was so beautiful that the king had never seen one to equal it 
then the son said now will i show her to you in her own form and
wished that she might become a maiden and she stood there looking so
beautiful that no painter could have made her look more so 

and the king sent two waiting-maids and two attendants into the tower 
to fetch the queen and bring her to the royal table but when she was
led in she ate nothing and said the gracious and merciful god who has
supported me in the tower will soon set me free she lived three days
more and then died happily and when she was buried the two white
doves which had brought her food to the tower and were angels of
heaven followed her body and seated themselves on her grave the aged
king ordered the cook to be torn in four pieces but grief consumed the
king's own heart and he soon died his son married the beautiful maiden
whom he had brought with him as a flower in his pocket and whether they
are still alive or not is known to god 




clever elsie

there was once a man who had a daughter who was called clever elsie and
when she had grown up her father said we will get her married yes 
said the mother if only someone would come who would have her at
length a man came from a distance and wooed her who was called hans 
but he stipulated that clever elsie should be really smart oh said
the father she has plenty of good sense and the mother said oh 
she can see the wind coming up the street and hear the flies coughing 
 well said hans if she is not really smart i won't have her when
they were sitting at dinner and had eaten the mother said elsie go
into the cellar and fetch some beer then clever elsie took the pitcher
from the wall went into the cellar and tapped the lid briskly as she
went so that the time might not appear long when she was below she
fetched herself a chair and set it before the barrel so that she had
no need to stoop and did not hurt her back or do herself any unexpected
injury then she placed the can before her and turned the tap and
while the beer was running she would not let her eyes be idle but
looked up at the wall and after much peering here and there saw a
pick-axe exactly above her which the masons had accidentally left
there 

then clever elsie began to weep and said if i get hans and we have
a child and he grows big and we send him into the cellar here to draw
beer then the pick-axe will fall on his head and kill him then she
sat and wept and screamed with all the strength of her body over the
misfortune which lay before her those upstairs waited for the drink 
but clever elsie still did not come then the woman said to the servant 
 just go down into the cellar and see where elsie is the maid went and
found her sitting in front of the barrel screaming loudly elsie why
do you weep asked the maid ah she answered have i not reason to
weep if i get hans and we have a child and he grows big and has to
draw beer here the pick-axe will perhaps fall on his head and kill
him then said the maid what a clever elsie we have and sat down
beside her and began loudly to weep over the misfortune after a while 
as the maid did not come back and those upstairs were thirsty for the
beer the man said to the boy just go down into the cellar and see
where elsie and the girl are the boy went down and there sat clever
elsie and the girl both weeping together then he asked why are you
weeping ah said elsie have i not reason to weep if i get hans 
and we have a child and he grows big and has to draw beer here the
pick-axe will fall on his head and kill him then said the boy what
a clever elsie we have and sat down by her and likewise began to
howl loudly upstairs they waited for the boy but as he still did not
return the man said to the woman just go down into the cellar and see
where elsie is the woman went down and found all three in the midst
of their lamentations and inquired what was the cause then elsie told
her also that her future child was to be killed by the pick-axe when it
grew big and had to draw beer and the pick-axe fell down then said the
mother likewise what a clever elsie we have and sat down and wept
with them the man upstairs waited a short time but as his wife did not
come back and his thirst grew ever greater he said i must go into the
cellar myself and see where elsie is but when he got into the cellar 
and they were all sitting together crying and he heard the reason and
that elsie's child was the cause and the elsie might perhaps bring one
into the world some day and that he might be killed by the pick-axe if
he should happen to be sitting beneath it drawing beer just at the very
time when it fell down he cried oh what a clever elsie and sat
down and likewise wept with them the bridegroom stayed upstairs alone
for a long time then as no one would come back he thought they must be
waiting for me below i too must go there and see what they are about 
when he got down the five of them were sitting screaming and lamenting
quite piteously each out-doing the other what misfortune has happened
then asked he ah dear hans said elsie if we marry each other
and have a child and he is big and we perhaps send him here to draw
something to drink then the pick-axe which has been left up there might
dash his brains out if it were to fall down so have we not reason to
weep come said hans more understanding than that is not needed
for my household as you are such a clever elsie i will have you and
seized her hand took her upstairs with him and married her 

after hans had had her some time he said wife i am going out to work
and earn some money for us go into the field and cut the corn that we
may have some bread yes dear hans i will do that after hans had
gone away she cooked herself some good broth and took it into the field
with her when she came to the field she said to herself what shall i
do shall i cut first or shall i eat first oh i will eat first then
she drank her cup of broth and when she was fully satisfied she once
more said what shall i do shall i cut first or shall i sleep first 
i will sleep first then she lay down among the corn and fell asleep 
hans had been at home for a long time but elsie did not come then said
he what a clever elsie i have she is so industrious that she does not
even come home to eat but when evening came and she still stayed away 
hans went out to see what she had cut but nothing was cut and she
was lying among the corn asleep then hans hastened home and brought
a fowler's net with little bells and hung it round about her and she
still went on sleeping then he ran home shut the house-door and sat
down in his chair and worked at length when it was quite dark clever
elsie awoke and when she got up there was a jingling all round about
her and the bells rang at each step which she took then she was
alarmed and became uncertain whether she really was clever elsie or
not and said is it i or is it not i but she knew not what answer
to make to this and stood for a time in doubt at length she thought 
 i will go home and ask if it be i or if it be not i they will be sure
to know she ran to the door of her own house but it was shut then
she knocked at the window and cried hans is elsie within yes 
answered hans she is within hereupon she was terrified and said 
 ah heavens then it is not i and went to another door but when the
people heard the jingling of the bells they would not open it and she
could get in nowhere then she ran out of the village and no one has
seen her since 




the miser in the bush

a farmer had a faithful and diligent servant who had worked hard for
him three years without having been paid any wages at last it came
into the man's head that he would not go on thus without pay any longer 
so he went to his master and said i have worked hard for you a long
time i will trust to you to give me what i deserve to have for my
trouble the farmer was a sad miser and knew that his man was very
simple-hearted so he took out threepence and gave him for every year's
service a penny the poor fellow thought it was a great deal of money to
have and said to himself why should i work hard and live here on bad
fare any longer i can now travel into the wide world and make myself
merry with that he put his money into his purse and set out roaming
over hill and valley 

as he jogged along over the fields singing and dancing a little dwarf
met him and asked him what made him so merry why what should make
me down-hearted said he i am sound in health and rich in purse what
should i care for i have saved up my three years earnings and have it
all safe in my pocket how much may it come to said the little man 
 full threepence replied the countryman i wish you would give them
to me said the other i am very poor then the man pitied him and
gave him all he had and the little dwarf said in return as you have
such a kind honest heart i will grant you three wishes one for every
penny so choose whatever you like then the countryman rejoiced at
his good luck and said i like many things better than money first i
will have a bow that will bring down everything i shoot at secondly 
a fiddle that will set everyone dancing that hears me play upon it and
thirdly i should like that everyone should grant what i ask the dwarf
said he should have his three wishes so he gave him the bow and fiddle 
and went his way 

our honest friend journeyed on his way too and if he was merry before 
he was now ten times more so he had not gone far before he met an old
miser close by them stood a tree and on the topmost twig sat a thrush
singing away most joyfully oh what a pretty bird said the miser i
would give a great deal of money to have such a one if that's all 
said the countryman i will soon bring it down then he took up his
bow and down fell the thrush into the bushes at the foot of the tree 
the miser crept into the bush to find it but directly he had got into
the middle his companion took up his fiddle and played away and the
miser began to dance and spring about capering higher and higher in
the air the thorns soon began to tear his clothes till they all hung
in rags about him and he himself was all scratched and wounded so that
the blood ran down oh for heaven's sake cried the miser master 
master pray let the fiddle alone what have i done to deserve this 
 thou hast shaved many a poor soul close enough said the other thou
art only meeting thy reward so he played up another tune then the
miser began to beg and promise and offered money for his liberty but
he did not come up to the musician's price for some time and he danced
him along brisker and brisker and the miser bid higher and higher till
at last he offered a round hundred of florins that he had in his purse 
and had just gained by cheating some poor fellow when the countryman
saw so much money he said i will agree to your proposal so he took
the purse put up his fiddle and travelled on very pleased with his
bargain 

meanwhile the miser crept out of the bush half-naked and in a piteous
plight and began to ponder how he should take his revenge and serve
his late companion some trick at last he went to the judge and
complained that a rascal had robbed him of his money and beaten him
into the bargain and that the fellow who did it carried a bow at his
back and a fiddle hung round his neck then the judge sent out his
officers to bring up the accused wherever they should find him and he
was soon caught and brought up to be tried 

the miser began to tell his tale and said he had been robbed of
his money no you gave it me for playing a tune to you said the
countryman but the judge told him that was not likely and cut the
matter short by ordering him off to the gallows 

so away he was taken but as he stood on the steps he said my lord
judge grant me one last request anything but thy life replied the
other no said he i do not ask my life only to let me play upon
my fiddle for the last time the miser cried out oh no no for
heaven's sake don't listen to him don't listen to him but the judge
said it is only this once he will soon have done the fact was he
could not refuse the request on account of the dwarf's third gift 

then the miser said bind me fast bind me fast for pity's sake but
the countryman seized his fiddle and struck up a tune and at the first
note judge clerks and jailer were in motion all began capering and
no one could hold the miser at the second note the hangman let his
prisoner go and danced also and by the time he had played the first
bar of the tune all were dancing together judge court and miser and
all the people who had followed to look on at first the thing was merry
and pleasant enough but when it had gone on a while and there seemed
to be no end of playing or dancing they began to cry out and beg him
to leave off but he stopped not a whit the more for their entreaties 
till the judge not only gave him his life but promised to return him
the hundred florins 

then he called to the miser and said tell us now you vagabond where
you got that gold or i shall play on for your amusement only i stole
it said the miser in the presence of all the people i acknowledge
that i stole it and that you earned it fairly then the countryman
stopped his fiddle and left the miser to take his place at the gallows 




ashputtel

the wife of a rich man fell sick and when she felt that her end drew
nigh she called her only daughter to her bed-side and said always be
a good girl and i will look down from heaven and watch over you soon
afterwards she shut her eyes and died and was buried in the garden 
and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept and was always
good and kind to all about her and the snow fell and spread a beautiful
white covering over the grave but by the time the spring came and the
sun had melted it away again her father had married another wife this
new wife had two daughters of her own that she brought home with her 
they were fair in face but foul at heart and it was now a sorry time
for the poor little girl what does the good-for-nothing want in the
parlour said they they who would eat bread should first earn it 
away with the kitchen-maid then they took away her fine clothes and
gave her an old grey frock to put on and laughed at her and turned her
into the kitchen 

there she was forced to do hard work to rise early before daylight to
bring the water to make the fire to cook and to wash besides that 
the sisters plagued her in all sorts of ways and laughed at her in the
evening when she was tired she had no bed to lie down on but was made
to lie by the hearth among the ashes and as this of course made her
always dusty and dirty they called her ashputtel 

it happened once that the father was going to the fair and asked his
wife's daughters what he should bring them fine clothes said the
first pearls and diamonds cried the second now child said he
to his own daughter what will you have the first twig dear
father that brushes against your hat when you turn your face to come
homewards said she then he bought for the first two the fine clothes
and pearls and diamonds they had asked for and on his way home as he
rode through a green copse a hazel twig brushed against him and almost
pushed off his hat so he broke it off and brought it away and when he
got home he gave it to his daughter then she took it and went to
her mother's grave and planted it there and cried so much that it was
watered with her tears and there it grew and became a fine tree three
times every day she went to it and cried and soon a little bird came
and built its nest upon the tree and talked with her and watched over
her and brought her whatever she wished for 

now it happened that the king of that land held a feast which was to
last three days and out of those who came to it his son was to choose
a bride for himself ashputtel's two sisters were asked to come so they
called her up and said now comb our hair brush our shoes and tie
our sashes for us for we are going to dance at the king's feast 
then she did as she was told but when all was done she could not help
crying for she thought to herself she should so have liked to have
gone with them to the ball and at last she begged her mother very hard
to let her go you ashputtel said she you who have nothing to
wear no clothes at all and who cannot even dance you want to go to
the ball and when she kept on begging she said at last to get rid of
her i will throw this dishful of peas into the ash-heap and if in
two hours time you have picked them all out you shall go to the feast
too 

then she threw the peas down among the ashes but the little maiden ran
out at the back door into the garden and cried out 

 hither hither through the sky 
 turtle-doves and linnets fly 
 blackbird thrush and chaffinch gay 
 hither hither haste away 
 one and all come help me quick 
 haste ye haste ye pick pick pick 

then first came two white doves flying in at the kitchen window next
came two turtle-doves and after them came all the little birds under
heaven chirping and fluttering in and they flew down into the ashes 
and the little doves stooped their heads down and set to work pick 
pick pick and then the others began to pick pick pick and among
them all they soon picked out all the good grain and put it into a dish
but left the ashes long before the end of the hour the work was quite
done and all flew out again at the windows 

then ashputtel brought the dish to her mother overjoyed at the thought
that now she should go to the ball but the mother said no no you
slut you have no clothes and cannot dance you shall not go and when
ashputtel begged very hard to go she said if you can in one hour's
time pick two of those dishes of peas out of the ashes you shall go
too and thus she thought she should at least get rid of her so she
shook two dishes of peas into the ashes 

but the little maiden went out into the garden at the back of the house 
and cried out as before 

 hither hither through the sky 
 turtle-doves and linnets fly 
 blackbird thrush and chaffinch gay 
 hither hither haste away 
 one and all come help me quick 
 haste ye haste ye pick pick pick 

then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window next came two
turtle-doves and after them came all the little birds under heaven 
chirping and hopping about and they flew down into the ashes and the
little doves put their heads down and set to work pick pick pick and
then the others began pick pick pick and they put all the good grain
into the dishes and left all the ashes before half an hour's time all
was done and out they flew again and then ashputtel took the dishes to
her mother rejoicing to think that she should now go to the ball 
but her mother said it is all of no use you cannot go you have no
clothes and cannot dance and you would only put us to shame and off
she went with her two daughters to the ball 

now when all were gone and nobody left at home ashputtel went
sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree and cried out 

 shake shake hazel-tree 
 gold and silver over me 

then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought a gold and
silver dress for her and slippers of spangled silk and she put them
on and followed her sisters to the feast but they did not know her 
and thought it must be some strange princess she looked so fine and
beautiful in her rich clothes and they never once thought of ashputtel 
taking it for granted that she was safe at home in the dirt 

the king's son soon came up to her and took her by the hand and danced
with her and no one else and he never left her hand but when anyone
else came to ask her to dance he said this lady is dancing with me 

thus they danced till a late hour of the night and then she wanted to
go home and the king's son said i shall go and take care of you to
your home for he wanted to see where the beautiful maiden lived but
she slipped away from him unawares and ran off towards home and as
the prince followed her she jumped up into the pigeon-house and shut
the door then he waited till her father came home and told him that
the unknown maiden who had been at the feast had hid herself in the
pigeon-house but when they had broken open the door they found no one
within and as they came back into the house ashputtel was lying as
she always did in her dirty frock by the ashes and her dim little
lamp was burning in the chimney for she had run as quickly as she could
through the pigeon-house and on to the hazel-tree and had there taken
off her beautiful clothes and put them beneath the tree that the bird
might carry them away and had lain down again amid the ashes in her
little grey frock 

the next day when the feast was again held and her father mother and
sisters were gone ashputtel went to the hazel-tree and said 

 shake shake hazel-tree 
 gold and silver over me 

and the bird came and brought a still finer dress than the one she
had worn the day before and when she came in it to the ball everyone
wondered at her beauty but the king's son who was waiting for her 
took her by the hand and danced with her and when anyone asked her to
dance he said as before this lady is dancing with me 

when night came she wanted to go home and the king's son followed here
as before that he might see into what house she went but she sprang
away from him all at once into the garden behind her father's house 
in this garden stood a fine large pear-tree full of ripe fruit and
ashputtel not knowing where to hide herself jumped up into it without
being seen then the king's son lost sight of her and could not find
out where she was gone but waited till her father came home and said
to him the unknown lady who danced with me has slipped away and i
think she must have sprung into the pear-tree the father thought to
himself can it be ashputtel so he had an axe brought and they cut
down the tree but found no one upon it and when they came back into
the kitchen there lay ashputtel among the ashes for she had slipped
down on the other side of the tree and carried her beautiful clothes
back to the bird at the hazel-tree and then put on her little grey
frock 

the third day when her father and mother and sisters were gone she
went again into the garden and said 

 shake shake hazel-tree 
 gold and silver over me 

then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer than the
former one and slippers which were all of gold so that when she came
to the feast no one knew what to say for wonder at her beauty and the
king's son danced with nobody but her and when anyone else asked her to
dance he said this lady is my partner sir 

when night came she wanted to go home and the king's son would go with
her and said to himself i will not lose her this time but however 
she again slipped away from him though in such a hurry that she dropped
her left golden slipper upon the stairs 

the prince took the shoe and went the next day to the king his father 
and said i will take for my wife the lady that this golden slipper
fits then both the sisters were overjoyed to hear it for they
had beautiful feet and had no doubt that they could wear the golden
slipper the eldest went first into the room where the slipper was and
wanted to try it on and the mother stood by but her great toe could
not go into it and the shoe was altogether much too small for her then
the mother gave her a knife and said never mind cut it off when you
are queen you will not care about toes you will not want to walk so
the silly girl cut off her great toe and thus squeezed on the shoe 
and went to the king's son then he took her for his bride and set her
beside him on his horse and rode away with her homewards 

but on their way home they had to pass by the hazel-tree that ashputtel
had planted and on the branch sat a little dove singing 

 back again back again look to the shoe 
 the shoe is too small and not made for you 
 prince prince look again for thy bride 
 for she's not the true one that sits by thy side 

then the prince got down and looked at her foot and he saw by the
blood that streamed from it what a trick she had played him so he
turned his horse round and brought the false bride back to her home 
and said this is not the right bride let the other sister try and put
on the slipper then she went into the room and got her foot into the
shoe all but the heel which was too large but her mother squeezed it
in till the blood came and took her to the king's son and he set her
as his bride by his side on his horse and rode away with her 

but when they came to the hazel-tree the little dove sat there still 
and sang 

 back again back again look to the shoe 
 the shoe is too small and not made for you 
 prince prince look again for thy bride 
 for she's not the true one that sits by thy side 

then he looked down and saw that the blood streamed so much from the
shoe that her white stockings were quite red so he turned his horse
and brought her also back again this is not the true bride said he
to the father have you no other daughters no said he there is
only a little dirty ashputtel here the child of my first wife i am
sure she cannot be the bride the prince told him to send her but the
mother said no no she is much too dirty she will not dare to show
herself however the prince would have her come and she first washed
her face and hands and then went in and curtsied to him and he reached
her the golden slipper then she took her clumsy shoe off her left foot 
and put on the golden slipper and it fitted her as if it had been made
for her and when he drew near and looked at her face he knew her and
said this is the right bride but the mother and both the sisters
were frightened and turned pale with anger as he took ashputtel on his
horse and rode away with her and when they came to the hazel-tree the
white dove sang 

 home home look at the shoe 
 princess the shoe was made for you 
 prince prince take home thy bride 
 for she is the true one that sits by thy side 

and when the dove had done its song it came flying and perched upon
her right shoulder and so went home with her 




the white snake

a long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through
all the land nothing was hidden from him and it seemed as if news of
the most secret things was brought to him through the air but he had a
strange custom every day after dinner when the table was cleared 
and no one else was present a trusty servant had to bring him one more
dish it was covered however and even the servant did not know what
was in it neither did anyone know for the king never took off the
cover to eat of it until he was quite alone 

this had gone on for a long time when one day the servant who took
away the dish was overcome with such curiosity that he could not help
carrying the dish into his room when he had carefully locked the door 
he lifted up the cover and saw a white snake lying on the dish but
when he saw it he could not deny himself the pleasure of tasting it 
so he cut of a little bit and put it into his mouth no sooner had it
touched his tongue than he heard a strange whispering of little voices
outside his window he went and listened and then noticed that it was
the sparrows who were chattering together and telling one another of
all kinds of things which they had seen in the fields and woods eating
the snake had given him power of understanding the language of animals 

now it so happened that on this very day the queen lost her most
beautiful ring and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty
servant who was allowed to go everywhere the king ordered the man to
be brought before him and threatened with angry words that unless he
could before the morrow point out the thief he himself should be looked
upon as guilty and executed in vain he declared his innocence he was
dismissed with no better answer 

in his trouble and fear he went down into the courtyard and took thought
how to help himself out of his trouble now some ducks were sitting
together quietly by a brook and taking their rest and whilst they
were making their feathers smooth with their bills they were having a
confidential conversation together the servant stood by and listened 
they were telling one another of all the places where they had been
waddling about all the morning and what good food they had found and
one said in a pitiful tone something lies heavy on my stomach as
i was eating in haste i swallowed a ring which lay under the queen's
window the servant at once seized her by the neck carried her to the
kitchen and said to the cook here is a fine duck pray kill her 
 yes said the cook and weighed her in his hand she has spared
no trouble to fatten herself and has been waiting to be roasted long
enough so he cut off her head and as she was being dressed for the
spit the queen's ring was found inside her 

the servant could now easily prove his innocence and the king to make
amends for the wrong allowed him to ask a favour and promised him
the best place in the court that he could wish for the servant refused
everything and only asked for a horse and some money for travelling as
he had a mind to see the world and go about a little when his request
was granted he set out on his way and one day came to a pond where he
saw three fishes caught in the reeds and gasping for water now though
it is said that fishes are dumb he heard them lamenting that they must
perish so miserably and as he had a kind heart he got off his
horse and put the three prisoners back into the water they leapt with
delight put out their heads and cried to him we will remember you
and repay you for saving us 

he rode on and after a while it seemed to him that he heard a voice in
the sand at his feet he listened and heard an ant-king complain why
cannot folks with their clumsy beasts keep off our bodies that stupid
horse with his heavy hoofs has been treading down my people without
mercy so he turned on to a side path and the ant-king cried out to
him we will remember you one good turn deserves another 

the path led him into a wood and there he saw two old ravens standing
by their nest and throwing out their young ones out with you you
idle good-for-nothing creatures cried they we cannot find food for
you any longer you are big enough and can provide for yourselves 
but the poor young ravens lay upon the ground flapping their wings and
crying oh what helpless chicks we are we must shift for ourselves 
and yet we cannot fly what can we do but lie here and starve so the
good young fellow alighted and killed his horse with his sword and gave
it to them for food then they came hopping up to it satisfied their
hunger and cried we will remember you one good turn deserves
another 

and now he had to use his own legs and when he had walked a long
way he came to a large city there was a great noise and crowd in
the streets and a man rode up on horseback crying aloud the king's
daughter wants a husband but whoever seeks her hand must perform a hard
task and if he does not succeed he will forfeit his life many had
already made the attempt but in vain nevertheless when the youth
saw the king's daughter he was so overcome by her great beauty that he
forgot all danger went before the king and declared himself a suitor 

so he was led out to the sea and a gold ring was thrown into it before
his eyes then the king ordered him to fetch this ring up from the
bottom of the sea and added if you come up again without it you will
be thrown in again and again until you perish amid the waves all the
people grieved for the handsome youth then they went away leaving him
alone by the sea 

he stood on the shore and considered what he should do when suddenly
he saw three fishes come swimming towards him and they were the very
fishes whose lives he had saved the one in the middle held a mussel in
its mouth which it laid on the shore at the youth's feet and when he
had taken it up and opened it there lay the gold ring in the shell 
full of joy he took it to the king and expected that he would grant him
the promised reward 

but when the proud princess perceived that he was not her equal in
birth she scorned him and required him first to perform another
task she went down into the garden and strewed with her own hands ten
sacksful of millet-seed on the grass then she said tomorrow morning
before sunrise these must be picked up and not a single grain be
wanting 

the youth sat down in the garden and considered how it might be possible
to perform this task but he could think of nothing and there he sat
sorrowfully awaiting the break of day when he should be led to death 
but as soon as the first rays of the sun shone into the garden he saw
all the ten sacks standing side by side quite full and not a single
grain was missing the ant-king had come in the night with thousands
and thousands of ants and the grateful creatures had by great industry
picked up all the millet-seed and gathered them into the sacks 

presently the king's daughter herself came down into the garden and was
amazed to see that the young man had done the task she had given him 
but she could not yet conquer her proud heart and said although he
has performed both the tasks he shall not be my husband until he had
brought me an apple from the tree of life the youth did not know where
the tree of life stood but he set out and would have gone on for ever 
as long as his legs would carry him though he had no hope of finding
it after he had wandered through three kingdoms he came one evening to
a wood and lay down under a tree to sleep but he heard a rustling in
the branches and a golden apple fell into his hand at the same time
three ravens flew down to him perched themselves upon his knee and
said we are the three young ravens whom you saved from starving when
we had grown big and heard that you were seeking the golden apple 
we flew over the sea to the end of the world where the tree of life
stands and have brought you the apple the youth full of joy set out
homewards and took the golden apple to the king's beautiful daughter 
who had now no more excuses left to make they cut the apple of life in
two and ate it together and then her heart became full of love for him 
and they lived in undisturbed happiness to a great age 




the wolf and the seven little kids

there was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids and
loved them with all the love of a mother for her children one day she
wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food so she called all
seven to her and said dear children i have to go into the forest 
be on your guard against the wolf if he comes in he will devour you
all skin hair and everything the wretch often disguises himself but
you will know him at once by his rough voice and his black feet the
kids said dear mother we will take good care of ourselves you may go
away without any anxiety then the old one bleated and went on her way
with an easy mind 

it was not long before someone knocked at the house-door and called 
 open the door dear children your mother is here and has brought
something back with her for each of you but the little kids knew that
it was the wolf by the rough voice we will not open the door cried
they you are not our mother she has a soft pleasant voice but
your voice is rough you are the wolf then the wolf went away to a
shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk ate this and made
his voice soft with it then he came back knocked at the door of the
house and called open the door dear children your mother is here
and has brought something back with her for each of you but the wolf
had laid his black paws against the window and the children saw them
and cried we will not open the door our mother has not black feet
like you you are the wolf then the wolf ran to a baker and said i
have hurt my feet rub some dough over them for me and when the baker
had rubbed his feet over he ran to the miller and said strew some
white meal over my feet for me the miller thought to himself the
wolf wants to deceive someone and refused but the wolf said if you
will not do it i will devour you then the miller was afraid and made
his paws white for him truly this is the way of mankind 

so now the wretch went for the third time to the house-door knocked at
it and said open the door for me children your dear little mother
has come home and has brought every one of you something back from the
forest with her the little kids cried first show us your paws that
we may know if you are our dear little mother then he put his paws
in through the window and when the kids saw that they were white they
believed that all he said was true and opened the door but who should
come in but the wolf they were terrified and wanted to hide themselves 
one sprang under the table the second into the bed the third into the
stove the fourth into the kitchen the fifth into the cupboard the
sixth under the washing-bowl and the seventh into the clock-case but
the wolf found them all and used no great ceremony one after the
other he swallowed them down his throat the youngest who was in
the clock-case was the only one he did not find when the wolf had
satisfied his appetite he took himself off laid himself down under a
tree in the green meadow outside and began to sleep soon afterwards
the old goat came home again from the forest ah what a sight she saw
there the house-door stood wide open the table chairs and benches
were thrown down the washing-bowl lay broken to pieces and the quilts
and pillows were pulled off the bed she sought her children but they
were nowhere to be found she called them one after another by name but
no one answered at last when she came to the youngest a soft voice
cried dear mother i am in the clock-case she took the kid out and
it told her that the wolf had come and had eaten all the others then
you may imagine how she wept over her poor children 

at length in her grief she went out and the youngest kid ran with her 
when they came to the meadow there lay the wolf by the tree and snored
so loud that the branches shook she looked at him on every side and
saw that something was moving and struggling in his gorged belly ah 
heavens she said is it possible that my poor children whom he has
swallowed down for his supper can be still alive then the kid had to
run home and fetch scissors and a needle and thread and the goat cut
open the monster's stomach and hardly had she made one cut than one
little kid thrust its head out and when she had cut farther all six
sprang out one after another and were all still alive and had suffered
no injury whatever for in his greediness the monster had swallowed them
down whole what rejoicing there was they embraced their dear mother 
and jumped like a tailor at his wedding the mother however said now
go and look for some big stones and we will fill the wicked beast's
stomach with them while he is still asleep then the seven kids dragged
the stones thither with all speed and put as many of them into this
stomach as they could get in and the mother sewed him up again in the
greatest haste so that he was not aware of anything and never once
stirred 

when the wolf at length had had his fill of sleep he got on his legs 
and as the stones in his stomach made him very thirsty he wanted to
go to a well to drink but when he began to walk and to move about the
stones in his stomach knocked against each other and rattled then cried
he 

 what rumbles and tumbles
 against my poor bones 
 i thought twas six kids 
 but it feels like big stones 

and when he got to the well and stooped over the water to drink the
heavy stones made him fall in and he drowned miserably when the seven
kids saw that they came running to the spot and cried aloud the wolf
is dead the wolf is dead and danced for joy round about the well with
their mother 




the queen bee

two kings sons once upon a time went into the world to seek their
fortunes but they soon fell into a wasteful foolish way of living so
that they could not return home again then their brother who was a
little insignificant dwarf went out to seek for his brothers but when
he had found them they only laughed at him to think that he who was so
young and simple should try to travel through the world when they who
were so much wiser had been unable to get on however they all set
out on their journey together and came at last to an ant-hill the two
elder brothers would have pulled it down in order to see how the poor
ants in their fright would run about and carry off their eggs but the
little dwarf said let the poor things enjoy themselves i will not
suffer you to trouble them 

so on they went and came to a lake where many many ducks were swimming
about the two brothers wanted to catch two and roast them but the
dwarf said let the poor things enjoy themselves you shall not kill
them next they came to a bees -nest in a hollow tree and there was
so much honey that it ran down the trunk and the two brothers wanted to
light a fire under the tree and kill the bees so as to get their honey 
but the dwarf held them back and said let the pretty insects enjoy
themselves i cannot let you burn them 

at length the three brothers came to a castle and as they passed by the
stables they saw fine horses standing there but all were of marble and
no man was to be seen then they went through all the rooms till they
came to a door on which were three locks but in the middle of the door
was a wicket so that they could look into the next room there they saw
a little grey old man sitting at a table and they called to him once or
twice but he did not hear however they called a third time and then
he rose and came out to them 

he said nothing but took hold of them and led them to a beautiful
table covered with all sorts of good things and when they had eaten and
drunk he showed each of them to a bed-chamber 

the next morning he came to the eldest and took him to a marble table 
where there were three tablets containing an account of the means by
which the castle might be disenchanted the first tablet said in the
wood under the moss lie the thousand pearls belonging to the king's
daughter they must all be found and if one be missing by set of sun 
he who seeks them will be turned into marble 

the eldest brother set out and sought for the pearls the whole day 
but the evening came and he had not found the first hundred so he was
turned into stone as the tablet had foretold 

the next day the second brother undertook the task but he succeeded no
better than the first for he could only find the second hundred of the
pearls and therefore he too was turned into stone 

at last came the little dwarf's turn and he looked in the moss but it
was so hard to find the pearls and the job was so tiresome so he sat
down upon a stone and cried and as he sat there the king of the ants
 whose life he had saved came to help him with five thousand ants and
it was not long before they had found all the pearls and laid them in a
heap 

the second tablet said the key of the princess's bed-chamber must be
fished up out of the lake and as the dwarf came to the brink of it 
he saw the two ducks whose lives he had saved swimming about and they
dived down and soon brought in the key from the bottom 

the third task was the hardest it was to choose out the youngest and
the best of the king's three daughters now they were all beautiful and
all exactly alike but he was told that the eldest had eaten a piece of
sugar the next some sweet syrup and the youngest a spoonful of honey 
so he was to guess which it was that had eaten the honey 

then came the queen of the bees who had been saved by the little dwarf
from the fire and she tried the lips of all three but at last she sat
upon the lips of the one that had eaten the honey and so the dwarf knew
which was the youngest thus the spell was broken and all who had been
turned into stones awoke and took their proper forms and the dwarf
married the youngest and the best of the princesses and was king after
her father's death but his two brothers married the other two sisters 




the elves and the shoemaker

there was once a shoemaker who worked very hard and was very honest 
but still he could not earn enough to live upon and at last all he
had in the world was gone save just leather enough to make one pair of
shoes 

then he cut his leather out all ready to make up the next day meaning
to rise early in the morning to his work his conscience was clear and
his heart light amidst all his troubles so he went peaceably to bed 
left all his cares to heaven and soon fell asleep in the morning after
he had said his prayers he sat himself down to his work when to his
great wonder there stood the shoes all ready made upon the table the
good man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening 
he looked at the workmanship there was not one false stitch in the
whole job all was so neat and true that it was quite a masterpiece 

the same day a customer came in and the shoes suited him so well that
he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them and the poor
shoemaker with the money bought leather enough to make two pairs more 
in the evening he cut out the work and went to bed early that he might
get up and begin betimes next day but he was saved all the trouble for
when he got up in the morning the work was done ready to his hand soon
in came buyers who paid him handsomely for his goods so that he bought
leather enough for four pair more he cut out the work again overnight
and found it done in the morning as before and so it went on for some
time what was got ready in the evening was always done by daybreak and
the good man soon became thriving and well off again 

one evening about christmas-time as he and his wife were sitting over
the fire chatting together he said to her i should like to sit up and
watch tonight that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for
me the wife liked the thought so they left a light burning and hid
themselves in a corner of the room behind a curtain that was hung up
there and watched what would happen 

as soon as it was midnight there came in two little naked dwarfs and
they sat themselves upon the shoemaker's bench took up all the work
that was cut out and began to ply with their little fingers stitching
and rapping and tapping away at such a rate that the shoemaker was all
wonder and could not take his eyes off them and on they went till the
job was quite done and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table 
this was long before daybreak and then they bustled away as quick as
lightning 

the next day the wife said to the shoemaker these little wights have
made us rich and we ought to be thankful to them and do them a good
turn if we can i am quite sorry to see them run about as they do and
indeed it is not very decent for they have nothing upon their backs to
keep off the cold i'll tell you what i will make each of them a shirt 
and a coat and waistcoat and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain and
do you make each of them a little pair of shoes 

the thought pleased the good cobbler very much and one evening when
all the things were ready they laid them on the table instead of the
work that they used to cut out and then went and hid themselves to
watch what the little elves would do 

about midnight in they came dancing and skipping hopped round the
room and then went to sit down to their work as usual but when they
saw the clothes lying for them they laughed and chuckled and seemed
mightily delighted 

then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye and danced and
capered and sprang about as merry as could be till at last they danced
out at the door and away over the green 

the good couple saw them no more but everything went well with them
from that time forward as long as they lived 




the juniper-tree

long long ago some two thousand years or so there lived a rich
man with a good and beautiful wife they loved each other dearly but
sorrowed much that they had no children so greatly did they desire
to have one that the wife prayed for it day and night but still they
remained childless 

in front of the house there was a court in which grew a juniper-tree 
one winter's day the wife stood under the tree to peel some apples and
as she was peeling them she cut her finger and the blood fell on the
snow ah sighed the woman heavily if i had but a child as red as
blood and as white as snow and as she spoke the words her heart grew
light within her and it seemed to her that her wish was granted and
she returned to the house feeling glad and comforted a month passed 
and the snow had all disappeared then another month went by and all
the earth was green so the months followed one another and first the
trees budded in the woods and soon the green branches grew thickly
intertwined and then the blossoms began to fall once again the wife
stood under the juniper-tree and it was so full of sweet scent that her
heart leaped for joy and she was so overcome with her happiness that
she fell on her knees presently the fruit became round and firm and
she was glad and at peace but when they were fully ripe she picked the
berries and ate eagerly of them and then she grew sad and ill a little
while later she called her husband and said to him weeping if i
die bury me under the juniper-tree then she felt comforted and happy
again and before another month had passed she had a little child and
when she saw that it was as white as snow and as red as blood her joy
was so great that she died 

her husband buried her under the juniper-tree and wept bitterly for
her by degrees however his sorrow grew less and although at times he
still grieved over his loss he was able to go about as usual and later
on he married again 

he now had a little daughter born to him the child of his first wife
was a boy who was as red as blood and as white as snow the mother
loved her daughter very much and when she looked at her and then looked
at the boy it pierced her heart to think that he would always stand in
the way of her own child and she was continually thinking how she could
get the whole of the property for her this evil thought took possession
of her more and more and made her behave very unkindly to the boy she
drove him from place to place with cuffings and buffetings so that the
poor child went about in fear and had no peace from the time he left
school to the time he went back 

one day the little daughter came running to her mother in the
store-room and said mother give me an apple yes my child said
the wife and she gave her a beautiful apple out of the chest the chest
had a very heavy lid and a large iron lock 

 mother said the little daughter again may not brother have one
too the mother was angry at this but she answered yes when he
comes out of school 

just then she looked out of the window and saw him coming and it seemed
as if an evil spirit entered into her for she snatched the apple out
of her little daughter's hand and said you shall not have one before
your brother she threw the apple into the chest and shut it to the
little boy now came in and the evil spirit in the wife made her say
kindly to him my son will you have an apple but she gave him a
wicked look mother said the boy how dreadful you look yes give
me an apple the thought came to her that she would kill him come
with me she said and she lifted up the lid of the chest take one
out for yourself and as he bent over to do so the evil spirit urged
her and crash down went the lid and off went the little boy's head 
then she was overwhelmed with fear at the thought of what she had done 
 if only i can prevent anyone knowing that i did it she thought so
she went upstairs to her room and took a white handkerchief out of
her top drawer then she set the boy's head again on his shoulders and
bound it with the handkerchief so that nothing could be seen and placed
him on a chair by the door with an apple in his hand 

soon after this little marleen came up to her mother who was stirring
a pot of boiling water over the fire and said mother brother is
sitting by the door with an apple in his hand and he looks so pale 
and when i asked him to give me the apple he did not answer and that
frightened me 

 go to him again said her mother and if he does not answer give him
a box on the ear so little marleen went and said brother give me
that apple but he did not say a word then she gave him a box on the
ear and his head rolled off she was so terrified at this that she ran
crying and screaming to her mother oh she said i have knocked off
brother's head and then she wept and wept and nothing would stop her 

 what have you done said her mother but no one must know about it 
so you must keep silence what is done can't be undone we will make
him into puddings and she took the little boy and cut him up made him
into puddings and put him in the pot but marleen stood looking on 
and wept and wept and her tears fell into the pot so that there was no
need of salt 

presently the father came home and sat down to his dinner he asked 
 where is my son the mother said nothing but gave him a large dish of
black pudding and marleen still wept without ceasing 

the father again asked where is my son 

 oh answered the wife he is gone into the country to his mother's
great uncle he is going to stay there some time 

 what has he gone there for and he never even said goodbye to me 

 well he likes being there and he told me he should be away quite six
weeks he is well looked after there 

 i feel very unhappy about it said the husband in case it should not
be all right and he ought to have said goodbye to me 

with this he went on with his dinner and said little marleen why do
you weep brother will soon be back then he asked his wife for more
pudding and as he ate he threw the bones under the table 

little marleen went upstairs and took her best silk handkerchief out of
her bottom drawer and in it she wrapped all the bones from under the
table and carried them outside and all the time she did nothing but
weep then she laid them in the green grass under the juniper-tree and
she had no sooner done so then all her sadness seemed to leave her 
and she wept no more and now the juniper-tree began to move and the
branches waved backwards and forwards first away from one another and
then together again as it might be someone clapping their hands for
joy after this a mist came round the tree and in the midst of it there
was a burning as of fire and out of the fire there flew a beautiful
bird that rose high into the air singing magnificently and when it
could no more be seen the juniper-tree stood there as before and the
silk handkerchief and the bones were gone 

little marleen now felt as lighthearted and happy as if her brother were
still alive and she went back to the house and sat down cheerfully to
the table and ate 

the bird flew away and alighted on the house of a goldsmith and began to
sing 

 my mother killed her little son 
 my father grieved when i was gone 
 my sister loved me best of all 
 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

the goldsmith was in his workshop making a gold chain when he heard the
song of the bird on his roof he thought it so beautiful that he got
up and ran out and as he crossed the threshold he lost one of his
slippers but he ran on into the middle of the street with a slipper on
one foot and a sock on the other he still had on his apron and still
held the gold chain and the pincers in his hands and so he stood gazing
up at the bird while the sun came shining brightly down on the street 

 bird he said how beautifully you sing sing me that song again 

 nay said the bird i do not sing twice for nothing give that gold
chain and i will sing it you again 

 here is the chain take it said the goldsmith only sing me that
again 

the bird flew down and took the gold chain in his right claw and then
he alighted again in front of the goldsmith and sang 

 my mother killed her little son 
 my father grieved when i was gone 
 my sister loved me best of all 
 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

then he flew away and settled on the roof of a shoemaker's house and
sang 

 my mother killed her little son 
 my father grieved when i was gone 
 my sister loved me best of all 
 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

the shoemaker heard him and he jumped up and ran out in his
shirt-sleeves and stood looking up at the bird on the roof with his
hand over his eyes to keep himself from being blinded by the sun 

 bird he said how beautifully you sing then he called through the
door to his wife wife come out here is a bird come and look at it
and hear how beautifully it sings then he called his daughter and the
children then the apprentices girls and boys and they all ran up the
street to look at the bird and saw how splendid it was with its red
and green feathers and its neck like burnished gold and eyes like two
bright stars in its head 

 bird said the shoemaker sing me that song again 

 nay answered the bird i do not sing twice for nothing you must
give me something 

 wife said the man go into the garret on the upper shelf you will
see a pair of red shoes bring them to me the wife went in and fetched
the shoes 

 there bird said the shoemaker now sing me that song again 

the bird flew down and took the red shoes in his left claw and then he
went back to the roof and sang 

 my mother killed her little son 
 my father grieved when i was gone 
 my sister loved me best of all 
 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

when he had finished he flew away he had the chain in his right claw
and the shoes in his left and he flew right away to a mill and the
mill went click clack click clack click clack inside the mill were
twenty of the miller's men hewing a stone and as they went hick hack 
hick hack hick hack the mill went click clack click clack click
clack 

the bird settled on a lime-tree in front of the mill and sang 

 my mother killed her little son 

then one of the men left off 

 my father grieved when i was gone 

two more men left off and listened 

 my sister loved me best of all 

then four more left off 

 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie

now there were only eight at work 

 underneath

and now only five 

 the juniper-tree 

and now only one 

 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

then he looked up and the last one had left off work 

 bird he said what a beautiful song that is you sing let me hear it
too sing it again 

 nay answered the bird i do not sing twice for nothing give me that
millstone and i will sing it again 

 if it belonged to me alone said the man you should have it 

 yes yes said the others if he will sing again he can have it 

the bird came down and all the twenty millers set to and lifted up the
stone with a beam then the bird put his head through the hole and took
the stone round his neck like a collar and flew back with it to the
tree and sang 

 my mother killed her little son 
 my father grieved when i was gone 
 my sister loved me best of all 
 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

and when he had finished his song he spread his wings and with the
chain in his right claw the shoes in his left and the millstone round
his neck he flew right away to his father's house 

the father the mother and little marleen were having their dinner 

 how lighthearted i feel said the father so pleased and cheerful 

 and i said the mother i feel so uneasy as if a heavy thunderstorm
were coming 

but little marleen sat and wept and wept 

then the bird came flying towards the house and settled on the roof 

 i do feel so happy said the father and how beautifully the sun
shines i feel just as if i were going to see an old friend again 

 ah said the wife and i am so full of distress and uneasiness that
my teeth chatter and i feel as if there were a fire in my veins and
she tore open her dress and all the while little marleen sat in the
corner and wept and the plate on her knees was wet with her tears 

the bird now flew to the juniper-tree and began singing 

 my mother killed her little son 

the mother shut her eyes and her ears that she might see and hear
nothing but there was a roaring sound in her ears like that of a
violent storm and in her eyes a burning and flashing like lightning 

 my father grieved when i was gone 

 look mother said the man at the beautiful bird that is singing so
magnificently and how warm and bright the sun is and what a delicious
scent of spice in the air 

 my sister loved me best of all 

then little marleen laid her head down on her knees and sobbed 

 i must go outside and see the bird nearer said the man 

 ah do not go cried the wife i feel as if the whole house were in
flames 

but the man went out and looked at the bird 

 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie
 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

with that the bird let fall the gold chain and it fell just round the
man's neck so that it fitted him exactly 

he went inside and said see what a splendid bird that is he has
given me this beautiful gold chain and looks so beautiful himself 

but the wife was in such fear and trouble that she fell on the floor 
and her cap fell from her head 

then the bird began again 

 my mother killed her little son 

 ah me cried the wife if i were but a thousand feet beneath the
earth that i might not hear that song 

 my father grieved when i was gone 

then the woman fell down again as if dead 

 my sister loved me best of all 

 well said little marleen i will go out too and see if the bird will
give me anything 

so she went out 

 she laid her kerchief over me 
 and took my bones that they might lie

and he threw down the shoes to her 

 underneath the juniper-tree
 kywitt kywitt what a beautiful bird am i 

and she now felt quite happy and lighthearted she put on the shoes and
danced and jumped about in them i was so miserable she said when i
came out but that has all passed away that is indeed a splendid bird 
and he has given me a pair of red shoes 

the wife sprang up with her hair standing out from her head like flames
of fire then i will go out too she said and see if it will lighten
my misery for i feel as if the world were coming to an end 

but as she crossed the threshold crash the bird threw the millstone
down on her head and she was crushed to death 

the father and little marleen heard the sound and ran out but they only
saw mist and flame and fire rising from the spot and when these had
passed there stood the little brother and he took the father and
little marleen by the hand then they all three rejoiced and went
inside together and sat down to their dinners and ate 




the turnip

there were two brothers who were both soldiers the one was rich and
the other poor the poor man thought he would try to better himself so 
pulling off his red coat he became a gardener and dug his ground well 
and sowed turnips 

when the seed came up there was one plant bigger than all the rest and
it kept getting larger and larger and seemed as if it would never cease
growing so that it might have been called the prince of turnips for
there never was such a one seen before and never will again at last it
was so big that it filled a cart and two oxen could hardly draw it and
the gardener knew not what in the world to do with it nor whether it
would be a blessing or a curse to him one day he said to himself what
shall i do with it if i sell it it will bring no more than another 
and for eating the little turnips are better than this the best thing
perhaps is to carry it and give it to the king as a mark of respect 

then he yoked his oxen and drew the turnip to the court and gave it
to the king what a wonderful thing said the king i have seen many
strange things but such a monster as this i never saw where did you
get the seed or is it only your good luck if so you are a true child
of fortune ah no answered the gardener i am no child of fortune 
i am a poor soldier who never could get enough to live upon so i
laid aside my red coat and set to work tilling the ground i have a
brother who is rich and your majesty knows him well and all the world
knows him but because i am poor everybody forgets me 

the king then took pity on him and said you shall be poor no
longer i will give you so much that you shall be even richer than your
brother then he gave him gold and lands and flocks and made him so
rich that his brother's fortune could not at all be compared with his 

when the brother heard of all this and how a turnip had made the
gardener so rich he envied him sorely and bethought himself how he
could contrive to get the same good fortune for himself however he
determined to manage more cleverly than his brother and got together a
rich present of gold and fine horses for the king and thought he must
have a much larger gift in return for if his brother had received so
much for only a turnip what must his present be worth 

the king took the gift very graciously and said he knew not what to
give in return more valuable and wonderful than the great turnip so
the soldier was forced to put it into a cart and drag it home with him 
when he reached home he knew not upon whom to vent his rage and spite 
and at length wicked thoughts came into his head and he resolved to
kill his brother 

so he hired some villains to murder him and having shown them where to
lie in ambush he went to his brother and said dear brother i have
found a hidden treasure let us go and dig it up and share it between
us the other had no suspicions of his roguery so they went out
together and as they were travelling along the murderers rushed out
upon him bound him and were going to hang him on a tree 

but whilst they were getting all ready they heard the trampling of a
horse at a distance which so frightened them that they pushed their
prisoner neck and shoulders together into a sack and swung him up by a
cord to the tree where they left him dangling and ran away meantime
he worked and worked away till he made a hole large enough to put out
his head 

when the horseman came up he proved to be a student a merry fellow 
who was journeying along on his nag and singing as he went as soon as
the man in the sack saw him passing under the tree he cried out good
morning good morning to thee my friend the student looked about
everywhere and seeing no one and not knowing where the voice came
from cried out who calls me 

then the man in the tree answered lift up thine eyes for behold here
i sit in the sack of wisdom here have i in a short time learned great
and wondrous things compared to this seat all the learning of the
schools is as empty air a little longer and i shall know all that man
can know and shall come forth wiser than the wisest of mankind here
i discern the signs and motions of the heavens and the stars the laws
that control the winds the number of the sands on the seashore the
healing of the sick the virtues of all simples of birds and of
precious stones wert thou but once here my friend though wouldst feel
and own the power of knowledge 

the student listened to all this and wondered much at last he said 
 blessed be the day and hour when i found you cannot you contrive to
let me into the sack for a little while then the other answered as if
very unwillingly a little space i may allow thee to sit here if thou
wilt reward me well and entreat me kindly but thou must tarry yet an
hour below till i have learnt some little matters that are yet unknown
to me 

so the student sat himself down and waited a while but the time hung
heavy upon him and he begged earnestly that he might ascend forthwith 
for his thirst for knowledge was great then the other pretended to give
way and said thou must let the sack of wisdom descend by untying
yonder cord and then thou shalt enter so the student let him down 
opened the sack and set him free now then cried he let me ascend
quickly as he began to put himself into the sack heels first wait a
while said the gardener that is not the way then he pushed him
in head first tied up the sack and soon swung up the searcher after
wisdom dangling in the air how is it with thee friend said he 
 dost thou not feel that wisdom comes unto thee rest there in peace 
till thou art a wiser man than thou wert 

so saying he trotted off on the student's nag and left the poor fellow
to gather wisdom till somebody should come and let him down 




clever hans

the mother of hans said whither away hans hans answered to
gretel behave well hans oh i'll behave well goodbye mother 
 goodbye hans hans comes to gretel good day gretel good day 
hans what do you bring that is good i bring nothing i want to have
something given me gretel presents hans with a needle hans says 
 goodbye gretel goodbye hans 

hans takes the needle sticks it into a hay-cart and follows the cart
home good evening mother good evening hans where have you been 
 with gretel what did you take her took nothing had something
given me what did gretel give you gave me a needle where is the
needle hans stuck in the hay-cart that was ill done hans you
should have stuck the needle in your sleeve never mind i'll do
better next time 

 whither away hans to gretel mother behave well hans oh 
i'll behave well goodbye mother goodbye hans hans comes to
gretel good day gretel good day hans what do you bring that is
good i bring nothing i want to have something given to me gretel
presents hans with a knife goodbye gretel goodbye hans hans
takes the knife sticks it in his sleeve and goes home good evening 
mother good evening hans where have you been with gretel what
did you take her took her nothing she gave me something what did
gretel give you gave me a knife where is the knife hans stuck
in my sleeve that's ill done hans you should have put the knife in
your pocket never mind will do better next time 

 whither away hans to gretel mother behave well hans oh 
i'll behave well goodbye mother goodbye hans hans comes to
gretel good day gretel good day hans what good thing do you
bring i bring nothing i want something given me gretel presents
hans with a young goat goodbye gretel goodbye hans hans takes
the goat ties its legs and puts it in his pocket when he gets home it
is suffocated good evening mother good evening hans where have
you been with gretel what did you take her took nothing she
gave me something what did gretel give you she gave me a goat 
 where is the goat hans put it in my pocket that was ill done 
hans you should have put a rope round the goat's neck never mind 
will do better next time 

 whither away hans to gretel mother behave well hans oh 
i'll behave well goodbye mother goodbye hans hans comes to
gretel good day gretel good day hans what good thing do you
bring i bring nothing i want something given me gretel presents
hans with a piece of bacon goodbye gretel goodbye hans 

hans takes the bacon ties it to a rope and drags it away behind him 
the dogs come and devour the bacon when he gets home he has the rope
in his hand and there is no longer anything hanging on to it good
evening mother good evening hans where have you been with
gretel what did you take her i took her nothing she gave me
something what did gretel give you gave me a bit of bacon where
is the bacon hans i tied it to a rope brought it home dogs took
it that was ill done hans you should have carried the bacon on your
head never mind will do better next time 

 whither away hans to gretel mother behave well hans i'll
behave well goodbye mother goodbye hans hans comes to gretel 
 good day gretel good day hans what good thing do you bring i
bring nothing but would have something given gretel presents hans
with a calf goodbye gretel goodbye hans 

hans takes the calf puts it on his head and the calf kicks his face 
 good evening mother good evening hans where have you been with
gretel what did you take her i took nothing but had something
given me what did gretel give you a calf where have you the
calf hans i set it on my head and it kicked my face that was
ill done hans you should have led the calf and put it in the stall 
 never mind will do better next time 

 whither away hans to gretel mother behave well hans i'll
behave well goodbye mother goodbye hans 

hans comes to gretel good day gretel good day hans what good
thing do you bring i bring nothing but would have something given 
gretel says to hans i will go with you 

hans takes gretel ties her to a rope leads her to the rack and binds
her fast then hans goes to his mother good evening mother good
evening hans where have you been with gretel what did you take
her i took her nothing what did gretel give you she gave me
nothing she came with me where have you left gretel i led her by
the rope tied her to the rack and scattered some grass for her that
was ill done hans you should have cast friendly eyes on her never
mind will do better 

hans went into the stable cut out all the calves and sheep's eyes 
and threw them in gretel's face then gretel became angry tore herself
loose and ran away and was no longer the bride of hans 




the three languages

an aged count once lived in switzerland who had an only son but he
was stupid and could learn nothing then said the father hark you 
my son try as i will i can get nothing into your head you must go from
hence i will give you into the care of a celebrated master who shall
see what he can do with you the youth was sent into a strange town 
and remained a whole year with the master at the end of this time 
he came home again and his father asked now my son what have you
learnt father i have learnt what the dogs say when they bark lord
have mercy on us cried the father is that all you have learnt i
will send you into another town to another master the youth was taken
thither and stayed a year with this master likewise when he came back
the father again asked my son what have you learnt he answered 
 father i have learnt what the birds say then the father fell into a
rage and said oh you lost man you have spent the precious time and
learnt nothing are you not ashamed to appear before my eyes i will
send you to a third master but if you learn nothing this time also i
will no longer be your father the youth remained a whole year with the
third master also and when he came home again and his father inquired 
 my son what have you learnt he answered dear father i have this
year learnt what the frogs croak then the father fell into the most
furious anger sprang up called his people thither and said this man
is no longer my son i drive him forth and command you to take him
out into the forest and kill him they took him forth but when they
should have killed him they could not do it for pity and let him go 
and they cut the eyes and tongue out of a deer that they might carry
them to the old man as a token 

the youth wandered on and after some time came to a fortress where he
begged for a night's lodging yes said the lord of the castle if
you will pass the night down there in the old tower go thither but i
warn you it is at the peril of your life for it is full of wild dogs 
which bark and howl without stopping and at certain hours a man has to
be given to them whom they at once devour the whole district was in
sorrow and dismay because of them and yet no one could do anything to
stop this the youth however was without fear and said just let me
go down to the barking dogs and give me something that i can throw to
them they will do nothing to harm me as he himself would have it so 
they gave him some food for the wild animals and led him down to the
tower when he went inside the dogs did not bark at him but wagged
their tails quite amicably around him ate what he set before them and
did not hurt one hair of his head next morning to the astonishment of
everyone he came out again safe and unharmed and said to the lord of
the castle the dogs have revealed to me in their own language why
they dwell there and bring evil on the land they are bewitched and
are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the tower 
and they can have no rest until it is taken away and i have likewise
learnt from their discourse how that is to be done then all who
heard this rejoiced and the lord of the castle said he would adopt him
as a son if he accomplished it successfully he went down again and
as he knew what he had to do he did it thoroughly and brought a chest
full of gold out with him the howling of the wild dogs was henceforth
heard no more they had disappeared and the country was freed from the
trouble 

after some time he took it in his head that he would travel to rome on
the way he passed by a marsh in which a number of frogs were sitting
croaking he listened to them and when he became aware of what they
were saying he grew very thoughtful and sad at last he arrived in
rome where the pope had just died and there was great doubt among
the cardinals as to whom they should appoint as his successor they at
length agreed that the person should be chosen as pope who should be
distinguished by some divine and miraculous token and just as that was
decided on the young count entered into the church and suddenly two
snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there the
ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above and asked him on
the spot if he would be pope he was undecided and knew not if he were
worthy of this but the doves counselled him to do it and at length he
said yes then was he anointed and consecrated and thus was fulfilled
what he had heard from the frogs on his way which had so affected him 
that he was to be his holiness the pope then he had to sing a mass and
did not know one word of it but the two doves sat continually on his
shoulders and said it all in his ear 




the fox and the cat

it happened that the cat met the fox in a forest and as she thought to
herself he is clever and full of experience and much esteemed in the
world she spoke to him in a friendly way good day dear mr fox 
how are you how is all with you how are you getting on in these hard
times the fox full of all kinds of arrogance looked at the cat from
head to foot and for a long time did not know whether he would give
any answer or not at last he said oh you wretched beard-cleaner you
piebald fool you hungry mouse-hunter what can you be thinking of have
you the cheek to ask how i am getting on what have you learnt how
many arts do you understand i understand but one replied the
cat modestly what art is that asked the fox when the hounds are
following me i can spring into a tree and save myself is that all 
said the fox i am master of a hundred arts and have into the bargain
a sackful of cunning you make me sorry for you come with me i will
teach you how people get away from the hounds just then came a hunter
with four dogs the cat sprang nimbly up a tree and sat down at the top
of it where the branches and foliage quite concealed her open your
sack mr fox open your sack cried the cat to him but the dogs had
already seized him and were holding him fast ah mr fox cried the
cat you with your hundred arts are left in the lurch had you been
able to climb like me you would not have lost your life 




the four clever brothers

 dear children said a poor man to his four sons i have nothing to
give you you must go out into the wide world and try your luck begin
by learning some craft or another and see how you can get on so the
four brothers took their walking-sticks in their hands and their little
bundles on their shoulders and after bidding their father goodbye went
all out at the gate together when they had got on some way they came
to four crossways each leading to a different country then the eldest
said here we must part but this day four years we will come back
to this spot and in the meantime each must try what he can do for
himself 

so each brother went his way and as the eldest was hastening on a man
met him and asked him where he was going and what he wanted i am
going to try my luck in the world and should like to begin by learning
some art or trade answered he then said the man go with me and
i will teach you to become the cunningest thief that ever was no 
said the other that is not an honest calling and what can one look
to earn by it in the end but the gallows oh said the man you need
not fear the gallows for i will only teach you to steal what will be
fair game i meddle with nothing but what no one else can get or care
anything about and where no one can find you out so the young man
agreed to follow his trade and he soon showed himself so clever that
nothing could escape him that he had once set his mind upon 

the second brother also met a man who when he found out what he was
setting out upon asked him what craft he meant to follow i do not
know yet said he then come with me and be a star-gazer it is a
noble art for nothing can be hidden from you when once you understand
the stars the plan pleased him much and he soon became such a skilful
star-gazer that when he had served out his time and wanted to leave
his master he gave him a glass and said with this you can see all
that is passing in the sky and on earth and nothing can be hidden from
you 

the third brother met a huntsman who took him with him and taught him
so well all that belonged to hunting that he became very clever in the
craft of the woods and when he left his master he gave him a bow and
said whatever you shoot at with this bow you will be sure to hit 

the youngest brother likewise met a man who asked him what he wished to
do would not you like said he to be a tailor oh no said
the young man sitting cross-legged from morning to night working
backwards and forwards with a needle and goose will never suit me 
 oh answered the man that is not my sort of tailoring come with me 
and you will learn quite another kind of craft from that not knowing
what better to do he came into the plan and learnt tailoring from the
beginning and when he left his master he gave him a needle and said 
 you can sew anything with this be it as soft as an egg or as hard as
steel and the joint will be so fine that no seam will be seen 

after the space of four years at the time agreed upon the four
brothers met at the four cross-roads and having welcomed each other 
set off towards their father's home where they told him all that had
happened to them and how each had learned some craft 

then one day as they were sitting before the house under a very high
tree the father said i should like to try what each of you can do in
this way so he looked up and said to the second son at the top of
this tree there is a chaffinch's nest tell me how many eggs there are
in it the star-gazer took his glass looked up and said five 
 now said the father to the eldest son take away the eggs without
letting the bird that is sitting upon them and hatching them know
anything of what you are doing so the cunning thief climbed up the
tree and brought away to his father the five eggs from under the bird 
and it never saw or felt what he was doing but kept sitting on at its
ease then the father took the eggs and put one on each corner of the
table and the fifth in the middle and said to the huntsman cut all
the eggs in two pieces at one shot the huntsman took up his bow and
at one shot struck all the five eggs as his father wished 

 now comes your turn said he to the young tailor sew the eggs and
the young birds in them together again so neatly that the shot shall
have done them no harm then the tailor took his needle and sewed the
eggs as he was told and when he had done the thief was sent to take
them back to the nest and put them under the bird without its knowing
it then she went on sitting and hatched them and in a few days they
crawled out and had only a little red streak across their necks where
the tailor had sewn them together 

 well done sons said the old man you have made good use of your
time and learnt something worth the knowing but i am sure i do not
know which ought to have the prize oh that a time might soon come for
you to turn your skill to some account 

not long after this there was a great bustle in the country for the
king's daughter had been carried off by a mighty dragon and the king
mourned over his loss day and night and made it known that whoever
brought her back to him should have her for a wife then the four
brothers said to each other here is a chance for us let us try
what we can do and they agreed to see whether they could not set the
princess free i will soon find out where she is however said the
star-gazer as he looked through his glass and he soon cried out i
see her afar off sitting upon a rock in the sea and i can spy the
dragon close by guarding her then he went to the king and asked for
a ship for himself and his brothers and they sailed together over the
sea till they came to the right place there they found the princess
sitting as the star-gazer had said on the rock and the dragon was
lying asleep with his head upon her lap i dare not shoot at him 
said the huntsman for i should kill the beautiful young lady also 
 then i will try my skill said the thief and went and stole her away
from under the dragon so quietly and gently that the beast did not know
it but went on snoring 

then away they hastened with her full of joy in their boat towards the
ship but soon came the dragon roaring behind them through the air for
he awoke and missed the princess but when he got over the boat and
wanted to pounce upon them and carry off the princess the huntsman took
up his bow and shot him straight through the heart so that he fell down
dead they were still not safe for he was such a great beast that in
his fall he overset the boat and they had to swim in the open sea
upon a few planks so the tailor took his needle and with a few large
stitches put some of the planks together and he sat down upon these 
and sailed about and gathered up all pieces of the boat and then tacked
them together so quickly that the boat was soon ready and they then
reached the ship and got home safe 

when they had brought home the princess to her father there was great
rejoicing and he said to the four brothers one of you shall marry
her but you must settle amongst yourselves which it is to be then
there arose a quarrel between them and the star-gazer said if i had
not found the princess out all your skill would have been of no use 
therefore she ought to be mine your seeing her would have been of
no use said the thief if i had not taken her away from the dragon 
therefore she ought to be mine no she is mine said the huntsman 
 for if i had not killed the dragon he would after all have torn you
and the princess into pieces and if i had not sewn the boat together
again said the tailor you would all have been drowned therefore she
is mine then the king put in a word and said each of you is right 
and as all cannot have the young lady the best way is for neither of
you to have her for the truth is there is somebody she likes a great
deal better but to make up for your loss i will give each of you as a
reward for his skill half a kingdom so the brothers agreed that this
plan would be much better than either quarrelling or marrying a lady who
had no mind to have them and the king then gave to each half a kingdom 
as he had said and they lived very happily the rest of their days and
took good care of their father and somebody took better care of the
young lady than to let either the dragon or one of the craftsmen have
her again 




lily and the lion

a merchant who had three daughters was once setting out upon a
journey but before he went he asked each daughter what gift he should
bring back for her the eldest wished for pearls the second for jewels 
but the third who was called lily said dear father bring me a
rose now it was no easy task to find a rose for it was the middle
of winter yet as she was his prettiest daughter and was very fond of
flowers her father said he would try what he could do so he kissed all
three and bid them goodbye 

and when the time came for him to go home he had bought pearls and
jewels for the two eldest but he had sought everywhere in vain for the
rose and when he went into any garden and asked for such a thing the
people laughed at him and asked him whether he thought roses grew in
snow this grieved him very much for lily was his dearest child and as
he was journeying home thinking what he should bring her he came to a
fine castle and around the castle was a garden in one half of which it
seemed to be summer-time and in the other half winter on one side the
finest flowers were in full bloom and on the other everything looked
dreary and buried in the snow a lucky hit said he as he called to
his servant and told him to go to a beautiful bed of roses that was
there and bring him away one of the finest flowers 

this done they were riding away well pleased when up sprang a fierce
lion and roared out whoever has stolen my roses shall be eaten up
alive then the man said i knew not that the garden belonged to you 
can nothing save my life no said the lion nothing unless you
undertake to give me whatever meets you on your return home if you
agree to this i will give you your life and the rose too for your
daughter but the man was unwilling to do so and said it may be my
youngest daughter who loves me most and always runs to meet me when
i go home then the servant was greatly frightened and said it may
perhaps be only a cat or a dog and at last the man yielded with a
heavy heart and took the rose and said he would give the lion whatever
should meet him first on his return 

and as he came near home it was lily his youngest and dearest
daughter that met him she came running and kissed him and welcomed
him home and when she saw that he had brought her the rose she was
still more glad but her father began to be very sorrowful and to weep 
saying alas my dearest child i have bought this flower at a high
price for i have said i would give you to a wild lion and when he has
you he will tear you in pieces and eat you then he told her all that
had happened and said she should not go let what would happen 

but she comforted him and said dear father the word you have given
must be kept i will go to the lion and soothe him perhaps he will let
me come safe home again 

the next morning she asked the way she was to go and took leave of her
father and went forth with a bold heart into the wood but the lion was
an enchanted prince by day he and all his court were lions but in the
evening they took their right forms again and when lily came to the
castle he welcomed her so courteously that she agreed to marry him the
wedding-feast was held and they lived happily together a long time the
prince was only to be seen as soon as evening came and then he held his
court but every morning he left his bride and went away by himself 
she knew not whither till the night came again 

after some time he said to her tomorrow there will be a great feast in
your father's house for your eldest sister is to be married and if
you wish to go and visit her my lions shall lead you thither then she
rejoiced much at the thoughts of seeing her father once more and set
out with the lions and everyone was overjoyed to see her for they had
thought her dead long since but she told them how happy she was and
stayed till the feast was over and then went back to the wood 

her second sister was soon after married and when lily was asked to
go to the wedding she said to the prince i will not go alone this
time you must go with me but he would not and said that it would be
a very hazardous thing for if the least ray of the torch-light should
fall upon him his enchantment would become still worse for he should be
changed into a dove and be forced to wander about the world for seven
long years however she gave him no rest and said she would take care
no light should fall upon him so at last they set out together and
took with them their little child and she chose a large hall with thick
walls for him to sit in while the wedding-torches were lighted but 
unluckily no one saw that there was a crack in the door then the
wedding was held with great pomp but as the train came from the church 
and passed with the torches before the hall a very small ray of light
fell upon the prince in a moment he disappeared and when his wife came
in and looked for him she found only a white dove and it said to her 
 seven years must i fly up and down over the face of the earth but
every now and then i will let fall a white feather that will show you
the way i am going follow it and at last you may overtake and set me
free 

this said he flew out at the door and poor lily followed and every
now and then a white feather fell and showed her the way she was to
journey thus she went roving on through the wide world and looked
neither to the right hand nor to the left nor took any rest for seven
years then she began to be glad and thought to herself that the time
was fast coming when all her troubles should end yet repose was still
far off for one day as she was travelling on she missed the white
feather and when she lifted up her eyes she could nowhere see the dove 
 now thought she to herself no aid of man can be of use to me so
she went to the sun and said thou shinest everywhere on the hill's
top and the valley's depth hast thou anywhere seen my white dove 
 no said the sun i have not seen it but i will give thee a
casket open it when thy hour of need comes 

so she thanked the sun and went on her way till eventide and when
the moon arose she cried unto it and said thou shinest through the
night over field and grove hast thou nowhere seen my white dove 
 no said the moon i cannot help thee but i will give thee an
egg break it when need comes 

then she thanked the moon and went on till the night-wind blew and she
raised up her voice to it and said thou blowest through every tree
and under every leaf hast thou not seen my white dove no said the
night-wind but i will ask three other winds perhaps they have seen
it then the east wind and the west wind came and said they too had
not seen it but the south wind said i have seen the white dove he
has fled to the red sea and is changed once more into a lion for the
seven years are passed away and there he is fighting with a dragon 
and the dragon is an enchanted princess who seeks to separate him from
you then the night-wind said i will give thee counsel go to the
red sea on the right shore stand many rods count them and when thou
comest to the eleventh break it off and smite the dragon with it and
so the lion will have the victory and both of them will appear to you
in their own forms then look round and thou wilt see a griffin winged
like bird sitting by the red sea jump on to his back with thy beloved
one as quickly as possible and he will carry you over the waters to
your home i will also give thee this nut continued the night-wind 
 when you are half-way over throw it down and out of the waters will
immediately spring up a high nut-tree on which the griffin will be able
to rest otherwise he would not have the strength to bear you the whole
way if therefore thou dost forget to throw down the nut he will let
you both fall into the sea 

so our poor wanderer went forth and found all as the night-wind had
said and she plucked the eleventh rod and smote the dragon and the
lion forthwith became a prince and the dragon a princess again but
no sooner was the princess released from the spell than she seized
the prince by the arm and sprang on to the griffin's back and went off
carrying the prince away with her 

thus the unhappy traveller was again forsaken and forlorn but she
took heart and said as far as the wind blows and so long as the cock
crows i will journey on till i find him once again she went on for
a long long way till at length she came to the castle whither the
princess had carried the prince and there was a feast got ready and
she heard that the wedding was about to be held heaven aid me now 
said she and she took the casket that the sun had given her and found
that within it lay a dress as dazzling as the sun itself so she put it
on and went into the palace and all the people gazed upon her and
the dress pleased the bride so much that she asked whether it was to be
sold not for gold and silver said she but for flesh and blood 
the princess asked what she meant and she said let me speak with the
bridegroom this night in his chamber and i will give thee the dress 
at last the princess agreed but she told her chamberlain to give the
prince a sleeping draught that he might not hear or see her when
evening came and the prince had fallen asleep she was led into
his chamber and she sat herself down at his feet and said i have
followed thee seven years i have been to the sun the moon and the
night-wind to seek thee and at last i have helped thee to overcome
the dragon wilt thou then forget me quite but the prince all the time
slept so soundly that her voice only passed over him and seemed like
the whistling of the wind among the fir-trees 

then poor lily was led away and forced to give up the golden dress and
when she saw that there was no help for her she went out into a meadow 
and sat herself down and wept but as she sat she bethought herself of
the egg that the moon had given her and when she broke it there ran
out a hen and twelve chickens of pure gold that played about and then
nestled under the old one's wings so as to form the most beautiful
sight in the world and she rose up and drove them before her till the
bride saw them from her window and was so pleased that she came forth
and asked her if she would sell the brood not for gold or silver but
for flesh and blood let me again this evening speak with the bridegroom
in his chamber and i will give thee the whole brood 

then the princess thought to betray her as before and agreed to
what she asked but when the prince went to his chamber he asked
the chamberlain why the wind had whistled so in the night and the
chamberlain told him all how he had given him a sleeping draught and
how a poor maiden had come and spoken to him in his chamber and was
to come again that night then the prince took care to throw away the
sleeping draught and when lily came and began again to tell him what
woes had befallen her and how faithful and true to him she had been 
he knew his beloved wife's voice and sprang up and said you have
awakened me as from a dream for the strange princess had thrown a spell
around me so that i had altogether forgotten you but heaven hath sent
you to me in a lucky hour 

and they stole away out of the palace by night unawares and seated
themselves on the griffin who flew back with them over the red sea 
when they were half-way across lily let the nut fall into the water 
and immediately a large nut-tree arose from the sea whereon the griffin
rested for a while and then carried them safely home there they found
their child now grown up to be comely and fair and after all their
troubles they lived happily together to the end of their days 




the fox and the horse

a farmer had a horse that had been an excellent faithful servant to
him but he was now grown too old to work so the farmer would give him
nothing more to eat and said i want you no longer so take yourself
off out of my stable i shall not take you back again until you are
stronger than a lion then he opened the door and turned him adrift 

the poor horse was very melancholy and wandered up and down in the
wood seeking some little shelter from the cold wind and rain presently
a fox met him what's the matter my friend said he why do you hang
down your head and look so lonely and woe-begone ah replied the
horse justice and avarice never dwell in one house my master has
forgotten all that i have done for him so many years and because i
can no longer work he has turned me adrift and says unless i become
stronger than a lion he will not take me back again what chance can i
have of that he knows i have none or he would not talk so 

however the fox bid him be of good cheer and said i will help you 
lie down there stretch yourself out quite stiff and pretend to be
dead the horse did as he was told and the fox went straight to the
lion who lived in a cave close by and said to him a little way off
lies a dead horse come with me and you may make an excellent meal of
his carcase the lion was greatly pleased and set off immediately and
when they came to the horse the fox said you will not be able to eat
him comfortably here i'll tell you what i will tie you fast to
his tail and then you can draw him to your den and eat him at your
leisure 

this advice pleased the lion so he laid himself down quietly for the
fox to make him fast to the horse but the fox managed to tie his legs
together and bound all so hard and fast that with all his strength he
could not set himself free when the work was done the fox clapped the
horse on the shoulder and said jip dobbin jip then up he sprang 
and moved off dragging the lion behind him the beast began to roar
and bellow till all the birds of the wood flew away for fright but the
horse let him sing on and made his way quietly over the fields to his
master's house 

 here he is master said he i have got the better of him and when
the farmer saw his old servant his heart relented and he said thou
shalt stay in thy stable and be well taken care of and so the poor old
horse had plenty to eat and lived till he died 




the blue light

there was once upon a time a soldier who for many years had served the
king faithfully but when the war came to an end could serve no longer
because of the many wounds which he had received the king said to him 
 you may return to your home i need you no longer and you will not
receive any more money for he only receives wages who renders me
service for them then the soldier did not know how to earn a living 
went away greatly troubled and walked the whole day until in the
evening he entered a forest when darkness came on he saw a light 
which he went up to and came to a house wherein lived a witch do give
me one night's lodging and a little to eat and drink said he to
her or i shall starve oho she answered who gives anything to a
run-away soldier yet will i be compassionate and take you in if you
will do what i wish what do you wish said the soldier that you
should dig all round my garden for me tomorrow the soldier consented 
and next day laboured with all his strength but could not finish it by
the evening i see well enough said the witch that you can do no
more today but i will keep you yet another night in payment for
which you must tomorrow chop me a load of wood and chop it small the
soldier spent the whole day in doing it and in the evening the witch
proposed that he should stay one night more tomorrow you shall only
do me a very trifling piece of work behind my house there is an old
dry well into which my light has fallen it burns blue and never goes
out and you shall bring it up again next day the old woman took him
to the well and let him down in a basket he found the blue light and
made her a signal to draw him up again she did draw him up but when he
came near the edge she stretched down her hand and wanted to take the
blue light away from him no said he perceiving her evil intention 
 i will not give you the light until i am standing with both feet upon
the ground the witch fell into a passion let him fall again into the
well and went away 

the poor soldier fell without injury on the moist ground and the blue
light went on burning but of what use was that to him he saw very well
that he could not escape death he sat for a while very sorrowfully 
then suddenly he felt in his pocket and found his tobacco pipe which
was still half full this shall be my last pleasure thought he 
pulled it out lit it at the blue light and began to smoke when the
smoke had circled about the cavern suddenly a little black dwarf stood
before him and said lord what are your commands what my commands
are replied the soldier quite astonished i must do everything you
bid me said the little man good said the soldier then in the
first place help me out of this well the little man took him by the
hand and led him through an underground passage but he did not forget
to take the blue light with him on the way the dwarf showed him the
treasures which the witch had collected and hidden there and the
soldier took as much gold as he could carry when he was above he said
to the little man now go and bind the old witch and carry her before
the judge in a short time she came by like the wind riding on a wild
tom-cat and screaming frightfully nor was it long before the little man
reappeared it is all done said he and the witch is already hanging
on the gallows what further commands has my lord inquired the dwarf 
 at this moment none answered the soldier you can return home only
be at hand immediately if i summon you nothing more is needed than
that you should light your pipe at the blue light and i will appear
before you at once thereupon he vanished from his sight 

the soldier returned to the town from which he came he went to the
best inn ordered himself handsome clothes and then bade the landlord
furnish him a room as handsome as possible when it was ready and the
soldier had taken possession of it he summoned the little black manikin
and said i have served the king faithfully but he has dismissed me 
and left me to hunger and now i want to take my revenge what am i to
do asked the little man late at night when the king's daughter is
in bed bring her here in her sleep she shall do servant's work for
me the manikin said that is an easy thing for me to do but a very
dangerous thing for you for if it is discovered you will fare ill 
when twelve o'clock had struck the door sprang open and the manikin
carried in the princess aha are you there cried the soldier get
to your work at once fetch the broom and sweep the chamber when
she had done this he ordered her to come to his chair and then he
stretched out his feet and said pull off my boots and then he
threw them in her face and made her pick them up again and clean
and brighten them she however did everything he bade her without
opposition silently and with half-shut eyes when the first cock
crowed the manikin carried her back to the royal palace and laid her
in her bed 

next morning when the princess arose she went to her father and told
him that she had had a very strange dream i was carried through the
streets with the rapidity of lightning said she and taken into a
soldier's room and i had to wait upon him like a servant sweep his
room clean his boots and do all kinds of menial work it was only a
dream and yet i am just as tired as if i really had done everything 
 the dream may have been true said the king i will give you a piece
of advice fill your pocket full of peas and make a small hole in the
pocket and then if you are carried away again they will fall out and
leave a track in the streets but unseen by the king the manikin was
standing beside him when he said that and heard all at night when
the sleeping princess was again carried through the streets some peas
certainly did fall out of her pocket but they made no track for the
crafty manikin had just before scattered peas in every street there
was and again the princess was compelled to do servant's work until
cock-crow 

next morning the king sent his people out to seek the track but it was
all in vain for in every street poor children were sitting picking up
peas and saying it must have rained peas last night we must think
of something else said the king keep your shoes on when you go to
bed and before you come back from the place where you are taken hide
one of them there i will soon contrive to find it the black manikin
heard this plot and at night when the soldier again ordered him to
bring the princess revealed it to him and told him that he knew of no
expedient to counteract this stratagem and that if the shoe were found
in the soldier's house it would go badly with him do what i bid you 
replied the soldier and again this third night the princess was obliged
to work like a servant but before she went away she hid her shoe under
the bed 

next morning the king had the entire town searched for his daughter's
shoe it was found at the soldier's and the soldier himself who at the
entreaty of the dwarf had gone outside the gate was soon brought back 
and thrown into prison in his flight he had forgotten the most valuable
things he had the blue light and the gold and had only one ducat in
his pocket and now loaded with chains he was standing at the window of
his dungeon when he chanced to see one of his comrades passing by the
soldier tapped at the pane of glass and when this man came up said to
him be so kind as to fetch me the small bundle i have left lying in
the inn and i will give you a ducat for doing it his comrade ran
thither and brought him what he wanted as soon as the soldier was alone
again he lighted his pipe and summoned the black manikin have no
fear said the latter to his master go wheresoever they take you and
let them do what they will only take the blue light with you next day
the soldier was tried and though he had done nothing wicked the judge
condemned him to death when he was led forth to die he begged a last
favour of the king what is it asked the king that i may smoke one
more pipe on my way you may smoke three answered the king but do
not imagine that i will spare your life then the soldier pulled out
his pipe and lighted it at the blue light and as soon as a few wreaths
of smoke had ascended the manikin was there with a small cudgel in his
hand and said what does my lord command strike down to earth that
false judge there and his constable and spare not the king who has
treated me so ill then the manikin fell on them like lightning 
darting this way and that way and whosoever was so much as touched by
his cudgel fell to earth and did not venture to stir again the king
was terrified he threw himself on the soldier's mercy and merely to
be allowed to live at all gave him his kingdom for his own and his
daughter to wife 




the raven

there was once a queen who had a little daughter still too young to run
alone one day the child was very troublesome and the mother could not
quiet it do what she would she grew impatient and seeing the ravens
flying round the castle she opened the window and said i wish you
were a raven and would fly away then i should have a little peace 
scarcely were the words out of her mouth when the child in her arms was
turned into a raven and flew away from her through the open window the
bird took its flight to a dark wood and remained there for a long time 
and meanwhile the parents could hear nothing of their child 

long after this a man was making his way through the wood when he heard
a raven calling and he followed the sound of the voice as he drew
near the raven said i am by birth a king's daughter but am now under
the spell of some enchantment you can however set me free what
am i to do he asked she replied go farther into the wood until you
come to a house wherein lives an old woman she will offer you food and
drink but you must not take of either if you do you will fall into
a deep sleep and will not be able to help me in the garden behind the
house is a large tan-heap and on that you must stand and watch for me 
i shall drive there in my carriage at two o'clock in the afternoon for
three successive days the first day it will be drawn by four white the
second by four chestnut and the last by four black horses but if you
fail to keep awake and i find you sleeping i shall not be set free 

the man promised to do all that she wished but the raven said alas i
know even now that you will take something from the woman and be unable
to save me the man assured her again that he would on no account touch
a thing to eat or drink 

when he came to the house and went inside the old woman met him and
said poor man how tired you are come in and rest and let me give you
something to eat and drink 

 no answered the man i will neither eat not drink 

but she would not leave him alone and urged him saying if you will
not eat anything at least you might take a draught of wine one drink
counts for nothing and at last he allowed himself to be persuaded and
drank 

as it drew towards the appointed hour he went outside into the garden
and mounted the tan-heap to await the raven suddenly a feeling of
fatigue came over him and unable to resist it he lay down for a little
while fully determined however to keep awake but in another minute
his eyes closed of their own accord and he fell into such a deep sleep 
that all the noises in the world would not have awakened him at two
o'clock the raven came driving along drawn by her four white horses 
but even before she reached the spot she said to herself sighing i
know he has fallen asleep when she entered the garden there she found
him as she had feared lying on the tan-heap fast asleep she got out
of her carriage and went to him she called him and shook him but it
was all in vain he still continued sleeping 

the next day at noon the old woman came to him again with food and
drink which he at first refused at last overcome by her persistent
entreaties that he would take something he lifted the glass and drank
again 

towards two o'clock he went into the garden and on to the tan-heap to
watch for the raven he had not been there long before he began to feel
so tired that his limbs seemed hardly able to support him and he could
not stand upright any longer so again he lay down and fell fast asleep 
as the raven drove along her four chestnut horses she said sorrowfully
to herself i know he has fallen asleep she went as before to look
for him but he slept and it was impossible to awaken him 

the following day the old woman said to him what is this you are not
eating or drinking anything do you want to kill yourself 

he answered i may not and will not either eat or drink 

but she put down the dish of food and the glass of wine in front of him 
and when he smelt the wine he was unable to resist the temptation and
took a deep draught 

when the hour came round again he went as usual on to the tan-heap in
the garden to await the king's daughter but he felt even more overcome
with weariness than on the two previous days and throwing himself down 
he slept like a log at two o'clock the raven could be seen approaching 
and this time her coachman and everything about her as well as her
horses were black 

she was sadder than ever as she drove along and said mournfully i
know he has fallen asleep and will not be able to set me free she
found him sleeping heavily and all her efforts to awaken him were of no
avail then she placed beside him a loaf and some meat and a flask
of wine of such a kind that however much he took of them they would
never grow less after that she drew a gold ring on which her name was
engraved off her finger and put it upon one of his finally she laid
a letter near him in which after giving him particulars of the food
and drink she had left for him she finished with the following words 
 i see that as long as you remain here you will never be able to set me
free if however you still wish to do so come to the golden castle
of stromberg this is well within your power to accomplish she then
returned to her carriage and drove to the golden castle of stromberg 

when the man awoke and found that he had been sleeping he was grieved
at heart and said she has no doubt been here and driven away again 
and it is now too late for me to save her then his eyes fell on the
things which were lying beside him he read the letter and knew from it
all that had happened he rose up without delay eager to start on his
way and to reach the castle of stromberg but he had no idea in which
direction he ought to go he travelled about a long time in search of it
and came at last to a dark forest through which he went on walking for
fourteen days and still could not find a way out once more the night
came on and worn out he lay down under a bush and fell asleep again
the next day he pursued his way through the forest and that evening 
thinking to rest again he lay down as before but he heard such a
howling and wailing that he found it impossible to sleep he waited till
it was darker and people had begun to light up their houses and then
seeing a little glimmer ahead of him he went towards it 

he found that the light came from a house which looked smaller than
it really was from the contrast of its height with that of an immense
giant who stood in front of it he thought to himself if the giant
sees me going in my life will not be worth much however after a
while he summoned up courage and went forward when the giant saw him 
he called out it is lucky for that you have come for i have not had
anything to eat for a long time i can have you now for my supper i
would rather you let that alone said the man for i do not willingly
give myself up to be eaten if you are wanting food i have enough to
satisfy your hunger if that is so replied the giant i will leave
you in peace i only thought of eating you because i had nothing else 

so they went indoors together and sat down and the man brought out the
bread meat and wine which although he had eaten and drunk of them 
were still unconsumed the giant was pleased with the good cheer and
ate and drank to his heart's content when he had finished his supper
the man asked him if he could direct him to the castle of stromberg 
the giant said i will look on my map on it are marked all the towns 
villages and houses so he fetched his map and looked for the castle 
but could not find it never mind he said i have larger maps
upstairs in the cupboard we will look on those but they searched in
vain for the castle was not marked even on these the man now thought
he should like to continue his journey but the giant begged him to
remain for a day or two longer until the return of his brother who was
away in search of provisions when the brother came home they asked him
about the castle of stromberg and he told them he would look on his own
maps as soon as he had eaten and appeased his hunger accordingly when
he had finished his supper they all went up together to his room and
looked through his maps but the castle was not to be found then he
fetched other older maps and they went on looking for the castle until
at last they found it but it was many thousand miles away how shall i
be able to get there asked the man i have two hours to spare said
the giant and i will carry you into the neighbourhood of the castle i
must then return to look after the child who is in our care 

the giant thereupon carried the man to within about a hundred leagues
of the castle where he left him saying you will be able to walk the
remainder of the way yourself the man journeyed on day and night
till he reached the golden castle of stromberg he found it situated 
however on a glass mountain and looking up from the foot he saw the
enchanted maiden drive round her castle and then go inside he was
overjoyed to see her and longed to get to the top of the mountain but
the sides were so slippery that every time he attempted to climb he
fell back again when he saw that it was impossible to reach her he was
greatly grieved and said to himself i will remain here and wait for
her so he built himself a little hut and there he sat and watched for
a whole year and every day he saw the king's daughter driving round her
castle but still was unable to get nearer to her 

looking out from his hut one day he saw three robbers fighting and he
called out to them god be with you they stopped when they heard the
call but looking round and seeing nobody they went on again with their
fighting which now became more furious god be with you he cried
again and again they paused and looked about but seeing no one went
back to their fighting a third time he called out god be with you 
and then thinking he should like to know the cause of dispute between
the three men he went out and asked them why they were fighting so
angrily with one another one of them said that he had found a stick 
and that he had but to strike it against any door through which he
wished to pass and it immediately flew open another told him that he
had found a cloak which rendered its wearer invisible and the third had
caught a horse which would carry its rider over any obstacle and even
up the glass mountain they had been unable to decide whether they
would keep together and have the things in common or whether they would
separate on hearing this the man said i will give you something in
exchange for those three things not money for that i have not got 
but something that is of far more value i must first however prove
whether all you have told me about your three things is true the
robbers therefore made him get on the horse and handed him the stick
and the cloak and when he had put this round him he was no longer
visible then he fell upon them with the stick and beat them one after
another crying there you idle vagabonds you have got what you
deserve are you satisfied now 

after this he rode up the glass mountain when he reached the gate of
the castle he found it closed but he gave it a blow with his stick 
and it flew wide open at once and he passed through he mounted the
steps and entered the room where the maiden was sitting with a golden
goblet full of wine in front of her she could not see him for he still
wore his cloak he took the ring which she had given him off his finger 
and threw it into the goblet so that it rang as it touched the bottom 
 that is my own ring she exclaimed and if that is so the man must
also be here who is coming to set me free 

she sought for him about the castle but could find him nowhere 
meanwhile he had gone outside again and mounted his horse and thrown off
the cloak when therefore she came to the castle gate she saw him and
cried aloud for joy then he dismounted and took her in his arms and
she kissed him and said now you have indeed set me free and tomorrow
we will celebrate our marriage 




the golden goose

there was a man who had three sons the youngest of whom was called
dummling  and was despised mocked and sneered at on every occasion 

it happened that the eldest wanted to go into the forest to hew wood 
and before he went his mother gave him a beautiful sweet cake and a
bottle of wine in order that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst 

when he entered the forest he met a little grey-haired old man who bade
him good day and said do give me a piece of cake out of your pocket 
and let me have a draught of your wine i am so hungry and thirsty but
the clever son answered if i give you my cake and wine i shall have
none for myself be off with you and he left the little man standing
and went on 

but when he began to hew down a tree it was not long before he made a
false stroke and the axe cut him in the arm so that he had to go home
and have it bound up and this was the little grey man's doing 

after this the second son went into the forest and his mother gave him 
like the eldest a cake and a bottle of wine the little old grey man
met him likewise and asked him for a piece of cake and a drink of wine 
but the second son too said sensibly enough what i give you will be
taken away from myself be off and he left the little man standing and
went on his punishment however was not delayed when he had made a
few blows at the tree he struck himself in the leg so that he had to be
carried home 

then dummling said father do let me go and cut wood the father
answered your brothers have hurt themselves with it leave it alone 
you do not understand anything about it but dummling begged so long
that at last he said just go then you will get wiser by hurting
yourself his mother gave him a cake made with water and baked in the
cinders and with it a bottle of sour beer 

when he came to the forest the little old grey man met him likewise 
and greeting him said give me a piece of your cake and a drink out
of your bottle i am so hungry and thirsty dummling answered i have
only cinder-cake and sour beer if that pleases you we will sit
down and eat so they sat down and when dummling pulled out his
cinder-cake it was a fine sweet cake and the sour beer had become good
wine so they ate and drank and after that the little man said since
you have a good heart and are willing to divide what you have i will
give you good luck there stands an old tree cut it down and you will
find something at the roots then the little man took leave of him 

dummling went and cut down the tree and when it fell there was a goose
sitting in the roots with feathers of pure gold he lifted her up and
taking her with him went to an inn where he thought he would stay the
night now the host had three daughters who saw the goose and were
curious to know what such a wonderful bird might be and would have
liked to have one of its golden feathers 

the eldest thought i shall soon find an opportunity of pulling out a
feather and as soon as dummling had gone out she seized the goose by
the wing but her finger and hand remained sticking fast to it 

the second came soon afterwards thinking only of how she might get a
feather for herself but she had scarcely touched her sister than she
was held fast 

at last the third also came with the like intent and the others
screamed out keep away for goodness sake keep away but she did
not understand why she was to keep away the others are there she
thought i may as well be there too and ran to them but as soon as
she had touched her sister she remained sticking fast to her so they
had to spend the night with the goose 

the next morning dummling took the goose under his arm and set out 
without troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging on to
it they were obliged to run after him continually now left now right 
wherever his legs took him 

in the middle of the fields the parson met them and when he saw the
procession he said for shame you good-for-nothing girls why are you
running across the fields after this young man is that seemly at the
same time he seized the youngest by the hand in order to pull her away 
but as soon as he touched her he likewise stuck fast and was himself
obliged to run behind 

before long the sexton came by and saw his master the parson running
behind three girls he was astonished at this and called out hi 
your reverence whither away so quickly do not forget that we have a
christening today and running after him he took him by the sleeve but
was also held fast to it 

whilst the five were trotting thus one behind the other two labourers
came with their hoes from the fields the parson called out to them
and begged that they would set him and the sexton free but they had
scarcely touched the sexton when they were held fast and now there were
seven of them running behind dummling and the goose 

soon afterwards he came to a city where a king ruled who had a daughter
who was so serious that no one could make her laugh so he had put forth
a decree that whosoever should be able to make her laugh should marry
her when dummling heard this he went with his goose and all her train
before the king's daughter and as soon as she saw the seven people
running on and on one behind the other she began to laugh quite
loudly and as if she would never stop thereupon dummling asked to have
her for his wife but the king did not like the son-in-law and made all
manner of excuses and said he must first produce a man who could drink
a cellarful of wine dummling thought of the little grey man who could
certainly help him so he went into the forest and in the same place
where he had felled the tree he saw a man sitting who had a very
sorrowful face dummling asked him what he was taking to heart so
sorely and he answered i have such a great thirst and cannot quench
it cold water i cannot stand a barrel of wine i have just emptied but
that to me is like a drop on a hot stone 

 there i can help you said dummling just come with me and you shall
be satisfied 

he led him into the king's cellar and the man bent over the huge
barrels and drank and drank till his loins hurt and before the day was
out he had emptied all the barrels then dummling asked once more
for his bride but the king was vexed that such an ugly fellow whom
everyone called dummling should take away his daughter and he made a
new condition he must first find a man who could eat a whole mountain
of bread dummling did not think long but went straight into the
forest where in the same place there sat a man who was tying up his
body with a strap and making an awful face and saying i have eaten a
whole ovenful of rolls but what good is that when one has such a hunger
as i my stomach remains empty and i must tie myself up if i am not to
die of hunger 

at this dummling was glad and said get up and come with me you shall
eat yourself full he led him to the king's palace where all the
flour in the whole kingdom was collected and from it he caused a huge
mountain of bread to be baked the man from the forest stood before it 
began to eat and by the end of one day the whole mountain had vanished 
then dummling for the third time asked for his bride but the king again
sought a way out and ordered a ship which could sail on land and on
water as soon as you come sailing back in it said he you shall
have my daughter for wife 

dummling went straight into the forest and there sat the little grey
man to whom he had given his cake when he heard what dummling wanted 
he said since you have given me to eat and to drink i will give you
the ship and i do all this because you once were kind to me then he
gave him the ship which could sail on land and water and when the king
saw that he could no longer prevent him from having his daughter the
wedding was celebrated and after the king's death dummling inherited
his kingdom and lived for a long time contentedly with his wife 

  simpleton




the water of life

long before you or i were born there reigned in a country a great way
off a king who had three sons this king once fell very ill so ill
that nobody thought he could live his sons were very much grieved
at their father's sickness and as they were walking together very
mournfully in the garden of the palace a little old man met them and
asked what was the matter they told him that their father was very ill 
and that they were afraid nothing could save him i know what would 
said the little old man it is the water of life if he could have a
draught of it he would be well again but it is very hard to get then
the eldest son said i will soon find it and he went to the sick
king and begged that he might go in search of the water of life as
it was the only thing that could save him no said the king i had
rather die than place you in such great danger as you must meet with in
your journey but he begged so hard that the king let him go and the
prince thought to himself if i bring my father this water he will
make me sole heir to his kingdom 

then he set out and when he had gone on his way some time he came to a
deep valley overhung with rocks and woods and as he looked around he
saw standing above him on one of the rocks a little ugly dwarf with a
sugarloaf cap and a scarlet cloak and the dwarf called to him and said 
 prince whither so fast what is that to thee you ugly imp said
the prince haughtily and rode on 

but the dwarf was enraged at his behaviour and laid a fairy spell
of ill-luck upon him so that as he rode on the mountain pass became
narrower and narrower and at last the way was so straitened that he
could not go to step forward and when he thought to have turned his
horse round and go back the way he came he heard a loud laugh ringing
round him and found that the path was closed behind him so that he was
shut in all round he next tried to get off his horse and make his way
on foot but again the laugh rang in his ears and he found himself
unable to move a step and thus he was forced to abide spellbound 

meantime the old king was lingering on in daily hope of his son's
return till at last the second son said father i will go in search
of the water of life for he thought to himself my brother is surely
dead and the kingdom will fall to me if i find the water the king was
at first very unwilling to let him go but at last yielded to his wish 
so he set out and followed the same road which his brother had done 
and met with the same elf who stopped him at the same spot in the
mountains saying as before prince prince whither so fast mind
your own affairs busybody said the prince scornfully and rode on 

but the dwarf put the same spell upon him as he put on his elder
brother and he too was at last obliged to take up his abode in the
heart of the mountains thus it is with proud silly people who think
themselves above everyone else and are too proud to ask or take advice 

when the second prince had thus been gone a long time the youngest son
said he would go and search for the water of life and trusted he should
soon be able to make his father well again so he set out and the dwarf
met him too at the same spot in the valley among the mountains and
said prince whither so fast and the prince said i am going in
search of the water of life because my father is ill and like to die 
can you help me pray be kind and aid me if you can do you know
where it is to be found asked the dwarf no said the prince i do
not pray tell me if you know then as you have spoken to me kindly 
and are wise enough to seek for advice i will tell you how and where to
go the water you seek springs from a well in an enchanted castle and 
that you may be able to reach it in safety i will give you an iron wand
and two little loaves of bread strike the iron door of the castle three
times with the wand and it will open two hungry lions will be lying
down inside gaping for their prey but if you throw them the bread they
will let you pass then hasten on to the well and take some of the
water of life before the clock strikes twelve for if you tarry longer
the door will shut upon you for ever 

then the prince thanked his little friend with the scarlet cloak for his
friendly aid and took the wand and the bread and went travelling on
and on over sea and over land till he came to his journey's end and
found everything to be as the dwarf had told him the door flew open at
the third stroke of the wand and when the lions were quieted he went on
through the castle and came at length to a beautiful hall around it he
saw several knights sitting in a trance then he pulled off their rings
and put them on his own fingers in another room he saw on a table a
sword and a loaf of bread which he also took further on he came to a
room where a beautiful young lady sat upon a couch and she welcomed him
joyfully and said if he would set her free from the spell that bound
her the kingdom should be his if he would come back in a year and
marry her then she told him that the well that held the water of life
was in the palace gardens and bade him make haste and draw what he
wanted before the clock struck twelve 

he walked on and as he walked through beautiful gardens he came to a
delightful shady spot in which stood a couch and he thought to himself 
as he felt tired that he would rest himself for a while and gaze on
the lovely scenes around him so he laid himself down and sleep
fell upon him unawares so that he did not wake up till the clock was
striking a quarter to twelve then he sprang from the couch dreadfully
frightened ran to the well filled a cup that was standing by him full
of water and hastened to get away in time just as he was going out of
the iron door it struck twelve and the door fell so quickly upon him
that it snapped off a piece of his heel 

when he found himself safe he was overjoyed to think that he had got
the water of life and as he was going on his way homewards he passed
by the little dwarf who when he saw the sword and the loaf said you
have made a noble prize with the sword you can at a blow slay whole
armies and the bread will never fail you then the prince thought
to himself i cannot go home to my father without my brothers so he
said my dear friend cannot you tell me where my two brothers are who
set out in search of the water of life before me and never came back 
 i have shut them up by a charm between two mountains said the dwarf 
 because they were proud and ill-behaved and scorned to ask advice 
the prince begged so hard for his brothers that the dwarf at last set
them free though unwillingly saying beware of them for they have
bad hearts their brother however was greatly rejoiced to see them 
and told them all that had happened to him how he had found the water
of life and had taken a cup full of it and how he had set a beautiful
princess free from a spell that bound her and how she had engaged to
wait a whole year and then to marry him and to give him the kingdom 

then they all three rode on together and on their way home came to a
country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful famine so that it was
feared all must die for want but the prince gave the king of the land
the bread and all his kingdom ate of it and he lent the king the
wonderful sword and he slew the enemy's army with it and thus the
kingdom was once more in peace and plenty in the same manner he
befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way 

when they came to the sea they got into a ship and during their voyage
the two eldest said to themselves our brother has got the water which
we could not find therefore our father will forsake us and give him the
kingdom which is our right so they were full of envy and revenge and
agreed together how they could ruin him then they waited till he was
fast asleep and poured the water of life out of the cup and took it
for themselves giving him bitter sea-water instead 

when they came to their journey's end the youngest son brought his cup
to the sick king that he might drink and be healed scarcely however 
had he tasted the bitter sea-water when he became worse even than he was
before and then both the elder sons came in and blamed the youngest
for what they had done and said that he wanted to poison their father 
but that they had found the water of life and had brought it with them 
he no sooner began to drink of what they brought him than he felt his
sickness leave him and was as strong and well as in his younger days 
then they went to their brother and laughed at him and said well 
brother you found the water of life did you you have had the trouble
and we shall have the reward pray with all your cleverness why did
not you manage to keep your eyes open next year one of us will take
away your beautiful princess if you do not take care you had better
say nothing about this to our father for he does not believe a word you
say and if you tell tales you shall lose your life into the bargain 
but be quiet and we will let you off 

the old king was still very angry with his youngest son and thought
that he really meant to have taken away his life so he called his court
together and asked what should be done and all agreed that he ought to
be put to death the prince knew nothing of what was going on till one
day when the king's chief huntsmen went a-hunting with him and they
were alone in the wood together the huntsman looked so sorrowful that
the prince said my friend what is the matter with you i cannot and
dare not tell you said he but the prince begged very hard and said 
 only tell me what it is and do not think i shall be angry for i will
forgive you alas said the huntsman the king has ordered me to
shoot you the prince started at this and said let me live and i
will change dresses with you you shall take my royal coat to show to my
father and do you give me your shabby one with all my heart said
the huntsman i am sure i shall be glad to save you for i could not
have shot you then he took the prince's coat and gave him the shabby
one and went away through the wood 

some time after three grand embassies came to the old king's court 
with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for his youngest son now
all these were sent from the three kings to whom he had lent his sword
and loaf of bread in order to rid them of their enemy and feed their
people this touched the old king's heart and he thought his son might
still be guiltless and said to his court o that my son were still
alive how it grieves me that i had him killed he is still alive 
said the huntsman and i am glad that i had pity on him but let him
go in peace and brought home his royal coat at this the king was
overwhelmed with joy and made it known throughout all his kingdom that
if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him 

meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should
come back and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining
gold and told her courtiers that whoever came on horseback and rode
straight up to the gate upon it was her true lover and that they must
let him in but whoever rode on one side of it they must be sure was
not the right one and that they must send him away at once 

the time soon came when the eldest brother thought that he would make
haste to go to the princess and say that he was the one who had set
her free and that he should have her for his wife and the kingdom with
her as he came before the palace and saw the golden road he stopped to
look at it and he thought to himself it is a pity to ride upon this
beautiful road so he turned aside and rode on the right-hand side of
it but when he came to the gate the guards who had seen the road
he took said to him he could not be what he said he was and must go
about his business 

the second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand and when
he came to the golden road and his horse had set one foot upon it 
he stopped to look at it and thought it very beautiful and said to
himself what a pity it is that anything should tread here then he
too turned aside and rode on the left side of it but when he came to
the gate the guards said he was not the true prince and that he too
must go away about his business and away he went 

now when the full year was come round the third brother left the forest
in which he had lain hid for fear of his father's anger and set out in
search of his betrothed bride so he journeyed on thinking of her all
the way and rode so quickly that he did not even see what the road was
made of but went with his horse straight over it and as he came to the
gate it flew open and the princess welcomed him with joy and said
he was her deliverer and should now be her husband and lord of the
kingdom when the first joy at their meeting was over the princess told
him she had heard of his father having forgiven him and of his wish to
have him home again so before his wedding with the princess he went
to visit his father taking her with him then he told him everything 
how his brothers had cheated and robbed him and yet that he had borne
all those wrongs for the love of his father and the old king was very
angry and wanted to punish his wicked sons but they made their escape 
and got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea and where they
went to nobody knew and nobody cared 

and now the old king gathered together his court and asked all his
kingdom to come and celebrate the wedding of his son and the princess 
and young and old noble and squire gentle and simple came at once
on the summons and among the rest came the friendly dwarf with the
sugarloaf hat and a new scarlet cloak 

 and the wedding was held and the merry bells run 
 and all the good people they danced and they sung 
 and feasted and frolick'd i can't tell how long 




the twelve huntsmen

there was once a king's son who had a bride whom he loved very much and
when he was sitting beside her and very happy news came that his father
lay sick unto death and desired to see him once again before his end 
then he said to his beloved i must now go and leave you i give you
a ring as a remembrance of me when i am king i will return and fetch
you so he rode away and when he reached his father the latter was
dangerously ill and near his death he said to him dear son i wished
to see you once again before my end promise me to marry as i wish and
he named a certain king's daughter who was to be his wife the son was
in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing and said yes 
dear father your will shall be done and thereupon the king shut his
eyes and died 

when therefore the son had been proclaimed king and the time of
mourning was over he was forced to keep the promise which he had given
his father and caused the king's daughter to be asked in marriage and
she was promised to him his first betrothed heard of this and fretted
so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died then her father
said to her dearest child why are you so sad you shall have
whatsoever you will she thought for a moment and said dear father 
i wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face figure and size 
the father said if it be possible your desire shall be fulfilled 
and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom until eleven
young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face 
figure and size 

when they came to the king's daughter she had twelve suits of
huntsmen's clothes made all alike and the eleven maidens had to put
on the huntsmen's clothes and she herself put on the twelfth suit 
thereupon she took her leave of her father and rode away with them 
and rode to the court of her former betrothed whom she loved so dearly 
then she asked if he required any huntsmen and if he would take all of
them into his service the king looked at her and did not know her but
as they were such handsome fellows he said yes and that he would
willingly take them and now they were the king's twelve huntsmen 

the king however had a lion which was a wondrous animal for he knew
all concealed and secret things it came to pass that one evening he
said to the king you think you have twelve huntsmen yes said the
king they are twelve huntsmen the lion continued you are mistaken 
they are twelve girls the king said that cannot be true how
will you prove that to me oh just let some peas be strewn in the
ante-chamber answered the lion and then you will soon see men have
a firm step and when they walk over peas none of them stir but girls
trip and skip and drag their feet and the peas roll about the king
was well pleased with the counsel and caused the peas to be strewn 

there was however a servant of the king's who favoured the huntsmen 
and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to
them and repeated everything and said the lion wants to make the king
believe that you are girls then the king's daughter thanked him and
said to her maidens show some strength and step firmly on the peas 
so next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmen called before
him and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying they
stepped so firmly on them and had such a strong sure walk that not
one of the peas either rolled or stirred then they went away again 
and the king said to the lion you have lied to me they walk just like
men the lion said they have been informed that they were going to
be put to the test and have assumed some strength just let twelve
spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber and they will go to
them and be pleased with them and that is what no man would do 
the king liked the advice and had the spinning-wheels placed in the
ante-chamber 

but the servant who was well disposed to the huntsmen went to them 
and disclosed the project so when they were alone the king's daughter
said to her eleven girls show some constraint and do not look round
at the spinning-wheels and next morning when the king had his twelve
huntsmen summoned they went through the ante-chamber and never once
looked at the spinning-wheels then the king again said to the lion 
 you have deceived me they are men for they have not looked at the
spinning-wheels the lion replied they have restrained themselves 
the king however would no longer believe the lion 

the twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase and his
liking for them continually increased now it came to pass that
once when they were out hunting news came that the king's bride was
approaching when the true bride heard that it hurt her so much that
her heart was almost broken and she fell fainting to the ground the
king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman ran up to him 
wanted to help him and drew his glove off then he saw the ring which
he had given to his first bride and when he looked in her face he
recognized her then his heart was so touched that he kissed her and
when she opened her eyes he said you are mine and i am yours and
no one in the world can alter that he sent a messenger to the other
bride and entreated her to return to her own kingdom for he had a wife
already and someone who had just found an old key did not require a new
one thereupon the wedding was celebrated and the lion was again taken
into favour because after all he had told the truth 




the king of the golden mountain

there was once a merchant who had only one child a son that was very
young and barely able to run alone he had two richly laden ships then
making a voyage upon the seas in which he had embarked all his wealth 
in the hope of making great gains when the news came that both were
lost thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that
nothing was left to him but one small plot of land and there he often
went in an evening to take his walk and ease his mind of a little of
his trouble 

one day as he was roaming along in a brown study thinking with no
great comfort on what he had been and what he now was and was like
to be all on a sudden there stood before him a little rough-looking 
black dwarf prithee friend why so sorrowful said he to the
merchant what is it you take so deeply to heart if you would do me
any good i would willingly tell you said the merchant who knows but
i may said the little man tell me what ails you and perhaps you
will find i may be of some use then the merchant told him how all his
wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea and how he had nothing left
but that little plot of land oh trouble not yourself about that 
said the dwarf only undertake to bring me here twelve years hence 
whatever meets you first on your going home and i will give you as much
as you please the merchant thought this was no great thing to ask 
that it would most likely be his dog or his cat or something of that
sort but forgot his little boy heinel so he agreed to the bargain and
signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him 

but as he drew near home his little boy was so glad to see him that he
crept behind him and laid fast hold of his legs and looked up in
his face and laughed then the father started trembling with fear and
horror and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do but as no
gold was come he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke
that the dwarf was playing him and that at any rate when the money
came he should see the bearer and would not take it in 

about a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber-room to look
for some old iron that he might sell it and raise a little money and
there instead of his iron he saw a large pile of gold lying on the
floor at the sight of this he was overjoyed and forgetting all about
his son went into trade again and became a richer merchant than
before 

meantime little heinel grew up and as the end of the twelve years drew
near the merchant began to call to mind his bond and became very sad
and thoughtful so that care and sorrow were written upon his face the
boy one day asked what was the matter but his father would not tell for
some time at last however he said that he had without knowing it 
sold him for gold to a little ugly-looking black dwarf and that the
twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word then heinel
said father give yourself very little trouble about that i shall be
too much for the little man 

when the time came the father and son went out together to the place
agreed upon and the son drew a circle on the ground and set himself
and his father in the middle of it the little black dwarf soon came 
and walked round and round about the circle but could not find any way
to get into it and he either could not or dared not jump over it at
last the boy said to him have you anything to say to us my friend or
what do you want now heinel had found a friend in a good fairy that
was fond of him and had told him what to do for this fairy knew what
good luck was in store for him have you brought me what you said you
would said the dwarf to the merchant the old man held his tongue but
heinel said again what do you want here the dwarf said i come to
talk with your father not with you you have cheated and taken in my
father said the son pray give him up his bond at once fair and
softly said the little old man right is right i have paid my money 
and your father has had it and spent it so be so good as to let me
have what i paid it for you must have my consent to that first said
heinel so please to step in here and let us talk it over the old
man grinned and showed his teeth as if he should have been very glad
to get into the circle if he could then at last after a long talk 
they came to terms heinel agreed that his father must give him up and
that so far the dwarf should have his way but on the other hand the
fairy had told heinel what fortune was in store for him if he followed
his own course and he did not choose to be given up to his hump-backed
friend who seemed so anxious for his company 

so to make a sort of drawn battle of the matter it was settled that
heinel should be put into an open boat that lay on the sea-shore hard
by that the father should push him off with his own hand and that he
should thus be set adrift and left to the bad or good luck of wind and
weather then he took leave of his father and set himself in the boat 
but before it got far off a wave struck it and it fell with one side
low in the water so the merchant thought that poor heinel was lost and
went home very sorrowful while the dwarf went his way thinking that at
any rate he had had his revenge 

the boat however did not sink for the good fairy took care of her
friend and soon raised the boat up again and it went safely on the
young man sat safe within till at length it ran ashore upon an unknown
land as he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle
but empty and dreary within for it was enchanted here said he to
himself must i find the prize the good fairy told me of so he once
more searched the whole palace through till at last he found a white
snake lying coiled up on a cushion in one of the chambers 

now the white snake was an enchanted princess and she was very glad
to see him and said are you at last come to set me free twelve
long years have i waited here for the fairy to bring you hither as she
promised for you alone can save me this night twelve men will come 
their faces will be black and they will be dressed in chain armour 
they will ask what you do here but give no answer and let them do
what they will beat whip pinch prick or torment you bear all only
speak not a word and at twelve o'clock they must go away the second
night twelve others will come and the third night twenty-four who
will even cut off your head but at the twelfth hour of that night their
power is gone and i shall be free and will come and bring you the
water of life and will wash you with it and bring you back to life
and health and all came to pass as she had said heinel bore all and
spoke not a word and the third night the princess came and fell on his
neck and kissed him joy and gladness burst forth throughout the castle 
the wedding was celebrated and he was crowned king of the golden
mountain 

they lived together very happily and the queen had a son and thus
eight years had passed over their heads when the king thought of his
father and he began to long to see him once again but the queen was
against his going and said i know well that misfortunes will come
upon us if you go however he gave her no rest till she agreed at his
going away she gave him a wishing-ring and said take this ring and
put it on your finger whatever you wish it will bring you only promise
never to make use of it to bring me hence to your father's house then
he said he would do what she asked and put the ring on his finger and
wished himself near the town where his father lived 

heinel found himself at the gates in a moment but the guards would
not let him go in because he was so strangely clad so he went up to a
neighbouring hill where a shepherd dwelt and borrowed his old frock 
and thus passed unknown into the town when he came to his father's
house he said he was his son but the merchant would not believe him 
and said he had had but one son his poor heinel who he knew was long
since dead and as he was only dressed like a poor shepherd he would
not even give him anything to eat the king however still vowed that
he was his son and said is there no mark by which you would know me
if i am really your son yes said his mother our heinel had a mark
like a raspberry on his right arm then he showed them the mark and
they knew that what he had said was true 

he next told them how he was king of the golden mountain and was
married to a princess and had a son seven years old but the merchant
said that can never be true he must be a fine king truly who travels
about in a shepherd's frock at this the son was vexed and forgetting
his word turned his ring and wished for his queen and son in an
instant they stood before him but the queen wept and said he had
broken his word and bad luck would follow he did all he could to
soothe her and she at last seemed to be appeased but she was not so in
truth and was only thinking how she should punish him 

one day he took her to walk with him out of the town and showed her
the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters then he sat
himself down and said i am very much tired sit by me i will rest my
head in your lap and sleep a while as soon as he had fallen asleep 
however she drew the ring from his finger and crept softly away and
wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom and when he awoke
he found himself alone and saw that the ring was gone from his finger 
 i can never go back to my father's house said he they would say i
am a sorcerer i will journey forth into the world till i come again to
my kingdom 

so saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill where three
giants were sharing their father's goods and as they saw him pass they
cried out and said little men have sharp wits he shall part the goods
between us now there was a sword that cut off an enemy's head whenever
the wearer gave the words heads off a cloak that made the owner
invisible or gave him any form he pleased and a pair of boots that
carried the wearer wherever he wished heinel said they must first let
him try these wonderful things then he might know how to set a value
upon them then they gave him the cloak and he wished himself a fly 
and in a moment he was a fly the cloak is very well said he now
give me the sword no said they not unless you undertake not to
say heads off for if you do we are all dead men so they gave it
him charging him to try it on a tree he next asked for the boots also 
and the moment he had all three in his power he wished himself at
the golden mountain and there he was at once so the giants were left
behind with no goods to share or quarrel about 

as heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music and
the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another
husband then he threw his cloak around him and passed through the
castle hall and placed himself by the side of the queen where no one
saw him but when anything to eat was put upon her plate he took it
away and ate it himself and when a glass of wine was handed to her he
took it and drank it and thus though they kept on giving her meat and
drink her plate and cup were always empty 

upon this fear and remorse came over her and she went into her chamber
alone and sat there weeping and he followed her there alas said
she to herself was i not once set free why then does this enchantment
still seem to bind me 

 false and fickle one said he one indeed came who set thee free and
he is now near thee again but how have you used him ought he to
have had such treatment from thee then he went out and sent away the
company and said the wedding was at an end for that he was come back
to the kingdom but the princes peers and great men mocked at him 
however he would enter into no parley with them but only asked them
if they would go in peace or not then they turned upon him and tried
to seize him but he drew his sword heads off cried he and with the
word the traitors heads fell before him and heinel was once more king
of the golden mountain 




doctor knowall

there was once upon a time a poor peasant called crabb who drove with
two oxen a load of wood to the town and sold it to a doctor for two
talers when the money was being counted out to him it so happened that
the doctor was sitting at table and when the peasant saw how well he
ate and drank his heart desired what he saw and would willingly
have been a doctor too so he remained standing a while and at length
inquired if he too could not be a doctor oh yes said the doctor 
 that is soon managed what must i do asked the peasant in the
first place buy yourself an a b c book of the kind which has a cock on
the frontispiece in the second turn your cart and your two oxen into
money and get yourself some clothes and whatsoever else pertains to
medicine thirdly have a sign painted for yourself with the words i
am doctor knowall and have that nailed up above your house-door the
peasant did everything that he had been told to do when he had doctored
people awhile but not long a rich and great lord had some money
stolen then he was told about doctor knowall who lived in such and such
a village and must know what had become of the money so the lord had
the horses harnessed to his carriage drove out to the village and
asked crabb if he were doctor knowall yes he was he said then he was
to go with him and bring back the stolen money oh yes but grete my
wife must go too the lord was willing and let both of them have a
seat in the carriage and they all drove away together when they came
to the nobleman's castle the table was spread and crabb was told to
sit down and eat yes but my wife grete too said he and he seated
himself with her at the table and when the first servant came with a
dish of delicate fare the peasant nudged his wife and said grete 
that was the first meaning that was the servant who brought the first
dish the servant however thought he intended by that to say that is
the first thief and as he actually was so he was terrified and said
to his comrade outside the doctor knows all we shall fare ill he
said i was the first the second did not want to go in at all but was
forced so when he went in with his dish the peasant nudged his wife 
and said grete that is the second this servant was equally alarmed 
and he got out as fast as he could the third fared no better for the
peasant again said grete that is the third the fourth had to carry
in a dish that was covered and the lord told the doctor that he was to
show his skill and guess what was beneath the cover actually there
were crabs the doctor looked at the dish had no idea what to say and
cried ah poor crabb when the lord heard that he cried there he
knows it he must also know who has the money 

on this the servants looked terribly uneasy and made a sign to the
doctor that they wished him to step outside for a moment when therefore
he went out all four of them confessed to him that they had stolen
the money and said that they would willingly restore it and give him a
heavy sum into the bargain if he would not denounce them for if he
did they would be hanged they led him to the spot where the money was
concealed with this the doctor was satisfied and returned to the hall 
sat down to the table and said my lord now will i search in my book
where the gold is hidden the fifth servant however crept into the
stove to hear if the doctor knew still more but the doctor sat still
and opened his a b c book turned the pages backwards and forwards and
looked for the cock as he could not find it immediately he said i
know you are there so you had better come out then the fellow in the
stove thought that the doctor meant him and full of terror sprang out 
crying that man knows everything then doctor knowall showed the lord
where the money was but did not say who had stolen it and received
from both sides much money in reward and became a renowned man 




the seven ravens

there was once a man who had seven sons and last of all one daughter 
although the little girl was very pretty she was so weak and small that
they thought she could not live but they said she should at once be
christened 

so the father sent one of his sons in haste to the spring to get some
water but the other six ran with him each wanted to be first at
drawing the water and so they were in such a hurry that all let their
pitchers fall into the well and they stood very foolishly looking at
one another and did not know what to do for none dared go home in the
meantime the father was uneasy and could not tell what made the
young men stay so long surely said he the whole seven must have
forgotten themselves over some game of play and when he had waited
still longer and they yet did not come he flew into a rage and wished
them all turned into ravens scarcely had he spoken these words when he
heard a croaking over his head and looked up and saw seven ravens as
black as coal flying round and round sorry as he was to see his wish
so fulfilled he did not know how what was done could be undone and
comforted himself as well as he could for the loss of his seven sons
with his dear little daughter who soon became stronger and every day
more beautiful 

for a long time she did not know that she had ever had any brothers for
her father and mother took care not to speak of them before her but one
day by chance she heard the people about her speak of them yes said
they she is beautiful indeed but still tis a pity that her brothers
should have been lost for her sake then she was much grieved and went
to her father and mother and asked if she had any brothers and what
had become of them so they dared no longer hide the truth from her but
said it was the will of heaven and that her birth was only the innocent
cause of it but the little girl mourned sadly about it every day and
thought herself bound to do all she could to bring her brothers back 
and she had neither rest nor ease till at length one day she stole
away and set out into the wide world to find her brothers wherever
they might be and free them whatever it might cost her 

she took nothing with her but a little ring which her father and mother
had given her a loaf of bread in case she should be hungry a little
pitcher of water in case she should be thirsty and a little stool
to rest upon when she should be weary thus she went on and on and
journeyed till she came to the world's end then she came to the sun 
but the sun looked much too hot and fiery so she ran away quickly to
the moon but the moon was cold and chilly and said i smell flesh
and blood this way so she took herself away in a hurry and came to the
stars and the stars were friendly and kind to her and each star sat
upon his own little stool but the morning star rose up and gave her a
little piece of wood and said if you have not this little piece of
wood you cannot unlock the castle that stands on the glass-mountain 
and there your brothers live the little girl took the piece of wood 
rolled it up in a little cloth and went on again until she came to the
glass-mountain and found the door shut then she felt for the little
piece of wood but when she unwrapped the cloth it was not there and
she saw she had lost the gift of the good stars what was to be done 
she wanted to save her brothers and had no key of the castle of the
glass-mountain so this faithful little sister took a knife out of her
pocket and cut off her little finger that was just the size of the
piece of wood she had lost and put it in the door and opened it 

as she went in a little dwarf came up to her and said what are you
seeking for i seek for my brothers the seven ravens answered she 
then the dwarf said my masters are not at home but if you will wait
till they come pray step in now the little dwarf was getting their
dinner ready and he brought their food upon seven little plates and
their drink in seven little glasses and set them upon the table and
out of each little plate their sister ate a small piece and out of each
little glass she drank a small drop but she let the ring that she had
brought with her fall into the last glass 

on a sudden she heard a fluttering and croaking in the air and the
dwarf said here come my masters when they came in they wanted to
eat and drink and looked for their little plates and glasses then said
one after the other 

 who has eaten from my little plate and who has been drinking out of my
little glass 

 caw caw well i ween
 mortal lips have this way been 

when the seventh came to the bottom of his glass and found there the
ring he looked at it and knew that it was his father's and mother's 
and said o that our little sister would but come then we should be
free when the little girl heard this for she stood behind the door
all the time and listened she ran forward and in an instant all
the ravens took their right form again and all hugged and kissed each
other and went merrily home 




the wedding of mrs fox


first story

there was once upon a time an old fox with nine tails who believed that
his wife was not faithful to him and wished to put her to the test he
stretched himself out under the bench did not move a limb and behaved
as if he were stone dead mrs fox went up to her room shut herself in 
and her maid miss cat sat by the fire and did the cooking when it
became known that the old fox was dead suitors presented themselves 
the maid heard someone standing at the house-door knocking she went
and opened it and it was a young fox who said 

 what may you be about miss cat 
 do you sleep or do you wake 

she answered 

 i am not sleeping i am waking 
 would you know what i am making 
 i am boiling warm beer with butter 
 will you be my guest for supper 

 no thank you miss said the fox what is mrs fox doing the maid
replied 

 she is sitting in her room 
 moaning in her gloom 
 weeping her little eyes quite red 
 because old mr fox is dead 

 do just tell her miss that a young fox is here who would like to woo
her certainly young sir 

 the cat goes up the stairs trip trap 
 the door she knocks at tap tap tap 
 mistress fox are you inside 
 oh yes my little cat she cried 
 a wooer he stands at the door out there 
 what does he look like my dear 

 has he nine as beautiful tails as the late mr fox oh no answered
the cat he has only one then i will not have him 

miss cat went downstairs and sent the wooer away soon afterwards there
was another knock and another fox was at the door who wished to woo mrs
fox he had two tails but he did not fare better than the first after
this still more came each with one tail more than the other but they
were all turned away until at last one came who had nine tails like
old mr fox when the widow heard that she said joyfully to the cat 

 now open the gates and doors all wide 
 and carry old mr fox outside 

but just as the wedding was going to be solemnized old mr fox stirred
under the bench and cudgelled all the rabble and drove them and mrs
fox out of the house 


second story

when old mr fox was dead the wolf came as a suitor and knocked at the
door and the cat who was servant to mrs fox opened it for him the
wolf greeted her and said 

 good day mrs cat of kehrewit 
 how comes it that alone you sit 
 what are you making good 

the cat replied 

 in milk i'm breaking bread so sweet 
 will you be my guest and eat 

 no thank you mrs cat answered the wolf is mrs fox not at home 

the cat said 

 she sits upstairs in her room 
 bewailing her sorrowful doom 
 bewailing her trouble so sore 
 for old mr fox is no more 

the wolf answered 

 if she's in want of a husband now 
 then will it please her to step below 
 the cat runs quickly up the stair 
 and lets her tail fly here and there 
 until she comes to the parlour door 
 with her five gold rings at the door she knocks 
 are you within good mistress fox 
 if you're in want of a husband now 
 then will it please you to step below 

mrs fox asked has the gentleman red stockings on and has he a pointed
mouth no answered the cat then he won't do for me 

when the wolf was gone came a dog a stag a hare a bear a lion and
all the beasts of the forest one after the other but one of the good
qualities which old mr fox had possessed was always lacking and the
cat had continually to send the suitors away at length came a young
fox then mrs fox said has the gentleman red stockings on and has a
little pointed mouth yes said the cat he has then let him come
upstairs said mrs fox and ordered the servant to prepare the wedding
feast 

 sweep me the room as clean as you can 
 up with the window fling out my old man 
 for many a fine fat mouse he brought 
 yet of his wife he never thought 
 but ate up every one he caught 

then the wedding was solemnized with young mr fox and there was much
rejoicing and dancing and if they have not left off they are dancing
still 




the salad

as a merry young huntsman was once going briskly along through a wood 
there came up a little old woman and said to him good day good day 
you seem merry enough but i am hungry and thirsty do pray give me
something to eat the huntsman took pity on her and put his hand in
his pocket and gave her what he had then he wanted to go his way but
she took hold of him and said listen my friend to what i am going
to tell you i will reward you for your kindness go your way and after
a little time you will come to a tree where you will see nine birds
sitting on a cloak shoot into the midst of them and one will fall down
dead the cloak will fall too take it it is a wishing-cloak and when
you wear it you will find yourself at any place where you may wish to
be cut open the dead bird take out its heart and keep it and you will
find a piece of gold under your pillow every morning when you rise it
is the bird's heart that will bring you this good luck 

the huntsman thanked her and thought to himself if all this does
happen it will be a fine thing for me when he had gone a hundred
steps or so he heard a screaming and chirping in the branches over him 
and looked up and saw a flock of birds pulling a cloak with their bills
and feet screaming fighting and tugging at each other as if
each wished to have it himself well said the huntsman this is
wonderful this happens just as the old woman said then he shot into
the midst of them so that their feathers flew all about off went the
flock chattering away but one fell down dead and the cloak with it 
then the huntsman did as the old woman told him cut open the bird took
out the heart and carried the cloak home with him 

the next morning when he awoke he lifted up his pillow and there lay
the piece of gold glittering underneath the same happened next day and
indeed every day when he arose he heaped up a great deal of gold and
at last thought to himself of what use is this gold to me whilst i am
at home i will go out into the world and look about me 

then he took leave of his friends and hung his bag and bow about his
neck and went his way it so happened that his road one day led through
a thick wood at the end of which was a large castle in a green meadow 
and at one of the windows stood an old woman with a very beautiful young
lady by her side looking about them now the old woman was a witch and
said to the young lady there is a young man coming out of the wood who
carries a wonderful prize we must get it away from him my dear child 
for it is more fit for us than for him he has a bird's heart that
brings a piece of gold under his pillow every morning meantime the
huntsman came nearer and looked at the lady and said to himself i
have been travelling so long that i should like to go into this castle
and rest myself for i have money enough to pay for anything i want 
but the real reason was that he wanted to see more of the beautiful
lady then he went into the house and was welcomed kindly and it was
not long before he was so much in love that he thought of nothing else
but looking at the lady's eyes and doing everything that she wished 
then the old woman said now is the time for getting the bird's heart 
so the lady stole it away and he never found any more gold under his
pillow for it lay now under the young lady's and the old woman took it
away every morning but he was so much in love that he never missed his
prize 

 well said the old witch we have got the bird's heart but not the
wishing-cloak yet and that we must also get let us leave him that 
said the young lady he has already lost his wealth then the witch
was very angry and said such a cloak is a very rare and wonderful
thing and i must and will have it so she did as the old woman told
her and set herself at the window and looked about the country and
seemed very sorrowful then the huntsman said what makes you so sad 
 alas dear sir said she yonder lies the granite rock where all the
costly diamonds grow and i want so much to go there that whenever i
think of it i cannot help being sorrowful for who can reach it only
the birds and the flies man cannot if that's all your grief said
the huntsman i'll take you there with all my heart so he drew her under
his cloak and the moment he wished to be on the granite mountain they
were both there the diamonds glittered so on all sides that they were
delighted with the sight and picked up the finest but the old witch
made a deep sleep come upon him and he said to the young lady let us
sit down and rest ourselves a little i am so tired that i cannot stand
any longer so they sat down and he laid his head in her lap and
fell asleep and whilst he was sleeping on she took the cloak from
his shoulders hung it on her own picked up the diamonds and wished
herself home again 

when he awoke and found that his lady had tricked him and left him
alone on the wild rock he said alas what roguery there is in the
world and there he sat in great grief and fear not knowing what to
do now this rock belonged to fierce giants who lived upon it and as
he saw three of them striding about he thought to himself i can only
save myself by feigning to be asleep so he laid himself down as if he
were in a sound sleep when the giants came up to him the first pushed
him with his foot and said what worm is this that lies here curled
up tread upon him and kill him said the second it's not worth the
trouble said the third let him live he'll go climbing higher up the
mountain and some cloud will come rolling and carry him away and they
passed on but the huntsman had heard all they said and as soon as they
were gone he climbed to the top of the mountain and when he had sat
there a short time a cloud came rolling around him and caught him in a
whirlwind and bore him along for some time till it settled in a garden 
and he fell quite gently to the ground amongst the greens and cabbages 

then he looked around him and said i wish i had something to eat if
not i shall be worse off than before for here i see neither apples
nor pears nor any kind of fruits nothing but vegetables at last he
thought to himself i can eat salad it will refresh and strengthen
me so he picked out a fine head and ate of it but scarcely had he
swallowed two bites when he felt himself quite changed and saw with
horror that he was turned into an ass however he still felt very
hungry and the salad tasted very nice so he ate on till he came
to another kind of salad and scarcely had he tasted it when he felt
another change come over him and soon saw that he was lucky enough to
have found his old shape again 

then he laid himself down and slept off a little of his weariness and
when he awoke the next morning he broke off a head both of the good and
the bad salad and thought to himself this will help me to my fortune
again and enable me to pay off some folks for their treachery so he
went away to try and find the castle of his friends and after wandering
about a few days he luckily found it then he stained his face all over
brown so that even his mother would not have known him and went into
the castle and asked for a lodging i am so tired said he that i
can go no farther countryman said the witch who are you and what
is your business i am said he a messenger sent by the king to
find the finest salad that grows under the sun i have been lucky
enough to find it and have brought it with me but the heat of the sun
scorches so that it begins to wither and i don't know that i can carry
it farther 

when the witch and the young lady heard of his beautiful salad they
longed to taste it and said dear countryman let us just taste it 
 to be sure answered he i have two heads of it with me and will
give you one so he opened his bag and gave them the bad then the
witch herself took it into the kitchen to be dressed and when it was
ready she could not wait till it was carried up but took a few leaves
immediately and put them in her mouth and scarcely were they swallowed
when she lost her own form and ran braying down into the court in the
form of an ass now the servant-maid came into the kitchen and seeing
the salad ready was going to carry it up but on the way she too felt a
wish to taste it as the old woman had done and ate some leaves so she
also was turned into an ass and ran after the other letting the dish
with the salad fall on the ground the messenger sat all this time with
the beautiful young lady and as nobody came with the salad and she
longed to taste it she said i don't know where the salad can be 
then he thought something must have happened and said i will go
into the kitchen and see and as he went he saw two asses in the court
running about and the salad lying on the ground all right said
he those two have had their share then he took up the rest of
the leaves laid them on the dish and brought them to the young lady 
saying i bring you the dish myself that you may not wait any longer 
so she ate of it and like the others ran off into the court braying
away 

then the huntsman washed his face and went into the court that they
might know him now you shall be paid for your roguery said he and
tied them all three to a rope and took them along with him till he
came to a mill and knocked at the window what's the matter said the
miller i have three tiresome beasts here said the other if you
will take them give them food and room and treat them as i tell you 
i will pay you whatever you ask with all my heart said the miller 
 but how shall i treat them then the huntsman said give the old
one stripes three times a day and hay once give the next who was
the servant-maid stripes once a day and hay three times and give
the youngest who was the beautiful lady hay three times a day and
no stripes for he could not find it in his heart to have her beaten 
after this he went back to the castle where he found everything he
wanted 

some days after the miller came to him and told him that the old ass
was dead the other two said he are alive and eat but are so
sorrowful that they cannot last long then the huntsman pitied them 
and told the miller to drive them back to him and when they came he
gave them some of the good salad to eat and the beautiful young lady
fell upon her knees before him and said o dearest huntsman forgive
me all the ill i have done you my mother forced me to it it was
against my will for i always loved you very much your wishing-cloak
hangs up in the closet and as for the bird's heart i will give it you
too but he said keep it it will be just the same thing for i mean
to make you my wife so they were married and lived together very
happily till they died 




the story of the youth who went forth to learn what fear was

a certain father had two sons the elder of who was smart and sensible 
and could do everything but the younger was stupid and could neither
learn nor understand anything and when people saw him they said 
 there's a fellow who will give his father some trouble when anything
had to be done it was always the elder who was forced to do it but
if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late or in the
night-time and the way led through the churchyard or any other dismal
place he answered oh no father i'll not go there it makes me
shudder for he was afraid or when stories were told by the fire at
night which made the flesh creep the listeners sometimes said oh 
it makes us shudder the younger sat in a corner and listened with
the rest of them and could not imagine what they could mean they are
always saying it makes me shudder it makes me shudder it does not
make me shudder thought he that too must be an art of which i
understand nothing 

now it came to pass that his father said to him one day hearken to me 
you fellow in the corner there you are growing tall and strong and you
too must learn something by which you can earn your bread look how your
brother works but you do not even earn your salt well father he
replied i am quite willing to learn something indeed if it could but
be managed i should like to learn how to shudder i don't understand
that at all yet the elder brother smiled when he heard that and
thought to himself goodness what a blockhead that brother of mine is 
he will never be good for anything as long as he lives he who wants to
be a sickle must bend himself betimes 

the father sighed and answered him you shall soon learn what it is to
shudder but you will not earn your bread by that 

soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit and the father
bewailed his trouble and told him how his younger son was so backward
in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing just think 
said he when i asked him how he was going to earn his bread he
actually wanted to learn to shudder if that be all replied the
sexton he can learn that with me send him to me and i will soon
polish him the father was glad to do it for he thought it will
train the boy a little the sexton therefore took him into his house 
and he had to ring the church bell after a day or two the sexton awoke
him at midnight and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and
ring the bell you shall soon learn what shuddering is thought he 
and secretly went there before him and when the boy was at the top of
the tower and turned round and was just going to take hold of the bell
rope he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding
hole who is there cried he but the figure made no reply and did
not move or stir give an answer cried the boy or take yourself
off you have no business here at night 

the sexton however remained standing motionless that the boy might
think he was a ghost the boy cried a second time what do you want
here speak if you are an honest fellow or i will throw you down the
steps the sexton thought he can't mean to be as bad as his words 
uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone then the boy
called to him for the third time and as that was also to no purpose 
he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs so that it fell
down the ten steps and remained lying there in a corner thereupon he
rang the bell went home and without saying a word went to bed and
fell asleep the sexton's wife waited a long time for her husband but
he did not come back at length she became uneasy and wakened the boy 
and asked do you know where my husband is he climbed up the tower
before you did no i don't know replied the boy but someone was
standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps and as he
would neither gave an answer nor go away i took him for a scoundrel 
and threw him downstairs just go there and you will see if it was he 
i should be sorry if it were the woman ran away and found her husband 
who was lying moaning in the corner and had broken his leg 

she carried him down and then with loud screams she hastened to the
boy's father your boy cried she has been the cause of a great
misfortune he has thrown my husband down the steps so that he broke his
leg take the good-for-nothing fellow out of our house the father was
terrified and ran thither and scolded the boy what wicked tricks
are these said he the devil must have put them into your head 
 father he replied do listen to me i am quite innocent he was
standing there by night like one intent on doing evil i did not know
who it was and i entreated him three times either to speak or to go
away ah said the father i have nothing but unhappiness with you 
go out of my sight i will see you no more 

 yes father right willingly wait only until it is day then will i
go forth and learn how to shudder and then i shall at any rate 
understand one art which will support me learn what you will spoke
the father it is all the same to me here are fifty talers for you 
take these and go into the wide world and tell no one from whence you
come and who is your father for i have reason to be ashamed of you 
 yes father it shall be as you will if you desire nothing more than
that i can easily keep it in mind 

when the day dawned therefore the boy put his fifty talers into his
pocket and went forth on the great highway and continually said to
himself if i could but shudder if i could but shudder then a man
approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with
himself and when they had walked a little farther to where they could
see the gallows the man said to him look there is the tree where
seven men have married the ropemaker's daughter and are now learning
how to fly sit down beneath it and wait till night comes and you will
soon learn how to shudder if that is all that is wanted answered
the youth it is easily done but if i learn how to shudder as fast as
that you shall have my fifty talers just come back to me early in the
morning then the youth went to the gallows sat down beneath it and
waited till evening came and as he was cold he lighted himself a fire 
but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire he
could not get warm and as the wind knocked the hanged men against each
other and they moved backwards and forwards he thought to himself 
 if you shiver below by the fire how those up above must freeze and
suffer and as he felt pity for them he raised the ladder and climbed
up unbound one of them after the other and brought down all seven 
then he stoked the fire blew it and set them all round it to warm
themselves but they sat there and did not stir and the fire caught
their clothes so he said take care or i will hang you up again the
dead men however did not hear but were quite silent and let their
rags go on burning at this he grew angry and said if you will not
take care i cannot help you i will not be burnt with you and he hung
them up again each in his turn then he sat down by his fire and fell
asleep and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have
the fifty talers and said well do you know how to shudder no 
answered he how should i know those fellows up there did not open
their mouths and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which
they had on their bodies get burnt then the man saw that he would not
get the fifty talers that day and went away saying such a youth has
never come my way before 

the youth likewise went his way and once more began to mutter to
himself ah if i could but shudder ah if i could but shudder a
waggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked who are
you i don't know answered the youth then the waggoner asked from
whence do you come i know not who is your father that i may
not tell you what is it that you are always muttering between your
teeth ah replied the youth i do so wish i could shudder but
no one can teach me how enough of your foolish chatter said the
waggoner come go with me i will see about a place for you the
youth went with the waggoner and in the evening they arrived at an inn
where they wished to pass the night then at the entrance of the parlour
the youth again said quite loudly if i could but shudder if i could
but shudder the host who heard this laughed and said if that is
your desire there ought to be a good opportunity for you here ah 
be silent said the hostess so many prying persons have already lost
their lives it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as
these should never see the daylight again 

but the youth said however difficult it may be i will learn it for
this purpose indeed have i journeyed forth he let the host have
no rest until the latter told him that not far from thence stood a
haunted castle where anyone could very easily learn what shuddering was 
if he would but watch in it for three nights the king had promised that
he who would venture should have his daughter to wife and she was the
most beautiful maiden the sun shone on likewise in the castle lay great
treasures which were guarded by evil spirits and these treasures would
then be freed and would make a poor man rich enough already many men
had gone into the castle but as yet none had come out again then the
youth went next morning to the king and said if it be allowed i will
willingly watch three nights in the haunted castle 

the king looked at him and as the youth pleased him he said you may
ask for three things to take into the castle with you but they must
be things without life then he answered then i ask for a fire a
turning lathe and a cutting-board with the knife 

the king had these things carried into the castle for him during the
day when night was drawing near the youth went up and made himself
a bright fire in one of the rooms placed the cutting-board and knife
beside it and seated himself by the turning-lathe ah if i could
but shudder said he but i shall not learn it here either towards
midnight he was about to poke his fire and as he was blowing it 
something cried suddenly from one corner au miau how cold we are 
 you fools cried he what are you crying about if you are cold come
and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves and when he had said
that two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down
on each side of him and looked savagely at him with their fiery
eyes after a short time when they had warmed themselves they said 
 comrade shall we have a game of cards why not he replied but
just show me your paws then they stretched out their claws oh said
he what long nails you have wait i must first cut them for you 
thereupon he seized them by the throats put them on the cutting-board
and screwed their feet fast i have looked at your fingers said he 
 and my fancy for card-playing has gone and he struck them dead and
threw them out into the water but when he had made away with these two 
and was about to sit down again by his fire out from every hole and
corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains and more
and more of them came until he could no longer move and they yelled
horribly and got on his fire pulled it to pieces and tried to put
it out he watched them for a while quietly but at last when they were
going too far he seized his cutting-knife and cried away with you 
vermin and began to cut them down some of them ran away the others
he killed and threw out into the fish-pond when he came back he fanned
the embers of his fire again and warmed himself and as he thus sat his
eyes would keep open no longer and he felt a desire to sleep then he
looked round and saw a great bed in the corner that is the very thing
for me said he and got into it when he was just going to shut his
eyes however the bed began to move of its own accord and went over
the whole of the castle that's right said he but go faster then
the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it up and down 
over thresholds and stairs but suddenly hop hop it turned over upside
down and lay on him like a mountain but he threw quilts and pillows up
in the air got out and said now anyone who likes may drive and
lay down by his fire and slept till it was day in the morning the king
came and when he saw him lying there on the ground he thought the evil
spirits had killed him and he was dead then said he after all it is a
pity for so handsome a man the youth heard it got up and said it
has not come to that yet then the king was astonished but very glad 
and asked how he had fared very well indeed answered he one
night is past the two others will pass likewise then he went to the
innkeeper who opened his eyes very wide and said i never expected to
see you alive again have you learnt how to shudder yet no said he 
 it is all in vain if someone would but tell me 

the second night he again went up into the old castle sat down by the
fire and once more began his old song if i could but shudder when
midnight came an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard at
first it was low but it grew louder and louder then it was quiet for
a while and at length with a loud scream half a man came down the
chimney and fell before him hullo cried he another half belongs
to this this is not enough then the uproar began again there was a
roaring and howling and the other half fell down likewise wait said
he i will just stoke up the fire a little for you when he had done
that and looked round again the two pieces were joined together and a
hideous man was sitting in his place that is no part of our bargain 
said the youth the bench is mine the man wanted to push him away 
the youth however would not allow that but thrust him off with all
his strength and seated himself again in his own place then still more
men fell down one after the other they brought nine dead men's legs
and two skulls and set them up and played at nine-pins with them the
youth also wanted to play and said listen you can i join you yes 
if you have any money money enough replied he but your balls are
not quite round then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe and
turned them till they were round there now they will roll better 
said he hurrah now we'll have fun he played with them and lost some
of his money but when it struck twelve everything vanished from his
sight he lay down and quietly fell asleep next morning the king came
to inquire after him how has it fared with you this time asked he 
 i have been playing at nine-pins he answered and have lost a couple
of farthings have you not shuddered then what said he i have
had a wonderful time if i did but know what it was to shudder 

the third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly 
 if i could but shudder when it grew late six tall men came in and
brought a coffin then he said ha ha that is certainly my little
cousin who died only a few days ago and he beckoned with his finger 
and cried come little cousin come they placed the coffin on the
ground but he went to it and took the lid off and a dead man lay
therein he felt his face but it was cold as ice wait said he i
will warm you a little and went to the fire and warmed his hand and
laid it on the dead man's face but he remained cold then he took him
out and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his
arms that the blood might circulate again as this also did no good he
thought to himself when two people lie in bed together they warm each
other and carried him to the bed covered him over and lay down by
him after a short time the dead man became warm too and began to move 
then said the youth see little cousin have i not warmed you the
dead man however got up and cried now will i strangle you 

 what said he is that the way you thank me you shall at once go
into your coffin again and he took him up threw him into it and shut
the lid then came the six men and carried him away again i cannot
manage to shudder said he i shall never learn it here as long as i
live 

then a man entered who was taller than all others and looked terrible 
he was old however and had a long white beard you wretch cried he 
 you shall soon learn what it is to shudder for you shall die not so
fast replied the youth if i am to die i shall have to have a say
in it i will soon seize you said the fiend softly softly do not
talk so big i am as strong as you are and perhaps even stronger 
 we shall see said the old man if you are stronger i will let you
go come we will try then he led him by dark passages to a smith's
forge took an axe and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground 
 i can do better than that said the youth and went to the other
anvil the old man placed himself near and wanted to look on and his
white beard hung down then the youth seized the axe split the anvil
with one blow and in it caught the old man's beard now i have you 
said the youth now it is your turn to die then he seized an iron bar
and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop when he
would give him great riches the youth drew out the axe and let him go 
the old man led him back into the castle and in a cellar showed him
three chests full of gold of these said he one part is for the
poor the other for the king the third yours in the meantime it
struck twelve and the spirit disappeared so that the youth stood in
darkness i shall still be able to find my way out said he and felt
about found the way into the room and slept there by his fire 
next morning the king came and said now you must have learnt what
shuddering is no he answered what can it be my dead cousin was
here and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down
below but no one told me what it was to shudder then said the
king you have saved the castle and shall marry my daughter that
is all very well said he but still i do not know what it is to
shudder 

then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated but howsoever
much the young king loved his wife and however happy he was he still
said always if i could but shudder if i could but shudder and this
at last angered her her waiting-maid said i will find a cure for him 
he shall soon learn what it is to shudder she went out to the stream
which flowed through the garden and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons
brought to her at night when the young king was sleeping his wife was
to draw the clothes off him and empty the bucket full of cold water
with the gudgeons in it over him so that the little fishes would
sprawl about him then he woke up and cried oh what makes me shudder
so what makes me shudder so dear wife ah now i know what it is to
shudder 




king grisly-beard

a great king of a land far away in the east had a daughter who was very
beautiful but so proud and haughty and conceited that none of the
princes who came to ask her in marriage was good enough for her and she
only made sport of them 

once upon a time the king held a great feast and asked thither all
her suitors and they all sat in a row ranged according to their
rank kings and princes and dukes and earls and counts and barons 
and knights then the princess came in and as she passed by them she
had something spiteful to say to every one the first was too fat he's
as round as a tub said she the next was too tall what a maypole 
said she the next was too short what a dumpling said she the
fourth was too pale and she called him wallface the fifth was too
red so she called him coxcomb the sixth was not straight enough 
so she said he was like a green stick that had been laid to dry over
a baker's oven and thus she had some joke to crack upon every one but
she laughed more than all at a good king who was there look at
him said she his beard is like an old mop he shall be called
grisly-beard so the king got the nickname of grisly-beard 

but the old king was very angry when he saw how his daughter behaved 
and how she ill-treated all his guests and he vowed that willing or
unwilling she should marry the first man be he prince or beggar that
came to the door 

two days after there came by a travelling fiddler who began to play
under the window and beg alms and when the king heard him he said 
 let him come in so they brought in a dirty-looking fellow and when
he had sung before the king and the princess he begged a boon then the
king said you have sung so well that i will give you my daughter for
your wife the princess begged and prayed but the king said i have
sworn to give you to the first comer and i will keep my word so words
and tears were of no avail the parson was sent for and she was married
to the fiddler when this was over the king said now get ready to
go you must not stay here you must travel on with your husband 

then the fiddler went his way and took her with him and they soon came
to a great wood pray said she whose is this wood it belongs
to king grisly-beard answered he hadst thou taken him all had been
thine ah unlucky wretch that i am sighed she would that i had
married king grisly-beard next they came to some fine meadows whose
are these beautiful green meadows said she they belong to king
grisly-beard hadst thou taken him they had all been thine ah 
unlucky wretch that i am said she would that i had married king
grisly-beard 

then they came to a great city whose is this noble city said she 
 it belongs to king grisly-beard hadst thou taken him it had all been
thine ah wretch that i am sighed she why did i not marry king
grisly-beard that is no business of mine said the fiddler why
should you wish for another husband am not i good enough for you 

at last they came to a small cottage what a paltry place said she 
 to whom does that little dirty hole belong then the fiddler said 
 that is your and my house where we are to live where are your
servants cried she what do we want with servants said he you
must do for yourself whatever is to be done now make the fire and put
on water and cook my supper for i am very tired but the princess knew
nothing of making fires and cooking and the fiddler was forced to help
her when they had eaten a very scanty meal they went to bed but the
fiddler called her up very early in the morning to clean the house thus
they lived for two days and when they had eaten up all there was in the
cottage the man said wife we can't go on thus spending money and
earning nothing you must learn to weave baskets then he went out and
cut willows and brought them home and she began to weave but it made
her fingers very sore i see this work won't do said he try and
spin perhaps you will do that better so she sat down and tried to
spin but the threads cut her tender fingers till the blood ran see
now said the fiddler you are good for nothing you can do no work 
what a bargain i have got however i'll try and set up a trade in pots
and pans and you shall stand in the market and sell them alas 
sighed she if any of my father's court should pass by and see me
standing in the market how they will laugh at me 

but her husband did not care for that and said she must work if she
did not wish to die of hunger at first the trade went well for many
people seeing such a beautiful woman went to buy her wares and paid
their money without thinking of taking away the goods they lived on
this as long as it lasted and then her husband bought a fresh lot of
ware and she sat herself down with it in the corner of the market but
a drunken soldier soon came by and rode his horse against her stall 
and broke all her goods into a thousand pieces then she began to cry 
and knew not what to do ah what will become of me said she what
will my husband say so she ran home and told him all who would
have thought you would have been so silly said he as to put an
earthenware stall in the corner of the market where everybody passes 
but let us have no more crying i see you are not fit for this sort of
work so i have been to the king's palace and asked if they did not
want a kitchen-maid and they say they will take you and there you will
have plenty to eat 

thus the princess became a kitchen-maid and helped the cook to do all
the dirtiest work but she was allowed to carry home some of the meat
that was left and on this they lived 

she had not been there long before she heard that the king's eldest son
was passing by going to be married and she went to one of the windows
and looked out everything was ready and all the pomp and brightness of
the court was there then she bitterly grieved for the pride and folly
which had brought her so low and the servants gave her some of the rich
meats which she put into her basket to take home 

all on a sudden as she was going out in came the king's son in golden
clothes and when he saw a beautiful woman at the door he took her
by the hand and said she should be his partner in the dance but she
trembled for fear for she saw that it was king grisly-beard who was
making sport of her however he kept fast hold and led her in and the
cover of the basket came off so that the meats in it fell about then
everybody laughed and jeered at her and she was so abashed that she
wished herself a thousand feet deep in the earth she sprang to the
door to run away but on the steps king grisly-beard overtook her and
brought her back and said fear me not i am the fiddler who has lived
with you in the hut i brought you there because i really loved you i
am also the soldier that overset your stall i have done all this only
to cure you of your silly pride and to show you the folly of your
ill-treatment of me now all is over you have learnt wisdom and it is
time to hold our marriage feast 

then the chamberlains came and brought her the most beautiful robes and
her father and his whole court were there already and welcomed her home
on her marriage joy was in every face and every heart the feast was
grand they danced and sang all were merry and i only wish that you
and i had been of the party 




iron hans

there was once upon a time a king who had a great forest near his
palace full of all kinds of wild animals one day he sent out a
huntsman to shoot him a roe but he did not come back perhaps some
accident has befallen him said the king and the next day he sent out
two more huntsmen who were to search for him but they too stayed away 
then on the third day he sent for all his huntsmen and said scour
the whole forest through and do not give up until you have found all
three but of these also none came home again none were seen again 
from that time forth no one would any longer venture into the forest 
and it lay there in deep stillness and solitude and nothing was seen
of it but sometimes an eagle or a hawk flying over it this lasted for
many years when an unknown huntsman announced himself to the king as
seeking a situation and offered to go into the dangerous forest the
king however would not give his consent and said it is not safe in
there i fear it would fare with you no better than with the others 
and you would never come out again the huntsman replied lord i will
venture it at my own risk of fear i know nothing 

the huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest it was
not long before the dog fell in with some game on the way and wanted to
pursue it but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a
deep pool could go no farther and a naked arm stretched itself out of
the water seized it and drew it under when the huntsman saw that he
went back and fetched three men to come with buckets and bale out the
water when they could see to the bottom there lay a wild man whose body
was brown like rusty iron and whose hair hung over his face down to his
knees they bound him with cords and led him away to the castle there
was great astonishment over the wild man the king however had him put
in an iron cage in his courtyard and forbade the door to be opened
on pain of death and the queen herself was to take the key into her
keeping and from this time forth everyone could again go into the
forest with safety 

the king had a son of eight years who was once playing in the
courtyard and while he was playing his golden ball fell into the cage 
the boy ran thither and said give me my ball out not till you have
opened the door for me answered the man no said the boy i will
not do that the king has forbidden it and ran away the next day he
again went and asked for his ball the wild man said open my door 
but the boy would not on the third day the king had ridden out hunting 
and the boy went once more and said i cannot open the door even if i
wished for i have not the key then the wild man said it lies under
your mother's pillow you can get it there the boy who wanted to have
his ball back cast all thought to the winds and brought the key the
door opened with difficulty and the boy pinched his fingers when it
was open the wild man stepped out gave him the golden ball and hurried
away the boy had become afraid he called and cried after him oh 
wild man do not go away or i shall be beaten the wild man turned
back took him up set him on his shoulder and went with hasty steps
into the forest when the king came home he observed the empty cage 
and asked the queen how that had happened she knew nothing about it 
and sought the key but it was gone she called the boy but no one
answered the king sent out people to seek for him in the fields but
they did not find him then he could easily guess what had happened and
much grief reigned in the royal court 

when the wild man had once more reached the dark forest he took the boy
down from his shoulder and said to him you will never see your father
and mother again but i will keep you with me for you have set me free 
and i have compassion on you if you do all i bid you you shall fare
well of treasure and gold have i enough and more than anyone in the
world he made a bed of moss for the boy on which he slept and the
next morning the man took him to a well and said behold the gold
well is as bright and clear as crystal you shall sit beside it and
take care that nothing falls into it or it will be polluted i will
come every evening to see if you have obeyed my order the boy placed
himself by the brink of the well and often saw a golden fish or a
golden snake show itself therein and took care that nothing fell in 
as he was thus sitting his finger hurt him so violently that he
involuntarily put it in the water he drew it quickly out again but saw
that it was quite gilded and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold
off again all was to no purpose in the evening iron hans came back 
looked at the boy and said what has happened to the well nothing
nothing he answered and held his finger behind his back that the
man might not see it but he said you have dipped your finger into
the water this time it may pass but take care you do not again let
anything go in by daybreak the boy was already sitting by the well and
watching it his finger hurt him again and he passed it over his head 
and then unhappily a hair fell down into the well he took it quickly
out but it was already quite gilded iron hans came and already knew
what had happened you have let a hair fall into the well said he 
 i will allow you to watch by it once more but if this happens for the
third time then the well is polluted and you can no longer remain with
me 

on the third day the boy sat by the well and did not stir his finger 
however much it hurt him but the time was long to him and he looked at
the reflection of his face on the surface of the water and as he
still bent down more and more while he was doing so and trying to look
straight into the eyes his long hair fell down from his shoulders into
the water he raised himself up quickly but the whole of the hair of
his head was already golden and shone like the sun you can imagine how
terrified the poor boy was he took his pocket-handkerchief and tied it
round his head in order that the man might not see it when he came he
already knew everything and said take the handkerchief off then the
golden hair streamed forth and let the boy excuse himself as he might 
it was of no use you have not stood the trial and can stay here no
longer go forth into the world there you will learn what poverty is 
but as you have not a bad heart and as i mean well by you there is
one thing i will grant you if you fall into any difficulty come to the
forest and cry iron hans and then i will come and help you my
power is great greater than you think and i have gold and silver in
abundance 

then the king's son left the forest and walked by beaten and unbeaten
paths ever onwards until at length he reached a great city there he
looked for work but could find none and he learnt nothing by which he
could help himself at length he went to the palace and asked if they
would take him in the people about court did not at all know what use
they could make of him but they liked him and told him to stay at
length the cook took him into his service and said he might carry wood
and water and rake the cinders together once when it so happened that
no one else was at hand the cook ordered him to carry the food to the
royal table but as he did not like to let his golden hair be seen he
kept his little cap on such a thing as that had never yet come under
the king's notice and he said when you come to the royal table you
must take your hat off he answered ah lord i cannot i have a bad
sore place on my head then the king had the cook called before him
and scolded him and asked how he could take such a boy as that into his
service and that he was to send him away at once the cook however 
had pity on him and exchanged him for the gardener's boy 

and now the boy had to plant and water the garden hoe and dig and bear
the wind and bad weather once in summer when he was working alone in
the garden the day was so warm he took his little cap off that the air
might cool him as the sun shone on his hair it glittered and flashed so
that the rays fell into the bedroom of the king's daughter and up she
sprang to see what that could be then she saw the boy and cried to
him boy bring me a wreath of flowers he put his cap on with all
haste and gathered wild field-flowers and bound them together when he
was ascending the stairs with them the gardener met him and said how
can you take the king's daughter a garland of such common flowers go
quickly and get another and seek out the prettiest and rarest oh 
no replied the boy the wild ones have more scent and will please
her better when he got into the room the king's daughter said take
your cap off it is not seemly to keep it on in my presence he again
said i may not i have a sore head she however caught at his
cap and pulled it off and then his golden hair rolled down on his
shoulders and it was splendid to behold he wanted to run out but she
held him by the arm and gave him a handful of ducats with these he
departed but he cared nothing for the gold pieces he took them to the
gardener and said i present them to your children they can play with
them the following day the king's daughter again called to him that he
was to bring her a wreath of field-flowers and then he went in with it 
she instantly snatched at his cap and wanted to take it away from him 
but he held it fast with both hands she again gave him a handful of
ducats but he would not keep them and gave them to the gardener for
playthings for his children on the third day things went just the
same she could not get his cap away from him and he would not have her
money 

not long afterwards the country was overrun by war the king gathered
together his people and did not know whether or not he could offer any
opposition to the enemy who was superior in strength and had a mighty
army then said the gardener's boy i am grown up and will go to the
wars also only give me a horse the others laughed and said seek
one for yourself when we are gone we will leave one behind us in the
stable for you when they had gone forth he went into the stable and
led the horse out it was lame of one foot and limped hobblety jib 
hobblety jib nevertheless he mounted it and rode away to the dark
forest when he came to the outskirts he called iron hans three
times so loudly that it echoed through the trees thereupon the wild man
appeared immediately and said what do you desire i want a strong
steed for i am going to the wars that you shall have and still more
than you ask for then the wild man went back into the forest and it
was not long before a stable-boy came out of it who led a horse that
snorted with its nostrils and could hardly be restrained and behind
them followed a great troop of warriors entirely equipped in iron and
their swords flashed in the sun the youth made over his three-legged
horse to the stable-boy mounted the other and rode at the head of the
soldiers when he got near the battlefield a great part of the king's
men had already fallen and little was wanting to make the rest give
way then the youth galloped thither with his iron soldiers broke like
a hurricane over the enemy and beat down all who opposed him they
began to flee but the youth pursued and never stopped until there
was not a single man left instead of returning to the king however he
conducted his troop by byways back to the forest and called forth iron
hans what do you desire asked the wild man take back your horse
and your troops and give me my three-legged horse again all that he
asked was done and soon he was riding on his three-legged horse when
the king returned to his palace his daughter went to meet him and
wished him joy of his victory i am not the one who carried away the
victory said he but a strange knight who came to my assistance with
his soldiers the daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was 
but the king did not know and said he followed the enemy and i did
not see him again she inquired of the gardener where his boy was but
he smiled and said he has just come home on his three-legged horse 
and the others have been mocking him and crying here comes our
hobblety jib back again they asked too under what hedge have you
been lying sleeping all the time so he said i did the best of all 
and it would have gone badly without me and then he was still more
ridiculed 

the king said to his daughter i will proclaim a great feast that shall
last for three days and you shall throw a golden apple perhaps the
unknown man will show himself when the feast was announced the youth
went out to the forest and called iron hans what do you desire 
asked he that i may catch the king's daughter's golden apple it is
as safe as if you had it already said iron hans you shall likewise
have a suit of red armour for the occasion and ride on a spirited
chestnut-horse when the day came the youth galloped to the spot took
his place amongst the knights and was recognized by no one the king's
daughter came forward and threw a golden apple to the knights but none
of them caught it but he only as soon as he had it he galloped away 

on the second day iron hans equipped him as a white knight and gave him
a white horse again he was the only one who caught the apple and
he did not linger an instant but galloped off with it the king grew
angry and said that is not allowed he must appear before me and tell
his name he gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple 
should go away again they should pursue him and if he would not come
back willingly they were to cut him down and stab him 

on the third day he received from iron hans a suit of black armour and
a black horse and again he caught the apple but when he was riding off
with it the king's attendants pursued him and one of them got so near
him that he wounded the youth's leg with the point of his sword the
youth nevertheless escaped from them but his horse leapt so violently
that the helmet fell from the youth's head and they could see that he
had golden hair they rode back and announced this to the king 

the following day the king's daughter asked the gardener about his
boy he is at work in the garden the queer creature has been at the
festival too and only came home yesterday evening he has likewise
shown my children three golden apples which he has won 

the king had him summoned into his presence and he came and again had
his little cap on his head but the king's daughter went up to him and
took it off and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders and
he was so handsome that all were amazed are you the knight who came
every day to the festival always in different colours and who caught
the three golden apples asked the king yes answered he and here
the apples are and he took them out of his pocket and returned them
to the king if you desire further proof you may see the wound which
your people gave me when they followed me but i am likewise the knight
who helped you to your victory over your enemies if you can perform
such deeds as that you are no gardener's boy tell me who is your
father my father is a mighty king and gold have i in plenty as great
as i require i well see said the king that i owe my thanks to
you can i do anything to please you yes answered he that indeed
you can give me your daughter to wife the maiden laughed and said 
 he does not stand much on ceremony but i have already seen by his
golden hair that he was no gardener's boy and then she went and
kissed him his father and mother came to the wedding and were in great
delight for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their dear
son again and as they were sitting at the marriage-feast the music
suddenly stopped the doors opened and a stately king came in with a
great retinue he went up to the youth embraced him and said i am
iron hans and was by enchantment a wild man but you have set me free 
all the treasures which i possess shall be your property 




cat-skin

there was once a king whose queen had hair of the purest gold and was
so beautiful that her match was not to be met with on the whole face of
the earth but this beautiful queen fell ill and when she felt that her
end drew near she called the king to her and said promise me that you
will never marry again unless you meet with a wife who is as beautiful
as i am and who has golden hair like mine then when the king in his
grief promised all she asked she shut her eyes and died but the king
was not to be comforted and for a long time never thought of taking
another wife at last however his wise men said this will not do 
the king must marry again that we may have a queen so messengers were
sent far and wide to seek for a bride as beautiful as the late queen 
but there was no princess in the world so beautiful and if there had
been still there was not one to be found who had golden hair so the
messengers came home and had had all their trouble for nothing 

now the king had a daughter who was just as beautiful as her mother 
and had the same golden hair and when she was grown up the king looked
at her and saw that she was just like this late queen then he said to
his courtiers may i not marry my daughter she is the very image of my
dead wife unless i have her i shall not find any bride upon the whole
earth and you say there must be a queen when the courtiers heard this
they were shocked and said heaven forbid that a father should marry
his daughter out of so great a sin no good can come and his daughter
was also shocked but hoped the king would soon give up such thoughts 
so she said to him before i marry anyone i must have three dresses 
one must be of gold like the sun another must be of shining silver 
like the moon and a third must be dazzling as the stars besides this 
i want a mantle of a thousand different kinds of fur put together to
which every beast in the kingdom must give a part of his skin and thus
she thought he would think of the matter no more but the king made the
most skilful workmen in his kingdom weave the three dresses one golden 
like the sun another silvery like the moon and a third sparkling 
like the stars and his hunters were told to hunt out all the beasts in
his kingdom and to take the finest fur out of their skins and thus a
mantle of a thousand furs was made 

when all were ready the king sent them to her but she got up in the
night when all were asleep and took three of her trinkets a golden
ring a golden necklace and a golden brooch and packed the three
dresses of the sun the moon and the stars up in a nutshell and
wrapped herself up in the mantle made of all sorts of fur and besmeared
her face and hands with soot then she threw herself upon heaven for
help in her need and went away and journeyed on the whole night till
at last she came to a large wood as she was very tired she sat herself
down in the hollow of a tree and soon fell asleep and there she slept
on till it was midday 

now as the king to whom the wood belonged was hunting in it his dogs
came to the tree and began to snuff about and run round and round and
bark look sharp said the king to the huntsmen and see what sort
of game lies there and the huntsmen went up to the tree and when they
came back again said in the hollow tree there lies a most wonderful
beast such as we never saw before its skin seems to be of a thousand
kinds of fur but there it lies fast asleep see said the king if
you can catch it alive and we will take it with us so the huntsmen
took it up and the maiden awoke and was greatly frightened and said 
 i am a poor child that has neither father nor mother left have pity on
me and take me with you then they said yes miss cat-skin you will
do for the kitchen you can sweep up the ashes and do things of that
sort so they put her into the coach and took her home to the king's
palace then they showed her a little corner under the staircase where
no light of day ever peeped in and said cat-skin you may lie and
sleep there and she was sent into the kitchen and made to fetch wood
and water to blow the fire pluck the poultry pick the herbs sift the
ashes and do all the dirty work 

thus cat-skin lived for a long time very sorrowfully ah pretty
princess thought she what will now become of thee but it happened
one day that a feast was to be held in the king's castle so she said to
the cook may i go up a little while and see what is going on i will
take care and stand behind the door and the cook said yes you may
go but be back again in half an hour's time to rake out the ashes 
then she took her little lamp and went into her cabin and took off the
fur skin and washed the soot from off her face and hands so that her
beauty shone forth like the sun from behind the clouds she next opened
her nutshell and brought out of it the dress that shone like the sun 
and so went to the feast everyone made way for her for nobody knew
her and they thought she could be no less than a king's daughter but
the king came up to her and held out his hand and danced with her and
he thought in his heart i never saw any one half so beautiful 

when the dance was at an end she curtsied and when the king looked
round for her she was gone no one knew wither the guards that stood
at the castle gate were called in but they had seen no one the truth
was that she had run into her little cabin pulled off her dress 
blackened her face and hands put on the fur-skin cloak and was
cat-skin again when she went into the kitchen to her work and began
to rake the ashes the cook said let that alone till the morning and
heat the king's soup i should like to run up now and give a peep but
take care you don't let a hair fall into it or you will run a chance of
never eating again 

as soon as the cook went away cat-skin heated the king's soup and
toasted a slice of bread first as nicely as ever she could and when it
was ready she went and looked in the cabin for her little golden ring 
and put it into the dish in which the soup was when the dance was over 
the king ordered his soup to be brought in and it pleased him so well 
that he thought he had never tasted any so good before at the bottom
he saw a gold ring lying and as he could not make out how it had got
there he ordered the cook to be sent for the cook was frightened when
he heard the order and said to cat-skin you must have let a hair fall
into the soup if it be so you will have a good beating then he went
before the king and he asked him who had cooked the soup i did 
answered the cook but the king said that is not true it was better
done than you could do it then he answered to tell the truth i did
not cook it but cat-skin did then let cat-skin come up said the
king and when she came he said to her who are you i am a poor
child said she that has lost both father and mother how came you
in my palace asked he i am good for nothing said she but to be
scullion-girl and to have boots and shoes thrown at my head but how
did you get the ring that was in the soup asked the king then she
would not own that she knew anything about the ring so the king sent
her away again about her business 

after a time there was another feast and cat-skin asked the cook to let
her go up and see it as before yes said he but come again in half
an hour and cook the king the soup that he likes so much then she
ran to her little cabin washed herself quickly and took her dress
out which was silvery as the moon and put it on and when she went in 
looking like a king's daughter the king went up to her and rejoiced at
seeing her again and when the dance began he danced with her after the
dance was at an end she managed to slip out so slyly that the king did
not see where she was gone but she sprang into her little cabin and
made herself into cat-skin again and went into the kitchen to cook the
soup whilst the cook was above stairs she got the golden necklace and
dropped it into the soup then it was brought to the king who ate it 
and it pleased him as well as before so he sent for the cook who
was again forced to tell him that cat-skin had cooked it cat-skin was
brought again before the king but she still told him that she was only
fit to have boots and shoes thrown at her head 

but when the king had ordered a feast to be got ready for the third
time it happened just the same as before you must be a witch 
cat-skin said the cook for you always put something into your soup 
so that it pleases the king better than mine however he let her go up
as before then she put on her dress which sparkled like the stars and
went into the ball-room in it and the king danced with her again and
thought she had never looked so beautiful as she did then so whilst
he was dancing with her he put a gold ring on her finger without her
seeing it and ordered that the dance should be kept up a long time 
when it was at an end he would have held her fast by the hand but she
slipped away and sprang so quickly through the crowd that he lost sight
of her and she ran as fast as she could into her little cabin under
the stairs but this time she kept away too long and stayed beyond the
half-hour so she had not time to take off her fine dress and threw her
fur mantle over it and in her haste did not blacken herself all over
with soot but left one of her fingers white 

then she ran into the kitchen and cooked the king's soup and as soon
as the cook was gone she put the golden brooch into the dish when the
king got to the bottom he ordered cat-skin to be called once more and
soon saw the white finger and the ring that he had put on it whilst
they were dancing so he seized her hand and kept fast hold of it and
when she wanted to loose herself and spring away the fur cloak fell off
a little on one side and the starry dress sparkled underneath it 

then he got hold of the fur and tore it off and her golden hair and
beautiful form were seen and she could no longer hide herself so she
washed the soot and ashes from her face and showed herself to be the
most beautiful princess upon the face of the earth but the king said 
 you are my beloved bride and we will never more be parted from each
other and the wedding feast was held and a merry day it was as ever
was heard of or seen in that country or indeed in any other 




snow-white and rose-red

there was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage in front of
the cottage was a garden wherein stood two rose-trees one of which bore
white and the other red roses she had two children who were like the
two rose-trees and one was called snow-white and the other rose-red 
they were as good and happy as busy and cheerful as ever two children
in the world were only snow-white was more quiet and gentle than
rose-red rose-red liked better to run about in the meadows and fields
seeking flowers and catching butterflies but snow-white sat at home
with her mother and helped her with her housework or read to her when
there was nothing to do 

the two children were so fond of one another that they always held each
other by the hand when they went out together and when snow-white said 
 we will not leave each other rose-red answered never so long as we
live and their mother would add what one has she must share with the
other 

they often ran about the forest alone and gathered red berries and no
beasts did them any harm but came close to them trustfully the little
hare would eat a cabbage-leaf out of their hands the roe grazed by
their side the stag leapt merrily by them and the birds sat still upon
the boughs and sang whatever they knew 

no mishap overtook them if they had stayed too late in the forest and
night came on they laid themselves down near one another upon the moss 
and slept until morning came and their mother knew this and did not
worry on their account 

once when they had spent the night in the wood and the dawn had roused
them they saw a beautiful child in a shining white dress sitting near
their bed he got up and looked quite kindly at them but said nothing
and went into the forest and when they looked round they found that
they had been sleeping quite close to a precipice and would certainly
have fallen into it in the darkness if they had gone only a few paces
further and their mother told them that it must have been the angel who
watches over good children 

snow-white and rose-red kept their mother's little cottage so neat that
it was a pleasure to look inside it in the summer rose-red took care
of the house and every morning laid a wreath of flowers by her mother's
bed before she awoke in which was a rose from each tree in the winter
snow-white lit the fire and hung the kettle on the hob the kettle
was of brass and shone like gold so brightly was it polished in the
evening when the snowflakes fell the mother said go snow-white and
bolt the door and then they sat round the hearth and the mother took
her spectacles and read aloud out of a large book and the two girls
listened as they sat and spun and close by them lay a lamb upon the
floor and behind them upon a perch sat a white dove with its head
hidden beneath its wings 

one evening as they were thus sitting comfortably together someone
knocked at the door as if he wished to be let in the mother said 
 quick rose-red open the door it must be a traveller who is seeking
shelter rose-red went and pushed back the bolt thinking that it was a
poor man but it was not it was a bear that stretched his broad black
head within the door 

rose-red screamed and sprang back the lamb bleated the dove fluttered 
and snow-white hid herself behind her mother's bed but the bear began
to speak and said do not be afraid i will do you no harm i am
half-frozen and only want to warm myself a little beside you 

 poor bear said the mother lie down by the fire only take care that
you do not burn your coat then she cried snow-white rose-red come
out the bear will do you no harm he means well so they both came
out and by-and-by the lamb and dove came nearer and were not afraid
of him the bear said here children knock the snow out of my coat a
little so they brought the broom and swept the bear's hide clean 
and he stretched himself by the fire and growled contentedly and
comfortably it was not long before they grew quite at home and played
tricks with their clumsy guest they tugged his hair with their hands 
put their feet upon his back and rolled him about or they took a
hazel-switch and beat him and when he growled they laughed but the
bear took it all in good part only when they were too rough he called
out leave me alive children 

 snow-white rose-red 
 will you beat your wooer dead 

when it was bed-time and the others went to bed the mother said to the
bear you can lie there by the hearth and then you will be safe from
the cold and the bad weather as soon as day dawned the two children
let him out and he trotted across the snow into the forest 

henceforth the bear came every evening at the same time laid himself
down by the hearth and let the children amuse themselves with him as
much as they liked and they got so used to him that the doors were
never fastened until their black friend had arrived 

when spring had come and all outside was green the bear said one
morning to snow-white now i must go away and cannot come back for the
whole summer where are you going then dear bear asked snow-white 
 i must go into the forest and guard my treasures from the wicked
dwarfs in the winter when the earth is frozen hard they are obliged
to stay below and cannot work their way through but now when the sun
has thawed and warmed the earth they break through it and come out to
pry and steal and what once gets into their hands and in their caves 
does not easily see daylight again 

snow-white was quite sorry at his departure and as she unbolted the
door for him and the bear was hurrying out he caught against the bolt
and a piece of his hairy coat was torn off and it seemed to snow-white
as if she had seen gold shining through it but she was not sure about
it the bear ran away quickly and was soon out of sight behind the
trees 

a short time afterwards the mother sent her children into the forest
to get firewood there they found a big tree which lay felled on the
ground and close by the trunk something was jumping backwards and
forwards in the grass but they could not make out what it was when
they came nearer they saw a dwarf with an old withered face and a
snow-white beard a yard long the end of the beard was caught in a
crevice of the tree and the little fellow was jumping about like a dog
tied to a rope and did not know what to do 

he glared at the girls with his fiery red eyes and cried why do you
stand there can you not come here and help me what are you up to 
little man asked rose-red you stupid prying goose answered the
dwarf i was going to split the tree to get a little wood for cooking 
the little bit of food that we people get is immediately burnt up with
heavy logs we do not swallow so much as you coarse greedy folk i had
just driven the wedge safely in and everything was going as i wished 
but the cursed wedge was too smooth and suddenly sprang out and the
tree closed so quickly that i could not pull out my beautiful white
beard so now it is tight and i cannot get away and the silly sleek 
milk-faced things laugh ugh how odious you are 

the children tried very hard but they could not pull the beard out it
was caught too fast i will run and fetch someone said rose-red you
senseless goose snarled the dwarf why should you fetch someone you
are already two too many for me can you not think of something better 
 don't be impatient said snow-white i will help you and she pulled
her scissors out of her pocket and cut off the end of the beard 

as soon as the dwarf felt himself free he laid hold of a bag which lay
amongst the roots of the tree and which was full of gold and lifted it
up grumbling to himself uncouth people to cut off a piece of my fine
beard bad luck to you and then he swung the bag upon his back and
went off without even once looking at the children 

some time afterwards snow-white and rose-red went to catch a dish
of fish as they came near the brook they saw something like a large
grasshopper jumping towards the water as if it were going to leap in 
they ran to it and found it was the dwarf where are you going said
rose-red you surely don't want to go into the water i am not such
a fool cried the dwarf don't you see that the accursed fish wants
to pull me in the little man had been sitting there fishing and
unluckily the wind had tangled up his beard with the fishing-line a
moment later a big fish made a bite and the feeble creature had not
strength to pull it out the fish kept the upper hand and pulled the
dwarf towards him he held on to all the reeds and rushes but it was of
little good for he was forced to follow the movements of the fish and
was in urgent danger of being dragged into the water 

the girls came just in time they held him fast and tried to free his
beard from the line but all in vain beard and line were entangled fast
together there was nothing to do but to bring out the scissors and cut
the beard whereby a small part of it was lost when the dwarf saw that
he screamed out is that civil you toadstool to disfigure a man's
face was it not enough to clip off the end of my beard now you have
cut off the best part of it i cannot let myself be seen by my people 
i wish you had been made to run the soles off your shoes then he took
out a sack of pearls which lay in the rushes and without another word
he dragged it away and disappeared behind a stone 

it happened that soon afterwards the mother sent the two children to the
town to buy needles and thread and laces and ribbons the road led them
across a heath upon which huge pieces of rock lay strewn about there
they noticed a large bird hovering in the air flying slowly round and
round above them it sank lower and lower and at last settled near a
rock not far away immediately they heard a loud piteous cry they ran
up and saw with horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance
the dwarf and was going to carry him off 

the children full of pity at once took tight hold of the little man 
and pulled against the eagle so long that at last he let his booty go 
as soon as the dwarf had recovered from his first fright he cried
with his shrill voice could you not have done it more carefully you
dragged at my brown coat so that it is all torn and full of holes you
clumsy creatures then he took up a sack full of precious stones and
slipped away again under the rock into his hole the girls who by
this time were used to his ingratitude went on their way and did their
business in town 

as they crossed the heath again on their way home they surprised the
dwarf who had emptied out his bag of precious stones in a clean spot 
and had not thought that anyone would come there so late the evening
sun shone upon the brilliant stones they glittered and sparkled with
all colours so beautifully that the children stood still and stared
at them why do you stand gaping there cried the dwarf and his
ashen-grey face became copper-red with rage he was still cursing when a
loud growling was heard and a black bear came trotting towards them out
of the forest the dwarf sprang up in a fright but he could not reach
his cave for the bear was already close then in the dread of his heart
he cried dear mr bear spare me i will give you all my treasures 
look the beautiful jewels lying there grant me my life what do you
want with such a slender little fellow as i you would not feel me
between your teeth come take these two wicked girls they are tender
morsels for you fat as young quails for mercy's sake eat them the
bear took no heed of his words but gave the wicked creature a single
blow with his paw and he did not move again 

the girls had run away but the bear called to them snow-white and
rose-red do not be afraid wait i will come with you then they
recognized his voice and waited and when he came up to them suddenly
his bearskin fell off and he stood there a handsome man clothed all in
gold i am a king's son he said and i was bewitched by that wicked
dwarf who had stolen my treasures i have had to run about the forest
as a savage bear until i was freed by his death now he has got his
well-deserved punishment 

snow-white was married to him and rose-red to his brother and they
divided between them the great treasure which the dwarf had gathered
together in his cave the old mother lived peacefully and happily with
her children for many years she took the two rose-trees with her and
they stood before her window and every year bore the most beautiful
roses white and red 


heart of darkness

by joseph conrad




i


the nellie a cruising yawl swung to her anchor without a flutter of
the sails and was at rest the flood had made the wind was nearly
calm and being bound down the river the only thing for it was to come
to and wait for the turn of the tide 

the sea-reach of the thames stretched before us like the beginning of
an interminable waterway in the offing the sea and the sky were welded
together without a joint and in the luminous space the tanned sails
of the barges drifting up with the tide seemed to stand still in red
clusters of canvas sharply peaked with gleams of varnished sprits a
haze rested on the low shores that ran out to sea in vanishing flatness 
the air was dark above gravesend and farther back still seemed
condensed into a mournful gloom brooding motionless over the biggest 
and the greatest town on earth 

the director of companies was our captain and our host we four
affectionately watched his back as he stood in the bows looking to
seaward on the whole river there was nothing that looked half so
nautical he resembled a pilot which to a seaman is trustworthiness
personified it was difficult to realize his work was not out there in
the luminous estuary but behind him within the brooding gloom 

between us there was as i have already said somewhere the bond of
the sea besides holding our hearts together through long periods of
separation it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's
yarns and even convictions the lawyer the best of old fellows had 
because of his many years and many virtues the only cushion on deck 
and was lying on the only rug the accountant had brought out already a
box of dominoes and was toying architecturally with the bones marlow
sat cross-legged right aft leaning against the mizzen-mast he had
sunken cheeks a yellow complexion a straight back an ascetic aspect 
and with his arms dropped the palms of hands outwards resembled an
idol the director satisfied the anchor had good hold made his way
aft and sat down amongst us we exchanged a few words lazily afterwards
there was silence on board the yacht for some reason or other we did
not begin that game of dominoes we felt meditative and fit for nothing
but placid staring the day was ending in a serenity of still and
exquisite brilliance the water shone pacifically the sky without a
speck was a benign immensity of unstained light the very mist on the
essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric hung from the wooded
rises inland and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds only the
gloom to the west brooding over the upper reaches became more sombre
every minute as if angered by the approach of the sun 

and at last in its curved and imperceptible fall the sun sank low and
from glowing white changed to a dull red without rays and without heat 
as if about to go out suddenly stricken to death by the touch of that
gloom brooding over a crowd of men 

forthwith a change came over the waters and the serenity became less
brilliant but more profound the old river in its broad reach rested
unruffled at the decline of day after ages of good service done to the
race that peopled its banks spread out in the tranquil dignity of a
waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth we looked at the
venerable stream not in the vivid flush of a short day that comes and
departs for ever but in the august light of abiding memories and
indeed nothing is easier for a man who has as the phrase goes 
 followed the sea with reverence and affection than to evoke the
great spirit of the past upon the lower reaches of the thames the tidal
current runs to and fro in its unceasing service crowded with memories
of men and ships it had borne to the rest of home or to the battles
of the sea it had known and served all the men of whom the nation is
proud from sir francis drake to sir john franklin knights all titled
and untitled the great knights-errant of the sea it had borne all the
ships whose names are like jewels flashing in the night of time from
the golden hind returning with her rotund flanks full of treasure to be
visited by the queen's highness and thus pass out of the gigantic tale 
to the erebus and terror bound on other conquests and that never
returned it had known the ships and the men they had sailed from
deptford from greenwich from erith the adventurers and the settlers 
kings' ships and the ships of men on 'change captains admirals the
dark interlopers of the eastern trade and the commissioned generals 
 of east india fleets hunters for gold or pursuers of fame they all
had gone out on that stream bearing the sword and often the torch 
messengers of the might within the land bearers of a spark from the
sacred fire what greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river
into the mystery of an unknown earth the dreams of men the seed
of commonwealths the germs of empires 

the sun set the dusk fell on the stream and lights began to appear
along the shore the chapman light-house a three-legged thing erect
on a mud-flat shone strongly lights of ships moved in the fairway a
great stir of lights going up and going down and farther west on the
upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was still marked ominously
on the sky a brooding gloom in sunshine a lurid glare under the stars 

 and this also said marlow suddenly has been one of the dark places
of the earth 

he was the only man of us who still followed the sea the worst that
could be said of him was that he did not represent his class he was a
seaman but he was a wanderer too while most seamen lead if one may
so express it a sedentary life their minds are of the stay-at-home
order and their home is always with them the ship and so is their
country the sea one ship is very much like another and the sea is
always the same in the immutability of their surroundings the foreign
shores the foreign faces the changing immensity of life glide past 
veiled not by a sense of mystery but by a slightly disdainful ignorance 
for there is nothing mysterious to a seaman unless it be the sea itself 
which is the mistress of his existence and as inscrutable as destiny 
for the rest after his hours of work a casual stroll or a casual spree
on shore suffices to unfold for him the secret of a whole continent 
and generally he finds the secret not worth knowing the yarns of seamen
have a direct simplicity the whole meaning of which lies within the
shell of a cracked nut but marlow was not typical if his propensity
to spin yarns be excepted and to him the meaning of an episode was not
inside like a kernel but outside enveloping the tale which brought it
out only as a glow brings out a haze in the likeness of one of these
misty halos that sometimes are made visible by the spectral illumination
of moonshine 

his remark did not seem at all surprising it was just like marlow 
it was accepted in silence no one took the trouble to grunt even and
presently he said very slow i was thinking of very old times when
the romans first came here nineteen hundred years ago the other day
 light came out of this river since you say knights yes but
it is like a running blaze on a plain like a flash of lightning in the
clouds we live in the flicker may it last as long as the old earth
keeps rolling but darkness was here yesterday imagine the feelings
of a commander of a fine what d'ye call 'em trireme in the
mediterranean ordered suddenly to the north run overland across the
gauls in a hurry put in charge of one of these craft the legionaries a
wonderful lot of handy men they must have been too used to build 
apparently by the hundred in a month or two if we may believe what we
read imagine him here the very end of the world a sea the colour
of lead a sky the colour of smoke a kind of ship about as rigid as a
concertina and going up this river with stores or orders or what you
like sand-banks marshes forests savages precious little to eat
fit for a civilized man nothing but thames water to drink no falernian
wine here no going ashore here and there a military camp lost in
a wilderness like a needle in a bundle of hay cold fog tempests 
disease exile and death death skulking in the air in the water in
the bush they must have been dying like flies here oh yes he did
it did it very well too no doubt and without thinking much about
it either except afterwards to brag of what he had gone through in his
time perhaps they were men enough to face the darkness and perhaps he
was cheered by keeping his eye on a chance of promotion to the fleet at
ravenna by and by if he had good friends in rome and survived the awful
climate or think of a decent young citizen in a toga perhaps too
much dice you know coming out here in the train of some prefect or
tax-gatherer or trader even to mend his fortunes land in a swamp 
march through the woods and in some inland post feel the savagery the
utter savagery had closed round him all that mysterious life of the
wilderness that stirs in the forest in the jungles in the hearts of
wild men there's no initiation either into such mysteries he has to
live in the midst of the incomprehensible which is also detestable and
it has a fascination too that goes to work upon him the fascination
of the abomination you know imagine the growing regrets the longing
to escape the powerless disgust the surrender the hate 

he paused 

 mind he began again lifting one arm from the elbow the palm of the
hand outwards so that with his legs folded before him he had the
pose of a buddha preaching in european clothes and without a
lotus-flower mind none of us would feel exactly like this what saves
us is efficiency the devotion to efficiency but these chaps were not
much account really they were no colonists their administration was
merely a squeeze and nothing more i suspect they were conquerors and
for that you want only brute force nothing to boast of when you have
it since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of
others they grabbed what they could get for the sake of what was to
be got it was just robbery with violence aggravated murder on a great
scale and men going at it blind as is very proper for those who tackle
a darkness the conquest of the earth which mostly means the taking
it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter
noses than ourselves is not a pretty thing when you look into it too
much what redeems it is the idea only an idea at the back of it not
a sentimental pretence but an idea and an unselfish belief in the
idea something you can set up and bow down before and offer a
sacrifice to 

he broke off flames glided in the river small green flames red
flames white flames pursuing overtaking joining crossing each
other then separating slowly or hastily the traffic of the great city
went on in the deepening night upon the sleepless river we looked on 
waiting patiently there was nothing else to do till the end of
the flood but it was only after a long silence when he said in
a hesitating voice i suppose you fellows remember i did once turn
fresh-water sailor for a bit that we knew we were fated before
the ebb began to run to hear about one of marlow's inconclusive
experiences 

 i don't want to bother you much with what happened to me personally 
 he began showing in this remark the weakness of many tellers of tales
who seem so often unaware of what their audience would like best to
hear yet to understand the effect of it on me you ought to know how i
got out there what i saw how i went up that river to the place where i
first met the poor chap it was the farthest point of navigation and the
culminating point of my experience it seemed somehow to throw a kind
of light on everything about me and into my thoughts it was sombre
enough too and pitiful not extraordinary in any way not very clear
either no not very clear and yet it seemed to throw a kind of light 

 i had then as you remember just returned to london after a lot of
indian ocean pacific china seas a regular dose of the east six years
or so and i was loafing about hindering you fellows in your work and
invading your homes just as though i had got a heavenly mission to
civilize you it was very fine for a time but after a bit i did get
tired of resting then i began to look for a ship i should think the
hardest work on earth but the ships wouldn't even look at me and i got
tired of that game too 

 now when i was a little chap i had a passion for maps i would look for
hours at south america or africa or australia and lose myself in all
the glories of exploration at that time there were many blank spaces on
the earth and when i saw one that looked particularly inviting on a map
 but they all look that i would put my finger on it and say 'when
i grow up i will go there ' the north pole was one of these places i
remember well i haven't been there yet and shall not try now the
glamour's off other places were scattered about the hemispheres i
have been in some of them and well we won't talk about that but
there was one yet the biggest the most blank so to speak that i had
a hankering after 

 true by this time it was not a blank space any more it had got filled
since my boyhood with rivers and lakes and names it had ceased to be
a blank space of delightful mystery a white patch for a boy to dream
gloriously over it had become a place of darkness but there was in it
one river especially a mighty big river that you could see on the map 
resembling an immense snake uncoiled with its head in the sea its
body at rest curving afar over a vast country and its tail lost in the
depths of the land and as i looked at the map of it in a shop-window 
it fascinated me as a snake would a bird a silly little bird then i
remembered there was a big concern a company for trade on that river 
dash it all i thought to myself they can't trade without using some
kind of craft on that lot of fresh water steamboats why shouldn't i
try to get charge of one i went on along fleet street but could not
shake off the idea the snake had charmed me 

 you understand it was a continental concern that trading society but
i have a lot of relations living on the continent because it's cheap
and not so nasty as it looks they say 

 i am sorry to own i began to worry them this was already a fresh
departure for me i was not used to get things that way you know i
always went my own road and on my own legs where i had a mind to go i
wouldn't have believed it of myself but then you see i felt somehow
i must get there by hook or by crook so i worried them the men said
'my dear fellow ' and did nothing then would you believe it i tried
the women i charlie marlow set the women to work to get a job 
heavens well you see the notion drove me i had an aunt a dear
enthusiastic soul she wrote 'it will be delightful i am ready to do
anything anything for you it is a glorious idea i know the wife of a
very high personage in the administration and also a man who has lots
of influence with ' etc she was determined to make no end of fuss to
get me appointed skipper of a river steamboat if such was my fancy 

 i got my appointment of course and i got it very quick it appears
the company had received news that one of their captains had been killed
in a scuffle with the natives this was my chance and it made me the
more anxious to go it was only months and months afterwards when i
made the attempt to recover what was left of the body that i heard the
original quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens yes 
two black hens fresleven that was the fellow's name a dane thought
himself wronged somehow in the bargain so he went ashore and started to
hammer the chief of the village with a stick oh it didn't surprise
me in the least to hear this and at the same time to be told that
fresleven was the gentlest quietest creature that ever walked on two
legs no doubt he was but he had been a couple of years already out
there engaged in the noble cause you know and he probably felt the
need at last of asserting his self-respect in some way therefore he
whacked the old nigger mercilessly while a big crowd of his people
watched him thunderstruck till some man i was told the chief's
son in desperation at hearing the old chap yell made a tentative jab
with a spear at the white man and of course it went quite easy between
the shoulder-blades then the whole population cleared into the forest 
expecting all kinds of calamities to happen while on the other hand 
the steamer fresleven commanded left also in a bad panic in charge of
the engineer i believe afterwards nobody seemed to trouble much
about fresleven's remains till i got out and stepped into his shoes i
couldn't let it rest though but when an opportunity offered at last to
meet my predecessor the grass growing through his ribs was tall enough
to hide his bones they were all there the supernatural being had not
been touched after he fell and the village was deserted the huts gaped
black rotting all askew within the fallen enclosures a calamity
had come to it sure enough the people had vanished mad terror had
scattered them men women and children through the bush and they had
never returned what became of the hens i don't know either i should
think the cause of progress got them anyhow however through this
glorious affair i got my appointment before i had fairly begun to hope
for it 

 i flew around like mad to get ready and before forty-eight hours i
was crossing the channel to show myself to my employers and sign the
contract in a very few hours i arrived in a city that always makes me
think of a whited sepulchre prejudice no doubt i had no difficulty in
finding the company's offices it was the biggest thing in the town 
and everybody i met was full of it they were going to run an over-sea
empire and make no end of coin by trade 

 a narrow and deserted street in deep shadow high houses innumerable
windows with venetian blinds a dead silence grass sprouting right and
left immense double doors standing ponderously ajar i slipped through
one of these cracks went up a swept and ungarnished staircase as arid
as a desert and opened the first door i came to two women one fat and
the other slim sat on straw-bottomed chairs knitting black wool the
slim one got up and walked straight at me still knitting with downcast
eyes and only just as i began to think of getting out of her way as
you would for a somnambulist stood still and looked up her dress was
as plain as an umbrella-cover and she turned round without a word and
preceded me into a waiting-room i gave my name and looked about deal
table in the middle plain chairs all round the walls on one end a
large shining map marked with all the colours of a rainbow there was a
vast amount of red good to see at any time because one knows that some
real work is done in there a deuce of a lot of blue a little green 
smears of orange and on the east coast a purple patch to show where
the jolly pioneers of progress drink the jolly lager-beer however i
wasn't going into any of these i was going into the yellow dead in
the centre and the river was there fascinating deadly like a snake 
ough a door opened a white-haired secretarial head but wearing a
compassionate expression appeared and a skinny forefinger beckoned me
into the sanctuary its light was dim and a heavy writing-desk squatted
in the middle from behind that structure came out an impression of pale
plumpness in a frock-coat the great man himself he was five feet
six i should judge and had his grip on the handle-end of ever so many
millions he shook hands i fancy murmured vaguely was satisfied with
my french bon voyage 

 in about forty-five seconds i found myself again in the waiting-room
with the compassionate secretary who full of desolation and sympathy 
made me sign some document i believe i undertook amongst other things
not to disclose any trade secrets well i am not going to 

 i began to feel slightly uneasy you know i am not used to such
ceremonies and there was something ominous in the atmosphere it
was just as though i had been let into some conspiracy i don't
know something not quite right and i was glad to get out in the outer
room the two women knitted black wool feverishly people were arriving 
and the younger one was walking back and forth introducing them the
old one sat on her chair her flat cloth slippers were propped up on
a foot-warmer and a cat reposed on her lap she wore a starched
white affair on her head had a wart on one cheek and silver-rimmed
spectacles hung on the tip of her nose she glanced at me above the
glasses the swift and indifferent placidity of that look troubled me 
two youths with foolish and cheery countenances were being piloted over 
and she threw at them the same quick glance of unconcerned wisdom she
seemed to know all about them and about me too an eerie feeling came
over me she seemed uncanny and fateful often far away there i thought
of these two guarding the door of darkness knitting black wool as for
a warm pall one introducing introducing continuously to the unknown 
the other scrutinizing the cheery and foolish faces with unconcerned old
eyes ave old knitter of black wool morituri te salutant not
many of those she looked at ever saw her again not half by a long way 

 there was yet a visit to the doctor 'a simple formality ' assured me
the secretary with an air of taking an immense part in all my sorrows 
accordingly a young chap wearing his hat over the left eyebrow some
clerk i suppose there must have been clerks in the business though
the house was as still as a house in a city of the dead came from
somewhere up-stairs and led me forth he was shabby and careless with
inkstains on the sleeves of his jacket and his cravat was large and
billowy under a chin shaped like the toe of an old boot it was a
little too early for the doctor so i proposed a drink and thereupon he
developed a vein of joviality as we sat over our vermouths he glorified
the company's business and by and by i expressed casually my surprise
at him not going out there he became very cool and collected all at
once 'i am not such a fool as i look quoth plato to his disciples '
he said sententiously emptied his glass with great resolution and we
rose 

 the old doctor felt my pulse evidently thinking of something else
the while 'good good for there ' he mumbled and then with a certain
eagerness asked me whether i would let him measure my head rather
surprised i said yes when he produced a thing like calipers and got
the dimensions back and front and every way taking notes carefully he
was an unshaven little man in a threadbare coat like a gaberdine with
his feet in slippers and i thought him a harmless fool 'i always ask
leave in the interests of science to measure the crania of those going
out there ' he said 'and when they come back too ' i asked 'oh i
never see them ' he remarked 'and moreover the changes take place
inside you know ' he smiled as if at some quiet joke 'so you are
going out there famous interesting too ' he gave me a searching
glance and made another note 'ever any madness in your family ' he
asked in a matter-of-fact tone i felt very annoyed 'is that question
in the interests of science too ' 'it would be ' he said without
taking notice of my irritation 'interesting for science to watch the
mental changes of individuals on the spot but ' 'are you an
alienist ' i interrupted 'every doctor should be a little ' answered
that original imperturbably 'i have a little theory which you
messieurs who go out there must help me to prove this is my share
in the advantages my country shall reap from the possession of such a
magnificent dependency the mere wealth i leave to others pardon my
questions but you are the first englishman coming under my
observation ' i hastened to assure him i was not in the least typical 
'if i were ' said i 'i wouldn't be talking like this with you ' 'what
you say is rather profound and probably erroneous ' he said with a
laugh 'avoid irritation more than exposure to the sun adieu how do
you english say eh good-bye ah good-bye adieu in the tropics one
must before everything keep calm ' he lifted a warning forefinger 
' du calme du calme '

 one thing more remained to do say good-bye to my excellent aunt i
found her triumphant i had a cup of tea the last decent cup of tea for
many days and in a room that most soothingly looked just as you would
expect a lady's drawing-room to look we had a long quiet chat by the
fireside in the course of these confidences it became quite plain to me
i had been represented to the wife of the high dignitary and goodness
knows to how many more people besides as an exceptional and gifted
creature a piece of good fortune for the company a man you don't get
hold of every day good heavens and i was going to take charge of a
two-penny-half-penny river-steamboat with a penny whistle attached it
appeared however i was also one of the workers with a capital you
know something like an emissary of light something like a lower sort
of apostle there had been a lot of such rot let loose in print and talk
just about that time and the excellent woman living right in the rush
of all that humbug got carried off her feet she talked about 'weaning
those ignorant millions from their horrid ways ' till upon my word she
made me quite uncomfortable i ventured to hint that the company was run
for profit 

 'you forget dear charlie that the labourer is worthy of his hire '
she said brightly it's queer how out of touch with truth women are 
they live in a world of their own and there has never been anything
like it and never can be it is too beautiful altogether and if they
were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset some
confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with ever since the
day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over 

 after this i got embraced told to wear flannel be sure to write
often and so on and i left in the street i don't know why a queer
feeling came to me that i was an imposter odd thing that i who used to
clear out for any part of the world at twenty-four hours' notice with
less thought than most men give to the crossing of a street had a
moment i won't say of hesitation but of startled pause before this
commonplace affair the best way i can explain it to you is by saying
that for a second or two i felt as though instead of going to the
centre of a continent i were about to set off for the centre of the
earth 

 i left in a french steamer and she called in every blamed port they
have out there for as far as i could see the sole purpose of landing
soldiers and custom-house officers i watched the coast watching a
coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma there
it is before you smiling frowning inviting grand mean insipid or
savage and always mute with an air of whispering 'come and find out '
this one was almost featureless as if still in the making with
an aspect of monotonous grimness the edge of a colossal jungle so
dark-green as to be almost black fringed with white surf ran straight 
like a ruled line far far away along a blue sea whose glitter was
blurred by a creeping mist the sun was fierce the land seemed to
glisten and drip with steam here and there greyish-whitish specks
showed up clustered inside the white surf with a flag flying above
them perhaps settlements some centuries old and still no bigger than
pinheads on the untouched expanse of their background we pounded along 
stopped landed soldiers went on landed custom-house clerks to levy
toll in what looked like a god-forsaken wilderness with a tin shed
and a flag-pole lost in it landed more soldiers to take care of the
custom-house clerks presumably some i heard got drowned in the surf 
but whether they did or not nobody seemed particularly to care they
were just flung out there and on we went every day the coast
looked the same as though we had not moved but we passed various
places trading places with names like gran' bassam little popo names
that seemed to belong to some sordid farce acted in front of a sinister
back-cloth the idleness of a passenger my isolation amongst all these
men with whom i had no point of contact the oily and languid sea the
uniform sombreness of the coast seemed to keep me away from the truth
of things within the toil of a mournful and senseless delusion the
voice of the surf heard now and then was a positive pleasure like the
speech of a brother it was something natural that had its reason that
had a meaning now and then a boat from the shore gave one a momentary
contact with reality it was paddled by black fellows you could see
from afar the white of their eyeballs glistening they shouted sang 
their bodies streamed with perspiration they had faces like grotesque
masks these chaps but they had bone muscle a wild vitality an
intense energy of movement that was as natural and true as the surf
along their coast they wanted no excuse for being there they were a
great comfort to look at for a time i would feel i belonged still to
a world of straightforward facts but the feeling would not last long 
something would turn up to scare it away once i remember we came upon
a man-of-war anchored off the coast there wasn't even a shed there and
she was shelling the bush it appears the french had one of their wars
going on thereabouts her ensign dropped limp like a rag the muzzles
of the long six-inch guns stuck out all over the low hull the greasy 
slimy swell swung her up lazily and let her down swaying her thin
masts in the empty immensity of earth sky and water there she was 
incomprehensible firing into a continent pop would go one of the
six-inch guns a small flame would dart and vanish a little white smoke
would disappear a tiny projectile would give a feeble screech and
nothing happened nothing could happen there was a touch of insanity in
the proceeding a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight and it was
not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was
a camp of natives he called them enemies hidden out of sight
somewhere 

 we gave her her letters i heard the men in that lonely ship were dying
of fever at the rate of three a day and went on we called at some more
places with farcical names where the merry dance of death and trade
goes on in a still and earthy atmosphere as of an overheated catacomb 
all along the formless coast bordered by dangerous surf as if nature
herself had tried to ward off intruders in and out of rivers streams
of death in life whose banks were rotting into mud whose waters 
thickened into slime invaded the contorted mangroves that seemed to
writhe at us in the extremity of an impotent despair nowhere did we
stop long enough to get a particularized impression but the general
sense of vague and oppressive wonder grew upon me it was like a weary
pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares 

 it was upward of thirty days before i saw the mouth of the big river 
we anchored off the seat of the government but my work would not begin
till some two hundred miles farther on so as soon as i could i made a
start for a place thirty miles higher up 

 i had my passage on a little sea-going steamer her captain was a
swede and knowing me for a seaman invited me on the bridge he was a
young man lean fair and morose with lanky hair and a shuffling gait 
as we left the miserable little wharf he tossed his head contemptuously
at the shore 'been living there ' he asked i said 'yes ' 'fine lot
these government chaps are they not ' he went on speaking english
with great precision and considerable bitterness 'it is funny what some
people will do for a few francs a month i wonder what becomes of that
kind when it goes upcountry ' i said to him i expected to see that
soon 'so-o-o ' he exclaimed he shuffled athwart keeping one eye ahead
vigilantly 'don't be too sure ' he continued 'the other day i took
up a man who hanged himself on the road he was a swede too '
'hanged himself why in god's name ' i cried he kept on looking
out watchfully 'who knows the sun too much for him or the country
perhaps '

 at last we opened a reach a rocky cliff appeared mounds of turned-up
earth by the shore houses on a hill others with iron roofs amongst a
waste of excavations or hanging to the declivity a continuous noise of
the rapids above hovered over this scene of inhabited devastation a
lot of people mostly black and naked moved about like ants a jetty
projected into the river a blinding sunlight drowned all this at times
in a sudden recrudescence of glare 'there's your company's station '
said the swede pointing to three wooden barrack-like structures on the
rocky slope 'i will send your things up four boxes did you say so 
farewell '

 i came upon a boiler wallowing in the grass then found a path
leading up the hill it turned aside for the boulders and also for an
undersized railway-truck lying there on its back with its wheels in
the air one was off the thing looked as dead as the carcass of some
animal i came upon more pieces of decaying machinery a stack of rusty
rails to the left a clump of trees made a shady spot where dark things
seemed to stir feebly i blinked the path was steep a horn tooted to
the right and i saw the black people run a heavy and dull detonation
shook the ground a puff of smoke came out of the cliff and that was
all no change appeared on the face of the rock they were building a
railway the cliff was not in the way or anything but this objectless
blasting was all the work going on 

 a slight clinking behind me made me turn my head six black men
advanced in a file toiling up the path they walked erect and slow 
balancing small baskets full of earth on their heads and the clink kept
time with their footsteps black rags were wound round their loins and
the short ends behind waggled to and fro like tails i could see every
rib the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope each had an
iron collar on his neck and all were connected together with a chain
whose bights swung between them rhythmically clinking another report
from the cliff made me think suddenly of that ship of war i had seen
firing into a continent it was the same kind of ominous voice but
these men could by no stretch of imagination be called enemies they
were called criminals and the outraged law like the bursting shells 
had come to them an insoluble mystery from the sea all their meagre
breasts panted together the violently dilated nostrils quivered the
eyes stared stonily uphill they passed me within six inches without a
glance with that complete deathlike indifference of unhappy savages 
behind this raw matter one of the reclaimed the product of the new
forces at work strolled despondently carrying a rifle by its middle 
he had a uniform jacket with one button off and seeing a white man on
the path hoisted his weapon to his shoulder with alacrity this was
simple prudence white men being so much alike at a distance that he
could not tell who i might be he was speedily reassured and with a
large white rascally grin and a glance at his charge seemed to take
me into partnership in his exalted trust after all i also was a part
of the great cause of these high and just proceedings 

 instead of going up i turned and descended to the left my idea was to
let that chain-gang get out of sight before i climbed the hill you know
i am not particularly tender i've had to strike and to fend off 
i've had to resist and to attack sometimes that's only one way of
resisting without counting the exact cost according to the demands
of such sort of life as i had blundered into i've seen the devil of
violence and the devil of greed and the devil of hot desire but by
all the stars these were strong lusty red-eyed devils that swayed
and drove men men i tell you but as i stood on this hillside i
foresaw that in the blinding sunshine of that land i would become
acquainted with a flabby pretending weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and
pitiless folly how insidious he could be too i was only to find out
several months later and a thousand miles farther for a moment i
stood appalled as though by a warning finally i descended the hill 
obliquely towards the trees i had seen 

 i avoided a vast artificial hole somebody had been digging on the
slope the purpose of which i found it impossible to divine it wasn't
a quarry or a sandpit anyhow it was just a hole it might have
been connected with the philanthropic desire of giving the criminals
something to do i don't know then i nearly fell into a very narrow
ravine almost no more than a scar in the hillside i discovered that
a lot of imported drainage-pipes for the settlement had been tumbled in
there there wasn't one that was not broken it was a wanton smash-up 
at last i got under the trees my purpose was to stroll into the shade
for a moment but no sooner within than it seemed to me i had stepped
into the gloomy circle of some inferno the rapids were near and an
uninterrupted uniform headlong rushing noise filled the mournful
stillness of the grove where not a breath stirred not a leaf moved 
with a mysterious sound as though the tearing pace of the launched
earth had suddenly become audible 

 black shapes crouched lay sat between the trees leaning against the
trunks clinging to the earth half coming out half effaced within
the dim light in all the attitudes of pain abandonment and despair 
another mine on the cliff went off followed by a slight shudder of the
soil under my feet the work was going on the work and this was the
place where some of the helpers had withdrawn to die 

 they were dying slowly it was very clear they were not enemies they
were not criminals they were nothing earthly now nothing but black
shadows of disease and starvation lying confusedly in the greenish
gloom brought from all the recesses of the coast in all the legality
of time contracts lost in uncongenial surroundings fed on unfamiliar
food they sickened became inefficient and were then allowed to crawl
away and rest these moribund shapes were free as air and nearly as
thin i began to distinguish the gleam of the eyes under the trees 
then glancing down i saw a face near my hand the black bones reclined
at full length with one shoulder against the tree and slowly the
eyelids rose and the sunken eyes looked up at me enormous and vacant 
a kind of blind white flicker in the depths of the orbs which died out
slowly the man seemed young almost a boy but you know with them it's
hard to tell i found nothing else to do but to offer him one of my good
swede's ship's biscuits i had in my pocket the fingers closed slowly
on it and held there was no other movement and no other glance he had
tied a bit of white worsted round his neck why where did he get it 
was it a badge an ornament a charm a propitiatory act was there any
idea at all connected with it it looked startling round his black neck 
this bit of white thread from beyond the seas 

 near the same tree two more bundles of acute angles sat with their legs
drawn up one with his chin propped on his knees stared at nothing 
in an intolerable and appalling manner his brother phantom rested its
forehead as if overcome with a great weariness and all about others
were scattered in every pose of contorted collapse as in some picture
of a massacre or a pestilence while i stood horror-struck one of these
creatures rose to his hands and knees and went off on all-fours towards
the river to drink he lapped out of his hand then sat up in the
sunlight crossing his shins in front of him and after a time let his
woolly head fall on his breastbone 

 i didn't want any more loitering in the shade and i made haste towards
the station when near the buildings i met a white man in such an
unexpected elegance of get-up that in the first moment i took him for
a sort of vision i saw a high starched collar white cuffs a light
alpaca jacket snowy trousers a clean necktie and varnished boots no
hat hair parted brushed oiled under a green-lined parasol held in a
big white hand he was amazing and had a penholder behind his ear 

 i shook hands with this miracle and i learned he was the company's
chief accountant and that all the book-keeping was done at this
station he had come out for a moment he said 'to get a breath of
fresh air the expression sounded wonderfully odd with its suggestion
of sedentary desk-life i wouldn't have mentioned the fellow to you at
all only it was from his lips that i first heard the name of the
man who is so indissolubly connected with the memories of that time 
moreover i respected the fellow yes i respected his collars his
vast cuffs his brushed hair his appearance was certainly that of a
hairdresser's dummy but in the great demoralization of the land he
kept up his appearance that's backbone his starched collars and got-up
shirt-fronts were achievements of character he had been out nearly
three years and later i could not help asking him how he managed to
sport such linen he had just the faintest blush and said modestly 
'i've been teaching one of the native women about the station it was
difficult she had a distaste for the work ' thus this man had verily
accomplished something and he was devoted to his books which were in
apple-pie order 

 everything else in the station was in a muddle heads things 
buildings strings of dusty niggers with splay feet arrived and
departed a stream of manufactured goods rubbishy cottons beads 
and brass-wire sent into the depths of darkness and in return came a
precious trickle of ivory 

 i had to wait in the station for ten days an eternity i lived in a
hut in the yard but to be out of the chaos i would sometimes get into
the accountant's office it was built of horizontal planks and so badly
put together that as he bent over his high desk he was barred from
neck to heels with narrow strips of sunlight there was no need to
open the big shutter to see it was hot there too big flies buzzed
fiendishly and did not sting but stabbed i sat generally on the
floor while of faultless appearance and even slightly scented 
perching on a high stool he wrote he wrote sometimes he stood up for
exercise when a truckle-bed with a sick man some invalid agent from
upcountry was put in there he exhibited a gentle annoyance 'the
groans of this sick person ' he said 'distract my attention and
without that it is extremely difficult to guard against clerical errors
in this climate '

 one day he remarked without lifting his head 'in the interior you
will no doubt meet mr kurtz ' on my asking who mr kurtz was he
said he was a first-class agent and seeing my disappointment at
this information he added slowly laying down his pen 'he is a very
remarkable person ' further questions elicited from him that mr kurtz
was at present in charge of a trading-post a very important one in the
true ivory-country at 'the very bottom of there sends in as much ivory
as all the others put together ' he began to write again the sick
man was too ill to groan the flies buzzed in a great peace 

 suddenly there was a growing murmur of voices and a great tramping of
feet a caravan had come in a violent babble of uncouth sounds burst
out on the other side of the planks all the carriers were speaking
together and in the midst of the uproar the lamentable voice of the
chief agent was heard 'giving it up' tearfully for the twentieth time
that day he rose slowly 'what a frightful row ' he said he
crossed the room gently to look at the sick man and returning said to
me 'he does not hear ' 'what dead ' i asked startled 'no not yet '
he answered with great composure then alluding with a toss of the
head to the tumult in the station-yard 'when one has got to make
correct entries one comes to hate those savages hate them to the
death ' he remained thoughtful for a moment 'when you see mr kurtz'
he went on 'tell him from me that everything here' he glanced at the
deck ' is very satisfactory i don't like to write to him with those
messengers of ours you never know who may get hold of your letter at
that central station ' he stared at me for a moment with his mild 
bulging eyes 'oh he will go far very far ' he began again 'he
will be a somebody in the administration before long they above the
council in europe you know mean him to be '

 he turned to his work the noise outside had ceased and presently
in going out i stopped at the door in the steady buzz of flies the
homeward-bound agent was lying finished and insensible the other 
bent over his books was making correct entries of perfectly correct
transactions and fifty feet below the doorstep i could see the still
tree-tops of the grove of death 

 next day i left that station at last with a caravan of sixty men for
a two-hundred-mile tramp 

 no use telling you much about that paths paths everywhere a
stamped-in network of paths spreading over the empty land through the
long grass through burnt grass through thickets down and up chilly
ravines up and down stony hills ablaze with heat and a solitude a
solitude nobody not a hut the population had cleared out a long
time ago well if a lot of mysterious niggers armed with all kinds of
fearful weapons suddenly took to travelling on the road between deal and
gravesend catching the yokels right and left to carry heavy loads for
them i fancy every farm and cottage thereabouts would get empty very
soon only here the dwellings were gone too still i passed through
several abandoned villages there's something pathetically childish in
the ruins of grass walls day after day with the stamp and shuffle of
sixty pair of bare feet behind me each pair under a 60-lb load camp 
cook sleep strike camp march now and then a carrier dead in harness 
at rest in the long grass near the path with an empty water-gourd and
his long staff lying by his side a great silence around and above 
perhaps on some quiet night the tremor of far-off drums sinking 
swelling a tremor vast faint a sound weird appealing suggestive 
and wild and perhaps with as profound a meaning as the sound of bells
in a christian country once a white man in an unbuttoned uniform 
camping on the path with an armed escort of lank zanzibaris very
hospitable and festive not to say drunk was looking after the upkeep
of the road he declared can't say i saw any road or any upkeep unless
the body of a middle-aged negro with a bullet-hole in the forehead 
upon which i absolutely stumbled three miles farther on may be
considered as a permanent improvement i had a white companion too 
not a bad chap but rather too fleshy and with the exasperating habit
of fainting on the hot hillsides miles away from the least bit of shade
and water annoying you know to hold your own coat like a parasol over
a man's head while he is coming to i couldn't help asking him once what
he meant by coming there at all 'to make money of course what do you
think ' he said scornfully then he got fever and had to be carried in
a hammock slung under a pole as he weighed sixteen stone i had no end
of rows with the carriers they jibbed ran away sneaked off with their
loads in the night quite a mutiny so one evening i made a speech in
english with gestures not one of which was lost to the sixty pairs of
eyes before me and the next morning i started the hammock off in front
all right an hour afterwards i came upon the whole concern wrecked in
a bush man hammock groans blankets horrors the heavy pole had
skinned his poor nose he was very anxious for me to kill somebody 
but there wasn't the shadow of a carrier near i remembered the old
doctor 'it would be interesting for science to watch the mental changes
of individuals on the spot ' i felt i was becoming scientifically
interesting however all that is to no purpose on the fifteenth day
i came in sight of the big river again and hobbled into the central
station it was on a back water surrounded by scrub and forest with
a pretty border of smelly mud on one side and on the three others
enclosed by a crazy fence of rushes a neglected gap was all the gate
it had and the first glance at the place was enough to let you see the
flabby devil was running that show white men with long staves in their
hands appeared languidly from amongst the buildings strolling up to
take a look at me and then retired out of sight somewhere one of them 
a stout excitable chap with black moustaches informed me with great
volubility and many digressions as soon as i told him who i was that
my steamer was at the bottom of the river i was thunderstruck what 
how why oh it was 'all right ' the 'manager himself' was there all
quite correct 'everybody had behaved splendidly splendidly ' 'you
must ' he said in agitation 'go and see the general manager at once he
is waiting '

 i did not see the real significance of that wreck at once i fancy i
see it now but i am not sure not at all certainly the affair was too
stupid when i think of it to be altogether natural still but
at the moment it presented itself simply as a confounded nuisance the
steamer was sunk they had started two days before in a sudden hurry
up the river with the manager on board in charge of some volunteer
skipper and before they had been out three hours they tore the bottom
out of her on stones and she sank near the south bank i asked myself
what i was to do there now my boat was lost as a matter of fact i had
plenty to do in fishing my command out of the river i had to set about
it the very next day that and the repairs when i brought the pieces to
the station took some months 

 my first interview with the manager was curious he did not ask me to
sit down after my twenty-mile walk that morning he was commonplace in
complexion in features in manners and in voice he was of middle
size and of ordinary build his eyes of the usual blue were perhaps
remarkably cold and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as
trenchant and heavy as an axe but even at these times the rest of his
person seemed to disclaim the intention otherwise there was
only an indefinable faint expression of his lips something
stealthy a smile not a smile i remember it but i can't explain it
was unconscious this smile was though just after he had said something
it got intensified for an instant it came at the end of his speeches
like a seal applied on the words to make the meaning of the commonest
phrase appear absolutely inscrutable he was a common trader from his
youth up employed in these parts nothing more he was obeyed yet he
inspired neither love nor fear nor even respect he inspired
uneasiness that was it uneasiness not a definite mistrust just
uneasiness nothing more you have no idea how effective such a 
a faculty can be he had no genius for organizing for initiative 
or for order even that was evident in such things as the deplorable
state of the station he had no learning and no intelligence his
position had come to him why perhaps because he was never ill he
had served three terms of three years out there because triumphant
health in the general rout of constitutions is a kind of power
in itself when he went home on leave he rioted on a large
scale pompously jack ashore with a difference in externals only 
this one could gather from his casual talk he originated nothing he
could keep the routine going that's all but he was great he was great
by this little thing that it was impossible to tell what could control
such a man he never gave that secret away perhaps there was nothing
within him such a suspicion made one pause for out there there were no
external checks once when various tropical diseases had laid low almost
every 'agent' in the station he was heard to say 'men who come out
here should have no entrails ' he sealed the utterance with that smile
of his as though it had been a door opening into a darkness he had in
his keeping you fancied you had seen things but the seal was on when
annoyed at meal-times by the constant quarrels of the white men about
precedence he ordered an immense round table to be made for which a
special house had to be built this was the station's mess-room where
he sat was the first place the rest were nowhere one felt this to be
his unalterable conviction he was neither civil nor uncivil he was
quiet he allowed his 'boy' an overfed young negro from the coast to
treat the white men under his very eyes with provoking insolence 

 he began to speak as soon as he saw me i had been very long on the
road he could not wait had to start without me the up-river stations
had to be relieved there had been so many delays already that he did
not know who was dead and who was alive and how they got on and so on 
and so on he paid no attention to my explanations and playing with
a stick of sealing-wax repeated several times that the situation was
'very grave very grave ' there were rumours that a very important
station was in jeopardy and its chief mr kurtz was ill hoped it was
not true mr kurtz was i felt weary and irritable hang kurtz 
i thought i interrupted him by saying i had heard of mr kurtz on the
coast 'ah so they talk of him down there ' he murmured to himself 
then he began again assuring me mr kurtz was the best agent he had an
exceptional man of the greatest importance to the company therefore
i could understand his anxiety he was he said 'very very uneasy '
certainly he fidgeted on his chair a good deal exclaimed 'ah mr 
kurtz ' broke the stick of sealing-wax and seemed dumfounded by the
accident next thing he wanted to know 'how long it would take to' 
i interrupted him again being hungry you know and kept on my feet
too i was getting savage 'how can i tell ' i said 'i haven't even
seen the wreck yet some months no doubt ' all this talk seemed to me
so futile 'some months ' he said 'well let us say three months before
we can make a start yes that ought to do the affair ' i flung out
of his hut he lived all alone in a clay hut with a sort of verandah 
muttering to myself my opinion of him he was a chattering idiot 
afterwards i took it back when it was borne in upon me startlingly
with what extreme nicety he had estimated the time requisite for the
'affair '

 i went to work the next day turning so to speak my back on that
station in that way only it seemed to me i could keep my hold on the
redeeming facts of life still one must look about sometimes and then
i saw this station these men strolling aimlessly about in the sunshine
of the yard i asked myself sometimes what it all meant they wandered
here and there with their absurd long staves in their hands like a lot
of faithless pilgrims bewitched inside a rotten fence the word 'ivory'
rang in the air was whispered was sighed you would think they were
praying to it a taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all like a
whiff from some corpse by jove i've never seen anything so unreal in
my life and outside the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared
speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible like
evil or truth waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic
invasion 

 oh these months well never mind various things happened one
evening a grass shed full of calico cotton prints beads and i don't
know what else burst into a blaze so suddenly that you would have
thought the earth had opened to let an avenging fire consume all that
trash i was smoking my pipe quietly by my dismantled steamer and saw
them all cutting capers in the light with their arms lifted high when
the stout man with moustaches came tearing down to the river a tin
pail in his hand assured me that everybody was 'behaving splendidly 
splendidly ' dipped about a quart of water and tore back again i
noticed there was a hole in the bottom of his pail 

 i strolled up there was no hurry you see the thing had gone off like
a box of matches it had been hopeless from the very first the flame
had leaped high driven everybody back lighted up everything and
collapsed the shed was already a heap of embers glowing fiercely a
nigger was being beaten near by they said he had caused the fire in
some way be that as it may he was screeching most horribly i saw him 
later for several days sitting in a bit of shade looking very sick and
trying to recover himself afterwards he arose and went out and
the wilderness without a sound took him into its bosom again as i
approached the glow from the dark i found myself at the back of two men 
talking i heard the name of kurtz pronounced then the words 'take
advantage of this unfortunate accident ' one of the men was the manager 
i wished him a good evening 'did you ever see anything like it eh it
is incredible ' he said and walked off the other man remained he was
a first-class agent young gentlemanly a bit reserved with a forked
little beard and a hooked nose he was stand-offish with the other
agents and they on their side said he was the manager's spy upon them 
as to me i had hardly ever spoken to him before we got into talk and
by and by we strolled away from the hissing ruins then he asked me to
his room which was in the main building of the station he struck
a match and i perceived that this young aristocrat had not only a
silver-mounted dressing-case but also a whole candle all to himself 
just at that time the manager was the only man supposed to have any
right to candles native mats covered the clay walls a collection of
spears assegais shields knives was hung up in trophies the business
intrusted to this fellow was the making of bricks so i had been
informed but there wasn't a fragment of a brick anywhere in the
station and he had been there more than a year waiting it seems he
could not make bricks without something i don't know what straw maybe 
anyway it could not be found there and as it was not likely to be sent
from europe it did not appear clear to me what he was waiting for an
act of special creation perhaps however they were all waiting all
the sixteen or twenty pilgrims of them for something and upon my word
it did not seem an uncongenial occupation from the way they took it 
though the only thing that ever came to them was disease as far as i
could see they beguiled the time by back-biting and intriguing against
each other in a foolish kind of way there was an air of plotting about
that station but nothing came of it of course it was as unreal as
everything else as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern as
their talk as their government as their show of work the only real
feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory
was to be had so that they could earn percentages they intrigued
and slandered and hated each other only on that account but as to
effectually lifting a little finger oh no by heavens there is
something after all in the world allowing one man to steal a horse while
another must not look at a halter steal a horse straight out very
well he has done it perhaps he can ride but there is a way of looking
at a halter that would provoke the most charitable of saints into a
kick 

 i had no idea why he wanted to be sociable but as we chatted in
there it suddenly occurred to me the fellow was trying to get at
something in fact pumping me he alluded constantly to europe to the
people i was supposed to know there putting leading questions as to my
acquaintances in the sepulchral city and so on his little eyes
glittered like mica discs with curiosity though he tried to keep up a
bit of superciliousness at first i was astonished but very soon i
became awfully curious to see what he would find out from me i couldn't
possibly imagine what i had in me to make it worth his while it was
very pretty to see how he baffled himself for in truth my body was full
only of chills and my head had nothing in it but that wretched
steamboat business it was evident he took me for a perfectly shameless
prevaricator at last he got angry and to conceal a movement of
furious annoyance he yawned i rose then i noticed a small sketch in
oils on a panel representing a woman draped and blindfolded carrying
a lighted torch the background was sombre almost black the movement
of the woman was stately and the effect of the torchlight on the face
was sinister 

 it arrested me and he stood by civilly holding an empty half-pint
champagne bottle medical comforts with the candle stuck in it to my
question he said mr kurtz had painted this in this very station more
than a year ago while waiting for means to go to his trading post 
'tell me pray ' said i 'who is this mr kurtz '

 'the chief of the inner station ' he answered in a short tone looking
away 'much obliged ' i said laughing 'and you are the brickmaker of
the central station every one knows that ' he was silent for a while 
'he is a prodigy ' he said at last 'he is an emissary of pity and
science and progress and devil knows what else we want ' he began
to declaim suddenly 'for the guidance of the cause intrusted to us by
europe so to speak higher intelligence wide sympathies a singleness
of purpose ' 'who says that ' i asked 'lots of them ' he replied 'some
even write that and so he comes here a special being as you ought to
know ' 'why ought i to know ' i interrupted really surprised he paid
no attention 'yes today he is chief of the best station next year he
will be assistant-manager two years more and but i dare-say you
know what he will be in two years' time you are of the new gang the
gang of virtue the same people who sent him specially also recommended
you oh don't say no i've my own eyes to trust ' light dawned upon me 
my dear aunt's influential acquaintances were producing an unexpected
effect upon that young man i nearly burst into a laugh 'do you read
the company's confidential correspondence ' i asked he hadn't a word
to say it was great fun 'when mr kurtz ' i continued severely 'is
general manager you won't have the opportunity '

 he blew the candle out suddenly and we went outside the moon had
risen black figures strolled about listlessly pouring water on
the glow whence proceeded a sound of hissing steam ascended in the
moonlight the beaten nigger groaned somewhere 'what a row the brute
makes ' said the indefatigable man with the moustaches appearing
near us 'serve him right transgression punishment bang pitiless 
pitiless that's the only way this will prevent all conflagrations
for the future i was just telling the manager ' he noticed my
companion and became crestfallen all at once 'not in bed yet '
he said with a kind of servile heartiness 'it's so natural ha 
danger agitation ' he vanished i went on to the riverside and
the other followed me i heard a scathing murmur at my ear 'heap
of muffs go to ' the pilgrims could be seen in knots gesticulating 
discussing several had still their staves in their hands i verily
believe they took these sticks to bed with them beyond the fence the
forest stood up spectrally in the moonlight and through that dim stir 
through the faint sounds of that lamentable courtyard the silence of
the land went home to one's very heart its mystery its greatness the
amazing reality of its concealed life the hurt nigger moaned feebly
somewhere near by and then fetched a deep sigh that made me mend my
pace away from there i felt a hand introducing itself under my arm 
'my dear sir ' said the fellow 'i don't want to be misunderstood and
especially by you who will see mr kurtz long before i can have
that pleasure i wouldn't like him to get a false idea of my
disposition '

 i let him run on this papier-mache mephistopheles and it seemed to me
that if i tried i could poke my forefinger through him and would find
nothing inside but a little loose dirt maybe he don't you see had
been planning to be assistant-manager by and by under the present man 
and i could see that the coming of that kurtz had upset them both not a
little he talked precipitately and i did not try to stop him i had my
shoulders against the wreck of my steamer hauled up on the slope like a
carcass of some big river animal the smell of mud of primeval mud 
by jove was in my nostrils the high stillness of primeval forest was
before my eyes there were shiny patches on the black creek the moon
had spread over everything a thin layer of silver over the rank grass 
over the mud upon the wall of matted vegetation standing higher than
the wall of a temple over the great river i could see through a sombre
gap glittering glittering as it flowed broadly by without a murmur 
all this was great expectant mute while the man jabbered about
himself i wondered whether the stillness on the face of the immensity
looking at us two were meant as an appeal or as a menace what were we
who had strayed in here could we handle that dumb thing or would it
handle us i felt how big how confoundedly big was that thing that
couldn't talk and perhaps was deaf as well what was in there i could
see a little ivory coming out from there and i had heard mr kurtz was
in there i had heard enough about it too god knows yet somehow
it didn't bring any image with it no more than if i had been told an
angel or a fiend was in there i believed it in the same way one of you
might believe there are inhabitants in the planet mars i knew once a
scotch sailmaker who was certain dead sure there were people in mars 
if you asked him for some idea how they looked and behaved he would get
shy and mutter something about 'walking on all-fours ' if you as much
as smiled he would though a man of sixty offer to fight you i would
not have gone so far as to fight for kurtz but i went for him near
enough to a lie you know i hate detest and can't bear a lie not
because i am straighter than the rest of us but simply because it
appalls me there is a taint of death a flavour of mortality in
lies which is exactly what i hate and detest in the world what i want
to forget it makes me miserable and sick like biting something rotten
would do temperament i suppose well i went near enough to it by
letting the young fool there believe anything he liked to imagine as to
my influence in europe i became in an instant as much of a pretence as
the rest of the bewitched pilgrims this simply because i had a notion
it somehow would be of help to that kurtz whom at the time i did not
see you understand he was just a word for me i did not see the man in
the name any more than you do do you see him do you see the story do
you see anything it seems to me i am trying to tell you a
dream making a vain attempt because no relation of a dream can convey
the dream-sensation that commingling of absurdity surprise and
bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt that notion of being
captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams 

he was silent for a while 

 no it is impossible it is impossible to convey the
life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence that which makes
its truth its meaning its subtle and penetrating essence it is
impossible we live as we dream alone 

he paused again as if reflecting then added 

 of course in this you fellows see more than i could then you see me 
whom you know 

it had become so pitch dark that we listeners could hardly see one
another for a long time already he sitting apart had been no more
to us than a voice there was not a word from anybody the others might
have been asleep but i was awake i listened i listened on the watch
for the sentence for the word that would give me the clue to the
faint uneasiness inspired by this narrative that seemed to shape itself
without human lips in the heavy night-air of the river 

 yes i let him run on marlow began again and think what
he pleased about the powers that were behind me i did and there was
nothing behind me there was nothing but that wretched old mangled
steamboat i was leaning against while he talked fluently about 'the
necessity for every man to get on ' 'and when one comes out here you
conceive it is not to gaze at the moon ' mr kurtz was a 'universal
genius ' but even a genius would find it easier to work with 'adequate
tools intelligent men ' he did not make bricks why there was a
physical impossibility in the way as i was well aware and if he
did secretarial work for the manager it was because 'no sensible man
rejects wantonly the confidence of his superiors ' did i see it i saw
it what more did i want what i really wanted was rivets by heaven 
rivets to get on with the work to stop the hole rivets i
wanted there were cases of them down at the coast cases piled
up burst split you kicked a loose rivet at every second step in that
station-yard on the hillside rivets had rolled into the grove of death 
you could fill your pockets with rivets for the trouble of stooping
down and there wasn't one rivet to be found where it was wanted we
had plates that would do but nothing to fasten them with and every
week the messenger a long negro letter-bag on shoulder and staff in
hand left our station for the coast and several times a week a coast
caravan came in with trade goods ghastly glazed calico that made you
shudder only to look at it glass beads value about a penny a quart 
confounded spotted cotton handkerchiefs and no rivets three carriers
could have brought all that was wanted to set that steamboat afloat 

 he was becoming confidential now but i fancy my unresponsive attitude
must have exasperated him at last for he judged it necessary to inform
me he feared neither god nor devil let alone any mere man i said i
could see that very well but what i wanted was a certain quantity of
rivets and rivets were what really mr kurtz wanted if he had only
known it now letters went to the coast every week 'my dear
sir ' he cried 'i write from dictation ' i demanded rivets there was
a way for an intelligent man he changed his manner became very
cold and suddenly began to talk about a hippopotamus wondered whether
sleeping on board the steamer i stuck to my salvage night and day 
i wasn't disturbed there was an old hippo that had the bad habit of
getting out on the bank and roaming at night over the station grounds 
the pilgrims used to turn out in a body and empty every rifle they could
lay hands on at him some even had sat up o' nights for him all this
energy was wasted though 'that animal has a charmed life ' he said 
'but you can say this only of brutes in this country no man you
apprehend me no man here bears a charmed life ' he stood there for
a moment in the moonlight with his delicate hooked nose set a little
askew and his mica eyes glittering without a wink then with a curt
good-night he strode off i could see he was disturbed and considerably
puzzled which made me feel more hopeful than i had been for days it
was a great comfort to turn from that chap to my influential friend the
battered twisted ruined tin-pot steamboat i clambered on board she
rang under my feet like an empty huntley and palmer biscuit-tin kicked
along a gutter she was nothing so solid in make and rather less pretty
in shape but i had expended enough hard work on her to make me love
her no influential friend would have served me better she had given
me a chance to come out a bit to find out what i could do no i don't
like work i had rather laze about and think of all the fine things that
can be done i don't like work no man does but i like what is in the
work the chance to find yourself your own reality for yourself not
for others what no other man can ever know they can only see the mere
show and never can tell what it really means 

 i was not surprised to see somebody sitting aft on the deck with
his legs dangling over the mud you see i rather chummed with the few
mechanics there were in that station whom the other pilgrims naturally
despised on account of their imperfect manners i suppose this was the
foreman a boiler-maker by trade a good worker he was a lank bony 
yellow-faced man with big intense eyes his aspect was worried and his
head was as bald as the palm of my hand but his hair in falling seemed
to have stuck to his chin and had prospered in the new locality 
for his beard hung down to his waist he was a widower with six young
children he had left them in charge of a sister of his to come out
there and the passion of his life was pigeon-flying he was an
enthusiast and a connoisseur he would rave about pigeons after work
hours he used sometimes to come over from his hut for a talk about his
children and his pigeons at work when he had to crawl in the mud under
the bottom of the steamboat he would tie up that beard of his in a kind
of white serviette he brought for the purpose it had loops to go over
his ears in the evening he could be seen squatted on the bank rinsing
that wrapper in the creek with great care then spreading it solemnly on
a bush to dry 

 i slapped him on the back and shouted 'we shall have rivets ' he
scrambled to his feet exclaiming 'no rivets ' as though he couldn't
believe his ears then in a low voice 'you eh ' i don't know why
we behaved like lunatics i put my finger to the side of my nose and
nodded mysteriously 'good for you ' he cried snapped his fingers above
his head lifting one foot i tried a jig we capered on the iron deck 
a frightful clatter came out of that hulk and the virgin forest on
the other bank of the creek sent it back in a thundering roll upon the
sleeping station it must have made some of the pilgrims sit up in their
hovels a dark figure obscured the lighted doorway of the manager's hut 
vanished then a second or so after the doorway itself vanished too 
we stopped and the silence driven away by the stamping of our feet
flowed back again from the recesses of the land the great wall of
vegetation an exuberant and entangled mass of trunks branches leaves 
boughs festoons motionless in the moonlight was like a rioting
invasion of soundless life a rolling wave of plants piled up crested 
ready to topple over the creek to sweep every little man of us out
of his little existence and it moved not a deadened burst of mighty
splashes and snorts reached us from afar as though an icthyosaurus had
been taking a bath of glitter in the great river 'after all ' said the
boiler-maker in a reasonable tone 'why shouldn't we get the rivets '
why not indeed i did not know of any reason why we shouldn't 'they'll
come in three weeks ' i said confidently 

 but they didn't instead of rivets there came an invasion an
infliction a visitation it came in sections during the next three
weeks each section headed by a donkey carrying a white man in new
clothes and tan shoes bowing from that elevation right and left to the
impressed pilgrims a quarrelsome band of footsore sulky niggers trod on
the heels of the donkey a lot of tents camp-stools tin boxes white
cases brown bales would be shot down in the courtyard and the air of
mystery would deepen a little over the muddle of the station five such
instalments came with their absurd air of disorderly flight with the
loot of innumerable outfit shops and provision stores that one
would think they were lugging after a raid into the wilderness for
equitable division it was an inextricable mess of things decent in
themselves but that human folly made look like the spoils of thieving 

 this devoted band called itself the eldorado exploring expedition and
i believe they were sworn to secrecy their talk however was the talk
of sordid buccaneers it was reckless without hardihood greedy without
audacity and cruel without courage there was not an atom of foresight
or of serious intention in the whole batch of them and they did not
seem aware these things are wanted for the work of the world to tear
treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire with no more
moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into
a safe who paid the expenses of the noble enterprise i don't know but
the uncle of our manager was leader of that lot 

 in exterior he resembled a butcher in a poor neighbourhood and his
eyes had a look of sleepy cunning he carried his fat paunch with
ostentation on his short legs and during the time his gang infested the
station spoke to no one but his nephew you could see these two roaming
about all day long with their heads close together in an everlasting
confab 

 i had given up worrying myself about the rivets one's capacity for
that kind of folly is more limited than you would suppose i said
hang and let things slide i had plenty of time for meditation 
and now and then i would give some thought to kurtz i wasn't very
interested in him no still i was curious to see whether this man who
had come out equipped with moral ideas of some sort would climb to the
top after all and how he would set about his work when there 




ii



 one evening as i was lying flat on the deck of my steamboat i heard
voices approaching and there were the nephew and the uncle strolling
along the bank i laid my head on my arm again and had nearly lost
myself in a doze when somebody said in my ear as it were 'i am as
harmless as a little child but i don't like to be dictated to am i the
manager or am i not i was ordered to send him there it's incredible '
 i became aware that the two were standing on the shore alongside
the forepart of the steamboat just below my head i did not move it
did not occur to me to move i was sleepy 'it is unpleasant ' grunted
the uncle 'he has asked the administration to be sent there ' said the
other 'with the idea of showing what he could do and i was instructed
accordingly look at the influence that man must have is it not
frightful ' they both agreed it was frightful then made several bizarre
remarks 'make rain and fine weather one man the council by the
nose' bits of absurd sentences that got the better of my drowsiness 
so that i had pretty near the whole of my wits about me when the uncle
said 'the climate may do away with this difficulty for you is he alone
there ' 'yes ' answered the manager 'he sent his assistant down the
river with a note to me in these terms clear this poor devil out of
the country and don't bother sending more of that sort i had rather be
alone than have the kind of men you can dispose of with me it was more
than a year ago can you imagine such impudence ' 'anything since then '
asked the other hoarsely 'ivory ' jerked the nephew 'lots of it prime
sort lots most annoying from him ' 'and with that ' questioned the
heavy rumble 'invoice ' was the reply fired out so to speak then
silence they had been talking about kurtz 

 i was broad awake by this time but lying perfectly at ease remained
still having no inducement to change my position 'how did that ivory
come all this way ' growled the elder man who seemed very vexed the
other explained that it had come with a fleet of canoes in charge of an
english half-caste clerk kurtz had with him that kurtz had apparently
intended to return himself the station being by that time bare of goods
and stores but after coming three hundred miles had suddenly decided
to go back which he started to do alone in a small dugout with four
paddlers leaving the half-caste to continue down the river with the
ivory the two fellows there seemed astounded at anybody attempting such
a thing they were at a loss for an adequate motive as to me i seemed
to see kurtz for the first time it was a distinct glimpse the dugout 
four paddling savages and the lone white man turning his back suddenly
on the headquarters on relief on thoughts of home perhaps setting
his face towards the depths of the wilderness towards his empty and
desolate station i did not know the motive perhaps he was just simply
a fine fellow who stuck to his work for its own sake his name you
understand had not been pronounced once he was 'that man ' the
half-caste who as far as i could see had conducted a difficult
trip with great prudence and pluck was invariably alluded to as 'that
scoundrel ' the 'scoundrel' had reported that the 'man' had been very
ill had recovered imperfectly the two below me moved away then a
few paces and strolled back and forth at some little distance i heard 
'military post doctor two hundred miles quite alone now unavoidable
delays nine months no news strange rumours ' they approached again 
just as the manager was saying 'no one as far as i know unless a
species of wandering trader a pestilential fellow snapping ivory
from the natives ' who was it they were talking about now i gathered in
snatches that this was some man supposed to be in kurtz's district and
of whom the manager did not approve 'we will not be free from unfair
competition till one of these fellows is hanged for an example '
he said 'certainly ' grunted the other 'get him hanged why not 
anything anything can be done in this country that's what i say 
nobody here you understand here can endanger your position and why 
you stand the climate you outlast them all the danger is in europe 
but there before i left i took care to ' they moved off and whispered 
then their voices rose again 'the extraordinary series of delays is
not my fault i did my best ' the fat man sighed 'very sad ' 'and the
pestiferous absurdity of his talk ' continued the other 'he bothered
me enough when he was here each station should be like a beacon on the
road towards better things a centre for trade of course but also for
humanizing improving instructing conceive you that ass and
he wants to be manager no it's ' here he got choked by excessive
indignation and i lifted my head the least bit i was surprised to see
how near they were right under me i could have spat upon their hats 
they were looking on the ground absorbed in thought the manager was
switching his leg with a slender twig his sagacious relative lifted his
head 'you have been well since you came out this time ' he asked the
other gave a start 'who i oh like a charm like a charm but the
rest oh my goodness all sick they die so quick too that i haven't
the time to send them out of the country it's incredible ' 'hm'm 
just so ' grunted the uncle 'ah my boy trust to this i say trust to
this ' i saw him extend his short flipper of an arm for a gesture that
took in the forest the creek the mud the river seemed to beckon
with a dishonouring flourish before the sunlit face of the land a
treacherous appeal to the lurking death to the hidden evil to the
profound darkness of its heart it was so startling that i leaped to my
feet and looked back at the edge of the forest as though i had expected
an answer of some sort to that black display of confidence you know
the foolish notions that come to one sometimes the high stillness
confronted these two figures with its ominous patience waiting for the
passing away of a fantastic invasion 

 they swore aloud together out of sheer fright i believe then
pretending not to know anything of my existence turned back to the
station the sun was low and leaning forward side by side they seemed
to be tugging painfully uphill their two ridiculous shadows of unequal
length that trailed behind them slowly over the tall grass without
bending a single blade 

 in a few days the eldorado expedition went into the patient wilderness 
that closed upon it as the sea closes over a diver long afterwards the
news came that all the donkeys were dead i know nothing as to the fate
of the less valuable animals they no doubt like the rest of us found
what they deserved i did not inquire i was then rather excited at
the prospect of meeting kurtz very soon when i say very soon i mean
it comparatively it was just two months from the day we left the creek
when we came to the bank below kurtz's station 

 going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings
of the world when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were
kings an empty stream a great silence an impenetrable forest the air
was warm thick heavy sluggish there was no joy in the brilliance of
sunshine the long stretches of the waterway ran on deserted into
the gloom of overshadowed distances on silvery sand-banks hippos and
alligators sunned themselves side by side the broadening waters flowed
through a mob of wooded islands you lost your way on that river as you
would in a desert and butted all day long against shoals trying to
find the channel till you thought yourself bewitched and cut off for
ever from everything you had known once somewhere far away in another
existence perhaps there were moments when one's past came back to one 
as it will sometimes when you have not a moment to spare for yourself 
but it came in the shape of an unrestful and noisy dream remembered
with wonder amongst the overwhelming realities of this strange world of
plants and water and silence and this stillness of life did not in
the least resemble a peace it was the stillness of an implacable force
brooding over an inscrutable intention it looked at you with a vengeful
aspect i got used to it afterwards i did not see it any more i had no
time i had to keep guessing at the channel i had to discern mostly by
inspiration the signs of hidden banks i watched for sunken stones i
was learning to clap my teeth smartly before my heart flew out when i
shaved by a fluke some infernal sly old snag that would have ripped the
life out of the tin-pot steamboat and drowned all the pilgrims i had to
keep a lookout for the signs of dead wood we could cut up in the night
for next day's steaming when you have to attend to things of that sort 
to the mere incidents of the surface the reality the reality i tell
you fades the inner truth is hidden luckily luckily but i felt it
all the same i felt often its mysterious stillness watching me at
my monkey tricks just as it watches you fellows performing on your
respective tight-ropes for what is it half-a-crown a tumble 

 try to be civil marlow growled a voice and i knew there was at
least one listener awake besides myself 

 i beg your pardon i forgot the heartache which makes up the rest of
the price and indeed what does the price matter if the trick be well
done you do your tricks very well and i didn't do badly either since
i managed not to sink that steamboat on my first trip it's a wonder to
me yet imagine a blindfolded man set to drive a van over a bad road 
i sweated and shivered over that business considerably i can tell
you after all for a seaman to scrape the bottom of the thing that's
supposed to float all the time under his care is the unpardonable sin 
no one may know of it but you never forget the thump eh a blow on the
very heart you remember it you dream of it you wake up at night and
think of it years after and go hot and cold all over i don't pretend
to say that steamboat floated all the time more than once she had to
wade for a bit with twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing 
we had enlisted some of these chaps on the way for a crew fine
fellows cannibals in their place they were men one could work with 
and i am grateful to them and after all they did not eat each other
before my face they had brought along a provision of hippo-meat
which went rotten and made the mystery of the wilderness stink in my
nostrils phoo i can sniff it now i had the manager on board and three
or four pilgrims with their staves all complete sometimes we came
upon a station close by the bank clinging to the skirts of the unknown 
and the white men rushing out of a tumble-down hovel with great
gestures of joy and surprise and welcome seemed very strange had the
appearance of being held there captive by a spell the word ivory would
ring in the air for a while and on we went again into the silence 
along empty reaches round the still bends between the high walls of
our winding way reverberating in hollow claps the ponderous beat of the
stern-wheel trees trees millions of trees massive immense running
up high and at their foot hugging the bank against the stream crept
the little begrimed steamboat like a sluggish beetle crawling on the
floor of a lofty portico it made you feel very small very lost and
yet it was not altogether depressing that feeling after all if you
were small the grimy beetle crawled on which was just what you wanted
it to do where the pilgrims imagined it crawled to i don't know 
to some place where they expected to get something i bet for me it
crawled towards kurtz exclusively but when the steam-pipes started
leaking we crawled very slow the reaches opened before us and closed
behind as if the forest had stepped leisurely across the water to bar
the way for our return we penetrated deeper and deeper into the heart
of darkness it was very quiet there at night sometimes the roll of
drums behind the curtain of trees would run up the river and remain
sustained faintly as if hovering in the air high over our heads till
the first break of day whether it meant war peace or prayer we could
not tell the dawns were heralded by the descent of a chill stillness 
the wood-cutters slept their fires burned low the snapping of a twig
would make you start we were wanderers on a prehistoric earth on an
earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet we could have fancied
ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance 
to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil but
suddenly as we struggled round a bend there would be a glimpse of rush
walls of peaked grass-roofs a burst of yells a whirl of black limbs 
a mass of hands clapping of feet stamping of bodies swaying of eyes
rolling under the droop of heavy and motionless foliage the steamer
toiled along slowly on the edge of a black and incomprehensible frenzy 
the prehistoric man was cursing us praying to us welcoming us who
could tell we were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings 
we glided past like phantoms wondering and secretly appalled as sane
men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse we could
not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we
were travelling in the night of first ages of those ages that are gone 
leaving hardly a sign and no memories 

 the earth seemed unearthly we are accustomed to look upon the shackled
form of a conquered monster but there there you could look at a thing
monstrous and free it was unearthly and the men were no they were
not inhuman well you know that was the worst of it this suspicion
of their not being inhuman it would come slowly to one they howled and
leaped and spun and made horrid faces but what thrilled you was just
the thought of their humanity like yours the thought of your remote
kinship with this wild and passionate uproar ugly yes it was ugly
enough but if you were man enough you would admit to yourself that
there was in you just the faintest trace of a response to the terrible
frankness of that noise a dim suspicion of there being a meaning in it
which you you so remote from the night of first ages could comprehend 
and why not the mind of man is capable of anything because everything
is in it all the past as well as all the future what was there after
all joy fear sorrow devotion valour rage who can tell but
truth truth stripped of its cloak of time let the fool gape and
shudder the man knows and can look on without a wink but he must at
least be as much of a man as these on the shore he must meet that truth
with his own true stuff with his own inborn strength principles won't
do acquisitions clothes pretty rags rags that would fly off at the
first good shake no you want a deliberate belief an appeal to me in
this fiendish row is there very well i hear i admit but i have
a voice too and for good or evil mine is the speech that cannot be
silenced of course a fool what with sheer fright and fine sentiments 
is always safe who's that grunting you wonder i didn't go ashore for
a howl and a dance well no i didn't fine sentiments you say 
fine sentiments be hanged i had no time i had to mess about with
white-lead and strips of woolen blanket helping to put bandages on
those leaky steam-pipes i tell you i had to watch the steering and
circumvent those snags and get the tin-pot along by hook or by crook 
there was surface-truth enough in these things to save a wiser man and
between whiles i had to look after the savage who was fireman he was
an improved specimen he could fire up a vertical boiler he was there
below me and upon my word to look at him was as edifying as seeing a
dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat walking on his hind-legs 
a few months of training had done for that really fine chap he squinted
at the steam-gauge and at the water-gauge with an evident effort of
intrepidity and he had filed teeth too the poor devil and the wool
of his pate shaved into queer patterns and three ornamental scars
on each of his cheeks he ought to have been clapping his hands and
stamping his feet on the bank instead of which he was hard at work a
thrall to strange witchcraft full of improving knowledge he was useful
because he had been instructed and what he knew was this that should
the water in that transparent thing disappear the evil spirit inside
the boiler would get angry through the greatness of his thirst and take
a terrible vengeance so he sweated and fired up and watched the glass
fearfully with an impromptu charm made of rags tied to his arm and
a piece of polished bone as big as a watch stuck flatways through his
lower lip while the wooded banks slipped past us slowly the short
noise was left behind the interminable miles of silence and we crept
on towards kurtz but the snags were thick the water was treacherous
and shallow the boiler seemed indeed to have a sulky devil in it and
thus neither that fireman nor i had any time to peer into our creepy
thoughts 

 some fifty miles below the inner station we came upon a hut of reeds 
an inclined and melancholy pole with the unrecognizable tatters of
what had been a flag of some sort flying from it and a neatly stacked
wood-pile this was unexpected we came to the bank and on the stack of
firewood found a flat piece of board with some faded pencil-writing
on it when deciphered it said 'wood for you hurry up approach
cautiously ' there was a signature but it was illegible not
kurtz a much longer word 'hurry up ' where up the river 'approach
cautiously ' we had not done so but the warning could not have been
meant for the place where it could be only found after approach 
something was wrong above but what and how much that was the
question we commented adversely upon the imbecility of that telegraphic
style the bush around said nothing and would not let us look very far 
either a torn curtain of red twill hung in the doorway of the hut and
flapped sadly in our faces the dwelling was dismantled but we could
see a white man had lived there not very long ago there remained a rude
table a plank on two posts a heap of rubbish reposed in a dark corner 
and by the door i picked up a book it had lost its covers and the
pages had been thumbed into a state of extremely dirty softness but the
back had been lovingly stitched afresh with white cotton thread which
looked clean yet it was an extraordinary find its title was an
inquiry into some points of seamanship by a man towser towson some
such name master in his majesty's navy the matter looked dreary
reading enough with illustrative diagrams and repulsive tables of
figures and the copy was sixty years old i handled this amazing
antiquity with the greatest possible tenderness lest it should dissolve
in my hands within towson or towser was inquiring earnestly into the
breaking strain of ships' chains and tackle and other such matters not
a very enthralling book but at the first glance you could see there a
singleness of intention an honest concern for the right way of going
to work which made these humble pages thought out so many years ago 
luminous with another than a professional light the simple old sailor 
with his talk of chains and purchases made me forget the jungle and
the pilgrims in a delicious sensation of having come upon something
unmistakably real such a book being there was wonderful enough but
still more astounding were the notes pencilled in the margin and
plainly referring to the text i couldn't believe my eyes they were in
cipher yes it looked like cipher fancy a man lugging with him a
book of that description into this nowhere and studying it and making
notes in cipher at that it was an extravagant mystery 

 i had been dimly aware for some time of a worrying noise and when i
lifted my eyes i saw the wood-pile was gone and the manager aided by
all the pilgrims was shouting at me from the riverside i slipped the
book into my pocket i assure you to leave off reading was like tearing
myself away from the shelter of an old and solid friendship 

 i started the lame engine ahead 'it must be this miserable trader this
intruder ' exclaimed the manager looking back malevolently at the place
we had left 'he must be english ' i said 'it will not save him from
getting into trouble if he is not careful ' muttered the manager darkly 
i observed with assumed innocence that no man was safe from trouble in
this world 

 the current was more rapid now the steamer seemed at her last gasp 
the stern-wheel flopped languidly and i caught myself listening on
tiptoe for the next beat of the boat for in sober truth i expected the
wretched thing to give up every moment it was like watching the last
flickers of a life but still we crawled sometimes i would pick out a
tree a little way ahead to measure our progress towards kurtz by but
i lost it invariably before we got abreast to keep the eyes so long
on one thing was too much for human patience the manager displayed
a beautiful resignation i fretted and fumed and took to arguing with
myself whether or no i would talk openly with kurtz but before i could
come to any conclusion it occurred to me that my speech or my silence 
indeed any action of mine would be a mere futility what did it matter
what any one knew or ignored what did it matter who was manager one
gets sometimes such a flash of insight the essentials of this affair
lay deep under the surface beyond my reach and beyond my power of
meddling 

 towards the evening of the second day we judged ourselves about eight
miles from kurtz's station i wanted to push on but the manager looked
grave and told me the navigation up there was so dangerous that it
would be advisable the sun being very low already to wait where we
were till next morning moreover he pointed out that if the warning
to approach cautiously were to be followed we must approach in
daylight not at dusk or in the dark this was sensible enough eight
miles meant nearly three hours' steaming for us and i could also see
suspicious ripples at the upper end of the reach nevertheless i was
annoyed beyond expression at the delay and most unreasonably too 
since one night more could not matter much after so many months as we
had plenty of wood and caution was the word i brought up in the middle
of the stream the reach was narrow straight with high sides like a
railway cutting the dusk came gliding into it long before the sun had
set the current ran smooth and swift but a dumb immobility sat on the
banks the living trees lashed together by the creepers and every
living bush of the undergrowth might have been changed into stone even
to the slenderest twig to the lightest leaf it was not sleep it
seemed unnatural like a state of trance not the faintest sound of any
kind could be heard you looked on amazed and began to suspect yourself
of being deaf then the night came suddenly and struck you blind as
well about three in the morning some large fish leaped and the loud
splash made me jump as though a gun had been fired when the sun rose
there was a white fog very warm and clammy and more blinding than the
night it did not shift or drive it was just there standing all round
you like something solid at eight or nine perhaps it lifted as a
shutter lifts we had a glimpse of the towering multitude of trees of
the immense matted jungle with the blazing little ball of the sun
hanging over it all perfectly still and then the white shutter came
down again smoothly as if sliding in greased grooves i ordered the
chain which we had begun to heave in to be paid out again before it
stopped running with a muffled rattle a cry a very loud cry as of
infinite desolation soared slowly in the opaque air it ceased a
complaining clamour modulated in savage discords filled our ears the
sheer unexpectedness of it made my hair stir under my cap i don't know
how it struck the others to me it seemed as though the mist itself had
screamed so suddenly and apparently from all sides at once did this
tumultuous and mournful uproar arise it culminated in a hurried
outbreak of almost intolerably excessive shrieking which stopped short 
leaving us stiffened in a variety of silly attitudes and obstinately
listening to the nearly as appalling and excessive silence 'good god 
what is the meaning ' stammered at my elbow one of the pilgrims a
little fat man with sandy hair and red whiskers who wore sidespring
boots and pink pyjamas tucked into his socks two others remained
open-mouthed a while minute then dashed into the little cabin to rush
out incontinently and stand darting scared glances with winchesters at
'ready' in their hands what we could see was just the steamer we were
on her outlines blurred as though she had been on the point of
dissolving and a misty strip of water perhaps two feet broad around
her and that was all the rest of the world was nowhere as far as our
eyes and ears were concerned just nowhere gone disappeared swept off
without leaving a whisper or a shadow behind 

 i went forward and ordered the chain to be hauled in short so as to
be ready to trip the anchor and move the steamboat at once if necessary 
'will they attack ' whispered an awed voice 'we will be all butchered
in this fog ' murmured another the faces twitched with the strain the
hands trembled slightly the eyes forgot to wink it was very curious
to see the contrast of expressions of the white men and of the black
fellows of our crew who were as much strangers to that part of the
river as we though their homes were only eight hundred miles away the
whites of course greatly discomposed had besides a curious look of
being painfully shocked by such an outrageous row the others had an
alert naturally interested expression but their faces were essentially
quiet even those of the one or two who grinned as they hauled at the
chain several exchanged short grunting phrases which seemed to settle
the matter to their satisfaction their headman a young broad-chested
black severely draped in dark-blue fringed cloths with fierce nostrils
and his hair all done up artfully in oily ringlets stood near me 
'aha ' i said just for good fellowship's sake 'catch 'im ' he snapped 
with a bloodshot widening of his eyes and a flash of sharp teeth 'catch
'im give 'im to us ' 'to you eh ' i asked 'what would you do with
them ' 'eat 'im ' he said curtly and leaning his elbow on the rail 
looked out into the fog in a dignified and profoundly pensive attitude 
i would no doubt have been properly horrified had it not occurred to
me that he and his chaps must be very hungry that they must have been
growing increasingly hungry for at least this month past they had been
engaged for six months i don't think a single one of them had any
clear idea of time as we at the end of countless ages have they still
belonged to the beginnings of time had no inherited experience to teach
them as it were and of course as long as there was a piece of paper
written over in accordance with some farcical law or other made down the
river it didn't enter anybody's head to trouble how they would live 
certainly they had brought with them some rotten hippo-meat which
couldn't have lasted very long anyway even if the pilgrims hadn't in
the midst of a shocking hullabaloo thrown a considerable quantity of it
overboard it looked like a high-handed proceeding but it was really
a case of legitimate self-defence you can't breathe dead hippo waking 
sleeping and eating and at the same time keep your precarious grip on
existence besides that they had given them every week three pieces of
brass wire each about nine inches long and the theory was they were to
buy their provisions with that currency in riverside villages you can
see how that worked there were either no villages or the people were
hostile or the director who like the rest of us fed out of tins with
an occasional old he-goat thrown in didn't want to stop the steamer for
some more or less recondite reason so unless they swallowed the wire
itself or made loops of it to snare the fishes with i don't see what
good their extravagant salary could be to them i must say it was paid
with a regularity worthy of a large and honourable trading company for
the rest the only thing to eat though it didn't look eatable in the
least i saw in their possession was a few lumps of some stuff like
half-cooked dough of a dirty lavender colour they kept wrapped in
leaves and now and then swallowed a piece of but so small that it
seemed done more for the looks of the thing than for any serious purpose
of sustenance why in the name of all the gnawing devils of hunger they
didn't go for us they were thirty to five and have a good tuck-in for
once amazes me now when i think of it they were big powerful men 
with not much capacity to weigh the consequences with courage with
strength even yet though their skins were no longer glossy and their
muscles no longer hard and i saw that something restraining one of
those human secrets that baffle probability had come into play there 
i looked at them with a swift quickening of interest not because it
occurred to me i might be eaten by them before very long though i own
to you that just then i perceived in a new light as it were how
unwholesome the pilgrims looked and i hoped yes i positively hoped 
that my aspect was not so what shall i say so unappetizing a touch
of fantastic vanity which fitted well with the dream-sensation that
pervaded all my days at that time perhaps i had a little fever too 
one can't live with one's finger everlastingly on one's pulse i had
often 'a little fever ' or a little touch of other things the playful
paw-strokes of the wilderness the preliminary trifling before the more
serious onslaught which came in due course yes i looked at them as you
would on any human being with a curiosity of their impulses motives 
capacities weaknesses when brought to the test of an inexorable
physical necessity restraint what possible restraint was it
superstition disgust patience fear or some kind of primitive honour 
no fear can stand up to hunger no patience can wear it out disgust
simply does not exist where hunger is and as to superstition beliefs 
and what you may call principles they are less than chaff in a breeze 
don't you know the devilry of lingering starvation its exasperating
torment its black thoughts its sombre and brooding ferocity well 
i do it takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly 
it's really easier to face bereavement dishonour and the perdition of
one's soul than this kind of prolonged hunger sad but true and these
chaps too had no earthly reason for any kind of scruple restraint i
would just as soon have expected restraint from a hyena prowling amongst
the corpses of a battlefield but there was the fact facing me the fact
dazzling to be seen like the foam on the depths of the sea like a
ripple on an unfathomable enigma a mystery greater when i thought
of it than the curious inexplicable note of desperate grief in this
savage clamour that had swept by us on the river-bank behind the blind
whiteness of the fog 

 two pilgrims were quarrelling in hurried whispers as to which bank 
'left ' 'no no how can you right right of course ' 'it is very
serious ' said the manager's voice behind me 'i would be desolated if
anything should happen to mr kurtz before we came up ' i looked at him 
and had not the slightest doubt he was sincere he was just the kind of
man who would wish to preserve appearances that was his restraint but
when he muttered something about going on at once i did not even take
the trouble to answer him i knew and he knew that it was impossible 
were we to let go our hold of the bottom we would be absolutely in
the air in space we wouldn't be able to tell where we were going
to whether up or down stream or across till we fetched against one
bank or the other and then we wouldn't know at first which it was 
of course i made no move i had no mind for a smash-up you couldn't
imagine a more deadly place for a shipwreck whether we drowned at
once or not we were sure to perish speedily in one way or another 'i
authorize you to take all the risks ' he said after a short silence 
'i refuse to take any ' i said shortly which was just the answer he
expected though its tone might have surprised him 'well i must defer
to your judgment you are captain ' he said with marked civility i
turned my shoulder to him in sign of my appreciation and looked into
the fog how long would it last it was the most hopeless lookout the
approach to this kurtz grubbing for ivory in the wretched bush was beset
by as many dangers as though he had been an enchanted princess sleeping
in a fabulous castle 'will they attack do you think ' asked the
manager in a confidential tone 

 i did not think they would attack for several obvious reasons the
thick fog was one if they left the bank in their canoes they would get
lost in it as we would be if we attempted to move still i had also
judged the jungle of both banks quite impenetrable and yet eyes were
in it eyes that had seen us the riverside bushes were certainly very
thick but the undergrowth behind was evidently penetrable 
however during the short lift i had seen no canoes anywhere in the
reach certainly not abreast of the steamer but what made the idea of
attack inconceivable to me was the nature of the noise of the cries we
had heard they had not the fierce character boding immediate hostile
intention unexpected wild and violent as they had been they had
given me an irresistible impression of sorrow the glimpse of the
steamboat had for some reason filled those savages with unrestrained
grief the danger if any i expounded was from our proximity to a
great human passion let loose even extreme grief may ultimately vent
itself in violence but more generally takes the form of apathy 

 you should have seen the pilgrims stare they had no heart to grin or
even to revile me but i believe they thought me gone mad with fright 
maybe i delivered a regular lecture my dear boys it was no good
bothering keep a lookout well you may guess i watched the fog for
the signs of lifting as a cat watches a mouse but for anything else our
eyes were of no more use to us than if we had been buried miles deep in
a heap of cotton-wool it felt like it too choking warm stifling 
besides all i said though it sounded extravagant was absolutely
true to fact what we afterwards alluded to as an attack was really an
attempt at repulse the action was very far from being aggressive it
was not even defensive in the usual sense it was undertaken under the
stress of desperation and in its essence was purely protective 

 it developed itself i should say two hours after the fog lifted and
its commencement was at a spot roughly speaking about a mile and a
half below kurtz's station we had just floundered and flopped round a
bend when i saw an islet a mere grassy hummock of bright green in the
middle of the stream it was the only thing of the kind but as we opened
the reach more i perceived it was the head of a long sand-bank or
rather of a chain of shallow patches stretching down the middle of the
river they were discoloured just awash and the whole lot was seen
just under the water exactly as a man's backbone is seen running down
the middle of his back under the skin now as far as i did see i could
go to the right or to the left of this i didn't know either channel of
course the banks looked pretty well alike the depth appeared the same 
but as i had been informed the station was on the west side i naturally
headed for the western passage 

 no sooner had we fairly entered it than i became aware it was much
narrower than i had supposed to the left of us there was the long
uninterrupted shoal and to the right a high steep bank heavily
overgrown with bushes above the bush the trees stood in serried ranks 
the twigs overhung the current thickly and from distance to distance a
large limb of some tree projected rigidly over the stream it was then
well on in the afternoon the face of the forest was gloomy and a
broad strip of shadow had already fallen on the water in this shadow
we steamed up very slowly as you may imagine i sheered her well
inshore the water being deepest near the bank as the sounding-pole
informed me 

 one of my hungry and forbearing friends was sounding in the bows just
below me this steamboat was exactly like a decked scow on the deck 
there were two little teakwood houses with doors and windows the
boiler was in the fore-end and the machinery right astern over
the whole there was a light roof supported on stanchions the funnel
projected through that roof and in front of the funnel a small cabin
built of light planks served for a pilot-house it contained a couch 
two camp-stools a loaded martini-henry leaning in one corner a tiny
table and the steering-wheel it had a wide door in front and a broad
shutter at each side all these were always thrown open of course i
spent my days perched up there on the extreme fore-end of that roof 
before the door at night i slept or tried to on the couch an
athletic black belonging to some coast tribe and educated by my poor
predecessor was the helmsman he sported a pair of brass earrings wore
a blue cloth wrapper from the waist to the ankles and thought all the
world of himself he was the most unstable kind of fool i had ever seen 
he steered with no end of a swagger while you were by but if he lost
sight of you he became instantly the prey of an abject funk and would
let that cripple of a steamboat get the upper hand of him in a minute 

 i was looking down at the sounding-pole and feeling much annoyed to
see at each try a little more of it stick out of that river when i saw
my poleman give up on the business suddenly and stretch himself flat on
the deck without even taking the trouble to haul his pole in he kept
hold on it though and it trailed in the water at the same time the
fireman whom i could also see below me sat down abruptly before his
furnace and ducked his head i was amazed then i had to look at the
river mighty quick because there was a snag in the fairway sticks 
little sticks were flying about thick they were whizzing before my
nose dropping below me striking behind me against my pilot-house all
this time the river the shore the woods were very quiet perfectly
quiet i could only hear the heavy splashing thump of the stern-wheel
and the patter of these things we cleared the snag clumsily arrows by
jove we were being shot at i stepped in quickly to close the shutter
on the landside that fool-helmsman his hands on the spokes was
lifting his knees high stamping his feet champing his mouth like a
reined-in horse confound him and we were staggering within ten feet of
the bank i had to lean right out to swing the heavy shutter and i saw
a face amongst the leaves on the level with my own looking at me very
fierce and steady and then suddenly as though a veil had been removed
from my eyes i made out deep in the tangled gloom naked breasts 
arms legs glaring eyes the bush was swarming with human limbs in
movement glistening of bronze colour the twigs shook swayed and
rustled the arrows flew out of them and then the shutter came to 
'steer her straight ' i said to the helmsman he held his head rigid 
face forward but his eyes rolled he kept on lifting and setting down
his feet gently his mouth foamed a little 'keep quiet ' i said in a
fury i might just as well have ordered a tree not to sway in the wind 
i darted out below me there was a great scuffle of feet on the iron
deck confused exclamations a voice screamed 'can you turn back '
i caught sight of a v-shaped ripple on the water ahead what another
snag a fusillade burst out under my feet the pilgrims had opened with
their winchesters and were simply squirting lead into that bush a
deuce of a lot of smoke came up and drove slowly forward i swore at
it now i couldn't see the ripple or the snag either i stood in the
doorway peering and the arrows came in swarms they might have been
poisoned but they looked as though they wouldn't kill a cat the bush
began to howl our wood-cutters raised a warlike whoop the report of a
rifle just at my back deafened me i glanced over my shoulder and the
pilot-house was yet full of noise and smoke when i made a dash at the
wheel the fool-nigger had dropped everything to throw the shutter
open and let off that martini-henry he stood before the wide opening 
glaring and i yelled at him to come back while i straightened the
sudden twist out of that steamboat there was no room to turn even if i
had wanted to the snag was somewhere very near ahead in that confounded
smoke there was no time to lose so i just crowded her into the
bank right into the bank where i knew the water was deep 

 we tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs
and flying leaves the fusillade below stopped short as i had foreseen
it would when the squirts got empty i threw my head back to a glinting
whizz that traversed the pilot-house in at one shutter-hole and out
at the other looking past that mad helmsman who was shaking the empty
rifle and yelling at the shore i saw vague forms of men running bent
double leaping gliding distinct incomplete evanescent something
big appeared in the air before the shutter the rifle went overboard 
and the man stepped back swiftly looked at me over his shoulder in an
extraordinary profound familiar manner and fell upon my feet the
side of his head hit the wheel twice and the end of what appeared
a long cane clattered round and knocked over a little camp-stool it
looked as though after wrenching that thing from somebody ashore he had
lost his balance in the effort the thin smoke had blown away we were
clear of the snag and looking ahead i could see that in another hundred
yards or so i would be free to sheer off away from the bank but my
feet felt so very warm and wet that i had to look down the man had
rolled on his back and stared straight up at me both his hands clutched
that cane it was the shaft of a spear that either thrown or lunged
through the opening had caught him in the side just below the ribs 
the blade had gone in out of sight after making a frightful gash my
shoes were full a pool of blood lay very still gleaming dark-red under
the wheel his eyes shone with an amazing lustre the fusillade burst
out again he looked at me anxiously gripping the spear like something
precious with an air of being afraid i would try to take it away from
him i had to make an effort to free my eyes from his gaze and attend
to the steering with one hand i felt above my head for the line of
the steam whistle and jerked out screech after screech hurriedly the
tumult of angry and warlike yells was checked instantly and then from
the depths of the woods went out such a tremulous and prolonged wail of
mournful fear and utter despair as may be imagined to follow the flight
of the last hope from the earth there was a great commotion in the
bush the shower of arrows stopped a few dropping shots rang out
sharply then silence in which the languid beat of the stern-wheel came
plainly to my ears i put the helm hard a-starboard at the moment when
the pilgrim in pink pyjamas very hot and agitated appeared in the
doorway 'the manager sends me ' he began in an official tone and
stopped short 'good god ' he said glaring at the wounded man 

 we two whites stood over him and his lustrous and inquiring glance
enveloped us both i declare it looked as though he would presently put
to us some questions in an understandable language but he died without
uttering a sound without moving a limb without twitching a muscle 
only in the very last moment as though in response to some sign we
could not see to some whisper we could not hear he frowned heavily 
and that frown gave to his black death-mask an inconceivably sombre 
brooding and menacing expression the lustre of inquiring glance faded
swiftly into vacant glassiness 'can you steer ' i asked the agent
eagerly he looked very dubious but i made a grab at his arm and he
understood at once i meant him to steer whether or no to tell you
the truth i was morbidly anxious to change my shoes and socks 'he is
dead ' murmured the fellow immensely impressed 'no doubt about it '
said i tugging like mad at the shoe-laces 'and by the way i suppose
mr kurtz is dead as well by this time '

 for the moment that was the dominant thought there was a sense of
extreme disappointment as though i had found out i had been striving
after something altogether without a substance i couldn't have been
more disgusted if i had travelled all this way for the sole purpose of
talking with mr kurtz talking with i flung one shoe overboard 
and became aware that that was exactly what i had been looking forward
to a talk with kurtz i made the strange discovery that i had never
imagined him as doing you know but as discoursing i didn't say to
myself 'now i will never see him ' or 'now i will never shake him by
the hand ' but 'now i will never hear him ' the man presented himself
as a voice not of course that i did not connect him with some sort of
action hadn't i been told in all the tones of jealousy and admiration
that he had collected bartered swindled or stolen more ivory than all
the other agents together that was not the point the point was in his
being a gifted creature and that of all his gifts the one that stood
out preeminently that carried with it a sense of real presence was his
ability to talk his words the gift of expression the bewildering 
the illuminating the most exalted and the most contemptible the
pulsating stream of light or the deceitful flow from the heart of an
impenetrable darkness 

 the other shoe went flying unto the devil-god of that river i thought 
'by jove it's all over we are too late he has vanished the gift has
vanished by means of some spear arrow or club i will never hear that
chap speak after all' and my sorrow had a startling extravagance of
emotion even such as i had noticed in the howling sorrow of these
savages in the bush i couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation
somehow had i been robbed of a belief or had missed my destiny in
life why do you sigh in this beastly way somebody absurd well 
absurd good lord mustn't a man ever here give me some tobacco 

there was a pause of profound stillness then a match flared and
marlow's lean face appeared worn hollow with downward folds and
dropped eyelids with an aspect of concentrated attention and as he
took vigorous draws at his pipe it seemed to retreat and advance out of
the night in the regular flicker of tiny flame the match went out 

 absurd he cried this is the worst of trying to tell here
you all are each moored with two good addresses like a hulk with
two anchors a butcher round one corner a policeman round another 
excellent appetites and temperature normal you hear normal from
year's end to year's end and you say absurd absurd be exploded 
absurd my dear boys what can you expect from a man who out of sheer
nervousness had just flung overboard a pair of new shoes now i think of
it it is amazing i did not shed tears i am upon the whole proud
of my fortitude i was cut to the quick at the idea of having lost the
inestimable privilege of listening to the gifted kurtz of course i
was wrong the privilege was waiting for me oh yes i heard more than
enough and i was right too a voice he was very little more than a
voice and i heard him it this voice other voices all of them were
so little more than voices and the memory of that time itself lingers
around me impalpable like a dying vibration of one immense jabber 
silly atrocious sordid savage or simply mean without any kind of
sense voices voices even the girl herself now 

he was silent for a long time 

 i laid the ghost of his gifts at last with a lie he began suddenly 
 girl what did i mention a girl oh she is out of it completely 
they the women i mean are out of it should be out of it we must
help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own lest ours
gets worse oh she had to be out of it you should have heard the
disinterred body of mr kurtz saying 'my intended ' you would have
perceived directly then how completely she was out of it and the lofty
frontal bone of mr kurtz they say the hair goes on growing sometimes 
but this ah specimen was impressively bald the wilderness had
patted him on the head and behold it was like a ball an ivory ball 
it had caressed him and lo he had withered it had taken him loved
him embraced him got into his veins consumed his flesh and sealed
his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish
initiation he was its spoiled and pampered favourite ivory i should
think so heaps of it stacks of it the old mud shanty was bursting
with it you would think there was not a single tusk left either above
or below the ground in the whole country 'mostly fossil ' the manager
had remarked disparagingly it was no more fossil than i am but they
call it fossil when it is dug up it appears these niggers do bury the
tusks sometimes but evidently they couldn't bury this parcel deep
enough to save the gifted mr kurtz from his fate we filled the
steamboat with it and had to pile a lot on the deck thus he could
see and enjoy as long as he could see because the appreciation of this
favour had remained with him to the last you should have heard him say 
'my ivory ' oh yes i heard him 'my intended my ivory my station 
my river my ' everything belonged to him it made me hold my breath
in expectation of hearing the wilderness burst into a prodigious peal
of laughter that would shake the fixed stars in their places everything
belonged to him but that was a trifle the thing was to know what he
belonged to how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own that
was the reflection that made you creepy all over it was impossible it
was not good for one either trying to imagine he had taken a high seat
amongst the devils of the land i mean literally you can't understand 
how could you with solid pavement under your feet surrounded by kind
neighbours ready to cheer you or to fall on you stepping delicately
between the butcher and the policeman in the holy terror of scandal and
gallows and lunatic asylums how can you imagine what particular region
of the first ages a man's untrammelled feet may take him into by the
way of solitude utter solitude without a policeman by the way of
silence utter silence where no warning voice of a kind neighbour can
be heard whispering of public opinion these little things make all the
great difference when they are gone you must fall back upon your own
innate strength upon your own capacity for faithfulness of course you
may be too much of a fool to go wrong too dull even to know you are
being assaulted by the powers of darkness i take it no fool ever made
a bargain for his soul with the devil the fool is too much of a fool 
or the devil too much of a devil i don't know which or you may be such
a thunderingly exalted creature as to be altogether deaf and blind to
anything but heavenly sights and sounds then the earth for you is only
a standing place and whether to be like this is your loss or your gain
i won't pretend to say but most of us are neither one nor the other 
the earth for us is a place to live in where we must put up with
sights with sounds with smells too by jove breathe dead hippo 
so to speak and not be contaminated and there don't you see 
your strength comes in the faith in your ability for the digging of
unostentatious holes to bury the stuff in your power of devotion 
not to yourself but to an obscure back-breaking business and that's
difficult enough mind i am not trying to excuse or even explain i am
trying to account to myself for for mr kurtz for the shade of mr 
kurtz this initiated wraith from the back of nowhere honoured me with
its amazing confidence before it vanished altogether this was because
it could speak english to me the original kurtz had been educated
partly in england and as he was good enough to say himself his
sympathies were in the right place his mother was half-english his
father was half-french all europe contributed to the making of kurtz 
and by and by i learned that most appropriately the international
society for the suppression of savage customs had intrusted him with the
making of a report for its future guidance and he had written it too 
i've seen it i've read it it was eloquent vibrating with eloquence 
but too high-strung i think seventeen pages of close writing he had
found time for but this must have been before his let us say nerves 
went wrong and caused him to preside at certain midnight dances ending
with unspeakable rites which as far as i reluctantly gathered
from what i heard at various times were offered up to him do you
understand to mr kurtz himself but it was a beautiful piece
of writing the opening paragraph however in the light of later
information strikes me now as ominous he began with the argument
that we whites from the point of development we had arrived at 'must
necessarily appear to them savages in the nature of supernatural
beings we approach them with the might of a deity ' and so on and so
on 'by the simple exercise of our will we can exert a power for good
practically unbounded ' etc etc from that point he soared and took me
with him the peroration was magnificent though difficult to remember 
you know it gave me the notion of an exotic immensity ruled by an
august benevolence it made me tingle with enthusiasm this was the
unbounded power of eloquence of words of burning noble words there
were no practical hints to interrupt the magic current of phrases 
unless a kind of note at the foot of the last page scrawled evidently
much later in an unsteady hand may be regarded as the exposition of
a method it was very simple and at the end of that moving appeal to
every altruistic sentiment it blazed at you luminous and terrifying 
like a flash of lightning in a serene sky 'exterminate all the brutes '
the curious part was that he had apparently forgotten all about that
valuable postscriptum because later on when he in a sense came to
himself he repeatedly entreated me to take good care of 'my pamphlet'
 he called it as it was sure to have in the future a good influence
upon his career i had full information about all these things and 
besides as it turned out i was to have the care of his memory i've
done enough for it to give me the indisputable right to lay it if i
choose for an everlasting rest in the dust-bin of progress amongst
all the sweepings and figuratively speaking all the dead cats of
civilization but then you see i can't choose he won't be forgotten 
whatever he was he was not common he had the power to charm or
frighten rudimentary souls into an aggravated witch-dance in his
honour he could also fill the small souls of the pilgrims with bitter
misgivings he had one devoted friend at least and he had conquered
one soul in the world that was neither rudimentary nor tainted with
self-seeking no i can't forget him though i am not prepared to affirm
the fellow was exactly worth the life we lost in getting to him i
missed my late helmsman awfully i missed him even while his body
was still lying in the pilot-house perhaps you will think it passing
strange this regret for a savage who was no more account than a grain of
sand in a black sahara well don't you see he had done something he
had steered for months i had him at my back a help an instrument it
was a kind of partnership he steered for me i had to look after him i
worried about his deficiencies and thus a subtle bond had been created 
of which i only became aware when it was suddenly broken and the
intimate profundity of that look he gave me when he received his hurt
remains to this day in my memory like a claim of distant kinship
affirmed in a supreme moment 

 poor fool if he had only left that shutter alone he had no restraint 
no restraint just like kurtz a tree swayed by the wind as soon as
i had put on a dry pair of slippers i dragged him out after first
jerking the spear out of his side which operation i confess i performed
with my eyes shut tight his heels leaped together over the little
doorstep his shoulders were pressed to my breast i hugged him from
behind desperately oh he was heavy heavy heavier than any man on
earth i should imagine then without more ado i tipped him overboard 
the current snatched him as though he had been a wisp of grass and i
saw the body roll over twice before i lost sight of it for ever all the
pilgrims and the manager were then congregated on the awning-deck
about the pilot-house chattering at each other like a flock of excited
magpies and there was a scandalized murmur at my heartless promptitude 
what they wanted to keep that body hanging about for i can't guess 
embalm it maybe but i had also heard another and a very ominous 
murmur on the deck below my friends the wood-cutters were likewise
scandalized and with a better show of reason though i admit that the
reason itself was quite inadmissible oh quite i had made up my mind
that if my late helmsman was to be eaten the fishes alone should have
him he had been a very second-rate helmsman while alive but now he was
dead he might have become a first-class temptation and possibly cause
some startling trouble besides i was anxious to take the wheel the
man in pink pyjamas showing himself a hopeless duffer at the business 

 this i did directly the simple funeral was over we were going
half-speed keeping right in the middle of the stream and i listened
to the talk about me they had given up kurtz they had given up the
station kurtz was dead and the station had been burnt and so on and
so on the red-haired pilgrim was beside himself with the thought that
at least this poor kurtz had been properly avenged 'say we must have
made a glorious slaughter of them in the bush eh what do you think 
say ' he positively danced the bloodthirsty little gingery beggar 
and he had nearly fainted when he saw the wounded man i could not help
saying 'you made a glorious lot of smoke anyhow ' i had seen from the
way the tops of the bushes rustled and flew that almost all the shots
had gone too high you can't hit anything unless you take aim and fire
from the shoulder but these chaps fired from the hip with their eyes
shut the retreat i maintained and i was right was caused by the
screeching of the steam whistle upon this they forgot kurtz and began
to howl at me with indignant protests 

 the manager stood by the wheel murmuring confidentially about the
necessity of getting well away down the river before dark at all events 
when i saw in the distance a clearing on the riverside and the outlines
of some sort of building 'what's this ' i asked he clapped his hands
in wonder 'the station ' he cried i edged in at once still going
half-speed 

 through my glasses i saw the slope of a hill interspersed with rare
trees and perfectly free from undergrowth a long decaying building on
the summit was half buried in the high grass the large holes in the
peaked roof gaped black from afar the jungle and the woods made a
background there was no enclosure or fence of any kind but there had
been one apparently for near the house half-a-dozen slim posts remained
in a row roughly trimmed and with their upper ends ornamented with
round carved balls the rails or whatever there had been between had
disappeared of course the forest surrounded all that the river-bank
was clear and on the waterside i saw a white man under a hat like a
cart-wheel beckoning persistently with his whole arm examining the
edge of the forest above and below i was almost certain i could see
movements human forms gliding here and there i steamed past prudently 
then stopped the engines and let her drift down the man on the shore
began to shout urging us to land 'we have been attacked ' screamed
the manager 'i know i know it's all right ' yelled back the other as
cheerful as you please 'come along it's all right i am glad '

 his aspect reminded me of something i had seen something funny i had
seen somewhere as i manoeuvred to get alongside i was asking myself 
'what does this fellow look like ' suddenly i got it he looked like
a harlequin his clothes had been made of some stuff that was brown
holland probably but it was covered with patches all over with bright
patches blue red and yellow patches on the back patches on the
front patches on elbows on knees coloured binding around his jacket 
scarlet edging at the bottom of his trousers and the sunshine made him
look extremely gay and wonderfully neat withal because you could see
how beautifully all this patching had been done a beardless boyish
face very fair no features to speak of nose peeling little blue
eyes smiles and frowns chasing each other over that open countenance
like sunshine and shadow on a wind-swept plain 'look out captain ' he
cried 'there's a snag lodged in here last night ' what another snag i
confess i swore shamefully i had nearly holed my cripple to finish off
that charming trip the harlequin on the bank turned his little pug-nose
up to me 'you english ' he asked all smiles 'are you ' i shouted from
the wheel the smiles vanished and he shook his head as if sorry for
my disappointment then he brightened up 'never mind ' he cried
encouragingly 'are we in time ' i asked 'he is up there ' he replied 
with a toss of the head up the hill and becoming gloomy all of a
sudden his face was like the autumn sky overcast one moment and bright
the next 

 when the manager escorted by the pilgrims all of them armed to the
teeth had gone to the house this chap came on board 'i say i don't
like this these natives are in the bush ' i said he assured me
earnestly it was all right 'they are simple people ' he added 'well 
i am glad you came it took me all my time to keep them off ' 'but you
said it was all right ' i cried 'oh they meant no harm ' he said and
as i stared he corrected himself 'not exactly ' then vivaciously 'my
faith your pilot-house wants a clean-up ' in the next breath he advised
me to keep enough steam on the boiler to blow the whistle in case of any
trouble 'one good screech will do more for you than all your rifles 
they are simple people ' he repeated he rattled away at such a rate
he quite overwhelmed me he seemed to be trying to make up for lots of
silence and actually hinted laughing that such was the case 'don't
you talk with mr kurtz ' i said 'you don't talk with that man you
listen to him ' he exclaimed with severe exaltation 'but now ' he
waved his arm and in the twinkling of an eye was in the uttermost
depths of despondency in a moment he came up again with a jump 
possessed himself of both my hands shook them continuously while he
gabbled 'brother sailor honour pleasure delight 
introduce myself russian son of an arch-priest 
government of tambov what tobacco english tobacco the excellent
english tobacco now that's brotherly smoke where's a sailor that
does not smoke 

 the pipe soothed him and gradually i made out he had run away from
school had gone to sea in a russian ship ran away again served some
time in english ships was now reconciled with the arch-priest he made
a point of that 'but when one is young one must see things gather
experience ideas enlarge the mind ' 'here ' i interrupted 'you
can never tell here i met mr kurtz ' he said youthfully solemn and
reproachful i held my tongue after that it appears he had persuaded a
dutch trading-house on the coast to fit him out with stores and goods 
and had started for the interior with a light heart and no more idea of
what would happen to him than a baby he had been wandering about that
river for nearly two years alone cut off from everybody and everything 
'i am not so young as i look i am twenty-five ' he said 'at first old
van shuyten would tell me to go to the devil ' he narrated with keen
enjoyment 'but i stuck to him and talked and talked till at last he
got afraid i would talk the hind-leg off his favourite dog so he gave
me some cheap things and a few guns and told me he hoped he would never
see my face again good old dutchman van shuyten i've sent him one
small lot of ivory a year ago so that he can't call me a little thief
when i get back i hope he got it and for the rest i don't care i had
some wood stacked for you that was my old house did you see '

 i gave him towson's book he made as though he would kiss me but
restrained himself 'the only book i had left and i thought i had lost
it ' he said looking at it ecstatically 'so many accidents happen to
a man going about alone you know canoes get upset sometimes and
sometimes you've got to clear out so quick when the people get angry '
he thumbed the pages 'you made notes in russian ' i asked he nodded 
'i thought they were written in cipher ' i said he laughed then became
serious 'i had lots of trouble to keep these people off ' he said 
'did they want to kill you ' i asked 'oh no ' he cried and checked
himself 'why did they attack us ' i pursued he hesitated then
said shamefacedly 'they don't want him to go ' 'don't they ' i said
curiously he nodded a nod full of mystery and wisdom 'i tell you ' he
cried 'this man has enlarged my mind ' he opened his arms wide staring
at me with his little blue eyes that were perfectly round 




iii



 i looked at him lost in astonishment there he was before me in
motley as though he had absconded from a troupe of mimes enthusiastic 
fabulous his very existence was improbable inexplicable and
altogether bewildering he was an insoluble problem it was
inconceivable how he had existed how he had succeeded in getting so
far how he had managed to remain why he did not instantly disappear 
'i went a little farther ' he said 'then still a little farther till
i had gone so far that i don't know how i'll ever get back never mind 
plenty time i can manage you take kurtz away quick quick i tell
you ' the glamour of youth enveloped his parti-coloured rags his
destitution his loneliness the essential desolation of his futile
wanderings for months for years his life hadn't been worth a day's
purchase and there he was gallantly thoughtlessly alive to all
appearances indestructible solely by the virtue of his few years and
of his unreflecting audacity i was seduced into something like
admiration like envy glamour urged him on glamour kept him
unscathed he surely wanted nothing from the wilderness but space to
breathe in and to push on through his need was to exist and to move
onwards at the greatest possible risk and with a maximum of privation 
if the absolutely pure uncalculating unpractical spirit of adventure
had ever ruled a human being it ruled this bepatched youth i almost
envied him the possession of this modest and clear flame it seemed to
have consumed all thought of self so completely that even while he
was talking to you you forgot that it was he the man before your
eyes who had gone through these things i did not envy him his devotion
to kurtz though he had not meditated over it it came to him and
he accepted it with a sort of eager fatalism i must say that to me it
appeared about the most dangerous thing in every way he had come upon so
far 

 they had come together unavoidably like two ships becalmed near
each other and lay rubbing sides at last i suppose kurtz wanted an
audience because on a certain occasion when encamped in the forest 
they had talked all night or more probably kurtz had talked 'we talked
of everything ' he said quite transported at the recollection 'i
forgot there was such a thing as sleep the night did not seem to last
an hour everything everything of love too ' 'ah he talked to
you of love ' i said much amused 'it isn't what you think ' he cried 
almost passionately 'it was in general he made me see things things '

 he threw his arms up we were on deck at the time and the headman
of my wood-cutters lounging near by turned upon him his heavy and
glittering eyes i looked around and i don't know why but i assure you
that never never before did this land this river this jungle the
very arch of this blazing sky appear to me so hopeless and so dark so
impenetrable to human thought so pitiless to human weakness 'and ever
since you have been with him of course ' i said 

 on the contrary it appears their intercourse had been very much broken
by various causes he had as he informed me proudly managed to nurse
kurtz through two illnesses he alluded to it as you would to some risky
feat but as a rule kurtz wandered alone far in the depths of the
forest 'very often coming to this station i had to wait days and
days before he would turn up ' he said 'ah it was worth waiting
for sometimes ' 'what was he doing exploring or what ' i asked 'oh 
yes of course' he had discovered lots of villages a lake too he
did not know exactly in what direction it was dangerous to inquire
too much but mostly his expeditions had been for ivory 'but he had no
goods to trade with by that time ' i objected 'there's a good lot of
cartridges left even yet ' he answered looking away 'to speak plainly 
he raided the country ' i said he nodded 'not alone surely ' he
muttered something about the villages round that lake 'kurtz got the
tribe to follow him did he ' i suggested he fidgeted a little 'they
adored him ' he said the tone of these words was so extraordinary that
i looked at him searchingly it was curious to see his mingled eagerness
and reluctance to speak of kurtz the man filled his life occupied his
thoughts swayed his emotions 'what can you expect ' he burst out 'he
came to them with thunder and lightning you know and they had never
seen anything like it and very terrible he could be very terrible 
you can't judge mr kurtz as you would an ordinary man no no no 
now just to give you an idea i don't mind telling you he wanted to
shoot me too one day but i don't judge him ' 'shoot you ' i cried
'what for ' 'well i had a small lot of ivory the chief of that village
near my house gave me you see i used to shoot game for them well 
he wanted it and wouldn't hear reason he declared he would shoot me
unless i gave him the ivory and then cleared out of the country because
he could do so and had a fancy for it and there was nothing on earth
to prevent him killing whom he jolly well pleased and it was true too 
i gave him the ivory what did i care but i didn't clear out no no i
couldn't leave him i had to be careful of course till we got friendly
again for a time he had his second illness then afterwards i had to
keep out of the way but i didn't mind he was living for the most part
in those villages on the lake when he came down to the river sometimes
he would take to me and sometimes it was better for me to be careful 
this man suffered too much he hated all this and somehow he couldn't
get away when i had a chance i begged him to try and leave while there
was time i offered to go back with him and he would say yes and then
he would remain go off on another ivory hunt disappear for weeks 
forget himself amongst these people forget himself you know ' 'why 
he's mad ' i said he protested indignantly mr kurtz couldn't be mad 
if i had heard him talk only two days ago i wouldn't dare hint at such
a thing i had taken up my binoculars while we talked and was
looking at the shore sweeping the limit of the forest at each side and
at the back of the house the consciousness of there being people in
that bush so silent so quiet as silent and quiet as the ruined house
on the hill made me uneasy there was no sign on the face of nature
of this amazing tale that was not so much told as suggested to me in
desolate exclamations completed by shrugs in interrupted phrases in
hints ending in deep sighs the woods were unmoved like a mask heavy 
like the closed door of a prison they looked with their air of hidden
knowledge of patient expectation of unapproachable silence the
russian was explaining to me that it was only lately that mr kurtz had
come down to the river bringing along with him all the fighting men of
that lake tribe he had been absent for several months getting himself
adored i suppose and had come down unexpectedly with the intention
to all appearance of making a raid either across the river or down
stream evidently the appetite for more ivory had got the better of
the what shall i say less material aspirations however he had
got much worse suddenly 'i heard he was lying helpless and so i came
up took my chance ' said the russian 'oh he is bad very bad ' i
directed my glass to the house there were no signs of life but there
was the ruined roof the long mud wall peeping above the grass with
three little square window-holes no two of the same size all this
brought within reach of my hand as it were and then i made a brusque
movement and one of the remaining posts of that vanished fence leaped
up in the field of my glass you remember i told you i had been struck
at the distance by certain attempts at ornamentation rather remarkable
in the ruinous aspect of the place now i had suddenly a nearer view 
and its first result was to make me throw my head back as if before a
blow then i went carefully from post to post with my glass and i saw
my mistake these round knobs were not ornamental but symbolic they
were expressive and puzzling striking and disturbing food for thought
and also for vultures if there had been any looking down from the sky 
but at all events for such ants as were industrious enough to ascend
the pole they would have been even more impressive those heads on the
stakes if their faces had not been turned to the house only one the
first i had made out was facing my way i was not so shocked as you may
think the start back i had given was really nothing but a movement
of surprise i had expected to see a knob of wood there you know i
returned deliberately to the first i had seen and there it was black 
dried sunken with closed eyelids a head that seemed to sleep at the
top of that pole and with the shrunken dry lips showing a narrow
white line of the teeth was smiling too smiling continuously at some
endless and jocose dream of that eternal slumber 

 i am not disclosing any trade secrets in fact the manager said
afterwards that mr kurtz's methods had ruined the district i have no
opinion on that point but i want you clearly to understand that there
was nothing exactly profitable in these heads being there they only
showed that mr kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his
various lusts that there was something wanting in him some small
matter which when the pressing need arose could not be found under
his magnificent eloquence whether he knew of this deficiency himself i
can't say i think the knowledge came to him at last only at the very
last but the wilderness had found him out early and had taken on him a
terrible vengeance for the fantastic invasion i think it had whispered
to him things about himself which he did not know things of which he
had no conception till he took counsel with this great solitude and the
whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating it echoed loudly within him
because he was hollow at the core i put down the glass and the
head that had appeared near enough to be spoken to seemed at once to
have leaped away from me into inaccessible distance 

 the admirer of mr kurtz was a bit crestfallen in a hurried 
indistinct voice he began to assure me he had not dared to take
these say symbols down he was not afraid of the natives they would
not stir till mr kurtz gave the word his ascendancy was extraordinary 
the camps of these people surrounded the place and the chiefs came
every day to see him they would crawl 'i don't want to know
anything of the ceremonies used when approaching mr kurtz ' i shouted 
curious this feeling that came over me that such details would be more
intolerable than those heads drying on the stakes under mr kurtz's
windows after all that was only a savage sight while i seemed at
one bound to have been transported into some lightless region of subtle
horrors where pure uncomplicated savagery was a positive relief being
something that had a right to exist obviously in the sunshine the
young man looked at me with surprise i suppose it did not occur to
him that mr kurtz was no idol of mine he forgot i hadn't heard any of
these splendid monologues on what was it on love justice conduct
of life or what not if it had come to crawling before mr kurtz he
crawled as much as the veriest savage of them all i had no idea of the
conditions he said these heads were the heads of rebels i shocked him
excessively by laughing rebels what would be the next definition i
was to hear there had been enemies criminals workers and these
were rebels those rebellious heads looked very subdued to me on their
sticks 'you don't know how such a life tries a man like kurtz ' cried
kurtz's last disciple 'well and you ' i said 'i i i am a simple
man i have no great thoughts i want nothing from anybody how can
you compare me to ' his feelings were too much for speech and
suddenly he broke down 'i don't understand ' he groaned 'i've been
doing my best to keep him alive and that's enough i had no hand in
all this i have no abilities there hasn't been a drop of medicine or a
mouthful of invalid food for months here he was shamefully abandoned 
a man like this with such ideas shamefully shamefully i i haven't
slept for the last ten nights '

 his voice lost itself in the calm of the evening the long shadows of
the forest had slipped downhill while we talked had gone far beyond
the ruined hovel beyond the symbolic row of stakes all this was in the
gloom while we down there were yet in the sunshine and the stretch
of the river abreast of the clearing glittered in a still and dazzling
splendour with a murky and overshadowed bend above and below not a
living soul was seen on the shore the bushes did not rustle 

 suddenly round the corner of the house a group of men appeared as
though they had come up from the ground they waded waist-deep in the
grass in a compact body bearing an improvised stretcher in their
midst instantly in the emptiness of the landscape a cry arose whose
shrillness pierced the still air like a sharp arrow flying straight to
the very heart of the land and as if by enchantment streams of human
beings of naked human beings with spears in their hands with bows 
with shields with wild glances and savage movements were poured into
the clearing by the dark-faced and pensive forest the bushes shook the
grass swayed for a time and then everything stood still in attentive
immobility 

 'now if he does not say the right thing to them we are all done for '
said the russian at my elbow the knot of men with the stretcher had
stopped too halfway to the steamer as if petrified i saw the man on
the stretcher sit up lank and with an uplifted arm above the shoulders
of the bearers 'let us hope that the man who can talk so well of love
in general will find some particular reason to spare us this time ' i
said i resented bitterly the absurd danger of our situation as if
to be at the mercy of that atrocious phantom had been a dishonouring
necessity i could not hear a sound but through my glasses i saw the
thin arm extended commandingly the lower jaw moving the eyes of
that apparition shining darkly far in its bony head that nodded with
grotesque jerks kurtz kurtz that means short in german don't it 
well the name was as true as everything else in his life and death 
he looked at least seven feet long his covering had fallen off and his
body emerged from it pitiful and appalling as from a winding-sheet i
could see the cage of his ribs all astir the bones of his arm waving 
it was as though an animated image of death carved out of old ivory had
been shaking its hand with menaces at a motionless crowd of men made of
dark and glittering bronze i saw him open his mouth wide it gave him
a weirdly voracious aspect as though he had wanted to swallow all the
air all the earth all the men before him a deep voice reached
me faintly he must have been shouting he fell back suddenly the
stretcher shook as the bearers staggered forward again and almost at
the same time i noticed that the crowd of savages was vanishing without
any perceptible movement of retreat as if the forest that had ejected
these beings so suddenly had drawn them in again as the breath is drawn
in a long aspiration 

 some of the pilgrims behind the stretcher carried his
arms two shot-guns a heavy rifle and a light revolver-carbine the
thunderbolts of that pitiful jupiter the manager bent over him
murmuring as he walked beside his head they laid him down in one of the
little cabins just a room for a bed place and a camp-stool or two 
you know we had brought his belated correspondence and a lot of torn
envelopes and open letters littered his bed his hand roamed feebly
amongst these papers i was struck by the fire of his eyes and the
composed languor of his expression it was not so much the exhaustion of
disease he did not seem in pain this shadow looked satiated and calm 
as though for the moment it had had its fill of all the emotions 

 he rustled one of the letters and looking straight in my face said 
'i am glad ' somebody had been writing to him about me these special
recommendations were turning up again the volume of tone he emitted
without effort almost without the trouble of moving his lips amazed
me a voice a voice it was grave profound vibrating while the man
did not seem capable of a whisper however he had enough strength in
him factitious no doubt to very nearly make an end of us as you
shall hear directly 

 the manager appeared silently in the doorway i stepped out at once
and he drew the curtain after me the russian eyed curiously by the
pilgrims was staring at the shore i followed the direction of his
glance 

 dark human shapes could be made out in the distance flitting
indistinctly against the gloomy border of the forest and near the river
two bronze figures leaning on tall spears stood in the sunlight under
fantastic head-dresses of spotted skins warlike and still in statuesque
repose and from right to left along the lighted shore moved a wild and
gorgeous apparition of a woman 

 she walked with measured steps draped in striped and fringed cloths 
treading the earth proudly with a slight jingle and flash of barbarous
ornaments she carried her head high her hair was done in the shape of
a helmet she had brass leggings to the knee brass wire gauntlets to
the elbow a crimson spot on her tawny cheek innumerable necklaces of
glass beads on her neck bizarre things charms gifts of witch-men 
that hung about her glittered and trembled at every step she must have
had the value of several elephant tusks upon her she was savage and
superb wild-eyed and magnificent there was something ominous and
stately in her deliberate progress and in the hush that had fallen
suddenly upon the whole sorrowful land the immense wilderness the
colossal body of the fecund and mysterious life seemed to look at her 
pensive as though it had been looking at the image of its own tenebrous
and passionate soul 

 she came abreast of the steamer stood still and faced us her long
shadow fell to the water's edge her face had a tragic and fierce
aspect of wild sorrow and of dumb pain mingled with the fear of some
struggling half-shaped resolve she stood looking at us without a
stir and like the wilderness itself with an air of brooding over an
inscrutable purpose a whole minute passed and then she made a step
forward there was a low jingle a glint of yellow metal a sway of
fringed draperies and she stopped as if her heart had failed her the
young fellow by my side growled the pilgrims murmured at my back 
she looked at us all as if her life had depended upon the unswerving
steadiness of her glance suddenly she opened her bared arms and threw
them up rigid above her head as though in an uncontrollable desire to
touch the sky and at the same time the swift shadows darted out on the
earth swept around on the river gathering the steamer into a shadowy
embrace a formidable silence hung over the scene 

 she turned away slowly walked on following the bank and passed into
the bushes to the left once only her eyes gleamed back at us in the
dusk of the thickets before she disappeared 

 'if she had offered to come aboard i really think i would have tried to
shoot her ' said the man of patches nervously 'i have been risking my
life every day for the last fortnight to keep her out of the house she
got in one day and kicked up a row about those miserable rags i picked
up in the storeroom to mend my clothes with i wasn't decent at least
it must have been that for she talked like a fury to kurtz for an hour 
pointing at me now and then i don't understand the dialect of this
tribe luckily for me i fancy kurtz felt too ill that day to care or
there would have been mischief i don't understand no it's too
much for me ah well it's all over now '

 at this moment i heard kurtz's deep voice behind the curtain 'save
me save the ivory you mean don't tell me save me why i've had to
save you you are interrupting my plans now sick sick not so sick as
you would like to believe never mind i'll carry my ideas out yet i
will return i'll show you what can be done you with your little
peddling notions you are interfering with me i will return i '

 the manager came out he did me the honour to take me under the arm
and lead me aside 'he is very low very low ' he said he considered it
necessary to sigh but neglected to be consistently sorrowful 'we have
done all we could for him haven't we but there is no disguising the
fact mr kurtz has done more harm than good to the company he did
not see the time was not ripe for vigorous action cautiously 
cautiously that's my principle we must be cautious yet the district
is closed to us for a time deplorable upon the whole the trade will
suffer i don't deny there is a remarkable quantity of ivory mostly
fossil we must save it at all events but look how precarious the
position is and why because the method is unsound ' 'do you ' said i 
looking at the shore 'call it unsound method ' 'without doubt ' he
exclaimed hotly 'don't you ' 'no method at all ' i murmured after
a while 'exactly ' he exulted 'i anticipated this shows a complete
want of judgment it is my duty to point it out in the proper quarter '
'oh ' said i 'that fellow what's his name the brickmaker will make
a readable report for you ' he appeared confounded for a moment it
seemed to me i had never breathed an atmosphere so vile and i turned
mentally to kurtz for relief positively for relief 'nevertheless i
think mr kurtz is a remarkable man ' i said with emphasis he started 
dropped on me a heavy glance said very quietly 'he was ' and turned
his back on me my hour of favour was over i found myself lumped along
with kurtz as a partisan of methods for which the time was not ripe 
i was unsound ah but it was something to have at least a choice of
nightmares 

 i had turned to the wilderness really not to mr kurtz who i was
ready to admit was as good as buried and for a moment it seemed to me
as if i also were buried in a vast grave full of unspeakable secrets i
felt an intolerable weight oppressing my breast the smell of the damp
earth the unseen presence of victorious corruption the darkness of an
impenetrable night the russian tapped me on the shoulder i heard
him mumbling and stammering something about 'brother seaman couldn't
conceal knowledge of matters that would affect mr kurtz's
reputation ' i waited for him evidently mr kurtz was not in his grave 
i suspect that for him mr kurtz was one of the immortals 'well ' said
i at last 'speak out as it happens i am mr kurtz's friend in a
way '

 he stated with a good deal of formality that had we not been 'of the
same profession ' he would have kept the matter to himself without
regard to consequences 'he suspected there was an active ill-will
towards him on the part of these white men that ' 'you are right ' i
said remembering a certain conversation i had overheard 'the manager
thinks you ought to be hanged ' he showed a concern at this intelligence
which amused me at first 'i had better get out of the way quietly '
he said earnestly 'i can do no more for kurtz now and they would soon
find some excuse what's to stop them there's a military post three
hundred miles from here ' 'well upon my word ' said i 'perhaps you
had better go if you have any friends amongst the savages near by '
'plenty ' he said 'they are simple people and i want nothing you
know ' he stood biting his lip then 'i don't want any harm to happen
to these whites here but of course i was thinking of mr kurtz's
reputation but you are a brother seaman and ' 'all right ' said i 
after a time 'mr kurtz's reputation is safe with me ' i did not know
how truly i spoke 

 he informed me lowering his voice that it was kurtz who had ordered
the attack to be made on the steamer 'he hated sometimes the idea of
being taken away and then again but i don't understand these
matters i am a simple man he thought it would scare you away that you
would give it up thinking him dead i could not stop him oh i had an
awful time of it this last month ' 'very well ' i said 'he is all right
now ' 'ye-e-es ' he muttered not very convinced apparently 'thanks '
said i 'i shall keep my eyes open ' 'but quiet-eh ' he urged anxiously 
'it would be awful for his reputation if anybody here ' i promised a
complete discretion with great gravity 'i have a canoe and three
black fellows waiting not very far i am off could you give me a few
martini-henry cartridges ' i could and did with proper secrecy he
helped himself with a wink at me to a handful of my tobacco 'between
sailors you know good english tobacco ' at the door of the pilot-house
he turned round 'i say haven't you a pair of shoes you could spare '
he raised one leg 'look ' the soles were tied with knotted strings
sandalwise under his bare feet i rooted out an old pair at which he
looked with admiration before tucking it under his left arm one of his
pockets bright red was bulging with cartridges from the other dark
blue peeped 'towson's inquiry ' etc etc he seemed to think himself
excellently well equipped for a renewed encounter with the wilderness 
'ah i'll never never meet such a man again you ought to have heard
him recite poetry his own too it was he told me poetry ' he rolled
his eyes at the recollection of these delights 'oh he enlarged my
mind ' 'good-bye ' said i he shook hands and vanished in the night 
sometimes i ask myself whether i had ever really seen him whether it
was possible to meet such a phenomenon 

 when i woke up shortly after midnight his warning came to my mind with
its hint of danger that seemed in the starred darkness real enough to
make me get up for the purpose of having a look round on the hill a
big fire burned illuminating fitfully a crooked corner of the
station-house one of the agents with a picket of a few of our blacks 
armed for the purpose was keeping guard over the ivory but deep within
the forest red gleams that wavered that seemed to sink and rise from
the ground amongst confused columnar shapes of intense blackness showed
the exact position of the camp where mr kurtz's adorers were keeping
their uneasy vigil the monotonous beating of a big drum filled the air
with muffled shocks and a lingering vibration a steady droning sound of
many men chanting each to himself some weird incantation came out from
the black flat wall of the woods as the humming of bees comes out of
a hive and had a strange narcotic effect upon my half-awake senses 
i believe i dozed off leaning over the rail till an abrupt burst of
yells an overwhelming outbreak of a pent-up and mysterious frenzy woke
me up in a bewildered wonder it was cut short all at once and the
low droning went on with an effect of audible and soothing silence i
glanced casually into the little cabin a light was burning within but
mr kurtz was not there 

 i think i would have raised an outcry if i had believed my eyes but i
didn't believe them at first the thing seemed so impossible the fact
is i was completely unnerved by a sheer blank fright pure abstract
terror unconnected with any distinct shape of physical danger what
made this emotion so overpowering was how shall i define it the
moral shock i received as if something altogether monstrous 
intolerable to thought and odious to the soul had been thrust upon me
unexpectedly this lasted of course the merest fraction of a second and
then the usual sense of commonplace deadly danger the possibility of
a sudden onslaught and massacre or something of the kind which i saw
impending was positively welcome and composing it pacified me in
fact so much that i did not raise an alarm 

 there was an agent buttoned up inside an ulster and sleeping on a chair
on deck within three feet of me the yells had not awakened him he
snored very slightly i left him to his slumbers and leaped ashore 
i did not betray mr kurtz it was ordered i should never betray him it
was written i should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice i was
anxious to deal with this shadow by myself alone and to this day i
don't know why i was so jealous of sharing with any one the peculiar
blackness of that experience 

 as soon as i got on the bank i saw a trail a broad trail through the
grass i remember the exultation with which i said to myself 'he can't
walk he is crawling on all-fours i've got him ' the grass was wet
with dew i strode rapidly with clenched fists i fancy i had some vague
notion of falling upon him and giving him a drubbing i don't know i
had some imbecile thoughts the knitting old woman with the cat obtruded
herself upon my memory as a most improper person to be sitting at the
other end of such an affair i saw a row of pilgrims squirting lead in
the air out of winchesters held to the hip i thought i would never get
back to the steamer and imagined myself living alone and unarmed in the
woods to an advanced age such silly things you know and i remember
i confounded the beat of the drum with the beating of my heart and was
pleased at its calm regularity 

 i kept to the track though then stopped to listen the night was very
clear a dark blue space sparkling with dew and starlight in which
black things stood very still i thought i could see a kind of motion
ahead of me i was strangely cocksure of everything that night i
actually left the track and ran in a wide semicircle i verily believe
chuckling to myself so as to get in front of that stir of that motion
i had seen if indeed i had seen anything i was circumventing kurtz as
though it had been a boyish game 

 i came upon him and if he had not heard me coming i would have
fallen over him too but he got up in time he rose unsteady long 
pale indistinct like a vapour exhaled by the earth and swayed
slightly misty and silent before me while at my back the fires loomed
between the trees and the murmur of many voices issued from the forest 
i had cut him off cleverly but when actually confronting him i seemed
to come to my senses i saw the danger in its right proportion it was
by no means over yet suppose he began to shout though he could hardly
stand there was still plenty of vigour in his voice 'go away hide
yourself ' he said in that profound tone it was very awful i glanced
back we were within thirty yards from the nearest fire a black figure
stood up strode on long black legs waving long black arms across the
glow it had horns antelope horns i think on its head some sorcerer 
some witch-man no doubt it looked fiendlike enough 'do you know what
you are doing ' i whispered 'perfectly ' he answered raising his voice
for that single word it sounded to me far off and yet loud like a hail
through a speaking-trumpet 'if he makes a row we are lost ' i thought
to myself this clearly was not a case for fisticuffs even apart from
the very natural aversion i had to beat that shadow this wandering and
tormented thing 'you will be lost ' i said 'utterly lost ' one gets
sometimes such a flash of inspiration you know i did say the right
thing though indeed he could not have been more irretrievably lost than
he was at this very moment when the foundations of our intimacy were
being laid to endure to endure even to the end even beyond 

 'i had immense plans ' he muttered irresolutely 'yes ' said i 'but if
you try to shout i'll smash your head with ' there was not a stick or
a stone near 'i will throttle you for good ' i corrected myself 'i was
on the threshold of great things ' he pleaded in a voice of longing 
with a wistfulness of tone that made my blood run cold 'and now for
this stupid scoundrel ' 'your success in europe is assured in any
case ' i affirmed steadily i did not want to have the throttling of
him you understand and indeed it would have been very little use for
any practical purpose i tried to break the spell the heavy mute spell
of the wilderness that seemed to draw him to its pitiless breast
by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts by the memory of
gratified and monstrous passions this alone i was convinced had
driven him out to the edge of the forest to the bush towards the gleam
of fires the throb of drums the drone of weird incantations this
alone had beguiled his unlawful soul beyond the bounds of permitted
aspirations and don't you see the terror of the position was not in
being knocked on the head though i had a very lively sense of that
danger too but in this that i had to deal with a being to whom i
could not appeal in the name of anything high or low i had even like
the niggers to invoke him himself his own exalted and incredible
degradation there was nothing either above or below him and i knew
it he had kicked himself loose of the earth confound the man he had
kicked the very earth to pieces he was alone and i before him did
not know whether i stood on the ground or floated in the air i've been
telling you what we said repeating the phrases we pronounced but
what's the good they were common everyday words the familiar vague
sounds exchanged on every waking day of life but what of that they had
behind them to my mind the terrific suggestiveness of words heard in
dreams of phrases spoken in nightmares soul if anybody ever struggled
with a soul i am the man and i wasn't arguing with a lunatic either 
believe me or not his intelligence was perfectly clear concentrated 
it is true upon himself with horrible intensity yet clear and therein
was my only chance barring of course the killing him there and then 
which wasn't so good on account of unavoidable noise but his soul was
mad being alone in the wilderness it had looked within itself and by
heavens i tell you it had gone mad i had for my sins i suppose to
go through the ordeal of looking into it myself no eloquence could
have been so withering to one's belief in mankind as his final burst of
sincerity he struggled with himself too i saw it i heard it i saw
the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint no faith 
and no fear yet struggling blindly with itself i kept my head pretty
well but when i had him at last stretched on the couch i wiped my
forehead while my legs shook under me as though i had carried half a
ton on my back down that hill and yet i had only supported him his
bony arm clasped round my neck and he was not much heavier than a
child 

 when next day we left at noon the crowd of whose presence behind the
curtain of trees i had been acutely conscious all the time flowed out
of the woods again filled the clearing covered the slope with a mass
of naked breathing quivering bronze bodies i steamed up a bit then
swung down stream and two thousand eyes followed the evolutions of
the splashing thumping fierce river-demon beating the water with its
terrible tail and breathing black smoke into the air in front of the
first rank along the river three men plastered with bright red earth
from head to foot strutted to and fro restlessly when we came abreast
again they faced the river stamped their feet nodded their horned
heads swayed their scarlet bodies they shook towards the fierce
river-demon a bunch of black feathers a mangy skin with a pendent
tail something that looked a dried gourd they shouted periodically
together strings of amazing words that resembled no sounds of human
language and the deep murmurs of the crowd interrupted suddenly were
like the responses of some satanic litany 

 we had carried kurtz into the pilot-house there was more air there 
lying on the couch he stared through the open shutter there was an
eddy in the mass of human bodies and the woman with helmeted head and
tawny cheeks rushed out to the very brink of the stream she put out her
hands shouted something and all that wild mob took up the shout in a
roaring chorus of articulated rapid breathless utterance 

 'do you understand this ' i asked 

 he kept on looking out past me with fiery longing eyes with a mingled
expression of wistfulness and hate he made no answer but i saw a
smile a smile of indefinable meaning appear on his colourless lips
that a moment after twitched convulsively 'do i not ' he said slowly 
gasping as if the words had been torn out of him by a supernatural
power 

 i pulled the string of the whistle and i did this because i saw the
pilgrims on deck getting out their rifles with an air of anticipating a
jolly lark at the sudden screech there was a movement of abject terror
through that wedged mass of bodies 'don't don't you frighten them
away ' cried some one on deck disconsolately i pulled the string
time after time they broke and ran they leaped they crouched they
swerved they dodged the flying terror of the sound the three red chaps
had fallen flat face down on the shore as though they had been shot
dead only the barbarous and superb woman did not so much as flinch 
and stretched tragically her bare arms after us over the sombre and
glittering river 

 and then that imbecile crowd down on the deck started their little fun 
and i could see nothing more for smoke 

 the brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness bearing us
down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress and
kurtz's life was running swiftly too ebbing ebbing out of his heart
into the sea of inexorable time the manager was very placid he had
no vital anxieties now he took us both in with a comprehensive and
satisfied glance the 'affair' had come off as well as could be wished 
i saw the time approaching when i would be left alone of the party of
'unsound method ' the pilgrims looked upon me with disfavour i was 
so to speak numbered with the dead it is strange how i accepted this
unforeseen partnership this choice of nightmares forced upon me in the
tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms 

 kurtz discoursed a voice a voice it rang deep to the very last it
survived his strength to hide in the magnificent folds of eloquence the
barren darkness of his heart oh he struggled he struggled the wastes
of his weary brain were haunted by shadowy images now images of wealth
and fame revolving obsequiously round his unextinguishable gift of noble
and lofty expression my intended my station my career my
ideas these were the subjects for the occasional utterances of elevated
sentiments the shade of the original kurtz frequented the bedside of
the hollow sham whose fate it was to be buried presently in the mould
of primeval earth but both the diabolic love and the unearthly hate of
the mysteries it had penetrated fought for the possession of that
soul satiated with primitive emotions avid of lying fame of sham
distinction of all the appearances of success and power 

 sometimes he was contemptibly childish he desired to have kings meet
him at railway-stations on his return from some ghastly nowhere where
he intended to accomplish great things 'you show them you have in you
something that is really profitable and then there will be no limits to
the recognition of your ability ' he would say 'of course you must take
care of the motives right motives always ' the long reaches that were
like one and the same reach monotonous bends that were exactly alike 
slipped past the steamer with their multitude of secular trees looking
patiently after this grimy fragment of another world the forerunner
of change of conquest of trade of massacres of blessings i looked
ahead piloting 'close the shutter ' said kurtz suddenly one day 'i
can't bear to look at this ' i did so there was a silence 'oh but i
will wring your heart yet ' he cried at the invisible wilderness 

 we broke down as i had expected and had to lie up for repairs at the
head of an island this delay was the first thing that shook kurtz's
confidence one morning he gave me a packet of papers and a
photograph the lot tied together with a shoe-string 'keep this for
me ' he said 'this noxious fool' meaning the manager 'is capable of
prying into my boxes when i am not looking ' in the afternoon i saw him 
he was lying on his back with closed eyes and i withdrew quietly but i
heard him mutter 'live rightly die die ' i listened there was
nothing more was he rehearsing some speech in his sleep or was it a
fragment of a phrase from some newspaper article he had been writing
for the papers and meant to do so again 'for the furthering of my
ideas it's a duty '

 his was an impenetrable darkness i looked at him as you peer down at
a man who is lying at the bottom of a precipice where the sun never
shines but i had not much time to give him because i was helping the
engine-driver to take to pieces the leaky cylinders to straighten a
bent connecting-rod and in other such matters i lived in an
infernal mess of rust filings nuts bolts spanners hammers 
ratchet-drills things i abominate because i don't get on with them i
tended the little forge we fortunately had aboard i toiled wearily in a
wretched scrap-heap unless i had the shakes too bad to stand 

 one evening coming in with a candle i was startled to hear him say a
little tremulously 'i am lying here in the dark waiting for death '
the light was within a foot of his eyes i forced myself to murmur 'oh 
nonsense ' and stood over him as if transfixed 

 anything approaching the change that came over his features i have
never seen before and hope never to see again oh i wasn't touched 
i was fascinated it was as though a veil had been rent i saw on that
ivory face the expression of sombre pride of ruthless power of craven
terror of an intense and hopeless despair did he live his life again
in every detail of desire temptation and surrender during that supreme
moment of complete knowledge he cried in a whisper at some image at
some vision he cried out twice a cry that was no more than a breath 

 'the horror the horror '

 i blew the candle out and left the cabin the pilgrims were dining in
the mess-room and i took my place opposite the manager who lifted his
eyes to give me a questioning glance which i successfully ignored 
he leaned back serene with that peculiar smile of his sealing the
unexpressed depths of his meanness a continuous shower of small flies
streamed upon the lamp upon the cloth upon our hands and faces 
suddenly the manager's boy put his insolent black head in the doorway 
and said in a tone of scathing contempt 

 'mistah kurtz he dead '

 all the pilgrims rushed out to see i remained and went on with my
dinner i believe i was considered brutally callous however i did not
eat much there was a lamp in there light don't you know and outside
it was so beastly beastly dark i went no more near the remarkable man
who had pronounced a judgment upon the adventures of his soul on this
earth the voice was gone what else had been there but i am of course
aware that next day the pilgrims buried something in a muddy hole 

 and then they very nearly buried me 

 however as you see i did not go to join kurtz there and then i did
not i remained to dream the nightmare out to the end and to show my
loyalty to kurtz once more destiny my destiny droll thing life
is that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose 
the most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself that comes
too late a crop of unextinguishable regrets i have wrestled with
death it is the most unexciting contest you can imagine it takes place
in an impalpable greyness with nothing underfoot with nothing around 
without spectators without clamour without glory without the great
desire of victory without the great fear of defeat in a sickly
atmosphere of tepid scepticism without much belief in your own right 
and still less in that of your adversary if such is the form of
ultimate wisdom then life is a greater riddle than some of us think it
to be i was within a hair's breadth of the last opportunity for
pronouncement and i found with humiliation that probably i would have
nothing to say this is the reason why i affirm that kurtz was a
remarkable man he had something to say he said it since i had peeped
over the edge myself i understand better the meaning of his stare that
could not see the flame of the candle but was wide enough to embrace
the whole universe piercing enough to penetrate all the hearts that
beat in the darkness he had summed up he had judged 'the horror ' he
was a remarkable man after all this was the expression of some sort of
belief it had candour it had conviction it had a vibrating note of
revolt in its whisper it had the appalling face of a glimpsed
truth the strange commingling of desire and hate and it is not my own
extremity i remember best a vision of greyness without form filled
with physical pain and a careless contempt for the evanescence of all
things even of this pain itself no it is his extremity that i seem to
have lived through true he had made that last stride he had stepped
over the edge while i had been permitted to draw back my hesitating
foot and perhaps in this is the whole difference perhaps all the
wisdom and all truth and all sincerity are just compressed into that
inappreciable moment of time in which we step over the threshold of the
invisible perhaps i like to think my summing-up would not have been a
word of careless contempt better his cry much better it was an
affirmation a moral victory paid for by innumerable defeats by
abominable terrors by abominable satisfactions but it was a victory 
that is why i have remained loyal to kurtz to the last and even beyond 
when a long time after i heard once more not his own voice but the
echo of his magnificent eloquence thrown to me from a soul as
translucently pure as a cliff of crystal 

 no they did not bury me though there is a period of time which i
remember mistily with a shuddering wonder like a passage through some
inconceivable world that had no hope in it and no desire i found myself
back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying
through the streets to filch a little money from each other to devour
their infamous cookery to gulp their unwholesome beer to dream their
insignificant and silly dreams they trespassed upon my thoughts they
were intruders whose knowledge of life was to me an irritating pretence 
because i felt so sure they could not possibly know the things i knew 
their bearing which was simply the bearing of commonplace individuals
going about their business in the assurance of perfect safety was
offensive to me like the outrageous flauntings of folly in the face of
a danger it is unable to comprehend i had no particular desire to
enlighten them but i had some difficulty in restraining myself from
laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance i daresay i was
not very well at that time i tottered about the streets there were
various affairs to settle grinning bitterly at perfectly respectable
persons i admit my behaviour was inexcusable but then my temperature
was seldom normal in these days my dear aunt's endeavours to 'nurse up
my strength' seemed altogether beside the mark it was not my strength
that wanted nursing it was my imagination that wanted soothing i kept
the bundle of papers given me by kurtz not knowing exactly what to do
with it his mother had died lately watched over as i was told by
his intended a clean-shaved man with an official manner and wearing
gold-rimmed spectacles called on me one day and made inquiries at
first circuitous afterwards suavely pressing about what he was pleased
to denominate certain 'documents ' i was not surprised because i had
had two rows with the manager on the subject out there i had refused
to give up the smallest scrap out of that package and i took the same
attitude with the spectacled man he became darkly menacing at last 
and with much heat argued that the company had the right to every bit of
information about its 'territories ' and said he 'mr kurtz's
knowledge of unexplored regions must have been necessarily extensive
and peculiar owing to his great abilities and to the deplorable
circumstances in which he had been placed therefore ' i assured him
mr kurtz's knowledge however extensive did not bear upon the problems
of commerce or administration he invoked then the name of science 'it
would be an incalculable loss if ' etc etc i offered him the report
on the 'suppression of savage customs ' with the postscriptum torn
off he took it up eagerly but ended by sniffing at it with an air
of contempt 'this is not what we had a right to expect ' he remarked 
'expect nothing else ' i said 'there are only private letters ' he
withdrew upon some threat of legal proceedings and i saw him no more 
but another fellow calling himself kurtz's cousin appeared two days
later and was anxious to hear all the details about his dear relative's
last moments incidentally he gave me to understand that kurtz had
been essentially a great musician 'there was the making of an immense
success ' said the man who was an organist i believe with lank grey
hair flowing over a greasy coat-collar i had no reason to doubt
his statement and to this day i am unable to say what was kurtz's
profession whether he ever had any which was the greatest of his
talents i had taken him for a painter who wrote for the papers or else
for a journalist who could paint but even the cousin who took snuff
during the interview could not tell me what he had been exactly he
was a universal genius on that point i agreed with the old chap who
thereupon blew his nose noisily into a large cotton handkerchief and
withdrew in senile agitation bearing off some family letters and
memoranda without importance ultimately a journalist anxious to know
something of the fate of his 'dear colleague' turned up this visitor
informed me kurtz's proper sphere ought to have been politics 'on the
popular side ' he had furry straight eyebrows bristly hair cropped
short an eyeglass on a broad ribbon and becoming expansive confessed
his opinion that kurtz really couldn't write a bit 'but heavens how
that man could talk he electrified large meetings he had faith don't
you see he had the faith he could get himself to believe
anything anything he would have been a splendid leader of an extreme
party ' 'what party ' i asked 'any party ' answered the other 'he
was an an extremist ' did i not think so i assented did i know he
asked with a sudden flash of curiosity 'what it was that had induced
him to go out there ' 'yes ' said i and forthwith handed him the
famous report for publication if he thought fit he glanced through it
hurriedly mumbling all the time judged 'it would do ' and took himself
off with this plunder 

 thus i was left at last with a slim packet of letters and the girl's
portrait she struck me as beautiful i mean she had a beautiful
expression i know that the sunlight can be made to lie too yet one
felt that no manipulation of light and pose could have conveyed the
delicate shade of truthfulness upon those features she seemed ready to
listen without mental reservation without suspicion without a thought
for herself i concluded i would go and give her back her portrait
and those letters myself curiosity yes and also some other feeling
perhaps all that had been kurtz's had passed out of my hands his soul 
his body his station his plans his ivory his career there remained
only his memory and his intended and i wanted to give that up too 
to the past in a way to surrender personally all that remained of him
with me to that oblivion which is the last word of our common fate i
don't defend myself i had no clear perception of what it was i really
wanted perhaps it was an impulse of unconscious loyalty or the
fulfilment of one of those ironic necessities that lurk in the facts of
human existence i don't know i can't tell but i went 

 i thought his memory was like the other memories of the dead that
accumulate in every man's life a vague impress on the brain of shadows
that had fallen on it in their swift and final passage but before the
high and ponderous door between the tall houses of a street as still
and decorous as a well-kept alley in a cemetery i had a vision of him
on the stretcher opening his mouth voraciously as if to devour all the
earth with all its mankind he lived then before me he lived as much
as he had ever lived a shadow insatiable of splendid appearances of
frightful realities a shadow darker than the shadow of the night and
draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence the vision seemed to
enter the house with me the stretcher the phantom-bearers the wild
crowd of obedient worshippers the gloom of the forests the glitter
of the reach between the murky bends the beat of the drum regular and
muffled like the beating of a heart the heart of a conquering darkness 
it was a moment of triumph for the wilderness an invading and vengeful
rush which it seemed to me i would have to keep back alone for the
salvation of another soul and the memory of what i had heard him say
afar there with the horned shapes stirring at my back in the glow of
fires within the patient woods those broken phrases came back to
me were heard again in their ominous and terrifying simplicity i
remembered his abject pleading his abject threats the colossal scale
of his vile desires the meanness the torment the tempestuous anguish
of his soul and later on i seemed to see his collected languid manner 
when he said one day 'this lot of ivory now is really mine the company
did not pay for it i collected it myself at a very great personal risk 
i am afraid they will try to claim it as theirs though h'm it is a
difficult case what do you think i ought to do resist eh i want no
more than justice ' he wanted no more than justice no more than
justice i rang the bell before a mahogany door on the first floor and
while i waited he seemed to stare at me out of the glassy panel stare
with that wide and immense stare embracing condemning loathing all the
universe i seemed to hear the whispered cry the horror the horror 

 the dusk was falling i had to wait in a lofty drawing-room with three
long windows from floor to ceiling that were like three luminous and
bedraped columns the bent gilt legs and backs of the furniture shone in
indistinct curves the tall marble fireplace had a cold and monumental
whiteness a grand piano stood massively in a corner with dark gleams
on the flat surfaces like a sombre and polished sarcophagus a high door
opened closed i rose 

 she came forward all in black with a pale head floating towards
me in the dusk she was in mourning it was more than a year since his
death more than a year since the news came she seemed as though she
would remember and mourn forever she took both my hands in hers and
murmured 'i had heard you were coming ' i noticed she was not very
young i mean not girlish she had a mature capacity for fidelity for
belief for suffering the room seemed to have grown darker as if all
the sad light of the cloudy evening had taken refuge on her forehead 
this fair hair this pale visage this pure brow seemed surrounded by
an ashy halo from which the dark eyes looked out at me their glance was
guileless profound confident and trustful she carried her sorrowful
head as though she were proud of that sorrow as though she would say 
'i i alone know how to mourn for him as he deserves ' but while we were
still shaking hands such a look of awful desolation came upon her
face that i perceived she was one of those creatures that are not the
playthings of time for her he had died only yesterday and by jove 
the impression was so powerful that for me too he seemed to have died
only yesterday nay this very minute i saw her and him in the same
instant of time his death and her sorrow i saw her sorrow in the very
moment of his death do you understand i saw them together i heard
them together she had said with a deep catch of the breath 'i have
survived' while my strained ears seemed to hear distinctly mingled with
her tone of despairing regret the summing up whisper of his eternal
condemnation i asked myself what i was doing there with a sensation
of panic in my heart as though i had blundered into a place of cruel and
absurd mysteries not fit for a human being to behold she motioned me to
a chair we sat down i laid the packet gently on the little table and
she put her hand over it 'you knew him well ' she murmured after
a moment of mourning silence 

 'intimacy grows quickly out there ' i said 'i knew him as well as it
is possible for one man to know another '

 'and you admired him ' she said 'it was impossible to know him and not
to admire him was it '

 'he was a remarkable man ' i said unsteadily then before the
appealing fixity of her gaze that seemed to watch for more words on my
lips i went on 'it was impossible not to '

 'love him ' she finished eagerly silencing me into an appalled
dumbness 'how true how true but when you think that no one knew him
so well as i i had all his noble confidence i knew him best '

 'you knew him best ' i repeated and perhaps she did but with every
word spoken the room was growing darker and only her forehead smooth
and white remained illumined by the inextinguishable light of belief
and love 

 'you were his friend ' she went on 'his friend ' she repeated a
little louder 'you must have been if he had given you this and sent
you to me i feel i can speak to you and oh i must speak i want
you you who have heard his last words to know i have been worthy of
him it is not pride yes i am proud to know i understood
him better than any one on earth he told me so himself and since his
mother died i have had no one no one to to '

 i listened the darkness deepened i was not even sure whether he had
given me the right bundle i rather suspect he wanted me to take care
of another batch of his papers which after his death i saw the manager
examining under the lamp and the girl talked easing her pain in the
certitude of my sympathy she talked as thirsty men drink i had heard
that her engagement with kurtz had been disapproved by her people he
wasn't rich enough or something and indeed i don't know whether he had
not been a pauper all his life he had given me some reason to infer
that it was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out
there 

 ' who was not his friend who had heard him speak once ' she was
saying 'he drew men towards him by what was best in them ' she looked
at me with intensity 'it is the gift of the great ' she went on and
the sound of her low voice seemed to have the accompaniment of all
the other sounds full of mystery desolation and sorrow i had ever
heard the ripple of the river the soughing of the trees swayed by
the wind the murmurs of the crowds the faint ring of incomprehensible
words cried from afar the whisper of a voice speaking from beyond the
threshold of an eternal darkness 'but you have heard him you know '
she cried 

 'yes i know ' i said with something like despair in my heart but
bowing my head before the faith that was in her before that great and
saving illusion that shone with an unearthly glow in the darkness in
the triumphant darkness from which i could not have defended her from
which i could not even defend myself 

 'what a loss to me to us ' she corrected herself with beautiful
generosity then added in a murmur 'to the world ' by the last gleams
of twilight i could see the glitter of her eyes full of tears of tears
that would not fall 

 'i have been very happy very fortunate very proud ' she went on 'too
fortunate too happy for a little while and now i am unhappy for for
life '

 she stood up her fair hair seemed to catch all the remaining light in
a glimmer of gold i rose too 

 'and of all this ' she went on mournfully 'of all his promise and
of all his greatness of his generous mind of his noble heart nothing
remains nothing but a memory you and i '

 'we shall always remember him ' i said hastily 

 'no ' she cried 'it is impossible that all this should be lost that
such a life should be sacrificed to leave nothing but sorrow you
know what vast plans he had i knew of them too i could not perhaps
understand but others knew of them something must remain his words 
at least have not died '

 'his words will remain ' i said 

 'and his example ' she whispered to herself 'men looked up to
him his goodness shone in every act his example '

 'true ' i said 'his example too yes his example i forgot that '

 'but i do not i cannot i cannot believe not yet i cannot believe
that i shall never see him again that nobody will see him again never 
never never '

 she put out her arms as if after a retreating figure stretching them
back and with clasped pale hands across the fading and narrow sheen of
the window never see him i saw him clearly enough then i shall see
this eloquent phantom as long as i live and i shall see her too 
a tragic and familiar shade resembling in this gesture another one 
tragic also and bedecked with powerless charms stretching bare brown
arms over the glitter of the infernal stream the stream of darkness 
she said suddenly very low 'he died as he lived '

 'his end ' said i with dull anger stirring in me 'was in every way
worthy of his life '

 'and i was not with him ' she murmured my anger subsided before a
feeling of infinite pity 

 'everything that could be done ' i mumbled 

 'ah but i believed in him more than any one on earth more than his
own mother more than himself he needed me me i would have treasured
every sigh every word every sign every glance '

 i felt like a chill grip on my chest 'don't ' i said in a muffled
voice 

 'forgive me i i have mourned so long in silence in silence 
you were with him to the last i think of his loneliness nobody near
to understand him as i would have understood perhaps no one to
hear '

 'to the very end ' i said shakily 'i heard his very last words '
i stopped in a fright 

 'repeat them ' she murmured in a heart-broken tone 'i want i
want something something to to live with '

 i was on the point of crying at her 'don't you hear them ' the dusk
was repeating them in a persistent whisper all around us in a whisper
that seemed to swell menacingly like the first whisper of a rising wind 
'the horror the horror '

 'his last word to live with ' she insisted 'don't you understand i
loved him i loved him i loved him '

 i pulled myself together and spoke slowly 

 'the last word he pronounced was your name '

 i heard a light sigh and then my heart stood still stopped dead short
by an exulting and terrible cry by the cry of inconceivable triumph and
of unspeakable pain 'i knew it i was sure ' she knew she was
sure i heard her weeping she had hidden her face in her hands it
seemed to me that the house would collapse before i could escape that
the heavens would fall upon my head but nothing happened the heavens
do not fall for such a trifle would they have fallen i wonder if i
had rendered kurtz that justice which was his due hadn't he said he
wanted only justice but i couldn't i could not tell her it would have
been too dark too dark altogether 

marlow ceased and sat apart indistinct and silent in the pose of a
meditating buddha nobody moved for a time we have lost the first of
the ebb said the director suddenly i raised my head the offing was
barred by a black bank of clouds and the tranquil waterway leading to
the uttermost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast
sky seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness 
 metamorphosis
 franz kafka

translated by david wyllie



i


one morning when gregor samsa woke from troubled dreams he found
himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin he lay on
his armour-like back and if he lifted his head a little he could
see his brown belly slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff
sections the bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready
to slide off any moment his many legs pitifully thin compared
with the size of the rest of him waved about helplessly as he
looked 

 what's happened to me   he thought it wasn't a dream his room 
a proper human room although a little too small lay peacefully
between its four familiar walls a collection of textile samples
lay spread out on the table - samsa was a travelling salesman - and
above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an
illustrated magazine and housed in a nice gilded frame it showed
a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright 
raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm
towards the viewer 

gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather 
drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane which made him feel
quite sad  how about if i sleep a little bit longer and forget all
this nonsense  he thought but that was something he was unable to
do because he was used to sleeping on his right and in his present
state couldn't get into that position however hard he threw
himself onto his right he always rolled back to where he was he
must have tried it a hundred times shut his eyes so that he
wouldn't have to look at the floundering legs and only stopped when
he began to feel a mild dull pain there that he had never felt
before 

 oh god  he thought  what a strenuous career it is that i've
chosen travelling day in and day out doing business like this
takes much more effort than doing your own business at home and on
top of that there's the curse of travelling worries about making
train connections bad and irregular food contact with different
people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or
become friendly with them it can all go to hell   he felt a
slight itch up on his belly pushed himself slowly up on his back
towards the headboard so that he could lift his head better found
where the itch was and saw that it was covered with lots of little
white spots which he didn't know what to make of and when he tried
to feel the place with one of his legs he drew it quickly back
because as soon as he touched it he was overcome by a cold shudder 

he slid back into his former position  getting up early all the
time  he thought  it makes you stupid you've got to get enough
sleep other travelling salesmen live a life of luxury for
instance whenever i go back to the guest house during the morning
to copy out the contract these gentlemen are always still sitting
there eating their breakfasts i ought to just try that with my
boss i'd get kicked out on the spot but who knows maybe that
would be the best thing for me if i didn't have my parents to
think about i'd have given in my notice a long time ago i'd have
gone up to the boss and told him just what i think tell him
everything i would let him know just what i feel he'd fall right
off his desk and it's a funny sort of business to be sitting up
there at your desk talking down at your subordinates from up there 
especially when you have to go right up close because the boss is
hard of hearing well there's still some hope once i've got the
money together to pay off my parents' debt to him - another five or
six years i suppose - that's definitely what i'll do that's when
i'll make the big change first of all though i've got to get up 
my train leaves at five  

and he looked over at the alarm clock ticking on the chest of
drawers  god in heaven   he thought it was half past six and the
hands were quietly moving forwards it was even later than half
past more like quarter to seven had the alarm clock not rung he
could see from the bed that it had been set for four o'clock as it
should have been it certainly must have rung yes but was it
possible to quietly sleep through that furniture-rattling noise 
true he had not slept peacefully but probably all the more deeply
because of that what should he do now the next train went at
seven if he were to catch that he would have to rush like mad and
the collection of samples was still not packed and he did not at
all feel particularly fresh and lively and even if he did catch
the train he would not avoid his boss's anger as the office
assistant would have been there to see the five o'clock train go he
would have put in his report about gregor's not being there a long
time ago the office assistant was the boss's man spineless and
with no understanding what about if he reported sick but that
would be extremely strained and suspicious as in fifteen years of
service gregor had never once yet been ill his boss would
certainly come round with the doctor from the medical insurance
company accuse his parents of having a lazy son and accept the
doctor's recommendation not to make any claim as the doctor believed
that no-one was ever ill but that many were workshy and what's
more would he have been entirely wrong in this case gregor did in
fact apart from excessive sleepiness after sleeping for so long 
feel completely well and even felt much hungrier than usual 

he was still hurriedly thinking all this through unable to decide
to get out of the bed when the clock struck quarter to seven 
there was a cautious knock at the door near his head  gregor  
somebody called - it was his mother -  it's quarter to seven 
didn't you want to go somewhere   that gentle voice gregor was
shocked when he heard his own voice answering it could hardly be
recognised as the voice he had had before as if from deep inside
him there was a painful and uncontrollable squeaking mixed in with
it the words could be made out at first but then there was a sort
of echo which made them unclear leaving the hearer unsure whether
he had heard properly or not gregor had wanted to give a full
answer and explain everything but in the circumstances contented
himself with saying  yes mother yes thank-you i'm getting up
now   the change in gregor's voice probably could not be noticed
outside through the wooden door as his mother was satisfied with
this explanation and shuffled away but this short conversation
made the other members of the family aware that gregor against
their expectations was still at home and soon his father came
knocking at one of the side doors gently but with his fist 
 gregor gregor  he called  what's wrong   and after a short
while he called again with a warning deepness in his voice  gregor 
gregor   at the other side door his sister came plaintively 
 gregor aren't you well do you need anything   gregor answered to
both sides  i'm ready now  making an effort to remove all the
strangeness from his voice by enunciating very carefully and putting
long pauses between each individual word his father went back to
his breakfast but his sister whispered  gregor open the door i
beg of you   gregor however had no thought of opening the door 
and instead congratulated himself for his cautious habit acquired
from his travelling of locking all doors at night even when he was
at home 

the first thing he wanted to do was to get up in peace without being
disturbed to get dressed and most of all to have his breakfast 
only then would he consider what to do next as he was well aware
that he would not bring his thoughts to any sensible conclusions by
lying in bed he remembered that he had often felt a slight pain in
bed perhaps caused by lying awkwardly but that had always turned
out to be pure imagination and he wondered how his imaginings would
slowly resolve themselves today he did not have the slightest
doubt that the change in his voice was nothing more than the first
sign of a serious cold which was an occupational hazard for
travelling salesmen 

it was a simple matter to throw off the covers he only had to blow
himself up a little and they fell off by themselves but it became
difficult after that especially as he was so exceptionally broad 
he would have used his arms and his hands to push himself up but
instead of them he only had all those little legs continuously
moving in different directions and which he was moreover unable to
control if he wanted to bend one of them then that was the first
one that would stretch itself out and if he finally managed to do
what he wanted with that leg all the others seemed to be set free
and would move about painfully  this is something that can't be
done in bed  gregor said to himself  so don't keep trying to do
it  

the first thing he wanted to do was get the lower part of his body
out of the bed but he had never seen this lower part and could not
imagine what it looked like it turned out to be too hard to move 
it went so slowly and finally almost in a frenzy when he
carelessly shoved himself forwards with all the force he could
gather he chose the wrong direction hit hard against the lower
bedpost and learned from the burning pain he felt that the lower
part of his body might well at present be the most sensitive 

so then he tried to get the top part of his body out of the bed
first carefully turning his head to the side this he managed
quite easily and despite its breadth and its weight the bulk of
his body eventually followed slowly in the direction of the head 
but when he had at last got his head out of the bed and into the
fresh air it occurred to him that if he let himself fall it would be
a miracle if his head were not injured so he became afraid to carry
on pushing himself forward the same way and he could not knock
himself out now at any price better to stay in bed than lose
consciousness 

it took just as much effort to get back to where he had been
earlier but when he lay there sighing and was once more watching
his legs as they struggled against each other even harder than
before if that was possible he could think of no way of bringing
peace and order to this chaos he told himself once more that it
was not possible for him to stay in bed and that the most sensible
thing to do would be to get free of it in whatever way he could at
whatever sacrifice at the same time though he did not forget to
remind himself that calm consideration was much better than rushing
to desperate conclusions at times like this he would direct his
eyes to the window and look out as clearly as he could but
unfortunately even the other side of the narrow street was
enveloped in morning fog and the view had little confidence or cheer
to offer him  seven o'clock already  he said to himself when the
clock struck again  seven o'clock and there's still a fog like
this   and he lay there quietly a while longer breathing lightly
as if he perhaps expected the total stillness to bring things back
to their real and natural state 

but then he said to himself  before it strikes quarter past seven
i'll definitely have to have got properly out of bed and by then
somebody will have come round from work to ask what's happened to me
as well as they open up at work before seven o'clock   and so he
set himself to the task of swinging the entire length of his body
out of the bed all at the same time if he succeeded in falling out
of bed in this way and kept his head raised as he did so he could
probably avoid injuring it his back seemed to be quite hard and
probably nothing would happen to it falling onto the carpet his
main concern was for the loud noise he was bound to make and which
even through all the doors would probably raise concern if not
alarm but it was something that had to be risked 

when gregor was already sticking half way out of the bed - the new
method was more of a game than an effort all he had to do was rock
back and forth - it occurred to him how simple everything would be
if somebody came to help him two strong people - he had his father
and the maid in mind - would have been more than enough they would
only have to push their arms under the dome of his back peel him
away from the bed bend down with the load and then be patient and
careful as he swang over onto the floor where hopefully the
little legs would find a use should he really call for help
though even apart from the fact that all the doors were locked 
despite all the difficulty he was in he could not suppress a smile
at this thought 

after a while he had already moved so far across that it would have
been hard for him to keep his balance if he rocked too hard the
time was now ten past seven and he would have to make a final
decision very soon then there was a ring at the door of the flat 
 that'll be someone from work  he said to himself and froze very
still although his little legs only became all the more lively as
they danced around for a moment everything remained quiet 
 they're not opening the door  gregor said to himself caught in
some nonsensical hope but then of course the maid's firm steps
went to the door as ever and opened it gregor only needed to hear
the visitor's first words of greeting and he knew who it was - the
chief clerk himself why did gregor have to be the only one
condemned to work for a company where they immediately became highly
suspicious at the slightest shortcoming were all employees every
one of them louts was there not one of them who was faithful and
devoted who would go so mad with pangs of conscience that he
couldn't get out of bed if he didn't spend at least a couple of
hours in the morning on company business was it really not enough
to let one of the trainees make enquiries - assuming enquiries were
even necessary - did the chief clerk have to come himself and did
they have to show the whole innocent family that this was so
suspicious that only the chief clerk could be trusted to have the
wisdom to investigate it and more because these thoughts had made
him upset than through any proper decision he swang himself with
all his force out of the bed there was a loud thump but it wasn't
really a loud noise his fall was softened a little by the carpet 
and gregor's back was also more elastic than he had thought which
made the sound muffled and not too noticeable he had not held his
head carefully enough though and hit it as he fell annoyed and in
pain he turned it and rubbed it against the carpet 

 something's fallen down in there  said the chief clerk in the room
on the left gregor tried to imagine whether something of the sort
that had happened to him today could ever happen to the chief clerk
too you had to concede that it was possible but as if in gruff
reply to this question the chief clerk's firm footsteps in his
highly polished boots could now be heard in the adjoining room 
from the room on his right gregor's sister whispered to him to let
him know  gregor the chief clerk is here    yes i know  said
gregor to himself but without daring to raise his voice loud enough
for his sister to hear him 

 gregor  said his father now from the room to his left  the chief
clerk has come round and wants to know why you didn't leave on the
early train we don't know what to say to him and anyway he
wants to speak to you personally so please open up this door i'm
sure he'll be good enough to forgive the untidiness of your room  
then the chief clerk called  good morning mr samsa   he isn't
well  said his mother to the chief clerk while his father
continued to speak through the door  he isn't well please believe
me why else would gregor have missed a train the lad only ever
thinks about the business it nearly makes me cross the way he
never goes out in the evenings he's been in town for a week now but
stayed home every evening he sits with us in the kitchen and just
reads the paper or studies train timetables his idea of relaxation
is working with his fretsaw he's made a little frame for
instance it only took him two or three evenings you'll be amazed
how nice it is it's hanging up in his room you'll see it as soon
as gregor opens the door anyway i'm glad you're here we wouldn't
have been able to get gregor to open the door by ourselves he's so
stubborn and i'm sure he isn't well he said this morning that he
is but he isn't    i'll be there in a moment  said gregor slowly
and thoughtfully but without moving so that he would not miss any
word of the conversation  well i can't think of any other way of
explaining it mrs samsa  said the chief clerk  i hope it's
nothing serious but on the other hand i must say that if we
people in commerce ever become slightly unwell then fortunately or
unfortunately as you like we simply have to overcome it because of
business considerations    can the chief clerk come in to see you
now then   asked his father impatiently knocking at the door
again  no  said gregor in the room on his right there followed
a painful silence in the room on his left his sister began to cry 

so why did his sister not go and join the others she had probably
only just got up and had not even begun to get dressed and why was
she crying was it because he had not got up and had not let the
chief clerk in because he was in danger of losing his job and if
that happened his boss would once more pursue their parents with the
same demands as before there was no need to worry about things like
that yet gregor was still there and had not the slightest
intention of abandoning his family for the time being he just lay
there on the carpet and no-one who knew the condition he was in
would seriously have expected him to let the chief clerk in it was
only a minor discourtesy and a suitable excuse could easily be
found for it later on it was not something for which gregor could
be sacked on the spot and it seemed to gregor much more sensible
to leave him now in peace instead of disturbing him with talking at
him and crying but the others didn't know what was happening they
were worried that would excuse their behaviour 

the chief clerk now raised his voice  mr samsa  he called to him 
 what is wrong you barricade yourself in your room give us no more
than yes or no for an answer you are causing serious and
unnecessary concern to your parents and you fail - and i mention
this just by the way - you fail to carry out your business duties in
a way that is quite unheard of i'm speaking here on behalf of your
parents and of your employer and really must request a clear and
immediate explanation i am astonished quite astonished i
thought i knew you as a calm and sensible person and now you
suddenly seem to be showing off with peculiar whims this morning 
your employer did suggest a possible reason for your failure to
appear it's true - it had to do with the money that was recently
entrusted to you - but i came near to giving him my word of honour
that that could not be the right explanation but now that i see
your incomprehensible stubbornness i no longer feel any wish
whatsoever to intercede on your behalf and nor is your position
all that secure i had originally intended to say all this to you
in private but since you cause me to waste my time here for no good
reason i don't see why your parents should not also learn of it 
your turnover has been very unsatisfactory of late i grant you that
it's not the time of year to do especially good business we
recognise that but there simply is no time of year to do no
business at all mr samsa we cannot allow there to be  

 but sir  called gregor beside himself and forgetting all else in
the excitement  i'll open up immediately just a moment i'm
slightly unwell an attack of dizziness i haven't been able to get
up i'm still in bed now i'm quite fresh again now though i'm
just getting out of bed just a moment be patient it's not quite
as easy as i'd thought i'm quite alright now though it's
shocking what can suddenly happen to a person i was quite alright
last night my parents know about it perhaps better than me i had
a small symptom of it last night already they must have noticed
it i don't know why i didn't let you know at work but you always
think you can get over an illness without staying at home please 
don't make my parents suffer there's no basis for any of the
accusations you're making nobody's ever said a word to me about any
of these things maybe you haven't read the latest contracts i sent
in i'll set off with the eight o'clock train as well these few
hours of rest have given me strength you don't need to wait sir 
i'll be in the office soon after you and please be so good as to
tell that to the boss and recommend me to him  

and while gregor gushed out these words hardly knowing what he was
saying he made his way over to the chest of drawers - this was
easily done probably because of the practise he had already had in
bed - where he now tried to get himself upright he really did want
to open the door really did want to let them see him and to speak
with the chief clerk the others were being so insistent and he was
curious to learn what they would say when they caught sight of him 
if they were shocked then it would no longer be gregor's
responsibility and he could rest if however they took everything
calmly he would still have no reason to be upset and if he hurried
he really could be at the station for eight o'clock the first few
times he tried to climb up on the smooth chest of drawers he just
slid down again but he finally gave himself one last swing and
stood there upright the lower part of his body was in serious pain
but he no longer gave any attention to it now he let himself fall
against the back of a nearby chair and held tightly to the edges of
it with his little legs by now he had also calmed down and kept
quiet so that he could listen to what the chief clerk was saying 

 did you understand a word of all that   the chief clerk asked his
parents  surely he's not trying to make fools of us   oh god  
called his mother who was already in tears  he could be seriously
ill and we're making him suffer grete grete   she then cried 
 mother   his sister called from the other side they communicated
across gregor's room  you'll have to go for the doctor straight
away gregor is ill quick get the doctor did you hear the way
gregor spoke just now    that was the voice of an animal  said the
chief clerk with a calmness that was in contrast with his mother's
screams  anna anna   his father called into the kitchen through
the entrance hall clapping his hands  get a locksmith here now  
and the two girls their skirts swishing immediately ran out
through the hall wrenching open the front door of the flat as they
went how had his sister managed to get dressed so quickly there
was no sound of the door banging shut again they must have left it
open people often do in homes where something awful has happened 

gregor in contrast had become much calmer so they couldn't
understand his words any more although they seemed clear enough to
him clearer than before - perhaps his ears had become used to the
sound they had realised though that there was something wrong
with him and were ready to help the first response to his
situation had been confident and wise and that made him feel
better he felt that he had been drawn back in among people and
from the doctor and the locksmith he expected great and surprising
achievements - although he did not really distinguish one from the
other whatever was said next would be crucial so in order to
make his voice as clear as possible he coughed a little but taking
care to do this not too loudly as even this might well sound
different from the way that a human coughs and he was no longer sure
he could judge this for himself meanwhile it had become very
quiet in the next room perhaps his parents were sat at the table
whispering with the chief clerk or perhaps they were all pressed
against the door and listening 

gregor slowly pushed his way over to the door with the chair once
there he let go of it and threw himself onto the door holding
himself upright against it using the adhesive on the tips of his
legs he rested there a little while to recover from the effort
involved and then set himself to the task of turning the key in the
lock with his mouth he seemed unfortunately to have no proper
teeth - how was he then to grasp the key - but the lack of teeth
was of course made up for with a very strong jaw using the jaw 
he really was able to start the key turning ignoring the fact that
he must have been causing some kind of damage as a brown fluid came
from his mouth flowed over the key and dripped onto the floor 
 listen  said the chief clerk in the next room  he's turning the
key   gregor was greatly encouraged by this but they all should
have been calling to him his father and his mother too  well done 
gregor  they should have cried  keep at it keep hold of the
lock   and with the idea that they were all excitedly following his
efforts he bit on the key with all his strength paying no
attention to the pain he was causing himself as the key turned
round he turned around the lock with it only holding himself
upright with his mouth and hung onto the key or pushed it down
again with the whole weight of his body as needed the clear sound
of the lock as it snapped back was gregor's sign that he could break
his concentration and as he regained his breath he said to himself 
 so i didn't need the locksmith after all  then he lay his head on
the handle of the door to open it completely 

because he had to open the door in this way it was already wide
open before he could be seen he had first to slowly turn himself
around one of the double doors and he had to do it very carefully
if he did not want to fall flat on his back before entering the
room he was still occupied with this difficult movement unable to
pay attention to anything else when he heard the chief clerk
exclaim a loud  oh   which sounded like the soughing of the wind 
now he also saw him - he was the nearest to the door - his hand
pressed against his open mouth and slowly retreating as if driven by
a steady and invisible force gregor's mother her hair still
dishevelled from bed despite the chief clerk's being there looked
at his father then she unfolded her arms took two steps forward
towards gregor and sank down onto the floor into her skirts that
spread themselves out around her as her head disappeared down onto
her breast his father looked hostile and clenched his fists as if
wanting to knock gregor back into his room then he looked
uncertainly round the living room covered his eyes with his hands
and wept so that his powerful chest shook 

so gregor did not go into the room but leant against the inside of
the other door which was still held bolted in place in this way
only half of his body could be seen along with his head above it
which he leant over to one side as he peered out at the others 
meanwhile the day had become much lighter part of the endless 
grey-black building on the other side of the street - which was a
hospital - could be seen quite clearly with the austere and regular
line of windows piercing its facade the rain was still
falling now throwing down large individual droplets which hit the
ground one at a time the washing up from breakfast lay on the
table there was so much of it because for gregor's father 
breakfast was the most important meal of the day and he would
stretch it out for several hours as he sat reading a number of
different newspapers on the wall exactly opposite there was
photograph of gregor when he was a lieutenant in the army his sword
in his hand and a carefree smile on his face as he called forth
respect for his uniform and bearing the door to the entrance hall
was open and as the front door of the flat was also open he could
see onto the landing and the stairs where they began their way down
below 

 now then  said gregor well aware that he was the only one to
have kept calm  i'll get dressed straight away now pack up my
samples and set off will you please just let me leave you can
see  he said to the chief clerk  that i'm not stubborn and i
like to do my job being a commercial traveller is arduous but
without travelling i couldn't earn my living so where are you
going in to the office yes will you report everything accurately 
then it's quite possible for someone to be temporarily unable to
work but that's just the right time to remember what's been
achieved in the past and consider that later on once the difficulty
has been removed he will certainly work with all the more diligence
and concentration you're well aware that i'm seriously in debt to
our employer as well as having to look after my parents and my
sister so that i'm trapped in a difficult situation but i will
work my way out of it again please don't make things any harder
for me than they are already and don't take sides against me at the
office i know that nobody likes the travellers they think we
earn an enormous wage as well as having a soft time of it that's
just prejudice but they have no particular reason to think better of
it but you sir you have a better overview than the rest of the
staff in fact if i can say this in confidence a better overview
than the boss himself - it's very easy for a businessman like him to
make mistakes about his employees and judge them more harshly than
he should and you're also well aware that we travellers spend
almost the whole year away from the office so that we can very
easily fall victim to gossip and chance and groundless complaints 
and it's almost impossible to defend yourself from that sort of
thing we don't usually even hear about them or if at all it's when
we arrive back home exhausted from a trip and that's when we feel
the harmful effects of what's been going on without even knowing
what caused them please don't go away at least first say
something to show that you grant that i'm at least partly right  

but the chief clerk had turned away as soon as gregor had started to
speak and with protruding lips only stared back at him over his
trembling shoulders as he left he did not keep still for a moment
while gregor was speaking but moved steadily towards the door
without taking his eyes off him he moved very gradually as if
there had been some secret prohibition on leaving the room it was
only when he had reached the entrance hall that he made a sudden
movement drew his foot from the living room and rushed forward in
a panic in the hall he stretched his right hand far out towards
the stairway as if out there there were some supernatural force
waiting to save him 

gregor realised that it was out of the question to let the chief
clerk go away in this mood if his position in the firm was not to be
put into extreme danger that was something his parents did not
understand very well over the years they had become convinced that
this job would provide for gregor for his entire life and besides 
they had so much to worry about at present that they had lost sight
of any thought for the future gregor though did think about the
future the chief clerk had to be held back calmed down convinced
and finally won over the future of gregor and his family depended
on it if only his sister were here she was clever she was already
in tears while gregor was still lying peacefully on his back and
the chief clerk was a lover of women surely she could persuade him 
she would close the front door in the entrance hall and talk him out
of his shocked state but his sister was not there gregor would
have to do the job himself and without considering that he still
was not familiar with how well he could move about in his present
state or that his speech still might not - or probably would not -
be understood he let go of the door pushed himself through the
opening tried to reach the chief clerk on the landing who 
ridiculously was holding on to the banister with both hands but
gregor fell immediately over and with a little scream as he sought
something to hold onto landed on his numerous little legs hardly
had that happened than for the first time that day he began to
feel alright with his body the little legs had the solid ground
under them to his pleasure they did exactly as he told them they
were even making the effort to carry him where he wanted to go and
he was soon believing that all his sorrows would soon be finally at
an end he held back the urge to move but swayed from side to side
as he crouched there on the floor his mother was not far away in
front of him and seemed at first quite engrossed in herself but
then she suddenly jumped up with her arms outstretched and her
fingers spread shouting  help for pity's sake help   the way she
held her head suggested she wanted to see gregor better but the
unthinking way she was hurrying backwards showed that she did not 
she had forgotten that the table was behind her with all the
breakfast things on it when she reached the table she sat quickly
down on it without knowing what she was doing without even seeming
to notice that the coffee pot had been knocked over and a gush of
coffee was pouring down onto the carpet 

 mother mother  said gregor gently looking up at her he had
completely forgotten the chief clerk for the moment but could not
help himself snapping in the air with his jaws at the sight of the
flow of coffee that set his mother screaming anew she fled from
the table and into the arms of his father as he rushed towards her 
gregor though had no time to spare for his parents now the chief
clerk had already reached the stairs with his chin on the banister 
he looked back for the last time gregor made a run for him he
wanted to be sure of reaching him the chief clerk must have
expected something as he leapt down several steps at once and
disappeared his shouts resounding all around the staircase the
flight of the chief clerk seemed unfortunately to put gregor's
father into a panic as well until then he had been relatively self
controlled but now instead of running after the chief clerk
himself or at least not impeding gregor as he ran after him 
gregor's father seized the chief clerk's stick in his right hand
 the chief clerk had left it behind on a chair along with his hat
and overcoat picked up a large newspaper from the table with his
left and used them to drive gregor back into his room stamping his
foot at him as he went gregor's appeals to his father were of no
help his appeals were simply not understood however much he humbly
turned his head his father merely stamped his foot all the harder 
across the room despite the chilly weather gregor's mother had
pulled open a window leant far out of it and pressed her hands to
her face a strong draught of air flew in from the street towards
the stairway the curtains flew up the newspapers on the table
fluttered and some of them were blown onto the floor nothing would
stop gregor's father as he drove him back making hissing noises at
him like a wild man gregor had never had any practice in moving
backwards and was only able to go very slowly if gregor had only
been allowed to turn round he would have been back in his room
straight away but he was afraid that if he took the time to do that
his father would become impatient and there was the threat of a
lethal blow to his back or head from the stick in his father's hand
any moment eventually though gregor realised that he had no
choice as he saw to his disgust that he was quite incapable of
going backwards in a straight line so he began as quickly as
possible and with frequent anxious glances at his father to turn
himself round it went very slowly but perhaps his father was able
to see his good intentions as he did nothing to hinder him in fact
now and then he used the tip of his stick to give directions from a
distance as to which way to turn if only his father would stop
that unbearable hissing it was making gregor quite confused when
he had nearly finished turning round still listening to that
hissing he made a mistake and turned himself back a little the way
he had just come he was pleased when he finally had his head in
front of the doorway but then saw that it was too narrow and his
body was too broad to get through it without further difficulty in
his present mood it obviously did not occur to his father to open
the other of the double doors so that gregor would have enough space
to get through he was merely fixed on the idea that gregor should
be got back into his room as quickly as possible nor would he ever
have allowed gregor the time to get himself upright as preparation
for getting through the doorway what he did making more noise
than ever was to drive gregor forwards all the harder as if there
had been nothing in the way it sounded to gregor as if there was
now more than one father behind him it was not a pleasant
experience and gregor pushed himself into the doorway without
regard for what might happen one side of his body lifted itself 
he lay at an angle in the doorway one flank scraped on the white
door and was painfully injured leaving vile brown flecks on it 
soon he was stuck fast and would not have been able to move at all
by himself the little legs along one side hung quivering in the air
while those on the other side were pressed painfully against the
ground then his father gave him a hefty shove from behind which
released him from where he was held and sent him flying and heavily
bleeding deep into his room the door was slammed shut with the
stick then finally all was quiet 



ii


it was not until it was getting dark that evening that gregor awoke
from his deep and coma-like sleep he would have woken soon
afterwards anyway even if he hadn't been disturbed as he had had
enough sleep and felt fully rested but he had the impression that
some hurried steps and the sound of the door leading into the front
room being carefully shut had woken him the light from the
electric street lamps shone palely here and there onto the ceiling
and tops of the furniture but down below where gregor was it was
dark he pushed himself over to the door feeling his way clumsily
with his antennae - of which he was now beginning to learn the value
- in order to see what had been happening there the whole of his
left side seemed like one painfully stretched scar and he limped
badly on his two rows of legs one of the legs had been badly
injured in the events of that morning - it was nearly a miracle that
only one of them had been - and dragged along lifelessly 

it was only when he had reached the door that he realised what it
actually was that had drawn him over to it it was the smell of
something to eat by the door there was a dish filled with
sweetened milk with little pieces of white bread floating in it he
was so pleased he almost laughed as he was even hungrier than he
had been that morning and immediately dipped his head into the
milk nearly covering his eyes with it but he soon drew his head
back again in disappointment not only did the pain in his tender
left side make it difficult to eat the food - he was only able to
eat if his whole body worked together as a snuffling whole - but the
milk did not taste at all nice milk like this was normally his
favourite drink and his sister had certainly left it there for him
because of that but he turned almost against his own will away
from the dish and crawled back into the centre of the room 

through the crack in the door gregor could see that the gas had
been lit in the living room his father at this time would normally
be sat with his evening paper reading it out in a loud voice to
gregor's mother and sometimes to his sister but there was now not
a sound to be heard gregor's sister would often write and tell him
about this reading but maybe his father had lost the habit in
recent times it was so quiet all around too even though there
must have been somebody in the flat  what a quiet life it is the
family lead  said gregor to himself and gazing into the darkness 
felt a great pride that he was able to provide a life like that in
such a nice home for his sister and parents but what now if all
this peace and wealth and comfort should come to a horrible and
frightening end that was something that gregor did not want to
think about too much so he started to move about crawling up and
down the room 

once during that long evening the door on one side of the room was
opened very slightly and hurriedly closed again later on the door
on the other side did the same it seemed that someone needed to
enter the room but thought better of it gregor went and waited
immediately by the door resolved either to bring the timorous
visitor into the room in some way or at least to find out who it
was but the door was opened no more that night and gregor waited in
vain the previous morning while the doors were locked everyone had
wanted to get in there to him but now now that he had opened up
one of the doors and the other had clearly been unlocked some time
during the day no-one came and the keys were in the other sides 

it was not until late at night that the gaslight in the living room
was put out and now it was easy to see that his parents and sister had
stayed awake all that time as they all could be distinctly heard as
they went away together on tip-toe it was clear that no-one would
come into gregor's room any more until morning that gave him plenty
of time to think undisturbed about how he would have to re-arrange
his life for some reason the tall empty room where he was forced
to remain made him feel uneasy as he lay there flat on the floor 
even though he had been living in it for five years hardly aware
of what he was doing other than a slight feeling of shame he
hurried under the couch it pressed down on his back a little and
he was no longer able to lift his head but he nonetheless felt
immediately at ease and his only regret was that his body was too
broad to get it all underneath 

he spent the whole night there some of the time he passed in a
light sleep although he frequently woke from it in alarm because of
his hunger and some of the time was spent in worries and vague
hopes which however always led to the same conclusion for the
time being he must remain calm he must show patience and the
greatest consideration so that his family could bear the
unpleasantness that he in his present condition was forced to
impose on them 

gregor soon had the opportunity to test the strength of his
decisions as early the next morning almost before the night had
ended his sister nearly fully dressed opened the door from the
front room and looked anxiously in she did not see him straight
away but when she did notice him under the couch - he had to be
somewhere for god's sake he couldn't have flown away - she was so
shocked that she lost control of herself and slammed the door shut
again from outside but she seemed to regret her behaviour as she
opened the door again straight away and came in on tip-toe as if
entering the room of someone seriously ill or even of a stranger 
gregor had pushed his head forward right to the edge of the couch 
and watched her would she notice that he had left the milk as it
was realise that it was not from any lack of hunger and bring him
in some other food that was more suitable if she didn't do it
herself he would rather go hungry than draw her attention to it 
although he did feel a terrible urge to rush forward from under the
couch throw himself at his sister's feet and beg her for something
good to eat however his sister noticed the full dish immediately
and looked at it and the few drops of milk splashed around it with
some surprise she immediately picked it up - using a rag 
not her bare hands - and carried it out gregor was extremely
curious as to what she would bring in its place imagining the
wildest possibilities but he never could have guessed what his
sister in her goodness actually did bring in order to test his
taste she brought him a whole selection of things all spread out
on an old newspaper there were old half-rotten vegetables bones
from the evening meal covered in white sauce that had gone hard a
few raisins and almonds some cheese that gregor had declared
inedible two days before a dry roll and some bread spread with
butter and salt as well as all that she had poured some water into
the dish which had probably been permanently set aside for gregor's
use and placed it beside them then out of consideration for
gregor's feelings as she knew that he would not eat in front of
her she hurried out again and even turned the key in the lock so
that gregor would know he could make things as comfortable for
himself as he liked gregor's little legs whirred at last he could
eat what's more his injuries must already have completely healed
as he found no difficulty in moving this amazed him as more than
a month earlier he had cut his finger slightly with a knife he
thought of how his finger had still hurt the day before yesterday 
 am i less sensitive than i used to be then   he thought and was
already sucking greedily at the cheese which had immediately almost
compellingly attracted him much more than the other foods on the
newspaper quickly one after another his eyes watering with
pleasure he consumed the cheese the vegetables and the sauce the
fresh foods on the other hand he didn't like at all and even
dragged the things he did want to eat a little way away from them
because he couldn't stand the smell long after he had finished
eating and lay lethargic in the same place his sister slowly turned
the key in the lock as a sign to him that he should withdraw he
was immediately startled although he had been half asleep and he
hurried back under the couch but he needed great self-control to
stay there even for the short time that his sister was in the room 
as eating so much food had rounded out his body a little and he
could hardly breathe in that narrow space half suffocating he
watched with bulging eyes as his sister unselfconsciously took a
broom and swept up the left-overs mixing them in with the food he
had not even touched at all as if it could not be used any more 
she quickly dropped it all into a bin closed it with its wooden
lid and carried everything out she had hardly turned her back
before gregor came out again from under the couch and stretched
himself 

this was how gregor received his food each day now once in the
morning while his parents and the maid were still asleep and the
second time after everyone had eaten their meal at midday as his
parents would sleep for a little while then as well and gregor's
sister would send the maid away on some errand gregor's father and
mother certainly did not want him to starve either but perhaps it
would have been more than they could stand to have any more
experience of his feeding than being told about it and perhaps his
sister wanted to spare them what distress she could as they were
indeed suffering enough 

it was impossible for gregor to find out what they had told the
doctor and the locksmith that first morning to get them out of the
flat as nobody could understand him nobody not even his sister 
thought that he could understand them so he had to be content to
hear his sister's sighs and appeals to the saints as she moved about
his room it was only later when she had become a little more used
to everything - there was of course no question of her ever
becoming fully used to the situation - that gregor would sometimes
catch a friendly comment or at least a comment that could be
construed as friendly  he's enjoyed his dinner today  she might
say when he had diligently cleared away all the food left for him 
or if he left most of it which slowly became more and more
frequent she would often say sadly  now everything's just been
left there again  

although gregor wasn't able to hear any news directly he did listen
to much of what was said in the next rooms and whenever he heard
anyone speaking he would scurry straight to the appropriate door and
press his whole body against it there was seldom any conversation 
especially at first that was not about him in some way even if
only in secret for two whole days all the talk at every mealtime
was about what they should do now but even between meals they spoke
about the same subject as there were always at least two members of
the family at home - nobody wanted to be at home by themselves and
it was out of the question to leave the flat entirely empty and on
the very first day the maid had fallen to her knees and begged
gregor's mother to let her go without delay it was not very clear
how much she knew of what had happened but she left within a quarter
of an hour tearfully thanking gregor's mother for her dismissal as
if she had done her an enormous service she even swore
emphatically not to tell anyone the slightest about what had
happened even though no-one had asked that of her 

now gregor's sister also had to help his mother with the cooking 
although that was not so much bother as no-one ate very much 
gregor often heard how one of them would unsuccessfully urge another
to eat and receive no more answer than  no thanks i've had enough 
or something similar no-one drank very much either his sister
would sometimes ask his father whether he would like a beer hoping
for the chance to go and fetch it herself when his father then
said nothing she would add so that he would not feel selfish that
she could send the housekeeper for it but then his father would
close the matter with a big loud  no  and no more would be said 

even before the first day had come to an end his father had
explained to gregor's mother and sister what their finances and
prospects were now and then he stood up from the table and took
some receipt or document from the little cash box he had saved from
his business when it had collapsed five years earlier gregor heard
how he opened the complicated lock and then closed it again after he
had taken the item he wanted what he heard his father say was some
of the first good news that gregor heard since he had first been
incarcerated in his room he had thought that nothing at all
remained from his father's business at least he had never told him
anything different and gregor had never asked him about it anyway 
their business misfortune had reduced the family to a state of total
despair and gregor's only concern at that time had been to arrange
things so that they could all forget about it as quickly as
possible so then he started working especially hard with a fiery
vigour that raised him from a junior salesman to a travelling
representative almost overnight bringing with it the chance to earn
money in quite different ways gregor converted his success at work
straight into cash that he could lay on the table at home for the
benefit of his astonished and delighted family they had been good
times and they had never come again at least not with the same
splendour even though gregor had later earned so much that he was
in a position to bear the costs of the whole family and did bear
them they had even got used to it both gregor and the family 
they took the money with gratitude and he was glad to provide it 
although there was no longer much warm affection given in return 
gregor only remained close to his sister now unlike him she was
very fond of music and a gifted and expressive violinist it was his
secret plan to send her to the conservatory next year even though it
would cause great expense that would have to be made up for in some
other way during gregor's short periods in town conversation with
his sister would often turn to the conservatory but it was only ever
mentioned as a lovely dream that could never be realised their
parents did not like to hear this innocent talk but gregor thought
about it quite hard and decided he would let them know what he
planned with a grand announcement of it on christmas day 

that was the sort of totally pointless thing that went through his
mind in his present state pressed upright against the door and
listening there were times when he simply became too tired to
continue listening when his head would fall wearily against the
door and he would pull it up again with a start as even the
slightest noise he caused would be heard next door and they would
all go silent  what's that he's doing now  his father would say
after a while clearly having gone over to the door and only then
would the interrupted conversation slowly be taken up again 

when explaining things his father repeated himself several times 
partly because it was a long time since he had been occupied with
these matters himself and partly because gregor's mother did not
understand everything the first time from these repeated explanations
gregor learned to his pleasure that despite all their misfortunes
there was still some money available from the old days it was not
a lot but it had not been touched in the meantime and some interest
had accumulated besides that they had not been using up all the
money that gregor had been bringing home every month keeping only a
little for himself so that that too had been accumulating 
behind the door gregor nodded with enthusiasm in his pleasure at
this unexpected thrift and caution he could actually have used
this surplus money to reduce his father's debt to his boss and the
day when he could have freed himself from that job would have come
much closer but now it was certainly better the way his father had
done things 

this money however was certainly not enough to enable the family
to live off the interest it was enough to maintain them for 
perhaps one or two years no more that's to say it was money
that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies 
money to live on had to be earned his father was healthy but old 
and lacking in self confidence during the five years that he had
not been working - the first holiday in a life that had been full of
strain and no success - he had put on a lot of weight and become
very slow and clumsy would gregor's elderly mother now have to go
and earn money she suffered from asthma and it was a strain for her
just to move about the home every other day would be spent
struggling for breath on the sofa by the open window would his
sister have to go and earn money she was still a child of
seventeen her life up till then had been very enviable consisting
of wearing nice clothes sleeping late helping out in the business 
joining in with a few modest pleasures and most of all playing the
violin whenever they began to talk of the need to earn money 
gregor would always first let go of the door and then throw himself
onto the cool leather sofa next to it as he became quite hot with
shame and regret 

he would often lie there the whole night through not sleeping a
wink but scratching at the leather for hours on end or he might go
to all the effort of pushing a chair to the window climbing up onto
the sill and propped up in the chair leaning on the window to
stare out of it he had used to feel a great sense of freedom from
doing this but doing it now was obviously something more remembered
than experienced as what he actually saw in this way was becoming
less distinct every day even things that were quite near he had
used to curse the ever-present view of the hospital across the
street but now he could not see it at all and if he had not known
that he lived in charlottenstrasse which was a quiet street despite
being in the middle of the city he could have thought that he was
looking out the window at a barren waste where the grey sky and the
grey earth mingled inseparably his observant sister only needed to
notice the chair twice before she would always push it back to its
exact position by the window after she had tidied up the room and
even left the inner pane of the window open from then on 

if gregor had only been able to speak to his sister and thank her
for all that she had to do for him it would have been easier for him
to bear it but as it was it caused him pain his sister 
naturally tried as far as possible to pretend there was nothing
burdensome about it and the longer it went on of course the
better she was able to do so but as time went by gregor was also
able to see through it all so much better it had even become very
unpleasant for him now whenever she entered the room no sooner
had she come in than she would quickly close the door as a
precaution so that no-one would have to suffer the view into
gregor's room then she would go straight to the window and pull it
hurriedly open almost as if she were suffocating even if it was
cold she would stay at the window breathing deeply for a little
while she would alarm gregor twice a day with this running about
and noise making he would stay under the couch shivering the whole
while knowing full well that she would certainly have liked to
spare him this ordeal but it was impossible for her to be in the
same room with him with the windows closed 

one day about a month after gregor's transformation when his sister
no longer had any particular reason to be shocked at his appearance 
she came into the room a little earlier than usual and found him
still staring out the window motionless and just where he would be
most horrible in itself his sister's not coming into the room
would have been no surprise for gregor as it would have been
difficult for her to immediately open the window while he was still
there but not only did she not come in she went straight back and
closed the door behind her a stranger would have thought he had
threatened her and tried to bite her gregor went straight to hide
himself under the couch of course but he had to wait until midday
before his sister came back and she seemed much more uneasy than
usual it made him realise that she still found his appearance
unbearable and would continue to do so she probably even had to
overcome the urge to flee when she saw the little bit of him that
protruded from under the couch one day in order to spare her even
this sight he spent four hours carrying the bedsheet over to the
couch on his back and arranged it so that he was completely covered
and his sister would not be able to see him even if she bent down 
if she did not think this sheet was necessary then all she had to do
was take it off again as it was clear enough that it was no
pleasure for gregor to cut himself off so completely she left the
sheet where it was gregor even thought he glimpsed a look of
gratitude one time when he carefully looked out from under the sheet
to see how his sister liked the new arrangement 

for the first fourteen days gregor's parents could not bring
themselves to come into the room to see him he would often hear
them say how they appreciated all the new work his sister was doing
even though before they had seen her as a girl who was somewhat
useless and frequently been annoyed with her but now the two of
them father and mother would often both wait outside the door of
gregor's room while his sister tidied up in there and as soon as
she went out again she would have to tell them exactly how
everything looked what gregor had eaten how he had behaved this
time and whether perhaps any slight improvement could be seen 
his mother also wanted to go in and visit gregor relatively soon but
his father and sister at first persuaded her against it gregor
listened very closely to all this and approved fully later 
though she had to be held back by force which made her call out 
 let me go and see gregor he is my unfortunate son can't you
understand i have to see him   and gregor would think to himself
that maybe it would be better if his mother came in not every day
of course but one day a week perhaps she could understand
everything much better than his sister who for all her courage was
still just a child after all and really might not have had an
adult's appreciation of the burdensome job she had taken on 

gregor's wish to see his mother was soon realised out of
consideration for his parents gregor wanted to avoid being seen at
the window during the day the few square meters of the floor did
not give him much room to crawl about it was hard to just lie
quietly through the night his food soon stopped giving him any
pleasure at all and so to entertain himself he got into the habit
of crawling up and down the walls and ceiling he was especially
fond of hanging from the ceiling it was quite different from lying
on the floor he could breathe more freely his body had a light
swing to it and up there relaxed and almost happy it might happen
that he would surprise even himself by letting go of the ceiling and
landing on the floor with a crash but now of course he had far
better control of his body than before and even with a fall as
great as that caused himself no damage very soon his sister
noticed gregor's new way of entertaining himself - he had after
all left traces of the adhesive from his feet as he crawled about -
and got it into her head to make it as easy as possible for him by
removing the furniture that got in his way especially the chest of
drawers and the desk now this was not something that she would be
able to do by herself she did not dare to ask for help from her
father the sixteen year old maid had carried on bravely since the
cook had left but she certainly would not have helped in this she
had even asked to be allowed to keep the kitchen locked at all times
and never to have to open the door unless it was especially
important so his sister had no choice but to choose some time when
gregor's father was not there and fetch his mother to help her as
she approached the room gregor could hear his mother express her
joy but once at the door she went silent first of course his
sister came in and looked round to see that everything in the room
was alright and only then did she let her mother enter gregor had
hurriedly pulled the sheet down lower over the couch and put more
folds into it so that everything really looked as if it had just
been thrown down by chance gregor also refrained this time from
spying out from under the sheet he gave up the chance to see his
mother until later and was simply glad that she had come  you can
come in he can't be seen  said his sister obviously leading her
in by the hand the old chest of drawers was too heavy for a pair
of feeble women to be heaving about but gregor listened as they
pushed it from its place his sister always taking on the heaviest
part of the work for herself and ignoring her mother's warnings that
she would strain herself this lasted a very long time after
labouring at it for fifteen minutes or more his mother said it would
be better to leave the chest where it was for one thing it was too
heavy for them to get the job finished before gregor's father got
home and leaving it in the middle of the room it would be in his way
even more and for another thing it wasn't even sure that taking the
furniture away would really be any help to him she thought just
the opposite the sight of the bare walls saddened her right to her
heart and why wouldn't gregor feel the same way about it he'd been
used to this furniture in his room for a long time and it would make
him feel abandoned to be in an empty room like that then quietly 
almost whispering as if wanting gregor whose whereabouts she did
not know to hear not even the tone of her voice as she was
convinced that he did not understand her words she added  and by
taking the furniture away won't it seem like we're showing that
we've given up all hope of improvement and we're abandoning him to
cope for himself i think it'd be best to leave the room exactly the
way it was before so that when gregor comes back to us again he'll
find everything unchanged and he'll be able to forget the time in
between all the easier  

hearing these words from his mother made gregor realise that the
lack of any direct human communication along with the monotonous
life led by the family during these two months must have made him
confused - he could think of no other way of explaining to himself
why he had seriously wanted his room emptied out had he really
wanted to transform his room into a cave a warm room fitted out
with the nice furniture he had inherited that would have let him
crawl around unimpeded in any direction but it would also have let
him quickly forget his past when he had still been human he had
come very close to forgetting and it had only been the voice of his
mother unheard for so long that had shaken him out of it nothing
should be removed everything had to stay he could not do without
the good influence the furniture had on his condition and if the
furniture made it difficult for him to crawl about mindlessly that
was not a loss but a great advantage 

his sister unfortunately did not agree she had become used to the
idea not without reason that she was gregor's spokesman to his
parents about the things that concerned him this meant that his
mother's advice now was sufficient reason for her to insist on
removing not only the chest of drawers and the desk as she had
thought at first but all the furniture apart from the all-important
couch it was more than childish perversity of course or the
unexpected confidence she had recently acquired that made her
insist she had indeed noticed that gregor needed a lot of room to
crawl about in whereas the furniture as far as anyone could see 
was of no use to him at all girls of that age though do become
enthusiastic about things and feel they must get their way whenever
they can perhaps this was what tempted grete to make gregor's
situation seem even more shocking than it was so that she could do
even more for him grete would probably be the only one who would
dare enter a room dominated by gregor crawling about the bare walls
by himself 

so she refused to let her mother dissuade her gregor's mother
already looked uneasy in his room she soon stopped speaking and
helped gregor's sister to get the chest of drawers out with what
strength she had the chest of drawers was something that gregor
could do without if he had to but the writing desk had to stay 
hardly had the two women pushed the chest of drawers groaning out
of the room than gregor poked his head out from under the couch to
see what he could do about it he meant to be as careful and
considerate as he could but unfortunately it was his mother who
came back first while grete in the next room had her arms round the
chest pushing and pulling at it from side to side by herself
without of course moving it an inch his mother was not used to
the sight of gregor he might have made her ill so gregor hurried
backwards to the far end of the couch in his startlement though 
he was not able to prevent the sheet at its front from moving a
little it was enough to attract his mother's attention she stood
very still remained there a moment and then went back out to
grete 

gregor kept trying to assure himself that nothing unusual was
happening it was just a few pieces of furniture being moved after
all but he soon had to admit that the women going to and fro their
little calls to each other the scraping of the furniture on the
floor all these things made him feel as if he were being assailed
from all sides with his head and legs pulled in against him and
his body pressed to the floor he was forced to admit to himself
that he could not stand all of this much longer they were emptying
his room out taking away everything that was dear to him they had
already taken out the chest containing his fretsaw and other tools 
now they threatened to remove the writing desk with its place
clearly worn into the floor the desk where he had done his homework
as a business trainee at high school even while he had been at
infant school he really could not wait any longer to see whether
the two women's intentions were good he had nearly forgotten they
were there anyway as they were now too tired to say anything while
they worked and he could only hear their feet as they stepped
heavily on the floor 

so while the women were leant against the desk in the other room
catching their breath he sallied out changed direction four times
not knowing what he should save first before his attention was
suddenly caught by the picture on the wall - which was already
denuded of everything else that had been on it - of the lady dressed
in copious fur he hurried up onto the picture and pressed himself
against its glass it held him firmly and felt good on his hot
belly this picture at least now totally covered by gregor would
certainly be taken away by no-one he turned his head to face the
door into the living room so that he could watch the women when they
came back 

they had not allowed themselves a long rest and came back quite
soon grete had put her arm around her mother and was nearly
carrying her  what shall we take now then   said grete and
looked around her eyes met those of gregor on the wall perhaps
only because her mother was there she remained calm bent her face
to her so that she would not look round and said albeit hurriedly
and with a tremor in her voice  come on let's go back in the
living room for a while   gregor could see what grete had in mind 
she wanted to take her mother somewhere safe and then chase him down
from the wall well she could certainly try it he sat unyielding
on his picture he would rather jump at grete's face 

but grete's words had made her mother quite worried she stepped to
one side saw the enormous brown patch against the flowers of the
wallpaper and before she even realised it was gregor that she saw
screamed  oh god oh god   arms outstretched she fell onto the
couch as if she had given up everything and stayed there immobile 
 gregor   shouted his sister glowering at him and shaking her fist 
 that was the first word she had spoken to him directly since his
transformation she ran into the other room to fetch some kind of
smelling salts to bring her mother out of her faint gregor wanted
to help too - he could save his picture later although he stuck
fast to the glass and had to pull himself off by force then he 
too ran into the next room as if he could advise his sister like in
the old days but he had to just stand behind her doing nothing she
was looking into various bottles he startled her when she turned
round a bottle fell to the ground and broke a splinter cut
gregor's face some kind of caustic medicine splashed all over him 
now without delaying any longer grete took hold of all the bottles
she could and ran with them in to her mother she slammed the door
shut with her foot so now gregor was shut out from his mother 
who because of him might be near to death he could not open the
door if he did not want to chase his sister away and she had to
stay with his mother there was nothing for him to do but wait and 
oppressed with anxiety and self-reproach he began to crawl about 
he crawled over everything walls furniture ceiling and finally
in his confusion as the whole room began to spin around him he fell
down into the middle of the dinner table 

he lay there for a while numb and immobile all around him it was
quiet maybe that was a good sign then there was someone at the
door the maid of course had locked herself in her kitchen so
that grete would have to go and answer it his father had arrived
home  what's happened   were his first words grete's appearance
must have made everything clear to him she answered him with
subdued voice and openly pressed her face into his chest  mother's
fainted but she's better now gregor got out    just as i
expected  said his father  just as i always said but you women
wouldn't listen would you   it was clear to gregor that grete had
not said enough and that his father took it to mean that something
bad had happened that he was responsible for some act of violence 
that meant gregor would now have to try to calm his father as he
did not have the time to explain things to him even if that had been
possible so he fled to the door of his room and pressed himself
against it so that his father when he came in from the hall could
see straight away that gregor had the best intentions and would go
back into his room without delay that it would not be necessary to
drive him back but that they had only to open the door and he would
disappear 

his father though was not in the mood to notice subtleties like
that  ah   he shouted as he came in sounding as if he were both
angry and glad at the same time gregor drew his head back from the
door and lifted it towards his father he really had not imagined
his father the way he stood there now of late with his new habit
of crawling about he had neglected to pay attention to what was
going on the rest of the flat the way he had done before he really
ought to have expected things to have changed but still still was
that really his father the same tired man as used to be laying
there entombed in his bed when gregor came back from his business
trips who would receive him sitting in the armchair in his
nightgown when he came back in the evenings who was hardly even
able to stand up but as a sign of his pleasure would just raise
his arms and who on the couple of times a year when they went for a
walk together on a sunday or public holiday wrapped up tightly in
his overcoat between gregor and his mother would always labour his
way forward a little more slowly than them who were already walking
slowly for his sake who would place his stick down carefully and 
if he wanted to say something would invariably stop and gather his
companions around him he was standing up straight enough now 
dressed in a smart blue uniform with gold buttons the sort worn by
the employees at the banking institute above the high stiff collar
of the coat his strong double-chin emerged under the bushy
eyebrows his piercing dark eyes looked out fresh and alert his
normally unkempt white hair was combed down painfully close to his
scalp he took his cap with its gold monogram from probably some
bank and threw it in an arc right across the room onto the sofa 
put his hands in his trouser pockets pushing back the bottom of his
long uniform coat and with look of determination walked towards
gregor he probably did not even know himself what he had in mind 
but nonetheless lifted his feet unusually high gregor was amazed
at the enormous size of the soles of his boots but wasted no time
with that - he knew full well right from the first day of his new
life that his father thought it necessary to always be extremely
strict with him and so he ran up to his father stopped when his
father stopped scurried forwards again when he moved even
slightly in this way they went round the room several times
without anything decisive happening without even giving the
impression of a chase as everything went so slowly gregor remained
all this time on the floor largely because he feared his father
might see it as especially provoking if he fled onto the wall or
ceiling whatever he did gregor had to admit that he certainly
would not be able to keep up this running about for long as for
each step his father took he had to carry out countless movements 
he became noticeably short of breath even in his earlier life his
lungs had not been very reliable now as he lurched about in his
efforts to muster all the strength he could for running he could
hardly keep his eyes open his thoughts became too slow for him to
think of any other way of saving himself than running he almost
forgot that the walls were there for him to use although here they
were concealed behind carefully carved furniture full of notches and
protrusions - then right beside him lightly tossed something flew
down and rolled in front of him it was an apple then another one
immediately flew at him gregor froze in shock there was no longer
any point in running as his father had decided to bombard him he
had filled his pockets with fruit from the bowl on the sideboard and
now without even taking the time for careful aim threw one apple
after another these little red apples rolled about on the floor 
knocking into each other as if they had electric motors an apple
thrown without much force glanced against gregor's back and slid off
without doing any harm another one however immediately following
it hit squarely and lodged in his back gregor wanted to drag
himself away as if he could remove the surprising the incredible
pain by changing his position but he felt as if nailed to the spot
and spread himself out all his senses in confusion the last thing
he saw was the door of his room being pulled open his sister was
screaming his mother ran out in front of her in her blouse as his
sister had taken off some of her clothes after she had fainted to
make it easier for her to breathe she ran to his father her
skirts unfastened and sliding one after another to the ground 
stumbling over the skirts she pushed herself to his father her arms
around him uniting herself with him totally - now gregor lost his
ability to see anything - her hands behind his father's head begging
him to spare gregor's life 



iii


no-one dared to remove the apple lodged in gregor's flesh so it
remained there as a visible reminder of his injury he had suffered
it there for more than a month and his condition seemed serious
enough to remind even his father that gregor despite his current
sad and revolting form was a family member who could not be treated
as an enemy on the contrary as a family there was a duty to
swallow any revulsion for him and to be patient just to be patient 

because of his injuries gregor had lost much of his mobility -
probably permanently he had been reduced to the condition of an
ancient invalid and it took him long long minutes to crawl across
his room - crawling over the ceiling was out of the question - but
this deterioration in his condition was fully in his opinion made
up for by the door to the living room being left open every evening 
 he got into the habit of closely watching it for one or two hours
before it was opened and then lying in the darkness of his room
where he could not be seen from the living room he could watch the
family in the light of the dinner table and listen to their
conversation - with everyone's permission in a way and thus quite
differently from before 

they no longer held the lively conversations of earlier times of
course the ones that gregor always thought about with longing when
he was tired and getting into the damp bed in some small hotel room 
 all of them were usually very quiet nowadays soon after dinner 
his father would go to sleep in his chair his mother and sister
would urge each other to be quiet his mother bent deeply under the
lamp would sew fancy underwear for a fashion shop his sister who
had taken a sales job learned shorthand and french in the evenings
so that she might be able to get a better position later on 
sometimes his father would wake up and say to gregor's mother
 you're doing so much sewing again today   as if he did not know
that he had been dozing - and then he would go back to sleep again
while mother and sister would exchange a tired grin 

with a kind of stubbornness gregor's father refused to take his
uniform off even at home while his nightgown hung unused on its peg
gregor's father would slumber where he was fully dressed as if
always ready to serve and expecting to hear the voice of his
superior even here the uniform had not been new to start with but
as a result of this it slowly became even shabbier despite the
efforts of gregor's mother and sister to look after it gregor
would often spend the whole evening looking at all the stains on
this coat with its gold buttons always kept polished and shiny 
while the old man in it would sleep highly uncomfortable but
peaceful 

as soon as it struck ten gregor's mother would speak gently to his
father to wake him and try to persuade him to go to bed as he
couldn't sleep properly where he was and he really had to get his
sleep if he was to be up at six to get to work but since he had
been in work he had become more obstinate and would always insist on
staying longer at the table even though he regularly fell asleep
and it was then harder than ever to persuade him to exchange the
chair for his bed then however much mother and sister would
importune him with little reproaches and warnings he would keep
slowly shaking his head for a quarter of an hour with his eyes
closed and refusing to get up gregor's mother would tug at his
sleeve whisper endearments into his ear gregor's sister would
leave her work to help her mother but nothing would have any effect
on him he would just sink deeper into his chair only when the
two women took him under the arms he would abruptly open his eyes 
look at them one after the other and say  what a life this is what
peace i get in my old age   and supported by the two women he would
lift himself up carefully as if he were carrying the greatest load
himself let the women take him to the door send them off and carry
on by himself while gregor's mother would throw down her needle and
his sister her pen so that they could run after his father and
continue being of help to him 

who in this tired and overworked family would have had time to
give more attention to gregor than was absolutely necessary the
household budget became even smaller so now the maid was dismissed 
an enormous thick-boned charwoman with white hair that flapped
around her head came every morning and evening to do the heaviest
work everything else was looked after by gregor's mother on top of
the large amount of sewing work she did gregor even learned 
listening to the evening conversation about what price they had
hoped for that several items of jewellery belonging to the family
had been sold even though both mother and sister had been very fond
of wearing them at functions and celebrations but the loudest
complaint was that although the flat was much too big for their
present circumstances they could not move out of it there was no
imaginable way of transferring gregor to the new address he could
see quite well though that there were more reasons than
consideration for him that made it difficult for them to move it
would have been quite easy to transport him in any suitable crate
with a few air holes in it the main thing holding the family back
from their decision to move was much more to do with their total
despair and the thought that they had been struck with a misfortune
unlike anything experienced by anyone else they knew or were related
to they carried out absolutely everything that the world expects
from poor people gregor's father brought bank employees their
breakfast his mother sacrificed herself by washing clothes for
strangers his sister ran back and forth behind her desk at the
behest of the customers but they just did not have the strength to
do any more and the injury in gregor's back began to hurt as much
as when it was new after they had come back from taking his father
to bed gregor's mother and sister would now leave their work where
it was and sit close together cheek to cheek his mother would
point to gregor's room and say  close that door grete  and then 
when he was in the dark again they would sit in the next room and
their tears would mingle or they would simply sit there staring
dry-eyed at the table 

gregor hardly slept at all either night or day sometimes he would
think of taking over the family's affairs just like before the
next time the door was opened he had long forgotten about his boss
and the chief clerk but they would appear again in his thoughts 
the salesmen and the apprentices that stupid teaboy two or three
friends from other businesses one of the chambermaids from a
provincial hotel a tender memory that appeared and disappeared
again a cashier from a hat shop for whom his attention had been
serious but too slow - all of them appeared to him mixed together
with strangers and others he had forgotten but instead of helping
him and his family they were all of them inaccessible and he was
glad when they disappeared other times he was not at all in the
mood to look after his family he was filled with simple rage about
the lack of attention he was shown and although he could think of
nothing he would have wanted he made plans of how he could get into
the pantry where he could take all the things he was entitled to 
even if he was not hungry gregor's sister no longer thought about
how she could please him but would hurriedly push some food or other
into his room with her foot before she rushed out to work in the
morning and at midday and in the evening she would sweep it away
again with the broom indifferent as to whether it had been eaten or
- more often than not - had been left totally untouched she still
cleared up the room in the evening but now she could not have been
any quicker about it smears of dirt were left on the walls here
and there were little balls of dust and filth at first gregor
went into one of the worst of these places when his sister arrived
as a reproach to her but he could have stayed there for weeks
without his sister doing anything about it she could see the dirt
as well as he could but she had simply decided to leave him to it 
at the same time she became touchy in a way that was quite new for
her and which everyone in the family understood - cleaning up
gregor's room was for her and her alone gregor's mother did once
thoroughly clean his room and needed to use several bucketfuls of
water to do it - although that much dampness also made gregor ill
and he lay flat on the couch bitter and immobile but his mother
was to be punished still more for what she had done as hardly had
his sister arrived home in the evening than she noticed the change
in gregor's room and highly aggrieved ran back into the living
room where despite her mothers raised and imploring hands she
broke into convulsive tears her father of course was startled
out of his chair and the two parents looked on astonished and
helpless then they too became agitated gregor's father standing
to the right of his mother accused her of not leaving the cleaning
of gregor's room to his sister from her left gregor's sister
screamed at her that she was never to clean gregor's room again 
while his mother tried to draw his father who was beside himself
with anger into the bedroom his sister quaking with tears 
thumped on the table with her small fists and gregor hissed in
anger that no-one had even thought of closing the door to save him
the sight of this and all its noise 

gregor's sister was exhausted from going out to work and looking
after gregor as she had done before was even more work for her but
even so his mother ought certainly not to have taken her place 
gregor on the other hand ought not to be neglected now though 
the charwoman was here this elderly widow with a robust bone
structure that made her able to withstand the hardest of things in
her long life wasn't really repelled by gregor just by chance one
day rather than any real curiosity she opened the door to gregor's
room and found herself face to face with him he was taken totally
by surprise no-one was chasing him but he began to rush to and fro
while she just stood there in amazement with her hands crossed in
front of her from then on she never failed to open the door
slightly every evening and morning and look briefly in on him at
first she would call to him as she did so with words that she
probably considered friendly such as  come on then you old
dung-beetle   or  look at the old dung-beetle there   gregor never
responded to being spoken to in that way but just remained where he
was without moving as if the door had never even been opened if
only they had told this charwoman to clean up his room every day
instead of letting her disturb him for no reason whenever she felt
like it one day early in the morning while a heavy rain struck the
windowpanes perhaps indicating that spring was coming she began to
speak to him in that way once again gregor was so resentful of it
that he started to move toward her he was slow and infirm but it
was like a kind of attack instead of being afraid the charwoman
just lifted up one of the chairs from near the door and stood there
with her mouth open clearly intending not to close her mouth until
the chair in her hand had been slammed down into gregor's back 
 aren't you coming any closer then   she asked when gregor turned
round again and she calmly put the chair back in the corner 

gregor had almost entirely stopped eating only if he happened to
find himself next to the food that had been prepared for him he
might take some of it into his mouth to play with it leave it there
a few hours and then more often than not spit it out again at
first he thought it was distress at the state of his room that
stopped him eating but he had soon got used to the changes made
there they had got into the habit of putting things into this room
that they had no room for anywhere else and there were now many
such things as one of the rooms in the flat had been rented out to
three gentlemen these earnest gentlemen - all three of them had
full beards as gregor learned peering through the crack in the door
one day - were painfully insistent on things' being tidy this
meant not only in their own room but since they had taken a room in
this establishment in the entire flat and especially in the
kitchen unnecessary clutter was something they could not tolerate 
especially if it was dirty they had moreover brought most of their
own furnishings and equipment with them for this reason many
things had become superfluous which although they could not be
sold the family did not wish to discard all these things found
their way into gregor's room the dustbins from the kitchen found
their way in there too the charwoman was always in a hurry and
anything she couldn't use for the time being she would just chuck in
there he fortunately would usually see no more than the object
and the hand that held it the woman most likely meant to fetch the
things back out again when she had time and the opportunity or to
throw everything out in one go but what actually happened was that
they were left where they landed when they had first been thrown
unless gregor made his way through the junk and moved it somewhere
else at first he moved it because with no other room free where
he could crawl about he was forced to but later on he came to
enjoy it although moving about in that way left him sad and tired to
death and he would remain immobile for hours afterwards 

the gentlemen who rented the room would sometimes take their evening
meal at home in the living room that was used by everyone and so
the door to this room was often kept closed in the evening but
gregor found it easy to give up having the door open he had after
all often failed to make use of it when it was open and without
the family having noticed it lain in his room in its darkest
corner one time though the charwoman left the door to the living
room slightly open and it remained open when the gentlemen who
rented the room came in in the evening and the light was put on 
they sat up at the table where formerly gregor had taken his meals
with his father and mother they unfolded the serviettes and picked
up their knives and forks gregor's mother immediately appeared in
the doorway with a dish of meat and soon behind her came his sister
with a dish piled high with potatoes the food was steaming and
filled the room with its smell the gentlemen bent over the dishes
set in front of them as if they wanted to test the food before
eating it and the gentleman in the middle who seemed to count as
an authority for the other two did indeed cut off a piece of meat
while it was still in its dish clearly wishing to establish whether
it was sufficiently cooked or whether it should be sent back to the
kitchen it was to his satisfaction and gregor's mother and
sister who had been looking on anxiously began to breathe again
and smiled 

the family themselves ate in the kitchen nonetheless gregor's
father came into the living room before he went into the kitchen 
bowed once with his cap in his hand and did his round of the table 
the gentlemen stood as one and mumbled something into their beards 
 then once they were alone they ate in near perfect silence it
seemed remarkable to gregor that above all the various noises of
eating their chewing teeth could still be heard as if they had
wanted to show gregor that you need teeth in order to eat and it was
not possible to perform anything with jaws that are toothless
however nice they might be  i'd like to eat something  said
gregor anxiously  but not anything like they're eating they do
feed themselves and here i am dying  

throughout all this time gregor could not remember having heard the
violin being played but this evening it began to be heard from the
kitchen the three gentlemen had already finished their meal the
one in the middle had produced a newspaper given a page to each of
the others and now they leant back in their chairs reading them and
smoking when the violin began playing they became attentive stood
up and went on tip-toe over to the door of the hallway where they
stood pressed against each other someone must have heard them in
the kitchen as gregor's father called out  is the playing perhaps
unpleasant for the gentlemen we can stop it straight away    on
the contrary  said the middle gentleman  would the young lady not
like to come in and play for us here in the room where it is after
all much more cosy and comfortable    oh yes we'd love to  
called back gregor's father as if he had been the violin player
himself the gentlemen stepped back into the room and waited 
gregor's father soon appeared with the music stand his mother with
the music and his sister with the violin she calmly prepared
everything for her to begin playing his parents who had never
rented a room out before and therefore showed an exaggerated
courtesy towards the three gentlemen did not even dare to sit on
their own chairs his father leant against the door with his right
hand pushed in between two buttons on his uniform coat his mother 
though was offered a seat by one of the gentlemen and sat - leaving
the chair where the gentleman happened to have placed it - out of
the way in a corner 

his sister began to play father and mother paid close attention 
one on each side to the movements of her hands drawn in by the
playing gregor had dared to come forward a little and already had
his head in the living room before he had taken great pride in
how considerate he was but now it hardly occurred to him that he had
become so thoughtless about the others what's more there was now
all the more reason to keep himself hidden as he was covered in the
dust that lay everywhere in his room and flew up at the slightest
movement he carried threads hairs and remains of food about on
his back and sides he was much too indifferent to everything now to
lay on his back and wipe himself on the carpet like he had used to
do several times a day and despite this condition he was not too
shy to move forward a little onto the immaculate floor of the living
room 

no-one noticed him though the family was totally preoccupied with
the violin playing at first the three gentlemen had put their
hands in their pockets and come up far too close behind the music
stand to look at all the notes being played and they must have
disturbed gregor's sister but soon in contrast with the family 
they withdrew back to the window with their heads sunk and talking
to each other at half volume and they stayed by the window while
gregor's father observed them anxiously it really now seemed very
obvious that they had expected to hear some beautiful or
entertaining violin playing but had been disappointed that they had
had enough of the whole performance and it was only now out of
politeness that they allowed their peace to be disturbed it was
especially unnerving the way they all blew the smoke from their
cigarettes upwards from their mouth and noses yet gregor's sister
was playing so beautifully her face was leant to one side 
following the lines of music with a careful and melancholy
expression gregor crawled a little further forward keeping his
head close to the ground so that he could meet her eyes if the
chance came was he an animal if music could captivate him so it
seemed to him that he was being shown the way to the unknown
nourishment he had been yearning for he was determined to make his
way forward to his sister and tug at her skirt to show her she might
come into his room with her violin as no-one appreciated her
playing here as much as he would he never wanted to let her out of
his room not while he lived anyway his shocking appearance
should for once be of some use to him he wanted to be at every
door of his room at once to hiss and spit at the attackers his
sister should not be forced to stay with him though but stay of
her own free will she would sit beside him on the couch with her
ear bent down to him while he told her how he had always intended to
send her to the conservatory how he would have told everyone about
it last christmas - had christmas really come and gone already - if
this misfortune hadn't got in the way and refuse to let anyone
dissuade him from it on hearing all this his sister would break
out in tears of emotion and gregor would climb up to her shoulder
and kiss her neck which since she had been going out to work she
had kept free without any necklace or collar 

 mr samsa   shouted the middle gentleman to gregor's father 
pointing without wasting any more words with his forefinger at
gregor as he slowly moved forward the violin went silent the
middle of the three gentlemen first smiled at his two friends 
shaking his head and then looked back at gregor his father seemed
to think it more important to calm the three gentlemen before
driving gregor out even though they were not at all upset and
seemed to think gregor was more entertaining than the violin playing
had been he rushed up to them with his arms spread out and
attempted to drive them back into their room at the same time as
trying to block their view of gregor with his body now they did
become a little annoyed and it was not clear whether it was his
father's behaviour that annoyed them or the dawning realisation that
they had had a neighbour like gregor in the next room without
knowing it they asked gregor's father for explanations raised
their arms like he had tugged excitedly at their beards and moved
back towards their room only very slowly meanwhile gregor's sister
had overcome the despair she had fallen into when her playing was
suddenly interrupted she had let her hands drop and let violin and
bow hang limply for a while but continued to look at the music as if
still playing but then she suddenly pulled herself together lay
the instrument on her mother's lap who still sat laboriously
struggling for breath where she was and ran into the next room
which under pressure from her father the three gentlemen were more
quickly moving toward under his sister's experienced hand the
pillows and covers on the beds flew up and were put into order and
she had already finished making the beds and slipped out again
before the three gentlemen had reached the room gregor's father
seemed so obsessed with what he was doing that he forgot all the
respect he owed to his tenants he urged them and pressed them
until when he was already at the door of the room the middle of
the three gentlemen shouted like thunder and stamped his foot and
thereby brought gregor's father to a halt  i declare here and
now  he said raising his hand and glancing at gregor's mother and
sister to gain their attention too  that with regard to the
repugnant conditions that prevail in this flat and with this family 
- here he looked briefly but decisively at the floor -  i give
immediate notice on my room for the days that i have been living
here i will of course pay nothing at all on the contrary i will
consider whether to proceed with some kind of action for damages
from you and believe me it would be very easy to set out the
grounds for such an action   he was silent and looked straight
ahead as if waiting for something and indeed his two friends
joined in with the words  and we also give immediate notice   with
that he took hold of the door handle and slammed the door 

gregor's father staggered back to his seat feeling his way with his
hands and fell into it it looked as if he was stretching himself
out for his usual evening nap but from the uncontrolled way his head
kept nodding it could be seen that he was not sleeping at all 
throughout all this gregor had lain still where the three gentlemen
had first seen him his disappointment at the failure of his plan 
and perhaps also because he was weak from hunger made it impossible
for him to move he was sure that everyone would turn on him any
moment and he waited he was not even startled out of this state
when the violin on his mother's lap fell from her trembling fingers
and landed loudly on the floor 

 father mother  said his sister hitting the table with her hand
as introduction  we can't carry on like this maybe you can't see
it but i can i don't want to call this monster my brother all i
can say is we have to try and get rid of it we've done all that's
humanly possible to look after it and be patient i don't think
anyone could accuse us of doing anything wrong  

 she's absolutely right  said gregor's father to himself his
mother who still had not had time to catch her breath began to
cough dully her hand held out in front of her and a deranged
expression in her eyes 

gregor's sister rushed to his mother and put her hand on her
forehead her words seemed to give gregor's father some more
definite ideas he sat upright played with his uniform cap between
the plates left by the three gentlemen after their meal and
occasionally looked down at gregor as he lay there immobile 

 we have to try and get rid of it  said gregor's sister now
speaking only to her father as her mother was too occupied with
coughing to listen  it'll be the death of both of you i can see it
coming we can't all work as hard as we have to and then come home
to be tortured like this we can't endure it i can't endure it any
more   and she broke out so heavily in tears that they flowed down
the face of her mother and she wiped them away with mechanical hand
movements 

 my child  said her father with sympathy and obvious understanding 
 what are we to do  

his sister just shrugged her shoulders as a sign of the helplessness
and tears that had taken hold of her displacing her earlier
certainty 

 if he could just understand us  said his father almost as a
question his sister shook her hand vigorously through her tears as
a sign that of that there was no question 

 if he could just understand us  repeated gregor's father closing
his eyes in acceptance of his sister's certainty that that was quite
impossible  then perhaps we could come to some kind of arrangement
with him but as it is  

 it's got to go  shouted his sister  that's the only way father 
you've got to get rid of the idea that that's gregor we've only
harmed ourselves by believing it for so long how can that be
gregor if it were gregor he would have seen long ago that it's not
possible for human beings to live with an animal like that and he
would have gone of his own free will we wouldn't have a brother
any more then but we could carry on with our lives and remember
him with respect as it is this animal is persecuting us it's
driven out our tenants it obviously wants to take over the whole
flat and force us to sleep on the streets father look just
look  she suddenly screamed  he's starting again   in her alarm 
which was totally beyond gregor's comprehension his sister even
abandoned his mother as she pushed herself vigorously out of her
chair as if more willing to sacrifice her own mother than stay
anywhere near gregor she rushed over to behind her father who had
become excited merely because she was and stood up half raising his
hands in front of gregor's sister as if to protect her 

but gregor had had no intention of frightening anyone least of all
his sister all he had done was begin to turn round so that he
could go back into his room although that was in itself quite
startling as his pain-wracked condition meant that turning round
required a great deal of effort and he was using his head to help
himself do it repeatedly raising it and striking it against the
floor he stopped and looked round they seemed to have realised
his good intention and had only been alarmed briefly now they all
looked at him in unhappy silence his mother lay in her chair with
her legs stretched out and pressed against each other her eyes
nearly closed with exhaustion his sister sat next to his father
with her arms around his neck 

 maybe now they'll let me turn round  thought gregor and went back
to work he could not help panting loudly with the effort and had
sometimes to stop and take a rest no-one was making him rush any
more everything was left up to him as soon as he had finally
finished turning round he began to move straight ahead he was
amazed at the great distance that separated him from his room and
could not understand how he had covered that distance in his weak
state a little while before and almost without noticing it he
concentrated on crawling as fast as he could and hardly noticed that
there was not a word not any cry from his family to distract him 
he did not turn his head until he had reached the doorway he did
not turn it all the way round as he felt his neck becoming stiff 
but it was nonetheless enough to see that nothing behind him had
changed only his sister had stood up with his last glance he saw
that his mother had now fallen completely asleep 

he was hardly inside his room before the door was hurriedly shut 
bolted and locked the sudden noise behind gregor so startled him
that his little legs collapsed under him it was his sister who had
been in so much of a rush she had been standing there waiting and
sprung forward lightly gregor had not heard her coming at all and
as she turned the key in the lock she said loudly to her parents  at
last   

 what now then   gregor asked himself as he looked round in the
darkness he soon made the discovery that he could no longer move
at all this was no surprise to him it seemed rather that being
able to actually move around on those spindly little legs until then
was unnatural he also felt relatively comfortable it is true
that his entire body was aching but the pain seemed to be slowly
getting weaker and weaker and would finally disappear altogether 
he could already hardly feel the decayed apple in his back or the
inflamed area around it which was entirely covered in white dust 
he thought back of his family with emotion and love if it was
possible he felt that he must go away even more strongly than his
sister he remained in this state of empty and peaceful rumination
until he heard the clock tower strike three in the morning he
watched as it slowly began to get light everywhere outside the
window too then without his willing it his head sank down
completely and his last breath flowed weakly from his nostrils 

when the cleaner came in early in the morning - they'd often asked
her not to keep slamming the doors but with her strength and in her
hurry she still did so that everyone in the flat knew when she'd
arrived and from then on it was impossible to sleep in peace - she
made her usual brief look in on gregor and at first found nothing
special she thought he was laying there so still on purpose 
playing the martyr she attributed all possible understanding to
him she happened to be holding the long broom in her hand so she
tried to tickle gregor with it from the doorway when she had no
success with that she tried to make a nuisance of herself and poked
at him a little and only when she found she could shove him across
the floor with no resistance at all did she start to pay attention 
she soon realised what had really happened opened her eyes wide 
whistled to herself but did not waste time to yank open the bedroom
doors and shout loudly into the darkness of the bedrooms  come and
'ave a look at this it's dead just lying there stone dead  

mr and mrs samsa sat upright there in their marriage bed and had
to make an effort to get over the shock caused by the cleaner before
they could grasp what she was saying but then each from his own
side they hurried out of bed mr samsa threw the blanket over his
shoulders mrs samsa just came out in her nightdress and that is
how they went into gregor's room on the way they opened the door
to the living room where grete had been sleeping since the three
gentlemen had moved in she was fully dressed as if she had never
been asleep and the paleness of her face seemed to confirm this 
 dead   asked mrs samsa looking at the charwoman enquiringly 
even though she could have checked for herself and could have known
it even without checking  that's what i said  replied the
cleaner and to prove it she gave gregor's body another shove with
the broom sending it sideways across the floor mrs samsa made a
movement as if she wanted to hold back the broom but did not
complete it  now then  said mr samsa  let's give thanks to god
for that  he crossed himself and the three women followed his
example grete who had not taken her eyes from the corpse said 
 just look how thin he was he didn't eat anything for so long 
the food came out again just the same as when it went in  gregor's
body was indeed completely dried up and flat they had not seen it
until then but now he was not lifted up on his little legs nor did
he do anything to make them look away 

 grete come with us in here for a little while  said mrs samsa
with a pained smile and grete followed her parents into the bedroom
but not without looking back at the body the cleaner shut the door
and opened the window wide although it was still early in the
morning the fresh air had something of warmth mixed in with it it
was already the end of march after all 

the three gentlemen stepped out of their room and looked round in
amazement for their breakfasts they had been forgotten about 
 where is our breakfast   the middle gentleman asked the cleaner
irritably she just put her finger on her lips and made a quick and
silent sign to the men that they might like to come into gregor's
room they did so and stood around gregor's corpse with their
hands in the pockets of their well-worn coats it was now quite
light in the room 

then the door of the bedroom opened and mr samsa appeared in his
uniform with his wife on one arm and his daughter on the other all
of them had been crying a little grete now and then pressed her
face against her father's arm 

 leave my home now   said mr samsa indicating the door and
without letting the women from him  what do you mean   asked the
middle of the three gentlemen somewhat disconcerted and he smiled
sweetly the other two held their hands behind their backs and
continually rubbed them together in gleeful anticipation of a loud
quarrel which could only end in their favour  i mean just what i
said  answered mr samsa and with his two companions went in a
straight line towards the man at first he stood there still 
looking at the ground as if the contents of his head were
rearranging themselves into new positions  alright we'll go
then  he said and looked up at mr samsa as if he had been
suddenly overcome with humility and wanted permission again from
mr samsa for his decision mr samsa merely opened his eyes wide
and briefly nodded to him several times at that and without
delay the man actually did take long strides into the front
hallway his two friends had stopped rubbing their hands some time
before and had been listening to what was being said now they
jumped off after their friend as if taken with a sudden fear that
mr samsa might go into the hallway in front of them and break the
connection with their leader once there all three took their hats
from the stand took their sticks from the holder bowed without a
word and left the premises mr samsa and the two women followed
them out onto the landing but they had had no reason to mistrust
the men's intentions and as they leaned over the landing they saw how
the three gentlemen made slow but steady progress down the many
steps as they turned the corner on each floor they disappeared and
would reappear a few moments later the further down they went the
more that the samsa family lost interest in them when a butcher's
boy proud of posture with his tray on his head passed them on his
way up and came nearer than they were mr samsa and the women came
away from the landing and went as if relieved back into the flat 

they decided the best way to make use of that day was for relaxation
and to go for a walk not only had they earned a break from work but
they were in serious need of it so they sat at the table and wrote
three letters of excusal mr samsa to his employers mrs samsa
to her contractor and grete to her principal the cleaner came in
while they were writing to tell them she was going she'd finished
her work for that morning the three of them at first just nodded
without looking up from what they were writing and it was only when
the cleaner still did not seem to want to leave that they looked up
in irritation  well   asked mr samsa the charwoman stood in
the doorway with a smile on her face as if she had some tremendous
good news to report but would only do it if she was clearly asked
to the almost vertical little ostrich feather on her hat which
had been a source of irritation to mr samsa all the time she had
been working for them swayed gently in all directions  what is it
you want then   asked mrs samsa whom the cleaner had the most
respect for  yes  she answered and broke into a friendly laugh
that made her unable to speak straight away  well then that thing
in there you needn't worry about how you're going to get rid of it 
 that's all been sorted out   mrs samsa and grete bent down over
their letters as if intent on continuing with what they were
writing mr samsa saw that the cleaner wanted to start describing
everything in detail but with outstretched hand he made it quite
clear that she was not to so as she was prevented from telling
them all about it she suddenly remembered what a hurry she was in
and clearly peeved called out  cheerio then everyone  turned
round sharply and left slamming the door terribly as she went 

 tonight she gets sacked  said mr samsa but he received no reply
from either his wife or his daughter as the charwoman seemed to have
destroyed the peace they had only just gained they got up and went
over to the window where they remained with their arms around each
other mr samsa twisted round in his chair to look at them and sat
there watching for a while then he called out  come here then 
let's forget about all that old stuff shall we come and give me a
bit of attention  the two women immediately did as he said 
hurrying over to him where they kissed him and hugged him and then
they quickly finished their letters 

after that the three of them left the flat together which was
something they had not done for months and took the tram out to the
open country outside the town they had the tram filled with warm
sunshine all to themselves leant back comfortably on their seats 
they discussed their prospects and found that on closer examination
they were not at all bad - until then they had never asked each
other about their work but all three had jobs which were very good
and held particularly good promise for the future the greatest
improvement for the time being of course would be achieved quite
easily by moving house what they needed now was a flat that was
smaller and cheaper than the current one which had been chosen by
gregor one that was in a better location and most of all more
practical all the time grete was becoming livelier with all the
worry they had been having of late her cheeks had become pale but 
while they were talking mr and mrs samsa were struck almost
simultaneously with the thought of how their daughter was
blossoming into a well built and beautiful young lady they became
quieter just from each other's glance and almost without knowing
it they agreed that it would soon be time to find a good man for
her and as if in confirmation of their new dreams and good
intentions as soon as they reached their destination grete was the
first to get up and stretch out her young body 
moby-dick 

or the whale 

by herman melville



 etymology 


 supplied by a late consumptive usher to a grammar school 

 the pale usher threadbare in coat heart body and brain i see him
 now he was ever dusting his old lexicons and grammars with a queer
 handkerchief mockingly embellished with all the gay flags of all the
 known nations of the world he loved to dust his old grammars it
 somehow mildly reminded him of his mortality 

 while you take in hand to school others and to teach them by what
 name a whale-fish is to be called in our tongue leaving out through
 ignorance the letter h which almost alone maketh up the
 signification of the word you deliver that which is not true 
 hackluyt 

 whale sw and dan hval this animal is named from
 roundness or rolling for in dan hvalt is arched or vaulted 
 webster's dictionary 

 whale it is more immediately from the dut and ger wallen 
 a s walw-ian to roll to wallow richardson's dictionary 


 extracts supplied by a sub-sub-librarian 



 it will be seen that this mere painstaking burrower and grub-worm of
 a poor devil of a sub-sub appears to have gone through the long
 vaticans and street-stalls of the earth picking up whatever random
 allusions to whales he could anyways find in any book whatsoever 
 sacred or profane therefore you must not in every case at least 
 take the higgledy-piggledy whale statements however authentic in
 these extracts for veritable gospel cetology far from it as
 touching the ancient authors generally as well as the poets here
 appearing these extracts are solely valuable or entertaining as
 affording a glancing bird's eye view of what has been promiscuously
 said thought fancied and sung of leviathan by many nations and
 generations including our own 

 so fare thee well poor devil of a sub-sub whose commentator i am 
 thou belongest to that hopeless sallow tribe which no wine of this
 world will ever warm and for whom even pale sherry would be too
 rosy-strong but with whom one sometimes loves to sit and feel
 poor-devilish too and grow convivial upon tears and say to them
 bluntly with full eyes and empty glasses and in not altogether
 unpleasant sadness give it up sub-subs for by how much the more
 pains ye take to please the world by so much the more shall ye for
 ever go thankless would that i could clear out hampton court and the
 tuileries for ye but gulp down your tears and hie aloft to the
 royal-mast with your hearts for your friends who have gone before
 are clearing out the seven-storied heavens and making refugees of
 long-pampered gabriel michael and raphael against your coming 
 here ye strike but splintered hearts together there ye shall strike
 unsplinterable glasses 

extracts 

 and god created great whales genesis 

 leviathan maketh a path to shine after him one would think the deep
 to be hoary job 

 now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up jonah 
 jonah 

 there go the ships there is that leviathan whom thou hast made to
 play therein psalms 

 in that day the lord with his sore and great and strong sword 
 shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent even leviathan that
 crooked serpent and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea 
 isaiah 

 and what thing soever besides cometh within the chaos of this
 monster's mouth be it beast boat or stone down it goes all
 incontinently that foul great swallow of his and perisheth in the
 bottomless gulf of his paunch holland's plutarch's morals 

 the indian sea breedeth the most and the biggest fishes that are 
 among which the whales and whirlpooles called balaene take up as
 much in length as four acres or arpens of land holland's pliny 

 scarcely had we proceeded two days on the sea when about sunrise a
 great many whales and other monsters of the sea appeared among the
 former one was of a most monstrous size this came towards us 
 open-mouthed raising the waves on all sides and beating the sea
 before him into a foam tooke's lucian the true history 




 he visited this country also with a view of catching horse-whales 
 which had bones of very great value for their teeth of which he
 brought some to the king the best whales were catched in his own
 country of which some were forty-eight some fifty yards long he
 said that he was one of six who had killed sixty in two days 
 other or other's verbal narrative taken down from his mouth by king
 alfred a d 890 

 and whereas all the other things whether beast or vessel that
 enter into the dreadful gulf of this monster's whale's mouth are
 immediately lost and swallowed up the sea-gudgeon retires into it in
 great security and there sleeps montaigne apology for raimond
 sebond 

 let us fly let us fly old nick take me if is not leviathan
 described by the noble prophet moses in the life of patient job 
 rabelais 

 this whale's liver was two cartloads stowe's annals 

 the great leviathan that maketh the seas to seethe like boiling
 pan lord bacon's version of the psalms 

 touching that monstrous bulk of the whale or ork we have received
 nothing certain they grow exceeding fat insomuch that an incredible
 quantity of oil will be extracted out of one whale ibid 
 history of life and death 




 the sovereignest thing on earth is parmacetti for an inward bruise 
 king henry 

 very like a whale hamlet 


 which to secure no skill of leach's art mote him availle but to
 returne againe to his wound's worker that with lowly dart dinting
 his breast had bred his restless paine like as the wounded whale to
 shore flies thro the maine the faerie queen 



 immense as whales the motion of whose vast bodies can in a peaceful
 calm trouble the ocean till it boil sir william davenant preface
 to gondibert 

 what spermacetti is men might justly doubt since the learned
 hosmannus in his work of thirty years saith plainly nescio quid
 sit sir t browne of sperma ceti and the sperma ceti whale 
 vide his v e 


 like spencer's talus with his modern flail he threatens ruin with
 his ponderous tail their fixed jav'lins in his side he wears 
 and on his back a grove of pikes appears waller's battle of the
 summer islands 



 by art is created that great leviathan called a commonwealth or
 state in latin civitas which is but an artificial man opening
 sentence of hobbes's leviathan 

 silly mansoul swallowed it without chewing as if it had been a
 sprat in the mouth of a whale pilgrim's progress 


 that sea beast leviathan which god of all his works created hugest
 that swim the ocean stream paradise lost 

 there leviathan hugest of living creatures in the deep stretched
 like a promontory sleeps or swims and seems a moving land and at
 his gills draws in and at his breath spouts out a sea ibid 



 the mighty whales which swim in a sea of water and have a sea of
 oil swimming in them fuller's profane and holy state 


 so close behind some promontory lie the huge leviathan to attend
 their prey and give no chance but swallow in the fry which through
 their gaping jaws mistake the way dryden's annus mirabilis 



 while the whale is floating at the stern of the ship they cut off
 his head and tow it with a boat as near the shore as it will come 
 but it will be aground in twelve or thirteen feet water thomas
 edge's ten voyages to spitzbergen in purchas 

 in their way they saw many whales sporting in the ocean and in
 wantonness fuzzing up the water through their pipes and vents which
 nature has placed on their shoulders sir t herbert's voyages
 into asia and africa harris coll 

 here they saw such huge troops of whales that they were forced to
 proceed with a great deal of caution for fear they should run their
 ship upon them schouten's sixth circumnavigation 

 we set sail from the elbe wind n e in the ship called the
 jonas-in-the-whale some say the whale can't open his mouth but
 that is a fable they frequently climb up the masts to see whether
 they can see a whale for the first discoverer has a ducat for his
 pains i was told of a whale taken near shetland that had above a
 barrel of herrings in his belly one of our harpooneers told me
 that he caught once a whale in spitzbergen that was white all over 
 a voyage to greenland a d 1671 harris coll 

 several whales have come in upon this coast fife anno 1652 one
 eighty feet in length of the whale-bone kind came in which as i was
 informed besides a vast quantity of oil did afford 500 weight of
 baleen the jaws of it stand for a gate in the garden of pitferren 
 sibbald's fife and kinross 

 myself have agreed to try whether i can master and kill this
 sperma-ceti whale for i could never hear of any of that sort that
 was killed by any man such is his fierceness and swiftness 
 richard strafford's letter from the bermudas phil trans a d 
 1668 

 whales in the sea god's voice obey n e primer 

 we saw also abundance of large whales there being more in those
 southern seas as i may say by a hundred to one than we have to the
 northward of us captain cowley's voyage round the globe a d 
 1729 

 and the breath of the whale is frequently attended with such an
 insupportable smell as to bring on a disorder of the brain 
 ulloa's south america 


 to fifty chosen sylphs of special note we trust the important
 charge the petticoat oft have we known that seven-fold fence to
 fail tho stuffed with hoops and armed with ribs of whale rape
 of the lock 



 if we compare land animals in respect to magnitude with those that
 take up their abode in the deep we shall find they will appear
 contemptible in the comparison the whale is doubtless the largest
 animal in creation goldsmith nat hist 

 if you should write a fable for little fishes you would make them
 speak like great whales goldsmith to johnson 

 in the afternoon we saw what was supposed to be a rock but it was
 found to be a dead whale which some asiatics had killed and were
 then towing ashore they seemed to endeavor to conceal themselves
 behind the whale in order to avoid being seen by us cook's
 voyages 

 the larger whales they seldom venture to attack they stand in so
 great dread of some of them that when out at sea they are afraid to
 mention even their names and carry dung lime-stone juniper-wood 
 and some other articles of the same nature in their boats in order
 to terrify and prevent their too near approach uno von troil's
 letters on banks's and solander's voyage to iceland in 1772 

 the spermacetti whale found by the nantuckois is an active fierce
 animal and requires vast address and boldness in the fishermen 
 thomas jefferson's whale memorial to the french minister in 1778 

 and pray sir what in the world is equal to it edmund burke's
 reference in parliament to the nantucket whale-fishery 

 spain a great whale stranded on the shores of europe edmund
 burke somewhere 

 a tenth branch of the king's ordinary revenue said to be grounded
 on the consideration of his guarding and protecting the seas from
 pirates and robbers is the right to royal fish which are whale
 and sturgeon and these when either thrown ashore or caught near the
 coast are the property of the king blackstone 


 soon to the sport of death the crews repair rodmond unerring o'er
 his head suspends the barbed steel and every turn attends 
 falconer's shipwreck 

 bright shone the roofs the domes the spires and rockets blew self
 driven to hang their momentary fire around the vault of heaven 

 so fire with water to compare the ocean serves on high up-spouted
 by a whale in air to express unwieldy joy cowper on the queen's
 visit to london 



 ten or fifteen gallons of blood are thrown out of the heart at a
 stroke with immense velocity john hunter's account of the
 dissection of a whale a small sized one 

 the aorta of a whale is larger in the bore than the main pipe of the
 water-works at london bridge and the water roaring in its passage
 through that pipe is inferior in impetus and velocity to the blood
 gushing from the whale's heart paley's theology 

 the whale is a mammiferous animal without hind feet baron
 cuvier 

 in 40 degrees south we saw spermacetti whales but did not take any
 till the first of may the sea being then covered with them 
 colnett's voyage for the purpose of extending the spermaceti whale
 fishery 


 in the free element beneath me swam floundered and dived in play 
 in chace in battle fishes of every colour form and kind which
 language cannot paint and mariner had never seen from dread
 leviathan to insect millions peopling every wave gather'd in shoals
 immense like floating islands led by mysterious instincts through
 that waste and trackless region though on every side assaulted by
 voracious enemies whales sharks and monsters arm'd in front or
 jaw with swords saws spiral horns or hooked fangs 
 montgomery's world before the flood 

 io paean io sing to the finny people's king not a mightier
 whale than this in the vast atlantic is not a fatter fish than he 
 flounders round the polar sea charles lamb's triumph of the
 whale 



 in the year 1690 some persons were on a high hill observing the
 whales spouting and sporting with each other when one observed 
 there pointing to the sea is a green pasture where our children's
 grand-children will go for bread obed macy's history of
 nantucket 

 i built a cottage for susan and myself and made a gateway in the
 form of a gothic arch by setting up a whale's jaw bones 
 hawthorne's twice told tales 

 she came to bespeak a monument for her first love who had been
 killed by a whale in the pacific ocean no less than forty years
 ago ibid 

 no sir tis a right whale answered tom i saw his sprout he
 threw up a pair of as pretty rainbows as a christian would wish to
 look at he's a raal oil-butt that fellow cooper's pilot 

 the papers were brought in and we saw in the berlin gazette that
 whales had been introduced on the stage there eckermann's
 conversations with goethe 

 my god mr chace what is the matter i answered we have been
 stove by a whale narrative of the shipwreck of the whale ship
 essex of nantucket which was attacked and finally destroyed by a
 large sperm whale in the pacific ocean by owen chace of
 nantucket first mate of said vessel new york 1821 


 a mariner sat in the shrouds one night the wind was piping free 
 now bright now dimmed was the moonlight pale and the phospher
 gleamed in the wake of the whale as it floundered in the sea 
 elizabeth oakes smith 



 the quantity of line withdrawn from the boats engaged in the capture
 of this one whale amounted altogether to 10 440 yards or nearly six
 english miles 

 sometimes the whale shakes its tremendous tail in the air which 
 cracking like a whip resounds to the distance of three or four
 miles scoresby 

 mad with the agonies he endures from these fresh attacks the
 infuriated sperm whale rolls over and over he rears his enormous
 head and with wide expanded jaws snaps at everything around him he
 rushes at the boats with his head they are propelled before him with
 vast swiftness and sometimes utterly destroyed it is a matter of
 great astonishment that the consideration of the habits of so
 interesting and in a commercial point of view so important an
 animal as the sperm whale should have been so entirely neglected 
 or should have excited so little curiosity among the numerous and
 many of them competent observers that of late years must have
 possessed the most abundant and the most convenient opportunities of
 witnessing their habitudes thomas beale's history of the sperm
 whale 1839 

 the cachalot sperm whale is not only better armed than the true
 whale greenland or right whale in possessing a formidable weapon
 at either extremity of its body but also more frequently displays a
 disposition to employ these weapons offensively and in manner at once
 so artful bold and mischievous as to lead to its being regarded as
 the most dangerous to attack of all the known species of the whale
 tribe frederick debell bennett's whaling voyage round the globe 
 1840 


 october 13 there she blows was sung out from the mast-head 
 where away demanded the captain three points off the lee bow 
 sir raise up your wheel steady steady sir mast-head
 ahoy do you see that whale now ay ay sir a shoal of sperm
 whales there she blows there she breaches sing out sing out
 every time ay ay sir there she blows there there thar she
 blows bowes bo-o-os how far off two miles and a half thunder
 and lightning so near call all hands j ross browne's etchings
 of a whaling cruize 1846 



 the whale-ship globe on board of which vessel occurred the horrid
 transactions we are about to relate belonged to the island of
 nantucket narrative of the globe mutiny by lay and hussey
 survivors a d 1828 

 being once pursued by a whale which he had wounded he parried the
 assault for some time with a lance but the furious monster at length
 rushed on the boat himself and comrades only being preserved by
 leaping into the water when they saw the onset was inevitable 
 missionary journal of tyerman and bennett 

 nantucket itself said mr webster is a very striking and
 peculiar portion of the national interest there is a population of
 eight or nine thousand persons living here in the sea adding largely
 every year to the national wealth by the boldest and most persevering
 industry report of daniel webster's speech in the u s senate 
 on the application for the erection of a breakwater at nantucket 
 1828 

 the whale fell directly over him and probably killed him in a
 moment the whale and his captors or the whaleman's adventures
 and the whale's biography gathered on the homeward cruise of the
 commodore preble by rev henry t cheever 

 if you make the least damn bit of noise replied samuel i will
 send you to hell life of samuel comstock the mutineer by
 his brother william comstock another version of the whale-ship
 globe narrative 

 the voyages of the dutch and english to the northern ocean in
 order if possible to discover a passage through it to india though
 they failed of their main object laid-open the haunts of the whale 
 mcculloch's commercial dictionary 

 these things are reciprocal the ball rebounds only to bound
 forward again for now in laying open the haunts of the whale the
 whalemen seem to have indirectly hit upon new clews to that same
 mystic north-west passage from something unpublished 

 it is impossible to meet a whale-ship on the ocean without being
 struck by her near appearance the vessel under short sail with
 look-outs at the mast-heads eagerly scanning the wide expanse around
 them has a totally different air from those engaged in regular
 voyage currents and whaling u s ex ex 

 pedestrians in the vicinity of london and elsewhere may recollect
 having seen large curved bones set upright in the earth either to
 form arches over gateways or entrances to alcoves and they may
 perhaps have been told that these were the ribs of whales tales
 of a whale voyager to the arctic ocean 

 it was not till the boats returned from the pursuit of these whales 
 that the whites saw their ship in bloody possession of the savages
 enrolled among the crew newspaper account of the taking and
 retaking of the whale-ship hobomack 

 it is generally well known that out of the crews of whaling vessels
 american few ever return in the ships on board of which they
 departed cruise in a whale boat 

 suddenly a mighty mass emerged from the water and shot up
 perpendicularly into the air it was the whale miriam coffin or
 the whale fisherman 

 the whale is harpooned to be sure but bethink you how you would
 manage a powerful unbroken colt with the mere appliance of a rope
 tied to the root of his tail a chapter on whaling in ribs and
 trucks 

 on one occasion i saw two of these monsters whales probably male
 and female slowly swimming one after the other within less than a
 stone's throw of the shore terra del fuego over which the beech
 tree extended its branches darwin's voyage of a naturalist 

 stern all exclaimed the mate as upon turning his head he saw
 the distended jaws of a large sperm whale close to the head of the
 boat threatening it with instant destruction stern all for your
 lives wharton the whale killer 

 so be cheery my lads let your hearts never fail while the bold
 harpooneer is striking the whale nantucket song 


 oh the rare old whale mid storm and gale in his ocean home will be
 a giant in might where might is right and king of the boundless
 sea whale song 





chapter 1 loomings 

call me ishmael some years ago never mind how long precisely having
little or no money in my purse and nothing particular to interest me
on shore i thought i would sail about a little and see the watery part
of the world it is a way i have of driving off the spleen and
regulating the circulation whenever i find myself growing grim about
the mouth whenever it is a damp drizzly november in my soul whenever
i find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses and
bringing up the rear of every funeral i meet and especially whenever
my hypos get such an upper hand of me that it requires a strong moral
principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street and
methodically knocking people's hats off then i account it high time to
get to sea as soon as i can this is my substitute for pistol and ball 
with a philosophical flourish cato throws himself upon his sword i
quietly take to the ship there is nothing surprising in this if they
but knew it almost all men in their degree some time or other 
cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me 

there now is your insular city of the manhattoes belted round by
wharves as indian isles by coral reefs commerce surrounds it with her
surf right and left the streets take you waterward its extreme
downtown is the battery where that noble mole is washed by waves and
cooled by breezes which a few hours previous were out of sight of
land look at the crowds of water-gazers there 

circumambulate the city of a dreamy sabbath afternoon go from corlears
hook to coenties slip and from thence by whitehall northward what
do you see posted like silent sentinels all around the town stand
thousands upon thousands of mortal men fixed in ocean reveries some
leaning against the spiles some seated upon the pier-heads some
looking over the bulwarks of ships from china some high aloft in the
rigging as if striving to get a still better seaward peep but these
are all landsmen of week days pent up in lath and plaster tied to
counters nailed to benches clinched to desks how then is this are
the green fields gone what do they here 

but look here come more crowds pacing straight for the water and
seemingly bound for a dive strange nothing will content them but the
extremest limit of the land loitering under the shady lee of yonder
warehouses will not suffice no they must get just as nigh the water
as they possibly can without falling in and there they stand miles of
them leagues inlanders all they come from lanes and alleys streets
and avenues north east south and west yet here they all unite tell
me does the magnetic virtue of the needles of the compasses of all
those ships attract them thither 

once more say you are in the country in some high land of lakes take
almost any path you please and ten to one it carries you down in a
dale and leaves you there by a pool in the stream there is magic in
it let the most absent-minded of men be plunged in his deepest
reveries stand that man on his legs set his feet a-going and he will
infallibly lead you to water if water there be in all that region 
should you ever be athirst in the great american desert try this
experiment if your caravan happen to be supplied with a metaphysical
professor yes as every one knows meditation and water are wedded for
ever 

but here is an artist he desires to paint you the dreamiest shadiest 
quietest most enchanting bit of romantic landscape in all the valley
of the saco what is the chief element he employs there stand his
trees each with a hollow trunk as if a hermit and a crucifix were
within and here sleeps his meadow and there sleep his cattle and up
from yonder cottage goes a sleepy smoke deep into distant woodlands
winds a mazy way reaching to overlapping spurs of mountains bathed in
their hill-side blue but though the picture lies thus tranced and
though this pine-tree shakes down its sighs like leaves upon this
shepherd's head yet all were vain unless the shepherd's eye were
fixed upon the magic stream before him go visit the prairies in june 
when for scores on scores of miles you wade knee-deep among
tiger-lilies what is the one charm wanting water there is not a drop
of water there were niagara but a cataract of sand would you travel
your thousand miles to see it why did the poor poet of tennessee upon
suddenly receiving two handfuls of silver deliberate whether to buy
him a coat which he sadly needed or invest his money in a pedestrian
trip to rockaway beach why is almost every robust healthy boy with a
robust healthy soul in him at some time or other crazy to go to sea 
why upon your first voyage as a passenger did you yourself feel such a
mystical vibration when first told that you and your ship were now out
of sight of land why did the old persians hold the sea holy why did
the greeks give it a separate deity and own brother of jove surely
all this is not without meaning and still deeper the meaning of that
story of narcissus who because he could not grasp the tormenting mild
image he saw in the fountain plunged into it and was drowned but that
same image we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans it is the image
of the ungraspable phantom of life and this is the key to it all 

now when i say that i am in the habit of going to sea whenever i begin
to grow hazy about the eyes and begin to be over conscious of my
lungs i do not mean to have it inferred that i ever go to sea as a
passenger for to go as a passenger you must needs have a purse and a
purse is but a rag unless you have something in it besides passengers
get sea-sick grow quarrelsome don't sleep of nights do not enjoy
themselves much as a general thing no i never go as a passenger 
nor though i am something of a salt do i ever go to sea as a
commodore or a captain or a cook i abandon the glory and distinction
of such offices to those who like them for my part i abominate all
honorable respectable toils trials and tribulations of every kind
whatsoever it is quite as much as i can do to take care of myself 
without taking care of ships barques brigs schooners and what not 
and as for going as cook though i confess there is considerable glory
in that a cook being a sort of officer on ship-board yet somehow i
never fancied broiling fowls though once broiled judiciously
buttered and judgmatically salted and peppered there is no one who
will speak more respectfully not to say reverentially of a broiled
fowl than i will it is out of the idolatrous dotings of the old
egyptians upon broiled ibis and roasted river horse that you see the
mummies of those creatures in their huge bake-houses the pyramids 

no when i go to sea i go as a simple sailor right before the mast 
plumb down into the forecastle aloft there to the royal mast-head 
true they rather order me about some and make me jump from spar to
spar like a grasshopper in a may meadow and at first this sort of
thing is unpleasant enough it touches one's sense of honor 
particularly if you come of an old established family in the land the
van rensselaers or randolphs or hardicanutes and more than all if
just previous to putting your hand into the tar-pot you have been
lording it as a country schoolmaster making the tallest boys stand in
awe of you the transition is a keen one i assure you from a
schoolmaster to a sailor and requires a strong decoction of seneca and
the stoics to enable you to grin and bear it but even this wears off
in time 

what of it if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom
and sweep down the decks what does that indignity amount to weighed 
i mean in the scales of the new testament do you think the archangel
gabriel thinks anything the less of me because i promptly and
respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance who ain't
a slave tell me that well then however the old sea-captains may
order me about however they may thump and punch me about i have the
satisfaction of knowing that it is all right that everybody else is
one way or other served in much the same way either in a physical or
metaphysical point of view that is and so the universal thump is
passed round and all hands should rub each other's shoulder-blades 
and be content 

again i always go to sea as a sailor because they make a point of
paying me for my trouble whereas they never pay passengers a single
penny that i ever heard of on the contrary passengers themselves must
pay and there is all the difference in the world between paying and
being paid the act of paying is perhaps the most uncomfortable
infliction that the two orchard thieves entailed upon us but being
paid what will compare with it the urbane activity with which a man
receives money is really marvellous considering that we so earnestly
believe money to be the root of all earthly ills and that on no
account can a monied man enter heaven ah how cheerfully we consign
ourselves to perdition 

finally i always go to sea as a sailor because of the wholesome
exercise and pure air of the fore-castle deck for as in this world 
head winds are far more prevalent than winds from astern that is if
you never violate the pythagorean maxim so for the most part the
commodore on the quarter-deck gets his atmosphere at second hand from
the sailors on the forecastle he thinks he breathes it first but not
so in much the same way do the commonalty lead their leaders in many
other things at the same time that the leaders little suspect it but
wherefore it was that after having repeatedly smelt the sea as a
merchant sailor i should now take it into my head to go on a whaling
voyage this the invisible police officer of the fates who has the
constant surveillance of me and secretly dogs me and influences me in
some unaccountable way he can better answer than any one else and 
doubtless my going on this whaling voyage formed part of the grand
programme of providence that was drawn up a long time ago it came in
as a sort of brief interlude and solo between more extensive
performances i take it that this part of the bill must have run
something like this 

 grand contested election for the presidency of the united states 
 whaling voyage by one ishmael bloody battle in affghanistan 

though i cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers the
fates put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage when
others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies and short
and easy parts in genteel comedies and jolly parts in farces though i
cannot tell why this was exactly yet now that i recall all the
circumstances i think i can see a little into the springs and motives
which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises induced
me to set about performing the part i did besides cajoling me into the
delusion that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill
and discriminating judgment 

chief among these motives was the overwhelming idea of the great whale
himself such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my
curiosity then the wild and distant seas where he rolled his island
bulk the undeliverable nameless perils of the whale these with all
the attending marvels of a thousand patagonian sights and sounds 
helped to sway me to my wish with other men perhaps such things
would not have been inducements but as for me i am tormented with an
everlasting itch for things remote i love to sail forbidden seas and
land on barbarous coasts not ignoring what is good i am quick to
perceive a horror and could still be social with it would they let
me since it is but well to be on friendly terms with all the inmates of
the place one lodges in 

by reason of these things then the whaling voyage was welcome the
great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open and in the wild
conceits that swayed me to my purpose two and two there floated into
my inmost soul endless processions of the whale and mid most of them
all one grand hooded phantom like a snow hill in the air 


chapter 2 the carpet-bag 

i stuffed a shirt or two into my old carpet-bag tucked it under my
arm and started for cape horn and the pacific quitting the good city
of old manhatto i duly arrived in new bedford it was a saturday night
in december much was i disappointed upon learning that the little
packet for nantucket had already sailed and that no way of reaching
that place would offer till the following monday 

as most young candidates for the pains and penalties of whaling stop at
this same new bedford thence to embark on their voyage it may as well
be related that i for one had no idea of so doing for my mind was
made up to sail in no other than a nantucket craft because there was a
fine boisterous something about everything connected with that famous
old island which amazingly pleased me besides though new bedford has
of late been gradually monopolising the business of whaling and though
in this matter poor old nantucket is now much behind her yet nantucket
was her great original the tyre of this carthage the place where the
first dead american whale was stranded where else but from nantucket
did those aboriginal whalemen the red-men first sally out in canoes
to give chase to the leviathan and where but from nantucket too did
that first adventurous little sloop put forth partly laden with
imported cobblestones so goes the story to throw at the whales in
order to discover when they were nigh enough to risk a harpoon from the
bowsprit 

now having a night a day and still another night following before me
in new bedford ere i could embark for my destined port it became a
matter of concernment where i was to eat and sleep meanwhile it was a
very dubious-looking nay a very dark and dismal night bitingly cold
and cheerless i knew no one in the place with anxious grapnels i had
sounded my pocket and only brought up a few pieces of silver so 
wherever you go ishmael said i to myself as i stood in the middle of
a dreary street shouldering my bag and comparing the gloom towards the
north with the darkness towards the south wherever in your wisdom you
may conclude to lodge for the night my dear ishmael be sure to
inquire the price and don't be too particular 

with halting steps i paced the streets and passed the sign of the
crossed harpoons but it looked too expensive and jolly there further
on from the bright red windows of the sword-fish inn there came
such fervent rays that it seemed to have melted the packed snow and
ice from before the house for everywhere else the congealed frost lay
ten inches thick in a hard asphaltic pavement rather weary for me 
when i struck my foot against the flinty projections because from
hard remorseless service the soles of my boots were in a most
miserable plight too expensive and jolly again thought i pausing one
moment to watch the broad glare in the street and hear the sounds of
the tinkling glasses within but go on ishmael said i at last don't
you hear get away from before the door your patched boots are
stopping the way so on i went i now by instinct followed the streets
that took me waterward for there doubtless were the cheapest if not
the cheeriest inns 

such dreary streets blocks of blackness not houses on either hand 
and here and there a candle like a candle moving about in a tomb at
this hour of the night of the last day of the week that quarter of
the town proved all but deserted but presently i came to a smoky light
proceeding from a low wide building the door of which stood
invitingly open it had a careless look as if it were meant for the
uses of the public so entering the first thing i did was to stumble
over an ash-box in the porch ha thought i ha as the flying
particles almost choked me are these ashes from that destroyed city 
gomorrah but the crossed harpoons and the sword-fish this then
must needs be the sign of the trap however i picked myself up and
hearing a loud voice within pushed on and opened a second interior
door 

it seemed the great black parliament sitting in tophet a hundred black
faces turned round in their rows to peer and beyond a black angel of
doom was beating a book in a pulpit it was a negro church and the
preacher's text was about the blackness of darkness and the weeping
and wailing and teeth-gnashing there ha ishmael muttered i backing
out wretched entertainment at the sign of the trap 

moving on i at last came to a dim sort of light not far from the
docks and heard a forlorn creaking in the air and looking up saw a
swinging sign over the door with a white painting upon it faintly
representing a tall straight jet of misty spray and these words
underneath the spouter inn peter coffin 

coffin spouter rather ominous in that particular connexion thought
i but it is a common name in nantucket they say and i suppose this
peter here is an emigrant from there as the light looked so dim and
the place for the time looked quiet enough and the dilapidated
little wooden house itself looked as if it might have been carted here
from the ruins of some burnt district and as the swinging sign had a
poverty-stricken sort of creak to it i thought that here was the very
spot for cheap lodgings and the best of pea coffee 

it was a queer sort of place a gable-ended old house one side palsied
as it were and leaning over sadly it stood on a sharp bleak corner 
where that tempestuous wind euroclydon kept up a worse howling than
ever it did about poor paul's tossed craft euroclydon nevertheless 
is a mighty pleasant zephyr to any one in-doors with his feet on the
hob quietly toasting for bed in judging of that tempestuous wind
called euroclydon says an old writer of whose works i possess the
only copy extant it maketh a marvellous difference whether thou
lookest out at it from a glass window where the frost is all on the
outside or whether thou observest it from that sashless window where
the frost is on both sides and of which the wight death is the only
glazier true enough thought i as this passage occurred to my
mind old black-letter thou reasonest well yes these eyes are
windows and this body of mine is the house what a pity they didn't
stop up the chinks and the crannies though and thrust in a little lint
here and there but it's too late to make any improvements now the
universe is finished the copestone is on and the chips were carted
off a million years ago poor lazarus there chattering his teeth
against the curbstone for his pillow and shaking off his tatters with
his shiverings he might plug up both ears with rags and put a
corn-cob into his mouth and yet that would not keep out the
tempestuous euroclydon euroclydon says old dives in his red silken
wrapper he had a redder one afterwards pooh pooh what a fine frosty
night how orion glitters what northern lights let them talk of their
oriental summer climes of everlasting conservatories give me the
privilege of making my own summer with my own coals 

but what thinks lazarus can he warm his blue hands by holding them up
to the grand northern lights would not lazarus rather be in sumatra
than here would he not far rather lay him down lengthwise along the
line of the equator yea ye gods go down to the fiery pit itself in
order to keep out this frost 

now that lazarus should lie stranded there on the curbstone before the
door of dives this is more wonderful than that an iceberg should be
moored to one of the moluccas yet dives himself he too lives like a
czar in an ice palace made of frozen sighs and being a president of a
temperance society he only drinks the tepid tears of orphans 

but no more of this blubbering now we are going a-whaling and there
is plenty of that yet to come let us scrape the ice from our frosted
feet and see what sort of a place this spouter may be 


chapter 3 the spouter-inn 

entering that gable-ended spouter-inn you found yourself in a wide 
low straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots reminding one of
the bulwarks of some condemned old craft on one side hung a very large
oilpainting so thoroughly besmoked and every way defaced that in the
unequal crosslights by which you viewed it it was only by diligent
study and a series of systematic visits to it and careful inquiry of
the neighbors that you could any way arrive at an understanding of its
purpose such unaccountable masses of shades and shadows that at first
you almost thought some ambitious young artist in the time of the new
england hags had endeavored to delineate chaos bewitched but by dint
of much and earnest contemplation and oft repeated ponderings and
especially by throwing open the little window towards the back of the
entry you at last come to the conclusion that such an idea however
wild might not be altogether unwarranted 

but what most puzzled and confounded you was a long limber 
portentous black mass of something hovering in the centre of the
picture over three blue dim perpendicular lines floating in a
nameless yeast a boggy soggy squitchy picture truly enough to drive
a nervous man distracted yet was there a sort of indefinite 
half-attained unimaginable sublimity about it that fairly froze you to
it till you involuntarily took an oath with yourself to find out what
that marvellous painting meant ever and anon a bright but alas 
deceptive idea would dart you through it's the black sea in a midnight
gale it's the unnatural combat of the four primal elements it's a
blasted heath it's a hyperborean winter scene it's the breaking-up of
the icebound stream of time but at last all these fancies yielded to
that one portentous something in the picture's midst that once found
out and all the rest were plain but stop does it not bear a faint
resemblance to a gigantic fish even the great leviathan himself 

in fact the artist's design seemed this a final theory of my own 
partly based upon the aggregated opinions of many aged persons with
whom i conversed upon the subject the picture represents a cape-horner
in a great hurricane the half-foundered ship weltering there with its
three dismantled masts alone visible and an exasperated whale 
purposing to spring clean over the craft is in the enormous act of
impaling himself upon the three mast-heads 

the opposite wall of this entry was hung all over with a heathenish
array of monstrous clubs and spears some were thickly set with
glittering teeth resembling ivory saws others were tufted with knots
of human hair and one was sickle-shaped with a vast handle sweeping
round like the segment made in the new-mown grass by a long-armed
mower you shuddered as you gazed and wondered what monstrous cannibal
and savage could ever have gone a death-harvesting with such a hacking 
horrifying implement mixed with these were rusty old whaling lances
and harpoons all broken and deformed some were storied weapons with
this once long lance now wildly elbowed fifty years ago did nathan
swain kill fifteen whales between a sunrise and a sunset and that
harpoon so like a corkscrew now was flung in javan seas and run away
with by a whale years afterwards slain off the cape of blanco the
original iron entered nigh the tail and like a restless needle
sojourning in the body of a man travelled full forty feet and at last
was found imbedded in the hump 

crossing this dusky entry and on through yon low-arched way cut
through what in old times must have been a great central chimney with
fireplaces all round you enter the public room a still duskier place
is this with such low ponderous beams above and such old wrinkled
planks beneath that you would almost fancy you trod some old craft's
cockpits especially of such a howling night when this corner-anchored
old ark rocked so furiously on one side stood a long low shelf-like
table covered with cracked glass cases filled with dusty rarities
gathered from this wide world's remotest nooks projecting from the
further angle of the room stands a dark-looking den the bar a rude
attempt at a right whale's head be that how it may there stands the
vast arched bone of the whale's jaw so wide a coach might almost
drive beneath it within are shabby shelves ranged round with old
decanters bottles flasks and in those jaws of swift destruction 
like another cursed jonah by which name indeed they called him 
bustles a little withered old man who for their money dearly sells
the sailors deliriums and death 

abominable are the tumblers into which he pours his poison though true
cylinders without within the villanous green goggling glasses
deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom parallel meridians
rudely pecked into the glass surround these footpads goblets fill to
 this mark and your charge is but a penny to this a penny more 
and so on to the full glass the cape horn measure which you may gulp
down for a shilling 

upon entering the place i found a number of young seamen gathered about
a table examining by a dim light divers specimens of skrimshander i
sought the landlord and telling him i desired to be accommodated with
a room received for answer that his house was full not a bed
unoccupied but avast he added tapping his forehead you haint no
objections to sharing a harpooneer's blanket have ye i s'pose you are
goin a-whalin so you'd better get used to that sort of thing 

i told him that i never liked to sleep two in a bed that if i should
ever do so it would depend upon who the harpooneer might be and that
if he the landlord really had no other place for me and the
harpooneer was not decidedly objectionable why rather than wander
further about a strange town on so bitter a night i would put up with
the half of any decent man's blanket 

 i thought so all right take a seat supper you want supper 
supper'll be ready directly 

i sat down on an old wooden settle carved all over like a bench on the
battery at one end a ruminating tar was still further adorning it with
his jack-knife stooping over and diligently working away at the space
between his legs he was trying his hand at a ship under full sail but
he didn't make much headway i thought 

at last some four or five of us were summoned to our meal in an
adjoining room it was cold as iceland no fire at all the landlord said
he couldn't afford it nothing but two dismal tallow candles each in a
winding sheet we were fain to button up our monkey jackets and hold
to our lips cups of scalding tea with our half frozen fingers but the
fare was of the most substantial kind not only meat and potatoes but
dumplings good heavens dumplings for supper one young fellow in a
green box coat addressed himself to these dumplings in a most direful
manner 

 my boy said the landlord you'll have the nightmare to a dead
sartainty 

 landlord i whispered that aint the harpooneer is it 

 oh no said he looking a sort of diabolically funny the
harpooneer is a dark complexioned chap he never eats dumplings he
don't he eats nothing but steaks and he likes em rare 

 the devil he does says i where is that harpooneer is he here 

 he'll be here afore long was the answer 

i could not help it but i began to feel suspicious of this dark
complexioned harpooneer at any rate i made up my mind that if it so
turned out that we should sleep together he must undress and get into
bed before i did 

supper over the company went back to the bar-room when knowing not
what else to do with myself i resolved to spend the rest of the
evening as a looker on 

presently a rioting noise was heard without starting up the landlord
cried that's the grampus's crew i seed her reported in the offing
this morning a three years voyage and a full ship hurrah boys now
we'll have the latest news from the feegees 

a tramping of sea boots was heard in the entry the door was flung
open and in rolled a wild set of mariners enough enveloped in their
shaggy watch coats and with their heads muffled in woollen comforters 
all bedarned and ragged and their beards stiff with icicles they
seemed an eruption of bears from labrador they had just landed from
their boat and this was the first house they entered no wonder then 
that they made a straight wake for the whale's mouth the bar when the
wrinkled little old jonah there officiating soon poured them out
brimmers all round one complained of a bad cold in his head upon
which jonah mixed him a pitch-like potion of gin and molasses which he
swore was a sovereign cure for all colds and catarrhs whatsoever never
mind of how long standing or whether caught off the coast of labrador 
or on the weather side of an ice-island 

the liquor soon mounted into their heads as it generally does even
with the arrantest topers newly landed from sea and they began
capering about most obstreperously 

i observed however that one of them held somewhat aloof and though
he seemed desirous not to spoil the hilarity of his shipmates by his
own sober face yet upon the whole he refrained from making as much
noise as the rest this man interested me at once and since the
sea-gods had ordained that he should soon become my shipmate though
but a sleeping-partner one so far as this narrative is concerned i
will here venture upon a little description of him he stood full six
feet in height with noble shoulders and a chest like a coffer-dam i
have seldom seen such brawn in a man his face was deeply brown and
burnt making his white teeth dazzling by the contrast while in the
deep shadows of his eyes floated some reminiscences that did not seem
to give him much joy his voice at once announced that he was a
southerner and from his fine stature i thought he must be one of
those tall mountaineers from the alleghanian ridge in virginia when
the revelry of his companions had mounted to its height this man
slipped away unobserved and i saw no more of him till he became my
comrade on the sea in a few minutes however he was missed by his
shipmates and being it seems for some reason a huge favourite with
them they raised a cry of bulkington bulkington where's
bulkington and darted out of the house in pursuit of him 

it was now about nine o'clock and the room seeming almost
supernaturally quiet after these orgies i began to congratulate myself
upon a little plan that had occurred to me just previous to the
entrance of the seamen 

no man prefers to sleep two in a bed in fact you would a good deal
rather not sleep with your own brother i don't know how it is but
people like to be private when they are sleeping and when it comes to
sleeping with an unknown stranger in a strange inn in a strange town 
and that stranger a harpooneer then your objections indefinitely
multiply nor was there any earthly reason why i as a sailor should
sleep two in a bed more than anybody else for sailors no more sleep
two in a bed at sea than bachelor kings do ashore to be sure they all
sleep together in one apartment but you have your own hammock and
cover yourself with your own blanket and sleep in your own skin 

the more i pondered over this harpooneer the more i abominated the
thought of sleeping with him it was fair to presume that being a
harpooneer his linen or woollen as the case might be would not be of
the tidiest certainly none of the finest i began to twitch all over 
besides it was getting late and my decent harpooneer ought to be home
and going bedwards suppose now he should tumble in upon me at
midnight how could i tell from what vile hole he had been coming 

 landlord i've changed my mind about that harpooneer i shan't sleep
with him i'll try the bench here 

 just as you please i'm sorry i can't spare ye a tablecloth for a
mattress and it's a plaguy rough board here feeling of the knots and
notches but wait a bit skrimshander i've got a carpenter's plane
there in the bar wait i say and i'll make ye snug enough so saying
he procured the plane and with his old silk handkerchief first dusting
the bench vigorously set to planing away at my bed the while grinning
like an ape the shavings flew right and left till at last the
plane-iron came bump against an indestructible knot the landlord was
near spraining his wrist and i told him for heaven's sake to quit the
bed was soft enough to suit me and i did not know how all the planing
in the world could make eider down of a pine plank so gathering up the
shavings with another grin and throwing them into the great stove in
the middle of the room he went about his business and left me in a
brown study 

i now took the measure of the bench and found that it was a foot too
short but that could be mended with a chair but it was a foot too
narrow and the other bench in the room was about four inches higher
than the planed one so there was no yoking them i then placed the
first bench lengthwise along the only clear space against the wall 
leaving a little interval between for my back to settle down in but i
soon found that there came such a draught of cold air over me from
under the sill of the window that this plan would never do at all 
especially as another current from the rickety door met the one from
the window and both together formed a series of small whirlwinds in
the immediate vicinity of the spot where i had thought to spend the
night 

the devil fetch that harpooneer thought i but stop couldn't i steal
a march on him bolt his door inside and jump into his bed not to be
wakened by the most violent knockings it seemed no bad idea but upon
second thoughts i dismissed it for who could tell but what the next
morning so soon as i popped out of the room the harpooneer might be
standing in the entry all ready to knock me down 

still looking round me again and seeing no possible chance of
spending a sufferable night unless in some other person's bed i began
to think that after all i might be cherishing unwarrantable prejudices
against this unknown harpooneer thinks i i'll wait awhile he must be
dropping in before long i'll have a good look at him then and perhaps
we may become jolly good bedfellows after all there's no telling 

but though the other boarders kept coming in by ones twos and threes 
and going to bed yet no sign of my harpooneer 

 landlord said i what sort of a chap is he does he always keep such
late hours it was now hard upon twelve o'clock 

the landlord chuckled again with his lean chuckle and seemed to be
mightily tickled at something beyond my comprehension no he
answered generally he's an early bird airley to bed and airley to
rise yes he's the bird what catches the worm but to-night he went out
a peddling you see and i don't see what on airth keeps him so late 
unless may be he can't sell his head 

 can't sell his head what sort of a bamboozingly story is this you are
telling me getting into a towering rage do you pretend to say 
landlord that this harpooneer is actually engaged this blessed
saturday night or rather sunday morning in peddling his head around
this town 

 that's precisely it said the landlord and i told him he couldn't
sell it here the market's overstocked 

 with what shouted i 

 with heads to be sure ain't there too many heads in the world 

 i tell you what it is landlord said i quite calmly you'd better
stop spinning that yarn to me i'm not green 

 may be not taking out a stick and whittling a toothpick but i
rayther guess you'll be done brown if that ere harpooneer hears you a
slanderin his head 

 i'll break it for him said i now flying into a passion again at
this unaccountable farrago of the landlord's 

 it's broke a'ready said he 

 broke said i broke do you mean 

 sartain and that's the very reason he can't sell it i guess 

 landlord said i going up to him as cool as mt hecla in a
snow-storm landlord stop whittling you and i must understand one
another and that too without delay i come to your house and want a
bed you tell me you can only give me half a one that the other half
belongs to a certain harpooneer and about this harpooneer whom i have
not yet seen you persist in telling me the most mystifying and
exasperating stories tending to beget in me an uncomfortable feeling
towards the man whom you design for my bedfellow a sort of connexion 
landlord which is an intimate and confidential one in the highest
degree i now demand of you to speak out and tell me who and what this
harpooneer is and whether i shall be in all respects safe to spend the
night with him and in the first place you will be so good as to unsay
that story about selling his head which if true i take to be good
evidence that this harpooneer is stark mad and i've no idea of
sleeping with a madman and you sir you i mean landlord you 
sir by trying to induce me to do so knowingly would thereby render
yourself liable to a criminal prosecution 

 wall said the landlord fetching a long breath that's a purty long
sarmon for a chap that rips a little now and then but be easy be
easy this here harpooneer i have been tellin you of has just arrived
from the south seas where he bought up a lot of balmed new zealand
heads great curios you know and he's sold all on em but one and
that one he's trying to sell to-night cause to-morrow's sunday and it
would not do to be sellin human heads about the streets when folks is
goin to churches he wanted to last sunday but i stopped him just as
he was goin out of the door with four heads strung on a string for
all the airth like a string of inions 

this account cleared up the otherwise unaccountable mystery and showed
that the landlord after all had had no idea of fooling me but at the
same time what could i think of a harpooneer who stayed out of a
saturday night clean into the holy sabbath engaged in such a cannibal
business as selling the heads of dead idolators 

 depend upon it landlord that harpooneer is a dangerous man 

 he pays reg'lar was the rejoinder but come it's getting dreadful
late you had better be turning flukes it's a nice bed sal and me
slept in that ere bed the night we were spliced there's plenty of room
for two to kick about in that bed it's an almighty big bed that why 
afore we give it up sal used to put our sam and little johnny in the
foot of it but i got a dreaming and sprawling about one night and
somehow sam got pitched on the floor and came near breaking his arm 
arter that sal said it wouldn't do come along here i'll give ye a
glim in a jiffy and so saying he lighted a candle and held it towards
me offering to lead the way but i stood irresolute when looking at a
clock in the corner he exclaimed i vum it's sunday you won't see that
harpooneer to-night he's come to anchor somewhere come along then 
 do come won't ye come 

i considered the matter a moment and then up stairs we went and i was
ushered into a small room cold as a clam and furnished sure enough 
with a prodigious bed almost big enough indeed for any four
harpooneers to sleep abreast 

 there said the landlord placing the candle on a crazy old sea chest
that did double duty as a wash-stand and centre table there make
yourself comfortable now and good night to ye i turned round from
eyeing the bed but he had disappeared 

folding back the counterpane i stooped over the bed though none of
the most elegant it yet stood the scrutiny tolerably well i then
glanced round the room and besides the bedstead and centre table 
could see no other furniture belonging to the place but a rude shelf 
the four walls and a papered fireboard representing a man striking a
whale of things not properly belonging to the room there was a
hammock lashed up and thrown upon the floor in one corner also a
large seaman's bag containing the harpooneer's wardrobe no doubt in
lieu of a land trunk likewise there was a parcel of outlandish bone
fish hooks on the shelf over the fire-place and a tall harpoon
standing at the head of the bed 

but what is this on the chest i took it up and held it close to the
light and felt it and smelt it and tried every way possible to
arrive at some satisfactory conclusion concerning it i can compare it
to nothing but a large door mat ornamented at the edges with little
tinkling tags something like the stained porcupine quills round an
indian moccasin there was a hole or slit in the middle of this mat as
you see the same in south american ponchos but could it be possible
that any sober harpooneer would get into a door mat and parade the
streets of any christian town in that sort of guise i put it on to
try it and it weighed me down like a hamper being uncommonly shaggy
and thick and i thought a little damp as though this mysterious
harpooneer had been wearing it of a rainy day i went up in it to a bit
of glass stuck against the wall and i never saw such a sight in my
life i tore myself out of it in such a hurry that i gave myself a kink
in the neck 

i sat down on the side of the bed and commenced thinking about this
head-peddling harpooneer and his door mat after thinking some time on
the bed-side i got up and took off my monkey jacket and then stood in
the middle of the room thinking i then took off my coat and thought a
little more in my shirt sleeves but beginning to feel very cold now 
half undressed as i was and remembering what the landlord said about
the harpooneer's not coming home at all that night it being so very
late i made no more ado but jumped out of my pantaloons and boots 
and then blowing out the light tumbled into bed and commended myself
to the care of heaven 

whether that mattress was stuffed with corn-cobs or broken crockery 
there is no telling but i rolled about a good deal and could not
sleep for a long time at last i slid off into a light doze and had
pretty nearly made a good offing towards the land of nod when i heard
a heavy footfall in the passage and saw a glimmer of light come into
the room from under the door 

lord save me thinks i that must be the harpooneer the infernal
head-peddler but i lay perfectly still and resolved not to say a word
till spoken to holding a light in one hand and that identical new
zealand head in the other the stranger entered the room and without
looking towards the bed placed his candle a good way off from me on
the floor in one corner and then began working away at the knotted
cords of the large bag i before spoke of as being in the room i was
all eagerness to see his face but he kept it averted for some time
while employed in unlacing the bag's mouth this accomplished however 
he turned round when good heavens what a sight such a face it was
of a dark purplish yellow colour here and there stuck over with
large blackish looking squares yes it's just as i thought he's a
terrible bedfellow he's been in a fight got dreadfully cut and here
he is just from the surgeon but at that moment he chanced to turn his
face so towards the light that i plainly saw they could not be
sticking-plasters at all those black squares on his cheeks they were
stains of some sort or other at first i knew not what to make of this 
but soon an inkling of the truth occurred to me i remembered a story
of a white man a whaleman too who falling among the cannibals had
been tattooed by them i concluded that this harpooneer in the course
of his distant voyages must have met with a similar adventure and
what is it thought i after all it's only his outside a man can be
honest in any sort of skin but then what to make of his unearthly
complexion that part of it i mean lying round about and completely
independent of the squares of tattooing to be sure it might be
nothing but a good coat of tropical tanning but i never heard of a hot
sun's tanning a white man into a purplish yellow one however i had
never been in the south seas and perhaps the sun there produced these
extraordinary effects upon the skin now while all these ideas were
passing through me like lightning this harpooneer never noticed me at
all but after some difficulty having opened his bag he commenced
fumbling in it and presently pulled out a sort of tomahawk and a
seal-skin wallet with the hair on placing these on the old chest in
the middle of the room he then took the new zealand head a ghastly
thing enough and crammed it down into the bag he now took off his
hat a new beaver hat when i came nigh singing out with fresh surprise 
there was no hair on his head none to speak of at least nothing but a
small scalp-knot twisted up on his forehead his bald purplish head now
looked for all the world like a mildewed skull had not the stranger
stood between me and the door i would have bolted out of it quicker
than ever i bolted a dinner 

even as it was i thought something of slipping out of the window but
it was the second floor back i am no coward but what to make of this
head-peddling purple rascal altogether passed my comprehension 
ignorance is the parent of fear and being completely nonplussed and
confounded about the stranger i confess i was now as much afraid of
him as if it was the devil himself who had thus broken into my room at
the dead of night in fact i was so afraid of him that i was not game
enough just then to address him and demand a satisfactory answer
concerning what seemed inexplicable in him 

meanwhile he continued the business of undressing and at last showed
his chest and arms as i live these covered parts of him were
checkered with the same squares as his face his back too was all
over the same dark squares he seemed to have been in a thirty years 
war and just escaped from it with a sticking-plaster shirt still
more his very legs were marked as if a parcel of dark green frogs
were running up the trunks of young palms it was now quite plain that
he must be some abominable savage or other shipped aboard of a whaleman
in the south seas and so landed in this christian country i quaked to
think of it a peddler of heads too perhaps the heads of his own
brothers he might take a fancy to mine heavens look at that tomahawk 

but there was no time for shuddering for now the savage went about
something that completely fascinated my attention and convinced me
that he must indeed be a heathen going to his heavy grego or wrapall 
or dreadnaught which he had previously hung on a chair he fumbled in
the pockets and produced at length a curious little deformed image
with a hunch on its back and exactly the colour of a three days old
congo baby remembering the embalmed head at first i almost thought
that this black manikin was a real baby preserved in some similar
manner but seeing that it was not at all limber and that it glistened
a good deal like polished ebony i concluded that it must be nothing
but a wooden idol which indeed it proved to be for now the savage
goes up to the empty fire-place and removing the papered fire-board 
sets up this little hunch-backed image like a tenpin between the
andirons the chimney jambs and all the bricks inside were very sooty 
so that i thought this fire-place made a very appropriate little shrine
or chapel for his congo idol 

i now screwed my eyes hard towards the half hidden image feeling but
ill at ease meantime to see what was next to follow first he takes
about a double handful of shavings out of his grego pocket and places
them carefully before the idol then laying a bit of ship biscuit on
top and applying the flame from the lamp he kindled the shavings into
a sacrificial blaze presently after many hasty snatches into the
fire and still hastier withdrawals of his fingers whereby he seemed
to be scorching them badly he at last succeeded in drawing out the
biscuit then blowing off the heat and ashes a little he made a polite
offer of it to the little negro but the little devil did not seem to
fancy such dry sort of fare at all he never moved his lips all these
strange antics were accompanied by still stranger guttural noises from
the devotee who seemed to be praying in a sing-song or else singing
some pagan psalmody or other during which his face twitched about in
the most unnatural manner at last extinguishing the fire he took the
idol up very unceremoniously and bagged it again in his grego pocket
as carelessly as if he were a sportsman bagging a dead woodcock 

all these queer proceedings increased my uncomfortableness and seeing
him now exhibiting strong symptoms of concluding his business
operations and jumping into bed with me i thought it was high time 
now or never before the light was put out to break the spell in which
i had so long been bound 

but the interval i spent in deliberating what to say was a fatal one 
taking up his tomahawk from the table he examined the head of it for
an instant and then holding it to the light with his mouth at the
handle he puffed out great clouds of tobacco smoke the next moment
the light was extinguished and this wild cannibal tomahawk between
his teeth sprang into bed with me i sang out i could not help it
now and giving a sudden grunt of astonishment he began feeling me 

stammering out something i knew not what i rolled away from him
against the wall and then conjured him whoever or whatever he might
be to keep quiet and let me get up and light the lamp again but his
guttural responses satisfied me at once that he but ill comprehended my
meaning 

 who-e debel you he at last said you no speak-e dam-me i kill-e 
and so saying the lighted tomahawk began flourishing about me in the
dark 

 landlord for god's sake peter coffin shouted i landlord watch 
coffin angels save me 

 speak-e tell-ee me who-ee be or dam-me i kill-e again growled the
cannibal while his horrid flourishings of the tomahawk scattered the
hot tobacco ashes about me till i thought my linen would get on fire 
but thank heaven at that moment the landlord came into the room light
in hand and leaping from the bed i ran up to him 

 don't be afraid now said he grinning again queequeg here wouldn't
harm a hair of your head 

 stop your grinning shouted i and why didn't you tell me that that
infernal harpooneer was a cannibal 

 i thought ye know'd it didn't i tell ye he was a peddlin heads
around town but turn flukes again and go to sleep queequeg look
here you sabbee me i sabbee you this man sleepe you you sabbee 

 me sabbee plenty grunted queequeg puffing away at his pipe and
sitting up in bed 

 you gettee in he added motioning to me with his tomahawk and
throwing the clothes to one side he really did this in not only a
civil but a really kind and charitable way i stood looking at him a
moment for all his tattooings he was on the whole a clean comely
looking cannibal what's all this fuss i have been making about 
thought i to myself the man's a human being just as i am he has just
as much reason to fear me as i have to be afraid of him better sleep
with a sober cannibal than a drunken christian 

 landlord said i tell him to stash his tomahawk there or pipe or
whatever you call it tell him to stop smoking in short and i will
turn in with him but i don't fancy having a man smoking in bed with
me it's dangerous besides i ain't insured 

this being told to queequeg he at once complied and again politely
motioned me to get into bed rolling over to one side as much as to
say i won't touch a leg of ye 

 good night landlord said i you may go 

i turned in and never slept better in my life 


chapter 4 the counterpane 

upon waking next morning about daylight i found queequeg's arm thrown
over me in the most loving and affectionate manner you had almost
thought i had been his wife the counterpane was of patchwork full of
odd little parti-coloured squares and triangles and this arm of his
tattooed all over with an interminable cretan labyrinth of a figure no
two parts of which were of one precise shade owing i suppose to his
keeping his arm at sea unmethodically in sun and shade his shirt
sleeves irregularly rolled up at various times this same arm of his i
say looked for all the world like a strip of that same patchwork
quilt indeed partly lying on it as the arm did when i first awoke i
could hardly tell it from the quilt they so blended their hues
together and it was only by the sense of weight and pressure that i
could tell that queequeg was hugging me 

my sensations were strange let me try to explain them when i was a
child i well remember a somewhat similar circumstance that befell me 
whether it was a reality or a dream i never could entirely settle the
circumstance was this i had been cutting up some caper or other i
think it was trying to crawl up the chimney as i had seen a little
sweep do a few days previous and my stepmother who somehow or other 
was all the time whipping me or sending me to bed supperless my
mother dragged me by the legs out of the chimney and packed me off to
bed though it was only two o'clock in the afternoon of the 21st june 
the longest day in the year in our hemisphere i felt dreadfully but
there was no help for it so up stairs i went to my little room in the
third floor undressed myself as slowly as possible so as to kill time 
and with a bitter sigh got between the sheets 

i lay there dismally calculating that sixteen entire hours must elapse
before i could hope for a resurrection sixteen hours in bed the small
of my back ached to think of it and it was so light too the sun
shining in at the window and a great rattling of coaches in the
streets and the sound of gay voices all over the house i felt worse
and worse at last i got up dressed and softly going down in my
stockinged feet sought out my stepmother and suddenly threw myself at
her feet beseeching her as a particular favour to give me a good
slippering for my misbehaviour anything indeed but condemning me to
lie abed such an unendurable length of time but she was the best and
most conscientious of stepmothers and back i had to go to my room for
several hours i lay there broad awake feeling a great deal worse than
i have ever done since even from the greatest subsequent misfortunes 
at last i must have fallen into a troubled nightmare of a doze and
slowly waking from it half steeped in dreams i opened my eyes and the
before sun-lit room was now wrapped in outer darkness instantly i felt
a shock running through all my frame nothing was to be seen and
nothing was to be heard but a supernatural hand seemed placed in mine 
my arm hung over the counterpane and the nameless unimaginable 
silent form or phantom to which the hand belonged seemed closely
seated by my bed-side for what seemed ages piled on ages i lay there 
frozen with the most awful fears not daring to drag away my hand yet
ever thinking that if i could but stir it one single inch the horrid
spell would be broken i knew not how this consciousness at last glided
away from me but waking in the morning i shudderingly remembered it
all and for days and weeks and months afterwards i lost myself in
confounding attempts to explain the mystery nay to this very hour i
often puzzle myself with it 

now take away the awful fear and my sensations at feeling the
supernatural hand in mine were very similar in their strangeness to
those which i experienced on waking up and seeing queequeg's pagan arm
thrown round me but at length all the past night's events soberly
recurred one by one in fixed reality and then i lay only alive to
the comical predicament for though i tried to move his arm unlock his
bridegroom clasp yet sleeping as he was he still hugged me tightly 
as though naught but death should part us twain i now strove to rouse
him queequeg but his only answer was a snore i then rolled over my
neck feeling as if it were in a horse-collar and suddenly felt a
slight scratch throwing aside the counterpane there lay the tomahawk
sleeping by the savage's side as if it were a hatchet-faced baby a
pretty pickle truly thought i abed here in a strange house in the
broad day with a cannibal and a tomahawk queequeg in the name of
goodness queequeg wake at length by dint of much wriggling and
loud and incessant expostulations upon the unbecomingness of his
hugging a fellow male in that matrimonial sort of style i succeeded in
extracting a grunt and presently he drew back his arm shook himself
all over like a newfoundland dog just from the water and sat up in
bed stiff as a pike-staff looking at me and rubbing his eyes as if
he did not altogether remember how i came to be there though a dim
consciousness of knowing something about me seemed slowly dawning over
him meanwhile i lay quietly eyeing him having no serious misgivings
now and bent upon narrowly observing so curious a creature when at
last his mind seemed made up touching the character of his bedfellow 
and he became as it were reconciled to the fact he jumped out upon
the floor and by certain signs and sounds gave me to understand that 
if it pleased me he would dress first and then leave me to dress
afterwards leaving the whole apartment to myself thinks i queequeg 
under the circumstances this is a very civilized overture but the
truth is these savages have an innate sense of delicacy say what you
will it is marvellous how essentially polite they are i pay this
particular compliment to queequeg because he treated me with so much
civility and consideration while i was guilty of great rudeness 
staring at him from the bed and watching all his toilette motions for
the time my curiosity getting the better of my breeding nevertheless 
a man like queequeg you don't see every day he and his ways were well
worth unusual regarding 

he commenced dressing at top by donning his beaver hat a very tall
one by the by and then still minus his trowsers he hunted up his
boots what under the heavens he did it for i cannot tell but his
next movement was to crush himself boots in hand and hat on under the
bed when from sundry violent gaspings and strainings i inferred he
was hard at work booting himself though by no law of propriety that i
ever heard of is any man required to be private when putting on his
boots but queequeg do you see was a creature in the transition
stage neither caterpillar nor butterfly he was just enough civilized
to show off his outlandishness in the strangest possible manners his
education was not yet completed he was an undergraduate if he had not
been a small degree civilized he very probably would not have troubled
himself with boots at all but then if he had not been still a savage 
he never would have dreamt of getting under the bed to put them on at
last he emerged with his hat very much dented and crushed down over
his eyes and began creaking and limping about the room as if not
being much accustomed to boots his pair of damp wrinkled cowhide
ones probably not made to order either rather pinched and tormented him
at the first go off of a bitter cold morning 

seeing now that there were no curtains to the window and that the
street being very narrow the house opposite commanded a plain view
into the room and observing more and more the indecorous figure that
queequeg made staving about with little else but his hat and boots on 
i begged him as well as i could to accelerate his toilet somewhat and
particularly to get into his pantaloons as soon as possible he
complied and then proceeded to wash himself at that time in the
morning any christian would have washed his face but queequeg to my
amazement contented himself with restricting his ablutions to his
chest arms and hands he then donned his waistcoat and taking up a
piece of hard soap on the wash-stand centre table dipped it into water
and commenced lathering his face i was watching to see where he kept
his razor when lo and behold he takes the harpoon from the bed
corner slips out the long wooden stock unsheathes the head whets it
a little on his boot and striding up to the bit of mirror against the
wall begins a vigorous scraping or rather harpooning of his cheeks 
thinks i queequeg this is using rogers's best cutlery with a
vengeance afterwards i wondered the less at this operation when i came
to know of what fine steel the head of a harpoon is made and how
exceedingly sharp the long straight edges are always kept 

the rest of his toilet was soon achieved and he proudly marched out of
the room wrapped up in his great pilot monkey jacket and sporting his
harpoon like a marshal's baton 


chapter 5 breakfast 

i quickly followed suit and descending into the bar-room accosted the
grinning landlord very pleasantly i cherished no malice towards him 
though he had been skylarking with me not a little in the matter of my
bedfellow 

however a good laugh is a mighty good thing and rather too scarce a
good thing the more's the pity so if any one man in his own proper
person afford stuff for a good joke to anybody let him not be
backward but let him cheerfully allow himself to spend and be spent in
that way and the man that has anything bountifully laughable about
him be sure there is more in that man than you perhaps think for 

the bar-room was now full of the boarders who had been dropping in the
night previous and whom i had not as yet had a good look at they were
nearly all whalemen chief mates and second mates and third mates 
and sea carpenters and sea coopers and sea blacksmiths and
harpooneers and ship keepers a brown and brawny company with bosky
beards an unshorn shaggy set all wearing monkey jackets for morning
gowns 

you could pretty plainly tell how long each one had been ashore this
young fellow's healthy cheek is like a sun-toasted pear in hue and
would seem to smell almost as musky he cannot have been three days
landed from his indian voyage that man next him looks a few shades
lighter you might say a touch of satin wood is in him in the
complexion of a third still lingers a tropic tawn but slightly
bleached withal he doubtless has tarried whole weeks ashore but who
could show a cheek like queequeg which barred with various tints 
seemed like the andes western slope to show forth in one array 
contrasting climates zone by zone 

 grub ho now cried the landlord flinging open a door and in we
went to breakfast 

they say that men who have seen the world thereby become quite at ease
in manner quite self-possessed in company not always though 
ledyard the great new england traveller and mungo park the scotch
one of all men they possessed the least assurance in the parlor but
perhaps the mere crossing of siberia in a sledge drawn by dogs as
ledyard did or the taking a long solitary walk on an empty stomach in
the negro heart of africa which was the sum of poor mungo's
performances this kind of travel i say may not be the very best mode
of attaining a high social polish still for the most part that sort
of thing is to be had anywhere 

these reflections just here are occasioned by the circumstance that
after we were all seated at the table and i was preparing to hear some
good stories about whaling to my no small surprise nearly every man
maintained a profound silence and not only that but they looked
embarrassed yes here were a set of sea-dogs many of whom without the
slightest bashfulness had boarded great whales on the high seas entire
strangers to them and duelled them dead without winking and yet here
they sat at a social breakfast table all of the same calling all of
kindred tastes looking round as sheepishly at each other as though they
had never been out of sight of some sheepfold among the green
mountains a curious sight these bashful bears these timid warrior
whalemen 

but as for queequeg why queequeg sat there among them at the head of
the table too it so chanced as cool as an icicle to be sure i
cannot say much for his breeding his greatest admirer could not have
cordially justified his bringing his harpoon into breakfast with him 
and using it there without ceremony reaching over the table with it 
to the imminent jeopardy of many heads and grappling the beefsteaks
towards him but that was certainly very coolly done by him and
every one knows that in most people's estimation to do anything coolly
is to do it genteelly 

we will not speak of all queequeg's peculiarities here how he eschewed
coffee and hot rolls and applied his undivided attention to
beefsteaks done rare enough that when breakfast was over he withdrew
like the rest into the public room lighted his tomahawk-pipe and was
sitting there quietly digesting and smoking with his inseparable hat
on when i sallied out for a stroll 


chapter 6 the street 

if i had been astonished at first catching a glimpse of so outlandish
an individual as queequeg circulating among the polite society of a
civilized town that astonishment soon departed upon taking my first
daylight stroll through the streets of new bedford 

in thoroughfares nigh the docks any considerable seaport will
frequently offer to view the queerest looking nondescripts from foreign
parts even in broadway and chestnut streets mediterranean mariners
will sometimes jostle the affrighted ladies regent street is not
unknown to lascars and malays and at bombay in the apollo green live
yankees have often scared the natives but new bedford beats all water
street and wapping in these last-mentioned haunts you see only
sailors but in new bedford actual cannibals stand chatting at street
corners savages outright many of whom yet carry on their bones unholy
flesh it makes a stranger stare 

but besides the feegeeans tongatobooarrs erromanggoans pannangians 
and brighggians and besides the wild specimens of the whaling-craft
which unheeded reel about the streets you will see other sights still
more curious certainly more comical there weekly arrive in this town
scores of green vermonters and new hampshire men all athirst for gain
and glory in the fishery they are mostly young of stalwart frames 
fellows who have felled forests and now seek to drop the axe and
snatch the whale-lance many are as green as the green mountains whence
they came in some things you would think them but a few hours old 
look there that chap strutting round the corner he wears a beaver hat
and swallow-tailed coat girdled with a sailor-belt and sheath-knife 
here comes another with a sou -wester and a bombazine cloak 

no town-bred dandy will compare with a country-bred one i mean a
downright bumpkin dandy a fellow that in the dog-days will mow his
two acres in buckskin gloves for fear of tanning his hands now when a
country dandy like this takes it into his head to make a distinguished
reputation and joins the great whale-fishery you should see the
comical things he does upon reaching the seaport in bespeaking his
sea-outfit he orders bell-buttons to his waistcoats straps to his
canvas trowsers ah poor hay-seed how bitterly will burst those
straps in the first howling gale when thou art driven straps 
buttons and all down the throat of the tempest 

but think not that this famous town has only harpooneers cannibals 
and bumpkins to show her visitors not at all still new bedford is a
queer place had it not been for us whalemen that tract of land would
this day perhaps have been in as howling condition as the coast of
labrador as it is parts of her back country are enough to frighten
one they look so bony the town itself is perhaps the dearest place to
live in in all new england it is a land of oil true enough but not
like canaan a land also of corn and wine the streets do not run
with milk nor in the spring-time do they pave them with fresh eggs 
yet in spite of this nowhere in all america will you find more
patrician-like houses parks and gardens more opulent than in new
bedford whence came they how planted upon this once scraggy scoria of
a country 

go and gaze upon the iron emblematical harpoons round yonder lofty
mansion and your question will be answered yes all these brave
houses and flowery gardens came from the atlantic pacific and indian
oceans one and all they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the
bottom of the sea can herr alexander perform a feat like that 

in new bedford fathers they say give whales for dowers to their
daughters and portion off their nieces with a few porpoises a-piece 
you must go to new bedford to see a brilliant wedding for they say 
they have reservoirs of oil in every house and every night recklessly
burn their lengths in spermaceti candles 

in summer time the town is sweet to see full of fine maples long
avenues of green and gold and in august high in air the beautiful
and bountiful horse-chestnuts candelabra-wise proffer the passer-by
their tapering upright cones of congregated blossoms so omnipotent is
art which in many a district of new bedford has superinduced bright
terraces of flowers upon the barren refuse rocks thrown aside at
creation's final day 

and the women of new bedford they bloom like their own red roses but
roses only bloom in summer whereas the fine carnation of their cheeks
is perennial as sunlight in the seventh heavens elsewhere match that
bloom of theirs ye cannot save in salem where they tell me the young
girls breathe such musk their sailor sweethearts smell them miles off
shore as though they were drawing nigh the odorous moluccas instead of
the puritanic sands 


chapter 7 the chapel 

in this same new bedford there stands a whaleman's chapel and few are
the moody fishermen shortly bound for the indian ocean or pacific who
fail to make a sunday visit to the spot i am sure that i did not 

returning from my first morning stroll i again sallied out upon this
special errand the sky had changed from clear sunny cold to driving
sleet and mist wrapping myself in my shaggy jacket of the cloth called
bearskin i fought my way against the stubborn storm entering i found
a small scattered congregation of sailors and sailors wives and
widows a muffled silence reigned only broken at times by the shrieks
of the storm each silent worshipper seemed purposely sitting apart
from the other as if each silent grief were insular and
incommunicable the chaplain had not yet arrived and there these
silent islands of men and women sat steadfastly eyeing several marble
tablets with black borders masoned into the wall on either side the
pulpit three of them ran something like the following but i do not
pretend to quote 

sacred to the memory of john talbot who at the age of eighteen was
lost overboard near the isle of desolation off patagonia november 
1 st 1836 this tablet is erected to his memory by his sister 

sacred to the memory of robert long willis ellery nathan coleman 
walter canny seth macy and samuel gleig forming one of the boats 
crews of the ship eliza who were towed out of sight by a whale on the
off-shore ground in the pacific december 31 st 1839 this marble
is here placed by their surviving shipmates 

sacred to the memory of the late captain ezekiel hardy who in the bows
of his boat was killed by a sperm whale on the coast of japan august 
3 d 1833 this tablet is erected to his memory by his widow 

shaking off the sleet from my ice-glazed hat and jacket i seated
myself near the door and turning sideways was surprised to see
queequeg near me affected by the solemnity of the scene there was a
wondering gaze of incredulous curiosity in his countenance this savage
was the only person present who seemed to notice my entrance because
he was the only one who could not read and therefore was not reading
those frigid inscriptions on the wall whether any of the relatives of
the seamen whose names appeared there were now among the congregation 
i knew not but so many are the unrecorded accidents in the fishery 
and so plainly did several women present wear the countenance if not
the trappings of some unceasing grief that i feel sure that here
before me were assembled those in whose unhealing hearts the sight of
those bleak tablets sympathetically caused the old wounds to bleed
afresh 

oh ye whose dead lie buried beneath the green grass who standing
among flowers can say here here lies my beloved ye know not the
desolation that broods in bosoms like these what bitter blanks in
those black-bordered marbles which cover no ashes what despair in
those immovable inscriptions what deadly voids and unbidden
infidelities in the lines that seem to gnaw upon all faith and refuse
resurrections to the beings who have placelessly perished without a
grave as well might those tablets stand in the cave of elephanta as
here 

in what census of living creatures the dead of mankind are included 
why it is that a universal proverb says of them that they tell no
tales though containing more secrets than the goodwin sands how it is
that to his name who yesterday departed for the other world we prefix
so significant and infidel a word and yet do not thus entitle him if
he but embarks for the remotest indies of this living earth why the
life insurance companies pay death-forfeitures upon immortals in what
eternal unstirring paralysis and deadly hopeless trance yet lies
antique adam who died sixty round centuries ago how it is that we
still refuse to be comforted for those who we nevertheless maintain are
dwelling in unspeakable bliss why all the living so strive to hush all
the dead wherefore but the rumor of a knocking in a tomb will terrify
a whole city all these things are not without their meanings 

but faith like a jackal feeds among the tombs and even from these
dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope 

it needs scarcely to be told with what feelings on the eve of a
nantucket voyage i regarded those marble tablets and by the murky
light of that darkened doleful day read the fate of the whalemen who
had gone before me yes ishmael the same fate may be thine but
somehow i grew merry again delightful inducements to embark fine
chance for promotion it seems aye a stove boat will make me an
immortal by brevet yes there is death in this business of whaling a
speechlessly quick chaotic bundling of a man into eternity but what
then methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of life and death 
methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true
substance methinks that in looking at things spiritual we are too
much like oysters observing the sun through the water and thinking
that thick water the thinnest of air methinks my body is but the lees
of my better being in fact take my body who will take it i say it is
not me and therefore three cheers for nantucket and come a stove boat
and stove body when they will for stave my soul jove himself cannot 


chapter 8 the pulpit 

i had not been seated very long ere a man of a certain venerable
robustness entered immediately as the storm-pelted door flew back upon
admitting him a quick regardful eyeing of him by all the congregation 
sufficiently attested that this fine old man was the chaplain yes it
was the famous father mapple so called by the whalemen among whom he
was a very great favourite he had been a sailor and a harpooneer in
his youth but for many years past had dedicated his life to the
ministry at the time i now write of father mapple was in the hardy
winter of a healthy old age that sort of old age which seems merging
into a second flowering youth for among all the fissures of his
wrinkles there shone certain mild gleams of a newly developing
bloom the spring verdure peeping forth even beneath february's snow no
one having previously heard his history could for the first time
behold father mapple without the utmost interest because there were
certain engrafted clerical peculiarities about him imputable to that
adventurous maritime life he had led when he entered i observed that
he carried no umbrella and certainly had not come in his carriage for
his tarpaulin hat ran down with melting sleet and his great pilot
cloth jacket seemed almost to drag him to the floor with the weight of
the water it had absorbed however hat and coat and overshoes were one
by one removed and hung up in a little space in an adjacent corner 
when arrayed in a decent suit he quietly approached the pulpit 

like most old fashioned pulpits it was a very lofty one and since a
regular stairs to such a height would by its long angle with the
floor seriously contract the already small area of the chapel the
architect it seemed had acted upon the hint of father mapple and
finished the pulpit without a stairs substituting a perpendicular side
ladder like those used in mounting a ship from a boat at sea the wife
of a whaling captain had provided the chapel with a handsome pair of
red worsted man-ropes for this ladder which being itself nicely
headed and stained with a mahogany colour the whole contrivance 
considering what manner of chapel it was seemed by no means in bad
taste halting for an instant at the foot of the ladder and with both
hands grasping the ornamental knobs of the man-ropes father mapple
cast a look upwards and then with a truly sailor-like but still
reverential dexterity hand over hand mounted the steps as if
ascending the main-top of his vessel 

the perpendicular parts of this side ladder as is usually the case
with swinging ones were of cloth-covered rope only the rounds were of
wood so that at every step there was a joint at my first glimpse of
the pulpit it had not escaped me that however convenient for a ship 
these joints in the present instance seemed unnecessary for i was not
prepared to see father mapple after gaining the height slowly turn
round and stooping over the pulpit deliberately drag up the ladder
step by step till the whole was deposited within leaving him
impregnable in his little quebec 

i pondered some time without fully comprehending the reason for this 
father mapple enjoyed such a wide reputation for sincerity and
sanctity that i could not suspect him of courting notoriety by any
mere tricks of the stage no thought i there must be some sober
reason for this thing furthermore it must symbolize something unseen 
can it be then that by that act of physical isolation he signifies
his spiritual withdrawal for the time from all outward worldly ties
and connexions yes for replenished with the meat and wine of the
word to the faithful man of god this pulpit i see is a
self-containing stronghold a lofty ehrenbreitstein with a perennial
well of water within the walls 

but the side ladder was not the only strange feature of the place 
borrowed from the chaplain's former sea-farings between the marble
cenotaphs on either hand of the pulpit the wall which formed its back
was adorned with a large painting representing a gallant ship beating
against a terrible storm off a lee coast of black rocks and snowy
breakers but high above the flying scud and dark-rolling clouds there
floated a little isle of sunlight from which beamed forth an angel's
face and this bright face shed a distinct spot of radiance upon the
ship's tossed deck something like that silver plate now inserted into
the victory's plank where nelson fell ah noble ship the angel
seemed to say beat on beat on thou noble ship and bear a hardy
helm for lo the sun is breaking through the clouds are rolling
off serenest azure is at hand 

nor was the pulpit itself without a trace of the same sea-taste that
had achieved the ladder and the picture its panelled front was in the
likeness of a ship's bluff bows and the holy bible rested on a
projecting piece of scroll work fashioned after a ship's fiddle-headed
beak 

what could be more full of meaning for the pulpit is ever this earth's
foremost part all the rest comes in its rear the pulpit leads the
world from thence it is the storm of god's quick wrath is first
descried and the bow must bear the earliest brunt from thence it is
the god of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favourable winds 
yes the world's a ship on its passage out and not a voyage complete 
and the pulpit is its prow 


chapter 9 the sermon 

father mapple rose and in a mild voice of unassuming authority ordered
the scattered people to condense starboard gangway there side away
to larboard larboard gangway to starboard midships midships 

there was a low rumbling of heavy sea-boots among the benches and a
still slighter shuffling of women's shoes and all was quiet again and
every eye on the preacher 

he paused a little then kneeling in the pulpit's bows folded his
large brown hands across his chest uplifted his closed eyes and
offered a prayer so deeply devout that he seemed kneeling and praying
at the bottom of the sea 

this ended in prolonged solemn tones like the continual tolling of a
bell in a ship that is foundering at sea in a fog in such tones he
commenced reading the following hymn but changing his manner towards
the concluding stanzas burst forth with a pealing exultation and joy 


 the ribs and terrors in the whale arched over me a dismal gloom 
 while all god's sun-lit waves rolled by and lift me deepening down
 to doom 

 i saw the opening maw of hell with endless pains and sorrows there 
 which none but they that feel can tell oh i was plunging to
 despair 

 in black distress i called my god when i could scarce believe him
 mine he bowed his ear to my complaints no more the whale did me
 confine 

 with speed he flew to my relief as on a radiant dolphin borne 
 awful yet bright as lightning shone the face of my deliverer god 

 my song for ever shall record that terrible that joyful hour i
 give the glory to my god his all the mercy and the power 




nearly all joined in singing this hymn which swelled high above the
howling of the storm a brief pause ensued the preacher slowly turned
over the leaves of the bible and at last folding his hand down upon
the proper page said beloved shipmates clinch the last verse of the
first chapter of jonah and god had prepared a great fish to swallow up
jonah 

 shipmates this book containing only four chapters four yarns is one
of the smallest strands in the mighty cable of the scriptures yet what
depths of the soul does jonah's deep sealine sound what a pregnant
lesson to us is this prophet what a noble thing is that canticle in
the fish's belly how billow-like and boisterously grand we feel the
floods surging over us we sound with him to the kelpy bottom of the
waters sea-weed and all the slime of the sea is about us but what 
is this lesson that the book of jonah teaches shipmates it is a
two-stranded lesson a lesson to us all as sinful men and a lesson to
me as a pilot of the living god as sinful men it is a lesson to us
all because it is a story of the sin hard-heartedness suddenly
awakened fears the swift punishment repentance prayers and finally
the deliverance and joy of jonah as with all sinners among men the
sin of this son of amittai was in his wilful disobedience of the
command of god never mind now what that command was or how
conveyed which he found a hard command but all the things that god
would have us do are hard for us to do remember that and hence he
oftener commands us than endeavors to persuade and if we obey god we
must disobey ourselves and it is in this disobeying ourselves wherein
the hardness of obeying god consists 

 with this sin of disobedience in him jonah still further flouts at
god by seeking to flee from him he thinks that a ship made by men
will carry him into countries where god does not reign but only the
captains of this earth he skulks about the wharves of joppa and seeks
a ship that's bound for tarshish there lurks perhaps a hitherto
unheeded meaning here by all accounts tarshish could have been no
other city than the modern cadiz that's the opinion of learned men 
and where is cadiz shipmates cadiz is in spain as far by water from
joppa as jonah could possibly have sailed in those ancient days when
the atlantic was an almost unknown sea because joppa the modern
jaffa shipmates is on the most easterly coast of the mediterranean 
the syrian and tarshish or cadiz more than two thousand miles to the
westward from that just outside the straits of gibraltar see ye not
then shipmates that jonah sought to flee world-wide from god 
miserable man oh most contemptible and worthy of all scorn with
slouched hat and guilty eye skulking from his god prowling among the
shipping like a vile burglar hastening to cross the seas so
disordered self-condemning is his look that had there been policemen
in those days jonah on the mere suspicion of something wrong had
been arrested ere he touched a deck how plainly he's a fugitive no
baggage not a hat-box valise or carpet-bag no friends accompany him
to the wharf with their adieux at last after much dodging search he
finds the tarshish ship receiving the last items of her cargo and as
he steps on board to see its captain in the cabin all the sailors for
the moment desist from hoisting in the goods to mark the stranger's
evil eye jonah sees this but in vain he tries to look all ease and
confidence in vain essays his wretched smile strong intuitions of the
man assure the mariners he can be no innocent in their gamesome but
still serious way one whispers to the other jack he's robbed a
widow or joe do you mark him he's a bigamist or harry lad i
guess he's the adulterer that broke jail in old gomorrah or belike 
one of the missing murderers from sodom another runs to read the bill
that's stuck against the spile upon the wharf to which the ship is
moored offering five hundred gold coins for the apprehension of a
parricide and containing a description of his person he reads and
looks from jonah to the bill while all his sympathetic shipmates now
crowd round jonah prepared to lay their hands upon him frighted jonah
trembles and summoning all his boldness to his face only looks so
much the more a coward he will not confess himself suspected but that
itself is strong suspicion so he makes the best of it and when the
sailors find him not to be the man that is advertised they let him
pass and he descends into the cabin 

 who's there cries the captain at his busy desk hurriedly making
out his papers for the customs who's there oh how that harmless
question mangles jonah for the instant he almost turns to flee again 
but he rallies i seek a passage in this ship to tarshish how soon
sail ye sir thus far the busy captain had not looked up to jonah 
though the man now stands before him but no sooner does he hear that
hollow voice than he darts a scrutinizing glance we sail with the
next coming tide at last he slowly answered still intently eyeing
him no sooner sir soon enough for any honest man that goes a
passenger ha jonah that's another stab but he swiftly calls away
the captain from that scent i'll sail with ye he says the passage
money how much is that i'll pay now for it is particularly written 
shipmates as if it were a thing not to be overlooked in this history 
 that he paid the fare thereof ere the craft did sail and taken with
the context this is full of meaning 

 now jonah's captain shipmates was one whose discernment detects
crime in any but whose cupidity exposes it only in the penniless in
this world shipmates sin that pays its way can travel freely and
without a passport whereas virtue if a pauper is stopped at all
frontiers so jonah's captain prepares to test the length of jonah's
purse ere he judge him openly he charges him thrice the usual sum 
and it's assented to then the captain knows that jonah is a fugitive 
but at the same time resolves to help a flight that paves its rear with
gold yet when jonah fairly takes out his purse prudent suspicions
still molest the captain he rings every coin to find a counterfeit 
not a forger any way he mutters and jonah is put down for his
passage point out my state-room sir says jonah now i'm
travel-weary i need sleep thou lookest like it says the captain 
 there's thy room jonah enters and would lock the door but the lock
contains no key hearing him foolishly fumbling there the captain
laughs lowly to himself and mutters something about the doors of
convicts cells being never allowed to be locked within all dressed
and dusty as he is jonah throws himself into his berth and finds the
little state-room ceiling almost resting on his forehead the air is
close and jonah gasps then in that contracted hole sunk too 
beneath the ship's water-line jonah feels the heralding presentiment
of that stifling hour when the whale shall hold him in the smallest of
his bowels wards 

 screwed at its axis against the side a swinging lamp slightly
oscillates in jonah's room and the ship heeling over towards the
wharf with the weight of the last bales received the lamp flame and
all though in slight motion still maintains a permanent obliquity
with reference to the room though in truth infallibly straight
itself it but made obvious the false lying levels among which it
hung the lamp alarms and frightens jonah as lying in his berth his
tormented eyes roll round the place and this thus far successful
fugitive finds no refuge for his restless glance but that
contradiction in the lamp more and more appals him the floor the
ceiling and the side are all awry oh so my conscience hangs in
me he groans straight upwards so it burns but the chambers of my
soul are all in crookedness 

 like one who after a night of drunken revelry hies to his bed still
reeling but with conscience yet pricking him as the plungings of the
roman race-horse but so much the more strike his steel tags into him 
as one who in that miserable plight still turns and turns in giddy
anguish praying god for annihilation until the fit be passed and at
last amid the whirl of woe he feels a deep stupor steals over him as
over the man who bleeds to death for conscience is the wound and
there's naught to staunch it so after sore wrestlings in his berth 
jonah's prodigy of ponderous misery drags him drowning down to sleep 

 and now the time of tide has come the ship casts off her cables and
from the deserted wharf the uncheered ship for tarshish all careening 
glides to sea that ship my friends was the first of recorded
smugglers the contraband was jonah but the sea rebels he will not
bear the wicked burden a dreadful storm comes on the ship is like to
break but now when the boatswain calls all hands to lighten her when
boxes bales and jars are clattering overboard when the wind is
shrieking and the men are yelling and every plank thunders with
trampling feet right over jonah's head in all this raging tumult 
jonah sleeps his hideous sleep he sees no black sky and raging sea 
feels not the reeling timbers and little hears he or heeds he the far
rush of the mighty whale which even now with open mouth is cleaving
the seas after him aye shipmates jonah was gone down into the sides
of the ship a berth in the cabin as i have taken it and was fast
asleep but the frightened master comes to him and shrieks in his dead
ear what meanest thou o sleeper arise startled from his lethargy
by that direful cry jonah staggers to his feet and stumbling to the
deck grasps a shroud to look out upon the sea but at that moment he
is sprung upon by a panther billow leaping over the bulwarks wave
after wave thus leaps into the ship and finding no speedy vent runs
roaring fore and aft till the mariners come nigh to drowning while yet
afloat and ever as the white moon shows her affrighted face from the
steep gullies in the blackness overhead aghast jonah sees the rearing
bowsprit pointing high upward but soon beat downward again towards the
tormented deep 

 terrors upon terrors run shouting through his soul in all his
cringing attitudes the god-fugitive is now too plainly known the
sailors mark him more and more certain grow their suspicions of him 
and at last fully to test the truth by referring the whole matter to
high heaven they fall to casting lots to see for whose cause this
great tempest was upon them the lot is jonah's that discovered then
how furiously they mob him with their questions what is thine
occupation whence comest thou thy country what people but mark now 
my shipmates the behavior of poor jonah the eager mariners but ask
him who he is and where from whereas they not only receive an answer
to those questions but likewise another answer to a question not put
by them but the unsolicited answer is forced from jonah by the hard
hand of god that is upon him 

 i am a hebrew he cries and then i fear the lord the god of heaven
who hath made the sea and the dry land fear him o jonah aye well
mightest thou fear the lord god then straightway he now goes on to
make a full confession whereupon the mariners became more and more
appalled but still are pitiful for when jonah not yet supplicating
god for mercy since he but too well knew the darkness of his
deserts when wretched jonah cries out to them to take him and cast him
forth into the sea for he knew that for his sake this great tempest
was upon them they mercifully turn from him and seek by other means
to save the ship but all in vain the indignant gale howls louder 
then with one hand raised invokingly to god with the other they not
unreluctantly lay hold of jonah 

 and now behold jonah taken up as an anchor and dropped into the sea 
when instantly an oily calmness floats out from the east and the sea
is still as jonah carries down the gale with him leaving smooth water
behind he goes down in the whirling heart of such a masterless
commotion that he scarce heeds the moment when he drops seething into
the yawning jaws awaiting him and the whale shoots-to all his ivory
teeth like so many white bolts upon his prison then jonah prayed
unto the lord out of the fish's belly but observe his prayer and
learn a weighty lesson for sinful as he is jonah does not weep and
wail for direct deliverance he feels that his dreadful punishment is
just he leaves all his deliverance to god contenting himself with
this that spite of all his pains and pangs he will still look towards
his holy temple and here shipmates is true and faithful repentance 
not clamorous for pardon but grateful for punishment and how pleasing
to god was this conduct in jonah is shown in the eventual deliverance
of him from the sea and the whale shipmates i do not place jonah
before you to be copied for his sin but i do place him before you as a
model for repentance sin not but if you do take heed to repent of it
like jonah 

while he was speaking these words the howling of the shrieking 
slanting storm without seemed to add new power to the preacher who 
when describing jonah's sea-storm seemed tossed by a storm himself 
his deep chest heaved as with a ground-swell his tossed arms seemed
the warring elements at work and the thunders that rolled away from
off his swarthy brow and the light leaping from his eye made all his
simple hearers look on him with a quick fear that was strange to them 

there now came a lull in his look as he silently turned over the
leaves of the book once more and at last standing motionless with
closed eyes for the moment seemed communing with god and himself 

but again he leaned over towards the people and bowing his head lowly 
with an aspect of the deepest yet manliest humility he spake these
words 

 shipmates god has laid but one hand upon you both his hands press
upon me i have read ye by what murky light may be mine the lesson that
jonah teaches to all sinners and therefore to ye and still more to
me for i am a greater sinner than ye and now how gladly would i come
down from this mast-head and sit on the hatches there where you sit 
and listen as you listen while some one of you reads me that other
and more awful lesson which jonah teaches to me as a pilot of the
living god how being an anointed pilot-prophet or speaker of true
things and bidden by the lord to sound those unwelcome truths in the
ears of a wicked nineveh jonah appalled at the hostility he should
raise fled from his mission and sought to escape his duty and his god
by taking ship at joppa but god is everywhere tarshish he never
reached as we have seen god came upon him in the whale and swallowed
him down to living gulfs of doom and with swift slantings tore him
along into the midst of the seas where the eddying depths sucked him
ten thousand fathoms down and the weeds were wrapped about his head 
and all the watery world of woe bowled over him yet even then beyond
the reach of any plummet out of the belly of hell when the whale
grounded upon the ocean's utmost bones even then god heard the
engulphed repenting prophet when he cried then god spake unto the
fish and from the shuddering cold and blackness of the sea the whale
came breeching up towards the warm and pleasant sun and all the
delights of air and earth and vomited out jonah upon the dry land 
when the word of the lord came a second time and jonah bruised and
beaten his ears like two sea-shells still multitudinously murmuring
of the ocean jonah did the almighty's bidding and what was that 
shipmates to preach the truth to the face of falsehood that was it 

 this shipmates this is that other lesson and woe to that pilot of
the living god who slights it woe to him whom this world charms from
gospel duty woe to him who seeks to pour oil upon the waters when god
has brewed them into a gale woe to him who seeks to please rather than
to appal woe to him whose good name is more to him than goodness woe
to him who in this world courts not dishonor woe to him who would
not be true even though to be false were salvation yea woe to him
who as the great pilot paul has it while preaching to others is
himself a castaway 

he dropped and fell away from himself for a moment then lifting his
face to them again showed a deep joy in his eyes as he cried out with
a heavenly enthusiasm but oh shipmates on the starboard hand of
every woe there is a sure delight and higher the top of that delight 
than the bottom of the woe is deep is not the main-truck higher than
the kelson is low delight is to him a far far upward and inward
delight who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth ever
stands forth his own inexorable self delight is to him whose strong
arms yet support him when the ship of this base treacherous world has
gone down beneath him delight is to him who gives no quarter in the
truth and kills burns and destroys all sin though he pluck it out
from under the robes of senators and judges delight top-gallant
delight is to him who acknowledges no law or lord but the lord his
god and is only a patriot to heaven delight is to him whom all the
waves of the billows of the seas of the boisterous mob can never shake
from this sure keel of the ages and eternal delight and deliciousness
will be his who coming to lay him down can say with his final
breath o father chiefly known to me by thy rod mortal or immortal 
here i die i have striven to be thine more than to be this world's 
or mine own yet this is nothing i leave eternity to thee for what is
man that he should live out the lifetime of his god 

he said no more but slowly waving a benediction covered his face with
his hands and so remained kneeling till all the people had departed 
and he was left alone in the place 


chapter 10 a bosom friend 

returning to the spouter-inn from the chapel i found queequeg there
quite alone he having left the chapel before the benediction some
time he was sitting on a bench before the fire with his feet on the
stove hearth and in one hand was holding close up to his face that
little negro idol of his peering hard into its face and with a
jack-knife gently whittling away at its nose meanwhile humming to
himself in his heathenish way 

but being now interrupted he put up the image and pretty soon going
to the table took up a large book there and placing it on his lap
began counting the pages with deliberate regularity at every fiftieth
page as i fancied stopping a moment looking vacantly around him and
giving utterance to a long-drawn gurgling whistle of astonishment he
would then begin again at the next fifty seeming to commence at number
one each time as though he could not count more than fifty and it was
only by such a large number of fifties being found together that his
astonishment at the multitude of pages was excited 

with much interest i sat watching him savage though he was and
hideously marred about the face at least to my taste his countenance
yet had a something in it which was by no means disagreeable you
cannot hide the soul through all his unearthly tattooings i thought i
saw the traces of a simple honest heart and in his large deep eyes 
fiery black and bold there seemed tokens of a spirit that would dare a
thousand devils and besides all this there was a certain lofty
bearing about the pagan which even his uncouthness could not
altogether maim he looked like a man who had never cringed and never
had had a creditor whether it was too that his head being shaved 
his forehead was drawn out in freer and brighter relief and looked
more expansive than it otherwise would this i will not venture to
decide but certain it was his head was phrenologically an excellent
one it may seem ridiculous but it reminded me of general washington's
head as seen in the popular busts of him it had the same long
regularly graded retreating slope from above the brows which were
likewise very projecting like two long promontories thickly wooded on
top queequeg was george washington cannibalistically developed 

whilst i was thus closely scanning him half-pretending meanwhile to be
looking out at the storm from the casement he never heeded my
presence never troubled himself with so much as a single glance but
appeared wholly occupied with counting the pages of the marvellous
book considering how sociably we had been sleeping together the night
previous and especially considering the affectionate arm i had found
thrown over me upon waking in the morning i thought this indifference
of his very strange but savages are strange beings at times you do
not know exactly how to take them at first they are overawing their
calm self-collectedness of simplicity seems a socratic wisdom i had
noticed also that queequeg never consorted at all or but very little 
with the other seamen in the inn he made no advances whatever 
appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances 
all this struck me as mighty singular yet upon second thoughts there
was something almost sublime in it here was a man some twenty thousand
miles from home by the way of cape horn that is which was the only
way he could get there thrown among people as strange to him as though
he were in the planet jupiter and yet he seemed entirely at his ease 
preserving the utmost serenity content with his own companionship 
always equal to himself surely this was a touch of fine philosophy 
though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that but 
perhaps to be true philosophers we mortals should not be conscious of
so living or so striving so soon as i hear that such or such a man
gives himself out for a philosopher i conclude that like the
dyspeptic old woman he must have broken his digester 

as i sat there in that now lonely room the fire burning low in that
mild stage when after its first intensity has warmed the air it then
only glows to be looked at the evening shades and phantoms gathering
round the casements and peering in upon us silent solitary twain the
storm booming without in solemn swells i began to be sensible of
strange feelings i felt a melting in me no more my splintered heart
and maddened hand were turned against the wolfish world this soothing
savage had redeemed it there he sat his very indifference speaking a
nature in which there lurked no civilized hypocrisies and bland
deceits wild he was a very sight of sights to see yet i began to
feel myself mysteriously drawn towards him and those same things that
would have repelled most others they were the very magnets that thus
drew me i'll try a pagan friend thought i since christian kindness
has proved but hollow courtesy i drew my bench near him and made some
friendly signs and hints doing my best to talk with him meanwhile at
first he little noticed these advances but presently upon my
referring to his last night's hospitalities he made out to ask me
whether we were again to be bedfellows i told him yes whereat i
thought he looked pleased perhaps a little complimented 

we then turned over the book together and i endeavored to explain to
him the purpose of the printing and the meaning of the few pictures
that were in it thus i soon engaged his interest and from that we
went to jabbering the best we could about the various outer sights to
be seen in this famous town soon i proposed a social smoke and 
producing his pouch and tomahawk he quietly offered me a puff and
then we sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his and keeping it
regularly passing between us 

if there yet lurked any ice of indifference towards me in the pagan's
breast this pleasant genial smoke we had soon thawed it out and
left us cronies he seemed to take to me quite as naturally and
unbiddenly as i to him and when our smoke was over he pressed his
forehead against mine clasped me round the waist and said that
henceforth we were married meaning in his country's phrase that we
were bosom friends he would gladly die for me if need should be in a
countryman this sudden flame of friendship would have seemed far too
premature a thing to be much distrusted but in this simple savage
those old rules would not apply 

after supper and another social chat and smoke we went to our room
together he made me a present of his embalmed head took out his
enormous tobacco wallet and groping under the tobacco drew out some
thirty dollars in silver then spreading them on the table and
mechanically dividing them into two equal portions pushed one of them
towards me and said it was mine i was going to remonstrate but he
silenced me by pouring them into my trowsers pockets i let them stay 
he then went about his evening prayers took out his idol and removed
the paper fireboard by certain signs and symptoms i thought he seemed
anxious for me to join him but well knowing what was to follow i
deliberated a moment whether in case he invited me i would comply or
otherwise 

i was a good christian born and bred in the bosom of the infallible
presbyterian church how then could i unite with this wild idolator in
worshipping his piece of wood but what is worship thought i do you
suppose now ishmael that the magnanimous god of heaven and
earth pagans and all included can possibly be jealous of an
insignificant bit of black wood impossible but what is worship to do
the will of god that is worship and what is the will of god to do
to my fellow man what i would have my fellow man to do to me that is
the will of god now queequeg is my fellow man and what do i wish
that this queequeg would do to me why unite with me in my particular
presbyterian form of worship consequently i must then unite with him
in his ergo i must turn idolator so i kindled the shavings helped
prop up the innocent little idol offered him burnt biscuit with
queequeg salamed before him twice or thrice kissed his nose and that
done we undressed and went to bed at peace with our own consciences
and all the world but we did not go to sleep without some little chat 

how it is i know not but there is no place like a bed for confidential
disclosures between friends man and wife they say there open the
very bottom of their souls to each other and some old couples often
lie and chat over old times till nearly morning thus then in our
hearts honeymoon lay i and queequeg a cosy loving pair 


chapter 11 nightgown 

we had lain thus in bed chatting and napping at short intervals and
queequeg now and then affectionately throwing his brown tattooed legs
over mine and then drawing them back so entirely sociable and free
and easy were we when at last by reason of our confabulations what
little nappishness remained in us altogether departed and we felt like
getting up again though day-break was yet some way down the future 

yes we became very wakeful so much so that our recumbent position
began to grow wearisome and by little and little we found ourselves
sitting up the clothes well tucked around us leaning against the
head-board with our four knees drawn up close together and our two
noses bending over them as if our kneepans were warming-pans we felt
very nice and snug the more so since it was so chilly out of doors 
indeed out of bed-clothes too seeing that there was no fire in the
room the more so i say because truly to enjoy bodily warmth some
small part of you must be cold for there is no quality in this world
that is not what it is merely by contrast nothing exists in itself if
you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable and have been
so a long time then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more but
if like queequeg and me in the bed the tip of your nose or the crown
of your head be slightly chilled why then indeed in the general
consciousness you feel most delightfully and unmistakably warm for
this reason a sleeping apartment should never be furnished with a fire 
which is one of the luxurious discomforts of the rich for the height
of this sort of deliciousness is to have nothing but the blanket
between you and your snugness and the cold of the outer air then there
you lie like the one warm spark in the heart of an arctic crystal 

we had been sitting in this crouching manner for some time when all at
once i thought i would open my eyes for when between sheets whether
by day or by night and whether asleep or awake i have a way of always
keeping my eyes shut in order the more to concentrate the snugness of
being in bed because no man can ever feel his own identity aright
except his eyes be closed as if darkness were indeed the proper
element of our essences though light be more congenial to our clayey
part upon opening my eyes then and coming out of my own pleasant and
self-created darkness into the imposed and coarse outer gloom of the
unilluminated twelve-o'clock-at-night i experienced a disagreeable
revulsion nor did i at all object to the hint from queequeg that
perhaps it were best to strike a light seeing that we were so wide
awake and besides he felt a strong desire to have a few quiet puffs
from his tomahawk be it said that though i had felt such a strong
repugnance to his smoking in the bed the night before yet see how
elastic our stiff prejudices grow when love once comes to bend them 
for now i liked nothing better than to have queequeg smoking by me 
even in bed because he seemed to be full of such serene household joy
then i no more felt unduly concerned for the landlord's policy of
insurance i was only alive to the condensed confidential
comfortableness of sharing a pipe and a blanket with a real friend 
with our shaggy jackets drawn about our shoulders we now passed the
tomahawk from one to the other till slowly there grew over us a blue
hanging tester of smoke illuminated by the flame of the new-lit lamp 

whether it was that this undulating tester rolled the savage away to
far distant scenes i know not but he now spoke of his native island 
and eager to hear his history i begged him to go on and tell it he
gladly complied though at the time i but ill comprehended not a few of
his words yet subsequent disclosures when i had become more familiar
with his broken phraseology now enable me to present the whole story
such as it may prove in the mere skeleton i give 


chapter 12 biographical 

queequeg was a native of rokovoko an island far away to the west and
south it is not down in any map true places never are 

when a new-hatched savage running wild about his native woodlands in a
grass clout followed by the nibbling goats as if he were a green
sapling even then in queequeg's ambitious soul lurked a strong
desire to see something more of christendom than a specimen whaler or
two his father was a high chief a king his uncle a high priest and
on the maternal side he boasted aunts who were the wives of
unconquerable warriors there was excellent blood in his veins royal
stuff though sadly vitiated i fear by the cannibal propensity he
nourished in his untutored youth 

a sag harbor ship visited his father's bay and queequeg sought a
passage to christian lands but the ship having her full complement of
seamen spurned his suit and not all the king his father's influence
could prevail but queequeg vowed a vow alone in his canoe he paddled
off to a distant strait which he knew the ship must pass through when
she quitted the island on one side was a coral reef on the other a
low tongue of land covered with mangrove thickets that grew out into
the water hiding his canoe still afloat among these thickets with
its prow seaward he sat down in the stern paddle low in hand and
when the ship was gliding by like a flash he darted out gained her
side with one backward dash of his foot capsized and sank his canoe 
climbed up the chains and throwing himself at full length upon the
deck grappled a ring-bolt there and swore not to let it go though
hacked in pieces 

in vain the captain threatened to throw him overboard suspended a
cutlass over his naked wrists queequeg was the son of a king and
queequeg budged not struck by his desperate dauntlessness and his
wild desire to visit christendom the captain at last relented and
told him he might make himself at home but this fine young savage this
sea prince of wales never saw the captain's cabin they put him down
among the sailors and made a whaleman of him but like czar peter
content to toil in the shipyards of foreign cities queequeg disdained
no seeming ignominy if thereby he might happily gain the power of
enlightening his untutored countrymen for at bottom so he told me he
was actuated by a profound desire to learn among the christians the
arts whereby to make his people still happier than they were and more
than that still better than they were but alas the practices of
whalemen soon convinced him that even christians could be both
miserable and wicked infinitely more so than all his father's
heathens arrived at last in old sag harbor and seeing what the
sailors did there and then going on to nantucket and seeing how they
spent their wages in that place also poor queequeg gave it up for
lost thought he it's a wicked world in all meridians i'll die a
pagan 

and thus an old idolator at heart he yet lived among these christians 
wore their clothes and tried to talk their gibberish hence the queer
ways about him though now some time from home 

by hints i asked him whether he did not propose going back and having
a coronation since he might now consider his father dead and gone he
being very old and feeble at the last accounts he answered no not
yet and added that he was fearful christianity or rather christians 
had unfitted him for ascending the pure and undefiled throne of thirty
pagan kings before him but by and by he said he would return as
soon as he felt himself baptized again for the nonce however he
proposed to sail about and sow his wild oats in all four oceans they
had made a harpooneer of him and that barbed iron was in lieu of a
sceptre now 

i asked him what might be his immediate purpose touching his future
movements he answered to go to sea again in his old vocation upon
this i told him that whaling was my own design and informed him of my
intention to sail out of nantucket as being the most promising port
for an adventurous whaleman to embark from he at once resolved to
accompany me to that island ship aboard the same vessel get into the
same watch the same boat the same mess with me in short to share my
every hap with both my hands in his boldly dip into the potluck of
both worlds to all this i joyously assented for besides the affection
i now felt for queequeg he was an experienced harpooneer and as such 
could not fail to be of great usefulness to one who like me was
wholly ignorant of the mysteries of whaling though well acquainted
with the sea as known to merchant seamen 

his story being ended with his pipe's last dying puff queequeg
embraced me pressed his forehead against mine and blowing out the
light we rolled over from each other this way and that and very soon
were sleeping 


chapter 13 wheelbarrow 

next morning monday after disposing of the embalmed head to a barber 
for a block i settled my own and comrade's bill using however my
comrade's money the grinning landlord as well as the boarders seemed
amazingly tickled at the sudden friendship which had sprung up between
me and queequeg especially as peter coffin's cock and bull stories
about him had previously so much alarmed me concerning the very person
whom i now companied with 

we borrowed a wheelbarrow and embarking our things including my own
poor carpet-bag and queequeg's canvas sack and hammock away we went
down to the moss the little nantucket packet schooner moored at the
wharf as we were going along the people stared not at queequeg so
much for they were used to seeing cannibals like him in their
streets but at seeing him and me upon such confidential terms but we
heeded them not going along wheeling the barrow by turns and queequeg
now and then stopping to adjust the sheath on his harpoon barbs i
asked him why he carried such a troublesome thing with him ashore and
whether all whaling ships did not find their own harpoons to this in
substance he replied that though what i hinted was true enough yet
he had a particular affection for his own harpoon because it was of
assured stuff well tried in many a mortal combat and deeply intimate
with the hearts of whales in short like many inland reapers and
mowers who go into the farmers meadows armed with their own
scythes though in no wise obliged to furnish them even so queequeg 
for his own private reasons preferred his own harpoon 

shifting the barrow from my hand to his he told me a funny story about
the first wheelbarrow he had ever seen it was in sag harbor the
owners of his ship it seems had lent him one in which to carry his
heavy chest to his boarding house not to seem ignorant about the
thing though in truth he was entirely so concerning the precise way in
which to manage the barrow queequeg puts his chest upon it lashes it
fast and then shoulders the barrow and marches up the wharf why 
said i queequeg you might have known better than that one would
think didn't the people laugh 

upon this he told me another story the people of his island of
rokovoko it seems at their wedding feasts express the fragrant water
of young cocoanuts into a large stained calabash like a punchbowl and
this punchbowl always forms the great central ornament on the braided
mat where the feast is held now a certain grand merchant ship once
touched at rokovoko and its commander from all accounts a very
stately punctilious gentleman at least for a sea captain this
commander was invited to the wedding feast of queequeg's sister a
pretty young princess just turned of ten well when all the wedding
guests were assembled at the bride's bamboo cottage this captain
marches in and being assigned the post of honor placed himself over
against the punchbowl and between the high priest and his majesty the
king queequeg's father grace being said for those people have their
grace as well as we though queequeg told me that unlike us who at such
times look downwards to our platters they on the contrary copying
the ducks glance upwards to the great giver of all feasts grace i
say being said the high priest opens the banquet by the immemorial
ceremony of the island that is dipping his consecrated and
consecrating fingers into the bowl before the blessed beverage
circulates seeing himself placed next the priest and noting the
ceremony and thinking himself being captain of a ship as having plain
precedence over a mere island king especially in the king's own
house the captain coolly proceeds to wash his hands in the
punchbowl taking it i suppose for a huge finger-glass now said
queequeg what you tink now didn't our people laugh 

at last passage paid and luggage safe we stood on board the
schooner hoisting sail it glided down the acushnet river on one
side new bedford rose in terraces of streets their ice-covered trees
all glittering in the clear cold air huge hills and mountains of
casks on casks were piled upon her wharves and side by side the
world-wandering whale ships lay silent and safely moored at last while
from others came a sound of carpenters and coopers with blended noises
of fires and forges to melt the pitch all betokening that new cruises
were on the start that one most perilous and long voyage ended only
begins a second and a second ended only begins a third and so on 
for ever and for aye such is the endlessness yea the intolerableness
of all earthly effort 

gaining the more open water the bracing breeze waxed fresh the little
moss tossed the quick foam from her bows as a young colt his
snortings how i snuffed that tartar air how i spurned that turnpike
earth that common highway all over dented with the marks of slavish
heels and hoofs and turned me to admire the magnanimity of the sea
which will permit no records 

at the same foam-fountain queequeg seemed to drink and reel with me 
his dusky nostrils swelled apart he showed his filed and pointed
teeth on on we flew and our offing gained the moss did homage to
the blast ducked and dived her bows as a slave before the sultan 
sideways leaning we sideways darted every ropeyarn tingling like a
wire the two tall masts buckling like indian canes in land tornadoes 
so full of this reeling scene were we as we stood by the plunging
bowsprit that for some time we did not notice the jeering glances of
the passengers a lubber-like assembly who marvelled that two fellow
beings should be so companionable as though a white man were anything
more dignified than a whitewashed negro but there were some boobies
and bumpkins there who by their intense greenness must have come
from the heart and centre of all verdure queequeg caught one of these
young saplings mimicking him behind his back i thought the bumpkin's
hour of doom was come dropping his harpoon the brawny savage caught
him in his arms and by an almost miraculous dexterity and strength 
sent him high up bodily into the air then slightly tapping his stern
in mid-somerset the fellow landed with bursting lungs upon his feet 
while queequeg turning his back upon him lighted his tomahawk pipe
and passed it to me for a puff 

 capting capting yelled the bumpkin running towards that officer 
 capting capting here's the devil 

 hallo you sir cried the captain a gaunt rib of the sea stalking
up to queequeg what in thunder do you mean by that don't you know
you might have killed that chap 

 what him say said queequeg as he mildly turned to me 

 he say said i that you came near kill-e that man there pointing
to the still shivering greenhorn 

 kill-e cried queequeg twisting his tattooed face into an unearthly
expression of disdain ah him bevy small-e fish-e queequeg no kill-e
so small-e fish-e queequeg kill-e big whale 

 look you roared the captain i'll kill-e you you cannibal if
you try any more of your tricks aboard here so mind your eye 

but it so happened just then that it was high time for the captain to
mind his own eye the prodigious strain upon the main-sail had parted
the weather-sheet and the tremendous boom was now flying from side to
side completely sweeping the entire after part of the deck the poor
fellow whom queequeg had handled so roughly was swept overboard all
hands were in a panic and to attempt snatching at the boom to stay it 
seemed madness it flew from right to left and back again almost in
one ticking of a watch and every instant seemed on the point of
snapping into splinters nothing was done and nothing seemed capable
of being done those on deck rushed towards the bows and stood eyeing
the boom as if it were the lower jaw of an exasperated whale in the
midst of this consternation queequeg dropped deftly to his knees and
crawling under the path of the boom whipped hold of a rope secured
one end to the bulwarks and then flinging the other like a lasso 
caught it round the boom as it swept over his head and at the next
jerk the spar was that way trapped and all was safe the schooner was
run into the wind and while the hands were clearing away the stern
boat queequeg stripped to the waist darted from the side with a long
living arc of a leap for three minutes or more he was seen swimming
like a dog throwing his long arms straight out before him and by
turns revealing his brawny shoulders through the freezing foam i
looked at the grand and glorious fellow but saw no one to be saved 
the greenhorn had gone down shooting himself perpendicularly from the
water queequeg now took an instant's glance around him and seeming
to see just how matters were dived down and disappeared a few minutes
more and he rose again one arm still striking out and with the other
dragging a lifeless form the boat soon picked them up the poor
bumpkin was restored all hands voted queequeg a noble trump the
captain begged his pardon from that hour i clove to queequeg like a
barnacle yea till poor queequeg took his last long dive 

was there ever such unconsciousness he did not seem to think that he
at all deserved a medal from the humane and magnanimous societies he
only asked for water fresh water something to wipe the brine off that
done he put on dry clothes lighted his pipe and leaning against the
bulwarks and mildly eyeing those around him seemed to be saying to
himself it's a mutual joint-stock world in all meridians we
cannibals must help these christians 


chapter 14 nantucket 

nothing more happened on the passage worthy the mentioning so after a
fine run we safely arrived in nantucket 

nantucket take out your map and look at it see what a real corner of
the world it occupies how it stands there away off shore more lonely
than the eddystone lighthouse look at it a mere hillock and elbow of
sand all beach without a background there is more sand there than
you would use in twenty years as a substitute for blotting paper some
gamesome wights will tell you that they have to plant weeds there they
don't grow naturally that they import canada thistles that they have
to send beyond seas for a spile to stop a leak in an oil cask that
pieces of wood in nantucket are carried about like bits of the true
cross in rome that people there plant toadstools before their houses 
to get under the shade in summer time that one blade of grass makes an
oasis three blades in a day's walk a prairie that they wear quicksand
shoes something like laplander snow-shoes that they are so shut up 
belted about every way inclosed surrounded and made an utter island
of by the ocean that to their very chairs and tables small clams will
sometimes be found adhering as to the backs of sea turtles but these
extravaganzas only show that nantucket is no illinois 

look now at the wondrous traditional story of how this island was
settled by the red-men thus goes the legend in olden times an eagle
swooped down upon the new england coast and carried off an infant
indian in his talons with loud lament the parents saw their child
borne out of sight over the wide waters they resolved to follow in the
same direction setting out in their canoes after a perilous passage
they discovered the island and there they found an empty ivory
casket the poor little indian's skeleton 

what wonder then that these nantucketers born on a beach should
take to the sea for a livelihood they first caught crabs and quohogs
in the sand grown bolder they waded out with nets for mackerel more
experienced they pushed off in boats and captured cod and at last 
launching a navy of great ships on the sea explored this watery world 
put an incessant belt of circumnavigations round it peeped in at
behring's straits and in all seasons and all oceans declared
everlasting war with the mightiest animated mass that has survived the
flood most monstrous and most mountainous that himmalehan salt-sea
mastodon clothed with such portentousness of unconscious power that
his very panics are more to be dreaded than his most fearless and
malicious assaults 

and thus have these naked nantucketers these sea hermits issuing from
their ant-hill in the sea overrun and conquered the watery world like
so many alexanders parcelling out among them the atlantic pacific 
and indian oceans as the three pirate powers did poland let america
add mexico to texas and pile cuba upon canada let the english
overswarm all india and hang out their blazing banner from the sun 
two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the nantucketer's for the sea
is his he owns it as emperors own empires other seamen having but a
right of way through it merchant ships are but extension bridges 
armed ones but floating forts even pirates and privateers though
following the sea as highwaymen the road they but plunder other ships 
other fragments of the land like themselves without seeking to draw
their living from the bottomless deep itself the nantucketer he alone
resides and riots on the sea he alone in bible language goes down to
it in ships to and fro ploughing it as his own special plantation 
 there is his home there lies his business which a noah's flood
would not interrupt though it overwhelmed all the millions in china 
he lives on the sea as prairie cocks in the prairie he hides among
the waves he climbs them as chamois hunters climb the alps for years
he knows not the land so that when he comes to it at last it smells
like another world more strangely than the moon would to an earthsman 
with the landless gull that at sunset folds her wings and is rocked to
sleep between billows so at nightfall the nantucketer out of sight
of land furls his sails and lays him to his rest while under his
very pillow rush herds of walruses and whales 


chapter 15 chowder 

it was quite late in the evening when the little moss came snugly to
anchor and queequeg and i went ashore so we could attend to no
business that day at least none but a supper and a bed the landlord
of the spouter-inn had recommended us to his cousin hosea hussey of the
try pots whom he asserted to be the proprietor of one of the best kept
hotels in all nantucket and moreover he had assured us that cousin
hosea as he called him was famous for his chowders in short he
plainly hinted that we could not possibly do better than try pot-luck
at the try pots but the directions he had given us about keeping a
yellow warehouse on our starboard hand till we opened a white church to
the larboard and then keeping that on the larboard hand till we made a
corner three points to the starboard and that done then ask the first
man we met where the place was these crooked directions of his very
much puzzled us at first especially as at the outset queequeg
insisted that the yellow warehouse our first point of departure must be
left on the larboard hand whereas i had understood peter coffin to say
it was on the starboard however by dint of beating about a little in
the dark and now and then knocking up a peaceable inhabitant to
inquire the way we at last came to something which there was no
mistaking 

two enormous wooden pots painted black and suspended by asses ears 
swung from the cross-trees of an old top-mast planted in front of an
old doorway the horns of the cross-trees were sawed off on the other
side so that this old top-mast looked not a little like a gallows 
perhaps i was over sensitive to such impressions at the time but i
could not help staring at this gallows with a vague misgiving a sort
of crick was in my neck as i gazed up to the two remaining horns yes 
 two of them one for queequeg and one for me it's ominous thinks
i a coffin my innkeeper upon landing in my first whaling port 
tombstones staring at me in the whalemen's chapel and here a gallows 
and a pair of prodigious black pots too are these last throwing out
oblique hints touching tophet 

i was called from these reflections by the sight of a freckled woman
with yellow hair and a yellow gown standing in the porch of the inn 
under a dull red lamp swinging there that looked much like an injured
eye and carrying on a brisk scolding with a man in a purple woollen
shirt 

 get along with ye said she to the man or i'll be combing ye 

 come on queequeg said i all right there's mrs hussey 

and so it turned out mr hosea hussey being from home but leaving
mrs hussey entirely competent to attend to all his affairs upon
making known our desires for a supper and a bed mrs hussey 
postponing further scolding for the present ushered us into a little
room and seating us at a table spread with the relics of a recently
concluded repast turned round to us and said clam or cod 

 what's that about cods ma'am said i with much politeness 

 clam or cod she repeated 

 a clam for supper a cold clam is that what you mean mrs hussey 
says i but that's a rather cold and clammy reception in the winter
time ain't it mrs hussey 

but being in a great hurry to resume scolding the man in the purple
shirt who was waiting for it in the entry and seeming to hear nothing
but the word clam mrs hussey hurried towards an open door leading
to the kitchen and bawling out clam for two disappeared 

 queequeg said i do you think that we can make out a supper for us
both on one clam 

however a warm savory steam from the kitchen served to belie the
apparently cheerless prospect before us but when that smoking chowder
came in the mystery was delightfully explained oh sweet friends 
hearken to me it was made of small juicy clams scarcely bigger than
hazel nuts mixed with pounded ship biscuit and salted pork cut up
into little flakes the whole enriched with butter and plentifully
seasoned with pepper and salt our appetites being sharpened by the
frosty voyage and in particular queequeg seeing his favourite fishing
food before him and the chowder being surpassingly excellent we
despatched it with great expedition when leaning back a moment and
bethinking me of mrs hussey's clam and cod announcement i thought i
would try a little experiment stepping to the kitchen door i uttered
the word cod with great emphasis and resumed my seat in a few
moments the savoury steam came forth again but with a different
flavor and in good time a fine cod-chowder was placed before us 

we resumed business and while plying our spoons in the bowl thinks i
to myself i wonder now if this here has any effect on the head what's
that stultifying saying about chowder-headed people but look 
queequeg ain't that a live eel in your bowl where's your harpoon 

fishiest of all fishy places was the try pots which well deserved its
name for the pots there were always boiling chowders chowder for
breakfast and chowder for dinner and chowder for supper till you
began to look for fish-bones coming through your clothes the area
before the house was paved with clam-shells mrs hussey wore a
polished necklace of codfish vertebra and hosea hussey had his account
books bound in superior old shark-skin there was a fishy flavor to the
milk too which i could not at all account for till one morning
happening to take a stroll along the beach among some fishermen's
boats i saw hosea's brindled cow feeding on fish remnants and
marching along the sand with each foot in a cod's decapitated head 
looking very slip-shod i assure ye 

supper concluded we received a lamp and directions from mrs hussey
concerning the nearest way to bed but as queequeg was about to
precede me up the stairs the lady reached forth her arm and demanded
his harpoon she allowed no harpoon in her chambers why not said i 
 every true whaleman sleeps with his harpoon but why not because
it's dangerous says she ever since young stiggs coming from that
unfort'nt v'y ge of his when he was gone four years and a half with
only three barrels of ile was found dead in my first floor back 
with his harpoon in his side ever since then i allow no boarders to
take sich dangerous weepons in their rooms at night so mr queequeg 
 for she had learned his name i will just take this here iron and
keep it for you till morning but the chowder clam or cod to-morrow
for breakfast men 

 both says i and let's have a couple of smoked herring by way of
variety 


chapter 16 the ship 

in bed we concocted our plans for the morrow but to my surprise and no
small concern queequeg now gave me to understand that he had been
diligently consulting yojo the name of his black little god and yojo
had told him two or three times over and strongly insisted upon it
everyway that instead of our going together among the whaling-fleet in
harbor and in concert selecting our craft instead of this i say 
yojo earnestly enjoined that the selection of the ship should rest
wholly with me inasmuch as yojo purposed befriending us and in order
to do so had already pitched upon a vessel which if left to myself 
i ishmael should infallibly light upon for all the world as though
it had turned out by chance and in that vessel i must immediately ship
myself for the present irrespective of queequeg 

i have forgotten to mention that in many things queequeg placed great
confidence in the excellence of yojo's judgment and surprising forecast
of things and cherished yojo with considerable esteem as a rather
good sort of god who perhaps meant well enough upon the whole but in
all cases did not succeed in his benevolent designs 

now this plan of queequeg's or rather yojo's touching the selection
of our craft i did not like that plan at all i had not a little
relied upon queequeg's sagacity to point out the whaler best fitted to
carry us and our fortunes securely but as all my remonstrances
produced no effect upon queequeg i was obliged to acquiesce and
accordingly prepared to set about this business with a determined
rushing sort of energy and vigor that should quickly settle that
trifling little affair next morning early leaving queequeg shut up
with yojo in our little bedroom for it seemed that it was some sort of
lent or ramadan or day of fasting humiliation and prayer with
queequeg and yojo that day how it was i never could find out for 
though i applied myself to it several times i never could master his
liturgies and xxxix articles leaving queequeg then fasting on his
tomahawk pipe and yojo warming himself at his sacrificial fire of
shavings i sallied out among the shipping after much prolonged
sauntering and many random inquiries i learnt that there were three
ships up for three-years voyages the devil-dam the tit-bit and the
pequod devil-dam i do not know the origin of tit-bit is obvious 
 pequod you will no doubt remember was the name of a celebrated
tribe of massachusetts indians now extinct as the ancient medes i
peered and pryed about the devil-dam from her hopped over to the
tit-bit and finally going on board the pequod looked around her for
a moment and then decided that this was the very ship for us 

you may have seen many a quaint craft in your day for aught i
know square-toed luggers mountainous japanese junks butter-box
galliots and what not but take my word for it you never saw such a
rare old craft as this same rare old pequod she was a ship of the old
school rather small if anything with an old-fashioned claw-footed
look about her long seasoned and weather-stained in the typhoons and
calms of all four oceans her old hull's complexion was darkened like a
french grenadier's who has alike fought in egypt and siberia her
venerable bows looked bearded her masts cut somewhere on the coast of
japan where her original ones were lost overboard in a gale her masts
stood stiffly up like the spines of the three old kings of cologne her
ancient decks were worn and wrinkled like the pilgrim-worshipped
flag-stone in canterbury cathedral where becket bled but to all these
her old antiquities were added new and marvellous features pertaining
to the wild business that for more than half a century she had
followed old captain peleg many years her chief-mate before he
commanded another vessel of his own and now a retired seaman and one
of the principal owners of the pequod this old peleg during the term
of his chief-mateship had built upon her original grotesqueness and
inlaid it all over with a quaintness both of material and device 
unmatched by anything except it be thorkill-hake's carved buckler or
bedstead she was apparelled like any barbaric ethiopian emperor his
neck heavy with pendants of polished ivory she was a thing of
trophies a cannibal of a craft tricking herself forth in the chased
bones of her enemies all round her unpanelled open bulwarks were
garnished like one continuous jaw with the long sharp teeth of the
sperm whale inserted there for pins to fasten her old hempen thews
and tendons to those thews ran not through base blocks of land wood 
but deftly travelled over sheaves of sea-ivory scorning a turnstile
wheel at her reverend helm she sported there a tiller and that tiller
was in one mass curiously carved from the long narrow lower jaw of her
hereditary foe the helmsman who steered by that tiller in a tempest 
felt like the tartar when he holds back his fiery steed by clutching
its jaw a noble craft but somehow a most melancholy all noble things
are touched with that 

now when i looked about the quarter-deck for some one having
authority in order to propose myself as a candidate for the voyage at
first i saw nobody but i could not well overlook a strange sort of
tent or rather wigwam pitched a little behind the main-mast it
seemed only a temporary erection used in port it was of a conical
shape some ten feet high consisting of the long huge slabs of limber
black bone taken from the middle and highest part of the jaws of the
right-whale planted with their broad ends on the deck a circle of
these slabs laced together mutually sloped towards each other and at
the apex united in a tufted point where the loose hairy fibres waved
to and fro like the top-knot on some old pottowottamie sachem's head a
triangular opening faced towards the bows of the ship so that the
insider commanded a complete view forward 

and half concealed in this queer tenement i at length found one who by
his aspect seemed to have authority and who it being noon and the
ship's work suspended was now enjoying respite from the burden of
command he was seated on an old-fashioned oaken chair wriggling all
over with curious carving and the bottom of which was formed of a
stout interlacing of the same elastic stuff of which the wigwam was
constructed 

there was nothing so very particular perhaps about the appearance of
the elderly man i saw he was brown and brawny like most old seamen 
and heavily rolled up in blue pilot-cloth cut in the quaker style 
only there was a fine and almost microscopic net-work of the minutest
wrinkles interlacing round his eyes which must have arisen from his
continual sailings in many hard gales and always looking to
windward for this causes the muscles about the eyes to become pursed
together such eye-wrinkles are very effectual in a scowl 

 is this the captain of the pequod said i advancing to the door of
the tent 

 supposing it be the captain of the pequod what dost thou want of
him he demanded 

 i was thinking of shipping 

 thou wast wast thou i see thou art no nantucketer ever been in a
stove boat 

 no sir i never have 

 dost know nothing at all about whaling i dare say eh 

 nothing sir but i have no doubt i shall soon learn i've been
several voyages in the merchant service and i think that 

 merchant service be damned talk not that lingo to me dost see that
leg i'll take that leg away from thy stern if ever thou talkest of
the marchant service to me again marchant service indeed i suppose
now ye feel considerable proud of having served in those marchant
ships but flukes man what makes thee want to go a whaling eh it
looks a little suspicious don't it eh hast not been a pirate hast
thou didst not rob thy last captain didst thou dost not think of
murdering the officers when thou gettest to sea 

i protested my innocence of these things i saw that under the mask of
these half humorous innuendoes this old seaman as an insulated
quakerish nantucketer was full of his insular prejudices and rather
distrustful of all aliens unless they hailed from cape cod or the
vineyard 

 but what takes thee a-whaling i want to know that before i think of
shipping ye 

 well sir i want to see what whaling is i want to see the world 

 want to see what whaling is eh have ye clapped eye on captain ahab 

 who is captain ahab sir 

 aye aye i thought so captain ahab is the captain of this ship 

 i am mistaken then i thought i was speaking to the captain himself 

 thou art speaking to captain peleg that's who ye are speaking to 
young man it belongs to me and captain bildad to see the pequod fitted
out for the voyage and supplied with all her needs including crew we
are part owners and agents but as i was going to say if thou wantest
to know what whaling is as thou tellest ye do i can put ye in a way
of finding it out before ye bind yourself to it past backing out clap
eye on captain ahab young man and thou wilt find that he has only one
leg 

 what do you mean sir was the other one lost by a whale 

 lost by a whale young man come nearer to me it was devoured chewed
up crunched by the monstrousest parmacetty that ever chipped a
boat ah ah 

i was a little alarmed by his energy perhaps also a little touched at
the hearty grief in his concluding exclamation but said as calmly as i
could what you say is no doubt true enough sir but how could i know
there was any peculiar ferocity in that particular whale though indeed
i might have inferred as much from the simple fact of the accident 

 look ye now young man thy lungs are a sort of soft d'ye see thou
dost not talk shark a bit sure ye've been to sea before now sure
of that 

 sir said i i thought i told you that i had been four voyages in
the merchant 

 hard down out of that mind what i said about the marchant
service don't aggravate me i won't have it but let us understand each
other i have given thee a hint about what whaling is do ye yet feel
inclined for it 

 i do sir 

 very good now art thou the man to pitch a harpoon down a live
whale's throat and then jump after it answer quick 

 i am sir if it should be positively indispensable to do so not to
be got rid of that is which i don't take to be the fact 

 good again now then thou not only wantest to go a-whaling to find
out by experience what whaling is but ye also want to go in order to
see the world was not that what ye said i thought so well then just
step forward there and take a peep over the weather-bow and then back
to me and tell me what ye see there 

for a moment i stood a little puzzled by this curious request not
knowing exactly how to take it whether humorously or in earnest but
concentrating all his crow's feet into one scowl captain peleg started
me on the errand 

going forward and glancing over the weather bow i perceived that the
ship swinging to her anchor with the flood-tide was now obliquely
pointing towards the open ocean the prospect was unlimited but
exceedingly monotonous and forbidding not the slightest variety that i
could see 

 well what's the report said peleg when i came back what did ye
see 

 not much i replied nothing but water considerable horizon though 
and there's a squall coming up i think 

 well what does thou think then of seeing the world do ye wish to go
round cape horn to see any more of it eh can't ye see the world where
you stand 

i was a little staggered but go a-whaling i must and i would and the
pequod was as good a ship as any i thought the best and all this i now
repeated to peleg seeing me so determined he expressed his
willingness to ship me 

 and thou mayest as well sign the papers right off he added come
along with ye and so saying he led the way below deck into the
cabin 

seated on the transom was what seemed to me a most uncommon and
surprising figure it turned out to be captain bildad who along with
captain peleg was one of the largest owners of the vessel the other
shares as is sometimes the case in these ports being held by a crowd
of old annuitants widows fatherless children and chancery wards 
each owning about the value of a timber head or a foot of plank or a
nail or two in the ship people in nantucket invest their money in
whaling vessels the same way that you do yours in approved state
stocks bringing in good interest 

now bildad like peleg and indeed many other nantucketers was a
quaker the island having been originally settled by that sect and to
this day its inhabitants in general retain in an uncommon measure the
peculiarities of the quaker only variously and anomalously modified by
things altogether alien and heterogeneous for some of these same
quakers are the most sanguinary of all sailors and whale-hunters they
are fighting quakers they are quakers with a vengeance 

so that there are instances among them of men who named with
scripture names a singularly common fashion on the island and in
childhood naturally imbibing the stately dramatic thee and thou of the
quaker idiom still from the audacious daring and boundless
adventure of their subsequent lives strangely blend with these
unoutgrown peculiarities a thousand bold dashes of character not
unworthy a scandinavian sea-king or a poetical pagan roman and when
these things unite in a man of greatly superior natural force with a
globular brain and a ponderous heart who has also by the stillness and
seclusion of many long night-watches in the remotest waters and
beneath constellations never seen here at the north been led to think
untraditionally and independently receiving all nature's sweet or
savage impressions fresh from her own virgin voluntary and confiding
breast and thereby chiefly but with some help from accidental
advantages to learn a bold and nervous lofty language that man makes
one in a whole nation's census a mighty pageant creature formed for
noble tragedies nor will it at all detract from him dramatically
regarded if either by birth or other circumstances he have what seems
a half wilful overruling morbidness at the bottom of his nature for
all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness be
sure of this o young ambition all mortal greatness is but disease 
but as yet we have not to do with such an one but with quite another 
and still a man who if indeed peculiar it only results again from
another phase of the quaker modified by individual circumstances 

like captain peleg captain bildad was a well-to-do retired whaleman 
but unlike captain peleg who cared not a rush for what are called
serious things and indeed deemed those self-same serious things the
veriest of all trifles captain bildad had not only been originally
educated according to the strictest sect of nantucket quakerism but
all his subsequent ocean life and the sight of many unclad lovely
island creatures round the horn all that had not moved this native
born quaker one single jot had not so much as altered one angle of his
vest still for all this immutableness was there some lack of common
consistency about worthy captain bildad though refusing from
conscientious scruples to bear arms against land invaders yet himself
had illimitably invaded the atlantic and pacific and though a sworn
foe to human bloodshed yet had he in his straight-bodied coat spilled
tuns upon tuns of leviathan gore how now in the contemplative evening
of his days the pious bildad reconciled these things in the
reminiscence i do not know but it did not seem to concern him much 
and very probably he had long since come to the sage and sensible
conclusion that a man's religion is one thing and this practical world
quite another this world pays dividends rising from a little
cabin-boy in short clothes of the drabbest drab to a harpooneer in a
broad shad-bellied waistcoat from that becoming boat-header 
chief-mate and captain and finally a ship owner bildad as i hinted
before had concluded his adventurous career by wholly retiring from
active life at the goodly age of sixty and dedicating his remaining
days to the quiet receiving of his well-earned income 

now bildad i am sorry to say had the reputation of being an
incorrigible old hunks and in his sea-going days a bitter hard
task-master they told me in nantucket though it certainly seems a
curious story that when he sailed the old categut whaleman his crew 
upon arriving home were mostly all carried ashore to the hospital 
sore exhausted and worn out for a pious man especially for a quaker 
he was certainly rather hard-hearted to say the least he never used
to swear though at his men they said but somehow he got an
inordinate quantity of cruel unmitigated hard work out of them when
bildad was a chief-mate to have his drab-coloured eye intently looking
at you made you feel completely nervous till you could clutch
something a hammer or a marling-spike and go to work like mad at
something or other never mind what indolence and idleness perished
before him his own person was the exact embodiment of his utilitarian
character on his long gaunt body he carried no spare flesh no
superfluous beard his chin having a soft economical nap to it like
the worn nap of his broad-brimmed hat 

such then was the person that i saw seated on the transom when i
followed captain peleg down into the cabin the space between the decks
was small and there bolt-upright sat old bildad who always sat so 
and never leaned and this to save his coat tails his broad-brim was
placed beside him his legs were stiffly crossed his drab vesture was
buttoned up to his chin and spectacles on nose he seemed absorbed in
reading from a ponderous volume 

 bildad cried captain peleg at it again bildad eh ye have been
studying those scriptures now for the last thirty years to my
certain knowledge how far ye got bildad 

as if long habituated to such profane talk from his old shipmate 
bildad without noticing his present irreverence quietly looked up 
and seeing me glanced again inquiringly towards peleg 

 he says he's our man bildad said peleg he wants to ship 

 dost thee said bildad in a hollow tone and turning round to me 

 i dost said i unconsciously he was so intense a quaker 

 what do ye think of him bildad said peleg 

 he'll do said bildad eyeing me and then went on spelling away at
his book in a mumbling tone quite audible 

i thought him the queerest old quaker i ever saw especially as peleg 
his friend and old shipmate seemed such a blusterer but i said
nothing only looking round me sharply peleg now threw open a chest 
and drawing forth the ship's articles placed pen and ink before him 
and seated himself at a little table i began to think it was high time
to settle with myself at what terms i would be willing to engage for
the voyage i was already aware that in the whaling business they paid
no wages but all hands including the captain received certain shares
of the profits called lays and that these lays were proportioned to
the degree of importance pertaining to the respective duties of the
ship's company i was also aware that being a green hand at whaling my
own lay would not be very large but considering that i was used to the
sea could steer a ship splice a rope and all that i made no doubt
that from all i had heard i should be offered at least the 275th
lay that is the 275th part of the clear net proceeds of the voyage 
whatever that might eventually amount to and though the 275th lay was
what they call a rather long lay yet it was better than nothing and
if we had a lucky voyage might pretty nearly pay for the clothing i
would wear out on it not to speak of my three years beef and board 
for which i would not have to pay one stiver 

it might be thought that this was a poor way to accumulate a princely
fortune and so it was a very poor way indeed but i am one of those
that never take on about princely fortunes and am quite content if the
world is ready to board and lodge me while i am putting up at this
grim sign of the thunder cloud upon the whole i thought that the
275th lay would be about the fair thing but would not have been
surprised had i been offered the 200th considering i was of a
broad-shouldered make 

but one thing nevertheless that made me a little distrustful about
receiving a generous share of the profits was this ashore i had heard
something of both captain peleg and his unaccountable old crony bildad 
how that they being the principal proprietors of the pequod therefore
the other and more inconsiderable and scattered owners left nearly the
whole management of the ship's affairs to these two and i did not know
but what the stingy old bildad might have a mighty deal to say about
shipping hands especially as i now found him on board the pequod 
quite at home there in the cabin and reading his bible as if at his
own fireside now while peleg was vainly trying to mend a pen with his
jack-knife old bildad to my no small surprise considering that he
was such an interested party in these proceedings bildad never heeded
us but went on mumbling to himself out of his book lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth where moth 

 well captain bildad interrupted peleg what d'ye say what lay
shall we give this young man 

 thou knowest best was the sepulchral reply the seven hundred and
seventy-seventh wouldn't be too much would it where moth and rust do
corrupt but lay 

 lay indeed thought i and such a lay the seven hundred and
seventy-seventh well old bildad you are determined that i for one 
shall not lay up many lays here below where moth and rust do
corrupt it was an exceedingly long lay that indeed and though from
the magnitude of the figure it might at first deceive a landsman yet
the slightest consideration will show that though seven hundred and
seventy-seven is a pretty large number yet when you come to make a
 teenth of it you will then see i say that the seven hundred and
seventy-seventh part of a farthing is a good deal less than seven
hundred and seventy-seven gold doubloons and so i thought at the time 

 why blast your eyes bildad cried peleg thou dost not want to
swindle this young man he must have more than that 

 seven hundred and seventy-seventh again said bildad without lifting
his eyes and then went on mumbling for where your treasure is there
will your heart be also 

 i am going to put him down for the three hundredth said peleg do
ye hear that bildad the three hundredth lay i say 

bildad laid down his book and turning solemnly towards him said 
 captain peleg thou hast a generous heart but thou must consider the
duty thou owest to the other owners of this ship widows and orphans 
many of them and that if we too abundantly reward the labors of this
young man we may be taking the bread from those widows and those
orphans the seven hundred and seventy-seventh lay captain peleg 

 thou bildad roared peleg starting up and clattering about the
cabin blast ye captain bildad if i had followed thy advice in these
matters i would afore now had a conscience to lug about that would be
heavy enough to founder the largest ship that ever sailed round cape
horn 

 captain peleg said bildad steadily thy conscience may be drawing
ten inches of water or ten fathoms i can't tell but as thou art
still an impenitent man captain peleg i greatly fear lest thy
conscience be but a leaky one and will in the end sink thee foundering
down to the fiery pit captain peleg 

 fiery pit fiery pit ye insult me man past all natural bearing ye
insult me it's an all-fired outrage to tell any human creature that
he's bound to hell flukes and flames bildad say that again to me 
and start my soul-bolts but i'll i'll yes i'll swallow a live goat
with all his hair and horns on out of the cabin ye canting 
drab-coloured son of a wooden gun a straight wake with ye 

as he thundered out this he made a rush at bildad but with a
marvellous oblique sliding celerity bildad for that time eluded him 

alarmed at this terrible outburst between the two principal and
responsible owners of the ship and feeling half a mind to give up all
idea of sailing in a vessel so questionably owned and temporarily
commanded i stepped aside from the door to give egress to bildad who 
i made no doubt was all eagerness to vanish from before the awakened
wrath of peleg but to my astonishment he sat down again on the
transom very quietly and seemed to have not the slightest intention of
withdrawing he seemed quite used to impenitent peleg and his ways as
for peleg after letting off his rage as he had there seemed no more
left in him and he too sat down like a lamb though he twitched a
little as if still nervously agitated whew he whistled at last the
squall's gone off to leeward i think bildad thou used to be good at
sharpening a lance mend that pen will ye my jack-knife here needs
the grindstone that's he thank ye bildad now then my young man 
ishmael's thy name didn't ye say well then down ye go here ishmael 
for the three hundredth lay 

 captain peleg said i i have a friend with me who wants to ship
too shall i bring him down to-morrow 

 to be sure said peleg fetch him along and we'll look at him 

 what lay does he want groaned bildad glancing up from the book in
which he had again been burying himself 

 oh never thee mind about that bildad said peleg has he ever
whaled it any turning to me 

 killed more whales than i can count captain peleg 

 well bring him along then 

and after signing the papers off i went nothing doubting but that i
had done a good morning's work and that the pequod was the identical
ship that yojo had provided to carry queequeg and me round the cape 

but i had not proceeded far when i began to bethink me that the
captain with whom i was to sail yet remained unseen by me though 
indeed in many cases a whale-ship will be completely fitted out and
receive all her crew on board ere the captain makes himself visible by
arriving to take command for sometimes these voyages are so prolonged 
and the shore intervals at home so exceedingly brief that if the
captain have a family or any absorbing concernment of that sort he
does not trouble himself much about his ship in port but leaves her to
the owners till all is ready for sea however it is always as well to
have a look at him before irrevocably committing yourself into his
hands turning back i accosted captain peleg inquiring where captain
ahab was to be found 

 and what dost thou want of captain ahab it's all right enough thou
art shipped 

 yes but i should like to see him 

 but i don't think thou wilt be able to at present i don't know
exactly what's the matter with him but he keeps close inside the
house a sort of sick and yet he don't look so in fact he ain't
sick but no he isn't well either any how young man he won't always
see me so i don't suppose he will thee he's a queer man captain
ahab so some think but a good one oh thou'lt like him well enough no
fear no fear he's a grand ungodly god-like man captain ahab 
doesn't speak much but when he does speak then you may well listen 
mark ye be forewarned ahab's above the common ahab's been in
colleges as well as mong the cannibals been used to deeper wonders
than the waves fixed his fiery lance in mightier stranger foes than
whales his lance aye the keenest and the surest that out of all our
isle oh he ain't captain bildad no and he ain't captain peleg 
 he's ahab boy and ahab of old thou knowest was a crowned king 

 and a very vile one when that wicked king was slain the dogs did
they not lick his blood 

 come hither to me hither hither said peleg with a significance in
his eye that almost startled me look ye lad never say that on board
the pequod never say it anywhere captain ahab did not name himself 
 twas a foolish ignorant whim of his crazy widowed mother who died
when he was only a twelvemonth old and yet the old squaw tistig at
gayhead said that the name would somehow prove prophetic and 
perhaps other fools like her may tell thee the same i wish to warn
thee it's a lie i know captain ahab well i've sailed with him as
mate years ago i know what he is a good man not a pious good man 
like bildad but a swearing good man something like me only there's a
good deal more of him aye aye i know that he was never very jolly 
and i know that on the passage home he was a little out of his mind
for a spell but it was the sharp shooting pains in his bleeding stump
that brought that about as any one might see i know too that ever
since he lost his leg last voyage by that accursed whale he's been a
kind of moody desperate moody and savage sometimes but that will all
pass off and once for all let me tell thee and assure thee young
man it's better to sail with a moody good captain than a laughing bad
one so good-bye to thee and wrong not captain ahab because he happens
to have a wicked name besides my boy he has a wife not three voyages
wedded a sweet resigned girl think of that by that sweet girl that
old man has a child hold ye then there can be any utter hopeless harm
in ahab no no my lad stricken blasted if he be ahab has his
humanities 

as i walked away i was full of thoughtfulness what had been
incidentally revealed to me of captain ahab filled me with a certain
wild vagueness of painfulness concerning him and somehow at the time 
i felt a sympathy and a sorrow for him but for i don't know what 
unless it was the cruel loss of his leg and yet i also felt a strange
awe of him but that sort of awe which i cannot at all describe was
not exactly awe i do not know what it was but i felt it and it did
not disincline me towards him though i felt impatience at what seemed
like mystery in him so imperfectly as he was known to me then 
however my thoughts were at length carried in other directions so
that for the present dark ahab slipped my mind 


chapter 17 the ramadan 

as queequeg's ramadan or fasting and humiliation was to continue all
day i did not choose to disturb him till towards night-fall for i
cherish the greatest respect towards everybody's religious obligations 
never mind how comical and could not find it in my heart to undervalue
even a congregation of ants worshipping a toad-stool or those other
creatures in certain parts of our earth who with a degree of
footmanism quite unprecedented in other planets bow down before the
torso of a deceased landed proprietor merely on account of the
inordinate possessions yet owned and rented in his name 

i say we good presbyterian christians should be charitable in these
things and not fancy ourselves so vastly superior to other mortals 
pagans and what not because of their half-crazy conceits on these
subjects there was queequeg now certainly entertaining the most
absurd notions about yojo and his ramadan but what of that queequeg
thought he knew what he was about i suppose he seemed to be content 
and there let him rest all our arguing with him would not avail let
him be i say and heaven have mercy on us all presbyterians and pagans
alike for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head and
sadly need mending 

towards evening when i felt assured that all his performances and
rituals must be over i went up to his room and knocked at the door 
but no answer i tried to open it but it was fastened inside 
 queequeg said i softly through the key-hole all silent i say 
queequeg why don't you speak it's i ishmael but all remained still
as before i began to grow alarmed i had allowed him such abundant
time i thought he might have had an apoplectic fit i looked through
the key-hole but the door opening into an odd corner of the room the
key-hole prospect was but a crooked and sinister one i could only see
part of the foot-board of the bed and a line of the wall but nothing
more i was surprised to behold resting against the wall the wooden
shaft of queequeg's harpoon which the landlady the evening previous
had taken from him before our mounting to the chamber that's strange 
thought i but at any rate since the harpoon stands yonder and he
seldom or never goes abroad without it therefore he must be inside
here and no possible mistake 

 queequeg queequeg all still something must have happened 
apoplexy i tried to burst open the door but it stubbornly resisted 
running down stairs i quickly stated my suspicions to the first person
i met the chamber-maid la la she cried i thought something must
be the matter i went to make the bed after breakfast and the door was
locked and not a mouse to be heard and it's been just so silent ever
since but i thought may be you had both gone off and locked your
baggage in for safe keeping la la ma'am mistress murder mrs 
hussey apoplexy and with these cries she ran towards the kitchen i
following 

mrs hussey soon appeared with a mustard-pot in one hand and a
vinegar-cruet in the other having just broken away from the occupation
of attending to the castors and scolding her little black boy
meantime 

 wood-house cried i which way to it run for god's sake and fetch
something to pry open the door the axe the axe he's had a stroke 
depend upon it and so saying i was unmethodically rushing up stairs
again empty-handed when mrs hussey interposed the mustard-pot and
vinegar-cruet and the entire castor of her countenance 

 what's the matter with you young man 

 get the axe for god's sake run for the doctor some one while i pry
it open 

 look here said the landlady quickly putting down the vinegar-cruet 
so as to have one hand free look here are you talking about prying
open any of my doors and with that she seized my arm what's the
matter with you what's the matter with you shipmate 

in as calm but rapid a manner as possible i gave her to understand
the whole case unconsciously clapping the vinegar-cruet to one side of
her nose she ruminated for an instant then exclaimed no i haven't
seen it since i put it there running to a little closet under the
landing of the stairs she glanced in and returning told me that
queequeg's harpoon was missing he's killed himself she cried it's
unfort'nate stiggs done over again there goes another counterpane god
pity his poor mother it will be the ruin of my house has the poor lad
a sister where's that girl there betty go to snarles the painter 
and tell him to paint me a sign with no suicides permitted here and
no smoking in the parlor might as well kill both birds at once kill 
the lord be merciful to his ghost what's that noise there you young
man avast there 

and running up after me she caught me as i was again trying to force
open the door 

 i don't allow it i won't have my premises spoiled go for the
locksmith there's one about a mile from here but avast putting her
hand in her side-pocket here's a key that'll fit i guess let's
see and with that she turned it in the lock but alas queequeg's
supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within 

 have to burst it open said i and was running down the entry a
little for a good start when the landlady caught at me again vowing
i should not break down her premises but i tore from her and with a
sudden bodily rush dashed myself full against the mark 

with a prodigious noise the door flew open and the knob slamming
against the wall sent the plaster to the ceiling and there good
heavens there sat queequeg altogether cool and self-collected right
in the middle of the room squatting on his hams and holding yojo on
top of his head he looked neither one way nor the other way but sat
like a carved image with scarce a sign of active life 

 queequeg said i going up to him queequeg what's the matter with
you 

 he hain't been a sittin so all day has he said the landlady 

but all we said not a word could we drag out of him i almost felt
like pushing him over so as to change his position for it was almost
intolerable it seemed so painfully and unnaturally constrained 
especially as in all probability he had been sitting so for upwards of
eight or ten hours going too without his regular meals 

 mrs hussey said i he's alive at all events so leave us if you
please and i will see to this strange affair myself 

closing the door upon the landlady i endeavored to prevail upon
queequeg to take a chair but in vain there he sat and all he could
do for all my polite arts and blandishments he would not move a peg 
nor say a single word nor even look at me nor notice my presence in
the slightest way 

i wonder thought i if this can possibly be a part of his ramadan do
they fast on their hams that way in his native island it must be so 
yes it's part of his creed i suppose well then let him rest he'll
get up sooner or later no doubt it can't last for ever thank god 
and his ramadan only comes once a year and i don't believe it's very
punctual then 

i went down to supper after sitting a long time listening to the long
stories of some sailors who had just come from a plum-pudding voyage 
as they called it that is a short whaling-voyage in a schooner or
brig confined to the north of the line in the atlantic ocean only 
after listening to these plum-puddingers till nearly eleven o'clock i
went up stairs to go to bed feeling quite sure by this time queequeg
must certainly have brought his ramadan to a termination but no there
he was just where i had left him he had not stirred an inch i began
to grow vexed with him it seemed so downright senseless and insane to
be sitting there all day and half the night on his hams in a cold room 
holding a piece of wood on his head 

 for heaven's sake queequeg get up and shake yourself get up and
have some supper you'll starve you'll kill yourself queequeg but
not a word did he reply 

despairing of him therefore i determined to go to bed and to sleep 
and no doubt before a great while he would follow me but previous to
turning in i took my heavy bearskin jacket and threw it over him as
it promised to be a very cold night and he had nothing but his
ordinary round jacket on for some time do all i would i could not
get into the faintest doze i had blown out the candle and the mere
thought of queequeg not four feet off sitting there in that uneasy
position stark alone in the cold and dark this made me really
wretched think of it sleeping all night in the same room with a wide
awake pagan on his hams in this dreary unaccountable ramadan 

but somehow i dropped off at last and knew nothing more till break of
day when looking over the bedside there squatted queequeg as if he
had been screwed down to the floor but as soon as the first glimpse of
sun entered the window up he got with stiff and grating joints but
with a cheerful look limped towards me where i lay pressed his
forehead again against mine and said his ramadan was over 

now as i before hinted i have no objection to any person's religion 
be it what it may so long as that person does not kill or insult any
other person because that other person don't believe it also but when
a man's religion becomes really frantic when it is a positive torment
to him and in fine makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to
lodge in then i think it high time to take that individual aside and
argue the point with him 

and just so i now did with queequeg queequeg said i get into bed
now and lie and listen to me i then went on beginning with the rise
and progress of the primitive religions and coming down to the various
religions of the present time during which time i labored to show
queequeg that all these lents ramadans and prolonged ham-squattings
in cold cheerless rooms were stark nonsense bad for the health 
useless for the soul opposed in short to the obvious laws of hygiene
and common sense i told him too that he being in other things such
an extremely sensible and sagacious savage it pained me very badly
pained me to see him now so deplorably foolish about this ridiculous
ramadan of his besides argued i fasting makes the body cave in 
hence the spirit caves in and all thoughts born of a fast must
necessarily be half-starved this is the reason why most dyspeptic
religionists cherish such melancholy notions about their hereafters in
one word queequeg said i rather digressively hell is an idea first
born on an undigested apple-dumpling and since then perpetuated
through the hereditary dyspepsias nurtured by ramadans 

i then asked queequeg whether he himself was ever troubled with
dyspepsia expressing the idea very plainly so that he could take it
in he said no only upon one memorable occasion it was after a great
feast given by his father the king on the gaining of a great battle
wherein fifty of the enemy had been killed by about two o'clock in the
afternoon and all cooked and eaten that very evening 

 no more queequeg said i shuddering that will do for i knew the
inferences without his further hinting them i had seen a sailor who
had visited that very island and he told me that it was the custom 
when a great battle had been gained there to barbecue all the slain in
the yard or garden of the victor and then one by one they were
placed in great wooden trenchers and garnished round like a pilau 
with breadfruit and cocoanuts and with some parsley in their mouths 
were sent round with the victor's compliments to all his friends just
as though these presents were so many christmas turkeys 

after all i do not think that my remarks about religion made much
impression upon queequeg because in the first place he somehow
seemed dull of hearing on that important subject unless considered
from his own point of view and in the second place he did not more
than one third understand me couch my ideas simply as i would and 
finally he no doubt thought he knew a good deal more about the true
religion than i did he looked at me with a sort of condescending
concern and compassion as though he thought it a great pity that such
a sensible young man should be so hopelessly lost to evangelical pagan
piety 

at last we rose and dressed and queequeg taking a prodigiously hearty
breakfast of chowders of all sorts so that the landlady should not
make much profit by reason of his ramadan we sallied out to board the
pequod sauntering along and picking our teeth with halibut bones 


chapter 18 his mark 

as we were walking down the end of the wharf towards the ship queequeg
carrying his harpoon captain peleg in his gruff voice loudly hailed us
from his wigwam saying he had not suspected my friend was a cannibal 
and furthermore announcing that he let no cannibals on board that
craft unless they previously produced their papers 

 what do you mean by that captain peleg said i now jumping on the
bulwarks and leaving my comrade standing on the wharf 

 i mean he replied he must show his papers 

 yes said captain bildad in his hollow voice sticking his head from
behind peleg's out of the wigwam he must show that he's converted 
son of darkness he added turning to queequeg art thou at present
in communion with any christian church 

 why said i he's a member of the first congregational church here
be it said that many tattooed savages sailing in nantucket ships at
last come to be converted into the churches 

 first congregational church cried bildad what that worships in
deacon deuteronomy coleman's meeting-house and so saying taking out
his spectacles he rubbed them with his great yellow bandana
handkerchief and putting them on very carefully came out of the
wigwam and leaning stiffly over the bulwarks took a good long look at
queequeg 

 how long hath he been a member he then said turning to me not
very long i rather guess young man 

 no said peleg and he hasn't been baptized right either or it
would have washed some of that devil's blue off his face 

 do tell now cried bildad is this philistine a regular member of
deacon deuteronomy's meeting i never saw him going there and i pass
it every lord's day 

 i don't know anything about deacon deuteronomy or his meeting said
i all i know is that queequeg here is a born member of the first
congregational church he is a deacon himself queequeg is 

 young man said bildad sternly thou art skylarking with me explain
thyself thou young hittite what church dost thee mean answer me 

finding myself thus hard pushed i replied i mean sir the same
ancient catholic church to which you and i and captain peleg there 
and queequeg here and all of us and every mother's son and soul of us
belong the great and everlasting first congregation of this whole
worshipping world we all belong to that only some of us cherish some
queer crotchets no ways touching the grand belief in that we all
join hands 

 splice thou mean'st splice hands cried peleg drawing nearer 
 young man you'd better ship for a missionary instead of a fore-mast
hand i never heard a better sermon deacon deuteronomy why father
mapple himself couldn't beat it and he's reckoned something come
aboard come aboard never mind about the papers i say tell quohog
there what's that you call him tell quohog to step along by the great
anchor what a harpoon he's got there looks like good stuff that and
he handles it about right i say quohog or whatever your name is did
you ever stand in the head of a whale-boat did you ever strike a
fish 

without saying a word queequeg in his wild sort of way jumped upon
the bulwarks from thence into the bows of one of the whale-boats
hanging to the side and then bracing his left knee and poising his
harpoon cried out in some such way as this 

 cap'ain you see him small drop tar on water dere you see him well 
spose him one whale eye well den and taking sharp aim at it he
darted the iron right over old bildad's broad brim clean across the
ship's decks and struck the glistening tar spot out of sight 

 now said queequeg quietly hauling in the line spos-ee him whale-e
eye why dad whale dead 

 quick bildad said peleg his partner who aghast at the close
vicinity of the flying harpoon had retreated towards the cabin
gangway quick i say you bildad and get the ship's papers we must
have hedgehog there i mean quohog in one of our boats look ye 
quohog we'll give ye the ninetieth lay and that's more than ever was
given a harpooneer yet out of nantucket 

so down we went into the cabin and to my great joy queequeg was soon
enrolled among the same ship's company to which i myself belonged 

when all preliminaries were over and peleg had got everything ready for
signing he turned to me and said i guess quohog there don't know
how to write does he i say quohog blast ye dost thou sign thy name
or make thy mark 

but at this question queequeg who had twice or thrice before taken
part in similar ceremonies looked no ways abashed but taking the
offered pen copied upon the paper in the proper place an exact
counterpart of a queer round figure which was tattooed upon his arm so
that through captain peleg's obstinate mistake touching his
appellative it stood something like this 

quohog his x mark 

meanwhile captain bildad sat earnestly and steadfastly eyeing queequeg 
and at last rising solemnly and fumbling in the huge pockets of his
broad-skirted drab coat took out a bundle of tracts and selecting one
entitled the latter day coming or no time to lose placed it in
queequeg's hands and then grasping them and the book with both his 
looked earnestly into his eyes and said son of darkness i must do
my duty by thee i am part owner of this ship and feel concerned for
the souls of all its crew if thou still clingest to thy pagan ways 
which i sadly fear i beseech thee remain not for aye a belial
bondsman spurn the idol bell and the hideous dragon turn from the
wrath to come mind thine eye i say oh goodness gracious steer
clear of the fiery pit 

something of the salt sea yet lingered in old bildad's language 
heterogeneously mixed with scriptural and domestic phrases 

 avast there avast there bildad avast now spoiling our harpooneer 
cried peleg pious harpooneers never make good voyagers it takes the
shark out of em no harpooneer is worth a straw who aint pretty
sharkish there was young nat swaine once the bravest boat-header out
of all nantucket and the vineyard he joined the meeting and never
came to good he got so frightened about his plaguy soul that he
shrinked and sheered away from whales for fear of after-claps in case
he got stove and went to davy jones 

 peleg peleg said bildad lifting his eyes and hands thou thyself 
as i myself hast seen many a perilous time thou knowest peleg what
it is to have the fear of death how then can'st thou prate in this
ungodly guise thou beliest thine own heart peleg tell me when this
same pequod here had her three masts overboard in that typhoon on
japan that same voyage when thou went mate with captain ahab did'st
thou not think of death and the judgment then 

 hear him hear him now cried peleg marching across the cabin and
thrusting his hands far down into his pockets hear him all of ye 
think of that when every moment we thought the ship would sink death
and the judgment then what with all three masts making such an
everlasting thundering against the side and every sea breaking over
us fore and aft think of death and the judgment then no no time to
think about death then life was what captain ahab and i was thinking
of and how to save all hands how to rig jury-masts how to get into the
nearest port that was what i was thinking of 

bildad said no more but buttoning up his coat stalked on deck where
we followed him there he stood very quietly overlooking some
sailmakers who were mending a top-sail in the waist now and then he
stooped to pick up a patch or save an end of tarred twine which
otherwise might have been wasted 


chapter 19 the prophet 

 shipmates have ye shipped in that ship 

queequeg and i had just left the pequod and were sauntering away from
the water for the moment each occupied with his own thoughts when the
above words were put to us by a stranger who pausing before us 
levelled his massive forefinger at the vessel in question he was but
shabbily apparelled in faded jacket and patched trowsers a rag of a
black handkerchief investing his neck a confluent small-pox had in all
directions flowed over his face and left it like the complicated
ribbed bed of a torrent when the rushing waters have been dried up 

 have ye shipped in her he repeated 

 you mean the ship pequod i suppose said i trying to gain a little
more time for an uninterrupted look at him 

 aye the pequod that ship there he said drawing back his whole arm 
and then rapidly shoving it straight out from him with the fixed
bayonet of his pointed finger darted full at the object 

 yes said i we have just signed the articles 

 anything down there about your souls 

 about what 

 oh perhaps you hav'n t got any he said quickly no matter though 
i know many chaps that hav'n t got any good luck to em and they are
all the better off for it a soul's a sort of a fifth wheel to a
wagon 

 what are you jabbering about shipmate said i 

 he's got enough though to make up for all deficiencies of that
sort in other chaps abruptly said the stranger placing a nervous
emphasis upon the word he 

 queequeg said i let's go this fellow has broken loose from
somewhere he's talking about something and somebody we don't know 

 stop cried the stranger ye said true ye hav'n t seen old thunder
yet have ye 

 who's old thunder said i again riveted with the insane earnestness
of his manner 

 captain ahab 

 what the captain of our ship the pequod 

 aye among some of us old sailor chaps he goes by that name ye
hav'n t seen him yet have ye 

 no we hav'n t he's sick they say but is getting better and will be
all right again before long 

 all right again before long laughed the stranger with a solemnly
derisive sort of laugh look ye when captain ahab is all right then
this left arm of mine will be all right not before 

 what do you know about him 

 what did they tell you about him say that 

 they didn't tell much of anything about him only i've heard that he's
a good whale-hunter and a good captain to his crew 

 that's true that's true yes both true enough but you must jump when
he gives an order step and growl growl and go that's the word with
captain ahab but nothing about that thing that happened to him off
cape horn long ago when he lay like dead for three days and nights 
nothing about that deadly skrimmage with the spaniard afore the altar
in santa heard nothing about that eh nothing about the silver
calabash he spat into and nothing about his losing his leg last
voyage according to the prophecy didn't ye hear a word about them
matters and something more eh no i don't think ye did how could ye 
who knows it not all nantucket i guess but hows'ever mayhap ye've
heard tell about the leg and how he lost it aye ye have heard of
that i dare say oh yes that every one knows a'most i mean they
know he's only one leg and that a parmacetti took the other off 

 my friend said i what all this gibberish of yours is about i
don't know and i don't much care for it seems to me that you must be
a little damaged in the head but if you are speaking of captain ahab 
of that ship there the pequod then let me tell you that i know all
about the loss of his leg 

 all about it eh sure you do all 

 pretty sure 

with finger pointed and eye levelled at the pequod the beggar-like
stranger stood a moment as if in a troubled reverie then starting a
little turned and said ye've shipped have ye names down on the
papers well well what's signed is signed and what's to be will
be and then again perhaps it won't be after all anyhow it's all
fixed and arranged a'ready and some sailors or other must go with him 
i suppose as well these as any other men god pity em morning to ye 
shipmates morning the ineffable heavens bless ye i'm sorry i stopped
ye 

 look here friend said i if you have anything important to tell
us out with it but if you are only trying to bamboozle us you are
mistaken in your game that's all i have to say 

 and it's said very well and i like to hear a chap talk up that way 
you are just the man for him the likes of ye morning to ye shipmates 
morning oh when ye get there tell em i've concluded not to make one
of em 

 ah my dear fellow you can't fool us that way you can't fool us it
is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he had a
great secret in him 

 morning to ye shipmates morning 

 morning it is said i come along queequeg let's leave this crazy
man but stop tell me your name will you 

 elijah 

elijah thought i and we walked away both commenting after each
other's fashion upon this ragged old sailor and agreed that he was
nothing but a humbug trying to be a bugbear but we had not gone
perhaps above a hundred yards when chancing to turn a corner and
looking back as i did so who should be seen but elijah following us 
though at a distance somehow the sight of him struck me so that i
said nothing to queequeg of his being behind but passed on with my
comrade anxious to see whether the stranger would turn the same corner
that we did he did and then it seemed to me that he was dogging us 
but with what intent i could not for the life of me imagine this
circumstance coupled with his ambiguous half-hinting half-revealing 
shrouded sort of talk now begat in me all kinds of vague wonderments
and half-apprehensions and all connected with the pequod and captain
ahab and the leg he had lost and the cape horn fit and the silver
calabash and what captain peleg had said of him when i left the ship
the day previous and the prediction of the squaw tistig and the
voyage we had bound ourselves to sail and a hundred other shadowy
things 

i was resolved to satisfy myself whether this ragged elijah was really
dogging us or not and with that intent crossed the way with queequeg 
and on that side of it retraced our steps but elijah passed on 
without seeming to notice us this relieved me and once more and
finally as it seemed to me i pronounced him in my heart a humbug 


chapter 20 all astir 

a day or two passed and there was great activity aboard the pequod 
not only were the old sails being mended but new sails were coming on
board and bolts of canvas and coils of rigging in short everything
betokened that the ship's preparations were hurrying to a close 
captain peleg seldom or never went ashore but sat in his wigwam
keeping a sharp look-out upon the hands bildad did all the purchasing
and providing at the stores and the men employed in the hold and on
the rigging were working till long after night-fall 

on the day following queequeg's signing the articles word was given at
all the inns where the ship's company were stopping that their chests
must be on board before night for there was no telling how soon the
vessel might be sailing so queequeg and i got down our traps 
resolving however to sleep ashore till the last but it seems they
always give very long notice in these cases and the ship did not sail
for several days but no wonder there was a good deal to be done and
there is no telling how many things to be thought of before the pequod
was fully equipped 

every one knows what a multitude of things beds sauce-pans knives and
forks shovels and tongs napkins nut-crackers and what not are
indispensable to the business of housekeeping just so with whaling 
which necessitates a three-years housekeeping upon the wide ocean far
from all grocers costermongers doctors bakers and bankers and
though this also holds true of merchant vessels yet not by any means
to the same extent as with whalemen for besides the great length of
the whaling voyage the numerous articles peculiar to the prosecution
of the fishery and the impossibility of replacing them at the remote
harbors usually frequented it must be remembered that of all ships 
whaling vessels are the most exposed to accidents of all kinds and
especially to the destruction and loss of the very things upon which
the success of the voyage most depends hence the spare boats spare
spars and spare lines and harpoons and spare everythings almost but
a spare captain and duplicate ship 

at the period of our arrival at the island the heaviest storage of the
pequod had been almost completed comprising her beef bread water 
fuel and iron hoops and staves but as before hinted for some time
there was a continual fetching and carrying on board of divers odds and
ends of things both large and small 

chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was captain
bildad's sister a lean old lady of a most determined and indefatigable
spirit but withal very kindhearted who seemed resolved that if she 
could help it nothing should be found wanting in the pequod after
once fairly getting to sea at one time she would come on board with a
jar of pickles for the steward's pantry another time with a bunch of
quills for the chief mate's desk where he kept his log a third time
with a roll of flannel for the small of some one's rheumatic back 
never did any woman better deserve her name which was charity aunt
charity as everybody called her and like a sister of charity did this
charitable aunt charity bustle about hither and thither ready to turn
her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield safety comfort 
and consolation to all on board a ship in which her beloved brother
bildad was concerned and in which she herself owned a score or two of
well-saved dollars 

but it was startling to see this excellent hearted quakeress coming on
board as she did the last day with a long oil-ladle in one hand and
a still longer whaling lance in the other nor was bildad himself nor
captain peleg at all backward as for bildad he carried about with him
a long list of the articles needed and at every fresh arrival down
went his mark opposite that article upon the paper every once in a
while peleg came hobbling out of his whalebone den roaring at the men
down the hatchways roaring up to the riggers at the mast-head and
then concluded by roaring back into his wigwam 

during these days of preparation queequeg and i often visited the
craft and as often i asked about captain ahab and how he was and
when he was going to come on board his ship to these questions they
would answer that he was getting better and better and was expected
aboard every day meantime the two captains peleg and bildad could
attend to everything necessary to fit the vessel for the voyage if i
had been downright honest with myself i would have seen very plainly
in my heart that i did but half fancy being committed this way to so
long a voyage without once laying my eyes on the man who was to be the
absolute dictator of it so soon as the ship sailed out upon the open
sea but when a man suspects any wrong it sometimes happens that if he
be already involved in the matter he insensibly strives to cover up
his suspicions even from himself and much this way it was with me i
said nothing and tried to think nothing 

at last it was given out that some time next day the ship would
certainly sail so next morning queequeg and i took a very early
start 


chapter 21 going aboard 

it was nearly six o'clock but only grey imperfect misty dawn when we
drew nigh the wharf 

 there are some sailors running ahead there if i see right said i to
queequeg it can't be shadows she's off by sunrise i guess come
on 

 avast cried a voice whose owner at the same time coming close
behind us laid a hand upon both our shoulders and then insinuating
himself between us stood stooping forward a little in the uncertain
twilight strangely peering from queequeg to me it was elijah 

 going aboard 

 hands off will you said i 

 lookee here said queequeg shaking himself go way 

 ain't going aboard then 

 yes we are said i but what business is that of yours do you
know mr elijah that i consider you a little impertinent 

 no no no i wasn't aware of that said elijah slowly and
wonderingly looking from me to queequeg with the most unaccountable
glances 

 elijah said i you will oblige my friend and me by withdrawing we
are going to the indian and pacific oceans and would prefer not to be
detained 

 ye be be ye coming back afore breakfast 

 he's cracked queequeg said i come on 

 holloa cried stationary elijah hailing us when we had removed a few
paces 

 never mind him said i queequeg come on 

but he stole up to us again and suddenly clapping his hand on my
shoulder said did ye see anything looking like men going towards that
ship a while ago 

struck by this plain matter-of-fact question i answered saying yes 
i thought i did see four or five men but it was too dim to be sure 

 very dim very dim said elijah morning to ye 

once more we quitted him but once more he came softly after us and
touching my shoulder again said see if you can find em now will
ye 

 find who 

 morning to ye morning to ye he rejoined again moving off oh i
was going to warn ye against but never mind never mind it's all one 
all in the family too sharp frost this morning ain't it good-bye to
ye shan't see ye again very soon i guess unless it's before the
grand jury and with these cracked words he finally departed leaving
me for the moment in no small wonderment at his frantic impudence 

at last stepping on board the pequod we found everything in profound
quiet not a soul moving the cabin entrance was locked within the
hatches were all on and lumbered with coils of rigging going forward
to the forecastle we found the slide of the scuttle open seeing a
light we went down and found only an old rigger there wrapped in a
tattered pea-jacket he was thrown at whole length upon two chests his
face downwards and inclosed in his folded arms the profoundest slumber
slept upon him 

 those sailors we saw queequeg where can they have gone to said i 
looking dubiously at the sleeper but it seemed that when on the
wharf queequeg had not at all noticed what i now alluded to hence i
would have thought myself to have been optically deceived in that
matter were it not for elijah's otherwise inexplicable question but i
beat the thing down and again marking the sleeper jocularly hinted to
queequeg that perhaps we had best sit up with the body telling him to
establish himself accordingly he put his hand upon the sleeper's rear 
as though feeling if it was soft enough and then without more ado 
sat quietly down there 

 gracious queequeg don't sit there said i 

 oh perry dood seat said queequeg my country way won't hurt him
face 

 face said i call that his face very benevolent countenance then 
but how hard he breathes he's heaving himself get off queequeg you
are heavy it's grinding the face of the poor get off queequeg look 
he'll twitch you off soon i wonder he don't wake 

queequeg removed himself to just beyond the head of the sleeper and
lighted his tomahawk pipe i sat at the feet we kept the pipe passing
over the sleeper from one to the other meanwhile upon questioning
him in his broken fashion queequeg gave me to understand that in his
land owing to the absence of settees and sofas of all sorts the king 
chiefs and great people generally were in the custom of fattening
some of the lower orders for ottomans and to furnish a house
comfortably in that respect you had only to buy up eight or ten lazy
fellows and lay them round in the piers and alcoves besides it was
very convenient on an excursion much better than those garden-chairs
which are convertible into walking-sticks upon occasion a chief
calling his attendant and desiring him to make a settee of himself
under a spreading tree perhaps in some damp marshy place 

while narrating these things every time queequeg received the tomahawk
from me he flourished the hatchet-side of it over the sleeper's head 

 what's that for queequeg 

 perry easy kill-e oh perry easy 

he was going on with some wild reminiscences about his tomahawk-pipe 
which it seemed had in its two uses both brained his foes and soothed
his soul when we were directly attracted to the sleeping rigger the
strong vapor now completely filling the contracted hole it began to
tell upon him he breathed with a sort of muffledness then seemed
troubled in the nose then revolved over once or twice then sat up and
rubbed his eyes 

 holloa he breathed at last who be ye smokers 

 shipped men answered i when does she sail 

 aye aye ye are going in her be ye she sails to-day the captain
came aboard last night 

 what captain ahab 

 who but him indeed 

i was going to ask him some further questions concerning ahab when we
heard a noise on deck 

 holloa starbuck's astir said the rigger he's a lively chief mate 
that good man and a pious but all alive now i must turn to and so
saying he went on deck and we followed 

it was now clear sunrise soon the crew came on board in twos and
threes the riggers bestirred themselves the mates were actively
engaged and several of the shore people were busy in bringing various
last things on board meanwhile captain ahab remained invisibly
enshrined within his cabin 


chapter 22 merry christmas 

at length towards noon upon the final dismissal of the ship's
riggers and after the pequod had been hauled out from the wharf and
after the ever-thoughtful charity had come off in a whale-boat with
her last gift a night-cap for stubb the second mate her
brother-in-law and a spare bible for the steward after all this the
two captains peleg and bildad issued from the cabin and turning to
the chief mate peleg said 

 now mr starbuck are you sure everything is right captain ahab is
all ready just spoke to him nothing more to be got from shore eh 
well call all hands then muster em aft here blast em 

 no need of profane words however great the hurry peleg said
bildad but away with thee friend starbuck and do our bidding 

how now here upon the very point of starting for the voyage captain
peleg and captain bildad were going it with a high hand on the
quarter-deck just as if they were to be joint-commanders at sea as
well as to all appearances in port and as for captain ahab no sign
of him was yet to be seen only they said he was in the cabin but
then the idea was that his presence was by no means necessary in
getting the ship under weigh and steering her well out to sea indeed 
as that was not at all his proper business but the pilot's and as he
was not yet completely recovered so they said therefore captain ahab
stayed below and all this seemed natural enough especially as in the
merchant service many captains never show themselves on deck for a
considerable time after heaving up the anchor but remain over the
cabin table having a farewell merry-making with their shore friends 
before they quit the ship for good with the pilot 

but there was not much chance to think over the matter for captain
peleg was now all alive he seemed to do most of the talking and
commanding and not bildad 

 aft here ye sons of bachelors he cried as the sailors lingered at
the main-mast mr starbuck drive em aft 

 strike the tent there was the next order as i hinted before this
whalebone marquee was never pitched except in port and on board the
pequod for thirty years the order to strike the tent was well known
to be the next thing to heaving up the anchor 

 man the capstan blood and thunder jump was the next command and
the crew sprang for the handspikes 

now in getting under weigh the station generally occupied by the pilot
is the forward part of the ship and here bildad who with peleg be
it known in addition to his other officers was one of the licensed
pilots of the port he being suspected to have got himself made a pilot
in order to save the nantucket pilot-fee to all the ships he was
concerned in for he never piloted any other craft bildad i say might
now be seen actively engaged in looking over the bows for the
approaching anchor and at intervals singing what seemed a dismal stave
of psalmody to cheer the hands at the windlass who roared forth some
sort of a chorus about the girls in booble alley with hearty good
will nevertheless not three days previous bildad had told them that
no profane songs would be allowed on board the pequod particularly in
getting under weigh and charity his sister had placed a small choice
copy of watts in each seaman's berth 

meantime overseeing the other part of the ship captain peleg ripped
and swore astern in the most frightful manner i almost thought he
would sink the ship before the anchor could be got up involuntarily i
paused on my handspike and told queequeg to do the same thinking of
the perils we both ran in starting on the voyage with such a devil for
a pilot i was comforting myself however with the thought that in
pious bildad might be found some salvation spite of his seven hundred
and seventy-seventh lay when i felt a sudden sharp poke in my rear 
and turning round was horrified at the apparition of captain peleg in
the act of withdrawing his leg from my immediate vicinity that was my
first kick 

 is that the way they heave in the marchant service he roared 
 spring thou sheep-head spring and break thy backbone why don't ye
spring i say all of ye spring quohog spring thou chap with the red
whiskers spring there scotch-cap spring thou green pants spring i
say all of ye and spring your eyes out and so saying he moved
along the windlass here and there using his leg very freely while
imperturbable bildad kept leading off with his psalmody thinks i 
captain peleg must have been drinking something to-day 

at last the anchor was up the sails were set and off we glided it
was a short cold christmas and as the short northern day merged into
night we found ourselves almost broad upon the wintry ocean whose
freezing spray cased us in ice as in polished armor the long rows of
teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight and like the white
ivory tusks of some huge elephant vast curving icicles depended from
the bows 

lank bildad as pilot headed the first watch and ever and anon as
the old craft deep dived into the green seas and sent the shivering
frost all over her and the winds howled and the cordage rang his
steady notes were heard 


 sweet fields beyond the swelling flood stand dressed in living
green so to the jews old canaan stood while jordan rolled between 



never did those sweet words sound more sweetly to me than then they
were full of hope and fruition spite of this frigid winter night in
the boisterous atlantic spite of my wet feet and wetter jacket there
was yet it then seemed to me many a pleasant haven in store and
meads and glades so eternally vernal that the grass shot up by the
spring untrodden unwilted remains at midsummer 

at last we gained such an offing that the two pilots were needed no
longer the stout sail-boat that had accompanied us began ranging
alongside 

it was curious and not unpleasing how peleg and bildad were affected
at this juncture especially captain bildad for loath to depart yet 
very loath to leave for good a ship bound on so long and perilous a
voyage beyond both stormy capes a ship in which some thousands of his
hard earned dollars were invested a ship in which an old shipmate
sailed as captain a man almost as old as he once more starting to
encounter all the terrors of the pitiless jaw loath to say good-bye to
a thing so every way brimful of every interest to him poor old bildad
lingered long paced the deck with anxious strides ran down into the
cabin to speak another farewell word there again came on deck and
looked to windward looked towards the wide and endless waters only
bounded by the far-off unseen eastern continents looked towards the
land looked aloft looked right and left looked everywhere and
nowhere and at last mechanically coiling a rope upon its pin 
convulsively grasped stout peleg by the hand and holding up a lantern 
for a moment stood gazing heroically in his face as much as to say 
 nevertheless friend peleg i can stand it yes i can 

as for peleg himself he took it more like a philosopher but for all
his philosophy there was a tear twinkling in his eye when the lantern
came too near and he too did not a little run from cabin to deck now
a word below and now a word with starbuck the chief mate 

but at last he turned to his comrade with a final sort of look about
him captain bildad come old shipmate we must go back the main-yard
there boat ahoy stand by to come close alongside now careful 
careful come bildad boy say your last luck to ye starbuck luck to
ye mr stubb luck to ye mr flask good-bye and good luck to ye
all and this day three years i'll have a hot supper smoking for ye in
old nantucket hurrah and away 

 god bless ye and have ye in his holy keeping men murmured old
bildad almost incoherently i hope ye'll have fine weather now so
that captain ahab may soon be moving among ye a pleasant sun is all he
needs and ye'll have plenty of them in the tropic voyage ye go be
careful in the hunt ye mates don't stave the boats needlessly ye
harpooneers good white cedar plank is raised full three per cent 
within the year don't forget your prayers either mr starbuck mind
that cooper don't waste the spare staves oh the sail-needles are in
the green locker don't whale it too much a lord's days men but
don't miss a fair chance either that's rejecting heaven's good gifts 
have an eye to the molasses tierce mr stubb it was a little leaky i
thought if ye touch at the islands mr flask beware of fornication 
good-bye good-bye don't keep that cheese too long down in the hold 
mr starbuck it'll spoil be careful with the butter twenty cents the
pound it was and mind ye if 

 come come captain bildad stop palavering away and with that 
peleg hurried him over the side and both dropt into the boat 

ship and boat diverged the cold damp night breeze blew between a
screaming gull flew overhead the two hulls wildly rolled we gave
three heavy-hearted cheers and blindly plunged like fate into the lone
atlantic 


chapter 23 the lee shore 

some chapters back one bulkington was spoken of a tall newlanded
mariner encountered in new bedford at the inn 

when on that shivering winter's night the pequod thrust her vindictive
bows into the cold malicious waves who should i see standing at her
helm but bulkington i looked with sympathetic awe and fearfulness upon
the man who in mid-winter just landed from a four years dangerous
voyage could so unrestingly push off again for still another
tempestuous term the land seemed scorching to his feet wonderfullest
things are ever the unmentionable deep memories yield no epitaphs 
this six-inch chapter is the stoneless grave of bulkington let me only
say that it fared with him as with the storm-tossed ship that
miserably drives along the leeward land the port would fain give
succor the port is pitiful in the port is safety comfort 
hearthstone supper warm blankets friends all that's kind to our
mortalities but in that gale the port the land is that ship's
direst jeopardy she must fly all hospitality one touch of land 
though it but graze the keel would make her shudder through and
through with all her might she crowds all sail off shore in so doing 
fights gainst the very winds that fain would blow her homeward seeks
all the lashed sea's landlessness again for refuge's sake forlornly
rushing into peril her only friend her bitterest foe 

know ye now bulkington glimpses do ye seem to see of that mortally
intolerable truth that all deep earnest thinking is but the intrepid
effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea while the
wildest winds of heaven and earth conspire to cast her on the
treacherous slavish shore 

but as in landlessness alone resides highest truth shoreless 
indefinite as god so better is it to perish in that howling infinite 
than be ingloriously dashed upon the lee even if that were safety for
worm-like then oh who would craven crawl to land terrors of the
terrible is all this agony so vain take heart take heart o
bulkington bear thee grimly demigod up from the spray of thy
ocean-perishing straight up leaps thy apotheosis 


chapter 24 the advocate 

as queequeg and i are now fairly embarked in this business of whaling 
and as this business of whaling has somehow come to be regarded among
landsmen as a rather unpoetical and disreputable pursuit therefore i
am all anxiety to convince ye ye landsmen of the injustice hereby
done to us hunters of whales 

in the first place it may be deemed almost superfluous to establish
the fact that among people at large the business of whaling is not
accounted on a level with what are called the liberal professions if a
stranger were introduced into any miscellaneous metropolitan society 
it would but slightly advance the general opinion of his merits were
he presented to the company as a harpooneer say and if in emulation
of the naval officers he should append the initials s w f sperm whale
fishery to his visiting card such a procedure would be deemed
pre-eminently presuming and ridiculous 

doubtless one leading reason why the world declines honoring us
whalemen is this they think that at best our vocation amounts to a
butchering sort of business and that when actively engaged therein we
are surrounded by all manner of defilements butchers we are that is
true but butchers also and butchers of the bloodiest badge have been
all martial commanders whom the world invariably delights to honor and
as for the matter of the alleged uncleanliness of our business ye
shall soon be initiated into certain facts hitherto pretty generally
unknown and which upon the whole will triumphantly plant the sperm
whale-ship at least among the cleanliest things of this tidy earth but
even granting the charge in question to be true what disordered
slippery decks of a whale-ship are comparable to the unspeakable
carrion of those battle-fields from which so many soldiers return to
drink in all ladies plaudits and if the idea of peril so much
enhances the popular conceit of the soldier's profession let me assure
ye that many a veteran who has freely marched up to a battery would
quickly recoil at the apparition of the sperm whale's vast tail 
fanning into eddies the air over his head for what are the
comprehensible terrors of man compared with the interlinked terrors and
wonders of god 

but though the world scouts at us whale hunters yet does it
unwittingly pay us the profoundest homage yea an all-abounding
adoration for almost all the tapers lamps and candles that burn
round the globe burn as before so many shrines to our glory 

but look at this matter in other lights weigh it in all sorts of
scales see what we whalemen are and have been 

why did the dutch in de witt's time have admirals of their whaling
fleets why did louis xvi of france at his own personal expense fit
out whaling ships from dunkirk and politely invite to that town some
score or two of families from our own island of nantucket why did
britain between the years 1750 and 1788 pay to her whalemen in bounties
upwards of 1 000 000 and lastly how comes it that we whalemen of
america now outnumber all the rest of the banded whalemen in the world 
sail a navy of upwards of seven hundred vessels manned by eighteen
thousand men yearly consuming 4 000 000 of dollars the ships worth 
at the time of sailing 20 000 000 and every year importing into our
harbors a well reaped harvest of 7 000 000 how comes all this if
there be not something puissant in whaling 

but this is not the half look again 

i freely assert that the cosmopolite philosopher cannot for his life 
point out one single peaceful influence which within the last sixty
years has operated more potentially upon the whole broad world taken
in one aggregate than the high and mighty business of whaling one way
and another it has begotten events so remarkable in themselves and so
continuously momentous in their sequential issues that whaling may
well be regarded as that egyptian mother who bore offspring themselves
pregnant from her womb it would be a hopeless endless task to
catalogue all these things let a handful suffice for many years past
the whale-ship has been the pioneer in ferreting out the remotest and
least known parts of the earth she has explored seas and archipelagoes
which had no chart where no cook or vancouver had ever sailed if
american and european men-of-war now peacefully ride in once savage
harbors let them fire salutes to the honor and glory of the
whale-ship which originally showed them the way and first interpreted
between them and the savages they may celebrate as they will the
heroes of exploring expeditions your cooks your krusensterns but i
say that scores of anonymous captains have sailed out of nantucket 
that were as great and greater than your cook and your krusenstern 
for in their succourless empty-handedness they in the heathenish
sharked waters and by the beaches of unrecorded javelin islands 
battled with virgin wonders and terrors that cook with all his marines
and muskets would not willingly have dared all that is made such a
flourish of in the old south sea voyages those things were but the
life-time commonplaces of our heroic nantucketers often adventures
which vancouver dedicates three chapters to these men accounted
unworthy of being set down in the ship's common log ah the world oh 
the world 

until the whale fishery rounded cape horn no commerce but colonial 
scarcely any intercourse but colonial was carried on between europe
and the long line of the opulent spanish provinces on the pacific
coast it was the whaleman who first broke through the jealous policy
of the spanish crown touching those colonies and if space permitted 
it might be distinctly shown how from those whalemen at last eventuated
the liberation of peru chili and bolivia from the yoke of old spain 
and the establishment of the eternal democracy in those parts 

that great america on the other side of the sphere australia was
given to the enlightened world by the whaleman after its first
blunder-born discovery by a dutchman all other ships long shunned
those shores as pestiferously barbarous but the whale-ship touched
there the whale-ship is the true mother of that now mighty colony 
moreover in the infancy of the first australian settlement the
emigrants were several times saved from starvation by the benevolent
biscuit of the whale-ship luckily dropping an anchor in their waters 
the uncounted isles of all polynesia confess the same truth and do
commercial homage to the whale-ship that cleared the way for the
missionary and the merchant and in many cases carried the primitive
missionaries to their first destinations if that double-bolted land 
japan is ever to become hospitable it is the whale-ship alone to whom
the credit will be due for already she is on the threshold 

but if in the face of all this you still declare that whaling has no
aesthetically noble associations connected with it then am i ready to
shiver fifty lances with you there and unhorse you with a split helmet
every time 

the whale has no famous author and whaling no famous chronicler you
will say 

 the whale no famous author and whaling no famous chronicler who
wrote the first account of our leviathan who but mighty job and who
composed the first narrative of a whaling-voyage who but no less a
prince than alfred the great who with his own royal pen took down
the words from other the norwegian whale-hunter of those times and
who pronounced our glowing eulogy in parliament who but edmund burke 

true enough but then whalemen themselves are poor devils they have no
good blood in their veins 

 no good blood in their veins they have something better than royal
blood there the grandmother of benjamin franklin was mary morrel 
afterwards by marriage mary folger one of the old settlers of
nantucket and the ancestress to a long line of folgers and
harpooneers all kith and kin to noble benjamin this day darting the
barbed iron from one side of the world to the other 

good again but then all confess that somehow whaling is not
respectable 

 whaling not respectable whaling is imperial by old english
statutory law the whale is declared a royal fish 

oh that's only nominal the whale himself has never figured in any
grand imposing way 

 the whale never figured in any grand imposing way in one of the
mighty triumphs given to a roman general upon his entering the world's
capital the bones of a whale brought all the way from the syrian
coast were the most conspicuous object in the cymballed procession 

 see subsequent chapters for something more on this head 

grant it since you cite it but say what you will there is no real
dignity in whaling 

 no dignity in whaling the dignity of our calling the very heavens
attest cetus is a constellation in the south no more drive down your
hat in presence of the czar and take it off to queequeg no more i
know a man that in his lifetime has taken three hundred and fifty
whales i account that man more honorable than that great captain of
antiquity who boasted of taking as many walled towns 

and as for me if by any possibility there be any as yet
undiscovered prime thing in me if i shall ever deserve any real repute
in that small but high hushed world which i might not be unreasonably
ambitious of if hereafter i shall do anything that upon the whole a
man might rather have done than to have left undone if at my death 
my executors or more properly my creditors find any precious mss in
my desk then here i prospectively ascribe all the honor and the glory
to whaling for a whale-ship was my yale college and my harvard 


chapter 25 postscript 

in behalf of the dignity of whaling i would fain advance naught but
substantiated facts but after embattling his facts an advocate who
should wholly suppress a not unreasonable surmise which might tell
eloquently upon his cause such an advocate would he not be
blameworthy 

it is well known that at the coronation of kings and queens even
modern ones a certain curious process of seasoning them for their
functions is gone through there is a saltcellar of state so called 
and there may be a castor of state how they use the salt 
precisely who knows certain i am however that a king's head is
solemnly oiled at his coronation even as a head of salad can it be 
though that they anoint it with a view of making its interior run
well as they anoint machinery much might be ruminated here 
concerning the essential dignity of this regal process because in
common life we esteem but meanly and contemptibly a fellow who anoints
his hair and palpably smells of that anointing in truth a mature man
who uses hair-oil unless medicinally that man has probably got a
quoggy spot in him somewhere as a general rule he can't amount to
much in his totality 

but the only thing to be considered here is this what kind of oil is
used at coronations certainly it cannot be olive oil nor macassar
oil nor castor oil nor bear's oil nor train oil nor cod-liver oil 
what then can it possibly be but sperm oil in its unmanufactured 
unpolluted state the sweetest of all oils 

think of that ye loyal britons we whalemen supply your kings and
queens with coronation stuff 


chapter 26 knights and squires 

the chief mate of the pequod was starbuck a native of nantucket and a
quaker by descent he was a long earnest man and though born on an
icy coast seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes his flesh being
hard as twice-baked biscuit transported to the indies his live blood
would not spoil like bottled ale he must have been born in some time
of general drought and famine or upon one of those fast days for which
his state is famous only some thirty arid summers had he seen those
summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness but this his
thinness so to speak seemed no more the token of wasting anxieties
and cares than it seemed the indication of any bodily blight it was
merely the condensation of the man he was by no means ill-looking 
quite the contrary his pure tight skin was an excellent fit and
closely wrapped up in it and embalmed with inner health and strength 
like a revivified egyptian this starbuck seemed prepared to endure for
long ages to come and to endure always as now for be it polar snow
or torrid sun like a patent chronometer his interior vitality was
warranted to do well in all climates looking into his eyes you seemed
to see there the yet lingering images of those thousand-fold perils he
had calmly confronted through life a staid steadfast man whose life
for the most part was a telling pantomime of action and not a tame
chapter of sounds yet for all his hardy sobriety and fortitude there
were certain qualities in him which at times affected and in some
cases seemed well nigh to overbalance all the rest uncommonly
conscientious for a seaman and endued with a deep natural reverence 
the wild watery loneliness of his life did therefore strongly incline
him to superstition but to that sort of superstition which in some
organizations seems rather to spring somehow from intelligence than
from ignorance outward portents and inward presentiments were his and
if at times these things bent the welded iron of his soul much more
did his far-away domestic memories of his young cape wife and child 
tend to bend him still more from the original ruggedness of his nature 
and open him still further to those latent influences which in some
honest-hearted men restrain the gush of dare-devil daring so often
evinced by others in the more perilous vicissitudes of the fishery i
will have no man in my boat said starbuck who is not afraid of a
whale by this he seemed to mean not only that the most reliable and
useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the
encountered peril but that an utterly fearless man is a far more
dangerous comrade than a coward 

 aye aye said stubb the second mate starbuck there is as
careful a man as you'll find anywhere in this fishery but we shall
ere long see what that word careful precisely means when used by a
man like stubb or almost any other whale hunter 

starbuck was no crusader after perils in him courage was not a
sentiment but a thing simply useful to him and always at hand upon
all mortally practical occasions besides he thought perhaps that in
this business of whaling courage was one of the great staple outfits
of the ship like her beef and her bread and not to be foolishly
wasted wherefore he had no fancy for lowering for whales after
sun-down nor for persisting in fighting a fish that too much persisted
in fighting him for thought starbuck i am here in this critical
ocean to kill whales for my living and not to be killed by them for
theirs and that hundreds of men had been so killed starbuck well knew 
what doom was his own father's where in the bottomless deeps could
he find the torn limbs of his brother 

with memories like these in him and moreover given to a certain
superstitiousness as has been said the courage of this starbuck which
could nevertheless still flourish must indeed have been extreme but
it was not in reasonable nature that a man so organized and with such
terrible experiences and remembrances as he had it was not in nature
that these things should fail in latently engendering an element in
him which under suitable circumstances would break out from its
confinement and burn all his courage up and brave as he might be it
was that sort of bravery chiefly visible in some intrepid men which 
while generally abiding firm in the conflict with seas or winds or
whales or any of the ordinary irrational horrors of the world yet
cannot withstand those more terrific because more spiritual terrors 
which sometimes menace you from the concentrating brow of an enraged
and mighty man 

but were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance the complete
abasement of poor starbuck's fortitude scarce might i have the heart
to write it for it is a thing most sorrowful nay shocking to expose
the fall of valour in the soul men may seem detestable as joint
stock-companies and nations knaves fools and murderers there may be 
men may have mean and meagre faces but man in the ideal is so noble
and so sparkling such a grand and glowing creature that over any
ignominious blemish in him all his fellows should run to throw their
costliest robes that immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves so
far within us that it remains intact though all the outer character
seem gone bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of a
valor-ruined man nor can piety itself at such a shameful sight 
completely stifle her upbraidings against the permitting stars but
this august dignity i treat of is not the dignity of kings and robes 
but that abounding dignity which has no robed investiture thou shalt
see it shining in the arm that wields a pick or drives a spike that
democratic dignity which on all hands radiates without end from god 
himself the great god absolute the centre and circumference of all
democracy his omnipresence our divine equality 

if then to meanest mariners and renegades and castaways i shall
hereafter ascribe high qualities though dark weave round them tragic
graces if even the most mournful perchance the most abased among
them all shall at times lift himself to the exalted mounts if i shall
touch that workman's arm with some ethereal light if i shall spread a
rainbow over his disastrous set of sun then against all mortal critics
bear me out in it thou just spirit of equality which hast spread one
royal mantle of humanity over all my kind bear me out in it thou
great democratic god who didst not refuse to the swart convict 
bunyan the pale poetic pearl thou who didst clothe with doubly
hammered leaves of finest gold the stumped and paupered arm of old
cervantes thou who didst pick up andrew jackson from the pebbles who
didst hurl him upon a war-horse who didst thunder him higher than a
throne thou who in all thy mighty earthly marchings ever cullest
thy selectest champions from the kingly commons bear me out in it o
god 


chapter 27 knights and squires 

stubb was the second mate he was a native of cape cod and hence 
according to local usage was called a cape-cod-man a happy-go-lucky 
neither craven nor valiant taking perils as they came with an
indifferent air and while engaged in the most imminent crisis of the
chase toiling away calm and collected as a journeyman joiner engaged
for the year good-humored easy and careless he presided over his
whale-boat as if the most deadly encounter were but a dinner and his
crew all invited guests he was as particular about the comfortable
arrangement of his part of the boat as an old stage-driver is about
the snugness of his box when close to the whale in the very
death-lock of the fight he handled his unpitying lance coolly and
off-handedly as a whistling tinker his hammer he would hum over his
old rigadig tunes while flank and flank with the most exasperated
monster long usage had for this stubb converted the jaws of death
into an easy chair what he thought of death itself there is no
telling whether he ever thought of it at all might be a question 
but if he ever did chance to cast his mind that way after a
comfortable dinner no doubt like a good sailor he took it to be a
sort of call of the watch to tumble aloft and bestir themselves there 
about something which he would find out when he obeyed the order and
not sooner 

what perhaps with other things made stubb such an easy-going 
unfearing man so cheerily trudging off with the burden of life in a
world full of grave pedlars all bowed to the ground with their packs 
what helped to bring about that almost impious good-humor of his that
thing must have been his pipe for like his nose his short black
little pipe was one of the regular features of his face you would
almost as soon have expected him to turn out of his bunk without his
nose as without his pipe he kept a whole row of pipes there ready
loaded stuck in a rack within easy reach of his hand and whenever
he turned in he smoked them all out in succession lighting one from
the other to the end of the chapter then loading them again to be in
readiness anew for when stubb dressed instead of first putting his
legs into his trowsers he put his pipe into his mouth 

i say this continual smoking must have been one cause at least of his
peculiar disposition for every one knows that this earthly air 
whether ashore or afloat is terribly infected with the nameless
miseries of the numberless mortals who have died exhaling it and as in
time of the cholera some people go about with a camphorated
handkerchief to their mouths so likewise against all mortal
tribulations stubb's tobacco smoke might have operated as a sort of
disinfecting agent 

the third mate was flask a native of tisbury in martha's vineyard a
short stout ruddy young fellow very pugnacious concerning whales 
who somehow seemed to think that the great leviathans had personally
and hereditarily affronted him and therefore it was a sort of point of
honor with him to destroy them whenever encountered so utterly lost
was he to all sense of reverence for the many marvels of their majestic
bulk and mystic ways and so dead to anything like an apprehension of
any possible danger from encountering them that in his poor opinion 
the wondrous whale was but a species of magnified mouse or at least
water-rat requiring only a little circumvention and some small
application of time and trouble in order to kill and boil this
ignorant unconscious fearlessness of his made him a little waggish in
the matter of whales he followed these fish for the fun of it and a
three years voyage round cape horn was only a jolly joke that lasted
that length of time as a carpenter's nails are divided into wrought
nails and cut nails so mankind may be similarly divided little flask
was one of the wrought ones made to clinch tight and last long they
called him king-post on board of the pequod because in form he could
be well likened to the short square timber known by that name in
arctic whalers and which by the means of many radiating side timbers
inserted into it serves to brace the ship against the icy concussions
of those battering seas 

now these three mates starbuck stubb and flask were momentous men 
they it was who by universal prescription commanded three of the
pequod's boats as headsmen in that grand order of battle in which
captain ahab would probably marshal his forces to descend on the
whales these three headsmen were as captains of companies or being
armed with their long keen whaling spears they were as a picked trio
of lancers even as the harpooneers were flingers of javelins 

and since in this famous fishery each mate or headsman like a gothic
knight of old is always accompanied by his boat-steerer or harpooneer 
who in certain conjunctures provides him with a fresh lance when the
former one has been badly twisted or elbowed in the assault and
moreover as there generally subsists between the two a close intimacy
and friendliness it is therefore but meet that in this place we set
down who the pequod's harpooneers were and to what headsman each of
them belonged 

first of all was queequeg whom starbuck the chief mate had selected
for his squire but queequeg is already known 

next was tashtego an unmixed indian from gay head the most westerly
promontory of martha's vineyard where there still exists the last
remnant of a village of red men which has long supplied the
neighboring island of nantucket with many of her most daring
harpooneers in the fishery they usually go by the generic name of
gay-headers tashtego's long lean sable hair his high cheek bones 
and black rounding eyes for an indian oriental in their largeness but
antarctic in their glittering expression all this sufficiently
proclaimed him an inheritor of the unvitiated blood of those proud
warrior hunters who in quest of the great new england moose had
scoured bow in hand the aboriginal forests of the main but no longer
snuffing in the trail of the wild beasts of the woodland tashtego now
hunted in the wake of the great whales of the sea the unerring harpoon
of the son fitly replacing the infallible arrow of the sires to look
at the tawny brawn of his lithe snaky limbs you would almost have
credited the superstitions of some of the earlier puritans and
half-believed this wild indian to be a son of the prince of the powers
of the air tashtego was stubb the second mate's squire 

third among the harpooneers was daggoo a gigantic coal-black
negro-savage with a lion-like tread an ahasuerus to behold suspended
from his ears were two golden hoops so large that the sailors called
them ring-bolts and would talk of securing the top-sail halyards to
them in his youth daggoo had voluntarily shipped on board of a whaler 
lying in a lonely bay on his native coast and never having been
anywhere in the world but in africa nantucket and the pagan harbors
most frequented by whalemen and having now led for many years the bold
life of the fishery in the ships of owners uncommonly heedful of what
manner of men they shipped daggoo retained all his barbaric virtues 
and erect as a giraffe moved about the decks in all the pomp of six
feet five in his socks there was a corporeal humility in looking up at
him and a white man standing before him seemed a white flag come to
beg truce of a fortress curious to tell this imperial negro 
ahasuerus daggoo was the squire of little flask who looked like a
chess-man beside him as for the residue of the pequod's company be it
said that at the present day not one in two of the many thousand men
before the mast employed in the american whale fishery are americans
born though pretty nearly all the officers are herein it is the same
with the american whale fishery as with the american army and military
and merchant navies and the engineering forces employed in the
construction of the american canals and railroads the same i say 
because in all these cases the native american liberally provides the
brains the rest of the world as generously supplying the muscles no
small number of these whaling seamen belong to the azores where the
outward bound nantucket whalers frequently touch to augment their crews
from the hardy peasants of those rocky shores in like manner the
greenland whalers sailing out of hull or london put in at the shetland
islands to receive the full complement of their crew upon the passage
homewards they drop them there again how it is there is no telling 
but islanders seem to make the best whalemen they were nearly all
islanders in the pequod isolatoes too i call such not
acknowledging the common continent of men but each isolato living on
a separate continent of his own yet now federated along one keel 
what a set these isolatoes were an anacharsis clootz deputation from
all the isles of the sea and all the ends of the earth accompanying
old ahab in the pequod to lay the world's grievances before that bar
from which not very many of them ever come back black little pip he
never did oh no he went before poor alabama boy on the grim
pequod's forecastle ye shall ere long see him beating his tambourine 
prelusive of the eternal time when sent for to the great quarter-deck
on high he was bid strike in with angels and beat his tambourine in
glory called a coward here hailed a hero there 


chapter 28 ahab 

for several days after leaving nantucket nothing above hatches was
seen of captain ahab the mates regularly relieved each other at the
watches and for aught that could be seen to the contrary they seemed
to be the only commanders of the ship only they sometimes issued from
the cabin with orders so sudden and peremptory that after all it was
plain they but commanded vicariously yes their supreme lord and
dictator was there though hitherto unseen by any eyes not permitted to
penetrate into the now sacred retreat of the cabin 

every time i ascended to the deck from my watches below i instantly
gazed aft to mark if any strange face were visible for my first vague
disquietude touching the unknown captain now in the seclusion of the
sea became almost a perturbation this was strangely heightened at
times by the ragged elijah's diabolical incoherences uninvitedly
recurring to me with a subtle energy i could not have before conceived
of but poorly could i withstand them much as in other moods i was
almost ready to smile at the solemn whimsicalities of that outlandish
prophet of the wharves but whatever it was of apprehensiveness or
uneasiness to call it so which i felt yet whenever i came to look
about me in the ship it seemed against all warrantry to cherish such
emotions for though the harpooneers with the great body of the crew 
were a far more barbaric heathenish and motley set than any of the
tame merchant-ship companies which my previous experiences had made me
acquainted with still i ascribed this and rightly ascribed it to the
fierce uniqueness of the very nature of that wild scandinavian vocation
in which i had so abandonedly embarked but it was especially the
aspect of the three chief officers of the ship the mates which was
most forcibly calculated to allay these colourless misgivings and
induce confidence and cheerfulness in every presentment of the voyage 
three better more likely sea-officers and men each in his own
different way could not readily be found and they were every one of
them americans a nantucketer a vineyarder a cape man now it being
christmas when the ship shot from out her harbor for a space we had
biting polar weather though all the time running away from it to the
southward and by every degree and minute of latitude which we sailed 
gradually leaving that merciless winter and all its intolerable
weather behind us it was one of those less lowering but still grey
and gloomy enough mornings of the transition when with a fair wind the
ship was rushing through the water with a vindictive sort of leaping
and melancholy rapidity that as i mounted to the deck at the call of
the forenoon watch so soon as i levelled my glance towards the
taffrail foreboding shivers ran over me reality outran apprehension 
captain ahab stood upon his quarter-deck 

there seemed no sign of common bodily illness about him nor of the
recovery from any he looked like a man cut away from the stake when
the fire has overrunningly wasted all the limbs without consuming them 
or taking away one particle from their compacted aged robustness his
whole high broad form seemed made of solid bronze and shaped in an
unalterable mould like cellini's cast perseus threading its way out
from among his grey hairs and continuing right down one side of his
tawny scorched face and neck till it disappeared in his clothing you
saw a slender rod-like mark lividly whitish it resembled that
perpendicular seam sometimes made in the straight lofty trunk of a
great tree when the upper lightning tearingly darts down it and
without wrenching a single twig peels and grooves out the bark from
top to bottom ere running off into the soil leaving the tree still
greenly alive but branded whether that mark was born with him or
whether it was the scar left by some desperate wound no one could
certainly say by some tacit consent throughout the voyage little or
no allusion was made to it especially by the mates but once
tashtego's senior an old gay-head indian among the crew 
superstitiously asserted that not till he was full forty years old did
ahab become that way branded and then it came upon him not in the
fury of any mortal fray but in an elemental strife at sea yet this
wild hint seemed inferentially negatived by what a grey manxman
insinuated an old sepulchral man who having never before sailed out
of nantucket had never ere this laid eye upon wild ahab nevertheless 
the old sea-traditions the immemorial credulities popularly invested
this old manxman with preternatural powers of discernment so that no
white sailor seriously contradicted him when he said that if ever
captain ahab should be tranquilly laid out which might hardly come to
pass so he muttered then whoever should do that last office for the
dead would find a birth-mark on him from crown to sole 

so powerfully did the whole grim aspect of ahab affect me and the
livid brand which streaked it that for the first few moments i hardly
noted that not a little of this overbearing grimness was owing to the
barbaric white leg upon which he partly stood it had previously come
to me that this ivory leg had at sea been fashioned from the polished
bone of the sperm whale's jaw aye he was dismasted off japan said
the old gay-head indian once but like his dismasted craft he shipped
another mast without coming home for it he has a quiver of em 

i was struck with the singular posture he maintained upon each side of
the pequod's quarter deck and pretty close to the mizzen shrouds 
there was an auger hole bored about half an inch or so into the
plank his bone leg steadied in that hole one arm elevated and
holding by a shroud captain ahab stood erect looking straight out
beyond the ship's ever-pitching prow there was an infinity of firmest
fortitude a determinate unsurrenderable wilfulness in the fixed and
fearless forward dedication of that glance not a word he spoke nor
did his officers say aught to him though by all their minutest
gestures and expressions they plainly showed the uneasy if not
painful consciousness of being under a troubled master-eye and not
only that but moody stricken ahab stood before them with a crucifixion
in his face in all the nameless regal overbearing dignity of some
mighty woe 

ere long from his first visit in the air he withdrew into his cabin 
but after that morning he was every day visible to the crew either
standing in his pivot-hole or seated upon an ivory stool he had or
heavily walking the deck as the sky grew less gloomy indeed began to
grow a little genial he became still less and less a recluse as if 
when the ship had sailed from home nothing but the dead wintry
bleakness of the sea had then kept him so secluded and by and by it
came to pass that he was almost continually in the air but as yet 
for all that he said or perceptibly did on the at last sunny deck he
seemed as unnecessary there as another mast but the pequod was only
making a passage now not regularly cruising nearly all whaling
preparatives needing supervision the mates were fully competent to so
that there was little or nothing out of himself to employ or excite
ahab now and thus chase away for that one interval the clouds that
layer upon layer were piled upon his brow as ever all clouds choose
the loftiest peaks to pile themselves upon 

nevertheless ere long the warm warbling persuasiveness of the
pleasant holiday weather we came to seemed gradually to charm him
from his mood for as when the red-cheeked dancing girls april and
may trip home to the wintry misanthropic woods even the barest 
ruggedest most thunder-cloven old oak will at least send forth some
few green sprouts to welcome such glad-hearted visitants so ahab did 
in the end a little respond to the playful allurings of that girlish
air more than once did he put forth the faint blossom of a look 
which in any other man would have soon flowered out in a smile 


chapter 29 enter ahab to him stubb 

some days elapsed and ice and icebergs all astern the pequod now went
rolling through the bright quito spring which at sea almost
perpetually reigns on the threshold of the eternal august of the
tropic the warmly cool clear ringing perfumed overflowing 
redundant days were as crystal goblets of persian sherbet heaped
up flaked up with rose-water snow the starred and stately nights
seemed haughty dames in jewelled velvets nursing at home in lonely
pride the memory of their absent conquering earls the golden helmeted
suns for sleeping man twas hard to choose between such winsome days
and such seducing nights but all the witcheries of that unwaning
weather did not merely lend new spells and potencies to the outward
world inward they turned upon the soul especially when the still mild
hours of eve came on then memory shot her crystals as the clear ice
most forms of noiseless twilights and all these subtle agencies more
and more they wrought on ahab's texture 

old age is always wakeful as if the longer linked with life the less
man has to do with aught that looks like death among sea-commanders 
the old greybeards will oftenest leave their berths to visit the
night-cloaked deck it was so with ahab only that now of late he
seemed so much to live in the open air that truly speaking his visits
were more to the cabin than from the cabin to the planks it feels
like going down into one's tomb he would mutter to himself for an
old captain like me to be descending this narrow scuttle to go to my
grave-dug berth 

so almost every twenty-four hours when the watches of the night were
set and the band on deck sentinelled the slumbers of the band below 
and when if a rope was to be hauled upon the forecastle the sailors
flung it not rudely down as by day but with some cautiousness dropt
it to its place for fear of disturbing their slumbering shipmates when
this sort of steady quietude would begin to prevail habitually the
silent steersman would watch the cabin-scuttle and ere long the old
man would emerge gripping at the iron banister to help his crippled
way some considering touch of humanity was in him for at times like
these he usually abstained from patrolling the quarter-deck because
to his wearied mates seeking repose within six inches of his ivory
heel such would have been the reverberating crack and din of that bony
step that their dreams would have been on the crunching teeth of
sharks but once the mood was on him too deep for common regardings 
and as with heavy lumber-like pace he was measuring the ship from
taffrail to mainmast stubb the old second mate came up from below 
with a certain unassured deprecating humorousness hinted that if
captain ahab was pleased to walk the planks then no one could say
nay but there might be some way of muffling the noise hinting
something indistinctly and hesitatingly about a globe of tow and the
insertion into it of the ivory heel ah stubb thou didst not know
ahab then 

 am i a cannon-ball stubb said ahab that thou wouldst wad me that
fashion but go thy ways i had forgot below to thy nightly grave 
where such as ye sleep between shrouds to use ye to the filling one at
last down dog and kennel 

starting at the unforseen concluding exclamation of the so suddenly
scornful old man stubb was speechless a moment then said excitedly 
 i am not used to be spoken to that way sir i do but less than half
like it sir 

 avast gritted ahab between his set teeth and violently moving away 
as if to avoid some passionate temptation 

 no sir not yet said stubb emboldened i will not tamely be
called a dog sir 

 then be called ten times a donkey and a mule and an ass and begone 
or i'll clear the world of thee 

as he said this ahab advanced upon him with such overbearing terrors
in his aspect that stubb involuntarily retreated 

 i was never served so before without giving a hard blow for it 
muttered stubb as he found himself descending the cabin-scuttle it's
very queer stop stubb somehow now i don't well know whether to go
back and strike him or what's that down here on my knees and pray for
him yes that was the thought coming up in me but it would be the
first time i ever did pray it's queer very queer and he's queer
too aye take him fore and aft he's about the queerest old man stubb
ever sailed with how he flashed at me his eyes like powder-pans is
he mad anyway there's something on his mind as sure as there must be
something on a deck when it cracks he aint in his bed now either 
more than three hours out of the twenty-four and he don't sleep then 
didn't that dough-boy the steward tell me that of a morning he always
finds the old man's hammock clothes all rumpled and tumbled and the
sheets down at the foot and the coverlid almost tied into knots and
the pillow a sort of frightful hot as though a baked brick had been on
it a hot old man i guess he's got what some folks ashore call a
conscience it's a kind of tic-dolly-row they say worse nor a
toothache well well i don't know what it is but the lord keep me
from catching it he's full of riddles i wonder what he goes into the
after hold for every night as dough-boy tells me he suspects what's
that for i should like to know who's made appointments with him in
the hold ain't that queer now but there's no telling it's the old
game here goes for a snooze damn me it's worth a fellow's while to be
born into the world if only to fall right asleep and now that i think
of it that's about the first thing babies do and that's a sort of
queer too damn me but all things are queer come to think of em 
but that's against my principles think not is my eleventh
commandment and sleep when you can is my twelfth so here goes again 
but how's that didn't he call me a dog blazes he called me ten times
a donkey and piled a lot of jackasses on top of that he might as
well have kicked me and done with it maybe he did kick me and i
didn't observe it i was so taken all aback with his brow somehow it
flashed like a bleached bone what the devil's the matter with me i
don't stand right on my legs coming afoul of that old man has a sort
of turned me wrong side out by the lord i must have been dreaming 
though how how how but the only way's to stash it so here goes to
hammock again and in the morning i'll see how this plaguey juggling
thinks over by daylight 


chapter 30 the pipe 

when stubb had departed ahab stood for a while leaning over the
bulwarks and then as had been usual with him of late calling a
sailor of the watch he sent him below for his ivory stool and also
his pipe lighting the pipe at the binnacle lamp and planting the stool
on the weather side of the deck he sat and smoked 

in old norse times the thrones of the sea-loving danish kings were
fabricated saith tradition of the tusks of the narwhale how could
one look at ahab then seated on that tripod of bones without
bethinking him of the royalty it symbolized for a khan of the plank 
and a king of the sea and a great lord of leviathans was ahab 

some moments passed during which the thick vapor came from his mouth
in quick and constant puffs which blew back again into his face how
now he soliloquized at last withdrawing the tube this smoking no
longer soothes oh my pipe hard must it go with me if thy charm be
gone here have i been unconsciously toiling not pleasuring aye and
ignorantly smoking to windward all the while to windward and with
such nervous whiffs as if like the dying whale my final jets were
the strongest and fullest of trouble what business have i with this
pipe this thing that is meant for sereneness to send up mild white
vapors among mild white hairs not among torn iron-grey locks like
mine i'll smoke no more 

he tossed the still lighted pipe into the sea the fire hissed in the
waves the same instant the ship shot by the bubble the sinking pipe
made with slouched hat ahab lurchingly paced the planks 


chapter 31 queen mab 

next morning stubb accosted flask 

 such a queer dream king-post i never had you know the old man's
ivory leg well i dreamed he kicked me with it and when i tried to
kick back upon my soul my little man i kicked my leg right off and
then presto ahab seemed a pyramid and i like a blazing fool kept
kicking at it but what was still more curious flask you know how
curious all dreams are through all this rage that i was in i somehow
seemed to be thinking to myself that after all it was not much of an
insult that kick from ahab why thinks i what's the row it's not
a real leg only a false leg and there's a mighty difference between
a living thump and a dead thump that's what makes a blow from the
hand flask fifty times more savage to bear than a blow from a cane 
the living member that makes the living insult my little man and
thinks i to myself all the while mind while i was stubbing my silly
toes against that cursed pyramid so confoundedly contradictory was it
all all the while i say i was thinking to myself what's his leg
now but a cane a whalebone cane yes thinks i it was only a
playful cudgelling in fact only a whaleboning that he gave me not a
base kick besides thinks i look at it once why the end of it the
foot part what a small sort of end it is whereas if a broad footed
farmer kicked me there's a devilish broad insult but this insult is
whittled down to a point only but now comes the greatest joke of the
dream flask while i was battering away at the pyramid a sort of
badger-haired old merman with a hump on his back takes me by the
shoulders and slews me round what are you bout says he slid 
man but i was frightened such a phiz but somehow next moment i was
over the fright what am i about says i at last and what business
is that of yours i should like to know mr humpback do you want a
kick by the lord flask i had no sooner said that than he turned
round his stern to me bent over and dragging up a lot of seaweed he
had for a clout what do you think i saw why thunder alive man his
stern was stuck full of marlinspikes with the points out says i on
second thoughts i guess i won't kick you old fellow wise stubb 
said he wise stubb and kept muttering it all the time a sort of
eating of his own gums like a chimney hag seeing he wasn't going to
stop saying over his wise stubb wise stubb i thought i might as
well fall to kicking the pyramid again but i had only just lifted my
foot for it when he roared out stop that kicking halloa says i 
 what's the matter now old fellow look ye here says he let's
argue the insult captain ahab kicked ye didn't he yes he did 
says i right here it was very good says he he used his ivory
leg didn't he yes he did says i well then says he wise
stubb what have you to complain of didn't he kick with right good
will it wasn't a common pitch pine leg he kicked with was it no you
were kicked by a great man and with a beautiful ivory leg stubb it's
an honor i consider it an honor listen wise stubb in old england
the greatest lords think it great glory to be slapped by a queen and
made garter-knights of but be your boast stubb that ye were
kicked by old ahab and made a wise man of remember what i say be 
kicked by him account his kicks honors and on no account kick back 
for you can't help yourself wise stubb don't you see that pyramid 
with that he all of a sudden seemed somehow in some queer fashion to
swim off into the air i snored rolled over and there i was in my
hammock now what do you think of that dream flask 

 i don't know it seems a sort of foolish to me tho 

 may be may be but it's made a wise man of me flask d'ye see ahab
standing there sideways looking over the stern well the best thing
you can do flask is to let the old man alone never speak to him 
whatever he says halloa what's that he shouts hark 

 mast-head there look sharp all of ye there are whales hereabouts 

 if ye see a white one split your lungs for him 

 what do you think of that now flask ain't there a small drop of
something queer about that eh a white whale did ye mark that man 
look ye there's something special in the wind stand by for it flask 
ahab has that that's bloody on his mind but mum he comes this way 


chapter 32 cetology 

already we are boldly launched upon the deep but soon we shall be lost
in its unshored harbourless immensities ere that come to pass ere
the pequod's weedy hull rolls side by side with the barnacled hulls of
the leviathan at the outset it is but well to attend to a matter
almost indispensable to a thorough appreciative understanding of the
more special leviathanic revelations and allusions of all sorts which
are to follow 

it is some systematized exhibition of the whale in his broad genera 
that i would now fain put before you yet is it no easy task the
classification of the constituents of a chaos nothing less is here
essayed listen to what the best and latest authorities have laid down 

 no branch of zoology is so much involved as that which is entitled
cetology says captain scoresby a d 1820 

 it is not my intention were it in my power to enter into the inquiry
as to the true method of dividing the cetacea into groups and families 
 utter confusion exists among the historians of this animal 
 sperm whale says surgeon beale a d 1839 

 unfitness to pursue our research in the unfathomable waters 
 impenetrable veil covering our knowledge of the cetacea a field
strewn with thorns all these incomplete indications but serve to
torture us naturalists 

thus speak of the whale the great cuvier and john hunter and lesson 
those lights of zoology and anatomy nevertheless though of real
knowledge there be little yet of books there are a plenty and so in
some small degree with cetology or the science of whales many are
the men small and great old and new landsmen and seamen who have at
large or in little written of the whale run over a few the authors
of the bible aristotle pliny aldrovandi sir thomas browne gesner 
ray linnaeus rondeletius willoughby green artedi sibbald brisson 
marten lacepede bonneterre desmarest baron cuvier frederick
cuvier john hunter owen scoresby beale bennett j ross browne 
the author of miriam coffin olmstead and the rev t cheever but to
what ultimate generalizing purpose all these have written the above
cited extracts will show 

of the names in this list of whale authors only those following owen
ever saw living whales and but one of them was a real professional
harpooneer and whaleman i mean captain scoresby on the separate
subject of the greenland or right-whale he is the best existing
authority but scoresby knew nothing and says nothing of the great
sperm whale compared with which the greenland whale is almost unworthy
mentioning and here be it said that the greenland whale is an usurper
upon the throne of the seas he is not even by any means the largest of
the whales yet owing to the long priority of his claims and the
profound ignorance which till some seventy years back invested the
then fabulous or utterly unknown sperm-whale and which ignorance to
this present day still reigns in all but some few scientific retreats
and whale-ports this usurpation has been every way complete reference
to nearly all the leviathanic allusions in the great poets of past
days will satisfy you that the greenland whale without one rival was
to them the monarch of the seas but the time has at last come for a
new proclamation this is charing cross hear ye good people all the
greenland whale is deposed the great sperm whale now reigneth 

there are only two books in being which at all pretend to put the
living sperm whale before you and at the same time in the remotest
degree succeed in the attempt those books are beale's and bennett's 
both in their time surgeons to english south-sea whale-ships and both
exact and reliable men the original matter touching the sperm whale to
be found in their volumes is necessarily small but so far as it goes 
it is of excellent quality though mostly confined to scientific
description as yet however the sperm whale scientific or poetic 
lives not complete in any literature far above all other hunted
whales his is an unwritten life 

now the various species of whales need some sort of popular
comprehensive classification if only an easy outline one for the
present hereafter to be filled in all its departments by subsequent
laborers as no better man advances to take this matter in hand i
hereupon offer my own poor endeavors i promise nothing complete 
because any human thing supposed to be complete must for that very
reason infallibly be faulty i shall not pretend to a minute anatomical
description of the various species or in this place at least to much
of any description my object here is simply to project the draught of
a systematization of cetology i am the architect not the builder 

but it is a ponderous task no ordinary letter-sorter in the
post-office is equal to it to grope down into the bottom of the sea
after them to have one's hands among the unspeakable foundations 
ribs and very pelvis of the world this is a fearful thing what am i
that i should essay to hook the nose of this leviathan the awful
tauntings in job might well appal me will he the leviathan make a
covenant with thee behold the hope of him is vain but i have swam
through libraries and sailed through oceans i have had to do with
whales with these visible hands i am in earnest and i will try there
are some preliminaries to settle 

first the uncertain unsettled condition of this science of cetology
is in the very vestibule attested by the fact that in some quarters it
still remains a moot point whether a whale be a fish in his system of
nature a d 1776 linnaeus declares i hereby separate the whales from
the fish but of my own knowledge i know that down to the year 1850 
sharks and shad alewives and herring against linnaeus's express edict 
were still found dividing the possession of the same seas with the
leviathan 

the grounds upon which linnaeus would fain have banished the whales from
the waters he states as follows on account of their warm bilocular
heart their lungs their movable eyelids their hollow ears penem
intrantem feminam mammis lactantem and finally ex lege naturae jure
meritoque i submitted all this to my friends simeon macey and charley
coffin of nantucket both messmates of mine in a certain voyage and
they united in the opinion that the reasons set forth were altogether
insufficient charley profanely hinted they were humbug 

be it known that waiving all argument i take the good old fashioned
ground that the whale is a fish and call upon holy jonah to back me 
this fundamental thing settled the next point is in what internal
respect does the whale differ from other fish above linnaeus has given
you those items but in brief they are these lungs and warm blood 
whereas all other fish are lungless and cold blooded 

next how shall we define the whale by his obvious externals so as
conspicuously to label him for all time to come to be short then a
whale is a spouting fish with a horizontal tail there you have him 
however contracted that definition is the result of expanded
meditation a walrus spouts much like a whale but the walrus is not a
fish because he is amphibious but the last term of the definition is
still more cogent as coupled with the first almost any one must have
noticed that all the fish familiar to landsmen have not a flat but a
vertical or up-and-down tail whereas among spouting fish the tail 
though it may be similarly shaped invariably assumes a horizontal
position 

by the above definition of what a whale is i do by no means exclude
from the leviathanic brotherhood any sea creature hitherto identified
with the whale by the best informed nantucketers nor on the other
hand link with it any fish hitherto authoritatively regarded as
alien hence all the smaller spouting and horizontal tailed fish
must be included in this ground-plan of cetology now then come the
grand divisions of the entire whale host 

 i am aware that down to the present time the fish styled lamatins and
dugongs pig-fish and sow-fish of the coffins of nantucket are
included by many naturalists among the whales but as these pig-fish
are a noisy contemptible set mostly lurking in the mouths of rivers 
and feeding on wet hay and especially as they do not spout i deny
their credentials as whales and have presented them with their
passports to quit the kingdom of cetology 

first according to magnitude i divide the whales into three primary
books subdivisible into chapters and these shall comprehend them
all both small and large 

i the folio whale ii the octavo whale iii the duodecimo whale 

as the type of the folio i present the sperm whale of the octavo 
the grampus of the duodecimo the porpoise 

folios among these i here include the following chapters i the
 sperm whale ii the right whale iii the fin-back whale iv 
the hump-backed whale v the razor back whale vi the sulphur
bottom whale 

book i folio chapter i sperm whale this whale among the
english of old vaguely known as the trumpa whale and the physeter
whale and the anvil headed whale is the present cachalot of the
french and the pottsfich of the germans and the macrocephalus of the
long words he is without doubt the largest inhabitant of the globe 
the most formidable of all whales to encounter the most majestic in
aspect and lastly by far the most valuable in commerce he being the
only creature from which that valuable substance spermaceti is
obtained all his peculiarities will in many other places be enlarged
upon it is chiefly with his name that i now have to do philologically
considered it is absurd some centuries ago when the sperm whale was
almost wholly unknown in his own proper individuality and when his oil
was only accidentally obtained from the stranded fish in those days
spermaceti it would seem was popularly supposed to be derived from a
creature identical with the one then known in england as the greenland
or right whale it was the idea also that this same spermaceti was
that quickening humor of the greenland whale which the first syllable
of the word literally expresses in those times also spermaceti was
exceedingly scarce not being used for light but only as an ointment
and medicament it was only to be had from the druggists as you
nowadays buy an ounce of rhubarb when as i opine in the course of
time the true nature of spermaceti became known its original name was
still retained by the dealers no doubt to enhance its value by a
notion so strangely significant of its scarcity and so the appellation
must at last have come to be bestowed upon the whale from which this
spermaceti was really derived 

book i folio chapter ii right whale in one respect this is
the most venerable of the leviathans being the one first regularly
hunted by man it yields the article commonly known as whalebone or
baleen and the oil specially known as whale oil an inferior article
in commerce among the fishermen he is indiscriminately designated by
all the following titles the whale the greenland whale the black
whale the great whale the true whale the right whale there is a
deal of obscurity concerning the identity of the species thus
multitudinously baptised what then is the whale which i include in
the second species of my folios it is the great mysticetus of the
english naturalists the greenland whale of the english whalemen the
baleine ordinaire of the french whalemen the growlands walfish of the
swedes it is the whale which for more than two centuries past has been
hunted by the dutch and english in the arctic seas it is the whale
which the american fishermen have long pursued in the indian ocean on
the brazil banks on the nor west coast and various other parts of
the world designated by them right whale cruising grounds 

some pretend to see a difference between the greenland whale of the
english and the right whale of the americans but they precisely agree
in all their grand features nor has there yet been presented a single
determinate fact upon which to ground a radical distinction it is by
endless subdivisions based upon the most inconclusive differences that
some departments of natural history become so repellingly intricate 
the right whale will be elsewhere treated of at some length with
reference to elucidating the sperm whale 

book i folio chapter iii fin-back under this head i reckon
a monster which by the various names of fin-back tall-spout and
long-john has been seen almost in every sea and is commonly the whale
whose distant jet is so often descried by passengers crossing the
atlantic in the new york packet-tracks in the length he attains and
in his baleen the fin-back resembles the right whale but is of a less
portly girth and a lighter colour approaching to olive his great
lips present a cable-like aspect formed by the intertwisting slanting
folds of large wrinkles his grand distinguishing feature the fin 
from which he derives his name is often a conspicuous object this fin
is some three or four feet long growing vertically from the hinder
part of the back of an angular shape and with a very sharp pointed
end even if not the slightest other part of the creature be visible 
this isolated fin will at times be seen plainly projecting from the
surface when the sea is moderately calm and slightly marked with
spherical ripples and this gnomon-like fin stands up and casts shadows
upon the wrinkled surface it may well be supposed that the watery
circle surrounding it somewhat resembles a dial with its style and
wavy hour-lines graved on it on that ahaz-dial the shadow often goes
back the fin-back is not gregarious he seems a whale-hater as some
men are man-haters very shy always going solitary unexpectedly
rising to the surface in the remotest and most sullen waters his
straight and single lofty jet rising like a tall misanthropic spear
upon a barren plain gifted with such wondrous power and velocity in
swimming as to defy all present pursuit from man this leviathan seems
the banished and unconquerable cain of his race bearing for his mark
that style upon his back from having the baleen in his mouth the
fin-back is sometimes included with the right whale among a theoretic
species denominated whalebone whales that is whales with baleen of
these so called whalebone whales there would seem to be several
varieties most of which however are little known broad-nosed whales
and beaked whales pike-headed whales bunched whales under-jawed
whales and rostrated whales are the fishermen's names for a few sorts 

in connection with this appellative of whalebone whales it is of
great importance to mention that however such a nomenclature may be
convenient in facilitating allusions to some kind of whales yet it is
in vain to attempt a clear classification of the leviathan founded
upon either his baleen or hump or fin or teeth notwithstanding that
those marked parts or features very obviously seem better adapted to
afford the basis for a regular system of cetology than any other
detached bodily distinctions which the whale in his kinds presents 
how then the baleen hump back-fin and teeth these are things whose
peculiarities are indiscriminately dispersed among all sorts of whales 
without any regard to what may be the nature of their structure in
other and more essential particulars thus the sperm whale and the
humpbacked whale each has a hump but there the similitude ceases 
then this same humpbacked whale and the greenland whale each of these
has baleen but there again the similitude ceases and it is just the
same with the other parts above mentioned in various sorts of whales 
they form such irregular combinations or in the case of any one of
them detached such an irregular isolation as utterly to defy all
general methodization formed upon such a basis on this rock every one
of the whale-naturalists has split 

but it may possibly be conceived that in the internal parts of the
whale in his anatomy there at least we shall be able to hit the
right classification nay what thing for example is there in the
greenland whale's anatomy more striking than his baleen yet we have
seen that by his baleen it is impossible correctly to classify the
greenland whale and if you descend into the bowels of the various
leviathans why there you will not find distinctions a fiftieth part as
available to the systematizer as those external ones already
enumerated what then remains nothing but to take hold of the whales
bodily in their entire liberal volume and boldly sort them that way 
and this is the bibliographical system here adopted and it is the only
one that can possibly succeed for it alone is practicable to proceed 

book i folio chapter iv hump back this whale is often seen
on the northern american coast he has been frequently captured there 
and towed into harbor he has a great pack on him like a peddler or
you might call him the elephant and castle whale at any rate the
popular name for him does not sufficiently distinguish him since the
sperm whale also has a hump though a smaller one his oil is not very
valuable he has baleen he is the most gamesome and light-hearted of
all the whales making more gay foam and white water generally than any
other of them 

book i folio chapter v razor back of this whale little is
known but his name i have seen him at a distance off cape horn of a
retiring nature he eludes both hunters and philosophers though no
coward he has never yet shown any part of him but his back which
rises in a long sharp ridge let him go i know little more of him nor
does anybody else 

book i folio chapter vi sulphur bottom another retiring
gentleman with a brimstone belly doubtless got by scraping along the
tartarian tiles in some of his profounder divings he is seldom seen 
at least i have never seen him except in the remoter southern seas and
then always at too great a distance to study his countenance he is
never chased he would run away with rope-walks of line prodigies are
told of him adieu sulphur bottom i can say nothing more that is true
of ye nor can the oldest nantucketer 

thus ends book i folio and now begins book ii octavo 

octavoes these embrace the whales of middling magnitude among which
present may be numbered i the grampus ii the black fish 
iii the narwhale iv the thrasher v the killer 

 why this book of whales is not denominated the quarto is very plain 
because while the whales of this order though smaller than those of
the former order nevertheless retain a proportionate likeness to them
in figure yet the bookbinder's quarto volume in its dimensioned form
does not preserve the shape of the folio volume but the octavo volume
does 

book ii octavo chapter i grampus though this fish whose
loud sonorous breathing or rather blowing has furnished a proverb to
landsmen is so well known a denizen of the deep yet is he not
popularly classed among whales but possessing all the grand
distinctive features of the leviathan most naturalists have recognised
him for one he is of moderate octavo size varying from fifteen to
twenty-five feet in length and of corresponding dimensions round the
waist he swims in herds he is never regularly hunted though his oil
is considerable in quantity and pretty good for light by some
fishermen his approach is regarded as premonitory of the advance of the
great sperm whale 

book ii octavo chapter ii black fish i give the popular
fishermen's names for all these fish for generally they are the best 
where any name happens to be vague or inexpressive i shall say so and
suggest another i do so now touching the black fish so-called 
because blackness is the rule among almost all whales so call him the
hyena whale if you please his voracity is well known and from the
circumstance that the inner angles of his lips are curved upwards he
carries an everlasting mephistophelean grin on his face this whale
averages some sixteen or eighteen feet in length he is found in almost
all latitudes he has a peculiar way of showing his dorsal hooked fin
in swimming which looks something like a roman nose when not more
profitably employed the sperm whale hunters sometimes capture the
hyena whale to keep up the supply of cheap oil for domestic
employment as some frugal housekeepers in the absence of company and
quite alone by themselves burn unsavory tallow instead of odorous wax 
though their blubber is very thin some of these whales will yield you
upwards of thirty gallons of oil 

book ii octavo chapter iii narwhale that is nostril
whale another instance of a curiously named whale so named i suppose
from his peculiar horn being originally mistaken for a peaked nose the
creature is some sixteen feet in length while its horn averages five
feet though some exceed ten and even attain to fifteen feet strictly
speaking this horn is but a lengthened tusk growing out from the jaw
in a line a little depressed from the horizontal but it is only found
on the sinister side which has an ill effect giving its owner
something analogous to the aspect of a clumsy left-handed man what
precise purpose this ivory horn or lance answers it would be hard to
say it does not seem to be used like the blade of the sword-fish and
bill-fish though some sailors tell me that the narwhale employs it for
a rake in turning over the bottom of the sea for food charley coffin
said it was used for an ice-piercer for the narwhale rising to the
surface of the polar sea and finding it sheeted with ice thrusts his
horn up and so breaks through but you cannot prove either of these
surmises to be correct my own opinion is that however this one-sided
horn may really be used by the narwhale however that may be it would
certainly be very convenient to him for a folder in reading pamphlets 
the narwhale i have heard called the tusked whale the horned whale 
and the unicorn whale he is certainly a curious example of the
unicornism to be found in almost every kingdom of animated nature from
certain cloistered old authors i have gathered that this same
sea-unicorn's horn was in ancient days regarded as the great antidote
against poison and as such preparations of it brought immense prices 
it was also distilled to a volatile salts for fainting ladies the same
way that the horns of the male deer are manufactured into hartshorn 
originally it was in itself accounted an object of great curiosity 
black letter tells me that sir martin frobisher on his return from that
voyage when queen bess did gallantly wave her jewelled hand to him
from a window of greenwich palace as his bold ship sailed down the
thames when sir martin returned from that voyage saith black
letter on bended knees he presented to her highness a prodigious long
horn of the narwhale which for a long period after hung in the castle
at windsor an irish author avers that the earl of leicester on
bended knees did likewise present to her highness another horn 
pertaining to a land beast of the unicorn nature 

the narwhale has a very picturesque leopard-like look being of a
milk-white ground colour dotted with round and oblong spots of black 
his oil is very superior clear and fine but there is little of it 
and he is seldom hunted he is mostly found in the circumpolar seas 

book ii octavo chapter iv killer of this whale little is
precisely known to the nantucketer and nothing at all to the professed
naturalist from what i have seen of him at a distance i should say
that he was about the bigness of a grampus he is very savage a sort of
feegee fish he sometimes takes the great folio whales by the lip and
hangs there like a leech till the mighty brute is worried to death 
the killer is never hunted i never heard what sort of oil he has 
exception might be taken to the name bestowed upon this whale on the
ground of its indistinctness for we are all killers on land and on
sea bonapartes and sharks included 

book ii octavo chapter v thrasher this gentleman is famous
for his tail which he uses for a ferule in thrashing his foes he
mounts the folio whale's back and as he swims he works his passage by
flogging him as some schoolmasters get along in the world by a similar
process still less is known of the thrasher than of the killer both
are outlaws even in the lawless seas 

 thus ends book ii octavo and begins book iii duodecimo 

duodecimoes these include the smaller whales i the huzza porpoise 
ii the algerine porpoise iii the mealy-mouthed porpoise 

to those who have not chanced specially to study the subject it may
possibly seem strange that fishes not commonly exceeding four or five
feet should be marshalled among whales a word which in the popular
sense always conveys an idea of hugeness but the creatures set down
above as duodecimoes are infallibly whales by the terms of my
definition of what a whale is i e a spouting fish with a horizontal
tail 

book iii duodecimo chapter 1 huzza porpoise this is the
common porpoise found almost all over the globe the name is of my own
bestowal for there are more than one sort of porpoises and something
must be done to distinguish them i call him thus because he always
swims in hilarious shoals which upon the broad sea keep tossing
themselves to heaven like caps in a fourth-of-july crowd their
appearance is generally hailed with delight by the mariner full of
fine spirits they invariably come from the breezy billows to windward 
they are the lads that always live before the wind they are accounted
a lucky omen if you yourself can withstand three cheers at beholding
these vivacious fish then heaven help ye the spirit of godly
gamesomeness is not in ye a well-fed plump huzza porpoise will yield
you one good gallon of good oil but the fine and delicate fluid
extracted from his jaws is exceedingly valuable it is in request among
jewellers and watchmakers sailors put it on their hones porpoise meat
is good eating you know it may never have occurred to you that a
porpoise spouts indeed his spout is so small that it is not very
readily discernible but the next time you have a chance watch him 
and you will then see the great sperm whale himself in miniature 

book iii duodecimo chapter ii algerine porpoise a pirate 
very savage he is only found i think in the pacific he is somewhat
larger than the huzza porpoise but much of the same general make 
provoke him and he will buckle to a shark i have lowered for him many
times but never yet saw him captured 

book iii duodecimo chapter iii mealy-mouthed porpoise the
largest kind of porpoise and only found in the pacific so far as it
is known the only english name by which he has hitherto been
designated is that of the fishers right-whale porpoise from the
circumstance that he is chiefly found in the vicinity of that folio in
shape he differs in some degree from the huzza porpoise being of a
less rotund and jolly girth indeed he is of quite a neat and
gentleman-like figure he has no fins on his back most other porpoises
have he has a lovely tail and sentimental indian eyes of a hazel
hue but his mealy-mouth spoils all though his entire back down to his
side fins is of a deep sable yet a boundary line distinct as the mark
in a ship's hull called the bright waist that line streaks him from
stem to stern with two separate colours black above and white below 
the white comprises part of his head and the whole of his mouth which
makes him look as if he had just escaped from a felonious visit to a
meal-bag a most mean and mealy aspect his oil is much like that of
the common porpoise 

 

beyond the duodecimo this system does not proceed inasmuch as the
porpoise is the smallest of the whales above you have all the
leviathans of note but there are a rabble of uncertain fugitive 
half-fabulous whales which as an american whaleman i know by
reputation but not personally i shall enumerate them by their
fore-castle appellations for possibly such a list may be valuable to
future investigators who may complete what i have here but begun if
any of the following whales shall hereafter be caught and marked then
he can readily be incorporated into this system according to his
folio octavo or duodecimo magnitude the bottle-nose whale the junk
whale the pudding-headed whale the cape whale the leading whale the
cannon whale the scragg whale the coppered whale the elephant whale 
the iceberg whale the quog whale the blue whale etc from icelandic 
dutch and old english authorities there might be quoted other lists
of uncertain whales blessed with all manner of uncouth names but i
omit them as altogether obsolete and can hardly help suspecting them
for mere sounds full of leviathanism but signifying nothing 

finally it was stated at the outset that this system would not be
here and at once perfected you cannot but plainly see that i have
kept my word but i now leave my cetological system standing thus
unfinished even as the great cathedral of cologne was left with the
crane still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower for small
erections may be finished by their first architects grand ones true
ones ever leave the copestone to posterity god keep me from ever
completing anything this whole book is but a draught nay but the
draught of a draught oh time strength cash and patience 


chapter 33 the specksnyder 

concerning the officers of the whale-craft this seems as good a place
as any to set down a little domestic peculiarity on ship-board arising
from the existence of the harpooneer class of officers a class unknown
of course in any other marine than the whale-fleet 

the large importance attached to the harpooneer's vocation is evinced
by the fact that originally in the old dutch fishery two centuries
and more ago the command of a whale ship was not wholly lodged in the
person now called the captain but was divided between him and an
officer called the specksnyder literally this word means fat-cutter 
usage however in time made it equivalent to chief harpooneer in
those days the captain's authority was restricted to the navigation
and general management of the vessel while over the whale-hunting
department and all its concerns the specksnyder or chief harpooneer
reigned supreme in the british greenland fishery under the corrupted
title of specksioneer this old dutch official is still retained but
his former dignity is sadly abridged at present he ranks simply as
senior harpooneer and as such is but one of the captain's more
inferior subalterns nevertheless as upon the good conduct of the
harpooneers the success of a whaling voyage largely depends and since
in the american fishery he is not only an important officer in the
boat but under certain circumstances night watches on a whaling
ground the command of the ship's deck is also his therefore the grand
political maxim of the sea demands that he should nominally live apart
from the men before the mast and be in some way distinguished as their
professional superior though always by them familiarly regarded as
their social equal 

now the grand distinction drawn between officer and man at sea is
this the first lives aft the last forward hence in whale-ships and
merchantmen alike the mates have their quarters with the captain and
so too in most of the american whalers the harpooneers are lodged in
the after part of the ship that is to say they take their meals in
the captain's cabin and sleep in a place indirectly communicating with
it 

though the long period of a southern whaling voyage by far the longest
of all voyages now or ever made by man the peculiar perils of it and
the community of interest prevailing among a company all of whom high
or low depend for their profits not upon fixed wages but upon their
common luck together with their common vigilance intrepidity and
hard work though all these things do in some cases tend to beget a
less rigorous discipline than in merchantmen generally yet never mind
how much like an old mesopotamian family these whalemen may in some
primitive instances live together for all that the punctilious
externals at least of the quarter-deck are seldom materially relaxed 
and in no instance done away indeed many are the nantucket ships in
which you will see the skipper parading his quarter-deck with an elated
grandeur not surpassed in any military navy nay extorting almost as
much outward homage as if he wore the imperial purple and not the
shabbiest of pilot-cloth 

and though of all men the moody captain of the pequod was the least
given to that sort of shallowest assumption and though the only homage
he ever exacted was implicit instantaneous obedience though he
required no man to remove the shoes from his feet ere stepping upon the
quarter-deck and though there were times when owing to peculiar
circumstances connected with events hereafter to be detailed he
addressed them in unusual terms whether of condescension or in
terrorem or otherwise yet even captain ahab was by no means
unobservant of the paramount forms and usages of the sea 

nor perhaps will it fail to be eventually perceived that behind
those forms and usages as it were he sometimes masked himself 
incidentally making use of them for other and more private ends than
they were legitimately intended to subserve that certain sultanism of
his brain which had otherwise in a good degree remained unmanifested 
through those forms that same sultanism became incarnate in an
irresistible dictatorship for be a man's intellectual superiority what
it will it can never assume the practical available supremacy over
other men without the aid of some sort of external arts and
entrenchments always in themselves more or less paltry and base 
this it is that for ever keeps god's true princes of the empire from
the world's hustings and leaves the highest honors that this air can
give to those men who become famous more through their infinite
inferiority to the choice hidden handful of the divine inert than
through their undoubted superiority over the dead level of the mass 
such large virtue lurks in these small things when extreme political
superstitions invest them that in some royal instances even to idiot
imbecility they have imparted potency but when as in the case of
nicholas the czar the ringed crown of geographical empire encircles an
imperial brain then the plebeian herds crouch abased before the
tremendous centralization nor will the tragic dramatist who would
depict mortal indomitableness in its fullest sweep and direct swing 
ever forget a hint incidentally so important in his art as the one
now alluded to 

but ahab my captain still moves before me in all his nantucket
grimness and shagginess and in this episode touching emperors and
kings i must not conceal that i have only to do with a poor old
whale-hunter like him and therefore all outward majestical trappings
and housings are denied me oh ahab what shall be grand in thee it
must needs be plucked at from the skies and dived for in the deep and
featured in the unbodied air 


chapter 34 the cabin-table 

it is noon and dough-boy the steward thrusting his pale
loaf-of-bread face from the cabin-scuttle announces dinner to his lord
and master who sitting in the lee quarter-boat has just been taking
an observation of the sun and is now mutely reckoning the latitude on
the smooth medallion-shaped tablet reserved for that daily purpose on
the upper part of his ivory leg from his complete inattention to the
tidings you would think that moody ahab had not heard his menial but
presently catching hold of the mizen shrouds he swings himself to the
deck and in an even unexhilarated voice saying dinner mr 
starbuck disappears into the cabin 

when the last echo of his sultan's step has died away and starbuck 
the first emir has every reason to suppose that he is seated then
starbuck rouses from his quietude takes a few turns along the planks 
and after a grave peep into the binnacle says with some touch of
pleasantness dinner mr stubb and descends the scuttle the second
emir lounges about the rigging awhile and then slightly shaking the
main brace to see whether it will be all right with that important
rope he likewise takes up the old burden and with a rapid dinner 
mr flask follows after his predecessors 

but the third emir now seeing himself all alone on the quarter-deck 
seems to feel relieved from some curious restraint for tipping all
sorts of knowing winks in all sorts of directions and kicking off his
shoes he strikes into a sharp but noiseless squall of a hornpipe right
over the grand turk's head and then by a dexterous sleight pitching
his cap up into the mizentop for a shelf he goes down rollicking so
far at least as he remains visible from the deck reversing all other
processions by bringing up the rear with music but ere stepping into
the cabin doorway below he pauses ships a new face altogether and 
then independent hilarious little flask enters king ahab's presence 
in the character of abjectus or the slave 

it is not the least among the strange things bred by the intense
artificialness of sea-usages that while in the open air of the deck
some officers will upon provocation bear themselves boldly and
defyingly enough towards their commander yet ten to one let those
very officers the next moment go down to their customary dinner in that
same commander's cabin and straightway their inoffensive not to say
deprecatory and humble air towards him as he sits at the head of the
table this is marvellous sometimes most comical wherefore this
difference a problem perhaps not to have been belshazzar king of
babylon and to have been belshazzar not haughtily but courteously 
therein certainly must have been some touch of mundane grandeur but he
who in the rightly regal and intelligent spirit presides over his own
private dinner-table of invited guests that man's unchallenged power
and dominion of individual influence for the time that man's royalty
of state transcends belshazzar's for belshazzar was not the greatest 
who has but once dined his friends has tasted what it is to be caesar 
it is a witchery of social czarship which there is no withstanding 
now if to this consideration you superadd the official supremacy of a
ship-master then by inference you will derive the cause of that
peculiarity of sea-life just mentioned 

over his ivory-inlaid table ahab presided like a mute maned sea-lion
on the white coral beach surrounded by his warlike but still
deferential cubs in his own proper turn each officer waited to be
served they were as little children before ahab and yet in ahab 
there seemed not to lurk the smallest social arrogance with one mind 
their intent eyes all fastened upon the old man's knife as he carved
the chief dish before him i do not suppose that for the world they
would have profaned that moment with the slightest observation even
upon so neutral a topic as the weather no and when reaching out his
knife and fork between which the slice of beef was locked ahab
thereby motioned starbuck's plate towards him the mate received his
meat as though receiving alms and cut it tenderly and a little
started if perchance the knife grazed against the plate and chewed
it noiselessly and swallowed it not without circumspection for like
the coronation banquet at frankfort where the german emperor
profoundly dines with the seven imperial electors so these cabin meals
were somehow solemn meals eaten in awful silence and yet at table old
ahab forbade not conversation only he himself was dumb what a relief
it was to choking stubb when a rat made a sudden racket in the hold
below and poor little flask he was the youngest son and little boy
of this weary family party his were the shinbones of the saline beef 
his would have been the drumsticks for flask to have presumed to help
himself this must have seemed to him tantamount to larceny in the
first degree had he helped himself at that table doubtless never
more would he have been able to hold his head up in this honest world 
nevertheless strange to say ahab never forbade him and had flask
helped himself the chances were ahab had never so much as noticed it 
least of all did flask presume to help himself to butter whether he
thought the owners of the ship denied it to him on account of its
clotting his clear sunny complexion or whether he deemed that on so
long a voyage in such marketless waters butter was at a premium and
therefore was not for him a subaltern however it was flask alas 
was a butterless man 

another thing flask was the last person down at the dinner and flask
is the first man up consider for hereby flask's dinner was badly
jammed in point of time starbuck and stubb both had the start of him 
and yet they also have the privilege of lounging in the rear if stubb
even who is but a peg higher than flask happens to have but a small
appetite and soon shows symptoms of concluding his repast then flask
must bestir himself he will not get more than three mouthfuls that
day for it is against holy usage for stubb to precede flask to the
deck therefore it was that flask once admitted in private that ever
since he had arisen to the dignity of an officer from that moment he
had never known what it was to be otherwise than hungry more or less 
for what he ate did not so much relieve his hunger as keep it immortal
in him peace and satisfaction thought flask have for ever departed
from my stomach i am an officer but how i wish i could fish a bit of
old-fashioned beef in the forecastle as i used to when i was before
the mast there's the fruits of promotion now there's the vanity of
glory there's the insanity of life besides if it were so that any
mere sailor of the pequod had a grudge against flask in flask's
official capacity all that sailor had to do in order to obtain ample
vengeance was to go aft at dinner-time and get a peep at flask
through the cabin sky-light sitting silly and dumfoundered before
awful ahab 

now ahab and his three mates formed what may be called the first table
in the pequod's cabin after their departure taking place in inverted
order to their arrival the canvas cloth was cleared or rather was
restored to some hurried order by the pallid steward and then the
three harpooneers were bidden to the feast they being its residuary
legatees they made a sort of temporary servants hall of the high and
mighty cabin 

in strange contrast to the hardly tolerable constraint and nameless
invisible domineerings of the captain's table was the entire care-free
license and ease the almost frantic democracy of those inferior
fellows the harpooneers while their masters the mates seemed afraid
of the sound of the hinges of their own jaws the harpooneers chewed
their food with such a relish that there was a report to it they dined
like lords they filled their bellies like indian ships all day loading
with spices such portentous appetites had queequeg and tashtego that
to fill out the vacancies made by the previous repast often the pale
dough-boy was fain to bring on a great baron of salt-junk seemingly
quarried out of the solid ox and if he were not lively about it if he
did not go with a nimble hop-skip-and-jump then tashtego had an
ungentlemanly way of accelerating him by darting a fork at his back 
harpoon-wise and once daggoo seized with a sudden humor assisted
dough-boy's memory by snatching him up bodily and thrusting his head
into a great empty wooden trencher while tashtego knife in hand 
began laying out the circle preliminary to scalping him he was
naturally a very nervous shuddering sort of little fellow this
bread-faced steward the progeny of a bankrupt baker and a hospital
nurse and what with the standing spectacle of the black terrific ahab 
and the periodical tumultuous visitations of these three savages 
dough-boy's whole life was one continual lip-quiver commonly after
seeing the harpooneers furnished with all things they demanded he
would escape from their clutches into his little pantry adjoining and
fearfully peep out at them through the blinds of its door till all was
over 

it was a sight to see queequeg seated over against tashtego opposing
his filed teeth to the indian's crosswise to them daggoo seated on
the floor for a bench would have brought his hearse-plumed head to the
low carlines at every motion of his colossal limbs making the low
cabin framework to shake as when an african elephant goes passenger in
a ship but for all this the great negro was wonderfully abstemious 
not to say dainty it seemed hardly possible that by such comparatively
small mouthfuls he could keep up the vitality diffused through so
broad baronial and superb a person but doubtless this noble savage
fed strong and drank deep of the abounding element of air and through
his dilated nostrils snuffed in the sublime life of the worlds not by
beef or by bread are giants made or nourished but queequeg he had a
mortal barbaric smack of the lip in eating an ugly sound enough so
much so that the trembling dough-boy almost looked to see whether any
marks of teeth lurked in his own lean arms and when he would hear
tashtego singing out for him to produce himself that his bones might
be picked the simple-witted steward all but shattered the crockery
hanging round him in the pantry by his sudden fits of the palsy nor
did the whetstone which the harpooneers carried in their pockets for
their lances and other weapons and with which whetstones at dinner 
they would ostentatiously sharpen their knives that grating sound did
not at all tend to tranquillize poor dough-boy how could he forget
that in his island days queequeg for one must certainly have been
guilty of some murderous convivial indiscretions alas dough-boy 
hard fares the white waiter who waits upon cannibals not a napkin
should he carry on his arm but a buckler in good time though to his
great delight the three salt-sea warriors would rise and depart to
his credulous fable-mongering ears all their martial bones jingling
in them at every step like moorish scimetars in scabbards 

but though these barbarians dined in the cabin and nominally lived
there still being anything but sedentary in their habits they were
scarcely ever in it except at mealtimes and just before sleeping-time 
when they passed through it to their own peculiar quarters 

in this one matter ahab seemed no exception to most american whale
captains who as a set rather incline to the opinion that by rights
the ship's cabin belongs to them and that it is by courtesy alone that
anybody else is at any time permitted there so that in real truth 
the mates and harpooneers of the pequod might more properly be said to
have lived out of the cabin than in it for when they did enter it it
was something as a street-door enters a house turning inwards for a
moment only to be turned out the next and as a permanent thing 
residing in the open air nor did they lose much hereby in the cabin
was no companionship socially ahab was inaccessible though nominally
included in the census of christendom he was still an alien to it he
lived in the world as the last of the grisly bears lived in settled
missouri and as when spring and summer had departed that wild logan
of the woods burying himself in the hollow of a tree lived out the
winter there sucking his own paws so in his inclement howling old
age ahab's soul shut up in the caved trunk of his body there fed
upon the sullen paws of its gloom 


chapter 35 the mast-head 

it was during the more pleasant weather that in due rotation with the
other seamen my first mast-head came round 

in most american whalemen the mast-heads are manned almost
simultaneously with the vessel's leaving her port even though she may
have fifteen thousand miles and more to sail ere reaching her proper
cruising ground and if after a three four or five years voyage she
is drawing nigh home with anything empty in her say an empty vial
even then her mast-heads are kept manned to the last and not till her
skysail-poles sail in among the spires of the port does she altogether
relinquish the hope of capturing one whale more 

now as the business of standing mast-heads ashore or afloat is a
very ancient and interesting one let us in some measure expatiate
here i take it that the earliest standers of mast-heads were the old
egyptians because in all my researches i find none prior to them 
for though their progenitors the builders of babel must doubtless by
their tower have intended to rear the loftiest mast-head in all asia 
or africa either yet ere the final truck was put to it as that great
stone mast of theirs may be said to have gone by the board in the
dread gale of god's wrath therefore we cannot give these babel
builders priority over the egyptians and that the egyptians were a
nation of mast-head standers is an assertion based upon the general
belief among archaeologists that the first pyramids were founded for
astronomical purposes a theory singularly supported by the peculiar
stair-like formation of all four sides of those edifices whereby with
prodigious long upliftings of their legs those old astronomers were
wont to mount to the apex and sing out for new stars even as the
look-outs of a modern ship sing out for a sail or a whale just bearing
in sight in saint stylites the famous christian hermit of old times 
who built him a lofty stone pillar in the desert and spent the whole
latter portion of his life on its summit hoisting his food from the
ground with a tackle in him we have a remarkable instance of a
dauntless stander-of-mast-heads who was not to be driven from his
place by fogs or frosts rain hail or sleet but valiantly facing
everything out to the last literally died at his post of modern
standers-of-mast-heads we have but a lifeless set mere stone iron 
and bronze men who though well capable of facing out a stiff gale 
are still entirely incompetent to the business of singing out upon
discovering any strange sight there is napoleon who upon the top of
the column of vendome stands with arms folded some one hundred and
fifty feet in the air careless now who rules the decks below 
whether louis philippe louis blanc or louis the devil great
washington too stands high aloft on his towering main-mast in
baltimore and like one of hercules pillars his column marks that
point of human grandeur beyond which few mortals will go admiral
nelson also on a capstan of gun-metal stands his mast-head in
trafalgar square and ever when most obscured by that london smoke 
token is yet given that a hidden hero is there for where there is
smoke must be fire but neither great washington nor napoleon nor
nelson will answer a single hail from below however madly invoked to
befriend by their counsels the distracted decks upon which they gaze 
however it may be surmised that their spirits penetrate through the
thick haze of the future and descry what shoals and what rocks must be
shunned 

it may seem unwarrantable to couple in any respect the mast-head
standers of the land with those of the sea but that in truth it is not
so is plainly evinced by an item for which obed macy the sole
historian of nantucket stands accountable the worthy obed tells us 
that in the early times of the whale fishery ere ships were regularly
launched in pursuit of the game the people of that island erected
lofty spars along the sea-coast to which the look-outs ascended by
means of nailed cleats something as fowls go upstairs in a hen-house 
a few years ago this same plan was adopted by the bay whalemen of new
zealand who upon descrying the game gave notice to the ready-manned
boats nigh the beach but this custom has now become obsolete turn we
then to the one proper mast-head that of a whale-ship at sea the
three mast-heads are kept manned from sun-rise to sun-set the seamen
taking their regular turns as at the helm and relieving each other
every two hours in the serene weather of the tropics it is exceedingly
pleasant the mast-head nay to a dreamy meditative man it is
delightful there you stand a hundred feet above the silent decks 
striding along the deep as if the masts were gigantic stilts while
beneath you and between your legs as it were swim the hugest monsters
of the sea even as ships once sailed between the boots of the famous
colossus at old rhodes there you stand lost in the infinite series of
the sea with nothing ruffled but the waves the tranced ship
indolently rolls the drowsy trade winds blow everything resolves you
into languor for the most part in this tropic whaling life a sublime
uneventfulness invests you you hear no news read no gazettes extras
with startling accounts of commonplaces never delude you into
unnecessary excitements you hear of no domestic afflictions bankrupt
securities fall of stocks are never troubled with the thought of what
you shall have for dinner for all your meals for three years and more
are snugly stowed in casks and your bill of fare is immutable 

in one of those southern whalesmen on a long three or four years 
voyage as often happens the sum of the various hours you spend at the
mast-head would amount to several entire months and it is much to be
deplored that the place to which you devote so considerable a portion
of the whole term of your natural life should be so sadly destitute of
anything approaching to a cosy inhabitiveness or adapted to breed a
comfortable localness of feeling such as pertains to a bed a hammock 
a hearse a sentry box a pulpit a coach or any other of those small
and snug contrivances in which men temporarily isolate themselves your
most usual point of perch is the head of the t gallant-mast where you
stand upon two thin parallel sticks almost peculiar to whalemen 
called the t gallant cross-trees here tossed about by the sea the
beginner feels about as cosy as he would standing on a bull's horns to
be sure in cold weather you may carry your house aloft with you in
the shape of a watch-coat but properly speaking the thickest
watch-coat is no more of a house than the unclad body for as the soul
is glued inside of its fleshy tabernacle and cannot freely move about
in it nor even move out of it without running great risk of perishing
 like an ignorant pilgrim crossing the snowy alps in winter so a
watch-coat is not so much of a house as it is a mere envelope or
additional skin encasing you you cannot put a shelf or chest of
drawers in your body and no more can you make a convenient closet of
your watch-coat 

concerning all this it is much to be deplored that the mast-heads of a
southern whale ship are unprovided with those enviable little tents or
pulpits called crow's-nests in which the look-outs of a greenland
whaler are protected from the inclement weather of the frozen seas in
the fireside narrative of captain sleet entitled a voyage among the
icebergs in quest of the greenland whale and incidentally for the
re-discovery of the lost icelandic colonies of old greenland in this
admirable volume all standers of mast-heads are furnished with a
charmingly circumstantial account of the then recently invented
 crow's-nest of the glacier which was the name of captain sleet's
good craft he called it the sleet's crow's-nest in honor of
himself he being the original inventor and patentee and free from all
ridiculous false delicacy and holding that if we call our own children
after our own names we fathers being the original inventors and
patentees so likewise should we denominate after ourselves any other
apparatus we may beget in shape the sleet's crow's-nest is something
like a large tierce or pipe it is open above however where it is
furnished with a movable side-screen to keep to windward of your head
in a hard gale being fixed on the summit of the mast you ascend into
it through a little trap-hatch in the bottom on the after side or
side next the stern of the ship is a comfortable seat with a locker
underneath for umbrellas comforters and coats in front is a leather
rack in which to keep your speaking trumpet pipe telescope and
other nautical conveniences when captain sleet in person stood his
mast-head in this crow's-nest of his he tells us that he always had a
rifle with him also fixed in the rack together with a powder flask
and shot for the purpose of popping off the stray narwhales or
vagrant sea unicorns infesting those waters for you cannot
successfully shoot at them from the deck owing to the resistance of the
water but to shoot down upon them is a very different thing now it
was plainly a labor of love for captain sleet to describe as he does 
all the little detailed conveniences of his crow's-nest but though he
so enlarges upon many of these and though he treats us to a very
scientific account of his experiments in this crow's-nest with a small
compass he kept there for the purpose of counteracting the errors
resulting from what is called the local attraction of all binnacle
magnets an error ascribable to the horizontal vicinity of the iron in
the ship's planks and in the glacier's case perhaps to there having
been so many broken-down blacksmiths among her crew i say that though
the captain is very discreet and scientific here yet for all his
learned binnacle deviations azimuth compass observations and
 approximate errors he knows very well captain sleet that he was
not so much immersed in those profound magnetic meditations as to fail
being attracted occasionally towards that well replenished little
case-bottle so nicely tucked in on one side of his crow's nest within
easy reach of his hand though upon the whole i greatly admire and
even love the brave the honest and learned captain yet i take it
very ill of him that he should so utterly ignore that case-bottle 
seeing what a faithful friend and comforter it must have been while
with mittened fingers and hooded head he was studying the mathematics
aloft there in that bird's nest within three or four perches of the
pole 

but if we southern whale-fishers are not so snugly housed aloft as
captain sleet and his greenlandmen were yet that disadvantage is
greatly counter-balanced by the widely contrasting serenity of those
seductive seas in which we south fishers mostly float for one i used
to lounge up the rigging very leisurely resting in the top to have a
chat with queequeg or any one else off duty whom i might find there 
then ascending a little way further and throwing a lazy leg over the
top-sail yard take a preliminary view of the watery pastures and so
at last mount to my ultimate destination 

let me make a clean breast of it here and frankly admit that i kept
but sorry guard with the problem of the universe revolving in me how
could i being left completely to myself at such a thought-engendering
altitude how could i but lightly hold my obligations to observe all
whale-ships standing orders keep your weather eye open and sing out
every time 

and let me in this place movingly admonish you ye ship-owners of
nantucket beware of enlisting in your vigilant fisheries any lad with
lean brow and hollow eye given to unseasonable meditativeness and who
offers to ship with the phaedon instead of bowditch in his head beware
of such an one i say your whales must be seen before they can be
killed and this sunken-eyed young platonist will tow you ten wakes
round the world and never make you one pint of sperm the richer nor
are these monitions at all unneeded for nowadays the whale-fishery
furnishes an asylum for many romantic melancholy and absent-minded
young men disgusted with the carking cares of earth and seeking
sentiment in tar and blubber childe harold not unfrequently perches
himself upon the mast-head of some luckless disappointed whale-ship 
and in moody phrase ejaculates 


 roll on thou deep and dark blue ocean roll ten thousand
blubber-hunters sweep over thee in vain 



very often do the captains of such ships take those absent-minded young
philosophers to task upbraiding them with not feeling sufficient
 interest in the voyage half-hinting that they are so hopelessly lost
to all honorable ambition as that in their secret souls they would
rather not see whales than otherwise but all in vain those young
platonists have a notion that their vision is imperfect they are
short-sighted what use then to strain the visual nerve they have
left their opera-glasses at home 

 why thou monkey said a harpooneer to one of these lads we've been
cruising now hard upon three years and thou hast not raised a whale
yet whales are scarce as hen's teeth whenever thou art up here 
perhaps they were or perhaps there might have been shoals of them in
the far horizon but lulled into such an opium-like listlessness of
vacant unconscious reverie is this absent-minded youth by the blending
cadence of waves with thoughts that at last he loses his identity 
takes the mystic ocean at his feet for the visible image of that deep 
blue bottomless soul pervading mankind and nature and every strange 
half-seen gliding beautiful thing that eludes him every
dimly-discovered uprising fin of some undiscernible form seems to him
the embodiment of those elusive thoughts that only people the soul by
continually flitting through it in this enchanted mood thy spirit
ebbs away to whence it came becomes diffused through time and space 
like cranmer's sprinkled pantheistic ashes forming at last a part of
every shore the round globe over 

there is no life in thee now except that rocking life imparted by a
gently rolling ship by her borrowed from the sea by the sea from
the inscrutable tides of god but while this sleep this dream is on
ye move your foot or hand an inch slip your hold at all and your
identity comes back in horror over descartian vortices you hover and
perhaps at mid-day in the fairest weather with one half-throttled
shriek you drop through that transparent air into the summer sea no
more to rise for ever heed it well ye pantheists 


chapter 36 the quarter-deck 

 enter ahab then all 

it was not a great while after the affair of the pipe that one morning
shortly after breakfast ahab as was his wont ascended the
cabin-gangway to the deck there most sea-captains usually walk at that
hour as country gentlemen after the same meal take a few turns in
the garden 

soon his steady ivory stride was heard as to and fro he paced his old
rounds upon planks so familiar to his tread that they were all over
dented like geological stones with the peculiar mark of his walk did
you fixedly gaze too upon that ribbed and dented brow there also 
you would see still stranger foot-prints the foot-prints of his one
unsleeping ever-pacing thought 

but on the occasion in question those dents looked deeper even as his
nervous step that morning left a deeper mark and so full of his
thought was ahab that at every uniform turn that he made now at the
main-mast and now at the binnacle you could almost see that thought
turn in him as he turned and pace in him as he paced so completely
possessing him indeed that it all but seemed the inward mould of
every outer movement 

 d'ye mark him flask whispered stubb the chick that's in him pecks
the shell twill soon be out 

the hours wore on ahab now shut up within his cabin anon pacing the
deck with the same intense bigotry of purpose in his aspect 

it drew near the close of day suddenly he came to a halt by the
bulwarks and inserting his bone leg into the auger-hole there and
with one hand grasping a shroud he ordered starbuck to send everybody
aft 

 sir said the mate astonished at an order seldom or never given on
ship-board except in some extraordinary case 

 send everybody aft repeated ahab mast-heads there come down 

when the entire ship's company were assembled and with curious and not
wholly unapprehensive faces were eyeing him for he looked not unlike
the weather horizon when a storm is coming up ahab after rapidly
glancing over the bulwarks and then darting his eyes among the crew 
started from his standpoint and as though not a soul were nigh him
resumed his heavy turns upon the deck with bent head and half-slouched
hat he continued to pace unmindful of the wondering whispering among
the men till stubb cautiously whispered to flask that ahab must have
summoned them there for the purpose of witnessing a pedestrian feat 
but this did not last long vehemently pausing he cried 

 what do ye do when ye see a whale men 

 sing out for him was the impulsive rejoinder from a score of clubbed
voices 

 good cried ahab with a wild approval in his tones observing the
hearty animation into which his unexpected question had so magnetically
thrown them 

 and what do ye next men 

 lower away and after him 

 and what tune is it ye pull to men 

 a dead whale or a stove boat 

more and more strangely and fiercely glad and approving grew the
countenance of the old man at every shout while the mariners began to
gaze curiously at each other as if marvelling how it was that they
themselves became so excited at such seemingly purposeless questions 

but they were all eagerness again as ahab now half-revolving in his
pivot-hole with one hand reaching high up a shroud and tightly 
almost convulsively grasping it addressed them thus 

 all ye mast-headers have before now heard me give orders about a white
whale look ye d'ye see this spanish ounce of gold holding up a
broad bright coin to the sun it is a sixteen dollar piece men d'ye
see it mr starbuck hand me yon top-maul 

while the mate was getting the hammer ahab without speaking was
slowly rubbing the gold piece against the skirts of his jacket as if
to heighten its lustre and without using any words was meanwhile lowly
humming to himself producing a sound so strangely muffled and
inarticulate that it seemed the mechanical humming of the wheels of his
vitality in him 

receiving the top-maul from starbuck he advanced towards the main-mast
with the hammer uplifted in one hand exhibiting the gold with the
other and with a high raised voice exclaiming whosoever of ye raises
me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw 
whosoever of ye raises me that white-headed whale with three holes
punctured in his starboard fluke look ye whosoever of ye raises me
that same white whale he shall have this gold ounce my boys 

 huzza huzza cried the seamen as with swinging tarpaulins they
hailed the act of nailing the gold to the mast 

 it's a white whale i say resumed ahab as he threw down the
topmaul a white whale skin your eyes for him men look sharp for
white water if ye see but a bubble sing out 

all this while tashtego daggoo and queequeg had looked on with even
more intense interest and surprise than the rest and at the mention of
the wrinkled brow and crooked jaw they had started as if each was
separately touched by some specific recollection 

 captain ahab said tashtego that white whale must be the same that
some call moby dick 

 moby dick shouted ahab do ye know the white whale then tash 

 does he fan-tail a little curious sir before he goes down said the
gay-header deliberately 

 and has he a curious spout too said daggoo very bushy even for a
parmacetty and mighty quick captain ahab 

 and he have one two three oh good many iron in him hide too 
captain cried queequeg disjointedly all twiske-tee be-twisk like
him him faltering hard for a word and screwing his hand round and
round as though uncorking a bottle like him him 

 corkscrew cried ahab aye queequeg the harpoons lie all twisted
and wrenched in him aye daggoo his spout is a big one like a whole
shock of wheat and white as a pile of our nantucket wool after the
great annual sheep-shearing aye tashtego and he fan-tails like a
split jib in a squall death and devils men it is moby dick ye have
seen moby dick moby dick 

 captain ahab said starbuck who with stubb and flask had thus far
been eyeing his superior with increasing surprise but at last seemed
struck with a thought which somewhat explained all the wonder captain
ahab i have heard of moby dick but it was not moby dick that took off
thy leg 

 who told thee that cried ahab then pausing aye starbuck aye my
hearties all round it was moby dick that dismasted me moby dick that
brought me to this dead stump i stand on now aye aye he shouted
with a terrific loud animal sob like that of a heart-stricken moose 
 aye aye it was that accursed white whale that razed me made a poor
pegging lubber of me for ever and a day then tossing both arms with
measureless imprecations he shouted out aye aye and i'll chase him
round good hope and round the horn and round the norway maelstrom 
and round perdition's flames before i give him up and this is what ye
have shipped for men to chase that white whale on both sides of land 
and over all sides of earth till he spouts black blood and rolls fin
out what say ye men will ye splice hands on it now i think ye do
look brave 

 aye aye shouted the harpooneers and seamen running closer to the
excited old man a sharp eye for the white whale a sharp lance for
moby dick 

 god bless ye he seemed to half sob and half shout god bless ye 
men steward go draw the great measure of grog but what's this long
face about mr starbuck wilt thou not chase the white whale art not
game for moby dick 

 i am game for his crooked jaw and for the jaws of death too captain
ahab if it fairly comes in the way of the business we follow but i
came here to hunt whales not my commander's vengeance how many
barrels will thy vengeance yield thee even if thou gettest it captain
ahab it will not fetch thee much in our nantucket market 

 nantucket market hoot but come closer starbuck thou requirest a
little lower layer if money's to be the measurer man and the
accountants have computed their great counting-house the globe by
girdling it with guineas one to every three parts of an inch then 
let me tell thee that my vengeance will fetch a great premium here 

 he smites his chest whispered stubb what's that for methinks it
rings most vast but hollow 

 vengeance on a dumb brute cried starbuck that simply smote thee
from blindest instinct madness to be enraged with a dumb thing 
captain ahab seems blasphemous 

 hark ye yet again the little lower layer all visible objects man 
are but as pasteboard masks but in each event in the living act the
undoubted deed there some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth
the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask if man
will strike strike through the mask how can the prisoner reach
outside except by thrusting through the wall to me the white whale is
that wall shoved near to me sometimes i think there's naught beyond 
but tis enough he tasks me he heaps me i see in him outrageous
strength with an inscrutable malice sinewing it that inscrutable
thing is chiefly what i hate and be the white whale agent or be the
white whale principal i will wreak that hate upon him talk not to me
of blasphemy man i'd strike the sun if it insulted me for could the
sun do that then could i do the other since there is ever a sort of
fair play herein jealousy presiding over all creations but not my
master man is even that fair play who's over me truth hath no
confines take off thine eye more intolerable than fiends glarings is
a doltish stare so so thou reddenest and palest my heat has melted
thee to anger-glow but look ye starbuck what is said in heat that
thing unsays itself there are men from whom warm words are small
indignity i meant not to incense thee let it go look see yonder
turkish cheeks of spotted tawn living breathing pictures painted by
the sun the pagan leopards the unrecking and unworshipping things 
that live and seek and give no reasons for the torrid life they feel 
the crew man the crew are they not one and all with ahab in this
matter of the whale see stubb he laughs see yonder chilian he
snorts to think of it stand up amid the general hurricane thy one
tost sapling cannot starbuck and what is it reckon it tis but to
help strike a fin no wondrous feat for starbuck what is it more from
this one poor hunt then the best lance out of all nantucket surely
he will not hang back when every foremast-hand has clutched a
whetstone ah constrainings seize thee i see the billow lifts thee 
speak but speak aye aye thy silence then that voices thee 
 aside something shot from my dilated nostrils he has inhaled it in
his lungs starbuck now is mine cannot oppose me now without
rebellion 

 god keep me keep us all murmured starbuck lowly 

but in his joy at the enchanted tacit acquiescence of the mate ahab
did not hear his foreboding invocation nor yet the low laugh from the
hold nor yet the presaging vibrations of the winds in the cordage nor
yet the hollow flap of the sails against the masts as for a moment
their hearts sank in for again starbuck's downcast eyes lighted up
with the stubbornness of life the subterranean laugh died away the
winds blew on the sails filled out the ship heaved and rolled as
before ah ye admonitions and warnings why stay ye not when ye come 
but rather are ye predictions than warnings ye shadows yet not so
much predictions from without as verifications of the foregoing things
within for with little external to constrain us the innermost
necessities in our being these still drive us on 

 the measure the measure cried ahab 

receiving the brimming pewter and turning to the harpooneers he
ordered them to produce their weapons then ranging them before him
near the capstan with their harpoons in their hands while his three
mates stood at his side with their lances and the rest of the ship's
company formed a circle round the group he stood for an instant
searchingly eyeing every man of his crew but those wild eyes met his 
as the bloodshot eyes of the prairie wolves meet the eye of their
leader ere he rushes on at their head in the trail of the bison but 
alas only to fall into the hidden snare of the indian 

 drink and pass he cried handing the heavy charged flagon to the
nearest seaman the crew alone now drink round with it round short
draughts long swallows men tis hot as satan's hoof so so it goes
round excellently it spiralizes in ye forks out at the
serpent-snapping eye well done almost drained that way it went this
way it comes hand it me here's a hollow men ye seem the years so
brimming life is gulped and gone steward refill 

 attend now my braves i have mustered ye all round this capstan and
ye mates flank me with your lances and ye harpooneers stand there
with your irons and ye stout mariners ring me in that i may in some
sort revive a noble custom of my fisherman fathers before me o men 
you will yet see that ha boy come back bad pennies come not sooner 
hand it me why now this pewter had run brimming again wer't not
thou st vitus imp away thou ague 

 advance ye mates cross your lances full before me well done let me
touch the axis so saying with extended arm he grasped the three
level radiating lances at their crossed centre while so doing 
suddenly and nervously twitched them meanwhile glancing intently from
starbuck to stubb from stubb to flask it seemed as though by some
nameless interior volition he would fain have shocked into them the
same fiery emotion accumulated within the leyden jar of his own
magnetic life the three mates quailed before his strong sustained 
and mystic aspect stubb and flask looked sideways from him the honest
eye of starbuck fell downright 

 in vain cried ahab but maybe tis well for did ye three but
once take the full-forced shock then mine own electric thing that 
had perhaps expired from out me perchance too it would have dropped
ye dead perchance ye need it not down lances and now ye mates i do
appoint ye three cupbearers to my three pagan kinsmen there yon three
most honorable gentlemen and noblemen my valiant harpooneers disdain
the task what when the great pope washes the feet of beggars using
his tiara for ewer oh my sweet cardinals your own condescension 
 that shall bend ye to it i do not order ye ye will it cut your
seizings and draw the poles ye harpooneers 

silently obeying the order the three harpooneers now stood with the
detached iron part of their harpoons some three feet long held barbs
up before him 

 stab me not with that keen steel cant them cant them over know ye
not the goblet end turn up the socket so so now ye cup-bearers 
advance the irons take them hold them while i fill forthwith 
slowly going from one officer to the other he brimmed the harpoon
sockets with the fiery waters from the pewter 

 now three to three ye stand commend the murderous chalices bestow
them ye who are now made parties to this indissoluble league ha 
starbuck but the deed is done yon ratifying sun now waits to sit upon
it drink ye harpooneers drink and swear ye men that man the
deathful whaleboat's bow death to moby dick god hunt us all if we do
not hunt moby dick to his death the long barbed steel goblets were
lifted and to cries and maledictions against the white whale the
spirits were simultaneously quaffed down with a hiss starbuck paled 
and turned and shivered once more and finally the replenished
pewter went the rounds among the frantic crew when waving his free
hand to them they all dispersed and ahab retired within his cabin 


chapter 37 sunset 

 the cabin by the stern windows ahab sitting alone and gazing out 

i leave a white and turbid wake pale waters paler cheeks where'er i
sail the envious billows sidelong swell to whelm my track let them 
but first i pass 

yonder by ever-brimming goblet's rim the warm waves blush like wine 
the gold brow plumbs the blue the diver sun slow dived from noon goes
down my soul mounts up she wearies with her endless hill is then 
the crown too heavy that i wear this iron crown of lombardy yet is it
bright with many a gem i the wearer see not its far flashings but
darkly feel that i wear that that dazzlingly confounds tis iron that
i know not gold tis split too that i feel the jagged edge galls me
so my brain seems to beat against the solid metal aye steel skull 
mine the sort that needs no helmet in the most brain-battering fight 

dry heat upon my brow oh time was when as the sunrise nobly spurred
me so the sunset soothed no more this lovely light it lights not
me all loveliness is anguish to me since i can ne'er enjoy gifted
with the high perception i lack the low enjoying power damned most
subtly and most malignantly damned in the midst of paradise good
night good night waving his hand he moves from the window 

 twas not so hard a task i thought to find one stubborn at the least 
but my one cogged circle fits into all their various wheels and they
revolve or if you will like so many ant-hills of powder they all
stand before me and i their match oh hard that to fire others the
match itself must needs be wasting what i've dared i've willed and
what i've willed i'll do they think me mad starbuck does but i'm
demoniac i am madness maddened that wild madness that's only calm to
comprehend itself the prophecy was that i should be dismembered 
and aye i lost this leg i now prophesy that i will dismember my
dismemberer now then be the prophet and the fulfiller one that's
more than ye ye great gods ever were i laugh and hoot at ye ye
cricket-players ye pugilists ye deaf burkes and blinded bendigoes i
will not say as schoolboys do to bullies take some one of your own
size don't pommel me no ye've knocked me down and i am up again 
but ye have run and hidden come forth from behind your cotton bags 
i have no long gun to reach ye come ahab's compliments to ye come
and see if ye can swerve me swerve me ye cannot swerve me else ye
swerve yourselves man has ye there swerve me the path to my fixed
purpose is laid with iron rails whereon my soul is grooved to run 
over unsounded gorges through the rifled hearts of mountains under
torrents beds unerringly i rush naught's an obstacle naught's an
angle to the iron way 


chapter 38 dusk 

 by the mainmast starbuck leaning against it 

my soul is more than matched she's overmanned and by a madman 
insufferable sting that sanity should ground arms on such a field but
he drilled deep down and blasted all my reason out of me i think i
see his impious end but feel that i must help him to it will i nill
i the ineffable thing has tied me to him tows me with a cable i have
no knife to cut horrible old man who's over him he cries aye he
would be a democrat to all above look how he lords it over all below 
oh i plainly see my miserable office to obey rebelling and worse
yet to hate with touch of pity for in his eyes i read some lurid woe
would shrivel me up had i it yet is there hope time and tide flow
wide the hated whale has the round watery world to swim in as the
small gold-fish has its glassy globe his heaven-insulting purpose god
may wedge aside i would up heart were it not like lead but my whole
clock's run down my heart the all-controlling weight i have no key to
lift again 

  a burst of revelry from the forecastle  

oh god to sail with such a heathen crew that have small touch of
human mothers in them whelped somewhere by the sharkish sea the white
whale is their demigorgon hark the infernal orgies that revelry is
forward mark the unfaltering silence aft methinks it pictures life 
foremost through the sparkling sea shoots on the gay embattled 
bantering bow but only to drag dark ahab after it where he broods
within his sternward cabin builded over the dead water of the wake 
and further on hunted by its wolfish gurglings the long howl thrills
me through peace ye revellers and set the watch oh life tis in
an hour like this with soul beat down and held to knowledge as wild 
untutored things are forced to feed oh life tis now that i do feel
the latent horror in thee but tis not me that horror's out of me 
and with the soft feeling of the human in me yet will i try to fight
ye ye grim phantom futures stand by me hold me bind me o ye
blessed influences 


chapter 39 first night-watch 

fore-top 

 stubb solus and mending a brace 

ha ha ha ha hem clear my throat i've been thinking over it ever
since and that ha ha's the final consequence why so because a
laugh's the wisest easiest answer to all that's queer and come what
will one comfort's always left that unfailing comfort is it's all
predestinated i heard not all his talk with starbuck but to my poor
eye starbuck then looked something as i the other evening felt be sure
the old mogul has fixed him too i twigged it knew it had had the
gift might readily have prophesied it for when i clapped my eye upon
his skull i saw it well stubb wise stubb that's my title well 
stubb what of it stubb here's a carcase i know not all that may be
coming but be it what it will i'll go to it laughing such a waggish
leering as lurks in all your horribles i feel funny fa la lirra 
skirra what's my juicy little pear at home doing now crying its eyes
out giving a party to the last arrived harpooneers i dare say gay as
a frigate's pennant and so am i fa la lirra skirra oh 


we'll drink to-night with hearts as light to love as gay and fleeting
as bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim and break on the lips while
meeting 



a brave stave that who calls mr starbuck aye aye sir aside 
he's my superior he has his too if i'm not mistaken aye aye sir 
just through with this job coming 


chapter 40 midnight forecastle 

harpooneers and sailors 

 foresail rises and discovers the watch standing lounging leaning 
and lying in various attitudes all singing in chorus 


 farewell and adieu to you spanish ladies farewell and adieu to you 
 ladies of spain our captain's commanded 



1st nantucket sailor oh boys don't be sentimental it's bad for the
digestion take a tonic follow me 

 sings and all follow 


 our captain stood upon the deck a spy-glass in his hand a viewing of
 those gallant whales that blew at every strand oh your tubs in your
 boats my boys and by your braces stand and we'll have one of those
 fine whales hand boys over hand so be cheery my lads may your
 hearts never fail while the bold harpooner is striking the whale 



mate's voice from the quarter-deck eight bells there forward 

2nd nantucket sailor avast the chorus eight bells there d'ye hear 
bell-boy strike the bell eight thou pip thou blackling and let me
call the watch i've the sort of mouth for that the hogshead mouth so 
so thrusts his head down the scuttle star-bo-l-e-e-n-s a-h-o-y 
eight bells there below tumble up 

dutch sailor grand snoozing to-night maty fat night for that i mark
this in our old mogul's wine it's quite as deadening to some as
filliping to others we sing they sleep aye lie down there like
ground-tier butts at em again there take this copper-pump and hail
 em through it tell em to avast dreaming of their lasses tell em
it's the resurrection they must kiss their last and come to judgment 
that's the way that's it thy throat ain't spoiled with eating
amsterdam butter 

french sailor hist boys let's have a jig or two before we ride to
anchor in blanket bay what say ye there comes the other watch stand
by all legs pip little pip hurrah with your tambourine 

pip sulky and sleepy don't know where it is 

french sailor beat thy belly then and wag thy ears jig it men i
say merry's the word hurrah damn me won't you dance form now 
indian-file and gallop into the double-shuffle throw yourselves 
legs legs 

iceland sailor i don't like your floor maty it's too springy to my
taste i'm used to ice-floors i'm sorry to throw cold water on the
subject but excuse me 

maltese sailor me too where's your girls who but a fool would take
his left hand by his right and say to himself how d'ye do partners 
i must have partners 

sicilian sailor aye girls and a green then i'll hop with ye yea 
turn grasshopper 

long-island sailor well well ye sulkies there's plenty more of us 
hoe corn when you may say i all legs go to harvest soon ah here
comes the music now for it 

azore sailor ascending and pitching the tambourine up the
scuttle here you are pip and there's the windlass-bitts up you
mount now boys the half of them dance to the tambourine some go
below some sleep or lie among the coils of rigging oaths a-plenty 

azore sailor dancing go it pip bang it bell-boy rig it dig
it stig it quig it bell-boy make fire-flies break the jinglers 

pip jinglers you say there goes another dropped off i pound it so 

china sailor rattle thy teeth then and pound away make a pagoda of
thyself 

french sailor merry-mad hold up thy hoop pip till i jump through
it split jibs tear yourselves 

tashtego quietly smoking that's a white man he calls that fun 
humph i save my sweat 

old manx sailor i wonder whether those jolly lads bethink them of what
they are dancing over i'll dance over your grave i will that's the
bitterest threat of your night-women that beat head-winds round
corners o christ to think of the green navies and the green-skulled
crews well well belike the whole world's a ball as you scholars
have it and so tis right to make one ballroom of it dance on lads 
you're young i was once 

3d nantucket sailor spell oh whew this is worse than pulling after
whales in a calm give us a whiff tash 

 they cease dancing and gather in clusters meantime the sky
darkens the wind rises 

lascar sailor by brahma boys it'll be douse sail soon the sky-born 
high-tide ganges turned to wind thou showest thy black brow seeva 

maltese sailor reclining and shaking his cap it's the waves the
snow's caps turn to jig it now they'll shake their tassels soon now
would all the waves were women then i'd go drown and chassee with
them evermore there's naught so sweet on earth heaven may not match
it as those swift glances of warm wild bosoms in the dance when the
over-arboring arms hide such ripe bursting grapes 

sicilian sailor reclining tell me not of it hark ye lad fleet
interlacings of the limbs lithe swayings coyings flutterings lip 
heart hip all graze unceasing touch and go not taste observe ye 
else come satiety eh pagan nudging 

tahitan sailor reclining on a mat hail holy nakedness of our
dancing girls the heeva-heeva ah low veiled high palmed tahiti i
still rest me on thy mat but the soft soil has slid i saw thee woven
in the wood my mat green the first day i brought ye thence now worn
and wilted quite ah me not thou nor i can bear the change how then 
if so be transplanted to yon sky hear i the roaring streams from
pirohitee's peak of spears when they leap down the crags and drown the
villages the blast the blast up spine and meet it leaps to his
feet 

portuguese sailor how the sea rolls swashing gainst the side stand
by for reefing hearties the winds are just crossing swords pell-mell
they'll go lunging presently 

danish sailor crack crack old ship so long as thou crackest thou
holdest well done the mate there holds ye to it stiffly he's no more
afraid than the isle fort at cattegat put there to fight the baltic
with storm-lashed guns on which the sea-salt cakes 

4th nantucket sailor he has his orders mind ye that i heard old ahab
tell him he must always kill a squall something as they burst a
waterspout with a pistol fire your ship right into it 

english sailor blood but that old man's a grand old cove we are the
lads to hunt him up his whale 

all aye aye 

old manx sailor how the three pines shake pines are the hardest sort
of tree to live when shifted to any other soil and here there's none
but the crew's cursed clay steady helmsman steady this is the sort
of weather when brave hearts snap ashore and keeled hulls split at
sea our captain has his birthmark look yonder boys there's another
in the sky lurid-like ye see all else pitch black 

daggoo what of that who's afraid of black's afraid of me i'm
quarried out of it 

spanish sailor aside he wants to bully ah the old grudge makes
me touchy advancing aye harpooneer thy race is the undeniable
dark side of mankind devilish dark at that no offence 

daggoo grimly none 

st jago's sailor that spaniard's mad or drunk but that can't be or
else in his one case our old mogul's fire-waters are somewhat long in
working 

5th nantucket sailor what's that i saw lightning yes 

spanish sailor no daggoo showing his teeth 

daggoo springing swallow thine mannikin white skin white liver 

spanish sailor meeting him knife thee heartily big frame small
spirit 

all a row a row a row 

tashtego with a whiff a row a'low and a row aloft gods and
men both brawlers humph 

belfast sailor a row arrah a row the virgin be blessed a row 
plunge in with ye 

english sailor fair play snatch the spaniard's knife a ring a ring 

old manx sailor ready formed there the ringed horizon in that ring
cain struck abel sweet work right work no why then god mad'st
thou the ring 

mate's voice from the quarter-deck hands by the halyards in
top-gallant sails stand by to reef topsails 

all the squall the squall jump my jollies they scatter 

pip shrinking under the windlass jollies lord help such jollies 
crish crash there goes the jib-stay blang-whang god duck lower 
pip here comes the royal yard it's worse than being in the whirled
woods the last day of the year who'd go climbing after chestnuts now 
but there they go all cursing and here i don't fine prospects to
 em they're on the road to heaven hold on hard jimmini what a
squall but those chaps there are worse yet they are your white
squalls they white squalls white whale shirr shirr here have i
heard all their chat just now and the white whale shirr shirr but
spoken of once and only this evening it makes me jingle all over like
my tambourine that anaconda of an old man swore em in to hunt him oh 
thou big white god aloft there somewhere in yon darkness have mercy on
this small black boy down here preserve him from all men that have no
bowels to feel fear 


chapter 41 moby dick 

i ishmael was one of that crew my shouts had gone up with the rest 
my oath had been welded with theirs and stronger i shouted and more
did i hammer and clinch my oath because of the dread in my soul a
wild mystical sympathetical feeling was in me ahab's quenchless feud
seemed mine with greedy ears i learned the history of that murderous
monster against whom i and all the others had taken our oaths of
violence and revenge 

for some time past though at intervals only the unaccompanied 
secluded white whale had haunted those uncivilized seas mostly
frequented by the sperm whale fishermen but not all of them knew of
his existence only a few of them comparatively had knowingly seen
him while the number who as yet had actually and knowingly given
battle to him was small indeed for owing to the large number of
whale-cruisers the disorderly way they were sprinkled over the entire
watery circumference many of them adventurously pushing their quest
along solitary latitudes so as seldom or never for a whole twelvemonth
or more on a stretch to encounter a single news-telling sail of any
sort the inordinate length of each separate voyage the irregularity
of the times of sailing from home all these with other circumstances 
direct and indirect long obstructed the spread through the whole
world-wide whaling-fleet of the special individualizing tidings
concerning moby dick it was hardly to be doubted that several vessels
reported to have encountered at such or such a time or on such or
such a meridian a sperm whale of uncommon magnitude and malignity 
which whale after doing great mischief to his assailants had
completely escaped them to some minds it was not an unfair
presumption i say that the whale in question must have been no other
than moby dick yet as of late the sperm whale fishery had been marked
by various and not unfrequent instances of great ferocity cunning and
malice in the monster attacked therefore it was that those who by
accident ignorantly gave battle to moby dick such hunters perhaps 
for the most part were content to ascribe the peculiar terror he bred 
more as it were to the perils of the sperm whale fishery at large 
than to the individual cause in that way mostly the disastrous
encounter between ahab and the whale had hitherto been popularly
regarded 

and as for those who previously hearing of the white whale by chance
caught sight of him in the beginning of the thing they had every one
of them almost as boldly and fearlessly lowered for him as for any
other whale of that species but at length such calamities did ensue
in these assaults not restricted to sprained wrists and ankles broken
limbs or devouring amputations but fatal to the last degree of
fatality those repeated disastrous repulses all accumulating and
piling their terrors upon moby dick those things had gone far to shake
the fortitude of many brave hunters to whom the story of the white
whale had eventually come 

nor did wild rumors of all sorts fail to exaggerate and still the more
horrify the true histories of these deadly encounters for not only do
fabulous rumors naturally grow out of the very body of all surprising
terrible events as the smitten tree gives birth to its fungi but in
maritime life far more than in that of terra firma wild rumors
abound wherever there is any adequate reality for them to cling to 
and as the sea surpasses the land in this matter so the whale fishery
surpasses every other sort of maritime life in the wonderfulness and
fearfulness of the rumors which sometimes circulate there for not only
are whalemen as a body unexempt from that ignorance and
superstitiousness hereditary to all sailors but of all sailors they
are by all odds the most directly brought into contact with whatever is
appallingly astonishing in the sea face to face they not only eye its
greatest marvels but hand to jaw give battle to them alone in such
remotest waters that though you sailed a thousand miles and passed a
thousand shores you would not come to any chiseled hearth-stone or
aught hospitable beneath that part of the sun in such latitudes and
longitudes pursuing too such a calling as he does the whaleman is
wrapped by influences all tending to make his fancy pregnant with many
a mighty birth 

no wonder then that ever gathering volume from the mere transit over
the widest watery spaces the outblown rumors of the white whale did in
the end incorporate with themselves all manner of morbid hints and
half-formed foetal suggestions of supernatural agencies which
eventually invested moby dick with new terrors unborrowed from anything
that visibly appears so that in many cases such a panic did he finally
strike that few who by those rumors at least had heard of the white
whale few of those hunters were willing to encounter the perils of his
jaw 

but there were still other and more vital practical influences at work 
not even at the present day has the original prestige of the sperm
whale as fearfully distinguished from all other species of the
leviathan died out of the minds of the whalemen as a body there are
those this day among them who though intelligent and courageous
enough in offering battle to the greenland or right whale would
perhaps either from professional inexperience or incompetency or
timidity decline a contest with the sperm whale at any rate there
are plenty of whalemen especially among those whaling nations not
sailing under the american flag who have never hostilely encountered
the sperm whale but whose sole knowledge of the leviathan is
restricted to the ignoble monster primitively pursued in the north 
seated on their hatches these men will hearken with a childish
fireside interest and awe to the wild strange tales of southern
whaling nor is the pre-eminent tremendousness of the great sperm whale
anywhere more feelingly comprehended than on board of those prows
which stem him 

and as if the now tested reality of his might had in former legendary
times thrown its shadow before it we find some book
naturalists olassen and povelson declaring the sperm whale not only to
be a consternation to every other creature in the sea but also to be
so incredibly ferocious as continually to be athirst for human blood 
nor even down to so late a time as cuvier's were these or almost
similar impressions effaced for in his natural history the baron
himself affirms that at sight of the sperm whale all fish sharks
included are struck with the most lively terrors and often in the
precipitancy of their flight dash themselves against the rocks with
such violence as to cause instantaneous death and however the general
experiences in the fishery may amend such reports as these yet in
their full terribleness even to the bloodthirsty item of povelson the
superstitious belief in them is in some vicissitudes of their
vocation revived in the minds of the hunters 

so that overawed by the rumors and portents concerning him not a few
of the fishermen recalled in reference to moby dick the earlier days
of the sperm whale fishery when it was oftentimes hard to induce long
practised right whalemen to embark in the perils of this new and daring
warfare such men protesting that although other leviathans might be
hopefully pursued yet to chase and point lance at such an apparition
as the sperm whale was not for mortal man that to attempt it would be
inevitably to be torn into a quick eternity on this head there are
some remarkable documents that may be consulted 

nevertheless some there were who even in the face of these things
were ready to give chase to moby dick and a still greater number who 
chancing only to hear of him distantly and vaguely without the
specific details of any certain calamity and without superstitious
accompaniments were sufficiently hardy not to flee from the battle if
offered 

one of the wild suggestions referred to as at last coming to be linked
with the white whale in the minds of the superstitiously inclined was
the unearthly conceit that moby dick was ubiquitous that he had
actually been encountered in opposite latitudes at one and the same
instant of time 

nor credulous as such minds must have been was this conceit
altogether without some faint show of superstitious probability for as
the secrets of the currents in the seas have never yet been divulged 
even to the most erudite research so the hidden ways of the sperm
whale when beneath the surface remain in great part unaccountable to
his pursuers and from time to time have originated the most curious
and contradictory speculations regarding them especially concerning
the mystic modes whereby after sounding to a great depth he
transports himself with such vast swiftness to the most widely distant
points 

it is a thing well known to both american and english whale-ships and
as well a thing placed upon authoritative record years ago by scoresby 
that some whales have been captured far north in the pacific in whose
bodies have been found the barbs of harpoons darted in the greenland
seas nor is it to be gainsaid that in some of these instances it has
been declared that the interval of time between the two assaults could
not have exceeded very many days hence by inference it has been
believed by some whalemen that the nor west passage so long a
problem to man was never a problem to the whale so that here in the
real living experience of living men the prodigies related in old
times of the inland strello mountain in portugal near whose top there
was said to be a lake in which the wrecks of ships floated up to the
surface and that still more wonderful story of the arethusa fountain
near syracuse whose waters were believed to have come from the holy
land by an underground passage these fabulous narrations are almost
fully equalled by the realities of the whalemen 

forced into familiarity then with such prodigies as these and
knowing that after repeated intrepid assaults the white whale had
escaped alive it cannot be much matter of surprise that some whalemen
should go still further in their superstitions declaring moby dick not
only ubiquitous but immortal for immortality is but ubiquity in
time that though groves of spears should be planted in his flanks he
would still swim away unharmed or if indeed he should ever be made to
spout thick blood such a sight would be but a ghastly deception for
again in unensanguined billows hundreds of leagues away his unsullied
jet would once more be seen 

but even stripped of these supernatural surmisings there was enough in
the earthly make and incontestable character of the monster to strike
the imagination with unwonted power for it was not so much his
uncommon bulk that so much distinguished him from other sperm whales 
but as was elsewhere thrown out a peculiar snow-white wrinkled
forehead and a high pyramidical white hump these were his prominent
features the tokens whereby even in the limitless uncharted seas he
revealed his identity at a long distance to those who knew him 

the rest of his body was so streaked and spotted and marbled with the
same shrouded hue that in the end he had gained his distinctive
appellation of the white whale a name indeed literally justified by
his vivid aspect when seen gliding at high noon through a dark blue
sea leaving a milky-way wake of creamy foam all spangled with golden
gleamings 

nor was it his unwonted magnitude nor his remarkable hue nor yet his
deformed lower jaw that so much invested the whale with natural
terror as that unexampled intelligent malignity which according to
specific accounts he had over and over again evinced in his assaults 
more than all his treacherous retreats struck more of dismay than
perhaps aught else for when swimming before his exulting pursuers 
with every apparent symptom of alarm he had several times been known
to turn round suddenly and bearing down upon them either stave their
boats to splinters or drive them back in consternation to their ship 

already several fatalities had attended his chase but though similar
disasters however little bruited ashore were by no means unusual in
the fishery yet in most instances such seemed the white whale's
infernal aforethought of ferocity that every dismembering or death
that he caused was not wholly regarded as having been inflicted by an
unintelligent agent 

judge then to what pitches of inflamed distracted fury the minds of
his more desperate hunters were impelled when amid the chips of chewed
boats and the sinking limbs of torn comrades they swam out of the
white curds of the whale's direful wrath into the serene exasperating
sunlight that smiled on as if at a birth or a bridal 

his three boats stove around him and oars and men both whirling in the
eddies one captain seizing the line-knife from his broken prow had
dashed at the whale as an arkansas duellist at his foe blindly
seeking with a six inch blade to reach the fathom-deep life of the
whale that captain was ahab and then it was that suddenly sweeping
his sickle-shaped lower jaw beneath him moby dick had reaped away
ahab's leg as a mower a blade of grass in the field no turbaned turk 
no hired venetian or malay could have smote him with more seeming
malice small reason was there to doubt then that ever since that
almost fatal encounter ahab had cherished a wild vindictiveness
against the whale all the more fell for that in his frantic morbidness
he at last came to identify with him not only all his bodily woes but
all his intellectual and spiritual exasperations the white whale swam
before him as the monomaniac incarnation of all those malicious
agencies which some deep men feel eating in them till they are left
living on with half a heart and half a lung that intangible malignity
which has been from the beginning to whose dominion even the modern
christians ascribe one-half of the worlds which the ancient ophites of
the east reverenced in their statue devil ahab did not fall down and
worship it like them but deliriously transferring its idea to the
abhorred white whale he pitted himself all mutilated against it all
that most maddens and torments all that stirs up the lees of things 
all truth with malice in it all that cracks the sinews and cakes the
brain all the subtle demonisms of life and thought all evil to crazy
ahab were visibly personified and made practically assailable in moby
dick he piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general
rage and hate felt by his whole race from adam down and then as if
his chest had been a mortar he burst his hot heart's shell upon it 

it is not probable that this monomania in him took its instant rise at
the precise time of his bodily dismemberment then in darting at the
monster knife in hand he had but given loose to a sudden passionate 
corporal animosity and when he received the stroke that tore him he
probably but felt the agonizing bodily laceration but nothing more 
yet when by this collision forced to turn towards home and for long
months of days and weeks ahab and anguish lay stretched together in
one hammock rounding in mid winter that dreary howling patagonian
cape then it was that his torn body and gashed soul bled into one
another and so interfusing made him mad that it was only then on
the homeward voyage after the encounter that the final monomania
seized him seems all but certain from the fact that at intervals
during the passage he was a raving lunatic and though unlimbed of a
leg yet such vital strength yet lurked in his egyptian chest and was
moreover intensified by his delirium that his mates were forced to
lace him fast even there as he sailed raving in his hammock in a
strait-jacket he swung to the mad rockings of the gales and when
running into more sufferable latitudes the ship with mild stun'sails
spread floated across the tranquil tropics and to all appearances 
the old man's delirium seemed left behind him with the cape horn
swells and he came forth from his dark den into the blessed light and
air even then when he bore that firm collected front however pale 
and issued his calm orders once again and his mates thanked god the
direful madness was now gone even then ahab in his hidden self 
raved on human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing 
when you think it fled it may have but become transfigured into some
still subtler form ahab's full lunacy subsided not but deepeningly
contracted like the unabated hudson when that noble northman flows
narrowly but unfathomably through the highland gorge but as in his
narrow-flowing monomania not one jot of ahab's broad madness had been
left behind so in that broad madness not one jot of his great natural
intellect had perished that before living agent now became the living
instrument if such a furious trope may stand his special lunacy
stormed his general sanity and carried it and turned all its
concentred cannon upon its own mad mark so that far from having lost
his strength ahab to that one end did now possess a thousand fold
more potency than ever he had sanely brought to bear upon any one
reasonable object 

this is much yet ahab's larger darker deeper part remains unhinted 
but vain to popularize profundities and all truth is profound winding
far down from within the very heart of this spiked hotel de cluny where
we here stand however grand and wonderful now quit it and take your
way ye nobler sadder souls to those vast roman halls of thermes 
where far beneath the fantastic towers of man's upper earth his root
of grandeur his whole awful essence sits in bearded state an antique
buried beneath antiquities and throned on torsoes so with a broken
throne the great gods mock that captive king so like a caryatid he
patient sits upholding on his frozen brow the piled entablatures of
ages wind ye down there ye prouder sadder souls question that
proud sad king a family likeness aye he did beget ye ye young
exiled royalties and from your grim sire only will the old
state-secret come 

now in his heart ahab had some glimpse of this namely all my means
are sane my motive and my object mad yet without power to kill or
change or shun the fact he likewise knew that to mankind he did long
dissemble in some sort did still but that thing of his dissembling
was only subject to his perceptibility not to his will determinate 
nevertheless so well did he succeed in that dissembling that when
with ivory leg he stepped ashore at last no nantucketer thought him
otherwise than but naturally grieved and that to the quick with the
terrible casualty which had overtaken him 

the report of his undeniable delirium at sea was likewise popularly
ascribed to a kindred cause and so too all the added moodiness which
always afterwards to the very day of sailing in the pequod on the
present voyage sat brooding on his brow nor is it so very unlikely 
that far from distrusting his fitness for another whaling voyage on
account of such dark symptoms the calculating people of that prudent
isle were inclined to harbor the conceit that for those very reasons
he was all the better qualified and set on edge for a pursuit so full
of rage and wildness as the bloody hunt of whales gnawed within and
scorched without with the infixed unrelenting fangs of some incurable
idea such an one could he be found would seem the very man to dart
his iron and lift his lance against the most appalling of all brutes 
or if for any reason thought to be corporeally incapacitated for that 
yet such an one would seem superlatively competent to cheer and howl on
his underlings to the attack but be all this as it may certain it is 
that with the mad secret of his unabated rage bolted up and keyed in
him ahab had purposely sailed upon the present voyage with the one
only and all-engrossing object of hunting the white whale had any one
of his old acquaintances on shore but half dreamed of what was lurking
in him then how soon would their aghast and righteous souls have
wrenched the ship from such a fiendish man they were bent on
profitable cruises the profit to be counted down in dollars from the
mint he was intent on an audacious immitigable and supernatural
revenge 

here then was this grey-headed ungodly old man chasing with curses
a job's whale round the world at the head of a crew too chiefly made
up of mongrel renegades and castaways and cannibals morally enfeebled
also by the incompetence of mere unaided virtue or right-mindedness in
starbuck the invulnerable jollity of indifference and recklessness in
stubb and the pervading mediocrity in flask such a crew so
officered seemed specially picked and packed by some infernal fatality
to help him to his monomaniac revenge how it was that they so
aboundingly responded to the old man's ire by what evil magic their
souls were possessed that at times his hate seemed almost theirs the
white whale as much their insufferable foe as his how all this came to
be what the white whale was to them or how to their unconscious
understandings also in some dim unsuspected way he might have
seemed the gliding great demon of the seas of life all this to
explain would be to dive deeper than ishmael can go the subterranean
miner that works in us all how can one tell whither leads his shaft by
the ever shifting muffled sound of his pick who does not feel the
irresistible arm drag what skiff in tow of a seventy-four can stand
still for one i gave myself up to the abandonment of the time and the
place but while yet all a-rush to encounter the whale could see
naught in that brute but the deadliest ill 


chapter 42 the whiteness of the whale 

what the white whale was to ahab has been hinted what at times he
was to me as yet remains unsaid 

aside from those more obvious considerations touching moby dick which
could not but occasionally awaken in any man's soul some alarm there
was another thought or rather vague nameless horror concerning him 
which at times by its intensity completely overpowered all the rest 
and yet so mystical and well nigh ineffable was it that i almost
despair of putting it in a comprehensible form it was the whiteness of
the whale that above all things appalled me but how can i hope to
explain myself here and yet in some dim random way explain myself i
must else all these chapters might be naught 

though in many natural objects whiteness refiningly enhances beauty 
as if imparting some special virtue of its own as in marbles 
japonicas and pearls and though various nations have in some way
recognised a certain royal preeminence in this hue even the barbaric 
grand old kings of pegu placing the title lord of the white elephants 
above all their other magniloquent ascriptions of dominion and the
modern kings of siam unfurling the same snow-white quadruped in the
royal standard and the hanoverian flag bearing the one figure of a
snow-white charger and the great austrian empire caesarian heir to
overlording rome having for the imperial colour the same imperial hue 
and though this pre-eminence in it applies to the human race itself 
giving the white man ideal mastership over every dusky tribe and
though besides all this whiteness has been even made significant of
gladness for among the romans a white stone marked a joyful day and
though in other mortal sympathies and symbolizings this same hue is
made the emblem of many touching noble things the innocence of brides 
the benignity of age though among the red men of america the giving of
the white belt of wampum was the deepest pledge of honor though in
many climes whiteness typifies the majesty of justice in the ermine of
the judge and contributes to the daily state of kings and queens drawn
by milk-white steeds though even in the higher mysteries of the most
august religions it has been made the symbol of the divine spotlessness
and power by the persian fire worshippers the white forked flame
being held the holiest on the altar and in the greek mythologies 
great jove himself being made incarnate in a snow-white bull and
though to the noble iroquois the midwinter sacrifice of the sacred
white dog was by far the holiest festival of their theology that
spotless faithful creature being held the purest envoy they could send
to the great spirit with the annual tidings of their own fidelity and
though directly from the latin word for white all christian priests
derive the name of one part of their sacred vesture the alb or tunic 
worn beneath the cassock and though among the holy pomps of the romish
faith white is specially employed in the celebration of the passion of
our lord though in the vision of st john white robes are given to
the redeemed and the four-and-twenty elders stand clothed in white
before the great white throne and the holy one that sitteth there
white like wool yet for all these accumulated associations with
whatever is sweet and honorable and sublime there yet lurks an
elusive something in the innermost idea of this hue which strikes more
of panic to the soul than that redness which affrights in blood 

this elusive quality it is which causes the thought of whiteness when
divorced from more kindly associations and coupled with any object
terrible in itself to heighten that terror to the furthest bounds 
witness the white bear of the poles and the white shark of the
tropics what but their smooth flaky whiteness makes them the
transcendent horrors they are that ghastly whiteness it is which
imparts such an abhorrent mildness even more loathsome than terrific 
to the dumb gloating of their aspect so that not the fierce-fanged
tiger in his heraldic coat can so stagger courage as the white-shrouded
bear or shark 

 with reference to the polar bear it may possibly be urged by him who
would fain go still deeper into this matter that it is not the
whiteness separately regarded which heightens the intolerable
hideousness of that brute for analysed that heightened hideousness 
it might be said only rises from the circumstance that the
irresponsible ferociousness of the creature stands invested in the
fleece of celestial innocence and love and hence by bringing together
two such opposite emotions in our minds the polar bear frightens us
with so unnatural a contrast but even assuming all this to be true 
yet were it not for the whiteness you would not have that intensified
terror 

as for the white shark the white gliding ghostliness of repose in that
creature when beheld in his ordinary moods strangely tallies with the
same quality in the polar quadruped this peculiarity is most vividly
hit by the french in the name they bestow upon that fish the romish
mass for the dead begins with requiem eternam eternal rest whence
 requiem denominating the mass itself and any other funeral music 
now in allusion to the white silent stillness of death in this shark 
and the mild deadliness of his habits the french call him requin 

bethink thee of the albatross whence come those clouds of spiritual
wonderment and pale dread in which that white phantom sails in all
imaginations not coleridge first threw that spell but god's great 
unflattering laureate nature 

 i remember the first albatross i ever saw it was during a prolonged
gale in waters hard upon the antarctic seas from my forenoon watch
below i ascended to the overclouded deck and there dashed upon the
main hatches i saw a regal feathery thing of unspotted whiteness and
with a hooked roman bill sublime at intervals it arched forth its
vast archangel wings as if to embrace some holy ark wondrous
flutterings and throbbings shook it though bodily unharmed it uttered
cries as some king's ghost in supernatural distress through its
inexpressible strange eyes methought i peeped to secrets which took
hold of god as abraham before the angels i bowed myself the white
thing was so white its wings so wide and in those for ever exiled
waters i had lost the miserable warping memories of traditions and of
towns long i gazed at that prodigy of plumage i cannot tell can only
hint the things that darted through me then but at last i awoke and
turning asked a sailor what bird was this a goney he replied goney 
never had heard that name before is it conceivable that this glorious
thing is utterly unknown to men ashore never but some time after i
learned that goney was some seaman's name for albatross so that by no
possibility could coleridge's wild rhyme have had aught to do with
those mystical impressions which were mine when i saw that bird upon
our deck for neither had i then read the rhyme nor knew the bird to
be an albatross yet in saying this i do but indirectly burnish a
little brighter the noble merit of the poem and the poet 

i assert then that in the wondrous bodily whiteness of the bird
chiefly lurks the secret of the spell a truth the more evinced in
this that by a solecism of terms there are birds called grey
albatrosses and these i have frequently seen but never with such
emotions as when i beheld the antarctic fowl 

but how had the mystic thing been caught whisper it not and i will
tell with a treacherous hook and line as the fowl floated on the sea 
at last the captain made a postman of it tying a lettered leathern
tally round its neck with the ship's time and place and then letting
it escape but i doubt not that leathern tally meant for man was
taken off in heaven when the white fowl flew to join the wing-folding 
the invoking and adoring cherubim 

most famous in our western annals and indian traditions is that of the
white steed of the prairies a magnificent milk-white charger 
large-eyed small-headed bluff-chested and with the dignity of a
thousand monarchs in his lofty overscorning carriage he was the
elected xerxes of vast herds of wild horses whose pastures in those
days were only fenced by the rocky mountains and the alleghanies at
their flaming head he westward trooped it like that chosen star which
every evening leads on the hosts of light the flashing cascade of his
mane the curving comet of his tail invested him with housings more
resplendent than gold and silver-beaters could have furnished him a
most imperial and archangelical apparition of that unfallen western
world which to the eyes of the old trappers and hunters revived the
glories of those primeval times when adam walked majestic as a god 
bluff-browed and fearless as this mighty steed whether marching amid
his aides and marshals in the van of countless cohorts that endlessly
streamed it over the plains like an ohio or whether with his
circumambient subjects browsing all around at the horizon the white
steed gallopingly reviewed them with warm nostrils reddening through
his cool milkiness in whatever aspect he presented himself always to
the bravest indians he was the object of trembling reverence and awe 
nor can it be questioned from what stands on legendary record of this
noble horse that it was his spiritual whiteness chiefly which so
clothed him with divineness and that this divineness had that in it
which though commanding worship at the same time enforced a certain
nameless terror 

but there are other instances where this whiteness loses all that
accessory and strange glory which invests it in the white steed and
albatross 

what is it that in the albino man so peculiarly repels and often shocks
the eye as that sometimes he is loathed by his own kith and kin it is
that whiteness which invests him a thing expressed by the name he
bears the albino is as well made as other men has no substantive
deformity and yet this mere aspect of all-pervading whiteness makes him
more strangely hideous than the ugliest abortion why should this be
so 

nor in quite other aspects does nature in her least palpable but not
the less malicious agencies fail to enlist among her forces this
crowning attribute of the terrible from its snowy aspect the
gauntleted ghost of the southern seas has been denominated the white
squall nor in some historic instances has the art of human malice
omitted so potent an auxiliary how wildly it heightens the effect of
that passage in froissart when masked in the snowy symbol of their
faction the desperate white hoods of ghent murder their bailiff in the
market-place 

nor in some things does the common hereditary experience of all
mankind fail to bear witness to the supernaturalism of this hue it
cannot well be doubted that the one visible quality in the aspect of
the dead which most appals the gazer is the marble pallor lingering
there as if indeed that pallor were as much like the badge of
consternation in the other world as of mortal trepidation here and
from that pallor of the dead we borrow the expressive hue of the
shroud in which we wrap them nor even in our superstitions do we fail
to throw the same snowy mantle round our phantoms all ghosts rising in
a milk-white fog yea while these terrors seize us let us add that
even the king of terrors when personified by the evangelist rides on
his pallid horse 

therefore in his other moods symbolize whatever grand or gracious
thing he will by whiteness no man can deny that in its profoundest
idealized significance it calls up a peculiar apparition to the soul 

but though without dissent this point be fixed how is mortal man to
account for it to analyse it would seem impossible can we then by
the citation of some of those instances wherein this thing of
whiteness though for the time either wholly or in great part stripped
of all direct associations calculated to impart to it aught fearful 
but nevertheless is found to exert over us the same sorcery however
modified can we thus hope to light upon some chance clue to conduct us
to the hidden cause we seek 

let us try but in a matter like this subtlety appeals to subtlety 
and without imagination no man can follow another into these halls and
though doubtless some at least of the imaginative impressions about
to be presented may have been shared by most men yet few perhaps were
entirely conscious of them at the time and therefore may not be able
to recall them now 

why to the man of untutored ideality who happens to be but loosely
acquainted with the peculiar character of the day does the bare
mention of whitsuntide marshal in the fancy such long dreary 
speechless processions of slow-pacing pilgrims down-cast and hooded
with new-fallen snow or to the unread unsophisticated protestant of
the middle american states why does the passing mention of a white
friar or a white nun evoke such an eyeless statue in the soul 

or what is there apart from the traditions of dungeoned warriors and
kings which will not wholly account for it that makes the white tower
of london tell so much more strongly on the imagination of an
untravelled american than those other storied structures its
neighbors the byward tower or even the bloody and those sublimer
towers the white mountains of new hampshire whence in peculiar
moods comes that gigantic ghostliness over the soul at the bare
mention of that name while the thought of virginia's blue ridge is
full of a soft dewy distant dreaminess or why irrespective of all
latitudes and longitudes does the name of the white sea exert such a
spectralness over the fancy while that of the yellow sea lulls us with
mortal thoughts of long lacquered mild afternoons on the waves 
followed by the gaudiest and yet sleepiest of sunsets or to choose a
wholly unsubstantial instance purely addressed to the fancy why in
reading the old fairy tales of central europe does the tall pale man 
of the hartz forests whose changeless pallor unrustlingly glides
through the green of the groves why is this phantom more terrible than
all the whooping imps of the blocksburg 

nor is it altogether the remembrance of her cathedral-toppling
earthquakes nor the stampedoes of her frantic seas nor the
tearlessness of arid skies that never rain nor the sight of her wide
field of leaning spires wrenched cope-stones and crosses all adroop
 like canted yards of anchored fleets and her suburban avenues of
house-walls lying over upon each other as a tossed pack of cards it
is not these things alone which make tearless lima the strangest 
saddest city thou can'st see for lima has taken the white veil and
there is a higher horror in this whiteness of her woe old as pizarro 
this whiteness keeps her ruins for ever new admits not the cheerful
greenness of complete decay spreads over her broken ramparts the rigid
pallor of an apoplexy that fixes its own distortions 

i know that to the common apprehension this phenomenon of whiteness
is not confessed to be the prime agent in exaggerating the terror of
objects otherwise terrible nor to the unimaginative mind is there
aught of terror in those appearances whose awfulness to another mind
almost solely consists in this one phenomenon especially when
exhibited under any form at all approaching to muteness or
universality what i mean by these two statements may perhaps be
respectively elucidated by the following examples 

first the mariner when drawing nigh the coasts of foreign lands if
by night he hear the roar of breakers starts to vigilance and feels
just enough of trepidation to sharpen all his faculties but under
precisely similar circumstances let him be called from his hammock to
view his ship sailing through a midnight sea of milky whiteness as if
from encircling headlands shoals of combed white bears were swimming
round him then he feels a silent superstitious dread the shrouded
phantom of the whitened waters is horrible to him as a real ghost in
vain the lead assures him he is still off soundings heart and helm
they both go down he never rests till blue water is under him again 
yet where is the mariner who will tell thee sir it was not so much
the fear of striking hidden rocks as the fear of that hideous
whiteness that so stirred me 

second to the native indian of peru the continual sight of the
snow-howdahed andes conveys naught of dread except perhaps in the
mere fancying of the eternal frosted desolateness reigning at such vast
altitudes and the natural conceit of what a fearfulness it would be to
lose oneself in such inhuman solitudes much the same is it with the
backwoodsman of the west who with comparative indifference views an
unbounded prairie sheeted with driven snow no shadow of tree or twig
to break the fixed trance of whiteness not so the sailor beholding
the scenery of the antarctic seas where at times by some infernal
trick of legerdemain in the powers of frost and air he shivering and
half shipwrecked instead of rainbows speaking hope and solace to his
misery views what seems a boundless churchyard grinning upon him with
its lean ice monuments and splintered crosses 

but thou sayest methinks that white-lead chapter about whiteness is
but a white flag hung out from a craven soul thou surrenderest to a
hypo ishmael 

tell me why this strong young colt foaled in some peaceful valley of
vermont far removed from all beasts of prey why is it that upon the
sunniest day if you but shake a fresh buffalo robe behind him so that
he cannot even see it but only smells its wild animal muskiness why
will he start snort and with bursting eyes paw the ground in
phrensies of affright there is no remembrance in him of any gorings of
wild creatures in his green northern home so that the strange
muskiness he smells cannot recall to him anything associated with the
experience of former perils for what knows he this new england colt 
of the black bisons of distant oregon 

no but here thou beholdest even in a dumb brute the instinct of the
knowledge of the demonism in the world though thousands of miles from
oregon still when he smells that savage musk the rending goring
bison herds are as present as to the deserted wild foal of the
prairies which this instant they may be trampling into dust 

thus then the muffled rollings of a milky sea the bleak rustlings of
the festooned frosts of mountains the desolate shiftings of the
windrowed snows of prairies all these to ishmael are as the shaking
of that buffalo robe to the frightened colt 

though neither knows where lie the nameless things of which the mystic
sign gives forth such hints yet with me as with the colt somewhere
those things must exist though in many of its aspects this visible
world seems formed in love the invisible spheres were formed in
fright 

but not yet have we solved the incantation of this whiteness and
learned why it appeals with such power to the soul and more strange
and far more portentous why as we have seen it is at once the most
meaning symbol of spiritual things nay the very veil of the
christian's deity and yet should be as it is the intensifying agent
in things the most appalling to mankind 

is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids
and immensities of the universe and thus stabs us from behind with the
thought of annihilation when beholding the white depths of the milky
way or is it that as in essence whiteness is not so much a colour as
the visible absence of colour and at the same time the concrete of all
colours is it for these reasons that there is such a dumb blankness 
full of meaning in a wide landscape of snows a colourless all-colour
of atheism from which we shrink and when we consider that other theory
of the natural philosophers that all other earthly hues every stately
or lovely emblazoning the sweet tinges of sunset skies and woods yea 
and the gilded velvets of butterflies and the butterfly cheeks of
young girls all these are but subtile deceits not actually inherent
in substances but only laid on from without so that all deified
nature absolutely paints like the harlot whose allurements cover
nothing but the charnel-house within and when we proceed further and
consider that the mystical cosmetic which produces every one of her
hues the great principle of light for ever remains white or colorless
in itself and if operating without medium upon matter would touch all
objects even tulips and roses with its own blank tinge pondering all
this the palsied universe lies before us a leper and like wilful
travellers in lapland who refuse to wear coloured and colouring
glasses upon their eyes so the wretched infidel gazes himself blind at
the monumental white shroud that wraps all the prospect around him and
of all these things the albino whale was the symbol wonder ye then at
the fiery hunt 


chapter 43 hark 

 hist did you hear that noise cabaco 

it was the middle-watch a fair moonlight the seamen were standing in
a cordon extending from one of the fresh-water butts in the waist to
the scuttle-butt near the taffrail in this manner they passed the
buckets to fill the scuttle-butt standing for the most part on the
hallowed precincts of the quarter-deck they were careful not to speak
or rustle their feet from hand to hand the buckets went in the
deepest silence only broken by the occasional flap of a sail and the
steady hum of the unceasingly advancing keel 

it was in the midst of this repose that archy one of the cordon 
whose post was near the after-hatches whispered to his neighbor a
cholo the words above 

 hist did you hear that noise cabaco 

 take the bucket will ye archy what noise d'ye mean 

 there it is again under the hatches don't you hear it a cough it
sounded like a cough 

 cough be damned pass along that return bucket 

 there again there it is it sounds like two or three sleepers turning
over now 

 caramba have done shipmate will ye it's the three soaked biscuits
ye eat for supper turning over inside of ye nothing else look to the
bucket 

 say what ye will shipmate i've sharp ears 

 aye you are the chap ain't ye that heard the hum of the old
quakeress's knitting-needles fifty miles at sea from nantucket you're
the chap 

 grin away we'll see what turns up hark ye cabaco there is somebody
down in the after-hold that has not yet been seen on deck and i
suspect our old mogul knows something of it too i heard stubb tell
flask one morning watch that there was something of that sort in the
wind 

 tish the bucket 


chapter 44 the chart 

had you followed captain ahab down into his cabin after the squall that
took place on the night succeeding that wild ratification of his
purpose with his crew you would have seen him go to a locker in the
transom and bringing out a large wrinkled roll of yellowish sea
charts spread them before him on his screwed-down table then seating
himself before it you would have seen him intently study the various
lines and shadings which there met his eye and with slow but steady
pencil trace additional courses over spaces that before were blank at
intervals he would refer to piles of old log-books beside him wherein
were set down the seasons and places in which on various former
voyages of various ships sperm whales had been captured or seen 

while thus employed the heavy pewter lamp suspended in chains over his
head continually rocked with the motion of the ship and for ever
threw shifting gleams and shadows of lines upon his wrinkled brow till
it almost seemed that while he himself was marking out lines and
courses on the wrinkled charts some invisible pencil was also tracing
lines and courses upon the deeply marked chart of his forehead 

but it was not this night in particular that in the solitude of his
cabin ahab thus pondered over his charts almost every night they were
brought out almost every night some pencil marks were effaced and
others were substituted for with the charts of all four oceans before
him ahab was threading a maze of currents and eddies with a view to
the more certain accomplishment of that monomaniac thought of his soul 

now to any one not fully acquainted with the ways of the leviathans 
it might seem an absurdly hopeless task thus to seek out one solitary
creature in the unhooped oceans of this planet but not so did it seem
to ahab who knew the sets of all tides and currents and thereby
calculating the driftings of the sperm whale's food and also calling
to mind the regular ascertained seasons for hunting him in particular
latitudes could arrive at reasonable surmises almost approaching to
certainties concerning the timeliest day to be upon this or that
ground in search of his prey 

so assured indeed is the fact concerning the periodicalness of the
sperm whale's resorting to given waters that many hunters believe
that could he be closely observed and studied throughout the world 
were the logs for one voyage of the entire whale fleet carefully
collated then the migrations of the sperm whale would be found to
correspond in invariability to those of the herring-shoals or the
flights of swallows on this hint attempts have been made to construct
elaborate migratory charts of the sperm whale 


 since the above was written the statement is happily borne out by
 an official circular issued by lieutenant maury of the national
 observatory washington april 16th 1851 by that circular it
 appears that precisely such a chart is in course of completion and
 portions of it are presented in the circular this chart divides the
 ocean into districts of five degrees of latitude by five degrees of
 longitude perpendicularly through each of which districts are twelve
 columns for the twelve months and horizontally through each of which
 districts are three lines one to show the number of days that have
 been spent in each month in every district and the two others to
 show the number of days in which whales sperm or right have been
 seen 




besides when making a passage from one feeding-ground to another the
sperm whales guided by some infallible instinct say rather secret
intelligence from the deity mostly swim in veins as they are called 
continuing their way along a given ocean-line with such undeviating
exactitude that no ship ever sailed her course by any chart with one
tithe of such marvellous precision though in these cases the
direction taken by any one whale be straight as a surveyor's parallel 
and though the line of advance be strictly confined to its own
unavoidable straight wake yet the arbitrary vein in which at these
times he is said to swim generally embraces some few miles in width
 more or less as the vein is presumed to expand or contract but
never exceeds the visual sweep from the whale-ship's mast-heads when
circumspectly gliding along this magic zone the sum is that at
particular seasons within that breadth and along that path migrating
whales may with great confidence be looked for 

and hence not only at substantiated times upon well known separate
feeding-grounds could ahab hope to encounter his prey but in crossing
the widest expanses of water between those grounds he could by his
art so place and time himself on his way as even then not to be
wholly without prospect of a meeting 

there was a circumstance which at first sight seemed to entangle his
delirious but still methodical scheme but not so in the reality 
perhaps though the gregarious sperm whales have their regular seasons
for particular grounds yet in general you cannot conclude that the
herds which haunted such and such a latitude or longitude this year 
say will turn out to be identically the same with those that were
found there the preceding season though there are peculiar and
unquestionable instances where the contrary of this has proved true in
general the same remark only within a less wide limit applies to the
solitaries and hermits among the matured aged sperm whales so that
though moby dick had in a former year been seen for example on what
is called the seychelle ground in the indian ocean or volcano bay on
the japanese coast yet it did not follow that were the pequod to
visit either of those spots at any subsequent corresponding season she
would infallibly encounter him there so too with some other feeding
grounds where he had at times revealed himself but all these seemed
only his casual stopping-places and ocean-inns so to speak not his
places of prolonged abode and where ahab's chances of accomplishing
his object have hitherto been spoken of allusion has only been made to
whatever way-side antecedent extra prospects were his ere a
particular set time or place were attained when all possibilities
would become probabilities and as ahab fondly thought every
possibility the next thing to a certainty that particular set time and
place were conjoined in the one technical phrase the
season-on-the-line for there and then for several consecutive years 
moby dick had been periodically descried lingering in those waters for
awhile as the sun in its annual round loiters for a predicted
interval in any one sign of the zodiac there it was too that most of
the deadly encounters with the white whale had taken place there the
waves were storied with his deeds there also was that tragic spot
where the monomaniac old man had found the awful motive to his
vengeance but in the cautious comprehensiveness and unloitering
vigilance with which ahab threw his brooding soul into this unfaltering
hunt he would not permit himself to rest all his hopes upon the one
crowning fact above mentioned however flattering it might be to those
hopes nor in the sleeplessness of his vow could he so tranquillize his
unquiet heart as to postpone all intervening quest 

now the pequod had sailed from nantucket at the very beginning of the
season-on-the-line no possible endeavor then could enable her
commander to make the great passage southwards double cape horn and
then running down sixty degrees of latitude arrive in the equatorial
pacific in time to cruise there therefore he must wait for the next
ensuing season yet the premature hour of the pequod's sailing had 
perhaps been correctly selected by ahab with a view to this very
complexion of things because an interval of three hundred and
sixty-five days and nights was before him an interval which instead
of impatiently enduring ashore he would spend in a miscellaneous hunt 
if by chance the white whale spending his vacation in seas far remote
from his periodical feeding-grounds should turn up his wrinkled brow
off the persian gulf or in the bengal bay or china seas or in any
other waters haunted by his race so that monsoons pampas 
nor -westers harmattans trades any wind but the levanter and simoon 
might blow moby dick into the devious zig-zag world-circle of the
pequod's circumnavigating wake 

but granting all this yet regarded discreetly and coolly seems it
not but a mad idea this that in the broad boundless ocean one
solitary whale even if encountered should be thought capable of
individual recognition from his hunter even as a white-bearded mufti
in the thronged thoroughfares of constantinople yes for the peculiar
snow-white brow of moby dick and his snow-white hump could not but be
unmistakable and have i not tallied the whale ahab would mutter to
himself as after poring over his charts till long after midnight he
would throw himself back in reveries tallied him and shall he escape 
his broad fins are bored and scalloped out like a lost sheep's ear 
and here his mad mind would run on in a breathless race till a
weariness and faintness of pondering came over him and in the open air
of the deck he would seek to recover his strength ah god what
trances of torments does that man endure who is consumed with one
unachieved revengeful desire he sleeps with clenched hands and wakes
with his own bloody nails in his palms 

often when forced from his hammock by exhausting and intolerably vivid
dreams of the night which resuming his own intense thoughts through
the day carried them on amid a clashing of phrensies and whirled them
round and round and round in his blazing brain till the very throbbing
of his life-spot became insufferable anguish and when as was
sometimes the case these spiritual throes in him heaved his being up
from its base and a chasm seemed opening in him from which forked
flames and lightnings shot up and accursed fiends beckoned him to leap
down among them when this hell in himself yawned beneath him a wild
cry would be heard through the ship and with glaring eyes ahab would
burst from his state room as though escaping from a bed that was on
fire yet these perhaps instead of being the unsuppressable symptoms
of some latent weakness or fright at his own resolve were but the
plainest tokens of its intensity for at such times crazy ahab the
scheming unappeasedly steadfast hunter of the white whale this ahab
that had gone to his hammock was not the agent that so caused him to
burst from it in horror again the latter was the eternal living
principle or soul in him and in sleep being for the time dissociated
from the characterizing mind which at other times employed it for its
outer vehicle or agent it spontaneously sought escape from the
scorching contiguity of the frantic thing of which for the time it
was no longer an integral but as the mind does not exist unless
leagued with the soul therefore it must have been that in ahab's
case yielding up all his thoughts and fancies to his one supreme
purpose that purpose by its own sheer inveteracy of will forced
itself against gods and devils into a kind of self-assumed independent
being of its own nay could grimly live and burn while the common
vitality to which it was conjoined fled horror-stricken from the
unbidden and unfathered birth therefore the tormented spirit that
glared out of bodily eyes when what seemed ahab rushed from his room 
was for the time but a vacated thing a formless somnambulistic being 
a ray of living light to be sure but without an object to colour and
therefore a blankness in itself god help thee old man thy thoughts
have created a creature in thee and he whose intense thinking thus
makes him a prometheus a vulture feeds upon that heart for ever that
vulture the very creature he creates 


chapter 45 the affidavit 

so far as what there may be of a narrative in this book and indeed 
as indirectly touching one or two very interesting and curious
particulars in the habits of sperm whales the foregoing chapter in
its earlier part is as important a one as will be found in this
volume but the leading matter of it requires to be still further and
more familiarly enlarged upon in order to be adequately understood 
and moreover to take away any incredulity which a profound ignorance of
the entire subject may induce in some minds as to the natural verity
of the main points of this affair 

i care not to perform this part of my task methodically but shall be
content to produce the desired impression by separate citations of
items practically or reliably known to me as a whaleman and from
these citations i take it the conclusion aimed at will naturally
follow of itself 

first i have personally known three instances where a whale after
receiving a harpoon has effected a complete escape and after an
interval in one instance of three years has been again struck by the
same hand and slain when the two irons both marked by the same
private cypher have been taken from the body in the instance where
three years intervened between the flinging of the two harpoons and i
think it may have been something more than that the man who darted
them happening in the interval to go in a trading ship on a voyage to
africa went ashore there joined a discovery party and penetrated far
into the interior where he travelled for a period of nearly two years 
often endangered by serpents savages tigers poisonous miasmas with
all the other common perils incident to wandering in the heart of
unknown regions meanwhile the whale he had struck must also have been
on its travels no doubt it had thrice circumnavigated the globe 
brushing with its flanks all the coasts of africa but to no purpose 
this man and this whale again came together and the one vanquished the
other i say i myself have known three instances similar to this 
that is in two of them i saw the whales struck and upon the second
attack saw the two irons with the respective marks cut in them 
afterwards taken from the dead fish in the three-year instance it so
fell out that i was in the boat both times first and last and the
last time distinctly recognised a peculiar sort of huge mole under the
whale's eye which i had observed there three years previous i say
three years but i am pretty sure it was more than that here are three
instances then which i personally know the truth of but i have heard
of many other instances from persons whose veracity in the matter there
is no good ground to impeach 

secondly it is well known in the sperm whale fishery however ignorant
the world ashore may be of it that there have been several memorable
historical instances where a particular whale in the ocean has been at
distant times and places popularly cognisable why such a whale became
thus marked was not altogether and originally owing to his bodily
peculiarities as distinguished from other whales for however peculiar
in that respect any chance whale may be they soon put an end to his
peculiarities by killing him and boiling him down into a peculiarly
valuable oil no the reason was this that from the fatal experiences
of the fishery there hung a terrible prestige of perilousness about
such a whale as there did about rinaldo rinaldini insomuch that most
fishermen were content to recognise him by merely touching their
tarpaulins when he would be discovered lounging by them on the sea 
without seeking to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance like some
poor devils ashore that happen to know an irascible great man they
make distant unobtrusive salutations to him in the street lest if they
pursued the acquaintance further they might receive a summary thump
for their presumption 

but not only did each of these famous whales enjoy great individual
celebrity nay you may call it an ocean-wide renown not only was he
famous in life and now is immortal in forecastle stories after death 
but he was admitted into all the rights privileges and distinctions
of a name had as much a name indeed as cambyses or caesar was it not
so o timor tom thou famed leviathan scarred like an iceberg who so
long did'st lurk in the oriental straits of that name whose spout was
oft seen from the palmy beach of ombay was it not so o new zealand
jack thou terror of all cruisers that crossed their wakes in the
vicinity of the tattoo land was it not so o morquan king of japan 
whose lofty jet they say at times assumed the semblance of a snow-white
cross against the sky was it not so o don miguel thou chilian whale 
marked like an old tortoise with mystic hieroglyphics upon the back in
plain prose here are four whales as well known to the students of
cetacean history as marius or sylla to the classic scholar 

but this is not all new zealand tom and don miguel after at various
times creating great havoc among the boats of different vessels were
finally gone in quest of systematically hunted out chased and killed
by valiant whaling captains who heaved up their anchors with that
express object as much in view as in setting out through the
narragansett woods captain butler of old had it in his mind to capture
that notorious murderous savage annawon the headmost warrior of the
indian king philip 

i do not know where i can find a better place than just here to make
mention of one or two other things which to me seem important as in
printed form establishing in all respects the reasonableness of the
whole story of the white whale more especially the catastrophe for
this is one of those disheartening instances where truth requires full
as much bolstering as error so ignorant are most landsmen of some of
the plainest and most palpable wonders of the world that without some
hints touching the plain facts historical and otherwise of the
fishery they might scout at moby dick as a monstrous fable or still
worse and more detestable a hideous and intolerable allegory 

first though most men have some vague flitting ideas of the general
perils of the grand fishery yet they have nothing like a fixed vivid
conception of those perils and the frequency with which they recur 
one reason perhaps is that not one in fifty of the actual disasters
and deaths by casualties in the fishery ever finds a public record at
home however transient and immediately forgotten that record do you
suppose that that poor fellow there who this moment perhaps caught by
the whale-line off the coast of new guinea is being carried down to
the bottom of the sea by the sounding leviathan do you suppose that
that poor fellow's name will appear in the newspaper obituary you will
read to-morrow at your breakfast no because the mails are very
irregular between here and new guinea in fact did you ever hear what
might be called regular news direct or indirect from new guinea yet i
tell you that upon one particular voyage which i made to the pacific 
among many others we spoke thirty different ships every one of which
had had a death by a whale some of them more than one and three that
had each lost a boat's crew for god's sake be economical with your
lamps and candles not a gallon you burn but at least one drop of
man's blood was spilled for it 

secondly people ashore have indeed some indefinite idea that a whale
is an enormous creature of enormous power but i have ever found that
when narrating to them some specific example of this two-fold
enormousness they have significantly complimented me upon my
facetiousness when i declare upon my soul i had no more idea of
being facetious than moses when he wrote the history of the plagues of
egypt 

but fortunately the special point i here seek can be established upon
testimony entirely independent of my own that point is this the sperm
whale is in some cases sufficiently powerful knowing and judiciously
malicious as with direct aforethought to stave in utterly destroy 
and sink a large ship and what is more the sperm whale has done it 

first in the year 1820 the ship essex captain pollard of nantucket 
was cruising in the pacific ocean one day she saw spouts lowered her
boats and gave chase to a shoal of sperm whales ere long several of
the whales were wounded when suddenly a very large whale escaping
from the boats issued from the shoal and bore directly down upon the
ship dashing his forehead against her hull he so stove her in that
in less than ten minutes she settled down and fell over not a
surviving plank of her has been seen since after the severest
exposure part of the crew reached the land in their boats being
returned home at last captain pollard once more sailed for the pacific
in command of another ship but the gods shipwrecked him again upon
unknown rocks and breakers for the second time his ship was utterly
lost and forthwith forswearing the sea he has never tempted it since 
at this day captain pollard is a resident of nantucket i have seen
owen chace who was chief mate of the essex at the time of the tragedy 
i have read his plain and faithful narrative i have conversed with his
son and all this within a few miles of the scene of the catastrophe 

 the following are extracts from chace's narrative every fact seemed
to warrant me in concluding that it was anything but chance which
directed his operations he made two several attacks upon the ship at
a short interval between them both of which according to their
direction were calculated to do us the most injury by being made
ahead and thereby combining the speed of the two objects for the
shock to effect which the exact manoeuvres which he made were
necessary his aspect was most horrible and such as indicated
resentment and fury he came directly from the shoal which we had just
before entered and in which we had struck three of his companions as
if fired with revenge for their sufferings again at all events the
whole circumstances taken together all happening before my own eyes 
and producing at the time impressions in my mind of decided 
calculating mischief on the part of the whale many of which
impressions i cannot now recall induce me to be satisfied that i am
correct in my opinion 

here are his reflections some time after quitting the ship during a
black night in an open boat when almost despairing of reaching any
hospitable shore the dark ocean and swelling waters were nothing the
fears of being swallowed up by some dreadful tempest or dashed upon
hidden rocks with all the other ordinary subjects of fearful
contemplation seemed scarcely entitled to a moment's thought the
dismal looking wreck and the horrid aspect and revenge of the whale 
wholly engrossed my reflections until day again made its appearance 

in another place p 45 he speaks of the mysterious and mortal attack
of the animal 

secondly the ship union also of nantucket was in the year 1807
totally lost off the azores by a similar onset but the authentic
particulars of this catastrophe i have never chanced to encounter 
though from the whale hunters i have now and then heard casual
allusions to it 

thirdly some eighteen or twenty years ago commodore j then
commanding an american sloop-of-war of the first class happened to be
dining with a party of whaling captains on board a nantucket ship in
the harbor of oahu sandwich islands conversation turning upon whales 
the commodore was pleased to be sceptical touching the amazing strength
ascribed to them by the professional gentlemen present he peremptorily
denied for example that any whale could so smite his stout
sloop-of-war as to cause her to leak so much as a thimbleful very
good but there is more coming some weeks after the commodore set
sail in this impregnable craft for valparaiso but he was stopped on
the way by a portly sperm whale that begged a few moments 
confidential business with him that business consisted in fetching the
commodore's craft such a thwack that with all his pumps going he made
straight for the nearest port to heave down and repair i am not
superstitious but i consider the commodore's interview with that whale
as providential was not saul of tarsus converted from unbelief by a
similar fright i tell you the sperm whale will stand no nonsense 

i will now refer you to langsdorff's voyages for a little circumstance
in point peculiarly interesting to the writer hereof langsdorff you
must know by the way was attached to the russian admiral krusenstern's
famous discovery expedition in the beginning of the present century 
captain langsdorff thus begins his seventeenth chapter 

 by the thirteenth of may our ship was ready to sail and the next day
we were out in the open sea on our way to ochotsh the weather was
very clear and fine but so intolerably cold that we were obliged to
keep on our fur clothing for some days we had very little wind it was
not till the nineteenth that a brisk gale from the northwest sprang up 
an uncommon large whale the body of which was larger than the ship
itself lay almost at the surface of the water but was not perceived
by any one on board till the moment when the ship which was in full
sail was almost upon him so that it was impossible to prevent its
striking against him we were thus placed in the most imminent danger 
as this gigantic creature setting up its back raised the ship three
feet at least out of the water the masts reeled and the sails fell
altogether while we who were below all sprang instantly upon the deck 
concluding that we had struck upon some rock instead of this we saw
the monster sailing off with the utmost gravity and solemnity captain
d'wolf applied immediately to the pumps to examine whether or not the
vessel had received any damage from the shock but we found that very
happily it had escaped entirely uninjured 

now the captain d'wolf here alluded to as commanding the ship in
question is a new englander who after a long life of unusual
adventures as a sea-captain this day resides in the village of
dorchester near boston i have the honor of being a nephew of his i
have particularly questioned him concerning this passage in langsdorff 
he substantiates every word the ship however was by no means a large
one a russian craft built on the siberian coast and purchased by my
uncle after bartering away the vessel in which he sailed from home 

in that up and down manly book of old-fashioned adventure so full 
too of honest wonders the voyage of lionel wafer one of ancient
dampier's old chums i found a little matter set down so like that just
quoted from langsdorff that i cannot forbear inserting it here for a
corroborative example if such be needed 

lionel it seems was on his way to john ferdinando as he calls the
modern juan fernandes in our way thither he says about four
o'clock in the morning when we were about one hundred and fifty
leagues from the main of america our ship felt a terrible shock which
put our men in such consternation that they could hardly tell where
they were or what to think but every one began to prepare for death 
and indeed the shock was so sudden and violent that we took it for
granted the ship had struck against a rock but when the amazement was
a little over we cast the lead and sounded but found no ground 
 the suddenness of the shock made the guns leap in their
carriages and several of the men were shaken out of their hammocks 
captain davis who lay with his head on a gun was thrown out of his
cabin lionel then goes on to impute the shock to an earthquake and
seems to substantiate the imputation by stating that a great
earthquake somewhere about that time did actually do great mischief
along the spanish land but i should not much wonder if in the
darkness of that early hour of the morning the shock was after all
caused by an unseen whale vertically bumping the hull from beneath 

i might proceed with several more examples one way or another known to
me of the great power and malice at times of the sperm whale in more
than one instance he has been known not only to chase the assailing
boats back to their ships but to pursue the ship itself and long
withstand all the lances hurled at him from its decks the english ship
pusie hall can tell a story on that head and as for his strength let
me say that there have been examples where the lines attached to a
running sperm whale have in a calm been transferred to the ship and
secured there the whale towing her great hull through the water as a
horse walks off with a cart again it is very often observed that if
the sperm whale once struck is allowed time to rally he then acts 
not so often with blind rage as with wilful deliberate designs of
destruction to his pursuers nor is it without conveying some eloquent
indication of his character that upon being attacked he will
frequently open his mouth and retain it in that dread expansion for
several consecutive minutes but i must be content with only one more
and a concluding illustration a remarkable and most significant one 
by which you will not fail to see that not only is the most marvellous
event in this book corroborated by plain facts of the present day but
that these marvels like all marvels are mere repetitions of the ages 
so that for the millionth time we say amen with solomon verily there is
nothing new under the sun 

in the sixth christian century lived procopius a christian magistrate
of constantinople in the days when justinian was emperor and
belisarius general as many know he wrote the history of his own
times a work every way of uncommon value by the best authorities he
has always been considered a most trustworthy and unexaggerating
historian except in some one or two particulars not at all affecting
the matter presently to be mentioned 

now in this history of his procopius mentions that during the term
of his prefecture at constantinople a great sea-monster was captured
in the neighboring propontis or sea of marmora after having destroyed
vessels at intervals in those waters for a period of more than fifty
years a fact thus set down in substantial history cannot easily be
gainsaid nor is there any reason it should be of what precise species
this sea-monster was is not mentioned but as he destroyed ships as
well as for other reasons he must have been a whale and i am strongly
inclined to think a sperm whale and i will tell you why for a long
time i fancied that the sperm whale had been always unknown in the
mediterranean and the deep waters connecting with it even now i am
certain that those seas are not and perhaps never can be in the
present constitution of things a place for his habitual gregarious
resort but further investigations have recently proved to me that in
modern times there have been isolated instances of the presence of the
sperm whale in the mediterranean i am told on good authority that on
the barbary coast a commodore davis of the british navy found the
skeleton of a sperm whale now as a vessel of war readily passes
through the dardanelles hence a sperm whale could by the same route 
pass out of the mediterranean into the propontis 

in the propontis as far as i can learn none of that peculiar
substance called brit is to be found the aliment of the right whale 
but i have every reason to believe that the food of the sperm
whale squid or cuttle-fish lurks at the bottom of that sea because
large creatures but by no means the largest of that sort have been
found at its surface if then you properly put these statements
together and reason upon them a bit you will clearly perceive that 
according to all human reasoning procopius's sea-monster that for
half a century stove the ships of a roman emperor must in all
probability have been a sperm whale 


chapter 46 surmises 

though consumed with the hot fire of his purpose ahab in all his
thoughts and actions ever had in view the ultimate capture of moby
dick though he seemed ready to sacrifice all mortal interests to that
one passion nevertheless it may have been that he was by nature and
long habituation far too wedded to a fiery whaleman's ways altogether
to abandon the collateral prosecution of the voyage or at least if
this were otherwise there were not wanting other motives much more
influential with him it would be refining too much perhaps even
considering his monomania to hint that his vindictiveness towards the
white whale might have possibly extended itself in some degree to all
sperm whales and that the more monsters he slew by so much the more he
multiplied the chances that each subsequently encountered whale would
prove to be the hated one he hunted but if such an hypothesis be
indeed exceptionable there were still additional considerations which 
though not so strictly according with the wildness of his ruling
passion yet were by no means incapable of swaying him 

to accomplish his object ahab must use tools and of all tools used in
the shadow of the moon men are most apt to get out of order he knew 
for example that however magnetic his ascendency in some respects was
over starbuck yet that ascendency did not cover the complete spiritual
man any more than mere corporeal superiority involves intellectual
mastership for to the purely spiritual the intellectual but stand in
a sort of corporeal relation starbuck's body and starbuck's coerced
will were ahab's so long as ahab kept his magnet at starbuck's brain 
still he knew that for all this the chief mate in his soul abhorred
his captain's quest and could he would joyfully disintegrate himself
from it or even frustrate it it might be that a long interval would
elapse ere the white whale was seen during that long interval starbuck
would ever be apt to fall into open relapses of rebellion against his
captain's leadership unless some ordinary prudential circumstantial
influences were brought to bear upon him not only that but the subtle
insanity of ahab respecting moby dick was noways more significantly
manifested than in his superlative sense and shrewdness in foreseeing
that for the present the hunt should in some way be stripped of that
strange imaginative impiousness which naturally invested it that the
full terror of the voyage must be kept withdrawn into the obscure
background for few men's courage is proof against protracted
meditation unrelieved by action that when they stood their long night
watches his officers and men must have some nearer things to think of
than moby dick for however eagerly and impetuously the savage crew had
hailed the announcement of his quest yet all sailors of all sorts are
more or less capricious and unreliable they live in the varying outer
weather and they inhale its fickleness and when retained for any
object remote and blank in the pursuit however promissory of life and
passion in the end it is above all things requisite that temporary
interests and employments should intervene and hold them healthily
suspended for the final dash 

nor was ahab unmindful of another thing in times of strong emotion
mankind disdain all base considerations but such times are evanescent 
the permanent constitutional condition of the manufactured man thought
ahab is sordidness granting that the white whale fully incites the
hearts of this my savage crew and playing round their savageness even
breeds a certain generous knight-errantism in them still while for
the love of it they give chase to moby dick they must also have food
for their more common daily appetites for even the high lifted and
chivalric crusaders of old times were not content to traverse two
thousand miles of land to fight for their holy sepulchre without
committing burglaries picking pockets and gaining other pious
perquisites by the way had they been strictly held to their one final
and romantic object that final and romantic object too many would have
turned from in disgust i will not strip these men thought ahab of
all hopes of cash aye cash they may scorn cash now but let some
months go by and no perspective promise of it to them and then this
same quiescent cash all at once mutinying in them this same cash would
soon cashier ahab 

nor was there wanting still another precautionary motive more related
to ahab personally having impulsively it is probable and perhaps
somewhat prematurely revealed the prime but private purpose of the
pequod's voyage ahab was now entirely conscious that in so doing he
had indirectly laid himself open to the unanswerable charge of
usurpation and with perfect impunity both moral and legal his crew
if so disposed and to that end competent could refuse all further
obedience to him and even violently wrest from him the command from
even the barely hinted imputation of usurpation and the possible
consequences of such a suppressed impression gaining ground ahab must
of course have been most anxious to protect himself that protection
could only consist in his own predominating brain and heart and hand 
backed by a heedful closely calculating attention to every minute
atmospheric influence which it was possible for his crew to be
subjected to 

for all these reasons then and others perhaps too analytic to be
verbally developed here ahab plainly saw that he must still in a good
degree continue true to the natural nominal purpose of the pequod's
voyage observe all customary usages and not only that but force
himself to evince all his well known passionate interest in the general
pursuit of his profession 

be all this as it may his voice was now often heard hailing the three
mast-heads and admonishing them to keep a bright look-out and not omit
reporting even a porpoise this vigilance was not long without reward 


chapter 47 the mat-maker 

it was a cloudy sultry afternoon the seamen were lazily lounging
about the decks or vacantly gazing over into the lead-coloured waters 
queequeg and i were mildly employed weaving what is called a sword-mat 
for an additional lashing to our boat so still and subdued and yet
somehow preluding was all the scene and such an incantation of reverie
lurked in the air that each silent sailor seemed resolved into his own
invisible self 

i was the attendant or page of queequeg while busy at the mat as i
kept passing and repassing the filling or woof of marline between the
long yarns of the warp using my own hand for the shuttle and as
queequeg standing sideways ever and anon slid his heavy oaken sword
between the threads and idly looking off upon the water carelessly
and unthinkingly drove home every yarn i say so strange a dreaminess
did there then reign all over the ship and all over the sea only
broken by the intermitting dull sound of the sword that it seemed as
if this were the loom of time and i myself were a shuttle mechanically
weaving and weaving away at the fates there lay the fixed threads of
the warp subject to but one single ever returning unchanging
vibration and that vibration merely enough to admit of the crosswise
interblending of other threads with its own this warp seemed
necessity and here thought i with my own hand i ply my own shuttle
and weave my own destiny into these unalterable threads meantime 
queequeg's impulsive indifferent sword sometimes hitting the woof
slantingly or crookedly or strongly or weakly as the case might be 
and by this difference in the concluding blow producing a corresponding
contrast in the final aspect of the completed fabric this savage's
sword thought i which thus finally shapes and fashions both warp and
woof this easy indifferent sword must be chance aye chance free
will and necessity nowise incompatible all interweavingly working
together the straight warp of necessity not to be swerved from its
ultimate course its every alternating vibration indeed only tending
to that free will still free to ply her shuttle between given threads 
and chance though restrained in its play within the right lines of
necessity and sideways in its motions directed by free will though
thus prescribed to by both chance by turns rules either and has the
last featuring blow at events 

thus we were weaving and weaving away when i started at a sound so
strange long drawn and musically wild and unearthly that the ball of
free will dropped from my hand and i stood gazing up at the clouds
whence that voice dropped like a wing high aloft in the cross-trees
was that mad gay-header tashtego his body was reaching eagerly
forward his hand stretched out like a wand and at brief sudden
intervals he continued his cries to be sure the same sound was that
very moment perhaps being heard all over the seas from hundreds of
whalemen's look-outs perched as high in the air but from few of those
lungs could that accustomed old cry have derived such a marvellous
cadence as from tashtego the indian's 

as he stood hovering over you half suspended in air so wildly and
eagerly peering towards the horizon you would have thought him some
prophet or seer beholding the shadows of fate and by those wild cries
announcing their coming 

 there she blows there there there she blows she blows 

 where-away 

 on the lee-beam about two miles off a school of them 

instantly all was commotion 

the sperm whale blows as a clock ticks with the same undeviating and
reliable uniformity and thereby whalemen distinguish this fish from
other tribes of his genus 

 there go flukes was now the cry from tashtego and the whales
disappeared 

 quick steward cried ahab time time 

dough-boy hurried below glanced at the watch and reported the exact
minute to ahab 

the ship was now kept away from the wind and she went gently rolling
before it tashtego reporting that the whales had gone down heading to
leeward we confidently looked to see them again directly in advance of
our bows for that singular craft at times evinced by the sperm whale
when sounding with his head in one direction he nevertheless while
concealed beneath the surface mills round and swiftly swims off in
the opposite quarter this deceitfulness of his could not now be in
action for there was no reason to suppose that the fish seen by
tashtego had been in any way alarmed or indeed knew at all of our
vicinity one of the men selected for shipkeepers that is those not
appointed to the boats by this time relieved the indian at the
main-mast head the sailors at the fore and mizzen had come down the
line tubs were fixed in their places the cranes were thrust out the
mainyard was backed and the three boats swung over the sea like three
samphire baskets over high cliffs outside of the bulwarks their eager
crews with one hand clung to the rail while one foot was expectantly
poised on the gunwale so look the long line of man-of-war's men about
to throw themselves on board an enemy's ship 

but at this critical instant a sudden exclamation was heard that took
every eye from the whale with a start all glared at dark ahab who was
surrounded by five dusky phantoms that seemed fresh formed out of air 


chapter 48 the first lowering 

the phantoms for so they then seemed were flitting on the other side
of the deck and with a noiseless celerity were casting loose the
tackles and bands of the boat which swung there this boat had always
been deemed one of the spare boats though technically called the
captain's on account of its hanging from the starboard quarter the
figure that now stood by its bows was tall and swart with one white
tooth evilly protruding from its steel-like lips a rumpled chinese
jacket of black cotton funereally invested him with wide black
trowsers of the same dark stuff but strangely crowning this ebonness
was a glistening white plaited turban the living hair braided and
coiled round and round upon his head less swart in aspect the
companions of this figure were of that vivid tiger-yellow complexion
peculiar to some of the aboriginal natives of the manillas a race
notorious for a certain diabolism of subtilty and by some honest white
mariners supposed to be the paid spies and secret confidential agents
on the water of the devil their lord whose counting-room they suppose
to be elsewhere 

while yet the wondering ship's company were gazing upon these
strangers ahab cried out to the white-turbaned old man at their head 
 all ready there fedallah 

 ready was the half-hissed reply 

 lower away then d'ye hear shouting across the deck lower away
there i say 

such was the thunder of his voice that spite of their amazement the
men sprang over the rail the sheaves whirled round in the blocks with
a wallow the three boats dropped into the sea while with a
dexterous off-handed daring unknown in any other vocation the
sailors goat-like leaped down the rolling ship's side into the tossed
boats below 

hardly had they pulled out from under the ship's lee when a fourth
keel coming from the windward side pulled round under the stern and
showed the five strangers rowing ahab who standing erect in the
stern loudly hailed starbuck stubb and flask to spread themselves
widely so as to cover a large expanse of water but with all their
eyes again riveted upon the swart fedallah and his crew the inmates of
the other boats obeyed not the command 

 captain ahab said starbuck 

 spread yourselves cried ahab give way all four boats thou 
flask pull out more to leeward 

 aye aye sir cheerily cried little king-post sweeping round his
great steering oar lay back addressing his crew 
 there there there again there she blows right ahead boys lay
back 

 never heed yonder yellow boys archy 

 oh i don't mind em sir said archy i knew it all before now 
didn't i hear em in the hold and didn't i tell cabaco here of it 
what say ye cabaco they are stowaways mr flask 

 pull pull my fine hearts-alive pull my children pull my little
ones drawlingly and soothingly sighed stubb to his crew some of whom
still showed signs of uneasiness why don't you break your backbones 
my boys what is it you stare at those chaps in yonder boat tut they
are only five more hands come to help us never mind from where the more
the merrier pull then do pull never mind the brimstone devils are
good fellows enough so so there you are now that's the stroke for a
thousand pounds that's the stroke to sweep the stakes hurrah for the
gold cup of sperm oil my heroes three cheers men all hearts alive 
easy easy don't be in a hurry don't be in a hurry why don't you snap
your oars you rascals bite something you dogs so so so 
then softly softly that's it that's it long and strong give way
there give way the devil fetch ye ye ragamuffin rapscallions ye are
all asleep stop snoring ye sleepers and pull pull will ye pull 
can't ye pull won't ye why in the name of gudgeons and ginger-cakes
don't ye pull pull and break something pull and start your eyes out 
here whipping out the sharp knife from his girdle every mother's
son of ye draw his knife and pull with the blade between his teeth 
that's it that's it now ye do something that looks like it my
steel-bits start her start her my silver-spoons start her 
marling-spikes 

stubb's exordium to his crew is given here at large because he had
rather a peculiar way of talking to them in general and especially in
inculcating the religion of rowing but you must not suppose from this
specimen of his sermonizings that he ever flew into downright passions
with his congregation not at all and therein consisted his chief
peculiarity he would say the most terrific things to his crew in a
tone so strangely compounded of fun and fury and the fury seemed so
calculated merely as a spice to the fun that no oarsman could hear
such queer invocations without pulling for dear life and yet pulling
for the mere joke of the thing besides he all the time looked so easy
and indolent himself so loungingly managed his steering-oar and so
broadly gaped open-mouthed at times that the mere sight of such a
yawning commander by sheer force of contrast acted like a charm upon
the crew then again stubb was one of those odd sort of humorists 
whose jollity is sometimes so curiously ambiguous as to put all
inferiors on their guard in the matter of obeying them 

in obedience to a sign from ahab starbuck was now pulling obliquely
across stubb's bow and when for a minute or so the two boats were
pretty near to each other stubb hailed the mate 

 mr starbuck larboard boat there ahoy a word with ye sir if ye
please 

 halloa returned starbuck turning round not a single inch as he
spoke still earnestly but whisperingly urging his crew his face set
like a flint from stubb's 

 what think ye of those yellow boys sir 

 smuggled on board somehow before the ship sailed strong strong 
boys in a whisper to his crew then speaking out loud again a sad
business mr stubb seethe her seethe her my lads but never mind 
mr stubb all for the best let all your crew pull strong come what
will spring my men spring there's hogsheads of sperm ahead mr 
stubb and that's what ye came for pull my boys sperm sperm's the
play this at least is duty duty and profit hand in hand 

 aye aye i thought as much soliloquized stubb when the boats
diverged as soon as i clapt eye on em i thought so aye and that's
what he went into the after hold for so often as dough-boy long
suspected they were hidden down there the white whale's at the bottom
of it well well so be it can't be helped all right give way men 
it ain't the white whale to-day give way 

now the advent of these outlandish strangers at such a critical instant
as the lowering of the boats from the deck this had not unreasonably
awakened a sort of superstitious amazement in some of the ship's
company but archy's fancied discovery having some time previous got
abroad among them though indeed not credited then this had in some
small measure prepared them for the event it took off the extreme edge
of their wonder and so what with all this and stubb's confident way of
accounting for their appearance they were for the time freed from
superstitious surmisings though the affair still left abundant room
for all manner of wild conjectures as to dark ahab's precise agency in
the matter from the beginning for me i silently recalled the
mysterious shadows i had seen creeping on board the pequod during the
dim nantucket dawn as well as the enigmatical hintings of the
unaccountable elijah 

meantime ahab out of hearing of his officers having sided the
furthest to windward was still ranging ahead of the other boats a
circumstance bespeaking how potent a crew was pulling him those tiger
yellow creatures of his seemed all steel and whalebone like five
trip-hammers they rose and fell with regular strokes of strength which
periodically started the boat along the water like a horizontal burst
boiler out of a mississippi steamer as for fedallah who was seen
pulling the harpooneer oar he had thrown aside his black jacket and
displayed his naked chest with the whole part of his body above the
gunwale clearly cut against the alternating depressions of the watery
horizon while at the other end of the boat ahab with one arm like a
fencer's thrown half backward into the air as if to counterbalance
any tendency to trip ahab was seen steadily managing his steering oar
as in a thousand boat lowerings ere the white whale had torn him all
at once the outstretched arm gave a peculiar motion and then remained
fixed while the boat's five oars were seen simultaneously peaked boat
and crew sat motionless on the sea instantly the three spread boats in
the rear paused on their way the whales had irregularly settled bodily
down into the blue thus giving no distantly discernible token of the
movement though from his closer vicinity ahab had observed it 

 every man look out along his oars cried starbuck thou queequeg 
stand up 

nimbly springing up on the triangular raised box in the bow the savage
stood erect there and with intensely eager eyes gazed off towards the
spot where the chase had last been descried likewise upon the extreme
stern of the boat where it was also triangularly platformed level with
the gunwale starbuck himself was seen coolly and adroitly balancing
himself to the jerking tossings of his chip of a craft and silently
eyeing the vast blue eye of the sea 

not very far distant flask's boat was also lying breathlessly still 
its commander recklessly standing upon the top of the loggerhead a
stout sort of post rooted in the keel and rising some two feet above
the level of the stern platform it is used for catching turns with the
whale line its top is not more spacious than the palm of a man's hand 
and standing upon such a base as that flask seemed perched at the
mast-head of some ship which had sunk to all but her trucks but little
king-post was small and short and at the same time little king-post
was full of a large and tall ambition so that this loggerhead
stand-point of his did by no means satisfy king-post 

 i can't see three seas off tip us up an oar there and let me on to
that 

upon this daggoo with either hand upon the gunwale to steady his way 
swiftly slid aft and then erecting himself volunteered his lofty
shoulders for a pedestal 

 good a mast-head as any sir will you mount 

 that i will and thank ye very much my fine fellow only i wish you
fifty feet taller 

whereupon planting his feet firmly against two opposite planks of the
boat the gigantic negro stooping a little presented his flat palm to
flask's foot and then putting flask's hand on his hearse-plumed head
and bidding him spring as he himself should toss with one dexterous
fling landed the little man high and dry on his shoulders and here was
flask now standing daggoo with one lifted arm furnishing him with a
breastband to lean against and steady himself by 

at any time it is a strange sight to the tyro to see with what wondrous
habitude of unconscious skill the whaleman will maintain an erect
posture in his boat even when pitched about by the most riotously
perverse and cross-running seas still more strange to see him giddily
perched upon the loggerhead itself under such circumstances but the
sight of little flask mounted upon gigantic daggoo was yet more
curious for sustaining himself with a cool indifferent easy 
unthought of barbaric majesty the noble negro to every roll of the
sea harmoniously rolled his fine form on his broad back flaxen-haired
flask seemed a snow-flake the bearer looked nobler than the rider 
though truly vivacious tumultuous ostentatious little flask would now
and then stamp with impatience but not one added heave did he thereby
give to the negro's lordly chest so have i seen passion and vanity
stamping the living magnanimous earth but the earth did not alter her
tides and her seasons for that 

meanwhile stubb the third mate betrayed no such far-gazing
solicitudes the whales might have made one of their regular soundings 
not a temporary dive from mere fright and if that were the case 
stubb as his wont in such cases it seems was resolved to solace the
languishing interval with his pipe he withdrew it from his hatband 
where he always wore it aslant like a feather he loaded it and rammed
home the loading with his thumb-end but hardly had he ignited his
match across the rough sandpaper of his hand when tashtego his
harpooneer whose eyes had been setting to windward like two fixed
stars suddenly dropped like light from his erect attitude to his seat 
crying out in a quick phrensy of hurry down down all and give
way there they are 

to a landsman no whale nor any sign of a herring would have been
visible at that moment nothing but a troubled bit of greenish white
water and thin scattered puffs of vapor hovering over it and
suffusingly blowing off to leeward like the confused scud from white
rolling billows the air around suddenly vibrated and tingled as it
were like the air over intensely heated plates of iron beneath this
atmospheric waving and curling and partially beneath a thin layer of
water also the whales were swimming seen in advance of all the other
indications the puffs of vapor they spouted seemed their forerunning
couriers and detached flying outriders 

all four boats were now in keen pursuit of that one spot of troubled
water and air but it bade fair to outstrip them it flew on and on as
a mass of interblending bubbles borne down a rapid stream from the
hills 

 pull pull my good boys said starbuck in the lowest possible but
intensest concentrated whisper to his men while the sharp fixed glance
from his eyes darted straight ahead of the bow almost seemed as two
visible needles in two unerring binnacle compasses he did not say much
to his crew though nor did his crew say anything to him only the
silence of the boat was at intervals startlingly pierced by one of his
peculiar whispers now harsh with command now soft with entreaty 

how different the loud little king-post sing out and say something 
my hearties roar and pull my thunderbolts beach me beach me on
their black backs boys only do that for me and i'll sign over to you
my martha's vineyard plantation boys including wife and children 
boys lay me on lay me on o lord lord but i shall go stark staring
mad see see that white water and so shouting he pulled his hat
from his head and stamped up and down on it then picking it up 
flirted it far off upon the sea and finally fell to rearing and
plunging in the boat's stern like a crazed colt from the prairie 

 look at that chap now philosophically drawled stubb who with his
unlighted short pipe mechanically retained between his teeth at a
short distance followed after he's got fits that flask has fits 
yes give him fits that's the very word pitch fits into em merrily 
merrily hearts-alive pudding for supper you know merry's the word 
pull babes pull sucklings pull all but what the devil are you
hurrying about softly softly and steadily my men only pull and
keep pulling nothing more crack all your backbones and bite your
knives in two that's all take it easy why don't ye take it easy i
say and burst all your livers and lungs 

but what it was that inscrutable ahab said to that tiger-yellow crew of
his these were words best omitted here for you live under the blessed
light of the evangelical land only the infidel sharks in the audacious
seas may give ear to such words when with tornado brow and eyes of
red murder and foam-glued lips ahab leaped after his prey 

meanwhile all the boats tore on the repeated specific allusions of
flask to that whale as he called the fictitious monster which he
declared to be incessantly tantalizing his boat's bow with its
tail these allusions of his were at times so vivid and life-like that
they would cause some one or two of his men to snatch a fearful look
over the shoulder but this was against all rule for the oarsmen must
put out their eyes and ram a skewer through their necks usage
pronouncing that they must have no organs but ears and no limbs but
arms in these critical moments 

it was a sight full of quick wonder and awe the vast swells of the
omnipotent sea the surging hollow roar they made as they rolled
along the eight gunwales like gigantic bowls in a boundless
bowling-green the brief suspended agony of the boat as it would tip
for an instant on the knife-like edge of the sharper waves that almost
seemed threatening to cut it in two the sudden profound dip into the
watery glens and hollows the keen spurrings and goadings to gain the
top of the opposite hill the headlong sled-like slide down its other
side all these with the cries of the headsmen and harpooneers and
the shuddering gasps of the oarsmen with the wondrous sight of the
ivory pequod bearing down upon her boats with outstretched sails like
a wild hen after her screaming brood all this was thrilling 

not the raw recruit marching from the bosom of his wife into the fever
heat of his first battle not the dead man's ghost encountering the
first unknown phantom in the other world neither of these can feel
stranger and stronger emotions than that man does who for the first
time finds himself pulling into the charmed churned circle of the
hunted sperm whale 

the dancing white water made by the chase was now becoming more and
more visible owing to the increasing darkness of the dun cloud-shadows
flung upon the sea the jets of vapor no longer blended but tilted
everywhere to right and left the whales seemed separating their wakes 
the boats were pulled more apart starbuck giving chase to three whales
running dead to leeward our sail was now set and with the still
rising wind we rushed along the boat going with such madness through
the water that the lee oars could scarcely be worked rapidly enough to
escape being torn from the row-locks 

soon we were running through a suffusing wide veil of mist neither
ship nor boat to be seen 

 give way men whispered starbuck drawing still further aft the
sheet of his sail there is time to kill a fish yet before the squall
comes there's white water again close to spring 

soon after two cries in quick succession on each side of us denoted
that the other boats had got fast but hardly were they overheard when
with a lightning-like hurtling whisper starbuck said stand up and
queequeg harpoon in hand sprang to his feet 

though not one of the oarsmen was then facing the life and death peril
so close to them ahead yet with their eyes on the intense countenance
of the mate in the stern of the boat they knew that the imminent
instant had come they heard too an enormous wallowing sound as of
fifty elephants stirring in their litter meanwhile the boat was still
booming through the mist the waves curling and hissing around us like
the erected crests of enraged serpents 

 that's his hump there there give it to him whispered
starbuck 

a short rushing sound leaped out of the boat it was the darted iron of
queequeg then all in one welded commotion came an invisible push from
astern while forward the boat seemed striking on a ledge the sail
collapsed and exploded a gush of scalding vapor shot up near by 
something rolled and tumbled like an earthquake beneath us the whole
crew were half suffocated as they were tossed helter-skelter into the
white curdling cream of the squall squall whale and harpoon had all
blended together and the whale merely grazed by the iron escaped 

though completely swamped the boat was nearly unharmed swimming round
it we picked up the floating oars and lashing them across the gunwale 
tumbled back to our places there we sat up to our knees in the sea 
the water covering every rib and plank so that to our downward gazing
eyes the suspended craft seemed a coral boat grown up to us from the
bottom of the ocean 

the wind increased to a howl the waves dashed their bucklers together 
the whole squall roared forked and crackled around us like a white
fire upon the prairie in which unconsumed we were burning immortal
in these jaws of death in vain we hailed the other boats as well roar
to the live coals down the chimney of a flaming furnace as hail those
boats in that storm meanwhile the driving scud rack and mist grew
darker with the shadows of night no sign of the ship could be seen 
the rising sea forbade all attempts to bale out the boat the oars were
useless as propellers performing now the office of life-preservers 
so cutting the lashing of the waterproof match keg after many
failures starbuck contrived to ignite the lamp in the lantern then
stretching it on a waif pole handed it to queequeg as the
standard-bearer of this forlorn hope there then he sat holding up
that imbecile candle in the heart of that almighty forlornness there 
then he sat the sign and symbol of a man without faith hopelessly
holding up hope in the midst of despair 

wet drenched through and shivering cold despairing of ship or boat 
we lifted up our eyes as the dawn came on the mist still spread over
the sea the empty lantern lay crushed in the bottom of the boat 
suddenly queequeg started to his feet hollowing his hand to his ear 
we all heard a faint creaking as of ropes and yards hitherto muffled
by the storm the sound came nearer and nearer the thick mists were
dimly parted by a huge vague form affrighted we all sprang into the
sea as the ship at last loomed into view bearing right down upon us
within a distance of not much more than its length 

floating on the waves we saw the abandoned boat as for one instant it
tossed and gaped beneath the ship's bows like a chip at the base of a
cataract and then the vast hull rolled over it and it was seen no
more till it came up weltering astern again we swam for it were
dashed against it by the seas and were at last taken up and safely
landed on board ere the squall came close to the other boats had cut
loose from their fish and returned to the ship in good time the ship
had given us up but was still cruising if haply it might light upon
some token of our perishing an oar or a lance pole 


chapter 49 the hyena 

there are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed
affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast
practical joke though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns and more
than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own 
however nothing dispirits and nothing seems worth while disputing he
bolts down all events all creeds and beliefs and persuasions all
hard things visible and invisible never mind how knobby as an ostrich
of potent digestion gobbles down bullets and gun flints and as for
small difficulties and worryings prospects of sudden disaster peril
of life and limb all these and death itself seem to him only sly 
good-natured hits and jolly punches in the side bestowed by the unseen
and unaccountable old joker that odd sort of wayward mood i am
speaking of comes over a man only in some time of extreme tribulation 
it comes in the very midst of his earnestness so that what just before
might have seemed to him a thing most momentous now seems but a part
of the general joke there is nothing like the perils of whaling to
breed this free and easy sort of genial desperado philosophy and with
it i now regarded this whole voyage of the pequod and the great white
whale its object 

 queequeg said i when they had dragged me the last man to the
deck and i was still shaking myself in my jacket to fling off the
water queequeg my fine friend does this sort of thing often
happen without much emotion though soaked through just like me he
gave me to understand that such things did often happen 

 mr stubb said i turning to that worthy who buttoned up in his
oil-jacket was now calmly smoking his pipe in the rain mr stubb i
think i have heard you say that of all whalemen you ever met our chief
mate mr starbuck is by far the most careful and prudent i suppose
then that going plump on a flying whale with your sail set in a foggy
squall is the height of a whaleman's discretion 

 certain i've lowered for whales from a leaking ship in a gale off
cape horn 

 mr flask said i turning to little king-post who was standing
close by you are experienced in these things and i am not will you
tell me whether it is an unalterable law in this fishery mr flask 
for an oarsman to break his own back pulling himself back-foremost into
death's jaws 

 can't you twist that smaller said flask yes that's the law i
should like to see a boat's crew backing water up to a whale face
foremost ha ha the whale would give them squint for squint mind
that 

here then from three impartial witnesses i had a deliberate statement
of the entire case considering therefore that squalls and capsizings
in the water and consequent bivouacks on the deep were matters of
common occurrence in this kind of life considering that at the
superlatively critical instant of going on to the whale i must resign
my life into the hands of him who steered the boat oftentimes a fellow
who at that very moment is in his impetuousness upon the point of
scuttling the craft with his own frantic stampings considering that
the particular disaster to our own particular boat was chiefly to be
imputed to starbuck's driving on to his whale almost in the teeth of a
squall and considering that starbuck notwithstanding was famous for
his great heedfulness in the fishery considering that i belonged to
this uncommonly prudent starbuck's boat and finally considering in
what a devil's chase i was implicated touching the white whale taking
all things together i say i thought i might as well go below and make
a rough draft of my will queequeg said i come along you shall be
my lawyer executor and legatee 

it may seem strange that of all men sailors should be tinkering at
their last wills and testaments but there are no people in the world
more fond of that diversion this was the fourth time in my nautical
life that i had done the same thing after the ceremony was concluded
upon the present occasion i felt all the easier a stone was rolled
away from my heart besides all the days i should now live would be as
good as the days that lazarus lived after his resurrection a
supplementary clean gain of so many months or weeks as the case might
be i survived myself my death and burial were locked up in my chest 
i looked round me tranquilly and contentedly like a quiet ghost with a
clean conscience sitting inside the bars of a snug family vault 

now then thought i unconsciously rolling up the sleeves of my frock 
here goes for a cool collected dive at death and destruction and the
devil fetch the hindmost 


chapter 50 ahab's boat and crew fedallah 

 who would have thought it flask cried stubb if i had but one leg
you would not catch me in a boat unless maybe to stop the plug-hole
with my timber toe oh he's a wonderful old man 

 i don't think it so strange after all on that account said flask 
 if his leg were off at the hip now it would be a different thing 
that would disable him but he has one knee and good part of the other
left you know 

 i don't know that my little man i never yet saw him kneel 

among whale-wise people it has often been argued whether considering
the paramount importance of his life to the success of the voyage it
is right for a whaling captain to jeopardize that life in the active
perils of the chase so tamerlane's soldiers often argued with tears in
their eyes whether that invaluable life of his ought to be carried
into the thickest of the fight 

but with ahab the question assumed a modified aspect considering that
with two legs man is but a hobbling wight in all times of danger 
considering that the pursuit of whales is always under great and
extraordinary difficulties that every individual moment indeed then
comprises a peril under these circumstances is it wise for any maimed
man to enter a whale-boat in the hunt as a general thing the
joint-owners of the pequod must have plainly thought not 

ahab well knew that although his friends at home would think little of
his entering a boat in certain comparatively harmless vicissitudes of
the chase for the sake of being near the scene of action and giving
his orders in person yet for captain ahab to have a boat actually
apportioned to him as a regular headsman in the hunt above all for
captain ahab to be supplied with five extra men as that same boat's
crew he well knew that such generous conceits never entered the heads
of the owners of the pequod therefore he had not solicited a boat's
crew from them nor had he in any way hinted his desires on that head 
nevertheless he had taken private measures of his own touching all that
matter until cabaco's published discovery the sailors had little
foreseen it though to be sure when after being a little while out of
port all hands had concluded the customary business of fitting the
whaleboats for service when some time after this ahab was now and then
found bestirring himself in the matter of making thole-pins with his
own hands for what was thought to be one of the spare boats and even
solicitously cutting the small wooden skewers which when the line is
running out are pinned over the groove in the bow when all this was
observed in him and particularly his solicitude in having an extra
coat of sheathing in the bottom of the boat as if to make it better
withstand the pointed pressure of his ivory limb and also the anxiety
he evinced in exactly shaping the thigh board or clumsy cleat as it
is sometimes called the horizontal piece in the boat's bow for bracing
the knee against in darting or stabbing at the whale when it was
observed how often he stood up in that boat with his solitary knee
fixed in the semi-circular depression in the cleat and with the
carpenter's chisel gouged out a little here and straightened it a
little there all these things i say had awakened much interest and
curiosity at the time but almost everybody supposed that this
particular preparative heedfulness in ahab must only be with a view to
the ultimate chase of moby dick for he had already revealed his
intention to hunt that mortal monster in person but such a supposition
did by no means involve the remotest suspicion as to any boat's crew
being assigned to that boat 

now with the subordinate phantoms what wonder remained soon waned
away for in a whaler wonders soon wane besides now and then such
unaccountable odds and ends of strange nations come up from the unknown
nooks and ash-holes of the earth to man these floating outlaws of
whalers and the ships themselves often pick up such queer castaway
creatures found tossing about the open sea on planks bits of wreck 
oars whaleboats canoes blown-off japanese junks and what not that
beelzebub himself might climb up the side and step down into the cabin
to chat with the captain and it would not create any unsubduable
excitement in the forecastle 

but be all this as it may certain it is that while the subordinate
phantoms soon found their place among the crew though still as it were
somehow distinct from them yet that hair-turbaned fedallah remained a
muffled mystery to the last whence he came in a mannerly world like
this by what sort of unaccountable tie he soon evinced himself to be
linked with ahab's peculiar fortunes nay so far as to have some sort
of a half-hinted influence heaven knows but it might have been even
authority over him all this none knew but one cannot sustain an
indifferent air concerning fedallah he was such a creature as
civilized domestic people in the temperate zone only see in their
dreams and that but dimly but the like of whom now and then glide
among the unchanging asiatic communities especially the oriental isles
to the east of the continent those insulated immemorial unalterable
countries which even in these modern days still preserve much of the
ghostly aboriginalness of earth's primal generations when the memory
of the first man was a distinct recollection and all men his
descendants unknowing whence he came eyed each other as real
phantoms and asked of the sun and the moon why they were created and
to what end when though according to genesis the angels indeed
consorted with the daughters of men the devils also add the
uncanonical rabbins indulged in mundane amours 


chapter 51 the spirit-spout 

days weeks passed and under easy sail the ivory pequod had slowly
swept across four several cruising-grounds that off the azores off
the cape de verdes on the plate so called being off the mouth of
the rio de la plata and the carrol ground an unstaked watery
locality southerly from st helena 

it was while gliding through these latter waters that one serene and
moonlight night when all the waves rolled by like scrolls of silver 
and by their soft suffusing seethings made what seemed a silvery
silence not a solitude on such a silent night a silvery jet was seen
far in advance of the white bubbles at the bow lit up by the moon it
looked celestial seemed some plumed and glittering god uprising from
the sea fedallah first descried this jet for of these moonlight
nights it was his wont to mount to the main-mast head and stand a
look-out there with the same precision as if it had been day and yet 
though herds of whales were seen by night not one whaleman in a
hundred would venture a lowering for them you may think with what
emotions then the seamen beheld this old oriental perched aloft at
such unusual hours his turban and the moon companions in one sky but
when after spending his uniform interval there for several successive
nights without uttering a single sound when after all this silence 
his unearthly voice was heard announcing that silvery moon-lit jet 
every reclining mariner started to his feet as if some winged spirit
had lighted in the rigging and hailed the mortal crew there she
blows had the trump of judgment blown they could not have quivered
more yet still they felt no terror rather pleasure for though it was
a most unwonted hour yet so impressive was the cry and so deliriously
exciting that almost every soul on board instinctively desired a
lowering 

walking the deck with quick side-lunging strides ahab commanded the
t'gallant sails and royals to be set and every stunsail spread the
best man in the ship must take the helm then with every mast-head
manned the piled-up craft rolled down before the wind the strange 
upheaving lifting tendency of the taffrail breeze filling the hollows
of so many sails made the buoyant hovering deck to feel like air
beneath the feet while still she rushed along as if two antagonistic
influences were struggling in her one to mount direct to heaven the
other to drive yawingly to some horizontal goal and had you watched
ahab's face that night you would have thought that in him also two
different things were warring while his one live leg made lively
echoes along the deck every stroke of his dead limb sounded like a
coffin-tap on life and death this old man walked but though the ship
so swiftly sped and though from every eye like arrows the eager
glances shot yet the silvery jet was no more seen that night every
sailor swore he saw it once but not a second time 

this midnight-spout had almost grown a forgotten thing when some days
after lo at the same silent hour it was again announced again it
was descried by all but upon making sail to overtake it once more it
disappeared as if it had never been and so it served us night after
night till no one heeded it but to wonder at it mysteriously jetted
into the clear moonlight or starlight as the case might be 
disappearing again for one whole day or two days or three and
somehow seeming at every distinct repetition to be advancing still
further and further in our van this solitary jet seemed for ever
alluring us on 

nor with the immemorial superstition of their race and in accordance
with the preternaturalness as it seemed which in many things invested
the pequod were there wanting some of the seamen who swore that
whenever and wherever descried at however remote times or in however
far apart latitudes and longitudes that unnearable spout was cast by
one self-same whale and that whale moby dick for a time there
reigned too a sense of peculiar dread at this flitting apparition as
if it were treacherously beckoning us on and on in order that the
monster might turn round upon us and rend us at last in the remotest
and most savage seas 

these temporary apprehensions so vague but so awful derived a
wondrous potency from the contrasting serenity of the weather in
which beneath all its blue blandness some thought there lurked a
devilish charm as for days and days we voyaged along through seas so
wearily lonesomely mild that all space in repugnance to our vengeful
errand seemed vacating itself of life before our urn-like prow 

but at last when turning to the eastward the cape winds began
howling around us and we rose and fell upon the long troubled seas
that are there when the ivory-tusked pequod sharply bowed to the
blast and gored the dark waves in her madness till like showers of
silver chips the foam-flakes flew over her bulwarks then all this
desolate vacuity of life went away but gave place to sights more
dismal than before 

close to our bows strange forms in the water darted hither and thither
before us while thick in our rear flew the inscrutable sea-ravens and
every morning perched on our stays rows of these birds were seen and
spite of our hootings for a long time obstinately clung to the hemp 
as though they deemed our ship some drifting uninhabited craft a
thing appointed to desolation and therefore fit roosting-place for
their homeless selves and heaved and heaved still unrestingly heaved
the black sea as if its vast tides were a conscience and the great
mundane soul were in anguish and remorse for the long sin and suffering
it had bred 

cape of good hope do they call ye rather cape tormentoso as called
of yore for long allured by the perfidious silences that before had
attended us we found ourselves launched into this tormented sea where
guilty beings transformed into those fowls and these fish seemed
condemned to swim on everlastingly without any haven in store or beat
that black air without any horizon but calm snow-white and
unvarying still directing its fountain of feathers to the sky still
beckoning us on from before the solitary jet would at times be
descried 

during all this blackness of the elements ahab though assuming for
the time the almost continual command of the drenched and dangerous
deck manifested the gloomiest reserve and more seldom than ever
addressed his mates in tempestuous times like these after everything
above and aloft has been secured nothing more can be done but
passively to await the issue of the gale then captain and crew become
practical fatalists so with his ivory leg inserted into its
accustomed hole and with one hand firmly grasping a shroud ahab for
hours and hours would stand gazing dead to windward while an
occasional squall of sleet or snow would all but congeal his very
eyelashes together meantime the crew driven from the forward part of
the ship by the perilous seas that burstingly broke over its bows 
stood in a line along the bulwarks in the waist and the better to
guard against the leaping waves each man had slipped himself into a
sort of bowline secured to the rail in which he swung as in a loosened
belt few or no words were spoken and the silent ship as if manned by
painted sailors in wax day after day tore on through all the swift
madness and gladness of the demoniac waves by night the same muteness
of humanity before the shrieks of the ocean prevailed still in silence
the men swung in the bowlines still wordless ahab stood up to the
blast even when wearied nature seemed demanding repose he would not
seek that repose in his hammock never could starbuck forget the old
man's aspect when one night going down into the cabin to mark how the
barometer stood he saw him with closed eyes sitting straight in his
floor-screwed chair the rain and half-melted sleet of the storm from
which he had some time before emerged still slowly dripping from the
unremoved hat and coat on the table beside him lay unrolled one of
those charts of tides and currents which have previously been spoken
of his lantern swung from his tightly clenched hand though the body
was erect the head was thrown back so that the closed eyes were
pointed towards the needle of the tell-tale that swung from a beam in
the ceiling 

 the cabin-compass is called the tell-tale because without going to
the compass at the helm the captain while below can inform himself
of the course of the ship 

terrible old man thought starbuck with a shudder sleeping in this
gale still thou steadfastly eyest thy purpose 


chapter 52 the albatross 

south-eastward from the cape off the distant crozetts a good cruising
ground for right whalemen a sail loomed ahead the goney albatross 
by name as she slowly drew nigh from my lofty perch at the
fore-mast-head i had a good view of that sight so remarkable to a tyro
in the far ocean fisheries a whaler at sea and long absent from home 

as if the waves had been fullers this craft was bleached like the
skeleton of a stranded walrus all down her sides this spectral
appearance was traced with long channels of reddened rust while all
her spars and her rigging were like the thick branches of trees furred
over with hoar-frost only her lower sails were set a wild sight it
was to see her long-bearded look-outs at those three mast-heads they
seemed clad in the skins of beasts so torn and bepatched the raiment
that had survived nearly four years of cruising standing in iron hoops
nailed to the mast they swayed and swung over a fathomless sea and
though when the ship slowly glided close under our stern we six men
in the air came so nigh to each other that we might almost have leaped
from the mast-heads of one ship to those of the other yet those
forlorn-looking fishermen mildly eyeing us as they passed said not
one word to our own look-outs while the quarter-deck hail was being
heard from below 

 ship ahoy have ye seen the white whale 

but as the strange captain leaning over the pallid bulwarks was in
the act of putting his trumpet to his mouth it somehow fell from his
hand into the sea and the wind now rising amain he in vain strove to
make himself heard without it meantime his ship was still increasing
the distance between while in various silent ways the seamen of the
pequod were evincing their observance of this ominous incident at the
first mere mention of the white whale's name to another ship ahab for
a moment paused it almost seemed as though he would have lowered a
boat to board the stranger had not the threatening wind forbade but
taking advantage of his windward position he again seized his trumpet 
and knowing by her aspect that the stranger vessel was a nantucketer
and shortly bound home he loudly hailed ahoy there this is the
pequod bound round the world tell them to address all future letters
to the pacific ocean and this time three years if i am not at home 
tell them to address them to 

at that moment the two wakes were fairly crossed and instantly then 
in accordance with their singular ways shoals of small harmless fish 
that for some days before had been placidly swimming by our side 
darted away with what seemed shuddering fins and ranged themselves
fore and aft with the stranger's flanks though in the course of his
continual voyagings ahab must often before have noticed a similar
sight yet to any monomaniac man the veriest trifles capriciously
carry meanings 

 swim away from me do ye murmured ahab gazing over into the water 
there seemed but little in the words but the tone conveyed more of
deep helpless sadness than the insane old man had ever before evinced 
but turning to the steersman who thus far had been holding the ship in
the wind to diminish her headway he cried out in his old lion
voice up helm keep her off round the world 

round the world there is much in that sound to inspire proud feelings 
but whereto does all that circumnavigation conduct only through
numberless perils to the very point whence we started where those that
we left behind secure were all the time before us 

were this world an endless plain and by sailing eastward we could for
ever reach new distances and discover sights more sweet and strange
than any cyclades or islands of king solomon then there were promise
in the voyage but in pursuit of those far mysteries we dream of or in
tormented chase of that demon phantom that some time or other swims
before all human hearts while chasing such over this round globe they
either lead us on in barren mazes or midway leave us whelmed 


chapter 53 the gam 

the ostensible reason why ahab did not go on board of the whaler we had
spoken was this the wind and sea betokened storms but even had this
not been the case he would not after all perhaps have boarded
her judging by his subsequent conduct on similar occasions if so it had
been that by the process of hailing he had obtained a negative answer
to the question he put for as it eventually turned out he cared not
to consort even for five minutes with any stranger captain except he
could contribute some of that information he so absorbingly sought but
all this might remain inadequately estimated were not something said
here of the peculiar usages of whaling-vessels when meeting each other
in foreign seas and especially on a common cruising-ground 

if two strangers crossing the pine barrens in new york state or the
equally desolate salisbury plain in england if casually encountering
each other in such inhospitable wilds these twain for the life of
them cannot well avoid a mutual salutation and stopping for a moment
to interchange the news and perhaps sitting down for a while and
resting in concert then how much more natural that upon the
illimitable pine barrens and salisbury plains of the sea two whaling
vessels descrying each other at the ends of the earth off lone
fanning's island or the far away king's mills how much more natural 
i say that under such circumstances these ships should not only
interchange hails but come into still closer more friendly and
sociable contact and especially would this seem to be a matter of
course in the case of vessels owned in one seaport and whose
captains officers and not a few of the men are personally known to
each other and consequently have all sorts of dear domestic things to
talk about 

for the long absent ship the outward-bounder perhaps has letters on
board at any rate she will be sure to let her have some papers of a
date a year or two later than the last one on her blurred and
thumb-worn files and in return for that courtesy the outward-bound
ship would receive the latest whaling intelligence from the
cruising-ground to which she may be destined a thing of the utmost
importance to her and in degree all this will hold true concerning
whaling vessels crossing each other's track on the cruising-ground
itself even though they are equally long absent from home for one of
them may have received a transfer of letters from some third and now
far remote vessel and some of those letters may be for the people of
the ship she now meets besides they would exchange the whaling news 
and have an agreeable chat for not only would they meet with all the
sympathies of sailors but likewise with all the peculiar
congenialities arising from a common pursuit and mutually shared
privations and perils 

nor would difference of country make any very essential difference 
that is so long as both parties speak one language as is the case
with americans and english though to be sure from the small number
of english whalers such meetings do not very often occur and when
they do occur there is too apt to be a sort of shyness between them 
for your englishman is rather reserved and your yankee he does not
fancy that sort of thing in anybody but himself besides the english
whalers sometimes affect a kind of metropolitan superiority over the
american whalers regarding the long lean nantucketer with his
nondescript provincialisms as a sort of sea-peasant but where this
superiority in the english whalemen does really consist it would be
hard to say seeing that the yankees in one day collectively kill
more whales than all the english collectively in ten years but this
is a harmless little foible in the english whale-hunters which the
nantucketer does not take much to heart probably because he knows
that he has a few foibles himself 

so then we see that of all ships separately sailing the sea the
whalers have most reason to be sociable and they are so whereas some
merchant ships crossing each other's wake in the mid-atlantic will
oftentimes pass on without so much as a single word of recognition 
mutually cutting each other on the high seas like a brace of dandies
in broadway and all the time indulging perhaps in finical criticism
upon each other's rig as for men-of-war when they chance to meet at
sea they first go through such a string of silly bowings and
scrapings such a ducking of ensigns that there does not seem to be
much right-down hearty good-will and brotherly love about it at all as
touching slave-ships meeting why they are in such a prodigious hurry 
they run away from each other as soon as possible and as for pirates 
when they chance to cross each other's cross-bones the first hail
is how many skulls the same way that whalers hail how many
barrels and that question once answered pirates straightway steer
apart for they are infernal villains on both sides and don't like to
see overmuch of each other's villanous likenesses 

but look at the godly honest unostentatious hospitable sociable 
free-and-easy whaler what does the whaler do when she meets another
whaler in any sort of decent weather she has a gam a thing so
utterly unknown to all other ships that they never heard of the name
even and if by chance they should hear of it they only grin at it 
and repeat gamesome stuff about spouters and blubber-boilers and
such like pretty exclamations why it is that all merchant-seamen and
also all pirates and man-of-war's men and slave-ship sailors cherish
such a scornful feeling towards whale-ships this is a question it
would be hard to answer because in the case of pirates say i should
like to know whether that profession of theirs has any peculiar glory
about it it sometimes ends in uncommon elevation indeed but only at
the gallows and besides when a man is elevated in that odd fashion 
he has no proper foundation for his superior altitude hence i
conclude that in boasting himself to be high lifted above a whaleman 
in that assertion the pirate has no solid basis to stand on 

but what is a gam you might wear out your index-finger running up
and down the columns of dictionaries and never find the word dr 
johnson never attained to that erudition noah webster's ark does not
hold it nevertheless this same expressive word has now for many years
been in constant use among some fifteen thousand true born yankees 
certainly it needs a definition and should be incorporated into the
lexicon with that view let me learnedly define it 

gam noun a social meeting of two or more whaleships generally
on a cruising-ground when after exchanging hails they exchange
visits by boats crews the two captains remaining for the time on
board of one ship and the two chief mates on the other 

there is another little item about gamming which must not be forgotten
here all professions have their own little peculiarities of detail so
has the whale fishery in a pirate man-of-war or slave ship when the
captain is rowed anywhere in his boat he always sits in the stern
sheets on a comfortable sometimes cushioned seat there and often
steers himself with a pretty little milliner's tiller decorated with
gay cords and ribbons but the whale-boat has no seat astern no sofa
of that sort whatever and no tiller at all high times indeed if
whaling captains were wheeled about the water on castors like gouty old
aldermen in patent chairs and as for a tiller the whale-boat never
admits of any such effeminacy and therefore as in gamming a complete
boat's crew must leave the ship and hence as the boat steerer or
harpooneer is of the number that subordinate is the steersman upon the
occasion and the captain having no place to sit in is pulled off to
his visit all standing like a pine tree and often you will notice that
being conscious of the eyes of the whole visible world resting on him
from the sides of the two ships this standing captain is all alive to
the importance of sustaining his dignity by maintaining his legs nor
is this any very easy matter for in his rear is the immense projecting
steering oar hitting him now and then in the small of his back the
after-oar reciprocating by rapping his knees in front he is thus
completely wedged before and behind and can only expand himself
sideways by settling down on his stretched legs but a sudden violent
pitch of the boat will often go far to topple him because length of
foundation is nothing without corresponding breadth merely make a
spread angle of two poles and you cannot stand them up then again 
it would never do in plain sight of the world's riveted eyes it would
never do i say for this straddling captain to be seen steadying
himself the slightest particle by catching hold of anything with his
hands indeed as token of his entire buoyant self-command he
generally carries his hands in his trowsers pockets but perhaps being
generally very large heavy hands he carries them there for ballast 
nevertheless there have occurred instances well authenticated ones
too where the captain has been known for an uncommonly critical moment
or two in a sudden squall say to seize hold of the nearest oarsman's
hair and hold on there like grim death 


chapter 54 the town-ho's story 

 as told at the golden inn 

the cape of good hope and all the watery region round about there is
much like some noted four corners of a great highway where you meet
more travellers than in any other part 

it was not very long after speaking the goney that another
homeward-bound whaleman the town-ho was encountered she was manned
almost wholly by polynesians in the short gam that ensued she gave us
strong news of moby dick to some the general interest in the white
whale was now wildly heightened by a circumstance of the town-ho's
story which seemed obscurely to involve with the whale a certain
wondrous inverted visitation of one of those so called judgments of
god which at times are said to overtake some men this latter
circumstance with its own particular accompaniments forming what may
be called the secret part of the tragedy about to be narrated never
reached the ears of captain ahab or his mates for that secret part of
the story was unknown to the captain of the town-ho himself it was the
private property of three confederate white seamen of that ship one of
whom it seems communicated it to tashtego with romish injunctions of
secrecy but the following night tashtego rambled in his sleep and
revealed so much of it in that way that when he was wakened he could
not well withhold the rest nevertheless so potent an influence did
this thing have on those seamen in the pequod who came to the full
knowledge of it and by such a strange delicacy to call it so were
they governed in this matter that they kept the secret among
themselves so that it never transpired abaft the pequod's main-mast 
interweaving in its proper place this darker thread with the story as
publicly narrated on the ship the whole of this strange affair i now
proceed to put on lasting record 

 the ancient whale-cry upon first sighting a whale from the mast-head 
still used by whalemen in hunting the famous gallipagos terrapin 

for my humor's sake i shall preserve the style in which i once
narrated it at lima to a lounging circle of my spanish friends one
saint's eve smoking upon the thick-gilt tiled piazza of the golden
inn of those fine cavaliers the young dons pedro and sebastian were
on the closer terms with me and hence the interluding questions they
occasionally put and which are duly answered at the time 

 some two years prior to my first learning the events which i am about
rehearsing to you gentlemen the town-ho sperm whaler of nantucket 
was cruising in your pacific here not very many days sail eastward
from the eaves of this good golden inn she was somewhere to the
northward of the line one morning upon handling the pumps according
to daily usage it was observed that she made more water in her hold
than common they supposed a sword-fish had stabbed her gentlemen but
the captain having some unusual reason for believing that rare good
luck awaited him in those latitudes and therefore being very averse to
quit them and the leak not being then considered at all dangerous 
though indeed they could not find it after searching the hold as low
down as was possible in rather heavy weather the ship still continued
her cruisings the mariners working at the pumps at wide and easy
intervals but no good luck came more days went by and not only was
the leak yet undiscovered but it sensibly increased so much so that
now taking some alarm the captain making all sail stood away for the
nearest harbor among the islands there to have his hull hove out and
repaired 

 though no small passage was before her yet if the commonest chance
favoured he did not at all fear that his ship would founder by the
way because his pumps were of the best and being periodically
relieved at them those six-and-thirty men of his could easily keep the
ship free never mind if the leak should double on her in truth well
nigh the whole of this passage being attended by very prosperous
breezes the town-ho had all but certainly arrived in perfect safety at
her port without the occurrence of the least fatality had it not been
for the brutal overbearing of radney the mate a vineyarder and the
bitterly provoked vengeance of steelkilt a lakeman and desperado from
buffalo 

 lakeman buffalo pray what is a lakeman and where is buffalo 
said don sebastian rising in his swinging mat of grass 

 on the eastern shore of our lake erie don but i crave your
courtesy may be you shall soon hear further of all that now 
gentlemen in square-sail brigs and three-masted ships well-nigh as
large and stout as any that ever sailed out of your old callao to far
manilla this lakeman in the land-locked heart of our america had yet
been nurtured by all those agrarian freebooting impressions popularly
connected with the open ocean for in their interflowing aggregate 
those grand fresh-water seas of ours erie and ontario and huron and
superior and michigan possess an ocean-like expansiveness with many
of the ocean's noblest traits with many of its rimmed varieties of
races and of climes they contain round archipelagoes of romantic
isles even as the polynesian waters do in large part are shored by
two great contrasting nations as the atlantic is they furnish long
maritime approaches to our numerous territorial colonies from the east 
dotted all round their banks here and there are frowned upon by
batteries and by the goat-like craggy guns of lofty mackinaw they
have heard the fleet thunderings of naval victories at intervals they
yield their beaches to wild barbarians whose red painted faces flash
from out their peltry wigwams for leagues and leagues are flanked by
ancient and unentered forests where the gaunt pines stand like serried
lines of kings in gothic genealogies those same woods harboring wild
afric beasts of prey and silken creatures whose exported furs give
robes to tartar emperors they mirror the paved capitals of buffalo and
cleveland as well as winnebago villages they float alike the
full-rigged merchant ship the armed cruiser of the state the steamer 
and the beech canoe they are swept by borean and dismasting blasts as
direful as any that lash the salted wave they know what shipwrecks
are for out of sight of land however inland they have drowned full
many a midnight ship with all its shrieking crew thus gentlemen 
though an inlander steelkilt was wild-ocean born and wild-ocean
nurtured as much of an audacious mariner as any and for radney 
though in his infancy he may have laid him down on the lone nantucket
beach to nurse at his maternal sea though in after life he had long
followed our austere atlantic and your contemplative pacific yet was
he quite as vengeful and full of social quarrel as the backwoods
seaman fresh from the latitudes of buck-horn handled bowie-knives yet
was this nantucketer a man with some good-hearted traits and this
lakeman a mariner who though a sort of devil indeed might yet by
inflexible firmness only tempered by that common decency of human
recognition which is the meanest slave's right thus treated this
steelkilt had long been retained harmless and docile at all events he
had proved so thus far but radney was doomed and made mad and
steelkilt but gentlemen you shall hear 

 it was not more than a day or two at the furthest after pointing her
prow for her island haven that the town-ho's leak seemed again
increasing but only so as to require an hour or more at the pumps
every day you must know that in a settled and civilized ocean like our
atlantic for example some skippers think little of pumping their
whole way across it though of a still sleepy night should the
officer of the deck happen to forget his duty in that respect the
probability would be that he and his shipmates would never again
remember it on account of all hands gently subsiding to the bottom 
nor in the solitary and savage seas far from you to the westward 
gentlemen is it altogether unusual for ships to keep clanging at their
pump-handles in full chorus even for a voyage of considerable length 
that is if it lie along a tolerably accessible coast or if any other
reasonable retreat is afforded them it is only when a leaky vessel is
in some very out of the way part of those waters some really landless
latitude that her captain begins to feel a little anxious 

 much this way had it been with the town-ho so when her leak was found
gaining once more there was in truth some small concern manifested by
several of her company especially by radney the mate he commanded the
upper sails to be well hoisted sheeted home anew and every way
expanded to the breeze now this radney i suppose was as little of a
coward and as little inclined to any sort of nervous apprehensiveness
touching his own person as any fearless unthinking creature on land or
on sea that you can conveniently imagine gentlemen therefore when he
betrayed this solicitude about the safety of the ship some of the
seamen declared that it was only on account of his being a part owner
in her so when they were working that evening at the pumps there was
on this head no small gamesomeness slily going on among them as they
stood with their feet continually overflowed by the rippling clear
water clear as any mountain spring gentlemen that bubbling from the
pumps ran across the deck and poured itself out in steady spouts at
the lee scupper-holes 

 now as you well know it is not seldom the case in this conventional
world of ours watery or otherwise that when a person placed in command
over his fellow-men finds one of them to be very significantly his
superior in general pride of manhood straightway against that man he
conceives an unconquerable dislike and bitterness and if he have a
chance he will pull down and pulverize that subaltern's tower and make
a little heap of dust of it be this conceit of mine as it may 
gentlemen at all events steelkilt was a tall and noble animal with a
head like a roman and a flowing golden beard like the tasseled
housings of your last viceroy's snorting charger and a brain and a
heart and a soul in him gentlemen which had made steelkilt
charlemagne had he been born son to charlemagne's father but radney 
the mate was ugly as a mule yet as hardy as stubborn as malicious 
he did not love steelkilt and steelkilt knew it 

 espying the mate drawing near as he was toiling at the pump with the
rest the lakeman affected not to notice him but unawed went on with
his gay banterings 

 aye aye my merry lads it's a lively leak this hold a cannikin 
one of ye and let's have a taste by the lord it's worth bottling i
tell ye what men old rad's investment must go for it he had best cut
away his part of the hull and tow it home the fact is boys that
sword-fish only began the job he's come back again with a gang of
ship-carpenters saw-fish and file-fish and what not and the whole
posse of em are now hard at work cutting and slashing at the bottom 
making improvements i suppose if old rad were here now i'd tell him
to jump overboard and scatter em they're playing the devil with his
estate i can tell him but he's a simple old soul rad and a beauty
too boys they say the rest of his property is invested in
looking-glasses i wonder if he'd give a poor devil like me the model
of his nose 

 damn your eyes what's that pump stopping for roared radney 
pretending not to have heard the sailors talk thunder away at it 

 aye aye sir said steelkilt merry as a cricket lively boys 
lively now and with that the pump clanged like fifty fire-engines 
the men tossed their hats off to it and ere long that peculiar gasping
of the lungs was heard which denotes the fullest tension of life's
utmost energies 

 quitting the pump at last with the rest of his band the lakeman went
forward all panting and sat himself down on the windlass his face
fiery red his eyes bloodshot and wiping the profuse sweat from his
brow now what cozening fiend it was gentlemen that possessed radney
to meddle with such a man in that corporeally exasperated state i know
not but so it happened intolerably striding along the deck the mate
commanded him to get a broom and sweep down the planks and also a
shovel and remove some offensive matters consequent upon allowing a
pig to run at large 

 now gentlemen sweeping a ship's deck at sea is a piece of household
work which in all times but raging gales is regularly attended to every
evening it has been known to be done in the case of ships actually
foundering at the time such gentlemen is the inflexibility of
sea-usages and the instinctive love of neatness in seamen some of whom
would not willingly drown without first washing their faces but in all
vessels this broom business is the prescriptive province of the boys 
if boys there be aboard besides it was the stronger men in the
town-ho that had been divided into gangs taking turns at the pumps 
and being the most athletic seaman of them all steelkilt had been
regularly assigned captain of one of the gangs consequently he should
have been freed from any trivial business not connected with truly
nautical duties such being the case with his comrades i mention all
these particulars so that you may understand exactly how this affair
stood between the two men 

 but there was more than this the order about the shovel was almost as
plainly meant to sting and insult steelkilt as though radney had spat
in his face any man who has gone sailor in a whale-ship will
understand this and all this and doubtless much more the lakeman
fully comprehended when the mate uttered his command but as he sat
still for a moment and as he steadfastly looked into the mate's
malignant eye and perceived the stacks of powder-casks heaped up in him
and the slow-match silently burning along towards them as he
instinctively saw all this that strange forbearance and unwillingness
to stir up the deeper passionateness in any already ireful being a
repugnance most felt when felt at all by really valiant men even when
aggrieved this nameless phantom feeling gentlemen stole over
steelkilt 

 therefore in his ordinary tone only a little broken by the bodily
exhaustion he was temporarily in he answered him saying that sweeping
the deck was not his business and he would not do it and then 
without at all alluding to the shovel he pointed to three lads as the
customary sweepers who not being billeted at the pumps had done
little or nothing all day to this radney replied with an oath in a
most domineering and outrageous manner unconditionally reiterating his
command meanwhile advancing upon the still seated lakeman with an
uplifted cooper's club hammer which he had snatched from a cask near
by 

 heated and irritated as he was by his spasmodic toil at the pumps for
all his first nameless feeling of forbearance the sweating steelkilt
could but ill brook this bearing in the mate but somehow still
smothering the conflagration within him without speaking he remained
doggedly rooted to his seat till at last the incensed radney shook the
hammer within a few inches of his face furiously commanding him to do
his bidding 

 steelkilt rose and slowly retreating round the windlass steadily
followed by the mate with his menacing hammer deliberately repeated
his intention not to obey seeing however that his forbearance had
not the slightest effect by an awful and unspeakable intimation with
his twisted hand he warned off the foolish and infatuated man but it
was to no purpose and in this way the two went once slowly round the
windlass when resolved at last no longer to retreat bethinking him
that he had now forborne as much as comported with his humor the
lakeman paused on the hatches and thus spoke to the officer 

 mr radney i will not obey you take that hammer away or look to
yourself but the predestinated mate coming still closer to him where
the lakeman stood fixed now shook the heavy hammer within an inch of
his teeth meanwhile repeating a string of insufferable maledictions 
retreating not the thousandth part of an inch stabbing him in the eye
with the unflinching poniard of his glance steelkilt clenching his
right hand behind him and creepingly drawing it back told his
persecutor that if the hammer but grazed his cheek he steelkilt would
murder him but gentlemen the fool had been branded for the slaughter
by the gods immediately the hammer touched the cheek the next instant
the lower jaw of the mate was stove in his head he fell on the hatch
spouting blood like a whale 

 ere the cry could go aft steelkilt was shaking one of the backstays
leading far aloft to where two of his comrades were standing their
mastheads they were both canallers 

 canallers cried don pedro we have seen many whale-ships in our
harbours but never heard of your canallers pardon who and what are
they 

 canallers don are the boatmen belonging to our grand erie canal 
you must have heard of it 

 nay senor hereabouts in this dull warm most lazy and hereditary
land we know but little of your vigorous north 

 aye well then don refill my cup your chicha's very fine and ere
proceeding further i will tell ye what our canallers are for such
information may throw side-light upon my story 

 for three hundred and sixty miles gentlemen through the entire
breadth of the state of new york through numerous populous cities and
most thriving villages through long dismal uninhabited swamps and
affluent cultivated fields unrivalled for fertility by billiard-room
and bar-room through the holy-of-holies of great forests on roman
arches over indian rivers through sun and shade by happy hearts or
broken through all the wide contrasting scenery of those noble mohawk
counties and especially by rows of snow-white chapels whose spires
stand almost like milestones flows one continual stream of venetianly
corrupt and often lawless life there's your true ashantee gentlemen 
there howl your pagans where you ever find them next door to you 
under the long-flung shadow and the snug patronising lee of churches 
for by some curious fatality as it is often noted of your metropolitan
freebooters that they ever encamp around the halls of justice so
sinners gentlemen most abound in holiest vicinities 

 is that a friar passing said don pedro looking downwards into the
crowded plazza with humorous concern 

 well for our northern friend dame isabella's inquisition wanes in
lima laughed don sebastian proceed senor 

 a moment pardon cried another of the company in the name of all
us limeese i but desire to express to you sir sailor that we have by
no means overlooked your delicacy in not substituting present lima for
distant venice in your corrupt comparison oh do not bow and look
surprised you know the proverb all along this coast corrupt as lima 
it but bears out your saying too churches more plentiful than
billiard-tables and for ever open and corrupt as lima so too 
venice i have been there the holy city of the blessed evangelist st 
mark st dominic purge it your cup thanks here i refill now you
pour out again 

 freely depicted in his own vocation gentlemen the canaller would
make a fine dramatic hero so abundantly and picturesquely wicked is
he like mark antony for days and days along his green-turfed flowery
nile he indolently floats openly toying with his red-cheeked
cleopatra ripening his apricot thigh upon the sunny deck but ashore 
all this effeminacy is dashed the brigandish guise which the canaller
so proudly sports his slouched and gaily-ribboned hat betoken his
grand features a terror to the smiling innocence of the villages
through which he floats his swart visage and bold swagger are not
unshunned in cities once a vagabond on his own canal i have received
good turns from one of these canallers i thank him heartily would
fain be not ungrateful but it is often one of the prime redeeming
qualities of your man of violence that at times he has as stiff an arm
to back a poor stranger in a strait as to plunder a wealthy one in
sum gentlemen what the wildness of this canal life is is
emphatically evinced by this that our wild whale-fishery contains so
many of its most finished graduates and that scarce any race of
mankind except sydney men are so much distrusted by our whaling
captains nor does it at all diminish the curiousness of this matter 
that to many thousands of our rural boys and young men born along its
line the probationary life of the grand canal furnishes the sole
transition between quietly reaping in a christian corn-field and
recklessly ploughing the waters of the most barbaric seas 

 i see i see impetuously exclaimed don pedro spilling his chicha
upon his silvery ruffles no need to travel the world's one lima i
had thought now that at your temperate north the generations were
cold and holy as the hills but the story 

 i left off gentlemen where the lakeman shook the backstay hardly
had he done so when he was surrounded by the three junior mates and
the four harpooneers who all crowded him to the deck but sliding down
the ropes like baleful comets the two canallers rushed into the
uproar and sought to drag their man out of it towards the forecastle 
others of the sailors joined with them in this attempt and a twisted
turmoil ensued while standing out of harm's way the valiant captain
danced up and down with a whale-pike calling upon his officers to
manhandle that atrocious scoundrel and smoke him along to the
quarter-deck at intervals he ran close up to the revolving border of
the confusion and prying into the heart of it with his pike sought to
prick out the object of his resentment but steelkilt and his
desperadoes were too much for them all they succeeded in gaining the
forecastle deck where hastily slewing about three or four large casks
in a line with the windlass these sea-parisians entrenched themselves
behind the barricade 

 come out of that ye pirates roared the captain now menacing them
with a pistol in each hand just brought to him by the steward come
out of that ye cut-throats 

 steelkilt leaped on the barricade and striding up and down there 
defied the worst the pistols could do but gave the captain to
understand distinctly that his steelkilt's death would be the signal
for a murderous mutiny on the part of all hands fearing in his heart
lest this might prove but too true the captain a little desisted but
still commanded the insurgents instantly to return to their duty 

 will you promise not to touch us if we do demanded their
ringleader 

 turn to turn to i make no promise to your duty do you want to
sink the ship by knocking off at a time like this turn to and he
once more raised a pistol 

 sink the ship cried steelkilt aye let her sink not a man of us
turns to unless you swear not to raise a rope-yarn against us what
say ye men turning to his comrades a fierce cheer was their
response 

 the lakeman now patrolled the barricade all the while keeping his eye
on the captain and jerking out such sentences as these it's not our
fault we didn't want it i told him to take his hammer away it was
boy's business he might have known me before this i told him not to
prick the buffalo i believe i have broken a finger here against his
cursed jaw ain't those mincing knives down in the forecastle there 
men look to those handspikes my hearties captain by god look to
yourself say the word don't be a fool forget it all we are ready to
turn to treat us decently and we're your men but we won't be
flogged 

 turn to i make no promises turn to i say 

 look ye now cried the lakeman flinging out his arm towards him 
 there are a few of us here and i am one of them who have shipped for
the cruise d'ye see now as you well know sir we can claim our
discharge as soon as the anchor is down so we don't want a row it's
not our interest we want to be peaceable we are ready to work but we
won't be flogged 

 turn to roared the captain 

 steelkilt glanced round him a moment and then said i tell you what
it is now captain rather than kill ye and be hung for such a shabby
rascal we won't lift a hand against ye unless ye attack us but till
you say the word about not flogging us we don't do a hand's turn 

 down into the forecastle then down with ye i'll keep ye there till
ye're sick of it down ye go 

 shall we cried the ringleader to his men most of them were against
it but at length in obedience to steelkilt they preceded him down
into their dark den growlingly disappearing like bears into a cave 

 as the lakeman's bare head was just level with the planks the captain
and his posse leaped the barricade and rapidly drawing over the slide
of the scuttle planted their group of hands upon it and loudly called
for the steward to bring the heavy brass padlock belonging to the
companionway then opening the slide a little the captain whispered
something down the crack closed it and turned the key upon them ten
in number leaving on deck some twenty or more who thus far had
remained neutral 

 all night a wide-awake watch was kept by all the officers forward and
aft especially about the forecastle scuttle and fore hatchway at
which last place it was feared the insurgents might emerge after
breaking through the bulkhead below but the hours of darkness passed
in peace the men who still remained at their duty toiling hard at the
pumps whose clinking and clanking at intervals through the dreary
night dismally resounded through the ship 

 at sunrise the captain went forward and knocking on the deck 
summoned the prisoners to work but with a yell they refused water was
then lowered down to them and a couple of handfuls of biscuit were
tossed after it when again turning the key upon them and pocketing it 
the captain returned to the quarter-deck twice every day for three
days this was repeated but on the fourth morning a confused wrangling 
and then a scuffling was heard as the customary summons was delivered 
and suddenly four men burst up from the forecastle saying they were
ready to turn to the fetid closeness of the air and a famishing diet 
united perhaps to some fears of ultimate retribution had constrained
them to surrender at discretion emboldened by this the captain
reiterated his demand to the rest but steelkilt shouted up to him a
terrific hint to stop his babbling and betake himself where he
belonged on the fifth morning three others of the mutineers bolted up
into the air from the desperate arms below that sought to restrain
them only three were left 

 better turn to now said the captain with a heartless jeer 

 shut us up again will ye cried steelkilt 

 oh certainly said the captain and the key clicked 

 it was at this point gentlemen that enraged by the defection of
seven of his former associates and stung by the mocking voice that had
last hailed him and maddened by his long entombment in a place as
black as the bowels of despair it was then that steelkilt proposed to
the two canallers thus far apparently of one mind with him to burst
out of their hole at the next summoning of the garrison and armed with
their keen mincing knives long crescentic heavy implements with a
handle at each end run amuck from the bowsprit to the taffrail and if
by any devilishness of desperation possible seize the ship for
himself he would do this he said whether they joined him or not 
that was the last night he should spend in that den but the scheme met
with no opposition on the part of the other two they swore they were
ready for that or for any other mad thing for anything in short but a
surrender and what was more they each insisted upon being the first
man on deck when the time to make the rush should come but to this
their leader as fiercely objected reserving that priority for himself 
particularly as his two comrades would not yield the one to the other 
in the matter and both of them could not be first for the ladder
would but admit one man at a time and here gentlemen the foul play
of these miscreants must come out 

 upon hearing the frantic project of their leader each in his own
separate soul had suddenly lighted it would seem upon the same piece
of treachery namely to be foremost in breaking out in order to be
the first of the three though the last of the ten to surrender and
thereby secure whatever small chance of pardon such conduct might
merit but when steelkilt made known his determination still to lead
them to the last they in some way by some subtle chemistry of
villany mixed their before secret treacheries together and when their
leader fell into a doze verbally opened their souls to each other in
three sentences and bound the sleeper with cords and gagged him with
cords and shrieked out for the captain at midnight 

 thinking murder at hand and smelling in the dark for the blood he
and all his armed mates and harpooneers rushed for the forecastle in a
few minutes the scuttle was opened and bound hand and foot the still
struggling ringleader was shoved up into the air by his perfidious
allies who at once claimed the honor of securing a man who had been
fully ripe for murder but all these were collared and dragged along
the deck like dead cattle and side by side were seized up into the
mizzen rigging like three quarters of meat and there they hung till
morning damn ye cried the captain pacing to and fro before them 
 the vultures would not touch ye ye villains 

 at sunrise he summoned all hands and separating those who had
rebelled from those who had taken no part in the mutiny he told the
former that he had a good mind to flog them all round thought upon the
whole he would do so he ought to justice demanded it but for the
present considering their timely surrender he would let them go with
a reprimand which he accordingly administered in the vernacular 

 but as for you ye carrion rogues turning to the three men in the
rigging for you i mean to mince ye up for the try-pots and seizing
a rope he applied it with all his might to the backs of the two
traitors till they yelled no more but lifelessly hung their heads
sideways as the two crucified thieves are drawn 

 my wrist is sprained with ye he cried at last but there is still
rope enough left for you my fine bantam that wouldn't give up take
that gag from his mouth and let us hear what he can say for himself 

 for a moment the exhausted mutineer made a tremulous motion of his
cramped jaws and then painfully twisting round his head said in a
sort of hiss what i say is this and mind it well if you flog me i
murder you 

 say ye so then see how ye frighten me and the captain drew off with
the rope to strike 

 best not hissed the lakeman 

 but i must and the rope was once more drawn back for the stroke 

 steelkilt here hissed out something inaudible to all but the captain 
who to the amazement of all hands started back paced the deck
rapidly two or three times and then suddenly throwing down his rope 
said i won't do it let him go cut him down d'ye hear 

 but as the junior mates were hurrying to execute the order a pale
man with a bandaged head arrested them radney the chief mate ever
since the blow he had lain in his berth but that morning hearing the
tumult on the deck he had crept out and thus far had watched the
whole scene such was the state of his mouth that he could hardly
speak but mumbling something about his being willing and able to do
what the captain dared not attempt he snatched the rope and advanced
to his pinioned foe 

 you are a coward hissed the lakeman 

 so i am but take that the mate was in the very act of striking 
when another hiss stayed his uplifted arm he paused and then pausing
no more made good his word spite of steelkilt's threat whatever that
might have been the three men were then cut down all hands were
turned to and sullenly worked by the moody seamen the iron pumps
clanged as before 

 just after dark that day when one watch had retired below a clamor
was heard in the forecastle and the two trembling traitors running up 
besieged the cabin door saying they durst not consort with the crew 
entreaties cuffs and kicks could not drive them back so at their own
instance they were put down in the ship's run for salvation still no
sign of mutiny reappeared among the rest on the contrary it seemed 
that mainly at steelkilt's instigation they had resolved to maintain
the strictest peacefulness obey all orders to the last and when the
ship reached port desert her in a body but in order to insure the
speediest end to the voyage they all agreed to another thing namely 
not to sing out for whales in case any should be discovered for 
spite of her leak and spite of all her other perils the town-ho still
maintained her mast-heads and her captain was just as willing to lower
for a fish that moment as on the day his craft first struck the
cruising ground and radney the mate was quite as ready to change his
berth for a boat and with his bandaged mouth seek to gag in death the
vital jaw of the whale 

 but though the lakeman had induced the seamen to adopt this sort of
passiveness in their conduct he kept his own counsel at least till
all was over concerning his own proper and private revenge upon the
man who had stung him in the ventricles of his heart he was in radney
the chief mate's watch and as if the infatuated man sought to run more
than half way to meet his doom after the scene at the rigging he
insisted against the express counsel of the captain upon resuming the
head of his watch at night upon this and one or two other
circumstances steelkilt systematically built the plan of his revenge 

 during the night radney had an unseamanlike way of sitting on the
bulwarks of the quarter-deck and leaning his arm upon the gunwale of
the boat which was hoisted up there a little above the ship's side in
this attitude it was well known he sometimes dozed there was a
considerable vacancy between the boat and the ship and down between
this was the sea steelkilt calculated his time and found that his
next trick at the helm would come round at two o'clock in the morning
of the third day from that in which he had been betrayed at his
leisure he employed the interval in braiding something very carefully
in his watches below 

 what are you making there said a shipmate 

 what do you think what does it look like 

 like a lanyard for your bag but it's an odd one seems to me 

 yes rather oddish said the lakeman holding it at arm's length
before him but i think it will answer shipmate i haven't enough
twine have you any 

 but there was none in the forecastle 

 then i must get some from old rad and he rose to go aft 

 you don't mean to go a begging to him said a sailor 

 why not do you think he won't do me a turn when it's to help
himself in the end shipmate and going to the mate he looked at him
quietly and asked him for some twine to mend his hammock it was given
him neither twine nor lanyard were seen again but the next night an
iron ball closely netted partly rolled from the pocket of the
lakeman's monkey jacket as he was tucking the coat into his hammock
for a pillow twenty-four hours after his trick at the silent
helm nigh to the man who was apt to doze over the grave always ready
dug to the seaman's hand that fatal hour was then to come and in the
fore-ordaining soul of steelkilt the mate was already stark and
stretched as a corpse with his forehead crushed in 

 but gentlemen a fool saved the would-be murderer from the bloody
deed he had planned yet complete revenge he had and without being the
avenger for by a mysterious fatality heaven itself seemed to step in
to take out of his hands into its own the damning thing he would have
done 

 it was just between daybreak and sunrise of the morning of the second
day when they were washing down the decks that a stupid teneriffe
man drawing water in the main-chains all at once shouted out there
she rolls there she rolls jesu what a whale it was moby dick 

 moby dick cried don sebastian st dominic sir sailor but do
whales have christenings whom call you moby dick 

 a very white and famous and most deadly immortal monster don but
that would be too long a story 

 how how cried all the young spaniards crowding 

 nay dons dons nay nay i cannot rehearse that now let me get more
into the air sirs 

 the chicha the chicha cried don pedro our vigorous friend looks
faint fill up his empty glass 

 no need gentlemen one moment and i proceed now gentlemen so
suddenly perceiving the snowy whale within fifty yards of the
ship forgetful of the compact among the crew in the excitement of the
moment the teneriffe man had instinctively and involuntarily lifted
his voice for the monster though for some little time past it had been
plainly beheld from the three sullen mast-heads all was now a phrensy 
 the white whale the white whale was the cry from captain mates and
harpooneers who undeterred by fearful rumours were all anxious to
capture so famous and precious a fish while the dogged crew eyed
askance and with curses the appalling beauty of the vast milky mass 
that lit up by a horizontal spangling sun shifted and glistened like a
living opal in the blue morning sea gentlemen a strange fatality
pervades the whole career of these events as if verily mapped out
before the world itself was charted the mutineer was the bowsman of
the mate and when fast to a fish it was his duty to sit next him 
while radney stood up with his lance in the prow and haul in or
slacken the line at the word of command moreover when the four boats
were lowered the mate's got the start and none howled more fiercely
with delight than did steelkilt as he strained at his oar after a
stiff pull their harpooneer got fast and spear in hand radney
sprang to the bow he was always a furious man it seems in a boat 
and now his bandaged cry was to beach him on the whale's topmost back 
nothing loath his bowsman hauled him up and up through a blinding
foam that blent two whitenesses together till of a sudden the boat
struck as against a sunken ledge and keeling over spilled out the
standing mate that instant as he fell on the whale's slippery back 
the boat righted and was dashed aside by the swell while radney was
tossed over into the sea on the other flank of the whale he struck
out through the spray and for an instant was dimly seen through that
veil wildly seeking to remove himself from the eye of moby dick but
the whale rushed round in a sudden maelstrom seized the swimmer
between his jaws and rearing high up with him plunged headlong again 
and went down 

 meantime at the first tap of the boat's bottom the lakeman had
slackened the line so as to drop astern from the whirlpool calmly
looking on he thought his own thoughts but a sudden terrific 
downward jerking of the boat quickly brought his knife to the line he
cut it and the whale was free but at some distance moby dick rose
again with some tatters of radney's red woollen shirt caught in the
teeth that had destroyed him all four boats gave chase again but the
whale eluded them and finally wholly disappeared 

 in good time the town-ho reached her port a savage solitary
place where no civilized creature resided there headed by the
lakeman all but five or six of the foremastmen deliberately deserted
among the palms eventually as it turned out seizing a large double
war-canoe of the savages and setting sail for some other harbor 

 the ship's company being reduced to but a handful the captain called
upon the islanders to assist him in the laborious business of heaving
down the ship to stop the leak but to such unresting vigilance over
their dangerous allies was this small band of whites necessitated both
by night and by day and so extreme was the hard work they underwent 
that upon the vessel being ready again for sea they were in such a
weakened condition that the captain durst not put off with them in so
heavy a vessel after taking counsel with his officers he anchored the
ship as far off shore as possible loaded and ran out his two cannon
from the bows stacked his muskets on the poop and warning the
islanders not to approach the ship at their peril took one man with
him and setting the sail of his best whale-boat steered straight
before the wind for tahiti five hundred miles distant to procure a
reinforcement to his crew 

 on the fourth day of the sail a large canoe was descried which
seemed to have touched at a low isle of corals he steered away from
it but the savage craft bore down on him and soon the voice of
steelkilt hailed him to heave to or he would run him under water the
captain presented a pistol with one foot on each prow of the yoked
war-canoes the lakeman laughed him to scorn assuring him that if the
pistol so much as clicked in the lock he would bury him in bubbles and
foam 

 what do you want of me cried the captain 

 where are you bound and for what are you bound demanded steelkilt 
 no lies 

 i am bound to tahiti for more men 

 very good let me board you a moment i come in peace with that he
leaped from the canoe swam to the boat and climbing the gunwale 
stood face to face with the captain 

 cross your arms sir throw back your head now repeat after me as
soon as steelkilt leaves me i swear to beach this boat on yonder
island and remain there six days if i do not may lightnings strike
me 

 a pretty scholar laughed the lakeman adios senor and leaping
into the sea he swam back to his comrades 

 watching the boat till it was fairly beached and drawn up to the
roots of the cocoa-nut trees steelkilt made sail again and in due
time arrived at tahiti his own place of destination there luck
befriended him two ships were about to sail for france and were
providentially in want of precisely that number of men which the sailor
headed they embarked and so for ever got the start of their former
captain had he been at all minded to work them legal retribution 

 some ten days after the french ships sailed the whale-boat arrived 
and the captain was forced to enlist some of the more civilized
tahitians who had been somewhat used to the sea chartering a small
native schooner he returned with them to his vessel and finding all
right there again resumed his cruisings 

 where steelkilt now is gentlemen none know but upon the island of
nantucket the widow of radney still turns to the sea which refuses to
give up its dead still in dreams sees the awful white whale that
destroyed him 

 are you through said don sebastian quietly 

 i am don 

 then i entreat you tell me if to the best of your own convictions 
this your story is in substance really true it is so passing
wonderful did you get it from an unquestionable source bear with me
if i seem to press 

 also bear with all of us sir sailor for we all join in don
sebastian's suit cried the company with exceeding interest 

 is there a copy of the holy evangelists in the golden inn 
gentlemen 

 nay said don sebastian but i know a worthy priest near by who
will quickly procure one for me i go for it but are you well advised 
this may grow too serious 

 will you be so good as to bring the priest also don 

 though there are no auto-da-fes in lima now said one of the company
to another i fear our sailor friend runs risk of the archiepiscopacy 
let us withdraw more out of the moonlight i see no need of this 

 excuse me for running after you don sebastian but may i also beg
that you will be particular in procuring the largest sized evangelists
you can 

 

 this is the priest he brings you the evangelists said don
sebastian gravely returning with a tall and solemn figure 

 let me remove my hat now venerable priest further into the light 
and hold the holy book before me that i may touch it 

 so help me heaven and on my honor the story i have told ye 
gentlemen is in substance and its great items true i know it to be
true it happened on this ball i trod the ship i knew the crew i
have seen and talked with steelkilt since the death of radney 


chapter 55 of the monstrous pictures of whales 

i shall ere long paint to you as well as one can without canvas 
something like the true form of the whale as he actually appears to the
eye of the whaleman when in his own absolute body the whale is moored
alongside the whale-ship so that he can be fairly stepped upon there 
it may be worth while therefore previously to advert to those curious
imaginary portraits of him which even down to the present day
confidently challenge the faith of the landsman it is time to set the
world right in this matter by proving such pictures of the whale all
wrong 

it may be that the primal source of all those pictorial delusions will
be found among the oldest hindoo egyptian and grecian sculptures for
ever since those inventive but unscrupulous times when on the marble
panellings of temples the pedestals of statues and on shields 
medallions cups and coins the dolphin was drawn in scales of
chain-armor like saladin's and a helmeted head like st george's ever
since then has something of the same sort of license prevailed not
only in most popular pictures of the whale but in many scientific
presentations of him 

now by all odds the most ancient extant portrait anyways purporting
to be the whale's is to be found in the famous cavern-pagoda of
elephanta in india the brahmins maintain that in the almost endless
sculptures of that immemorial pagoda all the trades and pursuits 
every conceivable avocation of man were prefigured ages before any of
them actually came into being no wonder then that in some sort our
noble profession of whaling should have been there shadowed forth the
hindoo whale referred to occurs in a separate department of the wall 
depicting the incarnation of vishnu in the form of leviathan learnedly
known as the matse avatar but though this sculpture is half man and
half whale so as only to give the tail of the latter yet that small
section of him is all wrong it looks more like the tapering tail of an
anaconda than the broad palms of the true whale's majestic flukes 

but go to the old galleries and look now at a great christian
painter's portrait of this fish for he succeeds no better than the
antediluvian hindoo it is guido's picture of perseus rescuing
andromeda from the sea-monster or whale where did guido get the model
of such a strange creature as that nor does hogarth in painting the
same scene in his own perseus descending make out one whit better 
the huge corpulence of that hogarthian monster undulates on the
surface scarcely drawing one inch of water it has a sort of howdah on
its back and its distended tusked mouth into which the billows are
rolling might be taken for the traitors gate leading from the thames
by water into the tower then there are the prodromus whales of old
scotch sibbald and jonah's whale as depicted in the prints of old
bibles and the cuts of old primers what shall be said of these as for
the book-binder's whale winding like a vine-stalk round the stock of a
descending anchor as stamped and gilded on the backs and title-pages of
many books both old and new that is a very picturesque but purely
fabulous creature imitated i take it from the like figures on
antique vases though universally denominated a dolphin i nevertheless
call this book-binder's fish an attempt at a whale because it was so
intended when the device was first introduced it was introduced by an
old italian publisher somewhere about the 15th century during the
revival of learning and in those days and even down to a
comparatively late period dolphins were popularly supposed to be a
species of the leviathan 

in the vignettes and other embellishments of some ancient books you
will at times meet with very curious touches at the whale where all
manner of spouts jets d'eau hot springs and cold saratoga and
baden-baden come bubbling up from his unexhausted brain in the
title-page of the original edition of the advancement of learning you
will find some curious whales 

but quitting all these unprofessional attempts let us glance at those
pictures of leviathan purporting to be sober scientific delineations 
by those who know in old harris's collection of voyages there are some
plates of whales extracted from a dutch book of voyages a d 1671 
entitled a whaling voyage to spitzbergen in the ship jonas in the
whale peter peterson of friesland master in one of those plates the
whales like great rafts of logs are represented lying among
ice-isles with white bears running over their living backs in another
plate the prodigious blunder is made of representing the whale with
perpendicular flukes 

then again there is an imposing quarto written by one captain
colnett a post captain in the english navy entitled a voyage round
cape horn into the south seas for the purpose of extending the
spermaceti whale fisheries in this book is an outline purporting to
be a picture of a physeter or spermaceti whale drawn by scale from
one killed on the coast of mexico august 1793 and hoisted on deck 
i doubt not the captain had this veracious picture taken for the
benefit of his marines to mention but one thing about it let me say
that it has an eye which applied according to the accompanying scale 
to a full grown sperm whale would make the eye of that whale a
bow-window some five feet long ah my gallant captain why did ye not
give us jonah looking out of that eye 

nor are the most conscientious compilations of natural history for the
benefit of the young and tender free from the same heinousness of
mistake look at that popular work goldsmith's animated nature in
the abridged london edition of 1807 there are plates of an alleged
 whale and a narwhale i do not wish to seem inelegant but this
unsightly whale looks much like an amputated sow and as for the
narwhale one glimpse at it is enough to amaze one that in this
nineteenth century such a hippogriff could be palmed for genuine upon
any intelligent public of schoolboys 

then again in 1825 bernard germain count de lacepede a great
naturalist published a scientific systemized whale book wherein are
several pictures of the different species of the leviathan all these
are not only incorrect but the picture of the mysticetus or greenland
whale that is to say the right whale even scoresby a long
experienced man as touching that species declares not to have its
counterpart in nature 

but the placing of the cap-sheaf to all this blundering business was
reserved for the scientific frederick cuvier brother to the famous
baron in 1836 he published a natural history of whales in which he
gives what he calls a picture of the sperm whale before showing that
picture to any nantucketer you had best provide for your summary
retreat from nantucket in a word frederick cuvier's sperm whale is
not a sperm whale but a squash of course he never had the benefit of
a whaling voyage such men seldom have but whence he derived that
picture who can tell perhaps he got it as his scientific predecessor
in the same field desmarest got one of his authentic abortions that
is from a chinese drawing and what sort of lively lads with the
pencil those chinese are many queer cups and saucers inform us 

as for the sign-painters whales seen in the streets hanging over the
shops of oil-dealers what shall be said of them they are generally
richard iii whales with dromedary humps and very savage 
breakfasting on three or four sailor tarts that is whaleboats full of
mariners their deformities floundering in seas of blood and blue
paint 

but these manifold mistakes in depicting the whale are not so very
surprising after all consider most of the scientific drawings have
been taken from the stranded fish and these are about as correct as a
drawing of a wrecked ship with broken back would correctly represent
the noble animal itself in all its undashed pride of hull and spars 
though elephants have stood for their full-lengths the living
leviathan has never yet fairly floated himself for his portrait the
living whale in his full majesty and significance is only to be seen
at sea in unfathomable waters and afloat the vast bulk of him is out
of sight like a launched line-of-battle ship and out of that element
it is a thing eternally impossible for mortal man to hoist him bodily
into the air so as to preserve all his mighty swells and undulations 
and not to speak of the highly presumable difference of contour
between a young sucking whale and a full-grown platonian leviathan 
yet even in the case of one of those young sucking whales hoisted to a
ship's deck such is then the outlandish eel-like limbered varying
shape of him that his precise expression the devil himself could not
catch 

but it may be fancied that from the naked skeleton of the stranded
whale accurate hints may be derived touching his true form not at
all for it is one of the more curious things about this leviathan 
that his skeleton gives very little idea of his general shape though
jeremy bentham's skeleton which hangs for candelabra in the library of
one of his executors correctly conveys the idea of a burly-browed
utilitarian old gentleman with all jeremy's other leading personal
characteristics yet nothing of this kind could be inferred from any
leviathan's articulated bones in fact as the great hunter says the
mere skeleton of the whale bears the same relation to the fully
invested and padded animal as the insect does to the chrysalis that so
roundingly envelopes it this peculiarity is strikingly evinced in the
head as in some part of this book will be incidentally shown it is
also very curiously displayed in the side fin the bones of which
almost exactly answer to the bones of the human hand minus only the
thumb this fin has four regular bone-fingers the index middle ring 
and little finger but all these are permanently lodged in their fleshy
covering as the human fingers in an artificial covering however
recklessly the whale may sometimes serve us said humorous stubb one
day he can never be truly said to handle us without mittens 

for all these reasons then any way you may look at it you must needs
conclude that the great leviathan is that one creature in the world
which must remain unpainted to the last true one portrait may hit the
mark much nearer than another but none can hit it with any very
considerable degree of exactness so there is no earthly way of finding
out precisely what the whale really looks like and the only mode in
which you can derive even a tolerable idea of his living contour is by
going a whaling yourself but by so doing you run no small risk of
being eternally stove and sunk by him wherefore it seems to me you
had best not be too fastidious in your curiosity touching this
leviathan 


chapter 56 of the less erroneous pictures of whales and the true
pictures of whaling scenes 

in connexion with the monstrous pictures of whales i am strongly
tempted here to enter upon those still more monstrous stories of them
which are to be found in certain books both ancient and modern 
especially in pliny purchas hackluyt harris cuvier etc but i pass
that matter by 

i know of only four published outlines of the great sperm whale 
colnett's huggins's frederick cuvier's and beale's in the previous
chapter colnett and cuvier have been referred to huggins's is far
better than theirs but by great odds beale's is the best all
beale's drawings of this whale are good excepting the middle figure in
the picture of three whales in various attitudes capping his second
chapter his frontispiece boats attacking sperm whales though no
doubt calculated to excite the civil scepticism of some parlor men is
admirably correct and life-like in its general effect some of the
sperm whale drawings in j ross browne are pretty correct in contour 
but they are wretchedly engraved that is not his fault though 

of the right whale the best outline pictures are in scoresby but they
are drawn on too small a scale to convey a desirable impression he has
but one picture of whaling scenes and this is a sad deficiency 
because it is by such pictures only when at all well done that you
can derive anything like a truthful idea of the living whale as seen by
his living hunters 

but taken for all in all by far the finest though in some details
not the most correct presentations of whales and whaling scenes to be
anywhere found are two large french engravings well executed and
taken from paintings by one garnery respectively they represent
attacks on the sperm and right whale in the first engraving a noble
sperm whale is depicted in full majesty of might just risen beneath
the boat from the profundities of the ocean and bearing high in the
air upon his back the terrific wreck of the stoven planks the prow of
the boat is partially unbroken and is drawn just balancing upon the
monster's spine and standing in that prow for that one single
incomputable flash of time you behold an oarsman half shrouded by the
incensed boiling spout of the whale and in the act of leaping as if
from a precipice the action of the whole thing is wonderfully good and
true the half-emptied line-tub floats on the whitened sea the wooden
poles of the spilled harpoons obliquely bob in it the heads of the
swimming crew are scattered about the whale in contrasting expressions
of affright while in the black stormy distance the ship is bearing
down upon the scene serious fault might be found with the anatomical
details of this whale but let that pass since for the life of me i
could not draw so good a one 

in the second engraving the boat is in the act of drawing alongside
the barnacled flank of a large running right whale that rolls his
black weedy bulk in the sea like some mossy rock-slide from the
patagonian cliffs his jets are erect full and black like soot so
that from so abounding a smoke in the chimney you would think there
must be a brave supper cooking in the great bowels below sea fowls are
pecking at the small crabs shell-fish and other sea candies and
maccaroni which the right whale sometimes carries on his pestilent
back and all the while the thick-lipped leviathan is rushing through
the deep leaving tons of tumultuous white curds in his wake and
causing the slight boat to rock in the swells like a skiff caught nigh
the paddle-wheels of an ocean steamer thus the foreground is all
raging commotion but behind in admirable artistic contrast is the
glassy level of a sea becalmed the drooping unstarched sails of the
powerless ship and the inert mass of a dead whale a conquered
fortress with the flag of capture lazily hanging from the whale-pole
inserted into his spout-hole 

who garnery the painter is or was i know not but my life for it he
was either practically conversant with his subject or else
marvellously tutored by some experienced whaleman the french are the
lads for painting action go and gaze upon all the paintings of europe 
and where will you find such a gallery of living and breathing
commotion on canvas as in that triumphal hall at versailles where the
beholder fights his way pell-mell through the consecutive great
battles of france where every sword seems a flash of the northern
lights and the successive armed kings and emperors dash by like a
charge of crowned centaurs not wholly unworthy of a place in that
gallery are these sea battle-pieces of garnery 

the natural aptitude of the french for seizing the picturesqueness of
things seems to be peculiarly evinced in what paintings and engravings
they have of their whaling scenes with not one tenth of england's
experience in the fishery and not the thousandth part of that of the
americans they have nevertheless furnished both nations with the only
finished sketches at all capable of conveying the real spirit of the
whale hunt for the most part the english and american whale
draughtsmen seem entirely content with presenting the mechanical
outline of things such as the vacant profile of the whale which so
far as picturesqueness of effect is concerned is about tantamount to
sketching the profile of a pyramid even scoresby the justly renowned
right whaleman after giving us a stiff full length of the greenland
whale and three or four delicate miniatures of narwhales and
porpoises treats us to a series of classical engravings of boat hooks 
chopping knives and grapnels and with the microscopic diligence of a
leuwenhoeck submits to the inspection of a shivering world ninety-six
fac-similes of magnified arctic snow crystals i mean no disparagement
to the excellent voyager i honor him for a veteran but in so
important a matter it was certainly an oversight not to have procured
for every crystal a sworn affidavit taken before a greenland justice of
the peace 

in addition to those fine engravings from garnery there are two other
french engravings worthy of note by some one who subscribes himself
 h durand one of them though not precisely adapted to our present
purpose nevertheless deserves mention on other accounts it is a quiet
noon-scene among the isles of the pacific a french whaler anchored 
inshore in a calm and lazily taking water on board the loosened
sails of the ship and the long leaves of the palms in the background 
both drooping together in the breezeless air the effect is very fine 
when considered with reference to its presenting the hardy fishermen
under one of their few aspects of oriental repose the other engraving
is quite a different affair the ship hove-to upon the open sea and in
the very heart of the leviathanic life with a right whale alongside 
the vessel in the act of cutting-in hove over to the monster as if to
a quay and a boat hurriedly pushing off from this scene of activity 
is about giving chase to whales in the distance the harpoons and
lances lie levelled for use three oarsmen are just setting the mast in
its hole while from a sudden roll of the sea the little craft stands
half-erect out of the water like a rearing horse from the ship the
smoke of the torments of the boiling whale is going up like the smoke
over a village of smithies and to windward a black cloud rising up
with earnest of squalls and rains seems to quicken the activity of the
excited seamen 


chapter 57 of whales in paint in teeth in wood in sheet-iron in
stone in mountains in stars 

on tower-hill as you go down to the london docks you may have seen a
crippled beggar or kedger as the sailors say holding a painted
board before him representing the tragic scene in which he lost his
leg there are three whales and three boats and one of the boats
 presumed to contain the missing leg in all its original integrity is
being crunched by the jaws of the foremost whale any time these ten
years they tell me has that man held up that picture and exhibited
that stump to an incredulous world but the time of his justification
has now come his three whales are as good whales as were ever
published in wapping at any rate and his stump as unquestionable a
stump as any you will find in the western clearings but though for
ever mounted on that stump never a stump-speech does the poor whaleman
make but with downcast eyes stands ruefully contemplating his own
amputation 

throughout the pacific and also in nantucket and new bedford and sag
harbor you will come across lively sketches of whales and
whaling-scenes graven by the fishermen themselves on sperm
whale-teeth or ladies busks wrought out of the right whale-bone and
other like skrimshander articles as the whalemen call the numerous
little ingenious contrivances they elaborately carve out of the rough
material in their hours of ocean leisure some of them have little
boxes of dentistical-looking implements specially intended for the
skrimshandering business but in general they toil with their
jack-knives alone and with that almost omnipotent tool of the sailor 
they will turn you out anything you please in the way of a mariner's
fancy 

long exile from christendom and civilization inevitably restores a man
to that condition in which god placed him i e what is called
savagery your true whale-hunter is as much a savage as an iroquois i
myself am a savage owning no allegiance but to the king of the
cannibals and ready at any moment to rebel against him 

now one of the peculiar characteristics of the savage in his domestic
hours is his wonderful patience of industry an ancient hawaiian
war-club or spear-paddle in its full multiplicity and elaboration of
carving is as great a trophy of human perseverance as a latin lexicon 
for with but a bit of broken sea-shell or a shark's tooth that
miraculous intricacy of wooden net-work has been achieved and it has
cost steady years of steady application 

as with the hawaiian savage so with the white sailor-savage with the
same marvellous patience and with the same single shark's tooth of
his one poor jack-knife he will carve you a bit of bone sculpture not
quite as workmanlike but as close packed in its maziness of design as
the greek savage achilles's shield and full of barbaric spirit and
suggestiveness as the prints of that fine old dutch savage albert
durer 

wooden whales or whales cut in profile out of the small dark slabs of
the noble south sea war-wood are frequently met with in the
forecastles of american whalers some of them are done with much
accuracy 

at some old gable-roofed country houses you will see brass whales hung
by the tail for knockers to the road-side door when the porter is
sleepy the anvil-headed whale would be best but these knocking whales
are seldom remarkable as faithful essays on the spires of some
old-fashioned churches you will see sheet-iron whales placed there for
weather-cocks but they are so elevated and besides that are to all
intents and purposes so labelled with hands off you cannot examine
them closely enough to decide upon their merit 

in bony ribby regions of the earth where at the base of high broken
cliffs masses of rock lie strewn in fantastic groupings upon the plain 
you will often discover images as of the petrified forms of the
leviathan partly merged in grass which of a windy day breaks against
them in a surf of green surges 

then again in mountainous countries where the traveller is
continually girdled by amphitheatrical heights here and there from
some lucky point of view you will catch passing glimpses of the
profiles of whales defined along the undulating ridges but you must be
a thorough whaleman to see these sights and not only that but if you
wish to return to such a sight again you must be sure and take the
exact intersecting latitude and longitude of your first stand-point 
else so chance-like are such observations of the hills that your
precise previous stand-point would require a laborious re-discovery 
like the soloma islands which still remain incognita though once
high-ruffed mendanna trod them and old figuera chronicled them 

nor when expandingly lifted by your subject can you fail to trace out
great whales in the starry heavens and boats in pursuit of them as
when long filled with thoughts of war the eastern nations saw armies
locked in battle among the clouds thus at the north have i chased
leviathan round and round the pole with the revolutions of the bright
points that first defined him to me and beneath the effulgent
antarctic skies i have boarded the argo-navis and joined the chase
against the starry cetus far beyond the utmost stretch of hydrus and
the flying fish 

with a frigate's anchors for my bridle-bitts and fasces of harpoons for
spurs would i could mount that whale and leap the topmost skies to
see whether the fabled heavens with all their countless tents really
lie encamped beyond my mortal sight 


chapter 58 brit 

steering north-eastward from the crozetts we fell in with vast meadows
of brit the minute yellow substance upon which the right whale
largely feeds for leagues and leagues it undulated round us so that
we seemed to be sailing through boundless fields of ripe and golden
wheat 

on the second day numbers of right whales were seen who secure from
the attack of a sperm whaler like the pequod with open jaws sluggishly
swam through the brit which adhering to the fringing fibres of that
wondrous venetian blind in their mouths was in that manner separated
from the water that escaped at the lip 

as morning mowers who side by side slowly and seethingly advance their
scythes through the long wet grass of marshy meads even so these
monsters swam making a strange grassy cutting sound and leaving
behind them endless swaths of blue upon the yellow sea 

 that part of the sea known among whalemen as the brazil banks does
not bear that name as the banks of newfoundland do because of there
being shallows and soundings there but because of this remarkable
meadow-like appearance caused by the vast drifts of brit continually
floating in those latitudes where the right whale is often chased 

but it was only the sound they made as they parted the brit which at
all reminded one of mowers seen from the mast-heads especially when
they paused and were stationary for a while their vast black forms
looked more like lifeless masses of rock than anything else and as in
the great hunting countries of india the stranger at a distance will
sometimes pass on the plains recumbent elephants without knowing them
to be such taking them for bare blackened elevations of the soil 
even so often with him who for the first time beholds this species
of the leviathans of the sea and even when recognised at last their
immense magnitude renders it very hard really to believe that such
bulky masses of overgrowth can possibly be instinct in all parts with
the same sort of life that lives in a dog or a horse 

indeed in other respects you can hardly regard any creatures of the
deep with the same feelings that you do those of the shore for though
some old naturalists have maintained that all creatures of the land are
of their kind in the sea and though taking a broad general view of the
thing this may very well be yet coming to specialties where for
example does the ocean furnish any fish that in disposition answers to
the sagacious kindness of the dog the accursed shark alone can in any
generic respect be said to bear comparative analogy to him 

but though to landsmen in general the native inhabitants of the seas
have ever been regarded with emotions unspeakably unsocial and
repelling though we know the sea to be an everlasting terra incognita 
so that columbus sailed over numberless unknown worlds to discover his
one superficial western one though by vast odds the most terrific of
all mortal disasters have immemorially and indiscriminately befallen
tens and hundreds of thousands of those who have gone upon the waters 
though but a moment's consideration will teach that however baby man
may brag of his science and skill and however much in a flattering
future that science and skill may augment yet for ever and for ever 
to the crack of doom the sea will insult and murder him and pulverize
the stateliest stiffest frigate he can make nevertheless by the
continual repetition of these very impressions man has lost that sense
of the full awfulness of the sea which aboriginally belongs to it 

the first boat we read of floated on an ocean that with portuguese
vengeance had whelmed a whole world without leaving so much as a widow 
that same ocean rolls now that same ocean destroyed the wrecked ships
of last year yea foolish mortals noah's flood is not yet subsided 
two thirds of the fair world it yet covers 

wherein differ the sea and the land that a miracle upon one is not a
miracle upon the other preternatural terrors rested upon the hebrews 
when under the feet of korah and his company the live ground opened and
swallowed them up for ever yet not a modern sun ever sets but in
precisely the same manner the live sea swallows up ships and crews 

but not only is the sea such a foe to man who is an alien to it but it
is also a fiend to its own off-spring worse than the persian host who
murdered his own guests sparing not the creatures which itself hath
spawned like a savage tigress that tossing in the jungle overlays her
own cubs so the sea dashes even the mightiest whales against the
rocks and leaves them there side by side with the split wrecks of
ships no mercy no power but its own controls it panting and snorting
like a mad battle steed that has lost its rider the masterless ocean
overruns the globe 

consider the subtleness of the sea how its most dreaded creatures
glide under water unapparent for the most part and treacherously
hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure consider also the devilish
brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes as the
dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks consider once
more the universal cannibalism of the sea all whose creatures prey
upon each other carrying on eternal war since the world began 

consider all this and then turn to this green gentle and most docile
earth consider them both the sea and the land and do you not find a
strange analogy to something in yourself for as this appalling ocean
surrounds the verdant land so in the soul of man there lies one
insular tahiti full of peace and joy but encompassed by all the
horrors of the half known life god keep thee push not off from that
isle thou canst never return 


chapter 59 squid 

slowly wading through the meadows of brit the pequod still held on her
way north-eastward towards the island of java a gentle air impelling
her keel so that in the surrounding serenity her three tall tapering
masts mildly waved to that languid breeze as three mild palms on a
plain and still at wide intervals in the silvery night the lonely 
alluring jet would be seen 

but one transparent blue morning when a stillness almost preternatural
spread over the sea however unattended with any stagnant calm when
the long burnished sun-glade on the waters seemed a golden finger laid
across them enjoining some secrecy when the slippered waves whispered
together as they softly ran on in this profound hush of the visible
sphere a strange spectre was seen by daggoo from the main-mast-head 

in the distance a great white mass lazily rose and rising higher and
higher and disentangling itself from the azure at last gleamed before
our prow like a snow-slide new slid from the hills thus glistening
for a moment as slowly it subsided and sank then once more arose 
and silently gleamed it seemed not a whale and yet is this moby dick 
thought daggoo again the phantom went down but on re-appearing once
more with a stiletto-like cry that startled every man from his nod 
the negro yelled out there there again there she breaches right
ahead the white whale the white whale 

upon this the seamen rushed to the yard-arms as in swarming-time the
bees rush to the boughs bare-headed in the sultry sun ahab stood on
the bowsprit and with one hand pushed far behind in readiness to wave
his orders to the helmsman cast his eager glance in the direction
indicated aloft by the outstretched motionless arm of daggoo 

whether the flitting attendance of the one still and solitary jet had
gradually worked upon ahab so that he was now prepared to connect the
ideas of mildness and repose with the first sight of the particular
whale he pursued however this was or whether his eagerness betrayed
him whichever way it might have been no sooner did he distinctly
perceive the white mass than with a quick intensity he instantly gave
orders for lowering 

the four boats were soon on the water ahab's in advance and all
swiftly pulling towards their prey soon it went down and while with
oars suspended we were awaiting its reappearance lo in the same spot
where it sank once more it slowly rose almost forgetting for the
moment all thoughts of moby dick we now gazed at the most wondrous
phenomenon which the secret seas have hitherto revealed to mankind a
vast pulpy mass furlongs in length and breadth of a glancing
cream-colour lay floating on the water innumerable long arms
radiating from its centre and curling and twisting like a nest of
anacondas as if blindly to clutch at any hapless object within reach 
no perceptible face or front did it have no conceivable token of
either sensation or instinct but undulated there on the billows an
unearthly formless chance-like apparition of life 

as with a low sucking sound it slowly disappeared again starbuck still
gazing at the agitated waters where it had sunk with a wild voice
exclaimed almost rather had i seen moby dick and fought him than to
have seen thee thou white ghost 

 what was it sir said flask 

 the great live squid which they say few whale-ships ever beheld 
and returned to their ports to tell of it 

but ahab said nothing turning his boat he sailed back to the vessel 
the rest as silently following 

whatever superstitions the sperm whalemen in general have connected
with the sight of this object certain it is that a glimpse of it
being so very unusual that circumstance has gone far to invest it with
portentousness so rarely is it beheld that though one and all of them
declare it to be the largest animated thing in the ocean yet very few
of them have any but the most vague ideas concerning its true nature
and form notwithstanding they believe it to furnish to the sperm
whale his only food for though other species of whales find their food
above water and may be seen by man in the act of feeding the
spermaceti whale obtains his whole food in unknown zones below the
surface and only by inference is it that any one can tell of what 
precisely that food consists at times when closely pursued he will
disgorge what are supposed to be the detached arms of the squid some
of them thus exhibited exceeding twenty and thirty feet in length they
fancy that the monster to which these arms belonged ordinarily clings
by them to the bed of the ocean and that the sperm whale unlike other
species is supplied with teeth in order to attack and tear it 

there seems some ground to imagine that the great kraken of bishop
pontoppodan may ultimately resolve itself into squid the manner in
which the bishop describes it as alternately rising and sinking with
some other particulars he narrates in all this the two correspond but
much abatement is necessary with respect to the incredible bulk he
assigns it 

by some naturalists who have vaguely heard rumors of the mysterious
creature here spoken of it is included among the class of
cuttle-fish to which indeed in certain external respects it would
seem to belong but only as the anak of the tribe 


chapter 60 the line 

with reference to the whaling scene shortly to be described as well as
for the better understanding of all similar scenes elsewhere presented 
i have here to speak of the magical sometimes horrible whale-line 

the line originally used in the fishery was of the best hemp slightly
vapored with tar not impregnated with it as in the case of ordinary
ropes for while tar as ordinarily used makes the hemp more pliable
to the rope-maker and also renders the rope itself more convenient to
the sailor for common ship use yet not only would the ordinary
quantity too much stiffen the whale-line for the close coiling to which
it must be subjected but as most seamen are beginning to learn tar in
general by no means adds to the rope's durability or strength however
much it may give it compactness and gloss 

of late years the manilla rope has in the american fishery almost
entirely superseded hemp as a material for whale-lines for though not
so durable as hemp it is stronger and far more soft and elastic and
i will add since there is an aesthetics in all things is much more
handsome and becoming to the boat than hemp hemp is a dusky dark
fellow a sort of indian but manilla is as a golden-haired circassian
to behold 

the whale-line is only two-thirds of an inch in thickness at first
sight you would not think it so strong as it really is by experiment
its one and fifty yarns will each suspend a weight of one hundred and
twenty pounds so that the whole rope will bear a strain nearly equal
to three tons in length the common sperm whale-line measures
something over two hundred fathoms towards the stern of the boat it is
spirally coiled away in the tub not like the worm-pipe of a still
though but so as to form one round cheese-shaped mass of densely
bedded sheaves or layers of concentric spiralizations without any
hollow but the heart or minute vertical tube formed at the axis of
the cheese as the least tangle or kink in the coiling would in
running out infallibly take somebody's arm leg or entire body off 
the utmost precaution is used in stowing the line in its tub some
harpooneers will consume almost an entire morning in this business 
carrying the line high aloft and then reeving it downwards through a
block towards the tub so as in the act of coiling to free it from all
possible wrinkles and twists 

in the english boats two tubs are used instead of one the same line
being continuously coiled in both tubs there is some advantage in
this because these twin-tubs being so small they fit more readily into
the boat and do not strain it so much whereas the american tub 
nearly three feet in diameter and of proportionate depth makes a
rather bulky freight for a craft whose planks are but one half-inch in
thickness for the bottom of the whale-boat is like critical ice which
will bear up a considerable distributed weight but not very much of a
concentrated one when the painted canvas cover is clapped on the
american line-tub the boat looks as if it were pulling off with a
prodigious great wedding-cake to present to the whales 

both ends of the line are exposed the lower end terminating in an
eye-splice or loop coming up from the bottom against the side of the
tub and hanging over its edge completely disengaged from everything 
this arrangement of the lower end is necessary on two accounts first 
in order to facilitate the fastening to it of an additional line from a
neighboring boat in case the stricken whale should sound so deep as to
threaten to carry off the entire line originally attached to the
harpoon in these instances the whale of course is shifted like a mug
of ale as it were from the one boat to the other though the first
boat always hovers at hand to assist its consort second this
arrangement is indispensable for common safety's sake for were the
lower end of the line in any way attached to the boat and were the
whale then to run the line out to the end almost in a single smoking
minute as he sometimes does he would not stop there for the doomed
boat would infallibly be dragged down after him into the profundity of
the sea and in that case no town-crier would ever find her again 

before lowering the boat for the chase the upper end of the line is
taken aft from the tub and passing round the loggerhead there is
again carried forward the entire length of the boat resting crosswise
upon the loom or handle of every man's oar so that it jogs against his
wrist in rowing and also passing between the men as they alternately
sit at the opposite gunwales to the leaded chocks or grooves in the
extreme pointed prow of the boat where a wooden pin or skewer the size
of a common quill prevents it from slipping out from the chocks it
hangs in a slight festoon over the bows and is then passed inside the
boat again and some ten or twenty fathoms called box-line being
coiled upon the box in the bows it continues its way to the gunwale
still a little further aft and is then attached to the short-warp the
rope which is immediately connected with the harpoon but previous to
that connexion the short-warp goes through sundry mystifications too
tedious to detail 

thus the whale-line folds the whole boat in its complicated coils 
twisting and writhing around it in almost every direction all the
oarsmen are involved in its perilous contortions so that to the timid
eye of the landsman they seem as indian jugglers with the deadliest
snakes sportively festooning their limbs nor can any son of mortal
woman for the first time seat himself amid those hempen intricacies 
and while straining his utmost at the oar bethink him that at any
unknown instant the harpoon may be darted and all these horrible
contortions be put in play like ringed lightnings he cannot be thus
circumstanced without a shudder that makes the very marrow in his bones
to quiver in him like a shaken jelly yet habit strange thing what
cannot habit accomplish gayer sallies more merry mirth better jokes 
and brighter repartees you never heard over your mahogany than you
will hear over the half-inch white cedar of the whale-boat when thus
hung in hangman's nooses and like the six burghers of calais before
king edward the six men composing the crew pull into the jaws of
death with a halter around every neck as you may say 

perhaps a very little thought will now enable you to account for those
repeated whaling disasters some few of which are casually chronicled of
this man or that man being taken out of the boat by the line and lost 
for when the line is darting out to be seated then in the boat is
like being seated in the midst of the manifold whizzings of a
steam-engine in full play when every flying beam and shaft and
wheel is grazing you it is worse for you cannot sit motionless in
the heart of these perils because the boat is rocking like a cradle 
and you are pitched one way and the other without the slightest
warning and only by a certain self-adjusting buoyancy and
simultaneousness of volition and action can you escape being made a
mazeppa of and run away with where the all-seeing sun himself could
never pierce you out 

again as the profound calm which only apparently precedes and
prophesies of the storm is perhaps more awful than the storm itself 
for indeed the calm is but the wrapper and envelope of the storm and
contains it in itself as the seemingly harmless rifle holds the fatal
powder and the ball and the explosion so the graceful repose of the
line as it silently serpentines about the oarsmen before being brought
into actual play this is a thing which carries more of true terror than
any other aspect of this dangerous affair but why say more all men
live enveloped in whale-lines all are born with halters round their
necks but it is only when caught in the swift sudden turn of death 
that mortals realize the silent subtle ever-present perils of life 
and if you be a philosopher though seated in the whale-boat you would
not at heart feel one whit more of terror than though seated before
your evening fire with a poker and not a harpoon by your side 


chapter 61 stubb kills a whale 

if to starbuck the apparition of the squid was a thing of portents to
queequeg it was quite a different object 

 when you see him quid said the savage honing his harpoon in the
bow of his hoisted boat then you quick see him parm whale 

the next day was exceedingly still and sultry and with nothing special
to engage them the pequod's crew could hardly resist the spell of
sleep induced by such a vacant sea for this part of the indian ocean
through which we then were voyaging is not what whalemen call a lively
ground that is it affords fewer glimpses of porpoises dolphins 
flying-fish and other vivacious denizens of more stirring waters than
those off the rio de la plata or the in-shore ground off peru 

it was my turn to stand at the foremast-head and with my shoulders
leaning against the slackened royal shrouds to and fro i idly swayed
in what seemed an enchanted air no resolution could withstand it in
that dreamy mood losing all consciousness at last my soul went out of
my body though my body still continued to sway as a pendulum will 
long after the power which first moved it is withdrawn 

ere forgetfulness altogether came over me i had noticed that the
seamen at the main and mizzen-mast-heads were already drowsy so that
at last all three of us lifelessly swung from the spars and for every
swing that we made there was a nod from below from the slumbering
helmsman the waves too nodded their indolent crests and across the
wide trance of the sea east nodded to west and the sun over all 

suddenly bubbles seemed bursting beneath my closed eyes like vices my
hands grasped the shrouds some invisible gracious agency preserved
me with a shock i came back to life and lo close under our lee not
forty fathoms off a gigantic sperm whale lay rolling in the water like
the capsized hull of a frigate his broad glossy back of an ethiopian
hue glistening in the sun's rays like a mirror but lazily undulating
in the trough of the sea and ever and anon tranquilly spouting his
vapory jet the whale looked like a portly burgher smoking his pipe of
a warm afternoon but that pipe poor whale was thy last as if struck
by some enchanter's wand the sleepy ship and every sleeper in it all
at once started into wakefulness and more than a score of voices from
all parts of the vessel simultaneously with the three notes from
aloft shouted forth the accustomed cry as the great fish slowly and
regularly spouted the sparkling brine into the air 

 clear away the boats luff cried ahab and obeying his own order he
dashed the helm down before the helmsman could handle the spokes 

the sudden exclamations of the crew must have alarmed the whale and
ere the boats were down majestically turning he swam away to the
leeward but with such a steady tranquillity and making so few ripples
as he swam that thinking after all he might not as yet be alarmed 
ahab gave orders that not an oar should be used and no man must speak
but in whispers so seated like ontario indians on the gunwales of the
boats we swiftly but silently paddled along the calm not admitting of
the noiseless sails being set presently as we thus glided in chase 
the monster perpendicularly flitted his tail forty feet into the air 
and then sank out of sight like a tower swallowed up 

 there go flukes was the cry an announcement immediately followed by
stubb's producing his match and igniting his pipe for now a respite
was granted after the full interval of his sounding had elapsed the
whale rose again and being now in advance of the smoker's boat and
much nearer to it than to any of the others stubb counted upon the
honor of the capture it was obvious now that the whale had at length
become aware of his pursuers all silence of cautiousness was therefore
no longer of use paddles were dropped and oars came loudly into play 
and still puffing at his pipe stubb cheered on his crew to the
assault 

yes a mighty change had come over the fish all alive to his jeopardy 
he was going head out that part obliquely projecting from the mad
yeast which he brewed 

 it will be seen in some other place of what a very light substance the
entire interior of the sperm whale's enormous head consists though
apparently the most massive it is by far the most buoyant part about
him so that with ease he elevates it in the air and invariably does
so when going at his utmost speed besides such is the breadth of the
upper part of the front of his head and such the tapering cut-water
formation of the lower part that by obliquely elevating his head he
thereby may be said to transform himself from a bluff-bowed sluggish
galliot into a sharppointed new york pilot-boat 

 start her start her my men don't hurry yourselves take plenty of
time but start her start her like thunder-claps that's all cried
stubb spluttering out the smoke as he spoke start her now give em
the long and strong stroke tashtego start her tash my boy start
her all but keep cool keep cool cucumbers is the word easy 
easy only start her like grim death and grinning devils and raise the
buried dead perpendicular out of their graves boys that's all start
her 

 woo-hoo wa-hee screamed the gay-header in reply raising some old
war-whoop to the skies as every oarsman in the strained boat
involuntarily bounced forward with the one tremendous leading stroke
which the eager indian gave 

but his wild screams were answered by others quite as wild kee-hee 
kee-hee yelled daggoo straining forwards and backwards on his seat 
like a pacing tiger in his cage 

 ka-la koo-loo howled queequeg as if smacking his lips over a
mouthful of grenadier's steak and thus with oars and yells the keels
cut the sea meanwhile stubb retaining his place in the van still
encouraged his men to the onset all the while puffing the smoke from
his mouth like desperadoes they tugged and they strained till the
welcome cry was heard stand up tashtego give it to him the harpoon
was hurled stern all the oarsmen backed water the same moment
something went hot and hissing along every one of their wrists it was
the magical line an instant before stubb had swiftly caught two
additional turns with it round the loggerhead whence by reason of its
increased rapid circlings a hempen blue smoke now jetted up and
mingled with the steady fumes from his pipe as the line passed round
and round the loggerhead so also just before reaching that point it
blisteringly passed through and through both of stubb's hands from
which the hand-cloths or squares of quilted canvas sometimes worn at
these times had accidentally dropped it was like holding an enemy's
sharp two-edged sword by the blade and that enemy all the time
striving to wrest it out of your clutch 

 wet the line wet the line cried stubb to the tub oarsman him
seated by the tub who snatching off his hat dashed sea-water into
it more turns were taken so that the line began holding its place 
the boat now flew through the boiling water like a shark all fins 
stubb and tashtego here changed places stem for stern a staggering
business truly in that rocking commotion 

 partly to show the indispensableness of this act it may here be
stated that in the old dutch fishery a mop was used to dash the
running line with water in many other ships a wooden piggin or
bailer is set apart for that purpose your hat however is the most
convenient 

from the vibrating line extending the entire length of the upper part
of the boat and from its now being more tight than a harpstring you
would have thought the craft had two keels one cleaving the water the
other the air as the boat churned on through both opposing elements at
once a continual cascade played at the bows a ceaseless whirling eddy
in her wake and at the slightest motion from within even but of a
little finger the vibrating cracking craft canted over her spasmodic
gunwale into the sea thus they rushed each man with might and main
clinging to his seat to prevent being tossed to the foam and the tall
form of tashtego at the steering oar crouching almost double in order
to bring down his centre of gravity whole atlantics and pacifics
seemed passed as they shot on their way till at length the whale
somewhat slackened his flight 

 haul in haul in cried stubb to the bowsman and facing round
towards the whale all hands began pulling the boat up to him while
yet the boat was being towed on soon ranging up by his flank stubb 
firmly planting his knee in the clumsy cleat darted dart after dart
into the flying fish at the word of command the boat alternately
sterning out of the way of the whale's horrible wallow and then
ranging up for another fling 

the red tide now poured from all sides of the monster like brooks down
a hill his tormented body rolled not in brine but in blood which
bubbled and seethed for furlongs behind in their wake the slanting sun
playing upon this crimson pond in the sea sent back its reflection
into every face so that they all glowed to each other like red men 
and all the while jet after jet of white smoke was agonizingly shot
from the spiracle of the whale and vehement puff after puff from the
mouth of the excited headsman as at every dart hauling in upon his
crooked lance by the line attached to it stubb straightened it again
and again by a few rapid blows against the gunwale then again and
again sent it into the whale 

 pull up pull up he now cried to the bowsman as the waning whale
relaxed in his wrath pull up close to and the boat ranged along
the fish's flank when reaching far over the bow stubb slowly churned
his long sharp lance into the fish and kept it there carefully
churning and churning as if cautiously seeking to feel after some gold
watch that the whale might have swallowed and which he was fearful of
breaking ere he could hook it out but that gold watch he sought was
the innermost life of the fish and now it is struck for starting
from his trance into that unspeakable thing called his flurry the
monster horribly wallowed in his blood overwrapped himself in
impenetrable mad boiling spray so that the imperilled craft 
instantly dropping astern had much ado blindly to struggle out from
that phrensied twilight into the clear air of the day 

and now abating in his flurry the whale once more rolled out into
view surging from side to side spasmodically dilating and contracting
his spout-hole with sharp cracking agonized respirations at last 
gush after gush of clotted red gore as if it had been the purple lees
of red wine shot into the frighted air and falling back again ran
dripping down his motionless flanks into the sea his heart had burst 

 he's dead mr stubb said daggoo 

 yes both pipes smoked out and withdrawing his own from his mouth 
stubb scattered the dead ashes over the water and for a moment stood
thoughtfully eyeing the vast corpse he had made 


chapter 62 the dart 

a word concerning an incident in the last chapter 

according to the invariable usage of the fishery the whale-boat pushes
off from the ship with the headsman or whale-killer as temporary
steersman and the harpooneer or whale-fastener pulling the foremost
oar the one known as the harpooneer-oar now it needs a strong 
nervous arm to strike the first iron into the fish for often in what
is called a long dart the heavy implement has to be flung to the
distance of twenty or thirty feet but however prolonged and exhausting
the chase the harpooneer is expected to pull his oar meanwhile to the
uttermost indeed he is expected to set an example of superhuman
activity to the rest not only by incredible rowing but by repeated
loud and intrepid exclamations and what it is to keep shouting at the
top of one's compass while all the other muscles are strained and half
started what that is none know but those who have tried it for one i
cannot bawl very heartily and work very recklessly at one and the same
time in this straining bawling state then with his back to the
fish all at once the exhausted harpooneer hears the exciting
cry stand up and give it to him he now has to drop and secure his
oar turn round on his centre half way seize his harpoon from the
crotch and with what little strength may remain he essays to pitch it
somehow into the whale no wonder taking the whole fleet of whalemen
in a body that out of fifty fair chances for a dart not five are
successful no wonder that so many hapless harpooneers are madly cursed
and disrated no wonder that some of them actually burst their
blood-vessels in the boat no wonder that some sperm whalemen are
absent four years with four barrels no wonder that to many ship
owners whaling is but a losing concern for it is the harpooneer that
makes the voyage and if you take the breath out of his body how can
you expect to find it there when most wanted 

again if the dart be successful then at the second critical instant 
that is when the whale starts to run the boatheader and harpooneer
likewise start to running fore and aft to the imminent jeopardy of
themselves and every one else it is then they change places and the
headsman the chief officer of the little craft takes his proper
station in the bows of the boat 

now i care not who maintains the contrary but all this is both
foolish and unnecessary the headsman should stay in the bows from
first to last he should both dart the harpoon and the lance and no
rowing whatever should be expected of him except under circumstances
obvious to any fisherman i know that this would sometimes involve a
slight loss of speed in the chase but long experience in various
whalemen of more than one nation has convinced me that in the vast
majority of failures in the fishery it has not by any means been so
much the speed of the whale as the before described exhaustion of the
harpooneer that has caused them 

to insure the greatest efficiency in the dart the harpooneers of this
world must start to their feet from out of idleness and not from out
of toil 


chapter 63 the crotch 

out of the trunk the branches grow out of them the twigs so in
productive subjects grow the chapters 

the crotch alluded to on a previous page deserves independent mention 
it is a notched stick of a peculiar form some two feet in length 
which is perpendicularly inserted into the starboard gunwale near the
bow for the purpose of furnishing a rest for the wooden extremity of
the harpoon whose other naked barbed end slopingly projects from the
prow thereby the weapon is instantly at hand to its hurler who
snatches it up as readily from its rest as a backwoodsman swings his
rifle from the wall it is customary to have two harpoons reposing in
the crotch respectively called the first and second irons 

but these two harpoons each by its own cord are both connected with
the line the object being this to dart them both if possible one
instantly after the other into the same whale so that if in the
coming drag one should draw out the other may still retain a hold it
is a doubling of the chances but it very often happens that owing to
the instantaneous violent convulsive running of the whale upon
receiving the first iron it becomes impossible for the harpooneer 
however lightning-like in his movements to pitch the second iron into
him nevertheless as the second iron is already connected with the
line and the line is running hence that weapon must at all events 
be anticipatingly tossed out of the boat somehow and somewhere else
the most terrible jeopardy would involve all hands tumbled into the
water it accordingly is in such cases the spare coils of box line
 mentioned in a preceding chapter making this feat in most instances 
prudently practicable but this critical act is not always unattended
with the saddest and most fatal casualties 

furthermore you must know that when the second iron is thrown
overboard it thenceforth becomes a dangling sharp-edged terror 
skittishly curvetting about both boat and whale entangling the lines 
or cutting them and making a prodigious sensation in all directions 
nor in general is it possible to secure it again until the whale is
fairly captured and a corpse 

consider now how it must be in the case of four boats all engaging
one unusually strong active and knowing whale when owing to these
qualities in him as well as to the thousand concurring accidents of
such an audacious enterprise eight or ten loose second irons may be
simultaneously dangling about him for of course each boat is
supplied with several harpoons to bend on to the line should the first
one be ineffectually darted without recovery all these particulars are
faithfully narrated here as they will not fail to elucidate several
most important however intricate passages in scenes hereafter to be
painted 


chapter 64 stubb's supper 

stubb's whale had been killed some distance from the ship it was a
calm so forming a tandem of three boats we commenced the slow
business of towing the trophy to the pequod and now as we eighteen
men with our thirty-six arms and one hundred and eighty thumbs and
fingers slowly toiled hour after hour upon that inert sluggish corpse
in the sea and it seemed hardly to budge at all except at long
intervals good evidence was hereby furnished of the enormousness of
the mass we moved for upon the great canal of hang-ho or whatever
they call it in china four or five laborers on the foot-path will
draw a bulky freighted junk at the rate of a mile an hour but this
grand argosy we towed heavily forged along as if laden with pig-lead
in bulk 

darkness came on but three lights up and down in the pequod's
main-rigging dimly guided our way till drawing nearer we saw ahab
dropping one of several more lanterns over the bulwarks vacantly
eyeing the heaving whale for a moment he issued the usual orders for
securing it for the night and then handing his lantern to a seaman 
went his way into the cabin and did not come forward again until
morning 

though in overseeing the pursuit of this whale captain ahab had
evinced his customary activity to call it so yet now that the
creature was dead some vague dissatisfaction or impatience or
despair seemed working in him as if the sight of that dead body
reminded him that moby dick was yet to be slain and though a thousand
other whales were brought to his ship all that would not one jot
advance his grand monomaniac object very soon you would have thought
from the sound on the pequod's decks that all hands were preparing to
cast anchor in the deep for heavy chains are being dragged along the
deck and thrust rattling out of the port-holes but by those clanking
links the vast corpse itself not the ship is to be moored tied by
the head to the stern and by the tail to the bows the whale now lies
with its black hull close to the vessel's and seen through the darkness
of the night which obscured the spars and rigging aloft the two ship
and whale seemed yoked together like colossal bullocks whereof one
reclines while the other remains standing 

 a little item may as well be related here the strongest and most
reliable hold which the ship has upon the whale when moored alongside 
is by the flukes or tail and as from its greater density that part is
relatively heavier than any other excepting the side-fins its
flexibility even in death causes it to sink low beneath the surface 
so that with the hand you cannot get at it from the boat in order to
put the chain round it but this difficulty is ingeniously overcome a
small strong line is prepared with a wooden float at its outer end 
and a weight in its middle while the other end is secured to the ship 
by adroit management the wooden float is made to rise on the other side
of the mass so that now having girdled the whale the chain is readily
made to follow suit and being slipped along the body is at last
locked fast round the smallest part of the tail at the point of
junction with its broad flukes or lobes 

if moody ahab was now all quiescence at least so far as could be known
on deck stubb his second mate flushed with conquest betrayed an
unusual but still good-natured excitement such an unwonted bustle was
he in that the staid starbuck his official superior quietly resigned
to him for the time the sole management of affairs one small helping
cause of all this liveliness in stubb was soon made strangely
manifest stubb was a high liver he was somewhat intemperately fond of
the whale as a flavorish thing to his palate 

 a steak a steak ere i sleep you daggoo overboard you go and cut
me one from his small 

here be it known that though these wild fishermen do not as a general
thing and according to the great military maxim make the enemy defray
the current expenses of the war at least before realizing the proceeds
of the voyage yet now and then you find some of these nantucketers
who have a genuine relish for that particular part of the sperm whale
designated by stubb comprising the tapering extremity of the body 

about midnight that steak was cut and cooked and lighted by two
lanterns of sperm oil stubb stoutly stood up to his spermaceti supper
at the capstan-head as if that capstan were a sideboard nor was stubb
the only banqueter on whale's flesh that night mingling their
mumblings with his own mastications thousands on thousands of sharks 
swarming round the dead leviathan smackingly feasted on its fatness 
the few sleepers below in their bunks were often startled by the sharp
slapping of their tails against the hull within a few inches of the
sleepers hearts peering over the side you could just see them as
before you heard them wallowing in the sullen black waters and
turning over on their backs as they scooped out huge globular pieces of
the whale of the bigness of a human head this particular feat of the
shark seems all but miraculous how at such an apparently unassailable
surface they contrive to gouge out such symmetrical mouthfuls remains
a part of the universal problem of all things the mark they thus leave
on the whale may best be likened to the hollow made by a carpenter in
countersinking for a screw 

though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight sharks
will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship's decks like hungry dogs
round a table where red meat is being carved ready to bolt down every
killed man that is tossed to them and though while the valiant
butchers over the deck-table are thus cannibally carving each other's
live meat with carving-knives all gilded and tasselled the sharks 
also with their jewel-hilted mouths are quarrelsomely carving away
under the table at the dead meat and though were you to turn the
whole affair upside down it would still be pretty much the same thing 
that is to say a shocking sharkish business enough for all parties 
and though sharks also are the invariable outriders of all slave ships
crossing the atlantic systematically trotting alongside to be handy
in case a parcel is to be carried anywhere or a dead slave to be
decently buried and though one or two other like instances might be
set down touching the set terms places and occasions when sharks do
most socially congregate and most hilariously feast yet is there no
conceivable time or occasion when you will find them in such countless
numbers and in gayer or more jovial spirits than around a dead sperm
whale moored by night to a whaleship at sea if you have never seen
that sight then suspend your decision about the propriety of
devil-worship and the expediency of conciliating the devil 

but as yet stubb heeded not the mumblings of the banquet that was
going on so nigh him no more than the sharks heeded the smacking of
his own epicurean lips 

 cook cook where's that old fleece he cried at length widening his
legs still further as if to form a more secure base for his supper 
and at the same time darting his fork into the dish as if stabbing
with his lance cook you cook sail this way cook 

the old black not in any very high glee at having been previously
roused from his warm hammock at a most unseasonable hour came
shambling along from his galley for like many old blacks there was
something the matter with his knee-pans which he did not keep well
scoured like his other pans this old fleece as they called him came
shuffling and limping along assisting his step with his tongs which 
after a clumsy fashion were made of straightened iron hoops this old
ebony floundered along and in obedience to the word of command came
to a dead stop on the opposite side of stubb's sideboard when with
both hands folded before him and resting on his two-legged cane he
bowed his arched back still further over at the same time sideways
inclining his head so as to bring his best ear into play 

 cook said stubb rapidly lifting a rather reddish morsel to his
mouth don't you think this steak is rather overdone you've been
beating this steak too much cook it's too tender don't i always say
that to be good a whale-steak must be tough there are those sharks
now over the side don't you see they prefer it tough and rare what a
shindy they are kicking up cook go and talk to em tell em they are
welcome to help themselves civilly and in moderation but they must
keep quiet blast me if i can hear my own voice away cook and
deliver my message here take this lantern snatching one from his
sideboard now then go and preach to em 

sullenly taking the offered lantern old fleece limped across the deck
to the bulwarks and then with one hand dropping his light low over
the sea so as to get a good view of his congregation with the other
hand he solemnly flourished his tongs and leaning far over the side in
a mumbling voice began addressing the sharks while stubb softly
crawling behind overheard all that was said 

 fellow-critters i'se ordered here to say dat you must stop dat dam
noise dare you hear stop dat dam smackin ob de lip massa stubb say
dat you can fill your dam bellies up to de hatchings but by gor you
must stop dat dam racket 

 cook here interposed stubb accompanying the word with a sudden slap
on the shoulder cook why damn your eyes you mustn't swear that way
when you're preaching that's no way to convert sinners cook 

 who dat den preach to him yourself sullenly turning to go 

 no cook go on go on 

 well den belubed fellow-critters 

 right exclaimed stubb approvingly coax em to it try that and
fleece continued 

 do you is all sharks and by natur wery woracious yet i zay to you 
fellow-critters dat dat woraciousness top dat dam slappin ob de
tail how you tink to hear spose you keep up such a dam slappin and
bitin dare 

 cook cried stubb collaring him i won't have that swearing talk
to em gentlemanly 

once more the sermon proceeded 

 your woraciousness fellow-critters i don't blame ye so much for dat
is natur and can't be helped but to gobern dat wicked natur dat is
de pint you is sharks sartin but if you gobern de shark in you why
den you be angel for all angel is not'ing more dan de shark well
goberned now look here bred'ren just try wonst to be cibil a
helping yourselbs from dat whale don't be tearin de blubber out your
neighbour's mout i say is not one shark dood right as toder to dat
whale and by gor none on you has de right to dat whale dat whale
belong to some one else i know some o you has berry brig mout 
brigger dan oders but den de brig mouts sometimes has de small
bellies so dat de brigness of de mout is not to swaller wid but to
bit off de blubber for de small fry ob sharks dat can't get into de
scrouge to help demselves 

 well done old fleece cried stubb that's christianity go on 

 no use goin on de dam willains will keep a scougin and slappin 
each oder massa stubb dey don't hear one word no use a-preachin to
such dam g'uttons as you call em till dare bellies is full and dare
bellies is bottomless and when dey do get em full dey wont hear you
den for den dey sink in de sea go fast to sleep on de coral and
can't hear not'ing at all no more for eber and eber 

 upon my soul i am about of the same opinion so give the benediction 
fleece and i'll away to my supper 

upon this fleece holding both hands over the fishy mob raised his
shrill voice and cried 

 cussed fellow-critters kick up de damndest row as ever you can fill
your dam bellies till dey bust and den die 

 now cook said stubb resuming his supper at the capstan stand
just where you stood before there over against me and pay particular
attention 

 all dention said fleece again stooping over upon his tongs in the
desired position 

 well said stubb helping himself freely meanwhile i shall now go
back to the subject of this steak in the first place how old are you 
cook 

 what dat do wid de teak said the old black testily 

 silence how old are you cook 

 bout ninety dey say he gloomily muttered 

 and you have lived in this world hard upon one hundred years cook 
and don't know yet how to cook a whale-steak rapidly bolting another
mouthful at the last word so that morsel seemed a continuation of the
question where were you born cook 

 hind de hatchway in ferry-boat goin ober de roanoke 

 born in a ferry-boat that's queer too but i want to know what
country you were born in cook 

 didn't i say de roanoke country he cried sharply 

 no you didn't cook but i'll tell you what i'm coming to cook you
must go home and be born over again you don't know how to cook a
whale-steak yet 

 bress my soul if i cook noder one he growled angrily turning
round to depart 

 come back cook here hand me those tongs now take that bit of steak
there and tell me if you think that steak cooked as it should be take
it i say holding the tongs towards him take it and taste it 

faintly smacking his withered lips over it for a moment the old negro
muttered best cooked teak i eber taste joosy berry joosy 

 cook said stubb squaring himself once more do you belong to the
church 

 passed one once in cape-down said the old man sullenly 

 and you have once in your life passed a holy church in cape-town 
where you doubtless overheard a holy parson addressing his hearers as
his beloved fellow-creatures have you cook and yet you come here 
and tell me such a dreadful lie as you did just now eh said stubb 
 where do you expect to go to cook 

 go to bed berry soon he mumbled half-turning as he spoke 

 avast heave to i mean when you die cook it's an awful question 
now what's your answer 

 when dis old brack man dies said the negro slowly changing his
whole air and demeanor he hisself won't go nowhere but some bressed
angel will come and fetch him 

 fetch him how in a coach and four as they fetched elijah and fetch
him where 

 up dere said fleece holding his tongs straight over his head and
keeping it there very solemnly 

 so then you expect to go up into our main-top do you cook when
you are dead but don't you know the higher you climb the colder it
gets main-top eh 

 didn't say dat t'all said fleece again in the sulks 

 you said up there didn't you and now look yourself and see where
your tongs are pointing but perhaps you expect to get into heaven by
crawling through the lubber's hole cook but no no cook you don't
get there except you go the regular way round by the rigging it's a
ticklish business but must be done or else it's no go but none of us
are in heaven yet drop your tongs cook and hear my orders do ye
hear hold your hat in one hand and clap t'other a'top of your heart 
when i'm giving my orders cook what that your heart there that's
your gizzard aloft aloft that's it now you have it hold it there
now and pay attention 

 all dention said the old black with both hands placed as desired 
vainly wriggling his grizzled head as if to get both ears in front at
one and the same time 

 well then cook you see this whale-steak of yours was so very bad 
that i have put it out of sight as soon as possible you see that 
don't you well for the future when you cook another whale-steak for
my private table here the capstan i'll tell you what to do so as not
to spoil it by overdoing hold the steak in one hand and show a live
coal to it with the other that done dish it d'ye hear and now
to-morrow cook when we are cutting in the fish be sure you stand by
to get the tips of his fins have them put in pickle as for the ends
of the flukes have them soused cook there now ye may go 

but fleece had hardly got three paces off when he was recalled 

 cook give me cutlets for supper to-morrow night in the mid-watch 
d'ye hear away you sail then halloa stop make a bow before you
go avast heaving again whale-balls for breakfast don't forget 

 wish by gor whale eat him stead of him eat whale i'm bressed if
he ain't more of shark dan massa shark hisself muttered the old man 
limping away with which sage ejaculation he went to his hammock 


chapter 65 the whale as a dish 

that mortal man should feed upon the creature that feeds his lamp and 
like stubb eat him by his own light as you may say this seems so
outlandish a thing that one must needs go a little into the history and
philosophy of it 

it is upon record that three centuries ago the tongue of the right
whale was esteemed a great delicacy in france and commanded large
prices there also that in henry viiith's time a certain cook of the
court obtained a handsome reward for inventing an admirable sauce to be
eaten with barbacued porpoises which you remember are a species of
whale porpoises indeed are to this day considered fine eating the
meat is made into balls about the size of billiard balls and being
well seasoned and spiced might be taken for turtle-balls or veal balls 
the old monks of dunfermline were very fond of them they had a great
porpoise grant from the crown 

the fact is that among his hunters at least the whale would by all
hands be considered a noble dish were there not so much of him but
when you come to sit down before a meat-pie nearly one hundred feet
long it takes away your appetite only the most unprejudiced of men
like stubb nowadays partake of cooked whales but the esquimaux are
not so fastidious we all know how they live upon whales and have rare
old vintages of prime old train oil zogranda one of their most famous
doctors recommends strips of blubber for infants as being exceedingly
juicy and nourishing and this reminds me that certain englishmen who
long ago were accidentally left in greenland by a whaling vessel that
these men actually lived for several months on the mouldy scraps of
whales which had been left ashore after trying out the blubber among
the dutch whalemen these scraps are called fritters which indeed 
they greatly resemble being brown and crisp and smelling something
like old amsterdam housewives dough-nuts or oly-cooks when fresh 
they have such an eatable look that the most self-denying stranger can
hardly keep his hands off 

but what further depreciates the whale as a civilized dish is his
exceeding richness he is the great prize ox of the sea too fat to be
delicately good look at his hump which would be as fine eating as the
buffalo's which is esteemed a rare dish were it not such a solid
pyramid of fat but the spermaceti itself how bland and creamy that
is like the transparent half-jellied white meat of a cocoanut in the
third month of its growth yet far too rich to supply a substitute for
butter nevertheless many whalemen have a method of absorbing it into
some other substance and then partaking of it in the long try watches
of the night it is a common thing for the seamen to dip their
ship-biscuit into the huge oil-pots and let them fry there awhile many
a good supper have i thus made 

in the case of a small sperm whale the brains are accounted a fine
dish the casket of the skull is broken into with an axe and the two
plump whitish lobes being withdrawn precisely resembling two large
puddings they are then mixed with flour and cooked into a most
delectable mess in flavor somewhat resembling calves head which is
quite a dish among some epicures and every one knows that some young
bucks among the epicures by continually dining upon calves brains by
and by get to have a little brains of their own so as to be able to
tell a calf's head from their own heads which indeed requires
uncommon discrimination and that is the reason why a young buck with
an intelligent looking calf's head before him is somehow one of the
saddest sights you can see the head looks a sort of reproachfully at
him with an et tu brute expression 

it is not perhaps entirely because the whale is so excessively
unctuous that landsmen seem to regard the eating of him with
abhorrence that appears to result in some way from the consideration
before mentioned i e that a man should eat a newly murdered thing
of the sea and eat it too by its own light but no doubt the first man
that ever murdered an ox was regarded as a murderer perhaps he was
hung and if he had been put on his trial by oxen he certainly would
have been and he certainly deserved it if any murderer does go to the
meat-market of a saturday night and see the crowds of live bipeds
staring up at the long rows of dead quadrupeds does not that sight
take a tooth out of the cannibal's jaw cannibals who is not a
cannibal i tell you it will be more tolerable for the fejee that
salted down a lean missionary in his cellar against a coming famine it
will be more tolerable for that provident fejee i say in the day of
judgment than for thee civilized and enlightened gourmand who
nailest geese to the ground and feastest on their bloated livers in thy
pate-de-foie-gras 

but stubb he eats the whale by its own light does he and that is
adding insult to injury is it look at your knife-handle there my
civilized and enlightened gourmand dining off that roast beef what is
that handle made of what but the bones of the brother of the very ox
you are eating and what do you pick your teeth with after devouring
that fat goose with a feather of the same fowl and with what quill
did the secretary of the society for the suppression of cruelty to
ganders formally indite his circulars it is only within the last month
or two that that society passed a resolution to patronize nothing but
steel pens 


chapter 66 the shark massacre 

when in the southern fishery a captured sperm whale after long and
weary toil is brought alongside late at night it is not as a general
thing at least customary to proceed at once to the business of cutting
him in for that business is an exceedingly laborious one is not very
soon completed and requires all hands to set about it therefore the
common usage is to take in all sail lash the helm a'lee and then send
every one below to his hammock till daylight with the reservation
that until that time anchor-watches shall be kept that is two and
two for an hour each couple the crew in rotation shall mount the deck
to see that all goes well 

but sometimes especially upon the line in the pacific this plan will
not answer at all because such incalculable hosts of sharks gather
round the moored carcase that were he left so for six hours say on a
stretch little more than the skeleton would be visible by morning in
most other parts of the ocean however where these fish do not so
largely abound their wondrous voracity can be at times considerably
diminished by vigorously stirring them up with sharp whaling-spades a
procedure notwithstanding which in some instances only seems to
tickle them into still greater activity but it was not thus in the
present case with the pequod's sharks though to be sure any man
unaccustomed to such sights to have looked over her side that night 
would have almost thought the whole round sea was one huge cheese and
those sharks the maggots in it 

nevertheless upon stubb setting the anchor-watch after his supper was
concluded and when accordingly queequeg and a forecastle seaman came
on deck no small excitement was created among the sharks for
immediately suspending the cutting stages over the side and lowering
three lanterns so that they cast long gleams of light over the turbid
sea these two mariners darting their long whaling-spades kept up an
incessant murdering of the sharks by striking the keen steel deep
into their skulls seemingly their only vital part but in the foamy
confusion of their mixed and struggling hosts the marksmen could not
always hit their mark and this brought about new revelations of the
incredible ferocity of the foe they viciously snapped not only at
each other's disembowelments but like flexible bows bent round and
bit their own till those entrails seemed swallowed over and over again
by the same mouth to be oppositely voided by the gaping wound nor was
this all it was unsafe to meddle with the corpses and ghosts of these
creatures a sort of generic or pantheistic vitality seemed to lurk in
their very joints and bones after what might be called the individual
life had departed killed and hoisted on deck for the sake of his skin 
one of these sharks almost took poor queequeg's hand off when he tried
to shut down the dead lid of his murderous jaw 

 the whaling-spade used for cutting-in is made of the very best steel 
is about the bigness of a man's spread hand and in general shape 
corresponds to the garden implement after which it is named only its
sides are perfectly flat and its upper end considerably narrower than
the lower this weapon is always kept as sharp as possible and when
being used is occasionally honed just like a razor in its socket a
stiff pole from twenty to thirty feet long is inserted for a handle 

 queequeg no care what god made him shark said the savage 
agonizingly lifting his hand up and down wedder fejee god or
nantucket god but de god wat made shark must be one dam ingin 


chapter 67 cutting in 

it was a saturday night and such a sabbath as followed ex officio
professors of sabbath breaking are all whalemen the ivory pequod was
turned into what seemed a shamble every sailor a butcher you would
have thought we were offering up ten thousand red oxen to the sea gods 

in the first place the enormous cutting tackles among other ponderous
things comprising a cluster of blocks generally painted green and
which no single man can possibly lift this vast bunch of grapes was
swayed up to the main-top and firmly lashed to the lower mast-head the
strongest point anywhere above a ship's deck the end of the
hawser-like rope winding through these intricacies was then conducted
to the windlass and the huge lower block of the tackles was swung over
the whale to this block the great blubber hook weighing some one
hundred pounds was attached and now suspended in stages over the
side starbuck and stubb the mates armed with their long spades 
began cutting a hole in the body for the insertion of the hook just
above the nearest of the two side-fins this done a broad 
semicircular line is cut round the hole the hook is inserted and the
main body of the crew striking up a wild chorus now commence heaving
in one dense crowd at the windlass when instantly the entire ship
careens over on her side every bolt in her starts like the nail-heads
of an old house in frosty weather she trembles quivers and nods her
frighted mast-heads to the sky more and more she leans over to the
whale while every gasping heave of the windlass is answered by a
helping heave from the billows till at last a swift startling snap
is heard with a great swash the ship rolls upwards and backwards from
the whale and the triumphant tackle rises into sight dragging after it
the disengaged semicircular end of the first strip of blubber now as
the blubber envelopes the whale precisely as the rind does an orange 
so is it stripped off from the body precisely as an orange is sometimes
stripped by spiralizing it for the strain constantly kept up by the
windlass continually keeps the whale rolling over and over in the
water and as the blubber in one strip uniformly peels off along the
line called the scarf simultaneously cut by the spades of starbuck
and stubb the mates and just as fast as it is thus peeled off and
indeed by that very act itself it is all the time being hoisted higher
and higher aloft till its upper end grazes the main-top the men at the
windlass then cease heaving and for a moment or two the prodigious
blood-dripping mass sways to and fro as if let down from the sky and
every one present must take good heed to dodge it when it swings else
it may box his ears and pitch him headlong overboard 

one of the attending harpooneers now advances with a long keen weapon
called a boarding-sword and watching his chance he dexterously slices
out a considerable hole in the lower part of the swaying mass into
this hole the end of the second alternating great tackle is then
hooked so as to retain a hold upon the blubber in order to prepare for
what follows whereupon this accomplished swordsman warning all hands
to stand off once more makes a scientific dash at the mass and with a
few sidelong desperate lunging slicings severs it completely in
twain so that while the short lower part is still fast the long upper
strip called a blanket-piece swings clear and is all ready for
lowering the heavers forward now resume their song and while the one
tackle is peeling and hoisting a second strip from the whale the other
is slowly slackened away and down goes the first strip through the
main hatchway right beneath into an unfurnished parlor called the
blubber-room into this twilight apartment sundry nimble hands keep
coiling away the long blanket-piece as if it were a great live mass of
plaited serpents and thus the work proceeds the two tackles hoisting
and lowering simultaneously both whale and windlass heaving the
heavers singing the blubber-room gentlemen coiling the mates
scarfing the ship straining and all hands swearing occasionally by
way of assuaging the general friction 


chapter 68 the blanket 

i have given no small attention to that not unvexed subject the skin
of the whale i have had controversies about it with experienced
whalemen afloat and learned naturalists ashore my original opinion
remains unchanged but it is only an opinion 

the question is what and where is the skin of the whale already you
know what his blubber is that blubber is something of the consistence
of firm close-grained beef but tougher more elastic and compact and
ranges from eight or ten to twelve and fifteen inches in thickness 

now however preposterous it may at first seem to talk of any
creature's skin as being of that sort of consistence and thickness yet
in point of fact these are no arguments against such a presumption 
because you cannot raise any other dense enveloping layer from the
whale's body but that same blubber and the outermost enveloping layer
of any animal if reasonably dense what can that be but the skin 
true from the unmarred dead body of the whale you may scrape off with
your hand an infinitely thin transparent substance somewhat
resembling the thinnest shreds of isinglass only it is almost as
flexible and soft as satin that is previous to being dried when it
not only contracts and thickens but becomes rather hard and brittle i
have several such dried bits which i use for marks in my whale-books 
it is transparent as i said before and being laid upon the printed
page i have sometimes pleased myself with fancying it exerted a
magnifying influence at any rate it is pleasant to read about whales
through their own spectacles as you may say but what i am driving at
here is this that same infinitely thin isinglass substance which i
admit invests the entire body of the whale is not so much to be
regarded as the skin of the creature as the skin of the skin so to
speak for it were simply ridiculous to say that the proper skin of
the tremendous whale is thinner and more tender than the skin of a
new-born child but no more of this 

assuming the blubber to be the skin of the whale then when this skin 
as in the case of a very large sperm whale will yield the bulk of one
hundred barrels of oil and when it is considered that in quantity 
or rather weight that oil in its expressed state is only three
fourths and not the entire substance of the coat some idea may hence
be had of the enormousness of that animated mass a mere part of whose
mere integument yields such a lake of liquid as that reckoning ten
barrels to the ton you have ten tons for the net weight of only three
quarters of the stuff of the whale's skin 

in life the visible surface of the sperm whale is not the least among
the many marvels he presents almost invariably it is all over
obliquely crossed and re-crossed with numberless straight marks in
thick array something like those in the finest italian line
engravings but these marks do not seem to be impressed upon the
isinglass substance above mentioned but seem to be seen through it as
if they were engraved upon the body itself nor is this all in some
instances to the quick observant eye those linear marks as in a
veritable engraving but afford the ground for far other delineations 
these are hieroglyphical that is if you call those mysterious cyphers
on the walls of pyramids hieroglyphics then that is the proper word to
use in the present connexion by my retentive memory of the
hieroglyphics upon one sperm whale in particular i was much struck
with a plate representing the old indian characters chiselled on the
famous hieroglyphic palisades on the banks of the upper mississippi 
like those mystic rocks too the mystic-marked whale remains
undecipherable this allusion to the indian rocks reminds me of another
thing besides all the other phenomena which the exterior of the sperm
whale presents he not seldom displays the back and more especially
his flanks effaced in great part of the regular linear appearance by
reason of numerous rude scratches altogether of an irregular random
aspect i should say that those new england rocks on the sea-coast 
which agassiz imagines to bear the marks of violent scraping contact
with vast floating icebergs i should say that those rocks must not a
little resemble the sperm whale in this particular it also seems to me
that such scratches in the whale are probably made by hostile contact
with other whales for i have most remarked them in the large 
full-grown bulls of the species 

a word or two more concerning this matter of the skin or blubber of the
whale it has already been said that it is stript from him in long
pieces called blanket-pieces like most sea-terms this one is very
happy and significant for the whale is indeed wrapt up in his blubber
as in a real blanket or counterpane or still better an indian poncho
slipt over his head and skirting his extremity it is by reason of
this cosy blanketing of his body that the whale is enabled to keep
himself comfortable in all weathers in all seas times and tides 
what would become of a greenland whale say in those shuddering icy
seas of the north if unsupplied with his cosy surtout true other
fish are found exceedingly brisk in those hyperborean waters but
these be it observed are your cold-blooded lungless fish whose very
bellies are refrigerators creatures that warm themselves under the
lee of an iceberg as a traveller in winter would bask before an inn
fire whereas like man the whale has lungs and warm blood freeze his
blood and he dies how wonderful is it then except after
explanation that this great monster to whom corporeal warmth is as
indispensable as it is to man how wonderful that he should be found at
home immersed to his lips for life in those arctic waters where when
seamen fall overboard they are sometimes found months afterwards 
perpendicularly frozen into the hearts of fields of ice as a fly is
found glued in amber but more surprising is it to know as has been
proved by experiment that the blood of a polar whale is warmer than
that of a borneo negro in summer 

it does seem to me that herein we see the rare virtue of a strong
individual vitality and the rare virtue of thick walls and the rare
virtue of interior spaciousness oh man admire and model thyself
after the whale do thou too remain warm among ice do thou too 
live in this world without being of it be cool at the equator keep
thy blood fluid at the pole like the great dome of st peter's and
like the great whale retain o man in all seasons a temperature of
thine own 

but how easy and how hopeless to teach these fine things of erections 
how few are domed like st peter's of creatures how few vast as the
whale 


chapter 69 the funeral 

 haul in the chains let the carcase go astern 

the vast tackles have now done their duty the peeled white body of the
beheaded whale flashes like a marble sepulchre though changed in hue 
it has not perceptibly lost anything in bulk it is still colossal 
slowly it floats more and more away the water round it torn and
splashed by the insatiate sharks and the air above vexed with
rapacious flights of screaming fowls whose beaks are like so many
insulting poniards in the whale the vast white headless phantom floats
further and further from the ship and every rod that it so floats 
what seem square roods of sharks and cubic roods of fowls augment the
murderous din for hours and hours from the almost stationary ship that
hideous sight is seen beneath the unclouded and mild azure sky upon
the fair face of the pleasant sea wafted by the joyous breezes that
great mass of death floats on and on till lost in infinite
perspectives 

there's a most doleful and most mocking funeral the sea-vultures all
in pious mourning the air-sharks all punctiliously in black or
speckled in life but few of them would have helped the whale i ween 
if peradventure he had needed it but upon the banquet of his funeral
they most piously do pounce oh horrible vultureism of earth from
which not the mightiest whale is free 

nor is this the end desecrated as the body is a vengeful ghost
survives and hovers over it to scare espied by some timid man-of-war
or blundering discovery-vessel from afar when the distance obscuring
the swarming fowls nevertheless still shows the white mass floating in
the sun and the white spray heaving high against it straightway the
whale's unharming corpse with trembling fingers is set down in the
log shoals rocks and breakers hereabouts beware and for years
afterwards perhaps ships shun the place leaping over it as silly
sheep leap over a vacuum because their leader originally leaped there
when a stick was held there's your law of precedents there's your
utility of traditions there's the story of your obstinate survival of
old beliefs never bottomed on the earth and now not even hovering in
the air there's orthodoxy 

thus while in life the great whale's body may have been a real terror
to his foes in his death his ghost becomes a powerless panic to a
world 

are you a believer in ghosts my friend there are other ghosts than
the cock-lane one and far deeper men than doctor johnson who believe
in them 


chapter 70 the sphynx 

it should not have been omitted that previous to completely stripping
the body of the leviathan he was beheaded now the beheading of the
sperm whale is a scientific anatomical feat upon which experienced
whale surgeons very much pride themselves and not without reason 

consider that the whale has nothing that can properly be called a neck 
on the contrary where his head and body seem to join there in that
very place is the thickest part of him remember also that the
surgeon must operate from above some eight or ten feet intervening
between him and his subject and that subject almost hidden in a
discoloured rolling and oftentimes tumultuous and bursting sea bear
in mind too that under these untoward circumstances he has to cut
many feet deep in the flesh and in that subterraneous manner without
so much as getting one single peep into the ever-contracting gash thus
made he must skilfully steer clear of all adjacent interdicted parts 
and exactly divide the spine at a critical point hard by its insertion
into the skull do you not marvel then at stubb's boast that he
demanded but ten minutes to behead a sperm whale 

when first severed the head is dropped astern and held there by a
cable till the body is stripped that done if it belong to a small
whale it is hoisted on deck to be deliberately disposed of but with a
full grown leviathan this is impossible for the sperm whale's head
embraces nearly one third of his entire bulk and completely to suspend
such a burden as that even by the immense tackles of a whaler this
were as vain a thing as to attempt weighing a dutch barn in jewellers 
scales 

the pequod's whale being decapitated and the body stripped the head
was hoisted against the ship's side about half way out of the sea so
that it might yet in great part be buoyed up by its native element and
there with the strained craft steeply leaning over to it by reason of
the enormous downward drag from the lower mast-head and every yard-arm
on that side projecting like a crane over the waves there that
blood-dripping head hung to the pequod's waist like the giant
holofernes's from the girdle of judith 

when this last task was accomplished it was noon and the seamen went
below to their dinner silence reigned over the before tumultuous but
now deserted deck an intense copper calm like a universal yellow
lotus was more and more unfolding its noiseless measureless leaves
upon the sea 

a short space elapsed and up into this noiselessness came ahab alone
from his cabin taking a few turns on the quarter-deck he paused to
gaze over the side then slowly getting into the main-chains he took
stubb's long spade still remaining there after the whale's
decapitation and striking it into the lower part of the half-suspended
mass placed its other end crutch-wise under one arm and so stood
leaning over with eyes attentively fixed on this head 

it was a black and hooded head and hanging there in the midst of so
intense a calm it seemed the sphynx's in the desert speak thou vast
and venerable head muttered ahab which though ungarnished with a
beard yet here and there lookest hoary with mosses speak mighty
head and tell us the secret thing that is in thee of all divers thou
hast dived the deepest that head upon which the upper sun now gleams 
has moved amid this world's foundations where unrecorded names and
navies rust and untold hopes and anchors rot where in her murderous
hold this frigate earth is ballasted with bones of millions of the
drowned there in that awful water-land there was thy most familiar
home thou hast been where bell or diver never went hast slept by many
a sailor's side where sleepless mothers would give their lives to lay
them down thou saw'st the locked lovers when leaping from their
flaming ship heart to heart they sank beneath the exulting wave true
to each other when heaven seemed false to them thou saw'st the
murdered mate when tossed by pirates from the midnight deck for hours
he fell into the deeper midnight of the insatiate maw and his
murderers still sailed on unharmed while swift lightnings shivered the
neighboring ship that would have borne a righteous husband to
outstretched longing arms o head thou hast seen enough to split the
planets and make an infidel of abraham and not one syllable is thine 

 sail ho cried a triumphant voice from the main-mast-head 

 aye well now that's cheering cried ahab suddenly erecting
himself while whole thunder-clouds swept aside from his brow that
lively cry upon this deadly calm might almost convert a better
man where away 

 three points on the starboard bow sir and bringing down her breeze
to us 

 better and better man would now st paul would come along that way 
and to my breezelessness bring his breeze o nature and o soul of man 
how far beyond all utterance are your linked analogies not the
smallest atom stirs or lives on matter but has its cunning duplicate
in mind 


chapter 71 the jeroboam's story 

hand in hand ship and breeze blew on but the breeze came faster than
the ship and soon the pequod began to rock 

by and by through the glass the stranger's boats and manned mast-heads
proved her a whale-ship but as she was so far to windward and
shooting by apparently making a passage to some other ground the
pequod could not hope to reach her so the signal was set to see what
response would be made 

here be it said that like the vessels of military marines the ships
of the american whale fleet have each a private signal all which
signals being collected in a book with the names of the respective
vessels attached every captain is provided with it thereby the whale
commanders are enabled to recognise each other upon the ocean even at
considerable distances and with no small facility 

the pequod's signal was at last responded to by the stranger's setting
her own which proved the ship to be the jeroboam of nantucket 
squaring her yards she bore down ranged abeam under the pequod's lee 
and lowered a boat it soon drew nigh but as the side-ladder was
being rigged by starbuck's order to accommodate the visiting captain 
the stranger in question waved his hand from his boat's stern in token
of that proceeding being entirely unnecessary it turned out that the
jeroboam had a malignant epidemic on board and that mayhew her
captain was fearful of infecting the pequod's company for though
himself and boat's crew remained untainted and though his ship was
half a rifle-shot off and an incorruptible sea and air rolling and
flowing between yet conscientiously adhering to the timid quarantine
of the land he peremptorily refused to come into direct contact with
the pequod 

but this did by no means prevent all communications preserving an
interval of some few yards between itself and the ship the jeroboam's
boat by the occasional use of its oars contrived to keep parallel to
the pequod as she heavily forged through the sea for by this time it
blew very fresh with her main-topsail aback though indeed at times
by the sudden onset of a large rolling wave the boat would be pushed
some way ahead but would be soon skilfully brought to her proper
bearings again subject to this and other the like interruptions now
and then a conversation was sustained between the two parties but at
intervals not without still another interruption of a very different
sort 

pulling an oar in the jeroboam's boat was a man of a singular
appearance even in that wild whaling life where individual
notabilities make up all totalities he was a small short youngish
man sprinkled all over his face with freckles and wearing redundant
yellow hair a long-skirted cabalistically-cut coat of a faded walnut
tinge enveloped him the overlapping sleeves of which were rolled up on
his wrists a deep settled fanatic delirium was in his eyes 

so soon as this figure had been first descried stubb had
exclaimed that's he that's he the long-togged scaramouch the
town-ho's company told us of stubb here alluded to a strange story
told of the jeroboam and a certain man among her crew some time
previous when the pequod spoke the town-ho according to this account
and what was subsequently learned it seemed that the scaramouch in
question had gained a wonderful ascendency over almost everybody in the
jeroboam his story was this 

he had been originally nurtured among the crazy society of neskyeuna
shakers where he had been a great prophet in their cracked secret
meetings having several times descended from heaven by the way of a
trap-door announcing the speedy opening of the seventh vial which he
carried in his vest-pocket but which instead of containing
gunpowder was supposed to be charged with laudanum a strange 
apostolic whim having seized him he had left neskyeuna for nantucket 
where with that cunning peculiar to craziness he assumed a steady 
common-sense exterior and offered himself as a green-hand candidate
for the jeroboam's whaling voyage they engaged him but straightway
upon the ship's getting out of sight of land his insanity broke out in
a freshet he announced himself as the archangel gabriel and commanded
the captain to jump overboard he published his manifesto whereby he
set himself forth as the deliverer of the isles of the sea and
vicar-general of all oceanica the unflinching earnestness with which
he declared these things the dark daring play of his sleepless 
excited imagination and all the preternatural terrors of real
delirium united to invest this gabriel in the minds of the majority of
the ignorant crew with an atmosphere of sacredness moreover they
were afraid of him as such a man however was not of much practical
use in the ship especially as he refused to work except when he
pleased the incredulous captain would fain have been rid of him but
apprised that that individual's intention was to land him in the first
convenient port the archangel forthwith opened all his seals and
vials devoting the ship and all hands to unconditional perdition in
case this intention was carried out so strongly did he work upon his
disciples among the crew that at last in a body they went to the
captain and told him if gabriel was sent from the ship not a man of
them would remain he was therefore forced to relinquish his plan nor
would they permit gabriel to be any way maltreated say or do what he
would so that it came to pass that gabriel had the complete freedom of
the ship the consequence of all this was that the archangel cared
little or nothing for the captain and mates and since the epidemic had
broken out he carried a higher hand than ever declaring that the
plague as he called it was at his sole command nor should it be
stayed but according to his good pleasure the sailors mostly poor
devils cringed and some of them fawned before him in obedience to
his instructions sometimes rendering him personal homage as to a god 
such things may seem incredible but however wondrous they are true 
nor is the history of fanatics half so striking in respect to the
measureless self-deception of the fanatic himself as his measureless
power of deceiving and bedevilling so many others but it is time to
return to the pequod 

 i fear not thy epidemic man said ahab from the bulwarks to captain
mayhew who stood in the boat's stern come on board 

but now gabriel started to his feet 

 think think of the fevers yellow and bilious beware of the horrible
plague 

 gabriel gabriel cried captain mayhew thou must either but that
instant a headlong wave shot the boat far ahead and its seethings
drowned all speech 

 hast thou seen the white whale demanded ahab when the boat drifted
back 

 think think of thy whale-boat stoven and sunk beware of the
horrible tail 

 i tell thee again gabriel that but again the boat tore ahead as if
dragged by fiends nothing was said for some moments while a
succession of riotous waves rolled by which by one of those occasional
caprices of the seas were tumbling not heaving it meantime the
hoisted sperm whale's head jogged about very violently and gabriel was
seen eyeing it with rather more apprehensiveness than his archangel
nature seemed to warrant 

when this interlude was over captain mayhew began a dark story
concerning moby dick not however without frequent interruptions from
gabriel whenever his name was mentioned and the crazy sea that seemed
leagued with him 

it seemed that the jeroboam had not long left home when upon speaking
a whale-ship her people were reliably apprised of the existence of
moby dick and the havoc he had made greedily sucking in this
intelligence gabriel solemnly warned the captain against attacking the
white whale in case the monster should be seen in his gibbering
insanity pronouncing the white whale to be no less a being than the
shaker god incarnated the shakers receiving the bible but when some
year or two afterwards moby dick was fairly sighted from the
mast-heads macey the chief mate burned with ardour to encounter him 
and the captain himself being not unwilling to let him have the
opportunity despite all the archangel's denunciations and
forewarnings macey succeeded in persuading five men to man his boat 
with them he pushed off and after much weary pulling and many
perilous unsuccessful onsets he at last succeeded in getting one iron
fast meantime gabriel ascending to the main-royal mast-head was
tossing one arm in frantic gestures and hurling forth prophecies of
speedy doom to the sacrilegious assailants of his divinity now while
macey the mate was standing up in his boat's bow and with all the
reckless energy of his tribe was venting his wild exclamations upon the
whale and essaying to get a fair chance for his poised lance lo a
broad white shadow rose from the sea by its quick fanning motion 
temporarily taking the breath out of the bodies of the oarsmen next
instant the luckless mate so full of furious life was smitten bodily
into the air and making a long arc in his descent fell into the sea
at the distance of about fifty yards not a chip of the boat was
harmed nor a hair of any oarsman's head but the mate for ever sank 

it is well to parenthesize here that of the fatal accidents in the
sperm-whale fishery this kind is perhaps almost as frequent as any 
sometimes nothing is injured but the man who is thus annihilated 
oftener the boat's bow is knocked off or the thigh-board in which the
headsman stands is torn from its place and accompanies the body but
strangest of all is the circumstance that in more instances than one 
when the body has been recovered not a single mark of violence is
discernible the man being stark dead 

the whole calamity with the falling form of macey was plainly
descried from the ship raising a piercing shriek the vial the vial 
gabriel called off the terror-stricken crew from the further hunting of
the whale this terrible event clothed the archangel with added
influence because his credulous disciples believed that he had
specifically fore-announced it instead of only making a general
prophecy which any one might have done and so have chanced to hit one
of many marks in the wide margin allowed he became a nameless terror
to the ship 

mayhew having concluded his narration ahab put such questions to him 
that the stranger captain could not forbear inquiring whether he
intended to hunt the white whale if opportunity should offer to which
ahab answered aye straightway then gabriel once more started to
his feet glaring upon the old man and vehemently exclaimed with
downward pointed finger think think of the blasphemer dead and down
there beware of the blasphemer's end 

ahab stolidly turned aside then said to mayhew captain i have just
bethought me of my letter-bag there is a letter for one of thy
officers if i mistake not starbuck look over the bag 

every whale-ship takes out a goodly number of letters for various
ships whose delivery to the persons to whom they may be addressed 
depends upon the mere chance of encountering them in the four oceans 
thus most letters never reach their mark and many are only received
after attaining an age of two or three years or more 

soon starbuck returned with a letter in his hand it was sorely
tumbled damp and covered with a dull spotted green mould in
consequence of being kept in a dark locker of the cabin of such a
letter death himself might well have been the post-boy 

 can'st not read it cried ahab give it me man aye aye it's but
a dim scrawl what's this as he was studying it out starbuck took a
long cutting-spade pole and with his knife slightly split the end to
insert the letter there and in that way hand it to the boat without
its coming any closer to the ship 

meantime ahab holding the letter muttered mr har yes mr harry a
woman's pinny hand the man's wife i'll wager aye mr harry macey 
ship jeroboam why it's macey and he's dead 

 poor fellow poor fellow and from his wife sighed mayhew but let
me have it 

 nay keep it thyself cried gabriel to ahab thou art soon going
that way 

 curses throttle thee yelled ahab captain mayhew stand by now to
receive it and taking the fatal missive from starbuck's hands he
caught it in the slit of the pole and reached it over towards the
boat but as he did so the oarsmen expectantly desisted from rowing 
the boat drifted a little towards the ship's stern so that as if by
magic the letter suddenly ranged along with gabriel's eager hand he
clutched it in an instant seized the boat-knife and impaling the
letter on it sent it thus loaded back into the ship it fell at ahab's
feet then gabriel shrieked out to his comrades to give way with their
oars and in that manner the mutinous boat rapidly shot away from the
pequod 

as after this interlude the seamen resumed their work upon the jacket
of the whale many strange things were hinted in reference to this wild
affair 


chapter 72 the monkey-rope 

in the tumultuous business of cutting-in and attending to a whale 
there is much running backwards and forwards among the crew now hands
are wanted here and then again hands are wanted there there is no
staying in any one place for at one and the same time everything has
to be done everywhere it is much the same with him who endeavors the
description of the scene we must now retrace our way a little it was
mentioned that upon first breaking ground in the whale's back the
blubber-hook was inserted into the original hole there cut by the
spades of the mates but how did so clumsy and weighty a mass as that
same hook get fixed in that hole it was inserted there by my
particular friend queequeg whose duty it was as harpooneer to
descend upon the monster's back for the special purpose referred to 
but in very many cases circumstances require that the harpooneer shall
remain on the whale till the whole flensing or stripping operation is
concluded the whale be it observed lies almost entirely submerged 
excepting the immediate parts operated upon so down there some ten
feet below the level of the deck the poor harpooneer flounders about 
half on the whale and half in the water as the vast mass revolves like
a tread-mill beneath him on the occasion in question queequeg figured
in the highland costume a shirt and socks in which to my eyes at
least he appeared to uncommon advantage and no one had a better
chance to observe him as will presently be seen 

being the savage's bowsman that is the person who pulled the bow-oar
in his boat the second one from forward it was my cheerful duty to
attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble upon the dead
whale's back you have seen italian organ-boys holding a dancing-ape by
a long cord just so from the ship's steep side did i hold queequeg
down there in the sea by what is technically called in the fishery a
monkey-rope attached to a strong strip of canvas belted round his
waist 

it was a humorously perilous business for both of us for before we
proceed further it must be said that the monkey-rope was fast at both
ends fast to queequeg's broad canvas belt and fast to my narrow
leather one so that for better or for worse we two for the time 
were wedded and should poor queequeg sink to rise no more then both
usage and honor demanded that instead of cutting the cord it should
drag me down in his wake so then an elongated siamese ligature
united us queequeg was my own inseparable twin brother nor could i
any way get rid of the dangerous liabilities which the hempen bond
entailed 

so strongly and metaphysically did i conceive of my situation then 
that while earnestly watching his motions i seemed distinctly to
perceive that my own individuality was now merged in a joint stock
company of two that my free will had received a mortal wound and that
another's mistake or misfortune might plunge innocent me into unmerited
disaster and death therefore i saw that here was a sort of
interregnum in providence for its even-handed equity never could have
so gross an injustice and yet still further pondering while i jerked
him now and then from between the whale and ship which would threaten
to jam him still further pondering i say i saw that this situation of
mine was the precise situation of every mortal that breathes only in
most cases he one way or other has this siamese connexion with a
plurality of other mortals if your banker breaks you snap if your
apothecary by mistake sends you poison in your pills you die true 
you may say that by exceeding caution you may possibly escape these
and the multitudinous other evil chances of life but handle queequeg's
monkey-rope heedfully as i would sometimes he jerked it so that i
came very near sliding overboard nor could i possibly forget that do
what i would i only had the management of one end of it 

 the monkey-rope is found in all whalers but it was only in the pequod
that the monkey and his holder were ever tied together this
improvement upon the original usage was introduced by no less a man
than stubb in order to afford the imperilled harpooneer the strongest
possible guarantee for the faithfulness and vigilance of his
monkey-rope holder 

i have hinted that i would often jerk poor queequeg from between the
whale and the ship where he would occasionally fall from the incessant
rolling and swaying of both but this was not the only jamming jeopardy
he was exposed to unappalled by the massacre made upon them during the
night the sharks now freshly and more keenly allured by the before
pent blood which began to flow from the carcass the rabid creatures
swarmed round it like bees in a beehive 

and right in among those sharks was queequeg who often pushed them
aside with his floundering feet a thing altogether incredible were it
not that attracted by such prey as a dead whale the otherwise
miscellaneously carnivorous shark will seldom touch a man 

nevertheless it may well be believed that since they have such a
ravenous finger in the pie it is deemed but wise to look sharp to
them accordingly besides the monkey-rope with which i now and then
jerked the poor fellow from too close a vicinity to the maw of what
seemed a peculiarly ferocious shark he was provided with still another
protection suspended over the side in one of the stages tashtego and
daggoo continually flourished over his head a couple of keen
whale-spades wherewith they slaughtered as many sharks as they could
reach this procedure of theirs to be sure was very disinterested and
benevolent of them they meant queequeg's best happiness i admit but
in their hasty zeal to befriend him and from the circumstance that
both he and the sharks were at times half hidden by the blood-muddled
water those indiscreet spades of theirs would come nearer amputating a
leg than a tail but poor queequeg i suppose straining and gasping
there with that great iron hook poor queequeg i suppose only prayed
to his yojo and gave up his life into the hands of his gods 

well well my dear comrade and twin-brother thought i as i drew in
and then slacked off the rope to every swell of the sea what matters
it after all are you not the precious image of each and all of us men
in this whaling world that unsounded ocean you gasp in is life those
sharks your foes those spades your friends and what between sharks
and spades you are in a sad pickle and peril poor lad 

but courage there is good cheer in store for you queequeg for now 
as with blue lips and blood-shot eyes the exhausted savage at last
climbs up the chains and stands all dripping and involuntarily
trembling over the side the steward advances and with a benevolent 
consolatory glance hands him what some hot cognac no hands him ye
gods hands him a cup of tepid ginger and water 

 ginger do i smell ginger suspiciously asked stubb coming near 
 yes this must be ginger peering into the as yet untasted cup then
standing as if incredulous for a while he calmly walked towards the
astonished steward slowly saying ginger ginger and will you have
the goodness to tell me mr dough-boy where lies the virtue of
ginger ginger is ginger the sort of fuel you use dough-boy to
kindle a fire in this shivering cannibal ginger what the devil is
ginger sea-coal firewood lucifer matches tinder gunpowder what
the devil is ginger i say that you offer this cup to our poor
queequeg here 

 there is some sneaking temperance society movement about this
business he suddenly added now approaching starbuck who had just
come from forward will you look at that kannakin sir smell of it 
if you please then watching the mate's countenance he added the
steward mr starbuck had the face to offer that calomel and jalap to
queequeg there this instant off the whale is the steward an
apothecary sir and may i ask whether this is the sort of bitters by
which he blows back the life into a half-drowned man 

 i trust not said starbuck it is poor stuff enough 

 aye aye steward cried stubb we'll teach you to drug a
harpooneer none of your apothecary's medicine here you want to poison
us do ye you have got out insurances on our lives and want to murder
us all and pocket the proceeds do ye 

 it was not me cried dough-boy it was aunt charity that brought the
ginger on board and bade me never give the harpooneers any spirits 
but only this ginger-jub so she called it 

 ginger-jub you gingerly rascal take that and run along with ye to
the lockers and get something better i hope i do no wrong mr 
starbuck it is the captain's orders grog for the harpooneer on a
whale 

 enough replied starbuck only don't hit him again but 

 oh i never hurt when i hit except when i hit a whale or something of
that sort and this fellow's a weazel what were you about saying 
sir 

 only this go down with him and get what thou wantest thyself 

when stubb reappeared he came with a dark flask in one hand and a
sort of tea-caddy in the other the first contained strong spirits and
was handed to queequeg the second was aunt charity's gift and that
was freely given to the waves 


chapter 73 stubb and flask kill a right whale and then have a talk
over him 

it must be borne in mind that all this time we have a sperm whale's
prodigious head hanging to the pequod's side but we must let it
continue hanging there a while till we can get a chance to attend to
it for the present other matters press and the best we can do now for
the head is to pray heaven the tackles may hold 

now during the past night and forenoon the pequod had gradually
drifted into a sea which by its occasional patches of yellow brit 
gave unusual tokens of the vicinity of right whales a species of the
leviathan that but few supposed to be at this particular time lurking
anywhere near and though all hands commonly disdained the capture of
those inferior creatures and though the pequod was not commissioned to
cruise for them at all and though she had passed numbers of them near
the crozetts without lowering a boat yet now that a sperm whale had
been brought alongside and beheaded to the surprise of all the
announcement was made that a right whale should be captured that day 
if opportunity offered 

nor was this long wanting tall spouts were seen to leeward and two
boats stubb's and flask's were detached in pursuit pulling further
and further away they at last became almost invisible to the men at
the mast-head but suddenly in the distance they saw a great heap of
tumultuous white water and soon after news came from aloft that one or
both the boats must be fast an interval passed and the boats were in
plain sight in the act of being dragged right towards the ship by the
towing whale so close did the monster come to the hull that at first
it seemed as if he meant it malice but suddenly going down in a
maelstrom within three rods of the planks he wholly disappeared from
view as if diving under the keel cut cut was the cry from the
ship to the boats which for one instant seemed on the point of being
brought with a deadly dash against the vessel's side but having plenty
of line yet in the tubs and the whale not sounding very rapidly they
paid out abundance of rope and at the same time pulled with all their
might so as to get ahead of the ship for a few minutes the struggle
was intensely critical for while they still slacked out the tightened
line in one direction and still plied their oars in another the
contending strain threatened to take them under but it was only a few
feet advance they sought to gain and they stuck to it till they did
gain it when instantly a swift tremor was felt running like lightning
along the keel as the strained line scraping beneath the ship 
suddenly rose to view under her bows snapping and quivering and so
flinging off its drippings that the drops fell like bits of broken
glass on the water while the whale beyond also rose to sight and once
more the boats were free to fly but the fagged whale abated his speed 
and blindly altering his course went round the stern of the ship
towing the two boats after him so that they performed a complete
circuit 

meantime they hauled more and more upon their lines till close
flanking him on both sides stubb answered flask with lance for lance 
and thus round and round the pequod the battle went while the
multitudes of sharks that had before swum round the sperm whale's body 
rushed to the fresh blood that was spilled thirstily drinking at every
new gash as the eager israelites did at the new bursting fountains
that poured from the smitten rock 

at last his spout grew thick and with a frightful roll and vomit he
turned upon his back a corpse 

while the two headsmen were engaged in making fast cords to his flukes 
and in other ways getting the mass in readiness for towing some
conversation ensued between them 

 i wonder what the old man wants with this lump of foul lard said
stubb not without some disgust at the thought of having to do with so
ignoble a leviathan 

 wants with it said flask coiling some spare line in the boat's bow 
 did you never hear that the ship which but once has a sperm whale's
head hoisted on her starboard side and at the same time a right
whale's on the larboard did you never hear stubb that that ship can
never afterwards capsize 

 why not 

 i don't know but i heard that gamboge ghost of a fedallah saying so 
and he seems to know all about ships charms but i sometimes think
he'll charm the ship to no good at last i don't half like that chap 
stubb did you ever notice how that tusk of his is a sort of carved
into a snake's head stubb 

 sink him i never look at him at all but if ever i get a chance of a
dark night and he standing hard by the bulwarks and no one by look
down there flask pointing into the sea with a peculiar motion of both
hands aye will i flask i take that fedallah to be the devil in
disguise do you believe that cock and bull story about his having been
stowed away on board ship he's the devil i say the reason why you
don't see his tail is because he tucks it up out of sight he carries
it coiled away in his pocket i guess blast him now that i think of
it he's always wanting oakum to stuff into the toes of his boots 

 he sleeps in his boots don't he he hasn't got any hammock but i've
seen him lay of nights in a coil of rigging 

 no doubt and it's because of his cursed tail he coils it down do ye
see in the eye of the rigging 

 what's the old man have so much to do with him for 

 striking up a swap or a bargain i suppose 

 bargain about what 

 why do ye see the old man is hard bent after that white whale and
the devil there is trying to come round him and get him to swap away
his silver watch or his soul or something of that sort and then
he'll surrender moby dick 

 pooh stubb you are skylarking how can fedallah do that 

 i don't know flask but the devil is a curious chap and a wicked
one i tell ye why they say as how he went a sauntering into the old
flag-ship once switching his tail about devilish easy and
gentlemanlike and inquiring if the old governor was at home well he
was at home and asked the devil what he wanted the devil switching
his hoofs up and says i want john what for says the old
governor what business is that of yours says the devil getting
mad i want to use him take him says the governor and by the
lord flask if the devil didn't give john the asiatic cholera before
he got through with him i'll eat this whale in one mouthful but look
sharp ain't you all ready there well then pull ahead and let's get
the whale alongside 

 i think i remember some such story as you were telling said flask 
when at last the two boats were slowly advancing with their burden
towards the ship but i can't remember where 

 three spaniards adventures of those three bloody-minded soldadoes 
did ye read it there flask i guess ye did 

 no never saw such a book heard of it though but now tell me 
stubb do you suppose that that devil you was speaking of just now was
the same you say is now on board the pequod 

 am i the same man that helped kill this whale doesn't the devil live
for ever who ever heard that the devil was dead did you ever see any
parson a wearing mourning for the devil and if the devil has a
latch-key to get into the admiral's cabin don't you suppose he can
crawl into a porthole tell me that mr flask 

 how old do you suppose fedallah is stubb 

 do you see that mainmast there pointing to the ship well that's
the figure one now take all the hoops in the pequod's hold and string
along in a row with that mast for oughts do you see well that
wouldn't begin to be fedallah's age nor all the coopers in creation
couldn't show hoops enough to make oughts enough 

 but see here stubb i thought you a little boasted just now that you
meant to give fedallah a sea-toss if you got a good chance now if
he's so old as all those hoops of yours come to and if he is going to
live for ever what good will it do to pitch him overboard tell me
that 

 give him a good ducking anyhow 

 but he'd crawl back 

 duck him again and keep ducking him 

 suppose he should take it into his head to duck you though yes and
drown you what then 

 i should like to see him try it i'd give him such a pair of black
eyes that he wouldn't dare to show his face in the admiral's cabin
again for a long while let alone down in the orlop there where he
lives and hereabouts on the upper decks where he sneaks so much damn
the devil flask so you suppose i'm afraid of the devil who's afraid
of him except the old governor who daresn't catch him and put him in
double-darbies as he deserves but lets him go about kidnapping
people aye and signed a bond with him that all the people the devil
kidnapped he'd roast for him there's a governor 

 do you suppose fedallah wants to kidnap captain ahab 

 do i suppose it you'll know it before long flask but i am going now
to keep a sharp look-out on him and if i see anything very suspicious
going on i'll just take him by the nape of his neck and say look
here beelzebub you don't do it and if he makes any fuss by the lord
i'll make a grab into his pocket for his tail take it to the capstan 
and give him such a wrenching and heaving that his tail will come
short off at the stump do you see and then i rather guess when he
finds himself docked in that queer fashion he'll sneak off without the
poor satisfaction of feeling his tail between his legs 

 and what will you do with the tail stubb 

 do with it sell it for an ox whip when we get home what else 

 now do you mean what you say and have been saying all along stubb 

 mean or not mean here we are at the ship 

the boats were here hailed to tow the whale on the larboard side 
where fluke chains and other necessaries were already prepared for
securing him 

 didn't i tell you so said flask yes you'll soon see this right
whale's head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti's 

in good time flask's saying proved true as before the pequod steeply
leaned over towards the sperm whale's head now by the counterpoise of
both heads she regained her even keel though sorely strained you may
well believe so when on one side you hoist in locke's head you go
over that way but now on the other side hoist in kant's and you come
back again but in very poor plight thus some minds for ever keep
trimming boat oh ye foolish throw all these thunder-heads overboard 
and then you will float light and right 

in disposing of the body of a right whale when brought alongside the
ship the same preliminary proceedings commonly take place as in the
case of a sperm whale only in the latter instance the head is cut
off whole but in the former the lips and tongue are separately removed
and hoisted on deck with all the well known black bone attached to
what is called the crown-piece but nothing like this in the present
case had been done the carcases of both whales had dropped astern 
and the head-laden ship not a little resembled a mule carrying a pair
of overburdening panniers 

meantime fedallah was calmly eyeing the right whale's head and ever
and anon glancing from the deep wrinkles there to the lines in his own
hand and ahab chanced so to stand that the parsee occupied his
shadow while if the parsee's shadow was there at all it seemed only
to blend with and lengthen ahab's as the crew toiled on laplandish
speculations were bandied among them concerning all these passing
things 


chapter 74 the sperm whale's head contrasted view 

here now are two great whales laying their heads together let us
join them and lay together our own 

of the grand order of folio leviathans the sperm whale and the right
whale are by far the most noteworthy they are the only whales
regularly hunted by man to the nantucketer they present the two
extremes of all the known varieties of the whale as the external
difference between them is mainly observable in their heads and as a
head of each is this moment hanging from the pequod's side and as we
may freely go from one to the other by merely stepping across the
deck where i should like to know will you obtain a better chance to
study practical cetology than here 

in the first place you are struck by the general contrast between
these heads both are massive enough in all conscience but there is a
certain mathematical symmetry in the sperm whale's which the right
whale's sadly lacks there is more character in the sperm whale's head 
as you behold it you involuntarily yield the immense superiority to
him in point of pervading dignity in the present instance too this
dignity is heightened by the pepper and salt colour of his head at the
summit giving token of advanced age and large experience in short he
is what the fishermen technically call a grey-headed whale 

let us now note what is least dissimilar in these heads namely the two
most important organs the eye and the ear far back on the side of the
head and low down near the angle of either whale's jaw if you
narrowly search you will at last see a lashless eye which you would
fancy to be a young colt's eye so out of all proportion is it to the
magnitude of the head 

now from this peculiar sideway position of the whale's eyes it is
plain that he can never see an object which is exactly ahead no more
than he can one exactly astern in a word the position of the whale's
eyes corresponds to that of a man's ears and you may fancy for
yourself how it would fare with you did you sideways survey objects
through your ears you would find that you could only command some
thirty degrees of vision in advance of the straight side-line of sight 
and about thirty more behind it if your bitterest foe were walking
straight towards you with dagger uplifted in broad day you would not
be able to see him any more than if he were stealing upon you from
behind in a word you would have two backs so to speak but at the
same time also two fronts side fronts for what is it that makes
the front of a man what indeed but his eyes 

moreover while in most other animals that i can now think of the eyes
are so planted as imperceptibly to blend their visual power so as to
produce one picture and not two to the brain the peculiar position of
the whale's eyes effectually divided as they are by many cubic feet of
solid head which towers between them like a great mountain separating
two lakes in valleys this of course must wholly separate the
impressions which each independent organ imparts the whale therefore 
must see one distinct picture on this side and another distinct
picture on that side while all between must be profound darkness and
nothingness to him man may in effect be said to look out on the
world from a sentry-box with two joined sashes for his window but with
the whale these two sashes are separately inserted making two
distinct windows but sadly impairing the view this peculiarity of the
whale's eyes is a thing always to be borne in mind in the fishery and
to be remembered by the reader in some subsequent scenes 

a curious and most puzzling question might be started concerning this
visual matter as touching the leviathan but i must be content with a
hint so long as a man's eyes are open in the light the act of seeing
is involuntary that is he cannot then help mechanically seeing
whatever objects are before him nevertheless any one's experience
will teach him that though he can take in an undiscriminating sweep of
things at one glance it is quite impossible for him attentively and
completely to examine any two things however large or however small at
one and the same instant of time never mind if they lie side by side
and touch each other but if you now come to separate these two
objects and surround each by a circle of profound darkness then in
order to see one of them in such a manner as to bring your mind to
bear on it the other will be utterly excluded from your contemporary
consciousness how is it then with the whale true both his eyes in
themselves must simultaneously act but is his brain so much more
comprehensive combining and subtle than man's that he can at the
same moment of time attentively examine two distinct prospects one on
one side of him and the other in an exactly opposite direction if he
can then is it as marvellous a thing in him as if a man were able
simultaneously to go through the demonstrations of two distinct
problems in euclid nor strictly investigated is there any
incongruity in this comparison 

it may be but an idle whim but it has always seemed to me that the
extraordinary vacillations of movement displayed by some whales when
beset by three or four boats the timidity and liability to queer
frights so common to such whales i think that all this indirectly
proceeds from the helpless perplexity of volition in which their
divided and diametrically opposite powers of vision must involve them 

but the ear of the whale is full as curious as the eye if you are an
entire stranger to their race you might hunt over these two heads for
hours and never discover that organ the ear has no external leaf
whatever and into the hole itself you can hardly insert a quill so
wondrously minute is it it is lodged a little behind the eye with
respect to their ears this important difference is to be observed
between the sperm whale and the right while the ear of the former has
an external opening that of the latter is entirely and evenly covered
over with a membrane so as to be quite imperceptible from without 

is it not curious that so vast a being as the whale should see the
world through so small an eye and hear the thunder through an ear
which is smaller than a hare's but if his eyes were broad as the lens
of herschel's great telescope and his ears capacious as the porches of
cathedrals would that make him any longer of sight or sharper of
hearing not at all why then do you try to enlarge your mind 
subtilize it 

let us now with whatever levers and steam-engines we have at hand cant
over the sperm whale's head that it may lie bottom up then ascending
by a ladder to the summit have a peep down the mouth and were it not
that the body is now completely separated from it with a lantern we
might descend into the great kentucky mammoth cave of his stomach but
let us hold on here by this tooth and look about us where we are what
a really beautiful and chaste-looking mouth from floor to ceiling 
lined or rather papered with a glistening white membrane glossy as
bridal satins 

but come out now and look at this portentous lower jaw which seems
like the long narrow lid of an immense snuff-box with the hinge at one
end instead of one side if you pry it up so as to get it overhead 
and expose its rows of teeth it seems a terrific portcullis and such 
alas it proves to many a poor wight in the fishery upon whom these
spikes fall with impaling force but far more terrible is it to behold 
when fathoms down in the sea you see some sulky whale floating there
suspended with his prodigious jaw some fifteen feet long hanging
straight down at right-angles with his body for all the world like a
ship's jib-boom this whale is not dead he is only dispirited out of
sorts perhaps hypochondriac and so supine that the hinges of his
jaw have relaxed leaving him there in that ungainly sort of plight a
reproach to all his tribe who must no doubt imprecate lock-jaws upon
him 

in most cases this lower jaw being easily unhinged by a practised
artist is disengaged and hoisted on deck for the purpose of extracting
the ivory teeth and furnishing a supply of that hard white whalebone
with which the fishermen fashion all sorts of curious articles 
including canes umbrella-stocks and handles to riding-whips 

with a long weary hoist the jaw is dragged on board as if it were an
anchor and when the proper time comes some few days after the other
work queequeg daggoo and tashtego being all accomplished dentists 
are set to drawing teeth with a keen cutting-spade queequeg lances
the gums then the jaw is lashed down to ringbolts and a tackle being
rigged from aloft they drag out these teeth as michigan oxen drag
stumps of old oaks out of wild wood lands there are generally
forty-two teeth in all in old whales much worn down but undecayed 
nor filled after our artificial fashion the jaw is afterwards sawn
into slabs and piled away like joists for building houses 


chapter 75 the right whale's head contrasted view 

crossing the deck let us now have a good long look at the right
whale's head 

as in general shape the noble sperm whale's head may be compared to a
roman war-chariot especially in front where it is so broadly
rounded so at a broad view the right whale's head bears a rather
inelegant resemblance to a gigantic galliot-toed shoe two hundred
years ago an old dutch voyager likened its shape to that of a
shoemaker's last and in this same last or shoe that old woman of the
nursery tale with the swarming brood might very comfortably be
lodged she and all her progeny 

but as you come nearer to this great head it begins to assume different
aspects according to your point of view if you stand on its summit
and look at these two f-shaped spoutholes you would take the whole
head for an enormous bass-viol and these spiracles the apertures in
its sounding-board then again if you fix your eye upon this strange 
crested comb-like incrustation on the top of the mass this green 
barnacled thing which the greenlanders call the crown and the
southern fishers the bonnet of the right whale fixing your eyes
solely on this you would take the head for the trunk of some huge oak 
with a bird's nest in its crotch at any rate when you watch those
live crabs that nestle here on this bonnet such an idea will be almost
sure to occur to you unless indeed your fancy has been fixed by the
technical term crown also bestowed upon it in which case you will
take great interest in thinking how this mighty monster is actually a
diademed king of the sea whose green crown has been put together for
him in this marvellous manner but if this whale be a king he is a
very sulky looking fellow to grace a diadem look at that hanging lower
lip what a huge sulk and pout is there a sulk and pout by
carpenter's measurement about twenty feet long and five feet deep a
sulk and pout that will yield you some 500 gallons of oil and more 

a great pity now that this unfortunate whale should be hare-lipped 
the fissure is about a foot across probably the mother during an
important interval was sailing down the peruvian coast when
earthquakes caused the beach to gape over this lip as over a slippery
threshold we now slide into the mouth upon my word were i at
mackinaw i should take this to be the inside of an indian wigwam good
lord is this the road that jonah went the roof is about twelve feet
high and runs to a pretty sharp angle as if there were a regular
ridge-pole there while these ribbed arched hairy sides present us
with those wondrous half vertical scimetar-shaped slats of whalebone 
say three hundred on a side which depending from the upper part of the
head or crown bone form those venetian blinds which have elsewhere
been cursorily mentioned the edges of these bones are fringed with
hairy fibres through which the right whale strains the water and in
whose intricacies he retains the small fish when openmouthed he goes
through the seas of brit in feeding time in the central blinds of
bone as they stand in their natural order there are certain curious
marks curves hollows and ridges whereby some whalemen calculate the
creature's age as the age of an oak by its circular rings though the
certainty of this criterion is far from demonstrable yet it has the
savor of analogical probability at any rate if we yield to it we
must grant a far greater age to the right whale than at first glance
will seem reasonable 

in old times there seem to have prevailed the most curious fancies
concerning these blinds one voyager in purchas calls them the wondrous
 whiskers inside of the whale's mouth another hogs bristles a
third old gentleman in hackluyt uses the following elegant language 
 there are about two hundred and fifty fins growing on each side of his
upper chop which arch over his tongue on each side of his mouth 

 this reminds us that the right whale really has a sort of whisker or
rather a moustache consisting of a few scattered white hairs on the
upper part of the outer end of the lower jaw sometimes these tufts
impart a rather brigandish expression to his otherwise solemn
countenance 

as every one knows these same hogs bristles fins whiskers 
 blinds or whatever you please furnish to the ladies their busks and
other stiffening contrivances but in this particular the demand has
long been on the decline it was in queen anne's time that the bone was
in its glory the farthingale being then all the fashion and as those
ancient dames moved about gaily though in the jaws of the whale as
you may say even so in a shower with the like thoughtlessness do we
nowadays fly under the same jaws for protection the umbrella being a
tent spread over the same bone 

but now forget all about blinds and whiskers for a moment and 
standing in the right whale's mouth look around you afresh seeing all
these colonnades of bone so methodically ranged about would you not
think you were inside of the great haarlem organ and gazing upon its
thousand pipes for a carpet to the organ we have a rug of the softest
turkey the tongue which is glued as it were to the floor of the
mouth it is very fat and tender and apt to tear in pieces in hoisting
it on deck this particular tongue now before us at a passing glance i
should say it was a six-barreler that is it will yield you about that
amount of oil 

ere this you must have plainly seen the truth of what i started
with that the sperm whale and the right whale have almost entirely
different heads to sum up then in the right whale's there is no
great well of sperm no ivory teeth at all no long slender mandible
of a lower jaw like the sperm whale's nor in the sperm whale are
there any of those blinds of bone no huge lower lip and scarcely
anything of a tongue again the right whale has two external
spout-holes the sperm whale only one 

look your last now on these venerable hooded heads while they yet
lie together for one will soon sink unrecorded in the sea the other
will not be very long in following 

can you catch the expression of the sperm whale's there it is the same
he died with only some of the longer wrinkles in the forehead seem now
faded away i think his broad brow to be full of a prairie-like
placidity born of a speculative indifference as to death but mark the
other head's expression see that amazing lower lip pressed by
accident against the vessel's side so as firmly to embrace the jaw 
does not this whole head seem to speak of an enormous practical
resolution in facing death this right whale i take to have been a
stoic the sperm whale a platonian who might have taken up spinoza in
his latter years 


chapter 76 the battering-ram 

ere quitting for the nonce the sperm whale's head i would have you 
as a sensible physiologist simply particularly remark its front
aspect in all its compacted collectedness i would have you
investigate it now with the sole view of forming to yourself some
unexaggerated intelligent estimate of whatever battering-ram power may
be lodged there here is a vital point for you must either
satisfactorily settle this matter with yourself or for ever remain an
infidel as to one of the most appalling but not the less true events 
perhaps anywhere to be found in all recorded history 

you observe that in the ordinary swimming position of the sperm whale 
the front of his head presents an almost wholly vertical plane to the
water you observe that the lower part of that front slopes
considerably backwards so as to furnish more of a retreat for the long
socket which receives the boom-like lower jaw you observe that the
mouth is entirely under the head much in the same way indeed as
though your own mouth were entirely under your chin moreover you
observe that the whale has no external nose and that what nose he
has his spout hole is on the top of his head you observe that his eyes
and ears are at the sides of his head nearly one third of his entire
length from the front wherefore you must now have perceived that the
front of the sperm whale's head is a dead blind wall without a single
organ or tender prominence of any sort whatsoever furthermore you are
now to consider that only in the extreme lower backward sloping part
of the front of the head is there the slightest vestige of bone and
not till you get near twenty feet from the forehead do you come to the
full cranial development so that this whole enormous boneless mass is
as one wad finally though as will soon be revealed its contents
partly comprise the most delicate oil yet you are now to be apprised
of the nature of the substance which so impregnably invests all that
apparent effeminacy in some previous place i have described to you how
the blubber wraps the body of the whale as the rind wraps an orange 
just so with the head but with this difference about the head this
envelope though not so thick is of a boneless toughness inestimable
by any man who has not handled it the severest pointed harpoon the
sharpest lance darted by the strongest human arm impotently rebounds
from it it is as though the forehead of the sperm whale were paved
with horses hoofs i do not think that any sensation lurks in it 

bethink yourself also of another thing when two large loaded indiamen
chance to crowd and crush towards each other in the docks what do the
sailors do they do not suspend between them at the point of coming
contact any merely hard substance like iron or wood no they hold
there a large round wad of tow and cork enveloped in the thickest and
toughest of ox-hide that bravely and uninjured takes the jam which
would have snapped all their oaken handspikes and iron crow-bars by
itself this sufficiently illustrates the obvious fact i drive at but
supplementary to this it has hypothetically occurred to me that as
ordinary fish possess what is called a swimming bladder in them 
capable at will of distension or contraction and as the sperm whale 
as far as i know has no such provision in him considering too the
otherwise inexplicable manner in which he now depresses his head
altogether beneath the surface and anon swims with it high elevated
out of the water considering the unobstructed elasticity of its
envelope considering the unique interior of his head it has
hypothetically occurred to me i say that those mystical lung-celled
honeycombs there may possibly have some hitherto unknown and
unsuspected connexion with the outer air so as to be susceptible to
atmospheric distension and contraction if this be so fancy the
irresistibleness of that might to which the most impalpable and
destructive of all elements contributes 

now mark unerringly impelling this dead impregnable uninjurable
wall and this most buoyant thing within there swims behind it all a
mass of tremendous life only to be adequately estimated as piled wood
is by the cord and all obedient to one volition as the smallest
insect so that when i shall hereafter detail to you all the
specialities and concentrations of potency everywhere lurking in this
expansive monster when i shall show you some of his more
inconsiderable braining feats i trust you will have renounced all
ignorant incredulity and be ready to abide by this that though the
sperm whale stove a passage through the isthmus of darien and mixed
the atlantic with the pacific you would not elevate one hair of your
eye-brow for unless you own the whale you are but a provincial and
sentimentalist in truth but clear truth is a thing for salamander
giants only to encounter how small the chances for the provincials
then what befell the weakling youth lifting the dread goddess's veil
at lais 


chapter 77 the great heidelburgh tun 

now comes the baling of the case but to comprehend it aright you must
know something of the curious internal structure of the thing operated
upon 

regarding the sperm whale's head as a solid oblong you may on an
inclined plane sideways divide it into two quoins whereof the lower
is the bony structure forming the cranium and jaws and the upper an
unctuous mass wholly free from bones its broad forward end forming the
expanded vertical apparent forehead of the whale at the middle of the
forehead horizontally subdivide this upper quoin and then you have two
almost equal parts which before were naturally divided by an internal
wall of a thick tendinous substance 

 quoin is not a euclidean term it belongs to the pure nautical
mathematics i know not that it has been defined before a quoin is a
solid which differs from a wedge in having its sharp end formed by the
steep inclination of one side instead of the mutual tapering of both
sides 

the lower subdivided part called the junk is one immense honeycomb of
oil formed by the crossing and recrossing into ten thousand
infiltrated cells of tough elastic white fibres throughout its whole
extent the upper part known as the case may be regarded as the great
heidelburgh tun of the sperm whale and as that famous great tierce is
mystically carved in front so the whale's vast plaited forehead forms
innumerable strange devices for the emblematical adornment of his
wondrous tun moreover as that of heidelburgh was always replenished
with the most excellent of the wines of the rhenish valleys so the tun
of the whale contains by far the most precious of all his oily
vintages namely the highly-prized spermaceti in its absolutely pure 
limpid and odoriferous state nor is this precious substance found
unalloyed in any other part of the creature though in life it remains
perfectly fluid yet upon exposure to the air after death it soon
begins to concrete sending forth beautiful crystalline shoots as when
the first thin delicate ice is just forming in water a large whale's
case generally yields about five hundred gallons of sperm though from
unavoidable circumstances considerable of it is spilled leaks and
dribbles away or is otherwise irrevocably lost in the ticklish
business of securing what you can 

i know not with what fine and costly material the heidelburgh tun was
coated within but in superlative richness that coating could not
possibly have compared with the silken pearl-coloured membrane like
the lining of a fine pelisse forming the inner surface of the sperm
whale's case 

it will have been seen that the heidelburgh tun of the sperm whale
embraces the entire length of the entire top of the head and since as
has been elsewhere set forth the head embraces one third of the whole
length of the creature then setting that length down at eighty feet
for a good sized whale you have more than twenty-six feet for the
depth of the tun when it is lengthwise hoisted up and down against a
ship's side 

as in decapitating the whale the operator's instrument is brought
close to the spot where an entrance is subsequently forced into the
spermaceti magazine he has therefore to be uncommonly heedful lest
a careless untimely stroke should invade the sanctuary and wastingly
let out its invaluable contents it is this decapitated end of the
head also which is at last elevated out of the water and retained in
that position by the enormous cutting tackles whose hempen
combinations on one side make quite a wilderness of ropes in that
quarter 

thus much being said attend now i pray you to that marvellous and in
this particular instance almost fatal operation whereby the sperm
whale's great heidelburgh tun is tapped 


chapter 78 cistern and buckets 

nimble as a cat tashtego mounts aloft and without altering his erect
posture runs straight out upon the overhanging mainyard-arm to the
part where it exactly projects over the hoisted tun he has carried
with him a light tackle called a whip consisting of only two parts 
travelling through a single-sheaved block securing this block so that
it hangs down from the yard-arm he swings one end of the rope till it
is caught and firmly held by a hand on deck then hand-over-hand down
the other part the indian drops through the air till dexterously he
lands on the summit of the head there still high elevated above the
rest of the company to whom he vivaciously cries he seems some turkish
muezzin calling the good people to prayers from the top of a tower a
short-handled sharp spade being sent up to him he diligently searches
for the proper place to begin breaking into the tun in this business
he proceeds very heedfully like a treasure-hunter in some old house 
sounding the walls to find where the gold is masoned in by the time
this cautious search is over a stout iron-bound bucket precisely like
a well-bucket has been attached to one end of the whip while the
other end being stretched across the deck is there held by two or
three alert hands these last now hoist the bucket within grasp of the
indian to whom another person has reached up a very long pole 
inserting this pole into the bucket tashtego downward guides the
bucket into the tun till it entirely disappears then giving the word
to the seamen at the whip up comes the bucket again all bubbling like
a dairy-maid's pail of new milk carefully lowered from its height the
full-freighted vessel is caught by an appointed hand and quickly
emptied into a large tub then remounting aloft it again goes through
the same round until the deep cistern will yield no more towards the
end tashtego has to ram his long pole harder and harder and deeper
and deeper into the tun until some twenty feet of the pole have gone
down 

now the people of the pequod had been baling some time in this way 
several tubs had been filled with the fragrant sperm when all at once
a queer accident happened whether it was that tashtego that wild
indian was so heedless and reckless as to let go for a moment his
one-handed hold on the great cabled tackles suspending the head or
whether the place where he stood was so treacherous and oozy or
whether the evil one himself would have it to fall out so without
stating his particular reasons how it was exactly there is no telling
now but on a sudden as the eightieth or ninetieth bucket came
suckingly up my god poor tashtego like the twin reciprocating bucket
in a veritable well dropped head-foremost down into this great tun of
heidelburgh and with a horrible oily gurgling went clean out of
sight 

 man overboard cried daggoo who amid the general consternation first
came to his senses swing the bucket this way and putting one foot
into it so as the better to secure his slippery hand-hold on the whip
itself the hoisters ran him high up to the top of the head almost
before tashtego could have reached its interior bottom meantime there
was a terrible tumult looking over the side they saw the before
lifeless head throbbing and heaving just below the surface of the sea 
as if that moment seized with some momentous idea whereas it was only
the poor indian unconsciously revealing by those struggles the perilous
depth to which he had sunk 

at this instant while daggoo on the summit of the head was clearing
the whip which had somehow got foul of the great cutting tackles a
sharp cracking noise was heard and to the unspeakable horror of all 
one of the two enormous hooks suspending the head tore out and with a
vast vibration the enormous mass sideways swung till the drunk ship
reeled and shook as if smitten by an iceberg the one remaining hook 
upon which the entire strain now depended seemed every instant to be
on the point of giving way an event still more likely from the violent
motions of the head 

 come down come down yelled the seamen to daggoo but with one hand
holding on to the heavy tackles so that if the head should drop he
would still remain suspended the negro having cleared the foul line 
rammed down the bucket into the now collapsed well meaning that the
buried harpooneer should grasp it and so be hoisted out 

 in heaven's name man cried stubb are you ramming home a cartridge
there avast how will that help him jamming that iron-bound bucket on
top of his head avast will ye 

 stand clear of the tackle cried a voice like the bursting of a
rocket 

almost in the same instant with a thunder-boom the enormous mass
dropped into the sea like niagara's table-rock into the whirlpool the
suddenly relieved hull rolled away from it to far down her glittering
copper and all caught their breath as half swinging now over the
sailors heads and now over the water daggoo through a thick mist of
spray was dimly beheld clinging to the pendulous tackles while poor 
buried-alive tashtego was sinking utterly down to the bottom of the
sea but hardly had the blinding vapor cleared away when a naked
figure with a boarding-sword in his hand was for one swift moment seen
hovering over the bulwarks the next a loud splash announced that my
brave queequeg had dived to the rescue one packed rush was made to the
side and every eye counted every ripple as moment followed moment 
and no sign of either the sinker or the diver could be seen some hands
now jumped into a boat alongside and pushed a little off from the
ship 

 ha ha cried daggoo all at once from his now quiet swinging perch
overhead and looking further off from the side we saw an arm thrust
upright from the blue waves a sight strange to see as an arm thrust
forth from the grass over a grave 

 both both it is both cried daggoo again with a joyful shout and
soon after queequeg was seen boldly striking out with one hand and
with the other clutching the long hair of the indian drawn into the
waiting boat they were quickly brought to the deck but tashtego was
long in coming to and queequeg did not look very brisk 

now how had this noble rescue been accomplished why diving after the
slowly descending head queequeg with his keen sword had made side
lunges near its bottom so as to scuttle a large hole there then
dropping his sword had thrust his long arm far inwards and upwards 
and so hauled out poor tash by the head he averred that upon first
thrusting in for him a leg was presented but well knowing that that
was not as it ought to be and might occasion great trouble he had
thrust back the leg and by a dexterous heave and toss had wrought a
somerset upon the indian so that with the next trial he came forth in
the good old way head foremost as for the great head itself that was
doing as well as could be expected 

and thus through the courage and great skill in obstetrics of
queequeg the deliverance or rather delivery of tashtego was
successfully accomplished in the teeth too of the most untoward and
apparently hopeless impediments which is a lesson by no means to be
forgotten midwifery should be taught in the same course with fencing
and boxing riding and rowing 

i know that this queer adventure of the gay-header's will be sure to
seem incredible to some landsmen though they themselves may have
either seen or heard of some one's falling into a cistern ashore an
accident which not seldom happens and with much less reason too than
the indian's considering the exceeding slipperiness of the curb of the
sperm whale's well 

but peradventure it may be sagaciously urged how is this we thought
the tissued infiltrated head of the sperm whale was the lightest and
most corky part about him and yet thou makest it sink in an element of
a far greater specific gravity than itself we have thee there not at
all but i have ye for at the time poor tash fell in the case had
been nearly emptied of its lighter contents leaving little but the
dense tendinous wall of the well a double welded hammered substance 
as i have before said much heavier than the sea water and a lump of
which sinks in it like lead almost but the tendency to rapid sinking
in this substance was in the present instance materially counteracted
by the other parts of the head remaining undetached from it so that it
sank very slowly and deliberately indeed affording queequeg a fair
chance for performing his agile obstetrics on the run as you may say 
yes it was a running delivery so it was 

now had tashtego perished in that head it had been a very precious
perishing smothered in the very whitest and daintiest of fragrant
spermaceti coffined hearsed and tombed in the secret inner chamber
and sanctum sanctorum of the whale only one sweeter end can readily be
recalled the delicious death of an ohio honey-hunter who seeking honey
in the crotch of a hollow tree found such exceeding store of it that
leaning too far over it sucked him in so that he died embalmed how
many think ye have likewise fallen into plato's honey head and
sweetly perished there 


chapter 79 the prairie 

to scan the lines of his face or feel the bumps on the head of this
leviathan this is a thing which no physiognomist or phrenologist has
as yet undertaken such an enterprise would seem almost as hopeful as
for lavater to have scrutinized the wrinkles on the rock of gibraltar 
or for gall to have mounted a ladder and manipulated the dome of the
pantheon still in that famous work of his lavater not only treats of
the various faces of men but also attentively studies the faces of
horses birds serpents and fish and dwells in detail upon the
modifications of expression discernible therein nor have gall and his
disciple spurzheim failed to throw out some hints touching the
phrenological characteristics of other beings than man therefore 
though i am but ill qualified for a pioneer in the application of
these two semi-sciences to the whale i will do my endeavor i try all
things i achieve what i can 

physiognomically regarded the sperm whale is an anomalous creature he
has no proper nose and since the nose is the central and most
conspicuous of the features and since it perhaps most modifies and
finally controls their combined expression hence it would seem that
its entire absence as an external appendage must very largely affect
the countenance of the whale for as in landscape gardening a spire 
cupola monument or tower of some sort is deemed almost indispensable
to the completion of the scene so no face can be physiognomically in
keeping without the elevated open-work belfry of the nose dash the
nose from phidias's marble jove and what a sorry remainder 
nevertheless leviathan is of so mighty a magnitude all his
proportions are so stately that the same deficiency which in the
sculptured jove were hideous in him is no blemish at all nay it is
an added grandeur a nose to the whale would have been impertinent as
on your physiognomical voyage you sail round his vast head in your
jolly-boat your noble conceptions of him are never insulted by the
reflection that he has a nose to be pulled a pestilent conceit which
so often will insist upon obtruding even when beholding the mightiest
royal beadle on his throne 

in some particulars perhaps the most imposing physiognomical view to
be had of the sperm whale is that of the full front of his head this
aspect is sublime 

in thought a fine human brow is like the east when troubled with the
morning in the repose of the pasture the curled brow of the bull has
a touch of the grand in it pushing heavy cannon up mountain defiles 
the elephant's brow is majestic human or animal the mystical brow is
as that great golden seal affixed by the german emperors to their
decrees it signifies god done this day by my hand but in most
creatures nay in man himself very often the brow is but a mere strip
of alpine land lying along the snow line few are the foreheads which
like shakespeare's or melancthon's rise so high and descend so low 
that the eyes themselves seem clear eternal tideless mountain lakes 
and all above them in the forehead's wrinkles you seem to track the
antlered thoughts descending there to drink as the highland hunters
track the snow prints of the deer but in the great sperm whale this
high and mighty god-like dignity inherent in the brow is so immensely
amplified that gazing on it in that full front view you feel the
deity and the dread powers more forcibly than in beholding any other
object in living nature for you see no one point precisely not one
distinct feature is revealed no nose eyes ears or mouth no face 
he has none proper nothing but that one broad firmament of a
forehead pleated with riddles dumbly lowering with the doom of boats 
and ships and men nor in profile does this wondrous brow diminish 
though that way viewed its grandeur does not domineer upon you so in
profile you plainly perceive that horizontal semi-crescentic
depression in the forehead's middle which in man is lavater's mark
of genius 

but how genius in the sperm whale has the sperm whale ever written a
book spoken a speech no his great genius is declared in his doing
nothing particular to prove it it is moreover declared in his
pyramidical silence and this reminds me that had the great sperm whale
been known to the young orient world he would have been deified by
their child-magian thoughts they deified the crocodile of the nile 
because the crocodile is tongueless and the sperm whale has no tongue 
or at least it is so exceedingly small as to be incapable of
protrusion if hereafter any highly cultured poetical nation shall
lure back to their birth-right the merry may-day gods of old and
livingly enthrone them again in the now egotistical sky in the now
unhaunted hill then be sure exalted to jove's high seat the great
sperm whale shall lord it 

champollion deciphered the wrinkled granite hieroglyphics but there is
no champollion to decipher the egypt of every man's and every being's
face physiognomy like every other human science is but a passing
fable if then sir william jones who read in thirty languages could
not read the simplest peasant's face in its profounder and more subtle
meanings how may unlettered ishmael hope to read the awful chaldee of
the sperm whale's brow i but put that brow before you read it if you
can 


chapter 80 the nut 

if the sperm whale be physiognomically a sphinx to the phrenologist
his brain seems that geometrical circle which it is impossible to
square 

in the full-grown creature the skull will measure at least twenty feet
in length unhinge the lower jaw and the side view of this skull is as
the side of a moderately inclined plane resting throughout on a level
base but in life as we have elsewhere seen this inclined plane is
angularly filled up and almost squared by the enormous superincumbent
mass of the junk and sperm at the high end the skull forms a crater to
bed that part of the mass while under the long floor of this crater in
another cavity seldom exceeding ten inches in length and as many in
depth reposes the mere handful of this monster's brain the brain is at
least twenty feet from his apparent forehead in life it is hidden away
behind its vast outworks like the innermost citadel within the
amplified fortifications of quebec so like a choice casket is it
secreted in him that i have known some whalemen who peremptorily deny
that the sperm whale has any other brain than that palpable semblance
of one formed by the cubic-yards of his sperm magazine lying in
strange folds courses and convolutions to their apprehensions it
seems more in keeping with the idea of his general might to regard that
mystic part of him as the seat of his intelligence 

it is plain then that phrenologically the head of this leviathan in
the creature's living intact state is an entire delusion as for his
true brain you can then see no indications of it nor feel any the
whale like all things that are mighty wears a false brow to the
common world 

if you unload his skull of its spermy heaps and then take a rear view
of its rear end which is the high end you will be struck by its
resemblance to the human skull beheld in the same situation and from
the same point of view indeed place this reversed skull scaled down
to the human magnitude among a plate of men's skulls and you would
involuntarily confound it with them and remarking the depressions on
one part of its summit in phrenological phrase you would say this man
had no self-esteem and no veneration and by those negations 
considered along with the affirmative fact of his prodigious bulk and
power you can best form to yourself the truest though not the most
exhilarating conception of what the most exalted potency is 

but if from the comparative dimensions of the whale's proper brain you
deem it incapable of being adequately charted then i have another idea
for you if you attentively regard almost any quadruped's spine you
will be struck with the resemblance of its vertebrae to a strung
necklace of dwarfed skulls all bearing rudimental resemblance to the
skull proper it is a german conceit that the vertebrae are absolutely
undeveloped skulls but the curious external resemblance i take it the
germans were not the first men to perceive a foreign friend once
pointed it out to me in the skeleton of a foe he had slain and with
the vertebrae of which he was inlaying in a sort of basso-relievo the
beaked prow of his canoe now i consider that the phrenologists have
omitted an important thing in not pushing their investigations from the
cerebellum through the spinal canal for i believe that much of a man's
character will be found betokened in his backbone i would rather feel
your spine than your skull whoever you are a thin joist of a spine
never yet upheld a full and noble soul i rejoice in my spine as in
the firm audacious staff of that flag which i fling half out to the
world 

apply this spinal branch of phrenology to the sperm whale his cranial
cavity is continuous with the first neck-vertebra and in that vertebra
the bottom of the spinal canal will measure ten inches across being
eight in height and of a triangular figure with the base downwards as
it passes through the remaining vertebrae the canal tapers in size but
for a considerable distance remains of large capacity now of course 
this canal is filled with much the same strangely fibrous substance the
spinal cord as the brain and directly communicates with the brain and
what is still more for many feet after emerging from the brain's
cavity the spinal cord remains of an undecreasing girth almost equal
to that of the brain under all these circumstances would it be
unreasonable to survey and map out the whale's spine phrenologically 
for viewed in this light the wonderful comparative smallness of his
brain proper is more than compensated by the wonderful comparative
magnitude of his spinal cord 

but leaving this hint to operate as it may with the phrenologists i
would merely assume the spinal theory for a moment in reference to the
sperm whale's hump this august hump if i mistake not rises over one
of the larger vertebrae and is therefore in some sort the outer
convex mould of it from its relative situation then i should call
this high hump the organ of firmness or indomitableness in the sperm
whale and that the great monster is indomitable you will yet have
reason to know 


chapter 81 the pequod meets the virgin 

the predestinated day arrived and we duly met the ship jungfrau 
derick de deer master of bremen 

at one time the greatest whaling people in the world the dutch and
germans are now among the least but here and there at very wide
intervals of latitude and longitude you still occasionally meet with
their flag in the pacific 

for some reason the jungfrau seemed quite eager to pay her respects 
while yet some distance from the pequod she rounded to and dropping a
boat her captain was impelled towards us impatiently standing in the
bows instead of the stern 

 what has he in his hand there cried starbuck pointing to something
wavingly held by the german impossible a lamp-feeder 

 not that said stubb no no it's a coffee-pot mr starbuck he's
coming off to make us our coffee is the yarman don't you see that big
tin can there alongside of him that's his boiling water oh he's all
right is the yarman 

 go along with you cried flask it's a lamp-feeder and an oil-can 
he's out of oil and has come a-begging 

however curious it may seem for an oil-ship to be borrowing oil on the
whale-ground and however much it may invertedly contradict the old
proverb about carrying coals to newcastle yet sometimes such a thing
really happens and in the present case captain derick de deer did
indubitably conduct a lamp-feeder as flask did declare 

as he mounted the deck ahab abruptly accosted him without at all
heeding what he had in his hand but in his broken lingo the german
soon evinced his complete ignorance of the white whale immediately
turning the conversation to his lamp-feeder and oil can with some
remarks touching his having to turn into his hammock at night in
profound darkness his last drop of bremen oil being gone and not a
single flying-fish yet captured to supply the deficiency concluding by
hinting that his ship was indeed what in the fishery is technically
called a clean one that is an empty one well deserving the name
of jungfrau or the virgin 

his necessities supplied derick departed but he had not gained his
ship's side when whales were almost simultaneously raised from the
mast-heads of both vessels and so eager for the chase was derick that
without pausing to put his oil-can and lamp-feeder aboard he slewed
round his boat and made after the leviathan lamp-feeders 

now the game having risen to leeward he and the other three german
boats that soon followed him had considerably the start of the
pequod's keels there were eight whales an average pod aware of their
danger they were going all abreast with great speed straight before
the wind rubbing their flanks as closely as so many spans of horses in
harness they left a great wide wake as though continually unrolling
a great wide parchment upon the sea 

full in this rapid wake and many fathoms in the rear swam a huge 
humped old bull which by his comparatively slow progress as well as
by the unusual yellowish incrustations overgrowing him seemed
afflicted with the jaundice or some other infirmity whether this
whale belonged to the pod in advance seemed questionable for it is
not customary for such venerable leviathans to be at all social 
nevertheless he stuck to their wake though indeed their back water
must have retarded him because the white-bone or swell at his broad
muzzle was a dashed one like the swell formed when two hostile
currents meet his spout was short slow and laborious coming forth
with a choking sort of gush and spending itself in torn shreds 
followed by strange subterranean commotions in him which seemed to
have egress at his other buried extremity causing the waters behind
him to upbubble 

 who's got some paregoric said stubb he has the stomach-ache i'm
afraid lord think of having half an acre of stomach-ache adverse
winds are holding mad christmas in him boys it's the first foul wind
i ever knew to blow from astern but look did ever whale yaw so
before it must be he's lost his tiller 

as an overladen indiaman bearing down the hindostan coast with a deck
load of frightened horses careens buries rolls and wallows on her
way so did this old whale heave his aged bulk and now and then partly
turning over on his cumbrous rib-ends expose the cause of his devious
wake in the unnatural stump of his starboard fin whether he had lost
that fin in battle or had been born without it it were hard to say 

 only wait a bit old chap and i'll give ye a sling for that wounded
arm cried cruel flask pointing to the whale-line near him 

 mind he don't sling thee with it cried starbuck give way or the
german will have him 

with one intent all the combined rival boats were pointed for this one
fish because not only was he the largest and therefore the most
valuable whale but he was nearest to them and the other whales were
going with such great velocity moreover as almost to defy pursuit for
the time at this juncture the pequod's keels had shot by the three
german boats last lowered but from the great start he had had 
derick's boat still led the chase though every moment neared by his
foreign rivals the only thing they feared was that from being
already so nigh to his mark he would be enabled to dart his iron
before they could completely overtake and pass him as for derick he
seemed quite confident that this would be the case and occasionally
with a deriding gesture shook his lamp-feeder at the other boats 

 the ungracious and ungrateful dog cried starbuck he mocks and
dares me with the very poor-box i filled for him not five minutes
ago then in his old intense whisper give way greyhounds dog to
it 

 i tell ye what it is men cried stubb to his crew it's against my
religion to get mad but i'd like to eat that villainous
yarman pull won't ye are ye going to let that rascal beat ye do ye
love brandy a hogshead of brandy then to the best man come why
don't some of ye burst a blood-vessel who's that been dropping an
anchor overboard we don't budge an inch we're becalmed halloo here's
grass growing in the boat's bottom and by the lord the mast there's
budding this won't do boys look at that yarman the short and long
of it is men will ye spit fire or not 

 oh see the suds he makes cried flask dancing up and down what a
hump oh do pile on the beef lays like a log oh my lads do 
spring slap-jacks and quahogs for supper you know my lads baked clams
and muffins oh do do spring he's a hundred barreller don't lose
him now don't oh don't see that yarman oh won't ye pull for your
duff my lads such a sog such a sogger don't ye love sperm there
goes three thousand dollars men a bank a whole bank the bank of
england oh do do do what's that yarman about now 

at this moment derick was in the act of pitching his lamp-feeder at the
advancing boats and also his oil-can perhaps with the double view of
retarding his rivals way and at the same time economically
accelerating his own by the momentary impetus of the backward toss 

 the unmannerly dutch dogger cried stubb pull now men like fifty
thousand line-of-battle-ship loads of red-haired devils what d'ye say 
tashtego are you the man to snap your spine in two-and-twenty pieces
for the honor of old gayhead what d'ye say 

 i say pull like god-dam cried the indian 

fiercely but evenly incited by the taunts of the german the pequod's
three boats now began ranging almost abreast and so disposed 
momentarily neared him in that fine loose chivalrous attitude of the
headsman when drawing near to his prey the three mates stood up
proudly occasionally backing the after oarsman with an exhilarating
cry of there she slides now hurrah for the white-ash breeze down
with the yarman sail over him 

but so decided an original start had derick had that spite of all
their gallantry he would have proved the victor in this race had not
a righteous judgment descended upon him in a crab which caught the
blade of his midship oarsman while this clumsy lubber was striving to
free his white-ash and while in consequence derick's boat was nigh
to capsizing and he thundering away at his men in a mighty rage that
was a good time for starbuck stubb and flask with a shout they took
a mortal start forwards and slantingly ranged up on the german's
quarter an instant more and all four boats were diagonically in the
whale's immediate wake while stretching from them on both sides was
the foaming swell that he made 

it was a terrific most pitiable and maddening sight the whale was
now going head out and sending his spout before him in a continual
tormented jet while his one poor fin beat his side in an agony of
fright now to this hand now to that he yawed in his faltering
flight and still at every billow that he broke he spasmodically sank
in the sea or sideways rolled towards the sky his one beating fin so
have i seen a bird with clipped wing making affrighted broken circles
in the air vainly striving to escape the piratical hawks but the bird
has a voice and with plaintive cries will make known her fear but the
fear of this vast dumb brute of the sea was chained up and enchanted
in him he had no voice save that choking respiration through his
spiracle and this made the sight of him unspeakably pitiable while
still in his amazing bulk portcullis jaw and omnipotent tail there
was enough to appal the stoutest man who so pitied 

seeing now that but a very few moments more would give the pequod's
boats the advantage and rather than be thus foiled of his game derick
chose to hazard what to him must have seemed a most unusually long
dart ere the last chance would for ever escape 

but no sooner did his harpooneer stand up for the stroke than all
three tigers queequeg tashtego daggoo instinctively sprang to their
feet and standing in a diagonal row simultaneously pointed their
barbs and darted over the head of the german harpooneer their three
nantucket irons entered the whale blinding vapors of foam and
white-fire the three boats in the first fury of the whale's headlong
rush bumped the german's aside with such force that both derick and
his baffled harpooneer were spilled out and sailed over by the three
flying keels 

 don't be afraid my butter-boxes cried stubb casting a passing
glance upon them as he shot by ye'll be picked up presently all
right i saw some sharks astern st bernard's dogs you know relieve
distressed travellers hurrah this is the way to sail now every keel
a sunbeam hurrah here we go like three tin kettles at the tail of a
mad cougar this puts me in mind of fastening to an elephant in a
tilbury on a plain makes the wheel-spokes fly boys when you fasten to
him that way and there's danger of being pitched out too when you
strike a hill hurrah this is the way a fellow feels when he's going
to davy jones all a rush down an endless inclined plane hurrah this
whale carries the everlasting mail 

but the monster's run was a brief one giving a sudden gasp he
tumultuously sounded with a grating rush the three lines flew round
the loggerheads with such a force as to gouge deep grooves in them 
while so fearful were the harpooneers that this rapid sounding would
soon exhaust the lines that using all their dexterous might they
caught repeated smoking turns with the rope to hold on till at
last owing to the perpendicular strain from the lead-lined chocks of
the boats whence the three ropes went straight down into the blue the
gunwales of the bows were almost even with the water while the three
sterns tilted high in the air and the whale soon ceasing to sound for
some time they remained in that attitude fearful of expending more
line though the position was a little ticklish but though boats have
been taken down and lost in this way yet it is this holding on as
it is called this hooking up by the sharp barbs of his live flesh from
the back this it is that often torments the leviathan into soon rising
again to meet the sharp lance of his foes yet not to speak of the
peril of the thing it is to be doubted whether this course is always
the best for it is but reasonable to presume that the longer the
stricken whale stays under water the more he is exhausted because 
owing to the enormous surface of him in a full grown sperm whale
something less than 2000 square feet the pressure of the water is
immense we all know what an astonishing atmospheric weight we
ourselves stand up under even here above-ground in the air how
vast then the burden of a whale bearing on his back a column of two
hundred fathoms of ocean it must at least equal the weight of fifty
atmospheres one whaleman has estimated it at the weight of twenty
line-of-battle ships with all their guns and stores and men on
board 

as the three boats lay there on that gently rolling sea gazing down
into its eternal blue noon and as not a single groan or cry of any
sort nay not so much as a ripple or a bubble came up from its depths 
what landsman would have thought that beneath all that silence and
placidity the utmost monster of the seas was writhing and wrenching in
agony not eight inches of perpendicular rope were visible at the bows 
seems it credible that by three such thin threads the great leviathan
was suspended like the big weight to an eight day clock suspended and
to what to three bits of board is this the creature of whom it was
once so triumphantly said canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons 
or his head with fish-spears the sword of him that layeth at him
cannot hold the spear the dart nor the habergeon he esteemeth iron
as straw the arrow cannot make him flee darts are counted as stubble 
he laugheth at the shaking of a spear this the creature this he oh 
that unfulfilments should follow the prophets for with the strength of
a thousand thighs in his tail leviathan had run his head under the
mountains of the sea to hide him from the pequod's fish-spears 

in that sloping afternoon sunlight the shadows that the three boats
sent down beneath the surface must have been long enough and broad
enough to shade half xerxes army who can tell how appalling to the
wounded whale must have been such huge phantoms flitting over his head 

 stand by men he stirs cried starbuck as the three lines suddenly
vibrated in the water distinctly conducting upwards to them as by
magnetic wires the life and death throbs of the whale so that every
oarsman felt them in his seat the next moment relieved in great part
from the downward strain at the bows the boats gave a sudden bounce
upwards as a small icefield will when a dense herd of white bears are
scared from it into the sea 

 haul in haul in cried starbuck again he's rising 

the lines of which hardly an instant before not one hand's breadth
could have been gained were now in long quick coils flung back all
dripping into the boats and soon the whale broke water within two
ship's lengths of the hunters 

his motions plainly denoted his extreme exhaustion in most land
animals there are certain valves or flood-gates in many of their veins 
whereby when wounded the blood is in some degree at least instantly
shut off in certain directions not so with the whale one of whose
peculiarities it is to have an entire non-valvular structure of the
blood-vessels so that when pierced even by so small a point as a
harpoon a deadly drain is at once begun upon his whole arterial
system and when this is heightened by the extraordinary pressure of
water at a great distance below the surface his life may be said to
pour from him in incessant streams yet so vast is the quantity of
blood in him and so distant and numerous its interior fountains that
he will keep thus bleeding and bleeding for a considerable period even
as in a drought a river will flow whose source is in the well-springs
of far-off and undiscernible hills even now when the boats pulled
upon this whale and perilously drew over his swaying flukes and the
lances were darted into him they were followed by steady jets from the
new made wound which kept continually playing while the natural
spout-hole in his head was only at intervals however rapid sending
its affrighted moisture into the air from this last vent no blood yet
came because no vital part of him had thus far been struck his life 
as they significantly call it was untouched 

as the boats now more closely surrounded him the whole upper part of
his form with much of it that is ordinarily submerged was plainly
revealed his eyes or rather the places where his eyes had been were
beheld as strange misgrown masses gather in the knot-holes of the
noblest oaks when prostrate so from the points which the whale's eyes
had once occupied now protruded blind bulbs horribly pitiable to see 
but pity there was none for all his old age and his one arm and his
blind eyes he must die the death and be murdered in order to light
the gay bridals and other merry-makings of men and also to illuminate
the solemn churches that preach unconditional inoffensiveness by all to
all still rolling in his blood at last he partially disclosed a
strangely discoloured bunch or protuberance the size of a bushel low
down on the flank 

 a nice spot cried flask just let me prick him there once 

 avast cried starbuck there's no need of that 

but humane starbuck was too late at the instant of the dart an
ulcerous jet shot from this cruel wound and goaded by it into more
than sufferable anguish the whale now spouting thick blood with swift
fury blindly darted at the craft bespattering them and their glorying
crews all over with showers of gore capsizing flask's boat and marring
the bows it was his death stroke for by this time so spent was he
by loss of blood that he helplessly rolled away from the wreck he had
made lay panting on his side impotently flapped with his stumped fin 
then over and over slowly revolved like a waning world turned up the
white secrets of his belly lay like a log and died it was most
piteous that last expiring spout as when by unseen hands the water is
gradually drawn off from some mighty fountain and with half-stifled
melancholy gurglings the spray-column lowers and lowers to the
ground so the last long dying spout of the whale 

soon while the crews were awaiting the arrival of the ship the body
showed symptoms of sinking with all its treasures unrifled 
immediately by starbuck's orders lines were secured to it at
different points so that ere long every boat was a buoy the sunken
whale being suspended a few inches beneath them by the cords by very
heedful management when the ship drew nigh the whale was transferred
to her side and was strongly secured there by the stiffest
fluke-chains for it was plain that unless artificially upheld the
body would at once sink to the bottom 

it so chanced that almost upon first cutting into him with the spade 
the entire length of a corroded harpoon was found imbedded in his
flesh on the lower part of the bunch before described but as the
stumps of harpoons are frequently found in the dead bodies of captured
whales with the flesh perfectly healed around them and no prominence
of any kind to denote their place therefore there must needs have
been some other unknown reason in the present case fully to account for
the ulceration alluded to but still more curious was the fact of a
lance-head of stone being found in him not far from the buried iron 
the flesh perfectly firm about it who had darted that stone lance and
when it might have been darted by some nor west indian long before
america was discovered 

what other marvels might have been rummaged out of this monstrous
cabinet there is no telling but a sudden stop was put to further
discoveries by the ship's being unprecedentedly dragged over sideways
to the sea owing to the body's immensely increasing tendency to sink 
however starbuck who had the ordering of affairs hung on to it to
the last hung on to it so resolutely indeed that when at length the
ship would have been capsized if still persisting in locking arms with
the body then when the command was given to break clear from it such
was the immovable strain upon the timber-heads to which the
fluke-chains and cables were fastened that it was impossible to cast
them off meantime everything in the pequod was aslant to cross to the
other side of the deck was like walking up the steep gabled roof of a
house the ship groaned and gasped many of the ivory inlayings of her
bulwarks and cabins were started from their places by the unnatural
dislocation in vain handspikes and crows were brought to bear upon the
immovable fluke-chains to pry them adrift from the timberheads and so
low had the whale now settled that the submerged ends could not be at
all approached while every moment whole tons of ponderosity seemed
added to the sinking bulk and the ship seemed on the point of going
over 

 hold on hold on won't ye cried stubb to the body don't be in
such a devil of a hurry to sink by thunder men we must do something
or go for it no use prying there avast i say with your handspikes 
and run one of ye for a prayer book and a pen-knife and cut the big
chains 

 knife aye aye cried queequeg and seizing the carpenter's heavy
hatchet he leaned out of a porthole and steel to iron began slashing
at the largest fluke-chains but a few strokes full of sparks were
given when the exceeding strain effected the rest with a terrific
snap every fastening went adrift the ship righted the carcase sank 

now this occasional inevitable sinking of the recently killed sperm
whale is a very curious thing nor has any fisherman yet adequately
accounted for it usually the dead sperm whale floats with great
buoyancy with its side or belly considerably elevated above the
surface if the only whales that thus sank were old meagre and
broken-hearted creatures their pads of lard diminished and all their
bones heavy and rheumatic then you might with some reason assert that
this sinking is caused by an uncommon specific gravity in the fish so
sinking consequent upon this absence of buoyant matter in him but it
is not so for young whales in the highest health and swelling with
noble aspirations prematurely cut off in the warm flush and may of
life with all their panting lard about them even these brawny 
buoyant heroes do sometimes sink 

be it said however that the sperm whale is far less liable to this
accident than any other species where one of that sort go down twenty
right whales do this difference in the species is no doubt imputable
in no small degree to the greater quantity of bone in the right whale 
his venetian blinds alone sometimes weighing more than a ton from this
incumbrance the sperm whale is wholly free but there are instances
where after the lapse of many hours or several days the sunken whale
again rises more buoyant than in life but the reason of this is
obvious gases are generated in him he swells to a prodigious
magnitude becomes a sort of animal balloon a line-of-battle ship
could hardly keep him under then in the shore whaling on soundings 
among the bays of new zealand when a right whale gives token of
sinking they fasten buoys to him with plenty of rope so that when
the body has gone down they know where to look for it when it shall
have ascended again 

it was not long after the sinking of the body that a cry was heard from
the pequod's mast-heads announcing that the jungfrau was again
lowering her boats though the only spout in sight was that of a
fin-back belonging to the species of uncapturable whales because of
its incredible power of swimming nevertheless the fin-back's spout is
so similar to the sperm whale's that by unskilful fishermen it is
often mistaken for it and consequently derick and all his host were
now in valiant chase of this unnearable brute the virgin crowding all
sail made after her four young keels and thus they all disappeared
far to leeward still in bold hopeful chase 

oh many are the fin-backs and many are the dericks my friend 


chapter 82 the honor and glory of whaling 

there are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the
true method 

the more i dive into this matter of whaling and push my researches up
to the very spring-head of it so much the more am i impressed with its
great honorableness and antiquity and especially when i find so many
great demi-gods and heroes prophets of all sorts who one way or other
have shed distinction upon it i am transported with the reflection
that i myself belong though but subordinately to so emblazoned a
fraternity 

the gallant perseus a son of jupiter was the first whaleman and to
the eternal honor of our calling be it said that the first whale
attacked by our brotherhood was not killed with any sordid intent 
those were the knightly days of our profession when we only bore arms
to succor the distressed and not to fill men's lamp-feeders every one
knows the fine story of perseus and andromeda how the lovely
andromeda the daughter of a king was tied to a rock on the sea-coast 
and as leviathan was in the very act of carrying her off perseus the
prince of whalemen intrepidly advancing harpooned the monster and
delivered and married the maid it was an admirable artistic exploit 
rarely achieved by the best harpooneers of the present day inasmuch as
this leviathan was slain at the very first dart and let no man doubt
this arkite story for in the ancient joppa now jaffa on the syrian
coast in one of the pagan temples there stood for many ages the vast
skeleton of a whale which the city's legends and all the inhabitants
asserted to be the identical bones of the monster that perseus slew 
when the romans took joppa the same skeleton was carried to italy in
triumph what seems most singular and suggestively important in this
story is this it was from joppa that jonah set sail 

akin to the adventure of perseus and andromeda indeed by some supposed
to be indirectly derived from it is that famous story of st george and
the dragon which dragon i maintain to have been a whale for in many
old chronicles whales and dragons are strangely jumbled together and
often stand for each other thou art as a lion of the waters and as a
dragon of the sea saith ezekiel hereby plainly meaning a whale in
truth some versions of the bible use that word itself besides it
would much subtract from the glory of the exploit had st george but
encountered a crawling reptile of the land instead of doing battle
with the great monster of the deep any man may kill a snake but only
a perseus a st george a coffin have the heart in them to march
boldly up to a whale 

let not the modern paintings of this scene mislead us for though the
creature encountered by that valiant whaleman of old is vaguely
represented of a griffin-like shape and though the battle is depicted
on land and the saint on horseback yet considering the great ignorance
of those times when the true form of the whale was unknown to artists 
and considering that as in perseus case st george's whale might have
crawled up out of the sea on the beach and considering that the animal
ridden by st george might have been only a large seal or sea-horse 
bearing all this in mind it will not appear altogether incompatible
with the sacred legend and the ancientest draughts of the scene to
hold this so-called dragon no other than the great leviathan himself 
in fact placed before the strict and piercing truth this whole story
will fare like that fish flesh and fowl idol of the philistines 
dagon by name who being planted before the ark of israel his horse's
head and both the palms of his hands fell off from him and only the
stump or fishy part of him remained thus then one of our own noble
stamp even a whaleman is the tutelary guardian of england and by
good rights we harpooneers of nantucket should be enrolled in the most
noble order of st george and therefore let not the knights of that
honorable company none of whom i venture to say have ever had to do
with a whale like their great patron let them never eye a nantucketer
with disdain since even in our woollen frocks and tarred trowsers we
are much better entitled to st george's decoration than they 

whether to admit hercules among us or not concerning this i long
remained dubious for though according to the greek mythologies that
antique crockett and kit carson that brawny doer of rejoicing good
deeds was swallowed down and thrown up by a whale still whether that
strictly makes a whaleman of him that might be mooted it nowhere
appears that he ever actually harpooned his fish unless indeed from
the inside nevertheless he may be deemed a sort of involuntary
whaleman at any rate the whale caught him if he did not the whale i
claim him for one of our clan 

but by the best contradictory authorities this grecian story of
hercules and the whale is considered to be derived from the still more
ancient hebrew story of jonah and the whale and vice versa certainly
they are very similar if i claim the demi-god then why not the
prophet 

nor do heroes saints demigods and prophets alone comprise the whole
roll of our order our grand master is still to be named for like
royal kings of old times we find the head waters of our fraternity in
nothing short of the great gods themselves that wondrous oriental
story is now to be rehearsed from the shaster which gives us the dread
vishnoo one of the three persons in the godhead of the hindoos gives
us this divine vishnoo himself for our lord vishnoo who by the first
of his ten earthly incarnations has for ever set apart and sanctified
the whale when brahma or the god of gods saith the shaster resolved
to recreate the world after one of its periodical dissolutions he gave
birth to vishnoo to preside over the work but the vedas or mystical
books whose perusal would seem to have been indispensable to vishnoo
before beginning the creation and which therefore must have contained
something in the shape of practical hints to young architects these
vedas were lying at the bottom of the waters so vishnoo became
incarnate in a whale and sounding down in him to the uttermost depths 
rescued the sacred volumes was not this vishnoo a whaleman then even
as a man who rides a horse is called a horseman 

perseus st george hercules jonah and vishnoo there's a
member-roll for you what club but the whaleman's can head off like
that 


chapter 83 jonah historically regarded 

reference was made to the historical story of jonah and the whale in
the preceding chapter now some nantucketers rather distrust this
historical story of jonah and the whale but then there were some
sceptical greeks and romans who standing out from the orthodox pagans
of their times equally doubted the story of hercules and the whale 
and arion and the dolphin and yet their doubting those traditions did
not make those traditions one whit the less facts for all that 

one old sag-harbor whaleman's chief reason for questioning the hebrew
story was this he had one of those quaint old-fashioned bibles 
embellished with curious unscientific plates one of which represented
jonah's whale with two spouts in his head a peculiarity only true with
respect to a species of the leviathan the right whale and the
varieties of that order concerning which the fishermen have this
saying a penny roll would choke him his swallow is so very small 
but to this bishop jebb's anticipative answer is ready it is not
necessary hints the bishop that we consider jonah as tombed in the
whale's belly but as temporarily lodged in some part of his mouth and
this seems reasonable enough in the good bishop for truly the right
whale's mouth would accommodate a couple of whist-tables and
comfortably seat all the players possibly too jonah might have
ensconced himself in a hollow tooth but on second thoughts the right
whale is toothless 

another reason which sag-harbor he went by that name urged for his
want of faith in this matter of the prophet was something obscurely in
reference to his incarcerated body and the whale's gastric juices but
this objection likewise falls to the ground because a german exegetist
supposes that jonah must have taken refuge in the floating body of a
 dead whale even as the french soldiers in the russian campaign turned
their dead horses into tents and crawled into them besides it has
been divined by other continental commentators that when jonah was
thrown overboard from the joppa ship he straightway effected his
escape to another vessel near by some vessel with a whale for a
figure-head and i would add possibly called the whale as some
craft are nowadays christened the shark the gull the eagle nor
have there been wanting learned exegetists who have opined that the
whale mentioned in the book of jonah merely meant a life-preserver an
inflated bag of wind which the endangered prophet swam to and so was
saved from a watery doom poor sag-harbor therefore seems worsted all
round but he had still another reason for his want of faith it was
this if i remember right jonah was swallowed by the whale in the
mediterranean sea and after three days he was vomited up somewhere
within three days journey of nineveh a city on the tigris very much
more than three days journey across from the nearest point of the
mediterranean coast how is that 

but was there no other way for the whale to land the prophet within
that short distance of nineveh yes he might have carried him round by
the way of the cape of good hope but not to speak of the passage
through the whole length of the mediterranean and another passage up
the persian gulf and red sea such a supposition would involve the
complete circumnavigation of all africa in three days not to speak of
the tigris waters near the site of nineveh being too shallow for any
whale to swim in besides this idea of jonah's weathering the cape of
good hope at so early a day would wrest the honor of the discovery of
that great headland from bartholomew diaz its reputed discoverer and
so make modern history a liar 

but all these foolish arguments of old sag-harbor only evinced his
foolish pride of reason a thing still more reprehensible in him seeing
that he had but little learning except what he had picked up from the
sun and the sea i say it only shows his foolish impious pride and
abominable devilish rebellion against the reverend clergy for by a
portuguese catholic priest this very idea of jonah's going to nineveh
via the cape of good hope was advanced as a signal magnification of the
general miracle and so it was besides to this day the highly
enlightened turks devoutly believe in the historical story of jonah 
and some three centuries ago an english traveller in old harris's
voyages speaks of a turkish mosque built in honor of jonah in which
mosque was a miraculous lamp that burnt without any oil 


chapter 84 pitchpoling 

to make them run easily and swiftly the axles of carriages are
anointed and for much the same purpose some whalers perform an
analogous operation upon their boat they grease the bottom nor is it
to be doubted that as such a procedure can do no harm it may possibly
be of no contemptible advantage considering that oil and water are
hostile that oil is a sliding thing and that the object in view is to
make the boat slide bravely queequeg believed strongly in anointing
his boat and one morning not long after the german ship jungfrau
disappeared took more than customary pains in that occupation 
crawling under its bottom where it hung over the side and rubbing in
the unctuousness as though diligently seeking to insure a crop of hair
from the craft's bald keel he seemed to be working in obedience to
some particular presentiment nor did it remain unwarranted by the
event 

towards noon whales were raised but so soon as the ship sailed down to
them they turned and fled with swift precipitancy a disordered
flight as of cleopatra's barges from actium 

nevertheless the boats pursued and stubb's was foremost by great
exertion tashtego at last succeeded in planting one iron but the
stricken whale without at all sounding still continued his horizontal
flight with added fleetness such unintermitted strainings upon the
planted iron must sooner or later inevitably extract it it became
imperative to lance the flying whale or be content to lose him but to
haul the boat up to his flank was impossible he swam so fast and
furious what then remained 

of all the wondrous devices and dexterities the sleights of hand and
countless subtleties to which the veteran whaleman is so often forced 
none exceed that fine manoeuvre with the lance called pitchpoling small
sword or broad sword in all its exercises boasts nothing like it it
is only indispensable with an inveterate running whale its grand fact
and feature is the wonderful distance to which the long lance is
accurately darted from a violently rocking jerking boat under extreme
headway steel and wood included the entire spear is some ten or
twelve feet in length the staff is much slighter than that of the
harpoon and also of a lighter material pine it is furnished with a
small rope called a warp of considerable length by which it can be
hauled back to the hand after darting 

but before going further it is important to mention here that though
the harpoon may be pitchpoled in the same way with the lance yet it is
seldom done and when done is still less frequently successful on
account of the greater weight and inferior length of the harpoon as
compared with the lance which in effect become serious drawbacks as a
general thing therefore you must first get fast to a whale before
any pitchpoling comes into play 

look now at stubb a man who from his humorous deliberate coolness and
equanimity in the direst emergencies was specially qualified to excel
in pitchpoling look at him he stands upright in the tossed bow of the
flying boat wrapt in fleecy foam the towing whale is forty feet
ahead handling the long lance lightly glancing twice or thrice along
its length to see if it be exactly straight stubb whistlingly gathers
up the coil of the warp in one hand so as to secure its free end in
his grasp leaving the rest unobstructed then holding the lance full
before his waistband's middle he levels it at the whale when 
covering him with it he steadily depresses the butt-end in his hand 
thereby elevating the point till the weapon stands fairly balanced upon
his palm fifteen feet in the air he minds you somewhat of a juggler 
balancing a long staff on his chin next moment with a rapid nameless
impulse in a superb lofty arch the bright steel spans the foaming
distance and quivers in the life spot of the whale instead of
sparkling water he now spouts red blood 

 that drove the spigot out of him cried stubb tis july's immortal
fourth all fountains must run wine today would now it were old
orleans whiskey or old ohio or unspeakable old monongahela then 
tashtego lad i'd have ye hold a canakin to the jet and we'd drink
round it yea verily hearts alive we'd brew choice punch in the
spread of his spout-hole there and from that live punch-bowl quaff the
living stuff 

again and again to such gamesome talk the dexterous dart is repeated 
the spear returning to its master like a greyhound held in skilful
leash the agonized whale goes into his flurry the tow-line is
slackened and the pitchpoler dropping astern folds his hands and
mutely watches the monster die 


chapter 85 the fountain 

that for six thousand years and no one knows how many millions of ages
before the great whales should have been spouting all over the sea and
sprinkling and mistifying the gardens of the deep as with so many
sprinkling or mistifying pots and that for some centuries back 
thousands of hunters should have been close by the fountain of the
whale watching these sprinklings and spoutings that all this should
be and yet that down to this blessed minute fifteen and a quarter
minutes past one o'clock p m of this sixteenth day of december a d 
1851 it should still remain a problem whether these spoutings are 
after all really water or nothing but vapor this is surely a
noteworthy thing 

let us then look at this matter along with some interesting items
contingent every one knows that by the peculiar cunning of their
gills the finny tribes in general breathe the air which at all times
is combined with the element in which they swim hence a herring or a
cod might live a century and never once raise its head above the
surface but owing to his marked internal structure which gives him
regular lungs like a human being's the whale can only live by
inhaling the disengaged air in the open atmosphere wherefore the
necessity for his periodical visits to the upper world but he cannot
in any degree breathe through his mouth for in his ordinary attitude 
the sperm whale's mouth is buried at least eight feet beneath the
surface and what is still more his windpipe has no connexion with his
mouth no he breathes through his spiracle alone and this is on the
top of his head 

if i say that in any creature breathing is only a function
indispensable to vitality inasmuch as it withdraws from the air a
certain element which being subsequently brought into contact with the
blood imparts to the blood its vivifying principle i do not think i
shall err though i may possibly use some superfluous scientific words 
assume it and it follows that if all the blood in a man could be
aerated with one breath he might then seal up his nostrils and not
fetch another for a considerable time that is to say he would then
live without breathing anomalous as it may seem this is precisely the
case with the whale who systematically lives by intervals his full
hour and more when at the bottom without drawing a single breath or
so much as in any way inhaling a particle of air for remember he has
no gills how is this between his ribs and on each side of his spine
he is supplied with a remarkable involved cretan labyrinth of
vermicelli-like vessels which vessels when he quits the surface are
completely distended with oxygenated blood so that for an hour or
more a thousand fathoms in the sea he carries a surplus stock of
vitality in him just as the camel crossing the waterless desert
carries a surplus supply of drink for future use in its four
supplementary stomachs the anatomical fact of this labyrinth is
indisputable and that the supposition founded upon it is reasonable
and true seems the more cogent to me when i consider the otherwise
inexplicable obstinacy of that leviathan in having his spoutings out 
as the fishermen phrase it this is what i mean if unmolested upon
rising to the surface the sperm whale will continue there for a period
of time exactly uniform with all his other unmolested risings say he
stays eleven minutes and jets seventy times that is respires seventy
breaths then whenever he rises again he will be sure to have his
seventy breaths over again to a minute now if after he fetches a few
breaths you alarm him so that he sounds he will be always dodging up
again to make good his regular allowance of air and not till those
seventy breaths are told will he finally go down to stay out his full
term below remark however that in different individuals these rates
are different but in any one they are alike now why should the whale
thus insist upon having his spoutings out unless it be to replenish
his reservoir of air ere descending for good how obvious is it too 
that this necessity for the whale's rising exposes him to all the fatal
hazards of the chase for not by hook or by net could this vast
leviathan be caught when sailing a thousand fathoms beneath the
sunlight not so much thy skill then o hunter as the great
necessities that strike the victory to thee 

in man breathing is incessantly going on one breath only serving for
two or three pulsations so that whatever other business he has to
attend to waking or sleeping breathe he must or die he will but the
sperm whale only breathes about one seventh or sunday of his time 

it has been said that the whale only breathes through his spout-hole 
if it could truthfully be added that his spouts are mixed with water 
then i opine we should be furnished with the reason why his sense of
smell seems obliterated in him for the only thing about him that at
all answers to his nose is that identical spout-hole and being so
clogged with two elements it could not be expected to have the power
of smelling but owing to the mystery of the spout whether it be water
or whether it be vapor no absolute certainty can as yet be arrived at
on this head sure it is nevertheless that the sperm whale has no
proper olfactories but what does he want of them no roses no
violets no cologne-water in the sea 

furthermore as his windpipe solely opens into the tube of his spouting
canal and as that long canal like the grand erie canal is furnished
with a sort of locks that open and shut for the downward retention of
air or the upward exclusion of water therefore the whale has no voice 
unless you insult him by saying that when he so strangely rumbles he
talks through his nose but then again what has the whale to say 
seldom have i known any profound being that had anything to say to this
world unless forced to stammer out something by way of getting a
living oh happy that the world is such an excellent listener 

now the spouting canal of the sperm whale chiefly intended as it is
for the conveyance of air and for several feet laid along 
horizontally just beneath the upper surface of his head and a little
to one side this curious canal is very much like a gas-pipe laid down
in a city on one side of a street but the question returns whether
this gas-pipe is also a water-pipe in other words whether the spout
of the sperm whale is the mere vapor of the exhaled breath or whether
that exhaled breath is mixed with water taken in at the mouth and
discharged through the spiracle it is certain that the mouth
indirectly communicates with the spouting canal but it cannot be
proved that this is for the purpose of discharging water through the
spiracle because the greatest necessity for so doing would seem to be 
when in feeding he accidentally takes in water but the sperm whale's
food is far beneath the surface and there he cannot spout even if he
would besides if you regard him very closely and time him with your
watch you will find that when unmolested there is an undeviating
rhyme between the periods of his jets and the ordinary periods of
respiration 

but why pester one with all this reasoning on the subject speak out 
you have seen him spout then declare what the spout is can you not
tell water from air my dear sir in this world it is not so easy to
settle these plain things i have ever found your plain things the
knottiest of all and as for this whale spout you might almost stand
in it and yet be undecided as to what it is precisely 

the central body of it is hidden in the snowy sparkling mist enveloping
it and how can you certainly tell whether any water falls from it 
when always when you are close enough to a whale to get a close view
of his spout he is in a prodigious commotion the water cascading all
around him and if at such times you should think that you really
perceived drops of moisture in the spout how do you know that they are
not merely condensed from its vapor or how do you know that they are
not those identical drops superficially lodged in the spout-hole
fissure which is countersunk into the summit of the whale's head for
even when tranquilly swimming through the mid-day sea in a calm with
his elevated hump sun-dried as a dromedary's in the desert even then 
the whale always carries a small basin of water on his head as under a
blazing sun you will sometimes see a cavity in a rock filled up with
rain 

nor is it at all prudent for the hunter to be over curious touching the
precise nature of the whale spout it will not do for him to be peering
into it and putting his face in it you cannot go with your pitcher to
this fountain and fill it and bring it away for even when coming into
slight contact with the outer vapory shreds of the jet which will
often happen your skin will feverishly smart from the acridness of
the thing so touching it and i know one who coming into still closer
contact with the spout whether with some scientific object in view or
otherwise i cannot say the skin peeled off from his cheek and arm 
wherefore among whalemen the spout is deemed poisonous they try to
evade it another thing i have heard it said and i do not much doubt
it that if the jet is fairly spouted into your eyes it will blind
you the wisest thing the investigator can do then it seems to me is
to let this deadly spout alone 

still we can hypothesize even if we cannot prove and establish my
hypothesis is this that the spout is nothing but mist and besides
other reasons to this conclusion i am impelled by considerations
touching the great inherent dignity and sublimity of the sperm whale i
account him no common shallow being inasmuch as it is an undisputed
fact that he is never found on soundings or near shores all other
whales sometimes are he is both ponderous and profound and i am
convinced that from the heads of all ponderous profound beings such as
plato pyrrho the devil jupiter dante and so on there always goes
up a certain semi-visible steam while in the act of thinking deep
thoughts while composing a little treatise on eternity i had the
curiosity to place a mirror before me and ere long saw reflected
there a curious involved worming and undulation in the atmosphere over
my head the invariable moisture of my hair while plunged in deep
thought after six cups of hot tea in my thin shingled attic of an
august noon this seems an additional argument for the above
supposition 

and how nobly it raises our conceit of the mighty misty monster to
behold him solemnly sailing through a calm tropical sea his vast mild
head overhung by a canopy of vapor engendered by his incommunicable
contemplations and that vapor as you will sometimes see it glorified
by a rainbow as if heaven itself had put its seal upon his thoughts 
for d'ye see rainbows do not visit the clear air they only irradiate
vapor and so through all the thick mists of the dim doubts in my
mind divine intuitions now and then shoot enkindling my fog with a
heavenly ray and for this i thank god for all have doubts many deny 
but doubts or denials few along with them have intuitions doubts of
all things earthly and intuitions of some things heavenly this
combination makes neither believer nor infidel but makes a man who
regards them both with equal eye 


chapter 86 the tail 

other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope 
and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights less celestial 
i celebrate a tail 

reckoning the largest sized sperm whale's tail to begin at that point
of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man it comprises
upon its upper surface alone an area of at least fifty square feet 
the compact round body of its root expands into two broad firm flat
palms or flukes gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in
thickness at the crotch or junction these flukes slightly overlap 
then sideways recede from each other like wings leaving a wide vacancy
between in no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely
defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes at its utmost
expansion in the full grown whale the tail will considerably exceed
twenty feet across 

the entire member seems a dense webbed bed of welded sinews but cut
into it and you find that three distinct strata compose it upper 
middle and lower the fibres in the upper and lower layers are long
and horizontal those of the middle one very short and running
crosswise between the outside layers this triune structure as much as
anything else imparts power to the tail to the student of old roman
walls the middle layer will furnish a curious parallel to the thin
course of tiles always alternating with the stone in those wonderful
relics of the antique and which undoubtedly contribute so much to the
great strength of the masonry 

but as if this vast local power in the tendinous tail were not enough 
the whole bulk of the leviathan is knit over with a warp and woof of
muscular fibres and filaments which passing on either side the loins
and running down into the flukes insensibly blend with them and
largely contribute to their might so that in the tail the confluent
measureless force of the whole whale seems concentrated to a point 
could annihilation occur to matter this were the thing to do it 

nor does this its amazing strength at all tend to cripple the graceful
flexion of its motions where infantileness of ease undulates through a
titanism of power on the contrary those motions derive their most
appalling beauty from it real strength never impairs beauty or
harmony but it often bestows it and in everything imposingly
beautiful strength has much to do with the magic take away the tied
tendons that all over seem bursting from the marble in the carved
hercules and its charm would be gone as devout eckerman lifted the
linen sheet from the naked corpse of goethe he was overwhelmed with
the massive chest of the man that seemed as a roman triumphal arch 
when angelo paints even god the father in human form mark what
robustness is there and whatever they may reveal of the divine love in
the son the soft curled hermaphroditical italian pictures in which
his idea has been most successfully embodied these pictures so
destitute as they are of all brawniness hint nothing of any power but
the mere negative feminine one of submission and endurance which on
all hands it is conceded form the peculiar practical virtues of his
teachings 

such is the subtle elasticity of the organ i treat of that whether
wielded in sport or in earnest or in anger whatever be the mood it
be in its flexions are invariably marked by exceeding grace therein
no fairy's arm can transcend it 

five great motions are peculiar to it first when used as a fin for
progression second when used as a mace in battle third in sweeping 
fourth in lobtailing fifth in peaking flukes 

first being horizontal in its position the leviathan's tail acts in a
different manner from the tails of all other sea creatures it never
wriggles in man or fish wriggling is a sign of inferiority to the
whale his tail is the sole means of propulsion scroll-wise coiled
forwards beneath the body and then rapidly sprung backwards it is
this which gives that singular darting leaping motion to the monster
when furiously swimming his side-fins only serve to steer by 

second it is a little significant that while one sperm whale only
fights another sperm whale with his head and jaw nevertheless in his
conflicts with man he chiefly and contemptuously uses his tail in
striking at a boat he swiftly curves away his flukes from it and the
blow is only inflicted by the recoil if it be made in the unobstructed
air especially if it descend to its mark the stroke is then simply
irresistible no ribs of man or boat can withstand it your only
salvation lies in eluding it but if it comes sideways through the
opposing water then partly owing to the light buoyancy of the
whale-boat and the elasticity of its materials a cracked rib or a
dashed plank or two a sort of stitch in the side is generally the
most serious result these submerged side blows are so often received
in the fishery that they are accounted mere child's play some one
strips off a frock and the hole is stopped 

third i cannot demonstrate it but it seems to me that in the whale
the sense of touch is concentrated in the tail for in this respect
there is a delicacy in it only equalled by the daintiness of the
elephant's trunk this delicacy is chiefly evinced in the action of
sweeping when in maidenly gentleness the whale with a certain soft
slowness moves his immense flukes from side to side upon the surface of
the sea and if he feel but a sailor's whisker woe to that sailor 
whiskers and all what tenderness there is in that preliminary touch 
had this tail any prehensile power i should straightway bethink me of
darmonodes elephant that so frequented the flower-market and with low
salutations presented nosegays to damsels and then caressed their
zones on more accounts than one a pity it is that the whale does not
possess this prehensile virtue in his tail for i have heard of yet
another elephant that when wounded in the fight curved round his
trunk and extracted the dart 

fourth stealing unawares upon the whale in the fancied security of the
middle of solitary seas you find him unbent from the vast corpulence
of his dignity and kitten-like he plays on the ocean as if it were a
hearth but still you see his power in his play the broad palms of his
tail are flirted high into the air then smiting the surface the
thunderous concussion resounds for miles you would almost think a
great gun had been discharged and if you noticed the light wreath of
vapor from the spiracle at his other extremity you would think that
that was the smoke from the touch-hole 

fifth as in the ordinary floating posture of the leviathan the flukes
lie considerably below the level of his back they are then completely
out of sight beneath the surface but when he is about to plunge into
the deeps his entire flukes with at least thirty feet of his body are
tossed erect in the air and so remain vibrating a moment till they
downwards shoot out of view excepting the sublime breach somewhere
else to be described this peaking of the whale's flukes is perhaps the
grandest sight to be seen in all animated nature out of the bottomless
profundities the gigantic tail seems spasmodically snatching at the
highest heaven so in dreams have i seen majestic satan thrusting
forth his tormented colossal claw from the flame baltic of hell but in
gazing at such scenes it is all in all what mood you are in if in the
dantean the devils will occur to you if in that of isaiah the
archangels standing at the mast-head of my ship during a sunrise that
crimsoned sky and sea i once saw a large herd of whales in the east 
all heading towards the sun and for a moment vibrating in concert with
peaked flukes as it seemed to me at the time such a grand embodiment
of adoration of the gods was never beheld even in persia the home of
the fire worshippers as ptolemy philopater testified of the african
elephant i then testified of the whale pronouncing him the most
devout of all beings for according to king juba the military
elephants of antiquity often hailed the morning with their trunks
uplifted in the profoundest silence 

the chance comparison in this chapter between the whale and the
elephant so far as some aspects of the tail of the one and the trunk
of the other are concerned should not tend to place those two opposite
organs on an equality much less the creatures to which they
respectively belong for as the mightiest elephant is but a terrier to
leviathan so compared with leviathan's tail his trunk is but the
stalk of a lily the most direful blow from the elephant's trunk were
as the playful tap of a fan compared with the measureless crush and
crash of the sperm whale's ponderous flukes which in repeated
instances have one after the other hurled entire boats with all their
oars and crews into the air very much as an indian juggler tosses his
balls 

 though all comparison in the way of general bulk between the whale and
the elephant is preposterous inasmuch as in that particular the
elephant stands in much the same respect to the whale that a dog does
to the elephant nevertheless there are not wanting some points of
curious similitude among these is the spout it is well known that the
elephant will often draw up water or dust in his trunk and then
elevating it jet it forth in a stream 

the more i consider this mighty tail the more do i deplore my
inability to express it at times there are gestures in it which 
though they would well grace the hand of man remain wholly
inexplicable in an extensive herd so remarkable occasionally are
these mystic gestures that i have heard hunters who have declared them
akin to free-mason signs and symbols that the whale indeed by these
methods intelligently conversed with the world nor are there wanting
other motions of the whale in his general body full of strangeness 
and unaccountable to his most experienced assailant dissect him how i
may then i but go skin deep i know him not and never will but if i
know not even the tail of this whale how understand his head much
more how comprehend his face when face he has none thou shalt see my
back parts my tail he seems to say but my face shall not be seen 
but i cannot completely make out his back parts and hint what he will
about his face i say again he has no face 


chapter 87 the grand armada 

the long and narrow peninsula of malacca extending south-eastward from
the territories of birmah forms the most southerly point of all asia 
in a continuous line from that peninsula stretch the long islands of
sumatra java bally and timor which with many others form a vast
mole or rampart lengthwise connecting asia with australia and
dividing the long unbroken indian ocean from the thickly studded
oriental archipelagoes this rampart is pierced by several sally-ports
for the convenience of ships and whales conspicuous among which are
the straits of sunda and malacca by the straits of sunda chiefly 
vessels bound to china from the west emerge into the china seas 

those narrow straits of sunda divide sumatra from java and standing
midway in that vast rampart of islands buttressed by that bold green
promontory known to seamen as java head they not a little correspond
to the central gateway opening into some vast walled empire and
considering the inexhaustible wealth of spices and silks and jewels 
and gold and ivory with which the thousand islands of that oriental
sea are enriched it seems a significant provision of nature that such
treasures by the very formation of the land should at least bear the
appearance however ineffectual of being guarded from the all-grasping
western world the shores of the straits of sunda are unsupplied with
those domineering fortresses which guard the entrances to the
mediterranean the baltic and the propontis unlike the danes these
orientals do not demand the obsequious homage of lowered top-sails from
the endless procession of ships before the wind which for centuries
past by night and by day have passed between the islands of sumatra
and java freighted with the costliest cargoes of the east but while
they freely waive a ceremonial like this they do by no means renounce
their claim to more solid tribute 

time out of mind the piratical proas of the malays lurking among the
low shaded coves and islets of sumatra have sallied out upon the
vessels sailing through the straits fiercely demanding tribute at the
point of their spears though by the repeated bloody chastisements they
have received at the hands of european cruisers the audacity of these
corsairs has of late been somewhat repressed yet even at the present
day we occasionally hear of english and american vessels which in
those waters have been remorselessly boarded and pillaged 

with a fair fresh wind the pequod was now drawing nigh to these
straits ahab purposing to pass through them into the javan sea and
thence cruising northwards over waters known to be frequented here
and there by the sperm whale sweep inshore by the philippine islands 
and gain the far coast of japan in time for the great whaling season
there by these means the circumnavigating pequod would sweep almost
all the known sperm whale cruising grounds of the world previous to
descending upon the line in the pacific where ahab though everywhere
else foiled in his pursuit firmly counted upon giving battle to moby
dick in the sea he was most known to frequent and at a season when he
might most reasonably be presumed to be haunting it 

but how now in this zoned quest does ahab touch no land does his
crew drink air surely he will stop for water nay for a long time 
now the circus-running sun has raced within his fiery ring and needs
no sustenance but what's in himself so ahab mark this too in the
whaler while other hulls are loaded down with alien stuff to be
transferred to foreign wharves the world-wandering whale-ship carries
no cargo but herself and crew their weapons and their wants she has a
whole lake's contents bottled in her ample hold she is ballasted with
utilities not altogether with unusable pig-lead and kentledge she
carries years water in her clear old prime nantucket water which 
when three years afloat the nantucketer in the pacific prefers to
drink before the brackish fluid but yesterday rafted off in casks 
from the peruvian or indian streams hence it is that while other
ships may have gone to china from new york and back again touching at
a score of ports the whale-ship in all that interval may not have
sighted one grain of soil her crew having seen no man but floating
seamen like themselves so that did you carry them the news that
another flood had come they would only answer well boys here's the
ark 

now as many sperm whales had been captured off the western coast of
java in the near vicinity of the straits of sunda indeed as most of
the ground roundabout was generally recognised by the fishermen as an
excellent spot for cruising therefore as the pequod gained more and
more upon java head the look-outs were repeatedly hailed and
admonished to keep wide awake but though the green palmy cliffs of the
land soon loomed on the starboard bow and with delighted nostrils the
fresh cinnamon was snuffed in the air yet not a single jet was
descried almost renouncing all thought of falling in with any game
hereabouts the ship had well nigh entered the straits when the
customary cheering cry was heard from aloft and ere long a spectacle
of singular magnificence saluted us 

but here be it premised that owing to the unwearied activity with
which of late they have been hunted over all four oceans the sperm
whales instead of almost invariably sailing in small detached
companies as in former times are now frequently met with in extensive
herds sometimes embracing so great a multitude that it would almost
seem as if numerous nations of them had sworn solemn league and
covenant for mutual assistance and protection to this aggregation of
the sperm whale into such immense caravans may be imputed the
circumstance that even in the best cruising grounds you may now
sometimes sail for weeks and months together without being greeted by
a single spout and then be suddenly saluted by what sometimes seems
thousands on thousands 

broad on both bows at the distance of some two or three miles and
forming a great semicircle embracing one half of the level horizon a
continuous chain of whale-jets were up-playing and sparkling in the
noon-day air unlike the straight perpendicular twin-jets of the right
whale which dividing at top fall over in two branches like the
cleft drooping boughs of a willow the single forward-slanting spout of
the sperm whale presents a thick curled bush of white mist continually
rising and falling away to leeward 

seen from the pequod's deck then as she would rise on a high hill of
the sea this host of vapory spouts individually curling up into the
air and beheld through a blending atmosphere of bluish haze showed
like the thousand cheerful chimneys of some dense metropolis descried
of a balmy autumnal morning by some horseman on a height 

as marching armies approaching an unfriendly defile in the mountains 
accelerate their march all eagerness to place that perilous passage in
their rear and once more expand in comparative security upon the
plain even so did this vast fleet of whales now seem hurrying forward
through the straits gradually contracting the wings of their
semicircle and swimming on in one solid but still crescentic centre 

crowding all sail the pequod pressed after them the harpooneers
handling their weapons and loudly cheering from the heads of their yet
suspended boats if the wind only held little doubt had they that
chased through these straits of sunda the vast host would only deploy
into the oriental seas to witness the capture of not a few of their
number and who could tell whether in that congregated caravan moby
dick himself might not temporarily be swimming like the worshipped
white-elephant in the coronation procession of the siamese so with
stun-sail piled on stun-sail we sailed along driving these leviathans
before us when of a sudden the voice of tashtego was heard loudly
directing attention to something in our wake 

corresponding to the crescent in our van we beheld another in our
rear it seemed formed of detached white vapors rising and falling
something like the spouts of the whales only they did not so
completely come and go for they constantly hovered without finally
disappearing levelling his glass at this sight ahab quickly revolved
in his pivot-hole crying aloft there and rig whips and buckets to
wet the sails malays sir and after us 

as if too long lurking behind the headlands till the pequod should
fairly have entered the straits these rascally asiatics were now in
hot pursuit to make up for their over-cautious delay but when the
swift pequod with a fresh leading wind was herself in hot chase how
very kind of these tawny philanthropists to assist in speeding her on
to her own chosen pursuit mere riding-whips and rowels to her that
they were as with glass under arm ahab to-and-fro paced the deck in
his forward turn beholding the monsters he chased and in the after one
the bloodthirsty pirates chasing him some such fancy as the above
seemed his and when he glanced upon the green walls of the watery
defile in which the ship was then sailing and bethought him that
through that gate lay the route to his vengeance and beheld how that
through that same gate he was now both chasing and being chased to his
deadly end and not only that but a herd of remorseless wild pirates
and inhuman atheistical devils were infernally cheering him on with
their curses when all these conceits had passed through his brain 
ahab's brow was left gaunt and ribbed like the black sand beach after
some stormy tide has been gnawing it without being able to drag the
firm thing from its place 

but thoughts like these troubled very few of the reckless crew and
when after steadily dropping and dropping the pirates astern the
pequod at last shot by the vivid green cockatoo point on the sumatra
side emerging at last upon the broad waters beyond then the
harpooneers seemed more to grieve that the swift whales had been
gaining upon the ship than to rejoice that the ship had so
victoriously gained upon the malays but still driving on in the wake
of the whales at length they seemed abating their speed gradually the
ship neared them and the wind now dying away word was passed to
spring to the boats but no sooner did the herd by some presumed
wonderful instinct of the sperm whale become notified of the three
keels that were after them though as yet a mile in their rear than
they rallied again and forming in close ranks and battalions so that
their spouts all looked like flashing lines of stacked bayonets moved
on with redoubled velocity 

stripped to our shirts and drawers we sprang to the white-ash and
after several hours pulling were almost disposed to renounce the
chase when a general pausing commotion among the whales gave animating
token that they were now at last under the influence of that strange
perplexity of inert irresolution which when the fishermen perceive it
in the whale they say he is gallied the compact martial columns in
which they had been hitherto rapidly and steadily swimming were now
broken up in one measureless rout and like king porus elephants in
the indian battle with alexander they seemed going mad with
consternation in all directions expanding in vast irregular circles 
and aimlessly swimming hither and thither by their short thick
spoutings they plainly betrayed their distraction of panic this was
still more strangely evinced by those of their number who completely
paralysed as it were helplessly floated like water-logged dismantled
ships on the sea had these leviathans been but a flock of simple
sheep pursued over the pasture by three fierce wolves they could not
possibly have evinced such excessive dismay but this occasional
timidity is characteristic of almost all herding creatures though
banding together in tens of thousands the lion-maned buffaloes of the
west have fled before a solitary horseman witness too all human
beings how when herded together in the sheepfold of a theatre's pit 
they will at the slightest alarm of fire rush helter-skelter for the
outlets crowding trampling jamming and remorselessly dashing each
other to death best therefore withhold any amazement at the
strangely gallied whales before us for there is no folly of the beasts
of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men 

though many of the whales as has been said were in violent motion 
yet it is to be observed that as a whole the herd neither advanced nor
retreated but collectively remained in one place as is customary in
those cases the boats at once separated each making for some one lone
whale on the outskirts of the shoal in about three minutes time 
queequeg's harpoon was flung the stricken fish darted blinding spray
in our faces and then running away with us like light steered
straight for the heart of the herd though such a movement on the part
of the whale struck under such circumstances is in no wise
unprecedented and indeed is almost always more or less anticipated 
yet does it present one of the more perilous vicissitudes of the
fishery for as the swift monster drags you deeper and deeper into the
frantic shoal you bid adieu to circumspect life and only exist in a
delirious throb 

as blind and deaf the whale plunged forward as if by sheer power of
speed to rid himself of the iron leech that had fastened to him as we
thus tore a white gash in the sea on all sides menaced as we flew by
the crazed creatures to and fro rushing about us our beset boat was
like a ship mobbed by ice-isles in a tempest and striving to steer
through their complicated channels and straits knowing not at what
moment it may be locked in and crushed 

but not a bit daunted queequeg steered us manfully now sheering off
from this monster directly across our route in advance now edging away
from that whose colossal flukes were suspended overhead while all the
time starbuck stood up in the bows lance in hand pricking out of our
way whatever whales he could reach by short darts for there was no
time to make long ones nor were the oarsmen quite idle though their
wonted duty was now altogether dispensed with they chiefly attended to
the shouting part of the business out of the way commodore cried
one to a great dromedary that of a sudden rose bodily to the surface 
and for an instant threatened to swamp us hard down with your tail 
there cried a second to another which close to our gunwale seemed
calmly cooling himself with his own fan-like extremity 

all whaleboats carry certain curious contrivances originally invented
by the nantucket indians called druggs two thick squares of wood of
equal size are stoutly clenched together so that they cross each
other's grain at right angles a line of considerable length is then
attached to the middle of this block and the other end of the line
being looped it can in a moment be fastened to a harpoon it is
chiefly among gallied whales that this drugg is used for then more
whales are close round you than you can possibly chase at one time but
sperm whales are not every day encountered while you may then you
must kill all you can and if you cannot kill them all at once you
must wing them so that they can be afterwards killed at your leisure 
hence it is that at times like these the drugg comes into
requisition our boat was furnished with three of them the first and
second were successfully darted and we saw the whales staggeringly
running off fettered by the enormous sidelong resistance of the towing
drugg they were cramped like malefactors with the chain and ball but
upon flinging the third in the act of tossing overboard the clumsy
wooden block it caught under one of the seats of the boat and in an
instant tore it out and carried it away dropping the oarsman in the
boat's bottom as the seat slid from under him on both sides the sea
came in at the wounded planks but we stuffed two or three drawers and
shirts in and so stopped the leaks for the time 

it had been next to impossible to dart these drugged-harpoons were it
not that as we advanced into the herd our whale's way greatly
diminished moreover that as we went still further and further from
the circumference of commotion the direful disorders seemed waning so
that when at last the jerking harpoon drew out and the towing whale
sideways vanished then with the tapering force of his parting
momentum we glided between two whales into the innermost heart of the
shoal as if from some mountain torrent we had slid into a serene
valley lake here the storms in the roaring glens between the outermost
whales were heard but not felt in this central expanse the sea
presented that smooth satin-like surface called a sleek produced by
the subtle moisture thrown off by the whale in his more quiet moods 
yes we were now in that enchanted calm which they say lurks at the
heart of every commotion and still in the distracted distance we
beheld the tumults of the outer concentric circles and saw successive
pods of whales eight or ten in each swiftly going round and round 
like multiplied spans of horses in a ring and so closely shoulder to
shoulder that a titanic circus-rider might easily have over-arched the
middle ones and so have gone round on their backs owing to the
density of the crowd of reposing whales more immediately surrounding
the embayed axis of the herd no possible chance of escape was at
present afforded us we must watch for a breach in the living wall that
hemmed us in the wall that had only admitted us in order to shut us
up keeping at the centre of the lake we were occasionally visited by
small tame cows and calves the women and children of this routed host 

now inclusive of the occasional wide intervals between the revolving
outer circles and inclusive of the spaces between the various pods in
any one of those circles the entire area at this juncture embraced by
the whole multitude must have contained at least two or three square
miles at any rate though indeed such a test at such a time might be
deceptive spoutings might be discovered from our low boat that seemed
playing up almost from the rim of the horizon i mention this
circumstance because as if the cows and calves had been purposely
locked up in this innermost fold and as if the wide extent of the herd
had hitherto prevented them from learning the precise cause of its
stopping or possibly being so young unsophisticated and every way
innocent and inexperienced however it may have been these smaller
whales now and then visiting our becalmed boat from the margin of the
lake evinced a wondrous fearlessness and confidence or else a still
becharmed panic which it was impossible not to marvel at like
household dogs they came snuffling round us right up to our gunwales 
and touching them till it almost seemed that some spell had suddenly
domesticated them queequeg patted their foreheads starbuck scratched
their backs with his lance but fearful of the consequences for the
time refrained from darting it 

but far beneath this wondrous world upon the surface another and still
stranger world met our eyes as we gazed over the side for suspended
in those watery vaults floated the forms of the nursing mothers of the
whales and those that by their enormous girth seemed shortly to become
mothers the lake as i have hinted was to a considerable depth
exceedingly transparent and as human infants while suckling will
calmly and fixedly gaze away from the breast as if leading two
different lives at the time and while yet drawing mortal nourishment 
be still spiritually feasting upon some unearthly reminiscence even so
did the young of these whales seem looking up towards us but not at
us as if we were but a bit of gulfweed in their new-born sight 
floating on their sides the mothers also seemed quietly eyeing us one
of these little infants that from certain queer tokens seemed hardly a
day old might have measured some fourteen feet in length and some six
feet in girth he was a little frisky though as yet his body seemed
scarce yet recovered from that irksome position it had so lately
occupied in the maternal reticule where tail to head and all ready
for the final spring the unborn whale lies bent like a tartar's bow 
the delicate side-fins and the palms of his flukes still freshly
retained the plaited crumpled appearance of a baby's ears newly arrived
from foreign parts 

 line line cried queequeg looking over the gunwale him fast him
fast who line him who struck two whale one big one little 

 what ails ye man cried starbuck 

 look-e here said queequeg pointing down 

as when the stricken whale that from the tub has reeled out hundreds
of fathoms of rope as after deep sounding he floats up again and
shows the slackened curling line buoyantly rising and spiralling
towards the air so now starbuck saw long coils of the umbilical cord
of madame leviathan by which the young cub seemed still tethered to
its dam not seldom in the rapid vicissitudes of the chase this
natural line with the maternal end loose becomes entangled with the
hempen one so that the cub is thereby trapped some of the subtlest
secrets of the seas seemed divulged to us in this enchanted pond we
saw young leviathan amours in the deep 

 the sperm whale as with all other species of the leviathan but
unlike most other fish breeds indifferently at all seasons after a
gestation which may probably be set down at nine months producing but
one at a time though in some few known instances giving birth to an
esau and jacob a contingency provided for in suckling by two teats 
curiously situated one on each side of the anus but the breasts
themselves extend upwards from that when by chance these precious
parts in a nursing whale are cut by the hunter's lance the mother's
pouring milk and blood rivallingly discolour the sea for rods the milk
is very sweet and rich it has been tasted by man it might do well
with strawberries when overflowing with mutual esteem the whales
salute more hominum 

and thus though surrounded by circle upon circle of consternations and
affrights did these inscrutable creatures at the centre freely and
fearlessly indulge in all peaceful concernments yea serenely revelled
in dalliance and delight but even so amid the tornadoed atlantic of
my being do i myself still for ever centrally disport in mute calm 
and while ponderous planets of unwaning woe revolve round me deep down
and deep inland there i still bathe me in eternal mildness of joy 

meanwhile as we thus lay entranced the occasional sudden frantic
spectacles in the distance evinced the activity of the other boats 
still engaged in drugging the whales on the frontier of the host or
possibly carrying on the war within the first circle where abundance
of room and some convenient retreats were afforded them but the sight
of the enraged drugged whales now and then blindly darting to and fro
across the circles was nothing to what at last met our eyes it is
sometimes the custom when fast to a whale more than commonly powerful
and alert to seek to hamstring him as it were by sundering or
maiming his gigantic tail-tendon it is done by darting a short-handled
cutting-spade to which is attached a rope for hauling it back again a
whale wounded as we afterwards learned in this part but not
effectually as it seemed had broken away from the boat carrying
along with him half of the harpoon line and in the extraordinary agony
of the wound he was now dashing among the revolving circles like the
lone mounted desperado arnold at the battle of saratoga carrying
dismay wherever he went 

but agonizing as was the wound of this whale and an appalling
spectacle enough any way yet the peculiar horror with which he seemed
to inspire the rest of the herd was owing to a cause which at first
the intervening distance obscured from us but at length we perceived
that by one of the unimaginable accidents of the fishery this whale
had become entangled in the harpoon-line that he towed he had also run
away with the cutting-spade in him and while the free end of the rope
attached to that weapon had permanently caught in the coils of the
harpoon-line round his tail the cutting-spade itself had worked loose
from his flesh so that tormented to madness he was now churning
through the water violently flailing with his flexible tail and
tossing the keen spade about him wounding and murdering his own
comrades 

this terrific object seemed to recall the whole herd from their
stationary fright first the whales forming the margin of our lake
began to crowd a little and tumble against each other as if lifted by
half spent billows from afar then the lake itself began faintly to
heave and swell the submarine bridal-chambers and nurseries vanished 
in more and more contracting orbits the whales in the more central
circles began to swim in thickening clusters yes the long calm was
departing a low advancing hum was soon heard and then like to the
tumultuous masses of block-ice when the great river hudson breaks up in
spring the entire host of whales came tumbling upon their inner
centre as if to pile themselves up in one common mountain instantly
starbuck and queequeg changed places starbuck taking the stern 

 oars oars he intensely whispered seizing the helm gripe your
oars and clutch your souls now my god men stand by shove him off 
you queequeg the whale there prick him hit him stand up stand up 
and stay so spring men pull men never mind their backs scrape
them scrape away 

the boat was now all but jammed between two vast black bulks leaving a
narrow dardanelles between their long lengths but by desperate
endeavor we at last shot into a temporary opening then giving way
rapidly and at the same time earnestly watching for another outlet 
after many similar hair-breadth escapes we at last swiftly glided into
what had just been one of the outer circles but now crossed by random
whales all violently making for one centre this lucky salvation was
cheaply purchased by the loss of queequeg's hat who while standing in
the bows to prick the fugitive whales had his hat taken clean from his
head by the air-eddy made by the sudden tossing of a pair of broad
flukes close by 

riotous and disordered as the universal commotion now was it soon
resolved itself into what seemed a systematic movement for having
clumped together at last in one dense body they then renewed their
onward flight with augmented fleetness further pursuit was useless 
but the boats still lingered in their wake to pick up what drugged
whales might be dropped astern and likewise to secure one which flask
had killed and waifed the waif is a pennoned pole two or three of
which are carried by every boat and which when additional game is at
hand are inserted upright into the floating body of a dead whale both
to mark its place on the sea and also as token of prior possession 
should the boats of any other ship draw near 

the result of this lowering was somewhat illustrative of that sagacious
saying in the fishery the more whales the less fish of all the
drugged whales only one was captured the rest contrived to escape for
the time but only to be taken as will hereafter be seen by some
other craft than the pequod 


chapter 88 schools and schoolmasters 

the previous chapter gave account of an immense body or herd of sperm
whales and there was also then given the probable cause inducing those
vast aggregations 

now though such great bodies are at times encountered yet as must
have been seen even at the present day small detached bands are
occasionally observed embracing from twenty to fifty individuals each 
such bands are known as schools they generally are of two sorts those
composed almost entirely of females and those mustering none but young
vigorous males or bulls as they are familiarly designated 

in cavalier attendance upon the school of females you invariably see a
male of full grown magnitude but not old who upon any alarm evinces
his gallantry by falling in the rear and covering the flight of his
ladies in truth this gentleman is a luxurious ottoman swimming about
over the watery world surroundingly accompanied by all the solaces and
endearments of the harem the contrast between this ottoman and his
concubines is striking because while he is always of the largest
leviathanic proportions the ladies even at full growth are not more
than one-third of the bulk of an average-sized male they are
comparatively delicate indeed i dare say not to exceed half a dozen
yards round the waist nevertheless it cannot be denied that upon the
whole they are hereditarily entitled to en bon point 

it is very curious to watch this harem and its lord in their indolent
ramblings like fashionables they are for ever on the move in
leisurely search of variety you meet them on the line in time for the
full flower of the equatorial feeding season having just returned 
perhaps from spending the summer in the northern seas and so cheating
summer of all unpleasant weariness and warmth by the time they have
lounged up and down the promenade of the equator awhile they start for
the oriental waters in anticipation of the cool season there and so
evade the other excessive temperature of the year 

when serenely advancing on one of these journeys if any strange
suspicious sights are seen my lord whale keeps a wary eye on his
interesting family should any unwarrantably pert young leviathan
coming that way presume to draw confidentially close to one of the
ladies with what prodigious fury the bashaw assails him and chases
him away high times indeed if unprincipled young rakes like him are
to be permitted to invade the sanctity of domestic bliss though do
what the bashaw will he cannot keep the most notorious lothario out of
his bed for alas all fish bed in common as ashore the ladies often
cause the most terrible duels among their rival admirers just so with
the whales who sometimes come to deadly battle and all for love they
fence with their long lower jaws sometimes locking them together and
so striving for the supremacy like elks that warringly interweave their
antlers not a few are captured having the deep scars of these
encounters furrowed heads broken teeth scolloped fins and in some
instances wrenched and dislocated mouths 

but supposing the invader of domestic bliss to betake himself away at
the first rush of the harem's lord then is it very diverting to watch
that lord gently he insinuates his vast bulk among them again and
revels there awhile still in tantalizing vicinity to young lothario 
like pious solomon devoutly worshipping among his thousand concubines 
granting other whales to be in sight the fishermen will seldom give
chase to one of these grand turks for these grand turks are too lavish
of their strength and hence their unctuousness is small as for the
sons and the daughters they beget why those sons and daughters must
take care of themselves at least with only the maternal help for
like certain other omnivorous roving lovers that might be named my
lord whale has no taste for the nursery however much for the bower 
and so being a great traveller he leaves his anonymous babies all
over the world every baby an exotic in good time nevertheless as
the ardour of youth declines as years and dumps increase as
reflection lends her solemn pauses in short as a general lassitude
overtakes the sated turk then a love of ease and virtue supplants the
love for maidens our ottoman enters upon the impotent repentant 
admonitory stage of life forswears disbands the harem and grown to
an exemplary sulky old soul goes about all alone among the meridians
and parallels saying his prayers and warning each young leviathan from
his amorous errors 

now as the harem of whales is called by the fishermen a school so is
the lord and master of that school technically known as the
schoolmaster it is therefore not in strict character however
admirably satirical that after going to school himself he should then
go abroad inculcating not what he learned there but the folly of it 
his title schoolmaster would very naturally seem derived from the
name bestowed upon the harem itself but some have surmised that the
man who first thus entitled this sort of ottoman whale must have read
the memoirs of vidocq and informed himself what sort of a
country-schoolmaster that famous frenchman was in his younger days and
what was the nature of those occult lessons he inculcated into some of
his pupils 

the same secludedness and isolation to which the schoolmaster whale
betakes himself in his advancing years is true of all aged sperm
whales almost universally a lone whale as a solitary leviathan is
called proves an ancient one like venerable moss-bearded daniel boone 
he will have no one near him but nature herself and her he takes to
wife in the wilderness of waters and the best of wives she is though
she keeps so many moody secrets 

the schools composing none but young and vigorous males previously
mentioned offer a strong contrast to the harem schools for while
those female whales are characteristically timid the young males or
forty-barrel-bulls as they call them are by far the most pugnacious
of all leviathans and proverbially the most dangerous to encounter 
excepting those wondrous grey-headed grizzled whales sometimes met 
and these will fight you like grim fiends exasperated by a penal gout 

the forty-barrel-bull schools are larger than the harem schools like a
mob of young collegians they are full of fight fun and wickedness 
tumbling round the world at such a reckless rollicking rate that no
prudent underwriter would insure them any more than he would a riotous
lad at yale or harvard they soon relinquish this turbulence though 
and when about three-fourths grown break up and separately go about
in quest of settlements that is harems 

another point of difference between the male and female schools is
still more characteristic of the sexes say you strike a
forty-barrel-bull poor devil all his comrades quit him but strike a
member of the harem school and her companions swim around her with
every token of concern sometimes lingering so near her and so long as
themselves to fall a prey 


chapter 89 fast-fish and loose-fish 

the allusion to the waif and waif-poles in the last chapter but one 
necessitates some account of the laws and regulations of the whale
fishery of which the waif may be deemed the grand symbol and badge 

it frequently happens that when several ships are cruising in company 
a whale may be struck by one vessel then escape and be finally killed
and captured by another vessel and herein are indirectly comprised
many minor contingencies all partaking of this one grand feature for
example after a weary and perilous chase and capture of a whale the
body may get loose from the ship by reason of a violent storm and
drifting far away to leeward be retaken by a second whaler who in a
calm snugly tows it alongside without risk of life or line thus the
most vexatious and violent disputes would often arise between the
fishermen were there not some written or unwritten universal 
undisputed law applicable to all cases 

perhaps the only formal whaling code authorized by legislative
enactment was that of holland it was decreed by the states-general in
a d 1695 but though no other nation has ever had any written whaling
law yet the american fishermen have been their own legislators and
lawyers in this matter they have provided a system which for terse
comprehensiveness surpasses justinian's pandects and the by-laws of the
chinese society for the suppression of meddling with other people's
business yes these laws might be engraven on a queen anne's farthing 
or the barb of a harpoon and worn round the neck so small are they 

i a fast-fish belongs to the party fast to it 

ii a loose-fish is fair game for anybody who can soonest catch it 

but what plays the mischief with this masterly code is the admirable
brevity of it which necessitates a vast volume of commentaries to
expound it 

first what is a fast-fish alive or dead a fish is technically fast 
when it is connected with an occupied ship or boat by any medium at
all controllable by the occupant or occupants a mast an oar a
nine-inch cable a telegraph wire or a strand of cobweb it is all the
same likewise a fish is technically fast when it bears a waif or any
other recognised symbol of possession so long as the party waifing it
plainly evince their ability at any time to take it alongside as well
as their intention so to do 

these are scientific commentaries but the commentaries of the whalemen
themselves sometimes consist in hard words and harder knocks the
coke-upon-littleton of the fist true among the more upright and
honorable whalemen allowances are always made for peculiar cases where
it would be an outrageous moral injustice for one party to claim
possession of a whale previously chased or killed by another party but
others are by no means so scrupulous 

some fifty years ago there was a curious case of whale-trover litigated
in england wherein the plaintiffs set forth that after a hard chase of
a whale in the northern seas and when indeed they the plaintiffs had
succeeded in harpooning the fish they were at last through peril of
their lives obliged to forsake not only their lines but their boat
itself ultimately the defendants the crew of another ship came up
with the whale struck killed seized and finally appropriated it
before the very eyes of the plaintiffs and when those defendants were
remonstrated with their captain snapped his fingers in the plaintiffs 
teeth and assured them that by way of doxology to the deed he had
done he would now retain their line harpoons and boat which had
remained attached to the whale at the time of the seizure wherefore
the plaintiffs now sued for the recovery of the value of their whale 
line harpoons and boat 

mr erskine was counsel for the defendants lord ellenborough was the
judge in the course of the defence the witty erskine went on to
illustrate his position by alluding to a recent crim con case 
wherein a gentleman after in vain trying to bridle his wife's
viciousness had at last abandoned her upon the seas of life but in
the course of years repenting of that step he instituted an action to
recover possession of her erskine was on the other side and he then
supported it by saying that though the gentleman had originally
harpooned the lady and had once had her fast and only by reason of
the great stress of her plunging viciousness had at last abandoned
her yet abandon her he did so that she became a loose-fish and
therefore when a subsequent gentleman re-harpooned her the lady then
became that subsequent gentleman's property along with whatever
harpoon might have been found sticking in her 

now in the present case erskine contended that the examples of the
whale and the lady were reciprocally illustrative of each other 

these pleadings and the counter pleadings being duly heard the very
learned judge in set terms decided to wit that as for the boat he
awarded it to the plaintiffs because they had merely abandoned it to
save their lives but that with regard to the controverted whale 
harpoons and line they belonged to the defendants the whale because
it was a loose-fish at the time of the final capture and the harpoons
and line because when the fish made off with them it the fish 
acquired a property in those articles and hence anybody who afterwards
took the fish had a right to them now the defendants afterwards took
the fish ergo the aforesaid articles were theirs 

a common man looking at this decision of the very learned judge might
possibly object to it but ploughed up to the primary rock of the
matter the two great principles laid down in the twin whaling laws
previously quoted and applied and elucidated by lord ellenborough in
the above cited case these two laws touching fast-fish and loose-fish 
i say will on reflection be found the fundamentals of all human
jurisprudence for notwithstanding its complicated tracery of
sculpture the temple of the law like the temple of the philistines 
has but two props to stand on 

is it not a saying in every one's mouth possession is half of the law 
that is regardless of how the thing came into possession but often
possession is the whole of the law what are the sinews and souls of
russian serfs and republican slaves but fast-fish whereof possession
is the whole of the law what to the rapacious landlord is the widow's
last mite but a fast-fish what is yonder undetected villain's marble
mansion with a door-plate for a waif what is that but a fast-fish 
what is the ruinous discount which mordecai the broker gets from poor
woebegone the bankrupt on a loan to keep woebegone's family from
starvation what is that ruinous discount but a fast-fish what is the
archbishop of savesoul's income of 100 000 seized from the scant bread
and cheese of hundreds of thousands of broken-backed laborers all sure
of heaven without any of savesoul's help what is that globular
100 000 but a fast-fish what are the duke of dunder's hereditary
towns and hamlets but fast-fish what to that redoubted harpooneer 
john bull is poor ireland but a fast-fish what to that apostolic
lancer brother jonathan is texas but a fast-fish and concerning all
these is not possession the whole of the law 

but if the doctrine of fast-fish be pretty generally applicable the
kindred doctrine of loose-fish is still more widely so that is
internationally and universally applicable 

what was america in 1492 but a loose-fish in which columbus struck the
spanish standard by way of waifing it for his royal master and
mistress what was poland to the czar what greece to the turk what
india to england what at last will mexico be to the united states all
loose-fish 

what are the rights of man and the liberties of the world but
loose-fish what all men's minds and opinions but loose-fish what is
the principle of religious belief in them but a loose-fish what to the
ostentatious smuggling verbalists are the thoughts of thinkers but
loose-fish what is the great globe itself but a loose-fish and what
are you reader but a loose-fish and a fast-fish too 


chapter 90 heads or tails 

 de balena vero sufficit si rex habeat caput et regina caudam 
 bracton l 3 c 3 

latin from the books of the laws of england which taken along with the
context means that of all whales captured by anybody on the coast of
that land the king as honorary grand harpooneer must have the head 
and the queen be respectfully presented with the tail a division
which in the whale is much like halving an apple there is no
intermediate remainder now as this law under a modified form is to
this day in force in england and as it offers in various respects a
strange anomaly touching the general law of fast and loose-fish it is
here treated of in a separate chapter on the same courteous principle
that prompts the english railways to be at the expense of a separate
car specially reserved for the accommodation of royalty in the first
place in curious proof of the fact that the above-mentioned law is
still in force i proceed to lay before you a circumstance that
happened within the last two years 

it seems that some honest mariners of dover or sandwich or some one
of the cinque ports had after a hard chase succeeded in killing and
beaching a fine whale which they had originally descried afar off from
the shore now the cinque ports are partially or somehow under the
jurisdiction of a sort of policeman or beadle called a lord warden 
holding the office directly from the crown i believe all the royal
emoluments incident to the cinque port territories become by assignment
his by some writers this office is called a sinecure but not so 
because the lord warden is busily employed at times in fobbing his
perquisites which are his chiefly by virtue of that same fobbing of
them 

now when these poor sun-burnt mariners bare-footed and with their
trowsers rolled high up on their eely legs had wearily hauled their
fat fish high and dry promising themselves a good 150 from the
precious oil and bone and in fantasy sipping rare tea with their
wives and good ale with their cronies upon the strength of their
respective shares up steps a very learned and most christian and
charitable gentleman with a copy of blackstone under his arm and
laying it upon the whale's head he says hands off this fish my
masters is a fast-fish i seize it as the lord warden's upon this
the poor mariners in their respectful consternation so truly
english knowing not what to say fall to vigorously scratching their
heads all round meanwhile ruefully glancing from the whale to the
stranger but that did in nowise mend the matter or at all soften the
hard heart of the learned gentleman with the copy of blackstone at
length one of them after long scratching about for his ideas made
bold to speak 

 please sir who is the lord warden 

 the duke 

 but the duke had nothing to do with taking this fish 

 it is his 

 we have been at great trouble and peril and some expense and is all
that to go to the duke's benefit we getting nothing at all for our
pains but our blisters 

 it is his 

 is the duke so very poor as to be forced to this desperate mode of
getting a livelihood 

 it is his 

 i thought to relieve my old bed-ridden mother by part of my share of
this whale 

 it is his 

 won't the duke be content with a quarter or a half 

 it is his 

in a word the whale was seized and sold and his grace the duke of
wellington received the money thinking that viewed in some particular
lights the case might by a bare possibility in some small degree be
deemed under the circumstances a rather hard one an honest clergyman
of the town respectfully addressed a note to his grace begging him to
take the case of those unfortunate mariners into full consideration to
which my lord duke in substance replied both letters were published 
that he had already done so and received the money and would be
obliged to the reverend gentleman if for the future he the reverend
gentleman would decline meddling with other people's business is this
the still militant old man standing at the corners of the three
kingdoms on all hands coercing alms of beggars 

it will readily be seen that in this case the alleged right of the duke
to the whale was a delegated one from the sovereign we must needs
inquire then on what principle the sovereign is originally invested
with that right the law itself has already been set forth but plowdon
gives us the reason for it says plowdon the whale so caught belongs
to the king and queen because of its superior excellence and by the
soundest commentators this has ever been held a cogent argument in such
matters 

but why should the king have the head and the queen the tail a reason
for that ye lawyers 

in his treatise on queen-gold or queen-pinmoney an old king's bench
author one william prynne thus discourseth ye tail is ye queen's 
that ye queen's wardrobe may be supplied with ye whalebone now this
was written at a time when the black limber bone of the greenland or
right whale was largely used in ladies bodices but this same bone is
not in the tail it is in the head which is a sad mistake for a
sagacious lawyer like prynne but is the queen a mermaid to be
presented with a tail an allegorical meaning may lurk here 

there are two royal fish so styled by the english law writers the whale
and the sturgeon both royal property under certain limitations and
nominally supplying the tenth branch of the crown's ordinary revenue i
know not that any other author has hinted of the matter but by
inference it seems to me that the sturgeon must be divided in the same
way as the whale the king receiving the highly dense and elastic head
peculiar to that fish which symbolically regarded may possibly be
humorously grounded upon some presumed congeniality and thus there
seems a reason in all things even in law 


chapter 91 the pequod meets the rose-bud 

 in vain it was to rake for ambergriese in the paunch of this
leviathan insufferable fetor denying not inquiry sir t browne 
v e 

it was a week or two after the last whaling scene recounted and when
we were slowly sailing over a sleepy vapory mid-day sea that the
many noses on the pequod's deck proved more vigilant discoverers than
the three pairs of eyes aloft a peculiar and not very pleasant smell
was smelt in the sea 

 i will bet something now said stubb that somewhere hereabouts are
some of those drugged whales we tickled the other day i thought they
would keel up before long 

presently the vapors in advance slid aside and there in the distance
lay a ship whose furled sails betokened that some sort of whale must
be alongside as we glided nearer the stranger showed french colours
from his peak and by the eddying cloud of vulture sea-fowl that
circled and hovered and swooped around him it was plain that the
whale alongside must be what the fishermen call a blasted whale that
is a whale that has died unmolested on the sea and so floated an
unappropriated corpse it may well be conceived what an unsavory odor
such a mass must exhale worse than an assyrian city in the plague 
when the living are incompetent to bury the departed so intolerable
indeed is it regarded by some that no cupidity could persuade them to
moor alongside of it yet are there those who will still do it 
notwithstanding the fact that the oil obtained from such subjects is of
a very inferior quality and by no means of the nature of
attar-of-rose 

coming still nearer with the expiring breeze we saw that the frenchman
had a second whale alongside and this second whale seemed even more of
a nosegay than the first in truth it turned out to be one of those
problematical whales that seem to dry up and die with a sort of
prodigious dyspepsia or indigestion leaving their defunct bodies
almost entirely bankrupt of anything like oil nevertheless in the
proper place we shall see that no knowing fisherman will ever turn up
his nose at such a whale as this however much he may shun blasted
whales in general 

the pequod had now swept so nigh to the stranger that stubb vowed he
recognised his cutting spade-pole entangled in the lines that were
knotted round the tail of one of these whales 

 there's a pretty fellow now he banteringly laughed standing in the
ship's bows there's a jackal for ye i well know that these crappoes
of frenchmen are but poor devils in the fishery sometimes lowering
their boats for breakers mistaking them for sperm whale spouts yes 
and sometimes sailing from their port with their hold full of boxes of
tallow candles and cases of snuffers foreseeing that all the oil they
will get won't be enough to dip the captain's wick into aye we all
know these things but look ye here's a crappo that is content with
our leavings the drugged whale there i mean aye and is content too
with scraping the dry bones of that other precious fish he has there 
poor devil i say pass round a hat some one and let's make him a
present of a little oil for dear charity's sake for what oil he'll get
from that drugged whale there wouldn't be fit to burn in a jail no 
not in a condemned cell and as for the other whale why i'll agree to
get more oil by chopping up and trying out these three masts of ours 
than he'll get from that bundle of bones though now that i think of
it it may contain something worth a good deal more than oil yes 
ambergris i wonder now if our old man has thought of that it's worth
trying yes i'm for it and so saying he started for the
quarter-deck 

by this time the faint air had become a complete calm so that whether
or no the pequod was now fairly entrapped in the smell with no hope
of escaping except by its breezing up again issuing from the cabin 
stubb now called his boat's crew and pulled off for the stranger 
drawing across her bow he perceived that in accordance with the
fanciful french taste the upper part of her stem-piece was carved in
the likeness of a huge drooping stalk was painted green and for
thorns had copper spikes projecting from it here and there the whole
terminating in a symmetrical folded bulb of a bright red colour upon
her head boards in large gilt letters he read bouton de
rose rose-button or rose-bud and this was the romantic name of this
aromatic ship 

though stubb did not understand the bouton part of the inscription 
yet the word rose and the bulbous figure-head put together 
sufficiently explained the whole to him 

 a wooden rose-bud eh he cried with his hand to his nose that will
do very well but how like all creation it smells 

now in order to hold direct communication with the people on deck he
had to pull round the bows to the starboard side and thus come close
to the blasted whale and so talk over it 

arrived then at this spot with one hand still to his nose he
bawled bouton-de-rose ahoy are there any of you bouton-de-roses that
speak english 

 yes rejoined a guernsey-man from the bulwarks who turned out to be
the chief-mate 

 well then my bouton-de-rose-bud have you seen the white whale 

 what whale 

 the white whale a sperm whale moby dick have ye seen him 

 never heard of such a whale cachalot blanche white whale no 

 very good then good bye now and i'll call again in a minute 

then rapidly pulling back towards the pequod and seeing ahab leaning
over the quarter-deck rail awaiting his report he moulded his two
hands into a trumpet and shouted no sir no upon which ahab
retired and stubb returned to the frenchman 

he now perceived that the guernsey-man who had just got into the
chains and was using a cutting-spade had slung his nose in a sort of
bag 

 what's the matter with your nose there said stubb broke it 

 i wish it was broken or that i didn't have any nose at all answered
the guernsey-man who did not seem to relish the job he was at very
much but what are you holding yours for 

 oh nothing it's a wax nose i have to hold it on fine day ain't
it air rather gardenny i should say throw us a bunch of posies will
ye bouton-de-rose 

 what in the devil's name do you want here roared the guernseyman 
flying into a sudden passion 

 oh keep cool cool yes that's the word why don't you pack those
whales in ice while you're working at em but joking aside though do
you know rose-bud that it's all nonsense trying to get any oil out of
such whales as for that dried up one there he hasn't a gill in his
whole carcase 

 i know that well enough but d'ye see the captain here won't believe
it this is his first voyage he was a cologne manufacturer before but
come aboard and mayhap he'll believe you if he won't me and so i'll
get out of this dirty scrape 

 anything to oblige ye my sweet and pleasant fellow rejoined stubb 
and with that he soon mounted to the deck there a queer scene
presented itself the sailors in tasselled caps of red worsted were
getting the heavy tackles in readiness for the whales but they worked
rather slow and talked very fast and seemed in anything but a good
humor all their noses upwardly projected from their faces like so many
jib-booms now and then pairs of them would drop their work and run up
to the mast-head to get some fresh air some thinking they would catch
the plague dipped oakum in coal-tar and at intervals held it to their
nostrils others having broken the stems of their pipes almost short
off at the bowl were vigorously puffing tobacco-smoke so that it
constantly filled their olfactories 

stubb was struck by a shower of outcries and anathemas proceeding from
the captain's round-house abaft and looking in that direction saw a
fiery face thrust from behind the door which was held ajar from
within this was the tormented surgeon who after in vain
remonstrating against the proceedings of the day had betaken himself
to the captain's round-house cabinet he called it to avoid the
pest but still could not help yelling out his entreaties and
indignations at times 

marking all this stubb argued well for his scheme and turning to the
guernsey-man had a little chat with him during which the stranger mate
expressed his detestation of his captain as a conceited ignoramus who
had brought them all into so unsavory and unprofitable a pickle 
sounding him carefully stubb further perceived that the guernsey-man
had not the slightest suspicion concerning the ambergris he therefore
held his peace on that head but otherwise was quite frank and
confidential with him so that the two quickly concocted a little plan
for both circumventing and satirizing the captain without his at all
dreaming of distrusting their sincerity according to this little plan
of theirs the guernsey-man under cover of an interpreter's office 
was to tell the captain what he pleased but as coming from stubb and
as for stubb he was to utter any nonsense that should come uppermost
in him during the interview 

by this time their destined victim appeared from his cabin he was a
small and dark but rather delicate looking man for a sea-captain with
large whiskers and moustache however and wore a red cotton velvet
vest with watch-seals at his side to this gentleman stubb was now
politely introduced by the guernsey-man who at once ostentatiously put
on the aspect of interpreting between them 

 what shall i say to him first said he 

 why said stubb eyeing the velvet vest and the watch and seals you
may as well begin by telling him that he looks a sort of babyish to me 
though i don't pretend to be a judge 

 he says monsieur said the guernsey-man in french turning to his
captain that only yesterday his ship spoke a vessel whose captain
and chief-mate with six sailors had all died of a fever caught from a
blasted whale they had brought alongside 

upon this the captain started and eagerly desired to know more 

 what now said the guernsey-man to stubb 

 why since he takes it so easy tell him that now i have eyed him
carefully i'm quite certain that he's no more fit to command a
whale-ship than a st jago monkey in fact tell him from me he's a
baboon 

 he vows and declares monsieur that the other whale the dried one 
is far more deadly than the blasted one in fine monsieur he conjures
us as we value our lives to cut loose from these fish 

instantly the captain ran forward and in a loud voice commanded his
crew to desist from hoisting the cutting-tackles and at once cast
loose the cables and chains confining the whales to the ship 

 what now said the guernsey-man when the captain had returned to
them 

 why let me see yes you may as well tell him now that that in fact 
tell him i've diddled him and aside to himself perhaps somebody
else 

 he says monsieur that he's very happy to have been of any service to
us 

hearing this the captain vowed that they were the grateful parties
 meaning himself and mate and concluded by inviting stubb down into
his cabin to drink a bottle of bordeaux 

 he wants you to take a glass of wine with him said the interpreter 

 thank him heartily but tell him it's against my principles to drink
with the man i've diddled in fact tell him i must go 

 he says monsieur that his principles won't admit of his drinking 
but that if monsieur wants to live another day to drink then monsieur
had best drop all four boats and pull the ship away from these whales 
for it's so calm they won't drift 

by this time stubb was over the side and getting into his boat hailed
the guernsey-man to this effect that having a long tow-line in his
boat he would do what he could to help them by pulling out the
lighter whale of the two from the ship's side while the frenchman's
boats then were engaged in towing the ship one way stubb
benevolently towed away at his whale the other way ostentatiously
slacking out a most unusually long tow-line 

presently a breeze sprang up stubb feigned to cast off from the whale 
hoisting his boats the frenchman soon increased his distance while
the pequod slid in between him and stubb's whale whereupon stubb
quickly pulled to the floating body and hailing the pequod to give
notice of his intentions at once proceeded to reap the fruit of his
unrighteous cunning seizing his sharp boat-spade he commenced an
excavation in the body a little behind the side fin you would almost
have thought he was digging a cellar there in the sea and when at
length his spade struck against the gaunt ribs it was like turning up
old roman tiles and pottery buried in fat english loam his boat's crew
were all in high excitement eagerly helping their chief and looking
as anxious as gold-hunters 

and all the time numberless fowls were diving and ducking and
screaming and yelling and fighting around them stubb was beginning
to look disappointed especially as the horrible nosegay increased 
when suddenly from out the very heart of this plague there stole a
faint stream of perfume which flowed through the tide of bad smells
without being absorbed by it as one river will flow into and then
along with another without at all blending with it for a time 

 i have it i have it cried stubb with delight striking something
in the subterranean regions a purse a purse 

dropping his spade he thrust both hands in and drew out handfuls of
something that looked like ripe windsor soap or rich mottled old
cheese very unctuous and savory withal you might easily dent it with
your thumb it is of a hue between yellow and ash colour and this 
good friends is ambergris worth a gold guinea an ounce to any
druggist some six handfuls were obtained but more was unavoidably
lost in the sea and still more perhaps might have been secured were
it not for impatient ahab's loud command to stubb to desist and come
on board else the ship would bid them good bye 


chapter 92 ambergris 

now this ambergris is a very curious substance and so important as an
article of commerce that in 1791 a certain nantucket-born captain
coffin was examined at the bar of the english house of commons on that
subject for at that time and indeed until a comparatively late day 
the precise origin of ambergris remained like amber itself a problem
to the learned though the word ambergris is but the french compound
for grey amber yet the two substances are quite distinct for amber 
though at times found on the sea-coast is also dug up in some far
inland soils whereas ambergris is never found except upon the sea 
besides amber is a hard transparent brittle odorless substance 
used for mouth-pieces to pipes for beads and ornaments but ambergris
is soft waxy and so highly fragrant and spicy that it is largely
used in perfumery in pastiles precious candles hair-powders and
pomatum the turks use it in cooking and also carry it to mecca for
the same purpose that frankincense is carried to st peter's in rome 
some wine merchants drop a few grains into claret to flavor it 

who would think then that such fine ladies and gentlemen should
regale themselves with an essence found in the inglorious bowels of a
sick whale yet so it is by some ambergris is supposed to be the
cause and by others the effect of the dyspepsia in the whale how to
cure such a dyspepsia it were hard to say unless by administering
three or four boat loads of brandreth's pills and then running out of
harm's way as laborers do in blasting rocks 

i have forgotten to say that there were found in this ambergris 
certain hard round bony plates which at first stubb thought might be
sailors trowsers buttons but it afterwards turned out that they were
nothing more than pieces of small squid bones embalmed in that manner 

now that the incorruption of this most fragrant ambergris should be
found in the heart of such decay is this nothing bethink thee of that
saying of st paul in corinthians about corruption and incorruption 
how that we are sown in dishonor but raised in glory and likewise
call to mind that saying of paracelsus about what it is that maketh the
best musk also forget not the strange fact that of all things of
ill-savor cologne-water in its rudimental manufacturing stages is
the worst 

i should like to conclude the chapter with the above appeal but
cannot owing to my anxiety to repel a charge often made against
whalemen and which in the estimation of some already biased minds 
might be considered as indirectly substantiated by what has been said
of the frenchman's two whales elsewhere in this volume the slanderous
aspersion has been disproved that the vocation of whaling is
throughout a slatternly untidy business but there is another thing to
rebut they hint that all whales always smell bad now how did this
odious stigma originate 

i opine that it is plainly traceable to the first arrival of the
greenland whaling ships in london more than two centuries ago because
those whalemen did not then and do not now try out their oil at sea
as the southern ships have always done but cutting up the fresh
blubber in small bits thrust it through the bung holes of large casks 
and carry it home in that manner the shortness of the season in those
icy seas and the sudden and violent storms to which they are exposed 
forbidding any other course the consequence is that upon breaking
into the hold and unloading one of these whale cemeteries in the
greenland dock a savor is given forth somewhat similar to that arising
from excavating an old city grave-yard for the foundations of a
lying-in hospital 

i partly surmise also that this wicked charge against whalers may be
likewise imputed to the existence on the coast of greenland in former
times of a dutch village called schmerenburgh or smeerenberg which
latter name is the one used by the learned fogo von slack in his great
work on smells a text-book on that subject as its name imports
 smeer fat berg to put up this village was founded in order to
afford a place for the blubber of the dutch whale fleet to be tried
out without being taken home to holland for that purpose it was a
collection of furnaces fat-kettles and oil sheds and when the works
were in full operation certainly gave forth no very pleasant savor but
all this is quite different with a south sea sperm whaler which in a
voyage of four years perhaps after completely filling her hold with
oil does not perhaps consume fifty days in the business of boiling
out and in the state that it is casked the oil is nearly scentless 
the truth is that living or dead if but decently treated whales as a
species are by no means creatures of ill odor nor can whalemen be
recognised as the people of the middle ages affected to detect a jew
in the company by the nose nor indeed can the whale possibly be
otherwise than fragrant when as a general thing he enjoys such high
health taking abundance of exercise always out of doors though it
is true seldom in the open air i say that the motion of a sperm
whale's flukes above water dispenses a perfume as when a musk-scented
lady rustles her dress in a warm parlor what then shall i liken the
sperm whale to for fragrance considering his magnitude must it not be
to that famous elephant with jewelled tusks and redolent with myrrh 
which was led out of an indian town to do honor to alexander the great 


chapter 93 the castaway 

it was but some few days after encountering the frenchman that a most
significant event befell the most insignificant of the pequod's crew 
an event most lamentable and which ended in providing the sometimes
madly merry and predestinated craft with a living and ever accompanying
prophecy of whatever shattered sequel might prove her own 

now in the whale ship it is not every one that goes in the boats 
some few hands are reserved called ship-keepers whose province it is
to work the vessel while the boats are pursuing the whale as a general
thing these ship-keepers are as hardy fellows as the men comprising
the boats crews but if there happen to be an unduly slender clumsy 
or timorous wight in the ship that wight is certain to be made a
ship-keeper it was so in the pequod with the little negro pippin by
nick-name pip by abbreviation poor pip ye have heard of him before 
ye must remember his tambourine on that dramatic midnight so
gloomy-jolly 

in outer aspect pip and dough-boy made a match like a black pony and
a white one of equal developments though of dissimilar colour driven
in one eccentric span but while hapless dough-boy was by nature dull
and torpid in his intellects pip though over tender-hearted was at
bottom very bright with that pleasant genial jolly brightness
peculiar to his tribe a tribe which ever enjoy all holidays and
festivities with finer freer relish than any other race for blacks 
the year's calendar should show naught but three hundred and sixty-five
fourth of julys and new year's days nor smile so while i write that
this little black was brilliant for even blackness has its brilliancy 
behold yon lustrous ebony panelled in king's cabinets but pip loved
life and all life's peaceable securities so that the panic-striking
business in which he had somehow unaccountably become entrapped had
most sadly blurred his brightness though as ere long will be seen 
what was thus temporarily subdued in him in the end was destined to be
luridly illumined by strange wild fires that fictitiously showed him
off to ten times the natural lustre with which in his native tolland
county in connecticut he had once enlivened many a fiddler's frolic on
the green and at melodious even-tide with his gay ha-ha had turned
the round horizon into one star-belled tambourine so though in the
clear air of day suspended against a blue-veined neck the
pure-watered diamond drop will healthful glow yet when the cunning
jeweller would show you the diamond in its most impressive lustre he
lays it against a gloomy ground and then lights it up not by the sun 
but by some unnatural gases then come out those fiery effulgences 
infernally superb then the evil-blazing diamond once the divinest
symbol of the crystal skies looks like some crown-jewel stolen from
the king of hell but let us to the story 

it came to pass that in the ambergris affair stubb's after-oarsman
chanced so to sprain his hand as for a time to become quite maimed 
and temporarily pip was put into his place 

the first time stubb lowered with him pip evinced much nervousness 
but happily for that time escaped close contact with the whale and
therefore came off not altogether discreditably though stubb observing
him took care afterwards to exhort him to cherish his courageousness
to the utmost for he might often find it needful 

now upon the second lowering the boat paddled upon the whale and as
the fish received the darted iron it gave its customary rap which
happened in this instance to be right under poor pip's seat the
involuntary consternation of the moment caused him to leap paddle in
hand out of the boat and in such a way that part of the slack whale
line coming against his chest he breasted it overboard with him so as
to become entangled in it when at last plumping into the water that
instant the stricken whale started on a fierce run the line swiftly
straightened and presto poor pip came all foaming up to the chocks of
the boat remorselessly dragged there by the line which had taken
several turns around his chest and neck 

tashtego stood in the bows he was full of the fire of the hunt he
hated pip for a poltroon snatching the boat-knife from its sheath he
suspended its sharp edge over the line and turning towards stubb 
exclaimed interrogatively cut meantime pip's blue choked face
plainly looked do for god's sake all passed in a flash in less than
half a minute this entire thing happened 

 damn him cut roared stubb and so the whale was lost and pip was
saved 

so soon as he recovered himself the poor little negro was assailed by
yells and execrations from the crew tranquilly permitting these
irregular cursings to evaporate stubb then in a plain business-like 
but still half humorous manner cursed pip officially and that done 
unofficially gave him much wholesome advice the substance was never
jump from a boat pip except but all the rest was indefinite as the
soundest advice ever is now in general stick to the boat is your
true motto in whaling but cases will sometimes happen when leap from
the boat is still better moreover as if perceiving at last that if
he should give undiluted conscientious advice to pip he would be
leaving him too wide a margin to jump in for the future stubb suddenly
dropped all advice and concluded with a peremptory command stick to
the boat pip or by the lord i won't pick you up if you jump mind
that we can't afford to lose whales by the likes of you a whale would
sell for thirty times what you would pip in alabama bear that in
mind and don't jump any more hereby perhaps stubb indirectly hinted 
that though man loved his fellow yet man is a money-making animal 
which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence 

but we are all in the hands of the gods and pip jumped again it was
under very similar circumstances to the first performance but this
time he did not breast out the line and hence when the whale started
to run pip was left behind on the sea like a hurried traveller's
trunk alas stubb was but too true to his word it was a beautiful 
bounteous blue day the spangled sea calm and cool and flatly
stretching away all round to the horizon like gold-beater's skin
hammered out to the extremest bobbing up and down in that sea pip's
ebon head showed like a head of cloves no boat-knife was lifted when
he fell so rapidly astern stubb's inexorable back was turned upon him 
and the whale was winged in three minutes a whole mile of shoreless
ocean was between pip and stubb out from the centre of the sea poor
pip turned his crisp curling black head to the sun another lonely
castaway though the loftiest and the brightest 

now in calm weather to swim in the open ocean is as easy to the
practised swimmer as to ride in a spring-carriage ashore but the awful
lonesomeness is intolerable the intense concentration of self in the
middle of such a heartless immensity my god who can tell it mark 
how when sailors in a dead calm bathe in the open sea mark how closely
they hug their ship and only coast along her sides 

but had stubb really abandoned the poor little negro to his fate no 
he did not mean to at least because there were two boats in his wake 
and he supposed no doubt that they would of course come up to pip
very quickly and pick him up though indeed such considerations
towards oarsmen jeopardized through their own timidity is not always
manifested by the hunters in all similar instances and such instances
not unfrequently occur almost invariably in the fishery a coward so
called is marked with the same ruthless detestation peculiar to
military navies and armies 

but it so happened that those boats without seeing pip suddenly
spying whales close to them on one side turned and gave chase and
stubb's boat was now so far away and he and all his crew so intent
upon his fish that pip's ringed horizon began to expand around him
miserably by the merest chance the ship itself at last rescued him 
but from that hour the little negro went about the deck an idiot such 
at least they said he was the sea had jeeringly kept his finite body
up but drowned the infinite of his soul not drowned entirely though 
rather carried down alive to wondrous depths where strange shapes of
the unwarped primal world glided to and fro before his passive eyes 
and the miser-merman wisdom revealed his hoarded heaps and among the
joyous heartless ever-juvenile eternities pip saw the multitudinous 
god-omnipresent coral insects that out of the firmament of waters
heaved the colossal orbs he saw god's foot upon the treadle of the
loom and spoke it and therefore his shipmates called him mad so
man's insanity is heaven's sense and wandering from all mortal reason 
man comes at last to that celestial thought which to reason is
absurd and frantic and weal or woe feels then uncompromised 
indifferent as his god 

for the rest blame not stubb too hardly the thing is common in that
fishery and in the sequel of the narrative it will then be seen what
like abandonment befell myself 


chapter 94 a squeeze of the hand 

that whale of stubb's so dearly purchased was duly brought to the
pequod's side where all those cutting and hoisting operations
previously detailed were regularly gone through even to the baling of
the heidelburgh tun or case 

while some were occupied with this latter duty others were employed in
dragging away the larger tubs so soon as filled with the sperm and
when the proper time arrived this same sperm was carefully manipulated
ere going to the try-works of which anon 

it had cooled and crystallized to such a degree that when with
several others i sat down before a large constantine's bath of it i
found it strangely concreted into lumps here and there rolling about
in the liquid part it was our business to squeeze these lumps back
into fluid a sweet and unctuous duty no wonder that in old times this
sperm was such a favourite cosmetic such a clearer such a sweetener 
such a softener such a delicious molifier after having my hands in it
for only a few minutes my fingers felt like eels and began as it
were to serpentine and spiralise 

as i sat there at my ease cross-legged on the deck after the bitter
exertion at the windlass under a blue tranquil sky the ship under
indolent sail and gliding so serenely along as i bathed my hands
among those soft gentle globules of infiltrated tissues woven almost
within the hour as they richly broke to my fingers and discharged all
their opulence like fully ripe grapes their wine as i snuffed up that
uncontaminated aroma literally and truly like the smell of spring
violets i declare to you that for the time i lived as in a musky
meadow i forgot all about our horrible oath in that inexpressible
sperm i washed my hands and my heart of it i almost began to credit
the old paracelsan superstition that sperm is of rare virtue in
allaying the heat of anger while bathing in that bath i felt divinely
free from all ill-will or petulance or malice of any sort
whatsoever 

squeeze squeeze squeeze all the morning long i squeezed that sperm
till i myself almost melted into it i squeezed that sperm till a
strange sort of insanity came over me and i found myself unwittingly
squeezing my co-laborers hands in it mistaking their hands for the
gentle globules such an abounding affectionate friendly loving
feeling did this avocation beget that at last i was continually
squeezing their hands and looking up into their eyes sentimentally as
much as to say oh my dear fellow beings why should we longer cherish
any social acerbities or know the slightest ill-humor or envy come 
let us squeeze hands all round nay let us all squeeze ourselves into
each other let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and
sperm of kindness 

would that i could keep squeezing that sperm for ever for now since
by many prolonged repeated experiences i have perceived that in all
cases man must eventually lower or at least shift his conceit of
attainable felicity not placing it anywhere in the intellect or the
fancy but in the wife the heart the bed the table the saddle the
fireside the country now that i have perceived all this i am ready
to squeeze case eternally in thoughts of the visions of the night i
saw long rows of angels in paradise each with his hands in a jar of
spermaceti 

now while discoursing of sperm it behooves to speak of other things
akin to it in the business of preparing the sperm whale for the
try-works 

first comes white-horse so called which is obtained from the tapering
part of the fish and also from the thicker portions of his flukes it
is tough with congealed tendons a wad of muscle but still contains some
oil after being severed from the whale the white-horse is first cut
into portable oblongs ere going to the mincer they look much like
blocks of berkshire marble 

plum-pudding is the term bestowed upon certain fragmentary parts of the
whale's flesh here and there adhering to the blanket of blubber and
often participating to a considerable degree in its unctuousness it is
a most refreshing convivial beautiful object to behold as its name
imports it is of an exceedingly rich mottled tint with a bestreaked
snowy and golden ground dotted with spots of the deepest crimson and
purple it is plums of rubies in pictures of citron spite of reason 
it is hard to keep yourself from eating it i confess that once i
stole behind the foremast to try it it tasted something as i should
conceive a royal cutlet from the thigh of louis le gros might have
tasted supposing him to have been killed the first day after the
venison season and that particular venison season contemporary with an
unusually fine vintage of the vineyards of champagne 

there is another substance and a very singular one which turns up in
the course of this business but which i feel it to be very puzzling
adequately to describe it is called slobgollion an appellation
original with the whalemen and even so is the nature of the substance 
it is an ineffably oozy stringy affair most frequently found in the
tubs of sperm after a prolonged squeezing and subsequent decanting i
hold it to be the wondrously thin ruptured membranes of the case 
coalescing 

gurry so called is a term properly belonging to right whalemen but
sometimes incidentally used by the sperm fishermen it designates the
dark glutinous substance which is scraped off the back of the
greenland or right whale and much of which covers the decks of those
inferior souls who hunt that ignoble leviathan 

nippers strictly this word is not indigenous to the whale's
vocabulary but as applied by whalemen it becomes so a whaleman's
nipper is a short firm strip of tendinous stuff cut from the tapering
part of leviathan's tail it averages an inch in thickness and for the
rest is about the size of the iron part of a hoe edgewise moved along
the oily deck it operates like a leathern squilgee and by nameless
blandishments as of magic allures along with it all impurities 

but to learn all about these recondite matters your best way is at
once to descend into the blubber-room and have a long talk with its
inmates this place has previously been mentioned as the receptacle for
the blanket-pieces when stript and hoisted from the whale when the
proper time arrives for cutting up its contents this apartment is a
scene of terror to all tyros especially by night on one side lit by
a dull lantern a space has been left clear for the workmen they
generally go in pairs a pike-and-gaffman and a spade-man the
whaling-pike is similar to a frigate's boarding-weapon of the same
name the gaff is something like a boat-hook with his gaff the
gaffman hooks on to a sheet of blubber and strives to hold it from
slipping as the ship pitches and lurches about meanwhile the
spade-man stands on the sheet itself perpendicularly chopping it into
the portable horse-pieces this spade is sharp as hone can make it the
spademan's feet are shoeless the thing he stands on will sometimes
irresistibly slide away from him like a sledge if he cuts off one of
his own toes or one of his assistants would you be very much
astonished toes are scarce among veteran blubber-room men 


chapter 95 the cassock 

had you stepped on board the pequod at a certain juncture of this
post-mortemizing of the whale and had you strolled forward nigh the
windlass pretty sure am i that you would have scanned with no small
curiosity a very strange enigmatical object which you would have seen
there lying along lengthwise in the lee scuppers not the wondrous
cistern in the whale's huge head not the prodigy of his unhinged lower
jaw not the miracle of his symmetrical tail none of these would so
surprise you as half a glimpse of that unaccountable cone longer than
a kentuckian is tall nigh a foot in diameter at the base and
jet-black as yojo the ebony idol of queequeg and an idol indeed it
is or rather in old times its likeness was such an idol as that
found in the secret groves of queen maachah in judea and for
worshipping which king asa her son did depose her and destroyed the
idol and burnt it for an abomination at the brook kedron as darkly
set forth in the 15th chapter of the first book of kings 

look at the sailor called the mincer who now comes along and
assisted by two allies heavily backs the grandissimus as the mariners
call it and with bowed shoulders staggers off with it as if he were a
grenadier carrying a dead comrade from the field extending it upon the
forecastle deck he now proceeds cylindrically to remove its dark pelt 
as an african hunter the pelt of a boa this done he turns the pelt
inside out like a pantaloon leg gives it a good stretching so as
almost to double its diameter and at last hangs it well spread in
the rigging to dry ere long it is taken down when removing some
three feet of it towards the pointed extremity and then cutting two
slits for arm-holes at the other end he lengthwise slips himself
bodily into it the mincer now stands before you invested in the full
canonicals of his calling immemorial to all his order this
investiture alone will adequately protect him while employed in the
peculiar functions of his office 

that office consists in mincing the horse-pieces of blubber for the
pots an operation which is conducted at a curious wooden horse 
planted endwise against the bulwarks and with a capacious tub beneath
it into which the minced pieces drop fast as the sheets from a rapt
orator's desk arrayed in decent black occupying a conspicuous pulpit 
intent on bible leaves what a candidate for an archbishopric what a
lad for a pope were this mincer 

 bible leaves bible leaves this is the invariable cry from the mates
to the mincer it enjoins him to be careful and cut his work into as
thin slices as possible inasmuch as by so doing the business of
boiling out the oil is much accelerated and its quantity considerably
increased besides perhaps improving it in quality 


chapter 96 the try-works 

besides her hoisted boats an american whaler is outwardly
distinguished by her try-works she presents the curious anomaly of the
most solid masonry joining with oak and hemp in constituting the
completed ship it is as if from the open field a brick-kiln were
transported to her planks 

the try-works are planted between the foremast and mainmast the most
roomy part of the deck the timbers beneath are of a peculiar strength 
fitted to sustain the weight of an almost solid mass of brick and
mortar some ten feet by eight square and five in height the
foundation does not penetrate the deck but the masonry is firmly
secured to the surface by ponderous knees of iron bracing it on all
sides and screwing it down to the timbers on the flanks it is cased
with wood and at top completely covered by a large sloping battened
hatchway removing this hatch we expose the great try-pots two in
number and each of several barrels capacity when not in use they
are kept remarkably clean sometimes they are polished with soapstone
and sand till they shine within like silver punch-bowls during the
night-watches some cynical old sailors will crawl into them and coil
themselves away there for a nap while employed in polishing them one
man in each pot side by side many confidential communications are
carried on over the iron lips it is a place also for profound
mathematical meditation it was in the left hand try-pot of the pequod 
with the soapstone diligently circling round me that i was first
indirectly struck by the remarkable fact that in geometry all bodies
gliding along the cycloid my soapstone for example will descend from
any point in precisely the same time 

removing the fire-board from the front of the try-works the bare
masonry of that side is exposed penetrated by the two iron mouths of
the furnaces directly underneath the pots these mouths are fitted
with heavy doors of iron the intense heat of the fire is prevented
from communicating itself to the deck by means of a shallow reservoir
extending under the entire inclosed surface of the works by a tunnel
inserted at the rear this reservoir is kept replenished with water as
fast as it evaporates there are no external chimneys they open direct
from the rear wall and here let us go back for a moment 

it was about nine o'clock at night that the pequod's try-works were
first started on this present voyage it belonged to stubb to oversee
the business 

 all ready there off hatch then and start her you cook fire the
works this was an easy thing for the carpenter had been thrusting
his shavings into the furnace throughout the passage here be it said
that in a whaling voyage the first fire in the try-works has to be fed
for a time with wood after that no wood is used except as a means of
quick ignition to the staple fuel in a word after being tried out 
the crisp shrivelled blubber now called scraps or fritters still
contains considerable of its unctuous properties these fritters feed
the flames like a plethoric burning martyr or a self-consuming
misanthrope once ignited the whale supplies his own fuel and burns by
his own body would that he consumed his own smoke for his smoke is
horrible to inhale and inhale it you must and not only that but you
must live in it for the time it has an unspeakable wild hindoo odor
about it such as may lurk in the vicinity of funereal pyres it smells
like the left wing of the day of judgment it is an argument for the
pit 

by midnight the works were in full operation we were clear from the
carcase sail had been made the wind was freshening the wild ocean
darkness was intense but that darkness was licked up by the fierce
flames which at intervals forked forth from the sooty flues and
illuminated every lofty rope in the rigging as with the famed greek
fire the burning ship drove on as if remorselessly commissioned to
some vengeful deed so the pitch and sulphur-freighted brigs of the
bold hydriote canaris issuing from their midnight harbors with broad
sheets of flame for sails bore down upon the turkish frigates and
folded them in conflagrations 

the hatch removed from the top of the works now afforded a wide
hearth in front of them standing on this were the tartarean shapes of
the pagan harpooneers always the whale-ship's stokers with huge
pronged poles they pitched hissing masses of blubber into the scalding
pots or stirred up the fires beneath till the snaky flames darted 
curling out of the doors to catch them by the feet the smoke rolled
away in sullen heaps to every pitch of the ship there was a pitch of
the boiling oil which seemed all eagerness to leap into their faces 
opposite the mouth of the works on the further side of the wide wooden
hearth was the windlass this served for a sea-sofa here lounged the
watch when not otherwise employed looking into the red heat of the
fire till their eyes felt scorched in their heads their tawny
features now all begrimed with smoke and sweat their matted beards 
and the contrasting barbaric brilliancy of their teeth all these were
strangely revealed in the capricious emblazonings of the works as they
narrated to each other their unholy adventures their tales of terror
told in words of mirth as their uncivilized laughter forked upwards
out of them like the flames from the furnace as to and fro in their
front the harpooneers wildly gesticulated with their huge pronged
forks and dippers as the wind howled on and the sea leaped and the
ship groaned and dived and yet steadfastly shot her red hell further
and further into the blackness of the sea and the night and scornfully
champed the white bone in her mouth and viciously spat round her on
all sides then the rushing pequod freighted with savages and laden
with fire and burning a corpse and plunging into that blackness of
darkness seemed the material counterpart of her monomaniac commander's
soul 

so seemed it to me as i stood at her helm and for long hours silently
guided the way of this fire-ship on the sea wrapped for that
interval in darkness myself i but the better saw the redness the
madness the ghastliness of others the continual sight of the fiend
shapes before me capering half in smoke and half in fire these at
last begat kindred visions in my soul so soon as i began to yield to
that unaccountable drowsiness which ever would come over me at a
midnight helm 

but that night in particular a strange and ever since inexplicable 
thing occurred to me starting from a brief standing sleep i was
horribly conscious of something fatally wrong the jaw-bone tiller
smote my side which leaned against it in my ears was the low hum of
sails just beginning to shake in the wind i thought my eyes were
open i was half conscious of putting my fingers to the lids and
mechanically stretching them still further apart but spite of all
this i could see no compass before me to steer by though it seemed
but a minute since i had been watching the card by the steady binnacle
lamp illuminating it nothing seemed before me but a jet gloom now and
then made ghastly by flashes of redness uppermost was the impression 
that whatever swift rushing thing i stood on was not so much bound to
any haven ahead as rushing from all havens astern a stark bewildered
feeling as of death came over me convulsively my hands grasped the
tiller but with the crazy conceit that the tiller was somehow in
some enchanted way inverted my god what is the matter with me 
thought i lo in my brief sleep i had turned myself about and was
fronting the ship's stern with my back to her prow and the compass in
an instant i faced back just in time to prevent the vessel from flying
up into the wind and very probably capsizing her how glad and how
grateful the relief from this unnatural hallucination of the night and
the fatal contingency of being brought by the lee 

look not too long in the face of the fire o man never dream with thy
hand on the helm turn not thy back to the compass accept the first
hint of the hitching tiller believe not the artificial fire when its
redness makes all things look ghastly to-morrow in the natural sun 
the skies will be bright those who glared like devils in the forking
flames the morn will show in far other at least gentler relief the
glorious golden glad sun the only true lamp all others but liars 

nevertheless the sun hides not virginia's dismal swamp nor rome's
accursed campagna nor wide sahara nor all the millions of miles of
deserts and of griefs beneath the moon the sun hides not the ocean 
which is the dark side of this earth and which is two thirds of this
earth so therefore that mortal man who hath more of joy than sorrow
in him that mortal man cannot be true not true or undeveloped with
books the same the truest of all men was the man of sorrows and the
truest of all books is solomon's and ecclesiastes is the fine hammered
steel of woe all is vanity all this wilful world hath not got hold
of unchristian solomon's wisdom yet but he who dodges hospitals and
jails and walks fast crossing graveyards and would rather talk of
operas than hell calls cowper young pascal rousseau poor devils
all of sick men and throughout a care-free lifetime swears by rabelais
as passing wise and therefore jolly not that man is fitted to sit
down on tomb-stones and break the green damp mould with unfathomably
wondrous solomon 

but even solomon he says the man that wandereth out of the way of
understanding shall remain i e even while living in the
congregation of the dead give not thyself up then to fire lest it
invert thee deaden thee as for the time it did me there is a wisdom
that is woe but there is a woe that is madness and there is a
catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest
gorges and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny
spaces and even if he for ever flies within the gorge that gorge is
in the mountains so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle
is still higher than other birds upon the plain even though they soar 


chapter 97 the lamp 

had you descended from the pequod's try-works to the pequod's
forecastle where the off duty watch were sleeping for one single
moment you would have almost thought you were standing in some
illuminated shrine of canonized kings and counsellors there they lay
in their triangular oaken vaults each mariner a chiselled muteness a
score of lamps flashing upon his hooded eyes 

in merchantmen oil for the sailor is more scarce than the milk of
queens to dress in the dark and eat in the dark and stumble in
darkness to his pallet this is his usual lot but the whaleman as he
seeks the food of light so he lives in light he makes his berth an
aladdin's lamp and lays him down in it so that in the pitchiest night
the ship's black hull still houses an illumination 

see with what entire freedom the whaleman takes his handful of
lamps often but old bottles and vials though to the copper cooler at
the try-works and replenishes them there as mugs of ale at a vat he
burns too the purest of oil in its unmanufactured and therefore 
unvitiated state a fluid unknown to solar lunar or astral
contrivances ashore it is sweet as early grass butter in april he
goes and hunts for his oil so as to be sure of its freshness and
genuineness even as the traveller on the prairie hunts up his own
supper of game 


chapter 98 stowing down and clearing up 

already has it been related how the great leviathan is afar off
descried from the mast-head how he is chased over the watery moors 
and slaughtered in the valleys of the deep how he is then towed
alongside and beheaded and how on the principle which entitled the
headsman of old to the garments in which the beheaded was killed his
great padded surtout becomes the property of his executioner how in
due time he is condemned to the pots and like shadrach meshach and
abednego his spermaceti oil and bone pass unscathed through the
fire but now it remains to conclude the last chapter of this part of
the description by rehearsing singing if i may the romantic proceeding
of decanting off his oil into the casks and striking them down into the
hold where once again leviathan returns to his native profundities 
sliding along beneath the surface as before but alas never more to
rise and blow 

while still warm the oil like hot punch is received into the
six-barrel casks and while perhaps the ship is pitching and rolling
this way and that in the midnight sea the enormous casks are slewed
round and headed over end for end and sometimes perilously scoot
across the slippery deck like so many land slides till at last
man-handled and stayed in their course and all round the hoops rap 
rap go as many hammers as can play upon them for now ex officio 
every sailor is a cooper 

at length when the last pint is casked and all is cool then the
great hatchways are unsealed the bowels of the ship are thrown open 
and down go the casks to their final rest in the sea this done the
hatches are replaced and hermetically closed like a closet walled up 

in the sperm fishery this is perhaps one of the most remarkable
incidents in all the business of whaling one day the planks stream
with freshets of blood and oil on the sacred quarter-deck enormous
masses of the whale's head are profanely piled great rusty casks lie
about as in a brewery yard the smoke from the try-works has besooted
all the bulwarks the mariners go about suffused with unctuousness the
entire ship seems great leviathan himself while on all hands the din
is deafening 

but a day or two after you look about you and prick your ears in this
self-same ship and were it not for the tell-tale boats and try-works 
you would all but swear you trod some silent merchant vessel with a
most scrupulously neat commander the unmanufactured sperm oil
possesses a singularly cleansing virtue this is the reason why the
decks never look so white as just after what they call an affair of
oil besides from the ashes of the burned scraps of the whale a
potent lye is readily made and whenever any adhesiveness from the back
of the whale remains clinging to the side that lye quickly
exterminates it hands go diligently along the bulwarks and with
buckets of water and rags restore them to their full tidiness the soot
is brushed from the lower rigging all the numerous implements which
have been in use are likewise faithfully cleansed and put away the
great hatch is scrubbed and placed upon the try-works completely
hiding the pots every cask is out of sight all tackles are coiled in
unseen nooks and when by the combined and simultaneous industry of
almost the entire ship's company the whole of this conscientious duty
is at last concluded then the crew themselves proceed to their own
ablutions shift themselves from top to toe and finally issue to the
immaculate deck fresh and all aglow as bridegrooms new-leaped from
out the daintiest holland 

now with elated step they pace the planks in twos and threes and
humorously discourse of parlors sofas carpets and fine cambrics 
propose to mat the deck think of having hanging to the top object not
to taking tea by moonlight on the piazza of the forecastle to hint to
such musked mariners of oil and bone and blubber were little short
of audacity they know not the thing you distantly allude to away and
bring us napkins 

but mark aloft there at the three mast heads stand three men intent
on spying out more whales which if caught infallibly will again soil
the old oaken furniture and drop at least one small grease-spot
somewhere yes and many is the time when after the severest
uninterrupted labors which know no night continuing straight through
for ninety-six hours when from the boat where they have swelled their
wrists with all day rowing on the line they only step to the deck to
carry vast chains and heave the heavy windlass and cut and slash 
yea and in their very sweatings to be smoked and burned anew by the
combined fires of the equatorial sun and the equatorial try-works 
when on the heel of all this they have finally bestirred themselves
to cleanse the ship and make a spotless dairy room of it many is the
time the poor fellows just buttoning the necks of their clean frocks 
are startled by the cry of there she blows and away they fly to
fight another whale and go through the whole weary thing again oh my
friends but this is man-killing yet this is life for hardly have we
mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its
small but valuable sperm and then with weary patience cleansed
ourselves from its defilements and learned to live here in clean
tabernacles of the soul hardly is this done when there she
blows the ghost is spouted up and away we sail to fight some other
world and go through young life's old routine again 

oh the metempsychosis oh pythagoras that in bright greece two
thousand years ago did die so good so wise so mild i sailed with
thee along the peruvian coast last voyage and foolish as i am taught
thee a green simple boy how to splice a rope 


chapter 99 the doubloon 

ere now it has been related how ahab was wont to pace his quarter-deck 
taking regular turns at either limit the binnacle and mainmast but in
the multiplicity of other things requiring narration it has not been
added how that sometimes in these walks when most plunged in his mood 
he was wont to pause in turn at each spot and stand there strangely
eyeing the particular object before him when he halted before the
binnacle with his glance fastened on the pointed needle in the
compass that glance shot like a javelin with the pointed intensity of
his purpose and when resuming his walk he again paused before the
mainmast then as the same riveted glance fastened upon the riveted
gold coin there he still wore the same aspect of nailed firmness only
dashed with a certain wild longing if not hopefulness 

but one morning turning to pass the doubloon he seemed to be newly
attracted by the strange figures and inscriptions stamped on it as
though now for the first time beginning to interpret for himself in
some monomaniac way whatever significance might lurk in them and some
certain significance lurks in all things else all things are little
worth and the round world itself but an empty cipher except to sell
by the cartload as they do hills about boston to fill up some morass
in the milky way 

now this doubloon was of purest virgin gold raked somewhere out of
the heart of gorgeous hills whence east and west over golden sands 
the head-waters of many a pactolus flows and though now nailed amidst
all the rustiness of iron bolts and the verdigris of copper spikes 
yet untouchable and immaculate to any foulness it still preserved its
quito glow nor though placed amongst a ruthless crew and every hour
passed by ruthless hands and through the livelong nights shrouded with
thick darkness which might cover any pilfering approach nevertheless
every sunrise found the doubloon where the sunset left it last for it
was set apart and sanctified to one awe-striking end and however
wanton in their sailor ways one and all the mariners revered it as
the white whale's talisman sometimes they talked it over in the weary
watch by night wondering whose it was to be at last and whether he
would ever live to spend it 

now those noble golden coins of south america are as medals of the sun
and tropic token-pieces here palms alpacas and volcanoes sun's
disks and stars ecliptics horns-of-plenty and rich banners waving 
are in luxuriant profusion stamped so that the precious gold seems
almost to derive an added preciousness and enhancing glories by
passing through those fancy mints so spanishly poetic 

it so chanced that the doubloon of the pequod was a most wealthy
example of these things on its round border it bore the letters 
republica del ecuador quito so this bright coin came from a country
planted in the middle of the world and beneath the great equator and
named after it and it had been cast midway up the andes in the
unwaning clime that knows no autumn zoned by those letters you saw the
likeness of three andes summits from one a flame a tower on another 
on the third a crowing cock while arching over all was a segment of
the partitioned zodiac the signs all marked with their usual
cabalistics and the keystone sun entering the equinoctial point at
libra 

before this equatorial coin ahab not unobserved by others was now
pausing 

 there's something ever egotistical in mountain-tops and towers and
all other grand and lofty things look here three peaks as proud as
lucifer the firm tower that is ahab the volcano that is ahab the
courageous the undaunted and victorious fowl that too is ahab all
are ahab and this round gold is but the image of the rounder globe 
which like a magician's glass to each and every man in turn but
mirrors back his own mysterious self great pains small gains for
those who ask the world to solve them it cannot solve itself methinks
now this coined sun wears a ruddy face but see aye he enters the
sign of storms the equinox and but six months before he wheeled out
of a former equinox at aries from storm to storm so be it then born
in throes tis fit that man should live in pains and die in pangs so
be it then here's stout stuff for woe to work on so be it then 

 no fairy fingers can have pressed the gold but devil's claws must
have left their mouldings there since yesterday murmured starbuck to
himself leaning against the bulwarks the old man seems to read
belshazzar's awful writing i have never marked the coin inspectingly 
he goes below let me read a dark valley between three mighty 
heaven-abiding peaks that almost seem the trinity in some faint
earthly symbol so in this vale of death god girds us round and over
all our gloom the sun of righteousness still shines a beacon and a
hope if we bend down our eyes the dark vale shows her mouldy soil 
but if we lift them the bright sun meets our glance half way to
cheer yet oh the great sun is no fixture and if at midnight we
would fain snatch some sweet solace from him we gaze for him in vain 
this coin speaks wisely mildly truly but still sadly to me i will
quit it lest truth shake me falsely 

 there now's the old mogul soliloquized stubb by the try-works he's
been twigging it and there goes starbuck from the same and both with
faces which i should say might be somewhere within nine fathoms long 
and all from looking at a piece of gold which did i have it now on
negro hill or in corlaer's hook i'd not look at it very long ere
spending it humph in my poor insignificant opinion i regard this as
queer i have seen doubloons before now in my voyagings your doubloons
of old spain your doubloons of peru your doubloons of chili your
doubloons of bolivia your doubloons of popayan with plenty of gold
moidores and pistoles and joes and half joes and quarter joes what
then should there be in this doubloon of the equator that is so killing
wonderful by golconda let me read it once halloa here's signs and
wonders truly that now is what old bowditch in his epitome calls the
zodiac and what my almanac below calls ditto i'll get the almanac and
as i have heard devils can be raised with daboll's arithmetic i'll try
my hand at raising a meaning out of these queer curvicues here with the
massachusetts calendar here's the book let's see now signs and
wonders and the sun he's always among em hem hem hem here they
are here they go all alive aries or the ram taurus or the bull and
jimimi here's gemini himself or the twins well the sun he wheels
among em aye here on the coin he's just crossing the threshold
between two of twelve sitting-rooms all in a ring book you lie there 
the fact is you books must know your places you'll do to give us the
bare words and facts but we come in to supply the thoughts that's my
small experience so far as the massachusetts calendar and bowditch's
navigator and daboll's arithmetic go signs and wonders eh pity if
there is nothing wonderful in signs and significant in wonders 
there's a clue somewhere wait a bit hist hark by jove i have it 
look you doubloon your zodiac here is the life of man in one round
chapter and now i'll read it off straight out of the book come 
almanack to begin there's aries or the ram lecherous dog he begets
us then taurus or the bull he bumps us the first thing then gemini 
or the twins that is virtue and vice we try to reach virtue when lo 
comes cancer the crab and drags us back and here going from virtue 
leo a roaring lion lies in the path he gives a few fierce bites and
surly dabs with his paw we escape and hail virgo the virgin that's
our first love we marry and think to be happy for aye when pop comes
libra or the scales happiness weighed and found wanting and while we
are very sad about that lord how we suddenly jump as scorpio or the
scorpion stings us in the rear we are curing the wound when whang
come the arrows all round sagittarius or the archer is amusing
himself as we pluck out the shafts stand aside here's the
battering-ram capricornus or the goat full tilt he comes rushing 
and headlong we are tossed when aquarius or the water-bearer pours
out his whole deluge and drowns us and to wind up with pisces or the
fishes we sleep there's a sermon now writ in high heaven and the
sun goes through it every year and yet comes out of it all alive and
hearty jollily he aloft there wheels through toil and trouble and
so alow here does jolly stubb oh jolly's the word for aye adieu 
doubloon but stop here comes little king-post dodge round the
try-works now and let's hear what he'll have to say there he's
before it he'll out with something presently so so he's beginning 

 i see nothing here but a round thing made of gold and whoever raises
a certain whale this round thing belongs to him so what's all this
staring been about it is worth sixteen dollars that's true and at
two cents the cigar that's nine hundred and sixty cigars i won't
smoke dirty pipes like stubb but i like cigars and here's nine
hundred and sixty of them so here goes flask aloft to spy em out 

 shall i call that wise or foolish now if it be really wise it has a
foolish look to it yet if it be really foolish then has it a sort of
wiseish look to it but avast here comes our old manxman the old
hearse-driver he must have been that is before he took to the sea 
he luffs up before the doubloon halloa and goes round on the other
side of the mast why there's a horse-shoe nailed on that side and
now he's back again what does that mean hark he's muttering voice
like an old worn-out coffee-mill prick ears and listen 

 if the white whale be raised it must be in a month and a day when
the sun stands in some one of these signs i've studied signs and know
their marks they were taught me two score years ago by the old witch
in copenhagen now in what sign will the sun then be the horse-shoe
sign for there it is right opposite the gold and what's the
horse-shoe sign the lion is the horse-shoe sign the roaring and
devouring lion ship old ship my old head shakes to think of thee 

 there's another rendering now but still one text all sorts of men in
one kind of world you see dodge again here comes queequeg all
tattooing looks like the signs of the zodiac himself what says the
cannibal as i live he's comparing notes looking at his thigh bone 
thinks the sun is in the thigh or in the calf or in the bowels i
suppose as the old women talk surgeon's astronomy in the back country 
and by jove he's found something there in the vicinity of his thigh i
guess it's sagittarius or the archer no he don't know what to make
of the doubloon he takes it for an old button off some king's
trowsers but aside again here comes that ghost-devil fedallah tail
coiled out of sight as usual oakum in the toes of his pumps as usual 
what does he say with that look of his ah only makes a sign to the
sign and bows himself there is a sun on the coin fire worshipper 
depend upon it ho more and more this way comes pip poor boy would
he had died or i he's half horrible to me he too has been watching
all of these interpreters myself included and look now he comes to
read with that unearthly idiot face stand away again and hear him 
hark 

 i look you look he looks we look ye look they look 

 upon my soul he's been studying murray's grammar improving his mind 
poor fellow but what's that he says now hist 

 i look you look he looks we look ye look they look 

 why he's getting it by heart hist again 

 i look you look he looks we look ye look they look 

 well that's funny 

 and i you and he and we ye and they are all bats and i'm a
crow especially when i stand a'top of this pine tree here caw caw 
caw caw caw caw ain't i a crow and where's the scare-crow there
he stands two bones stuck into a pair of old trowsers and two more
poked into the sleeves of an old jacket 

 wonder if he means me complimentary poor lad i could go hang
myself any way for the present i'll quit pip's vicinity i can stand
the rest for they have plain wits but he's too crazy-witty for my
sanity so so i leave him muttering 

 here's the ship's navel this doubloon here and they are all on fire
to unscrew it but unscrew your navel and what's the consequence 
then again if it stays here that is ugly too for when aught's
nailed to the mast it's a sign that things grow desperate ha ha old
ahab the white whale he'll nail ye this is a pine tree my father 
in old tolland county cut down a pine tree once and found a silver
ring grown over in it some old darkey's wedding ring how did it get
there and so they'll say in the resurrection when they come to fish
up this old mast and find a doubloon lodged in it with bedded oysters
for the shaggy bark oh the gold the precious precious gold the
green miser'll hoard ye soon hish hish god goes mong the worlds
blackberrying cook ho cook and cook us jenny hey hey hey hey 
hey jenny jenny and get your hoe-cake done 


chapter 100 leg and arm 

the pequod of nantucket meets the samuel enderby of london 

 ship ahoy hast seen the white whale 

so cried ahab once more hailing a ship showing english colours 
bearing down under the stern trumpet to mouth the old man was
standing in his hoisted quarter-boat his ivory leg plainly revealed to
the stranger captain who was carelessly reclining in his own boat's
bow he was a darkly-tanned burly good-natured fine-looking man of
sixty or thereabouts dressed in a spacious roundabout that hung round
him in festoons of blue pilot-cloth and one empty arm of this jacket
streamed behind him like the broidered arm of a hussar's surcoat 

 hast seen the white whale 

 see you this and withdrawing it from the folds that had hidden it 
he held up a white arm of sperm whale bone terminating in a wooden
head like a mallet 

 man my boat cried ahab impetuously and tossing about the oars near
him stand by to lower 

in less than a minute without quitting his little craft he and his
crew were dropped to the water and were soon alongside of the
stranger but here a curious difficulty presented itself in the
excitement of the moment ahab had forgotten that since the loss of his
leg he had never once stepped on board of any vessel at sea but his
own and then it was always by an ingenious and very handy mechanical
contrivance peculiar to the pequod and a thing not to be rigged and
shipped in any other vessel at a moment's warning now it is no very
easy matter for anybody except those who are almost hourly used to it 
like whalemen to clamber up a ship's side from a boat on the open sea 
for the great swells now lift the boat high up towards the bulwarks 
and then instantaneously drop it half way down to the kelson so 
deprived of one leg and the strange ship of course being altogether
unsupplied with the kindly invention ahab now found himself abjectly
reduced to a clumsy landsman again hopelessly eyeing the uncertain
changeful height he could hardly hope to attain 

it has before been hinted perhaps that every little untoward
circumstance that befell him and which indirectly sprang from his
luckless mishap almost invariably irritated or exasperated ahab and
in the present instance all this was heightened by the sight of the
two officers of the strange ship leaning over the side by the
perpendicular ladder of nailed cleets there and swinging towards him a
pair of tastefully-ornamented man-ropes for at first they did not seem
to bethink them that a one-legged man must be too much of a cripple to
use their sea bannisters but this awkwardness only lasted a minute 
because the strange captain observing at a glance how affairs stood 
cried out i see i see avast heaving there jump boys and swing
over the cutting-tackle 

as good luck would have it they had had a whale alongside a day or two
previous and the great tackles were still aloft and the massive
curved blubber-hook now clean and dry was still attached to the end 
this was quickly lowered to ahab who at once comprehending it all 
slid his solitary thigh into the curve of the hook it was like sitting
in the fluke of an anchor or the crotch of an apple tree and then
giving the word held himself fast and at the same time also helped to
hoist his own weight by pulling hand-over-hand upon one of the running
parts of the tackle soon he was carefully swung inside the high
bulwarks and gently landed upon the capstan head with his ivory arm
frankly thrust forth in welcome the other captain advanced and ahab 
putting out his ivory leg and crossing the ivory arm like two
sword-fish blades cried out in his walrus way aye aye hearty let
us shake bones together an arm and a leg an arm that never can
shrink d'ye see and a leg that never can run where did'st thou see
the white whale how long ago 

 the white whale said the englishman pointing his ivory arm towards
the east and taking a rueful sight along it as if it had been a
telescope there i saw him on the line last season 

 and he took that arm off did he asked ahab now sliding down from
the capstan and resting on the englishman's shoulder as he did so 

 aye he was the cause of it at least and that leg too 

 spin me the yarn said ahab how was it 

 it was the first time in my life that i ever cruised on the line 
began the englishman i was ignorant of the white whale at that time 
well one day we lowered for a pod of four or five whales and my boat
fastened to one of them a regular circus horse he was too that went
milling and milling round so that my boat's crew could only trim dish 
by sitting all their sterns on the outer gunwale presently up breaches
from the bottom of the sea a bouncing great whale with a milky-white
head and hump all crows feet and wrinkles 

 it was he it was he cried ahab suddenly letting out his suspended
breath 

 and harpoons sticking in near his starboard fin 

 aye aye they were mine my irons cried ahab exultingly but on 

 give me a chance then said the englishman good-humoredly well 
this old great-grandfather with the white head and hump runs all
afoam into the pod and goes to snapping furiously at my fast-line 

 aye i see wanted to part it free the fast-fish an old trick i know
him 

 how it was exactly continued the one-armed commander i do not
know but in biting the line it got foul of his teeth caught there
somehow but we didn't know it then so that when we afterwards pulled
on the line bounce we came plump on to his hump instead of the other
whale's that went off to windward all fluking seeing how matters
stood and what a noble great whale it was the noblest and biggest i
ever saw sir in my life i resolved to capture him spite of the
boiling rage he seemed to be in and thinking the hap-hazard line would
get loose or the tooth it was tangled to might draw for i have a
devil of a boat's crew for a pull on a whale-line seeing all this i
say i jumped into my first mate's boat mr mounttop's here by the
way captain mounttop mounttop the captain as i was saying i jumped
into mounttop's boat which d'ye see was gunwale and gunwale with
mine then and snatching the first harpoon let this old
great-grandfather have it but lord look you sir hearts and souls
alive man the next instant in a jiff i was blind as a bat both eyes
out all befogged and bedeadened with black foam the whale's tail
looming straight up out of it perpendicular in the air like a marble
steeple no use sterning all then but as i was groping at midday 
with a blinding sun all crown-jewels as i was groping i say after
the second iron to toss it overboard down comes the tail like a lima
tower cutting my boat in two leaving each half in splinters and 
flukes first the white hump backed through the wreck as though it was
all chips we all struck out to escape his terrible flailings i
seized hold of my harpoon-pole sticking in him and for a moment clung
to that like a sucking fish but a combing sea dashed me off and at
the same instant the fish taking one good dart forwards went down
like a flash and the barb of that cursed second iron towing along near
me caught me here clapping his hand just below his shoulder yes 
caught me just here i say and bore me down to hell's flames i was
thinking when when all of a sudden thank the good god the barb
ript its way along the flesh clear along the whole length of my
arm came out nigh my wrist and up i floated and that gentleman there
will tell you the rest by the way captain dr bunger ship's surgeon 
bunger my lad the captain now bunger boy spin your part of the
yarn 

the professional gentleman thus familiarly pointed out had been all
the time standing near them with nothing specific visible to denote
his gentlemanly rank on board his face was an exceedingly round but
sober one he was dressed in a faded blue woollen frock or shirt and
patched trowsers and had thus far been dividing his attention between
a marlingspike he held in one hand and a pill-box held in the other 
occasionally casting a critical glance at the ivory limbs of the two
crippled captains but at his superior's introduction of him to ahab 
he politely bowed and straightway went on to do his captain's bidding 

 it was a shocking bad wound began the whale-surgeon and taking my
advice captain boomer here stood our old sammy 

 samuel enderby is the name of my ship interrupted the one-armed
captain addressing ahab go on boy 

 stood our old sammy off to the northward to get out of the blazing
hot weather there on the line but it was no use i did all i could sat
up with him nights was very severe with him in the matter of diet 

 oh very severe chimed in the patient himself then suddenly
altering his voice drinking hot rum toddies with me every night till
he couldn't see to put on the bandages and sending me to bed half
seas over about three o'clock in the morning oh ye stars he sat up
with me indeed and was very severe in my diet oh a great watcher 
and very dietetically severe is dr bunger bunger you dog laugh
out why don't ye you know you're a precious jolly rascal but heave
ahead boy i'd rather be killed by you than kept alive by any other
man 

 my captain you must have ere this perceived respected sir said the
imperturbable godly-looking bunger slightly bowing to ahab is apt to
be facetious at times he spins us many clever things of that sort but
i may as well say en passant as the french remark that i myself that
is to say jack bunger late of the reverend clergy am a strict total
abstinence man i never drink 

 water cried the captain he never drinks it it's a sort of fits to
him fresh water throws him into the hydrophobia but go on go on with
the arm story 

 yes i may as well said the surgeon coolly i was about observing 
sir before captain boomer's facetious interruption that spite of my
best and severest endeavors the wound kept getting worse and worse 
the truth was sir it was as ugly gaping wound as surgeon ever saw 
more than two feet and several inches long i measured it with the lead
line in short it grew black i knew what was threatened and off it
came but i had no hand in shipping that ivory arm there that thing is
against all rule pointing at it with the marlingspike that is the
captain's work not mine he ordered the carpenter to make it he had
that club-hammer there put to the end to knock some one's brains out
with i suppose as he tried mine once he flies into diabolical
passions sometimes do ye see this dent sir removing his hat and
brushing aside his hair and exposing a bowl-like cavity in his skull 
but which bore not the slightest scarry trace or any token of ever
having been a wound well the captain there will tell you how that
came here he knows 

 no i don't said the captain but his mother did he was born with
it oh you solemn rogue you you bunger was there ever such another
bunger in the watery world bunger when you die you ought to die in
pickle you dog you should be preserved to future ages you rascal 

 what became of the white whale now cried ahab who thus far had been
impatiently listening to this by-play between the two englishmen 

 oh cried the one-armed captain oh yes well after he sounded we
didn't see him again for some time in fact as i before hinted i
didn't then know what whale it was that had served me such a trick 
till some time afterwards when coming back to the line we heard about
moby dick as some call him and then i knew it was he 

 did'st thou cross his wake again 

 twice 

 but could not fasten 

 didn't want to try to ain't one limb enough what should i do without
this other arm and i'm thinking moby dick doesn't bite so much as he
swallows 

 well then interrupted bunger give him your left arm for bait to
get the right do you know gentlemen very gravely and mathematically
bowing to each captain in succession do you know gentlemen that the
digestive organs of the whale are so inscrutably constructed by divine
providence that it is quite impossible for him to completely digest
even a man's arm and he knows it too so that what you take for the
white whale's malice is only his awkwardness for he never means to
swallow a single limb he only thinks to terrify by feints but
sometimes he is like the old juggling fellow formerly a patient of
mine in ceylon that making believe swallow jack-knives once upon a
time let one drop into him in good earnest and there it stayed for a
twelvemonth or more when i gave him an emetic and he heaved it up in
small tacks d'ye see no possible way for him to digest that
jack-knife and fully incorporate it into his general bodily system 
yes captain boomer if you are quick enough about it and have a mind
to pawn one arm for the sake of the privilege of giving decent burial
to the other why in that case the arm is yours only let the whale
have another chance at you shortly that's all 

 no thank ye bunger said the english captain he's welcome to the
arm he has since i can't help it and didn't know him then but not to
another one no more white whales for me i've lowered for him once 
and that has satisfied me there would be great glory in killing him i
know that and there is a ship-load of precious sperm in him but hark
ye he's best let alone don't you think so captain glancing at the
ivory leg 

 he is but he will still be hunted for all that what is best let
alone that accursed thing is not always what least allures he's all a
magnet how long since thou saw'st him last which way heading 

 bless my soul and curse the foul fiend's cried bunger stoopingly
walking round ahab and like a dog strangely snuffing this man's
blood bring the thermometer it's at the boiling point his pulse makes
these planks beat sir taking a lancet from his pocket and drawing
near to ahab's arm 

 avast roared ahab dashing him against the bulwarks man the boat 
which way heading 

 good god cried the english captain to whom the question was put 
 what's the matter he was heading east i think is your captain
crazy whispering fedallah 

but fedallah putting a finger on his lip slid over the bulwarks to
take the boat's steering oar and ahab swinging the cutting-tackle
towards him commanded the ship's sailors to stand by to lower 

in a moment he was standing in the boat's stern and the manilla men
were springing to their oars in vain the english captain hailed him 
with back to the stranger ship and face set like a flint to his own 
ahab stood upright till alongside of the pequod 


chapter 101 the decanter 

ere the english ship fades from sight be it set down here that she
hailed from london and was named after the late samuel enderby 
merchant of that city the original of the famous whaling house of
enderby and sons a house which in my poor whaleman's opinion comes not
far behind the united royal houses of the tudors and bourbons in point
of real historical interest how long prior to the year of our lord
1775 this great whaling house was in existence my numerous
fish-documents do not make plain but in that year 1775 it fitted out
the first english ships that ever regularly hunted the sperm whale 
though for some score of years previous ever since 1726 our valiant
coffins and maceys of nantucket and the vineyard had in large fleets
pursued that leviathan but only in the north and south atlantic not
elsewhere be it distinctly recorded here that the nantucketers were
the first among mankind to harpoon with civilized steel the great sperm
whale and that for half a century they were the only people of the
whole globe who so harpooned him 

in 1778 a fine ship the amelia fitted out for the express purpose 
and at the sole charge of the vigorous enderbys boldly rounded cape
horn and was the first among the nations to lower a whale-boat of any
sort in the great south sea the voyage was a skilful and lucky one 
and returning to her berth with her hold full of the precious sperm 
the amelia's example was soon followed by other ships english and
american and thus the vast sperm whale grounds of the pacific were
thrown open but not content with this good deed the indefatigable
house again bestirred itself samuel and all his sons how many their
mother only knows and under their immediate auspices and partly i
think at their expense the british government was induced to send the
sloop-of-war rattler on a whaling voyage of discovery into the south
sea commanded by a naval post-captain the rattler made a rattling
voyage of it and did some service how much does not appear but this
is not all in 1819 the same house fitted out a discovery whale ship
of their own to go on a tasting cruise to the remote waters of japan 
that ship well called the syren made a noble experimental cruise and
it was thus that the great japanese whaling ground first became
generally known the syren in this famous voyage was commanded by a
captain coffin a nantucketer 

all honor to the enderbies therefore whose house i think exists to
the present day though doubtless the original samuel must long ago
have slipped his cable for the great south sea of the other world 

the ship named after him was worthy of the honor being a very fast
sailer and a noble craft every way i boarded her once at midnight
somewhere off the patagonian coast and drank good flip down in the
forecastle it was a fine gam we had and they were all trumps every
soul on board a short life to them and a jolly death and that fine
gam i had long very long after old ahab touched her planks with his
ivory heel it minds me of the noble solid saxon hospitality of that
ship and may my parson forget me and the devil remember me if i ever
lose sight of it flip did i say we had flip yes and we flipped it
at the rate of ten gallons the hour and when the squall came for it's
squally off there by patagonia and all hands visitors and all were
called to reef topsails we were so top-heavy that we had to swing each
other aloft in bowlines and we ignorantly furled the skirts of our
jackets into the sails so that we hung there reefed fast in the
howling gale a warning example to all drunken tars however the masts
did not go overboard and by and by we scrambled down so sober that
we had to pass the flip again though the savage salt spray bursting
down the forecastle scuttle rather too much diluted and pickled it to
my taste 

the beef was fine tough but with body in it they said it was
bull-beef others that it was dromedary beef but i do not know for
certain how that was they had dumplings too small but substantial 
symmetrically globular and indestructible dumplings i fancied that
you could feel them and roll them about in you after they were
swallowed if you stooped over too far forward you risked their
pitching out of you like billiard-balls the bread but that couldn't be
helped besides it was an anti-scorbutic in short the bread
contained the only fresh fare they had but the forecastle was not very
light and it was very easy to step over into a dark corner when you
ate it but all in all taking her from truck to helm considering the
dimensions of the cook's boilers including his own live parchment
boilers fore and aft i say the samuel enderby was a jolly ship of
good fare and plenty fine flip and strong crack fellows all and
capital from boot heels to hat-band 

but why was it think ye that the samuel enderby and some other
english whalers i know of not all though were such famous hospitable
ships that passed round the beef and the bread and the can and the
joke and were not soon weary of eating and drinking and laughing i
will tell you the abounding good cheer of these english whalers is
matter for historical research nor have i been at all sparing of
historical whale research when it has seemed needed 

the english were preceded in the whale fishery by the hollanders 
zealanders and danes from whom they derived many terms still extant
in the fishery and what is yet more their fat old fashions touching
plenty to eat and drink for as a general thing the english
merchant-ship scrimps her crew but not so the english whaler hence 
in the english this thing of whaling good cheer is not normal and
natural but incidental and particular and therefore must have some
special origin which is here pointed out and will be still further
elucidated 

during my researches in the leviathanic histories i stumbled upon an
ancient dutch volume which by the musty whaling smell of it i knew
must be about whalers the title was dan coopman wherefore i
concluded that this must be the invaluable memoirs of some amsterdam
cooper in the fishery as every whale ship must carry its cooper i was
reinforced in this opinion by seeing that it was the production of one
 fitz swackhammer but my friend dr snodhead a very learned man 
professor of low dutch and high german in the college of santa claus
and st pott's to whom i handed the work for translation giving him a
box of sperm candles for his trouble this same dr snodhead so soon as
he spied the book assured me that dan coopman did not mean the
cooper but the merchant in short this ancient and learned low
dutch book treated of the commerce of holland and among other
subjects contained a very interesting account of its whale fishery 
and in this chapter it was headed smeer or fat that i found a
long detailed list of the outfits for the larders and cellars of 180
sail of dutch whalemen from which list as translated by dr snodhead 
i transcribe the following 

400 000 lbs of beef 60 000 lbs friesland pork 150 000 lbs of stock
fish 550 000 lbs of biscuit 72 000 lbs of soft bread 2 800 firkins
of butter 20 000 lbs texel and leyden cheese 144 000 lbs cheese
 probably an inferior article 550 ankers of geneva 10 800 barrels of
beer 

most statistical tables are parchingly dry in the reading not so in
the present case however where the reader is flooded with whole
pipes barrels quarts and gills of good gin and good cheer 

at the time i devoted three days to the studious digesting of all this
beer beef and bread during which many profound thoughts were
incidentally suggested to me capable of a transcendental and platonic
application and furthermore i compiled supplementary tables of my
own touching the probable quantity of stock-fish etc consumed by
every low dutch harpooneer in that ancient greenland and spitzbergen
whale fishery in the first place the amount of butter and texel and
leyden cheese consumed seems amazing i impute it though to their
naturally unctuous natures being rendered still more unctuous by the
nature of their vocation and especially by their pursuing their game
in those frigid polar seas on the very coasts of that esquimaux
country where the convivial natives pledge each other in bumpers of
train oil 

the quantity of beer too is very large 10 800 barrels now as those
polar fisheries could only be prosecuted in the short summer of that
climate so that the whole cruise of one of these dutch whalemen 
including the short voyage to and from the spitzbergen sea did not
much exceed three months say and reckoning 30 men to each of their
fleet of 180 sail we have 5 400 low dutch seamen in all therefore i
say we have precisely two barrels of beer per man for a twelve weeks 
allowance exclusive of his fair proportion of that 550 ankers of gin 
now whether these gin and beer harpooneers so fuddled as one might
fancy them to have been were the right sort of men to stand up in a
boat's head and take good aim at flying whales this would seem
somewhat improbable yet they did aim at them and hit them too but
this was very far north be it remembered where beer agrees well with
the constitution upon the equator in our southern fishery beer would
be apt to make the harpooneer sleepy at the mast-head and boozy in his
boat and grievous loss might ensue to nantucket and new bedford 

but no more enough has been said to show that the old dutch whalers of
two or three centuries ago were high livers and that the english
whalers have not neglected so excellent an example for say they when
cruising in an empty ship if you can get nothing better out of the
world get a good dinner out of it at least and this empties the
decanter 


chapter 102 a bower in the arsacides 

hitherto in descriptively treating of the sperm whale i have chiefly
dwelt upon the marvels of his outer aspect or separately and in detail
upon some few interior structural features but to a large and thorough
sweeping comprehension of him it behooves me now to unbutton him still
further and untagging the points of his hose unbuckling his garters 
and casting loose the hooks and the eyes of the joints of his innermost
bones set him before you in his ultimatum that is to say in his
unconditional skeleton 

but how now ishmael how is it that you a mere oarsman in the
fishery pretend to know aught about the subterranean parts of the
whale did erudite stubb mounted upon your capstan deliver lectures
on the anatomy of the cetacea and by help of the windlass hold up a
specimen rib for exhibition explain thyself ishmael can you land a
full-grown whale on your deck for examination as a cook dishes a
roast-pig surely not a veritable witness have you hitherto been 
ishmael but have a care how you seize the privilege of jonah alone 
the privilege of discoursing upon the joists and beams the rafters 
ridge-pole sleepers and under-pinnings making up the frame-work of
leviathan and belike of the tallow-vats dairy-rooms butteries and
cheeseries in his bowels 

i confess that since jonah few whalemen have penetrated very far
beneath the skin of the adult whale nevertheless i have been blessed
with an opportunity to dissect him in miniature in a ship i belonged
to a small cub sperm whale was once bodily hoisted to the deck for his
poke or bag to make sheaths for the barbs of the harpoons and for the
heads of the lances think you i let that chance go without using my
boat-hatchet and jack-knife and breaking the seal and reading all the
contents of that young cub 

and as for my exact knowledge of the bones of the leviathan in their
gigantic full grown development for that rare knowledge i am indebted
to my late royal friend tranquo king of tranque one of the arsacides 
for being at tranque years ago when attached to the trading-ship dey
of algiers i was invited to spend part of the arsacidean holidays with
the lord of tranque at his retired palm villa at pupella a sea-side
glen not very far distant from what our sailors called bamboo-town his
capital 

among many other fine qualities my royal friend tranquo being gifted
with a devout love for all matters of barbaric vertu had brought
together in pupella whatever rare things the more ingenious of his
people could invent chiefly carved woods of wonderful devices 
chiselled shells inlaid spears costly paddles aromatic canoes and
all these distributed among whatever natural wonders the
wonder-freighted tribute-rendering waves had cast upon his shores 

chief among these latter was a great sperm whale which after an
unusually long raging gale had been found dead and stranded with his
head against a cocoa-nut tree whose plumage-like tufted droopings
seemed his verdant jet when the vast body had at last been stripped of
its fathom-deep enfoldings and the bones become dust dry in the sun 
then the skeleton was carefully transported up the pupella glen where
a grand temple of lordly palms now sheltered it 

the ribs were hung with trophies the vertebrae were carved with
arsacidean annals in strange hieroglyphics in the skull the priests
kept up an unextinguished aromatic flame so that the mystic head again
sent forth its vapory spout while suspended from a bough the
terrific lower jaw vibrated over all the devotees like the hair-hung
sword that so affrighted damocles 

it was a wondrous sight the wood was green as mosses of the icy glen 
the trees stood high and haughty feeling their living sap the
industrious earth beneath was as a weaver's loom with a gorgeous
carpet on it whereof the ground-vine tendrils formed the warp and
woof and the living flowers the figures all the trees with all their
laden branches all the shrubs and ferns and grasses the
message-carrying air all these unceasingly were active through the
lacings of the leaves the great sun seemed a flying shuttle weaving
the unwearied verdure oh busy weaver unseen weaver pause one
word whither flows the fabric what palace may it deck wherefore all
these ceaseless toilings speak weaver stay thy hand but one single
word with thee nay the shuttle flies the figures float from forth the
loom the freshet-rushing carpet for ever slides away the weaver-god 
he weaves and by that weaving is he deafened that he hears no mortal
voice and by that humming we too who look on the loom are deafened 
and only when we escape it shall we hear the thousand voices that speak
through it for even so it is in all material factories the spoken
words that are inaudible among the flying spindles those same words
are plainly heard without the walls bursting from the opened
casements thereby have villainies been detected ah mortal then be
heedful for so in all this din of the great world's loom thy
subtlest thinkings may be overheard afar 

now amid the green life-restless loom of that arsacidean wood the
great white worshipped skeleton lay lounging a gigantic idler yet 
as the ever-woven verdant warp and woof intermixed and hummed around
him the mighty idler seemed the cunning weaver himself all woven over
with the vines every month assuming greener fresher verdure but
himself a skeleton life folded death death trellised life the grim
god wived with youthful life and begat him curly-headed glories 

now when with royal tranquo i visited this wondrous whale and saw the
skull an altar and the artificial smoke ascending from where the real
jet had issued i marvelled that the king should regard a chapel as an
object of vertu he laughed but more i marvelled that the priests
should swear that smoky jet of his was genuine to and fro i paced
before this skeleton brushed the vines aside broke through the ribs and
with a ball of arsacidean twine wandered eddied long amid its many
winding shaded colonnades and arbours but soon my line was out and
following it back i emerged from the opening where i entered i saw no
living thing within naught was there but bones 

cutting me a green measuring-rod i once more dived within the
skeleton from their arrow-slit in the skull the priests perceived me
taking the altitude of the final rib how now they shouted dar'st
thou measure this our god that's for us aye priests well how long
do ye make him then but hereupon a fierce contest rose among them 
concerning feet and inches they cracked each other's sconces with
their yard-sticks the great skull echoed and seizing that lucky chance 
i quickly concluded my own admeasurements 

these admeasurements i now propose to set before you but first be it
recorded that in this matter i am not free to utter any fancied
measurement i please because there are skeleton authorities you can
refer to to test my accuracy there is a leviathanic museum they tell
me in hull england one of the whaling ports of that country where
they have some fine specimens of fin-backs and other whales likewise 
i have heard that in the museum of manchester in new hampshire they
have what the proprietors call the only perfect specimen of a
greenland or river whale in the united states moreover at a place in
yorkshire england burton constable by name a certain sir clifford
constable has in his possession the skeleton of a sperm whale but of
moderate size by no means of the full-grown magnitude of my friend
king tranquo's 

in both cases the stranded whales to which these two skeletons
belonged were originally claimed by their proprietors upon similar
grounds king tranquo seizing his because he wanted it and sir
clifford because he was lord of the seignories of those parts sir
clifford's whale has been articulated throughout so that like a great
chest of drawers you can open and shut him in all his bony
cavities spread out his ribs like a gigantic fan and swing all day upon
his lower jaw locks are to be put upon some of his trap-doors and
shutters and a footman will show round future visitors with a bunch of
keys at his side sir clifford thinks of charging twopence for a peep
at the whispering gallery in the spinal column threepence to hear the
echo in the hollow of his cerebellum and sixpence for the unrivalled
view from his forehead 

the skeleton dimensions i shall now proceed to set down are copied
verbatim from my right arm where i had them tattooed as in my wild
wanderings at that period there was no other secure way of preserving
such valuable statistics but as i was crowded for space and wished
the other parts of my body to remain a blank page for a poem i was then
composing at least what untattooed parts might remain i did not
trouble myself with the odd inches nor indeed should inches at all
enter into a congenial admeasurement of the whale 


chapter 103 measurement of the whale's skeleton 

in the first place i wish to lay before you a particular plain
statement touching the living bulk of this leviathan whose skeleton
we are briefly to exhibit such a statement may prove useful here 

according to a careful calculation i have made and which i partly base
upon captain scoresby's estimate of seventy tons for the largest sized
greenland whale of sixty feet in length according to my careful
calculation i say a sperm whale of the largest magnitude between
eighty-five and ninety feet in length and something less than forty
feet in its fullest circumference such a whale will weigh at least
ninety tons so that reckoning thirteen men to a ton he would
considerably outweigh the combined population of a whole village of one
thousand one hundred inhabitants 

think you not then that brains like yoked cattle should be put to
this leviathan to make him at all budge to any landsman's imagination 

having already in various ways put before you his skull spout-hole 
jaw teeth tail forehead fins and divers other parts i shall now
simply point out what is most interesting in the general bulk of his
unobstructed bones but as the colossal skull embraces so very large a
proportion of the entire extent of the skeleton as it is by far the
most complicated part and as nothing is to be repeated concerning it
in this chapter you must not fail to carry it in your mind or under
your arm as we proceed otherwise you will not gain a complete notion
of the general structure we are about to view 

in length the sperm whale's skeleton at tranque measured seventy-two
feet so that when fully invested and extended in life he must have
been ninety feet long for in the whale the skeleton loses about one
fifth in length compared with the living body of this seventy-two
feet his skull and jaw comprised some twenty feet leaving some fifty
feet of plain back-bone attached to this back-bone for something less
than a third of its length was the mighty circular basket of ribs
which once enclosed his vitals 

to me this vast ivory-ribbed chest with the long unrelieved spine 
extending far away from it in a straight line not a little resembled
the hull of a great ship new-laid upon the stocks when only some
twenty of her naked bow-ribs are inserted and the keel is otherwise 
for the time but a long disconnected timber 

the ribs were ten on a side the first to begin from the neck was
nearly six feet long the second third and fourth were each
successively longer till you came to the climax of the fifth or one
of the middle ribs which measured eight feet and some inches from
that part the remaining ribs diminished till the tenth and last only
spanned five feet and some inches in general thickness they all bore
a seemly correspondence to their length the middle ribs were the most
arched in some of the arsacides they are used for beams whereon to lay
footpath bridges over small streams 

in considering these ribs i could not but be struck anew with the
circumstance so variously repeated in this book that the skeleton of
the whale is by no means the mould of his invested form the largest of
the tranque ribs one of the middle ones occupied that part of the
fish which in life is greatest in depth now the greatest depth of
the invested body of this particular whale must have been at least
sixteen feet whereas the corresponding rib measured but little more
than eight feet so that this rib only conveyed half of the true notion
of the living magnitude of that part besides for some way where i
now saw but a naked spine all that had been once wrapped round with
tons of added bulk in flesh muscle blood and bowels still more for
the ample fins i here saw but a few disordered joints and in place of
the weighty and majestic but boneless flukes an utter blank 

how vain and foolish then thought i for timid untravelled man to try
to comprehend aright this wondrous whale by merely poring over his
dead attenuated skeleton stretched in this peaceful wood no only in
the heart of quickest perils only when within the eddyings of his
angry flukes only on the profound unbounded sea can the fully
invested whale be truly and livingly found out 

but the spine for that the best way we can consider it is with a
crane to pile its bones high up on end no speedy enterprise but now
it's done it looks much like pompey's pillar 

there are forty and odd vertebrae in all which in the skeleton are not
locked together they mostly lie like the great knobbed blocks on a
gothic spire forming solid courses of heavy masonry the largest a
middle one is in width something less than three feet and in depth
more than four the smallest where the spine tapers away into the
tail is only two inches in width and looks something like a white
billiard-ball i was told that there were still smaller ones but they
had been lost by some little cannibal urchins the priest's children 
who had stolen them to play marbles with thus we see how that the
spine of even the hugest of living things tapers off at last into
simple child's play 


chapter 104 the fossil whale 

from his mighty bulk the whale affords a most congenial theme whereon
to enlarge amplify and generally expatiate would you you could not
compress him by good rights he should only be treated of in imperial
folio not to tell over again his furlongs from spiracle to tail and
the yards he measures about the waist only think of the gigantic
involutions of his intestines where they lie in him like great cables
and hawsers coiled away in the subterranean orlop-deck of a
line-of-battle-ship 

since i have undertaken to manhandle this leviathan it behooves me to
approve myself omnisciently exhaustive in the enterprise not
overlooking the minutest seminal germs of his blood and spinning him
out to the uttermost coil of his bowels having already described him
in most of his present habitatory and anatomical peculiarities it now
remains to magnify him in an archaeological fossiliferous and
antediluvian point of view applied to any other creature than the
leviathan to an ant or a flea such portly terms might justly be deemed
unwarrantably grandiloquent but when leviathan is the text the case
is altered fain am i to stagger to this emprise under the weightiest
words of the dictionary and here be it said that whenever it has been
convenient to consult one in the course of these dissertations i have
invariably used a huge quarto edition of johnson expressly purchased
for that purpose because that famous lexicographer's uncommon personal
bulk more fitted him to compile a lexicon to be used by a whale author
like me 

one often hears of writers that rise and swell with their subject 
though it may seem but an ordinary one how then with me writing of
this leviathan unconsciously my chirography expands into placard
capitals give me a condor's quill give me vesuvius crater for an
inkstand friends hold my arms for in the mere act of penning my
thoughts of this leviathan they weary me and make me faint with their
outreaching comprehensiveness of sweep as if to include the whole
circle of the sciences and all the generations of whales and men and
mastodons past present and to come with all the revolving panoramas
of empire on earth and throughout the whole universe not excluding
its suburbs such and so magnifying is the virtue of a large and
liberal theme we expand to its bulk to produce a mighty book you
must choose a mighty theme no great and enduring volume can ever be
written on the flea though many there be who have tried it 

ere entering upon the subject of fossil whales i present my
credentials as a geologist by stating that in my miscellaneous time i
have been a stone-mason and also a great digger of ditches canals and
wells wine-vaults cellars and cisterns of all sorts likewise by
way of preliminary i desire to remind the reader that while in the
earlier geological strata there are found the fossils of monsters now
almost completely extinct the subsequent relics discovered in what are
called the tertiary formations seem the connecting or at any rate
intercepted links between the antichronical creatures and those whose
remote posterity are said to have entered the ark all the fossil
whales hitherto discovered belong to the tertiary period which is the
last preceding the superficial formations and though none of them
precisely answer to any known species of the present time they are yet
sufficiently akin to them in general respects to justify their taking
rank as cetacean fossils 

detached broken fossils of pre-adamite whales fragments of their bones
and skeletons have within thirty years past at various intervals 
been found at the base of the alps in lombardy in france in england 
in scotland and in the states of louisiana mississippi and alabama 
among the more curious of such remains is part of a skull which in the
year 1779 was disinterred in the rue dauphine in paris a short street
opening almost directly upon the palace of the tuileries and bones
disinterred in excavating the great docks of antwerp in napoleon's
time cuvier pronounced these fragments to have belonged to some
utterly unknown leviathanic species 

but by far the most wonderful of all cetacean relics was the almost
complete vast skeleton of an extinct monster found in the year 1842 
on the plantation of judge creagh in alabama the awe-stricken
credulous slaves in the vicinity took it for the bones of one of the
fallen angels the alabama doctors declared it a huge reptile and
bestowed upon it the name of basilosaurus but some specimen bones of
it being taken across the sea to owen the english anatomist it turned
out that this alleged reptile was a whale though of a departed
species a significant illustration of the fact again and again
repeated in this book that the skeleton of the whale furnishes but
little clue to the shape of his fully invested body so owen
rechristened the monster zeuglodon and in his paper read before the
london geological society pronounced it in substance one of the most
extraordinary creatures which the mutations of the globe have blotted
out of existence 

when i stand among these mighty leviathan skeletons skulls tusks 
jaws ribs and vertebrae all characterized by partial resemblances to
the existing breeds of sea-monsters but at the same time bearing on
the other hand similar affinities to the annihilated antichronical
leviathans their incalculable seniors i am by a flood borne back to
that wondrous period ere time itself can be said to have begun for
time began with man here saturn's grey chaos rolls over me and i
obtain dim shuddering glimpses into those polar eternities when
wedged bastions of ice pressed hard upon what are now the tropics and
in all the 25 000 miles of this world's circumference not an
inhabitable hand's breadth of land was visible then the whole world
was the whale's and king of creation he left his wake along the
present lines of the andes and the himmalehs who can show a pedigree
like leviathan ahab's harpoon had shed older blood than the pharaoh's 
methuselah seems a school-boy i look round to shake hands with shem i
am horror-struck at this antemosaic unsourced existence of the
unspeakable terrors of the whale which having been before all time 
must needs exist after all humane ages are over 

but not alone has this leviathan left his pre-adamite traces in the
stereotype plates of nature and in limestone and marl bequeathed his
ancient bust but upon egyptian tablets whose antiquity seems to claim
for them an almost fossiliferous character we find the unmistakable
print of his fin in an apartment of the great temple of denderah some
fifty years ago there was discovered upon the granite ceiling a
sculptured and painted planisphere abounding in centaurs griffins 
and dolphins similar to the grotesque figures on the celestial globe
of the moderns gliding among them old leviathan swam as of yore was
there swimming in that planisphere centuries before solomon was
cradled 

nor must there be omitted another strange attestation of the antiquity
of the whale in his own osseous post-diluvian reality as set down by
the venerable john leo the old barbary traveller 

 not far from the sea-side they have a temple the rafters and beams
of which are made of whale-bones for whales of a monstrous size are
oftentimes cast up dead upon that shore the common people imagine 
that by a secret power bestowed by god upon the temple no whale can
pass it without immediate death but the truth of the matter is that
on either side of the temple there are rocks that shoot two miles into
the sea and wound the whales when they light upon em they keep a
whale's rib of an incredible length for a miracle which lying upon the
ground with its convex part uppermost makes an arch the head of which
cannot be reached by a man upon a camel's back this rib says john
leo is said to have layn there a hundred years before i saw it their
historians affirm that a prophet who prophesy'd of mahomet came from
this temple and some do not stand to assert that the prophet jonas
was cast forth by the whale at the base of the temple 

in this afric temple of the whale i leave you reader and if you be a
nantucketer and a whaleman you will silently worship there 


chapter 105 does the whale's magnitude diminish will he perish 

inasmuch then as this leviathan comes floundering down upon us from
the head-waters of the eternities it may be fitly inquired whether 
in the long course of his generations he has not degenerated from the
original bulk of his sires 

but upon investigation we find that not only are the whales of the
present day superior in magnitude to those whose fossil remains are
found in the tertiary system embracing a distinct geological period
prior to man but of the whales found in that tertiary system those
belonging to its latter formations exceed in size those of its earlier
ones 

of all the pre-adamite whales yet exhumed by far the largest is the
alabama one mentioned in the last chapter and that was less than
seventy feet in length in the skeleton whereas we have already seen 
that the tape-measure gives seventy-two feet for the skeleton of a
large sized modern whale and i have heard on whalemen's authority 
that sperm whales have been captured near a hundred feet long at the
time of capture 

but may it not be that while the whales of the present hour are an
advance in magnitude upon those of all previous geological periods may
it not be that since adam's time they have degenerated 

assuredly we must conclude so if we are to credit the accounts of
such gentlemen as pliny and the ancient naturalists generally for
pliny tells us of whales that embraced acres of living bulk and
aldrovandus of others which measured eight hundred feet in length rope
walks and thames tunnels of whales and even in the days of banks and
solander cooke's naturalists we find a danish member of the academy
of sciences setting down certain iceland whales reydan-siskur or
wrinkled bellies at one hundred and twenty yards that is three
hundred and sixty feet and lacepede the french naturalist in his
elaborate history of whales in the very beginning of his work page
3 sets down the right whale at one hundred metres three hundred and
twenty-eight feet and this work was published so late as a d 1825 

but will any whaleman believe these stories no the whale of to-day is
as big as his ancestors in pliny's time and if ever i go where pliny
is i a whaleman more than he was will make bold to tell him so 
because i cannot understand how it is that while the egyptian mummies
that were buried thousands of years before even pliny was born do not
measure so much in their coffins as a modern kentuckian in his socks 
and while the cattle and other animals sculptured on the oldest
egyptian and nineveh tablets by the relative proportions in which they
are drawn just as plainly prove that the high-bred stall-fed prize
cattle of smithfield not only equal but far exceed in magnitude the
fattest of pharaoh's fat kine in the face of all this i will not
admit that of all animals the whale alone should have degenerated 

but still another inquiry remains one often agitated by the more
recondite nantucketers whether owing to the almost omniscient
look-outs at the mast-heads of the whale-ships now penetrating even
through behring's straits and into the remotest secret drawers and
lockers of the world and the thousand harpoons and lances darted along
all continental coasts the moot point is whether leviathan can long
endure so wide a chase and so remorseless a havoc whether he must not
at last be exterminated from the waters and the last whale like the
last man smoke his last pipe and then himself evaporate in the final
puff 

comparing the humped herds of whales with the humped herds of buffalo 
which not forty years ago overspread by tens of thousands the
prairies of illinois and missouri and shook their iron manes and
scowled with their thunder-clotted brows upon the sites of populous
river-capitals where now the polite broker sells you land at a dollar
an inch in such a comparison an irresistible argument would seem
furnished to show that the hunted whale cannot now escape speedy
extinction 

but you must look at this matter in every light though so short a
period ago not a good lifetime the census of the buffalo in illinois
exceeded the census of men now in london and though at the present day
not one horn or hoof of them remains in all that region and though the
cause of this wondrous extermination was the spear of man yet the far
different nature of the whale-hunt peremptorily forbids so inglorious
an end to the leviathan forty men in one ship hunting the sperm whales
for forty-eight months think they have done extremely well and thank
god if at last they carry home the oil of forty fish whereas in the
days of the old canadian and indian hunters and trappers of the west 
when the far west in whose sunset suns still rise was a wilderness
and a virgin the same number of moccasined men for the same number of
months mounted on horse instead of sailing in ships would have slain
not forty but forty thousand and more buffaloes a fact that if need
were could be statistically stated 

nor considered aright does it seem any argument in favour of the
gradual extinction of the sperm whale for example that in former
years the latter part of the last century say these leviathans in
small pods were encountered much oftener than at present and in
consequence the voyages were not so prolonged and were also much more
remunerative because as has been elsewhere noticed those whales 
influenced by some views to safety now swim the seas in immense
caravans so that to a large degree the scattered solitaries yokes 
and pods and schools of other days are now aggregated into vast but
widely separated unfrequent armies that is all and equally
fallacious seems the conceit that because the so-called whale-bone
whales no longer haunt many grounds in former years abounding with
them hence that species also is declining for they are only being
driven from promontory to cape and if one coast is no longer enlivened
with their jets then be sure some other and remoter strand has been
very recently startled by the unfamiliar spectacle 

furthermore concerning these last mentioned leviathans they have two
firm fortresses which in all human probability will for ever remain
impregnable and as upon the invasion of their valleys the frosty
swiss have retreated to their mountains so hunted from the savannas
and glades of the middle seas the whale-bone whales can at last resort
to their polar citadels and diving under the ultimate glassy barriers
and walls there come up among icy fields and floes and in a charmed
circle of everlasting december bid defiance to all pursuit from man 

but as perhaps fifty of these whale-bone whales are harpooned for one
cachalot some philosophers of the forecastle have concluded that this
positive havoc has already very seriously diminished their battalions 
but though for some time past a number of these whales not less than
13 000 have been annually slain on the nor west coast by the
americans alone yet there are considerations which render even this
circumstance of little or no account as an opposing argument in this
matter 

natural as it is to be somewhat incredulous concerning the populousness
of the more enormous creatures of the globe yet what shall we say to
harto the historian of goa when he tells us that at one hunting the
king of siam took 4 000 elephants that in those regions elephants are
numerous as droves of cattle in the temperate climes and there seems
no reason to doubt that if these elephants which have now been hunted
for thousands of years by semiramis by porus by hannibal and by all
the successive monarchs of the east if they still survive there in
great numbers much more may the great whale outlast all hunting since
he has a pasture to expatiate in which is precisely twice as large as
all asia both americas europe and africa new holland and all the
isles of the sea combined 

moreover we are to consider that from the presumed great longevity of
whales their probably attaining the age of a century and more 
therefore at any one period of time several distinct adult generations
must be contemporary and what that is we may soon gain some idea of 
by imagining all the grave-yards cemeteries and family vaults of
creation yielding up the live bodies of all the men women and
children who were alive seventy-five years ago and adding this
countless host to the present human population of the globe 

wherefore for all these things we account the whale immortal in his
species however perishable in his individuality he swam the seas
before the continents broke water he once swam over the site of the
tuileries and windsor castle and the kremlin in noah's flood he
despised noah's ark and if ever the world is to be again flooded like
the netherlands to kill off its rats then the eternal whale will
still survive and rearing upon the topmost crest of the equatorial
flood spout his frothed defiance to the skies 


chapter 106 ahab's leg 

the precipitating manner in which captain ahab had quitted the samuel
enderby of london had not been unattended with some small violence to
his own person he had lighted with such energy upon a thwart of his
boat that his ivory leg had received a half-splintering shock and when
after gaining his own deck and his own pivot-hole there he so
vehemently wheeled round with an urgent command to the steersman it
was as ever something about his not steering inflexibly enough 
then the already shaken ivory received such an additional twist and
wrench that though it still remained entire and to all appearances
lusty yet ahab did not deem it entirely trustworthy 

and indeed it seemed small matter for wonder that for all his
pervading mad recklessness ahab did at times give careful heed to the
condition of that dead bone upon which he partly stood for it had not
been very long prior to the pequod's sailing from nantucket that he
had been found one night lying prone upon the ground and insensible 
by some unknown and seemingly inexplicable unimaginable casualty his
ivory limb having been so violently displaced that it had stake-wise
smitten and all but pierced his groin nor was it without extreme
difficulty that the agonizing wound was entirely cured 

nor at the time had it failed to enter his monomaniac mind that all
the anguish of that then present suffering was but the direct issue of
a former woe and he too plainly seemed to see that as the most
poisonous reptile of the marsh perpetuates his kind as inevitably as
the sweetest songster of the grove so equally with every felicity 
all miserable events do naturally beget their like yea more than
equally thought ahab since both the ancestry and posterity of grief
go further than the ancestry and posterity of joy for not to hint of
this that it is an inference from certain canonic teachings that
while some natural enjoyments here shall have no children born to them
for the other world but on the contrary shall be followed by the
joy-childlessness of all hell's despair whereas some guilty mortal
miseries shall still fertilely beget to themselves an eternally
progressive progeny of griefs beyond the grave not at all to hint of
this there still seems an inequality in the deeper analysis of the
thing for thought ahab while even the highest earthly felicities
ever have a certain unsignifying pettiness lurking in them but at
bottom all heartwoes a mystic significance and in some men an
archangelic grandeur so do their diligent tracings-out not belie the
obvious deduction to trail the genealogies of these high mortal
miseries carries us at last among the sourceless primogenitures of the
gods so that in the face of all the glad hay-making suns and soft
cymballing round harvest-moons we must needs give in to this that
the gods themselves are not for ever glad the ineffaceable sad
birth-mark in the brow of man is but the stamp of sorrow in the
signers 

unwittingly here a secret has been divulged which perhaps might more
properly in set way have been disclosed before with many other
particulars concerning ahab always had it remained a mystery to some 
why it was that for a certain period both before and after the
sailing of the pequod he had hidden himself away with such
grand-lama-like exclusiveness and for that one interval sought
speechless refuge as it were among the marble senate of the dead 
captain peleg's bruited reason for this thing appeared by no means
adequate though indeed as touching all ahab's deeper part every
revelation partook more of significant darkness than of explanatory
light but in the end it all came out this one matter did at least 
that direful mishap was at the bottom of his temporary recluseness and
not only this but to that ever-contracting dropping circle ashore 
who for any reason possessed the privilege of a less banned approach
to him to that timid circle the above hinted casualty remaining as it
did moodily unaccounted for by ahab invested itself with terrors not
entirely underived from the land of spirits and of wails so that 
through their zeal for him they had all conspired so far as in them
lay to muffle up the knowledge of this thing from others and hence it
was that not till a considerable interval had elapsed did it
transpire upon the pequod's decks 

but be all this as it may let the unseen ambiguous synod in the air 
or the vindictive princes and potentates of fire have to do or not
with earthly ahab yet in this present matter of his leg he took
plain practical procedures he called the carpenter 

and when that functionary appeared before him he bade him without
delay set about making a new leg and directed the mates to see him
supplied with all the studs and joists of jaw-ivory sperm whale which
had thus far been accumulated on the voyage in order that a careful
selection of the stoutest clearest-grained stuff might be secured 
this done the carpenter received orders to have the leg completed that
night and to provide all the fittings for it independent of those
pertaining to the distrusted one in use moreover the ship's forge was
ordered to be hoisted out of its temporary idleness in the hold and 
to accelerate the affair the blacksmith was commanded to proceed at
once to the forging of whatever iron contrivances might be needed 


chapter 107 the carpenter 

seat thyself sultanically among the moons of saturn and take high
abstracted man alone and he seems a wonder a grandeur and a woe but
from the same point take mankind in mass and for the most part they
seem a mob of unnecessary duplicates both contemporary and hereditary 
but most humble though he was and far from furnishing an example of
the high humane abstraction the pequod's carpenter was no duplicate 
hence he now comes in person on this stage 

like all sea-going ship carpenters and more especially those belonging
to whaling vessels he was to a certain off-handed practical extent 
alike experienced in numerous trades and callings collateral to his
own the carpenter's pursuit being the ancient and outbranching trunk
of all those numerous handicrafts which more or less have to do with
wood as an auxiliary material but besides the application to him of
the generic remark above this carpenter of the pequod was singularly
efficient in those thousand nameless mechanical emergencies continually
recurring in a large ship upon a three or four years voyage in
uncivilized and far-distant seas for not to speak of his readiness in
ordinary duties repairing stove boats sprung spars reforming the
shape of clumsy-bladed oars inserting bull's eyes in the deck or new
tree-nails in the side planks and other miscellaneous matters more
directly pertaining to his special business he was moreover
unhesitatingly expert in all manner of conflicting aptitudes both
useful and capricious 

the one grand stage where he enacted all his various parts so manifold 
was his vice-bench a long rude ponderous table furnished with several
vices of different sizes and both of iron and of wood at all times
except when whales were alongside this bench was securely lashed
athwartships against the rear of the try-works 

a belaying pin is found too large to be easily inserted into its hole 
the carpenter claps it into one of his ever-ready vices and
straightway files it smaller a lost land-bird of strange plumage
strays on board and is made a captive out of clean shaved rods of
right-whale bone and cross-beams of sperm whale ivory the carpenter
makes a pagoda-looking cage for it an oarsman sprains his wrist the
carpenter concocts a soothing lotion stubb longed for vermillion stars
to be painted upon the blade of his every oar screwing each oar in his
big vice of wood the carpenter symmetrically supplies the
constellation a sailor takes a fancy to wear shark-bone ear-rings the
carpenter drills his ears another has the toothache the carpenter out
pincers and clapping one hand upon his bench bids him be seated there 
but the poor fellow unmanageably winces under the unconcluded
operation whirling round the handle of his wooden vice the carpenter
signs him to clap his jaw in that if he would have him draw the tooth 

thus this carpenter was prepared at all points and alike indifferent
and without respect in all teeth he accounted bits of ivory heads he
deemed but top-blocks men themselves he lightly held for capstans but
while now upon so wide a field thus variously accomplished and with
such liveliness of expertness in him too all this would seem to argue
some uncommon vivacity of intelligence but not precisely so for
nothing was this man more remarkable than for a certain impersonal
stolidity as it were impersonal i say for it so shaded off into the
surrounding infinite of things that it seemed one with the general
stolidity discernible in the whole visible world which while
pauselessly active in uncounted modes still eternally holds its peace 
and ignores you though you dig foundations for cathedrals yet was
this half-horrible stolidity in him involving too as it appeared an
all-ramifying heartlessness yet was it oddly dashed at times with an
old crutch-like antediluvian wheezing humorousness not unstreaked
now and then with a certain grizzled wittiness such as might have
served to pass the time during the midnight watch on the bearded
forecastle of noah's ark was it that this old carpenter had been a
life-long wanderer whose much rolling to and fro not only had
gathered no moss but what is more had rubbed off whatever small
outward clingings might have originally pertained to him he was a
stript abstract an unfractioned integral uncompromised as a new-born
babe living without premeditated reference to this world or the next 
you might almost say that this strange uncompromisedness in him
involved a sort of unintelligence for in his numerous trades he did
not seem to work so much by reason or by instinct or simply because he
had been tutored to it or by any intermixture of all these even or
uneven but merely by a kind of deaf and dumb spontaneous literal
process he was a pure manipulator his brain if he had ever had one 
must have early oozed along into the muscles of his fingers he was
like one of those unreasoning but still highly useful multum in
parvo sheffield contrivances assuming the exterior though a little
swelled of a common pocket knife but containing not only blades of
various sizes but also screw-drivers cork-screws tweezers awls 
pens rulers nail-filers countersinkers so if his superiors wanted
to use the carpenter for a screw-driver all they had to do was to open
that part of him and the screw was fast or if for tweezers take him
up by the legs and there they were 

yet as previously hinted this omnitooled open-and-shut carpenter 
was after all no mere machine of an automaton if he did not have a
common soul in him he had a subtle something that somehow anomalously
did its duty what that was whether essence of quicksilver or a few
drops of hartshorn there is no telling but there it was and there it
had abided for now some sixty years or more and this it was this same
unaccountable cunning life-principle in him this it was that kept
him a great part of the time soliloquizing but only like an
unreasoning wheel which also hummingly soliloquizes or rather his
body was a sentry-box and this soliloquizer on guard there and talking
all the time to keep himself awake 


chapter 108 ahab and the carpenter 

the deck first night watch 

 carpenter standing before his vice-bench and by the light of two
lanterns busily filing the ivory joist for the leg which joist is
firmly fixed in the vice slabs of ivory leather straps pads screws 
and various tools of all sorts lying about the bench forward the red
flame of the forge is seen where the blacksmith is at work 

drat the file and drat the bone that is hard which should be soft 
and that is soft which should be hard so we go who file old jaws and
shinbones let's try another aye now this works better sneezes 
halloa this bone dust is sneezes why it's sneezes yes it's
 sneezes bless my soul it won't let me speak this is what an old
fellow gets now for working in dead lumber saw a live tree and you
don't get this dust amputate a live bone and you don't get it
 sneezes come come you old smut there bear a hand and let's
have that ferule and buckle-screw i'll be ready for them presently 
lucky now sneezes there's no knee-joint to make that might puzzle
a little but a mere shinbone why it's easy as making hop-poles only i
should like to put a good finish on time time if i but only had the
time i could turn him out as neat a leg now as ever sneezes 
scraped to a lady in a parlor those buckskin legs and calves of legs
i've seen in shop windows wouldn't compare at all they soak water 
they do and of course get rheumatic and have to be doctored
 sneezes with washes and lotions just like live legs there before
i saw it off now i must call his old mogulship and see whether the
length will be all right too short if anything i guess ha that's
the heel we are in luck here he comes or it's somebody else that's
certain 

ahab advancing during the ensuing scene the carpenter continues
sneezing at times 

well manmaker 

just in time sir if the captain pleases i will now mark the length 
let me measure sir 

measured for a leg good well it's not the first time about it 
there keep thy finger on it this is a cogent vice thou hast here 
carpenter let me feel its grip once so so it does pinch some 

oh sir it will break bones beware beware 

no fear i like a good grip i like to feel something in this slippery
world that can hold man what's prometheus about there the
blacksmith i mean what's he about 

he must be forging the buckle-screw sir now 

right it's a partnership he supplies the muscle part he makes a
fierce red flame there 

aye sir he must have the white heat for this kind of fine work 

um-m so he must i do deem it now a most meaning thing that that old
greek prometheus who made men they say should have been a
blacksmith and animated them with fire for what's made in fire must
properly belong to fire and so hell's probable how the soot flies 
this must be the remainder the greek made the africans of carpenter 
when he's through with that buckle tell him to forge a pair of steel
shoulder-blades there's a pedlar aboard with a crushing pack 

sir 

hold while prometheus is about it i'll order a complete man after a
desirable pattern imprimis fifty feet high in his socks then chest
modelled after the thames tunnel then legs with roots to em to stay
in one place then arms three feet through the wrist no heart at all 
brass forehead and about a quarter of an acre of fine brains and let
me see shall i order eyes to see outwards no but put a sky-light on
top of his head to illuminate inwards there take the order and away 

now what's he speaking about and who's he speaking to i should like
to know shall i keep standing here aside 

 tis but indifferent architecture to make a blind dome here's one no 
no no i must have a lantern 

ho ho that's it hey here are two sir one will serve my turn 

what art thou thrusting that thief-catcher into my face for man 
thrusted light is worse than presented pistols 

i thought sir that you spoke to carpenter 

carpenter why that's but no a very tidy and i may say an extremely
gentlemanlike sort of business thou art in here carpenter or would'st
thou rather work in clay 

sir clay clay sir that's mud we leave clay to ditchers sir 

the fellow's impious what art thou sneezing about 

bone is rather dusty sir 

take the hint then and when thou art dead never bury thyself under
living people's noses 

sir oh ah i guess so yes oh dear 

look ye carpenter i dare say thou callest thyself a right good
workmanlike workman eh well then will it speak thoroughly well for
thy work if when i come to mount this leg thou makest i shall
nevertheless feel another leg in the same identical place with it that
is carpenter my old lost leg the flesh and blood one i mean canst
thou not drive that old adam away 

truly sir i begin to understand somewhat now yes i have heard
something curious on that score sir how that a dismasted man never
entirely loses the feeling of his old spar but it will be still
pricking him at times may i humbly ask if it be really so sir 

it is man look put thy live leg here in the place where mine once
was so now here is only one distinct leg to the eye yet two to the
soul where thou feelest tingling life there exactly there there to
a hair do i is't a riddle 

i should humbly call it a poser sir 

hist then how dost thou know that some entire living thinking thing
may not be invisibly and uninterpenetratingly standing precisely where
thou now standest aye and standing there in thy spite in thy most
solitary hours then dost thou not fear eavesdroppers hold don't
speak and if i still feel the smart of my crushed leg though it be
now so long dissolved then why mayst not thou carpenter feel the
fiery pains of hell for ever and without a body hah 

good lord truly sir if it comes to that i must calculate over
again i think i didn't carry a small figure sir 

look ye pudding-heads should never grant premises how long before the
leg is done 

perhaps an hour sir 

bungle away at it then and bring it to me turns to go oh life 
here i am proud as greek god and yet standing debtor to this
blockhead for a bone to stand on cursed be that mortal
inter-indebtedness which will not do away with ledgers i would be free
as air and i'm down in the whole world's books i am so rich i could
have given bid for bid with the wealthiest praetorians at the auction of
the roman empire which was the world's and yet i owe for the flesh
in the tongue i brag with by heavens i'll get a crucible and into
it and dissolve myself down to one small compendious vertebra so 

carpenter resuming his work 

well well well stubb knows him best of all and stubb always says
he's queer says nothing but that one sufficient little word queer 
he's queer says stubb he's queer queer queer and keeps dinning it
into mr starbuck all the time queer sir queer queer very queer and
here's his leg yes now that i think of it here's his bedfellow has
a stick of whale's jaw-bone for a wife and this is his leg he'll
stand on this what was that now about one leg standing in three
places and all three places standing in one hell how was that oh i
don't wonder he looked so scornful at me i'm a sort of
strange-thoughted sometimes they say but that's only haphazard-like 
then a short little old body like me should never undertake to wade
out into deep waters with tall heron-built captains the water chucks
you under the chin pretty quick and there's a great cry for
life-boats and here's the heron's leg long and slim sure enough 
now for most folks one pair of legs lasts a lifetime and that must be
because they use them mercifully as a tender-hearted old lady uses her
roly-poly old coach-horses but ahab oh he's a hard driver look 
driven one leg to death and spavined the other for life and now wears
out bone legs by the cord halloa there you smut bear a hand there
with those screws and let's finish it before the resurrection fellow
comes a-calling with his horn for all legs true or false as
brewery-men go round collecting old beer barrels to fill em up again 
what a leg this is it looks like a real live leg filed down to
nothing but the core he'll be standing on this to-morrow he'll be
taking altitudes on it halloa i almost forgot the little oval slate 
smoothed ivory where he figures up the latitude so so chisel file 
and sand-paper now 


chapter 109 ahab and starbuck in the cabin 

according to usage they were pumping the ship next morning and lo no
inconsiderable oil came up with the water the casks below must have
sprung a bad leak much concern was shown and starbuck went down into
the cabin to report this unfavourable affair 

 in sperm-whalemen with any considerable quantity of oil on board it
is a regular semi-weekly duty to conduct a hose into the hold and
drench the casks with sea-water which afterwards at varying
intervals is removed by the ship's pumps hereby the casks are sought
to be kept damply tight while by the changed character of the
withdrawn water the mariners readily detect any serious leakage in the
precious cargo 

now from the south and west the pequod was drawing nigh to formosa and
the bashee isles between which lies one of the tropical outlets from
the china waters into the pacific and so starbuck found ahab with a
general chart of the oriental archipelagoes spread before him and
another separate one representing the long eastern coasts of the
japanese islands niphon matsmai and sikoke with his snow-white new
ivory leg braced against the screwed leg of his table and with a long
pruning-hook of a jack-knife in his hand the wondrous old man with
his back to the gangway door was wrinkling his brow and tracing his
old courses again 

 who's there hearing the footstep at the door but not turning round
to it on deck begone 

 captain ahab mistakes it is i the oil in the hold is leaking sir 
we must up burtons and break out 

 up burtons and break out now that we are nearing japan heave-to here
for a week to tinker a parcel of old hoops 

 either do that sir or waste in one day more oil than we may make
good in a year what we come twenty thousand miles to get is worth
saving sir 

 so it is so it is if we get it 

 i was speaking of the oil in the hold sir 

 and i was not speaking or thinking of that at all begone let it
leak i'm all aleak myself aye leaks in leaks not only full of leaky
casks but those leaky casks are in a leaky ship and that's a far
worse plight than the pequod's man yet i don't stop to plug my leak 
for who can find it in the deep-loaded hull or how hope to plug it 
even if found in this life's howling gale starbuck i'll not have the
burtons hoisted 

 what will the owners say sir 

 let the owners stand on nantucket beach and outyell the typhoons what
cares ahab owners owners thou art always prating to me starbuck 
about those miserly owners as if the owners were my conscience but
look ye the only real owner of anything is its commander and hark ye 
my conscience is in this ship's keel on deck 

 captain ahab said the reddening mate moving further into the cabin 
with a daring so strangely respectful and cautious that it almost
seemed not only every way seeking to avoid the slightest outward
manifestation of itself but within also seemed more than half
distrustful of itself a better man than i might well pass over in
thee what he would quickly enough resent in a younger man aye and in
a happier captain ahab 

 devils dost thou then so much as dare to critically think of me on
deck 

 nay sir not yet i do entreat and i do dare sir to be forbearing 
shall we not understand each other better than hitherto captain ahab 

ahab seized a loaded musket from the rack forming part of most
south-sea-men's cabin furniture and pointing it towards starbuck 
exclaimed there is one god that is lord over the earth and one
captain that is lord over the pequod on deck 

for an instant in the flashing eyes of the mate and his fiery cheeks 
you would have almost thought that he had really received the blaze of
the levelled tube but mastering his emotion he half calmly rose and
as he quitted the cabin paused for an instant and said thou hast
outraged not insulted me sir but for that i ask thee not to beware
of starbuck thou wouldst but laugh but let ahab beware of ahab 
beware of thyself old man 

 he waxes brave but nevertheless obeys most careful bravery that 
murmured ahab as starbuck disappeared what's that he said ahab
beware of ahab there's something there then unconsciously using the
musket for a staff with an iron brow he paced to and fro in the little
cabin but presently the thick plaits of his forehead relaxed and
returning the gun to the rack he went to the deck 

 thou art but too good a fellow starbuck he said lowly to the mate 
then raising his voice to the crew furl the t'gallant-sails and
close-reef the top-sails fore and aft back the main-yard up burton 
and break out in the main-hold 

it were perhaps vain to surmise exactly why it was that as respecting
starbuck ahab thus acted it may have been a flash of honesty in him 
or mere prudential policy which under the circumstance imperiously
forbade the slightest symptom of open disaffection however transient 
in the important chief officer of his ship however it was his orders
were executed and the burtons were hoisted 


chapter 110 queequeg in his coffin 

upon searching it was found that the casks last struck into the hold
were perfectly sound and that the leak must be further off so it
being calm weather they broke out deeper and deeper disturbing the
slumbers of the huge ground-tier butts and from that black midnight
sending those gigantic moles into the daylight above so deep did they
go and so ancient and corroded and weedy the aspect of the lowermost
puncheons that you almost looked next for some mouldy corner-stone
cask containing coins of captain noah with copies of the posted
placards vainly warning the infatuated old world from the flood 
tierce after tierce too of water and bread and beef and shooks of
staves and iron bundles of hoops were hoisted out till at last the
piled decks were hard to get about and the hollow hull echoed under
foot as if you were treading over empty catacombs and reeled and
rolled in the sea like an air-freighted demijohn top-heavy was the
ship as a dinnerless student with all aristotle in his head well was
it that the typhoons did not visit them then 

now at this time it was that my poor pagan companion and fast
bosom-friend queequeg was seized with a fever which brought him nigh
to his endless end 

be it said that in this vocation of whaling sinecures are unknown 
dignity and danger go hand in hand till you get to be captain the
higher you rise the harder you toil so with poor queequeg who as
harpooneer must not only face all the rage of the living whale but as
we have elsewhere seen mount his dead back in a rolling sea and
finally descend into the gloom of the hold and bitterly sweating all
day in that subterraneous confinement resolutely manhandle the
clumsiest casks and see to their stowage to be short among whalemen 
the harpooneers are the holders so called 

poor queequeg when the ship was about half disembowelled you should
have stooped over the hatchway and peered down upon him there where 
stripped to his woollen drawers the tattooed savage was crawling about
amid that dampness and slime like a green spotted lizard at the bottom
of a well and a well or an ice-house it somehow proved to him poor
pagan where strange to say for all the heat of his sweatings he
caught a terrible chill which lapsed into a fever and at last after
some days suffering laid him in his hammock close to the very sill
of the door of death how he wasted and wasted away in those few
long-lingering days till there seemed but little left of him but his
frame and tattooing but as all else in him thinned and his
cheek-bones grew sharper his eyes nevertheless seemed growing fuller
and fuller they became of a strange softness of lustre and mildly but
deeply looked out at you there from his sickness a wondrous testimony
to that immortal health in him which could not die or be weakened and
like circles on the water which as they grow fainter expand so his
eyes seemed rounding and rounding like the rings of eternity an awe
that cannot be named would steal over you as you sat by the side of
this waning savage and saw as strange things in his face as any
beheld who were bystanders when zoroaster died for whatever is truly
wondrous and fearful in man never yet was put into words or books and
the drawing near of death which alike levels all alike impresses all
with a last revelation which only an author from the dead could
adequately tell so that let us say it again no dying chaldee or greek
had higher and holier thoughts than those whose mysterious shades you
saw creeping over the face of poor queequeg as he quietly lay in his
swaying hammock and the rolling sea seemed gently rocking him to his
final rest and the ocean's invisible flood-tide lifted him higher and
higher towards his destined heaven 

not a man of the crew but gave him up and as for queequeg himself 
what he thought of his case was forcibly shown by a curious favour he
asked he called one to him in the grey morning watch when the day was
just breaking and taking his hand said that while in nantucket he had
chanced to see certain little canoes of dark wood like the rich
war-wood of his native isle and upon inquiry he had learned that all
whalemen who died in nantucket were laid in those same dark canoes 
and that the fancy of being so laid had much pleased him for it was
not unlike the custom of his own race who after embalming a dead
warrior stretched him out in his canoe and so left him to be floated
away to the starry archipelagoes for not only do they believe that the
stars are isles but that far beyond all visible horizons their own
mild uncontinented seas interflow with the blue heavens and so form
the white breakers of the milky way he added that he shuddered at the
thought of being buried in his hammock according to the usual
sea-custom tossed like something vile to the death-devouring sharks 
no he desired a canoe like those of nantucket all the more congenial
to him being a whaleman that like a whale-boat these coffin-canoes
were without a keel though that involved but uncertain steering and
much lee-way adown the dim ages 

now when this strange circumstance was made known aft the carpenter
was at once commanded to do queequeg's bidding whatever it might
include there was some heathenish coffin-coloured old lumber aboard 
which upon a long previous voyage had been cut from the aboriginal
groves of the lackaday islands and from these dark planks the coffin
was recommended to be made no sooner was the carpenter apprised of the
order than taking his rule he forthwith with all the indifferent
promptitude of his character proceeded into the forecastle and took
queequeg's measure with great accuracy regularly chalking queequeg's
person as he shifted the rule 

 ah poor fellow he'll have to die now ejaculated the long island
sailor 

going to his vice-bench the carpenter for convenience sake and general
reference now transferringly measured on it the exact length the
coffin was to be and then made the transfer permanent by cutting two
notches at its extremities this done he marshalled the planks and his
tools and to work 

when the last nail was driven and the lid duly planed and fitted he
lightly shouldered the coffin and went forward with it inquiring
whether they were ready for it yet in that direction 

overhearing the indignant but half-humorous cries with which the people
on deck began to drive the coffin away queequeg to every one's
consternation commanded that the thing should be instantly brought to
him nor was there any denying him seeing that of all mortals some
dying men are the most tyrannical and certainly since they will
shortly trouble us so little for evermore the poor fellows ought to be
indulged 

leaning over in his hammock queequeg long regarded the coffin with an
attentive eye he then called for his harpoon had the wooden stock
drawn from it and then had the iron part placed in the coffin along
with one of the paddles of his boat all by his own request also 
biscuits were then ranged round the sides within a flask of fresh
water was placed at the head and a small bag of woody earth scraped up
in the hold at the foot and a piece of sail-cloth being rolled up for
a pillow queequeg now entreated to be lifted into his final bed that
he might make trial of its comforts if any it had he lay without
moving a few minutes then told one to go to his bag and bring out his
little god yojo then crossing his arms on his breast with yojo
between he called for the coffin lid hatch he called it to be placed
over him the head part turned over with a leather hinge and there lay
queequeg in his coffin with little but his composed countenance in
view rarmai it will do it is easy he murmured at last and
signed to be replaced in his hammock 

but ere this was done pip who had been slily hovering near by all
this while drew nigh to him where he lay and with soft sobbings took
him by the hand in the other holding his tambourine 

 poor rover will ye never have done with all this weary roving where
go ye now but if the currents carry ye to those sweet antilles where
the beaches are only beat with water-lilies will ye do one little
errand for me seek out one pip who's now been missing long i think
he's in those far antilles if ye find him then comfort him for he
must be very sad for look he's left his tambourine behind i found
it rig-a-dig dig dig now queequeg die and i'll beat ye your
dying march 

 i have heard murmured starbuck gazing down the scuttle that in
violent fevers men all ignorance have talked in ancient tongues and
that when the mystery is probed it turns out always that in their
wholly forgotten childhood those ancient tongues had been really spoken
in their hearing by some lofty scholars so to my fond faith poor
pip in this strange sweetness of his lunacy brings heavenly vouchers
of all our heavenly homes where learned he that but there hark he
speaks again but more wildly now 

 form two and two let's make a general of him ho where's his
harpoon lay it across here rig-a-dig dig dig huzza oh for a game
cock now to sit upon his head and crow queequeg dies game mind ye
that queequeg dies game take ye good heed of that queequeg dies
game i say game game game but base little pip he died a coward 
died all a'shiver out upon pip hark ye if ye find pip tell all the
antilles he's a runaway a coward a coward a coward tell them he
jumped from a whale-boat i'd never beat my tambourine over base pip 
and hail him general if he were once more dying here no no shame
upon all cowards shame upon them let em go drown like pip that
jumped from a whale-boat shame shame 

during all this queequeg lay with closed eyes as if in a dream pip
was led away and the sick man was replaced in his hammock 

but now that he had apparently made every preparation for death now
that his coffin was proved a good fit queequeg suddenly rallied soon
there seemed no need of the carpenter's box and thereupon when some
expressed their delighted surprise he in substance said that the
cause of his sudden convalescence was this at a critical moment he
had just recalled a little duty ashore which he was leaving undone 
and therefore had changed his mind about dying he could not die yet 
he averred they asked him then whether to live or die was a matter
of his own sovereign will and pleasure he answered certainly in a
word it was queequeg's conceit that if a man made up his mind to
live mere sickness could not kill him nothing but a whale or a gale 
or some violent ungovernable unintelligent destroyer of that sort 

now there is this noteworthy difference between savage and civilized 
that while a sick civilized man may be six months convalescing 
generally speaking a sick savage is almost half-well again in a day 
so in good time my queequeg gained strength and at length after
sitting on the windlass for a few indolent days but eating with a
vigorous appetite he suddenly leaped to his feet threw out his arms
and legs gave himself a good stretching yawned a little bit and then
springing into the head of his hoisted boat and poising a harpoon 
pronounced himself fit for a fight 

with a wild whimsiness he now used his coffin for a sea-chest and
emptying into it his canvas bag of clothes set them in order there 
many spare hours he spent in carving the lid with all manner of
grotesque figures and drawings and it seemed that hereby he was
striving in his rude way to copy parts of the twisted tattooing on
his body and this tattooing had been the work of a departed prophet
and seer of his island who by those hieroglyphic marks had written
out on his body a complete theory of the heavens and the earth and a
mystical treatise on the art of attaining truth so that queequeg in
his own proper person was a riddle to unfold a wondrous work in one
volume but whose mysteries not even himself could read though his own
live heart beat against them and these mysteries were therefore
destined in the end to moulder away with the living parchment whereon
they were inscribed and so be unsolved to the last and this thought
it must have been which suggested to ahab that wild exclamation of his 
when one morning turning away from surveying poor queequeg oh 
devilish tantalization of the gods 


chapter 111 the pacific 

when gliding by the bashee isles we emerged at last upon the great
south sea were it not for other things i could have greeted my dear
pacific with uncounted thanks for now the long supplication of my
youth was answered that serene ocean rolled eastwards from me a
thousand leagues of blue 

there is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea whose gently
awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath like those
fabled undulations of the ephesian sod over the buried evangelist st 
john and meet it is that over these sea-pastures wide-rolling watery
prairies and potters fields of all four continents the waves should
rise and fall and ebb and flow unceasingly for here millions of
mixed shades and shadows drowned dreams somnambulisms reveries all
that we call lives and souls lie dreaming dreaming still tossing
like slumberers in their beds the ever-rolling waves but made so by
their restlessness 

to any meditative magian rover this serene pacific once beheld must
ever after be the sea of his adoption it rolls the midmost waters of
the world the indian ocean and atlantic being but its arms the same
waves wash the moles of the new-built californian towns but yesterday
planted by the recentest race of men and lave the faded but still
gorgeous skirts of asiatic lands older than abraham while all between
float milky-ways of coral isles and low-lying endless unknown
archipelagoes and impenetrable japans thus this mysterious divine
pacific zones the world's whole bulk about makes all coasts one bay to
it seems the tide-beating heart of earth lifted by those eternal
swells you needs must own the seductive god bowing your head to pan 

but few thoughts of pan stirred ahab's brain as standing like an iron
statue at his accustomed place beside the mizen rigging with one
nostril he unthinkingly snuffed the sugary musk from the bashee isles
 in whose sweet woods mild lovers must be walking and with the other
consciously inhaled the salt breath of the new found sea that sea in
which the hated white whale must even then be swimming launched at
length upon these almost final waters and gliding towards the japanese
cruising-ground the old man's purpose intensified itself his firm
lips met like the lips of a vice the delta of his forehead's veins
swelled like overladen brooks in his very sleep his ringing cry ran
through the vaulted hull stern all the white whale spouts thick
blood 


chapter 112 the blacksmith 

availing himself of the mild summer-cool weather that now reigned in
these latitudes and in preparation for the peculiarly active pursuits
shortly to be anticipated perth the begrimed blistered old
blacksmith had not removed his portable forge to the hold again after
concluding his contributory work for ahab's leg but still retained it
on deck fast lashed to ringbolts by the foremast being now almost
incessantly invoked by the headsmen and harpooneers and bowsmen to do
some little job for them altering or repairing or new shaping their
various weapons and boat furniture often he would be surrounded by an
eager circle all waiting to be served holding boat-spades 
pike-heads harpoons and lances and jealously watching his every
sooty movement as he toiled nevertheless this old man's was a
patient hammer wielded by a patient arm no murmur no impatience no
petulance did come from him silent slow and solemn bowing over
still further his chronically broken back he toiled away as if toil
were life itself and the heavy beating of his hammer the heavy beating
of his heart and so it was most miserable 

a peculiar walk in this old man a certain slight but painful appearing
yawing in his gait had at an early period of the voyage excited the
curiosity of the mariners and to the importunity of their persisted
questionings he had finally given in and so it came to pass that every
one now knew the shameful story of his wretched fate 

belated and not innocently one bitter winter's midnight on the road
running between two country towns the blacksmith half-stupidly felt
the deadly numbness stealing over him and sought refuge in a leaning 
dilapidated barn the issue was the loss of the extremities of both
feet out of this revelation part by part at last came out the four
acts of the gladness and the one long and as yet uncatastrophied
fifth act of the grief of his life's drama 

he was an old man who at the age of nearly sixty had postponedly
encountered that thing in sorrow's technicals called ruin he had been
an artisan of famed excellence and with plenty to do owned a house
and garden embraced a youthful daughter-like loving wife and three
blithe ruddy children every sunday went to a cheerful-looking church 
planted in a grove but one night under cover of darkness and further
concealed in a most cunning disguisement a desperate burglar slid into
his happy home and robbed them all of everything and darker yet to
tell the blacksmith himself did ignorantly conduct this burglar into
his family's heart it was the bottle conjuror upon the opening of
that fatal cork forth flew the fiend and shrivelled up his home now 
for prudent most wise and economic reasons the blacksmith's shop was
in the basement of his dwelling but with a separate entrance to it so
that always had the young and loving healthy wife listened with no
unhappy nervousness but with vigorous pleasure to the stout ringing
of her young-armed old husband's hammer whose reverberations muffled
by passing through the floors and walls came up to her not unsweetly 
in her nursery and so to stout labor's iron lullaby the blacksmith's
infants were rocked to slumber 

oh woe on woe oh death why canst thou not sometimes be timely 
hadst thou taken this old blacksmith to thyself ere his full ruin came
upon him then had the young widow had a delicious grief and her
orphans a truly venerable legendary sire to dream of in their after
years and all of them a care-killing competency but death plucked
down some virtuous elder brother on whose whistling daily toil solely
hung the responsibilities of some other family and left the worse than
useless old man standing till the hideous rot of life should make him
easier to harvest 

why tell the whole the blows of the basement hammer every day grew
more and more between and each blow every day grew fainter than the
last the wife sat frozen at the window with tearless eyes 
glitteringly gazing into the weeping faces of her children the bellows
fell the forge choked up with cinders the house was sold the mother
dived down into the long church-yard grass her children twice followed
her thither and the houseless familyless old man staggered off a
vagabond in crape his every woe unreverenced his grey head a scorn to
flaxen curls 

death seems the only desirable sequel for a career like this but death
is only a launching into the region of the strange untried it is but
the first salutation to the possibilities of the immense remote the
wild the watery the unshored therefore to the death-longing eyes of
such men who still have left in them some interior compunctions
against suicide does the all-contributed and all-receptive ocean
alluringly spread forth his whole plain of unimaginable taking
terrors and wonderful new-life adventures and from the hearts of
infinite pacifics the thousand mermaids sing to them come hither 
broken-hearted here is another life without the guilt of intermediate
death here are wonders supernatural without dying for them come
hither bury thyself in a life which to your now equally abhorred and
abhorring landed world is more oblivious than death come hither put
up thy gravestone too within the churchyard and come hither till
we marry thee 

hearkening to these voices east and west by early sunrise and by
fall of eve the blacksmith's soul responded aye i come and so perth
went a-whaling 


chapter 113 the forge 

with matted beard and swathed in a bristling shark-skin apron about
mid-day perth was standing between his forge and anvil the latter
placed upon an iron-wood log with one hand holding a pike-head in the
coals and with the other at his forge's lungs when captain ahab came
along carrying in his hand a small rusty-looking leathern bag while
yet a little distance from the forge moody ahab paused till at last 
perth withdrawing his iron from the fire began hammering it upon the
anvil the red mass sending off the sparks in thick hovering flights 
some of which flew close to ahab 

 are these thy mother carey's chickens perth they are always flying
in thy wake birds of good omen too but not to all look here they
burn but thou thou liv'st among them without a scorch 

 because i am scorched all over captain ahab answered perth resting
for a moment on his hammer i am past scorching not easily can'st
thou scorch a scar 

 well well no more thy shrunk voice sounds too calmly sanely woeful
to me in no paradise myself i am impatient of all misery in others
that is not mad thou should'st go mad blacksmith say why dost thou
not go mad how can'st thou endure without being mad do the heavens
yet hate thee that thou can'st not go mad what wert thou making
there 

 welding an old pike-head sir there were seams and dents in it 

 and can'st thou make it all smooth again blacksmith after such hard
usage as it had 

 i think so sir 

 and i suppose thou can'st smoothe almost any seams and dents never
mind how hard the metal blacksmith 

 aye sir i think i can all seams and dents but one 

 look ye here then cried ahab passionately advancing and leaning
with both hands on perth's shoulders look ye here here can ye
smoothe out a seam like this blacksmith sweeping one hand across his
ribbed brow if thou could'st blacksmith glad enough would i lay my
head upon thy anvil and feel thy heaviest hammer between my eyes 
answer can'st thou smoothe this seam 

 oh that is the one sir said i not all seams and dents but one 

 aye blacksmith it is the one aye man it is unsmoothable for
though thou only see'st it here in my flesh it has worked down into
the bone of my skull that is all wrinkles but away with child's
play no more gaffs and pikes to-day look ye here jingling the
leathern bag as if it were full of gold coins i too want a harpoon
made one that a thousand yoke of fiends could not part perth 
something that will stick in a whale like his own fin-bone there's the
stuff flinging the pouch upon the anvil look ye blacksmith these
are the gathered nail-stubbs of the steel shoes of racing horses 

 horse-shoe stubbs sir why captain ahab thou hast here then the
best and stubbornest stuff we blacksmiths ever work 

 i know it old man these stubbs will weld together like glue from the
melted bones of murderers quick forge me the harpoon and forge me
first twelve rods for its shank then wind and twist and hammer
these twelve together like the yarns and strands of a tow-line quick 
i'll blow the fire 

when at last the twelve rods were made ahab tried them one by one by
spiralling them with his own hand round a long heavy iron bolt a
flaw rejecting the last one work that over again perth 

this done perth was about to begin welding the twelve into one when
ahab stayed his hand and said he would weld his own iron as then 
with regular gasping hems he hammered on the anvil perth passing to
him the glowing rods one after the other and the hard pressed forge
shooting up its intense straight flame the parsee passed silently and
bowing over his head towards the fire seemed invoking some curse or
some blessing on the toil but as ahab looked up he slid aside 

 what's that bunch of lucifers dodging about there for muttered
stubb looking on from the forecastle that parsee smells fire like a
fusee and smells of it himself like a hot musket's powder-pan 

at last the shank in one complete rod received its final heat and as
perth to temper it plunged it all hissing into the cask of water near
by the scalding steam shot up into ahab's bent face 

 would'st thou brand me perth wincing for a moment with the pain 
 have i been but forging my own branding-iron then 

 pray god not that yet i fear something captain ahab is not this
harpoon for the white whale 

 for the white fiend but now for the barbs thou must make them
thyself man here are my razors the best of steel here and make the
barbs sharp as the needle-sleet of the icy sea 

for a moment the old blacksmith eyed the razors as though he would
fain not use them 

 take them man i have no need for them for i now neither shave sup 
nor pray till but here to work 

fashioned at last into an arrowy shape and welded by perth to the
shank the steel soon pointed the end of the iron and as the
blacksmith was about giving the barbs their final heat prior to
tempering them he cried to ahab to place the water-cask near 

 no no no water for that i want it of the true death-temper ahoy 
there tashtego queequeg daggoo what say ye pagans will ye give me
as much blood as will cover this barb holding it high up a cluster
of dark nods replied yes three punctures were made in the heathen
flesh and the white whale's barbs were then tempered 

 ego non baptizo te in nomine patris sed in nomine diaboli 
deliriously howled ahab as the malignant iron scorchingly devoured the
baptismal blood 

now mustering the spare poles from below and selecting one of
hickory with the bark still investing it ahab fitted the end to the
socket of the iron a coil of new tow-line was then unwound and some
fathoms of it taken to the windlass and stretched to a great tension 
pressing his foot upon it till the rope hummed like a harp-string 
then eagerly bending over it and seeing no strandings ahab exclaimed 
 good and now for the seizings 

at one extremity the rope was unstranded and the separate spread yarns
were all braided and woven round the socket of the harpoon the pole
was then driven hard up into the socket from the lower end the rope
was traced half-way along the pole's length and firmly secured so 
with intertwistings of twine this done pole iron and rope like the
three fates remained inseparable and ahab moodily stalked away with
the weapon the sound of his ivory leg and the sound of the hickory
pole both hollowly ringing along every plank but ere he entered his
cabin light unnatural half-bantering yet most piteous sound was
heard oh pip thy wretched laugh thy idle but unresting eye all thy
strange mummeries not unmeaningly blended with the black tragedy of the
melancholy ship and mocked it 


chapter 114 the gilder 

penetrating further and further into the heart of the japanese cruising
ground the pequod was soon all astir in the fishery often in mild 
pleasant weather for twelve fifteen eighteen and twenty hours on
the stretch they were engaged in the boats steadily pulling or
sailing or paddling after the whales or for an interlude of sixty or
seventy minutes calmly awaiting their uprising though with but small
success for their pains 

at such times under an abated sun afloat all day upon smooth slow
heaving swells seated in his boat light as a birch canoe and so
sociably mixing with the soft waves themselves that like hearth-stone
cats they purr against the gunwale these are the times of dreamy
quietude when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the
ocean's skin one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it and
would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a
remorseless fang 

these are the times when in his whale-boat the rover softly feels a
certain filial confident land-like feeling towards the sea that he
regards it as so much flowery earth and the distant ship revealing
only the tops of her masts seems struggling forward not through high
rolling waves but through the tall grass of a rolling prairie as when
the western emigrants horses only show their erected ears while their
hidden bodies widely wade through the amazing verdure 

the long-drawn virgin vales the mild blue hill-sides as over these
there steals the hush the hum you almost swear that play-wearied
children lie sleeping in these solitudes in some glad may-time when
the flowers of the woods are plucked and all this mixes with your most
mystic mood so that fact and fancy half-way meeting interpenetrate 
and form one seamless whole 

nor did such soothing scenes however temporary fail of at least as
temporary an effect on ahab but if these secret golden keys did seem
to open in him his own secret golden treasuries yet did his breath
upon them prove but tarnishing 

oh grassy glades oh ever vernal endless landscapes in the soul in
ye though long parched by the dead drought of the earthy life in ye 
men yet may roll like young horses in new morning clover and for some
few fleeting moments feel the cool dew of the life immortal on them 
would to god these blessed calms would last but the mingled mingling
threads of life are woven by warp and woof calms crossed by storms a
storm for every calm there is no steady unretracing progress in this
life we do not advance through fixed gradations and at the last one
pause through infancy's unconscious spell boyhood's thoughtless
faith adolescence doubt the common doom then scepticism then
disbelief resting at last in manhood's pondering repose of if but
once gone through we trace the round again and are infants boys and
men and ifs eternally where lies the final harbor whence we unmoor
no more in what rapt ether sails the world of which the weariest will
never weary where is the foundling's father hidden our souls are like
those orphans whose unwedded mothers die in bearing them the secret of
our paternity lies in their grave and we must there to learn it 

and that same day too gazing far down from his boat's side into that
same golden sea starbuck lowly murmured 

 loveliness unfathomable as ever lover saw in his young bride's
eye tell me not of thy teeth-tiered sharks and thy kidnapping
cannibal ways let faith oust fact let fancy oust memory i look deep
down and do believe 

and stubb fish-like with sparkling scales leaped up in that same
golden light 

 i am stubb and stubb has his history but here stubb takes oaths that
he has always been jolly 


chapter 115 the pequod meets the bachelor 

and jolly enough were the sights and the sounds that came bearing down
before the wind some few weeks after ahab's harpoon had been welded 

it was a nantucket ship the bachelor which had just wedged in her
last cask of oil and bolted down her bursting hatches and now in
glad holiday apparel was joyously though somewhat vain-gloriously 
sailing round among the widely-separated ships on the ground previous
to pointing her prow for home 

the three men at her mast-head wore long streamers of narrow red
bunting at their hats from the stern a whale-boat was suspended 
bottom down and hanging captive from the bowsprit was seen the long
lower jaw of the last whale they had slain signals ensigns and jacks
of all colours were flying from her rigging on every side sideways
lashed in each of her three basketed tops were two barrels of sperm 
above which in her top-mast cross-trees you saw slender breakers of
the same precious fluid and nailed to her main truck was a brazen
lamp 

as was afterwards learned the bachelor had met with the most
surprising success all the more wonderful for that while cruising in
the same seas numerous other vessels had gone entire months without
securing a single fish not only had barrels of beef and bread been
given away to make room for the far more valuable sperm but additional
supplemental casks had been bartered for from the ships she had met 
and these were stowed along the deck and in the captain's and
officers state-rooms even the cabin table itself had been knocked
into kindling-wood and the cabin mess dined off the broad head of an
oil-butt lashed down to the floor for a centrepiece in the
forecastle the sailors had actually caulked and pitched their chests 
and filled them it was humorously added that the cook had clapped a
head on his largest boiler and filled it that the steward had plugged
his spare coffee-pot and filled it that the harpooneers had headed the
sockets of their irons and filled them that indeed everything was
filled with sperm except the captain's pantaloons pockets and those
he reserved to thrust his hands into in self-complacent testimony of
his entire satisfaction 

as this glad ship of good luck bore down upon the moody pequod the
barbarian sound of enormous drums came from her forecastle and drawing
still nearer a crowd of her men were seen standing round her huge
try-pots which covered with the parchment-like poke or stomach skin
of the black fish gave forth a loud roar to every stroke of the
clenched hands of the crew on the quarter-deck the mates and
harpooneers were dancing with the olive-hued girls who had eloped with
them from the polynesian isles while suspended in an ornamented boat 
firmly secured aloft between the foremast and mainmast three long
island negroes with glittering fiddle-bows of whale ivory were
presiding over the hilarious jig meanwhile others of the ship's
company were tumultuously busy at the masonry of the try-works from
which the huge pots had been removed you would have almost thought
they were pulling down the cursed bastille such wild cries they
raised as the now useless brick and mortar were being hurled into the
sea 

lord and master over all this scene the captain stood erect on the
ship's elevated quarter-deck so that the whole rejoicing drama was
full before him and seemed merely contrived for his own individual
diversion 

and ahab he too was standing on his quarter-deck shaggy and black 
with a stubborn gloom and as the two ships crossed each other's
wakes one all jubilations for things passed the other all forebodings
as to things to come their two captains in themselves impersonated the
whole striking contrast of the scene 

 come aboard come aboard cried the gay bachelor's commander lifting
a glass and a bottle in the air 

 hast seen the white whale gritted ahab in reply 

 no only heard of him but don't believe in him at all said the
other good-humoredly come aboard 

 thou art too damned jolly sail on hast lost any men 

 not enough to speak of two islanders that's all but come aboard old
hearty come along i'll soon take that black from your brow come
along will ye merry's the play a full ship and homeward-bound 

 how wondrous familiar is a fool muttered ahab then aloud thou art
a full ship and homeward bound thou sayst well then call me an
empty ship and outward-bound so go thy ways and i will mine forward
there set all sail and keep her to the wind 

and thus while the one ship went cheerily before the breeze the other
stubbornly fought against it and so the two vessels parted the crew
of the pequod looking with grave lingering glances towards the
receding bachelor but the bachelor's men never heeding their gaze for
the lively revelry they were in and as ahab leaning over the
taffrail eyed the homeward-bound craft he took from his pocket a
small vial of sand and then looking from the ship to the vial seemed
thereby bringing two remote associations together for that vial was
filled with nantucket soundings 


chapter 116 the dying whale 

not seldom in this life when on the right side fortune's favourites
sail close by us we though all adroop before catch somewhat of the
rushing breeze and joyfully feel our bagging sails fill out so seemed
it with the pequod for next day after encountering the gay bachelor 
whales were seen and four were slain and one of them by ahab 

it was far down the afternoon and when all the spearings of the
crimson fight were done and floating in the lovely sunset sea and sky 
sun and whale both stilly died together then such a sweetness and
such plaintiveness such inwreathing orisons curled up in that rosy
air that it almost seemed as if far over from the deep green convent
valleys of the manilla isles the spanish land-breeze wantonly turned
sailor had gone to sea freighted with these vesper hymns 

soothed again but only soothed to deeper gloom ahab who had sterned
off from the whale sat intently watching his final wanings from the
now tranquil boat for that strange spectacle observable in all sperm
whales dying the turning sunwards of the head and so expiring that
strange spectacle beheld of such a placid evening somehow to ahab
conveyed a wondrousness unknown before 

 he turns and turns him to it how slowly but how steadfastly his
homage-rendering and invoking brow with his last dying motions he too
worships fire most faithful broad baronial vassal of the sun oh
that these too-favouring eyes should see these too-favouring sights 
look here far water-locked beyond all hum of human weal or woe in
these most candid and impartial seas where to traditions no rocks
furnish tablets where for long chinese ages the billows have still
rolled on speechless and unspoken to as stars that shine upon the
niger's unknown source here too life dies sunwards full of faith 
but see no sooner dead than death whirls round the corpse and it
heads some other way 

 oh thou dark hindoo half of nature who of drowned bones hast builded
thy separate throne somewhere in the heart of these unverdured seas 
thou art an infidel thou queen and too truly speakest to me in the
wide-slaughtering typhoon and the hushed burial of its after calm nor
has this thy whale sunwards turned his dying head and then gone round
again without a lesson to me 

 oh trebly hooped and welded hip of power oh high aspiring 
rainbowed jet that one strivest this one jettest all in vain in
vain oh whale dost thou seek intercedings with yon all-quickening
sun that only calls forth life but gives it not again yet dost thou 
darker half rock me with a prouder if a darker faith all thy
unnamable imminglings float beneath me here i am buoyed by breaths of
once living things exhaled as air but water now 

 then hail for ever hail o sea in whose eternal tossings the wild
fowl finds his only rest born of earth yet suckled by the sea though
hill and valley mothered me ye billows are my foster-brothers 


chapter 117 the whale watch 

the four whales slain that evening had died wide apart one far to
windward one less distant to leeward one ahead one astern these
last three were brought alongside ere nightfall but the windward one
could not be reached till morning and the boat that had killed it lay
by its side all night and that boat was ahab's 

the waif-pole was thrust upright into the dead whale's spout-hole and
the lantern hanging from its top cast a troubled flickering glare upon
the black glossy back and far out upon the midnight waves which
gently chafed the whale's broad flank like soft surf upon a beach 

ahab and all his boat's crew seemed asleep but the parsee who
crouching in the bow sat watching the sharks that spectrally played
round the whale and tapped the light cedar planks with their tails a
sound like the moaning in squadrons over asphaltites of unforgiven
ghosts of gomorrah ran shuddering through the air 

started from his slumbers ahab face to face saw the parsee and
hooped round by the gloom of the night they seemed the last men in a
flooded world i have dreamed it again said he 

 of the hearses have i not said old man that neither hearse nor
coffin can be thine 

 and who are hearsed that die on the sea 

 but i said old man that ere thou couldst die on this voyage two
hearses must verily be seen by thee on the sea the first not made by
mortal hands and the visible wood of the last one must be grown in
america 

 aye aye a strange sight that parsee a hearse and its plumes
floating over the ocean with the waves for the pall-bearers ha such a
sight we shall not soon see 

 believe it or not thou canst not die till it be seen old man 

 and what was that saying about thyself 

 though it come to the last i shall still go before thee thy pilot 

 and when thou art so gone before if that ever befall then ere i can
follow thou must still appear to me to pilot me still was it not so 
well then did i believe all ye say oh my pilot i have here two
pledges that i shall yet slay moby dick and survive it 

 take another pledge old man said the parsee as his eyes lighted up
like fire-flies in the gloom hemp only can kill thee 

 the gallows ye mean i am immortal then on land and on sea cried
ahab with a laugh of derision immortal on land and on sea 

both were silent again as one man the grey dawn came on and the
slumbering crew arose from the boat's bottom and ere noon the dead
whale was brought to the ship 


chapter 118 the quadrant 

the season for the line at length drew near and every day when ahab 
coming from his cabin cast his eyes aloft the vigilant helmsman would
ostentatiously handle his spokes and the eager mariners quickly run to
the braces and would stand there with all their eyes centrally fixed
on the nailed doubloon impatient for the order to point the ship's
prow for the equator in good time the order came it was hard upon
high noon and ahab seated in the bows of his high-hoisted boat was
about taking his wonted daily observation of the sun to determine his
latitude 

now in that japanese sea the days in summer are as freshets of
effulgences that unblinkingly vivid japanese sun seems the blazing
focus of the glassy ocean's immeasurable burning-glass the sky looks
lacquered clouds there are none the horizon floats and this
nakedness of unrelieved radiance is as the insufferable splendors of
god's throne well that ahab's quadrant was furnished with coloured
glasses through which to take sight of that solar fire so swinging
his seated form to the roll of the ship and with his
astrological-looking instrument placed to his eye he remained in that
posture for some moments to catch the precise instant when the sun
should gain its precise meridian meantime while his whole attention
was absorbed the parsee was kneeling beneath him on the ship's deck 
and with face thrown up like ahab's was eyeing the same sun with him 
only the lids of his eyes half hooded their orbs and his wild face was
subdued to an earthly passionlessness at length the desired
observation was taken and with his pencil upon his ivory leg ahab
soon calculated what his latitude must be at that precise instant then
falling into a moment's revery he again looked up towards the sun and
murmured to himself thou sea-mark thou high and mighty pilot thou
tellest me truly where i am but canst thou cast the least hint where
i shall be or canst thou tell where some other thing besides me is
this moment living where is moby dick this instant thou must be
eyeing him these eyes of mine look into the very eye that is even now
beholding him aye and into the eye that is even now equally beholding
the objects on the unknown thither side of thee thou sun 

then gazing at his quadrant and handling one after the other its
numerous cabalistical contrivances he pondered again and muttered 
 foolish toy babies plaything of haughty admirals and commodores 
and captains the world brags of thee of thy cunning and might but
what after all canst thou do but tell the poor pitiful point where
thou thyself happenest to be on this wide planet and the hand that
holds thee no not one jot more thou canst not tell where one drop of
water or one grain of sand will be to-morrow noon and yet with thy
impotence thou insultest the sun science curse thee thou vain toy 
and cursed be all the things that cast man's eyes aloft to that heaven 
whose live vividness but scorches him as these old eyes are even now
scorched with thy light o sun level by nature to this earth's horizon
are the glances of man's eyes not shot from the crown of his head as
if god had meant him to gaze on his firmament curse thee thou
quadrant dashing it to the deck no longer will i guide my earthly
way by thee the level ship's compass and the level dead-reckoning by
log and by line these shall conduct me and show me my place on the
sea aye lighting from the boat to the deck thus i trample on thee 
thou paltry thing that feebly pointest on high thus i split and
destroy thee 

as the frantic old man thus spoke and thus trampled with his live and
dead feet a sneering triumph that seemed meant for ahab and a
fatalistic despair that seemed meant for himself these passed over the
mute motionless parsee's face unobserved he rose and glided away 
while awestruck by the aspect of their commander the seamen clustered
together on the forecastle till ahab troubledly pacing the deck 
shouted out to the braces up helm square in 

in an instant the yards swung round and as the ship half-wheeled upon
her heel her three firm-seated graceful masts erectly poised upon her
long ribbed hull seemed as the three horatii pirouetting on one
sufficient steed 

standing between the knight-heads starbuck watched the pequod's
tumultuous way and ahab's also as he went lurching along the deck 

 i have sat before the dense coal fire and watched it all aglow full
of its tormented flaming life and i have seen it wane at last down 
down to dumbest dust old man of oceans of all this fiery life of
thine what will at length remain but one little heap of ashes 

 aye cried stubb but sea-coal ashes mind ye that mr 
starbuck sea-coal not your common charcoal well well i heard ahab
mutter here some one thrusts these cards into these old hands of
mine swears that i must play them and no others and damn me ahab 
but thou actest right live in the game and die in it 


chapter 119 the candles 

warmest climes but nurse the cruellest fangs the tiger of bengal
crouches in spiced groves of ceaseless verdure skies the most
effulgent but basket the deadliest thunders gorgeous cuba knows
tornadoes that never swept tame northern lands so too it is that in
these resplendent japanese seas the mariner encounters the direst of
all storms the typhoon it will sometimes burst from out that
cloudless sky like an exploding bomb upon a dazed and sleepy town 

towards evening of that day the pequod was torn of her canvas and
bare-poled was left to fight a typhoon which had struck her directly
ahead when darkness came on sky and sea roared and split with the
thunder and blazed with the lightning that showed the disabled masts
fluttering here and there with the rags which the first fury of the
tempest had left for its after sport 

holding by a shroud starbuck was standing on the quarter-deck at
every flash of the lightning glancing aloft to see what additional
disaster might have befallen the intricate hamper there while stubb
and flask were directing the men in the higher hoisting and firmer
lashing of the boats but all their pains seemed naught though lifted
to the very top of the cranes the windward quarter boat ahab's did
not escape a great rolling sea dashing high up against the reeling
ship's high teetering side stove in the boat's bottom at the stern 
and left it again all dripping through like a sieve 

 bad work bad work mr starbuck said stubb regarding the wreck 
 but the sea will have its way stubb for one can't fight it you
see mr starbuck a wave has such a great long start before it leaps 
all round the world it runs and then comes the spring but as for me 
all the start i have to meet it is just across the deck here but
never mind it's all in fun so the old song says sings 


 oh jolly is the gale and a joker is the whale a flourishin his
 tail such a funny sporty gamy jesty joky hoky-poky lad is the
 ocean oh 

 the scud all a flyin that's his flip only foamin when he stirs in
 the spicin such a funny sporty gamy jesty joky hoky-poky lad 
 is the ocean oh 

 thunder splits the ships but he only smacks his lips a tastin of
 this flip such a funny sporty gamy jesty joky hoky-poky lad 
 is the ocean oh 



 avast stubb cried starbuck let the typhoon sing and strike his
harp here in our rigging but if thou art a brave man thou wilt hold
thy peace 

 but i am not a brave man never said i was a brave man i am a coward 
and i sing to keep up my spirits and i tell you what it is mr 
starbuck there's no way to stop my singing in this world but to cut my
throat and when that's done ten to one i sing ye the doxology for a
wind-up 

 madman look through my eyes if thou hast none of thine own 

 what how can you see better of a dark night than anybody else never
mind how foolish 

 here cried starbuck seizing stubb by the shoulder and pointing his
hand towards the weather bow markest thou not that the gale comes
from the eastward the very course ahab is to run for moby dick the
very course he swung to this day noon now mark his boat there where
is that stove in the stern-sheets man where he is wont to stand his
stand-point is stove man now jump overboard and sing away if thou
must 

 i don't half understand ye what's in the wind 

 yes yes round the cape of good hope is the shortest way to
nantucket soliloquized starbuck suddenly heedless of stubb's
question the gale that now hammers at us to stave us we can turn it
into a fair wind that will drive us towards home yonder to windward 
all is blackness of doom but to leeward homeward i see it lightens up
there but not with the lightning 

at that moment in one of the intervals of profound darkness following
the flashes a voice was heard at his side and almost at the same
instant a volley of thunder peals rolled overhead 

 who's there 

 old thunder said ahab groping his way along the bulwarks to his
pivot-hole but suddenly finding his path made plain to him by elbowed
lances of fire 

now as the lightning rod to a spire on shore is intended to carry off
the perilous fluid into the soil so the kindred rod which at sea some
ships carry to each mast is intended to conduct it into the water but
as this conductor must descend to considerable depth that its end may
avoid all contact with the hull and as moreover if kept constantly
towing there it would be liable to many mishaps besides interfering
not a little with some of the rigging and more or less impeding the
vessel's way in the water because of all this the lower parts of a
ship's lightning-rods are not always overboard but are generally made
in long slender links so as to be the more readily hauled up into the
chains outside or thrown down into the sea as occasion may require 

 the rods the rods cried starbuck to the crew suddenly admonished
to vigilance by the vivid lightning that had just been darting
flambeaux to light ahab to his post are they overboard drop them
over fore and aft quick 

 avast cried ahab let's have fair play here though we be the
weaker side yet i'll contribute to raise rods on the himmalehs and
andes that all the world may be secured but out on privileges let
them be sir 

 look aloft cried starbuck the corpusants the corpusants 

all the yard-arms were tipped with a pallid fire and touched at each
tri-pointed lightning-rod-end with three tapering white flames each of
the three tall masts was silently burning in that sulphurous air like
three gigantic wax tapers before an altar 

 blast the boat let it go cried stubb at this instant as a swashing
sea heaved up under his own little craft so that its gunwale violently
jammed his hand as he was passing a lashing blast it but slipping
backward on the deck his uplifted eyes caught the flames and
immediately shifting his tone he cried the corpusants have mercy on us
all 

to sailors oaths are household words they will swear in the trance of
the calm and in the teeth of the tempest they will imprecate curses
from the topsail-yard-arms when most they teeter over to a seething
sea but in all my voyagings seldom have i heard a common oath when
god's burning finger has been laid on the ship when his mene mene 
tekel upharsin has been woven into the shrouds and the cordage 

while this pallidness was burning aloft few words were heard from the
enchanted crew who in one thick cluster stood on the forecastle all
their eyes gleaming in that pale phosphorescence like a far away
constellation of stars relieved against the ghostly light the
gigantic jet negro daggoo loomed up to thrice his real stature and
seemed the black cloud from which the thunder had come the parted
mouth of tashtego revealed his shark-white teeth which strangely
gleamed as if they too had been tipped by corpusants while lit up by
the preternatural light queequeg's tattooing burned like satanic blue
flames on his body 

the tableau all waned at last with the pallidness aloft and once more
the pequod and every soul on her decks were wrapped in a pall a moment
or two passed when starbuck going forward pushed against some one 
it was stubb what thinkest thou now man i heard thy cry it was not
the same in the song 

 no no it wasn't i said the corpusants have mercy on us all and i
hope they will still but do they only have mercy on long faces have
they no bowels for a laugh and look ye mr starbuck but it's too dark
to look hear me then i take that mast-head flame we saw for a sign
of good luck for those masts are rooted in a hold that is going to be
chock a block with sperm-oil d'ye see and so all that sperm will
work up into the masts like sap in a tree yes our three masts will
yet be as three spermaceti candles that's the good promise we saw 

at that moment starbuck caught sight of stubb's face slowly beginning
to glimmer into sight glancing upwards he cried see see and once
more the high tapering flames were beheld with what seemed redoubled
supernaturalness in their pallor 

 the corpusants have mercy on us all cried stubb again 

at the base of the mainmast full beneath the doubloon and the flame 
the parsee was kneeling in ahab's front but with his head bowed away
from him while near by from the arched and overhanging rigging where
they had just been engaged securing a spar a number of the seamen 
arrested by the glare now cohered together and hung pendulous like a
knot of numbed wasps from a drooping orchard twig in various
enchanted attitudes like the standing or stepping or running
skeletons in herculaneum others remained rooted to the deck but all
their eyes upcast 

 aye aye men cried ahab look up at it mark it well the white
flame but lights the way to the white whale hand me those mainmast
links there i would fain feel this pulse and let mine beat against
it blood against fire so 

then turning the last link held fast in his left hand he put his foot
upon the parsee and with fixed upward eye and high-flung right arm 
he stood erect before the lofty tri-pointed trinity of flames 

 oh thou clear spirit of clear fire whom on these seas i as persian
once did worship till in the sacramental act so burned by thee that
to this hour i bear the scar i now know thee thou clear spirit and i
now know that thy right worship is defiance to neither love nor
reverence wilt thou be kind and e'en for hate thou canst but kill and
all are killed no fearless fool now fronts thee i own thy speechless 
placeless power but to the last gasp of my earthquake life will
dispute its unconditional unintegral mastery in me in the midst of
the personified impersonal a personality stands here though but a
point at best whencesoe'er i came wheresoe'er i go yet while i
earthly live the queenly personality lives in me and feels her royal
rights but war is pain and hate is woe come in thy lowest form of
love and i will kneel and kiss thee but at thy highest come as mere
supernal power and though thou launchest navies of full-freighted
worlds there's that in here that still remains indifferent oh thou
clear spirit of thy fire thou madest me and like a true child of
fire i breathe it back to thee 

  sudden repeated flashes of lightning the nine flames leap
lengthwise to thrice their previous height ahab with the rest closes
his eyes his right hand pressed hard upon them  

 i own thy speechless placeless power said i not so nor was it wrung
from me nor do i now drop these links thou canst blind but i can
then grope thou canst consume but i can then be ashes take the
homage of these poor eyes and shutter-hands i would not take it the
lightning flashes through my skull mine eye-balls ache and ache my
whole beaten brain seems as beheaded and rolling on some stunning
ground oh oh yet blindfold yet will i talk to thee light though
thou be thou leapest out of darkness but i am darkness leaping out of
light leaping out of thee the javelins cease open eyes see or not 
there burn the flames oh thou magnanimous now i do glory in my
genealogy but thou art but my fiery father my sweet mother i know
not oh cruel what hast thou done with her there lies my puzzle but
thine is greater thou knowest not how came ye hence callest thyself
unbegotten certainly knowest not thy beginning hence callest thyself
unbegun i know that of me which thou knowest not of thyself oh thou
omnipotent there is some unsuffusing thing beyond thee thou clear
spirit to whom all thy eternity is but time all thy creativeness
mechanical through thee thy flaming self my scorched eyes do dimly
see it oh thou foundling fire thou hermit immemorial thou too hast
thy incommunicable riddle thy unparticipated grief here again with
haughty agony i read my sire leap leap up and lick the sky i leap
with thee i burn with thee would fain be welded with thee defyingly
i worship thee 

 the boat the boat cried starbuck look at thy boat old man 

ahab's harpoon the one forged at perth's fire remained firmly lashed
in its conspicuous crotch so that it projected beyond his whale-boat's
bow but the sea that had stove its bottom had caused the loose leather
sheath to drop off and from the keen steel barb there now came a
levelled flame of pale forked fire as the silent harpoon burned there
like a serpent's tongue starbuck grasped ahab by the arm god god is
against thee old man forbear tis an ill voyage ill begun ill
continued let me square the yards while we may old man and make a
fair wind of it homewards to go on a better voyage than this 

overhearing starbuck the panic-stricken crew instantly ran to the
braces though not a sail was left aloft for the moment all the aghast
mate's thoughts seemed theirs they raised a half mutinous cry but
dashing the rattling lightning links to the deck and snatching the
burning harpoon ahab waved it like a torch among them swearing to
transfix with it the first sailor that but cast loose a rope's end 
petrified by his aspect and still more shrinking from the fiery dart
that he held the men fell back in dismay and ahab again spoke 

 all your oaths to hunt the white whale are as binding as mine and
heart soul and body lungs and life old ahab is bound and that ye
may know to what tune this heart beats look ye here thus i blow out
the last fear and with one blast of his breath he extinguished the
flame 

as in the hurricane that sweeps the plain men fly the neighborhood of
some lone gigantic elm whose very height and strength but render it
so much the more unsafe because so much the more a mark for
thunderbolts so at those last words of ahab's many of the mariners did
run from him in a terror of dismay 


chapter 120 the deck towards the end of the first night watch 

 ahab standing by the helm starbuck approaching him 

 we must send down the main-top-sail yard sir the band is working
loose and the lee lift is half-stranded shall i strike it sir 

 strike nothing lash it if i had sky-sail poles i'd sway them up
now 

 sir in god's name sir 

 well 

 the anchors are working sir shall i get them inboard 

 strike nothing and stir nothing but lash everything the wind rises 
but it has not got up to my table-lands yet quick and see to it by
masts and keels he takes me for the hunch-backed skipper of some
coasting smack send down my main-top-sail yard ho gluepots loftiest
trucks were made for wildest winds and this brain-truck of mine now
sails amid the cloud-scud shall i strike that oh none but cowards
send down their brain-trucks in tempest time what a hooroosh aloft
there i would e'en take it for sublime did i not know that the colic
is a noisy malady oh take medicine take medicine 


chapter 121 midnight the forecastle bulwarks 

 stubb and flask mounted on them and passing additional lashings over
the anchors there hanging 

 no stubb you may pound that knot there as much as you please but
you will never pound into me what you were just now saying and how
long ago is it since you said the very contrary didn't you once say
that whatever ship ahab sails in that ship should pay something extra
on its insurance policy just as though it were loaded with powder
barrels aft and boxes of lucifers forward stop now didn't you say
so 

 well suppose i did what then i've part changed my flesh since that
time why not my mind besides supposing we are loaded with powder
barrels aft and lucifers forward how the devil could the lucifers get
afire in this drenching spray here why my little man you have pretty
red hair but you couldn't get afire now shake yourself you're
aquarius or the water-bearer flask might fill pitchers at your coat
collar don't you see then that for these extra risks the marine
insurance companies have extra guarantees here are hydrants flask 
but hark again and i'll answer ye the other thing first take your
leg off from the crown of the anchor here though so i can pass the
rope now listen what's the mighty difference between holding a mast's
lightning-rod in the storm and standing close by a mast that hasn't
got any lightning-rod at all in a storm don't you see you
timber-head that no harm can come to the holder of the rod unless the
mast is first struck what are you talking about then not one ship in
a hundred carries rods and ahab aye man and all of us were in no
more danger then in my poor opinion than all the crews in ten
thousand ships now sailing the seas why you king-post you i suppose
you would have every man in the world go about with a small
lightning-rod running up the corner of his hat like a militia
officer's skewered feather and trailing behind like his sash why
don't ye be sensible flask it's easy to be sensible why don't ye 
then any man with half an eye can be sensible 

 i don't know that stubb you sometimes find it rather hard 

 yes when a fellow's soaked through it's hard to be sensible that's
a fact and i am about drenched with this spray never mind catch the
turn there and pass it seems to me we are lashing down these anchors
now as if they were never going to be used again tying these two
anchors here flask seems like tying a man's hands behind him and
what big generous hands they are to be sure these are your iron
fists hey what a hold they have too i wonder flask whether the
world is anchored anywhere if she is she swings with an uncommon long
cable though there hammer that knot down and we've done so next
to touching land lighting on deck is the most satisfactory i say 
just wring out my jacket skirts will ye thank ye they laugh at
long-togs so flask but seems to me a long tailed coat ought always
to be worn in all storms afloat the tails tapering down that way 
serve to carry off the water d'ye see same with cocked hats the
cocks form gable-end eave-troughs flask no more monkey-jackets and
tarpaulins for me i must mount a swallow-tail and drive down a
beaver so halloa whew there goes my tarpaulin overboard lord 
lord that the winds that come from heaven should be so unmannerly 
this is a nasty night lad 


chapter 122 midnight aloft thunder and lightning 

 the main-top-sail yard tashtego passing new lashings around it 

 um um um stop that thunder plenty too much thunder up here what's
the use of thunder um um um we don't want thunder we want rum 
give us a glass of rum um um um 


chapter 123 the musket 

during the most violent shocks of the typhoon the man at the pequod's
jaw-bone tiller had several times been reelingly hurled to the deck by
its spasmodic motions even though preventer tackles had been attached
to it for they were slack because some play to the tiller was
indispensable 

in a severe gale like this while the ship is but a tossed shuttlecock
to the blast it is by no means uncommon to see the needles in the
compasses at intervals go round and round it was thus with the
pequod's at almost every shock the helmsman had not failed to notice
the whirling velocity with which they revolved upon the cards it is a
sight that hardly anyone can behold without some sort of unwonted
emotion 

some hours after midnight the typhoon abated so much that through the
strenuous exertions of starbuck and stubb one engaged forward and the
other aft the shivered remnants of the jib and fore and main-top-sails
were cut adrift from the spars and went eddying away to leeward like
the feathers of an albatross which sometimes are cast to the winds
when that storm-tossed bird is on the wing 

the three corresponding new sails were now bent and reefed and a
storm-trysail was set further aft so that the ship soon went through
the water with some precision again and the course for the present 
east-south-east which he was to steer if practicable was once more
given to the helmsman for during the violence of the gale he had only
steered according to its vicissitudes but as he was now bringing the
ship as near her course as possible watching the compass meanwhile 
lo a good sign the wind seemed coming round astern aye the foul
breeze became fair 

instantly the yards were squared to the lively song of ho the fair
wind oh-ye-ho cheerly men the crew singing for joy that so
promising an event should so soon have falsified the evil portents
preceding it 

in compliance with the standing order of his commander to report
immediately and at any one of the twenty-four hours any decided
change in the affairs of the deck starbuck had no sooner trimmed the
yards to the breeze however reluctantly and gloomily than he
mechanically went below to apprise captain ahab of the circumstance 

ere knocking at his state-room he involuntarily paused before it a
moment the cabin lamp taking long swings this way and that was burning
fitfully and casting fitful shadows upon the old man's bolted door a
thin one with fixed blinds inserted in place of upper panels the
isolated subterraneousness of the cabin made a certain humming silence
to reign there though it was hooped round by all the roar of the
elements the loaded muskets in the rack were shiningly revealed as
they stood upright against the forward bulkhead starbuck was an
honest upright man but out of starbuck's heart at that instant when
he saw the muskets there strangely evolved an evil thought but so
blent with its neutral or good accompaniments that for the instant he
hardly knew it for itself 

 he would have shot me once he murmured yes there's the very
musket that he pointed at me that one with the studded stock let me
touch it lift it strange that i who have handled so many deadly
lances strange that i should shake so now loaded i must see aye 
aye and powder in the pan that's not good best spill it wait i'll
cure myself of this i'll hold the musket boldly while i think i come
to report a fair wind to him but how fair fair for death and
doom that's fair for moby dick it's a fair wind that's only fair
for that accursed fish the very tube he pointed at me the very one 
 this one i hold it here he would have killed me with the very thing
i handle now aye and he would fain kill all his crew does he not say
he will not strike his spars to any gale has he not dashed his
heavenly quadrant and in these same perilous seas gropes he not his
way by mere dead reckoning of the error-abounding log and in this very
typhoon did he not swear that he would have no lightning-rods but
shall this crazed old man be tamely suffered to drag a whole ship's
company down to doom with him yes it would make him the wilful
murderer of thirty men and more if this ship come to any deadly harm 
and come to deadly harm my soul swears this ship will if ahab have
his way if then he were this instant put aside that crime would not
be his ha is he muttering in his sleep yes just there in there 
he's sleeping sleeping aye but still alive and soon awake again i
can't withstand thee then old man not reasoning not remonstrance 
not entreaty wilt thou hearken to all this thou scornest flat
obedience to thy own flat commands this is all thou breathest aye 
and say'st the men have vow'd thy vow say'st all of us are ahabs 
great god forbid but is there no other way no lawful way make him a
prisoner to be taken home what hope to wrest this old man's living
power from his own living hands only a fool would try it say he were
pinioned even knotted all over with ropes and hawsers chained down to
ring-bolts on this cabin floor he would be more hideous than a caged
tiger then i could not endure the sight could not possibly fly his
howlings all comfort sleep itself inestimable reason would leave me
on the long intolerable voyage what then remains the land is
hundreds of leagues away and locked japan the nearest i stand alone
here upon an open sea with two oceans and a whole continent between me
and law aye aye tis so is heaven a murderer when its lightning
strikes a would-be murderer in his bed tindering sheets and skin
together and would i be a murderer then if and slowly stealthily 
and half sideways looking he placed the loaded musket's end against
the door 

 on this level ahab's hammock swings within his head this way a
touch and starbuck may survive to hug his wife and child again oh
mary mary boy boy boy but if i wake thee not to death old man 
who can tell to what unsounded deeps starbuck's body this day week may
sink with all the crew great god where art thou shall i shall
i the wind has gone down and shifted sir the fore and main topsails
are reefed and set she heads her course 

 stern all oh moby dick i clutch thy heart at last 

such were the sounds that now came hurtling from out the old man's
tormented sleep as if starbuck's voice had caused the long dumb dream
to speak 

the yet levelled musket shook like a drunkard's arm against the panel 
starbuck seemed wrestling with an angel but turning from the door he
placed the death-tube in its rack and left the place 

 he's too sound asleep mr stubb go thou down and wake him and tell
him i must see to the deck here thou know'st what to say 


chapter 124 the needle 

next morning the not-yet-subsided sea rolled in long slow billows of
mighty bulk and striving in the pequod's gurgling track pushed her on
like giants palms outspread the strong unstaggering breeze abounded
so that sky and air seemed vast outbellying sails the whole world
boomed before the wind muffled in the full morning light the
invisible sun was only known by the spread intensity of his place 
where his bayonet rays moved on in stacks emblazonings as of crowned
babylonian kings and queens reigned over everything the sea was as a
crucible of molten gold that bubblingly leaps with light and heat 

long maintaining an enchanted silence ahab stood apart and every time
the tetering ship loweringly pitched down her bowsprit he turned to
eye the bright sun's rays produced ahead and when she profoundly
settled by the stern he turned behind and saw the sun's rearward
place and how the same yellow rays were blending with his undeviating
wake 

 ha ha my ship thou mightest well be taken now for the sea-chariot
of the sun ho ho all ye nations before my prow i bring the sun to
ye yoke on the further billows hallo a tandem i drive the sea 

but suddenly reined back by some counter thought he hurried towards
the helm huskily demanding how the ship was heading 

 east-sou-east sir said the frightened steersman 

 thou liest smiting him with his clenched fist heading east at this
hour in the morning and the sun astern 

upon this every soul was confounded for the phenomenon just then
observed by ahab had unaccountably escaped every one else but its very
blinding palpableness must have been the cause 

thrusting his head half way into the binnacle ahab caught one glimpse
of the compasses his uplifted arm slowly fell for a moment he almost
seemed to stagger standing behind him starbuck looked and lo the two
compasses pointed east and the pequod was as infallibly going west 

but ere the first wild alarm could get out abroad among the crew the
old man with a rigid laugh exclaimed i have it it has happened
before mr starbuck last night's thunder turned our compasses that's
all thou hast before now heard of such a thing i take it 

 aye but never before has it happened to me sir said the pale mate 
gloomily 

here it must needs be said that accidents like this have in more than
one case occurred to ships in violent storms the magnetic energy as
developed in the mariner's needle is as all know essentially one
with the electricity beheld in heaven hence it is not to be much
marvelled at that such things should be instances where the lightning
has actually struck the vessel so as to smite down some of the spars
and rigging the effect upon the needle has at times been still more
fatal all its loadstone virtue being annihilated so that the before
magnetic steel was of no more use than an old wife's knitting needle 
but in either case the needle never again of itself recovers the
original virtue thus marred or lost and if the binnacle compasses be
affected the same fate reaches all the others that may be in the ship 
even were the lowermost one inserted into the kelson 

deliberately standing before the binnacle and eyeing the transpointed
compasses the old man with the sharp of his extended hand now took
the precise bearing of the sun and satisfied that the needles were
exactly inverted shouted out his orders for the ship's course to be
changed accordingly the yards were hard up and once more the pequod
thrust her undaunted bows into the opposing wind for the supposed fair
one had only been juggling her 

meanwhile whatever were his own secret thoughts starbuck said
nothing but quietly he issued all requisite orders while stubb and
flask who in some small degree seemed then to be sharing his
feelings likewise unmurmuringly acquiesced as for the men though some
of them lowly rumbled their fear of ahab was greater than their fear
of fate but as ever before the pagan harpooneers remained almost
wholly unimpressed or if impressed it was only with a certain
magnetism shot into their congenial hearts from inflexible ahab's 

for a space the old man walked the deck in rolling reveries but
chancing to slip with his ivory heel he saw the crushed copper
sight-tubes of the quadrant he had the day before dashed to the deck 

 thou poor proud heaven-gazer and sun's pilot yesterday i wrecked
thee and to-day the compasses would fain have wrecked me so so but
ahab is lord over the level loadstone yet mr starbuck a lance without
a pole a top-maul and the smallest of the sail-maker's needles 
quick 

accessory perhaps to the impulse dictating the thing he was now about
to do were certain prudential motives whose object might have been to
revive the spirits of his crew by a stroke of his subtile skill in a
matter so wondrous as that of the inverted compasses besides the old
man well knew that to steer by transpointed needles though clumsily
practicable was not a thing to be passed over by superstitious
sailors without some shudderings and evil portents 

 men said he steadily turning upon the crew as the mate handed him
the things he had demanded my men the thunder turned old ahab's
needles but out of this bit of steel ahab can make one of his own 
that will point as true as any 

abashed glances of servile wonder were exchanged by the sailors as
this was said and with fascinated eyes they awaited whatever magic
might follow but starbuck looked away 

with a blow from the top-maul ahab knocked off the steel head of the
lance and then handing to the mate the long iron rod remaining bade
him hold it upright without its touching the deck then with the
maul after repeatedly smiting the upper end of this iron rod he
placed the blunted needle endwise on the top of it and less strongly
hammered that several times the mate still holding the rod as before 
then going through some small strange motions with it whether
indispensable to the magnetizing of the steel or merely intended to
augment the awe of the crew is uncertain he called for linen thread 
and moving to the binnacle slipped out the two reversed needles there 
and horizontally suspended the sail-needle by its middle over one of
the compass-cards at first the steel went round and round quivering
and vibrating at either end but at last it settled to its place when
ahab who had been intently watching for this result stepped frankly
back from the binnacle and pointing his stretched arm towards it 
exclaimed look ye for yourselves if ahab be not lord of the level
loadstone the sun is east and that compass swears it 

one after another they peered in for nothing but their own eyes could
persuade such ignorance as theirs and one after another they slunk
away 

in his fiery eyes of scorn and triumph you then saw ahab in all his
fatal pride 


chapter 125 the log and line 

while now the fated pequod had been so long afloat this voyage the log
and line had but very seldom been in use owing to a confident reliance
upon other means of determining the vessel's place some merchantmen 
and many whalemen especially when cruising wholly neglect to heave
the log though at the same time and frequently more for form's sake
than anything else regularly putting down upon the customary slate the
course steered by the ship as well as the presumed average rate of
progression every hour it had been thus with the pequod the wooden
reel and angular log attached hung long untouched just beneath the
railing of the after bulwarks rains and spray had damped it sun and
wind had warped it all the elements had combined to rot a thing that
hung so idly but heedless of all this his mood seized ahab as he
happened to glance upon the reel not many hours after the magnet
scene and he remembered how his quadrant was no more and recalled his
frantic oath about the level log and line the ship was sailing
plungingly astern the billows rolled in riots 

 forward there heave the log 

two seamen came the golden-hued tahitian and the grizzly manxman 
 take the reel one of ye i'll heave 

they went towards the extreme stern on the ship's lee side where the
deck with the oblique energy of the wind was now almost dipping into
the creamy sidelong-rushing sea 

the manxman took the reel and holding it high up by the projecting
handle-ends of the spindle round which the spool of line revolved so
stood with the angular log hanging downwards till ahab advanced to
him 

ahab stood before him and was lightly unwinding some thirty or forty
turns to form a preliminary hand-coil to toss overboard when the old
manxman who was intently eyeing both him and the line made bold to
speak 

 sir i mistrust it this line looks far gone long heat and wet have
spoiled it 

 twill hold old gentleman long heat and wet have they spoiled thee 
thou seem'st to hold or truer perhaps life holds thee not thou it 

 i hold the spool sir but just as my captain says with these grey
hairs of mine tis not worth while disputing specially with a
superior who'll ne'er confess 

 what's that there now's a patched professor in queen nature's
granite-founded college but methinks he's too subservient where wert
thou born 

 in the little rocky isle of man sir 

 excellent thou'st hit the world by that 

 i know not sir but i was born there 

 in the isle of man hey well the other way it's good here's a man
from man a man born in once independent man and now unmanned of man 
which is sucked in by what up with the reel the dead blind wall
butts all inquiring heads at last up with it so 

the log was heaved the loose coils rapidly straightened out in a long
dragging line astern and then instantly the reel began to whirl in
turn jerkingly raised and lowered by the rolling billows the towing
resistance of the log caused the old reelman to stagger strangely 

 hold hard 

snap the overstrained line sagged down in one long festoon the
tugging log was gone 

 i crush the quadrant the thunder turns the needles and now the mad
sea parts the log-line but ahab can mend all haul in here tahitian 
reel up manxman and look ye let the carpenter make another log and
mend thou the line see to it 

 there he goes now to him nothing's happened but to me the skewer
seems loosening out of the middle of the world haul in haul in 
tahitian these lines run whole and whirling out come in broken and
dragging slow ha pip come to help eh pip 

 pip whom call ye pip pip jumped from the whale-boat pip's missing 
let's see now if ye haven't fished him up here fisherman it drags
hard i guess he's holding on jerk him tahiti jerk him off we haul
in no cowards here ho there's his arm just breaking water a hatchet 
a hatchet cut it off we haul in no cowards here captain ahab sir 
sir here's pip trying to get on board again 

 peace thou crazy loon cried the manxman seizing him by the arm 
 away from the quarter-deck 

 the greater idiot ever scolds the lesser muttered ahab advancing 
 hands off from that holiness where sayest thou pip was boy 

 astern there sir astern lo lo 

 and who art thou boy i see not my reflection in the vacant pupils of
thy eyes oh god that man should be a thing for immortal souls to
sieve through who art thou boy 

 bell-boy sir ship's-crier ding dong ding pip pip pip one
hundred pounds of clay reward for pip five feet high looks
cowardly quickest known by that ding dong ding who's seen pip the
coward 

 there can be no hearts above the snow-line oh ye frozen heavens 
look down here ye did beget this luckless child and have abandoned
him ye creative libertines here boy ahab's cabin shall be pip's
home henceforth while ahab lives thou touchest my inmost centre boy 
thou art tied to me by cords woven of my heart-strings come let's
down 

 what's this here's velvet shark-skin intently gazing at ahab's
hand and feeling it ah now had poor pip but felt so kind a thing
as this perhaps he had ne'er been lost this seems to me sir as a
man-rope something that weak souls may hold by oh sir let old perth
now come and rivet these two hands together the black one with the
white for i will not let this go 

 oh boy nor will i thee unless i should thereby drag thee to worse
horrors than are here come then to my cabin lo ye believers in
gods all goodness and in man all ill lo you see the omniscient gods
oblivious of suffering man and man though idiotic and knowing not
what he does yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude come 
i feel prouder leading thee by thy black hand than though i grasped an
emperor's 

 there go two daft ones now muttered the old manxman one daft with
strength the other daft with weakness but here's the end of the
rotten line all dripping too mend it eh i think we had best have a
new line altogether i'll see mr stubb about it 


chapter 126 the life-buoy 

steering now south-eastward by ahab's levelled steel and her progress
solely determined by ahab's level log and line the pequod held on her
path towards the equator making so long a passage through such
unfrequented waters descrying no ships and ere long sideways
impelled by unvarying trade winds over waves monotonously mild all
these seemed the strange calm things preluding some riotous and
desperate scene 

at last when the ship drew near to the outskirts as it were of the
equatorial fishing-ground and in the deep darkness that goes before
the dawn was sailing by a cluster of rocky islets the watch then
headed by flask was startled by a cry so plaintively wild and
unearthly like half-articulated wailings of the ghosts of all herod's
murdered innocents that one and all they started from their reveries 
and for the space of some moments stood or sat or leaned all
transfixedly listening like the carved roman slave while that wild
cry remained within hearing the christian or civilized part of the
crew said it was mermaids and shuddered but the pagan harpooneers
remained unappalled yet the grey manxman the oldest mariner of
all declared that the wild thrilling sounds that were heard were the
voices of newly drowned men in the sea 

below in his hammock ahab did not hear of this till grey dawn when he
came to the deck it was then recounted to him by flask not
unaccompanied with hinted dark meanings he hollowly laughed and thus
explained the wonder 

those rocky islands the ship had passed were the resort of great
numbers of seals and some young seals that had lost their dams or
some dams that had lost their cubs must have risen nigh the ship and
kept company with her crying and sobbing with their human sort of
wail but this only the more affected some of them because most
mariners cherish a very superstitious feeling about seals arising not
only from their peculiar tones when in distress but also from the
human look of their round heads and semi-intelligent faces seen
peeringly uprising from the water alongside in the sea under certain
circumstances seals have more than once been mistaken for men 

but the bodings of the crew were destined to receive a most plausible
confirmation in the fate of one of their number that morning at
sun-rise this man went from his hammock to his mast-head at the fore 
and whether it was that he was not yet half waked from his sleep for
sailors sometimes go aloft in a transition state whether it was thus
with the man there is now no telling but be that as it may he had
not been long at his perch when a cry was heard a cry and a
rushing and looking up they saw a falling phantom in the air and
looking down a little tossed heap of white bubbles in the blue of the
sea 

the life-buoy a long slender cask was dropped from the stern where it
always hung obedient to a cunning spring but no hand rose to seize it 
and the sun having long beat upon this cask it had shrunken so that it
slowly filled and that parched wood also filled at its every pore and
the studded iron-bound cask followed the sailor to the bottom as if to
yield him his pillow though in sooth but a hard one 

and thus the first man of the pequod that mounted the mast to look out
for the white whale on the white whale's own peculiar ground that man
was swallowed up in the deep but few perhaps thought of that at the
time indeed in some sort they were not grieved at this event at
least as a portent for they regarded it not as a foreshadowing of
evil in the future but as the fulfilment of an evil already presaged 
they declared that now they knew the reason of those wild shrieks they
had heard the night before but again the old manxman said nay 

the lost life-buoy was now to be replaced starbuck was directed to see
to it but as no cask of sufficient lightness could be found and as in
the feverish eagerness of what seemed the approaching crisis of the
voyage all hands were impatient of any toil but what was directly
connected with its final end whatever that might prove to be 
therefore they were going to leave the ship's stern unprovided with a
buoy when by certain strange signs and inuendoes queequeg hinted a
hint concerning his coffin 

 a life-buoy of a coffin cried starbuck starting 

 rather queer that i should say said stubb 

 it will make a good enough one said flask the carpenter here can
arrange it easily 

 bring it up there's nothing else for it said starbuck after a
melancholy pause rig it carpenter do not look at me so the coffin 
i mean dost thou hear me rig it 

 and shall i nail down the lid sir moving his hand as with a hammer 

 aye 

 and shall i caulk the seams sir moving his hand as with a
caulking-iron 

 aye 

 and shall i then pay over the same with pitch sir moving his hand
as with a pitch-pot 

 away what possesses thee to this make a life-buoy of the coffin and
no more mr stubb mr flask come forward with me 

 he goes off in a huff the whole he can endure at the parts he
baulks now i don't like this i make a leg for captain ahab and he
wears it like a gentleman but i make a bandbox for queequeg and he
won't put his head into it are all my pains to go for nothing with
that coffin and now i'm ordered to make a life-buoy of it it's like
turning an old coat going to bring the flesh on the other side now i
don't like this cobbling sort of business i don't like it at all it's
undignified it's not my place let tinkers brats do tinkerings we
are their betters i like to take in hand none but clean virgin 
fair-and-square mathematical jobs something that regularly begins at
the beginning and is at the middle when midway and comes to an end at
the conclusion not a cobbler's job that's at an end in the middle 
and at the beginning at the end it's the old woman's tricks to be
giving cobbling jobs lord what an affection all old women have for
tinkers i know an old woman of sixty-five who ran away with a
bald-headed young tinker once and that's the reason i never would work
for lonely widow old women ashore when i kept my job-shop in the
vineyard they might have taken it into their lonely old heads to run
off with me but heigh-ho there are no caps at sea but snow-caps let
me see nail down the lid caulk the seams pay over the same with
pitch batten them down tight and hang it with the snap-spring over
the ship's stern were ever such things done before with a coffin some
superstitious old carpenters now would be tied up in the rigging ere
they would do the job but i'm made of knotty aroostook hemlock i
don't budge cruppered with a coffin sailing about with a grave-yard
tray but never mind we workers in woods make bridal-bedsteads and
card-tables as well as coffins and hearses we work by the month or
by the job or by the profit not for us to ask the why and wherefore
of our work unless it be too confounded cobbling and then we stash it
if we can hem i'll do the job now tenderly i'll have me let's
see how many in the ship's company all told but i've forgotten any
way i'll have me thirty separate turk's-headed life-lines each three
feet long hanging all round to the coffin then if the hull go down 
there'll be thirty lively fellows all fighting for one coffin a sight
not seen very often beneath the sun come hammer caulking-iron 
pitch-pot and marling-spike let's to it 


chapter 127 the deck 

 the coffin laid upon two line-tubs between the vice-bench and the
open hatchway the carpenter caulking its seams the string of twisted
oakum slowly unwinding from a large roll of it placed in the bosom of
his frock ahab comes slowly from the cabin-gangway and hears pip
following him 

 back lad i will be with ye again presently he goes not this hand
complies with my humor more genially than that boy middle aisle of a
church what's here 

 life-buoy sir mr starbuck's orders oh look sir beware the
hatchway 

 thank ye man thy coffin lies handy to the vault 

 sir the hatchway oh so it does sir so it does 

 art not thou the leg-maker look did not this stump come from thy
shop 

 i believe it did sir does the ferrule stand sir 

 well enough but art thou not also the undertaker 

 aye sir i patched up this thing here as a coffin for queequeg but
they've set me now to turning it into something else 

 then tell me art thou not an arrant all-grasping intermeddling 
monopolising heathenish old scamp to be one day making legs and the
next day coffins to clap them in and yet again life-buoys out of those
same coffins thou art as unprincipled as the gods and as much of a
jack-of-all-trades 

 but i do not mean anything sir i do as i do 

 the gods again hark ye dost thou not ever sing working about a
coffin the titans they say hummed snatches when chipping out the
craters for volcanoes and the grave-digger in the play sings spade in
hand dost thou never 

 sing sir do i sing oh i'm indifferent enough sir for that but
the reason why the grave-digger made music must have been because there
was none in his spade sir but the caulking mallet is full of it hark
to it 

 aye and that's because the lid there's a sounding-board and what in
all things makes the sounding-board is this there's naught beneath and
yet a coffin with a body in it rings pretty much the same carpenter 
hast thou ever helped carry a bier and heard the coffin knock against
the churchyard gate going in 

 faith sir i've 

 faith what's that 

 why faith sir it's only a sort of exclamation-like that's all 
sir 

 um um go on 

 i was about to say sir that 

 art thou a silk-worm dost thou spin thy own shroud out of thyself 
look at thy bosom despatch and get these traps out of sight 

 he goes aft that was sudden now but squalls come sudden in hot
latitudes i've heard that the isle of albemarle one of the
gallipagos is cut by the equator right in the middle seems to me some
sort of equator cuts yon old man too right in his middle he's always
under the line fiery hot i tell ye he's looking this way come oakum 
quick here we go again this wooden mallet is the cork and i'm the
professor of musical glasses tap tap 

 ahab to himself 

 there's a sight there's a sound the greyheaded woodpecker tapping
the hollow tree blind and dumb might well be envied now see that
thing rests on two line-tubs full of tow-lines a most malicious wag 
that fellow rat-tat so man's seconds tick oh how immaterial are all
materials what things real are there but imponderable thoughts here
now's the very dreaded symbol of grim death by a mere hap made the
expressive sign of the help and hope of most endangered life a
life-buoy of a coffin does it go further can it be that in some
spiritual sense the coffin is after all but an immortality-preserver 
i'll think of that but no so far gone am i in the dark side of earth 
that its other side the theoretic bright one seems but uncertain
twilight to me will ye never have done carpenter with that accursed
sound i go below let me not see that thing here when i return again 
now then pip we'll talk this over i do suck most wondrous
philosophies from thee some unknown conduits from the unknown worlds
must empty into thee 


chapter 128 the pequod meets the rachel 

next day a large ship the rachel was descried bearing directly down
upon the pequod all her spars thickly clustering with men at the time
the pequod was making good speed through the water but as the
broad-winged windward stranger shot nigh to her the boastful sails all
fell together as blank bladders that are burst and all life fled from
the smitten hull 

 bad news she brings bad news muttered the old manxman but ere her
commander who with trumpet to mouth stood up in his boat ere he
could hopefully hail ahab's voice was heard 

 hast seen the white whale 

 aye yesterday have ye seen a whale-boat adrift 

throttling his joy ahab negatively answered this unexpected question 
and would then have fain boarded the stranger when the stranger
captain himself having stopped his vessel's way was seen descending
her side a few keen pulls and his boat-hook soon clinched the
pequod's main-chains and he sprang to the deck immediately he was
recognised by ahab for a nantucketer he knew but no formal salutation
was exchanged 

 where was he not killed not killed cried ahab closely advancing 
 how was it 

it seemed that somewhat late on the afternoon of the day previous 
while three of the stranger's boats were engaged with a shoal of
whales which had led them some four or five miles from the ship and
while they were yet in swift chase to windward the white hump and head
of moby dick had suddenly loomed up out of the water not very far to
leeward whereupon the fourth rigged boat a reserved one had been
instantly lowered in chase after a keen sail before the wind this
fourth boat the swiftest keeled of all seemed to have succeeded in
fastening at least as well as the man at the mast-head could tell
anything about it in the distance he saw the diminished dotted boat 
and then a swift gleam of bubbling white water and after that nothing
more whence it was concluded that the stricken whale must have
indefinitely run away with his pursuers as often happens there was
some apprehension but no positive alarm as yet the recall signals
were placed in the rigging darkness came on and forced to pick up her
three far to windward boats ere going in quest of the fourth one in the
precisely opposite direction the ship had not only been necessitated to
leave that boat to its fate till near midnight but for the time to
increase her distance from it but the rest of her crew being at last
safe aboard she crowded all sail stunsail on stunsail after the
missing boat kindling a fire in her try-pots for a beacon and every
other man aloft on the look-out but though when she had thus sailed a
sufficient distance to gain the presumed place of the absent ones when
last seen though she then paused to lower her spare boats to pull all
around her and not finding anything had again dashed on again
paused and lowered her boats and though she had thus continued doing
till daylight yet not the least glimpse of the missing keel had been
seen 

the story told the stranger captain immediately went on to reveal his
object in boarding the pequod he desired that ship to unite with his
own in the search by sailing over the sea some four or five miles
apart on parallel lines and so sweeping a double horizon as it were 

 i will wager something now whispered stubb to flask that some one
in that missing boat wore off that captain's best coat mayhap his
watch he's so cursed anxious to get it back who ever heard of two
pious whale-ships cruising after one missing whale-boat in the height
of the whaling season see flask only see how pale he looks pale in
the very buttons of his eyes look it wasn't the coat it must have been
the 

 my boy my own boy is among them for god's sake i beg i
conjure here exclaimed the stranger captain to ahab who thus far had
but icily received his petition for eight-and-forty hours let me
charter your ship i will gladly pay for it and roundly pay for it if
there be no other way for eight-and-forty hours only only that you
must oh you must and you shall do this thing 

 his son cried stubb oh it's his son he's lost i take back the
coat and watch what says ahab we must save that boy 

 he's drowned with the rest on em last night said the old manx
sailor standing behind them i heard all of ye heard their spirits 

now as it shortly turned out what made this incident of the rachel's
the more melancholy was the circumstance that not only was one of the
captain's sons among the number of the missing boat's crew but among
the number of the other boat's crews at the same time but on the
other hand separated from the ship during the dark vicissitudes of the
chase there had been still another son as that for a time the
wretched father was plunged to the bottom of the cruellest perplexity 
which was only solved for him by his chief mate's instinctively
adopting the ordinary procedure of a whale-ship in such emergencies 
that is when placed between jeopardized but divided boats always to
pick up the majority first but the captain for some unknown
constitutional reason had refrained from mentioning all this and not
till forced to it by ahab's iciness did he allude to his one yet
missing boy a little lad but twelve years old whose father with the
earnest but unmisgiving hardihood of a nantucketer's paternal love had
thus early sought to initiate him in the perils and wonders of a
vocation almost immemorially the destiny of all his race nor does it
unfrequently occur that nantucket captains will send a son of such
tender age away from them for a protracted three or four years voyage
in some other ship than their own so that their first knowledge of a
whaleman's career shall be unenervated by any chance display of a
father's natural but untimely partiality or undue apprehensiveness and
concern 

meantime now the stranger was still beseeching his poor boon of ahab 
and ahab still stood like an anvil receiving every shock but without
the least quivering of his own 

 i will not go said the stranger till you say aye to me do to me
as you would have me do to you in the like case for you too have a
boy captain ahab though but a child and nestling safely at home now a
child of your old age too yes yes you relent i see it run run men 
now and stand by to square in the yards 

 avast cried ahab touch not a rope-yarn then in a voice that
prolongingly moulded every word captain gardiner i will not do it 
even now i lose time good-bye good-bye god bless ye man and may i
forgive myself but i must go mr starbuck look at the binnacle
watch and in three minutes from this present instant warn off all
strangers then brace forward again and let the ship sail as before 

hurriedly turning with averted face he descended into his cabin 
leaving the strange captain transfixed at this unconditional and utter
rejection of his so earnest suit but starting from his enchantment 
gardiner silently hurried to the side more fell than stepped into his
boat and returned to his ship 

soon the two ships diverged their wakes and long as the strange vessel
was in view she was seen to yaw hither and thither at every dark spot 
however small on the sea this way and that her yards were swung
round starboard and larboard she continued to tack now she beat
against a head sea and again it pushed her before it while all the
while her masts and yards were thickly clustered with men as three
tall cherry trees when the boys are cherrying among the boughs 

but by her still halting course and winding woeful way you plainly
saw that this ship that so wept with spray still remained without
comfort she was rachel weeping for her children because they were
not 


chapter 129 the cabin 

 ahab moving to go on deck pip catches him by the hand to follow 

 lad lad i tell thee thou must not follow ahab now the hour is
coming when ahab would not scare thee from him yet would not have thee
by him there is that in thee poor lad which i feel too curing to my
malady like cures like and for this hunt my malady becomes my most
desired health do thou abide below here where they shall serve thee 
as if thou wert the captain aye lad thou shalt sit here in my own
screwed chair another screw to it thou must be 

 no no no ye have not a whole body sir do ye but use poor me for
your one lost leg only tread upon me sir i ask no more so i remain
a part of ye 

 oh spite of million villains this makes me a bigot in the fadeless
fidelity of man and a black and crazy but methinks like-cures-like
applies to him too he grows so sane again 

 they tell me sir that stubb did once desert poor little pip whose
drowned bones now show white for all the blackness of his living skin 
but i will never desert ye sir as stubb did him sir i must go with
ye 

 if thou speakest thus to me much more ahab's purpose keels up in him 
i tell thee no it cannot be 

 oh good master master master 

 weep so and i will murder thee have a care for ahab too is mad 
listen and thou wilt often hear my ivory foot upon the deck and still
know that i am there and now i quit thee thy hand met true art
thou lad as the circumference to its centre so god for ever bless
thee and if it come to that god for ever save thee let what will
befall 

 ahab goes pip steps one step forward 

 here he this instant stood i stand in his air but i'm alone now
were even poor pip here i could endure it but he's missing pip pip 
ding dong ding who's seen pip he must be up here let's try the
door what neither lock nor bolt nor bar and yet there's no opening
it it must be the spell he told me to stay here aye and told me
this screwed chair was mine here then i'll seat me against the
transom in the ship's full middle all her keel and her three masts
before me here our old sailors say in their black seventy-fours
great admirals sometimes sit at table and lord it over rows of
captains and lieutenants ha what's this epaulets epaulets the
epaulets all come crowding pass round the decanters glad to see ye 
fill up monsieurs what an odd feeling now when a black boy's host
to white men with gold lace upon their coats monsieurs have ye seen
one pip a little negro lad five feet high hang-dog look and
cowardly jumped from a whale-boat once seen him no well then fill
up again captains and let's drink shame upon all cowards i name no
names shame upon them put one foot upon the table shame upon all
cowards hist above there i hear ivory oh master master i am
indeed down-hearted when you walk over me but here i'll stay though
this stern strikes rocks and they bulge through and oysters come to
join me 


chapter 130 the hat 

and now that at the proper time and place after so long and wide a
preliminary cruise ahab all other whaling waters swept seemed to have
chased his foe into an ocean-fold to slay him the more securely there 
now that he found himself hard by the very latitude and longitude
where his tormenting wound had been inflicted now that a vessel had
been spoken which on the very day preceding had actually encountered
moby dick and now that all his successive meetings with various ships
contrastingly concurred to show the demoniac indifference with which
the white whale tore his hunters whether sinning or sinned against 
now it was that there lurked a something in the old man's eyes which
it was hardly sufferable for feeble souls to see as the unsetting
polar star which through the livelong arctic six months night
sustains its piercing steady central gaze so ahab's purpose now
fixedly gleamed down upon the constant midnight of the gloomy crew it
domineered above them so that all their bodings doubts misgivings 
fears were fain to hide beneath their souls and not sprout forth a
single spear or leaf 

in this foreshadowing interval too all humor forced or natural 
vanished stubb no more strove to raise a smile starbuck no more
strove to check one alike joy and sorrow hope and fear seemed
ground to finest dust and powdered for the time in the clamped
mortar of ahab's iron soul like machines they dumbly moved about the
deck ever conscious that the old man's despot eye was on them 

but did you deeply scan him in his more secret confidential hours when
he thought no glance but one was on him then you would have seen that
even as ahab's eyes so awed the crew's the inscrutable parsee's glance
awed his or somehow at least in some wild way at times affected it 
such an added gliding strangeness began to invest the thin fedallah
now such ceaseless shudderings shook him that the men looked dubious
at him half uncertain as it seemed whether indeed he were a mortal
substance or else a tremulous shadow cast upon the deck by some unseen
being's body and that shadow was always hovering there for not by
night even had fedallah ever certainly been known to slumber or go
below he would stand still for hours but never sat or leaned his wan
but wondrous eyes did plainly say we two watchmen never rest 

nor at any time by night or day could the mariners now step upon the
deck unless ahab was before them either standing in his pivot-hole 
or exactly pacing the planks between two undeviating limits the
main-mast and the mizen or else they saw him standing in the
cabin-scuttle his living foot advanced upon the deck as if to step 
his hat slouched heavily over his eyes so that however motionless he
stood however the days and nights were added on that he had not swung
in his hammock yet hidden beneath that slouching hat they could never
tell unerringly whether for all this his eyes were really closed at
times or whether he was still intently scanning them no matter 
though he stood so in the scuttle for a whole hour on the stretch and
the unheeded night-damp gathered in beads of dew upon that stone-carved
coat and hat the clothes that the night had wet the next day's
sunshine dried upon him and so day after day and night after night 
he went no more beneath the planks whatever he wanted from the cabin
that thing he sent for 

he ate in the same open air that is his two only meals breakfast and
dinner supper he never touched nor reaped his beard which darkly
grew all gnarled as unearthed roots of trees blown over which still
grow idly on at naked base though perished in the upper verdure but
though his whole life was now become one watch on deck and though the
parsee's mystic watch was without intermission as his own yet these
two never seemed to speak one man to the other unless at long intervals
some passing unmomentous matter made it necessary though such a potent
spell seemed secretly to join the twain openly and to the awe-struck
crew they seemed pole-like asunder if by day they chanced to speak
one word by night dumb men were both so far as concerned the
slightest verbal interchange at times for longest hours without a
single hail they stood far parted in the starlight ahab in his
scuttle the parsee by the mainmast but still fixedly gazing upon each
other as if in the parsee ahab saw his forethrown shadow in ahab the
parsee his abandoned substance 

and yet somehow did ahab in his own proper self as daily hourly 
and every instant commandingly revealed to his subordinates ahab
seemed an independent lord the parsee but his slave still again both
seemed yoked together and an unseen tyrant driving them the lean
shade siding the solid rib for be this parsee what he may all rib and
keel was solid ahab 

at the first faintest glimmering of the dawn his iron voice was heard
from aft man the mast-heads and all through the day till after
sunset and after twilight the same voice every hour at the striking
of the helmsman's bell was heard what d'ye see sharp sharp 

but when three or four days had slided by after meeting the
children-seeking rachel and no spout had yet been seen the monomaniac
old man seemed distrustful of his crew's fidelity at least of nearly
all except the pagan harpooneers he seemed to doubt even whether
stubb and flask might not willingly overlook the sight he sought but
if these suspicions were really his he sagaciously refrained from
verbally expressing them however his actions might seem to hint them 

 i will have the first sight of the whale myself he said aye ahab
must have the doubloon and with his own hands he rigged a nest of
basketed bowlines and sending a hand aloft with a single sheaved
block to secure to the main-mast head he received the two ends of the
downward-reeved rope and attaching one to his basket prepared a pin
for the other end in order to fasten it at the rail this done with
that end yet in his hand and standing beside the pin he looked round
upon his crew sweeping from one to the other pausing his glance long
upon daggoo queequeg tashtego but shunning fedallah and then
settling his firm relying eye upon the chief mate said take the
rope sir i give it into thy hands starbuck then arranging his
person in the basket he gave the word for them to hoist him to his
perch starbuck being the one who secured the rope at last and
afterwards stood near it and thus with one hand clinging round the
royal mast ahab gazed abroad upon the sea for miles and miles ahead 
astern this side and that within the wide expanded circle commanded
at so great a height 

when in working with his hands at some lofty almost isolated place in
the rigging which chances to afford no foothold the sailor at sea is
hoisted up to that spot and sustained there by the rope under these
circumstances its fastened end on deck is always given in strict
charge to some one man who has the special watch of it because in such
a wilderness of running rigging whose various different relations
aloft cannot always be infallibly discerned by what is seen of them at
the deck and when the deck-ends of these ropes are being every few
minutes cast down from the fastenings it would be but a natural
fatality if unprovided with a constant watchman the hoisted sailor
should by some carelessness of the crew be cast adrift and fall all
swooping to the sea so ahab's proceedings in this matter were not
unusual the only strange thing about them seemed to be that starbuck 
almost the one only man who had ever ventured to oppose him with
anything in the slightest degree approaching to decision one of those
too whose faithfulness on the look-out he had seemed to doubt
somewhat it was strange that this was the very man he should select
for his watchman freely giving his whole life into such an otherwise
distrusted person's hands 

now the first time ahab was perched aloft ere he had been there ten
minutes one of those red-billed savage sea-hawks which so often fly
incommodiously close round the manned mast-heads of whalemen in these
latitudes one of these birds came wheeling and screaming round his
head in a maze of untrackably swift circlings then it darted a
thousand feet straight up into the air then spiralized downwards and
went eddying again round his head 

but with his gaze fixed upon the dim and distant horizon ahab seemed
not to mark this wild bird nor indeed would any one else have marked
it much it being no uncommon circumstance only now almost the least
heedful eye seemed to see some sort of cunning meaning in almost every
sight 

 your hat your hat sir suddenly cried the sicilian seaman who
being posted at the mizen-mast-head stood directly behind ahab though
somewhat lower than his level and with a deep gulf of air dividing
them 

but already the sable wing was before the old man's eyes the long
hooked bill at his head with a scream the black hawk darted away with
his prize 

an eagle flew thrice round tarquin's head removing his cap to replace
it and thereupon tanaquil his wife declared that tarquin would be
king of rome but only by the replacing of the cap was that omen
accounted good ahab's hat was never restored the wild hawk flew on
and on with it far in advance of the prow and at last disappeared 
while from the point of that disappearance a minute black spot was
dimly discerned falling from that vast height into the sea 


chapter 131 the pequod meets the delight 

the intense pequod sailed on the rolling waves and days went by the
life-buoy-coffin still lightly swung and another ship most miserably
misnamed the delight was descried as she drew nigh all eyes were
fixed upon her broad beams called shears which in some
whaling-ships cross the quarter-deck at the height of eight or nine
feet serving to carry the spare unrigged or disabled boats 

upon the stranger's shears were beheld the shattered white ribs and
some few splintered planks of what had once been a whale-boat but you
now saw through this wreck as plainly as you see through the peeled 
half-unhinged and bleaching skeleton of a horse 

 hast seen the white whale 

 look replied the hollow-cheeked captain from his taffrail and with
his trumpet he pointed to the wreck 

 hast killed him 

 the harpoon is not yet forged that ever will do that answered the
other sadly glancing upon a rounded hammock on the deck whose
gathered sides some noiseless sailors were busy in sewing together 

 not forged and snatching perth's levelled iron from the crotch ahab
held it out exclaiming look ye nantucketer here in this hand i hold
his death tempered in blood and tempered by lightning are these
barbs and i swear to temper them triply in that hot place behind the
fin where the white whale most feels his accursed life 

 then god keep thee old man see'st thou that pointing to the
hammock i bury but one of five stout men who were alive only
yesterday but were dead ere night only that one i bury the rest
were buried before they died you sail upon their tomb then turning
to his crew are ye ready there place the plank then on the rail and
lift the body so then oh god advancing towards the hammock with
uplifted hands may the resurrection and the life 

 brace forward up helm cried ahab like lightning to his men 

but the suddenly started pequod was not quick enough to escape the
sound of the splash that the corpse soon made as it struck the sea not
so quick indeed but that some of the flying bubbles might have
sprinkled her hull with their ghostly baptism 

as ahab now glided from the dejected delight the strange life-buoy
hanging at the pequod's stern came into conspicuous relief 

 ha yonder look yonder men cried a foreboding voice in her wake 
 in vain oh ye strangers ye fly our sad burial ye but turn us your
taffrail to show us your coffin 


chapter 132 the symphony 

it was a clear steel-blue day the firmaments of air and sea were
hardly separable in that all-pervading azure only the pensive air was
transparently pure and soft with a woman's look and the robust and
man-like sea heaved with long strong lingering swells as samson's
chest in his sleep 

hither and thither on high glided the snow-white wings of small 
unspeckled birds these were the gentle thoughts of the feminine air 
but to and fro in the deeps far down in the bottomless blue rushed
mighty leviathans sword-fish and sharks and these were the strong 
troubled murderous thinkings of the masculine sea 

but though thus contrasting within the contrast was only in shades and
shadows without those two seemed one it was only the sex as it were 
that distinguished them 

aloft like a royal czar and king the sun seemed giving this gentle
air to this bold and rolling sea even as bride to groom and at the
girdling line of the horizon a soft and tremulous motion most seen
here at the equator denoted the fond throbbing trust the loving
alarms with which the poor bride gave her bosom away 

tied up and twisted gnarled and knotted with wrinkles haggardly firm
and unyielding his eyes glowing like coals that still glow in the
ashes of ruin untottering ahab stood forth in the clearness of the
morn lifting his splintered helmet of a brow to the fair girl's
forehead of heaven 

oh immortal infancy and innocency of the azure invisible winged
creatures that frolic all round us sweet childhood of air and sky how
oblivious were ye of old ahab's close-coiled woe but so have i seen
little miriam and martha laughing-eyed elves heedlessly gambol around
their old sire sporting with the circle of singed locks which grew on
the marge of that burnt-out crater of his brain 

slowly crossing the deck from the scuttle ahab leaned over the side
and watched how his shadow in the water sank and sank to his gaze the
more and the more that he strove to pierce the profundity but the
lovely aromas in that enchanted air did at last seem to dispel for a
moment the cankerous thing in his soul that glad happy air that
winsome sky did at last stroke and caress him the step-mother world 
so long cruel forbidding now threw affectionate arms round his stubborn
neck and did seem to joyously sob over him as if over one that
however wilful and erring she could yet find it in her heart to save
and to bless from beneath his slouched hat ahab dropped a tear into
the sea nor did all the pacific contain such wealth as that one wee
drop 

starbuck saw the old man saw him how he heavily leaned over the side 
and he seemed to hear in his own true heart the measureless sobbing
that stole out of the centre of the serenity around careful not to
touch him or be noticed by him he yet drew near to him and stood
there 

ahab turned 

 starbuck 

 sir 

 oh starbuck it is a mild mild wind and a mild looking sky on such
a day very much such a sweetness as this i struck my first whale a
boy-harpooneer of eighteen forty forty forty years ago ago forty
years of continual whaling forty years of privation and peril and
storm-time forty years on the pitiless sea for forty years has ahab
forsaken the peaceful land for forty years to make war on the horrors
of the deep aye and yes starbuck out of those forty years i have not
spent three ashore when i think of this life i have led the
desolation of solitude it has been the masoned walled-town of a
captain's exclusiveness which admits but small entrance to any
sympathy from the green country without oh weariness heaviness 
guinea-coast slavery of solitary command when i think of all this 
only half-suspected not so keenly known to me before and how for forty
years i have fed upon dry salted fare fit emblem of the dry nourishment
of my soil when the poorest landsman has had fresh fruit to his daily
hand and broken the world's fresh bread to my mouldy crusts away 
whole oceans away from that young girl-wife i wedded past fifty and
sailed for cape horn the next day leaving but one dent in my marriage
pillow wife wife rather a widow with her husband alive aye i
widowed that poor girl when i married her starbuck and then the
madness the frenzy the boiling blood and the smoking brow with
which for a thousand lowerings old ahab has furiously foamingly
chased his prey more a demon than a man aye aye what a forty years 
fool fool old fool has old ahab been why this strife of the chase 
why weary and palsy the arm at the oar and the iron and the lance 
how the richer or better is ahab now behold oh starbuck is it not
hard that with this weary load i bear one poor leg should have been
snatched from under me here brush this old hair aside it blinds me 
that i seem to weep locks so grey did never grow but from out some
ashes but do i look very old so very very old starbuck i feel
deadly faint bowed and humped as though i were adam staggering
beneath the piled centuries since paradise god god god crack my
heart stave my brain mockery mockery bitter biting mockery of grey
hairs have i lived enough joy to wear ye and seem and feel thus
intolerably old close stand close to me starbuck let me look into a
human eye it is better than to gaze into sea or sky better than to
gaze upon god by the green land by the bright hearth-stone this is
the magic glass man i see my wife and my child in thine eye no no 
stay on board on board lower not when i do when branded ahab gives
chase to moby dick that hazard shall not be thine no no not with
the far away home i see in that eye 

 oh my captain my captain noble soul grand old heart after all 
why should any one give chase to that hated fish away with me let us
fly these deadly waters let us home wife and child too are
starbuck's wife and child of his brotherly sisterly play-fellow
youth even as thine sir are the wife and child of thy loving 
longing paternal old age away let us away this instant let me alter
the course how cheerily how hilariously o my captain would we bowl
on our way to see old nantucket again i think sir they have some
such mild blue days even as this in nantucket 

 they have they have i have seen them some summer days in the
morning about this time yes it is his noon nap now the boy
vivaciously wakes sits up in bed and his mother tells him of me of
cannibal old me how i am abroad upon the deep but will yet come back
to dance him again 

 tis my mary my mary herself she promised that my boy every
morning should be carried to the hill to catch the first glimpse of
his father's sail yes yes no more it is done we head for
nantucket come my captain study out the course and let us away 
see see the boy's face from the window the boy's hand on the hill 

but ahab's glance was averted like a blighted fruit tree he shook and
cast his last cindered apple to the soil 

 what is it what nameless inscrutable unearthly thing is it what
cozening hidden lord and master and cruel remorseless emperor
commands me that against all natural lovings and longings i so keep
pushing and crowding and jamming myself on all the time recklessly
making me ready to do what in my own proper natural heart i durst not
so much as dare is ahab ahab is it i god or who that lifts this
arm but if the great sun move not of himself but is as an errand-boy
in heaven nor one single star can revolve but by some invisible
power how then can this one small heart beat this one small brain
think thoughts unless god does that beating does that thinking does
that living and not i by heaven man we are turned round and round
in this world like yonder windlass and fate is the handspike and all
the time lo that smiling sky and this unsounded sea look see yon
albicore who put it into him to chase and fang that flying-fish where
do murderers go man who's to doom when the judge himself is dragged
to the bar but it is a mild mild wind and a mild looking sky and
the air smells now as if it blew from a far-away meadow they have
been making hay somewhere under the slopes of the andes starbuck and
the mowers are sleeping among the new-mown hay sleeping aye toil we
how we may we all sleep at last on the field sleep aye and rust
amid greenness as last year's scythes flung down and left in the
half-cut swaths starbuck 

but blanched to a corpse's hue with despair the mate had stolen away 

ahab crossed the deck to gaze over on the other side but started at
two reflected fixed eyes in the water there fedallah was motionlessly
leaning over the same rail 


chapter 133 the chase first day 

that night in the mid-watch when the old man as his wont at
intervals stepped forth from the scuttle in which he leaned and went
to his pivot-hole he suddenly thrust out his face fiercely snuffing
up the sea air as a sagacious ship's dog will in drawing nigh to some
barbarous isle he declared that a whale must be near soon that
peculiar odor sometimes to a great distance given forth by the living
sperm whale was palpable to all the watch nor was any mariner
surprised when after inspecting the compass and then the dog-vane 
and then ascertaining the precise bearing of the odor as nearly as
possible ahab rapidly ordered the ship's course to be slightly
altered and the sail to be shortened 

the acute policy dictating these movements was sufficiently vindicated
at daybreak by the sight of a long sleek on the sea directly and
lengthwise ahead smooth as oil and resembling in the pleated watery
wrinkles bordering it the polished metallic-like marks of some swift
tide-rip at the mouth of a deep rapid stream 

 man the mast-heads call all hands 

thundering with the butts of three clubbed handspikes on the forecastle
deck daggoo roused the sleepers with such judgment claps that they
seemed to exhale from the scuttle so instantaneously did they appear
with their clothes in their hands 

 what d'ye see cried ahab flattening his face to the sky 

 nothing nothing sir was the sound hailing down in reply 

 t'gallant sails stunsails alow and aloft and on both sides 

all sail being set he now cast loose the life-line reserved for
swaying him to the main royal-mast head and in a few moments they were
hoisting him thither when while but two thirds of the way aloft and
while peering ahead through the horizontal vacancy between the
main-top-sail and top-gallant-sail he raised a gull-like cry in the
air there she blows there she blows a hump like a snow-hill it is
moby dick 

fired by the cry which seemed simultaneously taken up by the three
look-outs the men on deck rushed to the rigging to behold the famous
whale they had so long been pursuing ahab had now gained his final
perch some feet above the other look-outs tashtego standing just
beneath him on the cap of the top-gallant-mast so that the indian's
head was almost on a level with ahab's heel from this height the whale
was now seen some mile or so ahead at every roll of the sea revealing
his high sparkling hump and regularly jetting his silent spout into
the air to the credulous mariners it seemed the same silent spout they
had so long ago beheld in the moonlit atlantic and indian oceans 

 and did none of ye see it before cried ahab hailing the perched men
all around him 

 i saw him almost that same instant sir that captain ahab did and i
cried out said tashtego 

 not the same instant not the same no the doubloon is mine fate
reserved the doubloon for me i only none of ye could have raised
the white whale first there she blows there she blows there she
blows there again there again he cried in long-drawn lingering 
methodic tones attuned to the gradual prolongings of the whale's
visible jets he's going to sound in stunsails down
top-gallant-sails stand by three boats mr starbuck remember stay
on board and keep the ship helm there luff luff a point so 
steady man steady there go flukes no no only black water all
ready the boats there stand by stand by lower me mr starbuck 
lower lower quick quicker and he slid through the air to the deck 

 he is heading straight to leeward sir cried stubb right away from
us cannot have seen the ship yet 

 be dumb man stand by the braces hard down the helm brace up 
shiver her shiver her so well that boats boats 

soon all the boats but starbuck's were dropped all the boat-sails
set all the paddles plying with rippling swiftness shooting to
leeward and ahab heading the onset a pale death-glimmer lit up
fedallah's sunken eyes a hideous motion gnawed his mouth 

like noiseless nautilus shells their light prows sped through the sea 
but only slowly they neared the foe as they neared him the ocean grew
still more smooth seemed drawing a carpet over its waves seemed a
noon-meadow so serenely it spread at length the breathless hunter
came so nigh his seemingly unsuspecting prey that his entire dazzling
hump was distinctly visible sliding along the sea as if an isolated
thing and continually set in a revolving ring of finest fleecy 
greenish foam he saw the vast involved wrinkles of the slightly
projecting head beyond before it far out on the soft turkish-rugged
waters went the glistening white shadow from his broad milky
forehead a musical rippling playfully accompanying the shade and
behind the blue waters interchangeably flowed over into the moving
valley of his steady wake and on either hand bright bubbles arose and
danced by his side but these were broken again by the light toes of
hundreds of gay fowl softly feathering the sea alternate with their
fitful flight and like to some flag-staff rising from the painted hull
of an argosy the tall but shattered pole of a recent lance projected
from the white whale's back and at intervals one of the cloud of
soft-toed fowls hovering and to and fro skimming like a canopy over
the fish silently perched and rocked on this pole the long tail
feathers streaming like pennons 

a gentle joyousness a mighty mildness of repose in swiftness invested
the gliding whale not the white bull jupiter swimming away with
ravished europa clinging to his graceful horns his lovely leering
eyes sideways intent upon the maid with smooth bewitching fleetness 
rippling straight for the nuptial bower in crete not jove not that
great majesty supreme did surpass the glorified white whale as he so
divinely swam 

on each soft side coincident with the parted swell that but once
leaving him then flowed so wide away on each bright side the whale
shed off enticings no wonder there had been some among the hunters who
namelessly transported and allured by all this serenity had ventured
to assail it but had fatally found that quietude but the vesture of
tornadoes yet calm enticing calm oh whale thou glidest on to all
who for the first time eye thee no matter how many in that same way
thou may'st have bejuggled and destroyed before 

and thus through the serene tranquillities of the tropical sea among
waves whose hand-clappings were suspended by exceeding rapture moby
dick moved on still withholding from sight the full terrors of his
submerged trunk entirely hiding the wrenched hideousness of his jaw 
but soon the fore part of him slowly rose from the water for an
instant his whole marbleized body formed a high arch like virginia's
natural bridge and warningly waving his bannered flukes in the air 
the grand god revealed himself sounded and went out of sight 
hoveringly halting and dipping on the wing the white sea-fowls
longingly lingered over the agitated pool that he left 

with oars apeak and paddles down the sheets of their sails adrift 
the three boats now stilly floated awaiting moby dick's reappearance 

 an hour said ahab standing rooted in his boat's stern and he gazed
beyond the whale's place towards the dim blue spaces and wide wooing
vacancies to leeward it was only an instant for again his eyes seemed
whirling round in his head as he swept the watery circle the breeze
now freshened the sea began to swell 

 the birds the birds cried tashtego 

in long indian file as when herons take wing the white birds were now
all flying towards ahab's boat and when within a few yards began
fluttering over the water there wheeling round and round with joyous 
expectant cries their vision was keener than man's ahab could
discover no sign in the sea but suddenly as he peered down and down
into its depths he profoundly saw a white living spot no bigger than a
white weasel with wonderful celerity uprising and magnifying as it
rose till it turned and then there were plainly revealed two long
crooked rows of white glistening teeth floating up from the
undiscoverable bottom it was moby dick's open mouth and scrolled jaw 
his vast shadowed bulk still half blending with the blue of the sea 
the glittering mouth yawned beneath the boat like an open-doored marble
tomb and giving one sidelong sweep with his steering oar ahab whirled
the craft aside from this tremendous apparition then calling upon
fedallah to change places with him went forward to the bows and
seizing perth's harpoon commanded his crew to grasp their oars and
stand by to stern 

now by reason of this timely spinning round the boat upon its axis 
its bow by anticipation was made to face the whale's head while yet
under water but as if perceiving this stratagem moby dick with that
malicious intelligence ascribed to him sidelingly transplanted
himself as it were in an instant shooting his pleated head
lengthwise beneath the boat 

through and through through every plank and each rib it thrilled for
an instant the whale obliquely lying on his back in the manner of a
biting shark slowly and feelingly taking its bows full within his
mouth so that the long narrow scrolled lower jaw curled high up into
the open air and one of the teeth caught in a row-lock the bluish
pearl-white of the inside of the jaw was within six inches of ahab's
head and reached higher than that in this attitude the white whale
now shook the slight cedar as a mildly cruel cat her mouse with
unastonished eyes fedallah gazed and crossed his arms but the
tiger-yellow crew were tumbling over each other's heads to gain the
uttermost stern 

and now while both elastic gunwales were springing in and out as the
whale dallied with the doomed craft in this devilish way and from his
body being submerged beneath the boat he could not be darted at from
the bows for the bows were almost inside of him as it were and while
the other boats involuntarily paused as before a quick crisis
impossible to withstand then it was that monomaniac ahab furious with
this tantalizing vicinity of his foe which placed him all alive and
helpless in the very jaws he hated frenzied with all this he seized
the long bone with his naked hands and wildly strove to wrench it from
its gripe as now he thus vainly strove the jaw slipped from him the
frail gunwales bent in collapsed and snapped as both jaws like an
enormous shears sliding further aft bit the craft completely in
twain and locked themselves fast again in the sea midway between the
two floating wrecks these floated aside the broken ends drooping the
crew at the stern-wreck clinging to the gunwales and striving to hold
fast to the oars to lash them across 

at that preluding moment ere the boat was yet snapped ahab the first
to perceive the whale's intent by the crafty upraising of his head a
movement that loosed his hold for the time at that moment his hand had
made one final effort to push the boat out of the bite but only
slipping further into the whale's mouth and tilting over sideways as
it slipped the boat had shaken off his hold on the jaw spilled him
out of it as he leaned to the push and so he fell flat-faced upon the
sea 

ripplingly withdrawing from his prey moby dick now lay at a little
distance vertically thrusting his oblong white head up and down in the
billows and at the same time slowly revolving his whole spindled body 
so that when his vast wrinkled forehead rose some twenty or more feet
out of the water the now rising swells with all their confluent waves 
dazzlingly broke against it vindictively tossing their shivered spray
still higher into the air so in a gale the but half baffled channel
billows only recoil from the base of the eddystone triumphantly to
overleap its summit with their scud 

 this motion is peculiar to the sperm whale it receives its
designation pitchpoling from its being likened to that preliminary
up-and-down poise of the whale-lance in the exercise called
pitchpoling previously described by this motion the whale must best
and most comprehensively view whatever objects may be encircling him 

but soon resuming his horizontal attitude moby dick swam swiftly round
and round the wrecked crew sideways churning the water in his vengeful
wake as if lashing himself up to still another and more deadly
assault the sight of the splintered boat seemed to madden him as the
blood of grapes and mulberries cast before antiochus's elephants in the
book of maccabees meanwhile ahab half smothered in the foam of the
whale's insolent tail and too much of a cripple to swim though he
could still keep afloat even in the heart of such a whirlpool as that 
helpless ahab's head was seen like a tossed bubble which the least
chance shock might burst from the boat's fragmentary stern fedallah
incuriously and mildly eyed him the clinging crew at the other
drifting end could not succor him more than enough was it for them to
look to themselves for so revolvingly appalling was the white whale's
aspect and so planetarily swift the ever-contracting circles he made 
that he seemed horizontally swooping upon them and though the other
boats unharmed still hovered hard by still they dared not pull into
the eddy to strike lest that should be the signal for the instant
destruction of the jeopardized castaways ahab and all nor in that
case could they themselves hope to escape with straining eyes then 
they remained on the outer edge of the direful zone whose centre had
now become the old man's head 

meantime from the beginning all this had been descried from the ship's
mast heads and squaring her yards she had borne down upon the scene 
and was now so nigh that ahab in the water hailed her sail on
the but that moment a breaking sea dashed on him from moby dick and
whelmed him for the time but struggling out of it again and chancing
to rise on a towering crest he shouted sail on the whale drive him
off 

the pequod's prows were pointed and breaking up the charmed circle 
she effectually parted the white whale from his victim as he sullenly
swam off the boats flew to the rescue 

dragged into stubb's boat with blood-shot blinded eyes the white
brine caking in his wrinkles the long tension of ahab's bodily
strength did crack and helplessly he yielded to his body's doom for a
time lying all crushed in the bottom of stubb's boat like one trodden
under foot of herds of elephants far inland nameless wails came from
him as desolate sounds from out ravines 

but this intensity of his physical prostration did but so much the more
abbreviate it in an instant's compass great hearts sometimes condense
to one deep pang the sum total of those shallow pains kindly diffused
through feebler men's whole lives and so such hearts though summary
in each one suffering still if the gods decree it in their life-time
aggregate a whole age of woe wholly made up of instantaneous
intensities for even in their pointless centres those noble natures
contain the entire circumferences of inferior souls 

 the harpoon said ahab half way rising and draggingly leaning on
one bended arm is it safe 

 aye sir for it was not darted this is it said stubb showing it 

 lay it before me any missing men 

 one two three four five there were five oars sir and here are
five men 

 that's good help me man i wish to stand so so i see him there 
there going to leeward still what a leaping spout hands off from me 
the eternal sap runs up in ahab's bones again set the sail out oars 
the helm 

it is often the case that when a boat is stove its crew being picked
up by another boat help to work that second boat and the chase is
thus continued with what is called double-banked oars it was thus now 
but the added power of the boat did not equal the added power of the
whale for he seemed to have treble-banked his every fin swimming with
a velocity which plainly showed that if now under these
circumstances pushed on the chase would prove an indefinitely
prolonged if not a hopeless one nor could any crew endure for so long
a period such an unintermitted intense straining at the oar a thing
barely tolerable only in some one brief vicissitude the ship itself 
then as it sometimes happens offered the most promising intermediate
means of overtaking the chase accordingly the boats now made for her 
and were soon swayed up to their cranes the two parts of the wrecked
boat having been previously secured by her and then hoisting everything
to her side and stacking her canvas high up and sideways
outstretching it with stun-sails like the double-jointed wings of an
albatross the pequod bore down in the leeward wake of moby-dick at
the well known methodic intervals the whale's glittering spout was
regularly announced from the manned mast-heads and when he would be
reported as just gone down ahab would take the time and then pacing
the deck binnacle-watch in hand so soon as the last second of the
allotted hour expired his voice was heard whose is the doubloon now 
d'ye see him and if the reply was no sir straightway he commanded
them to lift him to his perch in this way the day wore on ahab now
aloft and motionless anon unrestingly pacing the planks 

as he was thus walking uttering no sound except to hail the men
aloft or to bid them hoist a sail still higher or to spread one to a
still greater breadth thus to and fro pacing beneath his slouched hat 
at every turn he passed his own wrecked boat which had been dropped
upon the quarter-deck and lay there reversed broken bow to shattered
stern at last he paused before it and as in an already over-clouded
sky fresh troops of clouds will sometimes sail across so over the old
man's face there now stole some such added gloom as this 

stubb saw him pause and perhaps intending not vainly though to
evince his own unabated fortitude and thus keep up a valiant place in
his captain's mind he advanced and eyeing the wreck exclaimed the
thistle the ass refused it pricked his mouth too keenly sir ha ha 

 what soulless thing is this that laughs before a wreck man man did
i not know thee brave as fearless fire and as mechanical i could
swear thou wert a poltroon groan nor laugh should be heard before a
wreck 

 aye sir said starbuck drawing near tis a solemn sight an omen 
and an ill one 

 omen omen the dictionary if the gods think to speak outright to
man they will honorably speak outright not shake their heads and
give an old wives darkling hint begone ye two are the opposite poles
of one thing starbuck is stubb reversed and stubb is starbuck and ye
two are all mankind and ahab stands alone among the millions of the
peopled earth nor gods nor men his neighbors cold cold i shiver how
now aloft there d'ye see him sing out for every spout though he
spout ten times a second 

the day was nearly done only the hem of his golden robe was rustling 
soon it was almost dark but the look-out men still remained unset 

 can't see the spout now sir too dark cried a voice from the air 

 how heading when last seen 

 as before sir straight to leeward 

 good he will travel slower now tis night down royals and
top-gallant stun-sails mr starbuck we must not run over him before
morning he's making a passage now and may heave-to a while helm
there keep her full before the wind aloft come down mr stubb send
a fresh hand to the fore-mast head and see it manned till
morning then advancing towards the doubloon in the main-mast men 
this gold is mine for i earned it but i shall let it abide here till
the white whale is dead and then whosoever of ye first raises him 
upon the day he shall be killed this gold is that man's and if on
that day i shall again raise him then ten times its sum shall be
divided among all of ye away now the deck is thine sir 

and so saying he placed himself half way within the scuttle and
slouching his hat stood there till dawn except when at intervals
rousing himself to see how the night wore on 


chapter 134 the chase second day 

at day-break the three mast-heads were punctually manned afresh 

 d'ye see him cried ahab after allowing a little space for the light
to spread 

 see nothing sir 

 turn up all hands and make sail he travels faster than i thought
for the top-gallant sails aye they should have been kept on her all
night but no matter tis but resting for the rush 

here be it said that this pertinacious pursuit of one particular
whale continued through day into night and through night into day is
a thing by no means unprecedented in the south sea fishery for such is
the wonderful skill prescience of experience and invincible
confidence acquired by some great natural geniuses among the nantucket
commanders that from the simple observation of a whale when last
descried they will under certain given circumstances pretty
accurately foretell both the direction in which he will continue to
swim for a time while out of sight as well as his probable rate of
progression during that period and in these cases somewhat as a
pilot when about losing sight of a coast whose general trending he
well knows and which he desires shortly to return to again but at
some further point like as this pilot stands by his compass and takes
the precise bearing of the cape at present visible in order the more
certainly to hit aright the remote unseen headland eventually to be
visited so does the fisherman at his compass with the whale for
after being chased and diligently marked through several hours of
daylight then when night obscures the fish the creature's future
wake through the darkness is almost as established to the sagacious
mind of the hunter as the pilot's coast is to him so that to this
hunter's wondrous skill the proverbial evanescence of a thing writ in
water a wake is to all desired purposes well nigh as reliable as the
steadfast land and as the mighty iron leviathan of the modern railway
is so familiarly known in its every pace that with watches in their
hands men time his rate as doctors that of a baby's pulse and lightly
say of it the up train or the down train will reach such or such a
spot at such or such an hour even so almost there are occasions
when these nantucketers time that other leviathan of the deep 
according to the observed humor of his speed and say to themselves so
many hours hence this whale will have gone two hundred miles will have
about reached this or that degree of latitude or longitude but to
render this acuteness at all successful in the end the wind and the
sea must be the whaleman's allies for of what present avail to the
becalmed or windbound mariner is the skill that assures him he is
exactly ninety-three leagues and a quarter from his port inferable
from these statements are many collateral subtile matters touching the
chase of whales 

the ship tore on leaving such a furrow in the sea as when a
cannon-ball missent becomes a plough-share and turns up the level
field 

 by salt and hemp cried stubb but this swift motion of the deck
creeps up one's legs and tingles at the heart this ship and i are two
brave fellows ha ha some one take me up and launch me spine-wise 
on the sea for by live-oaks my spine's a keel ha ha we go the gait
that leaves no dust behind 

 there she blows she blows she blows right ahead was now the
mast-head cry 

 aye aye cried stubb i knew it ye can't escape blow on and split
your spout o whale the mad fiend himself is after ye blow your
trump blister your lungs ahab will dam off your blood as a miller
shuts his watergate upon the stream 

and stubb did but speak out for well nigh all that crew the frenzies
of the chase had by this time worked them bubblingly up like old wine
worked anew whatever pale fears and forebodings some of them might
have felt before these were not only now kept out of sight through the
growing awe of ahab but they were broken up and on all sides routed 
as timid prairie hares that scatter before the bounding bison the hand
of fate had snatched all their souls and by the stirring perils of the
previous day the rack of the past night's suspense the fixed 
unfearing blind reckless way in which their wild craft went plunging
towards its flying mark by all these things their hearts were bowled
along the wind that made great bellies of their sails and rushed the
vessel on by arms invisible as irresistible this seemed the symbol of
that unseen agency which so enslaved them to the race 

they were one man not thirty for as the one ship that held them all 
though it was put together of all contrasting things oak and maple 
and pine wood iron and pitch and hemp yet all these ran into each
other in the one concrete hull which shot on its way both balanced
and directed by the long central keel even so all the individualities
of the crew this man's valor that man's fear guilt and guiltiness 
all varieties were welded into oneness and were all directed to that
fatal goal which ahab their one lord and keel did point to 

the rigging lived the mast-heads like the tops of tall palms were
outspreadingly tufted with arms and legs clinging to a spar with one
hand some reached forth the other with impatient wavings others 
shading their eyes from the vivid sunlight sat far out on the rocking
yards all the spars in full bearing of mortals ready and ripe for
their fate ah how they still strove through that infinite blueness to
seek out the thing that might destroy them 

 why sing ye not out for him if ye see him cried ahab when after
the lapse of some minutes since the first cry no more had been heard 
 sway me up men ye have been deceived not moby dick casts one odd
jet that way and then disappears 

it was even so in their headlong eagerness the men had mistaken some
other thing for the whale-spout as the event itself soon proved for
hardly had ahab reached his perch hardly was the rope belayed to its
pin on deck when he struck the key-note to an orchestra that made the
air vibrate as with the combined discharges of rifles the triumphant
halloo of thirty buckskin lungs was heard as much nearer to the ship
than the place of the imaginary jet less than a mile ahead moby dick
bodily burst into view for not by any calm and indolent spoutings not
by the peaceable gush of that mystic fountain in his head did the
white whale now reveal his vicinity but by the far more wondrous
phenomenon of breaching rising with his utmost velocity from the
furthest depths the sperm whale thus booms his entire bulk into the
pure element of air and piling up a mountain of dazzling foam shows
his place to the distance of seven miles and more in those moments 
the torn enraged waves he shakes off seem his mane in some cases 
this breaching is his act of defiance 

 there she breaches there she breaches was the cry as in his
immeasurable bravadoes the white whale tossed himself salmon-like to
heaven so suddenly seen in the blue plain of the sea and relieved
against the still bluer margin of the sky the spray that he raised 
for the moment intolerably glittered and glared like a glacier and
stood there gradually fading and fading away from its first sparkling
intensity to the dim mistiness of an advancing shower in a vale 

 aye breach your last to the sun moby dick cried ahab thy hour
and thy harpoon are at hand down down all of ye but one man at the
fore the boats stand by 

unmindful of the tedious rope-ladders of the shrouds the men like
shooting stars slid to the deck by the isolated backstays and
halyards while ahab less dartingly but still rapidly was dropped
from his perch 

 lower away he cried so soon as he had reached his boat a spare one 
rigged the afternoon previous mr starbuck the ship is thine keep
away from the boats but keep near them lower all 

as if to strike a quick terror into them by this time being the first
assailant himself moby dick had turned and was now coming for the
three crews ahab's boat was central and cheering his men he told
them he would take the whale head-and-head that is pull straight up
to his forehead a not uncommon thing for when within a certain limit 
such a course excludes the coming onset from the whale's sidelong
vision but ere that close limit was gained and while yet all three
boats were plain as the ship's three masts to his eye the white whale
churning himself into furious speed almost in an instant as it were 
rushing among the boats with open jaws and a lashing tail offered
appalling battle on every side and heedless of the irons darted at him
from every boat seemed only intent on annihilating each separate plank
of which those boats were made but skilfully manoeuvred incessantly
wheeling like trained chargers in the field the boats for a while
eluded him though at times but by a plank's breadth while all the
time ahab's unearthly slogan tore every other cry but his to shreds 

but at last in his untraceable evolutions the white whale so crossed
and recrossed and in a thousand ways entangled the slack of the three
lines now fast to him that they foreshortened and of themselves 
warped the devoted boats towards the planted irons in him though now
for a moment the whale drew aside a little as if to rally for a more
tremendous charge seizing that opportunity ahab first paid out more
line and then was rapidly hauling and jerking in upon it again hoping
that way to disencumber it of some snarls when lo a sight more savage
than the embattled teeth of sharks 

caught and twisted corkscrewed in the mazes of the line loose harpoons
and lances with all their bristling barbs and points came flashing
and dripping up to the chocks in the bows of ahab's boat only one
thing could be done seizing the boat-knife he critically reached
within through and then without the rays of steel dragged in the line
beyond passed it inboard to the bowsman and then twice sundering
the rope near the chocks dropped the intercepted fagot of steel into
the sea and was all fast again that instant the white whale made a
sudden rush among the remaining tangles of the other lines by so
doing irresistibly dragged the more involved boats of stubb and flask
towards his flukes dashed them together like two rolling husks on a
surf-beaten beach and then diving down into the sea disappeared in a
boiling maelstrom in which for a space the odorous cedar chips of
the wrecks danced round and round like the grated nutmeg in a swiftly
stirred bowl of punch 

while the two crews were yet circling in the waters reaching out after
the revolving line-tubs oars and other floating furniture while
aslope little flask bobbed up and down like an empty vial twitching
his legs upwards to escape the dreaded jaws of sharks and stubb was
lustily singing out for some one to ladle him up and while the old
man's line now parting admitted of his pulling into the creamy pool to
rescue whom he could in that wild simultaneousness of a thousand
concreted perils ahab's yet unstricken boat seemed drawn up towards
heaven by invisible wires as arrow-like shooting perpendicularly
from the sea the white whale dashed his broad forehead against its
bottom and sent it turning over and over into the air till it fell
again gunwale downwards and ahab and his men struggled out from under
it like seals from a sea-side cave 

the first uprising momentum of the whale modifying its direction as he
struck the surface involuntarily launched him along it to a little
distance from the centre of the destruction he had made and with his
back to it he now lay for a moment slowly feeling with his flukes from
side to side and whenever a stray oar bit of plank the least chip or
crumb of the boats touched his skin his tail swiftly drew back and
came sideways smiting the sea but soon as if satisfied that his work
for that time was done he pushed his pleated forehead through the
ocean and trailing after him the intertangled lines continued his
leeward way at a traveller's methodic pace 

as before the attentive ship having descried the whole fight again
came bearing down to the rescue and dropping a boat picked up the
floating mariners tubs oars and whatever else could be caught at 
and safely landed them on her decks some sprained shoulders wrists 
and ankles livid contusions wrenched harpoons and lances 
inextricable intricacies of rope shattered oars and planks all these
were there but no fatal or even serious ill seemed to have befallen
any one as with fedallah the day before so ahab was now found grimly
clinging to his boat's broken half which afforded a comparatively easy
float nor did it so exhaust him as the previous day's mishap 

but when he was helped to the deck all eyes were fastened upon him as
instead of standing by himself he still half-hung upon the shoulder of
starbuck who had thus far been the foremost to assist him his ivory
leg had been snapped off leaving but one short sharp splinter 

 aye aye starbuck tis sweet to lean sometimes be the leaner who he
will and would old ahab had leaned oftener than he has 

 the ferrule has not stood sir said the carpenter now coming up i
put good work into that leg 

 but no bones broken sir i hope said stubb with true concern 

 aye and all splintered to pieces stubb d'ye see it but even with a
broken bone old ahab is untouched and i account no living bone of
mine one jot more me than this dead one that's lost nor white whale 
nor man nor fiend can so much as graze old ahab in his own proper and
inaccessible being can any lead touch yonder floor any mast scrape
yonder roof aloft there which way 

 dead to leeward sir 

 up helm then pile on the sail again ship keepers down the rest of
the spare boats and rig them mr starbuck away and muster the boat's
crews 

 let me first help thee towards the bulwarks sir 

 oh oh oh how this splinter gores me now accursed fate that the
unconquerable captain in the soul should have such a craven mate 

 sir 

 my body man not thee give me something for a cane there that
shivered lance will do muster the men surely i have not seen him yet 
by heaven it cannot be missing quick call them all 

the old man's hinted thought was true upon mustering the company the
parsee was not there 

 the parsee cried stubb he must have been caught in 

 the black vomit wrench thee run all of ye above alow cabin 
forecastle find him not gone not gone 

but quickly they returned to him with the tidings that the parsee was
nowhere to be found 

 aye sir said stubb caught among the tangles of your line i thought
i saw him dragging under 

 my line my line gone gone what means that little word what
death-knell rings in it that old ahab shakes as if he were the belfry 
the harpoon too toss over the litter there d'ye see it the forged
iron men the white whale's no no no blistered fool this hand did
dart it tis in the fish aloft there keep him nailed quick all
hands to the rigging of the boats collect the oars harpooneers the
irons the irons hoist the royals higher a pull on all the
sheets helm there steady steady for your life i'll ten times girdle
the unmeasured globe yea and dive straight through it but i'll slay
him yet 

 great god but for one single instant show thyself cried starbuck 
 never never wilt thou capture him old man in jesus name no more of
this that's worse than devil's madness two days chased twice stove
to splinters thy very leg once more snatched from under thee thy evil
shadow gone all good angels mobbing thee with warnings what more
wouldst thou have shall we keep chasing this murderous fish till he
swamps the last man shall we be dragged by him to the bottom of the
sea shall we be towed by him to the infernal world oh oh impiety
and blasphemy to hunt him more 

 starbuck of late i've felt strangely moved to thee ever since that
hour we both saw thou know'st what in one another's eyes but in this
matter of the whale be the front of thy face to me as the palm of this
hand a lipless unfeatured blank ahab is for ever ahab man this
whole act's immutably decreed twas rehearsed by thee and me a billion
years before this ocean rolled fool i am the fates lieutenant i act
under orders look thou underling that thou obeyest mine stand round
me men ye see an old man cut down to the stump leaning on a shivered
lance propped up on a lonely foot tis ahab his body's part but
ahab's soul's a centipede that moves upon a hundred legs i feel
strained half stranded as ropes that tow dismasted frigates in a
gale and i may look so but ere i break ye'll hear me crack and till
ye hear that know that ahab's hawser tows his purpose yet believe
ye men in the things called omens then laugh aloud and cry encore 
for ere they drown drowning things will twice rise to the surface 
then rise again to sink for evermore so with moby dick two days he's
floated tomorrow will be the third aye men he'll rise once more but
only to spout his last d'ye feel brave men brave 

 as fearless fire cried stubb 

 and as mechanical muttered ahab then as the men went forward he
muttered on the things called omens and yesterday i talked the same
to starbuck there concerning my broken boat oh how valiantly i seek
to drive out of others hearts what's clinched so fast in mine the
parsee the parsee gone gone and he was to go before but still was
to be seen again ere i could perish how's that there's a riddle now
might baffle all the lawyers backed by the ghosts of the whole line of
judges like a hawk's beak it pecks my brain i'll i'll solve it 
though 

when dusk descended the whale was still in sight to leeward 

so once more the sail was shortened and everything passed nearly as on
the previous night only the sound of hammers and the hum of the
grindstone was heard till nearly daylight as the men toiled by
lanterns in the complete and careful rigging of the spare boats and
sharpening their fresh weapons for the morrow meantime of the broken
keel of ahab's wrecked craft the carpenter made him another leg while
still as on the night before slouched ahab stood fixed within his
scuttle his hid heliotrope glance anticipatingly gone backward on its
dial sat due eastward for the earliest sun 


chapter 135 the chase third day 

the morning of the third day dawned fair and fresh and once more the
solitary night-man at the fore-mast-head was relieved by crowds of the
daylight look-outs who dotted every mast and almost every spar 

 d'ye see him cried ahab but the whale was not yet in sight 

 in his infallible wake though but follow that wake that's all helm
there steady as thou goest and hast been going what a lovely day
again were it a new-made world and made for a summer-house to the
angels and this morning the first of its throwing open to them a
fairer day could not dawn upon that world here's food for thought had
ahab time to think but ahab never thinks he only feels feels feels 
 that's tingling enough for mortal man to think's audacity god only
has that right and privilege thinking is or ought to be a coolness
and a calmness and our poor hearts throb and our poor brains beat too
much for that and yet i've sometimes thought my brain was very
calm frozen calm this old skull cracks so like a glass in which the
contents turned to ice and shiver it and still this hair is growing
now this moment growing and heat must breed it but no it's like
that sort of common grass that will grow anywhere between the earthy
clefts of greenland ice or in vesuvius lava how the wild winds blow
it they whip it about me as the torn shreds of split sails lash the
tossed ship they cling to a vile wind that has no doubt blown ere this
through prison corridors and cells and wards of hospitals and
ventilated them and now comes blowing hither as innocent as fleeces 
out upon it it's tainted were i the wind i'd blow no more on such a
wicked miserable world i'd crawl somewhere to a cave and slink
there and yet tis a noble and heroic thing the wind who ever
conquered it in every fight it has the last and bitterest blow run
tilting at it and you but run through it ha a coward wind that
strikes stark naked men but will not stand to receive a single blow 
even ahab is a braver thing a nobler thing than that would now the
wind but had a body but all the things that most exasperate and
outrage mortal man all these things are bodiless but only bodiless as
objects not as agents there's a most special a most cunning oh a
most malicious difference and yet i say again and swear it now that
there's something all glorious and gracious in the wind these warm
trade winds at least that in the clear heavens blow straight on in
strong and steadfast vigorous mildness and veer not from their mark 
however the baser currents of the sea may turn and tack and mightiest
mississippies of the land swift and swerve about uncertain where to go
at last and by the eternal poles these same trades that so directly
blow my good ship on these trades or something like them something so
unchangeable and full as strong blow my keeled soul along to it 
aloft there what d'ye see 

 nothing sir 

 nothing and noon at hand the doubloon goes a-begging see the sun 
aye aye it must be so i've oversailed him how got the start aye 
he's chasing me now not i him that's bad i might have known it 
too fool the lines the harpoons he's towing aye aye i have run him
by last night about about come down all of ye but the regular look
outs man the braces 

steering as she had done the wind had been somewhat on the pequod's
quarter so that now being pointed in the reverse direction the braced
ship sailed hard upon the breeze as she rechurned the cream in her own
white wake 

 against the wind he now steers for the open jaw murmured starbuck to
himself as he coiled the new-hauled main-brace upon the rail god
keep us but already my bones feel damp within me and from the inside
wet my flesh i misdoubt me that i disobey my god in obeying him 

 stand by to sway me up cried ahab advancing to the hempen basket 
 we should meet him soon 

 aye aye sir and straightway starbuck did ahab's bidding and once
more ahab swung on high 

a whole hour now passed gold-beaten out to ages time itself now held
long breaths with keen suspense but at last some three points off the
weather bow ahab descried the spout again and instantly from the
three mast-heads three shrieks went up as if the tongues of fire had
voiced it 

 forehead to forehead i meet thee this third time moby dick on deck
there brace sharper up crowd her into the wind's eye he's too far
off to lower yet mr starbuck the sails shake stand over that
helmsman with a top-maul so so he travels fast and i must down but
let me have one more good round look aloft here at the sea there's
time for that an old old sight and yet somehow so young aye and
not changed a wink since i first saw it a boy from the sand-hills of
nantucket the same the same the same to noah as to me there's a
soft shower to leeward such lovely leewardings they must lead
somewhere to something else than common land more palmy than the
palms leeward the white whale goes that way look to windward then 
the better if the bitterer quarter but good bye good bye old
mast-head what's this green aye tiny mosses in these warped cracks 
no such green weather stains on ahab's head there's the difference now
between man's old age and matter's but aye old mast we both grow old
together sound in our hulls though are we not my ship aye minus a
leg that's all by heaven this dead wood has the better of my live
flesh every way i can't compare with it and i've known some ships
made of dead trees outlast the lives of men made of the most vital
stuff of vital fathers what's that he said he should still go before
me my pilot and yet to be seen again but where will i have eyes at
the bottom of the sea supposing i descend those endless stairs and
all night i've been sailing from him wherever he did sink to aye 
aye like many more thou told'st direful truth as touching thyself o
parsee but ahab there thy shot fell short good-bye mast-head keep
a good eye upon the whale the while i'm gone we'll talk to-morrow 
nay to-night when the white whale lies down there tied by head and
tail 

he gave the word and still gazing round him was steadily lowered
through the cloven blue air to the deck 

in due time the boats were lowered but as standing in his shallop's
stern ahab just hovered upon the point of the descent he waved to the
mate who held one of the tackle-ropes on deck and bade him pause 

 starbuck 

 sir 

 for the third time my soul's ship starts upon this voyage starbuck 

 aye sir thou wilt have it so 

 some ships sail from their ports and ever afterwards are missing 
starbuck 

 truth sir saddest truth 

 some men die at ebb tide some at low water some at the full of the
flood and i feel now like a billow that's all one crested comb 
starbuck i am old shake hands with me man 

their hands met their eyes fastened starbuck's tears the glue 

 oh my captain my captain noble heart go not go not see it's a
brave man that weeps how great the agony of the persuasion then 

 lower away cried ahab tossing the mate's arm from him stand by
the crew 

in an instant the boat was pulling round close under the stern 

 the sharks the sharks cried a voice from the low cabin-window
there o master my master come back 

but ahab heard nothing for his own voice was high-lifted then and the
boat leaped on 

yet the voice spake true for scarce had he pushed from the ship when
numbers of sharks seemingly rising from out the dark waters beneath
the hull maliciously snapped at the blades of the oars every time
they dipped in the water and in this way accompanied the boat with
their bites it is a thing not uncommonly happening to the whale-boats
in those swarming seas the sharks at times apparently following them
in the same prescient way that vultures hover over the banners of
marching regiments in the east but these were the first sharks that
had been observed by the pequod since the white whale had been first
descried and whether it was that ahab's crew were all such
tiger-yellow barbarians and therefore their flesh more musky to the
senses of the sharks a matter sometimes well known to affect
them however it was they seemed to follow that one boat without
molesting the others 

 heart of wrought steel murmured starbuck gazing over the side and
following with his eyes the receding boat canst thou yet ring boldly
to that sight lowering thy keel among ravening sharks and followed by
them open-mouthed to the chase and this the critical third day for
when three days flow together in one continuous intense pursuit be
sure the first is the morning the second the noon and the third the
evening and the end of that thing be that end what it may oh my god 
what is this that shoots through me and leaves me so deadly calm yet
expectant fixed at the top of a shudder future things swim before me 
as in empty outlines and skeletons all the past is somehow grown dim 
mary girl thou fadest in pale glories behind me boy i seem to see
but thy eyes grown wondrous blue strangest problems of life seem
clearing but clouds sweep between is my journey's end coming my legs
feel faint like his who has footed it all day feel thy heart beats
it yet stir thyself starbuck stave it off move move speak
aloud mast-head there see ye my boy's hand on the hill crazed aloft
there keep thy keenest eye upon the boats mark well the whale ho 
again drive off that hawk see he pecks he tears the vane pointing
to the red flag flying at the main-truck ha he soars away with
it where's the old man now see'st thou that sight oh ahab shudder 
shudder 

the boats had not gone very far when by a signal from the mast-heads a
downward pointed arm ahab knew that the whale had sounded but
intending to be near him at the next rising he held on his way a
little sideways from the vessel the becharmed crew maintaining the
profoundest silence as the head-beat waves hammered and hammered
against the opposing bow 

 drive drive in your nails oh ye waves to their uttermost heads
drive them in ye but strike a thing without a lid and no coffin and
no hearse can be mine and hemp only can kill me ha ha 

suddenly the waters around them slowly swelled in broad circles then
quickly upheaved as if sideways sliding from a submerged berg of ice 
swiftly rising to the surface a low rumbling sound was heard a
subterraneous hum and then all held their breaths as bedraggled with
trailing ropes and harpoons and lances a vast form shot lengthwise 
but obliquely from the sea shrouded in a thin drooping veil of mist 
it hovered for a moment in the rainbowed air and then fell swamping
back into the deep crushed thirty feet upwards the waters flashed for
an instant like heaps of fountains then brokenly sank in a shower of
flakes leaving the circling surface creamed like new milk round the
marble trunk of the whale 

 give way cried ahab to the oarsmen and the boats darted forward to
the attack but maddened by yesterday's fresh irons that corroded in
him moby dick seemed combinedly possessed by all the angels that fell
from heaven the wide tiers of welded tendons overspreading his broad
white forehead beneath the transparent skin looked knitted together 
as head on he came churning his tail among the boats and once more
flailed them apart spilling out the irons and lances from the two
mates boats and dashing in one side of the upper part of their bows 
but leaving ahab's almost without a scar 

while daggoo and queequeg were stopping the strained planks and as the
whale swimming out from them turned and showed one entire flank as he
shot by them again at that moment a quick cry went up lashed round
and round to the fish's back pinioned in the turns upon turns in
which during the past night the whale had reeled the involutions of
the lines around him the half torn body of the parsee was seen his
sable raiment frayed to shreds his distended eyes turned full upon old
ahab 

the harpoon dropped from his hand 

 befooled befooled drawing in a long lean breath aye parsee i see
thee again aye and thou goest before and this this then is the
hearse that thou didst promise but i hold thee to the last letter of
thy word where is the second hearse away mates to the ship those
boats are useless now repair them if ye can in time and return to me 
if not ahab is enough to die down men the first thing that but
offers to jump from this boat i stand in that thing i harpoon ye are
not other men but my arms and my legs and so obey me where's the
whale gone down again 

but he looked too nigh the boat for as if bent upon escaping with the
corpse he bore and as if the particular place of the last encounter
had been but a stage in his leeward voyage moby dick was now again
steadily swimming forward and had almost passed the ship which thus
far had been sailing in the contrary direction to him though for the
present her headway had been stopped he seemed swimming with his
utmost velocity and now only intent upon pursuing his own straight
path in the sea 

 oh ahab cried starbuck not too late is it even now the third
day to desist see moby dick seeks thee not it is thou thou that
madly seekest him 

setting sail to the rising wind the lonely boat was swiftly impelled
to leeward by both oars and canvas and at last when ahab was sliding
by the vessel so near as plainly to distinguish starbuck's face as he
leaned over the rail he hailed him to turn the vessel about and
follow him not too swiftly at a judicious interval glancing upwards 
he saw tashtego queequeg and daggoo eagerly mounting to the three
mast-heads while the oarsmen were rocking in the two staved boats
which had but just been hoisted to the side and were busily at work in
repairing them one after the other through the port-holes as he
sped he also caught flying glimpses of stubb and flask busying
themselves on deck among bundles of new irons and lances as he saw all
this as he heard the hammers in the broken boats far other hammers
seemed driving a nail into his heart but he rallied and now marking
that the vane or flag was gone from the main-mast-head he shouted to
tashtego who had just gained that perch to descend again for another
flag and a hammer and nails and so nail it to the mast 

whether fagged by the three days running chase and the resistance to
his swimming in the knotted hamper he bore or whether it was some
latent deceitfulness and malice in him whichever was true the white
whale's way now began to abate as it seemed from the boat so rapidly
nearing him once more though indeed the whale's last start had not
been so long a one as before and still as ahab glided over the waves
the unpitying sharks accompanied him and so pertinaciously stuck to
the boat and so continually bit at the plying oars that the blades
became jagged and crunched and left small splinters in the sea at
almost every dip 

 heed them not those teeth but give new rowlocks to your oars pull
on tis the better rest the shark's jaw than the yielding water 

 but at every bite sir the thin blades grow smaller and smaller 

 they will last long enough pull on but who can tell he
muttered whether these sharks swim to feast on the whale or on
ahab but pull on aye all alive now we near him the helm take the
helm let me pass and so saying two of the oarsmen helped him forward
to the bows of the still flying boat 

at length as the craft was cast to one side and ran ranging along with
the white whale's flank he seemed strangely oblivious of its
advance as the whale sometimes will and ahab was fairly within the
smoky mountain mist which thrown off from the whale's spout curled
round his great monadnock hump he was even thus close to him when 
with body arched back and both arms lengthwise high-lifted to the
poise he darted his fierce iron and his far fiercer curse into the
hated whale as both steel and curse sank to the socket as if sucked
into a morass moby dick sideways writhed spasmodically rolled his
nigh flank against the bow and without staving a hole in it so
suddenly canted the boat over that had it not been for the elevated
part of the gunwale to which he then clung ahab would once more have
been tossed into the sea as it was three of the oarsmen who foreknew
not the precise instant of the dart and were therefore unprepared for
its effects these were flung out but so fell that in an instant two
of them clutched the gunwale again and rising to its level on a
combing wave hurled themselves bodily inboard again the third man
helplessly dropping astern but still afloat and swimming 

almost simultaneously with a mighty volition of ungraduated 
instantaneous swiftness the white whale darted through the weltering
sea but when ahab cried out to the steersman to take new turns with
the line and hold it so and commanded the crew to turn round on their
seats and tow the boat up to the mark the moment the treacherous line
felt that double strain and tug it snapped in the empty air 

 what breaks in me some sinew cracks tis whole again oars oars 
burst in upon him 

hearing the tremendous rush of the sea-crashing boat the whale wheeled
round to present his blank forehead at bay but in that evolution 
catching sight of the nearing black hull of the ship seemingly seeing
in it the source of all his persecutions bethinking it it may be a
larger and nobler foe of a sudden he bore down upon its advancing
prow smiting his jaws amid fiery showers of foam 

ahab staggered his hand smote his forehead i grow blind hands 
stretch out before me that i may yet grope my way is't night 

 the whale the ship cried the cringing oarsmen 

 oars oars slope downwards to thy depths o sea that ere it be for
ever too late ahab may slide this last last time upon his mark i
see the ship the ship dash on my men will ye not save my ship 

but as the oarsmen violently forced their boat through the
sledge-hammering seas the before whale-smitten bow-ends of two planks
burst through and in an instant almost the temporarily disabled boat
lay nearly level with the waves its half-wading splashing crew 
trying hard to stop the gap and bale out the pouring water 

meantime for that one beholding instant tashtego's mast-head hammer
remained suspended in his hand and the red flag half-wrapping him as
with a plaid then streamed itself straight out from him as his own
forward-flowing heart while starbuck and stubb standing upon the
bowsprit beneath caught sight of the down-coming monster just as soon
as he 

 the whale the whale up helm up helm oh all ye sweet powers of
air now hug me close let not starbuck die if die he must in a
woman's fainting fit up helm i say ye fools the jaw the jaw is
this the end of all my bursting prayers all my life-long fidelities 
oh ahab ahab lo thy work steady helmsman steady nay nay up
helm again he turns to meet us oh his unappeasable brow drives on
towards one whose duty tells him he cannot depart my god stand by me
now 

 stand not by me but stand under me whoever you are that will now
help stubb for stubb too sticks here i grin at thee thou grinning
whale who ever helped stubb or kept stubb awake but stubb's own
unwinking eye and now poor stubb goes to bed upon a mattrass that is
all too soft would it were stuffed with brushwood i grin at thee 
thou grinning whale look ye sun moon and stars i call ye assassins
of as good a fellow as ever spouted up his ghost for all that i would
yet ring glasses with ye would ye but hand the cup oh oh oh oh 
thou grinning whale but there'll be plenty of gulping soon why fly ye
not o ahab for me off shoes and jacket to it let stubb die in his
drawers a most mouldy and over salted death though cherries 
cherries cherries oh flask for one red cherry ere we die 

 cherries i only wish that we were where they grow oh stubb i hope
my poor mother's drawn my part-pay ere this if not few coppers will
now come to her for the voyage is up 

from the ship's bows nearly all the seamen now hung inactive hammers 
bits of plank lances and harpoons mechanically retained in their
hands just as they had darted from their various employments all
their enchanted eyes intent upon the whale which from side to side
strangely vibrating his predestinating head sent a broad band of
overspreading semicircular foam before him as he rushed retribution 
swift vengeance eternal malice were in his whole aspect and spite of
all that mortal man could do the solid white buttress of his forehead
smote the ship's starboard bow till men and timbers reeled some fell
flat upon their faces like dislodged trucks the heads of the
harpooneers aloft shook on their bull-like necks through the breach 
they heard the waters pour as mountain torrents down a flume 

 the ship the hearse the second hearse cried ahab from the boat 
 its wood could only be american 

diving beneath the settling ship the whale ran quivering along its
keel but turning under water swiftly shot to the surface again far
off the other bow but within a few yards of ahab's boat where for a
time he lay quiescent 

 i turn my body from the sun what ho tashtego let me hear thy
hammer oh ye three unsurrendered spires of mine thou uncracked keel 
and only god-bullied hull thou firm deck and haughty helm and
pole-pointed prow death-glorious ship must ye then perish and
without me am i cut off from the last fond pride of meanest
shipwrecked captains oh lonely death on lonely life oh now i feel
my topmost greatness lies in my topmost grief ho ho from all your
furthest bounds pour ye now in ye bold billows of my whole foregone
life and top this one piled comber of my death towards thee i roll 
thou all-destroying but unconquering whale to the last i grapple with
thee from hell's heart i stab at thee for hate's sake i spit my last
breath at thee sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool 
and since neither can be mine let me then tow to pieces while still
chasing thee though tied to thee thou damned whale thus i give up
the spear 

the harpoon was darted the stricken whale flew forward with igniting
velocity the line ran through the grooves ran foul ahab stooped to
clear it he did clear it but the flying turn caught him round the
neck and voicelessly as turkish mutes bowstring their victim he was
shot out of the boat ere the crew knew he was gone next instant the
heavy eye-splice in the rope's final end flew out of the stark-empty
tub knocked down an oarsman and smiting the sea disappeared in its
depths 

for an instant the tranced boat's crew stood still then turned the
ship great god where is the ship soon they through dim bewildering
mediums saw her sidelong fading phantom as in the gaseous fata
morgana only the uppermost masts out of water while fixed by
infatuation or fidelity or fate to their once lofty perches the
pagan harpooneers still maintained their sinking lookouts on the sea 
and now concentric circles seized the lone boat itself and all its
crew and each floating oar and every lance-pole and spinning 
animate and inanimate all round and round in one vortex carried the
smallest chip of the pequod out of sight 

but as the last whelmings intermixingly poured themselves over the
sunken head of the indian at the mainmast leaving a few inches of the
erect spar yet visible together with long streaming yards of the flag 
which calmly undulated with ironical coincidings over the destroying
billows they almost touched at that instant a red arm and a hammer
hovered backwardly uplifted in the open air in the act of nailing the
flag faster and yet faster to the subsiding spar a sky-hawk that
tauntingly had followed the main-truck downwards from its natural home
among the stars pecking at the flag and incommoding tashtego there 
this bird now chanced to intercept its broad fluttering wing between
the hammer and the wood and simultaneously feeling that etherial
thrill the submerged savage beneath in his death-gasp kept his
hammer frozen there and so the bird of heaven with archangelic
shrieks and his imperial beak thrust upwards and his whole captive
form folded in the flag of ahab went down with his ship which like
satan would not sink to hell till she had dragged a living part of
heaven along with her and helmeted herself with it 

now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf a sullen
white surf beat against its steep sides then all collapsed and the
great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago 


epilogue

 and i only am escaped alone to tell thee job 

the drama's done why then here does any one step forth because one
did survive the wreck 

it so chanced that after the parsee's disappearance i was he whom the
fates ordained to take the place of ahab's bowsman when that bowsman
assumed the vacant post the same who when on the last day the three
men were tossed from out of the rocking boat was dropped astern so 
floating on the margin of the ensuing scene and in full sight of it 
when the halfspent suction of the sunk ship reached me i was then but
slowly drawn towards the closing vortex when i reached it it had
subsided to a creamy pool round and round then and ever contracting
towards the button-like black bubble at the axis of that slowly
wheeling circle like another ixion i did revolve till gaining that
vital centre the black bubble upward burst and now liberated by
reason of its cunning spring and owing to its great buoyancy rising
with great force the coffin life-buoy shot lengthwise from the sea 
fell over and floated by my side buoyed up by that coffin for almost
one whole day and night i floated on a soft and dirgelike main the
unharming sharks they glided by as if with padlocks on their mouths 
the savage sea-hawks sailed with sheathed beaks on the second day a
sail drew near nearer and picked me up at last it was the
devious-cruising rachel that in her retracing search after her missing
children only found another orphan 
pride and prejudice

by jane austen



chapter 1


it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession
of a good fortune must be in want of a wife 

however little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his
first entering a neighbourhood this truth is so well fixed in the minds
of the surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property
of some one or other of their daughters 

 my dear mr bennet said his lady to him one day have you heard that
netherfield park is let at last 

mr bennet replied that he had not 

 but it is returned she for mrs long has just been here and she
told me all about it 

mr bennet made no answer 

 do you not want to know who has taken it cried his wife impatiently 

 you want to tell me and i have no objection to hearing it 

this was invitation enough 

 why my dear you must know mrs long says that netherfield is taken
by a young man of large fortune from the north of england that he came
down on monday in a chaise and four to see the place and was so much
delighted with it that he agreed with mr morris immediately that he
is to take possession before michaelmas and some of his servants are to
be in the house by the end of next week 

 what is his name 

 bingley 

 is he married or single 

 oh single my dear to be sure a single man of large fortune four or
five thousand a year what a fine thing for our girls 

 how so how can it affect them 

 my dear mr bennet replied his wife how can you be so tiresome you
must know that i am thinking of his marrying one of them 

 is that his design in settling here 

 design nonsense how can you talk so but it is very likely that he
 may fall in love with one of them and therefore you must visit him as
soon as he comes 

 i see no occasion for that you and the girls may go or you may send
them by themselves which perhaps will be still better for as you are
as handsome as any of them mr bingley may like you the best of the
party 

 my dear you flatter me i certainly have had my share of beauty but
i do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now when a woman has five
grown-up daughters she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty 

 in such cases a woman has not often much beauty to think of 

 but my dear you must indeed go and see mr bingley when he comes into
the neighbourhood 

 it is more than i engage for i assure you 

 but consider your daughters only think what an establishment it would
be for one of them sir william and lady lucas are determined to
go merely on that account for in general you know they visit no
newcomers indeed you must go for it will be impossible for us to
visit him if you do not 

 you are over-scrupulous surely i dare say mr bingley will be very
glad to see you and i will send a few lines by you to assure him of my
hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls though
i must throw in a good word for my little lizzy 

 i desire you will do no such thing lizzy is not a bit better than the
others and i am sure she is not half so handsome as jane nor half so
good-humoured as lydia but you are always giving her the preference 

 they have none of them much to recommend them replied he they are
all silly and ignorant like other girls but lizzy has something more of
quickness than her sisters 

 mr bennet how can you abuse your own children in such a way you
take delight in vexing me you have no compassion for my poor nerves 

 you mistake me my dear i have a high respect for your nerves they
are my old friends i have heard you mention them with consideration
these last twenty years at least 

 ah you do not know what i suffer 

 but i hope you will get over it and live to see many young men of four
thousand a year come into the neighbourhood 

 it will be no use to us if twenty such should come since you will not
visit them 

 depend upon it my dear that when there are twenty i will visit them
all 

mr bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts sarcastic humour 
reserve and caprice that the experience of three-and-twenty years had
been insufficient to make his wife understand his character her mind
was less difficult to develop she was a woman of mean understanding 
little information and uncertain temper when she was discontented 
she fancied herself nervous the business of her life was to get her
daughters married its solace was visiting and news 



chapter 2


mr bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on mr bingley he
had always intended to visit him though to the last always assuring
his wife that he should not go and till the evening after the visit was
paid she had no knowledge of it it was then disclosed in the following
manner observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat he
suddenly addressed her with 

 i hope mr bingley will like it lizzy 

 we are not in a way to know what mr bingley likes said her mother
resentfully since we are not to visit 

 but you forget mamma said elizabeth that we shall meet him at the
assemblies and that mrs long promised to introduce him 

 i do not believe mrs long will do any such thing she has two nieces
of her own she is a selfish hypocritical woman and i have no opinion
of her 

 no more have i said mr bennet and i am glad to find that you do
not depend on her serving you 

mrs bennet deigned not to make any reply but unable to contain
herself began scolding one of her daughters 

 don't keep coughing so kitty for heaven's sake have a little
compassion on my nerves you tear them to pieces 

 kitty has no discretion in her coughs said her father she times
them ill 

 i do not cough for my own amusement replied kitty fretfully when is
your next ball to be lizzy 

 to-morrow fortnight 

 aye so it is cried her mother and mrs long does not come back
till the day before so it will be impossible for her to introduce him 
for she will not know him herself 

 then my dear you may have the advantage of your friend and introduce
mr bingley to her 

 impossible mr bennet impossible when i am not acquainted with him
myself how can you be so teasing 

 i honour your circumspection a fortnight's acquaintance is certainly
very little one cannot know what a man really is by the end of a
fortnight but if we do not venture somebody else will and after all 
mrs long and her neices must stand their chance and therefore as
she will think it an act of kindness if you decline the office i will
take it on myself 

the girls stared at their father mrs bennet said only nonsense 
nonsense 

 what can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation cried he do
you consider the forms of introduction and the stress that is laid on
them as nonsense i cannot quite agree with you there what say you 
mary for you are a young lady of deep reflection i know and read
great books and make extracts 

mary wished to say something sensible but knew not how 

 while mary is adjusting her ideas he continued let us return to mr 
bingley 

 i am sick of mr bingley cried his wife 

 i am sorry to hear that but why did not you tell me that before if
i had known as much this morning i certainly would not have called
on him it is very unlucky but as i have actually paid the visit we
cannot escape the acquaintance now 

the astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished that of mrs 
bennet perhaps surpassing the rest though when the first tumult of joy
was over she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the
while 

 how good it was in you my dear mr bennet but i knew i should
persuade you at last i was sure you loved your girls too well to
neglect such an acquaintance well how pleased i am and it is such a
good joke too that you should have gone this morning and never said a
word about it till now 

 now kitty you may cough as much as you choose said mr bennet and 
as he spoke he left the room fatigued with the raptures of his wife 

 what an excellent father you have girls said she when the door was
shut i do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness 
or me either for that matter at our time of life it is not so
pleasant i can tell you to be making new acquaintances every day but
for your sakes we would do anything lydia my love though you are 
the youngest i dare say mr bingley will dance with you at the next
ball 

 oh said lydia stoutly i am not afraid for though i am the
youngest i'm the tallest 

the rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would
return mr bennet's visit and determining when they should ask him to
dinner 



chapter 3


not all that mrs bennet however with the assistance of her five
daughters could ask on the subject was sufficient to draw from her
husband any satisfactory description of mr bingley they attacked him
in various ways with barefaced questions ingenious suppositions and
distant surmises but he eluded the skill of them all and they were at
last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour 
lady lucas her report was highly favourable sir william had been
delighted with him he was quite young wonderfully handsome extremely
agreeable and to crown the whole he meant to be at the next assembly
with a large party nothing could be more delightful to be fond of
dancing was a certain step towards falling in love and very lively
hopes of mr bingley's heart were entertained 

 if i can but see one of my daughters happily settled at netherfield 
 said mrs bennet to her husband and all the others equally well
married i shall have nothing to wish for 

in a few days mr bingley returned mr bennet's visit and sat about
ten minutes with him in his library he had entertained hopes of being
admitted to a sight of the young ladies of whose beauty he had
heard much but he saw only the father the ladies were somewhat more
fortunate for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper
window that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse 

an invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched and already
had mrs bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her
housekeeping when an answer arrived which deferred it all mr bingley
was obliged to be in town the following day and consequently unable
to accept the honour of their invitation etc mrs bennet was quite
disconcerted she could not imagine what business he could have in town
so soon after his arrival in hertfordshire and she began to fear that
he might be always flying about from one place to another and never
settled at netherfield as he ought to be lady lucas quieted her fears
a little by starting the idea of his being gone to london only to get
a large party for the ball and a report soon followed that mr bingley
was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly 
the girls grieved over such a number of ladies but were comforted the
day before the ball by hearing that instead of twelve he brought only
six with him from london his five sisters and a cousin and when
the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five
altogether mr bingley his two sisters the husband of the eldest and
another young man 

mr bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike he had a pleasant
countenance and easy unaffected manners his sisters were fine women 
with an air of decided fashion his brother-in-law mr hurst merely
looked the gentleman but his friend mr darcy soon drew the attention
of the room by his fine tall person handsome features noble mien and
the report which was in general circulation within five minutes
after his entrance of his having ten thousand a year the gentlemen
pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man the ladies declared he
was much handsomer than mr bingley and he was looked at with great
admiration for about half the evening till his manners gave a disgust
which turned the tide of his popularity for he was discovered to be
proud to be above his company and above being pleased and not all
his large estate in derbyshire could then save him from having a most
forbidding disagreeable countenance and being unworthy to be compared
with his friend 

mr bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal
people in the room he was lively and unreserved danced every dance 
was angry that the ball closed so early and talked of giving
one himself at netherfield such amiable qualities must speak for
themselves what a contrast between him and his friend mr darcy danced
only once with mrs hurst and once with miss bingley declined being
introduced to any other lady and spent the rest of the evening in
walking about the room speaking occasionally to one of his own party 
his character was decided he was the proudest most disagreeable man
in the world and everybody hoped that he would never come there again 
amongst the most violent against him was mrs bennet whose dislike of
his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his
having slighted one of her daughters 

elizabeth bennet had been obliged by the scarcity of gentlemen to sit
down for two dances and during part of that time mr darcy had been
standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and mr 
bingley who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend
to join it 

 come darcy said he i must have you dance i hate to see you
standing about by yourself in this stupid manner you had much better
dance 

 i certainly shall not you know how i detest it unless i am
particularly acquainted with my partner at such an assembly as this
it would be insupportable your sisters are engaged and there is not
another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to
stand up with 

 i would not be so fastidious as you are cried mr bingley for a
kingdom upon my honour i never met with so many pleasant girls in
my life as i have this evening and there are several of them you see
uncommonly pretty 

 you are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room said mr 
darcy looking at the eldest miss bennet 

 oh she is the most beautiful creature i ever beheld but there is one
of her sisters sitting down just behind you who is very pretty and i
dare say very agreeable do let me ask my partner to introduce you 

 which do you mean and turning round he looked for a moment at
elizabeth till catching her eye he withdrew his own and coldly said 
 she is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me i am in no
humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted
by other men you had better return to your partner and enjoy her
smiles for you are wasting your time with me 

mr bingley followed his advice mr darcy walked off and elizabeth
remained with no very cordial feelings toward him she told the story 
however with great spirit among her friends for she had a lively 
playful disposition which delighted in anything ridiculous 

the evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family mrs 
bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the netherfield
party mr bingley had danced with her twice and she had been
distinguished by his sisters jane was as much gratified by this as
her mother could be though in a quieter way elizabeth felt jane's
pleasure mary had heard herself mentioned to miss bingley as the most
accomplished girl in the neighbourhood and catherine and lydia had been
fortunate enough never to be without partners which was all that they
had yet learnt to care for at a ball they returned therefore in good
spirits to longbourn the village where they lived and of which they
were the principal inhabitants they found mr bennet still up with
a book he was regardless of time and on the present occasion he had a
good deal of curiosity as to the event of an evening which had raised
such splendid expectations he had rather hoped that his wife's views on
the stranger would be disappointed but he soon found out that he had a
different story to hear 

 oh my dear mr bennet as she entered the room we have had a most
delightful evening a most excellent ball i wish you had been there 
jane was so admired nothing could be like it everybody said how well
she looked and mr bingley thought her quite beautiful and danced with
her twice only think of that my dear he actually danced with her
twice and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second
time first of all he asked miss lucas i was so vexed to see him stand
up with her but however he did not admire her at all indeed nobody
can you know and he seemed quite struck with jane as she was going
down the dance so he inquired who she was and got introduced and
asked her for the two next then the two third he danced with miss king 
and the two fourth with maria lucas and the two fifth with jane again 
and the two sixth with lizzy and the boulanger 

 if he had had any compassion for me cried her husband impatiently 
 he would not have danced half so much for god's sake say no more of
his partners oh that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance 

 oh my dear i am quite delighted with him he is so excessively
handsome and his sisters are charming women i never in my life saw
anything more elegant than their dresses i dare say the lace upon mrs 
hurst's gown 

here she was interrupted again mr bennet protested against any
description of finery she was therefore obliged to seek another branch
of the subject and related with much bitterness of spirit and some
exaggeration the shocking rudeness of mr darcy 

 but i can assure you she added that lizzy does not lose much by not
suiting his fancy for he is a most disagreeable horrid man not at
all worth pleasing so high and so conceited that there was no enduring
him he walked here and he walked there fancying himself so very
great not handsome enough to dance with i wish you had been there my
dear to have given him one of your set-downs i quite detest the man 



chapter 4


when jane and elizabeth were alone the former who had been cautious in
her praise of mr bingley before expressed to her sister just how very
much she admired him 

 he is just what a young man ought to be said she sensible 
good-humoured lively and i never saw such happy manners so much
ease with such perfect good breeding 

 he is also handsome replied elizabeth which a young man ought
likewise to be if he possibly can his character is thereby complete 

 i was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time i
did not expect such a compliment 

 did not you i did for you but that is one great difference between
us compliments always take you by surprise and me never what
could be more natural than his asking you again he could not help
seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman
in the room no thanks to his gallantry for that well he certainly is
very agreeable and i give you leave to like him you have liked many a
stupider person 

 dear lizzy 

 oh you are a great deal too apt you know to like people in general 
you never see a fault in anybody all the world are good and agreeable
in your eyes i never heard you speak ill of a human being in your
life 

 i would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone but i always speak
what i think 

 i know you do and it is that which makes the wonder with your 
good sense to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of
others affectation of candour is common enough one meets with it
everywhere but to be candid without ostentation or design to take the
good of everybody's character and make it still better and say nothing
of the bad belongs to you alone and so you like this man's sisters 
too do you their manners are not equal to his 

 certainly not at first but they are very pleasing women when you
converse with them miss bingley is to live with her brother and keep
his house and i am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming
neighbour in her 

elizabeth listened in silence but was not convinced their behaviour at
the assembly had not been calculated to please in general and with more
quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister 
and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself she
was very little disposed to approve them they were in fact very fine
ladies not deficient in good humour when they were pleased nor in the
power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it but proud and
conceited they were rather handsome had been educated in one of the
first private seminaries in town had a fortune of twenty thousand
pounds were in the habit of spending more than they ought and of
associating with people of rank and were therefore in every respect
entitled to think well of themselves and meanly of others they were of
a respectable family in the north of england a circumstance more deeply
impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their
own had been acquired by trade 

mr bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred
thousand pounds from his father who had intended to purchase an
estate but did not live to do it mr bingley intended it likewise and
sometimes made choice of his county but as he was now provided with a
good house and the liberty of a manor it was doubtful to many of those
who best knew the easiness of his temper whether he might not spend the
remainder of his days at netherfield and leave the next generation to
purchase 

his sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own but 
though he was now only established as a tenant miss bingley was by no
means unwilling to preside at his table nor was mrs hurst who had
married a man of more fashion than fortune less disposed to consider
his house as her home when it suited her mr bingley had not been of
age two years when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation
to look at netherfield house he did look at it and into it for
half-an-hour was pleased with the situation and the principal
rooms satisfied with what the owner said in its praise and took it
immediately 

between him and darcy there was a very steady friendship in spite of
great opposition of character bingley was endeared to darcy by the
easiness openness and ductility of his temper though no disposition
could offer a greater contrast to his own and though with his own he
never appeared dissatisfied on the strength of darcy's regard bingley
had the firmest reliance and of his judgement the highest opinion 
in understanding darcy was the superior bingley was by no means
deficient but darcy was clever he was at the same time haughty 
reserved and fastidious and his manners though well-bred were not
inviting in that respect his friend had greatly the advantage bingley
was sure of being liked wherever he appeared darcy was continually
giving offense 

the manner in which they spoke of the meryton assembly was sufficiently
characteristic bingley had never met with more pleasant people or
prettier girls in his life everybody had been most kind and attentive
to him there had been no formality no stiffness he had soon felt
acquainted with all the room and as to miss bennet he could not
conceive an angel more beautiful darcy on the contrary had seen a
collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion for
none of whom he had felt the smallest interest and from none received
either attention or pleasure miss bennet he acknowledged to be pretty 
but she smiled too much 

mrs hurst and her sister allowed it to be so but still they admired
her and liked her and pronounced her to be a sweet girl and one
whom they would not object to know more of miss bennet was therefore
established as a sweet girl and their brother felt authorized by such
commendation to think of her as he chose 



chapter 5


within a short walk of longbourn lived a family with whom the bennets
were particularly intimate sir william lucas had been formerly in trade
in meryton where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the
honour of knighthood by an address to the king during his mayoralty 
the distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly it had given him a
disgust to his business and to his residence in a small market town 
and in quitting them both he had removed with his family to a house
about a mile from meryton denominated from that period lucas lodge 
where he could think with pleasure of his own importance and 
unshackled by business occupy himself solely in being civil to all
the world for though elated by his rank it did not render him
supercilious on the contrary he was all attention to everybody by
nature inoffensive friendly and obliging his presentation at st 
james's had made him courteous 

lady lucas was a very good kind of woman not too clever to be a
valuable neighbour to mrs bennet they had several children the eldest
of them a sensible intelligent young woman about twenty-seven was
elizabeth's intimate friend 

that the miss lucases and the miss bennets should meet to talk over
a ball was absolutely necessary and the morning after the assembly
brought the former to longbourn to hear and to communicate 

 you began the evening well charlotte said mrs bennet with civil
self-command to miss lucas you were mr bingley's first choice 

 yes but he seemed to like his second better 

 oh you mean jane i suppose because he danced with her twice to be
sure that did seem as if he admired her indeed i rather believe he
 did i heard something about it but i hardly know what something
about mr robinson 

 perhaps you mean what i overheard between him and mr robinson did not
i mention it to you mr robinson's asking him how he liked our meryton
assemblies and whether he did not think there were a great many
pretty women in the room and which he thought the prettiest and his
answering immediately to the last question 'oh the eldest miss bennet 
beyond a doubt there cannot be two opinions on that point ' 

 upon my word well that is very decided indeed that does seem as
if but however it may all come to nothing you know 

 my overhearings were more to the purpose than yours eliza said
charlotte mr darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend 
is he poor eliza to be only just tolerable 

 i beg you would not put it into lizzy's head to be vexed by his
ill-treatment for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite
a misfortune to be liked by him mrs long told me last night that he
sat close to her for half-an-hour without once opening his lips 

 are you quite sure ma'am is not there a little mistake said jane 
 i certainly saw mr darcy speaking to her 

 aye because she asked him at last how he liked netherfield and he
could not help answering her but she said he seemed quite angry at
being spoke to 

 miss bingley told me said jane that he never speaks much 
unless among his intimate acquaintances with them he is remarkably
agreeable 

 i do not believe a word of it my dear if he had been so very
agreeable he would have talked to mrs long but i can guess how it
was everybody says that he is eat up with pride and i dare say he had
heard somehow that mrs long does not keep a carriage and had come to
the ball in a hack chaise 

 i do not mind his not talking to mrs long said miss lucas but i
wish he had danced with eliza 

 another time lizzy said her mother i would not dance with him 
if i were you 

 i believe ma'am i may safely promise you never to dance with him 

 his pride said miss lucas does not offend me so much as pride
often does because there is an excuse for it one cannot wonder that so
very fine a young man with family fortune everything in his favour 
should think highly of himself if i may so express it he has a right 
to be proud 

 that is very true replied elizabeth and i could easily forgive
 his pride if he had not mortified mine 

 pride observed mary who piqued herself upon the solidity of her
reflections is a very common failing i believe by all that i have
ever read i am convinced that it is very common indeed that human
nature is particularly prone to it and that there are very few of us
who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some
quality or other real or imaginary vanity and pride are different
things though the words are often used synonymously a person may
be proud without being vain pride relates more to our opinion of
ourselves vanity to what we would have others think of us 

 if i were as rich as mr darcy cried a young lucas who came with
his sisters i should not care how proud i was i would keep a pack of
foxhounds and drink a bottle of wine a day 

 then you would drink a great deal more than you ought said mrs 
bennet and if i were to see you at it i should take away your bottle
directly 

the boy protested that she should not she continued to declare that she
would and the argument ended only with the visit 



chapter 6


the ladies of longbourn soon waited on those of netherfield the visit
was soon returned in due form miss bennet's pleasing manners grew on
the goodwill of mrs hurst and miss bingley and though the mother was
found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to 
a wish of being better acquainted with them was expressed towards
the two eldest by jane this attention was received with the greatest
pleasure but elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment
of everybody hardly excepting even her sister and could not like them 
though their kindness to jane such as it was had a value as arising in
all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration it
was generally evident whenever they met that he did admire her and
to her it was equally evident that jane was yielding to the preference
which she had begun to entertain for him from the first and was in a
way to be very much in love but she considered with pleasure that it
was not likely to be discovered by the world in general since jane
united with great strength of feeling a composure of temper and a
uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions
of the impertinent she mentioned this to her friend miss lucas 

 it may perhaps be pleasant replied charlotte to be able to impose
on the public in such a case but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be
so very guarded if a woman conceals her affection with the same skill
from the object of it she may lose the opportunity of fixing him and
it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in
the dark there is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every
attachment that it is not safe to leave any to itself we can all
 begin freely a slight preference is natural enough but there are
very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without
encouragement in nine cases out of ten a women had better show more 
affection than she feels bingley likes your sister undoubtedly but he
may never do more than like her if she does not help him on 

 but she does help him on as much as her nature will allow if i can
perceive her regard for him he must be a simpleton indeed not to
discover it too 

 remember eliza that he does not know jane's disposition as you do 

 but if a woman is partial to a man and does not endeavour to conceal
it he must find it out 

 perhaps he must if he sees enough of her but though bingley and jane
meet tolerably often it is never for many hours together and as they
always see each other in large mixed parties it is impossible that
every moment should be employed in conversing together jane should
therefore make the most of every half-hour in which she can command his
attention when she is secure of him there will be more leisure for
falling in love as much as she chooses 

 your plan is a good one replied elizabeth where nothing is in
question but the desire of being well married and if i were determined
to get a rich husband or any husband i dare say i should adopt it but
these are not jane's feelings she is not acting by design as yet 
she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its
reasonableness she has known him only a fortnight she danced four
dances with him at meryton she saw him one morning at his own house 
and has since dined with him in company four times this is not quite
enough to make her understand his character 

 not as you represent it had she merely dined with him she might
only have discovered whether he had a good appetite but you must
remember that four evenings have also been spent together and four
evenings may do a great deal 

 yes these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they
both like vingt-un better than commerce but with respect to any other
leading characteristic i do not imagine that much has been unfolded 

 well said charlotte i wish jane success with all my heart and
if she were married to him to-morrow i should think she had as good a
chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a
twelvemonth happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance if
the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or
ever so similar beforehand it does not advance their felicity in the
least they always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to
have their share of vexation and it is better to know as little as
possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your
life 

 you make me laugh charlotte but it is not sound you know it is not
sound and that you would never act in this way yourself 

occupied in observing mr bingley's attentions to her sister elizabeth
was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some
interest in the eyes of his friend mr darcy had at first scarcely
allowed her to be pretty he had looked at her without admiration at the
ball and when they next met he looked at her only to criticise but no
sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly
had a good feature in her face than he began to find it was rendered
uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes to
this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying though he had
detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry
in her form he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and
pleasing and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those
of the fashionable world he was caught by their easy playfulness of
this she was perfectly unaware to her he was only the man who made
himself agreeable nowhere and who had not thought her handsome enough
to dance with 

he began to wish to know more of her and as a step towards conversing
with her himself attended to her conversation with others his doing so
drew her notice it was at sir william lucas's where a large party were
assembled 

 what does mr darcy mean said she to charlotte by listening to my
conversation with colonel forster 

 that is a question which mr darcy only can answer 

 but if he does it any more i shall certainly let him know that i see
what he is about he has a very satirical eye and if i do not begin by
being impertinent myself i shall soon grow afraid of him 

on his approaching them soon afterwards though without seeming to have
any intention of speaking miss lucas defied her friend to mention such
a subject to him which immediately provoking elizabeth to do it she
turned to him and said 

 did you not think mr darcy that i expressed myself uncommonly
well just now when i was teasing colonel forster to give us a ball at
meryton 

 with great energy but it is always a subject which makes a lady
energetic 

 you are severe on us 

 it will be her turn soon to be teased said miss lucas i am going
to open the instrument eliza and you know what follows 

 you are a very strange creature by way of a friend always wanting me
to play and sing before anybody and everybody if my vanity had taken
a musical turn you would have been invaluable but as it is i would
really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of
hearing the very best performers on miss lucas's persevering however 
she added very well if it must be so it must and gravely glancing
at mr darcy there is a fine old saying which everybody here is of
course familiar with 'keep your breath to cool your porridge' and i
shall keep mine to swell my song 

her performance was pleasing though by no means capital after a song
or two and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that
she would sing again she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her
sister mary who having in consequence of being the only plain one in
the family worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments was always
impatient for display 

mary had neither genius nor taste and though vanity had given her
application it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited
manner which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she
had reached elizabeth easy and unaffected had been listened to with
much more pleasure though not playing half so well and mary at the
end of a long concerto was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by
scotch and irish airs at the request of her younger sisters who 
with some of the lucases and two or three officers joined eagerly in
dancing at one end of the room 

mr darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of
passing the evening to the exclusion of all conversation and was too
much engrossed by his thoughts to perceive that sir william lucas was
his neighbour till sir william thus began 

 what a charming amusement for young people this is mr darcy there
is nothing like dancing after all i consider it as one of the first
refinements of polished society 

 certainly sir and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst
the less polished societies of the world every savage can dance 

sir william only smiled your friend performs delightfully he
continued after a pause on seeing bingley join the group and i doubt
not that you are an adept in the science yourself mr darcy 

 you saw me dance at meryton i believe sir 

 yes indeed and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight do
you often dance at st james's 

 never sir 

 do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place 

 it is a compliment which i never pay to any place if i can avoid it 

 you have a house in town i conclude 

mr darcy bowed 

 i had once had some thought of fixing in town myself for i am fond
of superior society but i did not feel quite certain that the air of
london would agree with lady lucas 

he paused in hopes of an answer but his companion was not disposed
to make any and elizabeth at that instant moving towards them he was
struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing and called out to
her 

 my dear miss eliza why are you not dancing mr darcy you must allow
me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner you
cannot refuse to dance i am sure when so much beauty is before you 
 and taking her hand he would have given it to mr darcy who though
extremely surprised was not unwilling to receive it when she instantly
drew back and said with some discomposure to sir william 

 indeed sir i have not the least intention of dancing i entreat you
not to suppose that i moved this way in order to beg for a partner 

mr darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of
her hand but in vain elizabeth was determined nor did sir william at
all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion 

 you excel so much in the dance miss eliza that it is cruel to deny
me the happiness of seeing you and though this gentleman dislikes the
amusement in general he can have no objection i am sure to oblige us
for one half-hour 

 mr darcy is all politeness said elizabeth smiling 

 he is indeed but considering the inducement my dear miss eliza 
we cannot wonder at his complaisance for who would object to such a
partner 

elizabeth looked archly and turned away her resistance had not
injured her with the gentleman and he was thinking of her with some
complacency when thus accosted by miss bingley 

 i can guess the subject of your reverie 

 i should imagine not 

 you are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings
in this manner in such society and indeed i am quite of your opinion 
i was never more annoyed the insipidity and yet the noise the
nothingness and yet the self-importance of all those people what would
i give to hear your strictures on them 

 your conjecture is totally wrong i assure you my mind was more
agreeably engaged i have been meditating on the very great pleasure
which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow 

miss bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face and desired he
would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections 
mr darcy replied with great intrepidity 

 miss elizabeth bennet 

 miss elizabeth bennet repeated miss bingley i am all astonishment 
how long has she been such a favourite and pray when am i to wish you
joy 

 that is exactly the question which i expected you to ask a lady's
imagination is very rapid it jumps from admiration to love from love
to matrimony in a moment i knew you would be wishing me joy 

 nay if you are serious about it i shall consider the matter is
absolutely settled you will be having a charming mother-in-law indeed 
and of course she will always be at pemberley with you 

he listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to
entertain herself in this manner and as his composure convinced her
that all was safe her wit flowed long 



chapter 7


mr bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two
thousand a year which unfortunately for his daughters was entailed 
in default of heirs male on a distant relation and their mother's
fortune though ample for her situation in life could but ill supply
the deficiency of his her father had been an attorney in meryton and
had left her four thousand pounds 

she had a sister married to a mr phillips who had been a clerk to
their father and succeeded him in the business and a brother settled in
london in a respectable line of trade 

the village of longbourn was only one mile from meryton a most
convenient distance for the young ladies who were usually tempted
thither three or four times a week to pay their duty to their aunt and
to a milliner's shop just over the way the two youngest of the family 
catherine and lydia were particularly frequent in these attentions 
their minds were more vacant than their sisters' and when nothing
better offered a walk to meryton was necessary to amuse their morning
hours and furnish conversation for the evening and however bare of news
the country in general might be they always contrived to learn some
from their aunt at present indeed they were well supplied both with
news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the
neighbourhood it was to remain the whole winter and meryton was the
headquarters 

their visits to mrs phillips were now productive of the most
interesting intelligence every day added something to their knowledge
of the officers' names and connections their lodgings were not long a
secret and at length they began to know the officers themselves mr 
phillips visited them all and this opened to his nieces a store of
felicity unknown before they could talk of nothing but officers and
mr bingley's large fortune the mention of which gave animation
to their mother was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the
regimentals of an ensign 

after listening one morning to their effusions on this subject mr 
bennet coolly observed 

 from all that i can collect by your manner of talking you must be two
of the silliest girls in the country i have suspected it some time but
i am now convinced 

catherine was disconcerted and made no answer but lydia with perfect
indifference continued to express her admiration of captain carter 
and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day as he was going the
next morning to london 

 i am astonished my dear said mrs bennet that you should be so
ready to think your own children silly if i wished to think slightingly
of anybody's children it should not be of my own however 

 if my children are silly i must hope to be always sensible of it 

 yes but as it happens they are all of them very clever 

 this is the only point i flatter myself on which we do not agree i
had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular but i must
so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly
foolish 

 my dear mr bennet you must not expect such girls to have the sense of
their father and mother when they get to our age i dare say they will
not think about officers any more than we do i remember the time when
i liked a red coat myself very well and indeed so i do still at my
heart and if a smart young colonel with five or six thousand a year 
should want one of my girls i shall not say nay to him and i thought
colonel forster looked very becoming the other night at sir william's in
his regimentals 

 mamma cried lydia my aunt says that colonel forster and captain
carter do not go so often to miss watson's as they did when they first
came she sees them now very often standing in clarke's library 

mrs bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with
a note for miss bennet it came from netherfield and the servant waited
for an answer mrs bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure and she was
eagerly calling out while her daughter read 

 well jane who is it from what is it about what does he say well 
jane make haste and tell us make haste my love 

 it is from miss bingley said jane and then read it aloud 

 my dear friend 

 if you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with louisa and me 
we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives 
for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a
quarrel come as soon as you can on receipt of this my brother and the
gentlemen are to dine with the officers yours ever 

 caroline bingley 

 with the officers cried lydia i wonder my aunt did not tell us of
 that 

 dining out said mrs bennet that is very unlucky 

 can i have the carriage said jane 

 no my dear you had better go on horseback because it seems likely to
rain and then you must stay all night 

 that would be a good scheme said elizabeth if you were sure that
they would not offer to send her home 

 oh but the gentlemen will have mr bingley's chaise to go to meryton 
and the hursts have no horses to theirs 

 i had much rather go in the coach 

 but my dear your father cannot spare the horses i am sure they are
wanted in the farm mr bennet are they not 

 they are wanted in the farm much oftener than i can get them 

 but if you have got them to-day said elizabeth my mother's purpose
will be answered 

she did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses
were engaged jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback and her
mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a
bad day her hopes were answered jane had not been gone long before
it rained hard her sisters were uneasy for her but her mother was
delighted the rain continued the whole evening without intermission 
jane certainly could not come back 

 this was a lucky idea of mine indeed said mrs bennet more than
once as if the credit of making it rain were all her own till the
next morning however she was not aware of all the felicity of her
contrivance breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from netherfield
brought the following note for elizabeth 

 my dearest lizzy 

 i find myself very unwell this morning which i suppose is to be
imputed to my getting wet through yesterday my kind friends will not
hear of my returning till i am better they insist also on my seeing mr 
jones therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been
to me and excepting a sore throat and headache there is not much the
matter with me yours etc 

 well my dear said mr bennet when elizabeth had read the note
aloud if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness if she
should die it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of
mr bingley and under your orders 

 oh i am not afraid of her dying people do not die of little trifling
colds she will be taken good care of as long as she stays there it is
all very well i would go and see her if i could have the carriage 

elizabeth feeling really anxious was determined to go to her though
the carriage was not to be had and as she was no horsewoman walking
was her only alternative she declared her resolution 

 how can you be so silly cried her mother as to think of such a
thing in all this dirt you will not be fit to be seen when you get
there 

 i shall be very fit to see jane which is all i want 

 is this a hint to me lizzy said her father to send for the
horses 

 no indeed i do not wish to avoid the walk the distance is nothing
when one has a motive only three miles i shall be back by dinner 

 i admire the activity of your benevolence observed mary but every
impulse of feeling should be guided by reason and in my opinion 
exertion should always be in proportion to what is required 

 we will go as far as meryton with you said catherine and lydia 
elizabeth accepted their company and the three young ladies set off
together 

 if we make haste said lydia as they walked along perhaps we may
see something of captain carter before he goes 

in meryton they parted the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one
of the officers' wives and elizabeth continued her walk alone crossing
field after field at a quick pace jumping over stiles and springing
over puddles with impatient activity and finding herself at last
within view of the house with weary ankles dirty stockings and a face
glowing with the warmth of exercise 

she was shown into the breakfast-parlour where all but jane were
assembled and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise 
that she should have walked three miles so early in the day in such
dirty weather and by herself was almost incredible to mrs hurst and
miss bingley and elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt
for it she was received however very politely by them and in their
brother's manners there was something better than politeness there
was good humour and kindness mr darcy said very little and mr 
hurst nothing at all the former was divided between admiration of the
brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion and doubt as
to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone the latter was
thinking only of his breakfast 

her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered miss
bennet had slept ill and though up was very feverish and not
well enough to leave her room elizabeth was glad to be taken to her
immediately and jane who had only been withheld by the fear of giving
alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed
for such a visit was delighted at her entrance she was not equal 
however to much conversation and when miss bingley left them
together could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the
extraordinary kindness she was treated with elizabeth silently attended
her 

when breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters and elizabeth
began to like them herself when she saw how much affection and
solicitude they showed for jane the apothecary came and having
examined his patient said as might be supposed that she had caught
a violent cold and that they must endeavour to get the better of it 
advised her to return to bed and promised her some draughts the advice
was followed readily for the feverish symptoms increased and her head
ached acutely elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment nor were
the other ladies often absent the gentlemen being out they had in
fact nothing to do elsewhere 

when the clock struck three elizabeth felt that she must go and very
unwillingly said so miss bingley offered her the carriage and she only
wanted a little pressing to accept it when jane testified such concern
in parting with her that miss bingley was obliged to convert the offer
of the chaise to an invitation to remain at netherfield for the present 
elizabeth most thankfully consented and a servant was dispatched to
longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply
of clothes 



chapter 8


at five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress and at half-past six
elizabeth was summoned to dinner to the civil inquiries which then
poured in and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the
much superior solicitude of mr bingley's she could not make a very
favourable answer jane was by no means better the sisters on hearing
this repeated three or four times how much they were grieved how
shocking it was to have a bad cold and how excessively they disliked
being ill themselves and then thought no more of the matter and their
indifference towards jane when not immediately before them restored
elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike 

their brother indeed was the only one of the party whom she could
regard with any complacency his anxiety for jane was evident and his
attentions to herself most pleasing and they prevented her feeling
herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the
others she had very little notice from any but him miss bingley was
engrossed by mr darcy her sister scarcely less so and as for mr 
hurst by whom elizabeth sat he was an indolent man who lived only to
eat drink and play at cards who when he found her to prefer a plain
dish to a ragout had nothing to say to her 

when dinner was over she returned directly to jane and miss bingley
began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room her manners were
pronounced to be very bad indeed a mixture of pride and impertinence 
she had no conversation no style no beauty mrs hurst thought the
same and added 

 she has nothing in short to recommend her but being an excellent
walker i shall never forget her appearance this morning she really
looked almost wild 

 she did indeed louisa i could hardly keep my countenance very
nonsensical to come at all why must she be scampering about the
country because her sister had a cold her hair so untidy so blowsy 

 yes and her petticoat i hope you saw her petticoat six inches deep
in mud i am absolutely certain and the gown which had been let down to
hide it not doing its office 

 your picture may be very exact louisa said bingley but this was
all lost upon me i thought miss elizabeth bennet looked remarkably
well when she came into the room this morning her dirty petticoat quite
escaped my notice 

 you observed it mr darcy i am sure said miss bingley and i am
inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such
an exhibition 

 certainly not 

 to walk three miles or four miles or five miles or whatever it is 
above her ankles in dirt and alone quite alone what could she mean by
it it seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence 
a most country-town indifference to decorum 

 it shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing said
bingley 

 i am afraid mr darcy observed miss bingley in a half whisper that
this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes 

 not at all he replied they were brightened by the exercise a
short pause followed this speech and mrs hurst began again 

 i have an excessive regard for miss jane bennet she is really a very
sweet girl and i wish with all my heart she were well settled but with
such a father and mother and such low connections i am afraid there is
no chance of it 

 i think i have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in
meryton 

 yes and they have another who lives somewhere near cheapside 

 that is capital added her sister and they both laughed heartily 

 if they had uncles enough to fill all cheapside cried bingley it
would not make them one jot less agreeable 

 but it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any
consideration in the world replied darcy 

to this speech bingley made no answer but his sisters gave it their
hearty assent and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of
their dear friend's vulgar relations 

with a renewal of tenderness however they returned to her room on
leaving the dining-parlour and sat with her till summoned to coffee 
she was still very poorly and elizabeth would not quit her at all till
late in the evening when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep and
when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go
downstairs herself on entering the drawing-room she found the whole
party at loo and was immediately invited to join them but suspecting
them to be playing high she declined it and making her sister the
excuse said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay
below with a book mr hurst looked at her with astonishment 

 do you prefer reading to cards said he that is rather singular 

 miss eliza bennet said miss bingley despises cards she is a great
reader and has no pleasure in anything else 

 i deserve neither such praise nor such censure cried elizabeth i am
 not a great reader and i have pleasure in many things 

 in nursing your sister i am sure you have pleasure said bingley and
i hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well 

elizabeth thanked him from her heart and then walked towards the
table where a few books were lying he immediately offered to fetch her
others all that his library afforded 

 and i wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own
credit but i am an idle fellow and though i have not many i have more
than i ever looked into 

elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those
in the room 

 i am astonished said miss bingley that my father should have left
so small a collection of books what a delightful library you have at
pemberley mr darcy 

 it ought to be good he replied it has been the work of many
generations 

 and then you have added so much to it yourself you are always buying
books 

 i cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as
these 

 neglect i am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of
that noble place charles when you build your house i wish it may be
half as delightful as pemberley 

 i wish it may 

 but i would really advise you to make your purchase in that
neighbourhood and take pemberley for a kind of model there is not a
finer county in england than derbyshire 

 with all my heart i will buy pemberley itself if darcy will sell it 

 i am talking of possibilities charles 

 upon my word caroline i should think it more possible to get
pemberley by purchase than by imitation 

elizabeth was so much caught with what passed as to leave her very
little attention for her book and soon laying it wholly aside she drew
near the card-table and stationed herself between mr bingley and his
eldest sister to observe the game 

 is miss darcy much grown since the spring said miss bingley will
she be as tall as i am 

 i think she will she is now about miss elizabeth bennet's height or
rather taller 

 how i long to see her again i never met with anybody who delighted me
so much such a countenance such manners and so extremely accomplished
for her age her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite 

 it is amazing to me said bingley how young ladies can have patience
to be so very accomplished as they all are 

 all young ladies accomplished my dear charles what do you mean 

 yes all of them i think they all paint tables cover screens and
net purses i scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this and i am sure
i never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time without being
informed that she was very accomplished 

 your list of the common extent of accomplishments said darcy has
too much truth the word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no
otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen but i am very
far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general i
cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen in the whole range of my
acquaintance that are really accomplished 

 nor i i am sure said miss bingley 

 then observed elizabeth you must comprehend a great deal in your
idea of an accomplished woman 

 yes i do comprehend a great deal in it 

 oh certainly cried his faithful assistant no one can be really
esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met
with a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music singing drawing 
dancing and the modern languages to deserve the word and besides
all this she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of
walking the tone of her voice her address and expressions or the word
will be but half-deserved 

 all this she must possess added darcy and to all this she must
yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by
extensive reading 

 i am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women 
i rather wonder now at your knowing any 

 are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all
this 

 i never saw such a woman i never saw such capacity and taste and
application and elegance as you describe united 

mrs hurst and miss bingley both cried out against the injustice of her
implied doubt and were both protesting that they knew many women who
answered this description when mr hurst called them to order with
bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward as all
conversation was thereby at an end elizabeth soon afterwards left the
room 

 elizabeth bennet said miss bingley when the door was closed on her 
 is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the
other sex by undervaluing their own and with many men i dare say it
succeeds but in my opinion it is a paltry device a very mean art 

 undoubtedly replied darcy to whom this remark was chiefly addressed 
 there is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend
to employ for captivation whatever bears affinity to cunning is
despicable 

miss bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to
continue the subject 

elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse and
that she could not leave her bingley urged mr jones being sent for
immediately while his sisters convinced that no country advice could
be of any service recommended an express to town for one of the most
eminent physicians this she would not hear of but she was not so
unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal and it was settled
that mr jones should be sent for early in the morning if miss bennet
were not decidedly better bingley was quite uncomfortable his sisters
declared that they were miserable they solaced their wretchedness 
however by duets after supper while he could find no better relief
to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every
attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister 



chapter 9


elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room and in the
morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the
inquiries which she very early received from mr bingley by a housemaid 
and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his
sisters in spite of this amendment however she requested to have a
note sent to longbourn desiring her mother to visit jane and form her
own judgement of her situation the note was immediately dispatched and
its contents as quickly complied with mrs bennet accompanied by her
two youngest girls reached netherfield soon after the family breakfast 

had she found jane in any apparent danger mrs bennet would have been
very miserable but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was
not alarming she had no wish of her recovering immediately as her
restoration to health would probably remove her from netherfield she
would not listen therefore to her daughter's proposal of being carried
home neither did the apothecary who arrived about the same time think
it at all advisable after sitting a little while with jane on miss
bingley's appearance and invitation the mother and three daughters all
attended her into the breakfast parlour bingley met them with hopes
that mrs bennet had not found miss bennet worse than she expected 

 indeed i have sir was her answer she is a great deal too ill to be
moved mr jones says we must not think of moving her we must trespass
a little longer on your kindness 

 removed cried bingley it must not be thought of my sister i am
sure will not hear of her removal 

 you may depend upon it madam said miss bingley with cold civility 
 that miss bennet will receive every possible attention while she
remains with us 

mrs bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments 

 i am sure she added if it was not for such good friends i do not
know what would become of her for she is very ill indeed and suffers
a vast deal though with the greatest patience in the world which is
always the way with her for she has without exception the sweetest
temper i have ever met with i often tell my other girls they are
nothing to her you have a sweet room here mr bingley and a
charming prospect over the gravel walk i do not know a place in the
country that is equal to netherfield you will not think of quitting it
in a hurry i hope though you have but a short lease 

 whatever i do is done in a hurry replied he and therefore if i
should resolve to quit netherfield i should probably be off in five
minutes at present however i consider myself as quite fixed here 

 that is exactly what i should have supposed of you said elizabeth 

 you begin to comprehend me do you cried he turning towards her 

 oh yes i understand you perfectly 

 i wish i might take this for a compliment but to be so easily seen
through i am afraid is pitiful 

 that is as it happens it does not follow that a deep intricate
character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours 

 lizzy cried her mother remember where you are and do not run on in
the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home 

 i did not know before continued bingley immediately that you were a
studier of character it must be an amusing study 

 yes but intricate characters are the most amusing they have at
least that advantage 

 the country said darcy can in general supply but a few subjects for
such a study in a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and
unvarying society 

 but people themselves alter so much that there is something new to be
observed in them for ever 

 yes indeed cried mrs bennet offended by his manner of mentioning
a country neighbourhood i assure you there is quite as much of that 
going on in the country as in town 

everybody was surprised and darcy after looking at her for a moment 
turned silently away mrs bennet who fancied she had gained a complete
victory over him continued her triumph 

 i cannot see that london has any great advantage over the country for
my part except the shops and public places the country is a vast deal
pleasanter is it not mr bingley 

 when i am in the country he replied i never wish to leave it 
and when i am in town it is pretty much the same they have each their
advantages and i can be equally happy in either 

 aye that is because you have the right disposition but that
gentleman looking at darcy seemed to think the country was nothing
at all 

 indeed mamma you are mistaken said elizabeth blushing for her
mother you quite mistook mr darcy he only meant that there was not
such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town 
which you must acknowledge to be true 

 certainly my dear nobody said there were but as to not meeting
with many people in this neighbourhood i believe there are few
neighbourhoods larger i know we dine with four-and-twenty families 

nothing but concern for elizabeth could enable bingley to keep his
countenance his sister was less delicate and directed her eyes towards
mr darcy with a very expressive smile elizabeth for the sake of
saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts now asked her if
charlotte lucas had been at longbourn since her coming away 

 yes she called yesterday with her father what an agreeable man sir
william is mr bingley is not he so much the man of fashion so
genteel and easy he has always something to say to everybody that 
is my idea of good breeding and those persons who fancy themselves very
important and never open their mouths quite mistake the matter 

 did charlotte dine with you 

 no she would go home i fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies for
my part mr bingley i always keep servants that can do their own work 
 my daughters are brought up very differently but everybody is to
judge for themselves and the lucases are a very good sort of girls 
i assure you it is a pity they are not handsome not that i think
charlotte so very plain but then she is our particular friend 

 she seems a very pleasant young woman 

 oh dear yes but you must own she is very plain lady lucas herself
has often said so and envied me jane's beauty i do not like to boast
of my own child but to be sure jane one does not often see anybody
better looking it is what everybody says i do not trust my own
partiality when she was only fifteen there was a man at my brother
gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was
sure he would make her an offer before we came away but however he
did not perhaps he thought her too young however he wrote some verses
on her and very pretty they were 

 and so ended his affection said elizabeth impatiently there has
been many a one i fancy overcome in the same way i wonder who first
discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love 

 i have been used to consider poetry as the food of love said darcy 

 of a fine stout healthy love it may everything nourishes what is
strong already but if it be only a slight thin sort of inclination i
am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away 

darcy only smiled and the general pause which ensued made elizabeth
tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again she longed to
speak but could think of nothing to say and after a short silence mrs 
bennet began repeating her thanks to mr bingley for his kindness to
jane with an apology for troubling him also with lizzy mr bingley was
unaffectedly civil in his answer and forced his younger sister to be
civil also and say what the occasion required she performed her part
indeed without much graciousness but mrs bennet was satisfied and
soon afterwards ordered her carriage upon this signal the youngest of
her daughters put herself forward the two girls had been whispering to
each other during the whole visit and the result of it was that the
youngest should tax mr bingley with having promised on his first coming
into the country to give a ball at netherfield 

lydia was a stout well-grown girl of fifteen with a fine complexion
and good-humoured countenance a favourite with her mother whose
affection had brought her into public at an early age she had high
animal spirits and a sort of natural self-consequence which the
attention of the officers to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own
easy manners recommended her had increased into assurance she was very
equal therefore to address mr bingley on the subject of the ball and
abruptly reminded him of his promise adding that it would be the most
shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it his answer to this
sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear 

 i am perfectly ready i assure you to keep my engagement and when
your sister is recovered you shall if you please name the very day of
the ball but you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill 

lydia declared herself satisfied oh yes it would be much better to
wait till jane was well and by that time most likely captain carter
would be at meryton again and when you have given your ball she
added i shall insist on their giving one also i shall tell colonel
forster it will be quite a shame if he does not 

mrs bennet and her daughters then departed and elizabeth returned
instantly to jane leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the
remarks of the two ladies and mr darcy the latter of whom however 
could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her in spite of
all miss bingley's witticisms on fine eyes 



chapter 10


the day passed much as the day before had done mrs hurst and miss
bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid who
continued though slowly to mend and in the evening elizabeth joined
their party in the drawing-room the loo-table however did not appear 
mr darcy was writing and miss bingley seated near him was watching
the progress of his letter and repeatedly calling off his attention by
messages to his sister mr hurst and mr bingley were at piquet and
mrs hurst was observing their game 

elizabeth took up some needlework and was sufficiently amused in
attending to what passed between darcy and his companion the perpetual
commendations of the lady either on his handwriting or on the evenness
of his lines or on the length of his letter with the perfect unconcern
with which her praises were received formed a curious dialogue and was
exactly in union with her opinion of each 

 how delighted miss darcy will be to receive such a letter 

he made no answer 

 you write uncommonly fast 

 you are mistaken i write rather slowly 

 how many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a
year letters of business too how odious i should think them 

 it is fortunate then that they fall to my lot instead of yours 

 pray tell your sister that i long to see her 

 i have already told her so once by your desire 

 i am afraid you do not like your pen let me mend it for you i mend
pens remarkably well 

 thank you but i always mend my own 

 how can you contrive to write so even 

he was silent 

 tell your sister i am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp 
and pray let her know that i am quite in raptures with her beautiful
little design for a table and i think it infinitely superior to miss
grantley's 

 will you give me leave to defer your raptures till i write again at
present i have not room to do them justice 

 oh it is of no consequence i shall see her in january but do you
always write such charming long letters to her mr darcy 

 they are generally long but whether always charming it is not for me
to determine 

 it is a rule with me that a person who can write a long letter with
ease cannot write ill 

 that will not do for a compliment to darcy caroline cried her
brother because he does not write with ease he studies too much for
words of four syllables do not you darcy 

 my style of writing is very different from yours 

 oh cried miss bingley charles writes in the most careless way
imaginable he leaves out half his words and blots the rest 

 my ideas flow so rapidly that i have not time to express them by which
means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents 

 your humility mr bingley said elizabeth must disarm reproof 

 nothing is more deceitful said darcy than the appearance of
humility it is often only carelessness of opinion and sometimes an
indirect boast 

 and which of the two do you call my little recent piece of modesty 

 the indirect boast for you are really proud of your defects in
writing because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of
thought and carelessness of execution which if not estimable you
think at least highly interesting the power of doing anything with
quickness is always prized much by the possessor and often without any
attention to the imperfection of the performance when you told mrs 
bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting netherfield
you should be gone in five minutes you meant it to be a sort of
panegyric of compliment to yourself and yet what is there so very
laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business
undone and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone else 

 nay cried bingley this is too much to remember at night all the
foolish things that were said in the morning and yet upon my honour 
i believe what i said of myself to be true and i believe it at this
moment at least therefore i did not assume the character of needless
precipitance merely to show off before the ladies 

 i dare say you believed it but i am by no means convinced that
you would be gone with such celerity your conduct would be quite as
dependent on chance as that of any man i know and if as you were
mounting your horse a friend were to say 'bingley you had better
stay till next week ' you would probably do it you would probably not
go and at another word might stay a month 

 you have only proved by this cried elizabeth that mr bingley did
not do justice to his own disposition you have shown him off now much
more than he did himself 

 i am exceedingly gratified said bingley by your converting what my
friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper but i am
afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means
intend for he would certainly think better of me if under such a
circumstance i were to give a flat denial and ride off as fast as i
could 

 would mr darcy then consider the rashness of your original intentions
as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it 

 upon my word i cannot exactly explain the matter darcy must speak for
himself 

 you expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine 
but which i have never acknowledged allowing the case however to
stand according to your representation you must remember miss bennet 
that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house and
the delay of his plan has merely desired it asked it without offering
one argument in favour of its propriety 

 to yield readily easily to the persuasion of a friend is no merit
with you 

 to yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of
either 

 you appear to me mr darcy to allow nothing for the influence of
friendship and affection a regard for the requester would often make
one readily yield to a request without waiting for arguments to reason
one into it i am not particularly speaking of such a case as you have
supposed about mr bingley we may as well wait perhaps till the
circumstance occurs before we discuss the discretion of his behaviour
thereupon but in general and ordinary cases between friend and friend 
where one of them is desired by the other to change a resolution of no
very great moment should you think ill of that person for complying
with the desire without waiting to be argued into it 

 will it not be advisable before we proceed on this subject to
arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance which is to
appertain to this request as well as the degree of intimacy subsisting
between the parties 

 by all means cried bingley let us hear all the particulars not
forgetting their comparative height and size for that will have more
weight in the argument miss bennet than you may be aware of i assure
you that if darcy were not such a great tall fellow in comparison with
myself i should not pay him half so much deference i declare i do not
know a more awful object than darcy on particular occasions and in
particular places at his own house especially and of a sunday evening 
when he has nothing to do 

mr darcy smiled but elizabeth thought she could perceive that he was
rather offended and therefore checked her laugh miss bingley warmly
resented the indignity he had received in an expostulation with her
brother for talking such nonsense 

 i see your design bingley said his friend you dislike an argument 
and want to silence this 

 perhaps i do arguments are too much like disputes if you and miss
bennet will defer yours till i am out of the room i shall be very
thankful and then you may say whatever you like of me 

 what you ask said elizabeth is no sacrifice on my side and mr 
darcy had much better finish his letter 

mr darcy took her advice and did finish his letter 

when that business was over he applied to miss bingley and elizabeth
for an indulgence of some music miss bingley moved with some alacrity
to the pianoforte and after a polite request that elizabeth would lead
the way which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived she
seated herself 

mrs hurst sang with her sister and while they were thus employed 
elizabeth could not help observing as she turned over some music-books
that lay on the instrument how frequently mr darcy's eyes were fixed
on her she hardly knew how to suppose that she could be an object of
admiration to so great a man and yet that he should look at her
because he disliked her was still more strange she could only imagine 
however at last that she drew his notice because there was something
more wrong and reprehensible according to his ideas of right than in
any other person present the supposition did not pain her she liked
him too little to care for his approbation 

after playing some italian songs miss bingley varied the charm by
a lively scotch air and soon afterwards mr darcy drawing near
elizabeth said to her 

 do not you feel a great inclination miss bennet to seize such an
opportunity of dancing a reel 

she smiled but made no answer he repeated the question with some
surprise at her silence 

 oh said she i heard you before but i could not immediately
determine what to say in reply you wanted me i know to say 'yes '
that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste but i always
delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes and cheating a person of
their premeditated contempt i have therefore made up my mind to tell
you that i do not want to dance a reel at all and now despise me if
you dare 

 indeed i do not dare 

elizabeth having rather expected to affront him was amazed at his
gallantry but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her
manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody and darcy
had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her he really
believed that were it not for the inferiority of her connections he
should be in some danger 

miss bingley saw or suspected enough to be jealous and her great
anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend jane received some
assistance from her desire of getting rid of elizabeth 

she often tried to provoke darcy into disliking her guest by talking of
their supposed marriage and planning his happiness in such an alliance 

 i hope said she as they were walking together in the shrubbery
the next day you will give your mother-in-law a few hints when this
desirable event takes place as to the advantage of holding her tongue 
and if you can compass it do cure the younger girls of running after
officers and if i may mention so delicate a subject endeavour to
check that little something bordering on conceit and impertinence 
which your lady possesses 

 have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity 

 oh yes do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt phillips be placed
in the gallery at pemberley put them next to your great-uncle the
judge they are in the same profession you know only in different
lines as for your elizabeth's picture you must not have it taken for
what painter could do justice to those beautiful eyes 

 it would not be easy indeed to catch their expression but their
colour and shape and the eyelashes so remarkably fine might be
copied 

at that moment they were met from another walk by mrs hurst and
elizabeth herself 

 i did not know that you intended to walk said miss bingley in some
confusion lest they had been overheard 

 you used us abominably ill answered mrs hurst running away without
telling us that you were coming out 

then taking the disengaged arm of mr darcy she left elizabeth to walk
by herself the path just admitted three mr darcy felt their rudeness 
and immediately said 

 this walk is not wide enough for our party we had better go into the
avenue 

but elizabeth who had not the least inclination to remain with them 
laughingly answered 

 no no stay where you are you are charmingly grouped and appear
to uncommon advantage the picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a
fourth good-bye 

she then ran gaily off rejoicing as she rambled about in the hope of
being at home again in a day or two jane was already so much recovered
as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours that evening 



chapter 11


when the ladies removed after dinner elizabeth ran up to her
sister and seeing her well guarded from cold attended her into the
drawing-room where she was welcomed by her two friends with many
professions of pleasure and elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable
as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared 
their powers of conversation were considerable they could describe an
entertainment with accuracy relate an anecdote with humour and laugh
at their acquaintance with spirit 

but when the gentlemen entered jane was no longer the first object 
miss bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward darcy and she had
something to say to him before he had advanced many steps he addressed
himself to miss bennet with a polite congratulation mr hurst also
made her a slight bow and said he was very glad but diffuseness
and warmth remained for bingley's salutation he was full of joy and
attention the first half-hour was spent in piling up the fire lest she
should suffer from the change of room and she removed at his desire
to the other side of the fireplace that she might be further from
the door he then sat down by her and talked scarcely to anyone
else elizabeth at work in the opposite corner saw it all with great
delight 

when tea was over mr hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the
card-table but in vain she had obtained private intelligence that mr 
darcy did not wish for cards and mr hurst soon found even his open
petition rejected she assured him that no one intended to play and
the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her mr 
hurst had therefore nothing to do but to stretch himself on one of the
sofas and go to sleep darcy took up a book miss bingley did the same 
and mrs hurst principally occupied in playing with her bracelets
and rings joined now and then in her brother's conversation with miss
bennet 

miss bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching mr 
darcy's progress through his book as in reading her own and she
was perpetually either making some inquiry or looking at his page she
could not win him however to any conversation he merely answered her
question and read on at length quite exhausted by the attempt to be
amused with her own book which she had only chosen because it was the
second volume of his she gave a great yawn and said how pleasant
it is to spend an evening in this way i declare after all there is no
enjoyment like reading how much sooner one tires of anything than of a
book when i have a house of my own i shall be miserable if i have not
an excellent library 

no one made any reply she then yawned again threw aside her book and
cast her eyes round the room in quest for some amusement when hearing
her brother mentioning a ball to miss bennet she turned suddenly
towards him and said 

 by the bye charles are you really serious in meditating a dance at
netherfield i would advise you before you determine on it to consult
the wishes of the present party i am much mistaken if there are
not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a
pleasure 

 if you mean darcy cried her brother he may go to bed if he
chooses before it begins but as for the ball it is quite a settled
thing and as soon as nicholls has made white soup enough i shall send
round my cards 

 i should like balls infinitely better she replied if they were
carried on in a different manner but there is something insufferably
tedious in the usual process of such a meeting it would surely be much
more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of
the day 

 much more rational my dear caroline i dare say but it would not be
near so much like a ball 

miss bingley made no answer and soon afterwards she got up and walked
about the room her figure was elegant and she walked well but
darcy at whom it was all aimed was still inflexibly studious in
the desperation of her feelings she resolved on one effort more and 
turning to elizabeth said 

 miss eliza bennet let me persuade you to follow my example and take a
turn about the room i assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so
long in one attitude 

elizabeth was surprised but agreed to it immediately miss bingley
succeeded no less in the real object of her civility mr darcy looked
up he was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as
elizabeth herself could be and unconsciously closed his book he was
directly invited to join their party but he declined it observing that
he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down
the room together with either of which motives his joining them would
interfere what could he mean she was dying to know what could be his
meaning and asked elizabeth whether she could at all understand him 

 not at all was her answer but depend upon it he means to be severe
on us and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing
about it 

miss bingley however was incapable of disappointing mr darcy in
anything and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his
two motives 

 i have not the smallest objection to explaining them said he as soon
as she allowed him to speak you either choose this method of passing
the evening because you are in each other's confidence and have secret
affairs to discuss or because you are conscious that your figures
appear to the greatest advantage in walking if the first i would be
completely in your way and if the second i can admire you much better
as i sit by the fire 

 oh shocking cried miss bingley i never heard anything so
abominable how shall we punish him for such a speech 

 nothing so easy if you have but the inclination said elizabeth we
can all plague and punish one another tease him laugh at him intimate
as you are you must know how it is to be done 

 but upon my honour i do not i do assure you that my intimacy has
not yet taught me that tease calmness of manner and presence of
mind no no i feel he may defy us there and as to laughter we will
not expose ourselves if you please by attempting to laugh without a
subject mr darcy may hug himself 

 mr darcy is not to be laughed at cried elizabeth that is an
uncommon advantage and uncommon i hope it will continue for it would
be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintances i dearly love a
laugh 

 miss bingley said he has given me more credit than can be 
the wisest and the best of men nay the wisest and best of their
actions may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in
life is a joke 

 certainly replied elizabeth there are such people but i hope i
am not one of them i hope i never ridicule what is wise and good 
follies and nonsense whims and inconsistencies do divert me i own 
and i laugh at them whenever i can but these i suppose are precisely
what you are without 

 perhaps that is not possible for anyone but it has been the study
of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong
understanding to ridicule 

 such as vanity and pride 

 yes vanity is a weakness indeed but pride where there is a real
superiority of mind pride will be always under good regulation 

elizabeth turned away to hide a smile 

 your examination of mr darcy is over i presume said miss bingley 
 and pray what is the result 

 i am perfectly convinced by it that mr darcy has no defect he owns it
himself without disguise 

 no said darcy i have made no such pretension i have faults enough 
but they are not i hope of understanding my temper i dare not vouch
for it is i believe too little yielding certainly too little for the
convenience of the world i cannot forget the follies and vices of others
so soon as i ought nor their offenses against myself my feelings
are not puffed about with every attempt to move them my temper
would perhaps be called resentful my good opinion once lost is lost
forever 

 that is a failing indeed cried elizabeth implacable resentment
 is a shade in a character but you have chosen your fault well i
really cannot laugh at it you are safe from me 

 there is i believe in every disposition a tendency to some particular
evil a natural defect which not even the best education can overcome 

 and your defect is to hate everybody 

 and yours he replied with a smile is willfully to misunderstand
them 

 do let us have a little music cried miss bingley tired of a
conversation in which she had no share louisa you will not mind my
waking mr hurst 

her sister had not the smallest objection and the pianoforte was
opened and darcy after a few moments' recollection was not sorry for
it he began to feel the danger of paying elizabeth too much attention 



chapter 12


in consequence of an agreement between the sisters elizabeth wrote the
next morning to their mother to beg that the carriage might be sent for
them in the course of the day but mrs bennet who had calculated on
her daughters remaining at netherfield till the following tuesday which
would exactly finish jane's week could not bring herself to receive
them with pleasure before her answer therefore was not propitious at
least not to elizabeth's wishes for she was impatient to get home mrs 
bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage
before tuesday and in her postscript it was added that if mr bingley
and his sister pressed them to stay longer she could spare them
very well against staying longer however elizabeth was positively
resolved nor did she much expect it would be asked and fearful on the
contrary as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long 
she urged jane to borrow mr bingley's carriage immediately and at
length it was settled that their original design of leaving netherfield
that morning should be mentioned and the request made 

the communication excited many professions of concern and enough was
said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work
on jane and till the morrow their going was deferred miss bingley was
then sorry that she had proposed the delay for her jealousy and dislike
of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other 

the master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so
soon and repeatedly tried to persuade miss bennet that it would not be
safe for her that she was not enough recovered but jane was firm where
she felt herself to be right 

to mr darcy it was welcome intelligence elizabeth had been at
netherfield long enough she attracted him more than he liked and miss
bingley was uncivil to her and more teasing than usual to himself 
he wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration
should now escape him nothing that could elevate her with the hope
of influencing his felicity sensible that if such an idea had been
suggested his behaviour during the last day must have material weight
in confirming or crushing it steady to his purpose he scarcely spoke
ten words to her through the whole of saturday and though they were
at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour he adhered most
conscientiously to his book and would not even look at her 

on sunday after morning service the separation so agreeable to almost
all took place miss bingley's civility to elizabeth increased at last
very rapidly as well as her affection for jane and when they parted 
after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her
to see her either at longbourn or netherfield and embracing her most
tenderly she even shook hands with the former elizabeth took leave of
the whole party in the liveliest of spirits 

they were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother mrs bennet
wondered at their coming and thought them very wrong to give so much
trouble and was sure jane would have caught cold again but their
father though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure was really
glad to see them he had felt their importance in the family circle the
evening conversation when they were all assembled had lost much of
its animation and almost all its sense by the absence of jane and
elizabeth 

they found mary as usual deep in the study of thorough-bass and human
nature and had some extracts to admire and some new observations of
threadbare morality to listen to catherine and lydia had information
for them of a different sort much had been done and much had been said
in the regiment since the preceding wednesday several of the officers
had dined lately with their uncle a private had been flogged and it
had actually been hinted that colonel forster was going to be married 



chapter 13


 i hope my dear said mr bennet to his wife as they were at
breakfast the next morning that you have ordered a good dinner to-day 
because i have reason to expect an addition to our family party 

 who do you mean my dear i know of nobody that is coming i am sure 
unless charlotte lucas should happen to call in and i hope my dinners
are good enough for her i do not believe she often sees such at home 

 the person of whom i speak is a gentleman and a stranger 

mrs bennet's eyes sparkled a gentleman and a stranger it is mr 
bingley i am sure well i am sure i shall be extremely glad to see mr 
bingley but good lord how unlucky there is not a bit of fish to be
got to-day lydia my love ring the bell i must speak to hill this
moment 

 it is not mr bingley said her husband it is a person whom i
never saw in the whole course of my life 

this roused a general astonishment and he had the pleasure of being
eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once 

after amusing himself some time with their curiosity he thus explained 

 about a month ago i received this letter and about a fortnight ago
i answered it for i thought it a case of some delicacy and requiring
early attention it is from my cousin mr collins who when i am dead 
may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases 

 oh my dear cried his wife i cannot bear to hear that mentioned 
pray do not talk of that odious man i do think it is the hardest thing
in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own
children and i am sure if i had been you i should have tried long ago
to do something or other about it 

jane and elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail they
had often attempted to do it before but it was a subject on which
mrs bennet was beyond the reach of reason and she continued to rail
bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of
five daughters in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about 

 it certainly is a most iniquitous affair said mr bennet and
nothing can clear mr collins from the guilt of inheriting longbourn 
but if you will listen to his letter you may perhaps be a little
softened by his manner of expressing himself 

 no that i am sure i shall not and i think it is very impertinent of
him to write to you at all and very hypocritical i hate such false
friends why could he not keep on quarreling with you as his father did
before him 

 why indeed he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that
head as you will hear 

 hunsford near westerham kent 15th october 

 dear sir 

 the disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured
father always gave me much uneasiness and since i have had the
misfortune to lose him i have frequently wished to heal the breach but
for some time i was kept back by my own doubts fearing lest it might
seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone
with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance 'there mrs 
bennet ' my mind however is now made up on the subject for having
received ordination at easter i have been so fortunate as to be
distinguished by the patronage of the right honourable lady catherine de
bourgh widow of sir lewis de bourgh whose bounty and beneficence has
preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish where it shall be
my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her
ladyship and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which
are instituted by the church of england as a clergyman moreover i
feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in
all families within the reach of my influence and on these grounds i
flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable and
that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of longbourn estate
will be kindly overlooked on your side and not lead you to reject the
offered olive-branch i cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the
means of injuring your amiable daughters and beg leave to apologise for
it as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible
amends but of this hereafter if you should have no objection to
receive me into your house i propose myself the satisfaction of waiting
on you and your family monday november 18th by four o'clock and
shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the saturday se'ennight
following which i can do without any inconvenience as lady catherine
is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a sunday provided
that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day i
remain dear sir with respectful compliments to your lady and
daughters your well-wisher and friend 

 william collins 

 at four o'clock therefore we may expect this peace-making gentleman 
 said mr bennet as he folded up the letter he seems to be a most
conscientious and polite young man upon my word and i doubt not will
prove a valuable acquaintance especially if lady catherine should be so
indulgent as to let him come to us again 

 there is some sense in what he says about the girls however and if
he is disposed to make them any amends i shall not be the person to
discourage him 

 though it is difficult said jane to guess in what way he can mean
to make us the atonement he thinks our due the wish is certainly to his
credit 

elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary deference for lady
catherine and his kind intention of christening marrying and burying
his parishioners whenever it were required 

 he must be an oddity i think said she i cannot make him
out there is something very pompous in his style and what can he
mean by apologising for being next in the entail we cannot suppose he
would help it if he could could he be a sensible man sir 

 no my dear i think not i have great hopes of finding him quite the
reverse there is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his
letter which promises well i am impatient to see him 

 in point of composition said mary the letter does not seem
defective the idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new yet i
think it is well expressed 

to catherine and lydia neither the letter nor its writer were in any
degree interesting it was next to impossible that their cousin should
come in a scarlet coat and it was now some weeks since they had
received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour as for
their mother mr collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will 
and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which
astonished her husband and daughters 

mr collins was punctual to his time and was received with great
politeness by the whole family mr bennet indeed said little but the
ladies were ready enough to talk and mr collins seemed neither in
need of encouragement nor inclined to be silent himself he was a
tall heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty his air was grave and
stately and his manners were very formal he had not been long seated
before he complimented mrs bennet on having so fine a family of
daughters said he had heard much of their beauty but that in this
instance fame had fallen short of the truth and added that he did
not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage this
gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers but mrs 
bennet who quarreled with no compliments answered most readily 

 you are very kind i am sure and i wish with all my heart it may
prove so for else they will be destitute enough things are settled so
oddly 

 you allude perhaps to the entail of this estate 

 ah sir i do indeed it is a grievous affair to my poor girls you
must confess not that i mean to find fault with you for such things
i know are all chance in this world there is no knowing how estates
will go when once they come to be entailed 

 i am very sensible madam of the hardship to my fair cousins and
could say much on the subject but that i am cautious of appearing
forward and precipitate but i can assure the young ladies that i come
prepared to admire them at present i will not say more but perhaps 
when we are better acquainted 

he was interrupted by a summons to dinner and the girls smiled on each
other they were not the only objects of mr collins's admiration the
hall the dining-room and all its furniture were examined and praised 
and his commendation of everything would have touched mrs bennet's
heart but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his
own future property the dinner too in its turn was highly admired and
he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its
cooking was owing but he was set right there by mrs bennet who
assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a
good cook and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen he
begged pardon for having displeased her in a softened tone she declared
herself not at all offended but he continued to apologise for about a
quarter of an hour 



chapter 14


during dinner mr bennet scarcely spoke at all but when the servants
were withdrawn he thought it time to have some conversation with his
guest and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to
shine by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness lady
catherine de bourgh's attention to his wishes and consideration for
his comfort appeared very remarkable mr bennet could not have chosen
better mr collins was eloquent in her praise the subject elevated him
to more than usual solemnity of manner and with a most important aspect
he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in
a person of rank such affability and condescension as he had himself
experienced from lady catherine she had been graciously pleased to
approve of both of the discourses which he had already had the honour of
preaching before her she had also asked him twice to dine at rosings 
and had sent for him only the saturday before to make up her pool of
quadrille in the evening lady catherine was reckoned proud by many
people he knew but he had never seen anything but affability in her 
she had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman she
made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the
neighbourhood nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or
two to visit his relations she had even condescended to advise him to
marry as soon as he could provided he chose with discretion and had
once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage where she had perfectly
approved all the alterations he had been making and had even vouchsafed
to suggest some herself some shelves in the closet up stairs 

 that is all very proper and civil i am sure said mrs bennet and
i dare say she is a very agreeable woman it is a pity that great ladies
in general are not more like her does she live near you sir 

 the garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane
from rosings park her ladyship's residence 

 i think you said she was a widow sir has she any family 

 she has only one daughter the heiress of rosings and of very
extensive property 

 ah said mrs bennet shaking her head then she is better off than
many girls and what sort of young lady is she is she handsome 

 she is a most charming young lady indeed lady catherine herself says
that in point of true beauty miss de bourgh is far superior to the
handsomest of her sex because there is that in her features which marks
the young lady of distinguished birth she is unfortunately of a sickly
constitution which has prevented her from making that progress in many
accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of as i am
informed by the lady who superintended her education and who still
resides with them but she is perfectly amiable and often condescends
to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies 

 has she been presented i do not remember her name among the ladies at
court 

 her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town 
and by that means as i told lady catherine one day has deprived the
british court of its brightest ornament her ladyship seemed pleased
with the idea and you may imagine that i am happy on every occasion to
offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable
to ladies i have more than once observed to lady catherine that
her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess and that the most
elevated rank instead of giving her consequence would be adorned by
her these are the kind of little things which please her ladyship and
it is a sort of attention which i conceive myself peculiarly bound to
pay 

 you judge very properly said mr bennet and it is happy for you
that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy may i ask
whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the
moment or are the result of previous study 

 they arise chiefly from what is passing at the time and though i
sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant
compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions i always wish to
give them as unstudied an air as possible 

mr bennet's expectations were fully answered his cousin was as absurd
as he had hoped and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment 
maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance 
and except in an occasional glance at elizabeth requiring no partner
in his pleasure 

by tea-time however the dose had been enough and mr bennet was glad
to take his guest into the drawing-room again and when tea was over 
glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies mr collins readily
assented and a book was produced but on beholding it for everything
announced it to be from a circulating library he started back and
begging pardon protested that he never read novels kitty stared at
him and lydia exclaimed other books were produced and after some
deliberation he chose fordyce's sermons lydia gaped as he opened the
volume and before he had with very monotonous solemnity read three
pages she interrupted him with 

 do you know mamma that my uncle phillips talks of turning away
richard and if he does colonel forster will hire him my aunt told me
so herself on saturday i shall walk to meryton to-morrow to hear more
about it and to ask when mr denny comes back from town 

lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue but mr 
collins much offended laid aside his book and said 

 i have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books
of a serious stamp though written solely for their benefit it amazes
me i confess for certainly there can be nothing so advantageous to
them as instruction but i will no longer importune my young cousin 

then turning to mr bennet he offered himself as his antagonist at
backgammon mr bennet accepted the challenge observing that he acted
very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements 
mrs bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for lydia's
interruption and promised that it should not occur again if he would
resume his book but mr collins after assuring them that he bore his
young cousin no ill-will and should never resent her behaviour as any
affront seated himself at another table with mr bennet and prepared
for backgammon 



chapter 15


mr collins was not a sensible man and the deficiency of nature had
been but little assisted by education or society the greatest part
of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and
miserly father and though he belonged to one of the universities he
had merely kept the necessary terms without forming at it any useful
acquaintance the subjection in which his father had brought him up had
given him originally great humility of manner but it was now a
good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head living in
retirement and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected
prosperity a fortunate chance had recommended him to lady catherine de
bourgh when the living of hunsford was vacant and the respect which
he felt for her high rank and his veneration for her as his patroness 
mingling with a very good opinion of himself of his authority as a
clergyman and his right as a rector made him altogether a mixture of
pride and obsequiousness self-importance and humility 

having now a good house and a very sufficient income he intended to
marry and in seeking a reconciliation with the longbourn family he had
a wife in view as he meant to choose one of the daughters if he found
them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report 
this was his plan of amends of atonement for inheriting their father's
estate and he thought it an excellent one full of eligibility and
suitableness and excessively generous and disinterested on his own
part 

his plan did not vary on seeing them miss bennet's lovely face
confirmed his views and established all his strictest notions of what
was due to seniority and for the first evening she was his settled
choice the next morning however made an alteration for in a
quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with mrs bennet before breakfast a
conversation beginning with his parsonage-house and leading naturally
to the avowal of his hopes that a mistress might be found for it at
longbourn produced from her amid very complaisant smiles and general
encouragement a caution against the very jane he had fixed on as to
her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say she could
not positively answer but she did not know of any prepossession her
 eldest daughter she must just mention she felt it incumbent on her
to hint was likely to be very soon engaged 

mr collins had only to change from jane to elizabeth and it was soon
done done while mrs bennet was stirring the fire elizabeth equally
next to jane in birth and beauty succeeded her of course 

mrs bennet treasured up the hint and trusted that she might soon have
two daughters married and the man whom she could not bear to speak of
the day before was now high in her good graces 

lydia's intention of walking to meryton was not forgotten every sister
except mary agreed to go with her and mr collins was to attend them 
at the request of mr bennet who was most anxious to get rid of him 
and have his library to himself for thither mr collins had followed
him after breakfast and there he would continue nominally engaged with
one of the largest folios in the collection but really talking to mr 
bennet with little cessation of his house and garden at hunsford such
doings discomposed mr bennet exceedingly in his library he had been
always sure of leisure and tranquillity and though prepared as he told
elizabeth to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the
house he was used to be free from them there his civility therefore 
was most prompt in inviting mr collins to join his daughters in their
walk and mr collins being in fact much better fitted for a walker
than a reader was extremely pleased to close his large book and go 

in pompous nothings on his side and civil assents on that of his
cousins their time passed till they entered meryton the attention of
the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him their eyes were
immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers and
nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed or a really new muslin in
a shop window could recall them 

but the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man whom
they had never seen before of most gentlemanlike appearance walking
with another officer on the other side of the way the officer was
the very mr denny concerning whose return from london lydia came
to inquire and he bowed as they passed all were struck with the
stranger's air all wondered who he could be and kitty and lydia 
determined if possible to find out led the way across the street under
pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop and fortunately
had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen turning back had
reached the same spot mr denny addressed them directly and entreated
permission to introduce his friend mr wickham who had returned with
him the day before from town and he was happy to say had accepted a
commission in their corps this was exactly as it should be for the
young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming 
his appearance was greatly in his favour he had all the best part of
beauty a fine countenance a good figure and very pleasing address 
the introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness
of conversation a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and
unassuming and the whole party were still standing and talking together
very agreeably when the sound of horses drew their notice and darcy
and bingley were seen riding down the street on distinguishing the
ladies of the group the two gentlemen came directly towards them and
began the usual civilities bingley was the principal spokesman and
miss bennet the principal object he was then he said on his way to
longbourn on purpose to inquire after her mr darcy corroborated
it with a bow and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes
on elizabeth when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the
stranger and elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they
looked at each other was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting 
both changed colour one looked white the other red mr wickham 
after a few moments touched his hat a salutation which mr darcy just
deigned to return what could be the meaning of it it was impossible to
imagine it was impossible not to long to know 

in another minute mr bingley but without seeming to have noticed what
passed took leave and rode on with his friend 

mr denny and mr wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of
mr phillip's house and then made their bows in spite of miss lydia's
pressing entreaties that they should come in and even in spite of
mrs phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the
invitation 

mrs phillips was always glad to see her nieces and the two eldest 
from their recent absence were particularly welcome and she was
eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home which as
their own carriage had not fetched them she should have known nothing
about if she had not happened to see mr jones's shop-boy in the
street who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to
netherfield because the miss bennets were come away when her civility
was claimed towards mr collins by jane's introduction of him she
received him with her very best politeness which he returned with
as much more apologising for his intrusion without any previous
acquaintance with her which he could not help flattering himself 
however might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who
introduced him to her notice mrs phillips was quite awed by such an
excess of good breeding but her contemplation of one stranger was soon
put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other of whom 
however she could only tell her nieces what they already knew that
mr denny had brought him from london and that he was to have a
lieutenant's commission in the shire she had been watching him the
last hour she said as he walked up and down the street and had mr 
wickham appeared kitty and lydia would certainly have continued the
occupation but unluckily no one passed windows now except a few of the
officers who in comparison with the stranger were become stupid 
disagreeable fellows some of them were to dine with the phillipses
the next day and their aunt promised to make her husband call on mr 
wickham and give him an invitation also if the family from longbourn
would come in the evening this was agreed to and mrs phillips
protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery
tickets and a little bit of hot supper afterwards the prospect of such
delights was very cheering and they parted in mutual good spirits mr 
collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room and was assured
with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless 

as they walked home elizabeth related to jane what she had seen pass
between the two gentlemen but though jane would have defended either
or both had they appeared to be in the wrong she could no more explain
such behaviour than her sister 

mr collins on his return highly gratified mrs bennet by admiring
mrs phillips's manners and politeness he protested that except lady
catherine and her daughter he had never seen a more elegant woman 
for she had not only received him with the utmost civility but even
pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening although
utterly unknown to her before something he supposed might be
attributed to his connection with them but yet he had never met with so
much attention in the whole course of his life 



chapter 16


as no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their
aunt and all mr collins's scruples of leaving mr and mrs bennet for
a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted the coach
conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to meryton and
the girls had the pleasure of hearing as they entered the drawing-room 
that mr wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation and was then in
the house 

when this information was given and they had all taken their seats mr 
collins was at leisure to look around him and admire and he was so much
struck with the size and furniture of the apartment that he declared he
might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast
parlour at rosings a comparison that did not at first convey much
gratification but when mrs phillips understood from him what
rosings was and who was its proprietor when she had listened to the
description of only one of lady catherine's drawing-rooms and found
that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds she felt all
the force of the compliment and would hardly have resented a comparison
with the housekeeper's room 

in describing to her all the grandeur of lady catherine and her mansion 
with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode and
the improvements it was receiving he was happily employed until the
gentlemen joined them and he found in mrs phillips a very attentive
listener whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she
heard and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as
soon as she could to the girls who could not listen to their cousin 
and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument and examine
their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantelpiece the
interval of waiting appeared very long it was over at last however 
the gentlemen did approach and when mr wickham walked into the room 
elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before nor thinking
of him since with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration 
the officers of the shire were in general a very creditable 
gentlemanlike set and the best of them were of the present party but
mr wickham was as far beyond them all in person countenance air and
walk as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle phillips 
breathing port wine who followed them into the room 

mr wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was
turned and elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated
himself and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into
conversation though it was only on its being a wet night made her feel
that the commonest dullest most threadbare topic might be rendered
interesting by the skill of the speaker 

with such rivals for the notice of the fair as mr wickham and the
officers mr collins seemed to sink into insignificance to the young
ladies he certainly was nothing but he had still at intervals a kind
listener in mrs phillips and was by her watchfulness most abundantly
supplied with coffee and muffin when the card-tables were placed he
had the opportunity of obliging her in turn by sitting down to whist 

 i know little of the game at present said he but i shall be glad
to improve myself for in my situation in life mrs phillips was very
glad for his compliance but could not wait for his reason 

mr wickham did not play at whist and with ready delight was he
received at the other table between elizabeth and lydia at first there
seemed danger of lydia's engrossing him entirely for she was a most
determined talker but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets 
she soon grew too much interested in the game too eager in making bets
and exclaiming after prizes to have attention for anyone in particular 
allowing for the common demands of the game mr wickham was therefore
at leisure to talk to elizabeth and she was very willing to hear
him though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be
told the history of his acquaintance with mr darcy she dared not
even mention that gentleman her curiosity however was unexpectedly
relieved mr wickham began the subject himself he inquired how far
netherfield was from meryton and after receiving her answer asked in
a hesitating manner how long mr darcy had been staying there 

 about a month said elizabeth and then unwilling to let the subject
drop added he is a man of very large property in derbyshire i
understand 

 yes replied mr wickham his estate there is a noble one a clear
ten thousand per annum you could not have met with a person more
capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself for
i have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my
infancy 

elizabeth could not but look surprised 

 you may well be surprised miss bennet at such an assertion after
seeing as you probably might the very cold manner of our meeting
yesterday are you much acquainted with mr darcy 

 as much as i ever wish to be cried elizabeth very warmly i have
spent four days in the same house with him and i think him very
disagreeable 

 i have no right to give my opinion said wickham as to his being
agreeable or otherwise i am not qualified to form one i have known him
too long and too well to be a fair judge it is impossible for me 
to be impartial but i believe your opinion of him would in general
astonish and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly
anywhere else here you are in your own family 

 upon my word i say no more here than i might say in any house in
the neighbourhood except netherfield he is not at all liked in
hertfordshire everybody is disgusted with his pride you will not find
him more favourably spoken of by anyone 

 i cannot pretend to be sorry said wickham after a short
interruption that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond
their deserts but with him i believe it does not often happen the
world is blinded by his fortune and consequence or frightened by his
high and imposing manners and sees him only as he chooses to be seen 

 i should take him even on my slight acquaintance to be an
ill-tempered man wickham only shook his head 

 i wonder said he at the next opportunity of speaking whether he is
likely to be in this country much longer 

 i do not at all know but i heard nothing of his going away when i
was at netherfield i hope your plans in favour of the shire will
not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood 

 oh no it is not for me to be driven away by mr darcy if he 
wishes to avoid seeing me he must go we are not on friendly terms 
and it always gives me pain to meet him but i have no reason for
avoiding him but what i might proclaim before all the world a sense
of very great ill-usage and most painful regrets at his being what he
is his father miss bennet the late mr darcy was one of the best men
that ever breathed and the truest friend i ever had and i can never
be in company with this mr darcy without being grieved to the soul by
a thousand tender recollections his behaviour to myself has been
scandalous but i verily believe i could forgive him anything and
everything rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the
memory of his father 

elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase and listened with
all her heart but the delicacy of it prevented further inquiry 

mr wickham began to speak on more general topics meryton the
neighbourhood the society appearing highly pleased with all that
he had yet seen and speaking of the latter with gentle but very
intelligible gallantry 

 it was the prospect of constant society and good society he added 
 which was my chief inducement to enter the shire i knew it to be
a most respectable agreeable corps and my friend denny tempted me
further by his account of their present quarters and the very great
attentions and excellent acquaintances meryton had procured them 
society i own is necessary to me i have been a disappointed man and
my spirits will not bear solitude i must have employment and society 
a military life is not what i was intended for but circumstances have
now made it eligible the church ought to have been my profession i
was brought up for the church and i should at this time have been in
possession of a most valuable living had it pleased the gentleman we
were speaking of just now 

 indeed 

 yes the late mr darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best
living in his gift he was my godfather and excessively attached to me 
i cannot do justice to his kindness he meant to provide for me amply 
and thought he had done it but when the living fell it was given
elsewhere 

 good heavens cried elizabeth but how could that be how could his
will be disregarded why did you not seek legal redress 

 there was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to
give me no hope from law a man of honour could not have doubted the
intention but mr darcy chose to doubt it or to treat it as a merely
conditional recommendation and to assert that i had forfeited all claim
to it by extravagance imprudence in short anything or nothing certain
it is that the living became vacant two years ago exactly as i was
of an age to hold it and that it was given to another man and no
less certain is it that i cannot accuse myself of having really done
anything to deserve to lose it i have a warm unguarded temper and
i may have spoken my opinion of him and to him too freely i can
recall nothing worse but the fact is that we are very different sort
of men and that he hates me 

 this is quite shocking he deserves to be publicly disgraced 

 some time or other he will be but it shall not be by me till i
can forget his father i can never defy or expose him 

elizabeth honoured him for such feelings and thought him handsomer than
ever as he expressed them 

 but what said she after a pause can have been his motive what can
have induced him to behave so cruelly 

 a thorough determined dislike of me a dislike which i cannot but
attribute in some measure to jealousy had the late mr darcy liked me
less his son might have borne with me better but his father's uncommon
attachment to me irritated him i believe very early in life he had
not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood the sort
of preference which was often given me 

 i had not thought mr darcy so bad as this though i have never liked
him i had not thought so very ill of him i had supposed him to be
despising his fellow-creatures in general but did not suspect him of
descending to such malicious revenge such injustice such inhumanity as
this 

after a few minutes' reflection however she continued i do 
remember his boasting one day at netherfield of the implacability of
his resentments of his having an unforgiving temper his disposition
must be dreadful 

 i will not trust myself on the subject replied wickham i can hardly
be just to him 

elizabeth was again deep in thought and after a time exclaimed to
treat in such a manner the godson the friend the favourite of his
father she could have added a young man too like you whose very
countenance may vouch for your being amiable but she contented herself
with and one too who had probably been his companion from childhood 
connected together as i think you said in the closest manner 

 we were born in the same parish within the same park the greatest
part of our youth was passed together inmates of the same house 
sharing the same amusements objects of the same parental care my 
father began life in the profession which your uncle mr phillips 
appears to do so much credit to but he gave up everything to be of
use to the late mr darcy and devoted all his time to the care of the
pemberley property he was most highly esteemed by mr darcy a most
intimate confidential friend mr darcy often acknowledged himself to
be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence 
and when immediately before my father's death mr darcy gave him a
voluntary promise of providing for me i am convinced that he felt it to
be as much a debt of gratitude to him as of his affection to myself 

 how strange cried elizabeth how abominable i wonder that the very
pride of this mr darcy has not made him just to you if from no better
motive that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest for
dishonesty i must call it 

 it is wonderful replied wickham for almost all his actions may
be traced to pride and pride had often been his best friend it has
connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling but we are
none of us consistent and in his behaviour to me there were stronger
impulses even than pride 

 can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good 

 yes it has often led him to be liberal and generous to give his money
freely to display hospitality to assist his tenants and relieve the
poor family pride and filial pride for he is very proud of what
his father was have done this not to appear to disgrace his family 
to degenerate from the popular qualities or lose the influence of the
pemberley house is a powerful motive he has also brotherly pride 
which with some brotherly affection makes him a very kind and
careful guardian of his sister and you will hear him generally cried up
as the most attentive and best of brothers 

 what sort of girl is miss darcy 

he shook his head i wish i could call her amiable it gives me pain to
speak ill of a darcy but she is too much like her brother very very
proud as a child she was affectionate and pleasing and extremely fond
of me and i have devoted hours and hours to her amusement but she is
nothing to me now she is a handsome girl about fifteen or sixteen 
and i understand highly accomplished since her father's death her
home has been london where a lady lives with her and superintends her
education 

after many pauses and many trials of other subjects elizabeth could not
help reverting once more to the first and saying 

 i am astonished at his intimacy with mr bingley how can mr bingley 
who seems good humour itself and is i really believe truly amiable 
be in friendship with such a man how can they suit each other do you
know mr bingley 

 not at all 

 he is a sweet-tempered amiable charming man he cannot know what mr 
darcy is 

 probably not but mr darcy can please where he chooses he does not
want abilities he can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth
his while among those who are at all his equals in consequence he is
a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous his
pride never deserts him but with the rich he is liberal-minded just 
sincere rational honourable and perhaps agreeable allowing something
for fortune and figure 

the whist party soon afterwards breaking up the players gathered round
the other table and mr collins took his station between his cousin
elizabeth and mrs phillips the usual inquiries as to his success were
made by the latter it had not been very great he had lost every
point but when mrs phillips began to express her concern thereupon 
he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least
importance that he considered the money as a mere trifle and begged
that she would not make herself uneasy 

 i know very well madam said he that when persons sit down to a
card-table they must take their chances of these things and happily i
am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object there
are undoubtedly many who could not say the same but thanks to lady
catherine de bourgh i am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding
little matters 

mr wickham's attention was caught and after observing mr collins for
a few moments he asked elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation
was very intimately acquainted with the family of de bourgh 

 lady catherine de bourgh she replied has very lately given him
a living i hardly know how mr collins was first introduced to her
notice but he certainly has not known her long 

 you know of course that lady catherine de bourgh and lady anne darcy
were sisters consequently that she is aunt to the present mr darcy 

 no indeed i did not i knew nothing at all of lady catherine's
connections i never heard of her existence till the day before
yesterday 

 her daughter miss de bourgh will have a very large fortune and it is
believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates 

this information made elizabeth smile as she thought of poor miss
bingley vain indeed must be all her attentions vain and useless her
affection for his sister and her praise of himself if he were already
self-destined for another 

 mr collins said she speaks highly both of lady catherine and her
daughter but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship 
i suspect his gratitude misleads him and that in spite of her being his
patroness she is an arrogant conceited woman 

 i believe her to be both in a great degree replied wickham i have
not seen her for many years but i very well remember that i never liked
her and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent she has the
reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever but i rather believe
she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune part from
her authoritative manner and the rest from the pride for her
nephew who chooses that everyone connected with him should have an
understanding of the first class 

elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it and
they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till supper
put an end to cards and gave the rest of the ladies their share of mr 
wickham's attentions there could be no conversation in the noise
of mrs phillips's supper party but his manners recommended him to
everybody whatever he said was said well and whatever he did done
gracefully elizabeth went away with her head full of him she could
think of nothing but of mr wickham and of what he had told her all
the way home but there was not time for her even to mention his name
as they went for neither lydia nor mr collins were once silent lydia
talked incessantly of lottery tickets of the fish she had lost and the
fish she had won and mr collins in describing the civility of mr and
mrs phillips protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses
at whist enumerating all the dishes at supper and repeatedly fearing
that he crowded his cousins had more to say than he could well manage
before the carriage stopped at longbourn house 



chapter 17


elizabeth related to jane the next day what had passed between mr 
wickham and herself jane listened with astonishment and concern she
knew not how to believe that mr darcy could be so unworthy of mr 
bingley's regard and yet it was not in her nature to question the
veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as wickham the
possibility of his having endured such unkindness was enough to
interest all her tender feelings and nothing remained therefore to be
done but to think well of them both to defend the conduct of each 
and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be
otherwise explained 

 they have both said she been deceived i dare say in some way
or other of which we can form no idea interested people have perhaps
misrepresented each to the other it is in short impossible for us to
conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them 
without actual blame on either side 

 very true indeed and now my dear jane what have you got to say on
behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the
business do clear them too or we shall be obliged to think ill of
somebody 

 laugh as much as you choose but you will not laugh me out of my
opinion my dearest lizzy do but consider in what a disgraceful light
it places mr darcy to be treating his father's favourite in such
a manner one whom his father had promised to provide for it is
impossible no man of common humanity no man who had any value for his
character could be capable of it can his most intimate friends be so
excessively deceived in him oh no 

 i can much more easily believe mr bingley's being imposed on than
that mr wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me
last night names facts everything mentioned without ceremony if it
be not so let mr darcy contradict it besides there was truth in his
looks 

 it is difficult indeed it is distressing one does not know what to
think 

 i beg your pardon one knows exactly what to think 

but jane could think with certainty on only one point that mr bingley 
if he had been imposed on would have much to suffer when the affair
became public 

the two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this
conversation passed by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had
been speaking mr bingley and his sisters came to give their personal
invitation for the long-expected ball at netherfield which was fixed
for the following tuesday the two ladies were delighted to see their
dear friend again called it an age since they had met and repeatedly
asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation to
the rest of the family they paid little attention avoiding mrs bennet
as much as possible saying not much to elizabeth and nothing at all to
the others they were soon gone again rising from their seats with an
activity which took their brother by surprise and hurrying off as if
eager to escape from mrs bennet's civilities 

the prospect of the netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every
female of the family mrs bennet chose to consider it as given in
compliment to her eldest daughter and was particularly flattered
by receiving the invitation from mr bingley himself instead of a
ceremonious card jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the
society of her two friends and the attentions of their brother and
elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with mr 
wickham and of seeing a confirmation of everything in mr darcy's look
and behaviour the happiness anticipated by catherine and lydia depended
less on any single event or any particular person for though they
each like elizabeth meant to dance half the evening with mr wickham 
he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them and a ball
was at any rate a ball and even mary could assure her family that she
had no disinclination for it 

 while i can have my mornings to myself said she it is enough i
think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements 
society has claims on us all and i profess myself one of those
who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for
everybody 

elizabeth's spirits were so high on this occasion that though she did
not often speak unnecessarily to mr collins she could not help asking
him whether he intended to accept mr bingley's invitation and if
he did whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's
amusement and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no
scruple whatever on that head and was very far from dreading a rebuke
either from the archbishop or lady catherine de bourgh by venturing to
dance 

 i am by no means of the opinion i assure you said he that a ball
of this kind given by a young man of character to respectable people 
can have any evil tendency and i am so far from objecting to dancing
myself that i shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair
cousins in the course of the evening and i take this opportunity of
soliciting yours miss elizabeth for the two first dances especially 
a preference which i trust my cousin jane will attribute to the right
cause and not to any disrespect for her 

elizabeth felt herself completely taken in she had fully proposed being
engaged by mr wickham for those very dances and to have mr collins
instead her liveliness had never been worse timed there was no help
for it however mr wickham's happiness and her own were perforce
delayed a little longer and mr collins's proposal accepted with as
good a grace as she could she was not the better pleased with his
gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more it now first
struck her that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy
of being mistress of hunsford parsonage and of assisting to form a
quadrille table at rosings in the absence of more eligible visitors 
the idea soon reached to conviction as she observed his increasing
civilities toward herself and heard his frequent attempt at a
compliment on her wit and vivacity and though more astonished than
gratified herself by this effect of her charms it was not long before
her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage
was extremely agreeable to her elizabeth however did not choose
to take the hint being well aware that a serious dispute must be the
consequence of any reply mr collins might never make the offer and
till he did it was useless to quarrel about him 

if there had not been a netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of the
younger miss bennets would have been in a very pitiable state at this
time for from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball there
was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to meryton
once no aunt no officers no news could be sought after the very
shoe-roses for netherfield were got by proxy even elizabeth might have
found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the
improvement of her acquaintance with mr wickham and nothing less than
a dance on tuesday could have made such a friday saturday sunday and
monday endurable to kitty and lydia 



chapter 18


till elizabeth entered the drawing-room at netherfield and looked in
vain for mr wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled a
doubt of his being present had never occurred to her the certainty
of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that
might not unreasonably have alarmed her she had dressed with more than
usual care and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all
that remained unsubdued of his heart trusting that it was not more than
might be won in the course of the evening but in an instant arose
the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted for mr darcy's
pleasure in the bingleys' invitation to the officers and though
this was not exactly the case the absolute fact of his absence was
pronounced by his friend denny to whom lydia eagerly applied and who
told them that wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the
day before and was not yet returned adding with a significant smile 
 i do not imagine his business would have called him away just now if
he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here 

this part of his intelligence though unheard by lydia was caught by
elizabeth and as it assured her that darcy was not less answerable for
wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just every
feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate
disappointment that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to
the polite inquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make 
attendance forbearance patience with darcy was injury to wickham she
was resolved against any sort of conversation with him and turned away
with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in
speaking to mr bingley whose blind partiality provoked her 

but elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour and though every prospect
of her own was destroyed for the evening it could not dwell long on her
spirits and having told all her griefs to charlotte lucas whom she had
not seen for a week she was soon able to make a voluntary transition
to the oddities of her cousin and to point him out to her particular
notice the first two dances however brought a return of distress 
they were dances of mortification mr collins awkward and solemn 
apologising instead of attending and often moving wrong without being
aware of it gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable
partner for a couple of dances can give the moment of her release from
him was ecstasy 

she danced next with an officer and had the refreshment of talking of
wickham and of hearing that he was universally liked when those dances
were over she returned to charlotte lucas and was in conversation with
her when she found herself suddenly addressed by mr darcy who took
her so much by surprise in his application for her hand that 
without knowing what she did she accepted him he walked away again
immediately and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of
mind charlotte tried to console her 

 i dare say you will find him very agreeable 

 heaven forbid that would be the greatest misfortune of all to find
a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate do not wish me such an
evil 

when the dancing recommenced however and darcy approached to claim her
hand charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper not to be a
simpleton and allow her fancy for wickham to make her appear unpleasant
in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence elizabeth made no
answer and took her place in the set amazed at the dignity to which
she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to mr darcy and
reading in her neighbours' looks their equal amazement in beholding
it they stood for some time without speaking a word and she began to
imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances and at
first was resolved not to break it till suddenly fancying that it would
be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk she made
some slight observation on the dance he replied and was again
silent after a pause of some minutes she addressed him a second time
with it is your turn to say something now mr darcy i talked
about the dance and you ought to make some sort of remark on the size
of the room or the number of couples 

he smiled and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be
said 

 very well that reply will do for the present perhaps by and by i may
observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones but
 now we may be silent 

 do you talk by rule then while you are dancing 

 sometimes one must speak a little you know it would look odd to be
entirely silent for half an hour together and yet for the advantage of
 some conversation ought to be so arranged as that they may have the
trouble of saying as little as possible 

 are you consulting your own feelings in the present case or do you
imagine that you are gratifying mine 

 both replied elizabeth archly for i have always seen a great
similarity in the turn of our minds we are each of an unsocial 
taciturn disposition unwilling to speak unless we expect to say
something that will amaze the whole room and be handed down to
posterity with all the eclat of a proverb 

 this is no very striking resemblance of your own character i am sure 
 said he how near it may be to mine i cannot pretend to say you 
think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly 

 i must not decide on my own performance 

he made no answer and they were again silent till they had gone down
the dance when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often
walk to meryton she answered in the affirmative and unable to resist
the temptation added when you met us there the other day we had just
been forming a new acquaintance 

the effect was immediate a deeper shade of hauteur overspread his
features but he said not a word and elizabeth though blaming herself
for her own weakness could not go on at length darcy spoke and in a
constrained manner said mr wickham is blessed with such happy manners
as may ensure his making friends whether he may be equally capable of
 retaining them is less certain 

 he has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship replied elizabeth
with emphasis and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all
his life 

darcy made no answer and seemed desirous of changing the subject at
that moment sir william lucas appeared close to them meaning to pass
through the set to the other side of the room but on perceiving mr 
darcy he stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on
his dancing and his partner 

 i have been most highly gratified indeed my dear sir such very
superior dancing is not often seen it is evident that you belong to the
first circles allow me to say however that your fair partner does not
disgrace you and that i must hope to have this pleasure often repeated 
especially when a certain desirable event my dear eliza glancing at
her sister and bingley shall take place what congratulations will then
flow in i appeal to mr darcy but let me not interrupt you sir you
will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that
young lady whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me 

the latter part of this address was scarcely heard by darcy but sir
william's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly and his
eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards bingley and
jane who were dancing together recovering himself however shortly 
he turned to his partner and said sir william's interruption has made
me forget what we were talking of 

 i do not think we were speaking at all sir william could not have
interrupted two people in the room who had less to say for themselves 
we have tried two or three subjects already without success and what we
are to talk of next i cannot imagine 

 what think you of books said he smiling 

 books oh no i am sure we never read the same or not with the same
feelings 

 i am sorry you think so but if that be the case there can at least be
no want of subject we may compare our different opinions 

 no i cannot talk of books in a ball-room my head is always full of
something else 

 the present always occupies you in such scenes does it said he 
with a look of doubt 

 yes always she replied without knowing what she said for her
thoughts had wandered far from the subject as soon afterwards appeared
by her suddenly exclaiming i remember hearing you once say mr darcy 
that you hardly ever forgave that your resentment once created was
unappeasable you are very cautious i suppose as to its being
created 

 i am said he with a firm voice 

 and never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice 

 i hope not 

 it is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion 
to be secure of judging properly at first 

 may i ask to what these questions tend 

 merely to the illustration of your character said she endeavouring
to shake off her gravity i am trying to make it out 

 and what is your success 

she shook her head i do not get on at all i hear such different
accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly 

 i can readily believe answered he gravely that reports may vary
greatly with respect to me and i could wish miss bennet that you were
not to sketch my character at the present moment as there is reason to
fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either 

 but if i do not take your likeness now i may never have another
opportunity 

 i would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours he coldly replied 
she said no more and they went down the other dance and parted in
silence and on each side dissatisfied though not to an equal degree 
for in darcy's breast there was a tolerably powerful feeling towards
her which soon procured her pardon and directed all his anger against
another 

they had not long separated when miss bingley came towards her and
with an expression of civil disdain accosted her 

 so miss eliza i hear you are quite delighted with george wickham 
your sister has been talking to me about him and asking me a thousand
questions and i find that the young man quite forgot to tell you among
his other communication that he was the son of old wickham the late
mr darcy's steward let me recommend you however as a friend not to
give implicit confidence to all his assertions for as to mr darcy's
using him ill it is perfectly false for on the contrary he has
always been remarkably kind to him though george wickham has treated
mr darcy in a most infamous manner i do not know the particulars but
i know very well that mr darcy is not in the least to blame that he
cannot bear to hear george wickham mentioned and that though my brother
thought that he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to
the officers he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself
out of the way his coming into the country at all is a most insolent
thing indeed and i wonder how he could presume to do it i pity you 
miss eliza for this discovery of your favourite's guilt but really 
considering his descent one could not expect much better 

 his guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same said
elizabeth angrily for i have heard you accuse him of nothing worse
than of being the son of mr darcy's steward and of that i can
assure you he informed me himself 

 i beg your pardon replied miss bingley turning away with a sneer 
 excuse my interference it was kindly meant 

 insolent girl said elizabeth to herself you are much mistaken
if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this i see
nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of mr 
darcy she then sought her eldest sister who had undertaken to make
inquiries on the same subject of bingley jane met her with a smile of
such sweet complacency a glow of such happy expression as sufficiently
marked how well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening 
elizabeth instantly read her feelings and at that moment solicitude for
wickham resentment against his enemies and everything else gave way
before the hope of jane's being in the fairest way for happiness 

 i want to know said she with a countenance no less smiling than her
sister's what you have learnt about mr wickham but perhaps you have
been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person in which case
you may be sure of my pardon 

 no replied jane i have not forgotten him but i have nothing
satisfactory to tell you mr bingley does not know the whole of
his history and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have
principally offended mr darcy but he will vouch for the good conduct 
the probity and honour of his friend and is perfectly convinced that
mr wickham has deserved much less attention from mr darcy than he has
received and i am sorry to say by his account as well as his sister's 
mr wickham is by no means a respectable young man i am afraid he has
been very imprudent and has deserved to lose mr darcy's regard 

 mr bingley does not know mr wickham himself 

 no he never saw him till the other morning at meryton 

 this account then is what he has received from mr darcy i am
satisfied but what does he say of the living 

 he does not exactly recollect the circumstances though he has heard
them from mr darcy more than once but he believes that it was left to
him conditionally only 

 i have not a doubt of mr bingley's sincerity said elizabeth warmly 
 but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only mr 
bingley's defense of his friend was a very able one i dare say but
since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story and has learnt
the rest from that friend himself i shall venture to still think of
both gentlemen as i did before 

she then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each and on
which there could be no difference of sentiment elizabeth listened with
delight to the happy though modest hopes which jane entertained of mr 
bingley's regard and said all in her power to heighten her confidence
in it on their being joined by mr bingley himself elizabeth withdrew
to miss lucas to whose inquiry after the pleasantness of her last
partner she had scarcely replied before mr collins came up to them 
and told her with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate as
to make a most important discovery 

 i have found out said he by a singular accident that there is now
in the room a near relation of my patroness i happened to overhear the
gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of
the house the names of his cousin miss de bourgh and of her mother lady
catherine how wonderfully these sort of things occur who would have
thought of my meeting with perhaps a nephew of lady catherine de
bourgh in this assembly i am most thankful that the discovery is made
in time for me to pay my respects to him which i am now going to
do and trust he will excuse my not having done it before my total
ignorance of the connection must plead my apology 

 you are not going to introduce yourself to mr darcy 

 indeed i am i shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier 
i believe him to be lady catherine's nephew it will be in my power to
assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday se'nnight 

elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme assuring him
that mr darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction
as an impertinent freedom rather than a compliment to his aunt that
it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either
side and that if it were it must belong to mr darcy the superior in
consequence to begin the acquaintance mr collins listened to her
with the determined air of following his own inclination and when she
ceased speaking replied thus 

 my dear miss elizabeth i have the highest opinion in the world in
your excellent judgement in all matters within the scope of your
understanding but permit me to say that there must be a wide
difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity 
and those which regulate the clergy for give me leave to observe that
i consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity with
the highest rank in the kingdom provided that a proper humility of
behaviour is at the same time maintained you must therefore allow me to
follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion which leads me to
perform what i look on as a point of duty pardon me for neglecting to
profit by your advice which on every other subject shall be my constant
guide though in the case before us i consider myself more fitted by
education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young
lady like yourself and with a low bow he left her to attack mr 
darcy whose reception of his advances she eagerly watched and whose
astonishment at being so addressed was very evident her cousin prefaced
his speech with a solemn bow and though she could not hear a word of
it she felt as if hearing it all and saw in the motion of his lips the
words apology hunsford and lady catherine de bourgh it vexed
her to see him expose himself to such a man mr darcy was eyeing him
with unrestrained wonder and when at last mr collins allowed him time
to speak replied with an air of distant civility mr collins however 
was not discouraged from speaking again and mr darcy's contempt seemed
abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech and at the
end of it he only made him a slight bow and moved another way mr 
collins then returned to elizabeth 

 i have no reason i assure you said he to be dissatisfied with my
reception mr darcy seemed much pleased with the attention he answered
me with the utmost civility and even paid me the compliment of saying
that he was so well convinced of lady catherine's discernment as to be
certain she could never bestow a favour unworthily it was really a very
handsome thought upon the whole i am much pleased with him 

as elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue she turned
her attention almost entirely on her sister and mr bingley and the
train of agreeable reflections which her observations gave birth to 
made her perhaps almost as happy as jane she saw her in idea settled in
that very house in all the felicity which a marriage of true affection
could bestow and she felt capable under such circumstances of
endeavouring even to like bingley's two sisters her mother's thoughts
she plainly saw were bent the same way and she determined not to
venture near her lest she might hear too much when they sat down to
supper therefore she considered it a most unlucky perverseness which
placed them within one of each other and deeply was she vexed to find
that her mother was talking to that one person lady lucas freely 
openly and of nothing else but her expectation that jane would soon
be married to mr bingley it was an animating subject and mrs bennet
seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the
match his being such a charming young man and so rich and living but
three miles from them were the first points of self-gratulation and
then it was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of
jane and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as
she could do it was moreover such a promising thing for her younger
daughters as jane's marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of
other rich men and lastly it was so pleasant at her time of life to be
able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister that
she might not be obliged to go into company more than she liked it was
necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure because on
such occasions it is the etiquette but no one was less likely than mrs 
bennet to find comfort in staying home at any period of her life she
concluded with many good wishes that lady lucas might soon be equally
fortunate though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no
chance of it 

in vain did elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's
words or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible
whisper for to her inexpressible vexation she could perceive that the
chief of it was overheard by mr darcy who sat opposite to them her
mother only scolded her for being nonsensical 

 what is mr darcy to me pray that i should be afraid of him i am
sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say
nothing he may not like to hear 

 for heaven's sake madam speak lower what advantage can it be for you
to offend mr darcy you will never recommend yourself to his friend by
so doing 

nothing that she could say however had any influence her mother would
talk of her views in the same intelligible tone elizabeth blushed and
blushed again with shame and vexation she could not help frequently
glancing her eye at mr darcy though every glance convinced her of what
she dreaded for though he was not always looking at her mother she was
convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her the expression
of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and
steady gravity 

at length however mrs bennet had no more to say and lady lucas who
had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no
likelihood of sharing was left to the comforts of cold ham and
chicken elizabeth now began to revive but not long was the interval of
tranquillity for when supper was over singing was talked of and
she had the mortification of seeing mary after very little entreaty 
preparing to oblige the company by many significant looks and silent
entreaties did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance 
but in vain mary would not understand them such an opportunity of
exhibiting was delightful to her and she began her song elizabeth's
eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations and she watched her
progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very
ill rewarded at their close for mary on receiving amongst the thanks
of the table the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to
favour them again after the pause of half a minute began another 
mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display her voice was
weak and her manner affected elizabeth was in agonies she looked at
jane to see how she bore it but jane was very composedly talking to
bingley she looked at his two sisters and saw them making signs
of derision at each other and at darcy who continued however 
imperturbably grave she looked at her father to entreat his
interference lest mary should be singing all night he took the hint 
and when mary had finished her second song said aloud that will do
extremely well child you have delighted us long enough let the other
young ladies have time to exhibit 

mary though pretending not to hear was somewhat disconcerted and
elizabeth sorry for her and sorry for her father's speech was afraid
her anxiety had done no good others of the party were now applied to 

 if i said mr collins were so fortunate as to be able to sing i
should have great pleasure i am sure in obliging the company with an
air for i consider music as a very innocent diversion and perfectly
compatible with the profession of a clergyman i do not mean however 
to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time
to music for there are certainly other things to be attended to the
rector of a parish has much to do in the first place he must make
such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not
offensive to his patron he must write his own sermons and the time
that remains will not be too much for his parish duties and the care
and improvement of his dwelling which he cannot be excused from making
as comfortable as possible and i do not think it of light importance
that he should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody 
especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment i cannot acquit
him of that duty nor could i think well of the man who should omit an
occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the
family and with a bow to mr darcy he concluded his speech which had
been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room many stared many
smiled but no one looked more amused than mr bennet himself while his
wife seriously commended mr collins for having spoken so sensibly 
and observed in a half-whisper to lady lucas that he was a remarkably
clever good kind of young man 

to elizabeth it appeared that had her family made an agreement to
expose themselves as much as they could during the evening it would
have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or
finer success and happy did she think it for bingley and her sister
that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice and that his
feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he
must have witnessed that his two sisters and mr darcy however should
have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations was bad enough 
and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the
gentleman or the insolent smiles of the ladies were more intolerable 

the rest of the evening brought her little amusement she was teased by
mr collins who continued most perseveringly by her side and though
he could not prevail on her to dance with him again put it out of her
power to dance with others in vain did she entreat him to stand up with
somebody else and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room 
he assured her that as to dancing he was perfectly indifferent to it 
that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to
her and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her
the whole evening there was no arguing upon such a project she owed
her greatest relief to her friend miss lucas who often joined them and
good-naturedly engaged mr collins's conversation to herself 

she was at least free from the offense of mr darcy's further notice 
though often standing within a very short distance of her quite
disengaged he never came near enough to speak she felt it to be the
probable consequence of her allusions to mr wickham and rejoiced in
it 

the longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart and by
a manoeuvre of mrs bennet had to wait for their carriage a quarter of
an hour after everybody else was gone which gave them time to see how
heartily they were wished away by some of the family mrs hurst and her
sister scarcely opened their mouths except to complain of fatigue and
were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves they repulsed
every attempt of mrs bennet at conversation and by so doing threw a
languor over the whole party which was very little relieved by the
long speeches of mr collins who was complimenting mr bingley and his
sisters on the elegance of their entertainment and the hospitality and
politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests darcy said
nothing at all mr bennet in equal silence was enjoying the scene 
mr bingley and jane were standing together a little detached from the
rest and talked only to each other elizabeth preserved as steady a
silence as either mrs hurst or miss bingley and even lydia was too
much fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of lord 
how tired i am accompanied by a violent yawn 

when at length they arose to take leave mrs bennet was most pressingly
civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at longbourn and
addressed herself especially to mr bingley to assure him how happy he
would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time without
the ceremony of a formal invitation bingley was all grateful pleasure 
and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on
her after his return from london whither he was obliged to go the next
day for a short time 

mrs bennet was perfectly satisfied and quitted the house under the
delightful persuasion that allowing for the necessary preparations of
settlements new carriages and wedding clothes she should undoubtedly
see her daughter settled at netherfield in the course of three or four
months of having another daughter married to mr collins she thought
with equal certainty and with considerable though not equal pleasure 
elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children and though the
man and the match were quite good enough for her the worth of each
was eclipsed by mr bingley and netherfield 



chapter 19


the next day opened a new scene at longbourn mr collins made his
declaration in form having resolved to do it without loss of time as
his leave of absence extended only to the following saturday and having
no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at
the moment he set about it in a very orderly manner with all the
observances which he supposed a regular part of the business on
finding mrs bennet elizabeth and one of the younger girls together 
soon after breakfast he addressed the mother in these words 

 may i hope madam for your interest with your fair daughter elizabeth 
when i solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the
course of this morning 

before elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise mrs 
bennet answered instantly oh dear yes certainly i am sure lizzy
will be very happy i am sure she can have no objection come kitty i
want you up stairs and gathering her work together she was hastening
away when elizabeth called out 

 dear madam do not go i beg you will not go mr collins must excuse
me he can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear i am
going away myself 

 no no nonsense lizzy i desire you to stay where you are and upon
elizabeth's seeming really with vexed and embarrassed looks about to
escape she added lizzy i insist upon your staying and hearing mr 
collins 

elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction and a moment's
consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it
over as soon and as quietly as possible she sat down again and tried to
conceal by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between
distress and diversion mrs bennet and kitty walked off and as soon as
they were gone mr collins began 

 believe me my dear miss elizabeth that your modesty so far from
doing you any disservice rather adds to your other perfections you
would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been this little
unwillingness but allow me to assure you that i have your respected
mother's permission for this address you can hardly doubt the
purport of my discourse however your natural delicacy may lead you to
dissemble my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken almost as
soon as i entered the house i singled you out as the companion of
my future life but before i am run away with by my feelings on this
subject perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for
marrying and moreover for coming into hertfordshire with the design
of selecting a wife as i certainly did 

the idea of mr collins with all his solemn composure being run away
with by his feelings made elizabeth so near laughing that she could
not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further 
and he continued 

 my reasons for marrying are first that i think it a right thing for
every clergyman in easy circumstances like myself to set the example
of matrimony in his parish secondly that i am convinced that it will
add very greatly to my happiness and thirdly which perhaps i ought
to have mentioned earlier that it is the particular advice and
recommendation of the very noble lady whom i have the honour of calling
patroness twice has she condescended to give me her opinion unasked
too on this subject and it was but the very saturday night before i
left hunsford between our pools at quadrille while mrs jenkinson was
arranging miss de bourgh's footstool that she said 'mr collins you
must marry a clergyman like you must marry choose properly choose
a gentlewoman for my sake and for your own let her be an active 
useful sort of person not brought up high but able to make a small
income go a good way this is my advice find such a woman as soon as
you can bring her to hunsford and i will visit her ' allow me by the
way to observe my fair cousin that i do not reckon the notice
and kindness of lady catherine de bourgh as among the least of the
advantages in my power to offer you will find her manners beyond
anything i can describe and your wit and vivacity i think must be
acceptable to her especially when tempered with the silence and
respect which her rank will inevitably excite thus much for my general
intention in favour of matrimony it remains to be told why my views
were directed towards longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood where i
can assure you there are many amiable young women but the fact is that
being as i am to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured
father who however may live many years longer i could not satisfy
myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters that
the loss to them might be as little as possible when the melancholy
event takes place which however as i have already said may not
be for several years this has been my motive my fair cousin and
i flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem and now nothing
remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the
violence of my affection to fortune i am perfectly indifferent and
shall make no demand of that nature on your father since i am well
aware that it could not be complied with and that one thousand pounds
in the four per cents which will not be yours till after your mother's
decease is all that you may ever be entitled to on that head 
therefore i shall be uniformly silent and you may assure yourself that
no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married 

it was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now 

 you are too hasty sir she cried you forget that i have made no
answer let me do it without further loss of time accept my thanks for
the compliment you are paying me i am very sensible of the honour of
your proposals but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than to
decline them 

 i am not now to learn replied mr collins with a formal wave of the
hand that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the
man whom they secretly mean to accept when he first applies for their
favour and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a
third time i am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just
said and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long 

 upon my word sir cried elizabeth your hope is a rather
extraordinary one after my declaration i do assure you that i am not
one of those young ladies if such young ladies there are who are so
daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second
time i am perfectly serious in my refusal you could not make me 
happy and i am convinced that i am the last woman in the world who
could make you so nay were your friend lady catherine to know me i
am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the
situation 

 were it certain that lady catherine would think so said mr collins
very gravely but i cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all
disapprove of you and you may be certain when i have the honour of
seeing her again i shall speak in the very highest terms of your
modesty economy and other amiable qualification 

 indeed mr collins all praise of me will be unnecessary you
must give me leave to judge for myself and pay me the compliment
of believing what i say i wish you very happy and very rich and by
refusing your hand do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise 
in making me the offer you must have satisfied the delicacy of your
feelings with regard to my family and may take possession of longbourn
estate whenever it falls without any self-reproach this matter may
be considered therefore as finally settled and rising as she
thus spoke she would have quitted the room had mr collins not thus
addressed her 

 when i do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject i
shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given
me though i am far from accusing you of cruelty at present because i
know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on
the first application and perhaps you have even now said as much to
encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the
female character 

 really mr collins cried elizabeth with some warmth you puzzle me
exceedingly if what i have hitherto said can appear to you in the form
of encouragement i know not how to express my refusal in such a way as
to convince you of its being one 

 you must give me leave to flatter myself my dear cousin that your
refusal of my addresses is merely words of course my reasons for
believing it are briefly these it does not appear to me that my hand is
unworthy of your acceptance or that the establishment i can offer would
be any other than highly desirable my situation in life my connections
with the family of de bourgh and my relationship to your own are
circumstances highly in my favour and you should take it into further
consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions it is by no
means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you your
portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo
the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications as i must
therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me 
i shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by
suspense according to the usual practice of elegant females 

 i do assure you sir that i have no pretensions whatever to that kind
of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man i would
rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere i thank you
again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals but
to accept them is absolutely impossible my feelings in every respect
forbid it can i speak plainer do not consider me now as an elegant
female intending to plague you but as a rational creature speaking
the truth from her heart 

 you are uniformly charming cried he with an air of awkward
gallantry and i am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express
authority of both your excellent parents my proposals will not fail of
being acceptable 

to such perseverance in wilful self-deception elizabeth would make
no reply and immediately and in silence withdrew determined if
he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering
encouragement to apply to her father whose negative might be uttered
in such a manner as to be decisive and whose behaviour at least could
not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female 



chapter 20


mr collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his
successful love for mrs bennet having dawdled about in the vestibule
to watch for the end of the conference no sooner saw elizabeth open
the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase than she
entered the breakfast-room and congratulated both him and herself in
warm terms on the happy prospect of their nearer connection mr collins
received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure and then
proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview with the result
of which he trusted he had every reason to be satisfied since the
refusal which his cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow
from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character 

this information however startled mrs bennet she would have been
glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage
him by protesting against his proposals but she dared not believe it 
and could not help saying so 

 but depend upon it mr collins she added that lizzy shall be
brought to reason i will speak to her about it directly she is a very
headstrong foolish girl and does not know her own interest but i will
 make her know it 

 pardon me for interrupting you madam cried mr collins but if
she is really headstrong and foolish i know not whether she would
altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation who
naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state if therefore she
actually persists in rejecting my suit perhaps it were better not
to force her into accepting me because if liable to such defects of
temper she could not contribute much to my felicity 

 sir you quite misunderstand me said mrs bennet alarmed lizzy is
only headstrong in such matters as these in everything else she is as
good-natured a girl as ever lived i will go directly to mr bennet and
we shall very soon settle it with her i am sure 

she would not give him time to reply but hurrying instantly to her
husband called out as she entered the library oh mr bennet you
are wanted immediately we are all in an uproar you must come and make
lizzy marry mr collins for she vows she will not have him and if you
do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her 

mr bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered and fixed them
on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by
her communication 

 i have not the pleasure of understanding you said he when she had
finished her speech of what are you talking 

 of mr collins and lizzy lizzy declares she will not have mr collins 
and mr collins begins to say that he will not have lizzy 

 and what am i to do on the occasion it seems an hopeless business 

 speak to lizzy about it yourself tell her that you insist upon her
marrying him 

 let her be called down she shall hear my opinion 

mrs bennet rang the bell and miss elizabeth was summoned to the
library 

 come here child cried her father as she appeared i have sent for
you on an affair of importance i understand that mr collins has made
you an offer of marriage is it true elizabeth replied that it was 
 very well and this offer of marriage you have refused 

 i have sir 

 very well we now come to the point your mother insists upon your
accepting it is it not so mrs bennet 

 yes or i will never see her again 

 an unhappy alternative is before you elizabeth from this day you must
be a stranger to one of your parents your mother will never see you
again if you do not marry mr collins and i will never see you again
if you do 

elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning 
but mrs bennet who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the
affair as she wished was excessively disappointed 

 what do you mean mr bennet in talking this way you promised me to
 insist upon her marrying him 

 my dear replied her husband i have two small favours to request 
first that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the
present occasion and secondly of my room i shall be glad to have the
library to myself as soon as may be 

not yet however in spite of her disappointment in her husband did
mrs bennet give up the point she talked to elizabeth again and again 
coaxed and threatened her by turns she endeavoured to secure jane
in her interest but jane with all possible mildness declined
interfering and elizabeth sometimes with real earnestness and
sometimes with playful gaiety replied to her attacks though her manner
varied however her determination never did 

mr collins meanwhile was meditating in solitude on what had passed 
he thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motives his cousin
could refuse him and though his pride was hurt he suffered in no other
way his regard for her was quite imaginary and the possibility of her
deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret 

while the family were in this confusion charlotte lucas came to spend
the day with them she was met in the vestibule by lydia who flying to
her cried in a half whisper i am glad you are come for there is such
fun here what do you think has happened this morning mr collins has
made an offer to lizzy and she will not have him 

charlotte hardly had time to answer before they were joined by kitty 
who came to tell the same news and no sooner had they entered the
breakfast-room where mrs bennet was alone than she likewise began on
the subject calling on miss lucas for her compassion and entreating
her to persuade her friend lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her
family pray do my dear miss lucas she added in a melancholy tone 
 for nobody is on my side nobody takes part with me i am cruelly used 
nobody feels for my poor nerves 

charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of jane and elizabeth 

 aye there she comes continued mrs bennet looking as unconcerned
as may be and caring no more for us than if we were at york provided
she can have her own way but i tell you miss lizzy if you take it
into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way 
you will never get a husband at all and i am sure i do not know who is
to maintain you when your father is dead i shall not be able to keep
you and so i warn you i have done with you from this very day i told
you in the library you know that i should never speak to you again 
and you will find me as good as my word i have no pleasure in talking
to undutiful children not that i have much pleasure indeed in talking
to anybody people who suffer as i do from nervous complaints can have
no great inclination for talking nobody can tell what i suffer but it
is always so those who do not complain are never pitied 

her daughters listened in silence to this effusion sensible that
any attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the
irritation she talked on therefore without interruption from any of
them till they were joined by mr collins who entered the room with
an air more stately than usual and on perceiving whom she said to
the girls now i do insist upon it that you all of you hold
your tongues and let me and mr collins have a little conversation
together 

elizabeth passed quietly out of the room jane and kitty followed but
lydia stood her ground determined to hear all she could and charlotte 
detained first by the civility of mr collins whose inquiries after
herself and all her family were very minute and then by a little
curiosity satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending
not to hear in a doleful voice mrs bennet began the projected
conversation oh mr collins 

 my dear madam replied he let us be for ever silent on this point 
far be it from me he presently continued in a voice that marked his
displeasure to resent the behaviour of your daughter resignation
to inevitable evils is the duty of us all the peculiar duty of a
young man who has been so fortunate as i have been in early preferment 
and i trust i am resigned perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt
of my positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand 
for i have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as
when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value in our
estimation you will not i hope consider me as showing any disrespect
to your family my dear madam by thus withdrawing my pretensions to
your daughter's favour without having paid yourself and mr bennet the
compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in my
behalf my conduct may i fear be objectionable in having accepted my
dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own but we are all
liable to error i have certainly meant well through the whole affair 
my object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself with due
consideration for the advantage of all your family and if my manner 
has been at all reprehensible i here beg leave to apologise 



chapter 21


the discussion of mr collins's offer was now nearly at an end and
elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily
attending it and occasionally from some peevish allusions of her
mother as for the gentleman himself his feelings were chiefly
expressed not by embarrassment or dejection or by trying to avoid her 
but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence he scarcely ever spoke
to her and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of
himself were transferred for the rest of the day to miss lucas whose
civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all and
especially to her friend 

the morrow produced no abatement of mrs bennet's ill-humour or ill
health mr collins was also in the same state of angry pride elizabeth
had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit but his plan did
not appear in the least affected by it he was always to have gone on
saturday and to saturday he meant to stay 

after breakfast the girls walked to meryton to inquire if mr wickham
were returned and to lament over his absence from the netherfield ball 
he joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their
aunt's where his regret and vexation and the concern of everybody was
well talked over to elizabeth however he voluntarily acknowledged
that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed 

 i found said he as the time drew near that i had better not meet
mr darcy that to be in the same room the same party with him for so
many hours together might be more than i could bear and that scenes
might arise unpleasant to more than myself 

she highly approved his forbearance and they had leisure for a full
discussion of it and for all the commendation which they civilly
bestowed on each other as wickham and another officer walked back with
them to longbourn and during the walk he particularly attended to
her his accompanying them was a double advantage she felt all the
compliment it offered to herself and it was most acceptable as an
occasion of introducing him to her father and mother 

soon after their return a letter was delivered to miss bennet it came
from netherfield the envelope contained a sheet of elegant little 
hot-pressed paper well covered with a lady's fair flowing hand and
elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it and saw
her dwelling intently on some particular passages jane recollected
herself soon and putting the letter away tried to join with her usual
cheerfulness in the general conversation but elizabeth felt an anxiety
on the subject which drew off her attention even from wickham and no
sooner had he and his companion taken leave than a glance from jane
invited her to follow her up stairs when they had gained their own room 
jane taking out the letter said 

 this is from caroline bingley what it contains has surprised me a good
deal the whole party have left netherfield by this time and are on
their way to town and without any intention of coming back again you
shall hear what she says 

she then read the first sentence aloud which comprised the information
of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly 
and of their meaning to dine in grosvenor street where mr hurst had a
house the next was in these words i do not pretend to regret anything
i shall leave in hertfordshire except your society my dearest friend 
but we will hope at some future period to enjoy many returns of that
delightful intercourse we have known and in the meanwhile may
lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved
correspondence i depend on you for that to these highflown
expressions elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust 
and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her she saw
nothing in it really to lament it was not to be supposed that their
absence from netherfield would prevent mr bingley's being there and as
to the loss of their society she was persuaded that jane must cease to
regard it in the enjoyment of his 

 it is unlucky said she after a short pause that you should not be
able to see your friends before they leave the country but may we not
hope that the period of future happiness to which miss bingley looks
forward may arrive earlier than she is aware and that the delightful
intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater
satisfaction as sisters mr bingley will not be detained in london by
them 

 caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into
hertfordshire this winter i will read it to you 

 when my brother left us yesterday he imagined that the business which
took him to london might be concluded in three or four days but as we
are certain it cannot be so and at the same time convinced that when
charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again we have
determined on following him thither that he may not be obliged to spend
his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel many of my acquaintances are
already there for the winter i wish that i could hear that you my
dearest friend had any intention of making one of the crowd but of
that i despair i sincerely hope your christmas in hertfordshire may
abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings and that your
beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the
three of whom we shall deprive you 

 it is evident by this added jane that he comes back no more this
winter 

 it is only evident that miss bingley does not mean that he should 

 why will you think so it must be his own doing he is his own
master but you do not know all i will read you the passage which
particularly hurts me i will have no reserves from you 

 mr darcy is impatient to see his sister and to confess the truth 
 we are scarcely less eager to meet her again i really do not think
georgiana darcy has her equal for beauty elegance and accomplishments 
and the affection she inspires in louisa and myself is heightened into
something still more interesting from the hope we dare entertain of
her being hereafter our sister i do not know whether i ever before
mentioned to you my feelings on this subject but i will not leave the
country without confiding them and i trust you will not esteem them
unreasonable my brother admires her greatly already he will have
frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing 
her relations all wish the connection as much as his own and a sister's
partiality is not misleading me i think when i call charles most
capable of engaging any woman's heart with all these circumstances to
favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it am i wrong my dearest
jane in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness
of so many 

 what do you think of this sentence my dear lizzy said jane as she
finished it is it not clear enough does it not expressly declare that
caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister that she is
perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference and that if she
suspects the nature of my feelings for him she means most kindly to
put me on my guard can there be any other opinion on the subject 

 yes there can for mine is totally different will you hear it 

 most willingly 

 you shall have it in a few words miss bingley sees that her brother is
in love with you and wants him to marry miss darcy she follows him
to town in hope of keeping him there and tries to persuade you that he
does not care about you 

jane shook her head 

 indeed jane you ought to believe me no one who has ever seen you
together can doubt his affection miss bingley i am sure cannot she
is not such a simpleton could she have seen half as much love in mr 
darcy for herself she would have ordered her wedding clothes but the
case is this we are not rich enough or grand enough for them and she
is the more anxious to get miss darcy for her brother from the notion
that when there has been one intermarriage she may have less trouble
in achieving a second in which there is certainly some ingenuity and
i dare say it would succeed if miss de bourgh were out of the way but 
my dearest jane you cannot seriously imagine that because miss bingley
tells you her brother greatly admires miss darcy he is in the smallest
degree less sensible of your merit than when he took leave of you on
tuesday or that it will be in her power to persuade him that instead
of being in love with you he is very much in love with her friend 

 if we thought alike of miss bingley replied jane your
representation of all this might make me quite easy but i know the
foundation is unjust caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving
anyone and all that i can hope in this case is that she is deceiving
herself 

 that is right you could not have started a more happy idea since you
will not take comfort in mine believe her to be deceived by all means 
you have now done your duty by her and must fret no longer 

 but my dear sister can i be happy even supposing the best in
accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry
elsewhere 

 you must decide for yourself said elizabeth and if upon mature
deliberation you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is
more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife i advise you by
all means to refuse him 

 how can you talk so said jane faintly smiling you must know that
though i should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation i could
not hesitate 

 i did not think you would and that being the case i cannot consider
your situation with much compassion 

 but if he returns no more this winter my choice will never be
required a thousand things may arise in six months 

the idea of his returning no more elizabeth treated with the utmost
contempt it appeared to her merely the suggestion of caroline's
interested wishes and she could not for a moment suppose that those
wishes however openly or artfully spoken could influence a young man
so totally independent of everyone 

she represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt
on the subject and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect 
jane's temper was not desponding and she was gradually led to hope 
though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope that
bingley would return to netherfield and answer every wish of her heart 

they agreed that mrs bennet should only hear of the departure of the
family without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct 
but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern 
and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen
to go away just as they were all getting so intimate together after
lamenting it however at some length she had the consolation that mr 
bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at longbourn and the
conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that though he had
been invited only to a family dinner she would take care to have two
full courses 



chapter 22


the bennets were engaged to dine with the lucases and again during the
chief of the day was miss lucas so kind as to listen to mr collins 
elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her it keeps him in good
humour said she and i am more obliged to you than i can express 
 charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful and
that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time this was
very amiable but charlotte's kindness extended farther than elizabeth
had any conception of its object was nothing else than to secure her
from any return of mr collins's addresses by engaging them towards
herself such was miss lucas's scheme and appearances were so
favourable that when they parted at night she would have felt almost
secure of success if he had not been to leave hertfordshire so very
soon but here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his
character for it led him to escape out of longbourn house the next
morning with admirable slyness and hasten to lucas lodge to throw
himself at her feet he was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins 
from a conviction that if they saw him depart they could not fail to
conjecture his design and he was not willing to have the attempt known
till its success might be known likewise for though feeling almost
secure and with reason for charlotte had been tolerably encouraging 
he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of wednesday 
his reception however was of the most flattering kind miss lucas
perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house and
instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane but little had
she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there 

in as short a time as mr collins's long speeches would allow 
everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both and as
they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that
was to make him the happiest of men and though such a solicitation must
be waived for the present the lady felt no inclination to trifle with
his happiness the stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must
guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its
continuance and miss lucas who accepted him solely from the pure
and disinterested desire of an establishment cared not how soon that
establishment were gained 

sir william and lady lucas were speedily applied to for their consent 
and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity mr collins's present
circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter to whom
they could give little fortune and his prospects of future wealth were
exceedingly fair lady lucas began directly to calculate with more
interest than the matter had ever excited before how many years longer
mr bennet was likely to live and sir william gave it as his decided
opinion that whenever mr collins should be in possession of the
longbourn estate it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife
should make their appearance at st james's the whole family in short 
were properly overjoyed on the occasion the younger girls formed hopes
of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have
done and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of charlotte's
dying an old maid charlotte herself was tolerably composed she had
gained her point and had time to consider of it her reflections were
in general satisfactory mr collins to be sure was neither sensible
nor agreeable his society was irksome and his attachment to her must
be imaginary but still he would be her husband without thinking highly
either of men or matrimony marriage had always been her object it was
the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune 
and however uncertain of giving happiness must be their pleasantest
preservative from want this preservative she had now obtained and at
the age of twenty-seven without having ever been handsome she felt all
the good luck of it the least agreeable circumstance in the business
was the surprise it must occasion to elizabeth bennet whose friendship
she valued beyond that of any other person elizabeth would wonder 
and probably would blame her and though her resolution was not to be
shaken her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation she resolved
to give her the information herself and therefore charged mr collins 
when he returned to longbourn to dinner to drop no hint of what had
passed before any of the family a promise of secrecy was of course very
dutifully given but it could not be kept without difficulty for the
curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct
questions on his return as required some ingenuity to evade and he was
at the same time exercising great self-denial for he was longing to
publish his prosperous love 

as he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the
family the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved
for the night and mrs bennet with great politeness and cordiality 
said how happy they should be to see him at longbourn again whenever
his engagements might allow him to visit them 

 my dear madam he replied this invitation is particularly
gratifying because it is what i have been hoping to receive and
you may be very certain that i shall avail myself of it as soon as
possible 

they were all astonished and mr bennet who could by no means wish for
so speedy a return immediately said 

 but is there not danger of lady catherine's disapprobation here my
good sir you had better neglect your relations than run the risk of
offending your patroness 

 my dear sir replied mr collins i am particularly obliged to you
for this friendly caution and you may depend upon my not taking so
material a step without her ladyship's concurrence 

 you cannot be too much upon your guard risk anything rather than her
displeasure and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us
again which i should think exceedingly probable stay quietly at home 
and be satisfied that we shall take no offence 

 believe me my dear sir my gratitude is warmly excited by such
affectionate attention and depend upon it you will speedily receive
from me a letter of thanks for this and for every other mark of your
regard during my stay in hertfordshire as for my fair cousins though
my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary i shall now
take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness not excepting my
cousin elizabeth 

with proper civilities the ladies then withdrew all of them equally
surprised that he meditated a quick return mrs bennet wished to
understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her
younger girls and mary might have been prevailed on to accept him 
she rated his abilities much higher than any of the others there was
a solidity in his reflections which often struck her and though by no
means so clever as herself she thought that if encouraged to read
and improve himself by such an example as hers he might become a very
agreeable companion but on the following morning every hope of this
kind was done away miss lucas called soon after breakfast and in a
private conference with elizabeth related the event of the day before 

the possibility of mr collins's fancying himself in love with her
friend had once occurred to elizabeth within the last day or two but
that charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from
possibility as she could encourage him herself and her astonishment was
consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum and
she could not help crying out 

 engaged to mr collins my dear charlotte impossible 

the steady countenance which miss lucas had commanded in telling her
story gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a
reproach though as it was no more than she expected she soon regained
her composure and calmly replied 

 why should you be surprised my dear eliza do you think it incredible
that mr collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion 
because he was not so happy as to succeed with you 

but elizabeth had now recollected herself and making a strong effort
for it was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect of
their relationship was highly grateful to her and that she wished her
all imaginable happiness 

 i see what you are feeling replied charlotte you must be surprised 
very much surprised so lately as mr collins was wishing to marry
you but when you have had time to think it over i hope you will be
satisfied with what i have done i am not romantic you know i never
was i ask only a comfortable home and considering mr collins's
character connection and situation in life i am convinced that my
chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on
entering the marriage state 

elizabeth quietly answered undoubtedly and after an awkward pause 
they returned to the rest of the family charlotte did not stay much
longer and elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard 
it was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so
unsuitable a match the strangeness of mr collins's making two offers
of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now
accepted she had always felt that charlotte's opinion of matrimony was
not exactly like her own but she had not supposed it to be possible
that when called into action she would have sacrificed every better
feeling to worldly advantage charlotte the wife of mr collins was a
most humiliating picture and to the pang of a friend disgracing herself
and sunk in her esteem was added the distressing conviction that it
was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had
chosen 



chapter 23


elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters reflecting on what
she had heard and doubting whether she was authorised to mention
it when sir william lucas himself appeared sent by his daughter to
announce her engagement to the family with many compliments to them 
and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the
houses he unfolded the matter to an audience not merely wondering but
incredulous for mrs bennet with more perseverance than politeness 
protested he must be entirely mistaken and lydia always unguarded and
often uncivil boisterously exclaimed 

 good lord sir william how can you tell such a story do not you know
that mr collins wants to marry lizzy 

nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne
without anger such treatment but sir william's good breeding carried
him through it all and though he begged leave to be positive as to the
truth of his information he listened to all their impertinence with the
most forbearing courtesy 

elizabeth feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant
a situation now put herself forward to confirm his account by
mentioning her prior knowledge of it from charlotte herself and
endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters
by the earnestness of her congratulations to sir william in which she
was readily joined by jane and by making a variety of remarks on the
happiness that might be expected from the match the excellent character
of mr collins and the convenient distance of hunsford from london 

mrs bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while
sir william remained but no sooner had he left them than her feelings
found a rapid vent in the first place she persisted in disbelieving
the whole of the matter secondly she was very sure that mr collins
had been taken in thirdly she trusted that they would never be
happy together and fourthly that the match might be broken off two
inferences however were plainly deduced from the whole one that
elizabeth was the real cause of the mischief and the other that she
herself had been barbarously misused by them all and on these two
points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day nothing could
console and nothing could appease her nor did that day wear out her
resentment a week elapsed before she could see elizabeth without
scolding her a month passed away before she could speak to sir william
or lady lucas without being rude and many months were gone before she
could at all forgive their daughter 

mr bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion and such
as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort for
it gratified him he said to discover that charlotte lucas whom he had
been used to think tolerably sensible was as foolish as his wife and
more foolish than his daughter 

jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match but she said
less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness 
nor could elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable kitty
and lydia were far from envying miss lucas for mr collins was only a
clergyman and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news
to spread at meryton 

lady lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort
on mrs bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married and she
called at longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was 
though mrs bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been
enough to drive happiness away 

between elizabeth and charlotte there was a restraint which kept them
mutually silent on the subject and elizabeth felt persuaded that
no real confidence could ever subsist between them again her
disappointment in charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her
sister of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could
never be shaken and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious 
as bingley had now been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his
return 

jane had sent caroline an early answer to her letter and was counting
the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again the promised
letter of thanks from mr collins arrived on tuesday addressed to
their father and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a
twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted after discharging
his conscience on that head he proceeded to inform them with many
rapturous expressions of his happiness in having obtained the affection
of their amiable neighbour miss lucas and then explained that it was
merely with the view of enjoying her society that he had been so ready
to close with their kind wish of seeing him again at longbourn whither
he hoped to be able to return on monday fortnight for lady catherine 
he added so heartily approved his marriage that she wished it to take
place as soon as possible which he trusted would be an unanswerable
argument with his amiable charlotte to name an early day for making him
the happiest of men 

mr collins's return into hertfordshire was no longer a matter of
pleasure to mrs bennet on the contrary she was as much disposed to
complain of it as her husband it was very strange that he should come
to longbourn instead of to lucas lodge it was also very inconvenient
and exceedingly troublesome she hated having visitors in the house
while her health was so indifferent and lovers were of all people the
most disagreeable such were the gentle murmurs of mrs bennet and
they gave way only to the greater distress of mr bingley's continued
absence 

neither jane nor elizabeth were comfortable on this subject day after
day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the
report which shortly prevailed in meryton of his coming no more to
netherfield the whole winter a report which highly incensed mrs 
bennet and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous
falsehood 

even elizabeth began to fear not that bingley was indifferent but that
his sisters would be successful in keeping him away unwilling as
she was to admit an idea so destructive of jane's happiness and so
dishonorable to the stability of her lover she could not prevent its
frequently occurring the united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters
and of his overpowering friend assisted by the attractions of miss
darcy and the amusements of london might be too much she feared for
the strength of his attachment 

as for jane her anxiety under this suspense was of course more
painful than elizabeth's but whatever she felt she was desirous of
concealing and between herself and elizabeth therefore the subject
was never alluded to but as no such delicacy restrained her mother 
an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of bingley express her
impatience for his arrival or even require jane to confess that if he
did not come back she would think herself very ill used it needed
all jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable
tranquillity 

mr collins returned most punctually on monday fortnight but his
reception at longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his
first introduction he was too happy however to need much attention 
and luckily for the others the business of love-making relieved them
from a great deal of his company the chief of every day was spent by
him at lucas lodge and he sometimes returned to longbourn only in time
to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed 

mrs bennet was really in a most pitiable state the very mention of
anything concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour 
and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of the sight
of miss lucas was odious to her as her successor in that house she
regarded her with jealous abhorrence whenever charlotte came to see
them she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession and
whenever she spoke in a low voice to mr collins was convinced that
they were talking of the longbourn estate and resolving to turn herself
and her daughters out of the house as soon as mr bennet were dead she
complained bitterly of all this to her husband 

 indeed mr bennet said she it is very hard to think that charlotte
lucas should ever be mistress of this house that i should be forced to
make way for her and live to see her take her place in it 

 my dear do not give way to such gloomy thoughts let us hope for
better things let us flatter ourselves that i may be the survivor 

this was not very consoling to mrs bennet and therefore instead of
making any answer she went on as before 

 i cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate if it was
not for the entail i should not mind it 

 what should not you mind 

 i should not mind anything at all 

 let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such
insensibility 

 i never can be thankful mr bennet for anything about the entail how
anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own
daughters i cannot understand and all for the sake of mr collins too 
why should he have it more than anybody else 

 i leave it to yourself to determine said mr bennet 



chapter 24


miss bingley's letter arrived and put an end to doubt the very first
sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in london for
the winter and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had
time to pay his respects to his friends in hertfordshire before he left
the country 

hope was over entirely over and when jane could attend to the rest
of the letter she found little except the professed affection of the
writer that could give her any comfort miss darcy's praise occupied
the chief of it her many attractions were again dwelt on and caroline
boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy and ventured to predict
the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former
letter she wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an
inmate of mr darcy's house and mentioned with raptures some plans of
the latter with regard to new furniture 

elizabeth to whom jane very soon communicated the chief of all this 
heard it in silent indignation her heart was divided between concern
for her sister and resentment against all others to caroline's
assertion of her brother's being partial to miss darcy she paid no
credit that he was really fond of jane she doubted no more than she
had ever done and much as she had always been disposed to like him she
could not think without anger hardly without contempt on that easiness
of temper that want of proper resolution which now made him the slave
of his designing friends and led him to sacrifice of his own happiness
to the caprice of their inclination had his own happiness however 
been the only sacrifice he might have been allowed to sport with it in
whatever manner he thought best but her sister's was involved in it as
she thought he must be sensible himself it was a subject in short 
on which reflection would be long indulged and must be unavailing she
could think of nothing else and yet whether bingley's regard had really
died away or were suppressed by his friends' interference whether
he had been aware of jane's attachment or whether it had escaped his
observation whatever were the case though her opinion of him must be
materially affected by the difference her sister's situation remained
the same her peace equally wounded 

a day or two passed before jane had courage to speak of her feelings to
elizabeth but at last on mrs bennet's leaving them together after a
longer irritation than usual about netherfield and its master she could
not help saying 

 oh that my dear mother had more command over herself she can have no
idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him but
i will not repine it cannot last long he will be forgot and we shall
all be as we were before 

elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude but said
nothing 

 you doubt me cried jane slightly colouring indeed you have
no reason he may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my
acquaintance but that is all i have nothing either to hope or fear 
and nothing to reproach him with thank god i have not that pain a
little time therefore i shall certainly try to get the better 

with a stronger voice she soon added i have this comfort immediately 
that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side and that it
has done no harm to anyone but myself 

 my dear jane exclaimed elizabeth you are too good your sweetness
and disinterestedness are really angelic i do not know what to say
to you i feel as if i had never done you justice or loved you as you
deserve 

miss bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit and threw back
the praise on her sister's warm affection 

 nay said elizabeth this is not fair you wish to think all the
world respectable and are hurt if i speak ill of anybody i only want
to think you perfect and you set yourself against it do not
be afraid of my running into any excess of my encroaching on your
privilege of universal good-will you need not there are few people
whom i really love and still fewer of whom i think well the more i see
of the world the more am i dissatisfied with it and every day confirms
my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters and of the
little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or
sense i have met with two instances lately one i will not mention the
other is charlotte's marriage it is unaccountable in every view it is
unaccountable 

 my dear lizzy do not give way to such feelings as these they will
ruin your happiness you do not make allowance enough for difference
of situation and temper consider mr collins's respectability and
charlotte's steady prudent character remember that she is one of a
large family that as to fortune it is a most eligible match and be
ready to believe for everybody's sake that she may feel something like
regard and esteem for our cousin 

 to oblige you i would try to believe almost anything but no one else
could be benefited by such a belief as this for were i persuaded that
charlotte had any regard for him i should only think worse of her
understanding than i now do of her heart my dear jane mr collins is a
conceited pompous narrow-minded silly man you know he is as well as
i do and you must feel as well as i do that the woman who married him
cannot have a proper way of thinking you shall not defend her though
it is charlotte lucas you shall not for the sake of one individual 
change the meaning of principle and integrity nor endeavour to persuade
yourself or me that selfishness is prudence and insensibility of
danger security for happiness 

 i must think your language too strong in speaking of both replied
jane and i hope you will be convinced of it by seeing them happy
together but enough of this you alluded to something else you
mentioned two instances i cannot misunderstand you but i entreat
you dear lizzy not to pain me by thinking that person to blame and
saying your opinion of him is sunk we must not be so ready to fancy
ourselves intentionally injured we must not expect a lively young man
to be always so guarded and circumspect it is very often nothing but
our own vanity that deceives us women fancy admiration means more than
it does 

 and men take care that they should 

 if it is designedly done they cannot be justified but i have no idea
of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine 

 i am far from attributing any part of mr bingley's conduct to design 
 said elizabeth but without scheming to do wrong or to make others
unhappy there may be error and there may be misery thoughtlessness 
want of attention to other people's feelings and want of resolution 
will do the business 

 and do you impute it to either of those 

 yes to the last but if i go on i shall displease you by saying what
i think of persons you esteem stop me whilst you can 

 you persist then in supposing his sisters influence him 

 yes in conjunction with his friend 

 i cannot believe it why should they try to influence him they can
only wish his happiness and if he is attached to me no other woman can
secure it 

 your first position is false they may wish many things besides his
happiness they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence they
may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money great
connections and pride 

 beyond a doubt they do wish him to choose miss darcy replied jane 
 but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing they have
known her much longer than they have known me no wonder if they love
her better but whatever may be their own wishes it is very unlikely
they should have opposed their brother's what sister would think
herself at liberty to do it unless there were something very
objectionable if they believed him attached to me they would not try
to part us if he were so they could not succeed by supposing such an
affection you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong and me most
unhappy do not distress me by the idea i am not ashamed of having been
mistaken or at least it is light it is nothing in comparison of what
i should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters let me take it in
the best light in the light in which it may be understood 

elizabeth could not oppose such a wish and from this time mr bingley's
name was scarcely ever mentioned between them 

mrs bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no
more and though a day seldom passed in which elizabeth did not account
for it clearly there was little chance of her ever considering it with
less perplexity her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she
did not believe herself that his attentions to jane had been merely the
effect of a common and transient liking which ceased when he saw her
no more but though the probability of the statement was admitted at
the time she had the same story to repeat every day mrs bennet's best
comfort was that mr bingley must be down again in the summer 

mr bennet treated the matter differently so lizzy said he one day 
 your sister is crossed in love i find i congratulate her next to
being married a girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then 
it is something to think of and it gives her a sort of distinction
among her companions when is your turn to come you will hardly bear to
be long outdone by jane now is your time here are officers enough in
meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country let wickham
be your man he is a pleasant fellow and would jilt you creditably 

 thank you sir but a less agreeable man would satisfy me we must not
all expect jane's good fortune 

 true said mr bennet but it is a comfort to think that whatever of
that kind may befall you you have an affectionate mother who will make
the most of it 

mr wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom
which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the longbourn
family they saw him often and to his other recommendations was now
added that of general unreserve the whole of what elizabeth had already
heard his claims on mr darcy and all that he had suffered from him 
was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed and everybody was
pleased to know how much they had always disliked mr darcy before they
had known anything of the matter 

miss bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be
any extenuating circumstances in the case unknown to the society
of hertfordshire her mild and steady candour always pleaded for
allowances and urged the possibility of mistakes but by everybody else
mr darcy was condemned as the worst of men 



chapter 25


after a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity 
mr collins was called from his amiable charlotte by the arrival of
saturday the pain of separation however might be alleviated on his
side by preparations for the reception of his bride as he had reason
to hope that shortly after his return into hertfordshire the day would
be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men he took leave of his
relations at longbourn with as much solemnity as before wished his fair
cousins health and happiness again and promised their father another
letter of thanks 

on the following monday mrs bennet had the pleasure of receiving
her brother and his wife who came as usual to spend the christmas
at longbourn mr gardiner was a sensible gentlemanlike man greatly
superior to his sister as well by nature as education the netherfield
ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived
by trade and within view of his own warehouses could have been so
well-bred and agreeable mrs gardiner who was several years younger
than mrs bennet and mrs phillips was an amiable intelligent elegant
woman and a great favourite with all her longbourn nieces between the
two eldest and herself especially there subsisted a particular regard 
they had frequently been staying with her in town 

the first part of mrs gardiner's business on her arrival was to
distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions when this was
done she had a less active part to play it became her turn to listen 
mrs bennet had many grievances to relate and much to complain of they
had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister two of her
girls had been upon the point of marriage and after all there was
nothing in it 

 i do not blame jane she continued for jane would have got mr 
bingley if she could but lizzy oh sister it is very hard to think
that she might have been mr collins's wife by this time had it not
been for her own perverseness he made her an offer in this very room 
and she refused him the consequence of it is that lady lucas will have
a daughter married before i have and that the longbourn estate is just
as much entailed as ever the lucases are very artful people indeed 
sister they are all for what they can get i am sorry to say it of
them but so it is it makes me very nervous and poorly to be thwarted
so in my own family and to have neighbours who think of themselves
before anybody else however your coming just at this time is the
greatest of comforts and i am very glad to hear what you tell us of
long sleeves 

mrs gardiner to whom the chief of this news had been given before 
in the course of jane and elizabeth's correspondence with her made her
sister a slight answer and in compassion to her nieces turned the
conversation 

when alone with elizabeth afterwards she spoke more on the subject it
seems likely to have been a desirable match for jane said she i am
sorry it went off but these things happen so often a young man such
as you describe mr bingley so easily falls in love with a pretty girl
for a few weeks and when accident separates them so easily forgets
her that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent 

 an excellent consolation in its way said elizabeth but it will not
do for us we do not suffer by accident it does not often
happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of
independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in
love with only a few days before 

 but that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed so
doubtful so indefinite that it gives me very little idea it is as
often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour's acquaintance 
as to a real strong attachment pray how violent was mr bingley's
love 

 i never saw a more promising inclination he was growing quite
inattentive to other people and wholly engrossed by her every time
they met it was more decided and remarkable at his own ball he
offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance and i
spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer could there be
finer symptoms is not general incivility the very essence of love 

 oh yes of that kind of love which i suppose him to have felt poor
jane i am sorry for her because with her disposition she may not get
over it immediately it had better have happened to you lizzy you
would have laughed yourself out of it sooner but do you think she
would be prevailed upon to go back with us change of scene might be
of service and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as
anything 

elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal and felt persuaded
of her sister's ready acquiescence 

 i hope added mrs gardiner that no consideration with regard to
this young man will influence her we live in so different a part of
town all our connections are so different and as you well know we go
out so little that it is very improbable that they should meet at all 
unless he really comes to see her 

 and that is quite impossible for he is now in the custody of his
friend and mr darcy would no more suffer him to call on jane in such
a part of london my dear aunt how could you think of it mr darcy may
perhaps have heard of such a place as gracechurch street but he
would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its
impurities were he once to enter it and depend upon it mr bingley
never stirs without him 

 so much the better i hope they will not meet at all but does not jane
correspond with his sister she will not be able to help calling 

 she will drop the acquaintance entirely 

but in spite of the certainty in which elizabeth affected to place this
point as well as the still more interesting one of bingley's being
withheld from seeing jane she felt a solicitude on the subject which
convinced her on examination that she did not consider it entirely
hopeless it was possible and sometimes she thought it probable that
his affection might be reanimated and the influence of his friends
successfully combated by the more natural influence of jane's
attractions 

miss bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure and the
bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the same time than as she
hoped by caroline's not living in the same house with her brother 
she might occasionally spend a morning with her without any danger of
seeing him 

the gardiners stayed a week at longbourn and what with the phillipses 
the lucases and the officers there was not a day without its
engagement mrs bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment
of her brother and sister that they did not once sit down to a family
dinner when the engagement was for home some of the officers always
made part of it of which officers mr wickham was sure to be one and
on these occasions mrs gardiner rendered suspicious by elizabeth's
warm commendation narrowly observed them both without supposing them 
from what she saw to be very seriously in love their preference
of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy and
she resolved to speak to elizabeth on the subject before she left
hertfordshire and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such
an attachment 

to mrs gardiner wickham had one means of affording pleasure 
unconnected with his general powers about ten or a dozen years ago 
before her marriage she had spent a considerable time in that very
part of derbyshire to which he belonged they had therefore many
acquaintances in common and though wickham had been little there since
the death of darcy's father it was yet in his power to give her fresher
intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of
procuring 

mrs gardiner had seen pemberley and known the late mr darcy by
character perfectly well here consequently was an inexhaustible subject
of discourse in comparing her recollection of pemberley with the minute
description which wickham could give and in bestowing her tribute of
praise on the character of its late possessor she was delighting both
him and herself on being made acquainted with the present mr darcy's
treatment of him she tried to remember some of that gentleman's
reputed disposition when quite a lad which might agree with it and
was confident at last that she recollected having heard mr fitzwilliam
darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud ill-natured boy 



chapter 26


mrs gardiner's caution to elizabeth was punctually and kindly given
on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone after
honestly telling her what she thought she thus went on 

 you are too sensible a girl lizzy to fall in love merely because
you are warned against it and therefore i am not afraid of speaking
openly seriously i would have you be on your guard do not involve
yourself or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want
of fortune would make so very imprudent i have nothing to say against
 him he is a most interesting young man and if he had the fortune he
ought to have i should think you could not do better but as it is you
must not let your fancy run away with you you have sense and we all
expect you to use it your father would depend on your resolution and
good conduct i am sure you must not disappoint your father 

 my dear aunt this is being serious indeed 

 yes and i hope to engage you to be serious likewise 

 well then you need not be under any alarm i will take care of
myself and of mr wickham too he shall not be in love with me if i
can prevent it 

 elizabeth you are not serious now 

 i beg your pardon i will try again at present i am not in love with
mr wickham no i certainly am not but he is beyond all comparison 
the most agreeable man i ever saw and if he becomes really attached to
me i believe it will be better that he should not i see the imprudence
of it oh that abominable mr darcy my father's opinion of me does
me the greatest honour and i should be miserable to forfeit it my
father however is partial to mr wickham in short my dear aunt i
should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy but
since we see every day that where there is affection young people
are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into
engagements with each other how can i promise to be wiser than so many
of my fellow-creatures if i am tempted or how am i even to know that it
would be wisdom to resist all that i can promise you therefore is not
to be in a hurry i will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first
object when i am in company with him i will not be wishing in short 
i will do my best 

 perhaps it will be as well if you discourage his coming here so very
often at least you should not remind your mother of inviting him 

 as i did the other day said elizabeth with a conscious smile very
true it will be wise in me to refrain from that but do not imagine
that he is always here so often it is on your account that he has been
so frequently invited this week you know my mother's ideas as to the
necessity of constant company for her friends but really and upon my
honour i will try to do what i think to be the wisest and now i hope
you are satisfied 

her aunt assured her that she was and elizabeth having thanked her for
the kindness of her hints they parted a wonderful instance of advice
being given on such a point without being resented 

mr collins returned into hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted
by the gardiners and jane but as he took up his abode with the lucases 
his arrival was no great inconvenience to mrs bennet his marriage was
now fast approaching and she was at length so far resigned as to think
it inevitable and even repeatedly to say in an ill-natured tone that
she wished they might be happy thursday was to be the wedding day 
and on wednesday miss lucas paid her farewell visit and when she
rose to take leave elizabeth ashamed of her mother's ungracious and
reluctant good wishes and sincerely affected herself accompanied her
out of the room as they went downstairs together charlotte said 

 i shall depend on hearing from you very often eliza 

 that you certainly shall 

 and i have another favour to ask you will you come and see me 

 we shall often meet i hope in hertfordshire 

 i am not likely to leave kent for some time promise me therefore to
come to hunsford 

elizabeth could not refuse though she foresaw little pleasure in the
visit 

 my father and maria are coming to me in march added charlotte and i
hope you will consent to be of the party indeed eliza you will be as
welcome as either of them 

the wedding took place the bride and bridegroom set off for kent from
the church door and everybody had as much to say or to hear on
the subject as usual elizabeth soon heard from her friend and their
correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been that
it should be equally unreserved was impossible elizabeth could never
address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over 
and though determined not to slacken as a correspondent it was for the
sake of what had been rather than what was charlotte's first letters
were received with a good deal of eagerness there could not but be
curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home how she would
like lady catherine and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to
be though when the letters were read elizabeth felt that charlotte
expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen she
wrote cheerfully seemed surrounded with comforts and mentioned nothing
which she could not praise the house furniture neighbourhood and
roads were all to her taste and lady catherine's behaviour was most
friendly and obliging it was mr collins's picture of hunsford and
rosings rationally softened and elizabeth perceived that she must wait
for her own visit there to know the rest 

jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their
safe arrival in london and when she wrote again elizabeth hoped it
would be in her power to say something of the bingleys 

her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience
generally is jane had been a week in town without either seeing or
hearing from caroline she accounted for it however by supposing that
her last letter to her friend from longbourn had by some accident been
lost 

 my aunt she continued is going to-morrow into that part of the
town and i shall take the opportunity of calling in grosvenor street 

she wrote again when the visit was paid and she had seen miss bingley 
 i did not think caroline in spirits were her words but she was very
glad to see me and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming
to london i was right therefore my last letter had never reached
her i inquired after their brother of course he was well but so much
engaged with mr darcy that they scarcely ever saw him i found that
miss darcy was expected to dinner i wish i could see her my visit was
not long as caroline and mrs hurst were going out i dare say i shall
see them soon here 

elizabeth shook her head over this letter it convinced her that
accident only could discover to mr bingley her sister's being in town 

four weeks passed away and jane saw nothing of him she endeavoured to
persuade herself that she did not regret it but she could no longer be
blind to miss bingley's inattention after waiting at home every morning
for a fortnight and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her the
visitor did at last appear but the shortness of her stay and yet more 
the alteration of her manner would allow jane to deceive herself no
longer the letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister will
prove what she felt 

 my dearest lizzy will i am sure be incapable of triumphing in her
better judgement at my expense when i confess myself to have been
entirely deceived in miss bingley's regard for me but my dear sister 
though the event has proved you right do not think me obstinate if i
still assert that considering what her behaviour was my confidence was
as natural as your suspicion i do not at all comprehend her reason for
wishing to be intimate with me but if the same circumstances were to
happen again i am sure i should be deceived again caroline did not
return my visit till yesterday and not a note not a line did i
receive in the meantime when she did come it was very evident that
she had no pleasure in it she made a slight formal apology for not
calling before said not a word of wishing to see me again and was
in every respect so altered a creature that when she went away i was
perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer i pity 
though i cannot help blaming her she was very wrong in singling me out
as she did i can safely say that every advance to intimacy began on
her side but i pity her because she must feel that she has been acting
wrong and because i am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the
cause of it i need not explain myself farther and though we know
this anxiety to be quite needless yet if she feels it it will easily
account for her behaviour to me and so deservedly dear as he is to
his sister whatever anxiety she must feel on his behalf is natural and
amiable i cannot but wonder however at her having any such fears now 
because if he had at all cared about me we must have met long ago 
he knows of my being in town i am certain from something she said
herself and yet it would seem by her manner of talking as if she
wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to miss darcy i
cannot understand it if i were not afraid of judging harshly i should
be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity
in all this but i will endeavour to banish every painful thought 
and think only of what will make me happy your affection and the
invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt let me hear from you very
soon miss bingley said something of his never returning to netherfield
again of giving up the house but not with any certainty we had better
not mention it i am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts
from our friends at hunsford pray go to see them with sir william and
maria i am sure you will be very comfortable there yours etc 

this letter gave elizabeth some pain but her spirits returned as she
considered that jane would no longer be duped by the sister at least 
all expectation from the brother was now absolutely over she would not
even wish for a renewal of his attentions his character sunk on
every review of it and as a punishment for him as well as a possible
advantage to jane she seriously hoped he might really soon marry mr 
darcy's sister as by wickham's account she would make him abundantly
regret what he had thrown away 

mrs gardiner about this time reminded elizabeth of her promise
concerning that gentleman and required information and elizabeth
had such to send as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to
herself his apparent partiality had subsided his attentions were over 
he was the admirer of some one else elizabeth was watchful enough to
see it all but she could see it and write of it without material pain 
her heart had been but slightly touched and her vanity was satisfied
with believing that she would have been his only choice had fortune
permitted it the sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most
remarkable charm of the young lady to whom he was now rendering himself
agreeable but elizabeth less clear-sighted perhaps in this case than
in charlotte's did not quarrel with him for his wish of independence 
nothing on the contrary could be more natural and while able to
suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her she was
ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both and could very
sincerely wish him happy 

all this was acknowledged to mrs gardiner and after relating the
circumstances she thus went on i am now convinced my dear aunt that
i have never been much in love for had i really experienced that pure
and elevating passion i should at present detest his very name and
wish him all manner of evil but my feelings are not only cordial
towards him they are even impartial towards miss king i cannot find
out that i hate her at all or that i am in the least unwilling to
think her a very good sort of girl there can be no love in all this my
watchfulness has been effectual and though i certainly should be a more
interesting object to all my acquaintances were i distractedly in love
with him i cannot say that i regret my comparative insignificance 
importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly kitty and lydia take
his defection much more to heart than i do they are young in the
ways of the world and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that
handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain 



chapter 27


with no greater events than these in the longbourn family and otherwise
diversified by little beyond the walks to meryton sometimes dirty and
sometimes cold did january and february pass away march was to take
elizabeth to hunsford she had not at first thought very seriously of
going thither but charlotte she soon found was depending on the plan
and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure
as well as greater certainty absence had increased her desire of seeing
charlotte again and weakened her disgust of mr collins there
was novelty in the scheme and as with such a mother and such
uncompanionable sisters home could not be faultless a little change
was not unwelcome for its own sake the journey would moreover give her
a peep at jane and in short as the time drew near she would have
been very sorry for any delay everything however went on smoothly 
and was finally settled according to charlotte's first sketch she was
to accompany sir william and his second daughter the improvement
of spending a night in london was added in time and the plan became
perfect as plan could be 

the only pain was in leaving her father who would certainly miss her 
and who when it came to the point so little liked her going that he
told her to write to him and almost promised to answer her letter 

the farewell between herself and mr wickham was perfectly friendly on
his side even more his present pursuit could not make him forget that
elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention the
first to listen and to pity the first to be admired and in his manner
of bidding her adieu wishing her every enjoyment reminding her of
what she was to expect in lady catherine de bourgh and trusting their
opinion of her their opinion of everybody would always coincide there
was a solicitude an interest which she felt must ever attach her to
him with a most sincere regard and she parted from him convinced that 
whether married or single he must always be her model of the amiable
and pleasing 

her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her
think him less agreeable sir william lucas and his daughter maria a
good-humoured girl but as empty-headed as himself had nothing to say
that could be worth hearing and were listened to with about as much
delight as the rattle of the chaise elizabeth loved absurdities but
she had known sir william's too long he could tell her nothing new of
the wonders of his presentation and knighthood and his civilities were
worn out like his information 

it was a journey of only twenty-four miles and they began it so early
as to be in gracechurch street by noon as they drove to mr gardiner's
door jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival when
they entered the passage she was there to welcome them and elizabeth 
looking earnestly in her face was pleased to see it healthful and
lovely as ever on the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls 
whose eagerness for their cousin's appearance would not allow them to
wait in the drawing-room and whose shyness as they had not seen
her for a twelvemonth prevented their coming lower all was joy and
kindness the day passed most pleasantly away the morning in bustle and
shopping and the evening at one of the theatres 

elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt their first object was her
sister and she was more grieved than astonished to hear in reply to
her minute inquiries that though jane always struggled to support her
spirits there were periods of dejection it was reasonable however 
to hope that they would not continue long mrs gardiner gave her the
particulars also of miss bingley's visit in gracechurch street and
repeated conversations occurring at different times between jane and
herself which proved that the former had from her heart given up the
acquaintance 

mrs gardiner then rallied her niece on wickham's desertion and
complimented her on bearing it so well 

 but my dear elizabeth she added what sort of girl is miss king i
should be sorry to think our friend mercenary 

 pray my dear aunt what is the difference in matrimonial affairs 
between the mercenary and the prudent motive where does discretion end 
and avarice begin last christmas you were afraid of his marrying me 
because it would be imprudent and now because he is trying to get
a girl with only ten thousand pounds you want to find out that he is
mercenary 

 if you will only tell me what sort of girl miss king is i shall know
what to think 

 she is a very good kind of girl i believe i know no harm of her 

 but he paid her not the smallest attention till her grandfather's death
made her mistress of this fortune 

 no why should he if it were not allowable for him to gain my 
affections because i had no money what occasion could there be for
making love to a girl whom he did not care about and who was equally
poor 

 but there seems an indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her
so soon after this event 

 a man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant
decorums which other people may observe if she does not object to it 
why should we 

 her not objecting does not justify him it only shows her being
deficient in something herself sense or feeling 

 well cried elizabeth have it as you choose he shall be
mercenary and she shall be foolish 

 no lizzy that is what i do not choose i should be sorry you know 
to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in derbyshire 

 oh if that is all i have a very poor opinion of young men who live in
derbyshire and their intimate friends who live in hertfordshire are not
much better i am sick of them all thank heaven i am going to-morrow
where i shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality who has
neither manner nor sense to recommend him stupid men are the only ones
worth knowing after all 

 take care lizzy that speech savours strongly of disappointment 

before they were separated by the conclusion of the play she had the
unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in
a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer 

 we have not determined how far it shall carry us said mrs gardiner 
 but perhaps to the lakes 

no scheme could have been more agreeable to elizabeth and her
acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful oh my dear 
dear aunt she rapturously cried what delight what felicity you
give me fresh life and vigour adieu to disappointment and spleen what
are young men to rocks and mountains oh what hours of transport
we shall spend and when we do return it shall not be like other
travellers without being able to give one accurate idea of anything we
 will know where we have gone we will recollect what we have seen 
lakes mountains and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our
imaginations nor when we attempt to describe any particular scene 
will we begin quarreling about its relative situation let our 
first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of
travellers 



chapter 28


every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to
elizabeth and her spirits were in a state of enjoyment for she had
seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health 
and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight 

when they left the high road for the lane to hunsford every eye was in
search of the parsonage and every turning expected to bring it in view 
the palings of rosings park was their boundary on one side elizabeth
smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants 

at length the parsonage was discernible the garden sloping to the
road the house standing in it the green pales and the laurel hedge 
everything declared they were arriving mr collins and charlotte
appeared at the door and the carriage stopped at the small gate which
led by a short gravel walk to the house amidst the nods and smiles of
the whole party in a moment they were all out of the chaise rejoicing
at the sight of each other mrs collins welcomed her friend with the
liveliest pleasure and elizabeth was more and more satisfied with
coming when she found herself so affectionately received she saw
instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage 
his formal civility was just what it had been and he detained her some
minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after all her
family they were then with no other delay than his pointing out the
neatness of the entrance taken into the house and as soon as they
were in the parlour he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious
formality to his humble abode and punctually repeated all his wife's
offers of refreshment 

elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory and she could not help
in fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room its
aspect and its furniture he addressed himself particularly to her 
as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him but
though everything seemed neat and comfortable she was not able to
gratify him by any sigh of repentance and rather looked with wonder at
her friend that she could have so cheerful an air with such a companion 
when mr collins said anything of which his wife might reasonably be
ashamed which certainly was not unseldom she involuntarily turned her
eye on charlotte once or twice she could discern a faint blush but
in general charlotte wisely did not hear after sitting long enough to
admire every article of furniture in the room from the sideboard to
the fender to give an account of their journey and of all that had
happened in london mr collins invited them to take a stroll in the
garden which was large and well laid out and to the cultivation of
which he attended himself to work in this garden was one of his most
respectable pleasures and elizabeth admired the command of countenance
with which charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise and
owned she encouraged it as much as possible here leading the way
through every walk and cross walk and scarcely allowing them an
interval to utter the praises he asked for every view was pointed out
with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind he could number the
fields in every direction and could tell how many trees there were in
the most distant clump but of all the views which his garden or which
the country or kingdom could boast none were to be compared with the
prospect of rosings afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered
the park nearly opposite the front of his house it was a handsome
modern building well situated on rising ground 

from his garden mr collins would have led them round his two meadows 
but the ladies not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white
frost turned back and while sir william accompanied him charlotte
took her sister and friend over the house extremely well pleased 
probably to have the opportunity of showing it without her husband's
help it was rather small but well built and convenient and everything
was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which
elizabeth gave charlotte all the credit when mr collins could be
forgotten there was really an air of great comfort throughout and by
charlotte's evident enjoyment of it elizabeth supposed he must be often
forgotten 

she had already learnt that lady catherine was still in the country it
was spoken of again while they were at dinner when mr collins joining
in observed 

 yes miss elizabeth you will have the honour of seeing lady catherine
de bourgh on the ensuing sunday at church and i need not say you will
be delighted with her she is all affability and condescension and i
doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice
when service is over i have scarcely any hesitation in saying she
will include you and my sister maria in every invitation with which she
honours us during your stay here her behaviour to my dear charlotte is
charming we dine at rosings twice every week and are never allowed
to walk home her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us i
 should say one of her ladyship's carriages for she has several 

 lady catherine is a very respectable sensible woman indeed added
charlotte and a most attentive neighbour 

 very true my dear that is exactly what i say she is the sort of
woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference 

the evening was spent chiefly in talking over hertfordshire news 
and telling again what had already been written and when it closed 
elizabeth in the solitude of her chamber had to meditate upon
charlotte's degree of contentment to understand her address in guiding 
and composure in bearing with her husband and to acknowledge that it
was all done very well she had also to anticipate how her visit
would pass the quiet tenor of their usual employments the vexatious
interruptions of mr collins and the gaieties of their intercourse with
rosings a lively imagination soon settled it all 

about the middle of the next day as she was in her room getting ready
for a walk a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in
confusion and after listening a moment she heard somebody running
up stairs in a violent hurry and calling loudly after her she opened
the door and met maria in the landing place who breathless with
agitation cried out 

 oh my dear eliza pray make haste and come into the dining-room for
there is such a sight to be seen i will not tell you what it is make
haste and come down this moment 

elizabeth asked questions in vain maria would tell her nothing more 
and down they ran into the dining-room which fronted the lane in
quest of this wonder it was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the
garden gate 

 and is this all cried elizabeth i expected at least that the pigs
were got into the garden and here is nothing but lady catherine and her
daughter 

 la my dear said maria quite shocked at the mistake it is not
lady catherine the old lady is mrs jenkinson who lives with them 
the other is miss de bourgh only look at her she is quite a little
creature who would have thought that she could be so thin and small 

 she is abominably rude to keep charlotte out of doors in all this wind 
why does she not come in 

 oh charlotte says she hardly ever does it is the greatest of favours
when miss de bourgh comes in 

 i like her appearance said elizabeth struck with other ideas she
looks sickly and cross yes she will do for him very well she will
make him a very proper wife 

mr collins and charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation
with the ladies and sir william to elizabeth's high diversion was
stationed in the doorway in earnest contemplation of the greatness
before him and constantly bowing whenever miss de bourgh looked that
way 

at length there was nothing more to be said the ladies drove on and
the others returned into the house mr collins no sooner saw the two
girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune which
charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked
to dine at rosings the next day 



chapter 29


mr collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete 
the power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering
visitors and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his
wife was exactly what he had wished for and that an opportunity
of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of lady
catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough 

 i confess said he that i should not have been at all surprised by
her ladyship's asking us on sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at
rosings i rather expected from my knowledge of her affability that it
would happen but who could have foreseen such an attention as this who
could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there
 an invitation moreover including the whole party so immediately
after your arrival 

 i am the less surprised at what has happened replied sir william 
 from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are which
my situation in life has allowed me to acquire about the court such
instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon 

scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their
visit to rosings mr collins was carefully instructing them in what
they were to expect that the sight of such rooms so many servants and
so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them 

when the ladies were separating for the toilette he said to elizabeth 

 do not make yourself uneasy my dear cousin about your apparel lady
catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which
becomes herself and her daughter i would advise you merely to put on
whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest there is no occasion
for anything more lady catherine will not think the worse of you
for being simply dressed she likes to have the distinction of rank
preserved 

while they were dressing he came two or three times to their different
doors to recommend their being quick as lady catherine very much
objected to be kept waiting for her dinner such formidable accounts of
her ladyship and her manner of living quite frightened maria lucas
who had been little used to company and she looked forward to her
introduction at rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done
to his presentation at st james's 

as the weather was fine they had a pleasant walk of about half a
mile across the park every park has its beauty and its prospects and
elizabeth saw much to be pleased with though she could not be in such
raptures as mr collins expected the scene to inspire and was but
slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the
house and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally
cost sir lewis de bourgh 

when they ascended the steps to the hall maria's alarm was every
moment increasing and even sir william did not look perfectly calm 
elizabeth's courage did not fail her she had heard nothing of lady
catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or
miraculous virtue and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought
she could witness without trepidation 

from the entrance-hall of which mr collins pointed out with a
rapturous air the fine proportion and the finished ornaments they
followed the servants through an ante-chamber to the room where lady
catherine her daughter and mrs jenkinson were sitting her ladyship 
with great condescension arose to receive them and as mrs collins had
settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should
be hers it was performed in a proper manner without any of those
apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary 

in spite of having been at st james's sir william was so completely
awed by the grandeur surrounding him that he had but just courage
enough to make a very low bow and take his seat without saying a word 
and his daughter frightened almost out of her senses sat on the edge
of her chair not knowing which way to look elizabeth found herself
quite equal to the scene and could observe the three ladies before her
composedly lady catherine was a tall large woman with strongly-marked
features which might once have been handsome her air was not
conciliating nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her
visitors forget their inferior rank she was not rendered formidable by
silence but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone 
as marked her self-importance and brought mr wickham immediately to
elizabeth's mind and from the observation of the day altogether she
believed lady catherine to be exactly what he represented 

when after examining the mother in whose countenance and deportment
she soon found some resemblance of mr darcy she turned her eyes on the
daughter she could almost have joined in maria's astonishment at her
being so thin and so small there was neither in figure nor face any
likeness between the ladies miss de bourgh was pale and sickly her
features though not plain were insignificant and she spoke very
little except in a low voice to mrs jenkinson in whose appearance
there was nothing remarkable and who was entirely engaged in listening
to what she said and placing a screen in the proper direction before
her eyes 

after sitting a few minutes they were all sent to one of the windows to
admire the view mr collins attending them to point out its beauties 
and lady catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth
looking at in the summer 

the dinner was exceedingly handsome and there were all the servants and
all the articles of plate which mr collins had promised and as he had
likewise foretold he took his seat at the bottom of the table by her
ladyship's desire and looked as if he felt that life could furnish
nothing greater he carved and ate and praised with delighted
alacrity and every dish was commended first by him and then by sir
william who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law
said in a manner which elizabeth wondered lady catherine could bear 
but lady catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration and
gave most gracious smiles especially when any dish on the table proved
a novelty to them the party did not supply much conversation elizabeth
was ready to speak whenever there was an opening but she was seated
between charlotte and miss de bourgh the former of whom was engaged in
listening to lady catherine and the latter said not a word to her all
dinner-time mrs jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little
miss de bourgh ate pressing her to try some other dish and fearing
she was indisposed maria thought speaking out of the question and the
gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire 

when the ladies returned to the drawing-room there was little to
be done but to hear lady catherine talk which she did without any
intermission till coffee came in delivering her opinion on every
subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to
have her judgement controverted she inquired into charlotte's domestic
concerns familiarly and minutely gave her a great deal of advice as
to the management of them all told her how everything ought to be
regulated in so small a family as hers and instructed her as to the
care of her cows and her poultry elizabeth found that nothing was
beneath this great lady's attention which could furnish her with an
occasion of dictating to others in the intervals of her discourse
with mrs collins she addressed a variety of questions to maria and
elizabeth but especially to the latter of whose connections she knew
the least and who she observed to mrs collins was a very genteel 
pretty kind of girl she asked her at different times how many sisters
she had whether they were older or younger than herself whether any of
them were likely to be married whether they were handsome where they
had been educated what carriage her father kept and what had been
her mother's maiden name elizabeth felt all the impertinence of
her questions but answered them very composedly lady catherine then
observed 

 your father's estate is entailed on mr collins i think for your
sake turning to charlotte i am glad of it but otherwise i see no
occasion for entailing estates from the female line it was not thought
necessary in sir lewis de bourgh's family do you play and sing miss
bennet 

 a little 

 oh then some time or other we shall be happy to hear you our
instrument is a capital one probably superior to you shall try it
some day do your sisters play and sing 

 one of them does 

 why did not you all learn you ought all to have learned the miss
webbs all play and their father has not so good an income as yours do
you draw 

 no not at all 

 what none of you 

 not one 

 that is very strange but i suppose you had no opportunity your mother
should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters 

 my mother would have had no objection but my father hates london 

 has your governess left you 

 we never had any governess 

 no governess how was that possible five daughters brought up at home
without a governess i never heard of such a thing your mother must
have been quite a slave to your education 

elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been
the case 

 then who taught you who attended to you without a governess you
must have been neglected 

 compared with some families i believe we were but such of us as
wished to learn never wanted the means we were always encouraged to
read and had all the masters that were necessary those who chose to be
idle certainly might 

 aye no doubt but that is what a governess will prevent and if i had
known your mother i should have advised her most strenuously to engage
one i always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady
and regular instruction and nobody but a governess can give it it is
wonderful how many families i have been the means of supplying in that
way i am always glad to get a young person well placed out four nieces
of mrs jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means and
it was but the other day that i recommended another young person 
who was merely accidentally mentioned to me and the family are quite
delighted with her mrs collins did i tell you of lady metcalf's
calling yesterday to thank me she finds miss pope a treasure 'lady
catherine ' said she 'you have given me a treasure ' are any of your
younger sisters out miss bennet 

 yes ma'am all 

 all what all five out at once very odd and you only the second the
younger ones out before the elder ones are married your younger sisters
must be very young 

 yes my youngest is not sixteen perhaps she is full young to be
much in company but really ma'am i think it would be very hard upon
younger sisters that they should not have their share of society and
amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to
marry early the last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth
as the first and to be kept back on such a motive i think it would
not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind 

 upon my word said her ladyship you give your opinion very decidedly
for so young a person pray what is your age 

 with three younger sisters grown up replied elizabeth smiling your
ladyship can hardly expect me to own it 

lady catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer 
and elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever
dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence 

 you cannot be more than twenty i am sure therefore you need not
conceal your age 

 i am not one-and-twenty 

when the gentlemen had joined them and tea was over the card-tables
were placed lady catherine sir william and mr and mrs collins sat
down to quadrille and as miss de bourgh chose to play at cassino the
two girls had the honour of assisting mrs jenkinson to make up her
party their table was superlatively stupid scarcely a syllable was
uttered that did not relate to the game except when mrs jenkinson
expressed her fears of miss de bourgh's being too hot or too cold or
having too much or too little light a great deal more passed at the
other table lady catherine was generally speaking stating the mistakes
of the three others or relating some anecdote of herself mr collins
was employed in agreeing to everything her ladyship said thanking her
for every fish he won and apologising if he thought he won too many 
sir william did not say much he was storing his memory with anecdotes
and noble names 

when lady catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose 
the tables were broken up the carriage was offered to mrs collins 
gratefully accepted and immediately ordered the party then gathered
round the fire to hear lady catherine determine what weather they were
to have on the morrow from these instructions they were summoned by
the arrival of the coach and with many speeches of thankfulness on mr 
collins's side and as many bows on sir william's they departed as soon
as they had driven from the door elizabeth was called on by her cousin
to give her opinion of all that she had seen at rosings which for
charlotte's sake she made more favourable than it really was but her
commendation though costing her some trouble could by no means satisfy
mr collins and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise
into his own hands 



chapter 30


sir william stayed only a week at hunsford but his visit was long
enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled 
and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not
often met with while sir william was with them mr collins devoted his
morning to driving him out in his gig and showing him the country but
when he went away the whole family returned to their usual employments 
and elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her
cousin by the alteration for the chief of the time between breakfast
and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden or in
reading and writing and looking out of the window in his own book-room 
which fronted the road the room in which the ladies sat was backwards 
elizabeth had at first rather wondered that charlotte should not prefer
the dining-parlour for common use it was a better sized room and had a
more pleasant aspect but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent
reason for what she did for mr collins would undoubtedly have been
much less in his own apartment had they sat in one equally lively and
she gave charlotte credit for the arrangement 

from the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane and
were indebted to mr collins for the knowledge of what carriages went
along and how often especially miss de bourgh drove by in her phaeton 
which he never failed coming to inform them of though it happened
almost every day she not unfrequently stopped at the parsonage and
had a few minutes' conversation with charlotte but was scarcely ever
prevailed upon to get out 

very few days passed in which mr collins did not walk to rosings and
not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise 
and till elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings
to be disposed of she could not understand the sacrifice of so many
hours now and then they were honoured with a call from her ladyship 
and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during
these visits she examined into their employments looked at their work 
and advised them to do it differently found fault with the arrangement
of the furniture or detected the housemaid in negligence and if she
accepted any refreshment seemed to do it only for the sake of finding
out that mrs collins's joints of meat were too large for her family 

elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in
commission of the peace of the county she was a most active magistrate
in her own parish the minutest concerns of which were carried to her
by mr collins and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to
be quarrelsome discontented or too poor she sallied forth into the
village to settle their differences silence their complaints and scold
them into harmony and plenty 

the entertainment of dining at rosings was repeated about twice a week 
and allowing for the loss of sir william and there being only one
card-table in the evening every such entertainment was the counterpart
of the first their other engagements were few as the style of living
in the neighbourhood in general was beyond mr collins's reach this 
however was no evil to elizabeth and upon the whole she spent her time
comfortably enough there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with
charlotte and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had
often great enjoyment out of doors her favourite walk and where she
frequently went while the others were calling on lady catherine was
along the open grove which edged that side of the park where there was
a nice sheltered path which no one seemed to value but herself and
where she felt beyond the reach of lady catherine's curiosity 

in this quiet way the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away 
easter was approaching and the week preceding it was to bring an
addition to the family at rosings which in so small a circle must be
important elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that mr darcy was
expected there in the course of a few weeks and though there were not
many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer his coming would
furnish one comparatively new to look at in their rosings parties and
she might be amused in seeing how hopeless miss bingley's designs on him
were by his behaviour to his cousin for whom he was evidently
destined by lady catherine who talked of his coming with the greatest
satisfaction spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration and
seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by
miss lucas and herself 

his arrival was soon known at the parsonage for mr collins was walking
the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into hunsford lane 
in order to have the earliest assurance of it and after making his
bow as the carriage turned into the park hurried home with the great
intelligence on the following morning he hastened to rosings to pay his
respects there were two nephews of lady catherine to require them for
mr darcy had brought with him a colonel fitzwilliam the younger son of
his uncle lord and to the great surprise of all the party when
mr collins returned the gentlemen accompanied him charlotte had seen
them from her husband's room crossing the road and immediately running
into the other told the girls what an honour they might expect adding 

 i may thank you eliza for this piece of civility mr darcy would
never have come so soon to wait upon me 

elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment 
before their approach was announced by the door-bell and shortly
afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room colonel fitzwilliam 
who led the way was about thirty not handsome but in person and
address most truly the gentleman mr darcy looked just as he had been
used to look in hertfordshire paid his compliments with his usual
reserve to mrs collins and whatever might be his feelings toward her
friend met her with every appearance of composure elizabeth merely
curtseyed to him without saying a word 

colonel fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the
readiness and ease of a well-bred man and talked very pleasantly but
his cousin after having addressed a slight observation on the house and
garden to mrs collins sat for some time without speaking to anybody 
at length however his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of
elizabeth after the health of her family she answered him in the usual
way and after a moment's pause added 

 my eldest sister has been in town these three months have you never
happened to see her there 

she was perfectly sensible that he never had but she wished to see
whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between
the bingleys and jane and she thought he looked a little confused as he
answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet miss bennet the
subject was pursued no farther and the gentlemen soon afterwards went
away 



chapter 31


colonel fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the parsonage 
and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures
of their engagements at rosings it was some days however before they
received any invitation thither for while there were visitors in the
house they could not be necessary and it was not till easter-day 
almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival that they were honoured by
such an attention and then they were merely asked on leaving church to
come there in the evening for the last week they had seen very little
of lady catherine or her daughter colonel fitzwilliam had called at the
parsonage more than once during the time but mr darcy they had seen
only at church 

the invitation was accepted of course and at a proper hour they joined
the party in lady catherine's drawing-room her ladyship received
them civilly but it was plain that their company was by no means so
acceptable as when she could get nobody else and she was in fact 
almost engrossed by her nephews speaking to them especially to darcy 
much more than to any other person in the room 

colonel fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them anything was a
welcome relief to him at rosings and mrs collins's pretty friend had
moreover caught his fancy very much he now seated himself by her and
talked so agreeably of kent and hertfordshire of travelling and staying
at home of new books and music that elizabeth had never been half so
well entertained in that room before and they conversed with so much
spirit and flow as to draw the attention of lady catherine herself 
as well as of mr darcy his eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned
towards them with a look of curiosity and that her ladyship after a
while shared the feeling was more openly acknowledged for she did not
scruple to call out 

 what is that you are saying fitzwilliam what is it you are talking
of what are you telling miss bennet let me hear what it is 

 we are speaking of music madam said he when no longer able to avoid
a reply 

 of music then pray speak aloud it is of all subjects my delight i
must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music 
there are few people in england i suppose who have more true enjoyment
of music than myself or a better natural taste if i had ever learnt 
i should have been a great proficient and so would anne if her health
had allowed her to apply i am confident that she would have performed
delightfully how does georgiana get on darcy 

mr darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency 

 i am very glad to hear such a good account of her said lady
catherine and pray tell her from me that she cannot expect to excel
if she does not practice a good deal 

 i assure you madam he replied that she does not need such advice 
she practises very constantly 

 so much the better it cannot be done too much and when i next write
to her i shall charge her not to neglect it on any account i often
tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without
constant practice i have told miss bennet several times that she
will never play really well unless she practises more and though mrs 
collins has no instrument she is very welcome as i have often told
her to come to rosings every day and play on the pianoforte in mrs 
jenkinson's room she would be in nobody's way you know in that part
of the house 

mr darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding and made
no answer 

when coffee was over colonel fitzwilliam reminded elizabeth of having
promised to play to him and she sat down directly to the instrument he
drew a chair near her lady catherine listened to half a song and then
talked as before to her other nephew till the latter walked away
from her and making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte
stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's
countenance elizabeth saw what he was doing and at the first
convenient pause turned to him with an arch smile and said 

 you mean to frighten me mr darcy by coming in all this state to hear
me i will not be alarmed though your sister does play so well there
is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the
will of others my courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate
me 

 i shall not say you are mistaken he replied because you could not
really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you and i have
had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find
great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are
not your own 

elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself and said to
colonel fitzwilliam your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of
me and teach you not to believe a word i say i am particularly unlucky
in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character in a part
of the world where i had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of
credit indeed mr darcy it is very ungenerous in you to mention all
that you knew to my disadvantage in hertfordshire and give me leave to
say very impolitic too for it is provoking me to retaliate and such
things may come out as will shock your relations to hear 

 i am not afraid of you said he smilingly 

 pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of cried colonel
fitzwilliam i should like to know how he behaves among strangers 

 you shall hear then but prepare yourself for something very dreadful 
the first time of my ever seeing him in hertfordshire you must know 
was at a ball and at this ball what do you think he did he danced
only four dances though gentlemen were scarce and to my certain
knowledge more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a
partner mr darcy you cannot deny the fact 

 i had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly
beyond my own party 

 true and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room well colonel
fitzwilliam what do i play next my fingers wait your orders 

 perhaps said darcy i should have judged better had i sought an
introduction but i am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers 

 shall we ask your cousin the reason of this said elizabeth still
addressing colonel fitzwilliam shall we ask him why a man of sense and
education and who has lived in the world is ill qualified to recommend
himself to strangers 

 i can answer your question said fitzwilliam without applying to
him it is because he will not give himself the trouble 

 i certainly have not the talent which some people possess said darcy 
 of conversing easily with those i have never seen before i cannot
catch their tone of conversation or appear interested in their
concerns as i often see done 

 my fingers said elizabeth do not move over this instrument in the
masterly manner which i see so many women's do they have not the same
force or rapidity and do not produce the same expression but then i
have always supposed it to be my own fault because i will not take the
trouble of practising it is not that i do not believe my fingers as
capable as any other woman's of superior execution 

darcy smiled and said you are perfectly right you have employed your
time much better no one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can
think anything wanting we neither of us perform to strangers 

here they were interrupted by lady catherine who called out to know
what they were talking of elizabeth immediately began playing again 
lady catherine approached and after listening for a few minutes said
to darcy 

 miss bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more and
could have the advantage of a london master she has a very good notion
of fingering though her taste is not equal to anne's anne would have
been a delightful performer had her health allowed her to learn 

elizabeth looked at darcy to see how cordially he assented to his
cousin's praise but neither at that moment nor at any other could she
discern any symptom of love and from the whole of his behaviour to miss
de bourgh she derived this comfort for miss bingley that he might have
been just as likely to marry her had she been his relation 

lady catherine continued her remarks on elizabeth's performance mixing
with them many instructions on execution and taste elizabeth received
them with all the forbearance of civility and at the request of the
gentlemen remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was
ready to take them all home 



chapter 32


elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning and writing to jane
while mrs collins and maria were gone on business into the village 
when she was startled by a ring at the door the certain signal of a
visitor as she had heard no carriage she thought it not unlikely to
be lady catherine and under that apprehension was putting away her
half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions 
when the door opened and to her very great surprise mr darcy and
mr darcy only entered the room 

he seemed astonished too on finding her alone and apologised for his
intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were
to be within 

they then sat down and when her inquiries after rosings were made 
seemed in danger of sinking into total silence it was absolutely
necessary therefore to think of something and in this emergence
recollecting when she had seen him last in hertfordshire and
feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty
departure she observed 

 how very suddenly you all quitted netherfield last november mr darcy 
it must have been a most agreeable surprise to mr bingley to see you
all after him so soon for if i recollect right he went but the day
before he and his sisters were well i hope when you left london 

 perfectly so i thank you 

she found that she was to receive no other answer and after a short
pause added 

 i think i have understood that mr bingley has not much idea of ever
returning to netherfield again 

 i have never heard him say so but it is probable that he may spend
very little of his time there in the future he has many friends and
is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually
increasing 

 if he means to be but little at netherfield it would be better for
the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely for then we
might possibly get a settled family there but perhaps mr bingley did
not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as
for his own and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same
principle 

 i should not be surprised said darcy if he were to give it up as
soon as any eligible purchase offers 

elizabeth made no answer she was afraid of talking longer of his
friend and having nothing else to say was now determined to leave the
trouble of finding a subject to him 

he took the hint and soon began with this seems a very comfortable
house lady catherine i believe did a great deal to it when mr 
collins first came to hunsford 

 i believe she did and i am sure she could not have bestowed her
kindness on a more grateful object 

 mr collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife 

 yes indeed his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one
of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him or have made
him happy if they had my friend has an excellent understanding though
i am not certain that i consider her marrying mr collins as the
wisest thing she ever did she seems perfectly happy however and in a
prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her 

 it must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a
distance of her own family and friends 

 an easy distance do you call it it is nearly fifty miles 

 and what is fifty miles of good road little more than half a day's
journey yes i call it a very easy distance 

 i should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages 
of the match cried elizabeth i should never have said mrs collins
was settled near her family 

 it is a proof of your own attachment to hertfordshire anything beyond
the very neighbourhood of longbourn i suppose would appear far 

as he spoke there was a sort of smile which elizabeth fancied she
understood he must be supposing her to be thinking of jane and
netherfield and she blushed as she answered 

 i do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her
family the far and the near must be relative and depend on many
varying circumstances where there is fortune to make the expenses of
travelling unimportant distance becomes no evil but that is not the
case here mr and mrs collins have a comfortable income but not
such a one as will allow of frequent journeys and i am persuaded my
friend would not call herself near her family under less than half 
the present distance 

mr darcy drew his chair a little towards her and said you cannot
have a right to such very strong local attachment you cannot have
been always at longbourn 

elizabeth looked surprised the gentleman experienced some change of
feeling he drew back his chair took a newspaper from the table and
glancing over it said in a colder voice 

 are you pleased with kent 

a short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued on either side
calm and concise and soon put an end to by the entrance of charlotte
and her sister just returned from her walk the tete-a-tete surprised
them mr darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding
on miss bennet and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying
much to anybody went away 

 what can be the meaning of this said charlotte as soon as he was
gone my dear eliza he must be in love with you or he would never
have called us in this familiar way 

but when elizabeth told of his silence it did not seem very likely 
even to charlotte's wishes to be the case and after various
conjectures they could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from
the difficulty of finding anything to do which was the more probable
from the time of year all field sports were over within doors there
was lady catherine books and a billiard-table but gentlemen cannot
always be within doors and in the nearness of the parsonage or the
pleasantness of the walk to it or of the people who lived in it the
two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking thither
almost every day they called at various times of the morning sometimes
separately sometimes together and now and then accompanied by their
aunt it was plain to them all that colonel fitzwilliam came because he
had pleasure in their society a persuasion which of course recommended
him still more and elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in
being with him as well as by his evident admiration of her of her
former favourite george wickham and though in comparing them she saw
there was less captivating softness in colonel fitzwilliam's manners 
she believed he might have the best informed mind 

but why mr darcy came so often to the parsonage it was more difficult
to understand it could not be for society as he frequently sat there
ten minutes together without opening his lips and when he did speak 
it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice a sacrifice
to propriety not a pleasure to himself he seldom appeared really
animated mrs collins knew not what to make of him colonel
fitzwilliam's occasionally laughing at his stupidity proved that he was
generally different which her own knowledge of him could not have told
her and as she would liked to have believed this change the effect
of love and the object of that love her friend eliza she set herself
seriously to work to find it out she watched him whenever they were at
rosings and whenever he came to hunsford but without much success he
certainly looked at her friend a great deal but the expression of that
look was disputable it was an earnest steadfast gaze but she often
doubted whether there were much admiration in it and sometimes it
seemed nothing but absence of mind 

she had once or twice suggested to elizabeth the possibility of his
being partial to her but elizabeth always laughed at the idea and mrs 
collins did not think it right to press the subject from the danger of
raising expectations which might only end in disappointment for in her
opinion it admitted not of a doubt that all her friend's dislike would
vanish if she could suppose him to be in her power 


in her kind schemes for elizabeth she sometimes planned her marrying
colonel fitzwilliam he was beyond comparison the most pleasant man he
certainly admired her and his situation in life was most eligible but 
to counterbalance these advantages mr darcy had considerable patronage
in the church and his cousin could have none at all 



chapter 33


more than once did elizabeth in her ramble within the park 
unexpectedly meet mr darcy she felt all the perverseness of the
mischance that should bring him where no one else was brought and to
prevent its ever happening again took care to inform him at first that
it was a favourite haunt of hers how it could occur a second time 
therefore was very odd yet it did and even a third it seemed like
wilful ill-nature or a voluntary penance for on these occasions it was
not merely a few formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away 
but he actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her he
never said a great deal nor did she give herself the trouble of talking
or of listening much but it struck her in the course of their third
rencontre that he was asking some odd unconnected questions about
her pleasure in being at hunsford her love of solitary walks and her
opinion of mr and mrs collins's happiness and that in speaking of
rosings and her not perfectly understanding the house he seemed to
expect that whenever she came into kent again she would be staying
 there too his words seemed to imply it could he have colonel
fitzwilliam in his thoughts she supposed if he meant anything he must
mean an allusion to what might arise in that quarter it distressed
her a little and she was quite glad to find herself at the gate in the
pales opposite the parsonage 

she was engaged one day as she walked in perusing jane's last letter 
and dwelling on some passages which proved that jane had not written in
spirits when instead of being again surprised by mr darcy she saw
on looking up that colonel fitzwilliam was meeting her putting away the
letter immediately and forcing a smile she said 

 i did not know before that you ever walked this way 

 i have been making the tour of the park he replied as i generally
do every year and intend to close it with a call at the parsonage are
you going much farther 

 no i should have turned in a moment 

and accordingly she did turn and they walked towards the parsonage
together 

 do you certainly leave kent on saturday said she 

 yes if darcy does not put it off again but i am at his disposal he
arranges the business just as he pleases 

 and if not able to please himself in the arrangement he has at least
pleasure in the great power of choice i do not know anybody who seems
more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than mr darcy 

 he likes to have his own way very well replied colonel fitzwilliam 
 but so we all do it is only that he has better means of having it
than many others because he is rich and many others are poor i speak
feelingly a younger son you know must be inured to self-denial and
dependence 

 in my opinion the younger son of an earl can know very little of
either now seriously what have you ever known of self-denial and
dependence when have you been prevented by want of money from going
wherever you chose or procuring anything you had a fancy for 

 these are home questions and perhaps i cannot say that i have
experienced many hardships of that nature but in matters of greater
weight i may suffer from want of money younger sons cannot marry where
they like 

 unless where they like women of fortune which i think they very often
do 

 our habits of expense make us too dependent and there are not many
in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to
money 

 is this thought elizabeth meant for me and she coloured at the
idea but recovering herself said in a lively tone and pray what
is the usual price of an earl's younger son unless the elder brother is
very sickly i suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds 

he answered her in the same style and the subject dropped to interrupt
a silence which might make him fancy her affected with what had passed 
she soon afterwards said 

 i imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of
having someone at his disposal i wonder he does not marry to secure a
lasting convenience of that kind but perhaps his sister does as well
for the present and as she is under his sole care he may do what he
likes with her 

 no said colonel fitzwilliam that is an advantage which he must
divide with me i am joined with him in the guardianship of miss darcy 

 are you indeed and pray what sort of guardians do you make does your
charge give you much trouble young ladies of her age are sometimes a
little difficult to manage and if she has the true darcy spirit she
may like to have her own way 

as she spoke she observed him looking at her earnestly and the manner
in which he immediately asked her why she supposed miss darcy likely to
give them any uneasiness convinced her that she had somehow or other
got pretty near the truth she directly replied 

 you need not be frightened i never heard any harm of her and i dare
say she is one of the most tractable creatures in the world she is a
very great favourite with some ladies of my acquaintance mrs hurst and
miss bingley i think i have heard you say that you know them 

 i know them a little their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike man he
is a great friend of darcy's 

 oh yes said elizabeth drily mr darcy is uncommonly kind to mr 
bingley and takes a prodigious deal of care of him 

 care of him yes i really believe darcy does take care of him in
those points where he most wants care from something that he told me in
our journey hither i have reason to think bingley very much indebted to
him but i ought to beg his pardon for i have no right to suppose that
bingley was the person meant it was all conjecture 

 what is it you mean 

 it is a circumstance which darcy could not wish to be generally known 
because if it were to get round to the lady's family it would be an
unpleasant thing 

 you may depend upon my not mentioning it 

 and remember that i have not much reason for supposing it to be
bingley what he told me was merely this that he congratulated himself
on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most
imprudent marriage but without mentioning names or any other
particulars and i only suspected it to be bingley from believing
him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort and from
knowing them to have been together the whole of last summer 

 did mr darcy give you reasons for this interference 

 i understood that there were some very strong objections against the
lady 

 and what arts did he use to separate them 

 he did not talk to me of his own arts said fitzwilliam smiling he
only told me what i have now told you 

elizabeth made no answer and walked on her heart swelling with
indignation after watching her a little fitzwilliam asked her why she
was so thoughtful 

 i am thinking of what you have been telling me said she your
cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings why was he to be the judge 

 you are rather disposed to call his interference officious 

 i do not see what right mr darcy had to decide on the propriety of his
friend's inclination or why upon his own judgement alone he was to
determine and direct in what manner his friend was to be happy 
but she continued recollecting herself as we know none of the
particulars it is not fair to condemn him it is not to be supposed
that there was much affection in the case 

 that is not an unnatural surmise said fitzwilliam but it is a
lessening of the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly 

this was spoken jestingly but it appeared to her so just a picture
of mr darcy that she would not trust herself with an answer and
therefore abruptly changing the conversation talked on indifferent
matters until they reached the parsonage there shut into her own room 
as soon as their visitor left them she could think without interruption
of all that she had heard it was not to be supposed that any other
people could be meant than those with whom she was connected there
could not exist in the world two men over whom mr darcy could have
such boundless influence that he had been concerned in the measures
taken to separate bingley and jane she had never doubted but she had
always attributed to miss bingley the principal design and arrangement
of them if his own vanity however did not mislead him he was
the cause his pride and caprice were the cause of all that jane had
suffered and still continued to suffer he had ruined for a while
every hope of happiness for the most affectionate generous heart in the
world and no one could say how lasting an evil he might have inflicted 

 there were some very strong objections against the lady were colonel
fitzwilliam's words and those strong objections probably were her
having one uncle who was a country attorney and another who was in
business in london 

 to jane herself she exclaimed there could be no possibility of
objection all loveliness and goodness as she is her understanding
excellent her mind improved and her manners captivating neither
could anything be urged against my father who though with some
peculiarities has abilities mr darcy himself need not disdain and
respectability which he will probably never reach when she thought of
her mother her confidence gave way a little but she would not allow
that any objections there had material weight with mr darcy whose
pride she was convinced would receive a deeper wound from the want of
importance in his friend's connections than from their want of sense 
and she was quite decided at last that he had been partly governed
by this worst kind of pride and partly by the wish of retaining mr 
bingley for his sister 

the agitation and tears which the subject occasioned brought on a
headache and it grew so much worse towards the evening that added to
her unwillingness to see mr darcy it determined her not to attend her
cousins to rosings where they were engaged to drink tea mrs collins 
seeing that she was really unwell did not press her to go and as much
as possible prevented her husband from pressing her but mr collins
could not conceal his apprehension of lady catherine's being rather
displeased by her staying at home 



chapter 34


when they were gone elizabeth as if intending to exasperate herself
as much as possible against mr darcy chose for her employment the
examination of all the letters which jane had written to her since her
being in kent they contained no actual complaint nor was there any
revival of past occurrences or any communication of present suffering 
but in all and in almost every line of each there was a want of that
cheerfulness which had been used to characterise her style and which 
proceeding from the serenity of a mind at ease with itself and kindly
disposed towards everyone had been scarcely ever clouded elizabeth
noticed every sentence conveying the idea of uneasiness with an
attention which it had hardly received on the first perusal mr darcy's
shameful boast of what misery he had been able to inflict gave her
a keener sense of her sister's sufferings it was some consolation
to think that his visit to rosings was to end on the day after the
next and a still greater that in less than a fortnight she should
herself be with jane again and enabled to contribute to the recovery of
her spirits by all that affection could do 

she could not think of darcy's leaving kent without remembering that
his cousin was to go with him but colonel fitzwilliam had made it clear
that he had no intentions at all and agreeable as he was she did not
mean to be unhappy about him 

while settling this point she was suddenly roused by the sound of the
door-bell and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its
being colonel fitzwilliam himself who had once before called late in
the evening and might now come to inquire particularly after her 
but this idea was soon banished and her spirits were very differently
affected when to her utter amazement she saw mr darcy walk into the
room in an hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her
health imputing his visit to a wish of hearing that she were better 
she answered him with cold civility he sat down for a few moments and
then getting up walked about the room elizabeth was surprised but
said not a word after a silence of several minutes he came towards her
in an agitated manner and thus began 

 in vain i have struggled it will not do my feelings will not be
repressed you must allow me to tell you how ardently i admire and love
you 

elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression she stared coloured 
doubted and was silent this he considered sufficient encouragement 
and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her 
immediately followed he spoke well but there were feelings besides
those of the heart to be detailed and he was not more eloquent on the
subject of tenderness than of pride his sense of her inferiority of
its being a degradation of the family obstacles which had always
opposed to inclination were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to
the consequence he was wounding but was very unlikely to recommend his
suit 

in spite of her deeply-rooted dislike she could not be insensible to
the compliment of such a man's affection and though her intentions did
not vary for an instant she was at first sorry for the pain he was to
receive till roused to resentment by his subsequent language she
lost all compassion in anger she tried however to compose herself to
answer him with patience when he should have done he concluded with
representing to her the strength of that attachment which in spite
of all his endeavours he had found impossible to conquer and with
expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by her acceptance of
his hand as he said this she could easily see that he had no doubt
of a favourable answer he spoke of apprehension and anxiety but
his countenance expressed real security such a circumstance could
only exasperate farther and when he ceased the colour rose into her
cheeks and she said 

 in such cases as this it is i believe the established mode to
express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed however
unequally they may be returned it is natural that obligation should
be felt and if i could feel gratitude i would now thank you but i
cannot i have never desired your good opinion and you have certainly
bestowed it most unwillingly i am sorry to have occasioned pain to
anyone it has been most unconsciously done however and i hope will be
of short duration the feelings which you tell me have long prevented
the acknowledgment of your regard can have little difficulty in
overcoming it after this explanation 

mr darcy who was leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes fixed
on her face seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than
surprise his complexion became pale with anger and the disturbance
of his mind was visible in every feature he was struggling for the
appearance of composure and would not open his lips till he believed
himself to have attained it the pause was to elizabeth's feelings
dreadful at length with a voice of forced calmness he said 

 and this is all the reply which i am to have the honour of expecting 
i might perhaps wish to be informed why with so little endeavour at
civility i am thus rejected but it is of small importance 

 i might as well inquire replied she why with so evident a desire
of offending and insulting me you chose to tell me that you liked me
against your will against your reason and even against your character 
was not this some excuse for incivility if i was uncivil but i have
other provocations you know i have had not my feelings decided against
you had they been indifferent or had they even been favourable do you
think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has
been the means of ruining perhaps for ever the happiness of a most
beloved sister 

as she pronounced these words mr darcy changed colour but the emotion
was short and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she
continued 

 i have every reason in the world to think ill of you no motive can
excuse the unjust and ungenerous part you acted there you dare not 
you cannot deny that you have been the principal if not the only means
of dividing them from each other of exposing one to the censure of the
world for caprice and instability and the other to its derision for
disappointed hopes and involving them both in misery of the acutest
kind 

she paused and saw with no slight indignation that he was listening
with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any feeling of remorse 
he even looked at her with a smile of affected incredulity 

 can you deny that you have done it she repeated 

with assumed tranquillity he then replied i have no wish of denying
that i did everything in my power to separate my friend from your
sister or that i rejoice in my success towards him i have been
kinder than towards myself 

elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection 
but its meaning did not escape nor was it likely to conciliate her 

 but it is not merely this affair she continued on which my dislike
is founded long before it had taken place my opinion of you was
decided your character was unfolded in the recital which i received
many months ago from mr wickham on this subject what can you have to
say in what imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself 
or under what misrepresentation can you here impose upon others 

 you take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns said darcy 
in a less tranquil tone and with a heightened colour 

 who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feeling an
interest in him 

 his misfortunes repeated darcy contemptuously yes his misfortunes
have been great indeed 

 and of your infliction cried elizabeth with energy you have reduced
him to his present state of poverty comparative poverty you have
withheld the advantages which you must know to have been designed for
him you have deprived the best years of his life of that independence
which was no less his due than his desert you have done all this 
and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and
ridicule 

 and this cried darcy as he walked with quick steps across the room 
 is your opinion of me this is the estimation in which you hold me 
i thank you for explaining it so fully my faults according to this
calculation are heavy indeed but perhaps added he stopping in
his walk and turning towards her these offenses might have been
overlooked had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the
scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design these
bitter accusations might have been suppressed had i with greater
policy concealed my struggles and flattered you into the belief of
my being impelled by unqualified unalloyed inclination by reason by
reflection by everything but disguise of every sort is my abhorrence 
nor am i ashamed of the feelings i related they were natural and
just could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your
connections to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose
condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own 

elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment yet she tried to
the utmost to speak with composure when she said 

 you are mistaken mr darcy if you suppose that the mode of your
declaration affected me in any other way than as it spared me the concern
which i might have felt in refusing you had you behaved in a more
gentlemanlike manner 

she saw him start at this but he said nothing and she continued 

 you could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that
would have tempted me to accept it 

again his astonishment was obvious and he looked at her with an
expression of mingled incredulity and mortification she went on 

 from the very beginning from the first moment i may almost say of
my acquaintance with you your manners impressing me with the fullest
belief of your arrogance your conceit and your selfish disdain of
the feelings of others were such as to form the groundwork of
disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a
dislike and i had not known you a month before i felt that you were the
last man in the world whom i could ever be prevailed on to marry 

 you have said quite enough madam i perfectly comprehend your
feelings and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been 
forgive me for having taken up so much of your time and accept my best
wishes for your health and happiness 

and with these words he hastily left the room and elizabeth heard him
the next moment open the front door and quit the house 

the tumult of her mind was now painfully great she knew not how
to support herself and from actual weakness sat down and cried for
half-an-hour her astonishment as she reflected on what had passed 
was increased by every review of it that she should receive an offer of
marriage from mr darcy that he should have been in love with her for
so many months so much in love as to wish to marry her in spite of
all the objections which had made him prevent his friend's marrying
her sister and which must appear at least with equal force in his
own case was almost incredible it was gratifying to have inspired
unconsciously so strong an affection but his pride his abominable
pride his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to
jane his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging though he could
not justify it and the unfeeling manner in which he had mentioned mr 
wickham his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to deny soon
overcame the pity which the consideration of his attachment had for
a moment excited she continued in very agitated reflections till the
sound of lady catherine's carriage made her feel how unequal she was to
encounter charlotte's observation and hurried her away to her room 



chapter 35


elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations
which had at length closed her eyes she could not yet recover from the
surprise of what had happened it was impossible to think of anything
else and totally indisposed for employment she resolved soon after
breakfast to indulge herself in air and exercise she was proceeding
directly to her favourite walk when the recollection of mr darcy's
sometimes coming there stopped her and instead of entering the park 
she turned up the lane which led farther from the turnpike-road the
park paling was still the boundary on one side and she soon passed one
of the gates into the ground 

after walking two or three times along that part of the lane she was
tempted by the pleasantness of the morning to stop at the gates and
look into the park the five weeks which she had now passed in kent had
made a great difference in the country and every day was adding to the
verdure of the early trees she was on the point of continuing her walk 
when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which
edged the park he was moving that way and fearful of its being mr 
darcy she was directly retreating but the person who advanced was now
near enough to see her and stepping forward with eagerness pronounced
her name she had turned away but on hearing herself called though
in a voice which proved it to be mr darcy she moved again towards the
gate he had by that time reached it also and holding out a letter 
which she instinctively took said with a look of haughty composure 
 i have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you 
will you do me the honour of reading that letter and then with a
slight bow turned again into the plantation and was soon out of sight 

with no expectation of pleasure but with the strongest curiosity 
elizabeth opened the letter and to her still increasing wonder 
perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper written
quite through in a very close hand the envelope itself was likewise
full pursuing her way along the lane she then began it it was dated
from rosings at eight o'clock in the morning and was as follows 

 be not alarmed madam on receiving this letter by the apprehension
of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those
offers which were last night so disgusting to you i write without any
intention of paining you or humbling myself by dwelling on wishes
which for the happiness of both cannot be too soon forgotten and the
effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion 
should have been spared had not my character required it to be written
and read you must therefore pardon the freedom with which i demand
your attention your feelings i know will bestow it unwillingly but i
demand it of your justice 

 two offenses of a very different nature and by no means of equal
magnitude you last night laid to my charge the first mentioned was 
that regardless of the sentiments of either i had detached mr bingley
from your sister and the other that i had in defiance of various
claims in defiance of honour and humanity ruined the immediate
prosperity and blasted the prospects of mr wickham wilfully and
wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth the acknowledged
favourite of my father a young man who had scarcely any other
dependence than on our patronage and who had been brought up to expect
its exertion would be a depravity to which the separation of two young
persons whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks could
bear no comparison but from the severity of that blame which was last
night so liberally bestowed respecting each circumstance i shall hope
to be in the future secured when the following account of my actions
and their motives has been read if in the explanation of them which
is due to myself i am under the necessity of relating feelings which
may be offensive to yours i can only say that i am sorry the necessity
must be obeyed and further apology would be absurd 

 i had not been long in hertfordshire before i saw in common with
others that bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young
woman in the country but it was not till the evening of the dance
at netherfield that i had any apprehension of his feeling a serious
attachment i had often seen him in love before at that ball while i
had the honour of dancing with you i was first made acquainted by sir
william lucas's accidental information that bingley's attentions to
your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage 
he spoke of it as a certain event of which the time alone could
be undecided from that moment i observed my friend's behaviour
attentively and i could then perceive that his partiality for miss
bennet was beyond what i had ever witnessed in him your sister i also
watched her look and manners were open cheerful and engaging as ever 
but without any symptom of peculiar regard and i remained convinced
from the evening's scrutiny that though she received his attentions
with pleasure she did not invite them by any participation of
sentiment if you have not been mistaken here i must have been
in error your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter
probable if it be so if i have been misled by such error to inflict
pain on her your resentment has not been unreasonable but i shall not
scruple to assert that the serenity of your sister's countenance and
air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction
that however amiable her temper her heart was not likely to be
easily touched that i was desirous of believing her indifferent is
certain but i will venture to say that my investigation and decisions
are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears i did not believe
her to be indifferent because i wished it i believed it on impartial
conviction as truly as i wished it in reason my objections to the
marriage were not merely those which i last night acknowledged to have
the utmost force of passion to put aside in my own case the want of
connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me but
there were other causes of repugnance causes which though still
existing and existing to an equal degree in both instances i had
myself endeavoured to forget because they were not immediately before
me these causes must be stated though briefly the situation of your
mother's family though objectionable was nothing in comparison to that
total want of propriety so frequently so almost uniformly betrayed by
herself by your three younger sisters and occasionally even by your
father pardon me it pains me to offend you but amidst your concern
for the defects of your nearest relations and your displeasure at this
representation of them let it give you consolation to consider that to
have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure 
is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your elder sister than
it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both i will only say
farther that from what passed that evening my opinion of all parties
was confirmed and every inducement heightened which could have led
me before to preserve my friend from what i esteemed a most unhappy
connection he left netherfield for london on the day following as
you i am certain remember with the design of soon returning 

 the part which i acted is now to be explained his sisters' uneasiness
had been equally excited with my own our coincidence of feeling was
soon discovered and alike sensible that no time was to be lost in
detaching their brother we shortly resolved on joining him directly in
london we accordingly went and there i readily engaged in the office
of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice i
described and enforced them earnestly but however this remonstrance
might have staggered or delayed his determination i do not suppose
that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage had it not been
seconded by the assurance that i hesitated not in giving of your
sister's indifference he had before believed her to return his
affection with sincere if not with equal regard but bingley has great
natural modesty with a stronger dependence on my judgement than on his
own to convince him therefore that he had deceived himself was
no very difficult point to persuade him against returning into
hertfordshire when that conviction had been given was scarcely the
work of a moment i cannot blame myself for having done thus much there
is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which i do not
reflect with satisfaction it is that i condescended to adopt the
measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in
town i knew it myself as it was known to miss bingley but her
brother is even yet ignorant of it that they might have met without
ill consequence is perhaps probable but his regard did not appear to me
enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger perhaps this
concealment this disguise was beneath me it is done however and it
was done for the best on this subject i have nothing more to say no
other apology to offer if i have wounded your sister's feelings it
was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to
you very naturally appear insufficient i have not yet learnt to condemn
them 

 with respect to that other more weighty accusation of having injured
mr wickham i can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his
connection with my family of what he has particularly accused me i
am ignorant but of the truth of what i shall relate i can summon more
than one witness of undoubted veracity 

 mr wickham is the son of a very respectable man who had for many
years the management of all the pemberley estates and whose good
conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to
be of service to him and on george wickham who was his godson his
kindness was therefore liberally bestowed my father supported him at
school and afterwards at cambridge most important assistance as his
own father always poor from the extravagance of his wife would have
been unable to give him a gentleman's education my father was not only
fond of this young man's society whose manners were always engaging he
had also the highest opinion of him and hoping the church would be
his profession intended to provide for him in it as for myself it is
many many years since i first began to think of him in a very different
manner the vicious propensities the want of principle which he was
careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend could not escape
the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself 
and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments which mr 
darcy could not have here again i shall give you pain to what degree
you only can tell but whatever may be the sentiments which mr wickham
has created a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from
unfolding his real character it adds even another motive 

 my excellent father died about five years ago and his attachment to
mr wickham was to the last so steady that in his will he particularly
recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner
that his profession might allow and if he took orders desired that a
valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant there
was also a legacy of one thousand pounds his own father did not long
survive mine and within half a year from these events mr wickham
wrote to inform me that having finally resolved against taking orders 
he hoped i should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more
immediate pecuniary advantage in lieu of the preferment by which he
could not be benefited he had some intention he added of studying
law and i must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would
be a very insufficient support therein i rather wished than believed
him to be sincere but at any rate was perfectly ready to accede to
his proposal i knew that mr wickham ought not to be a clergyman the
business was therefore soon settled he resigned all claim to assistance
in the church were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to
receive it and accepted in return three thousand pounds all connection
between us seemed now dissolved i thought too ill of him to invite him
to pemberley or admit his society in town in town i believe he chiefly
lived but his studying the law was a mere pretence and being now free
from all restraint his life was a life of idleness and dissipation 
for about three years i heard little of him but on the decease of the
incumbent of the living which had been designed for him he applied to
me again by letter for the presentation his circumstances he assured
me and i had no difficulty in believing it were exceedingly bad he
had found the law a most unprofitable study and was now absolutely
resolved on being ordained if i would present him to the living in
question of which he trusted there could be little doubt as he was
well assured that i had no other person to provide for and i could not
have forgotten my revered father's intentions you will hardly blame
me for refusing to comply with this entreaty or for resisting every
repetition to it his resentment was in proportion to the distress of
his circumstances and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me
to others as in his reproaches to myself after this period every
appearance of acquaintance was dropped how he lived i know not but
last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice 

 i must now mention a circumstance which i would wish to forget myself 
and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold
to any human being having said thus much i feel no doubt of your
secrecy my sister who is more than ten years my junior was left to
the guardianship of my mother's nephew colonel fitzwilliam and myself 
about a year ago she was taken from school and an establishment formed
for her in london and last summer she went with the lady who presided
over it to ramsgate and thither also went mr wickham undoubtedly by
design for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him
and mrs younge in whose character we were most unhappily deceived and
by her connivance and aid he so far recommended himself to georgiana 
whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to
her as a child that she was persuaded to believe herself in love and
to consent to an elopement she was then but fifteen which must be her
excuse and after stating her imprudence i am happy to add that i owed
the knowledge of it to herself i joined them unexpectedly a day or two
before the intended elopement and then georgiana unable to support the
idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as
a father acknowledged the whole to me you may imagine what i felt and
how i acted regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented
any public exposure but i wrote to mr wickham who left the place
immediately and mrs younge was of course removed from her charge mr 
wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune which
is thirty thousand pounds but i cannot help supposing that the hope of
revenging himself on me was a strong inducement his revenge would have
been complete indeed 

 this madam is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have
been concerned together and if you do not absolutely reject it as
false you will i hope acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards mr 
wickham i know not in what manner under what form of falsehood he
had imposed on you but his success is not perhaps to be wondered
at ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either 
detection could not be in your power and suspicion certainly not in
your inclination 

 you may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night but
i was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to
be revealed for the truth of everything here related i can appeal more
particularly to the testimony of colonel fitzwilliam who from our
near relationship and constant intimacy and still more as one of
the executors of my father's will has been unavoidably acquainted
with every particular of these transactions if your abhorrence of me 
should make my assertions valueless you cannot be prevented by
the same cause from confiding in my cousin and that there may be
the possibility of consulting him i shall endeavour to find some
opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the
morning i will only add god bless you 

 fitzwilliam darcy 



chapter 36


if elizabeth when mr darcy gave her the letter did not expect it to
contain a renewal of his offers she had formed no expectation at all of
its contents but such as they were it may well be supposed how eagerly
she went through them and what a contrariety of emotion they excited 
her feelings as she read were scarcely to be defined with amazement did
she first understand that he believed any apology to be in his power 
and steadfastly was she persuaded that he could have no explanation
to give which a just sense of shame would not conceal with a strong
prejudice against everything he might say she began his account of what
had happened at netherfield she read with an eagerness which hardly
left her power of comprehension and from impatience of knowing what the
next sentence might bring was incapable of attending to the sense of
the one before her eyes his belief of her sister's insensibility she
instantly resolved to be false and his account of the real the worst
objections to the match made her too angry to have any wish of doing
him justice he expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied
her his style was not penitent but haughty it was all pride and
insolence 

but when this subject was succeeded by his account of mr wickham when
she read with somewhat clearer attention a relation of events which 
if true must overthrow every cherished opinion of his worth and which
bore so alarming an affinity to his own history of himself her
feelings were yet more acutely painful and more difficult of definition 
astonishment apprehension and even horror oppressed her she wished
to discredit it entirely repeatedly exclaiming this must be false 
this cannot be this must be the grossest falsehood and when she had
gone through the whole letter though scarcely knowing anything of the
last page or two put it hastily away protesting that she would not
regard it that she would never look in it again 

in this perturbed state of mind with thoughts that could rest on
nothing she walked on but it would not do in half a minute the letter
was unfolded again and collecting herself as well as she could she
again began the mortifying perusal of all that related to wickham and
commanded herself so far as to examine the meaning of every sentence 
the account of his connection with the pemberley family was exactly what
he had related himself and the kindness of the late mr darcy though
she had not before known its extent agreed equally well with his own
words so far each recital confirmed the other but when she came to the
will the difference was great what wickham had said of the living
was fresh in her memory and as she recalled his very words it was
impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or the
other and for a few moments she flattered herself that her wishes did
not err but when she read and re-read with the closest attention the
particulars immediately following of wickham's resigning all pretensions
to the living of his receiving in lieu so considerable a sum as three
thousand pounds again was she forced to hesitate she put down
the letter weighed every circumstance with what she meant to be
impartiality deliberated on the probability of each statement but with
little success on both sides it was only assertion again she read
on but every line proved more clearly that the affair which she had
believed it impossible that any contrivance could so represent as to
render mr darcy's conduct in it less than infamous was capable of a
turn which must make him entirely blameless throughout the whole 

the extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at
mr wickham's charge exceedingly shocked her the more so as she could
bring no proof of its injustice she had never heard of him before his
entrance into the shire militia in which he had engaged at the
persuasion of the young man who on meeting him accidentally in town 
had there renewed a slight acquaintance of his former way of life
nothing had been known in hertfordshire but what he told himself as
to his real character had information been in her power she had
never felt a wish of inquiring his countenance voice and manner had
established him at once in the possession of every virtue she tried
to recollect some instance of goodness some distinguished trait of
integrity or benevolence that might rescue him from the attacks of
mr darcy or at least by the predominance of virtue atone for those
casual errors under which she would endeavour to class what mr darcy
had described as the idleness and vice of many years' continuance but
no such recollection befriended her she could see him instantly before
her in every charm of air and address but she could remember no more
substantial good than the general approbation of the neighbourhood and
the regard which his social powers had gained him in the mess after
pausing on this point a considerable while she once more continued to
read but alas the story which followed of his designs on miss
darcy received some confirmation from what had passed between colonel
fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before and at last she was
referred for the truth of every particular to colonel fitzwilliam
himself from whom she had previously received the information of his
near concern in all his cousin's affairs and whose character she had no
reason to question at one time she had almost resolved on applying to
him but the idea was checked by the awkwardness of the application and
at length wholly banished by the conviction that mr darcy would never
have hazarded such a proposal if he had not been well assured of his
cousin's corroboration 

she perfectly remembered everything that had passed in conversation
between wickham and herself in their first evening at mr phillips's 
many of his expressions were still fresh in her memory she was now 
struck with the impropriety of such communications to a stranger and
wondered it had escaped her before she saw the indelicacy of putting
himself forward as he had done and the inconsistency of his professions
with his conduct she remembered that he had boasted of having no fear
of seeing mr darcy that mr darcy might leave the country but that
 he should stand his ground yet he had avoided the netherfield ball
the very next week she remembered also that till the netherfield
family had quitted the country he had told his story to no one but
herself but that after their removal it had been everywhere discussed 
that he had then no reserves no scruples in sinking mr darcy's
character though he had assured her that respect for the father would
always prevent his exposing the son 

how differently did everything now appear in which he was concerned 
his attentions to miss king were now the consequence of views solely and
hatefully mercenary and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer
the moderation of his wishes but his eagerness to grasp at anything 
his behaviour to herself could now have had no tolerable motive he had
either been deceived with regard to her fortune or had been gratifying
his vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most
incautiously shown every lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter
and fainter and in farther justification of mr darcy she could not
but allow that mr bingley when questioned by jane had long ago
asserted his blamelessness in the affair that proud and repulsive as
were his manners she had never in the whole course of their
acquaintance an acquaintance which had latterly brought them much
together and given her a sort of intimacy with his ways seen anything
that betrayed him to be unprincipled or unjust anything that spoke him
of irreligious or immoral habits that among his own connections he was
esteemed and valued that even wickham had allowed him merit as a
brother and that she had often heard him speak so affectionately of his
sister as to prove him capable of some amiable feeling that had his
actions been what mr wickham represented them so gross a violation of
everything right could hardly have been concealed from the world and
that friendship between a person capable of it and such an amiable man
as mr bingley was incomprehensible 

she grew absolutely ashamed of herself of neither darcy nor wickham
could she think without feeling she had been blind partial prejudiced 
absurd 

 how despicably i have acted she cried i who have prided myself
on my discernment i who have valued myself on my abilities who have
often disdained the generous candour of my sister and gratified
my vanity in useless or blameable mistrust how humiliating is this
discovery yet how just a humiliation had i been in love i could
not have been more wretchedly blind but vanity not love has been my
folly pleased with the preference of one and offended by the neglect
of the other on the very beginning of our acquaintance i have courted
prepossession and ignorance and driven reason away where either were
concerned till this moment i never knew myself 

from herself to jane from jane to bingley her thoughts were in a line
which soon brought to her recollection that mr darcy's explanation
 there had appeared very insufficient and she read it again widely
different was the effect of a second perusal how could she deny that
credit to his assertions in one instance which she had been obliged to
give in the other he declared himself to be totally unsuspicious of her
sister's attachment and she could not help remembering what charlotte's
opinion had always been neither could she deny the justice of his
description of jane she felt that jane's feelings though fervent were
little displayed and that there was a constant complacency in her air
and manner not often united with great sensibility 

when she came to that part of the letter in which her family were
mentioned in terms of such mortifying yet merited reproach her sense
of shame was severe the justice of the charge struck her too forcibly
for denial and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as
having passed at the netherfield ball and as confirming all his first
disapprobation could not have made a stronger impression on his mind
than on hers 

the compliment to herself and her sister was not unfelt it soothed 
but it could not console her for the contempt which had thus been
self-attracted by the rest of her family and as she considered
that jane's disappointment had in fact been the work of her nearest
relations and reflected how materially the credit of both must be hurt
by such impropriety of conduct she felt depressed beyond anything she
had ever known before 

after wandering along the lane for two hours giving way to every
variety of thought re-considering events determining probabilities 
and reconciling herself as well as she could to a change so sudden and
so important fatigue and a recollection of her long absence made
her at length return home and she entered the house with the wish
of appearing cheerful as usual and the resolution of repressing such
reflections as must make her unfit for conversation 

she was immediately told that the two gentlemen from rosings had each
called during her absence mr darcy only for a few minutes to take
leave but that colonel fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least
an hour hoping for her return and almost resolving to walk after her
till she could be found elizabeth could but just affect concern
in missing him she really rejoiced at it colonel fitzwilliam was no
longer an object she could think only of her letter 



chapter 37


the two gentlemen left rosings the next morning and mr collins having
been in waiting near the lodges to make them his parting obeisance was
able to bring home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing in very
good health and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected after the
melancholy scene so lately gone through at rosings to rosings he then
hastened to console lady catherine and her daughter and on his return
brought back with great satisfaction a message from her ladyship 
importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of
having them all to dine with her 

elizabeth could not see lady catherine without recollecting that had
she chosen it she might by this time have been presented to her as
her future niece nor could she think without a smile of what her
ladyship's indignation would have been what would she have said how
would she have behaved were questions with which she amused herself 

their first subject was the diminution of the rosings party i assure
you i feel it exceedingly said lady catherine i believe no one
feels the loss of friends so much as i do but i am particularly
attached to these young men and know them to be so much attached to
me they were excessively sorry to go but so they always are the
dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last but darcy
seemed to feel it most acutely more i think than last year his
attachment to rosings certainly increases 

mr collins had a compliment and an allusion to throw in here which
were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter 

lady catherine observed after dinner that miss bennet seemed out of
spirits and immediately accounting for it by herself by supposing that
she did not like to go home again so soon she added 

 but if that is the case you must write to your mother and beg that
you may stay a little longer mrs collins will be very glad of your
company i am sure 

 i am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation replied
elizabeth but it is not in my power to accept it i must be in town
next saturday 

 why at that rate you will have been here only six weeks i expected
you to stay two months i told mrs collins so before you came there
can be no occasion for your going so soon mrs bennet could certainly
spare you for another fortnight 

 but my father cannot he wrote last week to hurry my return 

 oh your father of course may spare you if your mother can daughters
are never of so much consequence to a father and if you will stay
another month complete it will be in my power to take one of you as
far as london for i am going there early in june for a week and as
dawson does not object to the barouche-box there will be very good room
for one of you and indeed if the weather should happen to be cool i
should not object to taking you both as you are neither of you large 

 you are all kindness madam but i believe we must abide by our
original plan 

lady catherine seemed resigned mrs collins you must send a servant
with them you know i always speak my mind and i cannot bear the idea
of two young women travelling post by themselves it is highly improper 
you must contrive to send somebody i have the greatest dislike in
the world to that sort of thing young women should always be properly
guarded and attended according to their situation in life when my
niece georgiana went to ramsgate last summer i made a point of her
having two men-servants go with her miss darcy the daughter of
mr darcy of pemberley and lady anne could not have appeared with
propriety in a different manner i am excessively attentive to all those
things you must send john with the young ladies mrs collins i
am glad it occurred to me to mention it for it would really be
discreditable to you to let them go alone 

 my uncle is to send a servant for us 

 oh your uncle he keeps a man-servant does he i am very glad you
have somebody who thinks of these things where shall you change horses 
oh bromley of course if you mention my name at the bell you will be
attended to 

lady catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey 
and as she did not answer them all herself attention was necessary 
which elizabeth believed to be lucky for her or with a mind so
occupied she might have forgotten where she was reflection must be
reserved for solitary hours whenever she was alone she gave way to it
as the greatest relief and not a day went by without a solitary
walk in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant
recollections 

mr darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart she
studied every sentence and her feelings towards its writer were at
times widely different when she remembered the style of his address 
she was still full of indignation but when she considered how unjustly
she had condemned and upbraided him her anger was turned against
herself and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion 
his attachment excited gratitude his general character respect but she
could not approve him nor could she for a moment repent her refusal 
or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again in her own past
behaviour there was a constant source of vexation and regret and in
the unhappy defects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin 
they were hopeless of remedy her father contented with laughing at
them would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his
youngest daughters and her mother with manners so far from right
herself was entirely insensible of the evil elizabeth had frequently
united with jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of catherine
and lydia but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence 
what chance could there be of improvement catherine weak-spirited 
irritable and completely under lydia's guidance had been always
affronted by their advice and lydia self-willed and careless would
scarcely give them a hearing they were ignorant idle and vain while
there was an officer in meryton they would flirt with him and while
meryton was within a walk of longbourn they would be going there
forever 

anxiety on jane's behalf was another prevailing concern and mr darcy's
explanation by restoring bingley to all her former good opinion 
heightened the sense of what jane had lost his affection was proved
to have been sincere and his conduct cleared of all blame unless any
could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend how
grievous then was the thought that of a situation so desirable in every
respect so replete with advantage so promising for happiness jane had
been deprived by the folly and indecorum of her own family 

when to these recollections was added the development of wickham's
character it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had
seldom been depressed before were now so much affected as to make it
almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful 

their engagements at rosings were as frequent during the last week of
her stay as they had been at first the very last evening was spent
there and her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of
their journey gave them directions as to the best method of packing 
and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right
way that maria thought herself obliged on her return to undo all the
work of the morning and pack her trunk afresh 

when they parted lady catherine with great condescension wished them
a good journey and invited them to come to hunsford again next year 
and miss de bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her
hand to both 



chapter 38


on saturday morning elizabeth and mr collins met for breakfast a few
minutes before the others appeared and he took the opportunity of
paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary 

 i know not miss elizabeth said he whether mrs collins has yet
expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us but i am very
certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for
it the favour of your company has been much felt i assure you we
know how little there is to tempt anyone to our humble abode our plain
manner of living our small rooms and few domestics and the little we
see of the world must make hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like
yourself but i hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension 
and that we have done everything in our power to prevent your spending
your time unpleasantly 

elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness she
had spent six weeks with great enjoyment and the pleasure of being with
charlotte and the kind attentions she had received must make her 
feel the obliged mr collins was gratified and with a more smiling
solemnity replied 

 it gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not
disagreeably we have certainly done our best and most fortunately
having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society and 
from our connection with rosings the frequent means of varying the
humble home scene i think we may flatter ourselves that your hunsford
visit cannot have been entirely irksome our situation with regard to
lady catherine's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage
and blessing which few can boast you see on what a footing we are you
see how continually we are engaged there in truth i must acknowledge
that with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage i should
not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion while they are
sharers of our intimacy at rosings 

words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings and he was
obliged to walk about the room while elizabeth tried to unite civility
and truth in a few short sentences 

 you may in fact carry a very favourable report of us into
hertfordshire my dear cousin i flatter myself at least that you will
be able to do so lady catherine's great attentions to mrs collins you
have been a daily witness of and altogether i trust it does not appear
that your friend has drawn an unfortunate but on this point it will be
as well to be silent only let me assure you my dear miss elizabeth 
that i can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in
marriage my dear charlotte and i have but one mind and one way of
thinking there is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of
character and ideas between us we seem to have been designed for each
other 

elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was
the case and with equal sincerity could add that she firmly believed
and rejoiced in his domestic comforts she was not sorry however to
have the recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang 
poor charlotte it was melancholy to leave her to such society but she
had chosen it with her eyes open and though evidently regretting that
her visitors were to go she did not seem to ask for compassion her
home and her housekeeping her parish and her poultry and all their
dependent concerns had not yet lost their charms 

at length the chaise arrived the trunks were fastened on the parcels
placed within and it was pronounced to be ready after an affectionate
parting between the friends elizabeth was attended to the carriage by
mr collins and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her
with his best respects to all her family not forgetting his thanks
for the kindness he had received at longbourn in the winter and his
compliments to mr and mrs gardiner though unknown he then handed her
in maria followed and the door was on the point of being closed 
when he suddenly reminded them with some consternation that they had
hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies at rosings 

 but he added you will of course wish to have your humble respects
delivered to them with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you
while you have been here 

elizabeth made no objection the door was then allowed to be shut and
the carriage drove off 

 good gracious cried maria after a few minutes' silence it seems
but a day or two since we first came and yet how many things have
happened 

 a great many indeed said her companion with a sigh 

 we have dined nine times at rosings besides drinking tea there twice 
how much i shall have to tell 

elizabeth added privately and how much i shall have to conceal 

their journey was performed without much conversation or any alarm and
within four hours of their leaving hunsford they reached mr gardiner's
house where they were to remain a few days 

jane looked well and elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her
spirits amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her
aunt had reserved for them but jane was to go home with her and at
longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation 

it was not without an effort meanwhile that she could wait even for
longbourn before she told her sister of mr darcy's proposals to know
that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish
jane and must at the same time so highly gratify whatever of her own
vanity she had not yet been able to reason away was such a temptation
to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision
in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate 
and her fear if she once entered on the subject of being hurried
into repeating something of bingley which might only grieve her sister
further 



chapter 39


it was the second week in may in which the three young ladies set out
together from gracechurch street for the town of in hertfordshire 
and as they drew near the appointed inn where mr bennet's carriage
was to meet them they quickly perceived in token of the coachman's
punctuality both kitty and lydia looking out of a dining-room up stairs 
these two girls had been above an hour in the place happily employed
in visiting an opposite milliner watching the sentinel on guard and
dressing a salad and cucumber 

after welcoming their sisters they triumphantly displayed a table set
out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords exclaiming 
 is not this nice is not this an agreeable surprise 

 and we mean to treat you all added lydia but you must lend us the
money for we have just spent ours at the shop out there then showing
her purchases look here i have bought this bonnet i do not think
it is very pretty but i thought i might as well buy it as not i shall
pull it to pieces as soon as i get home and see if i can make it up any
better 

and when her sisters abused it as ugly she added with perfect
unconcern oh but there were two or three much uglier in the shop and
when i have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh i
think it will be very tolerable besides it will not much signify what
one wears this summer after the shire have left meryton and they
are going in a fortnight 

 are they indeed cried elizabeth with the greatest satisfaction 

 they are going to be encamped near brighton and i do so want papa to
take us all there for the summer it would be such a delicious scheme 
and i dare say would hardly cost anything at all mamma would like to
go too of all things only think what a miserable summer else we shall
have 

 yes thought elizabeth that would be a delightful scheme indeed 
and completely do for us at once good heaven brighton and a whole
campful of soldiers to us who have been overset already by one poor
regiment of militia and the monthly balls of meryton 

 now i have got some news for you said lydia as they sat down at
table what do you think it is excellent news capital news and about
a certain person we all like 

jane and elizabeth looked at each other and the waiter was told he need
not stay lydia laughed and said 

 aye that is just like your formality and discretion you thought the
waiter must not hear as if he cared i dare say he often hears worse
things said than i am going to say but he is an ugly fellow i am glad
he is gone i never saw such a long chin in my life well but now for
my news it is about dear wickham too good for the waiter is it not 
there is no danger of wickham's marrying mary king there's for you she
is gone down to her uncle at liverpool gone to stay wickham is safe 

 and mary king is safe added elizabeth safe from a connection
imprudent as to fortune 

 she is a great fool for going away if she liked him 

 but i hope there is no strong attachment on either side said jane 

 i am sure there is not on his i will answer for it he never cared
three straws about her who could about such a nasty little freckled
thing 

elizabeth was shocked to think that however incapable of such
coarseness of expression herself the coarseness of the sentiment 
was little other than her own breast had harboured and fancied liberal 

as soon as all had ate and the elder ones paid the carriage was
ordered and after some contrivance the whole party with all their
boxes work-bags and parcels and the unwelcome addition of kitty's and
lydia's purchases were seated in it 

 how nicely we are all crammed in cried lydia i am glad i bought my
bonnet if it is only for the fun of having another bandbox well now
let us be quite comfortable and snug and talk and laugh all the way
home and in the first place let us hear what has happened to you all
since you went away have you seen any pleasant men have you had any
flirting i was in great hopes that one of you would have got a husband
before you came back jane will be quite an old maid soon i declare 
she is almost three-and-twenty lord how ashamed i should be of not
being married before three-and-twenty my aunt phillips wants you so to
get husbands you can't think she says lizzy had better have taken mr 
collins but i do not think there would have been any fun in it lord 
how i should like to be married before any of you and then i would
chaperon you about to all the balls dear me we had such a good piece
of fun the other day at colonel forster's kitty and me were to spend
the day there and mrs forster promised to have a little dance in the
evening by the bye mrs forster and me are such friends and so
she asked the two harringtons to come but harriet was ill and so pen
was forced to come by herself and then what do you think we did we
dressed up chamberlayne in woman's clothes on purpose to pass for a
lady only think what fun not a soul knew of it but colonel and mrs 
forster and kitty and me except my aunt for we were forced to borrow
one of her gowns and you cannot imagine how well he looked when denny 
and wickham and pratt and two or three more of the men came in they
did not know him in the least lord how i laughed and so did mrs 
forster i thought i should have died and that made the men suspect
something and then they soon found out what was the matter 

with such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes did
lydia assisted by kitty's hints and additions endeavour to amuse her
companions all the way to longbourn elizabeth listened as little as she
could but there was no escaping the frequent mention of wickham's name 

their reception at home was most kind mrs bennet rejoiced to see jane
in undiminished beauty and more than once during dinner did mr bennet
say voluntarily to elizabeth 

 i am glad you are come back lizzy 

their party in the dining-room was large for almost all the lucases
came to meet maria and hear the news and various were the subjects that
occupied them lady lucas was inquiring of maria after the welfare and
poultry of her eldest daughter mrs bennet was doubly engaged on one
hand collecting an account of the present fashions from jane who sat
some way below her and on the other retailing them all to the younger
lucases and lydia in a voice rather louder than any other person's 
was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who
would hear her 

 oh mary said she i wish you had gone with us for we had such fun 
as we went along kitty and i drew up the blinds and pretended there
was nobody in the coach and i should have gone so all the way if kitty
had not been sick and when we got to the george i do think we behaved
very handsomely for we treated the other three with the nicest cold
luncheon in the world and if you would have gone we would have treated
you too and then when we came away it was such fun i thought we never
should have got into the coach i was ready to die of laughter and then
we were so merry all the way home we talked and laughed so loud that
anybody might have heard us ten miles off 

to this mary very gravely replied far be it from me my dear sister 
to depreciate such pleasures they would doubtless be congenial with the
generality of female minds but i confess they would have no charms for
 me i should infinitely prefer a book 

but of this answer lydia heard not a word she seldom listened to
anybody for more than half a minute and never attended to mary at all 

in the afternoon lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk
to meryton and to see how everybody went on but elizabeth steadily
opposed the scheme it should not be said that the miss bennets could
not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers 
there was another reason too for her opposition she dreaded seeing mr 
wickham again and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible the
comfort to her of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond
expression in a fortnight they were to go and once gone she hoped
there could be nothing more to plague her on his account 

she had not been many hours at home before she found that the brighton
scheme of which lydia had given them a hint at the inn was under
frequent discussion between her parents elizabeth saw directly that her
father had not the smallest intention of yielding but his answers were
at the same time so vague and equivocal that her mother though often
disheartened had never yet despaired of succeeding at last 



chapter 40


elizabeth's impatience to acquaint jane with what had happened could
no longer be overcome and at length resolving to suppress every
particular in which her sister was concerned and preparing her to be
surprised she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene
between mr darcy and herself 

miss bennet's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly
partiality which made any admiration of elizabeth appear perfectly
natural and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings she was
sorry that mr darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so
little suited to recommend them but still more was she grieved for the
unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him 

 his being so sure of succeeding was wrong said she and certainly
ought not to have appeared but consider how much it must increase his
disappointment 

 indeed replied elizabeth i am heartily sorry for him but he has
other feelings which will probably soon drive away his regard for me 
you do not blame me however for refusing him 

 blame you oh no 

 but you blame me for having spoken so warmly of wickham 

 no i do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did 

 but you will know it when i tell you what happened the very next
day 

she then spoke of the letter repeating the whole of its contents as far
as they concerned george wickham what a stroke was this for poor jane 
who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that
so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind as was here
collected in one individual nor was darcy's vindication though
grateful to her feelings capable of consoling her for such discovery 
most earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error and
seek to clear the one without involving the other 

 this will not do said elizabeth you never will be able to make both
of them good for anything take your choice but you must be satisfied
with only one there is but such a quantity of merit between them just
enough to make one good sort of man and of late it has been shifting
about pretty much for my part i am inclined to believe it all darcy's 
but you shall do as you choose 

it was some time however before a smile could be extorted from jane 

 i do not know when i have been more shocked said she wickham so
very bad it is almost past belief and poor mr darcy dear lizzy only
consider what he must have suffered such a disappointment and with the
knowledge of your ill opinion too and having to relate such a thing
of his sister it is really too distressing i am sure you must feel it
so 

 oh no my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so
full of both i know you will do him such ample justice that i am
growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent your profusion
makes me saving and if you lament over him much longer my heart will
be as light as a feather 

 poor wickham there is such an expression of goodness in his
countenance such an openness and gentleness in his manner 

 there certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those
two young men one has got all the goodness and the other all the
appearance of it 

 i never thought mr darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you
used to do 

 and yet i meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike
to him without any reason it is such a spur to one's genius such an
opening for wit to have a dislike of that kind one may be continually
abusive without saying anything just but one cannot always be laughing
at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty 

 lizzy when you first read that letter i am sure you could not treat
the matter as you do now 

 indeed i could not i was uncomfortable enough i may say unhappy and
with no one to speak to about what i felt no jane to comfort me and say
that i had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as i knew i
had oh how i wanted you 

 how unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions
in speaking of wickham to mr darcy for now they do appear wholly
undeserved 

 certainly but the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most
natural consequence of the prejudices i had been encouraging there
is one point on which i want your advice i want to be told whether i
ought or ought not to make our acquaintances in general understand
wickham's character 

miss bennet paused a little and then replied surely there can be no
occasion for exposing him so dreadfully what is your opinion 

 that it ought not to be attempted mr darcy has not authorised me
to make his communication public on the contrary every particular
relative to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to
myself and if i endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his
conduct who will believe me the general prejudice against mr darcy
is so violent that it would be the death of half the good people in
meryton to attempt to place him in an amiable light i am not equal
to it wickham will soon be gone and therefore it will not signify to
anyone here what he really is some time hence it will be all found out 
and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before at
present i will say nothing about it 

 you are quite right to have his errors made public might ruin him for
ever he is now perhaps sorry for what he has done and anxious to
re-establish a character we must not make him desperate 

the tumult of elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation she had
got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight 
and was certain of a willing listener in jane whenever she might wish
to talk again of either but there was still something lurking behind 
of which prudence forbade the disclosure she dared not relate the other
half of mr darcy's letter nor explain to her sister how sincerely she
had been valued by her friend here was knowledge in which no one
could partake and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect
understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off
this last encumbrance of mystery and then said she if that very
improbable event should ever take place i shall merely be able to
tell what bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself the
liberty of communication cannot be mine till it has lost all its value 

she was now on being settled at home at leisure to observe the real
state of her sister's spirits jane was not happy she still cherished a
very tender affection for bingley having never even fancied herself
in love before her regard had all the warmth of first attachment 
and from her age and disposition greater steadiness than most first
attachments often boast and so fervently did she value his remembrance 
and prefer him to every other man that all her good sense and all her
attention to the feelings of her friends were requisite to check the
indulgence of those regrets which must have been injurious to her own
health and their tranquillity 

 well lizzy said mrs bennet one day what is your opinion now of
this sad business of jane's for my part i am determined never to speak
of it again to anybody i told my sister phillips so the other day but
i cannot find out that jane saw anything of him in london well he is
a very undeserving young man and i do not suppose there's the least
chance in the world of her ever getting him now there is no talk of
his coming to netherfield again in the summer and i have inquired of
everybody too who is likely to know 

 i do not believe he will ever live at netherfield any more 

 oh well it is just as he chooses nobody wants him to come though i
shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill and if i was her i
would not have put up with it well my comfort is i am sure jane will
die of a broken heart and then he will be sorry for what he has done 

but as elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation 
she made no answer 

 well lizzy continued her mother soon afterwards and so the
collinses live very comfortable do they well well i only hope
it will last and what sort of table do they keep charlotte is an
excellent manager i dare say if she is half as sharp as her
mother she is saving enough there is nothing extravagant in their 
housekeeping i dare say 

 no nothing at all 

 a great deal of good management depend upon it yes yes they will
take care not to outrun their income they will never be distressed
for money well much good may it do them and so i suppose they often
talk of having longbourn when your father is dead they look upon it as
quite their own i dare say whenever that happens 

 it was a subject which they could not mention before me 

 no it would have been strange if they had but i make no doubt they
often talk of it between themselves well if they can be easy with an
estate that is not lawfully their own so much the better i should be
ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me 



chapter 41


the first week of their return was soon gone the second began it was
the last of the regiment's stay in meryton and all the young ladies
in the neighbourhood were drooping apace the dejection was almost
universal the elder miss bennets alone were still able to eat drink 
and sleep and pursue the usual course of their employments very
frequently were they reproached for this insensibility by kitty and
lydia whose own misery was extreme and who could not comprehend such
hard-heartedness in any of the family 

 good heaven what is to become of us what are we to do would they
often exclaim in the bitterness of woe how can you be smiling so 
lizzy 

their affectionate mother shared all their grief she remembered what
she had herself endured on a similar occasion five-and-twenty years
ago 

 i am sure said she i cried for two days together when colonel
miller's regiment went away i thought i should have broken my heart 

 i am sure i shall break mine said lydia 

 if one could but go to brighton observed mrs bennet 

 oh yes if one could but go to brighton but papa is so
disagreeable 

 a little sea-bathing would set me up forever 

 and my aunt phillips is sure it would do me a great deal of good 
 added kitty 

such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually through
longbourn house elizabeth tried to be diverted by them but all sense
of pleasure was lost in shame she felt anew the justice of mr darcy's
objections and never had she been so much disposed to pardon his
interference in the views of his friend 

but the gloom of lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away for she
received an invitation from mrs forster the wife of the colonel of
the regiment to accompany her to brighton this invaluable friend was a
very young woman and very lately married a resemblance in good humour
and good spirits had recommended her and lydia to each other and out of
their three months' acquaintance they had been intimate two 

the rapture of lydia on this occasion her adoration of mrs forster 
the delight of mrs bennet and the mortification of kitty are scarcely
to be described wholly inattentive to her sister's feelings lydia
flew about the house in restless ecstasy calling for everyone's
congratulations and laughing and talking with more violence than ever 
whilst the luckless kitty continued in the parlour repined at her fate
in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish 

 i cannot see why mrs forster should not ask me as well as lydia 
 said she though i am not her particular friend i have just as much
right to be asked as she has and more too for i am two years older 

in vain did elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable and jane to make
her resigned as for elizabeth herself this invitation was so far from
exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and lydia that she
considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense
for the latter and detestable as such a step must make her were it
known she could not help secretly advising her father not to let her
go she represented to him all the improprieties of lydia's general
behaviour the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of
such a woman as mrs forster and the probability of her being yet more
imprudent with such a companion at brighton where the temptations must
be greater than at home he heard her attentively and then said 

 lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public
place or other and we can never expect her to do it with so
little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present
circumstances 

 if you were aware said elizabeth of the very great disadvantage to
us all which must arise from the public notice of lydia's unguarded and
imprudent manner nay which has already arisen from it i am sure you
would judge differently in the affair 

 already arisen repeated mr bennet what has she frightened away
some of your lovers poor little lizzy but do not be cast down such
squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity
are not worth a regret come let me see the list of pitiful fellows who
have been kept aloof by lydia's folly 

 indeed you are mistaken i have no such injuries to resent it is not
of particular but of general evils which i am now complaining our
importance our respectability in the world must be affected by the
wild volatility the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark
lydia's character excuse me for i must speak plainly if you my dear
father will not take the trouble of checking her exuberant spirits and
of teaching her that her present pursuits are not to be the business of
her life she will soon be beyond the reach of amendment her character
will be fixed and she will at sixteen be the most determined flirt
that ever made herself or her family ridiculous a flirt too in the
worst and meanest degree of flirtation without any attraction beyond
youth and a tolerable person and from the ignorance and emptiness
of her mind wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal
contempt which her rage for admiration will excite in this danger
kitty also is comprehended she will follow wherever lydia leads vain 
ignorant idle and absolutely uncontrolled oh my dear father can you
suppose it possible that they will not be censured and despised wherever
they are known and that their sisters will not be often involved in the
disgrace 

mr bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject and
affectionately taking her hand said in reply 

 do not make yourself uneasy my love wherever you and jane are known
you must be respected and valued and you will not appear to less
advantage for having a couple of or i may say three very silly
sisters we shall have no peace at longbourn if lydia does not go to
brighton let her go then colonel forster is a sensible man and will
keep her out of any real mischief and she is luckily too poor to be an
object of prey to anybody at brighton she will be of less importance
even as a common flirt than she has been here the officers will find
women better worth their notice let us hope therefore that her being
there may teach her her own insignificance at any rate she cannot grow
many degrees worse without authorising us to lock her up for the rest
of her life 

with this answer elizabeth was forced to be content but her own opinion
continued the same and she left him disappointed and sorry it was not
in her nature however to increase her vexations by dwelling on
them she was confident of having performed her duty and to fret
over unavoidable evils or augment them by anxiety was no part of her
disposition 

had lydia and her mother known the substance of her conference with her
father their indignation would hardly have found expression in their
united volubility in lydia's imagination a visit to brighton comprised
every possibility of earthly happiness she saw with the creative eye
of fancy the streets of that gay bathing-place covered with officers 
she saw herself the object of attention to tens and to scores of them
at present unknown she saw all the glories of the camp its tents
stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines crowded with the young
and the gay and dazzling with scarlet and to complete the view she
saw herself seated beneath a tent tenderly flirting with at least six
officers at once 

had she known her sister sought to tear her from such prospects and such
realities as these what would have been her sensations they could have
been understood only by her mother who might have felt nearly the same 
lydia's going to brighton was all that consoled her for her melancholy
conviction of her husband's never intending to go there himself 

but they were entirely ignorant of what had passed and their raptures
continued with little intermission to the very day of lydia's leaving
home 

elizabeth was now to see mr wickham for the last time having been
frequently in company with him since her return agitation was pretty
well over the agitations of former partiality entirely so she had even
learnt to detect in the very gentleness which had first delighted
her an affectation and a sameness to disgust and weary in his present
behaviour to herself moreover she had a fresh source of displeasure 
for the inclination he soon testified of renewing those intentions which
had marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve after
what had since passed to provoke her she lost all concern for him in
finding herself thus selected as the object of such idle and frivolous
gallantry and while she steadily repressed it could not but feel the
reproof contained in his believing that however long and for whatever
cause his attentions had been withdrawn her vanity would be gratified 
and her preference secured at any time by their renewal 

on the very last day of the regiment's remaining at meryton he dined 
with other of the officers at longbourn and so little was elizabeth
disposed to part from him in good humour that on his making some
inquiry as to the manner in which her time had passed at hunsford she
mentioned colonel fitzwilliam's and mr darcy's having both spent three
weeks at rosings and asked him if he was acquainted with the former 

he looked surprised displeased alarmed but with a moment's
recollection and a returning smile replied that he had formerly seen
him often and after observing that he was a very gentlemanlike man 
asked her how she had liked him her answer was warmly in his favour 
with an air of indifference he soon afterwards added 

 how long did you say he was at rosings 

 nearly three weeks 

 and you saw him frequently 

 yes almost every day 

 his manners are very different from his cousin's 

 yes very different but i think mr darcy improves upon acquaintance 

 indeed cried mr wickham with a look which did not escape her and
pray may i ask but checking himself he added in a gayer tone is
it in address that he improves has he deigned to add aught of civility
to his ordinary style for i dare not hope he continued in a lower
and more serious tone that he is improved in essentials 

 oh no said elizabeth in essentials i believe he is very much
what he ever was 

while she spoke wickham looked as if scarcely knowing whether to
rejoice over her words or to distrust their meaning there was a
something in her countenance which made him listen with an apprehensive
and anxious attention while she added 

 when i said that he improved on acquaintance i did not mean that
his mind or his manners were in a state of improvement but that from
knowing him better his disposition was better understood 

wickham's alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion and agitated
look for a few minutes he was silent till shaking off his
embarrassment he turned to her again and said in the gentlest of
accents 

 you who so well know my feeling towards mr darcy will readily
comprehend how sincerely i must rejoice that he is wise enough to assume
even the appearance of what is right his pride in that direction 
may be of service if not to himself to many others for it must only
deter him from such foul misconduct as i have suffered by i only
fear that the sort of cautiousness to which you i imagine have been
alluding is merely adopted on his visits to his aunt of whose good
opinion and judgement he stands much in awe his fear of her has always
operated i know when they were together and a good deal is to be
imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with miss de bourgh which i
am certain he has very much at heart 

elizabeth could not repress a smile at this but she answered only by a
slight inclination of the head she saw that he wanted to engage her on
the old subject of his grievances and she was in no humour to indulge
him the rest of the evening passed with the appearance on his
side of usual cheerfulness but with no further attempt to distinguish
elizabeth and they parted at last with mutual civility and possibly a
mutual desire of never meeting again 

when the party broke up lydia returned with mrs forster to meryton 
from whence they were to set out early the next morning the separation
between her and her family was rather noisy than pathetic kitty was the
only one who shed tears but she did weep from vexation and envy mrs 
bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter 
and impressive in her injunctions that she should not miss the
opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible advice which
there was every reason to believe would be well attended to and in
the clamorous happiness of lydia herself in bidding farewell the more
gentle adieus of her sisters were uttered without being heard 



chapter 42


had elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family she could
not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity or domestic
comfort her father captivated by youth and beauty and that appearance
of good humour which youth and beauty generally give had married a
woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in
their marriage put an end to all real affection for her respect 
esteem and confidence had vanished for ever and all his views
of domestic happiness were overthrown but mr bennet was not of
a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own
imprudence had brought on in any of those pleasures which too often
console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice he was fond of
the country and of books and from these tastes had arisen his principal
enjoyments to his wife he was very little otherwise indebted than as
her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement this is not
the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his
wife but where other powers of entertainment are wanting the true
philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given 

elizabeth however had never been blind to the impropriety of her
father's behaviour as a husband she had always seen it with pain but
respecting his abilities and grateful for his affectionate treatment of
herself she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook and to
banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation
and decorum which in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own
children was so highly reprehensible but she had never felt so
strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so
unsuitable a marriage nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising
from so ill-judged a direction of talents talents which rightly used 
might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters even
if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife 

when elizabeth had rejoiced over wickham's departure she found little
other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment their parties
abroad were less varied than before and at home she had a mother and
sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of everything around
them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle and though kitty
might in time regain her natural degree of sense since the disturbers
of her brain were removed her other sister from whose disposition
greater evil might be apprehended was likely to be hardened in all
her folly and assurance by a situation of such double danger as a
watering-place and a camp upon the whole therefore she found what
has been sometimes found before that an event to which she had been
looking with impatient desire did not in taking place bring all the
satisfaction she had promised herself it was consequently necessary to
name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity to have
some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed and by
again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation console herself for the
present and prepare for another disappointment her tour to the lakes
was now the object of her happiest thoughts it was her best consolation
for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother
and kitty made inevitable and could she have included jane in the
scheme every part of it would have been perfect 

 but it is fortunate thought she that i have something to wish for 
were the whole arrangement complete my disappointment would be certain 
but here by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my
sister's absence i may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of
pleasure realised a scheme of which every part promises delight can
never be successful and general disappointment is only warded off by
the defence of some little peculiar vexation 

when lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely
to her mother and kitty but her letters were always long expected and
always very short those to her mother contained little else than that
they were just returned from the library where such and such officers
had attended them and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as
made her quite wild that she had a new gown or a new parasol which
she would have described more fully but was obliged to leave off in a
violent hurry as mrs forster called her and they were going off to
the camp and from her correspondence with her sister there was still
less to be learnt for her letters to kitty though rather longer were
much too full of lines under the words to be made public 

after the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence health good
humour and cheerfulness began to reappear at longbourn everything wore
a happier aspect the families who had been in town for the winter came
back again and summer finery and summer engagements arose mrs bennet
was restored to her usual querulous serenity and by the middle of
june kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter meryton without
tears an event of such happy promise as to make elizabeth hope that by
the following christmas she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to
mention an officer above once a day unless by some cruel and malicious
arrangement at the war office another regiment should be quartered in
meryton 

the time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast
approaching and a fortnight only was wanting of it when a letter
arrived from mrs gardiner which at once delayed its commencement and
curtailed its extent mr gardiner would be prevented by business from
setting out till a fortnight later in july and must be in london again
within a month and as that left too short a period for them to go so
far and see so much as they had proposed or at least to see it with
the leisure and comfort they had built on they were obliged to give up
the lakes and substitute a more contracted tour and according to the
present plan were to go no farther northwards than derbyshire in that
county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three
weeks and to mrs gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction the
town where she had formerly passed some years of her life and where
they were now to spend a few days was probably as great an object of
her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of matlock chatsworth 
dovedale or the peak 

elizabeth was excessively disappointed she had set her heart on seeing
the lakes and still thought there might have been time enough but it
was her business to be satisfied and certainly her temper to be happy 
and all was soon right again 

with the mention of derbyshire there were many ideas connected it was
impossible for her to see the word without thinking of pemberley and its
owner but surely said she i may enter his county with impunity 
and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me 

the period of expectation was now doubled four weeks were to pass away
before her uncle and aunt's arrival but they did pass away and mr 
and mrs gardiner with their four children did at length appear at
longbourn the children two girls of six and eight years old and two
younger boys were to be left under the particular care of their
cousin jane who was the general favourite and whose steady sense and
sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every
way teaching them playing with them and loving them 

the gardiners stayed only one night at longbourn and set off the
next morning with elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement 
one enjoyment was certain that of suitableness of companions 
a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear
inconveniences cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure and affection
and intelligence which might supply it among themselves if there were
disappointments abroad 

it is not the object of this work to give a description of derbyshire 
nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither
lay oxford blenheim warwick kenilworth birmingham etc are
sufficiently known a small part of derbyshire is all the present
concern to the little town of lambton the scene of mrs gardiner's
former residence and where she had lately learned some acquaintance
still remained they bent their steps after having seen all the
principal wonders of the country and within five miles of lambton 
elizabeth found from her aunt that pemberley was situated it was not
in their direct road nor more than a mile or two out of it in
talking over their route the evening before mrs gardiner expressed
an inclination to see the place again mr gardiner declared his
willingness and elizabeth was applied to for her approbation 

 my love should not you like to see a place of which you have heard
so much said her aunt a place too with which so many of your
acquaintances are connected wickham passed all his youth there you
know 

elizabeth was distressed she felt that she had no business at
pemberley and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it she
must own that she was tired of seeing great houses after going over so
many she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains 

mrs gardiner abused her stupidity if it were merely a fine house
richly furnished said she i should not care about it myself but
the grounds are delightful they have some of the finest woods in the
country 

elizabeth said no more but her mind could not acquiesce the
possibility of meeting mr darcy while viewing the place instantly
occurred it would be dreadful she blushed at the very idea and
thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such
a risk but against this there were objections and she finally resolved
that it could be the last resource if her private inquiries to the
absence of the family were unfavourably answered 

accordingly when she retired at night she asked the chambermaid
whether pemberley were not a very fine place what was the name of its
proprietor and with no little alarm whether the family were down for
the summer a most welcome negative followed the last question and her
alarms now being removed she was at leisure to feel a great deal of
curiosity to see the house herself and when the subject was revived the
next morning and she was again applied to could readily answer and
with a proper air of indifference that she had not really any dislike
to the scheme to pemberley therefore they were to go 



chapter 43


elizabeth as they drove along watched for the first appearance of
pemberley woods with some perturbation and when at length they turned
in at the lodge her spirits were in a high flutter 

the park was very large and contained great variety of ground they
entered it in one of its lowest points and drove for some time through
a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent 

elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation but she saw and admired
every remarkable spot and point of view they gradually ascended for
half-a-mile and then found themselves at the top of a considerable
eminence where the wood ceased and the eye was instantly caught by
pemberley house situated on the opposite side of a valley into which
the road with some abruptness wound it was a large handsome stone
building standing well on rising ground and backed by a ridge of
high woody hills and in front a stream of some natural importance was
swelled into greater but without any artificial appearance its banks
were neither formal nor falsely adorned elizabeth was delighted she
had never seen a place for which nature had done more or where natural
beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste they were
all of them warm in their admiration and at that moment she felt that
to be mistress of pemberley might be something 

they descended the hill crossed the bridge and drove to the door and 
while examining the nearer aspect of the house all her apprehension of
meeting its owner returned she dreaded lest the chambermaid had been
mistaken on applying to see the place they were admitted into the
hall and elizabeth as they waited for the housekeeper had leisure to
wonder at her being where she was 

the housekeeper came a respectable-looking elderly woman much less
fine and more civil than she had any notion of finding her they
followed her into the dining-parlour it was a large well proportioned
room handsomely fitted up elizabeth after slightly surveying it went
to a window to enjoy its prospect the hill crowned with wood which
they had descended receiving increased abruptness from the distance 
was a beautiful object every disposition of the ground was good and
she looked on the whole scene the river the trees scattered on its
banks and the winding of the valley as far as she could trace it 
with delight as they passed into other rooms these objects were taking
different positions but from every window there were beauties to be
seen the rooms were lofty and handsome and their furniture suitable to
the fortune of its proprietor but elizabeth saw with admiration of
his taste that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine with less of
splendour and more real elegance than the furniture of rosings 

 and of this place thought she i might have been mistress with
these rooms i might now have been familiarly acquainted instead of
viewing them as a stranger i might have rejoiced in them as my own and
welcomed to them as visitors my uncle and aunt but no recollecting
herself that could never be my uncle and aunt would have been lost to
me i should not have been allowed to invite them 

this was a lucky recollection it saved her from something very like
regret 

she longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master was really
absent but had not the courage for it at length however the question
was asked by her uncle and she turned away with alarm while mrs 
reynolds replied that he was adding but we expect him to-morrow with
a large party of friends how rejoiced was elizabeth that their own
journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day 

her aunt now called her to look at a picture she approached and saw the
likeness of mr wickham suspended amongst several other miniatures 
over the mantelpiece her aunt asked her smilingly how she liked it 
the housekeeper came forward and told them it was a picture of a young
gentleman the son of her late master's steward who had been brought
up by him at his own expense he is now gone into the army she added 
 but i am afraid he has turned out very wild 

mrs gardiner looked at her niece with a smile but elizabeth could not
return it 

 and that said mrs reynolds pointing to another of the miniatures 
 is my master and very like him it was drawn at the same time as the
other about eight years ago 

 i have heard much of your master's fine person said mrs gardiner 
looking at the picture it is a handsome face but lizzy you can tell
us whether it is like or not 

mrs reynolds respect for elizabeth seemed to increase on this
intimation of her knowing her master 

 does that young lady know mr darcy 

elizabeth coloured and said a little 

 and do not you think him a very handsome gentleman ma'am 

 yes very handsome 

 i am sure i know none so handsome but in the gallery up stairs you
will see a finer larger picture of him than this this room was my late
master's favourite room and these miniatures are just as they used to
be then he was very fond of them 

this accounted to elizabeth for mr wickham's being among them 

mrs reynolds then directed their attention to one of miss darcy drawn
when she was only eight years old 

 and is miss darcy as handsome as her brother said mrs gardiner 

 oh yes the handsomest young lady that ever was seen and so
accomplished she plays and sings all day long in the next room is
a new instrument just come down for her a present from my master she
comes here to-morrow with him 

mr gardiner whose manners were very easy and pleasant encouraged her
communicativeness by his questions and remarks mrs reynolds either
by pride or attachment had evidently great pleasure in talking of her
master and his sister 

 is your master much at pemberley in the course of the year 

 not so much as i could wish sir but i dare say he may spend half his
time here and miss darcy is always down for the summer months 

 except thought elizabeth when she goes to ramsgate 

 if your master would marry you might see more of him 

 yes sir but i do not know when that will be i do not know who is
good enough for him 

mr and mrs gardiner smiled elizabeth could not help saying it is
very much to his credit i am sure that you should think so 

 i say no more than the truth and everybody will say that knows him 
 replied the other elizabeth thought this was going pretty far and she
listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added i have
never known a cross word from him in my life and i have known him ever
since he was four years old 

this was praise of all others most extraordinary most opposite to her
ideas that he was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion 
her keenest attention was awakened she longed to hear more and was
grateful to her uncle for saying 

 there are very few people of whom so much can be said you are lucky in
having such a master 

 yes sir i know i am if i were to go through the world i could
not meet with a better but i have always observed that they who are
good-natured when children are good-natured when they grow up and
he was always the sweetest-tempered most generous-hearted boy in the
world 

elizabeth almost stared at her can this be mr darcy thought she 

 his father was an excellent man said mrs gardiner 

 yes ma'am that he was indeed and his son will be just like him just
as affable to the poor 

elizabeth listened wondered doubted and was impatient for more mrs 
reynolds could interest her on no other point she related the subjects
of the pictures the dimensions of the rooms and the price of the
furniture in vain mr gardiner highly amused by the kind of family
prejudice to which he attributed her excessive commendation of her
master soon led again to the subject and she dwelt with energy on his
many merits as they proceeded together up the great staircase 

 he is the best landlord and the best master said she that ever
lived not like the wild young men nowadays who think of nothing but
themselves there is not one of his tenants or servants but will give
him a good name some people call him proud but i am sure i never saw
anything of it to my fancy it is only because he does not rattle away
like other young men 

 in what an amiable light does this place him thought elizabeth 

 this fine account of him whispered her aunt as they walked is not
quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend 

 perhaps we might be deceived 

 that is not very likely our authority was too good 

on reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty
sitting-room lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than
the apartments below and were informed that it was but just done to
give pleasure to miss darcy who had taken a liking to the room when
last at pemberley 

 he is certainly a good brother said elizabeth as she walked towards
one of the windows 

mrs reynolds anticipated miss darcy's delight when she should enter
the room and this is always the way with him she added whatever
can give his sister any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment there
is nothing he would not do for her 

the picture-gallery and two or three of the principal bedrooms were
all that remained to be shown in the former were many good paintings 
but elizabeth knew nothing of the art and from such as had been already
visible below she had willingly turned to look at some drawings of miss
darcy's in crayons whose subjects were usually more interesting and
also more intelligible 

in the gallery there were many family portraits but they could have
little to fix the attention of a stranger elizabeth walked in quest of
the only face whose features would be known to her at last it arrested
her and she beheld a striking resemblance to mr darcy with such a
smile over the face as she remembered to have sometimes seen when he
looked at her she stood several minutes before the picture in earnest
contemplation and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery 
mrs reynolds informed them that it had been taken in his father's
lifetime 

there was certainly at this moment in elizabeth's mind a more gentle
sensation towards the original than she had ever felt at the height of
their acquaintance the commendation bestowed on him by mrs reynolds
was of no trifling nature what praise is more valuable than the praise
of an intelligent servant as a brother a landlord a master she
considered how many people's happiness were in his guardianship how
much of pleasure or pain was it in his power to bestow how much of
good or evil must be done by him every idea that had been brought
forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character and as she
stood before the canvas on which he was represented and fixed his
eyes upon herself she thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of
gratitude than it had ever raised before she remembered its warmth and
softened its impropriety of expression 

when all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen 
they returned downstairs and taking leave of the housekeeper were
consigned over to the gardener who met them at the hall-door 

as they walked across the hall towards the river elizabeth turned back
to look again her uncle and aunt stopped also and while the former
was conjecturing as to the date of the building the owner of it himself
suddenly came forward from the road which led behind it to the stables 

they were within twenty yards of each other and so abrupt was his
appearance that it was impossible to avoid his sight their eyes
instantly met and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest
blush he absolutely started and for a moment seemed immovable from
surprise but shortly recovering himself advanced towards the party 
and spoke to elizabeth if not in terms of perfect composure at least
of perfect civility 

she had instinctively turned away but stopping on his approach 
received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be
overcome had his first appearance or his resemblance to the picture
they had just been examining been insufficient to assure the other two
that they now saw mr darcy the gardener's expression of surprise on
beholding his master must immediately have told it they stood a little
aloof while he was talking to their niece who astonished and confused 
scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face and knew not what answer
she returned to his civil inquiries after her family amazed at the
alteration of his manner since they last parted every sentence that
he uttered was increasing her embarrassment and every idea of the
impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind the few
minutes in which they continued were some of the most uncomfortable in
her life nor did he seem much more at ease when he spoke his accent
had none of its usual sedateness and he repeated his inquiries as
to the time of her having left longbourn and of her having stayed in
derbyshire so often and in so hurried a way as plainly spoke the
distraction of his thoughts 

at length every idea seemed to fail him and after standing a few
moments without saying a word he suddenly recollected himself and took
leave 

the others then joined her and expressed admiration of his figure but
elizabeth heard not a word and wholly engrossed by her own feelings 
followed them in silence she was overpowered by shame and vexation her
coming there was the most unfortunate the most ill-judged thing in the
world how strange it must appear to him in what a disgraceful light
might it not strike so vain a man it might seem as if she had purposely
thrown herself in his way again oh why did she come or why did he
thus come a day before he was expected had they been only ten minutes
sooner they should have been beyond the reach of his discrimination 
for it was plain that he was that moment arrived that moment alighted
from his horse or his carriage she blushed again and again over
the perverseness of the meeting and his behaviour so strikingly
altered what could it mean that he should even speak to her was
amazing but to speak with such civility to inquire after her family 
never in her life had she seen his manners so little dignified never
had he spoken with such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting what
a contrast did it offer to his last address in rosings park when he put
his letter into her hand she knew not what to think or how to account
for it 

they had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water and
every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground or a finer
reach of the woods to which they were approaching but it was some time
before elizabeth was sensible of any of it and though she answered
mechanically to the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt and
seemed to direct her eyes to such objects as they pointed out she
distinguished no part of the scene her thoughts were all fixed on that
one spot of pemberley house whichever it might be where mr darcy then
was she longed to know what at the moment was passing in his mind in
what manner he thought of her and whether in defiance of everything 
she was still dear to him perhaps he had been civil only because he
felt himself at ease yet there had been that in his voice which was
not like ease whether he had felt more of pain or of pleasure in
seeing her she could not tell but he certainly had not seen her with
composure 

at length however the remarks of her companions on her absence of mind
aroused her and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself 

they entered the woods and bidding adieu to the river for a while 
ascended some of the higher grounds when in spots where the opening of
the trees gave the eye power to wander were many charming views of the
valley the opposite hills with the long range of woods overspreading
many and occasionally part of the stream mr gardiner expressed a wish
of going round the whole park but feared it might be beyond a walk 
with a triumphant smile they were told that it was ten miles round 
it settled the matter and they pursued the accustomed circuit which
brought them again after some time in a descent among hanging woods 
to the edge of the water and one of its narrowest parts they crossed
it by a simple bridge in character with the general air of the scene 
it was a spot less adorned than any they had yet visited and the
valley here contracted into a glen allowed room only for the stream 
and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-wood which bordered it 
elizabeth longed to explore its windings but when they had crossed the
bridge and perceived their distance from the house mrs gardiner 
who was not a great walker could go no farther and thought only
of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible her niece was 
therefore obliged to submit and they took their way towards the house
on the opposite side of the river in the nearest direction but their
progress was slow for mr gardiner though seldom able to indulge the
taste was very fond of fishing and was so much engaged in watching the
occasional appearance of some trout in the water and talking to the
man about them that he advanced but little whilst wandering on in this
slow manner they were again surprised and elizabeth's astonishment
was quite equal to what it had been at first by the sight of mr darcy
approaching them and at no great distance the walk being here
less sheltered than on the other side allowed them to see him before
they met elizabeth however astonished was at least more prepared
for an interview than before and resolved to appear and to speak with
calmness if he really intended to meet them for a few moments indeed 
she felt that he would probably strike into some other path the idea
lasted while a turning in the walk concealed him from their view the
turning past he was immediately before them with a glance she saw
that he had lost none of his recent civility and to imitate his
politeness she began as they met to admire the beauty of the place 
but she had not got beyond the words delightful and charming when
some unlucky recollections obtruded and she fancied that praise of
pemberley from her might be mischievously construed her colour changed 
and she said no more 

mrs gardiner was standing a little behind and on her pausing he asked
her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends 
this was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared 
and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the
acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had
revolted in his offer to herself what will be his surprise thought
she when he knows who they are he takes them now for people of
fashion 

the introduction however was immediately made and as she named their
relationship to herself she stole a sly look at him to see how he bore
it and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast as he
could from such disgraceful companions that he was surprised by the
connection was evident he sustained it however with fortitude and
so far from going away turned back with them and entered into
conversation with mr gardiner elizabeth could not but be pleased 
could not but triumph it was consoling that he should know she had
some relations for whom there was no need to blush she listened most
attentively to all that passed between them and gloried in every
expression every sentence of her uncle which marked his intelligence 
his taste or his good manners 

the conversation soon turned upon fishing and she heard mr darcy
invite him with the greatest civility to fish there as often as he
chose while he continued in the neighbourhood offering at the same time
to supply him with fishing tackle and pointing out those parts of
the stream where there was usually most sport mrs gardiner who was
walking arm-in-arm with elizabeth gave her a look expressive of wonder 
elizabeth said nothing but it gratified her exceedingly the compliment
must be all for herself her astonishment however was extreme and
continually was she repeating why is he so altered from what can
it proceed it cannot be for me it cannot be for my sake that his
manners are thus softened my reproofs at hunsford could not work such a
change as this it is impossible that he should still love me 

after walking some time in this way the two ladies in front the two
gentlemen behind on resuming their places after descending to
the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious
water-plant there chanced to be a little alteration it originated
in mrs gardiner who fatigued by the exercise of the morning found
elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support and consequently preferred
her husband's mr darcy took her place by her niece and they walked on
together after a short silence the lady first spoke she wished him
to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the
place and accordingly began by observing that his arrival had been
very unexpected for your housekeeper she added informed us that
you would certainly not be here till to-morrow and indeed before we
left bakewell we understood that you were not immediately expected
in the country he acknowledged the truth of it all and said that
business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours
before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling they
will join me early to-morrow he continued and among them are some
who will claim an acquaintance with you mr bingley and his sisters 

elizabeth answered only by a slight bow her thoughts were instantly
driven back to the time when mr bingley's name had been the last
mentioned between them and if she might judge by his complexion his 
mind was not very differently engaged 

 there is also one other person in the party he continued after a
pause who more particularly wishes to be known to you will you allow
me or do i ask too much to introduce my sister to your acquaintance
during your stay at lambton 

the surprise of such an application was great indeed it was too great
for her to know in what manner she acceded to it she immediately felt
that whatever desire miss darcy might have of being acquainted with her
must be the work of her brother and without looking farther it was
satisfactory it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made
him think really ill of her 

they now walked on in silence each of them deep in thought elizabeth
was not comfortable that was impossible but she was flattered and
pleased his wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of
the highest kind they soon outstripped the others and when they had
reached the carriage mr and mrs gardiner were half a quarter of a
mile behind 

he then asked her to walk into the house but she declared herself not
tired and they stood together on the lawn at such a time much might
have been said and silence was very awkward she wanted to talk but
there seemed to be an embargo on every subject at last she recollected
that she had been travelling and they talked of matlock and dove dale
with great perseverance yet time and her aunt moved slowly and her
patience and her ideas were nearly worn out before the tete-a-tete was
over on mr and mrs gardiner's coming up they were all pressed to go
into the house and take some refreshment but this was declined and
they parted on each side with utmost politeness mr darcy handed the
ladies into the carriage and when it drove off elizabeth saw him
walking slowly towards the house 

the observations of her uncle and aunt now began and each of them
pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected 
 he is perfectly well behaved polite and unassuming said her uncle 

 there is something a little stately in him to be sure replied her
aunt but it is confined to his air and is not unbecoming i can now
say with the housekeeper that though some people may call him proud i
have seen nothing of it 

 i was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us it was more
than civil it was really attentive and there was no necessity for such
attention his acquaintance with elizabeth was very trifling 

 to be sure lizzy said her aunt he is not so handsome as wickham 
or rather he has not wickham's countenance for his features
are perfectly good but how came you to tell me that he was so
disagreeable 

elizabeth excused herself as well as she could said that she had liked
him better when they had met in kent than before and that she had never
seen him so pleasant as this morning 

 but perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities replied
her uncle your great men often are and therefore i shall not take him
at his word as he might change his mind another day and warn me off
his grounds 

elizabeth felt that they had entirely misunderstood his character but
said nothing 

 from what we have seen of him continued mrs gardiner i really
should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by
anybody as he has done by poor wickham he has not an ill-natured look 
on the contrary there is something pleasing about his mouth when he
speaks and there is something of dignity in his countenance that would
not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart but to be sure the
good lady who showed us his house did give him a most flaming character 
i could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes but he is a liberal
master i suppose and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every
virtue 

elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of
his behaviour to wickham and therefore gave them to understand in
as guarded a manner as she could that by what she had heard from
his relations in kent his actions were capable of a very different
construction and that his character was by no means so faulty nor
wickham's so amiable as they had been considered in hertfordshire in
confirmation of this she related the particulars of all the pecuniary
transactions in which they had been connected without actually naming
her authority but stating it to be such as might be relied on 

mrs gardiner was surprised and concerned but as they were now
approaching the scene of her former pleasures every idea gave way to
the charm of recollection and she was too much engaged in pointing out
to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of
anything else fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they
had no sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former
acquaintance and the evening was spent in the satisfactions of a
intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance 

the occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave elizabeth
much attention for any of these new friends and she could do nothing
but think and think with wonder of mr darcy's civility and above
all of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister 



chapter 44


elizabeth had settled it that mr darcy would bring his sister to visit
her the very day after her reaching pemberley and was consequently
resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning 
but her conclusion was false for on the very morning after their
arrival at lambton these visitors came they had been walking about the
place with some of their new friends and were just returning to the inn
to dress themselves for dining with the same family when the sound of a
carriage drew them to a window and they saw a gentleman and a lady in
a curricle driving up the street elizabeth immediately recognizing
the livery guessed what it meant and imparted no small degree of her
surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the honour which she
expected her uncle and aunt were all amazement and the embarrassment
of her manner as she spoke joined to the circumstance itself and many
of the circumstances of the preceding day opened to them a new idea on
the business nothing had ever suggested it before but they felt that
there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a
quarter than by supposing a partiality for their niece while these
newly-born notions were passing in their heads the perturbation of
elizabeth's feelings was at every moment increasing she was quite
amazed at her own discomposure but amongst other causes of disquiet 
she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much
in her favour and more than commonly anxious to please she naturally
suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her 

she retreated from the window fearful of being seen and as she walked
up and down the room endeavouring to compose herself saw such looks of
inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse 

miss darcy and her brother appeared and this formidable introduction
took place with astonishment did elizabeth see that her new
acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself since her
being at lambton she had heard that miss darcy was exceedingly proud 
but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was
only exceedingly shy she found it difficult to obtain even a word from
her beyond a monosyllable 

miss darcy was tall and on a larger scale than elizabeth and though
little more than sixteen her figure was formed and her appearance
womanly and graceful she was less handsome than her brother but there
was sense and good humour in her face and her manners were perfectly
unassuming and gentle elizabeth who had expected to find in her as
acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever mr darcy had been was much
relieved by discerning such different feelings 

they had not long been together before mr darcy told her that bingley
was also coming to wait on her and she had barely time to express her
satisfaction and prepare for such a visitor when bingley's quick
step was heard on the stairs and in a moment he entered the room all
elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away but had she still
felt any it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected
cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again he
inquired in a friendly though general way after her family and looked
and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done 

to mr and mrs gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage
than to herself they had long wished to see him the whole party before
them indeed excited a lively attention the suspicions which had just
arisen of mr darcy and their niece directed their observation towards
each with an earnest though guarded inquiry and they soon drew from
those inquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew
what it was to love of the lady's sensations they remained a little
in doubt but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was
evident enough 

elizabeth on her side had much to do she wanted to ascertain the
feelings of each of her visitors she wanted to compose her own and
to make herself agreeable to all and in the latter object where she
feared most to fail she was most sure of success for those to whom she
endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour bingley
was ready georgiana was eager and darcy determined to be pleased 

in seeing bingley her thoughts naturally flew to her sister and oh 
how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in
a like manner sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on
former occasions and once or twice pleased herself with the notion
that as he looked at her he was trying to trace a resemblance but 
though this might be imaginary she could not be deceived as to his
behaviour to miss darcy who had been set up as a rival to jane no look
appeared on either side that spoke particular regard nothing occurred
between them that could justify the hopes of his sister on this point
she was soon satisfied and two or three little circumstances occurred
ere they parted which in her anxious interpretation denoted a
recollection of jane not untinctured by tenderness and a wish of saying
more that might lead to the mention of her had he dared he observed
to her at a moment when the others were talking together and in a tone
which had something of real regret that it was a very long time since
he had had the pleasure of seeing her and before she could reply 
he added it is above eight months we have not met since the 26th of
november when we were all dancing together at netherfield 

elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact and he afterwards
took occasion to ask her when unattended to by any of the rest whether
 all her sisters were at longbourn there was not much in the question 
nor in the preceding remark but there was a look and a manner which
gave them meaning 

it was not often that she could turn her eyes on mr darcy himself 
but whenever she did catch a glimpse she saw an expression of general
complaisance and in all that he said she heard an accent so removed
from hauteur or disdain of his companions as convinced her that
the improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed however
temporary its existence might prove had at least outlived one day when
she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion
of people with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a
disgrace when she saw him thus civil not only to herself but to the
very relations whom he had openly disdained and recollected their last
lively scene in hunsford parsonage the difference the change was
so great and struck so forcibly on her mind that she could hardly
restrain her astonishment from being visible never even in the company
of his dear friends at netherfield or his dignified relations
at rosings had she seen him so desirous to please so free from
self-consequence or unbending reserve as now when no importance
could result from the success of his endeavours and when even the
acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw
down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of netherfield and
rosings 

their visitors stayed with them above half-an-hour and when they arose
to depart mr darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing
their wish of seeing mr and mrs gardiner and miss bennet to dinner
at pemberley before they left the country miss darcy though with a
diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations 
readily obeyed mrs gardiner looked at her niece desirous of knowing
how she whom the invitation most concerned felt disposed as to its
acceptance but elizabeth had turned away her head presuming however 
that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than
any dislike of the proposal and seeing in her husband who was fond of
society a perfect willingness to accept it she ventured to engage for
her attendance and the day after the next was fixed on 

bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing elizabeth
again having still a great deal to say to her and many inquiries to
make after all their hertfordshire friends elizabeth construing all
this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister was pleased and on
this account as well as some others found herself when their
visitors left them capable of considering the last half-hour with some
satisfaction though while it was passing the enjoyment of it had been
little eager to be alone and fearful of inquiries or hints from her
uncle and aunt she stayed with them only long enough to hear their
favourable opinion of bingley and then hurried away to dress 

but she had no reason to fear mr and mrs gardiner's curiosity it was
not their wish to force her communication it was evident that she was
much better acquainted with mr darcy than they had before any idea of 
it was evident that he was very much in love with her they saw much to
interest but nothing to justify inquiry 

of mr darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well and as far
as their acquaintance reached there was no fault to find they could
not be untouched by his politeness and had they drawn his character
from their own feelings and his servant's report without any reference
to any other account the circle in hertfordshire to which he was known
would not have recognized it for mr darcy there was now an interest 
however in believing the housekeeper and they soon became sensible
that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four
years old and whose own manners indicated respectability was not to be
hastily rejected neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of
their lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight they had
nothing to accuse him of but pride pride he probably had and if not 
it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town
where the family did not visit it was acknowledged however that he
was a liberal man and did much good among the poor 

with respect to wickham the travellers soon found that he was not held
there in much estimation for though the chief of his concerns with the
son of his patron were imperfectly understood it was yet a well-known
fact that on his quitting derbyshire he had left many debts behind
him which mr darcy afterwards discharged 

as for elizabeth her thoughts were at pemberley this evening more than
the last and the evening though as it passed it seemed long was not
long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion 
and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out she
certainly did not hate him no hatred had vanished long ago and she
had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him 
that could be so called the respect created by the conviction of his
valuable qualities though at first unwillingly admitted had for some
time ceased to be repugnant to her feeling and it was now heightened
into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in
his favour and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light 
which yesterday had produced but above all above respect and esteem 
there was a motive within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked 
it was gratitude gratitude not merely for having once loved her 
but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and
acrimony of her manner in rejecting him and all the unjust accusations
accompanying her rejection he who she had been persuaded would avoid
her as his greatest enemy seemed on this accidental meeting most
eager to preserve the acquaintance and without any indelicate display
of regard or any peculiarity of manner where their two selves only
were concerned was soliciting the good opinion of her friends and bent
on making her known to his sister such a change in a man of so much
pride exciting not only astonishment but gratitude for to love ardent
love it must be attributed and as such its impression on her was of a
sort to be encouraged as by no means unpleasing though it could not be
exactly defined she respected she esteemed she was grateful to him 
she felt a real interest in his welfare and she only wanted to know how
far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself and how far it would
be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power which her
fancy told her she still possessed of bringing on her the renewal of
his addresses 

it had been settled in the evening between the aunt and the niece that
such a striking civility as miss darcy's in coming to see them on the
very day of her arrival at pemberley for she had reached it only to a
late breakfast ought to be imitated though it could not be equalled 
by some exertion of politeness on their side and consequently that
it would be highly expedient to wait on her at pemberley the following
morning they were therefore to go elizabeth was pleased though when
she asked herself the reason she had very little to say in reply 

mr gardiner left them soon after breakfast the fishing scheme had been
renewed the day before and a positive engagement made of his meeting
some of the gentlemen at pemberley before noon 



chapter 45


convinced as elizabeth now was that miss bingley's dislike of her had
originated in jealousy she could not help feeling how unwelcome her
appearance at pemberley must be to her and was curious to know with how
much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed 

on reaching the house they were shown through the hall into the saloon 
whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer its windows
opening to the ground admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody
hills behind the house and of the beautiful oaks and spanish chestnuts
which were scattered over the intermediate lawn 

in this house they were received by miss darcy who was sitting there
with mrs hurst and miss bingley and the lady with whom she lived in
london georgiana's reception of them was very civil but attended with
all the embarrassment which though proceeding from shyness and the fear
of doing wrong would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior
the belief of her being proud and reserved mrs gardiner and her niece 
however did her justice and pitied her 

by mrs hurst and miss bingley they were noticed only by a curtsey and 
on their being seated a pause awkward as such pauses must always be 
succeeded for a few moments it was first broken by mrs annesley a
genteel agreeable-looking woman whose endeavour to introduce some kind
of discourse proved her to be more truly well-bred than either of the
others and between her and mrs gardiner with occasional help from
elizabeth the conversation was carried on miss darcy looked as if she
wished for courage enough to join in it and sometimes did venture a
short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard 

elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by miss bingley 
and that she could not speak a word especially to miss darcy without
calling her attention this observation would not have prevented her
from trying to talk to the latter had they not been seated at an
inconvenient distance but she was not sorry to be spared the necessity
of saying much her own thoughts were employing her she expected every
moment that some of the gentlemen would enter the room she wished she
feared that the master of the house might be amongst them and whether
she wished or feared it most she could scarcely determine after
sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing miss
bingley's voice elizabeth was roused by receiving from her a cold
inquiry after the health of her family she answered with equal
indifference and brevity and the other said no more 

the next variation which their visit afforded was produced by the
entrance of servants with cold meat cake and a variety of all the
finest fruits in season but this did not take place till after many
a significant look and smile from mrs annesley to miss darcy had been
given to remind her of her post there was now employment for the whole
party for though they could not all talk they could all eat and the
beautiful pyramids of grapes nectarines and peaches soon collected
them round the table 

while thus engaged elizabeth had a fair opportunity of deciding whether
she most feared or wished for the appearance of mr darcy by the
feelings which prevailed on his entering the room and then though but
a moment before she had believed her wishes to predominate she began to
regret that he came 

he had been some time with mr gardiner who with two or three other
gentlemen from the house was engaged by the river and had left him
only on learning that the ladies of the family intended a visit to
georgiana that morning no sooner did he appear than elizabeth wisely
resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed a resolution the more
necessary to be made but perhaps not the more easily kept because she
saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them 
and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour
when he first came into the room in no countenance was attentive
curiosity so strongly marked as in miss bingley's in spite of the
smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke to one of its
objects for jealousy had not yet made her desperate and her attentions
to mr darcy were by no means over miss darcy on her brother's
entrance exerted herself much more to talk and elizabeth saw that he
was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted and forwarded
as much as possible every attempt at conversation on either side miss
bingley saw all this likewise and in the imprudence of anger took the
first opportunity of saying with sneering civility 

 pray miss eliza are not the shire militia removed from meryton 
they must be a great loss to your family 

in darcy's presence she dared not mention wickham's name but elizabeth
instantly comprehended that he was uppermost in her thoughts and the
various recollections connected with him gave her a moment's distress 
but exerting herself vigorously to repel the ill-natured attack she
presently answered the question in a tolerably detached tone while
she spoke an involuntary glance showed her darcy with a heightened
complexion earnestly looking at her and his sister overcome with
confusion and unable to lift up her eyes had miss bingley known what
pain she was then giving her beloved friend she undoubtedly would
have refrained from the hint but she had merely intended to discompose
elizabeth by bringing forward the idea of a man to whom she believed
her partial to make her betray a sensibility which might injure her in
darcy's opinion and perhaps to remind the latter of all the follies
and absurdities by which some part of her family were connected
with that corps not a syllable had ever reached her of miss darcy's
meditated elopement to no creature had it been revealed where secrecy
was possible except to elizabeth and from all bingley's connections
her brother was particularly anxious to conceal it from the very
wish which elizabeth had long ago attributed to him of their becoming
hereafter her own he had certainly formed such a plan and without
meaning that it should affect his endeavour to separate him from miss
bennet it is probable that it might add something to his lively concern
for the welfare of his friend 

elizabeth's collected behaviour however soon quieted his emotion and
as miss bingley vexed and disappointed dared not approach nearer to
wickham georgiana also recovered in time though not enough to be able
to speak any more her brother whose eye she feared to meet scarcely
recollected her interest in the affair and the very circumstance which
had been designed to turn his thoughts from elizabeth seemed to have
fixed them on her more and more cheerfully 

their visit did not continue long after the question and answer above
mentioned and while mr darcy was attending them to their carriage miss
bingley was venting her feelings in criticisms on elizabeth's person 
behaviour and dress but georgiana would not join her her brother's
recommendation was enough to ensure her favour his judgement could not
err and he had spoken in such terms of elizabeth as to leave georgiana
without the power of finding her otherwise than lovely and amiable when
darcy returned to the saloon miss bingley could not help repeating to
him some part of what she had been saying to his sister 

 how very ill miss eliza bennet looks this morning mr darcy she
cried i never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since
the winter she is grown so brown and coarse louisa and i were agreeing
that we should not have known her again 

however little mr darcy might have liked such an address he contented
himself with coolly replying that he perceived no other alteration than
her being rather tanned no miraculous consequence of travelling in the
summer 

 for my own part she rejoined i must confess that i never could
see any beauty in her her face is too thin her complexion has no
brilliancy and her features are not at all handsome her nose
wants character there is nothing marked in its lines her teeth are
tolerable but not out of the common way and as for her eyes 
which have sometimes been called so fine i could never see anything
extraordinary in them they have a sharp shrewish look which i do
not like at all and in her air altogether there is a self-sufficiency
without fashion which is intolerable 

persuaded as miss bingley was that darcy admired elizabeth this was not
the best method of recommending herself but angry people are not always
wise and in seeing him at last look somewhat nettled she had all the
success she expected he was resolutely silent however and from a
determination of making him speak she continued 

 i remember when we first knew her in hertfordshire how amazed we all
were to find that she was a reputed beauty and i particularly recollect
your saying one night after they had been dining at netherfield ' she 
a beauty i should as soon call her mother a wit ' but afterwards she
seemed to improve on you and i believe you thought her rather pretty at
one time 

 yes replied darcy who could contain himself no longer but that 
was only when i first saw her for it is many months since i have
considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance 

he then went away and miss bingley was left to all the satisfaction of
having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself 

mrs gardiner and elizabeth talked of all that had occurred during their
visit as they returned except what had particularly interested them
both the look and behaviour of everybody they had seen were discussed 
except of the person who had mostly engaged their attention they talked
of his sister his friends his house his fruit of everything but
himself yet elizabeth was longing to know what mrs gardiner thought of
him and mrs gardiner would have been highly gratified by her niece's
beginning the subject 



chapter 46


elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from
jane on their first arrival at lambton and this disappointment had been
renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there but
on the third her repining was over and her sister justified by the
receipt of two letters from her at once on one of which was marked that
it had been missent elsewhere elizabeth was not surprised at it as
jane had written the direction remarkably ill 

they had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in and
her uncle and aunt leaving her to enjoy them in quiet set off by
themselves the one missent must first be attended to it had been
written five days ago the beginning contained an account of all their
little parties and engagements with such news as the country afforded 
but the latter half which was dated a day later and written in evident
agitation gave more important intelligence it was to this effect 

 since writing the above dearest lizzy something has occurred of a
most unexpected and serious nature but i am afraid of alarming you be
assured that we are all well what i have to say relates to poor lydia 
an express came at twelve last night just as we were all gone to bed 
from colonel forster to inform us that she was gone off to scotland
with one of his officers to own the truth with wickham imagine our
surprise to kitty however it does not seem so wholly unexpected i am
very very sorry so imprudent a match on both sides but i am willing
to hope the best and that his character has been misunderstood 
thoughtless and indiscreet i can easily believe him but this step
 and let us rejoice over it marks nothing bad at heart his choice is
disinterested at least for he must know my father can give her nothing 
our poor mother is sadly grieved my father bears it better how
thankful am i that we never let them know what has been said against
him we must forget it ourselves they were off saturday night about
twelve as is conjectured but were not missed till yesterday morning at
eight the express was sent off directly my dear lizzy they must have
passed within ten miles of us colonel forster gives us reason to expect
him here soon lydia left a few lines for his wife informing her of
their intention i must conclude for i cannot be long from my poor
mother i am afraid you will not be able to make it out but i hardly
know what i have written 

without allowing herself time for consideration and scarcely knowing
what she felt elizabeth on finishing this letter instantly seized the
other and opening it with the utmost impatience read as follows it
had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first 

 by this time my dearest sister you have received my hurried letter i
wish this may be more intelligible but though not confined for time my
head is so bewildered that i cannot answer for being coherent dearest
lizzy i hardly know what i would write but i have bad news for you 
and it cannot be delayed imprudent as the marriage between mr wickham
and our poor lydia would be we are now anxious to be assured it has
taken place for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone
to scotland colonel forster came yesterday having left brighton the
day before not many hours after the express though lydia's short
letter to mrs f gave them to understand that they were going to gretna
green something was dropped by denny expressing his belief that w 
never intended to go there or to marry lydia at all which was
repeated to colonel f who instantly taking the alarm set off from b 
intending to trace their route he did trace them easily to clapham 
but no further for on entering that place they removed into a hackney
coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from epsom all that
is known after this is that they were seen to continue the london road 
i know not what to think after making every possible inquiry on that
side london colonel f came on into hertfordshire anxiously renewing
them at all the turnpikes and at the inns in barnet and hatfield but
without any success no such people had been seen to pass through with
the kindest concern he came on to longbourn and broke his apprehensions
to us in a manner most creditable to his heart i am sincerely grieved
for him and mrs f but no one can throw any blame on them our
distress my dear lizzy is very great my father and mother believe the
worst but i cannot think so ill of him many circumstances might make
it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue
their first plan and even if he could form such a design against a
young woman of lydia's connections which is not likely can i suppose
her so lost to everything impossible i grieve to find however that
colonel f is not disposed to depend upon their marriage he shook his
head when i expressed my hopes and said he feared w was not a man to
be trusted my poor mother is really ill and keeps her room could she
exert herself it would be better but this is not to be expected and
as to my father i never in my life saw him so affected poor kitty has
anger for having concealed their attachment but as it was a matter of
confidence one cannot wonder i am truly glad dearest lizzy that you
have been spared something of these distressing scenes but now as the
first shock is over shall i own that i long for your return i am not
so selfish however as to press for it if inconvenient adieu i
take up my pen again to do what i have just told you i would not but
circumstances are such that i cannot help earnestly begging you all to
come here as soon as possible i know my dear uncle and aunt so well 
that i am not afraid of requesting it though i have still something
more to ask of the former my father is going to london with colonel
forster instantly to try to discover her what he means to do i am sure
i know not but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any
measure in the best and safest way and colonel forster is obliged to
be at brighton again to-morrow evening in such an exigence my
uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world he will
immediately comprehend what i must feel and i rely upon his goodness 

 oh where where is my uncle cried elizabeth darting from her seat
as she finished the letter in eagerness to follow him without losing
a moment of the time so precious but as she reached the door it was
opened by a servant and mr darcy appeared her pale face and impetuous
manner made him start and before he could recover himself to speak 
she in whose mind every idea was superseded by lydia's situation 
hastily exclaimed i beg your pardon but i must leave you i must find
mr gardiner this moment on business that cannot be delayed i have not
an instant to lose 

 good god what is the matter cried he with more feeling than
politeness then recollecting himself i will not detain you a minute 
but let me or let the servant go after mr and mrs gardiner you are
not well enough you cannot go yourself 

elizabeth hesitated but her knees trembled under her and she felt how
little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them calling back
the servant therefore she commissioned him though in so breathless
an accent as made her almost unintelligible to fetch his master and
mistress home instantly 

on his quitting the room she sat down unable to support herself and
looking so miserably ill that it was impossible for darcy to leave her 
or to refrain from saying in a tone of gentleness and commiseration 
 let me call your maid is there nothing you could take to give you
present relief a glass of wine shall i get you one you are very ill 

 no i thank you she replied endeavouring to recover herself there
is nothing the matter with me i am quite well i am only distressed by
some dreadful news which i have just received from longbourn 

she burst into tears as she alluded to it and for a few minutes could
not speak another word darcy in wretched suspense could only say
something indistinctly of his concern and observe her in compassionate
silence at length she spoke again i have just had a letter from jane 
with such dreadful news it cannot be concealed from anyone my younger
sister has left all her friends has eloped has thrown herself into
the power of of mr wickham they are gone off together from brighton 
 you know him too well to doubt the rest she has no money no
connections nothing that can tempt him to she is lost for ever 

darcy was fixed in astonishment when i consider she added in a yet
more agitated voice that i might have prevented it i who knew what
he was had i but explained some part of it only some part of what i
learnt to my own family had his character been known this could not
have happened but it is all all too late now 

 i am grieved indeed cried darcy grieved shocked but is it
certain absolutely certain 

 oh yes they left brighton together on sunday night and were traced
almost to london but not beyond they are certainly not gone to
scotland 

 and what has been done what has been attempted to recover her 

 my father is gone to london and jane has written to beg my uncle's
immediate assistance and we shall be off i hope in half-an-hour but
nothing can be done i know very well that nothing can be done how is
such a man to be worked on how are they even to be discovered i have
not the smallest hope it is every way horrible 

darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence 

 when my eyes were opened to his real character oh had i known what
i ought what i dared to do but i knew not i was afraid of doing too
much wretched wretched mistake 

darcy made no answer he seemed scarcely to hear her and was walking
up and down the room in earnest meditation his brow contracted his air
gloomy elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood it her
power was sinking everything must sink under such a proof of family
weakness such an assurance of the deepest disgrace she could neither
wonder nor condemn but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing
consolatory to her bosom afforded no palliation of her distress it
was on the contrary exactly calculated to make her understand her own
wishes and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved
him as now when all love must be vain 

but self though it would intrude could not engross her lydia the
humiliation the misery she was bringing on them all soon swallowed
up every private care and covering her face with her handkerchief 
elizabeth was soon lost to everything else and after a pause of
several minutes was only recalled to a sense of her situation by
the voice of her companion who in a manner which though it spoke
compassion spoke likewise restraint said i am afraid you have been
long desiring my absence nor have i anything to plead in excuse of my
stay but real though unavailing concern would to heaven that anything
could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to
such distress but i will not torment you with vain wishes which may
seem purposely to ask for your thanks this unfortunate affair will i
fear prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at pemberley
to-day 

 oh yes be so kind as to apologise for us to miss darcy say that
urgent business calls us home immediately conceal the unhappy truth as
long as it is possible i know it cannot be long 

he readily assured her of his secrecy again expressed his sorrow for
her distress wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present
reason to hope and leaving his compliments for her relations with only
one serious parting look went away 

as he quitted the room elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they
should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as
had marked their several meetings in derbyshire and as she threw a
retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance so full
of contradictions and varieties sighed at the perverseness of those
feelings which would now have promoted its continuance and would
formerly have rejoiced in its termination 

if gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection elizabeth's
change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty but if
otherwise if regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or
unnatural in comparison of what is so often described as arising on
a first interview with its object and even before two words have been
exchanged nothing can be said in her defence except that she had given
somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for wickham 
and that its ill success might perhaps authorise her to seek the other
less interesting mode of attachment be that as it may she saw him
go with regret and in this early example of what lydia's infamy must
produce found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched
business never since reading jane's second letter had she entertained
a hope of wickham's meaning to marry her no one but jane she thought 
could flatter herself with such an expectation surprise was the least
of her feelings on this development while the contents of the first
letter remained in her mind she was all surprise all astonishment that
wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry
for money and how lydia could ever have attached him had appeared
incomprehensible but now it was all too natural for such an attachment
as this she might have sufficient charms and though she did not suppose
lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention
of marriage she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue
nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey 

she had never perceived while the regiment was in hertfordshire that
lydia had any partiality for him but she was convinced that lydia
wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody sometimes one
officer sometimes another had been her favourite as their attentions
raised them in her opinion her affections had continually been
fluctuating but never without an object the mischief of neglect and
mistaken indulgence towards such a girl oh how acutely did she now
feel it 

she was wild to be at home to hear to see to be upon the spot to
share with jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her in a
family so deranged a father absent a mother incapable of exertion and
requiring constant attendance and though almost persuaded that nothing
could be done for lydia her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost
importance and till he entered the room her impatience was severe mr 
and mrs gardiner had hurried back in alarm supposing by the servant's
account that their niece was taken suddenly ill but satisfying them
instantly on that head she eagerly communicated the cause of their
summons reading the two letters aloud and dwelling on the postscript
of the last with trembling energy though lydia had never been a
favourite with them mr and mrs gardiner could not but be deeply
afflicted not lydia only but all were concerned in it and after the
first exclamations of surprise and horror mr gardiner promised every
assistance in his power elizabeth though expecting no less thanked
him with tears of gratitude and all three being actuated by one spirit 
everything relating to their journey was speedily settled they were to
be off as soon as possible but what is to be done about pemberley 
 cried mrs gardiner john told us mr darcy was here when you sent for
us was it so 

 yes and i told him we should not be able to keep our engagement 
 that is all settled 

 what is all settled repeated the other as she ran into her room to
prepare and are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real
truth oh that i knew how it was 

but wishes were vain or at least could only serve to amuse her in the
hurry and confusion of the following hour had elizabeth been at leisure
to be idle she would have remained certain that all employment was
impossible to one so wretched as herself but she had her share of
business as well as her aunt and amongst the rest there were notes to
be written to all their friends at lambton with false excuses for their
sudden departure an hour however saw the whole completed and mr 
gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn nothing
remained to be done but to go and elizabeth after all the misery of
the morning found herself in a shorter space of time than she could
have supposed seated in the carriage and on the road to longbourn 



chapter 47


 i have been thinking it over again elizabeth said her uncle as they
drove from the town and really upon serious consideration i am much
more inclined than i was to judge as your eldest sister does on the
matter it appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should
form such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or
friendless and who was actually staying in his colonel's family that i
am strongly inclined to hope the best could he expect that her friends
would not step forward could he expect to be noticed again by the
regiment after such an affront to colonel forster his temptation is
not adequate to the risk 

 do you really think so cried elizabeth brightening up for a moment 

 upon my word said mrs gardiner i begin to be of your uncle's
opinion it is really too great a violation of decency honour and
interest for him to be guilty of i cannot think so very ill of
wickham can you yourself lizzy so wholly give him up as to believe
him capable of it 

 not perhaps of neglecting his own interest but of every other
neglect i can believe him capable if indeed it should be so but i
dare not hope it why should they not go on to scotland if that had been
the case 

 in the first place replied mr gardiner there is no absolute proof
that they are not gone to scotland 

 oh but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is such
a presumption and besides no traces of them were to be found on the
barnet road 

 well then supposing them to be in london they may be there though
for the purpose of concealment for no more exceptional purpose it is
not likely that money should be very abundant on either side and it
might strike them that they could be more economically though less
expeditiously married in london than in scotland 

 but why all this secrecy why any fear of detection why must their
marriage be private oh no no this is not likely his most particular
friend you see by jane's account was persuaded of his never intending
to marry her wickham will never marry a woman without some money he
cannot afford it and what claims has lydia what attraction has she
beyond youth health and good humour that could make him for her sake 
forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well as to what
restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a
dishonourable elopement with her i am not able to judge for i know
nothing of the effects that such a step might produce but as to your
other objection i am afraid it will hardly hold good lydia has
no brothers to step forward and he might imagine from my father's
behaviour from his indolence and the little attention he has ever
seemed to give to what was going forward in his family that he would
do as little and think as little about it as any father could do in
such a matter 

 but can you think that lydia is so lost to everything but love of him
as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage 

 it does seem and it is most shocking indeed replied elizabeth with
tears in her eyes that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such
a point should admit of doubt but really i know not what to say 
perhaps i am not doing her justice but she is very young she has never
been taught to think on serious subjects and for the last half-year 
nay for a twelvemonth she has been given up to nothing but amusement
and vanity she has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle
and frivolous manner and to adopt any opinions that came in her way 
since the shire were first quartered in meryton nothing but love 
flirtation and officers have been in her head she has been doing
everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject to give
greater what shall i call it susceptibility to her feelings which are
naturally lively enough and we all know that wickham has every charm of
person and address that can captivate a woman 

 but you see that jane said her aunt does not think so very ill of
wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt 

 of whom does jane ever think ill and who is there whatever might be
their former conduct that she would think capable of such an attempt 
till it were proved against them but jane knows as well as i do what
wickham really is we both know that he has been profligate in every
sense of the word that he has neither integrity nor honour that he is
as false and deceitful as he is insinuating 

 and do you really know all this cried mrs gardiner whose curiosity
as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive 

 i do indeed replied elizabeth colouring i told you the other day 
of his infamous behaviour to mr darcy and you yourself when last at
longbourn heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved
with such forbearance and liberality towards him and there are other
circumstances which i am not at liberty which it is not worth while to
relate but his lies about the whole pemberley family are endless from
what he said of miss darcy i was thoroughly prepared to see a proud 
reserved disagreeable girl yet he knew to the contrary himself he
must know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found
her 

 but does lydia know nothing of this can she be ignorant of what you
and jane seem so well to understand 

 oh yes that that is the worst of all till i was in kent and saw
so much both of mr darcy and his relation colonel fitzwilliam i was
ignorant of the truth myself and when i returned home the shire
was to leave meryton in a week or fortnight's time as that was the
case neither jane to whom i related the whole nor i thought it
necessary to make our knowledge public for of what use could
it apparently be to any one that the good opinion which all the
neighbourhood had of him should then be overthrown and even when it was
settled that lydia should go with mrs forster the necessity of opening
her eyes to his character never occurred to me that she could be
in any danger from the deception never entered my head that such a
consequence as this could ensue you may easily believe was far
enough from my thoughts 

 when they all removed to brighton therefore you had no reason i
suppose to believe them fond of each other 

 not the slightest i can remember no symptom of affection on either
side and had anything of the kind been perceptible you must be aware
that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away when first
he entered the corps she was ready enough to admire him but so we all
were every girl in or near meryton was out of her senses about him for
the first two months but he never distinguished her by any particular
attention and consequently after a moderate period of extravagant and
wild admiration her fancy for him gave way and others of the regiment 
who treated her with more distinction again became her favourites 

 

it may be easily believed that however little of novelty could be added
to their fears hopes and conjectures on this interesting subject by
its repeated discussion no other could detain them from it long during
the whole of the journey from elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent 
fixed there by the keenest of all anguish self-reproach she could find
no interval of ease or forgetfulness 

they travelled as expeditiously as possible and sleeping one night
on the road reached longbourn by dinner time the next day it was a
comfort to elizabeth to consider that jane could not have been wearied
by long expectations 

the little gardiners attracted by the sight of a chaise were standing
on the steps of the house as they entered the paddock and when the
carriage drove up to the door the joyful surprise that lighted up their
faces and displayed itself over their whole bodies in a variety of
capers and frisks was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome 

elizabeth jumped out and after giving each of them a hasty kiss 
hurried into the vestibule where jane who came running down from her
mother's apartment immediately met her 

elizabeth as she affectionately embraced her whilst tears filled the
eyes of both lost not a moment in asking whether anything had been
heard of the fugitives 

 not yet replied jane but now that my dear uncle is come i hope
everything will be well 

 is my father in town 

 yes he went on tuesday as i wrote you word 

 and have you heard from him often 

 we have heard only twice he wrote me a few lines on wednesday to say
that he had arrived in safety and to give me his directions which i
particularly begged him to do he merely added that he should not write
again till he had something of importance to mention 

 and my mother how is she how are you all 

 my mother is tolerably well i trust though her spirits are greatly
shaken she is up stairs and will have great satisfaction in seeing you
all she does not yet leave her dressing-room mary and kitty thank
heaven are quite well 

 but you how are you cried elizabeth you look pale how much you
must have gone through 

her sister however assured her of her being perfectly well and their
conversation which had been passing while mr and mrs gardiner were
engaged with their children was now put an end to by the approach
of the whole party jane ran to her uncle and aunt and welcomed and
thanked them both with alternate smiles and tears 

when they were all in the drawing-room the questions which elizabeth
had already asked were of course repeated by the others and they soon
found that jane had no intelligence to give the sanguine hope of
good however which the benevolence of her heart suggested had not yet
deserted her she still expected that it would all end well and that
every morning would bring some letter either from lydia or her father 
to explain their proceedings and perhaps announce their marriage 

mrs bennet to whose apartment they all repaired after a few minutes'
conversation together received them exactly as might be expected with
tears and lamentations of regret invectives against the villainous
conduct of wickham and complaints of her own sufferings and ill-usage 
blaming everybody but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the
errors of her daughter must principally be owing 

 if i had been able said she to carry my point in going to brighton 
with all my family this would not have happened but poor dear lydia
had nobody to take care of her why did the forsters ever let her go out
of their sight i am sure there was some great neglect or other on their
side for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing if she had been
well looked after i always thought they were very unfit to have the
charge of her but i was overruled as i always am poor dear child 
and now here's mr bennet gone away and i know he will fight wickham 
wherever he meets him and then he will be killed and what is to become
of us all the collinses will turn us out before he is cold in his
grave and if you are not kind to us brother i do not know what we
shall do 

they all exclaimed against such terrific ideas and mr gardiner after
general assurances of his affection for her and all her family told her
that he meant to be in london the very next day and would assist mr 
bennet in every endeavour for recovering lydia 

 do not give way to useless alarm added he though it is right to be
prepared for the worst there is no occasion to look on it as certain 
it is not quite a week since they left brighton in a few days more we
may gain some news of them and till we know that they are not married 
and have no design of marrying do not let us give the matter over as
lost as soon as i get to town i shall go to my brother and make
him come home with me to gracechurch street and then we may consult
together as to what is to be done 

 oh my dear brother replied mrs bennet that is exactly what i
could most wish for and now do when you get to town find them out 
wherever they may be and if they are not married already make them
marry and as for wedding clothes do not let them wait for that but
tell lydia she shall have as much money as she chooses to buy them 
after they are married and above all keep mr bennet from fighting 
tell him what a dreadful state i am in that i am frighted out of my
wits and have such tremblings such flutterings all over me such
spasms in my side and pains in my head and such beatings at heart that
i can get no rest by night nor by day and tell my dear lydia not to
give any directions about her clothes till she has seen me for she does
not know which are the best warehouses oh brother how kind you are i
know you will contrive it all 

but mr gardiner though he assured her again of his earnest endeavours
in the cause could not avoid recommending moderation to her as well
in her hopes as her fear and after talking with her in this manner till
dinner was on the table they all left her to vent all her feelings on
the housekeeper who attended in the absence of her daughters 

though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real
occasion for such a seclusion from the family they did not attempt to
oppose it for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her
tongue before the servants while they waited at table and judged it
better that one only of the household and the one whom they could
most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the
subject 

in the dining-room they were soon joined by mary and kitty who had been
too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance
before one came from her books and the other from her toilette the
faces of both however were tolerably calm and no change was visible
in either except that the loss of her favourite sister or the anger
which she had herself incurred in this business had given more of
fretfulness than usual to the accents of kitty as for mary she was
mistress enough of herself to whisper to elizabeth with a countenance
of grave reflection soon after they were seated at table 

 this is a most unfortunate affair and will probably be much talked of 
but we must stem the tide of malice and pour into the wounded bosoms of
each other the balm of sisterly consolation 

then perceiving in elizabeth no inclination of replying she added 
 unhappy as the event must be for lydia we may draw from it this useful
lesson that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable that one
false step involves her in endless ruin that her reputation is no less
brittle than it is beautiful and that she cannot be too much guarded in
her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex 

elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement but was too much oppressed
to make any reply mary however continued to console herself with such
kind of moral extractions from the evil before them 

in the afternoon the two elder miss bennets were able to be for
half-an-hour by themselves and elizabeth instantly availed herself of
the opportunity of making any inquiries which jane was equally eager to
satisfy after joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel
of this event which elizabeth considered as all but certain and miss
bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible the former continued
the subject by saying but tell me all and everything about it which
i have not already heard give me further particulars what did colonel
forster say had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement
took place they must have seen them together for ever 

 colonel forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality 
especially on lydia's side but nothing to give him any alarm i am so
grieved for him his behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost he
 was coming to us in order to assure us of his concern before he had
any idea of their not being gone to scotland when that apprehension
first got abroad it hastened his journey 

 and was denny convinced that wickham would not marry did he know of
their intending to go off had colonel forster seen denny himself 

 yes but when questioned by him denny denied knowing anything of
their plans and would not give his real opinion about it he did not
repeat his persuasion of their not marrying and from that i am
inclined to hope he might have been misunderstood before 

 and till colonel forster came himself not one of you entertained a
doubt i suppose of their being really married 

 how was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains i felt
a little uneasy a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him
in marriage because i knew that his conduct had not been always quite
right my father and mother knew nothing of that they only felt how
imprudent a match it must be kitty then owned with a very natural
triumph on knowing more than the rest of us that in lydia's last letter
she had prepared her for such a step she had known it seems of their
being in love with each other many weeks 

 but not before they went to brighton 

 no i believe not 

 and did colonel forster appear to think well of wickham himself does
he know his real character 

 i must confess that he did not speak so well of wickham as he formerly
did he believed him to be imprudent and extravagant and since this sad
affair has taken place it is said that he left meryton greatly in debt 
but i hope this may be false 

 oh jane had we been less secret had we told what we knew of him 
this could not have happened 

 perhaps it would have been better replied her sister but to expose
the former faults of any person without knowing what their present
feelings were seemed unjustifiable we acted with the best intentions 

 could colonel forster repeat the particulars of lydia's note to his
wife 

 he brought it with him for us to see 

jane then took it from her pocket-book and gave it to elizabeth these
were the contents 

 my dear harriet 

 you will laugh when you know where i am gone and i cannot help
laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning as soon as i am
missed i am going to gretna green and if you cannot guess with who 
i shall think you a simpleton for there is but one man in the world i
love and he is an angel i should never be happy without him so think
it no harm to be off you need not send them word at longbourn of my
going if you do not like it for it will make the surprise the greater 
when i write to them and sign my name 'lydia wickham ' what a good joke
it will be i can hardly write for laughing pray make my excuses to
pratt for not keeping my engagement and dancing with him to-night 
tell him i hope he will excuse me when he knows all and tell him i will
dance with him at the next ball we meet with great pleasure i shall
send for my clothes when i get to longbourn but i wish you would tell
sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are
packed up good-bye give my love to colonel forster i hope you will
drink to our good journey 

 your affectionate friend 

 lydia bennet 

 oh thoughtless thoughtless lydia cried elizabeth when she had
finished it what a letter is this to be written at such a moment 
but at least it shows that she was serious on the subject of their
journey whatever he might afterwards persuade her to it was not on her
side a scheme of infamy my poor father how he must have felt it 

 i never saw anyone so shocked he could not speak a word for full ten
minutes my mother was taken ill immediately and the whole house in
such confusion 

 oh jane cried elizabeth was there a servant belonging to it who
did not know the whole story before the end of the day 

 i do not know i hope there was but to be guarded at such a time is
very difficult my mother was in hysterics and though i endeavoured to
give her every assistance in my power i am afraid i did not do so
much as i might have done but the horror of what might possibly happen
almost took from me my faculties 

 your attendance upon her has been too much for you you do not look
well oh that i had been with you you have had every care and anxiety
upon yourself alone 

 mary and kitty have been very kind and would have shared in every
fatigue i am sure but i did not think it right for either of them 
kitty is slight and delicate and mary studies so much that her hours
of repose should not be broken in on my aunt phillips came to longbourn
on tuesday after my father went away and was so good as to stay till
thursday with me she was of great use and comfort to us all and
lady lucas has been very kind she walked here on wednesday morning to
condole with us and offered her services or any of her daughters' if
they should be of use to us 

 she had better have stayed at home cried elizabeth perhaps she
 meant well but under such a misfortune as this one cannot see
too little of one's neighbours assistance is impossible condolence
insufferable let them triumph over us at a distance and be satisfied 

she then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had
intended to pursue while in town for the recovery of his daughter 

 he meant i believe replied jane to go to epsom the place where
they last changed horses see the postilions and try if anything could
be made out from them his principal object must be to discover the
number of the hackney coach which took them from clapham it had come
with a fare from london and as he thought that the circumstance of a
gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might
be remarked he meant to make inquiries at clapham if he could anyhow
discover at what house the coachman had before set down his fare he
determined to make inquiries there and hoped it might not be impossible
to find out the stand and number of the coach i do not know of any
other designs that he had formed but he was in such a hurry to be gone 
and his spirits so greatly discomposed that i had difficulty in finding
out even so much as this 



chapter 48


the whole party were in hopes of a letter from mr bennet the next
morning but the post came in without bringing a single line from him 
his family knew him to be on all common occasions a most negligent and
dilatory correspondent but at such a time they had hoped for exertion 
they were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to
send but even of that they would have been glad to be certain mr 
gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off 

when he was gone they were certain at least of receiving constant
information of what was going on and their uncle promised at parting 
to prevail on mr bennet to return to longbourn as soon as he could 
to the great consolation of his sister who considered it as the only
security for her husband's not being killed in a duel 

mrs gardiner and the children were to remain in hertfordshire a few
days longer as the former thought her presence might be serviceable
to her nieces she shared in their attendance on mrs bennet and was a
great comfort to them in their hours of freedom their other aunt also
visited them frequently and always as she said with the design of
cheering and heartening them up though as she never came without
reporting some fresh instance of wickham's extravagance or irregularity 
she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found
them 

all meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who but three months
before had been almost an angel of light he was declared to be in debt
to every tradesman in the place and his intrigues all honoured with
the title of seduction had been extended into every tradesman's family 
everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world 
and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the
appearance of his goodness elizabeth though she did not credit above
half of what was said believed enough to make her former assurance of
her sister's ruin more certain and even jane who believed still less
of it became almost hopeless more especially as the time was now come
when if they had gone to scotland which she had never before entirely
despaired of they must in all probability have gained some news of
them 

mr gardiner left longbourn on sunday on tuesday his wife received a
letter from him it told them that on his arrival he had immediately
found out his brother and persuaded him to come to gracechurch street 
that mr bennet had been to epsom and clapham before his arrival 
but without gaining any satisfactory information and that he was now
determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town as mr bennet
thought it possible they might have gone to one of them on their first
coming to london before they procured lodgings mr gardiner himself
did not expect any success from this measure but as his brother was
eager in it he meant to assist him in pursuing it he added that mr 
bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave london and promised
to write again very soon there was also a postscript to this effect 

 i have written to colonel forster to desire him to find out if
possible from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment 
whether wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to
know in what part of town he has now concealed himself if there were
anyone that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a
clue as that it might be of essential consequence at present we have
nothing to guide us colonel forster will i dare say do everything in
his power to satisfy us on this head but on second thoughts perhaps 
lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living better than any
other person 

elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference to her
authority proceeded but it was not in her power to give any information
of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved she had never
heard of his having had any relations except a father and mother both
of whom had been dead many years it was possible however that some of
his companions in the shire might be able to give more information 
and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it the application
was a something to look forward to 

every day at longbourn was now a day of anxiety but the most anxious
part of each was when the post was expected the arrival of letters
was the grand object of every morning's impatience through letters 
whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated and every
succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance 

but before they heard again from mr gardiner a letter arrived for
their father from a different quarter from mr collins which as jane
had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence 
she accordingly read and elizabeth who knew what curiosities his
letters always were looked over her and read it likewise it was as
follows 

 my dear sir 

 i feel myself called upon by our relationship and my situation
in life to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now
suffering under of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from
hertfordshire be assured my dear sir that mrs collins and myself
sincerely sympathise with you and all your respectable family in
your present distress which must be of the bitterest kind because
proceeding from a cause which no time can remove no arguments shall be
wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune or that
may comfort you under a circumstance that must be of all others the
most afflicting to a parent's mind the death of your daughter would
have been a blessing in comparison of this and it is the more to
be lamented because there is reason to suppose as my dear charlotte
informs me that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has
proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence though at the same time 
for the consolation of yourself and mrs bennet i am inclined to think
that her own disposition must be naturally bad or she could not be
guilty of such an enormity at so early an age howsoever that may be 
you are grievously to be pitied in which opinion i am not only joined
by mrs collins but likewise by lady catherine and her daughter to
whom i have related the affair they agree with me in apprehending that
this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of
all the others for who as lady catherine herself condescendingly says 
will connect themselves with such a family and this consideration leads
me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event
of last november for had it been otherwise i must have been involved
in all your sorrow and disgrace let me then advise you dear sir to
console yourself as much as possible to throw off your unworthy child
from your affection for ever and leave her to reap the fruits of her
own heinous offense 

 i am dear sir etc etc 

mr gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from
colonel forster and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send 
it was not known that wickham had a single relationship with whom he
kept up any connection and it was certain that he had no near one
living his former acquaintances had been numerous but since he
had been in the militia it did not appear that he was on terms of
particular friendship with any of them there was no one therefore 
who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him and in the
wretched state of his own finances there was a very powerful motive for
secrecy in addition to his fear of discovery by lydia's relations for
it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him to a
very considerable amount colonel forster believed that more than a
thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at brighton 
he owed a good deal in town but his debts of honour were still more
formidable mr gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars
from the longbourn family jane heard them with horror a gamester 
 she cried this is wholly unexpected i had not an idea of it 

mr gardiner added in his letter that they might expect to see their
father at home on the following day which was saturday rendered
spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours he had yielded
to his brother-in-law's entreaty that he would return to his family and
leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable
for continuing their pursuit when mrs bennet was told of this she did
not express so much satisfaction as her children expected considering
what her anxiety for his life had been before 

 what is he coming home and without poor lydia she cried sure he
will not leave london before he has found them who is to fight wickham 
and make him marry her if he comes away 

as mrs gardiner began to wish to be at home it was settled that she
and the children should go to london at the same time that mr bennet
came from it the coach therefore took them the first stage of their
journey and brought its master back to longbourn 

mrs gardiner went away in all the perplexity about elizabeth and her
derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world his
name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece and
the kind of half-expectation which mrs gardiner had formed of their
being followed by a letter from him had ended in nothing elizabeth had
received none since her return that could come from pemberley 

the present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for
the lowness of her spirits unnecessary nothing therefore could be
fairly conjectured from that though elizabeth who was by this time
tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings was perfectly aware
that had she known nothing of darcy she could have borne the dread of
lydia's infamy somewhat better it would have spared her she thought 
one sleepless night out of two 

when mr bennet arrived he had all the appearance of his usual
philosophic composure he said as little as he had ever been in the
habit of saying made no mention of the business that had taken him
away and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of
it 

it was not till the afternoon when he had joined them at tea that
elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject and then on her briefly
expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured he replied say
nothing of that who should suffer but myself it has been my own doing 
and i ought to feel it 

 you must not be too severe upon yourself replied elizabeth 

 you may well warn me against such an evil human nature is so prone
to fall into it no lizzy let me once in my life feel how much i have
been to blame i am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression 
it will pass away soon enough 

 do you suppose them to be in london 

 yes where else can they be so well concealed 

 and lydia used to want to go to london added kitty 

 she is happy then said her father drily and her residence there
will probably be of some duration 

then after a short silence he continued 

 lizzy i bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me
last may which considering the event shows some greatness of mind 

they were interrupted by miss bennet who came to fetch her mother's
tea 

 this is a parade he cried which does one good it gives such an
elegance to misfortune another day i will do the same i will sit in my
library in my nightcap and powdering gown and give as much trouble as
i can or perhaps i may defer it till kitty runs away 

 i am not going to run away papa said kitty fretfully if i should
ever go to brighton i would behave better than lydia 

 you go to brighton i would not trust you so near it as eastbourne
for fifty pounds no kitty i have at last learnt to be cautious and
you will feel the effects of it no officer is ever to enter into
my house again nor even to pass through the village balls will be
absolutely prohibited unless you stand up with one of your sisters 
and you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have
spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner 

kitty who took all these threats in a serious light began to cry 

 well well said he do not make yourself unhappy if you are a good
girl for the next ten years i will take you to a review at the end of
them 



chapter 49


two days after mr bennet's return as jane and elizabeth were walking
together in the shrubbery behind the house they saw the housekeeper
coming towards them and concluding that she came to call them to their
mother went forward to meet her but instead of the expected summons 
when they approached her she said to miss bennet i beg your pardon 
madam for interrupting you but i was in hopes you might have got some
good news from town so i took the liberty of coming to ask 

 what do you mean hill we have heard nothing from town 

 dear madam cried mrs hill in great astonishment don't you know
there is an express come for master from mr gardiner he has been here
this half-hour and master has had a letter 

away ran the girls too eager to get in to have time for speech they
ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room from thence to the
library their father was in neither and they were on the point of
seeking him up stairs with their mother when they were met by the
butler who said 

 if you are looking for my master ma'am he is walking towards the
little copse 

upon this information they instantly passed through the hall once
more and ran across the lawn after their father who was deliberately
pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock 

jane who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as
elizabeth soon lagged behind while her sister panting for breath 
came up with him and eagerly cried out 

 oh papa what news what news have you heard from my uncle 

 yes i have had a letter from him by express 

 well and what news does it bring good or bad 

 what is there of good to be expected said he taking the letter from
his pocket but perhaps you would like to read it 

elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand jane now came up 

 read it aloud said their father for i hardly know myself what it is
about 

 gracechurch street monday august 2 

 my dear brother 

 at last i am able to send you some tidings of my niece and such as 
upon the whole i hope it will give you satisfaction soon after you
left me on saturday i was fortunate enough to find out in what part of
london they were the particulars i reserve till we meet it is enough
to know they are discovered i have seen them both 

 then it is as i always hoped cried jane they are married 

elizabeth read on 

 i have seen them both they are not married nor can i find there
was any intention of being so but if you are willing to perform the
engagements which i have ventured to make on your side i hope it will
not be long before they are all that is required of you is to assure
to your daughter by settlement her equal share of the five thousand
pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and
my sister and moreover to enter into an engagement of allowing her 
during your life one hundred pounds per annum these are conditions
which considering everything i had no hesitation in complying with 
as far as i thought myself privileged for you i shall send this by
express that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer you
will easily comprehend from these particulars that mr wickham's
circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be 
the world has been deceived in that respect and i am happy to say there
will be some little money even when all his debts are discharged to
settle on my niece in addition to her own fortune if as i conclude
will be the case you send me full powers to act in your name throughout
the whole of this business i will immediately give directions to
haggerston for preparing a proper settlement there will not be the
smallest occasion for your coming to town again therefore stay quiet at
longbourn and depend on my diligence and care send back your answer as
fast as you can and be careful to write explicitly we have judged it
best that my niece should be married from this house of which i hope
you will approve she comes to us to-day i shall write again as soon as
anything more is determined on yours etc 

 edw gardiner 

 is it possible cried elizabeth when she had finished can it be
possible that he will marry her 

 wickham is not so undeserving then as we thought him said her
sister my dear father i congratulate you 

 and have you answered the letter cried elizabeth 

 no but it must be done soon 

most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more time before he
wrote 

 oh my dear father she cried come back and write immediately 
consider how important every moment is in such a case 

 let me write for you said jane if you dislike the trouble
yourself 

 i dislike it very much he replied but it must be done 

and so saying he turned back with them and walked towards the house 

 and may i ask said elizabeth but the terms i suppose must be
complied with 

 complied with i am only ashamed of his asking so little 

 and they must marry yet he is such a man 

 yes yes they must marry there is nothing else to be done but there
are two things that i want very much to know one is how much money
your uncle has laid down to bring it about and the other how am i ever
to pay him 

 money my uncle cried jane what do you mean sir 

 i mean that no man in his senses would marry lydia on so slight a
temptation as one hundred a year during my life and fifty after i am
gone 

 that is very true said elizabeth though it had not occurred to me
before his debts to be discharged and something still to remain oh 
it must be my uncle's doings generous good man i am afraid he has
distressed himself a small sum could not do all this 

 no said her father wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing
less than ten thousand pounds i should be sorry to think so ill of him 
in the very beginning of our relationship 

 ten thousand pounds heaven forbid how is half such a sum to be
repaid 

mr bennet made no answer and each of them deep in thought continued
silent till they reached the house their father then went on to the
library to write and the girls walked into the breakfast-room 

 and they are really to be married cried elizabeth as soon as they
were by themselves how strange this is and for this we are to be
thankful that they should marry small as is their chance of happiness 
and wretched as is his character we are forced to rejoice oh lydia 

 i comfort myself with thinking replied jane that he certainly would
not marry lydia if he had not a real regard for her though our kind
uncle has done something towards clearing him i cannot believe that ten
thousand pounds or anything like it has been advanced he has children
of his own and may have more how could he spare half ten thousand
pounds 

 if he were ever able to learn what wickham's debts have been said
elizabeth and how much is settled on his side on our sister we shall
exactly know what mr gardiner has done for them because wickham has
not sixpence of his own the kindness of my uncle and aunt can never
be requited their taking her home and affording her their personal
protection and countenance is such a sacrifice to her advantage as
years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge by this time she is
actually with them if such goodness does not make her miserable now 
she will never deserve to be happy what a meeting for her when she
first sees my aunt 

 we must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side said
jane i hope and trust they will yet be happy his consenting to
marry her is a proof i will believe that he is come to a right way of
thinking their mutual affection will steady them and i flatter myself
they will settle so quietly and live in so rational a manner as may in
time make their past imprudence forgotten 

 their conduct has been such replied elizabeth as neither you nor
i nor anybody can ever forget it is useless to talk of it 

it now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood
perfectly ignorant of what had happened they went to the library 
therefore and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make
it known to her he was writing and without raising his head coolly
replied 

 just as you please 

 may we take my uncle's letter to read to her 

 take whatever you like and get away 

elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table and they went up stairs
together mary and kitty were both with mrs bennet one communication
would therefore do for all after a slight preparation for good news 
the letter was read aloud mrs bennet could hardly contain herself as
soon as jane had read mr gardiner's hope of lydia's being soon
married her joy burst forth and every following sentence added to its
exuberance she was now in an irritation as violent from delight as she
had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation to know that her daughter
would be married was enough she was disturbed by no fear for her
felicity nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct 

 my dear dear lydia she cried this is delightful indeed she will
be married i shall see her again she will be married at sixteen 
my good kind brother i knew how it would be i knew he would manage
everything how i long to see her and to see dear wickham too but the
clothes the wedding clothes i will write to my sister gardiner about
them directly lizzy my dear run down to your father and ask him
how much he will give her stay stay i will go myself ring the bell 
kitty for hill i will put on my things in a moment my dear dear
lydia how merry we shall be together when we meet 

her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of
these transports by leading her thoughts to the obligations which mr 
gardiner's behaviour laid them all under 

 for we must attribute this happy conclusion she added in a great
measure to his kindness we are persuaded that he has pledged himself to
assist mr wickham with money 

 well cried her mother it is all very right who should do it but
her own uncle if he had not had a family of his own i and my children
must have had all his money you know and it is the first time we have
ever had anything from him except a few presents well i am so happy 
in a short time i shall have a daughter married mrs wickham how well
it sounds and she was only sixteen last june my dear jane i am in
such a flutter that i am sure i can't write so i will dictate and
you write for me we will settle with your father about the money
afterwards but the things should be ordered immediately 

she was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico muslin and
cambric and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders had
not jane though with some difficulty persuaded her to wait till her
father was at leisure to be consulted one day's delay she observed 
would be of small importance and her mother was too happy to be quite
so obstinate as usual other schemes too came into her head 

 i will go to meryton said she as soon as i am dressed and tell the
good good news to my sister philips and as i come back i can call
on lady lucas and mrs long kitty run down and order the carriage 
an airing would do me a great deal of good i am sure girls can i do
anything for you in meryton oh here comes hill my dear hill have you
heard the good news miss lydia is going to be married and you shall
all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding 

mrs hill began instantly to express her joy elizabeth received her
congratulations amongst the rest and then sick of this folly took
refuge in her own room that she might think with freedom 

poor lydia's situation must at best be bad enough but that it was
no worse she had need to be thankful she felt it so and though in
looking forward neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could
be justly expected for her sister in looking back to what they had
feared only two hours ago she felt all the advantages of what they had
gained 



chapter 50


mr bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that 
instead of spending his whole income he had laid by an annual sum for
the better provision of his children and of his wife if she survived
him he now wished it more than ever had he done his duty in that
respect lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever
of honour or credit could now be purchased for her the satisfaction of
prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in great britain to be
her husband might then have rested in its proper place 

he was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone
should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law and he
was determined if possible to find out the extent of his assistance 
and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could 

when first mr bennet had married economy was held to be perfectly
useless for of course they were to have a son the son was to join
in cutting off the entail as soon as he should be of age and the widow
and younger children would by that means be provided for five daughters
successively entered the world but yet the son was to come and mrs 
bennet for many years after lydia's birth had been certain that he
would this event had at last been despaired of but it was then
too late to be saving mrs bennet had no turn for economy and her
husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their
income 

five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on mrs bennet and
the children but in what proportions it should be divided amongst the
latter depended on the will of the parents this was one point with
regard to lydia at least which was now to be settled and mr bennet
could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him in
terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother 
though expressed most concisely he then delivered on paper his perfect
approbation of all that was done and his willingness to fulfil the
engagements that had been made for him he had never before supposed
that could wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter it would
be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present
arrangement he would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the
hundred that was to be paid them for what with her board and pocket
allowance and the continual presents in money which passed to her
through her mother's hands lydia's expenses had been very little within
that sum 

that it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side too was
another very welcome surprise for his wish at present was to have as
little trouble in the business as possible when the first transports
of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over he
naturally returned to all his former indolence his letter was soon
dispatched for though dilatory in undertaking business he was quick
in its execution he begged to know further particulars of what he
was indebted to his brother but was too angry with lydia to send any
message to her 

the good news spread quickly through the house and with proportionate
speed through the neighbourhood it was borne in the latter with decent
philosophy to be sure it would have been more for the advantage
of conversation had miss lydia bennet come upon the town or as the
happiest alternative been secluded from the world in some distant
farmhouse but there was much to be talked of in marrying her and the
good-natured wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from
all the spiteful old ladies in meryton lost but a little of their spirit
in this change of circumstances because with such an husband her misery
was considered certain 

it was a fortnight since mrs bennet had been downstairs but on this
happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table and in
spirits oppressively high no sentiment of shame gave a damp to her
triumph the marriage of a daughter which had been the first object
of her wishes since jane was sixteen was now on the point of
accomplishment and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those
attendants of elegant nuptials fine muslins new carriages and
servants she was busily searching through the neighbourhood for a
proper situation for her daughter and without knowing or considering
what their income might be rejected many as deficient in size and
importance 

 haye park might do said she if the gouldings could quit it or the
great house at stoke if the drawing-room were larger but ashworth is
too far off i could not bear to have her ten miles from me and as for
pulvis lodge the attics are dreadful 

her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the
servants remained but when they had withdrawn he said to her mrs 
bennet before you take any or all of these houses for your son and
daughter let us come to a right understanding into one house in this
neighbourhood they shall never have admittance i will not encourage the
impudence of either by receiving them at longbourn 

a long dispute followed this declaration but mr bennet was firm it
soon led to another and mrs bennet found with amazement and horror 
that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his
daughter he protested that she should receive from him no mark of
affection whatever on the occasion mrs bennet could hardly comprehend
it that his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable
resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her
marriage would scarcely seem valid exceeded all she could believe
possible she was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new
clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials than to any sense of
shame at her eloping and living with wickham a fortnight before they
took place 

elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had from the distress of
the moment been led to make mr darcy acquainted with their fears for
her sister for since her marriage would so shortly give the
proper termination to the elopement they might hope to conceal its
unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the
spot 

she had no fear of its spreading farther through his means there were
few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended 
but at the same time there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's
frailty would have mortified her so much not however from any fear
of disadvantage from it individually to herself for at any rate 
there seemed a gulf impassable between them had lydia's marriage been
concluded on the most honourable terms it was not to be supposed that
mr darcy would connect himself with a family where to every other
objection would now be added an alliance and relationship of the
nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned 

from such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink the
wish of procuring her regard which she had assured herself of his
feeling in derbyshire could not in rational expectation survive such a
blow as this she was humbled she was grieved she repented though she
hardly knew of what she became jealous of his esteem when she could no
longer hope to be benefited by it she wanted to hear of him when there
seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence she was convinced that
she could have been happy with him when it was no longer likely they
should meet 

what a triumph for him as she often thought could he know that the
proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago would now
have been most gladly and gratefully received he was as generous she
doubted not as the most generous of his sex but while he was mortal 
there must be a triumph 

she began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who in
disposition and talents would most suit her his understanding and
temper though unlike her own would have answered all her wishes it
was an union that must have been to the advantage of both by her ease
and liveliness his mind might have been softened his manners improved 
and from his judgement information and knowledge of the world she
must have received benefit of greater importance 

but no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what
connubial felicity really was an union of a different tendency and
precluding the possibility of the other was soon to be formed in their
family 

how wickham and lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence 
she could not imagine but how little of permanent happiness could
belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions
were stronger than their virtue she could easily conjecture 

 

mr gardiner soon wrote again to his brother to mr bennet's
acknowledgments he briefly replied with assurance of his eagerness to
promote the welfare of any of his family and concluded with entreaties
that the subject might never be mentioned to him again the principal
purport of his letter was to inform them that mr wickham had resolved
on quitting the militia 

 it was greatly my wish that he should do so he added as soon as
his marriage was fixed on and i think you will agree with me in
considering the removal from that corps as highly advisable both on
his account and my niece's it is mr wickham's intention to go into
the regulars and among his former friends there are still some who
are able and willing to assist him in the army he has the promise of an
ensigncy in general 's regiment now quartered in the north it
is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom he
promises fairly and i hope among different people where they may each
have a character to preserve they will both be more prudent i have
written to colonel forster to inform him of our present arrangements 
and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of mr wickham
in and near brighton with assurances of speedy payment for which i
have pledged myself and will you give yourself the trouble of carrying
similar assurances to his creditors in meryton of whom i shall subjoin
a list according to his information he has given in all his debts i
hope at least he has not deceived us haggerston has our directions 
and all will be completed in a week they will then join his regiment 
unless they are first invited to longbourn and i understand from mrs 
gardiner that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she
leaves the south she is well and begs to be dutifully remembered to
you and her mother yours etc 

 e gardiner 

mr bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of wickham's removal
from the shire as clearly as mr gardiner could do but mrs bennet
was not so well pleased with it lydia's being settled in the north 
just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company 
for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in
hertfordshire was a severe disappointment and besides it was such a
pity that lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted
with everybody and had so many favourites 

 she is so fond of mrs forster said she it will be quite shocking
to send her away and there are several of the young men too that she
likes very much the officers may not be so pleasant in general 's
regiment 

his daughter's request for such it might be considered of being
admitted into her family again before she set off for the north 
received at first an absolute negative but jane and elizabeth 
who agreed in wishing for the sake of their sister's feelings and
consequence that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents 
urged him so earnestly yet so rationally and so mildly to receive her
and her husband at longbourn as soon as they were married that he was
prevailed on to think as they thought and act as they wished and their
mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she would be able to show
her married daughter in the neighbourhood before she was banished to the
north when mr bennet wrote again to his brother therefore he sent
his permission for them to come and it was settled that as soon as
the ceremony was over they should proceed to longbourn elizabeth was
surprised however that wickham should consent to such a scheme and
had she consulted only her own inclination any meeting with him would
have been the last object of her wishes 



chapter 51


their sister's wedding day arrived and jane and elizabeth felt for her
probably more than she felt for herself the carriage was sent to
meet them at and they were to return in it by dinner-time their
arrival was dreaded by the elder miss bennets and jane more especially 
who gave lydia the feelings which would have attended herself had she
been the culprit and was wretched in the thought of what her sister
must endure 

they came the family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive
them smiles decked the face of mrs bennet as the carriage drove up to
the door her husband looked impenetrably grave her daughters alarmed 
anxious uneasy 

lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule the door was thrown open and
she ran into the room her mother stepped forwards embraced her and
welcomed her with rapture gave her hand with an affectionate smile 
to wickham who followed his lady and wished them both joy with an
alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness 

their reception from mr bennet to whom they then turned was not quite
so cordial his countenance rather gained in austerity and he scarcely
opened his lips the easy assurance of the young couple indeed was
enough to provoke him elizabeth was disgusted and even miss bennet
was shocked lydia was lydia still untamed unabashed wild noisy 
and fearless she turned from sister to sister demanding their
congratulations and when at length they all sat down looked eagerly
round the room took notice of some little alteration in it and
observed with a laugh that it was a great while since she had been
there 

wickham was not at all more distressed than herself but his manners
were always so pleasing that had his character and his marriage been
exactly what they ought his smiles and his easy address while he
claimed their relationship would have delighted them all elizabeth had
not before believed him quite equal to such assurance but she sat down 
resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence
of an impudent man she blushed and jane blushed but the cheeks of the
two who caused their confusion suffered no variation of colour 

there was no want of discourse the bride and her mother could neither
of them talk fast enough and wickham who happened to sit near
elizabeth began inquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood 
with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her
replies they seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the
world nothing of the past was recollected with pain and lydia led
voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for
the world 

 only think of its being three months she cried since i went away 
it seems but a fortnight i declare and yet there have been things
enough happened in the time good gracious when i went away i am sure
i had no more idea of being married till i came back again though i
thought it would be very good fun if i was 

her father lifted up his eyes jane was distressed elizabeth looked
expressively at lydia but she who never heard nor saw anything of
which she chose to be insensible gaily continued oh mamma do the
people hereabouts know i am married to-day i was afraid they might not 
and we overtook william goulding in his curricle so i was determined he
should know it and so i let down the side-glass next to him and took
off my glove and let my hand just rest upon the window frame so that
he might see the ring and then i bowed and smiled like anything 

elizabeth could bear it no longer she got up and ran out of the room 
and returned no more till she heard them passing through the hall to
the dining parlour she then joined them soon enough to see lydia with
anxious parade walk up to her mother's right hand and hear her say
to her eldest sister ah jane i take your place now and you must go
lower because i am a married woman 

it was not to be supposed that time would give lydia that embarrassment
from which she had been so wholly free at first her ease and good
spirits increased she longed to see mrs phillips the lucases and
all their other neighbours and to hear herself called mrs wickham 
 by each of them and in the mean time she went after dinner to show her
ring and boast of being married to mrs hill and the two housemaids 

 well mamma said she when they were all returned to the breakfast
room and what do you think of my husband is not he a charming man i
am sure my sisters must all envy me i only hope they may have half
my good luck they must all go to brighton that is the place to get
husbands what a pity it is mamma we did not all go 

 very true and if i had my will we should but my dear lydia i don't
at all like your going such a way off must it be so 

 oh lord yes there is nothing in that i shall like it of all
things you and papa and my sisters must come down and see us we
shall be at newcastle all the winter and i dare say there will be some
balls and i will take care to get good partners for them all 

 i should like it beyond anything said her mother 

 and then when you go away you may leave one or two of my sisters
behind you and i dare say i shall get husbands for them before the
winter is over 

 i thank you for my share of the favour said elizabeth but i do not
particularly like your way of getting husbands 

their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them mr wickham
had received his commission before he left london and he was to join
his regiment at the end of a fortnight 

no one but mrs bennet regretted that their stay would be so short and
she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter and
having very frequent parties at home these parties were acceptable to
all to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did
think than such as did not 

wickham's affection for lydia was just what elizabeth had expected
to find it not equal to lydia's for him she had scarcely needed her
present observation to be satisfied from the reason of things that
their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love rather
than by his and she would have wondered why without violently caring
for her he chose to elope with her at all had she not felt certain
that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances and
if that were the case he was not the young man to resist an opportunity
of having a companion 

lydia was exceedingly fond of him he was her dear wickham on every
occasion no one was to be put in competition with him he did every
thing best in the world and she was sure he would kill more birds on
the first of september than any body else in the country 

one morning soon after their arrival as she was sitting with her two
elder sisters she said to elizabeth 

 lizzy i never gave you an account of my wedding i believe you
were not by when i told mamma and the others all about it are not you
curious to hear how it was managed 

 no really replied elizabeth i think there cannot be too little said
on the subject 

 la you are so strange but i must tell you how it went off we were
married you know at st clement's because wickham's lodgings were in
that parish and it was settled that we should all be there by eleven
o'clock my uncle and aunt and i were to go together and the others
were to meet us at the church well monday morning came and i was in
such a fuss i was so afraid you know that something would happen to
put it off and then i should have gone quite distracted and there was
my aunt all the time i was dressing preaching and talking away just as
if she was reading a sermon however i did not hear above one word in
ten for i was thinking you may suppose of my dear wickham i longed
to know whether he would be married in his blue coat 

 well and so we breakfasted at ten as usual i thought it would never
be over for by the bye you are to understand that my uncle and aunt
were horrid unpleasant all the time i was with them if you'll believe
me i did not once put my foot out of doors though i was there a
fortnight not one party or scheme or anything to be sure london was
rather thin but however the little theatre was open well and so
just as the carriage came to the door my uncle was called away upon
business to that horrid man mr stone and then you know when once
they get together there is no end of it well i was so frightened i
did not know what to do for my uncle was to give me away and if we
were beyond the hour we could not be married all day but luckily he
came back again in ten minutes' time and then we all set out however 
i recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going the
wedding need not be put off for mr darcy might have done as well 

 mr darcy repeated elizabeth in utter amazement 

 oh yes he was to come there with wickham you know but gracious
me i quite forgot i ought not to have said a word about it i promised
them so faithfully what will wickham say it was to be such a secret 

 if it was to be secret said jane say not another word on the
subject you may depend upon my seeking no further 

 oh certainly said elizabeth though burning with curiosity we will
ask you no questions 

 thank you said lydia for if you did i should certainly tell you
all and then wickham would be angry 

on such encouragement to ask elizabeth was forced to put it out of her
power by running away 

but to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible or at least
it was impossible not to try for information mr darcy had been at
her sister's wedding it was exactly a scene and exactly among people 
where he had apparently least to do and least temptation to go 
conjectures as to the meaning of it rapid and wild hurried into her
brain but she was satisfied with none those that best pleased her as
placing his conduct in the noblest light seemed most improbable she
could not bear such suspense and hastily seizing a sheet of paper 
wrote a short letter to her aunt to request an explanation of what
lydia had dropt if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been
intended 

 you may readily comprehend she added what my curiosity must be
to know how a person unconnected with any of us and comparatively
speaking a stranger to our family should have been amongst you at such
a time pray write instantly and let me understand it unless it is 
for very cogent reasons to remain in the secrecy which lydia seems
to think necessary and then i must endeavour to be satisfied with
ignorance 

 not that i shall though she added to herself as she finished
the letter and my dear aunt if you do not tell me in an honourable
manner i shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it
out 

jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to
elizabeth privately of what lydia had let fall elizabeth was glad
of it till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any
satisfaction she had rather be without a confidante 



chapter 52


elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as
soon as she possibly could she was no sooner in possession of it
than hurrying into the little copse where she was least likely to
be interrupted she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to
be happy for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not
contain a denial 

 gracechurch street sept 6 

 my dear niece 

 i have just received your letter and shall devote this whole morning
to answering it as i foresee that a little writing will not comprise
what i have to tell you i must confess myself surprised by your
application i did not expect it from you don't think me angry 
however for i only mean to let you know that i had not imagined such
inquiries to be necessary on your side if you do not choose to
understand me forgive my impertinence your uncle is as much surprised
as i am and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned
would have allowed him to act as he has done but if you are really
innocent and ignorant i must be more explicit 

 on the very day of my coming home from longbourn your uncle had a most
unexpected visitor mr darcy called and was shut up with him several
hours it was all over before i arrived so my curiosity was not so
dreadfully racked as yours seems to have been he came to tell mr 
gardiner that he had found out where your sister and mr wickham were 
and that he had seen and talked with them both wickham repeatedly 
lydia once from what i can collect he left derbyshire only one day
after ourselves and came to town with the resolution of hunting for
them the motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to
himself that wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to
make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide
in him he generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride and
confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private
actions open to the world his character was to speak for itself he
called it therefore his duty to step forward and endeavour to remedy
an evil which had been brought on by himself if he had another 
motive i am sure it would never disgrace him he had been some days
in town before he was able to discover them but he had something to
direct his search which was more than we had and the consciousness
of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us 

 there is a lady it seems a mrs younge who was some time ago
governess to miss darcy and was dismissed from her charge on some cause
of disapprobation though he did not say what she then took a large
house in edward-street and has since maintained herself by letting
lodgings this mrs younge was he knew intimately acquainted with
wickham and he went to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to
town but it was two or three days before he could get from her what he
wanted she would not betray her trust i suppose without bribery and
corruption for she really did know where her friend was to be found 
wickham indeed had gone to her on their first arrival in london and had
she been able to receive them into her house they would have taken up
their abode with her at length however our kind friend procured the
wished-for direction they were in street he saw wickham and
afterwards insisted on seeing lydia his first object with her he
acknowledged had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful
situation and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed
on to receive her offering his assistance as far as it would go but
he found lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was she cared
for none of her friends she wanted no help of his she would not hear
of leaving wickham she was sure they should be married some time or
other and it did not much signify when since such were her feelings 
it only remained he thought to secure and expedite a marriage which 
in his very first conversation with wickham he easily learnt had never
been his design he confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment 
on account of some debts of honour which were very pressing and
scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of lydia's flight on her
own folly alone he meant to resign his commission immediately and as
to his future situation he could conjecture very little about it he
must go somewhere but he did not know where and he knew he should have
nothing to live on 

 mr darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once though
mr bennet was not imagined to be very rich he would have been able
to do something for him and his situation must have been benefited by
marriage but he found in reply to this question that wickham still
cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in
some other country under such circumstances however he was not likely
to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief 

 they met several times for there was much to be discussed wickham of
course wanted more than he could get but at length was reduced to be
reasonable 

 every thing being settled between them mr darcy's next step was to
make your uncle acquainted with it and he first called in gracechurch
street the evening before i came home but mr gardiner could not be
seen and mr darcy found on further inquiry that your father was
still with him but would quit town the next morning he did not judge
your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your
uncle and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the
departure of the former he did not leave his name and till the next
day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business 

 on saturday he came again your father was gone your uncle at home 
and as i said before they had a great deal of talk together 

 they met again on sunday and then i saw him too it was not all
settled before monday as soon as it was the express was sent off to
longbourn but our visitor was very obstinate i fancy lizzy that
obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all he has been
accused of many faults at different times but this is the true one 
nothing was to be done that he did not do himself though i am sure and
i do not speak it to be thanked therefore say nothing about it your
uncle would most readily have settled the whole 

 they battled it together for a long time which was more than either
the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved but at last your uncle
was forced to yield and instead of being allowed to be of use to his
niece was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it 
which went sorely against the grain and i really believe your letter
this morning gave him great pleasure because it required an explanation
that would rob him of his borrowed feathers and give the praise where
it was due but lizzy this must go no farther than yourself or jane
at most 

 you know pretty well i suppose what has been done for the young
people his debts are to be paid amounting i believe to considerably
more than a thousand pounds another thousand in addition to her own
settled upon her and his commission purchased the reason why all
this was to be done by him alone was such as i have given above it
was owing to him to his reserve and want of proper consideration that
wickham's character had been so misunderstood and consequently that he
had been received and noticed as he was perhaps there was some truth
in this though i doubt whether his reserve or anybody's reserve 
can be answerable for the event but in spite of all this fine talking 
my dear lizzy you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would
never have yielded if we had not given him credit for another
interest in the affair 

 when all this was resolved on he returned again to his friends who
were still staying at pemberley but it was agreed that he should be in
london once more when the wedding took place and all money matters were
then to receive the last finish 

 i believe i have now told you every thing it is a relation which
you tell me is to give you great surprise i hope at least it will not
afford you any displeasure lydia came to us and wickham had constant
admission to the house he was exactly what he had been when i
knew him in hertfordshire but i would not tell you how little i was
satisfied with her behaviour while she staid with us if i had not
perceived by jane's letter last wednesday that her conduct on coming
home was exactly of a piece with it and therefore what i now tell
you can give you no fresh pain i talked to her repeatedly in the most
serious manner representing to her all the wickedness of what she had
done and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family if she
heard me it was by good luck for i am sure she did not listen i was
sometimes quite provoked but then i recollected my dear elizabeth and
jane and for their sakes had patience with her 

 mr darcy was punctual in his return and as lydia informed you 
attended the wedding he dined with us the next day and was to leave
town again on wednesday or thursday will you be very angry with me my
dear lizzy if i take this opportunity of saying what i was never bold
enough to say before how much i like him his behaviour to us has 
in every respect been as pleasing as when we were in derbyshire his
understanding and opinions all please me he wants nothing but a little
more liveliness and that if he marry prudently his wife may teach
him i thought him very sly he hardly ever mentioned your name but
slyness seems the fashion 

 pray forgive me if i have been very presuming or at least do not
punish me so far as to exclude me from p i shall never be quite happy
till i have been all round the park a low phaeton with a nice little
pair of ponies would be the very thing 

 but i must write no more the children have been wanting me this half
hour 

 yours very sincerely 

 m gardiner 

the contents of this letter threw elizabeth into a flutter of spirits 
in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the
greatest share the vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had
produced of what mr darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's
match which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too
great to be probable and at the same time dreaded to be just from the
pain of obligation were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true 
he had followed them purposely to town he had taken on himself all
the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research in which
supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and
despise and where he was reduced to meet frequently meet reason
with persuade and finally bribe the man whom he always most wished to
avoid and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce he had
done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem her
heart did whisper that he had done it for her but it was a hope shortly
checked by other considerations and she soon felt that even her vanity
was insufficient when required to depend on his affection for her for
a woman who had already refused him as able to overcome a sentiment so
natural as abhorrence against relationship with wickham brother-in-law
of wickham every kind of pride must revolt from the connection he had 
to be sure done much she was ashamed to think how much but he had
given a reason for his interference which asked no extraordinary
stretch of belief it was reasonable that he should feel he had been
wrong he had liberality and he had the means of exercising it and
though she would not place herself as his principal inducement she
could perhaps believe that remaining partiality for her might assist
his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially
concerned it was painful exceedingly painful to know that they were
under obligations to a person who could never receive a return they
owed the restoration of lydia her character every thing to him oh 
how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever
encouraged every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him for
herself she was humbled but she was proud of him proud that in a cause
of compassion and honour he had been able to get the better of himself 
she read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again it
was hardly enough but it pleased her she was even sensible of some
pleasure though mixed with regret on finding how steadfastly both she
and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted
between mr darcy and herself 

she was roused from her seat and her reflections by some one's
approach and before she could strike into another path she was
overtaken by wickham 

 i am afraid i interrupt your solitary ramble my dear sister said he 
as he joined her 

 you certainly do she replied with a smile but it does not follow
that the interruption must be unwelcome 

 i should be sorry indeed if it were we were always good friends and
now we are better 

 true are the others coming out 

 i do not know mrs bennet and lydia are going in the carriage to
meryton and so my dear sister i find from our uncle and aunt that
you have actually seen pemberley 

she replied in the affirmative 

 i almost envy you the pleasure and yet i believe it would be too much
for me or else i could take it in my way to newcastle and you saw the
old housekeeper i suppose poor reynolds she was always very fond of
me but of course she did not mention my name to you 

 yes she did 

 and what did she say 

 that you were gone into the army and she was afraid had not turned
out well at such a distance as that you know things are strangely
misrepresented 

 certainly he replied biting his lips elizabeth hoped she had
silenced him but he soon afterwards said 

 i was surprised to see darcy in town last month we passed each other
several times i wonder what he can be doing there 

 perhaps preparing for his marriage with miss de bourgh said
elizabeth it must be something particular to take him there at this
time of year 

 undoubtedly did you see him while you were at lambton i thought i
understood from the gardiners that you had 

 yes he introduced us to his sister 

 and do you like her 

 very much 

 i have heard indeed that she is uncommonly improved within this year
or two when i last saw her she was not very promising i am very glad
you liked her i hope she will turn out well 

 i dare say she will she has got over the most trying age 

 did you go by the village of kympton 

 i do not recollect that we did 

 i mention it because it is the living which i ought to have had a
most delightful place excellent parsonage house it would have suited
me in every respect 

 how should you have liked making sermons 

 exceedingly well i should have considered it as part of my duty 
and the exertion would soon have been nothing one ought not to
repine but to be sure it would have been such a thing for me the
quiet the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas
of happiness but it was not to be did you ever hear darcy mention the
circumstance when you were in kent 

 i have heard from authority which i thought as good that it was
left you conditionally only and at the will of the present patron 

 you have yes there was something in that i told you so from the
first you may remember 

 i did hear too that there was a time when sermon-making was not
so palatable to you as it seems to be at present that you actually
declared your resolution of never taking orders and that the business
had been compromised accordingly 

 you did and it was not wholly without foundation you may remember
what i told you on that point when first we talked of it 

they were now almost at the door of the house for she had walked fast
to get rid of him and unwilling for her sister's sake to provoke him 
she only said in reply with a good-humoured smile 

 come mr wickham we are brother and sister you know do not let
us quarrel about the past in future i hope we shall be always of one
mind 

she held out her hand he kissed it with affectionate gallantry though
he hardly knew how to look and they entered the house 



chapter 53


mr wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he
never again distressed himself or provoked his dear sister elizabeth 
by introducing the subject of it and she was pleased to find that she
had said enough to keep him quiet 

the day of his and lydia's departure soon came and mrs bennet was
forced to submit to a separation which as her husband by no means
entered into her scheme of their all going to newcastle was likely to
continue at least a twelvemonth 

 oh my dear lydia she cried when shall we meet again 

 oh lord i don't know not these two or three years perhaps 

 write to me very often my dear 

 as often as i can but you know married women have never much time for
writing my sisters may write to me they will have nothing else to
do 

mr wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's he
smiled looked handsome and said many pretty things 

 he is as fine a fellow said mr bennet as soon as they were out of
the house as ever i saw he simpers and smirks and makes love to
us all i am prodigiously proud of him i defy even sir william lucas
himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law 

the loss of her daughter made mrs bennet very dull for several days 

 i often think said she that there is nothing so bad as parting with
one's friends one seems so forlorn without them 

 this is the consequence you see madam of marrying a daughter said
elizabeth it must make you better satisfied that your other four are
single 

 it is no such thing lydia does not leave me because she is married 
but only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off if
that had been nearer she would not have gone so soon 

but the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly
relieved and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope by an
article of news which then began to be in circulation the housekeeper
at netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her
master who was coming down in a day or two to shoot there for several
weeks mrs bennet was quite in the fidgets she looked at jane and
smiled and shook her head by turns 

 well well and so mr bingley is coming down sister for mrs 
phillips first brought her the news well so much the better not
that i care about it though he is nothing to us you know and i am
sure i never want to see him again but however he is very welcome
to come to netherfield if he likes it and who knows what may happen 
but that is nothing to us you know sister we agreed long ago never to
mention a word about it and so is it quite certain he is coming 

 you may depend on it replied the other for mrs nicholls was in
meryton last night i saw her passing by and went out myself on purpose
to know the truth of it and she told me that it was certain true he
comes down on thursday at the latest very likely on wednesday she was
going to the butcher's she told me on purpose to order in some meat on
wednesday and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed 

miss bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing
colour it was many months since she had mentioned his name to
elizabeth but now as soon as they were alone together she said 

 i saw you look at me to-day lizzy when my aunt told us of the present
report and i know i appeared distressed but don't imagine it was from
any silly cause i was only confused for the moment because i felt that
i should be looked at i do assure you that the news does not affect
me either with pleasure or pain i am glad of one thing that he comes
alone because we shall see the less of him not that i am afraid of
 myself but i dread other people's remarks 

elizabeth did not know what to make of it had she not seen him in
derbyshire she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no
other view than what was acknowledged but she still thought him partial
to jane and she wavered as to the greater probability of his coming
there with his friend's permission or being bold enough to come
without it 

 yet it is hard she sometimes thought that this poor man cannot
come to a house which he has legally hired without raising all this
speculation i will leave him to himself 

in spite of what her sister declared and really believed to be her
feelings in the expectation of his arrival elizabeth could easily
perceive that her spirits were affected by it they were more disturbed 
more unequal than she had often seen them 

the subject which had been so warmly canvassed between their parents 
about a twelvemonth ago was now brought forward again 

 as soon as ever mr bingley comes my dear said mrs bennet you
will wait on him of course 

 no no you forced me into visiting him last year and promised if i
went to see him he should marry one of my daughters but it ended in
nothing and i will not be sent on a fool's errand again 

his wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention
would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen on his returning to
netherfield 

 'tis an etiquette i despise said he if he wants our society 
let him seek it he knows where we live i will not spend my hours
in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back
again 

 well all i know is that it will be abominably rude if you do not wait
on him but however that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here i
am determined we must have mrs long and the gouldings soon that will
make thirteen with ourselves so there will be just room at table for
him 

consoled by this resolution she was the better able to bear her
husband's incivility though it was very mortifying to know that her
neighbours might all see mr bingley in consequence of it before
 they did as the day of his arrival drew near 

 i begin to be sorry that he comes at all said jane to her sister it
would be nothing i could see him with perfect indifference but i can
hardly bear to hear it thus perpetually talked of my mother means well 
but she does not know no one can know how much i suffer from what she
says happy shall i be when his stay at netherfield is over 

 i wish i could say anything to comfort you replied elizabeth but it
is wholly out of my power you must feel it and the usual satisfaction
of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me because you have
always so much 

mr bingley arrived mrs bennet through the assistance of servants 
contrived to have the earliest tidings of it that the period of anxiety
and fretfulness on her side might be as long as it could she counted
the days that must intervene before their invitation could be sent 
hopeless of seeing him before but on the third morning after his
arrival in hertfordshire she saw him from her dressing-room window 
enter the paddock and ride towards the house 

her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy jane resolutely
kept her place at the table but elizabeth to satisfy her mother went
to the window she looked she saw mr darcy with him and sat down
again by her sister 

 there is a gentleman with him mamma said kitty who can it be 

 some acquaintance or other my dear i suppose i am sure i do not
know 

 la replied kitty it looks just like that man that used to be with
him before mr what's-his-name that tall proud man 

 good gracious mr darcy and so it does i vow well any friend of
mr bingley's will always be welcome here to be sure but else i must
say that i hate the very sight of him 

jane looked at elizabeth with surprise and concern she knew but little
of their meeting in derbyshire and therefore felt for the awkwardness
which must attend her sister in seeing him almost for the first time
after receiving his explanatory letter both sisters were uncomfortable
enough each felt for the other and of course for themselves and their
mother talked on of her dislike of mr darcy and her resolution to be
civil to him only as mr bingley's friend without being heard by either
of them but elizabeth had sources of uneasiness which could not be
suspected by jane to whom she had never yet had courage to shew mrs 
gardiner's letter or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him 
to jane he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused 
and whose merit she had undervalued but to her own more extensive
information he was the person to whom the whole family were indebted
for the first of benefits and whom she regarded herself with an
interest if not quite so tender at least as reasonable and just as
what jane felt for bingley her astonishment at his coming at his
coming to netherfield to longbourn and voluntarily seeking her again 
was almost equal to what she had known on first witnessing his altered
behaviour in derbyshire 

the colour which had been driven from her face returned for half a
minute with an additional glow and a smile of delight added lustre to
her eyes as she thought for that space of time that his affection and
wishes must still be unshaken but she would not be secure 

 let me first see how he behaves said she it will then be early
enough for expectation 

she sat intently at work striving to be composed and without daring to
lift up her eyes till anxious curiosity carried them to the face of
her sister as the servant was approaching the door jane looked a little
paler than usual but more sedate than elizabeth had expected on the
gentlemen's appearing her colour increased yet she received them with
tolerable ease and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any
symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complaisance 

elizabeth said as little to either as civility would allow and sat down
again to her work with an eagerness which it did not often command she
had ventured only one glance at darcy he looked serious as usual and 
she thought more as he had been used to look in hertfordshire than as
she had seen him at pemberley but perhaps he could not in her mother's
presence be what he was before her uncle and aunt it was a painful but
not an improbable conjecture 

bingley she had likewise seen for an instant and in that short period
saw him looking both pleased and embarrassed he was received by mrs 
bennet with a degree of civility which made her two daughters ashamed 
especially when contrasted with the cold and ceremonious politeness of
her curtsey and address to his friend 

elizabeth particularly who knew that her mother owed to the latter
the preservation of her favourite daughter from irremediable infamy 
was hurt and distressed to a most painful degree by a distinction so ill
applied 

darcy after inquiring of her how mr and mrs gardiner did a question
which she could not answer without confusion said scarcely anything he
was not seated by her perhaps that was the reason of his silence but
it had not been so in derbyshire there he had talked to her friends 
when he could not to herself but now several minutes elapsed without
bringing the sound of his voice and when occasionally unable to resist
the impulse of curiosity she raised her eyes to his face she as often
found him looking at jane as at herself and frequently on no object but
the ground more thoughtfulness and less anxiety to please than when
they last met were plainly expressed she was disappointed and angry
with herself for being so 

 could i expect it to be otherwise said she yet why did he come 

she was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself and to
him she had hardly courage to speak 

she inquired after his sister but could do no more 

 it is a long time mr bingley since you went away said mrs bennet 

he readily agreed to it 

 i began to be afraid you would never come back again people did say
you meant to quit the place entirely at michaelmas but however i hope
it is not true a great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood 
since you went away miss lucas is married and settled and one of my
own daughters i suppose you have heard of it indeed you must have
seen it in the papers it was in the times and the courier i know 
though it was not put in as it ought to be it was only said 'lately 
george wickham esq to miss lydia bennet ' without there being a
syllable said of her father or the place where she lived or anything 
it was my brother gardiner's drawing up too and i wonder how he came to
make such an awkward business of it did you see it 

bingley replied that he did and made his congratulations elizabeth
dared not lift up her eyes how mr darcy looked therefore she could
not tell 

 it is a delightful thing to be sure to have a daughter well married 
 continued her mother but at the same time mr bingley it is very
hard to have her taken such a way from me they are gone down to
newcastle a place quite northward it seems and there they are to stay
i do not know how long his regiment is there for i suppose you have
heard of his leaving the shire and of his being gone into the
regulars thank heaven he has some friends though perhaps not so
many as he deserves 

elizabeth who knew this to be levelled at mr darcy was in such
misery of shame that she could hardly keep her seat it drew from her 
however the exertion of speaking which nothing else had so effectually
done before and she asked bingley whether he meant to make any stay in
the country at present a few weeks he believed 

 when you have killed all your own birds mr bingley said her mother 
 i beg you will come here and shoot as many as you please on mr 
bennet's manor i am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you and
will save all the best of the covies for you 

elizabeth's misery increased at such unnecessary such officious
attention were the same fair prospect to arise at present as had
flattered them a year ago every thing she was persuaded would be
hastening to the same vexatious conclusion at that instant she felt
that years of happiness could not make jane or herself amends for
moments of such painful confusion 

 the first wish of my heart said she to herself is never more to
be in company with either of them their society can afford no pleasure
that will atone for such wretchedness as this let me never see either
one or the other again 

yet the misery for which years of happiness were to offer no
compensation received soon afterwards material relief from observing
how much the beauty of her sister re-kindled the admiration of her
former lover when first he came in he had spoken to her but little 
but every five minutes seemed to be giving her more of his attention he
found her as handsome as she had been last year as good natured and
as unaffected though not quite so chatty jane was anxious that no
difference should be perceived in her at all and was really persuaded
that she talked as much as ever but her mind was so busily engaged 
that she did not always know when she was silent 

when the gentlemen rose to go away mrs bennet was mindful of her
intended civility and they were invited and engaged to dine at
longbourn in a few days time 

 you are quite a visit in my debt mr bingley she added for when
you went to town last winter you promised to take a family dinner with
us as soon as you returned i have not forgot you see and i assure
you i was very much disappointed that you did not come back and keep
your engagement 

bingley looked a little silly at this reflection and said something of
his concern at having been prevented by business they then went away 

mrs bennet had been strongly inclined to ask them to stay and dine
there that day but though she always kept a very good table she did
not think anything less than two courses could be good enough for a man
on whom she had such anxious designs or satisfy the appetite and pride
of one who had ten thousand a year 



chapter 54


as soon as they were gone elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits 
or in other words to dwell without interruption on those subjects that
must deaden them more mr darcy's behaviour astonished and vexed her 

 why if he came only to be silent grave and indifferent said she 
 did he come at all 

she could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure 

 he could be still amiable still pleasing to my uncle and aunt when
he was in town and why not to me if he fears me why come hither if
he no longer cares for me why silent teasing teasing man i will
think no more about him 

her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach
of her sister who joined her with a cheerful look which showed her
better satisfied with their visitors than elizabeth 

 now said she that this first meeting is over i feel perfectly
easy i know my own strength and i shall never be embarrassed again by
his coming i am glad he dines here on tuesday it will then be publicly
seen that on both sides we meet only as common and indifferent
acquaintance 

 yes very indifferent indeed said elizabeth laughingly oh jane 
take care 

 my dear lizzy you cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now 

 i think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with
you as ever 

 

they did not see the gentlemen again till tuesday and mrs bennet in
the meanwhile was giving way to all the happy schemes which the good
humour and common politeness of bingley in half an hour's visit had
revived 

on tuesday there was a large party assembled at longbourn and the two
who were most anxiously expected to the credit of their punctuality
as sportsmen were in very good time when they repaired to the
dining-room elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether bingley would take
the place which in all their former parties had belonged to him by
her sister her prudent mother occupied by the same ideas forbore
to invite him to sit by herself on entering the room he seemed to
hesitate but jane happened to look round and happened to smile it was
decided he placed himself by her 

elizabeth with a triumphant sensation looked towards his friend 
he bore it with noble indifference and she would have imagined that
bingley had received his sanction to be happy had she not seen his eyes
likewise turned towards mr darcy with an expression of half-laughing
alarm 

his behaviour to her sister was such during dinner time as showed an
admiration of her which though more guarded than formerly persuaded
elizabeth that if left wholly to himself jane's happiness and his
own would be speedily secured though she dared not depend upon the
consequence she yet received pleasure from observing his behaviour it
gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast for she was in
no cheerful humour mr darcy was almost as far from her as the table
could divide them he was on one side of her mother she knew how little
such a situation would give pleasure to either or make either appear to
advantage she was not near enough to hear any of their discourse but
she could see how seldom they spoke to each other and how formal and
cold was their manner whenever they did her mother's ungraciousness 
made the sense of what they owed him more painful to elizabeth's mind 
and she would at times have given anything to be privileged to tell
him that his kindness was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the
family 

she was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of
bringing them together that the whole of the visit would not pass away
without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than
the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance anxious
and uneasy the period which passed in the drawing-room before the
gentlemen came was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her
uncivil she looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all
her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend 

 if he does not come to me then said she i shall give him up for
ever 

the gentlemen came and she thought he looked as if he would have
answered her hopes but alas the ladies had crowded round the table 
where miss bennet was making tea and elizabeth pouring out the coffee 
in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her
which would admit of a chair and on the gentlemen's approaching one of
the girls moved closer to her than ever and said in a whisper 

 the men shan't come and part us i am determined we want none of them 
do we 

darcy had walked away to another part of the room she followed him with
her eyes envied everyone to whom he spoke had scarcely patience enough
to help anybody to coffee and then was enraged against herself for
being so silly 

 a man who has once been refused how could i ever be foolish enough to
expect a renewal of his love is there one among the sex who would not
protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman 
there is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings 

she was a little revived however by his bringing back his coffee cup
himself and she seized the opportunity of saying 

 is your sister at pemberley still 

 yes she will remain there till christmas 

 and quite alone have all her friends left her 

 mrs annesley is with her the others have been gone on to scarborough 
these three weeks 

she could think of nothing more to say but if he wished to converse
with her he might have better success he stood by her however for
some minutes in silence and at last on the young lady's whispering
to elizabeth again he walked away 

when the tea-things were removed and the card-tables placed the ladies
all rose and elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him 
when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her
mother's rapacity for whist players and in a few moments after seated
with the rest of the party she now lost every expectation of pleasure 
they were confined for the evening at different tables and she had
nothing to hope but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side
of the room as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself 

mrs bennet had designed to keep the two netherfield gentlemen to
supper but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the
others and she had no opportunity of detaining them 

 well girls said she as soon as they were left to themselves what
say you to the day i think every thing has passed off uncommonly well 
i assure you the dinner was as well dressed as any i ever saw the
venison was roasted to a turn and everybody said they never saw so
fat a haunch the soup was fifty times better than what we had at the
lucases' last week and even mr darcy acknowledged that the partridges
were remarkably well done and i suppose he has two or three french
cooks at least and my dear jane i never saw you look in greater
beauty mrs long said so too for i asked her whether you did not and
what do you think she said besides 'ah mrs bennet we shall have her
at netherfield at last ' she did indeed i do think mrs long is as good
a creature as ever lived and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls 
and not at all handsome i like them prodigiously 

mrs bennet in short was in very great spirits she had seen enough of
bingley's behaviour to jane to be convinced that she would get him at
last and her expectations of advantage to her family when in a happy
humour were so far beyond reason that she was quite disappointed at
not seeing him there again the next day to make his proposals 

 it has been a very agreeable day said miss bennet to elizabeth the
party seemed so well selected so suitable one with the other i hope we
may often meet again 

elizabeth smiled 

 lizzy you must not do so you must not suspect me it mortifies me 
i assure you that i have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an
agreeable and sensible young man without having a wish beyond it i am
perfectly satisfied from what his manners now are that he never had
any design of engaging my affection it is only that he is blessed
with greater sweetness of address and a stronger desire of generally
pleasing than any other man 

 you are very cruel said her sister you will not let me smile and
are provoking me to it every moment 

 how hard it is in some cases to be believed 

 and how impossible in others 

 but why should you wish to persuade me that i feel more than i
acknowledge 

 that is a question which i hardly know how to answer we all love to
instruct though we can teach only what is not worth knowing forgive
me and if you persist in indifference do not make me your confidante 



chapter 55


a few days after this visit mr bingley called again and alone his
friend had left him that morning for london but was to return home in
ten days time he sat with them above an hour and was in remarkably
good spirits mrs bennet invited him to dine with them but with many
expressions of concern he confessed himself engaged elsewhere 

 next time you call said she i hope we shall be more lucky 

he should be particularly happy at any time etc etc and if she would
give him leave would take an early opportunity of waiting on them 

 can you come to-morrow 

yes he had no engagement at all for to-morrow and her invitation was
accepted with alacrity 

he came and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them
dressed in ran mrs bennet to her daughter's room in her dressing
gown and with her hair half finished crying out 

 my dear jane make haste and hurry down he is come mr bingley is
come he is indeed make haste make haste here sarah come to miss
bennet this moment and help her on with her gown never mind miss
lizzy's hair 

 we will be down as soon as we can said jane but i dare say kitty is
forwarder than either of us for she went up stairs half an hour ago 

 oh hang kitty what has she to do with it come be quick be quick 
where is your sash my dear 

but when her mother was gone jane would not be prevailed on to go down
without one of her sisters 

the same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the
evening after tea mr bennet retired to the library as was his
custom and mary went up stairs to her instrument two obstacles of
the five being thus removed mrs bennet sat looking and winking at
elizabeth and catherine for a considerable time without making any
impression on them elizabeth would not observe her and when at last
kitty did she very innocently said what is the matter mamma what do
you keep winking at me for what am i to do 

 nothing child nothing i did not wink at you she then sat still
five minutes longer but unable to waste such a precious occasion she
suddenly got up and saying to kitty come here my love i want to
speak to you took her out of the room jane instantly gave a look
at elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation and her
entreaty that she would not give in to it in a few minutes mrs 
bennet half-opened the door and called out 

 lizzy my dear i want to speak with you 

elizabeth was forced to go 

 we may as well leave them by themselves you know said her mother as
soon as she was in the hall kitty and i are going up stairs to sit in
my dressing-room 

elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother but remained
quietly in the hall till she and kitty were out of sight then returned
into the drawing-room 

mrs bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual bingley was every
thing that was charming except the professed lover of her daughter his
ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their
evening party and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the
mother and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command
of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter 

he scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper and before he went
away an engagement was formed chiefly through his own and mrs 
bennet's means for his coming next morning to shoot with her husband 

after this day jane said no more of her indifference not a word passed
between the sisters concerning bingley but elizabeth went to bed in
the happy belief that all must speedily be concluded unless mr darcy
returned within the stated time seriously however she felt tolerably
persuaded that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's
concurrence 

bingley was punctual to his appointment and he and mr bennet spent
the morning together as had been agreed on the latter was much more
agreeable than his companion expected there was nothing of presumption
or folly in bingley that could provoke his ridicule or disgust him into
silence and he was more communicative and less eccentric than the
other had ever seen him bingley of course returned with him to dinner 
and in the evening mrs bennet's invention was again at work to get
every body away from him and her daughter elizabeth who had a letter
to write went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after tea 
for as the others were all going to sit down to cards she could not be
wanted to counteract her mother's schemes 

but on returning to the drawing-room when her letter was finished she
saw to her infinite surprise there was reason to fear that her mother
had been too ingenious for her on opening the door she perceived her
sister and bingley standing together over the hearth as if engaged in
earnest conversation and had this led to no suspicion the faces of
both as they hastily turned round and moved away from each other would
have told it all their situation was awkward enough but hers she
thought was still worse not a syllable was uttered by either and
elizabeth was on the point of going away again when bingley who as
well as the other had sat down suddenly rose and whispering a few
words to her sister ran out of the room 

jane could have no reserves from elizabeth where confidence would give
pleasure and instantly embracing her acknowledged with the liveliest
emotion that she was the happiest creature in the world 

 'tis too much she added by far too much i do not deserve it oh 
why is not everybody as happy 

elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity a warmth 
a delight which words could but poorly express every sentence of
kindness was a fresh source of happiness to jane but she would not
allow herself to stay with her sister or say half that remained to be
said for the present 

 i must go instantly to my mother she cried i would not on any
account trifle with her affectionate solicitude or allow her to hear it
from anyone but myself he is gone to my father already oh lizzy to
know that what i have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear
family how shall i bear so much happiness 

she then hastened away to her mother who had purposely broken up the
card party and was sitting up stairs with kitty 

elizabeth who was left by herself now smiled at the rapidity and ease
with which an affair was finally settled that had given them so many
previous months of suspense and vexation 

 and this said she is the end of all his friend's anxious
circumspection of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance the
happiest wisest most reasonable end 

in a few minutes she was joined by bingley whose conference with her
father had been short and to the purpose 

 where is your sister said he hastily as he opened the door 

 with my mother up stairs she will be down in a moment i dare say 

he then shut the door and coming up to her claimed the good wishes
and affection of a sister elizabeth honestly and heartily expressed
her delight in the prospect of their relationship they shook hands with
great cordiality and then till her sister came down she had to listen
to all he had to say of his own happiness and of jane's perfections 
and in spite of his being a lover elizabeth really believed all his
expectations of felicity to be rationally founded because they had for
basis the excellent understanding and super-excellent disposition of
jane and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and
himself 

it was an evening of no common delight to them all the satisfaction of
miss bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face as
made her look handsomer than ever kitty simpered and smiled and hoped
her turn was coming soon mrs bennet could not give her consent or
speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings 
though she talked to bingley of nothing else for half an hour and when
mr bennet joined them at supper his voice and manner plainly showed
how really happy he was 

not a word however passed his lips in allusion to it till their
visitor took his leave for the night but as soon as he was gone he
turned to his daughter and said 

 jane i congratulate you you will be a very happy woman 

jane went to him instantly kissed him and thanked him for his
goodness 

 you are a good girl he replied and i have great pleasure in
thinking you will be so happily settled i have not a doubt of your
doing very well together your tempers are by no means unlike you are
each of you so complying that nothing will ever be resolved on so
easy that every servant will cheat you and so generous that you will
always exceed your income 

 i hope not so imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be
unpardonable in me 

 exceed their income my dear mr bennet cried his wife what are you
talking of why he has four or five thousand a year and very likely
more then addressing her daughter oh my dear dear jane i am so
happy i am sure i shan't get a wink of sleep all night i knew how it
would be i always said it must be so at last i was sure you could not
be so beautiful for nothing i remember as soon as ever i saw him when
he first came into hertfordshire last year i thought how likely it was
that you should come together oh he is the handsomest young man that
ever was seen 

wickham lydia were all forgotten jane was beyond competition her
favourite child at that moment she cared for no other her younger
sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness
which she might in future be able to dispense 

mary petitioned for the use of the library at netherfield and kitty
begged very hard for a few balls there every winter 

bingley from this time was of course a daily visitor at longbourn 
coming frequently before breakfast and always remaining till after
supper unless when some barbarous neighbour who could not be enough
detested had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself
obliged to accept 

elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister for
while he was present jane had no attention to bestow on anyone else 
but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours
of separation that must sometimes occur in the absence of jane he
always attached himself to elizabeth for the pleasure of talking of
her and when bingley was gone jane constantly sought the same means of
relief 

 he has made me so happy said she one evening by telling me that he
was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring i had not believed
it possible 

 i suspected as much replied elizabeth but how did he account for
it 

 it must have been his sister's doing they were certainly no friends to
his acquaintance with me which i cannot wonder at since he might have
chosen so much more advantageously in many respects but when they see 
as i trust they will that their brother is happy with me they will
learn to be contented and we shall be on good terms again though we
can never be what we once were to each other 

 that is the most unforgiving speech said elizabeth that i ever
heard you utter good girl it would vex me indeed to see you again
the dupe of miss bingley's pretended regard 

 would you believe it lizzy that when he went to town last november 
he really loved me and nothing but a persuasion of my being
indifferent would have prevented his coming down again 

 he made a little mistake to be sure but it is to the credit of his
modesty 

this naturally introduced a panegyric from jane on his diffidence and
the little value he put on his own good qualities elizabeth was pleased
to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend for 
though jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world she
knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him 

 i am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed cried
jane oh lizzy why am i thus singled from my family and blessed
above them all if i could but see you as happy if there were but
such another man for you 

 if you were to give me forty such men i never could be so happy as
you till i have your disposition your goodness i never can have your
happiness no no let me shift for myself and perhaps if i have very
good luck i may meet with another mr collins in time 

the situation of affairs in the longbourn family could not be long a
secret mrs bennet was privileged to whisper it to mrs phillips 
and she ventured without any permission to do the same by all her
neighbours in meryton 

the bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the
world though only a few weeks before when lydia had first run away 
they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune 



chapter 56


one morning about a week after bingley's engagement with jane had been
formed as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the
dining-room their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the
sound of a carriage and they perceived a chaise and four driving up
the lawn it was too early in the morning for visitors and besides the
equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours the horses
were post and neither the carriage nor the livery of the servant who
preceded it were familiar to them as it was certain however that
somebody was coming bingley instantly prevailed on miss bennet to avoid
the confinement of such an intrusion and walk away with him into the
shrubbery they both set off and the conjectures of the remaining three
continued though with little satisfaction till the door was thrown
open and their visitor entered it was lady catherine de bourgh 

they were of course all intending to be surprised but their
astonishment was beyond their expectation and on the part of mrs 
bennet and kitty though she was perfectly unknown to them even
inferior to what elizabeth felt 

she entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious made no
other reply to elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the
head and sat down without saying a word elizabeth had mentioned her
name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance though no request of
introduction had been made 

mrs bennet all amazement though flattered by having a guest of such
high importance received her with the utmost politeness after sitting
for a moment in silence she said very stiffly to elizabeth 

 i hope you are well miss bennet that lady i suppose is your
mother 

elizabeth replied very concisely that she was 

 and that i suppose is one of your sisters 

 yes madam said mrs bennet delighted to speak to lady catherine 
 she is my youngest girl but one my youngest of all is lately married 
and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds walking with a young man
who i believe will soon become a part of the family 

 you have a very small park here returned lady catherine after a short
silence 

 it is nothing in comparison of rosings my lady i dare say but i
assure you it is much larger than sir william lucas's 

 this must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening in
summer the windows are full west 

mrs bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner and then
added 

 may i take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left mr and
mrs collins well 

 yes very well i saw them the night before last 

elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from
charlotte as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling but no
letter appeared and she was completely puzzled 

mrs bennet with great civility begged her ladyship to take some
refreshment but lady catherine very resolutely and not very politely 
declined eating anything and then rising up said to elizabeth 

 miss bennet there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness
on one side of your lawn i should be glad to take a turn in it if you
will favour me with your company 

 go my dear cried her mother and show her ladyship about the
different walks i think she will be pleased with the hermitage 

elizabeth obeyed and running into her own room for her parasol 
attended her noble guest downstairs as they passed through the
hall lady catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and
drawing-room and pronouncing them after a short survey to be decent
looking rooms walked on 

her carriage remained at the door and elizabeth saw that her
waiting-woman was in it they proceeded in silence along the gravel walk
that led to the copse elizabeth was determined to make no effort for
conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and
disagreeable 

 how could i ever think her like her nephew said she as she looked in
her face 

as soon as they entered the copse lady catherine began in the following
manner 

 you can be at no loss miss bennet to understand the reason of my
journey hither your own heart your own conscience must tell you why i
come 

elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment 

 indeed you are mistaken madam i have not been at all able to account
for the honour of seeing you here 

 miss bennet replied her ladyship in an angry tone you ought to
know that i am not to be trifled with but however insincere you may
choose to be you shall not find me so my character has ever been
celebrated for its sincerity and frankness and in a cause of such
moment as this i shall certainly not depart from it a report of a most
alarming nature reached me two days ago i was told that not only your
sister was on the point of being most advantageously married but that
you that miss elizabeth bennet would in all likelihood be soon
afterwards united to my nephew my own nephew mr darcy though i
 know it must be a scandalous falsehood though i would not injure him
so much as to suppose the truth of it possible i instantly resolved
on setting off for this place that i might make my sentiments known to
you 

 if you believed it impossible to be true said elizabeth colouring
with astonishment and disdain i wonder you took the trouble of coming
so far what could your ladyship propose by it 

 at once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted 

 your coming to longbourn to see me and my family said elizabeth
coolly will be rather a confirmation of it if indeed such a report
is in existence 

 if do you then pretend to be ignorant of it has it not been
industriously circulated by yourselves do you not know that such a
report is spread abroad 

 i never heard that it was 

 and can you likewise declare that there is no foundation for it 

 i do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship you may
ask questions which i shall not choose to answer 

 this is not to be borne miss bennet i insist on being satisfied has
he has my nephew made you an offer of marriage 

 your ladyship has declared it to be impossible 

 it ought to be so it must be so while he retains the use of his
reason but your arts and allurements may in a moment of infatuation 
have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family you
may have drawn him in 

 if i have i shall be the last person to confess it 

 miss bennet do you know who i am i have not been accustomed to such
language as this i am almost the nearest relation he has in the world 
and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns 

 but you are not entitled to know mine nor will such behaviour as this 
ever induce me to be explicit 

 let me be rightly understood this match to which you have the
presumption to aspire can never take place no never mr darcy is
engaged to my daughter now what have you to say 

 only this that if he is so you can have no reason to suppose he will
make an offer to me 

lady catherine hesitated for a moment and then replied 

 the engagement between them is of a peculiar kind from their infancy 
they have been intended for each other it was the favourite wish of
 his mother as well as of hers while in their cradles we planned
the union and now at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would
be accomplished in their marriage to be prevented by a young woman of
inferior birth of no importance in the world and wholly unallied to
the family do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends to his
tacit engagement with miss de bourgh are you lost to every feeling of
propriety and delicacy have you not heard me say that from his earliest
hours he was destined for his cousin 

 yes and i had heard it before but what is that to me if there is
no other objection to my marrying your nephew i shall certainly not
be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to
marry miss de bourgh you both did as much as you could in planning the
marriage its completion depended on others if mr darcy is neither
by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin why is not he to make
another choice and if i am that choice why may not i accept him 

 because honour decorum prudence nay interest forbid it yes 
miss bennet interest for do not expect to be noticed by his family or
friends if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all you will
be censured slighted and despised by everyone connected with him 
your alliance will be a disgrace your name will never even be mentioned
by any of us 

 these are heavy misfortunes replied elizabeth but the wife of mr 
darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily
attached to her situation that she could upon the whole have no cause
to repine 

 obstinate headstrong girl i am ashamed of you is this your gratitude
for my attentions to you last spring is nothing due to me on that
score let us sit down you are to understand miss bennet that i came
here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose nor will
i be dissuaded from it i have not been used to submit to any person's
whims i have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment 

 that will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable 
but it will have no effect on me 

 i will not be interrupted hear me in silence my daughter and my
nephew are formed for each other they are descended on the maternal
side from the same noble line and on the father's from respectable 
honourable and ancient though untitled families their fortune on
both sides is splendid they are destined for each other by the voice of
every member of their respective houses and what is to divide them 
the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family connections 
or fortune is this to be endured but it must not shall not be if you
were sensible of your own good you would not wish to quit the sphere in
which you have been brought up 

 in marrying your nephew i should not consider myself as quitting that
sphere he is a gentleman i am a gentleman's daughter so far we are
equal 

 true you are a gentleman's daughter but who was your mother 
who are your uncles and aunts do not imagine me ignorant of their
condition 

 whatever my connections may be said elizabeth if your nephew does
not object to them they can be nothing to you 

 tell me once for all are you engaged to him 

though elizabeth would not for the mere purpose of obliging lady
catherine have answered this question she could not but say after a
moment's deliberation 

 i am not 

lady catherine seemed pleased 

 and will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement 

 i will make no promise of the kind 

 miss bennet i am shocked and astonished i expected to find a more
reasonable young woman but do not deceive yourself into a belief that
i will ever recede i shall not go away till you have given me the
assurance i require 

 and i certainly never shall give it i am not to be intimidated into
anything so wholly unreasonable your ladyship wants mr darcy to marry
your daughter but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their
marriage at all more probable supposing him to be attached to me would
my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin 
allow me to say lady catherine that the arguments with which you have
supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the
application was ill-judged you have widely mistaken my character if
you think i can be worked on by such persuasions as these how far your
nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs i cannot tell 
but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine i must beg 
therefore to be importuned no farther on the subject 

 not so hasty if you please i have by no means done to all the
objections i have already urged i have still another to add i am
no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous
elopement i know it all that the young man's marrying her was a
patched-up business at the expence of your father and uncles and is
such a girl to be my nephew's sister is her husband is the son of his
late father's steward to be his brother heaven and earth of what are
you thinking are the shades of pemberley to be thus polluted 

 you can now have nothing further to say she resentfully answered 
 you have insulted me in every possible method i must beg to return to
the house 

and she rose as she spoke lady catherine rose also and they turned
back her ladyship was highly incensed 

 you have no regard then for the honour and credit of my nephew 
unfeeling selfish girl do you not consider that a connection with you
must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody 

 lady catherine i have nothing further to say you know my sentiments 

 you are then resolved to have him 

 i have said no such thing i am only resolved to act in that manner 
which will in my own opinion constitute my happiness without
reference to you or to any person so wholly unconnected with me 

 it is well you refuse then to oblige me you refuse to obey the
claims of duty honour and gratitude you are determined to ruin him in
the opinion of all his friends and make him the contempt of the world 

 neither duty nor honour nor gratitude replied elizabeth have any
possible claim on me in the present instance no principle of either
would be violated by my marriage with mr darcy and with regard to the
resentment of his family or the indignation of the world if the former
 were excited by his marrying me it would not give me one moment's
concern and the world in general would have too much sense to join in
the scorn 

 and this is your real opinion this is your final resolve very well 
i shall now know how to act do not imagine miss bennet that your
ambition will ever be gratified i came to try you i hoped to find you
reasonable but depend upon it i will carry my point 

in this manner lady catherine talked on till they were at the door of
the carriage when turning hastily round she added i take no leave
of you miss bennet i send no compliments to your mother you deserve
no such attention i am most seriously displeased 

elizabeth made no answer and without attempting to persuade her
ladyship to return into the house walked quietly into it herself she
heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs her mother
impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room to ask why lady
catherine would not come in again and rest herself 

 she did not choose it said her daughter she would go 

 she is a very fine-looking woman and her calling here was prodigiously
civil for she only came i suppose to tell us the collinses were
well she is on her road somewhere i dare say and so passing through
meryton thought she might as well call on you i suppose she had
nothing particular to say to you lizzy 

elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here for to
acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible 



chapter 57


the discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw
elizabeth into could not be easily overcome nor could she for many
hours learn to think of it less than incessantly lady catherine it
appeared had actually taken the trouble of this journey from rosings 
for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with mr 
darcy it was a rational scheme to be sure but from what the report
of their engagement could originate elizabeth was at a loss to imagine 
till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of bingley 
and her being the sister of jane was enough at a time when the
expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another to supply
the idea she had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her
sister must bring them more frequently together and her neighbours
at lucas lodge therefore for through their communication with the
collinses the report she concluded had reached lady catherine had
only set that down as almost certain and immediate which she had looked
forward to as possible at some future time 

in revolving lady catherine's expressions however she could not help
feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting
in this interference from what she had said of her resolution to
prevent their marriage it occurred to elizabeth that she must meditate
an application to her nephew and how he might take a similar
representation of the evils attached to a connection with her she dared
not pronounce she knew not the exact degree of his affection for his
aunt or his dependence on her judgment but it was natural to suppose
that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do and it
was certain that in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one 
whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own his aunt would
address him on his weakest side with his notions of dignity he would
probably feel that the arguments which to elizabeth had appeared weak
and ridiculous contained much good sense and solid reasoning 

if he had been wavering before as to what he should do which had often
seemed likely the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might
settle every doubt and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity
unblemished could make him in that case he would return no more lady
catherine might see him in her way through town and his engagement to
bingley of coming again to netherfield must give way 

 if therefore an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his
friend within a few days she added i shall know how to understand
it i shall then give over every expectation every wish of his
constancy if he is satisfied with only regretting me when he might
have obtained my affections and hand i shall soon cease to regret him
at all 

 

the surprise of the rest of the family on hearing who their visitor had
been was very great but they obligingly satisfied it with the same
kind of supposition which had appeased mrs bennet's curiosity and
elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject 

the next morning as she was going downstairs she was met by her
father who came out of his library with a letter in his hand 

 lizzy said he i was going to look for you come into my room 

she followed him thither and her curiosity to know what he had to
tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner
connected with the letter he held it suddenly struck her that it
might be from lady catherine and she anticipated with dismay all the
consequent explanations 

she followed her father to the fire place and they both sat down he
then said 

 i have received a letter this morning that has astonished me
exceedingly as it principally concerns yourself you ought to know its
contents i did not know before that i had two daughters on the brink
of matrimony let me congratulate you on a very important conquest 

the colour now rushed into elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous
conviction of its being a letter from the nephew instead of the aunt 
and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained
himself at all or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to
herself when her father continued 

 you look conscious young ladies have great penetration in such matters
as these but i think i may defy even your sagacity to discover the
name of your admirer this letter is from mr collins 

 from mr collins and what can he have to say 

 something very much to the purpose of course he begins with
congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter of
which it seems he has been told by some of the good-natured gossiping
lucases i shall not sport with your impatience by reading what he says
on that point what relates to yourself is as follows 'having thus
offered you the sincere congratulations of mrs collins and myself on
this happy event let me now add a short hint on the subject of another 
of which we have been advertised by the same authority your daughter
elizabeth it is presumed will not long bear the name of bennet after
her elder sister has resigned it and the chosen partner of her fate may
be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in
this land '

 can you possibly guess lizzy who is meant by this 'this young
gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way with every thing the heart of
mortal can most desire splendid property noble kindred and extensive
patronage yet in spite of all these temptations let me warn my cousin
elizabeth and yourself of what evils you may incur by a precipitate
closure with this gentleman's proposals which of course you will be
inclined to take immediate advantage of '

 have you any idea lizzy who this gentleman is but now it comes out 

 'my motive for cautioning you is as follows we have reason to imagine
that his aunt lady catherine de bourgh does not look on the match with
a friendly eye '

 mr darcy you see is the man now lizzy i think i have 
surprised you could he or the lucases have pitched on any man within
the circle of our acquaintance whose name would have given the lie
more effectually to what they related mr darcy who never looks at any
woman but to see a blemish and who probably never looked at you in his
life it is admirable 

elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry but could only force
one most reluctant smile never had his wit been directed in a manner so
little agreeable to her 

 are you not diverted 

 oh yes pray read on 

 'after mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last
night she immediately with her usual condescension expressed what she
felt on the occasion when it became apparent that on the score of some
family objections on the part of my cousin she would never give her
consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match i thought it my duty
to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin that she and
her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about and not run
hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned ' mr 
collins moreover adds 'i am truly rejoiced that my cousin lydia's sad
business has been so well hushed up and am only concerned that their
living together before the marriage took place should be so generally
known i must not however neglect the duties of my station or refrain
from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young
couple into your house as soon as they were married it was an
encouragement of vice and had i been the rector of longbourn i should
very strenuously have opposed it you ought certainly to forgive them 
as a christian but never to admit them in your sight or allow their
names to be mentioned in your hearing ' that is his notion of christian
forgiveness the rest of his letter is only about his dear charlotte's
situation and his expectation of a young olive-branch but lizzy you
look as if you did not enjoy it you are not going to be missish 
i hope and pretend to be affronted at an idle report for what do we
live but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our
turn 

 oh cried elizabeth i am excessively diverted but it is so
strange 

 yes that is what makes it amusing had they fixed on any other man
it would have been nothing but his perfect indifference and your 
pointed dislike make it so delightfully absurd much as i abominate
writing i would not give up mr collins's correspondence for any
consideration nay when i read a letter of his i cannot help giving
him the preference even over wickham much as i value the impudence and
hypocrisy of my son-in-law and pray lizzy what said lady catherine
about this report did she call to refuse her consent 

to this question his daughter replied only with a laugh and as it had
been asked without the least suspicion she was not distressed by
his repeating it elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her
feelings appear what they were not it was necessary to laugh when she
would rather have cried her father had most cruelly mortified her by
what he said of mr darcy's indifference and she could do nothing but
wonder at such a want of penetration or fear that perhaps instead of
his seeing too little she might have fancied too much 



chapter 58


instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend as
elizabeth half expected mr bingley to do he was able to bring darcy
with him to longbourn before many days had passed after lady catherine's
visit the gentlemen arrived early and before mrs bennet had time
to tell him of their having seen his aunt of which her daughter sat
in momentary dread bingley who wanted to be alone with jane proposed
their all walking out it was agreed to mrs bennet was not in the
habit of walking mary could never spare time but the remaining five
set off together bingley and jane however soon allowed the others
to outstrip them they lagged behind while elizabeth kitty and darcy
were to entertain each other very little was said by either kitty
was too much afraid of him to talk elizabeth was secretly forming a
desperate resolution and perhaps he might be doing the same 

they walked towards the lucases because kitty wished to call upon
maria and as elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern 
when kitty left them she went boldly on with him alone now was the
moment for her resolution to be executed and while her courage was
high she immediately said 

 mr darcy i am a very selfish creature and for the sake of giving
relief to my own feelings care not how much i may be wounding yours i
can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my
poor sister ever since i have known it i have been most anxious to
acknowledge to you how gratefully i feel it were it known to the rest
of my family i should not have merely my own gratitude to express 

 i am sorry exceedingly sorry replied darcy in a tone of surprise
and emotion that you have ever been informed of what may in a
mistaken light have given you uneasiness i did not think mrs gardiner
was so little to be trusted 

 you must not blame my aunt lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to
me that you had been concerned in the matter and of course i could
not rest till i knew the particulars let me thank you again and again 
in the name of all my family for that generous compassion which induced
you to take so much trouble and bear so many mortifications for the
sake of discovering them 

 if you will thank me he replied let it be for yourself alone 
that the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other
inducements which led me on i shall not attempt to deny but your
 family owe me nothing much as i respect them i believe i thought
only of you 

elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word after a short pause 
her companion added you are too generous to trifle with me if your
feelings are still what they were last april tell me so at once my 
affections and wishes are unchanged but one word from you will silence
me on this subject for ever 

elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of
his situation now forced herself to speak and immediately though not
very fluently gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone
so material a change since the period to which he alluded as to make
her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances the
happiness which this reply produced was such as he had probably never
felt before and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as
warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do had elizabeth
been able to encounter his eye she might have seen how well the
expression of heartfelt delight diffused over his face became him 
but though she could not look she could listen and he told her of
feelings which in proving of what importance she was to him made his
affection every moment more valuable 

they walked on without knowing in what direction there was too much to
be thought and felt and said for attention to any other objects she
soon learnt that they were indebted for their present good understanding
to the efforts of his aunt who did call on him in her return through
london and there relate her journey to longbourn its motive and the
substance of her conversation with elizabeth dwelling emphatically on
every expression of the latter which in her ladyship's apprehension 
peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance in the belief that
such a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that promise
from her nephew which she had refused to give but unluckily for her
ladyship its effect had been exactly contrariwise 

 it taught me to hope said he as i had scarcely ever allowed myself
to hope before i knew enough of your disposition to be certain that 
had you been absolutely irrevocably decided against me you would have
acknowledged it to lady catherine frankly and openly 

elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied yes you know enough
of my frankness to believe me capable of that after abusing you so
abominably to your face i could have no scruple in abusing you to all
your relations 

 what did you say of me that i did not deserve for though your
accusations were ill-founded formed on mistaken premises my
behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof it was
unpardonable i cannot think of it without abhorrence 

 we will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to that
evening said elizabeth the conduct of neither if strictly examined 
will be irreproachable but since then we have both i hope improved
in civility 

 i cannot be so easily reconciled to myself the recollection of what i
then said of my conduct my manners my expressions during the whole of
it is now and has been many months inexpressibly painful to me your
reproof so well applied i shall never forget 'had you behaved in a
more gentlemanlike manner ' those were your words you know not you can
scarcely conceive how they have tortured me though it was some time 
i confess before i was reasonable enough to allow their justice 

 i was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an
impression i had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such
a way 

 i can easily believe it you thought me then devoid of every proper
feeling i am sure you did the turn of your countenance i shall never
forget as you said that i could not have addressed you in any possible
way that would induce you to accept me 

 oh do not repeat what i then said these recollections will not do at
all i assure you that i have long been most heartily ashamed of it 

darcy mentioned his letter did it said he did it soon make you
think better of me did you on reading it give any credit to its
contents 

she explained what its effect on her had been and how gradually all her
former prejudices had been removed 

 i knew said he that what i wrote must give you pain but it was
necessary i hope you have destroyed the letter there was one part
especially the opening of it which i should dread your having the
power of reading again i can remember some expressions which might
justly make you hate me 

 the letter shall certainly be burnt if you believe it essential to the
preservation of my regard but though we have both reason to think my
opinions not entirely unalterable they are not i hope quite so easily
changed as that implies 

 when i wrote that letter replied darcy i believed myself perfectly
calm and cool but i am since convinced that it was written in a
dreadful bitterness of spirit 

 the letter perhaps began in bitterness but it did not end so the
adieu is charity itself but think no more of the letter the feelings
of the person who wrote and the person who received it are now
so widely different from what they were then that every unpleasant
circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten you must learn some
of my philosophy think only of the past as its remembrance gives you
pleasure 

 i cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind your
retrospections must be so totally void of reproach that the contentment
arising from them is not of philosophy but what is much better of
innocence but with me it is not so painful recollections will intrude
which cannot which ought not to be repelled i have been a selfish
being all my life in practice though not in principle as a child i
was taught what was right but i was not taught to correct my temper i
was given good principles but left to follow them in pride and conceit 
unfortunately an only son for many years an only child i was spoilt
by my parents who though good themselves my father particularly all
that was benevolent and amiable allowed encouraged almost taught
me to be selfish and overbearing to care for none beyond my own family
circle to think meanly of all the rest of the world to wish at least
to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own such i
was from eight to eight and twenty and such i might still have been
but for you dearest loveliest elizabeth what do i not owe you you
taught me a lesson hard indeed at first but most advantageous by you 
i was properly humbled i came to you without a doubt of my reception 
you showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman
worthy of being pleased 

 had you then persuaded yourself that i should 

 indeed i had what will you think of my vanity i believed you to be
wishing expecting my addresses 

 my manners must have been in fault but not intentionally i assure
you i never meant to deceive you but my spirits might often lead me
wrong how you must have hated me after that evening 

 hate you i was angry perhaps at first but my anger soon began to take
a proper direction 

 i am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when we met at
pemberley you blamed me for coming 

 no indeed i felt nothing but surprise 

 your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you 
my conscience told me that i deserved no extraordinary politeness and i
confess that i did not expect to receive more than my due 

 my object then replied darcy was to show you by every civility in
my power that i was not so mean as to resent the past and i hoped to
obtain your forgiveness to lessen your ill opinion by letting you
see that your reproofs had been attended to how soon any other wishes
introduced themselves i can hardly tell but i believe in about half an
hour after i had seen you 

he then told her of georgiana's delight in her acquaintance and of her
disappointment at its sudden interruption which naturally leading to
the cause of that interruption she soon learnt that his resolution of
following her from derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed
before he quitted the inn and that his gravity and thoughtfulness
there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must
comprehend 

she expressed her gratitude again but it was too painful a subject to
each to be dwelt on farther 

after walking several miles in a leisurely manner and too busy to know
anything about it they found at last on examining their watches that
it was time to be at home 

 what could become of mr bingley and jane was a wonder which
introduced the discussion of their affairs darcy was delighted with
their engagement his friend had given him the earliest information of
it 

 i must ask whether you were surprised said elizabeth 

 not at all when i went away i felt that it would soon happen 

 that is to say you had given your permission i guessed as much and
though he exclaimed at the term she found that it had been pretty much
the case 

 on the evening before my going to london said he i made a
confession to him which i believe i ought to have made long ago i
told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his
affairs absurd and impertinent his surprise was great he had never had
the slightest suspicion i told him moreover that i believed myself
mistaken in supposing as i had done that your sister was indifferent
to him and as i could easily perceive that his attachment to her was
unabated i felt no doubt of their happiness together 

elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his
friend 

 did you speak from your own observation said she when you told him
that my sister loved him or merely from my information last spring 

 from the former i had narrowly observed her during the two visits
which i had lately made here and i was convinced of her affection 

 and your assurance of it i suppose carried immediate conviction to
him 

 it did bingley is most unaffectedly modest his diffidence had
prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case but
his reliance on mine made every thing easy i was obliged to confess
one thing which for a time and not unjustly offended him i could not
allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months
last winter that i had known it and purposely kept it from him he was
angry but his anger i am persuaded lasted no longer than he remained
in any doubt of your sister's sentiments he has heartily forgiven me
now 

elizabeth longed to observe that mr bingley had been a most delightful
friend so easily guided that his worth was invaluable but she checked
herself she remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at 
and it was rather too early to begin in anticipating the happiness
of bingley which of course was to be inferior only to his own he
continued the conversation till they reached the house in the hall they
parted 



chapter 59


 my dear lizzy where can you have been walking to was a question
which elizabeth received from jane as soon as she entered their room 
and from all the others when they sat down to table she had only to
say in reply that they had wandered about till she was beyond her own
knowledge she coloured as she spoke but neither that nor anything
else awakened a suspicion of the truth 

the evening passed quietly unmarked by anything extraordinary the
acknowledged lovers talked and laughed the unacknowledged were silent 
darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth 
and elizabeth agitated and confused rather knew that she was happy
than felt herself to be so for besides the immediate embarrassment 
there were other evils before her she anticipated what would be felt
in the family when her situation became known she was aware that no
one liked him but jane and even feared that with the others it was a
dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away 

at night she opened her heart to jane though suspicion was very far
from miss bennet's general habits she was absolutely incredulous here 

 you are joking lizzy this cannot be engaged to mr darcy no no 
you shall not deceive me i know it to be impossible 

 this is a wretched beginning indeed my sole dependence was on you and
i am sure nobody else will believe me if you do not yet indeed i am
in earnest i speak nothing but the truth he still loves me and we are
engaged 

jane looked at her doubtingly oh lizzy it cannot be i know how much
you dislike him 

 you know nothing of the matter that is all to be forgot perhaps i
did not always love him so well as i do now but in such cases as
these a good memory is unpardonable this is the last time i shall ever
remember it myself 

miss bennet still looked all amazement elizabeth again and more
seriously assured her of its truth 

 good heaven can it be really so yet now i must believe you cried
jane my dear dear lizzy i would i do congratulate you but are you
certain forgive the question are you quite certain that you can be
happy with him 

 there can be no doubt of that it is settled between us already that
we are to be the happiest couple in the world but are you pleased 
jane shall you like to have such a brother 

 very very much nothing could give either bingley or myself more
delight but we considered it we talked of it as impossible and do you
really love him quite well enough oh lizzy do anything rather than
marry without affection are you quite sure that you feel what you ought
to do 

 oh yes you will only think i feel more than i ought to do when i
tell you all 

 what do you mean 

 why i must confess that i love him better than i do bingley i am
afraid you will be angry 

 my dearest sister now be serious i want to talk very seriously let
me know every thing that i am to know without delay will you tell me
how long you have loved him 

 it has been coming on so gradually that i hardly know when it began 
but i believe i must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds
at pemberley 

another entreaty that she would be serious however produced the
desired effect and she soon satisfied jane by her solemn assurances
of attachment when convinced on that article miss bennet had nothing
further to wish 

 now i am quite happy said she for you will be as happy as myself 
i always had a value for him were it for nothing but his love of you 
i must always have esteemed him but now as bingley's friend and your
husband there can be only bingley and yourself more dear to me but
lizzy you have been very sly very reserved with me how little did you
tell me of what passed at pemberley and lambton i owe all that i know
of it to another not to you 

elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy she had been unwilling
to mention bingley and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made
her equally avoid the name of his friend but now she would no longer
conceal from her his share in lydia's marriage all was acknowledged 
and half the night spent in conversation 

 

 good gracious cried mrs bennet as she stood at a window the next
morning if that disagreeable mr darcy is not coming here again with
our dear bingley what can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always
coming here i had no notion but he would go a-shooting or something or
other and not disturb us with his company what shall we do with him 
lizzy you must walk out with him again that he may not be in bingley's
way 

elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal yet
was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an
epithet 

as soon as they entered bingley looked at her so expressively and
shook hands with such warmth as left no doubt of his good information 
and he soon afterwards said aloud mrs bennet have you no more lanes
hereabouts in which lizzy may lose her way again to-day 

 i advise mr darcy and lizzy and kitty said mrs bennet to walk
to oakham mount this morning it is a nice long walk and mr darcy has
never seen the view 

 it may do very well for the others replied mr bingley but i am
sure it will be too much for kitty won't it kitty kitty owned that
she had rather stay at home darcy professed a great curiosity to see
the view from the mount and elizabeth silently consented as she went
up stairs to get ready mrs bennet followed her saying 

 i am quite sorry lizzy that you should be forced to have that
disagreeable man all to yourself but i hope you will not mind it it is
all for jane's sake you know and there is no occasion for talking
to him except just now and then so do not put yourself to
inconvenience 

during their walk it was resolved that mr bennet's consent should be
asked in the course of the evening elizabeth reserved to herself the
application for her mother's she could not determine how her mother
would take it sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur
would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man but whether she
were violently set against the match or violently delighted with it it
was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit
to her sense and she could no more bear that mr darcy should hear
the first raptures of her joy than the first vehemence of her
disapprobation 

 

in the evening soon after mr bennet withdrew to the library she saw
mr darcy rise also and follow him and her agitation on seeing it was
extreme she did not fear her father's opposition but he was going to
be made unhappy and that it should be through her means that she 
his favourite child should be distressing him by her choice should be
filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her was a wretched
reflection and she sat in misery till mr darcy appeared again when 
looking at him she was a little relieved by his smile in a few minutes
he approached the table where she was sitting with kitty and while
pretending to admire her work said in a whisper go to your father he
wants you in the library she was gone directly 

her father was walking about the room looking grave and anxious 
 lizzy said he what are you doing are you out of your senses to be
accepting this man have not you always hated him 

how earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more
reasonable her expressions more moderate it would have spared her from
explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give 
but they were now necessary and she assured him with some confusion 
of her attachment to mr darcy 

 or in other words you are determined to have him he is rich to be
sure and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than jane 
but will they make you happy 

 have you any other objection said elizabeth than your belief of my
indifference 

 none at all we all know him to be a proud unpleasant sort of man but
this would be nothing if you really liked him 

 i do i do like him she replied with tears in her eyes i love him 
indeed he has no improper pride he is perfectly amiable you do not
know what he really is then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in
such terms 

 lizzy said her father i have given him my consent he is the kind
of man indeed to whom i should never dare refuse anything which he
condescended to ask i now give it to you if you are resolved on
having him but let me advise you to think better of it i know
your disposition lizzy i know that you could be neither happy nor
respectable unless you truly esteemed your husband unless you looked
up to him as a superior your lively talents would place you in the
greatest danger in an unequal marriage you could scarcely escape
discredit and misery my child let me not have the grief of seeing
 you unable to respect your partner in life you know not what you are
about 

elizabeth still more affected was earnest and solemn in her reply and
at length by repeated assurances that mr darcy was really the object
of her choice by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of
him had undergone relating her absolute certainty that his affection
was not the work of a day but had stood the test of many months'
suspense and enumerating with energy all his good qualities she did
conquer her father's incredulity and reconcile him to the match 

 well my dear said he when she ceased speaking i have no more to
say if this be the case he deserves you i could not have parted with
you my lizzy to anyone less worthy 

to complete the favourable impression she then told him what mr darcy
had voluntarily done for lydia he heard her with astonishment 

 this is an evening of wonders indeed and so darcy did every thing 
made up the match gave the money paid the fellow's debts and got him
his commission so much the better it will save me a world of trouble
and economy had it been your uncle's doing i must and would have
paid him but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own
way i shall offer to pay him to-morrow he will rant and storm about
his love for you and there will be an end of the matter 

he then recollected her embarrassment a few days before on his reading
mr collins's letter and after laughing at her some time allowed her
at last to go saying as she quitted the room if any young men come
for mary or kitty send them in for i am quite at leisure 

elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight and after
half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room she was able to join
the others with tolerable composure every thing was too recent for
gaiety but the evening passed tranquilly away there was no longer
anything material to be dreaded and the comfort of ease and familiarity
would come in time 

when her mother went up to her dressing-room at night she followed her 
and made the important communication its effect was most extraordinary 
for on first hearing it mrs bennet sat quite still and unable to
utter a syllable nor was it under many many minutes that she could
comprehend what she heard though not in general backward to credit
what was for the advantage of her family or that came in the shape of a
lover to any of them she began at length to recover to fidget about in
her chair get up sit down again wonder and bless herself 

 good gracious lord bless me only think dear me mr darcy who would
have thought it and is it really true oh my sweetest lizzy how rich
and how great you will be what pin-money what jewels what carriages
you will have jane's is nothing to it nothing at all i am so
pleased so happy such a charming man so handsome so tall oh my
dear lizzy pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before i
hope he will overlook it dear dear lizzy a house in town every thing
that is charming three daughters married ten thousand a year oh 
lord what will become of me i shall go distracted 

this was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted and
elizabeth rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself 
soon went away but before she had been three minutes in her own room 
her mother followed her 

 my dearest child she cried i can think of nothing else ten
thousand a year and very likely more 'tis as good as a lord and a
special licence you must and shall be married by a special licence but
my dearest love tell me what dish mr darcy is particularly fond of 
that i may have it to-morrow 

this was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman
himself might be and elizabeth found that though in the certain
possession of his warmest affection and secure of her relations'
consent there was still something to be wished for but the morrow
passed off much better than she expected for mrs bennet luckily stood
in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to
him unless it was in her power to offer him any attention or mark her
deference for his opinion 

elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get
acquainted with him and mr bennet soon assured her that he was rising
every hour in his esteem 

 i admire all my three sons-in-law highly said he wickham perhaps 
is my favourite but i think i shall like your husband quite as well
as jane's 



chapter 60


elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again she wanted mr 
darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her how could
you begin said she i can comprehend your going on charmingly when
you had once made a beginning but what could set you off in the first
place 

 i cannot fix on the hour or the spot or the look or the words which
laid the foundation it is too long ago i was in the middle before i
knew that i had begun 

 my beauty you had early withstood and as for my manners my behaviour
to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil and i never spoke
to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not now be sincere 
did you admire me for my impertinence 

 for the liveliness of your mind i did 

 you may as well call it impertinence at once it was very little less 
the fact is that you were sick of civility of deference of officious
attention you were disgusted with the women who were always speaking 
and looking and thinking for your approbation alone i roused and
interested you because i was so unlike them had you not been really
amiable you would have hated me for it but in spite of the pains you
took to disguise yourself your feelings were always noble and just and
in your heart you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously
courted you there i have saved you the trouble of accounting for
it and really all things considered i begin to think it perfectly
reasonable to be sure you knew no actual good of me but nobody thinks
of that when they fall in love 

 was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to jane while she was
ill at netherfield 

 dearest jane who could have done less for her but make a virtue of it
by all means my good qualities are under your protection and you are
to exaggerate them as much as possible and in return it belongs to me
to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may
be and i shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling
to come to the point at last what made you so shy of me when you first
called and afterwards dined here why especially when you called did
you look as if you did not care about me 

 because you were grave and silent and gave me no encouragement 

 but i was embarrassed 

 and so was i 

 you might have talked to me more when you came to dinner 

 a man who had felt less might 

 how unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give and that
i should be so reasonable as to admit it but i wonder how long you
 would have gone on if you had been left to yourself i wonder when
you would have spoken if i had not asked you my resolution of
thanking you for your kindness to lydia had certainly great effect 
 too much i am afraid for what becomes of the moral if our comfort
springs from a breach of promise for i ought not to have mentioned the
subject this will never do 

 you need not distress yourself the moral will be perfectly fair lady
catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of
removing all my doubts i am not indebted for my present happiness to
your eager desire of expressing your gratitude i was not in a humour
to wait for any opening of yours my aunt's intelligence had given me
hope and i was determined at once to know every thing 

 lady catherine has been of infinite use which ought to make her happy 
for she loves to be of use but tell me what did you come down to
netherfield for was it merely to ride to longbourn and be embarrassed 
or had you intended any more serious consequence 

 my real purpose was to see you and to judge if i could whether i
might ever hope to make you love me my avowed one or what i avowed to
myself was to see whether your sister were still partial to bingley 
and if she were to make the confession to him which i have since made 

 shall you ever have courage to announce to lady catherine what is to
befall her 

 i am more likely to want more time than courage elizabeth but it
ought to be done and if you will give me a sheet of paper it shall be
done directly 

 and if i had not a letter to write myself i might sit by you and
admire the evenness of your writing as another young lady once did but
i have an aunt too who must not be longer neglected 

from an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with mr darcy
had been over-rated elizabeth had never yet answered mrs gardiner's
long letter but now having that to communicate which she knew would
be most welcome she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and
aunt had already lost three days of happiness and immediately wrote as
follows 

 i would have thanked you before my dear aunt as i ought to have done 
for your long kind satisfactory detail of particulars but to say the
truth i was too cross to write you supposed more than really existed 
but now suppose as much as you choose give a loose rein to your
fancy indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the
subject will afford and unless you believe me actually married you
cannot greatly err you must write again very soon and praise him a
great deal more than you did in your last i thank you again and again 
for not going to the lakes how could i be so silly as to wish it your
idea of the ponies is delightful we will go round the park every day i
am the happiest creature in the world perhaps other people have said so
before but not one with such justice i am happier even than jane she
only smiles i laugh mr darcy sends you all the love in the world that
he can spare from me you are all to come to pemberley at christmas 
yours etc 

mr darcy's letter to lady catherine was in a different style and still
different from either was what mr bennet sent to mr collins in reply
to his last 

 dear sir 

 i must trouble you once more for congratulations elizabeth will soon
be the wife of mr darcy console lady catherine as well as you can 
but if i were you i would stand by the nephew he has more to give 

 yours sincerely etc 

miss bingley's congratulations to her brother on his approaching
marriage were all that was affectionate and insincere she wrote even
to jane on the occasion to express her delight and repeat all her
former professions of regard jane was not deceived but she was
affected and though feeling no reliance on her could not help writing
her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved 

the joy which miss darcy expressed on receiving similar information 
was as sincere as her brother's in sending it four sides of paper were
insufficient to contain all her delight and all her earnest desire of
being loved by her sister 

before any answer could arrive from mr collins or any congratulations
to elizabeth from his wife the longbourn family heard that the
collinses were come themselves to lucas lodge the reason of this
sudden removal was soon evident lady catherine had been rendered
so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter that
charlotte really rejoicing in the match was anxious to get away till
the storm was blown over at such a moment the arrival of her friend
was a sincere pleasure to elizabeth though in the course of their
meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought when she
saw mr darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of
her husband he bore it however with admirable calmness he could even
listen to sir william lucas when he complimented him on carrying away
the brightest jewel of the country and expressed his hopes of their all
meeting frequently at st james's with very decent composure if he did
shrug his shoulders it was not till sir william was out of sight 

mrs phillips's vulgarity was another and perhaps a greater tax on his
forbearance and though mrs phillips as well as her sister stood in
too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which bingley's good
humour encouraged yet whenever she did speak she must be vulgar 
nor was her respect for him though it made her more quiet at all
likely to make her more elegant elizabeth did all she could to shield
him from the frequent notice of either and was ever anxious to keep
him to herself and to those of her family with whom he might converse
without mortification and though the uncomfortable feelings arising
from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure it
added to the hope of the future and she looked forward with delight to
the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing
to either to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at
pemberley 



chapter 61


happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which mrs bennet got
rid of her two most deserving daughters with what delighted pride
she afterwards visited mrs bingley and talked of mrs darcy may
be guessed i wish i could say for the sake of her family that the
accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so many
of her children produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible 
amiable well-informed woman for the rest of her life though perhaps it
was lucky for her husband who might not have relished domestic felicity
in so unusual a form that she still was occasionally nervous and
invariably silly 

mr bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly his affection for her
drew him oftener from home than anything else could do he delighted in
going to pemberley especially when he was least expected 

mr bingley and jane remained at netherfield only a twelvemonth so near
a vicinity to her mother and meryton relations was not desirable even to
 his easy temper or her affectionate heart the darling wish of his
sisters was then gratified he bought an estate in a neighbouring county
to derbyshire and jane and elizabeth in addition to every other source
of happiness were within thirty miles of each other 

kitty to her very material advantage spent the chief of her time with
her two elder sisters in society so superior to what she had generally
known her improvement was great she was not of so ungovernable a
temper as lydia and removed from the influence of lydia's example 
she became by proper attention and management less irritable less
ignorant and less insipid from the further disadvantage of lydia's
society she was of course carefully kept and though mrs wickham
frequently invited her to come and stay with her with the promise of
balls and young men her father would never consent to her going 

mary was the only daughter who remained at home and she was necessarily
drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by mrs bennet's being quite
unable to sit alone mary was obliged to mix more with the world but
she could still moralize over every morning visit and as she was no
longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own 
it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without
much reluctance 

as for wickham and lydia their characters suffered no revolution from
the marriage of her sisters he bore with philosophy the conviction that
elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude
and falsehood had before been unknown to her and in spite of every
thing was not wholly without hope that darcy might yet be prevailed on
to make his fortune the congratulatory letter which elizabeth received
from lydia on her marriage explained to her that by his wife at least 
if not by himself such a hope was cherished the letter was to this
effect 

 my dear lizzy 

 i wish you joy if you love mr darcy half as well as i do my dear
wickham you must be very happy it is a great comfort to have you so
rich and when you have nothing else to do i hope you will think of us 
i am sure wickham would like a place at court very much and i do not
think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help 
any place would do of about three or four hundred a year but however 
do not speak to mr darcy about it if you had rather not 

 yours etc 

as it happened that elizabeth had much rather not she endeavoured in
her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind 
such relief however as it was in her power to afford by the practice
of what might be called economy in her own private expences she
frequently sent them it had always been evident to her that such an
income as theirs under the direction of two persons so extravagant in
their wants and heedless of the future must be very insufficient to
their support and whenever they changed their quarters either jane or
herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance
towards discharging their bills their manner of living even when the
restoration of peace dismissed them to a home was unsettled in the
extreme they were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap
situation and always spending more than they ought his affection for
her soon sunk into indifference hers lasted a little longer and
in spite of her youth and her manners she retained all the claims to
reputation which her marriage had given her 

though darcy could never receive him at pemberley yet for
elizabeth's sake he assisted him further in his profession lydia was
occasionally a visitor there when her husband was gone to enjoy himself
in london or bath and with the bingleys they both of them frequently
staid so long that even bingley's good humour was overcome and he
proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone 

miss bingley was very deeply mortified by darcy's marriage but as she
thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at pemberley she
dropt all her resentment was fonder than ever of georgiana almost as
attentive to darcy as heretofore and paid off every arrear of civility
to elizabeth 

pemberley was now georgiana's home and the attachment of the sisters
was exactly what darcy had hoped to see they were able to love each
other even as well as they intended georgiana had the highest opinion
in the world of elizabeth though at first she often listened with
an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively sportive manner of
talking to her brother he who had always inspired in herself a respect
which almost overcame her affection she now saw the object of open
pleasantry her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen
in her way by elizabeth's instructions she began to comprehend that
a woman may take liberties with her husband which a brother will not
always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself 

lady catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew 
and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character in
her reply to the letter which announced its arrangement she sent him
language so very abusive especially of elizabeth that for some time
all intercourse was at an end but at length by elizabeth's persuasion 
he was prevailed on to overlook the offence and seek a reconciliation 
and after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt her
resentment gave way either to her affection for him or her curiosity
to see how his wife conducted herself and she condescended to wait
on them at pemberley in spite of that pollution which its woods had
received not merely from the presence of such a mistress but the
visits of her uncle and aunt from the city 

with the gardiners they were always on the most intimate terms 
darcy as well as elizabeth really loved them and they were both ever
sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who by bringing
her into derbyshire had been the means of uniting them 
the adventures of sherlock holmes

by

sir arthur conan doyle


adventure i a scandal in bohemia

i 

to sherlock holmes she is always the woman i have seldom heard
him mention her under any other name in his eyes she eclipses
and predominates the whole of her sex it was not that he felt
any emotion akin to love for irene adler all emotions and that
one particularly were abhorrent to his cold precise but
admirably balanced mind he was i take it the most perfect
reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen but as a
lover he would have placed himself in a false position he never
spoke of the softer passions save with a gibe and a sneer they
were admirable things for the observer excellent for drawing the
veil from men's motives and actions but for the trained reasoner
to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely
adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which
might throw a doubt upon all his mental results grit in a
sensitive instrument or a crack in one of his own high-power
lenses would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a
nature such as his and yet there was but one woman to him and
that woman was the late irene adler of dubious and questionable
memory 

i had seen little of holmes lately my marriage had drifted us
away from each other my own complete happiness and the
home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first
finds himself master of his own establishment were sufficient to
absorb all my attention while holmes who loathed every form of
society with his whole bohemian soul remained in our lodgings in
baker street buried among his old books and alternating from
week to week between cocaine and ambition the drowsiness of the
drug and the fierce energy of his own keen nature he was still 
as ever deeply attracted by the study of crime and occupied his
immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in
following out those clues and clearing up those mysteries which
had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police from time
to time i heard some vague account of his doings of his summons
to odessa in the case of the trepoff murder of his clearing up
of the singular tragedy of the atkinson brothers at trincomalee 
and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so
delicately and successfully for the reigning family of holland 
beyond these signs of his activity however which i merely
shared with all the readers of the daily press i knew little of
my former friend and companion 

one night it was on the twentieth of march 1888 i was
returning from a journey to a patient for i had now returned to
civil practice when my way led me through baker street as i
passed the well-remembered door which must always be associated
in my mind with my wooing and with the dark incidents of the
study in scarlet i was seized with a keen desire to see holmes
again and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers 
his rooms were brilliantly lit and even as i looked up i saw
his tall spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against
the blind he was pacing the room swiftly eagerly with his head
sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him to me who
knew his every mood and habit his attitude and manner told their
own story he was at work again he had risen out of his
drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new
problem i rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which
had formerly been in part my own 

his manner was not effusive it seldom was but he was glad i
think to see me with hardly a word spoken but with a kindly
eye he waved me to an armchair threw across his case of cigars 
and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner then he
stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular
introspective fashion 

 wedlock suits you   he remarked  i think watson that you have
put on seven and a half pounds since i saw you  

 seven   i answered 

 indeed i should have thought a little more just a trifle more 
i fancy watson and in practice again i observe you did not
tell me that you intended to go into harness  

 then how do you know  

 i see it i deduce it how do i know that you have been getting
yourself very wet lately and that you have a most clumsy and
careless servant girl  

 my dear holmes   said i  this is too much you would certainly
have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago it is true
that i had a country walk on thursday and came home in a dreadful
mess but as i have changed my clothes i can't imagine how you
deduce it as to mary jane she is incorrigible and my wife has
given her notice but there again i fail to see how you work it
out  

he chuckled to himself and rubbed his long nervous hands
together 

 it is simplicity itself   said he  my eyes tell me that on the
inside of your left shoe just where the firelight strikes it 
the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts obviously they
have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round
the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it 
hence you see my double deduction that you had been out in vile
weather and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting
specimen of the london slavey as to your practice if a
gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform with a black
mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger and a bulge
on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted
his stethoscope i must be dull indeed if i do not pronounce
him to be an active member of the medical profession  

i could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his
process of deduction  when i hear you give your reasons   i
remarked  the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously
simple that i could easily do it myself though at each
successive instance of your reasoning i am baffled until you
explain your process and yet i believe that my eyes are as good
as yours  

 quite so   he answered lighting a cigarette and throwing
himself down into an armchair  you see but you do not observe 
the distinction is clear for example you have frequently seen
the steps which lead up from the hall to this room  

 frequently  

 how often  

 well some hundreds of times  

 then how many are there  

 how many i don't know  

 quite so you have not observed and yet you have seen that is
just my point now i know that there are seventeen steps 
because i have both seen and observed by-the-way since you are
interested in these little problems and since you are good
enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences you
may be interested in this   he threw over a sheet of thick 
pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table 
 it came by the last post   said he  read it aloud  

the note was undated and without either signature or address 

 there will call upon you to-night at a quarter to eight
o'clock   it said  a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a
matter of the very deepest moment your recent services to one of
the royal houses of europe have shown that you are one who may
safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which
can hardly be exaggerated this account of you we have from all
quarters received be in your chamber then at that hour and do
not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask  

 this is indeed a mystery   i remarked  what do you imagine that
it means  

 i have no data yet it is a capital mistake to theorize before
one has data insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit
theories instead of theories to suit facts but the note itself 
what do you deduce from it  

i carefully examined the writing and the paper upon which it was
written 

 the man who wrote it was presumably well to do   i remarked 
endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes  such paper
could not be bought under half a crown a packet it is peculiarly
strong and stiff  

 peculiar that is the very word   said holmes  it is not an
english paper at all hold it up to the light  

i did so and saw a large  e  with a small  g   a  p   and a
large  g  with a small  t  woven into the texture of the paper 

 what do you make of that   asked holmes 

 the name of the maker no doubt or his monogram rather  

 not at all the 'g' with the small 't' stands for
'gesellschaft ' which is the german for 'company ' it is a
customary contraction like our 'co ' 'p ' of course stands for
'papier ' now for the 'eg ' let us glance at our continental
gazetteer   he took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves 
 eglow eglonitz here we are egria it is in a german-speaking
country in bohemia not far from carlsbad 'remarkable as being
the scene of the death of wallenstein and for its numerous
glass-factories and paper-mills ' ha ha my boy what do you
make of that   his eyes sparkled and he sent up a great blue
triumphant cloud from his cigarette 

 the paper was made in bohemia   i said 

 precisely and the man who wrote the note is a german do you
note the peculiar construction of the sentence 'this account of
you we have from all quarters received ' a frenchman or russian
could not have written that it is the german who is so
uncourteous to his verbs it only remains therefore to discover
what is wanted by this german who writes upon bohemian paper and
prefers wearing a mask to showing his face and here he comes if
i am not mistaken to resolve all our doubts  

as he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and
grating wheels against the curb followed by a sharp pull at the
bell holmes whistled 

 a pair by the sound   said he  yes   he continued glancing
out of the window  a nice little brougham and a pair of
beauties a hundred and fifty guineas apiece there's money in
this case watson if there is nothing else  

 i think that i had better go holmes  

 not a bit doctor stay where you are i am lost without my
boswell and this promises to be interesting it would be a pity
to miss it  

 but your client  

 never mind him i may want your help and so may he here he
comes sit down in that armchair doctor and give us your best
attention  

a slow and heavy step which had been heard upon the stairs and
in the passage paused immediately outside the door then there
was a loud and authoritative tap 

 come in   said holmes 

a man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six
inches in height with the chest and limbs of a hercules his
dress was rich with a richness which would in england be looked
upon as akin to bad taste heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed
across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat while
the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined
with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch
which consisted of a single flaming beryl boots which extended
halfway up his calves and which were trimmed at the tops with
rich brown fur completed the impression of barbaric opulence
which was suggested by his whole appearance he carried a
broad-brimmed hat in his hand while he wore across the upper
part of his face extending down past the cheekbones a black
vizard mask which he had apparently adjusted that very moment 
for his hand was still raised to it as he entered from the lower
part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character 
with a thick hanging lip and a long straight chin suggestive
of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy 

 you had my note   he asked with a deep harsh voice and a
strongly marked german accent  i told you that i would call   he
looked from one to the other of us as if uncertain which to
address 

 pray take a seat   said holmes  this is my friend and
colleague dr watson who is occasionally good enough to help me
in my cases whom have i the honour to address  

 you may address me as the count von kramm a bohemian nobleman 
i understand that this gentleman your friend is a man of honour
and discretion whom i may trust with a matter of the most
extreme importance if not i should much prefer to communicate
with you alone  

i rose to go but holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me
back into my chair  it is both or none   said he  you may say
before this gentleman anything which you may say to me  

the count shrugged his broad shoulders  then i must begin   said
he  by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years at
the end of that time the matter will be of no importance at
present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it
may have an influence upon european history  

 i promise   said holmes 

 and i  

 you will excuse this mask   continued our strange visitor  the
august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to
you and i may confess at once that the title by which i have
just called myself is not exactly my own  

 i was aware of it   said holmes dryly 

 the circumstances are of great delicacy and every precaution
has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense
scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of
europe to speak plainly the matter implicates the great house
of ormstein hereditary kings of bohemia  

 i was also aware of that   murmured holmes settling himself
down in his armchair and closing his eyes 

our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid 
lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him
as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in europe 
holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his
gigantic client 

 if your majesty would condescend to state your case   he
remarked  i should be better able to advise you  

the man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in
uncontrollable agitation then with a gesture of desperation he
tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground  you
are right   he cried  i am the king why should i attempt to
conceal it  

 why indeed   murmured holmes  your majesty had not spoken
before i was aware that i was addressing wilhelm gottsreich
sigismond von ormstein grand duke of cassel-felstein and
hereditary king of bohemia  

 but you can understand   said our strange visitor sitting down
once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead  you
can understand that i am not accustomed to doing such business in
my own person yet the matter was so delicate that i could not
confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power i
have come incognito from prague for the purpose of consulting
you  

 then pray consult   said holmes shutting his eyes once more 

 the facts are briefly these some five years ago during a
lengthy visit to warsaw i made the acquaintance of the well-known
adventuress irene adler the name is no doubt familiar to you  

 kindly look her up in my index doctor   murmured holmes without
opening his eyes for many years he had adopted a system of
docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things so that it
was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not
at once furnish information in this case i found her biography
sandwiched in between that of a hebrew rabbi and that of a
staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea
fishes 

 let me see   said holmes  hum born in new jersey in the year
1858 contralto hum la scala hum prima donna imperial opera
of warsaw yes retired from operatic stage ha living in
london quite so your majesty as i understand became entangled
with this young person wrote her some compromising letters and
is now desirous of getting those letters back  

 precisely so but how  

 was there a secret marriage  

 none  

 no legal papers or certificates  

 none  

 then i fail to follow your majesty if this young person should
produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes how is
she to prove their authenticity  

 there is the writing  

 pooh pooh forgery  

 my private note-paper  

 stolen  

 my own seal  

 imitated  

 my photograph  

 bought  

 we were both in the photograph  

 oh dear that is very bad your majesty has indeed committed an
indiscretion  

 i was mad insane  

 you have compromised yourself seriously  

 i was only crown prince then i was young i am but thirty now  

 it must be recovered  

 we have tried and failed  

 your majesty must pay it must be bought  

 she will not sell  

 stolen then  

 five attempts have been made twice burglars in my pay ransacked
her house once we diverted her luggage when she travelled twice
she has been waylaid there has been no result  

 no sign of it  

 absolutely none  

holmes laughed  it is quite a pretty little problem   said he 

 but a very serious one to me   returned the king reproachfully 

 very indeed and what does she propose to do with the
photograph  

 to ruin me  

 but how  

 i am about to be married  

 so i have heard  

 to clotilde lothman von saxe-meningen second daughter of the
king of scandinavia you may know the strict principles of her
family she is herself the very soul of delicacy a shadow of a
doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end  

 and irene adler  

 threatens to send them the photograph and she will do it i
know that she will do it you do not know her but she has a soul
of steel she has the face of the most beautiful of women and
the mind of the most resolute of men rather than i should marry
another woman there are no lengths to which she would not
go none  

 you are sure that she has not sent it yet  

 i am sure  

 and why  

 because she has said that she would send it on the day when the
betrothal was publicly proclaimed that will be next monday  

 oh then we have three days yet   said holmes with a yawn  that
is very fortunate as i have one or two matters of importance to
look into just at present your majesty will of course stay in
london for the present  

 certainly you will find me at the langham under the name of the
count von kramm  

 then i shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress  

 pray do so i shall be all anxiety  

 then as to money  

 you have carte blanche  

 absolutely  

 i tell you that i would give one of the provinces of my kingdom
to have that photograph  

 and for present expenses  

the king took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak
and laid it on the table 

 there are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in
notes   he said 

holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and
handed it to him 

 and mademoiselle's address   he asked 

 is briony lodge serpentine avenue st john's wood  

holmes took a note of it  one other question   said he  was the
photograph a cabinet  

 it was  

 then good-night your majesty and i trust that we shall soon
have some good news for you and good-night watson   he added 
as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street  if
you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three
o'clock i should like to chat this little matter over with you  


ii 

at three o'clock precisely i was at baker street but holmes had
not yet returned the landlady informed me that he had left the
house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning i sat down
beside the fire however with the intention of awaiting him 
however long he might be i was already deeply interested in his
inquiry for though it was surrounded by none of the grim and
strange features which were associated with the two crimes which
i have already recorded still the nature of the case and the
exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own 
indeed apart from the nature of the investigation which my
friend had on hand there was something in his masterly grasp of
a situation and his keen incisive reasoning which made it a
pleasure to me to study his system of work and to follow the
quick subtle methods by which he disentangled the most
inextricable mysteries so accustomed was i to his invariable
success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to
enter into my head 

it was close upon four before the door opened and a
drunken-looking groom ill-kempt and side-whiskered with an
inflamed face and disreputable clothes walked into the room 
accustomed as i was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of
disguises i had to look three times before i was certain that it
was indeed he with a nod he vanished into the bedroom whence he
emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable as of old 
putting his hands into his pockets he stretched out his legs in
front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes 

 well really   he cried and then he choked and laughed again
until he was obliged to lie back limp and helpless in the
chair 

 what is it  

 it's quite too funny i am sure you could never guess how i
employed my morning or what i ended by doing  

 i can't imagine i suppose that you have been watching the
habits and perhaps the house of miss irene adler  

 quite so but the sequel was rather unusual i will tell you 
however i left the house a little after eight o'clock this
morning in the character of a groom out of work there is a
wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men be one of
them and you will know all that there is to know i soon found
briony lodge it is a bijou villa with a garden at the back but
built out in front right up to the road two stories chubb lock
to the door large sitting-room on the right side well
furnished with long windows almost to the floor and those
preposterous english window fasteners which a child could open 
behind there was nothing remarkable save that the passage window
could be reached from the top of the coach-house i walked round
it and examined it closely from every point of view but without
noting anything else of interest 

 i then lounged down the street and found as i expected that
there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the
garden i lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses 
and received in exchange twopence a glass of half and half two
fills of shag tobacco and as much information as i could desire
about miss adler to say nothing of half a dozen other people in
the neighbourhood in whom i was not in the least interested but
whose biographies i was compelled to listen to  

 and what of irene adler   i asked 

 oh she has turned all the men's heads down in that part she is
the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet so say the
serpentine-mews to a man she lives quietly sings at concerts 
drives out at five every day and returns at seven sharp for
dinner seldom goes out at other times except when she sings 
has only one male visitor but a good deal of him he is dark 
handsome and dashing never calls less than once a day and
often twice he is a mr godfrey norton of the inner temple see
the advantages of a cabman as a confidant they had driven him
home a dozen times from serpentine-mews and knew all about him 
when i had listened to all they had to tell i began to walk up
and down near briony lodge once more and to think over my plan
of campaign 

 this godfrey norton was evidently an important factor in the
matter he was a lawyer that sounded ominous what was the
relation between them and what the object of his repeated
visits was she his client his friend or his mistress if the
former she had probably transferred the photograph to his
keeping if the latter it was less likely on the issue of this
question depended whether i should continue my work at briony
lodge or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the
temple it was a delicate point and it widened the field of my
inquiry i fear that i bore you with these details but i have to
let you see my little difficulties if you are to understand the
situation  

 i am following you closely   i answered 

 i was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab
drove up to briony lodge and a gentleman sprang out he was a
remarkably handsome man dark aquiline and moustached evidently
the man of whom i had heard he appeared to be in a
great hurry shouted to the cabman to wait and brushed past the
maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly
at home 

 he was in the house about half an hour and i could catch
glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room pacing up and
down talking excitedly and waving his arms of her i could see
nothing presently he emerged looking even more flurried than
before as he stepped up to the cab he pulled a gold watch from
his pocket and looked at it earnestly 'drive like the devil ' he
shouted 'first to gross and hankey's in regent street and then to
the church of st monica in the edgeware road half a guinea if
you do it in twenty minutes '

 away they went and i was just wondering whether i should not do
well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau 
the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned and his tie under
his ear while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of
the buckles it hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall
door and into it i only caught a glimpse of her at the moment 
but she was a lovely woman with a face that a man might die for 

 'the church of st monica john ' she cried 'and half a
sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes '

 this was quite too good to lose watson i was just balancing
whether i should run for it or whether i should perch behind her
landau when a cab came through the street the driver looked
twice at such a shabby fare but i jumped in before he could
object 'the church of st monica ' said i 'and half a sovereign
if you reach it in twenty minutes ' it was twenty-five minutes to
twelve and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind 

 my cabby drove fast i don't think i ever drove faster but the
others were there before us the cab and the landau with their
steaming horses were in front of the door when i arrived i paid
the man and hurried into the church there was not a soul there
save the two whom i had followed and a surpliced clergyman who
seemed to be expostulating with them they were all three
standing in a knot in front of the altar i lounged up the side
aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church 
suddenly to my surprise the three at the altar faced round to
me and godfrey norton came running as hard as he could towards
me 

 'thank god ' he cried 'you'll do come come '

 'what then ' i asked 

 'come man come only three minutes or it won't be legal '

 i was half-dragged up to the altar and before i knew where i was
i found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear 
and vouching for things of which i knew nothing and generally
assisting in the secure tying up of irene adler spinster to
godfrey norton bachelor it was all done in an instant and
there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady
on the other while the clergyman beamed on me in front it was
the most preposterous position in which i ever found myself in my
life and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just
now it seems that there had been some informality about their
license that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them
without a witness of some sort and that my lucky appearance
saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in
search of a best man the bride gave me a sovereign and i mean
to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion  

 this is a very unexpected turn of affairs   said i  and what
then  

 well i found my plans very seriously menaced it looked as if
the pair might take an immediate departure and so necessitate
very prompt and energetic measures on my part at the church
door however they separated he driving back to the temple and
she to her own house 'i shall drive out in the park at five as
usual ' she said as she left him i heard no more they drove
away in different directions and i went off to make my own
arrangements  

 which are  

 some cold beef and a glass of beer   he answered ringing the
bell  i have been too busy to think of food and i am likely to
be busier still this evening by the way doctor i shall want
your co-operation  

 i shall be delighted  

 you don't mind breaking the law  

 not in the least  

 nor running a chance of arrest  

 not in a good cause  

 oh the cause is excellent  

 then i am your man  

 i was sure that i might rely on you  

 but what is it you wish  

 when mrs turner has brought in the tray i will make it clear to
you now   he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that
our landlady had provided  i must discuss it while i eat for i
have not much time it is nearly five now in two hours we must
be on the scene of action miss irene or madame rather returns
from her drive at seven we must be at briony lodge to meet her  

 and what then  

 you must leave that to me i have already arranged what is to
occur there is only one point on which i must insist you must
not interfere come what may you understand  

 i am to be neutral  

 to do nothing whatever there will probably be some small
unpleasantness do not join in it it will end in my being
conveyed into the house four or five minutes afterwards the
sitting-room window will open you are to station yourself close
to that open window  

 yes  

 you are to watch me for i will be visible to you  

 yes  

 and when i raise my hand so you will throw into the room what
i give you to throw and will at the same time raise the cry of
fire you quite follow me  

 entirely  

 it is nothing very formidable   he said taking a long cigar-shaped
roll from his pocket  it is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket 
fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting 
your task is confined to that when you raise your cry of fire 
it will be taken up by quite a number of people you may then
walk to the end of the street and i will rejoin you in ten
minutes i hope that i have made myself clear  

 i am to remain neutral to get near the window to watch you 
and at the signal to throw in this object then to raise the cry
of fire and to wait you at the corner of the street  

 precisely  

 then you may entirely rely on me  

 that is excellent i think perhaps it is almost time that i
prepare for the new role i have to play  

he disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in
the character of an amiable and simple-minded nonconformist
clergyman his broad black hat his baggy trousers his white
tie his sympathetic smile and general look of peering and
benevolent curiosity were such as mr john hare alone could have
equalled it was not merely that holmes changed his costume his
expression his manner his very soul seemed to vary with every
fresh part that he assumed the stage lost a fine actor even as
science lost an acute reasoner when he became a specialist in
crime 

it was a quarter past six when we left baker street and it still
wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in
serpentine avenue it was already dusk and the lamps were just
being lighted as we paced up and down in front of briony lodge 
waiting for the coming of its occupant the house was just such
as i had pictured it from sherlock holmes' succinct description 
but the locality appeared to be less private than i expected on
the contrary for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood it was
remarkably animated there was a group of shabbily dressed men
smoking and laughing in a corner a scissors-grinder with his
wheel two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl and
several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with
cigars in their mouths 

 you see   remarked holmes as we paced to and fro in front of
the house  this marriage rather simplifies matters the
photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now the chances are
that she would be as averse to its being seen by mr godfrey
norton as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his
princess now the question is where are we to find the
photograph  

 where indeed  

 it is most unlikely that she carries it about with her it is
cabinet size too large for easy concealment about a woman's
dress she knows that the king is capable of having her waylaid
and searched two attempts of the sort have already been made we
may take it then that she does not carry it about with her  

 where then  

 her banker or her lawyer there is that double possibility but
i am inclined to think neither women are naturally secretive 
and they like to do their own secreting why should she hand it
over to anyone else she could trust her own guardianship but
she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be
brought to bear upon a business man besides remember that she
had resolved to use it within a few days it must be where she
can lay her hands upon it it must be in her own house  

 but it has twice been burgled  

 pshaw they did not know how to look  

 but how will you look  

 i will not look  

 what then  

 i will get her to show me  

 but she will refuse  

 she will not be able to but i hear the rumble of wheels it is
her carriage now carry out my orders to the letter  

as he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round
the curve of the avenue it was a smart little landau which
rattled up to the door of briony lodge as it pulled up one of
the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in
the hope of earning a copper but was elbowed away by another
loafer who had rushed up with the same intention a fierce
quarrel broke out which was increased by the two guardsmen who
took sides with one of the loungers and by the scissors-grinder 
who was equally hot upon the other side a blow was struck and
in an instant the lady who had stepped from her carriage was
the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men who
struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks holmes
dashed into the crowd to protect the lady but just as he reached
her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground with the blood
running freely down his face at his fall the guardsmen took to
their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other while
a number of better-dressed people who had watched the scuffle
without taking part in it crowded in to help the lady and to
attend to the injured man irene adler as i will still call her 
had hurried up the steps but she stood at the top with her
superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall looking
back into the street 

 is the poor gentleman much hurt   she asked 

 he is dead   cried several voices 

 no no there's life in him   shouted another  but he'll be
gone before you can get him to hospital  

 he's a brave fellow   said a woman  they would have had the
lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him they were a
gang and a rough one too ah he's breathing now  

 he can't lie in the street may we bring him in marm  

 surely bring him into the sitting-room there is a comfortable
sofa this way please  

slowly and solemnly he was borne into briony lodge and laid out
in the principal room while i still observed the proceedings
from my post by the window the lamps had been lit but the
blinds had not been drawn so that i could see holmes as he lay
upon the couch i do not know whether he was seized with
compunction at that moment for the part he was playing but i
know that i never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life
than when i saw the beautiful creature against whom i was
conspiring or the grace and kindliness with which she waited
upon the injured man and yet it would be the blackest treachery
to holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted
to me i hardened my heart and took the smoke-rocket from under
my ulster after all i thought we are not injuring her we are
but preventing her from injuring another 

holmes had sat up upon the couch and i saw him motion like a man
who is in need of air a maid rushed across and threw open the
window at the same instant i saw him raise his hand and at the
signal i tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of  fire   the
word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of
spectators well dressed and ill gentlemen ostlers and
servant-maids joined in a general shriek of  fire   thick clouds
of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window i
caught a glimpse of rushing figures and a moment later the voice
of holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm 
slipping through the shouting crowd i made my way to the corner
of the street and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my
friend's arm in mine and to get away from the scene of uproar 
he walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we
had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the
edgeware road 

 you did it very nicely doctor   he remarked  nothing could
have been better it is all right  

 you have the photograph  

 i know where it is  

 and how did you find out  

 she showed me as i told you she would  

 i am still in the dark  

 i do not wish to make a mystery   said he laughing  the matter
was perfectly simple you of course saw that everyone in the
street was an accomplice they were all engaged for the evening  

 i guessed as much  

 then when the row broke out i had a little moist red paint in
the palm of my hand i rushed forward fell down clapped my hand
to my face and became a piteous spectacle it is an old trick  

 that also i could fathom  

 then they carried me in she was bound to have me in what else
could she do and into her sitting-room which was the very room
which i suspected it lay between that and her bedroom and i was
determined to see which they laid me on a couch i motioned for
air they were compelled to open the window and you had your
chance  

 how did that help you  

 it was all-important when a woman thinks that her house is on
fire her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she
values most it is a perfectly overpowering impulse and i have
more than once taken advantage of it in the case of the
darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me and also in
the arnsworth castle business a married woman grabs at her baby 
an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box now it was clear to
me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious
to her than what we are in quest of she would rush to secure it 
the alarm of fire was admirably done the smoke and shouting were
enough to shake nerves of steel she responded beautifully the
photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the
right bell-pull she was there in an instant and i caught a
glimpse of it as she half-drew it out when i cried out that it
was a false alarm she replaced it glanced at the rocket rushed
from the room and i have not seen her since i rose and making
my excuses escaped from the house i hesitated whether to
attempt to secure the photograph at once but the coachman had
come in and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to
wait a little over-precipitance may ruin all  

 and now   i asked 

 our quest is practically finished i shall call with the king
to-morrow and with you if you care to come with us we will be
shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady but it is
probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the
photograph it might be a satisfaction to his majesty to regain
it with his own hands  

 and when will you call  

 at eight in the morning she will not be up so that we shall
have a clear field besides we must be prompt for this marriage
may mean a complete change in her life and habits i must wire to
the king without delay  

we had reached baker street and had stopped at the door he was
searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said 

 good-night mister sherlock holmes  

there were several people on the pavement at the time but the
greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had
hurried by 

 i've heard that voice before   said holmes staring down the
dimly lit street  now i wonder who the deuce that could have
been  


iii 

i slept at baker street that night and we were engaged upon our
toast and coffee in the morning when the king of bohemia rushed
into the room 

 you have really got it   he cried grasping sherlock holmes by
either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face 

 not yet  

 but you have hopes  

 i have hopes  

 then come i am all impatience to be gone  

 we must have a cab  

 no my brougham is waiting  

 then that will simplify matters   we descended and started off
once more for briony lodge 

 irene adler is married   remarked holmes 

 married when  

 yesterday  

 but to whom  

 to an english lawyer named norton  

 but she could not love him  

 i am in hopes that she does  

 and why in hopes  

 because it would spare your majesty all fear of future
annoyance if the lady loves her husband she does not love your
majesty if she does not love your majesty there is no reason
why she should interfere with your majesty's plan  

 it is true and yet well i wish she had been of my own
station what a queen she would have made   he relapsed into a
moody silence which was not broken until we drew up in
serpentine avenue 

the door of briony lodge was open and an elderly woman stood
upon the steps she watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped
from the brougham 

 mr sherlock holmes i believe   said she 

 i am mr holmes   answered my companion looking at her with a
questioning and rather startled gaze 

 indeed my mistress told me that you were likely to call she
left this morning with her husband by the 5 15 train from charing
cross for the continent  

 what   sherlock holmes staggered back white with chagrin and
surprise  do you mean that she has left england  

 never to return  

 and the papers   asked the king hoarsely  all is lost  

 we shall see   he pushed past the servant and rushed into the
drawing-room followed by the king and myself the furniture was
scattered about in every direction with dismantled shelves and
open drawers as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before
her flight holmes rushed at the bell-pull tore back a small
sliding shutter and plunging in his hand pulled out a
photograph and a letter the photograph was of irene adler
herself in evening dress the letter was superscribed to
 sherlock holmes esq to be left till called for   my friend
tore it open and we all three read it together it was dated at
midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way 

 my dear mr sherlock holmes you really did it very well you
took me in completely until after the alarm of fire i had not a
suspicion but then when i found how i had betrayed myself i
began to think i had been warned against you months ago i had
been told that if the king employed an agent it would certainly
be you and your address had been given me yet with all this 
you made me reveal what you wanted to know even after i became
suspicious i found it hard to think evil of such a dear kind
old clergyman but you know i have been trained as an actress
myself male costume is nothing new to me i often take advantage
of the freedom which it gives i sent john the coachman to
watch you ran up stairs got into my walking-clothes as i call
them and came down just as you departed 

 well i followed you to your door and so made sure that i was
really an object of interest to the celebrated mr sherlock
holmes then i rather imprudently wished you good-night and
started for the temple to see my husband 

 we both thought the best resource was flight when pursued by
so formidable an antagonist so you will find the nest empty when
you call to-morrow as to the photograph your client may rest in
peace i love and am loved by a better man than he the king may
do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly
wronged i keep it only to safeguard myself and to preserve a
weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might
take in the future i leave a photograph which he might care to
possess and i remain dear mr sherlock holmes 

  very truly yours 
  irene norton nee adler  

 what a woman oh what a woman   cried the king of bohemia when
we had all three read this epistle  did i not tell you how quick
and resolute she was would she not have made an admirable queen 
is it not a pity that she was not on my level  

 from what i have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a
very different level to your majesty   said holmes coldly  i am
sorry that i have not been able to bring your majesty's business
to a more successful conclusion  

 on the contrary my dear sir   cried the king  nothing could be
more successful i know that her word is inviolate the
photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire  

 i am glad to hear your majesty say so  

 i am immensely indebted to you pray tell me in what way i can
reward you this ring   he slipped an emerald snake ring from
his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand 

 your majesty has something which i should value even more
highly   said holmes 

 you have but to name it  

 this photograph  

the king stared at him in amazement 

 irene's photograph   he cried  certainly if you wish it  

 i thank your majesty then there is no more to be done in the
matter i have the honour to wish you a very good-morning   he
bowed and turning away without observing the hand which the
king had stretched out to him he set off in my company for his
chambers 

and that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom
of bohemia and how the best plans of mr sherlock holmes were
beaten by a woman's wit he used to make merry over the
cleverness of women but i have not heard him do it of late and
when he speaks of irene adler or when he refers to her
photograph it is always under the honourable title of the woman 



adventure ii the red-headed league

i had called upon my friend mr sherlock holmes one day in the
autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a
very stout florid-faced elderly gentleman with fiery red hair 
with an apology for my intrusion i was about to withdraw when
holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door
behind me 

 you could not possibly have come at a better time my dear
watson   he said cordially 

 i was afraid that you were engaged  

 so i am very much so  

 then i can wait in the next room  

 not at all this gentleman mr wilson has been my partner and
helper in many of my most successful cases and i have no
doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also  

the stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of
greeting with a quick little questioning glance from his small
fat-encircled eyes 

 try the settee   said holmes relapsing into his armchair and
putting his fingertips together as was his custom when in
judicial moods  i know my dear watson that you share my love
of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum
routine of everyday life you have shown your relish for it by
the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle and if you
will excuse my saying so somewhat to embellish so many of my own
little adventures  

 your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me   i
observed 

 you will remember that i remarked the other day just before we
went into the very simple problem presented by miss mary
sutherland that for strange effects and extraordinary
combinations we must go to life itself which is always far more
daring than any effort of the imagination  

 a proposition which i took the liberty of doubting  

 you did doctor but none the less you must come round to my
view for otherwise i shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you
until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to
be right now mr jabez wilson here has been good enough to call
upon me this morning and to begin a narrative which promises to
be one of the most singular which i have listened to for some
time you have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique
things are very often connected not with the larger but with the
smaller crimes and occasionally indeed where there is room for
doubt whether any positive crime has been committed as far as i
have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present
case is an instance of crime or not but the course of events is
certainly among the most singular that i have ever listened to 
perhaps mr wilson you would have the great kindness to
recommence your narrative i ask you not merely because my friend
dr watson has not heard the opening part but also because the
peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every
possible detail from your lips as a rule when i have heard some
slight indication of the course of events i am able to guide
myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my
memory in the present instance i am forced to admit that the
facts are to the best of my belief unique  

the portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some
little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the
inside pocket of his greatcoat as he glanced down the
advertisement column with his head thrust forward and the paper
flattened out upon his knee i took a good look at the man and
endeavoured after the fashion of my companion to read the
indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance 

i did not gain very much however by my inspection our visitor
bore every mark of being an average commonplace british
tradesman obese pompous and slow he wore rather baggy grey
shepherd's check trousers a not over-clean black frock-coat 
unbuttoned in the front and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy
albert chain and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as
an ornament a frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a
wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him altogether 
look as i would there was nothing remarkable about the man save
his blazing red head and the expression of extreme chagrin and
discontent upon his features 

sherlock holmes' quick eye took in my occupation and he shook
his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances 
 beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual
labour that he takes snuff that he is a freemason that he has
been in china and that he has done a considerable amount of
writing lately i can deduce nothing else  

mr jabez wilson started up in his chair with his forefinger
upon the paper but his eyes upon my companion 

 how in the name of good-fortune did you know all that mr 
holmes   he asked  how did you know for example that i did
manual labour it's as true as gospel for i began as a ship's
carpenter  

 your hands my dear sir your right hand is quite a size larger
than your left you have worked with it and the muscles are more
developed  

 well the snuff then and the freemasonry  

 i won't insult your intelligence by telling you how i read that 
especially as rather against the strict rules of your order you
use an arc-and-compass breastpin  

 ah of course i forgot that but the writing  

 what else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for
five inches and the left one with the smooth patch near the
elbow where you rest it upon the desk  

 well but china  

 the fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right
wrist could only have been done in china i have made a small
study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature
of the subject that trick of staining the fishes' scales of a
delicate pink is quite peculiar to china when in addition i
see a chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain the matter
becomes even more simple  

mr jabez wilson laughed heavily  well i never   said he  i
thought at first that you had done something clever but i see
that there was nothing in it after all  

 i begin to think watson   said holmes  that i make a mistake
in explaining 'omne ignotum pro magnifico ' you know and my
poor little reputation such as it is will suffer shipwreck if i
am so candid can you not find the advertisement mr wilson  

 yes i have got it now   he answered with his thick red finger
planted halfway down the column  here it is this is what began
it all you just read it for yourself sir  

i took the paper from him and read as follows 

 to the red-headed league on account of the bequest of the late
ezekiah hopkins of lebanon pennsylvania u s a there is now
another vacancy open which entitles a member of the league to a
salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services all
red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age
of twenty-one years are eligible apply in person on monday at
eleven o'clock to duncan ross at the offices of the league 7
pope's court fleet street  

 what on earth does this mean   i ejaculated after i had twice
read over the extraordinary announcement 

holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair as was his habit when
in high spirits  it is a little off the beaten track isn't it  
said he  and now mr wilson off you go at scratch and tell us
all about yourself your household and the effect which this
advertisement had upon your fortunes you will first make a note 
doctor of the paper and the date  

 it is the morning chronicle of april 27 1890 just two months
ago  

 very good now mr wilson  

 well it is just as i have been telling you mr sherlock
holmes   said jabez wilson mopping his forehead  i have a small
pawnbroker's business at coburg square near the city it's not a
very large affair and of late years it has not done more than
just give me a living i used to be able to keep two assistants 
but now i only keep one and i would have a job to pay him but
that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the
business  

 what is the name of this obliging youth   asked sherlock holmes 

 his name is vincent spaulding and he's not such a youth 
either it's hard to say his age i should not wish a smarter
assistant mr holmes and i know very well that he could better
himself and earn twice what i am able to give him but after
all if he is satisfied why should i put ideas in his head  

 why indeed you seem most fortunate in having an employe who
comes under the full market price it is not a common experience
among employers in this age i don't know that your assistant is
not as remarkable as your advertisement  

 oh he has his faults too   said mr wilson  never was such a
fellow for photography snapping away with a camera when he ought
to be improving his mind and then diving down into the cellar
like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures that is his
main fault but on the whole he's a good worker there's no vice
in him  

 he is still with you i presume  

 yes sir he and a girl of fourteen who does a bit of simple
cooking and keeps the place clean that's all i have in the
house for i am a widower and never had any family we live very
quietly sir the three of us and we keep a roof over our heads
and pay our debts if we do nothing more 

 the first thing that put us out was that advertisement 
spaulding he came down into the office just this day eight
weeks with this very paper in his hand and he says 

 'i wish to the lord mr wilson that i was a red-headed man '

 'why that ' i asks 

 'why ' says he 'here's another vacancy on the league of the
red-headed men it's worth quite a little fortune to any man who
gets it and i understand that there are more vacancies than
there are men so that the trustees are at their wits' end what
to do with the money if my hair would only change colour here's
a nice little crib all ready for me to step into '

 'why what is it then ' i asked you see mr holmes i am a
very stay-at-home man and as my business came to me instead of
my having to go to it i was often weeks on end without putting
my foot over the door-mat in that way i didn't know much of what
was going on outside and i was always glad of a bit of news 

 'have you never heard of the league of the red-headed men ' he
asked with his eyes open 

 'never '

 'why i wonder at that for you are eligible yourself for one
of the vacancies '

 'and what are they worth ' i asked 

 'oh merely a couple of hundred a year but the work is slight 
and it need not interfere very much with one's other
occupations '

 well you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears 
for the business has not been over-good for some years and an
extra couple of hundred would have been very handy 

 'tell me all about it ' said i 

 'well ' said he showing me the advertisement 'you can see for
yourself that the league has a vacancy and there is the address
where you should apply for particulars as far as i can make out 
the league was founded by an american millionaire ezekiah
hopkins who was very peculiar in his ways he was himself
red-headed and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men 
so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous
fortune in the hands of trustees with instructions to apply the
interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of
that colour from all i hear it is splendid pay and very little to
do '

 'but ' said i 'there would be millions of red-headed men who
would apply '

 'not so many as you might think ' he answered 'you see it is
really confined to londoners and to grown men this american had
started from london when he was young and he wanted to do the
old town a good turn then again i have heard it is no use your
applying if your hair is light red or dark red or anything but
real bright blazing fiery red now if you cared to apply mr 
wilson you would just walk in but perhaps it would hardly be
worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a
few hundred pounds '

 now it is a fact gentlemen as you may see for yourselves 
that my hair is of a very full and rich tint so that it seemed
to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter i
stood as good a chance as any man that i had ever met vincent
spaulding seemed to know so much about it that i thought he might
prove useful so i just ordered him to put up the shutters for
the day and to come right away with me he was very willing to
have a holiday so we shut the business up and started off for
the address that was given us in the advertisement 

 i never hope to see such a sight as that again mr holmes from
north south east and west every man who had a shade of red in
his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement 
fleet street was choked with red-headed folk and pope's court
looked like a coster's orange barrow i should not have thought
there were so many in the whole country as were brought together
by that single advertisement every shade of colour they
were straw lemon orange brick irish-setter liver clay 
but as spaulding said there were not many who had the real
vivid flame-coloured tint when i saw how many were waiting i
would have given it up in despair but spaulding would not hear
of it how he did it i could not imagine but he pushed and
pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd and right up
to the steps which led to the office there was a double stream
upon the stair some going up in hope and some coming back
dejected but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found
ourselves in the office  

 your experience has been a most entertaining one   remarked
holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge
pinch of snuff  pray continue your very interesting statement  

 there was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs
and a deal table behind which sat a small man with a head that
was even redder than mine he said a few words to each candidate
as he came up and then he always managed to find some fault in
them which would disqualify them getting a vacancy did not seem
to be such a very easy matter after all however when our turn
came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of
the others and he closed the door as we entered so that he
might have a private word with us 

 'this is mr jabez wilson ' said my assistant 'and he is
willing to fill a vacancy in the league '

 'and he is admirably suited for it ' the other answered 'he has
every requirement i cannot recall when i have seen anything so
fine ' he took a step backward cocked his head on one side and
gazed at my hair until i felt quite bashful then suddenly he
plunged forward wrung my hand and congratulated me warmly on my
success 

 'it would be injustice to hesitate ' said he 'you will 
however i am sure excuse me for taking an obvious precaution '
with that he seized my hair in both his hands and tugged until i
yelled with the pain 'there is water in your eyes ' said he as
he released me 'i perceive that all is as it should be but we
have to be careful for we have twice been deceived by wigs and
once by paint i could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which
would disgust you with human nature ' he stepped over to the
window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the
vacancy was filled a groan of disappointment came up from below 
and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there
was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the
manager 

 'my name ' said he 'is mr duncan ross and i am myself one of
the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor are
you a married man mr wilson have you a family '

 i answered that i had not 

 his face fell immediately 

 'dear me ' he said gravely 'that is very serious indeed i am
sorry to hear you say that the fund was of course for the
propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their
maintenance it is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a
bachelor '

 my face lengthened at this mr holmes for i thought that i was
not to have the vacancy after all but after thinking it over for
a few minutes he said that it would be all right 

 'in the case of another ' said he 'the objection might be
fatal but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a
head of hair as yours when shall you be able to enter upon your
new duties '

 'well it is a little awkward for i have a business already '
said i 

 'oh never mind about that mr wilson ' said vincent spaulding 
'i should be able to look after that for you '

 'what would be the hours ' i asked 

 'ten to two '

 now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening mr 
holmes especially thursday and friday evening which is just
before pay-day so it would suit me very well to earn a little in
the mornings besides i knew that my assistant was a good man 
and that he would see to anything that turned up 

 'that would suit me very well ' said i 'and the pay '

 'is 4 pounds a week '

 'and the work '

 'is purely nominal '

 'what do you call purely nominal '

 'well you have to be in the office or at least in the
building the whole time if you leave you forfeit your whole
position forever the will is very clear upon that point you
don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office
during that time '

 'it's only four hours a day and i should not think of leaving '
said i 

 'no excuse will avail ' said mr duncan ross 'neither sickness
nor business nor anything else there you must stay or you lose
your billet '

 'and the work '

 'is to copy out the  encyclopaedia britannica   there is the first
volume of it in that press you must find your own ink pens and
blotting-paper but we provide this table and chair will you be
ready to-morrow '

 'certainly ' i answered 

 'then good-bye mr jabez wilson and let me congratulate you
once more on the important position which you have been fortunate
enough to gain ' he bowed me out of the room and i went home with
my assistant hardly knowing what to say or do i was so pleased
at my own good fortune 

 well i thought over the matter all day and by evening i was in
low spirits again for i had quite persuaded myself that the
whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud though what its
object might be i could not imagine it seemed altogether past
belief that anyone could make such a will or that they would pay
such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the
'encyclopaedia britannica ' vincent spaulding did what he could to
cheer me up but by bedtime i had reasoned myself out of the
whole thing however in the morning i determined to have a look
at it anyhow so i bought a penny bottle of ink and with a
quill-pen and seven sheets of foolscap paper i started off for
pope's court 

 well to my surprise and delight everything was as right as
possible the table was set out ready for me and mr duncan ross
was there to see that i got fairly to work he started me off
upon the letter a and then he left me but he would drop in from
time to time to see that all was right with me at two o'clock he
bade me good-day complimented me upon the amount that i had
written and locked the door of the office after me 

 this went on day after day mr holmes and on saturday the
manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my
week's work it was the same next week and the same the week
after every morning i was there at ten and every afternoon i
left at two by degrees mr duncan ross took to coming in only
once of a morning and then after a time he did not come in at
all still of course i never dared to leave the room for an
instant for i was not sure when he might come and the billet
was such a good one and suited me so well that i would not risk
the loss of it 

 eight weeks passed away like this and i had written about
abbots and archery and armour and architecture and attica and
hoped with diligence that i might get on to the b's before very
long it cost me something in foolscap and i had pretty nearly
filled a shelf with my writings and then suddenly the whole
business came to an end  

 to an end  

 yes sir and no later than this morning i went to my work as
usual at ten o'clock but the door was shut and locked with a
little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the
panel with a tack here it is and you can read for yourself  

he held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet
of note-paper it read in this fashion 

 the red-headed league

 is

 dissolved 

 october 9 1890 

sherlock holmes and i surveyed this curt announcement and the
rueful face behind it until the comical side of the affair so
completely overtopped every other consideration that we both
burst out into a roar of laughter 

 i cannot see that there is anything very funny   cried our
client flushing up to the roots of his flaming head  if you can
do nothing better than laugh at me i can go elsewhere  

 no no   cried holmes shoving him back into the chair from
which he had half risen  i really wouldn't miss your case for
the world it is most refreshingly unusual but there is if you
will excuse my saying so something just a little funny about it 
pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the
door  

 i was staggered sir i did not know what to do then i called
at the offices round but none of them seemed to know anything
about it finally i went to the landlord who is an accountant
living on the ground-floor and i asked him if he could tell me
what had become of the red-headed league he said that he had
never heard of any such body then i asked him who mr duncan
ross was he answered that the name was new to him 

 'well ' said i 'the gentleman at no 4 '

 'what the red-headed man '

 'yes '

 'oh ' said he 'his name was william morris he was a solicitor
and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new
premises were ready he moved out yesterday '

 'where could i find him '

 'oh at his new offices he did tell me the address yes 17
king edward street near st paul's '

 i started off mr holmes but when i got to that address it was
a manufactory of artificial knee-caps and no one in it had ever
heard of either mr william morris or mr duncan ross  

 and what did you do then   asked holmes 

 i went home to saxe-coburg square and i took the advice of my
assistant but he could not help me in any way he could only say
that if i waited i should hear by post but that was not quite
good enough mr holmes i did not wish to lose such a place
without a struggle so as i had heard that you were good enough
to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it i came right
away to you  

 and you did very wisely   said holmes  your case is an
exceedingly remarkable one and i shall be happy to look into it 
from what you have told me i think that it is possible that
graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear  

 grave enough   said mr jabez wilson  why i have lost four
pound a week  

 as far as you are personally concerned   remarked holmes  i do
not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary
league on the contrary you are as i understand richer by some
30 pounds to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have
gained on every subject which comes under the letter a you have
lost nothing by them  

 no sir but i want to find out about them and who they are 
and what their object was in playing this prank if it was a
prank upon me it was a pretty expensive joke for them for it
cost them two and thirty pounds  

 we shall endeavour to clear up these points for you and first 
one or two questions mr wilson this assistant of yours who
first called your attention to the advertisement how long had he
been with you  

 about a month then  

 how did he come  

 in answer to an advertisement  

 was he the only applicant  

 no i had a dozen  

 why did you pick him  

 because he was handy and would come cheap  

 at half-wages in fact  

 yes  

 what is he like this vincent spaulding  

 small stout-built very quick in his ways no hair on his face 
though he's not short of thirty has a white splash of acid upon
his forehead  

holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement  i thought
as much   said he  have you ever observed that his ears are
pierced for earrings  

 yes sir he told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he
was a lad  

 hum   said holmes sinking back in deep thought  he is still
with you  

 oh yes sir i have only just left him  

 and has your business been attended to in your absence  

 nothing to complain of sir there's never very much to do of a
morning  

 that will do mr wilson i shall be happy to give you an
opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two to-day is
saturday and i hope that by monday we may come to a conclusion  

 well watson   said holmes when our visitor had left us  what
do you make of it all  

 i make nothing of it   i answered frankly  it is a most
mysterious business  

 as a rule   said holmes  the more bizarre a thing is the less
mysterious it proves to be it is your commonplace featureless
crimes which are really puzzling just as a commonplace face is
the most difficult to identify but i must be prompt over this
matter  

 what are you going to do then   i asked 

 to smoke   he answered  it is quite a three pipe problem and i
beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes   he curled
himself up in his chair with his thin knees drawn up to his
hawk-like nose and there he sat with his eyes closed and his
black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird 
i had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep and
indeed was nodding myself when he suddenly sprang out of his
chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put
his pipe down upon the mantelpiece 

 sarasate plays at the st james's hall this afternoon   he
remarked  what do you think watson could your patients spare
you for a few hours  

 i have nothing to do to-day my practice is never very
absorbing  

 then put on your hat and come i am going through the city
first and we can have some lunch on the way i observe that
there is a good deal of german music on the programme which is
rather more to my taste than italian or french it is
introspective and i want to introspect come along  

we travelled by the underground as far as aldersgate and a short
walk took us to saxe-coburg square the scene of the singular
story which we had listened to in the morning it was a poky 
little shabby-genteel place where four lines of dingy
two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in
enclosure where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded
laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and
uncongenial atmosphere three gilt balls and a brown board with
 jabez wilson  in white letters upon a corner house announced
the place where our red-headed client carried on his business 
sherlock holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side
and looked it all over with his eyes shining brightly between
puckered lids then he walked slowly up the street and then down
again to the corner still looking keenly at the houses finally
he returned to the pawnbroker's and having thumped vigorously
upon the pavement with his stick two or three times he went up
to the door and knocked it was instantly opened by a
bright-looking clean-shaven young fellow who asked him to step
in 

 thank you   said holmes  i only wished to ask you how you would
go from here to the strand  

 third right fourth left   answered the assistant promptly 
closing the door 

 smart fellow that   observed holmes as we walked away  he is 
in my judgment the fourth smartest man in london and for daring
i am not sure that he has not a claim to be third i have known
something of him before  

 evidently   said i  mr wilson's assistant counts for a good
deal in this mystery of the red-headed league i am sure that you
inquired your way merely in order that you might see him  

 not him  

 what then  

 the knees of his trousers  

 and what did you see  

 what i expected to see  

 why did you beat the pavement  

 my dear doctor this is a time for observation not for talk we
are spies in an enemy's country we know something of saxe-coburg
square let us now explore the parts which lie behind it  

the road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the
corner from the retired saxe-coburg square presented as great a
contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back it was
one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the city
to the north and west the roadway was blocked with the immense
stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward 
while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of
pedestrians it was difficult to realise as we looked at the line
of fine shops and stately business premises that they really
abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square
which we had just quitted 

 let me see   said holmes standing at the corner and glancing
along the line  i should like just to remember the order of the
houses here it is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of
london there is mortimer's the tobacconist the little
newspaper shop the coburg branch of the city and suburban bank 
the vegetarian restaurant and mcfarlane's carriage-building
depot that carries us right on to the other block and now 
doctor we've done our work so it's time we had some play a
sandwich and a cup of coffee and then off to violin-land where
all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony and there are no
red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums  

my friend was an enthusiastic musician being himself not only a
very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit all
the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect
happiness gently waving his long thin fingers in time to the
music while his gently smiling face and his languid dreamy eyes
were as unlike those of holmes the sleuth-hound holmes the
relentless keen-witted ready-handed criminal agent as it was
possible to conceive in his singular character the dual nature
alternately asserted itself and his extreme exactness and
astuteness represented as i have often thought the reaction
against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally
predominated in him the swing of his nature took him from
extreme languor to devouring energy and as i knew well he was
never so truly formidable as when for days on end he had been
lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his
black-letter editions then it was that the lust of the chase
would suddenly come upon him and that his brilliant reasoning
power would rise to the level of intuition until those who were
unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a
man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals when i saw him
that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at st james's hall i
felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set
himself to hunt down 

 you want to go home no doubt doctor   he remarked as we
emerged 

 yes it would be as well  

 and i have some business to do which will take some hours this
business at coburg square is serious  

 why serious  

 a considerable crime is in contemplation i have every reason to
believe that we shall be in time to stop it but to-day being
saturday rather complicates matters i shall want your help
to-night  

 at what time  

 ten will be early enough  

 i shall be at baker street at ten  

 very well and i say doctor there may be some little danger 
so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket   he waved his
hand turned on his heel and disappeared in an instant among the
crowd 

i trust that i am not more dense than my neighbours but i was
always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings
with sherlock holmes here i had heard what he had heard i had
seen what he had seen and yet from his words it was evident that
he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to
happen while to me the whole business was still confused and
grotesque as i drove home to my house in kensington i thought
over it all from the extraordinary story of the red-headed
copier of the  encyclopaedia  down to the visit to saxe-coburg
square and the ominous words with which he had parted from me 
what was this nocturnal expedition and why should i go armed 
where were we going and what were we to do i had the hint from
holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a
formidable man a man who might play a deep game i tried to
puzzle it out but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside
until night should bring an explanation 

it was a quarter-past nine when i started from home and made my
way across the park and so through oxford street to baker
street two hansoms were standing at the door and as i entered
the passage i heard the sound of voices from above on entering
his room i found holmes in animated conversation with two men 
one of whom i recognised as peter jones the official police
agent while the other was a long thin sad-faced man with a
very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat 

 ha our party is complete   said holmes buttoning up his
pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack 
 watson i think you know mr jones of scotland yard let me
introduce you to mr merryweather who is to be our companion in
to-night's adventure  

 we're hunting in couples again doctor you see   said jones in
his consequential way  our friend here is a wonderful man for
starting a chase all he wants is an old dog to help him to do
the running down  

 i hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase  
observed mr merryweather gloomily 

 you may place considerable confidence in mr holmes sir   said
the police agent loftily  he has his own little methods which
are if he won't mind my saying so just a little too theoretical
and fantastic but he has the makings of a detective in him it
is not too much to say that once or twice as in that business of
the sholto murder and the agra treasure he has been more nearly
correct than the official force  

 oh if you say so mr jones it is all right   said the
stranger with deference  still i confess that i miss my rubber 
it is the first saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that i
have not had my rubber  

 i think you will find   said sherlock holmes  that you will
play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet and
that the play will be more exciting for you mr merryweather 
the stake will be some 30 000 pounds and for you jones it will
be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands  

 john clay the murderer thief smasher and forger he's a
young man mr merryweather but he is at the head of his
profession and i would rather have my bracelets on him than on
any criminal in london he's a remarkable man is young john
clay his grandfather was a royal duke and he himself has been
to eton and oxford his brain is as cunning as his fingers and
though we meet signs of him at every turn we never know where to
find the man himself he'll crack a crib in scotland one week 
and be raising money to build an orphanage in cornwall the next 
i've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him
yet  

 i hope that i may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night 
i've had one or two little turns also with mr john clay and i
agree with you that he is at the head of his profession it is
past ten however and quite time that we started if you two
will take the first hansom watson and i will follow in the
second  

sherlock holmes was not very communicative during the long drive
and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in
the afternoon we rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit
streets until we emerged into farrington street 

 we are close there now   my friend remarked  this fellow
merryweather is a bank director and personally interested in the
matter i thought it as well to have jones with us also he is
not a bad fellow though an absolute imbecile in his profession 
he has one positive virtue he is as brave as a bulldog and as
tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone here we
are and they are waiting for us  

we had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had
found ourselves in the morning our cabs were dismissed and 
following the guidance of mr merryweather we passed down a
narrow passage and through a side door which he opened for us 
within there was a small corridor which ended in a very massive
iron gate this also was opened and led down a flight of winding
stone steps which terminated at another formidable gate mr 
merryweather stopped to light a lantern and then conducted us
down a dark earth-smelling passage and so after opening a
third door into a huge vault or cellar which was piled all
round with crates and massive boxes 

 you are not very vulnerable from above   holmes remarked as he
held up the lantern and gazed about him 

 nor from below   said mr merryweather striking his stick upon
the flags which lined the floor  why dear me it sounds quite
hollow   he remarked looking up in surprise 

 i must really ask you to be a little more quiet   said holmes
severely  you have already imperilled the whole success of our
expedition might i beg that you would have the goodness to sit
down upon one of those boxes and not to interfere  

the solemn mr merryweather perched himself upon a crate with a
very injured expression upon his face while holmes fell upon his
knees upon the floor and with the lantern and a magnifying lens 
began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones a few
seconds sufficed to satisfy him for he sprang to his feet again
and put his glass in his pocket 

 we have at least an hour before us   he remarked  for they can
hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed 
then they will not lose a minute for the sooner they do their
work the longer time they will have for their escape we are at
present doctor as no doubt you have divined in the cellar of
the city branch of one of the principal london banks mr 
merryweather is the chairman of directors and he will explain to
you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of
london should take a considerable interest in this cellar at
present  

 it is our french gold   whispered the director  we have had
several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it  

 your french gold  

 yes we had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources
and borrowed for that purpose 30 000 napoleons from the bank of
france it has become known that we have never had occasion to
unpack the money and that it is still lying in our cellar the
crate upon which i sit contains 2 000 napoleons packed between
layers of lead foil our reserve of bullion is much larger at
present than is usually kept in a single branch office and the
directors have had misgivings upon the subject  

 which were very well justified   observed holmes  and now it is
time that we arranged our little plans i expect that within an
hour matters will come to a head in the meantime mr 
merryweather we must put the screen over that dark lantern  

 and sit in the dark  

 i am afraid so i had brought a pack of cards in my pocket and
i thought that as we were a partie carree you might have your
rubber after all but i see that the enemy's preparations have
gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light and 
first of all we must choose our positions these are daring men 
and though we shall take them at a disadvantage they may do us
some harm unless we are careful i shall stand behind this crate 
and do you conceal yourselves behind those then when i flash a
light upon them close in swiftly if they fire watson have no
compunction about shooting them down  

i placed my revolver cocked upon the top of the wooden case
behind which i crouched holmes shot the slide across the front
of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness such an absolute
darkness as i have never before experienced the smell of hot
metal remained to assure us that the light was still there ready
to flash out at a moment's notice to me with my nerves worked
up to a pitch of expectancy there was something depressing and
subduing in the sudden gloom and in the cold dank air of the
vault 

 they have but one retreat   whispered holmes  that is back
through the house into saxe-coburg square i hope that you have
done what i asked you jones  

 i have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door  

 then we have stopped all the holes and now we must be silent
and wait  

what a time it seemed from comparing notes afterwards it was but
an hour and a quarter yet it appeared to me that the night must
have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us my limbs
were weary and stiff for i feared to change my position yet my
nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension and my
hearing was so acute that i could not only hear the gentle
breathing of my companions but i could distinguish the deeper 
heavier in-breath of the bulky jones from the thin sighing note
of the bank director from my position i could look over the case
in the direction of the floor suddenly my eyes caught the glint
of a light 

at first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement then
it lengthened out until it became a yellow line and then 
without any warning or sound a gash seemed to open and a hand
appeared a white almost womanly hand which felt about in the
centre of the little area of light for a minute or more the
hand with its writhing fingers protruded out of the floor then
it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared and all was dark
again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between
the stones 

its disappearance however was but momentary with a rending 
tearing sound one of the broad white stones turned over upon
its side and left a square gaping hole through which streamed
the light of a lantern over the edge there peeped a clean-cut 
boyish face which looked keenly about it and then with a hand
on either side of the aperture drew itself shoulder-high and
waist-high until one knee rested upon the edge in another
instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after
him a companion lithe and small like himself with a pale face
and a shock of very red hair 

 it's all clear   he whispered  have you the chisel and the
bags great scott jump archie jump and i'll swing for it  

sherlock holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the
collar the other dived down the hole and i heard the sound of
rending cloth as jones clutched at his skirts the light flashed
upon the barrel of a revolver but holmes' hunting crop came
down on the man's wrist and the pistol clinked upon the stone
floor 

 it's no use john clay   said holmes blandly  you have no
chance at all  

 so i see   the other answered with the utmost coolness  i fancy
that my pal is all right though i see you have got his
coat-tails  

 there are three men waiting for him at the door   said holmes 

 oh indeed you seem to have done the thing very completely i
must compliment you  

 and i you   holmes answered  your red-headed idea was very new
and effective  

 you'll see your pal again presently   said jones  he's quicker
at climbing down holes than i am just hold out while i fix the
derbies  

 i beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands  
remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists 
 you may not be aware that i have royal blood in my veins have
the goodness also when you address me always to say 'sir' and
'please ' 

 all right   said jones with a stare and a snigger  well would
you please sir march upstairs where we can get a cab to carry
your highness to the police-station  

 that is better   said john clay serenely he made a sweeping bow
to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the
detective 

 really mr holmes   said mr merryweather as we followed them
from the cellar  i do not know how the bank can thank you or
repay you there is no doubt that you have detected and defeated
in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts
at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience  

 i have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with mr 
john clay   said holmes  i have been at some small expense over
this matter which i shall expect the bank to refund but beyond
that i am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in
many ways unique and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of
the red-headed league  


 you see watson   he explained in the early hours of the morning
as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in baker street  it
was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible
object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of
the league and the copying of the 'encyclopaedia ' must be to get
this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of
hours every day it was a curious way of managing it but 
really it would be difficult to suggest a better the method was
no doubt suggested to clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his
accomplice's hair the 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw
him and what was it to them who were playing for thousands 
they put in the advertisement one rogue has the temporary
office the other rogue incites the man to apply for it and
together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the
week from the time that i heard of the assistant having come for
half wages it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive
for securing the situation  

 but how could you guess what the motive was  

 had there been women in the house i should have suspected a
mere vulgar intrigue that however was out of the question the
man's business was a small one and there was nothing in his
house which could account for such elaborate preparations and
such an expenditure as they were at it must then be something
out of the house what could it be i thought of the assistant's
fondness for photography and his trick of vanishing into the
cellar the cellar there was the end of this tangled clue then
i made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that i
had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in
london he was doing something in the cellar something which
took many hours a day for months on end what could it be once
more i could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel
to some other building 

 so far i had got when we went to visit the scene of action i
surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick i was
ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind 
it was not in front then i rang the bell and as i hoped the
assistant answered it we have had some skirmishes but we had
never set eyes upon each other before i hardly looked at his
face his knees were what i wished to see you must yourself have
remarked how worn wrinkled and stained they were they spoke of
those hours of burrowing the only remaining point was what they
were burrowing for i walked round the corner saw the city and
suburban bank abutted on our friend's premises and felt that i
had solved my problem when you drove home after the concert i
called upon scotland yard and upon the chairman of the bank
directors with the result that you have seen  

 and how could you tell that they would make their attempt
to-night   i asked 

 well when they closed their league offices that was a sign that
they cared no longer about mr jabez wilson's presence in other
words that they had completed their tunnel but it was essential
that they should use it soon as it might be discovered or the
bullion might be removed saturday would suit them better than
any other day as it would give them two days for their escape 
for all these reasons i expected them to come to-night  

 you reasoned it out beautifully   i exclaimed in unfeigned
admiration  it is so long a chain and yet every link rings
true  

 it saved me from ennui   he answered yawning  alas i already
feel it closing in upon me my life is spent in one long effort
to escape from the commonplaces of existence these little
problems help me to do so  

 and you are a benefactor of the race   said i 

he shrugged his shoulders  well perhaps after all it is of
some little use   he remarked  'l'homme c'est rien l'oeuvre
c'est tout ' as gustave flaubert wrote to george sand  



adventure iii a case of identity

 my dear fellow   said sherlock holmes as we sat on either side
of the fire in his lodgings at baker street  life is infinitely
stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent we
would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere
commonplaces of existence if we could fly out of that window
hand in hand hover over this great city gently remove the
roofs and peep in at the queer things which are going on the
strange coincidences the plannings the cross-purposes the
wonderful chains of events working through generations and
leading to the most outre results it would make all fiction with
its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and
unprofitable  

 and yet i am not convinced of it   i answered  the cases which
come to light in the papers are as a rule bald enough and
vulgar enough we have in our police reports realism pushed to
its extreme limits and yet the result is it must be confessed 
neither fascinating nor artistic  

 a certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a
realistic effect   remarked holmes  this is wanting in the
police report where more stress is laid perhaps upon the
platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details which to an
observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter depend
upon it there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace  

i smiled and shook my head  i can quite understand your thinking
so   i said  of course in your position of unofficial adviser
and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled throughout
three continents you are brought in contact with all that is
strange and bizarre but here  i picked up the morning paper
from the ground  let us put it to a practical test here is the
first heading upon which i come 'a husband's cruelty to his
wife ' there is half a column of print but i know without
reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me there is of
course the other woman the drink the push the blow the
bruise the sympathetic sister or landlady the crudest of
writers could invent nothing more crude  

 indeed your example is an unfortunate one for your argument  
said holmes taking the paper and glancing his eye down it  this
is the dundas separation case and as it happens i was engaged
in clearing up some small points in connection with it the
husband was a teetotaler there was no other woman and the
conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of
winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling
them at his wife which you will allow is not an action likely
to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller take a
pinch of snuff doctor and acknowledge that i have scored over
you in your example  

he held out his snuffbox of old gold with a great amethyst in
the centre of the lid its splendour was in such contrast to his
homely ways and simple life that i could not help commenting upon
it 

 ah   said he  i forgot that i had not seen you for some weeks 
it is a little souvenir from the king of bohemia in return for my
assistance in the case of the irene adler papers  

 and the ring   i asked glancing at a remarkable brilliant which
sparkled upon his finger 

 it was from the reigning family of holland though the matter in
which i served them was of such delicacy that i cannot confide it
even to you who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of
my little problems  

 and have you any on hand just now   i asked with interest 

 some ten or twelve but none which present any feature of
interest they are important you understand without being
interesting indeed i have found that it is usually in
unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation 
and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the
charm to an investigation the larger crimes are apt to be the
simpler for the bigger the crime the more obvious as a rule is
the motive in these cases save for one rather intricate matter
which has been referred to me from marseilles there is nothing
which presents any features of interest it is possible however 
that i may have something better before very many minutes are
over for this is one of my clients or i am much mistaken  

he had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted
blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted london street 
looking over his shoulder i saw that on the pavement opposite
there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck 
and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was
tilted in a coquettish duchess of devonshire fashion over her
ear from under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous 
hesitating fashion at our windows while her body oscillated
backward and forward and her fingers fidgeted with her glove
buttons suddenly with a plunge as of the swimmer who leaves
the bank she hurried across the road and we heard the sharp
clang of the bell 

 i have seen those symptoms before   said holmes throwing his
cigarette into the fire  oscillation upon the pavement always
means an affaire de coeur she would like advice but is not sure
that the matter is not too delicate for communication and yet
even here we may discriminate when a woman has been seriously
wronged by a man she no longer oscillates and the usual symptom
is a broken bell wire here we may take it that there is a love
matter but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed or
grieved but here she comes in person to resolve our doubts  

as he spoke there was a tap at the door and the boy in buttons
entered to announce miss mary sutherland while the lady herself
loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed
merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat sherlock holmes welcomed
her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable and 
having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair he looked
her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was
peculiar to him 

 do you not find   he said  that with your short sight it is a
little trying to do so much typewriting  

 i did at first   she answered  but now i know where the letters
are without looking   then suddenly realising the full purport
of his words she gave a violent start and looked up with fear
and astonishment upon her broad good-humoured face  you've
heard about me mr holmes   she cried  else how could you know
all that  

 never mind   said holmes laughing  it is my business to know
things perhaps i have trained myself to see what others
overlook if not why should you come to consult me  

 i came to you sir because i heard of you from mrs etherege 
whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had
given him up for dead oh mr holmes i wish you would do as
much for me i'm not rich but still i have a hundred a year in
my own right besides the little that i make by the machine and
i would give it all to know what has become of mr hosmer angel  

 why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry   asked
sherlock holmes with his finger-tips together and his eyes to
the ceiling 

again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of miss
mary sutherland  yes i did bang out of the house   she said 
 for it made me angry to see the easy way in which mr 
windibank that is my father took it all he would not go to
the police and he would not go to you and so at last as he
would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done 
it made me mad and i just on with my things and came right away
to you  

 your father   said holmes  your stepfather surely since the
name is different  

 yes my stepfather i call him father though it sounds funny 
too for he is only five years and two months older than myself  

 and your mother is alive  

 oh yes mother is alive and well i wasn't best pleased mr 
holmes when she married again so soon after father's death and
a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself father
was a plumber in the tottenham court road and he left a tidy
business behind him which mother carried on with mr hardy the
foreman but when mr windibank came he made her sell the
business for he was very superior being a traveller in wines 
they got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest which wasn't
near as much as father could have got if he had been alive  

i had expected to see sherlock holmes impatient under this
rambling and inconsequential narrative but on the contrary he
had listened with the greatest concentration of attention 

 your own little income   he asked  does it come out of the
business  

 oh no sir it is quite separate and was left me by my uncle
ned in auckland it is in new zealand stock paying 4 1 2 per
cent two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount but i can
only touch the interest  

 you interest me extremely   said holmes  and since you draw so
large a sum as a hundred a year with what you earn into the
bargain you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in
every way i believe that a single lady can get on very nicely
upon an income of about 60 pounds  

 i could do with much less than that mr holmes but you
understand that as long as i live at home i don't wish to be a
burden to them and so they have the use of the money just while
i am staying with them of course that is only just for the
time mr windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it
over to mother and i find that i can do pretty well with what i
earn at typewriting it brings me twopence a sheet and i can
often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day  

 you have made your position very clear to me   said holmes 
 this is my friend dr watson before whom you can speak as
freely as before myself kindly tell us now all about your
connection with mr hosmer angel  

a flush stole over miss sutherland's face and she picked
nervously at the fringe of her jacket  i met him first at the
gasfitters' ball   she said  they used to send father tickets
when he was alive and then afterwards they remembered us and
sent them to mother mr windibank did not wish us to go he
never did wish us to go anywhere he would get quite mad if i
wanted so much as to join a sunday-school treat but this time i
was set on going and i would go for what right had he to
prevent he said the folk were not fit for us to know when all
father's friends were to be there and he said that i had nothing
fit to wear when i had my purple plush that i had never so much
as taken out of the drawer at last when nothing else would do 
he went off to france upon the business of the firm but we went 
mother and i with mr hardy who used to be our foreman and it
was there i met mr hosmer angel  

 i suppose   said holmes  that when mr windibank came back from
france he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball  

 oh well he was very good about it he laughed i remember and
shrugged his shoulders and said there was no use denying
anything to a woman for she would have her way  

 i see then at the gasfitters' ball you met as i understand a
gentleman called mr hosmer angel  

 yes sir i met him that night and he called next day to ask if
we had got home all safe and after that we met him that is to
say mr holmes i met him twice for walks but after that father
came back again and mr hosmer angel could not come to the house
any more  

 no  

 well you know father didn't like anything of the sort he
wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it and he used to
say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle but
then as i used to say to mother a woman wants her own circle to
begin with and i had not got mine yet  

 but how about mr hosmer angel did he make no attempt to see
you  

 well father was going off to france again in a week and hosmer
wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each
other until he had gone we could write in the meantime and he
used to write every day i took the letters in in the morning so
there was no need for father to know  

 were you engaged to the gentleman at this time  

 oh yes mr holmes we were engaged after the first walk that
we took hosmer mr angel was a cashier in an office in
leadenhall street and  

 what office  

 that's the worst of it mr holmes i don't know  

 where did he live then  

 he slept on the premises  

 and you don't know his address  

 no except that it was leadenhall street  

 where did you address your letters then  

 to the leadenhall street post office to be left till called
for he said that if they were sent to the office he would be
chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady 
so i offered to typewrite them like he did his but he wouldn't
have that for he said that when i wrote them they seemed to come
from me but when they were typewritten he always felt that the
machine had come between us that will just show you how fond he
was of me mr holmes and the little things that he would think
of  

 it was most suggestive   said holmes  it has long been an axiom
of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important 
can you remember any other little things about mr hosmer angel  

 he was a very shy man mr holmes he would rather walk with me
in the evening than in the daylight for he said that he hated to
be conspicuous very retiring and gentlemanly he was even his
voice was gentle he'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he
was young he told me and it had left him with a weak throat 
and a hesitating whispering fashion of speech he was always
well dressed very neat and plain but his eyes were weak just
as mine are and he wore tinted glasses against the glare  

 well and what happened when mr windibank your stepfather 
returned to france  

 mr hosmer angel came to the house again and proposed that we
should marry before father came back he was in dreadful earnest
and made me swear with my hands on the testament that whatever
happened i would always be true to him mother said he was quite
right to make me swear and that it was a sign of his passion 
mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder
of him than i was then when they talked of marrying within the
week i began to ask about father but they both said never to
mind about father but just to tell him afterwards and mother
said she would make it all right with him i didn't quite like
that mr holmes it seemed funny that i should ask his leave as
he was only a few years older than me but i didn't want to do
anything on the sly so i wrote to father at bordeaux where the
company has its french offices but the letter came back to me on
the very morning of the wedding  

 it missed him then  

 yes sir for he had started to england just before it arrived  

 ha that was unfortunate your wedding was arranged then for
the friday was it to be in church  

 yes sir but very quietly it was to be at st saviour's near
king's cross and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the st 
pancras hotel hosmer came for us in a hansom but as there were
two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a
four-wheeler which happened to be the only other cab in the
street we got to the church first and when the four-wheeler
drove up we waited for him to step out but he never did and
when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one
there the cabman said that he could not imagine what had become
of him for he had seen him get in with his own eyes that was
last friday mr holmes and i have never seen or heard anything
since then to throw any light upon what became of him  

 it seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated   said
holmes 

 oh no sir he was too good and kind to leave me so why all
the morning he was saying to me that whatever happened i was to
be true and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to
separate us i was always to remember that i was pledged to him 
and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later it seemed
strange talk for a wedding-morning but what has happened since
gives a meaning to it  

 most certainly it does your own opinion is then that some
unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him  

 yes sir i believe that he foresaw some danger or else he
would not have talked so and then i think that what he foresaw
happened  

 but you have no notion as to what it could have been  

 none  

 one more question how did your mother take the matter  

 she was angry and said that i was never to speak of the matter
again  

 and your father did you tell him  

 yes and he seemed to think with me that something had
happened and that i should hear of hosmer again as he said 
what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of
the church and then leaving me now if he had borrowed my
money or if he had married me and got my money settled on him 
there might be some reason but hosmer was very independent about
money and never would look at a shilling of mine and yet what
could have happened and why could he not write oh it drives me
half-mad to think of it and i can't sleep a wink at night   she
pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob
heavily into it 

 i shall glance into the case for you   said holmes rising  and
i have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result let the
weight of the matter rest upon me now and do not let your mind
dwell upon it further above all try to let mr hosmer angel
vanish from your memory as he has done from your life  

 then you don't think i'll see him again  

 i fear not  

 then what has happened to him  

 you will leave that question in my hands i should like an
accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can
spare  

 i advertised for him in last saturday's chronicle   said she 
 here is the slip and here are four letters from him  

 thank you and your address  

 no 31 lyon place camberwell  

 mr angel's address you never had i understand where is your
father's place of business  

 he travels for westhouse and marbank the great claret importers
of fenchurch street  

 thank you you have made your statement very clearly you will
leave the papers here and remember the advice which i have given
you let the whole incident be a sealed book and do not allow it
to affect your life  

 you are very kind mr holmes but i cannot do that i shall be
true to hosmer he shall find me ready when he comes back  

for all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face there was
something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which
compelled our respect she laid her little bundle of papers upon
the table and went her way with a promise to come again whenever
she might be summoned 

sherlock holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips
still pressed together his legs stretched out in front of him 
and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling then he took down
from the rack the old and oily clay pipe which was to him as a
counsellor and having lit it he leaned back in his chair with
the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him and a look of
infinite languor in his face 

 quite an interesting study that maiden   he observed  i found
her more interesting than her little problem which by the way 
is rather a trite one you will find parallel cases if you
consult my index in andover in '77 and there was something of
the sort at the hague last year old as is the idea however 
there were one or two details which were new to me but the
maiden herself was most instructive  

 you appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite
invisible to me   i remarked 

 not invisible but unnoticed watson you did not know where to
look and so you missed all that was important i can never bring
you to realise the importance of sleeves the suggestiveness of
thumb-nails or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace 
now what did you gather from that woman's appearance describe
it  

 well she had a slate-coloured broad-brimmed straw hat with a
feather of a brickish red her jacket was black with black beads
sewn upon it and a fringe of little black jet ornaments her
dress was brown rather darker than coffee colour with a little
purple plush at the neck and sleeves her gloves were greyish and
were worn through at the right forefinger her boots i didn't
observe she had small round hanging gold earrings and a
general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar comfortable 
easy-going way  

sherlock holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled 

 'pon my word watson you are coming along wonderfully you have
really done very well indeed it is true that you have missed
everything of importance but you have hit upon the method and
you have a quick eye for colour never trust to general
impressions my boy but concentrate yourself upon details my
first glance is always at a woman's sleeve in a man it is
perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser as you
observe this woman had plush upon her sleeves which is a most
useful material for showing traces the double line a little
above the wrist where the typewritist presses against the table 
was beautifully defined the sewing-machine of the hand type 
leaves a similar mark but only on the left arm and on the side
of it farthest from the thumb instead of being right across the
broadest part as this was i then glanced at her face and 
observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose i
ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting which seemed
to surprise her  

 it surprised me  

 but surely it was obvious i was then much surprised and
interested on glancing down to observe that though the boots
which she was wearing were not unlike each other they were
really odd ones the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap and
the other a plain one one was buttoned only in the two lower
buttons out of five and the other at the first third and
fifth now when you see that a young lady otherwise neatly
dressed has come away from home with odd boots half-buttoned 
it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry  

 and what else   i asked keenly interested as i always was by
my friend's incisive reasoning 

 i noted in passing that she had written a note before leaving
home but after being fully dressed you observed that her right
glove was torn at the forefinger but you did not apparently see
that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink she had
written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep it must have been
this morning or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger 
all this is amusing though rather elementary but i must go back
to business watson would you mind reading me the advertised
description of mr hosmer angel  

i held the little printed slip to the light 

 missing   it said  on the morning of the fourteenth a gentleman
named hosmer angel about five ft seven in in height 
strongly built sallow complexion black hair a little bald in
the centre bushy black side-whiskers and moustache tinted
glasses slight infirmity of speech was dressed when last seen 
in black frock-coat faced with silk black waistcoat gold albert
chain and grey harris tweed trousers with brown gaiters over
elastic-sided boots known to have been employed in an office in
leadenhall street anybody bringing  

 that will do   said holmes  as to the letters   he continued 
glancing over them  they are very commonplace absolutely no
clue in them to mr angel save that he quotes balzac once there
is one remarkable point however which will no doubt strike
you  

 they are typewritten   i remarked 

 not only that but the signature is typewritten look at the
neat little 'hosmer angel' at the bottom there is a date you
see but no superscription except leadenhall street which is
rather vague the point about the signature is very suggestive in
fact we may call it conclusive  

 of what  

 my dear fellow is it possible you do not see how strongly it
bears upon the case  

 i cannot say that i do unless it were that he wished to be able
to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were
instituted  

 no that was not the point however i shall write two letters 
which should settle the matter one is to a firm in the city the
other is to the young lady's stepfather mr windibank asking
him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow
evening it is just as well that we should do business with the
male relatives and now doctor we can do nothing until the
answers to those letters come so we may put our little problem
upon the shelf for the interim  

i had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers
of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that i felt that
he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy
demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had
been called upon to fathom once only had i known him to fail in
the case of the king of bohemia and of the irene adler
photograph but when i looked back to the weird business of the
sign of four and the extraordinary circumstances connected with
the study in scarlet i felt that it would be a strange tangle
indeed which he could not unravel 

i left him then still puffing at his black clay pipe with the
conviction that when i came again on the next evening i would
find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up
to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of miss mary
sutherland 

a professional case of great gravity was engaging my own
attention at the time and the whole of next day i was busy at
the bedside of the sufferer it was not until close upon six
o'clock that i found myself free and was able to spring into a
hansom and drive to baker street half afraid that i might be too
late to assist at the denouement of the little mystery i found
sherlock holmes alone however half asleep with his long thin
form curled up in the recesses of his armchair a formidable
array of bottles and test-tubes with the pungent cleanly smell
of hydrochloric acid told me that he had spent his day in the
chemical work which was so dear to him 

 well have you solved it   i asked as i entered 

 yes it was the bisulphate of baryta  

 no no the mystery   i cried 

 oh that i thought of the salt that i have been working upon 
there was never any mystery in the matter though as i said
yesterday some of the details are of interest the only drawback
is that there is no law i fear that can touch the scoundrel  

 who was he then and what was his object in deserting miss
sutherland  

the question was hardly out of my mouth and holmes had not yet
opened his lips to reply when we heard a heavy footfall in the
passage and a tap at the door 

 this is the girl's stepfather mr james windibank   said
holmes  he has written to me to say that he would be here at
six come in  

the man who entered was a sturdy middle-sized fellow some
thirty years of age clean-shaven and sallow-skinned with a
bland insinuating manner and a pair of wonderfully sharp and
penetrating grey eyes he shot a questioning glance at each of
us placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard and with a
slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair 

 good-evening mr james windibank   said holmes  i think that
this typewritten letter is from you in which you made an
appointment with me for six o'clock  

 yes sir i am afraid that i am a little late but i am not
quite my own master you know i am sorry that miss sutherland
has troubled you about this little matter for i think it is far
better not to wash linen of the sort in public it was quite
against my wishes that she came but she is a very excitable 
impulsive girl as you may have noticed and she is not easily
controlled when she has made up her mind on a point of course i
did not mind you so much as you are not connected with the
official police but it is not pleasant to have a family
misfortune like this noised abroad besides it is a useless
expense for how could you possibly find this hosmer angel  

 on the contrary   said holmes quietly  i have every reason to
believe that i will succeed in discovering mr hosmer angel  

mr windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves  i am
delighted to hear it   he said 

 it is a curious thing   remarked holmes  that a typewriter has
really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting unless
they are quite new no two of them write exactly alike some
letters get more worn than others and some wear only on one
side now you remark in this note of yours mr windibank that
in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e ' and
a slight defect in the tail of the 'r ' there are fourteen other
characteristics but those are the more obvious  

 we do all our correspondence with this machine at the office 
and no doubt it is a little worn   our visitor answered glancing
keenly at holmes with his bright little eyes 

 and now i will show you what is really a very interesting study 
mr windibank   holmes continued  i think of writing another
little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its
relation to crime it is a subject to which i have devoted some
little attention i have here four letters which purport to come
from the missing man they are all typewritten in each case not
only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless but you will
observe if you care to use my magnifying lens that the fourteen
other characteristics to which i have alluded are there as well  

mr windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat  i
cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk mr holmes  
he said  if you can catch the man catch him and let me know
when you have done it  

 certainly   said holmes stepping over and turning the key in
the door  i let you know then that i have caught him  

 what where   shouted mr windibank turning white to his lips
and glancing about him like a rat in a trap 

 oh it won't do really it won't   said holmes suavely  there
is no possible getting out of it mr windibank it is quite too
transparent and it was a very bad compliment when you said that
it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question that's
right sit down and let us talk it over  

our visitor collapsed into a chair with a ghastly face and a
glitter of moisture on his brow  it it's not actionable   he
stammered 

 i am very much afraid that it is not but between ourselves 
windibank it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a
petty way as ever came before me now let me just run over the
course of events and you will contradict me if i go wrong  

the man sat huddled up in his chair with his head sunk upon his
breast like one who is utterly crushed holmes stuck his feet up
on the corner of the mantelpiece and leaning back with his hands
in his pockets began talking rather to himself as it seemed 
than to us 

 the man married a woman very much older than himself for her
money   said he  and he enjoyed the use of the money of the
daughter as long as she lived with them it was a considerable
sum for people in their position and the loss of it would have
made a serious difference it was worth an effort to preserve it 
the daughter was of a good amiable disposition but affectionate
and warm-hearted in her ways so that it was evident that with
her fair personal advantages and her little income she would
not be allowed to remain single long now her marriage would
mean of course the loss of a hundred a year so what does her
stepfather do to prevent it he takes the obvious course of
keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of
people of her own age but soon he found that that would not
answer forever she became restive insisted upon her rights and
finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain
ball what does her clever stepfather do then he conceives an
idea more creditable to his head than to his heart with the
connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself 
covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses masked the face with
a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers sunk that clear voice
into an insinuating whisper and doubly secure on account of the
girl's short sight he appears as mr hosmer angel and keeps off
other lovers by making love himself  

 it was only a joke at first   groaned our visitor  we never
thought that she would have been so carried away  

 very likely not however that may be the young lady was very
decidedly carried away and having quite made up her mind that
her stepfather was in france the suspicion of treachery never
for an instant entered her mind she was flattered by the
gentleman's attentions and the effect was increased by the
loudly expressed admiration of her mother then mr angel began
to call for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as
far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced there
were meetings and an engagement which would finally secure the
girl's affections from turning towards anyone else but the
deception could not be kept up forever these pretended journeys
to france were rather cumbrous the thing to do was clearly to
bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it
would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and
prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to
come hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a testament and
hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening
on the very morning of the wedding james windibank wished miss
sutherland to be so bound to hosmer angel and so uncertain as to
his fate that for ten years to come at any rate she would not
listen to another man as far as the church door he brought her 
and then as he could go no farther he conveniently vanished
away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a
four-wheeler and out at the other i think that was the chain of
events mr windibank  

our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while holmes
had been talking and he rose from his chair now with a cold
sneer upon his pale face 

 it may be so or it may not mr holmes   said he  but if you
are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is
you who are breaking the law now and not me i have done nothing
actionable from the first but as long as you keep that door
locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal
constraint  

 the law cannot as you say touch you   said holmes unlocking
and throwing open the door  yet there never was a man who
deserved punishment more if the young lady has a brother or a
friend he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders by jove  
he continued flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon
the man's face  it is not part of my duties to my client but
here's a hunting crop handy and i think i shall just treat
myself to   he took two swift steps to the whip but before he
could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs 
the heavy hall door banged and from the window we could see mr 
james windibank running at the top of his speed down the road 

 there's a cold-blooded scoundrel   said holmes laughing as he
threw himself down into his chair once more  that fellow will
rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad and
ends on a gallows the case has in some respects been not
entirely devoid of interest  

 i cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning   i
remarked 

 well of course it was obvious from the first that this mr 
hosmer angel must have some strong object for his curious
conduct and it was equally clear that the only man who really
profited by the incident as far as we could see was the
stepfather then the fact that the two men were never together 
but that the one always appeared when the other was away was
suggestive so were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice 
which both hinted at a disguise as did the bushy whiskers my
suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in
typewriting his signature which of course inferred that his
handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even
the smallest sample of it you see all these isolated facts 
together with many minor ones all pointed in the same
direction  

 and how did you verify them  

 having once spotted my man it was easy to get corroboration i
knew the firm for which this man worked having taken the printed
description i eliminated everything from it which could be the
result of a disguise the whiskers the glasses the voice and i
sent it to the firm with a request that they would inform me
whether it answered to the description of any of their
travellers i had already noticed the peculiarities of the
typewriter and i wrote to the man himself at his business
address asking him if he would come here as i expected his
reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but
characteristic defects the same post brought me a letter from
westhouse and marbank of fenchurch street to say that the
description tallied in every respect with that of their employe 
james windibank voila tout  

 and miss sutherland  

 if i tell her she will not believe me you may remember the old
persian saying 'there is danger for him who taketh the tiger
cub and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman '
there is as much sense in hafiz as in horace and as much
knowledge of the world  



adventure iv the boscombe valley mystery

we were seated at breakfast one morning my wife and i when the
maid brought in a telegram it was from sherlock holmes and ran
in this way 

 have you a couple of days to spare have just been wired for from
the west of england in connection with boscombe valley tragedy 
shall be glad if you will come with me air and scenery perfect 
leave paddington by the 11 15  

 what do you say dear   said my wife looking across at me 
 will you go  

 i really don't know what to say i have a fairly long list at
present  

 oh anstruther would do your work for you you have been looking
a little pale lately i think that the change would do you good 
and you are always so interested in mr sherlock holmes' cases  

 i should be ungrateful if i were not seeing what i gained
through one of them   i answered  but if i am to go i must pack
at once for i have only half an hour  

my experience of camp life in afghanistan had at least had the
effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller my wants were
few and simple so that in less than the time stated i was in a
cab with my valise rattling away to paddington station sherlock
holmes was pacing up and down the platform his tall gaunt
figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey
travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap 

 it is really very good of you to come watson   said he  it
makes a considerable difference to me having someone with me on
whom i can thoroughly rely local aid is always either worthless
or else biassed if you will keep the two corner seats i shall
get the tickets  

we had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of
papers which holmes had brought with him among these he rummaged
and read with intervals of note-taking and of meditation until
we were past reading then he suddenly rolled them all into a
gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack 

 have you heard anything of the case   he asked 

 not a word i have not seen a paper for some days  

 the london press has not had very full accounts i have just
been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the
particulars it seems from what i gather to be one of those
simple cases which are so extremely difficult  

 that sounds a little paradoxical  

 but it is profoundly true singularity is almost invariably a
clue the more featureless and commonplace a crime is the more
difficult it is to bring it home in this case however they
have established a very serious case against the son of the
murdered man  

 it is a murder then  

 well it is conjectured to be so i shall take nothing for
granted until i have the opportunity of looking personally into
it i will explain the state of things to you as far as i have
been able to understand it in a very few words 

 boscombe valley is a country district not very far from ross in
herefordshire the largest landed proprietor in that part is a
mr john turner who made his money in australia and returned
some years ago to the old country one of the farms which he
held that of hatherley was let to mr charles mccarthy who was
also an ex-australian the men had known each other in the
colonies so that it was not unnatural that when they came to
settle down they should do so as near each other as possible 
turner was apparently the richer man so mccarthy became his
tenant but still remained it seems upon terms of perfect
equality as they were frequently together mccarthy had one son 
a lad of eighteen and turner had an only daughter of the same
age but neither of them had wives living they appear to have
avoided the society of the neighbouring english families and to
have led retired lives though both the mccarthys were fond of
sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the
neighbourhood mccarthy kept two servants a man and a girl 
turner had a considerable household some half-dozen at the
least that is as much as i have been able to gather about the
families now for the facts 

 on june 3rd that is on monday last mccarthy left his house at
hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the
boscombe pool which is a small lake formed by the spreading out
of the stream which runs down the boscombe valley he had been
out with his serving-man in the morning at ross and he had told
the man that he must hurry as he had an appointment of
importance to keep at three from that appointment he never came
back alive 

 from hatherley farm-house to the boscombe pool is a quarter of a
mile and two people saw him as he passed over this ground one
was an old woman whose name is not mentioned and the other was
william crowder a game-keeper in the employ of mr turner both
these witnesses depose that mr mccarthy was walking alone the
game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing mr 
mccarthy pass he had seen his son mr james mccarthy going the
same way with a gun under his arm to the best of his belief the
father was actually in sight at the time and the son was
following him he thought no more of the matter until he heard in
the evening of the tragedy that had occurred 

 the two mccarthys were seen after the time when william crowder 
the game-keeper lost sight of them the boscombe pool is thickly
wooded round with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the
edge a girl of fourteen patience moran who is the daughter of
the lodge-keeper of the boscombe valley estate was in one of the
woods picking flowers she states that while she was there she
saw at the border of the wood and close by the lake mr 
mccarthy and his son and that they appeared to be having a
violent quarrel she heard mr mccarthy the elder using very
strong language to his son and she saw the latter raise up his
hand as if to strike his father she was so frightened by their
violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached
home that she had left the two mccarthys quarrelling near
boscombe pool and that she was afraid that they were going to
fight she had hardly said the words when young mr mccarthy came
running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead
in the wood and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper he was
much excited without either his gun or his hat and his right
hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood on
following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the
grass beside the pool the head had been beaten in by repeated
blows of some heavy and blunt weapon the injuries were such as
might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's
gun which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the
body under these circumstances the young man was instantly
arrested and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned
at the inquest on tuesday he was on wednesday brought before the
magistrates at ross who have referred the case to the next
assizes those are the main facts of the case as they came out
before the coroner and the police-court  

 i could hardly imagine a more damning case   i remarked  if
ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so
here  

 circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing   answered holmes
thoughtfully  it may seem to point very straight to one thing 
but if you shift your own point of view a little you may find it
pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something
entirely different it must be confessed however that the case
looks exceedingly grave against the young man and it is very
possible that he is indeed the culprit there are several people
in the neighbourhood however and among them miss turner the
daughter of the neighbouring landowner who believe in his
innocence and who have retained lestrade whom you may recollect
in connection with the study in scarlet to work out the case in
his interest lestrade being rather puzzled has referred the
case to me and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are
flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly
digesting their breakfasts at home  

 i am afraid   said i  that the facts are so obvious that you
will find little credit to be gained out of this case  

 there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact   he
answered laughing  besides we may chance to hit upon some
other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to
mr lestrade you know me too well to think that i am boasting
when i say that i shall either confirm or destroy his theory by
means which he is quite incapable of employing or even of
understanding to take the first example to hand i very clearly
perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand
side and yet i question whether mr lestrade would have noted
even so self-evident a thing as that  

 how on earth  

 my dear fellow i know you well i know the military neatness
which characterises you you shave every morning and in this
season you shave by the sunlight but since your shaving is less
and less complete as we get farther back on the left side until
it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the
jaw it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated
than the other i could not imagine a man of your habits looking
at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a
result i only quote this as a trivial example of observation and
inference therein lies my metier and it is just possible that
it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before
us there are one or two minor points which were brought out in
the inquest and which are worth considering  

 what are they  

 it appears that his arrest did not take place at once but after
the return to hatherley farm on the inspector of constabulary
informing him that he was a prisoner he remarked that he was not
surprised to hear it and that it was no more than his deserts 
this observation of his had the natural effect of removing any
traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the
coroner's jury  

 it was a confession   i ejaculated 

 no for it was followed by a protestation of innocence  

 coming on the top of such a damning series of events it was at
least a most suspicious remark  

 on the contrary   said holmes  it is the brightest rift which i
can at present see in the clouds however innocent he might be 
he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the
circumstances were very black against him had he appeared
surprised at his own arrest or feigned indignation at it i
should have looked upon it as highly suspicious because such
surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances 
and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man his
frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent
man or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and
firmness as to his remark about his deserts it was also not
unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of
his father and that there is no doubt that he had that very day
so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him and
even according to the little girl whose evidence is so
important to raise his hand as if to strike him the
self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark
appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a
guilty one  

i shook my head  many men have been hanged on far slighter
evidence   i remarked 

 so they have and many men have been wrongfully hanged  

 what is the young man's own account of the matter  

 it is i am afraid not very encouraging to his supporters 
though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive 
you will find it here and may read it for yourself  

he picked out from his bundle a copy of the local herefordshire
paper and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the
paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own
statement of what had occurred i settled myself down in the
corner of the carriage and read it very carefully it ran in this
way 

 mr james mccarthy the only son of the deceased was then called
and gave evidence as follows 'i had been away from home for
three days at bristol and had only just returned upon the
morning of last monday the 3rd my father was absent from home at
the time of my arrival and i was informed by the maid that he
had driven over to ross with john cobb the groom shortly after
my return i heard the wheels of his trap in the yard and 
looking out of my window i saw him get out and walk rapidly out
of the yard though i was not aware in which direction he was
going i then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of
the boscombe pool with the intention of visiting the rabbit
warren which is upon the other side on my way i saw william
crowder the game-keeper as he had stated in his evidence but
he is mistaken in thinking that i was following my father i had
no idea that he was in front of me when about a hundred yards
from the pool i heard a cry of  cooee   which was a usual signal
between my father and myself i then hurried forward and found
him standing by the pool he appeared to be much surprised at
seeing me and asked me rather roughly what i was doing there a
conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows 
for my father was a man of a very violent temper seeing that his
passion was becoming ungovernable i left him and returned
towards hatherley farm i had not gone more than 150 yards 
however when i heard a hideous outcry behind me which caused me
to run back again i found my father expiring upon the ground 
with his head terribly injured i dropped my gun and held him in
my arms but he almost instantly expired i knelt beside him for
some minutes and then made my way to mr turner's lodge-keeper 
his house being the nearest to ask for assistance i saw no one
near my father when i returned and i have no idea how he came by
his injuries he was not a popular man being somewhat cold and
forbidding in his manners but he had as far as i know no
active enemies i know nothing further of the matter '

 the coroner did your father make any statement to you before
he died 

 witness he mumbled a few words but i could only catch some
allusion to a rat 

 the coroner what did you understand by that 

 witness it conveyed no meaning to me i thought that he was
delirious 

 the coroner what was the point upon which you and your father
had this final quarrel 

 witness i should prefer not to answer 

 the coroner i am afraid that i must press it 

 witness it is really impossible for me to tell you i can
assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which
followed 

 the coroner that is for the court to decide i need not point
out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case
considerably in any future proceedings which may arise 

 witness i must still refuse 

 the coroner i understand that the cry of 'cooee' was a common
signal between you and your father 

 witness it was 

 the coroner how was it then that he uttered it before he saw
you and before he even knew that you had returned from bristol 

 witness with considerable confusion i do not know 

 a juryman did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions
when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father
fatally injured 

 witness nothing definite 

 the coroner what do you mean 

 witness i was so disturbed and excited as i rushed out into
the open that i could think of nothing except of my father yet
i have a vague impression that as i ran forward something lay
upon the ground to the left of me it seemed to me to be
something grey in colour a coat of some sort or a plaid perhaps 
when i rose from my father i looked round for it but it was
gone 

 'do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help '

 'yes it was gone '

 'you cannot say what it was '

 'no i had a feeling something was there '

 'how far from the body '

 'a dozen yards or so '

 'and how far from the edge of the wood '

 'about the same '

 'then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen
yards of it '

 'yes but with my back towards it '

 this concluded the examination of the witness  

 i see   said i as i glanced down the column  that the coroner
in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young mccarthy 
he calls attention and with reason to the discrepancy about his
father having signalled to him before seeing him also to his
refusal to give details of his conversation with his father and
his singular account of his father's dying words they are all 
as he remarks very much against the son  

holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon
the cushioned seat  both you and the coroner have been at some
pains   said he  to single out the very strongest points in the
young man's favour don't you see that you alternately give him
credit for having too much imagination and too little too
little if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would
give him the sympathy of the jury too much if he evolved from
his own inner consciousness anything so outre as a dying
reference to a rat and the incident of the vanishing cloth no 
sir i shall approach this case from the point of view that what
this young man says is true and we shall see whither that
hypothesis will lead us and now here is my pocket petrarch and
not another word shall i say of this case until we are on the
scene of action we lunch at swindon and i see that we shall be
there in twenty minutes  

it was nearly four o'clock when we at last after passing through
the beautiful stroud valley and over the broad gleaming severn 
found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of ross a
lean ferret-like man furtive and sly-looking was waiting for
us upon the platform in spite of the light brown dustcoat and
leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic
surroundings i had no difficulty in recognising lestrade of
scotland yard with him we drove to the hereford arms where a
room had already been engaged for us 

 i have ordered a carriage   said lestrade as we sat over a cup
of tea  i knew your energetic nature and that you would not be
happy until you had been on the scene of the crime  

 it was very nice and complimentary of you   holmes answered  it
is entirely a question of barometric pressure  

lestrade looked startled  i do not quite follow   he said 

 how is the glass twenty-nine i see no wind and not a cloud
in the sky i have a caseful of cigarettes here which need
smoking and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country
hotel abomination i do not think that it is probable that i
shall use the carriage to-night  

lestrade laughed indulgently  you have no doubt already formed
your conclusions from the newspapers   he said  the case is as
plain as a pikestaff and the more one goes into it the plainer
it becomes still of course one can't refuse a lady and such a
very positive one too she has heard of you and would have your
opinion though i repeatedly told her that there was nothing
which you could do which i had not already done why bless my
soul here is her carriage at the door  

he had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the
most lovely young women that i have ever seen in my life her
violet eyes shining her lips parted a pink flush upon her
cheeks all thought of her natural reserve lost in her
overpowering excitement and concern 

 oh mr sherlock holmes   she cried glancing from one to the
other of us and finally with a woman's quick intuition 
fastening upon my companion  i am so glad that you have come i
have driven down to tell you so i know that james didn't do it 
i know it and i want you to start upon your work knowing it 
too never let yourself doubt upon that point we have known each
other since we were little children and i know his faults as no
one else does but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly such a
charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him  

 i hope we may clear him miss turner   said sherlock holmes 
 you may rely upon my doing all that i can  

 but you have read the evidence you have formed some conclusion 
do you not see some loophole some flaw do you not yourself
think that he is innocent  

 i think that it is very probable  

 there now   she cried throwing back her head and looking
defiantly at lestrade  you hear he gives me hopes  

lestrade shrugged his shoulders  i am afraid that my colleague
has been a little quick in forming his conclusions   he said 

 but he is right oh i know that he is right james never did
it and about his quarrel with his father i am sure that the
reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because
i was concerned in it  

 in what way   asked holmes 

 it is no time for me to hide anything james and his father had
many disagreements about me mr mccarthy was very anxious that
there should be a marriage between us james and i have always
loved each other as brother and sister but of course he is young
and has seen very little of life yet and and well he
naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet so there
were quarrels and this i am sure was one of them  

 and your father   asked holmes  was he in favour of such a
union  

 no he was averse to it also no one but mr mccarthy was in
favour of it   a quick blush passed over her fresh young face as
holmes shot one of his keen questioning glances at her 

 thank you for this information   said he  may i see your father
if i call to-morrow  

 i am afraid the doctor won't allow it  

 the doctor  

 yes have you not heard poor father has never been strong for
years back but this has broken him down completely he has taken
to his bed and dr willows says that he is a wreck and that his
nervous system is shattered mr mccarthy was the only man alive
who had known dad in the old days in victoria  

 ha in victoria that is important  

 yes at the mines  

 quite so at the gold-mines where as i understand mr turner
made his money  

 yes certainly  

 thank you miss turner you have been of material assistance to
me  

 you will tell me if you have any news to-morrow no doubt you
will go to the prison to see james oh if you do mr holmes do
tell him that i know him to be innocent  

 i will miss turner  

 i must go home now for dad is very ill and he misses me so if
i leave him good-bye and god help you in your undertaking   she
hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered and we
heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street 

 i am ashamed of you holmes   said lestrade with dignity after a
few minutes' silence  why should you raise up hopes which you
are bound to disappoint i am not over-tender of heart but i
call it cruel  

 i think that i see my way to clearing james mccarthy   said
holmes  have you an order to see him in prison  

 yes but only for you and me  

 then i shall reconsider my resolution about going out we have
still time to take a train to hereford and see him to-night  

 ample  

 then let us do so watson i fear that you will find it very
slow but i shall only be away a couple of hours  

i walked down to the station with them and then wandered through
the streets of the little town finally returning to the hotel 
where i lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a
yellow-backed novel the puny plot of the story was so thin 
however when compared to the deep mystery through which we were
groping and i found my attention wander so continually from the
action to the fact that i at last flung it across the room and
gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the
day supposing that this unhappy young man's story were
absolutely true then what hellish thing what absolutely
unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between
the time when he parted from his father and the moment when 
drawn back by his screams he rushed into the glade it was
something terrible and deadly what could it be might not the
nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts 
i rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper which
contained a verbatim account of the inquest in the surgeon's
deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left
parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been
shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon i marked the spot
upon my own head clearly such a blow must have been struck from
behind that was to some extent in favour of the accused as when
seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father still it
did not go for very much for the older man might have turned his
back before the blow fell still it might be worth while to call
holmes' attention to it then there was the peculiar dying
reference to a rat what could that mean it could not be
delirium a man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become
delirious no it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how
he met his fate but what could it indicate i cudgelled my
brains to find some possible explanation and then the incident
of the grey cloth seen by young mccarthy if that were true the
murderer must have dropped some part of his dress presumably his
overcoat in his flight and must have had the hardihood to
return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was
kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off what a
tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was i
did not wonder at lestrade's opinion and yet i had so much faith
in sherlock holmes' insight that i could not lose hope as long
as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young
mccarthy's innocence 

it was late before sherlock holmes returned he came back alone 
for lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town 

 the glass still keeps very high   he remarked as he sat down 
 it is of importance that it should not rain before we are able
to go over the ground on the other hand a man should be at his
very best and keenest for such nice work as that and i did not
wish to do it when fagged by a long journey i have seen young
mccarthy  

 and what did you learn from him  

 nothing  

 could he throw no light  

 none at all i was inclined to think at one time that he knew
who had done it and was screening him or her but i am convinced
now that he is as puzzled as everyone else he is not a very
quick-witted youth though comely to look at and i should think 
sound at heart  

 i cannot admire his taste   i remarked  if it is indeed a fact
that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as
this miss turner  

 ah thereby hangs a rather painful tale this fellow is madly 
insanely in love with her but some two years ago when he was
only a lad and before he really knew her for she had been away
five years at a boarding-school what does the idiot do but get
into the clutches of a barmaid in bristol and marry her at a
registry office no one knows a word of the matter but you can
imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not
doing what he would give his very eyes to do but what he knows
to be absolutely impossible it was sheer frenzy of this sort
which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father 
at their last interview was goading him on to propose to miss
turner on the other hand he had no means of supporting himself 
and his father who was by all accounts a very hard man would
have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth it was with
his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in
bristol and his father did not know where he was mark that
point it is of importance good has come out of evil however 
for the barmaid finding from the papers that he is in serious
trouble and likely to be hanged has thrown him over utterly and
has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the
bermuda dockyard so that there is really no tie between them i
think that that bit of news has consoled young mccarthy for all
that he has suffered  

 but if he is innocent who has done it  

 ah who i would call your attention very particularly to two
points one is that the murdered man had an appointment with
someone at the pool and that the someone could not have been his
son for his son was away and he did not know when he would
return the second is that the murdered man was heard to cry
'cooee ' before he knew that his son had returned those are the
crucial points upon which the case depends and now let us talk
about george meredith if you please and we shall leave all
minor matters until to-morrow  

there was no rain as holmes had foretold and the morning broke
bright and cloudless at nine o'clock lestrade called for us with
the carriage and we set off for hatherley farm and the boscombe
pool 

 there is serious news this morning   lestrade observed  it is
said that mr turner of the hall is so ill that his life is
despaired of  

 an elderly man i presume   said holmes 

 about sixty but his constitution has been shattered by his life
abroad and he has been in failing health for some time this
business has had a very bad effect upon him he was an old friend
of mccarthy's and i may add a great benefactor to him for i
have learned that he gave him hatherley farm rent free  

 indeed that is interesting   said holmes 

 oh yes in a hundred other ways he has helped him everybody
about here speaks of his kindness to him  

 really does it not strike you as a little singular that this
mccarthy who appears to have had little of his own and to have
been under such obligations to turner should still talk of
marrying his son to turner's daughter who is presumably 
heiress to the estate and that in such a very cocksure manner 
as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would
follow it is the more strange since we know that turner himself
was averse to the idea the daughter told us as much do you not
deduce something from that  

 we have got to the deductions and the inferences   said
lestrade winking at me  i find it hard enough to tackle facts 
holmes without flying away after theories and fancies  

 you are right   said holmes demurely  you do find it very hard
to tackle the facts  

 anyhow i have grasped one fact which you seem to find it
difficult to get hold of   replied lestrade with some warmth 

 and that is  

 that mccarthy senior met his death from mccarthy junior and that
all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine  

 well moonshine is a brighter thing than fog   said holmes 
laughing  but i am very much mistaken if this is not hatherley
farm upon the left  

 yes that is it   it was a widespread comfortable-looking
building two-storied slate-roofed with great yellow blotches
of lichen upon the grey walls the drawn blinds and the smokeless
chimneys however gave it a stricken look as though the weight
of this horror still lay heavy upon it we called at the door 
when the maid at holmes' request showed us the boots which her
master wore at the time of his death and also a pair of the
son's though not the pair which he had then had having measured
these very carefully from seven or eight different points holmes
desired to be led to the court-yard from which we all followed
the winding track which led to boscombe pool 

sherlock holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent
as this men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of
baker street would have failed to recognise him his face flushed
and darkened his brows were drawn into two hard black lines 
while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter 
his face was bent downward his shoulders bowed his lips
compressed and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long 
sinewy neck his nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal
lust for the chase and his mind was so absolutely concentrated
upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell
unheeded upon his ears or at the most only provoked a quick 
impatient snarl in reply swiftly and silently he made his way
along the track which ran through the meadows and so by way of
the woods to the boscombe pool it was damp marshy ground as is
all that district and there were marks of many feet both upon
the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either
side sometimes holmes would hurry on sometimes stop dead and
once he made quite a little detour into the meadow lestrade and
i walked behind him the detective indifferent and contemptuous 
while i watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the
conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a
definite end 

the boscombe pool which is a little reed-girt sheet of water
some fifty yards across is situated at the boundary between the
hatherley farm and the private park of the wealthy mr turner 
above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see
the red jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich
landowner's dwelling on the hatherley side of the pool the woods
grew very thick and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass
twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds
which lined the lake lestrade showed us the exact spot at which
the body had been found and indeed so moist was the ground 
that i could plainly see the traces which had been left by the
fall of the stricken man to holmes as i could see by his eager
face and peering eyes very many other things were to be read
upon the trampled grass he ran round like a dog who is picking
up a scent and then turned upon my companion 

 what did you go into the pool for   he asked 

 i fished about with a rake i thought there might be some weapon
or other trace but how on earth  

 oh tut tut i have no time that left foot of yours with its
inward twist is all over the place a mole could trace it and
there it vanishes among the reeds oh how simple it would all
have been had i been here before they came like a herd of buffalo
and wallowed all over it here is where the party with the
lodge-keeper came and they have covered all tracks for six or
eight feet round the body but here are three separate tracks of
the same feet   he drew out a lens and lay down upon his
waterproof to have a better view talking all the time rather to
himself than to us  these are young mccarthy's feet twice he
was walking and once he ran swiftly so that the soles are
deeply marked and the heels hardly visible that bears out his
story he ran when he saw his father on the ground then here are
the father's feet as he paced up and down what is this then it
is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening and this 
ha ha what have we here tiptoes tiptoes square too quite
unusual boots they come they go they come again of course
that was for the cloak now where did they come from   he ran up
and down sometimes losing sometimes finding the track until we
were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a
great beech the largest tree in the neighbourhood holmes traced
his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon
his face with a little cry of satisfaction for a long time he
remained there turning over the leaves and dried sticks 
gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and
examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of
the tree as far as he could reach a jagged stone was lying among
the moss and this also he carefully examined and retained then
he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the
highroad where all traces were lost 

 it has been a case of considerable interest   he remarked 
returning to his natural manner  i fancy that this grey house on
the right must be the lodge i think that i will go in and have a
word with moran and perhaps write a little note having done
that we may drive back to our luncheon you may walk to the cab 
and i shall be with you presently  

it was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove
back into ross holmes still carrying with him the stone which he
had picked up in the wood 

 this may interest you lestrade   he remarked holding it out 
 the murder was done with it  

 i see no marks  

 there are none  

 how do you know then  

 the grass was growing under it it had only lain there a few
days there was no sign of a place whence it had been taken it
corresponds with the injuries there is no sign of any other
weapon  

 and the murderer  

 is a tall man left-handed limps with the right leg wears
thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak smokes indian
cigars uses a cigar-holder and carries a blunt pen-knife in his
pocket there are several other indications but these may be
enough to aid us in our search  

lestrade laughed  i am afraid that i am still a sceptic   he
said  theories are all very well but we have to deal with a
hard-headed british jury  

 nous verrons   answered holmes calmly  you work your own
method and i shall work mine i shall be busy this afternoon 
and shall probably return to london by the evening train  

 and leave your case unfinished  

 no finished  

 but the mystery  

 it is solved  

 who was the criminal then  

 the gentleman i describe  

 but who is he  

 surely it would not be difficult to find out this is not such a
populous neighbourhood  

lestrade shrugged his shoulders  i am a practical man   he said 
 and i really cannot undertake to go about the country looking
for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg i should become the
laughing-stock of scotland yard  

 all right   said holmes quietly  i have given you the chance 
here are your lodgings good-bye i shall drop you a line before
i leave  

having left lestrade at his rooms we drove to our hotel where
we found lunch upon the table holmes was silent and buried in
thought with a pained expression upon his face as one who finds
himself in a perplexing position 

 look here watson   he said when the cloth was cleared  just sit
down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little i don't
know quite what to do and i should value your advice light a
cigar and let me expound  

  pray do so  

 well now in considering this case there are two points about
young mccarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly 
although they impressed me in his favour and you against him one
was the fact that his father should according to his account 
cry 'cooee ' before seeing him the other was his singular dying
reference to a rat he mumbled several words you understand but
that was all that caught the son's ear now from this double
point our research must commence and we will begin it by
presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true  

 what of this 'cooee ' then  

 well obviously it could not have been meant for the son the
son as far as he knew was in bristol it was mere chance that
he was within earshot the 'cooee ' was meant to attract the
attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with but
'cooee' is a distinctly australian cry and one which is used
between australians there is a strong presumption that the
person whom mccarthy expected to meet him at boscombe pool was
someone who had been in australia  

 what of the rat then  

sherlock holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened
it out on the table  this is a map of the colony of victoria  
he said  i wired to bristol for it last night   he put his hand
over part of the map  what do you read  

 arat   i read 

 and now   he raised his hand 

 ballarat  

 quite so that was the word the man uttered and of which his
son only caught the last two syllables he was trying to utter
the name of his murderer so and so of ballarat  

 it is wonderful   i exclaimed 

 it is obvious and now you see i had narrowed the field down
considerably the possession of a grey garment was a third point
which granting the son's statement to be correct was a
certainty we have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite
conception of an australian from ballarat with a grey cloak  

 certainly  

 and one who was at home in the district for the pool can only
be approached by the farm or by the estate where strangers could
hardly wander  

 quite so  

 then comes our expedition of to-day by an examination of the
ground i gained the trifling details which i gave to that
imbecile lestrade as to the personality of the criminal  

 but how did you gain them  

 you know my method it is founded upon the observation of
trifles  

 his height i know that you might roughly judge from the length
of his stride his boots too might be told from their traces  

 yes they were peculiar boots  

 but his lameness  

 the impression of his right foot was always less distinct than
his left he put less weight upon it why because he limped he
was lame  

 but his left-handedness  

 you were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded
by the surgeon at the inquest the blow was struck from
immediately behind and yet was upon the left side now how can
that be unless it were by a left-handed man he had stood behind
that tree during the interview between the father and son he had
even smoked there i found the ash of a cigar which my special
knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an indian
cigar i have as you know devoted some attention to this and
written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different
varieties of pipe cigar and cigarette tobacco having found the
ash i then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss
where he had tossed it it was an indian cigar of the variety
which are rolled in rotterdam  

 and the cigar-holder  

 i could see that the end had not been in his mouth therefore he
used a holder the tip had been cut off not bitten off but the
cut was not a clean one so i deduced a blunt pen-knife  

 holmes   i said  you have drawn a net round this man from which
he cannot escape and you have saved an innocent human life as
truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him i see the
direction in which all this points the culprit is  

 mr john turner   cried the hotel waiter opening the door of
our sitting-room and ushering in a visitor 

the man who entered was a strange and impressive figure his
slow limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of
decrepitude and yet his hard deep-lined craggy features and
his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual
strength of body and of character his tangled beard grizzled
hair and outstanding drooping eyebrows combined to give an air
of dignity and power to his appearance but his face was of an
ashen white while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were
tinged with a shade of blue it was clear to me at a glance that
he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease 

 pray sit down on the sofa   said holmes gently  you had my
note  

 yes the lodge-keeper brought it up you said that you wished to
see me here to avoid scandal  

 i thought people would talk if i went to the hall  

 and why did you wish to see me   he looked across at my
companion with despair in his weary eyes as though his question
was already answered 

 yes   said holmes answering the look rather than the words  it
is so i know all about mccarthy  

the old man sank his face in his hands  god help me   he cried 
 but i would not have let the young man come to harm i give you
my word that i would have spoken out if it went against him at
the assizes  

 i am glad to hear you say so   said holmes gravely 

 i would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl it
would break her heart it will break her heart when she hears
that i am arrested  

 it may not come to that   said holmes 

 what  

 i am no official agent i understand that it was your daughter
who required my presence here and i am acting in her interests 
young mccarthy must be got off however  

 i am a dying man   said old turner  i have had diabetes for
years my doctor says it is a question whether i shall live a
month yet i would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol  

holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand
and a bundle of paper before him  just tell us the truth   he
said  i shall jot down the facts you will sign it and watson
here can witness it then i could produce your confession at the
last extremity to save young mccarthy i promise you that i shall
not use it unless it is absolutely needed  

 it's as well   said the old man  it's a question whether i
shall live to the assizes so it matters little to me but i
should wish to spare alice the shock and now i will make the
thing clear to you it has been a long time in the acting but
will not take me long to tell 

 you didn't know this dead man mccarthy he was a devil
incarnate i tell you that god keep you out of the clutches of
such a man as he his grip has been upon me these twenty years 
and he has blasted my life i'll tell you first how i came to be
in his power 

 it was in the early '60's at the diggings i was a young chap
then hot-blooded and reckless ready to turn my hand at
anything i got among bad companions took to drink had no luck
with my claim took to the bush and in a word became what you
would call over here a highway robber there were six of us and
we had a wild free life of it sticking up a station from time
to time or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings 
black jack of ballarat was the name i went under and our party
is still remembered in the colony as the ballarat gang 

 one day a gold convoy came down from ballarat to melbourne and
we lay in wait for it and attacked it there were six troopers
and six of us so it was a close thing but we emptied four of
their saddles at the first volley three of our boys were killed 
however before we got the swag i put my pistol to the head of
the wagon-driver who was this very man mccarthy i wish to the
lord that i had shot him then but i spared him though i saw his
wicked little eyes fixed on my face as though to remember every
feature we got away with the gold became wealthy men and made
our way over to england without being suspected there i parted
from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and
respectable life i bought this estate which chanced to be in
the market and i set myself to do a little good with my money 
to make up for the way in which i had earned it i married too 
and though my wife died young she left me my dear little alice 
even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down
the right path as nothing else had ever done in a word i turned
over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past all was
going well when mccarthy laid his grip upon me 

 i had gone up to town about an investment and i met him in
regent street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his
foot 

 'here we are jack ' says he touching me on the arm 'we'll be
as good as a family to you there's two of us me and my son and
you can have the keeping of us if you don't it's a fine 
law-abiding country is england and there's always a policeman
within hail '

 well down they came to the west country there was no shaking
them off and there they have lived rent free on my best land
ever since there was no rest for me no peace no forgetfulness 
turn where i would there was his cunning grinning face at my
elbow it grew worse as alice grew up for he soon saw i was more
afraid of her knowing my past than of the police whatever he
wanted he must have and whatever it was i gave him without
question land money houses until at last he asked a thing
which i could not give he asked for alice 

 his son you see had grown up and so had my girl and as i was
known to be in weak health it seemed a fine stroke to him that
his lad should step into the whole property but there i was
firm i would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine not that
i had any dislike to the lad but his blood was in him and that
was enough i stood firm mccarthy threatened i braved him to do
his worst we were to meet at the pool midway between our houses
to talk it over 

 when i went down there i found him talking with his son so i
smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone 
but as i listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in
me seemed to come uppermost he was urging his son to marry my
daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she
were a slut from off the streets it drove me mad to think that i
and all that i held most dear should be in the power of such a
man as this could i not snap the bond i was already a dying and
a desperate man though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb 
i knew that my own fate was sealed but my memory and my girl 
both could be saved if i could but silence that foul tongue i
did it mr holmes i would do it again deeply as i have sinned 
i have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it but that my girl
should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more
than i could suffer i struck him down with no more compunction
than if he had been some foul and venomous beast his cry brought
back his son but i had gained the cover of the wood though i
was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which i had dropped in
my flight that is the true story gentlemen of all that
occurred  

 well it is not for me to judge you   said holmes as the old man
signed the statement which had been drawn out  i pray that we
may never be exposed to such a temptation  

 i pray not sir and what do you intend to do  

 in view of your health nothing you are yourself aware that you
will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the
assizes i will keep your confession and if mccarthy is
condemned i shall be forced to use it if not it shall never be
seen by mortal eye and your secret whether you be alive or
dead shall be safe with us  

 farewell then   said the old man solemnly  your own deathbeds 
when they come will be the easier for the thought of the peace
which you have given to mine   tottering and shaking in all his
giant frame he stumbled slowly from the room 

 god help us   said holmes after a long silence  why does fate
play such tricks with poor helpless worms i never hear of such
a case as this that i do not think of baxter's words and say 
'there but for the grace of god goes sherlock holmes ' 

james mccarthy was acquitted at the assizes on the strength of a
number of objections which had been drawn out by holmes and
submitted to the defending counsel old turner lived for seven
months after our interview but he is now dead and there is
every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily
together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their
past 



adventure v the five orange pips

when i glance over my notes and records of the sherlock holmes
cases between the years '82 and '90 i am faced by so many which
present strange and interesting features that it is no easy
matter to know which to choose and which to leave some however 
have already gained publicity through the papers and others have
not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend
possessed in so high a degree and which it is the object of
these papers to illustrate some too have baffled his
analytical skill and would be as narratives beginnings without
an ending while others have been but partially cleared up and
have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and
surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to
him there is however one of these last which was so remarkable
in its details and so startling in its results that i am tempted
to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are
points in connection with it which never have been and probably
never will be entirely cleared up 

the year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater
or less interest of which i retain the records among my
headings under this one twelve months i find an account of the
adventure of the paradol chamber of the amateur mendicant
society who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a
furniture warehouse of the facts connected with the loss of the
british barque  sophy anderson  of the singular adventures of the
grice patersons in the island of uffa and finally of the
camberwell poisoning case in the latter as may be remembered 
sherlock holmes was able by winding up the dead man's watch to
prove that it had been wound up two hours before and that
therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time a
deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the
case all these i may sketch out at some future date but none of
them present such singular features as the strange train of
circumstances which i have now taken up my pen to describe 

it was in the latter days of september and the equinoctial gales
had set in with exceptional violence all day the wind had
screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows so that
even here in the heart of great hand-made london we were forced
to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and
to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which
shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation like
untamed beasts in a cage as evening drew in the storm grew
higher and louder and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in
the chimney sherlock holmes sat moodily at one side of the
fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime while i at the
other was deep in one of clark russell's fine sea-stories until
the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text 
and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of
the sea waves my wife was on a visit to her mother's and for a
few days i was a dweller once more in my old quarters at baker
street 

 why   said i glancing up at my companion  that was surely the
bell who could come to-night some friend of yours perhaps  

 except yourself i have none   he answered  i do not encourage
visitors  

 a client then  

 if so it is a serious case nothing less would bring a man out
on such a day and at such an hour but i take it that it is more
likely to be some crony of the landlady's  

sherlock holmes was wrong in his conjecture however for there
came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door he
stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and
towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit 

 come in   said he 

the man who entered was young some two-and-twenty at the
outside well-groomed and trimly clad with something of
refinement and delicacy in his bearing the streaming umbrella
which he held in his hand and his long shining waterproof told
of the fierce weather through which he had come he looked about
him anxiously in the glare of the lamp and i could see that his
face was pale and his eyes heavy like those of a man who is
weighed down with some great anxiety 

 i owe you an apology   he said raising his golden pince-nez to
his eyes  i trust that i am not intruding i fear that i have
brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug
chamber  

 give me your coat and umbrella   said holmes  they may rest
here on the hook and will be dry presently you have come up from
the south-west i see  

 yes from horsham  

 that clay and chalk mixture which i see upon your toe caps is
quite distinctive  

 i have come for advice  

 that is easily got  

 and help  

 that is not always so easy  

 i have heard of you mr holmes i heard from major prendergast
how you saved him in the tankerville club scandal  

 ah of course he was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards  

 he said that you could solve anything  

 he said too much  

 that you are never beaten  

 i have been beaten four times three times by men and once by a
woman  

 but what is that compared with the number of your successes  

 it is true that i have been generally successful  

 then you may be so with me  

 i beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me
with some details as to your case  

 it is no ordinary one  

 none of those which come to me are i am the last court of
appeal  

 and yet i question sir whether in all your experience you
have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of
events than those which have happened in my own family  

 you fill me with interest   said holmes  pray give us the
essential facts from the commencement and i can afterwards
question you as to those details which seem to me to be most
important  

the young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out
towards the blaze 

 my name   said he  is john openshaw but my own affairs have 
as far as i can understand little to do with this awful
business it is a hereditary matter so in order to give you an
idea of the facts i must go back to the commencement of the
affair 

 you must know that my grandfather had two sons my uncle elias
and my father joseph my father had a small factory at coventry 
which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling he
was a patentee of the openshaw unbreakable tire and his business
met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire
upon a handsome competence 

 my uncle elias emigrated to america when he was a young man and
became a planter in florida where he was reported to have done
very well at the time of the war he fought in jackson's army 
and afterwards under hood where he rose to be a colonel when
lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation where
he remained for three or four years about 1869 or 1870 he came
back to europe and took a small estate in sussex near horsham 
he had made a very considerable fortune in the states and his
reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes and his
dislike of the republican policy in extending the franchise to
them he was a singular man fierce and quick-tempered very
foul-mouthed when he was angry and of a most retiring
disposition during all the years that he lived at horsham i
doubt if ever he set foot in the town he had a garden and two or
three fields round his house and there he would take his
exercise though very often for weeks on end he would never leave
his room he drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very
heavily but he would see no society and did not want any
friends not even his own brother 

 he didn't mind me in fact he took a fancy to me for at the
time when he saw me first i was a youngster of twelve or so this
would be in the year 1878 after he had been eight or nine years
in england he begged my father to let me live with him and he
was very kind to me in his way when he was sober he used to be
fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me and he would
make me his representative both with the servants and with the
tradespeople so that by the time that i was sixteen i was quite
master of the house i kept all the keys and could go where i
liked and do what i liked so long as i did not disturb him in
his privacy there was one singular exception however for he
had a single room a lumber-room up among the attics which was
invariably locked and which he would never permit either me or
anyone else to enter with a boy's curiosity i have peeped
through the keyhole but i was never able to see more than such a
collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such
a room 

 one day it was in march 1883 a letter with a foreign stamp
lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate it was not a
common thing for him to receive letters for his bills were all
paid in ready money and he had no friends of any sort 'from
india ' said he as he took it up 'pondicherry postmark what can
this be ' opening it hurriedly out there jumped five little
dried orange pips which pattered down upon his plate i began to
laugh at this but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight
of his face his lip had fallen his eyes were protruding his
skin the colour of putty and he glared at the envelope which he
still held in his trembling hand 'k k k ' he shrieked and
then 'my god my god my sins have overtaken me '

 'what is it uncle ' i cried 

 'death ' said he and rising from the table he retired to his
room leaving me palpitating with horror i took up the envelope
and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap just above the
gum the letter k three times repeated there was nothing else
save the five dried pips what could be the reason of his
overpowering terror i left the breakfast-table and as i
ascended the stair i met him coming down with an old rusty key 
which must have belonged to the attic in one hand and a small
brass box like a cashbox in the other 

 'they may do what they like but i'll checkmate them still '
said he with an oath 'tell mary that i shall want a fire in my
room to-day and send down to fordham the horsham lawyer '

 i did as he ordered and when the lawyer arrived i was asked to
step up to the room the fire was burning brightly and in the
grate there was a mass of black fluffy ashes as of burned
paper while the brass box stood open and empty beside it as i
glanced at the box i noticed with a start that upon the lid was
printed the treble k which i had read in the morning upon the
envelope 

 'i wish you john ' said my uncle 'to witness my will i leave
my estate with all its advantages and all its disadvantages to
my brother your father whence it will no doubt descend to
you if you can enjoy it in peace well and good if you find you
cannot take my advice my boy and leave it to your deadliest
enemy i am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing but i can't
say what turn things are going to take kindly sign the paper
where mr fordham shows you '

 i signed the paper as directed and the lawyer took it away with
him the singular incident made as you may think the deepest
impression upon me and i pondered over it and turned it every
way in my mind without being able to make anything of it yet i
could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left
behind though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed
and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives i
could see a change in my uncle however he drank more than ever 
and he was less inclined for any sort of society most of his
time he would spend in his room with the door locked upon the
inside but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy
and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a
revolver in his hand screaming out that he was afraid of no man 
and that he was not to be cooped up like a sheep in a pen by
man or devil when these hot fits were over however he would
rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him 
like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror
which lies at the roots of his soul at such times i have seen
his face even on a cold day glisten with moisture as though it
were new raised from a basin 

 well to come to an end of the matter mr holmes and not to
abuse your patience there came a night when he made one of those
drunken sallies from which he never came back we found him when
we went to search for him face downward in a little
green-scummed pool which lay at the foot of the garden there
was no sign of any violence and the water was but two feet deep 
so that the jury having regard to his known eccentricity 
brought in a verdict of 'suicide ' but i who knew how he winced
from the very thought of death had much ado to persuade myself
that he had gone out of his way to meet it the matter passed 
however and my father entered into possession of the estate and
of some 14 000 pounds which lay to his credit at the bank  

 one moment   holmes interposed  your statement is i foresee 
one of the most remarkable to which i have ever listened let me
have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter and
the date of his supposed suicide  

 the letter arrived on march 10 1883 his death was seven weeks
later upon the night of may 2nd  

 thank you pray proceed  

 when my father took over the horsham property he at my
request made a careful examination of the attic which had been
always locked up we found the brass box there although its
contents had been destroyed on the inside of the cover was a
paper label with the initials of k k k repeated upon it and
'letters memoranda receipts and a register' written beneath 
these we presume indicated the nature of the papers which had
been destroyed by colonel openshaw for the rest there was
nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many
scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in
america some of them were of the war time and showed that he had
done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier 
others were of a date during the reconstruction of the southern
states and were mostly concerned with politics for he had
evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag
politicians who had been sent down from the north 

 well it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at
horsham and all went as well as possible with us until the
january of '85 on the fourth day after the new year i heard my
father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the
breakfast-table there he was sitting with a newly opened
envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the
outstretched palm of the other one he had always laughed at what
he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel but he looked
very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon
himself 

 'why what on earth does this mean john ' he stammered 

 my heart had turned to lead 'it is k k k ' said i 

 he looked inside the envelope 'so it is ' he cried 'here are
the very letters but what is this written above them '

 'put the papers on the sundial ' i read peeping over his
shoulder 

 'what papers what sundial ' he asked 

 'the sundial in the garden there is no other ' said i 'but the
papers must be those that are destroyed '

 'pooh ' said he gripping hard at his courage 'we are in a
civilised land here and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind 
where does the thing come from '

 'from dundee ' i answered glancing at the postmark 

 'some preposterous practical joke ' said he 'what have i to do
with sundials and papers i shall take no notice of such
nonsense '

 'i should certainly speak to the police ' i said 

 'and be laughed at for my pains nothing of the sort '

 'then let me do so '

 'no i forbid you i won't have a fuss made about such
nonsense '

 it was in vain to argue with him for he was a very obstinate
man i went about however with a heart which was full of
forebodings 

 on the third day after the coming of the letter my father went
from home to visit an old friend of his major freebody who is
in command of one of the forts upon portsdown hill i was glad
that he should go for it seemed to me that he was farther from
danger when he was away from home in that however i was in
error upon the second day of his absence i received a telegram
from the major imploring me to come at once my father had
fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the
neighbourhood and was lying senseless with a shattered skull i
hurried to him but he passed away without having ever recovered
his consciousness he had as it appears been returning from
fareham in the twilight and as the country was unknown to him 
and the chalk-pit unfenced the jury had no hesitation in
bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes '
carefully as i examined every fact connected with his death i
was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of
murder there were no signs of violence no footmarks no
robbery no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads 
and yet i need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease 
and that i was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been
woven round him 

 in this sinister way i came into my inheritance you will ask me
why i did not dispose of it i answer because i was well
convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an
incident in my uncle's life and that the danger would be as
pressing in one house as in another 

 it was in january '85 that my poor father met his end and two
years and eight months have elapsed since then during that time
i have lived happily at horsham and i had begun to hope that
this curse had passed away from the family and that it had ended
with the last generation i had begun to take comfort too soon 
however yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in
which it had come upon my father  

the young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope and
turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried
orange pips 

 this is the envelope   he continued  the postmark is
london eastern division within are the very words which were
upon my father's last message 'k k k ' and then 'put the
papers on the sundial ' 

 what have you done   asked holmes 

 nothing  

 nothing  

 to tell the truth  he sank his face into his thin white
hands  i have felt helpless i have felt like one of those poor
rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it i seem to be in
the grasp of some resistless inexorable evil which no foresight
and no precautions can guard against  

 tut tut   cried sherlock holmes  you must act man or you are
lost nothing but energy can save you this is no time for
despair  

 i have seen the police  

 ah  

 but they listened to my story with a smile i am convinced that
the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all
practical jokes and that the deaths of my relations were really
accidents as the jury stated and were not to be connected with
the warnings  

holmes shook his clenched hands in the air  incredible
imbecility   he cried 

 they have however allowed me a policeman who may remain in
the house with me  

 has he come with you to-night  

 no his orders were to stay in the house  

again holmes raved in the air 

 why did you come to me   he cried  and above all why did you
not come at once  

 i did not know it was only to-day that i spoke to major
prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to
you  

 it is really two days since you had the letter we should have
acted before this you have no further evidence i suppose than
that which you have placed before us no suggestive detail which
might help us  

 there is one thing   said john openshaw he rummaged in his coat
pocket and drawing out a piece of discoloured blue-tinted
paper he laid it out upon the table  i have some remembrance  
said he  that on the day when my uncle burned the papers i
observed that the small unburned margins which lay amid the
ashes were of this particular colour i found this single sheet
upon the floor of his room and i am inclined to think that it
may be one of the papers which has perhaps fluttered out from
among the others and in that way has escaped destruction beyond
the mention of pips i do not see that it helps us much i think
myself that it is a page from some private diary the writing is
undoubtedly my uncle's  

holmes moved the lamp and we both bent over the sheet of paper 
which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from
a book it was headed  march 1869   and beneath were the
following enigmatical notices 

 4th hudson came same old platform 

 7th set the pips on mccauley paramore and
 john swain of st augustine 

 9th mccauley cleared 

 10th john swain cleared 

 12th visited paramore all well  

 thank you   said holmes folding up the paper and returning it
to our visitor  and now you must on no account lose another
instant we cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told
me you must get home instantly and act  

 what shall i do  

 there is but one thing to do it must be done at once you must
put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass
box which you have described you must also put in a note to say
that all the other papers were burned by your uncle and that
this is the only one which remains you must assert that in such
words as will carry conviction with them having done this you
must at once put the box out upon the sundial as directed do
you understand  

 entirely  

 do not think of revenge or anything of the sort at present i
think that we may gain that by means of the law but we have our
web to weave while theirs is already woven the first
consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens
you the second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the
guilty parties  

 i thank you   said the young man rising and pulling on his
overcoat  you have given me fresh life and hope i shall
certainly do as you advise  

 do not lose an instant and above all take care of yourself in
the meanwhile for i do not think that there can be a doubt that
you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger how do you
go back  

 by train from waterloo  

 it is not yet nine the streets will be crowded so i trust that
you may be in safety and yet you cannot guard yourself too
closely  

 i am armed  

 that is well to-morrow i shall set to work upon your case  

 i shall see you at horsham then  

 no your secret lies in london it is there that i shall seek
it  

 then i shall call upon you in a day or in two days with news
as to the box and the papers i shall take your advice in every
particular   he shook hands with us and took his leave outside
the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered
against the windows this strange wild story seemed to have come
to us from amid the mad elements blown in upon us like a sheet
of sea-weed in a gale and now to have been reabsorbed by them
once more 

sherlock holmes sat for some time in silence with his head sunk
forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire then he
lit his pipe and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue
smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling 

 i think watson   he remarked at last  that of all our cases we
have had none more fantastic than this  

 save perhaps the sign of four  

 well yes save perhaps that and yet this john openshaw seems
to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the
sholtos  

 but have you   i asked  formed any definite conception as to
what these perils are  

 there can be no question as to their nature   he answered 

 then what are they who is this k k k and why does he pursue
this unhappy family  

sherlock holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the
arms of his chair with his finger-tips together  the ideal
reasoner   he remarked  would when he had once been shown a
single fact in all its bearings deduce from it not only all the
chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which
would follow from it as cuvier could correctly describe a whole
animal by the contemplation of a single bone so the observer who
has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents
should be able to accurately state all the other ones both
before and after we have not yet grasped the results which the
reason alone can attain to problems may be solved in the study
which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the
aid of their senses to carry the art however to its highest
pitch it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to
utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge and this
in itself implies as you will readily see a possession of all
knowledge which even in these days of free education and
encyclopaedias is a somewhat rare accomplishment it is not so
impossible however that a man should possess all knowledge
which is likely to be useful to him in his work and this i have
endeavoured in my case to do if i remember rightly you on one
occasion in the early days of our friendship defined my limits
in a very precise fashion  

 yes   i answered laughing  it was a singular document 
philosophy astronomy and politics were marked at zero i
remember botany variable geology profound as regards the
mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town chemistry
eccentric anatomy unsystematic sensational literature and crime
records unique violin-player boxer swordsman lawyer and
self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco those i think were the
main points of my analysis  

holmes grinned at the last item  well   he said  i say now as
i said then that a man should keep his little brain-attic
stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use and the
rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library where he
can get it if he wants it now for such a case as the one which
has been submitted to us to-night we need certainly to muster
all our resources kindly hand me down the letter k of the
'american encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you 
thank you now let us consider the situation and see what may be
deduced from it in the first place we may start with a strong
presumption that colonel openshaw had some very strong reason for
leaving america men at his time of life do not change all their
habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of florida for
the lonely life of an english provincial town his extreme love
of solitude in england suggests the idea that he was in fear of
someone or something so we may assume as a working hypothesis
that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from
america as to what it was he feared we can only deduce that by
considering the formidable letters which were received by himself
and his successors did you remark the postmarks of those
letters  

 the first was from pondicherry the second from dundee and the
third from london  

 from east london what do you deduce from that  

 they are all seaports that the writer was on board of a ship  

 excellent we have already a clue there can be no doubt that
the probability the strong probability is that the writer was
on board of a ship and now let us consider another point in the
case of pondicherry seven weeks elapsed between the threat and
its fulfilment in dundee it was only some three or four days 
does that suggest anything  

 a greater distance to travel  

 but the letter had also a greater distance to come  

 then i do not see the point  

 there is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man
or men are is a sailing-ship it looks as if they always send
their singular warning or token before them when starting upon
their mission you see how quickly the deed followed the sign
when it came from dundee if they had come from pondicherry in a
steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter 
but as a matter of fact seven weeks elapsed i think that those
seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which
brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the
writer  

 it is possible  

 more than that it is probable and now you see the deadly
urgency of this new case and why i urged young openshaw to
caution the blow has always fallen at the end of the time which
it would take the senders to travel the distance but this one
comes from london and therefore we cannot count upon delay  

 good god   i cried  what can it mean this relentless
persecution  

 the papers which openshaw carried are obviously of vital
importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship i think
that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them 
a single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way
as to deceive a coroner's jury there must have been several in
it and they must have been men of resource and determination 
their papers they mean to have be the holder of them who it may 
in this way you see k k k ceases to be the initials of an
individual and becomes the badge of a society  

 but of what society  

 have you never   said sherlock holmes bending forward and
sinking his voice  have you never heard of the ku klux klan  

 i never have  

holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee  here it
is   said he presently 

 'ku klux klan a name derived from the fanciful resemblance to
the sound produced by cocking a rifle this terrible secret
society was formed by some ex-confederate soldiers in the
southern states after the civil war and it rapidly formed local
branches in different parts of the country notably in tennessee 
louisiana the carolinas georgia and florida its power was
used for political purposes principally for the terrorising of
the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country
of those who were opposed to its views its outrages were usually
preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic
but generally recognised shape a sprig of oak-leaves in some
parts melon seeds or orange pips in others on receiving this
the victim might either openly abjure his former ways or might
fly from the country if he braved the matter out death would
unfailingly come upon him and usually in some strange and
unforeseen manner so perfect was the organisation of the
society and so systematic its methods that there is hardly a
case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with
impunity or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the
perpetrators for some years the organisation flourished in spite
of the efforts of the united states government and of the better
classes of the community in the south eventually in the year
1869 the movement rather suddenly collapsed although there have
been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date '

 you will observe   said holmes laying down the volume  that
the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the
disappearance of openshaw from america with their papers it may
well have been cause and effect it is no wonder that he and his
family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track 
you can understand that this register and diary may implicate
some of the first men in the south and that there may be many
who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered  

 then the page we have seen  

 is such as we might expect it ran if i remember right 'sent
the pips to a b and c' that is sent the society's warning to
them then there are successive entries that a and b cleared or
left the country and finally that c was visited with i fear a
sinister result for c well i think doctor that we may let
some light into this dark place and i believe that the only
chance young openshaw has in the meantime is to do what i have
told him there is nothing more to be said or to be done
to-night so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for
half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable
ways of our fellow-men  


it had cleared in the morning and the sun was shining with a
subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the
great city sherlock holmes was already at breakfast when i came
down 

 you will excuse me for not waiting for you   said he  i have i
foresee a very busy day before me in looking into this case of
young openshaw's  

 what steps will you take   i asked 

 it will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries 
i may have to go down to horsham after all  

 you will not go there first  

 no i shall commence with the city just ring the bell and the
maid will bring up your coffee  

as i waited i lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and
glanced my eye over it it rested upon a heading which sent a
chill to my heart 

 holmes   i cried  you are too late  

 ah   said he laying down his cup  i feared as much how was it
done   he spoke calmly but i could see that he was deeply moved 

 my eye caught the name of openshaw and the heading 'tragedy
near waterloo bridge ' here is the account 

 between nine and ten last night police-constable cook of the h
division on duty near waterloo bridge heard a cry for help and
a splash in the water the night however was extremely dark and
stormy so that in spite of the help of several passers-by it
was quite impossible to effect a rescue the alarm however was
given and by the aid of the water-police the body was
eventually recovered it proved to be that of a young gentleman
whose name as it appears from an envelope which was found in his
pocket was john openshaw and whose residence is near horsham 
it is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch
the last train from waterloo station and that in his haste and
the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge
of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats the body
exhibited no traces of violence and there can be no doubt that
the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident 
which should have the effect of calling the attention of the
authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages  

we sat in silence for some minutes holmes more depressed and
shaken than i had ever seen him 

 that hurts my pride watson   he said at last  it is a petty
feeling no doubt but it hurts my pride it becomes a personal
matter with me now and if god sends me health i shall set my
hand upon this gang that he should come to me for help and that
i should send him away to his death   he sprang from his chair
and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation with a
flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and
unclasping of his long thin hands 

 they must be cunning devils   he exclaimed at last  how could
they have decoyed him down there the embankment is not on the
direct line to the station the bridge no doubt was too
crowded even on such a night for their purpose well watson 
we shall see who will win in the long run i am going out now  

 to the police  

 no i shall be my own police when i have spun the web they may
take the flies but not before  

all day i was engaged in my professional work and it was late in
the evening before i returned to baker street sherlock holmes
had not come back yet it was nearly ten o'clock before he
entered looking pale and worn he walked up to the sideboard 
and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously 
washing it down with a long draught of water 

 you are hungry   i remarked 

 starving it had escaped my memory i have had nothing since
breakfast  

 nothing  

 not a bite i had no time to think of it  

 and how have you succeeded  

 well  

 you have a clue  

 i have them in the hollow of my hand young openshaw shall not
long remain unavenged why watson let us put their own devilish
trade-mark upon them it is well thought of  

 what do you mean  

he took an orange from the cupboard and tearing it to pieces he
squeezed out the pips upon the table of these he took five and
thrust them into an envelope on the inside of the flap he wrote
 s h for j o   then he sealed it and addressed it to  captain
james calhoun barque 'lone star ' savannah georgia  

 that will await him when he enters port   said he chuckling 
 it may give him a sleepless night he will find it as sure a
precursor of his fate as openshaw did before him  

 and who is this captain calhoun  

 the leader of the gang i shall have the others but he first  

 how did you trace it then  

he took a large sheet of paper from his pocket all covered with
dates and names 

 i have spent the whole day   said he  over lloyd's registers
and files of the old papers following the future career of every
vessel which touched at pondicherry in january and february in
'83 there were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were
reported there during those months of these one the 'lone star '
instantly attracted my attention since although it was reported
as having cleared from london the name is that which is given to
one of the states of the union  

 texas i think  

 i was not and am not sure which but i knew that the ship must
have an american origin  

 what then  

 i searched the dundee records and when i found that the barque
'lone star' was there in january '85 my suspicion became a
certainty i then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present
in the port of london  

 yes  

 the 'lone star' had arrived here last week i went down to the
albert dock and found that she had been taken down the river by
the early tide this morning homeward bound to savannah i wired
to gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago and
as the wind is easterly i have no doubt that she is now past the
goodwins and not very far from the isle of wight  

 what will you do then  

 oh i have my hand upon him he and the two mates are as i
learn the only native-born americans in the ship the others are
finns and germans i know also that they were all three away
from the ship last night i had it from the stevedore who has
been loading their cargo by the time that their sailing-ship
reaches savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter and
the cable will have informed the police of savannah that these
three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder  

there is ever a flaw however in the best laid of human plans 
and the murderers of john openshaw were never to receive the
orange pips which would show them that another as cunning and as
resolute as themselves was upon their track very long and very
severe were the equinoctial gales that year we waited long for
news of the  lone star  of savannah but none ever reached us we
did at last hear that somewhere far out in the atlantic a
shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough
of a wave with the letters  l s   carved upon it and that is
all which we shall ever know of the fate of the  lone star  



adventure vi the man with the twisted lip

isa whitney brother of the late elias whitney d d principal
of the theological college of st george's was much addicted to
opium the habit grew upon him as i understand from some
foolish freak when he was at college for having read de
quincey's description of his dreams and sensations he had
drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the
same effects he found as so many more have done that the
practice is easier to attain than to get rid of and for many
years he continued to be a slave to the drug an object of
mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives i can see
him now with yellow pasty face drooping lids and pin-point
pupils all huddled in a chair the wreck and ruin of a noble
man 

one night it was in june '89 there came a ring to my bell 
about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the
clock i sat up in my chair and my wife laid her needle-work
down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment 

 a patient   said she  you'll have to go out  

i groaned for i was newly come back from a weary day 

we heard the door open a few hurried words and then quick steps
upon the linoleum our own door flew open and a lady clad in
some dark-coloured stuff with a black veil entered the room 

 you will excuse my calling so late   she began and then 
suddenly losing her self-control she ran forward threw her arms
about my wife's neck and sobbed upon her shoulder  oh i'm in
such trouble   she cried  i do so want a little help  

 why   said my wife pulling up her veil  it is kate whitney 
how you startled me kate i had not an idea who you were when
you came in  

 i didn't know what to do so i came straight to you   that was
always the way folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds
to a light-house 

 it was very sweet of you to come now you must have some wine
and water and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it or
should you rather that i sent james off to bed  

 oh no no i want the doctor's advice and help too it's about
isa he has not been home for two days i am so frightened about
him  

it was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her
husband's trouble to me as a doctor to my wife as an old friend
and school companion we soothed and comforted her by such words
as we could find did she know where her husband was was it
possible that we could bring him back to her 

it seems that it was she had the surest information that of late
he had when the fit was on him made use of an opium den in the
farthest east of the city hitherto his orgies had always been
confined to one day and he had come back twitching and
shattered in the evening but now the spell had been upon him
eight-and-forty hours and he lay there doubtless among the
dregs of the docks breathing in the poison or sleeping off the
effects there he was to be found she was sure of it at the bar
of gold in upper swandam lane but what was she to do how could
she a young and timid woman make her way into such a place and
pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him 

there was the case and of course there was but one way out of
it might i not escort her to this place and then as a second
thought why should she come at all i was isa whitney's medical
adviser and as such i had influence over him i could manage it
better if i were alone i promised her on my word that i would
send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the
address which she had given me and so in ten minutes i had left
my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me and was speeding
eastward in a hansom on a strange errand as it seemed to me at
the time though the future only could show how strange it was to
be 

but there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my
adventure upper swandam lane is a vile alley lurking behind the
high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east
of london bridge between a slop-shop and a gin-shop approached
by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the
mouth of a cave i found the den of which i was in search 
ordering my cab to wait i passed down the steps worn hollow in
the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet and by the
light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door i found the latch
and made my way into a long low room thick and heavy with the
brown opium smoke and terraced with wooden berths like the
forecastle of an emigrant ship 

through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying
in strange fantastic poses bowed shoulders bent knees heads
thrown back and chins pointing upward with here and there a
dark lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer out of the black
shadows there glimmered little red circles of light now bright 
now faint as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of
the metal pipes the most lay silent but some muttered to
themselves and others talked together in a strange low 
monotonous voice their conversation coming in gushes and then
suddenly tailing off into silence each mumbling out his own
thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour at
the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal beside
which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall thin old
man with his jaw resting upon his two fists and his elbows upon
his knees staring into the fire 

as i entered a sallow malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe
for me and a supply of the drug beckoning me to an empty berth 

 thank you i have not come to stay   said i  there is a friend
of mine here mr isa whitney and i wish to speak with him  

there was a movement and an exclamation from my right and
peering through the gloom i saw whitney pale haggard and
unkempt staring out at me 

 my god it's watson   said he he was in a pitiable state of
reaction with every nerve in a twitter  i say watson what
o'clock is it  

 nearly eleven  

 of what day  

 of friday june 19th  

 good heavens i thought it was wednesday it is wednesday what
d'you want to frighten a chap for   he sank his face onto his
arms and began to sob in a high treble key 

 i tell you that it is friday man your wife has been waiting
this two days for you you should be ashamed of yourself  

 so i am but you've got mixed watson for i have only been here
a few hours three pipes four pipes i forget how many but i'll
go home with you i wouldn't frighten kate poor little kate 
give me your hand have you a cab  

 yes i have one waiting  

 then i shall go in it but i must owe something find what i
owe watson i am all off colour i can do nothing for myself  

i walked down the narrow passage between the double row of
sleepers holding my breath to keep out the vile stupefying
fumes of the drug and looking about for the manager as i passed
the tall man who sat by the brazier i felt a sudden pluck at my
skirt and a low voice whispered  walk past me and then look
back at me   the words fell quite distinctly upon my ear i
glanced down they could only have come from the old man at my
side and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever very thin very
wrinkled bent with age an opium pipe dangling down from between
his knees as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his
fingers i took two steps forward and looked back it took all my
self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of
astonishment he had turned his back so that none could see him
but i his form had filled out his wrinkles were gone the dull
eyes had regained their fire and there sitting by the fire and
grinning at my surprise was none other than sherlock holmes he
made a slight motion to me to approach him and instantly as he
turned his face half round to the company once more subsided
into a doddering loose-lipped senility 

 holmes   i whispered  what on earth are you doing in this den  

 as low as you can   he answered  i have excellent ears if you
would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend
of yours i should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with
you  

 i have a cab outside  

 then pray send him home in it you may safely trust him for he
appears to be too limp to get into any mischief i should
recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to
say that you have thrown in your lot with me if you will wait
outside i shall be with you in five minutes  

it was difficult to refuse any of sherlock holmes' requests for
they were always so exceedingly definite and put forward with
such a quiet air of mastery i felt however that when whitney
was once confined in the cab my mission was practically
accomplished and for the rest i could not wish anything better
than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular
adventures which were the normal condition of his existence in a
few minutes i had written my note paid whitney's bill led him
out to the cab and seen him driven through the darkness in a
very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den 
and i was walking down the street with sherlock holmes for two
streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot 
then glancing quickly round he straightened himself out and
burst into a hearty fit of laughter 

 i suppose watson   said he  that you imagine that i have added
opium-smoking to cocaine injections and all the other little
weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical
views  

 i was certainly surprised to find you there  

 but not more so than i to find you  

 i came to find a friend  

 and i to find an enemy  

 an enemy  

 yes one of my natural enemies or shall i say my natural
prey briefly watson i am in the midst of a very remarkable
inquiry and i have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent
ramblings of these sots as i have done before now had i been
recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an
hour's purchase for i have used it before now for my own
purposes and the rascally lascar who runs it has sworn to have
vengeance upon me there is a trap-door at the back of that
building near the corner of paul's wharf which could tell some
strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless
nights  

 what you do not mean bodies  

 ay bodies watson we should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds
for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den it
is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside and i fear that
neville st clair has entered it never to leave it more but our
trap should be here   he put his two forefingers between his
teeth and whistled shrilly a signal which was answered by a
similar whistle from the distance followed shortly by the rattle
of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs 

 now watson   said holmes as a tall dog-cart dashed up through
the gloom throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from
its side lanterns  you'll come with me won't you  

 if i can be of use  

 oh a trusty comrade is always of use and a chronicler still
more so my room at the cedars is a double-bedded one  

 the cedars  

 yes that is mr st clair's house i am staying there while i
conduct the inquiry  

 where is it then  

 near lee in kent we have a seven-mile drive before us  

 but i am all in the dark  

 of course you are you'll know all about it presently jump up
here all right john we shall not need you here's half a
crown look out for me to-morrow about eleven give her her
head so long then  

he flicked the horse with his whip and we dashed away through
the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets which
widened gradually until we were flying across a broad
balustraded bridge with the murky river flowing sluggishly
beneath us beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and
mortar its silence broken only by the heavy regular footfall of
the policeman or the songs and shouts of some belated party of
revellers a dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky and a
star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of
the clouds holmes drove in silence with his head sunk upon his
breast and the air of a man who is lost in thought while i sat
beside him curious to learn what this new quest might be which
seemed to tax his powers so sorely and yet afraid to break in
upon the current of his thoughts we had driven several miles 
and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban
villas when he shook himself shrugged his shoulders and lit up
his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he
is acting for the best 

 you have a grand gift of silence watson   said he  it makes
you quite invaluable as a companion 'pon my word it is a great
thing for me to have someone to talk to for my own thoughts are
not over-pleasant i was wondering what i should say to this dear
little woman to-night when she meets me at the door  

 you forget that i know nothing about it  

 i shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before
we get to lee it seems absurdly simple and yet somehow i can
get nothing to go upon there's plenty of thread no doubt but i
can't get the end of it into my hand now i'll state the case
clearly and concisely to you watson and maybe you can see a
spark where all is dark to me  

 proceed then  

 some years ago to be definite in may 1884 there came to lee
a gentleman neville st clair by name who appeared to have
plenty of money he took a large villa laid out the grounds very
nicely and lived generally in good style by degrees he made
friends in the neighbourhood and in 1887 he married the daughter
of a local brewer by whom he now has two children he had no
occupation but was interested in several companies and went into
town as a rule in the morning returning by the 5 14 from cannon
street every night mr st clair is now thirty-seven years of
age is a man of temperate habits a good husband a very
affectionate father and a man who is popular with all who know
him i may add that his whole debts at the present moment as far
as we have been able to ascertain amount to 88 pounds 10s while
he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the capital and
counties bank there is no reason therefore to think that money
troubles have been weighing upon his mind 

 last monday mr neville st clair went into town rather earlier
than usual remarking before he started that he had two important
commissions to perform and that he would bring his little boy
home a box of bricks now by the merest chance his wife
received a telegram upon this same monday very shortly after his
departure to the effect that a small parcel of considerable
value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the
offices of the aberdeen shipping company now if you are well up
in your london you will know that the office of the company is
in fresno street which branches out of upper swandam lane where
you found me to-night mrs st clair had her lunch started for
the city did some shopping proceeded to the company's office 
got her packet and found herself at exactly 4 35 walking through
swandam lane on her way back to the station have you followed me
so far  

 it is very clear  

 if you remember monday was an exceedingly hot day and mrs st 
clair walked slowly glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab 
as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself 
while she was walking in this way down swandam lane she suddenly
heard an ejaculation or cry and was struck cold to see her
husband looking down at her and as it seemed to her beckoning
to her from a second-floor window the window was open and she
distinctly saw his face which she describes as being terribly
agitated he waved his hands frantically to her and then
vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that
he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind 
one singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that
although he wore some dark coat such as he had started to town
in he had on neither collar nor necktie 

 convinced that something was amiss with him she rushed down the
steps for the house was none other than the opium den in which
you found me to-night and running through the front room she
attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor at
the foot of the stairs however she met this lascar scoundrel of
whom i have spoken who thrust her back and aided by a dane who
acts as assistant there pushed her out into the street filled
with the most maddening doubts and fears she rushed down the
lane and by rare good-fortune met in fresno street a number of
constables with an inspector all on their way to their beat the
inspector and two men accompanied her back and in spite of the
continued resistance of the proprietor they made their way to
the room in which mr st clair had last been seen there was no
sign of him there in fact in the whole of that floor there was
no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect who 
it seems made his home there both he and the lascar stoutly
swore that no one else had been in the front room during the
afternoon so determined was their denial that the inspector was
staggered and had almost come to believe that mrs st clair had
been deluded when with a cry she sprang at a small deal box
which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it out there fell
a cascade of children's bricks it was the toy which he had
promised to bring home 

 this discovery and the evident confusion which the cripple
showed made the inspector realise that the matter was serious 
the rooms were carefully examined and results all pointed to an
abominable crime the front room was plainly furnished as a
sitting-room and led into a small bedroom which looked out upon
the back of one of the wharves between the wharf and the bedroom
window is a narrow strip which is dry at low tide but is covered
at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water the
bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below on
examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill 
and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of
the bedroom thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were
all the clothes of mr neville st clair with the exception of
his coat his boots his socks his hat and his watch all were
there there were no signs of violence upon any of these
garments and there were no other traces of mr neville st 
clair out of the window he must apparently have gone for no
other exit could be discovered and the ominous bloodstains upon
the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by
swimming for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of
the tragedy 

 and now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately
implicated in the matter the lascar was known to be a man of the
vilest antecedents but as by mrs st clair's story he was
known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few
seconds of her husband's appearance at the window he could
hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime his defence
was one of absolute ignorance and he protested that he had no
knowledge as to the doings of hugh boone his lodger and that he
could not account in any way for the presence of the missing
gentleman's clothes 

 so much for the lascar manager now for the sinister cripple who
lives upon the second floor of the opium den and who was
certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon neville st 
clair his name is hugh boone and his hideous face is one which
is familiar to every man who goes much to the city he is a
professional beggar though in order to avoid the police
regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas some
little distance down threadneedle street upon the left-hand
side there is as you may have remarked a small angle in the
wall here it is that this creature takes his daily seat 
cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap and as he
is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the
greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him i
have watched the fellow more than once before ever i thought of
making his professional acquaintance and i have been surprised
at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time his
appearance you see is so remarkable that no one can pass him
without observing him a shock of orange hair a pale face
disfigured by a horrible scar which by its contraction has
turned up the outer edge of his upper lip a bulldog chin and a
pair of very penetrating dark eyes which present a singular
contrast to the colour of his hair all mark him out from amid
the common crowd of mendicants and so too does his wit for he
is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be
thrown at him by the passers-by this is the man whom we now
learn to have been the lodger at the opium den and to have been
the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest  

 but a cripple   said i  what could he have done single-handed
against a man in the prime of life  

 he is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp but in
other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man 
surely your medical experience would tell you watson that
weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional
strength in the others  

 pray continue your narrative  

 mrs st clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the
window and she was escorted home in a cab by the police as her
presence could be of no help to them in their investigations 
inspector barton who had charge of the case made a very careful
examination of the premises but without finding anything which
threw any light upon the matter one mistake had been made in not
arresting boone instantly as he was allowed some few minutes
during which he might have communicated with his friend the
lascar but this fault was soon remedied and he was seized and
searched without anything being found which could incriminate
him there were it is true some blood-stains upon his right
shirt-sleeve but he pointed to his ring-finger which had been
cut near the nail and explained that the bleeding came from
there adding that he had been to the window not long before and
that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from
the same source he denied strenuously having ever seen mr 
neville st clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in
his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police as to
mrs st clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband
at the window he declared that she must have been either mad or
dreaming he was removed loudly protesting to the
police-station while the inspector remained upon the premises in
the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue 

 and it did though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they
had feared to find it was neville st clair's coat and not
neville st clair which lay uncovered as the tide receded and
what do you think they found in the pockets  

 i cannot imagine  

 no i don't think you would guess every pocket stuffed with
pennies and half-pennies 421 pennies and 270 half-pennies it
was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide but a
human body is a different matter there is a fierce eddy between
the wharf and the house it seemed likely enough that the
weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked
away into the river  

 but i understand that all the other clothes were found in the
room would the body be dressed in a coat alone  

 no sir but the facts might be met speciously enough suppose
that this man boone had thrust neville st clair through the
window there is no human eye which could have seen the deed 
what would he do then it would of course instantly strike him
that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments he would seize
the coat then and be in the act of throwing it out when it
would occur to him that it would swim and not sink he has little
time for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried
to force her way up and perhaps he has already heard from his
lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street 
there is not an instant to be lost he rushes to some secret
hoard where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary and he
stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the
pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking he throws it out and
would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard
the rush of steps below and only just had time to close the
window when the police appeared  

 it certainly sounds feasible  

 well we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a
better boone as i have told you was arrested and taken to the
station but it could not be shown that there had ever before
been anything against him he had for years been known as a
professional beggar but his life appeared to have been a very
quiet and innocent one there the matter stands at present and
the questions which have to be solved what neville st clair was
doing in the opium den what happened to him when there where is
he now and what hugh boone had to do with his disappearance are
all as far from a solution as ever i confess that i cannot
recall any case within my experience which looked at the first
glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties  

while sherlock holmes had been detailing this singular series of
events we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great
town until the last straggling houses had been left behind and
we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us 
just as he finished however we drove through two scattered
villages where a few lights still glimmered in the windows 

 we are on the outskirts of lee   said my companion  we have
touched on three english counties in our short drive starting in
middlesex passing over an angle of surrey and ending in kent 
see that light among the trees that is the cedars and beside
that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already i have
little doubt caught the clink of our horse's feet  

 but why are you not conducting the case from baker street   i
asked 

 because there are many inquiries which must be made out here 
mrs st clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal and
you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for
my friend and colleague i hate to meet her watson when i have
no news of her husband here we are whoa there whoa  

we had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its
own grounds a stable-boy had run out to the horse's head and
springing down i followed holmes up the small winding
gravel-drive which led to the house as we approached the door
flew open and a little blonde woman stood in the opening clad
in some sort of light mousseline de soie with a touch of fluffy
pink chiffon at her neck and wrists she stood with her figure
outlined against the flood of light one hand upon the door one
half-raised in her eagerness her body slightly bent her head
and face protruded with eager eyes and parted lips a standing
question 

 well   she cried  well   and then seeing that there were two
of us she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw
that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders 

 no good news  

 none  

 no bad  

 no  

 thank god for that but come in you must be weary for you have
had a long day  

 this is my friend dr watson he has been of most vital use to
me in several of my cases and a lucky chance has made it
possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this
investigation  

 i am delighted to see you   said she pressing my hand warmly 
 you will i am sure forgive anything that may be wanting in our
arrangements when you consider the blow which has come so
suddenly upon us  

 my dear madam   said i  i am an old campaigner and if i were
not i can very well see that no apology is needed if i can be of
any assistance either to you or to my friend here i shall be
indeed happy  

 now mr sherlock holmes   said the lady as we entered a
well-lit dining-room upon the table of which a cold supper had
been laid out  i should very much like to ask you one or two
plain questions to which i beg that you will give a plain
answer  

 certainly madam  

 do not trouble about my feelings i am not hysterical nor given
to fainting i simply wish to hear your real real opinion  

 upon what point  

 in your heart of hearts do you think that neville is alive  

sherlock holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question 
 frankly now   she repeated standing upon the rug and looking
keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair 

 frankly then madam i do not  

 you think that he is dead  

 i do  

 murdered  

 i don't say that perhaps  

 and on what day did he meet his death  

 on monday  

 then perhaps mr holmes you will be good enough to explain how
it is that i have received a letter from him to-day  

sherlock holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been
galvanised 

 what   he roared 

 yes to-day   she stood smiling holding up a little slip of
paper in the air 

 may i see it  

 certainly  

he snatched it from her in his eagerness and smoothing it out
upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently i
had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder the
envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the gravesend
postmark and with the date of that very day or rather of the day
before for it was considerably after midnight 

 coarse writing   murmured holmes  surely this is not your
husband's writing madam  

 no but the enclosure is  

 i perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go
and inquire as to the address  

 how can you tell that  

 the name you see is in perfectly black ink which has dried
itself the rest is of the greyish colour which shows that
blotting-paper has been used if it had been written straight
off and then blotted none would be of a deep black shade this
man has written the name and there has then been a pause before
he wrote the address which can only mean that he was not
familiar with it it is of course a trifle but there is
nothing so important as trifles let us now see the letter ha 
there has been an enclosure here  

 yes there was a ring his signet-ring  

 and you are sure that this is your husband's hand  

 one of his hands  

 one  

 his hand when he wrote hurriedly it is very unlike his usual
writing and yet i know it well  

 'dearest do not be frightened all will come well there is a
huge error which it may take some little time to rectify 
wait in patience neville ' written in pencil upon the fly-leaf
of a book octavo size no water-mark hum posted to-day in
gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb ha and the flap has been
gummed if i am not very much in error by a person who had been
chewing tobacco and you have no doubt that it is your husband's
hand madam  

 none neville wrote those words  

 and they were posted to-day at gravesend well mrs st clair 
the clouds lighten though i should not venture to say that the
danger is over  

 but he must be alive mr holmes  

 unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent 
the ring after all proves nothing it may have been taken from
him  

 no no it is it is his very own writing  

 very well it may however have been written on monday and only
posted to-day  

 that is possible  

 if so much may have happened between  

 oh you must not discourage me mr holmes i know that all is
well with him there is so keen a sympathy between us that i
should know if evil came upon him on the very day that i saw him
last he cut himself in the bedroom and yet i in the dining-room
rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that
something had happened do you think that i would respond to such
a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death  

 i have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman
may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical
reasoner and in this letter you certainly have a very strong
piece of evidence to corroborate your view but if your husband
is alive and able to write letters why should he remain away
from you  

 i cannot imagine it is unthinkable  

 and on monday he made no remarks before leaving you  

 no  

 and you were surprised to see him in swandam lane  

 very much so  

 was the window open  

 yes  

 then he might have called to you  

 he might  

 he only as i understand gave an inarticulate cry  

 yes  

 a call for help you thought  

 yes he waved his hands  

 but it might have been a cry of surprise astonishment at the
unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands  

 it is possible  

 and you thought he was pulled back  

 he disappeared so suddenly  

 he might have leaped back you did not see anyone else in the
room  

 no but this horrible man confessed to having been there and
the lascar was at the foot of the stairs  

 quite so your husband as far as you could see had his
ordinary clothes on  

 but without his collar or tie i distinctly saw his bare
throat  

 had he ever spoken of swandam lane  

 never  

 had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium  

 never  

 thank you mrs st clair those are the principal points about
which i wished to be absolutely clear we shall now have a little
supper and then retire for we may have a very busy day
to-morrow  

a large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our
disposal and i was quickly between the sheets for i was weary
after my night of adventure sherlock holmes was a man however 
who when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind would go for
days and even for a week without rest turning it over 
rearranging his facts looking at it from every point of view
until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his
data were insufficient it was soon evident to me that he was now
preparing for an all-night sitting he took off his coat and
waistcoat put on a large blue dressing-gown and then wandered
about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from
the sofa and armchairs with these he constructed a sort of
eastern divan upon which he perched himself cross-legged with
an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front
of him in the dim light of the lamp i saw him sitting there an
old briar pipe between his lips his eyes fixed vacantly upon the
corner of the ceiling the blue smoke curling up from him 
silent motionless with the light shining upon his strong-set
aquiline features so he sat as i dropped off to sleep and so he
sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up and i found
the summer sun shining into the apartment the pipe was still
between his lips the smoke still curled upward and the room was
full of a dense tobacco haze but nothing remained of the heap of
shag which i had seen upon the previous night 

 awake watson   he asked 

 yes  

 game for a morning drive  

 certainly  

 then dress no one is stirring yet but i know where the
stable-boy sleeps and we shall soon have the trap out   he
chuckled to himself as he spoke his eyes twinkled and he seemed
a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night 

as i dressed i glanced at my watch it was no wonder that no one
was stirring it was twenty-five minutes past four i had hardly
finished when holmes returned with the news that the boy was
putting in the horse 

 i want to test a little theory of mine   said he pulling on his
boots  i think watson that you are now standing in the
presence of one of the most absolute fools in europe i deserve
to be kicked from here to charing cross but i think i have the
key of the affair now  

 and where is it   i asked smiling 

 in the bathroom   he answered  oh yes i am not joking   he
continued seeing my look of incredulity  i have just been
there and i have taken it out and i have got it in this
gladstone bag come on my boy and we shall see whether it will
not fit the lock  

we made our way downstairs as quietly as possible and out into
the bright morning sunshine in the road stood our horse and
trap with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head we both
sprang in and away we dashed down the london road a few country
carts were stirring bearing in vegetables to the metropolis but
the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as
some city in a dream 

 it has been in some points a singular case   said holmes 
flicking the horse on into a gallop  i confess that i have been
as blind as a mole but it is better to learn wisdom late than
never to learn it at all  

in town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily
from their windows as we drove through the streets of the surrey
side passing down the waterloo bridge road we crossed over the
river and dashing up wellington street wheeled sharply to the
right and found ourselves in bow street sherlock holmes was well
known to the force and the two constables at the door saluted
him one of them held the horse's head while the other led us in 

 who is on duty   asked holmes 

 inspector bradstreet sir  

 ah bradstreet how are you   a tall stout official had come
down the stone-flagged passage in a peaked cap and frogged
jacket  i wish to have a quiet word with you bradstreet  
 certainly mr holmes step into my room here   it was a small 
office-like room with a huge ledger upon the table and a
telephone projecting from the wall the inspector sat down at his
desk 

 what can i do for you mr holmes  

 i called about that beggarman boone the one who was charged
with being concerned in the disappearance of mr neville st 
clair of lee  

 yes he was brought up and remanded for further inquiries  

 so i heard you have him here  

 in the cells  

 is he quiet  

 oh he gives no trouble but he is a dirty scoundrel  

 dirty  

 yes it is all we can do to make him wash his hands and his
face is as black as a tinker's well when once his case has been
settled he will have a regular prison bath and i think if you
saw him you would agree with me that he needed it  

 i should like to see him very much  

 would you that is easily done come this way you can leave
your bag  

 no i think that i'll take it  

 very good come this way if you please   he led us down a
passage opened a barred door passed down a winding stair and
brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each
side 

 the third on the right is his   said the inspector  here it
is   he quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door
and glanced through 

 he is asleep   said he  you can see him very well  

we both put our eyes to the grating the prisoner lay with his
face towards us in a very deep sleep breathing slowly and
heavily he was a middle-sized man coarsely clad as became his
calling with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his
tattered coat he was as the inspector had said extremely
dirty but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its
repulsive ugliness a broad wheal from an old scar ran right
across it from eye to chin and by its contraction had turned up
one side of the upper lip so that three teeth were exposed in a
perpetual snarl a shock of very bright red hair grew low over
his eyes and forehead 

 he's a beauty isn't he   said the inspector 

 he certainly needs a wash   remarked holmes  i had an idea that
he might and i took the liberty of bringing the tools with me  
he opened the gladstone bag as he spoke and took out to my
astonishment a very large bath-sponge 

 he he you are a funny one   chuckled the inspector 

 now if you will have the great goodness to open that door very
quietly we will soon make him cut a much more respectable
figure  

 well i don't know why not   said the inspector  he doesn't
look a credit to the bow street cells does he   he slipped his
key into the lock and we all very quietly entered the cell the
sleeper half turned and then settled down once more into a deep
slumber holmes stooped to the water-jug moistened his sponge 
and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the
prisoner's face 

 let me introduce you   he shouted  to mr neville st clair of
lee in the county of kent  

never in my life have i seen such a sight the man's face peeled
off under the sponge like the bark from a tree gone was the
coarse brown tint gone too was the horrid scar which had
seamed it across and the twisted lip which had given the
repulsive sneer to the face a twitch brought away the tangled
red hair and there sitting up in his bed was a pale 
sad-faced refined-looking man black-haired and smooth-skinned 
rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment 
then suddenly realising the exposure he broke into a scream and
threw himself down with his face to the pillow 

 great heavens   cried the inspector  it is indeed the missing
man i know him from the photograph  

the prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons
himself to his destiny  be it so   said he  and pray what am i
charged with  

 with making away with mr neville st oh come you can't be
charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of
it   said the inspector with a grin  well i have been
twenty-seven years in the force but this really takes the cake  

 if i am mr neville st clair then it is obvious that no crime
has been committed and that therefore i am illegally
detained  

 no crime but a very great error has been committed   said
holmes  you would have done better to have trusted your wife  

 it was not the wife it was the children   groaned the prisoner 
 god help me i would not have them ashamed of their father my
god what an exposure what can i do  

sherlock holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him
kindly on the shoulder 

 if you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up   said
he  of course you can hardly avoid publicity on the other hand 
if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible
case against you i do not know that there is any reason that the
details should find their way into the papers inspector
bradstreet would i am sure make notes upon anything which you
might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities the case
would then never go into court at all  

 god bless you   cried the prisoner passionately  i would have
endured imprisonment ay even execution rather than have left
my miserable secret as a family blot to my children 

 you are the first who have ever heard my story my father was a
schoolmaster in chesterfield where i received an excellent
education i travelled in my youth took to the stage and
finally became a reporter on an evening paper in london one day
my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the
metropolis and i volunteered to supply them there was the point
from which all my adventures started it was only by trying
begging as an amateur that i could get the facts upon which to
base my articles when an actor i had of course learned all the
secrets of making up and had been famous in the green-room for
my skill i took advantage now of my attainments i painted my
face and to make myself as pitiable as possible i made a good
scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a
small slip of flesh-coloured plaster then with a red head of
hair and an appropriate dress i took my station in the business
part of the city ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a
beggar for seven hours i plied my trade and when i returned
home in the evening i found to my surprise that i had received no
less than 26s 4d 

 i wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until 
some time later i backed a bill for a friend and had a writ
served upon me for 25 pounds i was at my wit's end where to get
the money but a sudden idea came to me i begged a fortnight's
grace from the creditor asked for a holiday from my employers 
and spent the time in begging in the city under my disguise in
ten days i had the money and had paid the debt 

 well you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous
work at 2 pounds a week when i knew that i could earn as much in
a day by smearing my face with a little paint laying my cap on
the ground and sitting still it was a long fight between my
pride and the money but the dollars won at last and i threw up
reporting and sat day after day in the corner which i had first
chosen inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets
with coppers only one man knew my secret he was the keeper of a
low den in which i used to lodge in swandam lane where i could
every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings
transform myself into a well-dressed man about town this fellow 
a lascar was well paid by me for his rooms so that i knew that
my secret was safe in his possession 

 well very soon i found that i was saving considerable sums of
money i do not mean that any beggar in the streets of london
could earn 700 pounds a year which is less than my average
takings but i had exceptional advantages in my power of making
up and also in a facility of repartee which improved by
practice and made me quite a recognised character in the city 
all day a stream of pennies varied by silver poured in upon me 
and it was a very bad day in which i failed to take 2 pounds 

 as i grew richer i grew more ambitious took a house in the
country and eventually married without anyone having a
suspicion as to my real occupation my dear wife knew that i had
business in the city she little knew what 

 last monday i had finished for the day and was dressing in my
room above the opium den when i looked out of my window and saw 
to my horror and astonishment that my wife was standing in the
street with her eyes fixed full upon me i gave a cry of
surprise threw up my arms to cover my face and rushing to my
confidant the lascar entreated him to prevent anyone from
coming up to me i heard her voice downstairs but i knew that
she could not ascend swiftly i threw off my clothes pulled on
those of a beggar and put on my pigments and wig even a wife's
eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise but then it
occurred to me that there might be a search in the room and that
the clothes might betray me i threw open the window reopening
by my violence a small cut which i had inflicted upon myself in
the bedroom that morning then i seized my coat which was
weighted by the coppers which i had just transferred to it from
the leather bag in which i carried my takings i hurled it out of
the window and it disappeared into the thames the other clothes
would have followed but at that moment there was a rush of
constables up the stair and a few minutes after i found rather 
i confess to my relief that instead of being identified as mr 
neville st clair i was arrested as his murderer 

 i do not know that there is anything else for me to explain i
was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible and
hence my preference for a dirty face knowing that my wife would
be terribly anxious i slipped off my ring and confided it to the
lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me together
with a hurried scrawl telling her that she had no cause to
fear  

 that note only reached her yesterday   said holmes 

 good god what a week she must have spent  

 the police have watched this lascar   said inspector bradstreet 
 and i can quite understand that he might find it difficult to
post a letter unobserved probably he handed it to some sailor
customer of his who forgot all about it for some days  

 that was it   said holmes nodding approvingly  i have no doubt
of it but have you never been prosecuted for begging  

 many times but what was a fine to me  

 it must stop here however   said bradstreet  if the police are
to hush this thing up there must be no more of hugh boone  

 i have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take  

 in that case i think that it is probable that no further steps
may be taken but if you are found again then all must come out 
i am sure mr holmes that we are very much indebted to you for
having cleared the matter up i wish i knew how you reach your
results  

 i reached this one   said my friend  by sitting upon five
pillows and consuming an ounce of shag i think watson that if
we drive to baker street we shall just be in time for breakfast  



vii the adventure of the blue carbuncle

i had called upon my friend sherlock holmes upon the second
morning after christmas with the intention of wishing him the
compliments of the season he was lounging upon the sofa in a
purple dressing-gown a pipe-rack within his reach upon the
right and a pile of crumpled morning papers evidently newly
studied near at hand beside the couch was a wooden chair and
on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable
hard-felt hat much the worse for wear and cracked in several
places a lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair
suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the
purpose of examination 

 you are engaged   said i  perhaps i interrupt you  

 not at all i am glad to have a friend with whom i can discuss
my results the matter is a perfectly trivial one  he jerked his
thumb in the direction of the old hat  but there are points in
connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and
even of instruction  

i seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his
crackling fire for a sharp frost had set in and the windows
were thick with the ice crystals  i suppose   i remarked  that 
homely as it looks this thing has some deadly story linked on to
it that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of
some mystery and the punishment of some crime  

 no no no crime   said sherlock holmes laughing  only one of
those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have
four million human beings all jostling each other within the
space of a few square miles amid the action and reaction of so
dense a swarm of humanity every possible combination of events
may be expected to take place and many a little problem will be
presented which may be striking and bizarre without being
criminal we have already had experience of such  

 so much so   i remarked  that of the last six cases which i
have added to my notes three have been entirely free of any
legal crime  

 precisely you allude to my attempt to recover the irene adler
papers to the singular case of miss mary sutherland and to the
adventure of the man with the twisted lip well i have no doubt
that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category 
you know peterson the commissionaire  

 yes  

 it is to him that this trophy belongs  

 it is his hat  

 no no he found it its owner is unknown i beg that you will
look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual
problem and first as to how it came here it arrived upon
christmas morning in company with a good fat goose which is i
have no doubt roasting at this moment in front of peterson's
fire the facts are these about four o'clock on christmas
morning peterson who as you know is a very honest fellow was
returning from some small jollification and was making his way
homeward down tottenham court road in front of him he saw in
the gaslight a tallish man walking with a slight stagger and
carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder as he reached the
corner of goodge street a row broke out between this stranger
and a little knot of roughs one of the latter knocked off the
man's hat on which he raised his stick to defend himself and 
swinging it over his head smashed the shop window behind him 
peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his
assailants but the man shocked at having broken the window and
seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him 
dropped his goose took to his heels and vanished amid the
labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of tottenham
court road the roughs had also fled at the appearance of
peterson so that he was left in possession of the field of
battle and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this
battered hat and a most unimpeachable christmas goose  

 which surely he restored to their owner  

 my dear fellow there lies the problem it is true that 'for
mrs henry baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to
the bird's left leg and it is also true that the initials 'h 
b ' are legible upon the lining of this hat but as there are
some thousands of bakers and some hundreds of henry bakers in
this city of ours it is not easy to restore lost property to any
one of them  

 what then did peterson do  

 he brought round both hat and goose to me on christmas morning 
knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me 
the goose we retained until this morning when there were signs
that in spite of the slight frost it would be well that it
should be eaten without unnecessary delay its finder has carried
it off therefore to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose 
while i continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who
lost his christmas dinner  

 did he not advertise  

 no  

 then what clue could you have as to his identity  

 only as much as we can deduce  

 from his hat  

 precisely  

 but you are joking what can you gather from this old battered
felt  

 here is my lens you know my methods what can you gather
yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this
article  

i took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather
ruefully it was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round
shape hard and much the worse for wear the lining had been of
red silk but was a good deal discoloured there was no maker's
name but as holmes had remarked the initials  h b   were
scrawled upon one side it was pierced in the brim for a
hat-securer but the elastic was missing for the rest it was
cracked exceedingly dusty and spotted in several places 
although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the
discoloured patches by smearing them with ink 

 i can see nothing   said i handing it back to my friend 

 on the contrary watson you can see everything you fail 
however to reason from what you see you are too timid in
drawing your inferences  

 then pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat  

he picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective
fashion which was characteristic of him  it is perhaps less
suggestive than it might have been   he remarked  and yet there
are a few inferences which are very distinct and a few others
which represent at least a strong balance of probability that
the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the
face of it and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the
last three years although he has now fallen upon evil days he
had foresight but has less now than formerly pointing to a
moral retrogression which when taken with the decline of his
fortunes seems to indicate some evil influence probably drink 
at work upon him this may account also for the obvious fact that
his wife has ceased to love him  

 my dear holmes  

 he has however retained some degree of self-respect   he
continued disregarding my remonstrance  he is a man who leads a
sedentary life goes out little is out of training entirely is
middle-aged has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the
last few days and which he anoints with lime-cream these are
the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat also 
by the way that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid
on in his house  

 you are certainly joking holmes  

 not in the least is it possible that even now when i give you
these results you are unable to see how they are attained  

 i have no doubt that i am very stupid but i must confess that i
am unable to follow you for example how did you deduce that
this man was intellectual  

for answer holmes clapped the hat upon his head it came right
over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose  it is
a question of cubic capacity   said he  a man with so large a
brain must have something in it  

 the decline of his fortunes then  

 this hat is three years old these flat brims curled at the edge
came in then it is a hat of the very best quality look at the
band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining if this man could
afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago and has had no
hat since then he has assuredly gone down in the world  

 well that is clear enough certainly but how about the
foresight and the moral retrogression  

sherlock holmes laughed  here is the foresight   said he putting
his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer 
 they are never sold upon hats if this man ordered one it is a
sign of a certain amount of foresight since he went out of his
way to take this precaution against the wind but since we see
that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace
it it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly 
which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature on the other
hand he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the
felt by daubing them with ink which is a sign that he has not
entirely lost his self-respect  

 your reasoning is certainly plausible  

 the further points that he is middle-aged that his hair is
grizzled that it has been recently cut and that he uses
lime-cream are all to be gathered from a close examination of the
lower part of the lining the lens discloses a large number of
hair-ends clean cut by the scissors of the barber they all
appear to be adhesive and there is a distinct odour of
lime-cream this dust you will observe is not the gritty grey
dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house 
showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time while
the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the
wearer perspired very freely and could therefore hardly be in
the best of training  

 but his wife you said that she had ceased to love him  

 this hat has not been brushed for weeks when i see you my dear
watson with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat and
when your wife allows you to go out in such a state i shall fear
that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's
affection  

 but he might be a bachelor  

 nay he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his
wife remember the card upon the bird's leg  

 you have an answer to everything but how on earth do you deduce
that the gas is not laid on in his house  

 one tallow stain or even two might come by chance but when i
see no less than five i think that there can be little doubt
that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with
burning tallow walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in
one hand and a guttering candle in the other anyhow he never
got tallow-stains from a gas-jet are you satisfied  

 well it is very ingenious   said i laughing  but since as
you said just now there has been no crime committed and no harm
done save the loss of a goose all this seems to be rather a
waste of energy  

sherlock holmes had opened his mouth to reply when the door flew
open and peterson the commissionaire rushed into the apartment
with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with
astonishment 

 the goose mr holmes the goose sir   he gasped 

 eh what of it then has it returned to life and flapped off
through the kitchen window   holmes twisted himself round upon
the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face 

 see here sir see what my wife found in its crop   he held out
his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly
scintillating blue stone rather smaller than a bean in size but
of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric
point in the dark hollow of his hand 

sherlock holmes sat up with a whistle  by jove peterson   said
he  this is treasure trove indeed i suppose you know what you
have got  

 a diamond sir a precious stone it cuts into glass as though
it were putty  

 it's more than a precious stone it is the precious stone  

 not the countess of morcar's blue carbuncle   i ejaculated 

 precisely so i ought to know its size and shape seeing that i
have read the advertisement about it in the times every day
lately it is absolutely unique and its value can only be
conjectured but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly
not within a twentieth part of the market price  

 a thousand pounds great lord of mercy   the commissionaire
plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us 

 that is the reward and i have reason to know that there are
sentimental considerations in the background which would induce
the countess to part with half her fortune if she could but
recover the gem  

 it was lost if i remember aright at the hotel cosmopolitan   i
remarked 

 precisely so on december 22nd just five days ago john horner 
a plumber was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's
jewel-case the evidence against him was so strong that the case
has been referred to the assizes i have some account of the
matter here i believe   he rummaged amid his newspapers 
glancing over the dates until at last he smoothed one out 
doubled it over and read the following paragraph 

 hotel cosmopolitan jewel robbery john horner 26 plumber was
brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst 
abstracted from the jewel-case of the countess of morcar the
valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle james ryder 
upper-attendant at the hotel gave his evidence to the effect
that he had shown horner up to the dressing-room of the countess
of morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might
solder the second bar of the grate which was loose he had
remained with horner some little time but had finally been
called away on returning he found that horner had disappeared 
that the bureau had been forced open and that the small morocco
casket in which as it afterwards transpired the countess was
accustomed to keep her jewel was lying empty upon the
dressing-table ryder instantly gave the alarm and horner was
arrested the same evening but the stone could not be found
either upon his person or in his rooms catherine cusack maid to
the countess deposed to having heard ryder's cry of dismay on
discovering the robbery and to having rushed into the room 
where she found matters as described by the last witness 
inspector bradstreet b division gave evidence as to the arrest
of horner who struggled frantically and protested his innocence
in the strongest terms evidence of a previous conviction for
robbery having been given against the prisoner the magistrate
refused to deal summarily with the offence but referred it to
the assizes horner who had shown signs of intense emotion
during the proceedings fainted away at the conclusion and was
carried out of court  

 hum so much for the police-court   said holmes thoughtfully 
tossing aside the paper  the question for us now to solve is the
sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to
the crop of a goose in tottenham court road at the other you
see watson our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much
more important and less innocent aspect here is the stone the
stone came from the goose and the goose came from mr henry
baker the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other
characteristics with which i have bored you so now we must set
ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and
ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery to
do this we must try the simplest means first and these lie
undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers if
this fail i shall have recourse to other methods  

 what will you say  

 give me a pencil and that slip of paper now then 'found at
the corner of goodge street a goose and a black felt hat mr 
henry baker can have the same by applying at 6 30 this evening at
221b baker street ' that is clear and concise  

 very but will he see it  

 well he is sure to keep an eye on the papers since to a poor
man the loss was a heavy one he was clearly so scared by his
mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of peterson
that he thought of nothing but flight but since then he must
have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his
bird then again the introduction of his name will cause him to
see it for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to
it here you are peterson run down to the advertising agency
and have this put in the evening papers  

 in which sir  

 oh in the globe star pall mall st james's evening news 
standard echo and any others that occur to you  

 very well sir and this stone  

 ah yes i shall keep the stone thank you and i say 
peterson just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here
with me for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place
of the one which your family is now devouring  

when the commissionaire had gone holmes took up the stone and
held it against the light  it's a bonny thing   said he  just
see how it glints and sparkles of course it is a nucleus and
focus of crime every good stone is they are the devil's pet
baits in the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a
bloody deed this stone is not yet twenty years old it was found
in the banks of the amoy river in southern china and is remarkable
in having every characteristic of the carbuncle save that it is
blue in shade instead of ruby red in spite of its youth it has
already a sinister history there have been two murders a
vitriol-throwing a suicide and several robberies brought about
for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal 
who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the
gallows and the prison i'll lock it up in my strong box now and
drop a line to the countess to say that we have it  

 do you think that this man horner is innocent  

 i cannot tell  

 well then do you imagine that this other one henry baker had
anything to do with the matter  

 it is i think much more likely that henry baker is an
absolutely innocent man who had no idea that the bird which he
was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made
of solid gold that however i shall determine by a very simple
test if we have an answer to our advertisement  

 and you can do nothing until then  

 nothing  

 in that case i shall continue my professional round but i shall
come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned for i
should like to see the solution of so tangled a business  

 very glad to see you i dine at seven there is a woodcock i
believe by the way in view of recent occurrences perhaps i
ought to ask mrs hudson to examine its crop  

i had been delayed at a case and it was a little after half-past
six when i found myself in baker street once more as i
approached the house i saw a tall man in a scotch bonnet with a
coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the
bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight just as i
arrived the door was opened and we were shown up together to
holmes' room 

 mr henry baker i believe   said he rising from his armchair
and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he
could so readily assume  pray take this chair by the fire mr 
baker it is a cold night and i observe that your circulation is
more adapted for summer than for winter ah watson you have
just come at the right time is that your hat mr baker  

 yes sir that is undoubtedly my hat  

he was a large man with rounded shoulders a massive head and a
broad intelligent face sloping down to a pointed beard of
grizzled brown a touch of red in nose and cheeks with a slight
tremor of his extended hand recalled holmes' surmise as to his
habits his rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in
front with the collar turned up and his lank wrists protruded
from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt he spoke in a
slow staccato fashion choosing his words with care and gave the
impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had
ill-usage at the hands of fortune 

 we have retained these things for some days   said holmes 
 because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your
address i am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise  

our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh  shillings have not
been so plentiful with me as they once were   he remarked  i had
no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off
both my hat and the bird i did not care to spend more money in a
hopeless attempt at recovering them  

 very naturally by the way about the bird we were compelled to
eat it  

 to eat it   our visitor half rose from his chair in his
excitement 

 yes it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so 
but i presume that this other goose upon the sideboard which is
about the same weight and perfectly fresh will answer your
purpose equally well  

 oh certainly certainly   answered mr baker with a sigh of
relief 

 of course we still have the feathers legs crop and so on of
your own bird so if you wish  

the man burst into a hearty laugh  they might be useful to me as
relics of my adventure   said he  but beyond that i can hardly
see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are
going to be to me no sir i think that with your permission i
will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which i perceive
upon the sideboard  

sherlock holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug
of his shoulders 

 there is your hat then and there your bird   said he  by the
way would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one
from i am somewhat of a fowl fancier and i have seldom seen a
better grown goose  

 certainly sir   said baker who had risen and tucked his newly
gained property under his arm  there are a few of us who
frequent the alpha inn near the museum we are to be found in
the museum itself during the day you understand this year our
good host windigate by name instituted a goose club by which 
on consideration of some few pence every week we were each to
receive a bird at christmas my pence were duly paid and the
rest is familiar to you i am much indebted to you sir for a
scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity   with
a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and
strode off upon his way 

 so much for mr henry baker   said holmes when he had closed the
door behind him  it is quite certain that he knows nothing
whatever about the matter are you hungry watson  

 not particularly  

 then i suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow
up this clue while it is still hot  

 by all means  

it was a bitter night so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped
cravats about our throats outside the stars were shining coldly
in a cloudless sky and the breath of the passers-by blew out
into smoke like so many pistol shots our footfalls rang out
crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter 
wimpole street harley street and so through wigmore street into
oxford street in a quarter of an hour we were in bloomsbury at
the alpha inn which is a small public-house at the corner of one
of the streets which runs down into holborn holmes pushed open
the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from
the ruddy-faced white-aproned landlord 

 your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese  
said he 

 my geese   the man seemed surprised 

 yes i was speaking only half an hour ago to mr henry baker 
who was a member of your goose club  

 ah yes i see but you see sir them's not our geese  

 indeed whose then  

 well i got the two dozen from a salesman in covent garden  

 indeed i know some of them which was it  

 breckinridge is his name  

 ah i don't know him well here's your good health landlord 
and prosperity to your house good-night  

 now for mr breckinridge   he continued buttoning up his coat
as we came out into the frosty air  remember watson that though
we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain we
have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal
servitude unless we can establish his innocence it is possible
that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt but in any case we
have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police 
and which a singular chance has placed in our hands let us
follow it out to the bitter end faces to the south then and
quick march  

we passed across holborn down endell street and so through a
zigzag of slums to covent garden market one of the largest
stalls bore the name of breckinridge upon it and the proprietor
a horsey-looking man with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was
helping a boy to put up the shutters 

 good-evening it's a cold night   said holmes 

the salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my
companion 

 sold out of geese i see   continued holmes pointing at the
bare slabs of marble 

 let you have five hundred to-morrow morning  

 that's no good  

 well there are some on the stall with the gas-flare  

 ah but i was recommended to you  

 who by  

 the landlord of the alpha  

 oh yes i sent him a couple of dozen  

 fine birds they were too now where did you get them from  

to my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the
salesman 

 now then mister   said he with his head cocked and his arms
akimbo  what are you driving at let's have it straight now  

 it is straight enough i should like to know who sold you the
geese which you supplied to the alpha  

 well then i shan't tell you so now  

 oh it is a matter of no importance but i don't know why you
should be so warm over such a trifle  

 warm you'd be as warm maybe if you were as pestered as i am 
when i pay good money for a good article there should be an end
of the business but it's 'where are the geese ' and 'who did you
sell the geese to ' and 'what will you take for the geese ' one
would think they were the only geese in the world to hear the
fuss that is made over them  

 well i have no connection with any other people who have been
making inquiries   said holmes carelessly  if you won't tell us
the bet is off that is all but i'm always ready to back my
opinion on a matter of fowls and i have a fiver on it that the
bird i ate is country bred  

 well then you've lost your fiver for it's town bred   snapped
the salesman 

 it's nothing of the kind  

 i say it is  

 i don't believe it  

 d'you think you know more about fowls than i who have handled
them ever since i was a nipper i tell you all those birds that
went to the alpha were town bred  

 you'll never persuade me to believe that  

 will you bet then  

 it's merely taking your money for i know that i am right but
i'll have a sovereign on with you just to teach you not to be
obstinate  

the salesman chuckled grimly  bring me the books bill   said
he 

the small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great
greasy-backed one laying them out together beneath the hanging
lamp 

 now then mr cocksure   said the salesman  i thought that i
was out of geese but before i finish you'll find that there is
still one left in my shop you see this little book  

 well  

 that's the list of the folk from whom i buy d'you see well 
then here on this page are the country folk and the numbers
after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger 
now then you see this other page in red ink well that is a
list of my town suppliers now look at that third name just
read it out to me  

 mrs oakshott 117 brixton road 249   read holmes 

 quite so now turn that up in the ledger  

holmes turned to the page indicated  here you are 'mrs 
oakshott 117 brixton road egg and poultry supplier ' 

 now then what's the last entry  

 'december 22nd twenty-four geese at 7s 6d ' 

 quite so there you are and underneath  

 'sold to mr windigate of the alpha at 12s ' 

 what have you to say now  

sherlock holmes looked deeply chagrined he drew a sovereign from
his pocket and threw it down upon the slab turning away with the
air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words a few yards off
he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty noiseless
fashion which was peculiar to him 

 when you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'pink 'un'
protruding out of his pocket you can always draw him by a bet  
said he  i daresay that if i had put 100 pounds down in front of
him that man would not have given me such complete information
as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a
wager well watson we are i fancy nearing the end of our
quest and the only point which remains to be determined is
whether we should go on to this mrs oakshott to-night or
whether we should reserve it for to-morrow it is clear from what
that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves
who are anxious about the matter and i should  

his remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke
out from the stall which we had just left turning round we saw a
little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of
yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp while
breckinridge the salesman framed in the door of his stall was
shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure 

 i've had enough of you and your geese   he shouted  i wish you
were all at the devil together if you come pestering me any more
with your silly talk i'll set the dog at you you bring mrs 
oakshott here and i'll answer her but what have you to do with
it did i buy the geese off you  

 no but one of them was mine all the same   whined the little
man 

 well then ask mrs oakshott for it  

 she told me to ask you  

 well you can ask the king of proosia for all i care i've had
enough of it get out of this   he rushed fiercely forward and
the inquirer flitted away into the darkness 

 ha this may save us a visit to brixton road   whispered holmes 
 come with me and we will see what is to be made of this
fellow   striding through the scattered knots of people who
lounged round the flaring stalls my companion speedily overtook
the little man and touched him upon the shoulder he sprang
round and i could see in the gas-light that every vestige of
colour had been driven from his face 

 who are you then what do you want   he asked in a quavering
voice 

 you will excuse me   said holmes blandly  but i could not help
overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now 
i think that i could be of assistance to you  

 you who are you how could you know anything of the matter  

 my name is sherlock holmes it is my business to know what other
people don't know  

 but you can know nothing of this  

 excuse me i know everything of it you are endeavouring to
trace some geese which were sold by mrs oakshott of brixton
road to a salesman named breckinridge by him in turn to mr 
windigate of the alpha and by him to his club of which mr 
henry baker is a member  

 oh sir you are the very man whom i have longed to meet   cried
the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers 
 i can hardly explain to you how interested i am in this matter  

sherlock holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing  in that
case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this
wind-swept market-place   said he  but pray tell me before we
go farther who it is that i have the pleasure of assisting  

the man hesitated for an instant  my name is john robinson   he
answered with a sidelong glance 

 no no the real name   said holmes sweetly  it is always
awkward doing business with an alias  

a flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger  well then  
said he  my real name is james ryder  

 precisely so head attendant at the hotel cosmopolitan pray
step into the cab and i shall soon be able to tell you
everything which you would wish to know  

the little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with
half-frightened half-hopeful eyes as one who is not sure
whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe 
then he stepped into the cab and in half an hour we were back in
the sitting-room at baker street nothing had been said during
our drive but the high thin breathing of our new companion and
the claspings and unclaspings of his hands spoke of the nervous
tension within him 

 here we are   said holmes cheerily as we filed into the room 
 the fire looks very seasonable in this weather you look cold 
mr ryder pray take the basket-chair i will just put on my
slippers before we settle this little matter of yours now then 
you want to know what became of those geese  

 yes sir  

 or rather i fancy of that goose it was one bird i imagine in
which you were interested white with a black bar across the
tail  

ryder quivered with emotion  oh sir   he cried  can you tell
me where it went to  

 it came here  

 here  

 yes and a most remarkable bird it proved i don't wonder that
you should take an interest in it it laid an egg after it was
dead the bonniest brightest little blue egg that ever was seen 
i have it here in my museum  

our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece
with his right hand holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up
the blue carbuncle which shone out like a star with a cold 
brilliant many-pointed radiance ryder stood glaring with a
drawn face uncertain whether to claim or to disown it 

 the game's up ryder   said holmes quietly  hold up man or
you'll be into the fire give him an arm back into his chair 
watson he's not got blood enough to go in for felony with
impunity give him a dash of brandy so now he looks a little
more human what a shrimp it is to be sure  

for a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen but the brandy
brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks and he sat staring
with frightened eyes at his accuser 

 i have almost every link in my hands and all the proofs which i
could possibly need so there is little which you need tell me 
still that little may as well be cleared up to make the case
complete you had heard ryder of this blue stone of the
countess of morcar's  

 it was catherine cusack who told me of it   said he in a
crackling voice 

 i see her ladyship's waiting-maid well the temptation of
sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you as it has
been for better men before you but you were not very scrupulous
in the means you used it seems to me ryder that there is the
making of a very pretty villain in you you knew that this man
horner the plumber had been concerned in some such matter
before and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him 
what did you do then you made some small job in my lady's
room you and your confederate cusack and you managed that he
should be the man sent for then when he had left you rifled
the jewel-case raised the alarm and had this unfortunate man
arrested you then  

ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my
companion's knees  for god's sake have mercy   he shrieked 
 think of my father of my mother it would break their hearts i
never went wrong before i never will again i swear it i'll
swear it on a bible oh don't bring it into court for christ's
sake don't  

 get back into your chair   said holmes sternly  it is very well
to cringe and crawl now but you thought little enough of this
poor horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing  

 i will fly mr holmes i will leave the country sir then the
charge against him will break down  

 hum we will talk about that and now let us hear a true account
of the next act how came the stone into the goose and how came
the goose into the open market tell us the truth for there lies
your only hope of safety  

ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips  i will tell you
it just as it happened sir   said he  when horner had been
arrested it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get
away with the stone at once for i did not know at what moment
the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my
room there was no place about the hotel where it would be safe 
i went out as if on some commission and i made for my sister's
house she had married a man named oakshott and lived in brixton
road where she fattened fowls for the market all the way there
every man i met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective 
and for all that it was a cold night the sweat was pouring down
my face before i came to the brixton road my sister asked me
what was the matter and why i was so pale but i told her that i
had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel then i went
into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would
be best to do 

 i had a friend once called maudsley who went to the bad and
has just been serving his time in pentonville one day he had met
me and fell into talk about the ways of thieves and how they
could get rid of what they stole i knew that he would be true to
me for i knew one or two things about him so i made up my mind
to go right on to kilburn where he lived and take him into my
confidence he would show me how to turn the stone into money 
but how to get to him in safety i thought of the agonies i had
gone through in coming from the hotel i might at any moment be
seized and searched and there would be the stone in my waistcoat
pocket i was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at
the geese which were waddling about round my feet and suddenly
an idea came into my head which showed me how i could beat the
best detective that ever lived 

 my sister had told me some weeks before that i might have the
pick of her geese for a christmas present and i knew that she
was always as good as her word i would take my goose now and in
it i would carry my stone to kilburn there was a little shed in
the yard and behind this i drove one of the birds a fine big
one white with a barred tail i caught it and prying its bill
open i thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger
could reach the bird gave a gulp and i felt the stone pass
along its gullet and down into its crop but the creature flapped
and struggled and out came my sister to know what was the
matter as i turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and
fluttered off among the others 

 'whatever were you doing with that bird jem ' says she 

 'well ' said i 'you said you'd give me one for christmas and i
was feeling which was the fattest '

 'oh ' says she 'we've set yours aside for you jem's bird we
call it it's the big white one over yonder there's twenty-six
of them which makes one for you and one for us and two dozen
for the market '

 'thank you maggie ' says i 'but if it is all the same to you 
i'd rather have that one i was handling just now '

 'the other is a good three pound heavier ' said she 'and we
fattened it expressly for you '

 'never mind i'll have the other and i'll take it now ' said i 

 'oh just as you like ' said she a little huffed 'which is it
you want then '

 'that white one with the barred tail right in the middle of the
flock '

 'oh very well kill it and take it with you '

 well i did what she said mr holmes and i carried the bird
all the way to kilburn i told my pal what i had done for he was
a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to he laughed
until he choked and we got a knife and opened the goose my
heart turned to water for there was no sign of the stone and i
knew that some terrible mistake had occurred i left the bird 
rushed back to my sister's and hurried into the back yard there
was not a bird to be seen there 

 'where are they all maggie ' i cried 

 'gone to the dealer's jem '

 'which dealer's '

 'breckinridge of covent garden '

 'but was there another with a barred tail ' i asked 'the same
as the one i chose '

 'yes jem there were two barred-tailed ones and i could never
tell them apart '

 well then of course i saw it all and i ran off as hard as my
feet would carry me to this man breckinridge but he had sold the
lot at once and not one word would he tell me as to where they
had gone you heard him yourselves to-night well he has always
answered me like that my sister thinks that i am going mad 
sometimes i think that i am myself and now and now i am myself
a branded thief without ever having touched the wealth for which
i sold my character god help me god help me   he burst into
convulsive sobbing with his face buried in his hands 

there was a long silence broken only by his heavy breathing and
by the measured tapping of sherlock holmes' finger-tips upon the
edge of the table then my friend rose and threw open the door 

 get out   said he 

 what sir oh heaven bless you  

 no more words get out  

and no more words were needed there was a rush a clatter upon
the stairs the bang of a door and the crisp rattle of running
footfalls from the street 

 after all watson   said holmes reaching up his hand for his
clay pipe  i am not retained by the police to supply their
deficiencies if horner were in danger it would be another thing 
but this fellow will not appear against him and the case must
collapse i suppose that i am commuting a felony but it is just
possible that i am saving a soul this fellow will not go wrong
again he is too terribly frightened send him to gaol now and
you make him a gaol-bird for life besides it is the season of
forgiveness chance has put in our way a most singular and
whimsical problem and its solution is its own reward if you
will have the goodness to touch the bell doctor we will begin
another investigation in which also a bird will be the chief
feature  



viii the adventure of the speckled band

on glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which i
have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend
sherlock holmes i find many tragic some comic a large number
merely strange but none commonplace for working as he did
rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of
wealth he refused to associate himself with any investigation
which did not tend towards the unusual and even the fantastic 
of all these varied cases however i cannot recall any which
presented more singular features than that which was associated
with the well-known surrey family of the roylotts of stoke moran 
the events in question occurred in the early days of my
association with holmes when we were sharing rooms as bachelors
in baker street it is possible that i might have placed them
upon record before but a promise of secrecy was made at the
time from which i have only been freed during the last month by
the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given it
is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light for i
have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the
death of dr grimesby roylott which tend to make the matter even
more terrible than the truth 

it was early in april in the year '83 that i woke one morning to
find sherlock holmes standing fully dressed by the side of my
bed he was a late riser as a rule and as the clock on the
mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven i
blinked up at him in some surprise and perhaps just a little
resentment for i was myself regular in my habits 

 very sorry to knock you up watson   said he  but it's the
common lot this morning mrs hudson has been knocked up she
retorted upon me and i on you  

 what is it then a fire  

 no a client it seems that a young lady has arrived in a
considerable state of excitement who insists upon seeing me she
is waiting now in the sitting-room now when young ladies wander
about the metropolis at this hour of the morning and knock
sleepy people up out of their beds i presume that it is
something very pressing which they have to communicate should it
prove to be an interesting case you would i am sure wish to
follow it from the outset i thought at any rate that i should
call you and give you the chance  

 my dear fellow i would not miss it for anything  

i had no keener pleasure than in following holmes in his
professional investigations and in admiring the rapid
deductions as swift as intuitions and yet always founded on a
logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were
submitted to him i rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in
a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room a
lady dressed in black and heavily veiled who had been sitting in
the window rose as we entered 

 good-morning madam   said holmes cheerily  my name is sherlock
holmes this is my intimate friend and associate dr watson 
before whom you can speak as freely as before myself ha i am
glad to see that mrs hudson has had the good sense to light the
fire pray draw up to it and i shall order you a cup of hot
coffee for i observe that you are shivering  

 it is not cold which makes me shiver   said the woman in a low
voice changing her seat as requested 

 what then  

 it is fear mr holmes it is terror   she raised her veil as
she spoke and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable
state of agitation her face all drawn and grey with restless
frightened eyes like those of some hunted animal her features
and figure were those of a woman of thirty but her hair was shot
with premature grey and her expression was weary and haggard 
sherlock holmes ran her over with one of his quick 
all-comprehensive glances 

 you must not fear   said he soothingly bending forward and
patting her forearm  we shall soon set matters right i have no
doubt you have come in by train this morning i see  

 you know me then  

 no but i observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm
of your left glove you must have started early and yet you had
a good drive in a dog-cart along heavy roads before you reached
the station  

the lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my
companion 

 there is no mystery my dear madam   said he smiling  the left
arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven
places the marks are perfectly fresh there is no vehicle save a
dog-cart which throws up mud in that way and then only when you
sit on the left-hand side of the driver  

 whatever your reasons may be you are perfectly correct   said
she  i started from home before six reached leatherhead at
twenty past and came in by the first train to waterloo sir i
can stand this strain no longer i shall go mad if it continues 
i have no one to turn to none save only one who cares for me 
and he poor fellow can be of little aid i have heard of you 
mr holmes i have heard of you from mrs farintosh whom you
helped in the hour of her sore need it was from her that i had
your address oh sir do you not think that you could help me 
too and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness
which surrounds me at present it is out of my power to reward
you for your services but in a month or six weeks i shall be
married with the control of my own income and then at least you
shall not find me ungrateful  

holmes turned to his desk and unlocking it drew out a small
case-book which he consulted 

 farintosh   said he  ah yes i recall the case it was
concerned with an opal tiara i think it was before your time 
watson i can only say madam that i shall be happy to devote
the same care to your case as i did to that of your friend as to
reward my profession is its own reward but you are at liberty
to defray whatever expenses i may be put to at the time which
suits you best and now i beg that you will lay before us
everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the
matter  

 alas   replied our visitor  the very horror of my situation
lies in the fact that my fears are so vague and my suspicions
depend so entirely upon small points which might seem trivial to
another that even he to whom of all others i have a right to
look for help and advice looks upon all that i tell him about it
as the fancies of a nervous woman he does not say so but i can
read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes but i have
heard mr holmes that you can see deeply into the manifold
wickedness of the human heart you may advise me how to walk amid
the dangers which encompass me  

 i am all attention madam  

 my name is helen stoner and i am living with my stepfather who
is the last survivor of one of the oldest saxon families in
england the roylotts of stoke moran on the western border of
surrey  

holmes nodded his head  the name is familiar to me   said he 

 the family was at one time among the richest in england and the
estates extended over the borders into berkshire in the north 
and hampshire in the west in the last century however four
successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition 
and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the
days of the regency nothing was left save a few acres of ground 
and the two-hundred-year-old house which is itself crushed under
a heavy mortgage the last squire dragged out his existence
there living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper but
his only son my stepfather seeing that he must adapt himself to
the new conditions obtained an advance from a relative which
enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to calcutta 
where by his professional skill and his force of character he
established a large practice in a fit of anger however caused
by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house he
beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital
sentence as it was he suffered a long term of imprisonment and
afterwards returned to england a morose and disappointed man 

 when dr roylott was in india he married my mother mrs stoner 
the young widow of major-general stoner of the bengal artillery 
my sister julia and i were twins and we were only two years old
at the time of my mother's re-marriage she had a considerable
sum of money not less than 1000 pounds a year and this she
bequeathed to dr roylott entirely while we resided with him 
with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to
each of us in the event of our marriage shortly after our return
to england my mother died she was killed eight years ago in a
railway accident near crewe dr roylott then abandoned his
attempts to establish himself in practice in london and took us
to live with him in the old ancestral house at stoke moran the
money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants and
there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness 

 but a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time 
instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our
neighbours who had at first been overjoyed to see a roylott of
stoke moran back in the old family seat he shut himself up in
his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious
quarrels with whoever might cross his path violence of temper
approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the
family and in my stepfather's case it had i believe been
intensified by his long residence in the tropics a series of
disgraceful brawls took place two of which ended in the
police-court until at last he became the terror of the village 
and the folks would fly at his approach for he is a man of
immense strength and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger 

 last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a
stream and it was only by paying over all the money which i
could gather together that i was able to avert another public
exposure he had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies 
and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few
acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate 
and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents 
wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end he has a
passion also for indian animals which are sent over to him by a
correspondent and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon 
which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the
villagers almost as much as their master 

 you can imagine from what i say that my poor sister julia and i
had no great pleasure in our lives no servant would stay with
us and for a long time we did all the work of the house she was
but thirty at the time of her death and yet her hair had already
begun to whiten even as mine has  

 your sister is dead then  

 she died just two years ago and it is of her death that i wish
to speak to you you can understand that living the life which i
have described we were little likely to see anyone of our own
age and position we had however an aunt my mother's maiden
sister miss honoria westphail who lives near harrow and we
were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's
house julia went there at christmas two years ago and met there
a half-pay major of marines to whom she became engaged my
stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and
offered no objection to the marriage but within a fortnight of
the day which had been fixed for the wedding the terrible event
occurred which has deprived me of my only companion  

sherlock holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes
closed and his head sunk in a cushion but he half opened his
lids now and glanced across at his visitor 

 pray be precise as to details   said he 

 it is easy for me to be so for every event of that dreadful
time is seared into my memory the manor-house is as i have
already said very old and only one wing is now inhabited the
bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor the sitting-rooms
being in the central block of the buildings of these bedrooms
the first is dr roylott's the second my sister's and the third
my own there is no communication between them but they all open
out into the same corridor do i make myself plain  

 perfectly so  

 the windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn that
fatal night dr roylott had gone to his room early though we
knew that he had not retired to rest for my sister was troubled
by the smell of the strong indian cigars which it was his custom
to smoke she left her room therefore and came into mine where
she sat for some time chatting about her approaching wedding at
eleven o'clock she rose to leave me but she paused at the door
and looked back 

 'tell me helen ' said she 'have you ever heard anyone whistle
in the dead of the night '

 'never ' said i 

 'i suppose that you could not possibly whistle yourself in
your sleep '

 'certainly not but why '

 'because during the last few nights i have always about three
in the morning heard a low clear whistle i am a light sleeper 
and it has awakened me i cannot tell where it came from perhaps
from the next room perhaps from the lawn i thought that i would
just ask you whether you had heard it '

 'no i have not it must be those wretched gipsies in the
plantation '

 'very likely and yet if it were on the lawn i wonder that you
did not hear it also '

 'ah but i sleep more heavily than you '

 'well it is of no great consequence at any rate ' she smiled
back at me closed my door and a few moments later i heard her
key turn in the lock  

 indeed   said holmes  was it your custom always to lock
yourselves in at night  

 always  

 and why  

 i think that i mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah
and a baboon we had no feeling of security unless our doors were
locked  

 quite so pray proceed with your statement  

 i could not sleep that night a vague feeling of impending
misfortune impressed me my sister and i you will recollect 
were twins and you know how subtle are the links which bind two
souls which are so closely allied it was a wild night the wind
was howling outside and the rain was beating and splashing
against the windows suddenly amid all the hubbub of the gale 
there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman i knew
that it was my sister's voice i sprang from my bed wrapped a
shawl round me and rushed into the corridor as i opened my door
i seemed to hear a low whistle such as my sister described and
a few moments later a clanging sound as if a mass of metal had
fallen as i ran down the passage my sister's door was unlocked 
and revolved slowly upon its hinges i stared at it
horror-stricken not knowing what was about to issue from it by
the light of the corridor-lamp i saw my sister appear at the
opening her face blanched with terror her hands groping for
help her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a
drunkard i ran to her and threw my arms round her but at that
moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground 
she writhed as one who is in terrible pain and her limbs were
dreadfully convulsed at first i thought that she had not
recognised me but as i bent over her she suddenly shrieked out
in a voice which i shall never forget 'oh my god helen it was
the band the speckled band ' there was something else which she
would fain have said and she stabbed with her finger into the
air in the direction of the doctor's room but a fresh convulsion
seized her and choked her words i rushed out calling loudly for
my stepfather and i met him hastening from his room in his
dressing-gown when he reached my sister's side she was
unconscious and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent
for medical aid from the village all efforts were in vain for
she slowly sank and died without having recovered her
consciousness such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister  

 one moment   said holmes  are you sure about this whistle and
metallic sound could you swear to it  

 that was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry it is
my strong impression that i heard it and yet among the crash of
the gale and the creaking of an old house i may possibly have
been deceived  

 was your sister dressed  

 no she was in her night-dress in her right hand was found the
charred stump of a match and in her left a match-box  

 showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when
the alarm took place that is important and what conclusions did
the coroner come to  

 he investigated the case with great care for dr roylott's
conduct had long been notorious in the county but he was unable
to find any satisfactory cause of death my evidence showed that
the door had been fastened upon the inner side and the windows
were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars 
which were secured every night the walls were carefully sounded 
and were shown to be quite solid all round and the flooring was
also thoroughly examined with the same result the chimney is
wide but is barred up by four large staples it is certain 
therefore that my sister was quite alone when she met her end 
besides there were no marks of any violence upon her  

 how about poison  

 the doctors examined her for it but without success  

 what do you think that this unfortunate lady died of then  

 it is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock 
though what it was that frightened her i cannot imagine  

 were there gipsies in the plantation at the time  

 yes there are nearly always some there  

 ah and what did you gather from this allusion to a band a
speckled band  

 sometimes i have thought that it was merely the wild talk of
delirium sometimes that it may have referred to some band of
people perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation i do not
know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear
over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which
she used  

holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied 

 these are very deep waters   said he  pray go on with your
narrative  

 two years have passed since then and my life has been until
lately lonelier than ever a month ago however a dear friend 
whom i have known for many years has done me the honour to ask
my hand in marriage his name is armitage percy armitage the
second son of mr armitage of crane water near reading my
stepfather has offered no opposition to the match and we are to
be married in the course of the spring two days ago some repairs
were started in the west wing of the building and my bedroom
wall has been pierced so that i have had to move into the
chamber in which my sister died and to sleep in the very bed in
which she slept imagine then my thrill of terror when last
night as i lay awake thinking over her terrible fate i
suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which
had been the herald of her own death i sprang up and lit the
lamp but nothing was to be seen in the room i was too shaken to
go to bed again however so i dressed and as soon as it was
daylight i slipped down got a dog-cart at the crown inn which
is opposite and drove to leatherhead from whence i have come on
this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your
advice  

 you have done wisely   said my friend  but have you told me
all  

 yes all  

 miss roylott you have not you are screening your stepfather  

 why what do you mean  

for answer holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which
fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee five little
livid spots the marks of four fingers and a thumb were printed
upon the white wrist 

 you have been cruelly used   said holmes 

the lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist  he
is a hard man   she said  and perhaps he hardly knows his own
strength  

there was a long silence during which holmes leaned his chin
upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire 

 this is a very deep business   he said at last  there are a
thousand details which i should desire to know before i decide
upon our course of action yet we have not a moment to lose if
we were to come to stoke moran to-day would it be possible for
us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your
stepfather  

 as it happens he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some
most important business it is probable that he will be away all
day and that there would be nothing to disturb you we have a
housekeeper now but she is old and foolish and i could easily
get her out of the way  

 excellent you are not averse to this trip watson  

 by no means  

 then we shall both come what are you going to do yourself  

 i have one or two things which i would wish to do now that i am
in town but i shall return by the twelve o'clock train so as to
be there in time for your coming  

 and you may expect us early in the afternoon i have myself some
small business matters to attend to will you not wait and
breakfast  

 no i must go my heart is lightened already since i have
confided my trouble to you i shall look forward to seeing you
again this afternoon   she dropped her thick black veil over her
face and glided from the room 

 and what do you think of it all watson   asked sherlock holmes 
leaning back in his chair 

 it seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business  

 dark enough and sinister enough  

 yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls
are sound and that the door window and chimney are impassable 
then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her
mysterious end  

 what becomes then of these nocturnal whistles and what of the
very peculiar words of the dying woman  

 i cannot think  

 when you combine the ideas of whistles at night the presence of
a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor 
the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has
an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage the dying
allusion to a band and finally the fact that miss helen stoner
heard a metallic clang which might have been caused by one of
those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its
place i think that there is good ground to think that the
mystery may be cleared along those lines  

 but what then did the gipsies do  

 i cannot imagine  

 i see many objections to any such theory  

 and so do i it is precisely for that reason that we are going
to stoke moran this day i want to see whether the objections are
fatal or if they may be explained away but what in the name of
the devil  

the ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that
our door had been suddenly dashed open and that a huge man had
framed himself in the aperture his costume was a peculiar
mixture of the professional and of the agricultural having a
black top-hat a long frock-coat and a pair of high gaiters 
with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand so tall was he that his
hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway and his
breadth seemed to span it across from side to side a large face 
seared with a thousand wrinkles burned yellow with the sun and
marked with every evil passion was turned from one to the other
of us while his deep-set bile-shot eyes and his high thin 
fleshless nose gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old
bird of prey 

 which of you is holmes   asked this apparition 

 my name sir but you have the advantage of me   said my
companion quietly 

 i am dr grimesby roylott of stoke moran  

 indeed doctor   said holmes blandly  pray take a seat  

 i will do nothing of the kind my stepdaughter has been here i
have traced her what has she been saying to you  

 it is a little cold for the time of the year   said holmes 

 what has she been saying to you   screamed the old man
furiously 

 but i have heard that the crocuses promise well   continued my
companion imperturbably 

 ha you put me off do you   said our new visitor taking a step
forward and shaking his hunting-crop  i know you you scoundrel 
i have heard of you before you are holmes the meddler  

my friend smiled 

 holmes the busybody  

his smile broadened 

 holmes the scotland yard jack-in-office  

holmes chuckled heartily  your conversation is most
entertaining   said he  when you go out close the door for
there is a decided draught  

 i will go when i have said my say don't you dare to meddle with
my affairs i know that miss stoner has been here i traced her 
i am a dangerous man to fall foul of see here   he stepped
swiftly forward seized the poker and bent it into a curve with
his huge brown hands 

 see that you keep yourself out of my grip   he snarled and
hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the
room 

 he seems a very amiable person   said holmes laughing  i am
not quite so bulky but if he had remained i might have shown him
that my grip was not much more feeble than his own   as he spoke
he picked up the steel poker and with a sudden effort 
straightened it out again 

 fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official
detective force this incident gives zest to our investigation 
however and i only trust that our little friend will not suffer
from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her and now 
watson we shall order breakfast and afterwards i shall walk
down to doctors' commons where i hope to get some data which may
help us in this matter  


it was nearly one o'clock when sherlock holmes returned from his
excursion he held in his hand a sheet of blue paper scrawled
over with notes and figures 

 i have seen the will of the deceased wife   said he  to
determine its exact meaning i have been obliged to work out the
present prices of the investments with which it is concerned the
total income which at the time of the wife's death was little
short of 1100 pounds is now through the fall in agricultural
prices not more than 750 pounds each daughter can claim an
income of 250 pounds in case of marriage it is evident 
therefore that if both girls had married this beauty would have
had a mere pittance while even one of them would cripple him to
a very serious extent my morning's work has not been wasted 
since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for
standing in the way of anything of the sort and now watson 
this is too serious for dawdling especially as the old man is
aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs so if you
are ready we shall call a cab and drive to waterloo i should be
very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your
pocket an eley's no 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen
who can twist steel pokers into knots that and a tooth-brush
are i think all that we need  

at waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for
leatherhead where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove
for four or five miles through the lovely surrey lanes it was a
perfect day with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the
heavens the trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out
their first green shoots and the air was full of the pleasant
smell of the moist earth to me at least there was a strange
contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this
sinister quest upon which we were engaged my companion sat in
the front of the trap his arms folded his hat pulled down over
his eyes and his chin sunk upon his breast buried in the
deepest thought suddenly however he started tapped me on the
shoulder and pointed over the meadows 

 look there   said he 

a heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope 
thickening into a grove at the highest point from amid the
branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a
very old mansion 

 stoke moran   said he 

 yes sir that be the house of dr grimesby roylott   remarked
the driver 

 there is some building going on there   said holmes  that is
where we are going  

 there's the village   said the driver pointing to a cluster of
roofs some distance to the left  but if you want to get to the
house you'll find it shorter to get over this stile and so by
the foot-path over the fields there it is where the lady is
walking  

 and the lady i fancy is miss stoner   observed holmes shading
his eyes  yes i think we had better do as you suggest  

we got off paid our fare and the trap rattled back on its way
to leatherhead 

 i thought it as well   said holmes as we climbed the stile 
 that this fellow should think we had come here as architects or
on some definite business it may stop his gossip 
good-afternoon miss stoner you see that we have been as good as
our word  

our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a
face which spoke her joy  i have been waiting so eagerly for
you   she cried shaking hands with us warmly  all has turned
out splendidly dr roylott has gone to town and it is unlikely
that he will be back before evening  

 we have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance  
said holmes and in a few words he sketched out what had
occurred miss stoner turned white to the lips as she listened 

 good heavens   she cried  he has followed me then  

 so it appears  

 he is so cunning that i never know when i am safe from him what
will he say when he returns  

 he must guard himself for he may find that there is someone
more cunning than himself upon his track you must lock yourself
up from him to-night if he is violent we shall take you away to
your aunt's at harrow now we must make the best use of our
time so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to
examine  

the building was of grey lichen-blotched stone with a high
central portion and two curving wings like the claws of a crab 
thrown out on each side in one of these wings the windows were
broken and blocked with wooden boards while the roof was partly
caved in a picture of ruin the central portion was in little
better repair but the right-hand block was comparatively modern 
and the blinds in the windows with the blue smoke curling up
from the chimneys showed that this was where the family resided 
some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall and the
stone-work had been broken into but there were no signs of any
workmen at the moment of our visit holmes walked slowly up and
down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the
outsides of the windows 

 this i take it belongs to the room in which you used to sleep 
the centre one to your sister's and the one next to the main
building to dr roylott's chamber  

 exactly so but i am now sleeping in the middle one  

 pending the alterations as i understand by the way there does
not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end
wall  

 there were none i believe that it was an excuse to move me from
my room  

 ah that is suggestive now on the other side of this narrow
wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open there
are windows in it of course  

 yes but very small ones too narrow for anyone to pass
through  

 as you both locked your doors at night your rooms were
unapproachable from that side now would you have the kindness
to go into your room and bar your shutters  

miss stoner did so and holmes after a careful examination
through the open window endeavoured in every way to force the
shutter open but without success there was no slit through
which a knife could be passed to raise the bar then with his
lens he tested the hinges but they were of solid iron built
firmly into the massive masonry  hum   said he scratching his
chin in some perplexity  my theory certainly presents some
difficulties no one could pass these shutters if they were
bolted well we shall see if the inside throws any light upon
the matter  

a small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which
the three bedrooms opened holmes refused to examine the third
chamber so we passed at once to the second that in which miss
stoner was now sleeping and in which her sister had met with her
fate it was a homely little room with a low ceiling and a
gaping fireplace after the fashion of old country-houses a
brown chest of drawers stood in one corner a narrow
white-counterpaned bed in another and a dressing-table on the
left-hand side of the window these articles with two small
wicker-work chairs made up all the furniture in the room save
for a square of wilton carpet in the centre the boards round and
the panelling of the walls were of brown worm-eaten oak so old
and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building
of the house holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat
silent while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down 
taking in every detail of the apartment 

 where does that bell communicate with   he asked at last
pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed the
tassel actually lying upon the pillow 

 it goes to the housekeeper's room  

 it looks newer than the other things  

 yes it was only put there a couple of years ago  

 your sister asked for it i suppose  

 no i never heard of her using it we used always to get what we
wanted for ourselves  

 indeed it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there 
you will excuse me for a few minutes while i satisfy myself as to
this floor   he threw himself down upon his face with his lens in
his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward examining
minutely the cracks between the boards then he did the same with
the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled finally he
walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and
in running his eye up and down the wall finally he took the
bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug 

 why it's a dummy   said he 

 won't it ring  

 no it is not even attached to a wire this is very interesting 
you can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where
the little opening for the ventilator is  

 how very absurd i never noticed that before  

 very strange   muttered holmes pulling at the rope  there are
one or two very singular points about this room for example 
what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another
room when with the same trouble he might have communicated
with the outside air  

 that is also quite modern   said the lady 

 done about the same time as the bell-rope   remarked holmes 

 yes there were several little changes carried out about that
time  

 they seem to have been of a most interesting character dummy
bell-ropes and ventilators which do not ventilate with your
permission miss stoner we shall now carry our researches into
the inner apartment  

dr grimesby roylott's chamber was larger than that of his
step-daughter but was as plainly furnished a camp-bed a small
wooden shelf full of books mostly of a technical character an
armchair beside the bed a plain wooden chair against the wall a
round table and a large iron safe were the principal things
which met the eye holmes walked slowly round and examined each
and all of them with the keenest interest 

 what's in here   he asked tapping the safe 

 my stepfather's business papers  

 oh you have seen inside then  

 only once some years ago i remember that it was full of
papers  

 there isn't a cat in it for example  

 no what a strange idea  

 well look at this   he took up a small saucer of milk which
stood on the top of it 

 no we don't keep a cat but there is a cheetah and a baboon  

 ah yes of course well a cheetah is just a big cat and yet a
saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants i
daresay there is one point which i should wish to determine   he
squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat
of it with the greatest attention 

 thank you that is quite settled   said he rising and putting
his lens in his pocket  hullo here is something interesting  

the object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on
one corner of the bed the lash however was curled upon itself
and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord 

 what do you make of that watson  

 it's a common enough lash but i don't know why it should be
tied  

 that is not quite so common is it ah me it's a wicked world 
and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst
of all i think that i have seen enough now miss stoner and
with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn  

i had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as
it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation we
had walked several times up and down the lawn neither miss
stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he
roused himself from his reverie 

 it is very essential miss stoner   said he  that you should
absolutely follow my advice in every respect  

 i shall most certainly do so  

 the matter is too serious for any hesitation your life may
depend upon your compliance  

 i assure you that i am in your hands  

 in the first place both my friend and i must spend the night in
your room  

both miss stoner and i gazed at him in astonishment 

 yes it must be so let me explain i believe that that is the
village inn over there  

 yes that is the crown  

 very good your windows would be visible from there  

 certainly  

 you must confine yourself to your room on pretence of a
headache when your stepfather comes back then when you hear him
retire for the night you must open the shutters of your window 
undo the hasp put your lamp there as a signal to us and then
withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want
into the room which you used to occupy i have no doubt that in
spite of the repairs you could manage there for one night  

 oh yes easily  

 the rest you will leave in our hands  

 but what will you do  

 we shall spend the night in your room and we shall investigate
the cause of this noise which has disturbed you  

 i believe mr holmes that you have already made up your mind  
said miss stoner laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve 

 perhaps i have  

 then for pity's sake tell me what was the cause of my sister's
death  

 i should prefer to have clearer proofs before i speak  

 you can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct and
if she died from some sudden fright  

 no i do not think so i think that there was probably some more
tangible cause and now miss stoner we must leave you for if
dr roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain 
good-bye and be brave for if you will do what i have told you 
you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers
that threaten you  

sherlock holmes and i had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and
sitting-room at the crown inn they were on the upper floor and
from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate and
of the inhabited wing of stoke moran manor house at dusk we saw
dr grimesby roylott drive past his huge form looming up beside
the little figure of the lad who drove him the boy had some
slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates and we heard
the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which
he shook his clinched fists at him the trap drove on and a few
minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as
the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms 

 do you know watson   said holmes as we sat together in the
gathering darkness  i have really some scruples as to taking you
to-night there is a distinct element of danger  

 can i be of assistance  

 your presence might be invaluable  

 then i shall certainly come  

 it is very kind of you  

 you speak of danger you have evidently seen more in these rooms
than was visible to me  

 no but i fancy that i may have deduced a little more i imagine
that you saw all that i did  

 i saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope and what purpose
that could answer i confess is more than i can imagine  

 you saw the ventilator too  

 yes but i do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to
have a small opening between two rooms it was so small that a
rat could hardly pass through  

 i knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to
stoke moran  

 my dear holmes  

 oh yes i did you remember in her statement she said that her
sister could smell dr roylott's cigar now of course that
suggested at once that there must be a communication between the
two rooms it could only be a small one or it would have been
remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry i deduced a ventilator  

 but what harm can there be in that  

 well there is at least a curious coincidence of dates a
ventilator is made a cord is hung and a lady who sleeps in the
bed dies does not that strike you  

 i cannot as yet see any connection  

 did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed  

 no  

 it was clamped to the floor did you ever see a bed fastened
like that before  

 i cannot say that i have  

 the lady could not move her bed it must always be in the same
relative position to the ventilator and to the rope or so we may
call it since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull  

 holmes   i cried  i seem to see dimly what you are hinting at 
we are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible
crime  

 subtle enough and horrible enough when a doctor does go wrong
he is the first of criminals he has nerve and he has knowledge 
palmer and pritchard were among the heads of their profession 
this man strikes even deeper but i think watson that we shall
be able to strike deeper still but we shall have horrors enough
before the night is over for goodness' sake let us have a quiet
pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more
cheerful  


about nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished 
and all was dark in the direction of the manor house two hours
passed slowly away and then suddenly just at the stroke of
eleven a single bright light shone out right in front of us 

 that is our signal   said holmes springing to his feet  it
comes from the middle window  

as we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord 
explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance 
and that it was possible that we might spend the night there a
moment later we were out on the dark road a chill wind blowing
in our faces and one yellow light twinkling in front of us
through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand 

there was little difficulty in entering the grounds for
unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall making our way
among the trees we reached the lawn crossed it and were about
to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel
bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted
child who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and
then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness 

 my god   i whispered  did you see it  

holmes was for the moment as startled as i his hand closed like
a vice upon my wrist in his agitation then he broke into a low
laugh and put his lips to my ear 

 it is a nice household   he murmured  that is the baboon  

i had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected there
was a cheetah too perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders
at any moment i confess that i felt easier in my mind when 
after following holmes' example and slipping off my shoes i
found myself inside the bedroom my companion noiselessly closed
the shutters moved the lamp onto the table and cast his eyes
round the room all was as we had seen it in the daytime then
creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand he whispered
into my ear again so gently that it was all that i could do to
distinguish the words 

 the least sound would be fatal to our plans  

i nodded to show that i had heard 

 we must sit without light he would see it through the
ventilator  

i nodded again 

 do not go asleep your very life may depend upon it have your
pistol ready in case we should need it i will sit on the side of
the bed and you in that chair  

i took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table 

holmes had brought up a long thin cane and this he placed upon
the bed beside him by it he laid the box of matches and the
stump of a candle then he turned down the lamp and we were left
in darkness 

how shall i ever forget that dreadful vigil i could not hear a
sound not even the drawing of a breath and yet i knew that my
companion sat open-eyed within a few feet of me in the same
state of nervous tension in which i was myself the shutters cut
off the least ray of light and we waited in absolute darkness 

from outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird and once at
our very window a long drawn catlike whine which told us that
the cheetah was indeed at liberty far away we could hear the
deep tones of the parish clock which boomed out every quarter of
an hour how long they seemed those quarters twelve struck and
one and two and three and still we sat waiting silently for
whatever might befall 

suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the
direction of the ventilator which vanished immediately but was
succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal 
someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern i heard a gentle
sound of movement and then all was silent once more though the
smell grew stronger for half an hour i sat with straining ears 
then suddenly another sound became audible a very gentle 
soothing sound like that of a small jet of steam escaping
continually from a kettle the instant that we heard it holmes
sprang from the bed struck a match and lashed furiously with
his cane at the bell-pull 

 you see it watson   he yelled  you see it  

but i saw nothing at the moment when holmes struck the light i
heard a low clear whistle but the sudden glare flashing into my
weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which
my friend lashed so savagely i could however see that his face
was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing he had
ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when
suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most
horrible cry to which i have ever listened it swelled up louder
and louder a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled
in the one dreadful shriek they say that away down in the
village and even in the distant parsonage that cry raised the
sleepers from their beds it struck cold to our hearts and i
stood gazing at holmes and he at me until the last echoes of it
had died away into the silence from which it rose 

 what can it mean   i gasped 

 it means that it is all over   holmes answered  and perhaps 
after all it is for the best take your pistol and we will
enter dr roylott's room  

with a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the
corridor twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply
from within then he turned the handle and entered i at his
heels with the cocked pistol in my hand 

it was a singular sight which met our eyes on the table stood a
dark-lantern with the shutter half open throwing a brilliant
beam of light upon the iron safe the door of which was ajar 
beside this table on the wooden chair sat dr grimesby roylott
clad in a long grey dressing-gown his bare ankles protruding
beneath and his feet thrust into red heelless turkish slippers 
across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we
had noticed during the day his chin was cocked upward and his
eyes were fixed in a dreadful rigid stare at the corner of the
ceiling round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band with
brownish speckles which seemed to be bound tightly round his
head as we entered he made neither sound nor motion 

 the band the speckled band   whispered holmes 

i took a step forward in an instant his strange headgear began
to move and there reared itself from among his hair the squat
diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent 

 it is a swamp adder   cried holmes  the deadliest snake in
india he has died within ten seconds of being bitten violence
does in truth recoil upon the violent and the schemer falls
into the pit which he digs for another let us thrust this
creature back into its den and we can then remove miss stoner to
some place of shelter and let the county police know what has
happened  

as he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap 
and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from
its horrid perch and carrying it at arm's length threw it into
the iron safe which he closed upon it 

such are the true facts of the death of dr grimesby roylott of
stoke moran it is not necessary that i should prolong a
narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling
how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl how we conveyed
her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at harrow 
of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the
conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly
playing with a dangerous pet the little which i had yet to learn
of the case was told me by sherlock holmes as we travelled back
next day 

 i had   said he  come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which
shows my dear watson how dangerous it always is to reason from
insufficient data the presence of the gipsies and the use of
the word 'band ' which was used by the poor girl no doubt to
explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of
by the light of her match were sufficient to put me upon an
entirely wrong scent i can only claim the merit that i instantly
reconsidered my position when however it became clear to me
that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not
come either from the window or the door my attention was
speedily drawn as i have already remarked to you to this
ventilator and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed the
discovery that this was a dummy and that the bed was clamped to
the floor instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was
there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and
coming to the bed the idea of a snake instantly occurred to me 
and when i coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was
furnished with a supply of creatures from india i felt that i
was probably on the right track the idea of using a form of
poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical
test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless
man who had had an eastern training the rapidity with which such
a poison would take effect would also from his point of view be
an advantage it would be a sharp-eyed coroner indeed who could
distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where
the poison fangs had done their work then i thought of the
whistle of course he must recall the snake before the morning
light revealed it to the victim he had trained it probably by
the use of the milk which we saw to return to him when summoned 
he would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he
thought best with the certainty that it would crawl down the
rope and land on the bed it might or might not bite the
occupant perhaps she might escape every night for a week but
sooner or later she must fall a victim 

 i had come to these conclusions before ever i had entered his
room an inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in
the habit of standing on it which of course would be necessary
in order that he should reach the ventilator the sight of the
safe the saucer of milk and the loop of whipcord were enough to
finally dispel any doubts which may have remained the metallic
clang heard by miss stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather
hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant 
having once made up my mind you know the steps which i took in
order to put the matter to the proof i heard the creature hiss
as i have no doubt that you did also and i instantly lit the
light and attacked it  

 with the result of driving it through the ventilator  

 and also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master
at the other side some of the blows of my cane came home and
roused its snakish temper so that it flew upon the first person
it saw in this way i am no doubt indirectly responsible for dr 
grimesby roylott's death and i cannot say that it is likely to
weigh very heavily upon my conscience  



ix the adventure of the engineer's thumb

of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend mr 
sherlock holmes for solution during the years of our intimacy 
there were only two which i was the means of introducing to his
notice that of mr hatherley's thumb and that of colonel
warburton's madness of these the latter may have afforded a
finer field for an acute and original observer but the other was
so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that
it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record even if it
gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of
reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results the story
has i believe been told more than once in the newspapers but 
like all such narratives its effect is much less striking when
set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the
facts slowly evolve before your own eyes and the mystery clears
gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads
on to the complete truth at the time the circumstances made a
deep impression upon me and the lapse of two years has hardly
served to weaken the effect 

it was in the summer of '89 not long after my marriage that the
events occurred which i am now about to summarise i had returned
to civil practice and had finally abandoned holmes in his baker
street rooms although i continually visited him and occasionally
even persuaded him to forgo his bohemian habits so far as to come
and visit us my practice had steadily increased and as i
happened to live at no very great distance from paddington
station i got a few patients from among the officials one of
these whom i had cured of a painful and lingering disease was
never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send
me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence 

one morning at a little before seven o'clock i was awakened by
the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come
from paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room i
dressed hurriedly for i knew by experience that railway cases
were seldom trivial and hastened downstairs as i descended my
old ally the guard came out of the room and closed the door
tightly behind him 

 i've got him here   he whispered jerking his thumb over his
shoulder  he's all right  

 what is it then   i asked for his manner suggested that it was
some strange creature which he had caged up in my room 

 it's a new patient   he whispered  i thought i'd bring him
round myself then he couldn't slip away there he is all safe
and sound i must go now doctor i have my dooties just the
same as you   and off he went this trusty tout without even
giving me time to thank him 

i entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the
table he was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a
soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books round one of
his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped which was mottled all
over with bloodstains he was young not more than
five-and-twenty i should say with a strong masculine face but
he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who
was suffering from some strong agitation which it took all his
strength of mind to control 

 i am sorry to knock you up so early doctor   said he  but i
have had a very serious accident during the night i came in by
train this morning and on inquiring at paddington as to where i
might find a doctor a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me
here i gave the maid a card but i see that she has left it upon
the side-table  

i took it up and glanced at it  mr victor hatherley hydraulic
engineer 16a victoria street 3rd floor   that was the name 
style and abode of my morning visitor  i regret that i have
kept you waiting   said i sitting down in my library-chair  you
are fresh from a night journey i understand which is in itself
a monotonous occupation  

 oh my night could not be called monotonous   said he and
laughed he laughed very heartily with a high ringing note 
leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides all my medical
instincts rose up against that laugh 

 stop it   i cried  pull yourself together   and i poured out
some water from a caraffe 

it was useless however he was off in one of those hysterical
outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis
is over and gone presently he came to himself once more very
weary and pale-looking 

 i have been making a fool of myself   he gasped 

 not at all drink this   i dashed some brandy into the water 
and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks 

 that's better   said he  and now doctor perhaps you would
kindly attend to my thumb or rather to the place where my thumb
used to be  

he unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand it gave even
my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it there were four
protruding fingers and a horrid red spongy surface where the
thumb should have been it had been hacked or torn right out from
the roots 

 good heavens   i cried  this is a terrible injury it must have
bled considerably  

 yes it did i fainted when it was done and i think that i must
have been senseless for a long time when i came to i found that
it was still bleeding so i tied one end of my handkerchief very
tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig  

 excellent you should have been a surgeon  

 it is a question of hydraulics you see and came within my own
province  

 this has been done   said i examining the wound  by a very
heavy and sharp instrument  

 a thing like a cleaver   said he 

 an accident i presume  

 by no means  

 what a murderous attack  

 very murderous indeed  

 you horrify me  

i sponged the wound cleaned it dressed it and finally covered
it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages he lay back
without wincing though he bit his lip from time to time 

 how is that   i asked when i had finished 

 capital between your brandy and your bandage i feel a new man 
i was very weak but i have had a good deal to go through  

 perhaps you had better not speak of the matter it is evidently
trying to your nerves  

 oh no not now i shall have to tell my tale to the police 
but between ourselves if it were not for the convincing
evidence of this wound of mine i should be surprised if they
believed my statement for it is a very extraordinary one and i
have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up and 
even if they believe me the clues which i can give them are so
vague that it is a question whether justice will be done  

 ha   cried i  if it is anything in the nature of a problem
which you desire to see solved i should strongly recommend you
to come to my friend mr sherlock holmes before you go to the
official police  

 oh i have heard of that fellow   answered my visitor  and i
should be very glad if he would take the matter up though of
course i must use the official police as well would you give me
an introduction to him  

 i'll do better i'll take you round to him myself  

 i should be immensely obliged to you  

 we'll call a cab and go together we shall just be in time to
have a little breakfast with him do you feel equal to it  

 yes i shall not feel easy until i have told my story  

 then my servant will call a cab and i shall be with you in an
instant   i rushed upstairs explained the matter shortly to my
wife and in five minutes was inside a hansom driving with my
new acquaintance to baker street 

sherlock holmes was as i expected lounging about his
sitting-room in his dressing-gown reading the agony column of the
times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe which was composed
of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day
before all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the
mantelpiece he received us in his quietly genial fashion 
ordered fresh rashers and eggs and joined us in a hearty meal 
when it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the
sofa placed a pillow beneath his head and laid a glass of
brandy and water within his reach 

 it is easy to see that your experience has been no common one 
mr hatherley   said he  pray lie down there and make yourself
absolutely at home tell us what you can but stop when you are
tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant  

 thank you   said my patient  but i have felt another man since
the doctor bandaged me and i think that your breakfast has
completed the cure i shall take up as little of your valuable
time as possible so i shall start at once upon my peculiar
experiences  

holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary heavy-lidded
expression which veiled his keen and eager nature while i sat
opposite to him and we listened in silence to the strange story
which our visitor detailed to us 

 you must know   said he  that i am an orphan and a bachelor 
residing alone in lodgings in london by profession i am a
hydraulic engineer and i have had considerable experience of my
work during the seven years that i was apprenticed to venner and
matheson the well-known firm of greenwich two years ago 
having served my time and having also come into a fair sum of
money through my poor father's death i determined to start in
business for myself and took professional chambers in victoria
street 

 i suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in
business a dreary experience to me it has been exceptionally so 
during two years i have had three consultations and one small
job and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought
me my gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s every day from
nine in the morning until four in the afternoon i waited in my
little den until at last my heart began to sink and i came to
believe that i should never have any practice at all 

 yesterday however just as i was thinking of leaving the
office my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who
wished to see me upon business he brought up a card too with
the name of 'colonel lysander stark' engraved upon it close at
his heels came the colonel himself a man rather over the middle
size but of an exceeding thinness i do not think that i have
ever seen so thin a man his whole face sharpened away into nose
and chin and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over
his outstanding bones yet this emaciation seemed to be his
natural habit and due to no disease for his eye was bright his
step brisk and his bearing assured he was plainly but neatly
dressed and his age i should judge would be nearer forty than
thirty 

 'mr hatherley ' said he with something of a german accent 
'you have been recommended to me mr hatherley as being a man
who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet
and capable of preserving a secret '

 i bowed feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an
address 'may i ask who it was who gave me so good a character '

 'well perhaps it is better that i should not tell you that just
at this moment i have it from the same source that you are both
an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in london '

 'that is quite correct ' i answered 'but you will excuse me if
i say that i cannot see how all this bears upon my professional
qualifications i understand that it was on a professional matter
that you wished to speak to me '

 'undoubtedly so but you will find that all i say is really to
the point i have a professional commission for you but absolute
secrecy is quite essential absolute secrecy you understand and
of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than
from one who lives in the bosom of his family '

 'if i promise to keep a secret ' said i 'you may absolutely
depend upon my doing so '

 he looked very hard at me as i spoke and it seemed to me that i
had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye 

 'do you promise then ' said he at last 

 'yes i promise '

 'absolute and complete silence before during and after no
reference to the matter at all either in word or writing '

 'i have already given you my word '

 'very good ' he suddenly sprang up and darting like lightning
across the room he flung open the door the passage outside was
empty 

 'that's all right ' said he coming back 'i know that clerks are
sometimes curious as to their master's affairs now we can talk
in safety ' he drew up his chair very close to mine and began to
stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look 

 a feeling of repulsion and of something akin to fear had begun
to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man 
even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from
showing my impatience 

 'i beg that you will state your business sir ' said i 'my time
is of value ' heaven forgive me for that last sentence but the
words came to my lips 

 'how would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you ' he asked 

 'most admirably '

 'i say a night's work but an hour's would be nearer the mark i
simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which
has got out of gear if you show us what is wrong we shall soon
set it right ourselves what do you think of such a commission as
that '

 'the work appears to be light and the pay munificent '

 'precisely so we shall want you to come to-night by the last
train '

 'where to '

 'to eyford in berkshire it is a little place near the borders
of oxfordshire and within seven miles of reading there is a
train from paddington which would bring you there at about
11 15 '

 'very good '

 'i shall come down in a carriage to meet you '

 'there is a drive then '

 'yes our little place is quite out in the country it is a good
seven miles from eyford station '

 'then we can hardly get there before midnight i suppose there
would be no chance of a train back i should be compelled to stop
the night '

 'yes we could easily give you a shake-down '

 'that is very awkward could i not come at some more convenient
hour '

 'we have judged it best that you should come late it is to
recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you a
young and unknown man a fee which would buy an opinion from the
very heads of your profession still of course if you would
like to draw out of the business there is plenty of time to do
so '

 i thought of the fifty guineas and of how very useful they
would be to me 'not at all ' said i 'i shall be very happy to
accommodate myself to your wishes i should like however to
understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to
do '

 'quite so it is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which
we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity i
have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all
laid before you i suppose that we are absolutely safe from
eavesdroppers '

 'entirely '

 'then the matter stands thus you are probably aware that
fuller's-earth is a valuable product and that it is only found
in one or two places in england '

 'i have heard so '

 'some little time ago i bought a small place a very small
place within ten miles of reading i was fortunate enough to
discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my
fields on examining it however i found that this deposit was a
comparatively small one and that it formed a link between two
very much larger ones upon the right and left both of them 
however in the grounds of my neighbours these good people were
absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was
quite as valuable as a gold-mine naturally it was to my
interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value 
but unfortunately i had no capital by which i could do this i
took a few of my friends into the secret however and they
suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little
deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would
enable us to buy the neighbouring fields this we have now been
doing for some time and in order to help us in our operations we
erected a hydraulic press this press as i have already
explained has got out of order and we wish your advice upon the
subject we guard our secret very jealously however and if it
once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our
little house it would soon rouse inquiry and then if the facts
came out it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these
fields and carrying out our plans that is why i have made you
promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are
going to eyford to-night i hope that i make it all plain '

 'i quite follow you ' said i 'the only point which i could not
quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press
in excavating fuller's-earth which as i understand is dug out
like gravel from a pit '

 'ah ' said he carelessly 'we have our own process we compress
the earth into bricks so as to remove them without revealing
what they are but that is a mere detail i have taken you fully
into my confidence now mr hatherley and i have shown you how i
trust you ' he rose as he spoke 'i shall expect you then at
eyford at 11 15 '

 'i shall certainly be there '

 'and not a word to a soul ' he looked at me with a last long 
questioning gaze and then pressing my hand in a cold dank
grasp he hurried from the room 

 well when i came to think it all over in cool blood i was very
much astonished as you may both think at this sudden commission
which had been intrusted to me on the one hand of course i was
glad for the fee was at least tenfold what i should have asked
had i set a price upon my own services and it was possible that
this order might lead to other ones on the other hand the face
and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon
me and i could not think that his explanation of the
fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my
coming at midnight and his extreme anxiety lest i should tell
anyone of my errand however i threw all fears to the winds ate
a hearty supper drove to paddington and started off having
obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue 

 at reading i had to change not only my carriage but my station 
however i was in time for the last train to eyford and i
reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock i was the
only passenger who got out there and there was no one upon the
platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern as i passed
out through the wicket gate however i found my acquaintance of
the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side without a
word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage the door
of which was standing open he drew up the windows on either
side tapped on the wood-work and away we went as fast as the
horse could go  

 one horse   interjected holmes 

 yes only one  

 did you observe the colour  

 yes i saw it by the side-lights when i was stepping into the
carriage it was a chestnut  

 tired-looking or fresh  

 oh fresh and glossy  

 thank you i am sorry to have interrupted you pray continue
your most interesting statement  

 away we went then and we drove for at least an hour colonel
lysander stark had said that it was only seven miles but i
should think from the rate that we seemed to go and from the
time that we took that it must have been nearer twelve he sat
at my side in silence all the time and i was aware more than
once when i glanced in his direction that he was looking at me
with great intensity the country roads seem to be not very good
in that part of the world for we lurched and jolted terribly i
tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we
were but they were made of frosted glass and i could make out
nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light now
and then i hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the
journey but the colonel answered only in monosyllables and the
conversation soon flagged at last however the bumping of the
road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive 
and the carriage came to a stand colonel lysander stark sprang
out and as i followed after him pulled me swiftly into a porch
which gaped in front of us we stepped as it were right out of
the carriage and into the hall so that i failed to catch the
most fleeting glance of the front of the house the instant that
i had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us 
and i heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage
drove away 

 it was pitch dark inside the house and the colonel fumbled
about looking for matches and muttering under his breath 
suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage and a
long golden bar of light shot out in our direction it grew
broader and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand which she
held above her head pushing her face forward and peering at us 
i could see that she was pretty and from the gloss with which
the light shone upon her dark dress i knew that it was a rich
material she spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as
though asking a question and when my companion answered in a
gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly
fell from her hand colonel stark went up to her whispered
something in her ear and then pushing her back into the room
from whence she had come he walked towards me again with the
lamp in his hand 

 'perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a
few minutes ' said he throwing open another door it was a
quiet little plainly furnished room with a round table in the
centre on which several german books were scattered colonel
stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the
door 'i shall not keep you waiting an instant ' said he and
vanished into the darkness 

 i glanced at the books upon the table and in spite of my
ignorance of german i could see that two of them were treatises
on science the others being volumes of poetry then i walked
across to the window hoping that i might catch some glimpse of
the country-side but an oak shutter heavily barred was folded
across it it was a wonderfully silent house there was an old
clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage but otherwise
everything was deadly still a vague feeling of uneasiness began
to steal over me who were these german people and what were
they doing living in this strange out-of-the-way place and
where was the place i was ten miles or so from eyford that was
all i knew but whether north south east or west i had no
idea for that matter reading and possibly other large towns 
were within that radius so the place might not be so secluded 
after all yet it was quite certain from the absolute stillness 
that we were in the country i paced up and down the room 
humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling
that i was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee 

 suddenly without any preliminary sound in the midst of the
utter stillness the door of my room swung slowly open the woman
was standing in the aperture the darkness of the hall behind
her the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and
beautiful face i could see at a glance that she was sick with
fear and the sight sent a chill to my own heart she held up one
shaking finger to warn me to be silent and she shot a few
whispered words of broken english at me her eyes glancing back 
like those of a frightened horse into the gloom behind her 

 'i would go ' said she trying hard as it seemed to me to
speak calmly 'i would go i should not stay here there is no
good for you to do '

 'but madam ' said i 'i have not yet done what i came for i
cannot possibly leave until i have seen the machine '

 'it is not worth your while to wait ' she went on 'you can pass
through the door no one hinders ' and then seeing that i smiled
and shook my head she suddenly threw aside her constraint and
made a step forward with her hands wrung together 'for the love
of heaven ' she whispered 'get away from here before it is too
late '

 but i am somewhat headstrong by nature and the more ready to
engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way i
thought of my fifty-guinea fee of my wearisome journey and of
the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me was it all to
go for nothing why should i slink away without having carried
out my commission and without the payment which was my due this
woman might for all i knew be a monomaniac with a stout
bearing therefore though her manner had shaken me more than i
cared to confess i still shook my head and declared my intention
of remaining where i was she was about to renew her entreaties
when a door slammed overhead and the sound of several footsteps
was heard upon the stairs she listened for an instant threw up
her hands with a despairing gesture and vanished as suddenly and
as noiselessly as she had come 

 the newcomers were colonel lysander stark and a short thick man
with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double
chin who was introduced to me as mr ferguson 

 'this is my secretary and manager ' said the colonel 'by the
way i was under the impression that i left this door shut just
now i fear that you have felt the draught '

 'on the contrary ' said i 'i opened the door myself because i
felt the room to be a little close '

 he shot one of his suspicious looks at me 'perhaps we had
better proceed to business then ' said he 'mr ferguson and i
will take you up to see the machine '

 'i had better put my hat on i suppose '

 'oh no it is in the house '

 'what you dig fuller's-earth in the house '

 'no no this is only where we compress it but never mind that 
all we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us
know what is wrong with it '

 we went upstairs together the colonel first with the lamp the
fat manager and i behind him it was a labyrinth of an old house 
with corridors passages narrow winding staircases and little
low doors the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the
generations who had crossed them there were no carpets and no
signs of any furniture above the ground floor while the plaster
was peeling off the walls and the damp was breaking through in
green unhealthy blotches i tried to put on as unconcerned an
air as possible but i had not forgotten the warnings of the
lady even though i disregarded them and i kept a keen eye upon
my two companions ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent
man but i could see from the little that he said that he was at
least a fellow-countryman 

 colonel lysander stark stopped at last before a low door which
he unlocked within was a small square room in which the three
of us could hardly get at one time ferguson remained outside 
and the colonel ushered me in 

 'we are now ' said he 'actually within the hydraulic press and
it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were
to turn it on the ceiling of this small chamber is really the
end of the descending piston and it comes down with the force of
many tons upon this metal floor there are small lateral columns
of water outside which receive the force and which transmit and
multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you the machine
goes readily enough but there is some stiffness in the working
of it and it has lost a little of its force perhaps you will
have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set
it right '

 i took the lamp from him and i examined the machine very
thoroughly it was indeed a gigantic one and capable of
exercising enormous pressure when i passed outside however and
pressed down the levers which controlled it i knew at once by
the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage which allowed
a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders an
examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was
round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to
fill the socket along which it worked this was clearly the cause
of the loss of power and i pointed it out to my companions who
followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical
questions as to how they should proceed to set it right when i
had made it clear to them i returned to the main chamber of the
machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity 
it was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth
was the merest fabrication for it would be absurd to suppose
that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a
purpose the walls were of wood but the floor consisted of a
large iron trough and when i came to examine it i could see a
crust of metallic deposit all over it i had stooped and was
scraping at this to see exactly what it was when i heard a
muttered exclamation in german and saw the cadaverous face of the
colonel looking down at me 

 'what are you doing there ' he asked 

 i felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as
that which he had told me 'i was admiring your fuller's-earth '
said i 'i think that i should be better able to advise you as to
your machine if i knew what the exact purpose was for which it
was used '

 the instant that i uttered the words i regretted the rashness of
my speech his face set hard and a baleful light sprang up in
his grey eyes 

 'very well ' said he 'you shall know all about the machine ' he
took a step backward slammed the little door and turned the key
in the lock i rushed towards it and pulled at the handle but it
was quite secure and did not give in the least to my kicks and
shoves 'hullo ' i yelled 'hullo colonel let me out '

 and then suddenly in the silence i heard a sound which sent my
heart into my mouth it was the clank of the levers and the swish
of the leaking cylinder he had set the engine at work the lamp
still stood upon the floor where i had placed it when examining
the trough by its light i saw that the black ceiling was coming
down upon me slowly jerkily but as none knew better than
myself with a force which must within a minute grind me to a
shapeless pulp i threw myself screaming against the door and
dragged with my nails at the lock i implored the colonel to let
me out but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my
cries the ceiling was only a foot or two above my head and with
my hand upraised i could feel its hard rough surface then it
flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend
very much upon the position in which i met it if i lay on my
face the weight would come upon my spine and i shuddered to
think of that dreadful snap easier the other way perhaps and
yet had i the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black
shadow wavering down upon me already i was unable to stand
erect when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope
back to my heart 

 i have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron the
walls were of wood as i gave a last hurried glance around i saw
a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards which
broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward for
an instant i could hardly believe that here was indeed a door
which led away from death the next instant i threw myself
through and lay half-fainting upon the other side the panel had
closed again behind me but the crash of the lamp and a few
moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal told me
how narrow had been my escape 

 i was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist and
i found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor 
while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand 
while she held a candle in her right it was the same good friend
whose warning i had so foolishly rejected 

 'come come ' she cried breathlessly 'they will be here in a
moment they will see that you are not there oh do not waste
the so-precious time but come '

 this time at least i did not scorn her advice i staggered to
my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding
stair the latter led to another broad passage and just as we
reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of
two voices one answering the other from the floor on which we
were and from the one beneath my guide stopped and looked about
her like one who is at her wit's end then she threw open a door
which led into a bedroom through the window of which the moon
was shining brightly 

 'it is your only chance ' said she 'it is high but it may be
that you can jump it '

 as she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the
passage and i saw the lean figure of colonel lysander stark
rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a
butcher's cleaver in the other i rushed across the bedroom 
flung open the window and looked out how quiet and sweet and
wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight and it could not be
more than thirty feet down i clambered out upon the sill but i
hesitated to jump until i should have heard what passed between
my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me if she were ill-used 
then at any risks i was determined to go back to her assistance 
the thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at
the door pushing his way past her but she threw her arms round
him and tried to hold him back 

 'fritz fritz ' she cried in english 'remember your promise
after the last time you said it should not be again he will be
silent oh he will be silent '

 'you are mad elise ' he shouted struggling to break away from
her 'you will be the ruin of us he has seen too much let me
pass i say ' he dashed her to one side and rushing to the
window cut at me with his heavy weapon i had let myself go and
was hanging by the hands to the sill when his blow fell i was
conscious of a dull pain my grip loosened and i fell into the
garden below 

 i was shaken but not hurt by the fall so i picked myself up and
rushed off among the bushes as hard as i could run for i
understood that i was far from being out of danger yet suddenly 
however as i ran a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me 
i glanced down at my hand which was throbbing painfully and
then for the first time saw that my thumb had been cut off and
that the blood was pouring from my wound i endeavoured to tie my
handkerchief round it but there came a sudden buzzing in my
ears and next moment i fell in a dead faint among the
rose-bushes 

 how long i remained unconscious i cannot tell it must have been
a very long time for the moon had sunk and a bright morning was
breaking when i came to myself my clothes were all sodden with
dew and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded
thumb the smarting of it recalled in an instant all the
particulars of my night's adventure and i sprang to my feet with
the feeling that i might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers but
to my astonishment when i came to look round me neither house
nor garden were to be seen i had been lying in an angle of the
hedge close by the highroad and just a little lower down was a
long building which proved upon my approaching it to be the
very station at which i had arrived upon the previous night were
it not for the ugly wound upon my hand all that had passed
during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream 

 half dazed i went into the station and asked about the morning
train there would be one to reading in less than an hour the
same porter was on duty i found as had been there when i
arrived i inquired of him whether he had ever heard of colonel
lysander stark the name was strange to him had he observed a
carriage the night before waiting for me no he had not was
there a police-station anywhere near there was one about three
miles off 

 it was too far for me to go weak and ill as i was i determined
to wait until i got back to town before telling my story to the
police it was a little past six when i arrived so i went first
to have my wound dressed and then the doctor was kind enough to
bring me along here i put the case into your hands and shall do
exactly what you advise  

we both sat in silence for some little time after listening to
this extraordinary narrative then sherlock holmes pulled down
from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he
placed his cuttings 

 here is an advertisement which will interest you   said he  it
appeared in all the papers about a year ago listen to this 
'lost on the 9th inst mr jeremiah hayling aged
twenty-six a hydraulic engineer left his lodgings at ten
o'clock at night and has not been heard of since was
dressed in ' etc etc ha that represents the last time that
the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled i fancy  

 good heavens   cried my patient  then that explains what the
girl said  

 undoubtedly it is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and
desperate man who was absolutely determined that nothing should
stand in the way of his little game like those out-and-out
pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship well 
every moment now is precious so if you feel equal to it we shall
go down to scotland yard at once as a preliminary to starting for
eyford  

some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train
together bound from reading to the little berkshire village 
there were sherlock holmes the hydraulic engineer inspector
bradstreet of scotland yard a plain-clothes man and myself 
bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the
seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with eyford
for its centre 

 there you are   said he  that circle is drawn at a radius of
ten miles from the village the place we want must be somewhere
near that line you said ten miles i think sir  

 it was an hour's good drive  

 and you think that they brought you back all that way when you
were unconscious  

 they must have done so i have a confused memory too of having
been lifted and conveyed somewhere  

 what i cannot understand   said i  is why they should have
spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden 
perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties  

 i hardly think that likely i never saw a more inexorable face
in my life  

 oh we shall soon clear up all that   said bradstreet  well i
have drawn my circle and i only wish i knew at what point upon
it the folk that we are in search of are to be found  

 i think i could lay my finger on it   said holmes quietly 

 really now   cried the inspector  you have formed your
opinion come now we shall see who agrees with you i say it is
south for the country is more deserted there  

 and i say east   said my patient 

 i am for west   remarked the plain-clothes man  there are
several quiet little villages up there  

 and i am for north   said i  because there are no hills there 
and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up
any  

 come   cried the inspector laughing  it's a very pretty
diversity of opinion we have boxed the compass among us who do
you give your casting vote to  

 you are all wrong  

 but we can't all be  

 oh yes you can this is my point   he placed his finger in the
centre of the circle  this is where we shall find them  

 but the twelve-mile drive   gasped hatherley 

 six out and six back nothing simpler you say yourself that the
horse was fresh and glossy when you got in how could it be that
if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads  

 indeed it is a likely ruse enough   observed bradstreet
thoughtfully  of course there can be no doubt as to the nature
of this gang  

 none at all   said holmes  they are coiners on a large scale 
and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the
place of silver  

 we have known for some time that a clever gang was at work  
said the inspector  they have been turning out half-crowns by
the thousand we even traced them as far as reading but could
get no farther for they had covered their traces in a way that
showed that they were very old hands but now thanks to this
lucky chance i think that we have got them right enough  

but the inspector was mistaken for those criminals were not
destined to fall into the hands of justice as we rolled into
eyford station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed
up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and
hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape 

 a house on fire   asked bradstreet as the train steamed off
again on its way 

 yes sir   said the station-master 

 when did it break out  

 i hear that it was during the night sir but it has got worse 
and the whole place is in a blaze  

 whose house is it  

 dr becher's  

 tell me   broke in the engineer  is dr becher a german very
thin with a long sharp nose  

the station-master laughed heartily  no sir dr becher is an
englishman and there isn't a man in the parish who has a
better-lined waistcoat but he has a gentleman staying with him 
a patient as i understand who is a foreigner and he looks as
if a little good berkshire beef would do him no harm  

the station-master had not finished his speech before we were all
hastening in the direction of the fire the road topped a low
hill and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in
front of us spouting fire at every chink and window while in
the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to
keep the flames under 

 that's it   cried hatherley in intense excitement  there is
the gravel-drive and there are the rose-bushes where i lay that
second window is the one that i jumped from  

 well at least   said holmes  you have had your revenge upon
them there can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which 
when it was crushed in the press set fire to the wooden walls 
though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to
observe it at the time now keep your eyes open in this crowd for
your friends of last night though i very much fear that they are
a good hundred miles off by now  

and holmes' fears came to be realised for from that day to this
no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman the
sinister german or the morose englishman early that morning a
peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very
bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of reading but
there all traces of the fugitives disappeared and even holmes'
ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their
whereabouts 

the firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements
which they had found within and still more so by discovering a
newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor 
about sunset however their efforts were at last successful and
they subdued the flames but not before the roof had fallen in 
and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that save
some twisted cylinders and iron piping not a trace remained of
the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so
dearly large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored
in an out-house but no coins were to be found which may have
explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been
already referred to 

how our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to
the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained
forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould which told us a
very plain tale he had evidently been carried down by two
persons one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other
unusually large ones on the whole it was most probable that the
silent englishman being less bold or less murderous than his
companion had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out
of the way of danger 

 well   said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return
once more to london  it has been a pretty business for me i
have lost my thumb and i have lost a fifty-guinea fee and what
have i gained  

 experience   said holmes laughing  indirectly it may be of
value you know you have only to put it into words to gain the
reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your
existence  



x the adventure of the noble bachelor

the lord st simon marriage and its curious termination have
long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles
in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves fresh scandals have
eclipsed it and their more piquant details have drawn the
gossips away from this four-year-old drama as i have reason to
believe however that the full facts have never been revealed to
the general public and as my friend sherlock holmes had a
considerable share in clearing the matter up i feel that no
memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of
this remarkable episode 

it was a few weeks before my own marriage during the days when i
was still sharing rooms with holmes in baker street that he came
home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table
waiting for him i had remained indoors all day for the weather
had taken a sudden turn to rain with high autumnal winds and
the jezail bullet which i had brought back in one of my limbs as
a relic of my afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence 
with my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another i had
surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last 
saturated with the news of the day i tossed them all aside and
lay listless watching the huge crest and monogram upon the
envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's
noble correspondent could be 

 here is a very fashionable epistle   i remarked as he entered 
 your morning letters if i remember right were from a
fish-monger and a tide-waiter  

 yes my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety   he
answered smiling  and the humbler are usually the more
interesting this looks like one of those unwelcome social
summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie  

he broke the seal and glanced over the contents 

 oh come it may prove to be something of interest after all  

 not social then  

 no distinctly professional  

 and from a noble client  

 one of the highest in england  

 my dear fellow i congratulate you  

 i assure you watson without affectation that the status of my
client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his
case it is just possible however that that also may not be
wanting in this new investigation you have been reading the
papers diligently of late have you not  

 it looks like it   said i ruefully pointing to a huge bundle in
the corner  i have had nothing else to do  

 it is fortunate for you will perhaps be able to post me up i
read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column the
latter is always instructive but if you have followed recent
events so closely you must have read about lord st simon and his
wedding  

 oh yes with the deepest interest  

 that is well the letter which i hold in my hand is from lord
st simon i will read it to you and in return you must turn
over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter 
this is what he says 

 'my dear mr sherlock holmes lord backwater tells me that i
may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion i
have determined therefore to call upon you and to consult you
in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in
connection with my wedding mr lestrade of scotland yard is
acting already in the matter but he assures me that he sees no
objection to your co-operation and that he even thinks that
it might be of some assistance i will call at four o'clock in
the afternoon and should you have any other engagement at that
time i hope that you will postpone it as this matter is of
paramount importance yours faithfully st simon '

 it is dated from grosvenor mansions written with a quill pen 
and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink
upon the outer side of his right little finger   remarked holmes
as he folded up the epistle 

 he says four o'clock it is three now he will be here in an
hour  

 then i have just time with your assistance to get clear upon
the subject turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in
their order of time while i take a glance as to who our client
is   he picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of
reference beside the mantelpiece  here he is   said he sitting
down and flattening it out upon his knee  'lord robert walsingham
de vere st simon second son of the duke of balmoral ' hum 'arms 
azure three caltrops in chief over a fess sable born in 1846 '
he's forty-one years of age which is mature for marriage was
under-secretary for the colonies in a late administration the
duke his father was at one time secretary for foreign affairs 
they inherit plantagenet blood by direct descent and tudor on
the distaff side ha well there is nothing very instructive in
all this i think that i must turn to you watson for something
more solid  

 i have very little difficulty in finding what i want   said i 
 for the facts are quite recent and the matter struck me as
remarkable i feared to refer them to you however as i knew
that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the
intrusion of other matters  

 oh you mean the little problem of the grosvenor square
furniture van that is quite cleared up now though indeed it
was obvious from the first pray give me the results of your
newspaper selections  

 here is the first notice which i can find it is in the personal
column of the morning post and dates as you see some weeks
back 'a marriage has been arranged ' it says 'and will if
rumour is correct very shortly take place between lord robert
st simon second son of the duke of balmoral and miss hatty
doran the only daughter of aloysius doran esq of san
francisco cal u s a ' that is all  

 terse and to the point   remarked holmes stretching his long 
thin legs towards the fire 

 there was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society
papers of the same week ah here it is 'there will soon be a
call for protection in the marriage market for the present
free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home
product one by one the management of the noble houses of great
britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across
the atlantic an important addition has been made during the last
week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by
these charming invaders lord st simon who has shown himself
for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows has
now definitely announced his approaching marriage with miss hatty
doran the fascinating daughter of a california millionaire miss
doran whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much
attention at the westbury house festivities is an only child 
and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to
considerably over the six figures with expectancies for the
future as it is an open secret that the duke of balmoral has
been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years 
and as lord st simon has no property of his own save the small
estate of birchmoor it is obvious that the californian heiress
is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to
make the easy and common transition from a republican lady to a
british peeress ' 

 anything else   asked holmes yawning 

 oh yes plenty then there is another note in the morning post
to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one that it
would be at st george's hanover square that only half a dozen
intimate friends would be invited and that the party would
return to the furnished house at lancaster gate which has been
taken by mr aloysius doran two days later that is on
wednesday last there is a curt announcement that the wedding had
taken place and that the honeymoon would be passed at lord
backwater's place near petersfield those are all the notices
which appeared before the disappearance of the bride  

 before the what   asked holmes with a start 

 the vanishing of the lady  

 when did she vanish then  

 at the wedding breakfast  

 indeed this is more interesting than it promised to be quite
dramatic in fact  

 yes it struck me as being a little out of the common  

 they often vanish before the ceremony and occasionally during
the honeymoon but i cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt
as this pray let me have the details  

 i warn you that they are very incomplete  

 perhaps we may make them less so  

 such as they are they are set forth in a single article of a
morning paper of yesterday which i will read to you it is
headed 'singular occurrence at a fashionable wedding' 

 'the family of lord robert st simon has been thrown into the
greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which
have taken place in connection with his wedding the ceremony as
shortly announced in the papers of yesterday occurred on the
previous morning but it is only now that it has been possible to
confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently
floating about in spite of the attempts of the friends to hush
the matter up so much public attention has now been drawn to it
that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what
is a common subject for conversation 

 'the ceremony which was performed at st george's hanover
square was a very quiet one no one being present save the
father of the bride mr aloysius doran the duchess of balmoral 
lord backwater lord eustace and lady clara st simon the
younger brother and sister of the bridegroom and lady alicia
whittington the whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of
mr aloysius doran at lancaster gate where breakfast had been
prepared it appears that some little trouble was caused by a
woman whose name has not been ascertained who endeavoured to
force her way into the house after the bridal party alleging
that she had some claim upon lord st simon it was only after a
painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler
and the footman the bride who had fortunately entered the house
before this unpleasant interruption had sat down to breakfast
with the rest when she complained of a sudden indisposition and
retired to her room her prolonged absence having caused some
comment her father followed her but learned from her maid that
she had only come up to her chamber for an instant caught up an
ulster and bonnet and hurried down to the passage one of the
footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus
apparelled but had refused to credit that it was his mistress 
believing her to be with the company on ascertaining that his
daughter had disappeared mr aloysius doran in conjunction with
the bridegroom instantly put themselves in communication with
the police and very energetic inquiries are being made which
will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very
singular business up to a late hour last night however nothing
had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady there
are rumours of foul play in the matter and it is said that the
police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the
original disturbance in the belief that from jealousy or some
other motive she may have been concerned in the strange
disappearance of the bride ' 

 and is that all  

 only one little item in another of the morning papers but it is
a suggestive one  

 and it is  

 that miss flora millar the lady who had caused the disturbance 
has actually been arrested it appears that she was formerly a
danseuse at the allegro and that she has known the bridegroom
for some years there are no further particulars and the whole
case is in your hands now so far as it has been set forth in the
public press  

 and an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be i would
not have missed it for worlds but there is a ring at the bell 
watson and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four i
have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client do not
dream of going watson for i very much prefer having a witness 
if only as a check to my own memory  

 lord robert st simon   announced our page-boy throwing open
the door a gentleman entered with a pleasant cultured face 
high-nosed and pale with something perhaps of petulance about
the mouth and with the steady well-opened eye of a man whose
pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed his
manner was brisk and yet his general appearance gave an undue
impression of age for he had a slight forward stoop and a little
bend of the knees as he walked his hair too as he swept off
his very curly-brimmed hat was grizzled round the edges and thin
upon the top as to his dress it was careful to the verge of
foppishness with high collar black frock-coat white waistcoat 
yellow gloves patent-leather shoes and light-coloured gaiters 
he advanced slowly into the room turning his head from left to
right and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his
golden eyeglasses 

 good-day lord st simon   said holmes rising and bowing  pray
take the basket-chair this is my friend and colleague dr 
watson draw up a little to the fire and we will talk this
matter over  

 a most painful matter to me as you can most readily imagine 
mr holmes i have been cut to the quick i understand that you
have already managed several delicate cases of this sort sir 
though i presume that they were hardly from the same class of
society  

 no i am descending  

 i beg pardon  

 my last client of the sort was a king  

 oh really i had no idea and which king  

 the king of scandinavia  

 what had he lost his wife  

 you can understand   said holmes suavely  that i extend to the
affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which i promise to
you in yours  

 of course very right very right i'm sure i beg pardon as to
my own case i am ready to give you any information which may
assist you in forming an opinion  

 thank you i have already learned all that is in the public
prints nothing more i presume that i may take it as correct this
article for example as to the disappearance of the bride  

lord st simon glanced over it  yes it is correct as far as it
goes  

 but it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could
offer an opinion i think that i may arrive at my facts most
directly by questioning you  

 pray do so  

 when did you first meet miss hatty doran  

 in san francisco a year ago  

 you were travelling in the states  

 yes  

 did you become engaged then  

 no  

 but you were on a friendly footing  

 i was amused by her society and she could see that i was
amused  

 her father is very rich  

 he is said to be the richest man on the pacific slope  

 and how did he make his money  

 in mining he had nothing a few years ago then he struck gold 
invested it and came up by leaps and bounds  

 now what is your own impression as to the young lady's your
wife's character  

the nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down
into the fire  you see mr holmes   said he  my wife was
twenty before her father became a rich man during that time she
ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or
mountains so that her education has come from nature rather than
from the schoolmaster she is what we call in england a tomboy 
with a strong nature wild and free unfettered by any sort of
traditions she is impetuous volcanic i was about to say she
is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her
resolutions on the other hand i would not have given her the
name which i have the honour to bear  he gave a little stately
cough  had not i thought her to be at bottom a noble woman i
believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that
anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her  

 have you her photograph  

 i brought this with me   he opened a locket and showed us the
full face of a very lovely woman it was not a photograph but an
ivory miniature and the artist had brought out the full effect
of the lustrous black hair the large dark eyes and the
exquisite mouth holmes gazed long and earnestly at it then he
closed the locket and handed it back to lord st simon 

 the young lady came to london then and you renewed your
acquaintance  

 yes her father brought her over for this last london season i
met her several times became engaged to her and have now
married her  

 she brought i understand a considerable dowry  

 a fair dowry not more than is usual in my family  

 and this of course remains to you since the marriage is a
fait accompli  

 i really have made no inquiries on the subject  

 very naturally not did you see miss doran on the day before the
wedding  

 yes  

 was she in good spirits  

 never better she kept talking of what we should do in our
future lives  

 indeed that is very interesting and on the morning of the
wedding  

 she was as bright as possible at least until after the
ceremony  

 and did you observe any change in her then  

 well to tell the truth i saw then the first signs that i had
ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp the incident
however was too trivial to relate and can have no possible
bearing upon the case  

 pray let us have it for all that  

 oh it is childish she dropped her bouquet as we went towards
the vestry she was passing the front pew at the time and it
fell over into the pew there was a moment's delay but the
gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again and it did not
appear to be the worse for the fall yet when i spoke to her of
the matter she answered me abruptly and in the carriage on our
way home she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause  

 indeed you say that there was a gentleman in the pew some of
the general public were present then  

 oh yes it is impossible to exclude them when the church is
open  

 this gentleman was not one of your wife's friends  

 no no i call him a gentleman by courtesy but he was quite a
common-looking person i hardly noticed his appearance but
really i think that we are wandering rather far from the point  

 lady st simon then returned from the wedding in a less
cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it what did she do
on re-entering her father's house  

 i saw her in conversation with her maid  

 and who is her maid  

 alice is her name she is an american and came from california
with her  

 a confidential servant  

 a little too much so it seemed to me that her mistress allowed
her to take great liberties still of course in america they
look upon these things in a different way  

 how long did she speak to this alice  

 oh a few minutes i had something else to think of  

 you did not overhear what they said  

 lady st simon said something about 'jumping a claim ' she was
accustomed to use slang of the kind i have no idea what she
meant  

 american slang is very expressive sometimes and what did your
wife do when she finished speaking to her maid  

 she walked into the breakfast-room  

 on your arm  

 no alone she was very independent in little matters like that 
then after we had sat down for ten minutes or so she rose
hurriedly muttered some words of apology and left the room she
never came back  

 but this maid alice as i understand deposes that she went to
her room covered her bride's dress with a long ulster put on a
bonnet and went out  

 quite so and she was afterwards seen walking into hyde park in
company with flora millar a woman who is now in custody and who
had already made a disturbance at mr doran's house that
morning  

 ah yes i should like a few particulars as to this young lady 
and your relations to her  

lord st simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows 
 we have been on a friendly footing for some years i may say on
a very friendly footing she used to be at the allegro i have
not treated her ungenerously and she had no just cause of
complaint against me but you know what women are mr holmes 
flora was a dear little thing but exceedingly hot-headed and
devotedly attached to me she wrote me dreadful letters when she
heard that i was about to be married and to tell the truth the
reason why i had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that i
feared lest there might be a scandal in the church she came to
mr doran's door just after we returned and she endeavoured to
push her way in uttering very abusive expressions towards my
wife and even threatening her but i had foreseen the
possibility of something of the sort and i had two police
fellows there in private clothes who soon pushed her out again 
she was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a
row  

 did your wife hear all this  

 no thank goodness she did not  

 and she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards  

 yes that is what mr lestrade of scotland yard looks upon as
so serious it is thought that flora decoyed my wife out and laid
some terrible trap for her  

 well it is a possible supposition  

 you think so too  

 i did not say a probable one but you do not yourself look upon
this as likely  

 i do not think flora would hurt a fly  

 still jealousy is a strange transformer of characters pray
what is your own theory as to what took place  

 well really i came to seek a theory not to propound one i
have given you all the facts since you ask me however i may
say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of
this affair the consciousness that she had made so immense a
social stride had the effect of causing some little nervous
disturbance in my wife  

 in short that she had become suddenly deranged  

 well really when i consider that she has turned her back i
will not say upon me but upon so much that many have aspired to
without success i can hardly explain it in any other fashion  

 well certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis   said
holmes smiling  and now lord st simon i think that i have
nearly all my data may i ask whether you were seated at the
breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window  

 we could see the other side of the road and the park  

 quite so then i do not think that i need to detain you longer 
i shall communicate with you  

 should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem   said our
client rising 

 i have solved it  

 eh what was that  

 i say that i have solved it  

 where then is my wife  

 that is a detail which i shall speedily supply  

lord st simon shook his head  i am afraid that it will take
wiser heads than yours or mine   he remarked and bowing in a
stately old-fashioned manner he departed 

 it is very good of lord st simon to honour my head by putting
it on a level with his own   said sherlock holmes laughing  i
think that i shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all
this cross-questioning i had formed my conclusions as to the
case before our client came into the room  

 my dear holmes  

 i have notes of several similar cases though none as i
remarked before which were quite as prompt my whole examination
served to turn my conjecture into a certainty circumstantial
evidence is occasionally very convincing as when you find a
trout in the milk to quote thoreau's example  

 but i have heard all that you have heard  

 without however the knowledge of pre-existing cases which
serves me so well there was a parallel instance in aberdeen some
years back and something on very much the same lines at munich
the year after the franco-prussian war it is one of these
cases but hullo here is lestrade good-afternoon lestrade 
you will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard and there are
cigars in the box  

the official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat 
which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance and he carried a
black canvas bag in his hand with a short greeting he seated
himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him 

 what's up then   asked holmes with a twinkle in his eye  you
look dissatisfied  

 and i feel dissatisfied it is this infernal st simon marriage
case i can make neither head nor tail of the business  

 really you surprise me  

 who ever heard of such a mixed affair every clue seems to slip
through my fingers i have been at work upon it all day  

 and very wet it seems to have made you   said holmes laying his
hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket 

 yes i have been dragging the serpentine  

 in heaven's name what for  

 in search of the body of lady st simon  

sherlock holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily 

 have you dragged the basin of trafalgar square fountain   he
asked 

 why what do you mean  

 because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in
the one as in the other  

lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion  i suppose you
know all about it   he snarled 

 well i have only just heard the facts but my mind is made up  

 oh indeed then you think that the serpentine plays no part in
the matter  

 i think it very unlikely  

 then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found
this in it   he opened his bag as he spoke and tumbled onto the
floor a wedding-dress of watered silk a pair of white satin
shoes and a bride's wreath and veil all discoloured and soaked
in water  there   said he putting a new wedding-ring upon the
top of the pile  there is a little nut for you to crack master
holmes  

 oh indeed   said my friend blowing blue rings into the air 
 you dragged them from the serpentine  

 no they were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper 
they have been identified as her clothes and it seemed to me
that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off  

 by the same brilliant reasoning every man's body is to be found
in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe and pray what did you hope
to arrive at through this  

 at some evidence implicating flora millar in the disappearance  

 i am afraid that you will find it difficult  

 are you indeed now   cried lestrade with some bitterness  i
am afraid holmes that you are not very practical with your
deductions and your inferences you have made two blunders in as
many minutes this dress does implicate miss flora millar  

 and how  

 in the dress is a pocket in the pocket is a card-case in the
card-case is a note and here is the very note   he slapped it
down upon the table in front of him  listen to this 'you will
see me when all is ready come at once f h m ' now my theory all
along has been that lady st simon was decoyed away by flora
millar and that she with confederates no doubt was
responsible for her disappearance here signed with her
initials is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped
into her hand at the door and which lured her within their
reach  

 very good lestrade   said holmes laughing  you really are
very fine indeed let me see it   he took up the paper in a
listless way but his attention instantly became riveted and he
gave a little cry of satisfaction  this is indeed important  
said he 

 ha you find it so  

 extremely so i congratulate you warmly  

lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look  why   he
shrieked  you're looking at the wrong side  

 on the contrary this is the right side  

 the right side you're mad here is the note written in pencil
over here  

 and over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel
bill which interests me deeply  

 there's nothing in it i looked at it before   said lestrade 
 'oct 4th rooms 8s breakfast 2s 6d cocktail 1s lunch 2s 
6d glass sherry 8d ' i see nothing in that  

 very likely not it is most important all the same as to the
note it is important also or at least the initials are so i
congratulate you again  

 i've wasted time enough   said lestrade rising  i believe in
hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories 
good-day mr holmes and we shall see which gets to the bottom
of the matter first   he gathered up the garments thrust them
into the bag and made for the door 

 just one hint to you lestrade   drawled holmes before his rival
vanished  i will tell you the true solution of the matter lady
st simon is a myth there is not and there never has been any
such person  

lestrade looked sadly at my companion then he turned to me 
tapped his forehead three times shook his head solemnly and
hurried away 

he had hardly shut the door behind him when holmes rose to put on
his overcoat  there is something in what the fellow says about
outdoor work   he remarked  so i think watson that i must
leave you to your papers for a little  

it was after five o'clock when sherlock holmes left me but i had
no time to be lonely for within an hour there arrived a
confectioner's man with a very large flat box this he unpacked
with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him and
presently to my very great astonishment a quite epicurean
little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble
lodging-house mahogany there were a couple of brace of cold
woodcock a pheasant a pate de foie gras pie with a group of
ancient and cobwebby bottles having laid out all these luxuries 
my two visitors vanished away like the genii of the arabian
nights with no explanation save that the things had been paid
for and were ordered to this address 

just before nine o'clock sherlock holmes stepped briskly into the
room his features were gravely set but there was a light in his
eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his
conclusions 

 they have laid the supper then   he said rubbing his hands 

 you seem to expect company they have laid for five  

 yes i fancy we may have some company dropping in   said he  i
am surprised that lord st simon has not already arrived ha i
fancy that i hear his step now upon the stairs  

it was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in 
dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever and with a very
perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features 

 my messenger reached you then   asked holmes 

 yes and i confess that the contents startled me beyond measure 
have you good authority for what you say  

 the best possible  

lord st simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his
forehead 

 what will the duke say   he murmured  when he hears that one of
the family has been subjected to such humiliation  

 it is the purest accident i cannot allow that there is any
humiliation  

 ah you look on these things from another standpoint  

 i fail to see that anyone is to blame i can hardly see how the
lady could have acted otherwise though her abrupt method of
doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted having no mother she
had no one to advise her at such a crisis  

 it was a slight sir a public slight   said lord st simon 
tapping his fingers upon the table 

 you must make allowance for this poor girl placed in so
unprecedented a position  

 i will make no allowance i am very angry indeed and i have
been shamefully used  

 i think that i heard a ring   said holmes  yes there are steps
on the landing if i cannot persuade you to take a lenient view
of the matter lord st simon i have brought an advocate here
who may be more successful   he opened the door and ushered in a
lady and gentleman  lord st simon   said he  allow me to
introduce you to mr and mrs francis hay moulton the lady i
think you have already met  

at the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his
seat and stood very erect with his eyes cast down and his hand
thrust into the breast of his frock-coat a picture of offended
dignity the lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out
her hand to him but he still refused to raise his eyes it was
as well for his resolution perhaps for her pleading face was
one which it was hard to resist 

 you're angry robert   said she  well i guess you have every
cause to be  

 pray make no apology to me   said lord st simon bitterly 

 oh yes i know that i have treated you real bad and that i
should have spoken to you before i went but i was kind of
rattled and from the time when i saw frank here again i just
didn't know what i was doing or saying i only wonder i didn't
fall down and do a faint right there before the altar  

 perhaps mrs moulton you would like my friend and me to leave
the room while you explain this matter  

 if i may give an opinion   remarked the strange gentleman 
 we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business
already for my part i should like all europe and america to
hear the rights of it   he was a small wiry sunburnt man 
clean-shaven with a sharp face and alert manner 

 then i'll tell our story right away   said the lady  frank here
and i met in '84 in mcquire's camp near the rockies where pa
was working a claim we were engaged to each other frank and i 
but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile 
while poor frank here had a claim that petered out and came to
nothing the richer pa grew the poorer was frank so at last pa
wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer and he took
me away to 'frisco frank wouldn't throw up his hand though so
he followed me there and he saw me without pa knowing anything
about it it would only have made him mad to know so we just
fixed it all up for ourselves frank said that he would go and
make his pile too and never come back to claim me until he had
as much as pa so then i promised to wait for him to the end of
time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived 
'why shouldn't we be married right away then ' said he 'and
then i will feel sure of you and i won't claim to be your
husband until i come back ' well we talked it over and he had
fixed it all up so nicely with a clergyman all ready in waiting 
that we just did it right there and then frank went off to seek
his fortune and i went back to pa 

 the next i heard of frank was that he was in montana and then
he went prospecting in arizona and then i heard of him from new
mexico after that came a long newspaper story about how a
miners' camp had been attacked by apache indians and there was
my frank's name among the killed i fainted dead away and i was
very sick for months after pa thought i had a decline and took
me to half the doctors in 'frisco not a word of news came for a
year and more so that i never doubted that frank was really
dead then lord st simon came to 'frisco and we came to london 
and a marriage was arranged and pa was very pleased but i felt
all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place
in my heart that had been given to my poor frank 

 still if i had married lord st simon of course i'd have done
my duty by him we can't command our love but we can our
actions i went to the altar with him with the intention to make
him just as good a wife as it was in me to be but you may
imagine what i felt when just as i came to the altar rails i
glanced back and saw frank standing and looking at me out of the
first pew i thought it was his ghost at first but when i looked
again there he was still with a kind of question in his eyes as
if to ask me whether i were glad or sorry to see him i wonder i
didn't drop i know that everything was turning round and the
words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my
ear i didn't know what to do should i stop the service and make
a scene in the church i glanced at him again and he seemed to
know what i was thinking for he raised his finger to his lips to
tell me to be still then i saw him scribble on a piece of paper 
and i knew that he was writing me a note as i passed his pew on
the way out i dropped my bouquet over to him and he slipped the
note into my hand when he returned me the flowers it was only a
line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so 
of course i never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now
to him and i determined to do just whatever he might direct 

 when i got back i told my maid who had known him in california 
and had always been his friend i ordered her to say nothing but
to get a few things packed and my ulster ready i know i ought to
have spoken to lord st simon but it was dreadful hard before
his mother and all those great people i just made up my mind to
run away and explain afterwards i hadn't been at the table ten
minutes before i saw frank out of the window at the other side of
the road he beckoned to me and then began walking into the park 
i slipped out put on my things and followed him some woman
came talking something or other about lord st simon to
me seemed to me from the little i heard as if he had a little
secret of his own before marriage also but i managed to get away
from her and soon overtook frank we got into a cab together and
away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in gordon square and
that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting frank
had been a prisoner among the apaches had escaped came on to
'frisco found that i had given him up for dead and had gone to
england followed me there and had come upon me at last on the
very morning of my second wedding  

 i saw it in a paper   explained the american  it gave the name
and the church but not where the lady lived  

 then we had a talk as to what we should do and frank was all
for openness but i was so ashamed of it all that i felt as if i
should like to vanish away and never see any of them again just
sending a line to pa perhaps to show him that i was alive it
was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting
round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back so
frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of
them so that i should not be traced and dropped them away
somewhere where no one could find them it is likely that we
should have gone on to paris to-morrow only that this good
gentleman mr holmes came round to us this evening though how
he found us is more than i can think and he showed us very
clearly and kindly that i was wrong and that frank was right and
that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so
secret then he offered to give us a chance of talking to lord
st simon alone and so we came right away round to his rooms at
once now robert you have heard it all and i am very sorry if
i have given you pain and i hope that you do not think very
meanly of me  

lord st simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude but
had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this
long narrative 

 excuse me   he said  but it is not my custom to discuss my most
intimate personal affairs in this public manner  

 then you won't forgive me you won't shake hands before i go  

 oh certainly if it would give you any pleasure   he put out
his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him 

 i had hoped   suggested holmes  that you would have joined us
in a friendly supper  

 i think that there you ask a little too much   responded his
lordship  i may be forced to acquiesce in these recent
developments but i can hardly be expected to make merry over
them i think that with your permission i will now wish you all a
very good-night   he included us all in a sweeping bow and
stalked out of the room 

 then i trust that you at least will honour me with your
company   said sherlock holmes  it is always a joy to meet an
american mr moulton for i am one of those who believe that the
folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone
years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens
of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a
quartering of the union jack with the stars and stripes  

 the case has been an interesting one   remarked holmes when our
visitors had left us  because it serves to show very clearly how
simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight
seems to be almost inexplicable nothing could be more natural
than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady and nothing
stranger than the result when viewed for instance by mr 
lestrade of scotland yard  

 you were not yourself at fault at all then  

 from the first two facts were very obvious to me the one that
the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony 
the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of
returning home obviously something had occurred during the
morning then to cause her to change her mind what could that
something be she could not have spoken to anyone when she was
out for she had been in the company of the bridegroom had she
seen someone then if she had it must be someone from america
because she had spent so short a time in this country that she
could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence
over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change
her plans so completely you see we have already arrived by a
process of exclusion at the idea that she might have seen an
american then who could this american be and why should he
possess so much influence over her it might be a lover it might
be a husband her young womanhood had i knew been spent in
rough scenes and under strange conditions so far i had got
before i ever heard lord st simon's narrative when he told us
of a man in a pew of the change in the bride's manner of so
transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a
bouquet of her resort to her confidential maid and of her very
significant allusion to claim-jumping which in miners' parlance
means taking possession of that which another person has a prior
claim to the whole situation became absolutely clear she had
gone off with a man and the man was either a lover or was a
previous husband the chances being in favour of the latter  

 and how in the world did you find them  

 it might have been difficult but friend lestrade held
information in his hands the value of which he did not himself
know the initials were of course of the highest importance 
but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had
settled his bill at one of the most select london hotels  

 how did you deduce the select  

 by the select prices eight shillings for a bed and eightpence
for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive
hotels there are not many in london which charge at that rate 
in the second one which i visited in northumberland avenue i
learned by an inspection of the book that francis h moulton an
american gentleman had left only the day before and on looking
over the entries against him i came upon the very items which i
had seen in the duplicate bill his letters were to be forwarded
to 226 gordon square so thither i travelled and being fortunate
enough to find the loving couple at home i ventured to give them
some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be
better in every way that they should make their position a little
clearer both to the general public and to lord st simon in
particular i invited them to meet him here and as you see i
made him keep the appointment  

 but with no very good result   i remarked  his conduct was
certainly not very gracious  

 ah watson   said holmes smiling  perhaps you would not be
very gracious either if after all the trouble of wooing and
wedding you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of
fortune i think that we may judge lord st simon very mercifully
and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in
the same position draw your chair up and hand me my violin for
the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away
these bleak autumnal evenings  



xi the adventure of the beryl coronet

 holmes   said i as i stood one morning in our bow-window looking
down the street  here is a madman coming along it seems rather
sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone  

my friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands
in the pockets of his dressing-gown looking over my shoulder it
was a bright crisp february morning and the snow of the day
before still lay deep upon the ground shimmering brightly in the
wintry sun down the centre of baker street it had been ploughed
into a brown crumbly band by the traffic but at either side and
on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as
when it fell the grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped but
was still dangerously slippery so that there were fewer
passengers than usual indeed from the direction of the
metropolitan station no one was coming save the single gentleman
whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention 

he was a man of about fifty tall portly and imposing with a
massive strongly marked face and a commanding figure he was
dressed in a sombre yet rich style in black frock-coat shining
hat neat brown gaiters and well-cut pearl-grey trousers yet
his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress
and features for he was running hard with occasional little
springs such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to
set any tax upon his legs as he ran he jerked his hands up and
down waggled his head and writhed his face into the most
extraordinary contortions 

 what on earth can be the matter with him   i asked  he is
looking up at the numbers of the houses  

 i believe that he is coming here   said holmes rubbing his
hands 

 here  

 yes i rather think he is coming to consult me professionally i
think that i recognise the symptoms ha did i not tell you   as
he spoke the man puffing and blowing rushed at our door and
pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the
clanging 

a few moments later he was in our room still puffing still
gesticulating but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in
his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and
pity for a while he could not get his words out but swayed his
body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the
extreme limits of his reason then suddenly springing to his
feet he beat his head against the wall with such force that we
both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room 
sherlock holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and sitting
beside him patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy 
soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ 

 you have come to me to tell your story have you not   said he 
 you are fatigued with your haste pray wait until you have
recovered yourself and then i shall be most happy to look into
any little problem which you may submit to me  

the man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest fighting
against his emotion then he passed his handkerchief over his
brow set his lips tight and turned his face towards us 

 no doubt you think me mad   said he 

 i see that you have had some great trouble   responded holmes 

 god knows i have a trouble which is enough to unseat my
reason so sudden and so terrible is it public disgrace i might
have faced although i am a man whose character has never yet
borne a stain private affliction also is the lot of every man 
but the two coming together and in so frightful a form have
been enough to shake my very soul besides it is not i alone 
the very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found
out of this horrible affair  

 pray compose yourself sir   said holmes  and let me have a
clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen
you  

 my name   answered our visitor  is probably familiar to your
ears i am alexander holder of the banking firm of holder and
stevenson of threadneedle street  

the name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior
partner in the second largest private banking concern in the city
of london what could have happened then to bring one of the
foremost citizens of london to this most pitiable pass we
waited all curiosity until with another effort he braced
himself to tell his story 

 i feel that time is of value   said he  that is why i hastened
here when the police inspector suggested that i should secure
your co-operation i came to baker street by the underground and
hurried from there on foot for the cabs go slowly through this
snow that is why i was so out of breath for i am a man who
takes very little exercise i feel better now and i will put the
facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as i can 

 it is of course well known to you that in a successful banking
business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative
investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection
and the number of our depositors one of our most lucrative means
of laying out money is in the shape of loans where the security
is unimpeachable we have done a good deal in this direction
during the last few years and there are many noble families to
whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their
pictures libraries or plate 

 yesterday morning i was seated in my office at the bank when a
card was brought in to me by one of the clerks i started when i
saw the name for it was that of none other than well perhaps
even to you i had better say no more than that it was a name
which is a household word all over the earth one of the highest 
noblest most exalted names in england i was overwhelmed by the
honour and attempted when he entered to say so but he plunged
at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry
quickly through a disagreeable task 

 'mr holder ' said he 'i have been informed that you are in the
habit of advancing money '

 'the firm does so when the security is good ' i answered 

 'it is absolutely essential to me ' said he 'that i should have
50 000 pounds at once i could of course borrow so trifling a
sum ten times over from my friends but i much prefer to make it
a matter of business and to carry out that business myself in my
position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place
one's self under obligations '

 'for how long may i ask do you want this sum ' i asked 

 'next monday i have a large sum due to me and i shall then most
certainly repay what you advance with whatever interest you
think it right to charge but it is very essential to me that the
money should be paid at once '

 'i should be happy to advance it without further parley from my
own private purse ' said i 'were it not that the strain would be
rather more than it could bear if on the other hand i am to do
it in the name of the firm then in justice to my partner i must
insist that even in your case every businesslike precaution
should be taken '

 'i should much prefer to have it so ' said he raising up a
square black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair 
'you have doubtless heard of the beryl coronet '

 'one of the most precious public possessions of the empire '
said i 

 'precisely ' he opened the case and there imbedded in soft 
flesh-coloured velvet lay the magnificent piece of jewellery
which he had named 'there are thirty-nine enormous beryls ' said
he 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable the
lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the
sum which i have asked i am prepared to leave it with you as my
security '

 i took the precious case into my hands and looked in some
perplexity from it to my illustrious client 

 'you doubt its value ' he asked 

 'not at all i only doubt '

 'the propriety of my leaving it you may set your mind at rest
about that i should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely
certain that i should be able in four days to reclaim it it is a
pure matter of form is the security sufficient '

 'ample '

 'you understand mr holder that i am giving you a strong proof
of the confidence which i have in you founded upon all that i
have heard of you i rely upon you not only to be discreet and to
refrain from all gossip upon the matter but above all to
preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because i
need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any
harm were to befall it any injury to it would be almost as
serious as its complete loss for there are no beryls in the
world to match these and it would be impossible to replace them 
i leave it with you however with every confidence and i shall
call for it in person on monday morning '

 seeing that my client was anxious to leave i said no more but 
calling for my cashier i ordered him to pay over fifty 1000
pound notes when i was alone once more however with the
precious case lying upon the table in front of me i could not
but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility
which it entailed upon me there could be no doubt that as it
was a national possession a horrible scandal would ensue if any
misfortune should occur to it i already regretted having ever
consented to take charge of it however it was too late to alter
the matter now so i locked it up in my private safe and turned
once more to my work 

 when evening came i felt that it would be an imprudence to leave
so precious a thing in the office behind me bankers' safes had
been forced before now and why should not mine be if so how
terrible would be the position in which i should find myself i
determined therefore that for the next few days i would always
carry the case backward and forward with me so that it might
never be really out of my reach with this intention i called a
cab and drove out to my house at streatham carrying the jewel
with me i did not breathe freely until i had taken it upstairs
and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room 

 and now a word as to my household mr holmes for i wish you to
thoroughly understand the situation my groom and my page sleep
out of the house and may be set aside altogether i have three
maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose
absolute reliability is quite above suspicion another lucy
parr the second waiting-maid has only been in my service a few
months she came with an excellent character however and has
always given me satisfaction she is a very pretty girl and has
attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place 
that is the only drawback which we have found to her but we
believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way 

 so much for the servants my family itself is so small that it
will not take me long to describe it i am a widower and have an
only son arthur he has been a disappointment to me mr 
holmes a grievous disappointment i have no doubt that i am
myself to blame people tell me that i have spoiled him very
likely i have when my dear wife died i felt that he was all i
had to love i could not bear to see the smile fade even for a
moment from his face i have never denied him a wish perhaps it
would have been better for both of us had i been sterner but i
meant it for the best 

 it was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my
business but he was not of a business turn he was wild 
wayward and to speak the truth i could not trust him in the
handling of large sums of money when he was young he became a
member of an aristocratic club and there having charming
manners he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long
purses and expensive habits he learned to play heavily at cards
and to squander money on the turf until he had again and again
to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his
allowance that he might settle his debts of honour he tried
more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he
was keeping but each time the influence of his friend sir
george burnwell was enough to draw him back again 

 and indeed i could not wonder that such a man as sir george
burnwell should gain an influence over him for he has frequently
brought him to my house and i have found myself that i could
hardly resist the fascination of his manner he is older than
arthur a man of the world to his finger-tips one who had been
everywhere seen everything a brilliant talker and a man of
great personal beauty yet when i think of him in cold blood far
away from the glamour of his presence i am convinced from his
cynical speech and the look which i have caught in his eyes that
he is one who should be deeply distrusted so i think and so 
too thinks my little mary who has a woman's quick insight into
character 

 and now there is only she to be described she is my niece but
when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the
world i adopted her and have looked upon her ever since as my
daughter she is a sunbeam in my house sweet loving beautiful 
a wonderful manager and housekeeper yet as tender and quiet and
gentle as a woman could be she is my right hand i do not know
what i could do without her in only one matter has she ever gone
against my wishes twice my boy has asked her to marry him for
he loves her devotedly but each time she has refused him i
think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it
would have been she and that his marriage might have changed his
whole life but now alas it is too late forever too late 

 now mr holmes you know the people who live under my roof and
i shall continue with my miserable story 

 when we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after
dinner i told arthur and mary my experience and of the precious
treasure which we had under our roof suppressing only the name
of my client lucy parr who had brought in the coffee had i am
sure left the room but i cannot swear that the door was closed 
mary and arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous
coronet but i thought it better not to disturb it 

 'where have you put it ' asked arthur 

 'in my own bureau '

 'well i hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the
night ' said he 

 'it is locked up ' i answered 

 'oh any old key will fit that bureau when i was a youngster i
have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard '

 he often had a wild way of talking so that i thought little of
what he said he followed me to my room however that night with
a very grave face 

 'look here dad ' said he with his eyes cast down 'can you let
me have 200 pounds '

 'no i cannot ' i answered sharply 'i have been far too
generous with you in money matters '

 'you have been very kind ' said he 'but i must have this money 
or else i can never show my face inside the club again '

 'and a very good thing too ' i cried 

 'yes but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man '
said he 'i could not bear the disgrace i must raise the money
in some way and if you will not let me have it then i must try
other means '

 i was very angry for this was the third demand during the
month 'you shall not have a farthing from me ' i cried on which
he bowed and left the room without another word 

 when he was gone i unlocked my bureau made sure that my
treasure was safe and locked it again then i started to go
round the house to see that all was secure a duty which i
usually leave to mary but which i thought it well to perform
myself that night as i came down the stairs i saw mary herself
at the side window of the hall which she closed and fastened as
i approached 

 'tell me dad ' said she looking i thought a little
disturbed 'did you give lucy the maid leave to go out
to-night '

 'certainly not '

 'she came in just now by the back door i have no doubt that she
has only been to the side gate to see someone but i think that
it is hardly safe and should be stopped '

 'you must speak to her in the morning or i will if you prefer
it are you sure that everything is fastened '

 'quite sure dad '

 'then good-night ' i kissed her and went up to my bedroom
again where i was soon asleep 

 i am endeavouring to tell you everything mr holmes which may
have any bearing upon the case but i beg that you will question
me upon any point which i do not make clear  

 on the contrary your statement is singularly lucid  

 i come to a part of my story now in which i should wish to be
particularly so i am not a very heavy sleeper and the anxiety
in my mind tended no doubt to make me even less so than usual 
about two in the morning then i was awakened by some sound in
the house it had ceased ere i was wide awake but it had left an
impression behind it as though a window had gently closed
somewhere i lay listening with all my ears suddenly to my
horror there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in
the next room i slipped out of bed all palpitating with fear 
and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door 

 'arthur ' i screamed 'you villain you thief how dare you
touch that coronet '

 the gas was half up as i had left it and my unhappy boy 
dressed only in his shirt and trousers was standing beside the
light holding the coronet in his hands he appeared to be
wrenching at it or bending it with all his strength at my cry
he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death i
snatched it up and examined it one of the gold corners with
three of the beryls in it was missing 

 'you blackguard ' i shouted beside myself with rage 'you have
destroyed it you have dishonoured me forever where are the
jewels which you have stolen '

 'stolen ' he cried 

 'yes thief ' i roared shaking him by the shoulder 

 'there are none missing there cannot be any missing ' said he 

 'there are three missing and you know where they are must i
call you a liar as well as a thief did i not see you trying to
tear off another piece '

 'you have called me names enough ' said he 'i will not stand it
any longer i shall not say another word about this business 
since you have chosen to insult me i will leave your house in
the morning and make my own way in the world '

 'you shall leave it in the hands of the police ' i cried
half-mad with grief and rage 'i shall have this matter probed to
the bottom '

 'you shall learn nothing from me ' said he with a passion such
as i should not have thought was in his nature 'if you choose to
call the police let the police find what they can '

 by this time the whole house was astir for i had raised my
voice in my anger mary was the first to rush into my room and 
at the sight of the coronet and of arthur's face she read the
whole story and with a scream fell down senseless on the
ground i sent the house-maid for the police and put the
investigation into their hands at once when the inspector and a
constable entered the house arthur who had stood sullenly with
his arms folded asked me whether it was my intention to charge
him with theft i answered that it had ceased to be a private
matter but had become a public one since the ruined coronet was
national property i was determined that the law should have its
way in everything 

 'at least ' said he 'you will not have me arrested at once it
would be to your advantage as well as mine if i might leave the
house for five minutes '

 'that you may get away or perhaps that you may conceal what you
have stolen ' said i and then realising the dreadful position
in which i was placed i implored him to remember that not only
my honour but that of one who was far greater than i was at
stake and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would
convulse the nation he might avert it all if he would but tell
me what he had done with the three missing stones 

 'you may as well face the matter ' said i 'you have been caught
in the act and no confession could make your guilt more heinous 
if you but make such reparation as is in your power by telling
us where the beryls are all shall be forgiven and forgotten '

 'keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it ' he answered 
turning away from me with a sneer i saw that he was too hardened
for any words of mine to influence him there was but one way for
it i called in the inspector and gave him into custody a search
was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of
every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed
the gems but no trace of them could be found nor would the
wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our
threats this morning he was removed to a cell and i after
going through all the police formalities have hurried round to
you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter 
the police have openly confessed that they can at present make
nothing of it you may go to any expense which you think
necessary i have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds my
god what shall i do i have lost my honour my gems and my son
in one night oh what shall i do  

he put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to
and fro droning to himself like a child whose grief has got
beyond words 

sherlock holmes sat silent for some few minutes with his brows
knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire 

 do you receive much company   he asked 

 none save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of
arthur's sir george burnwell has been several times lately no
one else i think  

 do you go out much in society  

 arthur does mary and i stay at home we neither of us care for
it  

 that is unusual in a young girl  

 she is of a quiet nature besides she is not so very young she
is four-and-twenty  

 this matter from what you say seems to have been a shock to
her also  

 terrible she is even more affected than i  

 you have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt  

 how can we have when i saw him with my own eyes with the coronet
in his hands  

 i hardly consider that a conclusive proof was the remainder of
the coronet at all injured  

 yes it was twisted  

 do you not think then that he might have been trying to
straighten it  

 god bless you you are doing what you can for him and for me 
but it is too heavy a task what was he doing there at all if
his purpose were innocent why did he not say so  

 precisely and if it were guilty why did he not invent a lie 
his silence appears to me to cut both ways there are several
singular points about the case what did the police think of the
noise which awoke you from your sleep  

 they considered that it might be caused by arthur's closing his
bedroom door  

 a likely story as if a man bent on felony would slam his door
so as to wake a household what did they say then of the
disappearance of these gems  

 they are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture
in the hope of finding them  

 have they thought of looking outside the house  

 yes they have shown extraordinary energy the whole garden has
already been minutely examined  

 now my dear sir   said holmes  is it not obvious to you now
that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you
or the police were at first inclined to think it appeared to you
to be a simple case to me it seems exceedingly complex consider
what is involved by your theory you suppose that your son came
down from his bed went at great risk to your dressing-room 
opened your bureau took out your coronet broke off by main
force a small portion of it went off to some other place 
concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine with such skill that
nobody can find them and then returned with the other thirty-six
into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger
of being discovered i ask you now is such a theory tenable  

 but what other is there   cried the banker with a gesture of
despair  if his motives were innocent why does he not explain
them  

 it is our task to find that out   replied holmes  so now if
you please mr holder we will set off for streatham together 
and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into
details  

my friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition 
which i was eager enough to do for my curiosity and sympathy
were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened i
confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be
as obvious as it did to his unhappy father but still i had such
faith in holmes' judgment that i felt that there must be some
grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted
explanation he hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the
southern suburb but sat with his chin upon his breast and his
hat drawn over his eyes sunk in the deepest thought our client
appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope
which had been presented to him and he even broke into a
desultory chat with me over his business affairs a short railway
journey and a shorter walk brought us to fairbank the modest
residence of the great financier 

fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone standing
back a little from the road a double carriage-sweep with a
snow-clad lawn stretched down in front to two large iron gates
which closed the entrance on the right side was a small wooden
thicket which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges
stretching from the road to the kitchen door and forming the
tradesmen's entrance on the left ran a lane which led to the
stables and was not itself within the grounds at all being a
public though little used thoroughfare holmes left us standing
at the door and walked slowly all round the house across the
front down the tradesmen's path and so round by the garden
behind into the stable lane so long was he that mr holder and i
went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should
return we were sitting there in silence when the door opened and
a young lady came in she was rather above the middle height 
slim with dark hair and eyes which seemed the darker against
the absolute pallor of her skin i do not think that i have ever
seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face her lips too were
bloodless but her eyes were flushed with crying as she swept
silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of
grief than the banker had done in the morning and it was the
more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong
character with immense capacity for self-restraint disregarding
my presence she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand
over his head with a sweet womanly caress 

 you have given orders that arthur should be liberated have you
not dad   she asked 

 no no my girl the matter must be probed to the bottom  

 but i am so sure that he is innocent you know what woman's
instincts are i know that he has done no harm and that you will
be sorry for having acted so harshly  

 why is he silent then if he is innocent  

 who knows perhaps because he was so angry that you should
suspect him  

 how could i help suspecting him when i actually saw him with
the coronet in his hand  

 oh but he had only picked it up to look at it oh do do take
my word for it that he is innocent let the matter drop and say
no more it is so dreadful to think of our dear arthur in
prison  

 i shall never let it drop until the gems are found never mary 
your affection for arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences
to me far from hushing the thing up i have brought a gentleman
down from london to inquire more deeply into it  

 this gentleman   she asked facing round to me 

 no his friend he wished us to leave him alone he is round in
the stable lane now  

 the stable lane   she raised her dark eyebrows  what can he
hope to find there ah this i suppose is he i trust sir 
that you will succeed in proving what i feel sure is the truth 
that my cousin arthur is innocent of this crime  

 i fully share your opinion and i trust with you that we may
prove it   returned holmes going back to the mat to knock the
snow from his shoes  i believe i have the honour of addressing
miss mary holder might i ask you a question or two  

 pray do sir if it may help to clear this horrible affair up  

 you heard nothing yourself last night  

 nothing until my uncle here began to speak loudly i heard
that and i came down  

 you shut up the windows and doors the night before did you
fasten all the windows  

 yes  

 were they all fastened this morning  

 yes  

 you have a maid who has a sweetheart i think that you remarked
to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him  

 yes and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room and
who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet  

 i see you infer that she may have gone out to tell her
sweetheart and that the two may have planned the robbery  

 but what is the good of all these vague theories   cried the
banker impatiently  when i have told you that i saw arthur with
the coronet in his hands  

 wait a little mr holder we must come back to that about this
girl miss holder you saw her return by the kitchen door i
presume  

 yes when i went to see if the door was fastened for the night i
met her slipping in i saw the man too in the gloom  

 do you know him  

 oh yes he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round 
his name is francis prosper  

 he stood   said holmes  to the left of the door that is to
say farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door  

 yes he did  

 and he is a man with a wooden leg  

something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive
black eyes  why you are like a magician   said she  how do you
know that   she smiled but there was no answering smile in
holmes' thin eager face 

 i should be very glad now to go upstairs   said he  i shall
probably wish to go over the outside of the house again perhaps
i had better take a look at the lower windows before i go up  

he walked swiftly round from one to the other pausing only at
the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane 
this he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill
with his powerful magnifying lens  now we shall go upstairs  
said he at last 

the banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little
chamber with a grey carpet a large bureau and a long mirror 
holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock 

 which key was used to open it   he asked 

 that which my son himself indicated that of the cupboard of the
lumber-room  

 have you it here  

 that is it on the dressing-table  

sherlock holmes took it up and opened the bureau 

 it is a noiseless lock   said he  it is no wonder that it did
not wake you this case i presume contains the coronet we must
have a look at it   he opened the case and taking out the diadem
he laid it upon the table it was a magnificent specimen of the
jeweller's art and the thirty-six stones were the finest that i
have ever seen at one side of the coronet was a cracked edge 
where a corner holding three gems had been torn away 

 now mr holder   said holmes  here is the corner which
corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost might i
beg that you will break it off  

the banker recoiled in horror  i should not dream of trying  
said he 

 then i will   holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it but
without result  i feel it give a little   said he  but though
i am exceptionally strong in the fingers it would take me all my
time to break it an ordinary man could not do it now what do
you think would happen if i did break it mr holder there would
be a noise like a pistol shot do you tell me that all this
happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard
nothing of it  

 i do not know what to think it is all dark to me  

 but perhaps it may grow lighter as we go what do you think 
miss holder  

 i confess that i still share my uncle's perplexity  

 your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him  

 he had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt  

 thank you we have certainly been favoured with extraordinary
luck during this inquiry and it will be entirely our own fault
if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up with your
permission mr holder i shall now continue my investigations
outside  

he went alone at his own request for he explained that any
unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult for an
hour or more he was at work returning at last with his feet
heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever 

 i think that i have seen now all that there is to see mr 
holder   said he  i can serve you best by returning to my
rooms  

 but the gems mr holmes where are they  

 i cannot tell  

the banker wrung his hands  i shall never see them again   he
cried  and my son you give me hopes  

 my opinion is in no way altered  

 then for god's sake what was this dark business which was
acted in my house last night  

 if you can call upon me at my baker street rooms to-morrow
morning between nine and ten i shall be happy to do what i can to
make it clearer i understand that you give me carte blanche to
act for you provided only that i get back the gems and that you
place no limit on the sum i may draw  

 i would give my fortune to have them back  

 very good i shall look into the matter between this and then 
good-bye it is just possible that i may have to come over here
again before evening  

it was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up
about the case although what his conclusions were was more than
i could even dimly imagine several times during our homeward
journey i endeavoured to sound him upon the point but he always
glided away to some other topic until at last i gave it over in
despair it was not yet three when we found ourselves in our
rooms once more he hurried to his chamber and was down again in
a few minutes dressed as a common loafer with his collar turned
up his shiny seedy coat his red cravat and his worn boots he
was a perfect sample of the class 

 i think that this should do   said he glancing into the glass
above the fireplace  i only wish that you could come with me 
watson but i fear that it won't do i may be on the trail in
this matter or i may be following a will-o'-the-wisp but i
shall soon know which it is i hope that i may be back in a few
hours   he cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard 
sandwiched it between two rounds of bread and thrusting this
rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition 

i had just finished my tea when he returned evidently in
excellent spirits swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his
hand he chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a
cup of tea 

 i only looked in as i passed   said he  i am going right on  

 where to  

 oh to the other side of the west end it may be some time
before i get back don't wait up for me in case i should be
late  

 how are you getting on  

 oh so so nothing to complain of i have been out to streatham
since i saw you last but i did not call at the house it is a
very sweet little problem and i would not have missed it for a
good deal however i must not sit gossiping here but must get
these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly
respectable self  

i could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for
satisfaction than his words alone would imply his eyes twinkled 
and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks he
hastened upstairs and a few minutes later i heard the slam of
the hall door which told me that he was off once more upon his
congenial hunt 

i waited until midnight but there was no sign of his return so
i retired to my room it was no uncommon thing for him to be away
for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent so that
his lateness caused me no surprise i do not know at what hour he
came in but when i came down to breakfast in the morning there
he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the
other as fresh and trim as possible 

 you will excuse my beginning without you watson   said he  but
you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this
morning  

 why it is after nine now   i answered  i should not be
surprised if that were he i thought i heard a ring  

it was indeed our friend the financier i was shocked by the
change which had come over him for his face which was naturally
of a broad and massive mould was now pinched and fallen in 
while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter he entered
with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than
his violence of the morning before and he dropped heavily into
the armchair which i pushed forward for him 

 i do not know what i have done to be so severely tried   said
he  only two days ago i was a happy and prosperous man without
a care in the world now i am left to a lonely and dishonoured
age one sorrow comes close upon the heels of another my niece 
mary has deserted me  

 deserted you  

 yes her bed this morning had not been slept in her room was
empty and a note for me lay upon the hall table i had said to
her last night in sorrow and not in anger that if she had
married my boy all might have been well with him perhaps it was
thoughtless of me to say so it is to that remark that she refers
in this note 

 'my dearest uncle i feel that i have brought trouble upon you 
and that if i had acted differently this terrible misfortune
might never have occurred i cannot with this thought in my
mind ever again be happy under your roof and i feel that i must
leave you forever do not worry about my future for that is
provided for and above all do not search for me for it will
be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me in life or in
death i am ever your loving mary '

 what could she mean by that note mr holmes do you think it
points to suicide  

 no no nothing of the kind it is perhaps the best possible
solution i trust mr holder that you are nearing the end of
your troubles  

 ha you say so you have heard something mr holmes you have
learned something where are the gems  

 you would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for
them  

 i would pay ten  

 that would be unnecessary three thousand will cover the matter 
and there is a little reward i fancy have you your check-book 
here is a pen better make it out for 4000 pounds  

with a dazed face the banker made out the required check holmes
walked over to his desk took out a little triangular piece of
gold with three gems in it and threw it down upon the table 

with a shriek of joy our client clutched it up 

 you have it   he gasped  i am saved i am saved  

the reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been and
he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom 

 there is one other thing you owe mr holder   said sherlock
holmes rather sternly 

 owe   he caught up a pen  name the sum and i will pay it  

 no the debt is not to me you owe a very humble apology to that
noble lad your son who has carried himself in this matter as i
should be proud to see my own son do should i ever chance to
have one  

 then it was not arthur who took them  

 i told you yesterday and i repeat to-day that it was not  

 you are sure of it then let us hurry to him at once to let him
know that the truth is known  

 he knows it already when i had cleared it all up i had an
interview with him and finding that he would not tell me the
story i told it to him on which he had to confess that i was
right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite
clear to me your news of this morning however may open his
lips  

 for heaven's sake tell me then what is this extraordinary
mystery  

 i will do so and i will show you the steps by which i reached
it and let me say to you first that which it is hardest for me
to say and for you to hear there has been an understanding
between sir george burnwell and your niece mary they have now
fled together  

 my mary impossible  

 it is unfortunately more than possible it is certain neither
you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you
admitted him into your family circle he is one of the most
dangerous men in england a ruined gambler an absolutely
desperate villain a man without heart or conscience your niece
knew nothing of such men when he breathed his vows to her as he
had done to a hundred before her she flattered herself that she
alone had touched his heart the devil knows best what he said 
but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing
him nearly every evening  

 i cannot and i will not believe it   cried the banker with an
ashen face 

 i will tell you then what occurred in your house last night 
your niece when you had as she thought gone to your room 
slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which
leads into the stable lane his footmarks had pressed right
through the snow so long had he stood there she told him of the
coronet his wicked lust for gold kindled at the news and he
bent her to his will i have no doubt that she loved you but
there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all
other loves and i think that she must have been one she had
hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming
downstairs on which she closed the window rapidly and told you
about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover 
which was all perfectly true 

 your boy arthur went to bed after his interview with you but
he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts 
in the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door 
so he rose and looking out was surprised to see his cousin
walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared
into your dressing-room petrified with astonishment the lad
slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what
would come of this strange affair presently she emerged from the
room again and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw
that she carried the precious coronet in her hands she passed
down the stairs and he thrilling with horror ran along and
slipped behind the curtain near your door whence he could see
what passed in the hall beneath he saw her stealthily open the
window hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom and then
closing it once more hurry back to her room passing quite close
to where he stood hid behind the curtain 

 as long as she was on the scene he could not take any action
without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved but the
instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune
this would be for you and how all-important it was to set it
right he rushed down just as he was in his bare feet opened
the window sprang out into the snow and ran down the lane 
where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight sir george
burnwell tried to get away but arthur caught him and there was
a struggle between them your lad tugging at one side of the
coronet and his opponent at the other in the scuffle your son
struck sir george and cut him over the eye then something
suddenly snapped and your son finding that he had the coronet
in his hands rushed back closed the window ascended to your
room and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in
the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you
appeared upon the scene  

 is it possible   gasped the banker 

 you then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when
he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks he could not
explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who
certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands he
took the more chivalrous view however and preserved her
secret  

 and that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the
coronet   cried mr holder  oh my god what a blind fool i have
been and his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes 
the dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the
scene of the struggle how cruelly i have misjudged him  

 when i arrived at the house   continued holmes  i at once went
very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in
the snow which might help me i knew that none had fallen since
the evening before and also that there had been a strong frost
to preserve impressions i passed along the tradesmen's path but
found it all trampled down and indistinguishable just beyond it 
however at the far side of the kitchen door a woman had stood
and talked with a man whose round impressions on one side showed
that he had a wooden leg i could even tell that they had been
disturbed for the woman had run back swiftly to the door as was
shown by the deep toe and light heel marks while wooden-leg had
waited a little and then had gone away i thought at the time
that this might be the maid and her sweetheart of whom you had
already spoken to me and inquiry showed it was so i passed
round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks 
which i took to be the police but when i got into the stable
lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in
front of me 

 there was a double line of tracks of a booted man and a second
double line which i saw with delight belonged to a man with naked
feet i was at once convinced from what you had told me that the
latter was your son the first had walked both ways but the
other had run swiftly and as his tread was marked in places over
the depression of the boot it was obvious that he had passed
after the other i followed them up and found they led to the
hall window where boots had worn all the snow away while
waiting then i walked to the other end which was a hundred
yards or more down the lane i saw where boots had faced round 
where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle 
and finally where a few drops of blood had fallen to show me
that i was not mistaken boots had then run down the lane and
another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been
hurt when he came to the highroad at the other end i found that
the pavement had been cleared so there was an end to that clue 

 on entering the house however i examined as you remember the
sill and framework of the hall window with my lens and i could
at once see that someone had passed out i could distinguish the
outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming
in i was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what
had occurred a man had waited outside the window someone had
brought the gems the deed had been overseen by your son he had
pursued the thief had struggled with him they had each tugged
at the coronet their united strength causing injuries which
neither alone could have effected he had returned with the
prize but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent so
far i was clear the question now was who was the man and who
was it brought him the coronet 

 it is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the
impossible whatever remains however improbable must be the
truth now i knew that it was not you who had brought it down 
so there only remained your niece and the maids but if it were
the maids why should your son allow himself to be accused in
their place there could be no possible reason as he loved his
cousin however there was an excellent explanation why he should
retain her secret the more so as the secret was a disgraceful
one when i remembered that you had seen her at that window and
how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again my conjecture
became a certainty 

 and who could it be who was her confederate a lover evidently 
for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must
feel to you i knew that you went out little and that your
circle of friends was a very limited one but among them was sir
george burnwell i had heard of him before as being a man of evil
reputation among women it must have been he who wore those boots
and retained the missing gems even though he knew that arthur
had discovered him he might still flatter himself that he was
safe for the lad could not say a word without compromising his
own family 

 well your own good sense will suggest what measures i took
next i went in the shape of a loafer to sir george's house 
managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet learned that
his master had cut his head the night before and finally at
the expense of six shillings made all sure by buying a pair of
his cast-off shoes with these i journeyed down to streatham and
saw that they exactly fitted the tracks  

 i saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening  
said mr holder 

 precisely it was i i found that i had my man so i came home
and changed my clothes it was a delicate part which i had to
play then for i saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert
scandal and i knew that so astute a villain would see that our
hands were tied in the matter i went and saw him at first of
course he denied everything but when i gave him every
particular that had occurred he tried to bluster and took down a
life-preserver from the wall i knew my man however and i
clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike then he
became a little more reasonable i told him that we would give
him a price for the stones he held 1000 pounds apiece that
brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown 'why 
dash it all ' said he 'i've let them go at six hundred for the
three ' i soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had
them on promising him that there would be no prosecution off i
set to him and after much chaffering i got our stones at 1000
pounds apiece then i looked in upon your son told him that all
was right and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock after
what i may call a really hard day's work  

 a day which has saved england from a great public scandal   said
the banker rising  sir i cannot find words to thank you but
you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done your
skill has indeed exceeded all that i have heard of it and now i
must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which i
have done him as to what you tell me of poor mary it goes to my
very heart not even your skill can inform me where she is now  

 i think that we may safely say   returned holmes  that she is
wherever sir george burnwell is it is equally certain too that
whatever her sins are they will soon receive a more than
sufficient punishment  



xii the adventure of the copper beeches

 to the man who loves art for its own sake   remarked sherlock
holmes tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the daily
telegraph  it is frequently in its least important and lowliest
manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived it is
pleasant to me to observe watson that you have so far grasped
this truth that in these little records of our cases which you
have been good enough to draw up and i am bound to say 
occasionally to embellish you have given prominence not so much
to the many causes celebres and sensational trials in which i
have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been
trivial in themselves but which have given room for those
faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which i have made
my special province  

 and yet   said i smiling  i cannot quite hold myself absolved
from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my
records  

 you have erred perhaps   he observed taking up a glowing
cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood
pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a
disputatious rather than a meditative mood  you have erred
perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your
statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing
upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is
really the only notable feature about the thing  

 it seems to me that i have done you full justice in the matter  
i remarked with some coldness for i was repelled by the egotism
which i had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my
friend's singular character 

 no it is not selfishness or conceit   said he answering as
was his wont my thoughts rather than my words  if i claim full
justice for my art it is because it is an impersonal thing a
thing beyond myself crime is common logic is rare therefore it
is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should
dwell you have degraded what should have been a course of
lectures into a series of tales  

it was a cold morning of the early spring and we sat after
breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at
baker street a thick fog rolled down between the lines of
dun-coloured houses and the opposing windows loomed like dark 
shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths our gas was lit
and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal for
the table had not been cleared yet sherlock holmes had been
silent all the morning dipping continuously into the
advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last 
having apparently given up his search he had emerged in no very
sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings 

 at the same time   he remarked after a pause during which he
had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire 
 you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism for out of
these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself
in a fair proportion do not treat of crime in its legal sense 
at all the small matter in which i endeavoured to help the king
of bohemia the singular experience of miss mary sutherland the
problem connected with the man with the twisted lip and the
incident of the noble bachelor were all matters which are
outside the pale of the law but in avoiding the sensational i
fear that you may have bordered on the trivial  

 the end may have been so   i answered  but the methods i hold
to have been novel and of interest  

 pshaw my dear fellow what do the public the great unobservant
public who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a
compositor by his left thumb care about the finer shades of
analysis and deduction but indeed if you are trivial i cannot
blame you for the days of the great cases are past man or at
least criminal man has lost all enterprise and originality as
to my own little practice it seems to be degenerating into an
agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to
young ladies from boarding-schools i think that i have touched
bottom at last however this note i had this morning marks my
zero-point i fancy read it   he tossed a crumpled letter across
to me 

it was dated from montague place upon the preceding evening and
ran thus 

 dear mr holmes i am very anxious to consult you as to whether
i should or should not accept a situation which has been offered
to me as governess i shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if i
do not inconvenience you yours faithfully 
  violet hunter  

 do you know the young lady   i asked 

 not i  

 it is half-past ten now  

 yes and i have no doubt that is her ring  

 it may turn out to be of more interest than you think you
remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle which appeared to
be a mere whim at first developed into a serious investigation 
it may be so in this case also  

 well let us hope so but our doubts will very soon be solved 
for here unless i am much mistaken is the person in question  

as he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room 
she was plainly but neatly dressed with a bright quick face 
freckled like a plover's egg and with the brisk manner of a
woman who has had her own way to make in the world 

 you will excuse my troubling you i am sure   said she as my
companion rose to greet her  but i have had a very strange
experience and as i have no parents or relations of any sort
from whom i could ask advice i thought that perhaps you would be
kind enough to tell me what i should do  

 pray take a seat miss hunter i shall be happy to do anything
that i can to serve you  

i could see that holmes was favourably impressed by the manner
and speech of his new client he looked her over in his searching
fashion and then composed himself with his lids drooping and
his finger-tips together to listen to her story 

 i have been a governess for five years   said she  in the
family of colonel spence munro but two months ago the colonel
received an appointment at halifax in nova scotia and took his
children over to america with him so that i found myself without
a situation i advertised and i answered advertisements but
without success at last the little money which i had saved began
to run short and i was at my wit's end as to what i should do 

 there is a well-known agency for governesses in the west end
called westaway's and there i used to call about once a week in
order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me 
westaway was the name of the founder of the business but it is
really managed by miss stoper she sits in her own little office 
and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom 
and are then shown in one by one when she consults her ledgers
and sees whether she has anything which would suit them 

 well when i called last week i was shown into the little office
as usual but i found that miss stoper was not alone a
prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy
chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at
her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose looking very
earnestly at the ladies who entered as i came in he gave quite a
jump in his chair and turned quickly to miss stoper 

 'that will do ' said he 'i could not ask for anything better 
capital capital ' he seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his
hands together in the most genial fashion he was such a
comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at
him 

 'you are looking for a situation miss ' he asked 

 'yes sir '

 'as governess '

 'yes sir '

 'and what salary do you ask '

 'i had 4 pounds a month in my last place with colonel spence
munro '

 'oh tut tut sweating rank sweating ' he cried throwing his
fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling
passion 'how could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with
such attractions and accomplishments '

 'my accomplishments sir may be less than you imagine ' said i 
'a little french a little german music and drawing '

 'tut tut ' he cried 'this is all quite beside the question 
the point is have you or have you not the bearing and deportment
of a lady there it is in a nutshell if you have not you are
not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a
considerable part in the history of the country but if you have
why then how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to
accept anything under the three figures your salary with me 
madam would commence at 100 pounds a year '

 you may imagine mr holmes that to me destitute as i was 
such an offer seemed almost too good to be true the gentleman 
however seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face 
opened a pocket-book and took out a note 

 'it is also my custom ' said he smiling in the most pleasant
fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid
the white creases of his face 'to advance to my young ladies
half their salary beforehand so that they may meet any little
expenses of their journey and their wardrobe '

 it seemed to me that i had never met so fascinating and so
thoughtful a man as i was already in debt to my tradesmen the
advance was a great convenience and yet there was something
unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know
a little more before i quite committed myself 

 'may i ask where you live sir ' said i 

 'hampshire charming rural place the copper beeches five miles
on the far side of winchester it is the most lovely country my
dear young lady and the dearest old country-house '

 'and my duties sir i should be glad to know what they would
be '

 'one child one dear little romper just six years old oh if
you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper smack 
smack smack three gone before you could wink ' he leaned back
in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again 

 i was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement 
but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was
joking 

 'my sole duties then ' i asked 'are to take charge of a single
child '

 'no no not the sole not the sole my dear young lady ' he
cried 'your duty would be as i am sure your good sense would
suggest to obey any little commands my wife might give provided
always that they were such commands as a lady might with
propriety obey you see no difficulty heh '

 'i should be happy to make myself useful '

 'quite so in dress now for example we are faddy people you
know faddy but kind-hearted if you were asked to wear any dress
which we might give you you would not object to our little whim 
heh '

 'no ' said i considerably astonished at his words 

 'or to sit here or sit there that would not be offensive to
you '

 'oh no '

 'or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us '

 i could hardly believe my ears as you may observe mr holmes 
my hair is somewhat luxuriant and of a rather peculiar tint of
chestnut it has been considered artistic i could not dream of
sacrificing it in this offhand fashion 

 'i am afraid that that is quite impossible ' said i he had been
watching me eagerly out of his small eyes and i could see a
shadow pass over his face as i spoke 

 'i am afraid that it is quite essential ' said he 'it is a
little fancy of my wife's and ladies' fancies you know madam 
ladies' fancies must be consulted and so you won't cut your
hair '

 'no sir i really could not ' i answered firmly 

 'ah very well then that quite settles the matter it is a
pity because in other respects you would really have done very
nicely in that case miss stoper i had best inspect a few more
of your young ladies '

 the manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers
without a word to either of us but she glanced at me now with so
much annoyance upon her face that i could not help suspecting
that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal 

 'do you desire your name to be kept upon the books ' she asked 

 'if you please miss stoper '

 'well really it seems rather useless since you refuse the
most excellent offers in this fashion ' said she sharply 'you
can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such
opening for you good-day to you miss hunter ' she struck a gong
upon the table and i was shown out by the page 

 well mr holmes when i got back to my lodgings and found
little enough in the cupboard and two or three bills upon the
table i began to ask myself whether i had not done a very
foolish thing after all if these people had strange fads and
expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters they were
at least ready to pay for their eccentricity very few
governesses in england are getting 100 pounds a year besides 
what use was my hair to me many people are improved by wearing
it short and perhaps i should be among the number next day i was
inclined to think that i had made a mistake and by the day after
i was sure of it i had almost overcome my pride so far as to go
back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open
when i received this letter from the gentleman himself i have it
here and i will read it to you 

  'the copper beeches near winchester 
 'dear miss hunter miss stoper has very kindly given me your
address and i write from here to ask you whether you have
reconsidered your decision my wife is very anxious that you
should come for she has been much attracted by my description of
you we are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter or 120 pounds a
year so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which
our fads may cause you they are not very exacting after all my
wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would
like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning you need
not however go to the expense of purchasing one as we have one
belonging to my dear daughter alice now in philadelphia which
would i should think fit you very well then as to sitting
here or there or amusing yourself in any manner indicated that
need cause you no inconvenience as regards your hair it is no
doubt a pity especially as i could not help remarking its beauty
during our short interview but i am afraid that i must remain
firm upon this point and i only hope that the increased salary
may recompense you for the loss your duties as far as the child
is concerned are very light now do try to come and i shall
meet you with the dog-cart at winchester let me know your train 
yours faithfully jephro rucastle '

 that is the letter which i have just received mr holmes and
my mind is made up that i will accept it i thought however 
that before taking the final step i should like to submit the
whole matter to your consideration  

 well miss hunter if your mind is made up that settles the
question   said holmes smiling 

 but you would not advise me to refuse  

 i confess that it is not the situation which i should like to
see a sister of mine apply for  

 what is the meaning of it all mr holmes  

 ah i have no data i cannot tell perhaps you have yourself
formed some opinion  

 well there seems to me to be only one possible solution mr 
rucastle seemed to be a very kind good-natured man is it not
possible that his wife is a lunatic that he desires to keep the
matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum and that
he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an
outbreak  

 that is a possible solution in fact as matters stand it is
the most probable one but in any case it does not seem to be a
nice household for a young lady  

 but the money mr holmes the money  

 well yes of course the pay is good too good that is what
makes me uneasy why should they give you 120 pounds a year when
they could have their pick for 40 pounds there must be some
strong reason behind  

 i thought that if i told you the circumstances you would
understand afterwards if i wanted your help i should feel so
much stronger if i felt that you were at the back of me  

 oh you may carry that feeling away with you i assure you that
your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has
come my way for some months there is something distinctly novel
about some of the features if you should find yourself in doubt
or in danger  

 danger what danger do you foresee  

holmes shook his head gravely  it would cease to be a danger if
we could define it   said he  but at any time day or night a
telegram would bring me down to your help  

 that is enough   she rose briskly from her chair with the
anxiety all swept from her face  i shall go down to hampshire
quite easy in my mind now i shall write to mr rucastle at once 
sacrifice my poor hair to-night and start for winchester
to-morrow   with a few grateful words to holmes she bade us both
good-night and bustled off upon her way 

 at least   said i as we heard her quick firm steps descending
the stairs  she seems to be a young lady who is very well able
to take care of herself  

 and she would need to be   said holmes gravely  i am much
mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past  

it was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled 
a fortnight went by during which i frequently found my thoughts
turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of
human experience this lonely woman had strayed into the unusual
salary the curious conditions the light duties all pointed to
something abnormal though whether a fad or a plot or whether
the man were a philanthropist or a villain it was quite beyond
my powers to determine as to holmes i observed that he sat
frequently for half an hour on end with knitted brows and an
abstracted air but he swept the matter away with a wave of his
hand when i mentioned it  data data data   he cried
impatiently  i can't make bricks without clay   and yet he would
always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever
have accepted such a situation 

the telegram which we eventually received came late one night
just as i was thinking of turning in and holmes was settling down
to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently
indulged in when i would leave him stooping over a retort and a
test-tube at night and find him in the same position when i came
down to breakfast in the morning he opened the yellow envelope 
and then glancing at the message threw it across to me 

 just look up the trains in bradshaw   said he and turned back
to his chemical studies 

the summons was a brief and urgent one 

 please be at the black swan hotel at winchester at midday
to-morrow   it said  do come i am at my wit's end hunter  

 will you come with me   asked holmes glancing up 

 i should wish to  

 just look it up then  

 there is a train at half-past nine   said i glancing over my
bradshaw  it is due at winchester at 11 30  

 that will do very nicely then perhaps i had better postpone my
analysis of the acetones as we may need to be at our best in the
morning  

by eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the
old english capital holmes had been buried in the morning papers
all the way down but after we had passed the hampshire border he
threw them down and began to admire the scenery it was an ideal
spring day a light blue sky flecked with little fleecy white
clouds drifting across from west to east the sun was shining
very brightly and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air 
which set an edge to a man's energy all over the countryside 
away to the rolling hills around aldershot the little red and
grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light
green of the new foliage 

 are they not fresh and beautiful   i cried with all the
enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of baker street 

but holmes shook his head gravely 

 do you know watson   said he  that it is one of the curses of
a mind with a turn like mine that i must look at everything with
reference to my own special subject you look at these scattered
houses and you are impressed by their beauty i look at them 
and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their
isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed
there  

 good heavens   i cried  who would associate crime with these
dear old homesteads  

 they always fill me with a certain horror it is my belief 
watson founded upon my experience that the lowest and vilest
alleys in london do not present a more dreadful record of sin
than does the smiling and beautiful countryside  

 you horrify me  

 but the reason is very obvious the pressure of public opinion
can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish there is no
lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child or the thud of
a drunkard's blow does not beget sympathy and indignation among
the neighbours and then the whole machinery of justice is ever
so close that a word of complaint can set it going and there is
but a step between the crime and the dock but look at these
lonely houses each in its own fields filled for the most part
with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law think of the
deeds of hellish cruelty the hidden wickedness which may go on 
year in year out in such places and none the wiser had this
lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in winchester i
should never have had a fear for her it is the five miles of
country which makes the danger still it is clear that she is
not personally threatened  

 no if she can come to winchester to meet us she can get away  

 quite so she has her freedom  

 what can be the matter then can you suggest no explanation  

 i have devised seven separate explanations each of which would
cover the facts as far as we know them but which of these is
correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we
shall no doubt find waiting for us well there is the tower of
the cathedral and we shall soon learn all that miss hunter has
to tell  

the black swan is an inn of repute in the high street at no
distance from the station and there we found the young lady
waiting for us she had engaged a sitting-room and our lunch
awaited us upon the table 

 i am so delighted that you have come   she said earnestly  it
is so very kind of you both but indeed i do not know what i
should do your advice will be altogether invaluable to me  

 pray tell us what has happened to you  

 i will do so and i must be quick for i have promised mr 
rucastle to be back before three i got his leave to come into
town this morning though he little knew for what purpose  

 let us have everything in its due order   holmes thrust his long
thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen 

 in the first place i may say that i have met on the whole 
with no actual ill-treatment from mr and mrs rucastle it is
only fair to them to say that but i cannot understand them and
i am not easy in my mind about them  

 what can you not understand  

 their reasons for their conduct but you shall have it all just
as it occurred when i came down mr rucastle met me here and
drove me in his dog-cart to the copper beeches it is as he
said beautifully situated but it is not beautiful in itself 
for it is a large square block of a house whitewashed but all
stained and streaked with damp and bad weather there are grounds
round it woods on three sides and on the fourth a field which
slopes down to the southampton highroad which curves past about
a hundred yards from the front door this ground in front belongs
to the house but the woods all round are part of lord
southerton's preserves a clump of copper beeches immediately in
front of the hall door has given its name to the place 

 i was driven over by my employer who was as amiable as ever 
and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child 
there was no truth mr holmes in the conjecture which seemed to
us to be probable in your rooms at baker street mrs rucastle is
not mad i found her to be a silent pale-faced woman much
younger than her husband not more than thirty i should think 
while he can hardly be less than forty-five from their
conversation i have gathered that they have been married about
seven years that he was a widower and that his only child by
the first wife was the daughter who has gone to philadelphia mr 
rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them
was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother as
the daughter could not have been less than twenty i can quite
imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her
father's young wife 

 mrs rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as
in feature she impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse 
she was a nonentity it was easy to see that she was passionately
devoted both to her husband and to her little son her light grey
eyes wandered continually from one to the other noting every
little want and forestalling it if possible he was kind to her
also in his bluff boisterous fashion and on the whole they
seemed to be a happy couple and yet she had some secret sorrow 
this woman she would often be lost in deep thought with the
saddest look upon her face more than once i have surprised her
in tears i have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of
her child which weighed upon her mind for i have never met so
utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature he is small
for his age with a head which is quite disproportionately large 
his whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between
savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking giving
pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea
of amusement and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning
the capture of mice little birds and insects but i would
rather not talk about the creature mr holmes and indeed he
has little to do with my story  

 i am glad of all details   remarked my friend  whether they
seem to you to be relevant or not  

 i shall try not to miss anything of importance the one
unpleasant thing about the house which struck me at once was
the appearance and conduct of the servants there are only two a
man and his wife toller for that is his name is a rough 
uncouth man with grizzled hair and whiskers and a perpetual
smell of drink twice since i have been with them he has been
quite drunk and yet mr rucastle seemed to take no notice of it 
his wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face as
silent as mrs rucastle and much less amiable they are a most
unpleasant couple but fortunately i spend most of my time in the
nursery and my own room which are next to each other in one
corner of the building 

 for two days after my arrival at the copper beeches my life was
very quiet on the third mrs rucastle came down just after
breakfast and whispered something to her husband 

 'oh yes ' said he turning to me 'we are very much obliged to
you miss hunter for falling in with our whims so far as to cut
your hair i assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest
iota from your appearance we shall now see how the electric-blue
dress will become you you will find it laid out upon the bed in
your room and if you would be so good as to put it on we should
both be extremely obliged '

 the dress which i found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade
of blue it was of excellent material a sort of beige but it
bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before it could not
have been a better fit if i had been measured for it both mr 
and mrs rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it which
seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence they were waiting for
me in the drawing-room which is a very large room stretching
along the entire front of the house with three long windows
reaching down to the floor a chair had been placed close to the
central window with its back turned towards it in this i was
asked to sit and then mr rucastle walking up and down on the
other side of the room began to tell me a series of the funniest
stories that i have ever listened to you cannot imagine how
comical he was and i laughed until i was quite weary mrs 
rucastle however who has evidently no sense of humour never so
much as smiled but sat with her hands in her lap and a sad 
anxious look upon her face after an hour or so mr rucastle
suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the
day and that i might change my dress and go to little edward in
the nursery 

 two days later this same performance was gone through under
exactly similar circumstances again i changed my dress again i
sat in the window and again i laughed very heartily at the funny
stories of which my employer had an immense repertoire and which
he told inimitably then he handed me a yellow-backed novel and
moving my chair a little sideways that my own shadow might not
fall upon the page he begged me to read aloud to him i read for
about ten minutes beginning in the heart of a chapter and then
suddenly in the middle of a sentence he ordered me to cease and
to change my dress 

 you can easily imagine mr holmes how curious i became as to
what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly
be they were always very careful i observed to turn my face
away from the window so that i became consumed with the desire
to see what was going on behind my back at first it seemed to be
impossible but i soon devised a means my hand-mirror had been
broken so a happy thought seized me and i concealed a piece of
the glass in my handkerchief on the next occasion in the midst
of my laughter i put my handkerchief up to my eyes and was able
with a little management to see all that there was behind me i
confess that i was disappointed there was nothing at least that
was my first impression at the second glance however i
perceived that there was a man standing in the southampton road 
a small bearded man in a grey suit who seemed to be looking in
my direction the road is an important highway and there are
usually people there this man however was leaning against the
railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up i
lowered my handkerchief and glanced at mrs rucastle to find her
eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze she said nothing 
but i am convinced that she had divined that i had a mirror in my
hand and had seen what was behind me she rose at once 

 'jephro ' said she 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the
road there who stares up at miss hunter '

 'no friend of yours miss hunter ' he asked 

 'no i know no one in these parts '

 'dear me how very impertinent kindly turn round and motion to
him to go away '

 'surely it would be better to take no notice '

 'no no we should have him loitering here always kindly turn
round and wave him away like that '

 i did as i was told and at the same instant mrs rucastle drew
down the blind that was a week ago and from that time i have
not sat again in the window nor have i worn the blue dress nor
seen the man in the road  

 pray continue   said holmes  your narrative promises to be a
most interesting one  

 you will find it rather disconnected i fear and there may
prove to be little relation between the different incidents of
which i speak on the very first day that i was at the copper
beeches mr rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands
near the kitchen door as we approached it i heard the sharp
rattling of a chain and the sound as of a large animal moving
about 

 'look in here ' said mr rucastle showing me a slit between two
planks 'is he not a beauty '

 i looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes and of a
vague figure huddled up in the darkness 

 'don't be frightened ' said my employer laughing at the start
which i had given 'it's only carlo my mastiff i call him mine 
but really old toller my groom is the only man who can do
anything with him we feed him once a day and not too much then 
so that he is always as keen as mustard toller lets him loose
every night and god help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs
upon for goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your
foot over the threshold at night for it's as much as your life
is worth '

 the warning was no idle one for two nights later i happened to
look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning 
it was a beautiful moonlight night and the lawn in front of the
house was silvered over and almost as bright as day i was
standing rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene when i was
aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper
beeches as it emerged into the moonshine i saw what it was it
was a giant dog as large as a calf tawny tinted with hanging
jowl black muzzle and huge projecting bones it walked slowly
across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side 
that dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which i do not
think that any burglar could have done 

 and now i have a very strange experience to tell you i had as
you know cut off my hair in london and i had placed it in a
great coil at the bottom of my trunk one evening after the
child was in bed i began to amuse myself by examining the
furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things 
there was an old chest of drawers in the room the two upper ones
empty and open the lower one locked i had filled the first two
with my linen and as i had still much to pack away i was
naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer it
struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight 
so i took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it the very
first key fitted to perfection and i drew the drawer open there
was only one thing in it but i am sure that you would never
guess what it was it was my coil of hair 

 i took it up and examined it it was of the same peculiar tint 
and the same thickness but then the impossibility of the thing
obtruded itself upon me how could my hair have been locked in
the drawer with trembling hands i undid my trunk turned out the
contents and drew from the bottom my own hair i laid the two
tresses together and i assure you that they were identical was
it not extraordinary puzzle as i would i could make nothing at
all of what it meant i returned the strange hair to the drawer 
and i said nothing of the matter to the rucastles as i felt that
i had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had
locked 

 i am naturally observant as you may have remarked mr holmes 
and i soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head 
there was one wing however which appeared not to be inhabited
at all a door which faced that which led into the quarters of
the tollers opened into this suite but it was invariably locked 
one day however as i ascended the stair i met mr rucastle
coming out through this door his keys in his hand and a look on
his face which made him a very different person to the round 
jovial man to whom i was accustomed his cheeks were red his
brow was all crinkled with anger and the veins stood out at his
temples with passion he locked the door and hurried past me
without a word or a look 

 this aroused my curiosity so when i went out for a walk in the
grounds with my charge i strolled round to the side from which i
could see the windows of this part of the house there were four
of them in a row three of which were simply dirty while the
fourth was shuttered up they were evidently all deserted as i
strolled up and down glancing at them occasionally mr rucastle
came out to me looking as merry and jovial as ever 

 'ah ' said he 'you must not think me rude if i passed you
without a word my dear young lady i was preoccupied with
business matters '

 i assured him that i was not offended 'by the way ' said i 
'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there and one
of them has the shutters up '

 he looked surprised and as it seemed to me a little startled
at my remark 

 'photography is one of my hobbies ' said he 'i have made my
dark room up there but dear me what an observant young lady we
have come upon who would have believed it who would have ever
believed it ' he spoke in a jesting tone but there was no jest
in his eyes as he looked at me i read suspicion there and
annoyance but no jest 

 well mr holmes from the moment that i understood that there
was something about that suite of rooms which i was not to know 
i was all on fire to go over them it was not mere curiosity 
though i have my share of that it was more a feeling of duty a
feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this
place they talk of woman's instinct perhaps it was woman's
instinct which gave me that feeling at any rate it was there 
and i was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the
forbidden door 

 it was only yesterday that the chance came i may tell you that 
besides mr rucastle both toller and his wife find something to
do in these deserted rooms and i once saw him carrying a large
black linen bag with him through the door recently he has been
drinking hard and yesterday evening he was very drunk and when
i came upstairs there was the key in the door i have no doubt at
all that he had left it there mr and mrs rucastle were both
downstairs and the child was with them so that i had an
admirable opportunity i turned the key gently in the lock 
opened the door and slipped through 

 there was a little passage in front of me unpapered and
uncarpeted which turned at a right angle at the farther end 
round this corner were three doors in a line the first and third
of which were open they each led into an empty room dusty and
cheerless with two windows in the one and one in the other so
thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through
them the centre door was closed and across the outside of it
had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed padlocked
at one end to a ring in the wall and fastened at the other with
stout cord the door itself was locked as well and the key was
not there this barricaded door corresponded clearly with the
shuttered window outside and yet i could see by the glimmer from
beneath it that the room was not in darkness evidently there was
a skylight which let in light from above as i stood in the
passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it
might veil i suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room
and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little
slit of dim light which shone out from under the door a mad 
unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight mr holmes my
overstrung nerves failed me suddenly and i turned and ran ran
as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the
skirt of my dress i rushed down the passage through the door 
and straight into the arms of mr rucastle who was waiting
outside 

 'so ' said he smiling 'it was you then i thought that it
must be when i saw the door open '

 'oh i am so frightened ' i panted 

 'my dear young lady my dear young lady ' you cannot think how
caressing and soothing his manner was 'and what has frightened
you my dear young lady '

 but his voice was just a little too coaxing he overdid it i
was keenly on my guard against him 

 'i was foolish enough to go into the empty wing ' i answered 
'but it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that i was
frightened and ran out again oh it is so dreadfully still in
there '

 'only that ' said he looking at me keenly 

 'why what did you think ' i asked 

 'why do you think that i lock this door '

 'i am sure that i do not know '

 'it is to keep people out who have no business there do you
see ' he was still smiling in the most amiable manner 

 'i am sure if i had known '

 'well then you know now and if you ever put your foot over
that threshold again' here in an instant the smile hardened into
a grin of rage and he glared down at me with the face of a
demon 'i'll throw you to the mastiff '

 i was so terrified that i do not know what i did i suppose that
i must have rushed past him into my room i remember nothing
until i found myself lying on my bed trembling all over then i
thought of you mr holmes i could not live there longer without
some advice i was frightened of the house of the man of the
woman of the servants even of the child they were all horrible
to me if i could only bring you down all would be well of
course i might have fled from the house but my curiosity was
almost as strong as my fears my mind was soon made up i would
send you a wire i put on my hat and cloak went down to the
office which is about half a mile from the house and then
returned feeling very much easier a horrible doubt came into my
mind as i approached the door lest the dog might be loose but i
remembered that toller had drunk himself into a state of
insensibility that evening and i knew that he was the only one
in the household who had any influence with the savage creature 
or who would venture to set him free i slipped in in safety and
lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you 
i had no difficulty in getting leave to come into winchester this
morning but i must be back before three o'clock for mr and
mrs rucastle are going on a visit and will be away all the
evening so that i must look after the child now i have told you
all my adventures mr holmes and i should be very glad if you
could tell me what it all means and above all what i should
do  

holmes and i had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story 
my friend rose now and paced up and down the room his hands in
his pockets and an expression of the most profound gravity upon
his face 

 is toller still drunk   he asked 

 yes i heard his wife tell mrs rucastle that she could do
nothing with him  

 that is well and the rucastles go out to-night  

 yes  

 is there a cellar with a good strong lock  

 yes the wine-cellar  

 you seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very
brave and sensible girl miss hunter do you think that you could
perform one more feat i should not ask it of you if i did not
think you a quite exceptional woman  

 i will try what is it  

 we shall be at the copper beeches by seven o'clock my friend
and i the rucastles will be gone by that time and toller will 
we hope be incapable there only remains mrs toller who might
give the alarm if you could send her into the cellar on some
errand and then turn the key upon her you would facilitate
matters immensely  

 i will do it  

 excellent we shall then look thoroughly into the affair of
course there is only one feasible explanation you have been
brought there to personate someone and the real person is
imprisoned in this chamber that is obvious as to who this
prisoner is i have no doubt that it is the daughter miss alice
rucastle if i remember right who was said to have gone to
america you were chosen doubtless as resembling her in height 
figure and the colour of your hair hers had been cut off very
possibly in some illness through which she has passed and so of
course yours had to be sacrificed also by a curious chance you
came upon her tresses the man in the road was undoubtedly some
friend of hers possibly her fiance and no doubt as you wore
the girl's dress and were so like her he was convinced from your
laughter whenever he saw you and afterwards from your gesture 
that miss rucastle was perfectly happy and that she no longer
desired his attentions the dog is let loose at night to prevent
him from endeavouring to communicate with her so much is fairly
clear the most serious point in the case is the disposition of
the child  

 what on earth has that to do with it   i ejaculated 

 my dear watson you as a medical man are continually gaining
light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the
parents don't you see that the converse is equally valid i have
frequently gained my first real insight into the character of
parents by studying their children this child's disposition is
abnormally cruel merely for cruelty's sake and whether he
derives this from his smiling father as i should suspect or
from his mother it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their
power  

 i am sure that you are right mr holmes   cried our client  a
thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you
have hit it oh let us lose not an instant in bringing help to
this poor creature  

 we must be circumspect for we are dealing with a very cunning
man we can do nothing until seven o'clock at that hour we shall
be with you and it will not be long before we solve the
mystery  

we were as good as our word for it was just seven when we
reached the copper beeches having put up our trap at a wayside
public-house the group of trees with their dark leaves shining
like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun were
sufficient to mark the house even had miss hunter not been
standing smiling on the door-step 

 have you managed it   asked holmes 

a loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs  that is
mrs toller in the cellar   said she  her husband lies snoring
on the kitchen rug here are his keys which are the duplicates
of mr rucastle's  

 you have done well indeed   cried holmes with enthusiasm  now
lead the way and we shall soon see the end of this black
business  

we passed up the stair unlocked the door followed on down a
passage and found ourselves in front of the barricade which miss
hunter had described holmes cut the cord and removed the
transverse bar then he tried the various keys in the lock but
without success no sound came from within and at the silence
holmes' face clouded over 

 i trust that we are not too late   said he  i think miss
hunter that we had better go in without you now watson put
your shoulder to it and we shall see whether we cannot make our
way in  

it was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united
strength together we rushed into the room it was empty there
was no furniture save a little pallet bed a small table and a
basketful of linen the skylight above was open and the prisoner
gone 

 there has been some villainy here   said holmes  this beauty
has guessed miss hunter's intentions and has carried his victim
off  

 but how  

 through the skylight we shall soon see how he managed it   he
swung himself up onto the roof  ah yes   he cried  here's the
end of a long light ladder against the eaves that is how he did
it  

 but it is impossible   said miss hunter  the ladder was not
there when the rucastles went away  

 he has come back and done it i tell you that he is a clever and
dangerous man i should not be very much surprised if this were
he whose step i hear now upon the stair i think watson that it
would be as well for you to have your pistol ready  

the words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at
the door of the room a very fat and burly man with a heavy
stick in his hand miss hunter screamed and shrunk against the
wall at the sight of him but sherlock holmes sprang forward and
confronted him 

 you villain   said he  where's your daughter  

the fat man cast his eyes round and then up at the open
skylight 

 it is for me to ask you that   he shrieked  you thieves spies
and thieves i have caught you have i you are in my power i'll
serve you   he turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he
could go 

 he's gone for the dog   cried miss hunter 

 i have my revolver   said i 

 better close the front door   cried holmes and we all rushed
down the stairs together we had hardly reached the hall when we
heard the baying of a hound and then a scream of agony with a
horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to an
elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out
at a side door 

 my god   he cried  someone has loosed the dog it's not been
fed for two days quick quick or it'll be too late  

holmes and i rushed out and round the angle of the house with
toller hurrying behind us there was the huge famished brute its
black muzzle buried in rucastle's throat while he writhed and
screamed upon the ground running up i blew its brains out and
it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great
creases of his neck with much labour we separated them and
carried him living but horribly mangled into the house we laid
him upon the drawing-room sofa and having dispatched the sobered
toller to bear the news to his wife i did what i could to
relieve his pain we were all assembled round him when the door
opened and a tall gaunt woman entered the room 

 mrs toller   cried miss hunter 

 yes miss mr rucastle let me out when he came back before he
went up to you ah miss it is a pity you didn't let me know
what you were planning for i would have told you that your pains
were wasted  

 ha   said holmes looking keenly at her  it is clear that mrs 
toller knows more about this matter than anyone else  

 yes sir i do and i am ready enough to tell what i know  

 then pray sit down and let us hear it for there are several
points on which i must confess that i am still in the dark  

 i will soon make it clear to you   said she  and i'd have done
so before now if i could ha' got out from the cellar if there's
police-court business over this you'll remember that i was the
one that stood your friend and that i was miss alice's friend
too 

 she was never happy at home miss alice wasn't from the time
that her father married again she was slighted like and had no
say in anything but it never really became bad for her until
after she met mr fowler at a friend's house as well as i could
learn miss alice had rights of her own by will but she was so
quiet and patient she was that she never said a word about them
but just left everything in mr rucastle's hands he knew he was
safe with her but when there was a chance of a husband coming
forward who would ask for all that the law would give him then
her father thought it time to put a stop on it he wanted her to
sign a paper so that whether she married or not he could use
her money when she wouldn't do it he kept on worrying her until
she got brain-fever and for six weeks was at death's door then
she got better at last all worn to a shadow and with her
beautiful hair cut off but that didn't make no change in her
young man and he stuck to her as true as man could be  

 ah   said holmes  i think that what you have been good enough
to tell us makes the matter fairly clear and that i can deduce
all that remains mr rucastle then i presume took to this
system of imprisonment  

 yes sir  

 and brought miss hunter down from london in order to get rid of
the disagreeable persistence of mr fowler  

 that was it sir  

 but mr fowler being a persevering man as a good seaman should
be blockaded the house and having met you succeeded by certain
arguments metallic or otherwise in convincing you that your
interests were the same as his  

 mr fowler was a very kind-spoken free-handed gentleman   said
mrs toller serenely 

 and in this way he managed that your good man should have no
want of drink and that a ladder should be ready at the moment
when your master had gone out  

 you have it sir just as it happened  

 i am sure we owe you an apology mrs toller   said holmes  for
you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us and
here comes the country surgeon and mrs rucastle so i think 
watson that we had best escort miss hunter back to winchester 
as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a
questionable one  

and thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the
copper beeches in front of the door mr rucastle survived but
was always a broken man kept alive solely through the care of
his devoted wife they still live with their old servants who
probably know so much of rucastle's past life that he finds it
difficult to part from them mr fowler and miss rucastle were
married by special license in southampton the day after their
flight and he is now the holder of a government appointment in
the island of mauritius as to miss violet hunter my friend
holmes rather to my disappointment manifested no further
interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one
of his problems and she is now the head of a private school at
walsall where i believe that she has met with considerable success 
the adventures of tom sawyer

by mark twain

 samuel langhorne clemens 



illustrations

tom sawyer

tom at home

aunt polly beguiled

a good opportunity

who's afraid

late home

jim

'tendin' to business

ain't that work 

cat and toys

amusement

becky thatcher

paying off

after the battle

 showing off 

not amiss

mary

tom contemplating

dampened ardor

youth

boyhood

using the barlow 

the church

necessities

tom as a sunday-school hero

the prize

at church

the model boy

the church choir

a side show

result of playing in church

the pinch-bug

sid

dentistry

huckleberry finn

mother hopkins

result of tom's truthfulness

tom as an artist

interrupted courtship

the master

vain pleading

tail piece

the grave in the woods

tom meditates

robin hood and his foe

death of robin hood

midnight

tom's mode of egress

tom's effort at prayer

muff potter outwitted

the graveyard

forewarnings

disturbing muff's sleep

tom's talk with his aunt

muff potter

a suspicious incident

injun joe's two victims

in the coils

peter

aunt polly seeks information

a general good time

demoralized

joe harper

on board their first prize

the pirates ashore

wild life

the pirate's bath

the pleasant stroll

the search for the drowned

the mysterious writing

river view

what tom saw

tom swims the river

taking lessons

the pirates' egg market

tom looking for joe's knife

the thunder storm

terrible slaughter

the mourner

tom's proudest moment

amy lawrence

tom tries to remember

the hero

a flirtation

becky retaliates

a sudden frost

counter-irritation

aunt polly

tom justified

the discovery

caught in the act

tom astonishes the school

literature

tom declaims

examination evening

on exhibition

prize authors

the master's dilemma

the school house

the cadet

happy for two days

enjoying the vacation

the stolen melons

the judge

visiting the prisoner

tom swears

the court room

the detective

tom dreams

the treasure

the private conference

a king poor fellow 

business

the ha'nted house

injun joe

the greatest and best

hidden treasures unearthed

the boy's salvation

room no 2

the next day's conference

treasures

uncle jake

buck at home

the haunted room

 run for your life 

mcdougal's cave

inside the cave

huck on duty

a rousing act

tail piece

the welchman

result of a sneeze

cornered

alarming discoveries

tom and becky stir up the town

tom's marks

huck questions the widow

vampires

wonders of the cave

attacked by natives

despair

the wedding cake

a new terror

daylight

 turn out to receive tom and becky

the escape from the cave

fate of the ragged man

the treasures found

caught at last

drop after drop

having a good time

a business trip

 got it at last 

tail piece

widow douglas

tom backs his statement

tail piece

huck transformed

comfortable once more

high up in society

contentment




preface

most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred one or two
were experiences of my own the rest those of boys who were schoolmates
of mine huck finn is drawn from life tom sawyer also but not from an
individual he is a combination of the characteristics of three boys whom
i knew and therefore belongs to the composite order of architecture 

the odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and
slaves in the west at the period of this story that is to say thirty or
forty years ago 

although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and
girls i hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account 
for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what
they once were themselves and of how they felt and thought and talked 
and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in 

the author 

hartford 1876 




chapter i

 tom 

no answer 

 tom 

no answer 

 what's gone with that boy i wonder you tom 

no answer 

the old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the
room then she put them up and looked out under them she seldom or
never looked through them for so small a thing as a boy they were
her state pair the pride of her heart and were built for style not
service she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well 
she looked perplexed for a moment and then said not fiercely but
still loud enough for the furniture to hear 

 well i lay if i get hold of you i'll 

she did not finish for by this time she was bending down and punching
under the bed with the broom and so she needed breath to punctuate the
punches with she resurrected nothing but the cat 

 i never did see the beat of that boy 

she went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the
tomato vines and jimpson weeds that constituted the garden no tom so
she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and shouted 

 y-o-u-u tom 

there was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to seize
a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight 

 there i might 'a' thought of that closet what you been doing in
there 

 nothing 

 nothing look at your hands and look at your mouth what is that
truck 

 i don't know aunt 

 well i know it's jam that's what it is forty times i've said if you
didn't let that jam alone i'd skin you hand me that switch 

the switch hovered in the air the peril was desperate 

 my look behind you aunt 

the old lady whirled round and snatched her skirts out of danger 
the lad fled on the instant scrambled up the high board-fence and
disappeared over it 

his aunt polly stood surprised a moment and then broke into a gentle
laugh 

 hang the boy can't i never learn anything ain't he played me tricks
enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time but old
fools is the biggest fools there is can't learn an old dog new tricks 
as the saying is but my goodness he never plays them alike two days 
and how is a body to know what's coming he 'pears to know just how long
he can torment me before i get my dander up and he knows if he can make
out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh it's all down again and
i can't hit him a lick i ain't doing my duty by that boy and that's
the lord's truth goodness knows spare the rod and spile the child 
as the good book says i'm a laying up sin and suffering for us both 
i know he's full of the old scratch but laws-a-me he's my own
dead sister's boy poor thing and i ain't got the heart to lash him 
somehow every time i let him off my conscience does hurt me so and
every time i hit him my old heart most breaks well-a-well man that is
born of woman is of few days and full of trouble as the scripture
says and i reckon it's so he'll play hookey this evening and  
southwestern for afternoon i'll just be obleeged to make him work 
tomorrow to punish him it's mighty hard to make him work saturdays 
when all the boys is having holiday but he hates work more than he
hates anything else and i've got to do some of my duty by him or
i'll be the ruination of the child 

tom did play hookey and he had a very good time he got back home
barely in season to help jim the small colored boy saw next-day's wood
and split the kindlings before supper at least he was there in time
to tell his adventures to jim while jim did three-fourths of the work 
tom's younger brother or rather half-brother sid was already through
with his part of the work picking up chips for he was a quiet boy 
and had no adventurous trouble-some ways 

while tom was eating his supper and stealing sugar as opportunity
offered aunt polly asked him questions that were full of guile and
very deep for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments like
many other simple-hearted souls it was her pet vanity to believe she
was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy and she
loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low
cunning said she 

 tom it was middling warm in school warn't it 

 yes'm 

 powerful warm warn't it 

 yes'm 

 didn't you want to go in a-swimming tom 

a bit of a scare shot through tom a touch of uncomfortable suspicion he
searched aunt polly's face but it told him nothing so he said 

 no'm well not very much 

the old lady reached out her hand and felt tom's shirt and said 

 but you ain't too warm now though and it flattered her to reflect
that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing
that that was what she had in her mind but in spite of her tom knew
where the wind lay now so he forestalled what might be the next move 

 some of us pumped on our heads mine's damp yet see 

aunt polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of
circumstantial evidence and missed a trick then she had a new
inspiration 

 tom you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where i sewed it to
pump on your head did you unbutton your jacket 

the trouble vanished out of tom's face he opened his jacket his shirt
collar was securely sewed 

 bother well go 'long with you i'd made sure you'd played hookey
and been a-swimming but i forgive ye tom i reckon you're a kind of a
singed cat as the saying is better'n you look this time 

she was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried and half glad that tom
had stumbled into obedient conduct for once 

but sidney said 

 well now if i didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread 
but it's black 

 why i did sew it with white tom 

but tom did not wait for the rest as he went out at the door he said 

 siddy i'll lick you for that 

in a safe place tom examined two large needles which were thrust into
the lapels of his jacket and had thread bound about them one needle
carried white thread and the other black he said 

 she'd never noticed if it hadn't been for sid confound it sometimes
she sews it with white and sometimes she sews it with black i wish to
gee-miny she'd stick to one or t'other i can't keep the run of 'em but
i bet you i'll lam sid for that i'll learn him 

he was not the model boy of the village he knew the model boy very well
though and loathed him 

within two minutes or even less he had forgotten all his troubles not
because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him than a
man's are to a man but because a new and powerful interest bore
them down and drove them out of his mind for the time just as men's
misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises this new
interest was a valued novelty in whistling which he had just acquired
from a negro and he was suffering to practise it un-disturbed it
consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn a sort of liquid warble 
produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short
intervals in the midst of the music the reader probably remembers how to
do it if he has ever been a boy diligence and attention soon gave him
the knack of it and he strode down the street with his mouth full of
harmony and his soul full of gratitude he felt much as an astronomer
feels who has discovered a new planet no doubt as far as strong deep 
unalloyed pleasure is concerned the advantage was with the boy not the
astronomer 

the summer evenings were long it was not dark yet presently tom
checked his whistle a stranger was before him a boy a shade larger
than himself a new-comer of any age or either sex was an im-pressive
curiosity in the poor little shabby village of st petersburg this boy
was well dressed too well dressed on a week-day this was simply as
astounding his cap was a dainty thing his close-buttoned blue cloth
roundabout was new and natty and so were his pantaloons he had shoes
on and it was only friday he even wore a necktie a bright bit of
ribbon he had a citified air about him that ate into tom's vitals the
more tom stared at the splendid marvel the higher he turned up his nose
at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed to
him to grow neither boy spoke if one moved the other moved but only
sidewise in a circle they kept face to face and eye to eye all the
time finally tom said 

 i can lick you 

 i'd like to see you try it 

 well i can do it 

 no you can't either 

 yes i can 

 no you can't 

 i can 

 you can't 

 can 

 can't 

an uncomfortable pause then tom said 

 what's your name 

 'tisn't any of your business maybe 

 well i 'low i'll make it my business 

 well why don't you 

 if you say much i will 

 much much much there now 

 oh you think you're mighty smart don't you i could lick you with
one hand tied behind me if i wanted to 

 well why don't you do it you say you can do it 

 well i will if you fool with me 

 oh yes i've seen whole families in the same fix 

 smarty you think you're some now don't you oh what a hat 

 you can lump that hat if you don't like it i dare you to knock it
off and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs 

 you're a liar 

 you're another 

 you're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up 

 aw take a walk 

 say if you give me much more of your sass i'll take and bounce a rock
off'n your head 

 oh of course you will 

 well i will 

 well why don't you do it then what do you keep saying you will
for why don't you do it it's because you're afraid 

 i ain't afraid 

 you are 

 i ain't 

 you are 

another pause and more eying and sidling around each other presently
they were shoulder to shoulder tom said 

 get away from here 

 go away yourself 

 i won't 

 i won't either 

so they stood each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace and both
shoving with might and main and glowering at each other with hate but
neither could get an advantage after struggling till both were hot and
flushed each relaxed his strain with watchful caution and tom said 

 you're a coward and a pup i'll tell my big brother on you and he can
thrash you with his little finger and i'll make him do it too 

 what do i care for your big brother i've got a brother that's bigger
than he is and what's more he can throw him over that fence too 
both brothers were imaginary 

 that's a lie 

 your saying so don't make it so 

tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe and said 

 i dare you to step over that and i'll lick you till you can't stand
up anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep 

the new boy stepped over promptly and said 

 now you said you'd do it now let's see you do it 

 don't you crowd me now you better look out 

 well you said you'd do it why don't you do it 

 by jingo for two cents i will do it 

the new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out
with derision tom struck them to the ground in an instant both boys
were rolling and tumbling in the dirt gripped together like cats and
for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and
clothes punched and scratched each other's nose and covered themselves
with dust and glory presently the confusion took form and through the
fog of battle tom appeared seated astride the new boy and pounding him
with his fists holler 'nuff said he 

the boy only struggled to free himself he was crying mainly from rage 

 holler 'nuff and the pounding went on 

at last the stranger got out a smothered 'nuff and tom let him up and
said 

 now that'll learn you better look out who you're fooling with next
time 

the new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes sobbing 
snuffling and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and
threatening what he would do to tom the next time he caught him out 
 to which tom responded with jeers and started off in high feather and
as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone threw it
and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like
an antelope tom chased the traitor home and thus found out where he
lived he then held a position at the gate for some time daring the
enemy to come outside but the enemy only made faces at him through the
window and declined at last the enemy's mother appeared and called tom
a bad vicious vulgar child and ordered him away so he went away but
he said he 'lowed to lay for that boy 

he got home pretty late that night and when he climbed cautiously in
at the window he uncovered an ambuscade in the person of his aunt and
when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn his
saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in its
firmness 




chapter ii

saturday morning was come and all the summer world was bright and
fresh and brimming with life there was a song in every heart and if
the heart was young the music issued at the lips there was cheer in
every face and a spring in every step the locust-trees were in bloom
and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air cardiff hill beyond
the village and above it was green with vegetation and it lay just far
enough away to seem a delectable land dreamy reposeful and inviting 

tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a
long-handled brush he surveyed the fence and all gladness left him and
a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit thirty yards of board
fence nine feet high life to him seemed hollow and existence but a
burden sighing he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost
plank repeated the operation did it again compared the insignificant
whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed
fence and sat down on a tree-box discouraged jim came skipping out at
the gate with a tin pail and singing buffalo gals bringing water from
the town pump had always been hateful work in tom's eyes before but
now it did not strike him so he remembered that there was company at
the pump white mulatto and negro boys and girls were always there
waiting their turns resting trading playthings quarrelling fighting 
skylarking and he remembered that although the pump was only a hundred
and fifty yards off jim never got back with a bucket of water under an
hour and even then somebody generally had to go after him tom said 

 say jim i'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some 

jim shook his head and said 

 can't mars tom ole missis she tole me i got to go an' git dis water
an' not stop foolin' roun' wid anybody she say she spec' mars tom gwine
to ax me to whitewash an' so she tole me go 'long an' 'tend to my own
business she 'lowed she'd 'tend to de whitewashin' 

 oh never you mind what she said jim that's the way she always talks 
gimme the bucket i won't be gone only a a minute she won't ever
know 

 oh i dasn't mars tom ole missis she'd take an' tar de head off'n me 
'deed she would 

 she she never licks anybody whacks 'em over the head with her
thimble and who cares for that i'd like to know she talks awful but
talk don't hurt anyways it don't if she don't cry jim i'll give you a
marvel i'll give you a white alley 

jim began to waver 

 white alley jim and it's a bully taw 

 my dat's a mighty gay marvel i tell you but mars tom i's powerful
'fraid ole missis 

 and besides if you will i'll show you my sore toe 

jim was only human this attraction was too much for him he put down
his pail took the white alley and bent over the toe with absorbing
interest while the bandage was being unwound in another moment he
was flying down the street with his pail and a tingling rear tom was
whitewashing with vigor and aunt polly was retiring from the field with
a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye 

but tom's energy did not last he began to think of the fun he had
planned for this day and his sorrows multiplied soon the free boys
would come tripping along on all sorts of delicious expeditions and
they would make a world of fun of him for having to work the very
thought of it burnt him like fire he got out his worldly wealth and
examined it bits of toys marbles and trash enough to buy an exchange
of work maybe but not half enough to buy so much as half an hour
of pure freedom so he returned his straitened means to his pocket and
gave up the idea of trying to buy the boys at this dark and hopeless
moment an inspiration burst upon him nothing less than a great 
magnificent inspiration 

he took up his brush and went tranquilly to work ben rogers hove in
sight presently the very boy of all boys whose ridicule he had been
dreading ben's gait was the hop-skip-and-jump proof enough that his
heart was light and his anticipations high he was eating an apple and
giving a long melodious whoop at intervals followed by a deep-toned
ding-dong-dong ding-dong-dong for he was personating a steamboat as
he drew near he slackened speed took the middle of the street leaned
far over to starboard and rounded to ponderously and with laborious pomp
and circumstance for he was personating the big missouri and considered
himself to be drawing nine feet of water he was boat and captain and
engine-bells combined so he had to imagine himself standing on his own
hurricane-deck giving the orders and executing them 

 stop her sir ting-a-ling-ling the headway ran almost out and he
drew up slowly toward the sidewalk 

 ship up to back ting-a-ling-ling his arms straightened and stiffened
down his sides 

 set her back on the stabboard ting-a-ling-ling chow ch-chow-wow 
chow his right hand mean-time describing stately circles for it was
representing a forty-foot wheel 

 let her go back on the labboard ting-a-ling-ling chow-ch-chow-chow 
 the left hand began to describe circles 

 stop the stabboard ting-a-ling-ling stop the labboard come ahead on
the stabboard stop her let your outside turn over slow ting-a-ling-ling 
chow-ow-ow get out that head-line lively now come out with
your spring-line what're you about there take a turn round that stump
with the bight of it stand by that stage now let her go done with
the engines sir ting-a-ling-ling sh't s'h't sh't trying the
gauge-cocks 

tom went on whitewashing paid no attention to the steamboat ben stared
a moment and then said hi-yi you're up a stump ain't you 

no answer tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist then
he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result as
before ben ranged up alongside of him tom's mouth watered for the
apple but he stuck to his work ben said 

 hello old chap you got to work hey 

tom wheeled suddenly and said 

 why it's you ben i warn't noticing 

 say i'm going in a-swimming i am don't you wish you could but of
course you'd druther work wouldn't you course you would 

tom contemplated the boy a bit and said 

 what do you call work 

 why ain't that work 

tom resumed his whitewashing and answered carelessly 

 well maybe it is and maybe it ain't all i know is it suits tom
sawyer 

 oh come now you don't mean to let on that you like it 

the brush continued to move 

 like it well i don't see why i oughtn't to like it does a boy get a
chance to whitewash a fence every day 

that put the thing in a new light ben stopped nibbling his apple 
tom swept his brush daintily back and forth stepped back to note the
effect added a touch here and there criticised the effect again ben
watching every move and getting more and more interested more and more
absorbed presently he said 

 say tom let me whitewash a little 

tom considered was about to consent but he altered his mind 

 no no i reckon it wouldn't hardly do ben you see aunt polly's awful
particular about this fence right here on the street you know but if it
was the back fence i wouldn't mind and she wouldn't yes she's awful
particular about this fence it's got to be done very careful i reckon
there ain't one boy in a thousand maybe two thousand that can do it
the way it's got to be done 

 no is that so oh come now lemme just try only just a little i'd let
 you if you was me tom 

 ben i'd like to honest injun but aunt polly well jim wanted to do
it but she wouldn't let him sid wanted to do it and she wouldn't let
sid now don't you see how i'm fixed if you was to tackle this fence
and anything was to happen to it 

 oh shucks i'll be just as careful now lemme try say i'll give you
the core of my apple 

 well here no ben now don't i'm afeard 

 i'll give you all of it 

tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face but alacrity in his
heart and while the late steamer big missouri worked and sweated in the
sun the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade close by 
dangled his legs munched his apple and planned the slaughter of more
innocents there was no lack of material boys happened along every
little while they came to jeer but remained to whitewash by the time
ben was fagged out tom had traded the next chance to billy fisher for
a kite in good repair and when he played out johnny miller bought in
for a dead rat and a string to swing it with and so on and so on hour
after hour and when the middle of the afternoon came from being a
poor poverty-stricken boy in the morning tom was literally rolling in
wealth he had besides the things before mentioned twelve marbles part
of a jews-harp a piece of blue bottle-glass to look through a spool
cannon a key that wouldn't unlock anything a fragment of chalk a
glass stopper of a decanter a tin soldier a couple of tadpoles 
six fire-crackers a kitten with only one eye a brass door-knob a
dog-collar but no dog the handle of a knife four pieces of orange-peel 
and a dilapidated old window sash 

he had had a nice good idle time all the while plenty of company and
the fence had three coats of whitewash on it if he hadn't run out of
whitewash he would have bankrupted every boy in the village 

tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world after all he
had discovered a great law of human action without knowing it namely 
that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing it is only necessary
to make the thing difficult to attain if he had been a great and
wise philosopher like the writer of this book he would now have
comprehended that work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do 
and that play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do and
this would help him to understand why constructing artificial flowers or
performing on a tread-mill is work while rolling ten-pins or climbing
mont blanc is only amusement there are wealthy gentlemen in england
who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles on a
daily line in the summer because the privilege costs them considerable
money but if they were offered wages for the service that would turn
it into work and then they would resign 

the boy mused awhile over the substantial change which had taken place
in his worldly circumstances and then wended toward headquarters to
report 




chapter iii

tom presented himself before aunt polly who was sitting by an
open window in a pleasant rearward apartment which was bedroom 
breakfast-room dining-room and library combined the balmy summer
air the restful quiet the odor of the flowers and the drowsing
murmur of the bees had had their effect and she was nodding over her
knitting for she had no company but the cat and it was asleep in her
lap her spectacles were propped up on her gray head for safety she had
thought that of course tom had deserted long ago and she wondered at
seeing him place himself in her power again in this intrepid way he
said mayn't i go and play now aunt 

 what a'ready how much have you done 

 it's all done aunt 

 tom don't lie to me i can't bear it 

 i ain't aunt it is all done 

aunt polly placed small trust in such evidence she went out to see for
herself and she would have been content to find twenty per cent of
tom's statement true when she found the entire fence white-washed and
not only whitewashed but elaborately coated and recoated and even a
streak added to the ground her astonishment was almost unspeakable she
said 

 well i never there's no getting round it you can work when you're a
mind to tom and then she diluted the compliment by adding but it's
powerful seldom you're a mind to i'm bound to say well go 'long and
play but mind you get back some time in a week or i'll tan you 

she was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took
him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to him 
along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a treat
took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort 
and while she closed with a happy scriptural flourish he hooked a
doughnut 

then he skipped out and saw sid just starting up the outside stairway
that led to the back rooms on the second floor clods were handy and
the air was full of them in a twinkling they raged around sid like a
hail-storm and before aunt polly could collect her surprised faculties
and sally to the rescue six or seven clods had taken personal effect 
and tom was over the fence and gone there was a gate but as a general
thing he was too crowded for time to make use of it his soul was at
peace now that he had settled with sid for calling attention to his
black thread and getting him into trouble 

tom skirted the block and came round into a muddy alley that led by the
back of his aunt's cow-stable he presently got safely beyond the reach
of capture and punishment and hastened toward the public square of the
village where two military companies of boys had met for conflict 
according to previous appointment tom was general of one of these
armies joe harper a bosom friend general of the other these two
great commanders did not condescend to fight in person that being better
suited to the still smaller fry but sat together on an eminence
and conducted the field operations by orders delivered through
aides-de-camp tom's army won a great victory after a long and
hard-fought battle then the dead were counted prisoners exchanged 
the terms of the next disagreement agreed upon and the day for the
necessary battle appointed after which the armies fell into line and
marched away and tom turned homeward alone 

as he was passing by the house where jeff thatcher lived he saw a new
girl in the garden a lovely little blue-eyed creature with yellow
hair plaited into two long-tails white summer frock and embroidered
pan-talettes the fresh-crowned hero fell without firing a shot a
certain amy lawrence vanished out of his heart and left not even a
memory of herself behind he had thought he loved her to distraction 
he had regarded his passion as adoration and behold it was only a poor
little evanescent partiality he had been months winning her she had
confessed hardly a week ago he had been the happiest and the proudest
boy in the world only seven short days and here in one instant of time
she had gone out of his heart like a casual stranger whose visit is
done 

he worshipped this new angel with furtive eye till he saw that she had
discovered him then he pretended he did not know she was present and
began to show off in all sorts of absurd boyish ways in order to win
her admiration he kept up this grotesque foolishness for some time 
but by-and-by while he was in the midst of some dangerous gymnastic
performances he glanced aside and saw that the little girl was wending
her way toward the house tom came up to the fence and leaned on it 
grieving and hoping she would tarry yet awhile longer she halted a
moment on the steps and then moved toward the door tom heaved a great
sigh as she put her foot on the threshold but his face lit up 
right away for she tossed a pansy over the fence a moment before she
disappeared 

the boy ran around and stopped within a foot or two of the flower and
then shaded his eyes with his hand and began to look down street as
if he had discovered something of interest going on in that direction 
presently he picked up a straw and began trying to balance it on his
nose with his head tilted far back and as he moved from side to side 
in his efforts he edged nearer and nearer toward the pansy finally his
bare foot rested upon it his pliant toes closed upon it and he hopped
away with the treasure and disappeared round the corner but only for a
minute only while he could button the flower inside his jacket next
his heart or next his stomach possibly for he was not much posted in
anatomy and not hypercritical anyway 

he returned now and hung about the fence till nightfall showing
off as before but the girl never exhibited herself again though tom
comforted himself a little with the hope that she had been near some
window meantime and been aware of his attentions finally he strode
home reluctantly with his poor head full of visions 

all through supper his spirits were so high that his aunt wondered what
had got into the child he took a good scolding about clodding sid and
did not seem to mind it in the least he tried to steal sugar under his
aunt's very nose and got his knuckles rapped for it he said 

 aunt you don't whack sid when he takes it 

 well sid don't torment a body the way you do you'd be always into
that sugar if i warn't watching you 

presently she stepped into the kitchen and sid happy in his immunity 
reached for the sugar-bowl a sort of glorying over tom which was
wellnigh unbearable but sid's fingers slipped and the bowl dropped and
broke tom was in ecstasies in such ecstasies that he even controlled
his tongue and was silent he said to himself that he would not speak a
word even when his aunt came in but would sit perfectly still till she
asked who did the mischief and then he would tell and there would be
nothing so good in the world as to see that pet model catch it he was
so brimful of exultation that he could hardly hold himself when the old
lady came back and stood above the wreck discharging lightnings of wrath
from over her spectacles he said to himself now it's coming and the
next instant he was sprawling on the floor the potent palm was uplifted
to strike again when tom cried out 

 hold on now what 'er you belting me for sid broke it 

aunt polly paused perplexed and tom looked for healing pity but when
she got her tongue again she only said 

 umf well you didn't get a lick amiss i reckon you been into some
other audacious mischief when i wasn't around like enough 

then her conscience reproached her and she yearned to say something
kind and loving but she judged that this would be construed into a
confession that she had been in the wrong and discipline forbade that 
so she kept silence and went about her affairs with a troubled heart 
tom sulked in a corner and exalted his woes he knew that in her heart
his aunt was on her knees to him and he was morosely gratified by the
consciousness of it he would hang out no signals he would take notice
of none he knew that a yearning glance fell upon him now and then 
through a film of tears but he refused recognition of it he pictured
himself lying sick unto death and his aunt bending over him beseeching
one little forgiving word but he would turn his face to the wall and
die with that word unsaid ah how would she feel then and he pictured
himself brought home from the river dead with his curls all wet and
his sore heart at rest how she would throw herself upon him and how
her tears would fall like rain and her lips pray god to give her back
her boy and she would never never abuse him any more but he would
lie there cold and white and make no sign a poor little sufferer whose
griefs were at an end he so worked upon his feelings with the pathos of
these dreams that he had to keep swallowing he was so like to choke 
and his eyes swam in a blur of water which overflowed when he winked 
and ran down and trickled from the end of his nose and such a luxury to
him was this petting of his sorrows that he could not bear to have any
worldly cheeriness or any grating delight intrude upon it it was too
sacred for such contact and so presently when his cousin mary danced
in all alive with the joy of seeing home again after an age-long visit
of one week to the country he got up and moved in clouds and darkness
out at one door as she brought song and sunshine in at the other 

he wandered far from the accustomed haunts of boys and sought desolate
places that were in harmony with his spirit a log raft in the river
invited him and he seated himself on its outer edge and contemplated
the dreary vastness of the stream wishing the while that he could
only be drowned all at once and unconsciously without undergoing the
uncomfortable routine devised by nature then he thought of his flower 
he got it out rumpled and wilted and it mightily increased his dismal
felicity he wondered if she would pity him if she knew would she
cry and wish that she had a right to put her arms around his neck and
comfort him or would she turn coldly away like all the hollow world 
this picture brought such an agony of pleasurable suffering that he
worked it over and over again in his mind and set it up in new and
varied lights till he wore it threadbare at last he rose up sighing
and departed in the darkness 

about half-past nine or ten o'clock he came along the deserted street to
where the adored unknown lived he paused a moment no sound fell upon
his listening ear a candle was casting a dull glow upon the curtain
of a second-story window was the sacred presence there he climbed the
fence threaded his stealthy way through the plants till he stood under
that window he looked up at it long and with emotion then he laid him
down on the ground under it disposing himself upon his back with his
hands clasped upon his breast and holding his poor wilted flower 
and thus he would die out in the cold world with no shelter over his
homeless head no friendly hand to wipe the death-damps from his brow 
no loving face to bend pityingly over him when the great agony came and
thus she would see him when she looked out upon the glad morning and
oh would she drop one little tear upon his poor lifeless form would
she heave one little sigh to see a bright young life so rudely blighted 
so untimely cut down 

the window went up a maid-servant's discordant voice profaned the holy
calm and a deluge of water drenched the prone martyr's remains 

the strangling hero sprang up with a relieving snort there was a whiz
as of a missile in the air mingled with the murmur of a curse a sound
as of shivering glass followed and a small vague form went over the
fence and shot away in the gloom 

not long after as tom all undressed for bed was surveying his
drenched garments by the light of a tallow dip sid woke up but if he
had any dim idea of making any references to allusions he thought
better of it and held his peace for there was danger in tom's eye 

tom turned in without the added vexation of prayers and sid made mental
note of the omission 




chapter iv

the sun rose upon a tranquil world and beamed down upon the peaceful
village like a benediction breakfast over aunt polly had family
worship it began with a prayer built from the ground up of solid
courses of scriptural quotations welded together with a thin mortar of
originality and from the summit of this she delivered a grim chapter of
the mosaic law as from sinai 

then tom girded up his loins so to speak and went to work to get
his verses sid had learned his lesson days before tom bent all his
energies to the memorizing of five verses and he chose part of the
sermon on the mount because he could find no verses that were shorter 
at the end of half an hour tom had a vague general idea of his lesson 
but no more for his mind was traversing the whole field of human
thought and his hands were busy with distracting recreations mary took
his book to hear him recite and he tried to find his way through the
fog 

 blessed are the a a 

 poor 

 yes poor blessed are the poor a a 

 in spirit 

 in spirit blessed are the poor in spirit for they they 

 theirs 

 for theirs blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven blessed are they that mourn for they they 

 sh 

 for they a 

 s h a 

 for they s h oh i don't know what it is 

 shall 

 oh shall for they shall for they shall a a shall mourn a a blessed
are they that shall they that a they that shall mourn for they
shall a shall what why don't you tell me mary what do you want to
be so mean for 

 oh tom you poor thick-headed thing i'm not teasing you i wouldn't
do that you must go and learn it again don't you be discouraged tom 
you'll manage it and if you do i'll give you something ever so nice 
there now that's a good boy 

 all right what is it mary tell me what it is 

 never you mind tom you know if i say it's nice it is nice 

 you bet you that's so mary all right i'll tackle it again 

and he did tackle it again and under the double pressure of curiosity
and prospective gain he did it with such spirit that he accomplished a
shining success mary gave him a brand-new barlow knife worth twelve
and a half cents and the convulsion of delight that swept his system
shook him to his foundations true the knife would not cut anything 
but it was a sure-enough barlow and there was inconceivable grandeur
in that though where the western boys ever got the idea that such a
weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its injury is an imposing
mystery and will always remain so perhaps tom contrived to scarify the
cupboard with it and was arranging to begin on the bureau when he was
called off to dress for sunday-school 

mary gave him a tin basin of water and a piece of soap and he went
outside the door and set the basin on a little bench there then he
dipped the soap in the water and laid it down turned up his sleeves 
poured out the water on the ground gently and then entered the kitchen
and began to wipe his face diligently on the towel behind the door but
mary removed the towel and said 

 now ain't you ashamed tom you mustn't be so bad water won't hurt
you 

tom was a trifle disconcerted the basin was refilled and this time he
stood over it a little while gathering resolution took in a big breath
and began when he entered the kitchen presently with both eyes shut
and groping for the towel with his hands an honorable testimony of
suds and water was dripping from his face but when he emerged from
the towel he was not yet satisfactory for the clean territory stopped
short at his chin and his jaws like a mask below and beyond this line
there was a dark expanse of unirrigated soil that spread downward in
front and backward around his neck mary took him in hand and when she
was done with him he was a man and a brother without distinction of
color and his saturated hair was neatly brushed and its short curls
wrought into a dainty and symmetrical general effect he privately
smoothed out the curls with labor and difficulty and plastered his
hair close down to his head for he held curls to be effeminate and his
own filled his life with bitterness ] then mary got out a suit of his
clothing that had been used only on sundays during two years they were
simply called his other clothes and so by that we know the size of his
wardrobe the girl put him to rights after he had dressed himself 
she buttoned his neat roundabout up to his chin turned his vast shirt
collar down over his shoulders brushed him off and crowned him with
his speckled straw hat he now looked exceedingly improved and
uncomfortable he was fully as uncomfortable as he looked for there
was a restraint about whole clothes and cleanliness that galled him he
hoped that mary would forget his shoes but the hope was blighted she
coated them thoroughly with tallow as was the custom and brought
them out he lost his temper and said he was always being made to do
everything he didn't want to do but mary said persuasively 

 please tom that's a good boy 

so he got into the shoes snarling mary was soon ready and the three
children set out for sunday-school a place that tom hated with his whole
heart but sid and mary were fond of it 

sabbath-school hours were from nine to half-past ten and then church
service two of the children always remained for the sermon voluntarily 
and the other always remained too for stronger reasons the church's
high-backed uncushioned pews would seat about three hundred persons 
the edifice was but a small plain affair with a sort of pine board
tree-box on top of it for a steeple at the door tom dropped back a step
and accosted a sunday-dressed comrade 

 say billy got a yaller ticket 

 yes 

 what'll you take for her 

 what'll you give 

 piece of lickrish and a fish-hook 

 less see 'em 

tom exhibited they were satisfactory and the property changed hands 
then tom traded a couple of white alleys for three red tickets and some
small trifle or other for a couple of blue ones he waylaid other
boys as they came and went on buying tickets of various colors ten
or fifteen minutes longer he entered the church now with a swarm
of clean and noisy boys and girls proceeded to his seat and started
a quarrel with the first boy that came handy the teacher a grave 
elderly man interfered then turned his back a moment and tom pulled a
boy's hair in the next bench and was absorbed in his book when the boy
turned around stuck a pin in another boy presently in order to hear
him say ouch and got a new reprimand from his teacher tom's whole
class were of a pattern restless noisy and troublesome when they came
to recite their lessons not one of them knew his verses perfectly but
had to be prompted all along however they worried through and each
got his reward in small blue tickets each with a passage of scripture
on it each blue ticket was pay for two verses of the recitation ten
blue tickets equalled a red one and could be exchanged for it ten red
tickets equalled a yellow one for ten yellow tickets the superintendent
gave a very plainly bound bible worth forty cents in those easy
times to the pupil how many of my readers would have the industry and
application to memorize two thousand verses even for a dore bible and
yet mary had acquired two bibles in this way it was the patient work of
two years and a boy of german parentage had won four or five he once
recited three thousand verses without stopping but the strain upon his
mental faculties was too great and he was little better than an idiot
from that day forth a grievous misfortune for the school for on great
occasions before company the superintendent as tom expressed it 
had always made this boy come out and spread himself only the older
pupils managed to keep their tickets and stick to their tedious work
long enough to get a bible and so the delivery of one of these prizes
was a rare and noteworthy circumstance the successful pupil was so
great and conspicuous for that day that on the spot every scholar's
heart was fired with a fresh ambition that often lasted a couple
of weeks it is possible that tom's mental stomach had never really
hungered for one of those prizes but unquestionably his entire being
had for many a day longed for the glory and the eclat that came with it 

in due course the superintendent stood up in front of the pulpit with
a closed hymn-book in his hand and his forefinger inserted between its
leaves and commanded attention when a sunday-school superintendent
makes his customary little speech a hymn-book in the hand is as
necessary as is the inevitable sheet of music in the hand of a singer
who stands forward on the platform and sings a solo at a concert though
why is a mystery for neither the hymn-book nor the sheet of music
is ever referred to by the sufferer this superintendent was a slim
creature of thirty-five with a sandy goatee and short sandy hair he
wore a stiff standing-collar whose upper edge almost reached his ears
and whose sharp points curved forward abreast the corners of his mouth a
fence that compelled a straight lookout ahead and a turning of the
whole body when a side view was required his chin was propped on a
spreading cravat which was as broad and as long as a bank-note and had
fringed ends his boot toes were turned sharply up in the fashion
of the day like sleigh-runners an effect patiently and laboriously
produced by the young men by sitting with their toes pressed against a
wall for hours together mr walters was very earnest of mien and very
sincere and honest at heart and he held sacred things and places
in such reverence and so separated them from worldly matters that
unconsciously to himself his sunday-school voice had acquired a peculiar
intonation which was wholly absent on week-days he began after this
fashion 

 now children i want you all to sit up just as straight and pretty as
you can and give me all your attention for a minute or two there that
is it that is the way good little boys and girls should do i see one
little girl who is looking out of the window i am afraid she thinks i
am out there somewhere perhaps up in one of the trees making a speech
to the little birds [applausive titter ] i want to tell you how good it
makes me feel to see so many bright clean little faces assembled in a
place like this learning to do right and be good and so forth and so
on it is not necessary to set down the rest of the oration it was of a
pattern which does not vary and so it is familiar to us all 

the latter third of the speech was marred by the resumption of fights
and other recreations among certain of the bad boys and by fidgetings
and whisperings that extended far and wide washing even to the bases of
isolated and incorruptible rocks like sid and mary but now every sound
ceased suddenly with the subsidence of mr walters' voice and the
conclusion of the speech was received with a burst of silent gratitude 

a good part of the whispering had been occasioned by an event which was
more or less rare the entrance of visitors lawyer thatcher accompanied
by a very feeble and aged man a fine portly middle-aged gentleman
with iron-gray hair and a dignified lady who was doubtless the latter's
wife the lady was leading a child tom had been restless and full of
chafings and repinings conscience-smitten too he could not meet amy
lawrence's eye he could not brook her loving gaze but when he saw this
small newcomer his soul was all ablaze with bliss in a moment the next
moment he was showing off with all his might cuffing boys pulling
hair making faces in a word using every art that seemed likely to
fascinate a girl and win her applause his exaltation had but one
alloy the memory of his humiliation in this angel's garden and that
record in sand was fast washing out under the waves of happiness that
were sweeping over it now 

the visitors were given the highest seat of honor and as soon as mr 
walters' speech was finished he introduced them to the school the
middle-aged man turned out to be a prodigious personage no less a one
than the county judge altogether the most august creation these children
had ever looked upon and they wondered what kind of material he was made
of and they half wanted to hear him roar and were half afraid he might 
too he was from constantinople twelve miles away so he had travelled 
and seen the world these very eyes had looked upon the county
court-house which was said to have a tin roof the awe which these
reflections inspired was attested by the impressive silence and the
ranks of staring eyes this was the great judge thatcher brother of
their own lawyer jeff thatcher immediately went forward to be familiar
with the great man and be envied by the school it would have been music
to his soul to hear the whisperings 

 look at him jim he's a going up there say look he's a going to
shake hands with him he is shaking hands with him by jings don't you
wish you was jeff 

mr walters fell to showing off with all sorts of official bustlings
and activities giving orders delivering judgments discharging
directions here there everywhere that he could find a target the
librarian showed off running hither and thither with his arms full of
books and making a deal of the splutter and fuss that insect authority
delights in the young lady teachers showed off bending sweetly over
pupils that were lately being boxed lifting pretty warning fingers
at bad little boys and patting good ones lovingly the young gentlemen
teachers showed off with small scoldings and other little displays of
authority and fine attention to discipline and most of the teachers of
both sexes found business up at the library by the pulpit and it was
business that frequently had to be done over again two or three times
 with much seeming vexation the little girls showed off in various
ways and the little boys showed off with such diligence that the air
was thick with paper wads and the murmur of scufflings and above it
all the great man sat and beamed a majestic judicial smile upon all
the house and warmed himself in the sun of his own grandeur for he was
 showing off too 

there was only one thing wanting to make mr walters' ecstasy complete 
and that was a chance to deliver a bible-prize and exhibit a prodigy 
several pupils had a few yellow tickets but none had enough he had been
around among the star pupils inquiring he would have given worlds now 
to have that german lad back again with a sound mind 

and now at this moment when hope was dead tom sawyer came forward with
nine yellow tickets nine red tickets and ten blue ones and demanded
a bible this was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky walters was not
expecting an application from this source for the next ten years but
there was no getting around it here were the certified checks and they
were good for their face tom was therefore elevated to a place with
the judge and the other elect and the great news was announced from
headquarters it was the most stunning surprise of the decade and
so profound was the sensation that it lifted the new hero up to the
judicial one's altitude and the school had two marvels to gaze upon
in place of one the boys were all eaten up with envy but those that
suffered the bitterest pangs were those who perceived too late that they
themselves had contributed to this hated splendor by trading tickets to
tom for the wealth he had amassed in selling whitewashing privileges 
these despised themselves as being the dupes of a wily fraud a
guileful snake in the grass 

the prize was delivered to tom with as much effusion as the
superintendent could pump up under the circumstances but it lacked
somewhat of the true gush for the poor fellow's instinct taught him
that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light 
perhaps it was simply preposterous that this boy had warehoused two
thousand sheaves of scriptural wisdom on his premises a dozen would
strain his capacity without a doubt 

amy lawrence was proud and glad and she tried to make tom see it in
her face but he wouldn't look she wondered then she was just a grain
troubled next a dim suspicion came and went came again she watched 
a furtive glance told her worlds and then her heart broke and she was
jealous and angry and the tears came and she hated everybody tom most
of all she thought 

tom was introduced to the judge but his tongue was tied his breath
would hardly come his heart quaked partly because of the awful
greatness of the man but mainly because he was her parent he would
have liked to fall down and worship him if it were in the dark the
judge put his hand on tom's head and called him a fine little man and
asked him what his name was the boy stammered gasped and got it out 

 tom 

 oh no not tom it is 

 thomas 

 ah that's it i thought there was more to it maybe that's very well 
but you've another one i daresay and you'll tell it to me won't you 

 tell the gentleman your other name thomas said walters and say
sir you mustn't forget your manners 

 thomas sawyer sir 

 that's it that's a good boy fine boy fine manly little fellow two
thousand verses is a great many very very great many and you never can
be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them for knowledge is worth
more than anything there is in the world it's what makes great men
and good men you'll be a great man and a good man yourself some
day thomas and then you'll look back and say it's all owing to the
precious sunday-school privileges of my boyhood it's all owing to
my dear teachers that taught me to learn it's all owing to the good
superintendent who encouraged me and watched over me and gave me a
beautiful bible a splendid elegant bible to keep and have it all for my
own always it's all owing to right bringing up that is what you will
say thomas and you wouldn't take any money for those two thousand
verses no indeed you wouldn't and now you wouldn't mind telling me and
this lady some of the things you've learned no i know you wouldn't for
we are proud of little boys that learn now no doubt you know the names
of all the twelve disciples won't you tell us the names of the first
two that were appointed 

tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish he blushed 
now and his eyes fell mr walters' heart sank within him he said
to himself it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest
question why did the judge ask him yet he felt obliged to speak up
and say 

 answer the gentleman thomas don't be afraid 

tom still hung fire 

 now i know you'll tell me said the lady the names of the first two
disciples were 

 david and goliah 

let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene 




chapter v

about half-past ten the cracked bell of the small church began to ring 
and presently the people began to gather for the morning sermon the
sunday-school children distributed themselves about the house and
occupied pews with their parents so as to be under supervision aunt
polly came and tom and sid and mary sat with her tom being placed next
the aisle in order that he might be as far away from the open window
and the seductive outside summer scenes as possible the crowd filed up
the aisles the aged and needy postmaster who had seen better days 
the mayor and his wife for they had a mayor there among other
unnecessaries the justice of the peace the widow douglass fair 
smart and forty a generous good-hearted soul and well-to-do her hill
mansion the only palace in the town and the most hospitable and much
the most lavish in the matter of festivities that st petersburg could
boast the bent and venerable major and mrs ward lawyer riverson the
new notable from a distance next the belle of the village followed by
a troop of lawn-clad and ribbon-decked young heart-breakers then all
the young clerks in town in a body for they had stood in the vestibule
sucking their cane-heads a circling wall of oiled and simpering
admirers till the last girl had run their gantlet and last of all came
the model boy willie mufferson taking as heedful care of his mother as
if she were cut glass he always brought his mother to church and was
the pride of all the matrons the boys all hated him he was so
good and besides he had been thrown up to them so much his
white handkerchief was hanging out of his pocket behind as usual on
sundays accidentally tom had no handkerchief and he looked upon boys
who had as snobs 

the congregation being fully assembled now the bell rang once more 
to warn laggards and stragglers and then a solemn hush fell upon the
church which was only broken by the tittering and whispering of the
choir in the gallery the choir always tittered and whispered all
through service there was once a church choir that was not ill-bred 
but i have forgotten where it was now it was a great many years ago 
and i can scarcely remember anything about it but i think it was in
some foreign country 

the minister gave out the hymn and read it through with a relish in a
peculiar style which was much admired in that part of the country his
voice began on a medium key and climbed steadily up till it reached a
certain point where it bore with strong emphasis upon the topmost word
and then plunged down as if from a spring-board 

shall i be car-ri-ed toe the skies on flow'ry beds of ease 

whilst others fight to win the prize and sail thro' blood -y seas 

he was regarded as a wonderful reader at church sociables he was
always called upon to read poetry and when he was through the ladies
would lift up their hands and let them fall helplessly in their laps 
and wall their eyes and shake their heads as much as to say words
cannot express it it is too beautiful too beautiful for this mortal
earth 

after the hymn had been sung the rev mr sprague turned himself into
a bulletin-board and read off notices of meetings and societies and
things till it seemed that the list would stretch out to the crack of
doom a queer custom which is still kept up in america even in cities 
away here in this age of abundant newspapers often the less there is
to justify a traditional custom the harder it is to get rid of it 

and now the minister prayed a good generous prayer it was and went
into details it pleaded for the church and the little children of the
church for the other churches of the village for the village itself 
for the county for the state for the state officers for the united
states for the churches of the united states for congress for the
president for the officers of the government for poor sailors tossed
by stormy seas for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of
european monarchies and oriental despotisms for such as have the light
and the good tidings and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear
withal for the heathen in the far islands of the sea and closed with
a supplication that the words he was about to speak might find grace
and favor and be as seed sown in fertile ground yielding in time a
grateful harvest of good amen 

there was a rustling of dresses and the standing congregation sat down 
the boy whose history this book relates did not enjoy the prayer he
only endured it if he even did that much he was restive all through it 
he kept tally of the details of the prayer unconsciously for he was not
listening but he knew the ground of old and the clergyman's regular
route over it and when a little trifle of new matter was interlarded 
his ear detected it and his whole nature resented it he considered
additions unfair and scoundrelly in the midst of the prayer a fly had
lit on the back of the pew in front of him and tortured his spirit by
calmly rubbing its hands together embracing its head with its arms and
polishing it so vigorously that it seemed to almost part company with
the body and the slender thread of a neck was exposed to view scraping
its wings with its hind legs and smoothing them to its body as if they
had been coat-tails going through its whole toilet as tranquilly as if
it knew it was perfectly safe as indeed it was for as sorely as tom's
hands itched to grab for it they did not dare he believed his soul would
be instantly destroyed if he did such a thing while the prayer was going
on but with the closing sentence his hand began to curve and steal
forward and the instant the amen was out the fly was a prisoner of
war his aunt detected the act and made him let it go 

the minister gave out his text and droned along monotonously through an
argument that was so prosy that many a head by and by began to nod and
yet it was an argument that dealt in limitless fire and brimstone and
thinned the predestined elect down to a company so small as to be hardly
worth the saving tom counted the pages of the sermon after church he
always knew how many pages there had been but he seldom knew anything
else about the discourse however this time he was really interested
for a little while the minister made a grand and moving picture of the
assembling together of the world's hosts at the millennium when the lion
and the lamb should lie down together and a little child should lead
them but the pathos the lesson the moral of the great spectacle
were lost upon the boy he only thought of the conspicuousness of the
principal character before the on-looking nations his face lit with the
thought and he said to himself that he wished he could be that child 
if it was a tame lion 

now he lapsed into suffering again as the dry argument was resumed 
presently he bethought him of a treasure he had and got it out it was
a large black beetle with formidable jaws a pinchbug he called it it
was in a percussion-cap box the first thing the beetle did was to
take him by the finger a natural fillip followed the beetle went
floundering into the aisle and lit on its back and the hurt finger went
into the boy's mouth the beetle lay there working its helpless legs 
unable to turn over tom eyed it and longed for it but it was safe out
of his reach other people uninterested in the sermon found relief in
the beetle and they eyed it too presently a vagrant poodle dog came
idling along sad at heart lazy with the summer softness and the
quiet weary of captivity sighing for change he spied the beetle the
drooping tail lifted and wagged he surveyed the prize walked around
it smelt at it from a safe distance walked around it again grew
bolder and took a closer smell then lifted his lip and made a gingerly
snatch at it just missing it made another and another began to enjoy
the diversion subsided to his stomach with the beetle between his paws 
and continued his experiments grew weary at last and then indifferent
and absent-minded his head nodded and little by little his chin
descended and touched the enemy who seized it there was a sharp yelp 
a flirt of the poodle's head and the beetle fell a couple of yards
away and lit on its back once more the neighboring spectators
shook with a gentle inward joy several faces went behind fans and
hand-kerchiefs and tom was entirely happy the dog looked foolish 
and probably felt so but there was resentment in his heart too and a
craving for revenge so he went to the beetle and began a wary attack on
it again jumping at it from every point of a circle lighting with his
fore-paws within an inch of the creature making even closer snatches at
it with his teeth and jerking his head till his ears flapped again but
he grew tired once more after a while tried to amuse himself with a
fly but found no relief followed an ant around with his nose close
to the floor and quickly wearied of that yawned sighed forgot the
beetle entirely and sat down on it then there was a wild yelp of agony
and the poodle went sailing up the aisle the yelps continued and so
did the dog he crossed the house in front of the altar he flew
down the other aisle he crossed before the doors he clamored up the
home-stretch his anguish grew with his progress till presently he was
but a woolly comet moving in its orbit with the gleam and the speed of
light at last the frantic sufferer sheered from its course and sprang
into its master's lap he flung it out of the window and the voice of
distress quickly thinned away and died in the distance 

by this time the whole church was red-faced and suffocating with
suppressed laughter and the sermon had come to a dead standstill 
the discourse was resumed presently but it went lame and halting all
possibility of impressiveness being at an end for even the gravest
sentiments were constantly being received with a smothered burst of
unholy mirth under cover of some remote pew-back as if the poor parson
had said a rarely facetious thing it was a genuine relief to the whole
congregation when the ordeal was over and the benediction pronounced 

tom sawyer went home quite cheerful thinking to himself that there was
some satisfaction about divine service when there was a bit of variety
in it he had but one marring thought he was willing that the dog
should play with his pinchbug but he did not think it was upright in
him to carry it off 




chapter vi

monday morning found tom sawyer miserable monday morning always found
him so because it began another week's slow suffering in school he
generally began that day with wishing he had had no intervening holiday 
it made the going into captivity and fetters again so much more odious 

tom lay thinking presently it occurred to him that he wished he was
sick then he could stay home from school here was a vague possibility 
he canvassed his system no ailment was found and he investigated
again this time he thought he could detect colicky symptoms and he
began to encourage them with considerable hope but they soon grew
feeble and presently died wholly away he reflected further suddenly
he discovered something one of his upper front teeth was loose this
was lucky he was about to begin to groan as a starter as he
called it when it occurred to him that if he came into court with that
argument his aunt would pull it out and that would hurt so he thought
he would hold the tooth in reserve for the present and seek further 
nothing offered for some little time and then he remembered hearing
the doctor tell about a certain thing that laid up a patient for two or
three weeks and threatened to make him lose a finger so the boy eagerly
drew his sore toe from under the sheet and held it up for inspection 
but now he did not know the necessary symptoms however it seemed
well worth while to chance it so he fell to groaning with considerable
spirit 

but sid slept on unconscious 

tom groaned louder and fancied that he began to feel pain in the toe 

no result from sid 

tom was panting with his exertions by this time he took a rest and then
swelled himself up and fetched a succession of admirable groans 

sid snored on 

tom was aggravated he said sid sid and shook him this course
worked well and tom began to groan again sid yawned stretched then
brought himself up on his elbow with a snort and began to stare at tom 
tom went on groaning sid said 

 tom say tom [no response ] here tom tom what is the matter 
tom and he shook him and looked in his face anxiously 

tom moaned out 

 oh don't sid don't joggle me 

 why what's the matter tom i must call auntie 

 no never mind it'll be over by and by maybe don't call anybody 

 but i must don't groan so tom it's awful how long you been this
way 

 hours ouch oh don't stir so sid you'll kill me 

 tom why didn't you wake me sooner oh tom don't it makes my flesh
crawl to hear you tom what is the matter 

 i forgive you everything sid [groan ] everything you've ever done to
me when i'm gone 

 oh tom you ain't dying are you don't tom oh don't maybe 

 i forgive everybody sid [groan ] tell 'em so sid and sid you give
my window-sash and my cat with one eye to that new girl that's come to
town and tell her 

but sid had snatched his clothes and gone tom was suffering in reality 
now so handsomely was his imagination working and so his groans had
gathered quite a genuine tone 

sid flew downstairs and said 

 oh aunt polly come tom's dying 

 dying 

 yes'm don't wait come quick 

 rubbage i don't believe it 

but she fled upstairs nevertheless with sid and mary at her heels 
and her face grew white too and her lip trembled when she reached the
bedside she gasped out 

 you tom tom what's the matter with you 

 oh auntie i'm 

 what's the matter with you what is the matter with you child 

 oh auntie my sore toe's mortified 

the old lady sank down into a chair and laughed a little then cried a
little then did both together this restored her and she said 

 tom what a turn you did give me now you shut up that nonsense and
climb out of this 

the groans ceased and the pain vanished from the toe the boy felt a
little foolish and he said 

 aunt polly it seemed mortified and it hurt so i never minded my
tooth at all 

 your tooth indeed what's the matter with your tooth 

 one of them's loose and it aches perfectly awful 

 there there now don't begin that groaning again open your mouth 
well your tooth is loose but you're not going to die about that 
mary get me a silk thread and a chunk of fire out of the kitchen 

tom said 

 oh please auntie don't pull it out it don't hurt any more i wish
i may never stir if it does please don't auntie i don't want to stay
home from school 

 oh you don't don't you so all this row was because you thought you'd
get to stay home from school and go a-fishing tom tom i love you so 
and you seem to try every way you can to break my old heart with your
outrageousness by this time the dental instruments were ready the old
lady made one end of the silk thread fast to tom's tooth with a loop
and tied the other to the bedpost then she seized the chunk of fire and
suddenly thrust it almost into the boy's face the tooth hung dangling
by the bedpost now 

but all trials bring their compensations as tom wended to school after
breakfast he was the envy of every boy he met because the gap in his
upper row of teeth enabled him to expectorate in a new and admirable
way he gathered quite a following of lads interested in the exhibition 
and one that had cut his finger and had been a centre of fascination and
homage up to this time now found himself suddenly without an adherent 
and shorn of his glory his heart was heavy and he said with a disdain
which he did not feel that it wasn't anything to spit like tom sawyer 
but another boy said sour grapes and he wandered away a dismantled
hero 

shortly tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village huckleberry
finn son of the town drunkard huckleberry was cordially hated and
dreaded by all the mothers of the town because he was idle and lawless
and vulgar and bad and because all their children admired him so and
delighted in his forbidden society and wished they dared to be like
him tom was like the rest of the respectable boys in that he envied
huckleberry his gaudy outcast condition and was under strict orders
not to play with him so he played with him every time he got a chance 
huckleberry was always dressed in the cast-off clothes of full-grown
men and they were in perennial bloom and fluttering with rags his hat
was a vast ruin with a wide crescent lopped out of its brim his coat 
when he wore one hung nearly to his heels and had the rearward buttons
far down the back but one suspender supported his trousers the seat of
the trousers bagged low and contained nothing the fringed legs dragged
in the dirt when not rolled up 

huckleberry came and went at his own free will he slept on doorsteps
in fine weather and in empty hogsheads in wet he did not have to go to
school or to church or call any being master or obey anybody he could
go fishing or swimming when and where he chose and stay as long as it
suited him nobody forbade him to fight he could sit up as late as he
pleased he was always the first boy that went barefoot in the spring
and the last to resume leather in the fall he never had to wash nor
put on clean clothes he could swear wonderfully in a word everything
that goes to make life precious that boy had so thought every harassed 
hampered respectable boy in st petersburg 

tom hailed the romantic outcast 

 hello huckleberry 

 hello yourself and see how you like it 

 what's that you got 

 dead cat 

 lemme see him huck my he's pretty stiff where'd you get him 

 bought him off'n a boy 

 what did you give 

 i give a blue ticket and a bladder that i got at the slaughter-house 

 where'd you get the blue ticket 

 bought it off'n ben rogers two weeks ago for a hoop-stick 

 say what is dead cats good for huck 

 good for cure warts with 

 no is that so i know something that's better 

 i bet you don't what is it 

 why spunk-water 

 spunk-water i wouldn't give a dern for spunk-water 

 you wouldn't wouldn't you d'you ever try it 

 no i hain't but bob tanner did 

 who told you so 

 why he told jeff thatcher and jeff told johnny baker and johnny
told jim hollis and jim told ben rogers and ben told a nigger and the
nigger told me there now 

 well what of it they'll all lie leastways all but the nigger i
don't know him but i never see a nigger that wouldn't lie shucks 
now you tell me how bob tanner done it huck 

 why he took and dipped his hand in a rotten stump where the rain-water
was 

 in the daytime 

 certainly 

 with his face to the stump 

 yes least i reckon so 

 did he say anything 

 i don't reckon he did i don't know 

 aha talk about trying to cure warts with spunk-water such a blame fool
way as that why that ain't a-going to do any good you got to go all
by yourself to the middle of the woods where you know there's a
spunk-water stump and just as it's midnight you back up against the stump
and jam your hand in and say 

'barley-corn barley-corn injun-meal shorts spunk-water spunk-water 
swaller these warts '

and then walk away quick eleven steps with your eyes shut and then
turn around three times and walk home without speaking to anybody 
because if you speak the charm's busted 

 well that sounds like a good way but that ain't the way bob tanner
done 

 no sir you can bet he didn't becuz he's the wartiest boy in this
town and he wouldn't have a wart on him if he'd knowed how to work
spunk-water i've took off thousands of warts off of my hands that way 
huck i play with frogs so much that i've always got considerable many
warts sometimes i take 'em off with a bean 

 yes bean's good i've done that 

 have you what's your way 

 you take and split the bean and cut the wart so as to get some blood 
and then you put the blood on one piece of the bean and take and dig
a hole and bury it 'bout midnight at the crossroads in the dark of the
moon and then you burn up the rest of the bean you see that piece
that's got the blood on it will keep drawing and drawing trying to
fetch the other piece to it and so that helps the blood to draw the
wart and pretty soon off she comes 

 yes that's it huck that's it though when you're burying it if you
say 'down bean off wart come no more to bother me ' it's better 
that's the way joe harper does and he's been nearly to coonville and
most everywheres but say how do you cure 'em with dead cats 

 why you take your cat and go and get in the grave-yard 'long about
midnight when somebody that was wicked has been buried and when it's
midnight a devil will come or maybe two or three but you can't see
'em you can only hear something like the wind or maybe hear 'em talk 
and when they're taking that feller away you heave your cat after 'em
and say 'devil follow corpse cat follow devil warts follow cat i'm
done with ye ' that'll fetch any wart 

 sounds right d'you ever try it huck 

 no but old mother hopkins told me 

 well i reckon it's so then becuz they say she's a witch 

 say why tom i know she is she witched pap pap says so his own
self he come along one day and he see she was a-witching him so he
took up a rock and if she hadn't dodged he'd a got her well that
very night he rolled off'n a shed wher' he was a layin drunk and broke
his arm 

 why that's awful how did he know she was a-witching him 

 lord pap can tell easy pap says when they keep looking at you right
stiddy they're a-witching you specially if they mumble becuz when
they mumble they're saying the lord's prayer backards 

 say hucky when you going to try the cat 

 to-night i reckon they'll come after old hoss williams to-night 

 but they buried him saturday didn't they get him saturday night 

 why how you talk how could their charms work till midnight and
 then it's sunday devils don't slosh around much of a sunday i don't
reckon 

 i never thought of that that's so lemme go with you 

 of course if you ain't afeard 

 afeard 'tain't likely will you meow 

 yes and you meow back if you get a chance last time you kep' me
a-meowing around till old hays went to throwing rocks at me and says
'dern that cat ' and so i hove a brick through his window but don't you
tell 

 i won't i couldn't meow that night becuz auntie was watching me but
i'll meow this time say what's that 

 nothing but a tick 

 where'd you get him 

 out in the woods 

 what'll you take for him 

 i don't know i don't want to sell him 

 all right it's a mighty small tick anyway 

 oh anybody can run a tick down that don't belong to them i'm
satisfied with it it's a good enough tick for me 

 sho there's ticks a plenty i could have a thousand of 'em if i wanted
to 

 well why don't you becuz you know mighty well you can't this is a
pretty early tick i reckon it's the first one i've seen this year 

 say huck i'll give you my tooth for him 

 less see it 

tom got out a bit of paper and carefully unrolled it huckleberry viewed
it wistfully the temptation was very strong at last he said 

 is it genuwyne 

tom lifted his lip and showed the vacancy 

 well all right said huckleberry it's a trade 

tom enclosed the tick in the percussion-cap box that had lately been the
pinchbug's prison and the boys separated each feeling wealthier than
before 

when tom reached the little isolated frame school-house he strode in
briskly with the manner of one who had come with all honest speed he
hung his hat on a peg and flung himself into his seat with business-like
alacrity the master throned on high in his great splint-bottom
arm-chair was dozing lulled by the drowsy hum of study the
interruption roused him 

 thomas sawyer 

tom knew that when his name was pronounced in full it meant trouble 

 sir 

 come up here now sir why are you late again as usual 

tom was about to take refuge in a lie when he saw two long tails of
yellow hair hanging down a back that he recognized by the electric
sympathy of love and by that form was the only vacant place on the
girls' side of the school-house he instantly said 

 i stopped to talk with huckleberry finn 

the master's pulse stood still and he stared helplessly the buzz of
study ceased the pupils wondered if this foolhardy boy had lost his
mind the master said 

 you you did what 

 stopped to talk with huckleberry finn 

there was no mistaking the words 

 thomas sawyer this is the most astounding confession i have ever
listened to no mere ferule will answer for this offence take off your
jacket 

the master's arm performed until it was tired and the stock of switches
notably diminished then the order followed 

 now sir go and sit with the girls and let this be a warning to you 

the titter that rippled around the room appeared to abash the boy but
in reality that result was caused rather more by his worshipful awe
of his unknown idol and the dread pleasure that lay in his high good
fortune he sat down upon the end of the pine bench and the girl hitched
herself away from him with a toss of her head nudges and winks and
whispers traversed the room but tom sat still with his arms upon the
long low desk before him and seemed to study his book 

by and by attention ceased from him and the accustomed school murmur
rose upon the dull air once more presently the boy began to steal
furtive glances at the girl she observed it made a mouth at him
and gave him the back of her head for the space of a minute when she
cautiously faced around again a peach lay before her she thrust it
away tom gently put it back she thrust it away again but with less
animosity tom patiently returned it to its place then she let it
remain tom scrawled on his slate please take it i got more the
girl glanced at the words but made no sign now the boy began to draw
something on the slate hiding his work with his left hand for a time
the girl refused to notice but her human curiosity presently began
to manifest itself by hardly perceptible signs the boy worked on 
apparently unconscious the girl made a sort of non-committal attempt
to see but the boy did not betray that he was aware of it at last she
gave in and hesitatingly whispered 

 let me see it 

tom partly uncovered a dismal caricature of a house with two gable ends
to it and a corkscrew of smoke issuing from the chimney then the girl's
interest began to fasten itself upon the work and she forgot everything
else when it was finished she gazed a moment then whispered 

 it's nice make a man 

the artist erected a man in the front yard that resembled a derrick he
could have stepped over the house but the girl was not hypercritical 
she was satisfied with the monster and whispered 

 it's a beautiful man now make me coming along 

tom drew an hour-glass with a full moon and straw limbs to it and armed
the spreading fingers with a portentous fan the girl said 

 it's ever so nice i wish i could draw 

 it's easy whispered tom i'll learn you 

 oh will you when 

 at noon do you go home to dinner 

 i'll stay if you will 

 good that's a whack what's your name 

 becky thatcher what's yours oh i know it's thomas sawyer 

 that's the name they lick me by i'm tom when i'm good you call me
tom will you 

 yes 

now tom began to scrawl something on the slate hiding the words from
the girl but she was not backward this time she begged to see tom
said 

 oh it ain't anything 

 yes it is 

 no it ain't you don't want to see 

 yes i do indeed i do please let me 

 you'll tell 

 no i won't deed and deed and double deed won't 

 you won't tell anybody at all ever as long as you live 

 no i won't ever tell any body now let me 

 oh you don't want to see 

 now that you treat me so i will see and she put her small hand
upon his and a little scuffle ensued tom pretending to resist in
earnest but letting his hand slip by degrees till these words were
revealed i love you 

 oh you bad thing and she hit his hand a smart rap but reddened and
looked pleased nevertheless 

just at this juncture the boy felt a slow fateful grip closing on his
ear and a steady lifting impulse in that wise he was borne across the
house and deposited in his own seat under a peppering fire of giggles
from the whole school then the master stood over him during a few awful
moments and finally moved away to his throne without saying a word but
although tom's ear tingled his heart was jubilant 

as the school quieted down tom made an honest effort to study but
the turmoil within him was too great in turn he took his place in the
reading class and made a botch of it then in the geography class and
turned lakes into mountains mountains into rivers and rivers into
continents till chaos was come again then in the spelling class and
got turned down by a succession of mere baby words till he brought
up at the foot and yielded up the pewter medal which he had worn with
ostentation for months 




chapter vii

the harder tom tried to fasten his mind on his book the more his ideas
wandered so at last with a sigh and a yawn he gave it up it seemed
to him that the noon recess would never come the air was utterly dead 
there was not a breath stirring it was the sleepiest of sleepy days 
the drowsing murmur of the five and twenty studying scholars soothed
the soul like the spell that is in the murmur of bees away off in the
flaming sunshine cardiff hill lifted its soft green sides through a
shimmering veil of heat tinted with the purple of distance a few birds
floated on lazy wing high in the air no other living thing was visible
but some cows and they were asleep tom's heart ached to be free or
else to have something of interest to do to pass the dreary time 
his hand wandered into his pocket and his face lit up with a glow of
gratitude that was prayer though he did not know it then furtively
the percussion-cap box came out he released the tick and put him on
the long flat desk the creature probably glowed with a gratitude that
amounted to prayer too at this moment but it was premature for when
he started thankfully to travel off tom turned him aside with a pin and
made him take a new direction 

tom's bosom friend sat next him suffering just as tom had been and
now he was deeply and gratefully interested in this entertainment in
an instant this bosom friend was joe harper the two boys were sworn
friends all the week and embattled enemies on saturdays joe took a
pin out of his lapel and began to assist in exercising the prisoner 
the sport grew in interest momently soon tom said that they were
interfering with each other and neither getting the fullest benefit
of the tick so he put joe's slate on the desk and drew a line down the
middle of it from top to bottom 

 now said he as long as he is on your side you can stir him up and
i'll let him alone but if you let him get away and get on my side 
you're to leave him alone as long as i can keep him from crossing over 

 all right go ahead start him up 

the tick escaped from tom presently and crossed the equator joe
harassed him awhile and then he got away and crossed back again this
change of base occurred often while one boy was worrying the tick with
absorbing interest the other would look on with interest as strong the
two heads bowed together over the slate and the two souls dead to all
things else at last luck seemed to settle and abide with joe the
tick tried this that and the other course and got as excited and as
anxious as the boys themselves but time and again just as he would
have victory in his very grasp so to speak and tom's fingers would
be twitching to begin joe's pin would deftly head him off and keep
possession at last tom could stand it no longer the temptation was too
strong so he reached out and lent a hand with his pin joe was angry in
a moment said he 

 tom you let him alone 

 i only just want to stir him up a little joe 

 no sir it ain't fair you just let him alone 

 blame it i ain't going to stir him much 

 let him alone i tell you 

 i won't 

 you shall he's on my side of the line 

 look here joe harper whose is that tick 

 i don't care whose tick he is he's on my side of the line and you
sha'n't touch him 

 well i'll just bet i will though he's my tick and i'll do what i
blame please with him or die 

a tremendous whack came down on tom's shoulders and its duplicate on
joe's and for the space of two minutes the dust continued to fly from
the two jackets and the whole school to enjoy it the boys had been
too absorbed to notice the hush that had stolen upon the school awhile
before when the master came tiptoeing down the room and stood over them 
he had contemplated a good part of the performance before he contributed
his bit of variety to it 

when school broke up at noon tom flew to becky thatcher and whispered
in her ear 

 put on your bonnet and let on you're going home and when you get to
the corner give the rest of 'em the slip and turn down through the
lane and come back i'll go the other way and come it over 'em the same
way 

so the one went off with one group of scholars and the other with
another in a little while the two met at the bottom of the lane and
when they reached the school they had it all to themselves then they
sat together with a slate before them and tom gave becky the pencil
and held her hand in his guiding it and so created another surprising
house when the interest in art began to wane the two fell to talking 
tom was swimming in bliss he said 

 do you love rats 

 no i hate them 

 well i do too live ones but i mean dead ones to swing round your
head with a string 

 no i don't care for rats much anyway what i like is chewing-gum 

 oh i should say so i wish i had some now 

 do you i've got some i'll let you chew it awhile but you must give
it back to me 

that was agreeable so they chewed it turn about and dangled their legs
against the bench in excess of contentment 

 was you ever at a circus said tom 

 yes and my pa's going to take me again some time if i'm good 

 i been to the circus three or four times lots of times church ain't
shucks to a circus there's things going on at a circus all the time 
i'm going to be a clown in a circus when i grow up 

 oh are you that will be nice they're so lovely all spotted up 

 yes that's so and they get slathers of money most a dollar a day ben
rogers says say becky was you ever engaged 

 what's that 

 why engaged to be married 

 no 

 would you like to 

 i reckon so i don't know what is it like 

 like why it ain't like anything you only just tell a boy you won't
ever have anybody but him ever ever ever and then you kiss and that's
all anybody can do it 

 kiss what do you kiss for 

 why that you know is to well they always do that 

 everybody 

 why yes everybody that's in love with each other do you remember
what i wrote on the slate 

 ye yes 

 what was it 

 i sha'n't tell you 

 shall i tell you 

 ye yes but some other time 

 no now 

 no not now to-morrow 

 oh no now please becky i'll whisper it i'll whisper it ever so
easy 

becky hesitating tom took silence for consent and passed his arm about
her waist and whispered the tale ever so softly with his mouth close to
her ear and then he added 

 now you whisper it to me just the same 

she resisted for a while and then said 

 you turn your face away so you can't see and then i will but you
mustn't ever tell anybody will you tom now you won't will you 

 no indeed indeed i won't now becky 

he turned his face away she bent timidly around till her breath stirred
his curls and whispered i love you 

then she sprang away and ran around and around the desks and benches 
with tom after her and took refuge in a corner at last with her little
white apron to her face tom clasped her about her neck and pleaded 

 now becky it's all done all over but the kiss don't you be afraid
of that it ain't anything at all please becky and he tugged at her
apron and the hands 

by and by she gave up and let her hands drop her face all glowing
with the struggle came up and submitted tom kissed the red lips and
said 

 now it's all done becky and always after this you know you ain't
ever to love anybody but me and you ain't ever to marry anybody but me 
ever never and forever will you 

 no i'll never love anybody but you tom and i'll never marry anybody
but you and you ain't to ever marry anybody but me either 

 certainly of course that's part of it and always coming to school
or when we're going home you're to walk with me when there ain't
anybody looking and you choose me and i choose you at parties because
that's the way you do when you're engaged 

 it's so nice i never heard of it before 

 oh it's ever so gay why me and amy lawrence 

the big eyes told tom his blunder and he stopped confused 

 oh tom then i ain't the first you've ever been engaged to 

the child began to cry tom said 

 oh don't cry becky i don't care for her any more 

 yes you do tom you know you do 

tom tried to put his arm about her neck but she pushed him away and
turned her face to the wall and went on crying tom tried again with
soothing words in his mouth and was repulsed again then his pride was
up and he strode away and went outside he stood about restless and
uneasy for a while glancing at the door every now and then hoping
she would repent and come to find him but she did not then he began
to feel badly and fear that he was in the wrong it was a hard struggle
with him to make new advances now but he nerved himself to it and
entered she was still standing back there in the corner sobbing with
her face to the wall tom's heart smote him he went to her and stood a
moment not knowing exactly how to proceed then he said hesitatingly 

 becky i i don't care for anybody but you 

no reply but sobs 

 becky pleadingly becky won't you say something 

more sobs 

tom got out his chiefest jewel a brass knob from the top of an andiron 
and passed it around her so that she could see it and said 

 please becky won't you take it 

she struck it to the floor then tom marched out of the house and over
the hills and far away to return to school no more that day presently
becky began to suspect she ran to the door he was not in sight she
flew around to the play-yard he was not there then she called 

 tom come back tom 

she listened intently but there was no answer she had no companions
but silence and loneliness so she sat down to cry again and upbraid
herself and by this time the scholars began to gather again and she
had to hide her griefs and still her broken heart and take up the cross
of a long dreary aching afternoon with none among the strangers about
her to exchange sorrows with 




chapter viii

tom dodged hither and thither through lanes until he was well out of the
track of returning scholars and then fell into a moody jog he crossed
a small branch two or three times because of a prevailing juvenile
superstition that to cross water baffled pursuit half an hour later
he was disappearing behind the douglas mansion on the summit of cardiff
hill and the school-house was hardly distinguishable away off in the
valley behind him he entered a dense wood picked his pathless way to
the centre of it and sat down on a mossy spot under a spreading oak 
there was not even a zephyr stirring the dead noonday heat had even
stilled the songs of the birds nature lay in a trance that was broken
by no sound but the occasional far-off hammering of a wood-pecker and
this seemed to render the pervading silence and sense of loneliness the
more profound the boy's soul was steeped in melancholy his feelings
were in happy accord with his surroundings he sat long with his elbows
on his knees and his chin in his hands meditating it seemed to him
that life was but a trouble at best and he more than half envied jimmy
hodges so lately released it must be very peaceful he thought to lie
and slumber and dream forever and ever with the wind whispering through
the trees and caressing the grass and the flowers over the grave and
nothing to bother and grieve about ever any more if he only had a
clean sunday-school record he could be willing to go and be done with
it all now as to this girl what had he done nothing he had meant
the best in the world and been treated like a dog like a very dog she
would be sorry some day maybe when it was too late ah if he could only
die temporarily 

but the elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one constrained
shape long at a time tom presently began to drift insensibly back into
the concerns of this life again what if he turned his back now and
disappeared mysteriously what if he went away ever so far away into
unknown countries beyond the seas and never came back any more how
would she feel then the idea of being a clown recurred to him now only
to fill him with disgust for frivolity and jokes and spotted tights
were an offense when they intruded themselves upon a spirit that was
exalted into the vague august realm of the romantic no he would be
a soldier and return after long years all war-worn and illustrious 
no better still he would join the indians and hunt buffaloes and go on
the warpath in the mountain ranges and the trackless great plains of the
far west and away in the future come back a great chief bristling with
feathers hideous with paint and prance into sunday-school some drowsy
summer morning with a blood-curdling war-whoop and sear the eyeballs
of all his companions with unappeasable envy but no there was
something gaudier even than this he would be a pirate that was it 
 now his future lay plain before him and glowing with unimaginable
splendor how his name would fill the world and make people shudder 
how gloriously he would go plowing the dancing seas in his long low 
black-hulled racer the spirit of the storm with his grisly flag flying
at the fore and at the zenith of his fame how he would suddenly appear
at the old village and stalk into church brown and weather-beaten in
his black velvet doublet and trunks his great jack-boots his crimson
sash his belt bristling with horse-pistols his crime-rusted cutlass
at his side his slouch hat with waving plumes his black flag unfurled 
with the skull and crossbones on it and hear with swelling ecstasy
the whisperings it's tom sawyer the pirate the black avenger of the
spanish main 

yes it was settled his career was determined he would run away from
home and enter upon it he would start the very next morning therefore
he must now begin to get ready he would collect his resources together 
he went to a rotten log near at hand and began to dig under one end of
it with his barlow knife he soon struck wood that sounded hollow he
put his hand there and uttered this incantation impressively 

 what hasn't come here come what's here stay here 

then he scraped away the dirt and exposed a pine shingle he took it
up and disclosed a shapely little treasure-house whose bottom and sides
were of shingles in it lay a marble tom's astonishment was bound-less 
he scratched his head with a perplexed air and said 

 well that beats anything 

then he tossed the marble away pettishly and stood cogitating the
truth was that a superstition of his had failed here which he and
all his comrades had always looked upon as infallible if you buried
a marble with certain necessary incantations and left it alone a
fortnight and then opened the place with the incantation he had just
used you would find that all the marbles you had ever lost had gathered
themselves together there meantime no matter how widely they had been
separated but now this thing had actually and unquestionably failed 
tom's whole structure of faith was shaken to its foundations he had
many a time heard of this thing succeeding but never of its failing
before it did not occur to him that he had tried it several times
before himself but could never find the hiding-places afterward he
puzzled over the matter some time and finally decided that some witch
had interfered and broken the charm he thought he would satisfy himself
on that point so he searched around till he found a small sandy spot
with a little funnel-shaped depression in it he laid himself down and
put his mouth close to this depression and called 

 doodle-bug doodle-bug tell me what i want to know doodle-bug 
doodle-bug tell me what i want to know 

the sand began to work and presently a small black bug appeared for a
second and then darted under again in a fright 

 he dasn't tell so it was a witch that done it i just knowed it 

he well knew the futility of trying to contend against witches so he
gave up discouraged but it occurred to him that he might as well have
the marble he had just thrown away and therefore he went and made a
patient search for it but he could not find it now he went back to his
treasure-house and carefully placed himself just as he had been standing
when he tossed the marble away then he took another marble from his
pocket and tossed it in the same way saying 

 brother go find your brother 

he watched where it stopped and went there and looked but it must
have fallen short or gone too far so he tried twice more the last
repetition was successful the two marbles lay within a foot of each
other 

just here the blast of a toy tin trumpet came faintly down the green
aisles of the forest tom flung off his jacket and trousers turned
a suspender into a belt raked away some brush behind the rotten log 
disclosing a rude bow and arrow a lath sword and a tin trumpet and
in a moment had seized these things and bounded away barelegged 
with fluttering shirt he presently halted under a great elm blew an
answering blast and then began to tiptoe and look warily out this way
and that he said cautiously to an imaginary company 

 hold my merry men keep hid till i blow 

now appeared joe harper as airily clad and elaborately armed as tom 
tom called 

 hold who comes here into sherwood forest without my pass 

 guy of guisborne wants no man's pass who art thou that that 

 dares to hold such language said tom prompting for they talked by
the book from memory 

 who art thou that dares to hold such language 

 i indeed i am robin hood as thy caitiff carcase soon shall know 

 then art thou indeed that famous outlaw right gladly will i dispute
with thee the passes of the merry wood have at thee 

they took their lath swords dumped their other traps on the ground 
struck a fencing attitude foot to foot and began a grave careful
combat two up and two down presently tom said 

 now if you've got the hang go it lively 

so they went it lively panting and perspiring with the work by and
by tom shouted 

 fall fall why don't you fall 

 i sha'n't why don't you fall yourself you're getting the worst of
it 

 why that ain't anything i can't fall that ain't the way it is in the
book the book says 'then with one back-handed stroke he slew poor guy
of guisborne ' you're to turn around and let me hit you in the back 

there was no getting around the authorities so joe turned received the
whack and fell 

 now said joe getting up you got to let me kill you that's
fair 

 why i can't do that it ain't in the book 

 well it's blamed mean that's all 

 well say joe you can be friar tuck or much the miller's son and lam
me with a quarter-staff or i'll be the sheriff of nottingham and you be
robin hood a little while and kill me 

this was satisfactory and so these adventures were carried out then
tom became robin hood again and was allowed by the treacherous nun to
bleed his strength away through his neglected wound and at last joe 
representing a whole tribe of weeping outlaws dragged him sadly forth 
gave his bow into his feeble hands and tom said where this arrow
falls there bury poor robin hood under the greenwood tree then he
shot the arrow and fell back and would have died but he lit on a nettle
and sprang up too gaily for a corpse 

the boys dressed themselves hid their accoutrements and went off
grieving that there were no outlaws any more and wondering what modern
civilization could claim to have done to compensate for their loss 
they said they would rather be outlaws a year in sherwood forest than
president of the united states forever 




chapter ix

at half-past nine that night tom and sid were sent to bed as usual 
they said their prayers and sid was soon asleep tom lay awake and
waited in restless impatience when it seemed to him that it must be
nearly daylight he heard the clock strike ten this was despair he
would have tossed and fidgeted as his nerves demanded but he was
afraid he might wake sid so he lay still and stared up into the dark 
everything was dismally still by and by out of the stillness little 
scarcely perceptible noises began to emphasize themselves the ticking
of the clock began to bring itself into notice old beams began to crack
mysteriously the stairs creaked faintly evidently spirits were abroad 
a measured muffled snore issued from aunt polly's chamber and now the
tiresome chirping of a cricket that no human ingenuity could locate 
began next the ghastly ticking of a death-watch in the wall at the
bed's head made tom shudder it meant that somebody's days were numbered 
then the howl of a far-off dog rose on the night air and was answered
by a fainter howl from a remoter distance tom was in an agony at last
he was satisfied that time had ceased and eternity begun he began to
doze in spite of himself the clock chimed eleven but he did not hear
it and then there came mingling with his half-formed dreams a most
melancholy caterwauling the raising of a neighboring window disturbed
him a cry of scat you devil and the crash of an empty bottle
against the back of his aunt's woodshed brought him wide awake and a
single minute later he was dressed and out of the window and creeping
along the roof of the ell on all fours he meow'd with caution once
or twice as he went then jumped to the roof of the woodshed and thence
to the ground huckleberry finn was there with his dead cat the boys
moved off and disappeared in the gloom at the end of half an hour they
were wading through the tall grass of the graveyard 

it was a graveyard of the old-fashioned western kind it was on a hill 
about a mile and a half from the village it had a crazy board fence
around it which leaned inward in places and outward the rest of the
time but stood upright nowhere grass and weeds grew rank over the
whole cemetery all the old graves were sunken in there was not a
tombstone on the place round-topped worm-eaten boards staggered over
the graves leaning for support and finding none sacred to the memory
of so-and-so had been painted on them once but it could no longer have
been read on the most of them now even if there had been light 

a faint wind moaned through the trees and tom feared it might be the
spirits of the dead complaining at being disturbed the boys talked
little and only under their breath for the time and the place and the
pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits they found the
sharp new heap they were seeking and ensconced themselves within the
protection of three great elms that grew in a bunch within a few feet of
the grave 

then they waited in silence for what seemed a long time the hooting of
a distant owl was all the sound that troubled the dead stillness tom's
reflections grew oppressive he must force some talk so he said in a
whisper 

 hucky do you believe the dead people like it for us to be here 

huckleberry whispered 

 i wisht i knowed it's awful solemn like ain't it 

 i bet it is 

there was a considerable pause while the boys canvassed this matter
inwardly then tom whispered 

 say hucky do you reckon hoss williams hears us talking 

 o' course he does least his sperrit does 

tom after a pause 

 i wish i'd said mister williams but i never meant any harm everybody
calls him hoss 

 a body can't be too partic'lar how they talk 'bout these-yer dead
people tom 

this was a damper and conversation died again 

presently tom seized his comrade's arm and said 

 sh 

 what is it tom and the two clung together with beating hearts 

 sh there 'tis again didn't you hear it 

 i 

 there now you hear it 

 lord tom they're coming they're coming sure what'll we do 

 i dono think they'll see us 

 oh tom they can see in the dark same as cats i wisht i hadn't
come 

 oh don't be afeard i don't believe they'll bother us we ain't doing
any harm if we keep perfectly still maybe they won't notice us at
all 

 i'll try to tom but lord i'm all of a shiver 

 listen 

the boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed a muffled
sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard 

 look see there whispered tom what is it 

 it's devil-fire oh tom this is awful 

some vague figures approached through the gloom swinging an
old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with innumerable
little spangles of light presently huckleberry whispered with a
shudder 

 it's the devils sure enough three of 'em lordy tom we're goners 
can you pray 

 i'll try but don't you be afeard they ain't going to hurt us 'now i
lay me down to sleep i ' 

 sh 

 what is it huck 

 they're humans one of 'em is anyway one of 'em's old muff potter's
voice 

 no 'tain't so is it 

 i bet i know it don't you stir nor budge he ain't sharp enough to
notice us drunk the same as usual likely blamed old rip 

 all right i'll keep still now they're stuck can't find it here they
come again now they're hot cold again hot again red hot they're
p'inted right this time say huck i know another o' them voices it's
injun joe 

 that's so that murderin' half-breed i'd druther they was devils a dern
sight what kin they be up to 

the whisper died wholly out now for the three men had reached the
grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding-place 

 here it is said the third voice and the owner of it held the lantern
up and revealed the face of young doctor robinson 

potter and injun joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a couple
of shovels on it they cast down their load and began to open the grave 
the doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came and sat
down with his back against one of the elm trees he was so close the
boys could have touched him 

 hurry men he said in a low voice the moon might come out at any
moment 

they growled a response and went on digging for some time there was no
noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight of
mould and gravel it was very monotonous finally a spade struck upon
the coffin with a dull woody accent and within another minute or two
the men had hoisted it out on the ground they pried off the lid with
their shovels got out the body and dumped it rudely on the ground the
moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid face 
the barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it covered with a
blanket and bound to its place with the rope potter took out a large
spring-knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then said 

 now the cussed thing's ready sawbones and you'll just out with
another five or here she stays 

 that's the talk said injun joe 

 look here what does this mean said the doctor you required your
pay in advance and i've paid you 

 yes and you done more than that said injun joe approaching the
doctor who was now standing five years ago you drove me away from
your father's kitchen one night when i come to ask for something to
eat and you said i warn't there for any good and when i swore i'd get
even with you if it took a hundred years your father had me jailed for
a vagrant did you think i'd forget the injun blood ain't in me for
nothing and now i've got you and you got to settle you know 

he was threatening the doctor with his fist in his face by this time 
the doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the ground 
potter dropped his knife and exclaimed 

 here now don't you hit my pard and the next moment he had grappled
with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and main 
trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels injun joe
sprang to his feet his eyes flaming with passion snatched up potter's
knife and went creeping catlike and stooping round and round about
the combatants seeking an opportunity all at once the doctor flung
himself free seized the heavy headboard of williams' grave and felled
potter to the earth with it and in the same instant the half-breed saw
his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the young man's breast he
reeled and fell partly upon potter flooding him with his blood and in
the same moment the clouds blotted out the dreadful spectacle and the
two frightened boys went speeding away in the dark 

presently when the moon emerged again injun joe was standing over the
two forms contemplating them the doctor murmured inarticulately gave
a long gasp or two and was still the half-breed muttered 

 that score is settled damn you 

then he robbed the body after which he put the fatal knife in potter's
open right hand and sat down on the dismantled coffin three four five
minutes passed and then potter began to stir and moan his hand closed
upon the knife he raised it glanced at it and let it fall with a
shudder then he sat up pushing the body from him and gazed at it and
then around him confusedly his eyes met joe's 

 lord how is this joe he said 

 it's a dirty business said joe without moving 

 what did you do it for 

 i i never done it 

 look here that kind of talk won't wash 

potter trembled and grew white 

 i thought i'd got sober i'd no business to drink to-night but it's
in my head yet worse'n when we started here i'm all in a muddle 
can't recollect anything of it hardly tell me joe honest now 
old feller did i do it joe i never meant to 'pon my soul and honor i
never meant to joe tell me how it was joe oh it's awful and him so
young and promising 

 why you two was scuffling and he fetched you one with the headboard
and you fell flat and then up you come all reeling and staggering
like and snatched the knife and jammed it into him just as he fetched
you another awful clip and here you've laid as dead as a wedge til
now 

 oh i didn't know what i was a-doing i wish i may die this minute if i
did it was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement i reckon 
i never used a weepon in my life before joe i've fought but never
with weepons they'll all say that joe don't tell say you won't tell 
joe that's a good feller i always liked you joe and stood up for you 
too don't you remember you won't tell will you joe and the
poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid murderer and
clasped his appealing hands 

 no you've always been fair and square with me muff potter and i
won't go back on you there now that's as fair as a man can say 

 oh joe you're an angel i'll bless you for this the longest day i
live and potter began to cry 

 come now that's enough of that this ain't any time for blubbering 
you be off yonder way and i'll go this move now and don't leave any
tracks behind you 

potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run the half-breed
stood looking after him he muttered 

 if he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he
had the look of being he won't think of the knife till he's gone so
far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by
himself chicken-heart 

two or three minutes later the murdered man the blanketed corpse the
lidless coffin and the open grave were under no inspection but the
moon's the stillness was complete again too 




chapter x

the two boys flew on and on toward the village speechless with
horror they glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time 
apprehensively as if they feared they might be followed every stump
that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy and made them
catch their breath and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay
near the village the barking of the aroused watch-dogs seemed to give
wings to their feet 

 if we can only get to the old tannery before we break down whispered
tom in short catches between breaths i can't stand it much longer 

huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply and the boys fixed
their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it 
they gained steadily on it and at last breast to breast they burst
through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering
shadows beyond by and by their pulses slowed down and tom whispered 

 huckleberry what do you reckon'll come of this 

 if doctor robinson dies i reckon hanging'll come of it 

 do you though 

 why i know it tom 

tom thought a while then he said 

 who'll tell we 

 what are you talking about s'pose something happened and injun joe
 didn't hang why he'd kill us some time or other just as dead sure
as we're a laying here 

 that's just what i was thinking to myself huck 

 if anybody tells let muff potter do it if he's fool enough he's
generally drunk enough 

tom said nothing went on thinking presently he whispered 

 huck muff potter don't know it how can he tell 

 what's the reason he don't know it 

 because he'd just got that whack when injun joe done it d'you reckon
he could see anything d'you reckon he knowed anything 

 by hokey that's so tom 

 and besides look-a-here maybe that whack done for him 

 no 'taint likely tom he had liquor in him i could see that and
besides he always has well when pap's full you might take and belt
him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him he says so 
his own self so it's the same with muff potter of course but if a man
was dead sober i reckon maybe that whack might fetch him i dono 

after another reflective silence tom said 

 hucky you sure you can keep mum 

 tom we got to keep mum you know that that injun devil wouldn't
make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats if we was to squeak
'bout this and they didn't hang him now look-a-here tom less take
and swear to one another that's what we got to do swear to keep mum 

 i'm agreed it's the best thing would you just hold hands and swear
that we 

 oh no that wouldn't do for this that's good enough for little
rubbishy common things specially with gals cuz they go back on you
anyway and blab if they get in a huff but there orter be writing 'bout
a big thing like this and blood 

tom's whole being applauded this idea it was deep and dark and awful 
the hour the circumstances the surroundings were in keeping with it 
he picked up a clean pine shingle that lay in the moon-light took a
little fragment of red keel out of his pocket got the moon on
his work and painfully scrawled these lines emphasizing each slow
down-stroke by clamping his tongue between his teeth and letting up the
pressure on the up-strokes [see next page ]

 huck finn and tom sawyer swears they will keep mum about this and they
wish they may drop down dead in their tracks if they ever tell and rot 

huckleberry was filled with admiration of tom's facility in writing and
the sublimity of his language he at once took a pin from his lapel and
was going to prick his flesh but tom said 

 hold on don't do that a pin's brass it might have verdigrease on
it 

 what's verdigrease 

 it's p'ison that's what it is you just swaller some of it once you'll
see 

so tom unwound the thread from one of his needles and each boy pricked
the ball of his thumb and squeezed out a drop of blood in time after
many squeezes tom managed to sign his initials using the ball of his
little finger for a pen then he showed huckleberry how to make an h and
an f and the oath was complete they buried the shingle close to the
wall with some dismal ceremonies and incantations and the fetters
that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and the key thrown
away 

a figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the ruined
building now but they did not notice it 

 tom whispered huckleberry does this keep us from ever 
telling always 

 of course it does it don't make any difference what happens we got
to keep mum we'd drop down dead don't you know that 

 yes i reckon that's so 

they continued to whisper for some little time presently a dog set up
a long lugubrious howl just outside within ten feet of them the boys
clasped each other suddenly in an agony of fright 

 which of us does he mean gasped huckleberry 

 i dono peep through the crack quick 

 no you tom 

 i can't i can't do it huck 

 please tom there 'tis again 

 oh lordy i'm thankful whispered tom i know his voice it's bull
harbison 

[ if mr harbison owned a slave named bull tom would have spoken of
him as harbison's bull but a son or a dog of that name was bull
harbison ]

 oh that's good i tell you tom i was most scared to death i'd a bet
anything it was a stray dog 

the dog howled again the boys' hearts sank once more 

 oh my that ain't no bull harbison whispered huckleberry do 
tom 

tom quaking with fear yielded and put his eye to the crack his
whisper was hardly audible when he said 

 oh huck its a stray dog 

 quick tom quick who does he mean 

 huck he must mean us both we're right together 

 oh tom i reckon we're goners i reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout
where i'll go to i been so wicked 

 dad fetch it this comes of playing hookey and doing everything a
feller's told not to do i might a been good like sid if i'd a
tried but no i wouldn't of course but if ever i get off this time 
i lay i'll just waller in sunday-schools and tom began to snuffle a
little 

 you bad and huckleberry began to snuffle too consound it tom
sawyer you're just old pie 'long-side o' what i am oh lordy 
lordy lordy i wisht i only had half your chance 

tom choked off and whispered 

 look hucky look he's got his back to us 

hucky looked with joy in his heart 

 well he has by jingoes did he before 

 yes he did but i like a fool never thought oh this is bully you
know now who can he mean 

the howling stopped tom pricked up his ears 

 sh what's that he whispered 

 sounds like like hogs grunting no it's somebody snoring tom 

 that is it where 'bouts is it huck 

 i bleeve it's down at 'tother end sounds so anyway pap used to sleep
there sometimes 'long with the hogs but laws bless you he just lifts
things when he snores besides i reckon he ain't ever coming back to
this town any more 

the spirit of adventure rose in the boys' souls once more 

 hucky do you das't to go if i lead 

 i don't like to much tom s'pose it's injun joe 

tom quailed but presently the temptation rose up strong again and the
boys agreed to try with the understanding that they would take to their
heels if the snoring stopped so they went tiptoeing stealthily down 
the one behind the other when they had got to within five steps of the
snorer tom stepped on a stick and it broke with a sharp snap the man
moaned writhed a little and his face came into the moonlight it was
muff potter the boys' hearts had stood still and their hopes too 
when the man moved but their fears passed away now they tip-toed out 
through the broken weather-boarding and stopped at a little distance
to exchange a parting word that long lugubrious howl rose on the night
air again they turned and saw the strange dog standing within a few
feet of where potter was lying and facing potter with his nose
pointing heavenward 

 oh geeminy it's him exclaimed both boys in a breath 

 say tom they say a stray dog come howling around johnny miller's
house 'bout midnight as much as two weeks ago and a whippoorwill come
in and lit on the banisters and sung the very same evening and there
ain't anybody dead there yet 

 well i know that and suppose there ain't didn't gracie miller fall
in the kitchen fire and burn herself terrible the very next saturday 

 yes but she ain't dead and what's more she's getting better too 

 all right you wait and see she's a goner just as dead sure as muff
potter's a goner that's what the niggers say and they know all about
these kind of things huck 

then they separated cogitating when tom crept in at his bedroom window
the night was almost spent he undressed with excessive caution and
fell asleep congratulating himself that nobody knew of his escapade he
was not aware that the gently-snoring sid was awake and had been so for
an hour 

when tom awoke sid was dressed and gone there was a late look in the
light a late sense in the atmosphere he was startled why had he not
been called persecuted till he was up as usual the thought filled
him with bodings within five minutes he was dressed and down-stairs 
feeling sore and drowsy the family were still at table but they had
finished breakfast there was no voice of rebuke but there were averted
eyes there was a silence and an air of solemnity that struck a chill
to the culprit's heart he sat down and tried to seem gay but it
was up-hill work it roused no smile no response and he lapsed into
silence and let his heart sink down to the depths 

after breakfast his aunt took him aside and tom almost brightened in
the hope that he was going to be flogged but it was not so his aunt
wept over him and asked him how he could go and break her old heart so 
and finally told him to go on and ruin himself and bring her gray hairs
with sorrow to the grave for it was no use for her to try any more 
this was worse than a thousand whippings and tom's heart was sorer now
than his body he cried he pleaded for forgiveness promised to reform
over and over again and then received his dismissal feeling that
he had won but an imperfect forgiveness and established but a feeble
confidence 

he left the presence too miserable to even feel revengeful toward
sid and so the latter's prompt retreat through the back gate was
unnecessary he moped to school gloomy and sad and took his flogging 
along with joe harper for playing hookey the day before with the
air of one whose heart was busy with heavier woes and wholly dead to
trifles then he betook himself to his seat rested his elbows on his
desk and his jaws in his hands and stared at the wall with the stony
stare of suffering that has reached the limit and can no further go 
his elbow was pressing against some hard substance after a long time
he slowly and sadly changed his position and took up this object with
a sigh it was in a paper he unrolled it a long lingering colossal
sigh followed and his heart broke it was his brass andiron knob 

this final feather broke the camel's back 




chapter xi

close upon the hour of noon the whole village was suddenly electrified
with the ghastly news no need of the as yet un-dreamed-of telegraph 
the tale flew from man to man from group to group from house to house 
with little less than telegraphic speed of course the schoolmaster gave
holi-day for that afternoon the town would have thought strangely of
him if he had not 

a gory knife had been found close to the murdered man and it had been
recognized by somebody as belonging to muff potter so the story ran and
it was said that a belated citizen had come upon potter washing himself
in the branch about one or two o'clock in the morning and that potter
had at once sneaked off suspicious circumstances especially the washing
which was not a habit with potter it was also said that the town had
been ransacked for this murderer the public are not slow in the
matter of sifting evidence and arriving at a verdict but that he
could not be found horsemen had departed down all the roads in every
direction and the sheriff was confident that he would be captured
before night 

all the town was drifting toward the graveyard tom's heartbreak
vanished and he joined the procession not because he would not
a thousand times rather go anywhere else but because an awful 
unaccountable fascination drew him on arrived at the dreadful place he
wormed his small body through the crowd and saw the dismal spectacle 
it seemed to him an age since he was there before somebody pinched
his arm he turned and his eyes met huckleberry's then both looked
elsewhere at once and wondered if anybody had noticed anything in their
mutual glance but everybody was talking and intent upon the grisly
spectacle before them 

 poor fellow poor young fellow this ought to be a lesson to grave
robbers muff potter'll hang for this if they catch him this was the
drift of remark and the minister said it was a judgment his hand is
here 

now tom shivered from head to heel for his eye fell upon the stolid
face of injun joe at this moment the crowd began to sway and struggle 
and voices shouted it's him it's him he's coming himself 

 who who from twenty voices 

 muff potter 

 hallo he's stopped look out he's turning don't let him get away 

people in the branches of the trees over tom's head said he wasn't
trying to get away he only looked doubtful and perplexed 

 infernal impudence said a bystander wanted to come and take a quiet
look at his work i reckon didn't expect any company 

the crowd fell apart now and the sheriff came through ostentatiously
leading potter by the arm the poor fellow's face was haggard and
his eyes showed the fear that was upon him when he stood before the
murdered man he shook as with a palsy and he put his face in his hands
and burst into tears 

 i didn't do it friends he sobbed 'pon my word and honor i never
done it 

 who's accused you shouted a voice 

this shot seemed to carry home potter lifted his face and looked around
him with a pathetic hopelessness in his eyes he saw injun joe and
exclaimed 

 oh injun joe you promised me you'd never 

 is that your knife and it was thrust before him by the sheriff 

potter would have fallen if they had not caught him and eased him to the
ground then he said 

 something told me 't if i didn't come back and get he shuddered then
waved his nerveless hand with a vanquished gesture and said tell 'em 
joe tell 'em it ain't any use any more 

then huckleberry and tom stood dumb and staring and heard the
stony-hearted liar reel off his serene statement they expecting every
moment that the clear sky would deliver god's lightnings upon his head 
and wondering to see how long the stroke was delayed and when he had
finished and still stood alive and whole their wavering impulse to
break their oath and save the poor betrayed prisoner's life faded and
vanished away for plainly this miscreant had sold himself to satan and
it would be fatal to meddle with the property of such a power as that 

 why didn't you leave what did you want to come here for somebody
said 

 i couldn't help it i couldn't help it potter moaned i wanted to
run away but i couldn't seem to come anywhere but here and he fell to
sobbing again 

injun joe repeated his statement just as calmly a few minutes
afterward on the inquest under oath and the boys seeing that the
lightnings were still withheld were confirmed in their belief that
joe had sold himself to the devil he was now become to them the most
balefully interesting object they had ever looked upon and they could
not take their fascinated eyes from his face 

they inwardly resolved to watch him nights when opportunity should
offer in the hope of getting a glimpse of his dread master 

injun joe helped to raise the body of the murdered man and put it in
a wagon for removal and it was whispered through the shuddering
crowd that the wound bled a little the boys thought that this happy
circumstance would turn suspicion in the right direction but they were
disappointed for more than one villager remarked 

 it was within three feet of muff potter when it done it 

tom's fearful secret and gnawing conscience disturbed his sleep for as
much as a week after this and at breakfast one morning sid said 

 tom you pitch around and talk in your sleep so much that you keep me
awake half the time 

tom blanched and dropped his eyes 

 it's a bad sign said aunt polly gravely what you got on your mind 
tom 

 nothing nothing 't i know of but the boy's hand shook so that he
spilled his coffee 

 and you do talk such stuff sid said last night you said 'it's
blood it's blood that's what it is ' you said that over and over 
and you said 'don't torment me so i'll tell ' tell what what is it
you'll tell 

everything was swimming before tom there is no telling what might have
happened now but luckily the concern passed out of aunt polly's face
and she came to tom's relief without knowing it she said 

 sho it's that dreadful murder i dream about it most every night
myself sometimes i dream it's me that done it 

mary said she had been affected much the same way sid seemed satisfied 
tom got out of the presence as quick as he plausibly could and after
that he complained of toothache for a week and tied up his jaws every
night he never knew that sid lay nightly watching and frequently
slipped the bandage free and then leaned on his elbow listening a good
while at a time and afterward slipped the bandage back to its place
again tom's distress of mind wore off gradually and the toothache grew
irksome and was discarded if sid really managed to make anything out of
tom's disjointed mutterings he kept it to himself 

it seemed to tom that his schoolmates never would get done holding
inquests on dead cats and thus keeping his trouble present to his mind 
sid noticed that tom never was coroner at one of these inquiries 
though it had been his habit to take the lead in all new enterprises 
he noticed too that tom never acted as a witness and that was strange 
and sid did not overlook the fact that tom even showed a marked aversion
to these inquests and always avoided them when he could sid marvelled 
but said nothing however even inquests went out of vogue at last and
ceased to torture tom's conscience 

every day or two during this time of sorrow tom watched his
opportunity and went to the little grated jail-window and smuggled such
small comforts through to the murderer as he could get hold of the
jail was a trifling little brick den that stood in a marsh at the edge
of the village and no guards were afforded for it indeed it
was seldom occupied these offerings greatly helped to ease tom's
conscience 

the villagers had a strong desire to tar-and-feather injun joe and ride
him on a rail for body-snatching but so formidable was his character
that nobody could be found who was willing to take the lead in the
matter so it was dropped he had been careful to begin both of his
inquest-statements with the fight without confessing the grave-robbery
that preceded it therefore it was deemed wisest not to try the case in
the courts at present 




chapter xii

one of the reasons why tom's mind had drifted away from its secret
troubles was that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest
itself about becky thatcher had stopped coming to school tom had
struggled with his pride a few days and tried to whistle her down the
wind but failed he began to find himself hanging around her father's
house nights and feeling very miserable she was ill what if she
should die there was distraction in the thought he no longer took an
interest in war nor even in piracy the charm of life was gone there
was nothing but dreariness left he put his hoop away and his bat 
there was no joy in them any more his aunt was concerned she began to
try all manner of remedies on him she was one of those people who
are infatuated with patent medicines and all new-fangled methods of
producing health or mending it she was an inveterate experimenter in
these things when something fresh in this line came out she was in a
fever right away to try it not on herself for she was never ailing 
but on anybody else that came handy she was a subscriber for all the
 health periodicals and phrenological frauds and the solemn ignorance
they were inflated with was breath to her nostrils all the rot they
contained about ventilation and how to go to bed and how to get up 
and what to eat and what to drink and how much exercise to take and
what frame of mind to keep one's self in and what sort of clothing
to wear was all gospel to her and she never observed that her
health-journals of the current month customarily upset everything they
had recommended the month before she was as simple-hearted and honest
as the day was long and so she was an easy victim she gathered
together her quack periodicals and her quack medicines and thus armed
with death went about on her pale horse metaphorically speaking with
 hell following after but she never suspected that she was not an
angel of healing and the balm of gilead in disguise to the suffering
neighbors 

the water treatment was new now and tom's low condition was a windfall
to her she had him out at daylight every morning stood him up in the
wood-shed and drowned him with a deluge of cold water then she scrubbed
him down with a towel like a file and so brought him to then she
rolled him up in a wet sheet and put him away under blankets till she
sweated his soul clean and the yellow stains of it came through his
pores as tom said 

yet notwithstanding all this the boy grew more and more melancholy and
pale and dejected she added hot baths sitz baths shower baths and
plunges the boy remained as dismal as a hearse she began to assist the
water with a slim oatmeal diet and blister-plasters she calculated his
capacity as she would a jug's and filled him up every day with quack
cure-alls 

tom had become indifferent to persecution by this time this phase
filled the old lady's heart with consternation this indifference must
be broken up at any cost now she heard of pain-killer for the first
time she ordered a lot at once she tasted it and was filled with
gratitude it was simply fire in a liquid form she dropped the water
treatment and everything else and pinned her faith to pain-killer 
she gave tom a teaspoonful and watched with the deepest anxiety for the
result her troubles were instantly at rest her soul at peace again 
for the indifference was broken up the boy could not have shown a
wilder heartier interest if she had built a fire under him 

tom felt that it was time to wake up this sort of life might be
romantic enough in his blighted condition but it was getting to have
too little sentiment and too much distracting variety about it so he
thought over various plans for relief and finally hit upon that of
professing to be fond of pain-killer he asked for it so often that he
became a nuisance and his aunt ended by telling him to help himself and
quit bothering her if it had been sid she would have had no misgivings
to alloy her delight but since it was tom she watched the bottle
clandestinely she found that the medicine did really diminish but it
did not occur to her that the boy was mending the health of a crack in
the sitting-room floor with it 

one day tom was in the act of dosing the crack when his aunt's yellow
cat came along purring eyeing the teaspoon avariciously and begging
for a taste tom said 

 don't ask for it unless you want it peter 

but peter signified that he did want it 

 you better make sure 

peter was sure 

 now you've asked for it and i'll give it to you because there ain't
anything mean about me but if you find you don't like it you mustn't
blame anybody but your own self 

peter was agreeable so tom pried his mouth open and poured down
the pain-killer peter sprang a couple of yards in the air and then
delivered a war-whoop and set off round and round the room banging
against furniture upsetting flower-pots and making general havoc next
he rose on his hind feet and pranced around in a frenzy of enjoyment 
with his head over his shoulder and his voice proclaiming his
unappeasable happiness then he went tearing around the house again
spreading chaos and destruction in his path aunt polly entered in time
to see him throw a few double summersets deliver a final mighty hurrah 
and sail through the open window carrying the rest of the flower-pots
with him the old lady stood petrified with astonishment peering over
her glasses tom lay on the floor expiring with laughter 

 tom what on earth ails that cat 

 i don't know aunt gasped the boy 

 why i never see anything like it what did make him act so 

 deed i don't know aunt polly cats always act so when they're having a
good time 

 they do do they there was something in the tone that made tom
apprehensive 

 yes'm that is i believe they do 

 you do 

 yes'm 

the old lady was bending down tom watching with interest emphasized
by anxiety too late he divined her drift the handle of the telltale
tea-spoon was visible under the bed-valance aunt polly took it held it
up tom winced and dropped his eyes aunt polly raised him by the usual
handle his ear and cracked his head soundly with her thimble 

 now sir what did you want to treat that poor dumb beast so for 

 i done it out of pity for him because he hadn't any aunt 

 hadn't any aunt you numskull what has that got to do with it 

 heaps because if he'd had one she'd a burnt him out herself she'd a
roasted his bowels out of him 'thout any more feeling than if he was a
human 

aunt polly felt a sudden pang of remorse this was putting the thing in
a new light what was cruelty to a cat might be cruelty to a boy too 
she began to soften she felt sorry her eyes watered a little and she
put her hand on tom's head and said gently 

 i was meaning for the best tom and tom it did do you good 

tom looked up in her face with just a perceptible twinkle peeping
through his gravity 

 i know you was meaning for the best aunty and so was i with peter it
done him good too i never see him get around so since 

 oh go 'long with you tom before you aggravate me again and you try
and see if you can't be a good boy for once and you needn't take any
more medicine 

tom reached school ahead of time it was noticed that this strange thing
had been occurring every day latterly and now as usual of late 
he hung about the gate of the schoolyard instead of playing with his
comrades he was sick he said and he looked it he tried to seem to
be looking everywhere but whither he really was looking down the road 
presently jeff thatcher hove in sight and tom's face lighted he gazed
a moment and then turned sorrowfully away when jeff arrived tom
accosted him and led up warily to opportunities for remark about
becky but the giddy lad never could see the bait tom watched and
watched hoping whenever a frisking frock came in sight and hating the
owner of it as soon as he saw she was not the right one at last frocks
ceased to appear and he dropped hopelessly into the dumps he entered
the empty schoolhouse and sat down to suffer then one more frock passed
in at the gate and tom's heart gave a great bound the next instant he
was out and going on like an indian yelling laughing chasing boys 
jumping over the fence at risk of life and limb throwing handsprings 
standing on his head doing all the heroic things he could conceive of 
and keeping a furtive eye out all the while to see if becky thatcher
was noticing but she seemed to be unconscious of it all she never
looked could it be possible that she was not aware that he was there 
he carried his exploits to her immediate vicinity came war-whooping
around snatched a boy's cap hurled it to the roof of the schoolhouse 
broke through a group of boys tumbling them in every direction and
fell sprawling himself under becky's nose almost upsetting her and
she turned with her nose in the air and he heard her say mf some
people think they're mighty smart always showing off 

tom's cheeks burned he gathered himself up and sneaked off crushed and
crestfallen 




chapter xiii

tom's mind was made up now he was gloomy and desperate he was a
forsaken friendless boy he said nobody loved him when they found out
what they had driven him to perhaps they would be sorry he had tried
to do right and get along but they would not let him since nothing
would do them but to be rid of him let it be so and let them blame
 him for the consequences why shouldn't they what right had the
friendless to complain yes they had forced him to it at last he would
lead a life of crime there was no choice 

by this time he was far down meadow lane and the bell for school to
 take up tinkled faintly upon his ear he sobbed now to think he
should never never hear that old familiar sound any more it was very
hard but it was forced on him since he was driven out into the cold
world he must submit but he forgave them then the sobs came thick and
fast 

just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade joe
harper hard-eyed and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his
heart plainly here were two souls with but a single thought tom 
wiping his eyes with his sleeve began to blubber out something about
a resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by
roaming abroad into the great world never to return and ended by hoping
that joe would not forget him 

but it transpired that this was a request which joe had just been going
to make of tom and had come to hunt him up for that purpose his mother
had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never tasted and
knew nothing about it was plain that she was tired of him and wished
him to go if she felt that way there was nothing for him to do but
succumb he hoped she would be happy and never regret having driven her
poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die 

as the two boys walked sorrowing along they made a new compact to stand
by each other and be brothers and never separate till death relieved
them of their troubles then they began to lay their plans joe was for
being a hermit and living on crusts in a remote cave and dying 
some time of cold and want and grief but after listening to tom he
conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a life of
crime and so he consented to be a pirate 

three miles below st petersburg at a point where the mississippi river
was a trifle over a mile wide there was a long narrow wooded island 
with a shallow bar at the head of it and this offered well as a
rendezvous it was not inhabited it lay far over toward the further
shore abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest so jackson's
island was chosen who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a
matter that did not occur to them then they hunted up huckleberry finn 
and he joined them promptly for all careers were one to him he was
indifferent they presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on the
river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour which was
midnight there was a small log raft there which they meant to capture 
each would bring hooks and lines and such provision as he could steal
in the most dark and mysterious way as became outlaws and before the
afternoon was done they had all managed to enjoy the sweet glory of
spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would hear something all
who got this vague hint were cautioned to be mum and wait 

about midnight tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles 
and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the
meeting-place it was starlight and very still the mighty river lay
like an ocean at rest tom listened a moment but no sound disturbed the
quiet then he gave a low distinct whistle it was answered from under
the bluff tom whistled twice more these signals were answered in the
same way then a guarded voice said 

 who goes there 

 tom sawyer the black avenger of the spanish main name your names 

 huck finn the red-handed and joe harper the terror of the seas tom
had furnished these titles from his favorite literature 

 'tis well give the countersign 

two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to the
brooding night 

 blood 

then tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it 
tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort there was
an easy comfortable path along the shore under the bluff but it lacked
the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate 

the terror of the seas had brought a side of bacon and had about worn
himself out with getting it there finn the red-handed had stolen a
skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco and had also brought
a few corn-cobs to make pipes with but none of the pirates smoked or
 chewed but himself the black avenger of the spanish main said it
would never do to start without some fire that was a wise thought 
matches were hardly known there in that day they saw a fire smouldering
upon a great raft a hundred yards above and they went stealthily
thither and helped themselves to a chunk they made an imposing
adventure of it saying hist every now and then and suddenly
halting with finger on lip moving with hands on imaginary dagger-hilts 
and giving orders in dismal whispers that if the foe stirred to let
him have it to the hilt because dead men tell no tales they knew
well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the village laying
in stores or having a spree but still that was no excuse for their
conducting this thing in an unpiratical way 

they shoved off presently tom in command huck at the after oar and
joe at the forward tom stood amidships gloomy-browed and with folded
arms and gave his orders in a low stern whisper 

 luff and bring her to the wind 

 aye-aye sir 

 steady steady-y-y-y 

 steady it is sir 

 let her go off a point 

 point it is sir 

as the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream
it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for
 style and were not intended to mean anything in particular 

 what sail's she carrying 

 courses tops'ls and flying-jib sir 

 send the r'yals up lay out aloft there half a dozen of
ye foretopmaststuns'l lively now 

 aye-aye sir 

 shake out that maintogalans'l sheets and braces now my hearties 

 aye-aye sir 

 hellum-a-lee hard a port stand by to meet her when she comes port 
port now men with a will stead-y-y-y 

 steady it is sir 

the raft drew beyond the middle of the river the boys pointed her head
right and then lay on their oars the river was not high so there was
not more than a two or three mile current hardly a word was said during
the next three-quarters of an hour now the raft was passing before
the distant town two or three glimmering lights showed where it lay 
peacefully sleeping beyond the vague vast sweep of star-gemmed water 
unconscious of the tremendous event that was happening the black
avenger stood still with folded arms looking his last upon the scene
of his former joys and his later sufferings and wishing she could see
him now abroad on the wild sea facing peril and death with dauntless
heart going to his doom with a grim smile on his lips it was but
a small strain on his imagination to remove jackson's island beyond
eye-shot of the village and so he looked his last with a broken and
satisfied heart the other pirates were looking their last too and
they all looked so long that they came near letting the current drift
them out of the range of the island but they discovered the danger in
time and made shift to avert it about two o'clock in the morning the
raft grounded on the bar two hundred yards above the head of the island 
and they waded back and forth until they had landed their freight part
of the little raft's belongings consisted of an old sail and this they
spread over a nook in the bushes for a tent to shelter their provisions 
but they themselves would sleep in the open air in good weather as
became outlaws 

they built a fire against the side of a great log twenty or thirty steps
within the sombre depths of the forest and then cooked some bacon in
the frying-pan for supper and used up half of the corn pone stock
they had brought it seemed glorious sport to be feasting in that wild 
free way in the virgin forest of an unexplored and uninhabited island 
far from the haunts of men and they said they never would return to
civilization the climbing fire lit up their faces and threw its ruddy
glare upon the pillared tree-trunks of their forest temple and upon the
varnished foliage and festooning vines 

when the last crisp slice of bacon was gone and the last allowance
of corn pone devoured the boys stretched themselves out on the grass 
filled with contentment they could have found a cooler place but
they would not deny themselves such a romantic feature as the roasting
campfire 

 ain't it gay said joe 

 it's nuts said tom what would the boys say if they could see us 

 say well they'd just die to be here hey hucky 

 i reckon so said huckleberry anyways i'm suited i don't want
nothing better'n this i don't ever get enough to eat gen'ally and here
they can't come and pick at a feller and bullyrag him so 

 it's just the life for me said tom you don't have to get up 
mornings and you don't have to go to school and wash and all that
blame foolishness you see a pirate don't have to do anything joe 
when he's ashore but a hermit he has to be praying considerable and
then he don't have any fun anyway all by himself that way 

 oh yes that's so said joe but i hadn't thought much about it you
know i'd a good deal rather be a pirate now that i've tried it 

 you see said tom people don't go much on hermits nowadays like
they used to in old times but a pirate's always respected and
a hermit's got to sleep on the hardest place he can find and put
sackcloth and ashes on his head and stand out in the rain and 

 what does he put sackcloth and ashes on his head for inquired huck 

 i dono but they've got to do it hermits always do you'd have to do
that if you was a hermit 

 dern'd if i would said huck 

 well what would you do 

 i dono but i wouldn't do that 

 why huck you'd have to how'd you get around it 

 why i just wouldn't stand it i'd run away 

 run away well you would be a nice old slouch of a hermit you'd be
a disgrace 

the red-handed made no response being better employed he had finished
gouging out a cob and now he fitted a weed stem to it loaded it with
tobacco and was pressing a coal to the charge and blowing a cloud of
fragrant smoke he was in the full bloom of luxurious contentment the
other pirates envied him this majestic vice and secretly resolved to
acquire it shortly presently huck said 

 what does pirates have to do 

tom said 

 oh they have just a bully time take ships and burn them and get the
money and bury it in awful places in their island where there's ghosts
and things to watch it and kill everybody in the ships make 'em walk a
plank 

 and they carry the women to the island said joe they don't kill the
women 

 no assented tom they don't kill the women they're too noble and
the women's always beautiful too 

 and don't they wear the bulliest clothes oh no all gold and silver
and di'monds said joe with enthusiasm 

 who said huck 

 why the pirates 

huck scanned his own clothing forlornly 

 i reckon i ain't dressed fitten for a pirate said he with a
regretful pathos in his voice but i ain't got none but these 

but the other boys told him the fine clothes would come fast enough 
after they should have begun their adventures they made him understand
that his poor rags would do to begin with though it was customary for
wealthy pirates to start with a proper wardrobe 

gradually their talk died out and drowsiness began to steal upon the
eyelids of the little waifs the pipe dropped from the fingers of the
red-handed and he slept the sleep of the conscience-free and the weary 
the terror of the seas and the black avenger of the spanish main had
more difficulty in getting to sleep they said their prayers inwardly 
and lying down since there was nobody there with authority to make them
kneel and recite aloud in truth they had a mind not to say them at
all but they were afraid to proceed to such lengths as that lest they
might call down a sudden and special thunderbolt from heaven then at
once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep but an
intruder came now that would not down it was conscience they began
to feel a vague fear that they had been doing wrong to run away and
next they thought of the stolen meat and then the real torture came 
they tried to argue it away by reminding conscience that they had
purloined sweetmeats and apples scores of times but conscience was not
to be appeased by such thin plausibilities it seemed to them in the
end that there was no getting around the stubborn fact that taking
sweetmeats was only hooking while taking bacon and hams and such
valuables was plain simple stealing and there was a command against that
in the bible so they inwardly resolved that so long as they remained in
the business their piracies should not again be sullied with the
crime of stealing then conscience granted a truce and these curiously
inconsistent pirates fell peacefully to sleep 




chapter xiv

when tom awoke in the morning he wondered where he was he sat up and
rubbed his eyes and looked around then he comprehended it was the cool
gray dawn and there was a delicious sense of repose and peace in the
deep pervading calm and silence of the woods not a leaf stirred not
a sound obtruded upon great nature's meditation beaded dewdrops stood
upon the leaves and grasses a white layer of ashes covered the fire 
and a thin blue breath of smoke rose straight into the air joe and huck
still slept 

now far away in the woods a bird called another answered presently
the hammering of a woodpecker was heard gradually the cool dim gray
of the morning whitened and as gradually sounds multiplied and life
manifested itself the marvel of nature shaking off sleep and going
to work unfolded itself to the musing boy a little green worm came
crawling over a dewy leaf lifting two-thirds of his body into the air
from time to time and sniffing around then proceeding again for he
was measuring tom said and when the worm approached him of its own
accord he sat as still as a stone with his hopes rising and falling 
by turns as the creature still came toward him or seemed inclined to
go elsewhere and when at last it considered a painful moment with its
curved body in the air and then came decisively down upon tom's leg and
began a journey over him his whole heart was glad for that meant that
he was going to have a new suit of clothes without the shadow of a
doubt a gaudy piratical uniform now a procession of ants appeared 
from nowhere in particular and went about their labors one struggled
manfully by with a dead spider five times as big as itself in its arms 
and lugged it straight up a tree-trunk a brown spotted lady-bug climbed
the dizzy height of a grass blade and tom bent down close to it and
said lady-bug lady-bug fly away home your house is on fire your
children's alone and she took wing and went off to see about it which
did not surprise the boy for he knew of old that this insect was
credulous about conflagrations and he had practised upon its simplicity
more than once a tumblebug came next heaving sturdily at its ball and
tom touched the creature to see it shut its legs against its body
and pretend to be dead the birds were fairly rioting by this time a
catbird the northern mocker lit in a tree over tom's head and trilled
out her imitations of her neighbors in a rapture of enjoyment then
a shrill jay swept down a flash of blue flame and stopped on a twig
almost within the boy's reach cocked his head to one side and eyed the
strangers with a consuming curiosity a gray squirrel and a big fellow
of the fox kind came skurrying along sitting up at intervals to
inspect and chatter at the boys for the wild things had probably never
seen a human being before and scarcely knew whether to be afraid or not 
all nature was wide awake and stirring now long lances of sunlight
pierced down through the dense foliage far and near and a few
butterflies came fluttering upon the scene 

tom stirred up the other pirates and they all clattered away with
a shout and in a minute or two were stripped and chasing after and
tumbling over each other in the shallow limpid water of the white
sandbar they felt no longing for the little village sleeping in the
distance beyond the majestic waste of water a vagrant current or a
slight rise in the river had carried off their raft but this only
gratified them since its going was something like burning the bridge
between them and civilization 

they came back to camp wonderfully refreshed glad-hearted and
ravenous and they soon had the camp-fire blazing up again huck found a
spring of clear cold water close by and the boys made cups of broad oak
or hickory leaves and felt that water sweetened with such a wildwood
charm as that would be a good enough substitute for coffee while joe
was slicing bacon for breakfast tom and huck asked him to hold on a
minute they stepped to a promising nook in the river-bank and threw in
their lines almost immediately they had reward joe had not had time
to get impatient before they were back again with some handsome bass 
a couple of sun-perch and a small catfish provisions enough for quite a
family they fried the fish with the bacon and were astonished for
no fish had ever seemed so delicious before they did not know that the
quicker a fresh-water fish is on the fire after he is caught the better
he is and they reflected little upon what a sauce open-air sleeping 
open-air exercise bathing and a large ingredient of hunger make too 

they lay around in the shade after breakfast while huck had a smoke 
and then went off through the woods on an exploring expedition they
tramped gayly along over decaying logs through tangled underbrush 
among solemn monarchs of the forest hung from their crowns to the
ground with a drooping regalia of grape-vines now and then they came
upon snug nooks carpeted with grass and jeweled with flowers 

they found plenty of things to be delighted with but nothing to be
astonished at they discovered that the island was about three miles
long and a quarter of a mile wide and that the shore it lay closest to
was only separated from it by a narrow channel hardly two hundred yards
wide they took a swim about every hour so it was close upon the middle
of the afternoon when they got back to camp they were too hungry to
stop to fish but they fared sumptuously upon cold ham and then threw
themselves down in the shade to talk but the talk soon began to drag 
and then died the stillness the solemnity that brooded in the woods 
and the sense of loneliness began to tell upon the spirits of the boys 
they fell to thinking a sort of undefined longing crept upon them this
took dim shape presently it was budding homesickness even finn the
red-handed was dreaming of his doorsteps and empty hogsheads but they
were all ashamed of their weakness and none was brave enough to speak
his thought 

for some time now the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar
sound in the distance just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a
clock which he takes no distinct note of but now this mysterious sound
became more pronounced and forced a recognition the boys started 
glanced at each other and then each assumed a listening attitude there
was a long silence profound and unbroken then a deep sullen boom came
floating down out of the distance 

 what is it exclaimed joe under his breath 

 i wonder said tom in a whisper 

 'tain't thunder said huckleberry in an awed tone becuz thunder 

 hark said tom listen don't talk 

they waited a time that seemed an age and then the same muffled boom
troubled the solemn hush 

 let's go and see 

they sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town they
parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water the little
steam ferry-boat was about a mile below the village drifting with the
current her broad deck seemed crowded with people there were a great
many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the neighborhood
of the ferryboat but the boys could not determine what the men in
them were doing presently a great jet of white smoke burst from the
ferryboat's side and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud that same
dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again 

 i know now exclaimed tom somebody's drownded 

 that's it said huck they done that last summer when bill turner
got drownded they shoot a cannon over the water and that makes
him come up to the top yes and they take loaves of bread and put
quicksilver in 'em and set 'em afloat and wherever there's anybody
that's drownded they'll float right there and stop 

 yes i've heard about that said joe i wonder what makes the bread
do that 

 oh it ain't the bread so much said tom i reckon it's mostly what
they say over it before they start it out 

 but they don't say anything over it said huck i've seen 'em and
they don't 

 well that's funny said tom but maybe they say it to themselves of
 course they do anybody might know that 

the other boys agreed that there was reason in what tom said because
an ignorant lump of bread uninstructed by an incantation could not
be expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such
gravity 

 by jings i wish i was over there now said joe 

 i do too said huck i'd give heaps to know who it is 

the boys still listened and watched presently a revealing thought
flashed through tom's mind and he exclaimed 

 boys i know who's drownded it's us 

they felt like heroes in an instant here was a gorgeous triumph they
were missed they were mourned hearts were breaking on their account 
tears were being shed accusing memories of unkindness to these poor
lost lads were rising up and unavailing regrets and remorse were being
indulged and best of all the departed were the talk of the whole town 
and the envy of all the boys as far as this dazzling notoriety was
concerned this was fine it was worth while to be a pirate after all 

as twilight drew on the ferryboat went back to her accustomed business
and the skiffs disappeared the pirates returned to camp they were
jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious trouble
they were making they caught fish cooked supper and ate it and then
fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying about them 
and the pictures they drew of the public distress on their account were
gratifying to look upon from their point of view but when the shadows
of night closed them in they gradually ceased to talk and sat gazing
into the fire with their minds evidently wandering elsewhere the
excitement was gone now and tom and joe could not keep back thoughts
of certain persons at home who were not enjoying this fine frolic as
much as they were misgivings came they grew troubled and unhappy a
sigh or two escaped unawares by and by joe timidly ventured upon a
roundabout feeler as to how the others might look upon a return to
civilization not right now but 

tom withered him with derision huck being uncommitted as yet joined
in with tom and the waverer quickly explained and was glad to get
out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted home-sickness
clinging to his garments as he could mutiny was effectually laid to
rest for the moment 

as the night deepened huck began to nod and presently to snore 
joe followed next tom lay upon his elbow motionless for some time 
watching the two intently at last he got up cautiously on his knees 
and went searching among the grass and the flickering reflections flung
by the campfire he picked up and inspected several large semi-cylinders
of the thin white bark of a sycamore and finally chose two which seemed
to suit him then he knelt by the fire and painfully wrote something
upon each of these with his red keel one he rolled up and put in his
jacket pocket and the other he put in joe's hat and removed it to a
little distance from the owner and he also put into the hat certain
schoolboy treasures of almost inestimable value among them a lump of
chalk an india-rubber ball three fishhooks and one of that kind
of marbles known as a sure 'nough crystal then he tiptoed his way
cautiously among the trees till he felt that he was out of hearing and
straightway broke into a keen run in the direction of the sandbar 




chapter xv

a few minutes later tom was in the shoal water of the bar wading toward
the illinois shore before the depth reached his middle he was halfway
over the current would permit no more wading now so he struck out
confidently to swim the remaining hundred yards he swam quartering
upstream but still was swept downward rather faster than he had
expected however he reached the shore finally and drifted along till
he found a low place and drew himself out he put his hand on his jacket
pocket found his piece of bark safe and then struck through the woods 
following the shore with streaming garments shortly before ten
o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village and saw the
ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank everything
was quiet under the blinking stars he crept down the bank watching
with all his eyes slipped into the water swam three or four strokes
and climbed into the skiff that did yawl duty at the boat's stern he
laid himself down under the thwarts and waited panting 

presently the cracked bell tapped and a voice gave the order to cast
off a minute or two later the skiff's head was standing high up 
against the boat's swell and the voyage was begun tom felt happy in
his success for he knew it was the boat's last trip for the night at
the end of a long twelve or fifteen minutes the wheels stopped and
tom slipped overboard and swam ashore in the dusk landing fifty yards
downstream out of danger of possible stragglers 

he flew along unfrequented alleys and shortly found himself at his
aunt's back fence he climbed over approached the ell and looked
in at the sitting-room window for a light was burning there there
sat aunt polly sid mary and joe harper's mother grouped together 
talking they were by the bed and the bed was between them and the
door tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch then
he pressed gently and the door yielded a crack he continued pushing
cautiously and quaking every time it creaked till he judged he might
squeeze through on his knees so he put his head through and began 
warily 

 what makes the candle blow so said aunt polly tom hurried up why 
that door's open i believe why of course it is no end of strange
things now go 'long and shut it sid 

tom disappeared under the bed just in time he lay and breathed 
 himself for a time and then crept to where he could almost touch his
aunt's foot 

 but as i was saying said aunt polly he warn't bad so to say only
misch ee vous only just giddy and harum-scarum you know he warn't
any more responsible than a colt he never meant any harm and he was
the best-hearted boy that ever was and she began to cry 

 it was just so with my joe always full of his devilment and up to
every kind of mischief but he was just as unselfish and kind as he
could be and laws bless me to think i went and whipped him for taking
that cream never once recollecting that i throwed it out myself because
it was sour and i never to see him again in this world never never 
never poor abused boy and mrs harper sobbed as if her heart would
break 

 i hope tom's better off where he is said sid but if he'd been
better in some ways 

 sid tom felt the glare of the old lady's eye though he could not
see it not a word against my tom now that he's gone god'll take care
of him never you trouble your self sir oh mrs harper i don't
know how to give him up i don't know how to give him up he was such a
comfort to me although he tormented my old heart out of me 'most 

 the lord giveth and the lord hath taken away blessed be the name of
the lord but it's so hard oh it's so hard only last saturday my joe
busted a firecracker right under my nose and i knocked him sprawling 
little did i know then how soon oh if it was to do over again i'd hug
him and bless him for it 

 yes yes yes i know just how you feel mrs harper i know just
exactly how you feel no longer ago than yesterday noon my tom took
and filled the cat full of pain-killer and i did think the cretur would
tear the house down and god forgive me i cracked tom's head with my
thimble poor boy poor dead boy but he's out of all his troubles now 
and the last words i ever heard him say was to reproach 

but this memory was too much for the old lady and she broke entirely
down tom was snuffling now himself and more in pity of himself than
anybody else he could hear mary crying and putting in a kindly word
for him from time to time he began to have a nobler opinion of himself
than ever before still he was sufficiently touched by his aunt's grief
to long to rush out from under the bed and overwhelm her with joy and
the theatrical gorgeousness of the thing appealed strongly to his
nature too but he resisted and lay still 

he went on listening and gathered by odds and ends that it was
conjectured at first that the boys had got drowned while taking a swim 
then the small raft had been missed next certain boys said the missing
lads had promised that the village should hear something soon the
wise-heads had put this and that together and decided that the lads
had gone off on that raft and would turn up at the next town below 
presently but toward noon the raft had been found lodged against the
missouri shore some five or six miles below the village and then hope
perished they must be drowned else hunger would have driven them home
by nightfall if not sooner it was believed that the search for the
bodies had been a fruitless effort merely because the drowning must
have occurred in mid-channel since the boys being good swimmers would
otherwise have escaped to shore this was wednesday night if the bodies
continued missing until sunday all hope would be given over and the
funerals would be preached on that morning tom shuddered 

mrs harper gave a sobbing goodnight and turned to go then with a
mutual impulse the two bereaved women flung themselves into each other's
arms and had a good consoling cry and then parted aunt polly was
tender far beyond her wont in her goodnight to sid and mary sid
snuffled a bit and mary went off crying with all her heart 

aunt polly knelt down and prayed for tom so touchingly so appealingly 
and with such measureless love in her words and her old trembling voice 
that he was weltering in tears again long before she was through 

he had to keep still long after she went to bed for she kept making
broken-hearted ejaculations from time to time tossing unrestfully and
turning over but at last she was still only moaning a little in her
sleep now the boy stole out rose gradually by the bedside shaded the
candle-light with his hand and stood regarding her his heart was full
of pity for her he took out his sycamore scroll and placed it by the
candle but something occurred to him and he lingered considering 
his face lighted with a happy solution of his thought he put the bark
hastily in his pocket then he bent over and kissed the faded lips and
straightway made his stealthy exit latching the door behind him 

he threaded his way back to the ferry landing found nobody at large
there and walked boldly on board the boat for he knew she was
tenantless except that there was a watchman who always turned in and
slept like a graven image he untied the skiff at the stern slipped
into it and was soon rowing cautiously upstream when he had pulled a
mile above the village he started quartering across and bent himself
stoutly to his work he hit the landing on the other side neatly for
this was a familiar bit of work to him he was moved to capture
the skiff arguing that it might be considered a ship and therefore
legitimate prey for a pirate but he knew a thorough search would be
made for it and that might end in revelations so he stepped ashore and
entered the woods 

he sat down and took a long rest torturing himself meanwhile to keep
awake and then started warily down the home-stretch the night was far
spent it was broad daylight before he found himself fairly abreast the
island bar he rested again until the sun was well up and gilding the
great river with its splendor and then he plunged into the stream a
little later he paused dripping upon the threshold of the camp and
heard joe say 

 no tom's true-blue huck and he'll come back he won't desert he
knows that would be a disgrace to a pirate and tom's too proud for that
sort of thing he's up to something or other now i wonder what 

 well the things is ours anyway ain't they 

 pretty near but not yet huck the writing says they are if he ain't
back here to breakfast 

 which he is exclaimed tom with fine dramatic effect stepping
grandly into camp 

a sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish was shortly provided and as the
boys set to work upon it tom recounted and adorned his adventures 
they were a vain and boastful company of heroes when the tale was done 
then tom hid himself away in a shady nook to sleep till noon and the
other pirates got ready to fish and explore 




chapter xvi

after dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar 
they went about poking sticks into the sand and when they found a soft
place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands sometimes
they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole they were perfectly
round white things a trifle smaller than an english walnut they had a
famous fried-egg feast that night and another on friday morning 

after breakfast they went whooping and prancing out on the bar and
chased each other round and round shedding clothes as they went until
they were naked and then continued the frolic far away up the shoal
water of the bar against the stiff current which latter tripped their
legs from under them from time to time and greatly increased the fun 
and now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water in each
other's faces with their palms gradually approaching each other with
averted faces to avoid the strangling sprays and finally gripping and
struggling till the best man ducked his neighbor and then they all
went under in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing 
sputtering laughing and gasping for breath at one and the same time 

when they were well exhausted they would run out and sprawl on the dry 
hot sand and lie there and cover themselves up with it and by and by
break for the water again and go through the original performance once
more finally it occurred to them that their naked skin represented
flesh-colored tights very fairly so they drew a ring in the sand and
had a circus with three clowns in it for none would yield this proudest
post to his neighbor 

next they got their marbles and played knucks and ringtaw and
 keeps till that amusement grew stale then joe and huck had another
swim but tom would not venture because he found that in kicking off
his trousers he had kicked his string of rattlesnake rattles off his
ankle and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so long without the
protection of this mysterious charm he did not venture again until he
had found it and by that time the other boys were tired and ready to
rest they gradually wandered apart dropped into the dumps and
fell to gazing longingly across the wide river to where the village lay
drowsing in the sun tom found himself writing becky in the sand with
his big toe he scratched it out and was angry with himself for his
weakness but he wrote it again nevertheless he could not help it he
erased it once more and then took himself out of temptation by driving
the other boys together and joining them 

but joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection he was so
homesick that he could hardly endure the misery of it the tears lay
very near the surface huck was melancholy too tom was downhearted 
but tried hard not to show it he had a secret which he was not ready
to tell yet but if this mutinous depression was not broken up soon he
would have to bring it out he said with a great show of cheerfulness 

 i bet there's been pirates on this island before boys we'll explore
it again they've hid treasures here somewhere how'd you feel to light
on a rotten chest full of gold and silver hey 

but it roused only faint enthusiasm which faded out with no reply 
tom tried one or two other seductions but they failed too it was
discouraging work joe sat poking up the sand with a stick and looking
very gloomy finally he said 

 oh boys let's give it up i want to go home it's so lonesome 

 oh no joe you'll feel better by and by said tom just think of the
fishing that's here 

 i don't care for fishing i want to go home 

 but joe there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere 

 swimming's no good i don't seem to care for it somehow when there
ain't anybody to say i sha'n't go in i mean to go home 

 oh shucks baby you want to see your mother i reckon 

 yes i do want to see my mother and you would too if you had one i
ain't any more baby than you are and joe snuffled a little 

 well we'll let the crybaby go home to his mother won't we huck poor
thing does it want to see its mother and so it shall you like it here 
don't you huck we'll stay won't we 

huck said y-e-s without any heart in it 

 i'll never speak to you again as long as i live said joe rising 
 there now and he moved moodily away and began to dress himself 

 who cares said tom nobody wants you to go 'long home and get
laughed at oh you're a nice pirate huck and me ain't crybabies we'll
stay won't we huck let him go if he wants to i reckon we can get
along without him per'aps 

but tom was uneasy nevertheless and was alarmed to see joe go sullenly
on with his dressing and then it was discomforting to see huck eying
joe's preparations so wistfully and keeping up such an ominous silence 
presently without a parting word joe began to wade off toward the
illinois shore tom's heart began to sink he glanced at huck huck
could not bear the look and dropped his eyes then he said 

 i want to go too tom it was getting so lonesome anyway and now
it'll be worse let's us go too tom 

 i won't you can all go if you want to i mean to stay 

 tom i better go 

 well go 'long who's hendering you 

huck began to pick up his scattered clothes he said 

 tom i wisht you'd come too now you think it over we'll wait for you
when we get to shore 

 well you'll wait a blame long time that's all 

huck started sorrowfully away and tom stood looking after him with a
strong desire tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go along
too he hoped the boys would stop but they still waded slowly on it
suddenly dawned on tom that it was become very lonely and still he made
one final struggle with his pride and then darted after his comrades 
yelling 

 wait wait i want to tell you something 

they presently stopped and turned around when he got to where they
were he began unfolding his secret and they listened moodily till
at last they saw the point he was driving at and then they set up a
warwhoop of applause and said it was splendid and said if he had
told them at first they wouldn't have started away he made a plausible
excuse but his real reason had been the fear that not even the secret
would keep them with him any very great length of time and so he had
meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction 

the lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will 
chattering all the time about tom's stupendous plan and admiring the
genius of it after a dainty egg and fish dinner tom said he wanted to
learn to smoke now joe caught at the idea and said he would like to
try too so huck made pipes and filled them these novices had never
smoked anything before but cigars made of grapevine and they bit the
tongue and were not considered manly anyway 

now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff 
charily and with slender confidence the smoke had an unpleasant taste 
and they gagged a little but tom said 

 why it's just as easy if i'd a knowed this was all i'd a learnt long
ago 

 so would i said joe it's just nothing 

 why many a time i've looked at people smoking and thought well i wish
i could do that but i never thought i could said tom 

 that's just the way with me hain't it huck you've heard me talk just
that way haven't you huck i'll leave it to huck if i haven't 

 yes heaps of times said huck 

 well i have too said tom oh hundreds of times once down by the
slaughter-house don't you remember huck bob tanner was there and
johnny miller and jeff thatcher when i said it don't you remember 
huck 'bout me saying that 

 yes that's so said huck that was the day after i lost a white
alley no 'twas the day before 

 there i told you so said tom huck recollects it 

 i bleeve i could smoke this pipe all day said joe i don't feel
sick 

 neither do i said tom i could smoke it all day but i bet you jeff
thatcher couldn't 

 jeff thatcher why he'd keel over just with two draws just let him
try it once he'd see 

 i bet he would and johnny miller i wish could see johnny miller tackle
it once 

 oh don't i said joe why i bet you johnny miller couldn't any more
do this than nothing just one little snifter would fetch him 

 'deed it would joe say i wish the boys could see us now 

 so do i 

 say boys don't say anything about it and some time when they're
around i'll come up to you and say 'joe got a pipe i want a smoke '
and you'll say kind of careless like as if it warn't anything you'll
say 'yes i got my old pipe and another one but my tobacker ain't
very good ' and i'll say 'oh that's all right if it's strong 
enough ' and then you'll out with the pipes and we'll light up just as
ca'm and then just see 'em look 

 by jings that'll be gay tom i wish it was now 

 so do i and when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating 
won't they wish they'd been along 

 oh i reckon not i'll just bet they will 

so the talk ran on but presently it began to flag a trifle and
grow disjointed the silences widened the expectoration marvellously
increased every pore inside the boys' cheeks became a spouting
fountain they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tongues
fast enough to prevent an inundation little overflowings down their
throats occurred in spite of all they could do and sudden retchings
followed every time both boys were looking very pale and miserable 
now joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless fingers tom's followed both
fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with might and
main joe said feebly 

 i've lost my knife i reckon i better go and find it 

tom said with quivering lips and halting utterance 

 i'll help you you go over that way and i'll hunt around by the spring 
no you needn't come huck we can find it 

so huck sat down again and waited an hour then he found it lonesome 
and went to find his comrades they were wide apart in the woods both
very pale both fast asleep but something informed him that if they had
had any trouble they had got rid of it 

they were not talkative at supper that night they had a humble look 
and when huck prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to prepare
theirs they said no they were not feeling very well something they ate
at dinner had disagreed with them 

about midnight joe awoke and called the boys there was a brooding
oppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something the boys
huddled themselves together and sought the friendly companionship of
the fire though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was
stifling they sat still intent and waiting the solemn hush continued 
beyond the light of the fire everything was swallowed up in the
blackness of darkness presently there came a quivering glow that
vaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then vanished by and by
another came a little stronger then another then a faint moan came
sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleeting
breath upon their cheeks and shuddered with the fancy that the spirit
of the night had gone by there was a pause now a weird flash turned
night into day and showed every little grassblade separate and
distinct that grew about their feet and it showed three white 
startled faces too a deep peal of thunder went rolling and tumbling
down the heavens and lost itself in sullen rumblings in the distance a
sweep of chilly air passed by rustling all the leaves and snowing the
flaky ashes broadcast about the fire another fierce glare lit up the
forest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the treetops
right over the boys' heads they clung together in terror in the thick
gloom that followed a few big raindrops fell pattering upon the leaves 

 quick boys go for the tent exclaimed tom 

they sprang away stumbling over roots and among vines in the dark no
two plunging in the same direction a furious blast roared through
the trees making everything sing as it went one blinding flash after
another came and peal on peal of deafening thunder and now a drenching
rain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets along the
ground the boys cried out to each other but the roaring wind and the
booming thunderblasts drowned their voices utterly however one by one
they straggled in at last and took shelter under the tent cold scared 
and streaming with water but to have company in misery seemed something
to be grateful for they could not talk the old sail flapped so
furiously even if the other noises would have allowed them the tempest
rose higher and higher and presently the sail tore loose from its
fastenings and went winging away on the blast the boys seized each
others' hands and fled with many tumblings and bruises to the shelter
of a great oak that stood upon the riverbank now the battle was at its
highest under the ceaseless conflagration of lightning that flamed
in the skies everything below stood out in cleancut and shadowless
distinctness the bending trees the billowy river white with foam the
driving spray of spumeflakes the dim outlines of the high bluffs on
the other side glimpsed through the drifting cloudrack and the slanting
veil of rain every little while some giant tree yielded the fight
and fell crashing through the younger growth and the unflagging
thunderpeals came now in ear-splitting explosive bursts keen and sharp 
and unspeakably appalling the storm culminated in one matchless effort
that seemed likely to tear the island to pieces burn it up drown it to
the treetops blow it away and deafen every creature in it all at one
and the same moment it was a wild night for homeless young heads to be
out in 

but at last the battle was done and the forces retired with weaker and
weaker threatenings and grumblings and peace resumed her sway the
boys went back to camp a good deal awed but they found there was still
something to be thankful for because the great sycamore the shelter
of their beds was a ruin now blasted by the lightnings and they were
not under it when the catastrophe happened 

everything in camp was drenched the campfire as well for they were but
heedless lads like their generation and had made no provision against
rain here was matter for dismay for they were soaked through and
chilled they were eloquent in their distress but they presently
discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it had
been built against where it curved upward and separated itself from
the ground that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting so they
patiently wrought until with shreds and bark gathered from the under
sides of sheltered logs they coaxed the fire to burn again then they
piled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace and were
gladhearted once more they dried their boiled ham and had a feast 
and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glorified their
midnight adventure until morning for there was not a dry spot to sleep
on anywhere around 

as the sun began to steal in upon the boys drowsiness came over
them and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep they got
scorched out by and by and drearily set about getting breakfast after
the meal they felt rusty and stiff-jointed and a little homesick once
more tom saw the signs and fell to cheering up the pirates as well as
he could but they cared nothing for marbles or circus or swimming or
anything he reminded them of the imposing secret and raised a ray of
cheer while it lasted he got them interested in a new device this was
to knock off being pirates for a while and be indians for a change 
they were attracted by this idea so it was not long before they were
stripped and striped from head to heel with black mud like so many
zebras all of them chiefs of course and then they went tearing through
the woods to attack an english settlement 

by and by they separated into three hostile tribes and darted upon each
other from ambush with dreadful warwhoops and killed and scalped each
other by thousands it was a gory day consequently it was an extremely
satisfactory one 

they assembled in camp toward suppertime hungry and happy but now
a difficulty arose hostile indians could not break the bread of
hospitality together without first making peace and this was a simple
impossibility without smoking a pipe of peace there was no other
process that ever they had heard of two of the savages almost wished
they had remained pirates however there was no other way so with such
show of cheerfulness as they could muster they called for the pipe and
took their whiff as it passed in due form 

and behold they were glad they had gone into savagery for they had
gained something they found that they could now smoke a little without
having to go and hunt for a lost knife they did not get sick enough to
be seriously uncomfortable they were not likely to fool away this high
promise for lack of effort no they practised cautiously after supper 
with right fair success and so they spent a jubilant evening they were
prouder and happier in their new acquirement than they would have been
in the scalping and skinning of the six nations we will leave them to
smoke and chatter and brag since we have no further use for them at
present 




chapter xvii

but there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil saturday
afternoon the harpers and aunt polly's family were being put into
mourning with great grief and many tears an unusual quiet possessed
the village although it was ordinarily quiet enough in all conscience 
the villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air and talked
little but they sighed often the saturday holiday seemed a burden to
the children they had no heart in their sports and gradually gave them
up 

in the afternoon becky thatcher found herself moping about the deserted
schoolhouse yard and feeling very melancholy but she found nothing
there to comfort her she soliloquized 

 oh if i only had a brass andiron-knob again but i haven't got
anything now to remember him by and she choked back a little sob 

presently she stopped and said to herself 

 it was right here oh if it was to do over again i wouldn't say
that i wouldn't say it for the whole world but he's gone now i'll
never never never see him any more 

this thought broke her down and she wandered away with tears rolling
down her cheeks then quite a group of boys and girls playmates of tom's
and joe's came by and stood looking over the paling fence and talking
in reverent tones of how tom did so-and-so the last time they saw
him and how joe said this and that small trifle pregnant with awful
prophecy as they could easily see now and each speaker pointed out
the exact spot where the lost lads stood at the time and then added
something like and i was a-standing just so just as i am now and as if
you was him i was as close as that and he smiled just this way and then
something seemed to go all over me like awful you know and i never
thought what it meant of course but i can see now 

then there was a dispute about who saw the dead boys last in life and
many claimed that dismal distinction and offered evidences more or
less tampered with by the witness and when it was ultimately decided
who did see the departed last and exchanged the last words with them 
the lucky parties took upon themselves a sort of sacred importance 
and were gaped at and envied by all the rest one poor chap who had
no other grandeur to offer said with tolerably manifest pride in the
remembrance 

 well tom sawyer he licked me once 

but that bid for glory was a failure most of the boys could say that 
and so that cheapened the distinction too much the group loitered away 
still recalling memories of the lost heroes in awed voices 

when the sunday-school hour was finished the next morning the bell
began to toll instead of ringing in the usual way it was a very still
sabbath and the mournful sound seemed in keeping with the musing hush
that lay upon nature the villagers began to gather loitering a moment
in the vestibule to converse in whispers about the sad event but there
was no whispering in the house only the funereal rustling of dresses
as the women gathered to their seats disturbed the silence there none
could remember when the little church had been so full before there
was finally a waiting pause an expectant dumbness and then aunt polly
entered followed by sid and mary and they by the harper family all in
deep black and the whole congregation the old minister as well rose
reverently and stood until the mourners were seated in the front pew 
there was another communing silence broken at intervals by muffled
sobs and then the minister spread his hands abroad and prayed a moving
hymn was sung and the text followed i am the resurrection and the
life 

as the service proceeded the clergyman drew such pictures of the
graces the winning ways and the rare promise of the lost lads that
every soul there thinking he recognized these pictures felt a pang
in remembering that he had persistently blinded himself to them always
before and had as persistently seen only faults and flaws in the poor
boys the minister related many a touching incident in the lives of the
departed too which illustrated their sweet generous natures and the
people could easily see now how noble and beautiful those episodes
were and remembered with grief that at the time they occurred they had
seemed rank rascalities well deserving of the cowhide the congregation
became more and more moved as the pathetic tale went on till at last
the whole company broke down and joined the weeping mourners in a chorus
of anguished sobs the preacher himself giving way to his feelings and
crying in the pulpit 

there was a rustle in the gallery which nobody noticed a moment later
the church door creaked the minister raised his streaming eyes above
his handkerchief and stood transfixed first one and then another pair
of eyes followed the minister's and then almost with one impulse the
congregation rose and stared while the three dead boys came marching up
the aisle tom in the lead joe next and huck a ruin of drooping rags 
sneaking sheepishly in the rear they had been hid in the unused gallery
listening to their own funeral sermon 

aunt polly mary and the harpers threw themselves upon their restored
ones smothered them with kisses and poured out thanksgivings while
poor huck stood abashed and uncomfortable not knowing exactly what
to do or where to hide from so many unwelcoming eyes he wavered and
started to slink away but tom seized him and said 

 aunt polly it ain't fair somebody's got to be glad to see huck 

 and so they shall i'm glad to see him poor motherless thing and
the loving attentions aunt polly lavished upon him were the one thing
capable of making him more uncomfortable than he was before 

suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice praise god from
whom all blessings flow sing and put your hearts in it 

and they did old hundred swelled up with a triumphant burst and
while it shook the rafters tom sawyer the pirate looked around upon the
envying juveniles about him and confessed in his heart that this was the
proudest moment of his life 

as the sold congregation trooped out they said they would almost be
willing to be made ridiculous again to hear old hundred sung like that
once more 

tom got more cuffs and kisses that day according to aunt polly's varying
moods than he had earned before in a year and he hardly knew which
expressed the most gratefulness to god and affection for himself 




chapter xviii

that was tom's great secret the scheme to return home with his brother
pirates and attend their own funerals they had paddled over to the
missouri shore on a log at dusk on saturday landing five or six miles
below the village they had slept in the woods at the edge of the town
till nearly daylight and had then crept through back lanes and alleys
and finished their sleep in the gallery of the church among a chaos of
invalided benches 

at breakfast monday morning aunt polly and mary were very loving to
tom and very attentive to his wants there was an unusual amount of
talk in the course of it aunt polly said 

 well i don't say it wasn't a fine joke tom to keep everybody
suffering 'most a week so you boys had a good time but it is a pity you
could be so hard-hearted as to let me suffer so if you could come over
on a log to go to your funeral you could have come over and give me a
hint some way that you warn't dead but only run off 

 yes you could have done that tom said mary and i believe you
would if you had thought of it 

 would you tom said aunt polly her face lighting wistfully say 
now would you if you'd thought of it 

 i well i don't know 'twould 'a' spoiled everything 

 tom i hoped you loved me that much said aunt polly with a grieved
tone that discomforted the boy it would have been something if you'd
cared enough to think of it even if you didn't do it 

 now auntie that ain't any harm pleaded mary it's only tom's giddy
way he is always in such a rush that he never thinks of anything 

 more's the pity sid would have thought and sid would have come and
 done it too tom you'll look back some day when it's too late 
and wish you'd cared a little more for me when it would have cost you so
little 

 now auntie you know i do care for you said tom 

 i'd know it better if you acted more like it 

 i wish now i'd thought said tom with a repentant tone but i dreamt
about you anyway that's something ain't it 

 it ain't much a cat does that much but it's better than nothing what
did you dream 

 why wednesday night i dreamt that you was sitting over there by the
bed and sid was sitting by the woodbox and mary next to him 

 well so we did so we always do i'm glad your dreams could take even
that much trouble about us 

 and i dreamt that joe harper's mother was here 

 why she was here did you dream any more 

 oh lots but it's so dim now 

 well try to recollect can't you 

 somehow it seems to me that the wind the wind blowed the the 

 try harder tom the wind did blow something come 

tom pressed his fingers on his forehead an anxious minute and then
said 

 i've got it now i've got it now it blowed the candle 

 mercy on us go on tom go on 

 and it seems to me that you said 'why i believe that that door ' 

 go on tom 

 just let me study a moment just a moment oh yes you said you believed
the door was open 

 as i'm sitting here i did didn't i mary go on 

 and then and then well i won't be certain but it seems like as if you
made sid go and and 

 well well what did i make him do tom what did i make him do 

 you made him you oh you made him shut it 

 well for the land's sake i never heard the beat of that in all my
days don't tell me there ain't anything in dreams any more sereny
harper shall know of this before i'm an hour older i'd like to see her
get around this with her rubbage 'bout superstition go on tom 

 oh it's all getting just as bright as day now next you said i warn't
 bad only mischeevous and harum-scarum and not any more responsible
than than i think it was a colt or something 

 and so it was well goodness gracious go on tom 

 and then you began to cry 

 so i did so i did not the first time neither and then 

 then mrs harper she began to cry and said joe was just the same and
she wished she hadn't whipped him for taking cream when she'd throwed it
out her own self 

 tom the sperrit was upon you you was a prophesying that's what you
was doing land alive go on tom 

 then sid he said he said 

 i don't think i said anything said sid 

 yes you did sid said mary 

 shut your heads and let tom go on what did he say tom 

 he said i think he said he hoped i was better off where i was gone
to but if i'd been better sometimes 

 there d'you hear that it was his very words 

 and you shut him up sharp 

 i lay i did there must 'a' been an angel there there was an angel
there somewheres 

 and mrs harper told about joe scaring her with a firecracker and you
told about peter and the pain-killer 

 just as true as i live 

 and then there was a whole lot of talk 'bout dragging the river for us 
and 'bout having the funeral sunday and then you and old miss harper
hugged and cried and she went 

 it happened just so it happened just so as sure as i'm a-sitting in
these very tracks tom you couldn't told it more like if you'd 'a' seen
it and then what go on tom 

 then i thought you prayed for me and i could see you and hear every
word you said and you went to bed and i was so sorry that i took and
wrote on a piece of sycamore bark 'we ain't dead we are only off being
pirates ' and put it on the table by the candle and then you looked
so good laying there asleep that i thought i went and leaned over and
kissed you on the lips 

 did you tom did you i just forgive you everything for that and
she seized the boy in a crushing embrace that made him feel like the
guiltiest of villains 

 it was very kind even though it was only a dream sid soliloquized
just audibly 

 shut up sid a body does just the same in a dream as he'd do if he was
awake here's a big milum apple i've been saving for you tom if you
was ever found again now go 'long to school i'm thankful to the good
god and father of us all i've got you back that's long-suffering and
merciful to them that believe on him and keep his word though goodness
knows i'm unworthy of it but if only the worthy ones got his blessings
and had his hand to help them over the rough places there's few enough
would smile here or ever enter into his rest when the long night comes 
go 'long sid mary tom take yourselves off you've hendered me long
enough 

the children left for school and the old lady to call on mrs harper
and vanquish her realism with tom's marvellous dream sid had better
judgment than to utter the thought that was in his mind as he left the
house it was this pretty thin as long a dream as that without any
mistakes in it 

what a hero tom was become now he did not go skipping and prancing 
but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the
public eye was on him and indeed it was he tried not to seem to see
the looks or hear the remarks as he passed along but they were food and
drink to him smaller boys than himself flocked at his heels as proud
to be seen with him and tolerated by him as if he had been the drummer
at the head of a procession or the elephant leading a menagerie into
town boys of his own size pretended not to know he had been away at
all but they were consuming with envy nevertheless they would have
given anything to have that swarthy sun-tanned skin of his and his
glittering notoriety and tom would not have parted with either for a
circus 

at school the children made so much of him and of joe and delivered
such eloquent admiration from their eyes that the two heroes were
not long in becoming insufferably stuck-up they began to tell their
adventures to hungry listeners but they only began it was not a
thing likely to have an end with imaginations like theirs to furnish
material and finally when they got out their pipes and went serenely
puffing around the very summit of glory was reached 

tom decided that he could be independent of becky thatcher now glory
was sufficient he would live for glory now that he was distinguished 
maybe she would be wanting to make up well let her she should see
that he could be as indifferent as some other people presently she
arrived tom pretended not to see her he moved away and joined a group
of boys and girls and began to talk soon he observed that she was
tripping gayly back and forth with flushed face and dancing eyes 
pretending to be busy chasing schoolmates and screaming with laughter
when she made a capture but he noticed that she always made her
captures in his vicinity and that she seemed to cast a conscious eye
in his direction at such times too it gratified all the vicious vanity
that was in him and so instead of winning him it only set him up 
 the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying that he
knew she was about presently she gave over skylarking and moved
irresolutely about sighing once or twice and glancing furtively and
wistfully toward tom then she observed that now tom was talking more
particularly to amy lawrence than to any one else she felt a sharp pang
and grew disturbed and uneasy at once she tried to go away but her
feet were treacherous and carried her to the group instead she said to
a girl almost at tom's elbow with sham vivacity 

 why mary austin you bad girl why didn't you come to sunday-school 

 i did come didn't you see me 

 why no did you where did you sit 

 i was in miss peters' class where i always go i saw you 

 did you why it's funny i didn't see you i wanted to tell you about
the picnic 

 oh that's jolly who's going to give it 

 my ma's going to let me have one 

 oh goody i hope she'll let me come 

 well she will the picnic's for me she'll let anybody come that i
want and i want you 

 that's ever so nice when is it going to be 

 by and by maybe about vacation 

 oh won't it be fun you going to have all the girls and boys 

 yes every one that's friends to me or wants to be and she glanced
ever so furtively at tom but he talked right along to amy lawrence
about the terrible storm on the island and how the lightning tore the
great sycamore tree all to flinders while he was standing within
three feet of it 

 oh may i come said grace miller 

 yes 

 and me said sally rogers 

 yes 

 and me too said susy harper and joe 

 yes 

and so on with clapping of joyful hands till all the group had begged
for invitations but tom and amy then tom turned coolly away still
talking and took amy with him becky's lips trembled and the tears
came to her eyes she hid these signs with a forced gayety and went on
chattering but the life had gone out of the picnic now and out of
everything else she got away as soon as she could and hid herself and
had what her sex call a good cry then she sat moody with wounded
pride till the bell rang she roused up now with a vindictive cast
in her eye and gave her plaited tails a shake and said she knew what
 she'd do 

at recess tom continued his flirtation with amy with jubilant
self-satisfaction and he kept drifting about to find becky and lacerate
her with the performance at last he spied her but there was a sudden
falling of his mercury she was sitting cosily on a little bench behind
the schoolhouse looking at a picture-book with alfred temple and so
absorbed were they and their heads so close together over the book 
that they did not seem to be conscious of anything in the world besides 
jealousy ran red-hot through tom's veins he began to hate himself for
throwing away the chance becky had offered for a reconciliation he
called himself a fool and all the hard names he could think of he
wanted to cry with vexation amy chatted happily along as they walked 
for her heart was singing but tom's tongue had lost its function he
did not hear what amy was saying and whenever she paused expectantly
he could only stammer an awkward assent which was as often misplaced
as otherwise he kept drifting to the rear of the schoolhouse again and
again to sear his eyeballs with the hateful spectacle there he could
not help it and it maddened him to see as he thought he saw that
becky thatcher never once suspected that he was even in the land of the
living but she did see nevertheless and she knew she was winning her
fight too and was glad to see him suffer as she had suffered 

amy's happy prattle became intolerable tom hinted at things he had
to attend to things that must be done and time was fleeting but in
vain the girl chirped on tom thought oh hang her ain't i ever going
to get rid of her at last he must be attending to those things and she
said artlessly that she would be around when school let out and he
hastened away hating her for it 

 any other boy tom thought grating his teeth any boy in the whole
town but that saint louis smarty that thinks he dresses so fine and is
aristocracy oh all right i licked you the first day you ever saw this
town mister and i'll lick you again you just wait till i catch you
out i'll just take and 

and he went through the motions of thrashing an imaginary boy pummelling
the air and kicking and gouging oh you do do you you holler
'nough do you now then let that learn you and so the imaginary
flogging was finished to his satisfaction 

tom fled home at noon his conscience could not endure any more of amy's
grateful happiness and his jealousy could bear no more of the other
distress becky resumed her picture inspections with alfred but as the
minutes dragged along and no tom came to suffer her triumph began to
cloud and she lost interest gravity and absentmindedness followed 
and then melancholy two or three times she pricked up her ear at
a footstep but it was a false hope no tom came at last she grew
entirely miserable and wished she hadn't carried it so far when
poor alfred seeing that he was losing her he did not know how kept
exclaiming oh here's a jolly one look at this she lost patience at
last and said oh don't bother me i don't care for them and burst
into tears and got up and walked away 

alfred dropped alongside and was going to try to comfort her but she
said 

 go away and leave me alone can't you i hate you 

so the boy halted wondering what he could have done for she had said
she would look at pictures all through the nooning and she walked on 
crying then alfred went musing into the deserted schoolhouse he was
humiliated and angry he easily guessed his way to the truth the girl
had simply made a convenience of him to vent her spite upon tom sawyer 
he was far from hating tom the less when this thought occurred to him 
he wished there was some way to get that boy into trouble without much
risk to himself tom's spelling-book fell under his eye here was his
opportunity he gratefully opened to the lesson for the afternoon and
poured ink upon the page 

becky glancing in at a window behind him at the moment saw the act 
and moved on without discovering herself she started homeward now 
intending to find tom and tell him tom would be thankful and their
troubles would be healed before she was half way home however she
had changed her mind the thought of tom's treatment of her when she was
talking about her picnic came scorching back and filled her with shame 
she resolved to let him get whipped on the damaged spelling-book's
account and to hate him forever into the bargain 




chapter xix

tom arrived at home in a dreary mood and the first thing his aunt said
to him showed him that he had brought his sorrows to an unpromising
market 

 tom i've a notion to skin you alive 

 auntie what have i done 

 well you've done enough here i go over to sereny harper like an old
softy expecting i'm going to make her believe all that rubbage about
that dream when lo and behold you she'd found out from joe that you was
over here and heard all the talk we had that night tom i don't know
what is to become of a boy that will act like that it makes me feel so
bad to think you could let me go to sereny harper and make such a fool
of myself and never say a word 

this was a new aspect of the thing his smartness of the morning had
seemed to tom a good joke before and very ingenious it merely looked
mean and shabby now he hung his head and could not think of anything to
say for a moment then he said 

 auntie i wish i hadn't done it but i didn't think 

 oh child you never think you never think of anything but your
own selfishness you could think to come all the way over here from
jackson's island in the night to laugh at our troubles and you could
think to fool me with a lie about a dream but you couldn't ever think
to pity us and save us from sorrow 

 auntie i know now it was mean but i didn't mean to be mean i didn't 
honest and besides i didn't come over here to laugh at you that
night 

 what did you come for then 

 it was to tell you not to be uneasy about us because we hadn't got
drownded 

 tom tom i would be the thankfullest soul in this world if i could
believe you ever had as good a thought as that but you know you never
did and i know it tom 

 indeed and 'deed i did auntie i wish i may never stir if i didn't 

 oh tom don't lie don't do it it only makes things a hundred times
worse 

 it ain't a lie auntie it's the truth i wanted to keep you from
grieving that was all that made me come 

 i'd give the whole world to believe that it would cover up a power
of sins tom i'd 'most be glad you'd run off and acted so bad but it
ain't reasonable because why didn't you tell me child 

 why you see when you got to talking about the funeral i just got all
full of the idea of our coming and hiding in the church and i couldn't
somehow bear to spoil it so i just put the bark back in my pocket and
kept mum 

 what bark 

 the bark i had wrote on to tell you we'd gone pirating i wish now 
you'd waked up when i kissed you i do honest 

the hard lines in his aunt's face relaxed and a sudden tenderness dawned
in her eyes 

 did you kiss me tom 

 why yes i did 

 are you sure you did tom 

 why yes i did auntie certain sure 

 what did you kiss me for tom 

 because i loved you so and you laid there moaning and i was so sorry 

the words sounded like truth the old lady could not hide a tremor in
her voice when she said 

 kiss me again tom and be off with you to school now and don't
bother me any more 

the moment he was gone she ran to a closet and got out the ruin of a
jacket which tom had gone pirating in then she stopped with it in her
hand and said to herself 

 no i don't dare poor boy i reckon he's lied about it but it's a
blessed blessed lie there's such a comfort come from it i hope
the lord i know the lord will forgive him because it was such
good-heartedness in him to tell it but i don't want to find out it's a
lie i won't look 

she put the jacket away and stood by musing a minute twice she put out
her hand to take the garment again and twice she refrained once more
she ventured and this time she fortified herself with the thought 
 it's a good lie it's a good lie i won't let it grieve me so she
sought the jacket pocket a moment later she was reading tom's piece of
bark through flowing tears and saying i could forgive the boy now if
he'd committed a million sins 




chapter xx

there was something about aunt polly's manner when she kissed tom that
swept away his low spirits and made him lighthearted and happy again he
started to school and had the luck of coming upon becky thatcher at the
head of meadow lane his mood always determined his manner without a
moment's hesitation he ran to her and said 

 i acted mighty mean today becky and i'm so sorry i won't ever ever
do that way again as long as ever i live please make up won't you 

the girl stopped and looked him scornfully in the face 

 i'll thank you to keep yourself to yourself mr thomas sawyer i'll
never speak to you again 

she tossed her head and passed on tom was so stunned that he had not
even presence of mind enough to say who cares miss smarty until the
right time to say it had gone by so he said nothing but he was in a
fine rage nevertheless he moped into the schoolyard wishing she were
a boy and imagining how he would trounce her if she were he presently
encountered her and delivered a stinging remark as he passed she hurled
one in return and the angry breach was complete it seemed to becky in
her hot resentment that she could hardly wait for school to take in 
 she was so impatient to see tom flogged for the injured spelling-book 
if she had had any lingering notion of exposing alfred temple tom's
offensive fling had driven it entirely away 

poor girl she did not know how fast she was nearing trouble herself 
the master mr dobbins had reached middle age with an unsatisfied
ambition the darling of his desires was to be a doctor but
poverty had decreed that he should be nothing higher than a village
schoolmaster every day he took a mysterious book out of his desk and
absorbed himself in it at times when no classes were reciting he kept
that book under lock and key there was not an urchin in school but was
perishing to have a glimpse of it but the chance never came every boy
and girl had a theory about the nature of that book but no two theories
were alike and there was no way of getting at the facts in the case 
now as becky was passing by the desk which stood near the door she
noticed that the key was in the lock it was a precious moment she
glanced around found herself alone and the next instant she had the
book in her hands the titlepage professor somebody's anatomy carried
no information to her mind so she began to turn the leaves she came at
once upon a handsomely engraved and colored frontispiece a human figure 
stark naked at that moment a shadow fell on the page and tom sawyer
stepped in at the door and caught a glimpse of the picture becky
snatched at the book to close it and had the hard luck to tear the
pictured page half down the middle she thrust the volume into the desk 
turned the key and burst out crying with shame and vexation 

 tom sawyer you are just as mean as you can be to sneak up on a person
and look at what they're looking at 

 how could i know you was looking at anything 

 you ought to be ashamed of yourself tom sawyer you know you're
going to tell on me and oh what shall i do what shall i do i'll be
whipped and i never was whipped in school 

then she stamped her little foot and said 

 be so mean if you want to i know something that's going to happen 
you just wait and you'll see hateful hateful hateful and she flung
out of the house with a new explosion of crying 

tom stood still rather flustered by this onslaught presently he said
to himself 

 what a curious kind of a fool a girl is never been licked in
school shucks what's a licking that's just like a girl they're so
thin-skinned and chicken-hearted well of course i ain't going to tell
old dobbins on this little fool because there's other ways of getting
even on her that ain't so mean but what of it old dobbins will ask
who it was tore his book nobody'll answer then he'll do just the way
he always does ask first one and then t'other and when he comes to the
right girl he'll know it without any telling girls' faces always tell
on them they ain't got any backbone she'll get licked well it's a
kind of a tight place for becky thatcher because there ain't any way
out of it tom conned the thing a moment longer and then added all
right though she'd like to see me in just such a fix let her sweat it
out 

tom joined the mob of skylarking scholars outside in a few moments the
master arrived and school took in tom did not feel a strong interest
in his studies every time he stole a glance at the girls' side of the
room becky's face troubled him considering all things he did not want
to pity her and yet it was all he could do to help it he could get
up no exultation that was really worthy the name presently the
spelling-book discovery was made and tom's mind was entirely full
of his own matters for a while after that becky roused up from her
lethargy of distress and showed good interest in the proceedings she
did not expect that tom could get out of his trouble by denying that he
spilt the ink on the book himself and she was right the denial only
seemed to make the thing worse for tom becky supposed she would be glad
of that and she tried to believe she was glad of it but she found she
was not certain when the worst came to the worst she had an impulse
to get up and tell on alfred temple but she made an effort and forced
herself to keep still because said she to herself he'll tell about me
tearing the picture sure i wouldn't say a word not to save his life 

tom took his whipping and went back to his seat not at all
broken-hearted for he thought it was possible that he had unknowingly
upset the ink on the spelling-book himself in some skylarking bout he
had denied it for form's sake and because it was custom and had stuck
to the denial from principle 

a whole hour drifted by the master sat nodding in his throne the air
was drowsy with the hum of study by and by mr dobbins straightened
himself up yawned then unlocked his desk and reached for his book 
but seemed undecided whether to take it out or leave it most of the
pupils glanced up languidly but there were two among them that watched
his movements with intent eyes mr dobbins fingered his book absently
for a while then took it out and settled himself in his chair to read 
tom shot a glance at becky he had seen a hunted and helpless rabbit
look as she did with a gun levelled at its head instantly he forgot
his quarrel with her quick something must be done done in a flash 
too but the very imminence of the emergency paralyzed his invention 
good he had an inspiration he would run and snatch the book spring
through the door and fly but his resolution shook for one little
instant and the chance was lost the master opened the volume if tom
only had the wasted opportunity back again too late there was no help
for becky now he said the next moment the master faced the school 
every eye sank under his gaze there was that in it which smote even
the innocent with fear there was silence while one might count ten the
master was gathering his wrath then he spoke who tore this book 

there was not a sound one could have heard a pin drop the stillness
continued the master searched face after face for signs of guilt 

 benjamin rogers did you tear this book 

a denial another pause 

 joseph harper did you 

another denial tom's uneasiness grew more and more intense under the
slow torture of these proceedings the master scanned the ranks of
boys considered a while then turned to the girls 

 amy lawrence 

a shake of the head 

 gracie miller 

the same sign 

 susan harper did you do this 

another negative the next girl was becky thatcher tom was trembling
from head to foot with excitement and a sense of the hopelessness of the
situation 

 rebecca thatcher [tom glanced at her face it was white with
terror] did you tear no look me in the face [her hands rose in
appeal] did you tear this book 

a thought shot like lightning through tom's brain he sprang to his feet
and shouted i done it 

the school stared in perplexity at this incredible folly tom stood a
moment to gather his dismembered faculties and when he stepped forward
to go to his punishment the surprise the gratitude the adoration that
shone upon him out of poor becky's eyes seemed pay enough for a hundred
floggings inspired by the splendor of his own act he took without
an outcry the most merciless flaying that even mr dobbins had ever
administered and also received with indifference the added cruelty of a
command to remain two hours after school should be dismissed for he
knew who would wait for him outside till his captivity was done and not
count the tedious time as loss either 

tom went to bed that night planning vengeance against alfred temple for
with shame and repentance becky had told him all not forgetting her own
treachery but even the longing for vengeance had to give way soon to
pleasanter musings and he fell asleep at last with becky's latest words
lingering dreamily in his ear 

 tom how could you be so noble 




chapter xxi

vacation was approaching the schoolmaster always severe grew severer
and more exacting than ever for he wanted the school to make a good
showing on examination day his rod and his ferule were seldom idle
now at least among the smaller pupils only the biggest boys and young
ladies of eighteen and twenty escaped lashing mr dobbins' lashings
were very vigorous ones too for although he carried under his wig a
perfectly bald and shiny head he had only reached middle age and there
was no sign of feebleness in his muscle as the great day approached 
all the tyranny that was in him came to the surface he seemed to take a
vindictive pleasure in punishing the least shortcomings the consequence
was that the smaller boys spent their days in terror and suffering and
their nights in plotting revenge they threw away no opportunity to do
the master a mischief but he kept ahead all the time the retribution
that followed every vengeful success was so sweeping and majestic that
the boys always retired from the field badly worsted at last they
conspired together and hit upon a plan that promised a dazzling victory 
they swore in the signpainter's boy told him the scheme and asked his
help he had his own reasons for being delighted for the master boarded
in his father's family and had given the boy ample cause to hate him 
the master's wife would go on a visit to the country in a few days and
there would be nothing to interfere with the plan the master always
prepared himself for great occasions by getting pretty well fuddled and
the signpainter's boy said that when the dominie had reached the proper
condition on examination evening he would manage the thing while he
napped in his chair then he would have him awakened at the right time
and hurried away to school 

in the fulness of time the interesting occasion arrived at eight in
the evening the schoolhouse was brilliantly lighted and adorned with
wreaths and festoons of foliage and flowers the master sat throned in
his great chair upon a raised platform with his blackboard behind him 
he was looking tolerably mellow three rows of benches on each side and
six rows in front of him were occupied by the dignitaries of the town
and by the parents of the pupils to his left back of the rows of
citizens was a spacious temporary platform upon which were seated the
scholars who were to take part in the exercises of the evening rows of
small boys washed and dressed to an intolerable state of discomfort 
rows of gawky big boys snowbanks of girls and young ladies clad in
lawn and muslin and conspicuously conscious of their bare arms their
grandmothers' ancient trinkets their bits of pink and blue ribbon and
the flowers in their hair all the rest of the house was filled with
non-participating scholars 

the exercises began a very little boy stood up and sheepishly recited 
 you'd scarce expect one of my age to speak in public on the stage 
 etc accompanying himself with the painfully exact and spasmodic
gestures which a machine might have used supposing the machine to be a
trifle out of order but he got through safely though cruelly scared 
and got a fine round of applause when he made his manufactured bow and
retired 

a little shamefaced girl lisped mary had a little lamb etc 
performed a compassion-inspiring curtsy got her meed of applause and
sat down flushed and happy 

tom sawyer stepped forward with conceited confidence and soared into
the unquenchable and indestructible give me liberty or give me death 
 speech with fine fury and frantic gesticulation and broke down in the
middle of it a ghastly stage-fright seized him his legs quaked under
him and he was like to choke true he had the manifest sympathy of the
house but he had the house's silence too which was even worse than
its sympathy the master frowned and this completed the disaster tom
struggled awhile and then retired utterly defeated there was a weak
attempt at applause but it died early 

 the boy stood on the burning deck followed also the assyrian came
down and other declamatory gems then there were reading exercises 
and a spelling fight the meagre latin class recited with honor the
prime feature of the evening was in order now original compositions 
 by the young ladies each in her turn stepped forward to the edge of the
platform cleared her throat held up her manuscript tied with dainty
ribbon and proceeded to read with labored attention to expression 
 and punctuation the themes were the same that had been illuminated upon
similar occasions by their mothers before them their grandmothers 
and doubtless all their ancestors in the female line clear back to the
crusades friendship was one memories of other days religion in
history dream land the advantages of culture forms of political
government compared and contrasted melancholy filial love heart
longings etc etc 

a prevalent feature in these compositions was a nursed and petted
melancholy another was a wasteful and opulent gush of fine language 
another was a tendency to lug in by the ears particularly prized words
and phrases until they were worn entirely out and a peculiarity that
conspicuously marked and marred them was the inveterate and intolerable
sermon that wagged its crippled tail at the end of each and every one
of them no matter what the subject might be a brainracking effort was
made to squirm it into some aspect or other that the moral and religious
mind could contemplate with edification the glaring insincerity of
these sermons was not sufficient to compass the banishment of the
fashion from the schools and it is not sufficient today it never will
be sufficient while the world stands perhaps there is no school in
all our land where the young ladies do not feel obliged to close their
compositions with a sermon and you will find that the sermon of the
most frivolous and the least religious girl in the school is always
the longest and the most relentlessly pious but enough of this homely
truth is unpalatable 

let us return to the examination the first composition that was read
was one entitled is this then life perhaps the reader can endure an
extract from it 

 in the common walks of life with what delightful emotions does the
youthful mind look forward to some anticipated scene of festivity 
imagination is busy sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy in fancy the
voluptuous votary of fashion sees herself amid the festive throng 'the
observed of all observers ' her graceful form arrayed in snowy robes 
is whirling through the mazes of the joyous dance her eye is brightest 
her step is lightest in the gay assembly 

 in such delicious fancies time quickly glides by and the welcome hour
arrives for her entrance into the elysian world of which she has
had such bright dreams how fairy-like does everything appear to her
enchanted vision each new scene is more charming than the last but
after a while she finds that beneath this goodly exterior all is
vanity the flattery which once charmed her soul now grates harshly
upon her ear the ballroom has lost its charms and with wasted health
and imbittered heart she turns away with the conviction that earthly
pleasures cannot satisfy the longings of the soul 

and so forth and so on there was a buzz of gratification from time to
time during the reading accompanied by whispered ejaculations of how
sweet how eloquent so true etc and after the thing had closed
with a peculiarly afflicting sermon the applause was enthusiastic 

then arose a slim melancholy girl whose face had the interesting 
 paleness that comes of pills and indigestion and read a poem two
stanzas of it will do 

 a missouri maiden's farewell to alabama

 alabama goodbye i love thee well but yet for a while do i leave thee
now sad yes sad thoughts of thee my heart doth swell and burning
recollections throng my brow for i have wandered through thy flowery
woods have roamed and read near tallapoosa's stream have listened to
tallassee's warring floods and wooed on coosa's side aurora's beam 

 yet shame i not to bear an o'erfull heart nor blush to turn behind
my tearful eyes 'tis from no stranger land i now must part 'tis to no
strangers left i yield these sighs welcome and home were mine within
this state whose vales i leave whose spires fade fast from me and cold
must be mine eyes and heart and tete when dear alabama they turn
cold on thee there were very few there who knew what tete meant but
the poem was very satisfactory nevertheless 

next appeared a dark-complexioned black-eyed black-haired young lady 
who paused an impressive moment assumed a tragic expression and began
to read in a measured solemn tone 

 a vision

 dark and tempestuous was night around the throne on high not a single
star quivered but the deep intonations of the heavy thunder constantly
vibrated upon the ear whilst the terrific lightning revelled in angry
mood through the cloudy chambers of heaven seeming to scorn the power
exerted over its terror by the illustrious franklin even the boisterous
winds unanimously came forth from their mystic homes and blustered
about as if to enhance by their aid the wildness of the scene 

 at such a time so dark so dreary for human sympathy my very spirit
sighed but instead thereof 

 'my dearest friend my counsellor my comforter and guide my joy in
grief my second bliss in joy ' came to my side she moved like one of
those bright beings pictured in the sunny walks of fancy's eden by
the romantic and young a queen of beauty unadorned save by her own
transcendent loveliness so soft was her step it failed to make even a
sound and but for the magical thrill imparted by her genial touch 
as other unobtrusive beauties she would have glided away
unperceived unsought a strange sadness rested upon her features like
icy tears upon the robe of december as she pointed to the contending
elements without and bade me contemplate the two beings presented 

this nightmare occupied some ten pages of manuscript and wound up with a
sermon so destructive of all hope to non-presbyterians that it took
the first prize this composition was considered to be the very finest
effort of the evening the mayor of the village in delivering the prize
to the author of it made a warm speech in which he said that it was by
far the most eloquent thing he had ever listened to and that daniel
webster himself might well be proud of it 

it may be remarked in passing that the number of compositions in which
the word beauteous was over-fondled and human experience referred to
as life's page was up to the usual average 

now the master mellow almost to the verge of geniality put his chair
aside turned his back to the audience and began to draw a map of
america on the blackboard to exercise the geography class upon but he
made a sad business of it with his unsteady hand and a smothered titter
rippled over the house he knew what the matter was and set himself to
right it he sponged out lines and remade them but he only distorted
them more than ever and the tittering was more pronounced he threw his
entire attention upon his work now as if determined not to be put down
by the mirth he felt that all eyes were fastened upon him he imagined
he was succeeding and yet the tittering continued it even manifestly
increased and well it might there was a garret above pierced with
a scuttle over his head and down through this scuttle came a cat 
suspended around the haunches by a string she had a rag tied about
her head and jaws to keep her from mewing as she slowly descended she
curved upward and clawed at the string she swung downward and clawed
at the intangible air the tittering rose higher and higher the cat was
within six inches of the absorbed teacher's head down down a little
lower and she grabbed his wig with her desperate claws clung to it 
and was snatched up into the garret in an instant with her trophy still
in her possession and how the light did blaze abroad from the master's
bald pate for the signpainter's boy had gilded it 

that broke up the meeting the boys were avenged vacation had come 

note the pretended compositions quoted in this chapter are taken
without alteration from a volume entitled prose and poetry by a
western lady but they are exactly and precisely after the schoolgirl
pattern and hence are much happier than any mere imitations could be 




chapter xxii

tom joined the new order of cadets of temperance being attracted by the
showy character of their regalia he promised to abstain from smoking 
chewing and profanity as long as he remained a member now he found out
a new thing namely that to promise not to do a thing is the surest way
in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing tom soon
found himself tormented with a desire to drink and swear the desire
grew to be so intense that nothing but the hope of a chance to display
himself in his red sash kept him from withdrawing from the order fourth
of july was coming but he soon gave that up gave it up before he had
worn his shackles over forty-eight hours and fixed his hopes upon old
judge frazer justice of the peace who was apparently on his deathbed
and would have a big public funeral since he was so high an official 
during three days tom was deeply concerned about the judge's condition
and hungry for news of it sometimes his hopes ran high so high that
he would venture to get out his regalia and practise before the
looking-glass but the judge had a most discouraging way of fluctuating 
at last he was pronounced upon the mend and then convalescent tom was
disgusted and felt a sense of injury too he handed in his resignation
at once and that night the judge suffered a relapse and died tom
resolved that he would never trust a man like that again 

the funeral was a fine thing the cadets paraded in a style calculated
to kill the late member with envy tom was a free boy again 
however there was something in that he could drink and swear now but
found to his surprise that he did not want to the simple fact that he
could took the desire away and the charm of it 

tom presently wondered to find that his coveted vacation was beginning
to hang a little heavily on his hands 

he attempted a diary but nothing happened during three days and so he
abandoned it 

the first of all the negro minstrel shows came to town and made a
sensation tom and joe harper got up a band of performers and were happy
for two days 

even the glorious fourth was in some sense a failure for it rained
hard there was no procession in consequence and the greatest man
in the world as tom supposed mr benton an actual united states
senator proved an overwhelming disappointment for he was not
twenty-five feet high nor even anywhere in the neighborhood of it 

a circus came the boys played circus for three days afterward in tents
made of rag carpeting admission three pins for boys two for girls and
then circusing was abandoned 

a phrenologist and a mesmerizer came and went again and left the village
duller and drearier than ever 

there were some boys-and-girls' parties but they were so few and so
delightful that they only made the aching voids between ache the harder 

becky thatcher was gone to her constantinople home to stay with her
parents during vacation so there was no bright side to life anywhere 

the dreadful secret of the murder was a chronic misery it was a very
cancer for permanency and pain 

then came the measles 

during two long weeks tom lay a prisoner dead to the world and its
happenings he was very ill he was interested in nothing when he got
upon his feet at last and moved feebly downtown a melancholy change had
come over everything and every creature there had been a revival and
everybody had got religion not only the adults but even the boys and
girls tom went about hoping against hope for the sight of one blessed
sinful face but disappointment crossed him everywhere he found joe
harper studying a testament and turned sadly away from the depressing
spectacle he sought ben rogers and found him visiting the poor with a
basket of tracts he hunted up jim hollis who called his attention to
the precious blessing of his late measles as a warning every boy
he encountered added another ton to his depression and when in
desperation he flew for refuge at last to the bosom of huckleberry finn
and was received with a scriptural quotation his heart broke and he
crept home and to bed realizing that he alone of all the town was lost 
forever and forever 

and that night there came on a terrific storm with driving rain awful
claps of thunder and blinding sheets of lightning he covered his head
with the bedclothes and waited in a horror of suspense for his doom for
he had not the shadow of a doubt that all this hubbub was about him 
he believed he had taxed the forbearance of the powers above to the
extremity of endurance and that this was the result it might have
seemed to him a waste of pomp and ammunition to kill a bug with a
battery of artillery but there seemed nothing incongruous about the
getting up such an expensive thunderstorm as this to knock the turf from
under an insect like himself 

by and by the tempest spent itself and died without accomplishing its
object the boy's first impulse was to be grateful and reform his
second was to wait for there might not be any more storms 

the next day the doctors were back tom had relapsed the three weeks he
spent on his back this time seemed an entire age when he got abroad
at last he was hardly grateful that he had been spared remembering how
lonely was his estate how companionless and forlorn he was he drifted
listlessly down the street and found jim hollis acting as judge in a
juvenile court that was trying a cat for murder in the presence of her
victim a bird he found joe harper and huck finn up an alley eating a
stolen melon poor lads they like tom had suffered a relapse 




chapter xxiii

at last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred and vigorously the murder
trial came on in the court it became the absorbing topic of village
talk immediately tom could not get away from it every reference to
the murder sent a shudder to his heart for his troubled conscience
and fears almost persuaded him that these remarks were put forth in
his hearing as feelers he did not see how he could be suspected of
knowing anything about the murder but still he could not be comfortable
in the midst of this gossip it kept him in a cold shiver all the time 
he took huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him it would be some
relief to unseal his tongue for a little while to divide his burden of
distress with another sufferer moreover he wanted to assure himself
that huck had remained discreet 

 huck have you ever told anybody about that 

 'bout what 

 you know what 

 oh 'course i haven't 

 never a word 

 never a solitary word so help me what makes you ask 

 well i was afeard 

 why tom sawyer we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out 
 you know that 

tom felt more comfortable after a pause 

 huck they couldn't anybody get you to tell could they 

 get me to tell why if i wanted that halfbreed devil to drownd me they
could get me to tell they ain't no different way 

 well that's all right then i reckon we're safe as long as we keep
mum but let's swear again anyway it's more surer 

 i'm agreed 

so they swore again with dread solemnities 

 what is the talk around huck i've heard a power of it 

 talk well it's just muff potter muff potter muff potter all the
time it keeps me in a sweat constant so's i want to hide som'ers 

 that's just the same way they go on round me i reckon he's a goner 
don't you feel sorry for him sometimes 

 most always most always he ain't no account but then he hain't ever
done anything to hurt anybody just fishes a little to get money to
get drunk on and loafs around considerable but lord we all do
that leastways most of us preachers and such like but he's kind of
good he give me half a fish once when there warn't enough for two and
lots of times he's kind of stood by me when i was out of luck 

 well he's mended kites for me huck and knitted hooks on to my line 
i wish we could get him out of there 

 my we couldn't get him out tom and besides 'twouldn't do any good 
they'd ketch him again 

 yes so they would but i hate to hear 'em abuse him so like the dickens
when he never done that 

 i do too tom lord i hear 'em say he's the bloodiest looking villain
in this country and they wonder he wasn't ever hung before 

 yes they talk like that all the time i've heard 'em say that if he
was to get free they'd lynch him 

 and they'd do it too 

the boys had a long talk but it brought them little comfort as the
twilight drew on they found themselves hanging about the neighborhood
of the little isolated jail perhaps with an undefined hope that
something would happen that might clear away their difficulties but
nothing happened there seemed to be no angels or fairies interested in
this luckless captive 

the boys did as they had often done before went to the cell grating and
gave potter some tobacco and matches he was on the ground floor and
there were no guards 

his gratitude for their gifts had always smote their consciences
before it cut deeper than ever this time they felt cowardly and
treacherous to the last degree when potter said 

 you've been mighty good to me boys better'n anybody else in this town 
and i don't forget it i don't often i says to myself says i 'i used
to mend all the boys' kites and things and show 'em where the good
fishin' places was and befriend 'em what i could and now they've
all forgot old muff when he's in trouble but tom don't and huck
don't they don't forget him says i 'and i don't forget them ' well 
boys i done an awful thing drunk and crazy at the time that's the only
way i account for it and now i got to swing for it and it's right 
right and best too i reckon hope so anyway well we won't talk
about that i don't want to make you feel bad you've befriended me 
but what i want to say is don't you ever get drunk then you won't
ever get here stand a litter furder west so that's it it's a prime
comfort to see faces that's friendly when a body's in such a muck
of trouble and there don't none come here but yourn good friendly
faces good friendly faces git up on one another's backs and let me
touch 'em that's it shake hands yourn'll come through the bars but
mine's too big little hands and weak but they've helped muff potter a
power and they'd help him more if they could 

tom went home miserable and his dreams that night were full of horrors 
the next day and the day after he hung about the courtroom drawn by an
almost irresistible impulse to go in but forcing himself to stay out 
huck was having the same experience they studiously avoided each other 
each wandered away from time to time but the same dismal fascination
always brought them back presently tom kept his ears open when idlers
sauntered out of the courtroom but invariably heard distressing
news the toils were closing more and more relentlessly around poor
potter at the end of the second day the village talk was to the effect
that injun joe's evidence stood firm and unshaken and that there was
not the slightest question as to what the jury's verdict would be 

tom was out late that night and came to bed through the window he
was in a tremendous state of excitement it was hours before he got to
sleep all the village flocked to the courthouse the next morning for
this was to be the great day both sexes were about equally represented
in the packed audience after a long wait the jury filed in and took
their places shortly afterward potter pale and haggard timid and
hopeless was brought in with chains upon him and seated where all
the curious eyes could stare at him no less conspicuous was injun joe 
stolid as ever there was another pause and then the judge arrived and
the sheriff proclaimed the opening of the court the usual whisperings
among the lawyers and gathering together of papers followed these
details and accompanying delays worked up an atmosphere of preparation
that was as impressive as it was fascinating 

now a witness was called who testified that he found muff potter washing
in the brook at an early hour of the morning that the murder was
discovered and that he immediately sneaked away after some further
questioning counsel for the prosecution said 

 take the witness 

the prisoner raised his eyes for a moment but dropped them again when
his own counsel said 

 i have no questions to ask him 

the next witness proved the finding of the knife near the corpse 
counsel for the prosecution said 

 take the witness 

 i have no questions to ask him potter's lawyer replied 

a third witness swore he had often seen the knife in potter's
possession 

 take the witness 

counsel for potter declined to question him the faces of the audience
began to betray annoyance did this attorney mean to throw away his
client's life without an effort 

several witnesses deposed concerning potter's guilty behavior when
brought to the scene of the murder they were allowed to leave the stand
without being cross-questioned 

every detail of the damaging circumstances that occurred in the
graveyard upon that morning which all present remembered so well was
brought out by credible witnesses but none of them were cross-examined
by potter's lawyer the perplexity and dissatisfaction of the house
expressed itself in murmurs and provoked a reproof from the bench 
counsel for the prosecution now said 

 by the oaths of citizens whose simple word is above suspicion we have
fastened this awful crime beyond all possibility of question upon the
unhappy prisoner at the bar we rest our case here 

a groan escaped from poor potter and he put his face in his hands and
rocked his body softly to and fro while a painful silence reigned
in the courtroom many men were moved and many women's compassion
testified itself in tears counsel for the defence rose and said 

 your honor in our remarks at the opening of this trial we
foreshadowed our purpose to prove that our client did this fearful deed
while under the influence of a blind and irresponsible delirium produced
by drink we have changed our mind we shall not offer that plea [then
to the clerk ] call thomas sawyer 

a puzzled amazement awoke in every face in the house not even excepting
potter's every eye fastened itself with wondering interest upon tom as
he rose and took his place upon the stand the boy looked wild enough 
for he was badly scared the oath was administered 

 thomas sawyer where were you on the seventeenth of june about the
hour of midnight 

tom glanced at injun joe's iron face and his tongue failed him the
audience listened breathless but the words refused to come after a few
moments however the boy got a little of his strength back and managed
to put enough of it into his voice to make part of the house hear 

 in the graveyard 

 a little bit louder please don't be afraid you were 

 in the graveyard 

a contemptuous smile flitted across injun joe's face 

 were you anywhere near horse williams' grave 

 yes sir 

 speak up just a trifle louder how near were you 

 near as i am to you 

 were you hidden or not 

 i was hid 

 where 

 behind the elms that's on the edge of the grave 

injun joe gave a barely perceptible start 

 any one with you 

 yes sir i went there with 

 wait wait a moment never mind mentioning your companion's name we
will produce him at the proper time did you carry anything there with
you 

tom hesitated and looked confused 

 speak out my boy don't be diffident the truth is always respectable 
what did you take there 

 only a a dead cat 

there was a ripple of mirth which the court checked 

 we will produce the skeleton of that cat now my boy tell us
everything that occurred tell it in your own way don't skip anything 
and don't be afraid 

tom began hesitatingly at first but as he warmed to his subject his
words flowed more and more easily in a little while every sound ceased
but his own voice every eye fixed itself upon him with parted lips and
bated breath the audience hung upon his words taking no note of time 
rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale the strain upon pent
emotion reached its climax when the boy said 

 and as the doctor fetched the board around and muff potter fell injun
joe jumped with the knife and 

crash quick as lightning the halfbreed sprang for a window tore his
way through all opposers and was gone 




chapter xxiv

tom was a glittering hero once more the pet of the old the envy of the
young his name even went into immortal print for the village paper
magnified him there were some that believed he would be president yet 
if he escaped hanging 

as usual the fickle unreasoning world took muff potter to its bosom
and fondled him as lavishly as it had abused him before but that sort
of conduct is to the world's credit therefore it is not well to find
fault with it 

tom's days were days of splendor and exultation to him but his nights
were seasons of horror injun joe infested all his dreams and always
with doom in his eye hardly any temptation could persuade the boy
to stir abroad after nightfall poor huck was in the same state of
wretchedness and terror for tom had told the whole story to the lawyer
the night before the great day of the trial and huck was sore afraid
that his share in the business might leak out yet notwithstanding
injun joe's flight had saved him the suffering of testifying in court 
the poor fellow had got the attorney to promise secrecy but what of
that since tom's harassed conscience had managed to drive him to the
lawyer's house by night and wring a dread tale from lips that had
been sealed with the dismalest and most formidable of oaths huck's
confidence in the human race was wellnigh obliterated 

daily muff potter's gratitude made tom glad he had spoken but nightly
he wished he had sealed up his tongue 

half the time tom was afraid injun joe would never be captured the
other half he was afraid he would be he felt sure he never could draw a
safe breath again until that man was dead and he had seen the corpse 

rewards had been offered the country had been scoured but no injun
joe was found one of those omniscient and aweinspiring marvels a
detective came up from st louis moused around shook his head looked
wise and made that sort of astounding success which members of that
craft usually achieve that is to say he found a clew but you can't
hang a clew for murder and so after that detective had got through
and gone home tom felt just as insecure as he was before 

the slow days drifted on and each left behind it a slightly lightened
weight of apprehension 




chapter xxv

there comes a time in every rightly-constructed boy's life when he has
a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure this desire
suddenly came upon tom one day he sallied out to find joe harper 
but failed of success next he sought ben rogers he had gone fishing 
presently he stumbled upon huck finn the red-handed huck would
answer tom took him to a private place and opened the matter to him
confidentially huck was willing huck was always willing to take a hand
in any enterprise that offered entertainment and required no capital 
for he had a troublesome superabundance of that sort of time which is
not money where'll we dig said huck 

 oh most anywhere 

 why is it hid all around 

 no indeed it ain't it's hid in mighty particular places 
huck sometimes on islands sometimes in rotten chests under the end of
a limb of an old dead tree just where the shadow falls at midnight but
mostly under the floor in ha'nted houses 

 who hides it 

 why robbers of course who'd you reckon sunday-school
sup'rintendents 

 i don't know if 'twas mine i wouldn't hide it i'd spend it and have a
good time 

 so would i but robbers don't do that way they always hide it and
leave it there 

 don't they come after it any more 

 no they think they will but they generally forget the marks or else
they die anyway it lays there a long time and gets rusty and by and
by somebody finds an old yellow paper that tells how to find the marks a
paper that's got to be ciphered over about a week because it's mostly
signs and hy'roglyphics 

 hyro which 

 hy'roglyphics pictures and things you know that don't seem to mean
anything 

 have you got one of them papers tom 

 no 

 well then how you going to find the marks 

 i don't want any marks they always bury it under a ha'nted house or on
an island or under a dead tree that's got one limb sticking out well 
we've tried jackson's island a little and we can try it again some
time and there's the old ha'nted house up the still-house branch and
there's lots of dead-limb trees dead loads of 'em 

 is it under all of them 

 how you talk no 

 then how you going to know which one to go for 

 go for all of 'em 

 why tom it'll take all summer 

 well what of that suppose you find a brass pot with a hundred dollars
in it all rusty and gray or rotten chest full of di'monds how's
that 

huck's eyes glowed 

 that's bully plenty bully enough for me just you gimme the hundred
dollars and i don't want no di'monds 

 all right but i bet you i ain't going to throw off on di'monds some
of 'em's worth twenty dollars apiece there ain't any hardly but's
worth six bits or a dollar 

 no is that so 

 cert'nly anybody'll tell you so hain't you ever seen one huck 

 not as i remember 

 oh kings have slathers of them 

 well i don' know no kings tom 

 i reckon you don't but if you was to go to europe you'd see a raft of
'em hopping around 

 do they hop 

 hop your granny no 

 well what did you say they did for 

 shucks i only meant you'd see 'em not hopping of course what do
they want to hop for but i mean you'd just see 'em scattered around 
you know in a kind of a general way like that old humpbacked richard 

 richard what's his other name 

 he didn't have any other name kings don't have any but a given name 

 no 

 but they don't 

 well if they like it tom all right but i don't want to be a king
and have only just a given name like a nigger but say where you going
to dig first 

 well i don't know s'pose we tackle that old dead-limb tree on the
hill t'other side of still-house branch 

 i'm agreed 

so they got a crippled pick and a shovel and set out on their
three-mile tramp they arrived hot and panting and threw themselves
down in the shade of a neighboring elm to rest and have a smoke 

 i like this said tom 

 so do i 

 say huck if we find a treasure here what you going to do with your
share 

 well i'll have pie and a glass of soda every day and i'll go to every
circus that comes along i bet i'll have a gay time 

 well ain't you going to save any of it 

 save it what for 

 why so as to have something to live on by and by 

 oh that ain't any use pap would come back to thish-yer town some day
and get his claws on it if i didn't hurry up and i tell you he'd clean
it out pretty quick what you going to do with yourn tom 

 i'm going to buy a new drum and a sure'nough sword and a red necktie
and a bull pup and get married 

 married 

 that's it 

 tom you why you ain't in your right mind 

 wait you'll see 

 well that's the foolishest thing you could do look at pap and my
mother fight why they used to fight all the time i remember mighty
well 

 that ain't anything the girl i'm going to marry won't fight 

 tom i reckon they're all alike they'll all comb a body now you
better think 'bout this awhile i tell you you better what's the name
of the gal 

 it ain't a gal at all it's a girl 

 it's all the same i reckon some says gal some says girl both's
right like enough anyway what's her name tom 

 i'll tell you some time not now 

 all right that'll do only if you get married i'll be more lonesomer
than ever 

 no you won't you'll come and live with me now stir out of this and
we'll go to digging 

they worked and sweated for half an hour no result they toiled another
halfhour still no result huck said 

 do they always bury it as deep as this 

 sometimes not always not generally i reckon we haven't got the right
place 

so they chose a new spot and began again the labor dragged a little 
but still they made progress they pegged away in silence for some time 
finally huck leaned on his shovel swabbed the beaded drops from his
brow with his sleeve and said 

 where you going to dig next after we get this one 

 i reckon maybe we'll tackle the old tree that's over yonder on cardiff
hill back of the widow's 

 i reckon that'll be a good one but won't the widow take it away from
us tom it's on her land 

 she take it away maybe she'd like to try it once whoever finds one
of these hid treasures it belongs to him it don't make any difference
whose land it's on 

that was satisfactory the work went on by and by huck said 

 blame it we must be in the wrong place again what do you think 

 it is mighty curious huck i don't understand it sometimes witches
interfere i reckon maybe that's what's the trouble now 

 shucks witches ain't got no power in the daytime 

 well that's so i didn't think of that oh i know what the matter is 
what a blamed lot of fools we are you got to find out where the shadow
of the limb falls at midnight and that's where you dig 

 then consound it we've fooled away all this work for nothing now hang
it all we got to come back in the night it's an awful long way can
you get out 

 i bet i will we've got to do it tonight too because if somebody sees
these holes they'll know in a minute what's here and they'll go for it 

 well i'll come around and maow tonight 

 all right let's hide the tools in the bushes 

the boys were there that night about the appointed time they sat in
the shadow waiting it was a lonely place and an hour made solemn by
old traditions spirits whispered in the rustling leaves ghosts lurked
in the murky nooks the deep baying of a hound floated up out of the
distance an owl answered with his sepulchral note the boys were
subdued by these solemnities and talked little by and by they judged
that twelve had come they marked where the shadow fell and began to
dig their hopes commenced to rise their interest grew stronger and
their industry kept pace with it the hole deepened and still deepened 
but every time their hearts jumped to hear the pick strike upon
something they only suffered a new disappointment it was only a stone
or a chunk at last tom said 

 it ain't any use huck we're wrong again 

 well but we can't be wrong we spotted the shadder to a dot 

 i know it but then there's another thing 

 what's that 

 why we only guessed at the time like enough it was too late or too
early 

huck dropped his shovel 

 that's it said he that's the very trouble we got to give this one
up we can't ever tell the right time and besides this kind of thing's
too awful here this time of night with witches and ghosts a-fluttering
around so i feel as if something's behind me all the time  and i'm
afeard to turn around becuz maybe there's others in front a-waiting for
a chance i been creeping all over ever since i got here 

 well i've been pretty much so too huck they most always put in a
dead man when they bury a treasure under a tree to look out for it 

 lordy 

 yes they do i've always heard that 

 tom i don't like to fool around much where there's dead people a
body's bound to get into trouble with 'em sure 

 i don't like to stir 'em up either s'pose this one here was to stick
his skull out and say something 

 don't tom it's awful 

 well it just is huck i don't feel comfortable a bit 

 say tom let's give this place up and try somewheres else 

 all right i reckon we better 

 what'll it be 

tom considered awhile and then said 

 the ha'nted house that's it 

 blame it i don't like ha'nted houses tom why they're a dern sight
worse'n dead people dead people might talk maybe but they don't come
sliding around in a shroud when you ain't noticing and peep over your
shoulder all of a sudden and grit their teeth the way a ghost does i
couldn't stand such a thing as that tom nobody could 

 yes but huck ghosts don't travel around only at night they won't
hender us from digging there in the daytime 

 well that's so but you know mighty well people don't go about that
ha'nted house in the day nor the night 

 well that's mostly because they don't like to go where a man's been
murdered anyway but nothing's ever been seen around that house except
in the night just some blue lights slipping by the windows no regular
ghosts 

 well where you see one of them blue lights flickering around tom 
you can bet there's a ghost mighty close behind it it stands to reason 
becuz you know that they don't anybody but ghosts use 'em 

 yes that's so but anyway they don't come around in the daytime so
what's the use of our being afeard 

 well all right we'll tackle the ha'nted house if you say so but i
reckon it's taking chances 

they had started down the hill by this time there in the middle of the
moonlit valley below them stood the ha'nted house utterly isolated 
its fences gone long ago rank weeds smothering the very doorsteps the
chimney crumbled to ruin the window-sashes vacant a corner of the roof
caved in the boys gazed awhile half expecting to see a blue light flit
past a window then talking in a low tone as befitted the time and the
circumstances they struck far off to the right to give the haunted
house a wide berth and took their way homeward through the woods that
adorned the rearward side of cardiff hill 




chapter xvi

about noon the next day the boys arrived at the dead tree they had come
for their tools tom was impatient to go to the haunted house huck was
measurably so also but suddenly said 

 lookyhere tom do you know what day it is 

tom mentally ran over the days of the week and then quickly lifted his
eyes with a startled look in them 

 my i never once thought of it huck 

 well i didn't neither but all at once it popped onto me that it was
friday 

 blame it a body can't be too careful huck we might 'a' got into an
awful scrape tackling such a thing on a friday 

 might better say we would there's some lucky days maybe but
friday ain't 

 any fool knows that i don't reckon you was the first that found it
out huck 

 well i never said i was did i and friday ain't all neither i had a
rotten bad dream last night dreampt about rats 

 no sure sign of trouble did they fight 

 no 

 well that's good huck when they don't fight it's only a sign that
there's trouble around you know all we got to do is to look mighty
sharp and keep out of it we'll drop this thing for today and play do
you know robin hood huck 

 no who's robin hood 

 why he was one of the greatest men that was ever in england and the
best he was a robber 

 cracky i wisht i was who did he rob 

 only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings and such like but
he never bothered the poor he loved 'em he always divided up with 'em
perfectly square 

 well he must 'a' been a brick 

 i bet you he was huck oh he was the noblest man that ever was 
they ain't any such men now i can tell you he could lick any man in
england with one hand tied behind him and he could take his yew bow
and plug a ten-cent piece every time a mile and a half 

 what's a yew bow 

 i don't know it's some kind of a bow of course and if he hit that
dime only on the edge he would set down and cry and curse but we'll
play robin hood it's nobby fun i'll learn you 

 i'm agreed 

so they played robin hood all the afternoon now and then casting a
yearning eye down upon the haunted house and passing a remark about the
morrow's prospects and possibilities there as the sun began to sink
into the west they took their way homeward athwart the long shadows
of the trees and soon were buried from sight in the forests of cardiff
hill 

on saturday shortly after noon the boys were at the dead tree again 
they had a smoke and a chat in the shade and then dug a little in their
last hole not with great hope but merely because tom said there were
so many cases where people had given up a treasure after getting down
within six inches of it and then somebody else had come along and
turned it up with a single thrust of a shovel the thing failed this
time however so the boys shouldered their tools and went away feeling
that they had not trifled with fortune but had fulfilled all the
requirements that belong to the business of treasure-hunting 

when they reached the haunted house there was something so weird and
grisly about the dead silence that reigned there under the baking sun 
and something so depressing about the loneliness and desolation of the
place that they were afraid for a moment to venture in then they
crept to the door and took a trembling peep they saw a weedgrown 
floorless room unplastered an ancient fireplace vacant windows 
a ruinous staircase and here there and everywhere hung ragged and
abandoned cobwebs they presently entered softly with quickened
pulses talking in whispers ears alert to catch the slightest sound 
and muscles tense and ready for instant retreat 

in a little while familiarity modified their fears and they gave the
place a critical and interested examination rather admiring their own
boldness and wondering at it too next they wanted to look upstairs 
this was something like cutting off retreat but they got to daring
each other and of course there could be but one result they threw their
tools into a corner and made the ascent up there were the same signs of
decay in one corner they found a closet that promised mystery but the
promise was a fraud there was nothing in it their courage was up now
and well in hand they were about to go down and begin work when 

 sh said tom 

 what is it whispered huck blanching with fright 

 sh there hear it 

 yes oh my let's run 

 keep still don't you budge they're coming right toward the door 

the boys stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to
knotholes in the planking and lay waiting in a misery of fear 

 they've stopped no coming here they are don't whisper another
word huck my goodness i wish i was out of this 

two men entered each boy said to himself there's the old deaf and
dumb spaniard that's been about town once or twice lately never saw
t'other man before 

 t'other was a ragged unkempt creature with nothing very pleasant
in his face the spaniard was wrapped in a serape he had bushy white
whiskers long white hair flowed from under his sombrero and he wore
green goggles when they came in t'other was talking in a low voice 
they sat down on the ground facing the door with their backs to the
wall and the speaker continued his remarks his manner became less
guarded and his words more distinct as he proceeded 

 no said he i've thought it all over and i don't like it it's
dangerous 

 dangerous grunted the deaf and dumb spaniard to the vast surprise
of the boys milksop 

this voice made the boys gasp and quake it was injun joe's there was
silence for some time then joe said 

 what's any more dangerous than that job up yonder but nothing's come of
it 

 that's different away up the river so and not another house about 
'twon't ever be known that we tried anyway long as we didn't succeed 

 well what's more dangerous than coming here in the daytime anybody
would suspicion us that saw us 

 i know that but there warn't any other place as handy after that fool
of a job i want to quit this shanty i wanted to yesterday only it
warn't any use trying to stir out of here with those infernal boys
playing over there on the hill right in full view 

 those infernal boys quaked again under the inspiration of this remark 
and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was friday and
concluded to wait a day they wished in their hearts they had waited a
year 

the two men got out some food and made a luncheon after a long and
thoughtful silence injun joe said 

 look here lad you go back up the river where you belong wait there
till you hear from me i'll take the chances on dropping into this town
just once more for a look we'll do that 'dangerous' job after i've
spied around a little and think things look well for it then for texas 
we'll leg it together 

this was satisfactory both men presently fell to yawning and injun joe
said 

 i'm dead for sleep it's your turn to watch 

he curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore his comrade stirred
him once or twice and he became quiet presently the watcher began to
nod his head drooped lower and lower both men began to snore now 

the boys drew a long grateful breath tom whispered 

 now's our chance come 

huck said 

 i can't i'd die if they was to wake 

tom urged huck held back at last tom rose slowly and softly and
started alone but the first step he made wrung such a hideous creak
from the crazy floor that he sank down almost dead with fright he never
made a second attempt the boys lay there counting the dragging moments
till it seemed to them that time must be done and eternity growing gray 
and then they were grateful to note that at last the sun was setting 

now one snore ceased injun joe sat up stared around smiled grimly upon
his comrade whose head was drooping upon his knees stirred him up with
his foot and said 

 here you're a watchman ain't you all right though nothing's
happened 

 my have i been asleep 

 oh partly partly nearly time for us to be moving pard what'll we
do with what little swag we've got left 

 i don't know leave it here as we've always done i reckon no use to
take it away till we start south six hundred and fifty in silver's
something to carry 

 well all right it won't matter to come here once more 

 no but i'd say come in the night as we used to do it's better 

 yes but look here it may be a good while before i get the right
chance at that job accidents might happen 'tain't in such a very good
place we'll just regularly bury it and bury it deep 

 good idea said the comrade who walked across the room knelt down 
raised one of the rearward hearth-stones and took out a bag that jingled
pleasantly he subtracted from it twenty or thirty dollars for himself
and as much for injun joe and passed the bag to the latter who was on
his knees in the corner now digging with his bowie-knife 

the boys forgot all their fears all their miseries in an instant with
gloating eyes they watched every movement luck the splendor of it was
beyond all imagination six hundred dollars was money enough to make
half a dozen boys rich here was treasure-hunting under the happiest
auspices there would not be any bothersome uncertainty as to where to
dig they nudged each other every moment eloquent nudges and easily
understood for they simply meant oh but ain't you glad now we're
here 

joe's knife struck upon something 

 hello said he 

 what is it said his comrade 

 half-rotten plank no it's a box i believe here bear a hand and we'll
see what it's here for never mind i've broke a hole 

he reached his hand in and drew it out 

 man it's money 

the two men examined the handful of coins they were gold the boys
above were as excited as themselves and as delighted 

joe's comrade said 

 we'll make quick work of this there's an old rusty pick over amongst
the weeds in the corner the other side of the fireplace i saw it a
minute ago 

he ran and brought the boys' pick and shovel injun joe took the
pick looked it over critically shook his head muttered something to
himself and then began to use it the box was soon unearthed it was
not very large it was iron bound and had been very strong before the
slow years had injured it the men contemplated the treasure awhile in
blissful silence 

 pard there's thousands of dollars here said injun joe 

 'twas always said that murrel's gang used to be around here one
summer the stranger observed 

 i know it said injun joe and this looks like it i should say 

 now you won't need to do that job 

the halfbreed frowned said he 

 you don't know me least you don't know all about that thing 'tain't
robbery altogether it's revenge and a wicked light flamed in his
eyes i'll need your help in it when it's finished then texas go home
to your nance and your kids and stand by till you hear from me 

 well if you say so what'll we do with this bury it again 

 yes [ravishing delight overhead ] no by the great sachem no 
[profound distress overhead ] i'd nearly forgot that pick had fresh
earth on it [the boys were sick with terror in a moment ] what business
has a pick and a shovel here what business with fresh earth on
them who brought them here and where are they gone have you heard
anybody seen anybody what bury it again and leave them to come and
see the ground disturbed not exactly not exactly we'll take it to my
den 

 why of course might have thought of that before you mean number
one 

 no number two under the cross the other place is bad too common 

 all right it's nearly dark enough to start 

injun joe got up and went about from window to window cautiously peeping
out presently he said 

 who could have brought those tools here do you reckon they can be
upstairs 

the boys' breath forsook them injun joe put his hand on his knife 
halted a moment undecided and then turned toward the stairway the
boys thought of the closet but their strength was gone the steps came
creaking up the stairs the intolerable distress of the situation woke
the stricken resolution of the lads they were about to spring for the
closet when there was a crash of rotten timbers and injun joe landed on
the ground amid the debris of the ruined stairway he gathered himself
up cursing and his comrade said 

 now what's the use of all that if it's anybody and they're up there 
let them stay there who cares if they want to jump down now and get
into trouble who objects it will be dark in fifteen minutes and then
let them follow us if they want to i'm willing in my opinion whoever
hove those things in here caught a sight of us and took us for ghosts or
devils or something i'll bet they're running yet 

joe grumbled awhile then he agreed with his friend that what daylight
was left ought to be economized in getting things ready for leaving 
shortly afterward they slipped out of the house in the deepening
twilight and moved toward the river with their precious box 

tom and huck rose up weak but vastly relieved and stared after them
through the chinks between the logs of the house follow not they they
were content to reach ground again without broken necks and take the
townward track over the hill they did not talk much they were too much
absorbed in hating themselves hating the ill luck that made them take
the spade and the pick there but for that injun joe never would have
suspected he would have hidden the silver with the gold to wait
there till his revenge was satisfied and then he would have had the
misfortune to find that money turn up missing bitter bitter luck that
the tools were ever brought there 

they resolved to keep a lookout for that spaniard when he should come to
town spying out for chances to do his revengeful job and follow him to
 number two wherever that might be then a ghastly thought occurred to
tom 

 revenge what if he means us huck 

 oh don't said huck nearly fainting 

they talked it all over and as they entered town they agreed to believe
that he might possibly mean somebody else at least that he might at
least mean nobody but tom since only tom had testified 

very very small comfort it was to tom to be alone in danger company
would be a palpable improvement he thought 




chapter xxvii

the adventure of the day mightily tormented tom's dreams that night 
four times he had his hands on that rich treasure and four times
it wasted to nothingness in his fingers as sleep forsook him and
wakefulness brought back the hard reality of his misfortune as he lay
in the early morning recalling the incidents of his great adventure he
noticed that they seemed curiously subdued and far away somewhat as if
they had happened in another world or in a time long gone by then it
occurred to him that the great adventure itself must be a dream there
was one very strong argument in favor of this idea namely that the
quantity of coin he had seen was too vast to be real he had never seen
as much as fifty dollars in one mass before and he was like all boys of
his age and station in life in that he imagined that all references to
 hundreds and thousands were mere fanciful forms of speech and that
no such sums really existed in the world he never had supposed for
a moment that so large a sum as a hundred dollars was to be found in
actual money in any one's possession if his notions of hidden treasure
had been analyzed they would have been found to consist of a handful of
real dimes and a bushel of vague splendid ungraspable dollars 

but the incidents of his adventure grew sensibly sharper and clearer
under the attrition of thinking them over and so he presently found
himself leaning to the impression that the thing might not have been a
dream after all this uncertainty must be swept away he would snatch a
hurried breakfast and go and find huck huck was sitting on the gunwale
of a flatboat listlessly dangling his feet in the water and looking
very melancholy tom concluded to let huck lead up to the subject if
he did not do it then the adventure would be proved to have been only a
dream 

 hello huck 

 hello yourself 

silence for a minute 

 tom if we'd 'a' left the blame tools at the dead tree we'd 'a' got
the money oh ain't it awful 

 'tain't a dream then 'tain't a dream somehow i most wish it was 
dog'd if i don't huck 

 what ain't a dream 

 oh that thing yesterday i been half thinking it was 

 dream if them stairs hadn't broke down you'd 'a' seen how much dream
it was i've had dreams enough all night with that patch-eyed spanish
devil going for me all through 'em rot him 

 no not rot him find him track the money 

 tom we'll never find him a feller don't have only one chance for such
a pile and that one's lost i'd feel mighty shaky if i was to see him 
anyway 

 well so'd i but i'd like to see him anyway and track him out to his
number two 

 number two yes that's it i been thinking 'bout that but i can't make
nothing out of it what do you reckon it is 

 i dono it's too deep say huck maybe it's the number of a house 

 goody no tom that ain't it if it is it ain't in this one-horse
town they ain't no numbers here 

 well that's so lemme think a minute here it's the number of a
room in a tavern you know 

 oh that's the trick they ain't only two taverns we can find out
quick 

 you stay here huck till i come 

tom was off at once he did not care to have huck's company in public
places he was gone half an hour he found that in the best tavern no 
2 had long been occupied by a young lawyer and was still so occupied 
in the less ostentatious house no 2 was a mystery the tavern-keeper's
young son said it was kept locked all the time and he never saw anybody
go into it or come out of it except at night he did not know any
particular reason for this state of things had had some little
curiosity but it was rather feeble had made the most of the mystery
by entertaining himself with the idea that that room was ha'nted had
noticed that there was a light in there the night before 

 that's what i've found out huck i reckon that's the very no 2 we're
after 

 i reckon it is tom now what you going to do 

 lemme think 

tom thought a long time then he said 

 i'll tell you the back door of that no 2 is the door that comes out
into that little close alley between the tavern and the old rattle trap
of a brick store now you get hold of all the doorkeys you can find and
i'll nip all of auntie's and the first dark night we'll go there and
try 'em and mind you keep a lookout for injun joe because he said he
was going to drop into town and spy around once more for a chance to get
his revenge if you see him you just follow him and if he don't go to
that no 2 that ain't the place 

 lordy i don't want to foller him by myself 

 why it'll be night sure he mightn't ever see you and if he did 
maybe he'd never think anything 

 well if it's pretty dark i reckon i'll track him i dono i dono i'll
try 

 you bet i'll follow him if it's dark huck why he might 'a' found
out he couldn't get his revenge and be going right after that money 

 it's so tom it's so i'll foller him i will by jingoes 

 now you're talking don't you ever weaken huck and i won't 




chapter xxviii

that night tom and huck were ready for their adventure they hung about
the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine one watching the alley
at a distance and the other the tavern door nobody entered the alley or
left it nobody resembling the spaniard entered or left the tavern
door the night promised to be a fair one so tom went home with the
understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on huck
was to come and maow whereupon he would slip out and try the keys 
but the night remained clear and huck closed his watch and retired to
bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve 

tuesday the boys had the same ill luck also wednesday but thursday
night promised better tom slipped out in good season with his aunt's
old tin lantern and a large towel to blindfold it with he hid the
lantern in huck's sugar hogshead and the watch began an hour before
midnight the tavern closed up and its lights the only ones thereabouts 
were put out no spaniard had been seen nobody had entered or left the
alley everything was auspicious the blackness of darkness reigned 
the perfect stillness was interrupted only by occasional mutterings of
distant thunder 

tom got his lantern lit it in the hogshead wrapped it closely in the
towel and the two adventurers crept in the gloom toward the tavern 
huck stood sentry and tom felt his way into the alley then there was
a season of waiting anxiety that weighed upon huck's spirits like a
mountain he began to wish he could see a flash from the lantern it
would frighten him but it would at least tell him that tom was alive
yet it seemed hours since tom had disappeared surely he must have
fainted maybe he was dead maybe his heart had burst under terror and
excitement in his uneasiness huck found himself drawing closer
and closer to the alley fearing all sorts of dreadful things and
momentarily expecting some catastrophe to happen that would take away
his breath there was not much to take away for he seemed only able to
inhale it by thimblefuls and his heart would soon wear itself out the
way it was beating suddenly there was a flash of light and tom came
tearing by him run said he run for your life 

he needn't have repeated it once was enough huck was making thirty or
forty miles an hour before the repetition was uttered the boys never
stopped till they reached the shed of a deserted slaughter-house at the
lower end of the village just as they got within its shelter the storm
burst and the rain poured down as soon as tom got his breath he said 

 huck it was awful i tried two of the keys just as soft as i could 
but they seemed to make such a power of racket that i couldn't hardly
get my breath i was so scared they wouldn't turn in the lock either 
well without noticing what i was doing i took hold of the knob and
open comes the door it warn't locked i hopped in and shook off the
towel and great caesar's ghost 

 what what'd you see tom 

 huck i most stepped onto injun joe's hand 

 no 

 yes he was lying there sound asleep on the floor with his old patch
on his eye and his arms spread out 

 lordy what did you do did he wake up 

 no never budged drunk i reckon i just grabbed that towel and
started 

 i'd never 'a' thought of the towel i bet 

 well i would my aunt would make me mighty sick if i lost it 

 say tom did you see that box 

 huck i didn't wait to look around i didn't see the box i didn't see
the cross i didn't see anything but a bottle and a tin cup on the floor
by injun joe yes i saw two barrels and lots more bottles in the room 
don't you see now what's the matter with that ha'nted room 

 how 

 why it's ha'nted with whiskey maybe all the temperance taverns have
got a ha'nted room hey huck 

 well i reckon maybe that's so who'd 'a' thought such a thing but
say tom now's a mighty good time to get that box if injun joe's
drunk 

 it is that you try it 

huck shuddered 

 well no i reckon not 

 and i reckon not huck only one bottle alongside of injun joe ain't
enough if there'd been three he'd be drunk enough and i'd do it 

there was a long pause for reflection and then tom said 

 lookyhere huck less not try that thing any more till we know injun
joe's not in there it's too scary now if we watch every night we'll
be dead sure to see him go out some time or other and then we'll
snatch that box quicker'n lightning 

 well i'm agreed i'll watch the whole night long and i'll do it every
night too if you'll do the other part of the job 

 all right i will all you got to do is to trot up hooper street a
block and maow and if i'm asleep you throw some gravel at the window
and that'll fetch me 

 agreed and good as wheat 

 now huck the storm's over and i'll go home it'll begin to be
daylight in a couple of hours you go back and watch that long will
you 

 i said i would tom and i will i'll ha'nt that tavern every night for
a year i'll sleep all day and i'll stand watch all night 

 that's all right now where you going to sleep 

 in ben rogers' hayloft he lets me and so does his pap's nigger man 
uncle jake i tote water for uncle jake whenever he wants me to and any
time i ask him he gives me a little something to eat if he can spare it 
that's a mighty good nigger tom he likes me becuz i don't ever act as
if i was above him sometime i've set right down and eat with him but
you needn't tell that a body's got to do things when he's awful hungry
he wouldn't want to do as a steady thing 

 well if i don't want you in the daytime i'll let you sleep i won't
come bothering around any time you see something's up in the night 
just skip right around and maow 




chapter xxix

the first thing tom heard on friday morning was a glad piece of
news judge thatcher's family had come back to town the night before 
both injun joe and the treasure sunk into secondary importance for a
moment and becky took the chief place in the boy's interest he saw her
and they had an exhausting good time playing hispy and gully-keeper 
 with a crowd of their schoolmates the day was completed and crowned in
a peculiarly satisfactory way becky teased her mother to appoint
the next day for the long-promised and long-delayed picnic and she
consented the child's delight was boundless and tom's not more
moderate the invitations were sent out before sunset and straightway
the young folks of the village were thrown into a fever of preparation
and pleasurable anticipation tom's excitement enabled him to keep
awake until a pretty late hour and he had good hopes of hearing huck's
 maow and of having his treasure to astonish becky and the picnickers
with next day but he was disappointed no signal came that night 

morning came eventually and by ten or eleven o'clock a giddy and
rollicking company were gathered at judge thatcher's and everything was
ready for a start it was not the custom for elderly people to mar the
picnics with their presence the children were considered safe enough
under the wings of a few young ladies of eighteen and a few young
gentlemen of twenty-three or thereabouts the old steam ferry-boat was
chartered for the occasion presently the gay throng filed up the main
street laden with provision-baskets sid was sick and had to miss
the fun mary remained at home to entertain him the last thing mrs 
thatcher said to becky was 

 you'll not get back till late perhaps you'd better stay all night with
some of the girls that live near the ferry-landing child 

 then i'll stay with susy harper mamma 

 very well and mind and behave yourself and don't be any trouble 

presently as they tripped along tom said to becky 

 say i'll tell you what we'll do 'stead of going to joe harper's we'll
climb right up the hill and stop at the widow douglas' she'll have
ice-cream she has it most every day dead loads of it and she'll be
awful glad to have us 

 oh that will be fun 

then becky reflected a moment and said 

 but what will mamma say 

 how'll she ever know 

the girl turned the idea over in her mind and said reluctantly 

 i reckon it's wrong but 

 but shucks your mother won't know and so what's the harm all she
wants is that you'll be safe and i bet you she'd 'a' said go there if
she'd 'a' thought of it i know she would 

the widow douglas' splendid hospitality was a tempting bait it and
tom's persuasions presently carried the day so it was decided to say
nothing to anybody about the night's programme presently it occurred to
tom that maybe huck might come this very night and give the signal the
thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations still he
could not bear to give up the fun at widow douglas' and why should he
give it up he reasoned the signal did not come the night before so
why should it be any more likely to come tonight the sure fun of the
evening outweighed the uncertain treasure and boy-like he determined
to yield to the stronger inclination and not allow himself to think of
the box of money another time that day 

three miles below town the ferryboat stopped at the mouth of a woody
hollow and tied up the crowd swarmed ashore and soon the forest
distances and craggy heights echoed far and near with shoutings and
laughter all the different ways of getting hot and tired were gone
through with and by-and-by the rovers straggled back to camp fortified
with responsible appetites and then the destruction of the good things
began after the feast there was a refreshing season of rest and chat in
the shade of spreading oaks by-and-by somebody shouted 

 who's ready for the cave 

everybody was bundles of candles were procured and straightway there
was a general scamper up the hill the mouth of the cave was up the
hillside an opening shaped like a letter a its massive oaken door stood
unbarred within was a small chamber chilly as an icehouse and walled
by nature with solid limestone that was dewy with a cold sweat it was
romantic and mysterious to stand here in the deep gloom and look out
upon the green valley shining in the sun but the impressiveness of the
situation quickly wore off and the romping began again the moment
a candle was lighted there was a general rush upon the owner of it a
struggle and a gallant defence followed but the candle was soon knocked
down or blown out and then there was a glad clamor of laughter and a
new chase but all things have an end by-and-by the procession went
filing down the steep descent of the main avenue the flickering rank of
lights dimly revealing the lofty walls of rock almost to their point of
junction sixty feet overhead this main avenue was not more than
eight or ten feet wide every few steps other lofty and still narrower
crevices branched from it on either hand for mcdougal's cave was but a
vast labyrinth of crooked aisles that ran into each other and out again
and led nowhere it was said that one might wander days and nights
together through its intricate tangle of rifts and chasms and never
find the end of the cave and that he might go down and down and
still down into the earth and it was just the same labyrinth under
labyrinth and no end to any of them no man knew the cave that was
an impossible thing most of the young men knew a portion of it and it
was not customary to venture much beyond this known portion tom sawyer
knew as much of the cave as any one 

the procession moved along the main avenue some three-quarters of
a mile and then groups and couples began to slip aside into branch
avenues fly along the dismal corridors and take each other by surprise
at points where the corridors joined again parties were able to elude
each other for the space of half an hour without going beyond the
 known ground 

by-and-by one group after another came straggling back to the mouth
of the cave panting hilarious smeared from head to foot with tallow
drippings daubed with clay and entirely delighted with the success of
the day then they were astonished to find that they had been taking
no note of time and that night was about at hand the clanging bell had
been calling for half an hour however this sort of close to the day's
adventures was romantic and therefore satisfactory when the ferryboat
with her wild freight pushed into the stream nobody cared sixpence for
the wasted time but the captain of the craft 

huck was already upon his watch when the ferryboat's lights went
glinting past the wharf he heard no noise on board for the young
people were as subdued and still as people usually are who are nearly
tired to death he wondered what boat it was and why she did not
stop at the wharf and then he dropped her out of his mind and put his
attention upon his business the night was growing cloudy and dark ten
o'clock came and the noise of vehicles ceased scattered lights began
to wink out all straggling foot-passengers disappeared the village
betook itself to its slumbers and left the small watcher alone with the
silence and the ghosts eleven o'clock came and the tavern lights were
put out darkness everywhere now huck waited what seemed a weary long
time but nothing happened his faith was weakening was there any use 
was there really any use why not give it up and turn in 

a noise fell upon his ear he was all attention in an instant the alley
door closed softly he sprang to the corner of the brick store the next
moment two men brushed by him and one seemed to have something under
his arm it must be that box so they were going to remove the treasure 
why call tom now it would be absurd the men would get away with the box
and never be found again no he would stick to their wake and follow
them he would trust to the darkness for security from discovery so
communing with himself huck stepped out and glided along behind the
men cat-like with bare feet allowing them to keep just far enough
ahead not to be invisible 

they moved up the river street three blocks then turned to the left up
a crossstreet they went straight ahead then until they came to the
path that led up cardiff hill this they took they passed by the old
welshman's house halfway up the hill without hesitating and still
climbed upward good thought huck they will bury it in the old quarry 
but they never stopped at the quarry they passed on up the summit 
they plunged into the narrow path between the tall sumach bushes and
were at once hidden in the gloom huck closed up and shortened his
distance now for they would never be able to see him he trotted along
awhile then slackened his pace fearing he was gaining too fast moved
on a piece then stopped altogether listened no sound none save that
he seemed to hear the beating of his own heart the hooting of an
owl came over the hill ominous sound but no footsteps heavens was
everything lost he was about to spring with winged feet when a man
cleared his throat not four feet from him huck's heart shot into his
throat but he swallowed it again and then he stood there shaking as
if a dozen agues had taken charge of him at once and so weak that he
thought he must surely fall to the ground he knew where he was he
knew he was within five steps of the stile leading into widow douglas'
grounds very well he thought let them bury it there it won't be hard
to find 

now there was a voice a very low voice injun joe's 

 damn her maybe she's got company there's lights late as it is 

 i can't see any 

this was that stranger's voice the stranger of the haunted house a
deadly chill went to huck's heart this then was the revenge job his
thought was to fly then he remembered that the widow douglas had been
kind to him more than once and maybe these men were going to murder
her he wished he dared venture to warn her but he knew he didn't
dare they might come and catch him he thought all this and more in
the moment that elapsed between the stranger's remark and injun joe's
next which was 

 because the bush is in your way now this way now you see don't you 

 yes well there is company there i reckon better give it up 

 give it up and i just leaving this country forever give it up and
maybe never have another chance i tell you again as i've told you
before i don't care for her swag you may have it but her husband was
rough on me many times he was rough on me and mainly he was the justice
of the peace that jugged me for a vagrant and that ain't all it ain't
a millionth part of it he had me horsewhipped horsewhipped in
front of the jail like a nigger with all the town looking on 
 horsewhipped do you understand he took advantage of me and died but
i'll take it out of her 

 oh don't kill her don't do that 

 kill who said anything about killing i would kill him if he was
here but not her when you want to get revenge on a woman you don't
kill her bosh you go for her looks you slit her nostrils you notch her
ears like a sow 

 by god that's 

 keep your opinion to yourself it will be safest for you i'll tie her
to the bed if she bleeds to death is that my fault i'll not cry if
she does my friend you'll help me in this thing for my sake that's
why you're here i mightn't be able alone if you flinch i'll kill you 
do you understand that and if i have to kill you i'll kill her and
then i reckon nobody'll ever know much about who done this business 

 well if it's got to be done let's get at it the quicker the
better i'm all in a shiver 

 do it now and company there look here i'll get suspicious of you 
first thing you know no we'll wait till the lights are out there's no
hurry 

huck felt that a silence was going to ensue a thing still more awful
than any amount of murderous talk so he held his breath and stepped
gingerly back planted his foot carefully and firmly after balancing 
one-legged in a precarious way and almost toppling over first on one
side and then on the other he took another step back with the same
elaboration and the same risks then another and another and a twig
snapped under his foot his breath stopped and he listened there was no
sound the stillness was perfect his gratitude was measureless now he
turned in his tracks between the walls of sumach bushes turned
himself as carefully as if he were a ship and then stepped quickly but
cautiously along when he emerged at the quarry he felt secure and
so he picked up his nimble heels and flew down down he sped till he
reached the welshman's he banged at the door and presently the heads
of the old man and his two stalwart sons were thrust from windows 

 what's the row there who's banging what do you want 

 let me in quick i'll tell everything 

 why who are you 

 huckleberry finn quick let me in 

 huckleberry finn indeed it ain't a name to open many doors i judge 
but let him in lads and let's see what's the trouble 

 please don't ever tell i told you were huck's first words when he got
in please don't i'd be killed sure but the widow's been good friends
to me sometimes and i want to tell i will tell if you'll promise you
won't ever say it was me 

 by george he has got something to tell or he wouldn't act so 
 exclaimed the old man out with it and nobody here'll ever tell lad 

three minutes later the old man and his sons well armed were up the
hill and just entering the sumach path on tiptoe their weapons in
their hands huck accompanied them no further he hid behind a great
bowlder and fell to listening there was a lagging anxious silence and
then all of a sudden there was an explosion of firearms and a cry 

huck waited for no particulars he sprang away and sped down the hill as
fast as his legs could carry him 




chapter xxx

as the earliest suspicion of dawn appeared on sunday morning huck came
groping up the hill and rapped gently at the old welshman's door the
inmates were asleep but it was a sleep that was set on a hair-trigger 
on account of the exciting episode of the night a call came from a
window 

 who's there 

huck's scared voice answered in a low tone 

 please let me in it's only huck finn 

 it's a name that can open this door night or day lad and welcome 

these were strange words to the vagabond boy's ears and the pleasantest
he had ever heard he could not recollect that the closing word had ever
been applied in his case before the door was quickly unlocked and he
entered huck was given a seat and the old man and his brace of tall
sons speedily dressed themselves 

 now my boy i hope you're good and hungry because breakfast will be
ready as soon as the sun's up and we'll have a piping hot one too make
yourself easy about that i and the boys hoped you'd turn up and stop
here last night 

 i was awful scared said huck and i run i took out when the pistols
went off and i didn't stop for three mile i've come now becuz i wanted
to know about it you know and i come before daylight becuz i didn't
want to run across them devils even if they was dead 

 well poor chap you do look as if you'd had a hard night of it but
there's a bed here for you when you've had your breakfast no they
ain't dead lad we are sorry enough for that you see we knew right
where to put our hands on them by your description so we crept along
on tiptoe till we got within fifteen feet of them dark as a cellar that
sumach path was and just then i found i was going to sneeze it was the
meanest kind of luck i tried to keep it back but no use 'twas bound to
come and it did come i was in the lead with my pistol raised and when
the sneeze started those scoundrels a-rustling to get out of the path 
i sung out 'fire boys ' and blazed away at the place where the rustling
was so did the boys but they were off in a jiffy those villains and
we after them down through the woods i judge we never touched them 
they fired a shot apiece as they started but their bullets whizzed by
and didn't do us any harm as soon as we lost the sound of their feet
we quit chasing and went down and stirred up the constables they got a
posse together and went off to guard the river bank and as soon as it
is light the sheriff and a gang are going to beat up the woods my boys
will be with them presently i wish we had some sort of description of
those rascals 'twould help a good deal but you couldn't see what they
were like in the dark lad i suppose 

 oh yes i saw them downtown and follered them 

 splendid describe them describe them my boy 

 one's the old deaf and dumb spaniard that's ben around here once or
twice and t'other's a mean-looking ragged 

 that's enough lad we know the men happened on them in the woods back
of the widow's one day and they slunk away off with you boys and
tell the sheriff get your breakfast tomorrow morning 

the welshman's sons departed at once as they were leaving the room huck
sprang up and exclaimed 

 oh please don't tell any body it was me that blowed on them oh 
please 

 all right if you say it huck but you ought to have the credit of what
you did 

 oh no no please don't tell 

when the young men were gone the old welshman said 

 they won't tell and i won't but why don't you want it known 

huck would not explain further than to say that he already knew too
much about one of those men and would not have the man know that he knew
anything against him for the whole world he would be killed for knowing
it sure 

the old man promised secrecy once more and said 

 how did you come to follow these fellows lad were they looking
suspicious 

huck was silent while he framed a duly cautious reply then he said 

 well you see i'm a kind of a hard lot least everybody says so and
i don't see nothing agin it and sometimes i can't sleep much on account
of thinking about it and sort of trying to strike out a new way of
doing that was the way of it last night i couldn't sleep and so i
come along upstreet 'bout midnight a-turning it all over and when i
got to that old shackly brick store by the temperance tavern i backed
up agin the wall to have another think well just then along comes
these two chaps slipping along close by me with something under their
arm and i reckoned they'd stole it one was a-smoking and t'other one
wanted a light so they stopped right before me and the cigars lit up
their faces and i see that the big one was the deaf and dumb spaniard 
by his white whiskers and the patch on his eye and t'other one was a
rusty ragged-looking devil 

 could you see the rags by the light of the cigars 

this staggered huck for a moment then he said 

 well i don't know but somehow it seems as if i did 

 then they went on and you 

 follered 'em yes that was it i wanted to see what was up they sneaked
along so i dogged 'em to the widder's stile and stood in the dark and
heard the ragged one beg for the widder and the spaniard swear he'd
spile her looks just as i told you and your two 

 what the deaf and dumb man said all that 

huck had made another terrible mistake he was trying his best to keep
the old man from getting the faintest hint of who the spaniard might be 
and yet his tongue seemed determined to get him into trouble in spite of
all he could do he made several efforts to creep out of his scrape 
but the old man's eye was upon him and he made blunder after blunder 
presently the welshman said 

 my boy don't be afraid of me i wouldn't hurt a hair of your head for
all the world no i'd protect you i'd protect you this spaniard is
not deaf and dumb you've let that slip without intending it you can't
cover that up now you know something about that spaniard that you want
to keep dark now trust me tell me what it is and trust me i won't
betray you 

huck looked into the old man's honest eyes a moment then bent over and
whispered in his ear 

 'tain't a spaniard it's injun joe 

the welshman almost jumped out of his chair in a moment he said 

 it's all plain enough now when you talked about notching ears and
slitting noses i judged that that was your own embellishment because
white men don't take that sort of revenge but an injun that's a
different matter altogether 

during breakfast the talk went on and in the course of it the old man
said that the last thing which he and his sons had done before going
to bed was to get a lantern and examine the stile and its vicinity for
marks of blood they found none but captured a bulky bundle of 

 of what 

if the words had been lightning they could not have leaped with a more
stunning suddenness from huck's blanched lips his eyes were staring
wide now and his breath suspended waiting for the answer the welshman
started stared in return three seconds five seconds ten then replied 

 of burglar's tools why what's the matter with you 

huck sank back panting gently but deeply unutterably grateful the
welshman eyed him gravely curiously and presently said 

 yes burglar's tools that appears to relieve you a good deal but what
did give you that turn what were you expecting we'd found 

huck was in a close place the inquiring eye was upon him he would have
given anything for material for a plausible answer nothing suggested
itself the inquiring eye was boring deeper and deeper a senseless
reply offered there was no time to weigh it so at a venture he uttered
it feebly 

 sunday-school books maybe 

poor huck was too distressed to smile but the old man laughed loud and
joyously shook up the details of his anatomy from head to foot and
ended by saying that such a laugh was money in a-man's pocket because
it cut down the doctor's bill like everything then he added 

 poor old chap you're white and jaded you ain't well a bit no wonder
you're a little flighty and off your balance but you'll come out of it 
rest and sleep will fetch you out all right i hope 

huck was irritated to think he had been such a goose and betrayed such
a suspicious excitement for he had dropped the idea that the parcel
brought from the tavern was the treasure as soon as he had heard the
talk at the widow's stile he had only thought it was not the treasure 
however he had not known that it wasn't and so the suggestion of a
captured bundle was too much for his self-possession but on the whole
he felt glad the little episode had happened for now he knew beyond all
question that that bundle was not the bundle and so his mind was
at rest and exceedingly comfortable in fact everything seemed to be
drifting just in the right direction now the treasure must be still
in no 2 the men would be captured and jailed that day and he and
tom could seize the gold that night without any trouble or any fear of
interruption 

just as breakfast was completed there was a knock at the door huck
jumped for a hiding-place for he had no mind to be connected even
remotely with the late event the welshman admitted several ladies and
gentlemen among them the widow douglas and noticed that groups of
citizens were climbing up the hill to stare at the stile so the news
had spread the welshman had to tell the story of the night to the
visitors the widow's gratitude for her preservation was outspoken 

 don't say a word about it madam there's another that you're more
beholden to than you are to me and my boys maybe but he don't allow me
to tell his name we wouldn't have been there but for him 

of course this excited a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled the
main matter but the welshman allowed it to eat into the vitals of his
visitors and through them be transmitted to the whole town for he
refused to part with his secret when all else had been learned the
widow said 

 i went to sleep reading in bed and slept straight through all that
noise why didn't you come and wake me 

 we judged it warn't worth while those fellows warn't likely to come
again they hadn't any tools left to work with and what was the use of
waking you up and scaring you to death my three negro men stood guard
at your house all the rest of the night they've just come back 

more visitors came and the story had to be told and retold for a couple
of hours more 

there was no sabbath-school during day-school vacation but everybody
was early at church the stirring event was well canvassed news came
that not a sign of the two villains had been yet discovered when the
sermon was finished judge thatcher's wife dropped alongside of mrs 
harper as she moved down the aisle with the crowd and said 

 is my becky going to sleep all day i just expected she would be tired
to death 

 your becky 

 yes with a startled look didn't she stay with you last night 

 why no 

mrs thatcher turned pale and sank into a pew just as aunt polly 
talking briskly with a friend passed by aunt polly said 

 goodmorning mrs thatcher goodmorning mrs harper i've got a boy
that's turned up missing i reckon my tom stayed at your house last
night one of you and now he's afraid to come to church i've got to
settle with him 

mrs thatcher shook her head feebly and turned paler than ever 

 he didn't stay with us said mrs harper beginning to look uneasy a
marked anxiety came into aunt polly's face 

 joe harper have you seen my tom this morning 

 no'm 

 when did you see him last 

joe tried to remember but was not sure he could say the people had
stopped moving out of church whispers passed along and a boding
uneasiness took possession of every countenance children were anxiously
questioned and young teachers they all said they had not noticed
whether tom and becky were on board the ferryboat on the homeward trip 
it was dark no one thought of inquiring if any one was missing one
young man finally blurted out his fear that they were still in the cave 
mrs thatcher swooned away aunt polly fell to crying and wringing her
hands 

the alarm swept from lip to lip from group to group from street to
street and within five minutes the bells were wildly clanging and
the whole town was up the cardiff hill episode sank into instant
insignificance the burglars were forgotten horses were saddled skiffs
were manned the ferryboat ordered out and before the horror was half
an hour old two hundred men were pouring down highroad and river toward
the cave 

all the long afternoon the village seemed empty and dead many women
visited aunt polly and mrs thatcher and tried to comfort them they
cried with them too and that was still better than words all the
tedious night the town waited for news but when the morning dawned at
last all the word that came was send more candles and send food 
 mrs thatcher was almost crazed and aunt polly also judge thatcher
sent messages of hope and encouragement from the cave but they conveyed
no real cheer 

the old welshman came home toward daylight spattered with
candle-grease smeared with clay and almost worn out he found huck
still in the bed that had been provided for him and delirious with
fever the physicians were all at the cave so the widow douglas came
and took charge of the patient she said she would do her best by him 
because whether he was good bad or indifferent he was the lord's 
and nothing that was the lord's was a thing to be neglected the
welshman said huck had good spots in him and the widow said 

 you can depend on it that's the lord's mark he don't leave it off 
he never does puts it somewhere on every creature that comes from his
hands 

early in the forenoon parties of jaded men began to straggle into the
village but the strongest of the citizens continued searching all the
news that could be gained was that remotenesses of the cavern were being
ransacked that had never been visited before that every corner and
crevice was going to be thoroughly searched that wherever one wandered
through the maze of passages lights were to be seen flitting hither
and thither in the distance and shoutings and pistol-shots sent their
hollow reverberations to the ear down the sombre aisles in one place 
far from the section usually traversed by tourists the names becky &
tom had been found traced upon the rocky wall with candle-smoke and
near at hand a grease-soiled bit of ribbon mrs thatcher recognized the
ribbon and cried over it she said it was the last relic she should ever
have of her child and that no other memorial of her could ever be so
precious because this one parted latest from the living body before the
awful death came some said that now and then in the cave a far-away
speck of light would glimmer and then a glorious shout would burst
forth and a score of men go trooping down the echoing aisle and then a
sickening disappointment always followed the children were not there 
it was only a searcher's light 

three dreadful days and nights dragged their tedious hours along and
the village sank into a hopeless stupor no one had heart for anything 
the accidental discovery just made that the proprietor of the
temperance tavern kept liquor on his premises scarcely fluttered the
public pulse tremendous as the fact was in a lucid interval huck
feebly led up to the subject of taverns and finally asked dimly
dreading the worst if anything had been discovered at the temperance
tavern since he had been ill 

 yes said the widow 

huck started up in bed wildeyed 

 what what was it 

 liquor and the place has been shut up lie down child what a turn you
did give me 

 only tell me just one thing only just one please was it tom sawyer
that found it 

the widow burst into tears hush hush child hush i've told you
before you must not talk you are very very sick 

then nothing but liquor had been found there would have been a great
powwow if it had been the gold so the treasure was gone forever gone
forever but what could she be crying about curious that she should
cry 

these thoughts worked their dim way through huck's mind and under the
weariness they gave him he fell asleep the widow said to herself 

 there he's asleep poor wreck tom sawyer find it pity but somebody
could find tom sawyer ah there ain't many left now that's got hope
enough or strength enough either to go on searching 




chapter xxxi

now to return to tom and becky's share in the picnic they tripped along
the murky aisles with the rest of the company visiting the familiar
wonders of the cave wonders dubbed with rather over-descriptive names 
such as the drawing-room the cathedral aladdin's palace and
so on presently the hide-and-seek frolicking began and tom and becky
engaged in it with zeal until the exertion began to grow a trifle
wearisome then they wandered down a sinuous avenue holding their
candles aloft and reading the tangled webwork of names dates 
postoffice addresses and mottoes with which the rocky walls had been
frescoed in candle-smoke still drifting along and talking they
scarcely noticed that they were now in a part of the cave whose walls
were not frescoed they smoked their own names under an overhanging
shelf and moved on presently they came to a place where a little stream
of water trickling over a ledge and carrying a limestone sediment with
it had in the slow-dragging ages formed a laced and ruffled niagara
in gleaming and imperishable stone tom squeezed his small body behind
it in order to illuminate it for becky's gratification he found that
it curtained a sort of steep natural stairway which was enclosed between
narrow walls and at once the ambition to be a discoverer seized him 

becky responded to his call and they made a smoke-mark for future
guidance and started upon their quest they wound this way and that 
far down into the secret depths of the cave made another mark and
branched off in search of novelties to tell the upper world about in
one place they found a spacious cavern from whose ceiling depended a
multitude of shining stalactites of the length and circumference of
a man's leg they walked all about it wondering and admiring and
presently left it by one of the numerous passages that opened into
it this shortly brought them to a bewitching spring whose basin was
incrusted with a frostwork of glittering crystals it was in the midst
of a cavern whose walls were supported by many fantastic pillars which
had been formed by the joining of great stalactites and stalagmites
together the result of the ceaseless water-drip of centuries under the
roof vast knots of bats had packed themselves together thousands in a
bunch the lights disturbed the creatures and they came flocking down by
hundreds squeaking and darting furiously at the candles tom knew their
ways and the danger of this sort of conduct he seized becky's hand and
hurried her into the first corridor that offered and none too soon for
a bat struck becky's light out with its wing while she was passing out
of the cavern the bats chased the children a good distance but the
fugitives plunged into every new passage that offered and at last got
rid of the perilous things tom found a subterranean lake shortly 
which stretched its dim length away until its shape was lost in the
shadows he wanted to explore its borders but concluded that it would
be best to sit down and rest awhile first now for the first time the
deep stillness of the place laid a clammy hand upon the spirits of the
children becky said 

 why i didn't notice but it seems ever so long since i heard any of
the others 

 come to think becky we are away down below them and i don't know how
far away north or south or east or whichever it is we couldn't hear
them here 

becky grew apprehensive 

 i wonder how long we've been down here tom we better start back 

 yes i reckon we better p'raps we better 

 can you find the way tom it's all a mixed-up crookedness to me 

 i reckon i could find it but then the bats if they put our candles
out it will be an awful fix let's try some other way so as not to go
through there 

 well but i hope we won't get lost it would be so awful and the girl
shuddered at the thought of the dreadful possibilities 

they started through a corridor and traversed it in silence a long
way glancing at each new opening to see if there was anything familiar
about the look of it but they were all strange every time tom made an
examination becky would watch his face for an encouraging sign and he
would say cheerily 

 oh it's all right this ain't the one but we'll come to it right
away 

but he felt less and less hopeful with each failure and presently began
to turn off into diverging avenues at sheer random in desperate hope of
finding the one that was wanted he still said it was all right but
there was such a leaden dread at his heart that the words had lost their
ring and sounded just as if he had said all is lost becky clung to
his side in an anguish of fear and tried hard to keep back the tears 
but they would come at last she said 

 oh tom never mind the bats let's go back that way we seem to get
worse and worse off all the time 

 listen said he 

profound silence silence so deep that even their breathings were
conspicuous in the hush tom shouted the call went echoing down
the empty aisles and died out in the distance in a faint sound that
resembled a ripple of mocking laughter 

 oh don't do it again tom it is too horrid said becky 

 it is horrid but i better becky they might hear us you know and
he shouted again 

the might was even a chillier horror than the ghostly laughter it so
confessed a perishing hope the children stood still and listened but
there was no result tom turned upon the back track at once and hurried
his steps it was but a little while before a certain indecision in his
manner revealed another fearful fact to becky he could not find his way
back 

 oh tom you didn't make any marks 

 becky i was such a fool such a fool i never thought we might want to
come back no i can't find the way it's all mixed up 

 tom tom we're lost we're lost we never can get out of this awful
place oh why did we ever leave the others 

she sank to the ground and burst into such a frenzy of crying that tom
was appalled with the idea that she might die or lose her reason he
sat down by her and put his arms around her she buried her face in
his bosom she clung to him she poured out her terrors her unavailing
regrets and the far echoes turned them all to jeering laughter tom
begged her to pluck up hope again and she said she could not he fell
to blaming and abusing himself for getting her into this miserable
situation this had a better effect she said she would try to hope
again she would get up and follow wherever he might lead if only he
would not talk like that any more for he was no more to blame than she 
she said 

so they moved on again aimlessly simply at random all they could do
was to move keep moving for a little while hope made a show of
reviving not with any reason to back it but only because it is its
nature to revive when the spring has not been taken out of it by age and
familiarity with failure 

by-and-by tom took becky's candle and blew it out this economy meant so
much words were not needed becky understood and her hope died again 
she knew that tom had a whole candle and three or four pieces in his
pockets yet he must economize 

by-and-by fatigue began to assert its claims the children tried to pay
attention for it was dreadful to think of sitting down when time was
grown to be so precious moving in some direction in any direction 
was at least progress and might bear fruit but to sit down was to
invite death and shorten its pursuit 

at last becky's frail limbs refused to carry her farther she sat down 
tom rested with her and they talked of home and the friends there 
and the comfortable beds and above all the light becky cried and tom
tried to think of some way of comforting her but all his encouragements
were grown thread-bare with use and sounded like sarcasms fatigue bore
so heavily upon becky that she drowsed off to sleep tom was grateful 
he sat looking into her drawn face and saw it grow smooth and natural
under the influence of pleasant dreams and by-and-by a smile dawned and
rested there the peaceful face reflected somewhat of peace and healing
into his own spirit and his thoughts wandered away to bygone times and
dreamy memories while he was deep in his musings becky woke up with a
breezy little laugh but it was stricken dead upon her lips and a groan
followed it 

 oh how could i sleep i wish i never never had waked no no i
don't tom don't look so i won't say it again 

 i'm glad you've slept becky you'll feel rested now and we'll find
the way out 

 we can try tom but i've seen such a beautiful country in my dream i
reckon we are going there 

 maybe not maybe not cheer up becky and let's go on trying 

they rose up and wandered along hand in hand and hopeless they tried
to estimate how long they had been in the cave but all they knew was
that it seemed days and weeks and yet it was plain that this could not
be for their candles were not gone yet a long time after this they
could not tell how long tom said they must go softly and listen for
dripping water they must find a spring they found one presently and
tom said it was time to rest again both were cruelly tired yet becky
said she thought she could go a little farther she was surprised to
hear tom dissent she could not understand it they sat down and tom
fastened his candle to the wall in front of them with some clay thought
was soon busy nothing was said for some time then becky broke the
silence 

 tom i am so hungry 

tom took something out of his pocket 

 do you remember this said he 

becky almost smiled 

 it's our wedding-cake tom 

 yes i wish it was as big as a barrel for it's all we've got 

 i saved it from the picnic for us to dream on tom the way grownup
people do with wedding-cake but it'll be our 

she dropped the sentence where it was tom divided the cake and becky
ate with good appetite while tom nibbled at his moiety there was
abundance of cold water to finish the feast with by-and-by becky
suggested that they move on again tom was silent a moment then he
said 

 becky can you bear it if i tell you something 

becky's face paled but she thought she could 

 well then becky we must stay here where there's water to drink 
that little piece is our last candle 

becky gave loose to tears and wailings tom did what he could to comfort
her but with little effect at length becky said 

 tom 

 well becky 

 they'll miss us and hunt for us 

 yes they will certainly they will 

 maybe they're hunting for us now tom 

 why i reckon maybe they are i hope they are 

 when would they miss us tom 

 when they get back to the boat i reckon 

 tom it might be dark then would they notice we hadn't come 

 i don't know but anyway your mother would miss you as soon as they
got home 

a frightened look in becky's face brought tom to his senses and he saw
that he had made a blunder becky was not to have gone home that night 
the children became silent and thoughtful in a moment a new burst of
grief from becky showed tom that the thing in his mind had struck hers
also that the sabbath morning might be half spent before mrs thatcher
discovered that becky was not at mrs harper's 

the children fastened their eyes upon their bit of candle and watched it
melt slowly and pitilessly away saw the half inch of wick stand alone
at last saw the feeble flame rise and fall climb the thin column of
smoke linger at its top a moment and then the horror of utter darkness
reigned 

how long afterward it was that becky came to a slow consciousness that
she was crying in tom's arms neither could tell all that they knew
was that after what seemed a mighty stretch of time both awoke out of
a dead stupor of sleep and resumed their miseries once more tom said
it might be sunday now maybe monday he tried to get becky to talk but
her sorrows were too oppressive all her hopes were gone tom said that
they must have been missed long ago and no doubt the search was going
on he would shout and maybe some one would come he tried it but in
the darkness the distant echoes sounded so hideously that he tried it no
more 

the hours wasted away and hunger came to torment the captives again a
portion of tom's half of the cake was left they divided and ate it but
they seemed hungrier than before the poor morsel of food only whetted
desire 

by-and-by tom said 

 sh did you hear that 

both held their breath and listened there was a sound like the
faintest far-off shout instantly tom answered it and leading becky by
the hand started groping down the corridor in its direction presently
he listened again again the sound was heard and apparently a little
nearer 

 it's them said tom they're coming come along becky we're all
right now 

the joy of the prisoners was almost overwhelming their speed was slow 
however because pitfalls were somewhat common and had to be guarded
against they shortly came to one and had to stop it might be three
feet deep it might be a hundred there was no passing it at any rate 
tom got down on his breast and reached as far down as he could no
bottom they must stay there and wait until the searchers came they
listened evidently the distant shoutings were growing more distant 
a moment or two more and they had gone altogether the heart-sinking
misery of it tom whooped until he was hoarse but it was of no use he
talked hopefully to becky but an age of anxious waiting passed and no
sounds came again 

the children groped their way back to the spring the weary time dragged
on they slept again and awoke famished and woe-stricken tom believed
it must be tuesday by this time 

now an idea struck him there were some side passages near at hand it
would be better to explore some of these than bear the weight of the
heavy time in idleness he took a kite-line from his pocket tied it to
a projection and he and becky started tom in the lead unwinding the
line as he groped along at the end of twenty steps the corridor ended
in a jumping-off place tom got down on his knees and felt below 
and then as far around the corner as he could reach with his hands
conveniently he made an effort to stretch yet a little farther to the
right and at that moment not twenty yards away a human hand holding
a candle appeared from behind a rock tom lifted up a glorious shout 
and instantly that hand was followed by the body it belonged to injun
joe's tom was paralyzed he could not move he was vastly gratified the
next moment to see the spaniard take to his heels and get himself out
of sight tom wondered that joe had not recognized his voice and come
over and killed him for testifying in court but the echoes must have
disguised the voice without doubt that was it he reasoned tom's
fright weakened every muscle in his body he said to himself that if he
had strength enough to get back to the spring he would stay there and
nothing should tempt him to run the risk of meeting injun joe again he
was careful to keep from becky what it was he had seen he told her he
had only shouted for luck 

but hunger and wretchedness rise superior to fears in the long run 
another tedious wait at the spring and another long sleep brought
changes the children awoke tortured with a raging hunger tom believed
that it must be wednesday or thursday or even friday or saturday now 
and that the search had been given over he proposed to explore another
passage he felt willing to risk injun joe and all other terrors but
becky was very weak she had sunk into a dreary apathy and would not be
roused she said she would wait now where she was and die it would
not be long she told tom to go with the kite-line and explore if he
chose but she implored him to come back every little while and speak
to her and she made him promise that when the awful time came he would
stay by her and hold her hand until all was over 

tom kissed her with a choking sensation in his throat and made a show
of being confident of finding the searchers or an escape from the cave 
then he took the kite-line in his hand and went groping down one of the
passages on his hands and knees distressed with hunger and sick with
bodings of coming doom 




chapter xxxii

tuesday afternoon came and waned to the twilight the village of st 
petersburg still mourned the lost children had not been found public
prayers had been offered up for them and many and many a private prayer
that had the petitioner's whole heart in it but still no good news came
from the cave the majority of the searchers had given up the quest
and gone back to their daily avocations saying that it was plain the
children could never be found mrs thatcher was very ill and a great
part of the time delirious people said it was heartbreaking to hear her
call her child and raise her head and listen a whole minute at a time 
then lay it wearily down again with a moan aunt polly had drooped into
a settled melancholy and her gray hair had grown almost white the
village went to its rest on tuesday night sad and forlorn 

away in the middle of the night a wild peal burst from the village
bells and in a moment the streets were swarming with frantic half-clad
people who shouted turn out turn out they're found they're found 
 tin pans and horns were added to the din the population massed itself
and moved toward the river met the children coming in an open carriage
drawn by shouting citizens thronged around it joined its homeward
march and swept magnificently up the main street roaring huzzah after
huzzah 

the village was illuminated nobody went to bed again it was the
greatest night the little town had ever seen during the first half-hour
a procession of villagers filed through judge thatcher's house seized
the saved ones and kissed them squeezed mrs thatcher's hand tried to
speak but couldn't and drifted out raining tears all over the place 

aunt polly's happiness was complete and mrs thatcher's nearly so it
would be complete however as soon as the messenger dispatched with the
great news to the cave should get the word to her husband tom lay upon
a sofa with an eager auditory about him and told the history of the
wonderful adventure putting in many striking additions to adorn it
withal and closed with a description of how he left becky and went
on an exploring expedition how he followed two avenues as far as his
kite-line would reach how he followed a third to the fullest stretch
of the kite-line and was about to turn back when he glimpsed a far-off
speck that looked like daylight dropped the line and groped toward it 
pushed his head and shoulders through a small hole and saw the broad
mississippi rolling by 

and if it had only happened to be night he would not have seen that
speck of daylight and would not have explored that passage any more he
told how he went back for becky and broke the good news and she told
him not to fret her with such stuff for she was tired and knew she was
going to die and wanted to he described how he labored with her and
convinced her and how she almost died for joy when she had groped to
where she actually saw the blue speck of daylight how he pushed his way
out at the hole and then helped her out how they sat there and cried
for gladness how some men came along in a skiff and tom hailed them
and told them their situation and their famished condition how the men
didn't believe the wild tale at first because said they you are
five miles down the river below the valley the cave is in then took
them aboard rowed to a house gave them supper made them rest till two
or three hours after dark and then brought them home 

before day-dawn judge thatcher and the handful of searchers with him
were tracked out in the cave by the twine clews they had strung behind
them and informed of the great news 

three days and nights of toil and hunger in the cave were not to
be shaken off at once as tom and becky soon discovered they were
bedridden all of wednesday and thursday and seemed to grow more and
more tired and worn all the time tom got about a little on thursday 
was downtown friday and nearly as whole as ever saturday but becky
did not leave her room until sunday and then she looked as if she had
passed through a wasting illness 

tom learned of huck's sickness and went to see him on friday but could
not be admitted to the bedroom neither could he on saturday or sunday 
he was admitted daily after that but was warned to keep still about his
adventure and introduce no exciting topic the widow douglas stayed by
to see that he obeyed at home tom learned of the cardiff hill event 
also that the ragged man's body had eventually been found in the river
near the ferry-landing he had been drowned while trying to escape 
perhaps 

about a fortnight after tom's rescue from the cave he started off to
visit huck who had grown plenty strong enough now to hear exciting
talk and tom had some that would interest him he thought judge
thatcher's house was on tom's way and he stopped to see becky the
judge and some friends set tom to talking and some one asked him
ironically if he wouldn't like to go to the cave again tom said he
thought he wouldn't mind it the judge said 

 well there are others just like you tom i've not the least doubt 
but we have taken care of that nobody will get lost in that cave any
more 

 why 

 because i had its big door sheathed with boiler iron two weeks ago and
triple-locked and i've got the keys 

tom turned as white as a sheet 

 what's the matter boy here run somebody fetch a glass of water 

the water was brought and thrown into tom's face 

 ah now you're all right what was the matter with you tom 

 oh judge injun joe's in the cave 




chapter xxxiii

within a few minutes the news had spread and a dozen skiff-loads of
men were on their way to mcdougal's cave and the ferryboat well filled
with passengers soon followed tom sawyer was in the skiff that bore
judge thatcher 

when the cave door was unlocked a sorrowful sight presented itself in
the dim twilight of the place injun joe lay stretched upon the ground 
dead with his face close to the crack of the door as if his longing
eyes had been fixed to the latest moment upon the light and the cheer
of the free world outside tom was touched for he knew by his own
experience how this wretch had suffered his pity was moved but
nevertheless he felt an abounding sense of relief and security now 
which revealed to him in a degree which he had not fully appreciated
before how vast a weight of dread had been lying upon him since the day
he lifted his voice against this bloody-minded outcast 

injun joe's bowie-knife lay close by its blade broken in two the great
foundation-beam of the door had been chipped and hacked through with
tedious labor useless labor too it was for the native rock formed a
sill outside it and upon that stubborn material the knife had wrought
no effect the only damage done was to the knife itself but if there
had been no stony obstruction there the labor would have been useless
still for if the beam had been wholly cut away injun joe could not have
squeezed his body under the door and he knew it so he had only hacked
that place in order to be doing something in order to pass the weary
time in order to employ his tortured faculties ordinarily one could
find half a dozen bits of candle stuck around in the crevices of this
vestibule left there by tourists but there were none now the prisoner
had searched them out and eaten them he had also contrived to catch a
few bats and these also he had eaten leaving only their claws the
poor unfortunate had starved to death in one place near at hand a
stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages builded
by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead the captive had broken off
the stalagmite and upon the stump had placed a stone wherein he had
scooped a shallow hollow to catch the precious drop that fell once
in every three minutes with the dreary regularity of a clock-tick a
dessertspoonful once in four and twenty hours that drop was falling
when the pyramids were new when troy fell when the foundations of rome
were laid when christ was crucified when the conqueror created the
british empire when columbus sailed when the massacre at lexington was
 news 

it is falling now it will still be falling when all these things shall
have sunk down the afternoon of history and the twilight of tradition 
and been swallowed up in the thick night of oblivion has everything a
purpose and a mission did this drop fall patiently during five thousand
years to be ready for this flitting human insect's need and has it
another important object to accomplish ten thousand years to come no
matter it is many and many a year since the hapless half-breed scooped
out the stone to catch the priceless drops but to this day the tourist
stares longest at that pathetic stone and that slow-dropping water when
he comes to see the wonders of mcdougal's cave injun joe's cup stands
first in the list of the cavern's marvels even aladdin's palace 
 cannot rival it 

injun joe was buried near the mouth of the cave and people flocked
there in boats and wagons from the towns and from all the farms and
hamlets for seven miles around they brought their children and
all sorts of provisions and confessed that they had had almost as
satisfactory a time at the funeral as they could have had at the
hanging 

this funeral stopped the further growth of one thing the petition to the
governor for injun joe's pardon the petition had been largely signed 
many tearful and eloquent meetings had been held and a committee of
sappy women been appointed to go in deep mourning and wail around the
governor and implore him to be a merciful ass and trample his duty
under foot injun joe was believed to have killed five citizens of the
village but what of that if he had been satan himself there would
have been plenty of weaklings ready to scribble their names to a
pardon-petition and drip a tear on it from their permanently impaired
and leaky water-works 

the morning after the funeral tom took huck to a private place to have
an important talk huck had learned all about tom's adventure from the
welshman and the widow douglas by this time but tom said he reckoned
there was one thing they had not told him that thing was what he wanted
to talk about now huck's face saddened he said 

 i know what it is you got into no 2 and never found anything but
whiskey nobody told me it was you but i just knowed it must 'a' ben
you soon as i heard 'bout that whiskey business and i knowed you
hadn't got the money becuz you'd 'a' got at me some way or other and
told me even if you was mum to everybody else tom something's always
told me we'd never get holt of that swag 

 why huck i never told on that tavern-keeper you know his tavern
was all right the saturday i went to the picnic don't you remember you
was to watch there that night 

 oh yes why it seems 'bout a year ago it was that very night that i
follered injun joe to the widder's 

 you followed him 

 yes but you keep mum i reckon injun joe's left friends behind him and
i don't want 'em souring on me and doing me mean tricks if it hadn't
ben for me he'd be down in texas now all right 

then huck told his entire adventure in confidence to tom who had only
heard of the welshman's part of it before 

 well said huck presently coming back to the main question whoever
nipped the whiskey in no 2 nipped the money too i reckon anyways
it's a goner for us tom 

 huck that money wasn't ever in no 2 

 what huck searched his comrade's face keenly tom have you got on
the track of that money again 

 huck it's in the cave 

huck's eyes blazed 

 say it again tom 

 the money's in the cave 

 tom honest injun now is it fun or earnest 

 earnest huck just as earnest as ever i was in my life will you go in
there with me and help get it out 

 i bet i will i will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not
get lost 

 huck we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the
world 

 good as wheat what makes you think the money's 

 huck you just wait till we get in there if we don't find it i'll
agree to give you my drum and every thing i've got in the world i will 
by jings 

 all right it's a whiz when do you say 

 right now if you say it are you strong enough 

 is it far in the cave i ben on my pins a little three or four days 
now but i can't walk more'n a mile tom least i don't think i could 

 it's about five mile into there the way anybody but me would go huck 
but there's a mighty short cut that they don't anybody but me know
about huck i'll take you right to it in a skiff i'll float the skiff
down there and i'll pull it back again all by myself you needn't ever
turn your hand over 

 less start right off tom 

 all right we want some bread and meat and our pipes and a little
bag or two and two or three kite-strings and some of these new-fangled
things they call lucifer matches i tell you many's the time i wished i
had some when i was in there before 

a trifle after noon the boys borrowed a small skiff from a citizen who
was absent and got under way at once when they were several miles
below cave hollow tom said 

 now you see this bluff here looks all alike all the way down from the
cave hollow no houses no wood-yards bushes all alike but do you see
that white place up yonder where there's been a landslide well that's
one of my marks we'll get ashore now 

they landed 

 now huck where we're a-standing you could touch that hole i got out
of with a fishing-pole see if you can find it 

huck searched all the place about and found nothing tom proudly
marched into a thick clump of sumach bushes and said 

 here you are look at it huck it's the snuggest hole in this country 
you just keep mum about it all along i've been wanting to be a robber 
but i knew i'd got to have a thing like this and where to run across
it was the bother we've got it now and we'll keep it quiet only we'll
let joe harper and ben rogers in because of course there's got to be a
gang or else there wouldn't be any style about it tom sawyer's gang it
sounds splendid don't it huck 

 well it just does tom and who'll we rob 

 oh most anybody waylay people that's mostly the way 

 and kill them 

 no not always hive them in the cave till they raise a ransom 

 what's a ransom 

 money you make them raise all they can off'n their friends and after
you've kept them a year if it ain't raised then you kill them that's
the general way only you don't kill the women you shut up the women 
but you don't kill them they're always beautiful and rich and awfully
scared you take their watches and things but you always take your hat
off and talk polite they ain't anybody as polite as robbers you'll see
that in any book well the women get to loving you and after they've
been in the cave a week or two weeks they stop crying and after that
you couldn't get them to leave if you drove them out they'd turn right
around and come back it's so in all the books 

 why it's real bully tom i believe it's better'n to be a pirate 

 yes it's better in some ways because it's close to home and circuses
and all that 

by this time everything was ready and the boys entered the hole tom in
the lead they toiled their way to the farther end of the tunnel then
made their spliced kite-strings fast and moved on a few steps brought
them to the spring and tom felt a shudder quiver all through him 
he showed huck the fragment of candle-wick perched on a lump of clay
against the wall and described how he and becky had watched the flame
struggle and expire 

the boys began to quiet down to whispers now for the stillness and
gloom of the place oppressed their spirits they went on and presently
entered and followed tom's other corridor until they reached the
 jumping-off place the candles revealed the fact that it was not
really a precipice but only a steep clay hill twenty or thirty feet
high tom whispered 

 now i'll show you something huck 

he held his candle aloft and said 

 look as far around the corner as you can do you see that there on the
big rock over yonder done with candle-smoke 

 tom it's a cross 

 now where's your number two ' under the cross ' hey right yonder's
where i saw injun joe poke up his candle huck 

huck stared at the mystic sign awhile and then said with a shaky voice 

 tom less git out of here 

 what and leave the treasure 

 yes leave it injun joe's ghost is round about there certain 

 no it ain't huck no it ain't it would ha'nt the place where he
died away out at the mouth of the cave five mile from here 

 no tom it wouldn't it would hang round the money i know the ways of
ghosts and so do you 

tom began to fear that huck was right mis-givings gathered in his mind 
but presently an idea occurred to him 

 lookyhere huck what fools we're making of ourselves injun joe's
ghost ain't a going to come around where there's a cross 

the point was well taken it had its effect 

 tom i didn't think of that but that's so it's luck for us that
cross is i reckon we'll climb down there and have a hunt for that box 

tom went first cutting rude steps in the clay hill as he descended 
huck followed four avenues opened out of the small cavern which the
great rock stood in the boys examined three of them with no result 
they found a small recess in the one nearest the base of the rock with
a pallet of blankets spread down in it also an old suspender some
bacon rind and the well-gnawed bones of two or three fowls but there
was no moneybox the lads searched and researched this place but in
vain tom said 

 he said under the cross well this comes nearest to being under the
cross it can't be under the rock itself because that sets solid on the
ground 

they searched everywhere once more and then sat down discouraged huck
could suggest nothing by-and-by tom said 

 lookyhere huck there's footprints and some candle-grease on the clay
about one side of this rock but not on the other sides now what's
that for i bet you the money is under the rock i'm going to dig in
the clay 

 that ain't no bad notion tom said huck with animation 

tom's real barlow was out at once and he had not dug four inches
before he struck wood 

 hey huck you hear that 

huck began to dig and scratch now some boards were soon uncovered and
removed they had concealed a natural chasm which led under the rock 
tom got into this and held his candle as far under the rock as he
could but said he could not see to the end of the rift he proposed
to explore he stooped and passed under the narrow way descended
gradually he followed its winding course first to the right then to
the left huck at his heels tom turned a short curve by-and-by and
exclaimed 

 my goodness huck lookyhere 

it was the treasure-box sure enough occupying a snug little cavern 
along with an empty powder-keg a couple of guns in leather cases two
or three pairs of old moccasins a leather belt and some other rubbish
well soaked with the water-drip 

 got it at last said huck ploughing among the tarnished coins with
his hand my but we're rich tom 

 huck i always reckoned we'd get it it's just too good to believe but
we have got it sure say let's not fool around here let's snake it
out lemme see if i can lift the box 

it weighed about fifty pounds tom could lift it after an awkward
fashion but could not carry it conveniently 

 i thought so he said they carried it like it was heavy that day
at the ha'nted house i noticed that i reckon i was right to think of
fetching the little bags along 

the money was soon in the bags and the boys took it up to the cross
rock 

 now less fetch the guns and things said huck 

 no huck leave them there they're just the tricks to have when we
go to robbing we'll keep them there all the time and we'll hold our
orgies there too it's an awful snug place for orgies 

 what orgies 

 i dono but robbers always have orgies and of course we've got to
have them too come along huck we've been in here a long time it's
getting late i reckon i'm hungry too we'll eat and smoke when we get
to the skiff 

they presently emerged into the clump of sumach bushes looked warily
out found the coast clear and were soon lunching and smoking in the
skiff as the sun dipped toward the horizon they pushed out and got
under way tom skimmed up the shore through the long twilight chatting
cheerily with huck and landed shortly after dark 

 now huck said tom we'll hide the money in the loft of the widow's
woodshed and i'll come up in the morning and we'll count it and divide 
and then we'll hunt up a place out in the woods for it where it will be
safe just you lay quiet here and watch the stuff till i run and hook
benny taylor's little wagon i won't be gone a minute 

he disappeared and presently returned with the wagon put the two small
sacks into it threw some old rags on top of them and started off 
dragging his cargo behind him when the boys reached the welshman's
house they stopped to rest just as they were about to move on the
welshman stepped out and said 

 hallo who's that 

 huck and tom sawyer 

 good come along with me boys you are keeping everybody waiting 
here hurry up trot ahead i'll haul the wagon for you why it's not as
light as it might be got bricks in it or old metal 

 old metal said tom 

 i judged so the boys in this town will take more trouble and fool away
more time hunting up six bits' worth of old iron to sell to the foundry
than they would to make twice the money at regular work but that's
human nature hurry along hurry along 

the boys wanted to know what the hurry was about 

 never mind you'll see when we get to the widow douglas' 

huck said with some apprehension for he was long used to being falsely
accused 

 mr jones we haven't been doing nothing 

the welshman laughed 

 well i don't know huck my boy i don't know about that ain't you
and the widow good friends 

 yes well she's ben good friends to me anyway 

 all right then what do you want to be afraid for 

this question was not entirely answered in huck's slow mind before he
found himself pushed along with tom into mrs douglas' drawing-room 
mr jones left the wagon near the door and followed 

the place was grandly lighted and everybody that was of any consequence
in the village was there the thatchers were there the harpers the
rogerses aunt polly sid mary the minister the editor and a great
many more and all dressed in their best the widow received the boys
as heartily as any one could well receive two such looking beings they
were covered with clay and candle-grease aunt polly blushed crimson
with humiliation and frowned and shook her head at tom nobody suffered
half as much as the two boys did however mr jones said 

 tom wasn't at home yet so i gave him up but i stumbled on him and
huck right at my door and so i just brought them along in a hurry 

 and you did just right said the widow come with me boys 

she took them to a bedchamber and said 

 now wash and dress yourselves here are two new suits of
clothes shirts socks everything complete they're huck's no no
thanks huck mr jones bought one and i the other but they'll fit both
of you get into them we'll wait come down when you are slicked up
enough 

then she left 




chapter xxxiv

huck said tom we can slope if we can find a rope the window ain't
high from the ground 

 shucks what do you want to slope for 

 well i ain't used to that kind of a crowd i can't stand it i ain't
going down there tom 

 oh bother it ain't anything i don't mind it a bit i'll take care of
you 

sid appeared 

 tom said he auntie has been waiting for you all the afternoon mary
got your sunday clothes ready and everybody's been fretting about you 
say ain't this grease and clay on your clothes 

 now mr siddy you jist 'tend to your own business what's all this
blowout about anyway 

 it's one of the widow's parties that she's always having this time
it's for the welshman and his sons on account of that scrape they
helped her out of the other night and say i can tell you something if
you want to know 

 well what 

 why old mr jones is going to try to spring something on the people
here tonight but i overheard him tell auntie today about it as a
secret but i reckon it's not much of a secret now everybody knows the
widow too for all she tries to let on she don't mr jones was bound
huck should be here couldn't get along with his grand secret without
huck you know 

 secret about what sid 

 about huck tracking the robbers to the widow's i reckon mr jones was
going to make a grand time over his surprise but i bet you it will drop
pretty flat 

sid chuckled in a very contented and satisfied way 

 sid was it you that told 

 oh never mind who it was somebody told that's enough 

 sid there's only one person in this town mean enough to do that and
that's you if you had been in huck's place you'd 'a' sneaked down the
hill and never told anybody on the robbers you can't do any but mean
things and you can't bear to see anybody praised for doing good ones 
there no thanks as the widow says and tom cuffed sid's ears and helped
him to the door with several kicks now go and tell auntie if you
dare and tomorrow you'll catch it 

some minutes later the widow's guests were at the supper-table and a
dozen children were propped up at little side-tables in the same room 
after the fashion of that country and that day at the proper time mr 
jones made his little speech in which he thanked the widow for the
honor she was doing himself and his sons but said that there was
another person whose modesty 

and so forth and so on he sprung his secret about huck's share in
the adventure in the finest dramatic manner he was master of but the
surprise it occasioned was largely counterfeit and not as clamorous and
effusive as it might have been under happier circumstances however 
the widow made a pretty fair show of astonishment and heaped so many
compliments and so much gratitude upon huck that he almost forgot
the nearly intolerable discomfort of his new clothes in the entirely
intolerable discomfort of being set up as a target for everybody's gaze
and everybody's laudations 

the widow said she meant to give huck a home under her roof and have him
educated and that when she could spare the money she would start him in
business in a modest way tom's chance was come he said 

 huck don't need it huck's rich 

nothing but a heavy strain upon the good manners of the company kept
back the due and proper complimentary laugh at this pleasant joke but
the silence was a little awkward tom broke it 

 huck's got money maybe you don't believe it but he's got lots of it 
oh you needn't smile i reckon i can show you you just wait a minute 

tom ran out of doors the company looked at each other with a perplexed
interest and inquiringly at huck who was tongue-tied 

 sid what ails tom said aunt polly he well there ain't ever any
making of that boy out i never 

tom entered struggling with the weight of his sacks and aunt polly
did not finish her sentence tom poured the mass of yellow coin upon the
table and said 

 there what did i tell you half of it's huck's and half of it's mine 

the spectacle took the general breath away all gazed nobody spoke for
a moment then there was a unanimous call for an explanation tom said
he could furnish it and he did the tale was long but brimful of
interest there was scarcely an interruption from any one to break the
charm of its flow when he had finished mr jones said 

 i thought i had fixed up a little surprise for this occasion but it
don't amount to anything now this one makes it sing mighty small i'm
willing to allow 

the money was counted the sum amounted to a little over twelve thousand
dollars it was more than any one present had ever seen at one time
before though several persons were there who were worth considerably
more than that in property 




chapter xxxv

the reader may rest satisfied that tom's and huck's windfall made a
mighty stir in the poor little village of st petersburg so vast a
sum all in actual cash seemed next to incredible it was talked
about gloated over glorified until the reason of many of the citizens
tottered under the strain of the unhealthy excitement every haunted 
 house in st petersburg and the neighboring villages was dissected 
plank by plank and its foundations dug up and ransacked for hidden
treasure and not by boys but men pretty grave unromantic men too 
some of them wherever tom and huck appeared they were courted admired 
stared at the boys were not able to remember that their remarks had
possessed weight before but now their sayings were treasured and
repeated everything they did seemed somehow to be regarded as
remarkable they had evidently lost the power of doing and saying
commonplace things moreover their past history was raked up and
discovered to bear marks of conspicuous originality the village paper
published biographical sketches of the boys 

the widow douglas put huck's money out at six per cent and judge
thatcher did the same with tom's at aunt polly's request each lad had
an income now that was simply prodigious a dollar for every weekday in
the year and half of the sundays it was just what the minister got no 
it was what he was promised he generally couldn't collect it a dollar
and a quarter a week would board lodge and school a boy in those old
simple days and clothe him and wash him too for that matter 

judge thatcher had conceived a great opinion of tom he said that no
commonplace boy would ever have got his daughter out of the cave when
becky told her father in strict confidence how tom had taken her
whipping at school the judge was visibly moved and when she pleaded
grace for the mighty lie which tom had told in order to shift that
whipping from her shoulders to his own the judge said with a fine
outburst that it was a noble a generous a magnanimous lie a lie that
was worthy to hold up its head and march down through history breast to
breast with george washington's lauded truth about the hatchet becky
thought her father had never looked so tall and so superb as when he
walked the floor and stamped his foot and said that she went straight
off and told tom about it 

judge thatcher hoped to see tom a great lawyer or a great soldier some
day he said he meant to look to it that tom should be admitted to the
national military academy and afterward trained in the best law school
in the country in order that he might be ready for either career or
both 

huck finn's wealth and the fact that he was now under the widow douglas'
protection introduced him into society no dragged him into it hurled
him into it and his sufferings were almost more than he could bear the
widow's servants kept him clean and neat combed and brushed and they
bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had not one little spot
or stain which he could press to his heart and know for a friend he had
to eat with a knife and fork he had to use napkin cup and plate 
he had to learn his book he had to go to church he had to talk so
properly that speech was become insipid in his mouth whithersoever he
turned the bars and shackles of civilization shut him in and bound him
hand and foot 

he bravely bore his miseries three weeks and then one day turned up
missing for forty-eight hours the widow hunted for him everywhere in
great distress the public were profoundly concerned they searched high
and low they dragged the river for his body early the third morning
tom sawyer wisely went poking among some old empty hogsheads down behind
the abandoned slaughter-house and in one of them he found the refugee 
huck had slept there he had just breakfasted upon some stolen odds and
ends of food and was lying off now in comfort with his pipe he was
unkempt uncombed and clad in the same old ruin of rags that had made
him picturesque in the days when he was free and happy tom routed him
out told him the trouble he had been causing and urged him to go home 
huck's face lost its tranquil content and took a melancholy cast he
said 

 don't talk about it tom i've tried it and it don't work it don't
work tom it ain't for me i ain't used to it the widder's good to me 
and friendly but i can't stand them ways she makes me get up just
at the same time every morning she makes me wash they comb me all
to thunder she won't let me sleep in the woodshed i got to wear them
blamed clothes that just smothers me tom they don't seem to any air
git through 'em somehow and they're so rotten nice that i can't
set down nor lay down nor roll around anywher's i hain't slid on a
cellar-door for well it 'pears to be years i got to go to church
and sweat and sweat i hate them ornery sermons i can't ketch a fly in
there i can't chaw i got to wear shoes all sunday the widder eats by
a bell she goes to bed by a bell she gits up by a bell everything's so
awful reg'lar a body can't stand it 

 well everybody does that way huck 

 tom it don't make no difference i ain't everybody and i can't
 stand it it's awful to be tied up so and grub comes too easy i don't
take no interest in vittles that way i got to ask to go a-fishing 
i got to ask to go in a-swimming dern'd if i hain't got to ask to do
everything well i'd got to talk so nice it wasn't no comfort i'd got
to go up in the attic and rip out awhile every day to git a taste
in my mouth or i'd a died tom the widder wouldn't let me smoke 
she wouldn't let me yell she wouldn't let me gape nor stretch nor
scratch before folks then with a spasm of special irritation and
injury and dad fetch it she prayed all the time i never see such a
woman i had to shove tom i just had to and besides that school's
going to open and i'd a had to go to it well i wouldn't stand that 
tom looky-here tom being rich ain't what it's cracked up to be it's
just worry and worry and sweat and sweat and a-wishing you was dead
all the time now these clothes suits me and this bar'l suits me and
i ain't ever going to shake 'em any more tom i wouldn't ever got into
all this trouble if it hadn't 'a' ben for that money now you just take
my sheer of it along with your'n and gimme a ten-center sometimes not
many times becuz i don't give a dern for a thing 'thout it's tollable
hard to git and you go and beg off for me with the widder 

 oh huck you know i can't do that 'tain't fair and besides if you'll
try this thing just a while longer you'll come to like it 

 like it yes the way i'd like a hot stove if i was to set on it long
enough no tom i won't be rich and i won't live in them cussed
smothery houses i like the woods and the river and hogsheads and
i'll stick to 'em too blame it all just as we'd got guns and a cave 
and all just fixed to rob here this dern foolishness has got to come up
and spile it all 

tom saw his opportunity 

 lookyhere huck being rich ain't going to keep me back from turning
robber 

 no oh good-licks are you in real dead-wood earnest tom 

 just as dead earnest as i'm sitting here but huck we can't let you
into the gang if you ain't respectable you know 

huck's joy was quenched 

 can't let me in tom didn't you let me go for a pirate 

 yes but that's different a robber is more high-toned than what a
pirate is as a general thing in most countries they're awful high up in
the nobility dukes and such 

 now tom hain't you always ben friendly to me you wouldn't shet me
out would you tom you wouldn't do that now would you tom 

 huck i wouldn't want to and i don't want to but what would people
say why they'd say 'mph tom sawyer's gang pretty low characters in
it ' they'd mean you huck you wouldn't like that and i wouldn't 

huck was silent for some time engaged in a mental struggle finally he
said 

 well i'll go back to the widder for a month and tackle it and see if i
can come to stand it if you'll let me b'long to the gang tom 

 all right huck it's a whiz come along old chap and i'll ask the
widow to let up on you a little huck 

 will you tom now will you that's good if she'll let up on some of
the roughest things i'll smoke private and cuss private and crowd
through or bust when you going to start the gang and turn robbers 

 oh right off we'll get the boys together and have the initiation
tonight maybe 

 have the which 

 have the initiation 

 what's that 

 it's to swear to stand by one another and never tell the gang's
secrets even if you're chopped all to flinders and kill anybody and
all his family that hurts one of the gang 

 that's gay that's mighty gay tom i tell you 

 well i bet it is and all that swearing's got to be done at midnight 
in the lonesomest awfulest place you can find a ha'nted house is the
best but they're all ripped up now 

 well midnight's good anyway tom 

 yes so it is and you've got to swear on a coffin and sign it with
blood 

 now that's something like why it's a million times bullier than
pirating i'll stick to the widder till i rot tom and if i git to be
a reg'lar ripper of a robber and everybody talking 'bout it i reckon
she'll be proud she snaked me in out of the wet 

conclusion

so endeth this chronicle it being strictly a history of a boy it
must stop here the story could not go much further without becoming the
history of a man when one writes a novel about grown people he knows
exactly where to stop that is with a marriage but when he writes of
juveniles he must stop where he best can 

most of the characters that perform in this book still live and are
prosperous and happy some day it may seem worth while to take up the
story of the younger ones again and see what sort of men and women they
turned out to be therefore it will be wisest not to reveal any of that
part of their lives at present 

the iliad of homer


translated by alexander pope 

with notes by the
rev theodore alois buckley m a f s a 

and

flaxman's designs 

1899




illustrations


homer invoking the muse 
mars 
minerva repressing the fury of achilles 
the departure of briseis from the tent of achilles 
thetis calling briareus to the assistance of jupiter 
thetis entreating jupiter to honour achilles 
vulcan 
jupiter 
the apotheosis of homer 
jupiter sending the evil dream to agamemnon 
neptune 
venus disguised inviting helen to the chamber of paris 
venus presenting helen to paris 
venus 
map titled  graeciae antiquae  
the council of the gods 
map of the plain of troy 
venus wounded in the hand conducted by iris to mars 
otus and ephialtes holding mars captive 
diomed casting his spear at mars 
juno 
hector chiding paris 
the meeting of hector and andromache 
bows and bow case 
iris 
hector and ajax separated by the heralds 
greek amphora wine vessels 
juno and minerva going to assist the greeks 
the hours taking the horses from juno's car 
the shield of achilles 
pluto 
the embassy to achilles 
greek galley 
proserpine 
achilles 
diomed and ulysses returning with the spoils of rhesus 
the descent of discord 
hercules 
polydamas advising hector 
greek altar 
neptune rising from the sea 
greek earrings 
sleep escaping from the wrath of jupiter 
greek shield 
bacchus 
ajax defending the greek ships 
castor and pollux 
buckles 
diana 
sleep and death conveying the body of sarpedon to lycia 
csculapius 
fight for the body of patroclus 
vulcan from an antique gem 
thetis ordering the nereids to descend into the sea 
juno commanding the sun to set 
tripod 
thetis and eurynome receiving the infant vulcan 
vulcan and charis receiving thetis 
thetis bringing the armour to achilles 
hercules 
the gods descending to battle 
centaur 
achilles contending with the rivers 
the bath 
andromache fainting on the wall 
the funeral pile of patroclus 
ceres 
hector's body at the car of achilles 
the judgment of paris 
iris advises priam to obtain the body of hector 
funeral of hector 





introduction 


scepticism is as much the result of knowledge as knowledge is of
scepticism to be content with what we at present know is for the most
part to shut our ears against conviction since from the very gradual
character of our education we must continually forget and emancipate
ourselves from knowledge previously acquired we must set aside old
notions and embrace fresh ones and as we learn we must be daily
unlearning something which it has cost us no small labour and anxiety to
acquire 

and this difficulty attaches itself more closely to an age in which
progress has gained a strong ascendency over prejudice and in which
persons and things are day by day finding their real level in lieu of
their conventional value the same principles which have swept away
traditional abuses and which are making rapid havoc among the revenues of
sinecurists and stripping the thin tawdry veil from attractive
superstitions are working as actively in literature as in society the
credulity of one writer or the partiality of another finds as powerful a
touchstone and as wholesome a chastisement in the healthy scepticism of a
temperate class of antagonists as the dreams of conservatism or the
impostures of pluralist sinecures in the church history and tradition 
whether of ancient or comparatively recent times are subjected to very
different handling from that which the indulgence or credulity of former
ages could allow mere statements are jealously watched and the motives
of the writer form as important an ingredient in the analysis of his
history as the facts he records probability is a powerful and
troublesome test and it is by this troublesome standard that a large
portion of historical evidence is sifted consistency is no less
pertinacious and exacting in its demands in brief to write a history we
must know more than mere facts human nature viewed under an induction of
extended experience is the best help to the criticism of human history 
historical characters can only be estimated by the standard which human
experience whether actual or traditionary has furnished to form correct
views of individuals we must regard them as forming parts of a great
whole we must measure them by their relation to the mass of beings by whom
they are surrounded and in contemplating the incidents in their lives or
condition which tradition has handed down to us we must rather consider
the general bearing of the whole narrative than the respective
probability of its details 

it is unfortunate for us that of some of the greatest men we know
least and talk most homer socrates and shakespere 1 have perhaps 
contributed more to the intellectual enlightenment of mankind than any
other three writers who could be named and yet the history of all three
has given rise to a boundless ocean of discussion which has left us
little save the option of choosing which theory or theories we will
follow the personality of shakespere is perhaps the only thing in which
critics will allow us to believe without controversy but upon everything
else even down to the authorship of plays there is more or less of doubt
and uncertainty of socrates we know as little as the contradictions of
plato and xenophon will allow us to know he was one of the dramatis
personae in two dramas as unlike in principles as in style he appears as
the enunciator of opinions as different in their tone as those of the
writers who have handed them down when we have read plato or xenophon 
we think we know something of socrates when we have fairly read and
examined both we feel convinced that we are something worse than
ignorant 

it has been an easy and a popular expedient of late years to deny the
personal or real existence of men and things whose life and condition were
too much for our belief this system which has often comforted the
religious sceptic and substituted the consolations of strauss for those
of the new testament has been of incalculable value to the historical
theorists of the last and present centuries to question the existence of
alexander the great would be a more excusable act than to believe in
that of romulus to deny a fact related in herodotus because it is
inconsistent with a theory developed from an assyrian inscription which no
two scholars read in the same way is more pardonable than to believe in
the good-natured old king whom the elegant pen of florian has
idealized numa pompilius 

scepticism has attained its culminating point with respect to homer and
the state of our homeric knowledge may be described as a free permission
to believe any theory provided we throw overboard all written tradition 
concerning the author or authors of the iliad and odyssey what few
authorities exist on the subject are summarily dismissed although the
arguments appear to run in a circle  this cannot be true because it is
not true and that is not true because it cannot be true   such seems to
be the style in which testimony upon testimony statement upon statement 
is consigned to denial and oblivion 

it is however unfortunate that the professed biographies of homer are
partly forgeries partly freaks of ingenuity and imagination in which
truth is the requisite most wanting before taking a brief review of the
homeric theory in its present conditions some notice must be taken of the
treatise on the life of homer which has been attributed to herodotus 

according to this document the city of cumae in colia was at an early
period the seat of frequent immigrations from various parts of greece 
among the immigrants was menapolus the son of ithagenes although poor 
he married and the result of the union was a girl named critheis the
girl was left an orphan at an early age under the guardianship of
cleanax of argos it is to the indiscretion of this maiden that we  are
indebted for so much happiness   homer was the first fruit of her juvenile
frailty and received the name of melesigenes from having been born near
the river meles in boeotia whither critheis had been transported in
order to save her reputation 

 at this time   continues our narrative  there lived at smyrna a man
named phemius a teacher of literature and music who not being married 
engaged critheis to manage his household and spin the flax he received as
the price of his scholastic labours so satisfactory was her performance
of this task and so modest her conduct that he made proposals of
marriage declaring himself as a further inducement willing to adopt her
son who he asserted would become a clever man if he were carefully
brought up  

they were married careful cultivation ripened the talents which nature
had bestowed and melesigenes soon surpassed his schoolfellows in every
attainment and when older rivalled his preceptor in wisdom phemius
died leaving him sole heir to his property and his mother soon followed 
melesigenes carried on his adopted father's school with great success 
exciting the admiration not only of the inhabitants of smyrna but also of
the strangers whom the trade carried on there especially in the
exportation of corn attracted to that city among these visitors one
mentes from leucadia the modern santa maura who evinced a knowledge and
intelligence rarely found in those times persuaded melesigenes to close
his school and accompany him on his travels he promised not only to pay
his expenses but to furnish him with a further stipend urging that 
 while he was yet young it was fitting that he should see with his own
eyes the countries and cities which might hereafter be the subjects of his
discourses   melesigenes consented and set out with his patron 
 examining all the curiosities of the countries they visited and
informing himself of everything by interrogating those whom he met   we
may also suppose that he wrote memoirs of all that he deemed worthy of
preservation 2 having set sail from tyrrhenia and iberia they reached
ithaca here melesigenes who had already suffered in his eyes became
much worse and mentes who was about to leave for leucadia left him to
the medical superintendence of a friend of his named mentor the son of
alcinor under his hospitable and intelligent host melesigenes rapidly
became acquainted with the legends respecting ulysses which afterwards
formed the subject of the odyssey the inhabitants of ithaca assert that
it was here that melesigenes became blind but the colophomans make their
city the seat of that misfortune he then returned to smyrna where he
applied himself to the study of poetry 3 

but poverty soon drove him to cumae having passed over the hermaean
plain he arrived at neon teichos the new wall a colony of cumae here
his misfortunes and poetical talent gained him the friendship of one
tychias an armourer  and up to my time   continued the author  the
inhabitants showed the place where he used to sit when giving a recitation
of his verses and they greatly honoured the spot here also a poplar
grew which they said had sprung up ever since melesigenes arrived  4 

but poverty still drove him on and he went by way of larissa as being
the most convenient road here the cumans say he composed an epitaph on
gordius king of phrygia which has however and with greater probability 
been attributed to cleobulus of lindus 5 

arrived at cumae he frequented the converzationes 6 of the old men 
and delighted all by the charms of his poetry encouraged by this
favourable reception he declared that if they would allow him a public
maintenance he would render their city most gloriously renowned they
avowed their willingness to support him in the measure he proposed and
procured him an audience in the council having made the speech with the
purport of which our author has forgotten to acquaint us he retired and
left them to debate respecting the answer to be given to his proposal 

the greater part of the assembly seemed favourable to the poet's demand 
but one man observed that  if they were to feed homers they would be
encumbered with a multitude of useless people    from this circumstance  
says the writer  melesigenes acquired the name of homer for the cumans
call blind men homers   7 with a love of economy which shows how
similar the world has always been in its treatment of literary men the
pension was denied and the poet vented his disappointment in a wish that
cumoea might never produce a poet capable of giving it renown and glory 

at phocoea homer was destined to experience another literary distress 
one thestorides who aimed at the reputation of poetical genius kept
homer in his own house and allowed him a pittance on condition of the
verses of the poet passing in his name having collected sufficient poetry
to be profitable thestorides like some would-be-literary publishers 
neglected the man whose brains he had sucked and left him at his
departure homer is said to have observed  o thestorides of the many
things hidden from the knowledge of man nothing is more unintelligible
than the human heart   8 

homer continued his career of difficulty and distress until some chian
merchants struck by the similarity of the verses they heard him recite 
acquainted him with the fact that thestorides was pursuing a profitable
livelihood by the recital of the very same poems this at once determined
him to set out for chios no vessel happened then to be setting sail
thither but he found one ready to start for erythrae a town of ionia 
which faces that island and he prevailed upon the seamen to allow him to
accompany them having embarked he invoked a favourable wind and prayed
that he might be able to expose the imposture of thestorides who by his
breach of hospitality had drawn down the wrath of jove the hospitable 

at erythrae homer fortunately met with a person who had known him in
phocoea by whose assistance he at length after some difficulty reached
the little hamlet of pithys here he met with an adventure which we will
continue in the words of our author  having set out from pithys homer
went on attracted by the cries of some goats that were pasturing the
dogs barked on his approach and he cried out glaucus for that was the
name of the goat-herd heard his voice ran up quickly called off his
dogs and drove them away from homer for or some time he stood wondering
how a blind man should have reached such a place alone and what could be
his design in coming he then went up to him and inquired who he was and
how he had come to desolate places and untrodden spots and of what he
stood in need homer by recounting to him the whole history of his
misfortunes moved him with compassion and he took him and led him to
his cot and having lit a fire bade him sup 9 

 the dogs instead of eating kept barking at the stranger according to
their usual habit whereupon homer addressed glaucus thus o glaucus my
friend prythee attend to my behest first give the dogs their supper at
the doors of the hut for so it is better since whilst they watch nor
thief nor wild beast will approach the fold 

glaucus was pleased with the advice and marvelled at its author having
finished supper they banqueted 10 afresh on conversation homer
narrating his wanderings and telling of the cities he had visited 

at length they retired to rest but on the following morning glaucus
resolved to go to his master and acquaint him with his meeting with
homer having left the goats in charge of a fellow-servant he left homer
at home promising to return quickly having arrived at bolissus a place
near the farm and finding his mate he told him the whole story
respecting homer and his journey he paid little attention to what he
said and blamed glaucus for his stupidity in taking in and feeding maimed
and enfeebled persons however he bade him bring the stranger to him 

glaucus told homer what had taken place and bade him follow him assuring
him that good fortune would be the result conversation soon showed that
the stranger was a man of much cleverness and general knowledge and the
chian persuaded him to remain and to undertake the charge of his
children 11 

besides the satisfaction of driving the impostor thestorides from the
island homer enjoyed considerable success as a teacher in the town of
chios he established a school where he taught the precepts of poetry  to
this day   says chandler 12  the most curious remain is that which has
been named without reason the school of homer it is on the coast at
some distance from the city northward and appears to have been an open
temple of cybele formed on the top of a rock the shape is oval and in
the centre is the image of the goddess the head and an arm wanting she
is represented as usual sitting the chair has a lion carved on each
side and on the back the area is bounded by a low rim or seat and
about five yards over the whole is hewn out of the mountain is rude 
indistinct and probably of the most remote antiquity  

so successful was this school that homer realised a considerable fortune 
he married and had two daughters one of whom died single the other
married a chian 

the following passage betrays the same tendency to connect the personages
of the poems with the history of the poet which has already been
mentioned 

 in his poetical compositions homer displays great gratitude towards
mentor of ithaca in the odyssey whose name he has inserted in his poem
as the companion of ulysses 13 in return for the care taken of him when
afflicted with blindness he also testifies his gratitude to phemius who
had given him both sustenance and instruction  

his celebrity continued to increase and many persons advised him to visit
greece whither his reputation had now extended having it is said made
some additions to his poems calculated to please the vanity of the
athenians of whose city he had hitherto made no mention 14 he sent out
for samos here being recognized by a samian who had met with him in
chios he was handsomely received and invited to join in celebrating the
apaturian festival he recited some verses which gave great satisfaction 
and by singing the eiresione at the new moon festivals he earned a
subsistence visiting the houses of the rich with whose children he was
very popular 

in the spring he sailed for athens and arrived at the island of ios now
ino where he fell extremely ill and died it is said that his death
arose from vexation at not having been able to unravel an enigma proposed
by some fishermen's children 15 

such is in brief the substance of the earliest life of homer we possess 
and so broad are the evidences of its historical worthlessness that it is
scarcely necessary to point them out in detail let us now consider some
of the opinions to which a persevering patient and learned but by no
means consistent series of investigations has led in doing so i profess
to bring forward statements not to vouch for their reasonableness or
probability 

 homer appeared the history of this poet and his works is lost in
doubtful obscurity as is the history of many of the first minds who have
done honour to humanity because they rose amidst darkness the majestic
stream of his song blessing and fertilizing flows like the nile through
many lands and nations and like the sources of the nile its fountains
will ever remain concealed  

such are the words in which one of the most judicious german critics has
eloquently described the uncertainty in which the whole of the homeric
question is involved with no less truth and feeling he proceeds 

 it seems here of chief importance to expect no more than the nature of
things makes possible if the period of tradition in history is the region
of twilight we should not expect in it perfect light the creations of
genius always seem like miracles because they are for the most part 
created far out of the reach of observation if we were in possession of
all the historical testimonies we never could wholly explain the origin
of the iliad and the odyssey for their origin in all essential points 
must have remained the secret of the poet   16 

from this criticism which shows as much insight into the depths of human
nature as into the minute wire-drawings of scholastic investigation let
us pass on to the main question at issue was homer an individual 17 or
were the iliad and odyssey the result of an ingenious arrangement of
fragments by earlier poets 

well has landor remarked  some tell us there were twenty homers some
deny that there was ever one it were idle and foolish to shake the
contents of a vase in order to let them settle at last we are
perpetually labouring to destroy our delights our composure our devotion
to superior power of all the animals on earth we least know what is good
for us my opinion is that what is best for us is our admiration of good 
no man living venerates homer more than i do   18 

but greatly as we admire the generous enthusiasm which rests contented
with the poetry on which its best impulses had been nurtured and fostered 
without seeking to destroy the vividness of first impressions by minute
analysis our editorial office compels us to give some attention to the
doubts and difficulties with which the homeric question is beset and to
entreat our reader for a brief period to prefer his judgment to his
imagination and to condescend to dry details 

before however entering into particulars respecting the question of this
unity of the homeric poems at least of the iliad i must express my
sympathy with the sentiments expressed in the following remarks 

 we cannot but think the universal admiration of its unity by the better 
the poetic age of greece almost conclusive testimony to its original
composition it was not till the age of the grammarians that its primitive
integrity was called in question nor is it injustice to assert that the
minute and analytical spirit of a grammarian is not the best qualification
for the profound feeling the comprehensive conception of an harmonious
whole the most exquisite anatomist may be no judge of the symmetry of the
human frame and we would take the opinion of chantrey or westmacott on
the proportions and general beauty of a form rather than that of mr 
brodie or sir astley cooper 

 there is some truth though some malicious exaggeration in the lines of
pope 

  'the critic eye that microscope of wit
 sees hairs and pores examines bit by bit 
 how parts relate to parts or they to whole
 the body's harmony the beaming soul 
 are things which kuster burmann wasse shall see 
 when man's whole frame is obvious to a flea '  19 

long was the time which elapsed before any one dreamt of questioning the
unity of the authorship of the homeric poems the grave and cautious
thucydides quoted without hesitation the hymn to apollo 20 the
authenticity of which has been already disclaimed by modern critics 
longinus in an oft quoted passage merely expressed an opinion touching
the comparative inferiority of the odyssey to the iliad 21 and among a
mass of ancient authors whose very names 22 it would be tedious to
detail no suspicion of the personal non-existence of homer ever arose so
far the voice of antiquity seems to be in favour of our early ideas on
the subject let us now see what are the discoveries to which more modern
investigations lay claim 

at the end of the seventeenth century doubts had begun to awaken on the
subject and we find bentley remarking that  homer wrote a sequel of songs
and rhapsodies to be sung by himself for small comings and good cheer 
at festivals and other days of merriment these loose songs were not
collected together in the form of an epic poem till about peisistratus'
time about five hundred years after   23 

two french writers hedelin and perrault avowed a similar scepticism on the
subject but it is in the  scienza nuova  of battista vico that we first
meet with the germ of the theory subsequently defended by wolf with so
much learning and acuteness indeed it is with the wolfian theory that we
have chiefly to deal and with the following bold hypothesis which we
will detail in the words of grote 24 

 half a century ago the acute and valuable prolegomena of f a wolf 
turning to account the venetian scholia which had then been recently
published first opened philosophical discussion as to the history of the
homeric text a considerable part of that dissertation though by no means
the whole is employed in vindicating the position previously announced
by bentley amongst others that the separate constituent portions of the
iliad and odyssey had not been cemented together into any compact body and
unchangeable order until the days of peisistratus in the sixth century
before christ as a step towards that conclusion wolf maintained that no
written copies of either poem could be shown to have existed during the
earlier times to which their composition is referred and that without
writing neither the perfect symmetry of so complicated a work could have
been originally conceived by any poet nor if realized by him 
transmitted with assurance to posterity the absence of easy and
convenient writing such as must be indispensably supposed for long
manuscripts among the early greeks was thus one of the points in wolf's
case against the primitive integrity of the iliad and odyssey by nitzsch 
and other leading opponents of wolf the connection of the one with the
other seems to have been accepted as he originally put it and it has been
considered incumbent on those who defended the ancient aggregate character
of the iliad and odyssey to maintain that they were written poems from
the beginning 

 to me it appears that the architectonic functions ascribed by wolf to
peisistratus and his associates in reference to the homeric poems are
nowise admissible but much would undoubtedly be gained towards that view
of the question if it could be shown that in order to controvert it we
were driven to the necessity of admitting long written poems in the ninth
century before the christian aera few things in my opinion can be more
improbable and mr payne knight opposed as he is to the wolfian
hypothesis admits this no less than wolf himself the traces of writing
in greece even in the seventh century before the christian aera are
exceedingly trifling we have no remaining inscription earlier than the
fortieth olympiad and the early inscriptions are rude and unskilfully
executed nor can we even assure ourselves whether archilochus simonides
of amorgus kallinus tyrtaeus xanthus and the other early elegiac and
lyric poets committed their compositions to writing or at what time the
practice of doing so became familiar the first positive ground which
authorizes us to presume the existence of a manuscript of homer is in the
famous ordinance of solon with regard to the rhapsodies at the
panathenaea but for what length of time previously manuscripts had
existed we are unable to say 

 those who maintain the homeric poems to have been written from the
beginning rest their case not upon positive proofs nor yet upon the
existing habits of society with regard to poetry for they admit generally
that the iliad and odyssey were not read but recited and heard but upon
the supposed necessity that there must have been manuscripts to ensure the
preservation of the poems the unassisted memory of reciters being neither
sufficient nor trustworthy but here we only escape a smaller difficulty
by running into a greater for the existence of trained bards gifted with
extraordinary memory 25 is far less astonishing than that of long
manuscripts in an age essentially non-reading and non-writing and when
even suitable instruments and materials for the process are not obvious 
moreover there is a strong positive reason for believing that the bard
was under no necessity of refreshing his memory by consulting a
manuscript for if such had been the fact blindness would have been a
disqualification for the profession which we know that it was not as
well from the example of demodokus in the odyssey as from that of the
blind bard of chios in the hymn to the delian apollo whom thucydides as
well as the general tenor of grecian legend identifies with homer
himself the author of that hymn be he who he may could never have
described a blind man as attaining the utmost perfection in his art if he
had been conscious that the memory of the bard was only maintained by
constant reference to the manuscript in his chest  

the loss of the digamma that crux of critics that quicksand upon which
even the acumen of bentley was shipwrecked seems to prove beyond a doubt 
that the pronunciation of the greek language had undergone a considerable
change now it is certainly difficult to suppose that the homeric poems
could have suffered by this change had written copies been preserved if
chaucer's poetry for instance had not been written it could only have
come down to us in a softened form more like the effeminate version of
dryden than the rough quaint noble original 

 at what period   continues grote  these poems or indeed any other greek
poems first began to be written must be matter of conjecture though
there is ground for assurance that it was before the time of solon if in
the absence of evidence we may venture upon naming any more determinate
period the question a once suggests itself what were the purposes which 
in that state of society a manuscript at its first commencement must have
been intended to answer for whom was a written iliad necessary not for
the rhapsodes for with them it was not only planted in the memory but
also interwoven with the feelings and conceived in conjunction with all
those flexions and intonations of voice pauses and other oral artifices
which were required for emphatic delivery and which the naked manuscript
could never reproduce not for the general public they were accustomed to
receive it with its rhapsodic delivery and with its accompaniments of a
solemn and crowded festival the only persons for whom the written iliad
would be suitable would be a select few studious and curious men a class
of readers capable of analyzing the complicated emotions which they had
experienced as hearers in the crowd and who would on perusing the
written words realize in their imaginations a sensible portion of the
impression communicated by the reciter incredible as the statement may
seem in an age like the present there is in all early societies and
there was in early greece a time when no such reading class existed if
we could discover at what time such a class first began to be formed we
should be able to make a guess at the time when the old epic poems were
first committed to writing now the period which may with the greatest
probability be fixed upon as having first witnessed the formation even of
the narrowest reading class in greece is the middle of the seventh
century before the christian aera b c 660 to b c 630 the age of
terpander kallinus archilochus simonides of amorgus etc i ground this
supposition on the change then operated in the character and tendencies of
grecian poetry and music the elegiac and the iambic measures having been
introduced as rivals to the primitive hexameter and poetical compositions
having been transferred from the epical past to the affairs of present and
real life such a change was important at a time when poetry was the only
known mode of publication to use a modern phrase not altogether suitable 
yet the nearest approaching to the sense it argued a new way of looking
at the old epical treasures of the people as well as a thirst for new
poetical effect and the men who stood forward in it may well be
considered as desirous to study and competent to criticize from their
own individual point of view the written words of the homeric rhapsodies 
just as we are told that kallinus both noticed and eulogized the thebais
as the production of homer there seems therefore ground for
conjecturing that for the use of this newly-formed and important but
very narrow class manuscripts of the homeric poems and other old
epics the thebais and the cypria as well as the iliad and the
odyssey began to be compiled towards the middle of the seventh century
 b c 1 and the opening of egypt to grecian commerce which took place
about the same period would furnish increased facilities for obtaining
the requisite papyrus to write upon a reading class when once formed 
would doubtless slowly increase and the number of manuscripts along with
it so that before the time of solon fifty years afterwards both readers
and manuscripts though still comparatively few might have attained a
certain recognized authority and formed a tribunal of reference against
the carelessness of individual rhapsodes   26 

but even peisistratus has not been suffered to remain in possession of the
credit and we cannot help feeling the force of the following
observations 


  there are several incidental circumstances which in our opinion 
 throw some suspicion over the whole history of the peisistratid
 compilation at least over the theory that the iliad was cast
 into its present stately and harmonious form by the directions of
 the athenian ruler if the great poets who flourished at the
 bright period of grecian song of which alas we have inherited
 little more than the fame and the faint echo if stesichorus 
 anacreon and simonides were employed in the noble task of
 compiling the iliad and odyssey so much must have been done to
 arrange to connect to harmonize that it is almost incredible 
 that stronger marks of athenian manufacture should not remain 
 whatever occasional anomalies may be detected anomalies which no
 doubt arise out of our own ignorance of the language of the
 homeric age however the irregular use of the digamma may have
 perplexed our bentleys to whom the name of helen is said to have
 caused as much disquiet and distress as the fair one herself among
 the heroes of her age however mr knight may have failed in
 reducing the homeric language to its primitive form however 
 finally the attic dialect may not have assumed all its more
 marked and distinguishing characteristics still it is difficult to
 suppose that the language particularly in the joinings and
 transitions and connecting parts should not more clearly betray
 the incongruity between the more ancient and modern forms of
 expression it is not quite in character with such a period to
 imitate an antique style in order to piece out an imperfect poem
 in the character of the original as sir walter scott has done in
 his continuation of sir tristram 

  if however not even such faint and indistinct traces of
 athenian compilation are discoverable in the language of the
 poems the total absence of athenian national feeling is perhaps
 no less worthy of observation in later and it may fairly be
 suspected in earlier times the athenians were more than
 ordinarily jealous of the fame of their ancestors but amid all
 the traditions of the glories of early greece embodied in the
 iliad the athenians play a most subordinate and insignificant
 part even the few passages which relate to their ancestors mr 
 knight suspects to be interpolations it is possible indeed that
 in its leading outline the iliad may be true to historic fact 
 that in the great maritime expedition of western greece against
 the rival and half-kindred empire of the laomedontiadae the
 chieftain of thessaly from his valour and the number of his
 forces may have been the most important ally of the peloponnesian
 sovereign the preeminent value of the ancient poetry on the
 trojan war may thus have forced the national feeling of the
 athenians to yield to their taste the songs which spoke of their
 own great ancestor were no doubt of far inferior sublimity and
 popularity or at first sight a theseid would have been much
 more likely to have emanated from an athenian synod of compilers
 of ancient song than an achilleid or an olysseid could france
 have given birth to a tasso tancred would have been the hero of
 the jerusalem if however the homeric ballads as they are
 sometimes called which related the wrath of achilles with all
 its direful consequences were so far superior to the rest of the
 poetic cycle as to admit no rivalry it is still surprising that
 throughout the whole poem the callida junctura should never
 betray the workmanship of an athenian hand and that the national
 spirit of a race who have at a later period not inaptly been
 compared to our self admiring neighbours the french should
 submit with lofty self denial to the almost total exclusion of
 their own ancestors or at least to the questionable dignity of
 only having produced a leader tolerably skilled in the military
 tactics of his age   27 


to return to the wolfian theory while it is to be confessed that wolf's
objections to the primitive integrity of the iliad and odyssey have never
been wholly got over we cannot help discovering that they have failed to
enlighten us as to any substantial point and that the difficulties with
which the whole subject is beset are rather augmented than otherwise if
we admit his hypothesis nor is lachmann's 28 modification of his theory
any better he divides the first twenty-two books of the iliad into
sixteen different songs and treats as ridiculous the belief that their
amalgamation into one regular poem belongs to a period earlier than the
age of peisistratus this as grote observes  explains the gaps and
contradictions in the narrative but it explains nothing else   moreover 
we find no contradictions warranting this belief and the so-called
sixteen poets concur in getting rid of the following leading men in the
first battle after the secession of achilles elphenor chief of the
euboeans tlepolemus of the rhodians pandarus of the lycians odius of
the halizonians pirous and acamas of the thracians none of these heroes
again make their appearance and we can but agree with colonel mure that
 it seems strange that any number of independent poets should have so
harmoniously dispensed with the services of all six in the sequel   the
discrepancy by which pylaemenes who is represented as dead in the fifth
book weeps at his son's funeral in the thirteenth can only be regarded
as the result of an interpolation 

grote although not very distinct in stating his own opinions on the
subject has done much to clearly show the incongruity of the wolfian
theory and of lachmann's modifications with the character of
peisistratus but he has also shown and we think with equal success that
the two questions relative to the primitive unity of these poems or 
supposing that impossible the unison of these parts by peisistratus and
not before his time are essentially distinct in short  a man may
believe the iliad to have been put together out of pre-existing songs 
without recognising the age of peisistratus as the period of its first
compilation   the friends or literary employes of peisistratus must have
found an iliad that was already ancient and the silence of the
alexandrine critics respecting the peisistratic  recension   goes far to
prove that among the numerous manuscripts they examined this was either
wanting or thought unworthy of attention 

 moreover   he continues  the whole tenor of the poems themselves
confirms what is here remarked there is nothing either in the iliad or
odyssey which savours of modernism applying that term to the age of
peisistratus nothing which brings to our view the alterations brought
about by two centuries in the greek language the coined money the
habits of writing and reading the despotisms and republican governments 
the close military array the improved construction of ships the
amphiktyonic convocations the mutual frequentation of religious
festivals the oriental and egyptian veins of religion etc familiar to
the latter epoch these alterations onomakritus and the other literary
friends of peisistratus could hardly have failed to notice even without
design had they then for the first time undertaken the task of piecing
together many self existent epics into one large aggregate everything in
the two great homeric poems both in substance and in language belongs to
an age two or three centuries earlier than peisistratus indeed even the
interpolations or those passages which on the best grounds are
pronounced to be such betray no trace of the sixth century before christ 
and may well have been heard by archilochus and kallinus in some cases
even by arktinus and hesiod as genuine homeric matter 29 as far as the
evidences on the case as well internal as external enable us to judge 
we seem warranted in believing that the iliad and odyssey were recited
substantially as they now stand always allowing for paitial divergences
of text and interpolations in 776 b c our first trustworthy mark of
grecian time and this ancient date let it be added as it is the
best-authenticated fact so it is also the most important attribute of the
homeric poems considered in reference to grecian history for they thus
afford us an insight into the anti-historical character of the greeks 
enabling us to trace the subsequent forward march of the nation and to
seize instructive contrasts between their former and their later
condition   30 

on the whole i am inclined to believe that the labours of peisistratus
were wholly of an editorial character although i must confess that i
can lay down nothing respecting the extent of his labours at the same
time so far from believing that the composition or primary arrangement of
these poems in their present form was the work of peisistratus i am
rather persuaded that the fine taste and elegant mind of that athenian 31 
would lead him to preserve an ancient and traditional order of the poems 
rather than to patch and re-construct them according to a fanciful
hypothesis i will not repeat the many discussions respecting whether the
poems were written or not or whether the art of writing was known in the
time of their reputed author suffice it to say that the more we read 
the less satisfied we are upon either subject 

i cannot however help thinking that the story which attributes the
preservation of these poems to lycurgus is little else than a version of
the same story as that of peisistratus while its historical probability
must be measured by that of many others relating to the spartan confucius 

i will conclude this sketch of the homeric theories with an attempt made
by an ingenious friend to unite them into something like consistency it
is as follows 


  no doubt the common soldiers of that age had like the common
 sailors of some fifty years ago some one qualified to 'discourse
 in excellent music' among them many of these like those of the
 negroes in the united states were extemporaneous and allusive to
 events passing around them but what was passing around them the
 grand events of a spirit-stirring war occurrences likely to
 impress themselves as the mystical legends of former times had
 done upon their memory besides which a retentive memory was
 deemed a virtue of the first water and was cultivated accordingly
 in those ancient times ballads at first and down to the
 beginning of the war with troy were merely recitations with an
 intonation then followed a species of recitative probably with
 an intoned burden tune next followed as it aided the memory
 considerably 

  it was at this period about four hundred years after the war 
 that a poet flourished of the name of melesigenes or moeonides 
 but most probably the former he saw that these ballads might be
 made of great utility to his purpose of writing a poem on the
 social position of hellas and as a collection he published
 these lays connecting them by a tale of his own this poem now
 exists under the title of the 'odyssea ' the author however did
 not affix his own name to the poem which in fact was great
 part of it remodelled from the archaic dialect of crete in which
 tongue the ballads were found by him he therefore called it the
 poem of homeros or the collector but this is rather a proof of
 his modesty and talent than of his mere drudging arrangement of
 other people's ideas for as grote has finely observed arguing
 for the unity of authorship 'a great poet might have re-cast
 pre-existing separate songs into one comprehensive whole but no
 mere arrangers or compilers would be competent to do so '

  while employed on the wild legend of odysseus he met with a
 ballad recording the quarrel of achilles and agamemnon his noble
 mind seized the hint that there presented itself and the
 achilleis 32 grew under his hand unity of design however 
 caused him to publish the poem under the same pseudonyme as his
 former work and the disjointed lays of the ancient bards were
 joined together like those relating to the cid into a chronicle
 history named the iliad melesigenes knew that the poem was
 destined to be a lasting one and so it has proved but first 
 the poems were destined to undergo many vicissitudes and
 corruptions by the people who took to singing them in the
 streets assemblies and agoras however solon first and then
 peisistratus and afterwards aristoteles and others revised the
 poems and restored the works of melesigenes homeros to their
 original integrity in a great measure   33 


having thus given some general notion of the strange theories which have
developed themselves respecting this most interesting subject i must
still express my conviction as to the unity of the authorship of the
homeric poems to deny that many corruptions and interpolations disfigure
them and that the intrusive hand of the poetasters may here and there
have inflicted a wound more serious than the negligence of the copyist 
would be an absurd and captious assumption but it is to a higher
criticism that we must appeal if we would either understand or enjoy
these poems in maintaining the authenticity and personality of their one
author be he homer or melesigenes quocunque nomine vocari eum jus
fasque sit i feel conscious that while the whole weight of historical
evidence is against the hypothesis which would assign these great works to
a plurality of authors the most powerful internal evidence and that
which springs from the deepest and most immediate impulse of the soul 
also speaks eloquently to the contrary 

the minutiae of verbal criticism i am far from seeking to despise indeed 
considering the character of some of my own books such an attempt would
be gross inconsistency but while i appreciate its importance in a
philological view i am inclined to set little store on its aesthetic
value especially in poetry three parts of the emendations made upon
poets are mere alterations some of which had they been suggested to the
author by his maecenas or africanus he would probably have adopted 
moreover those who are most exact in laying down rules of verbal
criticism and interpretation are often least competent to carry out their
own precepts grammarians are not poets by profession but may be so per
accidens i do not at this moment remember two emendations on homer 
calculated to substantially improve the poetry of a passage although a
mass of remarks from herodotus down to loewe have given us the history
of a thousand minute points without which our greek knowledge would be
gloomy and jejune 

but it is not on words only that grammarians mere grammarians will
exercise their elaborate and often tiresome ingenuity binding down an
heroic or dramatic poet to the block upon which they have previously
dissected his words and sentences they proceed to use the axe and the
pruning knife by wholesale and inconsistent in everything but their wish
to make out a case of unlawful affiliation they cut out book after book 
passage after passage till the author is reduced to a collection of
fragments or till those who fancied they possessed the works of some
great man find that they have been put off with a vile counterfeit got up
at second hand if we compare the theories of knight wolf lachmann and
others we shall feel better satisfied of the utter uncertainty of
criticism than of the apocryphal position of homer one rejects what
another considers the turning-point of his theory one cuts a supposed
knot by expunging what another would explain by omitting something else 

nor is this morbid species of sagacity by any means to be looked upon as a
literary novelty justus lipsius a scholar of no ordinary skill seems to
revel in the imaginary discovery that the tragedies attributed to seneca
are by four different authors 34 now i will venture to assert that
these tragedies are so uniform not only in their borrowed phraseology a
phraseology with which writers like boethius and saxo grammaticus were
more charmed than ourselves in their freedom from real poetry and last 
but not least in an ultra-refined and consistent abandonment of good
taste that few writers of the present day would question the capabilities
of the same gentleman be he seneca or not to produce not only these but
a great many more equally bad with equal sagacity father hardouin
astonished the world with the startling announcement that the cneid of
virgil and the satires of horace were literary deceptions now without
wishing to say one word of disrespect against the industry and
learning nay the refined acuteness which scholars like wolf have
bestowed upon this subject i must express my fears that many of our
modern homeric theories will become matter for the surprise and
entertainment rather than the instruction of posterity nor can i help
thinking that the literary history of more recent times will account for
many points of difficulty in the transmission of the iliad and odyssey to
a period so remote from that of their first creation 

i have already expressed my belief that the labours of peisistratus were
of a purely editorial character and there seems no more reason why
corrupt and imperfect editions of homer may not have been abroad in his
day than that the poems of valerius flaccus and tibullus should have
given so much trouble to poggio scaliger and others but after all the
main fault in all the homeric theories is that they demand too great a
sacrifice of those feelings to which poetry most powerfully appeals and
which are its most fitting judges the ingenuity which has sought to rob
us of the name and existence of homer does too much violence to that
inward emotion which makes our whole soul yearn with love and admiration
for the blind bard of chios to believe the author of the iliad a mere
compiler is to degrade the powers of human invention to elevate
analytical judgment at the expense of the most ennobling impulses of the
soul and to forget the ocean in the contemplation of a polypus there is
a catholicity so to speak in the very name of homer our faith in the
author of the iliad may be a mistaken one but as yet nobody has taught us
a better 

while however i look upon the belief in homer as one that has nature
herself for its mainspring while i can join with old ennius in believing
in homer as the ghost who like some patron saint hovers round the bed
of the poet and even bestows rare gifts from that wealth of imagination
which a host of imitators could not exhaust still i am far from wishing
to deny that the author of these great poems found a rich fund of
tradition a well-stocked mythical storehouse from whence he might derive
both subject and embellishment but it is one thing to use existing
romances in the embellishment of a poem another to patch up the poem
itself from such materials what consistency of style and execution can be
hoped for from such an attempt or rather what bad taste and tedium will
not be the infallible result 

a blending of popular legends and a free use of the songs of other bards 
are features perfectly consistent with poetical originality in fact the
most original writer is still drawing upon outward impressions nay even
his own thoughts are a kind of secondary agents which support and feed the
impulses of imagination but unless there be some grand pervading
principle some invisible yet most distinctly stamped archetypus of the
great whole a poem like the iliad can never come to the birth traditions
the most picturesque episodes the most pathetic local associations
teeming with the thoughts of gods and great men may crowd in one mighty
vision or reveal themselves in more substantial forms to the mind of the
poet but except the power to create a grand whole to which these shall
be but as details and embellishments be present we shall have nought but
a scrap-book a parterre filled with flowers and weeds strangling each
other in their wild redundancy we shall have a cento of rags and tatters 
which will require little acuteness to detect 

sensible as i am of the difficulty of disproving a negative and aware as
i must be of the weighty grounds there are for opposing my belief it
still seems to me that the homeric question is one that is reserved for a
higher criticism than it has often obtained we are not by nature intended
to know all things still less to compass the powers by which the
greatest blessings of life have been placed at our disposal were faith no
virtue then we might indeed wonder why god willed our ignorance on any
matter but we are too well taught the contrary lesson and it seems as
though our faith should be especially tried touching the men and the
events which have wrought most influence upon the condition of humanity 
and there is a kind of sacredness attached to the memory of the great and
the good which seems to bid us repulse the scepticism which would
allegorize their existence into a pleasing apologue and measure the
giants of intellect by an homeopathic dynameter 

long and habitual reading of homer appears to familiarize our thoughts
even to his incongruities or rather if we read in a right spirit and
with a heartfelt appreciation we are too much dazzled too deeply wrapped
in admiration of the whole to dwell upon the minute spots which mere
analysis can discover in reading an heroic poem we must transform
ourselves into heroes of the time being we in imagination must fight over
the same battles woo the same loves burn with the same sense of injury 
as an achilles or a hector and if we can but attain this degree of
enthusiasm and less enthusiasm will scarcely suffice for the reading of
homer we shall feel that the poems of homer are not only the work of one
writer but of the greatest writer that ever touched the hearts of men by
the power of song 

and it was this supposed unity of authorship which gave these poems their
powerful influence over the minds of the men of old heeren who is
evidently little disposed in favour of modern theories finely observes 


  it was homer who formed the character of the greek nation no
 poet has ever as a poet exercised a similar influence over his
 countrymen prophets lawgivers and sages have formed the
 character of other nations it was reserved to a poet to form that
 of the greeks this is a feature in their character which was not
 wholly erased even in the period of their degeneracy when
 lawgivers and sages appeared in greece the work of the poet had
 already been accomplished and they paid homage to his superior
 genius he held up before his nation the mirror in which they
 were to behold the world of gods and heroes no less than of feeble
 mortals and to behold them reflected with purity and truth his
 poems are founded on the first feeling of human nature on the
 love of children wife and country on that passion which
 outweighs all others the love of glory his songs were poured
 forth from a breast which sympathized with all the feelings of
 man and therefore they enter and will continue to enter every
 breast which cherishes the same sympathies if it is granted to
 his immortal spirit from another heaven than any of which he
 dreamed on earth to look down on his race to see the nations
 from the fields of asia to the forests of hercynia performing
 pilgrimages to the fountain which his magic wand caused to flow 
 if it is permitted to him to view the vast assemblage of grand of
 elevated of glorious productions which had been called into
 being by means of his songs wherever his immortal spirit may
 reside this alone would suffice to complete his happiness   35 


can we contemplate that ancient monument on which the  apotheosis of
homer  36 is depictured and not feel how much of pleasing association 
how much that appeals most forcibly and most distinctly to our minds is
lost by the admittance of any theory but our old tradition the more we
read and the more we think think as becomes the readers of homer the
more rooted becomes the conviction that the father of poetry gave us this
rich inheritance whole and entire whatever were the means of its
preservation let us rather be thankful for the treasury of taste and
eloquence thus laid open to our use than seek to make it a mere centre
around which to drive a series of theories whose wildness is only
equalled by their inconsistency with each other 

as the hymns and some other poems usually ascribed to homer are not
included in pope's translation i will content myself with a brief account
of the battle of the frogs and mice from the pen of a writer who has done
it full justice 37 


  this poem   says coleridge  is a short mock-heroic of ancient
 date the text varies in different editions and is obviously
 disturbed and corrupt to a great degree it is commonly said to
 have been a juvenile essay of homer's genius others have
 attributed it to the same pigrees mentioned above and whose
 reputation for humour seems to have invited the appropriation of
 any piece of ancient wit the author of which was uncertain so
 little did the greeks before the age of the ptolemies know or
 care about that department of criticism employed in determining
 the genuineness of ancient writings as to this little poem being
 a youthful prolusion of homer it seems sufficient to say that
 from the beginning to the end it is a plain and palpable parody 
 not only of the general spirit but of the numerous passages of
 the iliad itself and even if no such intention to parody were
 discernible in it the objection would still remain that to
 suppose a work of mere burlesque to be the primary effort of
 poetry in a simple age seems to reverse that order in the
 development of national taste which the history of every other
 people in europe and of many in asia has almost ascertained to
 be a law of the human mind it is in a state of society much more
 refined and permanent than that described in the iliad that any
 popularity would attend such a ridicule of war and the gods as is
 contained in this poem and the fact of there having existed three
 other poems of the same kind attributed for aught we can see 
 with as much reason to homer is a strong inducement to believe
 that none of them were of the homeric age knight infers from the
 usage of the word deltos  writing tablet   instead of diphthera 
  skin   which according to herod 5 58 was the material
 employed by the asiatic greeks for that purpose that this poem
 was another offspring of attic ingenuity and generally that the
 familiar mention of the cock v 191 is a strong argument against
 so ancient a date for its composition  


having thus given a brief account of the poems comprised in pope's design 
i will now proceed to make a few remarks on his translation and on my own
purpose in the present edition 

pope was not a grecian his whole education had been irregular and his
earliest acquaintance with the poet was through the version of ogilby it
is not too much to say that his whole work bears the impress of a
disposition to be satisfied with the general sense rather than to dive
deeply into the minute and delicate features of language hence his whole
work is to be looked upon rather as an elegant paraphrase than a
translation there are to be sure certain conventional anecdotes which
prove that pope consulted various friends whose classical attainments
were sounder than his own during the undertaking but it is probable that
these examinations were the result rather of the contradictory versions
already existing than of a desire to make a perfect transcript of the
original and in those days what is called literal translation was less
cultivated than at present if something like the general sense could be
decorated with the easy gracefulness of a practised poet if the charms of
metrical cadence and a pleasing fluency could be made consistent with a
fair interpretation of the poet's meaning his words were less jealously
sought for and those who could read so good a poem as pope's iliad had
fair reason to be satisfied 

it would be absurd therefore to test pope's translation by our own
advancing knowledge of the original text we must be content to look at it
as a most delightful work in itself a work which is as much a part of
english literature as homer himself is of greek we must not be torn from
our kindly associations with the old iliad that once was our most
cherished companion or our most looked-for prize merely because
buttmann loewe and liddell have made us so much more accurate as to
amphikupellon being an adjective and not a substantive far be it from us
to defend the faults of pope especially when we think of chapman's fine 
bold rough old english far be it from us to hold up his translation as
what a translation of homer might be but we can still dismiss pope's
iliad to the hands of our readers with the consciousness that they must
have read a very great number of books before they have read its fellow 

as to the notes accompanying the present volume they are drawn up without
pretension and mainly with the view of helping the general reader having
some little time since translated all the works of homer for another
publisher i might have brought a large amount of accumulated matter 
sometimes of a critical character to bear upon the text but pope's
version was no field for such a display and my purpose was to touch
briefly on antiquarian or mythological allusions to notice occasionally
 some departures from the original and to give a few parallel passages
from our english homer milton in the latter task i cannot pretend to
novelty but i trust that my other annotations while utterly disclaiming
high scholastic views will be found to convey as much as is wanted at
least as far as the necessary limits of these volumes could be expected
to admit to write a commentary on homer is not my present aim but if i
have made pope's translation a little more entertaining and instructive to
a mass of miscellaneous readers i shall consider my wishes satisfactorily
accomplished 

 theodore alois buckley 

 christ church 





pope's preface to the iliad of homer


homer is universally allowed to have had the greatest invention of any
writer whatever the praise of judgment virgil has justly contested with
him and others may have their pretensions as to particular excellences 
but his invention remains yet unrivalled nor is it a wonder if he has
ever been acknowledged the greatest of poets who most excelled in that
which is the very foundation of poetry it is the invention that in
different degrees distinguishes all great geniuses the utmost stretch of
human study learning and industry which masters everything besides can
never attain to this it furnishes art with all her materials and without
it judgment itself can at best but  steal wisely   for art is only like a
prudent steward that lives on managing the riches of nature whatever
praises may be given to works of judgment there is not even a single
beauty in them to which the invention must not contribute as in the most
regular gardens art can only reduce beauties of nature to more
regularity and such a figure which the common eye may better take in 
and is therefore more entertained with and perhaps the reason why
common critics are inclined to prefer a judicious and methodical genius to
a great and fruitful one is because they find it easier for themselves
to pursue their observations through a uniform and bounded walk of art 
than to comprehend the vast and various extent of nature 

our author's work is a wild paradise where if we cannot see all the
beauties so distinctly as in an ordered garden it is only because the
number of them is infinitely greater it is like a copious nursery which
contains the seeds and first productions of every kind out of which those
who followed him have but selected some particular plants each according
to his fancy to cultivate and beautify if some things are too luxuriant
it is owing to the richness of the soil and if others are not arrived to
perfection or maturity it is only because they are overrun and oppressed
by those of a stronger nature 

it is to the strength of this amazing invention we are to attribute that
unequalled fire and rapture which is so forcible in homer that no man of
a true poetical spirit is master of himself while he reads him what he
writes is of the most animated nature imaginable every thing moves every
thing lives and is put in action if a council be called or a battle
fought you are not coldly informed of what was said or done as from a
third person the reader is hurried out of himself by the force of the
poet's imagination and turns in one place to a hearer in another to a
spectator the course of his verses resembles that of the army he
describes 

 hoid' ar' isan hosei te puri chthon pasa nemoito 

 they pour along like a fire that sweeps the whole earth before it   it
is however remarkable that his fancy which is everywhere vigorous is
not discovered immediately at the beginning of his poem in its fullest
splendour it grows in the progress both upon himself and others and
becomes on fire like a chariot-wheel by its own rapidity exact
disposition just thought correct elocution polished numbers may have
been found in a thousand but this poetic fire this  vivida vis animi  
in a very few even in works where all those are imperfect or neglected 
this can overpower criticism and make us admire even while we disapprove 
nay where this appears though attended with absurdities it brightens
all the rubbish about it till we see nothing but its own splendour this
fire is discerned in virgil but discerned as through a glass reflected
from homer more shining than fierce but everywhere equal and constant 
in lucan and statius it bursts out in sudden short and interrupted
flashes in milton it glows like a furnace kept up to an uncommon ardour
by the force of art in shakspeare it strikes before we are aware like an
accidental fire from heaven but in homer and in him only it burns
everywhere clearly and everywhere irresistibly 

i shall here endeavour to show how this vast invention exerts itself in a
manner superior to that of any poet through all the main constituent parts
of his work as it is the great and peculiar characteristic which
distinguishes him from all other authors 

this strong and ruling faculty was like a powerful star which in the
violence of its course drew all things within its vortex it seemed not
enough to have taken in the whole circle of arts and the whole compass of
nature to supply his maxims and reflections all the inward passions and
affections of mankind to furnish his characters and all the outward
forms and images of things for his descriptions but wanting yet an ampler
sphere to expatiate in he opened a new and boundless walk for his
imagination and created a world for himself in the invention of fable 
that which aristotle calls  the soul of poetry   was first breathed into
it by homer i shall begin with considering him in his part as it is
naturally the first and i speak of it both as it means the design of a
poem and as it is taken for fiction 

fable may be divided into the probable the allegorical and the
marvellous the probable fable is the recital of such actions as though
they did not happen yet might in the common course of nature or of such
as though they did became fables by the additional episodes and manner
of telling them of this sort is the main story of an epic poem  the
return of ulysses the settlement of the trojans in italy   or the like 
that of the iliad is the  anger of achilles   the most short and single
subject that ever was chosen by any poet yet this he has supplied with a
vaster variety of incidents and events and crowded with a greater number
of councils speeches battles and episodes of all kinds than are to be
found even in those poems whose schemes are of the utmost latitude and
irregularity the action is hurried on with the most vehement spirit and
its whole duration employs not so much as fifty days virgil for want of
so warm a genius aided himself by taking in a more extensive subject as
well as a greater length of time and contracting the design of both
homer's poems into one which is yet but a fourth part as large as his 
the other epic poets have used the same practice but generally carried it
so far as to superinduce a multiplicity of fables destroy the unity of
action and lose their readers in an unreasonable length of time nor is
it only in the main design that they have been unable to add to his
invention but they have followed him in every episode and part of story 
if he has given a regular catalogue of an army they all draw up their
forces in the same order if he has funeral games for patroclus virgil
has the same for anchises and statius rather than omit them destroys
the unity of his actions for those of archemorus if ulysses visit the
shades the cneas of virgil and scipio of silius are sent after him if he
be detained from his return by the allurements of calypso so is dneas by
dido and rinaldo by armida if achilles be absent from the army on the
score of a quarrel through half the poem rinaldo must absent himself just
as long on the like account if he gives his hero a suit of celestial
armour virgil and tasso make the same present to theirs virgil has not
only observed this close imitation of homer but where he had not led the
way supplied the want from other greek authors thus the story of sinon 
and the taking of troy was copied says macrobius almost word for word
from pisander as the loves of dido and cneas are taken from those of
medea and jason in apollonius and several others in the same manner 

to proceed to the allegorical fable if we reflect upon those innumerable
knowledges those secrets of nature and physical philosophy which homer is
generally supposed to have wrapped up in his allegories what a new and
ample scene of wonder may this consideration afford us how fertile will
that imagination appear which as able to clothe all the properties of
elements the qualifications of the mind the virtues and vices in forms
and persons and to introduce them into actions agreeable to the nature of
the things they shadowed this is a field in which no succeeding poets
could dispute with homer and whatever commendations have been allowed
them on this head are by no means for their invention in having enlarged
his circle but for their judgment in having contracted it for when the
mode of learning changed in the following ages and science was delivered
in a plainer manner it then became as reasonable in the more modern poets
to lay it aside as it was in homer to make use of it and perhaps it was
no unhappy circumstance for virgil that there was not in his time that
demand upon him of so great an invention as might be capable of furnishing
all those allegorical parts of a poem 

the marvellous fable includes whatever is supernatural and especially the
machines of the gods if homer was not the first who introduced the
deities as herodotus imagines into the religion of greece he seems the
first who brought them into a system of machinery for poetry and such a
one as makes its greatest importance and dignity for we find those
authors who have been offended at the literal notion of the gods 
constantly laying their accusation against homer as the chief support of
it but whatever cause there might be to blame his machines in a
philosophical or religious view they are so perfect in the poetic that
mankind have been ever since contented to follow them none have been able
to enlarge the sphere of poetry beyond the limits he has set every
attempt of this nature has proved unsuccessful and after all the various
changes of times and religions his gods continue to this day the gods of
poetry 

we come now to the characters of his persons and here we shall find no
author has ever drawn so many with so visible and surprising a variety 
or given us such lively and affecting impressions of them every one has
something so singularly his own that no painter could have distinguished
them more by their features than the poet has by their manners nothing
can be more exact than the distinctions he has observed in the different
degrees of virtues and vices the single quality of courage is wonderfully
diversified in the several characters of the iliad that of achilles is
furious and intractable that of diomede forward yet listening to advice 
and subject to command that of ajax is heavy and self-confiding of
hector active and vigilant the courage of agamemnon is inspirited by
love of empire and ambition that of menelaus mixed with softness and
tenderness for his people we find in idomeneus a plain direct soldier in
sarpedon a gallant and generous one nor is this judicious and astonishing
diversity to be found only in the principal quality which constitutes the
main of each character but even in the under parts of it to which he
takes care to give a tincture of that principal one for example the main
characters of ulysses and nestor consist in wisdom and they are distinct
in this that the wisdom of one is artificial and various of the other
natural open and regular but they have besides characters of courage 
and this quality also takes a different turn in each from the difference
of his prudence for one in the war depends still upon caution the other
upon experience it would be endless to produce instances of these kinds 
the characters of virgil are far from striking us in this open manner 
they lie in a great degree hidden and undistinguished and where they
are marked most evidently affect us not in proportion to those of homer 
his characters of valour are much alike even that of turnus seems no way
peculiar but as it is in a superior degree and we see nothing that
differences the courage of mnestheus from that of sergestus cloanthus or
the rest in like manner it may be remarked of statius's heroes that an
air of impetuosity runs through them all the same horrid and savage
courage appears in his capaneus tydeus hippomedon etc they have a
parity of character which makes them seem brothers of one family i
believe when the reader is led into this tract of reflection if he will
pursue it through the epic and tragic writers he will be convinced how
infinitely superior in this point the invention of homer was to that of
all others 

the speeches are to be considered as they flow from the characters being
perfect or defective as they agree or disagree with the manners of those
who utter them as there is more variety of characters in the iliad so
there is of speeches than in any other poem  everything in it has
manner  as aristotle expresses it that is everything is acted or
spoken it is hardly credible in a work of such length how small a
number of lines are employed in narration in virgil the dramatic part is
less in proportion to the narrative and the speeches often consist of
general reflections or thoughts which might be equally just in any
person's mouth upon the same occasion as many of his persons have no
apparent characters so many of his speeches escape being applied and
judged by the rule of propriety we oftener think of the author himself
when we read virgil than when we are engaged in homer all which are the
effects of a colder invention that interests us less in the action
described homer makes us hearers and virgil leaves us readers 

if in the next place we take a view of the sentiments the same
presiding faculty is eminent in the sublimity and spirit of his thoughts 
longinus has given his opinion that it was in this part homer principally
excelled what were alone sufficient to prove the grandeur and excellence
of his sentiments in general is that they have so remarkable a parity
with those of the scripture duport in his gnomologia homerica has
collected innumerable instances of this sort and it is with justice an
excellent modern writer allows that if virgil has not so many thoughts
that are low and vulgar he has not so many that are sublime and noble 
and that the roman author seldom rises into very astonishing sentiments
where he is not fired by the iliad 

if we observe his descriptions images and similes we shall find the
invention still predominant to what else can we ascribe that vast
comprehension of images of every sort where we see each circumstance of
art and individual of nature summoned together by the extent and
fecundity of his imagination to which all things in their various views
presented themselves in an instant and had their impressions taken off to
perfection at a heat nay he not only gives us the full prospects of
things but several unexpected peculiarities and side views unobserved by
any painter but homer nothing is so surprising as the descriptions of his
battles which take up no less than half the iliad and are supplied with
so vast a variety of incidents that no one bears a likeness to another 
such different kinds of deaths that no two heroes are wounded in the same
manner and such a profusion of noble ideas that every battle rises above
the last in greatness horror and confusion it is certain there is not
near that number of images and descriptions in any epic poet though every
one has assisted himself with a great quantity out of him and it is
evident of virgil especially that he has scarce any comparisons which are
not drawn from his master 

if we descend from hence to the expression we see the bright imagination
of homer shining out in the most enlivened forms of it we acknowledge him
the father of poetical diction the first who taught that  language of the
gods  to men his expression is like the colouring of some great masters 
which discovers itself to be laid on boldly and executed with rapidity 
it is indeed the strongest and most glowing imaginable and touched with
the greatest spirit aristotle had reason to say he was the only poet who
had found out  living words   there are in him more daring figures and
metaphors than in any good author whatever an arrow is  impatient  to be
on the wing a weapon  thirsts  to drink the blood of an enemy and the
like yet his expression is never too big for the sense but justly great
in proportion to it it is the sentiment that swells and fills out the
diction which rises with it and forms itself about it for in the same
degree that a thought is warmer an expression will be brighter as that
is more strong this will become more perspicuous like glass in the
furnace which grows to a greater magnitude and refines to a greater
clearness only as the breath within is more powerful and the heat more
intense 

to throw his language more out of prose homer seems to have affected the
compound epithets this was a sort of composition peculiarly proper to
poetry not only as it heightened the diction but as it assisted and
filled the numbers with greater sound and pomp and likewise conduced in
some measure to thicken the images on this last consideration i cannot
but attribute these also to the fruitfulness of his invention since as
he has managed them they are a sort of supernumerary pictures of the
persons or things to which they were joined we see the motion of hector's
plumes in the epithet korythaiolos the landscape of mount neritus in that
of einosiphyllos and so of others which particular images could not have
been insisted upon so long as to express them in a description though but
of a single line without diverting the reader too much from the principal
action or figure as a metaphor is a short simile one of these epithets
is a short description 

lastly if we consider his versification we shall be sensible what a
share of praise is due to his invention in that also he was not satisfied
with his language as he found it settled in any one part of greece but
searched through its different dialects with this particular view to
beautify and perfect his numbers he considered these as they had a greater
mixture of vowels or consonants and accordingly employed them as the
verse required either a greater smoothness or strength what he most
affected was the ionic which has a peculiar sweetness from its never
using contractions and from its custom of resolving the diphthongs into
two syllables so as to make the words open themselves with a more
spreading and sonorous fluency with this he mingled the attic
contractions the broader doric and the feebler colic which often
rejects its aspirate or takes off its accent and completed this variety
by altering some letters with the licence of poetry thus his measures 
instead of being fetters to his sense were always in readiness to run
along with the warmth of his rapture and even to give a further
representation of his notions in the correspondence of their sounds to
what they signified out of all these he has derived that harmony which
makes us confess he had not only the richest head but the finest ear in
the world this is so great a truth that whoever will but consult the
tune of his verses even without understanding them with the same sort of
diligence as we daily see practised in the case of italian operas will
find more sweetness variety and majesty of sound than in any other
language of poetry the beauty of his numbers is allowed by the critics to
be copied but faintly by virgil himself though they are so just as to
ascribe it to the nature of the latin tongue indeed the greek has some
advantages both from the natural sound of its words and the turn and
cadence of its verse which agree with the genius of no other language 
virgil was very sensible of this and used the utmost diligence in working
up a more intractable language to whatsoever graces it was capable of 
and in particular never failed to bring the sound of his line to a
beautiful agreement with its sense if the grecian poet has not been so
frequently celebrated on this account as the roman the only reason is 
that fewer critics have understood one language than the other dionysius
of halicarnassus has pointed out many of our author's beauties in this
kind in his treatise of the composition of words it suffices at present
to observe of his numbers that they flow with so much ease as to make
one imagine homer had no other care than to transcribe as fast as the
muses dictated and at the same time with so much force and inspiriting
vigour that they awaken and raise us like the sound of a trumpet they
roll along as a plentiful river always in motion and always full while
we are borne away by a tide of verse the most rapid and yet the most
smooth imaginable 

thus on whatever side we contemplate homer what principally strikes us is
his invention it is that which forms the character of each part of his
work and accordingly we find it to have made his fable more extensive and
copious than any other his manners more lively and strongly marked his
speeches more affecting and transported his sentiments more warm and
sublime his images and descriptions more full and animated his
expression more raised and daring and his numbers more rapid and various 
i hope in what has been said of virgil with regard to any of these
heads i have no way derogated from his character nothing is more absurd
or endless than the common method of comparing eminent writers by an
opposition of particular passages in them and forming a judgment from
thence of their merit upon the whole we ought to have a certain knowledge
of the principal character and distinguishing excellence of each it is in
that we are to consider him and in proportion to his degree in that we
are to admire him no author or man ever excelled all the world in more
than one faculty and as homer has done this in invention virgil has in
judgment not that we are to think that homer wanted judgment because
virgil had it in a more eminent degree or that virgil wanted invention 
because homer possessed a larger share of it each of these great authors
had more of both than perhaps any man besides and are only said to have
less in comparison with one another homer was the greater genius virgil
the better artist in one we most admire the man in the other the work 
homer hurries and transports us with a commanding impetuosity virgil
leads us with an attractive majesty homer scatters with a generous
profusion virgil bestows with a careful magnificence homer like the
nile pours out his riches with a boundless overflow virgil like a river
in its banks with a gentle and constant stream when we behold their
battles methinks the two poets resemble the heroes they celebrate homer 
boundless and resistless as achilles bears all before him and shines
more and more as the tumult increases virgil calmly daring like cneas 
appears undisturbed in the midst of the action disposes all about him 
and conquers with tranquillity and when we look upon their machines 
homer seems like his own jupiter in his terrors shaking olympus 
scattering the lightnings and firing the heavens virgil like the same
power in his benevolence counselling with the gods laying plans for
empires and regularly ordering his whole creation 

but after all it is with great parts as with great virtues they
naturally border on some imperfection and it is often hard to distinguish
exactly where the virtue ends or the fault begins as prudence may
sometimes sink to suspicion so may a great judgment decline to coldness 
and as magnanimity may run up to profusion or extravagance so may a great
invention to redundancy or wildness if we look upon homer in this view 
we shall perceive the chief objections against him to proceed from so
noble a cause as the excess of this faculty 

among these we may reckon some of his marvellous fictions upon which so
much criticism has been spent as surpassing all the bounds of
probability perhaps it may be with great and superior souls as with
gigantic bodies which exerting themselves with unusual strength exceed
what is commonly thought the due proportion of parts to become miracles
in the whole and like the old heroes of that make commit something near
extravagance amidst a series of glorious and inimitable performances 
thus homer has his  speaking horses   and virgil his  myrtles distilling
blood   where the latter has not so much as contrived the easy
intervention of a deity to save the probability 

it is owing to the same vast invention that his similes have been thought
too exuberant and full of circumstances the force of this faculty is seen
in nothing more than in its inability to confine itself to that single
circumstance upon which the comparison is grounded it runs out into
embellishments of additional images which however are so managed as not
to overpower the main one his similes are like pictures where the
principal figure has not only its proportion given agreeable to the
original but is also set off with occasional ornaments and prospects the
same will account for his manner of heaping a number of comparisons
together in one breath when his fancy suggested to him at once so many
various and correspondent images the reader will easily extend this
observation to more objections of the same kind 

if there are others which seem rather to charge him with a defect or
narrowness of genius than an excess of it those seeming defects will be
found upon examination to proceed wholly from the nature of the times he
lived in such are his grosser representations of the gods and the
vicious and imperfect manners of his heroes but i must here speak a word
of the latter as it is a point generally carried into extremes both by
the censurers and defenders of homer it must be a strange partiality to
antiquity to think with madame dacier 38  that those times and manners
are so much the more excellent as they are more contrary to ours   who
can be so prejudiced in their favour as to magnify the felicity of those
ages when a spirit of revenge and cruelty joined with the practice of
rapine and robbery reigned through the world when no mercy was shown but
for the sake of lucre when the greatest princes were put to the sword 
and their wives and daughters made slaves and concubines on the other
side i would not be so delicate as those modern critics who are shocked
at the servile offices and mean employments in which we sometimes see the
heroes of homer engaged there is a pleasure in taking a view of that
simplicity in opposition to the luxury of succeeding ages in beholding
monarchs without their guards princes tending their flocks and
princesses drawing water from the springs when we read homer we ought to
reflect that we are reading the most ancient author in the heathen world 
and those who consider him in this light will double their pleasure in
the perusal of him let them think they are growing acquainted with
nations and people that are now no more that they are stepping almost
three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity and entertaining
themselves with a clear and surprising vision of things nowhere else to be
found the only true mirror of that ancient world by this means alone
their greatest obstacles will vanish and what usually creates their
dislike will become a satisfaction 

this consideration may further serve to answer for the constant use of the
same epithets to his gods and heroes such as the  far-darting phoebus  
the  blue-eyed pallas   the  swift-footed achilles   etc which some have
censured as impertinent and tediously repeated those of the gods
depended upon the powers and offices then believed to belong to them and
had contracted a weight and veneration from the rites and solemn devotions
in which they were used they were a sort of attributes with which it was
a matter of religion to salute them on all occasions and which it was an
irreverence to omit as for the epithets of great men mons boileau is of
opinion that they were in the nature of surnames and repeated as such 
for the greeks having no names derived from their fathers were obliged to
add some other distinction of each person either naming his parents
expressly or his place of birth profession or the like as alexander
the son of philip herodotus of halicarnassus diogenes the cynic etc 
homer therefore complying with the custom of his country used such
distinctive additions as better agreed with poetry and indeed we have
something parallel to these in modern times such as the names of harold
harefoot edmund ironside edward longshanks edward the black prince etc 
if yet this be thought to account better for the propriety than for the
repetition i shall add a further conjecture hesiod dividing the world
into its different ages has placed a fourth age between the brazen and
the iron one of  heroes distinct from other men a divine race who fought
at thebes and troy are called demi-gods and live by the care of jupiter
in the islands of the blessed   now among the divine honours which were
paid them they might have this also in common with the gods not to be
mentioned without the solemnity of an epithet and such as might be
acceptable to them by celebrating their families actions or qualities 

what other cavils have been raised against homer are such as hardly
deserve a reply but will yet be taken notice of as they occur in the
course of the work many have been occasioned by an injudicious endeavour
to exalt virgil which is much the same as if one should think to raise
the superstructure by undermining the foundation one would imagine by
the whole course of their parallels that these critics never so much as
heard of homer's having written first a consideration which whoever
compares these two poets ought to have always in his eye some accuse him
for the same things which they overlook or praise in the other as when
they prefer the fable and moral of the cneis to those of the iliad for
the same reasons which might set the odyssey above the cneis as that the
hero is a wiser man and the action of the one more beneficial to his
country than that of the other or else they blame him for not doing what
he never designed as because achilles is not as good and perfect a prince
as cneas when the very moral of his poem required a contrary character 
it is thus that rapin judges in his comparison of homer and virgil others
select those particular passages of homer which are not so laboured as
some that virgil drew out of them this is the whole management of
scaliger in his poetics others quarrel with what they take for low and
mean expressions sometimes through a false delicacy and refinement 
oftener from an ignorance of the graces of the original and then triumph
in the awkwardness of their own translations this is the conduct of
perrault in his parallels lastly there are others who pretending to a
fairer proceeding distinguish between the personal merit of homer and
that of his work but when they come to assign the causes of the great
reputation of the iliad they found it upon the ignorance of his times 
and the prejudice of those that followed and in pursuance of this
principle they make those accidents such as the contention of the
cities etc to be the causes of his fame which were in reality the
consequences of his merit the same might as well be said of virgil or
any great author whose general character will infallibly raise many casual
additions to their reputation this is the method of mons de la mott who
yet confesses upon the whole that in whatever age homer had lived he must
have been the greatest poet of his nation and that he may be said in his
sense to be the master even of those who surpassed him 39 

in all these objections we see nothing that contradicts his title to the
honour of the chief invention and as long as this which is indeed the
characteristic of poetry itself remains unequalled by his followers he
still continues superior to them a cooler judgment may commit fewer
faults and be more approved in the eyes of one sort of critics but that
warmth of fancy will carry the loudest and most universal applauses which
holds the heart of a reader under the strongest enchantment homer not
only appears the inventor of poetry but excels all the inventors of other
arts in this that he has swallowed up the honour of those who succeeded
him what he has done admitted no increase it only left room for
contraction or regulation he showed all the stretch of fancy at once and
if he has failed in some of his flights it was but because he attempted
everything a work of this kind seems like a mighty tree which rises from
the most vigorous seed is improved with industry flourishes and
produces the finest fruit nature and art conspire to raise it pleasure
and profit join to make it valuable and they who find the justest faults 
have only said that a few branches which run luxuriant through a richness
of nature might be lopped into form to give it a more regular appearance 

having now spoken of the beauties and defects of the original it remains
to treat of the translation with the same view to the chief
characteristic as far as that is seen in the main parts of the poem such
as the fable manners and sentiments no translator can prejudice it but
by wilful omissions or contractions as it also breaks out in every
particular image description and simile whoever lessens or too much
softens those takes off from this chief character it is the first grand
duty of an interpreter to give his author entire and unmaimed and for the
rest the diction and versification only are his proper province since
these must be his own but the others he is to take as he finds them 

it should then be considered what methods may afford some equivalent in
our language for the graces of these in the greek it is certain no
literal translation can be just to an excellent original in a superior
language but it is a great mistake to imagine as many have done that a
rash paraphrase can make amends for this general defect which is no less
in danger to lose the spirit of an ancient by deviating into the modern
manners of expression if there be sometimes a darkness there is often a
light in antiquity which nothing better preserves than a version almost
literal i know no liberties one ought to take but those which are
necessary to transfusing the spirit of the original and supporting the
poetical style of the translation and i will venture to say there have
not been more men misled in former times by a servile dull adherence to
the letter than have been deluded in ours by a chimerical insolent hope
of raising and improving their author it is not to be doubted that the
fire of the poem is what a translator should principally regard as it is
most likely to expire in his managing however it is his safest way to be
content with preserving this to his utmost in the whole without
endeavouring to be more than he finds his author is in any particular
place it is a great secret in writing to know when to be plain and when
poetical and figurative and it is what homer will teach us if we will
but follow modestly in his footsteps where his diction is bold and lofty 
let us raise ours as high as we can but where his is plain and humble we
ought not to be deterred from imitating him by the fear of incurring the
censure of a mere english critic nothing that belongs to homer seems to
have been more commonly mistaken than the just pitch of his style some of
his translators having swelled into fustian in a proud confidence of the
sublime others sunk into flatness in a cold and timorous notion of
simplicity methinks i see these different followers of homer some
sweating and straining after him by violent leaps and bounds the certain
signs of false mettle others slowly and servilely creeping in his train 
while the poet himself is all the time proceeding with an unaffected and
equal majesty before them however of the two extremes one could sooner
pardon frenzy than frigidity no author is to be envied for such
commendations as he may gain by that character of style which his
friends must agree together to call simplicity and the rest of the world
will call dulness there is a graceful and dignified simplicity as well
as a bold and sordid one which differ as much from each other as the air
of a plain man from that of a sloven it is one thing to be tricked up 
and another not to be dressed at all simplicity is the mean between
ostentation and rusticity 

this pure and noble simplicity is nowhere in such perfection as in the
scripture and our author one may affirm with all respect to the inspired
writings that the divine spirit made use of no other words but what were
intelligible and common to men at that time and in that part of the
world and as homer is the author nearest to those his style must of
course bear a greater resemblance to the sacred books than that of any
other writer this consideration together with what has been observed of
the parity of some of his thoughts may methinks induce a translator on
the one hand to give in to several of those general phrases and manners
of expression which have attained a veneration even in our language from
being used in the old testament as on the other to avoid those which
have been appropriated to the divinity and in a manner consigned to
mystery and religion 

for a further preservation of this air of simplicity a particular care
should be taken to express with all plainness those moral sentences and
proverbial speeches which are so numerous in this poet they have
something venerable and as i may say oracular in that unadorned gravity
and shortness with which they are delivered a grace which would be
utterly lost by endeavouring to give them what we call a more ingenious
 that is a more modern turn in the paraphrase 

perhaps the mixture of some graecisms and old words after the manner of
milton if done without too much affectation might not have an ill effect
in a version of this particular work which most of any other seems to
require a venerable antique cast but certainly the use of modern terms
of war and government such as  platoon campaign junto   or the like 
 into which some of his translators have fallen cannot be allowable 
those only excepted without which it is impossible to treat the subjects
in any living language 

there are two peculiarities in homer's diction which are a sort of marks
or moles by which every common eye distinguishes him at first sight those
who are not his greatest admirers look upon them as defects and those who
are seemed pleased with them as beauties i speak of his compound
epithets and of his repetitions many of the former cannot be done
literally into english without destroying the purity of our language i
believe such should be retained as slide easily of themselves into an
english compound without violence to the ear or to the received rules of
composition as well as those which have received a sanction from the
authority of our best poets and are become familiar through their use of
them such as  the cloud-compelling jove   etc as for the rest whenever
any can be as fully and significantly expressed in a single word as in a
compounded one the course to be taken is obvious 

some that cannot be so turned as to preserve their full image by one or
two words may have justice done them by circumlocution as the epithet
einosiphyllos to a mountain would appear little or ridiculous translated
literally  leaf-shaking   but affords a majestic idea in the periphrasis 
 the lofty mountain shakes his waving woods   others that admit of
different significations may receive an advantage from a judicious
variation according to the occasions on which they are introduced for
example the epithet of apollo hekaebolos or  far-shooting   is capable
of two explications one literal in respect of the darts and bow the
ensigns of that god the other allegorical with regard to the rays of the
sun therefore in such places where apollo is represented as a god in
person i would use the former interpretation and where the effects of
the sun are described i would make choice of the latter upon the whole 
it will be necessary to avoid that perpetual repetition of the same
epithets which we find in homer and which though it might be
accommodated as has been already shown to the ear of those times is by
no means so to ours but one may wait for opportunities of placing them 
where they derive an additional beauty from the occasions on which they
are employed and in doing this properly a translator may at once show
his fancy and his judgment 

as for homer's repetitions we may divide them into three sorts of whole
narrations and speeches of single sentences and of one verse or
hemistitch i hope it is not impossible to have such a regard to these as
neither to lose so known a mark of the author on the one hand nor to
offend the reader too much on the other the repetition is not ungraceful
in those speeches where the dignity of the speaker renders it a sort of
insolence to alter his words as in the messages from gods to men or from
higher powers to inferiors in concerns of state or where the ceremonial
of religion seems to require it in the solemn forms of prayers oaths or
the like in other cases i believe the best rule is to be guided by the
nearness or distance at which the repetitions are placed in the
original when they follow too close one may vary the expression but it
is a question whether a professed translator be authorized to omit any 
if they be tedious the author is to answer for it 

it only remains to speak of the versification homer as has been said is
perpetually applying the sound to the sense and varying it on every new
subject this is indeed one of the most exquisite beauties of poetry and
attainable by very few i only know of homer eminent for it in the greek 
and virgil in the latin i am sensible it is what may sometimes happen by
chance when a writer is warm and fully possessed of his image however 
it may reasonably be believed they designed this in whose verse it so
manifestly appears in a superior degree to all others few readers have
the ear to be judges of it but those who have will see i have
endeavoured at this beauty 

upon the whole i must confess myself utterly incapable of doing justice
to homer i attempt him in no other hope but that which one may entertain
without much vanity of giving a more tolerable copy of him than any
entire translation in verse has yet done we have only those of chapman 
hobbes and ogilby chapman has taken the advantage of an immeasurable
length of verse notwithstanding which there is scarce any paraphrase
more loose and rambling than his he has frequent interpolations of four
or six lines and i remember one in the thirteenth book of the odyssey 
ver 312 where he has spun twenty verses out of two he is often mistaken
in so bold a manner that one might think he deviated on purpose if he
did not in other places of his notes insist so much upon verbal trifles 
he appears to have had a strong affectation of extracting new meanings out
of his author insomuch as to promise in his rhyming preface a poem of
the mysteries he had revealed in homer and perhaps he endeavoured to
strain the obvious sense to this end his expression is involved in
fustian a fault for which he was remarkable in his original writings as
in the tragedy of bussy d'amboise etc in a word the nature of the man
may account for his whole performance for he appears from his preface
and remarks to have been of an arrogant turn and an enthusiast in
poetry his own boast of having finished half the iliad in less than
fifteen weeks shows with what negligence his version was performed but
that which is to be allowed him and which very much contributed to cover
his defects is a daring fiery spirit that animates his translation which
is something like what one might imagine homer himself would have writ
before he arrived at years of discretion 

hobbes has given us a correct explanation of the sense in general but for
particulars and circumstances he continually lops them and often omits
the most beautiful as for its being esteemed a close translation i doubt
not many have been led into that error by the shortness of it which
proceeds not from his following the original line by line but from the
contractions above mentioned he sometimes omits whole similes and
sentences and is now and then guilty of mistakes into which no writer of
his learning could have fallen but through carelessness his poetry as
well as ogilby's is too mean for criticism 

it is a great loss to the poetical world that mr dryden did not live to
translate the iliad he has left us only the first book and a small part
of the sixth in which if he has in some places not truly interpreted the
sense or preserved the antiquities it ought to be excused on account of
the haste he was obliged to write in he seems to have had too much regard
to chapman whose words he sometimes copies and has unhappily followed
him in passages where he wanders from the original however had he
translated the whole work i would no more have attempted homer after him
than virgil his version of whom notwithstanding some human errors is
the most noble and spirited translation i know in any language but the
fate of great geniuses is like that of great ministers though they are
confessedly the first in the commonwealth of letters they must be envied
and calumniated only for being at the head of it 

that which in my opinion ought to be the endeavour of any one who
translates homer is above all things to keep alive that spirit and fire
which makes his chief character in particular places where the sense can
bear any doubt to follow the strongest and most poetical as most
agreeing with that character to copy him in all the variations of his
style and the different modulations of his numbers to preserve in the
more active or descriptive parts a warmth and elevation in the more
sedate or narrative a plainness and solemnity in the speeches a fulness
and perspicuity in the sentences a shortness and gravity not to neglect
even the little figures and turns on the words nor sometimes the very
cast of the periods neither to omit nor confound any rites or customs of
antiquity perhaps too he ought to include the whole in a shorter compass
than has hitherto been done by any translator who has tolerably preserved
either the sense or poetry what i would further recommend to him is to
study his author rather from his own text than from any commentaries how
learned soever or whatever figure they may make in the estimation of the
world to consider him attentively in comparison with virgil above all the
ancients and with milton above all the moderns next these the
archbishop of cambray's telemachus may give him the truest idea of the
spirit and turn of our author and bossu's admirable treatise of the epic
poem the justest notion of his design and conduct but after all with
whatever judgment and study a man may proceed or with whatever happiness
he may perform such a work he must hope to please but a few those only
who have at once a taste of poetry and competent learning for to satisfy
such a want either is not in the nature of this undertaking since a mere
modern wit can like nothing that is not modern and a pedant nothing that
is not greek 

what i have done is submitted to the public from whose opinions i am
prepared to learn though i fear no judges so little as our best poets 
who are most sensible of the weight of this task as for the worst 
whatever they shall please to say they may give me some concern as they
are unhappy men but none as they are malignant writers i was guided in
this translation by judgments very different from theirs and by persons
for whom they can have no kindness if an old observation be true that
the strongest antipathy in the world is that of fools to men of wit mr 
addison was the first whose advice determined me to undertake this task 
who was pleased to write to me upon that occasion in such terms as i
cannot repeat without vanity i was obliged to sir richard steele for a
very early recommendation of my undertaking to the public dr swift
promoted my interest with that warmth with which he always serves his
friend the humanity and frankness of sir samuel garth are what i never
knew wanting on any occasion i must also acknowledge with infinite
pleasure the many friendly offices as well as sincere criticisms of mr 
congreve who had led me the way in translating some parts of homer i
must add the names of mr rowe and dr parnell though i shall take a
further opportunity of doing justice to the last whose good nature to
give it a great panegyric is no less extensive than his learning the
favour of these gentlemen is not entirely undeserved by one who bears them
so true an affection but what can i say of the honour so many of the
great have done me while the first names of the age appear as my
subscribers and the most distinguished patrons and ornaments of learning
as my chief encouragers among these it is a particular pleasure to me to
find that my highest obligations are to such who have done most honour to
the name of poet that his grace the duke of buckingham was not displeased
i should undertake the author to whom he has given in his excellent
essay so complete a praise 

  read homer once and you can read no more 
 for all books else appear so mean so poor 
 verse will seem prose but still persist to read 
 and homer will be all the books you need  

that the earl of halifax was one of the first to favour me of whom it is
hard to say whether the advancement of the polite arts is more owing to
his generosity or his example that such a genius as my lord bolingbroke 
not more distinguished in the great scenes of business than in all the
useful and entertaining parts of learning has not refused to be the
critic of these sheets and the patron of their writer and that the noble
author of the tragedy of  heroic love  has continued his partiality to me 
from my writing pastorals to my attempting the iliad i cannot deny myself
the pride of confessing that i have had the advantage not only of their
advice for the conduct in general but their correction of several
particulars of this translation 

i could say a great deal of the pleasure of being distinguished by the
earl of carnarvon but it is almost absurd to particularize any one
generous action in a person whose whole life is a continued series of
them mr stanhope the present secretary of state will pardon my desire
of having it known that he was pleased to promote this affair the
particular zeal of mr harcourt the son of the late lord chancellor gave
me a proof how much i am honoured in a share of his friendship i must
attribute to the same motive that of several others of my friends to whom
all acknowledgments are rendered unnecessary by the privileges of a
familiar correspondence and i am satisfied i can no way better oblige men
of their turn than by my silence 

in short i have found more patrons than ever homer wanted he would have
thought himself happy to have met the same favour at athens that has been
shown me by its learned rival the university of oxford and i can hardly
envy him those pompous honours he received after death when i reflect on
the enjoyment of so many agreeable obligations and easy friendships 
which make the satisfaction of life this distinction is the more to be
acknowledged as it is shown to one whose pen has never gratified the
prejudices of particular parties or the vanities of particular men 
whatever the success may prove i shall never repent of an undertaking in
which i have experienced the candour and friendship of so many persons of
merit and in which i hope to pass some of those years of youth that are
generally lost in a circle of follies after a manner neither wholly
unuseful to others nor disagreeable to myself 






the iliad 





book i 


argument 40 

the contention of achilles and agamemnon 

in the war of troy the greeks having sacked some of the neighbouring
towns and taken from thence two beautiful captives chryseis and briseis 
allotted the first to agamemnon and the last to achilles chryses the
father of chryseis and priest of apollo comes to the grecian camp to
ransom her with which the action of the poem opens in the tenth year of
the siege the priest being refused and insolently dismissed by
agamemnon entreats for vengeance from his god who inflicts a pestilence
on the greeks achilles calls a council and encourages chalcas to declare
the cause of it who attributes it to the refusal of chryseis the king 
being obliged to send back his captive enters into a furious contest with
achilles which nestor pacifies however as he had the absolute command
of the army he seizes on briseis in revenge achilles in discontent
withdraws himself and his forces from the rest of the greeks and
complaining to thetis she supplicates jupiter to render them sensible of
the wrong done to her son by giving victory to the trojans jupiter 
granting her suit incenses juno between whom the debate runs high till
they are reconciled by the address of vulcan 

the time of two-and-twenty days is taken up in this book nine during the
plague one in the council and quarrel of the princes and twelve for
jupiter's stay with the cthiopians at whose return thetis prefers her
petition the scene lies in the grecian camp then changes to chrysa and
lastly to olympus 

 achilles' wrath to greece the direful spring
 of woes unnumber'd heavenly goddess sing 
 that wrath which hurl'd to pluto's gloomy reign
 the souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain 
 whose limbs unburied on the naked shore 
 devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore 41 
 since great achilles and atrides strove 
 such was the sovereign doom and such the will of jove 42 

 declare o muse in what ill-fated hour 43 
 sprung the fierce strife from what offended power
 latona's son a dire contagion spread 44 
 and heap'd the camp with mountains of the dead 
 the king of men his reverent priest defied 45 
 and for the king's offence the people died 

 for chryses sought with costly gifts to gain
 his captive daughter from the victor's chain 
 suppliant the venerable father stands 
 apollo's awful ensigns grace his hands
 by these he begs and lowly bending down 
 extends the sceptre and the laurel crown
 he sued to all but chief implored for grace
 the brother-kings of atreus' royal race 46 

  ye kings and warriors may your vows be crown'd 
 and troy's proud walls lie level with the ground 
 may jove restore you when your toils are o'er
 safe to the pleasures of your native shore 
 but oh relieve a wretched parent's pain 
 and give chryseis to these arms again 
 if mercy fail yet let my presents move 
 and dread avenging phoebus son of jove  

 the greeks in shouts their joint assent declare 
 the priest to reverence and release the fair 
 not so atrides he with kingly pride 
 repulsed the sacred sire and thus replied 

  hence on thy life and fly these hostile plains 
 nor ask presumptuous what the king detains
 hence with thy laurel crown and golden rod 
 nor trust too far those ensigns of thy god 
 mine is thy daughter priest and shall remain 
 and prayers and tears and bribes shall plead in vain 
 till time shall rifle every youthful grace 
 and age dismiss her from my cold embrace 
 in daily labours of the loom employ'd 
 or doom'd to deck the bed she once enjoy'd
 hence then to argos shall the maid retire 
 far from her native soil and weeping sire  


 homer invoking the muse 


 the trembling priest along the shore return'd 
 and in the anguish of a father mourn'd 
 disconsolate not daring to complain 
 silent he wander'd by the sounding main 
 till safe at distance to his god he prays 
 the god who darts around the world his rays 

  o smintheus sprung from fair latona's line 47 
 thou guardian power of cilla the divine 48 
 thou source of light whom tenedos adores 
 and whose bright presence gilds thy chrysa's shores 
 if e'er with wreaths i hung thy sacred fane 49 
 or fed the flames with fat of oxen slain 
 god of the silver bow thy shafts employ 
 avenge thy servant and the greeks destroy  

 thus chryses pray'd the favouring power attends 
 and from olympus' lofty tops descends 
 bent was his bow the grecian hearts to wound 50 
 fierce as he moved his silver shafts resound 
 breathing revenge a sudden night he spread 
 and gloomy darkness roll'd about his head 
 the fleet in view he twang'd his deadly bow 
 and hissing fly the feather'd fates below 
 on mules and dogs the infection first began 51 
 and last the vengeful arrows fix'd in man 
 for nine long nights through all the dusky air 
 the pyres thick-flaming shot a dismal glare 
 but ere the tenth revolving day was run 
 inspired by juno thetis' godlike son
 convened to council all the grecian train 
 for much the goddess mourn'd her heroes slain 52 
 the assembly seated rising o'er the rest 
 achilles thus the king of men address'd 

  why leave we not the fatal trojan shore 
 and measure back the seas we cross'd before 
 the plague destroying whom the sword would spare 
 'tis time to save the few remains of war 
 but let some prophet or some sacred sage 
 explore the cause of great apollo's rage 
 or learn the wasteful vengeance to remove
 by mystic dreams for dreams descend from jove 53 
 if broken vows this heavy curse have laid 
 let altars smoke and hecatombs be paid 
 so heaven atoned shall dying greece restore 
 and phoebus dart his burning shafts no more  

 he said and sat when chalcas thus replied 
 chalcas the wise the grecian priest and guide 
 that sacred seer whose comprehensive view 
 the past the present and the future knew 
 uprising slow the venerable sage
 thus spoke the prudence and the fears of age 

  beloved of jove achilles would'st thou know
 why angry phoebus bends his fatal bow 
 first give thy faith and plight a prince's word
 of sure protection by thy power and sword 
 for i must speak what wisdom would conceal 
 and truths invidious to the great reveal 
 bold is the task when subjects grown too wise 
 instruct a monarch where his error lies 
 for though we deem the short-lived fury past 
 'tis sure the mighty will revenge at last  
 to whom pelides  from thy inmost soul
 speak what thou know'st and speak without control 
 e'en by that god i swear who rules the day 
 to whom thy hands the vows of greece convey 
 and whose bless'd oracles thy lips declare 
 long as achilles breathes this vital air 
 no daring greek of all the numerous band 
 against his priest shall lift an impious hand 
 not e'en the chief by whom our hosts are led 
 the king of kings shall touch that sacred head  

 encouraged thus the blameless man replies 
  nor vows unpaid nor slighted sacrifice 
 but he our chief provoked the raging pest 
 apollo's vengeance for his injured priest 
 nor will the god's awaken'd fury cease 
 but plagues shall spread and funeral fires increase 
 till the great king without a ransom paid 
 to her own chrysa send the black-eyed maid 54 
 perhaps with added sacrifice and prayer 
 the priest may pardon and the god may spare  

 the prophet spoke when with a gloomy frown
 the monarch started from his shining throne 
 black choler fill'd his breast that boil'd with ire 
 and from his eye-balls flash'd the living fire 
  augur accursed denouncing mischief still 
 prophet of plagues for ever boding ill 
 still must that tongue some wounding message bring 
 and still thy priestly pride provoke thy king 
 for this are phoebus' oracles explored 
 to teach the greeks to murmur at their lord 
 for this with falsehood is my honour stain'd 
 is heaven offended and a priest profaned 
 because my prize my beauteous maid i hold 
 and heavenly charms prefer to proffer'd gold 
 a maid unmatch'd in manners as in face 
 skill'd in each art and crown'd with every grace 
 not half so dear were clytaemnestra's charms 
 when first her blooming beauties bless'd my arms 
 yet if the gods demand her let her sail 
 our cares are only for the public weal 
 let me be deem'd the hateful cause of all 
 and suffer rather than my people fall 
 the prize the beauteous prize i will resign 
 so dearly valued and so justly mine 
 but since for common good i yield the fair 
 my private loss let grateful greece repair 
 nor unrewarded let your prince complain 
 that he alone has fought and bled in vain  
  insatiate king achilles thus replies 
 fond of the power but fonder of the prize 
 would'st thou the greeks their lawful prey should yield 
 the due reward of many a well-fought field 

 the spoils of cities razed and warriors slain 
 we share with justice as with toil we gain 
 but to resume whate'er thy avarice craves
 that trick of tyrants may be borne by slaves 
 yet if our chief for plunder only fight 
 the spoils of ilion shall thy loss requite 
 whene'er by jove's decree our conquering powers
 shall humble to the dust her lofty towers  

 then thus the king  shall i my prize resign
 with tame content and thou possess'd of thine 
 great as thou art and like a god in fight 
 think not to rob me of a soldier's right 
 at thy demand shall i restore the maid 
 first let the just equivalent be paid 
 such as a king might ask and let it be
 a treasure worthy her and worthy me 
 or grant me this or with a monarch's claim
 this hand shall seize some other captive dame 
 the mighty ajax shall his prize resign 55 
 ulysses' spoils or even thy own be mine 
 the man who suffers loudly may complain 
 and rage he may but he shall rage in vain 
 but this when time requires it now remains
 we launch a bark to plough the watery plains 
 and waft the sacrifice to chrysa's shores 
 with chosen pilots and with labouring oars 
 soon shall the fair the sable ship ascend 
 and some deputed prince the charge attend 
 this creta's king or ajax shall fulfil 
 or wise ulysses see perform'd our will 
 or if our royal pleasure shall ordain 
 achilles' self conduct her o'er the main 
 let fierce achilles dreadful in his rage 
 the god propitiate and the pest assuage  


 mars 


 at this pelides frowning stern replied 
  o tyrant arm'd with insolence and pride 
 inglorious slave to interest ever join'd
 with fraud unworthy of a royal mind 
 what generous greek obedient to thy word 
 shall form an ambush or shall lift the sword 
 what cause have i to war at thy decree 
 the distant trojans never injured me 
 to phthia's realms no hostile troops they led 
 safe in her vales my warlike coursers fed 
 far hence removed the hoarse-resounding main 
 and walls of rocks secure my native reign 
 whose fruitful soil luxuriant harvests grace 
 rich in her fruits and in her martial race 
 hither we sail'd a voluntary throng 
 to avenge a private not a public wrong 
 what else to troy the assembled nations draws 
 but thine ungrateful and thy brother's cause 
 is this the pay our blood and toils deserve 
 disgraced and injured by the man we serve 
 and darest thou threat to snatch my prize away 
 due to the deeds of many a dreadful day 
 a prize as small o tyrant match'd with thine 
 as thy own actions if compared to mine 
 thine in each conquest is the wealthy prey 
 though mine the sweat and danger of the day 
 some trivial present to my ships i bear 
 or barren praises pay the wounds of war 
 but know proud monarch i'm thy slave no more 
 my fleet shall waft me to thessalia's shore 
 left by achilles on the trojan plain 
 what spoils what conquests shall atrides gain  

 to this the king  fly mighty warrior fly 
 thy aid we need not and thy threats defy 
 there want not chiefs in such a cause to fight 
 and jove himself shall guard a monarch's right 
 of all the kings the god's distinguish'd care 
 to power superior none such hatred bear 
 strife and debate thy restless soul employ 
 and wars and horrors are thy savage joy 
 if thou hast strength 'twas heaven that strength bestow'd 
 for know vain man thy valour is from god 
 haste launch thy vessels fly with speed away 
 rule thy own realms with arbitrary sway 
 i heed thee not but prize at equal rate
 thy short-lived friendship and thy groundless hate 
 go threat thy earth-born myrmidons but here 56 
 'tis mine to threaten prince and thine to fear 
 know if the god the beauteous dame demand 
 my bark shall waft her to her native land 
 but then prepare imperious prince prepare 
 fierce as thou art to yield thy captive fair 
 even in thy tent i'll seize the blooming prize 
 thy loved briseis with the radiant eyes 
 hence shalt thou prove my might and curse the hour
 thou stood'st a rival of imperial power 
 and hence to all our hosts it shall be known 
 that kings are subject to the gods alone  

 achilles heard with grief and rage oppress'd 
 his heart swell'd high and labour'd in his breast 
 distracting thoughts by turns his bosom ruled 
 now fired by wrath and now by reason cool'd 
 that prompts his hand to draw the deadly sword 
 force through the greeks and pierce their haughty lord 
 this whispers soft his vengeance to control 
 and calm the rising tempest of his soul 
 just as in anguish of suspense he stay'd 
 while half unsheathed appear'd the glittering blade 57 
 minerva swift descended from above 
 sent by the sister and the wife of jove
 for both the princes claim'd her equal care 
 behind she stood and by the golden hair
 achilles seized to him alone confess'd 
 a sable cloud conceal'd her from the rest 
 he sees and sudden to the goddess cries 
 known by the flames that sparkle from her eyes 


 minerva repressing the fury of achilles 


  descends minerva in her guardian care 
 a heavenly witness of the wrongs i bear
 from atreus' son then let those eyes that view
 the daring crime behold the vengeance too  

  forbear the progeny of jove replies 
 to calm thy fury i forsake the skies 
 let great achilles to the gods resign'd 
 to reason yield the empire o'er his mind 
 by awful juno this command is given 
 the king and you are both the care of heaven 
 the force of keen reproaches let him feel 
 but sheathe obedient thy revenging steel 
 for i pronounce and trust a heavenly power 
 thy injured honour has its fated hour 
 when the proud monarch shall thy arms implores
 and bribe thy friendship with a boundless store 
 then let revenge no longer bear the sway 
 command thy passions and the gods obey  

 to her pelides  with regardful ear 
 'tis just o goddess i thy dictates hear 
 hard as it is my vengeance i suppress 
 those who revere the gods the gods will bless  
 he said observant of the blue-eyed maid 
 then in the sheath return'd the shining blade 
 the goddess swift to high olympus flies 
 and joins the sacred senate of the skies 

 nor yet the rage his boiling breast forsook 
 which thus redoubling on atrides broke 
  o monster mix'd of insolence and fear 
 thou dog in forehead but in heart a deer 
 when wert thou known in ambush'd fights to dare 
 or nobly face the horrid front of war 
 'tis ours the chance of fighting fields to try 
 thine to look on and bid the valiant die 
 so much 'tis safer through the camp to go 
 and rob a subject than despoil a foe 
 scourge of thy people violent and base 
 sent in jove's anger on a slavish race 
 who lost to sense of generous freedom past 
 are tamed to wrongs or this had been thy last 
 now by this sacred sceptre hear me swear 
 which never more shall leaves or blossoms bear 
 which sever'd from the trunk as i from thee 
 on the bare mountains left its parent tree 
 this sceptre form'd by temper'd steel to prove
 an ensign of the delegates of jove 
 from whom the power of laws and justice springs
 tremendous oath inviolate to kings 
 by this i swear when bleeding greece again
 shall call achilles she shall call in vain 
 when flush'd with slaughter hector comes to spread
 the purpled shore with mountains of the dead 
 then shall thou mourn the affront thy madness gave 
 forced to deplore when impotent to save 
 then rage in bitterness of soul to know
 this act has made the bravest greek thy foe  

 he spoke and furious hurl'd against the ground
 his sceptre starr'd with golden studs around 
 then sternly silent sat with like disdain
 the raging king return'd his frowns again 

 to calm their passion with the words of age 
 slow from his seat arose the pylian sage 
 experienced nestor in persuasion skill'd 
 words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd 58 
 two generations now had pass'd away 
 wise by his rules and happy by his sway 
 two ages o'er his native realm he reign'd 
 and now the example of the third remain'd 
 all view'd with awe the venerable man 
 who thus with mild benevolence began 

  what shame what woe is this to greece what joy
 to troy's proud monarch and the friends of troy 
 that adverse gods commit to stern debate
 the best the bravest of the grecian state 
 young as ye are this youthful heat restrain 
 nor think your nestor's years and wisdom vain 
 a godlike race of heroes once i knew 
 such as no more these aged eyes shall view 
 lives there a chief to match pirithous' fame 
 dryas the bold or ceneus' deathless name 
 theseus endued with more than mortal might 
 or polyphemus like the gods in fight 
 with these of old to toils of battle bred 
 in early youth my hardy days i led 
 fired with the thirst which virtuous envy breeds 
 and smit with love of honourable deeds 
 strongest of men they pierced the mountain boar 
 ranged the wild deserts red with monsters' gore 
 and from their hills the shaggy centaurs tore 
 yet these with soft persuasive arts i sway'd 
 when nestor spoke they listen'd and obey'd 
 if in my youth even these esteem'd me wise 
 do you young warriors hear my age advise 
 atrides seize not on the beauteous slave 
 that prize the greeks by common suffrage gave 
 nor thou achilles treat our prince with pride 
 let kings be just and sovereign power preside 
 thee the first honours of the war adorn 
 like gods in strength and of a goddess born 
 him awful majesty exalts above
 the powers of earth and sceptred sons of jove 
 let both unite with well-consenting mind 
 so shall authority with strength be join'd 
 leave me o king to calm achilles' rage 
 rule thou thyself as more advanced in age 
 forbid it gods achilles should be lost 
 the pride of greece and bulwark of our host  

 this said he ceased the king of men replies 
  thy years are awful and thy words are wise 
 but that imperious that unconquer'd soul 
 no laws can limit no respect control 
 before his pride must his superiors fall 
 his word the law and he the lord of all 
 him must our hosts our chiefs ourself obey 
 what king can bear a rival in his sway 
 grant that the gods his matchless force have given 
 has foul reproach a privilege from heaven  

 here on the monarch's speech achilles broke 
 and furious thus and interrupting spoke 
  tyrant i well deserved thy galling chain 
 to live thy slave and still to serve in vain 
 should i submit to each unjust decree 
 command thy vassals but command not me 
 seize on briseis whom the grecians doom'd
 my prize of war yet tamely see resumed 
 and seize secure no more achilles draws
 his conquering sword in any woman's cause 
 the gods command me to forgive the past 
 but let this first invasion be the last 
 for know thy blood when next thou darest invade 
 shall stream in vengeance on my reeking blade  

 at this they ceased the stern debate expired 
 the chiefs in sullen majesty retired 

 achilles with patroclus took his way
 where near his tents his hollow vessels lay 
 meantime atrides launch'd with numerous oars
 a well-rigg'd ship for chrysa's sacred shores 
 high on the deck was fair chryseis placed 
 and sage ulysses with the conduct graced 
 safe in her sides the hecatomb they stow'd 
 then swiftly sailing cut the liquid road 

 the host to expiate next the king prepares 
 with pure lustrations and with solemn prayers 
 wash'd by the briny wave the pious train 59 
 are cleansed and cast the ablutions in the main 
 along the shore whole hecatombs were laid 
 and bulls and goats to phoebus' altars paid 
 the sable fumes in curling spires arise 
 and waft their grateful odours to the skies 

 the army thus in sacred rites engaged 
 atrides still with deep resentment raged 
 to wait his will two sacred heralds stood 
 talthybius and eurybates the good 
  haste to the fierce achilles' tent he cries 
 thence bear briseis as our royal prize 
 submit he must or if they will not part 
 ourself in arms shall tear her from his heart  

 the unwilling heralds act their lord's commands 
 pensive they walk along the barren sands 
 arrived the hero in his tent they find 
 with gloomy aspect on his arm reclined 
 at awful distance long they silent stand 
 loth to advance and speak their hard command 
 decent confusion this the godlike man
 perceived and thus with accent mild began 

  with leave and honour enter our abodes 
 ye sacred ministers of men and gods 60 
 i know your message by constraint you came 
 not you but your imperious lord i blame 
 patroclus haste the fair briseis bring 
 conduct my captive to the haughty king 
 but witness heralds and proclaim my vow 
 witness to gods above and men below 
 but first and loudest to your prince declare
 that lawless tyrant whose commands you bear 
 unmoved as death achilles shall remain 
 though prostrate greece shall bleed at every vein 
 the raging chief in frantic passion lost 
 blind to himself and useless to his host 
 unskill'd to judge the future by the past 
 in blood and slaughter shall repent at last  


 the departure of briseis from the tent of achilles 


 patroclus now the unwilling beauty brought 
 she in soft sorrows and in pensive thought 
 pass'd silent as the heralds held her hand 
 and of look'd back slow-moving o'er the strand 
 not so his loss the fierce achilles bore 
 but sad retiring to the sounding shore 
 o'er the wild margin of the deep he hung 
 that kindred deep from whence his mother sprung 61 
 there bathed in tears of anger and disdain 
 thus loud lamented to the stormy main 

  o parent goddess since in early bloom
 thy son must fall by too severe a doom 
 sure to so short a race of glory born 
 great jove in justice should this span adorn 
 honour and fame at least the thunderer owed 
 and ill he pays the promise of a god 
 if yon proud monarch thus thy son defies 
 obscures my glories and resumes my prize  

 far from the deep recesses of the main 
 where aged ocean holds his watery reign 
 the goddess-mother heard the waves divide 
 and like a mist she rose above the tide 
 beheld him mourning on the naked shores 
 and thus the sorrows of his soul explores 
  why grieves my son thy anguish let me share 
 reveal the cause and trust a parent's care  

 he deeply sighing said  to tell my woe
 is but to mention what too well you know 
 from thebe sacred to apollo's name 62 
 aetion's realm our conquering army came 
 with treasure loaded and triumphant spoils 
 whose just division crown'd the soldier's toils 
 but bright chryseis heavenly prize was led 
 by vote selected to the general's bed 
 the priest of phoebus sought by gifts to gain
 his beauteous daughter from the victor's chain 
 the fleet he reach'd and lowly bending down 
 held forth the sceptre and the laurel crown 
 intreating all but chief implored for grace
 the brother-kings of atreus' royal race 
 the generous greeks their joint consent declare 
 the priest to reverence and release the fair 
 not so atrides he with wonted pride 
 the sire insulted and his gifts denied 
 the insulted sire his god's peculiar care 
 to phoebus pray'd and phoebus heard the prayer 
 a dreadful plague ensues the avenging darts
 incessant fly and pierce the grecian hearts 
 a prophet then inspired by heaven arose 
 and points the crime and thence derives the woes 
 myself the first the assembled chiefs incline
 to avert the vengeance of the power divine 
 then rising in his wrath the monarch storm'd 
 incensed he threaten'd and his threats perform'd 
 the fair chryseis to her sire was sent 
 with offer'd gifts to make the god relent 
 but now he seized briseis' heavenly charms 
 and of my valour's prize defrauds my arms 
 defrauds the votes of all the grecian train 63 
 and service faith and justice plead in vain 
 but goddess thou thy suppliant son attend 
 to high olympus' shining court ascend 
 urge all the ties to former service owed 
 and sue for vengeance to the thundering god 
 oft hast thou triumph'd in the glorious boast 
 that thou stood'st forth of all the ethereal host 
 when bold rebellion shook the realms above 
 the undaunted guard of cloud-compelling jove 
 when the bright partner of his awful reign 
 the warlike maid and monarch of the main 
 the traitor-gods by mad ambition driven 
 durst threat with chains the omnipotence of heaven 
 then call'd by thee the monster titan came
 whom gods briareus men cgeon name 
 through wondering skies enormous stalk'd along 
 not he that shakes the solid earth so strong 
 with giant-pride at jove's high throne he stands 
 and brandish'd round him all his hundred hands 
 the affrighted gods confess'd their awful lord 
 they dropp'd the fetters trembled and adored 64 
 this goddess this to his remembrance call 
 embrace his knees at his tribunal fall 
 conjure him far to drive the grecian train 
 to hurl them headlong to their fleet and main 
 to heap the shores with copious death and bring
 the greeks to know the curse of such a king 
 let agamemnon lift his haughty head
 o'er all his wide dominion of the dead 
 and mourn in blood that e'er he durst disgrace
 the boldest warrior of the grecian race  


 thetis calling briareus to the assistance of jupiter 


  unhappy son fair thetis thus replies 
 while tears celestial trickle from her eyes 
 why have i borne thee with a mother's throes 
 to fates averse and nursed for future woes 65 
 so short a space the light of heaven to view 
 so short a space and fill'd with sorrow too 
 o might a parent's careful wish prevail 
 far far from ilion should thy vessels sail 
 and thou from camps remote the danger shun
 which now alas too nearly threats my son 
 yet what i can to move thy suit i'll go
 to great olympus crown'd with fleecy snow 
 meantime secure within thy ships from far
 behold the field not mingle in the war 
 the sire of gods and all the ethereal train 
 on the warm limits of the farthest main 
 now mix with mortals nor disdain to grace
 the feasts of cthiopia's blameless race 66 
 twelve days the powers indulge the genial rite 
 returning with the twelfth revolving light 
 then will i mount the brazen dome and move
 the high tribunal of immortal jove  

 the goddess spoke the rolling waves unclose 
 then down the steep she plunged from whence she rose 
 and left him sorrowing on the lonely coast 
 in wild resentment for the fair he lost 

 in chrysa's port now sage ulysses rode 
 beneath the deck the destined victims stow'd 
 the sails they furl'd they lash the mast aside 
 and dropp'd their anchors and the pinnace tied 
 next on the shore their hecatomb they land 
 chryseis last descending on the strand 
 her thus returning from the furrow'd main 
 ulysses led to phoebus' sacred fane 
 where at his solemn altar as the maid
 he gave to chryses thus the hero said 

  hail reverend priest to phoebus' awful dome
 a suppliant i from great atrides come 
 unransom'd here receive the spotless fair 
 accept the hecatomb the greeks prepare 
 and may thy god who scatters darts around 
 atoned by sacrifice desist to wound   67 

 at this the sire embraced the maid again 
 so sadly lost so lately sought in vain 
 then near the altar of the darting king 
 disposed in rank their hecatomb they bring 
 with water purify their hands and take
 the sacred offering of the salted cake 
 while thus with arms devoutly raised in air 
 and solemn voice the priest directs his prayer 

  god of the silver bow thy ear incline 
 whose power incircles cilla the divine 
 whose sacred eye thy tenedos surveys 
 and gilds fair chrysa with distinguish'd rays 
 if fired to vengeance at thy priest's request 
 thy direful darts inflict the raging pest 
 once more attend avert the wasteful woe 
 and smile propitious and unbend thy bow  

 so chryses pray'd apollo heard his prayer 
 and now the greeks their hecatomb prepare 
 between their horns the salted barley threw 
 and with their heads to heaven the victims slew 68 
 the limbs they sever from the inclosing hide 
 the thighs selected to the gods divide 
 on these in double cauls involved with art 
 the choicest morsels lay from every part 
 the priest himself before his altar stands 
 and burns the offering with his holy hands 
 pours the black wine and sees the flames aspire 
 the youth with instruments surround the fire 
 the thighs thus sacrificed and entrails dress'd 
 the assistants part transfix and roast the rest 
 then spread the tables the repast prepare 
 each takes his seat and each receives his share 
 when now the rage of hunger was repress'd 
 with pure libations they conclude the feast 
 the youths with wine the copious goblets crown'd 
 and pleased dispense the flowing bowls around 69 
 with hymns divine the joyous banquet ends 
 the paeans lengthen'd till the sun descends 
 the greeks restored the grateful notes prolong 
 apollo listens and approves the song 

 'twas night the chiefs beside their vessel lie 
 till rosy morn had purpled o'er the sky 
 then launch and hoist the mast indulgent gales 
 supplied by phoebus fill the swelling sails 
 the milk-white canvas bellying as they blow 
 the parted ocean foams and roars below 
 above the bounding billows swift they flew 
 till now the grecian camp appear'd in view 
 far on the beach they haul their bark to land 
 the crooked keel divides the yellow sand 
 then part where stretch'd along the winding bay 
 the ships and tents in mingled prospect lay 

 but raging still amidst his navy sat
 the stern achilles stedfast in his hate 
 nor mix'd in combat nor in council join'd 
 but wasting cares lay heavy on his mind 
 in his black thoughts revenge and slaughter roll 
 and scenes of blood rise dreadful in his soul 

 twelve days were past and now the dawning light
 the gods had summon'd to the olympian height 
 jove first ascending from the watery bowers 
 leads the long order of ethereal powers 
 when like the morning-mist in early day 
 rose from the flood the daughter of the sea 
 and to the seats divine her flight address'd 
 there far apart and high above the rest 
 the thunderer sat where old olympus shrouds
 his hundred heads in heaven and props the clouds 
 suppliant the goddess stood one hand she placed
 beneath his beard and one his knees embraced 
  if e'er o father of the gods she said 
 my words could please thee or my actions aid 
 some marks of honour on my son bestow 
 and pay in glory what in life you owe 
 fame is at least by heavenly promise due
 to life so short and now dishonour'd too 
 avenge this wrong o ever just and wise 
 let greece be humbled and the trojans rise 
 till the proud king and all the achaian race
 shall heap with honours him they now disgrace  


 thetis entreating jupiter to honour achilles 


 thus thetis spoke but jove in silence held
 the sacred counsels of his breast conceal'd 
 not so repulsed the goddess closer press'd 
 still grasp'd his knees and urged the dear request 
  o sire of gods and men thy suppliant hear 
 refuse or grant for what has jove to fear 
 or oh declare of all the powers above 
 is wretched thetis least the care of jove  

 she said and sighing thus the god replies 
 who rolls the thunder o'er the vaulted skies 

  what hast thou ask'd ah why should jove engage
 in foreign contests and domestic rage 
 the gods' complaints and juno's fierce alarms 
 while i too partial aid the trojan arms 
 go lest the haughty partner of my sway
 with jealous eyes thy close access survey 
 but part in peace secure thy prayer is sped 
 witness the sacred honours of our head 
 the nod that ratifies the will divine 
 the faithful fix'd irrevocable sign 
 this seals thy suit and this fulfils thy vows  
 he spoke and awful bends his sable brows 70 
 shakes his ambrosial curls and gives the nod 
 the stamp of fate and sanction of the god 
 high heaven with trembling the dread signal took 
 and all olympus to the centre shook 71 

 swift to the seas profound the goddess flies 
 jove to his starry mansions in the skies 
 the shining synod of the immortals wait
 the coming god and from their thrones of state
 arising silent wrapp'd in holy fear 
 before the majesty of heaven appear 
 trembling they stand while jove assumes the throne 
 all but the god's imperious queen alone 
 late had she view'd the silver-footed dame 
 and all her passions kindled into flame 
  say artful manager of heaven she cries 
 who now partakes the secrets of the skies 
 thy juno knows not the decrees of fate 
 in vain the partner of imperial state 
 what favourite goddess then those cares divides 
 which jove in prudence from his consort hides  

 to this the thunderer  seek not thou to find
 the sacred counsels of almighty mind 
 involved in darkness likes the great decree 
 nor can the depths of fate be pierced by thee 
 what fits thy knowledge thou the first shalt know 
 the first of gods above and men below 
 but thou nor they shall search the thoughts that roll
 deep in the close recesses of my soul  

 full on the sire the goddess of the skies
 roll'd the large orbs of her majestic eyes 
 and thus return'd  austere saturnius say 
 from whence this wrath or who controls thy sway 
 thy boundless will for me remains in force 
 and all thy counsels take the destined course 
 but 'tis for greece i fear for late was seen 
 in close consult the silver-footed queen 
 jove to his thetis nothing could deny 
 nor was the signal vain that shook the sky 
 what fatal favour has the goddess won 
 to grace her fierce inexorable son 
 perhaps in grecian blood to drench the plain 
 and glut his vengeance with my people slain  

 then thus the god  o restless fate of pride 
 that strives to learn what heaven resolves to hide 
 vain is the search presumptuous and abhorr'd 
 anxious to thee and odious to thy lord 
 let this suffice the immutable decree
 no force can shake what is that ought to be 
 goddess submit nor dare our will withstand 
 but dread the power of this avenging hand 
 the united strength of all the gods above
 in vain resists the omnipotence of jove  


 vulcan 


 the thunderer spoke nor durst the queen reply 
 a reverent horror silenced all the sky 
 the feast disturb'd with sorrow vulcan saw
 his mother menaced and the gods in awe 
 peace at his heart and pleasure his design 
 thus interposed the architect divine 
  the wretched quarrels of the mortal state
 are far unworthy gods of your debate 
 let men their days in senseless strife employ 
 we in eternal peace and constant joy 
 thou goddess-mother with our sire comply 
 nor break the sacred union of the sky 
 lest roused to rage he shake the bless'd abodes 
 launch the red lightning and dethrone the gods 
 if you submit the thunderer stands appeased 
 the gracious power is willing to be pleased  

 thus vulcan spoke and rising with a bound 
 the double bowl with sparkling nectar crown'd 72 
 which held to juno in a cheerful way 
  goddess he cried be patient and obey 
 dear as you are if jove his arm extend 
 i can but grieve unable to defend
 what god so daring in your aid to move 
 or lift his hand against the force of jove 
 once in your cause i felt his matchless might 
 hurl'd headlong down from the ethereal height 73 
 toss'd all the day in rapid circles round 
 nor till the sun descended touch'd the ground 
 breathless i fell in giddy motion lost 
 the sinthians raised me on the lemnian coast 74 

 he said and to her hands the goblet heaved 
 which with a smile the white-arm'd queen received
 then to the rest he fill'd and in his turn 
 each to his lips applied the nectar'd urn 
 vulcan with awkward grace his office plies 
 and unextinguish'd laughter shakes the skies 

 thus the blest gods the genial day prolong 
 in feasts ambrosial and celestial song 75 
 apollo tuned the lyre the muses round
 with voice alternate aid the silver sound 
 meantime the radiant sun to mortal sight
 descending swift roll'd down the rapid light 
 then to their starry domes the gods depart 
 the shining monuments of vulcan's art 
 jove on his couch reclined his awful head 
 and juno slumber'd on the golden bed 


 jupiter 



 the apotheosis of homer 





book ii 


argument 

the trial of the army and catalogue of the forces 

jupiter in pursuance of the request of thetis sends a deceitful vision
to agamemnon persuading him to lead the army to battle in order to make
the greeks sensible of their want of achilles the general who is deluded
with the hopes of taking troy without his assistance but fears the army
was discouraged by his absence and the late plague as well as by the
length of time contrives to make trial of their disposition by a
stratagem he first communicates his design to the princes in council 
that he would propose a return to the soldiers and that they should put a
stop to them if the proposal was embraced then he assembles the whole
host and upon moving for a return to greece they unanimously agree to
it and run to prepare the ships they are detained by the management of
ulysses who chastises the insolence of thersites the assembly is
recalled several speeches made on the occasion and at length the advice
of nestor followed which was to make a general muster of the troops and
to divide them into their several nations before they proceeded to
battle this gives occasion to the poet to enumerate all the forces of the
greeks and trojans and in a large catalogue 

the time employed in this book consists not entirely of one day the scene
lies in the grecian camp and upon the sea-shore towards the end it
removes to troy 

 now pleasing sleep had seal'd each mortal eye 
 stretch'd in the tents the grecian leaders lie 
 the immortals slumber'd on their thrones above 
 all but the ever-wakeful eyes of jove 76 
 to honour thetis' son he bends his care 
 and plunge the greeks in all the woes of war 
 then bids an empty phantom rise to sight 
 and thus commands the vision of the night 

  fly hence deluding dream and light as air 77 
 to agamemnon's ample tent repair 
 bid him in arms draw forth the embattled train 
 lead all his grecians to the dusty plain 
 declare e'en now 'tis given him to destroy
 the lofty towers of wide-extended troy 
 for now no more the gods with fate contend 
 at juno's suit the heavenly factions end 
 destruction hangs o'er yon devoted wall 
 and nodding ilion waits the impending fall  

 swift as the word the vain illusion fled 
 descends and hovers o'er atrides' head 
 clothed in the figure of the pylian sage 
 renown'd for wisdom and revered for age 
 around his temples spreads his golden wing 
 and thus the flattering dream deceives the king 


 jupiter sending the evil dream to agamemnon 


  canst thou with all a monarch's cares oppress'd 
 o atreus' son canst thou indulge the rest 78 
 ill fits a chief who mighty nations guides 
 directs in council and in war presides 
 to whom its safety a whole people owes 
 to waste long nights in indolent repose 79 
 monarch awake 'tis jove's command i bear 
 thou and thy glory claim his heavenly care 
 in just array draw forth the embattled train 
 lead all thy grecians to the dusty plain 
 e'en now o king 'tis given thee to destroy
 the lofty towers of wide-extended troy 
 for now no more the gods with fate contend 
 at juno's suit the heavenly factions end 
 destruction hangs o'er yon devoted wall 
 and nodding ilion waits the impending fall 
 awake but waking this advice approve 
 and trust the vision that descends from jove  

 the phantom said then vanish'd from his sight 
 resolves to air and mixes with the night 
 a thousand schemes the monarch's mind employ 
 elate in thought he sacks untaken troy 
 vain as he was and to the future blind 
 nor saw what jove and secret fate design'd 
 what mighty toils to either host remain 
 what scenes of grief and numbers of the slain 
 eager he rises and in fancy hears
 the voice celestial murmuring in his ears 
 first on his limbs a slender vest he drew 
 around him next the regal mantle threw 
 the embroider'd sandals on his feet were tied 
 the starry falchion glitter'd at his side 
 and last his arm the massy sceptre loads 
 unstain'd immortal and the gift of gods 

 now rosy morn ascends the court of jove 
 lifts up her light and opens day above 
 the king despatch'd his heralds with commands
 to range the camp and summon all the bands 
 the gathering hosts the monarch's word obey 
 while to the fleet atrides bends his way 
 in his black ship the pylian prince he found 
 there calls a senate of the peers around 
 the assembly placed the king of men express'd
 the counsels labouring in his artful breast 

  friends and confederates with attentive ear
 receive my words and credit what you hear 
 late as i slumber'd in the shades of night 
 a dream divine appear'd before my sight 
 whose visionary form like nestor came 
 the same in habit and in mien the same 80 
 the heavenly phantom hover'd o'er my head 
 'and dost thou sleep o atreus' son he said 
 ill fits a chief who mighty nations guides 
 directs in council and in war presides 
 to whom its safety a whole people owes 
 to waste long nights in indolent repose 
 monarch awake 'tis jove's command i bear 
 thou and thy glory claim his heavenly care 
 in just array draw forth the embattled train 
 and lead the grecians to the dusty plain 
 e'en now o king 'tis given thee to destroy
 the lofty towers of wide-extended troy 
 for now no more the gods with fate contend 
 at juno's suit the heavenly factions end 
 destruction hangs o'er yon devoted wall 
 and nodding ilion waits the impending fall 

 this hear observant and the gods obey '
 the vision spoke and pass'd in air away 
 now valiant chiefs since heaven itself alarms 
 unite and rouse the sons of greece to arms 
 but first with caution try what yet they dare 
 worn with nine years of unsuccessful war 
 to move the troops to measure back the main 
 be mine and yours the province to detain  

 he spoke and sat when nestor rising said 
 nestor whom pylos' sandy realms obey'd 
  princes of greece your faithful ears incline 
 nor doubt the vision of the powers divine 
 sent by great jove to him who rules the host 
 forbid it heaven this warning should be lost 
 then let us haste obey the god's alarms 
 and join to rouse the sons of greece to arms  

 thus spoke the sage the kings without delay
 dissolve the council and their chief obey 
 the sceptred rulers lead the following host 
 pour'd forth by thousands darkens all the coast 
 as from some rocky cleft the shepherd sees
 clustering in heaps on heaps the driving bees 
 rolling and blackening swarms succeeding swarms 
 with deeper murmurs and more hoarse alarms 
 dusky they spread a close embodied crowd 
 and o'er the vale descends the living cloud 81 
 so from the tents and ships a lengthen'd train
 spreads all the beach and wide o'ershades the plain 
 along the region runs a deafening sound 
 beneath their footsteps groans the trembling ground 
 fame flies before the messenger of jove 
 and shining soars and claps her wings above 
 nine sacred heralds now proclaiming loud 82 
 the monarch's will suspend the listening crowd 
 soon as the throngs in order ranged appear 
 and fainter murmurs died upon the ear 
 the king of kings his awful figure raised 
 high in his hand the golden sceptre blazed 
 the golden sceptre of celestial flame 
 by vulcan form'd from jove to hermes came 
 to pelops he the immortal gift resign'd 
 the immortal gift great pelops left behind 
 in atreus' hand which not with atreus ends 
 to rich thyestes next the prize descends 
 and now the mark of agamemnon's reign 
 subjects all argos and controls the main 83 

 on this bright sceptre now the king reclined 
 and artful thus pronounced the speech design'd 
  ye sons of mars partake your leader's care 
 heroes of greece and brothers of the war 
 of partial jove with justice i complain 
 and heavenly oracles believed in vain
 a safe return was promised to our toils 
 renown'd triumphant and enrich'd with spoils 
 now shameful flight alone can save the host 
 our blood our treasure and our glory lost 
 so jove decrees resistless lord of all 
 at whose command whole empires rise or fall 
 he shakes the feeble props of human trust 
 and towns and armies humbles to the dust
 what shame to greece a fruitful war to wage 
 oh lasting shame in every future age 
 once great in arms the common scorn we grow 
 repulsed and baffled by a feeble foe 
 so small their number that if wars were ceased 
 and greece triumphant held a general feast 
 all rank'd by tens whole decades when they dine
 must want a trojan slave to pour the wine 84 
 but other forces have our hopes o'erthrown 
 and troy prevails by armies not her own 
 now nine long years of mighty jove are run 
 since first the labours of this war begun 
 our cordage torn decay'd our vessels lie 
 and scarce insure the wretched power to fly 
 haste then for ever leave the trojan wall 
 our weeping wives our tender children call 
 love duty safety summon us away 
 'tis nature's voice and nature we obey 
 our shatter'd barks may yet transport us o'er 
 safe and inglorious to our native shore 
 fly grecians fly your sails and oars employ 
 and dream no more of heaven-defended troy  

 his deep design unknown the hosts approve
 atrides' speech the mighty numbers move 
 so roll the billows to the icarian shore 
 from east and south when winds begin to roar 
 burst their dark mansions in the clouds and sweep
 the whitening surface of the ruffled deep 
 and as on corn when western gusts descend 85 
 before the blast the lofty harvests bend 
 thus o'er the field the moving host appears 
 with nodding plumes and groves of waving spears 
 the gathering murmur spreads their trampling feet
 beat the loose sands and thicken to the fleet 
 with long-resounding cries they urge the train
 to fit the ships and launch into the main 
 they toil they sweat thick clouds of dust arise 
 the doubling clamours echo to the skies 
 e'en then the greeks had left the hostile plain 
 and fate decreed the fall of troy in vain 
 but jove's imperial queen their flight survey'd 
 and sighing thus bespoke the blue-eyed maid 

  shall then the grecians fly o dire disgrace 
 and leave unpunish'd this perfidious race 
 shall troy shall priam and the adulterous spouse 
 in peace enjoy the fruits of broken vows 
 and bravest chiefs in helen's quarrel slain 
 lie unrevenged on yon detested plain 
 no let my greeks unmoved by vain alarms 
 once more refulgent shine in brazen arms 
 haste goddess haste the flying host detain 
 nor let one sail be hoisted on the main  

 pallas obeys and from olympus' height
 swift to the ships precipitates her flight 
 ulysses first in public cares she found 
 for prudent counsel like the gods renown'd 
 oppress'd with generous grief the hero stood 
 nor drew his sable vessels to the flood 
  and is it thus divine laertes' son 
 thus fly the greeks the martial maid begun 
 thus to their country bear their own disgrace 
 and fame eternal leave to priam's race 
 shall beauteous helen still remain unfreed 
 still unrevenged a thousand heroes bleed 
 haste generous ithacus prevent the shame 
 recall your armies and your chiefs reclaim 
 your own resistless eloquence employ 
 and to the immortals trust the fall of troy  

 the voice divine confess'd the warlike maid 
 ulysses heard nor uninspired obey'd 
 then meeting first atrides from his hand
 received the imperial sceptre of command 
 thus graced attention and respect to gain 
 he runs he flies through all the grecian train 
 each prince of name or chief in arms approved 
 he fired with praise or with persuasion moved 

  warriors like you with strength and wisdom bless'd 
 by brave examples should confirm the rest 
 the monarch's will not yet reveal'd appears 
 he tries our courage but resents our fears 
 the unwary greeks his fury may provoke 
 not thus the king in secret council spoke 
 jove loves our chief from jove his honour springs 
 beware for dreadful is the wrath of kings  

 but if a clamorous vile plebeian rose 
 him with reproof he check'd or tamed with blows 
  be still thou slave and to thy betters yield 
 unknown alike in council and in field 
 ye gods what dastards would our host command 
 swept to the war the lumber of a land 
 be silent wretch and think not here allow'd
 that worst of tyrants an usurping crowd 
 to one sole monarch jove commits the sway 
 his are the laws and him let all obey   86 

 with words like these the troops ulysses ruled 
 the loudest silenced and the fiercest cool'd 
 back to the assembly roll the thronging train 
 desert the ships and pour upon the plain 
 murmuring they move as when old ocean roars 
 and heaves huge surges to the trembling shores 
 the groaning banks are burst with bellowing sound 
 the rocks remurmur and the deeps rebound 
 at length the tumult sinks the noises cease 
 and a still silence lulls the camp to peace 
 thersites only clamour'd in the throng 
 loquacious loud and turbulent of tongue 
 awed by no shame by no respect controll'd 
 in scandal busy in reproaches bold 
 with witty malice studious to defame 
 scorn all his joy and laughter all his aim 
 but chief he gloried with licentious style
 to lash the great and monarchs to revile 
 his figure such as might his soul proclaim 
 one eye was blinking and one leg was lame 
 his mountain shoulders half his breast o'erspread 
 thin hairs bestrew'd his long misshapen head 
 spleen to mankind his envious heart possess'd 
 and much he hated all but most the best 
 ulysses or achilles still his theme 
 but royal scandal his delight supreme 
 long had he lived the scorn of every greek 
 vex'd when he spoke yet still they heard him speak 
 sharp was his voice which in the shrillest tone 
 thus with injurious taunts attack'd the throne 

  amidst the glories of so bright a reign 
 what moves the great atrides to complain 
 'tis thine whate'er the warrior's breast inflames 
 the golden spoil and thine the lovely dames 
 with all the wealth our wars and blood bestow 
 thy tents are crowded and thy chests o'erflow 
 thus at full ease in heaps of riches roll'd 
 what grieves the monarch is it thirst of gold 
 say shall we march with our unconquer'd powers
 the greeks and i to ilion's hostile towers 
 and bring the race of royal bastards here 
 for troy to ransom at a price too dear 
 but safer plunder thy own host supplies 
 say wouldst thou seize some valiant leader's prize 
 or if thy heart to generous love be led 
 some captive fair to bless thy kingly bed 
 whate'er our master craves submit we must 
 plagued with his pride or punish'd for his lust 
 oh women of achaia men no more 
 hence let us fly and let him waste his store
 in loves and pleasures on the phrygian shore 
 we may be wanted on some busy day 
 when hector comes so great achilles may 
 from him he forced the prize we jointly gave 
 from him the fierce the fearless and the brave 
 and durst he as he ought resent that wrong 
 this mighty tyrant were no tyrant long  

 fierce from his seat at this ulysses springs 87 
 in generous vengeance of the king of kings 
 with indignation sparkling in his eyes 
 he views the wretch and sternly thus replies 

  peace factious monster born to vex the state 
 with wrangling talents form'd for foul debate 
 curb that impetuous tongue nor rashly vain 
 and singly mad asperse the sovereign reign 
 have we not known thee slave of all our host 
 the man who acts the least upbraids the most 
 think not the greeks to shameful flight to bring 
 nor let those lips profane the name of king 
 for our return we trust the heavenly powers 
 be that their care to fight like men be ours 
 but grant the host with wealth the general load 
 except detraction what hast thou bestow'd 
 suppose some hero should his spoils resign 
 art thou that hero could those spoils be thine 
 gods let me perish on this hateful shore 
 and let these eyes behold my son no more 
 if on thy next offence this hand forbear
 to strip those arms thou ill deserv'st to wear 
 expel the council where our princes meet 
 and send thee scourged and howling through the fleet  

 he said and cowering as the dastard bends 
 the weighty sceptre on his bank descends 88 
 on the round bunch the bloody tumours rise 
 the tears spring starting from his haggard eyes 
 trembling he sat and shrunk in abject fears 
 from his vile visage wiped the scalding tears 
 while to his neighbour each express'd his thought 

  ye gods what wonders has ulysses wrought 
 what fruits his conduct and his courage yield 
 great in the council glorious in the field 
 generous he rises in the crown's defence 
 to curb the factious tongue of insolence 
 such just examples on offenders shown 
 sedition silence and assert the throne  

 'twas thus the general voice the hero praised 
 who rising high the imperial sceptre raised 
 the blue-eyed pallas his celestial friend 
 in form a herald bade the crowds attend 
 the expecting crowds in still attention hung 
 to hear the wisdom of his heavenly tongue 
 then deeply thoughtful pausing ere he spoke 
 his silence thus the prudent hero broke 

  unhappy monarch whom the grecian race
 with shame deserting heap with vile disgrace 
 not such at argos was their generous vow 
 once all their voice but ah forgotten now 
 ne'er to return was then the common cry 
 till troy's proud structures should in ashes lie 
 behold them weeping for their native shore 
 what could their wives or helpless children more 
 what heart but melts to leave the tender train 
 and one short month endure the wintry main 
 few leagues removed we wish our peaceful seat 
 when the ship tosses and the tempests beat 
 then well may this long stay provoke their tears 
 the tedious length of nine revolving years 
 not for their grief the grecian host i blame 
 but vanquish'd baffled oh eternal shame 
 expect the time to troy's destruction given 
 and try the faith of chalcas and of heaven 
 what pass'd at aulis greece can witness bear 89 
 and all who live to breathe this phrygian air 
 beside a fountain's sacred brink we raised
 our verdant altars and the victims blazed 
 'twas where the plane-tree spread its shades around 
 the altars heaved and from the crumbling ground
 a mighty dragon shot of dire portent 
 from jove himself the dreadful sign was sent 
 straight to the tree his sanguine spires he roll'd 
 and curl'd around in many a winding fold 
 the topmost branch a mother-bird possess'd 
 eight callow infants fill'd the mossy nest 
 herself the ninth the serpent as he hung 
 stretch'd his black jaws and crush'd the crying young 
 while hovering near with miserable moan 
 the drooping mother wail'd her children gone 
 the mother last as round the nest she flew 
 seized by the beating wing the monster slew 
 nor long survived to marble turn'd he stands
 a lasting prodigy on aulis' sands 
 such was the will of jove and hence we dare
 trust in his omen and support the war 
 for while around we gazed with wondering eyes 
 and trembling sought the powers with sacrifice 
 full of his god the reverend chalcas cried 90 
 'ye grecian warriors lay your fears aside 
 this wondrous signal jove himself displays 
 of long long labours but eternal praise 
 as many birds as by the snake were slain 
 so many years the toils of greece remain 
 but wait the tenth for ilion's fall decreed '
 thus spoke the prophet thus the fates succeed 
 obey ye grecians with submission wait 
 nor let your flight avert the trojan fate  
 he said the shores with loud applauses sound 
 the hollow ships each deafening shout rebound 
 then nestor thus  these vain debates forbear 
 ye talk like children not like heroes dare 
 where now are all your high resolves at last 
 your leagues concluded your engagements past 
 vow'd with libations and with victims then 
 now vanish'd like their smoke the faith of men 
 while useless words consume the unactive hours 
 no wonder troy so long resists our powers 
 rise great atrides and with courage sway 
 we march to war if thou direct the way 
 but leave the few that dare resist thy laws 
 the mean deserters of the grecian cause 
 to grudge the conquests mighty jove prepares 
 and view with envy our successful wars 
 on that great day when first the martial train 
 big with the fate of ilion plough'd the main 
 jove on the right a prosperous signal sent 
 and thunder rolling shook the firmament 
 encouraged hence maintain the glorious strife 
 till every soldier grasp a phrygian wife 
 till helen's woes at full revenged appear 
 and troy's proud matrons render tear for tear 
 before that day if any greek invite
 his country's troops to base inglorious flight 
 stand forth that greek and hoist his sail to fly 
 and die the dastard first who dreads to die 
 but now o monarch all thy chiefs advise 91 
 nor what they offer thou thyself despise 
 among those counsels let not mine be vain 
 in tribes and nations to divide thy train 
 his separate troops let every leader call 
 each strengthen each and all encourage all 
 what chief or soldier of the numerous band 
 or bravely fights or ill obeys command 
 when thus distinct they war shall soon be known
 and what the cause of ilion not o'erthrown 
 if fate resists or if our arms are slow 
 if gods above prevent or men below  

 to him the king  how much thy years excel
 in arts of counsel and in speaking well 
 o would the gods in love to greece decree
 but ten such sages as they grant in thee 
 such wisdom soon should priam's force destroy 
 and soon should fall the haughty towers of troy 
 but jove forbids who plunges those he hates
 in fierce contention and in vain debates 
 now great achilles from our aid withdraws 
 by me provoked a captive maid the cause 
 if e'er as friends we join the trojan wall
 must shake and heavy will the vengeance fall 
 but now ye warriors take a short repast 
 and well refresh'd to bloody conflict haste 
 his sharpen'd spear let every grecian wield 
 and every grecian fix his brazen shield 
 let all excite the fiery steeds of war 
 and all for combat fit the rattling car 
 this day this dreadful day let each contend 
 no rest no respite till the shades descend 
 till darkness or till death shall cover all 
 let the war bleed and let the mighty fall 
 till bathed in sweat be every manly breast 
 with the huge shield each brawny arm depress'd 
 each aching nerve refuse the lance to throw 
 and each spent courser at the chariot blow 
 who dares inglorious in his ships to stay 
 who dares to tremble on this signal day 
 that wretch too mean to fall by martial power 
 the birds shall mangle and the dogs devour  

 the monarch spoke and straight a murmur rose 
 loud as the surges when the tempest blows 
 that dash'd on broken rocks tumultuous roar 
 and foam and thunder on the stony shore 
 straight to the tents the troops dispersing bend 
 the fires are kindled and the smokes ascend 
 with hasty feasts they sacrifice and pray 
 to avert the dangers of the doubtful day 
 a steer of five years' age large limb'd and fed 92 
 to jove's high altars agamemnon led 
 there bade the noblest of the grecian peers 
 and nestor first as most advanced in years 
 next came idomeneus 93 
 and tydeus' son 94 
 ajax the less and ajax telamon 95 
 then wise ulysses in his rank was placed 
 and menelaus came unbid the last 96 
 the chiefs surround the destined beast and take
 the sacred offering of the salted cake 
 when thus the king prefers his solemn prayer 
  o thou whose thunder rends the clouded air 
 who in the heaven of heavens hast fixed thy throne 
 supreme of gods unbounded and alone 
 hear and before the burning sun descends 
 before the night her gloomy veil extends 
 low in the dust be laid yon hostile spires 
 be priam's palace sunk in grecian fires 
 in hector's breast be plunged this shining sword 
 and slaughter'd heroes groan around their lord  

 thus prayed the chief his unavailing prayer
 great jove refused and toss'd in empty air 
 the god averse while yet the fumes arose 
 prepared new toils and doubled woes on woes 
 their prayers perform'd the chiefs the rite pursue 
 the barley sprinkled and the victim slew 
 the limbs they sever from the inclosing hide 
 the thighs selected to the gods divide 
 on these in double cauls involved with art 
 the choicest morsels lie from every part 
 from the cleft wood the crackling flames aspire
 while the fat victims feed the sacred fire 
 the thighs thus sacrificed and entrails dress'd
 the assistants part transfix and roast the rest 
 then spread the tables the repast prepare 
 each takes his seat and each receives his share 
 soon as the rage of hunger was suppress'd 
 the generous nestor thus the prince address'd 

  now bid thy heralds sound the loud alarms 
 and call the squadrons sheathed in brazen arms 
 now seize the occasion now the troops survey 
 and lead to war when heaven directs the way  

 he said the monarch issued his commands 
 straight the loud heralds call the gathering bands
 the chiefs inclose their king the hosts divide 
 in tribes and nations rank'd on either side 
 high in the midst the blue-eyed virgin flies 
 from rank to rank she darts her ardent eyes 
 the dreadful aegis jove's immortal shield 
 blazed on her arm and lighten'd all the field 
 round the vast orb a hundred serpents roll'd 
 form'd the bright fringe and seem'd to burn in gold 
 with this each grecian's manly breast she warms 
 swells their bold hearts and strings their nervous arms 
 no more they sigh inglorious to return 
 but breathe revenge and for the combat burn 

 as on some mountain through the lofty grove 
 the crackling flames ascend and blaze above 
 the fires expanding as the winds arise 
 shoot their long beams and kindle half the skies 
 so from the polish'd arms and brazen shields 
 a gleamy splendour flash'd along the fields 
 not less their number than the embodied cranes 
 or milk-white swans in asius' watery plains 
 that o'er the windings of cayster's springs 97 
 stretch their long necks and clap their rustling wings 
 now tower aloft and course in airy rounds 
 now light with noise with noise the field resounds 
 thus numerous and confused extending wide 
 the legions crowd scamander's flowery side 98 
 with rushing troops the plains are cover'd o'er 
 and thundering footsteps shake the sounding shore 
 along the river's level meads they stand 
 thick as in spring the flowers adorn the land 
 or leaves the trees or thick as insects play 
 the wandering nation of a summer's day 
 that drawn by milky steams at evening hours 
 in gather'd swarms surround the rural bowers 
 from pail to pail with busy murmur run
 the gilded legions glittering in the sun 
 so throng'd so close the grecian squadrons stood
 in radiant arms and thirst for trojan blood 
 each leader now his scatter'd force conjoins
 in close array and forms the deepening lines 
 not with more ease the skilful shepherd-swain
 collects his flocks from thousands on the plain 
 the king of kings majestically tall 
 towers o'er his armies and outshines them all 
 like some proud bull that round the pastures leads
 his subject herds the monarch of the meads 
 great as the gods the exalted chief was seen 
 his strength like neptune and like mars his mien 99 
 jove o'er his eyes celestial glories spread 
 and dawning conquest played around his head 

 say virgins seated round the throne divine 
 all-knowing goddesses immortal nine 100 
 since earth's wide regions heaven's umneasur'd height 
 and hell's abyss hide nothing from your sight 
 we wretched mortals lost in doubts below 
 but guess by rumour and but boast we know 
 o say what heroes fired by thirst of fame 
 or urged by wrongs to troy's destruction came 
 to count them all demands a thousand tongues 
 a throat of brass and adamantine lungs 
 daughters of jove assist inspired by you
 the mighty labour dauntless i pursue 
 what crowded armies from what climes they bring 
 their names their numbers and their chiefs i sing 

 the catalogue of the ships 101 


 neptune 


 the hardy warriors whom boeotia bred 
 penelius leitus prothoenor led 
 with these arcesilaus and clonius stand 
 equal in arms and equal in command 
 these head the troops that rocky aulis yields 
 and eteon's hills and hyrie's watery fields 
 and schoenos scholos graea near the main 
 and mycalessia's ample piny plain 
 those who in peteon or ilesion dwell 
 or harma where apollo's prophet fell 
 heleon and hyle which the springs o'erflow 
 and medeon lofty and ocalea low 
 or in the meads of haliartus stray 
 or thespia sacred to the god of day 
 onchestus neptune's celebrated groves 
 copae and thisbe famed for silver doves 
 for flocks erythrae glissa for the vine 
 platea green and nysa the divine 
 and they whom thebe's well-built walls inclose 
 where myde eutresis corone rose 
 and arne rich with purple harvests crown'd 
 and anthedon boeotia's utmost bound 
 full fifty ships they send and each conveys
 twice sixty warriors through the foaming seas 102 

 to these succeed aspledon's martial train 
 who plough the spacious orchomenian plain 
 two valiant brothers rule the undaunted throng 
 ialmen and ascalaphus the strong 
 sons of astyoche the heavenly fair 
 whose virgin charms subdued the god of war 
 in actor's court as she retired to rest 
 the strength of mars the blushing maid compress'd 
 their troops in thirty sable vessels sweep 
 with equal oars the hoarse-resounding deep 

 the phocians next in forty barks repair 
 epistrophus and schedius head the war 
 from those rich regions where cephisus leads
 his silver current through the flowery meads 
 from panopea chrysa the divine 
 where anemoria's stately turrets shine 
 where pytho daulis cyparissus stood 
 and fair lilaea views the rising flood 
 these ranged in order on the floating tide 
 close on the left the bold boeotians' side 

 fierce ajax led the locrian squadrons on 
 ajax the less oileus' valiant son 
 skill'd to direct the flying dart aright 
 swift in pursuit and active in the fight 
 him as their chief the chosen troops attend 
 which bessa thronus and rich cynos send 
 opus calliarus and scarphe's bands 
 and those who dwell where pleasing augia stands 
 and where boagrius floats the lowly lands 
 or in fair tarphe's sylvan seats reside 
 in forty vessels cut the yielding tide 

 euboea next her martial sons prepares 
 and sends the brave abantes to the wars 
 breathing revenge in arms they take their way
 from chalcis' walls and strong eretria 
 the isteian fields for generous vines renown'd 
 the fair caristos and the styrian ground 
 where dios from her towers o'erlooks the plain 
 and high cerinthus views the neighbouring main 
 down their broad shoulders falls a length of hair 
 their hands dismiss not the long lance in air 
 but with protended spears in fighting fields
 pierce the tough corslets and the brazen shields 
 twice twenty ships transport the warlike bands 
 which bold elphenor fierce in arms commands 

 full fifty more from athens stem the main 
 led by menestheus through the liquid plain 
 athens the fair where great erectheus sway'd 
 that owed his nurture to the blue-eyed maid 
 but from the teeming furrow took his birth 
 the mighty offspring of the foodful earth 
 him pallas placed amidst her wealthy fane 
 adored with sacrifice and oxen slain 
 where as the years revolve her altars blaze 
 and all the tribes resound the goddess' praise 
 no chief like thee menestheus greece could yield 
 to marshal armies in the dusty field 
 the extended wings of battle to display 
 or close the embodied host in firm array 
 nestor alone improved by length of days 
 for martial conduct bore an equal praise 

 with these appear the salaminian bands 
 whom the gigantic telamon commands 
 in twelve black ships to troy they steer their course 
 and with the great athenians join their force 

 next move to war the generous argive train 
 from high troezene and maseta's plain 
 and fair cgina circled by the main 
 whom strong tyrinthe's lofty walls surround 
 and epidaure with viny harvests crown'd 
 and where fair asinen and hermoin show
 their cliffs above and ample bay below 
 these by the brave euryalus were led 
 great sthenelus and greater diomed 
 but chief tydides bore the sovereign sway 
 in fourscore barks they plough the watery way 

 the proud mycene arms her martial powers 
 cleone corinth with imperial towers 103 
 fair araethyrea ornia's fruitful plain 
 and cgion and adrastus' ancient reign 
 and those who dwell along the sandy shore 
 and where pellene yields her fleecy store 
 where helice and hyperesia lie 
 and gonoessa's spires salute the sky 
 great agamemnon rules the numerous band 
 a hundred vessels in long order stand 
 and crowded nations wait his dread command 
 high on the deck the king of men appears 
 and his refulgent arms in triumph wears 
 proud of his host unrivall'd in his reign 
 in silent pomp he moves along the main 

 his brother follows and to vengeance warms
 the hardy spartans exercised in arms 
 phares and brysia's valiant troops and those
 whom lacedaemon's lofty hills inclose 
 or messe's towers for silver doves renown'd 
 amyclae laas augia's happy ground 
 and those whom oetylos' low walls contain 
 and helos on the margin of the main 
 these o'er the bending ocean helen's cause 
 in sixty ships with menelaus draws 
 eager and loud from man to man he flies 
 revenge and fury flaming in his eyes 
 while vainly fond in fancy oft he hears
 the fair one's grief and sees her falling tears 

 in ninety sail from pylos' sandy coast 
 nestor the sage conducts his chosen host 
 from amphigenia's ever-fruitful land 
 where cpy high and little pteleon stand 
 where beauteous arene her structures shows 
 and thryon's walls alpheus' streams inclose 
 and dorion famed for thamyris' disgrace 
 superior once of all the tuneful race 
 till vain of mortals' empty praise he strove
 to match the seed of cloud-compelling jove 
 too daring bard whose unsuccessful pride
 the immortal muses in their art defied 
 the avenging muses of the light of day
 deprived his eyes and snatch'd his voice away 
 no more his heavenly voice was heard to sing 
 his hand no more awaked the silver string 

 where under high cyllene crown'd with wood 
 the shaded tomb of old cpytus stood 
 from ripe stratie tegea's bordering towns 
 the phenean fields and orchomenian downs 
 where the fat herds in plenteous pasture rove 
 and stymphelus with her surrounding grove 
 parrhasia on her snowy cliffs reclined 
 and high enispe shook by wintry wind 
 and fair mantinea's ever-pleasing site 
 in sixty sail the arcadian bands unite 
 bold agapenor glorious at their head 
 ancaeus' son the mighty squadron led 
 their ships supplied by agamemnon's care 
 through roaring seas the wondering warriors bear 
 the first to battle on the appointed plain 
 but new to all the dangers of the main 

 those where fair elis and buprasium join 
 whom hyrmin here and myrsinus confine 
 and bounded there where o'er the valleys rose
 the olenian rock and where alisium flows 
 beneath four chiefs a numerous army came 
 the strength and glory of the epean name 
 in separate squadrons these their train divide 
 each leads ten vessels through the yielding tide 
 one was amphimachus and thalpius one 
 eurytus' this and that teatus' son 
 diores sprung from amarynceus' line 
 and great polyxenus of force divine 

 but those who view fair elis o'er the seas
 from the blest islands of the echinades 
 in forty vessels under meges move 
 begot by phyleus the beloved of jove 
 to strong dulichium from his sire he fled 
 and thence to troy his hardy warriors led 

 ulysses follow'd through the watery road 
 a chief in wisdom equal to a god 
 with those whom cephalenia's line inclosed 
 or till their fields along the coast opposed 
 or where fair ithaca o'erlooks the floods 
 where high neritos shakes his waving woods 
 where cgilipa's rugged sides are seen 
 crocylia rocky and zacynthus green 
 these in twelve galleys with vermilion prores 
 beneath his conduct sought the phrygian shores 

 thoas came next andraemon's valiant son 
 from pleuron's walls and chalky calydon 
 and rough pylene and the olenian steep 
 and chalcis beaten by the rolling deep 
 he led the warriors from the ctolian shore 
 for now the sons of oeneus were no more 
 the glories of the mighty race were fled 
 oeneus himself and meleager dead 
 to thoas' care now trust the martial train 
 his forty vessels follow through the main 

 next eighty barks the cretan king commands 
 of gnossus lyctus and gortyna's bands 
 and those who dwell where rhytion's domes arise 
 or white lycastus glitters to the skies 
 or where by phaestus silver jardan runs 
 crete's hundred cities pour forth all her sons 
 these march'd idomeneus beneath thy care 
 and merion dreadful as the god of war 

 tlepolemus the sun of hercules 
 led nine swift vessels through the foamy seas 
 from rhodes with everlasting sunshine bright 
 jalyssus lindus and camirus white 
 his captive mother fierce alcides bore
 from ephyr's walls and selle's winding shore 
 where mighty towns in ruins spread the plain 
 and saw their blooming warriors early slain 
 the hero when to manly years he grew 
 alcides' uncle old licymnius slew 
 for this constrain'd to quit his native place 
 and shun the vengeance of the herculean race 
 a fleet he built and with a numerous train
 of willing exiles wander'd o'er the main 
 where many seas and many sufferings past 
 on happy rhodes the chief arrived at last 
 there in three tribes divides his native band 
 and rules them peaceful in a foreign land 
 increased and prosper'd in their new abodes
 by mighty jove the sire of men and gods 
 with joy they saw the growing empire rise 
 and showers of wealth descending from the skies 

 three ships with nireus sought the trojan shore 
 nireus whom aglae to charopus bore 
 nireus in faultless shape and blooming grace 
 the loveliest youth of all the grecian race 104 
 pelides only match'd his early charms 
 but few his troops and small his strength in arms 

 next thirty galleys cleave the liquid plain 
 of those calydnae's sea-girt isles contain 
 with them the youth of nisyrus repair 
 casus the strong and crapathus the fair 
 cos where eurypylus possess'd the sway 
 till great alcides made the realms obey 
 these antiphus and bold phidippus bring 
 sprung from the god by thessalus the king 

 now muse recount pelasgic argos' powers 
 from alos alope and trechin's towers 
 from phthia's spacious vales and hella bless'd
 with female beauty far beyond the rest 
 full fifty ships beneath achilles' care 
 the achaians myrmidons hellenians bear 
 thessalians all though various in their name 
 the same their nation and their chief the same 
 but now inglorious stretch'd along the shore 
 they hear the brazen voice of war no more 
 no more the foe they face in dire array 
 close in his fleet the angry leader lay 
 since fair briseis from his arms was torn 
 the noblest spoil from sack'd lyrnessus borne 
 then when the chief the theban walls o'erthrew 
 and the bold sons of great evenus slew 
 there mourn'd achilles plunged in depth of care 
 but soon to rise in slaughter blood and war 

 to these the youth of phylace succeed 
 itona famous for her fleecy breed 
 and grassy pteleon deck'd with cheerful greens 
 the bowers of ceres and the sylvan scenes 
 sweet pyrrhasus with blooming flowerets crown'd 
 and antron's watery dens and cavern'd ground 
 these own'd as chief protesilas the brave 
 who now lay silent in the gloomy grave 
 the first who boldly touch'd the trojan shore 
 and dyed a phrygian lance with grecian gore 
 there lies far distant from his native plain 
 unfinish'd his proud palaces remain 
 and his sad consort beats her breast in vain 
 his troops in forty ships podarces led 
 iphiclus' son and brother to the dead 
 nor he unworthy to command the host 
 yet still they mourn'd their ancient leader lost 

 the men who glaphyra's fair soil partake 
 where hills incircle boebe's lowly lake 
 where phaere hears the neighbouring waters fall 
 or proud iolcus lifts her airy wall 
 in ten black ships embark'd for ilion's shore 
 with bold eumelus whom alceste bore 
 all pelias' race alceste far outshined 
 the grace and glory of the beauteous kind 

 the troops methone or thaumacia yields 
 olizon's rocks or meliboea's fields 
 with philoctetes sail'd whose matchless art
 from the tough bow directs the feather'd dart 
 seven were his ships each vessel fifty row 
 skill'd in his science of the dart and bow 
 but he lay raging on the lemnian ground 
 a poisonous hydra gave the burning wound 
 there groan'd the chief in agonizing pain 
 whom greece at length shall wish nor wish in vain 
 his forces medon led from lemnos' shore 
 oileus' son whom beauteous rhena bore 

 the oechalian race in those high towers contain'd
 where once eurytus in proud triumph reign'd 
 or where her humbler turrets tricca rears 
 or where ithome rough with rocks appears 
 in thirty sail the sparkling waves divide 
 which podalirius and machaon guide 
 to these his skill their parent-god imparts 
 divine professors of the healing arts 

 the bold ormenian and asterian bands
 in forty barks eurypylus commands 
 where titan hides his hoary head in snow 
 and where hyperia's silver fountains flow 
 thy troops argissa polypoetes leads 
 and eleon shelter'd by olympus' shades 
 gyrtone's warriors and where orthe lies 
 and oloosson's chalky cliffs arise 
 sprung from pirithous of immortal race 
 the fruit of fair hippodame's embrace 
 that day when hurl'd from pelion's cloudy head 
 to distant dens the shaggy centaurs fled 
 with polypoetes join'd in equal sway
 leonteus leads and forty ships obey 

 in twenty sail the bold perrhaebians came
 from cyphus guneus was their leader's name 
 with these the enians join'd and those who freeze
 where cold dodona lifts her holy trees 
 or where the pleasing titaresius glides 
 and into peneus rolls his easy tides 
 yet o'er the silvery surface pure they flow 
 the sacred stream unmix'd with streams below 
 sacred and awful from the dark abodes
 styx pours them forth the dreadful oath of gods 

 last under prothous the magnesians stood 
 prothous the swift of old tenthredon's blood 
 who dwell where pelion crown'd with piny boughs 
 obscures the glade and nods his shaggy brows 
 or where through flowery tempe peneus stray'd 
 the region stretch'd beneath his mighty shade 
 in forty sable barks they stemm'd the main 
 such were the chiefs and such the grecian train 

 say next o muse of all achaia breeds 
 who bravest fought or rein'd the noblest steeds 
 eumelus' mares were foremost in the chase 
 as eagles fleet and of pheretian race 
 bred where pieria's fruitful fountains flow 
 and train'd by him who bears the silver bow 
 fierce in the fight their nostrils breathed a flame 
 their height their colour and their age the same 
 o'er fields of death they whirl the rapid car 
 and break the ranks and thunder through the war 
 ajax in arms the first renown acquired 
 while stern achilles in his wrath retired 
 his was the strength that mortal might exceeds 
 and his the unrivall'd race of heavenly steeds 
 but thetis' son now shines in arms no more 
 his troops neglected on the sandy shore 
 in empty air their sportive javelins throw 
 or whirl the disk or bend an idle bow 
 unstain'd with blood his cover'd chariots stand 
 the immortal coursers graze along the strand 
 but the brave chiefs the inglorious life deplored 
 and wandering o'er the camp required their lord 

 now like a deluge covering all around 
 the shining armies sweep along the ground 
 swift as a flood of fire when storms arise 
 floats the wild field and blazes to the skies 
 earth groan'd beneath them as when angry jove
 hurls down the forky lightning from above 
 on arime when he the thunder throws 
 and fires typhoeus with redoubled blows 
 where typhon press'd beneath the burning load 
 still feels the fury of the avenging god 

 but various iris jove's commands to bear 
 speeds on the wings of winds through liquid air 
 in priam's porch the trojan chiefs she found 
 the old consulting and the youths around 
 polites' shape the monarch's son she chose 
 who from csetes' tomb observed the foes 105 
 high on the mound from whence in prospect lay
 the fields the tents the navy and the bay 
 in this dissembled form she hastes to bring
 the unwelcome message to the phrygian king 

  cease to consult the time for action calls 
 war horrid war approaches to your walls 
 assembled armies oft have i beheld 
 but ne'er till now such numbers charged a field 
 thick as autumnal leaves or driving sand 
 the moving squadrons blacken all the strand 
 thou godlike hector all thy force employ 
 assemble all the united bands of troy 
 in just array let every leader call
 the foreign troops this day demands them all  

 the voice divine the mighty chief alarms 
 the council breaks the warriors rush to arms 
 the gates unfolding pour forth all their train 
 nations on nations fill the dusky plain 
 men steeds and chariots shake the trembling ground 
 the tumult thickens and the skies resound 

 amidst the plain in sight of ilion stands
 a rising mount the work of human hands 
 this for myrinne's tomb the immortals know 
 though call'd bateia in the world below 
 beneath their chiefs in martial order here 
 the auxiliar troops and trojan hosts appear 

 the godlike hector high above the rest 
 shakes his huge spear and nods his plumy crest 
 in throngs around his native bands repair 
 and groves of lances glitter in the air 

 divine cneas brings the dardan race 
 anchises' son by venus' stolen embrace 
 born in the shades of ida's secret grove 
 a mortal mixing with the queen of love 
 archilochus and acamas divide
 the warrior's toils and combat by his side 

 who fair zeleia's wealthy valleys till 106 
 fast by the foot of ida's sacred hill 
 or drink csepus of thy sable flood 
 were led by pandarus of royal blood 
 to whom his art apollo deign'd to show 
 graced with the presents of his shafts and bow 

 from rich apaesus and adrestia's towers 
 high teree's summits and pityea's bowers 
 from these the congregated troops obey
 young amphius and adrastus' equal sway 
 old merops' sons whom skill'd in fates to come 
 the sire forewarn'd and prophesied their doom 
 fate urged them on the sire forewarn'd in vain 
 they rush'd to war and perish'd on the plain 

 from practius' stream percote's pasture lands 
 and sestos and abydos' neighbouring strands 
 from great arisba's walls and selle's coast 
 asius hyrtacides conducts his host 
 high on his car he shakes the flowing reins 
 his fiery coursers thunder o'er the plains 

 the fierce pelasgi next in war renown'd 
 march from larissa's ever-fertile ground 
 in equal arms their brother leaders shine 
 hippothous bold and pyleus the divine 

 next acamas and pyrous lead their hosts 
 in dread array from thracia's wintry coasts 
 round the bleak realms where hellespontus roars 
 and boreas beats the hoarse-resounding shores 

 with great euphemus the ciconians move 
 sprung from troezenian ceus loved by jove 

 pyraechmes the paeonian troops attend 
 skill'd in the fight their crooked bows to bend 
 from axius' ample bed he leads them on 
 axius that laves the distant amydon 
 axius that swells with all his neighbouring rills 
 and wide around the floating region fills 

 the paphlagonians pylaemenes rules 
 where rich henetia breeds her savage mules 
 where erythinus' rising cliffs are seen 
 thy groves of box cytorus ever green 
 and where cgialus and cromna lie 
 and lofty sesamus invades the sky 
 and where parthenius roll'd through banks of flowers 
 reflects her bordering palaces and bowers 

 here march'd in arms the halizonian band 
 whom odius and epistrophus command 
 from those far regions where the sun refines
 the ripening silver in alybean mines 

 there mighty chromis led the mysian train 
 and augur ennomus inspired in vain 
 for stern achilles lopp'd his sacred head 
 roll'd down scamander with the vulgar dead 

 phorcys and brave ascanius here unite
 the ascanian phrygians eager for the fight 

 of those who round maeonia's realms reside 
 or whom the vales in shades of tmolus hide 
 mestles and antiphus the charge partake 
 born on the banks of gyges' silent lake 
 there from the fields where wild maeander flows 
 high mycale and latmos' shady brows 
 and proud miletus came the carian throngs 
 with mingled clamours and with barbarous tongues 107 
 amphimachus and naustes guide the train 
 naustes the bold amphimachus the vain 
 who trick'd with gold and glittering on his car 
 rode like a woman to the field of war 
 fool that he was by fierce achilles slain 
 the river swept him to the briny main 
 there whelm'd with waves the gaudy warrior lies
 the valiant victor seized the golden prize 

 the forces last in fair array succeed 
 which blameless glaucus and sarpedon lead
 the warlike bands that distant lycia yields 
 where gulfy xanthus foams along the fields 





book iii 


argument 

the duel of menelaus and paris 

the armies being ready to engage a single combat is agreed upon between
menelaus and paris by the intervention of hector for the determination
of the war iris is sent to call helen to behold the fight she leads her
to the walls of troy where priam sat with his counsellers observing the
grecian leaders on the plain below to whom helen gives an account of the
chief of them the kings on either part take the solemn oath for the
conditions of the combat the duel ensues wherein paris being overcome 
he is snatched away in a cloud by venus and transported to his apartment 
she then calls helen from the walls and brings the lovers together 
agamemnon on the part of the grecians demands the restoration of helen 
and the performance of the articles 

the three-and-twentieth day still continues throughout this book the
scene is sometimes in the fields before troy and sometimes in troy
itself 

 thus by their leaders' care each martial band
 moves into ranks and stretches o'er the land 
 with shouts the trojans rushing from afar 
 proclaim their motions and provoke the war
 so when inclement winters vex the plain
 with piercing frosts or thick-descending rain 
 to warmer seas the cranes embodied fly 108 
 with noise and order through the midway sky 
 to pigmy nations wounds and death they bring 
 and all the war descends upon the wing 
 but silent breathing rage resolved and skill'd 109 
 by mutual aids to fix a doubtful field 
 swift march the greeks the rapid dust around
 darkening arises from the labour'd ground 
 thus from his flaggy wings when notus sheds
 a night of vapours round the mountain heads 
 swift-gliding mists the dusky fields invade 
 to thieves more grateful than the midnight shade 
 while scarce the swains their feeding flocks survey 
 lost and confused amidst the thicken'd day 
 so wrapp'd in gathering dust the grecian train 
 a moving cloud swept on and hid the plain 

 now front to front the hostile armies stand 
 eager of fight and only wait command 
 when to the van before the sons of fame
 whom troy sent forth the beauteous paris came 
 in form a god the panther's speckled hide
 flow'd o'er his armour with an easy pride 
 his bended bow across his shoulders flung 
 his sword beside him negligently hung 
 two pointed spears he shook with gallant grace 
 and dared the bravest of the grecian race 

 as thus with glorious air and proud disdain 
 he boldly stalk'd the foremost on the plain 
 him menelaus loved of mars espies 
 with heart elated and with joyful eyes 
 so joys a lion if the branching deer 
 or mountain goat his bulky prize appear 
 eager he seizes and devours the slain 
 press'd by bold youths and baying dogs in vain 
 thus fond of vengeance with a furious bound 
 in clanging arms he leaps upon the ground
 from his high chariot him approaching near 
 the beauteous champion views with marks of fear 
 smit with a conscious sense retires behind 
 and shuns the fate he well deserved to find 
 as when some shepherd from the rustling trees 110 
 shot forth to view a scaly serpent sees 
 trembling and pale he starts with wild affright
 and all confused precipitates his flight 
 so from the king the shining warrior flies 
 and plunged amid the thickest trojans lies 

 as godlike hector sees the prince retreat 
 he thus upbraids him with a generous heat 
  unhappy paris but to women brave 111 
 so fairly form'd and only to deceive 
 oh hadst thou died when first thou saw'st the light 
 or died at least before thy nuptial rite 
 a better fate than vainly thus to boast 
 and fly the scandal of thy trojan host 
 gods how the scornful greeks exult to see
 their fears of danger undeceived in thee 
 thy figure promised with a martial air 
 but ill thy soul supplies a form so fair 
 in former days in all thy gallant pride 
 when thy tall ships triumphant stemm'd the tide 
 when greece beheld thy painted canvas flow 
 and crowds stood wondering at the passing show 
 say was it thus with such a baffled mien 
 you met the approaches of the spartan queen 
 thus from her realm convey'd the beauteous prize 
 and both her warlike lords outshined in helen's eyes 
 this deed thy foes' delight thy own disgrace 
 thy father's grief and ruin of thy race 
 this deed recalls thee to the proffer'd fight 
 or hast thou injured whom thou dar'st not right 
 soon to thy cost the field would make thee know
 thou keep'st the consort of a braver foe 
 thy graceful form instilling soft desire 
 thy curling tresses and thy silver lyre 
 beauty and youth in vain to these you trust 
 when youth and beauty shall be laid in dust 
 troy yet may wake and one avenging blow
 crush the dire author of his country's woe  

 his silence here with blushes paris breaks 
  'tis just my brother what your anger speaks 
 but who like thee can boast a soul sedate 
 so firmly proof to all the shocks of fate 
 thy force like steel a temper'd hardness shows 
 still edged to wound and still untired with blows 
 like steel uplifted by some strenuous swain 
 with falling woods to strew the wasted plain 
 thy gifts i praise nor thou despise the charms
 with which a lover golden venus arms 
 soft moving speech and pleasing outward show 
 no wish can gain them but the gods bestow 
 yet would'st thou have the proffer'd combat stand 
 the greeks and trojans seat on either hand 
 then let a midway space our hosts divide 
 and on that stage of war the cause be tried 
 by paris there the spartan king be fought 
 for beauteous helen and the wealth she brought 
 and who his rival can in arms subdue 
 his be the fair and his the treasure too 
 thus with a lasting league your toils may cease 
 and troy possess her fertile fields in peace 
 thus may the greeks review their native shore 
 much famed for generous steeds for beauty more  

 he said the challenge hector heard with joy 
 then with his spear restrain'd the youth of troy 
 held by the midst athwart and near the foe
 advanced with steps majestically slow 
 while round his dauntless head the grecians pour
 their stones and arrows in a mingled shower 

 then thus the monarch great atrides cried 
  forbear ye warriors lay the darts aside 
 a parley hector asks a message bears 
 we know him by the various plume he wears  
 awed by his high command the greeks attend 
 the tumult silence and the fight suspend 

 while from the centre hector rolls his eyes
 on either host and thus to both applies 
  hear all ye trojan all ye grecian bands 
 what paris author of the war demands 
 your shining swords within the sheath restrain 
 and pitch your lances in the yielding plain 
 here in the midst in either army's sight 
 he dares the spartan king to single fight 
 and wills that helen and the ravish'd spoil 
 that caused the contest shall reward the toil 
 let these the brave triumphant victor grace 
 and different nations part in leagues of peace  

 he spoke in still suspense on either side
 each army stood the spartan chief replied 

  me too ye warriors hear whose fatal right
 a world engages in the toils of fight 
 to me the labour of the field resign 
 me paris injured all the war be mine 
 fall he that must beneath his rival's arms 
 and live the rest secure of future harms 
 two lambs devoted by your country's rite 
 to earth a sable to the sun a white 
 prepare ye trojans while a third we bring
 select to jove the inviolable king 
 let reverend priam in the truce engage 
 and add the sanction of considerate age 
 his sons are faithless headlong in debate 
 and youth itself an empty wavering state 
 cool age advances venerably wise 
 turns on all hands its deep-discerning eyes 
 sees what befell and what may yet befall 
 concludes from both and best provides for all 

 the nations hear with rising hopes possess'd 
 and peaceful prospects dawn in every breast 
 within the lines they drew their steeds around 
 and from their chariots issued on the ground 
 next all unbuckling the rich mail they wore 
 laid their bright arms along the sable shore 
 on either side the meeting hosts are seen
 with lances fix'd and close the space between 
 two heralds now despatch'd to troy invite
 the phrygian monarch to the peaceful rite 

 talthybius hastens to the fleet to bring
 the lamb for jove the inviolable king 

 meantime to beauteous helen from the skies
 the various goddess of the rainbow flies 
 like fair laodice in form and face 
 the loveliest nymph of priam's royal race 
 her in the palace at her loom she found 
 the golden web her own sad story crown'd 
 the trojan wars she weaved herself the prize 
 and the dire triumphs of her fatal eyes 
 to whom the goddess of the painted bow 
  approach and view the wondrous scene below 112 
 each hardy greek and valiant trojan knight 
 so dreadful late and furious for the fight 
 now rest their spears or lean upon their shields 
 ceased is the war and silent all the fields 
 paris alone and sparta's king advance 
 in single fight to toss the beamy lance 
 each met in arms the fate of combat tries 
 thy love the motive and thy charms the prize  

 this said the many-coloured maid inspires
 her husband's love and wakes her former fires 
 her country parents all that once were dear 
 rush to her thought and force a tender tear 
 o'er her fair face a snowy veil she threw 
 and softly sighing from the loom withdrew 
 her handmaids clymene and cthra wait
 her silent footsteps to the scaean gate 

 there sat the seniors of the trojan race 
 old priam's chiefs and most in priam's grace 
 the king the first thymoetes at his side 
 lampus and clytius long in council tried 
 panthus and hicetaon once the strong 
 and next the wisest of the reverend throng 
 antenor grave and sage ucalegon 
 lean'd on the walls and bask'd before the sun 
 chiefs who no more in bloody fights engage 
 but wise through time and narrative with age 
 in summer days like grasshoppers rejoice 
 a bloodless race that send a feeble voice 
 these when the spartan queen approach'd the tower 
 in secret own'd resistless beauty's power 
 they cried  no wonder such celestial charms 113 
 for nine long years have set the world in arms 
 what winning graces what majestic mien 
 she moves a goddess and she looks a queen 
 yet hence o heaven convey that fatal face 
 and from destruction save the trojan race  

 the good old priam welcomed her and cried 
  approach my child and grace thy father's side 
 see on the plain thy grecian spouse appears 
 the friends and kindred of thy former years 
 no crime of thine our present sufferings draws 
 not thou but heaven's disposing will the cause
 the gods these armies and this force employ 
 the hostile gods conspire the fate of troy 
 but lift thy eyes and say what greek is he
 far as from hence these aged orbs can see 
 around whose brow such martial graces shine 
 so tall so awful and almost divine 
 though some of larger stature tread the green 
 none match his grandeur and exalted mien 
 he seems a monarch and his country's pride  
 thus ceased the king and thus the fair replied 

  before thy presence father i appear 
 with conscious shame and reverential fear 
 ah had i died ere to these walk i fled 
 false to my country and my nuptial bed 
 my brothers friends and daughter left behind 
 false to them all to paris only kind 
 for this i mourn till grief or dire disease
 shall waste the form whose fault it was to please 
 the king of kings atrides you survey 
 great in the war and great in arts of sway 
 my brother once before my days of shame 
 and oh that still he bore a brother's name  

 with wonder priam view'd the godlike man 
 extoll'd the happy prince and thus began 
  o bless'd atrides born to prosperous fate 
 successful monarch of a mighty state 
 how vast thy empire of your matchless train
 what numbers lost what numbers yet remain 
 in phrygia once were gallant armies known 
 in ancient time when otreus fill'd the throne 
 when godlike mygdon led their troops of horse 
 and i to join them raised the trojan force 
 against the manlike amazons we stood 114 
 and sangar's stream ran purple with their blood 
 but far inferior those in martial grace 
 and strength of numbers to this grecian race  

 this said once more he view'd the warrior train 
  what's he whose arms lie scatter'd on the plain 
 broad is his breast his shoulders larger spread 
 though great atrides overtops his head 
 nor yet appear his care and conduct small 
 from rank to rank he moves and orders all 
 the stately ram thus measures o'er the ground 
 and master of the flock surveys them round  

 then helen thus  whom your discerning eyes
 have singled out is ithacus the wise 
 a barren island boasts his glorious birth 
 his fame for wisdom fills the spacious earth  

 antenor took the word and thus began 115 
  myself o king have seen that wondrous man
 when trusting jove and hospitable laws 
 to troy he came to plead the grecian cause 
 great menelaus urged the same request 
 my house was honour'd with each royal guest 
 i knew their persons and admired their parts 
 both brave in arms and both approved in arts 
 erect the spartan most engaged our view 
 ulysses seated greater reverence drew 
 when atreus' son harangued the listening train 
 just was his sense and his expression plain 
 his words succinct yet full without a fault 
 he spoke no more than just the thing he ought 
 but when ulysses rose in thought profound 116 
 his modest eyes he fix'd upon the ground 
 as one unskill'd or dumb he seem'd to stand 
 nor raised his head nor stretch'd his sceptred hand 
 but when he speaks what elocution flows 
 soft as the fleeces of descending snows 117 
 the copious accents fall with easy art 
 melting they fall and sink into the heart 
 wondering we hear and fix'd in deep surprise 
 our ears refute the censure of our eyes  

 the king then ask'd as yet the camp he view'd 
  what chief is that with giant strength endued 
 whose brawny shoulders and whose swelling chest 
 and lofty stature far exceed the rest 
  ajax the great the beauteous queen replied 
 himself a host the grecian strength and pride 
 see bold idomeneus superior towers
 amid yon circle of his cretan powers 
 great as a god i saw him once before 
 with menelaus on the spartan shore 
 the rest i know and could in order name 
 all valiant chiefs and men of mighty fame 
 yet two are wanting of the numerous train 
 whom long my eyes have sought but sought in vain 
 castor and pollux first in martial force 
 one bold on foot and one renown'd for horse 
 my brothers these the same our native shore 
 one house contain'd us as one mother bore 
 perhaps the chiefs from warlike toils at ease 
 for distant troy refused to sail the seas 
 perhaps their swords some nobler quarrel draws 
 ashamed to combat in their sister's cause  

 so spoke the fair nor knew her brothers' doom 118 
 wrapt in the cold embraces of the tomb 
 adorn'd with honours in their native shore 
 silent they slept and heard of wars no more 

 meantime the heralds through the crowded town 
 bring the rich wine and destined victims down 
 idaeus' arms the golden goblets press'd 119 
 who thus the venerable king address'd 
  arise o father of the trojan state 
 the nations call thy joyful people wait
 to seal the truce and end the dire debate 
 paris thy son and sparta's king advance 
 in measured lists to toss the weighty lance 
 and who his rival shall in arms subdue 
 his be the dame and his the treasure too 
 thus with a lasting league our toils may cease 
 and troy possess her fertile fields in peace 
 so shall the greeks review their native shore 
 much famed for generous steeds for beauty more  

 with grief he heard and bade the chiefs prepare
 to join his milk-white coursers to the car 
 he mounts the seat antenor at his side 
 the gentle steeds through scaea's gates they guide 120 
 next from the car descending on the plain 
 amid the grecian host and trojan train 
 slow they proceed the sage ulysses then
 arose and with him rose the king of men 
 on either side a sacred herald stands 
 the wine they mix and on each monarch's hands
 pour the full urn then draws the grecian lord
 his cutlass sheathed beside his ponderous sword 
 from the sign'd victims crops the curling hair 121 
 the heralds part it and the princes share 
 then loudly thus before the attentive bands
 he calls the gods and spreads his lifted hands 

  o first and greatest power whom all obey 
 who high on ida's holy mountain sway 
 eternal jove and you bright orb that roll
 from east to west and view from pole to pole 
 thou mother earth and all ye living floods 
 infernal furies and tartarean gods 
 who rule the dead and horrid woes prepare
 for perjured kings and all who falsely swear 
 hear and be witness if by paris slain 
 great menelaus press the fatal plain 
 the dame and treasures let the trojan keep 
 and greece returning plough the watery deep 
 if by my brother's lance the trojan bleed 
 be his the wealth and beauteous dame decreed 
 the appointed fine let ilion justly pay 
 and every age record the signal day 
 this if the phrygians shall refuse to yield 
 arms must revenge and mars decide the field  

 with that the chief the tender victims slew 
 and in the dust their bleeding bodies threw 
 the vital spirit issued at the wound 
 and left the members quivering on the ground 
 from the same urn they drink the mingled wine 
 and add libations to the powers divine 
 while thus their prayers united mount the sky 
  hear mighty jove and hear ye gods on high 
 and may their blood who first the league confound 
 shed like this wine disdain the thirsty ground 
 may all their consorts serve promiscuous lust 
 and all their lust be scatter'd as the dust  
 thus either host their imprecations join'd 
 which jove refused and mingled with the wind 

 the rites now finish'd reverend priam rose 
 and thus express'd a heart o'ercharged with woes 
  ye greeks and trojans let the chiefs engage 
 but spare the weakness of my feeble age 
 in yonder walls that object let me shun 
 nor view the danger of so dear a son 
 whose arms shall conquer and what prince shall fall 
 heaven only knows for heaven disposes all  

 this said the hoary king no longer stay'd 
 but on his car the slaughter'd victims laid 
 then seized the reins his gentle steeds to guide 
 and drove to troy antenor at his side 

 bold hector and ulysses now dispose
 the lists of combat and the ground inclose 
 next to decide by sacred lots prepare 
 who first shall launch his pointed spear in air 
 the people pray with elevated hands 
 and words like these are heard through all the bands 
  immortal jove high heaven's superior lord 
 on lofty ida's holy mount adored 
 whoe'er involved us in this dire debate 
 o give that author of the war to fate
 and shades eternal let division cease 
 and joyful nations join in leagues of peace  

 with eyes averted hector hastes to turn
 the lots of fight and shakes the brazen urn 
 then paris thine leap'd forth by fatal chance
 ordain'd the first to whirl the weighty lance 
 both armies sat the combat to survey 
 beside each chief his azure armour lay 
 and round the lists the generous coursers neigh 
 the beauteous warrior now arrays for fight 
 in gilded arms magnificently bright 
 the purple cuishes clasp his thighs around 
 with flowers adorn'd with silver buckles bound 
 lycaon's corslet his fair body dress'd 
 braced in and fitted to his softer breast 
 a radiant baldric o'er his shoulder tied 
 sustain'd the sword that glitter'd at his side 
 his youthful face a polish'd helm o'erspread 
 the waving horse-hair nodded on his head 
 his figured shield a shining orb he takes 
 and in his hand a pointed javelin shakes 
 with equal speed and fired by equal charms 
 the spartan hero sheathes his limbs in arms 

 now round the lists the admiring armies stand 
 with javelins fix'd the greek and trojan band 
 amidst the dreadful vale the chiefs advance 
 all pale with rage and shake the threatening lance 
 the trojan first his shining javelin threw 
 full on atrides' ringing shield it flew 
 nor pierced the brazen orb but with a bound 122 
 leap'd from the buckler blunted on the ground 
 atrides then his massy lance prepares 
 in act to throw but first prefers his prayers 

  give me great jove to punish lawless lust 
 and lay the trojan gasping in the dust 
 destroy the aggressor aid my righteous cause 
 avenge the breach of hospitable laws 
 let this example future times reclaim 
 and guard from wrong fair friendship's holy name  
 be said and poised in air the javelin sent 
 through paris' shield the forceful weapon went 
 his corslet pierces and his garment rends 
 and glancing downward near his flank descends 
 the wary trojan bending from the blow 
 eludes the death and disappoints his foe 
 but fierce atrides waved his sword and strook
 full on his casque the crested helmet shook 
 the brittle steel unfaithful to his hand 
 broke short the fragments glitter'd on the sand 
 the raging warrior to the spacious skies
 raised his upbraiding voice and angry eyes 
  then is it vain in jove himself to trust 
 and is it thus the gods assist the just 
 when crimes provoke us heaven success denies 
 the dart falls harmless and the falchion flies  
 furious he said and towards the grecian crew
 seized by the crest the unhappy warrior drew 
 struggling he followed while the embroider'd thong
 that tied his helmet dragg'd the chief along 
 then had his ruin crown'd atrides' joy 
 but venus trembled for the prince of troy 
 unseen she came and burst the golden band 
 and left an empty helmet in his hand 
 the casque enraged amidst the greeks he threw 
 the greeks with smiles the polish'd trophy view 
 then as once more he lifts the deadly dart 
 in thirst of vengeance at his rival's heart 
 the queen of love her favour'd champion shrouds
 for gods can all things in a veil of clouds 
 raised from the field the panting youth she led 
 and gently laid him on the bridal bed 
 with pleasing sweets his fainting sense renews 
 and all the dome perfumes with heavenly dews 
 meantime the brightest of the female kind 
 the matchless helen o'er the walls reclined 
 to her beset with trojan beauties came 
 in borrow'd form the laughter-loving dame 
 she seem'd an ancient maid well-skill'd to cull
 the snowy fleece and wind the twisted wool 
 the goddess softly shook her silken vest 
 that shed perfumes and whispering thus address'd 


 venus disguised inviting helen to the chamber of paris 


  haste happy nymph for thee thy paris calls 
 safe from the fight in yonder lofty walls 
 fair as a god with odours round him spread 
 he lies and waits thee on the well-known bed 
 not like a warrior parted from the foe 
 but some gay dancer in the public show  

 she spoke and helen's secret soul was moved 
 she scorn'd the champion but the man she loved 
 fair venus' neck her eyes that sparkled fire 
 and breast reveal'd the queen of soft desire 123 
 struck with her presence straight the lively red
 forsook her cheek and trembling thus she said 
  then is it still thy pleasure to deceive 
 and woman's frailty always to believe 
 say to new nations must i cross the main 
 or carry wars to some soft asian plain 
 for whom must helen break her second vow 
 what other paris is thy darling now 
 left to atrides victor in the strife 
 an odious conquest and a captive wife 
 hence let me sail and if thy paris bear
 my absence ill let venus ease his care 
 a handmaid goddess at his side to wait 
 renounce the glories of thy heavenly state 
 be fix'd for ever to the trojan shore 
 his spouse or slave and mount the skies no more 
 for me to lawless love no longer led 
 i scorn the coward and detest his bed 
 else should i merit everlasting shame 
 and keen reproach from every phrygian dame 
 ill suits it now the joys of love to know 
 too deep my anguish and too wild my woe  


 venus presenting helen to paris 


 then thus incensed the paphian queen replies 
  obey the power from whom thy glories rise 
 should venus leave thee every charm must fly 
 fade from thy cheek and languish in thy eye 
 cease to provoke me lest i make thee more
 the world's aversion than their love before 
 now the bright prize for which mankind engage 
 than the sad victim of the public rage  

 at this the fairest of her sex obey'd 
 and veil'd her blushes in a silken shade 
 unseen and silent from the train she moves 
 led by the goddess of the smiles and loves 
 arrived and enter'd at the palace gate 
 the maids officious round their mistress wait 
 then all dispersing various tasks attend 
 the queen and goddess to the prince ascend 
 full in her paris' sight the queen of love
 had placed the beauteous progeny of jove 
 where as he view'd her charms she turn'd away
 her glowing eyes and thus began to say 

  is this the chief who lost to sense of shame 
 late fled the field and yet survives his fame 
 o hadst thou died beneath the righteous sword
 of that brave man whom once i call'd my lord 
 the boaster paris oft desired the day
 with sparta's king to meet in single fray 
 go now once more thy rival's rage excite 
 provoke atrides and renew the fight 
 yet helen bids thee stay lest thou unskill'd
 shouldst fall an easy conquest on the field  

 the prince replies  ah cease divinely fair 
 nor add reproaches to the wounds i bear 
 this day the foe prevail'd by pallas' power 
 we yet may vanquish in a happier hour 
 there want not gods to favour us above 
 but let the business of our life be love 
 these softer moments let delights employ 
 and kind embraces snatch the hasty joy 
 not thus i loved thee when from sparta's shore
 my forced my willing heavenly prize i bore 
 when first entranced in cranae's isle i lay 124 
 mix'd with thy soul and all dissolved away  
 thus having spoke the enamour'd phrygian boy
 rush'd to the bed impatient for the joy 
 him helen follow'd slow with bashful charms 
 and clasp'd the blooming hero in her arms 

 while these to love's delicious rapture yield 
 the stern atrides rages round the field 
 so some fell lion whom the woods obey 
 roars through the desert and demands his prey 
 paris he seeks impatient to destroy 
 but seeks in vain along the troops of troy 
 even those had yielded to a foe so brave
 the recreant warrior hateful as the grave 
 then speaking thus the king of kings arose 
  ye trojans dardans all our generous foes 
 hear and attest from heaven with conquest crown'd 
 our brother's arms the just success have found 
 be therefore now the spartan wealth restor'd 
 let argive helen own her lawful lord 
 the appointed fine let ilion justly pay 
 and age to age record this signal day  

 he ceased his army's loud applauses rise 
 and the long shout runs echoing through the skies 


 venus 



 map titled  graeciae antiquae  





book iv 


argument 

the breach of the truce and the first battle 

the gods deliberate in council concerning the trojan war they agree upon
the continuation of it and jupiter sends down minerva to break the truce 
she persuades pandarus to aim an arrow at menelaus who is wounded but
cured by machaon in the meantime some of the trojan troops attack the
greeks agamemnon is distinguished in all the parts of a good general he
reviews the troops and exhorts the leaders some by praises and others by
reproof nestor is particularly celebrated for his military discipline 
the battle joins and great numbers are slain on both sides 

the same day continues through this as through the last book as it does
also through the two following and almost to the end of the seventh
book the scene is wholly in the field before troy 

 and now olympus' shining gates unfold 
 the gods with jove assume their thrones of gold 
 immortal hebe fresh with bloom divine 
 the golden goblet crowns with purple wine 
 while the full bowls flow round the powers employ
 their careful eyes on long-contended troy 

 when jove disposed to tempt saturnia's spleen 
 thus waked the fury of his partial queen 
  two powers divine the son of atreus aid 
 imperial juno and the martial maid 125 
 but high in heaven they sit and gaze from far 
 the tame spectators of his deeds of war 
 not thus fair venus helps her favour'd knight 
 the queen of pleasures shares the toils of fight 
 each danger wards and constant in her care 
 saves in the moment of the last despair 
 her act has rescued paris' forfeit life 
 though great atrides gain'd the glorious strife 
 then say ye powers what signal issue waits
 to crown this deed and finish all the fates 
 shall heaven by peace the bleeding kingdoms spare 
 or rouse the furies and awake the war 
 yet would the gods for human good provide 
 atrides soon might gain his beauteous bride 
 still priam's walls in peaceful honours grow 
 and through his gates the crowding nations flow  

 thus while he spoke the queen of heaven enraged 
 and queen of war in close consult engaged 
 apart they sit their deep designs employ 
 and meditate the future woes of troy 
 though secret anger swell'd minerva's breast 
 the prudent goddess yet her wrath suppress'd 
 but juno impotent of passion broke
 her sullen silence and with fury spoke 


 the council of the gods 


  shall then o tyrant of the ethereal reign 
 my schemes my labours and my hopes be vain 
 have i for this shook ilion with alarms 
 assembled nations set two worlds in arms 
 to spread the war i flew from shore to shore 
 the immortal coursers scarce the labour bore 
 at length ripe vengeance o'er their heads impends 
 but jove himself the faithless race defends 
 loth as thou art to punish lawless lust 
 not all the gods are partial and unjust  

 the sire whose thunder shakes the cloudy skies 
 sighs from his inmost soul and thus replies 
  oh lasting rancour oh insatiate hate
 to phrygia's monarch and the phrygian state 
 what high offence has fired the wife of jove 
 can wretched mortals harm the powers above 
 that troy and troy's whole race thou wouldst confound 
 and yon fair structures level with the ground 
 haste leave the skies fulfil thy stern desire 
 burst all her gates and wrap her walls in fire 
 let priam bleed if yet you thirst for more 
 bleed all his sons and ilion float with gore 
 to boundless vengeance the wide realm be given 
 till vast destruction glut the queen of heaven 
 so let it be and jove his peace enjoy 126 
 when heaven no longer hears the name of troy 
 but should this arm prepare to wreak our hate
 on thy loved realms whose guilt demands their fate 
 presume not thou the lifted bolt to stay 
 remember troy and give the vengeance way 
 for know of all the numerous towns that rise
 beneath the rolling sun and starry skies 
 which gods have raised or earth-born men enjoy 
 none stands so dear to jove as sacred troy 
 no mortals merit more distinguish'd grace
 than godlike priam or than priam's race 
 still to our name their hecatombs expire 
 and altars blaze with unextinguish'd fire  

 at this the goddess rolled her radiant eyes 
 then on the thunderer fix'd them and replies 
  three towns are juno's on the grecian plains 
 more dear than all the extended earth contains 
 mycenae argos and the spartan wall 127 

 these thou mayst raze nor i forbid their fall 
 'tis not in me the vengeance to remove 
 the crime's sufficient that they share my love 
 of power superior why should i complain 
 resent i may but must resent in vain 
 yet some distinction juno might require 
 sprung with thyself from one celestial sire 
 a goddess born to share the realms above 
 and styled the consort of the thundering jove 
 nor thou a wife and sister's right deny 128 
 let both consent and both by terms comply 
 so shall the gods our joint decrees obey 
 and heaven shall act as we direct the way 
 see ready pallas waits thy high commands
 to raise in arms the greek and phrygian bands 
 their sudden friendship by her arts may cease 
 and the proud trojans first infringe the peace  

 the sire of men and monarch of the sky
 the advice approved and bade minerva fly 
 dissolve the league and all her arts employ
 to make the breach the faithless act of troy 
 fired with the charge she headlong urged her flight 
 and shot like lightning from olympus' height 
 as the red comet from saturnius sent
 to fright the nations with a dire portent 
 a fatal sign to armies on the plain 
 or trembling sailors on the wintry main 
 with sweeping glories glides along in air 
 and shakes the sparkles from its blazing hair 129 
 between both armies thus in open sight
 shot the bright goddess in a trail of light 
 with eyes erect the gazing hosts admire
 the power descending and the heavens on fire 
  the gods they cried the gods this signal sent 
 and fate now labours with some vast event 
 jove seals the league or bloodier scenes prepares 
 jove the great arbiter of peace and wars  

 they said while pallas through the trojan throng 
 in shape a mortal pass'd disguised along 
 like bold laodocus her course she bent 
 who from antenor traced his high descent 
 amidst the ranks lycaon's son she found 
 the warlike pandarus for strength renown'd 
 whose squadrons led from black csepus' flood 130 
 with flaming shields in martial circle stood 
 to him the goddess  phrygian canst thou hear
 a well-timed counsel with a willing ear 
 what praise were thine couldst thou direct thy dart 
 amidst his triumph to the spartan's heart 
 what gifts from troy from paris wouldst thou gain 
 thy country's foe the grecian glory slain 
 then seize the occasion dare the mighty deed 
 aim at his breast and may that aim succeed 
 but first to speed the shaft address thy vow
 to lycian phoebus with the silver bow 
 and swear the firstlings of thy flock to pay 
 on zelia's altars to the god of day   131 

 he heard and madly at the motion pleased 
 his polish'd bow with hasty rashness seized 
 'twas form'd of horn and smooth'd with artful toil 
 a mountain goat resign'd the shining spoil 
 who pierced long since beneath his arrows bled 
 the stately quarry on the cliffs lay dead 
 and sixteen palms his brow's large honours spread 
 the workmen join'd and shaped the bended horns 
 and beaten gold each taper point adorns 
 this by the greeks unseen the warrior bends 
 screen'd by the shields of his surrounding friends 
 there meditates the mark and couching low 
 fits the sharp arrow to the well-strung bow 
 one from a hundred feather'd deaths he chose 
 fated to wound and cause of future woes 
 then offers vows with hecatombs to crown
 apollo's altars in his native town 

 now with full force the yielding horn he bends 
 drawn to an arch and joins the doubling ends 
 close to his breast he strains the nerve below 
 till the barb'd points approach the circling bow 
 the impatient weapon whizzes on the wing 
 sounds the tough horn and twangs the quivering string 

 but thee atrides in that dangerous hour
 the gods forget not nor thy guardian power 
 pallas assists and weakened in its force 
 diverts the weapon from its destined course 
 so from her babe when slumber seals his eye 
 the watchful mother wafts the envenom'd fly 
 just where his belt with golden buckles join'd 
 where linen folds the double corslet lined 
 she turn'd the shaft which hissing from above 
 pass'd the broad belt and through the corslet drove 
 the folds it pierced the plaited linen tore 
 and razed the skin and drew the purple gore 
 as when some stately trappings are decreed
 to grace a monarch on his bounding steed 
 a nymph in caria or maeonia bred 
 stains the pure ivory with a lively red 
 with equal lustre various colours vie 
 the shining whiteness and the tyrian dye 
 so great atrides show'd thy sacred blood 
 as down thy snowy thigh distill'd the streaming flood 
 with horror seized the king of men descried
 the shaft infix'd and saw the gushing tide 
 nor less the spartan fear'd before he found
 the shining barb appear above the wound 
 then with a sigh that heaved his manly breast 
 the royal brother thus his grief express'd 
 and grasp'd his hand while all the greeks around
 with answering sighs return'd the plaintive sound 

  oh dear as life did i for this agree
 the solemn truce a fatal truce to thee 
 wert thou exposed to all the hostile train 
 to fight for greece and conquer to be slain 
 the race of trojans in thy ruin join 
 and faith is scorn'd by all the perjured line 
 not thus our vows confirm'd with wine and gore 
 those hands we plighted and those oaths we swore 
 shall all be vain when heaven's revenge is slow 
 jove but prepares to strike the fiercer blow 
 the day shall come that great avenging day 
 when troy's proud glories in the dust shall lay 
 when priam's powers and priam's self shall fall 
 and one prodigious ruin swallow all 
 i see the god already from the pole
 bare his red arm and bid the thunder roll 
 i see the eternal all his fury shed 
 and shake his aegis o'er their guilty head 
 such mighty woes on perjured princes wait 
 but thou alas deserv'st a happier fate 
 still must i mourn the period of thy days 
 and only mourn without my share of praise 
 deprived of thee the heartless greeks no more
 shall dream of conquests on the hostile shore 
 troy seized of helen and our glory lost 
 thy bones shall moulder on a foreign coast 
 while some proud trojan thus insulting cries 
 and spurns the dust where menelaus lies 
 'such are the trophies greece from ilion brings 
 and such the conquest of her king of kings 
 lo his proud vessels scatter'd o'er the main 
 and unrevenged his mighty brother slain '
 oh ere that dire disgrace shall blast my fame 
 o'erwhelm me earth and hide a monarch's shame  

 he said a leader's and a brother's fears
 possess his soul which thus the spartan cheers 
  let not thy words the warmth of greece abate 
 the feeble dart is guiltless of my fate 
 stiff with the rich embroider'd work around 
 my varied belt repell'd the flying wound  

 to whom the king  my brother and my friend 
 thus always thus may heaven thy life defend 
 now seek some skilful hand whose powerful art
 may stanch the effusion and extract the dart 
 herald be swift and bid machaon bring
 his speedy succour to the spartan king 
 pierced with a winged shaft the deed of troy 
 the grecian's sorrow and the dardan's joy  

 with hasty zeal the swift talthybius flies 
 through the thick files he darts his searching eyes 
 and finds machaon where sublime he stands 132 
 in arms incircled with his native bands 
 then thus  machaon to the king repair 
 his wounded brother claims thy timely care 
 pierced by some lycian or dardanian bow 
 a grief to us a triumph to the foe  

 the heavy tidings grieved the godlike man
 swift to his succour through the ranks he ran 
 the dauntless king yet standing firm he found 
 and all the chiefs in deep concern around 
 where to the steely point the reed was join'd 
 the shaft he drew but left the head behind 
 straight the broad belt with gay embroidery graced 
 he loosed the corslet from his breast unbraced 
 then suck'd the blood and sovereign balm infused 133 
 which chiron gave and csculapius used 

 while round the prince the greeks employ their care 
 the trojans rush tumultuous to the war 
 once more they glitter in refulgent arms 
 once more the fields are fill'd with dire alarms 
 nor had you seen the king of men appear
 confused unactive or surprised with fear 
 but fond of glory with severe delight 
 his beating bosom claim'd the rising fight 
 no longer with his warlike steeds he stay'd 
 or press'd the car with polish'd brass inlaid
 but left eurymedon the reins to guide 
 the fiery coursers snorted at his side 
 on foot through all the martial ranks he moves
 and these encourages and those reproves 
  brave men   he cries to such who boldly dare
 urge their swift steeds to face the coming war 
  your ancient valour on the foes approve 
 jove is with greece and let us trust in jove 
 'tis not for us but guilty troy to dread 
 whose crimes sit heavy on her perjured head 
 her sons and matrons greece shall lead in chains 
 and her dead warriors strew the mournful plains  

 thus with new ardour he the brave inspires 
 or thus the fearful with reproaches fires 
  shame to your country scandal of your kind 
 born to the fate ye well deserve to find 
 why stand ye gazing round the dreadful plain 
 prepared for flight but doom'd to fly in vain 
 confused and panting thus the hunted deer
 falls as he flies a victim to his fear 
 still must ye wait the foes and still retire 
 till yon tall vessels blaze with trojan fire 
 or trust ye jove a valiant foe shall chase 
 to save a trembling heartless dastard race  

 this said he stalk'd with ample strides along 
 to crete's brave monarch and his martial throng 
 high at their head he saw the chief appear 
 and bold meriones excite the rear 
 at this the king his generous joy express'd 
 and clasp'd the warrior to his armed breast 
  divine idomeneus what thanks we owe
 to worth like thine what praise shall we bestow 
 to thee the foremost honours are decreed 
 first in the fight and every graceful deed 
 for this in banquets when the generous bowls
 restore our blood and raise the warriors' souls 
 though all the rest with stated rules we bound 
 unmix'd unmeasured are thy goblets crown'd 
 be still thyself in arms a mighty name 
 maintain thy honours and enlarge thy fame  
 to whom the cretan thus his speech address'd 
  secure of me o king exhort the rest 
 fix'd to thy side in every toil i share 
 thy firm associate in the day of war 
 but let the signal be this moment given 
 to mix in fight is all i ask of heaven 
 the field shall prove how perjuries succeed 
 and chains or death avenge the impious deed  

 charm'd with this heat the king his course pursues 
 and next the troops of either ajax views 
 in one firm orb the bands were ranged around 
 a cloud of heroes blacken'd all the ground 
 thus from the lofty promontory's brow
 a swain surveys the gathering storm below 
 slow from the main the heavy vapours rise 
 spread in dim streams and sail along the skies 
 till black as night the swelling tempest shows 
 the cloud condensing as the west-wind blows 
 he dreads the impending storm and drives his flock
 to the close covert of an arching rock 

 such and so thick the embattled squadrons stood 
 with spears erect a moving iron wood 
 a shady light was shot from glimmering shields 
 and their brown arms obscured the dusky fields 

  o heroes worthy such a dauntless train 
 whose godlike virtue we but urge in vain 
 exclaim'd the king who raise your eager bands
 with great examples more than loud commands 
 ah would the gods but breathe in all the rest
 such souls as burn in your exalted breast 
 soon should our arms with just success be crown'd 
 and troy's proud walls lie smoking on the ground  

 then to the next the general bends his course 
 his heart exults and glories in his force 
 there reverend nestor ranks his pylian bands 
 and with inspiring eloquence commands 
 with strictest order sets his train in arms 
 the chiefs advises and the soldiers warms 
 alastor chromius haemon round him wait 
 bias the good and pelagon the great 
 the horse and chariots to the front assign'd 
 the foot the strength of war he ranged behind 
 the middle space suspected troops supply 
 inclosed by both nor left the power to fly 
 he gives command to  curb the fiery steed 
 nor cause confusion nor the ranks exceed 
 before the rest let none too rashly ride 
 no strength nor skill but just in time be tried 
 the charge once made no warrior turn the rein 
 but fight or fall a firm embodied train 
 he whom the fortune of the field shall cast
 from forth his chariot mount the next in haste 
 nor seek unpractised to direct the car 
 content with javelins to provoke the war 
 our great forefathers held this prudent course 
 thus ruled their ardour thus preserved their force 
 by laws like these immortal conquests made 
 and earth's proud tyrants low in ashes laid  

 so spoke the master of the martial art 
 and touch'd with transport great atrides' heart 
  oh hadst thou strength to match thy brave desires 
 and nerves to second what thy soul inspires 
 but wasting years that wither human race 
 exhaust thy spirits and thy arms unbrace 
 what once thou wert oh ever mightst thou be 
 and age the lot of any chief but thee  

 thus to the experienced prince atrides cried 
 he shook his hoary locks and thus replied 
  well might i wish could mortal wish renew 134 
 that strength which once in boiling youth i knew 
 such as i was when ereuthalion slain
 beneath this arm fell prostrate on the plain 
 but heaven its gifts not all at once bestows 
 these years with wisdom crowns with action those 
 the field of combat fits the young and bold 
 the solemn council best becomes the old 
 to you the glorious conflict i resign 
 let sage advice the palm of age be mine  

 he said with joy the monarch march'd before 
 and found menestheus on the dusty shore 
 with whom the firm athenian phalanx stands 
 and next ulysses with his subject bands 
 remote their forces lay nor knew so far
 the peace infringed nor heard the sounds of war 
 the tumult late begun they stood intent
 to watch the motion dubious of the event 
 the king who saw their squadrons yet unmoved 
 with hasty ardour thus the chiefs reproved 

  can peleus' son forget a warrior's part 
 and fears ulysses skill'd in every art 
 why stand you distant and the rest expect
 to mix in combat which yourselves neglect 
 from you 'twas hoped among the first to dare
 the shock of armies and commence the war 
 for this your names are call'd before the rest 
 to share the pleasures of the genial feast 
 and can you chiefs without a blush survey
 whole troops before you labouring in the fray 
 say is it thus those honours you requite 
 the first in banquets but the last in fight  

 ulysses heard the hero's warmth o'erspread
 his cheek with blushes and severe he said 
  take back the unjust reproach behold we stand
 sheathed in bright arms and but expect command 
 if glorious deeds afford thy soul delight 
 behold me plunging in the thickest fight 
 then give thy warrior-chief a warrior's due 
 who dares to act whate'er thou dar'st to view  
 struck with his generous wrath the king replies 

  o great in action and in council wise 
 with ours thy care and ardour are the same 
 nor need i to commend nor aught to blame 
 sage as thou art and learn'd in human kind 
 forgive the transport of a martial mind 
 haste to the fight secure of just amends 
 the gods that make shall keep the worthy friends  

 he said and pass'd where great tydides lay 
 his steeds and chariots wedged in firm array 
 the warlike sthenelus attends his side 135 
 to whom with stern reproach the monarch cried 
  o son of tydeus he whose strength could tame
 the bounding steed in arms a mighty name 
 canst thou remote the mingling hosts descry 
 with hands unactive and a careless eye 
 not thus thy sire the fierce encounter fear'd 
 still first in front the matchless prince appear'd 
 what glorious toils what wonders they recite 
 who view'd him labouring through the ranks of fight 
 i saw him once when gathering martial powers 
 a peaceful guest he sought mycenae's towers 
 armies he ask'd and armies had been given 
 not we denied but jove forbade from heaven 
 while dreadful comets glaring from afar 
 forewarn'd the horrors of the theban war 136 
 next sent by greece from where asopus flows 
 a fearless envoy he approach'd the foes 
 thebes' hostile walls unguarded and alone 
 dauntless he enters and demands the throne 
 the tyrant feasting with his chiefs he found 
 and dared to combat all those chiefs around 
 dared and subdued before their haughty lord 
 for pallas strung his arm and edged his sword 
 stung with the shame within the winding way 
 to bar his passage fifty warriors lay 
 two heroes led the secret squadron on 
 mason the fierce and hardy lycophon 
 those fifty slaughter'd in the gloomy vale 
 he spared but one to bear the dreadful tale 
 such tydeus was and such his martial fire 
 gods how the son degenerates from the sire  

 no words the godlike diomed return'd 
 but heard respectful and in secret burn'd 
 not so fierce capaneus' undaunted son 
 stern as his sire the boaster thus begun 

  what needs o monarch this invidious praise 
 ourselves to lessen while our sire you raise 
 dare to be just atrides and confess
 our value equal though our fury less 
 with fewer troops we storm'd the theban wall 
 and happier saw the sevenfold city fall 137 
 in impious acts the guilty father died 
 the sons subdued for heaven was on their side 
 far more than heirs of all our parents' fame 
 our glories darken their diminish'd name  

 to him tydides thus  my friend forbear 
 suppress thy passion and the king revere 
 his high concern may well excuse this rage 
 whose cause we follow and whose war we wage 
 his the first praise were ilion's towers o'erthrown 
 and if we fail the chief disgrace his own 
 let him the greeks to hardy toils excite 
 'tis ours to labour in the glorious fight  

 he spoke and ardent on the trembling ground
 sprung from his car his ringing arms resound 
 dire was the clang and dreadful from afar 
 of arm'd tydides rushing to the war 
 as when the winds ascending by degrees 138 
 first move the whitening surface of the seas 
 the billows float in order to the shore 
 the wave behind rolls on the wave before 
 till with the growing storm the deeps arise 
 foam o'er the rocks and thunder to the skies 
 so to the fight the thick battalions throng 
 shields urged on shields and men drove men along
 sedate and silent move the numerous bands 
 no sound no whisper but the chief's commands 
 those only heard with awe the rest obey 
 as if some god had snatch'd their voice away 
 not so the trojans from their host ascends
 a general shout that all the region rends 
 as when the fleecy flocks unnumber'd stand
 in wealthy folds and wait the milker's hand 
 the hollow vales incessant bleating fills 
 the lambs reply from all the neighbouring hills 
 such clamours rose from various nations round 
 mix'd was the murmur and confused the sound 
 each host now joins and each a god inspires 
 these mars incites and those minerva fires 
 pale flight around and dreadful terror reign 
 and discord raging bathes the purple plain 
 discord dire sister of the slaughtering power 
 small at her birth but rising every hour 
 while scarce the skies her horrid head can bound 
 she stalks on earth and shakes the world around 139 
 the nations bleed where'er her steps she turns 
 the groan still deepens and the combat burns 

 now shield with shield with helmet helmet closed 
 to armour armour lance to lance opposed 
 host against host with shadowy squadrons drew 
 the sounding darts in iron tempests flew 
 victors and vanquish'd join'd promiscuous cries 
 and shrilling shouts and dying groans arise 
 with streaming blood the slippery fields are dyed 
 and slaughter'd heroes swell the dreadful tide 

 as torrents roll increased by numerous rills 
 with rage impetuous down their echoing hills
 rush to the vales and pour'd along the plain 
 roar through a thousand channels to the main 
 the distant shepherd trembling hears the sound 
 so mix both hosts and so their cries rebound 

 the bold antilochus the slaughter led 
 the first who struck a valiant trojan dead 
 at great echepolus the lance arrives 
 razed his high crest and through his helmet drives 
 warm'd in the brain the brazen weapon lies 
 and shades eternal settle o'er his eyes 
 so sinks a tower that long assaults had stood
 of force and fire its walls besmear'd with blood 
 him the bold leader of the abantian throng 140 
 seized to despoil and dragg'd the corpse along 
 but while he strove to tug the inserted dart 
 agenor's javelin reach'd the hero's heart 
 his flank unguarded by his ample shield 
 admits the lance he falls and spurns the field 
 the nerves unbraced support his limbs no more 
 the soul comes floating in a tide of gore 
 trojans and greeks now gather round the slain 
 the war renews the warriors bleed again 
 as o'er their prey rapacious wolves engage 
 man dies on man and all is blood and rage 

 in blooming youth fair simoisius fell 
 sent by great ajax to the shades of hell 
 fair simoisius whom his mother bore
 amid the flocks on silver simois' shore 
 the nymph descending from the hills of ide 
 to seek her parents on his flowery side 
 brought forth the babe their common care and joy 
 and thence from simois named the lovely boy 
 short was his date by dreadful ajax slain 
 he falls and renders all their cares in vain 
 so falls a poplar that in watery ground
 raised high the head with stately branches crown'd 
 fell'd by some artist with his shining steel 
 to shape the circle of the bending wheel 
 cut down it lies tall smooth and largely spread 
 with all its beauteous honours on its head
 there left a subject to the wind and rain 
 and scorch'd by suns it withers on the plain
 thus pierced by ajax simoisius lies
 stretch'd on the shore and thus neglected dies 

 at ajax antiphus his javelin threw 
 the pointed lance with erring fury flew 
 and leucus loved by wise ulysses slew 
 he drops the corpse of simoisius slain 
 and sinks a breathless carcase on the plain 
 this saw ulysses and with grief enraged 
 strode where the foremost of the foes engaged 
 arm'd with his spear he meditates the wound 
 in act to throw but cautious look'd around 
 struck at his sight the trojans backward drew 
 and trembling heard the javelin as it flew 
 a chief stood nigh who from abydos came 
 old priam's son democoon was his name 
 the weapon entered close above his ear 
 cold through his temples glides the whizzing spear 141 
 with piercing shrieks the youth resigns his breath 
 his eye-balls darken with the shades of death 
 ponderous he falls his clanging arms resound 
 and his broad buckler rings against the ground 

 seized with affright the boldest foes appear 
 e'en godlike hector seems himself to fear 
 slow he gave way the rest tumultuous fled 
 the greeks with shouts press on and spoil the dead 
 but phoebus now from ilion's towering height
 shines forth reveal'd and animates the fight 
  trojans be bold and force with force oppose 
 your foaming steeds urge headlong on the foes 
 nor are their bodies rocks nor ribb'd with steel 
 your weapons enter and your strokes they feel 
 have ye forgot what seem'd your dread before 
 the great the fierce achilles fights no more  

 apollo thus from ilion's lofty towers 
 array'd in terrors roused the trojan powers 
 while war's fierce goddess fires the grecian foe 
 and shouts and thunders in the fields below 
 then great diores fell by doom divine 
 in vain his valour and illustrious line 
 a broken rock the force of pyrus threw 
 who from cold cnus led the thracian crew 142 
 full on his ankle dropp'd the ponderous stone 
 burst the strong nerves and crash'd the solid bone 
 supine he tumbles on the crimson sands 
 before his helpless friends and native bands 
 and spreads for aid his unavailing hands 
 the foe rush'd furious as he pants for breath 
 and through his navel drove the pointed death 
 his gushing entrails smoked upon the ground 
 and the warm life came issuing from the wound 

 his lance bold thoas at the conqueror sent 
 deep in his breast above the pap it went 
 amid the lungs was fix'd the winged wood 
 and quivering in his heaving bosom stood 
 till from the dying chief approaching near 
 the ctolian warrior tugg'd his weighty spear 
 then sudden waved his flaming falchion round 
 and gash'd his belly with a ghastly wound 
 the corpse now breathless on the bloody plain 
 to spoil his arms the victor strove in vain 
 the thracian bands against the victor press'd 
 a grove of lances glitter'd at his breast 
 stern thoas glaring with revengeful eyes 
 in sullen fury slowly quits the prize 

 thus fell two heroes one the pride of thrace 
 and one the leader of the epeian race 
 death's sable shade at once o'ercast their eyes 
 in dust the vanquish'd and the victor lies 
 with copious slaughter all the fields are red 
 and heap'd with growing mountains of the dead 

 had some brave chief this martial scene beheld 
 by pallas guarded through the dreadful field 
 might darts be bid to turn their points away 
 and swords around him innocently play 
 the war's whole art with wonder had he seen 
 and counted heroes where he counted men 

 so fought each host with thirst of glory fired 
 and crowds on crowds triumphantly expired 


 map of the plain of troy 





book v 


argument 

the acts of diomed 

diomed assisted by pallas performs wonders in this day's battle 
pandarus wounds him with an arrow but the goddess cures him enables him
to discern gods from mortals and prohibits him from contending with any
of the former excepting venus cneas joins pandarus to oppose him 
pandarus is killed and cneas in great danger but for the assistance of
venus who as she is removing her son from the fight is wounded on the
hand by diomed apollo seconds her in his rescue and at length carries
off cneas to troy where he is healed in the temple of pergamus mars
rallies the trojans and assists hector to make a stand in the meantime
cneas is restored to the field and they overthrow several of the greeks 
among the rest tlepolemus is slain by sarpedon juno and minerva descend
to resist mars the latter incites diomed to go against that god he
wounds him and sends him groaning to heaven 

the first battle continues through this book the scene is the same as in
the former 

 but pallas now tydides' soul inspires 143 
 fills with her force and warms with all her fires 
 above the greeks his deathless fame to raise 
 and crown her hero with distinguish'd praise 
 high on his helm celestial lightnings play 
 his beamy shield emits a living ray 
 the unwearied blaze incessant streams supplies 
 like the red star that fires the autumnal skies 
 when fresh he rears his radiant orb to sight 
 and bathed in ocean shoots a keener light 
 such glories pallas on the chief bestow'd 
 such from his arms the fierce effulgence flow'd 
 onward she drives him furious to engage 
 where the fight burns and where the thickest rage 

 the sons of dares first the combat sought 
 a wealthy priest but rich without a fault 
 in vulcan's fane the father's days were led 
 the sons to toils of glorious battle bred 
 these singled from their troops the fight maintain 
 these from their steeds tydides on the plain 
 fierce for renown the brother-chiefs draw near 
 and first bold phegeus cast his sounding spear 
 which o'er the warrior's shoulder took its course 
 and spent in empty air its erring force 
 not so tydides flew thy lance in vain 
 but pierced his breast and stretch'd him on the plain 
 seized with unusual fear idaeus fled 
 left the rich chariot and his brother dead 
 and had not vulcan lent celestial aid 
 he too had sunk to death's eternal shade 
 but in a smoky cloud the god of fire
 preserved the son in pity to the sire 
 the steeds and chariot to the navy led 
 increased the spoils of gallant diomed 

 struck with amaze and shame the trojan crew 
 or slain or fled the sons of dares view 
 when by the blood-stain'd hand minerva press'd
 the god of battles and this speech address'd 

  stern power of war by whom the mighty fall 
 who bathe in blood and shake the lofty wall 
 let the brave chiefs their glorious toils divide 
 and whose the conquest mighty jove decide 
 while we from interdicted fields retire 
 nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging sire  

 her words allay the impetuous warrior's heat 
 the god of arms and martial maid retreat 
 removed from fight on xanthus' flowery bounds
 they sat and listen'd to the dying sounds 

 meantime the greeks the trojan race pursue 
 and some bold chieftain every leader slew 
 first odius falls and bites the bloody sand 
 his death ennobled by atrides' hand 

 as he to flight his wheeling car address'd 
 the speedy javelin drove from back to breast 
 in dust the mighty halizonian lay 
 his arms resound the spirit wings its way 

 thy fate was next o phaestus doom'd to feel
 the great idomeneus' protended steel 
 whom borus sent his son and only joy 
 from fruitful tarne to the fields of troy 
 the cretan javelin reach'd him from afar 
 and pierced his shoulder as he mounts his car 
 back from the car he tumbles to the ground 
 and everlasting shades his eyes surround 

 then died scamandrius expert in the chase 
 in woods and wilds to wound the savage race 
 diana taught him all her sylvan arts 
 to bend the bow and aim unerring darts 
 but vainly here diana's arts he tries 
 the fatal lance arrests him as he flies 
 from menelaus' arm the weapon sent 
 through his broad back and heaving bosom went 
 down sinks the warrior with a thundering sound 
 his brazen armour rings against the ground 

 next artful phereclus untimely fell 
 bold merion sent him to the realms of hell 
 thy father's skill o phereclus was thine 
 the graceful fabric and the fair design 
 for loved by pallas pallas did impart
 to him the shipwright's and the builder's art 
 beneath his hand the fleet of paris rose 
 the fatal cause of all his country's woes 
 but he the mystic will of heaven unknown 
 nor saw his country's peril nor his own 
 the hapless artist while confused he fled 
 the spear of merion mingled with the dead 
 through his right hip with forceful fury cast 
 between the bladder and the bone it pass'd 
 prone on his knees he falls with fruitless cries 
 and death in lasting slumber seals his eyes 

 from meges' force the swift pedaeus fled 
 antenor's offspring from a foreign bed 
 whose generous spouse theanor heavenly fair 
 nursed the young stranger with a mother's care 
 how vain those cares when meges in the rear
 full in his nape infix'd the fatal spear 
 swift through his crackling jaws the weapon glides 
 and the cold tongue and grinning teeth divides 

 then died hypsenor generous and divine 
 sprung from the brave dolopion's mighty line 
 who near adored scamander made abode 
 priest of the stream and honoured as a god 
 on him amidst the flying numbers found 
 eurypylus inflicts a deadly wound 
 on his broad shoulders fell the forceful brand 
 thence glancing downwards lopp'd his holy hand 
 which stain'd with sacred blood the blushing sand 
 down sunk the priest the purple hand of death
 closed his dim eye and fate suppress'd his breath 

 thus toil'd the chiefs in different parts engaged 
 in every quarter fierce tydides raged 
 amid the greek amid the trojan train 
 rapt through the ranks he thunders o'er the plain 
 now here now there he darts from place to place 
 pours on the rear or lightens in their face 
 thus from high hills the torrents swift and strong
 deluge whole fields and sweep the trees along 
 through ruin'd moles the rushing wave resounds 
 o'erwhelm's the bridge and bursts the lofty bounds 
 the yellow harvests of the ripen'd year 
 and flatted vineyards one sad waste appear 144 
 while jove descends in sluicy sheets of rain 
 and all the labours of mankind are vain 

 so raged tydides boundless in his ire 
 drove armies back and made all troy retire 
 with grief the leader of the lycian band
 saw the wide waste of his destructive hand 
 his bended bow against the chief he drew 
 swift to the mark the thirsty arrow flew 
 whose forky point the hollow breastplate tore 
 deep in his shoulder pierced and drank the gore 
 the rushing stream his brazen armour dyed 
 while the proud archer thus exulting cried 

  hither ye trojans hither drive your steeds 
 lo by our hand the bravest grecian bleeds 
 not long the deathful dart he can sustain 
 or phoebus urged me to these fields in vain  
 so spoke he boastful but the winged dart
 stopp'd short of life and mock'd the shooter's art 
 the wounded chief behind his car retired 
 the helping hand of sthenelus required 
 swift from his seat he leap'd upon the ground 
 and tugg'd the weapon from the gushing wound 
 when thus the king his guardian power address'd 
 the purple current wandering o'er his vest 

  o progeny of jove unconquer'd maid 
 if e'er my godlike sire deserved thy aid 
 if e'er i felt thee in the fighting field 
 now goddess now thy sacred succour yield 
 o give my lance to reach the trojan knight 
 whose arrow wounds the chief thou guard'st in fight 
 and lay the boaster grovelling on the shore 
 that vaunts these eyes shall view the light no more  

 thus pray'd tydides and minerva heard 
 his nerves confirm'd his languid spirits cheer'd 
 he feels each limb with wonted vigour light 
 his beating bosom claim'd the promised fight 
  be bold she cried in every combat shine 
 war be thy province thy protection mine 
 rush to the fight and every foe control 
 wake each paternal virtue in thy soul 
 strength swells thy boiling breast infused by me 
 and all thy godlike father breathes in thee 
 yet more from mortal mists i purge thy eyes 145 
 and set to view the warring deities 
 these see thou shun through all the embattled plain 
 nor rashly strive where human force is vain 
 if venus mingle in the martial band 
 her shalt thou wound so pallas gives command  

 with that the blue-eyed virgin wing'd her flight 
 the hero rush'd impetuous to the fight 
 with tenfold ardour now invades the plain 
 wild with delay and more enraged by pain 
 as on the fleecy flocks when hunger calls 
 amidst the field a brindled lion falls 
 if chance some shepherd with a distant dart
 the savage wound he rouses at the smart 
 he foams he roars the shepherd dares not stay 
 but trembling leaves the scattering flocks a prey 
 heaps fall on heaps he bathes with blood the ground 
 then leaps victorious o'er the lofty mound 
 not with less fury stern tydides flew 
 and two brave leaders at an instant slew 
 astynous breathless fell and by his side 
 his people's pastor good hypenor died 
 astynous' breast the deadly lance receives 
 hypenor's shoulder his broad falchion cleaves 
 those slain he left and sprung with noble rage
 abas and polyidus to engage 
 sons of eurydamus who wise and old 
 could fate foresee and mystic dreams unfold 
 the youths return'd not from the doubtful plain 
 and the sad father tried his arts in vain 
 no mystic dream could make their fates appear 
 though now determined by tydides' spear 

 young xanthus next and thoon felt his rage 
 the joy and hope of phaenops' feeble age 
 vast was his wealth and these the only heirs
 of all his labours and a life of cares 
 cold death o'ertakes them in their blooming years 
 and leaves the father unavailing tears 
 to strangers now descends his heapy store 
 the race forgotten and the name no more 

 two sons of priam in one chariot ride 
 glittering in arms and combat side by side 
 as when the lordly lion seeks his food
 where grazing heifers range the lonely wood 
 he leaps amidst them with a furious bound 
 bends their strong necks and tears them to the ground 
 so from their seats the brother chiefs are torn 
 their steeds and chariot to the navy borne 

 with deep concern divine cneas view'd
 the foe prevailing and his friends pursued 
 through the thick storm of singing spears he flies 
 exploring pandarus with careful eyes 
 at length he found lycaon's mighty son 
 to whom the chief of venus' race begun 

  where pandarus are all thy honours now 
 thy winged arrows and unerring bow 
 thy matchless skill thy yet unrivall'd fame 
 and boasted glory of the lycian name 
 o pierce that mortal if we mortal call
 that wondrous force by which whole armies fall 
 or god incensed who quits the distant skies
 to punish troy for slighted sacrifice 
 which oh avert from our unhappy state 
 for what so dreadful as celestial hate 
 whoe'er he be propitiate jove with prayer 
 if man destroy if god entreat to spare  

 to him the lycian  whom your eyes behold 
 if right i judge is diomed the bold 
 such coursers whirl him o'er the dusty field 
 so towers his helmet and so flames his shield 
 if 'tis a god he wears that chief's disguise 
 or if that chief some guardian of the skies 
 involved in clouds protects him in the fray 
 and turns unseen the frustrate dart away 
 i wing'd an arrow which not idly fell 
 the stroke had fix'd him to the gates of hell 
 and but some god some angry god withstands 
 his fate was due to these unerring hands 
 skill'd in the bow on foot i sought the war 
 nor join'd swift horses to the rapid car 
 ten polish'd chariots i possess'd at home 
 and still they grace lycaon's princely dome 
 there veil'd in spacious coverlets they stand 
 and twice ten coursers wait their lord's command 
 the good old warrior bade me trust to these 
 when first for troy i sail'd the sacred seas 
 in fields aloft the whirling car to guide 
 and through the ranks of death triumphant ride 
 but vain with youth and yet to thrift inclined 
 i heard his counsels with unheedful mind 
 and thought the steeds your large supplies unknown 
 might fail of forage in the straiten'd town 
 so took my bow and pointed darts in hand
 and left the chariots in my native land 

  too late o friend my rashness i deplore 
 these shafts once fatal carry death no more 
 tydeus' and atreus' sons their points have found 
 and undissembled gore pursued the wound 
 in vain they bleed this unavailing bow
 serves not to slaughter but provoke the foe 
 in evil hour these bended horns i strung 
 and seized the quiver where it idly hung 
 cursed be the fate that sent me to the field
 without a warrior's arms the spear and shield 
 if e'er with life i quit the trojan plain 
 if e'er i see my spouse and sire again 
 this bow unfaithful to my glorious aims 
 broke by my hand shall feed the blazing flames  

 to whom the leader of the dardan race 
  be calm nor phoebus' honour'd gift disgrace 
 the distant dart be praised though here we need
 the rushing chariot and the bounding steed 
 against yon hero let us bend our course 
 and hand to hand encounter force with force 
 now mount my seat and from the chariot's height
 observe my father's steeds renown'd in fight 
 practised alike to turn to stop to chase 
 to dare the shock or urge the rapid race 
 secure with these through fighting fields we go 
 or safe to troy if jove assist the foe 
 haste seize the whip and snatch the guiding rein 
 the warrior's fury let this arm sustain 
 or if to combat thy bold heart incline 
 take thou the spear the chariot's care be mine  

  o prince lycaon's valiant son replied 
 as thine the steeds be thine the task to guide 
 the horses practised to their lord's command 
 shall bear the rein and answer to thy hand 
 but if unhappy we desert the fight 
 thy voice alone can animate their flight 
 else shall our fates be number'd with the dead 
 and these the victor's prize in triumph led 
 thine be the guidance then with spear and shield
 myself will charge this terror of the field  

 and now both heroes mount the glittering car 
 the bounding coursers rush amidst the war 
 their fierce approach bold sthenelus espied 
 who thus alarm'd to great tydides cried 

  o friend two chiefs of force immense i see 
 dreadful they come and bend their rage on thee 
 lo the brave heir of old lycaon's line 
 and great cneas sprung from race divine 
 enough is given to fame ascend thy car 
 and save a life the bulwark of our war  

 at this the hero cast a gloomy look 
 fix'd on the chief with scorn and thus he spoke 

  me dost thou bid to shun the coming fight 
 me wouldst thou move to base inglorious flight 
 know 'tis not honest in my soul to fear 
 nor was tydides born to tremble here 
 i hate the cumbrous chariot's slow advance 
 and the long distance of the flying lance 
 but while my nerves are strong my force entire 
 thus front the foe and emulate my sire 
 nor shall yon steeds that fierce to fight convey
 those threatening heroes bear them both away 
 one chief at least beneath this arm shall die 
 so pallas tells me and forbids to fly 
 but if she dooms and if no god withstand 
 that both shall fall by one victorious hand 
 then heed my words my horses here detain 
 fix'd to the chariot by the straiten'd rein 
 swift to cneas' empty seat proceed 
 and seize the coursers of ethereal breed 
 the race of those which once the thundering god 146 
 for ravish'd ganymede on tros bestow'd 
 the best that e'er on earth's broad surface run 
 beneath the rising or the setting sun 
 hence great anchises stole a breed unknown 
 by mortal mares from fierce laomedon 
 four of this race his ample stalls contain 
 and two transport cneas o'er the plain 
 these were the rich immortal prize our own 
 through the wide world should make our glory known  

 thus while they spoke the foe came furious on 
 and stern lycaon's warlike race begun 

  prince thou art met though late in vain assail'd 
 the spear may enter where the arrow fail'd  

 he said then shook the ponderous lance and flung 
 on his broad shield the sounding weapon rung 
 pierced the tough orb and in his cuirass hung 
  he bleeds the pride of greece the boaster cries 
 our triumph now the mighty warrior lies  
  mistaken vaunter diomed replied 
 thy dart has erred and now my spear be tried 
 ye 'scape not both one headlong from his car 
 with hostile blood shall glut the god of war  

 he spoke and rising hurl'd his forceful dart 
 which driven by pallas pierced a vital part 
 full in his face it enter'd and betwixt
 the nose and eye-ball the proud lycian fix'd 
 crash'd all his jaws and cleft the tongue within 
 till the bright point look'd out beneath the chin 
 headlong he falls his helmet knocks the ground 
 earth groans beneath him and his arms resound 
 the starting coursers tremble with affright 
 the soul indignant seeks the realms of night 

 to guard his slaughter'd friend cneas flies 
 his spear extending where the carcase lies 
 watchful he wheels protects it every way 
 as the grim lion stalks around his prey 
 o'er the fall'n trunk his ample shield display'd 
 he hides the hero with his mighty shade 
 and threats aloud the greeks with longing eyes
 behold at distance but forbear the prize 
 then fierce tydides stoops and from the fields
 heaved with vast force a rocky fragment wields 
 not two strong men the enormous weight could raise 
 such men as live in these degenerate days 147 
 he swung it round and gathering strength to throw 
 discharged the ponderous ruin at the foe 
 where to the hip the inserted thigh unites 
 full on the bone the pointed marble lights 
 through both the tendons broke the rugged stone 
 and stripp'd the skin and crack'd the solid bone 
 sunk on his knees and staggering with his pains 
 his falling bulk his bended arm sustains 
 lost in a dizzy mist the warrior lies 
 a sudden cloud comes swimming o'er his eyes 
 there the brave chief who mighty numbers sway'd 
 oppress'd had sunk to death's eternal shade 
 but heavenly venus mindful of the love
 she bore anchises in the idaean grove 
 his danger views with anguish and despair 
 and guards her offspring with a mother's care 
 about her much-loved son her arms she throws 
 her arms whose whiteness match the falling snows 
 screen'd from the foe behind her shining veil 
 the swords wave harmless and the javelins fail 
 safe through the rushing horse and feather'd flight
 of sounding shafts she bears him from the fight 

 nor sthenelus with unassisting hands 
 remain'd unheedful of his lord's commands 
 his panting steeds removed from out the war 
 he fix'd with straiten'd traces to the car 
 next rushing to the dardan spoil detains
 the heavenly coursers with the flowing manes 
 these in proud triumph to the fleet convey'd 
 no longer now a trojan lord obey'd 
 that charge to bold deipylus he gave 
 whom most he loved as brave men love the brave 
 then mounting on his car resumed the rein 
 and follow'd where tydides swept the plain 

 meanwhile his conquest ravished from his eyes 
 the raging chief in chase of venus flies 
 no goddess she commission'd to the field 
 like pallas dreadful with her sable shield 
 or fierce bellona thundering at the wall 
 while flames ascend and mighty ruins fall 
 he knew soft combats suit the tender dame 
 new to the field and still a foe to fame 
 through breaking ranks his furious course he bends 
 and at the goddess his broad lance extends 
 through her bright veil the daring weapon drove 
 the ambrosial veil which all the graces wove 
 her snowy hand the razing steel profaned 
 and the transparent skin with crimson stain'd 
 from the clear vein a stream immortal flow'd 
 such stream as issues from a wounded god 148 
 pure emanation uncorrupted flood 
 unlike our gross diseased terrestrial blood 
 for not the bread of man their life sustains 
 nor wine's inflaming juice supplies their veins 
 with tender shrieks the goddess fill'd the place 
 and dropp'd her offspring from her weak embrace 
 him phoebus took he casts a cloud around
 the fainting chief and wards the mortal wound 

 then with a voice that shook the vaulted skies 
 the king insults the goddess as she flies 
  ill with jove's daughter bloody fights agree 
 the field of combat is no scene for thee 
 go let thy own soft sex employ thy care 
 go lull the coward or delude the fair 
 taught by this stroke renounce the war's alarms 
 and learn to tremble at the name of arms  

 tydides thus the goddess seized with dread 
 confused distracted from the conflict fled 
 to aid her swift the winged iris flew 
 wrapt in a mist above the warring crew 
 the queen of love with faded charms she found 
 pale was her cheek and livid look'd the wound 
 to mars who sat remote they bent their way 
 far on the left with clouds involved he lay 
 beside him stood his lance distain'd with gore 
 and rein'd with gold his foaming steeds before 
 low at his knee she begg'd with streaming eyes
 her brother's car to mount the distant skies 
 and show'd the wound by fierce tydides given 
 a mortal man who dares encounter heaven 
 stern mars attentive hears the queen complain 
 and to her hand commits the golden rein 
 she mounts the seat oppress'd with silent woe 
 driven by the goddess of the painted bow 
 the lash resounds the rapid chariot flies 
 and in a moment scales the lofty skies 
 they stopp'd the car and there the coursers stood 
 fed by fair iris with ambrosial food 
 before her mother love's bright queen appears 
 o'erwhelmed with anguish and dissolved in tears 
 she raised her in her arms beheld her bleed 
 and ask'd what god had wrought this guilty deed 


 venus wounded in the hand conducted by iris to mars 


 then she  this insult from no god i found 
 an impious mortal gave the daring wound 
 behold the deed of haughty diomed 
 'twas in the son's defence the mother bled 
 the war with troy no more the grecians wage 
 but with the gods the immortal gods engage  

 dione then  thy wrongs with patience bear 
 and share those griefs inferior powers must share 
 unnumber'd woes mankind from us sustain 
 and men with woes afflict the gods again 
 the mighty mars in mortal fetters bound 149 
 and lodged in brazen dungeons underground 
 full thirteen moons imprison'd roar'd in vain 
 otus and ephialtes held the chain 
 perhaps had perish'd had not hermes' care
 restored the groaning god to upper air 
 great juno's self has borne her weight of pain 
 the imperial partner of the heavenly reign 
 amphitryon's son infix'd the deadly dart 150 
 and fill'd with anguish her immortal heart 
 e'en hell's grim king alcides' power confess'd 
 the shaft found entrance in his iron breast 
 to jove's high palace for a cure he fled 
 pierced in his own dominions of the dead 
 where paeon sprinkling heavenly balm around 
 assuaged the glowing pangs and closed the wound 
 rash impious man to stain the bless'd abodes 
 and drench his arrows in the blood of gods 


 otus and ephialtes holding mars captive 


  but thou though pallas urged thy frantic deed 
 whose spear ill-fated makes a goddess bleed 
 know thou whoe'er with heavenly power contends 
 short is his date and soon his glory ends 
 from fields of death when late he shall retire 
 no infant on his knees shall call him sire 
 strong as thou art some god may yet be found 
 to stretch thee pale and gasping on the ground 
 thy distant wife cgiale the fair 151 
 starting from sleep with a distracted air 
 shall rouse thy slaves and her lost lord deplore 
 the brave the great the glorious now no more  

 this said she wiped from venus' wounded palm
 the sacred ichor and infused the balm 
 juno and pallas with a smile survey'd 
 and thus to jove began the blue-eyed maid 

  permit thy daughter gracious jove to tell
 how this mischance the cyprian queen befell 
 as late she tried with passion to inflame
 the tender bosom of a grecian dame 
 allured the fair with moving thoughts of joy 
 to quit her country for some youth of troy 
 the clasping zone with golden buckles bound 
 razed her soft hand with this lamented wound  

 the sire of gods and men superior smiled 
 and calling venus thus address'd his child 
  not these o daughter are thy proper cares 
 thee milder arts befit and softer wars 
 sweet smiles are thine and kind endearing charms 
 to mars and pallas leave the deeds of arms  

 thus they in heaven while on the plain below
 the fierce tydides charged his dardan foe 
 flush'd with celestial blood pursued his way 
 and fearless dared the threatening god of day 
 already in his hopes he saw him kill'd 
 though screen'd behind apollo's mighty shield 
 thrice rushing furious at the chief he strook 
 his blazing buckler thrice apollo shook 
 he tried the fourth when breaking from the cloud 
 a more than mortal voice was heard aloud 

  o son of tydeus cease be wise and see
 how vast the difference of the gods and thee 
 distance immense between the powers that shine
 above eternal deathless and divine 
 and mortal man a wretch of humble birth 
 a short-lived reptile in the dust of earth  

 so spoke the god who darts celestial fires 
 he dreads his fury and some steps retires 
 then phoebus bore the chief of venus' race
 to troy's high fane and to his holy place 
 latona there and phoebe heal'd the wound 
 with vigour arm'd him and with glory crown'd 
 this done the patron of the silver bow
 a phantom raised the same in shape and show
 with great cneas such the form he bore 
 and such in fight the radiant arms he wore 
 around the spectre bloody wars are waged 
 and greece and troy with clashing shields engaged 
 meantime on ilion's tower apollo stood 
 and calling mars thus urged the raging god 

  stern power of arms by whom the mighty fall 
 who bathest in blood and shakest the embattled wall 
 rise in thy wrath to hell's abhorr'd abodes
 despatch yon greek and vindicate the gods 
 first rosy venus felt his brutal rage 
 me next he charged and dares all heaven engage 
 the wretch would brave high heaven's immortal sire 
 his triple thunder and his bolts of fire  

 the god of battle issues on the plain 
 stirs all the ranks and fires the trojan train 
 in form like acamas the thracian guide 
 enraged to troy's retiring chiefs he cried 

  how long ye sons of priam will ye fly 
 and unrevenged see priam's people die 
 still unresisted shall the foe destroy 
 and stretch the slaughter to the gates of troy 
 lo brave cneas sinks beneath his wound 
 not godlike hector more in arms renown'd 
 haste all and take the generous warrior's part 
 he said new courage swell'd each hero's heart 
 sarpedon first his ardent soul express'd 
 and turn'd to hector these bold words address'd 

  say chief is all thy ancient valour lost 
 where are thy threats and where thy glorious boast 
 that propp'd alone by priam's race should stand
 troy's sacred walls nor need a foreign hand 
 now now thy country calls her wonted friends 
 and the proud vaunt in just derision ends 
 remote they stand while alien troops engage 
 like trembling hounds before the lion's rage 
 far distant hence i held my wide command 
 where foaming xanthus laves the lycian land 
 with ample wealth the wish of mortals bless'd 
 a beauteous wife and infant at her breast 
 with those i left whatever dear could be 
 greece if she conquers nothing wins from me 
 yet first in fight my lycian bands i cheer 
 and long to meet this mighty man ye fear 
 while hector idle stands nor bids the brave
 their wives their infants and their altars save 
 haste warrior haste preserve thy threaten'd state 
 or one vast burst of all-involving fate
 full o'er your towers shall fall and sweep away
 sons sires and wives an undistinguish'd prey 
 rouse all thy trojans urge thy aids to fight 
 these claim thy thoughts by day thy watch by night 
 with force incessant the brave greeks oppose 
 such cares thy friends deserve and such thy foes  

 stung to the heart the generous hector hears 
 but just reproof with decent silence bears 
 from his proud car the prince impetuous springs 
 on earth he leaps his brazen armour rings 
 two shining spears are brandish'd in his hands 
 thus arm'd he animates his drooping bands 
 revives their ardour turns their steps from flight 
 and wakes anew the dying flames of fight 
 they turn they stand the greeks their fury dare 
 condense their powers and wait the growing war 

 as when on ceres' sacred floor the swain
 spreads the wide fan to clear the golden grain 
 and the light chaff before the breezes borne 
 ascends in clouds from off the heapy corn 
 the grey dust rising with collected winds 
 drives o'er the barn and whitens all the hinds 
 so white with dust the grecian host appears 
 from trampling steeds and thundering charioteers 
 the dusky clouds from labour'd earth arise 
 and roll in smoking volumes to the skies 
 mars hovers o'er them with his sable shield 
 and adds new horrors to the darken'd field 
 pleased with his charge and ardent to fulfil 
 in troy's defence apollo's heavenly will 
 soon as from fight the blue-eyed maid retires 
 each trojan bosom with new warmth he fires 
 and now the god from forth his sacred fane 
 produced cneas to the shouting train 
 alive unharm'd with all his peers around 
 erect he stood and vigorous from his wound 
 inquiries none they made the dreadful day
 no pause of words admits no dull delay 
 fierce discord storms apollo loud exclaims 
 fame calls mars thunders and the field's in flames 

 stern diomed with either ajax stood 
 and great ulysses bathed in hostile blood 
 embodied close the labouring grecian train
 the fiercest shock of charging hosts sustain 
 unmoved and silent the whole war they wait
 serenely dreadful and as fix'd as fate 
 so when the embattled clouds in dark array 
 along the skies their gloomy lines display 
 when now the north his boisterous rage has spent 
 and peaceful sleeps the liquid element 
 the low-hung vapours motionless and still 
 rest on the summits of the shaded hill 
 till the mass scatters as the winds arise 
 dispersed and broken through the ruffled skies 

 nor was the general wanting to his train 
 from troop to troop he toils through all the plain 
  ye greeks be men the charge of battle bear 
 your brave associates and yourselves revere 
 let glorious acts more glorious acts inspire 
 and catch from breast to breast the noble fire 
 on valour's side the odds of combat lie 
 the brave live glorious or lamented die 
 the wretch who trembles in the field of fame 
 meets death and worse than death eternal shame  

 these words he seconds with his flying lance 
 to meet whose point was strong deicoon's chance 
 cneas' friend and in his native place
 honour'd and loved like priam's royal race 
 long had he fought the foremost in the field 
 but now the monarch's lance transpierced his shield 
 his shield too weak the furious dart to stay 
 through his broad belt the weapon forced its way 
 the grisly wound dismiss'd his soul to hell 
 his arms around him rattled as he fell 

 then fierce cneas brandishing his blade 
 in dust orsilochus and crethon laid 
 whose sire diocleus wealthy brave and great 
 in well-built pherae held his lofty seat 152 
 sprung from alpheus' plenteous stream that yields
 increase of harvests to the pylian fields 
 he got orsilochus diocleus he 
 and these descended in the third degree 
 too early expert in the martial toil 
 in sable ships they left their native soil 
 to avenge atrides now untimely slain 
 they fell with glory on the phrygian plain 
 so two young mountain lions nursed with blood
 in deep recesses of the gloomy wood 
 rush fearless to the plains and uncontroll'd
 depopulate the stalls and waste the fold 
 till pierced at distance from their native den 
 o'erpowered they fall beneath the force of men 
 prostrate on earth their beauteous bodies lay 
 like mountain firs as tall and straight as they 
 great menelaus views with pitying eyes 
 lifts his bright lance and at the victor flies 
 mars urged him on yet ruthless in his hate 
 the god but urged him to provoke his fate 
 he thus advancing nestor's valiant son
 shakes for his danger and neglects his own 
 struck with the thought should helen's lord be slain 
 and all his country's glorious labours vain 
 already met the threatening heroes stand 
 the spears already tremble in their hand 
 in rush'd antilochus his aid to bring 
 and fall or conquer by the spartan king 
 these seen the dardan backward turn'd his course 
 brave as he was and shunn'd unequal force 
 the breathless bodies to the greeks they drew 
 then mix in combat and their toils renew 

 first pylaemenes great in battle bled 
 who sheathed in brass the paphlagonians led 
 atrides mark'd him where sublime he stood 
 fix'd in his throat the javelin drank his blood 
 the faithful mydon as he turn'd from fight
 his flying coursers sunk to endless night 
 a broken rock by nestor's son was thrown 
 his bended arm received the falling stone 
 from his numb'd hand the ivory-studded reins 
 dropp'd in the dust are trail'd along the plains 
 meanwhile his temples feel a deadly wound 
 he groans in death and ponderous sinks to ground 
 deep drove his helmet in the sands and there
 the head stood fix'd the quivering legs in air 
 till trampled flat beneath the coursers' feet 
 the youthful victor mounts his empty seat 
 and bears the prize in triumph to the fleet 

 great hector saw and raging at the view 
 pours on the greeks the trojan troops pursue 
 he fires his host with animating cries 
 and brings along the furies of the skies 
 mars stern destroyer and bellona dread 
 flame in the front and thunder at their head 
 this swells the tumult and the rage of fight 
 that shakes a spear that casts a dreadful light 
 where hector march'd the god of battles shined 
 now storm'd before him and now raged behind 

 tydides paused amidst his full career 
 then first the hero's manly breast knew fear 
 as when some simple swain his cot forsakes 
 and wide through fens an unknown journey takes 
 if chance a swelling brook his passage stay 
 and foam impervious 'cross the wanderer's way 
 confused he stops a length of country pass'd 
 eyes the rough waves and tired returns at last 
 amazed no less the great tydides stands 
 he stay'd and turning thus address'd his bands 

  no wonder greeks that all to hector yield 
 secure of favouring gods he takes the field 
 his strokes they second and avert our spears 
 behold where mars in mortal arms appears 
 retire then warriors but sedate and slow 
 retire but with your faces to the foe 
 trust not too much your unavailing might 
 'tis not with troy but with the gods ye fight  

 now near the greeks the black battalions drew 
 and first two leaders valiant hector slew 
 his force anchialus and mnesthes found 
 in every art of glorious war renown'd 
 in the same car the chiefs to combat ride 
 and fought united and united died 
 struck at the sight the mighty ajax glows
 with thirst of vengeance and assaults the foes 
 his massy spear with matchless fury sent 
 through amphius' belt and heaving belly went 
 amphius apaesus' happy soil possess'd 
 with herds abounding and with treasure bless'd 
 but fate resistless from his country led
 the chief to perish at his people's head 
 shook with his fall his brazen armour rung 
 and fierce to seize it conquering ajax sprung 
 around his head an iron tempest rain'd 
 a wood of spears his ample shield sustain'd 
 beneath one foot the yet warm corpse he press'd 
 and drew his javelin from the bleeding breast 
 he could no more the showering darts denied
 to spoil his glittering arms and plumy pride 
 now foes on foes came pouring on the fields 
 with bristling lances and compacted shields 
 till in the steely circle straiten'd round 
 forced he gives way and sternly quits the ground 

 while thus they strive tlepolemus the great 153 
 urged by the force of unresisted fate 
 burns with desire sarpedon's strength to prove 
 alcides' offspring meets the son of jove 
 sheathed in bright arms each adverse chief came on 
 jove's great descendant and his greater son 
 prepared for combat ere the lance he toss'd 
 the daring rhodian vents his haughty boast 

  what brings this lycian counsellor so far 
 to tremble at our arms not mix in war 
 know thy vain self nor let their flattery move 
 who style thee son of cloud-compelling jove 
 how far unlike those chiefs of race divine 
 how vast the difference of their deeds and thine 
 jove got such heroes as my sire whose soul
 no fear could daunt nor earth nor hell control 
 troy felt his arm and yon proud ramparts stand
 raised on the ruins of his vengeful hand 
 with six small ships and but a slender train 
 he left the town a wide-deserted plain 
 but what art thou who deedless look'st around 
 while unrevenged thy lycians bite the ground 
 small aid to troy thy feeble force can be 
 but wert thou greater thou must yield to me 
 pierced by my spear to endless darkness go 
 i make this present to the shades below  

 the son of hercules the rhodian guide 
 thus haughty spoke the lycian king replied 

  thy sire o prince o'erturn'd the trojan state 
 whose perjured monarch well deserved his fate 
 those heavenly steeds the hero sought so far 
 false he detain'd the just reward of war 
 nor so content the generous chief defied 
 with base reproaches and unmanly pride 
 but you unworthy the high race you boast 
 shall raise my glory when thy own is lost 
 now meet thy fate and by sarpedon slain 
 add one more ghost to pluto's gloomy reign  

 he said both javelins at an instant flew 
 both struck both wounded but sarpedon's slew 
 full in the boaster's neck the weapon stood 
 transfix'd his throat and drank the vital blood 
 the soul disdainful seeks the caves of night 
 and his seal'd eyes for ever lose the light 

 yet not in vain tlepolemus was thrown
 thy angry lance which piercing to the bone
 sarpedon's thigh had robb'd the chief of breath 
 but jove was present and forbade the death 
 borne from the conflict by his lycian throng 
 the wounded hero dragg'd the lance along 
 his friends each busied in his several part 
 through haste or danger had not drawn the dart 
 the greeks with slain tlepolemus retired 
 whose fall ulysses view'd with fury fired 
 doubtful if jove's great son he should pursue 
 or pour his vengeance on the lycian crew 
 but heaven and fate the first design withstand 
 nor this great death must grace ulysses' hand 
 minerva drives him on the lycian train 
 alastor cronius halius strew'd the plain 
 alcander prytanis noemon fell 154 
 and numbers more his sword had sent to hell 
 but hector saw and furious at the sight 
 rush'd terrible amidst the ranks of fight 
 with joy sarpedon view'd the wish'd relief 
 and faint lamenting thus implored the chief 

  o suffer not the foe to bear away
 my helpless corpse an unassisted prey 
 if i unbless'd must see my son no more 
 my much-loved consort and my native shore 
 yet let me die in ilion's sacred wall 
 troy in whose cause i fell shall mourn my fall  

 he said nor hector to the chief replies 
 but shakes his plume and fierce to combat flies 
 swift as a whirlwind drives the scattering foes 
 and dyes the ground with purple as he goes 

 beneath a beech jove's consecrated shade 
 his mournful friends divine sarpedon laid 
 brave pelagon his favourite chief was nigh 
 who wrench'd the javelin from his sinewy thigh 
 the fainting soul stood ready wing'd for flight 
 and o'er his eye-balls swam the shades of night 
 but boreas rising fresh with gentle breath 
 recall'd his spirit from the gates of death 

 the generous greeks recede with tardy pace 
 though mars and hector thunder in their face 
 none turn their backs to mean ignoble flight 
 slow they retreat and even retreating fight 
 who first who last by mars' and hector's hand 
 stretch'd in their blood lay gasping on the sand 
 tenthras the great orestes the renown'd
 for managed steeds and trechus press'd the ground 
 next oenomaus and oenops' offspring died 
 oresbius last fell groaning at their side 
 oresbius in his painted mitre gay 
 in fat boeotia held his wealthy sway 
 where lakes surround low hyle's watery plain 
 a prince and people studious of their gain 

 the carnage juno from the skies survey'd 
 and touch'd with grief bespoke the blue-eyed maid 
  oh sight accursed shall faithless troy prevail 
 and shall our promise to our people fail 
 how vain the word to menelaus given
 by jove's great daughter and the queen of heaven 
 beneath his arms that priam's towers should fall 
 if warring gods for ever guard the wall 
 mars red with slaughter aids our hated foes 
 haste let us arm and force with force oppose  

 she spoke minerva burns to meet the war 
 and now heaven's empress calls her blazing car 
 at her command rush forth the steeds divine 
 rich with immortal gold their trappings shine 
 bright hebe waits by hebe ever young 
 the whirling wheels are to the chariot hung 
 on the bright axle turns the bidden wheel
 of sounding brass the polished axle steel 
 eight brazen spokes in radiant order flame 
 the circles gold of uncorrupted frame 
 such as the heavens produce and round the gold
 two brazen rings of work divine were roll'd 
 the bossy naves of sold silver shone 
 braces of gold suspend the moving throne 
 the car behind an arching figure bore 
 the bending concave form'd an arch before 
 silver the beam the extended yoke was gold 
 and golden reins the immortal coursers hold 
 herself impatient to the ready car 
 the coursers joins and breathes revenge and war 

 pallas disrobes her radiant veil untied 
 with flowers adorn'd with art diversified 
 the laboured veil her heavenly fingers wove 
 flows on the pavement of the court of jove 
 now heaven's dread arms her mighty limbs invest 
 jove's cuirass blazes on her ample breast 
 deck'd in sad triumph for the mournful field 
 o'er her broad shoulders hangs his horrid shield 
 dire black tremendous round the margin roll'd 
 a fringe of serpents hissing guards the gold 
 here all the terrors of grim war appear 
 here rages force here tremble flight and fear 
 here storm'd contention and here fury frown'd 
 and the dire orb portentous gorgon crown'd 
 the massy golden helm she next assumes 
 that dreadful nods with four o'ershading plumes 
 so vast the broad circumference contains
 a hundred armies on a hundred plains 
 the goddess thus the imperial car ascends 
 shook by her arm the mighty javelin bends 
 ponderous and huge that when her fury burns 
 proud tyrants humbles and whole hosts o'erturns 

 swift at the scourge the ethereal coursers fly 
 while the smooth chariot cuts the liquid sky 
 heaven's gates spontaneous open to the powers 155 
 heaven's golden gates kept by the winged hours 156 
 commission'd in alternate watch they stand 
 the sun's bright portals and the skies command 
 involve in clouds the eternal gates of day 
 or the dark barrier roll with ease away 
 the sounding hinges ring on either side
 the gloomy volumes pierced with light divide 
 the chariot mounts where deep in ambient skies 
 confused olympus' hundred heads arise 
 where far apart the thunderer fills his throne 
 o'er all the gods superior and alone 
 there with her snowy hand the queen restrains
 the fiery steeds and thus to jove complains 

  o sire can no resentment touch thy soul 
 can mars rebel and does no thunder roll 
 what lawless rage on yon forbidden plain 
 what rash destruction and what heroes slain 
 venus and phoebus with the dreadful bow 
 smile on the slaughter and enjoy my woe 
 mad furious power whose unrelenting mind
 no god can govern and no justice bind 
 say mighty father shall we scourge this pride 
 and drive from fight the impetuous homicide  

 to whom assenting thus the thunderer said 
  go and the great minerva be thy aid 
 to tame the monster-god minerva knows 
 and oft afflicts his brutal breast with woes  

 he said saturnia ardent to obey 
 lash'd her white steeds along the aerial way
 swift down the steep of heaven the chariot rolls 
 between the expanded earth and starry poles
 far as a shepherd from some point on high 157 
 o'er the wide main extends his boundless eye 
 through such a space of air with thundering sound 
 at every leap the immortal coursers bound
 troy now they reach'd and touch'd those banks divine 
 where silver simois and scamander join
 there juno stopp'd and her fair steeds unloosed 
 of air condensed a vapour circumfused
 for these impregnate with celestial dew 
 on simois brink ambrosial herbage grew 
 thence to relieve the fainting argive throng 
 smooth as the sailing doves they glide along 

 the best and bravest of the grecian band
 a warlike circle round tydides stand 
 such was their look as lions bathed in blood 
 or foaming boars the terror of the wood
 heaven's empress mingles with the mortal crowd 
 and shouts in stentor's sounding voice aloud 
 stentor the strong endued with brazen lungs 158 
 whose throats surpass'd the force of fifty tongues 

  inglorious argives to your race a shame 
 and only men in figure and in name 
 once from the walls your timorous foes engaged 
 while fierce in war divine achilles raged 
 now issuing fearless they possess the plain 
 now win the shores and scarce the seas remain  

 her speech new fury to their hearts convey'd 
 while near tydides stood the athenian maid 
 the king beside his panting steeds she found 
 o'erspent with toil reposing on the ground 
 to cool his glowing wound he sat apart 
 the wound inflicted by the lycian dart 
 large drops of sweat from all his limbs descend 
 beneath his ponderous shield his sinews bend 
 whose ample belt that o'er his shoulder lay 
 he eased and wash'd the clotted gore away 
 the goddess leaning o'er the bending yoke 
 beside his coursers thus her silence broke 

  degenerate prince and not of tydeus' kind 
 whose little body lodged a mighty mind 
 foremost he press'd in glorious toils to share 
 and scarce refrain'd when i forbade the war 
 alone unguarded once he dared to go 
 and feast incircled by the theban foe 
 there braved and vanquish'd many a hardy knight 
 such nerves i gave him and such force in fight 
 thou too no less hast been my constant care 
 thy hands i arm'd and sent thee forth to war 
 but thee or fear deters or sloth detains 
 no drop of all thy father warms thy veins  

 the chief thus answered mild  immortal maid 
 i own thy presence and confess thy aid 
 not fear thou know'st withholds me from the plains 
 nor sloth hath seized me but thy word restrains 
 from warring gods thou bad'st me turn my spear 
 and venus only found resistance here 
 hence goddess heedful of thy high commands 
 loth i gave way and warn'd our argive bands 
 for mars the homicide these eyes beheld 
 with slaughter red and raging round the field  

 then thus minerva  brave tydides hear 
 not mars himself nor aught immortal fear 
 full on the god impel thy foaming horse 
 pallas commands and pallas lends thee force 
 rash furious blind from these to those he flies 
 and every side of wavering combat tries 
 large promise makes and breaks the promise made 
 now gives the grecians now the trojans aid   159 

 she said and to the steeds approaching near 
 drew from his seat the martial charioteer 
 the vigorous power the trembling car ascends 
 fierce for revenge and diomed attends 
 the groaning axle bent beneath the load 
 so great a hero and so great a god 
 she snatch'd the reins she lash'd with all her force 
 and full on mars impelled the foaming horse 
 but first to hide her heavenly visage spread
 black orcus' helmet o'er her radiant head 


 diomed casting his spear at mars 


 just then gigantic periphas lay slain 
 the strongest warrior of the ctolian train 
 the god who slew him leaves his prostrate prize
 stretch'd where he fell and at tydides flies 
 now rushing fierce in equal arms appear
 the daring greek the dreadful god of war 
 full at the chief above his courser's head 
 from mars's arm the enormous weapon fled 
 pallas opposed her hand and caused to glance
 far from the car the strong immortal lance 
 then threw the force of tydeus' warlike son 
 the javelin hiss'd the goddess urged it on 
 where the broad cincture girt his armour round 
 it pierced the god his groin received the wound 
 from the rent skin the warrior tugs again
 the smoking steel mars bellows with the pain 
 loud as the roar encountering armies yield 
 when shouting millions shake the thundering field 
 both armies start and trembling gaze around 
 and earth and heaven re-bellow to the sound 
 as vapours blown by auster's sultry breath 
 pregnant with plagues and shedding seeds of death 
 beneath the rage of burning sirius rise 
 choke the parch'd earth and blacken all the skies 
 in such a cloud the god from combat driven 
 high o'er the dusky whirlwind scales the heaven 
 wild with his pain he sought the bright abodes 
 there sullen sat beneath the sire of gods 
 show'd the celestial blood and with a groan
 thus pour'd his plaints before the immortal throne 

  can jove supine flagitious facts survey 
 and brook the furies of this daring day 
 for mortal men celestial powers engage 
 and gods on gods exert eternal rage 
 from thee o father all these ills we bear 
 and thy fell daughter with the shield and spear 
 thou gavest that fury to the realms of light 
 pernicious wild regardless of the right 
 all heaven beside reveres thy sovereign sway 
 thy voice we hear and thy behests obey 
 'tis hers to offend and even offending share
 thy breast thy counsels thy distinguish'd care 
 so boundless she and thou so partial grown 
 well may we deem the wondrous birth thy own 
 now frantic diomed at her command 
 against the immortals lifts his raging hand 
 the heavenly venus first his fury found 
 me next encountering me he dared to wound 
 vanquish'd i fled even i the god of fight 
 from mortal madness scarce was saved by flight 
 else hadst thou seen me sink on yonder plain 
 heap'd round and heaving under loads of slain 
 or pierced with grecian darts for ages lie 
 condemn'd to pain though fated not to die  

 him thus upbraiding with a wrathful look
 the lord of thunders view'd and stern bespoke 
  to me perfidious this lamenting strain 
 of lawless force shall lawless mars complain 
 of all the gods who tread the spangled skies 
 thou most unjust most odious in our eyes 
 inhuman discord is thy dire delight 
 the waste of slaughter and the rage of fight 
 no bounds no law thy fiery temper quells 
 and all thy mother in thy soul rebels 
 in vain our threats in vain our power we use 
 she gives the example and her son pursues 
 yet long the inflicted pangs thou shall not mourn 
 sprung since thou art from jove and heavenly-born 
 else singed with lightning hadst thou hence been thrown 
 where chain'd on burning rocks the titans groan  

 thus he who shakes olympus with his nod 
 then gave to paeon's care the bleeding god 160 
 with gentle hand the balm he pour'd around 
 and heal'd the immortal flesh and closed the wound 
 as when the fig's press'd juice infused in cream 
 to curds coagulates the liquid stream 
 sudden the fluids fix the parts combined 
 such and so soon the ethereal texture join'd 
 cleansed from the dust and gore fair hebe dress'd
 his mighty limbs in an immortal vest 
 glorious he sat in majesty restored 
 fast by the throne of heaven's superior lord 
 juno and pallas mount the bless'd abodes 
 their task perform'd and mix among the gods 


 juno 





book vi 


argument 

the episodes of glaucus and diomed and of hector and andromache 

the gods having left the field the grecians prevail helenus the chief
augur of troy commands hector to return to the city in order to appoint
a solemn procession of the queen and the trojan matrons to the temple of
minerva to entreat her to remove diomed from the fight the battle
relaxing during the absence of hector glaucus and diomed have an
interview between the two armies where coming to the knowledge of the
friendship and hospitality passed between their ancestors they make
exchange of their arms hector having performed the orders of helenus 
prevails upon paris to return to the battle and taking a tender leave of
his wife andromache hastens again to the field 

the scene is first in the field of battle between the rivers simois and
scamander and then changes to troy 

 now heaven forsakes the fight the immortals yield
 to human force and human skill the field 
 dark showers of javelins fly from foes to foes 
 now here now there the tide of combat flows 
 while troy's famed streams that bound the deathful plain
 on either side run purple to the main 

 great ajax first to conquest led the way 
 broke the thick ranks and turn'd the doubtful day 
 the thracian acamas his falchion found 
 and hew'd the enormous giant to the ground 
 his thundering arm a deadly stroke impress'd
 where the black horse-hair nodded o'er his crest 
 fix'd in his front the brazen weapon lies 
 and seals in endless shades his swimming eyes 
 next teuthras' son distain'd the sands with blood 
 axylus hospitable rich and good 
 in fair arisbe's walls his native place 161 
 he held his seat a friend to human race 
 fast by the road his ever-open door
 obliged the wealthy and relieved the poor 
 to stern tydides now he falls a prey 
 no friend to guard him in the dreadful day 
 breathless the good man fell and by his side
 his faithful servant old calesius died 

 by great euryalus was dresus slain 
 and next he laid opheltius on the plain 
 two twins were near bold beautiful and young 
 from a fair naiad and bucolion sprung 
 laomedon's white flocks bucolion fed 
 that monarch's first-born by a foreign bed 
 in secret woods he won the naiad's grace 
 and two fair infants crown'd his strong embrace 
 here dead they lay in all their youthful charms 
 the ruthless victor stripp'd their shining arms 

 astyalus by polypoetes fell 
 ulysses' spear pidytes sent to hell 
 by teucer's shaft brave aretaon bled 
 and nestor's son laid stern ablerus dead 
 great agamemnon leader of the brave 
 the mortal wound of rich elatus gave 
 who held in pedasus his proud abode 162 
 and till'd the banks where silver satnio flow'd 
 melanthius by eurypylus was slain 
 and phylacus from leitus flies in vain 

 unbless'd adrastus next at mercy lies
 beneath the spartan spear a living prize 
 scared with the din and tumult of the fight 
 his headlong steeds precipitate in flight 
 rush'd on a tamarisk's strong trunk and broke
 the shatter'd chariot from the crooked yoke 
 wide o'er the field resistless as the wind 
 for troy they fly and leave their lord behind 
 prone on his face he sinks beside the wheel 
 atrides o'er him shakes his vengeful steel 
 the fallen chief in suppliant posture press'd
 the victor's knees and thus his prayer address'd 

  o spare my youth and for the life i owe
 large gifts of price my father shall bestow 
 when fame shall tell that not in battle slain 
 thy hollow ships his captive son detain 
 rich heaps of brass shall in thy tent be told 163 
 and steel well-temper'd and persuasive gold  

 he said compassion touch'd the hero's heart
 he stood suspended with the lifted dart 
 as pity pleaded for his vanquish'd prize 
 stern agamemnon swift to vengeance flies 
 and furious thus  oh impotent of mind 164 
 shall these shall these atrides' mercy find 
 well hast thou known proud troy's perfidious land 
 and well her natives merit at thy hand 
 not one of all the race nor sex nor age 
 shall save a trojan from our boundless rage 
 ilion shall perish whole and bury all 
 her babes her infants at the breast shall fall 165 
 a dreadful lesson of exampled fate 
 to warn the nations and to curb the great  

 the monarch spoke the words with warmth address'd 
 to rigid justice steel'd his brother's breast
 fierce from his knees the hapless chief he thrust 
 the monarch's javelin stretch'd him in the dust 
 then pressing with his foot his panting heart 
 forth from the slain he tugg'd the reeking dart 
 old nestor saw and roused the warrior's rage 
  thus heroes thus the vigorous combat wage 
 no son of mars descend for servile gains 
 to touch the booty while a foe remains 
 behold yon glittering host your future spoil 
 first gain the conquest then reward the toil  

 and now had greece eternal fame acquired 
 and frighted troy within her walls retired 
 had not sage helenus her state redress'd 
 taught by the gods that moved his sacred breast 
 where hector stood with great cneas join'd 
 the seer reveal'd the counsels of his mind 

  ye generous chiefs on whom the immortals lay
 the cares and glories of this doubtful day 
 on whom your aids your country's hopes depend 
 wise to consult and active to defend 
 here at our gates your brave efforts unite 
 turn back the routed and forbid the flight 
 ere yet their wives' soft arms the cowards gain 
 the sport and insult of the hostile train 
 when your commands have hearten'd every band 
 ourselves here fix'd will make the dangerous stand 
 press'd as we are and sore of former fight 
 these straits demand our last remains of might 
 meanwhile thou hector to the town retire 
 and teach our mother what the gods require 
 direct the queen to lead the assembled train
 of troy's chief matrons to minerva's fane 166 
 unbar the sacred gates and seek the power 
 with offer'd vows in ilion's topmost tower 
 the largest mantle her rich wardrobes hold 
 most prized for art and labour'd o'er with gold 
 before the goddess' honour'd knees be spread 
 and twelve young heifers to her altars led 
 if so the power atoned by fervent prayer 
 our wives our infants and our city spare 
 and far avert tydides' wasteful ire 
 that mows whole troops and makes all troy retire 
 not thus achilles taught our hosts to dread 
 sprung though he was from more than mortal bed 
 not thus resistless ruled the stream of fight 
 in rage unbounded and unmatch'd in might  

 hector obedient heard and with a bound 
 leap'd from his trembling chariot to the ground 
 through all his host inspiring force he flies 
 and bids the thunder of the battle rise 
 with rage recruited the bold trojans glow 
 and turn the tide of conflict on the foe 
 fierce in the front he shakes two dazzling spears 
 all greece recedes and 'midst her triumphs fears 
 some god they thought who ruled the fate of wars 
 shot down avenging from the vault of stars 

 then thus aloud  ye dauntless dardans hear 
 and you whom distant nations send to war 
 be mindful of the strength your fathers bore 
 be still yourselves and hector asks no more 
 one hour demands me in the trojan wall 
 to bid our altars flame and victims fall 
 nor shall i trust the matrons' holy train 
 and reverend elders seek the gods in vain  

 this said with ample strides the hero pass'd 
 the shield's large orb behind his shoulder cast 
 his neck o'ershading to his ankle hung 
 and as he march'd the brazen buckler rung 

 now paused the battle godlike hector gone 167 
 where daring glaucus and great tydeus' son
 between both armies met the chiefs from far
 observed each other and had mark'd for war 
 near as they drew tydides thus began 

  what art thou boldest of the race of man 
 our eyes till now that aspect ne'er beheld 
 where fame is reap'd amid the embattled field 
 yet far before the troops thou dar'st appear 
 and meet a lance the fiercest heroes fear 
 unhappy they and born of luckless sires 
 who tempt our fury when minerva fires 
 but if from heaven celestial thou descend 
 know with immortals we no more contend 
 not long lycurgus view'd the golden light 
 that daring man who mix'd with gods in fight 
 bacchus and bacchus' votaries he drove 
 with brandish'd steel from nyssa's sacred grove 
 their consecrated spears lay scatter'd round 
 with curling vines and twisted ivy bound 
 while bacchus headlong sought the briny flood 
 and thetis' arms received the trembling god 
 nor fail'd the crime the immortals' wrath to move 
 the immortals bless'd with endless ease above 
 deprived of sight by their avenging doom 
 cheerless he breathed and wander'd in the gloom 
 then sunk unpitied to the dire abodes 
 a wretch accursed and hated by the gods 
 i brave not heaven but if the fruits of earth
 sustain thy life and human be thy birth 
 bold as thou art too prodigal of breath 
 approach and enter the dark gates of death  

  what or from whence i am or who my sire 
 replied the chief can tydeus' son inquire 
 like leaves on trees the race of man is found 
 now green in youth now withering on the ground 
 another race the following spring supplies 
 they fall successive and successive rise 
 so generations in their course decay 
 so flourish these when those are pass'd away 
 but if thou still persist to search my birth 
 then hear a tale that fills the spacious earth 

  a city stands on argos' utmost bound 
 argos the fair for warlike steeds renown'd 
 aeolian sisyphus with wisdom bless'd 
 in ancient time the happy wall possess'd 
 then call'd ephyre glaucus was his son 
 great glaucus father of bellerophon 
 who o'er the sons of men in beauty shined 
 loved for that valour which preserves mankind 
 then mighty praetus argos' sceptre sway'd 
 whose hard commands bellerophon obey'd 
 with direful jealousy the monarch raged 
 and the brave prince in numerous toils engaged 
 for him antaea burn'd with lawless flame 
 and strove to tempt him from the paths of fame 
 in vain she tempted the relentless youth 
 endued with wisdom sacred fear and truth 
 fired at his scorn the queen to praetus fled 
 and begg'd revenge for her insulted bed 
 incensed he heard resolving on his fate 
 but hospitable laws restrain'd his hate 
 to lycia the devoted youth he sent 
 with tablets seal'd that told his dire intent 168 
 now bless'd by every power who guards the good 
 the chief arrived at xanthus' silver flood 
 there lycia's monarch paid him honours due 
 nine days he feasted and nine bulls he slew 
 but when the tenth bright morning orient glow'd 
 the faithful youth his monarch's mandate show'd 
 the fatal tablets till that instant seal'd 
 the deathful secret to the king reveal'd 
 first dire chimaera's conquest was enjoin'd 
 a mingled monster of no mortal kind 
 behind a dragon's fiery tail was spread 
 a goat's rough body bore a lion's head 
 her pitchy nostrils flaky flames expire 
 her gaping throat emits infernal fire 

  this pest he slaughter'd for he read the skies 
 and trusted heaven's informing prodigies 
 then met in arms the solymaean crew 169 
 fiercest of men and those the warrior slew 
 next the bold amazons' whole force defied 
 and conquer'd still for heaven was on his side 

  nor ended here his toils his lycian foes 
 at his return a treacherous ambush rose 
 with levell'd spears along the winding shore 
 there fell they breathless and return'd no more 

  at length the monarch with repentant grief 
 confess'd the gods and god-descended chief 
 his daughter gave the stranger to detain 
 with half the honours of his ample reign 
 the lycians grant a chosen space of ground 
 with woods with vineyards and with harvests crown'd 
 there long the chief his happy lot possess'd 
 with two brave sons and one fair daughter bless'd 
 fair e'en in heavenly eyes her fruitful love
 crown'd with sarpedon's birth the embrace of jove 
 but when at last distracted in his mind 
 forsook by heaven forsaking humankind 
 wide o'er the aleian field he chose to stray 
 a long forlorn uncomfortable way 170 
 woes heap'd on woes consumed his wasted heart 
 his beauteous daughter fell by phoebe's dart 
 his eldest born by raging mars was slain 
 in combat on the solymaean plain 
 hippolochus survived from him i came 
 the honour'd author of my birth and name 
 by his decree i sought the trojan town 
 by his instructions learn to win renown 
 to stand the first in worth as in command 
 to add new honours to my native land 
 before my eyes my mighty sires to place 
 and emulate the glories of our race  

 he spoke and transport fill'd tydides' heart 
 in earth the generous warrior fix'd his dart 
 then friendly thus the lycian prince address'd 
  welcome my brave hereditary guest 
 thus ever let us meet with kind embrace 
 nor stain the sacred friendship of our race 
 know chief our grandsires have been guests of old 
 oeneus the strong bellerophon the bold 
 our ancient seat his honour'd presence graced 
 where twenty days in genial rites he pass'd 
 the parting heroes mutual presents left 
 a golden goblet was thy grandsire's gift 
 oeneus a belt of matchless work bestowed 
 that rich with tyrian dye refulgent glow'd 
 this from his pledge i learn'd which safely stored
 among my treasures still adorns my board 
 for tydeus left me young when thebe's wall
 beheld the sons of greece untimely fall 
 mindful of this in friendship let us join 
 if heaven our steps to foreign lands incline 
 my guest in argos thou and i in lycia thine 
 enough of trojans to this lance shall yield 
 in the full harvest of yon ample field 
 enough of greeks shall dye thy spear with gore 
 but thou and diomed be foes no more 
 now change we arms and prove to either host
 we guard the friendship of the line we boast  

 thus having said the gallant chiefs alight 
 their hands they join their mutual faith they plight 
 brave glaucus then each narrow thought resign'd 
 jove warm'd his bosom and enlarged his mind 
 for diomed's brass arms of mean device 
 for which nine oxen paid a vulgar price 
 he gave his own of gold divinely wrought 171 
 a hundred beeves the shining purchase bought 

 meantime the guardian of the trojan state 
 great hector enter'd at the scaean gate 172 
 beneath the beech-tree's consecrated shades 
 the trojan matrons and the trojan maids
 around him flock'd all press'd with pious care
 for husbands brothers sons engaged in war 
 he bids the train in long procession go 
 and seek the gods to avert the impending woe 
 and now to priam's stately courts he came 
 rais'd on arch'd columns of stupendous frame 
 o'er these a range of marble structure runs 
 the rich pavilions of his fifty sons 
 in fifty chambers lodged and rooms of state 173 
 opposed to those where priam's daughters sate 
 twelve domes for them and their loved spouses shone 
 of equal beauty and of polish'd stone 
 hither great hector pass'd nor pass'd unseen
 of royal hecuba his mother-queen 
 with her laodice whose beauteous face
 surpass'd the nymphs of troy's illustrious race 
 long in a strict embrace she held her son 
 and press'd his hand and tender thus begun 

  o hector say what great occasion calls
 my son from fight when greece surrounds our walls 
 com'st thou to supplicate the almighty power
 with lifted hands from ilion's lofty tower 
 stay till i bring the cup with bacchus crown'd 
 in jove's high name to sprinkle on the ground 
 and pay due vows to all the gods around 
 then with a plenteous draught refresh thy soul 
 and draw new spirits from the generous bowl 
 spent as thou art with long laborious fight 
 the brave defender of thy country's right  

  far hence be bacchus' gifts the chief rejoin'd 
 inflaming wine pernicious to mankind 
 unnerves the limbs and dulls the noble mind 
 let chiefs abstain and spare the sacred juice
 to sprinkle to the gods its better use 
 by me that holy office were profaned 
 ill fits it me with human gore distain'd 
 to the pure skies these horrid hands to raise 
 or offer heaven's great sire polluted praise 
 you with your matrons go a spotless train 
 and burn rich odours in minerva's fane 
 the largest mantle your full wardrobes hold 
 most prized for art and labour'd o'er with gold 
 before the goddess' honour'd knees be spread 
 and twelve young heifers to her altar led 
 so may the power atoned by fervent prayer 
 our wives our infants and our city spare 
 and far avert tydides' wasteful ire 
 who mows whole troops and makes all troy retire 
 be this o mother your religious care 
 i go to rouse soft paris to the war 
 if yet not lost to all the sense of shame 
 the recreant warrior hear the voice of fame 
 oh would kind earth the hateful wretch embrace 
 that pest of troy that ruin of our race 174 
 deep to the dark abyss might he descend 
 troy yet should flourish and my sorrows end  

 this heard she gave command and summon'd came
 each noble matron and illustrious dame 
 the phrygian queen to her rich wardrobe went 
 where treasured odours breathed a costly scent 
 there lay the vestures of no vulgar art 
 sidonian maids embroider'd every part 
 whom from soft sidon youthful paris bore 
 with helen touching on the tyrian shore 
 here as the queen revolved with careful eyes
 the various textures and the various dyes 
 she chose a veil that shone superior far 
 and glow'd refulgent as the morning star 
 herself with this the long procession leads 
 the train majestically slow proceeds 
 soon as to ilion's topmost tower they come 
 and awful reach the high palladian dome 
 antenor's consort fair theano waits
 as pallas' priestess and unbars the gates 
 with hands uplifted and imploring eyes 
 they fill the dome with supplicating cries 
 the priestess then the shining veil displays 
 placed on minerva's knees and thus she prays 

  oh awful goddess ever-dreadful maid 
 troy's strong defence unconquer'd pallas aid 
 break thou tydides' spear and let him fall
 prone on the dust before the trojan wall 
 so twelve young heifers guiltless of the yoke 
 shall fill thy temple with a grateful smoke 
 but thou atoned by penitence and prayer 
 ourselves our infants and our city spare  
 so pray'd the priestess in her holy fane 
 so vow'd the matrons but they vow'd in vain 

 while these appear before the power with prayers 
 hector to paris' lofty dome repairs 175 
 himself the mansion raised from every part
 assembling architects of matchless art 
 near priam's court and hector's palace stands
 the pompous structure and the town commands 
 a spear the hero bore of wondrous strength 
 of full ten cubits was the lance's length 
 the steely point with golden ringlets join'd 
 before him brandish'd at each motion shined
 thus entering in the glittering rooms he found
 his brother-chief whose useless arms lay round 
 his eyes delighting with their splendid show 
 brightening the shield and polishing the bow 
 beside him helen with her virgins stands 
 guides their rich labours and instructs their hands 

 him thus inactive with an ardent look
 the prince beheld and high-resenting spoke 
  thy hate to troy is this the time to show 
 o wretch ill-fated and thy country's foe 
 paris and greece against us both conspire 
 thy close resentment and their vengeful ire 
 for thee great ilion's guardian heroes fall 
 till heaps of dead alone defend her wall 
 for thee the soldier bleeds the matron mourns 
 and wasteful war in all its fury burns 
 ungrateful man deserves not this thy care 
 our troops to hearten and our toils to share 
 rise or behold the conquering flames ascend 
 and all the phrygian glories at an end  

  brother 'tis just replied the beauteous youth 
 thy free remonstrance proves thy worth and truth 
 yet charge my absence less o generous chief 
 on hate to troy than conscious shame and grief 
 here hid from human eyes thy brother sate 
 and mourn'd in secret his and ilion's fate 
 'tis now enough now glory spreads her charms 
 and beauteous helen calls her chief to arms 
 conquest to-day my happier sword may bless 
 'tis man's to fight but heaven's to give success 
 but while i arm contain thy ardent mind 
 or go and paris shall not lag behind  


 hector chiding paris 


 he said nor answer'd priam's warlike son 
 when helen thus with lowly grace begun 

  oh generous brother if the guilty dame
 that caused these woes deserve a sister's name 
 would heaven ere all these dreadful deeds were done 
 the day that show'd me to the golden sun
 had seen my death why did not whirlwinds bear
 the fatal infant to the fowls of air 
 why sunk i not beneath the whelming tide 
 and midst the roarings of the waters died 
 heaven fill'd up all my ills and i accursed
 bore all and paris of those ills the worst 
 helen at least a braver spouse might claim 
 warm'd with some virtue some regard of fame 
 now tired with toils thy fainting limbs recline 
 with toils sustain'd for paris' sake and mine
 the gods have link'd our miserable doom 
 our present woe and infamy to come 
 wide shall it spread and last through ages long 
 example sad and theme of future song  

 the chief replied  this time forbids to rest 
 the trojan bands by hostile fury press'd 
 demand their hector and his arm require 
 the combat urges and my soul's on fire 
 urge thou thy knight to march where glory calls 
 and timely join me ere i leave the walls 
 ere yet i mingle in the direful fray 
 my wife my infant claim a moment's stay 
 this day perhaps the last that sees me here 
 demands a parting word a tender tear 
 this day some god who hates our trojan land
 may vanquish hector by a grecian hand  

 he said and pass'd with sad presaging heart
 to seek his spouse his soul's far dearer part 
 at home he sought her but he sought in vain 
 she with one maid of all her menial train 
 had hence retired and with her second joy 
 the young astyanax the hope of troy 
 pensive she stood on ilion's towery height 
 beheld the war and sicken'd at the sight 
 there her sad eyes in vain her lord explore 
 or weep the wounds her bleeding country bore 

 but he who found not whom his soul desired 
 whose virtue charm'd him as her beauty fired 
 stood in the gates and ask'd  what way she bent
 her parting step if to the fane she went 
 where late the mourning matrons made resort 
 or sought her sisters in the trojan court  
  not to the court replied the attendant train 
 nor mix'd with matrons to minerva's fane 
 to ilion's steepy tower she bent her way 
 to mark the fortunes of the doubtful day 
 troy fled she heard before the grecian sword 
 she heard and trembled for her absent lord 
 distracted with surprise she seem'd to fly 
 fear on her cheek and sorrow m her eye 
 the nurse attended with her infant boy 
 the young astyanax the hope of troy  

 hector this heard return'd without delay 
 swift through the town he trod his former way 
 through streets of palaces and walks of state 
 and met the mourner at the scaean gate 
 with haste to meet him sprung the joyful fair 
 his blameless wife aetion's wealthy heir 
 cilician thebe great aetion sway'd 
 and hippoplacus' wide extended shade 
 the nurse stood near in whose embraces press'd 
 his only hope hung smiling at her breast 
 whom each soft charm and early grace adorn 
 fair as the new-born star that gilds the morn 
 to this loved infant hector gave the name
 scamandrius from scamander's honour'd stream 
 astyanax the trojans call'd the boy 
 from his great father the defence of troy 
 silent the warrior smiled and pleased resign'd
 to tender passions all his mighty mind 
 his beauteous princess cast a mournful look 
 hung on his hand and then dejected spoke 
 her bosom laboured with a boding sigh 
 and the big tear stood trembling in her eye 


 the meeting of hector and andromache 


  too daring prince ah whither dost thou run 
 ah too forgetful of thy wife and son 
 and think'st thou not how wretched we shall be 
 a widow i a helpless orphan he 
 for sure such courage length of life denies 
 and thou must fall thy virtue's sacrifice 
 greece in her single heroes strove in vain 
 now hosts oppose thee and thou must be slain 
 o grant me gods ere hector meets his doom 
 all i can ask of heaven an early tomb 
 so shall my days in one sad tenor run 
 and end with sorrows as they first begun 
 no parent now remains my griefs to share 
 no father's aid no mother's tender care 
 the fierce achilles wrapt our walls in fire 
 laid thebe waste and slew my warlike sire 
 his fate compassion in the victor bred 
 stern as he was he yet revered the dead 
 his radiant arms preserved from hostile spoil 
 and laid him decent on the funeral pile 
 then raised a mountain where his bones were burn'd 
 the mountain-nymphs the rural tomb adorn'd 
 jove's sylvan daughters bade their elms bestow
 a barren shade and in his honour grow 

  by the same arm my seven brave brothers fell 
 in one sad day beheld the gates of hell 
 while the fat herds and snowy flocks they fed 
 amid their fields the hapless heroes bled 
 my mother lived to wear the victor's bands 
 the queen of hippoplacia's sylvan lands 
 redeem'd too late she scarce beheld again
 her pleasing empire and her native plain 
 when ah oppress'd by life-consuming woe 
 she fell a victim to diana's bow 

  yet while my hector still survives i see
 my father mother brethren all in thee 
 alas my parents brothers kindred all
 once more will perish if my hector fall 
 thy wife thy infant in thy danger share 
 oh prove a husband's and a father's care 
 that quarter most the skilful greeks annoy 
 where yon wild fig-trees join the wall of troy 
 thou from this tower defend the important post 
 there agamemnon points his dreadful host 
 that pass tydides ajax strive to gain 
 and there the vengeful spartan fires his train 
 thrice our bold foes the fierce attack have given 
 or led by hopes or dictated from heaven 
 let others in the field their arms employ 
 but stay my hector here and guard his troy  

 the chief replied  that post shall be my care 
 not that alone but all the works of war 
 how would the sons of troy in arms renown'd 
 and troy's proud dames whose garments sweep the ground
 attaint the lustre of my former name 
 should hector basely quit the field of fame 
 my early youth was bred to martial pains 
 my soul impels me to the embattled plains 
 let me be foremost to defend the throne 
 and guard my father's glories and my own 

  yet come it will the day decreed by fates 
 how my heart trembles while my tongue relates 
 the day when thou imperial troy must bend 
 and see thy warriors fall thy glories end 
 and yet no dire presage so wounds my mind 
 my mother's death the ruin of my kind 
 not priam's hoary hairs defiled with gore 
 not all my brothers gasping on the shore 
 as thine andromache thy griefs i dread 
 i see thee trembling weeping captive led 
 in argive looms our battles to design 
 and woes of which so large a part was thine 
 to bear the victor's hard commands or bring
 the weight of waters from hyperia's spring 
 there while you groan beneath the load of life 
 they cry 'behold the mighty hector's wife '
 some haughty greek who lives thy tears to see 
 imbitters all thy woes by naming me 
 the thoughts of glory past and present shame 
 a thousand griefs shall waken at the name 
 may i lie cold before that dreadful day 
 press'd with a load of monumental clay 
 thy hector wrapt in everlasting sleep 
 shall neither hear thee sigh nor see thee weep  

 thus having spoke the illustrious chief of troy
 stretch'd his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy 
 the babe clung crying to his nurse's breast 
 scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest 
 with secret pleasure each fond parent smiled 
 and hector hasted to relieve his child 
 the glittering terrors from his brows unbound 
 and placed the beaming helmet on the ground 
 then kiss'd the child and lifting high in air 
 thus to the gods preferr'd a father's prayer 

  o thou whose glory fills the ethereal throne 
 and all ye deathless powers protect my son 
 grant him like me to purchase just renown 
 to guard the trojans to defend the crown 
 against his country's foes the war to wage 
 and rise the hector of the future age 
 so when triumphant from successful toils
 of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils 
 whole hosts may hail him with deserved acclaim 
 and say 'this chief transcends his father's fame '
 while pleased amidst the general shouts of troy 
 his mother's conscious heart o'erflows with joy  

 he spoke and fondly gazing on her charms 
 restored the pleasing burden to her arms 
 soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid 
 hush'd to repose and with a smile survey'd 
 the troubled pleasure soon chastised by fear 
 she mingled with a smile a tender tear 
 the soften'd chief with kind compassion view'd 
 and dried the falling drops and thus pursued 

  andromache my soul's far better part 
 why with untimely sorrows heaves thy heart 
 no hostile hand can antedate my doom 
 till fate condemns me to the silent tomb 
 fix'd is the term to all the race of earth 
 and such the hard condition of our birth 
 no force can then resist no flight can save 
 all sink alike the fearful and the brave 
 no more but hasten to thy tasks at home 
 there guide the spindle and direct the loom 
 me glory summons to the martial scene 
 the field of combat is the sphere for men 
 where heroes war the foremost place i claim 
 the first in danger as the first in fame  

 thus having said the glorious chief resumes
 his towery helmet black with shading plumes 
 his princess parts with a prophetic sigh 
 unwilling parts and oft reverts her eye
 that stream'd at every look then moving slow 
 sought her own palace and indulged her woe 
 there while her tears deplored the godlike man 
 through all her train the soft infection ran 
 the pious maids their mingled sorrows shed 
 and mourn the living hector as the dead 

 but now no longer deaf to honour's call 
 forth issues paris from the palace wall 
 in brazen arms that cast a gleamy ray 
 swift through the town the warrior bends his way 
 the wanton courser thus with reins unbound 176 
 breaks from his stall and beats the trembling ground 
 pamper'd and proud he seeks the wonted tides 
 and laves in height of blood his shining sides 
 his head now freed he tosses to the skies 
 his mane dishevell'd o'er his shoulders flies 
 he snuffs the females in the distant plain 
 and springs exulting to his fields again 
 with equal triumph sprightly bold and gay 
 in arms refulgent as the god of day 
 the son of priam glorying in his might 
 rush'd forth with hector to the fields of fight 

 and now the warriors passing on the way 
 the graceful paris first excused his stay 
 to whom the noble hector thus replied 
  o chief in blood and now in arms allied 
 thy power in war with justice none contest 
 known is thy courage and thy strength confess'd 
 what pity sloth should seize a soul so brave 
 or godlike paris live a woman's slave 
 my heart weeps blood at what the trojans say 
 and hopes thy deeds shall wipe the stain away 
 haste then in all their glorious labours share 
 for much they suffer for thy sake in war 
 these ills shall cease whene'er by jove's decree
 we crown the bowl to heaven and liberty 
 while the proud foe his frustrate triumphs mourns 
 and greece indignant through her seas returns  


 bows and bow case 



 iris 





book vii 


argument

the single combat of hector and ajax 

the battle renewing with double ardour upon the return of hector minerva
is under apprehensions for the greeks apollo seeing her descend from
olympus joins her near the scaean gate they agree to put off the general
engagement for that day and incite hector to challenge the greeks to a
single combat nine of the princes accepting the challenge the lot is
cast and falls upon ajax these heroes after several attacks are parted
by the night the trojans calling a council antenor purposes the delivery
of helen to the greeks to which paris will not consent but offers to
restore them her riches priam sends a herald to make this offer and to
demand a truce for burning the dead the last of which only is agreed to
by agamemnon when the funerals are performed the greeks pursuant to the
advice of nestor erect a fortification to protect their fleet and camp 
flanked with towers and defended by a ditch and palisades neptune
testifies his jealousy at this work but is pacified by a promise from
jupiter both armies pass the night in feasting but jupiter disheartens
the trojans with thunder and other signs of his wrath 

the three and twentieth day ends with the duel of hector and ajax the
next day the truce is agreed another is taken up in the funeral rites of
the slain and one more in building the fortification before the ships so
that somewhat about three days is employed in this book the scene lies
wholly in the field 

 so spoke the guardian of the trojan state 
 then rush'd impetuous through the scaean gate 
 him paris follow'd to the dire alarms 
 both breathing slaughter both resolved in arms 
 as when to sailors labouring through the main 
 that long have heaved the weary oar in vain 
 jove bids at length the expected gales arise 
 the gales blow grateful and the vessel flies 
 so welcome these to troy's desiring train 
 the bands are cheer'd the war awakes again 

 bold paris first the work of death begun
 on great menestheus areithous' son 
 sprung from the fair philomeda's embrace 
 the pleasing arne was his native place 
 then sunk eioneus to the shades below 
 beneath his steely casque he felt the blow 177 
 full on his neck from hector's weighty hand 
 and roll'd with limbs relax'd along the land 
 by glaucus' spear the bold iphmous bleeds 
 fix'd in the shoulder as he mounts his steeds 
 headlong he tumbles his slack nerves unbound 
 drop the cold useless members on the ground 

 when now minerva saw her argives slain 
 from vast olympus to the gleaming plain
 fierce she descends apollo marked her flight 
 nor shot less swift from ilion's towery height 
 radiant they met beneath the beechen shade 
 when thus apollo to the blue-eyed maid 

  what cause o daughter of almighty jove 
 thus wings thy progress from the realms above 
 once more impetuous dost thou bend thy way 
 to give to greece the long divided day 
 too much has troy already felt thy hate 
 now breathe thy rage and hush the stern debate 
 this day the business of the field suspend 
 war soon shall kindle and great ilion bend 
 since vengeful goddesses confederate join
 to raze her walls though built by hands divine  

 to whom the progeny of jove replies 
  i left for this the council of the skies 
 but who shall bid conflicting hosts forbear 
 what art shall calm the furious sons of war  
 to her the god  great hector's soul incite
 to dare the boldest greek to single fight 
 till greece provoked from all her numbers show
 a warrior worthy to be hector's foe  

 at this agreed the heavenly powers withdrew 
 sage helenus their secret counsels knew 
 hector inspired he sought to him address'd 
 thus told the dictates of his sacred breast 
  o son of priam let thy faithful ear
 receive my words thy friend and brother hear 
 go forth persuasive and a while engage
 the warring nations to suspend their rage 
 then dare the boldest of the hostile train
 to mortal combat on the listed plain 
 for not this day shall end thy glorious date 
 the gods have spoke it and their voice is fate  

 he said the warrior heard the word with joy 
 then with his spear restrain'd the youth of troy 
 held by the midst athwart on either hand
 the squadrons part the expecting trojans stand 
 great agamemnon bids the greeks forbear 
 they breathe and hush the tumult of the war 
 the athenian maid and glorious god of day 178 
 with silent joy the settling hosts survey 
 in form of vultures on the beech's height
 they sit conceal'd and wait the future fight 

 the thronging troops obscure the dusky fields 
 horrid with bristling spears and gleaming shields 
 as when a general darkness veils the main 
 soft zephyr curling the wide wat'ry plain 
 the waves scarce heave the face of ocean sleeps 
 and a still horror saddens all the deeps 
 thus in thick orders settling wide around 
 at length composed they sit and shade the ground 
 great hector first amidst both armies broke
 the solemn silence and their powers bespoke 

  hear all ye trojan all ye grecian bands 
 what my soul prompts and what some god commands 
 great jove averse our warfare to compose 
 o'erwhelms the nations with new toils and woes 
 war with a fiercer tide once more returns 
 till ilion falls or till yon navy burns 
 you then o princes of the greeks appear 
 'tis hector speaks and calls the gods to hear 
 from all your troops select the boldest knight 
 and him the boldest hector dares to fight 
 here if i fall by chance of battle slain 
 be his my spoil and his these arms remain 
 but let my body to my friends return'd 
 by trojan hands and trojan flames be burn'd 
 and if apollo in whose aid i trust 
 shall stretch your daring champion in the dust 
 if mine the glory to despoil the foe 
 on phoebus' temple i'll his arms bestow 
 the breathless carcase to your navy sent 
 greece on the shore shall raise a monument 
 which when some future mariner surveys 
 wash'd by broad hellespont's resounding seas 
 thus shall he say 'a valiant greek lies there 
 by hector slain the mighty man of war '
 the stone shall tell your vanquish'd hero's name 
 and distant ages learn the victor's fame  

 this fierce defiance greece astonish'd heard 
 blush'd to refuse and to accept it fear'd 
 stern menelaus first the silence broke 
 and inly groaning thus opprobrious spoke 

  women of greece o scandal of your race 
 whose coward souls your manly form disgrace 
 how great the shame when every age shall know
 that not a grecian met this noble foe 
 go then resolve to earth from whence ye grew 
 a heartless spiritless inglorious crew 
 be what ye seem unanimated clay 
 myself will dare the danger of the day 
 'tis man's bold task the generous strife to try 
 but in the hands of god is victory  

 these words scarce spoke with generous ardour press'd 
 his manly limbs in azure arms he dress'd 
 that day atrides a superior hand
 had stretch'd thee breathless on the hostile strand 
 but all at once thy fury to compose 
 the kings of greece an awful band arose 
 even he their chief great agamemnon press'd
 thy daring hand and this advice address'd 
  whither o menelaus wouldst thou run 
 and tempt a fate which prudence bids thee shun 
 grieved though thou art forbear the rash design 
 great hectors arm is mightier far than thine 
 even fierce achilles learn'd its force to fear 
 and trembling met this dreadful son of war 
 sit thou secure amidst thy social band 
 greece in our cause shall arm some powerful hand 
 the mightiest warrior of the achaian name 
 though bold and burning with desire of fame 
 content the doubtful honour might forego 
 so great the danger and so brave the foe  

 he said and turn'd his brother's vengeful mind 
 he stoop'd to reason and his rage resign'd 
 no longer bent to rush on certain harms 
 his joyful friends unbrace his azure arms 

 he from whose lips divine persuasion flows 
 grave nestor then in graceful act arose 
 thus to the kings he spoke  what grief what shame
 attend on greece and all the grecian name 
 how shall alas her hoary heroes mourn
 their sons degenerate and their race a scorn 
 what tears shall down thy silvery beard be roll'd 
 o peleus old in arms in wisdom old 
 once with what joy the generous prince would hear
 of every chief who fought this glorious war 
 participate their fame and pleased inquire
 each name each action and each hero's sire 
 gods should he see our warriors trembling stand 
 and trembling all before one hostile hand 
 how would he lift his aged arms on high 
 lament inglorious greece and beg to die 
 oh would to all the immortal powers above 
 minerva phoebus and almighty jove 
 years might again roll back my youth renew 
 and give this arm the spring which once it knew
 when fierce in war where jardan's waters fall 
 i led my troops to phea's trembling wall 
 and with the arcadian spears my prowess tried 
 where celadon rolls down his rapid tide 179 
 there ereuthalion braved us in the field 
 proud areithous' dreadful arms to wield 
 great areithous known from shore to shore
 by the huge knotted iron mace he bore 
 no lance he shook nor bent the twanging bow 
 but broke with this the battle of the foe 
 him not by manly force lycurgus slew 
 whose guileful javelin from the thicket flew 
 deep in a winding way his breast assailed 
 nor aught the warrior's thundering mace avail'd 
 supine he fell those arms which mars before
 had given the vanquish'd now the victor bore 
 but when old age had dimm'd lycurgus' eyes 
 to ereuthalion he consign'd the prize 
 furious with this he crush'd our levell'd bands 
 and dared the trial of the strongest hands 
 nor could the strongest hands his fury stay 
 all saw and fear'd his huge tempestuous sway
 till i the youngest of the host appear'd 
 and youngest met whom all our army fear'd 
 i fought the chief my arms minerva crown'd 
 prone fell the giant o'er a length of ground 
 what then i was o were your nestor now 
 not hector's self should want an equal foe 
 but warriors you that youthful vigour boast 
 the flower of greece the examples of our host 
 sprung from such fathers who such numbers sway 
 can you stand trembling and desert the day  

 his warm reproofs the listening kings inflame 
 and nine the noblest of the grecian name 
 up-started fierce but far before the rest
 the king of men advanced his dauntless breast 
 then bold tydides great in arms appear'd 
 and next his bulk gigantic ajax rear'd 
 oileus follow'd idomen was there 180 
 and merion dreadful as the god of war 
 with these eurypylus and thoas stand 
 and wise ulysses closed the daring band 
 all these alike inspired with noble rage 
 demand the fight to whom the pylian sage 

  lest thirst of glory your brave souls divide 
 what chief shall combat let the gods decide 
 whom heaven shall choose be his the chance to raise
 his country's fame his own immortal praise  

 the lots produced each hero signs his own 
 then in the general's helm the fates are thrown 181 
 the people pray with lifted eyes and hands 
 and vows like these ascend from all the bands 
  grant thou almighty in whose hand is fate 
 a worthy champion for the grecian state 
 this task let ajax or tydides prove 
 or he the king of kings beloved by jove  
 old nestor shook the casque by heaven inspired 
 leap'd forth the lot of every greek desired 
 this from the right to left the herald bears 
 held out in order to the grecian peers 
 each to his rival yields the mark unknown 
 till godlike ajax finds the lot his own 
 surveys the inscription with rejoicing eyes 
 then casts before him and with transport cries 

  warriors i claim the lot and arm with joy 
 be mine the conquest of this chief of troy 
 now while my brightest arms my limbs invest 
 to saturn's son be all your vows address'd 
 but pray in secret lest the foes should hear 
 and deem your prayers the mean effect of fear 
 said i in secret no your vows declare
 in such a voice as fills the earth and air 
 lives there a chief whom ajax ought to dread 
 ajax in all the toils of battle bred 
 from warlike salamis i drew my birth 
 and born to combats fear no force on earth  

 he said the troops with elevated eyes 
 implore the god whose thunder rends the skies 
  o father of mankind superior lord 
 on lofty ida's holy hill adored 
 who in the highest heaven hast fix'd thy throne 
 supreme of gods unbounded and alone 
 grant thou that telamon may bear away
 the praise and conquest of this doubtful day 
 or if illustrious hector be thy care 
 that both may claim it and that both may share  

 now ajax braced his dazzling armour on 
 sheathed in bright steel the giant-warrior shone 
 he moves to combat with majestic pace 
 so stalks in arms the grisly god of thrace 182 
 when jove to punish faithless men prepares 
 and gives whole nations to the waste of wars 
 thus march'd the chief tremendous as a god 
 grimly he smiled earth trembled as he strode 183 
 his massy javelin quivering in his hand 
 he stood the bulwark of the grecian band 
 through every argive heart new transport ran 
 all troy stood trembling at the mighty man 
 even hector paused and with new doubt oppress'd 
 felt his great heart suspended in his breast 
 'twas vain to seek retreat and vain to fear 
 himself had challenged and the foe drew near 

 stern telamon behind his ample shield 
 as from a brazen tower o'erlook'd the field 
 huge was its orb with seven thick folds o'ercast 
 of tough bull-hides of solid brass the last 
 the work of tychius who in hyle dwell'd
 and in all arts of armoury excell'd 
 this ajax bore before his manly breast 
 and threatening thus his adverse chief address'd 

  hector approach my arm and singly know
 what strength thou hast and what the grecian foe 
 achilles shuns the fight yet some there are 
 not void of soul and not unskill'd in war 
 let him unactive on the sea-beat shore 
 indulge his wrath and aid our arms no more 
 whole troops of heroes greece has yet to boast 
 and sends thee one a sample of her host 
 such as i am i come to prove thy might 
 no more be sudden and begin the fight  

  o son of telamon thy country's pride 
 to ajax thus the trojan prince replied 
 me as a boy or woman wouldst thou fright 
 new to the field and trembling at the fight 
 thou meet'st a chief deserving of thy arms 
 to combat born and bred amidst alarms 
 i know to shift my ground remount the car 
 turn charge and answer every call of war 
 to right to left the dexterous lance i wield 
 and bear thick battle on my sounding shield
 but open be our fight and bold each blow 
 i steal no conquest from a noble foe  

 he said and rising high above the field
 whirl'd the long lance against the sevenfold shield 
 full on the brass descending from above
 through six bull-hides the furious weapon drove 
 till in the seventh it fix'd then ajax threw 
 through hector's shield the forceful javelin flew 
 his corslet enters and his garment rends 
 and glancing downwards near his flank descends 
 the wary trojan shrinks and bending low
 beneath his buckler disappoints the blow 
 from their bored shields the chiefs their javelins drew 
 then close impetuous and the charge renew 
 fierce as the mountain-lions bathed in blood 
 or foaming boars the terror of the wood 
 at ajax hector his long lance extends 
 the blunted point against the buckler bends 
 but ajax watchful as his foe drew near 
 drove through the trojan targe the knotty spear 
 it reach'd his neck with matchless strength impell'd 
 spouts the black gore and dims his shining shield 
 yet ceased not hector thus but stooping down 
 in his strong hand up-heaved a flinty stone 
 black craggy vast to this his force he bends 
 full on the brazen boss the stone descends 
 the hollow brass resounded with the shock 
 then ajax seized the fragment of a rock 
 applied each nerve and swinging round on high 
 with force tempestuous let the ruin fly 
 the huge stone thundering through his buckler broke 
 his slacken'd knees received the numbing stroke 
 great hector falls extended on the field 
 his bulk supporting on the shatter'd shield 
 nor wanted heavenly aid apollo's might
 confirm'd his sinews and restored to fight 
 and now both heroes their broad falchions drew
 in flaming circles round their heads they flew 
 but then by heralds' voice the word was given 
 the sacred ministers of earth and heaven 
 divine talthybius whom the greeks employ 
 and sage idaeus on the part of troy 
 between the swords their peaceful sceptres rear'd 
 and first idaeus' awful voice was heard 


 hector and ajax separated by the heralds 


  forbear my sons your further force to prove 
 both dear to men and both beloved of jove 
 to either host your matchless worth is known 
 each sounds your praise and war is all your own 
 but now the night extends her awful shade 
 the goddess parts you be the night obey'd   184 

 to whom great ajax his high soul express'd 
  o sage to hector be these words address'd 
 let him who first provoked our chiefs to fight 
 let him demand the sanction of the night 
 if first he ask'd it i content obey 
 and cease the strife when hector shows the way  

  o first of greeks his noble foe rejoin'd 
 whom heaven adorns superior to thy kind 
 with strength of body and with worth of mind 
 now martial law commands us to forbear 
 hereafter we shall meet in glorious war 
 some future day shall lengthen out the strife 
 and let the gods decide of death or life 
 since then the night extends her gloomy shade 
 and heaven enjoins it be the night obey'd 
 return brave ajax to thy grecian friends 
 and joy the nations whom thy arm defends 
 as i shall glad each chief and trojan wife 
 who wearies heaven with vows for hector's life 
 but let us on this memorable day 
 exchange some gift that greece and troy may say 
 'not hate but glory made these chiefs contend 
 and each brave foe was in his soul a friend ' 

 with that a sword with stars of silver graced 
 the baldric studded and the sheath enchased 
 he gave the greek the generous greek bestow'd
 a radiant belt that rich with purple glow'd 
 then with majestic grace they quit the plain 
 this seeks the grecian that the phrygian train 

 the trojan bands returning hector wait 
 and hail with joy the champion of their state 
 escaped great ajax they survey him round 
 alive unarm'd and vigorous from his wound 
 to troy's high gates the godlike man they bear
 their present triumph as their late despair 

 but ajax glorying in his hardy deed 
 the well-arm'd greeks to agamemnon lead 
 a steer for sacrifice the king design'd 
 of full five years and of the nobler kind 
 the victim falls they strip the smoking hide 
 the beast they quarter and the joints divide 
 then spread the tables the repast prepare 
 each takes his seat and each receives his share 
 the king himself an honorary sign 
 before great ajax placed the mighty chine 185 
 when now the rage of hunger was removed 
 nestor in each persuasive art approved 
 the sage whose counsels long had sway'd the rest 
 in words like these his prudent thought express'd 

  how dear o kings this fatal day has cost 
 what greeks are perish'd what a people lost 
 what tides of blood have drench'd scamander's shore 
 what crowds of heroes sunk to rise no more 
 then hear me chief nor let the morrow's light
 awake thy squadrons to new toils of fight 
 some space at least permit the war to breathe 
 while we to flames our slaughter'd friends bequeath 
 from the red field their scatter'd bodies bear 
 and nigh the fleet a funeral structure rear 
 so decent urns their snowy bones may keep 
 and pious children o'er their ashes weep 
 here where on one promiscuous pile they blazed 
 high o'er them all a general tomb be raised 
 next to secure our camp and naval powers 
 raise an embattled wall with lofty towers 
 from space to space be ample gates around 
 for passing chariots and a trench profound 
 so greece to combat shall in safety go 
 nor fear the fierce incursions of the foe  
 'twas thus the sage his wholesome counsel moved 
 the sceptred kings of greece his words approved 

 meanwhile convened at priam's palace-gate 
 the trojan peers in nightly council sate 
 a senate void of order as of choice 
 their hearts were fearful and confused their voice 
 antenor rising thus demands their ear 
  ye trojans dardans and auxiliars hear 
 'tis heaven the counsel of my breast inspires 
 and i but move what every god requires 
 let sparta's treasures be this hour restored 
 and argive helen own her ancient lord 
 the ties of faith the sworn alliance broke 
 our impious battles the just gods provoke 
 as this advice ye practise or reject 
 so hope success or dread the dire effect  

 the senior spoke and sate to whom replied
 the graceful husband of the spartan bride 
  cold counsels trojan may become thy years
 but sound ungrateful in a warrior's ears 
 old man if void of fallacy or art 
 thy words express the purpose of thy heart 
 thou in thy time more sound advice hast given 
 but wisdom has its date assign'd by heaven 
 then hear me princes of the trojan name 
 their treasures i'll restore but not the dame 
 my treasures too for peace i will resign 
 but be this bright possession ever mine  

 'twas then the growing discord to compose 
 slow from his seat the reverend priam rose 
 his godlike aspect deep attention drew 
 he paused and these pacific words ensue 

  ye trojans dardans and auxiliar bands 
 now take refreshment as the hour demands 
 guard well the walls relieve the watch of night 
 till the new sun restores the cheerful light 
 then shall our herald to the atrides sent 
 before their ships proclaim my son's intent 
 next let a truce be ask'd that troy may burn
 her slaughter'd heroes and their bones inurn 
 that done once more the fate of war be tried 
 and whose the conquest mighty jove decide  

 the monarch spoke the warriors snatch'd with haste
 each at his post in arms a short repast 
 soon as the rosy morn had waked the day 
 to the black ships idaeus bent his way 
 there to the sons of mars in council found 
 he raised his voice the host stood listening round 

  ye sons of atreus and ye greeks give ear 
 the words of troy and troy's great monarch hear 
 pleased may ye hear so heaven succeed my prayers 
 what paris author of the war declares 
 the spoils and treasures he to ilion bore
 oh had he perish'd ere they touch'd our shore 
 he proffers injured greece with large increase
 of added trojan wealth to buy the peace 
 but to restore the beauteous bride again 
 this greece demands and troy requests in vain 
 next o ye chiefs we ask a truce to burn
 our slaughter'd heroes and their bones inurn 
 that done once more the fate of war be tried 
 and whose the conquest mighty jove decide  

 the greeks gave ear but none the silence broke 
 at length tydides rose and rising spoke 
  oh take not friends defrauded of your fame 
 their proffer'd wealth nor even the spartan dame 
 let conquest make them ours fate shakes their wall 
 and troy already totters to her fall  

 the admiring chiefs and all the grecian name 
 with general shouts return'd him loud acclaim 
 then thus the king of kings rejects the peace 
  herald in him thou hear'st the voice of greece
 for what remains let funeral flames be fed
 with heroes' corps i war not with the dead 
 go search your slaughtered chiefs on yonder plain 
 and gratify the manes of the slain 
 be witness jove whose thunder rolls on high  
 he said and rear'd his sceptre to the sky 

 to sacred troy where all her princes lay
 to wait the event the herald bent his way 
 he came and standing in the midst explain'd
 the peace rejected but the truce obtain'd 
 straight to their several cares the trojans move 
 some search the plains some fell the sounding grove 
 nor less the greeks descending on the shore 
 hew'd the green forests and the bodies bore 
 and now from forth the chambers of the main 
 to shed his sacred light on earth again 
 arose the golden chariot of the day 
 and tipp'd the mountains with a purple ray 
 in mingled throngs the greek and trojan train
 through heaps of carnage search'd the mournful plain 
 scarce could the friend his slaughter'd friend explore 
 with dust dishonour'd and deformed with gore 
 the wounds they wash'd their pious tears they shed 
 and laid along their cars deplored the dead 
 sage priam check'd their grief with silent haste
 the bodies decent on the piles were placed 
 with melting hearts the cold remains they burn'd 
 and sadly slow to sacred troy return'd 
 nor less the greeks their pious sorrows shed 
 and decent on the pile dispose the dead 
 the cold remains consume with equal care 
 and slowly sadly to their fleet repair 
 now ere the morn had streak'd with reddening light
 the doubtful confines of the day and night 
 about the dying flames the greeks appear'd 
 and round the pile a general tomb they rear'd 
 then to secure the camp and naval powers 
 they raised embattled walls with lofty towers 186 
 from space to space were ample gates around 
 for passing chariots and a trench profound
 of large extent and deep in earth below 
 strong piles infix'd stood adverse to the foe 

 so toil'd the greeks meanwhile the gods above 
 in shining circle round their father jove 
 amazed beheld the wondrous works of man 
 then he whose trident shakes the earth began 

  what mortals henceforth shall our power adore 
 our fanes frequent our oracles implore 
 if the proud grecians thus successful boast
 their rising bulwarks on the sea-beat coast 
 see the long walls extending to the main 
 no god consulted and no victim slain 
 their fame shall fill the world's remotest ends 
 wide as the morn her golden beam extends 
 while old laomedon's divine abodes 
 those radiant structures raised by labouring gods 
 shall razed and lost in long oblivion sleep  
 thus spoke the hoary monarch of the deep 

 the almighty thunderer with a frown replies 
 that clouds the world and blackens half the skies 
  strong god of ocean thou whose rage can make
 the solid earth's eternal basis shake 
 what cause of fear from mortal works could move 187 
 the meanest subject of our realms above 
 where'er the sun's refulgent rays are cast 
 thy power is honour'd and thy fame shall last 
 but yon proud work no future age shall view 
 no trace remain where once the glory grew 
 the sapp'd foundations by thy force shall fall 
 and whelm'd beneath the waves drop the huge wall 
 vast drifts of sand shall change the former shore 
 the ruin vanish'd and the name no more  

 thus they in heaven while o'er the grecian train 
 the rolling sun descending to the main
 beheld the finish'd work their bulls they slew 
 back from the tents the savoury vapour flew 
 and now the fleet arrived from lemnos' strands 
 with bacchus' blessings cheered the generous bands 
 of fragrant wines the rich eunaeus sent
 a thousant measures to the royal tent 
 eunaeus whom hypsipyle of yore
 to jason shepherd of his people bore 
 the rest they purchased at their proper cost 
 and well the plenteous freight supplied the host 
 each in exchange proportion'd treasures gave 188 
 some brass or iron some an ox or slave 
 all night they feast the greek and trojan powers 
 those on the fields and these within their towers 
 but jove averse the signs of wrath display'd 
 and shot red lightnings through the gloomy shade 
 humbled they stood pale horror seized on all 
 while the deep thunder shook the aerial hall 
 each pour'd to jove before the bowl was crown'd 
 and large libations drench'd the thirsty ground 
 then late refresh'd with sleep from toils of fight 
 enjoy'd the balmy blessings of the night 


 greek amphora wine vessels 





book viii 


argument 

the second battle and the distress of the greeks 

jupiter assembles a council of the deities and threatens them with the
pains of tartarus if they assist either side minerva only obtains of him
that she may direct the greeks by her counsels 189 his balances the
fates of both and affrights the greeks with his thunders and lightnings 
nestor alone continues in the field in great danger diomed relieves him 
whose exploits and those of hector are excellently described juno
endeavours to animate neptune to the assistance of the greeks but in
vain the acts of teucer who is at length wounded by hector and carried
off juno and minerva prepare to aid the grecians but are restrained by
iris sent from jupiter the night puts an end to the battle hector
continues in the field the greeks being driven to their fortifications
before the ships and gives orders to keep the watch all night in the
camp to prevent the enemy from re-embarking and escaping by flight they
kindle fires through all the fields and pass the night under arms 

the time of seven and twenty days is employed from the opening of the poem
to the end of this book the scene here except of the celestial machines 
lies in the field towards the seashore 

 aurora now fair daughter of the dawn 
 sprinkled with rosy light the dewy lawn 
 when jove convened the senate of the skies 
 where high olympus' cloudy tops arise 
 the sire of gods his awful silence broke 
 the heavens attentive trembled as he spoke 

  celestial states immortal gods give ear 
 hear our decree and reverence what ye hear 
 the fix'd decree which not all heaven can move 
 thou fate fulfil it and ye powers approve 
 what god but enters yon forbidden field 
 who yields assistance or but wills to yield 
 back to the skies with shame he shall be driven 
 gash'd with dishonest wounds the scorn of heaven 
 or far oh far from steep olympus thrown 
 low in the dark tartarean gulf shall groan 
 with burning chains fix'd to the brazen floors 
 and lock'd by hell's inexorable doors 
 as deep beneath the infernal centre hurl'd 190 
 as from that centre to the ethereal world 
 let him who tempts me dread those dire abodes 
 and know the almighty is the god of gods 
 league all your forces then ye powers above 
 join all and try the omnipotence of jove 
 let down our golden everlasting chain 191 
 whose strong embrace holds heaven and earth and main
 strive all of mortal and immortal birth 
 to drag by this the thunderer down to earth
 ye strive in vain if i but stretch this hand 
 i heave the gods the ocean and the land 
 i fix the chain to great olympus' height 
 and the vast world hangs trembling in my sight 
 for such i reign unbounded and above 
 and such are men and gods compared to jove  

 the all-mighty spoke nor durst the powers reply 
 a reverend horror silenced all the sky 
 trembling they stood before their sovereign's look 
 at length his best-beloved the power of wisdom spoke 

  o first and greatest god by gods adored
 we own thy might our father and our lord 
 but ah permit to pity human state 
 if not to help at least lament their fate 
 from fields forbidden we submiss refrain 
 with arms unaiding mourn our argives slain 
 yet grant my counsels still their breasts may move 
 or all must perish in the wrath of jove  

 the cloud-compelling god her suit approved 
 and smiled superior on his best beloved 
 then call'd his coursers and his chariot took 
 the stedfast firmament beneath them shook 
 rapt by the ethereal steeds the chariot roll'd 
 brass were their hoofs their curling manes of gold 
 of heaven's undrossy gold the gods array 
 refulgent flash'd intolerable day 
 high on the throne he shines his coursers fly
 between the extended earth and starry sky 
 but when to ida's topmost height he came 
 fair nurse of fountains and of savage game 
 where o'er her pointed summits proudly raised 
 his fane breathed odours and his altar blazed 
 there from his radiant car the sacred sire
 of gods and men released the steeds of fire 
 blue ambient mists the immortal steeds embraced 
 high on the cloudy point his seat he placed 
 thence his broad eye the subject world surveys 
 the town and tents and navigable seas 

 now had the grecians snatch'd a short repast 
 and buckled on their shining arms with haste 
 troy roused as soon for on this dreadful day
 the fate of fathers wives and infants lay 
 the gates unfolding pour forth all their train 
 squadrons on squadrons cloud the dusky plain 
 men steeds and chariots shake the trembling ground 
 the tumult thickens and the skies resound 
 and now with shouts the shocking armies closed 
 to lances lances shields to shields opposed 
 host against host with shadowy legends drew 
 the sounding darts in iron tempests flew 
 victors and vanquish'd join promiscuous cries 
 triumphant shouts and dying groans arise 
 with streaming blood the slippery fields are dyed 
 and slaughter'd heroes swell the dreadful tide 
 long as the morning beams increasing bright 
 o'er heaven's clear azure spread the sacred light 
 commutual death the fate of war confounds 
 each adverse battle gored with equal wounds 
 but when the sun the height of heaven ascends 
 the sire of gods his golden scales suspends 192 
 with equal hand in these explored the fate
 of greece and troy and poised the mighty weight 
 press'd with its load the grecian balance lies
 low sunk on earth the trojan strikes the skies 
 then jove from ida's top his horrors spreads 
 the clouds burst dreadful o'er the grecian heads 
 thick lightnings flash the muttering thunder rolls 
 their strength he withers and unmans their souls 
 before his wrath the trembling hosts retire 
 the gods in terrors and the skies on fire 
 nor great idomeneus that sight could bear 
 nor each stern ajax thunderbolts of war 
 nor he the king of war the alarm sustain'd
 nestor alone amidst the storm remain'd 
 unwilling he remain'd for paris' dart
 had pierced his courser in a mortal part 
 fix'd in the forehead where the springing man
 curl'd o'er the brow it stung him to the brain 
 mad with his anguish he begins to rear 
 paw with his hoofs aloft and lash the air 
 scarce had his falchion cut the reins and freed
 the encumber'd chariot from the dying steed 
 when dreadful hector thundering through the war 
 pour'd to the tumult on his whirling car 
 that day had stretch'd beneath his matchless hand
 the hoary monarch of the pylian band 
 but diomed beheld from forth the crowd
 he rush'd and on ulysses call'd aloud 

  whither oh whither does ulysses run 
 oh flight unworthy great laertes' son 
 mix'd with the vulgar shall thy fate be found 
 pierced in the back a vile dishonest wound 
 oh turn and save from hector's direful rage
 the glory of the greeks the pylian sage  
 his fruitless words are lost unheard in air 
 ulysses seeks the ships and shelters there 
 but bold tydides to the rescue goes 
 a single warrior midst a host of foes 
 before the coursers with a sudden spring
 he leap'd and anxious thus bespoke the king 

  great perils father wait the unequal fight 
 these younger champions will oppress thy might 
 thy veins no more with ancient vigour glow 
 weak is thy servant and thy coursers slow 
 then haste ascend my seat and from the car
 observe the steeds of tros renown'd in war 
 practised alike to turn to stop to chase 
 to dare the fight or urge the rapid race 
 these late obey'd cneas' guiding rein 
 leave thou thy chariot to our faithful train 
 with these against yon trojans will we go 
 nor shall great hector want an equal foe 
 fierce as he is even he may learn to fear
 the thirsty fury of my flying spear  

 thus said the chief and nestor skill'd in war 
 approves his counsel and ascends the car 
 the steeds he left their trusty servants hold 
 eurymedon and sthenelus the bold 
 the reverend charioteer directs the course 
 and strains his aged arm to lash the horse 
 hector they face unknowing how to fear 
 fierce he drove on tydides whirl'd his spear 
 the spear with erring haste mistook its way 
 but plunged in eniopeus' bosom lay 
 his opening hand in death forsakes the rein 
 the steeds fly back he falls and spurns the plain 
 great hector sorrows for his servant kill'd 
 yet unrevenged permits to press the field 
 till to supply his place and rule the car 
 rose archeptolemus the fierce in war 
 and now had death and horror cover'd all 193 
 like timorous flocks the trojans in their wall
 inclosed had bled but jove with awful sound
 roll'd the big thunder o'er the vast profound 
 full in tydides' face the lightning flew 
 the ground before him flamed with sulphur blue 
 the quivering steeds fell prostrate at the sight 
 and nestor's trembling hand confess'd his fright 
 he dropp'd the reins and shook with sacred dread 
 thus turning warn'd the intrepid diomed 

  o chief too daring in thy friend's defence
 retire advised and urge the chariot hence 
 this day averse the sovereign of the skies
 assists great hector and our palm denies 
 some other sun may see the happier hour 
 when greece shall conquer by his heavenly power 
 'tis not in man his fix'd decree to move 
 the great will glory to submit to jove  

  o reverend prince tydides thus replies 
 thy years are awful and thy words are wise 
 but ah what grief should haughty hector boast
 i fled inglorious to the guarded coast 
 before that dire disgrace shall blast my fame 
 o'erwhelm me earth and hide a warrior's shame  
 to whom gerenian nestor thus replied 194 
  gods can thy courage fear the phrygian's pride 
 hector may vaunt but who shall heed the boast 
 not those who felt thy arm the dardan host 
 nor troy yet bleeding in her heroes lost 
 not even a phrygian dame who dreads the sword
 that laid in dust her loved lamented lord  
 he said and hasty o'er the gasping throng
 drives the swift steeds the chariot smokes along 
 the shouts of trojans thicken in the wind 
 the storm of hissing javelins pours behind 
 then with a voice that shakes the solid skies 
 pleased hector braves the warrior as he flies 
  go mighty hero graced above the rest
 in seats of council and the sumptuous feast 
 now hope no more those honours from thy train 
 go less than woman in the form of man 
 to scale our walls to wrap our towers in flames 
 to lead in exile the fair phrygian dames 
 thy once proud hopes presumptuous prince are fled 
 this arm shall reach thy heart and stretch thee dead  

 now fears dissuade him and now hopes invite 
 to stop his coursers and to stand the fight 
 thrice turn'd the chief and thrice imperial jove
 on ida's summits thunder'd from above 
 great hector heard he saw the flashing light 
 the sign of conquest and thus urged the fight 

  hear every trojan lycian dardan band 
 all famed in war and dreadful hand to hand 
 be mindful of the wreaths your arms have won 
 your great forefathers' glories and your own 
 heard ye the voice of jove success and fame
 await on troy on greece eternal shame 
 in vain they skulk behind their boasted wall 
 weak bulwarks destined by this arm to fall 
 high o'er their slighted trench our steeds shall bound 
 and pass victorious o'er the levell'd mound 
 soon as before yon hollow ships we stand 
 fight each with flames and toss the blazing brand 
 till their proud navy wrapt in smoke and fires 
 all greece encompass'd in one blaze expires  

 furious he said then bending o'er the yoke 
 encouraged his proud steeds while thus he spoke 

  now xanthus cthon lampus urge the chase 
 and thou podargus prove thy generous race 
 be fleet be fearless this important day 
 and all your master's well-spent care repay 
 for this high-fed in plenteous stalls ye stand 
 served with pure wheat and by a princess' hand 
 for this my spouse of great aetion's line 
 so oft has steep'd the strengthening grain in wine 
 now swift pursue now thunder uncontroll'd 
 give me to seize rich nestor's shield of gold 
 from tydeus' shoulders strip the costly load 
 vulcanian arms the labour of a god 
 these if we gain then victory ye powers 
 this night this glorious night the fleet is ours  

 that heard deep anguish stung saturnia's soul 
 she shook her throne that shook the starry pole 
 and thus to neptune  thou whose force can make
 the stedfast earth from her foundations shake 
 seest thou the greeks by fates unjust oppress'd 
 nor swells thy heart in that immortal breast 
 yet cgae helice thy power obey 195 
 and gifts unceasing on thine altars lay 
 would all the deities of greece combine 
 in vain the gloomy thunderer might repine 
 sole should he sit with scarce a god to friend 
 and see his trojans to the shades descend 
 such be the scene from his idaean bower 
 ungrateful prospect to the sullen power  

 neptune with wrath rejects the rash design 
  what rage what madness furious queen is thine 
 i war not with the highest all above
 submit and tremble at the hand of jove  

 now godlike hector to whose matchless might
 jove gave the glory of the destined fight 
 squadrons on squadrons drives and fills the fields
 with close-ranged chariots and with thicken'd shields 
 where the deep trench in length extended lay 
 compacted troops stand wedged in firm array 
 a dreadful front they shake the brands and threat
 with long-destroying flames the hostile fleet 
 the king of men by juno's self inspired 
 toil'd through the tents and all his army fired 
 swift as he moved he lifted in his hand
 his purple robe bright ensign of command 
 high on the midmost bark the king appear'd 
 there from ulysses' deck his voice was heard 
 to ajax and achilles reach'd the sound 
 whose distant ships the guarded navy bound 
  o argives shame of human race he cried 
 the hollow vessels to his voice replied 
 where now are all your glorious boasts of yore 
 your hasty triumphs on the lemnian shore 
 each fearless hero dares a hundred foes 
 while the feast lasts and while the goblet flows 
 but who to meet one martial man is found 
 when the fight rages and the flames surround 
 o mighty jove o sire of the distress'd 
 was ever king like me like me oppress'd 
 with power immense with justice arm'd in vain 
 my glory ravish'd and my people slain 
 to thee my vows were breathed from every shore 
 what altar smoked not with our victims' gore 
 with fat of bulls i fed the constant flame 
 and ask'd destruction to the trojan name 
 now gracious god far humbler our demand 
 give these at least to 'scape from hector's hand 
 and save the relics of the grecian land  

 thus pray'd the king and heaven's great father heard
 his vows in bitterness of soul preferr'd 
 the wrath appeased by happy signs declares 
 and gives the people to their monarch's prayers 
 his eagle sacred bird of heaven he sent 
 a fawn his talons truss'd divine portent 
 high o'er the wondering hosts he soar'd above 
 who paid their vows to panomphaean jove 
 then let the prey before his altar fall 
 the greeks beheld and transport seized on all 
 encouraged by the sign the troops revive 
 and fierce on troy with doubled fury drive 
 tydides first of all the grecian force 
 o'er the broad ditch impell'd his foaming horse 
 pierced the deep ranks their strongest battle tore 
 and dyed his javelin red with trojan gore 
 young agelaus phradmon was his sire 
 with flying coursers shunn'd his dreadful ire 
 struck through the back the phrygian fell oppress'd 
 the dart drove on and issued at his breast 
 headlong he quits the car his arms resound 
 his ponderous buckler thunders on the ground 
 forth rush a tide of greeks the passage freed 
 the atridae first the ajaces next succeed 
 meriones like mars in arms renown'd 
 and godlike idomen now passed the mound 
 evaemon's son next issues to the foe 
 and last young teucer with his bended bow 
 secure behind the telamonian shield
 the skilful archer wide survey'd the field 
 with every shaft some hostile victim slew 
 then close beneath the sevenfold orb withdrew 
 the conscious infant so when fear alarms 
 retires for safety to the mother's arms 
 thus ajax guards his brother in the field 
 moves as he moves and turns the shining shield 
 who first by teucer's mortal arrows bled 
 orsilochus then fell ormenus dead 
 the godlike lycophon next press'd the plain 
 with chromius daetor ophelestes slain 
 bold hamopaon breathless sunk to ground 
 the bloody pile great melanippus crown'd 
 heaps fell on heaps sad trophies of his art 
 a trojan ghost attending every dart 
 great agamemnon views with joyful eye
 the ranks grow thinner as his arrows fly 
  o youth forever dear the monarch cried 
 thus always thus thy early worth be tried 
 thy brave example shall retrieve our host 
 thy country's saviour and thy father's boast 
 sprung from an alien's bed thy sire to grace 
 the vigorous offspring of a stolen embrace 
 proud of his boy he own'd the generous flame 
 and the brave son repays his cares with fame 
 now hear a monarch's vow if heaven's high powers
 give me to raze troy's long-defended towers 
 whatever treasures greece for me design 
 the next rich honorary gift be thine 
 some golden tripod or distinguished car 
 with coursers dreadful in the ranks of war 
 or some fair captive whom thy eyes approve 
 shall recompense the warrior's toils with love  

 to this the chief  with praise the rest inspire 
 nor urge a soul already fill'd with fire 
 what strength i have be now in battle tried 
 till every shaft in phrygian blood be dyed 
 since rallying from our wall we forced the foe 
 still aim'd at hector have i bent my bow 
 eight forky arrows from this hand have fled 
 and eight bold heroes by their points lie dead 
 but sure some god denies me to destroy
 this fury of the field this dog of troy  

 he said and twang'd the string the weapon flies
 at hector's breast and sings along the skies 
 he miss'd the mark but pierced gorgythio's heart 
 and drench'd in royal blood the thirsty dart 
 fair castianira nymph of form divine 
 this offspring added to king priam's line 
 as full-blown poppies overcharged with rain 196 
 decline the head and drooping kiss the plain 
 so sinks the youth his beauteous head depress'd
 beneath his helmet drops upon his breast 
 another shaft the raging archer drew 
 that other shaft with erring fury flew 
 from hector phoebus turn'd the flying wound 
 yet fell not dry or guiltless to the ground 
 thy breast brave archeptolemus it tore 
 and dipp'd its feathers in no vulgar gore 
 headlong he falls his sudden fall alarms
 the steeds that startle at his sounding arms 
 hector with grief his charioteer beheld
 all pale and breathless on the sanguine field 
 then bids cebriones direct the rein 
 quits his bright car and issues on the plain 
 dreadful he shouts from earth a stone he took 
 and rush'd on teucer with the lifted rock 
 the youth already strain'd the forceful yew 
 the shaft already to his shoulder drew 
 the feather in his hand just wing'd for flight 
 touch'd where the neck and hollow chest unite 
 there where the juncture knits the channel bone 
 the furious chief discharged the craggy stone 
 the bow-string burst beneath the ponderous blow 
 and his numb'd hand dismiss'd his useless bow 
 he fell but ajax his broad shield display'd 
 and screen'd his brother with the mighty shade 
 till great alaster and mecistheus bore
 the batter'd archer groaning to the shore 

 troy yet found grace before the olympian sire 
 he arm'd their hands and fill'd their breasts with fire 
 the greeks repulsed retreat behind their wall 
 or in the trench on heaps confusedly fall 
 first of the foe great hector march'd along 
 with terror clothed and more than mortal strong 
 as the bold hound that gives the lion chase 
 with beating bosom and with eager pace 
 hangs on his haunch or fastens on his heels 
 guards as he turns and circles as he wheels 
 thus oft the grecians turn'd but still they flew 
 thus following hector still the hindmost slew 
 when flying they had pass'd the trench profound 
 and many a chief lay gasping on the ground 
 before the ships a desperate stand they made 
 and fired the troops and called the gods to aid 
 fierce on his rattling chariot hector came 
 his eyes like gorgon shot a sanguine flame
 that wither'd all their host like mars he stood 
 dire as the monster dreadful as the god 
 their strong distress the wife of jove survey'd 
 then pensive thus to war's triumphant maid 

  o daughter of that god whose arm can wield
 the avenging bolt and shake the sable shield 
 now in this moment of her last despair 
 shall wretched greece no more confess our care 
 condemn'd to suffer the full force of fate 
 and drain the dregs of heaven's relentless hate 
 gods shall one raging hand thus level all 
 what numbers fell what numbers yet shall fall 
 what power divine shall hector's wrath assuage 
 still swells the slaughter and still grows the rage  

 so spake the imperial regent of the skies 
 to whom the goddess with the azure eyes 

  long since had hector stain'd these fields with gore 
 stretch'd by some argive on his native shore 
 but he above the sire of heaven withstands 
 mocks our attempts and slights our just demands 
 the stubborn god inflexible and hard 
 forgets my service and deserved reward 
 saved i for this his favourite son distress'd 
 by stern eurystheus with long labours press'd 
 he begg'd with tears he begg'd in deep dismay 
 i shot from heaven and gave his arm the day 
 oh had my wisdom known this dire event 
 when to grim pluto's gloomy gates he went 
 the triple dog had never felt his chain 
 nor styx been cross'd nor hell explored in vain 
 averse to me of all his heaven of gods 
 at thetis' suit the partial thunderer nods 
 to grace her gloomy fierce resenting son 
 my hopes are frustrate and my greeks undone 
 some future day perhaps he may be moved
 to call his blue-eyed maid his best beloved 
 haste launch thy chariot through yon ranks to ride 
 myself will arm and thunder at thy side 
 then goddess say shall hector glory then 
 that terror of the greeks that man of men 
 when juno's self and pallas shall appear 
 all dreadful in the crimson walks of war 
 what mighty trojan then on yonder shore 
 expiring pale and terrible no more 
 shall feast the fowls and glut the dogs with gore  

 she ceased and juno rein'd the steeds with care 
 heaven's awful empress saturn's other heir 
 pallas meanwhile her various veil unbound 
 with flowers adorn'd with art immortal crown'd 
 the radiant robe her sacred fingers wove
 floats in rich waves and spreads the court of jove 
 her father's arms her mighty limbs invest 
 his cuirass blazes on her ample breast 
 the vigorous power the trembling car ascends 
 shook by her arm the massy javelin bends 
 huge ponderous strong that when her fury burns
 proud tyrants humbles and whole hosts o'erturns 

 saturnia lends the lash the coursers fly 
 smooth glides the chariot through the liquid sky 
 heaven's gates spontaneous open to the powers 
 heaven's golden gates kept by the winged hours 
 commission'd in alternate watch they stand 
 the sun's bright portals and the skies command 
 close or unfold the eternal gates of day
 bar heaven with clouds or roll those clouds away 
 the sounding hinges ring the clouds divide 
 prone down the steep of heaven their course they guide 
 but jove incensed from ida's top survey'd 
 and thus enjoin'd the many-colour'd maid 


 juno and minerva going to assist the greeks 


  thaumantia mount the winds and stop their car 
 against the highest who shall wage the war 
 if furious yet they dare the vain debate 
 thus have i spoke and what i speak is fate 
 their coursers crush'd beneath the wheels shall lie 
 their car in fragments scatter'd o'er the sky 
 my lightning these rebellious shall confound 
 and hurl them flaming headlong to the ground 
 condemn'd for ten revolving years to weep
 the wounds impress'd by burning thunder deep 
 so shall minerva learn to fear our ire 
 nor dare to combat hers and nature's sire 
 for juno headstrong and imperious still 
 she claims some title to transgress our will  

 swift as the wind the various-colour'd maid
 from ida's top her golden wings display'd 
 to great olympus' shining gate she flies 
 there meets the chariot rushing down the skies 
 restrains their progress from the bright abodes 
 and speaks the mandate of the sire of gods 

  what frenzy goddesses what rage can move
 celestial minds to tempt the wrath of jove 
 desist obedient to his high command 
 this is his word and know his word shall stand 
 his lightning your rebellion shall confound 
 and hurl ye headlong flaming to the ground 
 your horses crush'd beneath the wheels shall lie 
 your car in fragments scatter'd o'er the sky 
 yourselves condemn'd ten rolling years to weep
 the wounds impress'd by burning thunder deep 
 so shall minerva learn to fear his ire 
 nor dare to combat hers and nature's sire 
 for juno headstrong and imperious still 
 she claims some title to transgress his will 
 but thee what desperate insolence has driven
 to lift thy lance against the king of heaven  

 then mounting on the pinions of the wind 
 she flew and juno thus her rage resign'd 

  o daughter of that god whose arm can wield
 the avenging bolt and shake the dreadful shield
 no more let beings of superior birth
 contend with jove for this low race of earth 
 triumphant now now miserably slain 
 they breathe or perish as the fates ordain 
 but jove's high counsels full effect shall find 
 and ever constant ever rule mankind  

 she spoke and backward turn'd her steeds of light 
 adorn'd with manes of gold and heavenly bright 
 the hours unloosed them panting as they stood 
 and heap'd their mangers with ambrosial food 
 there tied they rest in high celestial stalls 
 the chariot propp'd against the crystal walls 
 the pensive goddesses abash'd controll'd 
 mix with the gods and fill their seats of gold 


 the hours taking the horses from juno's car 


 and now the thunderer meditates his flight
 from ida's summits to the olympian height 
 swifter than thought the wheels instinctive fly 
 flame through the vast of air and reach the sky 
 'twas neptune's charge his coursers to unbrace 
 and fix the car on its immortal base 
 there stood the chariot beaming forth its rays 
 till with a snowy veil he screen'd the blaze 
 he whose all-conscious eyes the world behold 
 the eternal thunderer sat enthroned in gold 
 high heaven the footstool of his feet he makes 
 and wide beneath him all olympus shakes 
 trembling afar the offending powers appear'd 
 confused and silent for his frown they fear'd 
 he saw their soul and thus his word imparts 
  pallas and juno say why heave your hearts 
 soon was your battle o'er proud troy retired
 before your face and in your wrath expired 
 but know whoe'er almighty power withstand 
 unmatch'd our force unconquer'd is our hand 
 who shall the sovereign of the skies control 
 not all the gods that crown the starry pole 
 your hearts shall tremble if our arms we take 
 and each immortal nerve with horror shake 
 for thus i speak and what i speak shall stand 
 what power soe'er provokes our lifted hand 
 on this our hill no more shall hold his place 
 cut off and exiled from the ethereal race  

 juno and pallas grieving hear the doom 
 but feast their souls on ilion's woes to come 
 though secret anger swell'd minerva's breast 
 the prudent goddess yet her wrath repress'd 
 but juno impotent of rage replies 
  what hast thou said o tyrant of the skies 
 strength and omnipotence invest thy throne 
 'tis thine to punish ours to grieve alone 
 for greece we grieve abandon'd by her fate
 to drink the dregs of thy unmeasured hate 
 from fields forbidden we submiss refrain 
 with arms unaiding see our argives slain 
 yet grant our counsels still their breasts may move 
 lest all should perish in the rage of jove  

 the goddess thus and thus the god replies 
 who swells the clouds and blackens all the skies 

  the morning sun awaked by loud alarms 
 shall see the almighty thunderer in arms 
 what heaps of argives then shall load the plain 
 those radiant eyes shall view and view in vain 
 nor shall great hector cease the rage of fight 
 the navy flaming and thy greeks in flight 
 even till the day when certain fates ordain
 that stern achilles his patroclus slain 
 shall rise in vengeance and lay waste the plain 
 for such is fate nor canst thou turn its course
 with all thy rage with all thy rebel force 
 fly if thy wilt to earth's remotest bound 
 where on her utmost verge the seas resound 
 where cursed iapetus and saturn dwell 
 fast by the brink within the streams of hell 
 no sun e'er gilds the gloomy horrors there 
 no cheerful gales refresh the lazy air 
 there arm once more the bold titanian band 
 and arm in vain for what i will shall stand  

 now deep in ocean sunk the lamp of light 
 and drew behind the cloudy veil of night 
 the conquering trojans mourn his beams decay'd 
 the greeks rejoicing bless the friendly shade 

 the victors keep the field and hector calls
 a martial council near the navy walls 
 these to scamander's bank apart he led 
 where thinly scatter'd lay the heaps of dead 
 the assembled chiefs descending on the ground 
 attend his order and their prince surround 
 a massy spear he bore of mighty strength 
 of full ten cubits was the lance's length 
 the point was brass refulgent to behold 
 fix'd to the wood with circling rings of gold 
 the noble hector on his lance reclined 
 and bending forward thus reveal'd his mind 

  ye valiant trojans with attention hear 
 ye dardan bands and generous aids give ear 
 this day we hoped would wrap in conquering flame
 greece with her ships and crown our toils with fame 
 but darkness now to save the cowards falls 
 and guards them trembling in their wooden walls 
 obey the night and use her peaceful hours
 our steeds to forage and refresh our powers 
 straight from the town be sheep and oxen sought 
 and strengthening bread and generous wine be brought
 wide o'er the field high blazing to the sky 
 let numerous fires the absent sun supply 
 the flaming piles with plenteous fuel raise 
 till the bright morn her purple beam displays 
 lest in the silence and the shades of night 
 greece on her sable ships attempt her flight 
 not unmolested let the wretches gain
 their lofty decks or safely cleave the main 
 some hostile wound let every dart bestow 
 some lasting token of the phrygian foe 
 wounds that long hence may ask their spouses' care 
 and warn their children from a trojan war 
 now through the circuit of our ilion wall 
 let sacred heralds sound the solemn call 
 to bid the sires with hoary honours crown'd 
 and beardless youths our battlements surround 
 firm be the guard while distant lie our powers 
 and let the matrons hang with lights the towers 
 lest under covert of the midnight shade 
 the insidious foe the naked town invade 
 suffice to-night these orders to obey 
 a nobler charge shall rouse the dawning day 
 the gods i trust shall give to hector's hand
 from these detested foes to free the land 
 who plough'd with fates averse the watery way 
 for trojan vultures a predestined prey 
 our common safety must be now the care 
 but soon as morning paints the fields of air 
 sheathed in bright arms let every troop engage 
 and the fired fleet behold the battle rage 
 then then shall hector and tydides prove
 whose fates are heaviest in the scales of jove 
 to-morrow's light o haste the glorious morn 
 shall see his bloody spoils in triumph borne 
 with this keen javelin shall his breast be gored 
 and prostrate heroes bleed around their lord 
 certain as this oh might my days endure 
 from age inglorious and black death secure 
 so might my life and glory know no bound 
 like pallas worshipp'd like the sun renown'd 
 as the next dawn the last they shall enjoy 
 shall crush the greeks and end the woes of troy  

 the leader spoke from all his host around
 shouts of applause along the shores resound 
 each from the yoke the smoking steeds untied 
 and fix'd their headstalls to his chariot-side 
 fat sheep and oxen from the town are led 
 with generous wine and all-sustaining bread 
 full hecatombs lay burning on the shore 
 the winds to heaven the curling vapours bore 
 ungrateful offering to the immortal powers 197 
 whose wrath hung heavy o'er the trojan towers 
 nor priam nor his sons obtain'd their grace 
 proud troy they hated and her guilty race 

 the troops exulting sat in order round 
 and beaming fires illumined all the ground 
 as when the moon refulgent lamp of night 198 
 o'er heaven's pure azure spreads her sacred light 
 when not a breath disturbs the deep serene 
 and not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene 
 around her throne the vivid planets roll 
 and stars unnumber'd gild the glowing pole 
 o'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed 
 and tip with silver every mountain's head 
 then shine the vales the rocks in prospect rise 
 a flood of glory bursts from all the skies 
 the conscious swains rejoicing in the sight 
 eye the blue vault and bless the useful light 
 so many flames before proud ilion blaze 
 and lighten glimmering xanthus with their rays 
 the long reflections of the distant fires
 gleam on the walls and tremble on the spires 
 a thousand piles the dusky horrors gild 
 and shoot a shady lustre o'er the field 
 full fifty guards each flaming pile attend 
 whose umber'd arms by fits thick flashes send 
 loud neigh the coursers o'er their heaps of corn 
 and ardent warriors wait the rising morn 


 the shield of achilles 





book ix 


argument 

the embassy to achilles 

agamemnon after the last day's defeat proposes to the greeks to quit the
siege and return to their country diomed opposes this and nestor
seconds him praising his wisdom and resolution he orders the guard to be
strengthened and a council summoned to deliberate what measures are to be
followed in this emergency agamemnon pursues this advice and nestor
further prevails upon him to send ambassadors to achilles in order to
move him to a reconciliation ulysses and ajax are made choice of who are
accompanied by old phoenix they make each of them very moving and
pressing speeches but are rejected with roughness by achilles who
notwithstanding retains phoenix in his tent the ambassadors return
unsuccessfully to the camp and the troops betake themselves to sleep 

this book and the next following take up the space of one night which
is the twenty-seventh from the beginning of the poem the scene lies on
the sea-shore the station of the grecian ships 

 thus joyful troy maintain'd the watch of night 
 while fear pale comrade of inglorious flight 199 
 and heaven-bred horror on the grecian part 
 sat on each face and sadden'd every heart 
 as from its cloudy dungeon issuing forth 
 a double tempest of the west and north
 swells o'er the sea from thracia's frozen shore 
 heaps waves on waves and bids the cgean roar 
 this way and that the boiling deeps are toss'd 
 such various passions urged the troubled host 
 great agamemnon grieved above the rest 
 superior sorrows swell'd his royal breast 
 himself his orders to the heralds bears 
 to bid to council all the grecian peers 
 but bid in whispers these surround their chief 
 in solemn sadness and majestic grief 
 the king amidst the mournful circle rose 
 down his wan cheek a briny torrent flows 
 so silent fountains from a rock's tall head 
 in sable streams soft-trickling waters shed 
 with more than vulgar grief he stood oppress'd 
 words mix'd with sighs thus bursting from his breast 

  ye sons of greece partake your leader's care 
 fellows in arms and princes of the war 
 of partial jove too justly we complain 
 and heavenly oracles believed in vain 
 a safe return was promised to our toils 
 with conquest honour'd and enrich'd with spoils 
 now shameful flight alone can save the host 
 our wealth our people and our glory lost 
 so jove decrees almighty lord of all 
 jove at whose nod whole empires rise or fall 
 who shakes the feeble props of human trust 
 and towers and armies humbles to the dust 
 haste then for ever quit these fatal fields 
 haste to the joys our native country yields 
 spread all your canvas all your oars employ 
 nor hope the fall of heaven-defended troy  

 he said deep silence held the grecian band 
 silent unmov'd in dire dismay they stand 
 a pensive scene till tydeus' warlike son
 roll'd on the king his eyes and thus begun 
  when kings advise us to renounce our fame 
 first let him speak who first has suffer'd shame 
 if i oppose thee prince thy wrath withhold 
 the laws of council bid my tongue be bold 
 thou first and thou alone in fields of fight 
 durst brand my courage and defame my might 
 nor from a friend the unkind reproach appear'd 
 the greeks stood witness all our army heard 
 the gods o chief from whom our honours spring 
 the gods have made thee but by halves a king 
 they gave thee sceptres and a wide command 
 they gave dominion o'er the seas and land 
 the noblest power that might the world control
 they gave thee not a brave and virtuous soul 
 is this a general's voice that would suggest
 fears like his own to every grecian breast 
 confiding in our want of worth he stands 
 and if we fly 'tis what our king commands 
 go thou inglorious from the embattled plain 
 ships thou hast store and nearest to the main 
 a noble care the grecians shall employ 
 to combat conquer and extirpate troy 
 here greece shall stay or if all greece retire 
 myself shall stay till troy or i expire 
 myself and sthenelus will fight for fame 
 god bade us fight and 'twas with god we came  

 he ceased the greeks loud acclamations raise 
 and voice to voice resounds tydides' praise 
 wise nestor then his reverend figure rear'd 
 he spoke the host in still attention heard 200 

  o truly great in whom the gods have join'd
 such strength of body with such force of mind 
 in conduct as in courage you excel 
 still first to act what you advise so well 
 these wholesome counsels which thy wisdom moves 
 applauding greece with common voice approves 
 kings thou canst blame a bold but prudent youth 
 and blame even kings with praise because with truth 
 and yet those years that since thy birth have run
 would hardly style thee nestor's youngest son 
 then let me add what yet remains behind 
 a thought unfinish'd in that generous mind 
 age bids me speak nor shall the advice i bring
 distaste the people or offend the king 

  cursed is the man and void of law and right 
 unworthy property unworthy light 
 unfit for public rule or private care 
 that wretch that monster who delights in war 
 whose lust is murder and whose horrid joy 
 to tear his country and his kind destroy 
 this night refresh and fortify thy train 
 between the trench and wall let guards remain 
 be that the duty of the young and bold 
 but thou o king to council call the old 
 great is thy sway and weighty are thy cares 
 thy high commands must spirit all our wars 
 with thracian wines recruit thy honour'd guests 
 for happy counsels flow from sober feasts 
 wise weighty counsels aid a state distress'd 
 and such a monarch as can choose the best 
 see what a blaze from hostile tents aspires 
 how near our fleet approach the trojan fires 
 who can unmoved behold the dreadful light 
 what eye beholds them and can close to-night 
 this dreadful interval determines all 
 to-morrow troy must flame or greece must fall  

 thus spoke the hoary sage the rest obey 
 swift through the gates the guards direct their way 
 his son was first to pass the lofty mound 
 the generous thrasymed in arms renown'd 
 next him ascalaphus ialmen stood 
 the double offspring of the warrior-god 
 deipyrus aphareus merion join 
 and lycomed of creon's noble line 
 seven were the leaders of the nightly bands 
 and each bold chief a hundred spears commands 
 the fires they light to short repasts they fall 
 some line the trench and others man the wall 

 the king of men on public counsels bent 
 convened the princes in his ample tent 
 each seized a portion of the kingly feast 
 but stay'd his hand when thirst and hunger ceased 
 then nestor spoke for wisdom long approved 
 and slowly rising thus the council moved 

  monarch of nations whose superior sway
 assembled states and lords of earth obey 
 the laws and sceptres to thy hand are given 
 and millions own the care of thee and heaven 
 o king the counsels of my age attend 
 with thee my cares begin with thee must end 
 thee prince it fits alike to speak and hear 
 pronounce with judgment with regard give ear 
 to see no wholesome motion be withstood 
 and ratify the best for public good 
 nor though a meaner give advice repine 
 but follow it and make the wisdom thine 
 hear then a thought not now conceived in haste 
 at once my present judgment and my past 
 when from pelides' tent you forced the maid 
 i first opposed and faithful durst dissuade 
 but bold of soul when headlong fury fired 
 you wronged the man by men and gods admired 
 now seek some means his fatal wrath to end 
 with prayers to move him or with gifts to bend  

 to whom the king  with justice hast thou shown
 a prince's faults and i with reason own 
 that happy man whom jove still honours most 
 is more than armies and himself a host 
 bless'd in his love this wondrous hero stands 
 heaven fights his war and humbles all our bands 
 fain would my heart which err'd through frantic rage 
 the wrathful chief and angry gods assuage 
 if gifts immense his mighty soul can bow 201 
 hear all ye greeks and witness what i vow 
 ten weighty talents of the purest gold 
 and twice ten vases of refulgent mould 
 seven sacred tripods whose unsullied frame
 yet knows no office nor has felt the flame 
 twelve steeds unmatch'd in fleetness and in force 
 and still victorious in the dusty course 
 rich were the man whose ample stores exceed
 the prizes purchased by their winged speed 
 seven lovely captives of the lesbian line 
 skill'd in each art unmatch'd in form divine 
 the same i chose for more than vulgar charms 
 when lesbos sank beneath the hero's arms 
 all these to buy his friendship shall be paid 
 and join'd with these the long-contested maid 
 with all her charms briseis i resign 
 and solemn swear those charms were never mine 
 untouch'd she stay'd uninjured she removes 
 pure from my arms and guiltless of my loves 202 
 these instant shall be his and if the powers
 give to our arms proud ilion's hostile towers 
 then shall he store when greece the spoil divides 
 with gold and brass his loaded navy's sides 
 besides full twenty nymphs of trojan race
 with copious love shall crown his warm embrace 
 such as himself will choose who yield to none 
 or yield to helen's heavenly charms alone 
 yet hear me further when our wars are o'er 
 if safe we land on argos' fruitful shore 
 there shall he live my son our honours share 
 and with orestes' self divide my care 
 yet more three daughters in my court are bred 
 and each well worthy of a royal bed 
 laodice and iphigenia fair 203 
 and bright chrysothemis with golden hair 
 her let him choose whom most his eyes approve 
 i ask no presents no reward for love 
 myself will give the dower so vast a store
 as never father gave a child before 
 seven ample cities shall confess his sway 
 him enope and pherae him obey 
 cardamyle with ample turrets crown'd 
 and sacred pedasus for vines renown'd 
 cpea fair the pastures hira yields 
 and rich antheia with her flowery fields 204 
 the whole extent to pylos' sandy plain 
 along the verdant margin of the main
 there heifers graze and labouring oxen toil 
 bold are the men and generous is the soil 
 there shall he reign with power and justice crown'd 
 and rule the tributary realms around 
 all this i give his vengeance to control 
 and sure all this may move his mighty soul 
 pluto the grisly god who never spares 
 who feels no mercy and who hears no prayers 
 lives dark and dreadful in deep hell's abodes 
 and mortals hate him as the worst of gods
 great though he be it fits him to obey 
 since more than his my years and more my sway  


 pluto 


 the monarch thus the reverend nestor then 
  great agamemnon glorious king of men 
 such are thy offers as a prince may take 
 and such as fits a generous king to make 
 let chosen delegates this hour be sent
 myself will name them to pelides' tent 
 let phoenix lead revered for hoary age 
 great ajax next and ithacus the sage 
 yet more to sanctify the word you send 
 let hodius and eurybates attend 
 now pray to jove to grant what greece demands 
 pray in deep silence 205 and with purest hands   206 


 the embassy to achilles 


 he said and all approved the heralds bring
 the cleansing water from the living spring 
 the youth with wine the sacred goblets crown'd 
 and large libations drench'd the sands around 
 the rite perform'd the chiefs their thirst allay 
 then from the royal tent they take their way 
 wise nestor turns on each his careful eye 
 forbids to offend instructs them to apply 
 much he advised them all ulysses most 
 to deprecate the chief and save the host 
 through the still night they march and hear the roar
 of murmuring billows on the sounding shore 
 to neptune ruler of the seas profound 
 whose liquid arms the mighty globe surround 
 they pour forth vows their embassy to bless 
 and calm the rage of stern cacides 
 and now arrived where on the sandy bay
 the myrmidonian tents and vessels lay 
 amused at ease the godlike man they found 
 pleased with the solemn harp's harmonious sound 
 the well wrought harp from conquered thebae came 
 of polish'd silver was its costly frame 
 with this he soothes his angry soul and sings
 the immortal deeds of heroes and of kings 
 patroclus only of the royal train 
 placed in his tent attends the lofty strain 
 full opposite he sat and listen'd long 
 in silence waiting till he ceased the song 
 unseen the grecian embassy proceeds
 to his high tent the great ulysses leads 
 achilles starting as the chiefs he spied 
 leap'd from his seat and laid the harp aside 
 with like surprise arose menoetius' son 
 pelides grasp'd their hands and thus begun 

  princes all hail whatever brought you here 
 or strong necessity or urgent fear 
 welcome though greeks for not as foes ye came 
 to me more dear than all that bear the name  

 with that the chiefs beneath his roof he led 
 and placed in seats with purple carpets spread 
 then thus  patroclus crown a larger bowl 
 mix purer wine and open every soul 
 of all the warriors yonder host can send 
 thy friend most honours these and these thy friend  

 he said patroclus o'er the blazing fire
 heaps in a brazen vase three chines entire 
 the brazen vase automedon sustains 
 which flesh of porker sheep and goat contains 
 achilles at the genial feast presides 
 the parts transfixes and with skill divides 
 meanwhile patroclus sweats the fire to raise 
 the tent is brighten'd with the rising blaze 
 then when the languid flames at length subside 
 he strows a bed of glowing embers wide 
 above the coals the smoking fragments turns
 and sprinkles sacred salt from lifted urns 
 with bread the glittering canisters they load 
 which round the board menoetius' son bestow'd 
 himself opposed to ulysses full in sight 
 each portion parts and orders every rite 
 the first fat offering to the immortals due 
 amidst the greedy flames patroclus threw 
 then each indulging in the social feast 
 his thirst and hunger soberly repress'd 
 that done to phoenix ajax gave the sign 
 not unperceived ulysses crown'd with wine
 the foaming bowl and instant thus began 
 his speech addressing to the godlike man 

  health to achilles happy are thy guests 
 not those more honour'd whom atrides feasts 
 though generous plenty crown thy loaded boards 
 that agamemnon's regal tent affords 
 but greater cares sit heavy on our souls 
 nor eased by banquets or by flowing bowls 
 what scenes of slaughter in yon fields appear 
 the dead we mourn and for the living fear 
 greece on the brink of fate all doubtful stands 
 and owns no help but from thy saving hands 
 troy and her aids for ready vengeance call 
 their threatening tents already shade our wall 
 hear how with shouts their conquest they proclaim 
 and point at every ship their vengeful flame 
 for them the father of the gods declares 
 theirs are his omens and his thunder theirs 
 see full of jove avenging hector rise 
 see heaven and earth the raging chief defies 
 what fury in his breast what lightning in his eyes 
 he waits but for the morn to sink in flame
 the ships the greeks and all the grecian name 
 heavens how my country's woes distract my mind 
 lest fate accomplish all his rage design'd 
 and must we gods our heads inglorious lay
 in trojan dust and this the fatal day 
 return achilles oh return though late 
 to save thy greeks and stop the course of fate 
 if in that heart or grief or courage lies 
 rise to redeem ah yet to conquer rise 
 the day may come when all our warriors slain 
 that heart shall melt that courage rise in vain 
 regard in time o prince divinely brave 
 those wholesome counsels which thy father gave 
 when peleus in his aged arms embraced
 his parting son these accents were his last 

  'my child with strength with glory and success 
 thy arms may juno and minerva bless 
 trust that to heaven but thou thy cares engage
 to calm thy passions and subdue thy rage 
 from gentler manners let thy glory grow 
 and shun contention the sure source of woe 
 that young and old may in thy praise combine 
 the virtues of humanity be thine '
 this now-despised advice thy father gave 
 ah check thy anger and be truly brave 
 if thou wilt yield to great atrides' prayers 
 gifts worthy thee his royal hand prepares 
 if not but hear me while i number o'er
 the proffer'd presents an exhaustless store 
 ten weighty talents of the purest gold 
 and twice ten vases of refulgent mould 
 seven sacred tripods whose unsullied frame
 yet knows no office nor has felt the flame 
 twelve steeds unmatched in fleetness and in force 
 and still victorious in the dusty course 
 rich were the man whose ample stores exceed
 the prizes purchased by their winged speed 
 seven lovely captives of the lesbian line 
 skill'd in each art unmatch'd in form divine 
 the same he chose for more than vulgar charms 
 when lesbos sank beneath thy conquering arms 
 all these to buy thy friendship shall be paid 
 and join'd with these the long-contested maid 
 with all her charms briseis he'll resign 
 and solemn swear those charms were only thine 
 untouch'd she stay'd uninjured she removes 
 pure from his arms and guiltless of his loves 
 these instant shall be thine and if the powers
 give to our arms proud ilion's hostile towers 
 then shalt thou store when greece the spoil divides 
 with gold and brass thy loaded navy's sides 
 besides full twenty nymphs of trojan race
 with copious love shall crown thy warm embrace 
 such as thyself shall chose who yield to none 
 or yield to helen's heavenly charms alone 
 yet hear me further when our wars are o'er 
 if safe we land on argos' fruitful shore 
 there shalt thou live his son his honour share 
 and with orestes' self divide his care 
 yet more three daughters in his court are bred 
 and each well worthy of a royal bed 
 laodice and iphigenia fair 
 and bright chrysothemis with golden hair 
 her shalt thou wed whom most thy eyes approve 
 he asks no presents no reward for love 
 himself will give the dower so vast a store
 as never father gave a child before 
 seven ample cities shall confess thy sway 
 the enope and pherae thee obey 
 cardamyle with ample turrets crown'd 
 and sacred pedasus for vines renown'd 
 cpea fair the pastures hira yields 
 and rich antheia with her flowery fields 
 the whole extent to pylos' sandy plain 
 along the verdant margin of the main 
 there heifers graze and labouring oxen toil 
 bold are the men and generous is the soil 
 there shalt thou reign with power and justice crown'd 
 and rule the tributary realms around 
 such are the proffers which this day we bring 
 such the repentance of a suppliant king 
 but if all this relentless thou disdain 
 if honour and if interest plead in vain 
 yet some redress to suppliant greece afford 
 and be amongst her guardian gods adored 
 if no regard thy suffering country claim 
 hear thy own glory and the voice of fame 
 for now that chief whose unresisted ire
 made nations tremble and whole hosts retire 
 proud hector now the unequal fight demands 
 and only triumphs to deserve thy hands  

 then thus the goddess-born  ulysses hear
 a faithful speech that knows nor art nor fear 
 what in my secret soul is understood 
 my tongue shall utter and my deeds make good 
 let greece then know my purpose i retain 
 nor with new treaties vex my peace in vain 
 who dares think one thing and another tell 
 my heart detests him as the gates of hell 

  then thus in short my fix'd resolves attend 
 which nor atrides nor his greeks can bend 
 long toils long perils in their cause i bore 
 but now the unfruitful glories charm no more 
 fight or not fight a like reward we claim 
 the wretch and hero find their prize the same 
 alike regretted in the dust he lies 
 who yields ignobly or who bravely dies 
 of all my dangers all my glorious pains 
 a life of labours lo what fruit remains 
 as the bold bird her helpless young attends 
 from danger guards them and from want defends 
 in search of prey she wings the spacious air 
 and with the untasted food supplies her care 
 for thankless greece such hardships have i braved 
 her wives her infants by my labours saved 
 long sleepless nights in heavy arms i stood 
 and sweat laborious days in dust and blood 
 i sack'd twelve ample cities on the main 207 
 and twelve lay smoking on the trojan plain 
 then at atrides' haughty feet were laid
 the wealth i gathered and the spoils i made 
 your mighty monarch these in peace possess'd 
 some few my soldiers had himself the rest 
 some present too to every prince was paid 
 and every prince enjoys the gift he made 
 i only must refund of all his train 
 see what pre-eminence our merits gain 
 my spoil alone his greedy soul delights 
 my spouse alone must bless his lustful nights 
 the woman let him as he may enjoy 
 but what's the quarrel then of greece to troy 
 what to these shores the assembled nations draws 
 what calls for vengeance but a woman's cause 
 are fair endowments and a beauteous face
 beloved by none but those of atreus' race 
 the wife whom choice and passion doth approve 
 sure every wise and worthy man will love 
 nor did my fair one less distinction claim 
 slave as she was my soul adored the dame 
 wrong'd in my love all proffers i disdain 
 deceived for once i trust not kings again 
 ye have my answer what remains to do 
 your king ulysses may consult with you 
 what needs he the defence this arm can make 
 has he not walls no human force can shake 
 has he not fenced his guarded navy round
 with piles with ramparts and a trench profound 
 and will not these the wonders he has done 
 repel the rage of priam's single son 
 there was a time 'twas when for greece i fought 
 when hector's prowess no such wonders wrought 
 he kept the verge of troy nor dared to wait
 achilles' fury at the scaean gate 
 he tried it once and scarce was saved by fate 
 but now those ancient enmities are o'er 
 to-morrow we the favouring gods implore 
 then shall you see our parting vessels crown'd 
 and hear with oars the hellespont resound 
 the third day hence shall pthia greet our sails 208 
 if mighty neptune send propitious gales 
 pthia to her achilles shall restore
 the wealth he left for this detested shore 
 thither the spoils of this long war shall pass 
 the ruddy gold the steel and shining brass 
 my beauteous captives thither i'll convey 
 and all that rests of my unravish'd prey 
 one only valued gift your tyrant gave 
 and that resumed the fair lyrnessian slave 
 then tell him loud that all the greeks may hear 
 and learn to scorn the wretch they basely fear 
 for arm'd in impudence mankind he braves 
 and meditates new cheats on all his slaves 
 though shameless as he is to face these eyes
 is what he dares not if he dares he dies 
 tell him all terms all commerce i decline 
 nor share his council nor his battle join 
 for once deceiv'd was his but twice were mine 
 no let the stupid prince whom jove deprives
 of sense and justice run where frenzy drives 
 his gifts are hateful kings of such a kind
 stand but as slaves before a noble mind 
 not though he proffer'd all himself possess'd 
 and all his rapine could from others wrest 
 not all the golden tides of wealth that crown
 the many-peopled orchomenian town 209 
 not all proud thebes' unrivall'd walls contain 
 the world's great empress on the egyptian plain
 that spreads her conquests o'er a thousand states 
 and pours her heroes through a hundred gates 
 two hundred horsemen and two hundred cars
 from each wide portal issuing to the wars 210 
 though bribes were heap'd on bribes in number more
 than dust in fields or sands along the shore 
 should all these offers for my friendship call 
 'tis he that offers and i scorn them all 
 atrides' daughter never shall be led
 an ill-match'd consort to achilles' bed 
 like golden venus though she charm'd the heart 
 and vied with pallas in the works of art 
 some greater greek let those high nuptials grace 
 i hate alliance with a tyrant's race 
 if heaven restore me to my realms with life 
 the reverend peleus shall elect my wife 
 thessalian nymphs there are of form divine 
 and kings that sue to mix their blood with mine 
 bless'd in kind love my years shall glide away 
 content with just hereditary sway 
 there deaf for ever to the martial strife 
 enjoy the dear prerogative of life 
 life is not to be bought with heaps of gold 
 not all apollo's pythian treasures hold 
 or troy once held in peace and pride of sway 
 can bribe the poor possession of a day 
 lost herds and treasures we by arms regain 
 and steeds unrivall'd on the dusty plain 
 but from our lips the vital spirit fled 
 returns no more to wake the silent dead 
 my fates long since by thetis were disclosed 
 and each alternate life or fame proposed 
 here if i stay before the trojan town 
 short is my date but deathless my renown 
 if i return i quit immortal praise
 for years on years and long-extended days 
 convinced though late i find my fond mistake 
 and warn the greeks the wiser choice to make 
 to quit these shores their native seats enjoy 
 nor hope the fall of heaven-defended troy 
 jove's arm display'd asserts her from the skies 
 her hearts are strengthen'd and her glories rise 
 go then to greece report our fix'd design 
 bid all your counsels all your armies join 
 let all your forces all your arts conspire 
 to save the ships the troops the chiefs from fire 
 one stratagem has fail'd and others will 
 ye find achilles is unconquer'd still 
 go then digest my message as ye may 
 but here this night let reverend phoenix stay 
 his tedious toils and hoary hairs demand
 a peaceful death in pthia's friendly land 
 but whether he remain or sail with me 
 his age be sacred and his will be free  


 greek galley 


 the son of peleus ceased the chiefs around
 in silence wrapt in consternation drown'd 
 attend the stern reply then phoenix rose 
 down his white beard a stream of sorrow flows 
 and while the fate of suffering greece he mourn'd 
 with accent weak these tender words return'd 


 proserpine 


  divine achilles wilt thou then retire 
 and leave our hosts in blood our fleets on fire 
 if wrath so dreadful fill thy ruthless mind 
 how shall thy friend thy phoenix stay behind 
 the royal peleus when from pthia's coast
 he sent thee early to the achaian host 
 thy youth as then in sage debates unskill'd 
 and new to perils of the direful field 
 he bade me teach thee all the ways of war 
 to shine in councils and in camps to dare 
 never ah never let me leave thy side 
 no time shall part us and no fate divide 
 not though the god that breathed my life restore
 the bloom i boasted and the port i bore 
 when greece of old beheld my youthful flames
 delightful greece the land of lovely dames 
 my father faithless to my mother's arms 
 old as he was adored a stranger's charms 
 i tried what youth could do at her desire 
 to win the damsel and prevent my sire 
 my sire with curses loads my hated head 
 and cries 'ye furies barren be his bed '
 infernal jove the vengeful fiends below 
 and ruthless proserpine confirm'd his vow 
 despair and grief distract my labouring mind 
 gods what a crime my impious heart design'd 
 i thought but some kind god that thought suppress'd 
 to plunge the poniard in my father's breast 
 then meditate my flight my friends in vain
 with prayers entreat me and with force detain 
 on fat of rams black bulls and brawny swine 
 they daily feast with draughts of fragrant wine 
 strong guards they placed and watch'd nine nights entire 
 the roofs and porches flamed with constant fire 
 the tenth i forced the gates unseen of all 
 and favour'd by the night o'erleap'd the wall 
 my travels thence through spacious greece extend 
 in phthia's court at last my labours end 
 your sire received me as his son caress'd 
 with gifts enrich'd and with possessions bless'd 
 the strong dolopians thenceforth own'd my reign 
 and all the coast that runs along the main 
 by love to thee his bounties i repaid 
 and early wisdom to thy soul convey'd 
 great as thou art my lessons made thee brave 
 a child i took thee but a hero gave 
 thy infant breast a like affection show'd 
 still in my arms an ever-pleasing load 
 or at my knee by phoenix wouldst thou stand 
 no food was grateful but from phoenix' hand 211 
 i pass my watchings o'er thy helpless years 
 the tender labours the compliant cares 
 the gods i thought reversed their hard decree 
 and phoenix felt a father's joys in thee 
 thy growing virtues justified my cares 
 and promised comfort to my silver hairs 
 now be thy rage thy fatal rage resign'd 
 a cruel heart ill suits a manly mind 
 the gods the only great and only wise 
 are moved by offerings vows and sacrifice 
 offending man their high compassion wins 
 and daily prayers atone for daily sins 
 prayers are jove's daughters of celestial race 
 lame are their feet and wrinkled is their face 
 with humble mien and with dejected eyes 
 constant they follow where injustice flies 
 injustice swift erect and unconfined 
 sweeps the wide earth and tramples o'er mankind 
 while prayers to heal her wrongs move slow behind 
 who hears these daughters of almighty jove 
 for him they mediate to the throne above
 when man rejects the humble suit they make 
 the sire revenges for the daughters' sake 
 from jove commission'd fierce injustice then
 descends to punish unrelenting men 
 o let not headlong passion bear the sway
 these reconciling goddesses obey
 due honours to the seed of jove belong 
 due honours calm the fierce and bend the strong 
 were these not paid thee by the terms we bring 
 were rage still harbour'd in the haughty king 
 nor greece nor all her fortunes should engage
 thy friend to plead against so just a rage 
 but since what honour asks the general sends 
 and sends by those whom most thy heart commends 
 the best and noblest of the grecian train 
 permit not these to sue and sue in vain 
 let me my son an ancient fact unfold 
 a great example drawn from times of old 
 hear what our fathers were and what their praise 
 who conquer'd their revenge in former days 

  where calydon on rocky mountains stands 212 
 once fought the ctolian and curetian bands 
 to guard it those to conquer these advance 
 and mutual deaths were dealt with mutual chance 
 the silver cynthia bade contention rise 
 in vengeance of neglected sacrifice 
 on oeneus fields she sent a monstrous boar 
 that levell'd harvests and whole forests tore 
 this beast when many a chief his tusks had slain 
 great meleager stretch'd along the plain 
 then for his spoils a new debate arose 
 the neighbour nations thence commencing foes 
 strong as they were the bold curetes fail'd 
 while meleager's thundering arm prevail'd 
 till rage at length inflamed his lofty breast
 for rage invades the wisest and the best 

  cursed by althaea to his wrath he yields 
 and in his wife's embrace forgets the fields 
 she from marpessa sprung divinely fair 
 and matchless idas more than man in war 
 the god of day adored the mother's charms 
 against the god the father bent his arms 
 the afflicted pair their sorrows to proclaim 
 from cleopatra changed their daughter's name 
 and call'd alcyone a name to show
 the father's grief the mourning mother's woe 
 to her the chief retired from stern debate 
 but found no peace from fierce althaea's hate 
 althaea's hate the unhappy warrior drew 
 whose luckless hand his royal uncle slew 
 she beat the ground and call'd the powers beneath
 on her own son to wreak her brother's death 
 hell heard her curses from the realms profound 
 and the red fiends that walk the nightly round 
 in vain ctolia her deliverer waits 
 war shakes her walls and thunders at her gates 
 she sent ambassadors a chosen band 
 priests of the gods and elders of the land 
 besought the chief to save the sinking state 
 their prayers were urgent and their proffers great 
 full fifty acres of the richest ground 
 half pasture green and half with vineyards crown'd 
 his suppliant father aged oeneus came 
 his sisters follow'd even the vengeful dame 
 althaea sues his friends before him fall 
 he stands relentless and rejects them all 
 meanwhile the victor's shouts ascend the skies 
 the walls are scaled the rolling flames arise 
 at length his wife a form divine appears 
 with piercing cries and supplicating tears 
 she paints the horrors of a conquer'd town 
 the heroes slain the palaces o'erthrown 
 the matrons ravish'd the whole race enslaved 
 the warrior heard he vanquish'd and he saved 
 the ctolians long disdain'd now took their turn 
 and left the chief their broken faith to mourn 
 learn hence betimes to curb pernicious ire 
 nor stay till yonder fleets ascend in fire 
 accept the presents draw thy conquering sword 
 and be amongst our guardian gods adored  

 thus he the stern achilles thus replied 
  my second father and my reverend guide 
 thy friend believe me no such gifts demands 
 and asks no honours from a mortal's hands 
 jove honours me and favours my designs 
 his pleasure guides me and his will confines 
 and here i stay if such his high behest 
 while life's warm spirit beats within my breast 
 yet hear one word and lodge it in thy heart 
 no more molest me on atrides' part 
 is it for him these tears are taught to flow 
 for him these sorrows for my mortal foe 
 a generous friendship no cold medium knows 
 burns with one love with one resentment glows 
 one should our interests and our passions be 
 my friend must hate the man that injures me 
 do this my phoenix 'tis a generous part 
 and share my realms my honours and my heart 
 let these return our voyage or our stay 
 rest undetermined till the dawning day  

 he ceased then order'd for the sage's bed
 a warmer couch with numerous carpets spread 
 with that stern ajax his long silence broke 
 and thus impatient to ulysses spoke 

  hence let us go why waste we time in vain 
 see what effect our low submissions gain 
 liked or not liked his words we must relate 
 the greeks expect them and our heroes wait 
 proud as he is that iron heart retains
 its stubborn purpose and his friends disdains 
 stern and unpitying if a brother bleed 
 on just atonement we remit the deed 
 a sire the slaughter of his son forgives 
 the price of blood discharged the murderer lives 
 the haughtiest hearts at length their rage resign 
 and gifts can conquer every soul but thine 213 
 the gods that unrelenting breast have steel'd 
 and cursed thee with a mind that cannot yield 
 one woman-slave was ravish'd from thy arms 
 lo seven are offer'd and of equal charms 
 then hear achilles be of better mind 
 revere thy roof and to thy guests be kind 
 and know the men of all the grecian host 
 who honour worth and prize thy valour most  

  o soul of battles and thy people's guide 
 to ajax thus the first of greeks replied 
 well hast thou spoke but at the tyrant's name
 my rage rekindles and my soul's on flame 
 'tis just resentment and becomes the brave 
 disgraced dishonour'd like the vilest slave 
 return then heroes and our answer bear 
 the glorious combat is no more my care 
 not till amidst yon sinking navy slain 
 the blood of greeks shall dye the sable main 
 not till the flames by hector's fury thrown 
 consume your vessels and approach my own 
 just there the impetuous homicide shall stand 
 there cease his battle and there feel our hand  

 this said each prince a double goblet crown'd 
 and cast a large libation on the ground 
 then to their vessels through the gloomy shades 
 the chiefs return divine ulysses leads 
 meantime achilles' slaves prepared a bed 
 with fleeces carpets and soft linen spread 
 there till the sacred morn restored the day 
 in slumber sweet the reverend phoenix lay 
 but in his inner tent an ampler space 
 achilles slept and in his warm embrace
 fair diomede of the lesbian race 
 last for patroclus was the couch prepared 
 whose nightly joys the beauteous iphis shared 
 achilles to his friend consign'd her charms
 when scyros fell before his conquering arms 

 and now the elected chiefs whom greece had sent 
 pass'd through the hosts and reach'd the royal tent 
 then rising all with goblets in their hands 
 the peers and leaders of the achaian bands
 hail'd their return atrides first begun 

  say what success divine laertes' son 
 achilles' high resolves declare to all 
  returns the chief or must our navy fall  

  great king of nations ithacus replied 
 fix'd is his wrath unconquer'd is his pride 
 he slights thy friendship thy proposals scorns 
 and thus implored with fiercer fury burns 
 to save our army and our fleets to free 
 is not his care but left to greece and thee 
 your eyes shall view when morning paints the sky 
 beneath his oars the whitening billows fly 
 us too he bids our oars and sails employ 
 nor hope the fall of heaven-protected troy 
 for jove o'ershades her with his arm divine 
 inspires her war and bids her glory shine 
 such was his word what further he declared 
 these sacred heralds and great ajax heard 
 but phoenix in his tent the chief retains 
 safe to transport him to his native plains
 when morning dawns if other he decree 
 his age is sacred and his choice is free  

 ulysses ceased the great achaian host 
 with sorrow seized in consternation lost 
 attend the stern reply tydides broke
 the general silence and undaunted spoke 
  why should we gifts to proud achilles send 
 or strive with prayers his haughty soul to bend 
 his country's woes he glories to deride 
 and prayers will burst that swelling heart with pride 
 be the fierce impulse of his rage obey'd 
 our battles let him or desert or aid 
 then let him arm when jove or he think fit 
 that to his madness or to heaven commit 
 what for ourselves we can is always ours 
 this night let due repast refresh our powers 
 for strength consists in spirits and in blood 
 and those are owed to generous wine and food 
 but when the rosy messenger of day
 strikes the blue mountains with her golden ray 
 ranged at the ships let all our squadrons shine
 in flaming arms a long-extended line 
 in the dread front let great atrides stand 
 the first in danger as in high command  

 shouts of acclaim the listening heroes raise 
 then each to heaven the due libations pays 
 till sleep descending o'er the tents bestows
 the grateful blessings of desired repose   214 


 achilles 





book x 


argument 

the night-adventure of diomed and ulysses 

upon the refusal of achilles to return to the army the distress of
agamemnon is described in the most lively manner he takes no rest that
night but passes through the camp awaking the leaders and contriving
all possible methods for the public safety menelaus nestor ulysses and
diomed are employed in raising the rest of the captains they call a
council of war and determine to send scouts into the enemies' camp to
learn their posture and discover their intentions diomed undertakes this
hazardous enterprise and makes choice of ulysses for his companion in
their passage they surprise dolon whom hector had sent on a like design
to the camp of the grecians from him they are informed of the situation
of the trojan and auxiliary forces and particularly of rhesus and the
thracians who were lately arrived they pass on with success kill rhesus 
with several of his officers and seize the famous horses of that prince 
with which they return in triumph to the camp 

the same night continues the scene lies in the two camps 

 all night the chiefs before their vessels lay 
 and lost in sleep the labours of the day 
 all but the king with various thoughts oppress'd 215 
 his country's cares lay rolling in his breast 
 as when by lightnings jove's ethereal power
 foretels the rattling hail or weighty shower 
 or sends soft snows to whiten all the shore 
 or bids the brazen throat of war to roar 
 by fits one flash succeeds as one expires 
 and heaven flames thick with momentary fires 
 so bursting frequent from atrides' breast 
 sighs following sighs his inward fears confess'd 
 now o'er the fields dejected he surveys
 from thousand trojan fires the mounting blaze 
 hears in the passing wind their music blow 
 and marks distinct the voices of the foe 
 now looking backwards to the fleet and coast 
 anxious he sorrows for the endangered host 
 he rends his hair in sacrifice to jove 
 and sues to him that ever lives above 
 inly he groans while glory and despair
 divide his heart and wage a double war 

 a thousand cares his labouring breast revolves 
 to seek sage nestor now the chief resolves 
 with him in wholesome counsels to debate
 what yet remains to save the afflicted state 
 he rose and first he cast his mantle round 
 next on his feet the shining sandals bound 
 a lion's yellow spoils his back conceal'd 
 his warlike hand a pointed javelin held 
 meanwhile his brother press'd with equal woes 
 alike denied the gifts of soft repose 
 laments for greece that in his cause before
 so much had suffer'd and must suffer more 
 a leopard's spotted hide his shoulders spread 
 a brazen helmet glitter'd on his head 
 thus with a javelin in his hand he went
 to wake atrides in the royal tent 
 already waked atrides he descried 
 his armour buckling at his vessel's side 
 joyful they met the spartan thus begun 
  why puts my brother his bright armour on 
 sends he some spy amidst these silent hours 
 to try yon camp and watch the trojan powers 
 but say what hero shall sustain that task 
 such bold exploits uncommon courage ask 
 guideless alone through night's dark shade to go 
 and midst a hostile camp explore the foe  

 to whom the king  in such distress we stand 
 no vulgar counsel our affairs demand 
 greece to preserve is now no easy part 
 but asks high wisdom deep design and art 
 for jove averse our humble prayer denies 
 and bows his head to hector's sacrifice 
 what eye has witness'd or what ear believed 
 in one great day by one great arm achieved 
 such wondrous deeds as hector's hand has done 
 and we beheld the last revolving sun
 what honours the beloved of jove adorn 
 sprung from no god and of no goddess born 
 yet such his acts as greeks unborn shall tell 
 and curse the battle where their fathers fell 

  now speed thy hasty course along the fleet 
 there call great ajax and the prince of crete 
 ourself to hoary nestor will repair 
 to keep the guards on duty be his care 
 for nestor's influence best that quarter guides 
 whose son with merion o'er the watch presides   
 to whom the spartan  these thy orders borne 
 say shall i stay or with despatch return  
  there shall thou stay the king of men replied 
 else may we miss to meet without a guide 
 the paths so many and the camp so wide 
 still with your voice the slothful soldiers raise 
 urge by their fathers' fame their future praise 
 forget we now our state and lofty birth 
 not titles here but works must prove our worth 
 to labour is the lot of man below 
 and when jove gave us life he gave us woe  

 this said each parted to his several cares 
 the king to nestor's sable ship repairs 
 the sage protector of the greeks he found
 stretch'd in his bed with all his arms around
 the various-colour'd scarf the shield he rears 
 the shining helmet and the pointed spears 
 the dreadful weapons of the warrior's rage 
 that old in arms disdain'd the peace of age 
 then leaning on his hand his watchful head 
 the hoary monarch raised his eyes and said 

  what art thou speak that on designs unknown 
 while others sleep thus range the camp alone 
 seek'st thou some friend or nightly sentinel 
 stand off approach not but thy purpose tell  

  o son of neleus thus the king rejoin'd 
 pride of the greeks and glory of thy kind 
 lo here the wretched agamemnon stands 
 the unhappy general of the grecian bands 
 whom jove decrees with daily cares to bend 
 and woes that only with his life shall end 
 scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain 
 and scarce my heart support its load of pain 
 no taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known 
 confused and sad i wander thus alone 
 with fears distracted with no fix'd design 
 and all my people's miseries are mine 
 if aught of use thy waking thoughts suggest 
 since cares like mine deprive thy soul of rest 
 impart thy counsel and assist thy friend 
 now let us jointly to the trench descend 
 at every gate the fainting guard excite 
 tired with the toils of day and watch of night 
 else may the sudden foe our works invade 
 so near and favour'd by the gloomy shade  

 to him thus nestor  trust the powers above 
 nor think proud hector's hopes confirm'd by jove 
 how ill agree the views of vain mankind 
 and the wise counsels of the eternal mind 
 audacious hector if the gods ordain
 that great achilles rise and rage again 
 what toils attend thee and what woes remain 
 lo faithful nestor thy command obeys 
 the care is next our other chiefs to raise 
 ulysses diomed we chiefly need 
 meges for strength oileus famed for speed 
 some other be despatch'd of nimbler feet 
 to those tall ships remotest of the fleet 
 where lie great ajax and the king of crete 216 
 to rouse the spartan i myself decree 
 dear as he is to us and dear to thee 
 yet must i tax his sloth that claims no share
 with his great brother in his martial care 
 him it behoved to every chief to sue 
 preventing every part perform'd by you 
 for strong necessity our toils demands 
 claims all our hearts and urges all our hands  

 to whom the king  with reverence we allow
 thy just rebukes yet learn to spare them now 
 my generous brother is of gentle kind 
 he seems remiss but bears a valiant mind 
 through too much deference to our sovereign sway 
 content to follow when we lead the way 
 but now our ills industrious to prevent 
 long ere the rest he rose and sought my tent 
 the chiefs you named already at his call 
 prepare to meet us near the navy-wall 
 assembling there between the trench and gates 
 near the night-guards our chosen council waits  

  then none said nestor shall his rule withstand 
 for great examples justify command  
 with that the venerable warrior rose 
 the shining greaves his manly legs enclose 
 his purple mantle golden buckles join'd 
 warm with the softest wool and doubly lined 
 then rushing from his tent he snatch'd in haste
 his steely lance that lighten'd as he pass'd 
 the camp he traversed through the sleeping crowd 
 stopp'd at ulysses' tent and call'd aloud 
 ulysses sudden as the voice was sent 
 awakes starts up and issues from his tent 
  what new distress what sudden cause of fright 
 thus leads you wandering in the silent night  
  o prudent chief the pylian sage replied 
 wise as thou art be now thy wisdom tried 
 whatever means of safety can be sought 
 whatever counsels can inspire our thought 
 whatever methods or to fly or fight 
 all all depend on this important night  
 he heard return'd and took his painted shield 
 then join'd the chiefs and follow'd through the field 
 without his tent bold diomed they found 
 all sheathed in arms his brave companions round 
 each sunk in sleep extended on the field 
 his head reclining on his bossy shield 
 a wood of spears stood by that fix'd upright 
 shot from their flashing points a quivering light 
 a bull's black hide composed the hero's bed 
 a splendid carpet roll'd beneath his head 
 then with his foot old nestor gently shakes
 the slumbering chief and in these words awakes 

  rise son of tydeus to the brave and strong
 rest seems inglorious and the night too long 
 but sleep'st thou now when from yon hill the foe
 hangs o'er the fleet and shades our walls below  

 at this soft slumber from his eyelids fled 
 the warrior saw the hoary chief and said 
  wondrous old man whose soul no respite knows 
 though years and honours bid thee seek repose 
 let younger greeks our sleeping warriors wake 
 ill fits thy age these toils to undertake  
  my friend he answered generous is thy care 
 these toils my subjects and my sons might bear 
 their loyal thoughts and pious love conspire
 to ease a sovereign and relieve a sire 
 but now the last despair surrounds our host 
 no hour must pass no moment must be lost 
 each single greek in this conclusive strife 
 stands on the sharpest edge of death or life 
 yet if my years thy kind regard engage 
 employ thy youth as i employ my age 
 succeed to these my cares and rouse the rest 
 he serves me most who serves his country best  

 this said the hero o'er his shoulders flung
 a lion's spoils that to his ankles hung 
 then seized his ponderous lance and strode along 
 meges the bold with ajax famed for speed 
 the warrior roused and to the entrenchments lead 

 and now the chiefs approach the nightly guard 
 a wakeful squadron each in arms prepared 
 the unwearied watch their listening leaders keep 
 and couching close repel invading sleep 
 so faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain 
 with toil protected from the prowling train 
 when the gaunt lioness with hunger bold 
 springs from the mountains toward the guarded fold 
 through breaking woods her rustling course they hear 
 loud and more loud the clamours strike their ear
 of hounds and men they start they gaze around 
 watch every side and turn to every sound 
 thus watch'd the grecians cautious of surprise 
 each voice each motion drew their ears and eyes 
 each step of passing feet increased the affright 
 and hostile troy was ever full in sight 
 nestor with joy the wakeful band survey'd 
 and thus accosted through the gloomy shade 
  'tis well my sons your nightly cares employ 
 else must our host become the scorn of troy 
 watch thus and greece shall live   the hero said 
 then o'er the trench the following chieftains led 
 his son and godlike merion march'd behind
 for these the princes to their council join'd 
 the trenches pass'd the assembled kings around
 in silent state the consistory crown'd 
 a place there was yet undefiled with gore 
 the spot where hector stopp'd his rage before 
 when night descending from his vengeful hand
 reprieved the relics of the grecian band 
 the plain beside with mangled corps was spread 
 and all his progress mark'd by heaps of dead 
 there sat the mournful kings when neleus' son 
 the council opening in these words begun 

  is there said he a chief so greatly brave 
 his life to hazard and his country save 
 lives there a man who singly dares to go
 to yonder camp or seize some straggling foe 
 or favour'd by the night approach so near 
 their speech their counsels and designs to hear 
 if to besiege our navies they prepare 
 or troy once more must be the seat of war 
 this could he learn and to our peers recite 
 and pass unharm'd the dangers of the night 
 what fame were his through all succeeding days 
 while phoebus shines or men have tongues to praise 
 what gifts his grateful country would bestow 
 what must not greece to her deliverer owe 
 a sable ewe each leader should provide 
 with each a sable lambkin by her side 
 at every rite his share should be increased 
 and his the foremost honours of the feast  

 fear held them mute alone untaught to fear 
 tydides spoke  the man you seek is here 
 through yon black camps to bend my dangerous way 
 some god within commands and i obey 
 but let some other chosen warrior join 
 to raise my hopes and second my design 
 by mutual confidence and mutual aid 
 great deeds are done and great discoveries made 
 the wise new prudence from the wise acquire 
 and one brave hero fans another's fire  

 contending leaders at the word arose 
 each generous breast with emulation glows 
 so brave a task each ajax strove to share 
 bold merion strove and nestor's valiant heir 
 the spartan wish'd the second place to gain 
 and great ulysses wish'd nor wish'd in vain 
 then thus the king of men the contest ends 
  thou first of warriors and thou best of friends 
 undaunted diomed what chief to join
 in this great enterprise is only thine 
 just be thy choice without affection made 
 to birth or office no respect be paid 
 let worth determine here   the monarch spake 
 and inly trembled for his brother's sake 

  then thus the godlike diomed rejoin'd 
 my choice declares the impulse of my mind 
 how can i doubt while great ulysses stands
 to lend his counsels and assist our hands 
 a chief whose safety is minerva's care 
 so famed so dreadful in the works of war 
 bless'd in his conduct i no aid require 
 wisdom like his might pass through flames of fire  

  it fits thee not before these chiefs of fame 
 replied the sage to praise me or to blame 
 praise from a friend or censure from a foe 
 are lost on hearers that our merits know 
 but let us haste night rolls the hours away 
 the reddening orient shows the coming day 
 the stars shine fainter on the ethereal plains 
 and of night's empire but a third remains  

 thus having spoke with generous ardour press'd 
 in arms terrific their huge limbs they dress'd 
 a two-edged falchion thrasymed the brave 
 and ample buckler to tydides gave 
 then in a leathern helm he cased his head 
 short of its crest and with no plume o'erspread 
 such as by youths unused to arms are worn 
 no spoils enrich it and no studs adorn 
 next him ulysses took a shining sword 
 a bow and quiver with bright arrows stored 
 a well-proved casque with leather braces bound 
 thy gift meriones his temples crown'd 
 soft wool within without in order spread 217 
 a boar's white teeth grinn'd horrid o'er his head 
 this from amyntor rich ormenus' son 
 autolycus by fraudful rapine won 
 and gave amphidamas from him the prize
 molus received the pledge of social ties 
 the helmet next by merion was possess'd 
 and now ulysses' thoughtful temples press'd 
 thus sheathed in arms the council they forsake 
 and dark through paths oblique their progress take 
 just then in sign she favour'd their intent 
 a long-wing'd heron great minerva sent 
 this though surrounding shades obscured their view 
 by the shrill clang and whistling wings they knew 
 as from the right she soar'd ulysses pray'd 
 hail'd the glad omen and address'd the maid 

  o daughter of that god whose arm can wield
 the avenging bolt and shake the dreadful shield 
 o thou for ever present in my way 
 who all my motions all my toils survey 
 safe may we pass beneath the gloomy shade 
 safe by thy succour to our ships convey'd 
 and let some deed this signal night adorn 
 to claim the tears of trojans yet unborn  

 then godlike diomed preferr'd his prayer 
  daughter of jove unconquer'd pallas hear 
 great queen of arms whose favour tydeus won 
 as thou defend'st the sire defend the son 
 when on csopus' banks the banded powers
 of greece he left and sought the theban towers 
 peace was his charge received with peaceful show 
 he went a legate but return'd a foe 
 then help'd by thee and cover'd by thy shield 
 he fought with numbers and made numbers yield 
 so now be present o celestial maid 
 so still continue to the race thine aid 
 a youthful steer shall fall beneath the stroke 
 untamed unconscious of the galling yoke 
 with ample forehead and with spreading horns 
 whose taper tops refulgent gold adorns  
 the heroes pray'd and pallas from the skies
 accords their vow succeeds their enterprise 
 now like two lions panting for the prey 
 with dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way 
 through the black horrors of the ensanguined plain 
 through dust through blood o'er arms and hills of slain 

 nor less bold hector and the sons of troy 
 on high designs the wakeful hours employ 
 the assembled peers their lofty chief enclosed 
 who thus the counsels of his breast proposed 

  what glorious man for high attempts prepared 
 dares greatly venture for a rich reward 
 of yonder fleet a bold discovery make 
 what watch they keep and what resolves they take 
 if now subdued they meditate their flight 
 and spent with toil neglect the watch of night 
 his be the chariot that shall please him most 
 of all the plunder of the vanquish'd host 
 his the fair steeds that all the rest excel 
 and his the glory to have served so well  

 a youth there was among the tribes of troy 
 dolon his name eumedes' only boy 
 five girls beside the reverend herald told 
 rich was the son in brass and rich in gold 
 not bless'd by nature with the charms of face 
 but swift of foot and matchless in the race 
  hector he said my courage bids me meet
 this high achievement and explore the fleet 
 but first exalt thy sceptre to the skies 
 and swear to grant me the demanded prize 
 the immortal coursers and the glittering car 
 that bear pelides through the ranks of war 
 encouraged thus no idle scout i go 
 fulfil thy wish their whole intention know 
 even to the royal tent pursue my way 
 and all their counsels all their aims betray  

 the chief then heaved the golden sceptre high 
 attesting thus the monarch of the sky 
  be witness thou immortal lord of all 
 whose thunder shakes the dark aerial hall 
 by none but dolon shall this prize be borne 
 and him alone the immortal steeds adorn  

 thus hector swore the gods were call'd in vain 
 but the rash youth prepares to scour the plain 
 across his back the bended bow he flung 
 a wolf's grey hide around his shoulders hung 
 a ferret's downy fur his helmet lined 
 and in his hand a pointed javelin shined 
 then never to return he sought the shore 
 and trod the path his feet must tread no more 
 scarce had he pass'd the steeds and trojan throng 
 still bending forward as he coursed along 
 when on the hollow way the approaching tread
 ulysses mark'd and thus to diomed 

  o friend i hear some step of hostile feet 
 moving this way or hastening to the fleet 
 some spy perhaps to lurk beside the main 
 or nightly pillager that strips the slain 
 yet let him pass and win a little space 
 then rush behind him and prevent his pace 
 but if too swift of foot he flies before 
 confine his course along the fleet and shore 
 betwixt the camp and him our spears employ 
 and intercept his hoped return to troy  

 with that they stepp'd aside and stoop'd their head 
 as dolon pass'd behind a heap of dead 
 along the path the spy unwary flew 
 soft at just distance both the chiefs pursue 
 so distant they and such the space between 
 as when two teams of mules divide the green 
 to whom the hind like shares of land allows 
 when now new furrows part the approaching ploughs 
 now dolon listening heard them as they pass'd 
 hector he thought had sent and check'd his haste 
 till scarce at distance of a javelin's throw 
 no voice succeeding he perceived the foe 
 as when two skilful hounds the leveret wind 
 or chase through woods obscure the trembling hind 
 now lost now seen they intercept his way 
 and from the herd still turn the flying prey 
 so fast and with such fears the trojan flew 
 so close so constant the bold greeks pursue 
 now almost on the fleet the dastard falls 
 and mingles with the guards that watch the walls 
 when brave tydides stopp'd a gen'rous thought
 inspired by pallas in his bosom wrought 
 lest on the foe some forward greek advance 
 and snatch the glory from his lifted lance 
 then thus aloud  whoe'er thou art remain 
 this javelin else shall fix thee to the plain  
 he said and high in air the weapon cast 
 which wilful err'd and o'er his shoulder pass'd 
 then fix'd in earth against the trembling wood
 the wretch stood propp'd and quiver'd as he stood 
 a sudden palsy seized his turning head 
 his loose teeth chatter'd and his colour fled 
 the panting warriors seize him as he stands 
 and with unmanly tears his life demands 

  o spare my youth and for the breath i owe 
 large gifts of price my father shall bestow 
 vast heaps of brass shall in your ships be told 
 and steel well-temper'd and refulgent gold  

 to whom ulysses made this wise reply 
  whoe'er thou art be bold nor fear to die 
 what moves thee say when sleep has closed the sight 
 to roam the silent fields in dead of night 
 cam'st thou the secrets of our camp to find 
 by hector prompted or thy daring mind 
 or art some wretch by hopes of plunder led 
 through heaps of carnage to despoil the dead  

 then thus pale dolon with a fearful look 
 still as he spoke his limbs with horror shook 
  hither i came by hector's words deceived 
 much did he promise rashly i believed 
 no less a bribe than great achilles' car 
 and those swift steeds that sweep the ranks of war 
 urged me unwilling this attempt to make 
 to learn what counsels what resolves you take 
 if now subdued you fix your hopes on flight 
 and tired with toils neglect the watch of night  

  bold was thy aim and glorious was the prize 
 ulysses with a scornful smile replies 
 far other rulers those proud steeds demand 
 and scorn the guidance of a vulgar hand 
 even great achilles scarce their rage can tame 
 achilles sprung from an immortal dame 
 but say be faithful and the truth recite 
 where lies encamp'd the trojan chief to-night 
 where stand his coursers in what quarter sleep
 their other princes tell what watch they keep 
 say since this conquest what their counsels are 
 or here to combat from their city far 
 or back to ilion's walls transfer the war  

 ulysses thus and thus eumedes' son 
  what dolon knows his faithful tongue shall own 
 hector the peers assembling in his tent 
 a council holds at ilus' monument 
 no certain guards the nightly watch partake 
 where'er yon fires ascend the trojans wake 
 anxious for troy the guard the natives keep 
 safe in their cares the auxiliar forces sleep 
 whose wives and infants from the danger far 
 discharge their souls of half the fears of war  

  then sleep those aids among the trojan train 
 inquired the chief or scattered o'er the plain  
 to whom the spy  their powers they thus dispose
 the paeons dreadful with their bended bows 
 the carians caucons the pelasgian host 
 and leleges encamp along the coast 
 not distant far lie higher on the land
 the lycian mysian and maeonian band 
 and phrygia's horse by thymbras' ancient wall 
 the thracians utmost and apart from all 
 these troy but lately to her succour won 
 led on by rhesus great eioneus' son 
 i saw his coursers in proud triumph go 
 swift as the wind and white as winter-snow 
 rich silver plates his shining car infold 
 his solid arms refulgent flame with gold 
 no mortal shoulders suit the glorious load 
 celestial panoply to grace a god 
 let me unhappy to your fleet be borne 
 or leave me here a captive's fate to mourn 
 in cruel chains till your return reveal
 the truth or falsehood of the news i tell  

 to this tydides with a gloomy frown 
  think not to live though all the truth be shown 
 shall we dismiss thee in some future strife
 to risk more bravely thy now forfeit life 
 or that again our camps thou may'st explore 
 no once a traitor thou betray'st no more  

 sternly he spoke and as the wretch prepared
 with humble blandishment to stroke his beard 
 like lightning swift the wrathful falchion flew 
 divides the neck and cuts the nerves in two 
 one instant snatch'd his trembling soul to hell 
 the head yet speaking mutter'd as it fell 
 the furry helmet from his brow they tear 
 the wolf's grey hide the unbended bow and spear 
 these great ulysses lifting to the skies 
 to favouring pallas dedicates the prize 

  great queen of arms receive this hostile spoil 
 and let the thracian steeds reward our toil 
 thee first of all the heavenly host we praise 
 o speed our labours and direct our ways  
 this said the spoils with dropping gore defaced 
 high on a spreading tamarisk he placed 
 then heap'd with reeds and gathered boughs the plain 
 to guide their footsteps to the place again 

 through the still night they cross the devious fields 
 slippery with blood o'er arms and heaps of shields 
 arriving where the thracian squadrons lay 
 and eased in sleep the labours of the day 
 ranged in three lines they view the prostrate band 
 the horses yoked beside each warrior stand 
 their arms in order on the ground reclined 
 through the brown shade the fulgid weapons shined 
 amidst lay rhesus stretch'd in sleep profound 
 and the white steeds behind his chariot bound 
 the welcome sight ulysses first descries 
 and points to diomed the tempting prize 
  the man the coursers and the car behold 
 described by dolon with the arms of gold 
 now brave tydides now thy courage try 
 approach the chariot and the steeds untie 
 or if thy soul aspire to fiercer deeds 
 urge thou the slaughter while i seize the steeds  

 pallas this said her hero's bosom warms 
 breathed in his heart and strung his nervous arms 
 where'er he pass'd a purple stream pursued
 his thirsty falchion fat with hostile blood 
 bathed all his footsteps dyed the fields with gore 
 and a low groan remurmur'd through the shore 
 so the grim lion from his nightly den 
 o'erleaps the fences and invades the pen 
 on sheep or goats resistless in his way 
 he falls and foaming rends the guardless prey 
 nor stopp'd the fury of his vengeful hand 
 till twelve lay breathless of the thracian band 
 ulysses following as his partner slew 
 back by the foot each slaughter'd warrior drew 
 the milk-white coursers studious to convey
 safe to the ships he wisely cleared the way 
 lest the fierce steeds not yet to battles bred 
 should start and tremble at the heaps of dead 
 now twelve despatch'd the monarch last they found 
 tydides' falchion fix'd him to the ground 
 just then a deathful dream minerva sent 
 a warlike form appear'd before his tent 
 whose visionary steel his bosom tore 
 so dream'd the monarch and awaked no more 218 

 ulysses now the snowy steeds detains 
 and leads them fasten'd by the silver reins 
 these with his bow unbent he lash'd along 
 the scourge forgot on rhesus' chariot hung 
 then gave his friend the signal to retire 
 but him new dangers new achievements fire 
 doubtful he stood or with his reeking blade
 to send more heroes to the infernal shade 
 drag off the car where rhesus' armour lay 
 or heave with manly force and lift away 
 while unresolved the son of tydeus stands 
 pallas appears and thus her chief commands 

  enough my son from further slaughter cease 
 regard thy safety and depart in peace 
 haste to the ships the gotten spoils enjoy 
 nor tempt too far the hostile gods of troy  

 the voice divine confess'd the martial maid 
 in haste he mounted and her word obey'd 
 the coursers fly before ulysses' bow 
 swift as the wind and white as winter-snow 

 not unobserved they pass'd the god of light
 had watch'd his troy and mark'd minerva's flight 
 saw tydeus' son with heavenly succour bless'd 
 and vengeful anger fill'd his sacred breast 
 swift to the trojan camp descends the power 
 and wakes hippocoon in the morning-hour 
 on rhesus' side accustom'd to attend 
 a faithful kinsman and instructive friend 
 he rose and saw the field deform'd with blood 
 an empty space where late the coursers stood 
 the yet-warm thracians panting on the coast 
 for each he wept but for his rhesus most 
 now while on rhesus' name he calls in vain 
 the gathering tumult spreads o'er all the plain 
 on heaps the trojans rush with wild affright 
 and wondering view the slaughters of the night 

 meanwhile the chiefs arriving at the shade
 where late the spoils of hector's spy were laid 
 ulysses stopp'd to him tydides bore
 the trophy dropping yet with dolon's gore 
 then mounts again again their nimbler feet
 the coursers ply and thunder towards the fleet 


 diomed and ulysses returning with the spoils of rhesus 


 old nestor first perceived the approaching sound 
 bespeaking thus the grecian peers around 
  methinks the noise of trampling steeds i hear 
 thickening this way and gathering on my ear 
 perhaps some horses of the trojan breed
 so may ye gods my pious hopes succeed 
 the great tydides and ulysses bear 
 return'd triumphant with this prize of war 
 yet much i fear ah may that fear be vain 
 the chiefs outnumber'd by the trojan train 
 perhaps even now pursued they seek the shore 
 or oh perhaps those heroes are no more  

 scarce had he spoke when lo the chiefs appear 
 and spring to earth the greeks dismiss their fear 
 with words of friendship and extended hands
 they greet the kings and nestor first demands 

  say thou whose praises all our host proclaim 
 thou living glory of the grecian name 
 say whence these coursers by what chance bestow'd 
 the spoil of foes or present of a god 
 not those fair steeds so radiant and so gay 
 that draw the burning chariot of the day 
 old as i am to age i scorn to yield 
 and daily mingle in the martial field 
 but sure till now no coursers struck my sight
 like these conspicuous through the ranks of fight 
 some god i deem conferred the glorious prize 
 bless'd as ye are and favourites of the skies 
 the care of him who bids the thunder roar 
 and her whose fury bathes the world with gore  

  father not so sage ithacus rejoin'd 
 the gifts of heaven are of a nobler kind 
 of thracian lineage are the steeds ye view 
 whose hostile king the brave tydides slew 
 sleeping he died with all his guards around 
 and twelve beside lay gasping on the ground 
 these other spoils from conquer'd dolon came 
 a wretch whose swiftness was his only fame 
 by hector sent our forces to explore 
 he now lies headless on the sandy shore  

 then o'er the trench the bounding coursers flew 
 the joyful greeks with loud acclaim pursue 
 straight to tydides' high pavilion borne 
 the matchless steeds his ample stalls adorn 
 the neighing coursers their new fellows greet 
 and the full racks are heap'd with generous wheat 
 but dolon's armour to his ships convey'd 
 high on the painted stern ulysses laid 
 a trophy destin'd to the blue-eyed maid 

 now from nocturnal sweat and sanguine stain
 they cleanse their bodies in the neighb'ring main 
 then in the polished bath refresh'd from toil 
 their joints they supple with dissolving oil 
 in due repast indulge the genial hour 
 and first to pallas the libations pour 
 they sit rejoicing in her aid divine 
 and the crown'd goblet foams with floods of wine 





book xi 


argument

the third battle and the acts of agamemnon 

agamemnon having armed himself leads the grecians to battle hector
prepares the trojans to receive them while jupiter juno and minerva
give the signals of war agamemnon bears all before him and hector is
commanded by jupiter who sends iris for that purpose to decline the
engagement till the king shall be wounded and retire from the field he
then makes a great slaughter of the enemy ulysses and diomed put a stop
to him for a time but the latter being wounded by paris is obliged to
desert his companion who is encompassed by the trojans wounded and in
the utmost danger till menelaus and ajax rescue him hector comes against
ajax but that hero alone opposes multitudes and rallies the greeks in
the meantime machaon in the other wing of the army is pierced with an
arrow by paris and carried from the fight in nestor's chariot achilles
 who overlooked the action from his ship sent patroclus to inquire which
of the greeks was wounded in that manner nestor entertains him in his
tent with an account of the accidents of the day and a long recital of
some former wars which he remembered tending to put patroclus upon
persuading achilles to fight for his countrymen or at least to permit him
to do it clad in achilles' armour patroclus on his return meets
eurypylus also wounded and assists him in that distress 

this book opens with the eight and-twentieth day of the poem and the same
day with its various actions and adventures is extended through the
twelfth thirteenth fourteenth fifteenth sixteenth seventeenth and
part of the eighteenth books the scene lies in the field near the
monument of ilus 

 the saffron morn with early blushes spread 219 
 now rose refulgent from tithonus' bed 
 with new-born day to gladden mortal sight 
 and gild the courts of heaven with sacred light 
 when baleful eris sent by jove's command 
 the torch of discord blazing in her hand 
 through the red skies her bloody sign extends 
 and wrapt in tempests o'er the fleet descends 
 high on ulysses' bark her horrid stand
 she took and thunder'd through the seas and land 

 even ajax and achilles heard the sound 
 whose ships remote the guarded navy bound 
 thence the black fury through the grecian throng
 with horror sounds the loud orthian song 
 the navy shakes and at the dire alarms
 each bosom boils each warrior starts to arms 
 no more they sigh inglorious to return 
 but breathe revenge and for the combat burn 


 the descent of discord 


 the king of men his hardy host inspires
 with loud command with great example fires 
 himself first rose himself before the rest
 his mighty limbs in radiant armour dress'd 
 and first he cased his manly legs around
 in shining greaves with silver buckles bound 
 the beaming cuirass next adorn'd his breast 
 the same which once king cinyras possess'd 
 the fame of greece and her assembled host
 had reach'd that monarch on the cyprian coast 
 'twas then the friendship of the chief to gain 
 this glorious gift he sent nor sent in vain 
 ten rows of azure steel the work infold 
 twice ten of tin and twelve of ductile gold 
 three glittering dragons to the gorget rise 
 whose imitated scales against the skies
 reflected various light and arching bow'd 
 like colour'd rainbows o'er a showery cloud
 jove's wondrous bow of three celestial dies 
 placed as a sign to man amidst the skies 
 a radiant baldric o'er his shoulder tied 
 sustain'd the sword that glitter'd at his side 
 gold was the hilt a silver sheath encased
 the shining blade and golden hangers graced 
 his buckler's mighty orb was next display'd 
 that round the warrior cast a dreadful shade 
 ten zones of brass its ample brim surround 
 and twice ten bosses the bright convex crown'd 
 tremendous gorgon frown'd upon its field 
 and circling terrors fill'd the expressive shield 
 within its concave hung a silver thong 
 on which a mimic serpent creeps along 
 his azure length in easy waves extends 
 till in three heads the embroider'd monster ends 
 last o'er his brows his fourfold helm he placed 
 with nodding horse-hair formidably graced 
 and in his hands two steely javelins wields 
 that blaze to heaven and lighten all the fields 

 that instant juno and the martial maid 
 in happy thunders promised greece their aid 
 high o'er the chief they clash'd their arms in air 
 and leaning from the clouds expect the war 

 close to the limits of the trench and mound 
 the fiery coursers to their chariots bound
 the squires restrain'd the foot with those who wield
 the lighter arms rush forward to the field 
 to second these in close array combined 
 the squadrons spread their sable wings behind 
 now shouts and tumults wake the tardy sun 
 as with the light the warriors' toils begun 
 even jove whose thunder spoke his wrath distill'd
 red drops of blood o'er all the fatal field 220 
 the woes of men unwilling to survey 
 and all the slaughters that must stain the day 

 near ilus' tomb in order ranged around 
 the trojan lines possess'd the rising ground 
 there wise polydamas and hector stood 
 cneas honour'd as a guardian god 
 bold polybus agenor the divine 
 the brother-warriors of antenor's line 
 with youthful acamas whose beauteous face
 and fair proportion match'd the ethereal race 
 great hector cover'd with his spacious shield 
 plies all the troops and orders all the field 
 as the red star now shows his sanguine fires
 through the dark clouds and now in night retires 
 thus through the ranks appear'd the godlike man 
 plunged in the rear or blazing in the van 
 while streamy sparkles restless as he flies 
 flash from his arms as lightning from the skies 
 as sweating reapers in some wealthy field 
 ranged in two bands their crooked weapons wield 
 bear down the furrows till their labours meet 
 thick fall the heapy harvests at their feet 
 so greece and troy the field of war divide 
 and falling ranks are strow'd on every side 
 none stoop'd a thought to base inglorious flight 221 
 but horse to horse and man to man they fight 
 not rabid wolves more fierce contest their prey 
 each wounds each bleeds but none resign the day 
 discord with joy the scene of death descries 
 and drinks large slaughter at her sanguine eyes 
 discord alone of all the immortal train 
 swells the red horrors of this direful plain 
 the gods in peace their golden mansions fill 
 ranged in bright order on the olympian hill 
 but general murmurs told their griefs above 
 and each accused the partial will of jove 
 meanwhile apart superior and alone 
 the eternal monarch on his awful throne 
 wrapt in the blaze of boundless glory sate 
 and fix'd fulfill'd the just decrees of fate 
 on earth he turn'd his all-considering eyes 
 and mark'd the spot where ilion's towers arise 
 the sea with ships the fields with armies spread 
 the victor's rage the dying and the dead 

 thus while the morning-beams increasing bright 
 o'er heaven's pure azure spread the glowing light 
 commutual death the fate of war confounds 
 each adverse battle gored with equal wounds 
 but now what time in some sequester'd vale
 the weary woodman spreads his sparing meal 
 when his tired arms refuse the axe to rear 
 and claim a respite from the sylvan war 
 but not till half the prostrate forests lay
 stretch'd in long ruin and exposed to day 
 then nor till then the greeks' impulsive might
 pierced the black phalanx and let in the light 
 great agamemnon then the slaughter led 
 and slew bienor at his people's head 
 whose squire oileus with a sudden spring 
 leap'd from the chariot to revenge his king 
 but in his front he felt the fatal wound 
 which pierced his brain and stretch'd him on the ground 
 atrides spoil'd and left them on the plain 
 vain was their youth their glittering armour vain 
 now soil'd with dust and naked to the sky 
 their snowy limbs and beauteous bodies lie 

 two sons of priam next to battle move 
 the product one of marriage one of love 222 
 in the same car the brother-warriors ride 
 this took the charge to combat that to guide 
 far other task than when they wont to keep 
 on ida's tops their father's fleecy sheep 
 these on the mountains once achilles found 
 and captive led with pliant osiers bound 
 then to their sire for ample sums restored 
 but now to perish by atrides' sword 
 pierced in the breast the base-born isus bleeds 
 cleft through the head his brother's fate succeeds 
 swift to the spoil the hasty victor falls 
 and stript their features to his mind recalls 
 the trojans see the youths untimely die 
 but helpless tremble for themselves and fly 
 so when a lion ranging o'er the lawns 
 finds on some grassy lair the couching fawns 
 their bones he cracks their reeking vitals draws 
 and grinds the quivering flesh with bloody jaws 
 the frighted hind beholds and dares not stay 
 but swift through rustling thickets bursts her way 
 all drown'd in sweat the panting mother flies 
 and the big tears roll trickling from her eyes 

 amidst the tumult of the routed train 
 the sons of false antimachus were slain 
 he who for bribes his faithless counsels sold 
 and voted helen's stay for paris' gold 
 atrides mark'd as these their safety sought 
 and slew the children for the father's fault 
 their headstrong horse unable to restrain 
 they shook with fear and dropp'd the silken rein 
 then in the chariot on their knees they fall 
 and thus with lifted hands for mercy call 

  o spare our youth and for the life we owe 
 antimachus shall copious gifts bestow 
 soon as he hears that not in battle slain 
 the grecian ships his captive sons detain 
 large heaps of brass in ransom shall be told 
 and steel well-tempered and persuasive gold  

 these words attended with the flood of tears 
 the youths address'd to unrelenting ears 
 the vengeful monarch gave this stern reply 
  if from antimachus ye spring ye die 
 the daring wretch who once in council stood
 to shed ulysses' and my brother's blood 
 for proffer'd peace and sues his seed for grace 
 no die and pay the forfeit of your race  

 this said pisander from the car he cast 
 and pierced his breast supine he breathed his last 
 his brother leap'd to earth but as he lay 
 the trenchant falchion lopp'd his hands away 
 his sever'd head was toss'd among the throng 
 and rolling drew a bloody train along 
 then where the thickest fought the victor flew 
 the king's example all his greeks pursue 
 now by the foot the flying foot were slain 
 horse trod by horse lay foaming on the plain 
 from the dry fields thick clouds of dust arise 
 shade the black host and intercept the skies 
 the brass-hoof'd steeds tumultuous plunge and bound 
 and the thick thunder beats the labouring ground 
 still slaughtering on the king of men proceeds 
 the distanced army wonders at his deeds 
 as when the winds with raging flames conspire 
 and o'er the forests roll the flood of fire 
 in blazing heaps the grove's old honours fall 
 and one refulgent ruin levels all 
 before atrides' rage so sinks the foe 
 whole squadrons vanish and proud heads lie low 
 the steeds fly trembling from his waving sword 
 and many a car now lighted of its lord 
 wide o'er the field with guideless fury rolls 
 breaking their ranks and crushing out their souls 
 while his keen falchion drinks the warriors' lives 
 more grateful now to vultures than their wives 

 perhaps great hector then had found his fate 
 but jove and destiny prolong'd his date 
 safe from the darts the care of heaven he stood 
 amidst alarms and death and dust and blood 

 now past the tomb where ancient ilus lay 
 through the mid field the routed urge their way 
 where the wild figs the adjoining summit crown 
 the path they take and speed to reach the town 
 as swift atrides with loud shouts pursued 
 hot with his toil and bathed in hostile blood 
 now near the beech-tree and the scaean gates 
 the hero halts and his associates waits 
 meanwhile on every side around the plain 
 dispersed disorder'd fly the trojan train 
 so flies a herd of beeves that hear dismay'd
 the lion's roaring through the midnight shade 
 on heaps they tumble with successless haste 
 the savage seizes draws and rends the last 
 not with less fury stern atrides flew 
 still press'd the rout and still the hindmost slew 
 hurl'd from their cars the bravest chiefs are kill'd 
 and rage and death and carnage load the field 

 now storms the victor at the trojan wall 
 surveys the towers and meditates their fall 
 but jove descending shook the idaean hills 
 and down their summits pour'd a hundred rills 
 the unkindled lightning in his hand he took 
 and thus the many-coloured maid bespoke 

  iris with haste thy golden wings display 
 to godlike hector this our word convey 
 while agamemnon wastes the ranks around 
 fights in the front and bathes with blood the ground 
 bid him give way but issue forth commands 
 and trust the war to less important hands 
 but when or wounded by the spear or dart 
 that chief shall mount his chariot and depart 
 then jove shall string his arm and fire his breast 
 then to her ships shall flying greece be press'd 
 till to the main the burning sun descend 
 and sacred night her awful shade extend  

 he spoke and iris at his word obey'd 
 on wings of winds descends the various maid 
 the chief she found amidst the ranks of war 
 close to the bulwarks on his glittering car 
 the goddess then  o son of priam hear 
 from jove i come and his high mandate bear 
 while agamemnon wastes the ranks around 
 fights in the front and bathes with blood the ground 
 abstain from fight yet issue forth commands 
 and trust the war to less important hands 
 but when or wounded by the spear or dart 
 the chief shall mount his chariot and depart 
 then jove shall string thy arm and fire thy breast 
 then to her ships shall flying greece be press'd 
 till to the main the burning sun descend 
 and sacred night her awful shade extend  

 she said and vanish'd hector with a bound 
 springs from his chariot on the trembling ground 
 in clanging arms he grasps in either hand
 a pointed lance and speeds from band to band 
 revives their ardour turns their steps from flight 
 and wakes anew the dying flames of fight 
 they stand to arms the greeks their onset dare 
 condense their powers and wait the coming war 
 new force new spirit to each breast returns 
 the fight renew'd with fiercer fury burns 
 the king leads on all fix on him their eye 
 and learn from him to conquer or to die 

 ye sacred nine celestial muses tell 
 who faced him first and by his prowess fell 
 the great iphidamas the bold and young 
 from sage antenor and theano sprung 
 whom from his youth his grandsire cisseus bred 
 and nursed in thrace where snowy flocks are fed 
 scarce did the down his rosy cheeks invest 
 and early honour warm his generous breast 
 when the kind sire consign'd his daughter's charms
 theano's sister to his youthful arms 
 but call'd by glory to the wars of troy 
 he leaves untasted the first fruits of joy 
 from his loved bride departs with melting eyes 
 and swift to aid his dearer country flies 
 with twelve black ships he reach'd percope's strand 
 thence took the long laborious march by land 
 now fierce for fame before the ranks he springs 
 towering in arms and braves the king of kings 
 atrides first discharged the missive spear 
 the trojan stoop'd the javelin pass'd in air 
 then near the corslet at the monarch's heart 
 with all his strength the youth directs his dart 
 but the broad belt with plates of silver bound 
 the point rebated and repell'd the wound 
 encumber'd with the dart atrides stands 
 till grasp'd with force he wrench'd it from his hands 
 at once his weighty sword discharged a wound
 full on his neck that fell'd him to the ground 
 stretch'd in the dust the unhappy warrior lies 
 and sleep eternal seals his swimming eyes 
 oh worthy better fate oh early slain 
 thy country's friend and virtuous though in vain 
 no more the youth shall join his consort's side 
 at once a virgin and at once a bride 
 no more with presents her embraces meet 
 or lay the spoils of conquest at her feet 
 on whom his passion lavish of his store 
 bestow'd so much and vainly promised more 
 unwept uncover'd on the plain he lay 
 while the proud victor bore his arms away 

 coon antenor's eldest hope was nigh 
 tears at the sight came starting from his eye 
 while pierced with grief the much-loved youth he view'd 
 and the pale features now deform'd with blood 
 then with his spear unseen his time he took 
 aim'd at the king and near his elbow strook 
 the thrilling steel transpierced the brawny part 
 and through his arm stood forth the barbed dart 
 surprised the monarch feels yet void of fear
 on coon rushes with his lifted spear 
 his brother's corpse the pious trojan draws 
 and calls his country to assert his cause 
 defends him breathless on the sanguine field 
 and o'er the body spreads his ample shield 
 atrides marking an unguarded part 
 transfix'd the warrior with his brazen dart 
 prone on his brother's bleeding breast he lay 
 the monarch's falchion lopp'd his head away 
 the social shades the same dark journey go 
 and join each other in the realms below 

 the vengeful victor rages round the fields 
 with every weapon art or fury yields 
 by the long lance the sword or ponderous stone 
 whole ranks are broken and whole troops o'erthrown 
 this while yet warm distill'd the purple flood 
 but when the wound grew stiff with clotted blood 
 then grinding tortures his strong bosom rend 
 less keen those darts the fierce ilythiae send 
 the powers that cause the teeming matron's throes 
 sad mothers of unutterable woes 
 stung with the smart all-panting with the pain 
 he mounts the car and gives his squire the rein 
 then with a voice which fury made more strong 
 and pain augmented thus exhorts the throng 

  o friends o greeks assert your honours won 
 proceed and finish what this arm begun 
 lo angry jove forbids your chief to stay 
 and envies half the glories of the day  

 he said the driver whirls his lengthful thong 
 the horses fly the chariot smokes along 
 clouds from their nostrils the fierce coursers blow 
 and from their sides the foam descends in snow 
 shot through the battle in a moment's space 
 the wounded monarch at his tent they place 

 no sooner hector saw the king retired 
 but thus his trojans and his aids he fired 
  hear all ye dardan all ye lycian race 
 famed in close fight and dreadful face to face 
 now call to mind your ancient trophies won 
 your great forefathers' virtues and your own 
 behold the general flies deserts his powers 
 lo jove himself declares the conquest ours 
 now on yon ranks impel your foaming steeds 
 and sure of glory dare immortal deeds  

 with words like these the fiery chief alarms
 his fainting host and every bosom warms 
 as the bold hunter cheers his hounds to tear
 the brindled lion or the tusky bear 
 with voice and hand provokes their doubting heart 
 and springs the foremost with his lifted dart 
 so godlike hector prompts his troops to dare 
 nor prompts alone but leads himself the war 
 on the black body of the foe he pours 
 as from the cloud's deep bosom swell'd with showers 
 a sudden storm the purple ocean sweeps 
 drives the wild waves and tosses all the deeps 
 say muse when jove the trojan's glory crown'd 
 beneath his arm what heroes bit the ground 
 assaeus dolops and autonous died 
 opites next was added to their side 
 then brave hipponous famed in many a fight 
 opheltius orus sunk to endless night 
 csymnus agelaus all chiefs of name 
 the rest were vulgar deaths unknown to fame 
 as when a western whirlwind charged with storms 
 dispels the gather'd clouds that notus forms 
 the gust continued violent and strong 
 rolls sable clouds in heaps on heaps along 
 now to the skies the foaming billows rears 
 now breaks the surge and wide the bottom bares 
 thus raging hector with resistless hands 
 o'erturns confounds and scatters all their bands 
 now the last ruin the whole host appals 
 now greece had trembled in her wooden walls 
 but wise ulysses call'd tydides forth 
 his soul rekindled and awaked his worth 
  and stand we deedless o eternal shame 
 till hector's arm involve the ships in flame 
 haste let us join and combat side by side  
 the warrior thus and thus the friend replied 

  no martial toil i shun no danger fear 
 let hector come i wait his fury here 
 but jove with conquest crowns the trojan train 
 and jove our foe all human force is vain  

 he sigh'd but sighing raised his vengeful steel 
 and from his car the proud thymbraeus fell 
 molion the charioteer pursued his lord 
 his death ennobled by ulysses' sword 
 there slain they left them in eternal night 
 then plunged amidst the thickest ranks of fight 
 so two wild boars outstrip the following hounds 
 then swift revert and wounds return for wounds 
 stern hector's conquests in the middle plain
 stood check'd awhile and greece respired again 

 the sons of merops shone amidst the war 
 towering they rode in one refulgent car 
 in deep prophetic arts their father skill'd 
 had warn'd his children from the trojan field 
 fate urged them on the father warn'd in vain 
 they rush'd to fight and perish'd on the plain 
 their breasts no more the vital spirit warms 
 the stern tydides strips their shining arms 
 hypirochus by great ulysses dies 
 and rich hippodamus becomes his prize 
 great jove from ide with slaughter fills his sight 
 and level hangs the doubtful scale of fight 
 by tydeus' lance agastrophus was slain 
 the far-famed hero of paeonian strain 
 wing'd with his fears on foot he strove to fly 
 his steeds too distant and the foe too nigh 
 through broken orders swifter than the wind 
 he fled but flying left his life behind 
 this hector sees as his experienced eyes
 traverse the files and to the rescue flies 
 shouts as he pass'd the crystal regions rend 
 and moving armies on his march attend 
 great diomed himself was seized with fear 
 and thus bespoke his brother of the war 

  mark how this way yon bending squadrons yield 
 the storm rolls on and hector rules the field 
 here stand his utmost force   the warrior said 
 swift at the word his ponderous javelin fled 
 nor miss'd its aim but where the plumage danced
 razed the smooth cone and thence obliquely glanced 
 safe in his helm the gift of phoebus' hands 
 without a wound the trojan hero stands 
 but yet so stunn'd that staggering on the plain 
 his arm and knee his sinking bulk sustain 
 o'er his dim sight the misty vapours rise 
 and a short darkness shades his swimming eyes 
 tydides followed to regain his lance 
 while hector rose recover'd from the trance 
 remounts his car and herds amidst the crowd 
 the greek pursues him and exults aloud 
  once more thank phoebus for thy forfeit breath 
 or thank that swiftness which outstrips the death 
 well by apollo are thy prayers repaid 
 and oft that partial power has lent his aid 
 thou shall not long the death deserved withstand 
 if any god assist tydides' hand 
 fly then inglorious but thy flight this day 
 whole hecatombs of trojan ghosts shall pay  

 him while he triumph'd paris eyed from far 
 the spouse of helen the fair cause of war 
 around the fields his feather'd shafts he sent 
 from ancient ilus' ruin'd monument 
 behind the column placed he bent his bow 
 and wing'd an arrow at the unwary foe 
 just as he stoop'd agastrophus's crest
 to seize and drew the corslet from his breast 
 the bowstring twang'd nor flew the shaft in vain 
 but pierced his foot and nail'd it to the plain 
 the laughing trojan with a joyful spring 
 leaps from his ambush and insults the king 

  he bleeds he cries some god has sped my dart 
 would the same god had fix'd it in his heart 
 so troy relieved from that wide-wasting hand 
 should breathe from slaughter and in combat stand 
 whose sons now tremble at his darted spear 
 as scatter'd lambs the rushing lion fear  

 he dauntless thus  thou conqueror of the fair 
 thou woman-warrior with the curling hair 
 vain archer trusting to the distant dart 
 unskill'd in arms to act a manly part 
 thou hast but done what boys or women can 
 such hands may wound but not incense a man 
 nor boast the scratch thy feeble arrow gave 
 a coward's weapon never hurts the brave 
 not so this dart which thou may'st one day feel 
 fate wings its flight and death is on the steel 
 where this but lights some noble life expires 
 its touch makes orphans bathes the cheeks of sires 
 steeps earth in purple gluts the birds of air 
 and leaves such objects as distract the fair  
 ulysses hastens with a trembling heart 
 before him steps and bending draws the dart 
 forth flows the blood an eager pang succeeds 
 tydides mounts and to the navy speeds 

 now on the field ulysses stands alone 
 the greeks all fled the trojans pouring on 
 but stands collected in himself and whole 
 and questions thus his own unconquer'd soul 

  what further subterfuge what hopes remain 
 what shame inglorious if i quit the plain 
 what danger singly if i stand the ground 
 my friends all scatter'd all the foes around 
 yet wherefore doubtful let this truth suffice 
 the brave meets danger and the coward flies 
 to die or conquer proves a hero's heart 
 and knowing this i know a soldier's part  

 such thoughts revolving in his careful breast 
 near and more near the shady cohorts press'd 
 these in the warrior their own fate enclose 
 and round him deep the steely circle grows 
 so fares a boar whom all the troop surrounds
 of shouting huntsmen and of clamorous hounds 
 he grinds his ivory tusks he foams with ire 
 his sanguine eye-balls glare with living fire 
 by these by those on every part is plied 
 and the red slaughter spreads on every side 
 pierced through the shoulder first deiopis fell 
 next ennomus and thoon sank to hell 
 chersidamas beneath the navel thrust 
 falls prone to earth and grasps the bloody dust 
 charops the son of hippasus was near 
 ulysses reach'd him with the fatal spear 
 but to his aid his brother socus flies 
 socus the brave the generous and the wise 
 near as he drew the warrior thus began 

  o great ulysses much-enduring man 
 not deeper skill'd in every martial sleight 
 than worn to toils and active in the fight 
 this day two brothers shall thy conquest grace 
 and end at once the great hippasian race 
 or thou beneath this lance must press the field  
 he said and forceful pierced his spacious shield 
 through the strong brass the ringing javelin thrown 
 plough'd half his side and bared it to the bone 
 by pallas' care the spear though deep infix'd 
 stopp'd short of life nor with his entrails mix'd 

 the wound not mortal wise ulysses knew 
 then furious thus but first some steps withdrew 
  unhappy man whose death our hands shall grace 
 fate calls thee hence and finish'd is thy race 
 nor longer check my conquests on the foe 
 but pierced by this to endless darkness go 
 and add one spectre to the realms below  

 he spoke while socus seized with sudden fright 
 trembling gave way and turn'd his back to flight 
 between his shoulders pierced the following dart 
 and held its passage through the panting heart 
 wide in his breast appear'd the grisly wound 
 he falls his armour rings against the ground 
 then thus ulysses gazing on the slain 
  famed son of hippasus there press the plain 
 there ends thy narrow span assign'd by fate 
 heaven owes ulysses yet a longer date 
 ah wretch no father shall thy corpse compose 
 thy dying eyes no tender mother close 
 but hungry birds shall tear those balls away 
 and hovering vultures scream around their prey 
 me greece shall honour when i meet my doom 
 with solemn funerals and a lasting tomb  

 then raging with intolerable smart 
 he writhes his body and extracts the dart 
 the dart a tide of spouting gore pursued 
 and gladden'd troy with sight of hostile blood 
 now troops on troops the fainting chief invade 
 forced he recedes and loudly calls for aid 
 thrice to its pitch his lofty voice he rears 
 the well-known voice thrice menelaus hears 
 alarm'd to ajax telamon he cried 
 who shares his labours and defends his side 
  o friend ulysses' shouts invade my ear 
 distressed he seems and no assistance near 
 strong as he is yet one opposed to all 
 oppress'd by multitudes the best may fall 
 greece robb'd of him must bid her host despair 
 and feel a loss not ages can repair  

 then where the cry directs his course he bends 
 great ajax like the god of war attends 
 the prudent chief in sore distress they found 
 with bands of furious trojans compass'd round 223 
 as when some huntsman with a flying spear 
 from the blind thicket wounds a stately deer 
 down his cleft side while fresh the blood distils 
 he bounds aloft and scuds from hills to hills 
 till life's warm vapour issuing through the wound 
 wild mountain-wolves the fainting beast surround 
 just as their jaws his prostrate limbs invade 
 the lion rushes through the woodland shade 
 the wolves though hungry scour dispersed away 
 the lordly savage vindicates his prey 
 ulysses thus unconquer'd by his pains 
 a single warrior half a host sustains 
 but soon as ajax leaves his tower-like shield 
 the scattered crowds fly frighted o'er the field 
 atrides' arm the sinking hero stays 
 and saved from numbers to his car conveys 

 victorious ajax plies the routed crew 
 and first doryclus priam's son he slew 
 on strong pandocus next inflicts a wound 
 and lays lysander bleeding on the ground 
 as when a torrent swell'd with wintry rains 
 pours from the mountains o'er the deluged plains 
 and pines and oaks from their foundations torn 
 a country's ruins to the seas are borne 
 fierce ajax thus o'erwhelms the yielding throng 
 men steeds and chariots roll in heaps along 

 but hector from this scene of slaughter far 
 raged on the left and ruled the tide of war 
 loud groans proclaim his progress through the plain 
 and deep scamander swells with heaps of slain 
 there nestor and idomeneus oppose
 the warrior's fury there the battle glows 
 there fierce on foot or from the chariot's height 
 his sword deforms the beauteous ranks of fight 
 the spouse of helen dealing darts around 
 had pierced machaon with a distant wound 
 in his right shoulder the broad shaft appear'd 
 and trembling greece for her physician fear'd 
 to nestor then idomeneus begun 
  glory of greece old neleus' valiant son 
 ascend thy chariot haste with speed away 
 and great machaon to the ships convey 
 a wise physician skill'd our wounds to heal 
 is more than armies to the public weal  
 old nestor mounts the seat beside him rode
 the wounded offspring of the healing god 
 he lends the lash the steeds with sounding feet
 shake the dry field and thunder toward the fleet 

 but now cebriones from hector's car 
 survey'd the various fortune of the war 
  while here he cried the flying greeks are slain 
 trojans on trojans yonder load the plain 
 before great ajax see the mingled throng
 of men and chariots driven in heaps along 
 i know him well distinguish'd o'er the field
 by the broad glittering of the sevenfold shield 
 thither o hector thither urge thy steeds 
 there danger calls and there the combat bleeds 
 there horse and foot in mingled deaths unite 
 and groans of slaughter mix with shouts of fight  

 thus having spoke the driver's lash resounds 
 swift through the ranks the rapid chariot bounds 
 stung by the stroke the coursers scour the fields 
 o'er heaps of carcases and hills of shields 
 the horses' hoofs are bathed in heroes' gore 
 and dashing purple all the car before 
 the groaning axle sable drops distils 
 and mangled carnage clogs the rapid wheels 
 here hector plunging through the thickest fight 
 broke the dark phalanx and let in the light 
 by the long lance the sword or ponderous stone 
 the ranks he scatter'd and the troops o'erthrown 
 ajax he shuns through all the dire debate 
 and fears that arm whose force he felt so late 
 but partial jove espousing hector's part 
 shot heaven-bred horror through the grecian's heart 
 confused unnerved in hector's presence grown 
 amazed he stood with terrors not his own 
 o'er his broad back his moony shield he threw 
 and glaring round by tardy steps withdrew 
 thus the grim lion his retreat maintains 
 beset with watchful dogs and shouting swains 
 repulsed by numbers from the nightly stalls 
 though rage impels him and though hunger calls 
 long stands the showering darts and missile fires 
 then sourly slow the indignant beast retires 
 so turn'd stern ajax by whole hosts repell'd 
 while his swoln heart at every step rebell'd 

 as the slow beast with heavy strength endued 
 in some wide field by troops of boys pursued 
 though round his sides a wooden tempest rain 
 crops the tall harvest and lays waste the plain 
 thick on his hide the hollow blows resound 
 the patient animal maintains his ground 
 scarce from the field with all their efforts chased 
 and stirs but slowly when he stirs at last 
 on ajax thus a weight of trojans hung 
 the strokes redoubled on his buckler rung 
 confiding now in bulky strength he stands 
 now turns and backward bears the yielding bands 
 now stiff recedes yet hardly seems to fly 
 and threats his followers with retorted eye 
 fix'd as the bar between two warring powers 
 while hissing darts descend in iron showers 
 in his broad buckler many a weapon stood 
 its surface bristled with a quivering wood 
 and many a javelin guiltless on the plain 
 marks the dry dust and thirsts for blood in vain 
 but bold eurypylus his aid imparts 
 and dauntless springs beneath a cloud of darts 
 whose eager javelin launch'd against the foe 
 great apisaon felt the fatal blow 
 from his torn liver the red current flow'd 
 and his slack knees desert their dying load 
 the victor rushing to despoil the dead 
 from paris' bow a vengeful arrow fled 
 fix'd in his nervous thigh the weapon stood 
 fix'd was the point but broken was the wood 
 back to the lines the wounded greek retired 
 yet thus retreating his associates fired 

  what god o grecians has your hearts dismay'd 
 oh turn to arms 'tis ajax claims your aid 
 this hour he stands the mark of hostile rage 
 and this the last brave battle he shall wage 
 haste join your forces from the gloomy grave
 the warrior rescue and your country save  
 thus urged the chief a generous troop appears 
 who spread their bucklers and advance their spears 
 to guard their wounded friend while thus they stand
 with pious care great ajax joins the band 
 each takes new courage at the hero's sight 
 the hero rallies and renews the fight 

 thus raged both armies like conflicting fires 
 while nestor's chariot far from fight retires 
 his coursers steep'd in sweat and stain'd with gore 
 the greeks' preserver great machaon bore 
 that hour achilles from the topmost height
 of his proud fleet o'erlook'd the fields of fight 
 his feasted eyes beheld around the plain
 the grecian rout the slaying and the slain 
 his friend machaon singled from the rest 
 a transient pity touch'd his vengeful breast 
 straight to menoetius' much-loved son he sent 
 graceful as mars patroclus quits his tent 
 in evil hour then fate decreed his doom 
 and fix'd the date of all his woes to come 

  why calls my friend thy loved injunctions lay 
 whate'er thy will patroclus shall obey  

  o first of friends pelides thus replied 
 still at my heart and ever at my side 
 the time is come when yon despairing host
 shall learn the value of the man they lost 
 now at my knees the greeks shall pour their moan 
 and proud atrides tremble on his throne 
 go now to nestor and from him be taught
 what wounded warrior late his chariot brought 
 for seen at distance and but seen behind 
 his form recall'd machaon to my mind 
 nor could i through yon cloud discern his face 
 the coursers pass'd me with so swift a pace  

 the hero said his friend obey'd with haste 
 through intermingled ships and tents he pass'd 
 the chiefs descending from their car he found 
 the panting steeds eurymedon unbound 
 the warriors standing on the breezy shore 
 to dry their sweat and wash away the gore 
 here paused a moment while the gentle gale
 convey'd that freshness the cool seas exhale 
 then to consult on farther methods went 
 and took their seats beneath the shady tent 
 the draught prescribed fair hecamede prepares 
 arsinous' daughter graced with golden hairs 
 whom to his aged arms a royal slave 
 greece as the prize of nestor's wisdom gave 
 a table first with azure feet she placed 
 whose ample orb a brazen charger graced 
 honey new-press'd the sacred flour of wheat 
 and wholesome garlic crown'd the savoury treat 
 next her white hand an antique goblet brings 
 a goblet sacred to the pylian kings
 from eldest times emboss'd with studs of gold 
 two feet support it and four handles hold 
 on each bright handle bending o'er the brink 
 in sculptured gold two turtles seem to drink 
 a massy weight yet heaved with ease by him 
 when the brisk nectar overlook'd the brim 
 temper'd in this the nymph of form divine
 pours a large portion of the pramnian wine 
 with goat's-milk cheese a flavourous taste bestows 
 and last with flour the smiling surface strows 
 this for the wounded prince the dame prepares 
 the cordial beverage reverend nestor shares 
 salubrious draughts the warriors' thirst allay 
 and pleasing conference beguiles the day 

 meantime patroclus by achilles sent 
 unheard approached and stood before the tent 
 old nestor rising then the hero led
 to his high seat the chief refused and said 

  'tis now no season for these kind delays 
 the great achilles with impatience stays 
 to great achilles this respect i owe 
 who asks what hero wounded by the foe 
 was borne from combat by thy foaming steeds 
 with grief i see the great machaon bleeds 
 this to report my hasty course i bend 
 thou know'st the fiery temper of my friend  
  can then the sons of greece the sage rejoin'd 
 excite compassion in achilles' mind 
 seeks he the sorrows of our host to know 
 this is not half the story of our woe 
 tell him not great machaon bleeds alone 
 our bravest heroes in the navy groan 
 ulysses agamemnon diomed 
 and stern eurypylus already bleed 
 but ah what flattering hopes i entertain 
 achilles heeds not but derides our pain 
 even till the flames consume our fleet he stays 
 and waits the rising of the fatal blaze 
 chief after chief the raging foe destroys 
 calm he looks on and every death enjoys 
 now the slow course of all-impairing time
 unstrings my nerves and ends my manly prime 
 oh had i still that strength my youth possess'd 
 when this bold arm the epeian powers oppress'd 
 the bulls of elis in glad triumph led 
 and stretch'd the great itymonaeus dead 
 then from my fury fled the trembling swains 
 and ours was all the plunder of the plains 
 fifty white flocks full fifty herds of swine 
 as many goats as many lowing kine 
 and thrice the number of unrivall'd steeds 
 all teeming females and of generous breeds 
 these as my first essay of arms i won 
 old neleus gloried in his conquering son 
 thus elis forced her long arrears restored 
 and shares were parted to each pylian lord 
 the state of pyle was sunk to last despair 
 when the proud elians first commenced the war 
 for neleus' sons alcides' rage had slain 
 of twelve bold brothers i alone remain 
 oppress'd we arm'd and now this conquest gain'd 
 my sire three hundred chosen sheep obtain'd 
 that large reprisal he might justly claim 
 for prize defrauded and insulted fame 
 when elis' monarch at the public course 
 detain'd his chariot and victorious horse 
 the rest the people shared myself survey'd
 the just partition and due victims paid 
 three days were past when elis rose to war 
 with many a courser and with many a car 
 the sons of actor at their army's head
 young as they were the vengeful squadrons led 
 high on the rock fair thryoessa stands 
 our utmost frontier on the pylian lands 
 not far the streams of famed alphaeus flow 
 the stream they pass'd and pitch'd their tents below 
 pallas descending in the shades of night 
 alarms the pylians and commands the fight 
 each burns for fame and swells with martial pride 
 myself the foremost but my sire denied 
 fear'd for my youth exposed to stern alarms 
 and stopp'd my chariot and detain'd my arms 
 my sire denied in vain on foot i fled
 amidst our chariots for the goddess led 

  along fair arene's delightful plain
 soft minyas rolls his waters to the main 
 there horse and foot the pylian troops unite 
 and sheathed in arms expect the dawning light 
 thence ere the sun advanced his noon-day flame 
 to great alphaeus' sacred source we came 
 there first to jove our solemn rites were paid 
 an untamed heifer pleased the blue-eyed maid 
 a bull alphaeus and a bull was slain
 to the blue monarch of the watery main 
 in arms we slept beside the winding flood 
 while round the town the fierce epeians stood 
 soon as the sun with all-revealing ray 
 flamed in the front of heaven and gave the day 
 bright scenes of arms and works of war appear 
 the nations meet there pylos elis here 
 the first who fell beneath my javelin bled 
 king augias' son and spouse of agamede 
 she that all simples' healing virtues knew 
 and every herb that drinks the morning dew 
 i seized his car the van of battle led 
 the epeians saw they trembled and they fled 
 the foe dispersed their bravest warrior kill'd 
 fierce as the whirlwind now i swept the field 
 full fifty captive chariots graced my train 
 two chiefs from each fell breathless to the plain 
 then actor's sons had died but neptune shrouds
 the youthful heroes in a veil of clouds 
 o'er heapy shields and o'er the prostrate throng 
 collecting spoils and slaughtering all along 
 through wide buprasian fields we forced the foes 
 where o'er the vales the olenian rocks arose 
 till pallas stopp'd us where alisium flows 
 even there the hindmost of the rear i slay 
 and the same arm that led concludes the day 
 then back to pyle triumphant take my way 
 there to high jove were public thanks assign'd 
 as first of gods to nestor of mankind 
 such then i was impell'd by youthful blood 
 so proved my valour for my country's good 

  achilles with unactive fury glows 
 and gives to passion what to greece he owes 
 how shall he grieve when to the eternal shade
 her hosts shall sink nor his the power to aid 
 0 friend my memory recalls the day 
 when gathering aids along the grecian sea 
 i and ulysses touch'd at phthia's port 
 and entered peleus' hospitable court 
 a bull to jove he slew in sacrifice 
 and pour'd libations on the flaming thighs 
 thyself achilles and thy reverend sire
 menoetius turn'd the fragments on the fire 
 achilles sees us to the feast invites 
 social we sit and share the genial rites 
 we then explained the cause on which we came 
 urged you to arms and found you fierce for fame 
 your ancient fathers generous precepts gave 
 peleus said only this 'my son be brave '
 menoetius thus 'though great achilles shine
 in strength superior and of race divine 
 yet cooler thoughts thy elder years attend 
 let thy just counsels aid and rule thy friend '
 thus spoke your father at thessalia's court 
 words now forgot though now of vast import 
 ah try the utmost that a friend can say 
 such gentle force the fiercest minds obey 
 some favouring god achilles' heart may move 
 though deaf to glory he may yield to love 
 if some dire oracle his breast alarm 
 if aught from heaven withhold his saving arm 
 some beam of comfort yet on greece may shine 
 if thou but lead the myrmidonian line 
 clad in achilles' arms if thou appear 
 proud troy may tremble and desist from war 
 press'd by fresh forces her o'er-labour'd train
 shall seek their walls and greece respire again  

 this touch'd his generous heart and from the tent
 along the shore with hasty strides he went 
 soon as he came where on the crowded strand 
 the public mart and courts of justice stand 
 where the tall fleet of great ulysses lies 
 and altars to the guardian gods arise 
 there sad he met the brave euaemon's son 
 large painful drops from all his members run 
 an arrow's head yet rooted in his wound 
 the sable blood in circles mark'd the ground 
 as faintly reeling he confess'd the smart 
 weak was his pace but dauntless was his heart 
 divine compassion touch'd patroclus' breast 
 who sighing thus his bleeding friend address'd 

  ah hapless leaders of the grecian host 
 thus must ye perish on a barbarous coast 
 is this your fate to glut the dogs with gore 
 far from your friends and from your native shore 
 say great eurypylus shall greece yet stand 
 resists she yet the raging hector's hand 
 or are her heroes doom'd to die with shame 
 and this the period of our wars and fame  

 eurypylus replies  no more my friend 
 greece is no more this day her glories end 
 even to the ships victorious troy pursues 
 her force increasing as her toil renews 
 those chiefs that used her utmost rage to meet 
 lie pierced with wounds and bleeding in the fleet 
 but thou patroclus act a friendly part 
 lead to my ships and draw this deadly dart 
 with lukewarm water wash the gore away 
 with healing balms the raging smart allay 
 such as sage chiron sire of pharmacy 
 once taught achilles and achilles thee 
 of two famed surgeons podalirius stands
 this hour surrounded by the trojan bands 
 and great machaon wounded in his tent 
 now wants that succour which so oft he lent  

 to him the chief  what then remains to do 
 the event of things the gods alone can view 
 charged by achilles' great command i fly 
 and bear with haste the pylian king's reply 
 but thy distress this instant claims relief  
 he said and in his arms upheld the chief 
 the slaves their master's slow approach survey'd 
 and hides of oxen on the floor display'd 
 there stretch'd at length the wounded hero lay 
 patroclus cut the forky steel away 
 then in his hands a bitter root he bruised 
 the wound he wash'd the styptic juice infused 
 the closing flesh that instant ceased to glow 
 the wound to torture and the blood to flow 


 hercules 





book xii 


argument 

the battle at the grecian wall 

the greeks having retired into their intrenchments hector attempts to
force them but it proving impossible to pass the ditch polydamas advises
to quit their chariots and manage the attack on foot the trojans follow
his counsel and having divided their army into five bodies of foot begin
the assault but upon the signal of an eagle with a serpent in his talons 
which appeared on the left hand of the trojans polydamas endeavours to
withdraw them again this hector opposes and continues the attack in
which after many actions sarpedon makes the first breach in the wall 
hector also casting a stone of vast size forces open one of the gates 
and enters at the head of his troops who victoriously pursue the grecians
even to their ships 

 while thus the hero's pious cares attend
 the cure and safety of his wounded friend 
 trojans and greeks with clashing shields engage 
 and mutual deaths are dealt with mutual rage 
 nor long the trench or lofty walls oppose 
 with gods averse the ill-fated works arose 
 their powers neglected and no victim slain 
 the walls were raised the trenches sunk in vain 

 without the gods how short a period stands
 the proudest monument of mortal hands 
 this stood while hector and achilles raged 
 while sacred troy the warring hosts engaged 
 but when her sons were slain her city burn'd 
 and what survived of greece to greece return'd 
 then neptune and apollo shook the shore 
 then ida's summits pour'd their watery store 
 rhesus and rhodius then unite their rills 
 caresus roaring down the stony hills 
 csepus granicus with mingled force 
 and xanthus foaming from his fruitful source 
 and gulfy simois rolling to the main 224 
 helmets and shields and godlike heroes slain 
 these turn'd by phoebus from their wonted ways 
 deluged the rampire nine continual days 
 the weight of waters saps the yielding wall 
 and to the sea the floating bulwarks fall 
 incessant cataracts the thunderer pours 
 and half the skies descend in sluicy showers 
 the god of ocean marching stern before 
 with his huge trident wounds the trembling shore 
 vast stones and piles from their foundation heaves 
 and whelms the smoky ruin in the waves 
 now smooth'd with sand and levell'd by the flood 
 no fragment tells where once the wonder stood 
 in their old bounds the rivers roll again 
 shine 'twixt the hills or wander o'er the plain 225 

 but this the gods in later times perform 
 as yet the bulwark stood and braved the storm 
 the strokes yet echoed of contending powers 
 war thunder'd at the gates and blood distain'd the towers 
 smote by the arm of jove with dire dismay 
 close by their hollow ships the grecians lay 
 hector's approach in every wind they hear 
 and hector's fury every moment fear 
 he like a whirlwind toss'd the scattering throng 
 mingled the troops and drove the field along 
 so 'midst the dogs and hunters' daring bands 
 fierce of his might a boar or lion stands 
 arm'd foes around a dreadful circle form 
 and hissing javelins rain an iron storm 
 his powers untamed their bold assault defy 
 and where he turns the rout disperse or die 
 he foams he glares he bounds against them all 
 and if he falls his courage makes him fall 
 with equal rage encompass'd hector glows 
 exhorts his armies and the trenches shows 
 the panting steeds impatient fury breathe 
 and snort and tremble at the gulf beneath 
 just at the brink they neigh and paw the ground 
 and the turf trembles and the skies resound 
 eager they view'd the prospect dark and deep 
 vast was the leap and headlong hung the steep 
 the bottom bare a formidable show 
 and bristled thick with sharpen'd stakes below 
 the foot alone this strong defence could force 
 and try the pass impervious to the horse 
 this saw polydamas who wisely brave 
 restrain'd great hector and this counsel gave 

  o thou bold leader of the trojan bands 
 and you confederate chiefs from foreign lands 
 what entrance here can cumbrous chariots find 
 the stakes beneath the grecian walls behind 
 no pass through those without a thousand wounds 
 no space for combat in yon narrow bounds 
 proud of the favours mighty jove has shown 
 on certain dangers we too rashly run 
 if 'tis will our haughty foes to tame 
 oh may this instant end the grecian name 
 here far from argos let their heroes fall 
 and one great day destroy and bury all 
 but should they turn and here oppress our train 
 what hopes what methods of retreat remain 
 wedged in the trench by our own troops confused 
 in one promiscuous carnage crush'd and bruised 
 all troy must perish if their arms prevail 
 nor shall a trojan live to tell the tale 
 hear then ye warriors and obey with speed 
 back from the trenches let your steeds be led 
 then all alighting wedged in firm array 
 proceed on foot and hector lead the way 
 so greece shall stoop before our conquering power 
 and this if jove consent her fatal hour  


 polydamas advising hector 


 this counsel pleased the godlike hector sprung
 swift from his seat his clanging armour rung 
 the chief's example follow'd by his train 
 each quits his car and issues on the plain 
 by orders strict the charioteers enjoin'd
 compel the coursers to their ranks behind 
 the forces part in five distinguish'd bands 
 and all obey their several chiefs' commands 
 the best and bravest in the first conspire 
 pant for the fight and threat the fleet with fire 
 great hector glorious in the van of these 
 polydamas and brave cebriones 
 before the next the graceful paris shines 
 and bold alcathous and agenor joins 
 the sons of priam with the third appear 
 deiphobus and helenas the seer 
 in arms with these the mighty asius stood 
 who drew from hyrtacus his noble blood 
 and whom arisba's yellow coursers bore 
 the coursers fed on selle's winding shore 
 antenor's sons the fourth battalion guide 
 and great cneas born on fountful ide 
 divine sarpedon the last band obey'd 
 whom glaucus and asteropaeus aid 
 next him the bravest at their army's head 
 but he more brave than all the hosts he led 

 now with compacted shields in close array 
 the moving legions speed their headlong way 
 already in their hopes they fire the fleet 
 and see the grecians gasping at their feet 

 while every trojan thus and every aid 
 the advice of wise polydamas obey'd 
 asius alone confiding in his car 
 his vaunted coursers urged to meet the war 
 unhappy hero and advised in vain 
 those wheels returning ne'er shall mark the plain 
 no more those coursers with triumphant joy
 restore their master to the gates of troy 
 black death attends behind the grecian wall 
 and great idomeneus shall boast thy fall 
 fierce to the left he drives where from the plain
 the flying grecians strove their ships to gain 
 swift through the wall their horse and chariots pass'd 
 the gates half-open'd to receive the last 
 thither exulting in his force he flies 
 his following host with clamours rend the skies 
 to plunge the grecians headlong in the main 
 such their proud hopes but all their hopes were vain 

 to guard the gates two mighty chiefs attend 
 who from the lapiths' warlike race descend 
 this polypoetes great perithous' heir 
 and that leonteus like the god of war 
 as two tall oaks before the wall they rise 
 their roots in earth their heads amidst the skies 
 whose spreading arms with leafy honours crown'd 
 forbid the tempest and protect the ground 
 high on the hills appears their stately form 
 and their deep roots for ever brave the storm 
 so graceful these and so the shock they stand
 of raging asius and his furious band 
 orestes acamas in front appear 
 and oenomaus and thoon close the rear 
 in vain their clamours shake the ambient fields 
 in vain around them beat their hollow shields 
 the fearless brothers on the grecians call 
 to guard their navies and defend the wall 
 even when they saw troy's sable troops impend 
 and greece tumultuous from her towers descend 
 forth from the portals rush'd the intrepid pair 
 opposed their breasts and stood themselves the war 
 so two wild boars spring furious from their den 
 roused with the cries of dogs and voice of men 
 on every side the crackling trees they tear 
 and root the shrubs and lay the forest bare 
 they gnash their tusks with fire their eye-balls roll 
 till some wide wound lets out their mighty soul 
 around their heads the whistling javelins sung 
 with sounding strokes their brazen targets rung 
 fierce was the fight while yet the grecian powers
 maintain'd the walls and mann'd the lofty towers 
 to save their fleet their last efforts they try 
 and stones and darts in mingled tempests fly 

 as when sharp boreas blows abroad and brings
 the dreary winter on his frozen wings 
 beneath the low-hung clouds the sheets of snow
 descend and whiten all the fields below 
 so fast the darts on either army pour 
 so down the rampires rolls the rocky shower 
 heavy and thick resound the batter'd shields 
 and the deaf echo rattles round the fields 

 with shame repulsed with grief and fury driven 
 the frantic asius thus accuses heaven 
  in powers immortal who shall now believe 
 can those too flatter and can jove deceive 
 what man could doubt but troy's victorious power
 should humble greece and this her fatal hour 
 but like when wasps from hollow crannies drive 
 to guard the entrance of their common hive 
 darkening the rock while with unwearied wings
 they strike the assailants and infix their stings 
 a race determined that to death contend 
 so fierce these greeks their last retreats defend 
 gods shall two warriors only guard their gates 
 repel an army and defraud the fates  

 these empty accents mingled with the wind 
 nor moved great jove's unalterable mind 
 to godlike hector and his matchless might
 was owed the glory of the destined fight 
 like deeds of arms through all the forts were tried 
 and all the gates sustain'd an equal tide 
 through the long walls the stony showers were heard 
 the blaze of flames the flash of arms appear'd 
 the spirit of a god my breast inspire 
 to raise each act to life and sing with fire 
 while greece unconquer'd kept alive the war 
 secure of death confiding in despair 
 and all her guardian gods in deep dismay 
 with unassisting arms deplored the day 

 even yet the dauntless lapithae maintain
 the dreadful pass and round them heap the slain 
 first damasus by polypoetes' steel 
 pierced through his helmet's brazen visor fell 
 the weapon drank the mingled brains and gore 
 the warrior sinks tremendous now no more 
 next ormenus and pylon yield their breath 
 nor less leonteus strews the field with death 
 first through the belt hippomachus he gored 
 then sudden waved his unresisted sword 
 antiphates as through the ranks he broke 
 the falchion struck and fate pursued the stroke 
 iamenus orestes menon bled 
 and round him rose a monument of dead 
 meantime the bravest of the trojan crew 
 bold hector and polydamas pursue 
 fierce with impatience on the works to fall 
 and wrap in rolling flames the fleet and wall 
 these on the farther bank now stood and gazed 
 by heaven alarm'd by prodigies amazed 
 a signal omen stopp'd the passing host 
 their martial fury in their wonder lost 
 jove's bird on sounding pinions beat the skies 
 a bleeding serpent of enormous size 
 his talons truss'd alive and curling round 
 he stung the bird whose throat received the wound 
 mad with the smart he drops the fatal prey 
 in airy circles wings his painful way 
 floats on the winds and rends the heaven with cries 
 amidst the host the fallen serpent lies 
 they pale with terror mark its spires unroll'd 
 and jove's portent with beating hearts behold 
 then first polydamas the silence broke 
 long weigh'd the signal and to hector spoke 

  how oft my brother thy reproach i bear 
 for words well meant and sentiments sincere 
 true to those counsels which i judge the best 
 i tell the faithful dictates of my breast 
 to speak his thoughts is every freeman's right 
 in peace in war in council and in fight 
 and all i move deferring to thy sway 
 but tends to raise that power which i obey 
 then hear my words nor may my words be vain 
 seek not this day the grecian ships to gain 
 for sure to warn us jove his omen sent 
 and thus my mind explains its clear event 
 the victor eagle whose sinister flight
 retards our host and fills our hearts with fright 
 dismiss'd his conquest in the middle skies 
 allow'd to seize but not possess the prize 
 thus though we gird with fires the grecian fleet 
 though these proud bulwalks tumble at our feet 
 toils unforeseen and fiercer are decreed 
 more woes shall follow and more heroes bleed 
 so bodes my soul and bids me thus advise 
 for thus a skilful seer would read the skies  

 to him then hector with disdain return'd 
 fierce as he spoke his eyes with fury burn'd 
  are these the faithful counsels of thy tongue 
 thy will is partial not thy reason wrong 
 or if the purpose of thy heart thou vent 
 sure heaven resumes the little sense it lent 
 what coward counsels would thy madness move
 against the word the will reveal'd of jove 
 the leading sign the irrevocable nod 
 and happy thunders of the favouring god 
 these shall i slight and guide my wavering mind
 by wandering birds that flit with every wind 
 ye vagrants of the sky your wings extend 
 or where the suns arise or where descend 
 to right to left unheeded take your way 
 while i the dictates of high heaven obey 
 without a sign his sword the brave man draws 
 and asks no omen but his country's cause 
 but why should'st thou suspect the war's success 
 none fears it more as none promotes it less 
 though all our chiefs amidst yon ships expire 
 trust thy own cowardice to escape their fire 
 troy and her sons may find a general grave 
 but thou canst live for thou canst be a slave 
 yet should the fears that wary mind suggests
 spread their cold poison through our soldiers' breasts 
 my javelin can revenge so base a part 
 and free the soul that quivers in thy heart  

 furious he spoke and rushing to the wall 
 calls on his host his host obey the call 
 with ardour follow where their leader flies 
 redoubling clamours thunder in the skies 
 jove breathes a whirlwind from the hills of ide 
 and drifts of dust the clouded navy hide 
 he fills the greeks with terror and dismay 
 and gives great hector the predestined day 
 strong in themselves but stronger in his aid 
 close to the works their rigid siege they laid 
 in vain the mounds and massy beams defend 
 while these they undermine and those they rend 
 upheaved the piles that prop the solid wall 
 and heaps on heaps the smoky ruins fall 
 greece on her ramparts stands the fierce alarms 
 the crowded bulwarks blaze with waving arms 
 shield touching shield a long refulgent row 
 whence hissing darts incessant rain below 
 the bold ajaces fly from tower to tower 
 and rouse with flame divine the grecian power 
 the generous impulse every greek obeys 
 threats urge the fearful and the valiant praise 

  fellows in arms whose deeds are known to fame 
 and you whose ardour hopes an equal name 
 since not alike endued with force or art 
 behold a day when each may act his part 
 a day to fire the brave and warm the cold 
 to gain new glories or augment the old 
 urge those who stand and those who faint excite 
 drown hector's vaunts in loud exhorts of fight 
 conquest not safety fill the thoughts of all 
 seek not your fleet but sally from the wall 
 so jove once more may drive their routed train 
 and troy lie trembling in her walls again  

 their ardour kindles all the grecian powers 
 and now the stones descend in heavier showers 
 as when high jove his sharp artillery forms 
 and opes his cloudy magazine of storms 
 in winter's bleak un comfortable reign 
 a snowy inundation hides the plain 
 he stills the winds and bids the skies to sleep 
 then pours the silent tempest thick and deep 
 and first the mountain-tops are cover'd o'er 
 then the green fields and then the sandy shore 
 bent with the weight the nodding woods are seen 
 and one bright waste hides all the works of men 
 the circling seas alone absorbing all 
 drink the dissolving fleeces as they fall 
 so from each side increased the stony rain 
 and the white ruin rises o'er the plain 

 thus godlike hector and his troops contend
 to force the ramparts and the gates to rend 
 nor troy could conquer nor the greeks would yield 
 till great sarpedon tower'd amid the field 
 for mighty jove inspired with martial flame
 his matchless son and urged him on to fame 
 in arms he shines conspicuous from afar 
 and bears aloft his ample shield in air 
 within whose orb the thick bull-hides were roll'd 
 ponderous with brass and bound with ductile gold 
 and while two pointed javelins arm his hands 
 majestic moves along and leads his lycian bands 

 so press'd with hunger from the mountain's brow
 descends a lion on the flocks below 
 so stalks the lordly savage o'er the plain 
 in sullen majesty and stern disdain 
 in vain loud mastiffs bay him from afar 
 and shepherds gall him with an iron war 
 regardless furious he pursues his way 
 he foams he roars he rends the panting prey 

 resolved alike divine sarpedon glows
 with generous rage that drives him on the foes 
 he views the towers and meditates their fall 
 to sure destruction dooms the aspiring wall 
 then casting on his friend an ardent look 
 fired with the thirst of glory thus he spoke 

  why boast we glaucus our extended reign 226 
 where xanthus' streams enrich the lycian plain 
 our numerous herds that range the fruitful field 
 and hills where vines their purple harvest yield 
 our foaming bowls with purer nectar crown'd 
 our feasts enhanced with music's sprightly sound 
 why on those shores are we with joy survey'd 
 admired as heroes and as gods obey'd 
 unless great acts superior merit prove 
 and vindicate the bounteous powers above 
 'tis ours the dignity they give to grace 
 the first in valour as the first in place 
 that when with wondering eyes our martial bands
 behold our deeds transcending our commands 
 such they may cry deserve the sovereign state 
 whom those that envy dare not imitate 
 could all our care elude the gloomy grave 
 which claims no less the fearful and the brave 
 for lust of fame i should not vainly dare
 in fighting fields nor urge thy soul to war 
 but since alas ignoble age must come 
 disease and death's inexorable doom
 the life which others pay let us bestow 
 and give to fame what we to nature owe 
 brave though we fall and honour'd if we live 
 or let us glory gain or glory give  

 he said his words the listening chief inspire
 with equal warmth and rouse the warrior's fire 
 the troops pursue their leaders with delight 
 rush to the foe and claim the promised fight 
 menestheus from on high the storm beheld
 threatening the fort and blackening in the field 
 around the walls he gazed to view from far
 what aid appear'd to avert the approaching war 
 and saw where teucer with the ajaces stood 
 of fight insatiate prodigal of blood 
 in vain he calls the din of helms and shields
 rings to the skies and echoes through the fields 
 the brazen hinges fly the walls resound 
 heaven trembles roar the mountains thunders all the ground
 then thus to thoos  hence with speed he said 
 and urge the bold ajaces to our aid 
 their strength united best may help to bear
 the bloody labours of the doubtful war 
 hither the lycian princes bend their course 
 the best and bravest of the hostile force 
 but if too fiercely there the foes contend 
 let telamon at least our towers defend 
 and teucer haste with his unerring bow
 to share the danger and repel the foe  

 swift at the word the herald speeds along
 the lofty ramparts through the martial throng 
 and finds the heroes bathed in sweat and gore 
 opposed in combat on the dusty shore 
  ye valiant leaders of our warlike bands 
 your aid said thoos peteus' son demands 
 your strength united best may help to bear
 the bloody labours of the doubtful war 
 thither the lycian princes bend their course 
 the best and bravest of the hostile force 
 but if too fiercely here the foes contend 
 at least let telamon those towers defend 
 and teucer haste with his unerring bow
 to share the danger and repel the foe  

 straight to the fort great ajax turn'd his care 
 and thus bespoke his brothers of the war 
  now valiant lycomede exert your might 
 and brave oileus prove your force in fight 
 to you i trust the fortune of the field 
 till by this arm the foe shall be repell'd 
 that done expect me to complete the day
 then with his sevenfold shield he strode away 
 with equal steps bold teucer press'd the shore 
 whose fatal bow the strong pandion bore 

 high on the walls appear'd the lycian powers 
 like some black tempest gathering round the towers 
 the greeks oppress'd their utmost force unite 
 prepared to labour in the unequal fight 
 the war renews mix'd shouts and groans arise 
 tumultuous clamour mounts and thickens in the skies 
 fierce ajax first the advancing host invades 
 and sends the brave epicles to the shades 
 sarpedon's friend across the warrior's way 
 rent from the walls a rocky fragment lay 
 in modern ages not the strongest swain
 could heave the unwieldy burden from the plain 
 he poised and swung it round then toss'd on high 
 it flew with force and labour'd up the sky 
 full on the lycian's helmet thundering down 
 the ponderous ruin crush'd his batter'd crown 
 as skilful divers from some airy steep
 headlong descend and shoot into the deep 
 so falls epicles then in groans expires 
 and murmuring to the shades the soul retires 

 while to the ramparts daring glaucus drew 
 from teucer's hand a winged arrow flew 
 the bearded shaft the destined passage found 
 and on his naked arm inflicts a wound 
 the chief who fear'd some foe's insulting boast
 might stop the progress of his warlike host 
 conceal'd the wound and leaping from his height
 retired reluctant from the unfinish'd fight 
 divine sarpedon with regret beheld
 disabled glaucus slowly quit the field 
 his beating breast with generous ardour glows 
 he springs to fight and flies upon the foes 
 alcmaon first was doom'd his force to feel 
 deep in his breast he plunged the pointed steel 
 then from the yawning wound with fury tore
 the spear pursued by gushing streams of gore 
 down sinks the warrior with a thundering sound 
 his brazen armour rings against the ground 

 swift to the battlement the victor flies 
 tugs with full force and every nerve applies 
 it shakes the ponderous stones disjointed yield 
 the rolling ruins smoke along the field 
 a mighty breach appears the walls lie bare 
 and like a deluge rushes in the war 
 at once bold teucer draws the twanging bow 
 and ajax sends his javelin at the foe 
 fix'd in his belt the feather'd weapon stood 
 and through his buckler drove the trembling wood 
 but jove was present in the dire debate 
 to shield his offspring and avert his fate 
 the prince gave back not meditating flight 
 but urging vengeance and severer fight 
 then raised with hope and fired with glory's charms 
 his fainting squadrons to new fury warms 
  o where ye lycians is the strength you boast 
 your former fame and ancient virtue lost 
 the breach lies open but your chief in vain
 attempts alone the guarded pass to gain 
 unite and soon that hostile fleet shall fall 
 the force of powerful union conquers all  

 this just rebuke inflamed the lycian crew 
 they join they thicken and the assault renew 
 unmoved the embodied greeks their fury dare 
 and fix'd support the weight of all the war 
 nor could the greeks repel the lycian powers 
 nor the bold lycians force the grecian towers 
 as on the confines of adjoining grounds 
 two stubborn swains with blows dispute their bounds 
 they tug they sweat but neither gain nor yield 
 one foot one inch of the contended field 
 thus obstinate to death they fight they fall 
 nor these can keep nor those can win the wall 
 their manly breasts are pierced with many a wound 
 loud strokes are heard and rattling arms resound 
 the copious slaughter covers all the shore 
 and the high ramparts drip with human gore 

 as when two scales are charged with doubtful loads 
 from side to side the trembling balance nods 
 while some laborious matron just and poor 
 with nice exactness weighs her woolly store 
 till poised aloft the resting beam suspends
 each equal weight nor this nor that descends 227 
 so stood the war till hector's matchless might 
 with fates prevailing turn'd the scale of fight 
 fierce as a whirlwind up the walls he flies 
 and fires his host with loud repeated cries 
  advance ye trojans lend your valiant hands 
 haste to the fleet and toss the blazing brands  
 they hear they run and gathering at his call 
 raise scaling engines and ascend the wall 
 around the works a wood of glittering spears
 shoots up and all the rising host appears 
 a ponderous stone bold hector heaved to throw 
 pointed above and rough and gross below 
 not two strong men the enormous weight could raise 
 such men as live in these degenerate days 
 yet this as easy as a swain could bear
 the snowy fleece he toss'd and shook in air 
 for jove upheld and lighten'd of its load
 the unwieldy rock the labour of a god 
 thus arm'd before the folded gates he came 
 of massy substance and stupendous frame 
 with iron bars and brazen hinges strong 
 on lofty beams of solid timber hung 
 then thundering through the planks with forceful sway 
 drives the sharp rock the solid beams give way 
 the folds are shatter'd from the crackling door
 leap the resounding bars the flying hinges roar 
 now rushing in the furious chief appears 
 gloomy as night and shakes two shining spears 228 
 a dreadful gleam from his bright armour came 
 and from his eye-balls flash'd the living flame 
 he moves a god resistless in his course 
 and seems a match for more than mortal force 
 then pouring after through the gaping space 
 a tide of trojans flows and fills the place 
 the greeks behold they tremble and they fly 
 the shore is heap'd with death and tumult rends the sky 


 greek altar 





book xiii 


argument 

the fourth battle continued in which neptune assists the greeks the acts
of idomeneus 

neptune concerned for the loss of the grecians upon seeing the
fortification forced by hector who had entered the gate near the station
of the ajaces assumes the shape of calchas and inspires those heroes to
oppose him then in the form of one of the generals encourages the other
greeks who had retired to their vessels the ajaces form their troops in a
close phalanx and put a stop to hector and the trojans several deeds of
valour are performed meriones losing his spear in the encounter repairs
to seek another at the tent of idomeneus this occasions a conversation
between those two warriors who return together to the battle idomeneus
signalizes his courage above the rest he kills othryoneus asius and
alcathous deiphobus and cneas march against him and at length idomeneus
retires menelaus wounds helenus and kills pisander the trojans are
repulsed on the left wing hector still keeps his ground against the
ajaces till being galled by the locrian slingers and archers polydamas
advises to call a council of war hector approves of his advice but goes
first to rally the trojans upbraids paris rejoins polydamas meets ajax
again and renews the attack 

the eight-and-twentieth day still continues the scene is between the
grecian wall and the sea-shore 

 when now the thunderer on the sea-beat coast
 had fix'd great hector and his conquering host 
 he left them to the fates in bloody fray
 to toil and struggle through the well-fought day 
 then turn'd to thracia from the field of fight
 those eyes that shed insufferable light 
 to where the mysians prove their martial force 
 and hardy thracians tame the savage horse 
 and where the far-famed hippomolgian strays 
 renown'd for justice and for length of days 229 
 thrice happy race that innocent of blood 
 from milk innoxious seek their simple food 
 jove sees delighted and avoids the scene
 of guilty troy of arms and dying men 
 no aid he deems to either host is given 
 while his high law suspends the powers of heaven 

 meantime the monarch of the watery main
 observed the thunderer nor observed in vain 
 in samothracia on a mountain's brow 
 whose waving woods o'erhung the deeps below 
 he sat and round him cast his azure eyes
 where ida's misty tops confusedly rise 
 below fair ilion's glittering spires were seen 
 the crowded ships and sable seas between 
 there from the crystal chambers of the main
 emerged he sat and mourn'd his argives slain 
 at jove incensed with grief and fury stung 
 prone down the rocky steep he rush'd along 
 fierce as he pass'd the lofty mountains nod 
 the forest shakes earth trembled as he trod 
 and felt the footsteps of the immortal god 
 from realm to realm three ample strides he took 
 and at the fourth the distant cgae shook 

 far in the bay his shining palace stands 
 eternal frame not raised by mortal hands 
 this having reach'd his brass-hoof'd steeds he reins 
 fleet as the winds and deck'd with golden manes 
 refulgent arms his mighty limbs infold 
 immortal arms of adamant and gold 
 he mounts the car the golden scourge applies 
 he sits superior and the chariot flies 
 his whirling wheels the glassy surface sweep 
 the enormous monsters rolling o'er the deep
 gambol around him on the watery way 
 and heavy whales in awkward measures play 
 the sea subsiding spreads a level plain 
 exults and owns the monarch of the main 
 the parting waves before his coursers fly 
 the wondering waters leave his axle dry 

 deep in the liquid regions lies a cave 
 between where tenedos the surges lave 
 and rocky imbrus breaks the rolling wave 
 there the great ruler of the azure round
 stopp'd his swift chariot and his steeds unbound 
 fed with ambrosial herbage from his hand 
 and link'd their fetlocks with a golden band 
 infrangible immortal there they stay 
 the father of the floods pursues his way 
 where like a tempest darkening heaven around 
 or fiery deluge that devours the ground 
 the impatient trojans in a gloomy throng 
 embattled roll'd as hector rush'd along 
 to the loud tumult and the barbarous cry
 the heavens re-echo and the shores reply 
 they vow destruction to the grecian name 
 and in their hopes the fleets already flame 

 but neptune rising from the seas profound 
 the god whose earthquakes rock the solid ground 
 now wears a mortal form like calchas seen 
 such his loud voice and such his manly mien 
 his shouts incessant every greek inspire 
 but most the ajaces adding fire to fire 


 neptune rising from the sea 


  'tis yours o warriors all our hopes to raise 
 oh recollect your ancient worth and praise 
 'tis yours to save us if you cease to fear 
 flight more than shameful is destructive here 
 on other works though troy with fury fall 
 and pour her armies o'er our batter'd wall 
 there greece has strength but this this part o'erthrown 
 her strength were vain i dread for you alone 
 here hector rages like the force of fire 
 vaunts of his gods and calls high jove his sire 
 if yet some heavenly power your breast excite 
 breathe in your hearts and string your arms to fight 
 greece yet may live her threaten'd fleet maintain 
 and hector's force and jove's own aid be vain  

 then with his sceptre that the deep controls 
 he touch'd the chiefs and steel'd their manly souls 
 strength not their own the touch divine imparts 
 prompts their light limbs and swells their daring hearts 
 then as a falcon from the rocky height 
 her quarry seen impetuous at the sight 
 forth-springing instant darts herself from high 
 shoots on the wing and skims along the sky 
 such and so swift the power of ocean flew 
 the wide horizon shut him from their view 

 the inspiring god oileus' active son
 perceived the first and thus to telamon 

  some god my friend some god in human form
 favouring descends and wills to stand the storm 
 not calchas this the venerable seer 
 short as he turned i saw the power appear 
 i mark'd his parting and the steps he trod 
 his own bright evidence reveals a god 
 even now some energy divine i share 
 and seem to walk on wings and tread in air  

  with equal ardour telamon returns 
 my soul is kindled and my bosom burns 
 new rising spirits all my force alarm 
 lift each impatient limb and brace my arm 
 this ready arm unthinking shakes the dart 
 the blood pours back and fortifies my heart 
 singly methinks yon towering chief i meet 
 and stretch the dreadful hector at my feet  

 full of the god that urged their burning breast 
 the heroes thus their mutual warmth express'd 
 neptune meanwhile the routed greeks inspired 
 who breathless pale with length of labours tired 
 pant in the ships while troy to conquest calls 
 and swarms victorious o'er their yielding walls 
 trembling before the impending storm they lie 
 while tears of rage stand burning in their eye 
 greece sunk they thought and this their fatal hour 
 but breathe new courage as they feel the power 
 teucer and leitus first his words excite 
 then stern peneleus rises to the fight 
 thoas deipyrus in arms renown'd 
 and merion next the impulsive fury found 
 last nestor's son the same bold ardour takes 
 while thus the god the martial fire awakes 

  oh lasting infamy oh dire disgrace
 to chiefs of vigorous youth and manly race 
 i trusted in the gods and you to see
 brave greece victorious and her navy free 
 ah no the glorious combat you disclaim 
 and one black day clouds all her former fame 
 heavens what a prodigy these eyes survey 
 unseen unthought till this amazing day 
 fly we at length from troy's oft-conquer'd bands 
 and falls our fleet by such inglorious hands 
 a rout undisciplined a straggling train 
 not born to glories of the dusty plain 
 like frighted fawns from hill to hill pursued 
 a prey to every savage of the wood 
 shall these so late who trembled at your name 
 invade your camps involve your ships in flame 
 a change so shameful say what cause has wrought 
 the soldiers' baseness or the general's fault 
 fools will ye perish for your leader's vice 
 the purchase infamy and life the price 
 'tis not your cause achilles' injured fame 
 another's is the crime but yours the shame 
 grant that our chief offend through rage or lust 
 must you be cowards if your king's unjust 
 prevent this evil and your country save 
 small thought retrieves the spirits of the brave 
 think and subdue on dastards dead to fame
 i waste no anger for they feel no shame 
 but you the pride the flower of all our host 
 my heart weeps blood to see your glory lost 
 nor deem this day this battle all you lose 
 a day more black a fate more vile ensues 
 let each reflect who prizes fame or breath 
 on endless infamy on instant death 
 for lo the fated time the appointed shore 
 hark the gates burst the brazen barriers roar 
 impetuous hector thunders at the wall 
 the hour the spot to conquer or to fall  

 these words the grecians' fainting hearts inspire 
 and listening armies catch the godlike fire 
 fix'd at his post was each bold ajax found 
 with well-ranged squadrons strongly circled round 
 so close their order so disposed their fight 
 as pallas' self might view with fix'd delight 
 or had the god of war inclined his eyes 
 the god of war had own'd a just surprise 
 a chosen phalanx firm resolved as fate 
 descending hector and his battle wait 
 an iron scene gleams dreadful o'er the fields 
 armour in armour lock'd and shields in shields 
 spears lean on spears on targets targets throng 
 helms stuck to helms and man drove man along 
 the floating plumes unnumber'd wave above 
 as when an earthquake stirs the nodding grove 
 and levell'd at the skies with pointing rays 
 their brandish'd lances at each motion blaze 

 thus breathing death in terrible array 
 the close compacted legions urged their way 
 fierce they drove on impatient to destroy 
 troy charged the first and hector first of troy 
 as from some mountain's craggy forehead torn 
 a rock's round fragment flies with fury borne 
 which from the stubborn stone a torrent rends 
 precipitate the ponderous mass descends 
 from steep to steep the rolling ruin bounds 
 at every shock the crackling wood resounds 
 still gathering force it smokes and urged amain 
 whirls leaps and thunders down impetuous to the plain 
 there stops so hector their whole force he proved 230 
 resistless when he raged and when he stopp'd unmoved 

 on him the war is bent the darts are shed 
 and all their falchions wave around his head 
 repulsed he stands nor from his stand retires 
 but with repeated shouts his army fires 
  trojans be firm this arm shall make your way
 through yon square body and that black array 
 stand and my spear shall rout their scattering power 
 strong as they seem embattled like a tower 
 for he that juno's heavenly bosom warms 
 the first of gods this day inspires our arms  

 he said and roused the soul in every breast 
 urged with desire of fame beyond the rest 
 forth march'd deiphobus but marching held
 before his wary steps his ample shield 
 bold merion aim'd a stroke nor aim'd it wide 
 the glittering javelin pierced the tough bull-hide 
 but pierced not through unfaithful to his hand 
 the point broke short and sparkled in the sand 
 the trojan warrior touch'd with timely fear 
 on the raised orb to distance bore the spear 
 the greek retreating mourn'd his frustrate blow 
 and cursed the treacherous lance that spared a foe 
 then to the ships with surly speed he went 
 to seek a surer javelin in his tent 

 meanwhile with rising rage the battle glows 
 the tumult thickens and the clamour grows 
 by teucer's arm the warlike imbrius bleeds 
 the son of mentor rich in generous steeds 
 ere yet to troy the sons of greece were led 
 in fair pedaeus' verdant pastures bred 
 the youth had dwelt remote from war's alarms 
 and blest in bright medesicaste's arms 
 this nymph the fruit of priam's ravish'd joy 
 allied the warrior to the house of troy 
 to troy when glory call'd his arms he came 
 and match'd the bravest of her chiefs in fame 
 with priam's sons a guardian of the throne 
 he lived beloved and honour'd as his own 
 him teucer pierced between the throat and ear 
 he groans beneath the telamonian spear 
 as from some far-seen mountain's airy crown 
 subdued by steel a tall ash tumbles down 
 and soils its verdant tresses on the ground 
 so falls the youth his arms the fall resound 
 then teucer rushing to despoil the dead 
 from hector's hand a shining javelin fled 
 he saw and shunn'd the death the forceful dart
 sung on and pierced amphimachus's heart 
 cteatus' son of neptune's forceful line 
 vain was his courage and his race divine 
 prostrate he falls his clanging arms resound 
 and his broad buckler thunders on the ground 
 to seize his beamy helm the victor flies 
 and just had fastened on the dazzling prize 
 when ajax' manly arm a javelin flung 
 full on the shield's round boss the weapon rung 
 he felt the shock nor more was doom'd to feel 
 secure in mail and sheath'd in shining steel 
 repulsed he yields the victor greeks obtain
 the spoils contested and bear off the slain 
 between the leaders of the athenian line 
 stichius the brave menestheus the divine 
 deplored amphimachus sad object lies 
 imbrius remains the fierce ajaces' prize 
 as two grim lions bear across the lawn 
 snatch'd from devouring hounds a slaughter'd fawn 
 in their fell jaws high-lifting through the wood 
 and sprinkling all the shrubs with drops of blood 
 so these the chief great ajax from the dead
 strips his bright arms oileus lops his head 
 toss'd like a ball and whirl'd in air away 
 at hector's feet the gory visage lay 

 the god of ocean fired with stern disdain 
 and pierced with sorrow for his grandson slain 
 inspires the grecian hearts confirms their hands 
 and breathes destruction on the trojan bands 
 swift as a whirlwind rushing to the fleet 
 he finds the lance-famed idomen of crete 
 his pensive brow the generous care express'd
 with which a wounded soldier touch'd his breast 
 whom in the chance of war a javelin tore 
 and his sad comrades from the battle bore 
 him to the surgeons of the camp he sent 
 that office paid he issued from his tent
 fierce for the fight to whom the god begun 
 in thoas' voice andraemon's valiant son 
 who ruled where calydon's white rocks arise 
 and pleuron's chalky cliffs emblaze the skies 

  where's now the imperious vaunt the daring boast 
 of greece victorious and proud ilion lost  

 to whom the king  on greece no blame be thrown 
 arms are her trade and war is all her own 
 her hardy heroes from the well-fought plains
 nor fear withholds nor shameful sloth detains 
 'tis heaven alas and jove's all-powerful doom 
 that far far distant from our native home
 wills us to fall inglorious oh my friend 
 once foremost in the fight still prone to lend
 or arms or counsels now perform thy best 
 and what thou canst not singly urge the rest  

 thus he and thus the god whose force can make
 the solid globe's eternal basis shake 
  ah never may he see his native land 
 but feed the vultures on this hateful strand 
 who seeks ignobly in his ships to stay 
 nor dares to combat on this signal day 
 for this behold in horrid arms i shine 
 and urge thy soul to rival acts with mine 
 together let us battle on the plain 
 two not the worst nor even this succour vain 
 not vain the weakest if their force unite 
 but ours the bravest have confess'd in fight  

 this said he rushes where the combat burns 
 swift to his tent the cretan king returns 
 from thence two javelins glittering in his hand 
 and clad in arms that lighten'd all the strand 
 fierce on the foe the impetuous hero drove 
 like lightning bursting from the arm of jove 
 which to pale man the wrath of heaven declares 
 or terrifies the offending world with wars 
 in streamy sparkles kindling all the skies 
 from pole to pole the trail of glory flies 
 thus his bright armour o'er the dazzled throng
 gleam'd dreadful as the monarch flash'd along 

 him near his tent meriones attends 
 whom thus he questions  ever best of friends 
 o say in every art of battle skill'd 
 what holds thy courage from so brave a field 
 on some important message art thou bound 
 or bleeds my friend by some unhappy wound 
 inglorious here my soul abhors to stay 
 and glows with prospects of th' approaching day  

  o prince meriones replies whose care
 leads forth the embattled sons of crete to war 
 this speaks my grief this headless lance i wield 
 the rest lies rooted in a trojan shield  

 to whom the cretan  enter and receive
 the wonted weapons those my tent can give 
 spears i have store and trojan lances all 
 that shed a lustre round the illumined wall 
 though i disdainful of the distant war 
 nor trust the dart nor aim the uncertain spear 
 yet hand to hand i fight and spoil the slain 
 and thence these trophies and these arms i gain 
 enter and see on heaps the helmets roll'd 
 and high-hung spears and shields that flame with gold  

  nor vain said merion are our martial toils 
 we too can boast of no ignoble spoils 
 but those my ship contains whence distant far 
 i fight conspicuous in the van of war 
 what need i more if any greek there be
 who knows not merion i appeal to thee  

 to this idomeneus  the fields of fight
 have proved thy valour and unconquer'd might 
 and were some ambush for the foes design'd 
 even there thy courage would not lag behind 
 in that sharp service singled from the rest 
 the fear of each or valour stands confess'd 
 no force no firmness the pale coward shows 
 he shifts his place his colour comes and goes 
 a dropping sweat creeps cold on every part 
 against his bosom beats his quivering heart 
 terror and death in his wild eye-balls stare 
 with chattering teeth he stands and stiffening hair 
 and looks a bloodless image of despair 
 not so the brave still dauntless still the same 
 unchanged his colour and unmoved his frame 
 composed his thought determined is his eye 
 and fix'd his soul to conquer or to die 
 if aught disturb the tenour of his breast 
 'tis but the wish to strike before the rest 

  in such assays thy blameless worth is known 
 and every art of dangerous war thy own 
 by chance of fight whatever wounds you bore 
 those wounds were glorious all and all before 
 such as may teach 'twas still thy brave delight
 t'oppose thy bosom where thy foremost fight 
 but why like infants cold to honour's charms 
 stand we to talk when glory calls to arms 
 go from my conquer'd spears the choicest take 
 and to their owners send them nobly back  

 swift at the word bold merion snatch'd a spear
 and breathing slaughter follow'd to the war 
 so mars armipotent invades the plain 
 the wide destroyer of the race of man 
 terror his best-beloved son attends his course 
 arm'd with stern boldness and enormous force 
 the pride of haughty warriors to confound 
 and lay the strength of tyrants on the ground 
 from thrace they fly call'd to the dire alarms
 of warring phlegyans and ephyrian arms 
 invoked by both relentless they dispose 
 to these glad conquest murderous rout to those 
 so march'd the leaders of the cretan train 
 and their bright arms shot horror o'er the plain 

 then first spake merion  shall we join the right 
 or combat in the centre of the fight 
 or to the left our wonted succour lend 
 hazard and fame all parts alike attend  

  not in the centre idomen replied 
 our ablest chieftains the main battle guide 
 each godlike ajax makes that post his care 
 and gallant teucer deals destruction there 
 skill'd or with shafts to gall the distant field 
 or bear close battle on the sounding shield 
 these can the rage of haughty hector tame 
 safe in their arms the navy fears no flame 
 till jove himself descends his bolts to shed 
 and hurl the blazing ruin at our head 
 great must he be of more than human birth 
 nor feed like mortals on the fruits of earth 
 him neither rocks can crush nor steel can wound 
 whom ajax fells not on the ensanguined ground 
 in standing fight he mates achilles' force 
 excell'd alone in swiftness in the course 
 then to the left our ready arms apply 
 and live with glory or with glory die  

 he said and merion to th' appointed place 
 fierce as the god of battles urged his pace 
 soon as the foe the shining chiefs beheld
 rush like a fiery torrent o'er the field 
 their force embodied in a tide they pour 
 the rising combat sounds along the shore 
 as warring winds in sirius' sultry reign 
 from different quarters sweep the sandy plain 
 on every side the dusty whirlwinds rise 
 and the dry fields are lifted to the skies 
 thus by despair hope rage together driven 
 met the black hosts and meeting darken'd heaven 
 all dreadful glared the iron face of war 
 bristled with upright spears that flash'd afar 
 dire was the gleam of breastplates helms and shields 
 and polish'd arms emblazed the flaming fields 
 tremendous scene that general horror gave 
 but touch'd with joy the bosoms of the brave 

 saturn's great sons in fierce contention vied 
 and crowds of heroes in their anger died 
 the sire of earth and heaven by thetis won
 to crown with glory peleus' godlike son 
 will'd not destruction to the grecian powers 
 but spared awhile the destined trojan towers 
 while neptune rising from his azure main 
 warr'd on the king of heaven with stern disdain 
 and breathed revenge and fired the grecian train 
 gods of one source of one ethereal race 
 alike divine and heaven their native place 
 but jove the greater first-born of the skies 
 and more than men or gods supremely wise 
 for this of jove's superior might afraid 
 neptune in human form conceal'd his aid 
 these powers enfold the greek and trojan train
 in war and discord's adamantine chain 
 indissolubly strong the fatal tie
 is stretch'd on both and close compell'd they die 

 dreadful in arms and grown in combats grey 
 the bold idomeneus controls the day 
 first by his hand othryoneus was slain 
 swell'd with false hopes with mad ambition vain 
 call'd by the voice of war to martial fame 
 from high cabesus' distant walls he came 
 cassandra's love he sought with boasts of power 
 and promised conquest was the proffer'd dower 
 the king consented by his vaunts abused 
 the king consented but the fates refused 
 proud of himself and of the imagined bride 
 the field he measured with a larger stride 
 him as he stalk'd the cretan javelin found 
 vain was his breastplate to repel the wound 
 his dream of glory lost he plunged to hell 
 his arms resounded as the boaster fell 
 the great idomeneus bestrides the dead 
  and thus he cries behold thy promise sped 
 such is the help thy arms to ilion bring 
 and such the contract of the phrygian king 
 our offers now illustrious prince receive 
 for such an aid what will not argos give 
 to conquer troy with ours thy forces join 
 and count atrides' fairest daughter thine 
 meantime on further methods to advise 
 come follow to the fleet thy new allies 
 there hear what greece has on her part to say  
 he spoke and dragg'd the gory corse away 
 this asius view'd unable to contain 
 before his chariot warring on the plain 
 his crowded coursers to his squire consign'd 
 impatient panted on his neck behind 
 to vengeance rising with a sudden spring 
 he hoped the conquest of the cretan king 
 the wary cretan as his foe drew near 
 full on his throat discharged the forceful spear 
 beneath the chin the point was seen to glide 
 and glitter'd extant at the further side 
 as when the mountain-oak or poplar tall 
 or pine fit mast for some great admiral 
 groans to the oft-heaved axe with many a wound 
 then spreads a length of ruin o'er the ground 
 so sunk proud asius in that dreadful day 
 and stretch'd before his much-loved coursers lay 
 he grinds the dust distain'd with streaming gore 
 and fierce in death lies foaming on the shore 
 deprived of motion stiff with stupid fear 
 stands all aghast his trembling charioteer 
 nor shuns the foe nor turns the steeds away 
 but falls transfix'd an unresisting prey 
 pierced by antilochus he pants beneath
 the stately car and labours out his breath 
 thus asius' steeds their mighty master gone 
 remain the prize of nestor's youthful son 

 stabb'd at the sight deiphobus drew nigh 
 and made with force the vengeful weapon fly 
 the cretan saw and stooping caused to glance
 from his slope shield the disappointed lance 
 beneath the spacious targe a blazing round 
 thick with bull-hides and brazen orbits bound 
 on his raised arm by two strong braces stay'd 
 he lay collected in defensive shade 
 o'er his safe head the javelin idly sung 
 and on the tinkling verge more faintly rung 
 even then the spear the vigorous arm confess'd 
 and pierced obliquely king hypsenor's breast 
 warm'd in his liver to the ground it bore
 the chief his people's guardian now no more 

  not unattended the proud trojan cries 
 nor unrevenged lamented asius lies 
 for thee through hell's black portals stand display'd 
 this mate shall joy thy melancholy shade  

 heart-piercing anguish at the haughty boast 
 touch'd every greek but nestor's son the most 
 grieved as he was his pious arms attend 
 and his broad buckler shields his slaughter'd friend 
 till sad mecistheus and alastor bore
 his honour'd body to the tented shore 

 nor yet from fight idomeneus withdraws 
 resolved to perish in his country's cause 
 or find some foe whom heaven and he shall doom
 to wail his fate in death's eternal gloom 
 he sees alcathous in the front aspire 
 great csyetes was the hero's sire 
 his spouse hippodame divinely fair 
 anchises' eldest hope and darling care 
 who charm'd her parents' and her husband's heart
 with beauty sense and every work of art 
 he once of ilion's youth the loveliest boy 
 the fairest she of all the fair of troy 
 by neptune now the hapless hero dies 
 who covers with a cloud those beauteous eyes 
 and fetters every limb yet bent to meet
 his fate he stands nor shuns the lance of crete 
 fix'd as some column or deep-rooted oak 
 while the winds sleep his breast received the stroke 
 before the ponderous stroke his corslet yields 
 long used to ward the death in fighting fields 
 the riven armour sends a jarring sound 
 his labouring heart heaves with so strong a bound 
 the long lance shakes and vibrates in the wound 
 fast flowing from its source as prone he lay 
 life's purple tide impetuous gush'd away 

 then idomen insulting o'er the slain 
  behold deiphobus nor vaunt in vain 
 see on one greek three trojan ghosts attend 
 this my third victim to the shades i send 
 approaching now thy boasted might approve 
 and try the prowess of the seed of jove 
 from jove enamour'd of a mortal dame 
 great minos guardian of his country came 
 deucalion blameless prince was minos' heir 
 his first-born i the third from jupiter 
 o'er spacious crete and her bold sons i reign 
 and thence my ships transport me through the main 
 lord of a host o'er all my host i shine 
 a scourge to thee thy father and thy line  

 the trojan heard uncertain or to meet 
 alone with venturous arms the king of crete 
 or seek auxiliar force at length decreed
 to call some hero to partake the deed 
 forthwith cneas rises to his thought 
 for him in troy's remotest lines he sought 
 where he incensed at partial priam stands 
 and sees superior posts in meaner hands 
 to him ambitious of so great an aid 
 the bold deiphobus approach'd and said 

  now trojan prince employ thy pious arms 
 if e'er thy bosom felt fair honour's charms 
 alcathous dies thy brother and thy friend 
 come and the warrior's loved remains defend 
 beneath his cares thy early youth was train'd 
 one table fed you and one roof contain'd 
 this deed to fierce idomeneus we owe 
 haste and revenge it on th' insulting foe  

 cneas heard and for a space resign'd
 to tender pity all his manly mind 
 then rising in his rage he burns to fight 
 the greek awaits him with collected might 
 as the fell boar on some rough mountain's head 
 arm'd with wild terrors and to slaughter bred 
 when the loud rustics rise and shout from far 
 attends the tumult and expects the war 
 o'er his bent back the bristly horrors rise 
 fires stream in lightning from his sanguine eyes 
 his foaming tusks both dogs and men engage 
 but most his hunters rouse his mighty rage 
 so stood idomeneus his javelin shook 
 and met the trojan with a lowering look 
 antilochus deipyrus were near 
 the youthful offspring of the god of war 
 merion and aphareus in field renown'd 
 to these the warrior sent his voice around 
  fellows in arms your timely aid unite 
 lo great cneas rushes to the fight 
 sprung from a god and more than mortal bold 
 he fresh in youth and i in arms grown old 
 else should this hand this hour decide the strife 
 the great dispute of glory or of life  

 he spoke and all as with one soul obey'd 
 their lifted bucklers cast a dreadful shade
 around the chief cneas too demands
 th' assisting forces of his native bands 
 paris deiphobus agenor join 
 co-aids and captains of the trojan line 
 in order follow all th' embodied train 
 like ida's flocks proceeding o'er the plain 
 before his fleecy care erect and bold 
 stalks the proud ram the father of the bold 
 with joy the swain surveys them as he leads
 to the cool fountains through the well-known meads 
 so joys cneas as his native band
 moves on in rank and stretches o'er the land 

 round dread alcathous now the battle rose 
 on every side the steely circle grows 
 now batter'd breast-plates and hack'd helmets ring 
 and o'er their heads unheeded javelins sing 
 above the rest two towering chiefs appear 
 there great idomeneus cneas here 
 like gods of war dispensing fate they stood 
 and burn'd to drench the ground with mutual blood 
 the trojan weapon whizz'd along in air 
 the cretan saw and shunn'd the brazen spear 
 sent from an arm so strong the missive wood
 stuck deep in earth and quiver'd where it stood 
 but oenomas received the cretan's stroke 
 the forceful spear his hollow corslet broke 
 it ripp'd his belly with a ghastly wound 
 and roll'd the smoking entrails on the ground 
 stretch'd on the plain he sobs away his breath 
 and furious grasps the bloody dust in death 
 the victor from his breast the weapon tears 
 his spoils he could not for the shower of spears 
 though now unfit an active war to wage 
 heavy with cumbrous arms stiff with cold age 
 his listless limbs unable for the course 
 in standing fight he yet maintains his force 
 till faint with labour and by foes repell'd 
 his tired slow steps he drags from off the field 
 deiphobus beheld him as he pass'd 
 and fired with hate a parting javelin cast 
 the javelin err'd but held its course along 
 and pierced ascalaphus the brave and young 
 the son of mars fell gasping on the ground 
 and gnash'd the dust all bloody with his wound 

 nor knew the furious father of his fall 
 high-throned amidst the great olympian hall 
 on golden clouds th' immortal synod sate 
 detain'd from bloody war by jove and fate 

 now where in dust the breathless hero lay 
 for slain ascalaphus commenced the fray 
 deiphobus to seize his helmet flies 
 and from his temples rends the glittering prize 
 valiant as mars meriones drew near 
 and on his loaded arm discharged his spear 
 he drops the weight disabled with the pain 
 the hollow helmet rings against the plain 
 swift as a vulture leaping on his prey 
 from his torn arm the grecian rent away
 the reeking javelin and rejoin'd his friends 
 his wounded brother good polites tends 
 around his waist his pious arms he threw 
 and from the rage of battle gently drew 
 him his swift coursers on his splendid car 
 rapt from the lessening thunder of the war 
 to troy they drove him groaning from the shore 
 and sprinkling as he pass'd the sands with gore 

 meanwhile fresh slaughter bathes the sanguine ground 
 heaps fall on heaps and heaven and earth resound 
 bold aphareus by great cneas bled 
 as toward the chief he turn'd his daring head 
 he pierced his throat the bending head depress'd
 beneath his helmet nods upon his breast 
 his shield reversed o'er the fallen warrior lies 
 and everlasting slumber seals his eyes 
 antilochus as thoon turn'd him round 
 transpierced his back with a dishonest wound 
 the hollow vein that to the neck extends
 along the chine his eager javelin rends 
 supine he falls and to his social train
 spreads his imploring arms but spreads in vain 
 th' exulting victor leaping where he lay 
 from his broad shoulders tore the spoils away 
 his time observed for closed by foes around 
 on all sides thick the peals of arms resound 
 his shield emboss'd the ringing storm sustains 
 but he impervious and untouch'd remains 
 great neptune's care preserved from hostile rage
 this youth the joy of nestor's glorious age 
 in arms intrepid with the first he fought 
 faced every foe and every danger sought 
 his winged lance resistless as the wind 
 obeys each motion of the master's mind 
 restless it flies impatient to be free 
 and meditates the distant enemy 
 the son of asius adamas drew near 
 and struck his target with the brazen spear
 fierce in his front but neptune wards the blow 
 and blunts the javelin of th' eluded foe 
 in the broad buckler half the weapon stood 
 splinter'd on earth flew half the broken wood 
 disarm'd he mingled in the trojan crew 
 but merion's spear o'ertook him as he flew 
 deep in the belly's rim an entrance found 
 where sharp the pang and mortal is the wound 
 bending he fell and doubled to the ground 
 lay panting thus an ox in fetters tied 
 while death's strong pangs distend his labouring side 
 his bulk enormous on the field displays 
 his heaving heart beats thick as ebbing life decays 
 the spear the conqueror from his body drew 
 and death's dim shadows swarm before his view 
 next brave deipyrus in dust was laid 
 king helenus waved high the thracian blade 
 and smote his temples with an arm so strong 
 the helm fell off and roll'd amid the throng 
 there for some luckier greek it rests a prize 
 for dark in death the godlike owner lies 
 raging with grief great menelaus burns 
 and fraught with vengeance to the victor turns 
 that shook the ponderous lance in act to throw 
 and this stood adverse with the bended bow 
 full on his breast the trojan arrow fell 
 but harmless bounded from the plated steel 
 as on some ample barn's well harden'd floor 
 the winds collected at each open door 
 while the broad fan with force is whirl'd around 
 light leaps the golden grain resulting from the ground 
 so from the steel that guards atrides' heart 
 repell'd to distance flies the bounding dart 
 atrides watchful of the unwary foe 
 pierced with his lance the hand that grasp'd the bow 
 and nailed it to the yew the wounded hand
 trail'd the long lance that mark'd with blood the sand 
 but good agenor gently from the wound
 the spear solicits and the bandage bound 
 a sling's soft wool snatch'd from a soldier's side 
 at once the tent and ligature supplied 

 behold pisander urged by fate's decree 
 springs through the ranks to fall and fall by thee 
 great menelaus to enchance thy fame 
 high-towering in the front the warrior came 
 first the sharp lance was by atrides thrown 
 the lance far distant by the winds was blown 
 nor pierced pisander through atrides' shield 
 pisander's spear fell shiver'd on the field 
 not so discouraged to the future blind 
 vain dreams of conquest swell his haughty mind 
 dauntless he rushes where the spartan lord
 like lightning brandish'd his far beaming sword 
 his left arm high opposed the shining shield 
 his right beneath the cover'd pole-axe held 
 an olive's cloudy grain the handle made 
 distinct with studs and brazen was the blade 
 this on the helm discharged a noble blow 
 the plume dropp'd nodding to the plain below 
 shorn from the crest atrides waved his steel 
 deep through his front the weighty falchion fell 
 the crashing bones before its force gave way 
 in dust and blood the groaning hero lay 
 forced from their ghastly orbs and spouting gore 
 the clotted eye-balls tumble on the shore 
 and fierce atrides spurn'd him as he bled 
 tore off his arms and loud-exulting said 

  thus trojans thus at length be taught to fear 
 o race perfidious who delight in war 
 already noble deeds ye have perform'd 
 a princess raped transcends a navy storm'd 
 in such bold feats your impious might approve 
 without th' assistance or the fear of jove 
 the violated rites the ravish'd dame 
 our heroes slaughter'd and our ships on flame 
 crimes heap'd on crimes shall bend your glory down 
 and whelm in ruins yon flagitious town 
 o thou great father lord of earth and skies 
 above the thought of man supremely wise 
 if from thy hand the fates of mortals flow 
 from whence this favour to an impious foe 
 a godless crew abandon'd and unjust 
 still breathing rapine violence and lust 
 the best of things beyond their measure cloy 
 sleep's balmy blessing love's endearing joy 
 the feast the dance whate'er mankind desire 
 even the sweet charms of sacred numbers tire 
 but troy for ever reaps a dire delight
 in thirst of slaughter and in lust of fight  

 this said he seized while yet the carcase heaved 
 the bloody armour which his train received 
 then sudden mix'd among the warring crew 
 and the bold son of pylaemenes slew 
 harpalion had through asia travell'd far 
 following his martial father to the war 
 through filial love he left his native shore 
 never ah never to behold it more 
 his unsuccessful spear he chanced to fling
 against the target of the spartan king 
 thus of his lance disarm'd from death he flies 
 and turns around his apprehensive eyes 
 him through the hip transpiercing as he fled 
 the shaft of merion mingled with the dead 
 beneath the bone the glancing point descends 
 and driving down the swelling bladder rends 
 sunk in his sad companions' arms he lay 
 and in short pantings sobb'd his soul away 
 like some vile worm extended on the ground 
 while life's red torrent gush'd from out the wound 

 him on his car the paphlagonian train
 in slow procession bore from off the plain 
 the pensive father father now no more 
 attends the mournful pomp along the shore 
 and unavailing tears profusely shed 
 and unrevenged deplored his offspring dead 

 paris from far the moving sight beheld 
 with pity soften'd and with fury swell'd 
 his honour'd host a youth of matchless grace 
 and loved of all the paphlagonian race 
 with his full strength he bent his angry bow 
 and wing'd the feather'd vengeance at the foe 
 a chief there was the brave euchenor named 
 for riches much and more for virtue famed 
 who held his seat in corinth's stately town 
 polydus' son a seer of old renown 
 oft had the father told his early doom 
 by arms abroad or slow disease at home 
 he climb'd his vessel prodigal of breath 
 and chose the certain glorious path to death 
 beneath his ear the pointed arrow went 
 the soul came issuing at the narrow vent 
 his limbs unnerved drop useless on the ground 
 and everlasting darkness shades him round 

 nor knew great hector how his legions yield 
 wrapp'd in the cloud and tumult of the field 
 wide on the left the force of greece commands 
 and conquest hovers o'er th' achaian bands 
 with such a tide superior virtue sway'd 
 and he that shakes the solid earth gave aid 
 but in the centre hector fix'd remain'd 
 where first the gates were forced and bulwarks gain'd 
 there on the margin of the hoary deep 
 their naval station where the ajaces keep 
 and where low walls confine the beating tides 
 whose humble barrier scarce the foe divides 
 where late in fight both foot and horse engaged 
 and all the thunder of the battle raged 
 there join'd the whole boeotian strength remains 
 the proud iaonians with their sweeping trains 
 locrians and phthians and th' epaean force 
 but join'd repel not hector's fiery course 
 the flower of athens stichius phidas led 
 bias and great menestheus at their head 
 meges the strong the epaean bands controll'd 
 and dracius prudent and amphion bold 
 the phthians medon famed for martial might 
 and brave podarces active in the fight 
 this drew from phylacus his noble line 
 iphiclus' son and that oileus thine 
 young ajax' brother by a stolen embrace 
 he dwelt far distant from his native place 
 by his fierce step-dame from his father's reign
 expell'd and exiled for her brother slain 
 these rule the phthians and their arms employ 
 mix'd with boeotians on the shores of troy 

 now side by side with like unwearied care 
 each ajax laboured through the field of war 
 so when two lordly bulls with equal toil 
 force the bright ploughshare through the fallow soil 
 join'd to one yoke the stubborn earth they tear 
 and trace large furrows with the shining share 
 o'er their huge limbs the foam descends in snow 
 and streams of sweat down their sour foreheads flow 
 a train of heroes followed through the field 
 who bore by turns great ajax' sevenfold shield 
 whene'er he breathed remissive of his might 
 tired with the incessant slaughters of the fight 
 no following troops his brave associate grace 
 in close engagement an unpractised race 
 the locrian squadrons nor the javelin wield 
 nor bear the helm nor lift the moony shield 
 but skill'd from far the flying shaft to wing 
 or whirl the sounding pebble from the sling 
 dexterous with these they aim a certain wound 
 or fell the distant warrior to the ground 
 thus in the van the telamonian train 
 throng'd in bright arms a pressing fight maintain 
 far in the rear the locrian archers lie 
 whose stones and arrows intercept the sky 
 the mingled tempest on the foes they pour 
 troy's scattering orders open to the shower 

 now had the greeks eternal fame acquired 
 and the gall'd ilians to their walls retired 
 but sage polydamas discreetly brave 
 address'd great hector and this counsel gave 

  though great in all thou seem'st averse to lend
 impartial audience to a faithful friend 
 to gods and men thy matchless worth is known 
 and every art of glorious war thy own 
 but in cool thought and counsel to excel 
 how widely differs this from warring well 
 content with what the bounteous gods have given 
 seek not alone to engross the gifts of heaven 
 to some the powers of bloody war belong 
 to some sweet music and the charm of song 
 to few and wondrous few has jove assign'd
 a wise extensive all-considering mind 
 their guardians these the nations round confess 
 and towns and empires for their safety bless 
 if heaven have lodged this virtue in my breast 
 attend o hector what i judge the best 
 see as thou mov'st on dangers dangers spread 
 and war's whole fury burns around thy head 
 behold distress'd within yon hostile wall 
 how many trojans yield disperse or fall 
 what troops out-number'd scarce the war maintain 
 and what brave heroes at the ships lie slain 
 here cease thy fury and the chiefs and kings
 convoked to council weigh the sum of things 
 whether the gods succeeding our desires 
 to yon tall ships to bear the trojan fires 
 or quit the fleet and pass unhurt away 
 contented with the conquest of the day 
 i fear i fear lest greece not yet undone 
 pay the large debt of last revolving sun 
 achilles great achilles yet remains
 on yonder decks and yet o'erlooks the plains  

 the counsel pleased and hector with a bound 
 leap'd from his chariot on the trembling ground 
 swift as he leap'd his clanging arms resound 
  to guard this post he cried thy art employ 
 and here detain the scatter'd youth of troy 
 where yonder heroes faint i bend my way 
 and hasten back to end the doubtful day  

 this said the towering chief prepares to go 
 shakes his white plumes that to the breezes flow 
 and seems a moving mountain topp'd with snow 
 through all his host inspiring force he flies 
 and bids anew the martial thunder rise 
 to panthus' son at hector's high command
 haste the bold leaders of the trojan band 
 but round the battlements and round the plain 
 for many a chief he look'd but look'd in vain 
 deiphobus nor helenus the seer 
 nor asius' son nor asius' self appear 
 for these were pierced with many a ghastly wound 
 some cold in death some groaning on the ground 
 some low in dust a mournful object lay 
 high on the wall some breathed their souls away 

 far on the left amid the throng he found
 cheering the troops and dealing deaths around 
 the graceful paris whom with fury moved 
 opprobrious thus th' impatient chief reproved 

  ill-fated paris slave to womankind 
 as smooth of face as fraudulent of mind 
 where is deiphobus where asius gone 
 the godlike father and th' intrepid son 
 the force of helenus dispensing fate 
 and great othryoneus so fear'd of late 
 black fate hang's o'er thee from th' avenging gods 
 imperial troy from her foundations nods 
 whelm'd in thy country's ruin shalt thou fall 
 and one devouring vengeance swallow all  

 when paris thus  my brother and my friend 
 thy warm impatience makes thy tongue offend 
 in other battles i deserved thy blame 
 though then not deedless nor unknown to fame 
 but since yon rampart by thy arms lay low 
 i scatter'd slaughter from my fatal bow 
 the chiefs you seek on yonder shore lie slain 
 of all those heroes two alone remain 
 deiphobus and helenus the seer 
 each now disabled by a hostile spear 
 go then successful where thy soul inspires 
 this heart and hand shall second all thy fires 
 what with this arm i can prepare to know 
 till death for death be paid and blow for blow 
 but 'tis not ours with forces not our own
 to combat strength is of the gods alone  
 these words the hero's angry mind assuage 
 then fierce they mingle where the thickest rage 
 around polydamas distain'd with blood 
 cebrion phalces stern orthaeus stood 
 palmus with polypoetes the divine 
 and two bold brothers of hippotion's line
 who reach'd fair ilion from ascania far 
 the former day the next engaged in war 
 as when from gloomy clouds a whirlwind springs 
 that bears jove's thunder on its dreadful wings 
 wide o'er the blasted fields the tempest sweeps 
 then gather'd settles on the hoary deeps 
 the afflicted deeps tumultuous mix and roar 
 the waves behind impel the waves before 
 wide rolling foaming high and tumbling to the shore 
 thus rank on rank the thick battalions throng 
 chief urged on chief and man drove man along 
 far o'er the plains in dreadful order bright 
 the brazen arms reflect a beamy light 
 full in the blazing van great hector shined 
 like mars commission'd to confound mankind 
 before him flaming his enormous shield 
 like the broad sun illumined all the field 
 his nodding helm emits a streamy ray 
 his piercing eyes through all the battle stray 
 and while beneath his targe he flash'd along 
 shot terrors round that wither'd e'en the strong 

 thus stalk'd he dreadful death was in his look 
 whole nations fear'd but not an argive shook 
 the towering ajax with an ample stride 
 advanced the first and thus the chief defied 

  hector come on thy empty threats forbear 
 'tis not thy arm 'tis thundering jove we fear 
 the skill of war to us not idly given 
 lo greece is humbled not by troy but heaven 
 vain are the hopes that haughty mind imparts 
 to force our fleet the greeks have hands and hearts 
 long ere in flames our lofty navy fall 
 your boasted city and your god-built wall 
 shall sink beneath us smoking on the ground 
 and spread a long unmeasured ruin round 
 the time shall come when chased along the plain 
 even thou shalt call on jove and call in vain 
 even thou shalt wish to aid thy desperate course 
 the wings of falcons for thy flying horse 
 shalt run forgetful of a warrior's fame 
 while clouds of friendly dust conceal thy shame  

 as thus he spoke behold in open view 
 on sounding wings a dexter eagle flew 
 to jove's glad omen all the grecians rise 
 and hail with shouts his progress through the skies 
 far-echoing clamours bound from side to side 
 they ceased and thus the chief of troy replied 

  from whence this menace this insulting strain 
 enormous boaster doom'd to vaunt in vain 
 so may the gods on hector life bestow 
 not that short life which mortals lead below 
 but such as those of jove's high lineage born 
 the blue-eyed maid or he that gilds the morn 
 as this decisive day shall end the fame
 of greece and argos be no more a name 
 and thou imperious if thy madness wait
 the lance of hector thou shalt meet thy fate 
 that giant-corse extended on the shore 
 shall largely feast the fowls with fat and gore  

 he said and like a lion stalk'd along 
 with shouts incessant earth and ocean rung 
 sent from his following host the grecian train
 with answering thunders fill'd the echoing plain 
 a shout that tore heaven's concave and above 
 shook the fix'd splendours of the throne of jove 


 greek earrings 





book xiv 


argument 231 

juno deceives jupiter by the girdle of venus 

nestor sitting at the table with machaon is alarmed with the increasing
clamour of war and hastens to agamemnon on his way he meets that prince
with diomed and ulysses whom he informs of the extremity of the danger 
agamemnon proposes to make their escape by night which ulysses
withstands to which diomed adds his advice that wounded as they were 
they should go forth and encourage the army with their presence which
advice is pursued juno seeing the partiality of jupiter to the trojans 
forms a design to over-reach him she sets off her charms with the utmost
care and the more surely to enchant him obtains the magic girdle of
venus she then applies herself to the god of sleep and with some
difficulty persuades him to seal the eyes of jupiter this done she goes
to mount ida where the god at first sight is ravished with her beauty 
sinks in her embraces and is laid asleep neptune takes advantage of his
slumber and succours the greeks hector is struck to the ground with a
prodigious stone by ajax and carried off from the battle several actions
succeed till the trojans much distressed are obliged to give way the
lesser ajax signalizes himself in a particular manner 

 but not the genial feast nor flowing bowl 
 could charm the cares of nestor's watchful soul 
 his startled ears the increasing cries attend 
 then thus impatient to his wounded friend 

  what new alarm divine machaon say 
 what mix'd events attend this mighty day 
 hark how the shouts divide and how they meet 
 and now come full and thicken to the fleet 
 here with the cordial draught dispel thy care 
 let hecamede the strengthening bath prepare 
 refresh thy wound and cleanse the clotted gore 
 while i the adventures of the day explore  

 he said and seizing thrasymedes' shield 
 his valiant offspring hasten'd to the field 
 that day the son his father's buckler bore 
 then snatch'd a lance and issued from the door 
 soon as the prospect open'd to his view 
 his wounded eyes the scene of sorrow knew 
 dire disarray the tumult of the fight 
 the wall in ruins and the greeks in flight 
 as when old ocean's silent surface sleeps 
 the waves just heaving on the purple deeps 
 while yet the expected tempest hangs on high 
 weighs down the cloud and blackens in the sky 
 the mass of waters will no wind obey 
 jove sends one gust and bids them roll away 
 while wavering counsels thus his mind engage 
 fluctuates in doubtful thought the pylian sage 
 to join the host or to the general haste 
 debating long he fixes on the last 
 yet as he moves the sight his bosom warms 
 the field rings dreadful with the clang of arms 
 the gleaming falchions flash the javelins fly 
 blows echo blows and all or kill or die 

 him in his march the wounded princes meet 
 by tardy steps ascending from the fleet 
 the king of men ulysses the divine 
 and who to tydeus owes his noble line 232 
 their ships at distance from the battle stand 
 in lines advanced along the shelving strand 
 whose bay the fleet unable to contain
 at length beside the margin of the main 
 rank above rank the crowded ships they moor 
 who landed first lay highest on the shore 
 supported on the spears they took their way 
 unfit to fight but anxious for the day 
 nestor's approach alarm'd each grecian breast 
 whom thus the general of the host address'd 

  o grace and glory of the achaian name 
 what drives thee nestor from the field of fame 
 shall then proud hector see his boast fulfill'd 
 our fleets in ashes and our heroes kill'd 
 such was his threat ah now too soon made good 
 on many a grecian bosom writ in blood 
 is every heart inflamed with equal rage
 against your king nor will one chief engage 
 and have i lived to see with mournful eyes
 in every greek a new achilles rise  

 gerenian nestor then  so fate has will'd 
 and all-confirming time has fate fulfill'd 
 not he that thunders from the aerial bower 
 not jove himself upon the past has power 
 the wall our late inviolable bound 
 and best defence lies smoking on the ground 
 even to the ships their conquering arms extend 
 and groans of slaughter'd greeks to heaven ascend 
 on speedy measures then employ your thought
 in such distress if counsel profit aught 
 arms cannot much though mars our souls incite 
 these gaping wounds withhold us from the fight  

 to him the monarch  that our army bends 
 that troy triumphant our high fleet ascends 
 and that the rampart late our surest trust
 and best defence lies smoking in the dust 
 all this from jove's afflictive hand we bear 
 who far from argos wills our ruin here 
 past are the days when happier greece was blest 
 and all his favour all his aid confess'd 
 now heaven averse our hands from battle ties 
 and lifts the trojan glory to the skies 
 cease we at length to waste our blood in vain 
 and launch what ships lie nearest to the main 
 leave these at anchor till the coming night 
 then if impetuous troy forbear the fight 
 bring all to sea and hoist each sail for flight 
 better from evils well foreseen to run 
 than perish in the danger we may shun  

 thus he the sage ulysses thus replies 
 while anger flash'd from his disdainful eyes 
  what shameful words unkingly as thou art 
 fall from that trembling tongue and timorous heart 
 oh were thy sway the curse of meaner powers 
 and thou the shame of any host but ours 
 a host by jove endued with martial might 
 and taught to conquer or to fall in fight 
 adventurous combats and bold wars to wage 
 employ'd our youth and yet employs our age 
 and wilt thou thus desert the trojan plain 
 and have whole streams of blood been spilt in vain 
 in such base sentence if thou couch thy fear 
 speak it in whispers lest a greek should hear 
 lives there a man so dead to fame who dares
 to think such meanness or the thought declares 
 and comes it even from him whose sovereign sway
 the banded legions of all greece obey 
 is this a general's voice that calls to flight 
 while war hangs doubtful while his soldiers fight 
 what more could troy what yet their fate denies
 thou givest the foe all greece becomes their prize 
 no more the troops our hoisted sails in view 
 themselves abandon'd shall the fight pursue 
 but thy ships flying with despair shall see 
 and owe destruction to a prince like thee  

  thy just reproofs atrides calm replies 
 like arrows pierce me for thy words are wise 
 unwilling as i am to lose the host 
 i force not greece to quit this hateful coast 
 glad i submit whoe'er or young or old 
 aught more conducive to our weal unfold  

 tydides cut him short and thus began 
  such counsel if you seek behold the man
 who boldly gives it and what he shall say 
 young though he be disdain not to obey 
 a youth who from the mighty tydeus springs 
 may speak to councils and assembled kings 
 hear then in me the great oenides' son 
 whose honoured dust his race of glory run 
 lies whelm'd in ruins of the theban wall 
 brave in his life and glorious in his fall 
 with three bold sons was generous prothous bless'd 
 who pleuron's walls and calydon possess'd 
 melas and agrius but who far surpass'd
 the rest in courage oeneus was the last 
 from him my sire from calydon expell'd 
 he pass'd to argos and in exile dwell'd 
 the monarch's daughter there so jove ordain'd 
 he won and flourish'd where adrastus reign'd 
 there rich in fortune's gifts his acres till'd 
 beheld his vines their liquid harvest yield 
 and numerous flocks that whiten'd all the field 
 such tydeus was the foremost once in fame 
 nor lives in greece a stranger to his name 
 then what for common good my thoughts inspire 
 attend and in the son respect the sire 
 though sore of battle though with wounds oppress'd 
 let each go forth and animate the rest 
 advance the glory which he cannot share 
 though not partaker witness of the war 
 but lest new wounds on wounds o'erpower us quite 
 beyond the missile javelin's sounding flight 
 safe let us stand and from the tumult far 
 inspire the ranks and rule the distant war  

 he added not the listening kings obey 
 slow moving on atrides leads the way 
 the god of ocean to inflame their rage 
 appears a warrior furrowed o'er with age 
 press'd in his own the general's hand he took 
 and thus the venerable hero spoke 

  atrides lo with what disdainful eye
 achilles sees his country's forces fly 
 blind impious man whose anger is his guide 
 who glories in unutterable pride 
 so may he perish so may jove disclaim
 the wretch relentless and o'erwhelm with shame 
 but heaven forsakes not thee o'er yonder sands
 soon shall thou view the scattered trojan bands
 fly diverse while proud kings and chiefs renown'd 
 driven heaps on heaps with clouds involved around
 of rolling dust their winged wheels employ
 to hide their ignominious heads in troy  

 he spoke then rush'd amid the warrior crew 
 and sent his voice before him as he flew 
 loud as the shout encountering armies yield
 when twice ten thousand shake the labouring field 
 such was the voice and such the thundering sound
 of him whose trident rends the solid ground 
 each argive bosom beats to meet the fight 
 and grisly war appears a pleasing sight 

 meantime saturnia from olympus' brow 
 high-throned in gold beheld the fields below 
 with joy the glorious conflict she survey'd 
 where her great brother gave the grecians aid 
 but placed aloft on ida's shady height
 she sees her jove and trembles at the sight 
 jove to deceive what methods shall she try 
 what arts to blind his all-beholding eye 
 at length she trusts her power resolved to prove
 the old yet still successful cheat of love 
 against his wisdom to oppose her charms 
 and lull the lord of thunders in her arms 

 swift to her bright apartment she repairs 
 sacred to dress and beauty's pleasing cares 
 with skill divine had vulcan form'd the bower 
 safe from access of each intruding power 
 touch'd with her secret key the doors unfold 
 self-closed behind her shut the valves of gold 
 here first she bathes and round her body pours
 soft oils of fragrance and ambrosial showers 
 the winds perfumed the balmy gale convey
 through heaven through earth and all the aerial way 
 spirit divine whose exhalation greets
 the sense of gods with more than mortal sweets 
 thus while she breathed of heaven with decent pride
 her artful hands the radiant tresses tied 
 part on her head in shining ringlets roll'd 
 part o'er her shoulders waved like melted gold 
 around her next a heavenly mantle flow'd 
 that rich with pallas' labour'd colours glow'd 
 large clasps of gold the foldings gather'd round 
 a golden zone her swelling bosom bound 
 far-beaming pendants tremble in her ear 
 each gem illumined with a triple star 
 then o'er her head she cast a veil more white
 than new-fallen snow and dazzling as the light 
 last her fair feet celestial sandals grace 
 thus issuing radiant with majestic pace 
 forth from the dome the imperial goddess moves 
 and calls the mother of the smiles and loves 

  how long to venus thus apart she cried 
 shall human strife celestial minds divide 
 ah yet will venus aid saturnia's joy 
 and set aside the cause of greece and troy  

  let heaven's dread empress cytheraea said 
 speak her request and deem her will obey'd  

  then grant me said the queen those conquering charms 
 that power which mortals and immortals warms 
 that love which melts mankind in fierce desires 
 and burns the sons of heaven with sacred fires 

  for lo i haste to those remote abodes 
 where the great parents sacred source of gods 
 ocean and tethys their old empire keep 
 on the last limits of the land and deep 
 in their kind arms my tender years were past 
 what time old saturn from olympus cast 
 of upper heaven to jove resign'd the reign 
 whelm'd under the huge mass of earth and main 
 for strife i hear has made the union cease 
 which held so long that ancient pair in peace 
 what honour and what love shall i obtain 
 if i compose those fatal feuds again 
 once more their minds in mutual ties engage 
 and what my youth has owed repay their age  

 she said with awe divine the queen of love
 obey'd the sister and the wife of jove 
 and from her fragrant breast the zone embraced 233 
 with various skill and high embroidery graced 
 in this was every art and every charm 
 to win the wisest and the coldest warm 
 fond love the gentle vow the gay desire 
 the kind deceit the still-reviving fire 
 persuasive speech and the more persuasive sighs 
 silence that spoke and eloquence of eyes 
 this on her hand the cyprian goddess laid 
  take this and with it all thy wish   she said 
 with smiles she took the charm and smiling press'd
 the powerful cestus to her snowy breast 

 then venus to the courts of jove withdrew 
 whilst from olympus pleased saturnia flew 
 o'er high pieria thence her course she bore 
 o'er fair emathia's ever-pleasing shore 
 o'er hemus' hills with snows eternal crown'd 
 nor once her flying foot approach'd the ground 
 then taking wing from athos' lofty steep 
 she speeds to lemnos o'er the rolling deep 
 and seeks the cave of death's half-brother sleep 234 

  sweet pleasing sleep saturnia thus began 
 who spread'st thy empire o'er each god and man 
 if e'er obsequious to thy juno's will 
 o power of slumbers hear and favour still 
 shed thy soft dews on jove's immortal eyes 
 while sunk in love's entrancing joys he lies 
 a splendid footstool and a throne that shine
 with gold unfading somnus shall be thine 
 the work of vulcan to indulge thy ease 
 when wine and feasts thy golden humours please  

  imperial dame the balmy power replies 
 great saturn's heir and empress of the skies 
 o'er other gods i spread my easy chain 
 the sire of all old ocean owns my reign 
 and his hush'd waves lie silent on the main 
 but how unbidden shall i dare to steep
 jove's awful temples in the dew of sleep 
 long since too venturous at thy bold command 
 on those eternal lids i laid my hand 
 what time deserting ilion's wasted plain 
 his conquering son alcides plough'd the main 
 when lo the deeps arise the tempests roar 
 and drive the hero to the coan shore 
 great jove awaking shook the blest abodes
 with rising wrath and tumbled gods on gods 
 me chief he sought and from the realms on high
 had hurl'd indignant to the nether sky 
 but gentle night to whom i fled for aid 
 the friend of earth and heaven her wings display'd 
 impower'd the wrath of gods and men to tame 
 even jove revered the venerable dame  

  vain are thy fears the queen of heaven replies 
 and speaking rolls her large majestic eyes 
 think'st thou that troy has jove's high favour won 
 like great alcides his all-conquering son 
 hear and obey the mistress of the skies 
 nor for the deed expect a vulgar prize 
 for know thy loved-one shall be ever thine 
 the youngest grace pasithae the divine   235 

  swear then he said by those tremendous floods
 that roar through hell and bind the invoking gods 
 let the great parent earth one hand sustain 
 and stretch the other o'er the sacred main 
 call the black titans that with chronos dwell 
 to hear and witness from the depths of hell 
 that she my loved-one shall be ever mine 
 the youngest grace pasithae the divine  

 the queen assents and from the infernal bowers
 invokes the sable subtartarean powers 
 and those who rule the inviolable floods 
 whom mortals name the dread titanian gods 


 sleep escaping from the wrath of jupiter 


 then swift as wind o'er lemnos' smoky isle
 they wing their way and imbrus' sea-beat soil 
 through air unseen involved in darkness glide 
 and light on lectos on the point of ide 
 mother of savages whose echoing hills
 are heard resounding with a hundred rills 
 fair ida trembles underneath the god 
 hush'd are her mountains and her forests nod 
 there on a fir whose spiry branches rise
 to join its summit to the neighbouring skies 
 dark in embowering shade conceal'd from sight 
 sat sleep in likeness of the bird of night 
 chalcis his name by those of heavenly birth 
 but call'd cymindis by the race of earth 

 to ida's top successful juno flies 
 great jove surveys her with desiring eyes 
 the god whose lightning sets the heavens on fire 
 through all his bosom feels the fierce desire 
 fierce as when first by stealth he seized her charms 
 mix'd with her soul and melted in her arms 
 fix'd on her eyes he fed his eager look 
 then press'd her hand and thus with transport spoke 

  why comes my goddess from the ethereal sky 
 and not her steeds and flaming chariot nigh  

 then she  i haste to those remote abodes
 where the great parents of the deathless gods 
 the reverend ocean and gray tethys reign 
 on the last limits of the land and main 
 i visit these to whose indulgent cares
 i owe the nursing of my tender years 
 for strife i hear has made that union cease
 which held so long that ancient pair in peace 
 the steeds prepared my chariot to convey
 o'er earth and seas and through the aerial way 
 wait under ide of thy superior power
 to ask consent i leave the olympian bower 
 nor seek unknown to thee the sacred cells
 deep under seas where hoary ocean dwells  

  for that said jove suffice another day 
 but eager love denies the least delay 
 let softer cares the present hour employ 
 and be these moments sacred all to joy 
 ne'er did my soul so strong a passion prove 
 or for an earthly or a heavenly love 
 not when i press'd ixion's matchless dame 
 whence rose pirithous like the gods in fame 
 not when fair danae felt the shower of gold
 stream into life whence perseus brave and bold 
 not thus i burn'd for either theban dame 
 bacchus from this from that alcides came 
 nor phoenix' daughter beautiful and young 
 whence godlike rhadamanth and minos sprung 236 
 not thus i burn'd for fair latona's face 
 nor comelier ceres' more majestic grace 
 not thus even for thyself i felt desire 
 as now my veins receive the pleasing fire  

 he spoke the goddess with the charming eyes
 glows with celestial red and thus replies 
  is this a scene for love on ida's height 
 exposed to mortal and immortal sight 
 our joys profaned by each familiar eye 
 the sport of heaven and fable of the sky 
 how shall i e'er review the blest abodes 
 or mix among the senate of the gods 
 shall i not think that with disorder'd charms 
 all heaven beholds me recent from thy arms 
 with skill divine has vulcan form'd thy bower 
 sacred to love and to the genial hour 
 if such thy will to that recess retire 
 in secret there indulge thy soft desire  

 she ceased and smiling with superior love 
 thus answer'd mild the cloud-compelling jove 
  nor god nor mortal shall our joys behold 
 shaded with clouds and circumfused in gold 
 not even the sun who darts through heaven his rays 
 and whose broad eye the extended earth surveys  

 gazing he spoke and kindling at the view 
 his eager arms around the goddess threw 
 glad earth perceives and from her bosom pours
 unbidden herbs and voluntary flowers 
 thick new-born violets a soft carpet spread 
 and clustering lotos swell'd the rising bed 
 and sudden hyacinths the turf bestrow 237 
 and flamy crocus made the mountain glow
 there golden clouds conceal the heavenly pair 
 steep'd in soft joys and circumfused with air 
 celestial dews descending o'er the ground 
 perfume the mount and breathe ambrosia round 
 at length with love and sleep's soft power oppress'd 
 the panting thunderer nods and sinks to rest 

 now to the navy borne on silent wings 
 to neptune's ear soft sleep his message brings 
 beside him sudden unperceived he stood 
 and thus with gentle words address'd the god 

  now neptune now the important hour employ 
 to check a while the haughty hopes of troy 
 while jove yet rests while yet my vapours shed
 the golden vision round his sacred head 
 for juno's love and somnus' pleasing ties 
 have closed those awful and eternal eyes  
 thus having said the power of slumber flew 
 on human lids to drop the balmy dew 
 neptune with zeal increased renews his care 
 and towering in the foremost ranks of war 
 indignant thus  oh once of martial fame 
 o greeks if yet ye can deserve the name 
 this half-recover'd day shall troy obtain 
 shall hector thunder at your ships again 
 lo still he vaunts and threats the fleet with fires 
 while stern achilles in his wrath retires 
 one hero's loss too tamely you deplore 
 be still yourselves and ye shall need no more 
 oh yet if glory any bosom warms 
 brace on your firmest helms and stand to arms 
 his strongest spear each valiant grecian wield 
 each valiant grecian seize his broadest shield 
 let to the weak the lighter arms belong 
 the ponderous targe be wielded by the strong 
 thus arm'd not hector shall our presence stay 
 myself ye greeks myself will lead the way  


 greek shield 


 the troops assent their martial arms they change 
 the busy chiefs their banded legions range 
 the kings though wounded and oppress'd with pain 
 with helpful hands themselves assist the train 
 the strong and cumbrous arms the valiant wield 
 the weaker warrior takes a lighter shield 
 thus sheath'd in shining brass in bright array
 the legions march and neptune leads the way 
 his brandish'd falchion flames before their eyes 
 like lightning flashing through the frighted skies 
 clad in his might the earth-shaking power appears 
 pale mortals tremble and confess their fears 

 troy's great defender stands alone unawed 
 arms his proud host and dares oppose a god 
 and lo the god and wondrous man appear 
 the sea's stern ruler there and hector here 
 the roaring main at her great master's call 
 rose in huge ranks and form'd a watery wall
 around the ships seas hanging o'er the shores 
 both armies join earth thunders ocean roars 
 not half so loud the bellowing deeps resound 
 when stormy winds disclose the dark profound 
 less loud the winds that from the colian hall
 roar through the woods and make whole forests fall 
 less loud the woods when flames in torrents pour 
 catch the dry mountain and its shades devour 
 with such a rage the meeting hosts are driven 
 and such a clamour shakes the sounding heaven 
 the first bold javelin urged by hector's force 
 direct at ajax' bosom winged its course 
 but there no pass the crossing belts afford 
 one braced his shield and one sustain'd his sword 
 then back the disappointed trojan drew 
 and cursed the lance that unavailing flew 
 but 'scaped not ajax his tempestuous hand
 a ponderous stone upheaving from the sand 
 where heaps laid loose beneath the warrior's feet 
 or served to ballast or to prop the fleet 
 toss'd round and round the missive marble flings 
 on the razed shield the fallen ruin rings 
 full on his breast and throat with force descends 
 nor deaden'd there its giddy fury spends 
 but whirling on with many a fiery round 
 smokes in the dust and ploughs into the ground 
 as when the bolt red-hissing from above 
 darts on the consecrated plant of jove 
 the mountain-oak in flaming ruin lies 
 black from the blow and smokes of sulphur rise 
 stiff with amaze the pale beholders stand 
 and own the terrors of the almighty hand 
 so lies great hector prostrate on the shore 
 his slacken'd hand deserts the lance it bore 
 his following shield the fallen chief o'erspread 
 beneath his helmet dropp'd his fainting head 
 his load of armour sinking to the ground 
 clanks on the field a dead and hollow sound 
 loud shouts of triumph fill the crowded plain 
 greece sees in hope troy's great defender slain 
 all spring to seize him storms of arrows fly 
 and thicker javelins intercept the sky 
 in vain an iron tempest hisses round 
 he lies protected and without a wound 238 
 polydamas agenor the divine 
 the pious warrior of anchises' line 
 and each bold leader of the lycian band 
 with covering shields a friendly circle stand 
 his mournful followers with assistant care 
 the groaning hero to his chariot bear 
 his foaming coursers swifter than the wind 
 speed to the town and leave the war behind 

 when now they touch'd the mead's enamell'd side 
 where gentle xanthus rolls his easy tide 
 with watery drops the chief they sprinkle round 
 placed on the margin of the flowery ground 
 raised on his knees he now ejects the gore 
 now faints anew low-sinking on the shore 
 by fits he breathes half views the fleeting skies 
 and seals again by fits his swimming eyes 

 soon as the greeks the chief's retreat beheld 
 with double fury each invades the field 
 oilean ajax first his javelin sped 
 pierced by whose point the son of enops bled 
 satnius the brave whom beauteous neis bore
 amidst her flocks on satnio's silver shore 
 struck through the belly's rim the warrior lies
 supine and shades eternal veil his eyes 
 an arduous battle rose around the dead 
 by turns the greeks by turns the trojans bled 

 fired with revenge polydamas drew near 
 and at prothoenor shook the trembling spear 
 the driving javelin through his shoulder thrust 
 he sinks to earth and grasps the bloody dust 
  lo thus the victor cries we rule the field 
 and thus their arms the race of panthus wield 
 from this unerring hand there flies no dart
 but bathes its point within a grecian heart 
 propp'd on that spear to which thou owest thy fall 
 go guide thy darksome steps to pluto's dreary hall  

 he said and sorrow touch'd each argive breast 
 the soul of ajax burn'd above the rest 
 as by his side the groaning warrior fell 
 at the fierce foe he launch'd his piercing steel 
 the foe reclining shunn'd the flying death 
 but fate archilochus demands thy breath 
 thy lofty birth no succour could impart 
 the wings of death o'ertook thee on the dart 
 swift to perform heaven's fatal will it fled
 full on the juncture of the neck and head 
 and took the joint and cut the nerves in twain 
 the dropping head first tumbled on the plain 
 so just the stroke that yet the body stood
 erect then roll'd along the sands in blood 

  here proud polydamas here turn thy eyes 
 the towering ajax loud-insulting cries 
 say is this chief extended on the plain
 a worthy vengeance for prothoenor slain 
 mark well his port his figure and his face
 nor speak him vulgar nor of vulgar race 
 some lines methinks may make his lineage known 
 antenor's brother or perhaps his son  

 he spake and smiled severe for well he knew
 the bleeding youth troy sadden'd at the view 
 but furious acamas avenged his cause 
 as promachus his slaughtered brother draws 
 he pierced his heart  such fate attends you all 
 proud argives destined by our arms to fall 
 not troy alone but haughty greece shall share
 the toils the sorrows and the wounds of war 
 behold your promachus deprived of breath 
 a victim owed to my brave brother's death 
 not unappeased he enters pluto's gate 
 who leaves a brother to revenge his fate  

 heart-piercing anguish struck the grecian host 
 but touch'd the breast of bold peneleus most 
 at the proud boaster he directs his course 
 the boaster flies and shuns superior force 
 but young ilioneus received the spear 
 ilioneus his father's only care 
 phorbas the rich of all the trojan train
 whom hermes loved and taught the arts of gain 
 full in his eye the weapon chanced to fall 
 and from the fibres scoop'd the rooted ball 
 drove through the neck and hurl'd him to the plain 
 he lifts his miserable arms in vain 
 swift his broad falchion fierce peneleus spread 
 and from the spouting shoulders struck his head 
 to earth at once the head and helmet fly 
 the lance yet sticking through the bleeding eye 
 the victor seized and as aloft he shook
 the gory visage thus insulting spoke 

  trojans your great ilioneus behold 
 haste to his father let the tale be told 
 let his high roofs resound with frantic woe 
 such as the house of promachus must know 
 let doleful tidings greet his mother's ear 
 such as to promachus' sad spouse we bear 
 when we victorious shall to greece return 
 and the pale matron in our triumphs mourn  

 dreadful he spoke then toss'd the head on high 
 the trojans hear they tremble and they fly 
 aghast they gaze around the fleet and wall 
 and dread the ruin that impends on all 

 daughters of jove that on olympus shine 
 ye all-beholding all-recording nine 
 o say when neptune made proud ilion yield 
 what chief what hero first embrued the field 
 of all the grecians what immortal name 
 and whose bless'd trophies will ye raise to fame 

 thou first great ajax on the unsanguined plain
 laid hyrtius leader of the mysian train 
 phalces and mermer nestor's son o'erthrew 
 bold merion morys and hippotion slew 
 strong periphaetes and prothoon bled 
 by teucer's arrows mingled with the dead 
 pierced in the flank by menelaus' steel 
 his people's pastor hyperenor fell 
 eternal darkness wrapp'd the warrior round 
 and the fierce soul came rushing through the wound 
 but stretch'd in heaps before oileus' son 
 fall mighty numbers mighty numbers run 
 ajax the less of all the grecian race
 skill'd in pursuit and swiftest in the chase 


 bacchus 





book xv 


argument 

the fifth battle at the ships and the acts of ajax 

jupiter awaking sees the trojans repulsed from the trenches hector in a
swoon and neptune at the head of the greeks he is highly incensed at the
artifice of juno who appeases him by her submissions she is then sent to
iris and apollo juno repairing to the assembly of the gods attempts 
with extraordinary address to incense them against jupiter in particular
she touches mars with a violent resentment he is ready to take arms but
is prevented by minerva iris and apollo obey the orders of jupiter iris
commands neptune to leave the battle to which after much reluctance and
passion he consents apollo reinspires hector with vigour brings him
back to the battle marches before him with his aegis and turns the
fortune of the fight he breaks down great part of the grecian wall the
trojans rush in and attempt to fire the first line of the fleet but are 
as yet repelled by the greater ajax with a prodigious slaughter 

 now in swift flight they pass the trench profound 
 and many a chief lay gasping on the ground 
 then stopp'd and panted where the chariots lie
 fear on their cheek and horror in their eye 
 meanwhile awaken'd from his dream of love 
 on ida's summit sat imperial jove 
 round the wide fields he cast a careful view 
 there saw the trojans fly the greeks pursue 
 these proud in arms those scatter'd o'er the plain
 and 'midst the war the monarch of the main 
 not far great hector on the dust he spies 
 his sad associates round with weeping eyes 
 ejecting blood and panting yet for breath 
 his senses wandering to the verge of death 
 the god beheld him with a pitying look 
 and thus incensed to fraudful juno spoke 

  o thou still adverse to the eternal will 
 for ever studious in promoting ill 
 thy arts have made the godlike hector yield 
 and driven his conquering squadrons from the field 
 canst thou unhappy in thy wiles withstand
 our power immense and brave the almighty hand 
 hast thou forgot when bound and fix'd on high 
 from the vast concave of the spangled sky 
 i hung thee trembling in a golden chain 
 and all the raging gods opposed in vain 
 headlong i hurl'd them from the olympian hall 
 stunn'd in the whirl and breathless with the fall 
 for godlike hercules these deeds were done 
 nor seem'd the vengeance worthy such a son 
 when by thy wiles induced fierce boreas toss'd
 the shipwreck'd hero on the coan coast 
 him through a thousand forms of death i bore 
 and sent to argos and his native shore 
 hear this remember and our fury dread 
 nor pull the unwilling vengeance on thy head 
 lest arts and blandishments successless prove 
 thy soft deceits and well-dissembled love  

 the thunderer spoke imperial juno mourn'd 
 and trembling these submissive words return'd 

  by every oath that powers immortal ties 
 the foodful earth and all-infolding skies 
 by thy black waves tremendous styx that flow
 through the drear realms of gliding ghosts below 
 by the dread honours of thy sacred head 
 and that unbroken vow our virgin bed 
 not by my arts the ruler of the main
 steeps troy in blood and ranges round the plain 
 by his own ardour his own pity sway'd 
 to help his greeks he fought and disobey'd 
 else had thy juno better counsels given 
 and taught submission to the sire of heaven  

  think'st thou with me fair empress of the skies 
 the immortal father with a smile replies 
 then soon the haughty sea-god shall obey 
 nor dare to act but when we point the way 
 if truth inspires thy tongue proclaim our will
 to yon bright synod on the olympian hill 
 our high decree let various iris know 
 and call the god that bears the silver bow 
 let her descend and from the embattled plain
 command the sea-god to his watery reign 
 while phoebus hastes great hector to prepare
 to rise afresh and once more wake the war 
 his labouring bosom re-inspires with breath 
 and calls his senses from the verge of death 
 greece chased by troy even to achilles' fleet 
 shall fall by thousands at the hero's feet 
 he not untouch'd with pity to the plain
 shall send patroclus but shall send in vain 
 what youths he slaughters under ilion's walls 
 even my loved son divine sarpedon falls 
 vanquish'd at last by hector's lance he lies 
 then nor till then shall great achilles rise 
 and lo that instant godlike hector dies 
 from that great hour the war's whole fortune turns 
 pallas assists and lofty ilion burns 
 not till that day shall jove relax his rage 
 nor one of all the heavenly host engage
 in aid of greece the promise of a god
 i gave and seal'd it with the almighty nod 
 achilles' glory to the stars to raise 
 such was our word and fate the word obeys  

 the trembling queen the almighty order given 
 swift from the idaean summit shot to heaven 
 as some wayfaring man who wanders o'er
 in thought a length of lands he trod before 
 sends forth his active mind from place to place 
 joins hill to dale and measures space with space 
 so swift flew juno to the bless'd abodes 
 if thought of man can match the speed of gods 
 there sat the powers in awful synod placed 
 they bow'd and made obeisance as she pass'd
 through all the brazen dome with goblets crown'd 239 
 they hail her queen the nectar streams around 
 fair themis first presents the golden bowl 
 and anxious asks what cares disturb her soul 

 to whom the white-arm'd goddess thus replies 
  enough thou know'st the tyrant of the skies 
 severely bent his purpose to fulfil 
 unmoved his mind and unrestrain'd his will 
 go thou the feasts of heaven attend thy call 
 bid the crown'd nectar circle round the hall 
 but jove shall thunder through the ethereal dome
 such stern decrees such threaten'd woes to come 
 as soon shall freeze mankind with dire surprise 
 and damp the eternal banquets of the skies  

 the goddess said and sullen took her place 
 black horror sadden'd each celestial face 
 to see the gathering grudge in every breast 
 smiles on her lips a spleenful joy express'd 
 while on her wrinkled front and eyebrow bent 
 sat stedfast care and lowering discontent 
 thus she proceeds  attend ye powers above 
 but know 'tis madness to contest with jove 
 supreme he sits and sees in pride of sway 
 your vassal godheads grudgingly obey 
 fierce in the majesty of power controls 
 shakes all the thrones of heaven and bends the poles 
 submiss immortals all he wills obey 
 and thou great mars begin and show the way 
 behold ascalaphus behold him die 
 but dare not murmur dare not vent a sigh 
 thy own loved boasted offspring lies o'erthrown 
 if that loved boasted offspring be thy own  

 stern mars with anguish for his slaughter'd son 
 smote his rebelling breast and fierce begun 
  thus then immortals thus shall mars obey 
 forgive me gods and yield my vengeance way 
 descending first to yon forbidden plain 
 the god of battles dares avenge the slain 
 dares though the thunder bursting o'er my head
 should hurl me blazing on those heaps of dead  

 with that he gives command to fear and flight
 to join his rapid coursers for the fight 
 then grim in arms with hasty vengeance flies 
 arms that reflect a radiance through the skies 
 and now had jove by bold rebellion driven 
 discharged his wrath on half the host of heaven 
 but pallas springing through the bright abode 
 starts from her azure throne to calm the god 
 struck for the immortal race with timely fear 
 from frantic mars she snatch'd the shield and spear 
 then the huge helmet lifting from his head 
 thus to the impetuous homicide she said 

  by what wild passion furious art thou toss'd 
 striv'st thou with jove thou art already lost 
 shall not the thunderer's dread command restrain 
 and was imperial juno heard in vain 
 back to the skies wouldst thou with shame be driven 
 and in thy guilt involve the host of heaven 
 ilion and greece no more should jove engage 
 the skies would yield an ampler scene of rage 
 guilty and guiltless find an equal fate
 and one vast ruin whelm the olympian state 
 cease then thy offspring's death unjust to call 
 heroes as great have died and yet shall fall 
 why should heaven's law with foolish man comply
 exempted from the race ordain'd to die  

 this menace fix'd the warrior to his throne 
 sullen he sat and curb'd the rising groan 
 then juno call'd jove's orders to obey 
 the winged iris and the god of day 
  go wait the thunderer's will saturnia cried 
 on yon tall summit of the fountful ide 
 there in the father's awful presence stand 
 receive and execute his dread command  

 she said and sat the god that gilds the day 
 and various iris wing their airy way 
 swift as the wind to ida's hills they came 
 fair nurse of fountains and of savage game 
 there sat the eternal he whose nod controls
 the trembling world and shakes the steady poles 
 veil'd in a mist of fragrance him they found 
 with clouds of gold and purple circled round 
 well-pleased the thunderer saw their earnest care 
 and prompt obedience to the queen of air 
 then while a smile serenes his awful brow 
 commands the goddess of the showery bow 

  iris descend and what we here ordain 
 report to yon mad tyrant of the main 
 bid him from fight to his own deeps repair 
 or breathe from slaughter in the fields of air 
 if he refuse then let him timely weigh
 our elder birthright and superior sway 
 how shall his rashness stand the dire alarms 
 if heaven's omnipotence descend in arms 
 strives he with me by whom his power was given 
 and is there equal to the lord of heaven  

 the all-mighty spoke the goddess wing'd her flight
 to sacred ilion from the idaean height 
 swift as the rattling hail or fleecy snows 
 drive through the skies when boreas fiercely blows 
 so from the clouds descending iris falls 
 and to blue neptune thus the goddess calls 

  attend the mandate of the sire above 
 in me behold the messenger of jove 
 he bids thee from forbidden wars repair
 to thine own deeps or to the fields of air 
 this if refused he bids thee timely weigh
 his elder birthright and superior sway 
 how shall thy rashness stand the dire alarms
 if heaven's omnipotence descend in arms 
 striv'st thou with him by whom all power is given 
 and art thou equal to the lord of heaven  

  what means the haughty sovereign of the skies 
 the king of ocean thus incensed replies 
 rule as he will his portion'd realms on high 
 no vassal god nor of his train am i 
 three brother deities from saturn came 
 and ancient rhea earth's immortal dame 
 assign'd by lot our triple rule we know 
 infernal pluto sways the shades below 
 o'er the wide clouds and o'er the starry plain 
 ethereal jove extends his high domain 
 my court beneath the hoary waves i keep 
 and hush the roarings of the sacred deep 
 olympus and this earth in common lie 
 what claim has here the tyrant of the sky 
 far in the distant clouds let him control 
 and awe the younger brothers of the pole 
 there to his children his commands be given 
 the trembling servile second race of heaven  

  and must i then said she o sire of floods 
 bear this fierce answer to the king of gods 
 correct it yet and change thy rash intent 
 a noble mind disdains not to repent 
 to elder brothers guardian fiends are given 
 to scourge the wretch insulting them and heaven  

  great is the profit thus the god rejoin'd 
 when ministers are blest with prudent mind 
 warn'd by thy words to powerful jove i yield 
 and quit though angry the contended field 
 not but his threats with justice i disclaim 
 the same our honours and our birth the same 
 if yet forgetful of his promise given
 to hermes pallas and the queen of heaven 
 to favour ilion that perfidious place 
 he breaks his faith with half the ethereal race 
 give him to know unless the grecian train
 lay yon proud structures level with the plain 
 howe'er the offence by other gods be pass'd 
 the wrath of neptune shall for ever last  

 thus speaking furious from the field he strode 
 and plunged into the bosom of the flood 
 the lord of thunders from his lofty height
 beheld and thus bespoke the source of light 

  behold the god whose liquid arms are hurl'd
 around the globe whose earthquakes rock the world 
 desists at length his rebel-war to wage 
 seeks his own seas and trembles at our rage 
 else had my wrath heaven's thrones all shaking round 
 burn'd to the bottom of his seas profound 
 and all the gods that round old saturn dwell
 had heard the thunders to the deeps of hell 
 well was the crime and well the vengeance spared 
 even power immense had found such battle hard 
 go thou my son the trembling greeks alarm 
 shake my broad aegis on thy active arm 
 be godlike hector thy peculiar care 
 swell his bold heart and urge his strength to war 
 let ilion conquer till the achaian train
 fly to their ships and hellespont again 
 then greece shall breathe from toils   the godhead said 
 his will divine the son of jove obey'd 
 not half so swift the sailing falcon flies 
 that drives a turtle through the liquid skies 
 as phoebus shooting from the idaean brow 
 glides down the mountain to the plain below 
 there hector seated by the stream he sees 
 his sense returning with the coming breeze 
 again his pulses beat his spirits rise 
 again his loved companions meet his eyes 
 jove thinking of his pains they pass'd away 
 to whom the god who gives the golden day 

  why sits great hector from the field so far 
 what grief what wound withholds thee from the war  

 the fainting hero as the vision bright
 stood shining o'er him half unseal'd his sight 

  what blest immortal with commanding breath 
 thus wakens hector from the sleep of death 
 has fame not told how while my trusty sword
 bathed greece in slaughter and her battle gored 
 the mighty ajax with a deadly blow
 had almost sunk me to the shades below 
 even yet methinks the gliding ghosts i spy 
 and hell's black horrors swim before my eye  

 to him apollo  be no more dismay'd 
 see and be strong the thunderer sends thee aid 
 behold thy phoebus shall his arms employ 
 phoebus propitious still to thee and troy 
 inspire thy warriors then with manly force 
 and to the ships impel thy rapid horse 
 even i will make thy fiery coursers way 
 and drive the grecians headlong to the sea  

 thus to bold hector spoke the son of jove 
 and breathed immortal ardour from above 
 as when the pamper'd steed with reins unbound 
 breaks from his stall and pours along the ground 
 with ample strokes he rushes to the flood 
 to bathe his sides and cool his fiery blood 
 his head now freed he tosses to the skies 
 his mane dishevell'd o'er his shoulders flies 
 he snuffs the females in the well-known plain 
 and springs exulting to his fields again 
 urged by the voice divine thus hector flew 
 full of the god and all his hosts pursue 
 as when the force of men and dogs combined
 invade the mountain goat or branching hind 
 far from the hunter's rage secure they lie
 close in the rock not fated yet to die 
 when lo a lion shoots across the way 
 they fly at once the chasers and the prey 
 so greece that late in conquering troops pursued 
 and mark'd their progress through the ranks in blood 
 soon as they see the furious chief appear 
 forget to vanquish and consent to fear 

 thoas with grief observed his dreadful course 
 thoas the bravest of the ctolian force 
 skill'd to direct the javelin's distant flight 
 and bold to combat in the standing fight 
 not more in councils famed for solid sense 
 than winning words and heavenly eloquence 
  gods what portent he cried these eyes invades 
 lo hector rises from the stygian shades 
 we saw him late by thundering ajax kill'd 
 what god restores him to the frighted field 
 and not content that half of greece lie slain 
 pours new destruction on her sons again 
 he comes not jove without thy powerful will 
 lo still he lives pursues and conquers still 
 yet hear my counsel and his worst withstand 
 the greeks' main body to the fleet command 
 but let the few whom brisker spirits warm 
 stand the first onset and provoke the storm 
 thus point your arms and when such foes appear 
 fierce as he is let hector learn to fear  

 the warrior spoke the listening greeks obey 
 thickening their ranks and form a deep array 

 each ajax teucer merion gave command 
 the valiant leader of the cretan band 
 and mars-like meges these the chiefs excite 
 approach the foe and meet the coming fight 
 behind unnumber'd multitudes attend 
 to flank the navy and the shores defend 
 full on the front the pressing trojans bear 
 and hector first came towering to the war 
 phoebus himself the rushing battle led 
 a veil of clouds involved his radiant head 
 high held before him jove's enormous shield
 portentous shone and shaded all the field 
 vulcan to jove the immortal gift consign'd 
 to scatter hosts and terrify mankind 
 the greeks expect the shock the clamours rise
 from different parts and mingle in the skies 
 dire was the hiss of darts by heroes flung 
 and arrows leaping from the bow-string sung 
 these drink the life of generous warriors slain 
 those guiltless fall and thirst for blood in vain 
 as long as phoebus bore unmoved the shield 
 sat doubtful conquest hovering o'er the field 
 but when aloft he shakes it in the skies 
 shouts in their ears and lightens in their eyes 
 deep horror seizes every grecian breast 
 their force is humbled and their fear confess'd 
 so flies a herd of oxen scatter'd wide 
 no swain to guard them and no day to guide 
 when two fell lions from the mountain come 
 and spread the carnage through the shady gloom 
 impending phoebus pours around them fear 
 and troy and hector thunder in the rear 
 heaps fall on heaps the slaughter hector leads 
 first great arcesilas then stichius bleeds 
 one to the bold boeotians ever dear 
 and one menestheus' friend and famed compeer 
 medon and iasus cneas sped 
 this sprang from phelus and the athenians led 
 but hapless medon from oileus came 
 him ajax honour'd with a brother's name 
 though born of lawless love from home expell'd 
 a banish'd man in phylace he dwell'd 
 press'd by the vengeance of an angry wife 
 troy ends at last his labours and his life 
 mecystes next polydamas o'erthrew 
 and thee brave clonius great agenor slew 
 by paris deiochus inglorious dies 
 pierced through the shoulder as he basely flies 
 polites' arm laid echius on the plain 
 stretch'd on one heap the victors spoil the slain 
 the greeks dismay'd confused disperse or fall 
 some seek the trench some skulk behind the wall 
 while these fly trembling others pant for breath 
 and o'er the slaughter stalks gigantic death 
 on rush'd bold hector gloomy as the night 
 forbids to plunder animates the fight 
 points to the fleet  for by the gods who flies 240 
 who dares but linger by this hand he dies 
 no weeping sister his cold eye shall close 
 no friendly hand his funeral pyre compose 
 who stops to plunder at this signal hour 
 the birds shall tear him and the dogs devour  
 furious he said the smarting scourge resounds 
 the coursers fly the smoking chariot bounds 
 the hosts rush on loud clamours shake the shore 
 the horses thunder earth and ocean roar 
 apollo planted at the trench's bound 
 push'd at the bank down sank the enormous mound 
 roll'd in the ditch the heapy ruin lay 
 a sudden road a long and ample way 
 o'er the dread fosse a late impervious space 
 now steeds and men and cars tumultuous pass 
 the wondering crowds the downward level trod 
 before them flamed the shield and march'd the god 
 then with his hand he shook the mighty wall 
 and lo the turrets nod the bulwarks fall 
 easy as when ashore an infant stands 
 and draws imagined houses in the sands 
 the sportive wanton pleased with some new play 
 sweeps the slight works and fashion'd domes away 
 thus vanish'd at thy touch the towers and walls 
 the toil of thousands in a moment falls 

 the grecians gaze around with wild despair 
 confused and weary all the powers with prayer 
 exhort their men with praises threats commands 
 and urge the gods with voices eyes and hands 
 experienced nestor chief obtests the skies 
 and weeps his country with a father's eyes 

  o jove if ever on his native shore 
 one greek enrich'd thy shrine with offer'd gore 
 if e'er in hope our country to behold 
 we paid the fattest firstlings of the fold 
 if e'er thou sign'st our wishes with thy nod 
 perform the promise of a gracious god 
 this day preserve our navies from the flame 
 and save the relics of the grecian name  

 thus prayed the sage the eternal gave consent 
 and peals of thunder shook the firmament 
 presumptuous troy mistook the accepting sign 
 and catch'd new fury at the voice divine 
 as when black tempests mix the seas and skies 
 the roaring deeps in watery mountains rise 
 above the sides of some tall ship ascend 
 its womb they deluge and its ribs they rend 
 thus loudly roaring and o'erpowering all 
 mount the thick trojans up the grecian wall 
 legions on legions from each side arise 
 thick sound the keels the storm of arrows flies 
 fierce on the ships above the cars below 
 these wield the mace and those the javelin throw 

 while thus the thunder of the battle raged 
 and labouring armies round the works engaged 
 still in the tent patroclus sat to tend
 the good eurypylus his wounded friend 
 he sprinkles healing balms to anguish kind 
 and adds discourse the medicine of the mind 
 but when he saw ascending up the fleet 
 victorious troy then starting from his seat 
 with bitter groans his sorrows he express'd 
 he wrings his hands he beats his manly breast 
  though yet thy state require redress he cries 
 depart i must what horrors strike my eyes 
 charged with achilles' high command i go 
 a mournful witness of this scene of woe 
 i haste to urge him by his country's care
 to rise in arms and shine again in war 
 perhaps some favouring god his soul may bend 
 the voice is powerful of a faithful friend  

 he spoke and speaking swifter than the wind
 sprung from the tent and left the war behind 
 the embodied greeks the fierce attack sustain 
 but strive though numerous to repulse in vain 
 nor could the trojans through that firm array 
 force to the fleet and tents the impervious way 
 as when a shipwright with palladian art 
 smooths the rough wood and levels every part 
 with equal hand he guides his whole design 
 by the just rule and the directing line 
 the martial leaders with like skill and care 
 preserved their line and equal kept the war 
 brave deeds of arms through all the ranks were tried 
 and every ship sustained an equal tide 
 at one proud bark high-towering o'er the fleet 
 ajax the great and godlike hector meet 
 for one bright prize the matchless chiefs contend 
 nor this the ships can fire nor that defend 
 one kept the shore and one the vessel trod 
 that fix'd as fate this acted by a god 
 the son of clytius in his daring hand 
 the deck approaching shakes a flaming brand 
 but pierced by telamon's huge lance expires 
 thundering he falls and drops the extinguish'd fires 
 great hector view'd him with a sad survey 
 as stretch'd in dust before the stern he lay 
  oh all of trojan all of lycian race 
 stand to your arms maintain this arduous space 
 lo where the son of royal clytius lies 
 ah save his arms secure his obsequies  

 this said his eager javelin sought the foe 
 but ajax shunn'd the meditated blow 
 not vainly yet the forceful lance was thrown 
 it stretch'd in dust unhappy lycophron 
 an exile long sustain'd at ajax' board 
 a faithful servant to a foreign lord 
 in peace and war for ever at his side 
 near his loved master as he lived he died 
 from the high poop he tumbles on the sand 
 and lies a lifeless load along the land 
 with anguish ajax views the piercing sight 
 and thus inflames his brother to the fight 

  teucer behold extended on the shore
 our friend our loved companion now no more 
 dear as a parent with a parent's care
 to fight our wars he left his native air 
 this death deplored to hector's rage we owe 
 revenge revenge it on the cruel foe 
 where are those darts on which the fates attend 
 and where the bow which phoebus taught to bend  

 impatient teucer hastening to his aid 
 before the chief his ample bow display'd 
 the well-stored quiver on his shoulders hung 
 then hiss'd his arrow and the bowstring sung 
 clytus pisenor's son renown'd in fame 
 to thee polydamas an honour'd name 
 drove through the thickest of the embattled plains
 the startling steeds and shook his eager reins 
 as all on glory ran his ardent mind 
 the pointed death arrests him from behind 
 through his fair neck the thrilling arrow flies 
 in youth's first bloom reluctantly he dies 
 hurl'd from the lofty seat at distance far 
 the headlong coursers spurn his empty car 
 till sad polydamas the steeds restrain'd 
 and gave astynous to thy careful hand 
 then fired to vengeance rush'd amidst the foe 
 rage edged his sword and strengthen'd every blow 

 once more bold teucer in his country's cause 
 at hector's breast a chosen arrow draws 
 and had the weapon found the destined way 
 thy fall great trojan had renown'd that day 
 but hector was not doom'd to perish then 
 the all-wise disposer of the fates of men
 imperial jove his present death withstands 
 nor was such glory due to teucer's hands 
 at its full stretch as the tough string he drew 
 struck by an arm unseen it burst in two 
 down dropp'd the bow the shaft with brazen head
 fell innocent and on the dust lay dead 
 the astonish'd archer to great ajax cries 
  some god prevents our destined enterprise 
 some god propitious to the trojan foe 
 has from my arm unfailing struck the bow 
 and broke the nerve my hands had twined with art 
 strong to impel the flight of many a dart  

  since heaven commands it ajax made reply 
 dismiss the bow and lay thy arrows by 
 thy arms no less suffice the lance to wield 
 and quit the quiver for the ponderous shield 
 in the first ranks indulge thy thirst of fame 
 thy brave example shall the rest inflame 
 fierce as they are by long successes vain 
 to force our fleet or even a ship to gain 
 asks toil and sweat and blood their utmost might
 shall find its match no more 'tis ours to fight  

 then teucer laid his faithless bow aside 
 the fourfold buckler o'er his shoulder tied 
 on his brave head a crested helm he placed 
 with nodding horse-hair formidably graced 
 a dart whose point with brass refulgent shines 
 the warrior wields and his great brother joins 

 this hector saw and thus express'd his joy 
  ye troops of lycia dardanus and troy 
 be mindful of yourselves your ancient fame 
 and spread your glory with the navy's flame 
 jove is with us i saw his hand but now 
 from the proud archer strike his vaunted bow 
 indulgent jove how plain thy favours shine 
 when happy nations bear the marks divine 
 how easy then to see the sinking state
 of realms accursed deserted reprobate 
 such is the fate of greece and such is ours 
 behold ye warriors and exert your powers 
 death is the worst a fate which all must try 
 and for our country 'tis a bliss to die 
 the gallant man though slain in fight he be 
 yet leaves his nation safe his children free 
 entails a debt on all the grateful state 
 his own brave friends shall glory in his fate 
 his wife live honour'd all his race succeed 
 and late posterity enjoy the deed  

 this roused the soul in every trojan breast 
 the godlike ajax next his greeks address'd 

  how long ye warriors of the argive race 
 to generous argos what a dire disgrace 
 how long on these cursed confines will ye lie 
 yet undetermined or to live or die 
 what hopes remain what methods to retire 
 if once your vessels catch the trojan fire 
 make how the flames approach how near they fall 
 how hector calls and troy obeys his call 
 not to the dance that dreadful voice invites 
 it calls to death and all the rage of fights 
 'tis now no time for wisdom or debates 
 to your own hands are trusted all your fates 
 and better far in one decisive strife 
 one day should end our labour or our life 
 than keep this hard-got inch of barren sands 
 still press'd and press'd by such inglorious hands  

 the listening grecians feel their leader's flame 
 and every kindling bosom pants for fame 
 then mutual slaughters spread on either side 
 by hector here the phocian schedius died 
 there pierced by ajax sunk laodamas 
 chief of the foot of old antenor's race 
 polydamas laid otus on the sand 
 the fierce commander of the epeian band 
 his lance bold meges at the victor threw 
 the victor stooping from the death withdrew 
 that valued life o phoebus was thy care 
 but croesmus' bosom took the flying spear 
 his corpse fell bleeding on the slippery shore 
 his radiant arms triumphant meges bore 
 dolops the son of lampus rushes on 
 sprung from the race of old laomedon 
 and famed for prowess in a well-fought field 
 he pierced the centre of his sounding shield 
 but meges phyleus' ample breastplate wore 
 well-known in fight on selle's winding shore 
 for king euphetes gave the golden mail 
 compact and firm with many a jointed scale 
 which oft in cities storm'd and battles won 
 had saved the father and now saves the son 
 full at the trojan's head he urged his lance 
 where the high plumes above the helmet dance 
 new ting'd with tyrian dye in dust below 
 shorn from the crest the purple honours glow 
 meantime their fight the spartan king survey'd 
 and stood by meges' side a sudden aid 
 through dolops' shoulder urged his forceful dart 
 which held its passage through the panting heart 
 and issued at his breast with thundering sound
 the warrior falls extended on the ground 
 in rush the conquering greeks to spoil the slain 
 but hector's voice excites his kindred train 
 the hero most from hicetaon sprung 
 fierce melanippus gallant brave and young 
 he ere to troy the grecians cross'd the main 
 fed his large oxen on percote's plain 
 but when oppress'd his country claim'd his care 
 return'd to ilion and excell'd in war 
 for this in priam's court he held his place 
 beloved no less than priam's royal race 
 him hector singled as his troops he led 
 and thus inflamed him pointing to the dead 

  lo melanippus lo where dolops lies 
 and is it thus our royal kinsman dies 
 o'ermatch'd he falls to two at once a prey 
 and lo they bear the bloody arms away 
 come on a distant war no longer wage 
 but hand to hand thy country's foes engage 
 till greece at once and all her glory end 
 or ilion from her towery height descend 
 heaved from the lowest stone and bury all
 in one sad sepulchre one common fall  

 hector this said rush'd forward on the foes 
 with equal ardour melanippus glows 
 then ajax thus  o greeks respect your fame 
 respect yourselves and learn an honest shame 
 let mutual reverence mutual warmth inspire 
 and catch from breast to breast the noble fire 
 on valour's side the odds of combat lie 
 the brave live glorious or lamented die 
 the wretch that trembles in the field of fame 
 meets death and worse than death eternal shame  

 his generous sense he not in vain imparts 
 it sunk and rooted in the grecian hearts 
 they join they throng they thicken at his call 
 and flank the navy with a brazen wall 
 shields touching shields in order blaze above 
 and stop the trojans though impell'd by jove 
 the fiery spartan first with loud applause 
 warms the bold son of nestor in his cause 
  is there he said in arms a youth like you 
 so strong to fight so active to pursue 
 why stand you distant nor attempt a deed 
 lift the bold lance and make some trojan bleed  

 he said and backward to the lines retired 
 forth rush'd the youth with martial fury fired 
 beyond the foremost ranks his lance he threw 
 and round the black battalions cast his view 
 the troops of troy recede with sudden fear 
 while the swift javelin hiss'd along in air 
 advancing melanippus met the dart
 with his bold breast and felt it in his heart 
 thundering he falls his falling arms resound 
 and his broad buckler rings against the ground 
 the victor leaps upon his prostrate prize 
 thus on a roe the well-breath'd beagle flies 
 and rends his side fresh-bleeding with the dart
 the distant hunter sent into his heart 
 observing hector to the rescue flew 
 bold as he was antilochus withdrew 
 so when a savage ranging o'er the plain 
 has torn the shepherd's dog or shepherd's swain 
 while conscious of the deed he glares around 
 and hears the gathering multitude resound 
 timely he flies the yet-untasted food 
 and gains the friendly shelter of the wood 
 so fears the youth all troy with shouts pursue 
 while stones and darts in mingled tempest flew 
 but enter'd in the grecian ranks he turns
 his manly breast and with new fury burns 

 now on the fleet the tides of trojans drove 
 fierce to fulfil the stern decrees of jove 
 the sire of gods confirming thetis' prayer 
 the grecian ardour quench'd in deep despair 
 but lifts to glory troy's prevailing bands 
 swells all their hearts and strengthens all their hands 
 on ida's top he waits with longing eyes 
 to view the navy blazing to the skies 
 then nor till then the scale of war shall turn 
 the trojans fly and conquer'd ilion burn 
 these fates revolved in his almighty mind 
 he raises hector to the work design'd 
 bids him with more than mortal fury glow 
 and drives him like a lightning on the foe 
 so mars when human crimes for vengeance call 
 shakes his huge javelin and whole armies fall 
 not with more rage a conflagration rolls 
 wraps the vast mountains and involves the poles 
 he foams with wrath beneath his gloomy brow
 like fiery meteors his red eye-balls glow 
 the radiant helmet on his temple burns 
 waves when he nods and lightens as he turns 
 for jove his splendour round the chief had thrown 
 and cast the blaze of both the hosts on one 
 unhappy glories for his fate was near 
 due to stern pallas and pelides' spear 
 yet jove deferr'd the death he was to pay 
 and gave what fate allow'd the honours of a day 

 now all on fire for fame his breast his eyes
 burn at each foe and single every prize 
 still at the closest ranks the thickest fight 
 he points his ardour and exerts his might 
 the grecian phalanx moveless as a tower 
 on all sides batter'd yet resists his power 
 so some tall rock o'erhangs the hoary main 241 
 by winds assail'd by billows beat in vain 
 unmoved it hears above the tempest blow 
 and sees the watery mountains break below 
 girt in surrounding flames he seems to fall
 like fire from jove and bursts upon them all 
 bursts as a wave that from the cloud impends 
 and swell'd with tempests on the ship descends 
 white are the decks with foam the winds aloud
 howl o'er the masts and sing through every shroud 
 pale trembling tired the sailors freeze with fears 
 and instant death on every wave appears 
 so pale the greeks the eyes of hector meet 
 the chief so thunders and so shakes the fleet 

 as when a lion rushing from his den 
 amidst the plain of some wide-water'd fen 
 where numerous oxen as at ease they feed 
 at large expatiate o'er the ranker mead 
 leaps on the herds before the herdsman's eyes 
 the trembling herdsman far to distance flies 
 some lordly bull the rest dispersed and fled 
 he singles out arrests and lays him dead 
 thus from the rage of jove-like hector flew
 all greece in heaps but one he seized and slew 
 mycenian periphes a mighty name 
 in wisdom great in arms well known to fame 
 the minister of stern eurystheus' ire
 against alcides copreus was his sire 
 the son redeem'd the honours of the race 
 a son as generous as the sire was base 
 o'er all his country's youth conspicuous far
 in every virtue or of peace or war 
 but doom'd to hector's stronger force to yield 
 against the margin of his ample shield
 he struck his hasty foot his heels up-sprung 
 supine he fell his brazen helmet rung 
 on the fallen chief the invading trojan press'd 
 and plunged the pointed javelin in his breast 
 his circling friends who strove to guard too late
 the unhappy hero fled or shared his fate 

 chased from the foremost line the grecian train
 now man the next receding toward the main 
 wedged in one body at the tents they stand 
 wall'd round with sterns a gloomy desperate band 
 now manly shame forbids the inglorious flight 
 now fear itself confines them to the fight 
 man courage breathes in man but nestor most
 the sage preserver of the grecian host 
 exhorts adjures to guard these utmost shores 
 and by their parents by themselves implores 

  oh friends be men your generous breasts inflame
 with mutual honour and with mutual shame 
 think of your hopes your fortunes all the care
 your wives your infants and your parents share 
 think of each living father's reverend head 
 think of each ancestor with glory dead 
 absent by me they speak by me they sue 
 they ask their safety and their fame from you 
 the gods their fates on this one action lay 
 and all are lost if you desert the day  

 he spoke and round him breathed heroic fires 
 minerva seconds what the sage inspires 
 the mist of darkness jove around them threw
 she clear'd restoring all the war to view 
 a sudden ray shot beaming o'er the plain 
 and show'd the shores the navy and the main 
 hector they saw and all who fly or fight 
 the scene wide-opening to the blaze of light 
 first of the field great ajax strikes their eyes 
 his port majestic and his ample size 
 a ponderous mace with studs of iron crown'd 
 full twenty cubits long he swings around 
 nor fights like others fix'd to certain stands
 but looks a moving tower above the bands 
 high on the decks with vast gigantic stride 
 the godlike hero stalks from side to side 
 so when a horseman from the watery mead
 skill'd in the manage of the bounding steed 
 drives four fair coursers practised to obey 
 to some great city through the public way 
 safe in his art as side by side they run 
 he shifts his seat and vaults from one to one 
 and now to this and now to that he flies 
 admiring numbers follow with their eyes 

 from ship to ship thus ajax swiftly flew 
 no less the wonder of the warring crew 
 as furious hector thunder'd threats aloud 
 and rush'd enraged before the trojan crowd 
 then swift invades the ships whose beaky prores
 lay rank'd contiguous on the bending shores 
 so the strong eagle from his airy height 
 who marks the swans' or cranes' embodied flight 
 stoops down impetuous while they light for food 
 and stooping darkens with his wings the flood 
 jove leads him on with his almighty hand 
 and breathes fierce spirits in his following band 
 the warring nations meet the battle roars 
 thick beats the combat on the sounding prores 
 thou wouldst have thought so furious was their fire 
 no force could tame them and no toil could tire 
 as if new vigour from new fights they won 
 and the long battle was but then begun 
 greece yet unconquer'd kept alive the war 
 secure of death confiding in despair 
 troy in proud hopes already view'd the main
 bright with the blaze and red with heroes slain 
 like strength is felt from hope and from despair 
 and each contends as his were all the war 

  twas thou bold hector whose resistless hand
 first seized a ship on that contested strand 
 the same which dead protesilaus bore 242 
 the first that touch'd the unhappy trojan shore 
 for this in arms the warring nations stood 
 and bathed their generous breasts with mutual blood 
 no room to poise the lance or bend the bow 
 but hand to hand and man to man they grow 
 wounded they wound and seek each other's hearts
 with falchions axes swords and shorten'd darts 
 the falchions ring shields rattle axes sound 
 swords flash in air or glitter on the ground 
 with streaming blood the slippery shores are dyed 
 and slaughter'd heroes swell the dreadful tide 

 still raging hector with his ample hand
 grasps the high stern and gives this loud command 


 ajax defending the greek ships 


  haste bring the flames that toil of ten long years
 is finished and the day desired appears 
 this happy day with acclamations greet 
 bright with destruction of yon hostile fleet 
 the coward-counsels of a timorous throng
 of reverend dotards check'd our glory long 
 too long jove lull'd us with lethargic charms 
 but now in peals of thunder calls to arms 
 in this great day he crowns our full desires 
 wakes all our force and seconds all our fires  

 he spoke the warriors at his fierce command
 pour a new deluge on the grecian band 
 even ajax paused so thick the javelins fly 
 stepp'd back and doubted or to live or die 
 yet where the oars are placed he stands to wait
 what chief approaching dares attempt his fate 
 even to the last his naval charge defends 
 now shakes his spear now lifts and now protends 
 even yet the greeks with piercing shouts inspires 
 amidst attacks and deaths and darts and fires 

  o friends o heroes names for ever dear 
 once sons of mars and thunderbolts of war 
 ah yet be mindful of your old renown 
 your great forefathers' virtues and your own 
 what aids expect you in this utmost strait 
 what bulwarks rising between you and fate 
 no aids no bulwarks your retreat attend 
 no friends to help no city to defend 
 this spot is all you have to lose or keep 
 there stand the trojans and here rolls the deep 
 'tis hostile ground you tread your native lands
 far far from hence your fates are in your hands  

 raging he spoke nor further wastes his breath 
 but turns his javelin to the work of death 
 whate'er bold trojan arm'd his daring hands 
 against the sable ships with flaming brands 
 so well the chief his naval weapon sped 
 the luckless warrior at his stern lay dead 
 full twelve the boldest in a moment fell 
 sent by great ajax to the shades of hell 


 castor and pollux 





book xvi 


argument

the sixth battle the acts and death of patroclus

patroclus in pursuance of the request of nestor in the eleventh book 
entreats achilles to suffer him to go to the assistance of the greeks with
achilles' troops and armour he agrees to it but at the same time charges
him to content himself with rescuing the fleet without further pursuit of
the enemy the armour horses soldiers and officers are described 
achilles offers a libation for the success of his friend after which
patroclus leads the myrmidons to battle the trojans at the sight of
patroclus in achilles' armour taking him for that hero are cast into the
uttermost consternation he beats them off from the vessels hector
himself flies sarpedon is killed though jupiter was averse to his fate 
several other particulars of the battle are described in the heat of
which patroclus neglecting the orders of achilles pursues the foe to
the walls of troy where apollo repulses and disarms him euphorbus wounds
him and hector kills him which concludes the book 

 so warr'd both armies on the ensanguined shore 
 while the black vessels smoked with human gore 
 meantime patroclus to achilles flies 
 the streaming tears fall copious from his eyes
 not faster trickling to the plains below 
 from the tall rock the sable waters flow 
 divine pelides with compassion moved 
 thus spoke indulgent to his best beloved 243 

  patroclus say what grief thy bosom bears 
 that flows so fast in these unmanly tears 
 no girl no infant whom the mother keeps
 from her loved breast with fonder passion weeps 
 not more the mother's soul that infant warms 
 clung to her knees and reaching at her arms 
 than thou hast mine oh tell me to what end
 thy melting sorrows thus pursue thy friend 

  griev'st thou for me or for my martial band 
 or come sad tidings from our native land 
 our fathers live our first most tender care 
 thy good menoetius breathes the vital air 
 and hoary peleus yet extends his days 
 pleased in their age to hear their children's praise 
 or may some meaner cause thy pity claim 
 perhaps yon relics of the grecian name 
 doom'd in their ships to sink by fire and sword 
 and pay the forfeit of their haughty lord 
 whate'er the cause reveal thy secret care 
 and speak those sorrows which a friend would share  
 a sigh that instant from his bosom broke 
 another follow'd and patroclus spoke 

  let greece at length with pity touch thy breast 
 thyself a greek and once of greeks the best 
 lo every chief that might her fate prevent 
 lies pierced with wounds and bleeding in his tent 
 eurypylus tydides atreus' son 
 and wise ulysses at the navy groan 
 more for their country's wounds than for their own 
 their pain soft arts of pharmacy can ease 
 thy breast alone no lenitives appease 
 may never rage like thine my soul enslave 
 o great in vain unprofitably brave 
 thy country slighted in her last distress 
 what friend what man from thee shall hope redress 
 no men unborn and ages yet behind 
 shall curse that fierce that unforgiving mind 

  o man unpitying if of man thy race 
 but sure thou spring'st not from a soft embrace 
 nor ever amorous hero caused thy birth 
 nor ever tender goddess brought thee forth 
 some rugged rock's hard entrails gave thee form 
 and raging seas produced thee in a storm 
 a soul well suiting that tempestuous kind 
 so rough thy manners so untamed thy mind 

  if some dire oracle thy breast alarm 
 if aught from jove or thetis stop thy arm 
 some beam of comfort yet on greece may shine 
 if i but lead the myrmidonian line 
 clad in thy dreadful arms if i appear 
 proud troy shall tremble and desert the war 
 without thy person greece shall win the day 
 and thy mere image chase her foes away 
 press'd by fresh forces her o'erlabour'd train
 shall quit the ships and greece respire again  
 thus blind to fate with supplicating breath 
 thou begg'st his arms and in his arms thy death 
 unfortunately good a boding sigh
 thy friend return'd and with it this reply 
  patroclus thy achilles knows no fears 
 nor words from jove nor oracles he hears 
 nor aught a mother's caution can suggest 
 the tyrant's pride lies rooted in my breast 
 my wrongs my wrongs my constant thought engage 
 those my sole oracles inspire my rage 
 i made him tyrant gave him power to wrong
 even my i felt it and shall feel it long 
 the maid my black-eyed maid he forced away 
 due to the toils of many a well-fought day 
 due to my conquest of her father's reign 
 due to the votes of all the grecian train 
 from me he forced her me the bold and brave 
 disgraced dishonour'd like the meanest slave 
 but bear we this the wrongs i grieve are past 
 'tis time our fury should relent at last 
 i fix'd its date the day i wish'd appears 
 how hector to my ships his battle bears 
 the flames my eyes the shouts invade my ears 
 go then patroclus court fair honour's charms
 in troy's famed fields and in achilles' arms 
 lead forth my martial myrmidons to fight 
 go save the fleets and conquer in my right 
 see the thin relics of their baffled band
 at the last edge of yon deserted land 
 behold all ilion on their ships descends 
 how the cloud blackens how the storm impends 
 it was not thus when at my sight amazed 
 troy saw and trembled as this helmet blazed 
 had not the injurious king our friendship lost 
 yon ample trench had buried half her host 
 no camps no bulwarks now the trojans fear 
 those are not dreadful no achilles there 
 no longer flames the lance of tydeus' son 
 no more your general calls his heroes on 
 hector alone i hear his dreadful breath
 commands your slaughter or proclaims your death 
 yet now patroclus issue to the plain 
 now save the ships the rising fires restrain 
 and give the greeks to visit greece again 
 but heed my words and mark a friend's command 
 who trusts his fame and honours in thy hand 
 and from thy deeds expects the achaian host
 shall render back the beauteous maid he lost 
 rage uncontroll'd through all the hostile crew 
 but touch not hector hector is my due 
 though jove in thunder should command the war 
 be just consult my glory and forbear 
 the fleet once saved desist from further chase 
 nor lead to ilion's walls the grecian race 
 some adverse god thy rashness may destroy 
 some god like phoebus ever kind to troy 
 let greece redeem'd from this destructive strait 
 do her own work and leave the rest to fate 
 o would to all the immortal powers above 
 apollo pallas and almighty jove 
 that not one trojan might be left alive 
 and not a greek of all the race survive 
 might only we the vast destruction shun 
 and only we destroy the accursed town  
 such conference held the chiefs while on the strand
 great jove with conquest crown'd the trojan band 
 ajax no more the sounding storm sustain'd 
 so thick the darts an iron tempest rain'd 
 on his tired arm the weighty buckler hung 
 his hollow helm with falling javelins rung 
 his breath in quick short pantings comes and goes 
 and painful sweat from all his members flows 
 spent and o'erpower'd he barely breathes at most 
 yet scarce an army stirs him from his post 
 dangers on dangers all around him glow 
 and toil to toil and woe succeeds to woe 

 say muses throned above the starry frame 
 how first the navy blazed with trojan flame 

 stern hector waved his sword and standing near 
 where furious ajax plied his ashen spear 
 full on the lance a stroke so justly sped 
 that the broad falchion lopp'd its brazen head 
 his pointless spear the warrior shakes in vain 
 the brazen head falls sounding on the plain 
 great ajax saw and own'd the hand divine 
 confessing jove and trembling at the sign 
 warn'd he retreats then swift from all sides pour
 the hissing brands thick streams the fiery shower 
 o'er the high stern the curling volumes rise 
 and sheets of rolling smoke involve the skies 

 divine achilles view'd the rising flames 
 and smote his thigh and thus aloud exclaims 
  arm arm patroclus lo the blaze aspires 
 the glowing ocean reddens with the fires 
 arm ere our vessels catch the spreading flame 
 arm ere the grecians be no more a name 
 i haste to bring the troops   the hero said 
 the friend with ardour and with joy obey'd 

 he cased his limbs in brass and first around
 his manly legs with silver buckles bound
 the clasping greaves then to his breast applies
 the flaming cuirass of a thousand dyes 
 emblazed with studs of gold his falchion shone
 in the rich belt as in a starry zone 
 achilles' shield his ample shoulders spread 
 achilles' helmet nodded o'er his head 
 adorn'd in all his terrible array 
 he flash'd around intolerable day 
 alone untouch'd pelides' javelin stands 
 not to be poised but by pelides' hands 
 from pelion's shady brow the plant entire
 old chiron rent and shaped it for his sire 
 whose son's great arm alone the weapon wields 
 the death of heroes and the dread of fields 


 buckles 


 the brave automedon an honour'd name 
 the second to his lord in love and fame 
 in peace his friend and partner of the war 
 the winged coursers harness'd to the car 
 xanthus and balius of immortal breed 
 sprung from the wind and like the wind in speed 
 whom the wing'd harpy swift podarge bore 
 by zephyr pregnant on the breezy shore 
 swift pedasus was added to their side 
 once great aetion's now achilles' pride 
 who like in strength in swiftness and in grace 
 a mortal courser match'd the immortal race 

 achilles speeds from tent to tent and warms
 his hardy myrmidons to blood and arms 
 all breathing death around the chief they stand 
 a grim terrific formidable band 
 grim as voracious wolves that seek the springs 244 
 when scalding thirst their burning bowels wrings 
 when some tall stag fresh-slaughtered in the wood 
 has drench'd their wide insatiate throats with blood 
 to the black fount they rush a hideous throng 
 with paunch distended and with lolling tongue 
 fire fills their eye their black jaws belch the gore 
 and gorged with slaughter still they thirst for more 
 like furious rush'd the myrmidonian crew 
 such their dread strength and such their deathful view 

 high in the midst the great achilles stands 
 directs their order and the war commands 
 he loved of jove had launch'd for ilion's shores
 full fifty vessels mann'd with fifty oars 
 five chosen leaders the fierce bands obey 
 himself supreme in valour as in sway 

 first march'd menestheus of celestial birth 
 derived from thee whose waters wash the earth 
 divine sperchius jove-descended flood 
 a mortal mother mixing with a god 
 such was menestheus but miscall'd by fame
 the son of borus that espoused the dame 

 eudorus next whom polymele the gay 
 famed in the graceful dance produced to-day 
 her sly cellenius loved on her would gaze 
 as with swift step she form'd the running maze 
 to her high chamber from diana's quire 
 the god pursued her urged and crown'd his fire 
 the son confess'd his father's heavenly race 
 and heir'd his mother's swiftness in the chase 
 strong echecleus bless'd in all those charms
 that pleased a god succeeded to her arms 
 not conscious of those loves long hid from fame 
 with gifts of price he sought and won the dame 
 her secret offspring to her sire she bare 
 her sire caress'd him with a parent's care 

 pisander follow'd matchless in his art
 to wing the spear or aim the distant dart 
 no hand so sure of all the emathian line 
 or if a surer great patroclus thine 

 the fourth by phoenix' grave command was graced 
 laerces' valiant offspring led the last 

 soon as achilles with superior care
 had call'd the chiefs and order'd all the war 
 this stern remembrance to his troops he gave 
  ye far-famed myrmidons ye fierce and brave 
 think with what threats you dared the trojan throng 
 think what reproach these ears endured so long 
 'stern son of peleus thus ye used to say 
 while restless raging in your ships you lay 
 oh nursed with gall unknowing how to yield 
 whose rage defrauds us of so famed a field 
 if that dire fury must for ever burn 
 what make we here return ye chiefs return '
 such were your words now warriors grieve no more 
 lo there the trojans bathe your swords in gore 
 this day shall give you all your soul demands 
 glut all your hearts and weary all your hands  


 diana 


 thus while he roused the fire in every breast 
 close and more close the listening cohorts press'd 
 ranks wedged in ranks of arms a steely ring
 still grows and spreads and thickens round the king 
 as when a circling wall the builder forms 
 of strength defensive against wind and storms 
 compacted stones the thickening work compose 
 and round him wide the rising structure grows 
 so helm to helm and crest to crest they throng 
 shield urged on shield and man drove man along 
 thick undistinguish'd plumes together join'd 
 float in one sea and wave before the wind 

 far o'er the rest in glittering pomp appear 
 there bold automedon patroclus here 
 brothers in arms with equal fury fired 
 two friends two bodies with one soul inspired 

 but mindful of the gods achilles went
 to the rich coffer in his shady tent 
 there lay on heaps his various garments roll'd 
 and costly furs and carpets stiff with gold 
 the presents of the silver-footed dame 
 from thence he took a bowl of antique frame 
 which never man had stained with ruddy wine 
 nor raised in offerings to the power divine 
 but peleus' son and peleus' son to none
 had raised in offerings but to jove alone 
 this tinged with sulphur sacred first to flame 
 he purged and wash'd it in the running stream 
 then cleansed his hands and fixing for a space
 his eyes on heaven his feet upon the place
 of sacrifice the purple draught he pour'd
 forth in the midst and thus the god implored 

  o thou supreme high-throned all height above 
 o great pelasgic dodonaean jove 
 who 'midst surrounding frosts and vapours chill 
 presid'st on bleak dodona's vocal hill 
 whose groves the selli race austere surround 
 their feet unwash'd their slumbers on the ground 
 who hear from rustling oaks thy dark decrees 
 and catch the fates low-whispered in the breeze 
 hear as of old thou gav'st at thetis' prayer 
 glory to me and to the greeks despair 
 lo to the dangers of the fighting field
 the best the dearest of my friends i yield 
 though still determined to my ships confined 
 patroclus gone i stay but half behind 
 oh be his guard thy providential care 
 confirm his heart and string his arm to war 
 press'd by his single force let hector see
 his fame in arms not owing all to me 
 but when the fleets are saved from foes and fire 
 let him with conquest and renown retire 
 preserve his arms preserve his social train 
 and safe return him to these eyes again  

 great jove consents to half the chief's request 
 but heaven's eternal doom denies the rest 
 to free the fleet was granted to his prayer 
 his safe return the winds dispersed in air 
 back to his tent the stern achilles flies 
 and waits the combat with impatient eyes 

 meanwhile the troops beneath patroclus' care 
 invade the trojans and commence the war 
 as wasps provoked by children in their play 
 pour from their mansions by the broad highway 
 in swarms the guiltless traveller engage 
 whet all their stings and call forth all their rage 
 all rise in arms and with a general cry 
 assert their waxen domes and buzzing progeny 
 thus from the tents the fervent legion swarms 
 so loud their clamours and so keen their arms 
 their rising rage patroclus' breath inspires 
 who thus inflames them with heroic fires 

  o warriors partners of achilles' praise 
 be mindful of your deeds in ancient days 
 your godlike master let your acts proclaim 
 and add new glories to his mighty name 
 think your achilles sees you fight be brave 
 and humble the proud monarch whom you save  

 joyful they heard and kindling as he spoke 
 flew to the fleet involved in fire and smoke 
 from shore to shore the doubling shouts resound 
 the hollow ships return a deeper sound 
 the war stood still and all around them gazed 
 when great achilles' shining armour blazed 
 troy saw and thought the dread achilles nigh 
 at once they see they tremble and they fly 

 then first thy spear divine patroclus flew 
 where the war raged and where the tumult grew 
 close to the stern of that famed ship which bore
 unbless'd protesilaus to ilion's shore 
 the great paeonian bold pyrechmes stood 
 who led his bands from axius' winding flood 
 his shoulder-blade receives the fatal wound 
 the groaning warrior pants upon the ground 
 his troops that see their country's glory slain 
 fly diverse scatter'd o'er the distant plain 
 patroclus' arm forbids the spreading fires 
 and from the half-burn'd ship proud troy retires 
 clear'd from the smoke the joyful navy lies 
 in heaps on heaps the foe tumultuous flies 
 triumphant greece her rescued decks ascends 
 and loud acclaim the starry region rends 
 so when thick clouds enwrap the mountain's head 
 o'er heaven's expanse like one black ceiling spread 
 sudden the thunderer with a flashing ray 
 bursts through the darkness and lets down the day 
 the hills shine out the rocks in prospect rise 
 and streams and vales and forests strike the eyes 
 the smiling scene wide opens to the sight 
 and all the unmeasured ether flames with light 

 but troy repulsed and scatter'd o'er the plains 
 forced from the navy yet the fight maintains 
 now every greek some hostile hero slew 
 but still the foremost bold patroclus flew 
 as areilycus had turn'd him round 
 sharp in his thigh he felt the piercing wound 
 the brazen-pointed spear with vigour thrown 
 the thigh transfix'd and broke the brittle bone 
 headlong he fell next thoas was thy chance 
 thy breast unarm'd received the spartan lance 
 phylides' dart as amphidus drew nigh 
 his blow prevented and transpierced his thigh 
 tore all the brawn and rent the nerves away 
 in darkness and in death the warrior lay 

 in equal arms two sons of nestor stand 
 and two bold brothers of the lycian band 
 by great antilochus atymnius dies 
 pierced in the flank lamented youth he lies 
 kind maris bleeding in his brother's wound 
 defends the breathless carcase on the ground 
 furious he flies his murderer to engage 
 but godlike thrasimed prevents his rage 
 between his arm and shoulder aims a blow 
 his arm falls spouting on the dust below 
 he sinks with endless darkness cover'd o'er 
 and vents his soul effused with gushing gore 

 slain by two brothers thus two brothers bleed 
 sarpedon's friends amisodarus' seed 
 amisodarus who by furies led 
 the bane of men abhorr'd chimaera bred 
 skill'd in the dart in vain his sons expire 
 and pay the forfeit of their guilty sire 

 stopp'd in the tumult cleobulus lies 
 beneath oileus' arm a living prize 
 a living prize not long the trojan stood 
 the thirsty falchion drank his reeking blood 
 plunged in his throat the smoking weapon lies 
 black death and fate unpitying seal his eyes 

 amid the ranks with mutual thirst of fame 
 lycon the brave and fierce peneleus came 
 in vain their javelins at each other flew 
 now met in arms their eager swords they drew 
 on the plumed crest of his boeotian foe
 the daring lycon aim'd a noble blow 
 the sword broke short but his peneleus sped
 full on the juncture of the neck and head 
 the head divided by a stroke so just 
 hung by the skin the body sunk to dust 

 o'ertaken neamas by merion bleeds 
 pierced through the shoulder as he mounts his steeds 
 back from the car he tumbles to the ground 
 his swimming eyes eternal shades surround 

 next erymas was doom'd his fate to feel 
 his open'd mouth received the cretan steel 
 beneath the brain the point a passage tore 
 crash'd the thin bones and drown'd the teeth in gore 
 his mouth his eyes his nostrils pour a flood 
 he sobs his soul out in the gush of blood 

 as when the flocks neglected by the swain 
 or kids or lambs lie scatter'd o'er the plain 
 a troop of wolves the unguarded charge survey 
 and rend the trembling unresisting prey 
 thus on the foe the greeks impetuous came 
 troy fled unmindful of her former fame 

 but still at hector godlike ajax aim'd 
 still pointed at his breast his javelin flamed 
 the trojan chief experienced in the field 
 o'er his broad shoulders spread the massy shield 
 observed the storm of darts the grecians pour 
 and on his buckler caught the ringing shower 
 he sees for greece the scale of conquest rise 
 yet stops and turns and saves his loved allies 

 as when the hand of jove a tempest forms 
 and rolls the cloud to blacken heaven with storms 
 dark o'er the fields the ascending vapour flies 
 and shades the sun and blots the golden skies 
 so from the ships along the dusky plain 
 dire flight and terror drove the trojan train 
 even hector fled through heads of disarray
 the fiery coursers forced their lord away 
 while far behind his trojans fall confused 
 wedged in the trench in one vast carnage bruised 
 chariots on chariots roll the clashing spokes
 shock while the madding steeds break short their yokes 
 in vain they labour up the steepy mound 
 their charioteers lie foaming on the ground 
 fierce on the rear with shouts patroclus flies 
 tumultuous clamour fills the fields and skies 
 thick drifts of dust involve their rapid flight 
 clouds rise on clouds and heaven is snatch'd from sight 
 the affrighted steeds their dying lords cast down 
 scour o'er the fields and stretch to reach the town 
 loud o'er the rout was heard the victor's cry 
 where the war bleeds and where the thickest die 
 where horse and arms and chariots he o'erthrown 
 and bleeding heroes under axles groan 
 no stop no check the steeds of peleus knew 
 from bank to bank the immortal coursers flew 
 high-bounding o'er the fosse the whirling car
 smokes through the ranks o'ertakes the flying war 
 and thunders after hector hector flies 
 patroclus shakes his lance but fate denies 
 not with less noise with less impetuous force 
 the tide of trojans urge their desperate course 
 than when in autumn jove his fury pours 
 and earth is loaden with incessant showers 
 when guilty mortals break the eternal laws 
 or judges bribed betray the righteous cause 
 from their deep beds he bids the rivers rise 
 and opens all the flood-gates of the skies 
 the impetuous torrents from their hills obey 
 whole fields are drown'd and mountains swept away 
 loud roars the deluge till it meets the main 
 and trembling man sees all his labours vain 

 and now the chief the foremost troops repell'd 
 back to the ships his destined progress held 
 bore down half troy in his resistless way 
 and forced the routed ranks to stand the day 
 between the space where silver simois flows 
 where lay the fleets and where the rampires rose 
 all grim in dust and blood patroclus stands 
 and turns the slaughter on the conquering bands 
 first pronous died beneath his fiery dart 
 which pierced below the shield his valiant heart 
 thestor was next who saw the chief appear 
 and fell the victim of his coward fear 
 shrunk up he sat with wild and haggard eye 
 nor stood to combat nor had force to fly 
 patroclus mark'd him as he shunn'd the war 
 and with unmanly tremblings shook the car 
 and dropp'd the flowing reins him 'twixt the jaws 
 the javelin sticks and from the chariot draws 
 as on a rock that overhangs the main 
 an angler studious of the line and cane 
 some mighty fish draws panting to the shore 
 not with less ease the barbed javelin bore
 the gaping dastard as the spear was shook 
 he fell and life his heartless breast forsook 

 next on eryalus he flies a stone 
 large as a rock was by his fury thrown 
 full on his crown the ponderous fragment flew 
 and burst the helm and cleft the head in two 
 prone to the ground the breathless warrior fell 
 and death involved him with the shades of hell 
 then low in dust epaltes echius lie 
 ipheas evippus polymelus die 
 amphoterus and erymas succeed 
 and last tlepolemus and pyres bleed 
 where'er he moves the growing slaughters spread
 in heaps on heaps a monument of dead 

 when now sarpedon his brave friends beheld
 grovelling in dust and gasping on the field 
 with this reproach his flying host he warms 
  oh stain to honour oh disgrace to arms 
 forsake inglorious the contended plain 
 this hand unaided shall the war sustain 
 the task be mine this hero's strength to try 
 who mows whole troops and makes an army fly  

 he spake and speaking leaps from off the car 
 patroclus lights and sternly waits the war 
 as when two vultures on the mountain's height
 stoop with resounding pinions to the fight 
 they cuff they tear they raise a screaming cry 
 the desert echoes and the rocks reply 
 the warriors thus opposed in arms engage
 with equal clamours and with equal rage 

 jove view'd the combat whose event foreseen 
 he thus bespoke his sister and his queen 
  the hour draws on the destinies ordain 245 
 my godlike son shall press the phrygian plain 
 already on the verge of death he stands 
 his life is owed to fierce patroclus' hands 
 what passions in a parent's breast debate 
 say shall i snatch him from impending fate 
 and send him safe to lycia distant far
 from all the dangers and the toils of war 
 or to his doom my bravest offspring yield 
 and fatten with celestial blood the field  

 then thus the goddess with the radiant eyes 
  what words are these o sovereign of the skies 
 short is the date prescribed to mortal man 
 shall jove for one extend the narrow span 
 whose bounds were fix'd before his race began 
 how many sons of gods foredoom'd to death 
 before proud ilion must resign their breath 
 were thine exempt debate would rise above 
 and murmuring powers condemn their partial jove 
 give the bold chief a glorious fate in fight 
 and when the ascending soul has wing'd her flight 
 let sleep and death convey by thy command 
 the breathless body to his native land 
 his friends and people to his future praise 
 a marble tomb and pyramid shall raise 
 and lasting honours to his ashes give 
 his fame 'tis all the dead can have shall live  

 she said the cloud-compeller overcome 
 assents to fate and ratifies the doom 
 then touch'd with grief the weeping heavens distill'd
 a shower of blood o'er all the fatal field 
 the god his eyes averting from the plain 
 laments his son predestined to be slain 
 far from the lycian shores his happy native reign 
 now met in arms the combatants appear 
 each heaved the shield and poised the lifted spear 
 from strong patroclus' hand the javelin fled 
 and pass'd the groin of valiant thrasymed 
 the nerves unbraced no more his bulk sustain 
 he falls and falling bites the bloody plain 
 two sounding darts the lycian leader threw 
 the first aloof with erring fury flew 
 the next transpierced achilles' mortal steed 
 the generous pedasus of theban breed 
 fix'd in the shoulder's joint he reel'd around 
 roll'd in the bloody dust and paw'd the slippery ground 
 his sudden fall the entangled harness broke 
 each axle crackled and the chariot shook 
 when bold automedon to disengage
 the starting coursers and restrain their rage 
 divides the traces with his sword and freed
 the encumbered chariot from the dying steed 
 the rest move on obedient to the rein 
 the car rolls slowly o'er the dusty plain 

 the towering chiefs to fiercer fight advance 
 and first sarpedon whirl'd his weighty lance 
 which o'er the warrior's shoulder took its course 
 and spent in empty air its dying force 
 not so patroclus' never-erring dart 
 aim'd at his breast it pierced a mortal part 
 where the strong fibres bind the solid heart 
 then as the mountain oak or poplar tall 
 or pine fit mast for some great admiral 
 nods to the axe till with a groaning sound
 it sinks and spreads its honours on the ground 
 thus fell the king and laid on earth supine 
 before his chariot stretch'd his form divine 
 he grasp'd the dust distain'd with streaming gore 
 and pale in death lay groaning on the shore 
 so lies a bull beneath the lion's paws 
 while the grim savage grinds with foamy jaws
 the trembling limbs and sucks the smoking blood 
 deep groans and hollow roars rebellow through the wood 

 then to the leader of the lycian band
 the dying chief address'd his last command 
  glaucus be bold thy task be first to dare
 the glorious dangers of destructive war 
 to lead my troops to combat at their head 
 incite the living and supply the dead 
 tell them i charged them with my latest breath
 not unrevenged to bear sarpedon's death 
 what grief what shame must glaucus undergo 
 if these spoil'd arms adorn a grecian foe 
 then as a friend and as a warrior fight 
 defend my body conquer in my right 
 that taught by great examples all may try
 like thee to vanquish or like me to die  
 he ceased the fates suppress'd his labouring breath 
 and his eyes darken'd with the shades of death 
 the insulting victor with disdain bestrode
 the prostrate prince and on his bosom trod 
 then drew the weapon from his panting heart 
 the reeking fibres clinging to the dart 
 from the wide wound gush'd out a stream of blood 
 and the soul issued in the purple flood 
 his flying steeds the myrmidons detain 
 unguided now their mighty master slain 
 all-impotent of aid transfix'd with grief 
 unhappy glaucus heard the dying chief 
 his painful arm yet useless with the smart
 inflicted late by teucer's deadly dart 
 supported on his better hand he stay'd 
 to phoebus then 'twas all he could he pray'd 

  all-seeing monarch whether lycia's coast 
 or sacred ilion thy bright presence boast 
 powerful alike to ease the wretch's smart 
 o hear me god of every healing art 
 lo stiff with clotted blood and pierced with pain 
 that thrills my arm and shoots through every vein 
 i stand unable to sustain the spear 
 and sigh at distance from the glorious war 
 low in the dust is great sarpedon laid 
 nor jove vouchsafed his hapless offspring aid 
 but thou o god of health thy succour lend 
 to guard the relics of my slaughter'd friend 
 for thou though distant canst restore my might 
 to head my lycians and support the fight  

 apollo heard and suppliant as he stood 
 his heavenly hand restrain'd the flux of blood 
 he drew the dolours from the wounded part 
 and breathed a spirit in his rising heart 
 renew'd by art divine the hero stands 
 and owns the assistance of immortal hands 
 first to the fight his native troops he warms 
 then loudly calls on troy's vindictive arms 
 with ample strides he stalks from place to place 
 now fires agenor now polydamas 
 cneas next and hector he accosts 
 inflaming thus the rage of all their hosts 

  what thoughts regardless chief thy breast employ 
 oh too forgetful of the friends of troy 
 those generous friends who from their country far 
 breathe their brave souls out in another's war 
 see where in dust the great sarpedon lies 
 in action valiant and in council wise 
 who guarded right and kept his people free 
 to all his lycians lost and lost to thee 
 stretch'd by patroclus' arm on yonder plains 
 o save from hostile rage his loved remains 
 ah let not greece his conquer'd trophies boast 
 nor on his corse revenge her heroes lost  

 he spoke each leader in his grief partook 
 troy at the loss through all her legions shook 
 transfix'd with deep regret they view o'erthrown
 at once his country's pillar and their own 
 a chief who led to troy's beleaguer'd wall
 a host of heroes and outshined them all 
 fired they rush on first hector seeks the foes 
 and with superior vengeance greatly glows 

 but o'er the dead the fierce patroclus stands 
 and rousing ajax roused the listening bands 

  heroes be men be what you were before 
 or weigh the great occasion and be more 
 the chief who taught our lofty walls to yield 
 lies pale in death extended on the field 
 to guard his body troy in numbers flies 
 tis half the glory to maintain our prize 
 haste strip his arms the slaughter round him spread 
 and send the living lycians to the dead  

 the heroes kindle at his fierce command 
 the martial squadrons close on either hand 
 here troy and lycia charge with loud alarms 
 thessalia there and greece oppose their arms 
 with horrid shouts they circle round the slain 
 the clash of armour rings o'er all the plain 
 great jove to swell the horrors of the fight 
 o'er the fierce armies pours pernicious night 
 and round his son confounds the warring hosts 
 his fate ennobling with a crowd of ghosts 

 now greece gives way and great epigeus falls 
 agacleus' son from budium's lofty walls 
 who chased for murder thence a suppliant came
 to peleus and the silver-footed dame 
 now sent to troy achilles' arms to aid 
 he pays due vengeance to his kinsman's shade 
 soon as his luckless hand had touch'd the dead 
 a rock's large fragment thunder'd on his head 
 hurl'd by hectorean force it cleft in twain
 his shatter'd helm and stretch'd him o'er the slain 

 fierce to the van of fight patroclus came 
 and like an eagle darting at his game 
 sprung on the trojan and the lycian band 
 what grief thy heart what fury urged thy hand 
 o generous greek when with full vigour thrown 
 at sthenelaus flew the weighty stone 
 which sunk him to the dead when troy too near
 that arm drew back and hector learn'd to fear 
 far as an able hand a lance can throw 
 or at the lists or at the fighting foe 
 so far the trojans from their lines retired 
 till glaucus turning all the rest inspired 
 then bathyclaeus fell beneath his rage 
 the only hope of chalcon's trembling age 
 wide o'er the land was stretch'd his large domain 
 with stately seats and riches blest in vain 
 him bold with youth and eager to pursue
 the flying lycians glaucus met and slew 
 pierced through the bosom with a sudden wound 
 he fell and falling made the fields resound 
 the achaians sorrow for their heroes slain 
 with conquering shouts the trojans shake the plain 
 and crowd to spoil the dead the greeks oppose 
 an iron circle round the carcase grows 

 then brave laogonus resign'd his breath 
 despatch'd by merion to the shades of death 
 on ida's holy hill he made abode 
 the priest of jove and honour'd like his god 
 between the jaw and ear the javelin went 
 the soul exhaling issued at the vent 
 his spear aeneas at the victor threw 
 who stooping forward from the death withdrew 
 the lance hiss'd harmless o'er his covering shield 
 and trembling struck and rooted in the field 
 there yet scarce spent it quivers on the plain 
 sent by the great aeneas' arm in vain 
  swift as thou art the raging hero cries 
 and skill'd in dancing to dispute the prize 
 my spear the destined passage had it found 
 had fix'd thy active vigour to the ground  

  o valiant leader of the dardan host 
 insulted merion thus retorts the boast 
 strong as you are 'tis mortal force you trust 
 an arm as strong may stretch thee in the dust 
 and if to this my lance thy fate be given 
 vain are thy vaunts success is still from heaven 
 this instant sends thee down to pluto's coast 
 mine is the glory his thy parting ghost  

  o friend menoetius' son this answer gave 
 with words to combat ill befits the brave 
 not empty boasts the sons of troy repel 
 your swords must plunge them to the shades of hell 
 to speak beseems the council but to dare
 in glorious action is the task of war  

 this said patroclus to the battle flies 
 great merion follows and new shouts arise 
 shields helmets rattle as the warriors close 
 and thick and heavy sounds the storm of blows 
 as through the shrilling vale or mountain ground 
 the labours of the woodman's axe resound 
 blows following blows are heard re-echoing wide 
 while crackling forests fall on every side 
 thus echoed all the fields with loud alarms 
 so fell the warriors and so rung their arms 

 now great sarpedon on the sandy shore 
 his heavenly form defaced with dust and gore 
 and stuck with darts by warring heroes shed 
 lies undistinguish'd from the vulgar dead 
 his long-disputed corse the chiefs enclose 
 on every side the busy combat grows 
 thick as beneath some shepherd's thatch'd abode
 the pails high foaming with a milky flood 
 the buzzing flies a persevering train 
 incessant swarm and chased return again 

 jove view'd the combat with a stern survey 
 and eyes that flash'd intolerable day 
 fix'd on the field his sight his breast debates
 the vengeance due and meditates the fates 
 whether to urge their prompt effect and call
 the force of hector to patroclus' fall 
 this instant see his short-lived trophies won 
 and stretch him breathless on his slaughter'd son 
 or yet with many a soul's untimely flight 
 augment the fame and horror of the fight 
 to crown achilles' valiant friend with praise
 at length he dooms and that his last of days
 shall set in glory bids him drive the foe 
 nor unattended see the shades below 
 then hector's mind he fills with dire dismay 
 he mounts his car and calls his hosts away 
 sunk with troy's heavy fates he sees decline
 the scales of jove and pants with awe divine 

 then nor before the hardy lycians fled 
 and left their monarch with the common dead 
 around in heaps on heaps a dreadful wall
 of carnage rises as the heroes fall 
 so jove decreed at length the greeks obtain
 the prize contested and despoil the slain 
 the radiant arms are by patroclus borne 
 patroclus' ships the glorious spoils adorn 

 then thus to phoebus in the realms above 
 spoke from his throne the cloud-compelling jove 
  descend my phoebus on the phrygian plain 
 and from the fight convey sarpedon slain 
 then bathe his body in the crystal flood 
 with dust dishonour'd and deform'd with blood 
 o'er all his limbs ambrosial odours shed 
 and with celestial robes adorn the dead 
 those rites discharged his sacred corse bequeath
 to the soft arms of silent sleep and death 
 they to his friends the immortal charge shall bear 
 his friends a tomb and pyramid shall rear 
 what honour mortals after death receive 
 those unavailing honours we may give  


 sleep and death conveying the body of sarpedon to lycia 


 apollo bows and from mount ida's height 
 swift to the field precipitates his flight 
 thence from the war the breathless hero bore 
 veil'd in a cloud to silver simois' shore 
 there bathed his honourable wounds and dress'd
 his manly members in the immortal vest 
 and with perfumes of sweet ambrosial dews
 restores his freshness and his form renews 
 then sleep and death two twins of winged race 
 of matchless swiftness but of silent pace 
 received sarpedon at the god's command 
 and in a moment reach'd the lycian land 
 the corse amidst his weeping friends they laid 
 where endless honours wait the sacred shade 

 meanwhile patroclus pours along the plains 
 with foaming coursers and with loosen'd reins 
 fierce on the trojan and the lycian crew 
 ah blind to fate thy headlong fury flew
 against what fate and powerful jove ordain 
 vain was thy friend's command thy courage vain 
 for he the god whose counsels uncontroll'd
 dismay the mighty and confound the bold 
 the god who gives resumes and orders all 
 he urged thee on and urged thee on to fall 

 who first brave hero by that arm was slain 
 who last beneath thy vengeance press'd the plain 
 when heaven itself thy fatal fury led 
 and call'd to fill the number of the dead 
 adrestus first autonous then succeeds 
 echeclus follows next young megas bleeds 
 epistor melanippus bite the ground 
 the slaughter elasus and mulius crown'd 
 then sunk pylartes to eternal night 
 the rest dispersing trust their fates to flight 

 now troy had stoop'd beneath his matchless power 
 but flaming phoebus kept the sacred tower
 thrice at the battlements patroclus strook 246 
 his blazing aegis thrice apollo shook 
 he tried the fourth when bursting from the cloud 
 a more than mortal voice was heard aloud 

  patroclus cease this heaven-defended wall
 defies thy lance not fated yet to fall 
 thy friend thy greater far it shall withstand 
 troy shall not stoop even to achilles' hand  

 so spoke the god who darts celestial fires 
 the greek obeys him and with awe retires 
 while hector checking at the scaean gates
 his panting coursers in his breast debates 
 or in the field his forces to employ 
 or draw the troops within the walls of troy 
 thus while he thought beside him phoebus stood 
 in asius' shape who reigned by sangar's flood 
 thy brother hecuba from dymas sprung 
 a valiant warrior haughty bold and young 
 thus he accosts him  what a shameful sight 
 god is it hector that forbears the fight 
 were thine my vigour this successful spear
 should soon convince thee of so false a fear 
 turn thee ah turn thee to the field of fame 
 and in patroclus' blood efface thy shame 
 perhaps apollo shall thy arms succeed 
 and heaven ordains him by thy lance to bleed  

 so spoke the inspiring god then took his flight 
 and plunged amidst the tumult of the fight 
 he bids cebrion drive the rapid car 
 the lash resounds the coursers rush to war 
 the god the grecians' sinking souls depress'd 
 and pour'd swift spirits through each trojan breast 
 patroclus lights impatient for the fight 
 a spear his left a stone employs his right 
 with all his nerves he drives it at the foe 
 pointed above and rough and gross below 
 the falling ruin crush'd cebrion's head 
 the lawless offspring of king priam's bed 
 his front brows eyes one undistinguish'd wound 
 the bursting balls drop sightless to the ground 
 the charioteer while yet he held the rein 
 struck from the car falls headlong on the plain 
 to the dark shades the soul unwilling glides 
 while the proud victor thus his fall derides 

  good heaven what active feats yon artist shows 
 what skilful divers are our phrygian foes 
 mark with what ease they sink into the sand 
 pity that all their practice is by land  

 then rushing sudden on his prostrate prize 
 to spoil the carcase fierce patroclus flies 
 swift as a lion terrible and bold 
 that sweeps the field depopulates the fold 
 pierced through the dauntless heart then tumbles slain 
 and from his fatal courage finds his bane 
 at once bold hector leaping from his car 
 defends the body and provokes the war 
 thus for some slaughter'd hind with equal rage 
 two lordly rulers of the wood engage 
 stung with fierce hunger each the prey invades 
 and echoing roars rebellow through the shades 
 stern hector fastens on the warrior's head 
 and by the foot patroclus drags the dead 
 while all around confusion rage and fright 
 mix the contending hosts in mortal fight 
 so pent by hills the wild winds roar aloud
 in the deep bosom of some gloomy wood 
 leaves arms and trees aloft in air are blown 
 the broad oaks crackle and the sylvans groan 
 this way and that the rattling thicket bends 
 and the whole forest in one crash descends 
 not with less noise with less tumultuous rage 
 in dreadful shock the mingled hosts engage 
 darts shower'd on darts now round the carcase ring 
 now flights of arrows bounding from the string 
 stones follow stones some clatter on the fields 
 some hard and heavy shake the sounding shields 
 but where the rising whirlwind clouds the plains 
 sunk in soft dust the mighty chief remains 
 and stretch'd in death forgets the guiding reins 

 now flaming from the zenith sol had driven
 his fervid orb through half the vault of heaven 
 while on each host with equal tempests fell
 the showering darts and numbers sank to hell 
 but when his evening wheels o'erhung the main 
 glad conquest rested on the grecian train 
 then from amidst the tumult and alarms 
 they draw the conquer'd corse and radiant arms 
 then rash patroclus with new fury glows 
 and breathing slaughter pours amid the foes 
 thrice on the press like mars himself he flew 
 and thrice three heroes at each onset slew 
 there ends thy glory there the fates untwine
 the last black remnant of so bright a line 
 apollo dreadful stops thy middle way 
 death calls and heaven allows no longer day 

 for lo the god in dusky clouds enshrined 
 approaching dealt a staggering blow behind 
 the weighty shock his neck and shoulders feel 
 his eyes flash sparkles his stunn'd senses reel
 in giddy darkness far to distance flung 
 his bounding helmet on the champaign rung 
 achilles' plume is stain'd with dust and gore 
 that plume which never stoop'd to earth before 
 long used untouch'd in fighting fields to shine 
 and shade the temples of the mad divine 
 jove dooms it now on hector's helm to nod 
 not long for fate pursues him and the god 

 his spear in shivers falls his ample shield
 drops from his arm his baldric strows the field 
 the corslet his astonish'd breast forsakes 
 loose is each joint each nerve with horror shakes 
 stupid he stares and all-assistless stands 
 such is the force of more than mortal hands 

 a dardan youth there was well known to fame 
 from panthus sprung euphorbus was his name 
 famed for the manage of the foaming horse 
 skill'd in the dart and matchless in the course 
 full twenty knights he tumbled from the car 
 while yet he learn'd his rudiments of war 
 his venturous spear first drew the hero's gore 
 he struck he wounded but he durst no more 
 nor though disarm'd patroclus' fury stood 
 but swift withdrew the long-protended wood 
 and turn'd him short and herded in the crowd 
 thus by an arm divine and mortal spear 
 wounded at once patroclus yields to fear 
 retires for succour to his social train 
 and flies the fate which heaven decreed in vain 
 stern hector as the bleeding chief he views 
 breaks through the ranks and his retreat pursues 
 the lance arrests him with a mortal wound 
 he falls earth thunders and his arms resound 
 with him all greece was sunk that moment all
 her yet-surviving heroes seem'd to fall 
 so scorch'd with heat along the desert score 
 the roaming lion meets a bristly boar 
 fast by the spring they both dispute the flood 
 with flaming eyes and jaws besmear'd with blood 
 at length the sovereign savage wins the strife 
 and the torn boar resigns his thirst and life 
 patroclus thus so many chiefs o'erthrown 
 so many lives effused expires his own 
 as dying now at hector's feet he lies 
 he sternly views him and triumphant cries 

  lie there patroclus and with thee the joy
 thy pride once promised of subverting troy 
 the fancied scenes of ilion wrapt in flames 
 and thy soft pleasures served with captive dames 
 unthinking man i fought those towers to free 
 and guard that beauteous race from lords like thee 
 but thou a prey to vultures shalt be made 
 thy own achilles cannot lend thee aid 
 though much at parting that great chief might say 
 and much enjoin thee this important day 

 'return not my brave friend perhaps he said 
 without the bloody arms of hector dead '
 he spoke patroclus march'd and thus he sped  

 supine and wildly gazing on the skies 
 with faint expiring breath the chief replies 

  vain boaster cease and know the powers divine 
 jove's and apollo's is this deed not thine 
 to heaven is owed whate'er your own you call 
 and heaven itself disarm'd me ere my fall 
 had twenty mortals each thy match in might 
 opposed me fairly they had sunk in fight 
 by fate and phoebus was i first o'erthrown 
 euphorbus next the third mean part thy own 
 but thou imperious hear my latest breath 
 the gods inspire it and it sounds thy death 
 insulting man thou shalt be soon as i 
 black fate o'erhangs thee and thy hour draws nigh 
 even now on life's last verge i see thee stand 
 i see thee fall and by achilles' hand  

 he faints the soul unwilling wings her way 
 the beauteous body left a load of clay 
 flits to the lone uncomfortable coast 
 a naked wandering melancholy ghost 

 then hector pausing as his eyes he fed
 on the pale carcase thus address'd the dead 

  from whence this boding speech the stern decree
 of death denounced or why denounced to me 
 why not as well achilles' fate be given
 to hector's lance who knows the will of heaven  

 pensive he said then pressing as he lay
 his breathless bosom tore the lance away 
 and upwards cast the corse the reeking spear
 he shakes and charges the bold charioteer 
 but swift automedon with loosen'd reins
 rapt in the chariot o'er the distant plains 
 far from his rage the immortal coursers drove 
 the immortal coursers were the gift of jove 


 csculapius 





book xvii 


argument 

the seventh battle for the body of patroclus the acts of menelaus 

menelaus upon the death of patroclus defends his body from the enemy 
euphorbus who attempts it is slain hector advancing menelaus retires 
but soon returns with ajax and drives him off this glaucus objects to
hector as a flight who thereupon puts on the armour he had won from
patroclus and renews the battle the greeks give way till ajax rallies
them aeneas sustains the trojans aeneas and hector attempt the chariot
of achilles which is borne off by automedon the horses of achilles
deplore the loss of patroclus jupiter covers his body with a thick
darkness the noble prayer of ajax on that occasion menelaus sends
antilochus to achilles with the news of patroclus' death then returns to
the fight where though attacked with the utmost fury he and meriones 
assisted by the ajaces bear off the body to the ships 

the time is the evening of the eight-and-twentieth day the scene lies in
the fields before troy 

 on the cold earth divine patroclus spread 
 lies pierced with wounds among the vulgar dead 
 great menelaus touch'd with generous woe 
 springs to the front and guards him from the foe 
 thus round her new-fallen young the heifer moves 
 fruit of her throes and first-born of her loves 
 and anxious helpless as he lies and bare 
 turns and re-turns her with a mother's care 
 opposed to each that near the carcase came 
 his broad shield glimmers and his lances flame 

 the son of panthus skill'd the dart to send 
 eyes the dead hero and insults the friend 
  this hand atrides laid patroclus low 
 warrior desist nor tempt an equal blow 
 to me the spoils my prowess won resign 
 depart with life and leave the glory mine 

 the trojan thus the spartan monarch burn'd
 with generous anguish and in scorn return'd 
  laugh'st thou not jove from thy superior throne 
 when mortals boast of prowess not their own 
 not thus the lion glories in his might 
 nor panther braves his spotted foe in fight 
 nor thus the boar those terrors of the plain 
 man only vaunts his force and vaunts in vain 
 but far the vainest of the boastful kind 
 these sons of panthus vent their haughty mind 
 yet 'twas but late beneath my conquering steel
 this boaster's brother hyperenor fell 
 against our arm which rashly he defied 
 vain was his vigour and as vain his pride 
 these eyes beheld him on the dust expire 
 no more to cheer his spouse or glad his sire 
 presumptuous youth like his shall be thy doom 
 go wait thy brother to the stygian gloom 
 or while thou may'st avoid the threaten'd fate 
 fools stay to feel it and are wise too late  

 unmoved euphorbus thus  that action known 
 come for my brother's blood repay thy own 
 his weeping father claims thy destined head 
 and spouse a widow in her bridal bed 
 on these thy conquer'd spoils i shall bestow 
 to soothe a consort's and a parent's woe 
 no longer then defer the glorious strife 
 let heaven decide our fortune fame and life  

 swift as the word the missile lance he flings 
 the well-aim'd weapon on the buckler rings 
 but blunted by the brass innoxious falls 
 on jove the father great atrides calls 
 nor flies the javelin from his arm in vain 
 it pierced his throat and bent him to the plain 
 wide through the neck appears the grisly wound 
 prone sinks the warrior and his arms resound 
 the shining circlets of his golden hair 
 which even the graces might be proud to wear 
 instarr'd with gems and gold bestrow the shore 
 with dust dishonour'd and deform'd with gore 

 as the young olive in some sylvan scene 
 crown'd by fresh fountains with eternal green 
 lifts the gay head in snowy flowerets fair 
 and plays and dances to the gentle air 
 when lo a whirlwind from high heaven invades
 the tender plant and withers all its shades 
 it lies uprooted from its genial bed 
 a lovely ruin now defaced and dead 
 thus young thus beautiful euphorbus lay 
 while the fierce spartan tore his arms away 
 proud of his deed and glorious in the prize 
 affrighted troy the towering victor flies 
 flies as before some mountain lion's ire
 the village curs and trembling swains retire 
 when o'er the slaughter'd bull they hear him roar 
 and see his jaws distil with smoking gore 
 all pale with fear at distance scatter'd round 
 they shout incessant and the vales resound 

 meanwhile apollo view'd with envious eyes 
 and urged great hector to dispute the prize 
 in mentes' shape beneath whose martial care
 the rough ciconians learn'd the trade of war 247 
  forbear he cried with fruitless speed to chase
 achilles' coursers of ethereal race 
 they stoop not these to mortal man's command 
 or stoop to none but great achilles' hand 
 too long amused with a pursuit so vain 
 turn and behold the brave euphorbus slain 
 by sparta slain for ever now suppress'd
 the fire which burn'd in that undaunted breast  

 thus having spoke apollo wing'd his flight 
 and mix'd with mortals in the toils of fight 
 his words infix'd unutterable care
 deep in great hector's soul through all the war
 he darts his anxious eye and instant view'd
 the breathless hero in his blood imbued 
 forth welling from the wound as prone he lay 
 and in the victor's hands the shining prey 
 sheath'd in bright arms through cleaving ranks he flies 
 and sends his voice in thunder to the skies 
 fierce as a flood of flame by vulcan sent 
 it flew and fired the nations as it went 
 atrides from the voice the storm divined 
 and thus explored his own unconquer'd mind 

  then shall i quit patroclus on the plain 
 slain in my cause and for my honour slain 
 desert the arms the relics of my friend 
 or singly hector and his troops attend 
 sure where such partial favour heaven bestow'd 
 to brave the hero were to brave the god 
 forgive me greece if once i quit the field 
 'tis not to hector but to heaven i yield 
 yet nor the god nor heaven should give me fear 
 did but the voice of ajax reach my ear 
 still would we turn still battle on the plains 
 and give achilles all that yet remains
 of his and our patroclus   this no more
 the time allow'd troy thicken'd on the shore 
 a sable scene the terrors hector led 
 slow he recedes and sighing quits the dead 

 so from the fold the unwilling lion parts 
 forced by loud clamours and a storm of darts 
 he flies indeed but threatens as he flies 
 with heart indignant and retorted eyes 
 now enter'd in the spartan ranks he turn'd
 his manly breast and with new fury burn'd 
 o'er all the black battalions sent his view 
 and through the cloud the godlike ajax knew 
 where labouring on the left the warrior stood 
 all grim in arms and cover'd o'er with blood 
 there breathing courage where the god of day
 had sunk each heart with terror and dismay 

 to him the king  oh ajax oh my friend 
 haste and patroclus' loved remains defend 
 the body to achilles to restore
 demands our care alas we can no more 
 for naked now despoiled of arms he lies 
 and hector glories in the dazzling prize  
 he said and touch'd his heart the raging pair
 pierced the thick battle and provoke the war 
 already had stern hector seized his head 
 and doom'd to trojan gods the unhappy dead 
 but soon as ajax rear'd his tower-like shield 
 sprung to his car and measured back the field 
 his train to troy the radiant armour bear 
 to stand a trophy of his fame in war 

 meanwhile great ajax his broad shield display'd 
 guards the dead hero with the dreadful shade 
 and now before and now behind he stood 
 thus in the centre of some gloomy wood 
 with many a step the lioness surrounds
 her tawny young beset by men and hounds 
 elate her heart and rousing all her powers 
 dark o'er the fiery balls each hanging eyebrow lours 
 fast by his side the generous spartan glows
 with great revenge and feeds his inward woes 

 but glaucus leader of the lycian aids 
 on hector frowning thus his flight upbraids 

  where now in hector shall we hector find 
 a manly form without a manly mind 
 is this o chief a hero's boasted fame 
 how vain without the merit is the name 
 since battle is renounced thy thoughts employ
 what other methods may preserve thy troy 
 'tis time to try if ilion's state can stand
 by thee alone nor ask a foreign hand 
 mean empty boast but shall the lycians stake
 their lives for you those lycians you forsake 
 what from thy thankless arms can we expect 
 thy friend sarpedon proves thy base neglect 
 say shall our slaughter'd bodies guard your walls 
 while unreveng'd the great sarpedon falls 
 even where he died for troy you left him there 
 a feast for dogs and all the fowls of air 
 on my command if any lycian wait 
 hence let him march and give up troy to fate 
 did such a spirit as the gods impart
 impel one trojan hand or trojan heart 
 such as should burn in every soul that draws
 the sword for glory and his country's cause 
 even yet our mutual arms we might employ 
 and drag yon carcase to the walls of troy 
 oh were patroclus ours we might obtain
 sarpedon's arms and honour'd corse again 
 greece with achilles' friend should be repaid 
 and thus due honours purchased to his shade 
 but words are vain let ajax once appear 
 and hector trembles and recedes with fear 
 thou dar'st not meet the terrors of his eye 
 and lo already thou prepar'st to fly  

 the trojan chief with fix'd resentment eyed
 the lycian leader and sedate replied 

  say is it just my friend that hector's ear
 from such a warrior such a speech should hear 
 i deem'd thee once the wisest of thy kind 
 but ill this insult suits a prudent mind 
 i shun great ajax i desert my train 
 'tis mine to prove the rash assertion vain 
 i joy to mingle where the battle bleeds 
 and hear the thunder of the sounding steeds 
 but jove's high will is ever uncontroll'd 
 the strong he withers and confounds the bold 
 now crowns with fame the mighty man and now
 strikes the fresh garland from the victor's brow 
 come through yon squadrons let us hew the way 
 and thou be witness if i fear to-day 
 if yet a greek the sight of hector dread 
 or yet their hero dare defend the dead  

 then turning to the martial hosts he cries 
  ye trojans dardans lycians and allies 
 be men my friends in action as in name 
 and yet be mindful of your ancient fame 
 hector in proud achilles' arms shall shine 
 torn from his friend by right of conquest mine  

 he strode along the field as thus he said 
 the sable plumage nodded o'er his head 
 swift through the spacious plain he sent a look 
 one instant saw one instant overtook
 the distant band that on the sandy shore
 the radiant spoils to sacred ilion bore 
 there his own mail unbraced the field bestrow'd 
 his train to troy convey'd the massy load 
 now blazing in the immortal arms he stands 
 the work and present of celestial hands 
 by aged peleus to achilles given 
 as first to peleus by the court of heaven 
 his father's arms not long achilles wears 
 forbid by fate to reach his father's years 

 him proud in triumph glittering from afar 
 the god whose thunder rends the troubled air
 beheld with pity as apart he sat 
 and conscious look'd through all the scene of fate 
 he shook the sacred honours of his head 
 olympus trembled and the godhead said 
  ah wretched man unmindful of thy end 
 a moment's glory and what fates attend 
 in heavenly panoply divinely bright
 thou stand'st and armies tremble at thy sight 
 as at achilles' self beneath thy dart
 lies slain the great achilles' dearer part 
 thou from the mighty dead those arms hast torn 
 which once the greatest of mankind had worn 
 yet live i give thee one illustrious day 
 a blaze of glory ere thou fad'st away 
 for ah no more andromache shall come
 with joyful tears to welcome hector home 
 no more officious with endearing charms 
 from thy tired limbs unbrace pelides' arms  

 then with his sable brow he gave the nod
 that seals his word the sanction of the god 
 the stubborn arms by jove's command disposed 
 conform'd spontaneous and around him closed 
 fill'd with the god enlarged his members grew 
 through all his veins a sudden vigour flew 
 the blood in brisker tides began to roll 
 and mars himself came rushing on his soul 
 exhorting loud through all the field he strode 
 and look'd and moved achilles or a god 
 now mesthles glaucus medon he inspires 
 now phorcys chromius and hippothous fires 
 the great thersilochus like fury found 
 asteropaeus kindled at the sound 
 and ennomus in augury renown'd 

  hear all ye hosts and hear unnumber'd bands
 of neighbouring nations or of distant lands 
 'twas not for state we summon'd you so far 
 to boast our numbers and the pomp of war 
 ye came to fight a valiant foe to chase 
 to save our present and our future race 
 tor this our wealth our products you enjoy 
 and glean the relics of exhausted troy 
 now then to conquer or to die prepare 
 to die or conquer are the terms of war 
 whatever hand shall win patroclus slain 
 whoe'er shall drag him to the trojan train 
 with hector's self shall equal honours claim 
 with hector part the spoil and share the fame  

 fired by his words the troops dismiss their fears 
 they join they thicken they protend their spears 
 full on the greeks they drive in firm array 
 and each from ajax hopes the glorious prey 
 vain hope what numbers shall the field o'erspread 
 what victims perish round the mighty dead 

 great ajax mark'd the growing storm from far 
 and thus bespoke his brother of the war 
  our fatal day alas is come my friend 
 and all our wars and glories at an end 
 'tis not this corse alone we guard in vain 
 condemn'd to vultures on the trojan plain 
 we too must yield the same sad fate must fall
 on thee on me perhaps my friend on all 
 see what a tempest direful hector spreads 
 and lo it bursts it thunders on our heads 
 call on our greeks if any hear the call 
 the bravest greeks this hour demands them all  

 the warrior raised his voice and wide around
 the field re-echoed the distressful sound 
  o chiefs o princes to whose hand is given
 the rule of men whose glory is from heaven 
 whom with due honours both atrides grace 
 ye guides and guardians of our argive race 
 all whom this well-known voice shall reach from far 
 all whom i see not through this cloud of war 
 come all let generous rage your arms employ 
 and save patroclus from the dogs of troy  

 oilean ajax first the voice obey'd 
 swift was his pace and ready was his aid 
 next him idomeneus more slow with age 
 and merion burning with a hero's rage 
 the long-succeeding numbers who can name 
 but all were greeks and eager all for fame 
 fierce to the charge great hector led the throng 
 whole troy embodied rush'd with shouts along 
 thus when a mountain billow foams and raves 
 where some swoln river disembogues his waves 
 full in the mouth is stopp'd the rushing tide 
 the boiling ocean works from side to side 
 the river trembles to his utmost shore 
 and distant rocks re-bellow to the roar 

 nor less resolved the firm achaian band
 with brazen shields in horrid circle stand 
 jove pouring darkness o'er the mingled fight 
 conceals the warriors' shining helms in night 
 to him the chief for whom the hosts contend
 had lived not hateful for he lived a friend 
 dead he protects him with superior care 
 nor dooms his carcase to the birds of air 


 fight for the body of patroclus 


 the first attack the grecians scarce sustain 
 repulsed they yield the trojans seize the slain 
 then fierce they rally to revenge led on
 by the swift rage of ajax telamon 
 ajax to peleus' son the second name 
 in graceful stature next and next in fame 
 with headlong force the foremost ranks he tore 
 so through the thicket bursts the mountain boar 
 and rudely scatters for a distance round 
 the frighted hunter and the baying hound 
 the son of lethus brave pelasgus' heir 
 hippothous dragg'd the carcase through the war 
 the sinewy ankles bored the feet he bound
 with thongs inserted through the double wound 
 inevitable fate o'ertakes the deed 
 doom'd by great ajax' vengeful lance to bleed 
 it cleft the helmet's brazen cheeks in twain 
 the shatter'd crest and horse-hair strow the plain 
 with nerves relax'd he tumbles to the ground 
 the brain comes gushing through the ghastly wound 
 he drops patroclus' foot and o'er him spread 
 now lies a sad companion of the dead 
 far from larissa lies his native air 
 and ill requites his parents' tender care 
 lamented youth in life's first bloom he fell 
 sent by great ajax to the shades of hell 

 once more at ajax hector's javelin flies 
 the grecian marking as it cut the skies 
 shunn'd the descending death which hissing on 
 stretch'd in the dust the great iphytus' son 
 schedius the brave of all the phocian kind
 the boldest warrior and the noblest mind 
 in little panope for strength renown'd 
 he held his seat and ruled the realms around 
 plunged in his throat the weapon drank his blood 
 and deep transpiercing through the shoulder stood 
 in clanging arms the hero fell and all
 the fields resounded with his weighty fall 

 phorcys as slain hippothous he defends 
 the telamonian lance his belly rends 
 the hollow armour burst before the stroke 
 and through the wound the rushing entrails broke 
 in strong convulsions panting on the sands
 he lies and grasps the dust with dying hands 

 struck at the sight recede the trojan train 
 the shouting argives strip the heroes slain 
 and now had troy by greece compell'd to yield 
 fled to her ramparts and resign'd the field 
 greece in her native fortitude elate 
 with jove averse had turn'd the scale of fate 
 but phoebus urged cneas to the fight 
 he seem'd like aged periphas to sight 
 a herald in anchises' love grown old 
 revered for prudence and with prudence bold 

 thus he  what methods yet o chief remain 
 to save your troy though heaven its fall ordain 
 there have been heroes who by virtuous care 
 by valour numbers and by arts of war 
 have forced the powers to spare a sinking state 
 and gain'd at length the glorious odds of fate 
 but you when fortune smiles when jove declares
 his partial favour and assists your wars 
 your shameful efforts 'gainst yourselves employ 
 and force the unwilling god to ruin troy  

 cneas through the form assumed descries
 the power conceal'd and thus to hector cries 
  oh lasting shame to our own fears a prey 
 we seek our ramparts and desert the day 
 a god nor is he less my bosom warms 
 and tells me jove asserts the trojan arms  

 he spoke and foremost to the combat flew 
 the bold example all his hosts pursue 
 then first leocritus beneath him bled 
 in vain beloved by valiant lycomede 
 who view'd his fall and grieving at the chance 
 swift to revenge it sent his angry lance 
 the whirling lance with vigorous force address'd 
 descends and pants in apisaon's breast 
 from rich paeonia's vales the warrior came 
 next thee asteropeus in place and fame 
 asteropeus with grief beheld the slain 
 and rush'd to combat but he rush'd in vain 
 indissolubly firm around the dead 
 rank within rank on buckler buckler spread 
 and hemm'd with bristled spears the grecians stood 
 a brazen bulwark and an iron wood 
 great ajax eyes them with incessant care 
 and in an orb contracts the crowded war 
 close in their ranks commands to fight or fall 
 and stands the centre and the soul of all 
 fix'd on the spot they war and wounded wound
 a sanguine torrent steeps the reeking ground 
 on heaps the greeks on heaps the trojans bled 
 and thickening round them rise the hills of dead 

 greece in close order and collected might 
 yet suffers least and sways the wavering fight 
 fierce as conflicting fires the combat burns 
 and now it rises now it sinks by turns 
 in one thick darkness all the fight was lost 
 the sun the moon and all the ethereal host
 seem'd as extinct day ravish'd from their eyes 
 and all heaven's splendours blotted from the skies 
 such o'er patroclus' body hung the night 
 the rest in sunshine fought and open light 
 unclouded there the aerial azure spread 
 no vapour rested on the mountain's head 
 the golden sun pour'd forth a stronger ray 
 and all the broad expansion flamed with day 
 dispersed around the plain by fits they fight 
 and here and there their scatter'd arrows light 
 but death and darkness o'er the carcase spread 
 there burn'd the war and there the mighty bled 

 meanwhile the sons of nestor in the rear 
 their fellows routed toss the distant spear 
 and skirmish wide so nestor gave command 
 when from the ships he sent the pylian band 
 the youthful brothers thus for fame contend 
 nor knew the fortune of achilles' friend 
 in thought they view'd him still with martial joy 
 glorious in arms and dealing death to troy 

 but round the corse the heroes pant for breath 
 and thick and heavy grows the work of death 
 o'erlabour'd now with dust and sweat and gore 
 their knees their legs their feet are covered o'er 
 drops follow drops the clouds on clouds arise 
 and carnage clogs their hands and darkness fills their eyes 
 as when a slaughter'd bull's yet reeking hide 
 strain'd with full force and tugg'd from side to side 
 the brawny curriers stretch and labour o'er
 the extended surface drunk with fat and gore 
 so tugging round the corse both armies stood 
 the mangled body bathed in sweat and blood 
 while greeks and ilians equal strength employ 
 now to the ships to force it now to troy 
 not pallas' self her breast when fury warms 
 nor he whose anger sets the world in arms 
 could blame this scene such rage such horror reign'd 
 such jove to honour the great dead ordain'd 

 achilles in his ships at distance lay 
 nor knew the fatal fortune of the day 
 he yet unconscious of patroclus' fall 
 in dust extended under ilion's wall 
 expects him glorious from the conquered plain 
 and for his wish'd return prepares in vain 
 though well he knew to make proud ilion bend
 was more than heaven had destined to his friend 
 perhaps to him this thetis had reveal'd 
 the rest in pity to her son conceal'd 

 still raged the conflict round the hero dead 
 and heaps on heaps by mutual wounds they bled 
  cursed be the man even private greeks would say 
 who dares desert this well-disputed day 
 first may the cleaving earth before our eyes
 gape wide and drink our blood for sacrifice 
 first perish all ere haughty troy shall boast
 we lost patroclus and our glory lost  

 thus they while with one voice the trojans said 
  grant this day jove or heap us on the dead  

 then clash their sounding arms the clangours rise 
 and shake the brazen concave of the skies 

 meantime at distance from the scene of blood 
 the pensive steeds of great achilles stood 
 their godlike master slain before their eyes 
 they wept and shared in human miseries 248 
 in vain automedon now shakes the rein 
 now plies the lash and soothes and threats in vain 
 nor to the fight nor hellespont they go 
 restive they stood and obstinate in woe 
 still as a tombstone never to be moved 
 on some good man or woman unreproved
 lays its eternal weight or fix'd as stands
 a marble courser by the sculptor's hands 
 placed on the hero's grave along their face
 the big round drops coursed down with silent pace 
 conglobing on the dust their manes that late
 circled their arched necks and waved in state 
 trail'd on the dust beneath the yoke were spread 
 and prone to earth was hung their languid head 
 nor jove disdain'd to cast a pitying look 
 while thus relenting to the steeds he spoke 

  unhappy coursers of immortal strain 
 exempt from age and deathless now in vain 
 did we your race on mortal man bestow 
 only alas to share in mortal woe 
 for ah what is there of inferior birth 
 that breathes or creeps upon the dust of earth 
 what wretched creature of what wretched kind 
 than man more weak calamitous and blind 
 a miserable race but cease to mourn 
 for not by you shall priam's son be borne
 high on the splendid car one glorious prize
 he rashly boasts the rest our will denies 
 ourself will swiftness to your nerves impart 
 ourself with rising spirits swell your heart 
 automedon your rapid flight shall bear
 safe to the navy through the storm of war 
 for yet 'tis given to troy to ravage o'er
 the field and spread her slaughters to the shore 
 the sun shall see her conquer till his fall
 with sacred darkness shades the face of all  

 he said and breathing in the immortal horse
 excessive spirit urged them to the course 
 from their high manes they shake the dust and bear
 the kindling chariot through the parted war 
 so flies a vulture through the clamorous train
 of geese that scream and scatter round the plain 
 from danger now with swiftest speed they flew 
 and now to conquest with like speed pursue 
 sole in the seat the charioteer remains 
 now plies the javelin now directs the reins 
 him brave alcimedon beheld distress'd 
 approach'd the chariot and the chief address'd 

  what god provokes thee rashly thus to dare 
 alone unaided in the thickest war 
 alas thy friend is slain and hector wields
 achilles' arms triumphant in the fields  

  in happy time the charioteer replies 
 the bold alcimedon now greets my eyes 
 no greek like him the heavenly steeds restrains 
 or holds their fury in suspended reins 
 patroclus while he lived their rage could tame 
 but now patroclus is an empty name 
 to thee i yield the seat to thee resign
 the ruling charge the task of fight be mine  

 he said alcimedon with active heat 
 snatches the reins and vaults into the seat 
 his friend descends the chief of troy descried 
 and call'd cneas fighting near his side 

  lo to my sight beyond our hope restored 
 achilles' car deserted of its lord 
 the glorious steeds our ready arms invite 
 scarce their weak drivers guide them through the fight 
 can such opponents stand when we assail 
 unite thy force my friend and we prevail  

 the son of venus to the counsel yields 
 then o'er their backs they spread their solid shields 
 with brass refulgent the broad surface shined 
 and thick bull-hides the spacious concave lined 
 them chromius follows aretus succeeds 
 each hopes the conquest of the lofty steeds 
 in vain brave youths with glorious hopes ye burn 
 in vain advance not fated to return 

 unmov'd automedon attends the fight 
 implores the eternal and collects his might 
 then turning to his friend with dauntless mind 
  oh keep the foaming coursers close behind 
 full on my shoulders let their nostrils blow 
 for hard the fight determined is the foe 
 'tis hector comes and when he seeks the prize 
 war knows no mean he wins it or he dies  

 then through the field he sends his voice aloud 
 and calls the ajaces from the warring crowd 
 with great atrides  hither turn he said 
 turn where distress demands immediate aid 
 the dead encircled by his friends forego 
 and save the living from a fiercer foe 
 unhelp'd we stand unequal to engage
 the force of hector and cneas' rage 
 yet mighty as they are my force to prove
 is only mine the event belongs to jove  

 he spoke and high the sounding javelin flung 
 which pass'd the shield of aretus the young 
 it pierced his belt emboss'd with curious art 
 then in the lower belly struck the dart 
 as when a ponderous axe descending full 
 cleaves the broad forehead of some brawny bull 249 
 struck 'twixt the horns he springs with many a bound 
 then tumbling rolls enormous on the ground 
 thus fell the youth the air his soul received 
 and the spear trembled as his entrails heaved 

 now at automedon the trojan foe
 discharged his lance the meditated blow 
 stooping he shunn'd the javelin idly fled 
 and hiss'd innoxious o'er the hero's head 
 deep rooted in the ground the forceful spear
 in long vibrations spent its fury there 
 with clashing falchions now the chiefs had closed 
 but each brave ajax heard and interposed 
 nor longer hector with his trojans stood 
 but left their slain companion in his blood 
 his arms automedon divests and cries 
  accept patroclus this mean sacrifice 
 thus have i soothed my griefs and thus have paid 
 poor as it is some offering to thy shade  

 so looks the lion o'er a mangled boar 
 all grim with rage and horrible with gore 
 high on the chariot at one bound he sprung 
 and o'er his seat the bloody trophies hung 

 and now minerva from the realms of air
 descends impetuous and renews the war 
 for pleased at length the grecian arms to aid 
 the lord of thunders sent the blue-eyed maid 
 as when high jove denouncing future woe 
 o'er the dark clouds extends his purple bow 
 in sign of tempests from the troubled air 
 or from the rage of man destructive war 
 the drooping cattle dread the impending skies 
 and from his half-till'd field the labourer flies 
 in such a form the goddess round her drew
 a livid cloud and to the battle flew 
 assuming phoenix' shape on earth she falls 
 and in his well-known voice to sparta calls 
  and lies achilles' friend beloved by all 
 a prey to dogs beneath the trojan wall 
 what shame 'o greece for future times to tell 
 to thee the greatest in whose cause he fell  
  o chief o father atreus' son replies 
 o full of days by long experience wise 
 what more desires my soul than here unmoved
 to guard the body of the man i loved 
 ah would minerva send me strength to rear
 this wearied arm and ward the storm of war 
 but hector like the rage of fire we dread 
 and jove's own glories blaze around his head  

 pleased to be first of all the powers address'd 
 she breathes new vigour in her hero's breast 
 and fills with keen revenge with fell despite 
 desire of blood and rage and lust of fight 
 so burns the vengeful hornet soul all o'er 
 repulsed in vain and thirsty still of gore 
 bold son of air and heat on angry wings
 untamed untired he turns attacks and stings 
 fired with like ardour fierce atrides flew 
 and sent his soul with every lance he threw 

 there stood a trojan not unknown to fame 
 aetion's son and podes was his name 
 with riches honour'd and with courage bless'd 
 by hector loved his comrade and his guest 
 through his broad belt the spear a passage found 
 and ponderous as he falls his arms resound 
 sudden at hector's side apollo stood 
 like phaenops asius' son appear'd the god 
 asius the great who held his wealthy reign
 in fair abydos by the rolling main 

  oh prince he cried oh foremost once in fame 
 what grecian now shall tremble at thy name 
 dost thou at length to menelaus yield 
 a chief once thought no terror of the field 
 yet singly now the long-disputed prize
 he bears victorious while our army flies 
 by the same arm illustrious podes bled 
 the friend of hector unrevenged is dead  
 this heard o'er hector spreads a cloud of woe 
 rage lifts his lance and drives him on the foe 

 but now the eternal shook his sable shield 
 that shaded ide and all the subject field
 beneath its ample verge a rolling cloud
 involved the mount the thunder roar'd aloud 
 the affrighted hills from their foundations nod 
 and blaze beneath the lightnings of the god 
 at one regard of his all-seeing eye
 the vanquish'd triumph and the victors fly 

 then trembled greece the flight peneleus led 
 for as the brave boeotian turn'd his head
 to face the foe polydamas drew near 
 and razed his shoulder with a shorten'd spear 
 by hector wounded leitus quits the plain 
 pierced through the wrist and raging with the pain 
 grasps his once formidable lance in vain 

 as hector follow'd idomen address'd
 the flaming javelin to his manly breast 
 the brittle point before his corslet yields 
 exulting troy with clamour fills the fields 
 high on his chariots the cretan stood 
 the son of priam whirl'd the massive wood 
 but erring from its aim the impetuous spear
 struck to the dust the squire and charioteer
 of martial merion coeranus his name 
 who left fair lyctus for the fields of fame 
 on foot bold merion fought and now laid low 
 had graced the triumphs of his trojan foe 
 but the brave squire the ready coursers brought 
 and with his life his master's safety bought 
 between his cheek and ear the weapon went 
 the teeth it shatter'd and the tongue it rent 
 prone from the seat he tumbles to the plain 
 his dying hand forgets the falling rein 
 this merion reaches bending from the car 
 and urges to desert the hopeless war 
 idomeneus consents the lash applies 
 and the swift chariot to the navy flies 

 not ajax less the will of heaven descried 
 and conquest shifting to the trojan side 
 turn'd by the hand of jove then thus begun 
 to atreus's seed the godlike telamon 

  alas who sees not jove's almighty hand
 transfers the glory to the trojan band 
 whether the weak or strong discharge the dart 
 he guides each arrow to a grecian heart 
 not so our spears incessant though they rain 
 he suffers every lance to fall in vain 
 deserted of the god yet let us try
 what human strength and prudence can supply 
 if yet this honour'd corse in triumph borne 
 may glad the fleets that hope not our return 
 who tremble yet scarce rescued from their fates 
 and still hear hector thundering at their gates 
 some hero too must be despatch'd to bear
 the mournful message to pelides' ear 
 for sure he knows not distant on the shore 
 his friend his loved patroclus is no more 
 but such a chief i spy not through the host 
 the men the steeds the armies all are lost
 in general darkness lord of earth and air 
 oh king oh father hear my humble prayer 
 dispel this cloud the light of heaven restore 
 give me to see and ajax asks no more 
 if greece must perish we thy will obey 
 but let us perish in the face of day  

 with tears the hero spoke and at his prayer
 the god relenting clear'd the clouded air 
 forth burst the sun with all-enlightening ray 
 the blaze of armour flash'd against the day 
  now now atrides cast around thy sight 
 if yet antilochus survives the fight 
 let him to great achilles' ear convey
 the fatal news  atrides hastes away 

 so turns the lion from the nightly fold 
 though high in courage and with hunger bold 
 long gall'd by herdsmen and long vex'd by hounds 
 stiff with fatigue and fretted sore with wounds 
 the darts fly round him from a hundred hands 
 and the red terrors of the blazing brands 
 till late reluctant at the dawn of day
 sour he departs and quits the untasted prey 
 so moved atrides from his dangerous place
 with weary limbs but with unwilling pace 
 the foe he fear'd might yet patroclus gain 
 and much admonish'd much adjured his train 

  o guard these relics to your charge consign'd 
 and bear the merits of the dead in mind 
 how skill'd he was in each obliging art 
 the mildest manners and the gentlest heart 
 he was alas but fate decreed his end 
 in death a hero as in life a friend  

 so parts the chief from rank to rank he flew 
 and round on all sides sent his piercing view 
 as the bold bird endued with sharpest eye
 of all that wings the mid aerial sky 
 the sacred eagle from his walks above
 looks down and sees the distant thicket move 
 then stoops and sousing on the quivering hare 
 snatches his life amid the clouds of air 
 not with less quickness his exerted sight
 pass'd this and that way through the ranks of fight 
 till on the left the chief he sought he found 
 cheering his men and spreading deaths around 

 to him the king  beloved of jove draw near 
 for sadder tidings never touch'd thy ear 
 thy eyes have witness'd what a fatal turn 
 how ilion triumphs and the achaians mourn 
 this is not all patroclus on the shore
 now pale and dead shall succour greece no more 
 fly to the fleet this instant fly and tell
 the sad achilles how his loved-one fell 
 he too may haste the naked corse to gain 
 the arms are hector's who despoil'd the slain  

 the youthful warrior heard with silent woe 
 from his fair eyes the tears began to flow 
 big with the mighty grief he strove to say
 what sorrow dictates but no word found way 
 to brave laodocus his arms he flung 
 who near him wheeling drove his steeds along 
 then ran the mournful message to impart 
 with tearful eyes and with dejected heart 

 swift fled the youth nor menelaus stands
 though sore distress'd to aid the pylian bands 
 but bids bold thrasymede those troops sustain 
 himself returns to his patroclus slain 
  gone is antilochus the hero said 
 but hope not warriors for achilles' aid 
 though fierce his rage unbounded be his woe 
 unarm'd he fights not with the trojan foe 
 'tis in our hands alone our hopes remain 
 'tis our own vigour must the dead regain 
 and save ourselves while with impetuous hate
 troy pours along and this way rolls our fate  

  'tis well said ajax be it then thy care 
 with merion's aid the weighty corse to rear 
 myself and my bold brother will sustain
 the shock of hector and his charging train 
 nor fear we armies fighting side by side 
 what troy can dare we have already tried 
 have tried it and have stood   the hero said 
 high from the ground the warriors heave the dead 
 a general clamour rises at the sight 
 loud shout the trojans and renew the fight 
 not fiercer rush along the gloomy wood 
 with rage insatiate and with thirst of blood 
 voracious hounds that many a length before
 their furious hunters drive the wounded boar 
 but if the savage turns his glaring eye 
 they howl aloof and round the forest fly 
 thus on retreating greece the trojans pour 
 wave their thick falchions and their javelins shower 
 but ajax turning to their fears they yield 
 all pale they tremble and forsake the field 

 while thus aloft the hero's corse they bear 
 behind them rages all the storm of war 
 confusion tumult horror o'er the throng
 of men steeds chariots urged the rout along 
 less fierce the winds with rising flames conspire
 to whelm some city under waves of fire 
 now sink in gloomy clouds the proud abodes 
 now crack the blazing temples of the gods 
 the rumbling torrent through the ruin rolls 
 and sheets of smoke mount heavy to the poles 
 the heroes sweat beneath their honour'd load 
 as when two mules along the rugged road 
 from the steep mountain with exerted strength
 drag some vast beam or mast's unwieldy length 
 inly they groan big drops of sweat distil 
 the enormous timber lumbering down the hill 
 so these behind the bulk of ajax stands 
 and breaks the torrent of the rushing bands 
 thus when a river swell'd with sudden rains
 spreads his broad waters o'er the level plains 
 some interposing hill the stream divides 
 and breaks its force and turns the winding tides 
 still close they follow close the rear engage 
 aeneas storms and hector foams with rage 
 while greece a heavy thick retreat maintains 
 wedged in one body like a flight of cranes 
 that shriek incessant while the falcon hung
 high on poised pinions threats their callow young 
 so from the trojan chiefs the grecians fly 
 such the wild terror and the mingled cry 
 within without the trench and all the way 
 strow'd in bright heaps their arms and armour lay 
 such horror jove impress'd yet still proceeds
 the work of death and still the battle bleeds 


 vulcan from an antique gem 





book xviii 


argument 

the grief of achilles and new armour made him by vulcan 

the news of the death of patroclus is brought to achilles by antilochus 
thetis hearing his lamentations comes with all her sea- nymphs to
comfort him the speeches of the mother and son on this occasion iris
appears to achilles by the command of juno and orders him to show himself
at the head of the intrenchments the sight of him turns the fortunes of
the day and the body of patroclus is carried off by the greeks the
trojans call a council where hector and polydamas disagree in their
opinions but the advice of the former prevails to remain encamped in the
field the grief of achilles over the body of patroclus 

thetis goes to the palace of vulcan to obtain new arms for her son the
description of the wonderful works of vulcan and lastly that noble one
of the shield of achilles 

the latter part of the nine-and-twentieth day and the night ensuing take
up this book the scene is at achilles' tent on the sea-shore from whence
it changes to the palace of vulcan 

 thus like the rage of fire the combat burns 250 
 and now it rises now it sinks by turns 
 meanwhile where hellespont's broad waters flow 
 stood nestor's son the messenger of woe 
 there sat achilles shaded by his sails 
 on hoisted yards extended to the gales 
 pensive he sat for all that fate design'd
 rose in sad prospect to his boding mind 
 thus to his soul he said  ah what constrains
 the greeks late victors now to quit the plains 
 is this the day which heaven so long ago
 ordain'd to sink me with the weight of woe 
 so thetis warn'd when by a trojan hand
 the bravest of the myrmidonian band
 should lose the light fulfilled is that decree 
 fallen is the warrior and patroclus he 
 in vain i charged him soon to quit the plain 
 and warn'd to shun hectorean force in vain  

 thus while he thinks antilochus appears 
 and tells the melancholy tale with tears 
  sad tidings son of peleus thou must hear 
 and wretched i the unwilling messenger 
 dead is patroclus for his corse they fight 
 his naked corse his arms are hector's right  

 a sudden horror shot through all the chief 
 and wrapp'd his senses in the cloud of grief 
 cast on the ground with furious hands he spread
 the scorching ashes o'er his graceful head 
 his purple garments and his golden hairs 
 those he deforms with dust and these he tears 
 on the hard soil his groaning breast he threw 
 and roll'd and grovell'd as to earth he grew 
 the virgin captives with disorder'd charms 
 won by his own or by patroclus' arms 
 rush'd from their tents with cries and gathering round 
 beat their white breasts and fainted on the ground 
 while nestor's son sustains a manlier part 
 and mourns the warrior with a warrior's heart 
 hangs on his arms amidst his frantic woe 
 and oft prevents the meditated blow 

 far in the deep abysses of the main 251 
 with hoary nereus and the watery train 
 the mother-goddess from her crystal throne
 heard his loud cries and answer'd groan for groan 
 the circling nereids with their mistress weep 
 and all the sea-green sisters of the deep 
 thalia glauce every watery name 
 nesaea mild and silver spio came 
 cymothoe and cymodoce were nigh 
 and the blue languish of soft alia's eye 
 their locks actaea and limnoria rear 
 then proto doris panope appear 
 thoa pherusa doto melita 
 agave gentle and amphithoe gay 
 next callianira callianassa show
 their sister looks dexamene the slow 
 and swift dynamene now cut the tides 
 iaera now the verdant wave divides 
 nemertes with apseudes lifts the head 
 bright galatea quits her pearly bed 
 these orythia clymene attend 
 maera amphinome the train extend 
 and black janira and janassa fair 
 and amatheia with her amber hair 
 all these and all that deep in ocean held
 their sacred seats the glimmering grotto fill'd 
 each beat her ivory breast with silent woe 
 till thetis' sorrows thus began to flow 

  hear me and judge ye sisters of the main 
 how just a cause has thetis to complain 
 how wretched were i mortal were my fate 
 how more than wretched in the immortal state 
 sprung from my bed a godlike hero came 
 the bravest far that ever bore the name 
 like some fair olive by my careful hand
 he grew he flourish'd and adorn'd the land
 to troy i sent him but the fates ordain
 he never never must return again 
 so short a space the light of heaven to view 
 so short alas and fill'd with anguish too 
 hear how his sorrows echo through the shore 
 i cannot ease them but i must deplore 
 i go at least to bear a tender part 
 and mourn my loved-one with a mother's heart  

 she said and left the caverns of the main 
 all bathed in tears the melancholy train
 attend her way wide-opening part the tides 
 while the long pomp the silver wave divides 
 approaching now they touch'd the trojan land 
 then two by two ascended up the strand 
 the immortal mother standing close beside
 her mournful offspring to his sighs replied 
 along the coast their mingled clamours ran 
 and thus the silver-footed dame began 

  why mourns my son thy late preferr'd request
 the god has granted and the greeks distress'd 
 why mourns my son thy anguish let me share 
 reveal the cause and trust a parent's care  

 he deeply groaning  to this cureless grief 
 not even the thunderer's favour brings relief 
 patroclus ah say goddess can i boast
 a pleasure now revenge itself is lost 
 patroclus loved of all my martial train 
 beyond mankind beyond myself is slain 
 lost are those arms the gods themselves bestow'd
 on peleus hector bears the glorious load 
 cursed be that day when all the powers above
 thy charms submitted to a mortal love 
 o hadst thou still a sister of the main 
 pursued the pleasures of the watery reign 
 and happier peleus less ambitious led
 a mortal beauty to his equal bed 
 ere the sad fruit of thy unhappy womb
 had caused such sorrows past and woes to come 
 for soon alas that wretched offspring slain 
 new woes new sorrows shall create again 
 'tis not in fate the alternate now to give 
 patroclus dead achilles hates to live 
 let me revenge it on proud hector's heart 
 let his last spirit smoke upon my dart 
 on these conditions will i breathe till then 
 i blush to walk among the race of men  

 a flood of tears at this the goddess shed 
  ah then i see thee dying see thee dead 
 when hector falls thou diest    let hector die 
 and let me fall achilles made reply 
 far lies patroclus from his native plain 
 he fell and falling wish'd my aid in vain 
 ah then since from this miserable day
 i cast all hope of my return away 
 since unrevenged a hundred ghosts demand
 the fate of hector from achilles' hand 
 since here for brutal courage far renown'd 
 i live an idle burden to the ground 
 others in council famed for nobler skill 
 more useful to preserve than i to kill 
 let me but oh ye gracious powers above 
 wrath and revenge from men and gods remove 
 far far too dear to every mortal breast 
 sweet to the soul as honey to the taste 
 gathering like vapours of a noxious kind
 from fiery blood and darkening all the mind 
 me agamemnon urged to deadly hate 
 'tis past i quell it i resign to fate 
 yes i will meet the murderer of my friend 
 or if the gods ordain it meet my end 
 the stroke of fate the strongest cannot shun 
 the great alcides jove's unequall'd son 
 to juno's hate at length resign'd his breath 
 and sunk the victim of all-conquering death 
 so shall achilles fall stretch'd pale and dead 
 no more the grecian hope or trojan dread 
 let me this instant rush into the fields 
 and reap what glory life's short harvest yields 
 shall i not force some widow'd dame to tear
 with frantic hands her long dishevell'd hair 
 shall i not force her breast to heave with sighs 
 and the soft tears to trickle from her eyes 
 yes i shall give the fair those mournful charms 
 in vain you hold me hence my arms my arms 
 soon shall the sanguine torrent spread so wide 
 that all shall know achilles swells the tide  

  my son coerulean thetis made reply 
 to fate submitting with a secret sigh 
 the host to succour and thy friends to save 
 is worthy thee the duty of the brave 
 but canst thou naked issue to the plains 
 thy radiant arms the trojan foe detains 
 insulting hector bears the spoils on high 
 but vainly glories for his fate is nigh 
 yet yet awhile thy generous ardour stay 
 assured i meet thee at the dawn of day 
 charged with refulgent arms a glorious load 
 vulcanian arms the labour of a god  

 then turning to the daughters of the main 
 the goddess thus dismiss'd her azure train 

  ye sister nereids to your deeps descend 
 haste and our father's sacred seat attend 
 i go to find the architect divine 
 where vast olympus' starry summits shine 
 so tell our hoary sire  this charge she gave 
 the sea-green sisters plunge beneath the wave 
 thetis once more ascends the bless'd abodes 
 and treads the brazen threshold of the gods 


 thetis ordering the nereids to descend into the sea 


 and now the greeks from furious hector's force 
 urge to broad hellespont their headlong course 
 nor yet their chiefs patroclus' body bore
 safe through the tempest to the tented shore 
 the horse the foot with equal fury join'd 
 pour'd on the rear and thunder'd close behind 
 and like a flame through fields of ripen'd corn 
 the rage of hector o'er the ranks was borne 
 thrice the slain hero by the foot he drew 
 thrice to the skies the trojan clamours flew 
 as oft the ajaces his assault sustain 
 but check'd he turns repuls'd attacks again 
 with fiercer shouts his lingering troops he fires 
 nor yields a step nor from his post retires 
 so watchful shepherds strive to force in vain 
 the hungry lion from a carcase slain 
 even yet patroclus had he borne away 
 and all the glories of the extended day 
 had not high juno from the realms of air 
 secret despatch'd her trusty messenger 
 the various goddess of the showery bow 
 shot in a whirlwind to the shore below 
 to great achilles at his ships she came 
 and thus began the many-colour'd dame 

  rise son of peleus rise divinely brave 
 assist the combat and patroclus save 
 for him the slaughter to the fleet they spread 
 and fall by mutual wounds around the dead 
 to drag him back to troy the foe contends 
 nor with his death the rage of hector ends 
 a prey to dogs he dooms the corse to lie 
 and marks the place to fix his head on high 
 rise and prevent if yet you think of fame 
 thy friend's disgrace thy own eternal shame  

  who sends thee goddess from the ethereal skies  
 achilles thus and iris thus replies 

  i come pelides from the queen of jove 
 the immortal empress of the realms above 
 unknown to him who sits remote on high 
 unknown to all the synod of the sky  
  thou comest in vain he cries with fury warm'd 
 arms i have none and can i fight unarm'd 
 unwilling as i am of force i stay 
 till thetis bring me at the dawn of day
 vulcanian arms what other can i wield 
 except the mighty telamonian shield 
 that in my friend's defence has ajax spread 
 while his strong lance around him heaps the dead 
 the gallant chief defends menoetius' son 
 and does what his achilles should have done  

  thy want of arms said iris well we know 
 but though unarm'd yet clad in terrors go 
 let but achilles o'er yon trench appear 
 proud troy shall tremble and consent to fear 
 greece from one glance of that tremendous eye
 shall take new courage and disdain to fly  

 she spoke and pass'd in air the hero rose 
 her aegis pallas o'er his shoulder throws 
 around his brows a golden cloud she spread 
 a stream of glory flamed above his head 
 as when from some beleaguer'd town arise
 the smokes high curling to the shaded skies 
 seen from some island o'er the main afar 
 when men distress'd hang out the sign of war 
 soon as the sun in ocean hides his rays 
 thick on the hills the flaming beacons blaze 
 with long-projected beams the seas are bright 
 and heaven's high arch reflects the ruddy light 
 so from achilles' head the splendours rise 
 reflecting blaze on blaze against the skies 
 forth march'd the chief and distant from the crowd 
 high on the rampart raised his voice aloud 
 with her own shout minerva swells the sound 
 troy starts astonish'd and the shores rebound 
 as the loud trumpet's brazen mouth from far
 with shrilling clangour sounds the alarm of war 
 struck from the walls the echoes float on high 
 and the round bulwarks and thick towers reply 
 so high his brazen voice the hero rear'd 
 hosts dropp'd their arms and trembled as they heard 
 and back the chariots roll and coursers bound 
 and steeds and men lie mingled on the ground 
 aghast they see the living lightnings play 
 and turn their eyeballs from the flashing ray 
 thrice from the trench his dreadful voice he raised 
 and thrice they fled confounded and amazed 
 twelve in the tumult wedged untimely rush'd
 on their own spears by their own chariots crush'd 
 while shielded from the darts the greeks obtain
 the long-contended carcase of the slain 

 a lofty bier the breathless warrior bears 
 around his sad companions melt in tears 
 but chief achilles bending down his head 
 pours unavailing sorrows o'er the dead 
 whom late triumphant with his steeds and car 
 he sent refulgent to the field of war 
 unhappy change now senseless pale he found 
 stretch'd forth and gash'd with many a gaping wound 

 meantime unwearied with his heavenly way 
 in ocean's waves the unwilling light of day
 quench'd his red orb at juno's high command 
 and from their labours eased the achaian band 
 the frighted trojans panting from the war 
 their steeds unharness'd from the weary car 
 a sudden council call'd each chief appear'd
 in haste and standing for to sit they fear'd 
 'twas now no season for prolong'd debate 
 they saw achilles and in him their fate 
 silent they stood polydamas at last 
 skill'd to discern the future by the past 
 the son of panthus thus express'd his fears
 the friend of hector and of equal years 
 the self-same night to both a being gave 
 one wise in council one in action brave 


 juno commanding the sun to set 


  in free debate my friends your sentence speak 
 for me i move before the morning break 
 to raise our camp too dangerous here our post 
 far from troy walls and on a naked coast 
 i deem'd not greece so dreadful while engaged
 in mutual feuds her king and hero raged 
 then while we hoped our armies might prevail
 we boldly camp'd beside a thousand sail 
 i dread pelides now his rage of mind
 not long continues to the shores confined 
 nor to the fields where long in equal fray
 contending nations won and lost the day 
 for troy for troy shall henceforth be the strife 
 and the hard contest not for fame but life 
 haste then to ilion while the favouring night
 detains these terrors keeps that arm from fight 
 if but the morrow's sun behold us here 
 that arm those terrors we shall feel not fear 
 and hearts that now disdain shall leap with joy 
 if heaven permit them then to enter troy 
 let not my fatal prophecy be true 
 nor what i tremble but to think ensue 
 whatever be our fate yet let us try
 what force of thought and reason can supply 
 let us on counsel for our guard depend 
 the town her gates and bulwarks shall defend 
 when morning dawns our well-appointed powers 
 array'd in arms shall line the lofty towers 
 let the fierce hero then when fury calls 
 vent his mad vengeance on our rocky walls 
 or fetch a thousand circles round the plain 
 till his spent coursers seek the fleet again 
 so may his rage be tired and labour'd down 
 and dogs shall tear him ere he sack the town  

  return said hector fired with stern disdain 
 what coop whole armies in our walls again 
 was't not enough ye valiant warriors say 
 nine years imprison'd in those towers ye lay 
 wide o'er the world was ilion famed of old
 for brass exhaustless and for mines of gold 
 but while inglorious in her walls we stay'd 
 sunk were her treasures and her stores decay'd 
 the phrygians now her scatter'd spoils enjoy 
 and proud maeonia wastes the fruits of troy 
 great jove at length my arms to conquest calls 
 and shuts the grecians in their wooden walls 
 darest thou dispirit whom the gods incite 
 flies any trojan i shall stop his flight 
 to better counsel then attention lend 
 take due refreshment and the watch attend 
 if there be one whose riches cost him care 
 forth let him bring them for the troops to share 
 'tis better generously bestow'd on those 
 than left the plunder of our country's foes 
 soon as the morn the purple orient warms 
 fierce on yon navy will we pour our arms 
 if great achilles rise in all his might 
 his be the danger i shall stand the fight 
 honour ye gods or let me gain or give 
 and live he glorious whosoe'er shall live 
 mars is our common lord alike to all 
 and oft the victor triumphs but to fall  

 the shouting host in loud applauses join'd 
 so pallas robb'd the many of their mind 
 to their own sense condemn'd and left to choose
 the worst advice the better to refuse 

 while the long night extends her sable reign 
 around patroclus mourn'd the grecian train 
 stern in superior grief pelides stood 
 those slaughtering arms so used to bathe in blood 
 now clasp his clay-cold limbs then gushing start
 the tears and sighs burst from his swelling heart 
 the lion thus with dreadful anguish stung 
 roars through the desert and demands his young 
 when the grim savage to his rifled den
 too late returning snuffs the track of men 
 and o'er the vales and o'er the forest bounds 
 his clamorous grief the bellowing wood resounds 
 so grieves achilles and impetuous vents
 to all his myrmidons his loud laments 

  in what vain promise gods did i engage 
 when to console menoetius' feeble age 
 i vowed his much-loved offspring to restore 
 charged with rich spoils to fair opuntia's shore 252 
 but mighty jove cuts short with just disdain 
 the long long views of poor designing man 
 one fate the warrior and the friend shall strike 
 and troy's black sands must drink our blood alike 
 me too a wretched mother shall deplore 
 an aged father never see me more 
 yet my patroclus yet a space i stay 
 then swift pursue thee on the darksome way 
 ere thy dear relics in the grave are laid 
 shall hector's head be offer'd to thy shade 
 that with his arms shall hang before thy shrine 
 and twelve the noblest of the trojan line 
 sacred to vengeance by this hand expire 
 their lives effused around thy flaming pyre 
 thus let me lie till then thus closely press'd 
 bathe thy cold face and sob upon thy breast 
 while trojan captives here thy mourners stay 
 weep all the night and murmur all the day 
 spoils of my arms and thine when wasting wide 
 our swords kept time and conquer'd side by side  

 he spoke and bade the sad attendants round
 cleanse the pale corse and wash each honour'd wound 
 a massy caldron of stupendous frame
 they brought and placed it o'er the rising flame 
 then heap'd the lighted wood the flame divides
 beneath the vase and climbs around the sides 
 in its wide womb they pour the rushing stream 
 the boiling water bubbles to the brim 
 the body then they bathe with pious toil 
 embalm the wounds anoint the limbs with oil 
 high on a bed of state extended laid 
 and decent cover'd with a linen shade 
 last o'er the dead the milk-white veil they threw 
 that done their sorrows and their sighs renew 

 meanwhile to juno in the realms above 
 his wife and sister spoke almighty jove 
  at last thy will prevails great peleus' son
 rises in arms such grace thy greeks have won 
 say for i know not is their race divine 
 and thou the mother of that martial line  

  what words are these the imperial dame replies 
 while anger flash'd from her majestic eyes 
 succour like this a mortal arm might lend 
 and such success mere human wit attend 
 and shall not i the second power above 
 heaven's queen and consort of the thundering jove 
 say shall not i one nation's fate command 
 not wreak my vengeance on one guilty land  


 tripod 


 so they meanwhile the silver-footed dame
 reach'd the vulcanian dome eternal frame 
 high-eminent amid the works divine 
 where heaven's far-beaming brazen mansions shine 
 there the lame architect the goddess found 
 obscure in smoke his forges flaming round 
 while bathed in sweat from fire to fire he flew 
 and puffing loud the roaring billows blew 
 that day no common task his labour claim'd 
 full twenty tripods for his hall he framed 
 that placed on living wheels of massy gold 
 wondrous to tell instinct with spirit roll'd
 from place to place around the bless'd abodes
 self-moved obedient to the beck of gods 
 for their fair handles now o'erwrought with flowers 
 in moulds prepared the glowing ore he pours 
 just as responsive to his thought the frame
 stood prompt to move the azure goddess came 
 charis his spouse a grace divinely fair 
 with purple fillets round her braided hair 
 observed her entering her soft hand she press'd 
 and smiling thus the watery queen address'd 

  what goddess this unusual favour draws 
 all hail and welcome whatsoe'er the cause 
 till now a stranger in a happy hour
 approach and taste the dainties of the bower  


 thetis and eurynome receiving the infant vulcan 


 high on a throne with stars of silver graced 
 and various artifice the queen she placed 
 a footstool at her feet then calling said 
  vulcan draw near 'tis thetis asks your aid  
  thetis replied the god our powers may claim 
 an ever-dear an ever-honour'd name 
 when my proud mother hurl'd me from the sky 
 my awkward form it seems displeased her eye 
 she and eurynome my griefs redress'd 
 and soft received me on their silver breast 
 even then these arts employ'd my infant thought 
 chains bracelets pendants all their toys i wrought 
 nine years kept secret in the dark abode 
 secure i lay conceal'd from man and god 
 deep in a cavern'd rock my days were led 
 the rushing ocean murmur'd o'er my head 
 now since her presence glads our mansion say 
 for such desert what service can i pay 
 vouchsafe o thetis at our board to share
 the genial rites and hospitable fare 
 while i the labours of the forge forego 
 and bid the roaring bellows cease to blow  

 then from his anvil the lame artist rose 
 wide with distorted legs oblique he goes 
 and stills the bellows and in order laid 
 locks in their chests his instruments of trade 
 then with a sponge the sooty workman dress'd
 his brawny arms embrown'd and hairy breast 
 with his huge sceptre graced and red attire 
 came halting forth the sovereign of the fire 
 the monarch's steps two female forms uphold 
 that moved and breathed in animated gold 
 to whom was voice and sense and science given
 of works divine such wonders are in heaven 
 on these supported with unequal gait 
 he reach'd the throne where pensive thetis sate 
 there placed beside her on the shining frame 
 he thus address'd the silver-footed dame 

  thee welcome goddess what occasion calls
 so long a stranger to these honour'd walls 
 'tis thine fair thetis the command to lay 
 and vulcan's joy and duty to obey  


 vulcan and charis receiving thetis 


 to whom the mournful mother thus replies 
 the crystal drops stood trembling in her eyes 
  o vulcan say was ever breast divine
 so pierced with sorrows so o'erwhelm'd as mine 
 of all the goddesses did jove prepare
 for thetis only such a weight of care 
 i only i of all the watery race
 by force subjected to a man's embrace 
 who sinking now with age and sorrow pays
 the mighty fine imposed on length of days 
 sprung from my bed a godlike hero came 
 the bravest sure that ever bore the name 
 like some fair plant beneath my careful hand
 he grew he flourish'd and he graced the land 
 to troy i sent him but his native shore
 never ah never shall receive him more 
 even while he lives he wastes with secret woe 
 nor i a goddess can retard the blow 
 robb'd of the prize the grecian suffrage gave 
 the king of nations forced his royal slave 
 for this he grieved and till the greeks oppress'd
 required his arm he sorrow'd unredress'd 
 large gifts they promise and their elders send 
 in vain he arms not but permits his friend
 his arms his steeds his forces to employ 
 he marches combats almost conquers troy 
 then slain by phoebus hector had the name 
 at once resigns his armour life and fame 
 but thou in pity by my prayer be won 
 grace with immortal arms this short-lived son 
 and to the field in martial pomp restore 
 to shine with glory till he shines no more  

 to her the artist-god  thy griefs resign 
 secure what vulcan can is ever thine 
 o could i hide him from the fates as well 
 or with these hands the cruel stroke repel 
 as i shall forge most envied arms the gaze
 of wondering ages and the world's amaze  

 thus having said the father of the fires
 to the black labours of his forge retires 
 soon as he bade them blow the bellows turn'd
 their iron mouths and where the furnace burn'd 
 resounding breathed at once the blast expires 
 and twenty forges catch at once the fires 
 just as the god directs now loud now low 
 they raise a tempest or they gently blow 
 in hissing flames huge silver bars are roll'd 
 and stubborn brass and tin and solid gold 
 before deep fix'd the eternal anvils stand 
 the ponderous hammer loads his better hand 
 his left with tongs turns the vex'd metal round 
 and thick strong strokes the doubling vaults rebound 

 then first he form'd the immense and solid shield 
 rich various artifice emblazed the field 
 its utmost verge a threefold circle bound 253 
 a silver chain suspends the massy round 
 five ample plates the broad expanse compose 
 and godlike labours on the surface rose 
 there shone the image of the master-mind 
 there earth there heaven there ocean he design'd 
 the unwearied sun the moon completely round 
 the starry lights that heaven's high convex crown'd 
 the pleiads hyads with the northern team 
 and great orion's more refulgent beam 
 to which around the axle of the sky 
 the bear revolving points his golden eye 
 still shines exalted on the ethereal plain 
 nor bathes his blazing forehead in the main 

 two cities radiant on the shield appear 
 the image one of peace and one of war 
 here sacred pomp and genial feast delight 
 and solemn dance and hymeneal rite 
 along the street the new-made brides are led 
 with torches flaming to the nuptial bed 
 the youthful dancers in a circle bound
 to the soft flute and cithern's silver sound 
 through the fair streets the matrons in a row
 stand in their porches and enjoy the show 

 there in the forum swarm a numerous train 
 the subject of debate a townsman slain 
 one pleads the fine discharged which one denied 
 and bade the public and the laws decide 
 the witness is produced on either hand 
 for this or that the partial people stand 
 the appointed heralds still the noisy bands 
 and form a ring with sceptres in their hands 
 on seats of stone within the sacred place 254 
 the reverend elders nodded o'er the case 
 alternate each the attesting sceptre took 
 and rising solemn each his sentence spoke
 two golden talents lay amidst in sight 
 the prize of him who best adjudged the right 

 another part a prospect differing far 255 
 glow'd with refulgent arms and horrid war 
 two mighty hosts a leaguer'd town embrace 
 and one would pillage one would burn the place 
 meantime the townsmen arm'd with silent care 
 a secret ambush on the foe prepare 
 their wives their children and the watchful band
 of trembling parents on the turrets stand 
 they march by pallas and by mars made bold 
 gold were the gods their radiant garments gold 
 and gold their armour these the squadron led 
 august divine superior by the head 
 a place for ambush fit they found and stood 
 cover'd with shields beside a silver flood 
 two spies at distance lurk and watchful seem
 if sheep or oxen seek the winding stream 
 soon the white flocks proceeded o'er the plains 
 and steers slow-moving and two shepherd swains 
 behind them piping on their reeds they go 
 nor fear an ambush nor suspect a foe 
 in arms the glittering squadron rising round
 rush sudden hills of slaughter heap the ground 
 whole flocks and herds lie bleeding on the plains 
 and all amidst them dead the shepherd swains 
 the bellowing oxen the besiegers hear 
 they rise take horse approach and meet the war 
 they fight they fall beside the silver flood 
 the waving silver seem'd to blush with blood 
 there tumult there contention stood confess'd 
 one rear'd a dagger at a captive's breast 
 one held a living foe that freshly bled
 with new-made wounds another dragg'd a dead 
 now here now there the carcases they tore 
 fate stalk'd amidst them grim with human gore 
 and the whole war came out and met the eye 
 and each bold figure seem'd to live or die 

 a field deep furrow'd next the god design'd 256 
 the third time labour'd by the sweating hind 
 the shining shares full many ploughmen guide 
 and turn their crooked yokes on every side 
 still as at either end they wheel around 
 the master meets them with his goblet crown'd 
 the hearty draught rewards renews their toil 
 then back the turning ploughshares cleave the soil 
 behind the rising earth in ridges roll'd 
 and sable look'd though form'd of molten gold 

 another field rose high with waving grain 
 with bended sickles stand the reaper train 
 here stretched in ranks the levell'd swarths are found 
 sheaves heap'd on sheaves here thicken up the ground 
 with sweeping stroke the mowers strow the lands 
 the gatherers follow and collect in bands 
 and last the children in whose arms are borne
 too short to gripe them the brown sheaves of corn 
 the rustic monarch of the field descries 
 with silent glee the heaps around him rise 
 a ready banquet on the turf is laid 
 beneath an ample oak's expanded shade 
 the victim ox the sturdy youth prepare 
 the reaper's due repast the woman's care 

 next ripe in yellow gold a vineyard shines 
 bent with the ponderous harvest of its vines 
 a deeper dye the dangling clusters show 
 and curl'd on silver props in order glow 
 a darker metal mix'd intrench'd the place 
 and pales of glittering tin the inclosure grace 
 to this one pathway gently winding leads 
 where march a train with baskets on their heads 
 fair maids and blooming youths that smiling bear
 the purple product of the autumnal year 
 to these a youth awakes the warbling strings 
 whose tender lay the fate of linus sings 
 in measured dance behind him move the train 
 tune soft the voice and answer to the strain 

 here herds of oxen march erect and bold 
 rear high their horns and seem to low in gold 
 and speed to meadows on whose sounding shores
 a rapid torrent through the rushes roars 
 four golden herdsmen as their guardians stand 
 and nine sour dogs complete the rustic band 
 two lions rushing from the wood appear'd 
 and seized a bull the master of the herd 
 he roar'd in vain the dogs the men withstood 
 they tore his flesh and drank his sable blood 
 the dogs oft cheer'd in vain desert the prey 
 dread the grim terrors and at distance bay 

 next this the eye the art of vulcan leads
 deep through fair forests and a length of meads 
 and stalls and folds and scatter'd cots between 
 and fleecy flocks that whiten all the scene 

 a figured dance succeeds such once was seen
 in lofty gnossus for the cretan queen 
 form'd by daedalean art a comely band
 of youths and maidens bounding hand in hand 
 the maids in soft simars of linen dress'd 
 the youths all graceful in the glossy vest 
 of those the locks with flowery wreath inroll'd 
 of these the sides adorn'd with swords of gold 
 that glittering gay from silver belts depend 
 now all at once they rise at once descend 
 with well-taught feet now shape in oblique ways 
 confusedly regular the moving maze 
 now forth at once too swift for sight they spring 
 and undistinguish'd blend the flying ring 
 so whirls a wheel in giddy circle toss'd 
 and rapid as it runs the single spokes are lost 
 the gazing multitudes admire around 
 two active tumblers in the centre bound 
 now high now low their pliant limbs they bend 
 and general songs the sprightly revel end 

 thus the broad shield complete the artist crown'd
 with his last hand and pour'd the ocean round 
 in living silver seem'd the waves to roll 
 and beat the buckler's verge and bound the whole 

 this done whate'er a warrior's use requires
 he forged the cuirass that outshone the fires 
 the greaves of ductile tin the helm impress'd
 with various sculpture and the golden crest 
 at thetis' feet the finished labour lay 
 she as a falcon cuts the aerial way 
 swift from olympus' snowy summit flies 
 and bears the blazing present through the skies 257 





book xix 


argument 

the reconciliation of achilles and agamemnon 

thetis brings to her son the armour made by vulcan she preserves the body
of his friend from corruption and commands him to assemble the army to
declare his resentment at an end agamemnon and achilles are solemnly
reconciled the speeches presents and ceremonies on that occasion 
achilles is with great difficulty persuaded to refrain from the battle
till the troops have refreshed themselves by the advice of ulysses the
presents are conveyed to the tent of achilles where briseis laments over
the body of patroclus the hero obstinately refuses all repast and gives
himself up to lamentations for his friend minerva descends to strengthen
him by the order of jupiter he arms for the fight his appearance
described he addresses himself to his horses and reproaches them with
the death of patroclus one of them is miraculously endued with voice and
inspired to prophesy his fate but the hero not astonished by that
prodigy rushes with fury to the combat 

the thirteenth day the scene is on the sea-shore 

 soon as aurora heaved her orient head
 above the waves that blush'd with early red 
 with new-born day to gladden mortal sight 
 and gild the courts of heaven with sacred light 
 the immortal arms the goddess-mother bears
 swift to her son her son she finds in tears
 stretch'd o'er patroclus' corse while all the rest
 their sovereign's sorrows in their own express'd 
 a ray divine her heavenly presence shed 
 and thus his hand soft touching thetis said 

  suppress my son this rage of grief and know
 it was not man but heaven that gave the blow 
 behold what arms by vulcan are bestow'd 
 arms worthy thee or fit to grace a god  

 then drops the radiant burden on the ground 
 clang the strong arms and ring the shores around 
 back shrink the myrmidons with dread surprise 
 and from the broad effulgence turn their eyes 
 unmoved the hero kindles at the show 
 and feels with rage divine his bosom glow 
 from his fierce eyeballs living flames expire 
 and flash incessant like a stream of fire 
 he turns the radiant gift and feeds his mind
 on all the immortal artist had design'd 

  goddess he cried these glorious arms that shine
 with matchless art confess the hand divine 
 now to the bloody battle let me bend 
 but ah the relics of my slaughter'd friend 
 in those wide wounds through which his spirit fled 
 shall flies and worms obscene pollute the dead  

  that unavailing care be laid aside 
 the azure goddess to her son replied 
 whole years untouch'd uninjured shall remain 
 fresh as in life the carcase of the slain 
 but go achilles as affairs require 
 before the grecian peers renounce thine ire 
 then uncontroll'd in boundless war engage 
 and heaven with strength supply the mighty rage  


 thetis bringing the armour to achilles 


 then in the nostrils of the slain she pour'd
 nectareous drops and rich ambrosia shower'd
 o'er all the corse the flies forbid their prey 
 untouch'd it rests and sacred from decay 
 achilles to the strand obedient went 
 the shores resounded with the voice he sent 
 the heroes heard and all the naval train
 that tend the ships or guide them o'er the main 
 alarm'd transported at the well-known sound 
 frequent and full the great assembly crown'd 
 studious to see the terror of the plain 
 long lost to battle shine in arms again 
 tydides and ulysses first appear 
 lame with their wounds and leaning on the spear 
 these on the sacred seats of council placed 
 the king of men atrides came the last 
 he too sore wounded by agenor's son 
 achilles rising in the midst begun 

  o monarch better far had been the fate
 of thee of me of all the grecian state 
 if ere the day when by mad passion sway'd 
 rash we contended for the black-eyed maid 
 preventing dian had despatch'd her dart 
 and shot the shining mischief to the heart 
 then many a hero had not press'd the shore 
 nor troy's glad fields been fatten'd with our gore 
 long long shall greece the woes we caused bewail 
 and sad posterity repeat the tale 
 but this no more the subject of debate 
 is past forgotten and resign'd to fate 
 why should alas a mortal man as i 
 burn with a fury that can never die 
 here then my anger ends let war succeed 
 and even as greece has bled let ilion bleed 
 now call the hosts and try if in our sight
 troy yet shall dare to camp a second night 
 i deem their mightiest when this arm he knows 
 shall 'scape with transport and with joy repose  

 he said his finish'd wrath with loud acclaim
 the greeks accept and shout pelides' name 
 when thus not rising from his lofty throne 
 in state unmoved the king of men begun 

  hear me ye sons of greece with silence hear 
 and grant your monarch an impartial ear 
 awhile your loud untimely joy suspend 
 and let your rash injurious clamours end 
 unruly murmurs or ill-timed applause 
 wrong the best speaker and the justest cause 
 nor charge on me ye greeks the dire debate 
 know angry jove and all-compelling fate 
 with fell erinnys urged my wrath that day
 when from achilles' arms i forced the prey 
 what then could i against the will of heaven 
 not by myself but vengeful ate driven 
 she jove's dread daughter fated to infest
 the race of mortals enter'd in my breast 
 not on the ground that haughty fury treads 
 but prints her lofty footsteps on the heads
 of mighty men inflicting as she goes
 long-festering wounds inextricable woes 
 of old she stalk'd amid the bright abodes 
 and jove himself the sire of men and gods 
 the world's great ruler felt her venom'd dart 
 deceived by juno's wiles and female art 
 for when alcmena's nine long months were run 
 and jove expected his immortal son 
 to gods and goddesses the unruly joy
 he show'd and vaunted of his matchless boy 
 'from us he said this day an infant springs 
 fated to rule and born a king of kings '
 saturnia ask'd an oath to vouch the truth 
 and fix dominion on the favour'd youth 
 the thunderer unsuspicious of the fraud 
 pronounced those solemn words that bind a god 
 the joyful goddess from olympus' height 
 swift to achaian argos bent her flight 
 scarce seven moons gone lay sthenelus's wife 
 she push'd her lingering infant into life 
 her charms alcmena's coming labours stay 
 and stop the babe just issuing to the day 
 then bids saturnius bear his oath in mind 
 'a youth said she of jove's immortal kind
 is this day born from sthenelus he springs 
 and claims thy promise to be king of kings '
 grief seized the thunderer by his oath engaged 
 stung to the soul he sorrow'd and he raged 
 from his ambrosial head where perch'd she sate 
 he snatch'd the fury-goddess of debate 
 the dread the irrevocable oath he swore 
 the immortal seats should ne'er behold her more 
 and whirl'd her headlong down for ever driven
 from bright olympus and the starry heaven 
 thence on the nether world the fury fell 
 ordain'd with man's contentious race to dwell 
 full oft the god his son's hard toils bemoan'd 
 cursed the dire fury and in secret groan'd 258 
 even thus like jove himself was i misled 
 while raging hector heap'd our camps with dead 
 what can the errors of my rage atone 
 my martial troops my treasures are thy own 
 this instant from the navy shall be sent
 whate'er ulysses promised at thy tent 
 but thou appeased propitious to our prayer 
 resume thy arms and shine again in war  

   o king of nations whose superior sway
 returns achilles all our hosts obey 
 to keep or send the presents be thy care 
 to us 'tis equal all we ask is war 
 while yet we talk or but an instant shun
 the fight our glorious work remains undone 
 let every greek who sees my spear confound
 the trojan ranks and deal destruction round 
 with emulation what i act survey 
 and learn from thence the business of the day 

 the son of peleus thus and thus replies
 the great in councils ithacus the wise 
  though godlike thou art by no toils oppress'd 
 at least our armies claim repast and rest 
 long and laborious must the combat be 
 when by the gods inspired and led by thee 
 strength is derived from spirits and from blood 
 and those augment by generous wine and food 
 what boastful son of war without that stay 
 can last a hero through a single day 
 courage may prompt but ebbing out his strength 
 mere unsupported man must yield at length 
 shrunk with dry famine and with toils declined 
 the drooping body will desert the mind 
 but built anew with strength-conferring fare 
 with limbs and soul untamed he tires a war 
 dismiss the people then and give command 
 with strong repast to hearten every band 
 but let the presents to achilles made 
 in full assembly of all greece be laid 
 the king of men shall rise in public sight 
 and solemn swear observant of the rite 
 that spotless as she came the maid removes 
 pure from his arms and guiltless of his loves 
 that done a sumptuous banquet shall be made 
 and the full price of injured honour paid 
 stretch not henceforth o prince thy sovereign might
 beyond the bounds of reason and of right 
 'tis the chief praise that e'er to kings belong'd 
 to right with justice whom with power they wrong'd  

 to him the monarch  just is thy decree 
 thy words give joy and wisdom breathes in thee 
 each due atonement gladly i prepare 
 and heaven regard me as i justly swear 
 here then awhile let greece assembled stay 
 nor great achilles grudge this short delay 
 till from the fleet our presents be convey'd 
 and jove attesting the firm compact made 
 a train of noble youths the charge shall bear 
 these to select ulysses be thy care 
 in order rank'd let all our gifts appear 
 and the fair train of captives close the rear 
 talthybius shall the victim boar convey 
 sacred to jove and yon bright orb of day  

  for this the stern cacides replies 
 some less important season may suffice 
 when the stern fury of the war is o'er 
 and wrath extinguish'd burns my breast no more 
 by hector slain their faces to the sky 
 all grim with gaping wounds our heroes lie 
 those call to war and might my voice incite 
 now now this instant shall commence the fight 
 then when the day's complete let generous bowls 
 and copious banquets glad your weary souls 
 let not my palate know the taste of food 
 till my insatiate rage be cloy'd with blood 
 pale lies my friend with wounds disfigured o'er 
 and his cold feet are pointed to the door 
 revenge is all my soul no meaner care 
 interest or thought has room to harbour there 
 destruction be my feast and mortal wounds 
 and scenes of blood and agonizing sounds  

  o first of greeks ulysses thus rejoin'd 
 the best and bravest of the warrior kind 
 thy praise it is in dreadful camps to shine 
 but old experience and calm wisdom mine 
 then hear my counsel and to reason yield 
 the bravest soon are satiate of the field 
 though vast the heaps that strow the crimson plain 
 the bloody harvest brings but little gain 
 the scale of conquest ever wavering lies 
 great jove but turns it and the victor dies 
 the great the bold by thousands daily fall 
 and endless were the grief to weep for all 
 eternal sorrows what avails to shed 
 greece honours not with solemn fasts the dead 
 enough when death demands the brave to pay
 the tribute of a melancholy day 
 one chief with patience to the grave resign'd 
 our care devolves on others left behind 
 let generous food supplies of strength produce 
 let rising spirits flow from sprightly juice 
 let their warm heads with scenes of battle glow 
 and pour new furies on the feebler foe 
 yet a short interval and none shall dare
 expect a second summons to the war 
 who waits for that the dire effects shall find 
 if trembling in the ships he lags behind 
 embodied to the battle let us bend 
 and all at once on haughty troy descend  

 and now the delegates ulysses sent 
 to bear the presents from the royal tent 
 the sons of nestor phyleus' valiant heir 
 thias and merion thunderbolts of war 
 with lycomedes of creiontian strain 
 and melanippus form'd the chosen train 
 swift as the word was given the youths obey'd 
 twice ten bright vases in the midst they laid 
 a row of six fair tripods then succeeds 
 and twice the number of high-bounding steeds 
 seven captives next a lovely line compose 
 the eighth briseis like the blooming rose 
 closed the bright band great ithacus before 
 first of the train the golden talents bore 
 the rest in public view the chiefs dispose 
 a splendid scene then agamemnon rose 
 the boar talthybius held the grecian lord
 drew the broad cutlass sheath'd beside his sword 
 the stubborn bristles from the victim's brow
 he crops and offering meditates his vow 
 his hands uplifted to the attesting skies 
 on heaven's broad marble roof were fixed his eyes 
 the solemn words a deep attention draw 
 and greece around sat thrill'd with sacred awe 

  witness thou first thou greatest power above 
 all-good all-wise and all-surveying jove 
 and mother-earth and heaven's revolving light 
 and ye fell furies of the realms of night 
 who rule the dead and horrid woes prepare
 for perjured kings and all who falsely swear 
 the black-eyed maid inviolate removes 
 pure and unconscious of my manly loves 
 if this be false heaven all its vengeance shed 
 and levell'd thunder strike my guilty head  

 with that his weapon deep inflicts the wound 
 the bleeding savage tumbles to the ground 
 the sacred herald rolls the victim slain
 a feast for fish into the foaming main 

 then thus achilles  hear ye greeks and know
 whate'er we feel 'tis jove inflicts the woe 
 not else atrides could our rage inflame 
 nor from my arms unwilling force the dame 
 'twas jove's high will alone o'erruling all 
 that doom'd our strife and doom'd the greeks to fall 
 go then ye chiefs indulge the genial rite 
 achilles waits ye and expects the fight  

 the speedy council at his word adjourn'd 
 to their black vessels all the greeks return'd 
 achilles sought his tent his train before
 march'd onward bending with the gifts they bore 
 those in the tents the squires industrious spread 
 the foaming coursers to the stalls they led 
 to their new seats the female captives move
 briseis radiant as the queen of love 
 slow as she pass'd beheld with sad survey
 where gash'd with cruel wounds patroclus lay 
 prone on the body fell the heavenly fair 
 beat her sad breast and tore her golden hair 
 all beautiful in grief her humid eyes
 shining with tears she lifts and thus she cries 

  ah youth for ever dear for ever kind 
 once tender friend of my distracted mind 
 i left thee fresh in life in beauty gay 
 now find thee cold inanimated clay 
 what woes my wretched race of life attend 
 sorrows on sorrows never doom'd to end 
 the first loved consort of my virgin bed
 before these eyes in fatal battle bled 
 my three brave brothers in one mournful day
 all trod the dark irremeable way 
 thy friendly hand uprear'd me from the plain 
 and dried my sorrows for a husband slain 
 achilles' care you promised i should prove 
 the first the dearest partner of his love 
 that rites divine should ratify the band 
 and make me empress in his native land 
 accept these grateful tears for thee they flow 
 for thee that ever felt another's woe  

 her sister captives echoed groan for groan 
 nor mourn'd patroclus' fortunes but their own 
 the leaders press'd the chief on every side 
 unmoved he heard them and with sighs denied 

  if yet achilles have a friend whose care
 is bent to please him this request forbear 
 till yonder sun descend ah let me pay
 to grief and anguish one abstemious day  

 he spoke and from the warriors turn'd his face 
 yet still the brother-kings of atreus' race 
 nestor idomeneus ulysses sage 
 and phoenix strive to calm his grief and rage 
 his rage they calm not nor his grief control 
 he groans he raves he sorrows from his soul 

  thou too patroclus thus his heart he vents 
 once spread the inviting banquet in our tents 
 thy sweet society thy winning care 
 once stay'd achilles rushing to the war 
 but now alas to death's cold arms resign'd 
 what banquet but revenge can glad my mind 
 what greater sorrow could afflict my breast 
 what more if hoary peleus were deceased 
 who now perhaps in phthia dreads to hear
 his son's sad fate and drops a tender tear 
 what more should neoptolemus the brave 
 my only offspring sink into the grave 
 if yet that offspring lives i distant far 
 of all neglectful wage a hateful war 
 i could not this this cruel stroke attend 
 fate claim'd achilles but might spare his friend 
 i hoped patroclus might survive to rear
 my tender orphan with a parent's care 
 from scyros' isle conduct him o'er the main 
 and glad his eyes with his paternal reign 
 the lofty palace and the large domain 
 for peleus breathes no more the vital air 
 or drags a wretched life of age and care 
 but till the news of my sad fate invades
 his hastening soul and sinks him to the shades  

 sighing he said his grief the heroes join'd 
 each stole a tear for what he left behind 
 their mingled grief the sire of heaven survey'd 
 and thus with pity to his blue-eyed maid 

  is then achilles now no more thy care 
 and dost thou thus desert the great in war 
 lo where yon sails their canvas wings extend 
 all comfortless he sits and wails his friend 
 ere thirst and want his forces have oppress'd 
 haste and infuse ambrosia in his breast  

 he spoke and sudden at the word of jove 
 shot the descending goddess from above 
 so swift through ether the shrill harpy springs 
 the wide air floating to her ample wings 
 to great achilles she her flight address'd 
 and pour'd divine ambrosia in his breast 259 
 with nectar sweet refection of the gods 
 then swift ascending sought the bright abodes 

 now issued from the ships the warrior-train 
 and like a deluge pour'd upon the plain 
 as when the piercing blasts of boreas blow 
 and scatter o'er the fields the driving snow 
 from dusky clouds the fleecy winter flies 
 whose dazzling lustre whitens all the skies 
 so helms succeeding helms so shields from shields 
 catch the quick beams and brighten all the fields 
 broad glittering breastplates spears with pointed rays 
 mix in one stream reflecting blaze on blaze 
 thick beats the centre as the coursers bound 
 with splendour flame the skies and laugh the fields around 

 full in the midst high-towering o'er the rest 
 his limbs in arms divine achilles dress'd 
 arms which the father of the fire bestow'd 
 forged on the eternal anvils of the god 
 grief and revenge his furious heart inspire 
 his glowing eyeballs roll with living fire 
 he grinds his teeth and furious with delay
 o'erlooks the embattled host and hopes the bloody day 

 the silver cuishes first his thighs infold 
 then o'er his breast was braced the hollow gold 
 the brazen sword a various baldric tied 
 that starr'd with gems hung glittering at his side 
 and like the moon the broad refulgent shield
 blazed with long rays and gleam'd athwart the field 

 so to night-wandering sailors pale with fears 
 wide o'er the watery waste a light appears 
 which on the far-seen mountain blazing high 
 streams from some lonely watch-tower to the sky 
 with mournful eyes they gaze and gaze again 
 loud howls the storm and drives them o'er the main 

 next his high head the helmet graced behind
 the sweepy crest hung floating in the wind 
 like the red star that from his flaming hair
 shakes down diseases pestilence and war 
 so stream'd the golden honours from his head 
 trembled the sparkling plumes and the loose glories shed 
 the chief beholds himself with wondering eyes 
 his arms he poises and his motions tries 
 buoy'd by some inward force he seems to swim 
 and feels a pinion lifting every limb 

 and now he shakes his great paternal spear 
 ponderous and huge which not a greek could rear 
 from pelion's cloudy top an ash entire
 old chiron fell'd and shaped it for his sire 
 a spear which stern achilles only wields 
 the death of heroes and the dread of fields 

 automedon and alcimus prepare
 the immortal coursers and the radiant car 
 the silver traces sweeping at their side 
 their fiery mouths resplendent bridles tied 
 the ivory-studded reins return'd behind 
 waved o'er their backs and to the chariot join'd 
 the charioteer then whirl'd the lash around 
 and swift ascended at one active bound 
 all bright in heavenly arms above his squire
 achilles mounts and sets the field on fire 
 not brighter phoebus in the ethereal way
 flames from his chariot and restores the day 
 high o'er the host all terrible he stands 
 and thunders to his steeds these dread commands 

  xanthus and balius of podarges' strain 
 unless ye boast that heavenly race in vain 
 be swift be mindful of the load ye bear 
 and learn to make your master more your care 
 through falling squadrons bear my slaughtering sword 
 nor as ye left patroclus leave your lord  

 the generous xanthus as the words he said 
 seem'd sensible of woe and droop'd his head 
 trembling he stood before the golden wain 
 and bow'd to dust the honours of his mane 
 when strange to tell so juno will'd he broke
 eternal silence and portentous spoke 
  achilles yes this day at least we bear
 thy rage in safety through the files of war 
 but come it will the fatal time must come 
 not ours the fault but god decrees thy doom 
 not through our crime or slowness in the course 
 fell thy patroclus but by heavenly force 
 the bright far-shooting god who gilds the day
 confess'd we saw him tore his arms way 
 no could our swiftness o'er the winds prevail 
 or beat the pinions of the western gale 
 all were in vain the fates thy death demand 
 due to a mortal and immortal hand  

 then ceased for ever by the furies tied 
 his fateful voice the intrepid chief replied
 with unabated rage  so let it be 
 portents and prodigies are lost on me 
 i know my fate to die to see no more
 my much-loved parents and my native shore 
 enough when heaven ordains i sink in night 
 now perish troy   he said and rush'd to fight 


 hercules 





book xx 


argument 

the battle of the gods and the acts of achilles 

jupiter upon achilles' return to the battle calls a council of the gods 
and permits them to assist either party the terrors of the combat
described when the deities are engaged apollo encourages cneas to meet
achilles after a long conversation these two heroes encounter but cneas
is preserved by the assistance of neptune achilles falls upon the rest of
the trojans and is upon the point of killing hector but apollo conveys
him away in a cloud achilles pursues the trojans with a great slaughter 

the same day continues the scene is in the field before troy 

 thus round pelides breathing war and blood
 greece sheathed in arms beside her vessels stood 
 while near impending from a neighbouring height 
 troy's black battalions wait the shock of fight 
 then jove to themis gives command to call
 the gods to council in the starry hall 
 swift o'er olympus' hundred hills she flies 
 and summons all the senate of the skies 
 these shining on in long procession come
 to jove's eternal adamantine dome 
 not one was absent not a rural power
 that haunts the verdant gloom or rosy bower 
 each fair-hair'd dryad of the shady wood 
 each azure sister of the silver flood 
 all but old ocean hoary sire who keeps
 his ancient seat beneath the sacred deeps 
 on marble thrones with lucid columns crown'd 
 the work of vulcan sat the powers around 
 even he whose trident sways the watery reign
 heard the loud summons and forsook the main 
 assumed his throne amid the bright abodes 
 and question'd thus the sire of men and gods 

  what moves the god who heaven and earth commands 
 and grasps the thunder in his awful hands 
 thus to convene the whole ethereal state 
 is greece and troy the subject in debate 
 already met the louring hosts appear 
 and death stands ardent on the edge of war  

  'tis true the cloud-compelling power replies 
 this day we call the council of the skies
 in care of human race even jove's own eye
 sees with regret unhappy mortals die 
 far on olympus' top in secret state
 ourself will sit and see the hand of fate
 work out our will celestial powers descend 
 and as your minds direct your succour lend
 to either host troy soon must lie o'erthrown 
 if uncontroll'd achilles fights alone 
 their troops but lately durst not meet his eyes 
 what can they now if in his rage he rise 
 assist them gods or ilion's sacred wall
 may fall this day though fate forbids the fall  

 he said and fired their heavenly breasts with rage 
 on adverse parts the warring gods engage 
 heaven's awful queen and he whose azure round
 girds the vast globe the maid in arms renown'd 
 hermes of profitable arts the sire 
 and vulcan the black sovereign of the fire 
 these to the fleet repair with instant flight 
 the vessels tremble as the gods alight 
 in aid of troy latona phoebus came 
 mars fiery-helm'd the laughter-loving dame 
 xanthus whose streams in golden currents flow 
 and the chaste huntress of the silver bow 
 ere yet the gods their various aid employ 
 each argive bosom swell'd with manly joy 
 while great achilles terror of the plain 
 long lost to battle shone in arms again 
 dreadful he stood in front of all his host 
 pale troy beheld and seem'd already lost 
 her bravest heroes pant with inward fear 
 and trembling see another god of war 

 but when the powers descending swell'd the fight 
 then tumult rose fierce rage and pale affright
 varied each face then discord sounds alarms 
 earth echoes and the nations rush to arms 
 now through the trembling shores minerva calls 
 and now she thunders from the grecian walls 
 mars hovering o'er his troy his terror shrouds
 in gloomy tempests and a night of clouds 
 now through each trojan heart he fury pours
 with voice divine from ilion's topmost towers 
 now shouts to simois from her beauteous hill 
 the mountain shook the rapid stream stood still 

 above the sire of gods his thunder rolls 
 and peals on peals redoubled rend the poles 
 beneath stern neptune shakes the solid ground 
 the forests wave the mountains nod around 
 through all their summits tremble ida's woods 
 and from their sources boil her hundred floods 
 troy's turrets totter on the rocking plain 
 and the toss'd navies beat the heaving main 
 deep in the dismal regions of the dead 260 
 the infernal monarch rear'd his horrid head 
 leap'd from his throne lest neptune's arm should lay
 his dark dominions open to the day 
 and pour in light on pluto's drear abodes 
 abhorr'd by men and dreadful even to gods 261 


 the gods descending to battle 


 such war the immortals wage such horrors rend
 the world's vast concave when the gods contend
 first silver-shafted phoebus took the plain
 against blue neptune monarch of the main 
 the god of arms his giant bulk display'd 
 opposed to pallas war's triumphant maid 
 against latona march'd the son of may 
 the quiver'd dian sister of the day 
 her golden arrows sounding at her side 
 saturnia majesty of heaven defied 
 with fiery vulcan last in battle stands
 the sacred flood that rolls on golden sands 
 xanthus his name with those of heavenly birth 
 but called scamander by the sons of earth 

 while thus the gods in various league engage 
 achilles glow'd with more than mortal rage 
 hector he sought in search of hector turn'd
 his eyes around for hector only burn'd 
 and burst like lightning through the ranks and vow'd
 to glut the god of battles with his blood 

 cneas was the first who dared to stay 
 apollo wedged him in the warrior's way 
 but swell'd his bosom with undaunted might 
 half-forced and half-persuaded to the fight 
 like young lycaon of the royal line 
 in voice and aspect seem'd the power divine 
 and bade the chief reflect how late with scorn
 in distant threats he braved the goddess-born 

 then thus the hero of anchises' strain 
  to meet pelides you persuade in vain 
 already have i met nor void of fear
 observed the fury of his flying spear 
 from ida's woods he chased us to the field 
 our force he scattered and our herds he kill'd 
 lyrnessus pedasus in ashes lay 
 but jove assisting i survived the day 
 else had i sunk oppress'd in fatal fight
 by fierce achilles and minerva's might 
 where'er he moved the goddess shone before 
 and bathed his brazen lance in hostile gore 
 what mortal man achilles can sustain 
 the immortals guard him through the dreadful plain 
 and suffer not his dart to fall in vain 
 were god my aid this arm should check his power 
 though strong in battle as a brazen tower  

 to whom the son of jove  that god implore 
 and be what great achilles was before 
 from heavenly venus thou deriv'st thy strain 
 and he but from a sister of the main 
 an aged sea-god father of his line 
 but jove himself the sacred source of thine 
 then lift thy weapon for a noble blow 
 nor fear the vaunting of a mortal foe  

 this said and spirit breathed into his breast 
 through the thick troops the embolden'd hero press'd 
 his venturous act the white-arm'd queen survey'd 
 and thus assembling all the powers she said 

  behold an action gods that claims your care 
 lo great cneas rushing to the war 
 against pelides he directs his course 
 phoebus impels and phoebus gives him force 
 restrain his bold career at least to attend
 our favour'd hero let some power descend 
 to guard his life and add to his renown 
 we the great armament of heaven came down 
 hereafter let him fall as fates design 
 that spun so short his life's illustrious line 262 
 but lest some adverse god now cross his way 
 give him to know what powers assist this day 
 for how shall mortal stand the dire alarms 
 when heaven's refulgent host appear in arms   263 

 thus she and thus the god whose force can make
 the solid globe's eternal basis shake 
  against the might of man so feeble known 
 why should celestial powers exert their own 
 suffice from yonder mount to view the scene 
 and leave to war the fates of mortal men 
 but if the armipotent or god of light 
 obstruct achilles or commence the fight 
 thence on the gods of troy we swift descend 
 full soon i doubt not shall the conflict end 
 and these in ruin and confusion hurl'd 
 yield to our conquering arms the lower world  

 thus having said the tyrant of the sea 
 coerulean neptune rose and led the way 
 advanced upon the field there stood a mound
 of earth congested wall'd and trench'd around 
 in elder times to guard alcides made 
 the work of trojans with minerva's aid 
 what time a vengeful monster of the main
 swept the wide shore and drove him to the plain 

 here neptune and the gods of greece repair 
 with clouds encompass'd and a veil of air 
 the adverse powers around apollo laid 
 crown the fair hills that silver simois shade 
 in circle close each heavenly party sat 
 intent to form the future scheme of fate 
 but mix not yet in fight though jove on high
 gives the loud signal and the heavens reply 

 meanwhile the rushing armies hide the ground 
 the trampled centre yields a hollow sound 
 steeds cased in mail and chiefs in armour bright 
 the gleaming champaign glows with brazen light 
 amid both hosts a dreadful space appear 
 there great achilles bold cneas here 
 with towering strides aeneas first advanced 
 the nodding plumage on his helmet danced 
 spread o'er his breast the fencing shield he bore 
 and so he moved his javelin flamed before 
 not so pelides furious to engage 
 he rush'd impetuous such the lion's rage 
 who viewing first his foes with scornful eyes 
 though all in arms the peopled city rise 
 stalks careless on with unregarding pride 
 till at the length by some brave youth defied 
 to his bold spear the savage turns alone 
 he murmurs fury with a hollow groan 
 he grins he foams he rolls his eyes around
 lash'd by his tail his heaving sides resound 
 he calls up all his rage he grinds his teeth 
 resolved on vengeance or resolved on death 
 so fierce achilles on cneas flies 
 so stands cneas and his force defies 
 ere yet the stern encounter join'd begun
 the seed of thetis thus to venus' son 

  why comes cneas through the ranks so far 
 seeks he to meet achilles' arm in war 
 in hope the realms of priam to enjoy 
 and prove his merits to the throne of troy 
 grant that beneath thy lance achilles dies 
 the partial monarch may refuse the prize 
 sons he has many those thy pride may quell 
 and 'tis his fault to love those sons too well 
 or in reward of thy victorious hand 
 has troy proposed some spacious tract of land
 an ample forest or a fair domain 
 of hills for vines and arable for grain 
 even this perhaps will hardly prove thy lot 
 but can achilles be so soon forgot 
 once as i think you saw this brandish'd spear
 and then the great cneas seem'd to fear 
 with hearty haste from ida's mount he fled 
 nor till he reach'd lyrnessus turn'd his head 
 her lofty walls not long our progress stay'd 
 those pallas jove and we in ruins laid 
 in grecian chains her captive race were cast 
 'tis true the great aeneas fled too fast 
 defrauded of my conquest once before 
 what then i lost the gods this day restore 
 go while thou may'st avoid the threaten'd fate 
 fools stay to feel it and are wise too late  

 to this anchises' son  such words employ
 to one that fears thee some unwarlike boy 
 such we disdain the best may be defied
 with mean reproaches and unmanly pride 
 unworthy the high race from which we came
 proclaim'd so loudly by the voice of fame 
 each from illustrious fathers draws his line 
 each goddess-born half human half divine 
 thetis' this day or venus' offspring dies 
 and tears shall trickle from celestial eyes 
 for when two heroes thus derived contend 
 'tis not in words the glorious strife can end 
 if yet thou further seek to learn my birth
 a tale resounded through the spacious earth 
 hear how the glorious origin we prove
 from ancient dardanus the first from jove 
 dardania's walls he raised for ilion then 
 the city since of many-languaged men 
 was not the natives were content to till
 the shady foot of ida's fountful hill 264 
 from dardanus great erichthonius springs 
 the richest once of asia's wealthy kings 
 three thousand mares his spacious pastures bred 
 three thousand foals beside their mothers fed 
 boreas enamour'd of the sprightly train 
 conceal'd his godhead in a flowing mane 
 with voice dissembled to his loves he neigh'd 
 and coursed the dappled beauties o'er the mead 
 hence sprung twelve others of unrivall'd kind 
 swift as their mother mares and father wind 
 these lightly skimming when they swept the plain 
 nor plied the grass nor bent the tender grain 
 and when along the level seas they flew 265 
 scarce on the surface curl'd the briny dew 
 such erichthonius was from him there came
 the sacred tros of whom the trojan name 
 three sons renown'd adorn'd his nuptial bed 
 ilus assaracus and ganymed 
 the matchless ganymed divinely fair 
 whom heaven enamour'd snatch'd to upper air 
 to bear the cup of jove ethereal guest 
 the grace and glory of the ambrosial feast 
 the two remaining sons the line divide 
 first rose laomedon from ilus' side 
 from him tithonus now in cares grown old 
 and priam bless'd with hector brave and bold 
 clytius and lampus ever-honour'd pair 
 and hicetaon thunderbolt of war 
 from great assaracus sprang capys he
 begat anchises and anchises me 
 such is our race 'tis fortune gives us birth 
 but jove alone endues the soul with worth 
 he source of power and might with boundless sway 
 all human courage gives or takes away 
 long in the field of words we may contend 
 reproach is infinite and knows no end 
 arm'd or with truth or falsehood right or wrong 
 so voluble a weapon is the tongue 
 wounded we wound and neither side can fail 
 for every man has equal strength to rail 
 women alone when in the streets they jar 
 perhaps excel us in this wordy war 
 like us they stand encompass'd with the crowd 
 and vent their anger impotent and loud 
 cease then our business in the field of fight
 is not to question but to prove our might 
 to all those insults thou hast offer'd here 
 receive this answer 'tis my flying spear  

 he spoke with all his force the javelin flung 
 fix'd deep and loudly in the buckler rung 
 far on his outstretch'd arm pelides held
 to meet the thundering lance his dreadful shield 
 that trembled as it stuck nor void of fear
 saw ere it fell the immeasurable spear 
 his fears were vain impenetrable charms
 secured the temper of the ethereal arms 
 through two strong plates the point its passage held 
 but stopp'd and rested by the third repell'd 
 five plates of various metal various mould 
 composed the shield of brass each outward fold 
 of tin each inward and the middle gold 
 there stuck the lance then rising ere he threw 
 the forceful spear of great achilles flew 
 and pierced the dardan shield's extremest bound 
 where the shrill brass return'd a sharper sound 
 through the thin verge the pelean weapon glides 
 and the slight covering of expanded hides 
 cneas his contracted body bends 
 and o'er him high the riven targe extends 
 sees through its parting plates the upper air 
 and at his back perceives the quivering spear 
 a fate so near him chills his soul with fright 
 and swims before his eyes the many-colour'd light 
 achilles rushing in with dreadful cries 
 draws his broad blade and at cneas flies 
 cneas rousing as the foe came on 
 with force collected heaves a mighty stone 
 a mass enormous which in modern days
 no two of earth's degenerate sons could raise 
 but ocean's god whose earthquakes rock the ground 
 saw the distress and moved the powers around 

  lo on the brink of fate cneas stands 
 an instant victim to achilles' hands 
 by phoebus urged but phoebus has bestow'd
 his aid in vain the man o'erpowers the god 
 and can ye see this righteous chief atone
 with guiltless blood for vices not his own 
 to all the gods his constant vows were paid 
 sure though he wars for troy he claims our aid 
 fate wills not this nor thus can jove resign
 the future father of the dardan line 266 
 the first great ancestor obtain'd his grace 
 and still his love descends on all the race 
 for priam now and priam's faithless kind 
 at length are odious to the all-seeing mind 
 on great cneas shall devolve the reign 
 and sons succeeding sons the lasting line sustain  

 the great earth-shaker thus to whom replies
 the imperial goddess with the radiant eyes 
  good as he is to immolate or spare
 the dardan prince o neptune be thy care 
 pallas and i by all that gods can bind 
 have sworn destruction to the trojan kind 
 not even an instant to protract their fate 
 or save one member of the sinking state 
 till her last flame be quench'd with her last gore 
 and even her crumbling ruins are no more  

 the king of ocean to the fight descends 
 through all the whistling darts his course he bends 
 swift interposed between the warrior flies 
 and casts thick darkness o'er achilles' eyes 267 
 from great cneas' shield the spear he drew 
 and at his master's feet the weapon threw 
 that done with force divine he snatch'd on high
 the dardan prince and bore him through the sky 
 smooth-gliding without step above the heads
 of warring heroes and of bounding steeds 
 till at the battle's utmost verge they light 
 where the slow caucans close the rear of fight 
 the godhead there his heavenly form confess'd 
 with words like these the panting chief address'd 

  what power o prince with force inferior far 
 urged thee to meet achilles' arm in war 
 henceforth beware nor antedate thy doom 
 defrauding fate of all thy fame to come 
 but when the day decreed for come it must 
 shall lay this dreadful hero in the dust 
 let then the furies of that arm be known 
 secure no grecian force transcends thy own  

 with that he left him wondering as he lay 
 then from achilles chased the mist away 
 sudden returning with a stream of light 
 the scene of war came rushing on his sight 
 then thus amazed  what wonders strike my mind 
 my spear that parted on the wings of wind 
 laid here before me and the dardan lord 
 that fell this instant vanish'd from my sword 
 i thought alone with mortals to contend 
 but powers celestial sure this foe defend 
 great as he is our arms he scarce will try 
 content for once with all his gods to fly 
 now then let others bleed   this said aloud
 he vents his fury and inflames the crowd 
  o greeks he cries and every rank alarms 
 join battle man to man and arms to arms 
 'tis not in me though favour'd by the sky 
 to mow whole troops and make whole armies fly 
 no god can singly such a host engage 
 not mars himself nor great minerva's rage 
 but whatsoe'er achilles can inspire 
 whate'er of active force or acting fire 
 whate'er this heart can prompt or hand obey 
 all all achilles greeks is yours to-day 
 through yon wide host this arm shall scatter fear 
 and thin the squadrons with my single spear  

 he said nor less elate with martial joy 
 the godlike hector warm'd the troops of troy 
  trojans to war think hector leads you on 
 nor dread the vaunts of peleus' haughty son 
 deeds must decide our fate e'en these with words
 insult the brave who tremble at their swords 
 the weakest atheist-wretch all heaven defies 
 but shrinks and shudders when the thunder flies 
 nor from yon boaster shall your chief retire 
 not though his heart were steel his hands were fire 
 that fire that steel your hector should withstand 
 and brave that vengeful heart that dreadful hand  

 thus breathing rage through all the hero said 
 a wood of lances rises round his head 
 clamours on clamours tempest all the air 
 they join they throng they thicken to the war 
 but phoebus warns him from high heaven to shun
 the single fight with thetis' godlike son 
 more safe to combat in the mingled band 
 nor tempt too near the terrors of his hand 
 he hears obedient to the god of light 
 and plunged within the ranks awaits the fight 

 then fierce achilles shouting to the skies 
 on troy's whole force with boundless fury flies 
 first falls iphytion at his army's head 
 brave was the chief and brave the host he led 
 from great otrynteus he derived his blood 
 his mother was a nais of the flood 
 beneath the shades of tmolus crown'd with snow 
 from hyde's walls he ruled the lands below 
 fierce as he springs the sword his head divides 
 the parted visage falls on equal sides 
 with loud-resounding arms he strikes the plain 
 while thus achilles glories o'er the slain 

  lie there otryntides the trojan earth
 receives thee dead though gygae boast thy birth 
 those beauteous fields where hyllus' waves are roll'd 
 and plenteous hermus swells with tides of gold 
 are thine no more   the insulting hero said 
 and left him sleeping in eternal shade 
 the rolling wheels of greece the body tore 
 and dash'd their axles with no vulgar gore 

 demoleon next antenor's offspring laid
 breathless in dust the price of rashness paid 
 the impatient steel with full-descending sway
 forced through his brazen helm its furious way 
 resistless drove the batter'd skull before 
 and dash'd and mingled all the brains with gore 
 this sees hippodamas and seized with fright 
 deserts his chariot for a swifter flight 
 the lance arrests him an ignoble wound
 the panting trojan rivets to the ground 
 he groans away his soul not louder roars 
 at neptune's shrine on helice's high shores 
 the victim bull the rocks re-bellow round 
 and ocean listens to the grateful sound 
 then fell on polydore his vengeful rage 268 
 the youngest hope of priam's stooping age 
 whose feet for swiftness in the race surpass'd 
 of all his sons the dearest and the last 
 to the forbidden field he takes his flight 
 in the first folly of a youthful knight 
 to vaunt his swiftness wheels around the plain 
 but vaunts not long with all his swiftness slain 
 struck where the crossing belts unite behind 
 and golden rings the double back-plate join'd
 forth through the navel burst the thrilling steel 
 and on his knees with piercing shrieks he fell 
 the rushing entrails pour'd upon the ground
 his hands collect and darkness wraps him round 
 when hector view'd all ghastly in his gore 
 thus sadly slain the unhappy polydore 
 a cloud of sorrow overcast his sight 
 his soul no longer brook'd the distant fight 
 full in achilles' dreadful front he came 
 and shook his javelin like a waving flame 
 the son of peleus sees with joy possess'd 
 his heart high-bounding in his rising breast 
  and lo the man on whom black fates attend 
 the man that slew achilles is his friend 
 no more shall hector's and pelides' spear
 turn from each other in the walks of war   
 then with revengeful eyes he scann'd him o'er 
  come and receive thy fate   he spake no more 

 hector undaunted thus  such words employ
 to one that dreads thee some unwarlike boy 
 such we could give defying and defied 
 mean intercourse of obloquy and pride 
 i know thy force to mine superior far 
 but heaven alone confers success in war 
 mean as i am the gods may guide my dart 
 and give it entrance in a braver heart  

 then parts the lance but pallas' heavenly breath
 far from achilles wafts the winged death 
 the bidden dart again to hector flies 
 and at the feet of its great master lies 
 achilles closes with his hated foe 
 his heart and eyes with flaming fury glow 
 but present to his aid apollo shrouds
 the favour'd hero in a veil of clouds 
 thrice struck pelides with indignant heart 
 thrice in impassive air he plunged the dart 
 the spear a fourth time buried in the cloud 
 he foams with fury and exclaims aloud 

  wretch thou hast 'scaped again once more thy flight
 has saved thee and the partial god of light 
 but long thou shalt not thy just fate withstand 
 if any power assist achilles' hand 
 fly then inglorious but thy flight this day
 whole hecatombs of trojan ghosts shall pay  

 with that he gluts his rage on numbers slain 
 then dryops tumbled to the ensanguined plain 
 pierced through the neck he left him panting there 
 and stopp'd demuchus great philetor's heir 
 gigantic chief deep gash'd the enormous blade 
 and for the soul an ample passage made 
 laoganus and dardanus expire 
 the valiant sons of an unhappy sire 
 both in one instant from the chariot hurl'd 
 sunk in one instant to the nether world 
 this difference only their sad fates afford
 that one the spear destroy'd and one the sword 

 nor less unpitied young alastor bleeds 
 in vain his youth in vain his beauty pleads 
 in vain he begs thee with a suppliant's moan 
 to spare a form an age so like thy own 
 unhappy boy no prayer no moving art 
 e'er bent that fierce inexorable heart 
 while yet he trembled at his knees and cried 
 the ruthless falchion oped his tender side 
 the panting liver pours a flood of gore
 that drowns his bosom till he pants no more 

 through mulius' head then drove the impetuous spear 
 the warrior falls transfix'd from ear to ear 
 thy life echeclus next the sword bereaves 
 deep though the front the ponderous falchion cleaves 
 warm'd in the brain the smoking weapon lies 
 the purple death comes floating o'er his eyes 
 then brave deucalion died the dart was flung
 where the knit nerves the pliant elbow strung 
 he dropp'd his arm an unassisting weight 
 and stood all impotent expecting fate 
 full on his neck the falling falchion sped 
 from his broad shoulders hew'd his crested head 
 forth from the bone the spinal marrow flies 
 and sunk in dust the corpse extended lies 
 rhigmas whose race from fruitful thracia came 
 the son of pierus an illustrious name 
 succeeds to fate the spear his belly rends 
 prone from his car the thundering chief descends 
 the squire who saw expiring on the ground
 his prostrate master rein'd the steeds around 
 his back scarce turn'd the pelian javelin gored 
 and stretch'd the servant o'er his dying lord 
 as when a flame the winding valley fills 
 and runs on crackling shrubs between the hills 
 then o'er the stubble up the mountain flies 
 fires the high woods and blazes to the skies 
 this way and that the spreading torrent roars 
 so sweeps the hero through the wasted shores 
 around him wide immense destruction pours
 and earth is deluged with the sanguine showers
 as with autumnal harvests cover'd o'er 
 and thick bestrewn lies ceres' sacred floor 
 when round and round with never-wearied pain 
 the trampling steers beat out the unnumber'd grain 
 so the fierce coursers as the chariot rolls 
 tread down whole ranks and crush out heroes' souls 
 dash'd from their hoofs while o'er the dead they fly 
 black bloody drops the smoking chariot dye 
 the spiky wheels through heaps of carnage tore 
 and thick the groaning axles dropp'd with gore 
 high o'er the scene of death achilles stood 
 all grim with dust all horrible in blood 
 yet still insatiate still with rage on flame 
 such is the lust of never-dying fame 


 centaur 





book xxi 


argument 

the battle in the river scamander 269 

the trojans fly before achilles some towards the town others to the
river scamander he falls upon the latter with great slaughter takes
twelve captives alive to sacrifice to the shade of patroclus and kills
lycaon and asteropeus scamander attacks him with all his waves neptune
and pallas assist the hero simois joins scamander at length vulcan by
the instigation of juno almost dries up the river this combat ended the
other gods engage each other meanwhile achilles continues the slaughter 
drives the rest into troy agenor only makes a stand and is conveyed away
in a cloud by apollo who to delude achilles takes upon him agenor's
shape and while he pursues him in that disguise gives the trojans an
opportunity of retiring into their city 

the same day continues the scene is on the banks and in the stream of
scamander 

 and now to xanthus' gliding stream they drove 
 xanthus immortal progeny of jove 
 the river here divides the flying train 
 part to the town fly diverse o'er the plain 
 where late their troops triumphant bore the fight 
 now chased and trembling in ignoble flight 
 these with a gathered mist saturnia shrouds 
 and rolls behind the rout a heap of clouds 
 part plunge into the stream old xanthus roars 
 the flashing billows beat the whiten'd shores 
 with cries promiscuous all the banks resound 
 and here and there in eddies whirling round 
 the flouncing steeds and shrieking warriors drown'd 
 as the scorch'd locusts from their fields retire 
 while fast behind them runs the blaze of fire 
 driven from the land before the smoky cloud 
 the clustering legions rush into the flood 
 so plunged in xanthus by achilles' force 
 roars the resounding surge with men and horse 
 his bloody lance the hero casts aside 
 which spreading tamarisks on the margin hide 
 then like a god the rapid billows braves 
 arm'd with his sword high brandish'd o'er the waves 
 now down he plunges now he whirls it round 
 deep groan'd the waters with the dying sound 
 repeated wounds the reddening river dyed 
 and the warm purple circled on the tide 
 swift through the foamy flood the trojans fly 
 and close in rocks or winding caverns lie 
 so the huge dolphin tempesting the main 
 in shoals before him fly the scaly train 
 confusedly heap'd they seek their inmost caves 
 or pant and heave beneath the floating waves 
 now tired with slaughter from the trojan band
 twelve chosen youths he drags alive to land 
 with their rich belts their captive arms restrains
 late their proud ornaments but now their chains 
 these his attendants to the ships convey'd 
 sad victims destined to patroclus' shade 

 then as once more he plunged amid the flood 
 the young lycaon in his passage stood 
 the son of priam whom the hero's hand
 but late made captive in his father's land
 as from a sycamore his sounding steel
 lopp'd the green arms to spoke a chariot wheel 
 to lemnos' isle he sold the royal slave 
 where jason's son the price demanded gave 
 but kind eetion touching on the shore 
 the ransom'd prince to fair arisbe bore 
 ten days were past since in his father's reign
 he felt the sweets of liberty again 
 the next that god whom men in vain withstand
 gives the same youth to the same conquering hand
 now never to return and doom'd to go
 a sadder journey to the shades below 
 his well-known face when great achilles eyed 
 the helm and visor he had cast aside
 with wild affright and dropp'd upon the field
 his useless lance and unavailing shield 
 as trembling panting from the stream he fled 
 and knock'd his faltering knees the hero said 
  ye mighty gods what wonders strike my view 
 is it in vain our conquering arms subdue 
 sure i shall see yon heaps of trojans kill'd
 rise from the shades and brave me on the field 
 as now the captive whom so late i bound
 and sold to lemnos stalks on trojan ground 
 not him the sea's unmeasured deeps detain 
 that bar such numbers from their native plain 
 lo he returns try then my flying spear 
 try if the grave can hold the wanderer 
 if earth at length this active prince can seize 
 earth whose strong grasp has held down hercules  

 thus while he spoke the trojan pale with fears
 approach'd and sought his knees with suppliant tears
 loth as he was to yield his youthful breath 
 and his soul shivering at the approach of death 
 achilles raised the spear prepared to wound 
 he kiss'd his feet extended on the ground 
 and while above the spear suspended stood 
 longing to dip its thirsty point in blood 
 one hand embraced them close one stopp'd the dart 
 while thus these melting words attempt his heart 

  thy well-known captive great achilles see 
 once more lycaon trembles at thy knee 
 some pity to a suppliant's name afford 
 who shared the gifts of ceres at thy board 
 whom late thy conquering arm to lemnos bore 
 far from his father friends and native shore 
 a hundred oxen were his price that day 
 now sums immense thy mercy shall repay 
 scarce respited from woes i yet appear 
 and scarce twelve morning suns have seen me here 
 lo jove again submits me to thy hands 
 again her victim cruel fate demands 
 i sprang from priam and laothoe fair 
 old altes' daughter and lelegia's heir 
 who held in pedasus his famed abode 
 and ruled the fields where silver satnio flow'd 
 two sons alas unhappy sons she bore 
 for ah one spear shall drink each brother's gore 
 and i succeed to slaughter'd polydore 
 how from that arm of terror shall i fly 
 some demon urges 'tis my doom to die 
 if ever yet soft pity touch'd thy mind 
 ah think not me too much of hector's kind 
 not the same mother gave thy suppliant breath 
 with his who wrought thy loved patroclus' death  

 these words attended with a shower of tears 
 the youth address'd to unrelenting ears 
  talk not of life or ransom he replies 
 patroclus dead whoever meets me dies 
 in vain a single trojan sues for grace 
 but least the sons of priam's hateful race 
 die then my friend what boots it to deplore 
 the great the good patroclus is no more 
 he far thy better was foredoom'd to die 
 and thou dost thou bewail mortality 
 seest thou not me whom nature's gifts adorn 
 sprung from a hero from a goddess born 
 the day shall come which nothing can avert 
 when by the spear the arrow or the dart 
 by night or day by force or by design 
 impending death and certain fate are mine 
 die then   he said and as the word he spoke 
 the fainting stripling sank before the stroke 
 his hand forgot its grasp and left the spear 
 while all his trembling frame confess'd his fear 
 sudden achilles his broad sword display'd 
 and buried in his neck the reeking blade 
 prone fell the youth and panting on the land 
 the gushing purple dyed the thirsty sand 
 the victor to the stream the carcase gave 
 and thus insults him floating on the wave 

  lie there lycaon let the fish surround
 thy bloated corpse and suck thy gory wound 
 there no sad mother shall thy funerals weep 
 but swift scamander roll thee to the deep 
 whose every wave some watery monster brings 
 to feast unpunish'd on the fat of kings 
 so perish troy and all the trojan line 
 such ruin theirs and such compassion mine 
 what boots ye now scamander's worshipp'd stream 
 his earthly honours and immortal name 
 in vain your immolated bulls are slain 
 your living coursers glut his gulfs in vain 
 thus he rewards you with this bitter fate 
 thus till the grecian vengeance is complete 
 thus is atoned patroclus' honour'd shade 
 and the short absence of achilles paid  

 these boastful words provoked the raging god 
 with fury swells the violated flood 
 what means divine may yet the power employ
 to check achilles and to rescue troy 
 meanwhile the hero springs in arms to dare
 the great asteropeus to mortal war 
 the son of pelagon whose lofty line
 flows from the source of axius stream divine 
 fair peribaea's love the god had crown'd 
 with all his refluent waters circled round 
 on him achilles rush'd he fearless stood 
 and shook two spears advancing from the flood 
 the flood impell'd him on pelides' head
 to avenge his waters choked with heaps of dead 
 near as they drew achilles thus began 

  what art thou boldest of the race of man 
 who or from whence unhappy is the sire
 whose son encounters our resistless ire  

  o son of peleus what avails to trace
 replied the warrior our illustrious race 
 from rich paeonia's valleys i command 
 arm'd with protended spears my native band 
 now shines the tenth bright morning since i came
 in aid of ilion to the fields of fame 
 axius who swells with all the neighbouring rills 
 and wide around the floated region fills 
 begot my sire whose spear much glory won 
 now lift thy arm and try that hero's son  

 threatening he said the hostile chiefs advance 
 at once asteropeus discharged each lance 
 for both his dexterous hands the lance could wield 
 one struck but pierced not the vulcanian shield 
 one razed achilles' hand the spouting blood
 spun forth in earth the fasten'd weapon stood 
 like lightning next the pelean javelin flies 
 its erring fury hiss'd along the skies 
 deep in the swelling bank was driven the spear 
 even to the middle earth and quiver'd there 
 then from his side the sword pelides drew 
 and on his foe with double fury flew 
 the foe thrice tugg'd and shook the rooted wood 
 repulsive of his might the weapon stood 
 the fourth he tries to break the spear in vain 
 bent as he stands he tumbles to the plain 
 his belly open'd with a ghastly wound 
 the reeking entrails pour upon the ground 
 beneath the hero's feet he panting lies 
 and his eye darkens and his spirit flies 
 while the proud victor thus triumphing said 
 his radiant armour tearing from the dead 

  so ends thy glory such the fate they prove 
 who strive presumptuous with the sons of jove 
 sprung from a river didst thou boast thy line 
 but great saturnius is the source of mine 
 how durst thou vaunt thy watery progeny 
 of peleus cacus and jove am i 
 the race of these superior far to those 
 as he that thunders to the stream that flows 
 what rivers can scamander might have shown 
 but jove he dreads nor wars against his son 
 even achelous might contend in vain 
 and all the roaring billows of the main 
 the eternal ocean from whose fountains flow
 the seas the rivers and the springs below 
 the thundering voice of jove abhors to hear 
 and in his deep abysses shakes with fear  

 he said then from the bank his javelin tore 
 and left the breathless warrior in his gore 
 the floating tides the bloody carcase lave 
 and beat against it wave succeeding wave 
 till roll'd between the banks it lies the food
 of curling eels and fishes of the flood 
 all scatter'd round the stream their mightiest slain 
 the amazed paeonians scour along the plain 
 he vents his fury on the flying crew 
 thrasius astyplus and mnesus slew 
 mydon thersilochus with cnius fell 
 and numbers more his lance had plunged to hell 
 but from the bottom of his gulfs profound
 scamander spoke the shores return'd the sound 

  o first of mortals for the gods are thine 
 in valour matchless and in force divine 
 if jove have given thee every trojan head 
 'tis not on me thy rage should heap the dead 
 see my choked streams no more their course can keep 
 nor roll their wonted tribute to the deep 
 turn then impetuous from our injured flood 
 content thy slaughters could amaze a god  

 in human form confess'd before his eyes 
 the river thus and thus the chief replies 
  o sacred stream thy word we shall obey 
 but not till troy the destined vengeance pay 
 not till within her towers the perjured train
 shall pant and tremble at our arms again 
 not till proud hector guardian of her wall 
 or stain this lance or see achilles fall  

 he said and drove with fury on the foe 
 then to the godhead of the silver bow
 the yellow flood began  o son of jove 
 was not the mandate of the sire above
 full and express that phoebus should employ
 his sacred arrows in defence of troy 
 and make her conquer till hyperion's fall
 in awful darkness hide the face of all  

 he spoke in vain the chief without dismay
 ploughs through the boiling surge his desperate way 
 then rising in his rage above the shores 
 from all his deep the bellowing river roars 
 huge heaps of slain disgorges on the coast 
 and round the banks the ghastly dead are toss'd 
 while all before the billows ranged on high 
 a watery bulwark screen the bands who fly 
 now bursting on his head with thundering sound 
 the falling deluge whelms the hero round 
 his loaded shield bends to the rushing tide 
 his feet upborne scarce the strong flood divide 
 sliddering and staggering on the border stood
 a spreading elm that overhung the flood 
 he seized a bending bough his steps to stay 
 the plant uprooted to his weight gave way 270 
 heaving the bank and undermining all 
 loud flash the waters to the rushing fall
 of the thick foliage the large trunk display'd
 bridged the rough flood across the hero stay'd
 on this his weight and raised upon his hand 
 leap'd from the channel and regain'd the land 
 then blacken'd the wild waves the murmur rose 
 the god pursues a huger billow throws 
 and bursts the bank ambitious to destroy
 the man whose fury is the fate of troy 
 he like the warlike eagle speeds his pace
 swiftest and strongest of the aerial race 
 far as a spear can fly achilles springs 
 at every bound his clanging armour rings 
 now here now there he turns on every side 
 and winds his course before the following tide 
 the waves flow after wheresoe'er he wheels 
 and gather fast and murmur at his heels 
 so when a peasant to his garden brings
 soft rills of water from the bubbling springs 
 and calls the floods from high to bless his bowers 
 and feed with pregnant streams the plants and flowers 
 soon as he clears whate'er their passage stay'd 
 and marks the future current with his spade 
 swift o'er the rolling pebbles down the hills 
 louder and louder purl the falling rills 
 before him scattering they prevent his pains 
 and shine in mazy wanderings o'er the plains 

 still flies achilles but before his eyes
 still swift scamander rolls where'er he flies 
 not all his speed escapes the rapid floods 
 the first of men but not a match for gods 
 oft as he turn'd the torrent to oppose 
 and bravely try if all the powers were foes 
 so oft the surge in watery mountains spread 
 beats on his back or bursts upon his head 
 yet dauntless still the adverse flood he braves 
 and still indignant bounds above the waves 
 tired by the tides his knees relax with toil 
 wash'd from beneath him slides the slimy soil 
 when thus his eyes on heaven's expansion thrown 
 forth bursts the hero with an angry groan 

  is there no god achilles to befriend 
 no power to avert his miserable end 
 prevent o jove this ignominious date 271 
 and make my future life the sport of fate 
 of all heaven's oracles believed in vain 
 but most of thetis must her son complain 
 by phoebus' darts she prophesied my fall 
 in glorious arms before the trojan wall 
 oh had i died in fields of battle warm 
 stretch'd like a hero by a hero's arm 
 might hector's spear this dauntless bosom rend 
 and my swift soul o'ertake my slaughter'd friend 
 ah no achilles meets a shameful fate 
 oh how unworthy of the brave and great 
 like some vile swain whom on a rainy day 
 crossing a ford the torrent sweeps away 
 an unregarded carcase to the sea  

 neptune and pallas haste to his relief 
 and thus in human form address'd the chief 
 the power of ocean first  forbear thy fear 
 o son of peleus lo thy gods appear 
 behold from jove descending to thy aid 
 propitious neptune and the blue-eyed maid 
 stay and the furious flood shall cease to rave
 'tis not thy fate to glut his angry wave 
 but thou the counsel heaven suggests attend 
 nor breathe from combat nor thy sword suspend 
 till troy receive her flying sons till all
 her routed squadrons pant behind their wall 
 hector alone shall stand his fatal chance 
 and hector's blood shall smoke upon thy lance 
 thine is the glory doom'd   thus spake the gods 
 then swift ascended to the bright abodes 

 stung with new ardour thus by heaven impell'd 
 he springs impetuous and invades the field 
 o'er all the expanded plain the waters spread 
 heaved on the bounding billows danced the dead 
 floating 'midst scatter'd arms while casques of gold
 and turn'd-up bucklers glitter'd as they roll'd 
 high o'er the surging tide by leaps and bounds 
 he wades and mounts the parted wave resounds 
 not a whole river stops the hero's course 
 while pallas fills him with immortal force 
 with equal rage indignant xanthus roars 
 and lifts his billows and o'erwhelms his shores 

 then thus to simois  haste my brother flood 
 and check this mortal that controls a god 
 our bravest heroes else shall quit the fight 
 and ilion tumble from her towery height 
 call then thy subject streams and bid them roar 
 from all thy fountains swell thy watery store 
 with broken rocks and with a load of dead 
 charge the black surge and pour it on his head 
 mark how resistless through the floods he goes 
 and boldly bids the warring gods be foes 
 but nor that force nor form divine to sight 
 shall aught avail him if our rage unite 
 whelm'd under our dark gulfs those arms shall lie 
 that blaze so dreadful in each trojan eye 
 and deep beneath a sandy mountain hurl'd 
 immersed remain this terror of the world 
 such ponderous ruin shall confound the place 
 no greeks shall e'er his perish'd relics grace 
 no hand his bones shall gather or inhume 
 these his cold rites and this his watery tomb  


 achilles contending with the rivers 


 he said and on the chief descends amain 
 increased with gore and swelling with the slain 
 then murmuring from his beds he boils he raves 
 and a foam whitens on the purple waves 
 at every step before achilles stood
 the crimson surge and deluged him with blood 
 fear touch'd the queen of heaven she saw dismay'd 
 she call'd aloud and summon'd vulcan's aid 

  rise to the war the insulting flood requires
 thy wasteful arm assemble all thy fires 
 while to their aid by our command enjoin'd 
 rush the swift eastern and the western wind 
 these from old ocean at my word shall blow 
 pour the red torrent on the watery foe 
 corses and arms to one bright ruin turn 
 and hissing rivers to their bottoms burn 
 go mighty in thy rage display thy power 
 drink the whole flood the crackling trees devour 
 scorch all the banks and till our voice reclaim 
 exert the unwearied furies of the flame  

 the power ignipotent her word obeys 
 wide o'er the plain he pours the boundless blaze 
 at once consumes the dead and dries the soil
 and the shrunk waters in their channel boil 
 as when autumnal boreas sweeps the sky 
 and instant blows the water'd gardens dry 
 so look'd the field so whiten'd was the ground 
 while vulcan breathed the fiery blast around 
 swift on the sedgy reeds the ruin preys 
 along the margin winds the running blaze 
 the trees in flaming rows to ashes turn 
 the flowering lotos and the tamarisk burn 
 broad elm and cypress rising in a spire 
 the watery willows hiss before the fire 
 now glow the waves the fishes pant for breath 
 the eels lie twisting in the pangs of death 
 now flounce aloft now dive the scaly fry 
 or gasping turn their bellies to the sky 
 at length the river rear'd his languid head 
 and thus short-panting to the god he said 

  oh vulcan oh what power resists thy might 
 i faint i sink unequal to the fight 
 i yield let ilion fall if fate decree 
 ah bend no more thy fiery arms on me  

 he ceased wide conflagration blazing round 
 the bubbling waters yield a hissing sound 
 as when the flames beneath a cauldron rise 272 
 to melt the fat of some rich sacrifice 
 amid the fierce embrace of circling fires
 the waters foam the heavy smoke aspires 
 so boils the imprison'd flood forbid to flow 
 and choked with vapours feels his bottom glow 
 to juno then imperial queen of air 
 the burning river sends his earnest prayer 

  ah why saturnia must thy son engage
 me only me with all his wasteful rage 
 on other gods his dreadful arm employ 
 for mightier gods assert the cause of troy 
 submissive i desist if thou command 
 but ah withdraw this all-destroying hand 
 hear then my solemn oath to yield to fate
 unaided ilion and her destined state 
 till greece shall gird her with destructive flame 
 and in one ruin sink the trojan name  

 his warm entreaty touch'd saturnia's ear 
 she bade the ignipotent his rage forbear 
 recall the flame nor in a mortal cause
 infest a god the obedient flame withdraws 
 again the branching streams begin to spread 
 and soft remurmur in their wonted bed 

 while these by juno's will the strife resign 
 the warring gods in fierce contention join 
 rekindling rage each heavenly breast alarms 
 with horrid clangour shock the ethereal arms 
 heaven in loud thunder bids the trumpet sound 
 and wide beneath them groans the rending ground 
 jove as his sport the dreadful scene descries 
 and views contending gods with careless eyes 
 the power of battles lifts his brazen spear 
 and first assaults the radiant queen of war 

  what moved thy madness thus to disunite
 ethereal minds and mix all heaven in fight 
 what wonder this when in thy frantic mood
 thou drovest a mortal to insult a god 
 thy impious hand tydides' javelin bore 
 and madly bathed it in celestial gore  

 he spoke and smote the long-resounding shield 
 which bears jove's thunder on its dreadful field 
 the adamantine aegis of her sire 
 that turns the glancing bolt and forked fire 

 then heaved the goddess in her mighty hand
 a stone the limit of the neighbouring land 
 there fix'd from eldest times black craggy vast 
 this at the heavenly homicide she cast 
 thundering he falls a mass of monstrous size 
 and seven broad acres covers as he lies 
 the stunning stroke his stubborn nerves unbound 
 loud o'er the fields his ringing arms resound 
 the scornful dame her conquest views with smiles 
 and glorying thus the prostrate god reviles 

  hast thou not yet insatiate fury known
 how far minerva's force transcends thy own 
 juno whom thou rebellious darest withstand 
 corrects thy folly thus by pallas' hand 
 thus meets thy broken faith with just disgrace 
 and partial aid to troy's perfidious race  

 the goddess spoke and turn'd her eyes away 
 that beaming round diffused celestial day 
 jove's cyprian daughter stooping on the land 
 lent to the wounded god her tender hand 
 slowly he rises scarcely breathes with pain 
 and propp'd on her fair arm forsakes the plain 
 this the bright empress of the heavens survey'd 
 and scoffing thus to war's victorious maid 

  lo what an aid on mars's side is seen 
 the smiles' and loves' unconquerable queen 
 mark with what insolence in open view 
 she moves let pallas if she dares pursue  

 minerva smiling heard the pair o'ertook 
 and slightly on her breast the wanton strook 
 she unresisting fell her spirits fled 
 on earth together lay the lovers spread 
  and like these heroes be the fate of all
 minerva cries who guard the trojan wall 
 to grecian gods such let the phrygian be 
 so dread so fierce as venus is to me 
 then from the lowest stone shall troy be moved  
 thus she and juno with a smile approved 

 meantime to mix in more than mortal fight 
 the god of ocean dares the god of light 
  what sloth has seized us when the fields around
 ring with conflicting powers and heaven returns the sound 
 shall ignominious we with shame retire 
 no deed perform'd to our olympian sire 
 come prove thy arm for first the war to wage 
 suits not my greatness or superior age 
 rash as thou art to prop the trojan throne 
 forgetful of my wrongs and of thy own 
 and guard the race of proud laomedon 
 hast thou forgot how at the monarch's prayer 
 we shared the lengthen'd labours of a year 
 troy walls i raised for such were jove's commands 
 and yon proud bulwarks grew beneath my hands 
 thy task it was to feed the bellowing droves
 along fair ida's vales and pendant groves 
 but when the circling seasons in their train
 brought back the grateful day that crown'd our pain 
 with menace stern the fraudful king defied
 our latent godhead and the prize denied 
 mad as he was he threaten'd servile bands 
 and doom'd us exiles far in barbarous lands 273 
 incensed we heavenward fled with swiftest wing 
 and destined vengeance on the perjured king 
 dost thou for this afford proud ilion grace 
 and not like us infest the faithless race 
 like us their present future sons destroy 
 and from its deep foundations heave their troy  

 apollo thus  to combat for mankind
 ill suits the wisdom of celestial mind 
 for what is man calamitous by birth 
 they owe their life and nourishment to earth 
 like yearly leaves that now with beauty crown'd 
 smile on the sun now wither on the ground 
 to their own hands commit the frantic scene 
 nor mix immortals in a cause so mean  

 then turns his face far-beaming heavenly fires 
 and from the senior power submiss retires 
 him thus retreating artemis upbraids 
 the quiver'd huntress of the sylvan shades 

  and is it thus the youthful phoebus flies 
 and yields to ocean's hoary sire the prize 
 how vain that martial pomp and dreadful show
 of pointed arrows and the silver bow 
 now boast no more in yon celestial bower 
 thy force can match the great earth-shaking power  

 silent he heard the queen of woods upbraid 
 not so saturnia bore the vaunting maid 
 but furious thus  what insolence has driven
 thy pride to face the majesty of heaven 
 what though by jove the female plague design'd 
 fierce to the feeble race of womankind 
 the wretched matron feels thy piercing dart 
 thy sex's tyrant with a tiger's heart 
 what though tremendous in the woodland chase
 thy certain arrows pierce the savage race 
 how dares thy rashness on the powers divine
 employ those arms or match thy force with mine 
 learn hence no more unequal war to wage  
 she said and seized her wrists with eager rage 
 these in her left hand lock'd her right untied
 the bow the quiver and its plumy pride 
 about her temples flies the busy bow 
 now here now there she winds her from the blow 
 the scattering arrows rattling from the case 
 drop round and idly mark the dusty place 
 swift from the field the baffled huntress flies 
 and scarce restrains the torrent in her eyes 
 so when the falcon wings her way above 
 to the cleft cavern speeds the gentle dove 
 not fated yet to die there safe retreats 
 yet still her heart against the marble beats 

 to her latona hastes with tender care 
 whom hermes viewing thus declines the war 
  how shall i face the dame who gives delight
 to him whose thunders blacken heaven with night 
 go matchless goddess triumph in the skies 
 and boast my conquest while i yield the prize  

 he spoke and pass'd latona stooping low 
 collects the scatter'd shafts and fallen bow 
 that glittering on the dust lay here and there
 dishonour'd relics of diana's war 
 then swift pursued her to her blest abode 
 where all confused she sought the sovereign god 
 weeping she grasp'd his knees the ambrosial vest
 shook with her sighs and panted on her breast 

 the sire superior smiled and bade her show
 what heavenly hand had caused his daughter's woe 
 abash'd she names his own imperial spouse 
 and the pale crescent fades upon her brows 

 thus they above while swiftly gliding down 
 apollo enters ilion's sacred town 
 the guardian-god now trembled for her wall 
 and fear'd the greeks though fate forbade her fall 
 back to olympus from the war's alarms 
 return the shining bands of gods in arms 
 some proud in triumph some with rage on fire 
 and take their thrones around the ethereal sire 

 through blood through death achilles still proceeds 
 o'er slaughter'd heroes and o'er rolling steeds 
 as when avenging flames with fury driven
 on guilty towns exert the wrath of heaven 
 the pale inhabitants some fall some fly 
 and the red vapours purple all the sky 
 so raged achilles death and dire dismay 
 and toils and terrors fill'd the dreadful day 

 high on a turret hoary priam stands 
 and marks the waste of his destructive hands 
 views from his arm the trojans' scatter'd flight 
 and the near hero rising on his sight 
 no stop no check no aid with feeble pace 
 and settled sorrow on his aged face 
 fast as he could he sighing quits the walls 
 and thus descending on the guards he calls 

  you to whose care our city-gates belong 
 set wide your portals to the flying throng 
 for lo he comes with unresisted sway 
 he comes and desolation marks his way 
 but when within the walls our troops take breath 
 lock fast the brazen bars and shut out death  
 thus charged the reverend monarch wide were flung
 the opening folds the sounding hinges rung 
 phoebus rush'd forth the flying bands to meet 
 struck slaughter back and cover'd the retreat 
 on heaps the trojans crowd to gain the gate 
 and gladsome see their last escape from fate 
 thither all parch'd with thirst a heartless train 
 hoary with dust they beat the hollow plain 
 and gasping panting fainting labour on
 with heavier strides that lengthen toward the town 
 enraged achilles follows with his spear 
 wild with revenge insatiable of war 

 then had the greeks eternal praise acquired 
 and troy inglorious to her walls retired 
 but he the god who darts ethereal flame 
 shot down to save her and redeem her fame 
 to young agenor force divine he gave 
 antenor's offspring haughty bold and brave 
 in aid of him beside the beech he sate 
 and wrapt in clouds restrain'd the hand of fate 
 when now the generous youth achilles spies 
 thick beats his heart the troubled motions rise 
 so ere a storm the waters heave and roll 
 he stops and questions thus his mighty soul 

  what shall i fly this terror of the plain 
 like others fly and be like others slain 
 vain hope to shun him by the self-same road
 yon line of slaughter'd trojans lately trod 
 no with the common heap i scorn to fall 
 what if they pass'd me to the trojan wall 
 while i decline to yonder path that leads
 to ida's forests and surrounding shades 
 so may i reach conceal'd the cooling flood 
 from my tired body wash the dirt and blood 
 as soon as night her dusky veil extends 
 return in safety to my trojan friends 
 what if but wherefore all this vain debate 
 stand i to doubt within the reach of fate 
 even now perhaps ere yet i turn the wall 
 the fierce achilles sees me and i fall 
 such is his swiftness 'tis in vain to fly 
 and such his valour that who stands must die 
 howe'er 'tis better fighting for the state 
 here and in public view to meet my fate 
 yet sure he too is mortal he may feel
 like all the sons of earth the force of steel 
 one only soul informs that dreadful frame 
 and jove's sole favour gives him all his fame  

 he said and stood collected in his might 
 and all his beating bosom claim'd the fight 
 so from some deep-grown wood a panther starts 
 roused from his thicket by a storm of darts 
 untaught to fear or fly he hears the sounds
 of shouting hunters and of clamorous hounds 
 though struck though wounded scarce perceives the pain 
 and the barb'd javelin stings his breast in vain 
 on their whole war untamed the savage flies 
 and tears his hunter or beneath him dies 
 not less resolved antenor's valiant heir
 confronts achilles and awaits the war 
 disdainful of retreat high held before 
 his shield a broad circumference he bore 
 then graceful as he stood in act to throw
 the lifted javelin thus bespoke the foe 

  how proud achilles glories in his fame 
 and hopes this day to sink the trojan name
 beneath her ruins know that hope is vain 
 a thousand woes a thousand toils remain 
 parents and children our just arms employ 
 and strong and many are the sons of troy 
 great as thou art even thou may'st stain with gore
 these phrygian fields and press a foreign shore  

 he said with matchless force the javelin flung
 smote on his knee the hollow cuishes rung
 beneath the pointed steel but safe from harms
 he stands impassive in the ethereal arms 
 then fiercely rushing on the daring foe 
 his lifted arm prepares the fatal blow 
 but jealous of his fame apollo shrouds
 the god-like trojan in a veil of clouds 
 safe from pursuit and shut from mortal view 
 dismiss'd with fame the favoured youth withdrew 
 meanwhile the god to cover their escape 
 assumes agenor's habit voice and shape 
 flies from the furious chief in this disguise 
 the furious chief still follows where he flies 
 now o'er the fields they stretch with lengthen'd strides 
 now urge the course where swift scamander glides 
 the god now distant scarce a stride before 
 tempts his pursuit and wheels about the shore 
 while all the flying troops their speed employ 
 and pour on heaps into the walls of troy 
 no stop no stay no thought to ask or tell 
 who 'scaped by flight or who by battle fell 
 'twas tumult all and violence of flight 
 and sudden joy confused and mix'd affright 
 pale troy against achilles shuts her gate 
 and nations breathe deliver'd from their fate 





book xxii 


argument 

the death of hector 

the trojans being safe within the walls hector only stays to oppose
achilles priam is struck at his approach and tries to persuade his son
to re-enter the town hecuba joins her entreaties but in vain hector
consults within himself what measures to take but at the advance of
achilles his resolution fails him and he flies achilles pursues him
thrice round the walls of troy the gods debate concerning the fate of
hector at length minerva descends to the aid of achilles she deludes
hector in the shape of deiphobus he stands the combat and is slain 
achilles drags the dead body at his chariot in the sight of priam and
hecuba their lamentations tears and despair their cries reach the ears
of andromache who ignorant of this was retired into the inner part of
the palace she mounts up to the walls and beholds her dead husband she
swoons at the spectacle her excess of grief and lamentation 

the thirtieth day still continues the scene lies under the walls and on
the battlements of troy 

 thus to their bulwarks smit with panic fear 
 the herded ilians rush like driven deer 
 there safe they wipe the briny drops away 
 and drown in bowls the labours of the day 
 close to the walls advancing o'er the fields
 beneath one roof of well-compacted shields 
 march bending on the greeks' embodied powers 
 far stretching in the shade of trojan towers 
 great hector singly stay'd chain'd down by fate
 there fix'd he stood before the scaean gate 
 still his bold arms determined to employ 
 the guardian still of long-defended troy 

 apollo now to tired achilles turns 
 the power confess'd in all his glory burns 
  and what he cries has peleus' son in view 
 with mortal speed a godhead to pursue 
 for not to thee to know the gods is given 
 unskill'd to trace the latent marks of heaven 
 what boots thee now that troy forsook the plain 
 vain thy past labour and thy present vain 
 safe in their walls are now her troops bestow'd 
 while here thy frantic rage attacks a god  

 the chief incensed  too partial god of day 
 to check my conquests in the middle way 
 how few in ilion else had refuge found 
 what gasping numbers now had bit the ground 
 thou robb'st me of a glory justly mine 
 powerful of godhead and of fraud divine 
 mean fame alas for one of heavenly strain 
 to cheat a mortal who repines in vain  

 then to the city terrible and strong 
 with high and haughty steps he tower'd along 
 so the proud courser victor of the prize 
 to the near goal with double ardour flies 
 him as he blazing shot across the field 
 the careful eyes of priam first beheld 
 not half so dreadful rises to the sight 274 
 through the thick gloom of some tempestuous night 
 orion's dog the year when autumn weighs 
 and o'er the feebler stars exerts his rays 
 terrific glory for his burning breath
 taints the red air with fevers plagues and death 
 so flamed his fiery mail then wept the sage 
 he strikes his reverend head now white with age 
 he lifts his wither'd arms obtests the skies 
 he calls his much-loved son with feeble cries 
 the son resolved achilles' force to dare 
 full at the scaean gates expects the war 
 while the sad father on the rampart stands 
 and thus adjures him with extended hands 

  ah stay not stay not guardless and alone 
 hector my loved my dearest bravest son 
 methinks already i behold thee slain 
 and stretch'd beneath that fury of the plain 
 implacable achilles might'st thou be
 to all the gods no dearer than to me 
 thee vultures wild should scatter round the shore 
 and bloody dogs grow fiercer from thy gore 
 how many valiant sons i late enjoy'd 
 valiant in vain by thy cursed arm destroy'd 
 or worse than slaughtered sold in distant isles
 to shameful bondage and unworthy toils 
 two while i speak my eyes in vain explore 
 two from one mother sprung my polydore 
 and loved lycaon now perhaps no more 
 oh if in yonder hostile camp they live 
 what heaps of gold what treasures would i give 
 their grandsire's wealth by right of birth their own 
 consign'd his daughter with lelegia's throne 
 but if which heaven forbid already lost 
 all pale they wander on the stygian coast 
 what sorrows then must their sad mother know 
 what anguish i unutterable woe 
 yet less that anguish less to her to me 
 less to all troy if not deprived of thee 
 yet shun achilles enter yet the wall 
 and spare thyself thy father spare us all 
 save thy dear life or if a soul so brave
 neglect that thought thy dearer glory save 
 pity while yet i live these silver hairs 
 while yet thy father feels the woes he bears 
 yet cursed with sense a wretch whom in his rage
 all trembling on the verge of helpless age 
 great jove has placed sad spectacle of pain 
 the bitter dregs of fortune's cup to drain 
 to fill with scenes of death his closing eyes 
 and number all his days by miseries 
 my heroes slain my bridal bed o'erturn'd 
 my daughters ravish'd and my city burn'd 
 my bleeding infants dash'd against the floor 
 these i have yet to see perhaps yet more 
 perhaps even i reserved by angry fate 
 the last sad relic of my ruin'd state 
 dire pomp of sovereign wretchedness must fall 
 and stain the pavement of my regal hall 
 where famish'd dogs late guardians of my door 
 shall lick their mangled master's spatter'd gore 
 yet for my sons i thank ye gods 'tis well 
 well have they perish'd for in fight they fell 
 who dies in youth and vigour dies the best 
 struck through with wounds all honest on the breast 
 but when the fates in fulness of their rage 
 spurn the hoar head of unresisting age 
 in dust the reverend lineaments deform 
 and pour to dogs the life-blood scarcely warm 
 this this is misery the last the worse 
 that man can feel man fated to be cursed  

 he said and acting what no words could say 
 rent from his head the silver locks away 
 with him the mournful mother bears a part 
 yet all her sorrows turn not hector's heart 
 the zone unbraced her bosom she display'd 
 and thus fast-falling the salt tears she said 

  have mercy on me o my son revere
 the words of age attend a parent's prayer 
 if ever thee in these fond arms i press'd 
 or still'd thy infant clamours at this breast 
 ah do not thus our helpless years forego 
 but by our walls secured repel the foe 
 against his rage if singly thou proceed 
 should'st thou but heaven avert it should'st thou bleed 
 nor must thy corse lie honour'd on the bier 
 nor spouse nor mother grace thee with a tear 
 far from our pious rites those dear remains
 must feast the vultures on the naked plains  

 so they while down their cheeks the torrents roll 
 but fix'd remains the purpose of his soul 
 resolved he stands and with a fiery glance
 expects the hero's terrible advance 
 so roll'd up in his den the swelling snake
 beholds the traveller approach the brake 
 when fed with noxious herbs his turgid veins
 have gather'd half the poisons of the plains 
 he burns he stiffens with collected ire 
 and his red eyeballs glare with living fire 
 beneath a turret on his shield reclined 
 he stood and question'd thus his mighty mind 275 

  where lies my way to enter in the wall 
 honour and shame the ungenerous thought recall 
 shall proud polydamas before the gate
 proclaim his counsels are obey'd too late 
 which timely follow'd but the former night 
 what numbers had been saved by hector's flight 
 that wise advice rejected with disdain 
 i feel my folly in my people slain 
 methinks my suffering country's voice i hear 
 but most her worthless sons insult my ear 
 on my rash courage charge the chance of war 
 and blame those virtues which they cannot share 
 no if i e'er return return i must
 glorious my country's terror laid in dust 
 or if i perish let her see me fall
 in field at least and fighting for her wall 
 and yet suppose these measures i forego 
 approach unarm'd and parley with the foe 
 the warrior-shield the helm and lance lay down 
 and treat on terms of peace to save the town 
 the wife withheld the treasure ill-detain'd
 cause of the war and grievance of the land 
 with honourable justice to restore 
 and add half ilion's yet remaining store 
 which troy shall sworn produce that injured greece
 may share our wealth and leave our walls in peace 
 but why this thought unarm'd if i should go 
 what hope of mercy from this vengeful foe 
 but woman-like to fall and fall without a blow 
 we greet not here as man conversing man 
 met at an oak or journeying o'er a plain 
 no season now for calm familiar talk 
 like youths and maidens in an evening walk 
 war is our business but to whom is given
 to die or triumph that determine heaven  

 thus pondering like a god the greek drew nigh 
 his dreadful plumage nodded from on high 
 the pelian javelin in his better hand 
 shot trembling rays that glitter'd o'er the land 
 and on his breast the beamy splendour shone 
 like jove's own lightning or the rising sun 
 as hector sees unusual terrors rise 
 struck by some god he fears recedes and flies 
 he leaves the gates he leaves the wall behind 
 achilles follows like the winged wind 
 thus at the panting dove a falcon flies
 the swiftest racer of the liquid skies 
 just when he holds or thinks he holds his prey 
 obliquely wheeling through the aerial way 
 with open beak and shrilling cries he springs 
 and aims his claws and shoots upon his wings 
 no less fore-right the rapid chase they held 
 one urged by fury one by fear impell'd 
 now circling round the walls their course maintain 
 where the high watch-tower overlooks the plain 
 now where the fig-trees spread their umbrage broad 
 a wider compass smoke along the road 
 next by scamander's double source they bound 
 where two famed fountains burst the parted ground 
 this hot through scorching clefts is seen to rise 
 with exhalations steaming to the skies 
 that the green banks in summer's heat o'erflows 
 like crystal clear and cold as winter snows 
 each gushing fount a marble cistern fills 
 whose polish'd bed receives the falling rills 
 where trojan dames ere yet alarm'd by greece 
 wash'd their fair garments in the days of peace 276 
 by these they pass'd one chasing one in flight 
 the mighty fled pursued by stronger might 
 swift was the course no vulgar prize they play 
 no vulgar victim must reward the day 
 such as in races crown the speedy strife 
 the prize contended was great hector's life 
 as when some hero's funerals are decreed
 in grateful honour of the mighty dead 
 where high rewards the vigorous youth inflame
 some golden tripod or some lovely dame 
 the panting coursers swiftly turn the goal 
 and with them turns the raised spectator's soul 
 thus three times round the trojan wall they fly 
 the gazing gods lean forward from the sky 
 to whom while eager on the chase they look 
 the sire of mortals and immortals spoke 

  unworthy sight the man beloved of heaven 
 behold inglorious round yon city driven 
 my heart partakes the generous hector's pain 
 hector whose zeal whole hecatombs has slain 
 whose grateful fumes the gods received with joy 
 from ida's summits and the towers of troy 
 now see him flying to his fears resign'd 
 and fate and fierce achilles close behind 
 consult ye powers 'tis worthy your debate 
 whether to snatch him from impending fate 
 or let him bear by stern pelides slain 
 good as he is the lot imposed on man  

 then pallas thus  shall he whose vengeance forms
 the forky bolt and blackens heaven with storms 
 shall he prolong one trojan's forfeit breath 
 a man a mortal pre-ordain'd to death 
 and will no murmurs fill the courts above 
 no gods indignant blame their partial jove  

  go then return'd the sire without delay 
 exert thy will i give the fates their way 
 swift at the mandate pleased tritonia flies 
 and stoops impetuous from the cleaving skies 

 as through the forest o'er the vale and lawn 
 the well-breath'd beagle drives the flying fawn 
 in vain he tries the covert of the brakes 
 or deep beneath the trembling thicket shakes 
 sure of the vapour in the tainted dews 
 the certain hound his various maze pursues 
 thus step by step where'er the trojan wheel'd 
 there swift achilles compass'd round the field 
 oft as to reach the dardan gates he bends 
 and hopes the assistance of his pitying friends 
 whose showering arrows as he coursed below 
 from the high turrets might oppress the foe 
 so oft achilles turns him to the plain 
 he eyes the city but he eyes in vain 
 as men in slumbers seem with speedy pace 
 one to pursue and one to lead the chase 
 their sinking limbs the fancied course forsake 
 nor this can fly nor that can overtake 
 no less the labouring heroes pant and strain 
 while that but flies and this pursues in vain 

 what god o muse assisted hector's force
 with fate itself so long to hold the course 
 phoebus it was who in his latest hour 
 endued his knees with strength his nerves with power 
 and great achilles lest some greek's advance
 should snatch the glory from his lifted lance 
 sign'd to the troops to yield his foe the way 
 and leave untouch'd the honours of the day 

 jove lifts the golden balances that show
 the fates of mortal men and things below 
 here each contending hero's lot he tries 
 and weighs with equal hand their destinies 
 low sinks the scale surcharged with hector's fate 
 heavy with death it sinks and hell receives the weight 

 then phoebus left him fierce minerva flies
 to stern pelides and triumphing cries 
  o loved of jove this day our labours cease 
 and conquest blazes with full beams on greece 
 great hector falls that hector famed so far 
 drunk with renown insatiable of war 
 falls by thy hand and mine nor force nor flight 
 shall more avail him nor his god of light 
 see where in vain he supplicates above 
 roll'd at the feet of unrelenting jove 
 rest here myself will lead the trojan on 
 and urge to meet the fate he cannot shun  

 her voice divine the chief with joyful mind
 obey'd and rested on his lance reclined
 while like deiphobus the martial dame
 her face her gesture and her arms the same 
 in show an aid by hapless hector's side
 approach'd and greets him thus with voice belied 

  too long o hector have i borne the sight
 of this distress and sorrow'd in thy flight 
 it fits us now a noble stand to make 
 and here as brothers equal fates partake  

 then he  o prince allied in blood and fame 
 dearer than all that own a brother's name 
 of all that hecuba to priam bore 
 long tried long loved much loved but honoured more 
 since you of all our numerous race alone
 defend my life regardless of your own  

 again the goddess  much my father's prayer 
 and much my mother's press'd me to forbear 
 my friends embraced my knees adjured my stay 
 but stronger love impell'd and i obey 
 come then the glorious conflict let us try 
 let the steel sparkle and the javelin fly 
 or let us stretch achilles on the field 
 or to his arm our bloody trophies yield  

 fraudful she said then swiftly march'd before 
 the dardan hero shuns his foe no more 
 sternly they met the silence hector broke 
 his dreadful plumage nodded as he spoke 

  enough o son of peleus troy has view'd
 her walls thrice circled and her chief pursued 
 but now some god within me bids me try
 thine or my fate i kill thee or i die 
 yet on the verge of battle let us stay 
 and for a moment's space suspend the day 
 let heaven's high powers be call'd to arbitrate
 the just conditions of this stern debate 
 eternal witnesses of all below 
 and faithful guardians of the treasured vow 
 to them i swear if victor in the strife 
 jove by these hands shall shed thy noble life 
 no vile dishonour shall thy corse pursue 
 stripp'd of its arms alone the conqueror's due 
 the rest to greece uninjured i'll restore 
 now plight thy mutual oath i ask no more  

  talk not of oaths the dreadful chief replies 
 while anger flash'd from his disdainful eyes 
 detested as thou art and ought to be 
 nor oath nor pact achilles plights with thee 
 such pacts as lambs and rabid wolves combine 
 such leagues as men and furious lions join 
 to such i call the gods one constant state
 of lasting rancour and eternal hate 
 no thought but rage and never-ceasing strife 
 till death extinguish rage and thought and life 
 rouse then thy forces this important hour 
 collect thy soul and call forth all thy power 
 no further subterfuge no further chance 
 'tis pallas pallas gives thee to my lance 
 each grecian ghost by thee deprived of breath 
 now hovers round and calls thee to thy death  

 he spoke and launch'd his javelin at the foe 
 but hector shunn'd the meditated blow 
 he stoop'd while o'er his head the flying spear
 sang innocent and spent its force in air 
 minerva watch'd it falling on the land 
 then drew and gave to great achilles' hand 
 unseen of hector who elate with joy 
 now shakes his lance and braves the dread of troy 

  the life you boasted to that javelin given 
 prince you have miss'd my fate depends on heaven 
 to thee presumptuous as thou art unknown 
 or what must prove my fortune or thy own 
 boasting is but an art our fears to blind 
 and with false terrors sink another's mind 
 but know whatever fate i am to try 
 by no dishonest wound shall hector die 
 i shall not fall a fugitive at least 
 my soul shall bravely issue from my breast 
 but first try thou my arm and may this dart
 end all my country's woes deep buried in thy heart  

 the weapon flew its course unerring held 
 unerring but the heavenly shield repell'd
 the mortal dart resulting with a bound
 from off the ringing orb it struck the ground 
 hector beheld his javelin fall in vain 
 nor other lance nor other hope remain 
 he calls deiphobus demands a spear 
 in vain for no deiphobus was there 
 all comfortless he stands then with a sigh 
  'tis so heaven wills it and my hour is nigh 
 i deem'd deiphobus had heard my call 
 but he secure lies guarded in the wall 
 a god deceived me pallas 'twas thy deed 
 death and black fate approach 'tis i must bleed 
 no refuge now no succour from above 
 great jove deserts me and the son of jove 
 propitious once and kind then welcome fate 
 'tis true i perish yet i perish great 
 yet in a mighty deed i shall expire 
 let future ages hear it and admire  

 fierce at the word his weighty sword he drew 
 and all collected on achilles flew 
 so jove's bold bird high balanced in the air 
 stoops from the clouds to truss the quivering hare 
 nor less achilles his fierce soul prepares 
 before his breast the flaming shield he bears 
 refulgent orb above his fourfold cone
 the gilded horse-hair sparkled in the sun 
 nodding at every step vulcanian frame 
 and as he moved his figure seem'd on flame 
 as radiant hesper shines with keener light 277 
 far-beaming o'er the silver host of night 
 when all the starry train emblaze the sphere 
 so shone the point of great achilles' spear 
 in his right hand he waves the weapon round 
 eyes the whole man and meditates the wound 
 but the rich mail patroclus lately wore
 securely cased the warrior's body o'er 
 one space at length he spies to let in fate 
 where 'twixt the neck and throat the jointed plate
 gave entrance through that penetrable part
 furious he drove the well-directed dart 
 nor pierced the windpipe yet nor took the power
 of speech unhappy from thy dying hour 
 prone on the field the bleeding warrior lies 
 while thus triumphing stern achilles cries 

  at last is hector stretch'd upon the plain 
 who fear'd no vengeance for patroclus slain 
 then prince you should have fear'd what now you feel 
 achilles absent was achilles still 
 yet a short space the great avenger stayed 
 then low in dust thy strength and glory laid 
 peaceful he sleeps with all our rites adorn'd 
 for ever honour'd and for ever mourn'd 
 while cast to all the rage of hostile power 
 thee birds shall mangle and the gods devour  

 then hector fainting at the approach of death 
  by thy own soul by those who gave thee breath 
 by all the sacred prevalence of prayer 
 ah leave me not for grecian dogs to tear 
 the common rites of sepulture bestow 
 to soothe a father's and a mother's woe 
 let their large gifts procure an urn at least 
 and hector's ashes in his country rest  

  no wretch accursed relentless he replies 
 flames as he spoke shot flashing from his eyes 
 not those who gave me breath should bid me spare 
 nor all the sacred prevalence of prayer 
 could i myself the bloody banquet join 
 no to the dogs that carcase i resign 
 should troy to bribe me bring forth all her store 
 and giving thousands offer thousands more 
 should dardan priam and his weeping dame 
 drain their whole realm to buy one funeral flame 
 their hector on the pile they should not see 
 nor rob the vultures of one limb of thee  

 then thus the chief his dying accents drew 
  thy rage implacable too well i knew 
 the furies that relentless breast have steel'd 
 and cursed thee with a heart that cannot yield 
 yet think a day will come when fate's decree
 and angry gods shall wreak this wrong on thee 
 phoebus and paris shall avenge my fate 
 and stretch thee here before the scaean gate   278 

 he ceased the fates suppress'd his labouring breath 
 and his eyes stiffen'd at the hand of death 
 to the dark realm the spirit wings its way 
 the manly body left a load of clay 
 and plaintive glides along the dreary coast 
 a naked wandering melancholy ghost 

 achilles musing as he roll'd his eyes
 o'er the dead hero thus unheard replies 
  die thou the first when jove and heaven ordain 
 i follow thee  he said and stripp'd the slain 
 then forcing backward from the gaping wound
 the reeking javelin cast it on the ground 
 the thronging greeks behold with wondering eyes
 his manly beauty and superior size 
 while some ignobler the great dead deface
 with wounds ungenerous or with taunts disgrace 

  how changed that hector who like jove of late
 sent lightning on our fleets and scatter'd fate  

 high o'er the slain the great achilles stands 
 begirt with heroes and surrounding bands 
 and thus aloud while all the host attends 
  princes and leaders countrymen and friends 
 since now at length the powerful will of heaven
 the dire destroyer to our arm has given 
 is not troy fallen already haste ye powers 
 see if already their deserted towers
 are left unmann'd or if they yet retain
 the souls of heroes their great hector slain 
 but what is troy or glory what to me 
 or why reflects my mind on aught but thee 
 divine patroclus death hath seal'd his eyes 
 unwept unhonour'd uninterr'd he lies 
 can his dear image from my soul depart 
 long as the vital spirit moves my heart 
 if in the melancholy shades below 
 the flames of friends and lovers cease to glow 
 yet mine shall sacred last mine undecay'd 
 burn on through death and animate my shade 
 meanwhile ye sons of greece in triumph bring
 the corpse of hector and your paeans sing 
 be this the song slow-moving toward the shore 
  hector is dead and ilion is no more  

 then his fell soul a thought of vengeance bred 
 unworthy of himself and of the dead 
 the nervous ancles bored his feet he bound
 with thongs inserted through the double wound 
 these fix'd up high behind the rolling wain 
 his graceful head was trail'd along the plain 
 proud on his car the insulting victor stood 
 and bore aloft his arms distilling blood 
 he smites the steeds the rapid chariot flies 
 the sudden clouds of circling dust arise 
 now lost is all that formidable air 
 the face divine and long-descending hair 
 purple the ground and streak the sable sand 
 deform'd dishonour'd in his native land 
 given to the rage of an insulting throng 
 and in his parents' sight now dragg'd along 

 the mother first beheld with sad survey 
 she rent her tresses venerable grey 
 and cast far off the regal veils away 
 with piercing shrieks his bitter fate she moans 
 while the sad father answers groans with groans
 tears after tears his mournful cheeks o'erflow 
 and the whole city wears one face of woe 
 no less than if the rage of hostile fires 
 from her foundations curling to her spires 
 o'er the proud citadel at length should rise 
 and the last blaze send ilion to the skies 
 the wretched monarch of the falling state 
 distracted presses to the dardan gate 
 scarce the whole people stop his desperate course 
 while strong affliction gives the feeble force 
 grief tears his heart and drives him to and fro 
 in all the raging impotence of woe 
 at length he roll'd in dust and thus begun 
 imploring all and naming one by one 
  ah let me let me go where sorrow calls 
 i only i will issue from your walls
 guide or companion friends i ask ye none 
 and bow before the murderer of my son 
 my grief perhaps his pity may engage 
 perhaps at least he may respect my age 
 he has a father too a man like me 
 one not exempt from age and misery
 vigorous no more as when his young embrace
 begot this pest of me and all my race 
 how many valiant sons in early bloom 
 has that cursed hand send headlong to the tomb 
 thee hector last thy loss divinely brave 
 sinks my sad soul with sorrow to the grave 
 o had thy gentle spirit pass'd in peace 
 the son expiring in the sire's embrace 
 while both thy parents wept the fatal hour 
 and bending o'er thee mix'd the tender shower 
 some comfort that had been some sad relief 
 to melt in full satiety of grief  

 thus wail'd the father grovelling on the ground 
 and all the eyes of ilion stream'd around 

 amidst her matrons hecuba appears 
 a mourning princess and a train in tears 
  ah why has heaven prolong'd this hated breath 
 patient of horrors to behold thy death 
 o hector late thy parents' pride and joy 
 the boast of nations the defence of troy 
 to whom her safety and her fame she owed 
 her chief her hero and almost her god 
 o fatal change become in one sad day
 a senseless corse inanimated clay  

 but not as yet the fatal news had spread
 to fair andromache of hector dead 
 as yet no messenger had told his fate 
 not e'en his stay without the scaean gate 
 far in the close recesses of the dome 
 pensive she plied the melancholy loom 
 a growing work employ'd her secret hours 
 confusedly gay with intermingled flowers 
 her fair-haired handmaids heat the brazen urn 
 the bath preparing for her lord's return
 in vain alas her lord returns no more 
 unbathed he lies and bleeds along the shore 
 now from the walls the clamours reach her ear 
 and all her members shake with sudden fear 
 forth from her ivory hand the shuttle falls 
 and thus astonish'd to her maids she calls 


 the bath 


  ah follow me she cried what plaintive noise
 invades my ear 'tis sure my mother's voice 
 my faltering knees their trembling frame desert 
 a pulse unusual flutters at my heart 
 some strange disaster some reverse of fate
 ye gods avert it threats the trojan state 
 far be the omen which my thoughts suggest 
 but much i fear my hector's dauntless breast
 confronts achilles chased along the plain 
 shut from our walls i fear i fear him slain 
 safe in the crowd he ever scorn'd to wait 
 and sought for glory in the jaws of fate 
 perhaps that noble heat has cost his breath 
 now quench'd for ever in the arms of death  

 she spoke and furious with distracted pace 
 fears in her heart and anguish in her face 
 flies through the dome the maids her steps pursue 
 and mounts the walls and sends around her view 
 too soon her eyes the killing object found 
 the godlike hector dragg'd along the ground 
 a sudden darkness shades her swimming eyes 
 she faints she falls her breath her colour flies 
 her hair's fair ornaments the braids that bound 
 the net that held them and the wreath that crown'd 
 the veil and diadem flew far away
 the gift of venus on her bridal day 
 around a train of weeping sisters stands 
 to raise her sinking with assistant hands 
 scarce from the verge of death recall'd again
 she faints or but recovers to complain 


 andromache fainting on the wall 


  o wretched husband of a wretched wife 
 born with one fate to one unhappy life 
 for sure one star its baneful beam display'd
 on priam's roof and hippoplacia's shade 
 from different parents different climes we came 
 at different periods yet our fate the same 
 why was my birth to great aetion owed 
 and why was all that tender care bestow'd 
 would i had never been o thou the ghost
 of my dead husband miserably lost 
 thou to the dismal realms for ever gone 
 and i abandon'd desolate alone 
 an only child once comfort of my pains 
 sad product now of hapless love remains 
 no more to smile upon his sire no friend
 to help him now no father to defend 
 for should he 'scape the sword the common doom 
 what wrongs attend him and what griefs to come 
 even from his own paternal roof expell'd 
 some stranger ploughs his patrimonial field 
 the day that to the shades the father sends 
 robs the sad orphan of his father's friends 
 he wretched outcast of mankind appears
 for ever sad for ever bathed in tears 
 amongst the happy unregarded he
 hangs on the robe or trembles at the knee 
 while those his father's former bounty fed
 nor reach the goblet nor divide the bread 
 the kindest but his present wants allay 
 to leave him wretched the succeeding day 
 frugal compassion heedless they who boast
 both parents still nor feel what he has lost 
 shall cry 'begone thy father feasts not here '
 the wretch obeys retiring with a tear 
 thus wretched thus retiring all in tears 
 to my sad soul astyanax appears 
 forced by repeated insults to return 
 and to his widow'd mother vainly mourn 
 he who with tender delicacy bred 
 with princes sported and on dainties fed 
 and when still evening gave him up to rest 
 sunk soft in down upon the nurse's breast 
 must ah what must he not whom ilion calls
 astyanax from her well-guarded walls 279 
 is now that name no more unhappy boy 
 since now no more thy father guards his troy 
 but thou my hector liest exposed in air 
 far from thy parents' and thy consort's care 
 whose hand in vain directed by her love 
 the martial scarf and robe of triumph wove 
 now to devouring flames be these a prey 
 useless to thee from this accursed day 
 yet let the sacrifice at least be paid 
 an honour to the living not the dead  

 so spake the mournful dame her matrons hear 
 sigh back her sighs and answer tear with tear 





book xxiii 


argument 

funeral games in honour of patroclus 280 

achilles and the myrmidons do honours to the body of patroclus after the
funeral feast he retires to the sea-shore where falling asleep the
ghost of his friend appears to him and demands the rites of burial the
next morning the soldiers are sent with mules and waggons to fetch wood
for the pyre the funeral procession and the offering their hair to the
dead achilles sacrifices several animals and lastly twelve trojan
captives at the pile then sets fire to it he pays libations to the
winds which at the instance of iris rise and raise the flames when
the pile has burned all night they gather the bones place them in an urn
of gold and raise the tomb achilles institutes the funeral games the
chariot-race the fight of the caestus the wrestling the foot-race the
single combat the discus the shooting with arrows the darting the
javelin the various descriptions of which and the various success of the
several antagonists make the greatest part of the book 

in this book ends the thirtieth day the night following the ghost of
patroclus appears to achilles the one-and-thirtieth day is employed in
felling the timber for the pile the two-and-thirtieth in burning it and
the three-and-thirtieth in the games the scene is generally on the
sea-shore 

 thus humbled in the dust the pensive train
 through the sad city mourn'd her hero slain 
 the body soil'd with dust and black with gore 
 lies on broad hellespont's resounding shore 
 the grecians seek their ships and clear the strand 
 all but the martial myrmidonian band 
 these yet assembled great achilles holds 
 and the stern purpose of his mind unfolds 

  not yet my brave companions of the war 
 release your smoking coursers from the car 
 but with his chariot each in order led 
 perform due honours to patroclus dead 
 ere yet from rest or food we seek relief 
 some rites remain to glut our rage of grief  

 the troops obey'd and thrice in order led 281 
 achilles first their coursers round the dead 
 and thrice their sorrows and laments renew 
 tears bathe their arms and tears the sands bedew 
 for such a warrior thetis aids their woe 
 melts their strong hearts and bids their eyes to flow 
 but chief pelides thick-succeeding sighs
 burst from his heart and torrents from his eyes 
 his slaughtering hands yet red with blood he laid
 on his dead friend's cold breast and thus he said 

  all hail patroclus let thy honour'd ghost
 hear and rejoice on pluto's dreary coast 
 behold achilles' promise is complete 
 the bloody hector stretch'd before thy feet 
 lo to the dogs his carcase i resign 
 and twelve sad victims of the trojan line 
 sacred to vengeance instant shall expire 
 their lives effused around thy funeral pyre  

 gloomy he said and horrible to view 
 before the bier the bleeding hector threw 
 prone on the dust the myrmidons around
 unbraced their armour and the steeds unbound 
 all to achilles' sable ship repair 
 frequent and full the genial feast to share 
 now from the well-fed swine black smokes aspire 
 the bristly victims hissing o'er the fire 
 the huge ox bellowing falls with feebler cries
 expires the goat the sheep in silence dies 
 around the hero's prostrate body flow'd 
 in one promiscuous stream the reeking blood 
 and now a band of argive monarchs brings
 the glorious victor to the king of kings 
 from his dead friend the pensive warrior went 
 with steps unwilling to the regal tent 
 the attending heralds as by office bound 
 with kindled flames the tripod-vase surround 
 to cleanse his conquering hands from hostile gore 
 they urged in vain the chief refused and swore 282 

  no drop shall touch me by almighty jove 
 the first and greatest of the gods above 
 till on the pyre i place thee till i rear
 the grassy mound and clip thy sacred hair 
 some ease at least those pious rites may give 
 and soothe my sorrows while i bear to live 
 howe'er reluctant as i am i stay
 and share your feast but with the dawn of day 
 o king of men it claims thy royal care 
 that greece the warrior's funeral pile prepare 
 and bid the forests fall such rites are paid
 to heroes slumbering in eternal shade 
 then when his earthly part shall mount in fire 
 let the leagued squadrons to their posts retire  

 he spoke they hear him and the word obey 
 the rage of hunger and of thirst allay 
 then ease in sleep the labours of the day 
 but great pelides stretch'd along the shore 
 where dash'd on rocks the broken billows roar 
 lies inly groaning while on either hand
 the martial myrmidons confusedly stand 
 along the grass his languid members fall 
 tired with his chase around the trojan wall 
 hush'd by the murmurs of the rolling deep 
 at length he sinks in the soft arms of sleep 
 when lo the shade before his closing eyes 
 of sad patroclus rose or seem'd to rise 
 in the same robe he living wore he came 
 in stature voice and pleasing look the same 
 the form familiar hover'd o'er his head 
  and sleeps achilles thus the phantom said 
 sleeps my achilles his patroclus dead 
 living i seem'd his dearest tenderest care 
 but now forgot i wander in the air 
 let my pale corse the rites of burial know 
 and give me entrance in the realms below 
 till then the spirit finds no resting-place 
 but here and there the unbodied spectres chase
 the vagrant dead around the dark abode 
 forbid to cross the irremeable flood 
 now give thy hand for to the farther shore
 when once we pass the soul returns no more 
 when once the last funereal flames ascend 
 no more shall meet achilles and his friend 
 no more our thoughts to those we loved make known 
 or quit the dearest to converse alone 
 me fate has sever'd from the sons of earth 
 the fate fore-doom'd that waited from my birth 
 thee too it waits before the trojan wall
 even great and godlike thou art doom'd to fall 
 hear then and as in fate and love we join 
 ah suffer that my bones may rest with thine 
 together have we lived together bred 
 one house received us and one table fed 
 that golden urn thy goddess-mother gave 
 may mix our ashes in one common grave  

  and is it thou he answers to my sight 283 
 once more return'st thou from the realms of night 
 o more than brother think each office paid 
 whate'er can rest a discontented shade 
 but grant one last embrace unhappy boy 
 afford at least that melancholy joy  

 he said and with his longing arms essay'd
 in vain to grasp the visionary shade 
 like a thin smoke he sees the spirit fly 284 
 and hears a feeble lamentable cry 
 confused he wakes amazement breaks the bands
 of golden sleep and starting from the sands 
 pensive he muses with uplifted hands 

  'tis true 'tis certain man though dead retains
 part of himself the immortal mind remains 
 the form subsists without the body's aid 
 aerial semblance and an empty shade 
 this night my friend so late in battle lost 
 stood at my side a pensive plaintive ghost 
 even now familiar as in life he came 
 alas how different yet how like the same  

 thus while he spoke each eye grew big with tears 
 and now the rosy-finger'd morn appears 
 shows every mournful face with tears o'erspread 
 and glares on the pale visage of the dead 
 but agamemnon as the rites demand 
 with mules and waggons sends a chosen band
 to load the timber and the pile to rear 
 a charge consign'd to merion's faithful care 
 with proper instruments they take the road 
 axes to cut and ropes to sling the load 
 first march the heavy mules securely slow 
 o'er hills o'er dales o'er crags o'er rocks they go 285 
 jumping high o'er the shrubs of the rough ground 
 rattle the clattering cars and the shock'd axles bound
 but when arrived at ida's spreading woods 286 
 fair ida water'd with descending floods 
 loud sounds the axe redoubling strokes on strokes 
 on all sides round the forest hurls her oaks
 headlong deep echoing groan the thickets brown 
 then rustling crackling crashing thunder down 
 the wood the grecians cleave prepared to burn 
 and the slow mules the same rough road return
 the sturdy woodmen equal burdens bore
 such charge was given them to the sandy shore 
 there on the spot which great achilles show'd 
 they eased their shoulders and disposed the load 
 circling around the place where times to come
 shall view patroclus' and achilles' tomb 
 the hero bids his martial troops appear
 high on their cars in all the pomp of war 
 each in refulgent arms his limbs attires 
 all mount their chariots combatants and squires 
 the chariots first proceed a shining train 
 then clouds of foot that smoke along the plain 
 next these the melancholy band appear 
 amidst lay dead patroclus on the bier 
 o'er all the corse their scattered locks they throw 
 achilles next oppress'd with mighty woe 
 supporting with his hands the hero's head 
 bends o'er the extended body of the dead 
 patroclus decent on the appointed ground
 they place and heap the sylvan pile around 
 but great achilles stands apart in prayer 
 and from his head divides the yellow hair 
 those curling locks which from his youth he vow'd 287 
 and sacred grew to sperchius' honour'd flood 
 then sighing to the deep his locks he cast 
 and roll'd his eyes around the watery waste 

  sperchius whose waves in mazy errors lost
 delightful roll along my native coast 
 to whom we vainly vow'd at our return 
 these locks to fall and hecatombs to burn 
 full fifty rams to bleed in sacrifice 
 where to the day thy silver fountains rise 
 and where in shade of consecrated bowers
 thy altars stand perfumed with native flowers 
 so vow'd my father but he vow'd in vain 
 no more achilles sees his native plain 
 in that vain hope these hairs no longer grow 
 patroclus bears them to the shades below  

 thus o'er patroclus while the hero pray'd 
 on his cold hand the sacred lock he laid 
 once more afresh the grecian sorrows flow 
 and now the sun had set upon their woe 
 but to the king of men thus spoke the chief 
  enough atrides give the troops relief 
 permit the mourning legions to retire 
 and let the chiefs alone attend the pyre 
 the pious care be ours the dead to burn  
 he said the people to their ships return 
 while those deputed to inter the slain
 heap with a rising pyramid the plain 288 
 a hundred foot in length a hundred wide 
 the growing structure spreads on every side 
 high on the top the manly corse they lay 
 and well-fed sheep and sable oxen slay 
 achilles covered with their fat the dead 
 and the piled victims round the body spread 
 then jars of honey and of fragrant oil 
 suspends around low-bending o'er the pile 
 four sprightly coursers with a deadly groan
 pour forth their lives and on the pyre are thrown 
 of nine large dogs domestic at his board 
 fall two selected to attend their lord 
 then last of all and horrible to tell 
 sad sacrifice twelve trojan captives fell 289 
 on these the rage of fire victorious preys 
 involves and joins them in one common blaze 
 smear'd with the bloody rites he stands on high 
 and calls the spirit with a dreadful cry 290 

  all hail patroclus let thy vengeful ghost
 hear and exult on pluto's dreary coast 
 behold achilles' promise fully paid 
 twelve trojan heroes offer'd to thy shade 
 but heavier fates on hector's corse attend 
 saved from the flames for hungry dogs to rend  

 so spake he threatening but the gods made vain
 his threat and guard inviolate the slain 
 celestial venus hover'd o'er his head 
 and roseate unguents heavenly fragrance shed 
 she watch'd him all the night and all the day 
 and drove the bloodhounds from their destined prey 
 nor sacred phoebus less employ'd his care 
 he pour'd around a veil of gather'd air 
 and kept the nerves undried the flesh entire 
 against the solar beam and sirian fire 


 the funeral pile of patroclus 


 nor yet the pile where dead patroclus lies 
 smokes nor as yet the sullen flames arise 
 but fast beside achilles stood in prayer 
 invoked the gods whose spirit moves the air 
 and victims promised and libations cast 
 to gentle zephyr and the boreal blast 
 he call'd the aerial powers along the skies
 to breathe and whisper to the fires to rise 
 the winged iris heard the hero's call 
 and instant hasten'd to their airy hall 
 where in old zephyr's open courts on high 
 sat all the blustering brethren of the sky 
 she shone amidst them on her painted bow 
 the rocky pavement glitter'd with the show 
 all from the banquet rise and each invites
 the various goddess to partake the rites 
  not so the dame replied i haste to go
 to sacred ocean and the floods below 
 even now our solemn hecatombs attend 
 and heaven is feasting on the world's green end
 with righteous ethiops uncorrupted train 
 far on the extremest limits of the main 
 but peleus' son entreats with sacrifice 
 the western spirit and the north to rise 
 let on patroclus' pile your blast be driven 
 and bear the blazing honours high to heaven  

 swift as the word she vanish'd from their view 
 swift as the word the winds tumultuous flew 
 forth burst the stormy band with thundering roar 
 and heaps on heaps the clouds are toss'd before 
 to the wide main then stooping from the skies 
 the heaving deeps in watery mountains rise 
 troy feels the blast along her shaking walls 
 till on the pile the gather'd tempest falls 
 the structure crackles in the roaring fires 
 and all the night the plenteous flame aspires 
 all night achilles hails patroclus' soul 
 with large libations from the golden bowl 
 as a poor father helpless and undone 
 mourns o'er the ashes of an only son 
 takes a sad pleasure the last bones to burn 
 and pours in tears ere yet they close the urn 
 so stay'd achilles circling round the shore 
 so watch'd the flames till now they flame no more 
 'twas when emerging through the shades of night 
 the morning planet told the approach of light 
 and fast behind aurora's warmer ray
 o'er the broad ocean pour'd the golden day 
 then sank the blaze the pile no longer burn'd 
 and to their caves the whistling winds return'd 
 across the thracian seas their course they bore 
 the ruffled seas beneath their passage roar 

 then parting from the pile he ceased to weep 
 and sank to quiet in the embrace of sleep 
 exhausted with his grief meanwhile the crowd
 of thronging grecians round achilles stood 
 the tumult waked him from his eyes he shook
 unwilling slumber and the chiefs bespoke 

  ye kings and princes of the achaian name 
 first let us quench the yet remaining flame
 with sable wine then as the rites direct 
 the hero's bones with careful view select 
 apart and easy to be known they lie
 amidst the heap and obvious to the eye 
 the rest around the margin will be seen
 promiscuous steeds and immolated men 
 these wrapp'd in double cauls of fat prepare 
 and in the golden vase dispose with care 
 there let them rest with decent honour laid 
 till i shall follow to the infernal shade 
 meantime erect the tomb with pious hands 
 a common structure on the humble sands 
 hereafter greece some nobler work may raise 
 and late posterity record our praise  

 the greeks obey where yet the embers glow 
 wide o'er the pile the sable wine they throw 
 and deep subsides the ashy heap below 
 next the white bones his sad companions place 
 with tears collected in the golden vase 
 the sacred relics to the tent they bore 
 the urn a veil of linen covered o'er 
 that done they bid the sepulchre aspire 
 and cast the deep foundations round the pyre 
 high in the midst they heap the swelling bed
 of rising earth memorial of the dead 

 the swarming populace the chief detains 
 and leads amidst a wide extent of plains 
 there placed them round then from the ships proceeds
 a train of oxen mules and stately steeds 
 vases and tripods for the funeral games 
 resplendent brass and more resplendent dames 
 first stood the prizes to reward the force
 of rapid racers in the dusty course 
 a woman for the first in beauty's bloom 
 skill'd in the needle and the labouring loom 
 and a large vase where two bright handles rise 
 of twenty measures its capacious size 
 the second victor claims a mare unbroke 
 big with a mule unknowing of the yoke 
 the third a charger yet untouch'd by flame 
 four ample measures held the shining frame 
 two golden talents for the fourth were placed 
 an ample double bowl contents the last 
 these in fair order ranged upon the plain 
 the hero rising thus address'd the train 

  behold the prizes valiant greeks decreed
 to the brave rulers of the racing steed 
 prizes which none beside ourself could gain 
 should our immortal coursers take the plain 
 a race unrivall'd which from ocean's god
 peleus received and on his son bestow'd 
 but this no time our vigour to display 
 nor suit with them the games of this sad day 
 lost is patroclus now that wont to deck
 their flowing manes and sleek their glossy neck 
 sad as they shared in human grief they stand 
 and trail those graceful honours on the sand 
 let others for the noble task prepare 
 who trust the courser and the flying car  

 fired at his word the rival racers rise 
 but far the first eumelus hopes the prize 
 famed though pieria for the fleetest breed 
 and skill'd to manage the high-bounding steed 
 with equal ardour bold tydides swell'd 
 the steeds of tros beneath his yoke compell'd
 which late obey'd the dardan chiefs command 
 when scarce a god redeem'd him from his hand 
 then menelaus his podargus brings 
 and the famed courser of the king of kings 
 whom rich echepolus more rich than brave 
 to 'scape the wars to agamemnon gave 
 cthe her name at home to end his days 
 base wealth preferring to eternal praise 
 next him antilochus demands the course
 with beating heart and cheers his pylian horse 
 experienced nestor gives his son the reins 
 directs his judgment and his heat restrains 
 nor idly warns the hoary sire nor hears
 the prudent son with unattending ears 

  my son though youthful ardour fire thy breast 
 the gods have loved thee and with arts have bless'd 
 neptune and jove on thee conferr'd the skill
 swift round the goal to turn the flying wheel 
 to guide thy conduct little precept needs 
 but slow and past their vigour are my steeds 
 fear not thy rivals though for swiftness known 
 compare those rivals' judgment and thy own 
 it is not strength but art obtains the prize 
 and to be swift is less than to be wise 
 'tis more by art than force of numerous strokes
 the dexterous woodman shapes the stubborn oaks 
 by art the pilot through the boiling deep
 and howling tempest steers the fearless ship 
 and 'tis the artist wins the glorious course 
 not those who trust in chariots and in horse 
 in vain unskilful to the goal they strive 
 and short or wide the ungovern'd courser drive 
 while with sure skill though with inferior steeds 
 the knowing racer to his end proceeds 
 fix'd on the goal his eye foreruns the course 
 his hand unerring steers the steady horse 
 and now contracts or now extends the rein 
 observing still the foremost on the plain 
 mark then the goal 'tis easy to be found 
 yon aged trunk a cubit from the ground 
 of some once stately oak the last remains 
 or hardy fir unperish'd with the rains 
 inclosed with stones conspicuous from afar 
 and round a circle for the wheeling car 
 some tomb perhaps of old the dead to grace 
 or then as now the limit of a race 
 bear close to this and warily proceed 
 a little bending to the left-hand steed 
 but urge the right and give him all the reins 
 while thy strict hand his fellow's head restrains 
 and turns him short till doubling as they roll 
 the wheel's round naves appear to brush the goal 
 yet not to break the car or lame the horse 
 clear of the stony heap direct the course 
 lest through incaution failing thou mayst be
 a joy to others a reproach to me 
 so shalt thou pass the goal secure of mind 
 and leave unskilful swiftness far behind 
 though thy fierce rival drove the matchless steed
 which bore adrastus of celestial breed 
 or the famed race through all the regions known 
 that whirl'd the car of proud laomedon  

 thus nought unsaid the much-advising sage
 concludes then sat stiff with unwieldy age 
 next bold meriones was seen to rise 
 the last but not least ardent for the prize 
 they mount their seats the lots their place dispose
 roll'd in his helmet these achilles throws 
 young nestor leads the race eumelus then 
 and next the brother of the king of men 
 thy lot meriones the fourth was cast 
 and far the bravest diomed was last 
 they stand in order an impatient train 
 pelides points the barrier on the plain 
 and sends before old phoenix to the place 
 to mark the racers and to judge the race 
 at once the coursers from the barrier bound 
 the lifted scourges all at once resound 
 their heart their eyes their voice they send before 
 and up the champaign thunder from the shore 
 thick where they drive the dusty clouds arise 
 and the lost courser in the whirlwind flies 
 loose on their shoulders the long manes reclined 
 float in their speed and dance upon the wind 
 the smoking chariots rapid as they bound 
 now seem to touch the sky and now the ground 
 while hot for fame and conquest all their care 
 each o'er his flying courser hung in air 
 erect with ardour poised upon the rein 
 they pant they stretch they shout along the plain 
 now the last compass fetch'd around the goal 
 at the near prize each gathers all his soul 
 each burns with double hope with double pain 
 tears up the shore and thunders toward the main 
 first flew eumelus on pheretian steeds 
 with those of tros bold diomed succeeds 
 close on eumelus' back they puff the wind 
 and seem just mounting on his car behind 
 full on his neck he feels the sultry breeze 
 and hovering o'er their stretching shadows sees 
 then had he lost or left a doubtful prize 
 but angry phoebus to tydides flies 
 strikes from his hand the scourge and renders vain
 his matchless horses' labour on the plain 
 rage fills his eye with anguish to survey
 snatch'd from his hope the glories of the day 
 the fraud celestial pallas sees with pain 
 springs to her knight and gives the scourge again 
 and fills his steeds with vigour at a stroke
 she breaks his rival's chariot from the yoke 
 no more their way the startled horses held 
 the car reversed came rattling on the field 
 shot headlong from his seat beside the wheel 
 prone on the dust the unhappy master fell 
 his batter'd face and elbows strike the ground 
 nose mouth and front one undistinguish'd wound 
 grief stops his voice a torrent drowns his eyes 
 before him far the glad tydides flies 
 minerva's spirit drives his matchless pace 
 and crowns him victor of the labour'd race 

 the next though distant menelaus succeeds 
 while thus young nestor animates his steeds 
  now now my generous pair exert your force 
 not that we hope to match tydides' horse 
 since great minerva wings their rapid way 
 and gives their lord the honours of the day 
 but reach atrides shall his mare outgo
 your swiftness vanquish'd by a female foe 
 through your neglect if lagging on the plain
 the last ignoble gift be all we gain 
 no more shall nestor's hand your food supply 
 the old man's fury rises and ye die 
 haste then yon narrow road before our sight 
 presents the occasion could we use it right  

 thus he the coursers at their master's threat
 with quicker steps the sounding champaign beat 
 and now antilochus with nice survey
 observes the compass of the hollow way 
 'twas where by force of wintry torrents torn 
 fast by the road a precipice was worn 
 here where but one could pass to shun the throng
 the spartan hero's chariot smoked along 
 close up the venturous youth resolves to keep 
 still edging near and bears him toward the steep 
 atrides trembling casts his eye below 
 and wonders at the rashness of his foe 
  hold stay your steeds what madness thus to ride
 this narrow way take larger field he cried 
 or both must fall   atrides cried in vain 
 he flies more fast and throws up all the rein 
 far as an able arm the disk can send 
 when youthful rivals their full force extend 
 so far antilochus thy chariot flew
 before the king he cautious backward drew
 his horse compell'd foreboding in his fears
 the rattling ruin of the clashing cars 
 the floundering coursers rolling on the plain 
 and conquest lost through frantic haste to gain 
 but thus upbraids his rival as he flies 
  go furious youth ungenerous and unwise 
 go but expect not i'll the prize resign 
 add perjury to fraud and make it thine  
 then to his steeds with all his force he cries 
  be swift be vigorous and regain the prize 
 your rivals destitute of youthful force 
 with fainting knees shall labour in the course 
 and yield the glory yours   the steeds obey 
 already at their heels they wing their way 
 and seem already to retrieve the day 

 meantime the grecians in a ring beheld
 the coursers bounding o'er the dusty field 
 the first who mark'd them was the cretan king 
 high on a rising ground above the ring 
 the monarch sat from whence with sure survey
 he well observed the chief who led the way 
 and heard from far his animating cries 
 and saw the foremost steed with sharpen'd eyes 
 on whose broad front a blaze of shining white 
 like the full moon stood obvious to the sight 
 he saw and rising to the greeks begun 
  are yonder horse discern'd by me alone 
 or can ye all another chief survey 
 and other steeds than lately led the way 
 those though the swiftest by some god withheld 
 lie sure disabled in the middle field 
 for since the goal they doubled round the plain
 i search to find them but i search in vain 
 perchance the reins forsook the driver's hand 
 and turn'd too short he tumbled on the strand 
 shot from the chariot while his coursers stray
 with frantic fury from the destined way 
 rise then some other and inform my sight 
 for these dim eyes perhaps discern not right 
 yet sure he seems to judge by shape and air 
 the great ctolian chief renown'd in war  

  old man oileus rashly thus replies 
 thy tongue too hastily confers the prize 
 of those who view the course nor sharpest eyed 
 nor youngest yet the readiest to decide 
 eumelus' steeds high bounding in the chase 
 still as at first unrivall'd lead the race 
 i well discern him as he shakes the rein 
 and hear his shouts victorious o'er the plain  

 thus he idomeneus incensed rejoin'd 
  barbarous of words and arrogant of mind 
 contentious prince of all the greeks beside
 the last in merit as the first in pride 
 to vile reproach what answer can we make 
 a goblet or a tripod let us stake 
 and be the king the judge the most unwise
 will learn their rashness when they pay the price  

 he said and ajax by mad passion borne 
 stern had replied fierce scorn enhancing scorn
 to fell extremes but thetis' godlike son
 awful amidst them rose and thus begun 

  forbear ye chiefs reproachful to contend 
 much would ye blame should others thus offend 
 and lo the approaching steeds your contest end  
 no sooner had he spoke but thundering near 
 drives through a stream of dust the charioteer 
 high o'er his head the circling lash he wields 
 his bounding horses scarcely touch the fields 
 his car amidst the dusty whirlwind roll'd 
 bright with the mingled blaze of tin and gold 
 refulgent through the cloud no eye could find
 the track his flying wheels had left behind 
 and the fierce coursers urged their rapid pace
 so swift it seem'd a flight and not a race 
 now victor at the goal tydides stands 
 quits his bright car and springs upon the sands 
 from the hot steeds the sweaty torrents stream 
 the well-plied whip is hung athwart the beam 
 with joy brave sthenelus receives the prize 
 the tripod-vase and dame with radiant eyes 
 these to the ships his train triumphant leads 
 the chief himself unyokes the panting steeds 

 young nestor follows who by art not force 
 o'erpass'd atrides second in the course 
 behind atrides urged the race more near
 than to the courser in his swift career
 the following car just touching with his heel
 and brushing with his tail the whirling wheel 
 such and so narrow now the space between
 the rivals late so distant on the green 
 so soon swift cthe her lost ground regain'd 
 one length one moment had the race obtain'd 

 merion pursued at greater distance still 
 with tardier coursers and inferior skill 
 last came admetus thy unhappy son 
 slow dragged the steeds his batter'd chariot on 
 achilles saw and pitying thus begun 

  behold the man whose matchless art surpass'd
 the sons of greece the ablest yet the last 
 fortune denies but justice bids us pay
 since great tydides bears the first away 
 to him the second honours of the day  

 the greeks consent with loud-applauding cries 
 and then eumelus had received the prize 
 but youthful nestor jealous of his fame 
 the award opposes and asserts his claim 
  think not he cries i tamely will resign 
 o peleus' son the mare so justly mine 
 what if the gods the skilful to confound 
 have thrown the horse and horseman to the ground 
 perhaps he sought not heaven by sacrifice 
 and vows omitted forfeited the prize 
 if yet distinction to thy friend to show 
 and please a soul desirous to bestow 
 some gift must grace eumelus view thy store
 of beauteous handmaids steeds and shining ore 
 an ample present let him thence receive 
 and greece shall praise thy generous thirst to give 
 but this my prize i never shall forego 
 this who but touches warriors is my foe  

 thus spake the youth nor did his words offend 
 pleased with the well-turn'd flattery of a friend 
 achilles smiled  the gift proposed he cried 
 antilochus we shall ourself provide 
 with plates of brass the corslet cover'd o'er 
 the same renown'd asteropaeus wore 
 whose glittering margins raised with silver shine 
 no vulgar gift eumelus shall be thine  

 he said automedon at his command
 the corslet brought and gave it to his hand 
 distinguish'd by his friend his bosom glows
 with generous joy then menelaus rose 
 the herald placed the sceptre in his hands 
 and still'd the clamour of the shouting bands 
 not without cause incensed at nestor's son 
 and inly grieving thus the king begun 

  the praise of wisdom in thy youth obtain'd 
 an act so rash antilochus has stain'd 
 robb'd of my glory and my just reward 
 to you o grecians be my wrong declared 
 so not a leader shall our conduct blame 
 or judge me envious of a rival's fame 
 but shall not we ourselves the truth maintain 
 what needs appealing in a fact so plain 
 what greek shall blame me if i bid thee rise 
 and vindicate by oath th' ill-gotten prize 
 rise if thou darest before thy chariot stand 
 the driving scourge high-lifted in thy hand 
 and touch thy steeds and swear thy whole intent
 was but to conquer not to circumvent 
 swear by that god whose liquid arms surround
 the globe and whose dread earthquakes heave the ground  

 the prudent chief with calm attention heard 
 then mildly thus  excuse if youth have err'd 
 superior as thou art forgive the offence 
 nor i thy equal or in years or sense 
 thou know'st the errors of unripen'd age 
 weak are its counsels headlong is its rage 
 the prize i quit if thou thy wrath resign 
 the mare or aught thou ask'st be freely thine
 ere i become from thy dear friendship torn 
 hateful to thee and to the gods forsworn  

 so spoke antilochus and at the word
 the mare contested to the king restored 
 joy swells his soul as when the vernal grain
 lifts the green ear above the springing plain 
 the fields their vegetable life renew 
 and laugh and glitter with the morning dew 
 such joy the spartan's shining face o'erspread 
 and lifted his gay heart while thus he said 

  still may our souls o generous youth agree
 'tis now atrides' turn to yield to thee 
 rash heat perhaps a moment might control 
 not break the settled temper of thy soul 
 not but my friend 'tis still the wiser way
 to waive contention with superior sway 
 for ah how few who should like thee offend 
 like thee have talents to regain the friend 
 to plead indulgence and thy fault atone 
 suffice thy father's merit and thy own 
 generous alike for me the sire and son
 have greatly suffer'd and have greatly done 
 i yield that all may know my soul can bend 
 nor is my pride preferr'd before my friend  

 he said and pleased his passion to command 
 resign'd the courser to noemon's hand 
 friend of the youthful chief himself content 
 the shining charger to his vessel sent 
 the golden talents merion next obtain'd 
 the fifth reward the double bowl remain'd 
 achilles this to reverend nestor bears 
 and thus the purpose of his gift declares 
  accept thou this o sacred sire he said 
 in dear memorial of patroclus dead 
 dead and for ever lost patroclus lies 
 for ever snatch'd from our desiring eyes 
 take thou this token of a grateful heart 
 though 'tis not thine to hurl the distant dart 
 the quoit to toss the ponderous mace to wield 
 or urge the race or wrestle on the field 
 thy pristine vigour age has overthrown 
 but left the glory of the past thy own  

 he said and placed the goblet at his side 
 with joy the venerable king replied 

  wisely and well my son thy words have proved
 a senior honour'd and a friend beloved 
 too true it is deserted of my strength 
 these wither'd arms and limbs have fail'd at length 
 oh had i now that force i felt of yore 
 known through buprasium and the pylian shore 
 victorious then in every solemn game 
 ordain'd to amarynces' mighty name 
 the brave epeians gave my glory way 
 ctolians pylians all resign'd the day 
 i quell'd clytomedes in fights of hand 
 and backward hurl'd ancaeus on the sand 
 surpass'd iphyclus in the swift career 
 phyleus and polydorus with the spear 
 the sons of actor won the prize of horse 
 but won by numbers not by art or force 
 for the famed twins impatient to survey
 prize after prize by nestor borne away 
 sprung to their car and with united pains
 one lash'd the coursers while one ruled the reins 
 such once i was now to these tasks succeeds
 a younger race that emulate our deeds 
 i yield alas to age who must not yield 
 though once the foremost hero of the field 
 go thou my son by generous friendship led 
 with martial honours decorate the dead 
 while pleased i take the gift thy hands present 
 pledge of benevolence and kind intent 
 rejoiced of all the numerous greeks to see
 not one but honours sacred age and me 
 those due distinctions thou so well canst pay 
 may the just gods return another day  

 proud of the gift thus spake the full of days 
 achilles heard him prouder of the praise 

 the prizes next are order'd to the field 
 for the bold champions who the caestus wield 
 a stately mule as yet by toils unbroke 
 of six years' age unconscious of the yoke 
 is to the circus led and firmly bound 
 next stands a goblet massy large and round 
 achilles rising thus  let greece excite
 two heroes equal to this hardy fight 
 who dare the foe with lifted arms provoke 
 and rush beneath the long-descending stroke 
 on whom apollo shall the palm bestow 
 and whom the greeks supreme by conquest know 
 this mule his dauntless labours shall repay 
 the vanquish'd bear the massy bowl away  

 this dreadful combat great epeus chose 291 
 high o'er the crowd enormous bulk he rose 
 and seized the beast and thus began to say 
  stand forth some man to bear the bowl away 
 price of his ruin for who dares deny
 this mule my right the undoubted victor i 
 others 'tis own'd in fields of battle shine 
 but the first honours of this fight are mine 
 for who excels in all then let my foe
 draw near but first his certain fortune know 
 secure this hand shall his whole frame confound 
 mash all his bones and all his body pound 
 so let his friends be nigh a needful train 
 to heave the batter'd carcase off the plain  

 the giant spoke and in a stupid gaze
 the host beheld him silent with amaze 
 'twas thou euryalus who durst aspire
 to meet his might and emulate thy sire 
 the great mecistheus who in days of yore
 in theban games the noblest trophy bore 
 the games ordain'd dead oedipus to grace 
 and singly vanquish the cadmean race 
 him great tydides urges to contend 
 warm with the hopes of conquest for his friend 
 officious with the cincture girds him round 
 and to his wrist the gloves of death are bound 
 amid the circle now each champion stands 
 and poises high in air his iron hands 
 with clashing gauntlets now they fiercely close 
 their crackling jaws re-echo to the blows 
 and painful sweat from all their members flows 
 at length epeus dealt a weighty blow
 full on the cheek of his unwary foe 
 beneath that ponderous arm's resistless sway
 down dropp'd he nerveless and extended lay 
 as a large fish when winds and waters roar 
 by some huge billow dash'd against the shore 
 lies panting not less batter'd with his wound 
 the bleeding hero pants upon the ground 
 to rear his fallen foe the victor lends 
 scornful his hand and gives him to his friends 
 whose arms support him reeling through the throng 
 and dragging his disabled legs along 
 nodding his head hangs down his shoulder o'er 
 his mouth and nostrils pour the clotted gore 292 
 wrapp'd round in mists he lies and lost to thought 
 his friends receive the bowl too dearly bought 

 the third bold game achilles next demands 
 and calls the wrestlers to the level sands 
 a massy tripod for the victor lies 
 of twice six oxen its reputed price 
 and next the loser's spirits to restore 
 a female captive valued but at four 
 scarce did the chief the vigorous strife prop
 when tower-like ajax and ulysses rose 
 amid the ring each nervous rival stands 
 embracing rigid with implicit hands 
 close lock'd above their heads and arms are mix'd 
 below their planted feet at distance fix'd 
 like two strong rafters which the builder forms 
 proof to the wintry winds and howling storms 
 their tops connected but at wider space
 fix'd on the centre stands their solid base 
 now to the grasp each manly body bends 
 the humid sweat from every pore descends 
 their bones resound with blows sides shoulders thighs
 swell to each gripe and bloody tumours rise 
 nor could ulysses for his art renown'd 
 o'erturn the strength of ajax on the ground 
 nor could the strength of ajax overthrow
 the watchful caution of his artful foe 
 while the long strife even tired the lookers on 
 thus to ulysses spoke great telamon 
  or let me lift thee chief or lift thou me 
 prove we our force and jove the rest decree  

 he said and straining heaved him off the ground
 with matchless strength that time ulysses found
 the strength to evade and where the nerves combine
 his ankle struck the giant fell supine 
 ulysses following on his bosom lies 
 shouts of applause run rattling through the skies 
 ajax to lift ulysses next essays 
 he barely stirr'd him but he could not raise 
 his knee lock'd fast the foe's attempt denied 
 and grappling close they tumbled side by side 
 defiled with honourable dust they roll 
 still breathing strife and unsubdued of soul 
 again they rage again to combat rise 
 when great achilles thus divides the prize 

  your noble vigour o my friends restrain 
 nor weary out your generous strength in vain 
 ye both have won let others who excel 
 now prove that prowess you have proved so well  

 the hero's words the willing chiefs obey 
 from their tired bodies wipe the dust away 
 and clothed anew the following games survey 

 and now succeed the gifts ordain'd to grace
 the youths contending in the rapid race 
 a silver urn that full six measures held 
 by none in weight or workmanship excell'd 
 sidonian artists taught the frame to shine 
 elaborate with artifice divine 
 whence tyrian sailors did the prize transport 
 and gave to thoas at the lemnian port 
 from him descended good eunaeus heir'd
 the glorious gift and for lycaon spared 
 to brave patroclus gave the rich reward 
 now the same hero's funeral rites to grace 
 it stands the prize of swiftness in the race 
 a well-fed ox was for the second placed 
 and half a talent must content the last 
 achilles rising then bespoke the train 
  who hope the palm of swiftness to obtain 
 stand forth and bear these prizes from the plain  

 the hero said and starting from his place 
 oilean ajax rises to the race 
 ulysses next and he whose speed surpass'd
 his youthful equals nestor's son the last 
 ranged in a line the ready racers stand 
 pelides points the barrier with his hand 
 all start at once oileus led the race 
 the next ulysses measuring pace with pace 
 behind him diligently close he sped 
 as closely following as the running thread
 the spindle follows and displays the charms
 of the fair spinster's breast and moving arms 
 graceful in motion thus his foe he plies 
 and treads each footstep ere the dust can rise 
 his glowing breath upon his shoulders plays 
 the admiring greeks loud acclamations raise 
 to him they give their wishes hearts and eyes 
 and send their souls before him as he flies 
 now three times turn'd in prospect of the goal 
 the panting chief to pallas lifts his soul 
  assist o goddess   thus in thought he pray'd 
 and present at his thought descends the maid 
 buoy'd by her heavenly force he seems to swim 
 and feels a pinion lifting every limb 
 all fierce and ready now the prize to gain 
 unhappy ajax stumbles on the plain
 o'erturn'd by pallas where the slippery shore
 was clogg'd with slimy dung and mingled gore 
 the self-same place beside patroclus' pyre 
 where late the slaughter'd victims fed the fire 
 besmear'd with filth and blotted o'er with clay 
 obscene to sight the rueful racer lay 
 the well-fed bull the second prize he shared 
 and left the urn ulysses' rich reward 
 then grasping by the horn the mighty beast 
 the baffled hero thus the greeks address'd 

  accursed fate the conquest i forego 
 a mortal i a goddess was my foe 
 she urged her favourite on the rapid way 
 and pallas not ulysses won the day  

 thus sourly wail'd he sputtering dirt and gore 
 a burst of laughter echoed through the shore 
 antilochus more humorous than the rest 
 takes the last prize and takes it with a jest 

  why with our wiser elders should we strive 
 the gods still love them and they always thrive 
 ye see to ajax i must yield the prize 
 he to ulysses still more aged and wise 
 a green old age unconscious of decays 
 that proves the hero born in better days 
 behold his vigour in this active race 
 achilles only boasts a swifter pace 
 for who can match achilles he who can 
 must yet be more than hero more than man  

 the effect succeeds the speech pelides cries 
  thy artful praise deserves a better prize 
 nor greece in vain shall hear thy friend extoll'd 
 receive a talent of the purest gold  
 the youth departs content the host admire
 the son of nestor worthy of his sire 

 next these a buckler spear and helm he brings 
 cast on the plain the brazen burden rings 
 arms which of late divine sarpedon wore 
 and great patroclus in short triumph bore 
  stand forth the bravest of our host he cries 
 whoever dares deserve so rich a prize 
 now grace the lists before our army's sight 
 and sheathed in steel provoke his foe to fight 
 who first the jointed armour shall explore 
 and stain his rival's mail with issuing gore 
 the sword asteropaeus possess'd of old 
 a thracian blade distinct with studs of gold 
 shall pay the stroke and grace the striker's side 
 these arms in common let the chiefs divide 
 for each brave champion when the combat ends 
 a sumptuous banquet at our tents attends  

 fierce at the word uprose great tydeus' son 
 and the huge bulk of ajax telamon 
 clad in refulgent steel on either hand 
 the dreadful chiefs amid the circle stand 
 louring they meet tremendous to the sight 
 each argive bosom beats with fierce delight 
 opposed in arms not long they idly stood 
 but thrice they closed and thrice the charge renew'd 
 a furious pass the spear of ajax made
 through the broad shield but at the corslet stay'd 
 not thus the foe his javelin aim'd above
 the buckler's margin at the neck he drove 
 but greece now trembling for her hero's life 
 bade share the honours and surcease the strife 
 yet still the victor's due tydides gains 
 with him the sword and studded belt remains 

 then hurl'd the hero thundering on the ground 
 a mass of iron an enormous round 
 whose weight and size the circling greeks admire 
 rude from the furnace and but shaped by fire 
 this mighty quoit aetion wont to rear 
 and from his whirling arm dismiss in air 
 the giant by achilles slain he stow'd
 among his spoils this memorable load 
 for this he bids those nervous artists vie 
 that teach the disk to sound along the sky 
  let him whose might can hurl this bowl arise 
 who farthest hurls it take it as his prize 
 if he be one enrich'd with large domain
 of downs for flocks and arable for grain 
 small stock of iron needs that man provide 
 his hinds and swains whole years shall be supplied
 from hence nor ask the neighbouring city's aid
 for ploughshares wheels and all the rural trade  

 stern polypoetes stepp'd before the throng 
 and great leonteus more than mortal strong 
 whose force with rival forces to oppose 
 uprose great ajax up epeus rose 
 each stood in order first epeus threw 
 high o'er the wondering crowds the whirling circle flew 
 leonteus next a little space surpass'd 
 and third the strength of godlike ajax cast 
 o'er both their marks it flew till fiercely flung
 from polypoetes' arm the discus sung 
 far as a swain his whirling sheephook throws 
 that distant falls among the grazing cows 
 so past them all the rapid circle flies 
 his friends while loud applauses shake the skies 
 with force conjoin'd heave off the weighty prize 

 those who in skilful archery contend 
 he next invites the twanging bow to bend 
 and twice ten axes casts amidst the round 
 ten double-edged and ten that singly wound
 the mast which late a first-rate galley bore 
 the hero fixes in the sandy shore 
 to the tall top a milk-white dove they tie 
 the trembling mark at which their arrows fly 

  whose weapon strikes yon fluttering bird shall bear
 these two-edged axes terrible in war 
 the single he whose shaft divides the cord  
 he said experienced merion took the word 
 and skilful teucer in the helm they threw
 their lots inscribed and forth the latter flew 
 swift from the string the sounding arrow flies 
 but flies unbless'd no grateful sacrifice 
 no firstling lambs unheedful didst thou vow
 to phoebus patron of the shaft and bow 
 for this thy well-aim'd arrow turn'd aside 
 err'd from the dove yet cut the cord that tied 
 adown the mainmast fell the parted string 
 and the free bird to heaven displays her wing 
 sea shores and skies with loud applause resound 
 and merion eager meditates the wound 
 he takes the bow directs the shaft above 
 and following with his eye the soaring dove 
 implores the god to speed it through the skies 
 with vows of firstling lambs and grateful sacrific
 the dove in airy circles as she wheels 
 amid the clouds the piercing arrow feels 
 quite through and through the point its passage found 
 and at his feet fell bloody to the ground 
 the wounded bird ere yet she breathed her last 
 with flagging wings alighted on the mast 
 a moment hung and spread her pinions there 
 then sudden dropp'd and left her life in air 
 from the pleased crowd new peals of thunder rise 
 and to the ships brave merion bears the prize 

 to close the funeral games achilles last
 a massy spear amid the circle placed 
 and ample charger of unsullied frame 
 with flowers high-wrought not blacken'd yet by flame 
 for these he bids the heroes prove their art 
 whose dexterous skill directs the flying dart 
 here too great merion hopes the noble prize 
 nor here disdain'd the king of men to rise 
 with joy pelides saw the honour paid 
 rose to the monarch and respectful said 

  thee first in virtue as in power supreme 
 o king of nations all thy greeks proclaim 
 in every martial game thy worth attest 
 and know thee both their greatest and their best 
 take then the prize but let brave merion bear
 this beamy javelin in thy brother's war  

 pleased from the hero's lips his praise to hear 
 the king to merion gives the brazen spear 
 but set apart for sacred use commands
 the glittering charger to talthybius' hands 


 ceres 





book xxiv 


argument 

the redemption of the body of hector 

the gods deliberate about the redemption of hector's body jupiter sends
thetis to achilles to dispose him for the restoring it and iris to
priam to encourage him to go in person and treat for it the old king 
notwithstanding the remonstrances of his queen makes ready for the
journey to which he is encouraged by an omen from jupiter he sets forth
in his chariot with a waggon loaded with presents under the charge of
idaeus the herald mercury descends in the shape of a young man and
conducts him to the pavilion of achilles their conversation on the way 
priam finds achilles at his table casts himself at his feet and begs for
the body of his son achilles moved with compassion grants his request 
detains him one night in his tent and the next morning sends him home
with the body the trojans run out to meet him the lamentations of
andromache hecuba and helen with the solemnities of the funeral 

the time of twelve days is employed in this book while the body of hector
lies in the tent of achilles and as many more are spent in the truce
allowed for his interment the scene is partly in achilles' camp and
partly in troy 

 now from the finish'd games the grecian band
 seek their black ships and clear the crowded strand 
 all stretch'd at ease the genial banquet share 
 and pleasing slumbers quiet all their care 
 not so achilles he to grief resign'd 
 his friend's dear image present to his mind 
 takes his sad couch more unobserved to weep 
 nor tastes the gifts of all-composing sleep 
 restless he roll'd around his weary bed 
 and all his soul on his patroclus fed 
 the form so pleasing and the heart so kind 
 that youthful vigour and that manly mind 
 what toils they shared what martial works they wrought 
 what seas they measured and what fields they fought 
 all pass'd before him in remembrance dear 
 thought follows thought and tear succeeds to tear 
 and now supine now prone the hero lay 
 now shifts his side impatient for the day 
 then starting up disconsolate he goes
 wide on the lonely beach to vent his woes 
 there as the solitary mourner raves 
 the ruddy morning rises o'er the waves 
 soon as it rose his furious steeds he join'd 
 the chariot flies and hector trails behind 
 and thrice patroclus round thy monument
 was hector dragg'd then hurried to the tent 
 there sleep at last o'ercomes the hero's eyes 
 while foul in dust the unhonour'd carcase lies 
 but not deserted by the pitying skies 
 for phoebus watch'd it with superior care 
 preserved from gaping wounds and tainting air 
 and ignominious as it swept the field 
 spread o'er the sacred corse his golden shield 
 all heaven was moved and hermes will'd to go
 by stealth to snatch him from the insulting foe 
 but neptune this and pallas this denies 
 and th' unrelenting empress of the skies 
 e'er since that day implacable to troy 
 what time young paris simple shepherd boy 
 won by destructive lust reward obscene 
 their charms rejected for the cyprian queen 
 but when the tenth celestial morning broke 
 to heaven assembled thus apollo spoke 


 hector's body at the car of achilles 


  unpitying powers how oft each holy fane
 has hector tinged with blood of victims slain 
 and can ye still his cold remains pursue 
 still grudge his body to the trojans' view 
 deny to consort mother son and sire 
 the last sad honours of a funeral fire 
 is then the dire achilles all your care 
 that iron heart inflexibly severe 
 a lion not a man who slaughters wide 
 in strength of rage and impotence of pride 
 who hastes to murder with a savage joy 
 invades around and breathes but to destroy 
 shame is not of his soul nor understood 
 the greatest evil and the greatest good 
 still for one loss he rages unresign'd 
 repugnant to the lot of all mankind 
 to lose a friend a brother or a son 
 heaven dooms each mortal and its will is done 
 awhile they sorrow then dismiss their care 
 fate gives the wound and man is born to bear 
 but this insatiate the commission given
 by fate exceeds and tempts the wrath of heaven 
 lo how his rage dishonest drags along
 hector's dead earth insensible of wrong 
 brave though he be yet by no reason awed 
 he violates the laws of man and god  


 the judgment of paris 


  if equal honours by the partial skies
 are doom'd both heroes juno thus replies 
 if thetis' son must no distinction know 
 then hear ye gods the patron of the bow 
 but hector only boasts a mortal claim 
 his birth deriving from a mortal dame 
 achilles of your own ethereal race 
 springs from a goddess by a man's embrace
 a goddess by ourself to peleus given 
 a man divine and chosen friend of heaven 
 to grace those nuptials from the bright abode
 yourselves were present where this minstrel-god 
 well pleased to share the feast amid the quire
 stood proud to hymn and tune his youthful lyre  

 then thus the thunderer checks the imperial dame 
  let not thy wrath the court of heaven inflame 
 their merits nor their honours are the same 
 but mine and every god's peculiar grace
 hector deserves of all the trojan race 
 still on our shrines his grateful offerings lay 
 the only honours men to gods can pay 
 nor ever from our smoking altar ceased
 the pure libation and the holy feast 
 howe'er by stealth to snatch the corse away 
 we will not thetis guards it night and day 
 but haste and summon to our courts above
 the azure queen let her persuasion move
 her furious son from priam to receive
 the proffer'd ransom and the corse to leave  

 he added not and iris from the skies 
 swift as a whirlwind on the message flies 
 meteorous the face of ocean sweeps 
 refulgent gliding o'er the sable deeps 
 between where samos wide his forests spreads 
 and rocky imbrus lifts its pointed heads 
 down plunged the maid the parted waves resound 
 she plunged and instant shot the dark profound 
 as bearing death in the fallacious bait 
 from the bent angle sinks the leaden weight 
 so pass'd the goddess through the closing wave 
 where thetis sorrow'd in her secret cave 
 there placed amidst her melancholy train
 the blue-hair'd sisters of the sacred main 
 pensive she sat revolving fates to come 
 and wept her godlike son's approaching doom 
 then thus the goddess of the painted bow 
  arise o thetis from thy seats below 
 'tis jove that calls    and why the dame replies 
 calls jove his thetis to the hated skies 
 sad object as i am for heavenly sight 
 ah may my sorrows ever shun the light 
 howe'er be heaven's almighty sire obey'd  
 she spake and veil'd her head in sable shade 
 which flowing long her graceful person clad 
 and forth she paced majestically sad 

 then through the world of waters they repair
 the way fair iris led to upper air 
 the deeps dividing o'er the coast they rise 
 and touch with momentary flight the skies 
 there in the lightning's blaze the sire they found 
 and all the gods in shining synod round 
 thetis approach'd with anguish in her face 
 minerva rising gave the mourner place 
 even juno sought her sorrows to console 
 and offer'd from her hand the nectar-bowl 
 she tasted and resign'd it then began
 the sacred sire of gods and mortal man 

  thou comest fair thetis but with grief o'ercast 
 maternal sorrows long ah long to last 
 suffice we know and we partake thy cares 
 but yield to fate and hear what jove declares
 nine days are past since all the court above
 in hector's cause have moved the ear of jove 
 'twas voted hermes from his godlike foe
 by stealth should bear him but we will'd not so 
 we will thy son himself the corse restore 
 and to his conquest add this glory more 
 then hie thee to him and our mandate bear 
 tell him he tempts the wrath of heaven too far 
 nor let him more our anger if he dread 
 vent his mad vengeance on the sacred dead 
 but yield to ransom and the father's prayer 
 the mournful father iris shall prepare
 with gifts to sue and offer to his hands
 whate'er his honour asks or heart demands  

 his word the silver-footed queen attends 
 and from olympus' snowy tops descends 
 arrived she heard the voice of loud lament 
 and echoing groans that shook the lofty tent 
 his friends prepare the victim and dispose
 repast unheeded while he vents his woes 
 the goddess seats her by her pensive son 
 she press'd his hand and tender thus begun 

  how long unhappy shall thy sorrows flow 
 and thy heart waste with life-consuming woe 
 mindless of food or love whose pleasing reign
 soothes weary life and softens human pain 
 o snatch the moments yet within thy power 
 not long to live indulge the amorous hour 
 lo jove himself for jove's command i bear 
 forbids to tempt the wrath of heaven too far 
 no longer then his fury if thou dread 
 detain the relics of great hector dead 
 nor vent on senseless earth thy vengeance vain 
 but yield to ransom and restore the slain  

 to whom achilles  be the ransom given 
 and we submit since such the will of heaven  

 while thus they communed from the olympian bowers
 jove orders iris to the trojan towers 
  haste winged goddess to the sacred town 
 and urge her monarch to redeem his son 
 alone the ilian ramparts let him leave 
 and bear what stern achilles may receive 
 alone for so we will no trojan near
 except to place the dead with decent care 
 some aged herald who with gentle hand
 may the slow mules and funeral car command 
 nor let him death nor let him danger dread 
 safe through the foe by our protection led 
 him hermes to achilles shall convey 
 guard of his life and partner of his way 
 fierce as he is achilles' self shall spare
 his age nor touch one venerable hair 
 some thought there must be in a soul so brave 
 some sense of duty some desire to save  


 iris advises priam to obtain the body of hector 


 then down her bow the winged iris drives 
 and swift at priam's mournful court arrives 
 where the sad sons beside their father's throne
 sat bathed in tears and answer'd groan with groan 
 and all amidst them lay the hoary sire 
 sad scene of woe his face his wrapp'd attire
 conceal'd from sight with frantic hands he spread
 a shower of ashes o'er his neck and head 
 from room to room his pensive daughters roam 
 whose shrieks and clamours fill the vaulted dome 
 mindful of those who late their pride and joy 
 lie pale and breathless round the fields of troy 
 before the king jove's messenger appears 
 and thus in whispers greets his trembling ears 

  fear not o father no ill news i bear 
 from jove i come jove makes thee still his care 
 for hector's sake these walls he bids thee leave 
 and bear what stern achilles may receive 
 alone for so he wills no trojan near 
 except to place the dead with decent care 
 some aged herald who with gentle hand
 may the slow mules and funeral car command 
 nor shalt thou death nor shall thou danger dread 
 safe through the foe by his protection led 
 thee hermes to pelides shall convey 
 guard of thy life and partner of thy way 
 fierce as he is achilles' self shall spare
 thy age nor touch one venerable hair 
 some thought there must be in a soul so brave 
 some sense of duty some desire to save  

 she spoke and vanish'd priam bids prepare
 his gentle mules and harness to the car 
 there for the gifts a polish'd casket lay 
 his pious sons the king's command obey 
 then pass'd the monarch to his bridal-room 
 where cedar-beams the lofty roofs perfume 
 and where the treasures of his empire lay 
 then call'd his queen and thus began to say 

  unhappy consort of a king distress'd 
 partake the troubles of thy husband's breast 
 i saw descend the messenger of jove 
 who bids me try achilles' mind to move 
 forsake these ramparts and with gifts obtain
 the corse of hector at yon navy slain 
 tell me thy thought my heart impels to go
 through hostile camps and bears me to the foe  

 the hoary monarch thus her piercing cries
 sad hecuba renews and then replies 
  ah whither wanders thy distemper'd mind 
 and where the prudence now that awed mankind 
 through phrygia once and foreign regions known 
 now all confused distracted overthrown 
 singly to pass through hosts of foes to face
 o heart of steel the murderer of thy race 
 to view that deathful eye and wander o'er
 those hands yet red with hector's noble gore 
 alas my lord he knows not how to spare 
 and what his mercy thy slain sons declare 
 so brave so many fallen to claim his rage
 vain were thy dignity and vain thy age 
 no pent in this sad palace let us give
 to grief the wretched days we have to live 
 still still for hector let our sorrows flow 
 born to his own and to his parents' woe 
 doom'd from the hour his luckless life begun 
 to dogs to vultures and to peleus' son 
 oh in his dearest blood might i allay
 my rage and these barbarities repay 
 for ah could hector merit thus whose breath
 expired not meanly in unactive death 
 he poured his latest blood in manly fight 
 and fell a hero in his country's right  

  seek not to stay me nor my soul affright
 with words of omen like a bird of night 
 replied unmoved the venerable man 
 'tis heaven commands me and you urge in vain 
 had any mortal voice the injunction laid 
 nor augur priest nor seer had been obey'd 
 a present goddess brought the high command 
 i saw i heard her and the word shall stand 
 i go ye gods obedient to your call 
 if in yon camp your powers have doom'd my fall 
 content by the same hand let me expire 
 add to the slaughter'd son the wretched sire 
 one cold embrace at least may be allow'd 
 and my last tears flow mingled with his blood  

 from forth his open'd stores this said he drew
 twelve costly carpets of refulgent hue 
 as many vests as many mantles told 
 and twelve fair veils and garments stiff with gold 
 two tripods next and twice two chargers shine 
 with ten pure talents from the richest mine 
 and last a large well-labour'd bowl had place 
 the pledge of treaties once with friendly thrace 
 seem'd all too mean the stores he could employ 
 for one last look to buy him back to troy 

 lo the sad father frantic with his pain 
 around him furious drives his menial train 
 in vain each slave with duteous care attends 
 each office hurts him and each face offends 
  what make ye here officious crowds he cries 
 hence nor obtrude your anguish on my eyes 
 have ye no griefs at home to fix ye there 
 am i the only object of despair 
 am i become my people's common show 
 set up by jove your spectacle of woe 
 no you must feel him too yourselves must fall 
 the same stern god to ruin gives you all 
 nor is great hector lost by me alone 
 your sole defence your guardian power is gone 
 i see your blood the fields of phrygia drown 
 i see the ruins of your smoking town 
 o send me gods ere that sad day shall come 
 a willing ghost to pluto's dreary dome  

 he said and feebly drives his friends away 
 the sorrowing friends his frantic rage obey 
 next on his sons his erring fury falls 
 polites paris agathon he calls 
 his threats deiphobus and dius hear 
 hippothous pammon helenes the seer 
 and generous antiphon for yet these nine
 survived sad relics of his numerous line 

  inglorious sons of an unhappy sire 
 why did not all in hector's cause expire 
 wretch that i am my bravest offspring slain 
 you the disgrace of priam's house remain 
 mestor the brave renown'd in ranks of war 
 with troilus dreadful on his rushing car 293 
 and last great hector more than man divine 
 for sure he seem'd not of terrestrial line 
 all those relentless mars untimely slew 
 and left me these a soft and servile crew 
 whose days the feast and wanton dance employ 
 gluttons and flatterers the contempt of troy 
 why teach ye not my rapid wheels to run 
 and speed my journey to redeem my son  

 the sons their father's wretched age revere 
 forgive his anger and produce the car 
 high on the seat the cabinet they bind 
 the new-made car with solid beauty shined 
 box was the yoke emboss'd with costly pains 
 and hung with ringlets to receive the reins 
 nine cubits long the traces swept the ground 
 these to the chariot's polish'd pole they bound 
 then fix'd a ring the running reins to guide 
 and close beneath the gather'd ends were tied 
 next with the gifts the price of hector slain 
 the sad attendants load the groaning wain 
 last to the yoke the well-matched mules they bring 
 the gift of mysia to the trojan king 
 but the fair horses long his darling care 
 himself received and harness'd to his car 
 grieved as he was he not this task denied 
 the hoary herald help'd him at his side 
 while careful these the gentle coursers join'd 
 sad hecuba approach'd with anxious mind 
 a golden bowl that foam'd with fragrant wine 
 libation destined to the power divine 
 held in her right before the steed she stands 
 and thus consigns it to the monarch's hands 

  take this and pour to jove that safe from harms
 his grace restore thee to our roof and arms 
 since victor of thy fears and slighting mine 
 heaven or thy soul inspires this bold design 
 pray to that god who high on ida's brow
 surveys thy desolated realms below 
 his winged messenger to send from high 
 and lead thy way with heavenly augury 
 let the strong sovereign of the plumy race
 tower on the right of yon ethereal space 
 that sign beheld and strengthen'd from above 
 boldly pursue the journey mark'd by jove 
 but if the god his augury denies 
 suppress thy impulse nor reject advice  

  'tis just said priam to the sire above
 to raise our hands for who so good as jove  
 he spoke and bade the attendant handmaid bring
 the purest water of the living spring 
 her ready hands the ewer and bason held 
 then took the golden cup his queen had fill'd 
 on the mid pavement pours the rosy wine 
 uplifts his eyes and calls the power divine 

  o first and greatest heaven's imperial lord 
 on lofty ida's holy hill adored 
 to stern achilles now direct my ways 
 and teach him mercy when a father prays 
 if such thy will despatch from yonder sky
 thy sacred bird celestial augury 
 let the strong sovereign of the plumy race
 tower on the right of yon ethereal space 
 so shall thy suppliant strengthen'd from above 
 fearless pursue the journey mark'd by jove  

 jove heard his prayer and from the throne on high 
 despatch'd his bird celestial augury 
 the swift-wing'd chaser of the feather'd game 
 and known to gods by percnos' lofty name 
 wide as appears some palace-gate display'd 
 so broad his pinions stretch'd their ample shade 
 as stooping dexter with resounding wings
 the imperial bird descends in airy rings 
 a dawn of joy in every face appears 
 the mourning matron dries her timorous tears 
 swift on his car the impatient monarch sprung 
 the brazen portal in his passage rung 
 the mules preceding draw the loaded wain 
 charged with the gifts idaeus holds the rein 
 the king himself his gentle steeds controls 
 and through surrounding friends the chariot rolls 
 on his slow wheels the following people wait 
 mourn at each step and give him up to fate 
 with hands uplifted eye him as he pass'd 
 and gaze upon him as they gazed their last 
 now forward fares the father on his way 
 through the lone fields and back to ilion they 
 great jove beheld him as he cross'd the plain 
 and felt the woes of miserable man 
 then thus to hermes  thou whose constant cares
 still succour mortals and attend their prayers 
 behold an object to thy charge consign'd 
 if ever pity touch'd thee for mankind 
 go guard the sire the observing foe prevent 
 and safe conduct him to achilles' tent  

 the god obeys his golden pinions binds 294 
 and mounts incumbent on the wings of winds 
 that high through fields of air his flight sustain 
 o'er the wide earth and o'er the boundless main 
 then grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly 
 or in soft slumbers seals the wakeful eye 
 thus arm'd swift hermes steers his airy way 
 and stoops on hellespont's resounding sea 
 a beauteous youth majestic and divine 
 he seem'd fair offspring of some princely line 
 now twilight veil'd the glaring face of day 
 and clad the dusky fields in sober grey 
 what time the herald and the hoary king
 their chariots stopping at the silver spring 
 that circling ilus' ancient marble flows 
 allow'd their mules and steeds a short repose 
 through the dim shade the herald first espies
 a man's approach and thus to priam cries 
  i mark some foe's advance o king beware 
 this hard adventure claims thy utmost care 
 for much i fear destruction hovers nigh 
 our state asks counsel is it best to fly 
 or old and helpless at his feet to fall 
 two wretched suppliants and for mercy call  

 the afflicted monarch shiver'd with despair 
 pale grew his face and upright stood his hair 
 sunk was his heart his colour went and came 
 a sudden trembling shook his aged frame 
 when hermes greeting touch'd his royal hand 
 and gentle thus accosts with kind demand 

  say whither father when each mortal sight
 is seal'd in sleep thou wanderest through the night 
 why roam thy mules and steeds the plains along 
 through grecian foes so numerous and so strong 
 what couldst thou hope should these thy treasures view 
 these who with endless hate thy race pursue 
 for what defence alas could'st thou provide 
 thyself not young a weak old man thy guide 
 yet suffer not thy soul to sink with dread 
 from me no harm shall touch thy reverend head 
 from greece i'll guard thee too for in those lines
 the living image of my father shines  

  thy words that speak benevolence of mind 
 are true my son the godlike sire rejoin'd 
 great are my hazards but the gods survey
 my steps and send thee guardian of my way 
 hail and be bless'd for scarce of mortal kind
 appear thy form thy feature and thy mind  

  nor true are all thy words nor erring wide 
 the sacred messenger of heaven replied 
 but say convey'st thou through the lonely plains
 what yet most precious of thy store remains 
 to lodge in safety with some friendly hand 
 prepared perchance to leave thy native land 
 or fliest thou now what hopes can troy retain 
 thy matchless son her guard and glory slain  

 the king alarm'd  say what and whence thou art
 who search the sorrows of a parent's heart 
 and know so well how godlike hector died  
 thus priam spoke and hermes thus replied 

  you tempt me father and with pity touch 
 on this sad subject you inquire too much 
 oft have these eyes that godlike hector view'd
 in glorious fight with grecian blood embrued 
 i saw him when like jove his flames he toss'd
 on thousand ships and wither'd half a host 
 i saw but help'd not stern achilles' ire
 forbade assistance and enjoy'd the fire 
 for him i serve of myrmidonian race 
 one ship convey'd us from our native place 
 polyctor is my sire an honour'd name 
 old like thyself and not unknown to fame 
 of seven his sons by whom the lot was cast
 to serve our prince it fell on me the last 
 to watch this quarter my adventure falls 
 for with the morn the greeks attack your walls 
 sleepless they sit impatient to engage 
 and scarce their rulers check their martial rage  

  if then thou art of stern pelides' train 
 the mournful monarch thus rejoin'd again 
 ah tell me truly where oh where are laid
 my son's dear relics what befals him dead 
 have dogs dismember'd on the naked plains 
 or yet unmangled rest his cold remains  

  o favour'd of the skies thus answered then
 the power that mediates between god and men 
 nor dogs nor vultures have thy hector rent 
 but whole he lies neglected in the tent 
 this the twelfth evening since he rested there 
 untouch'd by worms untainted by the air 
 still as aurora's ruddy beam is spread 
 round his friend's tomb achilles drags the dead 
 yet undisfigured or in limb or face 
 all fresh he lies with every living grace 
 majestical in death no stains are found
 o'er all the corse and closed is every wound 
 though many a wound they gave some heavenly care 
 some hand divine preserves him ever fair 
 or all the host of heaven to whom he led
 a life so grateful still regard him dead  

 thus spoke to priam the celestial guide 
 and joyful thus the royal sire replied 
  blest is the man who pays the gods above
 the constant tribute of respect and love 
 those who inhabit the olympian bower
 my son forgot not in exalted power 
 and heaven that every virtue bears in mind 
 even to the ashes of the just is kind 
 but thou o generous youth this goblet take 
 a pledge of gratitude for hector's sake 
 and while the favouring gods our steps survey 
 safe to pelides' tent conduct my way  

 to whom the latent god  o king forbear
 to tempt my youth for apt is youth to err 
 but can i absent from my prince's sight 
 take gifts in secret that must shun the light 
 what from our master's interest thus we draw 
 is but a licensed theft that 'scapes the law 
 respecting him my soul abjures the offence 
 and as the crime i dread the consequence 
 thee far as argos pleased i could convey 
 guard of thy life and partner of thy way 
 on thee attend thy safety to maintain 
 o'er pathless forests or the roaring main  

 he said then took the chariot at a bound 
 and snatch'd the reins and whirl'd the lash around 
 before the inspiring god that urged them on 
 the coursers fly with spirit not their own 
 and now they reach'd the naval walls and found
 the guards repasting while the bowls go round 
 on these the virtue of his wand he tries 
 and pours deep slumber on their watchful eyes 
 then heaved the massy gates removed the bars 
 and o'er the trenches led the rolling cars 
 unseen through all the hostile camp they went 
 and now approach'd pelides' lofty tent 
 on firs the roof was raised and cover'd o'er
 with reeds collected from the marshy shore 
 and fenced with palisades a hall of state 
 the work of soldiers where the hero sat 
 large was the door whose well-compacted strength
 a solid pine-tree barr'd of wondrous length 
 scarce three strong greeks could lift its mighty weight 
 but great achilles singly closed the gate 
 this hermes such the power of gods set wide 
 then swift alighted the celestial guide 
 and thus reveal'd  hear prince and understand
 thou ow'st thy guidance to no mortal hand 
 hermes i am descended from above 
 the king of arts the messenger of jove 
 farewell to shun achilles' sight i fly 
 uncommon are such favours of the sky 
 nor stand confess'd to frail mortality 
 now fearless enter and prefer thy prayers 
 adjure him by his father's silver hairs 
 his son his mother urge him to bestow
 whatever pity that stern heart can know  

 thus having said he vanish'd from his eyes 
 and in a moment shot into the skies 
 the king confirm'd from heaven alighted there 
 and left his aged herald on the car 
 with solemn pace through various rooms he went 
 and found achilles in his inner tent 
 there sat the hero alcimus the brave 
 and great automedon attendance gave 
 these served his person at the royal feast 
 around at awful distance stood the rest 

 unseen by these the king his entry made 
 and prostrate now before achilles laid 
 sudden a venerable sight appears 
 embraced his knees and bathed his hands in tears 
 those direful hands his kisses press'd embrued
 even with the best the dearest of his blood 

 as when a wretch who conscious of his crime 
 pursued for murder flies his native clime 
 just gains some frontier breathless pale amazed 
 all gaze all wonder thus achilles gazed 
 thus stood the attendants stupid with surprise 
 all mute yet seem'd to question with their eyes 
 each look'd on other none the silence broke 
 till thus at last the kingly suppliant spoke 

  ah think thou favour'd of the powers divine 295 
 think of thy father's age and pity mine 
 in me that father's reverend image trace 
 those silver hairs that venerable face 
 his trembling limbs his helpless person see 
 in all my equal but in misery 
 yet now perhaps some turn of human fate
 expels him helpless from his peaceful state 
 think from some powerful foe thou seest him fly 
 and beg protection with a feeble cry 
 yet still one comfort in his soul may rise 
 he hears his son still lives to glad his eyes 
 and hearing still may hope a better day
 may send him thee to chase that foe away 
 no comfort to my griefs no hopes remain 
 the best the bravest of my sons are slain 
 yet what a race ere greece to ilion came 
 the pledge of many a loved and loving dame 
 nineteen one mother bore dead all are dead 
 how oft alas has wretched priam bled 
 still one was left their loss to recompense 
 his father's hope his country's last defence 
 him too thy rage has slain beneath thy steel 
 unhappy in his country's cause he fell 

  for him through hostile camps i bent my way 
 for him thus prostrate at thy feet i lay 
 large gifts proportion'd to thy wrath i bear 
 o hear the wretched and the gods revere 

  think of thy father and this face behold 
 see him in me as helpless and as old 
 though not so wretched there he yields to me 
 the first of men in sovereign misery 
 thus forced to kneel thus grovelling to embrace
 the scourge and ruin of my realm and race 
 suppliant my children's murderer to implore 
 and kiss those hands yet reeking with their gore  

 these words soft pity in the chief inspire 
 touch'd with the dear remembrance of his sire 
 then with his hand as prostrate still he lay 
 the old man's cheek he gently turn'd away 
 now each by turns indulged the gush of woe 
 and now the mingled tides together flow 
 this low on earth that gently bending o'er 
 a father one and one a son deplore 
 but great achilles different passions rend 
 and now his sire he mourns and now his friend 
 the infectious softness through the heroes ran 
 one universal solemn shower began 
 they bore as heroes but they felt as man 

 satiate at length with unavailing woes 
 from the high throne divine achilles rose 
 the reverend monarch by the hand he raised 
 on his white beard and form majestic gazed 
 not unrelenting then serene began
 with words to soothe the miserable man 

  alas what weight of anguish hast thou known 
 unhappy prince thus guardless and alone
 two pass through foes and thus undaunted face
 the man whose fury has destroy'd thy race 
 heaven sure has arm'd thee with a heart of steel 
 a strength proportion'd to the woes you feel 
 rise then let reason mitigate your care 
 to mourn avails not man is born to bear 
 such is alas the gods' severe decree 
 they only they are blest and only free 
 two urns by jove's high throne have ever stood 
 the source of evil one and one of good 
 from thence the cup of mortal man he fills 
 blessings to these to those distributes ill 
 to most he mingles both the wretch decreed
 to taste the bad unmix'd is cursed indeed 
 pursued by wrongs by meagre famine driven 
 he wanders outcast both of earth and heaven 
 the happiest taste not happiness sincere 
 but find the cordial draught is dash'd with care 
 who more than peleus shone in wealth and power
 what stars concurring bless'd his natal hour 
 a realm a goddess to his wishes given 
 graced by the gods with all the gifts of heaven 
 one evil yet o'ertakes his latest day 
 no race succeeding to imperial sway 
 an only son and he alas ordain'd
 to fall untimely in a foreign land 
 see him in troy the pious care decline
 of his weak age to live the curse of thine 
 thou too old man hast happier days beheld 
 in riches once in children once excell'd 
 extended phrygia own'd thy ample reign 
 and all fair lesbos' blissful seats contain 
 and all wide hellespont's unmeasured main 
 but since the god his hand has pleased to turn 
 and fill thy measure from his bitter urn 
 what sees the sun but hapless heroes' falls 
 war and the blood of men surround thy walls 
 what must be must be bear thy lot nor shed
 these unavailing sorrows o'er the dead 
 thou canst not call him from the stygian shore 
 but thou alas may'st live to suffer more  

 to whom the king  o favour'd of the skies 
 here let me grow to earth since hector lies
 on the bare beach deprived of obsequies 
 o give me hector to my eyes restore
 his corse and take the gifts i ask no more 
 thou as thou may'st these boundless stores enjoy 
 safe may'st thou sail and turn thy wrath from troy 
 so shall thy pity and forbearance give
 a weak old man to see the light and live  

  move me no more achilles thus replies 
 while kindling anger sparkled in his eyes 
 nor seek by tears my steady soul to bend 
 to yield thy hector i myself intend 
 for know from jove my goddess-mother came 
 old ocean's daughter silver-footed dame 
 nor comest thou but by heaven nor comest alone 
 some god impels with courage not thy own 
 no human hand the weighty gates unbarr'd 
 nor could the boldest of our youth have dared
 to pass our outworks or elude the guard 
 cease lest neglectful of high jove's command 
 i show thee king thou tread'st on hostile land 
 release my knees thy suppliant arts give o'er 
 and shake the purpose of my soul no more  

 the sire obey'd him trembling and o'eraw'd 
 achilles like a lion rush'd abroad 
 automedon and alcimus attend 
 whom most he honour'd since he lost his friend 
 these to unyoke the mules and horses went 
 and led the hoary herald to the tent 
 next heap'd on high the numerous presents bear 
 great hector's ransom from the polish'd car 
 two splendid mantles and a carpet spread 
 they leave to cover and enwrap the dead 
 then call the handmaids with assistant toil
 to wash the body and anoint with oil 
 apart from priam lest the unhappy sire 
 provoked to passion once more rouse to ire
 the stern pelides and nor sacred age 
 nor jove's command should check the rising rage 
 this done the garments o'er the corse they spread 
 achilles lifts it to the funeral bed 
 then while the body on the car they laid 
 he groans and calls on loved patroclus' shade 

  if in that gloom which never light must know 
 the deeds of mortals touch the ghosts below 
 o friend forgive me that i thus fulfil
 restoring hector heaven's unquestion'd will 
 the gifts the father gave be ever thine 
 to grace thy manes and adorn thy shrine   296 

 he said and entering took his seat of state 
 where full before him reverend priam sate 
 to whom composed the godlike chief begun 
  lo to thy prayer restored thy breathless son 
 extended on the funeral couch he lies 
 and soon as morning paints the eastern skies 
 the sight is granted to thy longing eyes 
 but now the peaceful hours of sacred night
 demand reflection and to rest invite 
 nor thou o father thus consumed with woe 
 the common cares that nourish life forego 
 not thus did niobe of form divine 
 a parent once whose sorrows equall'd thine 
 six youthful sons as many blooming maids 
 in one sad day beheld the stygian shades 
 those by apollo's silver bow were slain 
 these cynthia's arrows stretch'd upon the plain 
 so was her pride chastised by wrath divine 
 who match'd her own with bright latona's line 
 but two the goddess twelve the queen enjoy'd 
 those boasted twelve the avenging two destroy'd 
 steep'd in their blood and in the dust outspread 
 nine days neglected lay exposed the dead 
 none by to weep them to inhume them none 
 for jove had turn'd the nation all to stone 
 the gods themselves at length relenting gave
 the unhappy race the honours of a grave 
 herself a rock for such was heaven's high will 
 through deserts wild now pours a weeping rill 
 where round the bed whence achelous springs 
 the watery fairies dance in mazy rings 
 there high on sipylus's shaggy brow 
 she stands her own sad monument of woe 
 the rock for ever lasts the tears for ever flow 

  such griefs o king have other parents known 
 remember theirs and mitigate thy own 
 the care of heaven thy hector has appear'd 
 nor shall he lie unwept and uninterr'd 
 soon may thy aged cheeks in tears be drown'd 
 and all the eyes of ilion stream around  

 he said and rising chose the victim ewe
 with silver fleece which his attendants slew 
 the limbs they sever from the reeking hide 
 with skill prepare them and in parts divide 
 each on the coals the separate morsels lays 
 and hasty snatches from the rising blaze 
 with bread the glittering canisters they load 
 which round the board automedon bestow'd 
 the chief himself to each his portion placed 
 and each indulging shared in sweet repast 
 when now the rage of hunger was repress'd 
 the wondering hero eyes his royal guest 
 no less the royal guest the hero eyes 
 his godlike aspect and majestic size 
 here youthful grace and noble fire engage 
 and there the mild benevolence of age 
 thus gazing long the silence neither broke 
 a solemn scene at length the father spoke 

  permit me now beloved of jove to steep
 my careful temples in the dew of sleep 
 for since the day that number'd with the dead
 my hapless son the dust has been my bed 
 soft sleep a stranger to my weeping eyes 
 my only food my sorrows and my sighs 
 till now encouraged by the grace you give 
 i share thy banquet and consent to live  

 with that achilles bade prepare the bed 
 with purple soft and shaggy carpets spread 
 forth by the flaming lights they bend their way 
 and place the couches and the coverings lay 
 then he  now father sleep but sleep not here 
 consult thy safety and forgive my fear 
 lest any argive at this hour awake 
 to ask our counsel or our orders take 
 approaching sudden to our open'd tent 
 perchance behold thee and our grace prevent 
 should such report thy honour'd person here 
 the king of men the ransom might defer 
 but say with speed if aught of thy desire
 remains unask'd what time the rites require
 to inter thy hector for so long we stay
 our slaughtering arm and bid the hosts obey  

  if then thy will permit the monarch said 
 to finish all due honours to the dead 
 this of thy grace accord to thee are known
 the fears of ilion closed within her town 
 and at what distance from our walls aspire
 the hills of ide and forests for the fire 
 nine days to vent our sorrows i request 
 the tenth shall see the funeral and the feast 
 the next to raise his monument be given 
 the twelfth we war if war be doom'd by heaven  

  this thy request replied the chief enjoy 
 till then our arms suspend the fall of troy  

 then gave his hand at parting to prevent
 the old man's fears and turn'd within the tent 
 where fair briseis bright in blooming charms 
 expects her hero with desiring arms 
 but in the porch the king and herald rest 
 sad dreams of care yet wandering in their breast 
 now gods and men the gifts of sleep partake 
 industrious hermes only was awake 
 the king's return revolving in his mind 
 to pass the ramparts and the watch to blind 
 the power descending hover'd o'er his head 
  and sleep'st thou father thus the vision said 
 now dost thou sleep when hector is restored 
 nor fear the grecian foes or grecian lord 
 thy presence here should stern atrides see 
 thy still surviving sons may sue for thee 
 may offer all thy treasures yet contain 
 to spare thy age and offer all in vain  

 waked with the word the trembling sire arose 
 and raised his friend the god before him goes 
 he joins the mules directs them with his hand 
 and moves in silence through the hostile land 
 when now to xanthus' yellow stream they drove 
 xanthus immortal progeny of jove 
 the winged deity forsook their view 
 and in a moment to olympus flew 
 now shed aurora round her saffron ray 
 sprang through the gates of light and gave the day 
 charged with the mournful load to ilion go
 the sage and king majestically slow 
 cassandra first beholds from ilion's spire 
 the sad procession of her hoary sire 
 then as the pensive pomp advanced more near 
 her breathless brother stretched upon the bier 
 a shower of tears o'erflows her beauteous eyes 
 alarming thus all ilion with her cries 

  turn here your steps and here your eyes employ 
 ye wretched daughters and ye sons of troy 
 if e'er ye rush'd in crowds with vast delight 
 to hail your hero glorious from the fight 
 now meet him dead and let your sorrows flow 
 your common triumph and your common woe  

 in thronging crowds they issue to the plains 
 nor man nor woman in the walls remains 
 in every face the self-same grief is shown 
 and troy sends forth one universal groan 
 at scaea's gates they meet the mourning wain 
 hang on the wheels and grovel round the slain 
 the wife and mother frantic with despair 
 kiss his pale cheek and rend their scatter'd hair 
 thus wildly wailing at the gates they lay 
 and there had sigh'd and sorrow'd out the day 
 but godlike priam from the chariot rose 
  forbear he cried this violence of woes 
 first to the palace let the car proceed 
 then pour your boundless sorrows o'er the dead  

 the waves of people at his word divide 
 slow rolls the chariot through the following tide 
 even to the palace the sad pomp they wait 
 they weep and place him on the bed of state 
 a melancholy choir attend around 
 with plaintive sighs and music's solemn sound 
 alternately they sing alternate flow
 the obedient tears melodious in their woe 
 while deeper sorrows groan from each full heart 
 and nature speaks at every pause of art 

 first to the corse the weeping consort flew 
 around his neck her milk-white arms she threw 
  and oh my hector oh my lord she cries 
 snatch'd in thy bloom from these desiring eyes 
 thou to the dismal realms for ever gone 
 and i abandon'd desolate alone 
 an only son once comfort of our pains 
 sad product now of hapless love remains 
 never to manly age that son shall rise 
 or with increasing graces glad my eyes 
 for ilion now her great defender slain 
 shall sink a smoking ruin on the plain 
 who now protects her wives with guardian care 
 who saves her infants from the rage of war 
 now hostile fleets must waft those infants o'er
 those wives must wait them to a foreign shore 
 thou too my son to barbarous climes shall go 
 the sad companion of thy mother's woe 
 driven hence a slave before the victor's sword
 condemn'd to toil for some inhuman lord 
 or else some greek whose father press'd the plain 
 or son or brother by great hector slain 
 in hector's blood his vengeance shall enjoy 
 and hurl thee headlong from the towers of troy 297 
 for thy stern father never spared a foe 
 thence all these tears and all this scene of woe 
 thence many evils his sad parents bore 
 his parents many but his consort more 
 why gav'st thou not to me thy dying hand 
 and why received not i thy last command 
 some word thou would'st have spoke which sadly dear 
 my soul might keep or utter with a tear 
 which never never could be lost in air 
 fix'd in my heart and oft repeated there  

 thus to her weeping maids she makes her moan 
 her weeping handmaids echo groan for groan 

 the mournful mother next sustains her part 
  o thou the best the dearest to my heart 
 of all my race thou most by heaven approved 
 and by the immortals even in death beloved 
 while all my other sons in barbarous bands
 achilles bound and sold to foreign lands 
 this felt no chains but went a glorious ghost 
 free and a hero to the stygian coast 
 sentenced 'tis true by his inhuman doom 
 thy noble corse was dragg'd around the tomb 
 the tomb of him thy warlike arm had slain 
 ungenerous insult impotent and vain 
 yet glow'st thou fresh with every living grace 
 no mark of pain or violence of face 
 rosy and fair as phoebus' silver bow
 dismiss'd thee gently to the shades below  

 thus spoke the dame and melted into tears 
 sad helen next in pomp of grief appears 
 fast from the shining sluices of her eyes
 fall the round crystal drops while thus she cries 

  ah dearest friend in whom the gods had join'd 298 
 tne mildest manners with the bravest mind 
 now twice ten years unhappy years are o'er
 since paris brought me to the trojan shore 
 o had i perish'd ere that form divine
 seduced this soft this easy heart of mine 
 yet was it ne'er my fate from thee to find
 a deed ungentle or a word unkind 
 when others cursed the authoress of their woe 
 thy pity check'd my sorrows in their flow 
 if some proud brother eyed me with disdain 
 or scornful sister with her sweeping train 
 thy gentle accents soften'd all my pain 
 for thee i mourn and mourn myself in thee 
 the wretched source of all this misery 
 the fate i caused for ever i bemoan 
 sad helen has no friend now thou art gone 
 through troy's wide streets abandon'd shall i roam 
 in troy deserted as abhorr'd at home  

 so spoke the fair with sorrow-streaming eye 
 distressful beauty melts each stander-by 
 on all around the infectious sorrow grows 
 but priam check'd the torrent as it rose 
  perform ye trojans what the rites require 
 and fell the forests for a funeral pyre 
 twelve days nor foes nor secret ambush dread 
 achilles grants these honours to the dead   299 


 funeral of hector 


 he spoke and at his word the trojan train
 their mules and oxen harness to the wain 
 pour through the gates and fell'd from ida's crown 
 roll back the gather'd forests to the town 
 these toils continue nine succeeding days 
 and high in air a sylvan structure raise 
 but when the tenth fair morn began to shine 
 forth to the pile was borne the man divine 
 and placed aloft while all with streaming eyes 
 beheld the flames and rolling smokes arise 
 soon as aurora daughter of the dawn 
 with rosy lustre streak'd the dewy lawn 
 again the mournful crowds surround the pyre 
 and quench with wine the yet remaining fire 
 the snowy bones his friends and brothers place
 with tears collected in a golden vase 
 the golden vase in purple palls they roll'd 
 of softest texture and inwrought with gold 
 last o'er the urn the sacred earth they spread 
 and raised the tomb memorial of the dead 
 strong guards and spies till all the rites were done 
 watch'd from the rising to the setting sun 
 all troy then moves to priam's court again 
 a solemn silent melancholy train 
 assembled there from pious toil they rest 
 and sadly shared the last sepulchral feast 
 such honours ilion to her hero paid 
 and peaceful slept the mighty hector's shade 300 





concluding note 


we have now passed through the iliad and seen the anger of achilles and
the terrible effects of it at an end as that only was the subject of the
poem and the nature of epic poetry would not permit our author to proceed
to the event of the war it perhaps may be acceptable to the common reader
to give a short account of what happened to troy and the chief actors in
this poem after the conclusion of it 

i need not mention that troy was taken soon after the death of hector by
the stratagem of the wooden horse the particulars of which are described
by virgil in the second book of the cneid 

achilles fell before troy by the hand of paris by the shot of an arrow
in his heel as hector had prophesied at his death lib xxii 

the unfortunate priam was killed by pyrrhus the son of achilles 

ajax after the death of achilles had a contest with ulysses for the
armour of vulcan but being defeated in his aim he slew himself through
indignation 

helen after the death of paris married deiphobus his brother and at the
taking of troy betrayed him in order to reconcile herself to menelaus her
first husband who received her again into favour 

agamemnon at his return was barbarously murdered by cgysthus at the
instigation of clytemnestra his wife who in his absence had dishonoured
his bed with cgysthus 

diomed after the fall of troy was expelled his own country and scarce
escaped with his life from his adulterous wife cgiale but at last was
received by daunus in apulia and shared his kingdom it is uncertain how
he died 

nestor lived in peace with his children in pylos his native country 

ulysses also after innumerable troubles by sea and land at last returned
in safety to ithaca which is the subject of homer's odyssey 

for what remains i beg to be excused from the ceremonies of taking leave
at the end of my work and from embarrassing myself or others with any
defences or apologies about it but instead of endeavouring to raise a
vain monument to myself of the merits or difficulties of it which must
be left to the world to truth and to posterity let me leave behind me
a memorial of my friendship with one of the most valuable of men as well
as finest writers of my age and country one who has tried and knows by
his own experience how hard an undertaking it is to do justice to homer 
and one whom i am sure sincerely rejoices with me at the period of my
labours to him therefore having brought this long work to a conclusion 
i desire to dedicate it and to have the honour and satisfaction of
placing together in this manner the names of mr congreve and of

march 25 1720

 a pope

ton theon de eupoiia to mae epi pleon me procophai en poiaetikn kai allois
epitaeoeimasi en ois isos a kateschethaen ei aesthomaen emautan euodos
proionta 

 m aurel anton de seipso lib i section 17 





end of the illiad






footnotes


 1  what   says archdeacon wilberforce  is the natural root of loyalty
 as distinguished from such mere selfish desire of personal security
 as is apt to take its place in civilized times but that
 consciousness of a natural bond among the families of men which
 gives a fellow-feeling to whole clans and nations and thus enlists
 their affections in behalf of those time-honoured representatives of
 their ancient blood in whose success they feel a personal interest 
 hence the delight when we recognize an act of nobility or justice in
 our hereditary princes

  'tuque prior tu parce genus qui ducis olympo 
 projice tela manu sanguis meus '

  so strong is this feeling that it regains an engrafted influence
 even when history witnesses that vast convulsions have rent and
 weakened it and the celtic feeling towards the stuarts has been
 rekindled in our own days towards the grand daughter of george the
 third of hanover 

  somewhat similar may be seen in the disposition to idolize those
 great lawgivers of man's race who have given expression in the
 immortal language of song to the deeper inspirations of our nature 
 the thoughts of homer or of shakespere are the universal inheritance
 of the human race in this mutual ground every man meets his
 brother they have been bet forth by the providence of god to
 vindicate for all of us what nature could effect and that in these
 representatives of our race we might recognize our common
 benefactors ' doctrine of the incarnation pp 9 10 

 2 eikos de min aen kai mnaemoruna panton grapherthai vit hom in
 schweigh herodot t iv p 299 sq section 6 i may observe that
 this life has been paraphrased in english by my learned young friend
 kenneth r h mackenzie and appended to my prose translation of the
 odyssey the present abridgement however will contain all that is
 of use to the reader for the biographical value of the treatise is
 most insignificant 

 3 i e both of composing and reciting verses for as blair observes 
  the first poets sang their own verses   sextus empir adv mus p 
 360 ed fabric ou hamelei ge toi kai oi poiaetai melopoioi
 legontai kai ta omaerou epae to palai pros lyran aedeto 

  the voice   observes heeren  was always accompanied by some
 instrument the bard was provided with a harp on which he played a
 prelude to elevate and inspire his mind and with which he
 accompanied the song when begun his voice probably preserved a
 medium between singing and recitation the words and not the melody
 were regarded by the listeners hence it was necessary for him to
 remain intelligible to all in countries where nothing similar is
 found it is difficult to represent such scenes to the mind but
 whoever has had an opportunity of listening to the improvisation of
 italy can easily form an idea of demodocus and phemius   ancient
 greece p 94 

 4  should it not be since my arrival asks mackenzie observing
 that  poplars can hardly live so long  but setting aside the fact
 that we must not expect consistency in a mere romance the ancients
 had a superstitious belief in the great age of trees which grew near
 places consecrated by the presence of gods and great men see cicero
 de legg ii i sub init where he speaks of the plane tree under
 which socrates used to walk and of the tree at delos where latona
 gave birth to apollo this passage is referred to by stephanus of
 byzantium s v n t p 490 ed de pinedo i omit quoting any
 of the dull epigrams ascribed to homer for as mr justice talfourd
 rightly observes  the authenticity of these fragments depends upon
 that of the pseudo herodotean life of homer from which they are
 taken   lit of greece pp 38 in encycl metrop cf coleridge 
 classic poets p 317 

 5 it is quoted as the work of cleobulus by diogenes laert vit 
 cleob p 62 ed casaub 

 6 i trust i am justified in employing this as an equivalent for the
 greek leschai 

 7 os ei tous homerous doxei trephein autois omilon pollon te kai
 achreoin exousin enteuthen de kai tounoma homeros epekrataese to
 melaesigenei apo taes symphoraes oi gar kumaioi tous tuphlous
 homerous legousin vit hom l c p 311 the etymology has been
 condemned by recent scholars see welcker epische cyclus p 127 
 and mackenzie's note p xiv 

 8 thestorides thnetoisin anoiston poleon per ouden aphrastoteron
 peletai noou anthropoisin ibid p 315 during his stay at phocoea 
 homer is said to have composed the little iliad and the phocoeid 
 see muller's hist of lit vi section 3 welcker l c pp 132 
 272 358 sqq and mure gr lit vol ii p 284 sq 

 9 this is so pretty a picture of early manners and hospitality that
 it is almost a pity to find that it is obviously a copy from the
 odyssey see the fourteenth book in fact whoever was the author of
 this fictitious biography he showed some tact in identifying homer
 with certain events described in his poems and in eliciting from
 them the germs of something like a personal narrative 

 10 dia logon estionto a common metaphor so plato calls the parties
 conversing daitumones or estiatores tim i p 522 a cf themist 
 orat vi p 168 and xvi p 374 ed petav so diaegaemasi sophois
 omou kai terpnois aedio taen thoinaen tois hestiomenois epoiei 
 choricius in fabric bibl gr t viii p 851 logois gar estia 
 athenaeus vii p 275 a

 11 it was at bolissus and in the house of this chian citizen that
 homer is said to have written the batrachomyomachia or battle of
 the frogs and mice the epicichlidia and some other minor works 

 12 chandler travels vol i p 61 referred to in the voyage
 pittoresque dans la grece vol i p 92 where a view of the spot
 is given of which the author candidly says  je ne puis repondre
 d'une exactitude scrupuleuse dans la vue generale que j'en donne 
 car etant alle seul pour l'examiner je perdis mon crayon et je fus
 oblige de m'en fier a ma memoire je ne crois cependant pas avoir
 trop a me plaindre d'elle en cette occasion  

 13 a more probable reason for this companionship and for the character
 of mentor itself is given by the allegorists viz the assumption
 of mentor's form by the guardian deity of the wise ulysses minerva 
 the classical reader may compare plutarch opp t ii p 880 
 xyland heraclid pont alleg hom p 531-5 of gale's opusc 
 mythol dionys halic de hom poes c 15 apul de deo socrat s 
 f 

 14 vit hom section 28 

 15 the riddle is given in section 35 compare mackenzie's note p xxx 

 16 heeren's ancient greece p 96 

 17 compare sir e l bulwer's caxtons v i p 4 

 18 pericles and aspasia letter lxxxiv works vol ii p 387 

 19 quarterly review no lxxxvii p 147 

 20 viz the following beautiful passage for the translation of which
 i am indebted to coleridge classic poets p 286 

  origias farewell and oh remember me
 hereafter when some stranger from the sea 
 a hapless wanderer may your isle explore 
 and ask you maid of all the bards you boast 
 who sings the sweetest and delights you most
 oh answer all 'a blind old man and poor
 sweetest he sings and dwells on chios' rocky shore ' 

 see thucyd iii 104 

 21 longin de sublim ix section 26 othen en tae odysseia
 pareikasai tis an kataduomeno ton omaeron haelio oo dixa taes
 sphodrotaetos paramenei to megethos

 22 see tatian quoted in fabric bibl gr v ii t ii mr mackenzie
 has given three brief but elaborate papers on the different writers
 on the subject which deserve to be consulted see notes and
 queries vol v pp 99 171 and 221 his own views are moderate 
 and perhaps as satisfactory on the whole as any of the hypotheses
 hitherto put forth in fact they consist in an attempt to blend
 those hypotheses into something like consistency rather than in
 advocating any individual theory 

 23 letters to phileleuth lips 

 24 hist of greece vol ii p 191 sqq 

 25 it is indeed not easy to calculate the height to which the memory
 may be cultivated to take an ordinary case we might refer to that
 of any first rate actor who must be prepared at a very short
 warning to 'rhapsodize ' night after night parts which when laid
 together would amount to an immense number of lines but all this
 is nothing to two instances of our own day visiting at naples a
 gentleman of the highest intellectual attainments and who held a
 distinguished rank among the men of letters in the last century he
 informed us that the day before he had passed much time in examining
 a man not highly educated who had learned to repeat the whole
 gierusalemme of tasso not only to recite it consecutively but also
 to repeat those stanzas in utter defiance of the sense either
 forwards or backwards or from the eighth line to the first 
 alternately the odd and even lines in short whatever the passage
 required the memory which seemed to cling to the words much more
 than to the sense had it at such perfect command that it could
 produce it under any form our informant went on to state that this
 singular being was proceeding to learn the orlando furioso in the
 same manner but even this instance is less wonderful than one as to
 which we may appeal to any of our readers that happened some twenty
 years ago to visit the town of stirling in scotland no such person
 can have forgotten the poor uneducated man blind jamie who could
 actually repeat after a few minutes consideration any verse
 required from any part of the bible even the obscurest and most
 unimportant enumeration of mere proper names not excepted we do not
 mention these facts as touching the more difficult part of the
 question before us but facts they are and if we find so much
 difficulty in calculating the extent to which the mere memory may be
 cultivated are we in these days of multifarious reading and of
 countless distracting affairs fair judges of the perfection to
 which the invention and the memory combined may attain in a simpler
 age and among a more single minded people quarterly review l 
 c p 143 sqq 

 heeren steers between the two opinions observing that  the
 dschungariade of the calmucks is said to surpass the poems of homer
 in length as much as it stands beneath them in merit and yet it
 exists only in the memory of a people which is not unacquainted with
 writing but the songs of a nation are probably the last things
 which are committed to writing for the very reason that they are
 remembered   ancient greece p 100 

 26 vol ii p 198 sqq 

 27 quarterly review l c p 131 sq 

 28 betrachtungen uber die ilias berol 1841 see grote p 204 notes
 and queries vol v p 221 

 29 prolegg pp xxxii xxxvi etc 

 30 vol ii p 214 sqq 

 31  who   says cicero de orat iii 34  was more learned in that age 
 or whose eloquence is reported to have been more perfected by
 literature than that of peisistratus who is said first to have
 disposed the books of homer in the order in which we now have them  
 compare wolf's prolegomena section 33

 32  the first book together with the eighth and the books from the
 eleventh to the twenty-second inclusive seems to form the primary
 organization of the poem then properly an achilleis   grote vol 
 ii p 235

 33 k r h mackenzie notes and queries p 222 sqq 

 34 see his epistle to raphelingius in schroeder's edition 4to 
 delphis 1728 

 35 ancient greece p 101 

 36 the best description of this monument will be found in vaux's
  antiquities of the british museum   p 198 sq the monument itself
 towneley sculptures no 123 is well known 

 37 coleridge classic poets p 276 

 38 preface to her homer 

 39 hesiod opp et dier lib i vers 155 etc 

 40 the following argument of the iliad corrected in a few particulars 
 is translated from bitaube and is perhaps the neatest summary
 that has ever been drawn up  a hero injured by his general and
 animated with a noble resentment retires to his tent and for a
 season withdraws himself and his troops from the war during this
 interval victory abandons the army which for nine years has been
 occupied in a great enterprise upon the successful termination of
 which the honour of their country depends the general at length
 opening his eyes to the fault which he had committed deputes the
 principal officers of his army to the incensed hero with commission
 to make compensation for the injury and to tender magnificent
 presents the hero according to the proud obstinacy of his
 character persists in his animosity the army is again defeated 
 and is on the verge of entire destruction this inexorable man has a
 friend this friend weeps before him and asks for the hero's arms 
 and for permission to go to the war in his stead the eloquence of
 friendship prevails more than the intercession of the ambassadors or
 the gifts of the general he lends his armour to his friend but
 commands him not to engage with the chief of the enemy's army 
 because he reserves to himself the honour of that combat and
 because he also fears for his friend's life the prohibition is
 forgotten the friend listens to nothing but his courage his corpse
 is brought back to the hero and the hero's arms become the prize of
 the conqueror then the hero given up to the most lively despair 
 prepares to fight he receives from a divinity new armour is
 reconciled with his general and thirsting for glory and revenge 
 enacts prodigies of valour recovers the victory slays the enemy's
 chief honours his friend with superb funeral rites and exercises a
 cruel vengeance on the body of his destroyer but finally appeased
 by the tears and prayers of the father of the slain warrior 
 restores to the old man the corpse of his son which he buries with
 due solemnities ' coleridge p 177 sqq 

 41 vultures pope is more accurate than the poet he translates for
 homer writes  a prey to dogs and to all kinds of birds but all
 kinds of birds are not carnivorous 

 42 i e during the whole time of their striving the will of jove was
 being gradually accomplished 

 43 compare milton's  paradise lost  i 6

  sing heavenly muse that on the secret top
 of horeb or of sinai didst inspire
 that shepherd  

 44 latona's son i e apollo 

 45 king of men agamemnon 

 46 brother kings menelaus and agamemnon 

 47 smintheus an epithet taken from sminthos the phrygian name for a
 mouse was applied to apollo for having put an end to a plague of
 mice which had harassed that territory strabo however says that
 when the teucri were migrating from crete they were told by an
 oracle to settle in that place where they should not be attacked by
 the original inhabitants of the land and that having halted for
 the night a number of field-mice came and gnawed away the leathern
 straps of their baggage and thongs of their armour in fulfilment
 of the oracle they settled on the spot and raised a temple to
 sminthean apollo grote  history of greece   i p 68 remarks that
 the  worship of sminthean apollo in various parts of the troad and
 its neighboring territory dates before the earliest period of
 aeolian colonization  

 48 cilla a town of troas near thebe so called from cillus a
 sister of hippodamia slain by oenomaus 

 49 a mistake it should be 


  if e'er i roofed thy graceful fane  


 for the custom of decorating temples with garlands was of later
 date 

 50 bent was his bow  the apollo of homer it must be borne in mind 
 is a different character from the deity of the same name in the
 later classical pantheon throughout both poems all deaths from
 unforeseen or invisible causes the ravages of pestilence the fate
 of the young child or promising adult cut off in the germ of
 infancy or flower of youth of the old man dropping peacefully into
 the grave or of the reckless sinner suddenly checked in his career
 of crime are ascribed to the arrows of apollo or diana the
 oracular functions of the god rose naturally out of the above
 fundamental attributes for who could more appropriately impart to
 mortals what little foreknowledge fate permitted of her decrees than
 the agent of her most awful dispensations the close union of the
 arts of prophecy and song explains his additional office of god of
 music while the arrows with which he and his sister were armed 
 symbols of sudden death in every age no less naturally procured him
 that of god of archery of any connection between apollo and the
 sun whatever may have existed in the more esoteric doctrine of the
 greek sanctuaries there is no trace in either iliad or
 odyssey   mure  history of greek literature   vol i p 478 sq 

 51 it has frequently been observed that most pestilences begin with
 animals and that homer had this fact in mind 

 52 convened to council the public assembly in the heroic times is
 well characterized by grote vol ii p 92  it is an assembly for
 talk communication and discussion to a certain extent by the chiefs
 in person of the people as listeners and sympathizers often for
 eloquence and sometimes for quarrel but here its ostensible
 purposes end  

 53 old jacob duport whose  gnomologia homerica  is full of curious and
 useful things quotes several passages of the ancients in which
 reference is made to these words of homer in maintenance of the
 belief that dreams had a divine origin and an import in which men
 were interested 

 54 rather  bright-eyed   see the german critics quoted by arnold 

 55 the prize given to ajax was tecmessa while ulysses received
 laodice the daughter of cycnus 

 56 the myrmidons dwelt on the southern borders of thessaly and took
 their origin from myrmido son of jupiter and eurymedusa it is
 fancifully supposed that the name was derived from myrmaex an
 ant  because they imitated the diligence of the ants and like
 them were indefatigable continually employed in cultivating the
 earth the change from ants to men is founded merely on the
 equivocation of their name which resembles that of the ant they
 bore a further resemblance to these little animals in that instead
 of inhabiting towns or villages at first they commonly resided in
 the open fields having no other retreats but dens and the cavities
 of trees until ithacus brought them together and settled them in
 more secure and comfortable habitations   anthon's  lempriere  

 57 eustathius after heraclides ponticus and others allegorizes this
 apparition as if the appearance of minerva to achilles unseen by
 the rest was intended to point out the sudden recollection that he
 would gain nothing by intemperate wrath and that it were best to
 restrain his anger and only gratify it by withdrawing his services 
 the same idea is rather cleverly worked out by apuleius  de deo
 socratis  

 58 compare milton  paradise lost   bk ii 

  though his tongue
 dropp'd manna  

 so proverbs v 3  for the lips of a strange woman drop as an
 honey-comb  

 59 salt water was chiefly used in lustrations from its being supposed
 to possess certain fiery particles hence if sea-water could not be
 obtained salt was thrown into the fresh water to be used for the
 lustration menander in clem alex vii p 713 hydati perriranai 
 embalon alas phakois 

 60 the persons of heralds were held inviolable and they were at
 liberty to travel whither they would without fear of molestation 
 pollux onom viii p 159 the office was generally given to old
 men and they were believed to be under the especial protection of
 jove and mercury 

 61 his mother thetis the daughter of nereus and doris who was
 courted by neptune and jupiter when however it was known that the
 son to whom she would give birth must prove greater than his father 
 it was determined to wed her to a mortal and peleus with great
 difficulty succeeded in obtaining her hand as she eluded him by
 assuming various forms her children were all destroyed by fire
 through her attempts to see whether they were immortal and achilles
 would have shared the same fate had not his father rescued him she
 afterwards rendered him invulnerable by plunging him into the waters
 of the styx with the exception of that part of the heel by which
 she held him hygin fab 54

 62 thebe was a city of mysia north of adramyttium 

 63 that is defrauds me of the prize allotted me by their votes 

 64 quintus calaber goes still further in his account of the service
 rendered to jove by thetis 

  nay more the fetters of almighty jove
 she loosed  dyce's  calaber   s 58 

 65 to fates averse of the gloomy destiny reigning throughout the
 homeric poems and from which even the gods are not exempt schlegel
 well observes  this power extends also to the world of gods for
 the grecian gods are mere powers of nature and although immeasurably
 higher than mortal man yet compared with infinitude they are on
 an equal footing with himself   'lectures on the drama' v p 67 

 66 it has been observed that the annual procession of the sacred ship
 so often represented on egyptian monuments and the return of the
 deity from ethiopia after some days' absence serves to show the
 ethiopian origin of thebes and of the worship of jupiter ammon  i
 think   says heeren after quoting a passage from diodorus about the
 holy ship  that this procession is represented in one of the great
 sculptured reliefs on the temple of karnak the sacred ship of ammon
 is on the shore with its whole equipment and is towed along by
 another boat it is therefore on its voyage this must have been one
 of the most celebrated festivals since even according to the
 interpretation of antiquity homer alludes to it when he speaks of
 jupiter's visit to the ethiopians and his twelve days'
 absence   long  egyptian antiquities  vol 1 p 96 eustathius 
 vol 1 p 98 sq ed basil gives this interpretation and
 likewise an allegorical one which we will spare the reader 

 67 atoned i e reconciled this is the proper and most natural
 meaning of the word as may be seen from taylor's remarks in
 calmet's dictionary p 110 of my edition 

 68 that is drawing back their necks while they cut their throats  if
 the sacrifice was in honour of the celestial gods the throat was
 bent upwards towards heaven but if made to the heroes or infernal
 deities it was killed with its throat toward the ground    elgin
 marbles   vol i p 81 

  the jolly crew unmindful of the past 
 the quarry share their plenteous dinner haste 
 some strip the skin some portion out the spoil 
 the limbs yet trembling in the caldrons boil 
 some on the fire the reeking entrails broil 
 stretch'd on the grassy turf at ease they dine 
 restore their strength with meat and cheer their souls with
 wine  

 dryden's  virgil   i 293 

 69 crown'd i e filled to the brim the custom of adorning goblets
 with flowers was of later date 

 70 he spoke etc  when a friend inquired of phidias what pattern he
 had formed his olympian jupiter he is said to have answered by
 repeating the lines of the first iliad in which the poet represents
 the majesty of the god in the most sublime terms thereby signifying
 that the genius of homer had inspired him with it those who beheld
 this statue are said to have been so struck with it as to have asked
 whether jupiter had descended from heaven to show himself to
 phidias or whether phidias had been carried thither to contemplate
 the god    elgin marbles   vol xii p 124 

 71  so was his will
 pronounced among the gods and by an oath 
 that shook heav'n's whole circumference confirm'd  

  paradise lost  ii 351 

 72 a double bowl i e a vessel with a cup at both ends something
 like the measures by which a halfpenny or pennyworth of nuts is
 sold see buttmann lexic p 93 sq 

 73  paradise lost   i 44 

  him th' almighty power
 hurl'd headlong flaming from th ethereal sky 
 with hideous ruin and combustion 

 74 the occasion on which vulcan incurred jove's displeasure was
 this after hercules had taken and pillaged troy juno raised a
 storm which drove him to the island of cos having previously cast
 jove into a sleep to prevent him aiding his son jove in revenge 
 fastened iron anvils to her feet and hung her from the sky and
 vulcan attempting to relieve her was kicked down from olympus in
 the manner described the allegorists have gone mad in finding deep
 explanations for this amusing fiction see heraclides 'ponticus  
 p 463 sq ed gale the story is told by homer himself in book xv 
 the sinthians were a race of robbers the ancient inhabitants of
 lemnos which island was ever after sacred to vulcan 

  nor was his name unheard or unadored
 in ancient greece and in ausonian land
 men call'd him mulciber and how he fell
 from heaven they fabled thrown by angry jove
 sheer o'er the crystal battlements from morn
 to noon he fell from noon to dewy eve 
 a summer's day and with the setting sun
 dropp'd from the zenith like a falling star
 on lemnos th' aegean isle thus they relate  

  paradise lost   i 738

 75 it is ingeniously observed by grote vol i p 463 that  the gods
 formed a sort of political community of their own which had its
 hierarchy its distribution of ranks and duties its contentions for
 power and occasional revolutions its public meetings in the agora
 of olympus and its multitudinous banquets or festivals  

 76 plato rep iii p 437 was so scandalized at this deception of
 jupiter's and at his other attacks on the character of the gods 
 that he would fain sentence him to an honourable banishment see
 minucius felix section 22 coleridge introd p 154 well
 observes that the supreme father of gods and men had a full right
 to employ a lying spirit to work out his ultimate will compare
  paradise lost   v 646 

  and roseate dews disposed
 all but the unsleeping eyes of god to rest  

 77 dream ought to be spelt with a capital letter being i think 
 evidently personified as the god of dreams see anthon and others 

  when by minerva sent a fraudful dream
 rush'd from the skies the bane of her and troy  

 dyce's  select translations from quintus calaber   p 10 

 78  sleep'st thou companion dear what sleep can close
 thy eye-lids  

  paradise lost   v 673 

 79 this truly military sentiment has been echoed by the approving voice
 of many a general and statesman of antiquity see pliny's panegyric
 on trajan silius neatly translates it 


  turpe duci totam somno consumere noctem  


 80 the same in habit etc 

  to whom once more the winged god appears 
 his former youthful mien and shape he wears  

 dryden's virgil iv 803 

 81  as bees in spring-time when
 the sun with taurus rides 
 pour forth their populous youth about the hive
 in clusters they among fresh dews and flowers
 fly to and fro or on the smoothed plank 
 the suburb of this straw-built citadel 
 new-nibb'd with balm expatiate and confer
 their state affairs so thick the very crowd
 swarm'd and were straiten'd    paradise lost  i 768 

 82 it was the herald's duty to make the people sit down  a standing 
 agora is a symptom of manifest terror ii xviii 246 an evening
 agora to which men came elevated by wine is also the forerunner of
 mischief 'odyssey ' iii 138   grote ii p 91 note 

 83 this sceptre like that of judah genesis xlix 10 is a type of
 the supreme and far-spread dominion of the house of the atrides see
 thucydides i 9  it is traced through the hands of hermes he being
 the wealth giving god whose blessing is most efficacious in
 furthering the process of acquisition   grote i p 212 compare
 quintus calaber dyce's selections p 43 

  thus the monarch spoke 
 then pledged the chief in a capacious cup 
 golden and framed by art divine a gift
 which to almighty jove lame vulcan brought
 upon his nuptial day when he espoused
 the queen of love the sire of gods bestow'd
 the cup on dardanus who gave it next
 to ericthonius tros received it then 
 and left it with his wealth to be possess'd
 by ilus he to great laomedon
 gave it and last to priam's lot it fell  

 84 grote i p 393 states the number of the grecian forces at upwards
 of 100 000 men nichols makes a total of 135 000 

 85  as thick as when a field
 of ceres ripe for harvest waving bends
 his bearded grove of ears which way the wind
 sways them   paradise lost   iv 980 sqq 

 86 this sentiment used to be a popular one with some of the greatest
 tyrants who abused it into a pretext for unlimited usurpation of
 power dion caligula and domitian were particularly fond of it 
 and in an extended form we find the maxim propounded by creon in
 the antigone of sophocles see some important remarks of heeren 
  ancient greece   ch vi p 105 

 87 it may be remarked that the character of thersites revolting and
 contemptible as it is serves admirably to develop the disposition
 of ulysses in a new light in which mere cunning is less prominent 
 of the gradual and individual development of homer's heroes 
 schlegel well observes  in bas-relief the figures are usually in
 profile and in the epos all are characterized in the simplest
 manner in relief they are not grouped together but follow one
 another so homer's heroes advance one by one in succession before
 us it has been remarked that the iliad is not definitively
 closed but that we are left to suppose something both to precede
 and to follow it the bas-relief is equally without limit and may
 be continued ad infinitum either from before or behind on which
 account the ancients preferred for it such subjects as admitted of
 an indefinite extension sacrificial processions dances and lines
 of combatants and hence they also exhibit bas-reliefs on curved
 surfaces such as vases or the frieze of a rotunda where by the
 curvature the two ends are withdrawn from our sight and where 
 while we advance one object appears as another disappears reading
 homer is very much like such a circuit the present object alone
 arresting our attention we lose sight of what precedes and do not
 concern ourselves about what is to follow    dramatic literature  
 p 75 

 88  there cannot be a clearer indication than this description so
 graphic in the original poem of the true character of the homeric
 agora the multitude who compose it are listening and acquiescent 
 not often hesitating and never refractory to the chief the fate
 which awaits a presumptuous critic even where his virulent
 reproaches are substantially well-founded is plainly set forth in
 the treatment of thersites while the unpopularity of such a
 character is attested even more by the excessive pains which homer
 takes to heap upon him repulsive personal deformities than by the
 chastisement of odysseus he is lame bald crook-backed of
 misshapen head and squinting vision   grote vol i p 97 

 89 according to pausanias both the sprig and the remains of the tree
 were exhibited in his time the tragedians lucretius and others 
 adopted a different fable to account for the stoppage at aulis and
 seem to have found the sacrifice of iphigena better suited to form
 the subject of a tragedy compare dryden's  cneid   vol iii sqq 

 90 full of his god i e apollo filled with the prophetic spirit 
   the god  would be more simple and emphatic 

 91 those critics who have maintained that the  catalogue of ships  is
 an interpolation should have paid more attention to these lines 
 which form a most natural introduction to their enumeration 

 92 the following observation will be useful to homeric readers 
  particular animals were at a later time consecrated to particular
 deities to jupiter ceres juno apollo and bacchus victims of
 advanced age might be offered an ox of five years old was
 considered especially acceptable to jupiter a black bull a ram or
 a boar pig were offerings for neptune a heifer or a sheep for
 minerva to ceres a sow was sacrificed as an enemy to corn the
 goat to bacchus because he fed on vines diana was propitiated with
 a stag and to venus the dove was consecrated the infernal and evil
 deities were to be appeased with black victims the most acceptable
 of all sacrifices was the heifer of a year old which had never
 borne the yoke it was to be perfect in every limb healthy and
 without blemish    elgin marbles   vol i p 78 

 93 idomeneus son of deucalion was king of crete having vowed 
 during a tempest on his return from troy to sacrifice to neptune
 the first creature that should present itself to his eye on the
 cretan shore his son fell a victim to his rash vow 

 94 tydeus' son i e diomed 

 95 that is ajax the son of oileus a locrian he must be
 distinguished from the other who was king of salamis 

 96 a great deal of nonsense has been written to account for the word
 unbid in this line even plato  sympos   p 315 has found some
 curious meaning in what to us appears to need no explanation was
 there any heroic rule of etiquette which prevented one
 brother-king visiting another without a formal invitation 

 97 fresh water fowl especially swans were found in great numbers
 about the asian marsh a fenny tract of country in lydia formed by
 the river cayster near its mouth see virgil  georgics   vol i 
 383 sq 

 98 scamander or scamandros was a river of troas rising according
 to strabo on the highest part of mount ida in the same hill with
 the granicus and the oedipus and falling into the sea at sigaeum 
 everything tends to identify it with mendere as wood rennell and
 others maintain the mendere is 40 miles long 300 feet broad deep
 in the time of flood nearly dry in the summer dr clarke
 successfully combats the opinion of those who make the scamander to
 have arisen from the springs of bounabarshy and traces the source
 of the river to the highest mountain in the chain of ida now
 kusdaghy receives the simois in its course towards its mouth it is
 very muddy and flows through marshes between the scamander and
 simois homer's troy is supposed to have stood this river 
 according to homer was called xanthus by the gods scamander by
 men the waters of the scamander had the singular property of giving
 a beautiful colour to the hair or wool of such animals as bathed in
 them hence the three goddesses minerva juno and venus bathed
 there before they appeared before paris to obtain the golden apple 
 the name xanthus  yellow   was given to the scamander from the
 peculiar colour of its waters still applicable to the mendere the
 yellow colour of whose waters attracts the attention of travellers 

 99 it should be  his chest like neptune   the torso of neptune in
 the  elgin marbles   no 103 vol ii p 26 is remarkable for
 its breadth and massiveness of development 

 100  say first for heav'n hides nothing from thy view  

  paradise lost   i 27 

  ma di' tu musa come i primi danni
 mandassero a cristiani e di quai parti 
 tu 'l sai ma di tant' opra a noi si lunge
 debil aura di fama appena giunge  

  gier lib   iv 19 

 101  the catalogue is perhaps the portion of the poem in favour of
 which a claim to separate authorship has been most plausibly urged 
 although the example of homer has since rendered some such formal
 enumeration of the forces engaged a common practice in epic poems
 descriptive of great warlike adventures still so minute a
 statistical detail can neither be considered as imperatively
 required nor perhaps such as would in ordinary cases suggest
 itself to the mind of a poet yet there is scarcely any portion of
 the iliad where both historical and internal evidence are more
 clearly in favour of a connection from the remotest period with the
 remainder of the work the composition of the catalogue whensoever
 it may have taken place necessarily presumes its author's
 acquaintance with a previously existing iliad it were impossible
 otherwise to account for the harmony observable in the recurrence of
 so vast a number of proper names most of them historically
 unimportant and not a few altogether fictitious or of so many
 geographical and genealogical details as are condensed in these few
 hundred lines and incidentally scattered over the thousands which
 follow equally inexplicable were the pointed allusions occurring in
 this episode to events narrated in the previous and subsequent text 
 several of which could hardly be of traditional notoriety but
 through the medium of the iliad   mure  language and literature of
 greece   vol i p 263 

 102 twice sixty  thucydides observes that the boeotian vessels 
 which carried one hundred and twenty men each were probably meant
 to be the largest in the fleet and those of philoctetes carrying
 fifty each the smallest the average would be eighty-five and
 thucydides supposes the troops to have rowed and navigated
 themselves and that very few besides the chiefs went as mere
 passengers or landsmen in short we have in the homeric
 descriptions the complete picture of an indian or african war canoe 
 many of which are considerably larger than the largest scale
 assigned to those of the greeks if the total number of the greek
 ships be taken at twelve hundred according to thucydides although
 in point of fact there are only eleven hundred and eighty-six in the
 catalogue the amount of the army upon the foregoing average will
 be about a hundred and two thousand men the historian considers
 this a small force as representing all greece bryant comparing it
 with the allied army at platae thinks it so large as to prove the
 entire falsehood of the whole story and his reasonings and
 calculations are for their curiosity well worth a careful
 perusal   coleridge p 211 sq 

 103 the mention of corinth is an anachronism as that city was called
 ephyre before its capture by the dorians but velleius vol i p 
 3 well observes that the poet would naturally speak of various
 towns and cities by the names by which they were known in his own
 time 

 104  adam the goodliest man of men since born 
 his sons the fairest of her daughters eve '

  paradise lost   iv 323 

 105 csetes' tomb monuments were often built on the sea-coast and of
 a considerable height so as to serve as watch-towers or land marks 
 see my notes to my prose translations of the  odyssey   ii p 21 
 or on eur  alcest   vol i p 240 

 106 zeleia another name for lycia the inhabitants were greatly
 devoted to the worship of apollo see muller  dorians   vol i p 
 248 

 107 barbarous tongues  various as were the dialects of the
 greeks and these differences existed not only between the several
 tribes but even between neighbouring cities they yet acknowledged
 in their language that they formed but one nation were but branches
 of the same family homer has 'men of other tongues ' and yet homer
 had no general name for the greek nation   heeren  ancient greece  
 section vii p 107 sq 

 108 the cranes 
  marking the tracts of air the clamorous cranes
 wheel their due flight in varied ranks descried 
 and each with outstretch'd neck his rank maintains 
 in marshall'd order through th' ethereal void  

 lorenzo de medici in roscoe's life appendix 

 see cary's dante  hell   canto v 

 109 silent breathing rage 
  thus they 
 breathing united force with fixed thought 
 moved on in silence  

  paradise lost   book i 559 

 110  as when some peasant in a bushy brake
 has with unwary footing press'd a snake 
 he starts aside astonish'd when he spies
 his rising crest blue neck and rolling eyes 

 dryden's virgil ii 510 

 111 dysparis i e unlucky ill fated paris this alludes to the evils
 which resulted from his having been brought up despite the omens
 which attended his birth 

 112 the following scene in which homer has contrived to introduce so
 brilliant a sketch of the grecian warriors has been imitated by
 euripides who in his  phoenissae  represents antigone surveying the
 opposing champions from a high tower while the paedagogus describes
 their insignia and details their histories 

 113 no wonder etc zeuxis the celebrated artist is said to have
 appended these lines to his picture of helen as a motto valer max 
 iii 7 

 114 the early epic was largely occupied with the exploits and sufferings
 of women or heroines the wives and daughters of the grecian
 heroes a nation of courageous hardy indefatigable women dwelling
 apart from men permitting only a short temporary intercourse for
 the purpose of renovating their numbers burning out their right
 breast with a view of enabling themselves to draw the bow freely 
 this was at once a general type stimulating to the fancy of the
 poet and a theme eminently popular with his hearers we find these
 warlike females constantly reappearing in the ancient poems and
 universally accepted as past realities in the iliad when priam
 wishes to illustrate emphatically the most numerous host in which he
 ever found himself included he tells us that it was assembled in
 phrygia on the banks of the sangarius for the purpose of resisting
 the formidable amazons when bellerophon is to be employed in a
 deadly and perilous undertaking by those who prudently wished to
 procure his death he is despatched against the amazons grote vol 
 i p 289 

 115 antenor like cneas had always been favourable to the
 restoration of helen liv 1 2 

 116  his lab'ring heart with sudden rapture seized
 he paus'd and on the ground in silence gazed 
 unskill'd and uninspired he seems to stand 
 nor lifts the eye nor graceful moves the hand 
 then while the chiefs in still attention hung 
 pours the full tide of eloquence along 
 while from his lips the melting torrent flows 
 soft as the fleeces of descending snows 
 now stronger notes engage the listening crowd 
 louder the accents rise and yet more loud 
 like thunders rolling from a distant cloud  

 merrick's  tryphiodorus   148 99 

 117 duport  gnomol homer   p 20 well observes that this comparison
 may also be sarcastically applied to the frigid style of oratory 
 it of course here merely denotes the ready fluency of ulysses 

 118 her brothers' doom they perished in combat with lynceus and
 idas whilst besieging sparta see hygin poet astr 32 22 virgil
 and others however make them share immortality by turns 

 119 idreus was the arm-bearer and charioteer of king priam slain during
 this war cf cn vi 487 

 120 scaea's gates rather scaean gates i e the left-hand gates 

 121 this was customary in all sacrifices hence we find iras descending
 to cut off the hair of dido before which she could not expire 

 122 nor pierced 

  this said his feeble hand a jav'lin threw 
 which flutt'ring seemed to loiter as it flew 
 just and but barely to the mark it held 
 and faintly tinkled on the brazen shield  

 dryden's virgil ii 742 

 123 reveal'd the queen 

  thus having said she turn'd and made appear
 her neck refulgent and dishevell'd hair 
 which flowing from her shoulders reach'd the ground 
 and widely spread ambrosial scents around 
 in length of train descends her sweeping gown 
 and by her graceful walk the queen of love is known  

 dryden's virgil i 556 

 124 cranae's isle i e athens see the  schol   and alberti's
  hesychius   vol ii p 338 this name was derived from one of its
 early kings cranaus 

 125 the martial maid in the original  minerva alalcomeneis   i e 
 the defender so called from her temple at alalcomene in boeotia 

 126  anything for a quiet life  

 127 argos the worship of juno at argos was very celebrated in
 ancient times and she was regarded as the patron deity of that
 city apul met vi p 453 servius on virg cn i 28 

 128 a wife and sister 

  but i who walk in awful state above
 the majesty of heav'n the sister-wife of jove  

 dryden's  virgil   i 70 

 so apuleius l c speaks of her as  jovis germana et conjux and
 so horace od iii 3 64  conjuge me jovis et sorore  

 129  thither came uriel gleaming through the even
 on a sunbeam swift as a shooting star
 in autumn thwarts the night when vapours fired
 impress the air and shows the mariner
 from what point of his compass to beware
 impetuous winds  

  paradise lost   iv 555 

 130 csepus' flood a river of mysia rising from mount cotyius in
 the southern part of the chain of ida 

 131 zelia a town of troas at the foot of ida 

 132 podaleirius and machaon are the leeches of the grecian army 
 highly prized and consulted by all the wounded chiefs their medical
 renown was further prolonged in the subsequent poem of arktinus the
 iliou persis wherein the one was represented as unrivalled in
 surgical operations the other as sagacious in detecting and
 appreciating morbid symptoms it was podaleirius who first noticed
 the glaring eyes and disturbed deportment which preceded the suicide
 of ajax 

  galen appears uncertain whether asklepius as well as dionysus was
 originally a god or whether he was first a man and then became
 afterwards a god but apollodorus professed to fix the exact date of
 his apotheosis throughout all the historical ages the descendants
 of asklepius were numerous and widely diffused the many families or
 gentes called asklepiads who devoted themselves to the study and
 practice of medicine and who principally dwelt near the temples of
 asklepius whither sick and suffering men came to obtain relief all
 recognized the god not merely as the object of their common worship 
 but also as their actual progenitor   grote vol i p 248 

 133  the plant she bruises with a stone and stands
 tempering the juice between her ivory hands
 this o'er her breast she sheds with sovereign art
 and bathes with gentle touch the wounded part
 the wound such virtue from the juice derives 
 at once the blood is stanch'd the youth revives  

  orlando furioso   book 1 

 134 well might i wish 

  would heav'n said he my strength and youth recall 
 such as i was beneath praeneste's wall 
 then when i made the foremost foes retire 
 and set whole heaps of conquer'd shields on fire 
 when herilus in single fight i slew 
 whom with three lives feronia did endue  

 dryden's virgil viii 742 

 135 sthenelus a son of capaneus one of the epigoni he was one of
 the suitors of helen and is said to have been one of those who
 entered troy inside the wooden horse 

 136 forwarn'd the horrors the same portent has already been
 mentioned to this day modern nations are not wholly free from this
 superstition 

 137 sevenfold city boeotian thebes which had seven gates 

 138 as when the winds 

  thus when a black-brow'd gust begins to rise 
 white foam at first on the curl'd ocean fries 
 then roars the main the billows mount the skies 
 till by the fury of the storm full blown 
 the muddy billow o'er the clouds is thrown  

 dryden's virgil vii 736 

 139  stood
 like teneriffe or atlas unremoved 
 his stature reach'd the sky  

  paradise lost   iv 986 

 140 the abantes seem to have been of thracian origin 

 141 i may once for all remark that homer is most anatomically correct
 as to the parts of the body in which a wound would be immediately
 mortal 

 142 cnus a fountain almost proverbial for its coldness 

 143 compare tasso gier lib xx 7 

  nuovo favor del cielo in lui niluce
 e 'l fa grande et angusto oltre il costume 
 gl' empie d' honor la faccia e vi riduce
 di giovinezza il bel purpureo lume  

 144  or deluges descending on the plains 
 sweep o'er the yellow year destroy the pains
 of lab'ring oxen and the peasant's gains 
 uproot the forest oaks and bear away
 flocks folds and trees an undistinguish'd prey  

 dryden's virgil ii 408 

 145 from mortal mists 

  but to nobler sights
 michael from adam's eyes the film removed  

  paradise lost   xi 411 

 146 the race of those 

  a pair of coursers born of heav'nly breed 
 who from their nostrils breathed ethereal fire 
 whom circe stole from her celestial sire 
 by substituting mares produced on earth 
 whose wombs conceived a more than mortal birth 

 dryden's virgil vii 386 sqq 

 147 the belief in the existence of men of larger stature in earlier
 times is by no means confined to homer 

 148 such stream i e the ichor or blood of the gods 

  a stream of nect'rous humour issuing flow'd 
 sanguine such as celestial spirits may bleed  

  paradise lost   vi 339 

 149 this was during the wars with the titans 

 150 amphitryon's son hercules born to jove by alcmena the wife of
 amphitryon 

 151 cgiale daughter of adrastus the cyclic poets see anthon's
 lempriere s v assert venus incited her to infidelity in
 revenge for the wound she had received from her husband 

 152 pherae a town of pelasgiotis in thessaly 

 153 tlepolemus son of hercules and astyochia having left his native
 country argos in consequence of the accidental murder of
 liscymnius he was commanded by an oracle to retire to rhodes here
 he was chosen king and accompanied the trojan expedition after his
 death certain games were instituted at rhodes in his honour the
 victors being rewarded with crowns of poplar 

 154 these heroes' names have since passed into a kind of proverb 
 designating the oi polloi or mob 

 155 spontaneous open 

  veil'd with his gorgeous wings upspringing light
 flew through the midst of heaven th' angelic quires 
 on each hand parting to his speed gave way
 through all th' empyreal road till at the gate
 of heaven arrived the gate self-open'd wide 
 on golden hinges turning  

  paradise lost   v 250 

 156  till morn 
 waked by the circling hours with rosy hand
 unbarr'd the gates of light  

  paradise lost   vi 2 

 157 far as a shepherd  with what majesty and pomp does homer exalt
 his deities he here measures the leap of the horses by the extent
 of the world and who is there that considering the exceeding
 greatness of the space would not with reason cry out that 'if the
 steeds of the deity were to take a second leap the world would want
 room for it'   longinus section 8 

 158  no trumpets or any other instruments of sound are used in the
 homeric action itself but the trumpet was known and is introduced
 for the purpose of illustration as employed in war hence arose the
 value of a loud voice in a commander stentor was an indispensable
 officer in the early saracen campaigns frequent mention is made
 of the service rendered by men of uncommonly strong voices the
 battle of honain was restored by the shouts and menaces of abbas 
 the uncle of mohammed   etc coleridge p 213 

 159  long had the wav'ring god the war delay'd 
 while greece and troy alternate own'd his aid  

 merrick's  tryphiodorus   vi 761 sq 

 160 paeon seems to have been to the gods what podaleirius and
 machaon were to the grecian heroes 

 161 arisbe a colony of the mitylenaeans in troas 

 162 pedasus a town near pylos 

 163 rich heaps of brass  the halls of alkinous and menelaus glitter
 with gold copper and electrum while large stocks of yet
 unemployed metal gold copper and iron are stored up in the
 treasure-chamber of odysseus and other chiefs coined money is
 unknown in the homeric age the trade carried on being one of barter 
 in reference also to the metals it deserves to be remarked that
 the homeric descriptions universally suppose copper and not iron 
 to be employed for arms both offensive and defensive by what
 process the copper was tempered and hardened so as to serve the
 purpose of the warrior we do not know but the use of iron for
 these objects belongs to a later age   grote vol ii p 142 

 164 oh impotent etc  in battle quarter seems never to have been
 given except with a view to the ransom of the prisoner agamemnon
 reproaches menelaus with unmanly softness when he is on the point
 of sparing a fallen enemy and himself puts the suppliant to the
 sword   thirlwall vol i p 181

 165  the ruthless steel impatient of delay 
 forbade the sire to linger out the day 
 it struck the bending father to the earth 
 and cropt the wailing infant at the birth 
 can innocents the rage of parties know 
 and they who ne'er offended find a foe  

 rowe's lucan bk ii 

 166  meantime the trojan dames oppress'd with woe 
 to pallas' fane in long procession go 
 in hopes to reconcile their heav'nly foe 
 they weep they beat their breasts they rend their hair 
 and rich embroider'd vests for presents bear  

 dryden's virgil i 670

 167 the manner in which this episode is introduced is well illustrated
 by the following remarks of mure vol i p 298  the poet's method
 of introducing his episode also illustrates in a curious manner
 his tact in the dramatic department of his art where for example 
 one or more heroes are despatched on some commission to be executed
 at a certain distance of time or place the fulfilment of this task
 is not as a general rule immediately described a certain interval
 is allowed them for reaching the appointed scene of action which
 interval is dramatised as it were either by a temporary
 continuation of the previous narrative or by fixing attention for a
 while on some new transaction at the close of which the further
 account of the mission is resumed  

 168 with tablets sealed these probably were only devices of a
 hieroglyphical character whether writing was known in the homeric
 times is utterly uncertain see grote vol ii p 192 sqq 

 169 solymaean crew a people of lycia 

 170 from this  melancholy madness  of bellerophon hypochondria received
 the name of  morbus bellerophonteus   see my notes in my prose
 translation p 112 the  aleian field   i e  the plain of
 wandering   was situated between the rivers pyramus and pinarus in
 cilicia 

 171 his own of gold this bad bargain has passed into a common
 proverb see aulus gellius ii 23 

 172 scaean i e left hand 

 173 in fifty chambers 

  the fifty nuptial beds such hopes had he 
 so large a promise of a progeny 
 the ports of plated gold and hung with spoils  

 dryden's virgil ii 658

 174 o would kind earth etc  it is apparently a sudden irregular
 burst of popular indignation to which hector alludes when he
 regrets that the trojans had not spirit enough to cover paris with a
 mantle of stones this however was also one of the ordinary formal
 modes of punishment for great public offences it may have been
 originally connected with the same feeling the desire of avoiding
 the pollution of bloodshed which seems to have suggested the
 practice of burying prisoners alive with a scantling of food by
 their side though homer makes no mention of this horrible usage 
 the example of the roman vestals affords reasons for believing that 
 in ascribing it to the heroic ages sophocles followed an authentic
 tradition   thirlwall's greece vol i p 171 sq 

 175 paris' lofty dome  with respect to the private dwellings which
 are oftenest described the poet's language barely enables us to
 form a general notion of their ordinary plan and affords no
 conception of the style which prevailed in them or of their effect
 on the eye it seems indeed probable from the manner in which he
 dwells on their metallic ornaments that the higher beauty of
 proportion was but little required or understood and it is 
 perhaps strength and convenience rather than elegance that he
 means to commend in speaking of the fair house which paris had
 built for himself with the aid of the most skilful masons of
 troy   thirlwall's greece vol i p 231 

 176 the wanton courser 

  come destrier che da le regie stalle
 ove a l'usa de l'arme si riserba 
 fugge e libero al fiu per largo calle
 va tragl' armenti o al fiume usato o a l'herba  

 gier lib ix 75 

 177 casque the original word is stephanae about the meaning of
 which there is some little doubt some take it for a different kind
 of cap or helmet others for the rim others for the cone of the
 helmet 

 178 athenian maid minerva 

 179 celadon a river of elis 

 180 oileus i e ajax the son of oileus in contradistinction to
 ajax son of telamon 

 181 in the general's helm it was customary to put the lots into a
 helmet in which they were well shaken up each man then took his
 choice 

 182 god of thrace mars or mavors according to his thracian
 epithet hence  mavortia moenia  

 183 grimly he smiled 

  and death
 grinn'd horribly a ghastly smile  

  paradise lost   ii 845 

  there mavors stands
 grinning with ghastly feature  

 carey's dante hell v 

 184  sete o guerrieri incomincio pindoro 
 con pari honor di pari ambo possenti 
 dunque cessi la pugna e non sian rotte
 le ragioni e 'l riposo e de la notte  

 gier lib vi 51 

 185 it was an ancient style of compliment to give a larger portion of
 food to the conqueror or person to whom respect was to be shown 
 see virg cn viii 181 thus benjamin was honoured with a  double
 portion   gen xliii 34 

 186 embattled walls  another essential basis of mechanical unity in
 the poem is the construction of the rampart this takes place in the
 seventh book the reason ascribed for the glaring improbability that
 the greeks should have left their camp and fleet unfortified during
 nine years in the midst of a hostile country is a purely poetical
 one 'so long as achilles fought the terror of his name sufficed to
 keep every foe at a distance ' the disasters consequent on his
 secession first led to the necessity of other means of protection 
 accordingly in the battles previous to the eighth book no allusion
 occurs to a rampart in all those which follow it forms a prominent
 feature here then in the anomaly as in the propriety of the
 iliad the destiny of achilles or rather this peculiar crisis of
 it forms the pervading bond of connexion to the whole poem   mure 
 vol i p 257 

 187 what cause of fear etc 

  seest thou not this or do we fear in vain
 thy boasted thunders and thy thoughtless reign  

 dryden's virgil iv 304 

 188 in exchange these lines are referred to by theophilus the roman
 lawyer iii tit xxiii section 1 as exhibiting the most ancient
 mention of barter 

 189  a similar bond of connexion in the military details of the
 narrative is the decree issued by jupiter at the commencement of
 the eighth book against any further interference of the gods in the
 battles in the opening of the twentieth book this interdict is
 withdrawn during the twelve intermediate books it is kept steadily
 in view no interposition takes place but on the part of the
 specially authorised agents of jove or on that of one or two
 contumacious deities described as boldly setting his commands at
 defiance but checked and reprimanded for their disobedience while
 the other divine warriors who in the previous and subsequent cantos
 are so active in support of their favourite heroes repeatedly
 allude to the supreme edict as the cause of their present
 inactivity   mure vol i p 257 see however muller  greek
 literature   ch v section 6 and grote vol ii p 252 

 190  as far removed from god and light of heaven 
 as from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole  

  paradise lost  

  e quanto e da le stelle al basso inferno 
 tanto e piu in su de la stellata spera 

 gier lib i 7 

  some of the epithets which homer applies to the heavens seem to
 imply that he considered it as a solid vault of metal but it is not
 necessary to construe these epithets so literally nor to draw any
 such inference from his description of atlas who holds the lofty
 pillars which keep earth and heaven asunder yet it would seem from
 the manner in which the height of heaven is compared with the depth
 of tartarus that the region of light was thought to have certain
 bounds the summit of the thessalian olympus was regarded as the
 highest point on the earth and it is not always carefully
 distinguished from the aerian regions above the idea of a seat of
 the gods perhaps derived from a more ancient tradition in which it
 was not attached to any geographical site seems to be indistinctly
 blended in the poet's mind with that of the real
 mountain   thirlwall's greece vol i p 217 sq 

 191  now lately heav'n earth another world
 hung e'er my realm link'd in a golden chain
 to that side heav'n  

  paradise lost   ii 1004 

 192 his golden scales 

  jove now sole arbiter of peace and war 
 held forth the fatal balance from afar 
 each host he weighs by turns they both prevail 
 till troy descending fix'd the doubtful scale  

 merrick's tryphiodorus v 687 sqq 

  th' eternal to prevent such horrid fray 
 hung forth in heav'n his golden scales 
 wherein all things created first he weighed 
 the pendulous round earth with balanced air
 in counterpoise now ponders all events 
 battles and realms in these he puts two weights 
 the sequel each of parting and of fight 
 the latter quick up flew and kick'd the beam  

  paradise lost   iv 496 

 193 and now etc 

  and now all heaven
 had gone to wrack with ruin overspread 
 had not th' almighty father where he sits
 foreseen  

  paradise lost   vi 669 

 194 gerenian nestor the epithet gerenian either refers to the name
 of a place in which nestor was educated or merely signifies
 honoured revered see schol venet in ii b 336 strabo viii p 
 340 

 195 cgae helice both these towns were conspicuous for their worship
 of neptune 

 196 as full blown etc 

  il suo lesbia quasi bel fior succiso 
 e in atto si gentil languir tremanti
 gl' occhi e cader siu 'l tergo il collo mira  

 gier lib ix 85 

 197 ungrateful because the cause in which they were engaged was
 unjust 

  struck by the lab'ring priests' uplifted hands
 the victims fall to heav'n they make their pray'r 
 the curling vapours load the ambient air 
 but vain their toil the pow'rs who rule the skies
 averse beheld the ungrateful sacrifice  

 merrick's tryphiodorus vi 527 sqq 

 198  as when about the silver moon when aire is free from
 winde 
 and stars shine cleare to whose sweet beams high prospects on the
 brows
 of all steepe hills and pinnacles thrust up themselves for shows 
 and even the lowly valleys joy to glitter in their sight 
 when the unmeasured firmament bursts to disclose her light 
 and all the signs in heaven are seene that glad the shepherd's
 heart  

 chapman 

 199 this flight of the greeks according to buttmann lexil p 358 was
 not a supernatural flight caused by the gods but  a great and
 general one caused by hector and the trojans but with the approval
 of jove  

 200 grote vol ii p 91 after noticing the modest calmness and
 respect with which nestor addresses agamemnon observes  the
 homeric council is a purely consultative body assembled not with
 any power of peremptorily arresting mischievous resolves of the
 king but solely for his information and guidance  

 201 in the heroic times it is not unfrequent for the king to receive
 presents to purchase freedom from his wrath or immunity from his
 exactions such gifts gradually became regular and formed the
 income of the german tacit germ section 15 persian herodot 
 iii 89 and other kings so too in the middle ages 'the feudal
 aids are the beginning of taxation of which they for a long time
 answered the purpose ' hallam middle ages ch x pt 1 p 189 
 this fact frees achilles from the apparent charge of sordidness 
 plato however de rep vi 4 says  we cannot commend phoenix 
 the tutor of achilles as if he spoke correctly when counselling
 him to accept of presents and assist the greeks but without
 presents not to desist from his wrath nor again should we commend
 achilles himself or approve of his being so covetous as to receive
 presents from agamemnon   etc 

 202 it may be observed that brief as is the mention of briseis in the
 iliad and small the part she plays what little is said is
 pre-eminently calculated to enhance her fitness to be the bride of
 achilles purity and retiring delicacy are features well
 contrasted with the rough but tender disposition of the hero 

 203 laodice iphianassa or iphigenia is not mentioned by homer 
 among the daughters of agamemnon 

 204  agamemnon when he offers to transfer to achilles seven towns
 inhabited by wealthy husbandmen who would enrich their lord by
 presents and tribute seems likewise to assume rather a property in
 them than an authority over them and the same thing may be
 intimated when it is said that peleus bestowed a great people the
 dolopes of phthia on phoenix   thirlwall's greece vol i section
 6 p 162 note 

 205 pray in deep silence rather  use well-omened words   or as
 kennedy has explained it  abstain from expressions unsuitable to
 the solemnity of the occasion which by offending the god might
 defeat the object of their supplications  

 206 purest hands this is one of the most ancient superstitions
 respecting prayer and one founded as much in nature as in
 tradition 

 207 it must be recollected that the war at troy was not a settled
 siege and that many of the chieftains busied themselves in
 piratical expeditions about its neighborhood such a one was that of
 which achilles now speaks from the following verses it is evident
 that fruits of these maraudings went to the common support of the
 expedition and not to the successful plunderer 

 208 pthia the capital of achilles' thessalian domains 

 209 orchomenian town the topography of orchomenus in boeotia 
  situated   as it was  on the northern bank of the lake cpais 
 which receives not only the river cephisus from the valleys of
 phocis but also other rivers from parnassus and helicon  grote 
 vol p 181 was a sufficient reason for its prosperity and decay 
  as long as the channels of these waters were diligently watched and
 kept clear a large portion of the lake was in the condition of
 alluvial land pre-eminently rich and fertile but when the channels
 came to be either neglected or designedly choked up by an enemy 
 the water accumulated in such a degree as to occupy the soil of more
 than one ancient islet and to occasion the change of the site of
 orchomenus itself from the plain to the declivity of mount
 hyphanteion   ibid 

 210 the phrase  hundred gates   etc seems to be merely expressive of a
 great number see notes to my prose translation p 162 

 211 compare the following pretty lines of quintus calaber dyce's select
 translations p 88 

  many gifts he gave and o'er
 dolopia bade me rule thee in his arms
 he brought an infant on my bosom laid
 the precious charge and anxiously enjoin'd
 that i should rear thee as my own with all
 a parent's love i fail'd not in my trust
 and oft while round my neck thy hands were lock'd 
 from thy sweet lips the half articulate sound
 of father came and oft as children use 
 mewling and puking didst thou drench my tunic  

  this description   observes my learned friend notes p 121  is
 taken from the passage of homer ii ix in translating which pope 
 with that squeamish artificial taste which distinguished the age
 of anne omits the natural and let me add affecting 
 circumstance  

  and the wine
 held to thy lips and many a time in fits
 of infant frowardness the purple juice
 rejecting thou hast deluged all my vest 
 and fill'd my bosom  

 cowper 

 212 where calydon for a good sketch of the story of meleager too
 long to be inserted here see grote vol i p 195 sqq and for
 the authorities see my notes to the prose translation p 166 

 213   gifts can conquer   it is well observed by bishop thirlwall 
  greece   vol i p 180 that the law of honour among the greeks
 did not compel them to treasure up in their memory the offensive
 language which might be addressed to them by a passionate adversary 
 nor to conceive that it left a stain which could only be washed away
 by blood even for real and deep injuries they were commonly willing
 to accept a pecuniary compensation  

 214  the boon of sleep   milton

 215  all else of nature's common gift partake 
 unhappy dido was alone awake  

 dryden's virgil iv 767 

 216 the king of crete idomeneus 

 217 soft wool within i e a kind of woollen stuffing pressed in
 between the straps to protect the head and make the helmet fit
 close 

 218  all the circumstances of this action the night rhesus buried in a
 profound sleep and diomede with the sword in his hand hanging over
 the head of that prince furnished homer with the idea of this
 fiction which represents rhesus lying fast asleep and as it were 
 beholding his enemy in a dream plunging the sword into his bosom 
 this image is very natural for a man in his condition awakes no
 farther than to see confusedly what environs him and to think it
 not a reality but a dream   pope 

  there's one did laugh in his sleep and one cry'd murder 
 they wak'd each other  

 macbeth 

 219  aurora now had left her saffron bed 
 and beams of early light the heavens o'erspread  

 dryden's virgil iv 639

 220 red drops of blood  this phenomenon if a mere fruit of the
 poet's imagination might seem arbitrary or far-fetched it is one 
 however of ascertained reality and of no uncommon occurrence in
 the climate of greece   mure i p 493 cf tasso gier lib ix 
 15 

  la terra in vece del notturno gelo
 bagnan rugiade tepide e sanguigne  

 221  no thought of flight 
 none of retreat no unbecoming deed
 that argued fear  

  paradise lost   vi 236 

 222 one of love although a bastard brother received only a small
 portion of the inheritance he was commonly very well treated priam
 appears to be the only one of whom polygamy is directly asserted in
 the iliad grote vol ii p 114 note 

 223  circled with foes as when a packe of bloodie jackals cling
 about a goodly palmed hart hurt with a hunter's bow
 whose escape his nimble feet insure whilst his warm blood doth
 flow 
 and his light knees have power to move but maistred by his
 wound 
 embost within a shady hill the jackals charge him round 
 and teare his flesh when instantly fortune sends in the powers
 of some sterne lion with whose sighte they flie and he devours 
 so they around ulysses prest  

 chapman 

 224 simois railing etc 

  in those bloody fields
 where simois rolls the bodies and the shields
 of heroes  

 dryden's virgil i 142 

 225  where yon disorder'd heap of ruin lies 
 stones rent from stones where clouds of dust arise 
 amid that smother neptune holds his place 
 below the wall's foundation drives his mace 
 and heaves the building from the solid base  

 dryden's virgil ii 825 

 226 why boast we 

  wherefore do i assume
 these royalties and not refuse to reign 
 refusing to accept as great a share
 of hazard as of honour due alike to him
 who reigns and so much to him due
 of hazard more as he above the rest
 high honour'd sits  

  paradise lost   ii 450 

 227 each equal weight 

  long time in even scale
 the battle hung  

  paradise lost   vi 245 

 228  he on his impious foes right onward drove 
 gloomy as night  

  paradise lost   vi 831

 229 renown'd for justice and for length of days arrian de exp 
 alex iv p 239 also speaks of the independence of these people 
 which he regards as the result of their poverty and uprightness 
 some authors have regarded the phrase  hippomolgian   i e 
  milking their mares   as an epithet applicable to numerous tribes 
 since the oldest of the samatian nomads made their mares' milk one
 of their chief articles of diet the epithet abion or abion in this
 passage has occasioned much discussion it may mean according as
 we read it either  long-lived   or  bowless   the latter epithet
 indicating that they did not depend upon archery for subsistence 

 230 compare chapman's quaint bold verses 

  and as a round piece of a rocke which with a winter's flood
 is from his top torn when a shoure poured from a bursten cloud 
 hath broke the naturall band it had within the roughftey rock 
 flies jumping all adourne the woods resounding everie shocke 
 and on uncheckt it headlong leaps till in a plaine it stay 
 and then tho' never so impelled it stirs not any way 
 so hector  

 231 this book forms a most agreeable interruption to the continuous
 round of battles which occupy the latter part of the iliad it is
 as well to observe that the sameness of these scenes renders many
 notes unnecessary 

 232 who to tydeus owes i e diomed 

 233 compare tasso 

 teneri sdegni e placide e tranquille
 repulse e cari vezzi e liete paci 
 sorrisi parolette e dolci stille
 di pianto e sospir tronchi e molli baci  

 gier lib xvi 25

 234 compare the description of the dwelling of sleep in orlando furioso 
 bk vi 

 235  twice seven the charming daughters of the main 
 around my person wait and bear my train 
 succeed my wish and second my design 
 the fairest deiopeia shall be thine  

 dryden's virgil cn i 107 seq 

 236 and minos  by homer minos is described as the son of jupiter 
 and of the daughter of phoenix whom all succeeding authors name
 europa and he is thus carried back into the remotest period of
 cretan antiquity known to the poet apparently as a native hero 
 illustrious enough for a divine parentage and too ancient to allow
 his descent to be traced to any other source but in a genealogy
 recorded by later writers he is likewise the adopted son of
 asterius as descendant of dorus the son of helen and is thus
 connected with a colony said to have been led into creta by
 tentamus or tectamus son of dorus who is related either to have
 crossed over from thessaly or to have embarked at malea after
 having led his followers by land into laconia   thirlwall p 136 
 seq 

 237 milton has emulated this passage in describing the couch of our
 first parents 

  underneath the violet 
 crocus and hyacinth with rich inlay 
 'broider'd the ground  

  paradise lost   iv 700 

 238 he lies protected 

  forthwith on all sides to his aid was run
 by angels many and strong who interpos'd
 defence while others bore him on their shields
 back to his chariot where it stood retir'd
 from off the files of war there they him laid 
 gnashing for anguish and despite and shame  

  paradise lost   vi 335 seq 

 239 the brazen dome see the note on bk viii page 142 

 240 for by the gods who flies observe the bold ellipsis of  he
 cries   and the transition from the direct to the oblique
 construction so in milton 

  thus at their shady lodge arriv'd both stood 
 both turn'd and under open sky ador'd
 the god that made both sky air earth and heaven 
 which they beheld the moon's resplendent globe 
 and starry pole thou also mad'st the night 
 maker omnipotent and thou the day  

 milton  paradise lost   book iv 

 241 so some tall rock 

  but like a rock unmov'd a rock that braves
 the raging tempest and the rising waves 
 propp'd on himself he stands his solid sides
 wash off the sea-weeds and the sounding tides  

 dryden's virgil vii 809 

 242 protesilaus was the first greek who fell slain by hector as he
 leaped from the vessel to the trojan shore he was buried on the
 chersonese near the city of plagusa hygin fab ciii tzetz on
 lycophr 245 528 there is a most elegant tribute to his memory in
 the preface to the heroica of philostratus 

 243 his best beloved the following elegant remarks of thirlwall
 greece vol i p 176 seq well illustrate the character of the
 friendship subsisting between these two heroes 

  one of the noblest and most amiable sides of the greek character 
 is the readiness with which it lent itself to construct intimate and
 durable friendships and this is a feature no less prominent in the
 earliest than in later times it was indeed connected with the
 comparatively low estimation in which female society was held but
 the devotedness and constancy with which these attachments were
 maintained was not the less admirable and engaging the heroic
 companions whom we find celebrated partly by homer and partly in
 traditions which if not of equal antiquity were grounded on the
 same feeling seem to have but one heart and soul with scarcely a
 wish or object apart and only to live as they are always ready to
 die for one another it is true that the relation between them is
 not always one of perfect equality but this is a circumstance
 which while it often adds a peculiar charm to the poetical
 description detracts little from the dignity of the idea which it
 presents such were the friendships of hercules and iolaus of
 theseus and pirithous of orestes and pylades and though these may
 owe the greater part of their fame to the later epic or even
 dramatic poetry the moral groundwork undoubtedly subsisted in the
 period to which the traditions are referred the argument of the
 iliad mainly turns on the affection of achilles for patroclus whose
 love for the greater hero is only tempered by reverence for his
 higher birth and his unequalled prowess but the mutual regard which
 united idomeneus and meriones diomedes and sthenelus though as
 the persons themselves are less important it is kept more in the
 back-ground is manifestly viewed by the poet in the same light the
 idea of a greek hero seems not to have been thought complete 
 without such a brother in arms by his side   thirlwall greece vol 
 i p 176 seq 

 244  as hungry wolves with raging appetite 
 scour through the fields ne'er fear the stormy night 
 their whelps at home expect the promised food 
 and long to temper their dry chaps in blood 
 so rush'd we forth at once  

 dryden's virgil ii 479 

 245 the destinies ordain  in the mythology also of the iliad 
 purely pagan as it is we discover one important truth unconsciously
 involved which was almost entirely lost from view amidst the nearly
 equal scepticism and credulity of subsequent ages zeus or jupiter
 is popularly to be taken as omnipotent no distinct empire is
 assigned to fate or fortune the will of the father of gods and men
 is absolute and uncontrollable this seems to be the true character
 of the homeric deity and it is very necessary that the student of
 greek literature should bear it constantly in mind a strong
 instance in the iliad itself to illustrate this position is the
 passage where jupiter laments to juno the approaching death of
 sarpedon 'alas me ' says he 'since it is fated moira that
 sarpedon dearest to me of men should be slain by patroclus the
 son of menoetius indeed my heart is divided within me while i
 ruminate it in my mind whether having snatched him up from out of
 the lamentable battle i should not at once place him alive in the
 fertile land of his own lycia or whether i should now destroy him
 by the hands of the son of menoetius ' to which juno answers 'dost
 thou mean to rescue from death a mortal man long since destined by
 fate palai pepromenon you may do it but we the rest of the gods 
 do not sanction it ' here it is clear from both speakers that
 although sarpedon is said to be fated to die jupiter might still 
 if he pleased save him and place him entirely out of the reach of
 any such event and further in the alternative that jupiter
 himself would destroy him by the hands of another   coleridge p 
 156 seq 

 246 thrice at the battlements  the art military of the homeric age
 is upon a level with the state of navigation just described 
 personal prowess decided every thing the night attack and the
 ambuscade although much esteemed were never upon a large scale 
 the chiefs fight in advance and enact almost as much as the knights
 of romance the siege of troy was as little like a modern siege as a
 captain in the guards is like achilles there is no mention of a
 ditch or any other line or work round the town and the wall itself
 was accessible without a ladder it was probably a vast mound of
 earth with a declivity outwards patroclus thrice mounts it in
 armour the trojans are in no respects blockaded and receive
 assistance from their allies to the very end   coleridge p 212 

 247 ciconians a people of thrace near the hebrus 

 248 they wept 

  fast by the manger stands the inactive steed 
 and sunk in sorrow hangs his languid head 
 he stands and careless of his golden grain 
 weeps his associates and his master slain  

 merrick's tryphiodorus v 18-24 

  nothing is heard upon the mountains now 
 but pensive herds that for their master low 
 straggling and comfortless about they rove 
 unmindful of their pasture and their love  

 moschus id 3 parodied ibid 

  to close the pomp cthon the steed of state 
 is led the funeral of his lord to wait 
 stripp'd of his trappings with a sullen pace
 he walks and the big tears run rolling down his face  

 dryden's virgil bk ii

 249 some brawny bull 

  like to a bull that with impetuous spring
 darts at the moment when the fatal blow
 hath struck him but unable to proceed
 plunges on either side  

 carey's dante hell c xii 

 250 this is connected with the earlier part of last book the regular
 narrative being interrupted by the message of antilochus and the
 lamentations of achilles 

 251 far in the deep so oceanus hears the lamentations of prometheus 
 in the play of cschylus and comes from the depths of the sea to
 comfort him 

 252 opuntia a city of locris 

 253 quintus calaber lib v has attempted to rival homer in his
 description of the shield of the same hero a few extracts from mr 
 dyce's version select translations p 104 seq may here be
 introduced 

  in the wide circle of the shield were seen
 refulgent images of various forms 
 the work of vulcan who had there described
 the heaven the ether and the earth and sea 
 the winds the clouds the moon the sun apart
 in different stations and you there might view
 the stars that gem the still-revolving heaven 
 and under them the vast expanse of air 
 in which with outstretch'd wings the long-beak'd bird
 winnow'd the gale as if instinct with life 
 around the shield the waves of ocean flow'd 
 the realms of tethys which unnumber'd streams 
 in azure mazes rolling o'er the earth 
 seem'd to augment  

 254 on seats of stone  several of the old northern sagas represent
 the old men assembled for the purpose of judging as sitting on great
 stones in a circle called the urtheilsring or gerichtsring  grote 
 ii p 100 note on the independence of the judicial office in the
 heroic times see thirlwall's greece vol i p 166 

 255 another part etc 

  and here
 were horrid wars depicted grimly pale
 were heroes lying with their slaughter'd steeds
 upon the ground incarnadin'd with blood 
 stern stalked bellona smear'd with reeking gore 
 through charging ranks beside her rout was seen 
 and terror discord to the fatal strife
 inciting men and furies breathing flames 
 nor absent were the fates and the tall shape
 of ghastly death round whom did battles throng 
 their limbs distilling plenteous blood and sweat 
 and gorgons whose long locks were twisting snakes 
 that shot their forky tongues incessant forth 
 such were the horrors of dire war  

 dyce's calaber 

 256 a field deep furrowed 

  here was a corn field reapers in a row 
 each with a sharp-tooth'd sickle in his hand 
 work'd busily and as the harvest fell 
 others were ready still to bind the sheaves 
 yoked to a wain that bore the corn away
 the steers were moving sturdy bullocks here
 the plough were drawing and the furrow'd glebe
 was black behind them while with goading wand
 the active youths impell'd them here a feast
 was graved to the shrill pipe and ringing lyre
 a band of blooming virgins led the dance 
 as if endued with life  

 dyce's calaber 

 257 coleridge greek classic poets p 182 seq has diligently
 compared this with the description of the shield of hercules by
 hesiod he remarks that  with two or three exceptions the imagery
 differs in little more than the names and arrangements and the
 difference of arrangement in the shield of hercules is altogether
 for the worse the natural consecution of the homeric images needs
 no exposition it constitutes in itself one of the beauties of the
 work the hesiodic images are huddled together without connection or
 congruity mars and pallas are awkwardly introduced among the
 centaurs and lapithae but the gap is wide indeed between them and
 apollo with the muses waking the echoes of olympus to celestial
 harmonies whence however we are hurried back to perseus the
 gorgons and other images of war over an arm of the sea in which
 the sporting dolphins the fugitive fishes and the fisherman on the
 shore with his casting net are minutely represented as to the
 hesiodic images themselves the leading remark is that they catch
 at beauty by ornament and at sublimity by exaggeration and upon
 the untenable supposition of the genuineness of this poem there is
 this curious peculiarity that in the description of scenes of
 rustic peace the superiority of homer is decisive while in those of
 war and tumult it may be thought perhaps that the hesiodic poet
 has more than once the advantage  

 258  this legend is one of the most pregnant and characteristic in the
 grecian mythology it explains according to the religious ideas
 familiar to the old epic poets both the distinguishing attributes
 and the endless toil and endurances of heracles the most renowned
 subjugator of all the semi-divine personages worshipped by the
 hellenes a being of irresistible force and especially beloved by
 zeus yet condemned constantly to labour for others and to obey the
 commands of a worthless and cowardly persecutor his recompense is
 reserved to the close of his career when his afflicting trials are
 brought to a close he is then admitted to the godhead and receives
 in marriage hebe   grote vol i p 128 

 259 ambrosia 

  the blue-eyed maid 
 in ev'ry breast new vigour to infuse 
 brings nectar temper'd with ambrosial dews  

 merrick's tryphiodorus vi 249 

 260  hell is naked before him and destruction hath no covering he
 stretcheth out the north over the empty place and hangeth the earth
 upon nothing he bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds and the
 cloud is not rent under them   job xxvi 6-8 

 261  swift from his throne the infernal monarch ran 
 all pale and trembling lest the race of man 
 slain by jove's wrath and led by hermes' rod 
 should fill a countless throng his dark abode  

 merrick's tryphiodorus vi 769 sqq 

 262 these words seem to imply the old belief that the fates might be
 delayed but never wholly set aside 

 263 it was anciently believed that it was dangerous if not fatal to
 behold a deity see exod xxxiii 20 judg xiii 22 

 264  ere ilium and the trojan tow'rs arose 
 in humble vales they built their soft abodes  

 dryden's virgil iii 150 

 265 along the level seas compare virgil's description of camilla 
 who

  outstripp'd the winds in speed upon the plain 
 flew o'er the field nor hurt the bearded grain 
 she swept the seas and as she skimm'd along 
 her flying feet unbathed on billows hung  

 dryden vii 1100 

 266 the future father  cneas and antenor stand distinguished from
 the other trojans by a dissatisfaction with priam and a sympathy
 with the greeks which is by sophocles and others construed as
 treacherous collusion a suspicion indirectly glanced at though
 emphatically repelled in the cneas of virgil   grote i p 427 

 267 neptune thus recounts his services to cneas 

  when your cneas fought but fought with odds
 of force unequal and unequal gods 
 i spread a cloud before the victor's sight 
 sustain'd the vanquish'd and secured his flight 
 even then secured him when i sought with joy
 the vow'd destruction of ungrateful troy  

 dryden's virgil v 1058 

 268 on polydore euripides virgil and others relate that polydore
 was sent into thrace to the house of polymestor for protection 
 being the youngest of priam's sons and that he was treacherously
 murdered by his host for the sake of the treasure sent with him 

 269  perhaps the boldest excursion of homer into this region of poetical
 fancy is the collision into which in the twenty-first of the iliad 
 he has brought the river god scamander first with achilles and
 afterwards with vulcan when summoned by juno to the hero's aid the
 overwhelming fury of the stream finds the natural interpretation in
 the character of the mountain torrents of greece and asia minor 
 their wide shingly beds are in summer comparatively dry so as to
 be easily forded by the foot passenger but a thunder-shower in the
 mountains unobserved perhaps by the traveller on the plain may
 suddenly immerse him in the flood of a mighty river the rescue of
 achilles by the fiery arms of vulcan scarcely admits of the same
 ready explanation from physical causes yet the subsiding of the
 flood at the critical moment when the hero's destruction appeared
 imminent might by a slight extension of the figurative parallel 
 be ascribed to a god symbolic of the influences opposed to all
 atmospheric moisture   mure vol i p 480 sq 

 270 wood has observed that  the circumstance of a falling tree which
 is described as reaching from one of its banks to the other affords
 a very just idea of the breadth of the scamander  

 271 ignominious drowning as compared with a death in the field of
 battle was considered utterly disgraceful 

 272 beneath a caldron 

  so when with crackling flames a caldron fries 
 the bubbling waters from the bottom rise 
 above the brims they force their fiery way 
 black vapours climb aloft and cloud the day  

 dryden's virgil vii 644 

 273  this tale of the temporary servitude of particular gods by order
 of jove as a punishment for misbehaviour recurs not unfrequently
 among the incidents of the mythical world   grote vol i p 156 

 274 not half so dreadful 

  on the other side 
 incensed with indignation satan stood
 unterrified and like a comet burn'd 
 that fires the length of ophiuchus huge
 in the arctic sky and from his horrid hair
 shakes pestilence and war  

 paradise lost   xi 708 

 275  and thus his own undaunted mind explores    paradise lost   vi 
 113 

 276 the example of nausicaa in the odyssey proves that the duties of
 the laundry were not thought derogatory even from the dignity of a
 princess in the heroic times 

 277 hesper shines with keener light 

  fairest of stars last in the train of night 
 if better thou belong not to the dawn  

  paradise lost   v 166 

 278 such was his fate after chasing the trojans into the town he was
 slain by an arrow from the quiver of paris directed under the
 unerring auspices of apollo the greatest efforts were made by the
 trojans to possess themselves of the body which was however rescued
 and borne off to the grecian camp by the valour of ajax and ulysses 
 thetis stole away the body just as the greeks were about to burn it
 with funeral honours and conveyed it away to a renewed life of
 immortality in the isle of leuke in the euxine 

 279 astyanax i e the city-king or guardian it is amusing that
 plato who often finds fault with homer without reason should have
 copied this twaddling etymology into his cratylus 

 280 this book has been closely imitated by virgil in his fifth book but
 it is almost useless to attempt a selection of passages for
 comparison 

 281 thrice in order led this was a frequent rite at funerals the
 romans had the same custom which they called decursio plutarch
 states that alexander in after times renewed these same honours to
 the memory of achilles himself 

 282 and swore literally and called orcus the god of oaths to
 witness see buttmann lexilog p 436 

 283  o long expected by thy friends from whence
 art thou so late return'd for our defence 
 do we behold thee wearied as we are
 with length of labours and with toils of war 
 after so many funerals of thy own 
 art thou restored to thy declining town 
 but say what wounds are these what new disgrace
 deforms the manly features of thy face  

 dryden xi 369 

 284 like a thin smoke virgil georg iv 72 

  in vain i reach my feeble hands to join
 in sweet embraces ah no longer thine 
 she said and from his eyes the fleeting fair
 retired like subtle smoke dissolved in air  

 dryden 

 285 so milton 

  so eagerly the fiend
 o'er bog o'er steep through strait rough dense or rare 
 with head hands wings or feet pursues his way 
 and swims or sinks or wades or creeps or flies  

  paradise lost   ii 948 

 286  an ancient forest for the work design'd
 the shady covert of the savage kind 
 the trojans found the sounding axe is placed 
 firs pines and pitch-trees and the tow'ring pride
 of forest ashes feel the fatal stroke 
 and piercing wedges cleave the stubborn oak 
 high trunks of trees fell'd from the steepy crown
 of the bare mountains roll with ruin down  

 dryden's virgil vi 261 

 287 he vowed this was a very ancient custom 

 288 the height of the tomb or pile was a great proof of the dignity of
 the deceased and the honour in which he was held 

 289 on the prevalence of this cruel custom amongst the northern nations 
 see mallet p 213 

 290 and calls the spirit such was the custom anciently even at the
 roman funerals 

  hail o ye holy manes hail again 
 paternal ashes now revived in vain  

 dryden's virgil v 106 

 291 virgil by making the boaster vanquished has drawn a better moral
 from this episode than homer the following lines deserve
 comparison 

  the haughty dares in the lists appears 
 walking he strides his head erected bears 
 his nervous arms the weighty gauntlet wield 
 and loud applauses echo through the field 
 
 such dares was and such he strode along 
 and drew the wonder of the gazing throng
 his brawny breast and ample chest he shows 
 his lifted arms around his head he throws 
 and deals in whistling air his empty blows 
 his match is sought but through the trembling band 
 no one dares answer to the proud demand 
 presuming of his force with sparkling eyes 
 already he devours the promised prize 
 
 if none my matchless valour dares oppose 
 how long shall dares wait his dastard foes  

 dryden's virgil v 486 seq 

 292  the gauntlet-fight thus ended from the shore
 his faithful friends unhappy dares bore 
 his mouth and nostrils pour'd a purple flood 
 and pounded teeth came rushing with his blood  

 dryden's virgil v 623 

 293  troilus is only once named in the iliad he was mentioned also in
 the cypriad but his youth beauty and untimely end made him an
 object of great interest with the subsequent poets   grote i p 
 399 

 294 milton has rivalled this passage describing the descent of gabriel 
  paradise lost   bk v 266 seq 

  down thither prone in flight
 he speeds and through the vast ethereal sky
 sails between worlds and worlds with steady wing 
 now on the polar winds then with quick fan
 winnows the buxom air 
 
 at once on th' eastern cliff of paradise
 he lights and to his proper shape returns
 a seraph wing'd 
 like maia's son he stood 
 and shook his plumes that heavenly fragrance fill'd
 the circuit wide  

 virgil cn iv 350 

  hermes obeys with golden pinions binds
 his flying feet and mounts the western winds 
 and whether o'er the seas or earth he flies 
 with rapid force they bear him down the skies
 but first he grasps within his awful hand
 the mark of sovereign power his magic wand 
 with this he draws the ghost from hollow graves 
 with this he drives them from the stygian waves 
 
 thus arm'd the god begins his airy race 
 and drives the racking clouds along the liquid space  

 dryden 

 295 in reference to the whole scene that follows the remarks of
 coleridge are well worth reading 

  by a close study of life and by a true and natural mode of
 expressing everything homer was enabled to venture upon the most
 peculiar and difficult situations and to extricate himself from
 them with the completest success the whole scene between achilles
 and priam when the latter comes to the greek camp for the purpose
 of redeeming the body of hector is at once the most profoundly
 skilful and yet the simplest and most affecting passage in the
 iliad quinctilian has taken notice of the following speech of
 priam the rhetorical artifice of which is so transcendent that if
 genius did not often especially in oratory unconsciously fulfil
 the most subtle precepts of criticism we might be induced on this
 account alone to consider the last book of the iliad as what is
 called spurious in other words of later date than the rest of the
 poem observe the exquisite taste of priam in occupying the mind of
 achilles from the outset with the image of his father in
 gradually introducing the parallel of his own situation and 
 lastly mentioning hector's name when he perceives that the hero is
 softened and then only in such a manner as to flatter the pride of
 the conqueror the ego d'eleeinoteros per and the apusato aecha
 geronta are not exactly like the tone of the earlier parts of the
 iliad they are almost too fine and pathetic the whole passage
 defies translation for there is that about the greek which has no
 name but which is of so fine and ethereal a subtlety that it can
 only be felt in the original and is lost in an attempt to transfuse
 it into another language   coleridge p 195 

 296  achilles' ferocious treatment of the corpse of hector cannot but
 offend as referred to the modern standard of humanity the heroic
 age however must be judged by its own moral laws retributive
 vengeance on the dead as well as the living was a duty inculcated
 by the religion of those barbarous times which not only taught that
 evil inflicted on the author of evil was a solace to the injured
 man but made the welfare of the soul after death dependent on the
 fate of the body from which it had separated hence a denial of the
 rites essential to the soul's admission into the more favoured
 regions of the lower world was a cruel punishment to the wanderer on
 the dreary shores of the infernal river the complaint of the ghost
 of patroclus to achilles of but a brief postponement of his own
 obsequies shows how efficacious their refusal to the remains of his
 destroyer must have been in satiating the thirst of revenge which 
 even after death was supposed to torment the dwellers in hades 
 hence before yielding up the body of hector to priam achilles asks
 pardon of patroclus for even this partial cession of his just rights
 of retribution   mure vol i 289 

 297 such was the fate of astyanax when troy was taken 

  here from the tow'r by stern ulysses thrown 
 andromache bewail'd her infant son  

 merrick's tryphiodorus v 675 

 298 the following observations of coleridge furnish a most gallant and
 interesting view of helen's character 

  few things are more interesting than to observe how the same hand
 that has given us the fury and inconsistency of achilles gives us
 also the consummate elegance and tenderness of helen she is through
 the iliad a genuine lady graceful in motion and speech noble in
 her associations full of remorse for a fault for which higher
 powers seem responsible yet grateful and affectionate towards those
 with whom that fault had committed her i have always thought the
 following speech in which helen laments hector and hints at her own
 invidious and unprotected situation in troy as almost the sweetest
 passage in the poem it is another striking instance of that
 refinement of feeling and softness of tone which so generally
 distinguish the last book of the iliad from the rest   classic
 poets p 198 seq 

 299  and here we part with achilles at the moment best calculated to
 exalt and purify our impression of his character we had accompanied
 him through the effervescence undulations and final subsidence of
 his stormy passions we now leave him in repose and under the full
 influence of the more amiable affections while our admiration of
 his great qualities is chastened by the reflection that within a
 few short days the mighty being in whom they were united was himself
 to be suddenly cut off in the full vigour of their exercise 

 the frequent and touching allusions interspersed throughout the
 iliad to the speedy termination of its hero's course and the moral
 on the vanity of human life which they indicate are among the
 finest evidences of the spirit of ethic unity by which the whole
 framework of the poem is united   mure vol i p 201 

 300 cowper says  i cannot take my leave of this noble poem without
 expressing how much i am struck with the plain conclusion of it it
 is like the exit of a great man out of company whom he has
 entertained magnificently neither pompous nor familiar not
 contemptuous yet without much ceremony   coleridge p 227 
 considers the termination of  paradise lost  somewhat similar 
